bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tzanck Smear in Dermatologic Practice
Authors: Yang Ronald A. , Nodine Sarah , Anderson Jaclyn B. , Laughter Melissa R. , Zangara Tessa , Dinkel Rebecca , Dunnick Cory A.
Published: January 2022

The Tzanck smear was introduced in the 1950s and has been used for the diagnosis of erosive, vesiculobullous, tumoral, and granulomatous diseases. The Tzanck smear is rapid, easy to perform, and relatively inexpensive. Results from this diagnostic test can be obtained at the bedside, often within several minutes. Tzanck smears have high diagnostic reliability for erosive/vesiculobullous and granulomatous lesions. For some lesions, the sensitivity of Tzanck smears can exceed 80% up to 90% depending on the expertise of the user. However, for more challenging diagnoses, Tzanck smear should be used in conjunction with more advanced techniques to ensure an accurate clinical diagnosis. This article reviews the background, indications, construct, and applications of the Tzanck smear to highlight this commonly used diagnostic tool in dermatology.
Intimate Partner Femicide in South Korea: An Integrative Review of the Literature
Authors: Kim Soojeong , Park Sihyun , Champion Jane Dimmitt
Published: January 2022

Background

Intimate partner femicide (IPF) is a severe form of violence perpetrated against women in intimate relationships. The purpose of this integrative literature review was to identify studies of IPF in South Korea.

Methods

A web-based literature search was performed in six databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, SocINDEX, and RISS (Korean academic online database). Because of the limited number of findings, Google Scholar was used to find additional studies.

Results

Nine articles were selected. There were no studies of IPF in South Korea utilizing a healthcare perspective. The studies were primarily designed to understand the characteristics of the cases and the perpetrators. Through the application of the ecological model to these studies, risk factors at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels were identified. Although these studies identified that risk factors at the societal level—Korean culture, policy, and law—have a considerable influence on femicide, a clear solution is not proposed.

Conclusion

It is imperative to understand IPF in South Korea from a female societal perspective to facilitate violence prevention and recovery for those experiencing intimate partner violence.
Civilians Have Higher Adherence and More Improvements in Health With a Mediterranean Diet and Circuit Training Program Compared With Firefighters
Authors: Almeida Andrew A. , Reeve Emily H. , Dickinson Rachel L. , Carty Megan , Gilpin Julia , Feairheller Deborah L.
Published: January 2022

Objective

To examine the relationship between diet adherence and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk-reduction between civilians and firefighters with a 6-week Mediterranean diet and tactical training intervention.

Methods

Forty firefighters and 30 civilians participated. Blood pressure, body composition, lipid levels, vascular measures, and aerobic capacity were measured pre- and post-intervention. Diet was self-report based on number of servings consumed. Weekly diet-scores were calculated.

Results

Both groups had improvements in blood pressure and body composition. Civilians had improved lipid levels, higher overall adherence, a relationship between total Med-diet score and cholesterol (R = 0.68), and higher servings consumed in foods typical of Mediterranean-dietary pattern (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

This is the first exercise and diet intervention comparing firefighters to civilians. Adherence to a Mediterranean-dietary pattern coupled with exercise is effective at improving cardiac health. These findings substantiate the need for wellness interventions in firefighters.
Evaluation of Ibrutinib Cardiotoxicity By Comparative Use of Speckle-Tracking Technique and Biomarkers
Authors: Ciuculete Denisa-Corina , Popescu Raluca Alexandra , Georgescu Georgeta Daniela , Dan Gheorghe-Andrei
Published: January 2022

Background:

Ibrutinib, a relatively new antineoplastic agent, has multiple cardiovascular effects that are still insufficiently known and evaluated, including subclinical myocardial damage.

Study Question:

The present study aims to assess the role of the myocardial strain, alone and in combination with cardiac biomarkers, in the early detection of ibrutinib-induced cardiotoxicity.

Study Design:

We included 31 outpatients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on ibrutinib, in a tertiary University Hospital between 2019 and 2020, and evaluated them at inclusion and after 3 months.

Measures and Outcomes:

Data on myocardial strain, cardiac biomarkers [high-sensitive troponin T (hs TnT) and N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)], and ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring were collected.

Results:

Myocardial deformation decreased significantly (P < 0.001) at later evaluation and hs TnT and NT-proBNP increased significantly (P = 0.019 and P = 0.03, respectively). The increase in hs TnT correlated with the increase in the left ventricle global longitudinal strain (LVGLS); in other words, it correlated with the decrease in myocardial deformation. No association was found between LVGLS increase and the increase in NT-proBNP. LVGLS modification was not significantly influenced by age, anemia, or arrhythmia burden quantified by 24-hour Holter monitoring (P = 0.747, P = 0.072, respectively; P = 0.812). LVEF did not change significantly during follow-up.

Conclusions:

In patients on ibrutinib, evaluation of myocardial strain is useful in identifying early cardiac drug toxicity, surpassing the sensitivity and specificity limits of LVEF. In these patients, concomitant assessment of hs TnT increases the predictive power for subclinical myocardial involvement.
Trends in Characteristics of Adults Enrolled in Traditional Fee-for-Service Medicare and Medicare Advantage, 2011–2019
Authors: Weeks William B. , Cao Stacey Y. , Smith Jeremy , Wang Huabo , Weinstein James N.
Published: January 2022

Background:

While overall Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) enrollment has grown more rapidly than fee-for-service Medicare enrollment, changes in the growth and characteristics of different enrollee populations have not been examined.

Objectives:

For 2011–2019, to compare changes in the growth and characteristics of younger (age younger than 65) and older (age 65 and older) Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part A only, Medicare Parts A & B, and Medicare Part C.

Research Design:

This was a retrospective, observational study.

Subjects:

Medicare beneficiaries who were alive and enrolled in Medicare Part A only, Medicare Parts A & B, or Medicare Part C on June 30 of each year and in no other plan that year.

Measures:

For each plan type and age group the numbers and mean ages of enrollees and the proportion of enrollees who were: black, female, concurrently enrolled in Medicaid, and (for older enrollees), whose initial reason for eligibility was old age and survivors’ benefits.

Results:

Between 2011 and 2019, Medicare Part C experienced rapid expansions of 85.0% among older and 109.5% among younger enrollees. Part C enrollees were increasingly likely to be dually enrolled in Medicaid, Black and, among younger enrollees, female.

Conclusions:

Trends in demographic characteristics and changes in policy and growth in employer group plan offerings will likely continue to impact health care service utilization and costs in the Medicare population. Particularly as Medicare expansion to younger age groups is considered, future research should explore disparities in risk scores and care equity, quality, and costs across different Medicare enrollment options.
Mapping 2 Decades of Research in Health Services Research, Health Policy, and Health Economics Journals
Authors: Zengul Ferhat D. , Oner Nurettin , Ozaydin Bunyamin , Hall Allyson G. , Berner Eta S. , Cimino James J. , Lemak Christy H.
Published: January 2022

Objective:

To identify major research topics and exhibit trends in these topics in 15 health services research, health policy, and health economics journals over 2 decades.

Data Sources:

The study sample of 35,159 abstracts (1999–2020) were collected from PubMed for 15 journals.

Study Design:

The study used a 3-phase approach for text analyses: (1) developing the corpus of 40,618 references from PubMed (excluding 5459 of those without abstract or author information); (2) preprocessing and generating the term list using natural language processing to eliminate irrelevant textual data and identify important terms and phrases; (3) analyzing the preprocessed text data using latent semantic analysis, topic analyses, and multiple correspondence analysis.

Principal Findings:

Application of analyses generated 16 major research topics: (1) implementation/intervention science; (2) HIV and women’s health; (3) outcomes research and quality; (4) veterans/military studies; (5) provider/primary-care interventions; (6) geriatrics and formal/informal care; (7) policies and health outcomes; (8) medication treatment/therapy; (9) patient interventions; (10) health insurance legislation and policies; (11) public health policies; (12) literature reviews; (13) cost-effectiveness and economic evaluation; (14) cancer care; (15) workforce issues; and (16) socioeconomic status and disparities. The 2-dimensional map revealed that some journals have stronger associations with specific topics. Findings were not consistent with previous studies based on user perceptions.

Conclusion:

Findings of this study can be used by the stakeholders of health services research, policy, and economics to develop future research agendas, target journal submissions, and generate interdisciplinary solutions by examining overlapping journals for particular topics.
Cognitive Outcomes in Children With Conditions Affecting the Small Intestine
Authors: Vlug Lotte E. , Verloop Merel W. , Dierckx Bram , Bosman Lotte , de Graaff Jurgen C. , Rings Edmond H.H.M. , Wijnen René M.H. , de Koning Barbara A.E. , Legerstee Jeroen S. ,   PICASsO Group
Published: January 2022

Objectives:

The aim of the study was to assess cognitive outcomes in children with intestinal failure (IF) and children at high risk of IF with conditions affecting the small intestine requiring parenteral nutrition.

Methods:

EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO were searched from inception to October 2020. Studies were included constituting original data on developmental quotient (DQ), intelligence quotient (IQ) and/or severe developmental delay/disability (SDD) rates assessed with standardized tests. We used appropriate standardized tools to extract data and assess study quality. We performed random effects meta‐analyses to estimate pooled means of DQ/IQ and pooled SDD rates (general population mean for DQ/IQ: 100, for percentage with SDD: 1.8%) for 4 groups: IF, surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), abdominal wall defects (AWD), and midgut malformations (MM). Associations of patient characteristics with DQ/IQ were evaluated with meta‐regressions.

Results:

Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled mean DQ/IQ for IF, NEC, AWD, and MM were 86.8, 83.3, 96.6, and 99.5, respectively. The pooled SDD rates for IF, NEC, AWD and MM were 28.6%, 32.8%, 8.5%, and 3.7%, respectively. Meta‐regressions indicated that lower gestational age, longer hospital stay, and higher number of surgeries but not parenteral nutrition duration, were associated with lower DQ/IQ.

Conclusions:

Adverse developmental outcomes are common in children with IF and NEC, and to a much lesser extent in children with AWD and MM. It is important to monitor cognitive development in children with conditions affecting the small intestine and to explore avenues for prevention and remediation.
Continuous Video Monitoring
Authors: Abbe JacQualine Renee , O'Keeffe Christian
Published: January 2022

Background:

A large academic medical center in the Pacific Northwest successfully introduced continuous video monitoring (CVM) as an adjunct measure to replace sitter use when appropriate. Adoption of the technology was influenced by nurse enculturation, standard work, data tracking management, and patient/family engagement. The purpose of this article is to identify critical data metrics to inform expansion of CVM programs when determining readiness for growth.

Problem:

There is a lack of literature to advise organizations on needed data and metrics to inform growth readiness of CVM programs. Specific indicators can support initiatives to achieve financial support for program expansion.

Approach:

CVM readiness for expansion is evident when metrics such as utilization rates, wait-list expansion, frontline staff perception, and sitter patient population outgrow current camera capacity.

Conclusion:

Successful metric analysis can inform initiatives to grow CVM programs, which, in turn, support a culture of safety at large academic medical centers for at-risk populations.
High-risk HPV-related Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Conjunctiva and Lacrimal sac
Authors: Hongo Takahiro , Yamamoto Hidetaka , Tanabe Mika , Yasumatsu Ryuji , Kuga Ryosuke , Miyazaki Yoshiko , Jiromaru Rina , Hashimoto Kazuki , Tateishi Yuki , Sonoda Koh-Hei , Nakagawa Takashi , Oda Yoshinao
Published: January 2022

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in conjunctival and lacrimal sac squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) has been sporadically reported; however, its prevalence, clinicopathologic significance and surrogate markers have not been fully elucidated. Here, we attempted to clarify these questions in Japanese patients with conjunctiva and lacrimal sac SCCs. We retrospectively collected 51 conjunctival SCC and 7 lacrimal sac SCC samples and analyzed them for (1) transcriptionally active high-risk HPV infection using messenger RNA in situ hybridization and (2) protein expressions of p16 and Rb using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Among a total of 58 cases, 25 (43.1%) and 16 (27.6%) tumors were positive for p16-IHC and HPV in situ hybridization, respectively. Ten (19.6%) of the 51 conjunctival SCCs, especially in the palpebral conjunctiva, and 6 (85.7%) of the 7 lacrimal sac SCCs were positive for high-risk HPV. High-risk HPV infection was significantly associated with younger patients, nonkeratinizing SCC histology, p16-positivity and partial loss of Rb expression, but not with recurrence risk. Notably, p16-IHC was not a perfect surrogate marker for high-risk HPV infection; only 64% (16/25) of p16-positive tumors were positive for high-risk HPV. In contrast, the p16+/Rb partial loss pattern was exclusively correlated with high-risk HPV-positivity. The results suggest that the combination of p16 and Rb expression patterns by IHC could be a useful method to predict high-risk HPV infection in conjunctival and lacrimal sac SCCs. HPV infection may be of less prognostic value in this field of cancers.
The role of state and trait anxiety in the processing of facial expressions of emotion
Authors: Dyer Maddy L. , Attwood Angela S. , Penton-Voak Ian S. , Munafò Marcus R.
Published: January 2022

State anxiety appears to influence facial emotion processing (Attwoodet al. 2017R. Soc. Open Sci.4, 160855). We aimed to (i) replicate these findings and (ii) investigate the role of trait anxiety, in an experiment with healthy UK participants (N= 48, 50% male, 50% high trait anxiety). High and low state anxiety were induced via inhalations of 7.5% carbon dioxide enriched air and medical air, respectively. High state anxiety reduced global emotion recognition accuracy (p= 0.01,ηp2=0.14), but it did not affect interpretation bias towards perceiving anger in ambiguous angry–happy facial morphs (p= 0.18,ηp2=0.04). We found no clear evidence of a relationship between trait anxiety and global emotion recognition accuracy (p= 0.60,ηp2=0.01) or interpretation bias towards perceiving anger (p= 0.83,ηp2=0.01). However, there was greater interpretation bias towards perceiving anger (i.e. away from happiness) during heightened state anxiety, among individuals with high trait anxiety (p= 0.03,dz= 0.33). State anxiety appears to impair emotion recognition accuracy, and among individuals with high trait anxiety, it appears to increase biases towards perceiving anger (away from happiness). Trait anxiety alone does not appear to be associated with facial emotion processing.
Open biological negative image set
Authors: Shirai Risako , Watanabe Katsumi
Published: January 2022

Scientists conducting affective research often use visual, emotional images, to examine the mechanisms of defensive responses to threatening and dangerous events and objects. Many studies use the rich emotional images from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) to facilitate affective research. While IAPS images can be classified into emotional categories such as fear or disgust, the number of images per discrete emotional category is limited. We developed the Open Biological Negative Image Set (OBNIS) consisting of 200 colour and greyscale creature images categorized as disgusting, fearful or neither. Participants in Experiment 1 (
N
= 210) evaluated the images' valence and arousal and classified them as
disgusting
,
fearful
or
neither.
In Experiment 2, other participants (
N
= 423) rated the disgust and fear levels of the images. As a result, the OBNIS provides valence, arousal, disgust and fear ratings and ‘disgusting,’ 'fearful' and ‘neither’ emotional categories for each image. These images are available to download on the Internet (
https://osf.io/pfrx4/?view_only=911b1be722074ad4aab87791cb8a72f5
).
Modelling of stress transfer in root-reinforced soils informed by four-dimensional X-ray computed tomography and digital volume correlation data
Authors: Bull Daniel J. , Smethurst Joel A. , Meijer Gerrit J. , Sinclair I. , Pierron Fabrice , Roose Tiina , Powrie William , Bengough A. Glyn
Published: January 2022

Vegetation enhances soil shearing resistance through water uptake and root reinforcement. Analytical models for soils reinforced with roots rely on input parameters that are difficult to measure, leading to widely varying predictions of behaviour. The opaque heterogeneous nature of rooted soils results in complex soil–root interaction mechanisms that cannot easily be quantified. The authors measured, for the first time, the shear resistance and deformations of fallow, willow-rooted and gorse-rooted soils during direct shear using X-ray computed tomography and digital volume correlation. Both species caused an increase in shear zone thickness, both initially and as shear progressed. Shear zone thickness peaked at up to 35 mm, often close to the thickest roots and towards the centre of the column. Root extension during shear was 10–30% less than the tri-linear root profile assumed in a Waldron-type model, owing to root curvature. Root analogues used to explore the root–soil interface behaviour suggested that root lateral branches play an important role in anchoring the roots. The Waldron-type model was modified to incorporate non-uniform shear zone thickness and growth, and accurately predicted the observed, up to sevenfold, increase in shear resistance of root-reinforced soil.
Efficacy and Safety of Viable Selective Germline Genome Edited Pigs Skin Xenotransplants in Patients with Thermal Burns
Authors: Zou Lijin , Zhang Youlai , He Ying , Yu Hui , Yang Fan , Huang Jian , Li Fangjuan , Sheng Qianglong , Zhang Yeming , Li Yajun , Chen Fei , Zhou Guangqian , Zou Xuenong , Wang Qingqing , Zhou Hong-ye , Hu Ningyan , Zeng Yuanlin , Wei Hong-jiang , Yu Yin , Wang Gang
Published: January 2022

Background

Rapid closure of open wound, either temporarily or perpetually, is recognized as the standard of care in patients with thermal burns. Human cadaveric allograft and simple genetically modified porcine xenografts are not able to provide enough durable time for extensively burned patients. A selective germline genome edited pig (SGGEP) skin xenograft, Xeno X skin, would be a valuable candidate to the clinical options.

Methods

In an ongoing investigator-initiated clinical trial in patients with thermal burns, the efficacy and safety of cryopreserved Xeno X skin grafts of SGGEP for burned patients were evaluated. Each patient received surgical grafting with a skin xenotransplant and wild type pig extracellular matrix (wpECM) in a side-by-side manner for in-situ comparison.

The primary outcome measures of xeno-skin grafts included Xeno X skin safety and tolerability, as well as the quality and duration of temporary barrier function yielded by Xeno X skin grafts (as determined by Baux score). Seven parameters included in the analysis were vascularization, pigmentation, thickness, relief, pliability, surface area and the overall opinion, with each calculated on an independent 0-10 scale.

Results

A total of 16 burned patients completed the trial. All the patients tolerated Xeno X skin grafts well and no advent events were observed. In all cases, Xeno X skin grafts were vascularized and fully adherent, they also exhibited better overall outcomes than those of wpECM. Xeno X skin grafts survived for at least 25 days without a need of any immunosuppressive drug, well consistent with our earlier preclinical studies in non-human primates.

Conclusion

Xeno X skin grafts of SGGEP did not incur any signs of local and systemic safety issues, and in the meanwhile provided a high quality and long duration of temporary barrier function for burned patients. This is a major milestone in the xenotransplant field, indicating that genome-edited organ xenotransplant has become a clinical reality.
Assessing the relationship between measures of healthcare access and functional limitations among individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Authors: Adeyemi O J , Arif A A , Paul R
Published: January 2022

Objectives

Functional limitation from COPD manifests more from physical rather than respiratory impairment. To what extent health access affects the functional limitation among individuals with COPD is yet to be known. This study aims to assess the relationship between healthcare access and functional limitations among individuals with COPD.

Study Design

Retrospective analysis of a cross-sectional population-based survey

Methods

This study pooled 11-year (2008 - 2018) data from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series - National Health Interview Survey (IPUMS-NHIS). We restricted the data to respondents with self-reported COPD, aged 40 years and older. The independent variables were sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. The exploratory variables were measures of healthcare access – healthcare coverage, delayed appointment, affordable care, and a usual place for care. The outcome variable was the presence or absence of functional limitations.

Results

The age, race, educational attainment, marital status, smoking status, and poverty-income ratio had a significant association with functional limitation (p<0.001) We found statistically significant associations between functional limitation and healthcare coverage, delayed appointment, affordable care, and a usual place for care. Poverty modified the relationship between functional limitations and the four measures of healthcare access, with the odds of functional limitation increased among the poor with no healthcare coverage, delayed appointment, unaffordable care, and no usual place for care.

Conclusions

A strong relationship exists between the quartet of healthcare coverage, delayed appointment, affordable care, and usual place for care and self-reported functional limitation among individuals with COPD. Poverty was an effect modifier, with the odds of functional limitation worse among the poor.
An integrated genome and phenome-wide association study approach to understanding Alzheimer’s disease predisposition
Authors: Khaire Archita S. , Wimberly Courtney E. , Semmes Eleanor C. , Hurst Jillian H. , Walsh Kyle M.
Published: January 2022

Background

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified common, heritable alleles that increase late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) risk. We recently published an analytic approach to integrate GWAS and phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) data, enabling identification of candidate traits and trait-associated variants impacting disease risk, and apply it here to LOAD.

Methods

PheWAS was performed for 23 known LOAD-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 4:1 matched control SNPs using UK Biobank data. Traits enriched for association with LOAD SNPs were ascertained and used to identify trait-associated candidate SNPs to be tested for association with LOAD risk (17,008 cases; 37,154 controls).

Results

LOAD-associated SNPs were significantly enriched for associations with 6/778 queried traits, including three platelet traits. The strongest enrichment was for platelet distribution width (PDW) (P=1.2×10−5), but no consistent direction of effect was observed between increased PDW and LOAD susceptibility across variants or in Mendelian randomization analysis. Of 384 PDW-associated SNPs identified by prior GWAS, 36 were nominally associated with LOAD risk and 5 survived false-discovery rate correction for multiple testing. Associations confirmed known LOAD risk loci near PICALM, CD2AP, SPI1, and NDUFAF6, and identified a novel risk locus in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene.

Conclusions

Through integration of GWAS and PheWAS data, we identify substantial pleiotropy between genetic determinants of LOAD and of platelet morphology, and for the first time implicate EGFR – a mediator of β-amyloid toxicity – in Alzheimer’s disease susceptibility.
Infrequent intranasal oxytocin followed by positive social interaction improves symptoms in autistic children: a pilot randomized clinical trial
Authors: Le Jiao , Zhang Lan , Zhao Weihua , Zhu Siyu , Lan Chunmei , Kou Juan , Zhang Qianqian , Zhang Yingying , Li Qin , Chen Zhuo , Fu Meina , Montag Christian , Zhang Rong , Yang Wenxu , Becker Benjamin , Kendrick Keith M.
Published: January 2022

There are currently no approved drug interventions for social behavior dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous trials investigating effects of daily intranasal oxytocin treatment have reported inconsistent results and have not combined it with positive social interaction. However, In two preclinical studies we established that treatment every-other-day rather than daily is more efficacious in maintaining neural and behavioral effects by reducing receptor desensitization. We aimed to establish whether a 6-week intranasal oxytocin compared with placebo treatment, followed by a period of positive social interaction, would produce reliable symptom improvements in children with ASD. A pilot double-blind, randomized, crossover design trial was completed including 41 children with ASD aged 3-8 years. Primary outcomes were the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2) and social responsivity scale-2 (SRS-2). Secondary measures included cognitive, autism and caregiver-related questionnaires and social attention assessed using eye-tracking. Significant improvements were found for oxytocin relative to placebo in primary outcome measures (total ADOS-2 and SRS-2 scores, ps < 0.001) and in behavioral adaptability and repetitive behavior secondary measures. Altered SRS-2 scores were associated with increased saliva oxytocin concentrations. Additionally, oxytocin significantly increased time spent viewing dynamic social compared to geometric stimuli and the eyes of angry, happy and neutral expression faces. There were no adverse side-effects of oxytocin treatment. Overall, results demonstrate that a 6-week intranasal oxytocin treatment administered every other day and followed by positive social interactions can improve clinical, eye-tracking and questionnaire-based assessments of symptoms in young autistic children.
Host kinase CSNK2 is a target for inhibition of pathogenic β-coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Yang Xuan , Dickmander Rebekah J. , Bayati Armin , Taft-Benz Sharon A. , Smith Jeffery L. , Wells Carrow I. , Madden Emily A. , Brown Jason W. , Lenarcic Erik M. , Yount Boyd L. , Chang Edcon , Axtman Alison D. , Baric Ralph S. , Heise Mark T. , McPherson Peter S. , Moorman Nathaniel J. , Willson Timothy M.
Published: January 2022

Inhibition of the protein kinase CSNK2 with any of 30 specific and selective inhibitors representing different chemotypes, blocked replication of pathogenic human and murine β-coronaviruses. The potency of in-cell CSNK2A target engagement across the set of inhibitors correlated with antiviral activity and genetic knockdown confirmed the essential role of the CSNK2 holoenzyme in β-coronavirus replication. Spike protein uptake was blocked by CSNK2A inhibition, indicating that antiviral activity was due in part to a suppression of viral entry. CSNK2A inhibition may be a viable target for development of new broad spectrum anti-β-coronavirus drugs.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Test to release from isolation after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Quilty Billy J. , Pulliam Juliet R. C. , Pearson Carl A. B.
Published: January 2022

The rapid spread and high transmissibility of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is likely to lead to a significant number of key workers testing positive simultaneously.

Under a policy of self-isolation after testing positive, this may lead to extreme staffing shortfalls at the same time as e.g. hospital admissions are peaking.

Using a model of individual infectiousness and testing with lateral flow tests (LFT), we evaluate test-to-release policies against conventional fixed-duration isolation policies in terms of excess days of infectiousness, days saved, and tests used.

We find that the number of infectious days in the community can be reduced to almost zero by requiring at least 2 consecutive days of negative tests, regardless of the number of days’ wait until testing again after initially testing positive.

On average, a policy of fewer days’ wait until initiating testing (e.g 3 or 5 days) results in more days saved vs. a 10-day isolation period, but also requires a greater number of tests.

Due to a lack of specific data on viral load progression, infectivity, and likelihood of testing positive by LFT over the course of an Omicron infection, we assume the same parameters as for pre-Omicron variants and explore the impact of a possible shorter proliferation phase.
Dissociating encoding of memory and salience by manipulating long-term synaptic potentiation
Authors: Kaganovsky Konstantin , Plitt Mark H. , Yang Renzhi , Sando Richard , Giocomo Lisa M. , Ding Jun B. , Südhof Thomas C.
Published: January 2022

Neural codes are thought to be reorganized during memory formation by long-term potentiation (LTP) of synapses. Here, using a novel approach for selectively blocking LTP, we found that eliminating LTP in hippocampal or striatal circuits only produces limited effects on learning and memory. To reconcile the discrepancy between the large physiological effect of blocking LTP and the absent effect on learning, we studied how LTP impacts neuronal computations in the hippocampus using in-vivo Ca2+-imaging. Contrary to current conceptual frameworks, we found that hippocampal CA1-region LTP is not required for accurate representations of space in hippocampal neurons, but rather endows these neurons with reward- and novelty-coding properties. Thus, instead of driving formation of cognitive maps and memory engrams, CA1-region LTP incorporates salience information into cognitive representations.

One-Sentence Summary

A novel approach for studying long-term potentiation reveals its surprising and selective role in salience encoding
ZYG-9ch-TOGpromotes the stability of acentrosomal poles via regulation of spindle microtubules inC. elegansoocyte meiosis
Authors: Mullen Timothy J. , Cavin-Meza Gabriel , Wolff Ian D. , Czajkowski Emily R. , Divekar Nikita S. , Finkle Justin D. , Wignall Sarah M.
Published: January 2022

During mitosis, centrosomes serve as microtubule organizing centers that guide the formation of a bipolar spindle. However, oocytes of many species lack centrosomes; how meiotic spindles establish and maintain these acentrosomal poles remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the microtubule polymerase ZYG-9ch-TOGis required to maintain acentrosomal pole integrity inC. elegansoocyte meiosis; following acute depletion of ZYG-9 from pre-formed spindles, the poles split apart and an unstable multipolar structure forms. Depletion of TAC-1, a protein known to interact with ZYG-9 in mitosis, caused loss of proper ZYG-9 localization and similar spindle phenotypes, further demonstrating that ZYG-9 is required for pole integrity. However, depletion of ZYG-9 surprisingly did not affect the assembly or stability of monopolar spindles, suggesting that ZYG-9 is not required for acentrosomal pole structureper se. Moreover, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) revealed that ZYG-9 turns over rapidly at acentrosomal poles, displaying similar turnover dynamics to tubulin itself, suggesting that ZYG-9 does not play a static structural role at poles. Together, these data support a global role for ZYG-9 in regulating the stability of bipolar spindles and demonstrate that the maintenance of acentrosomal poles requires factors beyond those acting to organize the pole structure itself.
Cost-effectiveness of quadrivalent versus trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines for the Portuguese elderly population
Authors: Tavares Diana , Mouriño Helena , Rodríguez Cristina Antón , Saborido Carlos Martín
Published: January 2022

Background

Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV) is expected to replace Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine (TIV) over time. In Portugal, TIV is free of charge for risk groups, which include older adults. In its turn, QIV – which provides broader protection as it includes an additional lineage B strain – was introduced in Portugal in October 2018, but only from the influenza season 2019/20 was provided free of charge for the risk groups. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of switching from TIV to QIV from the National Health Service perspective in the Portuguese elderly mainland population (≥ 65 years old).

Methods

A decision tree model was developed to compare TIV and QIV, based on Portuguese hospitalization data for the 2015/16 influenza season. The primary health economic outcome under consideration was the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER). In addition, a one-Way Sensitivity Analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of model parameters on the ICER; Probabilistic Sensitivity Analysis was also carried out to analyze the robustness of the base case results.

Results

The high cost of QIV (approximately three times the cost of TIV) would lead to a total increment of 5,283,047 €, and the resulting ICER would be 26,403,007€/QALY, mainly above the usual willingness-to-pay threshold.

Conclusions

From the National Health Service perspective, our findings reveal that QIV is not cost-effective for the Portuguese elderly population due to the high cost. If the QIV costs were the same as the TIV, then QIV would be cost-effective.
Siglec-5 is an inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule for human T cells
Authors: Vuchkovska Aleksandra , Glanville David G. , Scurti Gina M. , White Paula , Nishimura Michael I. , Ulijasz Andrew T. , Iwashima Makio
Published: January 2022

Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectins (Siglecs) are a family of immunoglobulin-type lectins that mediate protein-carbohydrate interactions via sialic acids attached to glycoproteins or glycolipids. Most of the CD33-related Siglecs (CD33rSiglecs), a major subfamily of rapidly evolving Siglecs, contain a cytoplasmic signaling domain consisting of the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based switch motif (ITSM) and mediate suppressive signals for lymphoid and myeloid cells. While most CD33rSiglecs are expressed by innate immune cells, such as monocytes and neutrophils, to date, the expression of Siglecs in human T cells has not been well appreciated. In this study, we found that Siglec-5, a member of the CD33rSiglecs, is expressed by most activated T cells upon antigen receptor stimulation. Functionally, Siglec-5 suppresses T cell activation. In support of these findings, we found that Siglec-5 overexpression abrogates antigen receptor induced activation of Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and Activator protein 1 (AP-1). Furthermore, we show that GBS β-protein, a known bacterial ligand of Siglec-5, reduces the production of cytokines and cytolytic molecules by activated primary T cells in a Siglec-5 dependent manner. Our data also show that some cancer cell lines express a putative Siglec-5 ligand(s), and that the presence of soluble Siglec-5 enhances tumor-cell specific T cell activation, suggesting that some tumor cells inhibit T cell activation via Siglec-5. Together, our data demonstrate that Siglec-5 is a previously unrecognized inhibitory T cell immune checkpoint molecule and suggests that blockade of Siglec-5 could serve as a new strategy to enhance anti-tumor T cell functions.

One Sentence Summary:

Siglec-5 is a novel checkpoint receptor expressed by activated human T cells that antagonizes TCR mediated activation and suppresses T cell effector functions such as cytokine production.
Generation of Vascularized Brain Organoids to Study Neurovascular Interactions
Authors: Sun Xin-Yao , Ju Xiang-Chun , Li Yang , Zeng Peng-Ming , Wu Jian , Shen Li-Bing , Chen Yue-Jun , Luo Zhen-Ge
Published: January 2022

The recently developed brain organoids have been used to recapitulate the processes of brain development and related diseases. However, the lack of vasculatures, which regulate neurogenesis, brain disorders, and aging process, limits the utility of brain organoids. In this study, we induced vessel and brain organoids respectively, and then fused two types of organoids together to obtain vascularized brain organoids. The fused brain organoids were engrafted with robust vascular network-like structures, and exhibited increased number of neural progenitors, in line with the possibility that vessels regulate neural development. Fusion organoids also contained functional blood-brain-barrier (BBB)-like structures, as well as microglial cells, a specific population of immune cells in the brain. The incorporated microglia responded actively to immune stimuli to the fused brain organoids. Thus, the fusion organoids established in this study allow modeling interactions between the neuronal and non-neuronal components in vitro, in particular the vasculature and microglia niche.
The entrepreneurial advantages of experiencing foreignness: leveraging shocks for capability clusters
Authors: Pidduck Robert J.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Drawing on the “shocks to the system” concept in image theory, a mid-range theoretical model is developed to illuminate understanding on why cross-cultural experience is so conducive to stimulating entrepreneurship yet has remained largely unexplained at the individual level.

Design/methodology/approach

The novel idea is put forth that experience of foreignness, in itself, can be harnessed as a powerful cognitive resource for entrepreneurship – particularly the nascent stages of new venture development. Providing cross-cultural exposures arouse “self-image shocks”, they manifest over time as skill clusters that reflect the sensing, seizing and transforming capabilities at the heart of entrepreneurship. This paper's pivot helps delineate a common mechanism to explain how a diverse range of seemingly disparate cross-cultural experiences can be processed in a way that enhances entrepreneurial pursuits.

Findings

The insights of this paper reinforce the need for educators and policymakers to encourage and provide opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to engage in cross-cultural and overseas exposures as they are influential for stimulating each of the core sets of entrepreneurial capabilities. The model and synthesis table also help to practically unpack how to design and plan such cultural experiences to optimize the enduring entrepreneurial advantages.

Originality/value

The author turns a long-standing assumption surrounding cultural differences in entrepreneurship on its head. The shocks and tensions arising from intercultural interactions are not always inevitable liabilities to be “managed away” or attenuated. Rather, cross-cultural experience can be explicitly leveraged as an asset for nascent venturing as the juxtapositions they evoke provide both proximal and distal enhancements to ways in which entrepreneurs think and develop skills at the core of venturing.
Techniques to detect terrorists/extremists on the dark web: a review
Authors: Alghamdi Hanan , Selamat Ali
Published: January 2022

Purpose

With the proliferation of terrorist/extremist websites on the World Wide Web, it has become progressively more crucial to detect and analyze the content on these websites. Accordingly, the volume of previous research focused on identifying the techniques and activities of terrorist/extremist groups, as revealed by their sites on the so-called dark web, has also grown.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents a review of the techniques used to detect and process the content of terrorist/extremist sites on the dark web. Forty of the most relevant data sources were examined, and various techniques were identified among them.

Findings

Based on this review, it was found that methods of feature selection and feature extraction can be used as topic modeling with content analysis and text clustering.

Originality/value

At the end of the review, present the current state-of-the- art and certain open issues associated with Arabic dark Web content analysis.
The cognitive-affective nexus on mobile payment continuance intention during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Loh Xiu-Ming , Lee Voon-Hsien , Hew Teck-Soon , Lin Binshan
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study examines the antecedents of continuance intention to use mobile payment in the midst of a pandemic. In general, the cognitive-affective-conative (CAC) framework was used as the theoretical base. More specifically, the dynamic interrelationships between the cognitive and affective constructs were derived from a penta-dimensional perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey yielded 307 responses from youths who were utilizing mobile payment through an online survey which were then analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and artificial neural network (ANN).

Findings

Both positive and negative affective constructs significantly influence continuance intention and can also serve as mediators to the cognitive variables. Interestingly, price savings and referent network size were revealed to be sources of technostress. In addition, despite not having a significant direct influence, price savings should not be overlooked given its indirect significance on continuance intention.

Originality/value

Based on the CAC framework, the constructs were conceptualized according to the respective dimensions to develop this study's research model. It was then used to examine their influences on the continuance intention to use mobile payment in the midst of a pandemic. Moreover, a few novel hypotheses were proposed, and the findings serve to increase the understanding of this subject matter.
Assessing the effect of organisational commitment on turnover intentions amongst Islamic bank employees
Authors: Serhan Carole , Nehmeh Nehmeh , Sioufi Ibrahim
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The research aims to test the links amongst Meyer and Allen's three levels of organisational commitment and the commitment's effect on reducing turnover intentions for Islamic bank (IB) employees during the lockdown caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Design/methodology/approach

The research follows a variable-centred approach. Primary data are collected through a survey of 324 respondents comprising IB employees from three Arab countries, notably the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon and Oman. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Cronbach's alpha test are conducted to test the construct validity, reliability and internal consistency of collected data. Descriptive statistics are used to interpret the data. Zero-order correlations, multiple regression analysis and Fisher's Z-test are applied to assess the interrelations of the various groups of variables and the determinants of turnover intentions.

Findings

Results show that there is a high level of significant intercorrelation amongst affective, normative and continuance commitments as well as amongst organisational commitment, individual differences and turnover intentions for IB employees from the three studied Arab countries. The results confirmed that turnover intentions are minimised in the presence of all three organisational commitment subscales and that individual differences amongst IB employees and organisational efficiency moderate the relationship between organisational commitment and turnover intentions.

Originality/value

There is no empirical work that has been done on the determinants of turnover intentions amongst IB employees during the lockdown. This is valuable to organisational behaviour scholars and practitioners who are interested in the role that organisational commitment plays in IB's employment behaviour.
Multi-criteria decision model for risk prioritisation involving multiple decision-makers: an application of composition of probabilistic preferences combined with FMEA in the supply chain
Authors: Casado Ramon Swell Gomes Rodrigues , Silva Maisa Mendonca , Silva Lucio Camara
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The paper aims to propose a multi-criteria model for risk prioritisation associated to supply chain management involving multiple decision-makers.

Design/methodology/approach

The model integrates the composition of probabilistic preferences (CPP) on the failure modes analysis and its effects (FMEA) criteria. First, the authors carried out a probabilistic transformation of the numerical evaluations of the multiple decision-makers on the FMEA criteria regarding the internal risks that affect the chain of clothing pole in the Agreste region of Pernambuco. Then, the authors proposed the use of the Kendall's concordance coefficient W to aggregate these evaluations.

Findings

Contrary to expectations, the two main risks to be investigated as a model suggestion was related to the context of supply chain suppliers and not related to the raw material costs. Besides, a simulation with the traditional FMEA was carried out, and comparing with the model result, the simulation is worth highlighting seven consistent differences along the two rankings.

Research limitations/implications

The focus was restricted to the use of only internal chain risks.

Practical implications

The proposed model can contribute to the improvement of the decisions within organisations that make up the chains, thus guaranteeing a better quality in risk management.

Originality/value

Establishing a more effective representation of uncertain information related to traditional FMEA treatment involving multiple decision-makers means identifying in advance the potential risks, providing a better supply chain control.