bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of personalised medicine at the micro-, meso- and macro-regional levels
Authors: Stefanicka - Wojtas D , Kurpas D
Published: July 2024

Background/Introduction

Personalised Medicine (PM) involves tailoring treatment to a patient's characteristics, needs and preferences. It classifies patients based on their disease risk or response to treatment using diagnostic markers and aims to improve treatment control, precision and disease prediction. An organised approach is crucial for the integration of PM into European healthcare systems in order to shape the future of health and social care. PM's dynamic evolution, which takes into account individual factors in disease progression and drug efficacy, allows for more accurate and tailored care. Despite its emergence, the economic focus on specific interventions has neglected a comprehensive theoretical framework, potentially hindering the progress of PM in clinical practise. [1]

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to identify barriers and facilitators to the implementation of innovative interventions and to identify best practises that are applicable across European countries and support the implementation of e-health, m-health and PM interventions at micro-, meso- and macro-regional levels. The research was funded and carried out as part of the international Regions4PerMed (H2020) project.

Methods

The methodology of the study consisted of a combination of desk research and qualitative research methods.

Desk research involved analysing existing articles, with a focus on the literature related to barriers and facilitators in e-health and m-health. Following the desk research, a semi-structured questionnaire entitled "Barriers and facilitators of Personalised Medicine implementation - qualitative study under Regions4PerMed (H2020) project" was developed. In addition, three focus groups were organised to explore the topic of the study in greater depth.

Results

The findings on potential support for adapting e-health, m-health and PM to citizens' needs were categorised into different areas of need, including education, funding, dissemination, data protection/data sharing, data analysis, system changes, integrated care policies, cooperation, healthcare providers, physicians, public and patient engagement. The barriers and facilitators were categorised according to the primary stakeholders involved in the implementation challenges.

Conclusion(s)

The implementation of technological solutions improves diagnostic procedures and decision making in health and social care, leading to more precisely tailored treatments, lower costs and shorter treatment durations. PM plays a crucial role in rationalising the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases. The overall aim is to break down barriers between healthcare providers such as public authorities and hospitals in order to promote closer collaboration. However, PM faces challenges, including incongruent legislation, bureaucratic procedures and lengthy legislative processes. Obstacles also include the approach to physician education and the lack of social awareness of PM.
Smartwatch a new tool in the assesment of ischaemic heart disease
Authors: Pina Astete L , Buelga Suarez M L , Tur Sainz A , Munoz Gomez M I , Rodriguez Sanchez P , Penaranda Romero N , Garcia Montalvo J , Rebolleda Sanchez A , Alonso Salinas G L
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Outpatient ECG tracing is getting more important. Therefore, an everyday tool such as the watch has become "smart" (127.5 M units sold in 2021), and its key application is the heart rate measurement through ECG tracing. Some devices are already approved for atrial fibrillation detection.

However, their role in ischemic heart disease (IHD), leading cause of cardiovascular death, has not been appropriately tested.

Objetcive

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of smartwatch ECG registry in IHD.

Methods

We present an observational study of 25 consecutive patients with acute IHD. Conventional ECG and smartwatch tracing were obtained simultaneously at admission. Waves of conventional and smartwatch ECGs were objectively compared. A survey on medical attitude was conducted among 12 physicians (3 cardiologists, 3 intensivists, 3 emergency physicians, and 3 general practitioners) and a score (1–5) of concordance between the records was requested. Figure 1.

Results

There were no differences in Q-wave, Rwave, ST segment, or T-wave. There was a very strong correlation between ST segments, a strong correlation in Q-waves and R-waves, and a moderate correlation in T-wave measurements. All specialists obtained a high level of agreement (4.45 ± 0.45). Smartwatch tracings would lead to similar management compared to conventional ECG. There were only 6 (2%) discrepant cases due to differences in inferior repolarization, showing an almost perfect agreement (kappa = 0.96).

Conclusions

In most patients with acute IHD, smartwatch ECG tracing is a reliable tool to make the diagnosis and guide appropriate medical care. However, due to their intrinsic limitations, inferior myocardial infarctions may be missed and require a conventional 12-lead ECG to rule them out.
Healthcare professionals' perceptions of digital care in clinical practice for patients with non-cardiac chest pain
Authors: Eriksson-Liebon M , Johansson P , Mourad G
Published: July 2024

Background

Healthcare professionals’ attitudes and perceptions of digital care are crucial for successful introduction of a new digital form of treatment in the workplace.

Purpose

This study aimed to describe healthcare professionals’ perceptions of digital care in clinical practice for patients with non-cardiac chest pain.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive study design with individual semi-structured interviews, analyzed using inductive thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke (2006). Study data were collected by individual digital (15) and face-to-face (2) interviews with licensed healthcare professionals (doctors and nurses) working in emergency care or cardiology.

Results

The results illustrate healthcare professionals’ perceptions of digital care within clinical settings in emergency and cardiology care for patients with non-cardiac chest pain. Four themes and eleven subthemes were identified. The first theme "New ground to walk on" describes healthcare professionals' experiences of digital care. The second theme: "A challenge to current healthcare system" depicts how digital care was seen as a challenge for the current healthcare system. The third theme: "Digital care has its potential" shows that a majority believed healthcare can gain valuable insights from embracing digital care. The last theme: "Prerequisites for use in clinical practice" describes factors that can facilitate the adoption of digital care in clinical practice.

Conclusions

The findings delineate the diverse knowledge and experiences of healthcare professionals in digital care. The perception of digital care ranged from skepticism to trust, illustrating challenges in implementing digital solutions in clinical care. Healthcare professionals expressed concerns about potential errors, the reliability of digital solutions, and concerns regarding resistance to change among colleagues. Nevertheless, they also recognized benefits and identified several factors that can facilitate the implementation of digital care into clinical practice and expressed cautious trust in digital care.
Nurses experience and perceptions towards video consultations and how affects the relation to the patients
Authors: Sissel Groth S G , Anne Broedsgaard A B , Signe Stelling Risom S S R , Jens Dahlgaard Hove J H , Rosenstroem S
Published: July 2024

Background

The integration of telehealth services, particularly video consultations, has rapidly expanded in healthcare settings, presenting a paradigm shift in patient care.

The study aimed to contribute to a deeper understanding of how ambulatory nurses experience using video consultations. Further, we aimed to explore how video consultations are established and how video consultations affect ambulatory nursing care from the nurse’s perspective.

Method

A hermenutic qualitative focus group approach was employed with nurses from two Danish cardiological outpatient clinics.

Findings

Two focus group interviews provided qualitative insights into the nuanced perspectives of nurses. Findings are presented by three themes 1) ‘Nursing care is a relational practice and must remain so’, 2) ‘Video consultations have both pros and cons and must be used at the right time’ and 3) ‘Missing initiatives that will enable the nurses to use video consultation’. The findings provided an in-depth understanding of factors that can affect the motivation, opportunities, and enablers, which, in their absence, can be used to explain the limited scope of vide

Conclusion

The study highlights the importance of organizational support and infrastructure in shaping nurses' attitudes towards video consultations. Strategies for successful implementation include targeted training programs, user-friendly technology, and clear implementation strategy. Additionally, understanding the contextual factors influencing nurses' attitudes is crucial for tailoring interventions and optimizing the integration of video consultations into routine clinical practice.
Exploring the Unknown: How Can We Improve Single-cell RNAseq Cell Type Annotations in Non-model Organisms?
Authors: Wong Kevin H , Rodriguez Natalia Andrade , Traylor-Knowles Nikki
Published: July 2024

Synopsis

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) is a powerful tool to describe cell types in multicellular organisms across the animal kingdom. In standard scRNAseq analysis pipelines, clusters of cells with similar transcriptional signatures are given cell type labels based on marker genes that infer specialized known characteristics. Since these analyses are designed for model organisms, such as humans and mice, problems arise when attempting to label cell types of distantly related, non-model species that have unique or divergent cell types. Consequently, this leads to limited discovery of novel species-specific cell types and potential mis-annotation of cell types in non-model species while using scRNAseq. To address this problem, we discuss recently published approaches that help annotate scRNAseq clusters for any non-model organism. We first suggest that annotating with an evolutionary context of cell lineages will aid in the discovery of novel cell types and provide a marker-free approach to compare cell types across distantly related species. Secondly, machine learning has greatly improved bioinformatic analyses, so we highlight some open-source programs that use reference-free approaches to annotate cell clusters. Lastly, we propose the use of unannotated genes as potential cell markers for non-model organisms, as many do not have fully annotated genomes and these data are often disregarded. Improving single-cell annotations will aid the discovery of novel cell types and enhance our understanding of non-model organisms at a cellular level. By unifying approaches to annotate cell types in non-model organisms, we can increase the confidence of cell annotation label transfer and the flexibility to discover novel cell types.
Power system differentiation planning based on an improved marine predator algorithm
Authors: Geng Junqi , Li Kaixi , Sun Guowei , Han Guangyang , Sun Xianming , Li Fei , Jiang Xiaodong , Yang Guang , Li Hao
Published: July 2024

Effective power system differentiation planning is crucial for enhancing the resilience of power grid infrastructure and bolstering the ability of power systems to manage blackouts. At the heart of power system differentiation planning lies core backbone grid planning. This study involves modeling core backbone grid planning as a multi-objective 0–1 planning problem, which enables the formulation of a multi-objective function that incorporates various factors such as operational and maintenance costs, the significance of nodes and transmission lines, as well as compliance with connectivity and security operation constraints. Moreover, the basic marine predator algorithm was upgraded into a multi-objective optimization algorithm for core backbone grid planning by implementing file management and enhancing the top predator selection mechanism, which managed to fulfill the multi-objective function optimization standards. The results show that in the IEEE 39-node system, the algorithm successfully forms a core backbone grid comprising 22 nodes and 19 transmission lines, achieving economic feasibility with a node-to-line ratio of 1.158. Similarly, for the IEEE 300-node system, the algorithm constructs a larger core backbone grid consisting of 81 nodes and 80 transmission lines, maintaining economic efficiency with a node-to-line ratio of 1.0125. This expanded grid covers a significant number of critical nodes and transmission lines, ensuring optimal network connectivity. Furthermore, the algorithm’s load satisfaction analysis showcases its ability to effectively balance active and reactive power demands, with maximum outputs meeting the respective load demands.
Crepant Resolutions of Stratified Varieties via Gluing
Authors: Kaplan Daniel , Schedler Travis
Published: July 2024

Let $X$ be a variety with a stratification ${\mathcal{S}}$ into smooth locally closed subvarieties such that $X$ is locally a product along each stratum (e.g., a symplectic singularity). We prove that assigning to each open subset $U \subset X$ the set of isomorphism classes of locally projective crepant resolutions of $U$ defines an ${\mathcal{S}}$-constructible sheaf of sets. Thus, for each stratum $S$ and basepoint $s \in S$, the fundamental group acts on the set of germs of projective crepant resolutions at $s$, leaving invariant the germs extending to the entire stratum. Global locally projective crepant resolutions correspond to compatible such choices for all strata. For example, if the local projective crepant resolutions are unique, they automatically glue uniquely. We give criteria for a locally projective crepant resolution $\rho : \tilde X \to X$ to be globally projective. We show that the sheafification of the presheaf $U \mapsto \operatorname{Pic}(\rho ^{-1}(U)/U)$ of relative Picard classes is also constructible. The resolution is globally projective only if there exist local relatively ample bundles whose classes glue to a global section of this sheaf. The obstruction to lifting this section to a global ample line bundle is encoded by a gerbe on the singularity $X$. We show the gerbes are automatically trivial if $X$ is a symplectic quotient singularity. Our main results hold in the more general setting of partial crepant resolutions, that need not have smooth source. We apply the theory to symmetric powers and Hilbert schemes of surfaces with du Val singularities, finite quotients of tori, multiplicative, and Nakajima quiver varieties, as well as to canonical three-fold singularities.
Exploring the effects of Saorilao-4 on the gut microbiota of pulmonary fibrosis model rats based on 16S rRNA sequencing
Authors: Song Xinni , Fu Xinyue , Niu Shufang , Wang Peng , Qi Jun , Shi Songli , Chang Hong , Bai Wanfu
Published: July 2024

Aims

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive and incurable lung disease for which treatment options are limited. Here, we aimed to conduct an exploratory study on the effects of the Mongolian medicine Saorilao-4 (SRL) on the gut microbiota structure, species abundance, and diversity of a rat PF model as well as the mechanisms underlying such effects.

Methods and results

Rat fecal samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. Bioinformatic and correlation analyses were performed on microbiota data to determine significant associations. SRL substantially attenuated the adverse effects exerted by PF on the structure and diversity of gut microbiota while regulating its alpha and beta diversities. Linear discriminant analysis effect size enabled the identification of 62 differentially abundant microbial taxa. Gut microbiota abundance analysis revealed that SRL significantly increased the relative abundance of bacterial phyla such as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Moreover, SRL increased the proportion of beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteriales, decreased the proportion of pathogenic bacteria, such as Rikenellaceae, and balanced the gut microbiota by regulating metabolic pathways.

Conclusions

SRL may attenuate PF by regulating gut microbiota. This exploratory study establishes the groundwork for investigating the metagenomics of PF.
Humanitarian exemptions: illusive progress in safeguarding humanitarian assistance in the international counterterrorism architecture
Authors: Terrey Sofie-Marie , Münichsdorfer Ansgar
Published: July 2024

Global counterterrorism efforts have had a number of detrimental effects on the work of humanitarian actors in conflict zones. To mitigate these adverse effects and the underlying normative conflict between counterterrorism frameworks and international humanitarian law (IHL), scholars and humanitarian practitioners have been advocating for the introduction of humanitarian exemptions. These are clauses that exempt humanitarian assistance and related conduct from counterterrorism frameworks in order to ensure an unimpeded provision of humanitarian assistance in areas in which entities designated as ‘terrorists’ are active. This article argues that the progress promised by the emergence of these exemptions remains at least partially illusive. The exemptions remain shaped by a security-oriented perspective on humanitarian assistance and are preoccupied with actors. As a result, they are beneficial primarily to the largest and most prominent humanitarian actors established in the Global North while neglecting small and local humanitarian actors in conflict areas. As such, they defy IHL’s deliberate openness regarding the actors providing humanitarian assistance. Moreover, they violate the obligations of non-belligerent states under IHL to allow and facilitate the free passage of relief consignments which equally protects transnational financial support to local humanitarian actors and applies irrespective of the source of that support. We conclude that humanitarian exemptions are detrimental to efforts to ‘localize’ and decolonize the humanitarian sector. Therefore, instead of focusing on humanitarian exemptions as a ‘micro-solution’, advocacy should pursue a more comprehensive critical approach towards the global counterterrorism architecture.
Weapons of the Weak: How African States Counteract Homegrown Jihadi Salafism
Authors: Elischer Sebastian
Published: July 2024

Why has homegrown jihadi Salafism emerged as a major security challenge in some African countries, but not in others? This article draws attention to the organizational playing field in which Islamic activity manifests itself. It argues that states with institutional regulatory mechanisms in the Islamic sphere—state-led national Islamic associations—can counteract jihadi propaganda and recruitment. State-led national associations are organizational entities through which state elites delegate the authority to monitor religious practice to those Islamic leaders who are most accommodating of state authority. Cooperation with local Islamic leaders allows state elites to react to jihadi recruitment and mobilization at an early stage. It further enables state actors to target potential security challenges without alienating their Muslim community. States that fail to create steering capacity in the Islamic sphere instead react to jihadi Salafism with indiscriminate violence, thereby provoking the further radicalization of the Muslim faithful. Using a small to medium-N research design, this article provides empirical evidence supporting this claim from two East African countries and seven additional countries from across the African continent.
Constraints on short gamma-ray burst physics and their host galaxies from systematic radio follow-up campaigns
Authors: Chastain S I , van der Horst A J , Anderson G E , Rhodes L , d’Antonio D , Bell M E , Fender R P , Hancock P J , Horesh A , Kouveliotou C , Mooley K P , Rowlinson A , Vergani S D , Wijers R A M J , Woudt P A
Published: July 2024

Short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are explosive transients caused by binary mergers of compact objects containing at least one neutron star. Multiwavelength afterglow observations provide constraints on the physical parameters of the jet, its surrounding medium, and the microphysics of the enhanced magnetic fields and accelerated electrons in the blast wave at the front of the jet. The synchrotron radio emission can be tracked for much longer than in other spectral regimes, and it can pin down the evolution of the spectral peak. We present the results of a systematic observing campaign of eight short GRBs with the MeerKAT radio telescope. Additionally, we present observations of four of these short GRBs using the ATCA radio telescope and two of these short GRBs with the e-MERLIN radio telescope. Using these results we report one possible detection of a short GRB afterglow from GRB 230217A and deep upper limits for the rest of our short GRB observations. We use these observations to place constraints on some of the physical parameters, in particular those related to electron acceleration, the circumburst density, and gamma-ray energy efficiency. We discuss how deeper observations with new and upgraded telescopes should be able to determine if the gamma-ray efficiency differs between long and short GRBs. We also report detections of the likely host galaxies for four of the eight GRBs and upper limits for another GRB, increasing the number of detected host galaxies in the radio with implications for the star formation rate in these galaxies.
Bulge+disc decomposition of HFF and CANDELS galaxies: UVJ diagrams and stellar mass–size relations of galaxy components at 0.2 ≤ z ≤ 1.5
Authors: Nedkova Kalina V , Häußler Boris , Marchesini Danilo , Brammer Gabriel B , Feinstein Adina D , Johnston Evelyn J , Kartaltepe Jeyhan S , Koekemoer Anton M , Martis Nicholas S , Muzzin Adam , Rafelski Marc , Shipley Heath V , Skelton Rosalind E , Stefanon Mauro , van der Wel Arjen , Whitaker Katherine E
Published: July 2024

Using deep imaging from the CANDELS and HFF surveys, we present bulge+disc decompositions with galfitm for $\sim$17 000 galaxies over $0.2 \le z\le 1.5$. We use various model parameters to select reliable samples of discs and bulges, and derive their stellar masses using an empirically calibrated relation between mass-to-light ratio and colour. Across our entire redshift range, we show that discs follow stellar mass–size relations that are consistent with those of star-forming galaxies, suggesting that discs primarily evolve via star formation. In contrast, the stellar mass–size relations of bulges are mass-independent. Our novel data set further enables us to separate components into star-forming and quiescent based on their specific star formation rates. We find that both star-forming discs and star-forming bulges lie on stellar mass–size relations that are similar to those of star-forming galaxies, while quiescent discs are typically smaller than star-forming discs and lie on steeper relations, implying distinct evolutionary mechanisms. Similar to quiescent galaxies, quiescent bulges show a flattening in the stellar mass–size relation at $\sim 10^{10}$ M$_\odot$, below which they show little mass dependence. However, their best-fitting relations have lower normalizations, indicating that at a given mass, bulges are smaller than quiescent galaxies. Finally, we obtain rest-frame colours for individual components, showing that bulges typically have redder colours than discs, as expected. We visually derive UVJ criteria to separate star-forming and quiescent components and show that this separation agrees well with component colour. HFF bulge+disc decomposition catalogues used for these analyses are publicly released with this paper.
Discovery of a damped Ly α absorber in the circumnuclear zone of the FeLoBAL quasar SDSS J083942.11+380526.3
Authors: Wu Shengmiao , Shi Xiheng , Kalita Nibedita , Pan Xiang , Tian Qiguo , Ji Tuo , Zhang Shaohua , Dai Xuejie , Jiang Peng , Yang Chenwei , Zhou Hongyan
Published: July 2024

SDSS J083942.11+380526.3 ($z=2.315$) is an iron low-ionization broad absorption lines quasar that exhibits visible Balmer absorption lines (H $\alpha$), implying a significant $n=2$ population. The quasar also shows an array of absorption lines, including O i, Ni ii, Fe ii, Mg ii, Al iii to C iv, and N v. The high-ionization absorption lines such as C iv and Si iv are revealed by slightly blueshifted broad absorption lines troughs. The resonance doublets such as Mg ii and Al iii are saturated but did not reached zero intensity which indicates that the broad-line region (BLR) is partially covered. Overall, however, the absorption is predominantly from low-ionization Fe ii lines, emitted from ground and excited states up to at least 3.814 eV. This implies that the absorbing gas spans the hydrogen ionization front and extends into the partially ionized zone where neutral hydrogen is certainly present. Notably, the hydrogen line spectrum of the quasar shows no signature of expected Ly $\alpha$ absorption. Instead, the line spectrum shows an unusual Ly $\alpha$ emission characterized by a fully filled emission line spectrum which is a composite of a strong narrow core superposed on a weak broad base. Taking into account the effect of partial covering to BLR, we have extracted a strong Damped Ly α systems (DLA) trough in Ly $\alpha$ emission region. To fit the spectrum, we performed photoionized model calculations and compared them to the observations. We found that photoionization modelling using cloudy can successfully reproduce the main characteristics of the quasar spectrum, and the predicted neutral hydrogen column density arising from the clouds responsible for the low-ionization absorption provides a good match to the extracted DLA trough. This indicates that both the DLA and the low-ionization absorption arise from the same medium that is roughly collocated with the dusty torus.
A fourth-order accurate finite volume scheme for resistive relativistic MHD
Authors: Mignone A , Berta V , Rossazza M , Bugli M , Mattia G , Del Zanna L , Pareschi L
Published: July 2024

We present a finite-volume, genuinely fourth-order accurate numerical method for solving the equations of resistive relativistic magnetohydrodynamics in Cartesian coordinates. In our formulation, the magnetic field is evolved in time in terms of face-average values via the constrained-transport method, while the remaining variables (density, momentum, energy, and electric fields) are advanced as cell volume averages. Spatial accuracy employs fifth-order accurate WENO-Z reconstruction from point values (as described in a companion paper) to obtain left and right states at zone interfaces. Explicit flux evaluation is carried out by solving a Riemann problem at cell interfaces, using the Maxwell–Harten–Lax–van Leer with contact wave resolution. Time-stepping is based on the implicit–explicit Runge–Kutta (RK) methods, of which we consider both the third-order strong stability preserving SSP3(4,3,3) and a recent fourth-order additive RK scheme, to cope with the stiffness introduced by the source term in Ampere’s law. Numerical benchmarks are presented in order to assess the accuracy and robustness of our implementation.
The Catalan initiative for the Earth BioGenome Project: contributing local data to global biodiversity genomics
Authors: Corominas Montserrat , Marquès-Bonet Tomàs , Arnedo Miquel A , Bayés Mònica , Belmonte Jordina , Escrivà Hector , Fernández Rosa , Gabaldón Toni , Garnatje Teresa , Germain Josep , Niell Manel , Palero Ferran , Pons Joan , Puigdomènech Pere ,   The Catalan initiative for the Earth BioGenome Project, Aguilera Laura , Cámara Francisco , Gómez-Garrido Jèssica , Cruz Fernando , Sánchez-Escudero Ignacio , Altaba Cristian R , Alves Rui , Arboleda Enrique , Capa Maria , Triginer Laura , Arbona Vicent , Avila Conxita , Baldo Laura , Enguidanos Alba , Prófumo Andrea , Wangesteen Owen S , Barceló-Serra Margarida , Botigué Laura , Monfort Amparo , Burriel-Carranza Bernat , Carranza Salvador , del Campo Javier , Mochales-Riaño Gabriel , Palmada-Flores Marc , Candela Héctor , Cañestro Cristian , Carreras Carlos , Domènech Marc , Galià-Camps Carles , Guirao-Rico Sara , Lozano-Fernández Jesús , Pascual Marta , Pegueroles Cinta , Sánchez-Gracia Alejandro , Carretero Miguel A , Grau Oriol , Garrido Romina , Grau-Bové Xavier , Hermoso Toni , Kim Iana , Jurado-Rivera José A , Lalueza-Fox Carles , Ledoux Jean-Baptiste , Logares Ramiro , Massana Ramon , Piferrer Francesc , Mauri Juli , Mesquita-Joanes Francesc , Monrós Juan S , Pellicer Jaume , Peñuelas Josep , Roquet Cristina , Ruiz-Herrera Aurora , Torruella Guifré , Turón Xavier , Ventura Marc , Arroyo Vanesa , Cuevas-Caballé Cristian , Obiol Joan Ferrer , Gut Ivo , Gut Marta , Hidalgo Oriane , Izquierdo-Arànega Guillem , Pérez-Sorribes Laia , Righi Emilio , Riutort Marta , Vallès Joan , Rozas Julio , Alioto Tyler , Guigó Roderic
Published: July 2024

The Catalan Initiative for the Earth BioGenome Project (CBP) is an EBP-affiliated project network aimed at sequencing the genome of the >40 000 eukaryotic species estimated to live in the Catalan-speaking territories (Catalan Linguistic Area, CLA). These territories represent a biodiversity hotspot. While covering less than 1% of Europe, they are home to about one fourth of all known European eukaryotic species. These include a high proportion of endemisms, many of which are threatened. This trend is likely to get worse as the effects of global change are expected to be particularly severe across the Mediterranean Basin, particularly in freshwater ecosystems and mountain areas. Following the EBP model, the CBP is a networked organization that has been able to engage many scientific and non-scientific partners. In the pilot phase, the genomes of 52 species are being sequenced. As a case study in biodiversity conservation, we highlight the genome of the Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus, sequenced under the CBP umbrella.
E-Cigarette Use, Cigarette Smoking, and Sex Are Associated With Nasal Microbiome Dysbiosis
Authors: Hickman Elise , Roca Cristian , Zorn Bryan T , Rebuli Meghan E , Robinette Carole , Wolfgang Matthew C , Jaspers Ilona
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Previous research suggests that e-cigarettes can alter immune function, including in the nasal mucosa, in unique ways. The respiratory microbiome plays a key role in respiratory host defense, but the effects of e-cigarettes on the respiratory or nasal microbiome, are not well understood.

Aims and Methods

Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing on nasal samples from adult e-cigarette users, smokers, and nonsmokers, we determined that e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking are associated with differential respiratory microbiome dysbiosis and substantial sex-dependent differences in the nasal microbiome, particularly in e-cigarette users.

Results

Staphylococcus aureus, a common respiratory pathogen, was more abundant in both e-cigarette users and smokers in comparison with nonsmokers, while Lactobacillus iners, often considered a protective species, was more abundant in smokers but less abundant in e-cigarette users in comparison with nonsmokers. In addition, we identified significant dysbiosis of the nasal microbiome between e-cigarette users and smokers with high versus low serum cotinine levels, an indicator of tobacco product use and toxicant exposure. We also analyzed nasal lavage fluid for immune mediators associated with host × microbiota interactions.

Conclusions

Our analysis identified disruption of immune mediators in the nose of e-cigarette users and smokers, which is indicative of disrupted respiratory mucosal immune responses. Taken together, our data identified unique, sex-dependent host immune dysfunction associated with e-cigarette use in the nasal mucosa. More broadly, our data highlight the need for continued inclusion and careful consideration of sex as an important variable in the context of toxicant exposures.

Implications

This is the first study investigating the effects of e-cigarette use and sex on the nasal microbiome, which is considered an important gatekeeper for protecting the lower respiratory tract from pathogens. We found significant sex, exposure group, and serum cotinine level-associated differences in the composition of the nasal microbiome, demonstrating the importance of considering sex in future nasal microbiome studies and warranting further investigation of the mechanisms by which e-cigarette use dysregulates nasal immune homeostasis.
Cytomegaloviral Infections in Recipients of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy: An Observational Study With Focus on Oncologic Outcomes
Authors: Khawaja Fareed , Ahmed Sairah , Iyer Swaminathan P , Sassine Joseph , Handley Guy , Prakash Rishab , VanWierren Tracy , Jackson Jennifer , Zubovskaia Anna , Ramdial Jeremy , Rondon Gabriela , Patel Krina K , Spallone Amy , Ariza-Heredia Ella J , Mulanovich Victor , Angelidakis Georgios , Jiang Ying , Chemaly Roy F
Published: July 2024

Background

Patients with B-cell lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who receive chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy may experience clinically significant cytomegalovirus infection (CS-CMVi). However, risk factors for CS-CMVi are not well defined. The aims of our study were to identify risk factors for CS-CMVi and the association between CS-CMVi and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) in lymphoma and ALL patients after CAR-T therapy.

Methods

We performed a retrospective single-center cohort analysis of CAR-T recipients between January 2018 and February 2021 for treatment of lymphoma and ALL. We collected data on demographics, oncologic history, CAR-T therapy–related complications, and infectious complications within 1 year of therapy.

Results

Of 230 patients identified, 22 (10%) had CS-CMVi. At 1 year following CAR-T therapy, 75 patients (33%) developed relapsed disease and 95 (41%) died; NRM at 1 year was 37%. On Cox regression analysis, Asian or Middle Eastern race (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 13.71 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 5.41–34.74]), treatment of cytokine release syndrome/immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome with steroids (aHR, 6.25 [95% CI, 1.82–21.47]), lactate dehydrogenase at time of CAR-T therapy (aHR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.02–1.16]), and CMV surveillance (aHR, 6.91 [95% CI, 2.77–17.25]) were independently associated with CS-CMVi. CS-CMVi was independently associated with NRM at 1 year after CAR-T therapy (odds ratio, 2.49 [95% CI, 1.29–4.82]).

Conclusions

Further studies of immunologic correlatives and clinical trials to determine the efficacy of prophylactic strategies are needed to understand the role of CS-CMVi and post–CAR-T mortality.
Patient-reported convenience and effectiveness of telehealth for breast cancer management
Authors: Raghavendra Akshara Singareeka , Jennings Kristofer , Guerra Gil , Tripathy Debu , Karuturi Meghan S
Published: July 2024

Background

Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, telehealth was rarely used for breast cancer management at tertiary care centers. We sought to examine patient satisfaction, experiences, preferences, and perceived effectiveness and technical quality of telehealth visits in follow-up patients receiving routine outpatient care in the breast medical oncology practice at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Methods

We administered a survey to 60 follow-up patients for a duration of 9 months (January 5, 2021 to October 27, 2021) who had at least one telehealth consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic, from April 10, 2020 to October 21, 2021. Descriptive statistics were then generated for each question, each domain, and overall survey scores. Subgroup comparisons within patient populations were done using the chi-square or t-test when appropriate.

Results

Among the 60 participants, 49 (82%) were undergoing standard follow-up during active treatment for either early-stage or metastatic breast cancer. Telehealth and in-person office visits were considered equivalent in terms of quality of communication by 43 participants (72%). Most participants (n = 49, 82%) felt equally cared for during telehealth and in-person visits, and 40 participants (67%) reported feeling connected to their healthcare professional during both telehealth and in-person visits. In addition, 28 participants (47%) felt that the duration of telehealth visits was similar to in-person visits, 46 (77%) found both telehealth and in-person visits equally comfortable for discussing sensitive topics, 39 (65%) considered telehealth visits convenient, and 42 (70%) perceived the overall quality of care for telehealth to be similar to that of in-person visits. Participants expressed high satisfaction with telehealth appointments, with 42 (70%) rating their experience as very satisfying. Most participants (n = 44, 73%) expressed a strong likelihood of participating in telehealth appointments for breast cancer follow-up care in the future.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that telehealth can serve as an effective and satisfactory approach for delivering healthcare services to patients with breast cancer requiring follow-up care. The positive experiences and willingness to continue using telehealth indicate its potential for improving access to care and patient outcomes.
Association of circulating tumor DNA with patient prognosis in surgically resected renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Correa Andres F , Kalashnikova Ekaterina , Wu Hsin-Ta , Winters Ryan M , Balcioglu Mustafa , Sudhaman Sumedha , Connolly Denise C , Gong Yulan , Uzzo Robert G , Sethi Himanshu , ElNaggar Adam C , Aleshin Alexey , Liu Minetta C , Abbosh Philip H
Published: July 2024

Background

Despite complete resection, 20%-50% of patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) experience recurrence within 5 years. Accurate assessment of prognosis in high-risk patients would aid in improving outcomes. Here we evaluate the use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in RCC using banked samples and clinical data from a single institution.

Methods

The cohort consisted of 45 RCC patients (≥pT1b) who underwent complete resection. The presence of ctDNA in plasma was determined using a personalized, tumor-informed ctDNA assay (Signatera RUO, Natera, Inc.). Relationships with outcomes and other relevant clinical variables were assessed. The median follow-up was 62 months.

Results

Plasma ctDNA was detected in 18 out of 36 patients (50%) pre-operatively and was associated with increased tumor size (mean 9.3 cm vs. 7.0 cm, P < .05) and high Fuhrman grade (60% grades III-IV vs 27% grade II, P = .07). The presence of ctDNA, either pre-operatively or at any time post-operatively, was associated with inferior relapse-free survival (HR = 2.70, P = .046; HR = 3.23, P = .003, respectively). Among patients who were ctDNA positive at any time point, the sensitivity of relapse prediction was 84% with a PPV of 90%. Of note, ctDNA positivity at a post-surgical time point revealed a PPV of 100% and NPV of 64%. The lack of ctDNA detection at both time points yielded an NPV of 80%.

Conclusions

Detection of plasma ctDNA using a personalized assay is prognostic of recurrence in patients with resected RCC. Herein, we describe a successful approach for its application and identify potential limitations to be addressed in future studies.
Inequality in English post-16 education
Authors: Field Simon
Published: July 2024

This commentary examines post-16 education in England from the perspective of equity, with a focus on technical education. It describes how the growth of higher education (HE) has disproportionately benefited those from advantaged backgrounds, and argues that a key equity objective should be to improve the quality of the technical alternatives to HE. This objective faces several obstacles, including a fragmented and volatile landscape of technical education, weak funding and a deregulated labour market. Apprenticeship has potential but is hampered by non-compliance with minimum requirements for wages and training. Numeracy and literacy weaknesses are also magnified in the 16–19 phase of education. In response, the report recommends strengthened funding for the technical alternatives to HE, robust enforcement of minimum wage and training requirements for apprentices and better access routes designed to reintegrate weaker performers into the skills system.
Relational equality, mutual benefit and social insurance
Authors: Sugden Robert
Published: July 2024

In a democratic nation state with a relatively open economy, does the state have an obligation to seek to achieve equality among its citizens? If so, where does that obligation come from? And equality of what? I argue that the luck egalitarian conception of equality of opportunity, which requires the state to compensate for contingencies for which individuals are not responsible but not for those for which they are, is incompatible with the practical functioning and moral underpinning of a market economy. I discuss two views which focus on equality in social, political and economic relationships between individuals—Anderson’s conception of relational equality and my economic conception of mutual benefit. These approaches have a similar contractual or contractarian structure: they work from the several viewpoints of potential participants in cooperative ventures rather than the synoptic viewpoint of a moral spectator. They provide complementary justifications for social insurance.
How families matter for understanding economic inequality
Authors: Santos Cezar , Tertilt Michèle
Published: July 2024

In this commentary, we discuss the importance of families for understanding economic inequality. Family structure can in principle be an amplifier or mitigator of economic inequality. We describe three channels on how families shape economic inequality. First, how people match to form families matters for inequality across families. Second, parental investments in children can amplify existing inequalities across generations. Third, inequality can exist even within families and the economic environment can shape inequality in consumption and leisure between spouses. In this survey, we describe these channels and discuss the related literature.
Women and men at work
Authors: Andrew Alison , Bandiera Oriana , Costa Dias Monica , Landais Camille
Published: July 2024

We explore gender inequalities in paid and unpaid work with a focus on the UK. The average working-age woman in the UK earned 40% less than her male counterpart in 2019; sizeable gender gaps in participation, hours worked and hourly wages all contribute to this gap. We explore how these patterns have changed over the past 25 years and conclude that after accounting for women’s rising education, progress has been modest. At the same time, women do far more unpaid domestic work than men. We show how inequalities evolve around parenthood and highlight how the division of labour between parents appears remarkably unrelated to relative earnings potential. We discuss consequences of our findings for material inequality and for the economy at large. We discuss the likely impacts of various current and potential policies, including parental leave, childcare and the tax and benefit system.
Immigration and inequality: the role of politics and policies
Authors: Hangartner Dominik , Spirig Judith
Published: July 2024

This commentary examines the relationship between immigration and economic inequality, focusing on the role of politics and policies. The main argument is that although the direct economic effects of immigration on native employment and wages may be minor, immigration can have significant indirect economic ramifications through political channels. We summarize existing evidence and discuss how immigration shapes politics and policies by influencing political discourse, voters, and parties. Notably, the rise of anti-immigrant parties can lead to shifts both in immigration and integration policy, and in other policy areas, such as law and order, social security, and international relations. These shifts have the potential to affect inequality across different segments of society, including between immigrants and citizens and along gender and employment dimensions. However, due to the scarcity of empirical evidence, predictions about the consequences of immigration on inequality across these groups are uncertain and further research is needed.
Discussion of top incomes and tax policy
Authors: Zidar Owen
Published: July 2024

This commentary begins with six general observations about top incomes and taxation. Then, it provides some commentary on the article ‘Top income inequality and tax policy’ by Delestre et al. (2024), and concludes with a brief discussion on the revenue potential of top capital gains taxation.
Trade and inequality in Europe and the US
Authors: Dorn David , Levell Peter
Published: July 2024

Low-income countries’ share of global exports nearly tripled between 1990 and 2015, largely due to China’s emergence as an exporting powerhouse. Evidence from several European countries and the US shows that import competition from China differentially reduced employment and earnings for workers in more trade-exposed industries and regions. We show that manufacturing employment declined most dramatically in countries where import growth was not matched by a commensurate expansion of exports. We also provide new results for the UK which indicate that imports from China contributed to substantial declines in consumer prices alongside job losses in manufacturing. However, while the adverse labour market impacts were concentrated on specific groups of workers and regions, consumer benefits from trade were widely dispersed and of similar magnitude for high and low-income households. We argue that assistance targeted towards displaced workers and depressed areas would better help the losers of globalization than new import tariffs.
A primer on trade and inequality
Authors: Rodrik Dani
Published: July 2024

Economists have generally underplayed, until recently, globalization’s role in exacerbating inequality in the advanced economies. But in the public imagination, globalization’s adverse effects have loomed much larger, significantly contributing to the backlash against the political mainstream and the rise of far-right populism. The literature on trade and inequality is in fact exceptionally rich, with important theoretical insights as well as extensive empirical findings covering recent experience. In these comments, I will summarize a few key takeaways.
The welfare state and inequality: were the UK reforms of the 1940s a success?
Authors: Crafts Nicholas
Published: July 2024

This commentary reviews reforms made to the welfare state made in the 1940s by the UK. It also considers education, health and income inequalities in the light of these reforms. The evidence points to more equal access to health care and a reduction in income inequality, especially through a lower share for top incomes. Greater income equality was not, however, mainly a result of redistributive policies. The Beveridge Report was an unsatisfactory blueprint for a social security system, and it did not achieve its objectives of providing adequate benefits while ending means testing. Poverty was reduced but not abolished.