bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cell Type Assignments for Spatial Transcriptomics Data
Authors: Teng Haotian , Yuan Ye , Bar-Joseph Ziv
Published: February 2021

Motivation

Recent advancements in fluorescencein situhybridization (FISH) techniques enable them to concurrently obtain information on the location and gene expression of single cells. A key question in the initial analysis of such spatial transcriptomics data is the assignment of cell types. To date, most studies used methods that only rely on the expression levels of the genes in each cell for such assignments. To fully utilize the data and to improve the ability to identify novel sub-types we developed a new method, FICT, which combines both expression and neighborhood information when assigning cell types.

Results

FICT optimizes a probabilistic function that we formalize and for which we provide learning and inference algorithms. We used FICT to analyze both simulated and several real spatial transcriptomics data. As we show, FICT can accurately identify cell types and sub-types improving on expression only methods and other methods proposed for clustering spatial transcriptomics data. Some of the spatial sub-types identified by FICT provide novel hypotheses about the new functions for excitatory and inhibitory neurons.

Availability

FICT is available at:https://github.com/haotianteng/FICT

Contact

zivbj@andrew.cmu.edu
Nothing in evolution makes sense except in the light of parasitism: evolution of complex replication strategies
Authors: Hickinbotham Simon J. , Stepney Susan , Hogeweg Paulien
Published: February 2021

Parasitism emerges readily in models and laboratory experiments of RNA world and would lead to extinction unless prevented by compartmentalisation or spatial patterning. Modelling replication as an active computational process opens up many degrees of freedom that are exploited to meet environmental challenges, and to modify the evolutionary process itself. Here we use automata chemistry models and spatial RNA world models to study the emergence of parasitism and the complexity that evolves in response. The system is initialised with a hand-designed replicator that copies other replicators with a small chance of point mutation. Almost immediately, short parasites arise; these are copied more quickly, and so have an evolutionary advantage. The replicators also become shorter, and so are replicated faster; they evolve a mechanism to slow down replication, which reduces the difference of replication rate of replicators and parasites. They also evolve explicit mechanisms to discriminate copies of self from parasites; these mechanisms become increasingly complex. New parasite species continually arise from mutated replicators, rather than from evolving parasite lineages. Evolution itself evolves, eg by effectively increasing point mutation rates, and by generating novel emergent mutational operators. Thus, parasitism drives the evolution of complex replicators and complex ecosystems.
Pax3 repairs a neural circuit through a program of directed axon outgrowth
Authors: Jara J. Sebastian , Avci Hasan X. , Kouremenou Ioanna , Doulazmi Mohamed , Bakouche Joelle , Dubacq Caroline , Goyenvalle Catherine , Mariani Jean , Lohof Ann M. , Sherrard Rachel M.
Published: February 2021

Repairing damaged or dysfunctional human brain circuits remains an ongoing challenge for biomedical science. While surviving neuronal networks can be reorganised after lesion, for example by neurotrophins, these new connections are disorganised and rarely produce clinical improvement. Here we investigate how to promote axonal growth while retaining correct cellular targeting. We show that, in response to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in target-tissue, potential reinnervating neurons upregulate Pax3. Pax3 in turn increases polysialic acid-neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) on their axon terminals, facilitating their outgrowth and pathfinding, and resulting in correctly-targeted neural circuit repair in the mature nervous system. This is a novel role for Pax3, which we confirmed by showing its expression in afferent neurons is essential for spontaneous and BDNF-induced reinnervation in the developing and mature brains, respectively. Together these results suggest that Pax3 contributes to a repair program, in which axon growth is promotedanddirection signaling maintained. These data advance our understanding for accurately rebuilding neural circuits: restricting growth-promotion to potential afferent neurons, as opposed to stimulating the whole circuit, allows axon growth without impairing its guidance.
Different historical generation intervals in human populations inferred from Neanderthal fragment lengths and patterns of mutation accumulation
Authors: Coll Macià Moisès , Skov Laurits , Peter Benjamin Marco , Schierup Mikkel Heide
Published: February 2021

After the main out-of-Africa event, humans interbred with Neanderthals leaving 1-2% of Neanderthal DNA scattered in small fragments in all non-African genomes today1,2. Here we investigate the size distribution of these fragments in non-African genomes3. We find consistent differences in fragment length distributions across Eurasia with 11% longer fragments in East Asians than in West Eurasians. By comparing extant populations and ancient samples, we show that these differences are due to a different rate of decay in length by recombination since the Neanderthal admixture. In line with this, we observe a strong correlation between the average fragment length and the accumulation of derived mutations, similar to what is expected by changing the ages at reproduction as estimated from trio studies4. Altogether, our results suggest consistent differences in the generation interval across Eurasia, by up to 20% (e.g. 25 versus 30 years), over the past 40,000 years. We use sex-specific accumulations of derived alleles to infer how these changes in generation intervals between geographical regions could have been mainly driven by shifts in either male or female age of reproduction, or both. We also find that previously reported variation in the mutational spectrum5may be largely explained by changes to the generation interval and not by changes to the underlying mutational mechanism. We conclude that Neanderthal fragment lengths provide unique insight into differences of a key demographic parameter among human populations over the recent history.
A microRNA program controls the transition of cardiomyocyte hyperplasia to hypertrophy and stimulates mammalian cardiac regeneration
Authors: Raso Andrea , Dirkx Ellen , Sampaio-Pinto Vasco , el Azzouzi Hamid , Cubero Ryan J. , Sorensen Daniel W. , Ottaviani Lara , Olieslagers Servé , Huibers Manon M. , de Weger Roel , Siddiqi Sailay , Moimas Silvia , Torrini Consuelo , Zentillin Lorena , Braga Luca , da Costa Martins Paula A. , van Berlo Jop H. , Zacchigna Serena , Giacca Mauro , De Windt Leon J.
Published: February 2021

Myocardial regeneration is restricted to early postnatal life, when mammalian cardiomyocytes still retain the ability to proliferate. The molecular cues that induce cell cycle arrest of neonatal cardiomyocytes towards terminally differentiated adult heart muscle cells remain obscure. Here we report that themiR-106b∼25cluster is higher expressed in the early postnatal myocardium and decreases in expression towards adulthood, especially under conditions of overload, and orchestrates the transition of cardiomyocyte hyperplasia towards cell cycle arrest and hypertrophy by virtue of its targetome. In line, gene delivery ofmiR-106b∼25to the mouse heart provokes cardiomyocyte proliferation by targeting a network of negative cell cycle regulators including E2f5, Cdkn1c, Ccne1 and Wee1. Conversely, gene-targetedmiR-106b∼25null mice display spontaneous hypertrophic remodeling and exaggerated remodeling to overload by derepression of the prohypertrophic transcription factors Hand2 and Mef2d. Taking advantage of the regulatory function ofmiR-106b∼25 on cardiomyocyte hyperplasia and hypertrophy, viral gene delivery ofmiR-106b∼25provokes nearly complete regeneration of the adult myocardium after ischemic injury. Our data demonstrate that exploitation of conserved molecular programs can enhance the regenerative capacity of the injured heart.
Regulation of plasmodesmata at specific cell-cell interfaces
Authors: Li Zhongpeng , Aung Kyaw
Published: February 2021

Precise exchange of information and resources among cells is essential for multicellular organisms. Intercellular communication among diverse cell types requires differential mechanisms to achieve the specific regulation. Despite the significance of intercellular communication, it is largely unknown how the communication between different cells is regulated. Here, we report that two members of plasmodesmata-located proteins modulate plasmodesmata at two distinct cell-cell interfaces.
The chemotherapeutic CX-5461 primarily targets TOP2B and exhibits selective activity in high-risk neuroblastoma
Authors: Pan Min , Wright William C. , Chapple Rich , Zubair Asif , Sandhu Manbir , Batchelder Jake , Low Jonathan , Blankenship Kaley B , Wang Yingzhe , Gordon Brittney , Archer Payton , Brady Samuel W. , Natarajan Sivaraman , Posgai Matthew J. , Schuetz John , Miller Darcie , Kalathur Ravi , Chen Siquan , Connelly Jon Patrick , Madan Babu M. , Dyer Michael A. , Pruett-Miller Shondra M. , Freeman Burgess B. , Chen Taosheng , Godley Lucy A. , Blanchard Scott , Stewart Elizabeth , Easton John , Geeleher Paul
Published: February 2021

Survival in high-risk pediatric neuroblastoma has remained around 50% for the last 20 years, with immunotherapies and targeted therapies having had minimal impact. Here, we identify the small molecule CX-5461 as selectively cytotoxic to high-risk neuroblastoma and synergistic with low picomolar concentrations of topoisomerase I inhibitors improving survivalin vivoin orthotopic patient-derived xenograft neuroblastoma mouse models. CX-5461 recently progressed through phase I clinical trial as a first-in-human inhibitor of RNA-POL I. However, we also use a comprehensive panel ofin vitroandin vivoassays to demonstrate that CX-5461 has been mischaracterized and that its primary target at pharmacologically relevant concentrations, is in fact topoisomerase II beta (TOP2B), not RNA-POL I. These findings are important because existing clinically approved chemotherapeutics have well-documented off-target interactions with TOP2B, which have previously been shown to cause both therapy-induced leukemia and cardiotoxicity—often-fatal adverse events, which can emerge several years after treatment. Thus, while we show that combination therapies involving CX-5461 have promising anti-tumor activityin vivoin neuroblastoma, our identification of TOP2B as the primary target of CX-5461 indicates unexpected safety concerns that should be examined in ongoing phase II clinical trials in adult patients before pursuing clinical studies in children.
A Mixed-Modeling Framework for Whole-Brain Dynamic Network Analysis
Authors: Bahrami Mohsen , Laurienti Paul J. , Shappell Heather M. , Simpson Sean L.
Published: February 2021

The emerging area of dynamic brain network analysis has gained considerable attraction in recent years. While current tools have proven useful in providing insight into dynamic patterns of brain networks, development of multivariate statistical frameworks that allow for examining the associations between phenotypic traits and dynamic patterns of system-level properties of the brain, and drawing statistical inference about such associations, has largely lagged behind. To address this need we developed a mixed-modeling framework that allows for assessing the relationship between any desired phenotype and dynamic patterns of whole-brain connectivity and topology. Unlike current tools which largely use data-driven methods, our model-based method enables aligning neuroscientific hypotheses with the analytic approach. We demonstrate the utility of this model in identifying the relationship between fluid intelligence and dynamic brain networks using resting-state fMRI (rfMRI) data from 200 subjects in the Human Connectome Project (HCP) study. To our knowledge, this approach provides the first model-based statistical method for examining dynamic patterns of system-level properties of the brain and their relationships to phenotypic traits.
Negative DNA supercoiling makes protein-mediated looping deterministic and ergodic within the bacterial doubling time
Authors: Yan Yan , Xu Wenxuan , Kumar Sandip , Zhang Alexander , Leng Fenfei , Dunlap David , Finzi Laura
Published: February 2021

Protein-mediated DNA looping is fundamental to gene regulation and such loops occur stochastically in purified systems. Additional proteins increase the probability of looping, but these probabilities maintain a broad distribution. For example, the probability of lac repressor-mediated looping in individual molecules ranged 0-100%, and individual molecules exhibited representative behavior only in observations lasting an hour or more. Titrating with HU protein progressively compacted the DNA without narrowing the 0-100% distribution. Increased negative supercoiling produced an ensemble of molecules in which all individual molecules more closely resembled the average. Furthermore, in only twelve minutes of observation, well within the doubling time of the bacterium, most molecules exhibited the looping probability of the ensemble. DNA supercoiling, an inherent feature of all genomes, appears to impose time-constrained, emergent behavior on otherwise random molecular activity.
AIM-CICs: automatic identification method for Cell-in-cell structures based on convolutional neural network
Authors: Tang Meng , Su Yan , Zhao Wei , Niu Zubiao , Ruan Banzhan , Li Qinqin , Zheng You , Wang Chenxi , Zhou Yong , Zhang Bo , Zhou Fuxiang , Huang Hongyan , Shi Hanping , Sun Qiang
Published: February 2021

Whereas biochemical markers are available for most types of cell death, current studies on non-autonomous cell death by entosis relays strictly on the identification of cell-in-cell structure (CICs), a unique morphological readout that can only be quantified manually at present. Moreover, the manual CICs quantification is generally over-simplified as CICs counts, which represents a major hurdle against profound mechanistic investigations. In this study, we take advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to develop an automatic identification method for CICs (AIM-CICs), which performs comprehensive CICs analysis in an automated and efficient way. The AIM-CICs, developed on the algorithm of convolutional neural network (CNN), can not only differentiate between CICs and non-CICs (AUC > 0.99), but also accurately categorize CICs into five subclasses based on CICs stages and cell number involved (AUC > 0.97 for all subclasses). The application of AIM-CICs would systemically fuel researches on CICs-mediated cell death such as high-throughput screening.
Dynamic arrest and aging of biomolecular condensates are regulated by low-complexity domains, RNA and biochemical activity
Authors: Linsenmeier Miriam , Hondele Maria , Grigolato Fulvio , Secchi Eleonora , Weis Karsten , Arosio Paolo
Published: February 2021

Biomolecular condensates require suitable material properties to properly carry out their function. Yet, modulators that affect the material properties of condensates have remained largely unexplored.

Here we apply Differential Dynamic Microscopy (DDM) to probe the material properties of anin vitromodel of processing bodies (P-bodies) consisting of condensates formed by the DEAD-box ATPase Dhh1 in the presence of ATP and RNA. DDM allows us to measure the viscosity of liquid droplets and to distinguish between liquid-like and gel- or glass-like condensates. By applying this single-droplet technique we show that condensates within the same population exhibit a distribution of material properties, which can be drastically affected by several modulators such as the low-complexity domains (LCDs) of the protein, the protein/RNA ratio, the type of RNA as well as the enzymatic activity.

In particular, we show that structured RNA leads to a large fraction of dynamically arrested condensates with respect to unstructured polyuridylic acid (polyU), emphasizing the role of RNA structure in condensate dynamics. We further demonstrate that the ageing of the condensates and the formation of gel or glass-like structures is reduced by promoting the enzymatic ATPase activity of Dhh1 and the rate of droplet formation and dissolution.

Our study shows that not only the reversible formation and dissolution of condensates but also their material properties are regulated on several levels, and that biochemical activity and material turnover can be important to maintain fluid-like properties over time.
A supply chain risk management maturity model and a multi-criteria classification approach
Authors: Cavalcante de Souza Feitosa Ingrid Saiala , Ribeiro Carpinetti Luiz Cesar , de Almeida-Filho Adiel Teixeira
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a supply chain risk management (SCRM) maturity model combined with a fuzzy TOPSIS classification method to evaluate and sort an organization into a pre-defined maturity level.

Design/methodology/approach

An axiomatic and prescriptive research method guided this study. Therefore, it proposes a prescriptive approach of maturity classification based on a theoretical SCRM maturity model combined with a multi-criteria decision technique.

Findings

The results of a pilot application indicated a consistent classification and the value of the model for diagnosing flaws and pointing directions for improving operational and disruption risk management. Its comprehensiveness allows applying it to supply chains of several industry sectors.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed model does not include all possible risks and could be revised in further developments. Also, adjustment of the maturity profiles of the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model requires a learning process from practical applications.

Practical implications

The adoption of the risk management maturity grid by practitioners may bring the benefit of a more objective and comprehensive evaluation of risk management processes in the supply chain context.

Social implications

An immediate social implication derives from the improvement actions that may result from the diagnosis of risk management vulnerabilities identified in the pilot application. In general, the proposed model has the potential to reduce risks, improve results and contribute to economic sustainability.

Originality/value

The maturity grid and decision model integrate overall aspects of risk management, bringing together managerial concepts to deal with a variety of supply chain operational risks. The combined multi-criteria classification procedure to sort the maturity level of an organization is also a novelty.
Reconsidering religious gender normativity in graphic novel adaptations: a quantitative and qualitative case study
Authors: Hurwich Talia
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to illustrate how graphic novel adaptations can engage adolescents in conversations about gender and society, particularly when adaptations are weighed against messaging found in a student’s everyday life such as religiously motivated gender normativity.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on quantitative and qualitative analyzes of the interview, think-aloud and survey data collected from 15 adolescents who self-identified as Modern Orthodox Jewish women. Texts used for think-aloud were three graphic novel adaptations that critically adapted potentially misogynistic readings and interpretations of religious Jewish texts such as the Bible.

Findings

Epistemic network analysis and constructivist grounded theory show that visual elements found in each adaptation can spark deeply personal reflections on topics that are often explicitly or implicitly suppressed by social norms such as gender normativity in Jewish texts and practices.

Originality/value

This paper is timely and contributes to understanding the apparent cultural clash between religious conservativism and movements for social change, using the graphic novel to mediate between them.
Remaining useful life prediction of lithium-ion battery based on auto-regression and particle filter
Authors: Lin Jie , Wei Minghua
Published: February 2021

Purpose

With the rapid development and stable operated application of lithium-ion batteries used in uninterruptible power supply (UPS), the prediction of remaining useful life (RUL) for lithium-ion battery played an important role. More and more researchers paid more attentions on the reliability and safety for lithium-ion batteries based on prediction of RUL. The purpose of this paper is to predict the life of lithium-ion battery based on auto regression and particle filter method.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a simple and effective RUL prediction method based on the combination method of auto-regression (AR) time-series model and particle filter (PF) was proposed for lithium-ion battery. The proposed method deformed the double-exponential empirical degradation model and reduced the number of parameters for such model to improve the efficiency of training. By using the PF algorithm to track the process of lithium-ion battery capacity decline and modified observations of the state space equations, the proposed PF + AR model fully considered the declined process of batteries to meet more accurate prediction of RUL.

Findings

Experiments on CALCE dataset have fully compared the conventional PF algorithm and the AR + PF algorithm both on original exponential empirical degradation model and the deformed double-exponential one. Experimental results have shown that the proposed PF + AR method improved the prediction accuracy, decreases the error rate and reduces the uncertainty ranges of RUL, which was more suitable for the deformed double-exponential empirical degradation model.

Originality/value

In the running of UPS device based on lithium-ion battery, the proposed AR + PF combination algorithm will quickly, accurately and robustly predict the RUL of lithium-ion batteries, which had a strong application value in the stable operation of laboratory and other application scenarios.
Can protection motivation theory explain the perception of international tourists' on medical tourism?
Authors: Seow Ai Na , Choong Chee Keong , Chen I-Chi , Choong Yuen Onn
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Medical tourism has grown to become a formidable multinational industry to generate revenue. This phenomenon has also increased impact on the healthcare sector as well as strategies development opportunities. The present study emphases on the international tourists' behavioural intention for medical tourism in Malaysia. A research framework is derived from the exceptional component of fear appeal in protection motivation theory (PMT).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected with a sample of 501 respondents and analysed via structural equation modelling approach. Both measurement model and structural model were assessed to generate the result.

Findings

The outcomes have shown a good backing on the use of adapted PMT theoretical model. There is a higher predictive power on health coping than health threats. Coping alternatives can be served as the linkage between the PMT appraisals and behavioural intention.

Research limitations/implications

The study confirmed the effectiveness of using a theoretical framework in predicting international tourists' behavioural intention for medical tourism. It is suggesting that risk adaptive behaviour does offer a valuable proposition in contributing to the reception of medical tourism.

Practical implications

The present study argues the need for greater clarity in understanding the emergent implications for health policy and healthcare delivery for future medical tourism development.

Originality/value

The fundamental theories and current literature do not incorporate the component of fear appeal in explaining decision making. The study findings demonstrate that protection motivation theory has provide another promising theoretical model in explaining international tourists' behaviour intention for medical tourism.
HIV/AIDS and child malnutrition in eastern and southern Africa
Authors: Adika Gameli
Published: February 2021

HIV/AIDS and child malnutrition are pervasive in eastern and southern Africa. This paper employs cross‐country panel data on 20 countries from 1991 to 2017 to explore the macro‐level relationship between HIV/AIDS and child malnutrition. Using instrumental variables (IV) regression, we find that HIV/AIDS is a robust predictor of long‐term and chronic malnutrition. Conditional on various controls, the results demonstrate a positive empirical association between HIV/AIDS and stunting. Moreover, increased access to improved water, female education, and food availability are critical for reducing stunting. These findings underscore the need for an integrated national policy on nutrition and HIV/AIDS and intersectoral collaboration between government agencies responsible for managing nutrition and HIV/AIDS programs.
Obligatory medical prescription of antibiotics in Russia: Navigating formal and informal health‐care infrastructures
Authors: Kamenshchikova Alena , Fedotova Marina M. , Fedorova Olga S. , Fedosenko Sergey V. , Wolffs Petra F. G. , Hoebe Christian J. P. A. , Horstman Klasien
Published: February 2021

Antimicrobial resistance control programmes often aim to “fix” the behaviour of antibiotic users and prescribers. Such behavioural interventions have been widely criticised in social science literature for being inefficient and too narrow in scope. Drawing on these criticisms, this article analyses how political programmes for fixing antibiotic behaviours were adapted into the practices of health‐care professionals and patients in Russia. In 2018, we conducted interviews with medical doctors, pharmacists and patients in a Russian city; focusing on their practices around the policy requirement introduced in 2017 which obligated medical prescriptions of antibiotics. We conceptualised the obligatory medical prescription as a political technique which sought to change practices of self‐treatment and over‐the‐counter sales of medications by establishing doctors as an obligatory passage point to access antibiotics. Our analysis shows that the requirement for medical prescriptions does not fulfil the infrastructural gaps that influence antibiotic practices. By navigating the antibiotic prescriptions, doctors, pharmacists and patients informally compensate for the gaps in the existing infrastructure creating informal networks of antibiotic care parallel to the requirement of obligatory prescriptions. Following these informal practices, we could map the inconsistencies in the current policy approaches to tackle AMR as a behavioural rather than infrastructural problem.
‘Nesef Doctora’—When mothers are considered to be ‘half‐doctors’: Self‐medication with antibiotics and gender roles in the Arab society in Israel
Authors: Khazen Maram , Guttman Nurit
Published: February 2021

This qualitative study focuses on self‐medication with antibiotics as it relates to gender roles and traditions in the Arab society in Israel, a collectivist minority with defined traditional gender norms. Its findings draw on the analysis of 116 face‐to‐face interviews with 60 pharmacists, 27 primary care physicians and 29 community members, mainly mothers and unmarried women, from different geographical localities. The findings describe how mothers are assigned the role of the family health caretakers, expected to abide to a hierarchical power structure, and listen to the advice of ‘senior mothers’. These expectations can lead to mothers self‐medicating their children and themselves with antibiotics. Traditional constraints associated with sexuality were also found to compel unmarried women to self‐medicate. The findings point to a duality of power in family relations: women submit to having limited power in traditional gender roles but are accorded power as medical experts in health‐care decision‐making. The study concludes with recommendations for considering sociocultural factors of hierarchy, traditions and collectivist orientation when researching self‐care patterns and developing interventions to curtail antibiotics overuse. It also points to the importance of recognising pressures exerted on unmarried women and enabling them to use health‐care resources in their community for managing sexual health.
Is the end in sight? A study of how and why services are decommissioned in the English National Health Service
Authors: Williams Iestyn , Harlock Jenny , Robert Glenn , Kimberly John , Mannion Russell
Published: February 2021

The decommissioning of a health‐care service is invariably a highly complex and contentious process which faces many implementation challenges. There has been little specific theorisation of this phenomena, although insights can be transferred from wider literatures on policy implementation and change processes. In this paper, we present findings from empirical case studies of three decommissioning processes initiated in the English National Health Service. We apply Levine's (1979, Public Administration Review, 39(2), 179–183) typology of decommissioning drivers and insights from the empirical literature on pluralistic health‐care contexts, complex change processes and institutional constraints. Data include interviews, non‐participant observation and documents analysis. Alongside familiar patterns of pluralism and political partisanship, our results suggest the important role played by institutional factors in determining the outcome of decommissioning processes and in particular the prior requirement of political vulnerability for services to be successfully closed. Factors linked to the extent of such vulnerability include the scale of the proposed changes and extent to which they are supported at the macrolevel.
Ambivalent anticipation: How people with Alzheimer’s disease value diagnosis in current and envisioned future practices
Authors: Nielsen Karen Dam , Boenink Marianne
Published: February 2021

Emergent biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are expected to provide earlier and more precise diagnoses. However, even if biomarkers live up to these expectations, it cannot be taken for granted that patients actually would value an earlier and more precise AD diagnosis. Based on an interview study, we aim to give more insight into the value of an AD diagnosis for patients, in existing as well as future practices, by describing how a diagnosis enables or may enable knowing, foreseeing, and acting in relation to one's illness. Our findings show that how people with AD value a diagnosis is not only characterised by great variety, as previous studies have shown, but also by profound ambivalence for the individual. With lack of treatment and poor prognostics as the status quo, this ambivalence and the way people deal with it are particularly linked to the far‐from‐straightforward capacity of an AD diagnosis to support anticipation of the future. We argue that in otherwise unchanged practices the envisioned future biomarker‐based diagnostics are unlikely to reduce the ambivalence about receiving an AD diagnosis and, in particular, the challenges of anticipation that it entails. Rather, biomarker‐based innovations may even reinforce some of the main issues involved.
Peer conversation about substance (mis)use
Authors: Pillet‐Shore Danielle
Published: February 2021

What happens when a friend starts talking about her own substance use and misuse? This article provides the first investigation of how substance use is spontaneously topicalized in naturally occurring conversation. It presents a detailed analysis of a rare video‐recorded interaction showing American English‐speaking university students talking about their own substance (mis)use in a residential setting. During this conversation, several substance (mis)use informings are disclosed about one participant, and this study elucidates whatoccasionseach disclosure, and how participantsrespondto each disclosure. This research shows how participants use casual conversation to offer important substance (mis)use information to their friends and cohabitants, tacitly recruiting their surveillance. Analysis also uncovers how an emerging adult peer group enacts informal social control, locally (re‐)constituting taken‐for‐granted social norms and the participants’ social relationships, to on the one handpromotealcohol use while, on the other hand endeavouring topreventone member from engaging in continued pain medication misuse. This article thus illuminates ordinary peer conversation as an important site for continued sociological research on substance (mis)use and prevention.
A COVID‐19 pandemic‐specific, structured care process for peritoneal dialysis patients facilitated by telemedicine: Therapy continuity, prevention, and complications management
Authors: Polanco Elianny , Aquey Mercedes , Collado Jhanna , Campos Erwin , Guzman Janny , Cuevas‐Budhart Miguel Angel , Divino‐Filho José Carolino , Ramos‐Sanchez Alfonso
Published: February 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has been declared a pandemic. Peritoneal dialysis (PD), being a home therapy, allows for physical distancing measures and movement restrictions. In order to prevent COVID‐19 contagioun among the Dominican Republic National Health System PD program patients, a follow‐up virtual protocol for this group was developed. The aim of this study is to outline the protocol established by the PD program's healthcare team using telemedicine in order to avoid COVID‐19 transmission and to report initial results and outcomes of this initiative. This is an observational prospective longitudinal study with 946 patients being treated in seven centers distributed throughout the country between April 1 and June 30. The protocol was implemented focusing on the patient follow‐up; risk mitigation data were registered and collected from electronic records. During the follow‐up period, 95 catheters were implanted, 64 patients initiated PD, and the remaining were in training. A total of 9532 consultations were given by the different team specialists, with 8720 (91%) virtual and 812 (9%) face‐to‐face consultations. The transfer rate to hemodialysis was 0.29%, whereas the peritonitis rate was 0.11 episode per patient/year. Eighteen adults tested positive for COVID‐19. The implementation of the protocol and telemedicine utilization have ensured follow‐up and monitoring, preserved therapy, controlled complications, and PD lives protected.
Malignant priapism in metastatic adenocarcinoma of gastrointestinal origin: A 18F‐FDG PET/CT study
Authors: Liu Geoffrey , Patel Mihir
Published: February 2021

Priapism is described as a persistent and non‐sexual erection. It is a rare presenting complaint with a wide range of aetiologies. Malignant priapism was first used to describe persistent erections secondary to neoplastic infiltration of the penis by Peacock in 1938.
Effects of experimental land management on habitat use by Eurasian Stone‐curlews
Authors: Hawkes R. W. , Smart J. , Brown A. , Green R. E. , Jones H. , Dolman P. M.
Published: February 2021

Effective conservation is often informed by focal species studies to identify beneficial land management interventions. For nocturnal or cryptic species, quantifying habitat use across individually marked animals can allow unbiased assessment of intervention efficacy and identify other important habitats. Here, using a landscape‐scale experiment, we examine whether interventions intended to create nesting habitat for the largely nocturnal Eurasian Stone‐curlew Burhinus oedicnemus within semi‐natural grassland also provide foraging habitat. GPS loggers were fitted to five adult Stone‐curlews during the breeding season within an extensive area of semi‐natural grassland (3850 ha, hereafter ‘grassland’), surrounded by a mosaic of arable cropland (total study area 118 600 ha). The largely closed‐sward grassland was diversified by experimental ground‐disturbance plots (the intervention) prior to this study. We used the GPS fixes to identify 1881 foraging locations (510 during nesting and 1371 post‐breeding) across the grassland and surrounding landscape. Most foraging locations were close to the nest‐site during the nesting period (90% within 1 km) or day‐roost during post‐breeding (90% within 5 km), but birds travelled up to 4.1 km from these sites during nesting and 13 km post‐breeding. Stone‐curlews were two‐ (by night) or three‐times (by day) more likely to select disturbed‐grassland over unmodified grassland for foraging during nesting, and c. 15 times more likely to do so post‐breeding. Spring‐sown crops and pig fields or manure heaps were also selected over grassland for nocturnal foraging. Given that central place foraging occurs in this species, conservation efforts that promote breeding attempts through ground‐disturbance should ensure suitable foraging habitat is near the nest (<1 km). Creating multiple areas of disturbed‐ground close to the edge of large grassland blocks can provide a network of nesting and foraging habitats, while allowing access to foraging habitats on the surrounding arable farmland. Similar interventions may benefit other disturbance associated grassland waders.
Treatment of fingertip defect with reversed digital artery island flap through superficial vein anastomosis
Authors: Lan Xianfeng , Huang Yuming , Guo Liang , Lin Jingui
Published: February 2021

Background

This study prospectively explored the clinical effect of a reversed digital artery island flap (RDAIF) in repairing fingertip defects and the impact of the anastomosis of superficial veins in the recipient area on the incidence of venous crisis.

Methods

A total of 92 patients with fingertip defects who underwent RDAIF from February 2016 to February 2018 were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Of these, 44 patients underwent superficial vein anastomosis. The perioperative data, clinical efficacy and complications of the two groups were compared by the chi‐squared test and binary logistic regression analysis.

Results

The average follow‐up time was 7.0 ± 2.9 months. The incidence of venous congestion was significantly correlated with flap size, surgical time and anastomosis of superficial veins (Wald = 6.512, 9.353 and 11.662; P = 0.011, 0.002 and 0.001, respectively). The fingertips of the two groups of patients were well repaired, wear resistant and stable in holding, and the two‐point discrimination was 5–8 mm.

Conclusion

RDAIF is a safe and effective method for the treatment of fingertip defects, especially in patients who require maintenance of function or contour of the fingertip. Anastomosis of the superficial veins and reduction of the flap area and surgical time can significantly reduce the incidence of venous congestion.
Understanding the appeal of libertarianism: Gender and race differences in the endorsement of libertarian principles
Authors: Lizotte Mary‐Kate , Warren Thomas
Published: February 2021

There is a stereotype of libertarians being young, college educated, white men and that the Libertarian Party lacks appeal among women and individuals of color. There is a great deal of research investigating gender differences in public opinion on a number of issues including the provision of government resources and government spending (Barnes and Cassese; Howell and Day). Nevertheless, there is no work specifically investigating why women and nonwhites do not find libertarianism appealing. We test several hypotheses using 2016 American National Election Study data and 2013 PRRI data. We find a sizeable and significant gender gap and race gap in support for libertarian principles. We investigate several explanations for these gaps finding moderate support for self‐interest, racial attitudes, and egalitarianism as reasons for women and African Americans being less supportive of Libertarian Principles. We believe that the modest success of and media attention garnered by Ron Paul and Rand Paul in recent years along with the success of the Libertarian Party presidential ticket in 2016 highlights the need to understand who is drawn to libertarianism and why.1
Costing alcohol‐related assault in the night‐time economy from a societal perspective: The case of Central Sydney
Authors: Deeming Simon , Kypri Kypros
Published: February 2021

Introduction

There is a concern in many countries about violence from late‐night alcohol sales and appropriate regulatory responses. However, economic losses arising from this activity rarely feature in public debate. Credible estimates are lacking because economic evaluations have not taken a ‘societal perspective’, costing health, policing and criminal justice outcomes. Our aims were to: (i) develop an analytic model capable of informing cost–benefit analysis of policy changes; and (ii) estimate costs of alcohol‐related assault (ARA) in a major city.

Methods

We employed decision‐analytic cohort models of health and judicial consequences of ARA in Sydney, Australia. We constructed two 6‐branch decision‐analytic models of patient and offender pathways through the health and judicial systems. We produced overall estimates and analysed their sensitivity to key assumptions.

Results

Combining results from aHealthmodel comprising 40 pathways and 137 cost events, and aJusticemodel comprising 20 pathways and 48 cost events, yielded an overall cost estimate of $85 093 per ARA, of which 64% was health‐related, while 36% was justice‐related. Estimates were sensitive to values assigned for ‘pain, suffering, morbidity and wellbeing’, and to costs of incarceration. Health service‐related costs accounted for 1.3% of the total.

Discussion and Conclusion

The costs of ARA are significant and dominated by incidents in which a victim does not necessarily receive acute medical care but suffers loss in quality‐of‐life, and where a perpetrator is processed through the criminal justice system. Being derived transparently, within a theoretical framework, the estimates are adaptable to inform cost–benefit analyses of policy options in Australia and other countries.
Good, homely, troublesome or improving? Historical geographies of drinking places, c. 1850–1950
Authors: Kneale James
Published: February 2021

This paper surveys historical geographies of drinking places designed for the consumption of alcohol between about 1850 and 1950, covering work published in English on sites in Europe, Russia, the Americas, and parts of Britain's empire. Five key aspects of drinking places are identified. The paper first considers them as significant social spaces associated with positive conceptions of both the public sphere and public space before exploring the ways in which drink became a spatial problem for contemporary observers, both in terms of their internal design and layout, and in their arrangements and concentrations in space. Histories and historical geographies of workers and patrons in these sites then suggest that the spatial problems associated with drink might also be classed, gendered, racialized, and sexualized. The last two sections of the paper review work on aspects of drinking places shared across many different social and geographical contexts: licensing and the provision of highly regulated ‘improved' sites for the consumption of alcohol. Similarities across many different contexts may reflect common social patterns or the development of shared strategies for reform. The conclusion suggests a few areas that might be developed.
The Wellness Quest: A health literacy and self‐advocacy tool developed by youth for youth mental health
Authors: Syan Asavari , Lam Janice Y. Y. , Huang Christal G. L. , Smith Maverick S. M. , Darnay Karleigh , Hawke Lisa D. , Henderson Joanna
Published: February 2021

Background

Less than 20% of youth who experience mental health difficulties access and receive appropriate treatment. This is exacerbated by barriers such as stigma, confidentiality concerns and lack of mental health literacy. A youth team developed the Wellness Quest: a health literacy tool to enable help‐seeking youth to advocate for themselves.

Objective

To evaluate the content, presentation and utility of the Wellness Quest tool among youth.

Participants

Participants aged 14 to 26.

Methods

A youth research team conducted five focus groups and one online survey to evaluate the Wellness Quest tool. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data, and descriptive statistics were used to explore the survey results.

Main results

Overall evaluations of the Wellness Quest were positive: participants felt it would be useful during their mental health help‐seeking journey. Participants expressed the need for information about services for specific populations, such as Indigenous, immigrants, refugees and 2SLGBTQ + youth. They expressed that the tool should be available in complementary online and print versions.

Discussion

Improving mental health literacy may improve mental health by enabling youth and those who support them to recognize and respond to signs of distress and understanding where and how to get help. The Wellness Quest tool may equip youth with the knowledge to make informed decisions and advocate for their own mental health, thereby facilitating help‐seeking among youth.

Patient or public contribution

Youth as service users led all stages of the project, from designing and conducting the study and analysing the data to writing the manuscript.
Genetic relationships between feed efficiency and gut microbiome in pig lines selected for residual feed intake
Authors: Aliakbari Amir , Zemb Olivier , Billon Yvon , Barilly Céline , Ahn Ingrid , Riquet Juliette , Gilbert Hélène
Published: February 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the genetic relationship between faecal microbial composition and five feed efficiency (FE) and production traits, residual feed intake (RFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), daily feed intake (DFI), average daily gain (ADG) and backfat thickness (BFT). A total of 588 samples from two experimental pig lines developed by divergent selection for RFI were sequenced for the 16 rRNA hypervariable V3‐V4 region. The 75 genera with less than 20% zero values (97% of the counts) and two α‐diversity indexes were analysed. Line comparison of the microbiota traits and estimations of heritability (h2) and genetic correlations (rg) were analysed. A non‐metric multidimensional scaling showed line differences between genera. The α‐diversity indexes were higher in the LRFI line than in the HRFI line (p < .01), with h2 estimates of 0.19 ± 0.08 (Shannon) and 0.12 ± 0.06 (Simpson). Forty‐eight genera had a significant h2 (>0.125). The rg of the α‐diversities indexes with production traits were negative. Some rg of genera belonging to the Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Prevotellaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Streptococcaceae, Rikenellaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae families significantly differed from zero (p < .05) with FE traits, RFI (3), DFI (7) and BFT (11). These results suggest that a sizable part of the variability of the gut microbial community is under genetic control and has genetic relationships with FE, including diversity indicators. It offers promising perspectives for selection for feed efficiency using gut microbiome composition in pigs.