bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Habitat fragmentation induces rapid divergence of migratory and isolated sticklebacks
Authors: Ramesh Aparajitha , Groothuis Ton G G , Weissing Franz J , Nicolaus Marion
Published: September 2021

The adaptive capacity of many organisms is seriously challenged by human-imposed environmental change, which currently happens at unprecedented rates and magnitudes. For migratory fish, habitat fragmentation is a major challenge that can compromise their survival and reproduction. Therefore, it is important to study if fish populations can adapt to such modifications of their habitat. Here, we study whether originally anadromous three-spined stickleback populations (Gasterosteus aculeatus; “migrants”) changed in behavior and morphology in response to human-induced isolation. We made use of a natural field-experiment, where the construction of pumping stations and sluices in the 1970s unintendedly created replicates of land-locked stickleback populations (“resident”) in the Netherlands. For two years, we systematically tested populations of residents and migrants for differences in morphology and behavioral traits (activity, aggressiveness, exploration, boldness, and shoaling) in lab-based assays. We detected differences between migrant and resident populations in virtually all phenotypic traits studied: compared with the ancestral migrants, residents were smaller in size, had fewer and smaller plates and were significantly more active, aggressive, exploratory and bolder, and shoaled less. Despite large ecological differences between 2018 and 2019, results were largely consistent across the two years. Our study shows that human-induced environmental change has led to the rapid and consistent morphological and behavioral divergence of stickleback populations in about 50 generations. Such changes may be adaptive but this remains to be tested.
The role of the X chromosome in infectious diseases
Authors: Hay Megan , Kumar Vinod , Ricaño-Ponce Isis
Published: September 2021

Many infectious diseases in humans present with a sex bias. This bias arises from a combination of environmental factors, hormones and genetics. In this study, we review the contribution of the X chromosome to the genetic factor associated with infectious diseases. First, we give an overview of the X-linked genes that have been described in the context of infectious diseases and group them in four main pathways that seem to be dysregulated in infectious diseases: nuclear factor kappa-B, interleukin 2 and interferon γ cascade, toll-like receptors and programmed death ligand 1. Then, we review the infectious disease associations in existing genome-wide association studies (GWAS) from the GWAS Catalog and the Pan-UK Biobank, describing the main associations and their possible implications for the disease. Finally, we highlight the importance of including the X chromosome in GWAS analysis and the importance of sex-specific analysis.
Anxiety and Depression amongst African-Americans Living in Rural Black Belt Areas of Alabama: Use of Social Determinants of Health Framework
Authors: Lee Hee Yun , Lee Lewis H , Luo Yan , Penmetsa Praveena , Adanu Emmanuel Kofi , Li Xiaobing , Lidbe Abhay , Jones Steven
Published: September 2021

The present study utilised the social determinants of health (SDH) framework to see whether indicators of the framework have an impact on anxiety and depression of people living in rural Black Belt communities in Alabama. Data from a convenient sample of 159 African-Americans aged 18 or older were from two sites in rural Alabama. The levels of anxiety and depression were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9). Multiple linear regression model was used to examine the association between SDH and anxiety and depression level of participants. The mean PHQ9 score of participants was 5.57 out of twenty-seven. Four SDH were significantly related to PHQ9 levels amongst participants: participants with higher food insecurity scores, higher transportation needs and higher threats to interpersonal safety tended to have higher scores in PHQ9. Moreover, health literacy levels were negatively associated with PHQ9 scores amongst participants. Our study highlights understanding SDH specifically for residents in rural communities that are socially and culturally isolated is important for developing preventive approaches that enhance access to mental health treatments. A comprehensive public health policy that incorporates our study findings is needed for the rural areas of the USA.
An unexpected iron in the fire of speech production
Authors: Sommer Martin , SheikhBahaei Shahriar , Maguire Gerald A
Published: September 2021

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Elevated iron concentration in putamen and cortical speech motor network in developmental stuttering’, by Cler et al. (doi:10.1093/brain/awab283).
Distal symmetric polyneuropathy in diabetes: a progressive disorder?
Authors: Jensen Troels S , Finnerup Nanna B
Published: September 2021

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Progression and regression of nerve fibre pathology and dysfunction early in diabetes over 5 years’ by Ziegler et al. (doi:10.1093/brain/awab330).
Cortical and subcortical pathological burden and neuronal loss in an autopsy series of FTLD-TDP-type C
Authors: Kawles Allegra , Nishihira Yasushi , Feldman Alex , Gill Nathan , Minogue Grace , Keszycki Rachel , Coventry Christina , Spencer Callen , Lilek Jaclyn , Ajroud Kaouther , Coppola Giovanni , Rademakers Rosa , Rogalski Emily , Weintraub Sandra , Zhang Hui , Flanagan Margaret E , Bigio Eileen H , Mesulam M -Marsel , Geula Changiz , Mao Qinwen , Gefen Tamar
Published: September 2021

The TDP-43 type C pathological form of frontotemporal lobar degeneration is characterized by the presence of immunoreactive TDP-43 short and long dystrophic neurites, neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions, neuronal loss and gliosis and the absence of neuronal intranuclear inclusions. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration-TDP-type C cases are commonly associated with the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia or behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia. Here, we provide detailed characterization of regional distributions of pathological TDP-43 and neuronal loss and gliosis in cortical and subcortical regions in 10 TDP-type C cases and investigate the relationship between inclusions and neuronal loss and gliosis. Specimens were obtained from the first 10 TDP-type C cases accessioned from the Northwestern Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia, n = 7; behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, n = 3). A total of 42 cortical (majority bilateral) and subcortical regions were immunostained with a phosphorylated TDP-43 antibody and/or stained with haematoxylin–eosin. Regions were evaluated for atrophy, and for long dystrophic neurites, short dystrophic neurites, neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions, and neuronal loss and gliosis using a semiquantitative 5-point scale. We calculated a ‘neuron-to-inclusion’ score (TDP-type C mean score – neuronal loss and gliosis mean score) for each region per case to assess the relationship between TDP-type C inclusions and neuronal loss and gliosis. Primary progressive aphasia cases demonstrated leftward asymmetry of cortical atrophy consistent with the aphasic phenotype. We also observed abundant inclusions and neurodegeneration in both cortical and subcortical regions, with certain subcortical regions emerging as particularly vulnerable to dystrophic neurites (e.g. amygdala, caudate and putamen). Interestingly, linear mixed models showed that regions with lowest TDP-type C pathology had high neuronal dropout, and conversely, regions with abundant pathology displayed relatively preserved neuronal densities (P < 0.05). This inverse relationship between the extent of TDP-positive inclusions and neuronal loss may reflect a process whereby inclusions disappear as their associated neurons are lost. Together, these findings offer insight into the putative substrates of neurodegeneration in unique dementia syndromes.
Brain regions that support accurate speech production after damage to Broca’s area
Authors: Lorca-Puls Diego L , Gajardo-Vidal Andrea ,   PLORAS Team, Oberhuber Marion , Prejawa Susan , Hope Thomas M H , Leff Alexander P , Green David W , Price Cathy J
Published: September 2021

Broca’s area in the posterior half of the left inferior frontal gyrus has traditionally been considered an important node in the speech production network. Nevertheless, recovery of speech production has been reported, to different degrees, within a few months of damage to Broca’s area. Importantly, contemporary evidence suggests that, within Broca’s area, its posterior part (i.e. pars opercularis) plays a more prominent role in speech production than its anterior part (i.e. pars triangularis). In this study, we therefore investigated the brain activation patterns that underlie accurate speech production following stroke damage to the opercular part of Broca’s area. By combining functional MRI and 13 tasks that place varying demands on speech production, brain activation was compared in (i) seven patients of interest with damage to the opercular part of Broca’s area; (ii) 55 neurologically intact controls; and (iii) 28 patient controls with left-hemisphere damage that spared Broca’s area. When producing accurate overt speech responses, the patients with damage to the left pars opercularis activated a substantial portion of the normal bilaterally distributed system. Within this system, there was a lesion-site-dependent effect in a specific part of the right cerebellar Crus I where activation was significantly higher in the patients with damage to the left pars opercularis compared to both neurologically intact and patient controls. In addition, activation in the right pars opercularis was significantly higher in the patients with damage to the left pars opercularis relative to neurologically intact controls but not patient controls (after adjusting for differences in lesion size). By further examining how right Crus I and right pars opercularis responded across a range of conditions in the neurologically intact controls, we suggest that these regions play distinct roles in domain-general cognitive control. Finally, we show that enhanced activation in the right pars opercularis cannot be explained by release from an inhibitory relationship with the left pars opercularis (i.e. dis-inhibition) because right pars opercularis activation was positively related to left pars opercularis activation in neurologically intact controls. Our findings motivate and guide future studies to investigate (i) how exactly right Crus I and right pars opercularis support accurate speech production after damage to the opercular part of Broca’s area and (ii) whether non-invasive neurostimulation to one or both of these regions boosts speech production recovery after damage to the opercular part of Broca’s area.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Menopause Are Independently Associated With Lower Bone Mineral Density: Results From the Women’s Interagency HIV Study
Authors: Sharma Anjali , Hoover Donald R , Shi Qiuhu , Tien Phyllis C , Weber Kathleen M , Shah Jayesh G , Yin Michael T
Published: September 2021

Background

We previously reported lower bone mineral density (BMD) among premenopausal women with HIV (WWH) compared to women without HIV (HIV−). Rate of bone loss may be even greater for WWH during the menopausal transition.

Methods

Pre-, peri- and postmenopausal women in the Women\'s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) underwent whole body DXA and central quantitative computed tomography to measure areal BMD (aBMD) and volumetric BMD (vBMD), respectively. Multivariable regression models with covariates associated with low aBMD (T score < −1.0) in univariate analyses (P≤.05) and known risk factors for low BMD assessed contributions of HIV and menopausal stage to the prediction of aBMD.

Results

Compared to HIV− women, in unadjusted analyses, WWH had 5–9% lower aBMD at the lumbar spine (P=.001), femoral neck (P=.04), total hip (P=.003) and the ultradistal radius (P=.004), and higher osteoporosis prevalence (T score<−2.5) at the ultradistal radius only (13.5% vs 0%, P=.0003). WWH also had lower vBMD at the spine and hip. In fully adjusted models, HIV independently predicted reduced aBMD at the lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, and ultradistal radius; menopausal stage remained a significant predictor of lumbar spine and ultradistal radius aBMD.

Conclusions

HIV infection and menopausal stage were independent predictors of lower BMD, and had an additive effect on lumbar spine and total hip BMD. Additional research is needed to better understand underlying mechanisms by which HIV impacts BMD as women age and transition through menopause, and develop strategies to mitigate osteoporosis and fracture risk in this growing population.
Clinical relevance of abstruse transport phenomena in haemodialysis
Authors: Bowry Sudhir K , Kircelli Fatih , Nandakumar Mooppil , Vachharajani Tushar J
Published: September 2021

Haemodialysis (HD) utilizes the bidirectional properties of semipermeable membranes to remove uraemic toxins from blood while simultaneously replenishing electrolytes and buffers to correct metabolic acidosis. However, the nonspecific size-dependent transport across membranes also means that certain useful plasma constituents may be removed from the patient (together with uraemic toxins), or toxic compounds, e.g. endotoxin fragments, may accompany electrolytes and buffers of the dialysis fluids into blood and elicit severe biological reactions. We describe the mechanisms and implications of these undesirable transport processes that are inherent to all HD therapies and propose approaches to mitigate the effects of such transport. We focus particularly on two undesirable events that are considered to adversely affect HD therapy and possibly impact patient outcomes. Firstly, we describe how loss of albumin (and other essential substances) can occur while striving to eliminate larger uraemic toxins during HD and why hypoalbuminemia is a clinical condition to contend with. Secondly, we describe the origins and mode of transport of biologically active substances (from dialysis fluids with bacterial contamination) into the blood compartment and biological reactions they elicit. Endotoxin fragments activate various proinflammatory pathways to increase the underlying inflammation associated with chronic kidney disease. Both phenomena involve the physical as well as chemical properties of membranes that must be selected judiciously to balance the benefits with potential risks patients may encounter, in both the short and long term.
Diagnostic Performance of Novel Troponin Algorithms for the Rule-Out of Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Tjora Hilde L , Steiro Ole-Thomas , Langørgen Jørund , Bjørneklett Rune O , Skadberg Øyvind , Bonarjee Vernon V S , Mjelva Øistein R , Collinson Paul , Omland Torbjørn , Vikenes Kjell , Aakre Kristin M
Published: September 2021

Background

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) rule-out algorithms use cutoffs optimized for exclusion of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). We investigated these and several novel algorithms for the rule-out of non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) including less urgent coronary ischemia.

Method

A total of 1504 unselected patients with suspected NSTE-ACS were included and divided into a derivation cohort (n = 988) and validation cohort (n = 516). The primary endpoint was the diagnostic performance to rule-out NSTEMI and unstable angina pectoris during index hospitalization. The secondary endpoint was combined MI, all-cause mortality (within 30 days) and urgent (24 h) revascularization. The ESC algorithms for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and I (hs-cTnI) were compared to different novel low-baseline (limit of detection), low-delta (based on the assay analytical and biological variation), and 0–1-h and 0–3-h algorithms.

Results

The prevalence of NSTE-ACS was 24.8%, 60.0% had noncardiac chest pain, and 15.2% other diseases. The 0–1/0–3-h algorithms had superior clinical sensitivity for the primary endpoint compared to the ESC algorithm (validation cohort); hs-cTnT: 95% vs 63%, and hs-cTnI: 87% vs 64%, respectively. Regarding the secondary endpoint, the algorithms had similar clinical sensitivity (100% vs 94%–96%) but lower clinical specificity (41%–19%) compared to the ESC algorithms (77%–74%). The rule-out rates decreased by a factor of 2–4.

Conclusion

Low concentration/low-delta troponin algorithms improve the clinical sensitivity for a combined endpoint of NSTEMI and unstable angina pectoris, with the cost of a substantial reduction in total rule-out rate. There was no clear benefit compared to ESC for diagnosing high-risk events.
Potential of Machine Learning Based Support Vector Regression for Solar Radiation Prediction
Authors: Mohamed Zahraa E , Saleh Hussein H
Published: September 2021

Measurements of the solar radiation quantities profoundly affect on the energy output ratios. A decline in solar radiation measurements in many countries, which is due to reasons high cost, difficulty of measurement that necessitated developing different methods to estimate the proportion of solar radiation. Many empirical models have been developed using special variables and coefficients, such as Angstrom and Prescott models. The development of machine-learning algorithms makes these algorithms as a possible application instead of the empirical models to decrease the error rate and obtaining better results. In this paper, radial basis function is applied as the kernel function of support vector regression (SVR) method to calculate the amount of monthly average daily of the global solar radiation in four sites in Egypt. Five variables used as input (sunshine duration, air temperature, relative humidity, solar declination angle and extraterrestrial solar radiation). The experimental results have a good estimation in all locations according to root mean square error, however, this study proved that SVR models can be as an efficient machine-learning technique with a higher accuracy.
The role of Dynamic Energy Budgets in conservation physiology
Authors: Lavaud Romain , Filgueira Ramón , Augustine Starrlight
Published: September 2021

The contribution of knowledge, concepts and perspectives from physiological ecology to conservation decision-making has become critical for understanding and acting upon threats to the persistence of sensitive species. Here we review applications of dynamic energy budget (DEB) theory to conservation issues and discuss how this theory for metabolic organization of all life on earth (from bacteria to whales) is well equipped to support current and future investigations in conservation research. DEB theory was first invented in 1979 in an applied institution for environmental quality assessment and mitigation. The theory has since undergone extensive development and applications. An increasing number of studies using DEB modelling have provided valuable insights and predictions in areas that pertain to conservation such as species distribution, evolutionary biology, toxicological impacts and ecosystem management. We discuss why DEB theory, through its mechanistic nature, its universality and the wide range of outcomes it can provide represents a valuable tool to tackle some of the current and future challenges linked to maintaining biodiversity, ensuring species survival, ecotoxicology, setting water and soil quality standards and restoring ecosystem structure and functioning in a changing environment under the pressure of anthropogenic driven changes.
Encountering the Word of God in Early Tudor England
Authors: Wooding Lucy
Published: September 2021

The arrival in England of Tyndale’s New Testament in the 1520s is still widely heralded as a transformative moment. This article argues that the lingering effects of triumphalist Protestant rhetoric concerning the ‘Word of God’ have obscured the many other contexts in which it was possible for the laity to encounter the Bible in early Tudor England. They have also glossed over some of the difficulties of transmitting Scripture to a largely illiterate populace. Protestant insistence on the literal interpretation of vernacular Scripture should chiefly be seen as propaganda for the evangelical cause. Early Tudor print culture demonstrates that the reading of Scripture was understood as a complex process involving a spiritual encounter shaped by faith, imagination and emotion, not just a textual encounter. In practice, Tyndale and other reformers, no less than their more conservative opponents, taught the laity that the Bible needed to be ‘unlocked’ and explained. For the lay reader encountering works of religious devotion and instruction, the ways in which early Tudor print culture mediated the Bible remained heavily indebted to late medieval religious practice. This shaped the context in which the ‘Great Bible’ of 1539 was conceived and published and this first official English Bible should be recognised as a contested text, which in its final form may have been as much a reflection of late medieval attitudes as the achievement of English Protestants.
Gender and Protest in Late Medieval England, c.1400–c.1532
Authors: Raw Alice
Published: September 2021

Women appear in our sources as active participants in outbreaks of revolt across the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. This should not be surprising, yet historians’ general silence on the subject makes it so. Most scholarly accounts up to the 1980s, and often beyond, portray revolt as a wholly male enterprise. If and when the subject of female participation is broached, it is concluded that women were little involved in public acts of dissent in England. Where historians do find women at the centre of civil unrest, they explain their presence away or relegate their complaints to ‘women’s issues’. By contrast, when men are involved, modern commentators decide that they speak for a ‘common good’, and devote considerable interpretative energies to deciphering what has spurred them into action, seeing—for instance—a wealth of meaning in protests about poverty, inequality or evil counsel. The operative logic is that women can speak only for themselves, men for others. Here we consider the documentary evidence for women’s participation in protest, and show that women were not necessarily driven by gendered motives. Defining their part is as challenging as defining that of male rebels.
Recellularization of xenograft heart valves reduces the xenoreactive immune response in anin vivorat model
Authors: Bozso Sabin J , Kang Jimmy J H , EL-Andari Ryaan , Fialka Nicholas , Zhu Lin Fu , Meyer Steven R , Freed Darren H , Nagendran Jayan , Nagendran Jeevan
Published: September 2021

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to address the role of autologous mesenchymal stem cell recellularization of xenogenic valves on the activation of the xenoreactive immune response in an in vivo rat model.

METHODS

Explanted aortic valve constructs from female Hartley guinea pigs were procured and decellularized, followed by recellularization with autologous Sprague-Dawley rat mesenchymal stem cells. Aortic valve xenografts were then implanted into the infrarenal aorta of recipient rats. Grafts were implanted as either autologous grafts, non-decellularized (NGP), decellularized and recellularized xenografts (RGP). Rats were euthanized after 7 and 21 days and exsanguinated and the grafts were explanted.

RESULTS

The NGP grafts demonstrated significant burden of granulocytes (14.3 cells/HPF) and CD3+ T cells (3.9 cells/HPF) compared to the autologous grafts (2.1 granulocytes/HPF and 0.72 CD3+ T cells/HPF) after 7 days. A lower absolute number of infiltrating granulocytes (NGP vs autologous, 6.4 vs 2.4 cells/HPF) and CD3+ T cells (NGP vs autologous, 2.8 vs 0.8 cells/HPF) was seen after 21 days. Equivalent granulocyte cell infiltration in the RGP grafts (2.4 cells/HPF) compared to the autologous grafts (2.1 cells/HPF) after 7 and 21 days (2.8 vs 2.4 cells/HPF) was observed. Equivalent CD3+ T-cell infiltration in the RGP grafts (0.63 cells/HPF) compared to the autologous grafts (0.72 cells/HPF) after 7 and 21 days (0.7 vs 0.8 cells/HPF) was observed. Immunoglobulin production was significantly greater in the NGP grafts compared to the autologous grafts at 7 (123.3 vs 52.7 mg/mL) and 21 days (93.3 vs 71.6 mg/mL), with a similar decreasing trend in absolute production. Equivalent immunoglobulin production was observed in the RGP grafts compared to the autologous grafts at 7 (40.8 vs 52.7 mg/mL) and 21 days (29.5 vs 71.6 mg/mL).

CONCLUSIONS

Autologous mesenchymal stem cell recellularization of xenogenic valves reduces the xenoreactive immune response in an in vivo rat model and may be an effective approach to decrease the progression of xenograft valve dysfunction.
Financial Hardship and Psychological Resilience During COVID-19: Differences by Race/Ethnicity
Authors: Taylor Miles G , Carr Dawn C , Jason Kendra
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Research on the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among older adults has primarily focused on relatively acute virus outcomes, but it is likely financial hardships during this time have eroded the adaptive capacity of older adults. It is also possible these impacts vary by race and ethnicity. We examine changes in psychological resilience (PR) among older adults before and during the pandemic to determine whether financial hardships and other stressors have altered this resource for White, Black, and Hispanic older adults.

Method

Using the COVID-19 module released by the Health and Retirement Study (n = 735), we examined changes in PR between 2016 and 2020 related to financial hardships during COVID-19. We tested interactions to determine whether the effects were patterned by race and ethnicity.

Results

Consistent with previous literature, resilience was relatively stable during this time on average. Financial hardship during COVID-19 diminished resilience, but this effect was concentrated primarily among White Americans.

Discussion

The results suggest that PR is a relatively stable resource in later life, even during the pandemic. However, this resource may be affected in the face of specific challenges in later life. Policies related to financial hardship during the pandemic should be seen as supporting the capacity for older adults to adapt to current as well as future challenges.
Internet Use and Cognitive Functioning in Later Life: Focus on Asymmetric Effects and Contextual Factors
Authors: Kim Yijung K , Han Sae Hwang
Published: September 2021

Background and Objectives

Despite emerging literature linking Internet usage and cognitive functioning in later life, research seldom takes changes in older adults’ Internet use into account. How changes in Internet use influence older adults’ cognitive decline over time, particularly in the context of sociodemographic factors that shape Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use, remains an open question.

Research Design and Methods

Using 9 waves of panel data from the Health and Retirement Study (2002–2018), we examined within-person asymmetric effects of transitioning into and out of Internet use on cognitive functioning, and whether the associations vary across birth cohorts and by living arrangement.

Results

Transitioning into Internet use (i.e., Internet use onset) was associated with improved cognitive functioning at a given wave and decelerated cognitive decline over time. Transitioning out of the Internet (i.e., Internet use cessation) was associated with worse cognitive functioning at a given wave and accelerated cognitive decline over time. Furthermore, birth cohort and living arrangement moderated these associations. The detrimental effect of transitioning out of Internet use was worse for older adults born in 1941 or before. The cognitive benefits of transitioning into Internet use were greater for those older adults who live alone.

Discussion and Implications

These findings highlight the interplay between technology, social environment, and cognitive functioning in later life. The salubrious effects of using the Internet, as well as the deleterious effects of ceasing to use such technology, underscore the importance of promoting digital literacy and access to ICT among the older adult population.
Coping with cancer in post-communist Europe: a systematic literature review
Authors: Levenets Olena , Stepurko Tetiana , Polese Abel , Pavlova Milena , Groot Wim
Published: September 2021

In the post-communist countries, limited access to treatment, lack of financial protection mechanisms, lack of information and low quality of health care frequently imposes an enormous burden on family’s well-being when cancer is diagnosed. While many studies have explored barriers to cancer treatment, little attention is paid to the question how patients and their caregivers cope with cancer. In this paper, we systematically review the evidence on patients’ coping strategies with cancer in post-communist countries. We performed a literature search in PubMed, JSTOR, Web of Science and EBSCO (CINAHL) to identify papers that describe patients’ coping strategies because of organizational and financial barriers to cancer treatment. Papers published between January 1991 and January 2020 were included if they described individual experiences of patients at any stage of cancer treatment. We applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Literature Review as a guide for our review. In total, 28 publications from post-communist countries were included in this review. They presented evidence on coping strategies and barriers faced by patients when coping with poor access to cancer treatment, lack of finances, lack of information and low quality of health care services. Most sought coping strategies included using personal finances to pay for medical services, medicines and supplies, charitable contributions to the hospital and informal payments; visiting a private medical doctor; using personal connections and looking for additional information. We conclude that coping strategies are similar across post-communist countries and can be seen as an indicator of the shortcomings in cancer treatment. This evidence can be used to study and/or improve access to cancer treatment and improve health care policies. Research on the prevalence and quantification of coping strategies is needed to provide evidence-informed policies for countries that face gaps in cancer treatment.
Software Application Profile: exposomeShiny—a toolbox for exposome data analysis
Authors: Escriba-Montagut Xavier , Basagaña Xavier , Vrijheid Martine , Gonzalez Juan R
Published: September 2021

Motivation

Studying the role of the exposome in human health and its impact on different omic layers requires advanced statistical methods. Many of these methods are implemented in different R and Bioconductor packages, but their use may require strong expertise in R, in writing pipelines and in using new R classes which may not be familiar to non-advanced users. ExposomeShiny provides a bridge between researchers and most of the state-of-the-art exposome analysis methodologies, without the need of advanced programming skills.

Implementation

ExposomeShiny is a standalone web application implemented in R. It is available as source files and can be installed in any server or computer avoiding problems with data confidentiality. It is executed in RStudio which opens a browser window with the web application.

General features

The presented implementation allows the conduct of: (i) data pre-processing: normalization and missing imputation (including limit of detection); (ii) descriptive analysis; (iii) exposome principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering; (iv) exposome-wide association studies (ExWAS) and variable selection ExWAS; (v) omic data integration by single association and multi-omic analyses; and (vi) post-exposome data analyses to gain biological insight for the exposures, genes or using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) and pathway analysis.

Availability

The exposomeShiny source code is freely available on Github at [https://github.com/isglobal-brge/exposomeShiny], Git tag v1.4. The software is also available as a Docker image [https://hub.docker.com/r/brgelab/exposome-shiny], tag v1.4. A user guide with information about the analysis methodologies as well as information on how to use exposomeShiny is freely hosted at [https://isglobal-brge.github.io/exposome_bookdown/].
Classification of Simple Lie Superalgebras in Characteristic 2
Authors: Bouarroudj Sofiane , Lebedev Alexei , Leites Dimitry , Shchepochkina Irina
Published: September 2021

All results concern characteristic 2. We describe two procedures; each of which to every simple Lie algebra assigns a simple Lie superalgebra. We prove that every simple finite-dimensional Lie superalgebra is obtained as the result of one of these procedures. For Lie algebras, in addition to the known “classical” restrictedness, we introduce a (2,4)-structure on the two non-alternating series: orthogonal and Hamiltonian vector fields. For Lie superalgebras, the classical restrictedness of Lie algebras has two analogs: a $2|4$-structure, which is a direct analog of the classical restrictedness, and a novel $2|2$-structure—one more analog, a $(2,4)|4$-structure on Lie superalgebras is the analog of (2,4)-structure on Lie algebras known only for non-alternating orthogonal and Hamiltonian series.
A Liouville-Type Theorem of the Linearly Perturbed Paneitz Equation on S3
Authors: Zhang Shihong
Published: September 2021

We prove a Liouville-type theorem for the linearly perturbed Paneitz equation: For $\epsilon>0$ small enough, if $u_\epsilon $ is a positive smooth solution of $$ \begin{align*} &P_{S^3} u_\epsilon+\epsilon u_\epsilon=-u_\epsilon^{-7} \qquad \textrm{on}\ S^3,\end{align*}$$where $P_{S^3}$ is the Paneitz operator of the round metric $g_{S^3}$, then $u_\epsilon $ is constant. This confirms a conjecture proposed by Hang and Yang in [6].
Autoantibodies in Psoriatic Disease
Authors: Koussiouris John , Chandran Vinod
Published: September 2021

Background

Psoriasis (Ps) is an inflammatory skin disease affecting over 8 million people in the USA and Canada. Approximately a quarter of patients with Ps have an inflammatory arthritis termed psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Psoriatic disease encompassing both Ps and PsA is regarded as an immune-mediated inflammatory disease, exhibiting both autoimmune and autoinflammatory features. Innate immune cell activation promotes inflammation and the cellular infiltrate in inflamed tissue is predominantly lymphocytic.

Content

A narrative review of the current literature on the presence and clinical significance of autoantibodies found in psoriatic disease are presented. The frequency of several autoantibodies in Ps and PsA patients as well as their association with disease diagnosis, disease activity, and treatment response are reviewed.

Despite historically described as a rheumatoid factor negative (seronegative) disease, an array of autoantibodies has been identified in patients with psoriatic disease. Many of the autoantibodies reviewed are elevated in Ps and PsA patients and are associated with disease activity, treatment response, and cardiovascular disease risk. The identification of autoantibodies in Ps and PsA patients points to an autoimmune component potentially playing a role in psoriatic disease; however, additional evidence is needed to determine the clinical utility of these autoantibodies and their contribution to disease pathogenesis.
Blueprint for aligned data exchange for research and public health
Authors: Michaels Maria , Syed Sameemuddin , Lober William B
Published: September 2021

Making EHR Data More Available for Research and Public Health (MedMorph) is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-led initiative developing and demonstrating a reference architecture (RA) and implementation, including Health Level Seven International Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (HL7 FHIR) implementation guides (IGs), describing how to leverage FHIR for aligned research and public health access to clinical data for automated data exchange. MedMorph engaged a technical expert panel of more than 100 members to model representative use cases, develop IGs (architectural and content), align with existing efforts in the FHIR community, and demonstrate the RA in research and public health uses. The RA IG documents common workflows needed to automatically send research data to Research Patient Data Repositories for multiple use cases. Sharing a common RA and canonical data model will improve data sharing for research and public health needs and generate evidence. MedMorph delivers a robust, reusable method to utilize data from electronic health records addressing multiple research and public health needs.
Ensemble learning-based hierarchical retrieval of similar cases for site planning
Authors: Wang Pengyue , Guo Maozu , Han Yunsong , Zhao Lingling , Zhou Xiaoping , Zhang Dayu
Published: September 2021

Site planning not only involves the arrangement of a large number of elements but also considers the complexity of urban systems; hence, the design process involves large workloads and is time consuming. Retrieving similar existing cases helps architects optimize or accelerate the design process. This paper proposes a computational approach that provides valuable references by retrieving similar cases. Three types of attributes are extracted to represent a given parcel: land-use attributes, geometric attributes (area, orientation, etc.), and environmental attributes (greening rate, surrounding facilities, etc.). The complete hierarchical retrieval process is divided into three phases. The first phase selects cases whose land-use attributes are consistent with the target parcel. Then, the similarity distances between the given target parcel and the selected cases are calculated using geometric attributes. The eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) classifier is adopted to determine which case is similar to the target parcel. Finally, similarity scores of the retrieved cases are calculated based on the environmental attributes to provide more options during the actual design. In total, 1189 cases with different land-use types in Beijing were collected for the case base. The comparative experimental results confirmed that the proposed ensemble learning-based hierarchical retrieval of similar cases approach improves the accuracy of retrieval results. Furthermore, we use a real-world target parcel to demonstrate the superiority and flexibility of the retrieval process.
Potential benefits of volumetric modulated arc therapy to reduce the incidence of ≥ grade 2 radiation pneumonitis in radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Imano Nobuki , Kimura Tomoki , Kawahara Daisuke , Nishioka Riku , Fukumoto Wataru , Kawano Reo , Kubo Katsumaro , Katsuta Tsuyoshi , Takeuchi Yuki , Nishibuchi Ikuno , Murakami Yuji , Horimasu Yasushi , Masuda Takeshi , Fujitaka Kazunori , Hattori Noboru , Nagata Yasushi
Published: September 2021

Background

The use of volumetric modulated arc therapy is gradually widespread for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that caused ≥ grade 2 radiation pneumonitis and evaluate the impact of using volumetric modulated arc therapy on the incidence of ≥ grade 2 radiation pneumonitis by comparing three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 124 patients who underwent radical radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer in our institution between 2008 and 2019. The following variables were analysed to detect the factors that affected ≥ grade 2 radiation pneumonitis; age, sex, the presence of interstitial lung disease, pulmonary emphysema, tumour location, stage, PTV/lung volume, lung V20Gy, total dose, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor, radiotherapy method. Radiation pneumonitis was evaluated using the common terminology criteria for adverse events (version 5.0).

Results

A total of 84 patients underwent three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT group) and 40 patients underwent volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT group). The cumulative incidence of ≥ grade 2 radiation pneumonitis at 12 months was significantly lower in the VMAT group than in the 3D-CRT group (25% vs. 49.1%). The use of volumetric modulated arc therapy was a significant factor for ≥ grade 2 radiation pneumonitis (HR:0.32, 95% CI: 0.15–0.65, P = 0.0017) in addition to lung V20Gy (≥ 24%, HR:5.72 (95% CI: 2.87–11.4), P < 0.0001) and total dose (≥ 70 Gy, HR:2.64 (95% CI: 1.39–5.03), P = 0.0031) even after adjustment by multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

We identified factors associated with ≥ grade 2 radiation pneumonitis in radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Volumetric modulated arc therapy has potential benefits to reduce the risk of ≥ grade 2 radiation pneumonitis.
Fracture risk following stereotactic body radiotherapy for long bone metastases
Authors: Ito Kei , Nakajima Yujiro , Ogawa Hiroaki , Taguchi Kentaro
Published: September 2021

Background

Stereotactic body radiotherapy is a new treatment modality for long bone metastasis and has not been discussed in literature. We aimed to clarify stereotactic body radiotherapy outcomes for long bone metastases.

Methods

Data of patients receiving stereotactic body radiotherapy for long bone metastases (July 2016–November 2020) were retrospectively reviewed. The prescribed dose was 30 or 35 Gy in five fractions. The endpoints were local failure and adverse effects. Local failure was defined as radiological tumor growth within the irradiation field. Adverse effects were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.

Results

Nineteen osseous lesions in 17 patients were assessed. The target lesions included 13 femoral, 4 humeral and 2 radial lesions. The median follow-up duration was 14 (range, 3–62) months. The 12- and 18-month local failure rates were 0 and 11%, respectively. Following 2 and 46 months of stereotactic body radiotherapy, two lesions (11%) resulted in painful femoral fractures (grade 3). Both patients underwent bipolar hip arthroplasty and could walk normally after surgery. In the late phase, one patient developed radiculopathy (almost complete paralysis of grasp) and another developed grade 2 limb edema. Other grade 2 or more severe acute and late toxicities were not observed during the follow-up period.

Conclusions

Stereotactic body radiotherapy for long bone metastases achieved excellent local control and caused two femoral fractures. We argue that stereotactic body radiotherapy for curative intent should not be contraindicated in long bone oligometastasis because fractures do not directly contribute to life expectancy.
Prognostic value of psoas major muscle density in patients with breast cancer metastases to bone: a retrospective single-center cohort study
Authors: Yao Hana , Dohzono Sho , Sasaoka Ryuichi , Takamatsu Kiyohito , Nakamura Hiroaki
Published: September 2021

Objective

Although sarcopenia is associated with poor prognosis for cancer patients, the relationship between muscle quantity and quality, and prognosis of breast cancer patients with bone metastases is unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association of muscle parameters, muscle area and density, and overall survival (OS) from the diagnosis of bone metastases in breast cancer patients with bone metastases.

Methods

This study retrospectively investigated the prognostic value of muscle area and density in 90 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer with bone metastases between September 2005 and June 2018. We measured psoas major muscle and paravertebral muscle area and density on single axial computed tomography images at the L3 level and subgrouped the patients into higher or lower groups for each muscle measurement, using median values as cutoffs. We evaluated associations between OS and muscle parameters, using a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted by age and prognostic score for bone metastases (modified Katagiri score).

Results

Median OS among patients with lower psoas major muscle density (25 months) was significantly shorter than in the higher psoas major muscle density group (61 months; hazard ratio: 1.79, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–3.16, P = 0.045). However, muscle area and paravertebral muscle density were not associated with OS in this setting.

Conclusion

Lower psoas major muscle density was a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer metastases to bone. The association between psoas major muscle density and prognosis allows wider research into interventions that can prevent loss of muscle density.
Immigration, Fear of Crime, and Public Spending on Security
Authors: Bove Vincenzo , Elia Leandro , Ferraresi Massimiliano
Published: September 2021

We explore the relation between immigration, crime, and local government spending on security in Italian municipalities. We find that immigration increases the share of public resources devoted to police protection, particularly when migrants are culturally distant from the native population. We uncover a misalignment between perception and reality, as immigration is associated to fear of future crimes rather than the actual probability of being victim of a crime. We also demonstrate that immigration from culturally distant societies corresponds to a deterioration in civic cooperation and interpersonal trust, which can affect perceptions of safety and the demand for police services.
Age-related healthcare services utilization for the management of sickle cell disease among treated Texas Medicaid patients
Authors: Shukla Nidhi , Barner Jamie C , Lawson Kenneth A , Rascati Karen L
Published: September 2021

Objectives

To determine if there are age-related differences in sickle cell disease (SCD)-related healthcare utilization and to describe temporal healthcare utilization following an emergency department (ED) visit or hospitalization in treated SCD patient population.

Methods

Texas Medicaid prescription and medical claims from 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2016 were used. Patients aged 2–63 years with at least one inpatient or outpatient SCD medical claim and receiving one or more SCD-related medications (hydroxyurea, opioid or non-opioid analgesics) were included. The primary outcomes were utilization of SCD-related ED, inpatient and outpatient visits, all-cause prescription medications and type of SCD-related service at index and subsequent healthcare services. Age group was the primary independent variable.

Key findings

Overall (N = 2339), healthcare service utilization was relatively higher among age groups 2–12, 18–25 and 26–40. Proportions of patients having ≥1 ED and ≥1 inpatient visits, respectively, were significantly higher among age groups 2–12 (33.2%; 23.0%), 18–25 (29.3%; 25.1%) and 26–40 (32.3%; 22.4%) as compared with age group 13–17 (21.3%; 12.9%). The number of outpatient visits was highest among children aged 2–12 (4.5 ± 7.6, P < 0.0001), while mean number of all-cause medications was the highest for older adults aged 41–63 (22.4 ± 16.3; P < 0.0001). After an index ED visit (N = 598), outpatient visits were the most prevalent healthcare services. After an index hospitalization (N = 203), a subsequent hospitalization was the most prevalent healthcare service.

Conclusions

Texas Medicaid SCD patients receiving treatment have a high use of healthcare services, especially among children and young adults who are transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Age-specific interventions should be developed to promote optimal care transitions among young adults.