bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Marking Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with fluorophores for use in mark-release-recapture research
Authors: Hagler James R , Casey Miles T , Machtley Scott A , Schutze Inana Xavier , Fabrick Jeffrey A
Published: October 2024

Knowledge of insect dispersal and long-distance migratory flight capacity and patterns represent key factors needed for risk assessment of invasive pest species, insecticide resistance management, and more effective pest control. Having operative tools to both mark and track insect pest movement is therefore critical to achieving such goals. Here, we describe a new procedure for marking Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), one of the most economically important crop pests in the United States. Adult H. zea moths were effectively marked using the liquid fluorophore cartax green, a persistent UV-fluorescent pigment, both directly by topical application and indirectly by briefly submerging pupae in the marking solution prior to adult emergence. Regardless of the application method, the cartax mark was retained on the moths throughout their entire adult lifespan. No mortality differences were observed between cartax green-marked and water-marked (control) moths. Additionally, using rotary flight mills, we found no significant differences in several flight parameters, including total number of flights, flight speeds, flight distances, or flight durations between unmarked and cartax-marked moths. Under laboratory conditions, we did observe the lateral transfer of different colored fluorophores between moths, indicating that undesirable marking could potentially occur. Moreover, we found that not all fluorophores were equally retained on H. zea moths, with cartax green remaining intact on moths longer than did a corresponding magenta fluorophore. The results show that cartax green fluorophore could be a practical marker for H. zea and other holometabolous species targeted for large-scale mark-release-recapture research.
An impossibility theorem for Base Rate Tracking and Equalized Odds
Authors: Stewart Rush , Eva Benjamin , Slank Shanna , Stern Reuben
Published: October 2024

There is a theorem that shows that it is impossible for an algorithm to jointly satisfy the statistical fairness criteria of Calibration and Equalized Odds non-trivially. But what about the recently advocated alternative to Calibration, Base Rate Tracking? Here we show that Base Rate Tracking is strictly weaker than Calibration, and then take up the question of whether it is possible to jointly satisfy Base Rate Tracking and Equalized Odds in non-trivial scenarios. We show that it is not, thereby establishing an even more general impossibility theorem.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in 252 Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons: Prevalences, ACE Clustering, and Effects on Adult Health and Behaviors, Including Self-Defined Depression, Work Addiction, and Burnout
Authors: Constantian Mark B , Zaborek Nick
Published: October 2024

Background

The CDC/Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study documented that ACEs predict adult health and self-harming behaviors. ACEs have been documented in physicians and are higher in physicians treated for problematic behavior. Plastic surgeons have never been assayed.

Objectives

Might ACE prevalences in plastic surgeons predict their adult health and/or behavior?

Methods

A total of 252 ABPS-certified plastic surgeons (72% men, 28% women) completed the 10-question CDC/Kaiser ACE survey by deidentified email. Data were collected on adult health and behaviors previously associated with ACEs in the literature.

Results

In total 42% of plastic surgeons had 1 or more ACEs; 9.9% had 4 or more. Emotional abuse was 2 times higher than the control CDC/Kaiser population, although other ACEs were lower. Gender differences existed: female surgeons suffered more sexual abuse (17% vs 8%), physical neglect (7% vs 1%), violence against their mothers (7% vs 2%), and self-defined burnout (32% vs 17%). ACEs occurred in clusters. Total ACEs predicted autoimmune disorders, chronic pain/fatigue, self-defined depression, irritable bowel, antidepressant/anxiolytic use, alcohol abuse, >3 marriages, >10 sexual partners, sex and work addiction, eating disorders, and self-defined burnout (all P < .020). Emotional abuse predicted alcohol abuse. Sexual abuse predicted sex addiction. Emotional neglect predicted autoimmune disease, antidepressant/anxiolytic use, eating disorder, and work addiction. Physical neglect predicted chronic fatigue/chronic pain, depression, and burnout (all P < .001 or less).

Conclusions

Adverse childhood experiences occurred in 42% of our 252-member plastic surgeon cohort and predicted 13 adult illnesses and self-harming behaviors that can impair surgeons’ lives and performances. This may facilitate their recognition and treatment.
Diagnostics of viral infections using high-throughput genome sequencing data
Authors: Ning Haochen , Boyes Ian , Numanagić Ibrahim , Rott Michael , Xing Li , Zhang Xuekui
Published: October 2024

Plant viral infections cause significant economic losses, totalling $350 billion USD in 2021. With no treatment for virus-infected plants, accurate and efficient diagnosis is crucial to preventing and controlling these diseases. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) enables cost-efficient identification of known and unknown viruses. However, existing diagnostic pipelines face challenges. First, many methods depend on subjectively chosen parameter values, undermining their robustness across various data sources. Second, artifacts (e.g. false peaks) in the mapped sequence data can lead to incorrect diagnostic results. While some methods require manual or subjective verification to address these artifacts, others overlook them entirely, affecting the overall method performance and leading to imprecise or labour-intensive outcomes. To address these challenges, we introduce IIMI, a new automated analysis pipeline using machine learning to diagnose infections from 1583 plant viruses with HTS data. It adopts a data-driven approach for parameter selection, reducing subjectivity, and automatically filters out regions affected by artifacts, thus improving accuracy. Testing with in-house and published data shows IIMI’s superiority over existing methods. Besides a prediction model, IIMI also provides resources on plant virus genomes, including annotations of regions prone to artifacts. The method is available as an R package (iimi) on CRAN and will integrate with the web application www.virtool.ca, enhancing accessibility and user convenience.
PhenoMultiOmics: an enzymatic reaction inferred multi-omics network visualization web server
Authors: Shi Yuying , Xu Botao , Wang Zhe , Chen Qitao , Chai Jie , Wang Cheng
Published: October 2024

Motivation

Enzymatic reaction play a pivotal role in regulating cellular processes with a high degree of specificity to biological functions. When enzymatic reactions are disrupted by gene, protein, or metabolite dysfunctions in diseases, it becomes crucial to visualize the resulting perturbed enzymatic reaction-induced multi-omics network. Multi-omics network visualization aids in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the functionality and regulatory mechanisms within biological systems.

Results

In this study, we designed PhenoMultiOmics, an enzymatic reaction-based multi-omics web server designed to explore the scope of the multi-omics network across various cancer types. We first curated the PhenoMultiOmics database, which enables the retrieval of cancer-gene–protein-metabolite relationships based on the enzymatic reactions. We then developed the MultiOmics network visualization module to depict the interplay between genes, proteins, and metabolites in response to specific cancer-related enzymatic reactions. The biomarker discovery module facilitates functional analysis through differential omic feature expression and pathway enrichment analysis. PhenoMultiOmics has been applied to analyze the transcriptomics data of gastric cancer and the metabolomics data of lung cancer, providing mechanistic insights into interrupted enzymatic reactions and the associated multi-omics network.

Availability and implementation

PhenoMultiOmics is freely accessed at https://phenomultiomics.shinyapps.io/cancer/ with a user-friendly and interactive web interface.
Deep learning-based enhancement of fluorescence labeling for accurate cell lineage tracing during embryogenesis
Authors: Li Zelin , Xie Dongying , Ma Yiming , Zhao Cunmin , You Sicheng , Yan Hong , Zhao Zhongying
Published: October 2024

Motivation

Automated cell lineage tracing throughout embryogenesis plays a key role in the study of regulatory control of cell fate differentiation, morphogenesis and organogenesis in the development of animals, including nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. However, automated cell lineage tracing suffers from an exponential increase in errors at late embryo because of the dense distribution of cells, relatively low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and imbalanced intensity profiles of fluorescence images, which demands a huge amount of human effort to manually correct the errors. The existing image enhancement methods are not sensitive enough to deal with the challenges posed by the crowdedness and low signal-to-noise ratio. An alternative method is urgently needed to assist the existing detection methods in improving their detection and tracing accuracy, thereby reducing the huge burden for manual curation.

Results

We developed a new method, termed as DELICATE, that dramatically improves the accuracy of automated cell lineage tracing especially during the stage post 350 cells of C. elegans embryo. DELICATE works by increasing the local SNR and improving the evenness of nuclei fluorescence intensity across cells especially in the late embryos. The method both dramatically reduces the segmentation errors by StarryNite and the time required for manually correcting tracing errors up to 550-cell stage, allowing the generation of accurate cell lineage at large-scale with a user-friendly software/interface.

Availability and implementation

All images and data are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.26778475.v1. The code and user-friendly software are available at https://github.com/plcx/NucApp-develop.
Characterization of a novel and testis-specific zinc finger protein during sexual development of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei
Authors: Wang Chi-Sheng , Cheng Hao-Sheng , Chang Wan-Ting , Hsiao Cheng-Chieh , Tseng Peng-Wei , Li Hau-Wen , Sagi Amir , Chang Ching-Fong , Wu Guan-Chung
Published: October 2024

Since females grow faster in penaeid shrimp, all-female aquaculture was proposed. Environmental conditions in the Pacific white shrimp were not found to affect genetic sex determination (ZZ/ZW system). The androgenic gland–secreting insulin-like androgenic gland hormone is a key controlling factor in crustacean male differentiation. However, functional sex reversal (neo-male) in penaeid shrimp has not yet been achieved by manipulating the insulin-like androgenic gland hormone–sexual switch. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms of gonadal differentiation may help build appropriate tools to generate neo-male for all-female breeding. This study describes the potential role of the novel penaeid-specific testicular zinc finger protein (pTZFP) in the gonads of Pacific white shrimp. First, pTZFP transcripts show a male-bias expression pattern in undifferentiated gonads, which is then exclusively expressed in the testis and absent or slightly expressed in the ovary and other tissues. Besides, the knockdown of pTZFP in undifferentiated males results in smaller testes but no sex reversal. Immunohistochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen further confirmed that the smaller testes in pTZFP-deficient males are due to the lower proliferating activity of spermatogonia. These data reveal that pTZFP may be involved in testicular development but have fewer effects on gonadal differentiation. Moreover, testicular pTZFP transcription levels were not reduced with estradiol-17β (E2) administration or AG excision. Therefore, our data suggest that pTZFP may regulate testicular development through downstream genes regulating spermatogonia proliferation. Moreover, our data provide an appropriate molecular marker for identifying the sex of undifferentiated gonads.
With random regressors, least squares inference is robust to correlated errors with unknown correlation structure
Authors: Zhang Zifeng , Ding Peng , Zhou Wen , Wang Haonan
Published: October 2024

Linear regression is arguably the most widely used statistical method. With fixed regressors and correlated errors, the conventional wisdom is to modify the variance-covariance estimator to accommodate the known correlation structure of the errors. We depart from existing literature by showing that with random regressors, linear regression inference is robust to correlated errors with unknown correlation structure. The existing theoretical analyses for linear regression are no longer valid because even the asymptotic normality of the least squares coefficients breaks down in this regime. We first prove the asymptotic normality of the t statistics by establishing their Berry–Esseen bounds based on a novel probabilistic analysis of self-normalized statistics. We then study the local power of the corresponding t tests and show that, perhaps surprisingly, error correlation can even enhance power in the regime of weak signals. Overall, our results show that linear regression is applicable more broadly than the conventional theory suggests, and they further demonstrate the value of randomization for ensuring robustness of inference.
Sequencing microsphere selective internal radiotherapy after external beam radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: proof of concept of a synergistic combination
Authors: Huesa-Berral Carlos , Terry Jack F , Kunz Louis , Bertolet Alejandro
Published: October 2024

Objectives

This study aims to explore the synergistic effects of combining stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) in that specific sequence for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly in patients at high risk of radiation-induced liver disease (RILD).

Methods

We analysed a case of a patient with HCC who was treated with SBRT at our institution. A virtual 90Y dose distribution was added using our in-house MIDOS model to keep a minimum dose to the healthy liver tissue. BED and EUD metrics were calculated to harmonize the dose distributions of SBRT and SIRT.

Results

Our radiation biology-based models suggest that the combination of SBRT and SIRT could maintain effective tumour control while reducing the dose to normal liver tissue. Specifically, an SBRT plan of 10 Gy×3 fractions combined with SIRT yielded comparable tumour control probability to an SBRT-only plan of 10 Gy×5 fractions.

Conclusions

The combination of SBRT and SIRT is a promising treatment strategy for HCC patients at high risk of RILD. While the LQ model and associated formalisms provide a useful starting point, further studies are needed to account for factors beyond these models. Nonetheless, the potential for significant dose reduction to normal tissue suggests that this combination therapy could offer substantial clinical benefits.

Advances in knowledge

This article presents a proposal to combine SBRT and SIRT, in this specific order, for HCC, discussing its advantages. A framework for future research into optimizing combination therapy for HCC is provided, utilizing a novel HCC vascular model to simulate 90Y doses.
Carbon footprint of non-melanoma skin cancer surgery
Authors: Ang Ky-Leigh , Jovic Matthew , Malin Ian , Ali Stephen R , Whitaker Sairan , Whitaker Iain S
Published: October 2024

Background

Climate change poses a significant global health threat and healthcare, including surgery, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts have been made to promote sustainability in surgery, but the literature on sustainability in plastic surgery remains limited.

Methods

A life-cycle analysis was used to assess and quantify the environmental emissions associated with three distinct reconstructive methods utilized in non-melanoma skin cancer surgery: direct closure, split-thickness skin graft, and full-thickness skin graft. Analyses were conducted in March 2023 in Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK. The carbon footprints for non-melanoma skin cancer surgery in England and Wales were then estimated.

Results

The mean carbon emissions for non-melanoma skin cancer surgery ranged from 29.82 to 34.31 kgCO₂eq. Theatre energy consumption (4.29–8.76 kgCO₂eq) and consumables (16.87 kgCO₂eq) were significant contributors. Waste produced during non-melanoma skin cancer surgery accounted for 1.31 kgCO₂eq and sterilization of reusable surgical instruments resulted in 1.92 kgCO₂eq of carbon emissions. Meanwhile, transportation, dressings, pharmaceuticals, and laundry accounted for 0.57, 2.65, 1.85, and 0.38 kgCO₂eq respectively. The excision of non-melanoma skin cancer with direct closure (19.29–22.41 kgCO₂eq) resulted in the lowest carbon emissions compared with excision with split-thickness skin graft (43.80–49.06 kgCO₂eq) and full-thickness skin graft (31.58–37.02 kgCO₂eq). In 2021, it was estimated that non-melanoma skin cancer surgery had an annual carbon footprint of 306 775 kgCO₂eq in Wales and 4 402 650 kgCO₂eq in England. It was possible to predict that, by 2035, carbon emissions from non-melanoma skin cancer surgery will account for 388 927 kgCO₂eq in Wales and 5 419 770 kgCO₂eq in England.

Conclusion

This study highlights the environmental impact of non-melanoma skin cancer in plastic surgery departments and emphasizes the need for sustainable practices. Collaboration between surgeons and policymakers is essential and further data collection is recommended for better analysis.
Evidence for diurnal bee pollination in the ancestrally hawkmoth-pollinated genus Crinum (Amaryllidaceae)
Authors: Butler Hannah C , Rogerson AJ , Peter Craig I , Johnson Steven D , Newman Ethan
Published: October 2024

Shifts between diurnal and nocturnal pollination systems have been important in the radiation of the angiosperms. Here we examined the pollination ecology of Crinum campanulatum (Amaryllidaceae), an aquatic geophyte. Although visits by noctuid moths were observed in the evening, the flowers of C. campanulatum were visited mainly by honeybees and carpenter bees. The species was found to be self-incompatible, and flowers exposed to only diurnal visitors produced a higher number of fruits and seeds than those exposed to only nocturnal visitors. Overall seed production was not pollen limited. The floral scent was found to be dominated by aromatic compounds, including many with functional groups containing nitrogen. The chemical composition of scent did not differ between day and night samples, but floral scent emissions during the day were ~8-fold greater than those at night. Flower colour changes from white to a dark pink over four days from anthesis, which is associated with increased conspicuousness to bees. Ancestral state reconstruction revealed that long-tubed flowers pollinated by hawkmoths are ancestral and widespread in Crinum. These results are indicative of a shift from nocturnal to diurnal pollination in Crinum that is associated with a reduction in flower size and an increase in diurnal scent emission.
Tertiary lymphoid structures associated with improved prognosis and reduced invasion in advanced extramammary Paget disease
Authors: Magara Tetsuya , Nakamura Motoki , Yoshimitsu Maki , Yasui Yukiko , Kano Shinji , Kato Hiroshi , Morita Akimichi
Published: October 2024

We analysed the presence and significance of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), a known prognostic and predictive biomarker of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, in advanced extramammary Paget disease (EMPD). Our findings showed that TLS are associated with a favourable prognosis and may play a role in inhibiting tumour invasion, indicating that EMPD is an immunologically active tumour. These results suggest that immune checkpoint inhibitors could be an effective treatment option for advanced EMPD. To our knowledge, this study is the first report on TLS in EMPD.
Myocardial disarray and fibrosis across hypertrophic cardiomyopathy stages associate with ECG markers of arrhythmic risk
Authors: Ashkir Z , Samat A H A , Ariga R , Finnigan L E M , Jermy S , Akhtar M A , Sarto G , Murthy P , Wong B W Y , Cassar M P , Beyhoff N , Wicks E C , Thomson K , Mahmod M , Tunnicliffe E M , Neubauer S , Watkins H , Raman B
Published: October 2024

Aims

Myocardial disarray, an early feature of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and a substrate for ventricular arrhythmia, is poorly characterized in pre-hypertrophic sarcomeric variant carriers (SARC+LVH−). Using diffusion tensor cardiac magnetic resonance (DT-CMR) we assessed myocardial disarray and fibrosis in both SARC+LVH− and HCM patients and evaluated the relationship between microstructural alterations and electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters associated with arrhythmic risk.

Methods and results

Sixty-two individuals (24 SARC+LVH−, 24 HCM, and 14 matched controls) were evaluated with multi-parametric CMR including stimulated echo acquisition mode DT-CMR, and blinded quantitative 12-lead ECG analysis. Mean diastolic fractional anisotropy (FA) was reduced in HCM compared with SARC+LVH− and controls (0.49 ± 0.05 vs. 0.52 ± 0.04 vs. 0.53 ± 0.04, P = 0.009), even after adjustment for differences in extracellular volume (ECV) (P = 0.038). Both HCM and SARC+LVH− had segments with significantly reduced diastolic FA relative to controls (54 vs. 25 vs. 0%, P = 0.002). Multiple repolarization parameters were prolonged in HCM and SARC+LVH−, with corrected JT interval (JTc) being most significant (354 ± 42 vs. 356 ± 26 vs. 314 ± 26 ms, P = 0.002). Among SARC+LVH−, JTc duration correlated negatively with mean diastolic FA (r = −0.6, P = 0.002). In HCM, the JTc interval showed a stronger association with ECV (r = 0.6 P = 0.019) than with mean diastolic FA (r = −0.1 P = 0.72). JTc discriminated SARC+LVH− from controls [area under the receiver operator curve 0.88, confidence interval 0.76–1.00, P < 0.001], and in HCM correlated with the European Society of Cardiology HCM sudden cardiac death risk score (r = 0.5, P = 0.014).

Conclusion

Low diastolic FA, suggestive of myocardial disarray, is present in both SARC+LVH− and HCM. Low FA and raised ECV were associated with repolarization prolongation. Myocardial disarray assessment using DT-CMR and repolarization parameters such as the JTc interval demonstrate significant potential as markers of disease activity in HCM.
Inotropes and mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock: an instrumental variable analysis from the SWEDEHEART registry
Authors: Petursson Petur , Gudmundsson Thorsteinn , Råmunddal Truls , Angerås Oskar , Rawshani Araz , Mohammad Moman A , Persson Jonas , Alfredsson Joakim , Hofmann Robin , Jernberg Tomas , Fröbert Ole , Erlinge David , Redfors Björn , Omerovic Elmir
Published: October 2024

Background

The use of inotropic agents in treating cardiogenic shock (CS) remains controversial. This study investigates the effect of inotropes on 30-day mortality in CS patients using data from the SWEDEHEART registry (The Swedish Web-system for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-based care in Heart disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies).

Methods and results

Data were sourced from the national SWEDEHEART registry for all CS patients in Sweden from 2000 to 2022. The primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality. We employed multilevel Cox proportional-hazards regression with instrumental variable and inverse probability weighting propensity score to adjust for confounders. The treatment-preference instrument was the quintile of preference for inotrope use at the treating hospital. A total of 16 214 patients (60.5% men, 39.5% women) were included; 23.5% had diabetes, 10.2% had a previous myocardial infarction (MI), and 13.8% had previous heart failure (HF). The median age was 70 years [interquartile range (IQR); 19], with 66.4% over 70. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) caused CS in 82.9%. Inotropes were administered to 43.8% of patients, while 56.2% did not receive them. There were 7875 (48.1%) deaths. Patients treated with inotropes were, on average, 2 years younger and more likely to have ACS, while those not treated had more previous MI and were less likely to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The number of CS cases decreased by 12% per year (Ptrend < 0.001), and inotrope use increased by 5% per year (Ptrend < 0.001). Unadjusted mortality in CS rose by 2% per calendar year (Ptrend < 0.001). Inotropes were associated with higher mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.72; 95% CI 1.26–2.35; P = 0.001], with significant interactions between inotrope treatment, age, and diagnosis (Pinteraction < 0.001 and Pinteraction = 0.018).

Conclusion

In this observational study, inotropes were linked to higher mortality in CS patients, particularly those younger than 70. While CS cases decreased, inotrope use and mortality increased in Sweden.
Set2 and H3K36 regulate the Drosophila male X chromosome in a context-specific manner, independent from MSL complex spreading
Authors: Salzler Harmony R , Vandadi Vasudha , Sallean Julia R , Matera A Gregory
Published: October 2024

Dosage compensation in Drosophila involves upregulating male X-genes 2-fold. This process is carried out by the MSL (male-specific lethal) complex, which binds high-affinity sites and spreads to surrounding genes. Current models of MSL spreading focus on interactions between MSL3 (male-specific lethal 3) and Set2-dependent histone marks like trimethylated H3 lysine-36 (H3K36me3). However, Set2 could affect DC via another target, or there could be redundancy between canonical H3.2 and variant H3.3 histones. Furthermore, it is important to parse male-specific effects from those that are X-specific. To discriminate among these possibilities, we employed genomic approaches in H3K36 “residue” and Set2 “writer” mutants. The results confirm a role for Set2 in X-gene regulation, but show that expression trends in males are often mirrored in females. Instead of global, male-specific reduction of X-genes in Set2 or H3K36 mutants, we observe heterogeneous effects. Interestingly, we identified groups of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) whose changes were in opposite directions following loss of H3K36 or Set2, suggesting that H3K36me states have reciprocal functions. In contrast to H4K16R controls, differential expression analysis of combined H3.2K36R/H3.3K36R mutants showed neither consistent reduction in X-gene expression, nor correlation with MSL3 binding. Motif analysis of the DEGs implicated BEAF-32 and other insulator proteins in Set2/H3K36-dependent regulation. Overall, the data are inconsistent with the prevailing model wherein H3K36me3 is essential for spreading the MSL complex to genes along the male X. Rather, we propose that Set2 and H3K36 support DC indirectly, via processes that are utilized by MSL but common to both sexes.
From a solitary blood-derived biomarker to combined biomarkers of sarcopenia: Experiences from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study
Authors: Won Chang Won , Kim Miji , Shin Hyung Eun
Published: October 2024

Sarcopenia is recognized as a complex and multifactorial disorder that includes nutritional deficiency, inactivity, proinflammatory status, hormonal changes, neurological degeneration, and metabolic disturbances. Its’ pathogenesis is not fully understood. Therefore, identifying specific biomarkers of sarcopenia will help us understand its pathophysiology. The most frequently reported blood-derived biomarkers of sarcopenia are growth factors, neuromuscular junctions, endocrine systems, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation-mediated and redox processes, muscle protein turnover, blood metabolomics, and behavior-mediated biomarkers. Here, we address the implications of sarcopenia biomarkers based on our research experience with KFACS cohort data. It includes free testosterone, myostatin, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), procollagen type III N-terminal peptide (P3NP), creatinine-based biomarkers, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), metabolites (proline, alanine, tryptophan), and multi-biomarker risk score. We attempted to explain the paradoxical findings of myostatin and FGF-21 levels in relation to sarcopenia. GDF-15 levels were associated with sarcopenia prevalence but not its incidence. Plasma P3NP and BDNF levels may be biomarkers of muscle quality rather than quantity. Lower erythrocyte EPA and DHA levels were associated with slow gait speed, and erythrocyte EPA levels were associated with low handgrip strength. We developed a multi-biomarker risk score for sarcopenia and found that its accuracy in diagnosing sarcopenia was higher than that of any single biomarker.
The Pouch Corner: Perianal Fistulas and Ileal Pouches: Examining Fistulas Before and After Pouch Creation
Authors: Schwartzberg David M , Kayal Maia , Barnes Edward L
Published: October 2024

Lay Summary

Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) proctocolitis are candidates for an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), provided they do not suffer from complex perianal fistulas or small bowel inflammation. UC patients who develop a simple perianal fistula may still be candidates for an IPAA; however, patients with complex perianal fistulas are precluded from having an ileal pouch. After an IPAA, patients may develop perianal fistulas that arise acutely from a technical complication or an anastomotic leak, or as late-onset fistulas as a result of CD-like inflammation of the pouch.
Nomads’ Land: Exploring the Social and Political Life of the Nomad Category
Authors: Howarth Anthony , Heiskanen Jaakko , Steglich Sina , Manchanda Nivi , Bencherif Adib
Published: October 2024

The category of the nomad has gained a newfound salience in recent decades, ranging from public interest in “digital nomadism” to academic debates about “nomadic theory.” Faced with this upsurge of interest in nomadism, this collective discussion brings together five scholars of diverse theoretical and academic backgrounds to investigate the pasts, presents, and possible futures of the nomad category. The contributions excavate the conditions under which the category first arose in European social and political discourse, explore the historical baggage that this category has carried with it into the twenty-first century, and inquire under what conditions nomadism has come to be regarded as a promising or emancipatory trope. Keeping with the open-ended ethos of international political sociology, the aim of the collective discussion is not to seek conceptual mastery over the category of the nomad, but to foreground the multiple, ambivalent, and often contradictory ways in which this category has been deployed through space and time. More broadly, the collective discussion is an invitation for scholars to explore the international social and political lives of our concepts in a way that destabilizes disciplinary and institutional boundaries.
Bio/Necropolitical Capture and Evasion on Africa–Europe Migrant Journeys
Authors: Topak Özgün Erdener
Published: October 2024

This paper draws on fieldwork interviews with migrants who fled their home countries (Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan) and irregularly traveled through Sudan, Sahara, Libya, and the Mediterranean Sea, eventually reaching Europe. It demonstrates how, throughout their journeys, migrants were targeted by various armed groups (particularly non-state) for purposes including recruitment, extortion, ransom, immobilization, torture, slavery, sexual violence, and how they evaded capture. Building on and contributing to literatures on bio/necropolitics, migration/borders, and surveillance, the paper advances the categories of bio/necropolitical capture and evasion. The paper emphasizes the key role of non-state actors in acts of capture, and race and racialized microbio/necropolitical practices (torture, spectacle, discipline, and surveillance) as key categories of capture. The paper also shows effects of capture for migrants and how migrants engage in acts of evasion (which include not only bodily acts of running away or hiding, but various forms of communicational, mental, spiritual, and psychological tactics) as expressions of agency. Focusing on migrants’ long journeys to Europe, the paper provides a more holistic view of the migration experience and highlights persisting patterns of capture and evasion despite changing actors and locations. The paper demonstrates how Europe’s borders externalize inside the African continent through delegated and opportunistic actors (such as the Libyan Coast Guard and various other militia/trafficking/mafia groups), and reproduce racism at both the macrolevel (maintaining global racist borders) and the microlevel (through racialized practices).
“Picking up signals” in male genital morphospace and integrating phylogenomics to delimit Neotropical Nylanderia Emery species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Williams Jason L , Punnath Aswaj , Fernández María Belén , Calcaterra Luis Alberto , LaPolla John S , Lucky Andrea
Published: October 2024

Genital morphology, a cornerstone in taxonomy that predates Linnaeus’s Systema Naturae, is vital for species delimitation. However, the widely accepted paradigm that genitalia are taxonomically informative lacks robust testing between closely related species, and supporting evidence is often limited to taxonomic literature in which genitalia are assumed a priori to be species-specific. The cosmopolitan ant genus Nylanderia Emery includes 123 described species, with most in the Neotropics still undescribed. Workers are often morphologically cryptic, and males are rare in collections but required for morphological delimitation. Using Ultraconserved Elements (UCEs) from 236 samples, including 53 Neotropical Nylanderia species, we reconstructed a phylogenetic framework to compare the genitalia (gonopods) of males collected alongside workers. We used geometric morphometrics on images of slide-mounted genitalia from 16 species and nano-CT scans of Nylanderia fulva (Mayr) and Nylanderia pubens (Forel) genital capsules and interpreted results considering phylogeny under maximum likelihood and the multispecies coalescent. We found strong morphological and molecular support for 2 distantly related American clades, identifiable by gonopod shape, with significant differences observed among most species. Three previously reported COI clades of N. fulva were not supported as monophyletic, nor were their gonopods significantly different. However, N. pubens was supported as distinct by all phylogenetic and 3DGM results. Our findings emphasize the importance of male genitalia for delimiting species boundaries and revising Neotropical Nylanderia. Given their importance, particularly in morphologically cryptic taxa, we recommend a greater focus on linking male and worker phenotypes, which can be facilitated through comprehensive nest series collection.
Democratization and Peace after Civil War—What Difference Can International Engagement Make? Insights from Liberia
Authors: Mross Karina
Published: October 2024

What role can international engagement play for the relationship between post-conflict democratization and conflict recurrence? Empirical evidence indicates that democratization risks triggering violence. Consequently, some scholars criticize the liberal peacebuilding approach, which centers on the promotion of democracy and competitive elections with the aim of fostering peace after civil wars. This article (1) illustrates the risks and potential of post-conflict democratization and (2) traces the effect of international support in this context. It builds on the existing literature yet goes beyond the concentration on peacekeeping forces and places particular attention on democracy promotion. The analysis draws on rich empirical data from Liberia, which is an ideal case to explore this relationship. Twice, democratic elections followed in the wake of a devastating civil war in Liberia. The first post-war elections in 1997 are often cited as an example of how externally induced democratization triggers renewed violence. The democratization process following the end of the second civil war in 2003, in contrast, is regarded as having strengthened peace. The analysis shows that international (democracy) support constitutes a key explanatory factor in the Liberian case by reducing and even substituting for the weakness and lack of credibility of local democratic institutions and procedures.
Nationalism, Internationalism, and Interventionism: How Overseas Military Service Influences Foreign Policy Attitudes
Authors: Waldie Bradford
Published: October 2024

Abstracts

How does military experience change individual foreign policy preferences? Prior research on military service focuses on the effects of combat experience on political participation and policy preferences, but combat is not the only military experience that influences attitudes. Living overseas is a common military experience with the potential to shape foreign policy preferences. Using observational data from a sample of military elites and original survey data from a sample of military veterans, I leverage semi-random and non-voluntary assignments to overseas military bases to investigate the relationship between overseas exposure and foreign policy preferences. The data provides evidence that overseas military service increases the likelihood of calling for international engagement, decreases nationalist attitudes, and increases the willingness of military members to assist individual allies. The ability to shape the preferences of military members has important implications for the development of foreign policy and the stability of international engagement.
Effectiveness of temocillin in treatment of non-urinary tract infections caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacterales and risk factors for failure
Authors: Mamona Kilu Christel , Menvielle Camille , Cataldi Anne , Hamon Antoine , Duran Clara , Mwanba Cedric , Tesmoingt Chloé , Bouabdallah-Perrin Laura , Touche Pauline , Chanh Hew Wai Aurélie , Ourghanlian Clément , Antignac Marie , Bildan Marc-Antoine , Bleibtreu Alexandre , Michelon Hugues , Diamantis Sylvain , Pilmis Benoit , Citerne Antoine , Farfour Eric , Dinh Aurélien ,   Paris Temocillin study group, Dinh Aurélien , Mamona Christel , Duran Clara , Michelon Hugues , Bouchand Frédérique , Farfour Eric , Touche Pauline , Chan Hew Wai Aurélie , Pilmis Benoît , Diamantis Sylvain , Batista Rui , Canouï Etienne , Citerne Antoine , Deconinck Laurène , Tesmoingt Chloé , Bouabdallah Perrin Laura , Lafaurie Matthieu , Touratier Sophie , de Lastours Victoire , Hamon Antoine , Antignac Marie , Leplay Céline , Meynard Jean-Luc , Cataldi Anne , Ourghanlian Clément , Lepeule Raphaël , Bildan Marc-Antoine , Loustalot Marie-Caroline , Calin Ruxandra , Mwamba Cédric , Pain Jean Baptiste , Escaut Lelia , Wyplosz Benjamin , Bleibtreu Alexandre , Junot Helga
Published: October 2024

Objectives

To describe the real-life use of temocillin for non-urinary tract infections, to assess its effectiveness in infections caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacterales, and to identify risk factors for treatment failure.

Method

Retrospective multicentric study in 14 tertiary care hospitals, including all patients who received at least one dose of temocillin for ESBL infections from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2021 for non-urinary tract infections. Failure was a composite criterion defined within 28 day follow-up by persistence or reappearance of signs of infection, and/or switch to suppressive antibiotic treatment and/or death from infection. Logistic regression with univariable and multivariable analysis was performed to identify risks associated with failure.

Results

Data on 163 infection episodes were collected; 133 were due to ESBL-producing Enterobacterales and 128 were included in the effectiveness analysis. Median (IQR) age was 61 (53–70) years and 61.7% of patients were male. Main indications were lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI; 28.9%), intra-abdominal infections (IAI; 28.1%) and cutaneous infections (12.5%). The main bacteria involved were Klebsiella pneumoniae (48.4%), Escherichia coli (25.0%) and Enterobacter cloacae (24.2%). Polymicrobial infections occurred in 45.3% of cases. Temocillin was used as monotherapy in 86/128 (67.2%). Failure was found in 36/128 (28.1%) cases. In multivariable analysis, the only factor associated with failure was initial severity of the episode [adjusted OR 3.0 (95% CI: 1.06–8.69)].

Conclusions

During non-urinary tract infections, the main use of temocillin was for LRTIs and IAIs due to ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. The main risk factor for failure was initial severity of the disease.
Indications of digital literacy during Latino-focused, community-based COVID-19 testing implementation
Authors: Prado Patric V , Arechiga Carina , Marson Kara , Oviedo Yolanda , Vizcaíno Tatiana , Gomez Monica , Alvarez Arandu , Jimenez-Diecks Laura , Guevara Sindy , Nava Alexandra , Lopez Zully , Carrera Omar , Hypes Robert , Marquez Carina , Chamie Gabriel
Published: October 2024

Objective

We sought to characterize indicators of digital literacy among persons testing for COVID-19 and community health workers (CHWs) providing testing via a digital platform in low-income, majority-Latino communities in California.

Materials and Methods

From March 2021 to March 2022, we trained CHWs to provide community-based COVID-19 testing that relied on a digital platform for registration, recording and reporting of results. Among community members, we examined factors associated with accessing test results digitally and time to results receipt. Among CHWs, we evaluated factors associated with self-reported difficulty using the digital platform and improvement post-training.

Results

Overall, 5044 community members were tested for COVID-19. Accessing results digitally vs non-digitally was associated with younger age (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.02 [95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.01-1.03], for each year decrease), rural residence (OR:1.61 [95% CI, 1.30-1.99]), and providing an email address at registration (OR: 2.18 [95% CI, 1.80-2.65]). The likelihood of providing an email address at registration was increased among younger, non-Latino, English-speaking, female, and rural testers. Among persons accessing results digitally, median time from testing to result receipt was 41 min, with increased time associated with rural residence and older age. Among 42 CHWs surveyed, 29 (68%) reported technology-related challenges when providing testing: those reporting challenges were more likely to be older and rural CHWs. Rural CHWs were less likely to report technical skill improvement post-training.

Discussion

Email provision may be an indicator of digital literacy among persons testing for COVID-19 in low-income, majority-Latino communities. Rural and older CHWs may need more intensive digital training.

Conclusion

Efforts to improve digital literacy in underserved communities are likely needed to realize the full potential of community-based health interventions that utilize digital platforms.
The effects of denosumab on osteoclast precursors in postmenopausal women: a possible explanation for the overshoot phenomenon after discontinuation
Authors: Schini Marian , Gossiel Fatma , Saini Tanya , Banda Peter , Ward Rachel , Vilaca Tatiane , Eastell Richard , Fontalis Andreas
Published: October 2024

Upon denosumab discontinuation, an observed overshoot phenomenon in bone turnover may occur, potentially leading to a reduction in bone mineral density and the occurrence of vertebral fractures. Several theories have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, one of which is that osteoclast precursors might be accumulating during treatment. Our aim was to study the effects of denosumab on osteoclast precursors in postmenopausal women. This cross-sectional observational study included 30 postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis, divided into 2 groups: 15 treated with denosumab (mean duration 4 years, range 6 months-9 years) and 15 treatment-naïve controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from whole blood and were stained for CD14, MCSFR, CD11b, and TNFRII. Osteoclast precursors (CD14+/MCSFR+, CD14+/CD11b + OR CD14+/TNFRII+) were identified with fluorescent activated cell sorting. The proportion of osteoclasts was determined by calculating their percentage of the total cell population in each whole blood sample. To confirm the expected suppression of bone turnover in the subjects treated with denosumab, we measured serum PINP, CTX, and TRACP5b. Denosumab-treated patients exhibited a significantly higher count of CD14+/CD11b + osteoclast precursors compared with controls (median 4% vs 0.75%, p=.011). There was no correlation with the duration of treatment. Bone turnover markers were significantly lower in the group treated with denosumab than controls. Our findings indicate an increase in osteoclast precursors, which could explain the overshoot phenomenon observed after discontinuing denosumab.
Achondroplasia: aligning mouse model with human clinical studies shows crucial importance of immediate postnatal start of the therapy
Authors: Rico-Llanos Gustavo , Spoutil Frantisek , Blahova Eva , Koudelka Adolf , Prochazkova Michaela , Czyrek Aleksandra , Fafilek Bohumil , Prochazka Jan , Gonzalez Lopez Marcos , Krivanek Jan , Sedlacek Radislav , Krakow Deborah , Nonaka Yosuke , Nakamura Yoshikazu , Krejci Pavel
Published: October 2024

Achondroplasia is the most common form of human dwarfism caused by mutations in the FGFR3 receptor tyrosine kinase. Current therapy begins at 2 years of age and improves longitudinal growth but does not address the cranial malformations including midface hypoplasia and foramen magnum stenosis, which lead to significant otolaryngeal and neurologic compromise. A recent clinical trial found partial restoration of cranial defects with therapy starting at 3 months of age, but results are still inconclusive. The benefits of achondroplasia therapy are therefore controversial, increasing skepticism among the medical community and patients. We used a mouse model of achondroplasia to test treatment protocols aligned with human studies. Early postnatal treatment (from day 1) was compared with late postnatal treatment (from day 4, equivalent to ~5 months in humans). Animals were treated with the FGFR3 inhibitor infigratinib and the effect on skeleton was thoroughly examined. We show that premature fusion of the skull base synchondroses occurs immediately after birth and leads to defective cranial development and foramen magnum stenosis in the mouse model to achondroplasia. This phenotype appears significantly restored by early infigratinib administration when compared with late treatment, which provides weak to no rescue. In contrast, the long bone growth is similarly improved by both early and late protocols. We provide clear evidence that immediate postnatal therapy is critical for normalization of skeletal growth in both the cranial base and long bones and the prevention of sequelae associated with achondroplasia. We also describe the limitations of early postnatal therapy, providing a paradigm-shifting argument for the development of prenatal therapy for achondroplasia.