bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of sealing efficacy and removal convenience of sealing materials for implant abutment screw access holes
Authors: Zhou Huangjun , Ye Sixian , Lyu Xingyu , Feng Hao , Liu Min , Wen Cai
Published: August 2022

Background

Sealing materials are used to fill abutment screw access holes (SAH) to prevent microleakage and protect the central screws in oral implant restoration. However, thus far, no consensus has been reached on sealing material selection. In this study, a comparison of the sealing efficacy and removal convenience of different sealing materials for cement-retained implant restoration was conducted.

Methods

Various sealing materials were classified into five groups, namely, gutta-percha (GP), temporary restorative paste (TRP), vinyl polysiloxane (VPS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape, and onlay resin (OR), and 35 sets of analog-abutments were allocated into five groups of seven specimens. A sealing efficacy test was conducted using a modified dye-penetration method, in which a lower absorbance indicated better sealing efficacy. For the removal-convenience test, the materials were removed from each SAH after solidification, and the retrieval time was recorded.

Results

On days 1 and 10, PTFE exhibited the highest absorbance value with significant differences compared to the other groups. On day 30, TRP and PTFE showed significantly higher absorbance values than GP, VPS, and OR, but no significant difference was detected between TRP and PTFE (p = 0.424). The absorbance values of TRP and PTFE from days 1, 10, and 30 showed significant intragroup differences, while those of the other groups did not. In terms of the removal convenience on days 1, 10, and 30, VPS achieved the best performance, followed by PTFE, OR, TRP, and GP.

Conclusion

Within the limitations of this experiment, VPS and OR showed better sealing efficacy against microleakage and a more convenient removal than the other materials; thus, VPS and OR are recommended for clinical use.
Requirements for an electronic handover system for interprofessional collaboration between psychotherapists and occupational health professionals – a qualitative study
Authors: Kohl Fiona , Angerer Peter , Guthardt Lisa , Weber Jeannette
Published: August 2022

Background

An electronic handover system provides a potential way to bridge the interface between psychotherapy and occupational health. This qualitative study therefore aimed assessing (1) content-related and (2) functional requirements that psychotherapists and occupational health professionals expect from an electronic handover system to exchange relevant information about their patients with common mental disorders.

Methods

Five focus groups with psychotherapists and occupational health professionals (occupational physicians and members of company integration management) were conducted via video conference using an interview guide. The focus groups were transcribed and content-analysed using MAXQDA.

Results

With regard to content-related requirements, information that serve to assess employee’s ability to work was described as particularly relevant by occupational physicians and members of company integration management (e.g. restrictions in certain work areas or ability to work under time pressure). Psychotherapists indicated that information about the employee’s working conditions is particularly relevant. This includes description of work tasks or conflicts at the workplace. Concerning functional requirements, all professional groups attached importance to data security and functions to improve communication and collaboration (e.g. the use of standardised handover forms).

Conclusion

This study provides insight into the desired content-related and functional requirements by psychotherapists, occupational physicians and members of company integration management for an electronic handover system. However, the theoretical and practical development of such a system requires several additional steps, such as the involvement of further relevant stakeholders (e.g. patients, software developers).
Access to infertility care services towards Universal Health Coverage is a right and not an option
Authors: Bezad Rachid , Omrani Sanae El , Benbella Amal , Assarag Bouchra
Published: August 2022

Background

In Morocco, the national health plan 2025 was developed to promote Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services for all. The principal aim was to achieve the Universal Health Coverage of SRH by 2030. For many years, health authorities’ efforts had focused on reducing maternal mortality through a widespread access to antenatal and obstetric care and family planning services. This has resulted in a significant gap between the availability of SRH components, namely obstetric and family planning care, and access to infertility services including Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). The objective of this study is to answer two important questions. First, why some SRH programs and services are given priority by international and national political leaders while infertility care receives little attention; second, what are the factors that influence this prioritization?

Methods

We used Shiffman and Smith’s framework composed of four elements: the strength of the actors involved in the initiative, the power of the ideas they use to represent the health problem, the nature of the political contexts in which they operate and the characteristics of the services. We added a fifth element to the framework, the outcome. We applied this framework to the case of infertility services in Morocco. We conducted a desk review and interviews with actors involved in SRH and infertility care advocates as well as with decision makers involved in implementing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Results

Our results showed that despite the efforts made by the advocates of infertility care; the enactment in 2019 of a law regulating infertility care services; and the presence of two Assisted Reproductive Technology Units in the public sector, infertility services remain at an early stage of development hampered by multiple challenges. Among others, a lack of political entrepreneurs to ensure a strong leadership; the political windows were often missed; community members lacked consensus on a coherent public positioning of the problem, and advocates' perception and power of the idea lacked evidence and precise indicators of the problem.

Conclusion

To ensure the convergence and alignment of all stakeholders, it is recommended to translate the regulation of infertility into measurable activities with defined human and financial resources, equitable fertility health coverage, and quality fertility care to respond to women and infertile couples’ needs, rights and dignity.
Behavioral differences among domestic cats in the response to cat-attracting plants and their volatile compounds reveal a potential distinct mechanism of action for actinidine
Authors: Bol Sebastiaan , Scaffidi Adrian , Bunnik Evelien M. , Flematti Gavin R.
Published: August 2022

Background

It has been known for centuries that cats respond euphorically to Nepeta cataria (catnip). Recently, we have shown that Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian honeysuckle), Actinidia polygama (silver vine), and Valeriana officinalis (valerian) can also elicit this “catnip response”. The aim of this study was to learn if the behavior seen in response to these plants is similar to the response to catnip. Furthermore, we studied if these responses are fixed or if there are differences between cats. While nepetalactone was identified decades ago as the molecule responsible for the “catnip response”, we know that this volatile is found almost exclusively in catnip. Therefore, we also aimed to identify other compounds in these alternative plants that can elicit the blissful behavior in cats.

Bioassays with 6 cats were performed in a low-stress environment, where 5 plants and 13 single compounds were each tested for at least 100 and 17 h, respectively. All responses were video recorded and BORIS software was used to analyze the cats’ behavior.

Results

Both response duration and behavior differed significantly between the cats. While individual cats had preferences for particular plants, the behavior of individual cats was consistent among all plants. About half a dozen lactones similar in structure to nepetalactone were able to elicit the “catnip response”, as were the structurally more distinct molecules actinidine and dihydroactinidiolide. Most cats did not respond to actinidine, whereas those who did, responded longer to this volatile than any of the other secondary plant metabolites, and different behavior was observed. Interestingly, dihydroactinidiolide was also found in excretions and secretions of the red fox, making this the first report of a compound produced by a mammal that can elicit the “catnip response”. A range of different cat-attracting compounds was detected by chemical analysis of plant materials but differences in cat behavior could not be directly related to differences in chemical composition of the plants. Together with results of, among others, habituation / dishabituation experiments, this indicates that additional cat-attracting compounds may be present in the plant materials that remain to be discovered.

Conclusions

Collectively, these findings suggest that both the personality of the cat and genetic variation in the genes encoding olfactory receptors may play a role in how cats respond to cat-attracting plants. Furthermore, the data suggest a potential distinct mechanism of action for actinidine.
Circulating exosomal mRNA signatures for the early diagnosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: He Xing , Tian Feng , Guo Fei , Zhang Fangxing , Zhang Huiyong , Ji Jin , Zhao Lin , He Jingyi , Xiao Yutian , Li Longman , Wei Chunmeng , Huang Caihong , Li Yexin , Zhang Feng , Yang Bo , Ye Huamao , Wang Fubo
Published: August 2022

Background

There are no proven tumor biomarkers for the early diagnosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) thus far. This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers of ccRCC based on exosomal mRNA (emRNA) profiling and develop emRNA-based signatures for the early detection of ccRCC.

Methods

Four hundred eighty-eight participants, including 226 localized ccRCCs, 73 patients with benign renal masses, and 189 healthy controls, were recruited. Circulating emRNA sequencing was performed in 12 ccRCCs and 22 healthy controls in the discovery phase. The candidate emRNAs were evaluated with 108 ccRCCs and 70 healthy controls in the test and training phases. The emRNA-based signatures were developed by logistic regression analysis and validated with additional cohorts of 106 ccRCCs, 97 healthy controls, and 73 benign individuals.

Results

Five emRNAs, CUL9, KMT2D, PBRM1, PREX2, and SETD2, were identified as novel potential biomarkers of ccRCC. We further developed an early diagnostic signature that comprised KMT2D and PREX2 and a differential diagnostic signature that comprised CUL9, KMT2D, and PREX2 for RCC detection. The early diagnostic signature displayed high accuracy in distinguishing ccRCCs from healthy controls, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of 0.836 and 0.830 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The differential diagnostic signature also showed great performance in distinguishing ccRCCs from benign renal masses (AUC = 0.816), including solid masses (AUC = 0.810) and cystic masses (AUC = 0.832).

Conclusions

We established and validated novel emRNA-based signatures for the early detection of ccRCC and differential diagnosis of uncertain renal masses. These signatures could be promising and noninvasive biomarkers for ccRCC detection and thus improve the prognosis of ccRCC patients.
Association between lipoprotein(a) and thromboembolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Song Jie , Zhang Xiaoxue , Wei Meng , Bo Yakun , Zhou Xianhui , Tang Baopeng
Published: August 2022

Background

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a recognized risk factor for ischemic stroke (IS); however, its role in thromboembolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) remains controversial. We aimed to assess the association of Lp(a) and IS and systemic embolism (SEE) in NVAF patients.

Methods

In total, 16,357 patients with NVAF were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2021, and were divided into groups based on Lp(a) quartiles. Logistic regression models analyzed the association between Lp(a), IS, and SEE. The restriction cubic spline was used to assess the potential nonlinear relationship between Lp(a), IS, and SEE. We conducted subgroup analyses and estimated the multiplicative interaction between the stratified variables and Lp(a) to investigate whether the association between Lp(a) and IS and SEE was affected by age, sex, anticoagulants, and CHA2DS2-VASc score.

Results

We identified 1319 IS and 133 SEE events. After correcting for CHA2DS2-VASc score and other potential confounders, each 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in log-Lp(a) was related to a 23% increased risk of IS (odds ratios [OR], 1.23; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.07–1.41). NVAF patients in the highest Lp(a) quartile were 1.23-fold more likely to have IS than those in the lowest quartile (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.04–1.45). A positive linear relationship between Lp(a) and IS risk was observed (P for nonlinear = 0.341). In the fully adjusted model, subjects had a 1.78-fold increased risk of SEE for each 1-SD increase in log-Lp(a) (OR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.78–4.36). Subjects in the highest Lp(a) quartile had a 2.38-fold elevated risk of SEE (OR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.85–6.19) compared with the lowest quartile. Furthermore, Lp(a) had a nonlinear relationship with the risk of SEE (P for nonlinear = 0.005).

Conclusions

Elevated Lp(a) concentration was significantly associated with IS and SEE, suggesting that Lp(a) may be an emerging biomarker that can help clinicians identify patients at high risk of thromboembolism in this population.
HPV and vaginal microecological disorders in infertile women: a cross-sectional study in the Chinese population
Authors: Wang Li , He Lin , Chen Junyu , Wei Shuyao , Xu Hongzhou , Luo Mengjun
Published: August 2022

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distributions of vaginal microbiome dysbiosis and human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes in infertile women and explore the correlations of HPV infection and vaginal microbiome dysbiosis with infertility.

Methods

In total, 1464 women aged 18–50 years were included in this study; 649 participants were included in the infertility group, and 815 participants were included in the normal group. The participants were tested for HPV, and their vaginal microecology was examined. The χ2 test and Spearman regression were used for statistical analysis, and binary logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors for infertility.

Results

The patients in the infertility group were younger than those in the normal group, and the proportions of bacterial vaginosis and vaginal imbalance in the infertility group were significantly higher than those in the normal group. The incidence proportions of high-risk HPV types in the infertility group were significantly higher than those in the normal group, and the proportions of high-risk subtytes HPV16, HPV39, HV52, HPV56, and HPV68 were significantly higher in the infertility group than in the normal group. However, there were no significant differences in the incidences of low-risk HPV types. The incidence proportions of vaginal flora imbalance and HPV infection in the infertility group were significantly higher than those in the normal group. HPV16, HPV33, HPV51, HPV52and HPV58 infections were independent risk factors for infertility.

Conclusions

Vaginal microecological imbalance and HPV infection are directly related to infertility, and precautions should be taken.
Both T and B cells are indispensable for the development of a PBMC transfer-induced humanized mouse model for SSc
Authors: Shu Yaqing , Yue Xiaoyang , Wax Jacqueline , Kasper Brigitte , Yin Junping , Wang Xiaoqing , Zhang Liang , Ahmadi Marjan , Heidecke Harald , Müller Antje , Lamprecht Peter , Yu Xinhua , Riemekasten Gabriela , Petersen Frank
Published: August 2022

Background

Recently, a novel humanized mouse model for systemic sclerosis (SSc) was established by transferring peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with SSc to Rag2−/−Il2rg−/− immunodeficient mice. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of T and B cells in this humanized mouse model.

Methods

T and B cells were depleted in vitro from freshly isolated PBMC using anti-CD3 and anti-CD19 magnetic microbeads, respectively. Subsequently, PBMC and T or B cell-depleted PBMC were transferred into Rag2−/−/Il2rg−/− mice via intraperitoneal injection. Twelve weeks after the transfer, mice were sacrificed and evaluated.

Results

Mice transferred with whole PBMC from SSc patients developed systemic inflammation in the lungs, kidneys, and liver, and 6 out of 11 mice died or had to be sacrificed during the experiment. By contrast, such inflammation and death were not observed in mice transferred with corresponding T or B cell-depleted PBMC. In line with this finding, transfer with whole PBMC restored the splenic white pulp composing of human T, B, and plasma cells and led to the production of a considerable amount of human autoantibodies in recipient mice, while those immunological features were rarely observed in mice that received T or B cell-depleted PBMC. In contrast to our previous findings demonstrating a transfer of the protective effect of a B cell therapy into the mouse, treatment of SSc patients with chemical immunosuppressive drugs did not affect the pathogenicity of PBMC.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that both T and B cells are indispensable for the pathogenesis of the PBMC transfer-induced mouse model for SSc.
Inhaled corticosteroids do not affect the antibody titer against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in BNT162b2 mRNA vaccinated patients
Authors: Nakajima Takeo , Nagano Tatsuya , Miyata Yoshiharu , Murakami Shoko , Mitsuyuki Satoshi , Funakoshi Yohei , Yakushijin Kimikazu , Horimoto Hitoshi , Nishimura Yoshihiro , Kobayashi Kazuyuki
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Oral corticosteroids reduce the antibody titer of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. To date, the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on antibody titers is unknown.

Study design

The design of this study is retrospective study.

Methods

We analyzed the relationship between the clinical features and total antibody titers against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein in 320 subjects who had never been infected with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and were vaccinated the second time with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine between October 1 to December 28, 2021.

Results

Of the 320 subjects, 205 were treated with inhaled corticosteroids. The median antibody titer of patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids was 572 U/mL, which was significantly higher than that of patients treated without inhaled corticosteroids (454U/mL, P = 0.00258). The median antibody titers of smokers, men, and patients aged 65 years and over, were 315.5 U/mL, 385 U/mL, and 425.5 U/mL, respectively. These results are significantly lower than those of patients who never smoked, women, and patients aged less than 64 years (582 U/mL [P < 0.0001], 682.5 U/mL [P < 0.0001], and 717 U/mL [P < 0.0001], respectively). The multivariate analysis revealed that females and age were independent antibody titer-reducing factors (P = 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusions

The use of inhaled corticosteroids did not reduce the antibody titer against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Clinicians should continue treatment with inhaled corticosteroids if indicated.
Orally administered Odoribacter laneus improves glucose control and inflammatory profile in obese mice by depleting circulating succinate
Authors: Huber-Ruano Isabel , Calvo Enrique , Mayneris-Perxachs Jordi , Rodríguez-Peña M-Mar , Ceperuelo-Mallafré Victòria , Cedó Lídia , Núñez-Roa Catalina , Miro-Blanch Joan , Arnoriaga-Rodríguez María , Balvay Aurélie , Maudet Claire , García-Roves Pablo , Yanes Oscar , Rabot Sylvie , Grimaud Ghjuvan Micaelu , De Prisco Annachiara , Amoruso Angela , Fernández-Real José Manuel , Vendrell Joan , Fernández-Veledo Sonia
Published: August 2022

Background

Succinate is produced by both human cells and by gut bacteria and couples metabolism to inflammation as an extracellular signaling transducer. Circulating succinate is elevated in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes and is linked to numerous complications, yet no studies have specifically addressed the contribution of gut microbiota to systemic succinate or explored the consequences of reducing intestinal succinate levels in this setting.

Results

Using germ-free and microbiota-depleted mouse models, we show that the gut microbiota is a significant source of circulating succinate, which is elevated in obesity. We also show in vivo that therapeutic treatments with selected bacteria diminish the levels of circulating succinate in obese mice. Specifically, we demonstrate that Odoribacter laneus is a promising probiotic based on its ability to deplete succinate and improve glucose tolerance and the inflammatory profile in two independent models of obesity (db/db mice and diet-induced obese mice). Mechanistically, this is partly mediated by the succinate receptor 1. Supporting these preclinical findings, we demonstrate an inverse correlation between plasma and fecal levels of succinate in a cohort of patients with severe obesity. We also show that plasma succinate, which is associated with several components of metabolic syndrome including waist circumference, triglycerides, and uric acid, among others, is a primary determinant of insulin sensitivity evaluated by the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp.

Conclusions

Overall, our work uncovers O. laneus as a promising next-generation probiotic to deplete succinate and improve glucose tolerance and obesity-related inflammation.
Operational and investment efficiency of investment trust companies: Do foreign firms outperform domestic firms?
Authors: Nourani Mohammad , Kweh Qian Long , Lu Wen-Min , Gurrib Ikhlaas
Published: August 2022

This study examines the efficiency of investment trust companies (ITCs) from 2011 to 2020 using a meta-frontier two-stage network data envelopment analysis (DEA) based on the directional distance function (DDF). We improved the accuracy of the efficiency measurement and added a network-based ranking component to rank the top-performing entities. In the group-specific technology assessment, foreign ITCs excel in investment efficiency. Meanwhile, in the meta-technology assessment, domestic ITCs outperform foreign ITCs in terms of both investment and operational efficiencies. Group-specific technology efficiency scores were found to be lower than or equal to the meta-technology efficiency scores for both the operational and investment stages. Based on the network-based ranking approach, Yuan Ta, a domestic ITC that ranked fourth in the operational stage and first in the investment stage, can be used as a reliable benchmark. This study will enable practitioners to gain a better understanding of the performance of ITCs operating under heterogeneous technologies.
Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS): do not miss this diagnosis
Authors: Agha Mahmoud , Sallam Maha Sallam Mohammed , Abougabal Ahmed M. , Abdelgawad Mohamed Saied
Published: August 2022

Background

Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) is one of the rare endocrinal aetiologies of the abnormal short stature. This is a syndrome characterized by a specific tirade, an absent or hypoplastic anterior pituitary gland, thin or absent infundibulum, and ectopic posterior pituitary location. This type of pituitary dwarfism is usually presented in the first decade of life and may be first isolated with normal other pituitary hormones.

Results

Only 3 out of 117 dwarf patients (2.5%) were found to have pituitary stalk interruption syndrome.

Conclusion

Although of rare incidence, pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) is an entity which leads to pituitary dwarfism and should be kept in mind while investigating a child with pituitary dwarfism and radiologists should be aware of its rarely encountered diagnostic MRI findings for early diagnosis and treatment.
Circulating Tumor DNA Identifies Diverse Landscape of Acquired Resistance to Anti–Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Therapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Topham James T. , O'Callaghan Chris J. , Feilotter Harriet , Kennecke Hagen F. , Lee Young S. , Li Weimin , Banks Kimberly C. , Quinn Katie , Renouf Daniel J. , Jonker Derek J. , Tu Dongsheng , Chen Eric X. , Loree Jonathan M.
Published: August 2022

PURPOSE

Anti–epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies are effective treatments for metastatic colorectal cancer. Improved understanding of acquired resistance mechanisms may facilitate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring, anti-EGFR rechallenge, and combinatorial strategies to delay resistance.

METHODS

Patients with treatment-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (n = 169) enrolled on the CO.26 trial had pre–anti-EGFR tissue whole-exome sequencing (WES) compared with baseline and week 8 ctDNA assessments with the GuardantOMNI assay. Acquired alterations were compared between patients with prior anti-EGFR therapy (n = 66) and those without. Anti-EGFR therapy occurred a median of 111 days before ctDNA assessment.

RESULTS

ctDNA identified 12 genes with increased mutation frequency after anti-EGFR therapy, including EGFR ( P = .0007), KRAS ( P = .0017), LRP1B ( P = .0046), ZNF217 ( P = .0086), MAP2K1 ( P = .018), PIK3CG ( P = .018), BRAF ( P = .048), and NRAS ( P = .048). Acquired mutations appeared as multiple concurrent subclonal alterations, with most showing decay over time. Significant increases in copy-gain frequency were noted in 29 genes after anti-EGFR exposure, with notable alterations including EGFR ( P < .0001), SMO ( P < .0001), BRAF ( P < .0001), MET ( P = .0002), FLT3 ( P = .0002), NOTCH4 ( P = .0006), ERBB2 ( P = .004), and FGFR1 ( P = .006). Copy gains appeared stable without decay 8 weeks later. There were 13 gene fusions noted among 11 patients, all but one of which was associated with prior anti-EGFR therapy. Polyclonal resistance was common with acquisition of ≥ 10 resistance related alterations noted in 21% of patients with previous anti-EGFR therapy compared with 5% in those without ( P = .010). Although tumor mutation burden (TMB) did not differ pretreatment ( P = .63), anti-EGFR exposure increased TMB ( P = .028), whereas lack of anti-EGFR exposure resulted in declining TMB ( P = .014).

CONCLUSION

Paired tissue and ctDNA sequencing identified multiple novel mutations, copy gains, and fusions associated with anti-EGFR therapy that frequently co-occur as subclonal alterations in the same patient.
Time Fisher information associated with fluctuations in quantum geometry
Authors: Wani Salman Sajad , Quach James Q. , Faizal Mir
Published: August 2022

As time is not an observable, we use Fisher information (FI) to address the problem of time. We demonstrate that although the Hamiltonian operator is the generator of time, the Hamiltonian constraint operator cannot observe the change that arises through the passage of time. This is because the Hamiltonian constraint does not contain time FI. As we also identify an alternative operator on the world-sheet which does contain time FI, we argue that the timelessness of quantum gravity occurs due to the use of an inappropriate operator. We propose that a criterion for a physically meaningful operator in any quantum gravitational process is that it should contain non-vanishing time FI. Although we explicitly derive these results on the world-sheet of bosonic strings, we argue that it holds for any quantum geometry associated with time-reparametrization–invariant classical geometry.
Understanding How Pregnancy Protects Against Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer Development: Fetal Antigens May Be Involved
Authors: Main Claudia , Chen Xinyue , Zhao Min , Chamley Lawrence W , Chen Qi
Published: August 2022

It is well known that many factors, including infertility, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and family history of cancer, increase the risk of developing endometrial and ovarian cancer. However, multiparous women are known to have a lower risk of developing either ovarian or endometrial cancer than nonparous women. The lack of ovulation and shifting of sex hormonal balance, with decreased estrogen levels and increased progesterone levels during pregnancy, has traditionally been thought to be the major contributor to this decreased risk. However, in reality, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are relatively unknown. Increasing evidence suggests that endocrine factors are unlikely to completely explain the protective effect of pregnancies, and that multiple other nonendocrine mechanisms including fetal antigens and the newly proposed dormant cells hypothesis may also be involved. In this review, we summarize recent evidence and describe the potential underlying mechanisms that may explain how pregnancy protects against the development of ovarian and endometrial cancers in women's later life.
Value of radiomics based on CE-MRI for predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in invasive breast cancer
Authors: Li Qin , Huang Yan , Xiao Qin , Duan Shaofeng , Wang Simin , Li Jianwei , Niu Qingliang , Gu Yajia
Published: August 2022

Objective:

To establish and validate a radiomics nomogram based on contrast-enhanced (CE)-MRI for predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer with non-mass enhancement (NME).

Methods:

A cohort comprising 117 HER2-positive breast cancer patients showing NME on CE-MRI between January 2012 and December 2019 were retrospectively analysed in our study. Patients were classified as pathological complete respone (pCR) according to surgical specimens and axillary lymph nodes without invasive tumour cells. Clinicopathological data were recorded, and images were assessed by two radiologists. A total of 1130 radiomics features were extracted from the primary tumour and six radiomics features were selected by the maximal relevance and minimal redundancy and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithms. Univariate logistic regression was used to screen meaningful clinical and imaging features. The rad-score and independent risk factors were incorporated to build a nomogram model. Calibration and receiver operator characteristic curves were used to confirm the performance of the nomogram in the training and testing cohorts. The clinical usefulness of the nomogram was evaluated by decision curve analysis.

Results:

The difference in the rad-score between the pCR and non-pCR groups was significant in the training and testing cohorts (p < 0.01). The nomogram model showed good calibration and discrimination, with AUCs of 0.900 and 0.810 in the training and testing cohorts. Decision curve analysis indicated that the radiomics-based model was superior in terms of patient clinical benefit.

Conclusion:

The MRI-based radiomics nomogram model could be used to pre-operatively predict the efficacy of NAC in HER2-positive breast cancer patients showing NME.

Advances in knowledge:

HER2-positive breast cancer showing segmental enhancement on CE-MRI was more likely to achieve pCR after NAC than regional enhancement and diffuse enhancement. The MRI-based radiomics nomogram model could be used to pre-operatively predict the efficacy of NAC in HER2-positive breast cancer that showed NME.
Positive strand RNA viruses differ in the constraints they place on the folding of their negative strand
Authors: Herod Morgan R. , Ward Joseph C. , Tuplin Andrew , Harris Mark , Stonehouse Nicola J. , McCormick Christopher J.
Published: August 2022

Genome replication of positive strand RNA viruses requires the production of a complementary negative strand RNA that serves as a template for synthesis of more positive strand progeny. Structural RNA elements are important for genome replication, but while they are readily observed in the positive strand, evidence of their existence in the negative strand is more limited. We hypothesized that this was due to viruses differing in their capacity to allow this latter RNA to adopt structural folds. To investigate this, ribozymes were introduced into the negative strand of different viral constructs; the expectation being that if RNA folding occurred, negative strand cleavage and suppression of replication would be seen. Indeed, this was what happened with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) constructs. However, little or no impact was observed for chikungunya virus (CHIKV), human rhinovirus (HRV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), and yellow fever virus (YFV) constructs. Reduced cleavage in the negative strand proved to be due to duplex formation with the positive strand. Interestingly, ribozyme-containing RNAs also remained intact when produced in vitro by the HCV polymerase, again due to duplex formation. Overall, our results show that there are important differences in the conformational constraints imposed on the folding of the negative strand between different positive strand RNA viruses.
De novo prediction of RNA–protein interactions with graph neural networks
Authors: Arora Viplove , Sanguinetti Guido
Published: August 2022

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key co- and post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, playing a crucial role in many biological processes. Experimental methods like CLIP-seq have enabled the identification of transcriptome-wide RNA–protein interactions for select proteins; however, the time- and resource-intensive nature of these technologies call for the development of computational methods to complement their predictions. Here, we leverage recent, large-scale CLIP-seq experiments to construct a de novo predictor of RNA–protein interactions based on graph neural networks (GNN). We show that the GNN method allows us not only to predict missing links in an RNA–protein network, but to predict the entire complement of targets of previously unassayed proteins, and even to reconstruct the entire network of RNA–protein interactions in different conditions based on minimal information. Our results demonstrate the potential of modern machine learning methods to extract useful information on post-transcriptional regulation from large data sets.
Phytosociological survey of juniper wood vegetation in Tajikistan (Middle Asia)
Authors: Nowak Arkadiusz , Nobis Marcin , Nowak Sylwia , Kotowski Marcin , Świerszcz Sebastian
Published: August 2022

The paper presents the first syntaxonomic classification for juniper wood communities in Tajikistan with some remarks on their environmental gradients. A total of 119 relevés were sampled between 2015 and 2021 using the seven-degree Braun-Blanquet cover-abundance scale. They were classified by a modified TWINSPAN method. Diagnostic species were identified using phi coefficient as a fidelity measure. Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) was used to determine relationships between samples, vegetation units and major gradients in species composition. Plant communities have been divided into two main groups. The first one is a west Irano-Turanian wood of Juniperus polycarpos var. seravschanica of the Pamir-Alai mountane belt. It occurs in two variants depending mainly on the aspect and precipitation. The second juniper wood type in Tajikistan is a stand of Juniperus pseudosabina. It prefers the northern slopes and north-eastern ranges of the Pamir-Alai and slightly lower elevations. Both juniper wood types are highly distinct in terms of species composition, especially in the moss layer, and have therefore been assigned to different classes: Pino-Juniperetea (Juniperetum seravschanicae) and Juniperetea pseudosabinae (Carici turkestanicae-Juniperetum pseudosabinae). The main factors determining the species composition of the studied associations are latitude, growing season precipitation, annual range of air temperature and precipitation of coldest quarter. Our study has shown that there are two very distinct vegetation types of the juniper wood groves in Tajikistan, which reflect the main phytogeographical division between the provinces of Turkestan and Central Asia.
Monkeypox - review
Authors: Kuchnicka Aleksandra Amalia , Kosz Katarzyna , Kuchnicka Julia , Remjasz Klaudia , Zarankiewicz Natalia , Zielińska Martyna , Sapuła Klaudia , Aleksandrowicz Jakub , Siedlecki Wojciech
Published: August 2022

Introduction and purpose: 

This review aims to analyze the current information about monkeypox and the virus which causes the disease. 

Material and method:

This review was based on articles collected in PubMed and published in the years 2012-2022

The research was done by looking through keywords as follows: „monkeypox”; „zoonosis”;„tecovirimat”

Results:

The selected studies have demonstrated that the monkeypox virus is a high-danger pathogen that causes a disease important to public health. More research on this topic has to be done to prevent and better comprehend the potential threat. 

Conclusions: 

According to the cited research, public health systems should be aware of practical methods to reduce the risk of monkeypox spreading. It is crucial to monitor the spreading of the monkeypox disease and create effective preparation. Moreover, governments should develop strategies to prevent their population.
A review of current knowledge regarding insulin resistance among the pediatric population
Authors: Wolnowska Monika , Górnik-Horn Karolina , Staśkiewicz Wiktoria , Grajek Mateusz
Published: August 2022

One of the key roles in maintaining the body's homeostasis is played by insulin. The presence of insulin receptors in almost all cells of the body reflects the importance of this hormone. Insulin resistance is a state of impaired glucose homeostasis resulting from a decreased sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin, despite normal or elevated serum levels. The purpose of this paper is to present the current state of knowledge on the pathogenesis, risk factors, and diagnosis of insulin resistance at developmental age.
The potential of cannabinoids in the treatment of lung cancer
Authors: Drozd Małgorzata , Marzęda Paweł , Czarnota Jakub , Dobrzyński Michał , Skubel Tomasz , Dudek Iga , Rybak Natalia
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Lung cancer is the number-one cause of death due to neoplasms worldwide. The 5-year overall survival rate is only 22%. In advanced stages, the therapeutic options are limited to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, molecularly targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Phytocannabinoids, the components of Cannabis sativa, their synthetic derivatives and endogenous cannabinoids have demonstrated anticancer activity in various common cancers - breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancers, among others. The aim of this review was to assess the potential value of cannabinoids in the treatment of lung cancer.

State of knowledge: The majority of preclinical studies demonstrates that cannabinoids inhibit lung cancer cell viability both in vitro and in vivo. The main mechanism of anticancer  activity is the induction of apoptosis, triggered by activation of CB1, CB2 and TRPV1 receptors or independently via other pathways. Cannabinoids influence the components of the tumour microenvironment - cancer associated fibroblasts, macrophages and lymphokine-activated-killer cells. Cannabinoids alter leukocyte infiltration into anti-cancer proportions, inhibit expression of EGFR and PAI-1 and increase the expression of TIMP-1. As a result they induce cytotoxicity, decrease proliferation, migration and invasive potential of lung cancer cells, suppress angiogenesis and metastasis forming. Patients with advanced lung cancer may also benefit from analgesic, antiemetic and appetite improving properties of cannabinoids.

Summary: Cannabinoids can be a supplementary agent in systemic anticancer therapeutic regimen in the future. The exact mechanisms of action, specific doses in anticancer treatment, routes of administration and interactions with other anticancer drugs has yet to be determined. Thus the clinical studies on cannabinoids in lung cancer should be performed in the future.
Technology Implementation at Capital One
Authors: Cook Ed , Merrick Jason R. W.
Published: August 2022

Implementations of new technology in large organizations are often plagued with delays and dissatisfaction among customers, employees, and management. At Capital One, group decision theory was used to provide an assessment of the risks of three implementation strategies from a company-wide perspective, along with the risks to each of the stakeholder groups within the company. The analysis revealed that each of the three alternatives would negatively affect one or more of the stakeholder groups, leading to the development of a new implementation strategy which allowed for a successful rollout avoiding delays that plagued other banks implementing the same technology and improving both employee and customer satisfaction.
Engaging Students in Optimization Modeling: Gaining Business Disruption Insights
Authors: Williams Julie Ann Stuart , Reid Randall , Billings Philip E. , Belford Natalie C.
Published: August 2022

How can students prepare for potential business disruptions? The approach shown in this paper uses optimization modeling with parametric sensitivity analysis and further broadens the search for insights with structural sensitivity analysis in a series of contextual exercises. The exercises prompt students to identify critical resources for business impact analysis by extending production planning to include scenario analyses and contingency considerations. During virtual office hours, one participant described the exercises in terms of a “mystery” to solve. For an open-ended contingency planning question, some participants even proposed new product design decisions. Upon conclusion of the study, 25 of the 28 participants recommended the exercises for future semesters.

Funding: Graduate assistant support for P. E. Billings and N. C. Belford was provided by the College of Business at the University of West Florida.

Supplemental Material: The supplemental material is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2022.0279 .
Maximum Spectral Measures of Risk with Given Risk Factor Marginal Distributions
Authors: Ghossoub Mario , Hall Jesse , Saunders David
Published: August 2022

We consider the problem of determining an upper bound for the value of a spectral risk measure of a loss that is a general nonlinear function of two factors whose marginal distributions are known but whose joint distribution is unknown. The factors may take values in complete separable metric spaces. We introduce the notion of Maximum Spectral Measure (MSM), as a worst-case spectral risk measure of the loss with respect to the dependence between the factors. The MSM admits a formulation as a solution to an optimization problem that has the same constraint set as the optimal transport problem but with a more general objective function. We present results analogous to the Kantorovich duality, and we investigate the continuity properties of the optimal value function and optimal solution set with respect to perturbation of the marginal distributions. Additionally, we provide an asymptotic result characterizing the limiting distribution of the optimal value function when the factor distributions are simulated from finite sample spaces. The special case of Expected Shortfall and the resulting Maximum Expected Shortfall is also examined.

Funding: M. Ghossoub and D. Saunders acknowledge financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada in the form of Discovery Grants [Grants 2018-03961 and 2017-04220, respectively].
“E a tal da melhor idade”: discursos e caminhares sobre a velhice em Quarenta dias, de Maria Valéria Rezende
Authors: Machado Ferreira Ana Carolina
Published: August 2022

RESUMO O presente artigo possui como foco de estudo a representação da velhice no romance Quarenta dias, de Maria Valéria Rezende. Para esse objetivo, analisamos os diferentes discursos apresentados durante a narrativa e que se apropriam de visões estereotipadas sobre o processo de envelhecimento da mulher. Alice, professora aposentada, é obrigada a deixar sua cidade natal ao ser confrontada pela filha, Norinha, que deseja engravidar e menciona que não conseguirá criar o filho sem a ajuda da mãe. Contrariada, Alice se muda para Porto Alegre e começa a vivenciar as consequências da mudança repentina - como a solidão e a nostalgia da vida deixada em João Pessoa. O caminhar sem rumo pelas ruas periféricas da cidade também será objeto deste estudo, pois é por meio desse ir e vir que a personagem lidará com a ressignificação da própria vida. Palavras-chave: Velhice; Representação; Caminhar; Literatura Brasileira Contemporânea
O acolhimento do aluno imigrante nas escolas públicas do Rio de Janeiro
Authors: De Oliveira Fernanda Silva , Pacheco de Souza Janaína Moreira
Published: August 2022

O presente artigo tem como tema as crianças em situação de imigração no contexto escolar brasileiro, particularmente, em escolas municipais do Rio de Janeiro. O diálogo aqui empreendido fundamenta-se em pesquisas que tem por base publicações oficiais disponíveis a respeito da imigração de refúgio e objetiva, por meio delas, compreender os desafios existentes no processo de recepção e de inclusão de crianças refugiadas nessas escolas. O referencial teórico utilizado é o da Linguística Aplicada, referente aos estudos relacionados ao ensino-aprendizagem de português como Língua de Acolhimento (PLAc), além do referencial relativo aos estudos baseados em uma perspectiva crítica de educação intercultural. O interesse é suscitar reﬂexões para a compreensão da questão do direito das crianças imigrantes à educação, considerando o acesso, a permanência e os seus modos de aprendizagem, como pontos fundamentais nesta discussão. Diante desse cenário, busca-se, através do trabalho, contribuir para a discussão sobre as políticas linguísticas voltadas para o ensino de PLAc e a formação docente para atuar nesse contexto.
Força de Yabá: representações da pomba-gira e de identidades femininas em terreiros da região sul do Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Soares Rodrigo Lemos , Bussoletti Denise Marcos
Published: August 2022

O artigo que segue tem o objetivo de descrever as representações da pomba-gira, figura feminina da Quimbanda, aproximada das forças das yabás, mães-de-santo de terreiros da região sul do Rio Grande do Sul. A produção do mesmo foi possível pela realização de nove entrevistas semiestruturadas com dirigentes de terreiros, pós aprovação do projeto pelo comitê de ética em pesquisas com seres humanos. Enquanto resultados foi possível observar que as representações das pomba-giras estão aproximadas com as ideias de mulheres que rompem com regramentos sociais que definem seus papeis sociais de sujeitos, enquanto seres domésticos e obedientes. As representações das entidades femininas da Quimbanda exemplificam o contraponto, a resistência e outras formas de ser mulher na sociedade, pois, elas vão de encontro a obediência e silenciamento das vontades. As mães-de-santo, donas dos terreiros cumprem a função de desenvolver noções de liberdade e cultos aos corpos de todos os sujeitos que passam pelas suas mãos e, por sua vez, ensinamentos.