bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the uncertain causal link between gut microbiota and glaucoma: A genetic correlation and Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Li Jiayong , Ma Xin , Zhuo Kaichen , He Yuxian , Lin Mingkai , Wang Wei , Guo Shicheng , Tang Chao , Zhang Xu , Gao Xinbo
Published: September 2024

Background

Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness, and gut microbiota (GM) is associated with glaucoma. Whether this association represents a causal role remains unknown. This study aims to assess the potential association and causal link between GM and various forms of glaucoma, emphasising the need for cautious interpretation of the strength of these associations.

Methods

Employing a two‐sample bidirectional Mendelian randomisation (MR) framework with false discovery rate correction and various sensitivity analyses, supplemented by genetic correlation analysis via linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) and colocalisation for European summary‐level data between MiBioGen consortium and FinnGen Study, we sought to explore the relationship between GM and glaucoma.

Results

While certain microbial taxa showed potential associations with glaucoma subtypes (e.g., Erysipelotrichaceae with primary angle closure glaucoma, Senegalimassilia with exfoliation glaucoma), the overall findings suggest a complex and not definitively causal relationship between GM and glaucoma. Notably, reverse MR analysis did not establish a significant causal effect of glaucoma on GM composition, and no consistent genetic correlations were observed between GM and glaucoma.

Conclusions

While our study provides some evidence of associations between specific GM taxa and glaucoma, the results underscore the complexity of these relationships and the need for further research to clarify the potential causal links. The findings highlight the importance of interpreting the gut‐eye axis with caution and suggest that while GM may play a role in glaucoma, it is unlikely to be a predominant causal factor.
Does alveolar ridge preservation reduce the need for sinus floor elevation: A comparative study to spontaneous healing
Authors: Khoury Elias Jean‐Jacques , Sagheb Keyvan , Al‐Nawas Bilal , König Jochem , Schiegnitz Eik
Published: September 2024

Introduction

In cases of atrophy in the maxillary posterior region, characterized by reduced vertical bone volume, implant placement becomes challenging. Augmentation procedures like sinus lifts are often needed to address insufficient bone volume. This study aims to explore if alveolar ridge preservation, using a bovine bone substitute and a porcine collagen membrane, significantly decreases the need for sinus lifts compared to natural wound healing after tooth extraction.

Materials and methods

In this comparative clinical study, 40 patients requiring a total of 53 extractions were assigned to one of the following groups: a test group with bovine bone substitute material (Straumann® XenoFlex) and a porcine collagen membrane (Jason® membrane), or a control group with spontaneous socket healing. After 6 months, digital volume tomography was performed for implant planning.

Results

For seven patients from the control group (n = 22 extracted sites) sinus lift augmentations were performed while only four sinus lift procedures were performed in the test group (n = 31 extracted sites), indicating a higher need for sinus augmentation procedures in the control group, however not statistically different on a p value of 0.05 (p = 0.168). In the control group, the mean value of the radiographically measured bone height (mesial and distal) was 11.13 ± 2.12 mm preoperatively before tooth extraction, while it was 11.3 ± 2.17 mm postoperatively after implant placement. In contrast, the mean value in the test group was 11.78 ± 3.09 mm preoperatively and 11.92 ± 2.79 mm postoperatively. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between the two groups (odds ratio 0.32; 95% CI: 0.08, 1.26; p = 0.951). The implant survival rate in the control group was 100%, compared to 96.77% in the test group.

Conclusion

Within the limits of this study, the use of bovine bone substitute and a porcine resorbable membrane after tooth extraction in the posterior maxilla seems to reduce the need for sinus augmentation in comparison to spontaneous healing although the difference was not statistically significant. Additionally, the Alveolar Ridge Preservation in the test group made external sinus floor elevation unnecessary compared to the control group. The change in radiographically measured bone height pre‐ and postoperatively showed no significant difference between the two groups.
Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Different Guided Technologies Combined With Ultrathin Bronchoscopic Biopsy for Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions
Authors: Zhang Zhihan , Zhang Junbao , Chen Xi , Yan Junfeng , Zeng Cao , Xu Ping
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Various bronchoscopic guidance techniques have emerged to improve the diagnostic yield of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs), especially when combined with ultra‐thin bronchoscopy. However, uncertainties exists in the convenience, accuracy rate, and complications of these techniques. We compared the feasibility, accuracy rate, and complication rates of transbronchial biopsy of PPLs sampled by the standard thin‐layer CT navigation combined with ultrathin bronchoscopy (CTNUTB), the Lungpro virtual navigation combined with ultrathin bronchoscopy (VNUTB), and electromagnetic navigation combined with ultrathin bronchoscopy (ENUTB).

Methods

Retrospectively identified were 256 patients sampled with transbronchial biopsy of PPLs. Eligible patients referred for CTNUTB, VNUTB, and ENUTB from January 2017 to December 2021 were included. We comprehensively compared the accuracy rate, feasibility, and complication rates for each method.

Results

There was no significant difference in the accuracy rate of CTNUTB, VNUTB, and ENUTB (p = 0.293). The operation time via Lungpro navigation was the shortest (14.4 min, p < 0.001). The planning time via CT planning was the shortest (7.36 min, p < 0.001). There was no difference in the incidence of complications such as hemorrhage, pneumonia, and pneumothorax (p = 0.123). Besides, ENUTB costs more than $2000, while CTNUTB and VNUTB cost only about $130–230.

Conclusion

CTNUTB is still the main bronchoscopy method we recommended, which has low cost, simple operation, and safety no less than the others. In contrast, ENUTB provides a higher accuracy rate for small diameter nodules (less than 2 cm), which has a high use value and is worth promoting in the future.
Relationship between migraine and epilepsy in a large population‐based cohort: The HUNT Study
Authors: Engstrand Helene , Revdal Eline , Argren Maria Bengtson , Hagen Knut , Zwart John‐Anker , Brodtkorb Eylert , Winsvold Bendik Slagsvold
Published: September 2024

Background and Purpose

Several studies have reported substantial comorbidity between epilepsy and migraine. Most of these were based on clinical cohorts or used unvalidated diagnostic instruments. Our study re‐examined this association in a large general population cohort using validated diagnoses for both disorders.

Methods

A total of 65,407 participants (≥20 years old) from HUNT (the Trøndelag Health Study) were classified for migraine and nonmigraine headache using a validated questionnaire. Medical record review was used to validate and classify epilepsy in 364 participants (cases), who were compared with 63,298 participants without epilepsy (controls). The association between epilepsy and migraine was analysed using logistic regression adjusted for sex and age.

Results

Patients with epilepsy had no increased prevalence of migraine (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.68–1.33) or nonmigraine headache (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 0.93–1.50) compared to controls. When stratified by headache frequency, epilepsy was associated with a higher prevalence of migraine with highly frequent headache (≥7 days/month; OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.08–2.78).

Conclusions

Migraine was equally common in people with and without epilepsy. Patients with epilepsy who suffered from migraine were more prone to having highly frequent migraine.
Knowledge and Practices of Helicobacter pylori Infection Management Among Physicians in Gansu Province, China: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Liu Na , Luo Qian , Gou Lingzhu , Shen Xiping , Zhang Dekui
Published: September 2024

Background and Aims

Physicians' knowledge and practices regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and follow‐up of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection can impact the effectiveness of eradication therapy. This study aimed to investigate the current state of knowledge and practices concerning H. pylori infection management among physicians in Gansu Province, northwest China.

Materials and Methods

From October to November 2023, 557 physicians from 14 cities and prefectures in Gansu Province participated in this multicenter cross‐sectional study and completed a survey questionnaire.

Results

A total of 519 valid questionnaires were collected. 43.2% of the physicians supported H. pylori screening for high‐risk populations or individuals with H. pylori–related diseases. The awareness of target screening populations varied among these physicians, ranging from 69.6% to 98.2%. Most physicians preferred the urea breath test (UBT) as the method for diagnosing H. pylori infection (98.3%) and for follow‐up after eradication therapy (98.5%). 89.6% of the physicians preferred bismuth‐containing quadruple therapy for initial eradication, with amoxicillin and clarithromycin being the most commonly used antibiotic combination (56.3%). In addition, 84.6% of the physicians indicated that they would inquire about the antibiotic usage history for most patients before treatment, 93.8% would ask patients about their previous eradication history, and 94.2% would inform patients about treatment‐related considerations. However, only 43.5%, 27.7%, and 29.7% of the physicians were aware of the high resistance rates of H. pylori to clarithromycin, levofloxacin, and metronidazole, respectively, in Gansu Province. Subgroup analysis revealed that the performance of gastroenterologists, nongastroenterologists, and physicians from different levels of hospitals differed in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow‐up of H. pylori infection.

Conclusions

Knowledge and practices regarding H. pylori infection management among physicians in Gansu Province, China, need further improvement. Strengthening targeted continuing education to increase the overall management level of H. pylori infection is recommended.
Bi2S3 nanorods supported on eggshell membrane electrodes for supercapacitor applications
Authors: Almutairi Tahani Mazyad , Nisa Mehar Un , Ijaz Sana , Abid Abdul Ghafoor , Shah Syed Imran Abbas , Ehsan Muhammad Fahad
Published: September 2024

A simple one‐step hydrothermal process was employed to develop a favorable class of materials toward energy storage devices such as supercapacitors. The electrode material was characterized using state‐of‐the‐art techniques, along with electrochemical parameters, including galvanostatic charge–discharge, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry, toward investigate energy storage behaviors, such as specific capacitance (Csp), power density, and energy density. Scalable Bi2S3 nanorods deposited on eggshell membrane electrodes (ESMEs) exhibit a much greater Csp of 580.61 F/g on 1 A/g. Calculated energy densities are 29.3, 22.7, 18.8, and 15.0 W h/kg, whereas the power densities are 263.1, 349.3, 663.1, and 870.0 W/kg at 1, 2, 5, and with 10 A/g, respectively. These impressive conclusions are attributed to the enhanced electroactive surface area of Bi2S3/ESME (625 cm2). The unique structure of these materials, featuring a substantial surface area (78.3 cm2/g), contributes to this enhanced performance. The findings of this study could inform new strategies for boosting the performance of future applications.
Variation in phrase frame structure and function in argumentative writing by EFL learners across different L1 backgrounds
Authors: Song Yingming , Xu Jiajin
Published: September 2024

Within the context of multilingualism, there has been burgeoning research interest in interlanguage varieties. This corpus‐based study investigated structural and functional variations in phrase frames (p‐frames) in argumentative writing by English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners from Arabic, German, Hindi, and Chinese language backgrounds. P‐frames, recurrent non‐contiguous co‐selection units within texts, were automatically extracted, manually filtered, and analyzed for variability, predictability, and discourse function. The results revealed learners’ shared reliance on prompt‐related p‐frames as well as potential L1 influence on specific p‐frames. German learners displayed the lowest degree of flexibility and creativity, while Hindi learners exhibited the highest. Chinese and Arabic learners demonstrated moderate levels, falling between the two extremes. Statistically significant differences in p‐frame tokens across functional categories were observed in all groups. This study contributes to a nuanced understanding of phraseological competence in EFL learners from different L1 backgrounds and holds pedagogical implications for the globalized educational landscape.
Becoming an inadvertent home care user: The transition for cohabitating partners
Authors: Harnett Tove , Jönson Håkan
Published: September 2024

The aim of the study is to gain knowledge about the transition to living with formal home care for cohabiting partners. Data consist of 14 interviews with partners aged 64–85, most with extensive experience of home care. Grounded in a life course perspective, the study identified the key factors in the process of becoming an ‘inadvertent care user’, and two modes for that transition: (1) adaptions and negotiations that involve adjustments shaped by institutional regulations; (2) new roles and positions, where partners acted as guardians or mediators, but also developed new friendships. The introduction of home care often brought partners a sense of relief. While many adjustments were seen as necessary compromises, the unpredictable nature of staff visits necessitated unwelcome adaptations. The study provides new knowledge about how cohabitating partners' lives are affected by home care and the strategies they employ in the presence of care workers.
Evaluation Methods and Influencing Factors on Accuracy for Static Virtual Articulation Obtained by Intraoral Scanners: A Critical Review of the Literature
Authors: Zheng Yuying , Zhang Tingmin , Liu Yuchen , Pradíes Guillermo , Wang Xin , Ma Dan , Bai Shizhu
Published: September 2024

Objective

Digital technology in dentistry has advanced rapidly in recent years, and as a result, the identification of static virtual articulation as a crucial stage in the digital process has attracted increasing attention. The use of intraoral scanners (IOSs) has made the acquisition of occlusal records more efficient. The purpose of this article is to review information on evaluation methods and influencing factors on the accuracy of static virtual articulation obtained by intraoral scanners.

Overview

An electronic search of the published literature was performed up to November 2023 using five databases: PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus. The inclusion criteria were defined as relevant clinical or in vitro English studies on the accuracy of the occlusal relationship obtained using intraoral scanners. Therefore, a total of 30 articles were selected, reviewed, and discussed. Based on the results of the literature review, three methods have been used to evaluate the accuracy of virtual interocclusal records, including distance measurement (10 studies), occlusal contact analysis (13 studies), and deviation analysis after superimposing casts (8 studies). However, direct comparisons between these studies are challenging due to the different methods employed. Factors that were found to potentially impact accuracies, such as the range of vestibular scans, the number and position of virtual interocclusal records (VIRs), the location and extension of edentulous areas, alignment methods, and evaluation software programs have been extensively studied, but the extent to which these factors affect accuracy remains uncertain and varies depending on the specific circumstances.

Conclusions

A combination of multiple evaluation methods for a more rigid assessment of virtual interocclusal records may be a better approach. Attention should be given to the factors that may influence the accuracy of virtual interocclusal records. Future research should focus on optimizing these factors to improve the clinical applicability of virtual interocclusal records.

Clinical Significance

In restorative dentistry, virtual interocclusal records obtained with intraoral scanners have been successfully used with acceptable accuracy, although they present some issues. Understanding the evaluation methods for virtual interocclusal records and the factors that may affect the accuracy of VIRs may lead to better use in clinical practice.
Assessment of urbanization‐related groundwater flooding process via Visual MODFLOW modeling: A case study for the northern part of Almaty city, Kazakhstan
Authors: Mirlas Vladimir , Zhakyp Altynay , Auelkhan Yergali , Anker Yaakov
Published: September 2024

Groundwater flooding might be triggered by disregarding hydrogeological processes during urban area development. Such flooding might result in public disruption, engineering infrastructure destruction, and general damage to natural and human environments, as in the northern part of Almaty city. A MODFLOW groundwater flow model was used to simulate and quantitatively assess the changes in hydrogeological conditions affecting the groundwater flooding process. A field study of the Akbulak micro‐district research site showed that groundwater flooding occurred in its center owing to a water table hillock with a total area of 0.07 km2 and groundwater levels ranging from 1.2 to 0.25 m below the ground surface. The MODFLOW simulation suggested that this water table hillock developed from runoff, which, owing to a decrease in natural infiltration across an urbanized area, accumulated in low‐elevation areas and infiltrated. This runoff accumulation effect may be up to eight times the annual average precipitation amount. Once in local sub‐basins, larger runoff volume infiltrates into an underlying aquifer water table that is already high, might cause groundwater flooding in populated areas. The Almaty scenario simulation confirmed the field observations, suggesting that the clogging of the Karasu‐type stream has concentrated runoff to low‐elevation areas and is the leading cause of flooding.
Efficacy of a whole slide image‐based prediction model for lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer: A systematic review
Authors: Ichimasa Katsuro , Kouyama Yuta , Kudo Shin‐ei , Takashina Yuki , Nemoto Tetsuo , Watanabe Jun , Takamatsu Manabu , Maeda Yasuharu , Yeoh Khay Guan , Miyachi Hideyuki , Misawa Masashi
Published: September 2024

Background and Aim

Accurate stratification of the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) following endoscopic resection of submucosal invasive (T1) colorectal cancer (CRC) is imperative for determining the necessity for additional surgery. In this systematic review, we evaluated the efficacy of prediction of LNM by artificial intelligence (AI) models utilizing whole slide image (WSI) in patients with T1 CRC.

Methods

In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines, a systematic review was conducted through searches in PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, and the Cochrane Library for relevant studies published up to December 2023. The inclusion criteria were studies assessing the accuracy of hematoxylin and eosin‐stained WSI‐based AI models for predicting LNM in patients with T1 CRC.

Results

Four studies met the criteria for inclusion in this systematic review. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for these AI models ranged from 0.57 to 0.76. In the three studies in which AI performance was compared directly with current treatment guidelines, AI consistently exhibited a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. At a fixed sensitivity of 100%, specificities ranged from 18.4% to 45.0%.

Conclusions

Artificial intelligence models based on WSI can potentially address the issue of diagnostic variability between pathologists and exceed the predictive accuracy of current guidelines. However, these findings require confirmation by larger studies that incorporate external validation.
Developing a comprehensive account of embodied emissions within the Canadian construction sector
Authors: Wambersie Leopold , Ouellet‐Plamondon Claudiane
Published: September 2024

Construction activities are a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. However, the majority of construction‐driven emissions are indirect, meaning that these emissions occur during the manufacturing and transport of construction materials. This is in contrast with direct emissions, which are directly emitted from construction machinery. These indirect impacts are represented as embodied emissions and are difficult to quantify at scale, limiting the effectiveness of climate policymaking in the building sector. This paper presents results from a comprehensive account of embodied emissions within the Canadian construction sector, at a resolution far higher than existing global accounts, as well as novel analyses of flows and intensities of embodied emissions. It has the specific goal of serving as a baseline for future analyses of decarbonization scenarios and the more general goal of highlighting the importance of a consumption‐based approach to climate policymaking in the sector. The accounts are produced via an environmentally extended input–output analysis based on Canadian supply–use tables for the year 2018, and results are presented for the 13 provinces and territories as well as 19 categories of buildings and infrastructure. Results show that demand from construction drives 13% of Canada's consumption‐based emissions, residential construction is by far the largest driver of emissions, and at 0.28 kgCO2eq per Canadian dollar of GDP, the efficiency of Canadian construction is roughly in line with the OECD average. A disproportionate share of emissions is driven by construction in provinces that are growing fast in terms of their populations, feature significant extractive industries, and feature higher emissions intensities. The construction sectors of western provinces are highly interconnected and receive a disproportionate proportion of embodied emissions from Alberta, whose high level of emissions promises to complicate decarbonization efforts. This article met the requirements for a gold‐gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges
Oxygen matters: Unraveling the role of oxygen in the neuronal response to cisplatin
Authors: Crugeiras Jose , Calls Aina , Contreras Estefanía , Alemany Montse , Navarro Xavier , Yuste Victor J. , Casanovas Oriol , Udina Esther , Bruna Jordi
Published: September 2024

Background and Aims

Cell culture is a fundamental experimental tool for understanding cell physiology. However, translating these findings to in vivo settings has proven challenging. Replicating donor tissue conditions, including oxygen levels, is crucial for achieving meaningful results. Nevertheless, oxygen culture conditions are often overlooked, particularly in the context of chemotherapy‐induced neurotoxicity.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the role of oxygen levels in primary neuronal cultures by comparing neuronal performance under cisplatin exposure (1 μg/mL) in supraphysiological normoxia (representing atmospheric conditions in a standard incubator; 18.5% O2) and physioxia (representing physiologic oxygen conditions in nervous tissue; 5% O2). Experiments were also conducted to assess survival, neurite development, senescence marker expression, and proinflammatory cytokine secretion.

Results

Under control conditions, both oxygen concentration conditions exhibited similar behaviors. However, after cisplatin administration, sensory neurons cultured under supraphysiological normoxic conditions show higher mortality, exhibit an evolutionarily proinflammatory cytokine profile over time, and activate apoptotic‐regulated neuron death markers. In contrast, under physiological conditions, neurons treated with cisplatin exhibited senescence marker expression and an attenuated inflammatory secretome.

Interpretation

These results underscore the critical role of oxygen in neuronal culture, particularly in studying compounds where neuronal damage is mechanistically linked to oxidative stress. Even at identical doses of evaluated neurotoxic drugs, distinct cellular phenotypic fates can emerge, impacting translatability to the in vivo setting.
Relationship between illness perception and self‐management behaviors among women with gestational diabetes mellitus in China during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A mediating role of depression
Authors: Wang Jiarun , Zhu Luyang , An Ran , Chen Yujia , Pan Xinlong , Zhang Wei , Chen Xiaoli , Zou Zhijie , Zhang Yingzi
Published: September 2024

Objective

Describe the current status of illness perception, depression, and self‐management behaviors among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and explore the role of depression in the relationship between illness perception and self‐management behaviors among women with GDM.

Methods

Pregnant women diagnosed with GDM were recruited at the obstetrics clinic of a Grade‐A tertiary hospital in Wuhan, through convenience sampling. Self‐reported questionnaires including basic information, illness perception, depression, and self‐management behaviors were used to collect data from April 2021 to February 2022. Mediation analysis was performed by SPSS Process macro.

Results

Among GDM pregnant women, the mean self‐management behaviors score was 73.89 (SD = 12.21), the mean illness perception score was 31.80 (SD = 8.77), and 44.3% had depression scores of 10 or higher. The indirect effect of illness perception on self‐management behaviors mediated by depression was significant (path a * b, β = −0.045), accounting for 26.6% of the total effect.

Conclusion

GDM pregnant women have a certain negative illness perception of GDM, and the detection rate of depression symptoms is relatively high. The level of self‐management behaviors among GDM pregnant women is notably suboptimal and warrants improvement. Depression partially mediates the relationship between illness perception and self‐management behaviors. Improving positive illness perception and decreasing depression are important strategies to improve self‐management behaviors in women with GDM.
Association of lipid levels at different stages of pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus and the incidence of neonatal macrosomia: A retrospective study
Authors: Wang Xuechun , Wu Lili , Luo Haimeng , Zhong Wenxuan , Zheng Xiuqiong , Xu Rongli
Published: September 2024

Objective

To investigate the correlation between lipid levels during gestation and the incidence rate of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and macrosomia.

Method

Clinical records of 607 pregnant women with GDM (GDM group) who delivered in the Obstetrics Department of Fujian Maternal and Child Health Hospital from May to December 2018 and of 833 women with uncomplicated pregnancies (control group) were retrospectively analyzed. After delivery, the entire cohort was further grouped based on the weight of the neonates: women who delivered newborns with body mass <4 kg comprised the normal group (n = 1367), and pregnancies that resulted in delivery of neonates with body mass >4 kg were classified as the macrosomia group (n = 73). Fasting serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), and TG/HDL‐C ratio were compared between the groups at the early (10–12 weeks), middle (24–28 weeks), and late (28 weeks‐delivery) stages of pregnancy, and the correlation between the lipid indices and the rates of GDM and macrosomia were analyzed.

Results

There was a gradual increase in TC, TG, LDL‐C, and TG/HDL‐C levels with increasing gestational weeks in pregnant women. TG and TG/HDL‐C levels were markedly higher, while HDL‐C was lower in women with GDM compared with women of the same gestational age with uncomplicated pregnancies (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Lipid metabolism disorders exist in pregnant women with GDM at different gestational stages and are closely related to the higher incidence of macrosomia. TG, TG/HDL‐C, and HDL‐C in early and late pregnancy are independent risk factors for macrosomia in all trimesters, and TG/HDL‐C ratio at different gestational stages has a good predictive value for macrosomia.
Judicial relational legal consciousness: authoritarian backsliding as a catalyst of change
Authors: KUBAL AGNIESZKA
Published: September 2024

Between 2015 and 2023, authoritarian backsliding triggered significant changes in the Polish judiciary, prompting some judges to adopt a new approach in their interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights, both on and off bench, taking a more explicit stance as individual applicants against the Polish government in the European Court of Human Rights. This article employs the paradigm of relational legal consciousness, attributing this embrace of human rights law to judges’ interactions and relationships with various actors, including judicial associations, lawyers, human rights activists, and civil society. Furthermore, the article extends the concept of relationality in legal consciousness to encompass the intricate interplay between law and politics as intertwined social relations and practices. The article's original contribution lies in theorizing judicial legal consciousness in relation to authoritarian backsliding and the resultant liminality of structures and strategies for action.
Governmental influence over rights consciousness: public perceptions of the COVID‐19 lockdown
Authors: HALLIDAY SIMON , JONES ANDREW , MEERS JED , TOMLINSON JOE
Published: September 2024

A focus on rights consciousness has become a mainstay of the socio‐legal study of law in everyday life. Such research, much of it critical in orientation, generally uses people's sense of grievance as its starting point. The consequent risk is that we elide rights consciousness with a sense of injustice. This article argues that there is merit for critical studies of legal consciousness in keeping these two things separate, and that this represents a dimension of the critical approach to rights consciousness that is largely missing from the field. We present a study of rights consciousness in relation to the imposition of lockdown in the United Kingdom during the early stage of the COVID‐19 pandemic. We show that, despite regarding lockdown as a violation of basic rights, most people did not feel a sense of grievance. Furthermore, rights consciousness was influenced by a range of factors distinct from political orientation, most of which were within the sphere of governmental influence. In this way, governmental power was constitutive of the public's rights consciousness. Further exploration and assessment of when, where, and how this might occur should be part of the critical project of legal consciousness research.
Development of Loop‐Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Kit for the Detection of Fusarium Wilt Using SIX8 Genes
Authors: Canare Perry Lorraine Duran , Uy Roselyn Jove , Konishi Shinju , Tonami Hana , Alvindia Dionisio G. , Nakashima Chiharu
Published: September 2024

Panama disease, or Fusarium wilt, is a soil‐borne fungal disease of Musa spp. and the most severe threat to the banana industry and food security worldwide with no cure. Therefore, early detection of the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) through reliable diagnostics will aid in implementing plant quarantine and containment measures to prevent the spread of this disease. In this study, a primary diagnostic procedure was developed based on the DNA sequences of the Foc‐TR4 SIX8a homologue, extracted from a piece of pseudostem tissue of M. acuminata Gros Michel Subgroup from Japan. A set of primers for the loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction was designed. The developed specific marker can be used to accurately, rapidly, and reliably detect early diagnosis of Foc‐TR4 infection without cutting down the unconfirmed young plant in banana fields.
Open label clinical trial of orally administered molnupiravir as a first‐line treatment for naturally occurring effusive feline infectious peritonitis
Authors: Reagan Krystle L. , Brostoff Terza , Pires Jully , Rose Amy , Castillo Diego , Murphy Brian G.
Published: September 2024

Background

Before the discovery of effective antiviral drugs, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was a uniformly fatal disease of cats. Multiple antiviral treatments have been recognized, but optimization of treatment protocols is needed.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of PO molnupiravir (MPV; EIDD‐2801) to treat effusive FIP.

Animals

Ten cats with naturally occurring effusive FIP and 10 historical control cats with effusive FIP treated with PO GS‐441524.

Methods

A single‐center, prospective, open‐label longitudinal, non‐inferiority trial with historical controls. Ten cats with FIP were enrolled and treated with PO MPV (10‐15 mg/kg PO q12h) for 84 days. Cats were evaluated at 0, 6, and 16 weeks, and the proportion of cats in clinical remission at 16 weeks was determined. Survival and clinicopathologic features were compared with historical control cats with effusive FIP treated with PO GS‐441524.

Results

Eight of the 10 cats treated with MPV survived and were in remission at 16 weeks. The 2 non‐survivors died in the first 24 hours of treatment. No adverse events that necessitated discontinuation of treatment were observed. Survival of cats treated with PO MPV was non‐inferior to historic control cats treated with PO GS‐441524 (5/9 [55%] survived), with a difference in survival of 25% (90% confidence interval, −9.3% to 59.3%). Clinicopathologic features associated with FIP normalized during the study period, and no differences in clinicopathologic data at each study time point were observed when comparing cats treated with MPV and GS‐441524.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Molnupiravir is an effective antiviral treatment for effusive FIP.
Longitudinal Development of Holistic Formulaicity, Formulaic Sequences, and Lexical Complexity in Sojourner Diaries: A Dynamic Usage‐Based Perspective
Authors: Köylü Zeynep , Eryılmaz Nurullah , Pérez‐Vidal Carmen , Verspoor Marjolijn , Gustafsson Hana
Published: September 2024

Because of authentic exposure, study‐abroad sojourners are expected to become more proficient in terms of holistic formulaicity (defined as targetlike language use of intensifiers, fillers, multiword sequences, lexical features, verb–argument constructions, pragmatic and discourse features, and so on), use of formulaic sequences, and lexical measures. This study traces the development of these constructs over time in written diary texts of 26 Catalan/Spanish bilingual sojourners in an Anglophone country during study abroad. It adopts a dynamic usage‐based perspective, underlining the importance of frequency of exposure and individual variability in developmental trajectories. Generalized additive mixed model analyses, which take individual nonlinear behavior into account, showed significant gains toward holistic formulaicity, but not in use of formulaic sequences nor in lexical complexity measures. We argue that at advanced stages some measures may have reached ceiling, but that sojourners may still progress in becoming more finely attuned to the conventionalized ways of saying things in the speech community.
Overview of Lymphatic Muscle Cells in Development, Physiology, and Disease
Authors: Arroyo‐Ataz Guillermo , Jones Dennis
Published: September 2024

Lymphatic muscle cells (LMCs) are indispensable for proper functioning of the lymphatic system, as they provide the driving force for lymph transport. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate LMCs, which control rhythmic contraction and vessel tone of lymphatic vessels—traits also found in cardiac and vascular smooth muscle. In this review, we discuss the molecular pathways that orchestrate LMC‐mediated contractility and summarize current knowledge about their developmental origin, which may shed light on the distinct contractile characteristics of LMCs. Further, we highlight the growing evidence implicating LMC dysregulation in the pathogenesis of lymphedema and other diseases related to lymphatic vessel dysfunction. Given the limited number and efficacy of existing therapies to treat lymphedema, LMCs present a promising focus for identifying novel therapeutic targets aimed at improving lymphatic vessel contractility. Here, we discuss LMCs in health and disease, as well as therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting them to improve lymphatic vessel function.
Quantification of Video Sequences of the Microcirculation: A Comparison Between Automated Analysis Using Analysis Manager and Manual Analysis Using Capillary Mapper
Authors: Müller‐Graf Fabian , Wrede Dominik , Bork Lena , Klinkmann Gerd , Flick Moritz , Reuter Daniel A. , Zitzmann Amelie R. , Böhm Stephan H. , Reuter Susanne
Published: September 2024

Objective

Microcirculatory disturbances can contribute to organ dysfunction in patients undergoing major surgeries and critical illness. Incident dark field imaging (CytoCam, Braedius Medical BV, Huizen, Netherlands) provides direct visualization of the microcirculation. To utilize this method in daily clinical practice, automated image analysis is essential. This study aims to compare the automated analysis of recorded microcirculation video sequences using CytoCamTools V2 Analysis Manager (Braedius Medical BV) with established manual analysis using Capillary Mapper (Version 1.4.5, University Hospital Münster, Germany) as reference method.

Methods

Sublingual microcirculation video sequences were recorded in patients undergoing laparotomy at four time points (before surgery, 2 and 6 h after surgery, and on the first postoperative day) using incident dark field imaging. Agreement between automated and manual analysis of total vessel density (TVD), perfused vessel density (PVD), and proportion of perfused vessels (PPV) was compared using intraclass correlation (ICC) and Bland–Altman method.

Results

A total of 336 videos from 30 patients were analyzed. The ICC between the two measurement methods was 0.13 for TVD, 0.14 for PVD, and 0.16 for PPV. Bland–Altman analysis showed mean differences (95% limits of agreement) of 10.46 mm/mm2 (−1.73–22.65 mm/mm2) for TVD, 8.25 mm/mm2 (−9.88–26.39 mm/mm2) for PVD, and − 3.96% (−59.58%–51.65%) for PPV.

Discussion

Automated microcirculatory analysis using the Analysis Manager did not show clinically acceptable agreement with manual analysis using Capillary Mapper. Consequently, automated video analysis using the Analysis Manager does not appear to be a suitable approach.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: DRKS00020264
The role of endothelin receptor antagonists in IgA nephropathy
Authors: Hunter‐Dickson Mitchell , Wong Muh Geot
Published: September 2024

There is growing evidence of endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) in renoprotection in proteinuric kidney disease including IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Here, we review current evidence, including the use of sparsentan, atrasentan and zibotentan in IgAN. Recent trails of combination therapy including SGLT2 inhibitors and ERAs suggest possible benefit in further reduction of proteinuria and reducing ERA fluid‐retention side effects although more evidence is needed for clinical applications.
Plant virus community structuring is shaped by habitat heterogeneity and traits for host plant resource utilisation
Authors: McLeish Michael , Peláez Adrián , Pagán Israel , Gavilán Rosario G. , Fraile Aurora , García‐Arenal Fernando
Published: September 2024

Host plants provide resources critical to viruses and the spatial structuring of plant communities affects the niches available for colonisation and disease emergence. However, large gaps remain in the understanding of mechanisms that govern plant‐virus disease ecology across heterogeneous plant assemblages.

We combine high‐throughput sequencing, network, and metacommunity approaches to test whether habitat heterogeneity in plant community composition corresponded with virus resource utilisation traits of transmission mode and host range.

A majority of viruses exhibited habitat specificity, with communities connected by key generalist viruses and potential host reservoirs. There was an association between habitat heterogeneity and virus community structuring, and between virus community structuring and resource utilisation traits of host range and transmission. The relationship between virus species distributions and virus trait responses to habitat heterogeneity was scale‐dependent, being stronger at finer (site) than larger (habitat) spatial scales.

Results indicate that habitat heterogeneity has a part in plant virus community assembly, and virus community structuring corresponds to virus trait responses that vary with the scale of observation. Distinctions in virus communities caused by plant resource compartmentalisation can be used to track trait responses of viruses to hosts important in forecasting disease emergence.
The power of independent generations in plants
Authors: Kessler Michael , Aros‐Mualin Daniela
Published: September 2024

This article is a Commentary on Blake‐Mahmud et al. (2025), 245: 885–898.
Frequency‐of‐seeing curves (psychometric functions) for perimetric stimuli in age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: Denniss Jonathan , Baggaley Helen C. , Astle Andrew T.
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Frequency‐of‐seeing (FoS) curves (psychometric functions) for perimetric stimuli have been widely used in computer simulations of new visual field test procedures. FoS curves for age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) are not available in the literature and are needed for the development of improved microperimetry test procedures, which are of particular interest for use as clinical trial endpoints.

Methods

Data were refitted from a previous study to generate FoS curves for 20 participants with AMD, each tested at nine locations within the central 10°. Stimulus parameters, background luminance and dB scale were matched to the MAIA‐2 microperimeter, and stimuli were presented in a method of constant stimuli to build up FoS curves over multiple runs. FoS curves were fitted with a modified cumulative Gaussian function. The relationship between sensitivity and slope of fitted FoS curves was modelled by robust linear regression, producing models both with and without an eccentricity parameter.

Results

FoS curves were satisfactorily fitted to data from 174 visual field locations in 20 participants (age 65–83 years, 11 female). Each curve was made up of a median of 243 (range 177–297) stimulus presentations over a median of 12 (range 9–32) levels. Median sensitivity was 25.5 dB (range 3.8–31.4 dB). The median slope (SD of fitted function) was 1.6 dB (range 0.5–8.5 dB). As in previous studies of other conditions, the slope of fitted FoS curves increased as sensitivity decreased (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

FoS are provided for participants with AMD, as well as models of the relationship between sensitivity and slope. These fitted models and data may be useful for computer simulation studies of microperimetry procedures. Full details of the fitted curves are provided as supporting information.
Links between mutations in functionally separate arms of mitochondrial complex I and responses to volatile anesthetics
Authors: Scharenbrock Amanda R. , Borchardt Luke A. , Olufs Zachariah P. G. , Wassarman David A. , Perouansky Misha
Published: September 2024

Background

Individuals with mitochondrial defects, especially those in Complex I of the electron transport chain, exhibit behavioral hypersensitivity and toxicity to volatile anesthetics. In Drosophila melanogaster, mutation of ND23 (NDUFS8 in mammals), which encodes a subunit of the matrix arm of Complex I, sensitizes flies to toxicity from isoflurane but not an equipotent dose of sevoflurane. Also, in ND23 flies, both anesthetics activate expression of stress response genes, but to different extents. Here, we investigated the generality of these findings by examining flies mutant for ND2 (ND2 in mammals), which encodes a subunit of the membrane arm of Complex I.

Methods

The serial anesthesia array was used to expose ND2del1 and ND2360114 flies to precise doses of isoflurane, sevoflurane, and oxygen. Behavioral sensitivity was assessed by a climbing assay and toxicity by percent mortality within 24 h of exposure. Changes in expression were determined by qRT‐PCR of RNA isolated from heads at 0.5 h after anesthetic exposure.

Results

Unlike ND2360114, ND2del1 did not affect behavioral sensitivity to isoflurane or sevoflurane. Furthermore, sevoflurane in hyperoxia as well as anoxia caused mortality of ND2del1 but not ND2360114 flies. Finally, the mutations had different effects on induction of stress response gene expression by the anesthetics.

Conclusion

Mutations in different arms of Complex I resulted in different behavioral sensitivities and toxicities to isoflurane and sevoflurane, indicating that (i) the anesthetics have mechanisms of action that involve arms of Complex I to different extents and (ii) the lack of behavioral hypersensitivity does not preclude susceptibility to anesthetic toxicity.
Reading Groups as a Health‐Promoting Intervention in Upper Secondary Schools: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Fjelldal Sunniva Solhaug , Clancy Anne , Auklend Morten , Laholt Hilde
Published: September 2024

Objectives

To explore public health nurses’ (PHN) perceptions and experiences of supporting siblings of children with complex care needs (CCNs) by using reading groups as a health promotion intervention in upper secondary schools.

Design

An action research approach using a qualitative design.

Sample

Interviews with 10 PHNs.

Measurements

Thematic analysis.

Results

The analysis resulted in the overarching theme “A much needed health promotion intervention in upper secondary schools,” presented in terms of the following three themes: (1) supporting siblings is important, but resources and established procedures are lacking. (2) Reading groups using fiction have potential as a health‐promoting intervention in upper secondary schools. (3) A realistic collaborative approach is necessary for reading groups to be implemented.

Conclusion

PHNs have no established procedures to support siblings of children with CCNs in upper secondary schools. Reading groups can enable PHNs to reach out and support these siblings. Providing the intervention can be a way of reaching all pupils and thus creating an understanding of the plight of siblings who have a brother or sister with CCNs.