bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Total heritage: future Eopolis for cultural urban singularity
Authors: Rudokas Kastytis , Grazuleviciute-Vileniske Indre
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the article is to develop the concept of forecasting futures using the past by integrating the concept of heritage in it.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper demonstrates the process of development of the total heritage approach and its application. The process consists of the following steps: the review of the selected urban life visions and models of the past from prehistoric Catalhoyuk settlement up to the 20th century Japanese Metabolism to trace the examples of complex problem-solving and singularity presence that can be used for horizon scanning for the futures of urbanism; the development of total heritage approach based on the further analysis of selected examples demonstrating even unintentional presence of heritage in the construction of the futures; application of the total heritage approach for the modeling the futures of urbanism and illustrating it with the scenario of the future eopolis as the premise for cultural urban singularity.

Findings

This paper demonstrates the process of development of the total heritage approach and its application. The process consists of the following steps: the review of selected historic urban utopias to trace the principal scheme, how the future or ideal visions of urbanism were constructed; the development of total heritage approach based on the further analysis of Thomas More Utopia and Neolithic Catalhoyuk settlement demonstrating even unintentional presence of heritage in the construction of the futures; application of the total heritage approach for the modeling the futures of urbanism and illustrating it with the scenario of the future eopolis as the premise for cultural urban singularity.

Originality/value

The total heritage approach, developed in this research, presents heritage as the determinant structure or ethical imperative for sustainable future development toward cultural urban singularity.
Accountants’ behavioural reactions to external threats: the mediating role of proactive personality in the goal orientation process
Authors: Tomo Andrea , de Gennaro Davide
Published: October 2020

Purpose

In a period of profound crisis for professions, this paper aims to develop knowledge about the role of proactive personality in the relationship between accountants’ occupational prestige and goal orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws upon the literature on professions and employs a multiple linear regression analysis to test the mediating role of proactive personality when accountants challenge external events threatening their profession. The study focuses on Italy, an area characterized by a high degree of precariousness where, over the past 30 years, accountants have been facing many threats undermining their occupational prestige.

Findings

The findings show that proactive accountants are more goal-oriented, unless they perceive that others consider their career to be prestigious. Therefore, the study demonstrates that occupational prestige – more volatile and subject to external forces– can shape proactive personality – usually internally determined and more stable – insofar a perceived low occupational prestige can be mediated by a proactive personality towards goal orientation.

Practical implications

The study has both academic and practical implications, showing that context-related factors are buffered by personal characteristics when professionals react to external events affecting their prestige.

Originality/value

The paper sheds lights on the critical issues of setting and achieving goals in uncertain situations, and enhances our understanding of the accounting profession, by identifying new reactions and behaviours based on personal factors as well as exogenous and contextual factors.
The effect of vitamin D supplementation on serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone, paraoxonase 1, apolipoproteins, free fatty acid and insulin in vitamin D deficient obese and overweight individuals under a low-calorie diet program: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chehsmazar Elhameh , Zarrati Mitra , Yazdani Bahareh , Razmpoosh Elham , Hosseini Agha Fatemeh , Shidfar Farzad
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Adipose tissue accumulation by trapping vitamin D and reducing its level may cause serious side effects. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of vitamin D supplementation on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), paraoxonase 1 (PON 1), insulin, free fatty acid (FFA), apolipoprotein-AI (Apo-AI) and apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) concentration in obese and overweight participants under low-calorie diet (LCD) program.

Design/methodology/approach

Healthy overweight and obese individuals (n= 70) with vitamin D deficiency were randomly assigned into 2 groups to receive either vitamin D supplements (an oral 2,000 IU vitamin D supplement) or placebo for 8 weeks.

Findings

All the participants were given an LCD program during the intervention. Vitamin D supplementation led to a significant increase in the levels of 25(OH)D (vitamin D vs placebo groups: 36.6 ± 9.8 vs 19.9 ± 3.5 ng/mL,p< 0.001), PON 1 levels (vitamin D vs placebo groups: 80 ± 25 vs 58 ± 23.2 ng/mL,p= 0.001), DHEA concentration (vitamin D vs placebo groups: 2.3 ± 0.7 vs 1.5 ± 0.6 ng/mL,p< 0.001) and Apo-AI levels (vitamin D vs placebo groups 3.7 ± 0.5 vs 3 ± 0.5 mg/dL,p< 0.001). Besides, intake of vitamin D supplements led to a significant decrease in FFA (vitamin D vs placebo groups: 3.1 ± 0.75 vs 3.5 ± 0.5 ng/mL,p= 0.001). After adjusting the analyses based on baseline levels, age and baseline body mass index measures, significant changes were observed in the insulin levels (0.03 ± 0.06 vs −1.7 ± 0.6 µIU/ml,p= 0.04). But the authors did not find any significant difference in the concentration of Apo-B between groups (vitamin D vs placebo groups: 71.5 ± 35.5 vs 66.6 ± 28.5 mg/dL,p= 0.05).

Originality/value

Overall vitamin D supplementation for eight weeks among vitamin D-deficient obese and overweight participants had beneficial effects on serum DHEA PON 1 FFA insulin and Apo- AI while it did not affect the Apo-B concentration.
Cleveland Clinic Florida “pay-for performance” reimbursement: why the best care does not always make the happiest patients
Authors: Weismann Miriam , Ganske Sue , Delgado Osmel
Published: October 2020

Theoretical basis

The assignment is to design a plan that aligns patient satisfaction scores with quality care metrics. The instructor’s manual (IM) introduces models for designing and implementing a strategic plan to approach the quality improvement process.

Research methodology

This is a field research case. The author(s) had access to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and other members of the management team, meeting with them on numerous occasions. Cleveland Clinic Florida (CCF) provided the data included in the appendices. Additionally, relevant hospital data, also included in the appendices, is required to be made public on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) databases. Accordingly, all data and information are provided by original sources.

Case overview/synopsis

Osmel “Ozzie” Delgado, MBA and COO of CCF was faced with a dilemma. Under the new CMS reimbursement formula, patient satisfaction survey scores directly impacted hospital reimbursement. However, the CCF patient satisfaction surveys revealed some very unhappy patients. Delgado pondered these results that really made no sense to him because CCF received the highest national and state rankings for its clinical quality at the same time. Clearly, patients were receiving the best medical care, but they were still unhappy. Leaning back in his chair, Delgado shook his head and wondered incredulously how one of the most famous hospitals in the world could deliver such great care but receive negative patient feedback on CMS surveys. What was going wrong and how was the hospital going to fix it?

Complexity academic level

This case is designed for graduate Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), Master’s in Health Sciences Administration (MHSA) and/or Public Health (PA) audiences. While a healthcare concentration is useful, the case raises the generic business problems of satisfying the customer to increase brand recognition in the marketplace and displacing competition to increase annual revenues. Indeed, the same analysis can be applied in other heavily regulated industries also suffering from a change in liquidity and growth occasioned by regulatory change.
Dehydroepiandrosterone potentiates the effect of vitamin D on thyroid autoimmunity in euthyroid women with autoimmune thyroiditis: A pilot study
Authors: Krysiak Robert , Szkróbka Witold , Okopień Bogusław
Published: October 2020

The impact of androgens on the thyroid in women is poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether vitamin D/dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) combination therapy is superior to vitamin D alone in affecting thyroid autoimmunity and hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis activity in young women with autoimmune thyroid disease. The study included 35 euthyroid women with untreated Hashimoto's thyroiditis and reduced sexual drive, allocated to one of two treatment groups. The first group (n = 19) received both vitamin D and DHEA, while the second (n = 16) was treated with only vitamin D. Serum thyroid antibody titres and concentrations of thyrotropin, free thyroid hormones, dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulphate (DHEA‐S), 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, testosterone and estradiol were measured at baseline and 6 months later. Vitamin D administered alone or in combination with DHEA decreased serum titres of thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies, which correlated with baseline antibody titres, baseline 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels and treatment‐induced increase in 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels. Apart from a stronger effect on antibody titres, vitamin D/DHEA combination therapy slightly decreased thyrotropin levels, as well as increased DHEA‐S and testosterone levels. In this group of women, treatment‐induced changes in antibody titres and thyrotropin levels correlated with the impact on DHEA‐S and testosterone. The obtained results suggest that vitamin D/DHEA combination therapy may be a better treatment option for euthyroid women with Hashimoto's thyroiditis than vitamin D alone.
The association between the supply of select nonpharmacologic providers for pain and use of nonpharmacologic pain management services and initial opioid prescribing patterns for Medicare beneficiaries with persistent musculoskeletal pain
Authors: Karmali Ruchir N. , Skinner Asheley C. , Trogdon Justin G. , Weinberger Morris , George Steven Z. , Hassmiller Lich Kristen
Published: October 2020

Objective

To test the relationship between the supply of select nonpharmacologic providers (physical therapy (PT) and mental health (MH)) and use of nonpharmacologic services among older adults with a persistent musculoskeletal pain (MSP) episode.

Data sources/study setting

Claims data from a 5 percent random sample of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled fee‐for‐service (2007‐2014) and the Area Health Resource File (AHRF).

Study design

This retrospective study used generalized estimating equations to estimate the association between the county nonpharmacologic provider supply and individual service use with opioid prescriptions filled during Phase 1 (first three months of an episode) and Phase 2 (three months following Phase 1).

Data collection/extraction methods

We identified beneficiaries (>65 years) with ≥2 MSP diagnoses ≥90 days apart and no opioid prescription six months before the first pain diagnosis (N = 69 456). Beneficiaries’ county characteristics were assigned using the AHRF.

Principal findings

About 13.9 percent of beneficiaries used PT, 1.8 percent used MH services, and 10.7 percent had an opioid prescription during the first three months of a persistent MSP episode. An additional MH provider/10 000 people/county [aOR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96‐0.98] and PT/10 000 people/county [aOR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97‐1.00] was associated with lower odds of filling an opioid prescription in Phase 1. An additional MH provider/10 000 people/county [aOR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96‐0.98] and PT use in Phase 1 [aOR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.58‐0.67] were associated with lower odds of filling an opioid prescription in Phase 2. The associations between the supply of providers and nonpharmacologic service use in Phase 1 and Phase 1 opioid prescriptions significantly differed by metropolitan and rural counties (P‐value: .019).

Conclusions

Limited access to nonpharmacologic services is associated with opioid prescriptions at the onset of a persistent MSP episode. Initiating PT at the onset of an episode may reduce future opioid use. Strategies for engaging beneficiaries in nonpharmacologic services should be tailored for metropolitan and rural counties.
Relevance analysis using revision identifier in MS word
Authors: Joun Jihun , Chung Hyunji , Park Jungheum , Lee Sangjin
Published: October 2020

Electronic documents often contain personal or confidential information, which can be used as valuable evidence in criminal investigations. In the digital investigation, special techniques are required for grouping and screening electronic documents, because it is challenging to analyze relationships between numerous documents in storage devices manually. To this end, although techniques such as keyword search, similarity search, topic modeling, metadata analysis, and document clustering are continually being studied, there are still limitations for revealing the relevance of documents. Specifically, metadata used in previous research are not always values present in the documents, and clustering methods with specific keywords may be incomplete because text‐based contents (including metadata) can be easily modified or deleted by users. In this work, we propose a novel method to efficiently group Microsoft Office Word 2007+ (MS Word) files by using revision identifier (RSID). Through a thorough understanding of the RSID, examiners can predict organizations to which a specific user belongs, and further, it is likely to discover unexpected interpersonal relationships. An experiment with a public dataset (GovDocs) provides that it is possible to categorize documents more effectively by combining our proposal with previously studied methods. Furthermore, we introduce a new document tracking method to understand the editing history and movement of a file, and then demonstrate its usefulness through an experiment with documents from a real case.
Potentially fatal complications of systemic air embolism after computed tomography‐guided transthoracic needle biopsy in lung cancer harboring epithelial growth factor receptor mutation: A case report
Authors: Oh Hyung‐Joo , Jeong Won Gi , Lim Yongwhan , Koh Sang‐Joon , Lee Sung Min , Kim Min‐Seok , Koh Bo‐Gun , Kim Tae‐Ok , Choi Yoo‐Duk , Oh In‐Jae , Kim Young‐Chul , Park Cheol‐Kyu
Published: October 2020

Air embolism is a rare, fatal complication of computed tomography (CT)‐guided transthoracic needle biopsy (TTNB) of the lung. Here, we report a patient who developed an air embolism after CT‐guided TTNB, which led to ST‐elevation myocardial infarction and acute cerebral ischemia. The patient recovered completely without critical sequelae and was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma harboring activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. The patient responded to subsequent treatment with gefitinib.

Key points

Signficant findings of the study

Air embolism is a rare, fatal complication of CT‐guided transthoracic lung biopsy. Only a few cases have been previously reported where myocardial and cerebral infarction occurred after TTNB, demonstrated not only on CT scan, but also electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram.

What this study adds

Detection of driver gene mutation is crucial for planning lung cancer treatment. Despite the need for tissue biopsy, air embolism propagation to vital organs could result in severe end‐organ damage and multidisciplinary approaches are needed to improve initial outcomes.
A Shiny r app to solve the problem of when to stop managing or surveying species under imperfect detection
Authors: Pascal Luz , Memarzadeh Milad , Boettiger Carl , Lloyd Hannah , Chadès Iadine
Published: October 2020

In the last decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has increasingly been applied to help solve applied ecology problems. Partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) are one such example. POMDPs have been applied in conservation, applied ecology and natural resource management to solve problems such as deciding when to stop managing or surveying threatened species that are difficult to detect. POMDP solvers are useful to find optimal sequential decisions under imperfect detection. However, POMDPs remain inaccessible to most applied ecologists.

Here, we present the shiny r package smsPOMDP that solves the problem of ‘When to stop managing or surveying cryptic threatened species?’ (Chadès et al., 2008). We developed this package to address a common and challenging problem faced by conservation managers. It has broad applications for decision‐makers and ecologists by supporting them to focus efforts and resources where they are most likely to provide benefits to threatened species.

Our r package smsPOMDP includes a set of functions that call a POMDP solver, allowing users to solve any stop, manage or survey problems that share the same structure as the original problem. Our Shiny r app also allows users to run simulations of optimal management and graphically represent the optimal solution. The smsPOMDP package and documentation are hosted at https://github.com/conservation‐decisions/smsPOMDP.

In artificial intelligence, POMDPs are acknowledged as the Swiss army knife of decision models. However, POMDP's application in applied ecology remains seldom despite repeated evidence of their flexibility. Our package smsPOMDP is fast and provides an entry point to further develop POMDP apps, contributing to further uptake of AI research to solve ecological problems.
The role of social capital in facilitating hepatitis C treatment scale‐up within a treatment‐as‐prevention trial in the male prison setting
Authors: Lafferty Lise , Rance Jake , Dore Gregory J. , Lloyd Andrew R. , Treloar Carla
Published: October 2020

Background and Aims

Hepatitis C (HCV) is a global public health concern, particularly in the prison setting where prevalence is substantially higher than in the general population. Direct‐acting antivirals have changed the treatment landscape, allowing for treatment scale‐up efforts potentially sufficient to achieve prevention of onward transmission (treatment‐as‐prevention). The Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners with hepatitis C (SToP‐C) study was the first trial to examine the efficacy of HCV treatment‐as‐prevention in the prison setting. Social capital is a social resource which has been found to influence health outcomes. This qualitative study sought to understand the role of social capital within an HCV treatment‐as‐prevention trial in the prison setting.

Design

Semi‐structured in‐depth interviews were undertaken with participants recruited from the SToP‐C study following HCV treatment completion (with cure).

Setting

Three male correctional centres in New South Wales, Australia (including two maximum‐security and one minimum‐security).

Participants

Twenty‐three men in prison participated in semi‐structured interviews.

Measurements

Thematic analysis of transcripts was completed using a social capital framework, which enabled exploration of the ways in which bonding, bridging and linking social capital promoted or inhibited HCV treatment uptake within a treatment‐as‐prevention trial.

Findings

Social capital fostered HCV treatment uptake within an HCV treatment‐as‐prevention trial in the prison setting. Bonding social capital encouraged treatment uptake and alleviated concerns of side effects, bridging social capital supported prison‐wide treatment uptake, and linking social capital fostered trust in study personnel (including nurses and correctional officers), thereby enhancing treatment engagement.

Conclusions

Social capital, including bonding, bridging and linking, can play an important role in hepatitis C treatment‐as‐prevention efforts within the male prison setting.
Investigating the abundance and flight period of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) over elevational gradients in Sitka spruce forests
Authors: Williams David T. , Cull Tom , Forster Jack
Published: October 2020

A warming climate, as predicted under current climate change projections, is likely to influence the population dynamics of many forest insect species. Numerous bark beetle species in both Europe and North America have already responded to a warming climate by significantly expanding their geographical ranges.

The aim of the current study was to investigate how populations of bark beetles within stands of Sitka spruce, a widely planted non‐native commercial plantation tree species in the U.K., were likely to respond to a warming climate. Experimental plots were established in stands of Sitka spruce over elevational gradients in two commercial forest plantations, and the abundance and emergence times of key bark beetle species were assessed over a 3‐year period using flight interception traps. The air temperature difference between the lowest and highest experimental plot in each forest was consistently >1°C throughout the 3‐year period.

In general, the abundance of the most dominant bark beetle species (e.g. Trypodendron, Dryocoetes, Hylastes spp.) was higher, and emergence times tended to be earlier in the year at the lower elevation plots, where temperatures were higher, although not all bark beetle species responded in the same manner.

The results of the study indicated that, under the projected future climate warming scenarios, monoculture Sitka spruce stands at low elevations may potentially be more vulnerable to significant outbreak events from existing or invasive bark beetle species. Hence, consideration of establishing more resilient forests of Sitka spruce by diversifying the species composition and structure of Sitka spruce stands is discussed.
Genome‐wide association study reveals genes associated with the absence of intermuscular bones in tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)
Authors: Nunes J. R. S. , Pértille F. , Andrade S. C. S. , Perazza C. A. , Villela P. M. S. , Almeida‐Val V. M. F. , Gao Z.‐X. , Coutinho L. L. , Hilsdorf A. W. S.
Published: October 2020

The presence of intermuscular bones in fisheries products limits the consumption and commercialization potential of many fish species, including tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). These bones have caused medical emergencies and are an undesirable characteristic for fish farming because their removal is labor‐intensive during fish processing. Despite the difficulty in identifying genes related to the lack of intermuscular bone in diverse species of fish, the discovery of individuals lacking intermuscular bones in a Neotropical freshwater characiform fish has provided a unique opportunity to delve into the genetic mechanisms underlying the pathways of intermuscular bone formation. In this study, we carried out a GWAS among boneless and wt tambaqui populations to identify markers associated with a lack of intermuscular bone. After analyzing 11 416 SNPs in 360 individuals (12 boneless and 348 bony), we report 675 significant (Padj < 0.003) associations for this trait. Of those, 13 associations were located near candidate genes related to the reduction of bone mass, promotion of bone formation, inhibition of bone resorption, central control of bone remodeling, bone mineralization and other related functions. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, we have successfully identified genes related to a lack of intermuscular bones using GWAS in a non‐model species.
Trophic ecology of an introduced top predator (Felis catus) on a small African oceanic islet (Santa Luzia, Cabo Verde Islands)
Authors: Medina Félix Manuel , Melo Tommy , Oliveira Paulo , Nogales Manuel , Geraldes Pedro
Published: October 2020

Studies on feral cat diet offer important ecological information and are the first step towards determining their impact upon endangered species. However, in comparing seasonal changes in diet with seasonal prey availability, the scarce amount of research into oceanic islands worldwide must be considered when deciding if a specific population is actually affected by cat predation. Cat diet was analysed on Santa Luzia (Cabo Verde Islands) since this invasive predator is considered one of the main threats to native endangered species that require conservation measures. These previous studies were carried out in different seasons, providing contrasting results, skinks being more preyed upon in the rainy season and mice in the driest periods. To check these different results, we focussed on how cat diet varied seasonally in response to changes in prey abundance. Saurians were the most important prey group, followed by mice, invertebrates and birds. No seasonal differences were, however, observed in the different prey groups consumed, saurians being the main prey in both seasons. All cases reflected their respective abundances. Results corroborate the generalist and opportunistic trophic ecology of feral cats, providing important information to assess their impact on prey populations and design future eradication programmes.
Local community involvement in nature conservation under the auspices of Community‐Based Natural Resource Management: A state of the art review
Authors: Rampheri Mangana B. , Dube Timothy
Published: October 2020

Numerous initiatives and programmes were introduced to enable biodiversity conservation, and community involvement was among these propositions. In line with such initiatives, several frameworks were thus developed to ensure the sustainable implementation and realisation of such programmes. This saw the establishment of the Community‐Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM). As such, numerous calls were made to explore community involvement strategies and associated socio‐economic impacts in nature conservation. Most studies and reports emanating from such calls demonstrate cases of failure of inter alia including poaching. This work, therefore, provides a detailed synthesis of the implications of involving local communities in conservation in protected areas (PAs) and further examines how spatial explicit methodologies can be adopted in enhancing nature conservation. Overall, the study has shown that community attitudes and perceptions towards nature conservation in PAs point towards the failure of the CBNRM approach. Weak, conflicted and sometimes corrupt governance and poor institutional arrangements seem to have contributed towards its failure. Overall, the review further indicates that most studies on community involvement in nature conservation have not fully considered the spatial dimension, and this has hampered holistic and effective monitoring and assessment of biodiversity in PAs to ensure sustainable management and the possible implications of such an approach towards conservation. This work, therefore, recommends a shift towards collaborative modelling, transdisciplinary monitoring and assessment approaches to improve biodiversity conservation as well as to determine the success and limitations of the CBNRM approach in Africa and the world over.
Effects of negative adoptee experiences and mediation of attitudes toward adoption on life satisfaction among international adoptees from South Korea
Authors: Ahn Jaejin
Published: October 2020

Adoption is not an event that ends with a child's placement, but a lifelong process that affects various dimensions of the adoptee's life. This study examines how adoption‐related problems and social support affect life satisfaction among international adoptees from South Korea, and whether their attitudes toward adoption mediate these effects. Data were obtained from the 2013 Survey on International Korean Adoptees. Of the adoptees surveyed, 68.3% experienced social discrimination and 72.1% acknowledged having an identity crisis growing up. Path analysis revealed that negative experiences and social support directly and indirectly affected adoptees' life satisfaction. International adoptees who experienced identity crises and social discrimination worried more about their adoption status and felt less life satisfaction, whereas adoptees with more social support expressed positive attitudes toward adoption and felt greater life satisfaction. Adoptees' attitudes toward adoption were positively related to their life satisfaction, and this partially mediated the effects of negative experiences and social support of international adoptees. This study's results support the need for post‐adoption services to address identity crises and social discrimination among international adoptees at all developmental stages and additionally emphasize the protective role of social support.
Activation of β2‐adrenergic receptor signals suppresses mesenchymal phenotypes of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells
Authors: Sakakitani Shintaro , Podyma‐Inoue Katarzyna A. , Takayama Rina , Takahashi Kazuki , Ishigami‐Yuasa Mari , Kagechika Hiroyuki , Harada Hiroyuki , Watabe Tetsuro
Published: October 2020

Metastasis is a primary reason related to the mortality of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. A program called epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been shown to play a critical role in promoting metastasis in epithelium‐derived carcinoma. During EMT, epithelial cancer cells acquire motile mesenchymal phenotypes and detach from primary tumors. Recent lines of evidence have suggested that EMT confers cancer cells with tumor‐initiating ability. Therefore, selective targeting of EMT would lead to the development of effective therapeutic agents. In this study, using a chemical biology approach, we identified isoxsuprine, a β2‐adrenergic receptor (β2‐AR) agonist as a low‐molecular‐weight compound that interferes with the acquisition of mesenchymal phenotypes of oral cancer cells. Treatment of multiple types of oral cancer cells with isoxsuprine led to the downregulation of mesenchymal cell markers that was accompanied by reduced cell motility. Similar inhibitory effects were also observed for isoprenaline, a non‐selective β‐adrenergic receptor (β‐AR) agonist. In addition, inhibition of cell migration upon treatment with isoxsuprine was reverted by a non‐selective β‐AR antagonist, propranolol, and the CRISPR/Cas9 system‐mediated deletion of the β2‐AR gene, suggesting that the effects exerted by isoxsuprine involved signals mediated by β2‐AR. In addition, in a subcutaneous xenograft model of oral cancer cells, the administration of isoxsuprine effectively suppressed primary tumor growth, suggesting β2‐AR signals to be a promising cancer therapeutic target for treatment of OSCC.
Enhanced anti‐tumor effects of the PD‐1 blockade combined with a highly absorptive form of curcumin targeting STAT3
Authors: Hayakawa Taeko , Yaguchi Tomonori , Kawakami Yutaka
Published: October 2020

PD‐1/PD‐L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors are promising cancer immunotherapies however responses are still limited and the development of more effective combination immunotherapy is needed. We previously reported that STAT3 activation in cancer cells and immune cells was involved in immune‐resistant mechanisms. In this study, we evaluated the effect of highly absorptive forms of curcumin extracts and synthetic curcumin on anti‐tumor T cell responses. The curcumin po administration resulted in the significant augmentation of in vivo induction of tumor antigen‐specific T cells through restoration of dendritic cells (DCs) by inhibiting directly STAT3 in DCs and indirectly via reduced IL‐6 production from STAT3 activated cancer cells in 2 syngeneic MC38 and CT26 murine tumor models. Curcumin also showed direct DC enhancing activity and enhanced T cell induction for the immunized antigens in non‐tumor‐bearing mice and human hosts. Curcumin restored DC functions in xenogeneic nude mouse model implanted with high IL‐6‐producing human clear cell ovarian cancer cells. The combination of curcumin and PD‐1/PD‐L1 Abs demonstrated a synergistic anti‐tumor activity in MC38 murine tumor models. These results indicated that curcumin augments the induction of tumor antigen‐specific T cells by restoring the T cell stimulatory activity of DCs targeting activated STAT3 in both cancer cells and immune cells. Combination immunotherapy with curcumin and PD‐1/PD‐L1 Ab is an attractive strategy in the development of effective immunotherapy against various cancers.
Inactivation of TMEM106A promotes lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation via the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in macrophages
Authors: Zhang X , Feng T , Zhou X , Sullivan P M , Hu F , Lou Y , Yu J , Feng J , Liu H , Chen Y
Published: October 2020

Pattern recognition receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), play an important role in the host defense against invading microbial pathogens. Their activation must be precisely regulated, as inappropriate activation or overactivation of TLR signaling pathways may result in inflammatory disorders, such as septic shock or autoimmune diseases. TMEM106A is a type II transmembrane protein constitutively expressed in macrophages. Our current study demonstrated that TMEM106A levels were increased in macrophages upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, as well as in the peripheral monocytes of patients with sepsis. Tmem106a knockout mice were more sensitive to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock than wild-type mice. Further experiments indicated that Tmem106a ablation enhanced the expression of CD80, CD86 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II in mouse macrophages upon LPS stimulation, accompanied with up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-β and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), indicating the activation of macrophages and polarization towards the M1 inflammatory phenotype. Moreover, elevated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling were found to be involved in the LPS-induced inflammatory response in Tmem106a−/− macrophages. However, this effect was largely abrogated by macrophage deletion in Tmem106a−/− mice. Therefore, deficiency of Tmem106a in macrophages may enhance the M1 polarization in mice, resulting in inflammation. This suggests that TMEM106A plays an important regulatory role in maintaining macrophage homeostasis.
Circulating inflammatory cytokine levels correlates with cognitive impairment
Authors: Rasi Marzabadi Leila , Sadigh‐Eteghad Saeed , Talebi Mahnaz
Published: October 2020

Objective

Inflammatory factors contribute to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study assesses the correlation of peripheral inflammatory cytokines with cognitive impairment severity in AD.

Method

This study included 80 patients with AD, divided into three groups of mild, mild‐moderate, and moderate‐severe. Demographic data and Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were recorded, and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, and IL‐6 levels were evaluated.

Results

The 30, 31, and 19 patients were categorized in three groups, respectively. There was a significant difference between levels of TNF‐α and IL‐6 in moderate‐severe and both mild and mild‐moderate groups. The IL‐1β level did not show significant change among groups. MMSE had significant correlation with TNF‐α (P = .03, r = −0.23) and IL‐6 (P = .04, r = −0.22), but not IL‐1β (P = .46, r = −0.08) levels.

Conclusion

The TNF‐α and IL‐6 levels are significantly higher in patients with moderate‐severe stage of AD. Inflammatory cytokine levels might predict the cognitive impairment severity in AD patients.
Investigating the need for alcohol harm reduction and managed alcohol programs for people experiencing homelessness and alcohol use disorders in Scotland
Authors: Carver Hannah , Parkes Tessa , Browne Tania , Matheson Catriona , Pauly Bernie
Published: October 2020

Introduction and Aims

Managed alcohol programs (MAP) are a harm reduction approach for those experiencing alcohol use disorders (AUD) and homelessness. These programs were developed in Canada and have had positive results; very few exist in the UK and Ireland. The aim of this study was to scope the feasibility and acceptability of implementing MAPs in Scotland.

Design and Methods

Using mixed‐methods, we conducted two linked phases of work. Quantitative data were collected from the case records of 33 people accessing eight third sector services in Scotland and analysed in SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data were collected in Scotland via semi‐structured interviews with 29 individuals in a range of roles, including strategic informants (n = 12), service staff (n = 8) and potential beneficiaries (n = 9). Data were analysed using Framework Analysis in NVivo.

Results

The case record review revealed high levels of alcohol use, related health and social harms, illicit drug use, withdrawal symptoms, and mental and physical health problems. Most participants highlighted a lack of alcohol harm reduction services and the potential of MAPs to address this gap for this group.

Discussion and Conclusions

Our findings highlight the potential for MAPs in Scotland to prevent harms for those experiencing homelessness and AUDs, due to high levels of need. Future research should examine the implementation of MAPs in Scotland in a range of service contexts to understand their effectiveness in addressing harms and promoting wellbeing for those experiencing AUDs and homelessness.
Clinical implications of exercise‐induced regional wall motion abnormalities in significant aortic regurgitation
Authors: Hwang Ji‐won , Park Sung‐Ji , Kim Eun Kyoung , Chang Sung‐A , Choi Jin‐Oh , Lee Sang‐Chol , Ahn Joong Hyun , Carriere Keumhee , Park Seung Woo
Published: October 2020

Background

Significant aortic regurgitation (AR) is sometimes accompanied by regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) during exercise stress echocardiography. The aim of this study was to estimate the association between RWMA after exercise and in the presence of significant AR in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) or volume overload and to predict the eventual need for aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods and Results

We retrospectively reviewed 182 patients with significant AR who underwent exercise echocardiography. In addition, we investigated patients with AR who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) or coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and were diagnosed with CAD. The presence of RWMA after exercise was defined as newly developed RWMA after exercise and included all changes in wall motion. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of RWMA after exercise: the RWMA group (n = 42) and non‐RWMA group (n = 140). In the RWMA group, 31 patients (73.8%) underwent coronary artery evaluation by CAG or CCTA. Only two patients in the RWMA group were diagnosed with current CAD and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients with RWMA were older (61.6 ± 10.8 vs 52.0 ± 13.7 years, P < .001), had more severe AR (54.8% vs 32.9%), and underwent AVR more frequently (40.5% vs 14.3%, P = .001) than patients without RWMA. METs (odds ratio [OR], 0.796; P = .019), difference between rest and postexercise left ventricular end‐diastolic volume (OR, 0.967; P = .001), and the difference between pre‐ and postexercise left ventricular end‐systolic volume (OR, 1.113; P < .001) were identified as independent factors associated with RWMA after exercise according to multivariable logistic regression analysis. The majority of wall motion changes were seen in the lateral and inferior segments, and the locations of wall motion changes were relatively consistent with the direction of the AR jet. The relationship between RWMA after exercise and time to AVR was investigated by simple linear regression (hazard ratio [HR], 3.402; P < .001). After adjusting for baseline parameters of diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular end‐systolic dimension (LVESD), aorta size, deceleration time, and METs, the presence of RWMA after exercise was not predictive of time to AVR (HR, 1.106; P = .81). On the other hand, without forcible entry of RWMA after exercise, LVESD (HR, 1.119; P < .001) and METs (HR, 0.828; P = .006) independently predicted the eventual need for AVR as an outcome.

Conclusion

The degree of change in wall motion from rest to exercise in those with significant AR was not correlated with CAD, but was correlated with the severity of volume overload and exercise‐induced preload changes, as well as the direction of the AR jet. In addition, RWMA after exercise had no role in predicting the need for AVR.
Social parasite distancing: RADseq reveals high inbreeding in the social parasite Microdon myrmicae but low philopatry for host ant nest
Authors: Scarparo Giulia , Rugman‐Jones Paul , Gebiola Marco , Di Giulio Andrea , Purcell Jessica
Published: October 2020

The hoverfly Microdon myrmicae is a rare and extremely localised social parasite of Myrmica ants, only occurring around wet grassland. Dispersal, location of the host, and oviposition are crucial steps in the life of ant parasites but are poorly known due to the challenge of studying such rare species.

Using genome‐wide loci obtained by RADseq, we investigated the genetic structure and relatedness of Mi. myrmicae larvae and its ant host, collected from three localities in South West England, and inferred biological and behavioural traits.

We found that: (a) Mi. myrmicae larvae show high inbreeding levels and severe heterozygosity deficiency, as an expression of the small population size that favours the mating between siblings or half‐siblings; (b) Mi. myrmicae adults can disperse for many kilometres, spreading much more than it is reported for its sibling species, Microdon mutabilis; (c) a single female lays small egg bunches in different ant colonies, sometimes spanning substantial distances (bet‐hedging strategy); in parallel, a single ant nest can harbour eggs from different Microdon females; (d) preliminary evidence suggest that contrary to Mi. mutabilis, host colony choice seems not to depend on the number of queens residing in a single colony.

These results overall strongly deviate from what previously found for Mi. mutabilis, whose females oviposit in the natal nest generation after generation. We argue that such different ecological traits and parasitic strategies between closely related species are mainly ascribable to the different selective pressure on the two ant hosts.
Peace, sweet peace: ants become less aggressive when carbohydrates abound
Authors: Chinarelli Henrique D. , Pupe Ana E. , Leal Laura C.
Published: October 2020

1. An animal's energetic condition is causally related to its ability to display costly behaviours such as aggressive behaviours. Aggressive behaviours are used by animals interacting with heterospecifics when competing through interference. Therefore, how does the abundance of energetic resources influence the pattern of interspecific competition by interference at the community level? To answer this, ants were used as models because the aggressiveness of workers is fuelled by the consumption of carbohydrates.

2. It was hypothesised that ant species are more aggressive when carbohydrates were more abundant. Consequently, the strength of competition by interference would increase, changing the patterns of ant species' resource use at the community level.

3. This study experimentally increased the availability of carbohydrates and counted the number of aggressive behaviours, the probability of ant species exclusion, and the composition of ant morphospecies exploring protein baits before and after the addition of carbohydrates.

4. After the addition of carbohydrates, ants displayed 42% less aggressive behaviour and were twice as prone to exclude other ant species from the protein baits. This led to changes in the composition of ants exploring the protein baits before and after carbohydrate addition.

5. In general, ants became less motivated to engage in competitive interactions when carbohydrates were more available. However, this response was not homogeneous as the occurrence and aggressiveness of some species, such as the nectarivores, were higher when carbohydrates abound. As carbohydrates are mainly offered by plants, this study's results suggest that plants can indirectly shape the structure of ant communities through ant responses to the availability of carbohydrates.
Cutaneous necrosis of the arteriovenous fistula puncture site in chronic hemodialysis: A historical complication or an ever‐present threat? A series of 26 cases
Authors: Bentata Yassamine , Hamdi Fethia , Al Zaarir Hussam , Abualtayef Mohamed Taha , Haddiya Intissar , Benzirar Adnane , El Mahi Omar
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Cutaneous necrosis (CN) at the puncture site of the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) is a rare but potentially fatal complication. The objective of our work was to establish the associated complications, vascular prognosis, and patient survival of CHD patients presenting cutaneous necrosis.

Methods

This retrospective study (January 2016 to March 2020) was conducted in the Department of Vascular Surgery and the Department of Nephrology at the University Hospital Center Mohammed VI of Oujda, Morocco. Included were all CHD patients admitted for treatment of cutaneous necrosis at the puncture site of a native AVF.

Results

Data from 26 cases were collected. The mean age was 58.7 ± 16 years, 70.8% were female, and 25% had diabetic nephropathy; 42.3% of the AVFs were radiocephalic and 46.1% were brachiocephalic; 42.2% of patients presented active bleeding, of whom 91% required a blood transfusion; 80.8% of the AVFs were complicated by aneurysms. Fistulography showed stenosis in 42.3% of cases. Urgent surgical intervention was performed on all the patients. Fifty percent of patients required placement of a short‐term hemodialysis catheter. Two patients had presented a recurrence. Death occurred in one case following a massive hemorrhagic shock.

Conclusion

Cutaneous necrosis is a relatively common complication and requires early screening and immediate surgical intervention.
The effect of ethical work climate on the organizational citizenship behavior of academic nurses
Authors: Altuntaş S. , Seren İntepeler Ş. , Sökmen S. , Kantek F. , Öztürk H. , Baykal Ü.
Published: October 2020

Aim

This study demonstrates the effect of academic nurses’ perceptions of ethical work climate on their organizational citizenship behaviour.

Background

Establishing healthy relationships in organizations and ensuring organizational effectiveness depend on workers’ perception of organizational ethics and voluntary behaviours that improve their organizations.

Methods

This study was conducted with 644 academic nurses working in public institutions of higher education that offer nursing education at the undergraduate level in Turkey. The data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics form, the Ethical Climate Scale and the Organizational Citizenship Behaviour Scale. The data were evaluated using statistical software. Approvals for the study were obtained from the institutions and their ethics committees, and the participants’ consent was obtained.

Results

This study found there was a significant relationship between academic nurses’ perception of ethical work climate and their organizational citizenship behaviour. Ethical work climate based on social responsibility had the most effect on organizational citizenship behaviour.

Conclusions

Academic nurses’ perceptions of ethical work climate affect their organizational citizenship behaviour.

Implications for Nursing Policy

Academic nurses should act in accordance with the laws and both professional and personal moral codes in the work environment, take into account team and institutional interests, be aware of their social responsibilities and be efficient. In this way, they can provide an ethical work environment and be a good organizational citizen based on volunteering and courtesy, thinking about team members, acting with advanced task awareness and supporting the development of the organization.