bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ocular lens morphology is influenced by ecology and metamorphosis in frogs and toads
Authors: Mitra Amartya T. , Womack Molly C. , Gower David J. , Streicher Jeffrey W. , Clark Brett , Bell Rayna C. , Schott Ryan K. , Fujita Matthew K. , Thomas Kate N.
Published: November 2022

The shape and relative size of an ocular lens affect the focal length of the eye, with consequences for visual acuity and sensitivity. Lenses are typically spherical in aquatic animals with camera-type eyes and axially flattened in terrestrial species to facilitate vision in optical media with different refractive indices. Frogs and toads (Amphibia: Anura) are ecologically diverse, with many species shifting from aquatic to terrestrial ecologies during metamorphosis. We quantified lens shape and relative size using 179 micro X-ray computed tomography scans of 126 biphasic anuran species and tested for correlations with life stage, environmental transitions, adult habits and adult activity patterns. Across broad phylogenetic diversity, tadpole lenses are more spherical than those of adults. Biphasic species with aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults typically undergo ontogenetic changes in lens shape, whereas species that remain aquatic as adults tend to retain more spherical lenses after metamorphosis. Further, adult lens shape is influenced by adult habit; notably, fossorial adults tend to retain spherical lenses following metamorphosis. Finally, lens size relative to eye size is smaller in aquatic and semiaquatic species than other adult ecologies. Our study demonstrates how ecology shapes visual systems, and the power of non-invasive imaging of museum specimens for studying sensory evolution.
Girls in early childhood increase food returns of nursing women during subsistence activities of the BaYaka in the Republic of Congo
Authors: Jang Haneul , Janmaat Karline R. L. , Kandza Vidrige , Boyette Adam H.
Published: November 2022

Nursing mothers face an energetic trade-off between infant care and work. Under pooled energy budgets, this trade-off can be reduced by assistance in food acquisition and infant care tasks from non-maternal carers. Across cultures, children also often provide infant care. Yet the question of who helps nursing mothers during foraging has been understudied, especially the role of children. Using focal follow data from 140 subsistence expeditions by BaYaka women in the Republic of Congo, we investigated how potential support from carers increased mothers' foraging productivity. We found that the number of girls in early childhood (ages 4–7 years) in subsistence groups increased food returns of nursing women with infants (kcal collected per minute). This effect was stronger than that of other adult women, and older girls in middle childhood (ages 8–13 years) and adolescence (ages 14–19 years). Child helpers were not necessarily genetically related to nursing women. Our results suggest that it is young girls who provide infant care while nursing mothers are acquiring food—by holding, monitoring and playing with infants—and, thus, that they also contribute to the energy pool of the community during women's subsistence activities. Our study highlights the critical role of children as carers from early childhood.
Control of cell proliferation by memories of mitosis
Authors: Meitinger Franz , Davis Robert L. , Martinez Mallory B. , Shiau Andrew K. , Oegema Karen , Desai Arshad
Published: November 2022

Mitotic duration is tightly constrained, with extended mitotic duration being a characteristic of potentially problematic cells prone to chromosome missegregation and genomic instability. We show that memories of mitotic duration are integrated by a p53-based mitotic stopwatch pathway to exert tight control over proliferation. The stopwatch halts proliferation of the products of a single significantly extended mitosis or of successive modestly extended mitoses. Time in mitosis is monitored via mitotic kinase-regulated assembly of stopwatch complexes that are transmitted to daughter cells. The stopwatch is inactivated in p53-mutant cancers, as well as in a significant proportion of p53-wildtype cancers, consistent with classification of stopwatch complex subunits as tumor suppressors. Stopwatch status additionally influences efficacy of anti-mitotic agents currently used or in development for cancer therapy.

One-Sentence Summary

Time spent in mitosis is carefully monitored to halt the proliferation of potentially dangerous cells in a population.
Electrical Stimulation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Conductive Chitosan-Polyaniline Substrates Promotes Neural Priming
Authors: Eftekhari Behnaz Sadat , Song Dawei , Janmey Paul A.
Published: November 2022

Electrical stimulation (ES) within conductive polymer substrates has been suggested to promote the differentiation of stem cells toward a neuronal phenotype. The use of conductive scaffolds in tissue regeneration provides a unique and attractive new option to control the amount and location of ES delivery. Scaffold stiffness has also been shown to be an important regulator of stem cells’ behavior and fate. Therefore, to improve stem cell-based regenerative therapies, it is essential to characterize the simultaneous effects of electroconductive substrate stiffness and electric field stimuli on stem cell fate processes. In this study, biodegradable electroconductive substrates based on chitosan-polyaniline (CS-g-PANI) were fabricated with different stiffnesses. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) seeded on these scaffolds were electrically stimulated for 14 days with 100 mV/ cm (20 min every day). For hMSCs cultured on soft conductive scaffolds, a morphological change with significant filopodial elongation was observed after 2 weeks of electrically stimulated culture. Compared with stiff conductive CS-g-PANI scaffolds and non-conductive CS scaffolds, for soft conductive CS-g-PANI scaffolds microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and neurofilament (NF-H) expression increased after application of ES. At the same time, there was a decrease in the expression of the glial markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin after ES. Furthermore, the elevation of intracellular calcium [Ca2+] during spontaneous, cell-generated Ca2+transients further suggested that electric field stimulation of hMSCs cultured on conductive CS-g-PANI substrates can promote a neural-like phenotype. Our findings propose that the combination of the soft conductive CS-g-PANI substrate and ES is a promising new tool for enhancing nerve tissue engineering outcomes.
Efficient high-resolution electric and magnetic field simulations inside the human body in the vicinity of wireless power transfer systems with varying models
Authors: Haussmann Norman , Mease Robin , Zang Martin , Stroka Steven , Hensel Hendrik , Clemens Markus
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Magneto-quasi-static fields emanated by inductive charging systems can be potentially harmful to the human body. Recent projects, such as TALAKO and MILAS, use the technique of wireless power transfer (WPT) to charge batteries of electrically powered vehicles. To ensure the safety of passengers, the exposing magnetic flux density needs to be measured in situ and compared to reference limit values. However, in the design phase of these systems, numerical simulations of the emanated magnetic flux density are inevitable. This study aims to present a tool along with a workflow, based on the Scaled-Frequency Finite Difference Time-Domain and Co-Simulation Scalar Potential Finite Difference schemes, to determine body-internal magnetic flux densities, electric field strengths and induced voltages into cardiac pacemakers. The simulations should be time efficient, with lower computational costs and minimal human workload.

Design/methodology/approach

The numerical assessment of the human exposure to magneto-quasi-static fields is computationally expensive, especially when considering high-resolution discretization models of vehicles and WPT systems. Incorporating human body models into the simulation further enhances the number of mesh cells by multiple millions. Hence, the number of simulations including all components and human models needs to be limited while efficient numerical schemes need to be applied.

Findings

This work presents and compares four exposure scenarios using the presented numerical methods. By efficiently combining numerical methods, the simulation time can be reduced by a factor of 3.5 and the required storage space by almost a factor of 4.

Originality/value

This work presents and discusses an efficient way to determine the exposure of human beings in the vicinity of wireless power transfer systems that saves computer simulation resources and human workload.
Optimization of service scheduling problem for overlapping tower cranes with cooperative coevolutionary genetic algorithm
Authors: Yin Jing , Li Jiahao , Yang Ahui , Cai Shunyao
Published: November 2022

Purpose

In regarding to operational efficiency and safety improvements, multiple tower crane service scheduling problem is one of the main problems related to tower crane operation but receives limited attention. The current work presents an optimization model for scheduling multiple tower cranes' service with overlapping areas while achieving collision-free between cranes.

Design/methodology/approach

The cooperative coevolutionary genetic algorithm (CCGA) was proposed to solve this model. Considering the possible types of cross-tasks, through effectively allocating overlapping area tasks to each crane and then prioritizing the assigned tasks for each crane, the makespan of tower cranes was minimized and the crane collision avoidance was achieved by only allowing one crane entering the overlapping area at one time. A case study of the mega project Daxing International Airport has been investigated to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm.

Findings

The computational results showed that the CCGA algorithm outperforms two compared algorithms in terms of the optimal makespan and the CPU time. Also, the convergence of CCGA was discussed and compared, which was better than that of traditional genetic algorithm (TGA) for small-sized set (50 tasks) and was almost the same as TGA for large-sized sets.

Originality/value

This paper can provide new perspectives on multiple tower crane service sequencing problem. The proposed model and algorithm can be applied directly to enhance the operational efficiency of tower cranes on construction site.
Exploring country differences in the adoption of mobile payment service: the surprising robustness of the UTAUT2 model
Authors: Wu Zhongda , Liu Yunxin
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This paper investigated the extent to which the predictive power of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) was robust against cultural variations and to what extent its predictive power could be improved by including face-valid individual differences (i.e. perceived risk and personal innovativeness) and cultural factors (i.e. individualism and uncertainty avoidance).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from web surveys of Chinese, American and Belgian mobile Internet users (total n = 1,068).

Findings

The authors found that the UTAUT2 model was less predictive in the country where the adoption of mobile payment service (MPS) is high (i.e. China). In contrast, the UTAUT2 model was more predictive in countries where the adoption of MPS is lower (i.e. the United States and Belgium). The authors did not find additional variance explained by individual differences. Regarding the cultural variables, the authors found that individualism moderated the effect of social influence on behavioral intention to use MPS, such that the effect was more substantial among people with individualistic cultural traits. However, the authors found no moderation effect of uncertainty avoidance.

Originality/value

This research contributes to existing work on technology acceptance by exploring whether it is helpful to introduce individual and cultural factors into the UTAUT2 model when predicting technology adoption in different cultures. This research further examines the moderating role of cultural factors in predicting the adoption of MPS. The authors conclude that the UTAUT2 model is generally robust and appears to capture the predictive of face-valid individual and cultural factors.
Learning through exploitative and exploratory overseas R&D: impacts on EMNEs' innovation performance
Authors: Zhong Xi , Chen Weihong
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine whether exploitative and exploratory overseas R&D have independent and significant effects on emerging economy multinational enterprises' (EMNEs’) innovation performance and whether top management team (TMT) nationality diversity and openness have a moderating effect on these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes data collected from Chinese-listed manufacturing enterprises for 2007 to 2018.

Findings

Empirical results show that both exploitative and exploratory overseas R&D can help improve EMNEs' innovation performance. The authors further find that TMT nationality diversity and TMT openness strengthen the aforementioned relationships.

Originality/value

This study presents the first empirical evidence showing whether and when exploitative and exploratory overseas R&D have independent and heterogeneous effects on EMNEs' innovation performance.
Inclusivity in sports: fan attitudes and behaviors towards nonbinary athletes
Authors: Elmadag A. Banu , Yaoyuneyong Gallayanee , Burgess Brigitte
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine diversity and inclusivity in sports from a sexual orientation perspective. A literature review summarizes known findings on attitudes and perceptions of and towards nonbinary individuals in sports. Adopting Herek’s (2007) Sexual Stigma perspective, an experiment is conducted exploring the differences in fan attitudes and behavioral intentions towards nonbinary athletes in both women’s and men’s sports.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of extant literature identified 24 peer-reviewed primary studies examining nonbinary individuals in sports. A 2 (Sport: Women’s vs. Men’s Basketball) × 2 (Nonbinary Indicator: Indicator vs. No-Indicator) experimental study was then designed to further explore fan attitudes towards nonbinary athletes.

Findings

The study revealed that, among sports fans, there was no perceived performance difference in women’s or men’s basketball linked to athletes’ nonbinary status (as measured by athletic ability, future performance, sportsmanship, talent and quickness). However, measures of fan support (sport engagement, intention to buy team merchandise and team fanship) were lower when the athlete was perceived as nonbinary. For women’s basketball, team fanship and intention to buy team merchandise were significantly lower, while the difference was not significant in men’s basketball.

Originality/value

Along with an inclusive review of prior literature, this is the first empirical study to examine the differences in fans’ attitudes towards nonbinary athletes in both women’s and men’s sports at the same time via an experimental design.
“Giving PUMA the boot”–A case study of a contemporary consumer sports boycott
Authors: Dart Jon
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to offer a conceptual assessment of a contemporary consumer boycott of a global sports brand. A critical commentary is offered of the “Boycott PUMA” campaign with an examination of the positions and motivations of the different parties involved, specifically PUMA, the “Boycott PUMA” campaign, the Israeli Football Association and UEFA/FIFA.

Design/methodology/approach

This article is a position and conceptual paper, designed to generate a discussion on what is an emotive consumer boycott campaign. A distinction is made between political boycotts and consumer boycotts, whether it is possible to separate sport from politics, and if PUMA's claimed position of neutrality in this conflict can be achieved.

Findings

The focus here is on PUMA's corporate social responsibility statement in which they claim that sport and politics do not mix, with their response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 undermining this claim. PUMA's commitment to social justice is being used by the “Boycott PUMA” activists to expose the disconnect between PUMA's stated vision and its actions.

Practical implications

PUMA's brand has been built on creating a particular type of brand image, with a positive image and brand awareness essential for this sports apparel company. If the company finds itself in a media spotlight their brand equity can become damaged.

Originality/value

With very little research available on the Israel/Palestine from a sport sponsorship and marketing perspective, this article offers an original and much needed assessment of a potentially significant campaign.
Exploring smart retailing: anthropomorphism in voice shopping of smart speaker
Authors: Jang Yu-Teng Jacky , Liu Anne Yenching , Ke Wen-Yu
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of anthropomorphism and identify factors related to adopting voice shopping on smart speakers.

Design/methodology/approach

Progress in partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach is used to test the proposed research framework regarding anthropomorphism and user perceptions on voice shopping via smart speakers. Individuals' responses to questions about attitude and intention to use voice shopping via smart speakers were collected and analyzed.

Findings

The results showed that anthropomorphism had a positive influence on satisfaction, which, in turn, had a positive impact on intention to adopt voice shopping, and customers had positive opinions regarding smart speakers.

Research limitations/implications

This study only reflects a younger perspective on smart speaker voice shopping. This study identified the characteristics of smart speakers that increase customers' intention to purchase, which can be used to formulate sales strategies and management guidelines.

Practical implications

This research provided a new perspective to enable practitioners to promote smart speakers for voice shopping. Smart speaker manufacturers can utilize the findings of this research to improve the system design of smart speakers to further facilitate voice shopping.

Originality/value

Unlike previous studies, which focused on product attributes of smart speakers or voice shopping experiences, this study provided a clear picture of how the anthropomorphic feature of smart speakers affects customers' intention to adopt voice shopping.
The key success factors to adopting lean practices: the case of South American manufacturing firms
Authors: Ferrer Mario , Calvo Erick , Santa Ricardo
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that promote the successful adoption of lean practices in manufacturing firms operating in developing economies in South America.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the results obtained from using structural equation modeling to analyze the collected data, the authors argue that manufacturing organizations need to identify the factors that assist in successfully adopting lean practices in manufacturing firms operating in developing economies in South America. A dataset of 1,809 responses, gathered from manufacturing firms as part of the World Management Survey, was used to find support for the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Several hypotheses were tested finding that lean practice success factors such as organizational targets proved to have a significant and positive relationship with the mediating factor, performance management. Likewise, performance management was also found to have a significant and positive relationship with lean practices adoption. Human capital management (HCM) has a significant but negative predictive relationship with lean practices.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical results of this study provide valuable managerial insights. The results are therefore limited to the economies analyzed and to the variables surveyed as part of the World Manufacturing Survey research.

Practical implications

The results of this research provide a starting point for researchers to continue studying the key lean practice factors and relationships in the achievement of improved performance management, thereby helping managers in developing strategies to improve the lean capabilities of their practices. This, in turn, will increase the organization's competitive advantage sustainably.

Originality/value

This paper identifies and tests the impact of key factors on successful lean practices adoption in South American organizations in the manufacturing sector.
An overview of bitter compounds in foodstuffs: Classifications, evaluation methods for sensory contribution, separation and identification techniques, and mechanism of bitter taste transduction
Authors: Yan Jingna , Tong Huarong
Published: November 2022

The bitter taste is generally considered an undesirable sensory attribute. However, bitter‐tasting compounds can significantly affect the overall flavor of many foods and beverages and endow them with various beneficial effects on human health. To better understand the relationship between chemical structure and bitterness, this paper has summarized the bitter compounds in foodstuffs and classified them based on the basic skeletons. Only those bitter compounds that are confirmed by human sensory evaluation have been included in this paper. To develop food products that satisfy consumer preferences, correctly ranking the key bitter compounds in foodstuffs according to their contributions to the overall bitterness intensity is the precondition. Generally, three methods were applied to screen out the key bitter compounds in foods and beverages and evaluate their sensory contributions, including dose‐over‐threshold factors, taste dilution analysis, and spectrum descriptive analysis method. This paper has discussed in detail the mechanisms and applications of these three methods. Typical procedures for separating and identifying the main bitter compounds in foodstuffs have also been summarized. Additionally, the activation of human bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) and the mechanisms of bitter taste transduction are outlined. Ultimately, a conclusion has been drawn to highlight the current problems and propose potential directions for further research.
Effects of a low‐velocity fluvial environment on saw mark evidence in bone
Authors: Grosso Alicia R. , Volney Tyra L.
Published: November 2022

Saws are common tools used in postmortem dismemberment to alter human remains. Dismemberment may coincide with other concealment methods such as disposal in aquatic environments, so forensic anthropologists must recognize how taphonomy affects saw mark preservation. This study focuses on exposure of saw cut bone to a fluvial environment. Cross sections from pig humeri cut by a 7 TPI saw were evaluated on all cut surfaces for tooth hop (TH), exit chipping, and breakaway spurs. Pre‐fluvial exposure, features were measured by two observers using a stereomicroscope while a one‐dimensional profilometer was used to define surface roughness. Bones were randomly assigned to control or experimental groups and within each divided by duration of exposure (24, 48, 72, and 96 h). Control groups (four cross sections) were exposed to water in a 3‐meter‐long hydraulic channel; experimental groups (20 cross sections) were exposed to water and sediment in a 12‐meter‐long sediment‐recirculating hydraulic channel. Velocity was maintained at 0.45 m/s. All measurements were repeated post‐exposure. Observer A recorded 268 TH (mean: 3.70 ± 0.34 mm); post‐exposure, count increased by 16.79% (mean: 3.71 ± 0.29 mm). Observer B recorded 247 TH (mean: 3.46 ± 0.42 mm); post‐exposure, count decreased by 29.15% (mean: 3.36 ± 0.33 mm). All TPI estimates calculated include the 7 TPI saw. Exit chipping lost flakiness (in both channels), but was still visible. Breakaway spurs were not visibly altered. Surface staining was limited to bones exposed to sediment. Roughness was significantly lower in experimental groups post‐fluvial exposure (W = 5705, p < 0.05). Overall, this fluvial environment did not obliterate saw mark evidence from bone.
Comparison of the signaling pathways of wing dimorphism regulated by biotic and abiotic stress in the brown planthopper
Authors: Chen Jing‐Xiang , Li Wan‐Xue , Su Qin , Lyu Jun , Zhang Yi‐Bing , Zhang Wen‐Qing
Published: November 2022

Wing polymorphism is an evolutionary trait that is widely present in various insects and provides a model system for studying the evolutionary significance of insect dispersal. The brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens) can alter its wing morphs under biotic and abiotic stress. However, whether differential signaling pathways are induced by the 2 types of stress remain largely unknown. Here, we screened a number of candidate genes through weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA) and found that ornithine decarboxylase (NlODC), a key enzyme in the synthesis of polyamines, was associated with wing differentiation in BPH and mainly responded to abiotic stress stimuli. We analyzed the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment pathways of differentially expressed genes under the 2 stresses by transcriptomic comparison, and found that biotic stress mainly influenced insulin‐related signaling pathways while abiotic stress mainly influenced hormone‐related pathways. Moreover, we found that insulin receptor 1 (NlInR1) may regulate wing differentiation of BPH by responding to both biotic and abiotic stress, but NlInR2 only responded to biotic stress. Similarly, the juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase associated with juvenile hormone degradation and NlODC may regulate wing differentiation mainly through abiotic stress. A model based on the genes and stresses to modulate the wing dimorphism of BPH was proposed. These findings present a comprehensive molecular mechanism for wing polymorphism in BPH induced by biotic and abiotic stress.
Extrusion characteristics of ten novel quinoa breeding lines
Authors: Richter Jana K. , Pietrysiak Ewa , Ek Pichmony , Dey Debomitra , Gu Bon‐Jae , Ikuse Marina , Nalbandian Elizabeth , Żak Angelika , Ganjyal Girish M.
Published: November 2022

Ten novel breeding lines of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) suitable to be grown in the Pacific Northwest of the United States were developed and utilized for extrusion processing. Understanding how a particular breeding line performs during food processing and which properties determine its performance can promote the use of quinoa as an ingredient in value‐added products, such as extruded snacks. In this study, extrusion characteristics of the whole seed flours of the novel quinoa breeding lines were evaluated using a co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder at two temperatures (110°C and 125°C), three screw speeds (200, 350, and 500 rpm), and a moisture content of 18% (w.b.). The expansion ratio (ER) ranged from 1.15 to 2.33 and was negatively influenced by the fat content in the flours. Breeding line 11WAQ‐104.88 (WAQ10) exhibited the greatest potential for use in direct expanded foods as it had the highest ER for all conditions studied. Strong correlations were found between ER and pasting properties of the flours, proving the usefulness of the pasting test for flour quality evaluation before extrusion processing. The results demonstrate the potential of using quinoa for producing direct expanded food products and highlight the importance of selecting specific breeding lines for desired product characteristics.

Practical Application

This study provides the extrusion processing characteristics of 10 new quinoa breeding lines. Based on the information gained, it will be easier for the food industry, including breeders as well as processors, to select the right quinoa variety based on their requirements, and may further help to enhance the use of quinoa.
Physics‐based model to predict the acoustic detection distance of terrestrial autonomous recording units over the diel cycle and across seasons: Insights from an Alpine and a Neotropical forest
Authors: Haupert Sylvain , Sèbe Frédéric , Sueur Jérôme
Published: November 2022

Passive acoustic monitoring of biodiversity is growing fast, as it offers an alternative to traditional aural point count surveys, with the possibility to deploy long‐term acoustic surveys in large and complex natural environments. However, there is still a clear need to evaluate how the frequency‐ and distance‐dependent attenuation of sound as well as the ambient sound level impact the acoustic detection distance of the soniferous species in natural environments over the diel cycles and across seasons. This is of great importance to avoid pseudoreplication and to provide relevant biodiversity indicators, including species richness, species abundance and species density.

To address the issue of detection distance, we tested a field‐based protocol in a Neotropical rainforest (French Guiana, France) and in an Alpine coniferous forest (Jura, France). This standardized and repeatable method consists in a recording session of the ambient sound directly followed by an experiment using a calibrated white noise sound broadcast at different positions along a 100 m linear transect. We then used acoustic laws to reveal the basic physics behind sound propagation attenuation.

We demonstrate that habitat attenuation in two different kinds of forests can be modelled by an exponential decay law with a linear dependence on frequency and distance. We also report that habitat attenuation, as first approximation, can be summarized by a single value, the coefficient of attenuation of the habitat.

Finally, we show that the detection distance can be predicted knowing the contribution of each attenuation factor, the coefficient of attenuation of the habitat, the ambient sound pressure level and the amplitude and frequency bandwidth characteristics of the transmitted sound. We show that the detection distance mostly depends on the ambient sound and may vary by a factor of up to 5 over the diel cycle and across seasons. These results reinforce the need to take into account the variation of the detection distance when performing passive acoustic surveys and producing reliable biodiversity indicators.
Informing a position statement on the use of artificial intelligence in dermatology in Australia
Authors: Caffery Liam J. , Janda Monika , Miller Robert , Abbott Lisa M. , Arnold Chris , Caccetta Tony , Guitera Pascale , Shumack Stephen , Fernández‐Peñas Pablo , Mar Victoria , Soyer H. Peter
Published: November 2022

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the ability for computers to simulate human intelligence. In dermatology, there is substantial interest in using AI to identify skin lesions from images. Due to increasing research and interest in the use of AI, the Australasian College of Dermatologists has developed a position statement to inform its members of appropriate use of AI. This article presents the ACD Position Statement on the use of AI in dermatology, and provides explanatory information that was used to inform the development of this statement.
RAB25 coordinates filaggrin‐containing keratohyalin granule maturation and affects atopic dermatitis severity
Authors: Jeong Haengdueng , Lee Nakyum , Uhm Chanyang , Cho Kyungrae , Oh Heeju , Oh Yeseul , Zhang KeLun , Kim Hye Li , Goldenring James R. , Lim Kyung‐Min , Park Chang Ook , Nam Ki Taek
Published: November 2022

Background

Keratohyalin granules (KHGs) supply the critical epidermal protein constituents such as filaggrin for maintaining skin barrier function during epidermal differentiation; however, their regulating mechanism remains largely unelucidated.

Methods

To investigate the role of Ras‐related protein Rab‐25 (RAB25) expression in skin disease, we utilized skin specimens of patients with moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and healthy controls. To investigate the susceptibility of Rab25 knockout mice to AD, we established an oxazolone‐induced AD model.

Results

We investigated the role of RAB25 in KHG maturation and AD. RAB25‐deficient mice showed a disrupted stratum corneum along with skin barrier dysfunction, decreased KHG production, and abnormal KHG processing. Consistently, in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT, RAB25 co‐expressed with filaggrin‐containing KHG and RAB25 silencing impaired KHG formation, which was attributable to abnormal actin dynamics. Most importantly, RAB25 expression was severely downregulated in the skin lesions of patients with AD, which was strongly correlated with disease severity scores.

Conclusions

RAB25 coordinates KHG homeostasis by regulating actin dynamics and is critical for epidermal differentiation and the pathophysiology of AD.
Is drug‐induced sleep endoscopy associated with better outcomes after soft tissue surgery for sleep apnea? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Lisan Quentin , Baudouin Robin , Lechien Jérôme R. , Hans Stéphane , Blumen Marc
Published: November 2022

Objectives

The aim was to estimate the effect of drug‐induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) on surgical outcomes after soft tissue surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Design and Setting

Systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Participants

Adult patients with OSA and candidates for soft tissue surgery, with and without preoperative DISE, were included.

Main Outcomes Measures

A systematic literature search of Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases was performed from inception to December 31, 2021. Studies directly comparing patients with and without preoperative DISE were included. Success rate, change in apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI), change in minimum SpO2 and change in Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score were extracted. Random‐effect models were used to pool estimates.

Results

Seven out of 619 articles were included, representing 791 patients (389 in the DISE group and 402 in the no DISE group). DISE was neither associated with a higher success rate (pooled OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.69–2.59, p = 0.39) after soft tissue surgery for OSA, nor a significant change in AHI (−4.69 events/hour, 95% CI −11.10 to 1.72, p = 0.15), minimal SpO2 (mean increase of 2.02%, 95% CI −0.26 to 4.29, p = 0.08) and ESS (mean difference of 1.29, 95% CI −0.48 to 3.05, p = 0.15) when compared to patients without preoperative DISE.

Conclusions

Soft tissue surgery does not give better results after DISE compared to when DISE is not performed. However, given the overall low level of evidence of included studies, future well‐conducted studies should confirm or overturn these results and clarify the added value of DISE.
Lipid‐Transfer‐Protein‐Allergie: Charakterisierung und Vergleich mit birkenpollenassoziierter Nahrungsmittelallergie
Authors: Wolters Paula , Ostermann Thomas , Hofmann Silke C.
Published: November 2022

Hintergrund

Lipid‐Transfer‐Proteine (LTP) sind ein häufiger Auslöser von Anaphylaxien auf pflanzliche Nahrungsmittelallergene in Südeuropa.

Patienten und Methodik

15 deutsche Patienten mit LTP‐Allergie wurden verglichen mit 17 Patienten mit birkenpollenassoziierter Nahrungsmittelallergie (BAN) hinsichtlich ihrer detaillierten Anamnese, Serologie, Hauttestungen und der mittels des FAQLQ‐AF Fragebogens erfassten Lebensqualität.

Ergebnisse

Während BAN‐Patienten überwiegend auf Baumnüsse und Stein‐ und Kernobst reagierten, berichteten LTP‐Allergiker über Gemüse, Beerenfrüchte, Getreide und Saaten als häufige zusätzliche Auslöser. Bei 73 % der LTP‐Allergiker waren Anaphylaxien mit Kofaktoren assoziiert im Gegensatz zu nur 6 % der BAN‐Patienten (P < 0,001). Symptome traten bei 40 % der LTP‐Allergiker mit einer Verzögerung von mehr als einer Stunde auf und wurden in 86 % durch sowohl rohe wie auch gekochte Nahrungsmittel ausgelöst im Vergleich zu jeweils nur 6 % beziehungsweise 41 % der BAN‐Patienten. Der Pricktest mit Pfirsichextrakt zeigte sich bei allen LTP‐Allergikern, aber nur bei 15 % der BAN‐Patienten positiv (P < 0,001). Obwohl Patienten mit LTP‐Allergie häufiger über schwere Anaphylaxien berichteten, unterschied sich die Lebensqualität von Patienten mit LTP‐Allergie und BAN nicht wesentlich.

Schlussfolgerungen

Anaphylaxien auf pflanzliche Nahrungsmittel sollten mittels IgE‐Bestimmung gegen Pru p 3 und Hauttests mit Pfirsichextrakt abgeklärt werden, insbesondere im Kontext von assoziierten Kofaktoren und bei Intoleranz auch gegenüber erhitzten Nahrungsmitteln.
Disseminierte papulöse Variante des Morbus Dowling‐Degos: Histopathologische Merkmale bei POGLUT1‐Mutation
Authors: Papadopoulou Katharina , Karsai Syrus , Böer‐Auer Almut
Published: November 2022

Der Morbus Dowling‐Degos ist eine seltene, benigne Genodermatose. Charakteristisch sind lentiginöse Hyperpigmentierungen sowie rotbraune Papeln und Plaques. Häufig sind die Beugeseiten und Intertrigines betroffen, das klinische Bild kann jedoch variieren. Verantwortlich für die klinische Ausprägung sind Mutationen in unterschiedlichen Genen. Während Mutationen im Keratin 5 (KRT5)‐Gen ein retikuläres Verteilungsmuster begünstigen, führen Mutationen im POGLUT1‐Gen zu einem disseminierten, papulösen klinischen Bild. Die akantholytische Variante des Morbus Dowling‐Degos wird historisch als Morbus Galli‐Galli bezeichnet, unsere Falluntersuchung zeigt jedoch, dass die histopathologischen Veränderungen auch innerhalb eines Patienten variieren können. Bisher gibt es kein einheitliches Therapiekonzept. Keratolytische Maßnahmen stehen im Vordergrund, mit unterschiedlich gutem Ansprechen. Neue Therapieansätze mit Hilfe der Lasertechnologie scheinen eine vielversprechende Behandlungsoption zu sein.
COVID‐19 and the Meaning of Crisis
Authors: Abdelrahman Maha
Published: November 2022

Crisis is a concept that has a long history; it has come to denote moments of rupture and to foreground life and death decisions necessary for its resolution. The recent deployment of the concept in broad social, economic and political spheres has not only given rise to an industry of crisis management but has also established it as a framework through which to conceive, survive and reconstruct the world. The politics of crisis and the power of crisis narratives determine who is responsible for the crisis, who are its victims, who are its casualties and, inevitably, what policies need to be adopted and, later, institutionalized, in order to ‘fix’ the crisis and its outcomes. This article examines the politics of crisis narratives and situates the contributions to this Debate within larger debates on crisis under capitalism. These contributions employ the COVID‐19 experience as a lens to examine how moments of crisis allow economic and political elites to displace the blame for the crisis and its structural causes away from themselves and to institute policies which maintain the status quo, limit the scope for alternatives to emerge, and foreclose debates on fundamental questions of power relations which, inevitably, reproduce the conditions for future crises.
Cryptogenic posterior circulation stroke in children
Authors: Aripirala Prasanthi , Reddy Nihaal , Lingappa Lokesh , Konanki Ramesh , Varma Dandu Ravi , Raju Subodh
Published: November 2022

We aimed to evaluate the percentage of posterior circulation arterial ischaemic stroke (PCAIS) caused by craniovertebral junction (CVJ) anomalies and describe their clinical course. Children admitted to a tertiary care paediatric hospital with PCAIS between July 2017 and December 2020 were assessed retrospectively for disease aetiology. We reviewed the clinical, radiological, and surgical details of children with evidence of CVJ anomalies. Fourteen (24.1%) of 58 children admitted with arterial ischaemic stroke had posterior circulation involvement. The mean age of patients presenting with posterior circulation stroke was 6 years 6 months (range 3 months–15 years), 11 were male. Six of 14 cases with PCAIS were due to CVJ anomaly, their ages ranged from 4 months to 15 years (two age ranges were noted, 4 months–4 years and 11–15 years), four were male. Two children had atlantoaxial dislocation with basilar invagination, two had Bow Hunter syndrome with Chiari malformation type 1 (one with completed stroke), one had Chiari malformation type 1 alone, and one presented with Farber disease with proatlas segmentation anomaly in CVJ. The time lag to stroke and CVJ diagnosis ranged from 2 weeks to 24 months. A dynamic angiogram was required to evaluate biomechanical changes on scans with inconclusive findings on standard stroke imaging. CVJ anomalies are an important treatable cause of paediatric posterior circulation stroke. Cervical spine x‐ray in flexion and extension should be done in all patients with posterior circulation stroke beyond the acute period. In cryptogenic aetiology, provocative angiography with guarded neck rotation should be considered to evaluate possible dynamic vertebral artery compression.

What this paper adds

Craniovertebral junction anomalies are an important cause of posterior circulation stroke in children.

Evidence of flat occiput, short neck, and short stature in children with posterior circulation stroke should be assessed.

Dynamic imaging helps identify dynamic vertebral artery compression.
Early administration of tofacitinib in COVID‐19 pneumonitis: An open randomised controlled trial
Authors: Ferrarini Alessia , Vacca Angelo , Solimando Antonio Giovanni , Tavio Marcello , Acquaviva Rossella , Rocchi Marco , Nitti Cinzia , Salvi Aldo , Menditto Vincenzo , Luchetti Gentiloni Michele Maria , Russo Alessandro , Moretti Marco , Pavani Marianna , Giacometti Andrea , Bonifazi Martina , Zuccatosta Lina , Romani Laura , Racanelli Vito , Moroncini Gianluca , Gabrielli Armando , Pomponio Giovanni
Published: November 2022

Background

Controversies on sub‐populations most sensitive to therapy and the best timing of starting the treatment still surround the use of immunomodulatory drugs in COVID‐19.

Objectives

We designed a multicentre open‐label randomised controlled trial to test the effect of prompt adding of tofacitinib to standard therapy for hospitalised patients affected by mild/moderate COVID‐19 pneumonitis.

Methods

Patients admitted to three Italian hospitals affected by COVID‐19 pneumonitis not requiring mechanical ventilation were randomised to receive standard treatment alone or tofacitinib (10 mg/bid) for 2 weeks, starting within the first 24 h from admission.

Results

A total of 116 patients were randomised; 49 in the experimental arm completed the 14‐day treatment period, 9 discontinued tofacitinib as the disease worsened and were included in the analysis, and 1 died of respiratory failure. All 58 control patients completed the study. Clinical and demographic characteristics were similar between the study groups. In the tofacitinib group, 9/58 (15.5%) patients progressed to noninvasive ventilation (CPAP) to maintain SO2 > 93%, invasive mechanical ventilation or death by day 14 was 15.5%, significantly less than in the control group (20/58, 34.4%, RR 0,45, RRR −55%, NNT 5; p = .018). No differences in severe adverse effect incidence had been observed across the groups.

Conclusion

High‐dose tofacitinib therapy in patients with COVID pneumonitis is safe and may prevent deterioration to respiratory failure.
Non‐canonical STAT3 function reduces REDD1 transcription
Authors: Köhler Nadine , Wundrack Nicole , Schulz Svenja , Bartonitz Florian , Schaper Fred , Dittrich Anna
Published: November 2022

The transcription factor STAT3 is a potent activator of transcription, but evidence exists that STAT3 can also repress gene expression. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in STAT3‐dependent gene repression. Notably, STAT3 reduces the expression of the stress‐induced mTOR inhibitor REDD1 by reducing REDD1 mRNA transcription. Here, we determined the functional domains of STAT3 responsible for the reduction of REDD1 mRNA and protein expression. Within STAT3, the N‐terminal domain and tyrosine 705 are crucial for STAT3‐dependent reduction of REDD1 expression. Interestingly, binding of STAT3 to canonical STAT‐binding sides within the REDD1 promoter is not necessary for STAT3‐mediated reduction of REDD1 expression. Still, STAT3 is recruited to the REDD1 promoter upon stimulation with IL‐6, and reduces REDD1 promoter activity. The reduction of REDD1 expression is specific for STAT3, as neither expression nor activation of STAT1 reduces REDD1 mRNA and protein expression. In summary, we present a novel, non‐canonical STAT3‐dependent mechanism for reducing gene expression. This transcriptional repression increases the functions of STAT3 proteins beyond classical transcriptional activation of cytokine‐regulated target genes to a more complex function in modulating gene expression in immunity and cellular stress.
YTHDF3 mediates HNF1α regulation of cervical cancer radio‐resistance by promoting RAD51D translation in an m6A‐dependent manner
Authors: Du Hui , Zou Nai‐Yi , Zuo Hong‐Ling , Zhang Xue‐Yuan , Zhu Shu‐Chai
Published: November 2022

Radiotherapy, as an important primary treatment, has effectively improved the survival of patients with cervical cancer (CC). Some patients, however, do not benefit optimally from radiotherapy because of radio‐resistance. Therefore, identifying radio‐resistance biomarkers and unravelling the underlying mechanisms is of critical importance for these patients. In the present study, we found significant upregulation of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1‐alpha (HNF1α) expression in radio‐resistant cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. Depletion of HNF1α reduced and overexpression of HNF1α promoted the resistance of CC cells to irradiation in vitro and in vivo. HNF1α positively regulated DNA repair protein RAD51 homologue 4 (RAD51D) at the protein level but not at the mRNA level. Mechanistically, upregulation of HNF1α enhanced YTH domain‐containing family protein 3 (YTHDF3) transcription, which in turn promoted RAD51D mRNA N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification. YTHDF3 mediates HNF1α regulation of cervical cancer radio‐resistance by promoting RAD51D translation in an m6A‐dependent manner. The HFN1α/YTHDF3/RAD51D regulatory axis was found to play a critical role in conferring radio‐resistance of CC cells. In conclusion, dysregulation of the HFN1α/YTHDF3/RAD51D axis may promote the radio‐resistance of CC cells. Blocking this pathway may provide therapeutic benefits against CC radio‐resistance.