bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utility of the endobronchial Watanabe spigot for intractable cancer-related pneumothorax: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Adachi Masahiro , Matsumoto Yuji , Furuse Hideaki , Uchimura Keigo , Imabayashi Tatsuya , Yotsukura Masaya , Yoshida Yukihiro , Nakagawa Kazuo , Igaki Hiroshi , Watanabe Shun-ichi , Tsuchida Takaaki
Published: June 2023

Background

The use of endobronchial Watanabe spigots for intractable secondary pneumothorax in patients with cancer has not been adequate. This study aimed to investigate the use of endobronchial Watanabe spigots for intractable pneumothorax in patients with malignant tumors.

Methods

Consecutive patients with malignant tumors who underwent occlusion with an endobronchial Watanabe spigot for intractable pneumothorax associated with perioperative treatment or drug therapy at our institution between January 2014 and February 2022 were reviewed.

Results

Of the 32 cases in which an endobronchial Watanabe spigot was used, six were excluded; we thus evaluated 26 cases in which the chest tube was removed. Chest tubes were removed in 19 cases (73.1%) and could not be removed and required surgical treatment under general anesthesia in seven patients (26.9%), of which four (14.8%) underwent open-window thoracostomy. Half of the patients were treated with both an endobronchial Watanabe spigot and pleurodesis. Although thin-slice chest computed tomography revealed a fistula in 15 patients, the chest tube was removed in 11 (57.9%) patients. A significant difference was only observed in patients with a history of heavy smoking.

Conclusions

The chest tube removal rate was comparable to those reported in previous studies. An endobronchial Watanabe spigot may be a useful treatment option for intractable cancer-related pneumothorax.
Distributive Justice in Collaborative Outputs: Empowering Minority Viewpoints Through Deliberation
Authors: Kim Jiho
Published: June 2023

This article explores how deliberation affects distributive justice for minority view participants in policy decisions made through collaborative governance. It also examines whether the quality of deliberation (i.e., willingness to accept opposing viewpoints) and quantity of deliberation (i.e., length of discussion) can be an effective tool for minority view participants to overcome power imbalances in such collective decision-making processes. I use agent-based modeling, a computer simulation experiment method, to examine interactions among participants in a collaborative governance arrangement. I develop a series of theoretical propositions based on the simulation results, which are robust to various changes in the parameters and assumptions of the model. First, both the quality and quantity of deliberation may enhance the decision acceptability of participants with minority views. Second, the quality of deliberation may be more effective at empowering underrepresented minority view participants than the quantity of deliberation. Third, the quantity of deliberation may better promote minority views than the quality of deliberation when minority view participants are overrepresented. These findings indicate that interpersonal justice in collaborative processes may enhance distributive justice for minority viewpoints in collaborative outputs, even when procedural justice in the design of collaboration is weakened by an underrepresentation of minority view participants. I conclude with suggestions for future research that can further improve the external validity of the theoretical propositions.
Eclipse timing variations in the WD + dM eclipsing binary RR Cae
Authors: Rattanamala R , Awiphan S , Komonjinda S , Phriksee A , Sappankum P , A-thano N , Chitchak S , Rittipruk P , Sawangwit U , Poshyachinda S , Reichart D E , Haislip J B
Published: June 2023

We present the binary model and the eclipse timing variations of the eclipsing binary RR Cae, which consists of a white dwarf eclipsed by an M-type dwarf companion. The multiwavelength optical photometry from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), the 0.6-m PROMPT-8 telescope, and the 0.7-m Thai Robotic Telescope at Spring Brook Observatory, combined with archive H α radial velocities from the Very Large Telescope (VLT) are analysed. From the data, the physical parameters of the system are obtained along with 430 new times of minima. The TESS light curves in 2018 and 2020 show out-of-eclipse variations, which might be caused by a large spot on the secondary component. The light travel time effect models due to the gravitational interaction of one or two circumbinary objects are adopted to fit the cyclic variations in the RR Cae’s O-C curve. The fitting solution of the O-C curve with one circumbinary object model shows a periodic variation with a period of 16.6 ± 0.2 yr and an amplitude of 14 ± 1 s, which can be caused by a planet with a minimum mass of 3.4 ± 0.2 MJup. When we consider the model with two circumbinary objects, the O-C curve shows cyclic variations with periods of 15.0 ± 0.5 yr and 39 ± 5 yr and amplitudes of 12 ± 1 s and 20 ± 5 s, respectively, corresponding to minimum masses of 3.0 ± 0.3 MJup and 2.7 ± 0.7 MJup.
Evidence for non-merger co-evolution of galaxies and their supermassive black holes
Authors: Smethurst R J , Beckmann R S , Simmons B D , Coil A , Devriendt J , Dubois Y , Garland I L , Lintott C J , Martin G , Peirani S
Published: June 2023

Recent observational and theoretical studies have suggested that supermassive black holes (SMBHs) grow mostly through non-merger (‘secular’) processes. Since galaxy mergers lead to dynamical bulge growth, the only way to observationally isolate non-merger growth is to study galaxies with low bulge-to-total mass ratio (e.g. $B/T\lt 10~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$). However, bulge growth can also occur due to secular processes, such as disc instabilities, making disc-dominated selections a somewhat incomplete way to select merger-free systems. Here we use the Horizon-AGN simulation to select simulated galaxies which have not undergone a merger since z = 2, regardless of bulge mass, and investigate their location on typical black hole-galaxy scaling relations in comparison to galaxies with merger dominated histories. While the existence of these correlations has long been interpreted as co-evolution of galaxies and their SMBHs driven by galaxy mergers, we show here that they persist even in the absence of mergers. We find that the correlations between SMBH mass and both total mass and stellar velocity dispersion are independent of B/T ratio for both merger-free and merger-dominated galaxies. In addition, the bulge mass and SMBH mass correlation is still apparent for merger-free galaxies, the intercept for which is dependent on B/T. Galaxy mergers reduce the scatter around the scaling relations, with merger-free systems showing broader scatter. We show that for merger-free galaxies, the co-evolution is dominated by radio-mode feedback, and suggest that the long periods of time between galaxy mergers make an important contribution to the co-evolution between galaxies and SMBHs in all galaxies.
Long-term forcing of the Sun’s coronal field, open flux, and cosmic ray modulation potential during grand minima, maxima, and regular activity phases by the solar dynamo mechanism
Authors: Dash Soumyaranjan , Nandy Dibyendu , Usoskin Ilya
Published: June 2023

Magnetic fields generated in the Sun’s interior by the dynamo mechanism drive solar activity over a range of time-scales. Direct sunspot observations exist for a few centuries; reconstructed variations based on cosmogenic isotopes in the solar open flux and cosmic ray flux exist over thousands of years. While such reconstructions indicate the presence of extreme solar activity fluctuations in the past, causal links between millennia scale dynamo activity, consequent coronal field, solar wind, open flux and cosmic ray flux variations remain elusive; a lack of coronal field observations compounds this issue. By utilizing a stochastically forced solar dynamo model and potential field source surface extrapolation, we perform long-term simulations to illuminate how dynamo generated magnetic fields govern the structure of the solar corona and the state of the heliosphere – as indicated by variations in the open flux and cosmic ray modulation potential. We establish differences in the nature of the large-scale structuring of the solar corona during grand maximum, minimum, and regular solar activity phases and simulate how the open flux and cosmic ray modulation potential vary across these different phases of activity. We demonstrate that the power spectrum of simulated and observationally reconstructed solar open flux time series are consistent with each other. Our study provides the theoretical foundation for interpreting long-term solar cycle variations inferred from cosmogenic isotope based reconstructions and establishes causality between solar internal variations to the forcing of the state of the heliosphere.
Starbursts in low-mass haloes at Cosmic Dawn. I. The critical halo mass for star formation
Authors: Nebrin Olof , Giri Sambit K , Mellema Garrelt
Published: June 2023

The first stars, galaxies, star clusters, and direct-collapse black holes are expected to have formed in low-mass (∼105–109 M⊙) haloes at Cosmic Dawn (z ∼ 10–30) under conditions of efficient gas cooling, leading to gas collapse towards the centre of the halo. The halo mass cooling threshold has been analysed by several authors using both analytical models and numerical simulations, with differing results. Since the halo number density is a sensitive function of the halo mass, an accurate model of the cooling threshold is needed for (semi-)analytical models of star formation at Cosmic Dawn. In this paper, the cooling threshold mass is calculated (semi-)analytically, considering the effects of H2-cooling and formation (in the gas phase and on dust grains), cooling by atomic metals, Lyman-α cooling, photodissociation of H2 by Lyman–Werner photons (including self-shielding by H2), photodetachment of H− by infrared photons, photoevaporation by ionization fronts, and the effect of baryon streaming velocities. We compare the calculations to several high-resolution cosmological simulations, showing excellent agreement. We find that in regions of typical baryon streaming velocities, star formation is possible in haloes of mass ≳ 1–2 × 106 M⊙ for z ≳ 20. By z ∼ 8, the expected Lyman–Werner background suppresses star formation in all minihaloes below the atomic cooling threshold (Tvir = 104 K). The halo mass cooling threshold increases by another factor of ∼4 following reionization, although this effect is slightly delayed (z ∼ 4–5) because of effective self-shielding.
Activity of the Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Fungicide Benzovindiflupyr Against Clarireedia spp.
Authors: Liu Jun , Wu Jiaxuan , Jin Peiyuan , Hu Jian , Lamour Kurt , Yang Zhimin
Published: June 2023

Dollar spot (DS), caused by Clarireedia spp. (formerly Sclerotinia homoeocarpa), is one of the most important diseases of turfgrasses worldwide. Benzovindiflupyr, a pyrazole carboxamide fungicide belonging to succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors, was recently registered for DS control. In this study, baseline sensitivity, toxicity, and control efficacy of benzovindiflupyr against Clarireedia spp. were evaluated. The frequency of sensitivities had a unimodal distribution (Kolmogorov–Smirnov, P > 0.10). The mean EC50 value was 1.109 ± 0.555 μg/ml, with individual values ranging from 0.160 to 2.548 μg/ml. Benzovindiflupyr increased the number of hyphal offshoots and cell membrane permeability and inhibited oxalic acid production. Positive cross-resistance was observed between benzovindiflupyr and boscalid, but not between benzovindiflupyr and thiophanate-methyl, propiconazole, or iprodione. Benzovindiflupyr showed high protective and curative control efficacies in vivo and in field applications. Both protective and curative control efficacies of benzovindiflupyr were significantly better than propiconazole, and equivalent to boscalid, over 2 years of field research. The results have important implications for managing DS and fungicide resistance problems in Clarireedia spp.
Functional characterization of stap2b in zebrafish vascular development
Authors: Wang Yi‐Shan , Chen Yi‐Ting , Wu Chang‐Yi
Published: June 2023

The genetic control and signaling pathways of vascular development are not comprehensively understood. Transcription factors Islet2 (Isl2) and nr2f1b are critical for vascular growth in zebrafish, and further transcriptome analysis has revealed potential targets regulated by isl2/nr2f1b. In this study, we focused on the potential activation gene signal‐transducing adaptor protein 2b (stap2b) and revealed a novel role of stap2b in vascular development. stap2b mRNA was expressed in developing vessels, suggesting stap2b plays a role in vascularization. Knocking down stap2b expression by morpholino injection or Crispr‐Cas9‐generated stap2b mutants caused vascular defects, suggesting a role played by stap2b in controlling the patterning of intersegmental vessels (ISVs) and the caudal vein plexus (CVP). The vessel abnormalities associated with stap2b deficiency were found to be due to dysregulated cell migration and proliferation. The decreased expression of vascular‐specific markers in stap2b morphants was consistent with the vascular defects observed. In contrast, overexpression of stap2b enhanced the growth of ISVs and reversed the vessel defects in stap2b morphants. These data suggest that stap2b is necessary and sufficient to promote vascular development. Finally, we examined the interaction between stap2b and multiple signaling. We showed that stap2b regulated ISV growth through the JAK–STAT pathway. Moreover, we found that stap2b was regulated by Notch signaling to control ISV growth, and stap2b interacted with bone morphogenetic protein signaling to contribute to CVP formation. Altogether, we demonstrated that stap2b acts downstream of the isl2/nr2f1b pathway to play a pivotal role in vascular development via interaction with multiple signaling pathways.
A DNA damage response‐like phenotype defines a third of colon cancers at onset
Authors: Mauro Stefania , Bolognesi Maddalena M. , Villa Nicoletta , Capitoli Giulia , Furia Laura , Mascadri Francesco , Zucchini Nicola , Totis Mauro , Faretta Mario , Galimberti Stefania , Bovo Giorgio , Cattoretti Giorgio
Published: June 2023

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) has a limited range of diversified, personalized therapeutic opportunities, besides DNA hypermutating cases; thus, both new targets or broadening existing strategies for personalized intervention are of interest. Routinely processed material from 246 untreated COADs with clinical follow‐up was probed for evidence of DNA damage response (DDR), that is, the gathering of DDR‐associated molecules at discrete nuclear spots, by multiplex immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining for DDR complex proteins (γH2AX, pCHK2, and pNBS1). We also tested the cases for type I interferon response, T‐lymphocyte infiltration (TILs), and mutation mismatch repair defects (MMRd), known to be associated with defects of DNA repair. FISH analysis for chromosome 20q copy number variations was obtained. A total of 33.7% of COAD display a coordinated DDR on quiescent, non‐senescent, non‐apoptotic glands, irrespective of TP53 status, chromosome 20q abnormalities, and type I IFN response. Clinicopathological parameters did not differentiate DDR+ cases from the other cases. TILs were equally present in DDR and non‐DDR cases. DDR+ MMRd cases were preferentially retaining wild‐type MLH1. The outcome after 5FU‐based chemotherapy was not different in the two groups. DDR+ COAD represents a subgroup not aligned with known diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic categories, with potential new targeted treatment opportunities, exploiting the DNA damage repair pathways.
Pin Fracture in Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods: Influence of the Year of Manufacture
Authors: Tognini Martina , Hothi Harry , Dal Gal Elisabetta , Henckel Johann , Shafafy Masood , Broomfield Edel , Tucker Stewart , Skinner John , Hart Alister
Published: June 2023

Background:

Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) have a known issue with fracture of the internal locking pin resulting in early revisions. The manufacturer reported that rods manufactured before March 26, 2015, had a 5% risk of locking pin fracture. Locking pins made after this date are thicker in diameter and of a tougher alloy; their rate of pin fracture is not known. The aim of this study was to better understand the impact of the design changes on the performance of MCGRs.

Methods:

This study involves 46 patients with 76 removed MCGRs. Forty-six rods were manufactured before March 26, 2015, and 30 rods after that date. Clinical and implant data were collected for all MCGRs. Retrieval analysis comprised plain radiographs evaluations, force and elongation testing, and disassembly.

Results:

The 2 patient groups were statistically comparable. We found that 14 of 27 patients implanted with rods manufactured before March 26, 2015 (group I) had a fracture of their locking pins. Three of the 17 patients with rods manufactured after this date (group II) were also found to have a fractured pin.

Conclusions:

Retrieved rods collected at our center and made after March 26, 2015, had far fewer locking pin fractures than those made before this date; this may be due to the change in pin design.
Preoperative Frailty Risk in Cranioplasty Patients: Risk Analysis Index Predicts Adverse Outcomes
Authors: Moya Addi N. , Owodunni Oluwafemi P. , Harrison Joshua L. , Shahriari Shawhin R. , Shetty Anil K. , Borah Gregory L. , Schmidt Meic H. , Bowers Christian A.
Published: June 2023

Background:

Cranioplasty is a common surgical procedure used to repair cranial defects, and it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although frailty is a strong predictor of poor postoperative outcomes across surgical specialties, little is known about frailty’s impact on cranioplasty outcomes. This study examined the association between frailty and cranioplasty by comparing the effect of the Risk Analysis Index-Administrative (RAI-A) and the Modified Frailty Index-5 (mFI-5) on cranioplasty outcomes.

Methods:

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was queried for patients undergoing cranioplasty between 2012 and 2020. Receiver operating characteristics and multivariable analyses were used to assess the relationship of postoperative outcomes and the RAI-A, mFI-5, and increasing patient age.

Results:

There were 2864 included study patients with a median age of 57 years (IQR, 44-67), and a higher proportion of patients were women (57.0%) and White (68.5%). The RAI-A had a more robust predictive ability for 30-day mortality (C-Statistic, 0.741; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.678‐0.804) compared with mFI-5 (C-Statistic, 0.574; 95% CI, 0.489‐0.659) and increasing patient age (C-Statistic, 0.671; 95% CI, 0.610‐0.732). On multivariable analyses, frailty was independently associated with mortality and other poor postoperative outcomes (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

The RAI-A demonstrated superior discrimination than the mFI-5 and increasing patient age in predicting mortality. Additionally, the RAI-A showed independent associations with nonhome discharge and postoperative complications (CDII, CDIIIb, and CDIV). The high rates of operative morbidity (5.0%–36.5%) and mortality (0.4%–3.2%) after cranioplasty highlight the importance of identifying independent risk factors for poor cranioplasty outcomes.
Lymphatic Improvement after Suction-assisted Lipectomy in a Lipedema Patient
Authors: Vitorasso Carolina de Souza Ribeiro , Silva Anna Carolina Borges , Batista Bernardo Pinheiro de Senna Nogueira , Kamamoto Fábio
Published: June 2023

Lipedema is a chronic and progressive disease that may compromise lymphatic function. Although suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL) is considered a safe treatment for lipedema patients, the lymphatic repercussions of this surgical procedure are not fully understood. There is not enough evidence to support the role of SAL in lymphatic function treatment in lipedema. Here, we report a case of lymphatic drainage improvement after lipedema treatment with SAL. Tumescent SAL was performed in the deep subcutaneous layer, preserving the superficial and muscular lymphatic vessels. Pre- and postsurgical lymphoscintigraphy was equally documented under the Genoa protocol. A 34-year-old female patient presented with painful enlargement of the arms and lower limbs caused by lipedema. The patient had undergone conservative treatment with mild improvement in pain and heaviness. Lymphoscintigraphy showed slowed radiotracer progression on the left lower limb, collateral and tortuous lymphatic vessels on the right lower limb, and exuberant radiopharmaceutical concentration on the inguinal chain. Nine months after SAL was performed, the patient underwent another lymphoscintigraphy, which exhibited normalized radiopharmaceutical progression time and normal and symmetrical lymphatic vessel patterns. Collateral lymphatic paths and tortuosity vessels were no longer identified. Furthermore, the patient reported significant improvement in pain and the limb’s appearance. Tumescent SAL is not only efficient and safe in treating lipedema, but may also be responsible for improvement in lymphatic drainage in lipedema patients. Additional prospective studies are fundamental to reinforce the current evidence and possibly yield predicting information about the tumescent liposuction eligibility in the improvement of lymphatic drainage.
Left Atrial Dysfunction in Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Yang Yingxia , Lu Minjie , Guan Xuechun , Zhao Shihua , Long Liling
Published: June 2023

Purpose:

To evaluate the left atrial (LA) function in participants with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM) by cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT).

Materials and Methods:

Thirty typical AHCM (TAHCM) patients, 23 subclinical AHCM (SAHCM) patients and 32 normal healthy volunteers who underwent CMR exam were retrospectively analyzed. LA reservoir, conduit, and contractile function were quantified by volumetric and CMR-FT derived strain and strain rate (SR) parameters from 2-chamber and 4-chamber cine imaging.

Results:

Compared with healthy participants, both TAHCM and SAHCM patients had impaired LA reservoir function (total strain [%]: TAHCM 31.3±12.2, SAHCM 31.8±12.3, controls 40.4±10.7, P<0.01; total SR [/s]: TAHCM 1.1±0.4, SAHCM 1.1±0.5, controls 1.4 ± 0.4, P<0.01) and conduit function (passive strain [%]: TAHCM 14.4±7.6, SAHCM 16.4±8.8, controls 23.3±8.1, P<0.01; passive SR [/s]: TAHCM −0.5±0.3, SAHCM −0.6±0.3, controls −1.0±0.4, P<0.01). Regarding contraction function, although TAHCM and SAHCM patients had preserved active emptying fraction and strain (all P>0.05), patients with TAHCM had the lowest active SR value among the 3 groups (P=0.03). LA reservoir and conduit strain were both significantly associated with left ventricular mass index and maximal wall thickness (all P<0.05). A moderate correlation between LA passive SR and left ventricular cardiac index (P<0.01).

Conclusions:

The LA reservoir and conduit function are predominately impaired and appeared in both SAHCM and TAHCM patients.
EXTRACORPOREAL CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION WITH THERAPEUTIC HYPOTHERMIA MITIGATES KIDNEY INJURY AFTER CARDIAC ARREST IN RATS
Authors: Chen Shuhong , Yu Jie , Xue Pingfei , Hei Feilong , Guan Yulong
Published: June 2023

Many patients with cardiac arrest (CA) experience severe kidney injury after the return of spontaneous circulation. This study aimed to compare the renal protective effect of conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR), extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), and ECPR with therapeutic hypothermia (ECPR+T) in a CA rat model. Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and equally allocated into the sham, CCPR, ECPR, and ECPR+T groups. The sham group underwent basic surgical procedures without asphyxia-induced CA. The other three groups were treated with asphyxiation to establish the CA model. Subsequently, they were rescued using three different therapeutic methods. The end points were 1 h after return of spontaneous circulation or death. Renal injury was evaluated by histopathology. Oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, necroptosis, inflammatory, and apoptosis-related genes, and proteins were detected using western blotting, ELISA, and assay kit. Compared with CCPR, ECPR and ECPR+T alleviated oxidative stress by upregulating nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2, superoxide dismutase, glutathione and downregulating heme oxygenase-1, and malondialdehyde. Expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins, glucose-regulated protein 78, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein was lower in ECPR and ECPR+T groups than that in the CCPR group, along with levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-β, and necroptosis proteins (receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinases 1 and 3). Furthermore, the ECPR and ECPR+T groups had significantly increased B-cell lymphoma 2 and decreased B-cell lymphoma 2–associated X levels compared with the CCPR group. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation and ECPR+T alleviate kidney damage after CA in rats compared with CCPR. Furthermore, ECPR+T had a better renal protective effect.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Liver Transplantation for Alcohol-associated Liver Diseases in the United States
Authors: Cotter Thomas G. , Mitchell Mack C. , Patel Mausam J. , Anouti Ahmad , Lieber Sarah R. , Rich Nicole E. , Arab Juan Pablo , Díaz Luis Antonio , Louissaint Jeremy , Kerr Thomas , Mufti Arjmand R. , Hanish Steven I. , Vagefi Parsia A. , Patel Madhukar S. , VanWagner Lisa B. , Lee William M. , O’Leary Jacqueline G. , Singal Amit G.
Published: June 2023

Background.

Emerging data suggest disparities exist in liver transplantation (LT) for alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). As the incidence of ALD increases, we aimed to characterize recent trends in ALD LT frequency and outcomes, including racial and ethnic disparities.

Methods.

Using United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data (2015 through 2021), we evaluated LT frequency, waitlist mortality, and graft survival among US adults with ALD (alcohol-associated hepatitis [AH] and alcohol-associated cirrhosis [AAC]) stratified by race and ethnicity. We used adjusted competing-risk regression analysis to evaluate waitlist outcomes, Kaplan–Meier analysis to illustrate graft survival, and Cox proportional hazards modeling to identify factors associated with graft survival.

Results.

There were 1211 AH and 26 526 AAC new LT waitlist additions, with 970 AH and 15 522 AAC LTs performed. Compared with non-Hispanic White patients (NHWs) with AAC, higher hazards of waitlist death were observed for Hispanic (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-1.32), Asian (SHR = 1.22, 95% CI:1. 01-1.47), and American Indian/Alaskan Native (SHR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.15-1.76) candidates. Similarly, significantly higher graft failures were observed in non-Hispanic Black (HR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.09-1.61) and American Indian/Alaskan Native (HR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.15-2.38) patients with AAC than NHWs. We did not observe differences in waitlist or post-LT outcomes by race or ethnicity in AH, although analyses were limited by small subgroups.

Conclusions.

Significant racial and ethnic disparities exist for ALD LT frequency and outcomes in the United States. Compared with NHWs, racial and ethnic minorities with AAC experience increased risk of waitlist mortality and graft failure. Efforts are needed to identify determinants for LT disparities in ALD that can inform intervention strategies.
Common Design and Data Elements Reported on Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Trials: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kobeissi Hassan , Bilgin Cem , Ghozy Sherief , Adusumilli Gautam , Thurnham Jade , Hardy Nicole , Xu Timothy , Tarchand Ranita , Kallmes Kevin M. , Brinjikji Waleed , Kadirvel Ramanathan , Chen John J. , Sinclair Alexandra , Mollan Susan P. , Kallmes David F.
Published: June 2023

Background:

There are an increasing number of controlled clinical trials and prospective studies, ongoing and recently completed, regarding management options for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). We present a Common Design and Data Element (CDDE) analysis of controlled and prospective IIH studies with the aim of aligning essential design and recommending data elements in future trials and enhancing data synthesis potential in IIH trials.

Methods:

We used PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov to screen for ongoing and published trials assessing treatment modalities in people with IIH. After our search, we used the Nested Knowledge AutoLit platform to extract pertinent information regarding each study. We examined outputs from each study and synthesized the data elements to determine the degree of homogeneity between studies.

Results:

The most CDDE for inclusion criteria was the modified Dandy criteria for diagnosis of IIH, used in 9/14 studies (64%). The most CDDE for outcomes was change in visual function, reported in 12/14 studies (86%). Evaluation of surgical procedures (venous sinus stenting, cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement, and others) was more common, seen in 9/14 studies (64%) as compared with interventions with medical therapy 6/14 (43%).

Conclusions:

Although all studies have similar focus to improve patient care, there was a high degree of inconsistency among studies regarding inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria, and outcomes measures. Furthermore, studies used different time frames to assess outcome data elements. This heterogeneity will make it difficult to achieve a consistent standard, and thus, making secondary analyses and meta-analyses less effective in the future. Consensus on design of trials is an unmet research need for IIH.
Title: Bordetella trematum Bacteraemia Secondary to an Empyema in an Immunocompromised Host: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Authors: Wong Crystal S L , Calungsud Lynna Grace , La My-Van
Published: June 2023

Introduction:
Bordetella trematum infection remains uncommon. More cases of bacteraemia are reported in recent years with the primary infection largely originating from skin and soft tissue sites. Yet, our understanding of its virulence, antibiotic susceptibility profile and treatment is still limited. 
Case presentation:
We report the first case of B. trematum bacteraemia from a left-sided empyema. An 87-year old female with a past medical history of ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus complicated by nephropathy and locally advanced left breast adenocarcinoma presented with fever, productive cough and shortness of breath. The B. trematum isolates from blood and pleural fluid were identified by MALDI-TOF and 16S rRNA sequencing. Ceftriaxone and azithromycin commenced empirically on admission were switched to piperacillin-tazobactam after 2 days due to lack of clinical improvement. Despite a pleurocentesis and one week of piperacillin-tazobactam with microbiological clearance in blood, she continued to deteriorate. Decision to withdraw treatment was made in view of her prognosis, and she succumbed on the 14th day of admission. The isolate was susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam, imipenem and meropenem but had reduced susceptibility or was non-susceptible to cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, cefepime, the aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones.
Conclusion:
Invasive B. trematum infection is associated with significant mortality. Consensus for antibiotic treatment remains unclear, with limited susceptibility data to support specific antibiotic use. We expect more clinical cases will surface with improved microbial identification systems, as well as enhanced clinical awareness. Standardised and more robust susceptibility work are needed to provide clear recommendations and establish consensus in treating invasive infections.
Personalizing renal replacement therapy initiation in the intensive care unit: a reinforcement learning-based strategy with external validation on the AKIKI randomized controlled trials
Authors: Grolleau François , Petit François , Gaudry Stéphane , Diard Élise , Quenot Jean-Pierre , Dreyfuss Didier , Tran Viet-Thi , Porcher Raphaël
Published: June 2023

Background

Trials sequentially randomizing patients each day have never been conducted for renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation. We used clinical data from routine care and trials to learn and validate optimal dynamic strategies for RRT initiation in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods

We included participants from the MIMIC-III database for development, and AKIKI and AKIKI2 (two randomized controlled trials on RRT timing) for validation. Participants were eligible if they were adult ICU patients with severe acute kidney injury, receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, catecholamine infusion, or both. We used doubly-robust estimators to learn when to start RRT after the occurrence of severe acute kidney injury given a patient’s evolving characteristics—for three days in a row. The ‘crude strategy’ aimed to maximize hospital-free days at day 60 (HFD60). The ‘stringent strategy’ recommended initiating RRT only when there was evidence at the 0.05 threshold that a patient would benefit from initiation. For external validation, we evaluated the causal effects of implementing our learned strategiesversusfollowing current best practices on HFD60.

Results

We included 3 748 patients in the development set (median age 69y [IQR 57– 79], median SOFA score 9 [IQR 6–12], 1 695 [45.2%] female), and 1 068 in the validation set (median age 67y [IQR 58–75], median SOFA score 11 [IQR 9–13], 344 [32.2%] female). Through external validation, we found that compared to current best practices, the crude and stringent strategies improved average HFD60 by 13.7 [95% CI-5.3–35.7], and 14.9 [95% CI - 3.2–39.2] days respectively. Contrasted to current best practices where 38% of patients initiated RRT within three days, with the stringent strategy, we estimated that only 14% of patients would.

Conclusion

We developed a practical and interpretable dynamic decision support system for RRT initiation in the ICU. Its implementation could improve the average number of days that ICU patients spend alive and outside the hospital.
Vaccines at Velocity: Evaluating Potential Lives Saved by Earlier Vaccination in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Więcek Witold , Johnston David , Dulka Tomas , Toomey Danny , Lewis Enlli
Published: June 2023

Fast development of COVID-19 vaccines likely averted millions of deaths. We estimate how many more lives could have been saved if safe and effective vaccines were available earlier in the pandemic, in particular, before the epidemic waves in winter of 2020. We fit an epidemiological model informed by retrospective data and simulate counterfactual vaccination scenarios for the United Kingdom and the United States in which vaccines are available between 30 and 90 days earlier. We find that up to 1 July 2021 reductions in mortality range from 10,000 to 48,000 in the UK and 53,000 to 130,000 in the US, depending on when vaccinations start. This corresponds to a maximum of 7.1 and 4 deaths averted per 10,000 people in the UK and US respectively, or a reduction in overall deaths of 50% and 32%. We find that our model is sensitive to uncertain vaccine parameters and benefits depend on the time horizon of the analysis. However, the large average reductions we estimate suggests that it is highly cost-effective to make large investments in strategies to expedite vaccine availability.
Association of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir treatment and COVID-19 neutralizing antibody titers in a longitudinal healthcare worker cohort
Authors: Decker Slade , Xiao Shaoming , Dillen Carly , Schumacher Christina M. , Milstone Aaron M. , Frieman Matthew , Debes Amanda K.
Published: June 2023

Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (NMV/r) is used for the treatment of COVID-19 infection. However, rebound COVID-19 infections can occur after taking NMV/r. We examined neutralizing antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein before and after infection in people who did and did not take NMV/r to determine if NMV/r impedes the humoral immune response.
Nucleus-Independent Transgenerational Small RNA Inheritance inC. elegans
Authors: Rieger Itai , Weintraub Guy , Lev Itamar , Goldstein Kesem , Bar-Zvi Dana , Anava Sarit , Gingold Hila , Shaham Shai , Rechavi Oded
Published: June 2023

Studies usingC. elegansnematodes demonstrated that, against the dogma, animals can transmit epigenetic information transgenerationally. While it is now clear that in these worms ancestral RNA interference (RNAi) responses continue to regulate gene expression for many generations, it is still debated whether the primary agent that perpetuates heritable silencing is RNA or chromatin, and whether the information is communicated to the next generation inside or outside of the nucleus. Here we take advantage of the tractability of gene-specific double stranded RNA-induced heritable silencing to answer these questions. We demonstrate that RNAi can be inherited independently of any changes to the chromatin or any other nuclear factors via mothers that are genetically engineered to transmit only their ooplasm but not the oocytes’ nuclei to the next generation. Nucleus-independent RNA inheritance depends on ZNFX-1, an RNA-binding germ granule resident protein. We find that upon manipulation of normal germ granules functions (inpptr-1mutants) nucleus-independent RNA inheritance becomes stronger, and can occur even inznfx-1mutants. Utilizing RNA sequencing, chimeric worms, and sequence polymorphism between differentC. elegansisolates, we identify endogenous small RNAs which, similarly to exogenous siRNAs, are inherited in a nucleus-independent manner. From an historical perspective, nucleus-independent inheritance of small RNAs might be regarded as partial vindication of discredited cytoplasmic inheritance theories from the 19thcentury, such as Darwin’s “pangenesis” theory.
Orientation mapping of YbSn3 single crystals based on Bragg-dip analysis using a delay-line superconducting sensor
Authors: Shishido Hiroaki , Vu The Dang , Aizawa Kazuya , Kojima Kenji M. , Koyama Tomio , Oikawa Kenichi , Harada Masahide , Oku Takayuki , Soyama Kazuhiko , Miyajima Shigeyuki , Hidaka Mutsuo , Suzuki Soh Y. , Tanaka Manobu M. , Kawamata Shuichi , Ishida Takekazu
Published: June 2023

Recent progress in high-power pulsed neutron sources has stimulated the development of the Bragg-dip and Bragg-edge analysis methods using a two-dimensional neutron detector with high temporal resolution to resolve the neutron energy by the time-of-flight method. A delay-line current-biased kinetic inductance detector (CB-KID) is a two-dimensional superconducting sensor with a high temporal resolution and multi-hit capability. Here, it is demonstrated that a delay-line CB-KID with a 10B neutron conversion layer can be applied to high-spatial-resolution neutron transmission imaging and spectroscopy up to 100 eV. Dip structures are observed in the transmission spectra of YbSn3 single crystals, induced by Bragg diffraction and nuclear resonance absorption. The orientation mapping of YbSn3 crystals is successfully performed via the analysis of observed Bragg-dip positions in the transmission spectra.
First-principles study on the electronic structure of siligraphene on a ZnO monolayer
Authors: Kanchiang Kanokwan , Pramchu Sittichian
Published: June 2023

Density functional theory was employed to investigate the electronic structures of atomic bilayer materials that form between graphene (g-C) or graphitic silicon carbide (also known as siligraphene: g-SiC and g-SiC2) and graphitic zinc oxide (g-ZnO). The results indicate that g-C/g-ZnO bilayers have semimetallic properties with an energy band gap of zero like in graphene. For a g-SiC/g-ZnO bilayer, an ensemble of three sp
2-hybridized carbon atoms periodically separated by three silicon atoms on g-ZnO has indirect and direct band gaps of 3.32 and 3.78 eV, respectively, which is suitable for use in light-emitting diode applications. For a g-SiC2/g-ZnO bilayer, an ensemble of four sp
2-hybridized carbon atoms periodically separated by two silicon atoms on g-ZnO has a direct band gap of 1.15 eV, which approaches the optimal value of the band gap (E
opt ≃ 1.3 eV) for solar cell applications. The results show that increasing Si content in siligraphene can help to open the band gap of graphene and enhance the band gap of graphitic silicon carbide. The band gaps of siligraphene/g-ZnO bilayers depend on a smaller band gap from the monolayer component. Therefore, adjusting the Si content in siligraphene permits tuning of the band gap, and constructing a bilayer in the presence of a g-ZnO monolayer can slightly decrease the band gap. These results could lead to a new design of heterostructures with tunable band gaps for various applications.
On the alignment of competitive strategies for successful acquisitions: a two-decade longitudinal analysis
Authors: López-Manuel Lucas , Sartal Antonio , Vázquez Xosé H.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Most studies explore the success of mergers and acquisitions through ex ante analyses based on the compatibility of resources and capabilities between the acquirer and target. As more than half of them fail, there seems to be room for enhancing our understanding of when and how acquisitions can actually improve firms' competitiveness. Diverging from these conventional approaches, the authors posit that attention should be at the strategic level. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to explore the existence of compatibility between acquirers’ and targets’ competitive strategies and its effect on post-acquisition business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the Thomson Reuters Eikon financial and acquisition databases, the authors built a unique data panel of 174 acquirer–target matched acquisitions in the manufacturing sector from 24 different countries between 2000 and 2020. The authors used a two-step System-GMM approach to address the hypotheses proposed in this paper. This methodology allowed to isolate and easily compare the differential effects of each possible combination of strategic similarity and dissimilarity between the target and acquiring company on the latter’s post-acquisition strategies.

Findings

The need to unravel the motives behind successful acquisitions has gained enormous interest in recent years among academics and managers to improve – or maintain – firm competitiveness. Through a panel data of 174 acquisitions among manufacturing firms (2000–2020), this study shows that differentiated firms improve their business performance by acquiring firms with similar strategies; nevertheless, their performance worsens if the acquired firm follows a cost-leadership strategy. Concerning acquirers with a cost-leadership strategy, the lack of clear behavioral patterns suggests that the lower knowledge absorption capacity associated with these firms might be a decisive factor in being able to assimilate and efficiently exploit the acquired firm's knowledge.

Originality/value

Overall, this approach offers a new and valuable perspective for practitioners because it improves understanding of the possible causes of merger failure and opens new attentions to consider in maximizing success and long-term competitiveness. The results of this study bring, thus, an unexpected result to this research: the importance of the acquirer’s strategy beyond the similarity or dissimilarity of the strategies of the acquirer and the acquired company.
Assessing the impact of WoredaNet usage on dynamic capabilities: a structural equation modeling of Woredas in Ethiopia
Authors: Senshaw Debas
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The paper aims to assess the impact of a government digital platform, WoredaNet on the dynamic capabilities (DCs) of government organizations, that provides government services to citizens in Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a quantitative strategy using 10 local government administrative regions in Ethiopia (Woredas), which digitally innovate using the government digital platform. This study sampled 970 employees from government organizations to better understand the usage of digital government in low-income countries to enhance service delivery through DCs. The study adopted a conceptual formative model using the covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. The model integrated seven latent variables, namely, WoredaNet usage, adaptive capability, absorptive capability, innovative capability, opportunity-sensing ability, opportunity-seizing ability and opportunity-reconfiguring ability. The relationships between the latent variables were then created, and 15 hypotheses were designed.

Findings

The research showed that government organizations’ ability to adapt, absorb and innovate is enhanced by using WoredaNet. The study revealed how government organizations could enhance their opportunity seizing and opportunity reconfiguring capabilities by leveraging their adaptive, absorptive and innovative capabilities. On the other hand, the findings of the study indicated that there is no significant relationship between WoredaNet usage and the microfoundations of government organizations. This could be because of the varied nature of government organizations. And hence, could be addressed by considering the same formative model on narrower segment of government organizations.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to digital government literature in revealing how DCs of government organizations in resource-constrained low-income countries could be assessed effectively using formative models.
An introduction to equity leadership: meeting individual employee needs across organizations
Authors: Hurtienne Laura E. , Hurtienne Matthew
Published: June 2023

Purpose

As human resource development (HRD) seeks to develop organizations and unleash human expertise (Swanson and Holton, 2009), leaders should be encouraged to consider every employee as a complex individual with unique needs and aspirations. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of equity leadership (EL), which identifies individual employees’ personal and professional resource, relationship and opportunity needs in an effort to support employees in reaching their fullest potential in the workforce, therefore increasing positive organizational outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical foundations of EL are social exchange theory (SET; Saks and Rotman, 2006) and the ERG theory of motivation (Alderfer, 1969). SET recognizes the give-and-take relationship between leaders and employees, while ERG theory of motivation considers an individual’s personal and professional existence, relatedness and growth needs. The theories provide a foundation for EL’s definition.

Findings

EL posits that leaders’ attention to employees’ resource, relationship and opportunity needs in the workplace could result in a positive effect on the social exchange between leaders and employees. EL provides a framework for these exchanges to occur and for employee needs to be considered, thus resulting in increased employee engagement, productivity and retention.

Research limitations/implications

EL can take a significant amount of time, especially when starting with new employees; however, the relationships and positive organizational outcomes provide justification for engaging in the leadership style.

Practical implications

This paper seeks to advance the field of HRD by defining EL, exploring the theoretical underpinnings of EL and providing actionable steps for leaders to put EL into action.

Social implications

The nuanced theory of EL encourages organizations to evolve from the factory model of expectations to a model that considers the unique needs of individuals in organizations. Grounded partly in SET, EL promotes positive relationships between leaders and employees.

Originality/value

There are many leadership theories; however, EL, unlike any other leadership theory, uniquely considers the individual needs of each employee through consistent one-on-one conversations between the leader and individual employees to discover employee needs and also strives for positive organizational outcomes as a result of the social exchanges.