bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Association Between Age at Diagnosis and Disease Characteristics and Damage in Patients With ANCA‐Associated Vasculitis
Authors: Bloom Jessica L. , Pickett‐Nairn Kaci , Silveira Lori , Fuhlbrigge Robert C. , Cuthbertson David , Akuthota Praveen , Corbridge Thomas C. , Khalidi Nader A. , Koening Curry L. , Langford Carol A. , McAlear Carol A. , Monach Paul A. , Moreland Larry W. , Pagnoux Christian , Rhee Rennie L. , Seo Philip , Silver Jared , Specks Ulrich , Warrington Kenneth J. , Wechsler Michael E. , Merkel Peter A. ,   for the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium
Published: July 2023

Objective

This study examined the relationship between age at diagnosis and disease characteristics and damage in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods

Analysis of a prospective longitudinal cohort of patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and eosinophilic GPA (EGPA) in the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium (2013–2021). Disease cohorts were divided by age at diagnosis (years): children (<18), young adults (18–40), middle‐aged adults (41–65), and older adults (>65). Data included demographics, ANCA type, clinical characteristics, Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI) scores, ANCA Vasculitis Index of Damage (AVID) scores, and novel disease‐specific and non‐disease‐specific damage scores built from VDI and AVID items.

Results

Analysis included data from 1020 patients with GPA/MPA and 357 with EGPA. Female predominance in GPA/MPA decreased with age at diagnosis. AAV in childhood was more often GPA and proteinase 3‐ANCA positive. Children with GPA/MPA experienced more subglottic stenosis and alveolar hemorrhage; children and young adults with EGPA experienced more alveolar hemorrhage, need for intubation, and gastrointestinal involvement. Older adults (GPA/MPA) had more neurologic manifestations. After adjusting for disease duration, medications, tobacco, and ANCA, all damage scores increased with age at diagnosis for GPA/MPA (P < 0.001) except the disease‐specific damage score, which did not differ (P = 0.44). For EGPA, VDI scores increased with age at diagnosis (P < 0.009), whereas all other scores were not significantly different.

Conclusion

Age at diagnosis is associated with clinical characteristics in AAV. Although VDI and AVID scores increase with age at diagnosis, this is driven by non‐disease‐specific damage items.

image
Imagining risk taking: The valence of mental imagery is related to the declared willingness to take risky actions
Authors: Smieja Joanna , Zaleskiewicz Tomasz , Sobkow Agata , Traczyk Jakub
Published: July 2023

The aim of the present research was to investigate the involvement of mental imagery in people's choices under risk. We tested the general idea that decision makers can use visual mental images (visual mental simulations) to pre‐experience how rewarding or threatening future outcomes of risky behavior will be and try out the potential consequences of their risky activities. The paper reports the results of three preregistered studies (including one experiment) showing that the valence of mental imagery is related to the willingness to take risky actions and that people spontaneously use mental imagery as an informative decision input. In Study 1, we found that the more positive mental images people produced when faced with risk, the more willing they were to take risky actions representing different risk domains. Study 2 extended the results of Study 1, indicating that the valence of mental imagery has a causal effect on participants' risk taking willingness. Qualitative analysis based on independent judges' evaluations conducted in Studies 1 and 2 documented that, when requested, participants could easily generate visual mental images illustrating the consequences of their risky choices. Finally, with Study 3, we found that participants declared using mental imagery as a decision input (i.e., a source of information that helps them make choices) even when they were not instructed to do so. However, the frequency of reporting images as decision inputs differed across risky activities.
Alterations of large‐scale functional network connectivity in patients with infantile esotropia before and after surgery
Authors: Guo Jianlin , Chen Yuanyuan , Liu Wen , Huang Lijuan , Hu Di , Lv Yanqiu , Kang Huiying , Li Ningdong , Peng Yun
Published: July 2023

Background

Growing evidences have indicated neurodevelopmental disorders in infantile esotropia (IE). However, few studies have analyzed the characteristics of large‐scale functional networks of IE patients or their postoperative network‐level alterations.

Methods

Here, individuals with IE (n = 32) and healthy subjects (n = 30) accomplished the baseline clinical examinations and resting‐state MRI scans. A total of 17 IE patients also underwent corrective surgeries and completed the longitudinal clinical assessments and resting‐state MRI scans. Linear mixed effects models were applied for cross‐sectional and longitudinal network‐level analyses. Correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between longitudinal functional connectivity (FC) alterations and baseline clinical variables.

Results

In cross‐sectional analyses, network‐level FC were apparently aberrant in IE patients compared to controls. In longitudinal analyses, intra‐ and internetwork connectivity were observed with significant alterations in postoperative IE patients compared to the preoperative counterparts. Longitudinal FC changes are negatively correlated to the age at surgery in IE.

Conclusions

Obviously, altered network‐level FC benefiting from the corrective surgery serves as the neurobiological substrate of the observed improvement of stereovision, visuomotor coordination, and emotional management in postoperative IE patients. Corrective surgery should be performed as early as possible to obtain more benefits for IE in brain function recovery.
Clinical outcome assessment trends in clinical trials—Contrasting oncology and non‐oncology trials
Authors: Kim Yeonju , Gilbert Mark R. , Armstrong Terri S. , Celiku Orieta
Published: July 2023

Background

Clinical outcome assessments (COAs) are key to patient‐centered evaluation of novel interventions and supportive care. COAs are particularly informative in oncology where a focus on how patients feel and function is paramount, but their incorporation in trial outcomes have lagged that of traditional survival and tumor responses. To understand the trends of COA use in oncology and the impact of landmark efforts to promote COA use, we computationally surveyed oncology clinical trials in ClinicalTrials.gov comparing them to the rest of the clinical research landscape.

Methods

Oncology trials were identified using medical subject heading neoplasm terms. Trials were searched for COA instrument names obtained from PROQOLID. Regression analyses assessed chronological and design‐related trends.

Results

Eighteen percent of oncology interventional trials initiated 1985–2020 (N = 35,415) reported using one or more of 655 COA instruments. Eighty‐four percent of the COA‐using trials utilized patient‐reported outcomes, with other COA categories used in 4–27% of these trials. Likelihood of COA use increased with progressing trial phase (OR = 1.30, p < 0.001), randomization (OR = 2.32, p < 0.001), use of data monitoring committees (OR = 1.26, p < 0.001), study of non‐FDA‐regulated interventions (OR = 1.23, p = 0.001), and in supportive care versus treatment‐focused trials (OR = 2.94, p < 0.001). Twenty‐six percent of non‐oncology trials initiated 1985–2020 (N = 244,440) reported COA use; they had similar COA‐use predictive factors as oncology trials. COA use increased linearly over time (R = 0.98, p < 0.001), with significant increases following several individual regulatory events.

Conclusion

While COA use across clinical research has increased over time, there remains a need to further promote COA use particularly in early phase and treatment‐focused oncology trials.
Current ethical dilemmas experienced by therapists who use social media: A systematic review
Authors: White Ella , Hanley Terry
Published: July 2023

Background

Despite the rise in therapist use of social media, current ethical guidelines have not provided clear guidance on how to use social media. Ethical guidelines commonly suggest therapists apply the same ethical principles advised for their offline work, without thorough consideration of differing potential ethical dilemmas online.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted to explore the main ethical dilemmas encountered by therapists who use social media. Three databases were searched: PsycINFO, Web of Science and CINAHL Plus. A total of 52 studies were screened by their titles and abstracts, with a subsequent 36 studies analysed against inclusion and exclusion criteria. The remaining 14 studies were assessed using quality standards and included within the thematic synthesis.

Findings

Data analysis conceptualised three themes: therapist searches risking the therapeutic relationship with subthemes of loss and trust and power imbalance; therapist defensiveness in response to client searches with subthemes of self‐disclosure and self‐protection; and societal normalisation of social media with subthemes of familiarity and ease and blurred boundaries.

Conclusion

The societal prevalence of social media use suggests it is now inevitable that therapists will experience some form of ethical dilemma regarding social media. Therapists need an awareness of how online searches for clients may impact the therapeutic relationship. The risk of boundary crossings from clients online can be minimised through increased privacy settings and reflexivity on what therapists self‐disclose online. Ethical dilemmas on social media should be discussed in supervision, with further guidance needed for the ethical use of social media as a therapist.
Composition, Antibiofilm, and Antibacterial Potential of Volatile Oils from Geopropolis of Different Stingless Bees’ Species**
Authors: Storch Portal Ariane , Schiquet Scarlet , Padilha Amaral Bruna , Mascarenhas Krepsky Larissa , Curbani Luana , Andrade Rebelo Ricardo , Rau Martinho , Althoff Sérgio Luís , Guedes Alessandro , Mendes de Cordova Caio Maurício
Published: July 2023

We aimed to characterize and investigate the antibacterial potential of the native stingless bees geopropolis volatile oils (VO) for the search of potentially new bioactive compounds. Geopropolis samples from Melipona bicolor schencki, M. compressipes manaosensis, M. fasciculata, M. quadrifasciata, M. marginata and M. seminigra merrillae were collected from hives in South Brazil. VO were obtained by hydrodistillation and characterised by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Antimicrobial activity was assessed by microplate dilution method. The lowest MIC against cell walled bacteria was 219±0 μg mL−1 from M. quadrifasciata geopropolis VO with Staphylococcus aureus. The M. b. schencki geopropolis VO minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) was 424±0 μg mL−1 against all the mycoplasma strains evaluated. Fractionation resulted in the reduction of 50 % of the MIC value from the original oil. However, its compounds’ synergism seems to be essential to this activity. Antibiofilm assays demonstrated 15.25 % eradication activity and 13.20 % inhibition of biofilm formation after 24 h for one subfraction at 2× its MIC as the best results found. This may be one of the essential mechanisms by which geopropolis VOs perform their antimicrobial activity.
Gas Permeation through Mechanically Resistant Self‐Standing Membranes of a Neat Amorphous Organic Cage
Authors: Mobili Riccardo , La Cognata Sonia , Monteleone Marcello , Longo Mariagiulia , Fuoco Alessio , Serapian Stefano A. , Vigani Barbara , Milanese Chiara , Armentano Donatella , Jansen Johannes C. , Amendola Valeria
Published: July 2023

The synthesis and characterization of a novel film‐forming organic cage and of its smaller analogue are here described. While the small cage produced single crystals suitable for X‐ray diffraction studies, the large one was isolated as a dense film. Due to its remarkable film‐forming properties, this latter cage could be solution processed into transparent thin‐layer films and mechanically stable dense self‐standing membranes of controllable thickness. Thanks to these peculiar features, the membranes were also successfully tested for gas permeation, reporting a behavior similar to that found with stiff glassy polymers such as polymers of intrinsic microporosity or polyimides. Given the growing interest in the development of molecular‐based membranes, for example for separation technologies and functional coatings, the properties of this organic cage were investigated by thorough analysis of their structural, thermal, mechanical and gas transport properties, and by detailed atomistic simulations.
Direct Amination of Benzene with Ammonia by Flow Plasma Chemistry
Authors: Dupont Victor , Ognier Stéphanie , Morand Gabriel , Ollivier Cyril , Fensterbank Louis , Tatoulian Michael
Published: July 2023

Amine derivatives, including aniline and allylic amines, can be formed in a single‐step process from benzene and an ammonia plasma in a microreactor. Different process parameters such as temperature, residence time, and plasma power were evaluated to improve the reaction yield and its selectivity toward aminated products and avoid hydrogenated or oligomerized products. In parallel, simulation studies of the process have been carried out to propose a global mechanism and gain a better understanding of the influence of the different process parameters. The exploration of diverse related alkenes showed that the double bonds, conjugation, and aromatization influenced the amination mechanism. Benzene was the best reactant for amination based on the lifetime of radical intermediates. Under optimized conditions, benzene was aminated in the absence of catalyst with a yield of 3.8 % and a selectivity of 49 % in various amino compounds.
A Rising Star: Luminescent Carbene‐Metal‐Amide Complexes
Authors: Ying Ao , Gong Shaolong
Published: July 2023

Coinage metal (gold, silver, and copper) complexes are attractive candidates to substitute the widely studied noble metal complexes, such as, iridium(III) and platinum(II), as luminescent materials in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, the development of coinage metal complexes exhibiting high emission quantum yields and short exciton lifetimes is still a formidable challenge. In the past few years, coinage metal complexes featuring a carbene‐metal‐amide (CMA) motif have emerged as a new class of luminescent materials in OLEDs. Thanks to the coinage metal‐bridged linear geometry, coplanar conformation, and the formation of excited states with dominant ligand‐to‐ligand charge transfer character and reduced metal d‐orbital participation, most CMA complexes have high radiative rates via thermally activated delayed fluorescence. Currently, the family of CMA complexes have rapidly evolved and remarkable progresses in CMA‐based OLEDs have been made. Here, a Concept article on CMA complexes is presented, with a focus on molecular design principles, the correlation between molecular structure/conformation and optoelectronic properties, as well as OLED performance. The future prospects of CMA complexes are also discussed.
Light‐, Middle‐ and Heavy‐Lanthanide Ate‐Complexes Bearing Ln(III)–Si bonds: Structural, Spectroscopic, and Bonding Analysis
Authors: Pan Xiaowei , Wu Changjiang , Fang Huayi , Yan Chunhua
Published: July 2023

Comprehensive Summary

Recent decades have witnessed a rapid development of the lanthanide silicon chemistry. In this research, by reacting [(THF)3LiSiPh3] with Cp3Ln(III)(THF) (Ln(III) = Sm(III), Tb(III), Dy(III), Yb(III)) or Cp2Lu(III)Cl(THF), a series of middle‐ and heavy‐lanthanocene monosilyl/disilyl ate‐complexes ([(DME)3Li][Cp3Ln(III)SiPh3] and [(DME)3Li][Cp2Lu(III)(SiPh3)2]) were synthesized. The structures of the obtained lanthanocene monosilyl/disilyl ate‐complexes were determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. Together with the previously reported [(DME)3Li][Cp3La(III)SiPh3] and [(DME)3Li][Cp3Ce(III)SiPh3], a complex group comprising silyl light‐, middle‐ and heavy‐lanthanocene with identical core coordination pattern are presented. The structure analysis of this group of complexes showed that their key geometric parameters, including the Ln(III)–Si bond lengths and Ln(III)–Si–Cph/Cph–Si–Cph angles, were linearly correlated with the ionic radii of Ln(III) centers. Computational studies based on density functional theory calculations suggested the strongly polarized nature of the Ln(III)–Si bonds in these ate‐complexes. The UV‐Vis spectroscopy measurements of this group of ate‐complexes showed that the characteristic absorptions were hypsochromically shifted for complexes with heavier Ln(III) centers. In addition, as revealed by the time‐dependent density functional theory analysis, the HOMOs, in which the Ln(III)–Si σ‐bonding orbitals were the dominant components, of these complexes acted as main donor orbitals in the major electron transitions.
A combined moment equation approach for spatial autoregressive models
Authors: Liu Jiaxin , Liu Hongliang , Li Yi , Lin Huazhen
Published: July 2023

Existing methods for fitting spatial autoregressive models have various strengths and weaknesses. For example, the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) approach yields efficient estimates but is computationally burdensome. Computationally efficient methods, such as generalized method of moments (GMMs) and spatial two‐stage least squares (2SLS), typically require exogenous covariates to be significant, a restrictive assumption that may fail in practice. We propose a new estimating equation approach, termed combined moment equation (COME), which combines the first moment with covariance conditions on the residual terms. The proposed estimator is less computationally demanding than MLE and does not need the restrictive exogenous conditions as required by GMM and 2SLS. We show that the proposed estimator is consistent and establish its asymptotic distribution. Extensive simulations demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the competitors in terms of bias, efficiency, and computation. We apply the proposed method to analyze an air pollution study, and obtain some interesting results about the spatial distribution of PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing.
Assessment of longitudinal changes in body composition of children with lymphoma and rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Wadhwa Aman , Lim Shawn , Dai Chen , Daniels Gabriel , Adams Kandice , Richman Joshua S. , McDonald Andrew , Williams Grant R. , Bhatia Smita
Published: July 2023

Background

Studies examining changes in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue during treatment for cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults and their effect on the risk of chemotherapy toxicity (chemotoxicity) are limited.

Methods

Among 78 patients with lymphoma (79.5%) and rhabdomyosarcoma (20.5%), changes were measured in skeletal muscle (skeletal muscle index [SMI]; skeletal muscle density [SMD]) and adipose tissue (height‐adjusted total adipose tissue [hTAT]) between baseline and first subsequent computed tomography scans at the third lumbar vertebral level by using commercially available software. Body mass index (BMI; operationalized as a percentile [BMI%ile]) and body surface area (BSA) were examined at each time point. The association of changes in body composition with chemotoxicities was examined by using linear regression.

Results

The median age at cancer diagnosis of this cohort (62.8% male; 55.1% non‐Hispanic White) was 12.7 years (2.5–21.1 years). The median time between scans was 48 days (range, 8–207 days). By adjusting for demographics and disease characteristics, this study found that patients undergo a significant decline in SMD (β ± standard error [SE] = −4.1 ± 1.4; p < .01). No significant changes in SMI (β ± SE = −0.5 ± 1.0; p = .7), hTAT (β ± SE = 5.5 ± 3.9; p = .2), BMI% (β ± SE = 4.1 ± 4.8; p = .3), or BSA (β ± SE = −0.02 ± 0.01; p = .3) were observed. Decline in SMD (per Hounsfield unit) was associated with a greater proportion of chemotherapy cycles with grade ≥3 nonhematologic toxicity (β ± SE = 1.09 ± 0.51; p = .04).

Conclusions

This study shows that children, adolescents, and young adults with lymphoma and rhabdomyosarcoma undergo a decline in SMD early during treatment, which is associated with a risk of chemotoxicities. Future studies should focus on interventions designed at preventing the loss of muscle during treatment.

Plain Language Summary

We show that among children, adolescents, and young adults with lymphoma and rhabdomyosarcoma receiving chemotherapy, skeletal muscle density declines early during treatment.

Additionally, a decline in skeletal muscle density is associated with a greater risk of nonhematologic chemotoxicities.
Association of habitual sleep duration and its trajectory with the risk of cancer according to sex and body mass index in a population‐based cohort
Authors: Ning Deng , Fang Yuanyuan , Zhang Wanguang
Published: July 2023

Background

The relationship between sleep duration and cancer in China remains inconclusive. The authors investigated the association between sleep duration and cancer from both static and dynamic perspectives.

Methods

This study was based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. We first tested the hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between baseline sleep duration and incident cancer using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Sleep duration trajectories from 2011 to 2015 were identified using group‐based trajectory modeling to examine the subsequent risk of incident cancer from 2015 to 2018 using Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results

The risk of incident cancer increased by 69% (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.19–2.39) in individuals who slept for <7 h per day (vs. 7 to ≤8 h), 41% (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.01–1.95) in those who slept for <6 h per night (vs. 6 to ≤8 h), and 60% (HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.01–2.55) in those who did not take any naps during the day (vs. >60 min). Stratified by sex and body mass index, the risk of cancer was evident among women with night sleep of <6 h (vs. 6–8 h). However, the duration of <7 h of total sleep among men and overweight individuals was associated with cancer risk. Moreover, individuals with a short night sleep duration but no napping had a higher risk of cancer. Furthermore, cancer risk was only observed in individuals with short stable trajectory of night sleep (HR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.07–3.80) and among women with short stable trajectory of total sleep (HR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.13–4.52).

Conclusions

Cancer incidence risk was observed in participants with sleep duration of <7 h and among women with short stable sleep trajectory. Short nights and total sleep duration were both associated with a high risk of incident cancer, but varied by sex. Interestingly, cancer risk was restricted to women with short stable sleep trajectory.

Plain Language Summary

This study showed that short nights and total sleep duration were associated with a high risk of cancer incidence in middle‐aged and elderly Chinese population, with implications for early effective cancer prevention.

Habitual sleep is a modifiable and dynamic lifestyle behavior, and long‐term short sleep trajectories among women can predict cancer outcomes.

Future studies should examine the association between the trajectory of sleep parameters based on objective measures and specific cancer types.
Trends in participant race and sex reporting in lung cancer phase III clinical trials
Authors: Aslam Faaiq N. , Manochakian Rami , Lou Yanyan , Colon‐Otero Gerardo , Sher Taimur
Published: July 2023

Background

Clinical trials are an essential part of advancing care for cancer patients. Historically, however, racial minorities and females have been underrepresented in these trials. Efforts like the National Institute of Health Revitalization Act attempted to mitigate these disparities, but despite these efforts, they continue to exist. These disparities can subsequently lead to minorities and females receiving suboptimal care.

Aims

The purpose of our study was to understand the changing trends in reporting of participant race and sex as a demographic variable in phase III lung cancer clinical trials published over the last 35 years given these consequences of poor representation.

Methods and results

A total of 426 articles reporting the results of phase III lung cancer clinical trials published from 1984 to 2019 were identified in PubMed. From these articles, data on participant sex and race were collected from the demographic tables to construct the database for this study. This database was subsequently used to determine the rate of reporting of demographic factors like race and sex and the participation trends over the time of minority and female participation in lung cancer phase III clinical trials. The SciPy Stats package for Python was used to calculate descriptive statistics, 95% confidence intervals, two sample t‐test, one‐way analysis of variance test, and Pearson's correlation coefficients. The Matplotlib package for Python was used for figure generation. Only 137 (32.2%) of the 426 studies analyzed reported the race of participants. Among those studies, we found that the mean participation rate of White participants was significantly higher (82.65%; p < .001). We found a decrease in African American participants and an increase in Asian participants over time. When looking at sex, we found that although the rate of male participation (69.02%) was significantly higher than that of female participation (30.98%), female participation has improved with time at a rate of 0.65% per year.

Conclusion

We found that the reporting and participation of minority races continue to lag that of other demographic factors like sex in phase III clinical trials in lung cancer. Based on our analysis, we note a decline in participation of African Americans in lung cancer phase III clinical trials despite the rising incidence of lung cancer.
Compulsory versus voluntary extensive reading: Investigating English learners' perceptions, proficiency and school banding
Authors: Tsang Art , Fung Daniel
Published: July 2023

Reading is a core element in language education. Despite extensive research in second/foreign language (L2/FL) reading, relatively little is known about the differences between two common practices: Compulsory reading (i.e. reading assigned by teachers) and voluntary reading (i.e. self‐initiated reading). This article reports two related quantitative studies (n = 124; n = 498) investigating learners' out‐of‐class compulsory and voluntary English‐as‐a‐foreign‐language (EFL) story reading frequencies in Hong Kong. Learners' perceptions, EFL proficiency and school banding were analysed in relation to reading frequencies. It was found that the frequencies of engaging in both kinds of reading were very low. Reading frequencies and favourability towards story reading were found to be mildly to moderately correlated with proficiency. Among these variables, however, only voluntary reading significantly predicted proficiency. Students who were academically more competent showed greater favourability while those in the middle school banding reported a higher frequency of reading. The findings are discussed and implications are drawn.
The transcription factor ATF2 promotes gastric cancer progression by activating the METTL3/cyclin D1 pathway
Authors: Meng Hong , Li Jing , Sun Huapeng , Lin Yanxin , Xu Haisheng , Zhang Na
Published: July 2023

Globally, gastric cancer (GC) is a major cause of cancer death. This study is aimed at investigating the biological functions of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) and the underlying mechanism in GC. In the present work, GEPIA, UALCAN, Human Protein Atlas and StarBase databases were adopted to analyze ATF2 expression characteristics in GC tissues and normal gastric tissues, and its relationships with tumor grade and patients' survival time. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) method was employed to examine ATF2 mRNA expression in normal gastric tissues, GC tissues, and GC cell lines. Cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8) and EdU assays were utilized for detecting GC cell proliferation. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. PROMO database was applied to predict the binding site of ATF2 with the METTL3 promoter region. The binding relationship between ATF2 and the METTL3 promoter region was verified through dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation‐quantitative PCR (ChIP‐qPCR) assay. Western blot was performed to evaluate the effect of ATF2 on METTL3 expression. METTL3‐related signaling pathways were predicted using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) in the LinkedOmics database. It was found that, ATF2 level was elevated in GC tissues and cell lines in comparison with normal tissues and correlated with short patients' survival time. ATF2 overexpression facilitated GC cell growth and suppressed the apoptosis, whereas ATF2 knockdown suppressed GC cell proliferation and facilitated the apoptosis. ATF2 bound to the METTL3 promoter region, and ATF2 overexpression promoted the transcription of METTL3, and ATF2 knockdown restrained the transcription of METTL3. METTL3 was associated with cell cycle progression, and ATF2 overexpression enhanced cyclin D1 expression, and METTL3 knockdown reduced cyclin D1 expression. In summary, ATF2 facilitates GC cell proliferation and suppresses the apoptosis via activating the METTL3/cyclin D1 signaling pathway, and ATF2 is promising to be an anti‐drug target for GC.
Mapping marine benthic biological traits to facilitate future sustainable development
Authors: Bolam Stefan G. , Cooper Keith , Downie Anna‐Leena
Published: July 2023

Escalating societal demands placed on the seabed mean there has never been such a pressing need to align our understanding of the relationship between the physical impact of anthropogenic activities (e.g., installation of wind turbines, demersal fishing) and the structure and function of the seabed assemblages. However, spatial differences in benthic assemblages based on empirical data are currently not adequately incorporated into decision‐making processes regarding future licensable activities or wider marine spatial planning frameworks. This study demonstrates that, through harnessing a Big Data approach, large‐scale, continuous coverage maps revealing differences in biological traits expressions of benthic assemblages can be produced. We present independent maps based on a suite of response traits (depicting differences in responses to natural or anthropogenically induced change) and effects traits (reflecting different functional potential), although maps derived using single traits or combinations of a range of traits are possible. Models predicting variations in response traits expression provide greater confidence than those predicting effects traits. We discuss how such maps may be used to assist in the decision‐making process for the licensing of anthropogenic activities and as part of marine spatial planning approaches. The confidence in such maps to reflect spatial variations in marine benthic trait expression may, in the future, inherently be improved through (1) the inclusion of more empirical macrofaunal assemblage field data; (2) an improved knowledge of marine benthic taxa trait expression; and (3) a greater understanding of the traits responsible for determining a taxon's response to an anthropogenic pressure and a taxon's functional potential.
Foraging and mating behaviors of Hypsignathus monstrosus at the bat‐human interface in a central African rainforest
Authors: Schloesing Elodie , Caron Alexandre , Chambon Rémi , Courbin Nicolas , Labadie Morgane , Nina Roch , Mouiti Mbadinga Frida , Ngoubili Wilfrid , Sandiala Danficy , N’Kaya Tobi  , Bourgarel Mathieu , De Nys Hélène M. , Cappelle Julien
Published: July 2023

Studying wildlife space use in human‐modified environments contributes to characterize wildlife‐human interactions to assess potential risks of zoonotic‐pathogens transmission, and to pinpoint conservation issues. In central African rainforests with human dwelling and activities, we conducted a telemetry study on a group of males of Hypsignathus monstrosus, a lek‐mating fruit bat identified as a potential maintenance host for Ebola virus. During a lekking season in 2020, we investigated the foraging‐habitat selection and the individual nighttime space use during both mating and foraging activities close to villages and their surrounding agricultural landscape. At night, marked individuals strongly selected agricultural lands and more generally areas near watercourses to forage, where they spent more time compared to forest ones. Furthermore, the probability and duration of the presence of bats in the lek during nighttime decreased with the distance to their roost site but remained relatively high within a 10 km radius. Individuals adjusted foraging behaviors according to mating activity by reducing both the overall time spent in foraging areas and the number of forest areas used to forage when they spent more time in the lek. Finally, the probability of a bat revisiting a foraging area in the following 48 hours increased with the previous time spent in that foraging area. These behaviors occurring close to or in human‐modified habitats can trigger direct and indirect bat‐human contacts, which could thus facilitate pathogen transmission such as Ebola virus.
Thermal refugia and persistence of Texas horned lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) in small towns
Authors: Tucker Mary R. , Biffi Daniella , Williams Dean A.
Published: July 2023

Vegetation loss is a primary cause of habitat degradation and results in a decline in reptile species abundance due to loss of refuge from predators and hot temperatures, and foraging opportunities. Texas horned lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) have disappeared from many areas in Texas, especially from urbanized areas, probably in large part due to loss of suitable habitat. This species still occurs in some small towns in Texas that still contain suitable habitat. Long‐term data from Kenedy and Karnes City, Texas indicate that when study sites experienced significant shrub and vegetation removal horned lizards declined by 79%. We hypothesize the decline was due to the degradation of the thermal landscape for these lizards. We determined the preferred temperature range (Tset25 – Tset75) of lizards at our study sites and took field measurements of body temperature (Tb). Temperature loggers were also placed in three microhabitats across our study sites. Shrubs and vegetation provided the highest quality thermal environment, especially for about 5 h midday when temperatures in the open and buried under the surface in the open exceeded the lizards' critical maximum temperature (CTmax) or were above their preferred temperature range. Horned lizard density was positively related to the thermal quality of the habitat across our sites. Texas horned lizards in these towns require a heterogeneous mix of closely spaced microhabitats and especially thermal refugia, such as shrubs and vegetation along fence lines and in open fields. Maintaining thermal refugia is one of the most important and practical conservation actions that can be taken to help small ectotherms persist in modified human landscapes and cope with increasing temperatures due to climate change.
Real‐world use of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: Data from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry
Authors: Stolfo Davide , Lund Lars H. , Benson Lina , Lindberg Felix , Ferrannini Giulia , Dahlström Ulf , Sinagra Gianfranco , Rosano Giuseppe M.C. , Savarese Gianluigi
Published: July 2023

Aims

Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) reduce mortality/morbidity in heart failure (HF). We explored the implementation of SGLT2i over time, and patient characteristics associated with their use, in a large, nationwide population with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods and results

Patients with HFrEF (ejection fraction <40%), no type 1 diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <20 ml/min/1.73 m2 and/or on dialysis, registered in the Swedish HF Registry between 1 November 2020 and 5 August 2022 were included. Independent predictors of use were investigated by multivariable logistic regressions. Of 8192 patients, 37% received SGLT2i. Use increased overall from 20.5% to 59.0% over time, from 46.2% and 12.5% to 69.8% and 55.4% in patients with and without type 2 diabetes, from 14.7% and 22.3% to 58.0% and 59.8% in eGFR <60 versus ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2, from 21.0% and 18.9% to 61.6% and 52.0% in males versus females, from 24.2% and 18.0% to 60.8% and 57.7% in patients with versus without recent HF hospitalization, from 26.1% and 19.8% to 54.7% and 59.6% in inpatients versus outpatients, and from 20.2% and 21.2% to 59.2% and 58.7% in those with HF duration <6 versus ≥6 months, respectively. Important characteristics associated with SGLT2i use were male sex, recent HF hospitalization, specialized HF follow‐up, lower ejection fraction, type 2 diabetes, higher education level, use of other HF/cardiovascular interventions. Older age, higher blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and anaemia were associated with less use. Discontinuation rate at 6 and 12 months was 13.1% and 20.0%, respectively.

Conclusions

Use of SGLT2i increased three‐fold over 2 years. Although this indicates a more rapid translation of trial results and guidelines into clinical practice compared to previous HF drugs, further efforts are advocated to complete the implementation process while avoiding inequities across different patient subgroups and discontinuations.
Cobalt‐Catalyzed, 2‐Aminopyridine‐N‐Oxide‐Directed C(sp2)−H Bond Functionalization with Maleimides: Facile Access to Isoindolone Spirosuccinimides
Authors: Patel Raj N. , Patel Dharmik M. , Rathod Nileshkumar B. , Thakur Dinesh G. , Patel Sachinkumar D. , Tothadi Srinu , Ghosh Subhash Chandra
Published: July 2023

A cobalt‐catalyzed, N,O‐bidentate directing group‐assisted C−H bond functionalization of benzamides with maleimides was developed for the facile access to isoindolone spirosuccinimides in good to excellent yields. This C−H bond activation and spirocyclization employing pyridine N‐oxide as directing group provided very good substrate scope and tolerated various functional groups. Furthermore, the mechanistic investigation revealed that the C−H bond activation is the rate‐determining step of this reaction.
Chromosome damage in regions with different levels of air pollution
Authors: Musilova Petra , Kadlcikova Dita , Hradska Hana , Vozdova Miluse , Selingerova Iveta , Cernohorska Halina , Salat Dusan , Rubes Jiri
Published: July 2023

Air pollution is an important environmental factor influencing human health. In this study, we compared chromosome damage in city policemen from three cities in the Czech Republic: industrial Ostrava characterized by high levels of benzo[a]pyrene, Prague with heavy traffic emitting nitrogen oxides, and relatively clean Ceske Budejovice located in an area with predominantly agricultural activity. Chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes were evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization with painting probes for chromosomes 1, 2, 3, and 4 in spring and autumn. An increase in the frequency of unstable chromosome aberrations, that is, dicentric chromosomes and acentric fragments, was observed in spring samples from Ostrava (p = .014 and p = .044, respectively) and Prague (p = .002 and p = .006, respectively) in comparison with Ceske Budejovice. The difference was significant only for samples taken after the winter period, when the concentration of pollutants in the air increases due to poor dispersion conditions. An increased frequency of dicentric chromosomes was observed in spring compared to autumn in both Ostrava and Prague (p = .017 and p = .023, respectively), but not in Ceske Budejovice. More breakpoints were observed on chromosome 1 than on the other chromosomes examined (p < .001). The number of breakpoints in the heterochromatin region 1p11‐q12 was lower than in other parts of chromosome 1 (p < .001), suggesting a protective function of heterochromatin against damage. Our study showed, that air pollution increased the frequency of unstable chromosome aberrations, especially dicentric chromosomes. However, we did not show an effect on stable chromosome rearrangements.
Peek-A-Boo Test: A Simple Test for Assessing the Effect of Anxiolytics on Fish Behavior
Authors: Takai Yuki , Izumi Mutsumi , Motoyama Yuriko , Shimasaki Yohei , Oshima Yuji , Kang Ik Joon
Published: July 2023

The potential of pharmaceuticals and personal care products to alter the behavior of aquatic organisms is a growing concern. To assess the actual effect of these substances on aquatic organisms, a simple but effective behavioral test is required. We devised a simple behavioral (Peek-A-Boo) test to assess the effect of anxiolytics on the behavior of a model fish (medaka, Oryzias latipes). In the Peek-A-Boo test, we investigated the response of medaka to an image of a predator fish (donko fish, Odontobutis obscura). The test revealed that the time taken for test medaka exposed to diazepam (0.8, 4, 20, or 100 µg/L) to approach the image was shorter by a factor of 0.22 to 0.65, and the time spent in the area close to the image was longer by a factor of 1.8 to 2.7 than in the solvent control group for all diazepam exposure groups (p < 0.05). Hence, we confirmed that the test could detect changes in medaka behavior caused by diazepam with high sensitivity. The Peek-A-Boo test we devised is a simple behavioral test with high sensitivity for fish behavioral alteration. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2358–2363. © 2023 SETAC.
Comparative Toxicity of Seven Aqueous Film-Forming Foam to In Vitro Systems and Mus
Authors: East Andrew G. , Narizzano Allison M. , Holden Lindsay A. , Bazar Matthew A. , Bohannon Meredith E. , Pervitsky Dmitry , Adams Valerie H. , Reinke Emily N. , Quinn Michael J.
Published: July 2023

The comparative toxicity of six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)–free and one PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) was evaluated in an outbred mouse species as well as several in vitro assays. The in vivo toxicological profile of PFAS-free AFFFs in short-term, high-concentration exposures is different than that of a PFAS-containing AFFF. The PFAS-containing reference product induced increased liver weights, while the PFAS-free AFFFs were linked to either decreased or unaffected relative liver weights. The in vitro toxicological profile across PFAS-free AFFFs was uniform except in the Microtox® assay, where thresholds were variable and spanned several orders of magnitude. This direct comparison of products through short-term toxicity tests and in vitro screenings represents early data to support evaluation of potential regrettable substitutions when selecting alternative PFAS-free AFFFs. Further work in diverse taxa (e.g., aquatic organisms, terrestrial invertebrates, birds) and mammalian studies capturing sensitive life stages will refine and expand this data set across a range of risk-relevant toxicological endpoints. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2364–2374. Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Abstract

CD-1 mice were exposed to six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)–free aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) products and one PFAS-containing AFFF product. Relative liver weight in male mice presented a graded response across products and indicates that PFAS-free AFFF products have a different mechanism of toxicity from PFAS-containing AFFF products and that PFAS-free AFFF products show limited effects overall.
Advancements in precision nutrition: Steady‐state targeted delivery of food functional factors for nutrition intervention of chronic diseases
Authors: Yu Xiaoting , Abd El‐Aty A. M. , Su Wentao , Tan Mingqian
Published: July 2023

Nutritional intervention plays a significant role in controlling the progression of chronic diseases and improving therapeutic outcomes. Food functional factors are bioactive compounds found in foods that can regulate body's physiological functions and support health by regulating enzyme activity and metabolic pathways. However, many food functional factors face significant challenges in terms of their bioavailability, stability, and solubility. Furthermore, individual differences in genetics, metabolism, lifestyle, and environmental factors can significantly influence nutrient requirements and intake. Therefore, personalized nutritional intervention and precise delivery based on individual characteristics are necessary to achieve precision nutrition. Steady‐state targeted delivery systems have emerged as a promising approach to improving the precise nutritional interventions for chronic diseases. In this review, we explore the latest progress in the steady‐state targeted delivery of food functional components for precision nutrition. We discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with these systems as well as their potential applications in managing chronic diseases and improving health outcomes. The review highlights the significant role that steady‐state targeted delivery systems can play in advancing precision nutrition and thus promoting better health for individuals.
Gene fusions during the early evolution of mesothelioma correlate with impaired DNA repair and Hippo pathways
Authors: Jama Maymun , Zhang Min , Poile Charlotte , Nakas Apostolos , Sharkey Annabel , Dzialo Joanna , Dawson Alan , Kutywayo Kudazyi , Fennell Dean A. , Hollox Edward J.
Published: July 2023

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), a rare cancer a long latency period (up to 40 years) between asbestos exposure and disease presentation. The mechanisms coupling asbestos to recurrent somatic alterations are poorly defined. Gene fusions arising through genomic instability may create novel drivers during early MPM evolution. We explored the gene fusions that occurred early in the evolutionary history of the tumor. We conducted multiregional whole exome sequencing (WES) of 106 samples from 20 patients undergoing pleurectomy decortication and identified 24 clonal nonrecurrent gene fusions, three of which were novel (FMO9P‐OR2W5, GBA3, and SP9). The number of early gene fusion events detected varied from zero to eight per tumor, and presence of gene fusions was associated with clonal losses involving the Hippo pathway genes and homologous recombination DNA repair genes. Fusions involved known tumor suppressors BAP1, MTAP, and LRP1B, and a clonal oncogenic fusion involving CACNA1D‐ERC2, PARD3B‐NT5DC2, and STAB2‐NT5DC2 fusions were also identified as clonal fusions. Gene fusions events occur early during MPM evolution. Individual fusions are rare as no recurrent truncal fusions event were found. This suggests the importance of early disruption of these pathways in generating genomic rearrangements resulting in potentially oncogenic gene fusions.