bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current state and prospects of artificial intelligence in allergy
Authors: van Breugel Merlijn , Fehrmann Rudolf S. N. , Bügel Marnix , Rezwan Faisal I. , Holloway John W. , Nawijn Martijn C. , Fontanella Sara , Custovic Adnan , Koppelman Gerard H.
Published: August 2023

The field of medicine is witnessing an exponential growth of interest in artificial intelligence (AI), which enables new research questions and the analysis of larger and new types of data. Nevertheless, applications that go beyond proof of concepts and deliver clinical value remain rare, especially in the field of allergy. This narrative review provides a fundamental understanding of the core concepts of AI and critically discusses its limitations and open challenges, such as data availability and bias, along with potential directions to surmount them. We provide a conceptual framework to structure AI applications within this field and discuss forefront case examples. Most of these applications of AI and machine learning in allergy concern supervised learning and unsupervised clustering, with a strong emphasis on diagnosis and subtyping. A perspective is shared on guidelines for good AI practice to guide readers in applying it effectively and safely, along with prospects of field advancement and initiatives to increase clinical impact. We anticipate that AI can further deepen our knowledge of disease mechanisms and contribute to precision medicine in allergy.
Bicorporates: Decoding the origin and spread of the enigmatic images
Authors: Zakoji Etsuko
Published: August 2023

This paper will focus on bicorporates, the enigmatic composite animals with one head and two bodies which have been left rather outside of scholastic attention. The first known bicorporates appeared on Mesopotamian cylinder seals around the third millennium BCE. They subsequently appeared in Minoan, Greek, Etruscan and Roman art. In mediaeval Europe, they flourished in Romanesque churches, especially, Southern Europe and Scandinavia. Furthermore, they also emerged in India and Southeast Asia and China. Bicorporates exist across a remarkably wide geographical and chronological range. Even though a small number of scholars carried out some research on them, most of their focus was trying to trace the migration route of the images. No previous study had focused on answering the most intriguing question, how these enigmatic images came about and the reason why they spread and recurred beyond geographical and chronological borders. Therefore, this paper will focus on the questions and seek to provide the answers, by applying neuropsychological reading and analytical psychology. The findings of this study suggest that Lewis‐Williams' neuropsychology and Jung's analytical psychology are intertwined and both offer explanations for the origin and widespread occurrence of bicorporate images. However, the contrast between these two theories lies in the fact that Lewis‐Williams' theory relies on the perspective of materialistic science, implying that these images are solely products of the human brain and nervous system. In contrast, Jung's theory allows for the possibility of exploring the invisible or esoteric realm, which cannot be disproven or proven by current materialistic science.
Association between postictal suppression and the therapeutic effects of electroconvulsive therapy: A systematic review
Authors: Langroudi Mahdie Ershad , Shams‐Alizadeh Narges , Maroufi Azad , Rahmani Khaled , Rahchamani Maryam
Published: August 2023

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective and safe medical treatment for patients with severe mood and neuropsychiatric disorders. Since the advent of ECT, extensive research has been performed to identify the predictive factors for response to ECT. In recent decades, postictal suppression on an electroencephalogram (EEG) has been considered a potential predictor of response to ECT. We aimed to investigate the direct association between postictal suppression and the therapeutic effects of ECT. In this systematic review, all articles in the field of the association between postictal suppression and the therapeutic effects of ECT published between 1990 and 2021 were identified. The full texts of these articles, which include clinical trials and retrospective and cross‐sectional studies, are available in scholarly research databases and search engines, including PubMed, Google Scholar, OVID, Web of Science, and Scopus. Of all retrieved articles, eight studies, including four retrospective cohort articles and four clinical trials, met the inclusion criteria for further analyses. The findings of this study showed a significant association between postictal suppression and the therapeutic efficacy of ECT. Factors such as electrode placement, tachycardia, type of anesthetic agent, and EEG amplitude were also directly related to postictal suppression and the efficacy of ECT. Postictal suppression on EEG can be considered a predictor of response to ECT. To increase the effectiveness of treatment with ECT and increase postictal suppression, factors including electrode placement, tachycardia, type of anesthesia, and EEG amplitude should be considered, which highlights the need for further research.
Generating Designs for Comparative Experiments with Two Blocking Factors
Authors: Vo-Thanh Nha , Piepho Hans-Peter
Published: August 2023

Often, comparative experiments involve a single treatment factor and two blocking factors, for example, augmented row–column, two-phase, and incomplete row–column experiments. These experiments are widely used in agriculture. Finding good designs for these experiments is a major challenge when the number of treatments is large and the blocking structure is complex. In this paper, we first propose a new search algorithm that is combined with efficient update formulae, so that optimal designs with two blocking factors can be found within a reasonable time. Second, we compare augmented row–column designs generated with our new method to those obtained from CycDesigN, DiGGer, and the OPTEX procedure of SAS in terms of computing times as well as the quality of solutions. Third, we illustrate our proposed approach with four applications. We show an example where our efficient update formulae work while existing update formulae cannot be applied, and we use our search framework to generate augmented row–column, two-phase, and incomplete row–column designs. We end the paper with a conclusion along with suggestions for potential applications.
An easy‐to‐use semi‐automatic volumetric evaluation for secondary bone grafting in patients with unilateral alveolar cleft
Authors: Teramoto Mizuki , Katsube Motoki , Utsunomiya Natsuko , Katayama Yasuhiro , Yamanaka Hiroki , Tsuge Itaru , Sowa Yoshihiro , Sakamoto Michiharu , Morimoto Naoki
Published: August 2023

Surgical intervention for alveolar bone formation is important in patients with alveolar cleft; however, the treatment methods and materials are still controversial. A precise evaluation method for postoperative bone formation is important for comparing outcomes and establishing the best treatment protocol. The purpose of this study is to establish a new method of evaluating surgical outcomes for patients with alveolar cleft. Computed tomography datasets from 20 patients who underwent secondary alveolar bone grafting were obtained before and 1 year after surgery. Six anatomical landmarks were used to superimpose the preoperative and mirrored preoperative volume and postoperative volume data. The cleft region was segmented by subtracting the preoperative from mirrored preoperative volume data, and the failed osteogenesis region was segmented by subtracting the postoperative volume data from the cleft region; subsequently, the bone formation ratio was calculated. Two observers performed this method using a free software 3D slicer and the average evaluation times were 12.7 and 13.2 min for observers 1 and 2, respectively. Method reliability was determined by evaluating intraclass correlation coefficients. The intra‐observer intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.97 and 0.96 for observers 1 and 2, respectively. The inter‐observer intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.97. Our method is practical for assessing bone formation after treatment, which does not require specific knowledge or software and can be used by ordinary physicians.
Do Companies Think and Feel? Mind Perception of Organizations
Authors: Tang Simone , Gray Kurt
Published: August 2023

How do people perceive the minds of organizations? Existing work on organizational mind perception highlights two key debates: whether organizational groups are ascribed more agency than experience, and whether people are really perceiving minds in organizational groups at all. Our current paper and its data weigh in on these debates and suggest that organizations can indeed be ascribed experiential minds. We present a “member and goals” framework for systematically understanding the mind perception of organization. This framework suggests that people can perceive the organizational mind through its elemental building blocks: members (people who form the organization) and goals (its aims). Four studies reveal that people ascribe agency and experience to organizations based on whether the members of organizations and the goals of the organization are characterized by agency or experience. Study 1 finds that past work on mind perception often examines for‐profit corporations, which consist of agentic members (corporate professionals) and agentic goals (market competition). Studies 2 and 3 reveal that when an organization with members and goals high (vs. low) in experience, people imbue its mind with perceived experience—equal to that of a person—and that even emotions low in warmth (i.e., anger) can imbue an organization with such perceptions. Study 4 shows the moral consequences of emphasizing experience: after organizational wrongdoing, experiential organizations are seen to deliver more sincere apologies and are more forgiven.
A nitrobenzodioxazole‐based water‐soluble chemosensor for colorimetric quantification of aqueous hypochlorite
Authors: Moon Sungjin , Gil Dongkyun , Kim Cheal
Published: August 2023

A nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD)‐based colorimetric chemosensor CNA (N,N,N‐trimethyl‐2‐(2‐(7‐nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazol‐4‐yl)hydrazineyl)‐2‐oxoethan‐1‐aminium chloride) was synthesised. The sensor CNA can detect hypochlorite (ClO−) via colour variation of yellow to colourless. The detection limit for ClO− by CNA was analysed to be 0.36 μM. Moreover, the naked‐eye test strip was successfully applied for ClO− detection. The probing mechanism of CNA to ClO− was proposed to be a hydrolytic cleavage reaction of CNA by ClO− and was demonstrated by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS), Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
Abandoning grassland management negatively influences plant but not bird or insect biodiversity in Europe
Authors: Elliott Tessa , Thompson Amibeth , Klein Alexandra‐Maria , Albert Christian , Eisenhauer Nico , Jansen Florian , Schneider Andrea , Sommer Martin , Straka Tanja , Settele Josef , Sporbert Maria , Tanneberger Franziska , Mupepele Anne‐Christine
Published: August 2023

Grasslands are globally distributed and naturally occurring; however, in Europe, most grasslands are anthropogenically created or altered by livestock grazing or mowing. Low‐intensity use and management have led to species‐rich communities in European grasslands. The intensification of crop production and livestock farming with stabling throughout the year has led to an abandonment of grasslands that are no longer economically profitable. In this study, we looked at the influence of grassland abandonment on biodiversity. We hypothesized that abandonment of grasslands decreases the overall biodiversity, but has different effects depending on the focal taxonomic group (i.e., vascular plants, insects, or birds). We also hypothesized that the type of management before abandonment, the type of grassland, and the time after abandonment would influence grassland biodiversity. We conducted a Web of Science search, with pre‐defined terms, to find articles that compared biodiversity of managed and abandoned grasslands in Europe. We screened the articles and included 39 studies in a subsequent meta‐analysis. We found that overall biodiversity was reduced after abandonment; however, the biodiversity reduction in the grasslands differed among taxonomic groups. Plant species diversity was significantly lower after abandonment (plant summary effect size: −0.25 [−0.34; −0.16]), whereas the diversity of insects and birds showed no significant trend, but a visual trend toward an increase. None of the other environmental variables (type of management, type of grassland, or the time after abandonment) had a significant influence on the biodiversity of the grasslands. We conclude that maintaining grassland management is crucial to support biodiversity conservation in European grasslands.
Illicit drugs in the emergency department: Can we determine on clinical grounds if patients are intoxicated? Results from the Western Australian Illicit Substance Evaluation (WISE) study
Authors: McCutcheon David , Soderstrom Jessamine , Raghavan Mohan , Oosthuizen Francois , Douglas Bianca , Burrows Sally , Smith Jennifer L. , Fatovich Daniel
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Presentations related to illicit drugs are a feature of emergency department practice. Clinicians may form a belief that a patient is intoxicated with illicit drugs based on patient self‐report, clinical features on presentation and the local prevalence of illicit drug use. But evidence of the accuracy of this assessment is lacking. The Western Australian Illicit Substance Evaluation (WISE) study enrolled patients believed by their treating clinician to be intoxicated with illicit drugs, and this analysis aims to evaluate the validity of this belief.

Methods

A blood sample was taken on patient arrival and details of patient history, examination and interventions were collected by clinical and research staff. Toxicological examination of biological samples used liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry techniques including Quadrupole Time of Flight screening and Triple Quadrupole targeted analyses.

Results

Of 632 study presentations, 518 had illicit drugs detected representing a positive predictive value of 0.82 (95% confidence interval 78.7, 84.9). Those with illicit drugs detected were significantly less likely to arrive by police transport (p = 0.010) or to have used alcohol (p < 0.001). They were significantly more likely to report illicit drug use (p < 0.001) and a much smaller proportion were admitted to a psychiatric ward (3.5% vs. 19.3%, p < 0.0001). Heart rate and systolic blood pressure were significantly higher in the illicit drug group (p = 0.004 and p = 0.003).

Discussion and Conclusions

In this study, the positive predictive value of clinicians determining if their patient had taken illicit drugs was 0.82. Contemporaneous biochemical analysis in the clinical setting would increase this accuracy and inform patient care.
‘I accept his manhood is on life‐support’: A qualitative understanding of the impact of diabetes on sexual relationships among men and women living with type 2 diabetes and their partners in South Africa
Authors: van Pinxteren Myrna , Delobelle Peter , Levitt Naomi , Smith Kirsten , Majikela‐Dlangamandla Buyelwa , McGrath Nuala
Published: August 2023

Aims

To explore the impact of diabetes on sexual relationships among men and women living with type 2 diabetes People living with type 2 diabetes (PLWD) and their partners in Cape Town, South Africa.

Methods

As part of a larger study developing an intervention to improve type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) self management, we conducted in‐depth individual interviews with 10 PLWD and their partners without diabetes about experiences living with T2DM, between July 2020 and January 2021. We used inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Both PLWD and partners felt that their sexual relationships and desires changed post‐diagnosis, in ways beyond biomedical issues. Although couples' reports on the quality of their sexual relationships were concordant, most participants had not communicated their sexual desires and concerns with each other, causing unhappiness and fears of disappointing or losing their partner. Participants felt uninformed about sexual dysfunction but had not discussed this with their healthcare provider, leading to increased anxiety.

Conclusion

PLWD and their partners need more informational support to increase their understanding of diabetes‐associated sexual dysfunction and to decrease fears and anxiety. Strengthening communication within couples on sexual issues may empower them to find solutions to problems experienced. This may improve couples' relationships and quality of life, and indirectly result in better self management of T2DM.
Gestational diabetes: One size does not fit all—an observational study of maternal and neonatal outcomes by maternal glucose profile
Authors: Yeung Roseanne O. , Retnakaran Ravi , Savu Anamaria , Butalia Sonia , Kaul Padma
Published: August 2023

Objectives

To examine obstetrical and neonatal outcomes across maternal glucose profiles at the population level and to explore insulin sensitivity and beta‐cell function across profiles in an independent, well‐phenotyped cohort for potential pathophysiologic explanation.

Research Design and Methods

Observational cohort study of all pregnancies with gestational diabetes screening between October 2008 and December 2018 resulting in live singleton birth in Alberta, Canada (n = 436,773) were categorized into seven maternal glucose profiles: (1) normal 50 g‐glucose challenge test (nGCT), (2) normal 75‐g OGTT (nOGTT), (3) isolated elevated 1 h post‐load glucose (ePLPG1), (4) isolated elevated 2 h post‐load glucose (ePLPG2), (5) elevated 1 and 2 h post‐load glucose (ePLPG12), (6) isolated elevated FPG (eFPG), and (7) elevated FPG + elevated 1‐h and/or 2‐h PLG (Combined). Primary outcomes were large for gestational age (LGA) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission rates. An independent observational cohort of 1451 women was examined for measures of beta‐cell function (ISSI‐2, insulinogenic index/HOMA‐IR) and insulin sensitivity/resistance (Matsuda index, HOMA‐IR) by similar maternal glucose profiles.

Results

Pregnancies with elevated FPG, either isolated or combined, had higher adverse events and lower insulin sensitivity. The combination of elevated FPG + elevated 1‐h and/or 2‐h PLG had the highest rates of LGA(20.9%), NICU admissions (14.7%), and lowest insulin sensitivity as measured by Matsuda index and HOMA‐IR, and beta‐cell function as measured by ISSI‐2 and Insulinogenic index/HOMA‐IR.

Conclusions

Elevated fasting plasma glucose, either alone or combined with post‐load glucose elevation is associated with worse outcomes than isolated post‐load glucose elevation, possibly due to higher degrees of insulin resistance. Future work is needed to better understand these differences, and explore whether tailored treatment of GDM can improve neonatal outcomes.
Multilevel climatic responses in migratory insects
Authors: Juhász Edit , Németh Zoltán , Gór Ádám , Végvári Zsolt
Published: August 2023

Evidence is mounting that migration in ectotherms is more widespread than formerly believed. Thus, a number of insects living in temperate climates, including locusts, butterflies, moths and dragonflies, following seasonal migration strategies show high responsiveness to alterations in climatic processes, similar to a broad taxonomic range of birds. On global scales, migratory insects include iconic large butterflies, dragonflies and also a number of crop pests. However, insect migrations are ecologically distinct from those of vertebrates, often relying heavily on seasonal winds and multiple generations to complete a full annual cycle, due to short insect life spans.

Here, we review publicly available online resources to identify key patterns of spatial, taxonomic scales and complexity of climatic responsiveness to environmental predictors in migratory insects.

We found that migratory insects respond to various levels of complexity in climatic patterns, and these responses are predicted by life history and ecological traits: (i) responses to climatic effect type were predicted by climate zone(s) of the distribution area, whereas (ii) response to climatic complexity was predicted by body size. In conclusion, migratory insects respond to various levels of complexity in climatic processes, and this responsiveness is governed by a substantially wider array of environmental predictors than demonstrated in vertebrates.
Clinical efficacy of simoctocog alfa versus extended half‐life recombinant FVIII concentrates in hemophilia A patients undergoing personalized prophylaxis using a matching‐adjusted indirect comparison method
Authors: Kessler Craig M. , Corrales‐Medina Fernando F. , Mannucci Pier Mannuccio , Jiménez‐Yuste Víctor , Tarantino Michael D.
Published: August 2023

Objectives

We aimed to indirectly compare the efficacy of personalized prophylaxis with simoctocog alfa (Nuwiq®) versus three extended half‐life (EHL) recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) concentrates.

Methods

Treatment effects were compared using matching‐adjusted indirect comparisons after matching individual patient‐level baseline characteristics for simoctocog alfa (pharmacokinetic [PK]‐guided personalized prophylaxis) against published aggregate personalized prophylaxis data for efmoroctocog alfa, damoctocog alfa pegol, and rurioctocog alfa pegol.

Results

A higher percentage (p < .001) of patients with zero bleeds was found with simoctocog alfa compared with efmoroctocog alfa (75% vs. 45%), damoctocog alfa pegol (77% vs. 38%), and rurioctocog alfa pegol (target trough level 1%–3%; 78% vs. 42%). Similar efficacy was found comparing simoctocog alfa against rurioctocog alfa pegol 8%–12% (77% vs. 62%). The mean total annualized bleeding rate was lower (p < .001) with simoctocog alfa than damoctocog alfa pegol (1.5 vs. 4.9). Consistent with approved dosing, the mean FVIII weekly dose was higher (p < .001) for simoctocog alfa than efmoroctocog alfa, damoctocog alfa pegol, or rurioctocog alfa pegol 1%–3%, but lower (p < .001) than rurioctocog alfa pegol 8%–12%.

Conclusions

Indirect comparisons demonstrated that PK‐guided, personalized prophylaxis with simoctocog alfa can lead to higher zero bleed rates compared with personalized EHL rFVIII concentrate regimens, albeit with higher weekly doses, and a lower percentage of patients treated twice weekly or less.
Identifying patients at risk for hereditary myeloid malignancy syndromes incorporating a novel, self‐administered questionnaire to an initial screening platform
Authors: Zahid Mohammad Faizan , Moriarty Kelsey , Dryden Courtney , Weinberg Olga , Asif Misha , Ikpefan Ruth , Anderson Julia M. , Collins Robert H. , Chung Stephen S. , Chen Weina , Patel Prapti A. , Madanat Yazan F.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Four to 10% of cases of myeloid malignancies are inherited. We report our experience on hereditary myeloid malignancy syndromes (HMMS) incorporating a novel questionnaire in the screening platform for patients with myeloid malignancies and aplastic anemia.

Methods

The questionnaire was sent via electronic patient portal prior to clinic visits. Patients screened positive based on responses to questionnaire items, presence of suspicion disease characteristics (young age, family history, monosomy 7 etc.) and/or presence of signs of HMMS. Those deemed at‐risk based on questionnaire responses, clinical features and/or somatic mutation profile were offered germline testing.

Results

A total of 408 patients were screened, 141 (35%) were deemed at‐risk. Fifty‐four (38%) of at‐risk patients were seen in the genetics clinic. Forty‐one (76%) of the patients seen agreed to germline testing and 13 declined due to cost or personal decision. Twenty pathogenic (P)/likely‐pathogenic (LP) germline mutations were identified in 16 (39%) of the tested patients. Five patients also had a variant of uncertain significance (VUS) and an additional 13 had at least 1 VUS without P/LP mutations (total 29 VUS's were found in 18 (44%) of tested patients). The median age of diagnosis for patients with P/LP mutations was 56 years versus 66 years in the entire cohort.

Conclusion

Incorporating an electronic questionnaire is an effective screening method for HMMS. Many patients declined testing due to cost. These results highlight the importance of germline testing in patients with myeloid malignancies, further research in HMMS, and coverage by healthcare plans.
Comprehensive analysis of UK AADF traffic dataset set within four geographical regions of England
Authors: Chang Victor , Xu Qianwen Ariel , Hall Karl , Oluwaseyi Olojede Theophilus , Luo Jiabin
Published: August 2023

Traffic flow detection plays a significant part in freeway traffic surveillance systems. Currently, effective autonomous traffic analysis is a challenging task due to the complexity of traffic delays, despite the significant investment spent by authorities in monitoring and analysing traffic congestion. This study builds an intelligent analytic method based on machine‐learning algorithms to investigate and predict road traffic flows in four locations in the United Kingdom (London, Yorkshire and the Humber, North East, and North West) with a range of relevant factors. While aiming to conduct the study, the dataset ‘estimated annual average daily flows (AADFs) Data—major and minor roads’ from the UK government was used. Machine‐learning algorithms are used for this research and classification applied consists of Logistic Regression, Decision Trees, Random Forests, K‐Nearest Neighbors, and Gradient Boosting. Each of these algorithms achieves an accuracy of over 93% and the F1 score of over 95%, with Random Forest outperforming the other algorithms. This analytical approach helps to focus attention on critical areas to reduce traffic flows on major and minor roads in the area. In summary, the findings on traffic analysis have been discussed in detail to demonstrate the practical insights of this study.
Biological life‐history and farming scenarios of marine aquaculture to help reduce wild marine fishing pressure
Authors: Froehlich Halley E. , Montgomery Jamie C. , Williams David R. , O'Hara Casey , Kuempel Caitlin D. , Halpern Benjamin S.
Published: August 2023

Aquaculture (freshwater and marine) has largely supplemented fisheries, but in theory could help reduce fishing pressure on wild stocks. Although not the sole factors, some potential benefits depend on aquaculture pressures on fished species, including collection of wild ‘seed’ material—earlier to later life stages—for rearing in captivity and the capacity of aquaculture to increase. Here we first classify 203 marine (saltwater and brackish) animal species as being produced by either open‐cycle capture‐based aquaculture (CBA) or closed‐cycle domesticated aquaculture (DA)—based on their likely reliance on wild seed—and assess the extent to which these forms of aquaculture could support seafood production and greater wild biomass. Using a data‐limited modelling approach, we find evidence that current aquaculture practices are not necessarily helping reduce fishing to sustainable levels for their wild counterparts—consistent with emerging scientific research. However, if some wild capture species (87 equivalent spp.) were instead produced through CBA, almost a million extra tonnes could theoretically be left in the wild, without reducing seafood production. Alternatively, if reliance on wild seed inputs is further reduced by shifting to DA production, then a little less than doubling of aquaculture of the overexploited species in our study could help fill the ‘production gap’ to support fishing at maximum sustainable levels. While other ecological (e.g. escapes), social and economic considerations (e.g. market substitution) are important, we focused on a critical biological linkage between wild fisheries and aquaculture that provides another aspect on how to improve management alignment of the sectors.
Can cannabidiol have an analgesic effect?
Authors: Kulesza Bartłomiej , Mazurek Marek , Kurzepa Jacek
Published: August 2023

Background

Cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana or hemp, has been used for centuries to treat various conditions. Cannabis contains two main components cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD, unlike THC, is devoid of psychoactive effects and is well tolerated by the human body but has no direct effect on the receptors of the endocannabid system, despite the lack of action on the receptors of the endocannabid system.

Objectives and methods

We have prepared a literature review based on the latest available literature regarding the analgesic effects of CBD. CBD has a wide range of effects on the human body. In this study, we will present the potential mechanisms responsible for the analgesic effect of CBD. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review to explore the analgesic mechanisms of CBD.

Results and conclusion

The analgesic effect of CBD is complex and still being researched. CBD models the perception of pain by acting on G protein‐coupled receptors. Another group of receptors that CBD acts on are serotonergic receptors. The effect of CBD on an enzyme of potential importance in the production of inflammatory factors such as cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases has also been confirmed. The presented potential mechanisms of CBD's analgesic effect are currently being extensively studied.
Role of apoptosis and autophagy in folic acid‐induced cytotoxicity of human breast cancer cells in vitro
Authors: Baran Munevver , Onder Gozde Ozge , Goktepe Ozge , Yay Arzu
Published: August 2023

Obstacles to the successful treatment of breast cancer patients with chemotherapeutic agents can be overcome with effective new strategies. It is still unclear how folic acid affects the onset and spread of breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine how folic acid affected the apoptotic and autophagic pathways of the breast cancer cell lines MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231. In the present study, folic acid was applied to MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines at different concentrations and for different durations. MTT analysis was used to investigate cytotoxic activity. All groups underwent the Tunel staining procedure to identify apoptosis and the immunofluorescence staining approach to identify the autophagic pathway. 24‐hour folic acid values were accepted as the most appropriate cytotoxic dose. In MCF‐7, cell cycle arrest was observed in the S phase and MDA‐MB‐231 G1/G0 phases. When apoptotic TUNEL staining was evaluated in both cell lines, folic acid significantly increased apoptosis. While a significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of Beclin 1 immunoreactivity in the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line, there was no significant difference in the MCF‐7 cell line. In addition, statistical significance was not observed LC3 immunoreactivity in both cell lines. In the study, it was observed that folic acid induced autophagy at the initial stage in the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line but had no inductive effect in the MCF‐7 cell line. In conclusion, our findings showed that folic acid has a potential cytotoxic and therapeutic effect on MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines.
The collaborative study on the genetics of alcoholism: Brain function
Authors: Meyers Jacquelyn L. , Brislin Sarah J. , Kamarajan Chella , Plawecki Martin H. , Chorlian David , Anohkin Andrey , Kuperman Samuel , Merikangas Alison , Pandey Gayathri , Kinreich Sivan , Pandey Ashwini , Edenberg Howard J. , Bucholz Kathleen K. ,   COGA Collaborators, Almasy Laura , Porjesz Bernice
Published: August 2023

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and related health conditions result from a complex interaction of genetic, neural and environmental factors, with differential impacts across the lifespan. From its inception, the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) has focused on the importance of brain function as it relates to the risk and consequences of alcohol use and AUD, through the examination of noninvasively recorded brain electrical activity and neuropsychological tests. COGA's sophisticated neurophysiological and neuropsychological measures, together with rich longitudinal, multi‐modal family data, have allowed us to disentangle brain‐related risk and resilience factors from the consequences of prolonged and heavy alcohol use in the context of genomic and social‐environmental influences over the lifespan. COGA has led the field in identifying genetic variation associated with brain functioning, which has advanced the understanding of how genomic risk affects AUD and related disorders. To date, the COGA study has amassed brain function data on over 9871 participants, 7837 with data at more than one time point, and with notable diversity in terms of age (from 7 to 97), gender (52% female), and self‐reported race and ethnicity (28% Black, 9% Hispanic). These data are available to the research community through several mechanisms, including directly through the NIAAA, through dbGAP, and in collaboration with COGA investigators. In this review, we provide an overview of COGA's data collection methods and specific brain function measures assessed, and showcase the utility, significance, and contributions these data have made to our understanding of AUD and related disorders, highlighting COGA research findings.
Improved net carbon budgets in the US Midwest through direct measured impacts of enhanced weathering
Authors: Kantola Ilsa B. , Blanc‐Betes Elena , Masters Michael D. , Chang Elliot , Marklein Alison , Moore Caitlin E. , von Haden Adam , Bernacchi Carl J. , Wolf Adam , Epihov Dimitar Z. , Beerling David J. , DeLucia Evan H.
Published: August 2023

Terrestrial enhanced weathering (EW) through the application of Mg‐ or Ca‐rich rock dust to soil is a negative emission technology with the potential to address impacts of climate change. The effectiveness of EW was tested over 4 years by spreading ground basalt (50 t ha−1 year−1) on maize/soybean and miscanthus cropping systems in the Midwest US. The major elements of the carbon budget were quantified through measurements of eddy covariance, soil carbon flux, and biomass. The movement of Mg and Ca to deep soil, released by weathering, balanced by a corresponding alkalinity flux, was used to measure the drawdown of CO2, where the release of cations from basalt was measured as the ratio of rare earth elements to base cations in the applied rock dust and in the surface soil. Basalt application stimulated peak biomass and net primary production in both cropping systems and caused a small but significant stimulation of soil respiration. Net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) was strongly negative for maize/soybean (−199 to −453 g C m−2 year−1) indicating this system was losing carbon to the atmosphere. Average EW (102 g C m−2 year−1) offset carbon loss in the maize/soybean by 23%–42%. NECB of miscanthus was positive (63–129 g C m−2 year−1), indicating carbon gain in the system, and EW greatly increased inorganic carbon storage by an additional 234 g C m−2 year−1. Our analysis indicates a co‐deployment of a perennial biofuel crop (miscanthus) with EW leads to major wins—increased harvested yields of 29%–42% with additional carbon dioxide removal (CDR) of 8.6 t CO2 ha−1 year−1. EW applied to maize/soybean drives a CDR of 3.7 t CO2 ha−1 year−1, which partially offsets well‐established carbon losses from soil from this crop rotation. EW applied in the US Midwest creates measurable improvements to the carbon budgets perennial bioenergy crops and conventional row crops.
Cdc7 kinase is required for postnatal brain development
Authors: Hori Karin , Yamazaki Satoshi , Ohtaka‐Maruyama Chiaki , Ono Tomio , Iguchi Tomohiro , Masai Hisao
Published: August 2023

The evolutionally conserved Cdc7 kinase plays crucial roles in initiation of DNA replication as well as in other chromosomal events. To examine the roles of Cdc7 in brain development, we have generated mice carrying Cdc7 knockout in neural stem cells by using Nestin‐Cre. The Cdc7Fl/Fl NestinCre mice were born, but exhibited severe growth retardation and impaired postnatal brain development. These mice exhibited motor dysfunction within 9 days after birth and did not survive for more than 19 days. The cerebral cortical layer formation was impaired, although the cortical cell numbers were not altered in the mutant. In the cerebellum undergoing hypoplasia, granule cells (CGC) decreased in number in Cdc7Fl/F lNestinCre mice compared to the control at E15‐18, suggesting that Cdc7 is required for DNA replication and cell proliferation of CGC at mid embryonic stage (before embryonic day 15). On the other hand, the Purkinje cell numbers were not altered but its layer formation was impaired in the mutant. These results indicate differential roles of Cdc7 in DNA replication/cell proliferation in brain. Furthermore, the defects of layer formation suggest a possibility that Cdc7 may play an additional role in cell migration during neural development.
Influence of physical activity on endothelial function in people living with HIV
Authors: Preveden Andrej , Čolović Petar , Garipi Enis , Bogdan Maja , Preveden Mihaela , Marić Daniela , Brkić Snežana , Barak Otto
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Decreased physical activity is a major cardiovascular risk factor that is particularly pronounced in people living with HIV (PLHIV), who are more susceptible to endothelial dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerosis than the general population due to multiple mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to analyse whether regular physical activity is capable of improving endothelial function measured by flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD) in PLHIV.

Methods

We performed FMD measurement in 38 PLHIV, along with the assessment of their regular physical activity level using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).

Results

Flow‐mediated dilatation results in PLHIV were 0.31 ± 0.06 mm and 7.34% ± 1.41% for absolute and relative FMD, respectively. IPAQ results showed that the average weekly level of physical activity was 3631.1 ± 1526.7 MET‐min/week, whereas the average daily sitting time was 287.3 ± 102.7 min/day. Predictors jointly accounted for 48% (adjusted value 42%) of FMD variance. Bootstrapped confidence levels revealed that physical activity had a statistically significant effect on the outcome [beta = 0.517, 2.5% confidence interval (CI) = 0.205, 97.5% CI = 0.752].

Conclusion

Physical activity represents a widely available and uncostly tool that is capable of improving endothelial function and overall cardiovascular health in PLHIV.
NEOS: An odour‐induced affect scale for use in the cosmetic industry
Authors: Barbosa Plinio A. , Semenzim Thaís Bellintani , Marques Lucas Murrins , Serpa Alexandre Luiz de Oliveira , Yoshimine Elise , Tobo Patricia
Published: August 2023

This work proposes an odour‐induced affect scale for use in the cosmetic industry that relies on the approach that produced the UniGEOS, a universal odour‐related emotional scale from the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences. The Natura Emotion and Odor Scale (NEOS) was built on experiments conducted with a larger set of participants (491) and a set of 35 scents that combine seven commercial perfumes from Natura & Co cosmetic company with 28 odours from different olfactory classes important for the cosmetic industry. The results showed the stability of 60 Emotion‐Related terms in Brazilian Portuguese split into five emotion‐related dimensions: Romance, Attention, Energy, Well‐being and Negative feelings. The association of the scents evoking these five dimensions has direct implications in the design of new products.
The effects of accounting comparability, income smoothing and engagement partners on audit risk
Authors: Kim Yong‐Shik , Park Sang‐Hun
Published: August 2023

This study investigates whether accounting comparability, income smoothing and engagement partners affect audit risk perceived by auditors. We find that both accounting comparability and income smoothing reduce perceived audit risk and that the interaction of these two variables incrementally reduces perceived audit risk. We also find that the interaction of accounting comparability and income smoothing incrementally reduces perceived audit risk when engagement partners exert more effort in auditing. The results imply that when clients exhibit both cross‐sectional and the time‐series informativeness of financial statements, auditors lower their perceived audit risk and reduce risk premium, which decreases deadweight cost to these clients. This is especially the case when engagement partners exert more effort in auditing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first empirical study to test the interaction effect of accounting comparability, income smoothing and engagement partners on perceived audit risk.
Influence of sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum) flour substitution on the physicochemical properties, bioactive activities, and in vitro digestibility of wheat bread
Authors: Liu Jiang , Liang Dan , Zhao Changcheng , Fu Liuyang
Published: August 2023

Sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum), as the seed of an annual spermaphyte, is generally concerned for its highly valuable nutrients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sand rice (SR) supplementation on the physicochemical properties, bioactive activities, and in vitro digestibility of wheat flour bread. Results showed that the addition of SR could significantly increase the total phenolic, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity. Moreover, the SR‐added bread had lower pasting viscosity and enthalpy of gelatinisation. In vitro starch digestion assay showed a higher slow digestion starch content and performed a lower digestibility rate in SR bread, while, in terms of 20% or higher addition levels, bread quality was negatively affected by SR regarding aspect ratio, specific volume, colour profiles, texture properties, and sensory evaluation. Overall, these results indicated that sand rice flour could be a fine replacement for wheat flour in bread formulations to increase the product's nutritional values and functional properties.
Effects of menthol on thirst during surgery patients fasting: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled studies
Authors: Wang Ran , Wang Lin , Liu Ting , Peng Cao
Published: August 2023

Aims

We aim to analyse the effect of menthol on thirst intensity and thirst comfort in surgical patients.

Background

Menthol has achieved good results in quenching thirst in patients in intensive care units, but its safety and reliability in perioperative fasting patients are unknown.

Design

A systematic review with meta‐analysis of intervention studies was performed.

Data Sources

We used Chinese and English databases from their dates of inception to May 2022. Literature was retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINHAL, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP database.

Review Methods

Two reviewers independently examined the records according to the eligibility criteria and extracted the data of each included study.

Results

A total of seven studies were identified in this review, which included 537 surgical patients. Overall, menthol reduced thirst intensity in surgical patients and decreased thirst discomfort. Further subgroup analysis revealed that the menthol intervention significantly improved thirst intensity in surgical patients during preoperative and postoperative fasting periods. The Egger's tests showed no significant bias (p = 0.113 and 0.553, thirst intensity and thirst discomfort, respectively).

Conclusion

Menthol intervention effectively improved thirst intensity and thirst discomfort during fasting in surgical patients, but more large‐scale, multicentre randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings further.
Effect of insertion site on tunnelled haemodialysis catheter outcomes: an observational study of 967 catheters
Authors: Yaxley Julian , Gately Ryan , Scott Tahira , Kurtkoti Jagadeesh , Mantha Murty
Published: August 2023

Background

The right internal jugular vein is the preferred approach to tunnelled haemodialysis catheter placement. However, the effect of the insertion site on long‐term catheter outcomes remains uncertain.

Aims

We aimed to analyse a large cohort of tunnelled haemodialysis catheter placements to compare short‐term and long‐term results according to central venous catheter location.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed on consecutive tunnelled catheter insertions at two centres over 7 years. The primary outcome was catheter survival, compared according to the central vein site. We used the Kaplan–Meier curve method and Cox proportional hazards modelling to determine the effect of the catheterisation route on primary patency, adjusted for clinical risk factors for catheter failure.

Results

There were 967 tunnelled dialysis catheter placements in 620 patients. The median survival for right internal jugular vein catheters was 569 days. There were no differences in rates of catheter failure between right internal jugular, left internal jugular (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52–1.21), external jugular (HR, 0.79; CI, 0.33–3.13), subclavian (HR, 0.67; CI, 0.58–2.44) and femoral vein (HR, 1.20; CI, 0.36–1.33) catheters following multivariable analysis. There were no major differences in functionality or complications between the groups.

Conclusions

This study identified no statistically significant relationship between tunnelled haemodialysis catheter insertion site and catheter survival. The contemporary approach to dialysis vascular access should be tailored to specific patient circumstances.
Hanging out in the outback: the use of social hotspots by wild zebra finches
Authors: Loning Hugo , Fragueira Rita , Naguib Marc , Griffith Simon C.
Published: August 2023

The social and spatial organisation of avian societies is often complex and dynamic with individuals socialising with others in a local population. Although social interactions can readily be described in colonial breeders through the location of nests, social interactions regularly take place in other contexts that are often not considered. Social behaviour in the colonially breeding zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata, has been the focus of much work in the laboratory, but very little is known about their social organisation in free‐living populations, especially outside the breeding context. Here we characterise semi‐permanent gathering locations, or ‘social hotspots' in the zebra finch in the wild. We determined the use of such social hotspots and the resulting group dynamics by quantifying movements to and from these locations through direct observation and by quantifying the vocal activity at these locations using acoustic recorders. We show that, throughout the day, zebra finches regularly visit these hotspots, and the hotspots are occupied for a substantial proportion of the day. Individuals typically arrived and left in pairs, or small groups, indicating that these social hotspots do not function just for flock formation. Instead, the high levels of vocal activity at these hotspots indicate that they may potentially function as local hubs for socialisation and information exchange, whilst also perhaps providing safety‐in‐numbers benefits to individuals during periods of resting. These findings characterise an important component of the natural social life of one of the most widely studied birds in captivity. The characterisation of these social hotspots highlights the use of landmarks by birds to facilitate social contacts, cohesion, and behaviour, in a social bird. Similar hangouts and social hotspots may be a feature of social behaviour in other multi‐level aggregative species in which the fission and fusion of groups is an important component of daily life.