bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mapping the MOB proteins’ proximity network reveals a unique interaction between human MOB3C and the RNase P complex
Authors: Elkholi Islam E. , Boulais Jonathan , Thibault Marie-Pier , Phan Hong-Duc , Robert Amélie , Lai Lien B. , Faubert Denis , Smith Matthew J. , Gopalan Venkat , Côté Jean-François
Published: May 2023

Distinct functions mediated by members of the monopolar spindle-one-binder (MOB) family of proteins remain elusive beyond the evolutionary conserved and well-established roles of MOB1A and B in regulating the Hippo pathway. Since MOB proteins are adaptors, understanding how they engage in protein-protein interactions and complexes assembly is essential to define the full scope of their biological functions. To address this, we undertook a proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID) approach to define the interactomes of all seven human MOB proteins in HeLa and HEK293 cell lines. We uncovered > 200 interactions, of which at least 70% are unreported on BioGrid. The generated dataset reliably recalled thebona fideinteractors of the well-studied MOBs. We further defined the common and differential interactome between different MOBs on a subfamily and an individual level. We discovered a unique interaction between MOB3C and 7 out of 10 protein subunits of the RNase P complex, an endonuclease that catalyzes tRNA 5’ maturation. As a proof-of-principle for the robustness of the generated dataset, we validated the specific interaction of MOB3C with catalytically active RNase P by using affinity purification-mass spectrometry and pre-tRNA cleavage assays of MOB3C pulldowns. In summary, our data provide novel insights into the biology of MOB proteins and reveal the first interactors of MOB3C, components of the RNase P complex, and hence an exciting nexus with RNA biology.
Electron transport chain inhibition increases cellular dependence on purine transport and salvage
Authors: Wu Zheng , Bezwada Divya , Harris Robert C , Pan Chunxiao , Nguyen Phong T , Faubert Brandon , Cai Ling , Cai Feng , Vu Hieu S. , Chen Hongli , Sandoval Misty Martin- , Do Duyen , Gu Wen , Zhang Yuannyu , Ko Bookyung , Brooks Bailey , Kelekar Sherwin , Zhang Yuanyuan , Zacharias Lauren G , Oaxaca K. Celeste , Mathews Thomas P , Garcia-Bermudez Javier , Ni Min , DeBerardinis Ralph J.
Published: May 2023

Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to support cell growth and proliferation in harsh environments. While many studies have documented the importance of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in tumor growth, some cancer cells experience conditions of reduced OXPHOS in vivo and induce alternative metabolic pathways to compensate. To assess how human cells respond to mitochondrial dysfunction, we performed metabolomics in fibroblasts and plasma from patients with inborn errors of mitochondrial metabolism, and in cancer cells subjected to inhibition of the electron transport chain (ETC). All these analyses revealed extensive perturbations in purine-related metabolites; in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, ETC blockade led to purine metabolite accumulation arising from a reduced cytosolic NAD+/NADH ratio (NADH reductive stress). Stable isotope tracing demonstrated that ETC deficiency suppressed de novo purine nucleotide synthesis while enhancing purine salvage. Analysis of NSCLC patients infused with [U-13C]glucose revealed that tumors with markers of low oxidative mitochondrial metabolism exhibited high expression of the purine salvage enzyme HPRT1 and abundant levels of the HPRT1 product inosine monophosphate (IMP). ETC blockade also induced production of ribose-5’ phosphate (R5P) by the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and import of purine nucleobases. Blocking either HPRT1 or nucleoside transporters sensitized cancer cells to ETC inhibition, and overexpressing nucleoside transporters was sufficient to drive growth of NSCLC xenografts. Collectively, this study mechanistically delineates how cells compensate for suppressed purine metabolism in response to ETC blockade, and uncovers a new metabolic vulnerability in tumors experiencing NADH excess.
Systematic Review of Treatment of Beta-Cell Monogenic Diabetes
Authors: Naylor Rochelle N. , Patel Kashyap A. , Kettunen Jarno L.T. , Männistö Jonna M.E. , Støy Julie , Beltrand Jacques , Polak Michel ,   ADA/EASD PMDI, Vilsbøll Tina , Greeley Siri A.W. , Hattersley Andrew T. , Tuomi Tiinamaija
Published: May 2023

Background

Beta-cell monogenic forms of diabetes are the area of diabetes care with the strongest support for precision medicine. We reviewed treatment of hyperglycemia in GCK-related hyperglycemia, HNF1A- HNF4A- and HNF1B-diabetes, Mitochondrial diabetes (MD) due to m.3243A>G variant, 6q24-transient neonatal diabetes (TND) and SLC19A2-diabetes.

Methods

Systematic reviews with data from PubMed, MEDLINE and Embase were performed for the different subtypes. Individual and group level data was extracted for glycemic outcomes in individuals with genetically confirmed monogenic diabetes.

Results

147 studies met inclusion criteria with only six experimental studies and the rest being single case reports or cohort studies. Most studies had moderate or serious risk of bias.

For GCK-related hyperglycemia, six studies (N=35) showed no deterioration in HbA1c on discontinuing glucose lowering therapy. A randomized trial (n=18 per group) showed that sulfonylureas (SU) were more effective in HNF1A-diabetes than in type 2 diabetes, and cohort and case studies supported SU effectiveness in lowering HbA1c. Two crossover trials (n=15 and n=16) suggested glinides and GLP-1 receptor agonists might be used in place of SU. Evidence for HNF4A-diabetes was limited. While some patients with HNF1B-diabetes (n=301) and MD (n=250) were treated with oral agents, most were on insulin. There was some support for the use of oral agents after relapse in 6q24-TND, and for thiamine improving glycemic control and reducing insulin requirement in SLC19A2-diabetes (less than half achieved insulin-independency).

Conclusion

There is limited evidence to guide the treatment in monogenic diabetes with most studies being non-randomized and small. The data supports: no treatment in GCK-related hyperglycemia; SU for HNF1A-diabetes. Further evidence is needed to examine the optimum treatment in monogenic subtypes.
ArchaealS-adenosyl-l-homocysteine hydrolases: structure, function and substrate preferences
Authors: Popadić Désirée , Saleem-Batcha Raspudin , Köppl Lars-Hendrik , Germer Philipp , Andexer Jennifer N.
Published: May 2023

S-Adenosyl-l-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) reversibly cleavesS-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH), the product ofS-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-dependent methylation reactions. The conversion of SAH into adenosine andl-homocysteine (Hcy) plays an important role in the regulation of the methyl cycle. An alternative metabolic route for SAM regeneration in the extremophilesMethanocaldococcus jannaschiiandThermotoga maritimawas identified with the deamination of SAH toS-inosyl-l-homocysteine (SIH). Herein, we report the first structural characterisation of different archaeal SAHHs together with a biochemical analysis of various SAHHs from all three domains of life. We found that homologues deriving from the Euryarchaeota phylum show a higher conversion rate with SIH compared to SAH. Crystal structures of SAHH originating fromPyrococcus furiosusin complex with SIH and inosine as ligands, show architectural flexibility in the active site and offer deeper insights into the binding mode of hypoxanthine-containing substrates. Altogether, the findings presented in this study support the understanding of an alternative metabolic route for SAM and offer insights into the evolutionary progression and diversification of SAHHs involved in methyl and purine salvage pathways.
Crystallography of homophase twisted bilayers: coincidence, union lattices and space groups
Authors: Gratias Denis , Quiquandon Marianne
Published: May 2023

This paper presents the basic tools used to describe the global symmetry of so-called bilayer structures obtained when two differently oriented crystalline monoatomic layers of the same structure are superimposed and displaced with respect to each other. The 2D nature of the layers leads to the use of complex numbers that allows for simple explicit analytical expressions of the symmetry properties involved in standard bicrystallography [Gratias & Portier (1982). J. Phys. Colloq.
43, C6-15–C6-24; Pond & Vlachavas (1983). Proc. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. A, 386, 95–143]. The focus here is on the twist rotations such that the superimposition of the two layers generates a coincidence lattice. The set of such coincidence rotations plotted as a function of the lengths of their coincidence lattice unit-cell nodes exhibits remarkable arithmetic properties. The second part of the paper is devoted to determination of the space groups of the bilayers as a function of the rigid-body translation associated with the coincidence rotation. These general results are exemplified with a detailed study of graphene bilayers, showing that the possible symmetries of graphene bilayers with a coincidence lattice, whatever the rotation and the rigid-body translation, are distributed in only six distinct types of space groups. The appendix discusses some generalized cases of heterophase bilayers with coincidence lattices due to specific lattice constant ratios, and mechanical deformation by elongation and shear of a layer on top of an undeformed one.
Identifying key factors of sustainability practice in financial institutions based on decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method
Authors: Kuo Yi-Chun , Huang Yueh-Hsia , Sun Lan , Small Garrick , Lin Shih-Jung
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Financial institutions have a role in harmonising economic purposes with environmental and social purposes through transmission mechanisms whereby the institutions provide channels to promote socially and environmental desirable activities. This study explores the sustainability criteria disclosed at firm-level corporate social responsibility reports for the purpose of providing direction for financial institutions committed to enhancing the contribution to sustainability objectives.

Design/methodology/approach

The Delphi Method and the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) system have been employed to systematically analyse the opinions of 15 experts regarding the operation of the 7 Taiwanese financial institutions listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index in 2019 with respect to the capacity to affect sustainability objectives.

Findings

The findings reveal a high prominence level for corporate governance, law compliance, risk management and occupational safety and health, representing amongst the sustainability criteria considered. This suggests that financial institutions may benefit from focussing resources on these areas, starting with corporate governance, when considering means for enhancing the sustainability performance.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited by the small number of financial institutions available in Taiwan which suggests that further research could be directed towards a larger sample of financial institutions, say by international comparison, expanding the range of industries studied or the inclusion for additional sustainability indicators.

Practical implications

Overall, the study has shed light on Taiwan's financial institutions' capacity to contribute to sustainable practices which is an area that has not been extensively investigated. This study may have useful implications for financial institutions in Taiwan.

Social implications

The authors also recognise other factors that are likely to contribute to social impacts. These include human capacity building and development, information security, green procurement, green building and climate-related financial products.

Originality/value

This study fills the gap by providing useful insights for a better understanding of sustainable development in financial institutions by promoting sustainability practice in general. The authors' analysis will assist decision-makers in identifying and prioritising the driving factors and thus adopting suitable strategies to strengthen sustainability performance.
The great sell-side sell-off: evidence of declining financial analyst coverage
Authors: Hettler Barry , Skomra Justyna , Forst Arno
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Motivated by significant global developments affecting the sell-side industry, in particular a shift toward passive investments and growing regulation, this study examines whether financial analyst coverage declined over the past decade and if any loss of analyst coverage is associated with a change in forecast accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

After investigating, and confirming, a general decline in analyst following, the authors calculate the loss of analyst coverage relative to the firm-specific maximum between 2009 and 2013. In multivariate analyses, the authors then examine whether this loss of coverage differs across geographic region, firm size and capital market development, and whether it is associated with consensus analyst accuracy.

Findings

Results indicate that between 2011 and 2021, firm-specific analyst coverage globally declined 17.8%, while the decline in the EU was an even greater, 28.5%. Within the EU, results are most pronounced for small-cap firms. As a consequence of the loss of coverage, the authors observe a global decline in forecast accuracy, with EU small-cap firms and firms domiciled in EU non-developed capital markets faring the worst.

Originality/value

This study is the first to document a concerning global decline in analyst coverage over the past decade. The study results provide broad-based empirical support for anecdotal reports that smaller firms in the EU and those in EU non-developed capital markets bear the brunt of consequences stemming from changes in the sell-side analyst industry.
“Perfectionism is a debacle” how a perfectionist leader hinders in business processes? A multiple mediated model
Authors: Malik Muhammad Faisal
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The current study highlights the dark side of a perfectionist leader hindering in business processes and also investigates its impact on procrastination through workplace incivility, psychological distress, and psychological detachment by using the tenet of conservation of resource theory. Positivism research philosophy was adopted, followed by a deductive approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey technique was used to collect the quantitative data from the employees working in public sector organizations. 364 samples were collected and analyzed using SEM-Mplus techniques, where structured and measurement models were produced and interpreted accordingly.

Findings

The results suggested that perfectionist leaders become a source for their followers to involve in procrastination because of depletion of ego and psychological resources. The results supported the chain of mediation and both paths of perfectionist leaders, workplace incivility, psychological detachment, and procrastination and perfectionist leaders, workplace incivility, psychological distress, and procrastination.

Originality/value

The results and dynamics of the current study provided some meaningful managerial and theoretical implications and future research directions for the researchers. The study contributes significantly to the body of literature since it captures and analyzes the overlooked elements in the context of perfectionist leaders.
Modelling the enablers of work-family balance among working single mothers integrating expert-mining and TISM-MICMAC
Authors: Kushwaha Jyoti , Singh Pankaj , Sharma Aparna
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study intends to recognize and prioritize the work-family balance (WFB) enablers for working sole mothers by employing total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) and “Matrice-d’impacts-croisés-multiplication-appliqués-à-un-classment” method (MICMAC).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper utilizes the integrated approach in two stages. In initial stage, strategic literature review and expert mining technique have been conducted to recognize and validate WFB enablers. In subsequent stage, TISM has been applied to observe the contextual relationships among WFB enablers in the direction to construct a TISM-based structural model. Furthermore, MICMAC technique has been employed to categorize the WFB enablers based on their driver and dependence power.

Findings

This paper has identified novel 13 key enablers of WFB among working sole mothers and constructed a unique TISM-based hierarchical model. Moreover, WFB enablers have been categorized into four clusters using MICMAC analysis. In the developed TISM model, working sole mother-related WFB personal enablers are primarily at the upper level, family-related WFB enablers are in the center and work-related WFB enablers are in the lowest level.

Practical implications

The developed framework on WFB enablers among working sole mothers can provide a resolution to difficulties faced by sole mothers in managing WFB by providing a pathway to enhance their performance by improving the organizational effectiveness through improving WFB policies.

Originality/value

Based on the best of authors' awareness, this study first incorporates the TISM-MICMAC technique to recognize and prioritize the WFB enablers for working sole mothers.
Modeling and measuring strategic alignment
Authors: Reed Jonathan H.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper presents an analytical framework for modeling and measuring strategic alignment. The resource-product-market (RPM) model is introduced as a means of representing the alignment of the firm's internal resources with its product lines and external markets. A strategic alignment index is defined to measure the degree of alignment represented by a model.

Design/methodology/approach

The RPM model is derived as an extension of prior research on diversification indexes. The strategic alignment index is mathematically defined and the properties of the model are characterized using graph theory. The approach is illustrated for two example firms.

Findings

The RPM model is flexible and can be used with different types and measures of resources, products and markets. The model represents strategy in a structural manner addressing a vertical type of alignment. The index ranges continuously from 0 to 1.0, providing a useful scale for measurement and comparison.

Practical implications

Practitioners may use RPM modeling to assess the current alignment of their respective firms and to identify strategic alternatives which increase alignment through a taxonomy of 13 strategic moves. The results of applying the model to ten firms are summarized.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature by providing a new method for modeling firm strategy which integrates resource and industry views, thereby enabling a measurement of their alignment. The paper is also novel in the application of graph theory to management.
Pre‐service teachers' attitudes and the factors influencing their formation regarding inclusive education in Kosovo
Authors: Koliqi Donika , Koliqi Kushtrim , Zabeli Naser
Published: May 2023

This study investigates pre‐service teachers' attitudes towards inclusive education in Kosovo and identifies the factors that influence and predict those attitudes. The data were collected using a quantitative method. The study involved 210 pre‐service teachers. Data were analysed descriptively through comparative means, correlate analysis, and regression analysis. The results of the study found that the pre‐service teachers had relatively positive attitudes towards inclusive education. The study indicates only one significant difference between attitudes and demographic factors: pre‐service teachers who had attended only one course in inclusive education had more positive attitudes than those who had attended two or more. The Pearson's correlation results found no positive correlation between pre‐service teachers' attitudes towards inclusion and self‐efficacy. The predictors of pre‐service teachers' attitudes are courses for inclusive education, teaching placements during training and self‐efficacy. The findings recommend that teacher training programmes should provide objective information about the complexities of inclusion, as well as provide practices that enable pre‐service teachers to develop pedagogical skills and increase self‐efficacy in implementing inclusive education.
The same everywhere? Exploring structural homologies of national social fields using the case of journalism
Authors: Hovden Jan Fredrik
Published: May 2023

Pierre Bourdieu argued for the existence of general properties and even laws of social fields. In contrast to spaces of class relations and patterns of cultural lifestyles, however, almost no systematic comparative research exists on the homologies of national social fields of a more specialised nature. Also, the large majority of research is done on Western countries, raising concerns about the relevance of the concept for less differentiated societies. Using the field of journalism as a case, typical structures of 67 national fields (n = 27,567) are in this article investigated using a reverse approach: First, the subjective spaces of journalists' experienced constraints and imperatives in their jobs are sketched as a proxy for field structure using variants of multiple correspondence analysis, and second, the distribution of the social and professional properties of journalists are used to suggest capital structures. The results suggest great stability in the fundamental organising principles of fields of journalism around the world, although with considerable variation in their autonomy.
Region‐based epigenetic clock design improves RRBS‐based age prediction
Authors: Simpson Daniel J. , Zhao Qian , Olova Nelly N. , Dabrowski Jan , Xie Xiaoxiao , Latorre‐Crespo Eric , Chandra Tamir
Published: May 2023

Recent studies suggest that epigenetic rejuvenation can be achieved using drugs that mimic calorie restriction and techniques such as reprogramming‐induced rejuvenation. To effectively test rejuvenation in vivo, mouse models are the safest alternative. However, we have found that the recent epigenetic clocks developed for mouse reduced‐representation bisulphite sequencing (RRBS) data have significantly poor performance when applied to external datasets. We show that the sites captured and the coverage of key CpGs required for age prediction vary greatly between datasets, which likely contributes to the lack of transferability in RRBS clocks. To mitigate these coverage issues in RRBS‐based age prediction, we present two novel design strategies that use average methylation over large regions rather than individual CpGs, whereby regions are defined by sliding windows (e.g. 5 kb), or density‐based clustering of CpGs. We observe improved correlation and error in our regional blood clocks (RegBCs) compared to published individual‐CpG‐based techniques when applied to external datasets. The RegBCs are also more robust when applied to low coverage data and detect a negative age acceleration in mice undergoing calorie restriction. Our RegBCs offer a proof of principle that age prediction of RRBS datasets can be improved by accounting for multiple CpGs over a region, which negates the lack of read depth currently hindering individual‐CpG‐based approaches.
In‐vivo testing of a novel wireless intraspinal microstimulation interface for restoration of motor function following spinal cord injury
Authors: Tawakol Omar , Herman Martin D. , Foxley Sean , Mushahwar Vivian K. , Towle Vernon L. , Troyk Philip R.
Published: May 2023

Background

Spinal cord injury causes a drastic loss in motor and sensory function. Intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS) is an electrical stimulation method developed for restoring motor function by activating the spinal networks below the level of injury. Current ISMS technology uses fine penetrating microwires to stimulate the ventral horn of the lumbar enlargement. The penetrating wires traverse the dura mater through a transdural conduit that connects to an implantable pulse generator.

Objective

A wireless, fully intradural ISMS implant was developed to mitigate the potential complications associated with the transdural conduit, including tethering and leakage of cerebrospinal fluid.

Methods

Two wireless floating microelectrode array (WFMA) devices were implanted in the lumbar enlargement of an adult domestic pig. Voltage transients were used to assess the electrochemical stability of the interface. Manual flexion and extension movements of the spine were performed to evaluate the mechanical stability of the interface. Post‐mortem 9T MRI imaging was used to confirm the location of the electrodes.

Results

The WFMA‐based ISMS interface successfully evoked extension and flexion movements of the hip joint. Stimulation thresholds remained stable following manual extension and flexion of the spine.

Conclusion

The preliminary results demonstrate the surgical feasibility as well as the functionality of the proposed wireless ISMS system.
Elevated expression of the AIM2 gene in response to Helicobacter pylori along with the decrease of NLRC4 inflammasome is associated with peptic ulcer development
Authors: Davari Fatemeh , Shokri‐Shirvani Javad , Sepidarkish Mahdi , Nouri Hamid Reza
Published: May 2023

Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) cause peptic ulcer disease (PUD), but the inflammasome's role in PUD is not well understood. Therefore this study has investigated inflammasome compartment expression and IL‐1β production in gastritis (G) and peptic ulcer disease. This study was based on gene expression of inflammasome compartments on stomach biopsies of 50 patients with PUD as cases and 50 individuals with gastritis as controls. The expression of NLRC4, ASC, IL‐18, and serum IL‐1β decreased in the PUD group compared to the control group. AIM2 gene expression increased, and NLRP12 gene expression decreased in H. pylori‐seropositive positive (HP+) individuals compared to H. pylori‐seronegative (HP−) individuals. The G‐HP+ subjects had higher serum IL‐1β and AIM2 gene expression than G‐HP− subjects but lower NLRP3 and NLRP12 gene expression. The PUD‐HP+ had lower serum IL‐1β, but higher AIM2 and IL‐18 expression than PUD‐HP−. The PUD‐HP− patients had decreased IL‐18 expression than G‐HP− group. The PUD‐HP+ had lower serum IL‐1β and NLRC4 expression than G‐HP+, while NLRP1 and NLRP3 were higher in expression in PUD‐HP+. The expression of caspase‐1, NLRP3 and NAIP were correlated with IL‐1β and IL‐18. In conclusion, a decrease in NLRC4, IL‐18, ASC genes, and IL‐1β levels in PUD patients compared to gastritis may act in the development of PUD. H. pylori caused AIM2 induction and reduced NLRP12, indicating their contribution to bacterial responses. Decreased NLRC4 expression and IL‐1β protein, together with enhanced NLRP1, and NLRP3 expression, promotes H. pylori to develop peptic ulcers.
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic exploration of various combinations of tegoprazan immediate and delayed‐release formulations
Authors: Park Sooyoun , Yang Eunsol , Kim Byungwook , Kwon Jihoon , Jang In‐Jin , Lee Seung Hwan
Published: May 2023

Aims

The new modified‐release formulation of tegoprazan, a novel potassium‐competitive acid blocker, is expected to improve the management of acid‐related disease, including nocturnal acid breakthrough, by prolonging the duration of acid suppression. This study aimed to explore the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of various combinations of tegoprazan with immediate‐release (IR) and delayed‐release (DR) formulations.

Methods

A three‐cohort, open‐label, randomized, single‐dose, three‐treatment, six‐sequence, three‐period crossover study was conducted. Various combinations of tegoprazan IR and DR formulations (50, 75 or 100 mg) were administered orally once per period. The 24‐h intragastric pH was monitored before and after each administration. PK blood samples were collected for up to 48 h. PK and PD were compared among treatments.

Results

Eighteen healthy Korean subjects completed the study. All treatment groups showed intragastric pH above 4 approximately 1 h following tegoprazan administration. Among the various combinations, the IR and DR combination at a 1:1 ratio induced greater gastric acid suppression (%Time pH ≥ 4) than IR alone in each dose group, both for 24 h (50 mg; 59% vs. 52%, P = .2188, 95% confidence interval [CI] −6.92–22.27, 100 mg; 85% vs. 70%, P < .05, 95% CI 8.92–22.19) and at night (50 mg; 27% vs. 16%, P = .1563, 95% CI −11.79–37.71, 100 mg; 77% vs. 49%, P < .05, 95% CI 16.14–42.98), with similar systemic exposure.

Conclusions

The combinatorial tegoprazan in the IR and DR 1:1 ratio formulation was found to induce stronger gastric acid suppression throughout the day and at night, compared to the conventional IR formulation.
Non‐fasting lipids and cardiovascular disease in those with and without diabetes in Alberta's Tomorrow Project: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Weaver Olivia R. , Ye Ming , Vena Jennifer E. , Eurich Dean T. , Proctor Spencer D.
Published: May 2023

Aims

Non‐fasting remnant cholesterol (RC) is a novel marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, however, data on this relationship in Canadians with diabetes (at high risk of CVD) is lacking. The objective of this analysis was to determine the relationship of RC with CVD in individuals with and without diabetes in the Alberta's Tomorrow Project (ATP) cohort.

Methods

Non‐fasting lipid data collected as part of the ATP was linked to administrative health records (October 2000–March 2015) to ascertain incident CVD and prevalent diabetes. Participants without prevalent CVD or incident diabetes and who had complete, non‐negative non‐fasting lipid data collected with triglycerides <4.5 mmol/L were included (n = 13,631). The relationship between non‐fasting RC and incident CVD diagnoses was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression, after stratification by diabetes status.

Results

Participants were 69.8% women with a mean age of 61.6 ± 9.7 years, and 6.5% had prevalent diabetes. Non‐fasting RC was higher in participants with diabetes compared to those without (mean 0.94 ± 0.41 mmol/L vs. 0.77 ± 0.38 mmol/L, p < 0.0001) and was associated with increased risk of incident CVD among those without diabetes (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.22, 95% CI 1.03–1.43, p = 0.02). Although a similar trend was observed in participants with diabetes it did not reach statistical significance (aHR 1.31, 95% CI 0.84–2.05, p = 0.23).

Conclusions

Elevated non‐fasting RC predicted increased CVD risk in middle and older‐aged adults without diabetes; similar trends were observed in participants with diabetes and require further testing in a larger sample.
Missing girls in Liberal Italy, 1861–1921
Authors: Beltrán Tapia Francisco J. , Cappelli Gabriele
Published: May 2023

By relying on the number of (surviving) boys per hundred girls observed in the population censuses as a cumulative measure of differential mortality during birth, infancy, and childhood, this paper shows that average Italian child sex ratios (aged 0–4) were abnormally high between 1861 and 1921. Our estimations indicate that unexplained excess female mortality resulted in around 2–3 per cent of ‘missing girls’ during this period. Likewise, by constructing a new dataset on child sex ratios at the provincial level during the same period, this article shows that child sex ratios tended to be higher in Southern Italy, a geographical cleavage that became stronger as time went by. Crucially, the results reported here cannot be explained by registration issues because (1) the analysis holds if we focus on the sex ratios of older children (aged 5–9) and (2) these patterns are also clearly visible using death registers. Unexplained excess female mortality early in life disappeared from the 1920s onwards, thus suggesting that either discriminatory practices gradually vanished and/or that they no longer translated into higher mortality rates due to enhanced living standards.
High aspect ratio sapphire micromachining by ultraviolet laser‐induced plasma‐assisted ablation (LIPAA)
Authors: Cole Douglas F. , Zednik Ricardo J. , Hof Lucas A.
Published: May 2023

The ultraviolet laser‐induced plasma‐assisted ablation performed in this article can attain deep and high‐quality engravings in sapphire without necessitating volatile solutions or expensive equipment such as high‐power ultrashort‐pulsed lasers. The dominant mechanism of ablation is discovered to be from the direct ablation of excited sapphire surfaces and not from the plasma generated from the target material. Only an initial deposition from the target is needed to initiate the direct ablation. Note that 20‐µm wide, 30‐µm deep channel and hole features with a surface roughness (Sa) of .65 µm are achieved at an etching rate of .3 µm per pulse without the need for extensive cleaning. Engravings can reach up to 150‐µm depths at a maximum tapering angle of 5° until the shrinking absorbent surface vanishes, and 500‐µm wide 430‐µm deep topside through‐cutting is achieved. This study characterizes the morphology of direct laser ablation of transient absorbent sapphire surfaces. This method demonstrates the potential for the low‐cost rapid engraving of high aspect ratio features in transparent sapphire substrates.
Effects of proteins and fats on the physicochemical, nutritional and sensory properties of plant‐based frozen desserts
Authors: Ng Felicia Siew Kay , Chiang Jie Hong , Ng Grace Cui Fang , Lee Cheryl Si Hui , Henry Christiani Jeyakumar
Published: May 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effects of plant‐based proteins (i.e. chickpea protein concentrate [CP] and soymilk powder [SM]) and fats (i.e. sunflower oil [SO] and coconut oil [CO]) in substituting dairy ingredients to develop plant‐based frozen desserts. The physicochemical, nutritional and sensory properties of the frozen desserts were evaluated. As compared to the dairy‐based frozen dessert, the plant‐based ones had comparable nutritional profiles with higher dietary fibre contents, which increased viscosities in the mix, resulting in improved meltdown properties. The frozen desserts containing both CP and SM, regardless of the types of fat (3CP3SM‐SO and 3CP3SM‐CO), received higher sensory scores for texture, mouthfeel, taste and overall acceptance. These findings suggest that plant‐based ingredients have the potential to create functional frozen desserts that are high in protein and energy, making them an ideal food supplement for the elderly who are at risk of malnutrition. due to chewing challenges and declining appetites.
Factorial structure of the German Care Dependency Scale for self‐assessment among older adults in supported housing
Authors: Boggatz Thomas , Dijkstra Ate
Published: May 2023

Aim

To determine the factorial structure of the German Care Dependency Scale (CDS) for self‐assessment in supported housing in Austria.

Background

The CDS is a well‐established tool for the assessment of care dependency. However, several versions of the scale showed different factorial structures depending on the country and the setting where they were applied. The factorial structure of the CDS, therefore, needed clarification prior to its application in supported housing.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

Self‐assessments of care dependency were obtained from residents in supported housing in Austria. The factorial structure of the scale was determined by exploratory factor analysis. The resulting factor models were compared by confirmatory factor analyses with a single factor model regarding the best fit. CDS total score and sum scores of the identified factors were correlated with externally assessed care levels according to the Austrian care insurance.

Results

48.2% of the residents in supported housing participated, but some of them were younger than 60. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a three‐factor model with two variants in the distribution of items, depending on whether people over 59 were included in the analysis or not. The second variant showed the best fit in confirmatory factor analysis. CDS total score and sum scores of the identified factors showed statistically significant correlations with externally assessed care levels.

Conclusion

The three‐factorial structure differentiates between various aspects of support and results from the particular characteristics of the setting and the care recipients. Several cross‐loadings of items indicate an ambiguous understanding of support needs. It is suggested to modify the scale to adapt it to the target group and setting.

Implications for the Profession

Self‐assessments with a modified version of CDS in supported housing can be useful to identify the various support needs in this setting.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
External influencing factors on missed care in Austrian hospitals: Testing the theoretical antecedents of missed care using structural equation modelling
Authors: Cartaxo Ana , Dabney Beverly W. , Mayer Hanna , Eberl Inge , Gonçalves Luzia
Published: May 2023

Problem

Missed Nursing Care (MNC) is an error of omission which occurs when a necessary nursing intervention is not initiated, is not completed, or when it is delayed. The MNC model explains this problem and describes four antecedents that can lead to MNC: (1) demand for patient care, (2) available human resources, (3) material resources, and (4) and relationship and communication factors.

Aims

This study aims to test the relationship between the theoretical antecedents of MNC and their impact on MNC.

Design

A quantitative cross‐sectional study.

Methods

The Austrian version of the revised MISSCARE Survey was completed by nurses working in general hospital units between May and July 2021. Recruitment followed a respondent‐driven sample via Austrian nursing education institutions and social media. One thousand six nurses fulfilled inclusion criteria. The structure of the theoretical constructs of the MNC model was tested using a confirmatory factor analysis approach. The relationships between the four antecedents and MNC were explored using structural equation modelling with 427 complete cases.

Results

The results support the structural validity of the revised MISSCARE Austria concerning the defined theoretical constructs, although discriminant validity and measurement error should be further investigated. The antecedent “resource allocation: labor” had a statistically significant impact on MNC: The lack of adequate nursing staff played the most important role to explain missed care in our model.

Conclusion

In our study in Austria, MNC was mostly influenced by a lack of appropriate labor resources. Further studies exploring mediation effects and non‐linear relationships may contribute to better understanding of reasons for MNC.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
Editorial: It is time to modernize the concept of ADHD!
Authors: Franke Barbara ,   the ‘Modernizing the concept of ADHD’ (MocA) Team
Published: May 2023

People with ADHD in our society struggle, and they often report that they experience a lack of full acceptance in society. The realization that the current situation is suboptimal for individuals with ADHD and for society as a whole leads to a call of researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience and their families for a modernized concept of ADHD. This new concept should take the discourse on ADHD to the next level: from a limited, symptom‐ and impairment‐driven paradigm to a dynamic model that acknowledges ADHD's heterogeneity and integrates weaknesses and strengths, focused on individual trajectories in functioning and self‐management.
The role and mechanisms of rstA in the intracellular survival of fish pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxu , Chen Liwei , Yan Qingpi , Zhao Lingmin , Huang Lixing , Zhang Dongling , Qin Yingxue
Published: May 2023

In this study, RNAi technology was used to silence the gene rstA in Aeromonas hydrophila. The strain rstA‐RNAi displayed significant decrease in intracellular survival compared with that of the wild‐type strain B11. Transcriptome analysis explored that the expression of some important anti‐stress protein genes was significantly upregulated in rstA‐RNAi compared with the wild‐type strain, while the expression of the genes related to iron acquisition and type VI secretion system was significantly downregulated. Further study found that under low pH and H2O2 stress, the anti‐stress protein genes were expressed at a low level in rstA‐RNAi, the growth ability of rstA‐RNAi was also significantly lower than that of wild‐type strain. The results also displayed that with the fluctuation of iron concentration, the expression of some genes related to iron acquisition remained at a low level in rstA‐RNAi, and the growth ability of rstA‐RNAi was lower than that of the wild‐type strain under the same culture conditions, indicating rstA can regulate iron acquisition and further affect the bacteria growth. The adhesion ability of rstA‐RNAi to fish macrophages was reduced, suggesting rstA may be also affect the formation of type VI secretion system of A. hydrophila.
Noncanonical splice‐site variant in peripheral myelin protein 22 gene (PMP22) in a patient with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies
Authors: Kawamoto Norifumi , Hamada Yuichi , Kobayashi Shunsuke , Naruse Hiroya , Ishiura Hiroyuki , Matsukawa Takashi , Mitsui Jun , Tsuji Shoji , Sonoo Masahiro , Toda Tatsushi
Published: May 2023

Aim

Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) is a peripheral neuropathy with autosomal dominant inheritance. Diagnosis can be made from the characteristic abnormalities determined by nerve conduction studies (NCS), including subclinical deficits at physiological compression sites. Heterozygous deletion of the chromosome 17p11.2–p12 region including the peripheral myelin protein 22 gene (PMP22) is the cause in the majority of cases. However, the loss of function of PMP22 due to frameshift‐causing insertion/deletion, missense, nonsense, or splice‐site disrupting variants cause HNPP in some patients. We report a case of a patient diagnosed with HNPP on the basis of clinical features and the results of NCS. No deletions of PMP22 were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Methods

We performed direct nucleotide sequence analysis and identified a heterozygous variant, c.78 + 3G > T, in PMP22. Since this variant is located outside the canonical splice site at the exon 2–intron 2 junction, we investigated whether the variant causes aberrant splicing and leads to the skipping of exon 2 of PMP22 by in vitro minigene splicing assay.

Results

We demonstrated that the c.78 + 3G > T variant causes the skipping of exon 2 and leads to loss of function of the mutant allele.

Conclusion

Searching for sequence variants located outside the canonical splice sites should also be considered even when deletion of PMP22 is not found in a patient with a clinical diagnosis suggesting HNPP.
Text mining in a literature review of abnormal uterine bleeding according to the FIGO classification
Authors: Ono Masanori , Hiraike Osamu , Kitahara Yoshikazu , Maekawa Ryo , Ota Ikuko , Yoshino Osamu , Takai Yasushi , Iwase Akira ,   Reproductive Endocrinology Committee in Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Published: May 2023

Aim

Abnormal uterine bleeding, as proposed in 2007, is defined as unexpected uterine bleeding in women of reproductive age; the cause of the bleeding is categorized using the PALM‐COEIN system. Identifying the diagnostic and treatment modalities for each cause might be intriguing. To summarize the options for abnormal uterine bleeding assessment, we employed text‐mining analysis for each of its causes.

Methods

We analyzed abstracts based on PALM‐COEIN from PubMed and Web of Science in March 2022. The literature was divided into categories; topics about the disorders were retrieved, and covalent network analysis was conducted to find information for evaluating abnormal uterine bleeding.

Results

Diagnostic approaches for PALM included histological and image analysis, including computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, sonography, and hysteroscopy. The therapeutic approaches varied according to the cause. Diagnostic approaches for COEIN were mostly medical history interviews and blood sampling, and the therapeutic approaches for COEIN were ablation, hysteroscopy, and hormonal treatment. The PALM‐COEIN classification co‐occurrence search revealed each cause's diagnostic procedures, symptoms, and treatment procedures.

Conclusion

Our text‐mining methodology revealed comprehensive insights, important study themes, and clinical trends for abnormal uterine bleeding. A tailored approach to medical realities is required for treating abnormal uterine bleeding properly.
Government performance, political trust, and satisfaction with democracy in Venezuela, 2016–2017
Authors: Watson Antonella , Soares Rodrigues Margarida , Lee Juheon
Published: May 2023

Since 2015, Venezuela has been home to numerous protests, instigated mostly by people's discontent with the government and its public services. Despite the seriousness of these protests, limited studies have examined the Venezuelans’ evaluation of their government and democracy, and only a few of these studies have used quantitative analysis. To fill this gap, this article offers a snapshot of the ongoing crisis using the Americas Barometer survey data collected between 2016 and 2017. We first identified Venezuelans’ three main concerns during this time—shortage of food and necessities, economic crisis, and crime—and examined their relationships with the respondents’ trust in government and satisfaction with democracy. We found that shortages of food and necessities and increasing crime were negatively associated with Venezuelans’ trust in their government (although shortages were a more significant factor than crime). The long‐standing problem of economic crisis was not a significant factor in people's trust in the government. Furthermore, these three factors were not directly linked to Venezuelans’ satisfaction with democracy, but people who showed low levels of trust in government tended to have low satisfaction levels with Venezuelan democracy. Our results invite future studies to compare different times and contexts in Venezuela's ever‐changing political landscape.
Psychologists' representations of gender identity between Spain and Greece: A qualitative cross‐cultural study
Authors: Argyriou Konstantinos
Published: May 2023

Trans people's relationship with mental health providers carries historical tensions. Counseling services have been tied to standardized procedures or diagnostic certification of dysphoria and gender evaluations, while other psychosocial demands have been largely disregarded. Moreover, protocols and approaches focus disproportionately on Anglo‐American frameworks, in terms of epistemic resources established to describe gender‐diverse experiences. These issues affect both representations of gender identity and attitudes toward counseling. The present study aimed to address psychologists' accounts cross‐culturally, by using qualitative data acquired through interviews with active practitioners from Spain and Greece. Eighteen qualitative semi‐structured interviews were conducted in both countries in order to delve into the narratives related to trans mental health care provision. Thematic analysis using Atlas.ti was used to systematize the data. The accounts centered on gender identity representations and attributions, attitudes toward counseling, relationship with diagnoses, psychological approaches, and competent training. Findings point to the need for all‐encompassing, obligatory training of psychologists on trans mental health, followed by situated considerations of the contextual factors that may contribute to experiencing gender diversity differently. More cross‐cultural qualitative accounts are thus encouraged, to enrich and update the upcoming trans literature on the matter.