bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions and inpatient mortality in Kenya
Authors: Ogero M , Isaaka L , Mumelo L , Kimego D , Njoroge T , Mbevi G , Wanyama C , Lucinde R , Gathuri H , Otiende M , Nzioki C , Wachira A , Mumbi F , Oeri G , Mwangi N , Gitari R , Mugambi D , Namu S , Ithondeka A , Kariuki H , Kiama Z , Mwende L , Jowi E , Muthui B , Kaara A , Sitienei E , Thuranira L , Oginga I , Njagi J , Kamau E , Namulala E , Oketch G , Wandera O , Adhiambo S , Adem A , Ochieng M , Otedo A , Otiende K , Odondi A , Makokha F , Lubanga D , Nyikui J , Masoso W , Manyonge M , Inginia R , Manuthu E , Wafula D , Agutu C , Malangachi R , Biko S , Simiyu  , Obare J , Kimutai D , Gituma B , Kyalo J , Timbwa M , Otieno J , Liru M , Nyabinda C , Otieno S , Aman R , Mwangangi M , Amoth P , Were I , Mwangi C , Kasera K , Ng’ang’a W , Tsegaye A , Sherry C , Singa B , Tickell K , Walson J , Berkley J , Were F , Mturi N , Hamaluba M , Tsofa B , Mwangangi J , Bejon P , Barasa E , English M , Nyaguara A , Kagucia EW , Scott JAG , Akech S , Etyang AO , Agweyu A
Published: October 2022

Background

The impact of COVID-19 in Africa remains poorly defined. We sought to describe trends in hospitalisation due to all medical causes, pneumonia-specific admissions, and inpatient mortality in Kenya before and during the first five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya.

Methods

We conducted a hospital-based, multi-site, longitudinal observational study of patients admitted to 13 public referral facilities in Kenya from January 2018 to December 2021. The pre-COVID population included patients admitted before 1 March 2020. We fitted time series models to compare observed and predicted trends for each outcome. To estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we calculated incidence rate ratios (IRR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) from negative binomial mixed-effects models.

Results

Out of 302,703 patients hospitalised across the 13 surveillance sites (range 11547 to 57011), 117642 (39%) were admitted to adult wards. Compared with the pre-COVID period, hospitalisations declined markedly among adult (IRR 0.68, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.73) and paediatric (IRR 0.67, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.73) patients. Adjusted in-hospital mortality also declined among both adult (IRR 0.83, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.89) and paediatric (IRR 0.85, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.94) admissions. Pneumonia-specific admissions among adults increased during the pandemic (IRR 1.75, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.59). Paediatric pneumonia cases were lower than pre-pandemic levels in the first year of the pandemic and elevated in late 2021 (IRR 0.78, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.20).

Conclusions

Contrary to initial predictions, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with lower hospitalisation rates and in-hospital mortality, despite increased pneumonia admissions among adults. These trends were sustained after the withdrawal of containment measures that disrupted essential health services, suggesting a role for additional factors that warrant further investigation.
Tackling the challenges of group network inference from intracranial EEG data
Authors: Pidnebesna Anna , Sanda Pavel , Kalina Adam , Hammer Jiri , Marusic Petr , Vlcek Kamil , Hlinka Jaroslav
Published: October 2022

Intracranial EEG (iEEG) data is a powerful way to map brain function, characterized by high temporal and spatial resolution, allowing the study of interactions among neuronal populations that orchestrate cognitive processing. However, the statistical inference and analysis of brain networks using iEEG data faces many challenges related to its sparse brain coverage, and its inhomogeneity across patients. We review these challenges and develop a methodological pipeline for estimation of network structure not obtainable from any single patient, illustrated on the inference of the interaction among visual streams using a dataset of 27 human iEEG recordings from a visual experiment employing visual scene stimuli. 100 ms sliding window and multiple band-pass filtered signals are used to provide temporal and spectral resolution. For the connectivity analysis we showcase two connectivity measures reflecting different types of interaction between regions of interest (ROI): Phase Locking Value as a symmetric measure of synchrony, and Directed Transfer Function - asymmetric measure describing causal interaction. For each two channels, initial uncorrected significance testing at p<0.05 for every time-frequency point is carried out by comparison of the data-derived connectivity to a baseline surrogate-based null distribution, providing a binary time-frequency connectivity map. For each ROI pair, a connectivity density map is obtained by averaging across all pairs of channels spanning them, effectively agglomerating data across relevant channels and subjects. Finally, the difference of the mean map value after and before the stimulation is compared to the same statistic in surrogate data to assess link significance.

The analysis confirmed the function of the parieto-medial temporal pathway, mediating visuospatial information between dorsal and ventral visual streams during visual scene analysis. Moreover, we observed the anterior hippocampal connectivity with more posterior areas in the medial temporal lobe, and found the reciprocal information flow between early processing areas and medial place area. To summarize, we developed an approach for estimating network connectivity, dealing with the challenge of sparse individual coverage of intracranial EEG electrodes. Its application provided new insights into the interaction between the dorsal and ventral visual streams, one of the iconic dualities in human cognition.
Expansion Spatial Transcriptomics
Authors: Fan Yuhang , Andrusivová Žaneta , Wu Yunming , Chai Chew , Larsson Ludvig , He Mengxiao , Luo Liqun , Lundeberg Joakim , Wang Bo
Published: October 2022

Capture array-based spatial transcriptomics methods have been widely used to resolve gene expression in diverse tissue contexts, however, their spatial resolution is limited by array density. We present Expansion Spatial Transcriptomics (Ex-ST) to overcome this limitation by clearing and expanding tissue prior to capturing the entire transcriptome. This approach allows us to achieve near cellular resolution and higher capture efficiency of lowly-expressed genes, which we demonstrate using mouse brain samples.
Assessing SARS-CoV-2 evolution through the analysis of emerging mutations
Authors: Mitsigkolas Anastasios , Pechlivanis Nikolaos , Psomopoulos Fotis
Published: October 2022

Intro

The number of studies on SARS-CoV-2 published on a daily basis is constantly increasing, in an attempt to understand and address the challenges posed by the pandemic in a better way. Most of these studies also include a phylogeny of SARS-CoV-2 as background context, always taking into consideration the latest data in order to construct an updated tree. However, some of these studies have also revealed the difficulties of inferring a reliable phylogeny. [13] have shown that reliable phylogeny is an inherently complex task due to the large number of highly similar sequences, given the relatively low number of mutations evident in each sequence.

Motivation

From this viewpoint, there is indeed a challenge and an opportunity in identifying the evolutionary history of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in order to assist the phylogenetic analysis process as well as support researchers in keeping track of the virus and the course of its characteristic mutations, and in finding patterns of the emerging mutations themselves and the interactions between them. The research question is formulated as follows: Detecting new patterns of co-occurring mutations beyond the strain-specific / strain-defining ones, in SARS-CoV-2 data, through the application of ML methods.

Aim

Going beyond the traditional phylogenetic approaches, we will be designing and implementing a clustering method that will effectively create a dendrogram of the involved sequences, based on a feature space defined on the present mutations, rather than the entire sequence. Ultimately, this ML method is tested out in sequences retrieved from public databases and validated using the available metadata as labels. The main goal of the project is to design, implement and evaluate a software that will automatically detect and cluster relevant mutations, that could potentially be used to identify trends in emerging variants.

Contact

tasos1109@gmail.com
Exploring relationships among work–family interfaces, organizational commitment, organizational justice and occupational stress in Vietnamese state organizations
Authors: Tran Quan Hoang Nguyen
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the work–family interface on organizational commitment with the mediating role of occupational stress and organizational justice in Vietnamese state sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical research is completed with a sample of 294 local respondents. Linear regression analysis is used to test hypotheses.

Findings

The findings of this paper indicate that work–family interfaces partially affect organizational commitment and occupational stress. Also, occupational stress partly plays a mediating role in the relationship between work–family interfaces and organizational commitment. This paper opens the scope of work–family interfaces in an emerging country (Vietnam).

Practical Implications

The results of this paper provide two practical implications for public Vietnamese organizations and leaders. First, superiors and administrators must establish policies for employees to decrease the adverse effects of work–family conflict. Second, supervisors and administrations at local public organizations should distribute additional training to help employees understand the detrimental impact of work–family conflict and occupational stress and how to solve them.

Originality/value

This paper strengthens the work–family theory by integrating the relationship between work–family interfaces, organizational justice, occupational stress and organizational commitment. As none of the prior literature has studied the relationship among four factors in Vietnam, the results are expected to fulfil this gap.
Entrepreneurial anxiety: an empirical investigation in Bangladesh
Authors: Ukil Minhajul Islam
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how entrepreneurial anxiety develops during the entrepreneurial intention stage in a developing country such as Bangladesh, where doing business has long been a challenge, and examine how individuals manage their entrepreneurial anxiety. Indeed, understanding how anxiety is formed when individuals decide to start a business has been a challenge, because such a decision is influenced by both individual and contextual factors.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies thematic analysis to examine how individuals experience and react to entrepreneurial anxiety in a developing country context when they make a decision to start a business using data from 30 in-depth semistructured interviews with 20 aspiring and 10 active entrepreneurs. All participants are Bangladeshi nationals.

Findings

Consistent with earlier studies, the findings of this study revealed that entrepreneurial anxiety is regarded as a type of distress, doubt, fear, uneasiness and worry. Moreover, 11 distinct sources of entrepreneurial anxiety were identified, suggesting that some individuals develop problem-focused coping strategies to stay firm on their decision to start a business as planned, whereas others procrastinate.

Research limitations/implications

The findings add new dimensions to the theory of entrepreneurial anxiety and offer practical implications for aspiring entrepreneurs, policymakers, parents and society as a whole.

Originality/value

This study contributes to an underexplored area of emotion in entrepreneurship by conceptualizing how entrepreneurial anxiety develops during a specific stage of the entrepreneurial process, that is, entrepreneurial intention.
A hybrid decision-making approach for locating rescue materials storage points under public emergencies
Authors: Xu Wenping , Xu Jitao , Proverbs David , Zhang Yuwan
Published: October 2022

Purpose

In modern urban governance, rescue materials storage points (RMSP) are a vital role to be considered in responding to public emergencies and improving a city's emergency management. This study analyzes the siting of community-centered relief supply facilities.

Design/methodology/approach

Combining grey relational analysis, complex network and relative entropy, a new multi criteria method is proposed. It pays more attention to the needs of the community, taking into account the use of community hospitals, fire centers and neighborhood offices to establish small RMSP.

Findings

The research results firstly found suitable areas for RMSP site selection, including Hanyang, Qiaokou, Jiangan and Wuchang. The top 10 nodes in each region are found as the location of emergency facilities, and the network parameters are higher than ordinary nodes in traffic networks. The proposed method was applied in Wuhan, China and the method was verified by us-ing a complex network model combined with multi-criteria decision-making for emergency facility location.

Practical implications

This method solves the problem of how to choose the optimal solution and reduces the difficulty for decision makers. This method will help emergency managers to locate and plan RMSP more simply, especially in improving emergency siting modeling techniques and additionally in providing a reference for future research.

Originality/value

The method proposed in this study is beneficial to improve the decision-making ability of urban emergency departments. Using complex networks and comprehensive evaluation techniques, RMSP is incorporated into the urban community emergency network as a critical rescue force. More importantly, the findings highlight a new direction for further research on urban emergency facilities site selection based on a combination of sound theoretical basis as well as empirical evidence gained from real life case-based analysis.

Highlights:

Material reserve points are incorporated into the emergency supply network to maintain the advantage of quantity.

Build emergency site selection facilities centered on urban communities.

Use a complex network model to select the location of emergency supplies storage sites.
Assessment of disordered eating attitude and mental health among Indian Kho-Kho players
Authors: Kalpana Kommi , Khanna Gulshan Lal
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The potential problems of Kho-Kho players have been less studied. Considering eating disorders a public health problem, but also in particular for athletes, as it can cause serious health and performance decrements if left unmonitored. This study aims to determine the prevalence of disordered eating attitude and their relationship with mental health among Indian Kho-Kho players.

Design/methodology/approach

Fifty-two male Kho-Kho players aged 16–31 years were assessed for disordered eating attitude using Eating Attitude Test (EAT)-26 and mental health using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and t-test were computed to know the difference between positive and negative disordered eating attitude.

Findings

The disordered eating attitude was prevalent among 11.5% of players. The players with disordered eating attitudes showed a significantly (p < 0.01) higher score for EAT-26 subscales related to dieting and oral control. Players were involved in binging (21.2%), purging (5.8%), use of laxatives (1.9%), extra exercise (>1 h) (34.6%) and lost >20 pounds of body weight in the last six months (13.5%). Depression, anxiety and stress were higher in the group with a disordered eating attitude. However, a significant difference (p < 0.01) was found only for depression.

Research limitations/implications

The disordered eating attitude was present among Kho-Kho Players and linked with depression. Health care service providers are encouraged to monitor and guide the players with disordered eating attitudes to take active measures to ensure optimum health and performance.

Originality/value

The present paper provides evidence of disordered eating attitude linked with depression among Kho-Kho players.
Famitinib enhances the antitumor effect of radioimmunotherapy in murine lung cancer
Authors: Yuan Meng , Zhai Yirui , Men Yu , Zhao Maoyuan , Sun Xin , Ma Zeliang , Yang Xu , Sun Shuang , Bao Yongxing , Liu Yunsong , Hui Zhouguang
Published: October 2022

Background

Combining antiangiogenic therapy with radioimmunotherapy is believed to further improve antitumor efficacy, but there is still a lack of evidence to support this. This study aimed to investigate the role of the tumor vascular‐targeted agent famitinib with a combination of radiotherapy and an immune checkpoint inhibitor in murine lung cancer.

Methods

The effect of VEGFA and HIF1A on clinical prognosis and the tumor immune microenvironment was analyzed using public databases. Enrichment analyses of post‐irradiation gene expression and mRNAs related to immunotherapy efficacy were carried out based on GEO datasets. A C57BL/6 mouse subcutaneous tumor model was used to evaluate the antitumor effects of different treatment schemes. The tumor immunophenotyping was identified by flow cytometry.

Results

We demonstrated that high level of VEGFA and HIF1A expression in lung cancer was related to poor prognosis and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In a mouse model, the triple therapy of famitinib, radiotherapy and immunotherapy had the most dramatic antitumor activity. It significantly increased tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and reversed the immunosuppressive state of the tumor microenvironment in mice. Compared with radioimmunotherapy, the addition of famitinib further promoted the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and M1 type tumor associated macrophages, and reduced the number of myeloid suppressor cells. Therefore, triple therapy converted the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment into an immunostimulatory one.

Conclusion

Famitinib can synergize with radioimmunotherapy by regulating the tumor immune microenvironment in murine lung cancer.
Enzymatic and insecticidal activities of the Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus glycosyltransferase, AMV248
Authors: Gencer Donus , Inan Cihan , Demirbag Zihni , Muratoğlu Hacer
Published: October 2022

The family Poxviridae is divided into two subfamilies, the Chordopoxvirinae of vertebrates and the Entomopoxvirinae of invertebrates. The Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus (AMEV, Entomopoxvirinae) has the potential to be used in gene therapy, as an expression vector, and as a biopesticide. It was suggested that AMV248 protein is a putative glycosyltransferase (GT) but was also shown to be an attachment protein to host receptors. GTs encoded by some other viruses catalyse the binding of sugars molecules to growth hormones of the host insects rendering the hormones inactive. Consequently, larval development is arrested and frequently results in larval mortality. In this study, AMV248 protein was shown to be a GT and the purified enzyme catalysed the production of uridine diphosphate (UDP) from the substrates UDP‐glucose and UDP‐N‐acetylglucosamine. This AMEV enzyme may behave much like the ecdysteroid UDP‐glucosyltransferase of baculoviruses. Various concentrations of the GT enzyme were tested for its insecticidal activity against gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), lackey moth Malacosoma neustria (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae. It had varying deleterious effects on all test larvae but L. dispar was the most sensitive to the enzyme. While this enzyme exhibits properties with potential to be developed as an insecticide in biocontrol strategies, investigations are needed to ascertain its value in pest management.
What if we abandon the concept of career proactivity to move research forward?
Authors: Forrier Anneleen
Published: October 2022

The idea that individuals need to be proactive to successfully manage their career is predominant in current career research. Despite the great importance attached to career proactivity, the literature on the topic remains fragmented. I thus highly welcome the comprehensive literature review Career proactivity: A bibliometric literature review and future research agenda. The authors conduct a thorough and rigorous bibliometric analysis to uncover the width, evolution, and gaps in the literature on career proactivity. I also welcome their roadmap for future research. I very much agree with the issues they point out: Cleaning up concepts, integrating context, and developing new theories. But I do wonder if their specific suggestions on these issues will not tend toward status quo and further fragmentation. Questioning the agentic assumption and individualistic stance of research on career proactivity, I plea for a different and more unconventional route. Below, I reflect on the author's and my ideas on these three issues: Concept clarification, including context, and new theory.
Effect of immersion in low‐pH solution on physicochemical properties of high‐pH venison
Authors: Muramoto Takayuki , Kurabe Suzumi , Suzuki Yuiko , Kinoshita Kazunari , Hirata Shigeki
Published: October 2022

The color of venison observed at a high‐pH is not preferred by consumers. However, the physicochemical properties of venison soaked in a low‐pH solution to lower its high‐pH are unknown. We investigated the effect of immersion in a low‐pH solution on the physicochemical properties of a high‐pH venison. The pH of M. longissimus thoracis from seven female wild deer (Cervus nippon) was measured and divided into normal‐pH venison and high‐pH venison groups. The a* and b* values for high‐pH venison were lower than those for normal‐pH venison before storage. There was no significant difference in the pH between high‐pH venison immersed in a pH 4 solution and normal‐pH venison stored. The drip loss of immersed high‐pH venison was significantly lower than that of normal‐pH venison and high‐pH venison. Cooking loss and total loss were the lowest for normal‐pH venison and the highest for immersed high‐pH venison. The maximum load between normal‐pH venison, high‐pH venison, and immersed high‐pH venison did not differ significantly. Our work showed that meat color became favorable by immersing high‐pH venison in a solution of pH 4, followed by heating.
Autoantibodies against contactin‐associated protein 1 and complexes of paranode‐specific proteins in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
Authors: Koga Michiaki , Maeda Toshihiko , Shimizu Fumitaka , Kanda Takashi
Published: October 2022

Objective

To investigate the frequency of serum autoantibodies targeting contactin‐associated protein 1 (Caspr1) and its complexes with other paranode antigens, contactin‐1 (CNTN1) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), in Japanese patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).

Methods

Sera from 26 CIDP patients, 35 patients with Guillain–Barré syndrome, and 31 healthy individuals participated. Paranodal immunoglobulin G antibodies were quantified using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays with commercially available recombinant proteins as antigens.

Results

Anti‐Caspr1 antibodies were present in one participant (case 1, 3.8%) of CIDP, and negative in all Guillain–Barré syndrome patients and healthy participant. Case 1 was a man who developed subacute distal limb‐predominant muscle weakness and sensory ataxia with postural hand tremor at 69 years‐of‐age, and therapeutic benefit of intravenous immunoglobulin and oral steroids was inadequate. The detected anti‐Caspr1 antibodies predominantly belonged to the immunoglobulin G4 subclass, and the addition of CNTN1 to Caspr1 as an antigen increased antibody reactivity, although the increase was just 20–30% at most. The presence of autoantibodies against paranode protein complexes, including Caspr1/CNTN1, Caspr1/NF155 and Caspr1/CNTN1/NF155, was confirmed in several CIDP patients, although they also had anti‐Caspr1 or anti‐NF155 antibodies; thus, in our cohort, there were no patients with autoantibodies that specifically recognized paranode protein complexes.

Conclusions

This is the first confirmed Japanese case of anti‐Caspr1 antibody‐positive CIDP with a clinical signature similar to that of patients of Western origin. Our preliminary study did not identify the presence of specific antibodies against the paranode protein complexes, and the primary target antigen is likely Caspr1.
Distant but similar: Simultaneous drop in the abundance of three independent amphibian communities
Authors: Chiacchio Michele , Mazoschek Linda , Vershinin Vladimir , Berzin Dmitry , Partel Piergiovanni , Henle Klaus , Grimm‐Seyfarth Annegret
Published: October 2022

Amphibian species are declining worldwide, with a negative trend affecting both rare and widespread species. There is increasing evidence that resources must be allocated not only toward the monitoring of rare and charismatic species; however, the attention toward abundant species has often been minimal. Here, we describe the strong reduction in the numbers of several widespread amphibian species over the last 3 years observed in three independent amphibian monitoring studies conducted in an alpine, floodplain, and urban landscape in Italy, Germany, and Russia, respectively. The decline was particularly strong in juveniles, but adults and egg clutches were also affected. Such declining rates, if prolonged in the future years, will likely pose a serious threat to the populations' ability to recover and might increase extinction risk also in abundant and widespread species.
Can telehealth increase physical activity in individuals with Rett syndrome? A multicentre randomized controlled trial
Authors: Downs Jenny , Blackmore A. Marie , Wong Kingsley , Buckley Nicholas , Lotan Meir , Elefant Cochavit , Leonard Helen , Stahlhut Michelle
Published: October 2022

Aim

To evaluate the effects of a physical activity programme on sedentary behaviour and physical activity in ambulant individuals with Rett syndrome (RTT).

Method

In this multicentre randomized waitlist‐controlled trial, we recruited 43 ambulatory individuals with RTT in Australia and Denmark. Adequate baseline data were obtained from 38 participants (mean age 20 years, range 6–41, SD 10 years 6 months, one male). All completed the trial. Participants received 12 weeks of usual care (n = 19) or a goal‐based, telehealth‐supported programme in which activities occurred in their familiar environments (n = 19). Sedentary time and daily steps were assessed at baseline, post‐test, and 12‐week follow‐up. The data analyst was blinded to group allocation.

Results

Sedentary time decreased in the intervention group by 2.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] −6.0 to 0.6) and increased in the control group by 1.3% (95% CI −4.8 to 7.4). Intervention and control groups increased the number of their steps per day by 264.7 (95% CI −72.2 to 601.5) and 104.8 (95% CI −178.1 to 387.7) respectively. No significant differences were found on any outcomes at post‐test. There were three minor adverse events.

Interpretation

A goal‐based telehealth intervention seemed to produce small improvements in physical activity for individuals with RTT. Families require more support to increase these individuals' extremely low physical activity levels.

What this paper adds

A telehealth‐supported intervention may produce small changes in physical activity in Rett syndrome (RTT).

Increasing physical activity in individuals with RTT is challenging for caregivers.

Families require substantial out‐of‐home support to increase their children's activity levels.
The spectrum of functional tic‐like behaviours: Data from an international registry
Authors: Martino Davide , Hedderly Tammy , Murphy Tara , Müller‐Vahl Kirsten R. , Dale Russell C. , Gilbert Donald L. , Rizzo Renata , Hartmann Andreas , Nagy Peter , Anheim Mathieu , Owen Tamsin , Malik Osman , Duncan Morvwen , Heyman Isobel , Liang Holan , McWilliams Andrew , O'Dwyer Shauna , Fremer Carolin , Szejko Natalia , Han Velda X. , Kozlowska Kasia , Pringsheim Tamara M.
Published: October 2022

Background and purpose

Between 2019 and 2022, there was a marked rise in adolescents/young adults seeking urgent help for functional tic‐like behaviours (FTLBs). Given the global scale of this phenomenon, we aimed to pool cases from different institutions in an international registry to better characterize this spectrum and facilitate future longitudinal observation.

Methods

An international collaborative group from 10 tertiary referral centres for tic disorders collected retrospective data on FTLB patients who sought specialists' attention between the last quarter of 2019 and June 2022. An audit procedure was used for collection of data, which comprised demographics, course of presentation and duration, precipitating and predisposing factors, phenomenology, comorbidities, and pharmacological treatment outcome.

Results

During the study period, we collected data on 294 patients with FTLBs, 97% of whom were adolescents and young adults and 87% of whom were female. FTLBs were found to have a peak of severity within 1 month in 70% of patients, with spontaneous remissions in 20%, and a very high frequency of complex movements (85%) and vocalizations (81%). Less than one‐fifth of patients had pre‐existing primary tic disorder, 66% had comorbid anxiety disorders, 28% comorbid depressive disorders, 24% autism spectrum disorder and 23% attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Almost 60% explicitly reported exposure to tic‐related social media content. The vast majority of pharmacologically treated patients did not report benefit with tic‐suppressing medications.

Conclusions

Our data from the largest multicentre registry of FTLBs to date confirm substantial clinical differences from primary tic disorders. Social modelling was the most relevant contributing factor during the pandemic. Future longitudinal analyses from this database may help understand treatment approaches and responsiveness.
Functional role of lncRNAs in gastrointestinal malignancies: the peculiar case of small nucleolar RNA host gene family
Authors: Saeinasab Morvarid , Atlasi Yaser , M. Matin Maryam
Published: October 2022

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in normal physiology and are often de‐regulated in disease states such as cancer. Recently, a class of lncRNAs referred to as the small nucleolar RNA host gene (SNHG) family have emerged as important players in tumourigenesis. Here, we discuss new findings describing the role of SNHGs in gastrointestinal tumours and summarize the three main functions by which these lncRNAs promote carcinogenesis, namely: competing with endogenous RNAs, modulating protein function, and regulating epigenetic marking. Furthermore, we discuss how SNHGs participate in different hallmarks of cancer, and how this class of lncRNAs may serve as potential biomarkers in cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Radiation‐constrained boundaries cause nonuniform responses of the carbon uptake phenology to climatic warming in the Northern Hemisphere
Authors: Descals Adrià , Verger Aleixandre , Yin Gaofei , Filella Iolanda , Fu Yongshuo H. , Piao Shilong , Janssens Ivan A. , Peñuelas Josep
Published: October 2022

Climatic warming has lengthened the photosynthetically active season in recent decades, thus affecting the functioning and biogeochemistry of ecosystems, the global carbon cycle and climate. Temperature response of carbon uptake phenology varies spatially and temporally, even within species, and daily total intensity of radiation may play a role. We empirically modelled the thresholds of temperature and radiation under which daily carbon uptake is constrained in the temperate and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere, which include temperate forests, boreal forests, alpine and tundra biomes. The two‐dimensionality of the temperature‐radiation constraint was reduced to one single variable, θ, which represents the angle in a polar coordinate system for the temperature‐radiation observations during the start and end of the growing season. We found that radiation will constrain the trend towards longer growing seasons with future warming but differently during the start and end of season and depending on the biome type and region. We revealed that radiation is a major factor limiting photosynthetic activity that constrains the phenology response to temperature during the end‐of‐season. In contrast, the start of the carbon uptake is overall highly sensitive to temperature but not constrained by radiation at the hemispheric scale. This study thus revealed that while at the end‐of‐season the phenology response to warming is constrained at the hemispheric scale, at the start‐of‐season the advance of spring onset may continue, even if it is at a slower pace.
Characterization of age‐associated B cells in early drug‐naïve rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Vidal‐Pedrola Gemma , Naamane Najib , Cameron James A. , Pratt Arthur G. , Mellor Andrew L. , Isaacs John D. , Scheel‐Toellner Dagmar , Anderson Amy E.
Published: October 2022

Age‐associated B cells (ABCs) are an immune cell subset linked to autoimmunity, infection and ageing, and whose pathophysiological importance was recently highlighted using single cell synovial tissue profiling. To elucidate their pathophysiological relevance, peripheral blood (PB) ABCs from early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA) patients naïve to disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were compared with their synovial fluid (SF) counterparts, and to PB ABCs from psoriatic arthritis patients and healthy controls. PB and SF B‐cell subsets were phenotyped by multi‐parameter flow cytometry, sorted and subjected to gene expression profiling (NanoString nCounter® Immunology V2 Panel) and functional characterization (stimulated cytokine measurements by immunoassay). PB ABCs of eRA patients, which are transcriptionally distinct from those of control cohorts, express chemokine receptors and adhesion molecules, such as CXCR3, that favour homing to inflammatory sites over lymphoid tissue. These cells are an activated, class‐switched B‐cell subset expressing high levels of HLA‐DR, co‐stimulatory molecules and T‐bet. Their secretion profile includes IL‐12p70 and IL‐23 but low levels of IL‐10. High surface expression of FcRL family members, including FcRL3, furthermore suggests a role for these cells in autoimmunity. Finally, and unlike in the periphery where they are rare, ABCs are the predominant B‐cell subsets in SF. These observations indicate the predilection of ABCs for inflammatory tissue in RA, where their propensity for antigen presentation and pro‐inflammatory phenotype may support autoimmune pathology. Their potential as a therapeutic target therefore warrants further study.
Lucky you: Your case is heard by a seasoned panel—Panel effects in the German Constitutional Court
Authors: Engel Christoph
Published: October 2022

Panel effects have been widely studied in randomly composed panels. However, for many courts, panel composition stays constant. Then judges become familiar with each other. They know what to expect from each other. Mutual trust may develop. A local culture may emerge. If rejection is the default, familiarity is likely to help plaintiffs, as familiar panels can be more effective, and more self‐confident. In the German Constitutional Court, the effect of familiarity on three success measures can be causally identified: success on the merits, with the request for a preliminary ruling, or with a procedural request. Justices experience multiple, exogenous recompositions of their chamber. In the logic of regression discontinuity, the effect of familiarity on the alternative measures for success can be identified if these recompositions lead to a clear decrease in familiarity with the other members of the chamber.
Effect of adhesive strategy on resin cement bonding to dentin
Authors: Mazzitelli Claudia , Maravic Tatjana , Josic Uros , Mancuso Edoardo , Generali Luigi , Checchi Vittorio , Breschi Lorenzo , Mazzoni Annalisa
Published: October 2022

Objective

The cement bonding strategy and the polymerization mode can influence the prognosis of indirect restorations. The microtensile bond strength (μTBS) and dentin endogenous enzymatic activity of a dual‐cure resin cement (PV5) used in combination with two dentin surface conditioners (accelerator‐enhancer primer, TP or universal adhesive, UA) were evaluated.

Materials and Methods

PV5 was used to lute composite overlays after dentin treatment with TP or UA. The resin cement was self‐cured, SC (1 h at 37 °C) or dual‐cured, DC (20 s light‐cure followed by 15 min self‐cure at 37°C). The μTBS test, fractographic analysis, and the in situ zymography evaluations were performed after 24 h (T0) or 1 yr (T12) of artificial storage. Data were statistically analyzed (α = 0.05).

Results

TP/DC obtained the highest adhesive strengths (45 ± 9 and 36.6 ± 8), while UA/SC (17 ± 8 and 11 ± 4) the lowest, both at T0 and T12, respectively. DC resulted in superior bonding values than the SC, independent of the dentin surface treatment (p < 0.05). The type of adhesive, curing mode and aging influenced the gelatinolytic activity (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The dual‐cure resin cement used in combination with its accelerator‐enhancer primer showed superior bonding performances with respect to universal adhesive. Dual‐curing the resin cement was determinant to enhance bonding capability over time, independent of the adhesive strategy.

Clinical Relevance

Clinicians must be aware to faithfully follow manufacturer's recommendation regarding the adhesive strategy suggested with the resin cement used.
Do enhanced recovery after lung cancer surgery programs risk putting primacy of caring at stake? A qualitative focus group study on nurses' perspectives
Authors: Missel Malene , Beck Malene , Donsel Pernille Orloff , Petersen René Horsleben , Benner Patricia
Published: October 2022

Aims and Objectives

To gain insight into nursing in an enhanced recovery after surgery program for lung cancer, we explored its meaning for nurses in a thoracic surgery unit.

Background

Since nurses play a key role in overcoming implementation barriers in enhanced recovery after surgery programs, successful implementation depends on their care approach during the surgery pathway.

Design

Qualitative focus group study.

Methods

A hermeneutic approach inspired by Gadamer guided the research. Sixteen thoracic surgery nurses participated in focus group interviews. Benner and Wrubel's primacy of caring theory enhanced understanding of the findings. COREQ guidelines were followed.

Results

The thoracic surgery nurses compared the streamlined trajectory in the program to working in a factory. Shifting focus away from a dialogue‐based, situated care practice compromised their professional nursing identity. The program made combining scientific evidence with patients' lifeworld perspectives challenging. Although the nurses recognised that the physiological processes and positive outcomes promoted recovery, they felt each patient's life situation was not sufficiently considered. To meet the program's professional nursing responsibilities and provide comprehensive care, specialised thoracic nursing should continue after discharge to allow professional care while meaningfully engaging with the patient's situatedness and lifeworld.

Conclusions

Primacy of caring risks being compromised if accelerated treatment is implemented uncritically. If care is based on the dominant rational justifications underpinning surgical nursing, living conditions and patient values might be overlooked, affecting how disease, illness and health are managed.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Our findings focus on obvious unintended consequences of enhanced recovery after surgery programs. To avoid dehumanising patients, surgical lung cancer programs must adopt a humanistic attitude in a caring practice guided by the moral art and ethics of care and responsibility.

Public Contribution

To reminding us of what matters and helping us think differently, we discussed the results of the study with organisational stakeholders.
Artificial intelligence to support early diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders: A preliminary case study
Authors: Reda Bachar , Contardo Luca , Prenassi Marco , Guerra Enrico , Derchi Giacomo , Marceglia Sara
Published: October 2022

Background

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are disabling conditions with a negative impact on the quality of life. Their diagnosis is a complex and multi‐factorial process that should be conducted by experienced professionals, and most TMDs remain often undetected. Increasing the awareness of un‐experienced dentists and supporting the early TMD recognition may help reduce this gap. Artificial intelligence (AI) allowing both to process natural language and to manage large knowledge bases could support the diagnostic process.

Objective

In this work, we present the experience of an AI‐based system for supporting non‐expert dentists in early TMD recognition.

Methods

The system was based on commercially available AI services. The prototype development involved a preliminary domain analysis and relevant literature identification, the implementation of the core cognitive computing services, the web interface and preliminary testing. Performance evaluation included a retrospective review of seven available clinical cases, together with the involvement of expert professionals for usability testing.

Results

The system comprises one module providing possible diagnoses according to a list of symptoms, and a second one represented by a question and answer tool, based on natural language. We found that, even when using commercial services, the training guided by experts is a key factor and that, despite the generally positive feedback, the application's best target is untrained professionals.

Conclusion

We provided a preliminary proof of concept of the feasibility of implementing an AI‐based system aimed to support non‐specialists in the early identification of TMDs, possibly allowing a faster and more frequent referral to second‐level medical centres. Our results showed that AI is a useful tool to improve TMD detection by facilitating a primary diagnosis.
Risk estimation of degenerative joint disease in temporomandibular disorder patients with different types of sagittal and coronal disc displacements: MRI and CBCT analysis
Authors: Fan Pei‐di , Xiong Xin , Cheng Qiao‐yu , Xiang Jie , Zhou Xue‐man , Yi Ya‐ting , Wang Jun
Published: October 2022

Background

Degenerative joint disease (DJD) can be associated with disc displacement (DD) in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients. However, the relationship between different types of DDs and DJD remains unclear.

Objectives

To investigate the odds ratios of different types of sagittal and coronal DDs confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and DJD confirmed by cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) in TMD patients.

Methods

Radiographic data from 69 males and 232 females were collected for analysis. CBCT was used to diagnose DJD, with criteria including erosion, osteophytes, generalised sclerosis and cysts in the joint. Eight types of DDs were evaluated by sagittal and coronal MRIs: NA, no abnormality; SW, sideways; ADDR, anterior with reduction; ADDR+SW; ADDNR, anterior without reduction; ADDNR + SW; single SW; PDD, posterior; PDD + SW. The odds ratios of DJD in joints with different types of DDs were determined after joint correlation, age and gender adjustment.

Results

Compared with NA, the odds ratio of DJD in ADDR was 2.397 (95% CI [confidence interval]: 1.070–5.368), ADDR + SW was 4.808 (95% CI: 1.709–3.528), ADDNR was 29.982 (95% CI: 15.512–57.950) and ADDNR + SW was 25.974 (95% CI: 12.743–52.945). Erosion was significantly increased in ADDR, ADDR + SW, ADDNR and ADDNR + SW; osteophytes were significantly increased in ADDR + SW, ADDNR and ADDNR + SW; and generalised sclerosis and cysts were significantly increased in ADDNR and ADDNR + SW. There were no significant associations between single SW, PDD, PDD + SW and the DJD.

Conclusions

ADDR, ADDR+SW, ADDNR and ADDNR+SW were associated with DJD. ADDNR had a significantly higher prevalence of DJD than ADDR. There were no significant relationships between single SW, PDD, PDD + SW and the DJD.
Nutrient utilisation, metabolisable and net energy values of corn for broiler chickens during the starter and grower phases
Authors: Liu Xingbo , Ban Zhibin , Yan Xiaogang , Yang Huaming , Liang Hao , Yan Lei , Nie Wei
Published: October 2022

The objective of this experiment was to determine the energy values and nutrient utilisation of five corns at starer (14–16 days) and grower (28–30 days) phases. The 1–5 corn samples were obtained from Jinzhou, Liaoning; Gongzhuling, Jilin; Qingdao, Shandong; Songyuan, Jilin and Xinxiang, Henan, China. Each phase of the trial consisted of six treatments with six replicates each. The number of birds per replicate was 4 (Days 14–16) and 2 (Days 28–30). Diets included a corn–soybean meal basal diet and five test diets contained 30% of each corn sample, which replaced 30% of the energy‐yielding components of the basal diet (as‐fed basis). The trial consisted of six cycles, each cycle was 7 days, including 4 days for adaptation to feed. On Day 4, the birds were transferred to the respiration chambers. In the following 3 days, total excreta were collected and daily heat production was measured. The apparent total tract retention of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and starch improved with age, showing the same trend as energy values. The nitrogen‐corrected metabolisable energy (AMEn) values for corn samples at the starter phase were in the range of 16.25–17.41 MJ/kg DM and at the grower phase were in the range of 17.23–17.60 MJ/kg DM. On the other hand, the net energy (NE) values of the five corn samples ranged from 9.93 to 11.67 MJ/kg DM during the starter period and from 11.19 to 12.27 MJ/kg DM during the grower period. The AMEn and NE values of the five corn samples were close to the literature values for corn. Results from our research indicated the nutrient digestibility and energy values of corn samples increase with the age of the broiler.
The growing divide: Preferences, interests, and the shadow of the future in Argentina–Brazil relations
Authors: Merke Federico , Doval Gisela Pereyra
Published: October 2022

In recent decades, the relationship between Argentina and Brazil was understood as an alliance sustained by common interests and shared values. We argue that this assumption no longer holds, and that the relationship is going through a growing divide. In this article, we examine the evolution of Argentina–Brazil relations and carry out a plausibility probe to test three explanations of their rise and decline. To do so, we look at the shifting patterns of preferences (i.e., domestic coalitions and the electoral cycle), interests (i.e., business actors and trade patterns), and the shadow of the future (i.e., prospects for future interactions). We find that each of the three explanations contributes significantly to our understanding of the relationship's development and the challenges that lie ahead.