bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Romantic attachment and cyber dating violence in adolescence: A dyadic approach
Authors: Laforte Stéphanie , Paradis Alison , Todorov Emily‐Helen , Cyr Chantal
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Little research has documented cyber dating violence (DV)—a type of teen DV with unique characteristics that has been associated with negative consequences. Attachment is central to understanding negative behaviors in the context of relationships and has been associated with other forms of DV in teens. This study used an actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) to examine how cyber‐DV victimization and perpetration (direct aggression and control) relate to attachment anxiety and avoidance.

Methods

An online questionnaire was completed by 126 adolescent couples (n = 252; mean age = 17.7) from Quebec, Canada.

Results

In almost all couples (96%), at least one partner reported an incident of cyber‐control in the previous year, while cyber‐aggression was reported in 34% of couples. APIM results revealed that girls' and boys' victimization and perpetration of direct cyber‐aggression are associated similarly with both their own high levels of attachment anxiety and their partner's. Concerning cyber‐control, results show that boys' and girls' victimization is associated more with their partner's higher level of anxious attachment than their own. Girls' perpetration of cyber‐control is associated with both their own high levels of attachment anxiety and their partner's, while for boys' perpetration, their own high levels of anxious attachment were found to play a significantly greater role than their girlfriend's. No significant associations were found for the dimension of avoidant attachment for both cyber‐aggression and cyber‐control whether perpetration or victimization.

Conclusion

These findings, which identify potential risk factors for victimization and perpetration of cyber‐DV, have implications for research, intervention, and prevention.
How pregnant women living with HIV and their male partners manage men's HIV self‐testing: qualitative analysis of an HIVST secondary distribution process in Kampala, Uganda
Authors: Ware Norma C. , Wyatt Monique A. , Pisarski Emily E. , Kamusiime Brenda , Kasiita Vicent , Nalukwago Grace , Nalumansi Alisaati , Twesigye Collins , Boyer Jade , Nakyanzi Agnes , Naddunga Faith , Mujugira Andrew , Celum Connie L.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Increased HIV testing by men in sub‐Saharan Africa is key to meeting UNAIDS 2025 testing targets. Secondary distribution of HIV self‐testing (HIVST) kits by pregnant women attending antenatal care to male partners has been shown to increase testing among African men. A detailed understanding of how women and male partners manage the distribution and use of HIVST and subsequent linkage to clinic‐based follow‐up can inform implementation and scale‐up efforts.

Methods

We use qualitative data from the Obumu Study, a randomized trial of secondary distribution of HIVST by pregnant women living with HIV to male partners in Kampala, Uganda, to unpack the HIVST delivery process. The protocol included a clinic visit by male partners to confirm HIVST results. Individual interviews eliciting data on experiences of delivering and using HIVST and of subsequent linkage to clinic‐based testing were conducted with a purposefully selected sample of 45 women and 45 male partner Obumu Study participants from November 2018 to March 2021. Interview data from 59 participants (29 women and 30 men) in the HIVST arm were analysed through coding and category construction.

Results

Women living with HIV were apprehensive about delivering HIVST to their partners, especially if they had not disclosed their HIV status. They invested effort in developing strategies for introducing HIVST. Male partners described a range of responses to receiving the self‐testing kit, especially fear of a positive test result. Women reported leading the self‐testing process, often conducting the test themselves. Most women confidently interpreted HIVST results. However, they tended to defer to healthcare workers rather than report positive results directly to partners. Women told their partners the testing process required a clinic follow‐up visit, often without explaining the visit's purpose. Many partners delayed the visit as a result. Women again responded by strategizing to persuade their partners to link to follow‐up care.

Conclusions

Secondary distribution of HIVST by pregnant women living with HIV to male partners can be challenging, especially when women have not disclosed their HIV status. Additional support may alleviate the burden; outreach to male partners may facilitate linkage to confirmatory testing and HIV care or prevention.
Methods for Brain Atrophy MR Quantification in Multiple Sclerosis: Application to the Multicenter INNI Dataset
Authors: Storelli Loredana , Pagani Elisabetta , Pantano Patrizia , Piervincenzi Claudia , Tedeschi Gioacchino , Gallo Antonio , De Stefano Nicola , Battaglini Marco , Rocca Maria A. , Filippi Massimo ,   for the INNI Network
Published: January 2023

Background

Current therapeutic strategies in multiple sclerosis (MS) target neurodegeneration. However, the integration of atrophy measures into the clinical scenario is still an unmet need.

Purpose

To compare methods for whole‐brain and gray matter (GM) atrophy measurements using the Italian Neuroimaging Network Initiative (INNI) dataset.

Study Type

Retrospective (data available from INNI).

Population

A total of 466 patients with relapsing–remitting MS (mean age = 37.3 ± 10 years, 323 women) and 279 healthy controls (HC; mean age = 38.2 ± 13 years, 164 women).

Field Strength/Sequence

A 3.0‐T, T1‐weighted (spin echo and gradient echo without gadolinium injection) and T2‐weighted spin echo scans at baseline and after 1 year (170 MS, 48 HC).

Assessment

Structural Image Evaluation using Normalization of Atrophy (SIENA‐X/XL; version 5.0.9), Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM‐v12); and Jim‐v8 (Xinapse Systems, Colchester, UK) software were applied to all subjects.

Statistical Tests

In MS and HC, we evaluated the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) among FSL‐SIENA(XL), SPM‐v12, and Jim‐v8 for cross‐sectional whole‐brain and GM tissue volumes and their longitudinal changes, the effect size according to the Cohen's d at baseline and the sample size requirement for whole‐brain and GM atrophy progression at different power levels (lowest = 0.7, 0.05 alpha level). False discovery rate (Benjamini–Hochberg procedure) correction was applied. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

SPM‐v12 and Jim‐v8 showed significant agreement for cross‐sectional whole‐brain (ICC = 0.93 for HC and ICC = 0.84 for MS) and GM volumes (ICC = 0.66 for HC and ICC = 0.90) and longitudinal assessment of GM atrophy (ICC = 0.35 for HC and ICC = 0.59 for MS), while no significant agreement was found in the comparisons between whole‐brain and GM volumes for SIENA‐X/XL and both SPM‐v12 (P = 0.19 and P = 0.29, respectively) and Jim‐v8 (P = 0.21 and P = 0.32, respectively). SPM‐v12 and Jim‐v8 showed the highest effect size for cross‐sectional GM atrophy (Cohen's d = −0.63 and −0.61). Jim‐v8 and SIENA(XL) showed the smallest sample size requirements for whole‐brain (58) and GM atrophy (152), at 0.7 power level.

Data Conclusion

The findings obtained in this study should be considered when selecting the appropriate brain atrophy pipeline for MS studies.

Evidence Level

4.

Technical Efficacy

Stage 1.
Impact of air pollutants on influenza‐like illness outpatient visits under COVID‐19 pandemic in the subcenter of Beijing, China
Authors: Lian Xin−Yao , Xi Lu , Zhang Zhong−Song , Yang Li−Li , Du Juan , Cui Yan , Li Hong−Jun , Zhang Wan−Xue , Wang Chao , Liu Bei , Yang Yan−Na , Cui Fuqiang , Lu Qing−Bin
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to explore the association between air pollutants and outpatient visits for influenza‐like illnesses (ILI) under the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) stage in the subcenter of Beijing. The data on ILI in the subcenter of Beijing from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020 were obtained from the Beijing Influenza Surveillance Network. A generalized additive Poisson model was applied to examine the associations between the concentrations of air pollutants and daily outpatient visits for ILI when controlling meteorological factors and temporal trend. A total of 171 943 ILI patients were included. In the pre‐coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) stage, an increased risk of ILI outpatient visits was associated to a high air quality index (AQI) and the high concentrations of particulate matter less than 2.5 (PM2.5), particulate matter 10 (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO), and a low concentration of ozone (O3) on lag0 day and lag1 day, while a higher increased risk of ILI outpatient visits was observed by the air pollutants in the COVID‐19 stage on lag0 day. Except for PM10, the concentrations of other air pollutants on lag1 day were not significantly associated with an increased risk of ILI outpatient visits during the COVID‐19 stage. The findings that air pollutants had enhanced immediate effects and diminished lag‐effects on the risk of ILI outpatient visits during the COVID‐19 pandemic, which is important for the development of public health and environmental governance strategies.
Benthic Invertebrates on the Move: A Tale of Ocean Warming and Sediment Carbon Storage
Authors: Bianchi Thomas S. , Brown Craig J. , Snelgrove Paul V. R. , Stanley Ryan R. E. , Cote David , Morris Corey
Published: January 2023

Ongoing effects of climate change create a dual challenge of shifting distributions of organisms and concerns about the fate of organic carbon in nature. Marine sediments store vast amounts of organic carbon, but the fate of that material hinges on the biology of organisms associated with the seafloor and how they influence rates of carbon decomposition and burial. Shifts in large megafauna that disturb and thus help to oxygenate sediments could have important ramifications regarding whether sediments release or store carbon for long periods of time. We consider snow crab and lobster, two commercially important seafloor species in the Northeastern Atlantic, and the potential effects of ongoing changes in their distributions and that of their fisheries for future climate scenarios. These ongoing biogeographic shifts, considered in tandem with areas of seabed legislatively protected from fishing impacts and thus not confounded by cumulative effects of fishing gear disturbance, offer an opportunity to study how newly arrived species that disturb large areas of the seafloor might influence the global carbon cycle.
A flexible block classical Gram–Schmidt skeleton with reorthogonalization
Authors: Zou Qinmeng
Published: January 2023

We investigate a variant of the reorthogonalized block classical Gram–Schmidt method for computing the QR factorization of a full column rank matrix. Our aim is to bound the loss of orthogonality even when the first local QR algorithm is only conditionally stable. In particular, this allows the use of modified Gram–Schmidt instead of Householder transformations as the first local QR algorithm. Numerical experiments confirm the stable behavior of the new variant. We also examine the use of non‐QR local factorization and show by example that the resulting variants, although less stable, may also be applied to ill‐conditioned problems.
The equivocal image of young social enterprises—How self‐ versus other‐oriented values influence external perceptions
Authors: Yahyaoui Yasmine , Jakob Eva A. , Steinmetz Holger , Wehner Marius C. , Isidor Rodrigo , Kabst Rüdiger
Published: January 2023

Social enterprises follow the dual mission of achieving social aims as well as attaining financial sustainability and therefore elude easy categorization into either a non‐profit or for‐profit organization. Consequently, social enterprises might struggle with their image since external stakeholders (e.g., job applicants and customers) could hold back their support when the enterprise's dual aims seem unusual to them. Despite the importance of the image to gain stakeholder support, factors that determine how individuals perceive social enterprises are underexplored, especially in their early life stages before they have developed reputational capital and brand recognition. Following human value theory, we propose that stakeholders' self‐transcendence (“other‐oriented”) versus self‐enhancement (“self‐centered”) values explain how they evaluate social versus commercial enterprises. In a vignette study with 945 individuals, we reveal that social enterprises are more likely to attract self‐transcendent individuals whereas individuals with stronger self‐enhancement values are less likely to feel attracted to social enterprises. Moreover, our findings show that individuals' values were more strongly related to the image of social enterprises than to the image of commercial enterprises. Thus, external individuals' values lead to stronger and more contrasting reactions regarding social compared to commercial enterprises. The findings indicate that the image of social enterprises is more equivocal and distinct compared to commercial enterprises and therefore might require a different theoretical understanding and careful management as it depends on stakeholders' deep‐seated values.
Understanding China's political will for sustainability and conservation gains
Authors: Cheung Hubert , Feng Yutong Phoenix , Hinsley Amy , Lee Tien Ming , Possingham Hugh P. , Smith Stephen N. , Thomas‐Walters Laura , Wang Yifu , Biggs Duan
Published: January 2023

Political will is a critical determinant of the success or failure of environmental policies and interventions. Harnessing the political will necessary to implement environmental solutions can be challenging because environmental priorities may compete with other societal interests in policymaking.

Environmental solutions are more politically feasible if fundamentally aligned with the core interests of key policymakers. Understanding the political agendas of decision‐makers enables conservationists to identify where political will already exists, and allows environmental objectives to piggyback on the motivation to deliver results.

In this paper, we explore the core interests of the Chinese leadership to uncover opportunities to leverage Beijing's political will for sustainability and conservation gains. China's growing influence on ecosystems and natural resource use both within and beyond its borders makes an analysis of its leadership's political will valuable and timely.

Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.
Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary findings of a school‐based intervention for recently arrived immigrant middle‐school students
Authors: Ma Pei‐Wen W. , Torres Aileen , Akoto Marsha A.
Published: January 2023

The Cultural Adjustment Group is a pilot school‐based group intervention for recently arrived immigrant middle school students. This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and provided preliminary assessment data to guide future intervention research. Seventy (Male, n = 43; Female, n = 27) immigrant students who were Spanish‐speaking, Arabic‐speaking, and Bangla‐speaking (ages 10–16, M = 13.17) from an urban school district in the Northeastern United States participated in this intervention. Pre and postgroup surveys and exit‐group interviews were conducted to evaluate the program. The findings demonstrated this intervention has good feasibility and high acceptability by the participants. The Bangla‐speaking group reported higher levels of clinical symptoms and perceived discrimination at pretest and reported a clinically significant reduction in clinical symptoms and acculturative stress at posttest. There were no clinically significant changes in the other two groups. The results offer guidance for future implementation of school‐based intervention for newcomer students.
CO2‐based amphiphilic block copolymers: Facile one‐step synthesis and aqueous self‐assembly
Authors: Qu Rui , Wei Zhenyu , Suo Hongyi , Gu Yanan , Wang Xue , Xin Zhirong , Qin Yusheng
Published: January 2023

Construction of CO2‐based amphiphilic block copolymers (ABCs) is an efficient method for providing CO2‐based polycarbonates with self‐assembly properties in aqueous media. It is challenging to construct CO2‐based ABCs by one‐step strategies from mixed monomers because hydrophilic blocks, usually composed of polar monomers, have negative effects on the synthesis of polycarbonates. In this work, we report a one‐step method to construct CO2‐based ABCs obtained by simultaneous ring‐opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of CO2/epoxides and reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of N‐isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM). A trithiocarbonate/carboxy compound was used as the bifunctional chain transfer agent, and an aluminum porphyrin complex was used as the catalyst for ROCOP, which proved to be efficient in CO2 copolymerization even in the presence of NIPAM with strong polarity. This strategy allows flexible control over the molecular weight (5–16 kg/mol) and the hydrophilic‐hydrophobic balance (HLB 9–18) of the ABCs, and ensures narrow polydispersity Đ (1.1–1.3) of the polymers. The ABCs can further self‐assemble into micelles in water with controllable diameters and reversible phase transformation behavior with temperature changes from 25 to 40 °C. This simple route to CO2‐based ABCs with multiple functions has large potential in biomedical applications.
Docetaxel versus abiraterone for metastatic hormone‐sensitive prostate cancer with focus on efficacy of sequential therapy
Authors: Yanagisawa Takafumi , Hata Kenichi , Narita Shintaro , Hatakeyama Shingo , Mori Keiichiro , Yata Yuji , Sano Takayuki , Otsuka Takashi , Hara Shuhei , Miyajima Keiichiro , Enei Yuki , Fukuokaya Wataru , Nakazono Minoru , Matsukawa Akihiro , Miki Jun , Habuchi Tomonori , Ohyama Chikara , Shariat Shahrokh F. , Kimura Takahiro
Published: January 2023

Purpose

We aimed to assess the oncologic efficacy of combining docetaxel (DOC) versus abiraterone (ABI) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with high‐risk metastatic hormone‐sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), with a focus on the efficacy of sequential therapy, in a real‐world clinical practice setting.

Methods

The records of 336 patients who harbored de novo high‐risk mHSPC, based on the LATITUDE criteria, and had received ADT with either DOC (n = 109) or ABI (n = 227) were retrospectively analyzed. Overall survival (OS), cancer‐specific survival (CSS), progression‐free survival (PFS), including time to castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), time to 2nd‐line progression (PFS2), and 2nd‐ and 3rd‐line PFS, were compared. We used one‐to‐two propensity score matching to minimize the confounders. The differential efficacy of 2nd‐line therapy based on agents in each arm was evaluated using the unmatched cohort as an additional interest.

Results

After propensity score matching, 86 patients treated with DOC + ADT and 172 with ABI + ADT were available for analyses. The 3‐year OS and CSS for DOC versus ABI were 76.2% versus 75.1% (p = 0.8) and 78.2% versus 78.6% (p = 1), respectively. There was no difference in the median PFS2 (49 vs. 43 months, p = 0.39), while the median time to CRPC in patients treated with ABI was significantly longer compared to those treated with DOC (42 vs. 22 months; p = 0.006). The median 2nd‐line PFS (14 vs. 4 months, p < 0.001) and 3rd‐line PFS (4 vs. 2 months, p = 0.012) were significantly better in the DOC group than in the ABI group. Among the unmatched cohort, after ABI for mHSPC, the median 2nd‐line PFS did not differ between the patients treated with DOC and those treated with enzalutamide as 2nd‐line therapy (both 3 months, p = 0.8).

Conclusions

ADT with DOC or ABI has comparable oncologic outcomes in terms of OS, CSS, and PFS2 in patients with de novo high‐risk mHSPC. Compared to DOC, ABI resulted in longer time to CRPC but worse 2nd and 3rd‐line PFS. Further studies are needed to clarify the optimal sequence of therapy in the upfront intensive treatment era.
Design, synthesis, and fungicidal activities of novel piperazine thiazole derivatives containing oxime ether or oxime ester moieties
Authors: Peng Xing‐Jie , Tian Xue‐Rong , Yu Shu‐Jing , Zhao Tong‐Tong , Bian Qiang , Zhao Wei‐Guang
Published: January 2023

BACKGROUND

To study the effect of changing the piperidine ring of oxathiapiprolin on the fungicidal activity, we designed and synthesized novel piperazine thiazole derivatives containing oxime ether or oxime ester moieties, and studied their fungicidal activities against Phytophthora capsici in vitro.

RESULTS

These derivatives showed moderate to good fungicidal activities against Phytophthora capsici, two oxime ether derivatives showed higher fungicidal activity in vitro than dimethomorph (EC50 = 0.1331 μg mL−1) and comparable to oxathiapiprolin (EC50 = 0.0042 μg mL−1). Oxime ester derivatives showed significantly reduced activities compared with oxime ether derivatives. Most of these derivatives showed broad‐spectrum fungicidal activity against the other eight kinds of fungi. Moreover, four derivatives exhibited good antifungal activities in vivo against Phytophthora capsici, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, and Phytophthora infestans. The hyphae morphology study showed that compound 10d might cause mycelial abnormalities of Phytophthora capsici.

CONCLUSION

The activity of 10b against Phytophthora infestans was better than that of mandipropamid, and compound 10d exhibited higher fungicidal activities against Pseudoperonospora cubensis and Phytophthora infestans than mandipropamid. These two derivatives emerged as promising candidates for antifungal drugs. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Mpox: a new outbreak of a once exotic infection
Authors: Greener Mark
Published: January 2023

The recent mpox outbreak arrived hot on the heels of the COVID‐19 pandemic, adding further pressure to an already overstretched health service. This article discusses the characteristics of the outbreak, its management and its impact on sexual health services in the UK.
Dengue fever ophthalmic manifestations: A review and update
Authors: Lucena‐Neto Francisco Dias , Falcão Luiz Fabio Magno , Moraes Evelly Christinne da Silva , David Joacy Pedro Franco , Vieira‐Junior Adolfo de Souza , Silva Camilla Costa , de Sousa Jorge Rodrigues , Duarte Maria Irma Seixas , Vasconcelos Pedro Fernando da Costa , Quaresma Juarez Antônio Simões
Published: January 2023

Dengue fever, the most common arbovirus disease, affects an estimated 390 million people annually. Dengue virus (DENV) is an RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family with four different serotypes. Dengue haemorrhagic fever is the deadliest form of dengue infection and is characterised by thrombocytopaenia, hypotension, and the possibility of multi‐system organ failure. The mechanism hypothesised for DENV viral replication is intrinsic antibody‐dependent enhancement, which refers to Fcγ receptor‐mediated viral amplification. This hypothesis suggests that the internalisation of DENV through the Fcγ receptor inhibits antiviral genes by suppressing type‐1 interferon‐mediated antiviral responses. DENV NS1 antibodies can promote the release of various inflammatory mediators in the nuclear transcription factor pathway (NF‐κB‐dependent), including monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)‐1, interleukin (IL)‐6, and IL‐8. As a result, MCP‐1 increases ICAM‐1 expression and facilitates leukocyte transmigration. In addition, anti‐DENV NS1 antibodies induce endothelial cell apoptosis via a nitric oxide‐regulated pathway. A chain reaction involving pre‐existing DENV heterotypic antibodies and innate immune cells causes dysfunction in complement system activity and contributes to the action of autoantibodies and anti‐endothelial cells, resulting in endothelial cell dysfunction, blood‐retinal barrier breakdown, haemorrhage, and plasma leakage. A spectrum of ocular diseases associated with DENV infection, ranging from haemorrhagic to inflammatory manifestations, has been reported in the literature. Although rare, ophthalmic manifestations can occur in both the anterior and posterior segments and are usually associated with thrombocytopenia. The most common ocular complication is haemorrhage. However, ophthalmic complications, such as anterior uveitis and vasculitis, suggest an immune‐mediated pathogenesis.
Research Process on Photodetectors based on Group‐10 Transition Metal Dichalcogenides
Authors: Ahmad Waqas , Wu Jiang , Zhuang Qiandong , Neogi Arup , Wang Zhiming
Published: January 2023

Rapidly evolving group‐10 transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) offer remarkable electronic, optical, and mechanical properties, making them promising candidates for advanced optoelectronic applications. Compared to most TMDCs semiconductors, group‐10‐TMDCs possess unique structures, narrow bandgap, and influential physical properties that motivate the development of broadband photodetectors, specifically infrared photodetectors. This review presents the latest developments in the fabrication of broadband photodetectors based on conventional 2D TMDCs. It mainly focuses on the recent developments in group‐10 TMDCs from the perspective of the lattice structure and synthesis techniques. Recent progress in group‐10 TMDCs and their heterostructures with different dimensionality of materials‐based broadband photodetectors is provided. Moreover, this review accounts for the latest applications of group‐10 TMDCs in the fields of nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. Finally, conclusions and outlooks are summarized to provide perspectives for next‐generation broadband photodetectors based on group‐10 TMDCs.
Cu–Pd Bimetallic Gas Diffusion Electrodes for Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to C2+ Products
Authors: Zhu Chang , Chen Aohui , Mao Jianing , Wu Gangfeng , Li Shoujie , Dong Xiao , Li Guihua , Jiang Zheng , Song Yanfang , Chen Wei , Wei Wei
Published: January 2023

Carbon dioxide electroreduction driven by renewable electricity into high‐value chemicals enables energy storage while contributing to climate change mitigation. Herein, a CuPd bimetallic catalyst is developed by electrodeposition for efficient CO2 electroreduction, achieving a C2+ Faradaic efficiency as high as 75.6% with a current density of −200 mA cm−2 at −1.15 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Upon incorporation of Pd, the average d‐band center of the CuPd bimetallic catalyst downward shifts relative to the Fermi level, making the adsorbed CO intermediates active for further C–C coupling. Theoretical calculations confirm that CO generated on the Pd domain can spill over to the CuPd interface for C–C coupling with a lower energy barrier, further promoting the formation of C2+ compounds. This study provides insights into the rational design of Cu‐based bimetallic catalysts for highly efficient CO2 electroreduction to multicarbon products.
Making EMS fit for the future
Authors: Prescott‐Clements Linda
Published: January 2023

Over the next few issues, the RCVS will provide more details of forthcoming changes to its policies on extramural studies. In this first article, RCVS director of education Linda Prescott‐Clements sets out the case for reform and how the overall student experience should be improved by it.
A new start
Authors: Read Claire
Published: January 2023

Fifteen years ago a financial crisis swept the world. It was a hard time for Jamie Crittall's practice but, as he tells Claire Read, adversity can bring new and positive opportunities.
Bis(pentafluorophenyl)borane Induced Tandem Hydroboration‐Carboboration of Cyclooctatetraene
Authors: Müller Tizian , Hasenbeck Max , Becker Jonathan , Gellrich Urs
Published: January 2023

We report here the formation of the bridged boracycle 1 upon reaction of cyclooctatetraene with bis(pentafluorophenyl)borane. Computations indicate that the reaction commences with a hydroboration and that the high Lewis acidity of the bis(pentafluorophenyl)borane then induces a rearrangement with cleavage of a carbon–carbon bond via a nonclassical zwitterion and a final 1,1‐carboboration. An intermediate of the reaction was captured as tri‐tert‐butylphosphine adduct.
AI Ethics in Higher Education: Research Experiences from Practical Development and Deployment of AI Systems
Authors: Nakatumba-Nabende Joyce , Suuna Conrad , Bainomugisha Engineer
Published: January 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers tangible benefits in several application domains like disease diagnosis in health.
Generalized volume-complexity for two-sided hyperscaling violating black branes
Authors: Omidi Farzad
Published: January 2023

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate generalized volume-complexity $$ \mathcal{C} $$
C
gen for a two-sided uncharged HV black brane in d + 2 dimensions. This quantity which was recently introduced in [48], is an extension of volume in the Complexity=Volume (CV) proposal, by adding higher curvature corrections with a coupling constant λ to the volume functional. We numerically calculate the growth rate of $$ \mathcal{C} $$
C
gen for different values of the hyperscaling violation exponent θ and dynamical exponent z. It is observed that $$ \mathcal{C} $$
C
gen always grows linearly at late times provided that we choose λ properly. Moreover, it approaches its late time value from below. For the case λ = 0, we find an analytic expression for the late time growth rate for arbitrary values of θ and z. However, for λ ≠ 0, the late time growth rate can only be calculated analytically for some specific values of θ and z. We also examine the dependence of the growth rate on d, θ, z and λ. Furthermore, we calculate the complexity of formation obtained from volume-complexity and show that it is not UV divergent. We also examine its dependence on the thermal entropy and temperature of the black brane. At the end, we also numerically calculate the growth rate of $$ \mathcal{C} $$
C
gen for the case where the higher curvature corrections are a linear combination of the Ricci scalar, square of the Ricci tensor and square of the Riemann tensor. We show that for appropriate values of the coupling constants, the late time growth rate is again linear.
Compact Minimal Submanifolds in a Large Class of Riemannian Manifolds
Authors: Herrera J. , Rubio R. M. , Salamanca J. J.
Published: January 2023

Through a new technique, we provide uniqueness, rigidity and non-existence results for compact minimal submanifolds of arbitrary dimension in a large class of Riemannian manifolds, which include between others, Riemannian double-twisted and warped products. Moreover, we show that our results can be applied in particular, to space forms and Cartan–Hadamard manifolds, re-obtaining several classic results in a different approach. Interesting applications to Geometric Analysis are also showed.
Bottom-up proteomics analysis for adduction of the broad-spectrum herbicide atrazine to histone
Authors: Chu Shaogang , Letcher Robert J.
Published: January 2023

Histones are the major proteinaceous components of chromatin in eukaryotic cells and an important part of the epigenome. The broad-spectrum herbicide atrazine (2-chloro-4-[ethylamino]-6-[isopropylamino]-1, 3, 5-triazine) and its metabolites are known to form protein adducts, but the formation of atrazine–histone adducts has not been studied. In this study, a bottom-up proteomics analysis method was optimized and applied to identify histone adduction by atrazine in vitro. Whole histones of calf thymus or human histone H3.3 were incubated with atrazine. After solvent-based protein precipitation, the protein was digested by trypsin/Glu-C and the resulting peptides were analyzed by high-resolution mass spectrometry using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatograph interfaced with a quadrupole Exactive-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. The resulting tryptic/Glu-C peptide of DTNLCAIHAK from calf thymus histone H3.1 or human histone H3.3 was identified with an accurate mass shift of  +179.117 Da in atrazine incubated samples. It is deduced that a chemical group with an elemental composition of C8H13N5 (179.1171 Da) from atrazine adducted with calf thymus histone H3.1 or human histone H3.3. It was confirmed by MS/MS analysis that the adduction position was at its cysteine 110 residue. Time- and concentration-dependent assays also confirmed the non-enzymatic covalent modification of histone H3.3 by atrazine in vitro. Thus, the potential exists that atrazine adduction may lead to the alteration of histones that subsequently disturbs their normal function.

Graphical abstract
Failure induces task-irrelevant exploration during a stencil task
Authors: van der Kooij Katinka , van Mastrigt Nina M. , Cashaback Joshua G. A.
Published: January 2023

During reward-based motor tasks, performance failure leads to an increase in movement variability along task-relevant dimensions. These increases in movement variability are indicative of exploratory behaviour in search of a better, more successful motor action. It is unclear whether failure also induces exploration along task-irrelevant dimensions that do not influence performance. In this study, we ask whether participants would explore the task-irrelevant dimension while they performed a stencil task. With a stylus, participants applied downward, normal force that influenced whether they received reward (task-relevant) as they simultaneously made erasing-like movement patterns along the tablet that did not influence performance (task-irrelevant). In this task, the movement pattern was analyzed as the distribution of movement directions within a movement. The results showed significant exploration of task-relevant force and task-irrelevant movement patterns. We conclude that failure can induce additional movement variability along a task-irrelevant dimension.
Comparison of the effect of DLI according to cell sources in relapsed AML after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Park Woochan , Byun Ja Min , Hong Junshik , Kim Inho , Shin Dong-Yeop , Park Seonyang , Koh Youngil , Yoon Sung-Soo
Published: January 2023

For relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) is an effective therapy. However, the cell source of DLI remains a topic of debate. In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of G-CSF mobilized cells (G-DLI) with conventionally collected DLI (C-DLI). A total of 81 patients (50 C-DLI vs. 31 G-DLI) were assessed for clinical outcomes. There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline characteristics between the two groups including AML risk, donor types, interval from relapse to DLI, and infused CD3+ cell count. Although not statistically significant, complete remission (CR) and chimerism conversion rates were higher in G-DLI than in C-DLI: 51.6% vs. 28.0%, P = 0.057 and 42.3% vs. 28.2%, P = 0.363, respectively. There was no difference in acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) incidence and severity of acute GVHD between the two groups. The median overall survival (OS) of the G-DLI and C-DLI groups was 139 days and 106 days, respectively (P = 0.58). In conclusion, G-DLI appears to be a safe and an equally efficacious substitute for C-DLI, which is more readily available.
Spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage secondary to 5-ALA-induced thrombocytopaenia in a paediatric patient: case report and literature review
Authors: Mui Olivia O.T. , Murray Daniel B. , Walsh Bill , Crimmins Darach W. , Caird John D.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The primary objective of neurosurgical management of malignant gliomas is maximal safe resection of the tumour. One of the main obstacles in achieving this is the ability to accurately discriminate between tumour edges and the surrounding healthy brain tissue. The use of fluorescence-guided surgery utilising 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), first introduced more than 20 years ago, has become an invaluable adjunct in high-grade glioma surgery in adults. However, as 5-ALA is not licensed for use in paediatric patients, the safety profile for such use remains undetermined.

Case report

We describe the case of a 4-year-old boy who underwent 5-ALA-guided resection of a fourth ventricle anaplastic ependymoma. Although complete resection was achieved and the patient awoke from surgery well with no neurological deficits, the patient developed acute transaminitis, anaemia, thrombocytopaenia and coagulopathy postoperatively. The patient had a sudden neurological deterioration on postoperative day 2; imaging revealed that he had suffered a spontaneous right frontal intracerebral haemorrhage. The patient returned to theatre for surgical decompression and evacuation of the haematoma, and ultimately went on to make a full recovery.

Conclusion

The use of 5-ALA in paediatric patients can be helpful in maximising surgical resection, but the associated safety profile remains undefined. Further research is urgently warranted in order to characterise the efficacy and risk of the use of 5-ALA in the paediatric population.
Impaired glymphatic drainage underlying obstructive sleep apnea is associated with cognitive dysfunction
Authors: Wang Jiuqi , Tian Yiming , Qin Chi , Meng Lin , Feng Renyi , Xu Shuqin , Zhai Yanping , Liang Dongxiao , Zhang Rui , Tian Haiyan , Liu Han , Chen Yongkang , Fu Yu , Chen Pei , Zhu Qingyong , Teng Junfang , Wang Xuejing
Published: January 2023

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent but easily undiagnosed and is an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment. However, it remains unclear how OSA is linked to cognitive impairment. In the present study, we found the correlation between morphological changes of perivascular spaces (PVSs) and cognitive impairment in OSA patients. Moreover, we developed a novel set of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) methods to evaluate the fluid dynamics of glymphatic drainage system. We found that the inflow and outflow parameters of the glymphatic drainage system in patients with OSA were obviously changed, indicating impairment of glymphatic drainage due to excessive perfusion accompanied with deficient drainage in OSA patients. Moreover, parameters of the outflow were associated with the degree of cognitive impairment, as well as the hypoxia level. In addition, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) enhances performance of the glymphatic drainage system after 1 month treatment in OSA patients. We proposed that ventilation improvement might be a new strategy to ameliorate the impaired drainage of glymphatic drainage system due to OSA-induced chronic intermittent hypoxia, and consequently improved the cognitive decline.
Elevated creatinine kinase levels amongst Dutch adolescents with acute alcohol intoxication
Authors: Pigeaud Louise , de Veld Loes , van der Lely Nico
Published: January 2023

This study aims to explore the prevalence of creatinine kinase elevation amongst a sample of Dutch adolescents admitted for acute alcohol intoxication. The data on all admitted adolescents < 18 years old with acute alcohol intoxication between 2008 and 2021 were collected from a Dutch major district general hospital, Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, in Delft. Overall, 495 adolescents who were treated for symptoms of acute alcohol intoxication during this period were included in the study. When evaluating the blood samples of the included patients, elevated creatinine kinase levels were found in 60% of the cases, with a mean of 254 U/I (normal value ≤ 145 U/I). A confirmed diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis (increase in CK > fivefold the upper limit of normal) was present in 4.4% of cases. Moreover, using a linear regression this study found that a higher blood alcohol concentration was associated with higher creatinine kinase levels, when adjusted for positive drug screenings amongst the adolescents with acute alcohol intoxication (p = 0.027; β = 66.88; 95% CI 7.68 − 126.08).

    Conclusions: This is the first study focusing on how acute alcohol intoxication affects adolescents’ muscle tissue. The results could potentially help to prevent alcohol use within the sports world. It could also aid understanding of how acute alcohol intoxication influences the breakdown of adolescents’ muscle tissue.

What is Known:• Alcohol, alongside pharmaceutical agents and illicit drugs, is a significant cause of rhabdomyolysis
(increase in creatinine kinase > fivefold the upper limit of normal).
• Creatinine kinase elevation in alcohol intoxicated patients may be as a result of direct “muscular” toxicity” (myotoxicity) or from prolonged immobilization and ischemic compression induced by coma.

What is New:• Our retrospective cohort study is a pioneer in addressing the effect of acute alcohol intoxication
amongst adolescents (< 18 years) upon muscle tissue (creatinine kinase level) within a large population. When evaluating the blood samples of the included population,
elevated creatinine kinase levels were found in 60% of the cases, with a mean of 254 U/I (normal value ≤ 145 U/I).• There is an association between alcohol intoxication and elevated creatinine kinase levels amongst
adolescents. Future research is needed to further understand the pathophysiology and causality of this interaction.
Peroral endoscopic myotomy: is it better to perform it in naive patients or as second-line therapy? Results of an open-label-controlled study in 105 patients
Authors: Olivier Raphael , Brochard Charlène , des Varannes Stanislas Bruley , Ropert Alain , Wallenhorst Timothée , Reboux Noémi , Quénéhervé Lucille , Coron Emmanuel
Published: January 2023

Background

Whether Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) can be proposed as a second-line treatment in patients with achalasia remains to be confirmed in real-life series.

Objective

This study aimed to compare the efficacy, feasibility and safety of POEM between treatment-naïve patients and patients who had prior endoscopic or surgical therapies for achalasia.

Methods

All consecutive patients who underwent a POEM procedure for achalasia in our centre from June 2015 to September 2018 were included in this retrospective study. They were classified into treatment-naïve patients (POEM1) and patients who had at least one previous endoscopic and/or surgical treatment for achalasia (POEM2).

Results

A total of 105 patients were included, 52 in the POEM1 group and 53 in the POEM2 group. Clinical success (defined as an Eckardt score ≤ 3) at 6 months was observed in 93% of POEM1 patients and 84% of POEM2 patients (p = 0.18). Technical success rate was not significantly different between the two groups (100% vs 96%, respectively; p = 0.50). No significant difference was noted in terms of adverse event rate (19% vs 19%, respectively; p = 1.00). Post-procedure pain occurred in 12% of treatment-naive and 9% of non-naïve patients (p = 0.76). The median length of hospital stay was 3 days in both groups (p = 0.17). Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux occurred in 25% of POEM1 patients and 16% of POEM2 patients (p = 0.24).

Conclusion

Efficacy, feasibility and safety of POEM are not different between treatment-naïve and non-naïve patients. POEM is a valuable second-line approach in patients with persistent symptoms of achalasia after surgical or endoscopic treatments.
Efficiency of diode laser in control of post-endodontic pain: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ismail Hend H. , Obeid Maram , Hassanien Ehab
Published: January 2023

Objectives

As post-endodontic pain control is one of the main targeted addressed in endodontics, our aim was delignated to compare two different methods for low-level laser application utilizing diode laser: low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and laser-activated irrigation (LAI) in the control of post-endodontic pain.

Materials and subjects

A total of 180 patients received single-visit root canal treatment; they were randomly allocated into 3 equal groups. Group I received LAI, group II received LLLT, and group III served as control with normal root canal treatment and mock laser intervention (ML group). Postoperative pain was recorded using visual analogue scale (VAS) after 24, 48, and 72 h. Data were tabulated and statistically analyzed.

Results

At 24 h, there was a statistically significant difference between median pain scores in the three groups (P value < 0.001) with ML group scored highest score followed by LAI and then LLLT group. At 48 h, there was a statistically significant difference between the three groups (P value < 0.001), with ML group scoring highest median pain scores while LLLT and LAI showed statistical insignificant scores. At 72 h, there was no statistically significant difference between the 3 groups (P value = 0.179).

Conclusion

LLLT is superior to LAI and ML group in the control of immediate postoperative pain after 24 h while after 48 h both LAI and LLLT were equally effective, but they still showed significant differences when compared to ML group.

Clinical relevance

Diode laser can be used by clinicians as it decreases the post-endodontic pain in patients with symptomatic apical periodontitis undergoing endodontic treatment.
An update on fractional picosecond laser treatment: histology and clinical applications
Authors: Zhou Yanjun , Hamblin Michael R. , Wen Xiang
Published: January 2023

Picosecond lasers have a very short pulse duration and a high peak power density. When fractional optical delivery systems are attached to picosecond lasers, they generate an array of concentrated microspots with a high fluence surrounded by areas with a low fluence. This article discusses the histologic characteristics and clinical applications of fractional picosecond laser treatment. Fractional picosecond laser produces laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) and laser-induced cavitation (LIC) in the epidermis and dermis respectively, and can encourage skin regeneration and dermal remodeling. It has been shown that fractional picosecond laser has a positive effect on facial photoaging, enlarged facial pores, dyspigmentation, wrinkles, and atrophic scars. Further research is still needed to confirm the benefits of fractional picosecond lasers.
Induction of killing of Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis in macrophages by cytokine stimulated innate-like lymphoid cells is negatively affected by the pathogen
Authors: Bickel Jay , Bermudez Luiz E
Published: January 2023

Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) is a common environmental bacterium that causes infection in immunocompromised patients such as those with HIV/AIDS, or patients with chronic lung disease such as cystic fibrosis. There are many strains of MAH with varying levels of virulence. Infection with MAH strains 100 and 104 has been associated with different immune responses in mice and outcome of the disease. While MAH 100 infection tends to be cleared from mice, MAH 104 is virulent and grows in host tissue. What is currently unknown are the mechanisms related to this difference in host defense and virulence. Our hypothesis is that differences in circulating innate lymphocytes response are associated with increased protection from infection. Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) are lymphoid cells with an important role in regulation of innate immune systems. ILCs can be categorized into three subpopulations ILC1, ILC2, and ILC3 based on their cytokine production and regulatory transcription factors. Investigation was carried out on how macrophage anti-MAH response change depending on activation by primary mouse lymphocytes activated with IL-12, IL-33, and IL-23, triggering differentiation into ILC-like subpopulations. Our results do not affirm the role of any one ILC subpopulation in macrophage anti-M. avium ability. Our findings instead support the conclusion that MAH infection of macrophages suppresses the stimulatory function of ILCs.