bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental exposures, the oral–lung axis and respiratory health: The airway microbiome goes on stage for the personalized management of human lung function
Authors: Garmendia Junkal , Cebollero‐Rivas Pilar
Published: June 2024

The human respiratory system is constantly exposed to environmental stimuli, sometimes including toxicants, which can trigger dysregulated lung immune responses that lead to respiratory symptoms, impaired lung function and airway diseases. Evidence supports that the microbiome in the lungs has an indispensable role in respiratory health and disease, acting as a local gatekeeper that mediates the interaction between the environmental cues and respiratory health. Moreover, the microbiome in the lungs is intimately intertwined with the oral microbiome through the oral–lung axis. Here, we discuss the intricate three‐way relationship between (i) cigarette smoking, which has strong effects on the microbial community structure of the lung; (ii) microbiome dysbiosis and disease in the oral cavity; and (iii) microbiome dysbiosis in the lung and its causal role in patients suffering chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. We highlight exciting outcomes arising from recently established interactions in the airway between environmental exposures, microbiome, metabolites–functional attributes and the host, as well as how these associations have the potential to predict the respiratory health status of the host through an airway microbiome health index. For completion, we argue that incorporating (synthetic) microbial community ecology in our contemporary understanding of lung disease presents challenges and also rises novel opportunities to exploit the oral–lung axis and its microbiome towards innovative airway disease diagnostics, prognostics, patient stratification and microbiota‐targeted clinical interventions in the context of current therapies.
Diversity of mycoparasitic Pythium sensu stricto and Globisporangium species in West Azarbaijan province of Iran
Authors: Rezaei Sevda , Abrinbana Masoud , Ghosta Youbert
Published: June 2024

Pythium sensu stricto (s.s.) and Globisporangium species are important components of the soil microbial community and exhibit diverse lifestyles, including mycoparasitism. However, a comprehensive understanding of the species diversity of these mycoparasites in the West Azarbaijan province of Iran is lacking. In this study, a total of 114 mycoparasitic Pythium s.s. and Globisporangium isolates were obtained from agricultural soils collected from six regions in the province. Through DNA barcoding, all Globisporangium isolates were identified as G. nunn, while the barcode markers were insufficient to accurately resolve species boundaries in Pythium s.s. By combining morphological and multilocus sequence data, five species within the genus Pythium s.s. were identified: P. salmasense sp. nov., a potentially new species, and three known species, P. acanthicum, P. ornamentatum, and P. periplocum. Pythium ornamentatum was the most common species and found in all regions studied, followed by G. nunn and P. acanthicum, which were both isolated from four regions. While the isolates of G. nunn showed no mycoparasitic activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, all Pythium s.s. species were capable of infecting the hyphae of this pathogen. The existence of mycoparasitic species is promising for biological control of soil‐borne fungal pathogens in the province. The widespread occurrence of P. ornamentatum, G. nunn, and P. acanthicum may suggest their adaptation to local soil and environmental conditions, indicating their potentially superior effectiveness in controlling plant diseases across different regions if used as biocontrol agents.
An incentive‐based text‐messaging intervention to reduce maternal alcohol use during pregnancy and lactation in South Africa (MaRISA study): Findings from a single‐arm pilot study
Authors: Washio Yukiko , Erasmus‐Claassen Lesley‐Ann , Taylor Shantae N. , Zhang Zugui , Browne Felicia A. , Myers Bronwyn , Wechsberg Wendee M. , Parry Charles D. H. , Petersen Williams Petal
Published: June 2024

Background

South Africa has the highest rate of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) globally. As with alcohol use during pregnancy, alcohol consumption while breastfeeding adversely impacts infant development. We pilot tested an incentive‐based text‐messaging intervention to reduce alcohol use during pregnancy and lactation in South Africa.

Methods

A single‐arm pilot trial was conducted over 3 months in healthcare facilities in Cape Town, South Africa. Pregnant and breastfeeding participants tested positive for recent alcohol use by urinalysis. The three‐month intervention had two components, contingency management of alcohol abstinence confirmed by urinalysis twice weekly and weekly health‐related text messaging from an evidence‐based brief intervention. We collected twice weekly urine samples for measurement of ethyl glucuronide (EtG), an alcohol biomarker, and measures of self‐reported alcohol and drug use, violence exposure, and mental health at six weeks and three months post‐enrollment.

Results

Sixty participants were enrolled, of whom 31 were pregnant and 29 lactating. The number of days with four or more drinks in the past month decreased from 9 days at baseline, on average, to 1–3 days (p‐value range: 0.144–0.010) at follow‐up timepoints. There were statistically significant increases in the proportions of participants with alcohol‐negative urine tests (p < 0.001). The percentages of participants breastfeeding while using alcohol decreased from baseline to the end of 3 months in the overall sample and among those enrolled postpartum, though these were not significant (p‐value range: 0.255–0.147). Maternal depression scores also decreased among participants enrolled postpartum (p = 0.054). Emotional abuse by the main partner, but neither physical nor sexual abuse, significantly decreased at both follow‐ups in the overall sample (p = 0.032) and among participants enrolled while pregnant (p = 0.015).

Conclusions

This study is among the first to pilot test an incentive‐based text‐messaging intervention for maternal alcohol use and other outcomes such as depression and violence exposure. Further testing is warranted in a well‐powered, randomized controlled trial.
Gross morphology and morphometry of native and decellularized heart valves of caprine: A comparative study
Authors: Sarma S. A. V. Manikanta , Pathak Devendra , Singh Opinder , Uppal Varinder , Mohindroo Jitender , Choudhary Ratan Kumar
Published: June 2024

The gross morphological examination of native caprine heart valves revealed distinctive structural characteristics of the caprine's cardiac anatomy. Four primary orifices were identified, each protected by thin, valve‐like structures. Atrioventricular orifices featured tricuspid and bicuspid valves, while the aorta and pulmonary arteries were guarded by semilunar valves. Within the atrioventricular apparatus, distinct features were observed including the tricuspid valve's three leaflets and the bicuspid valve's anterior and posterior leaflets. Ultrasonography provided insights into valve thickness and chordae tendineae lengths. Morphometric studies compared leaflets/cusps within individual native valves, showcasing significant variations in dimensions. Comparative analysis between native and decellularized valves highlighted the effects of decellularization on leaflet thickness and chordae tendineae lengths. Decellularized valves exhibited reduced dimensions compared to native valves, indicating successful removal of cellular components. While some dimensions remained unchanged post‐decellularization, significant reductions were observed in leaflet thicknesses and chordae tendineae lengths. Notably, semilunar valve cusps displayed varying responses to decellularization, with significant reductions in cusp lengths observed in the aortic valve, while the pulmonary valve exhibited more subtle changes. These findings underscore the importance of understanding structural alterations in heart valves post‐decellularization, providing valuable insights for tissue engineering applications and regenerative medicine.
Antiglobalization sentiment: Exposure and immobility
Authors: Bisbee James , Rosendorff B. Peter
Published: June 2024

Individuals with heightened labor market insecurity express more protectionist, xenophobic, and isolationist sentiment. We construct a novel measure of labor market insecurity that combines an individual's industry‐based exposure to import competition with an occupation‐based measure of job immobility. Immobility captures the similarity of an individual's job to others in the economy, weighted by their prevalence. The holder of a job that is dissimilar to others in the industry or in the state experiences more anxiety regarding their labor market prospects in the face of a globalization shock, and is more likely to express antiglobalization sentiment.
Letter: Shifting focus—FromChatGPTto specialised medicalLLMs: Authors' reply
Authors: Giuffrè Mauro , Kresevic Simone , You Kisung , Dupont Johannes , Huebner Jack , Grimshaw Alyssa Ann , Shung Dennis Legen
Published: June 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Giuffrè et al papers. To view these articles, visithttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.18058andhttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.18121.
Body morphometry may predict parastomal hernia following radical cystectomy with ileal conduit
Authors: Lone Zaeem , Shin David , Nowacki Amy , Campbell Rebecca A. , Haile Eiftu , Wood Andrew , Harris Kyle , Ellis Ryan , Eltemamy Mohammed , Haywood Samuel C. , Kaouk Jihad , Campbell Steven C. , Weight Christopher J. , Haber Georges‐Pascal , Miller Benjamin , Petro Clayton , Beffa Lucas , Prabhu Ajita , Rosen Michael , Remer Erick M. , Almassi Nima
Published: June 2024

Objective

To investigate whether preoperative body morphometry analysis can identify patients at risk of parastomal hernia (PH), which is a common complication after radical cystectomy (RC).

Patients and Methods

All patients who underwent RC between 2010 and 2020 with available cross‐sectional imaging preoperatively and at 1 and 2 years postoperatively were included. Skeletal muscle mass and total fat mass (FM) were determined from preoperative axial computed tomography images obtained at the level of the L3 vertebral body using Aquarius Intuition software. Sarcopenia and obesity were assigned based on consensus definitions of skeletal muscle index (SMI) and FM index (FMI). PH were graded using both the Moreno‐Matias and European Hernia Society criteria. Binary logistic regression and recursive partitioning were used to identify patients at risk of PH. The Kaplan–Meier method with log‐rank and Cox proportional hazards models included clinical and image‐based parameters to identify predictors of PH‐free survival.

Results

A total of 367 patients were included in the final analysis, with 159 (43%) developing a PH. When utilising binary logistic regression, high FMI (odds ratio [OR] 1.63, P < 0.001) and low SMI (OR 0.96, P = 0.039) were primary drivers of risk of PH. A simplified model that only relied upon FMI, SMI, and preoperative albumin improved the classification of patients at risk of PH. On Kaplan–Meier analysis, patients who were obese or obese and sarcopenic had significantly worse PH‐free survival (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Body morphometry analysis identified FMI and SMI to be the most consistent predictors of PH after RC.
5G implementation and multi‐level governance: The case of Quebec municipalities
Authors: Diaz Jérémy , Breux Sandra , Mascaro Nathan , Cloutier Marie‐Soleil
Published: June 2024

Municipalities are often considered to be places of innovation. However, certain issues, such as 5G, suggest that the municipal level of government is hampered by challenges. In this article, we present the results of a survey of 220 respondents from 54 different municipalities of various sizes, alongside a media press review. We show that 5G is indicative of the challenges pertaining to multi‐level governance, the presence of a significant information deficit as well as the clout of the private sector in public planning. These findings call on us to examine municipal governance and the relevance of creating intermunicipal cooperation.
Explaining immigration casework in federal Members of Parliament's district offices in Canada
Authors: Bélanger Danièle , Garnier Adèle , Simard‐Gagnon Laurence , Lalonde Benoit
Published: June 2024

In Canada, a majority of federal constituency offices deal primarily with immigration files. The few qualitative studies on the subject show that the resources dedicated to these files and the type of work carried out on the immigration files handled vary between offices, thus contributing to disparities in service between federal electoral districts. How can such variation be explained? Based on the quantitative analysis of unpublished administrative data, this article first highlights the diversity of files handled by constituency offices, as well as the types of intervention carried out by constituency assistants. It then aims to explain the variations in case processing according to the type of case and the volume of requests handled. Studies of constituentsʼ files received and processed at constituency office level have argued that the political ideology, gender and ethnicity of the deputy as well as the demographics of the constituency are explanatory factors. This analysis shows that in the case of immigration files, constituency demography is the most important factor, while the MP's political affiliation plays a very limited role. These results shed new light on the factors involved in the processing of immigration cases at constituency level, and add nuance to previous, mainly qualitative analyses. Our results also contribute to understanding the work of constituency offices for constituents, which appears to be far less partisan than in other countries where similar offices exist.
‘Each child must be assigned a key person’: Context and interpretation of a statutory requirement in English Early Childhood Education and Care settings
Authors: Hohmann Ulrike
Published: June 2024

This article explores whether the statutory key person policy can mediate children’s experience of fragmentation due to a variety of transitions in the English Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector. I explore the policy enactment in the context of another statutory requirement, the staff:child ratio, and against the backdrop of a fragmented and neoliberal ECEC system. Data are from interviews with staff in three ECEC settings and publicly available Ofsted reports. I conclude that the contemporary understanding and practice of the key person policy is less likely to address all challenges of fragmentation experienced by children. The interplay of various patterns of attendance, complex staff rotas, and the requirement to stay in ratio impacts on the ability to offer continuity of care. I suggest ways to reduce the fragmentation experienced within the existing policy framework.
Short‐ and long‐term outcomes of surgical treatment for inguinal lymph node metastasis in rectal and anal canal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ito Sono , Tsukamoto Shunsuke , Kagawa Hiroyasu , Kanemitsu Yukihide , Hiro Junichiro , Kawai Kazushige , Nozawa Hiroaki , Takii Yasumasa , Yamaguchi Tomohiro , Akagi Yoshito , Suto Takeshi , Hirano Yasumitsu , Ozawa Heita , Komori Koji , Ohue Masayuki , Toiyama Yuji , Shinji Seiichi , Minami Kazuhito , Shimizu Tomoharu , Sakamoto Kazuhiro , Uehara Kay , Sugihara Kenichi , Kinugasa Yusuke , Ajioka Yoichi
Published: June 2024

Aim

The significance of lymphadenectomy and its indications in patients with inguinal lymph node metastasis (ILNM) of anorectal adenocarcinoma is unclear. This study aimed to clarify the surgical outcomes and prognostic factors of inguinal lymphadenectomy for ILNM.

Method

This study included patients who underwent surgical resection for ILNM of rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma with pathologically positive metastases between 1997 and 2011 at 20 participating centres in the Study Group for Inguinal Lymph Node Metastasis from Colorectal Cancer organized by the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum. Clinicopathological characteristics and short‐ and long‐term postoperative outcomes were retrospectively analysed.

Results

In total, 107 patients were included. The primary tumour was in the rectum in 57 patients (53.3%) and in the anal canal in 50 (46.7%). The median number of ILNMs was 2.34. Postoperative complications of Clavien–Dindo Grade III or higher were observed in five patients. The 5‐year overall survival rate was 38.8%. Multivariate analysis identified undifferentiated histological type (P < 0.001), pathological venous invasion (P = 0.01) and pathological primary tumour depth T0–2 (P = 0.01) as independent prognostic factors for poor overall survival.

Conclusion

The 5‐year overall survival after inguinal lymph node dissection was acceptable, and it warrants consideration in more patients. Further larger‐scale studies are needed in order to clarify the surgical indications.
Impact of Kono‐S anastomosis on quality of life after ileocolic resection in Crohn's disease: an analysis from the SuPREMe‐CD trial
Authors: Cricrì Michele , Tropeano Francesca Paola , Rispo Antonio , Miele Antonio , Giglio Mariano Cesare , Castiglione Fabiana , De Palma Giovanni Domenico , Luglio Gaetano
Published: June 2024

Aim

Crohn's disease has debilitating effects on patients' quality of life. Currently, there are limited data on the effect of anastomotic configuration on health‐related quality of life after ileocaecal resection for Crohn's disease. This study aimed to assess the impact of Kono‐S anastomosis on quality of life after ileocolic resection, compared to the conventional side‐to‐side anastomosis.

Method

Patients with primary or recurrent Crohn's disease participating in the ongoing SuPREMe‐CD trial were interviewed about quality of life using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ). The primary endpoint was disease‐specific quality of life, assessed with IBDQ. Secondary outcomes were quality of life related to bowel symptoms, systemic symptoms, social function and emotional function.

Results

Of the 94 patients included, 51 (54%) received the conventional side‐to‐side anastomosis and 43 (46%) the Kono‐S anastomosis. Demographics were comparable between the two groups. The IBDQ was assessed at a mean follow‐up of 54.0 ± 18.7 months from surgical intervention. The mean total IBDQ score was 155.1 ± 28.07 in the conventional group and 163.8 ± 25.23 in the Kono‐S group (P = 0.11). When considering bowel symptoms and social function, mean scores were 50.7 and 23.5 in the conventional group, and 56.3 and 26.5 in the Kono‐S group (P = 0.002 and P = 0.02, respectively). Kono‐S anastomosis was independently associated with improved quality of life regarding bowel symptoms (P = 0.006) and social function (P = 0.03) after correcting for other confounding factors on linear regression analysis.

Conclusion

Compared to conventional side‐to‐side anastomosis, patients with Kono‐S anastomosis presented significantly better bowel symptoms and social function scores at 54 months after surgery.
Diabetes distress and depression are independently associated with gastrointestinal symptoms in type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh
Authors: Kamruzzaman M. , Horowitz M. , Polonsky W. H. , Talley N. J. , Borg M. A. , Rayner C. K. , Jones K. L. , Marathe C. S.
Published: June 2024

Background and Aims

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, common in type 2 diabetes (T2D), are typically bothersome, socially embarrassing, and impact negatively on quality of life. They may also contribute to diabetes distress (DD), but this has never been formally evaluated. We aimed to investigate the relationships between GI symptoms, DD and depressive symptoms in a large cohort of individuals with T2D in Bangladesh.

Materials and Methods

1406 unselected T2D individuals (female 58.8%; mean age 51.0 ± 12.5 years) from four diabetes clinics in Bangladesh completed validated questionnaires evaluating GI symptoms (PAGI‐SYM), DD (DDS‐17) and depressive symptoms (PHQ‐9).

Results

31.1% of participants reported GI symptoms (36.2% females, 23.7% males), while 51.1% had elevated DD and 37.8% depressive symptoms. GI symptoms exhibited independent relationships with both DD and depressive symptoms, and their likelihood was higher among those with DD (OR: 3.6 [2.2–5.6] and with depressive symptoms (OR: 5.9 [3.5–9.9]).

Conclusions

GI symptoms are independently associated with both DD and depressive symptoms in people with T2D in Bangladesh.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of ketamine in pediatric status epilepticus
Authors: Chiriboga Nicolas , Spentzas Thomas , Abu‐Sawwa Renad
Published: June 2024

Objective

Status epilepticus (SE) is a common neurological medical emergency in the pediatric population, with 10%–40% of cases progressing to refractory SE (RSE), requiring treatment with anesthetic infusions. We present a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the use of ketamine for the treatment of pediatric SE and its potential advantages over other anesthetic infusions.

Methods

This review follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) statement. Electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Ovid, Embase, and Google Scholar, were searched with the keywords “pediatrics,” “status epilepticus,” and “ketamine treatment.” Randomized trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, and case reports were considered for inclusion.

Results

Eighteen publications met the initial inclusion criteria. The 18 publications comprise 11 case reports, one nonconclusive clinical trial, two case series, and four retrospective cohorts. After excluding the case reports because of reporting bias, only the six case series and cohorts were included in the final analysis. There were 172 patients in the six included studies. The weighted age was 9.93 (SD = 10.29) years. The weighted maximum dose was 7.44 (SD = 9.39) mg/kg/h. SE cessation was attained in 51% (95% confidence interval = 43–59) of cases with the addition of ketamine. The heterogeneity was I2 = 0%, t2 = 0, χ2 (5) = 3.39 (p = .64).

Significance

Pediatric RSE is difficult to treat, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Without strong recommendations and evidence regarding preferred agents, this review provides evidence that ketamine may be considered in managing SE in the pediatric population.
EstablishMed, a dataset of transition probabilities for woody plant establishment in the Mediterranean Region
Authors: Acevedo‐Limón Lucía , Rumeu Beatriz , Bracho‐Estévanez Claudio A. , González‐Varo Juan P.
Published: June 2024

Motivation

Plant establishment is the result of sequential demographic processes, namely post‐dispersal seed survival, seed germination, seedling survival and sapling survival. These processes can be quantified as transition probabilities between life stages through field experiments, and their product provides an overall establishment probability. This information is essential to understand demography within populations and plant colonization potential under global change scenarios. The Mediterranean Region constitutes a biodiversity hotspot characterised by severe summer droughts, which suppose a critical demographic bottleneck for perennial plant establishment. Despite many studies have quantified transition probabilities of woody species in this region, information is scattered through the literature and has not yet been compiled. To fill this gap, we collated data from a systematic literature review and completed them with new unpublished data to create the EstablishMed dataset.

Main types of variables contained

EstablishMed is a compilation of 4728 records of transition probabilities that quantify demographic processes operating during plant establishment. All records belong to native species and were obtained in situ under field conditions. Each record includes information about the specific spatiotemporal context of the study (i.e., year, site, population, habitat and microhabitat) and the experimental procedures employed (e.g., degree of protection against natural enemies). In addition, we included taxonomic and trait information of the study species (i.e., seed mass, dispersal syndrome and life form), and the bioclimate of the study sites.

Spatial location and grain

The dataset covers the whole Mediterranean Region. The finest spatial resolution corresponds to microhabitat types within populations.

Time period and grain

Data were extracted from 271 studies originated between 1991 and 2024.

Major taxa and level of measurement

134 woody species from 80 genera and 39 families.

Software format

EstablishMed is available in .csv format in Dryad repository.
Uneven geographies of COVID‐19: Reviewing geographical research agendas and concepts from a syndemics perspective
Authors: Butsch Carsten , Everts Jonathan , Bork‐Hüffer Tabea
Published: June 2024

Building upon a review of geographic research agendas and concepts related to the uneven geographies of COVID‐19, this first of three articles debates the benefits of geographic analyses to the syndemic approach and, vice versa, of a syndemics perspective to geographic analyses. The syndemics perspective was proposed by critical medical anthropologists. It seeks to deepen the understanding of the structural dimensions and processes that lead to the convergence and cascading of multiple epidemics in specific population groups. Geographers have also highlighted the intersections of multiple health or other crises during COVID‐19, when the pandemic and global health emergency coincided with and escalated existing structural inequalities produced by the climate crisis, environmental degradation, political conflicts and war, socio‐economic disparities and poverty, social divisions, racism, hatred and violence, mental health problems and stress. Geographers have mobilized concepts such as scale, territory, borders and intersectionality to unravel the uneven unfolding and consequences of the global health emergency for diverse population groups. We therefore argue that geography has a lot to contribute to the understanding of the spatial and contextual dimensions of COVID‐19 as a pandemic as well as a syndemic – but it has so far not actively employed the latter concept's analytical lens. Mobilizing the syndemics approach can contribute to more comprehensive accounts of the structural dimensions and processes that continue and cascade in pandemics.
Establishing a standing patient advisory board in family practice research: A qualitative evaluation from patients' and researchers' perspectives
Authors: Engler Jennifer , Engler Fabian , Gerber Meike , Brosse Franziska , Voigt Karen , Mergenthal Karola
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Patient and public involvement is vital for high‐quality research. Integrating patients' and providers' perspectives early in research enhances the feasibility and relevance of study results. Within our family practice‐based research network ForN, we established a standing patient advisory board (PAB) to include patients with diverse conditions and experiences. In this paper, we aim to describe the establishment and functioning of a standing PAB in family medicine research from patients' and researchers' perspectives.

Methods

After each PAB meeting, patients and researchers were asked to name anonymously positive and challenging moments in a feedback form with open questions. Researchers were also asked to reflect on how they implemented the discussion content in their research projects. The responses from both groups were transferred to MAXQDA 2018 and analyzed separately using thematic analysis.

Results

We analyzed 40 feedback forms from patients and 14 feedback forms from researchers. The dominant theme in the patients' feedback was ‘exchange’: They positively emphasized the ‘exciting and open discussions’ and the exchange of perspectives with one another and researchers. The clarity of the researchers' presentations and the research topics were appreciated. Researchers also positively highlighted the open atmosphere of the discussions. Presenting their research to the PAB helped most researchers reflect on their research topics from patients' perspectives and implement changes. However, researchers also mentioned several barriers to the implementation of PAB members’ feedback.

Conclusion

The establishment of a standing PAB in family practice research is feasible and productive both from patients' and researchers' perspectives.

Patient or Public Contribution

This study reports the evaluation of the establishment of a standing PAB in family practice research. Board members are involved in the design of studies, the co‐production of interventions and information material, and the interpretation of data.
Clinical outcomes of chronic myeloid leukaemia patients taking asciminib through a Managed Access Programme (MAP) in Australia
Authors: Chee Lynette , Lee Nora , Grigg Andrew , Chen Melissa , Schwarer Anthony , Szer Jeff , Ratnasingam Sumita , Raj Sonia , Lukito Pohan , Yeung David , Hughes Timothy , Shanmuganathan Naranie
Published: June 2024

Asciminib is a novel allosteric STAMP (specifically targets the ABL myristoyl pocket) inhibitor of the BCR::ABL1 oncogene. Real‐world clinical outcomes of patients with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)‐resistant/intolerant chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in Australia on the Managed Access Programme for asciminib showed higher molecular responses for those with intolerance versus resistance ± intolerance to their last TKI. There remains a clinical need to improve outcomes in patients with CML who have resistance to multiple TKIs, especially in the ponatinib‐pretreated cohort.
Was this part of the plan? Examining self‐control, planning, and interruptions
Authors: Fedele Dominic J. , Converse Patrick D.
Published: June 2024

Interruptions are a common and consequential issue for many individuals in organizational settings. Limited preliminary work suggests that certain individuals may be more susceptible to workplace interruptions but little is known about the nature and implications of these linkages with individual differences. This study examines dispositional self‐control as a predictor of workplace intrusions, focusing on (a) both intrusion frequency and severity, (b) planning as a potential mechanism, and (c) implications for task performance and work‐related stress. Participants (N = 164) first completed a measure of dispositional self‐control and then completed daily surveys for one workweek measuring planning, frequency and severity of intrusions, task performance, and work‐related stress. Results indicated that self‐control predicted both intrusion frequency and severity. In addition, both intrusion frequency and severity were found to be related to performance and stress. However, no indirect effects involving planning were found. These findings support the notion that individual differences in self‐control predict the experience of workplace intrusions; indicate that more‐conscious/effortful mechanisms (e.g., planning) may not play a prevalent role in this relationship, indirectly suggesting that less‐conscious/effortful mechanisms (e.g., habits) could be more relevant; and demonstrate that intrusion severity may be just as detrimental as intrusion frequency.
An evaluation of outpatient service provision in the National Health Service in Great Britain: A freedom of information request
Authors: Abelleyra Lastoria Diego Agustín , Sanderson Amelia , Mangion Doreen , Hing Caroline Blanca
Published: June 2024

Rationale

The National Health Service (NHS) Long Term Plan was published in January 2019. One of its objectives was restructuring outpatient services, as part of an Outpatient Transformation initiative. Monitoring of trusts' adherence to the objectives of the Long Term Plan is therefore required to benchmark progress against national objectives.

Aims and Objectives

We aimed to explore whether outpatient transformation initiatives and phlebotomy services that are managed by outpatients are appropriately staffed and to evaluate trusts' adherence to the objectives outlined in the Long Term Plan.

Method

A freedom of information (FOI) request was sent in January 2023 to 153 trusts across Great Britain (time span: 1 January 2022–31 December 2022). Parameters requested included number of outpatients seen/discharged, phlebotomy episodes, number of sites/wards covered by phlebotomy, target/actual did not attend (DNA) rates, time since inception of the outpatient transformation project (OTP), advice and refer (A&R) and patient‐initiated follow‐up (PIFU), phlebotomy and outpatient managerial establishment and use of electronic notes and patient portals.

Results

A total of 117 trusts (76.5%) provided responses to the FOI request. The mean number of new outpatients seen face‐to‐face was 185,810. Of 73 trusts reporting both actual and target DNA rates, 62 (84.9%) did not meet their DNA targets. The actual DNA rate was significantly greater than the target DNA rate across trusts (p < 0.001, mean: 8.8% vs. 6.5%, respectively). A total of 58 different electronic systems and 29 patient portals were utilised across trusts. Thirty‐six trusts (30.3%) did not have an outpatient transformation project manager and 16 trusts (13.7%) did not initiate an OTP. With phlebotomy provision, the mean number of outpatient phlebotomy episodes was lower than inpatient episodes (83,383 vs. 91,020, respectively).

Conclusion

There are deficiencies in current outpatient establishments that may hinder the achievement of objectives set in the NHS Long Term Plan. Changes at all levels of healthcare are required, with increased reliance on technologies and investment in support for transformation management.
Shifting Gears Amid COVID‐19: Information Availability, Pandemic Imprints and Firms’ PPE Production
Authors: Liu Yang , Marquis Christopher
Published: June 2024

We examine the role of available information in imprinting processes and investigate how a significant environmental shock can have long‐lasting effects on the future decision‐making of corporate leaders. We argue that information about local infection rates of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 left a pandemic imprint on those who were young adults at that time. The more strongly imprinted corporate leaders would then be more alert to and respond faster to the COVID‐19 outbreak in 2020, a new but similar infectious disease. We study this connection by examining a sample of Chinese publicly traded firms’ initiation of personal protective equipment (PPE) production. We further argue that past informational factors, such as media sentiment regarding the SARS outbreak in 2003, and more recent contemporary informational factors, such as media sentiment about COVID‐19 and online‐reported population mobility from Wuhan, China, where the COVID‐19 outbreak started, influenced the strength of the imprinting effects. Results support our hypotheses, and we discuss contributions to imprinting theory as well as the literature on media in authoritarian regimes.
Weak redistribution and certainty equivalent domination
Authors: Gauthier Stéphane , Laroque Guy
Published: June 2024

We assess optimal deterministic nonlinear income taxation in a Mirrlees economy with a continuum of risk‐averse agents whose utilities are quasilinear in labor. A weak redistribution motive makes random taxes more likely socially dominated by the deterministic policy where after‐tax income lotteries are replaced with their certainty equivalents.
Efficacy assessment of different insecticides for control of whitefly against tomato leaf curl disease
Authors: Mane Someshree , Khaire Pravin , Kumar Ashwini , Narute Tanaji
Published: June 2024

The impact of eight pesticides on the transmission of Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) by the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius to tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum (Miller), was studied in the field using a randomized block design. Differences in performance were anticipated because these eight insecticides comprise distinct mechanism of action including both contact and systemic. Increased insecticide efficacy is necessary, particularly in regions with conducive weather conditions that support a healthy whitefly population, to effectively manage the population. There is a need to vary the insecticides used in order to reduce the emergence of resistance in the whitefly population due to the extensive usage of a single mechanism of action for whitefly control. The foliar spray of insecticides was done when first incidence of whitefly was noticed in the field with 15 days of interval. The studies on effect of different insecticides in the management of ToLCV disease through the controlling whitefly population, we evaluated that Chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + Thiomethaxam 17.5% SC was effective in sustaining the yield by reducing the incidence of disease and whitefly population during both the years followed by Spirotetramat 11.01% + Imidacloprid 11.01% SC, Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC and Cyantraniliprole 10.26% OD, respectively.
Marine biodegradation of natural potential carrier substrates for seagrass restoration
Authors: Rautenbach Sarah A. , Pieraccini Riccardo , Nebel Kai , Engelen Aschwin Hillebrand
Published: June 2024

Seagrass meadows provide essential ecosystem services but have been strongly declining over the past. Due to their incapability to recover effectively naturally, assisted restoration is used. This study aimed to test textile fabrics from natural derivatives to serve as carrier substrates for seagrass transplantation. The use of biotextile fabrics should enable seagrasses to better withstand hydrodynamic forces, especially in high‐energy areas and during autumn and winter storms in the initial phase of restoration, thereby increasing restoration success. Here, the biodegradation behavior of three natural textiles was assessed in different configurations. Coir, sisal, and jute meshes were fixed on the top and bottom of a coir nonwoven mat, forming a so‐called “sandwich structure.” Specimens were buried in the Ria Formosa Lagoon, Portugal, and retrieved weekly within the first months of burial and subsequently monthly over a total period of 3 months. Weight, tensile strength, and oxygen consumption rate were used as descriptors for biodegradation and tested after each retrieval. The results obtained in this study were discussed in the context of the application of the tested materials on Zostera marina transplants. Due to experimental errors, these results are solely used for discussion purposes in a conservative manner. Based on the three descriptors, coir mesh was the least degraded by the end of the experiment. Yet, it is vital to analyze the microbiome in a study site to understand the biodegradation process and based on that select a textile material. Coir fibers appear to be a good choice in highly biologically active areas to prolong the degradation process, whereas in areas with less activity sisal could be sufficient and even beneficial through the release of compounds that foster vegetations induced by degradation.
Population dynamics of Blood Cockles (Anadara granosa) in the coastal waters of Letman Village, Kei Kecil District, Southeast Maluku Regency
Authors: Tuhumury Semuel F. , Selanno Debby A. J. , Tuhumury Julian
Published: June 2024

The waters of Letman Village, Southeast Maluku Regency are clam fishing grounds which is a source of income for fishermen. One of the shellfish caught is the Blood Cockle (Anadara granosa). The purpose of this study was to analyse and examine the stock of A. granosa clams in Letman village, Kei Kecil District, Southeast Maluku Regency (length and weight frequency) and to determine the mortality rate and exploitation rate of Blood Cockles. This study was conducted between January and June 2022 with a sampling time of once a month for six consecutive months. Random sampling method was used through a free collection at low tide. The total sample collected during the study was 741 individuals. The research data were analysed using FiSAT II program version 3. The smallest size of the sample obtained during the study was 30 mm and the largest was 69 mm. The infinity length (L∞) is 78.50 mm, the growth coefficient (K) is 0.8/year, and the theoretical lifespan of Blood Cockles at a length equal to zero is −0.514/year. Analysis of the total mortality rate (Z) of Blood Cockles (A. granosa) was calculated at 3.90/year with a natural mortality rate (M) of 1.22/year and catchment mortality (F) of 2.68/year, while exploitation rate (E) was at 0.69/year. The addition of new individuals (recruitment) took place every month with varying numbers and the highest recruitment occurred in July and October while the level of exploitation of Blood Cockle in the waters of Letman Village was considered high (overfishing).
Caretakers of value: A theory of human personhood
Authors: Woodward Philip
Published: June 2024

According to a traditional view, humans are superior to their non‐human terrestrial companions because they alone are “rational animals.” Although the traditional view is presupposed by our social and legal institutions, it has been called into question by modern science: Darwin himself claimed that humans differ in degree rather than in kind from animals, and recent discoveries in comparative animal cognition have seemed to confirm Darwin's assertion. Sustaining the traditional view in light of these discoveries calls out for a careful comparison of the human mind with its precursors, the vertebrate mind and the mammalian mind. Psychological capacities shared across the animal kingdom are repurposed in humans, rendering humans uniquely capable of rationality. To be rational is to respond appropriately to value. Humans as such are not rational animals, but have the potential to become rational animals. This potential marks a morally relevant difference in kind between humans and non‐human animals.
Neuromuscular Adaptations in Endurance‐Trained Male Adolescents Versus Untrained Peers: A 9‐Month Longitudinal Study
Authors: Birat Anthony , Garnier Yoann M. , Dupuy Alexis , Bontemps Bastien , Dodu Alexandre , Grossoeuvre Claire , Dupont Anne‐Charlotte , Rance Mélanie , Morel Claire , Blazevich Anthony J. , Nottin Stéphane , Ratel Sébastien
Published: June 2024

Background

Neuromuscular function is considered as a determinant factor of endurance performance during adulthood. However, whether endurance training triggers further neuromuscular adaptations exceeding those of growth and maturation alone over the rapid adolescent growth period is yet to be determined.

Objective

The present study investigated the concurrent role of growth, maturation, and endurance training on neuromuscular function through a 9‐month training period in adolescent triathletes.

Methods

Thirty‐eight 13‐ to 15‐year‐old males (23 triathletes [~6 h/week endurance training] and 15 untrained [<2 h/week endurance activity]) were evaluated before and after a 9‐month triathlon training season. Maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) and power at V̇O2max were assessed during incremental cycling. Knee extensor maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque (MVCISO) was measured and the voluntary activation level (VAL) was determined using the twitch interpolation technique. Knee extensor doublet peak torque (T100Hz) and normalized vastus lateralis (VL) electromyographic activity (EMG/M‐wave) were also determined. VL and rectus femoris (RF) muscle architecture was assessed using ultrasonography.

Results

Absolute V̇O2max increased similarly in both groups but power at V̇O2max only significantly increased in triathletes (+13.8%). MVCISO (+14.4%), VL (+4.4%), and RF (+15.8%) muscle thicknesses and RF pennation angle (+22.1%) increased over the 9‐month period in both groups similarly (p < 0.01), although no changes were observed in T100Hz, VAL, or VL EMG/M‐wave. No changes were detected in any neuromuscular variables, except for coactivation.

Conclusion

Endurance training did not induce detectible, additional neuromuscular adaptations. However, the training‐specific cycling power improvement in triathletes may reflect continued skill enhancement over the training period.
Cover crops improve the long‐term stabilization of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen through physico‐chemical protection in rainfed semiarid Mediterranean woody crop systems
Authors: Fernández‐Soler Cristina , Garcia‐Franco Noelia , Almagro María , Díaz‐Pereira Elvira , Luján Raquel , García Eloísa , Martínez‐Mena María
Published: June 2024

Bare soil and inadequate soil tillage are emerging problems worldwide that result in soil quality impoverishment and contribute to global warming. To reverse this situation and to improve soil structure and carbon and nitrogen storage capacity, implementing sustainable land management (SLM) practices is needed. This study evaluates the combined effect of different SLM practices (tillage with/without compost addition) and cover crop types (native/seeded cover crops) and their management (mowing or grazing) on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (tN) stabilization in rainfed semiarid Mediterranean almond orchards under a range of edapho‐climatic conditions. To do so, the long‐term effects of different SLM practices, such as reduced tillage plus seeded cover crops (RT + SCC), reduced tillage plus native cover crops (RT + NCC) and no tillage plus native cover crops (NT + NCC) on soil water‐stable aggregates distribution and different organic carbon and nitrogen pools were estimated at a depth of 0–20 cm (plough layer) at five experimental sites. SLM practices, implemented over 5–12 years (depending on the experimental site), were compared with the traditional tillage (TT) carried out by farmers, which consisted of three‐five passes per year to maintain soil bare. Our results demonstrate the cross‐site potential of combining reduced tillage and cover crops (regardless of seeded or native) for improving SOC and tN sequestration and stabilization. However, the magnitude of the effect of SLM practices on SOC and tN stabilization depended heavily on the local environmental and management conditions. As seeded cover crops (RT + SCC) accelerated SOC and tN stabilization compared with native cover crops (RT + NCC and NT + NCC), its implementation in these semiarid agro‐ecosystems is recommended. However, no tillage implemented as an isolated practice is not recommended in soils prone to compaction, but managed in combination with other SLM practices, such as compost addition or mulching, can be effective for SOC and tN sequestration and stabilization over time.