bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibiting B cell activating factor attenuates preeclamptic symptoms in placental ischemic rats
Authors: Herrock Owen , Deer Evangeline , Amaral Lorena M. , Campbell Nathan , Whitney Darby , Ingram Nicole , Cornelius Denise C. , Turner Ty , Hardy‐Hardin Ja'Nasa , Booz George W. , Ibrahim Tarek , LaMarca Babbette
Published: February 2023

Problem

Preeclampsia (PE), new‐onset hypertension during pregnancy, is associated with a pro‐inflammatory state with activated T cells, cytolytic natural killer (NK) cells, dysregulated complement proteins, and B cells secreting agonistic autoantibodies to the angiotensin II type‐1 receptor (AT1‐AA). The reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) model of placental ischemia recapitulates these features of PE. Blocking CD40L‐CD40 communication between T and B cells or B cell depletion with Rituximab prevents hypertension and AT1‐AA production in RUPP rats. This suggests that T cell‐dependent B cell activation contributes to the hypertension and AT1‐AA associated with PE. B2 cells maturing into antibody producing plasma cells are the product of T cell‐dependent B cell‐interactions and B cell Activating Factor (BAFF) is an integral cytokine in the development of B2 cells specifically. Thus, we hypothesize that BAFF blockade will selectively deplete B2 cells, therefore reducing blood pressure, AT1‐AA, activated NK Cells, and complement in the RUPP rat model of PE.

Method of study

Gestational Day (GD) 14 pregnant rats underwent the RUPP procedure, and a subset were treated with 1 mg/kg Anti‐BAFF antibodies via jugular catheters. On GD19, blood pressure was measured, B cells and NK cells were measured by flow cytometry, AT1‐AA was measured by cardiomyocyte bioassay, and complement activation was measured by ELISA.

Results

Anti‐BAFF therapy attenuated hypertension, AT1‐AA, NK cell activation, and APRIL levels in RUPP rats without negatively impacting fetal outcomes.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that B2 cells contribute to hypertension, AT1‐AA, and NK cell activation in response to placental ischemia during pregnancy.
Canadian climate change attitudes and energy policy
Authors: Seiler Lisa Y. , Stalker Glenn J.
Published: February 2023

This paper uses original Canadian survey data to compare support for and opposition to five energy‐related climate policies. Results show that Canadians were very concerned about climate change and supportive of the policies. Variation in support and opposition was investigated using logistic regression. We tested models that associate climate policy support with a combination of one's ecological worldview, climate change attitudes, personal capabilities, contextual influences, and ascription of responsibility to take action on climate change, applying elements of Stern's (2000) theory of environmentally‐significant behaviour and Patchen's (2010) model of climate change behaviour. We found that the more abstract policies attracted a different set of predictors than the more concrete policies. Females and parents showed increased support for the more abstract policies. Having an ecological worldview was a significant predictor of support for all policies but was obscured by other factors in a combined model.

Cet article utilise des données d'enquête canadiennes originales pour comparer le soutien et l'opposition à cinq politiques climatiques liées à l'énergie. Les résultats montrent que les Canadiens étaient très préoccupés par le changement climatique et appuyaient les politiques. La variation du soutien et de l'opposition a été étudiée à l'aide de la régression logistique. Nous avons testé des modèles qui associent le soutien à la politique climatique à une combinaison de vision du monde écologique, d'attitudes face au changement climatique, de capacités personnelles, d'influences contextuelles et d'attribution de la responsabilité d'agir sur le changement climatique, en appliquant des éléments de la théorie de Stern (2000) sur le comportement significatif pour l'environnement et le modèle de comportement face au changement climatique de Patchen (2010). Nous avons constaté que les politiques plus abstraites attiraient un ensemble différent de prédicteurs que les politiques plus concrètes. Les femmes et les parents ont montré un soutien accru pour les politiques plus abstraites. Avoir une vision du monde écologique était un prédicteur significatif du soutien à toutes les politiques, mais était obscurci par d'autres facteurs dans un modèle combiné.
Perceived neighbourhood collective efficacy and adolescent health determinants: Investigating outdoor play as a mediator
Authors: Kronaizl Sydney G. , Koss Kalsea J.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Research demonstrates that play is promotive of health and development in children across multiple domains. Outdoor play may be especially beneficial as environmental elements are conducive to recreation and relaxation. Maternal perception of neighbourhood collective efficacy (NCE), or sense of cohesion among residents, may be a form of social capital especially effective in promoting outdoor play, and thus healthy development. Yet little research has examined the long‐term benefits of play beyond childhood.

Methods

We utilized longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 4441) to evaluate outdoor play during middle childhood as a mediator between perceived NCE in early childhood and adolescent health determinants. Maternal self‐reported perceived NCE at age 5, children's outdoor play was assessed at age 9 and adolescents' self‐reported height, weight, physical activity and depressive and anxiety symptoms at age 15.

Results

Total play served as mediator between NCE and later adolescent health determinants. Perceived NCE in early childhood (age 5) significantly predicted more total play in middle childhood (age 9), which in turn predicted more physical activity and lower anxiety symptoms in adolescence (age 15).

Conclusions

Consistent with a developmental cascades approach, maternal perceptions of NCE shaped children's engagement in outdoor play that may serve as a foundation for later emerging health behaviours.
Downregulation of microRNA‐330‐5p induces manic‐like behaviors in REM sleep‐deprived rats by enhancing tyrosine hydroxylase expression
Authors: Leem Kang Hyun , Kim Sanga , Kim Hee Won , Park Hae Jeong
Published: February 2023

Aim

In our pilot study, we found an increase in tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) mRNA expression in the prefrontal cortex of 72‐h REM sleep‐deprived (SD) rats, a mania model. Additionally, the expression levels of miR‐325‐3p, miR‐326‐3p, and miR‐330‐5p, the predicted target miRNAs on TH, were significantly decreased. Based on these results, in this study, we investigated whether miRNA‐325‐3p, miR‐326‐3p, and miR‐330‐5p modulate TH and manic‐like behaviors in SD rats.

Methods

Manic‐like behaviors were assessed using the open field test (OFT) and elevated plus‐maze (EPM) test. The direct binding activity of miRNAs to the 3′‐untranslated region (3′‐UTR) of the Th gene was measured in HEK‐293 cells using a luciferase reporter system. We also examined mRNA and protein expression of TH after intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of miR‐330‐5p agomir to SD rats, along with manic‐like behaviors.

Results

We observed an upregulation in mRNA and protein expression of TH and downregulation in miRNA‐325‐3p, miR‐326‐3p, and miR‐330‐5p expressions in the prefrontal cortex of SD rats, together with increased manic‐like behaviors. The luciferase reporter assay showed that miR‐330‐5p could repress TH expression through direct binding to its target site in the 3′‐UTR of Th, whereas miR‐326‐3p and miR‐330‐5p could not. In addition, ICV injection of miR‐330‐5p agomir alleviated the increase in TH expression in the prefrontal cortex of SD rats and manic‐like behaviors.

Conclusions

TH expression regulation through miR‐330‐5p may be implicated in the pathophysiology of mania in SD rats.
Normative justifications of EU criminal law: European public goods and transnational interests
Authors: Öberg Jacob
Published: February 2023

EU policy‐making in criminal law is a matter of significant public concern for EU citizens and the Member States. The exercise of EU public powers in the fields of criminal law and law enforcement have tangible and adverse consequences for the liberties and well‐being of individuals. Furthermore, EU cooperation in the area of criminal law touches upon core functions of statehood including ‘core state powers’ such as the safeguarding of internal security and law enforcement. This raises several questions regarding the rationale underpinning EU criminal policy and its legitimacy within the context of a multi‐level polity. This article sketches out a normative argument for legitimate justifications for some particular areas of EU criminal law on the basis of the transnational criterion enshrined in the subsidiarity principle. The article claims that there is a compelling justification for EU action in criminal law to protect European public goods and other key transnational interests.
Resolution of sustained ventricular tachycardia in a horse presenting with colic with magnesium sulfate
Authors: Pratt Stefanie L. , Bowen Mark , Redpath Adam
Published: February 2023

Case reports demonstrating a return to sinus rhythm from sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) are limited. VT is uncommon in horses but can be life threatening and has been reported in horses with primary gastrointestinal disease. Treatment is recommended if there is poor perfusion, if heart rate exceeds 100 beats/min, if multiform/polymorphic complexes or torsades des pointes is present. Lidocaine or magnesium sulfate is the first‐line medication. In this case, a 19‐year‐old Warmblood gelding with a history of exploratory laparotomy presented with an irregularly irregular cardiac rhythm and heart rate of 80 beats/min. ECG demonstrated VT with a heart rate of 75 beats/min. As the horse was already receiving a lidocaine bolus, the VT was treated with multiple boluses of intravenous magnesium sulfate over a period of several hours. This converted the VT to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) with heart rate of 44 beats/min and the horse remained in NSR until discharge 8 days later.
Effects of thiamine and its precursor HMP on growth of periphyton in a mountain stream of the Yangtze River Basin, China
Authors: Wang Binbin , Chen Yushun , Qu Xiao , Kraft Clifford
Published: February 2023

Thiamine (vitamin B1) and its precursor 2‐methyl‐4‐amino‐5‐hydroxymethylpyrimidine (HMP) have been shown to exert an important influence on primary production in marine environments, but little is known about their influence in fresh waters.

We evaluated the ecological effects of thiamine and one of its precursors HMP in streams within the Qiyun catchment, a headwater mountain system of a Yangtze River tributary in Southern China, using nutrient‐diffusing substrates.

Thiamine limitation of periphyton was observed in April 2019, and HMP limitation was observed in both April and May 2019. Co‐limitation by thiamine plus phosphorus and by HMP plus nitrogen occurred in May. The effect sizes of thiamine and HMP on growth of periphyton were similar to each other.

Physiochemical features of the stream showed different potential influences on the effects of thiamine and HMP. Water temperature was negatively associated with the effect of thiamine, whereas ammonium showed a negative relationship with the effect of HMP.

These findings extend our knowledge of nutrient limitation by thiamine and one thiamine precursor in freshwater environments.
Influence of hemolysis on nucleated red blood cells count
Authors: Cheng Xiuli , Zhang Le , Yu Haimiao , Zhang Biao
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Hemolysis is a common pre‐analytical factor that can influence test results. Here, we explored the influence of hemolysis on nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) count and tried to illustrate the mechanisms underlying this interference.

Methods

From July 2019 to June 2021, 20 preanalytical hemolytic peripheral blood (PB) samples from inpatient at Tianjin Huanhu Hospital were evaluated using Sysmex XE‐5000 automated hematology analyzer. When NRBC enumeration was positive and a flag was triggered, a 200‐cell differential count was performed by experienced technologists on microscopic review. When the manual count was inconsistent with automated enumeration, samples will be re‐collected. Plasma exchange test was performed to verify the influence factors of hemolyzed samples and the mechanical hemolysis experiment mimicking hemolysis that might occur during blood collection was performed to illustrate the underlying mechanisms.

Results

Hemolysis led to false‐positive NRBC count and the value of NRBC was positively correlated with the degree of hemolysis. Hemolysis specimen shared a common scatter diagram: a “beard” on WBC/ basophil (BASO) channel and a “blue scatter line” on immature myeloid information (IMI) channel. Lipid droplets were found above the hemolysis specimen after centrifugation. Plasma exchange experiment confirmed that these lipid droplets interfered with NRBCs count. Mechanical hemolysis experiment implied further that broken red blood cells (RBCs) released lipid droplets causing the false‐positive NRBCs count.

Conclusion

In the present study, we firstly found that hemolysis could lead to false‐positive NRBCs enumeration, which was associated with lipid droplets released from broken RBCs during hemolysis.
Precarious welfare‐to‐work transitions in a segmented labour market: Evidence from the Netherlands
Authors: Yu Yip‐Ching
Published: February 2023

Promoting outflow from the welfare system has been one of the main objectives of activation‐focused welfare reforms implemented across Europe over the past decades, with the underlying assumption that labour market attachment is the route to self‐sufficiency. This article assesses this assumption by investigating the extent to which the propensities and determinants of welfare persistence and cycling are differential for native and second‐generation young adults located in the opposite ends of labour market structure. Using panel administrative data from the Statistics Netherlands (CBS), it follows the welfare‐to‐work transitions of Dutch native and second‐generation young adults in the Netherlands during a 6‐year observation period (2010–2015). Simultaneous effects of labour market segmentation and ethnic penalty are modelled using a first‐order Markov transition model that accounts for endogeneities from initial conditions and unobserved heterogeneity. The results suggest that welfare exit is not a good predictor of self‐sufficiency in the Dutch context, and there are differential prospects for achieving and sustaining self‐sufficiency among Dutch native and second‐generation young adults. A considerable degree of welfare persistence in the medium term and welfare cycling in the long term are found among individuals who had fallen out of self‐sufficiency. Such patterns of precarious welfare‐to‐work transitions are particularly common among non‐Dutch workers employed in the secondary labour market.
Gallosilicate glass and fiber for radiation detection
Authors: Tang Manyun , Ma Yan , Wen Shaofei , Du Guanxin , Chen Jingfei , Li Xueliang , Lv Shichao , Zhou Shifeng
Published: February 2023

As ionizing radiation can cause harmful effects to human and electronic devices, accurate dose monitoring plays an important role in fields such as radiotherapy, nuclear industry, and aerospace. Currently, it is still a challenge to fabricate a miniaturized dosimeter that can achieve real‐time monitoring. Here, a gallosilicate glass with potential application in visualization detection of ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, as well as cumulative dose measurement, is presented. Color centers are induced in the glass upon exposure to ultraviolet or ionizing radiation, resulting in a darkening effect. The color change of glass is related to the energy and intensity of incident photons and can be erased by subsequent heat treatment. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurement indicates that the formation of color centers is associated with non‐bridging oxygen hole centers related to gallium. The glass can be fabricated into fiber with perfect core‐cladding structure, which provides an alternative for preparing a new type of high‐sensitivity radiation dosimeter.
Modelling children's inhibitory skills using learning data from an educational app
Authors: Medeiros Machado Guilherme , Bonnin Geoffray , Castagnos Sylvain , Hoareau Lara , Thomas Aude , Tazouti Youssef
Published: February 2023

Background

Early literacy and numeracy skills are developed during early childhood. Among the many factors that influence the development of such skills, the literature shows that the executive functions, especially the response inhibition (RI)—that is the capability to block out or to tune out what can be considered irrelevant information or action to the learning task—is one of the most essential functions. There are specific tests used to appraise these children's inhibition skills, but these tests are generally time‐consuming, and demand specialized human resources.

Objectives

We present a computational approach to model children's RI behaviour through the analysis of educational traces left in an educational app. This modelling allows the automatic and instant identification of the RI level of children without the need of a human‐conducted test.

Methods

Our modelling is based on two definitions of RI found in the literature, from which we derived a mathematical formalism of three variables we used to query the traces dataset and isolate the RI behaviour of each student from the learning traces generated in the app. The sample population is composed of children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The model is then assessed by comparing it to a traditional human‐conducted RI test suitable for kindergarten children, the Head‐Toes‐Knees‐Shoulder (HTKS) task.

Results and conclusions

The results show that our RI model can explain an important part of the HTKS variance (up to 0.45 according to the adjusted R2) when taking the HTKS results as a dependent variable for a multiple regression model. In practice, our model can be integrated in a learning app and become a powerful tool for instant preliminary identification of dysfunctional RI behaviour, especially in the early stages of children's education. Once students are identified by our model as having a dysfunctional RI behaviour, teachers can rapidly act to help them. Besides, the proposed model requires only very simple data to work, which means it can be easily integrated into different learning apps.
The choice of Caesarean section between clinical indication and patient autonomy: The physician between rock and hard place
Authors: Montanari Vergallo Gianluca , Ricci Pasquale , Gulino Matteo
Published: February 2023

Rationale, Aims and Objectives

Caesarean delivery carries a higher risk of short‐ and long‐term complications for both mother and baby than vaginal delivery. However, over the past two decades, data show a considerable increase in requests for Caesarean sections. This manuscript analyses the case of Caesarean Section on maternal request without a clinical indication from a medico‐legal and ethical perspective.

Method

Medical associations and bodies databases were searched for published guidelines and recommendations on the use of caesarean sections on maternal requests. As derived from the literature, medical risks, attitudes, and reasons for this choice have also been summarized.

Results

International guidelines and medical associations recommend strengthening the doctor‐patient relationship by setting up an information process to make the pregnant woman understand the danger of Caesarean delivery without clinical indications and to make her consider whether she can survive natural childbirth.

Conclusion

Caesarean section on maternal request and without clinical indications is an emblematic case of how the physician could be between two opposing interests. Our analysis shows that if the woman's rejection of natural birth persists and clinical indications for Caesarean delivery are lacking, the physician must respect the patient's choice.
Clinical significance of dispersion imaging by shear wave elastography in the treatment and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Takishin Yunosuke , Kuwatani Masaki , Nishida Mutsumi , Mitsuhashi Tomoko , Kishi Kazuma , Nagai Kosuke , Furukawa Ryutaro , Hirata Hajime , Hirata Koji , Kato Shin , Kawakubo Kazumichi , Sakamoto Naoya
Published: February 2023

Background and Aim

Recently, dispersion imaging by shear wave elastography has been developed to visualize a tissue viscosity‐related factor by measuring the dispersion slope. However, clinical significance of dispersion imaging in the field of pancreatic cancer is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of dispersion imaging in the treatment and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Methods

We measured shear wave dispersion slope (SWD) (m/s/kHz) and shear wave elasticity (SWE) (kPa) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). The primary endpoint was the relationship between the changes in SWD and SWE values before and after chemotherapy and the response to chemotherapy. Secondary endpoints included SWD and SWE values in relation to differences between PDA and non‐PDA sites and histopathological scores of stroma, inflammation, fibrosis, and necrosis in endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration specimens.

Results

Fifty‐six patients were included, 30 of whom underwent chemotherapy. There was no relationship between the changes of SWD and SWE values and chemotherapy responses. In 56 patients, the median SWD value was 12.20 m/s/kHz (interquartile range [IQR]: 10.88–13.61) at PDA sites and 13.57 m/s/kHz (IQR: 12.28–16.20) at non‐PDA sites (P = 0.005). The median SWE value was 8.18 kPa (IQR: 7.00–9.74) at PDA sites and 6.14 kPa (IQR: 5.40–6.77) at non‐PDA sites (P < 0.001). Histopathological evaluation revealed that inflammation scores were correlated with SWD values (rs = 0.42, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Dispersion imaging in pancreatic cancer would be useful for diagnosis and assessing inflammation.
Parental child‐feeding practices at 4 years of age are associated with dietary patterns of 7‐year‐olds
Authors: Barbosa Catarina , Lopes Carla , Costa Alexandra , Warkentin Sarah , Oliveira Andreia
Published: February 2023

Background

Parental child‐feeding practices have been associated with child body mass index (BMI) and specific food group consumption; however, their role in the development of dietary patterns is less understood. We aim to study the association between parental child‐feeding practices at 4 years old and dietary patterns at 7 years that explain BMI z‐scores at age 10.

Methods

Participants were children from the Generation XXI birth cohort (n = 3272). Three patterns of feeding practices at 4 years were previously identified: ‘Perceived monitoring’, ‘Restriction’ and ‘Pressure to eat’. At 7 years, two dietary patterns were derived: ‘Energy‐dense foods’, higher consumption of energy‐dense foods and drinks and processed meats and lower consumption of vegetable soup (significantly associated with BMI z‐scores at 10 years) and ‘Fish‐based’, higher in fishery intake and lower in energy‐dense food intake. Associations were estimated by linear regression models, adjusted for potential confounders (mother's age, education and pre‐pregnancy BMI).

Results

Girls whose parents used more Restriction, Perceived monitoring and Pressure to eat at 4 years were less likely to follow the ‘Energy‐dense foods' dietary pattern at 7 years (β̂ = −0.082; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: −0.134; −0.029; β̂ = −0.093; 95% CI: −0.146; −0.039; β̂ = −0.079; 95% CI: −0.135; −0.04, respectively). In both sexes, children whose parents used more Restriction and Perceived monitoring at 4 years were more likely to follow the ‘Fish‐based’ dietary pattern at 7 years (girls: β̂ = 0.143; 95% CI: 0.077; 0.210; β̂ = 0.079; 95% CI: 0.011; 0.148; boys: β̂ = 0.157; 95% CI: 0.090; 0.224; β̂ = 0.104; 95% CI: 0.041; 0.168).

Conclusions

Children whose parents used more Restriction and Perceived monitoring at preschool age were more likely to follow healthier dietary patterns at age 7.
Credit Guarantee and Fiscal Costs
Authors: BI HUIXIN , CAO YONGQUAN , DONG WEI
Published: February 2023

This paper studies the effectiveness of government‐backed credit guarantees to the infrastructure sector. We propose a two‐sector model with financial intermediary frictions so that infrastructure producers rely on bank loans to finance production. Governments can intervene in the credit market by providing a partial guarantee. We find that a credit guarantee increases infrastructure production, leading to a high fiscal multiplier in the longer run. In the near term, however, higher infrastructure‐sector wages crowd out private‐sector labor supply. Importantly, the higher leverage associated with credit expansion raises nonperforming loans, and this channel is particularly pronounced if the government‐backed credit guarantees linger.
The HOPX and BLBP landscape and gliogenic regions in developing human brain
Authors: Holst Camilla Bjørnbak , Brøchner Christian Beltoft , Vitting‐Seerup Kristoffer , Møllgård Kjeld
Published: February 2023

Outer radial glial cells (oRGs) give rise to neurons and glial cells and contribute to cell migration and expansion in developing neocortex. HOPX has been described as a marker of oRGs and possible actor in glioblastomas. Recent years' evidence points to spatiotemporal differences in brain development which may have implications for the classification of cell types in the central nervous system and understanding of a range of neurological diseases. Using the Human Embryonic/Fetal Biobank, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, HOPX and BLBP immunoexpression was investigated in developing frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital human neocortex, other cortical areas and brain stem regions to interrogate oRG and HOPX regional heterogeneity. Furthermore, usage of high‐plex spatial profiling (Nanostring GeoMx® DSP) was tested on the same material. HOPX marked oRGs in several human developing brain regions as well as cells in known gliogenic areas but did not completely overlap with BLBP or GFAP. Interestingly, limbic structures (e.g. olfactory bulb, indusium griseum, entorhinal cortex, fimbria) showed more intense HOPX immunoreactivity than adjacent neocortex and in cerebellum and brain stem, HOPX and BLBP seemed to stain different cell populations in cerebellar cortex and corpus pontobulbare. DSP screening of corresponding regions indicated differences in cell type composition, vessel density and presence of apolipoproteins within and across regions and thereby confirming the importance of acknowledging time and place in developmental neuroscience.
Predictive factors for successful external cephalic version with regional anesthesia
Authors: Unno Saori , Ogawa Kohei , Nukariya Akinori , Umehara Nagayoshi , Sago Haruhiko
Published: February 2023

Aim

We aimed to investigate predictive factors of successful external cephalic version (ECV) using regional anesthesia.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we included women who underwent ECV at our center from 2010 to 2022. The procedure had been conducted using regional anesthesia and the administration of intravenous ritodrine hydrochloride. The primary outcome was the success of ECV, which was defined as the rotation from a non‐cephalic to a cephalic presentation. Primary exposures were maternal demographic factors and ultrasound findings at ECV. To determine predictive factors, we conducted a logistic regression analysis.

Results

Of 622 pregnant women who underwent ECV, missing data on any variables (n = 14) were excluded and the remaining 608 were analyzed. The success rate during the study period was 76.3%. Multiparous women had significantly higher success rates than primiparous women (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.06 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31–3.25]). Women with a maximum vertical pocket (MVP) of <4 cm had significantly lower success rates than those with 4 cm < MVP ≤6 cm (OR: 0.56 [95% CI: 0.37–0.86]). The non‐anterior placental location was associated with higher success rates than the anterior placental location (OR: 1.46 [95% CI: 1.00–2.17]).

Conclusions

Multiparity, MVP >4 cm, and non‐anterior placental locations were associated with successful ECV. These three factors could be useful for patient selection for successful ECV.
Revised classification of the Cyanidiophyceae based on plastid genome data with descriptions of the Cavernulicolales ord. nov. and Galdieriales ord. nov. (Rhodophyta)
Authors: Park Seung In , Cho Chung Hyun , Ciniglia Claudia , Huang Tzu‐Yen , Liu Shao‐Lun , Bustamante Danilo E. , Calderon Martha S. , Mansilla Andres , McDermott Timothy , Andersen Robert A. , Yoon Hwan Su
Published: February 2023

The Cyanidiophyceae, an extremophilic red algal class, is distributed worldwide in extreme environments. Species grow either in acidic hot environments or in dim light conditions (e.g., “cave Cyanidium”). The taxonomy and classification systems are currently based on morphological, eco‐physiological, and molecular phylogenetic characters; however, previous phylogenetic results showed hidden diversity of the Cyanidiophyceae and suggested a revision of the classification system. To clarify phylogenetic relationships within this red algal class, we employ a phylogenomic approach based on 15 plastomes (10 new) and 15 mitogenomes (seven new). Our phylogenies show consistent relationships among four lineages (Galdieria, “cave Cyanidium”, Cyanidium, and Cyanidioschyzon lineages). Each lineage is distinguished by organellar genome characteristics. The “cave Cyanidium” lineage is a distinct clade that diverged after the Galdieria clade but within a larger monophyletic clade that included the Cyanidium and Cyanidioschyzon lineages. Because the “cave Cyanidium” lineage is a mesophilic lineage that differs substantially from the other three thermoacidophilic lineages, we describe it as a new order (Cavernulicolales). Based on this evidence, we reclassified the Cyanidiophyceae into four orders: Cyanidiales, Cyanidioschyzonales, Cavernulicolales ord. nov., and Galdieriales ord. nov. The genetic distance among these four orders is comparable to, or greater than, the distances found between other red algal orders and subclasses. Three new genera (Cavernulicola, Gronococcus, Sciadococcus), five new species (Galdieria javensis, Galdieria phlegrea, Galdieria yellowstonensis, Gronococcus sybilensis, Sciadococcus taiwanensis), and a new nomenclatural combination (Cavernulicola chilensis) are proposed.
25 years of Flex: Supporting states in maintaining rural access to care
Authors: Martinsen Kristin , Seifert Laura
Published: February 2023

The Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program secured access to care for rural communities, through the creation of the Critical Access Hospital provider type, keeping hospitals open in many communities where they may have otherwise closed. The Health Resources and Services Administration's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy has worked in partnership with hospitals, State Offices of Rural Health, State Flex Program coordinators, researchers, and rural hospital finance and quality experts to direct the Flex Program to ensure rural communities have access to high‐quality care. This article outlines the history of the Flex Program, its program framework and state‐level implementation, and the ways the program aligns with other federal programs with similar goals.
Centralized bargaining with pre‐donation in a vertically related industry
Authors: Saglam Ismail
Published: February 2023

This paper studies the incentives for, and the welfare effects of, pre‐donation in a vertically related industry where two downstream firms that produce a homogenous good jointly bargain, using the generalized Nash rule, with an upstream firm over a linear input price before they engage in Cournot competition. We theoretically show that the downstream industry has no incentive to make any pre‐donation and this is irrespective of its bargaining power and also irrespective of whether it is a monopoly or a symmetric or asymmetric duopoly. Also, irrespective of the said structures of the downstream industry, we show computationally that (i) the upstream firm finds to make unilateral pre‐donation optimal if and only if its bargaining power is sufficiently small and (ii) its optimal pre‐donation (whenever positive) always yields Pareto welfare gains.
Malignant sublingual gland tumors: A single‐center retrospective analysis of 79 patients
Authors: Wu Yifan , Lu Hao , Liu Limin , Zhu Yun , Zhang Xu , Xu Wanlin , Liu Shengwen , Yang Wenjun
Published: February 2023

Objectives

To analyze and summarize the clinicopathological features, risk factors for cervical nodal metastasis, and prognostic factors of malignant sublingual gland tumors (MSLGT).

Methods

Patients diagnosed with MSLGT were retrospectively reviewed from January 2005 to December 2017 at Shanghai Ninth Hospital. The clinicopathological features were summarized, and the correlations between clinicopathological parameters, cervical nodal metastasis, and local–regional recurrence were evaluated using the Chi‐square test. Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis were performed to assess the survival and independent prognostic factors.

Results

Seventy‐nine patients were included, and the 5‐year overall survival and disease‐free survival rates was 85.7% and 71.7%, respectively. Gender and clinical tumor stage were risk factors for cervical nodal metastasis. Tumor size and pathological lymph node (LN) stage were independent prognostic factors for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the sublingual gland; while age, pathological LN stage, and distant metastasis were prognostic factors for patients with non‐ACC of the sublingual gland. Patients with higher clinical stage were more likely to undergo tumor recurrence.

Conclusions

Malignant sublingual gland tumors are rare, and neck dissection should be performed in male MSLGT patients with higher clinical stage. Among patients with both ACC and non‐ACC MSLGT patients, pN+ indicate a poor prognosis.
Validation of the Nottingham Hip Fracture Score in Predicting Postoperative Outcomes Following Hip Fracture Surgery
Authors: Sun Lili , Liu Zhiwei , Wu Hao , Liu Baichuan , Zhao Bin
Published: February 2023

Objective

Although several prognostic models have been developed for patients who underwent hip fracture surgery, their preoperative performance was insufficiently validated. We aimed to verify the effectiveness of the Nottingham Hip Fracture Score (NHFS) for predicting postoperative outcomes following hip fracture surgery.

Methods

This was a single‐center and retrospective analysis. A total of 702 elderly patients with hip fractures (age ≥ 65 years old) who received treatment in our hospital from June 2020 to August 2021 were selected as the research participants. They were divided into the survival group and the death group based on their survival 30 days after surgery. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the independent risk factors for the 30‐day mortality after surgery. The NHFS and American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grades were used to construct these models, and a receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to assess their diagnostic significance. A correlation analysis was performed between NHFS and length of hospitalization and mobility 3 months after surgery.

Results

There were significant differences in the age, albumin level, NHFS, and ASA grade between both groups (p < 0.05). The length of hospitalization in the death group was longer than the survival group (p < 0.05). The perioperative blood transfusion and postoperative ICU transfer rates in the death group were higher than in the survival group (p < 0.05). The death group's incidence of pulmonary infections, urinary tract infections, cardiovascular events, pressure ulcers, stress ulcers with bleeding, and intestinal obstruction was higher than the survival group (p < 0.05). The NHFS and ASA III were independent risk factors for the 30‐day mortality after surgery, regardless of age and albumin level (p < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the NHFS and ASA grade for predicting the 30‐day mortality after surgery was 0.791 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.709–0.873, p < 0.05) and 0.621 (95% CI 0.477–0.764, p > 0.05), respectively. The NHFS positively correlated with hospitalization length and mobility grade 3 months after surgery (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The NHFS demonstrated a better predictive performance than the ASA score for the 30‐day mortality after surgery and positively correlated with the hospitalization length and postoperative activity limitation in elderly patients with hip fractures.
Net‐zero carbon declarations by Japanese local governments: What caused the domino‐like diffusion?
Authors: Nakazawa Takashi , Satoh Keiichi , Trencher Gregory , Tatsumi Tomoyuki , Hasegawa Koichi
Published: February 2023

Sub‐national governments are a crucial non‐state actor for mitigating climate change. This importance has recently strengthened as increasing numbers of municipalities declare net‐zero carbon emission goals to support the Paris Agreement, often well ahead of national governments. In Japan, net‐zero declarations have also diffused widely, with nearly 800 declarations appearing in domino‐like fashion over 2019–2022. To elucidate the factors that propelled this rapid diffusion, we used an event‐history analysis based on data from a survey to develop an integrated statistical model. We then deepen understanding of diffusion mechanisms through seven brief case studies informed by interviews and document analysis. We find that the drivers of policy diffusion varied over time. During the early stage, internal factors drove the spread of declarations; namely participation in transnational city networks, endowed human and financial resources, and political leadership. But in later stages, diffusion was mostly propelled by external factors; namely declarations by neighboring cities and the affiliated prefectural government. Through these findings, we contribute to scholarship through two novel perspectives. First, we reveal the factors driving policy diffusion across both early adopters and the ordinary majority. Second, we show how the influence of well‐known factors can vary during different stages of policy diffusion.
Brittle basement deformation during the Caledonian Orogeny observed by K‐Ar geochronology of illite‐bearing fault gouge in west‐central Sweden
Authors: Almqvist Bjarne , van der Lelij Roelant , Högdahl Karin , Lescoutre Rodolphe , Schönenberger Jasmin , Fossen Haakon , Sjöström Håkan , Juhlin Christopher , Luth Stefan , Grigull Susanne , Viola Giulio
Published: February 2023

This study presents K‐Ar ages of illite‐bearing fault gouges in crystalline basement in central‐western Sweden. Samples were taken from two faults that localized brittle deformation marginal to and within mafic dikes that intruded Paleoproterozoic granitoids. K‐Ar ages from 10 separated grain fractions span from 823 to 392 Ma. Older ages obtained (823–477 Ma) were influenced by a mixture of illite and K‐feldspar; the latter likely formed during a hydrothermal event prior to faulting. The remaining ages (442.1 ± 9.7 to 391.7 ± 6.1 Ma) were obtained from fractions from both faults hosting only authigenic illite and show that illite crystallized during the Scandian phase of the Caledonian orogeny. These results indicate that previously presumed autochthonous Caledonian basement was involved in continental contraction and subsequent collapse of the Caledonian orogen, influencing both the mode and depth of penetration of deformation into Baltica.
Artificial Neural Network-Aided Computational Approach for Mechanophenotyping of Biological Cells Using Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Kamble Yuvaraj , Raj Abhishek , Thakur Atul
Published: February 2023

The artificial neural network (ANN) based models have shown the potential to provide alternate data-driven solutions in disease diagnostics, cell sorting and overcoming AFM-related limitations. Hertzian model-based prediction of mechanical properties of biological cells, although most widely used, has shown to have limited potential in determining constitutive parameters of cells of uneven shape and nonlinear nature of force-indentation curves in AFM-based cell nano-indentation. We report a new artificial neural network-aided approach, which takes into account, the variation in cell shapes and their effect on the predictions in cell mechanophenotyping. We have developed an artificial neural network (ANN) model which could predict the mechanical properties of biological cells by utilizing the force versus indentation curve of AFM. For cells with 1 μm contact length (platelets), we obtained a recall of 0.97 ± 0.03 and 0.99 ± 0.0 for cells with hyperelastic and linear elastic constitutive properties respectively with a prediction error of less than 10%. Also, for cells with 6–8 μm contact length (red blood cells), we obtained the recall of 0.975 in predicting mechanical properties with less than 15% error. We envisage that the developed technique can be used for better estimation of cells' constitutive parameters by incorporating cell topography into account.
Individual Effect of Spatially Periodic Vertical Surface Temperatures and Nanoparticles on Natural Convection in Water
Authors: Narayana Mahesha , Saha Richa , Siddheshwar P. G. , Nagouda Smita S.
Published: February 2023

This paper considers the thermo-convective boundary-layer flow (BLF) of a water–copper mono-nanofluid over a flat vertical surface which is subjected to three types of periodic temperature variations described by the sinusoidal, sawtooth, and triangular waveforms. The temperature of the fluid at the flat surface is greater than the surrounding ambient temperature. The governing equations describing the BLF have been reduced to a non-similar form using an appropriate stream function formulation. The Keller-Box method is used to obtain numerical solution of the boundary-value problem. The effect of the pertinent parameters on the nature of the flow and the heat transfer has been discussed using actual thermophysical data. The results about the shear–stress and heat transfer rate at the surface are presented as well. To study the nature of BLF, the velocity and thermal boundary-layers, the streamline and isotherm plots have been considered, which reveal that the nanoparticle volume-fraction, amplitude of surface temperature variations, and the Grashof number play a pivotal role in enhancing/diminishing heat transfer. The final outcome reveals that the heat transfer is highest for the sinusoidal waveform, followed by that of the triangular and then, the sawtooth. An important inference is that a symmetric periodic temperature distribution at the surface enhances heat transfer more than that of a constant surface-temperature.
Faster RSTRENG: A More Efficient Effective Area Method Algorithm for Corrosion Assessment
Authors: Yan Jason , Lu Dongliang , Khou Ian , Zhang Shenwei
Published: February 2023

Corrosion is one of the major threats to the safety and structural integrity of oil and gas transmission pipelines. The corrosion threat is usually managed by regular in-line inspection (ILI). The effective area method (RSTRENG) is the most popular corrosion assessment model to convert the measured corrosion size to predicted burst pressure. Given a detailed corrosion measurement profile, the effective area method involves an iterative process to find the minimum burst pressure. As stated in ASME B31G, “for a corroded profile defined by n measurements of depth of corrosion including the end points at nominally full wall thickness, n!/2(n − 2)! iterations are required to examine all possible combinations of local metal loss with respect to surrounding remaining material,” the widely used effective area algorithm has at least an order of n-square time complexity (O(n2)). As n increases, the computation time increases nonlinearly. This paper reviewed the traditional RSTRENG algorithm first, and demonstrated that it is not necessary to always loop through all the combinations and check the corresponding burst pressure one by one. Because some combinations with shallower and shorter corrosion size are certainly not the final critical combination corresponding to the minimum burst pressure. A more efficient algorithm (Faster RSTRENG) is proposed and presented in this paper, which can reduce the algorithm computation time significantly.
Twitter’s threat to curtail free data access angers scientists
Authors: Kupferschmidt Kai
Published: February 2023

Social media giant wants to monetize its global data set
Plasma Membrane-Cell Wall Feedback in Bacteria
Authors: García-Heredia Alam
Published: February 2023

Most bacteria have cell wall peptidoglycan surrounding their plasma membranes. The essential cell wall provides a scaffold for the envelope, protection against turgor pressure and is a proven drug target.
Determination of Epidemiological Cutoff Values for Antimicrobial Resistance of Enterococcus cecorum
Authors: Laurentie Jeanne , Mourand Gwenaelle , Grippon Pauline , Furlan Sylviane , Chauvin Claire , Jouy Eric , Serror Pascale , Kempf Isabelle
Published: February 2023

Enterococcus cecorum
, a commensal Gram-positive bacterium of the chicken gut, has emerged as a worldwide cause of lameness in poultry, particularly in fast-growing broilers. It is responsible for osteomyelitis, spondylitis, and femoral head necrosis, causing animal suffering, mortality, and antimicrobial use.
Comparative Genome Analysis of Enterococcus cecorum Reveals Intercontinental Spread of a Lineage of Clinical Poultry Isolates
Authors: Laurentie Jeanne , Loux Valentin , Hennequet-Antier Christelle , Chambellon Emilie , Deschamps Julien , Trotereau Angélina , Furlan Sylviane , Darrigo Claire , Kempf Florent , Lao Julie , Milhes Marine , Roques Céline , Quinquis Benoit , Vandecasteele Céline , Boyer Roxane , Bouchez Olivier , Repoila Francis , Le Guennec Jean , Chiapello Hélène , Briandet Romain , Helloin Emmanuelle , Schouler Catherine , Kempf Isabelle , Serror Pascale
Published: February 2023

Enterococcus cecorum
is an important pathogen of poultry worldwide. It causes a number of locomotor disorders and septicemia, particularly in fast-growing broilers.
Transcriptomics-Driven Characterization of LUZ100, a T7-like Pseudomonas Phage with Temperate Features
Authors: Putzeys Leena , Poppeliers Jorien , Boon Maarten , Lood Cédric , Vallino Marta , Lavigne Rob
Published: February 2023

Bacteriophage T7, considered the “model phage” of the
Autographiviridae
family, is marked by a strictly lytic life cycle and conserved genome organization. Recently, novel phages within this clade have emerged which display characteristics associated with a temperate life cycle.