bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of candidate RXLR effectors from downy mildew of foxtail millet pathogen Sclerospora graminicola and functional analysis of SG_RXLR41
Authors: Zhang Nuo , Ren Zhixian , Wang Jinye , Nan Linjie , Sun Yurong , Zhang Baojun , Jia Jichun
Published: March 2024

Downy mildew caused by Sclerospora graminicola is a systemic disease that affects the yield and quality of foxtail millet. This obligate biotrophic oomycete manipulates host physiology and immune processes through numerous effectors. A thorough comprehension of effector biology is crucial to unravel disease mechanisms and understand host plant resistance. In this study, bioinformatic analyses revealed 498 potentially secreted proteins in S. graminicola, of which 62 were identified as RXLR effectors; 46 RXLR‐encoding genes exhibited upregulated expression during the early stages of infection. To elucidate the functions of these secreted proteins, a heterogeneous expression system was developed using Nicotiana benthamiana. Twenty‐one RXLR effectors secreted by S. graminicola were transiently expressed in N. benthamiana, of which four could suppress INF1‐triggered cell death. Various defence responses in N. benthamiana were attenuated, including inhibition of defence gene expression, reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and diminished callose deposition. The expression of SG_RXLR41 also enhanced the growth of Phytophthora capsici on N. benthamiana leaves. These findings indicate that S. graminicola facilitates infection and expansion through the secretion of multiple RXLR effectors, and SG_RXLR41 is an important virulence‐related effector that is involved in manipulating plant immunity by suppressing cell death.
Praskovia Uvarova’s Archeological Ambitions: Sex, Science, and Empire in Nineteenth‐Century Russia
Authors: McReynolds Louise
Published: March 2024

In this article I merge the three of the nineteenth century’s dominant markers of modernity—gender, science, and modernity—in the person of Praskovia Sergeevna Uvarova. Arguably the most influential character in prerevolutionary archeology through her multiple functions at the Imperial Moscow Archeological Society, she is at best a shadow figure in the history of Russian science. Although Uvarova herself must be held to blame in large measure for this, the connections that this female draws between science and empire are crucial to our understanding of the implications of the three analytical categories come together in late imperial Russia.
Sharp thresholds of blowup and uniform bound for a Schrödinger system with second‐order derivative‐type and combined power‐type nonlinearities
Authors: Li Kelin , Di Huafei
Published: March 2024

Considered herein is a Cauchy problem for a system of Schrödinger equations with second‐order derivative‐type and combined power‐type nonlinearities. Through the effective combination of potential well theory, conservation laws, and vector‐valued Gargliardo–Nirenberg inequality, we establish the uniform boundedness in ‐norm on and corresponding decay rate estimate. Moreover, we also prove the existence of corresponding ground‐state solutions for this problem. Finally, we mainly investigate three different sharp thresholds for blowup and uniform bound of solutions in ‐norm on by using potential well theory, variational method, and some transformation techniques.
Lack of assent to dental examination in children with intellectual disabilities: Dentists’ practices in Europe and ethical issues
Authors: Camoin Ariane , Blanchet Isabelle , Dany Lionel , Le Coz Pierr , Saliba‐Serre Bérengère , Tardieu Corinne
Published: March 2024

Aim

(1) To determine the repartition of criteria which can be considered as marks of lack of assent by the child with intellectual disabilities from the dentist's point of view and whether that influences the decision to examine the patient or not. (2) To explain the decision of practitioners and determine the ethical implications of these practices.

Methods

An anonymous and structured questionnaire was distributed online using the scenario of a 9‐year‐old child with moderate cognitive impairment with eight different oppositional behaviours. The practitioners were asked about their perception of the patient's lack of assent and about their decision to perform the dental examination or not.

Results

The proportion of them who performed a dental examination despite the patient's refusal represented between 13% and 28.8% of the population of respondents.

Conclusion

There was an ambivalence among the practitioners who carried out a dental consultation when children were uncooperative. They adopted a teleological point of view. It calls for us to reflect on the ethical principles of autonomy and beneficence.
Correlation analysis between texture features and elasticity of skin hyperspectral images in the near‐infrared band
Authors: Kim Juhyun , Lee Onseok
Published: March 2024

Background/purpose

Skin elasticity was used to evaluate healthy and diseased skin. Correlation analysis between image texture characteristics and skin elasticity was performed to study the feasibility of assessing skin elasticity using a non‐contact method.

Materials and methods

Skin images in the near‐infrared band were acquired using a hyperspectral camera, and skin elasticity was obtained using a skin elastimeter. Texture features of the mean, standard deviation, entropy, contrast, correlation, homogeneity, and energy were extracted from the acquired skin images, and a correlation analysis with skin elasticity was performed.

Results

The texture features, and skin elasticity of skin images in the near‐infrared band had the highest correlation on the side of eye and under of arm, and the mean and correlation were features of texture suitable for distinguishing skin elasticity according to the body part.

Conclusion

In this study, we performed elasticity and correlation analyses for various body parts using the texture characteristics of skin hyperspectral images in the near‐infrared band, confirming a significant correlation in some body parts. It is expected that this will be used as a cornerstone of skin elasticity evaluation research using non‐contact methods.
The impact of voter confusion in ranked choice voting
Authors: Atkeson Lonna Rae , McKown‐Dawson Eli , Santucci Jack , Saunders Kyle L.
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Election observers have expressed concerns about voter “confusion” under ranked choice voting (RCV) since the 1890s. What is the meaning of “confusing,” and how does it affect behavior? We argue (with much of the literature) that ranking candidates for public office is a cognitively complex task because of a lack of information.

Methods

We explore some observable implications of this perspective using exit poll data from the first RCV election in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2018.

Results

Sixteen percent of voters reported having felt very (6 percent) or somewhat (10 percent) confused, and Hispanic voters were more likely to be confused than white voters. Confused voters report ranking fewer candidates, have lower confidence in ballot‐counting accuracy, and are less supportive of RCV than nonconfused voters.

Conclusions

These results raise questions about RCV's equity, participation costs for voters, ease of use, and longevity.
Agricultural Fairs Management: A Literature Review
Authors: Gutierrez Ronier Pauletto , Neuenfeldt Júnior Alvaro Luiz , Vieira Jonathan Barros Felipe , Rosa Carmen Brum
Published: March 2024

Agricultural fairs constitute highly significant events within the agribusiness sector, facilitating the exchange of products and services while also contributing to society through lectures, training sessions, and technology exhibitions. Nonetheless, the literature remains notably scarce in addressing the administrative and managerial aspects of such events. The article aims to discuss managerial aspects of fairs and the societal impacts generated, as well as update the scientific community on research conducted in the field. A literature review was conducted, encompassing a total of 13 articles, which were categorized based on the thematic focus: geographical location, social impact, and management aspects. The limited number of countries studied is justified by the limited attention this subject has received within the scientific community. The surveyed articles predominantly emphasize the societal impacts generated by agricultural fairs, providing only superficial coverage of topics related to event planning and management. There is a clear need for more comprehensive research endeavors, encompassing a specific spectrum of agricultural fairs, to develop a specific and replicable methodology for such events. Additionally, efforts should be directed towards establishing mechanisms that enable ongoing monitoring processes to be undertaken by the responsible managers overseeing agricultural fair organization.
Electrical conductivity, luminescence, and deep acceptor levels in β-Ga2O3-In2O3 polycrystalline solid solution doped with Zr4+ or Ca2+ ions
Authors: Luchechko A. , Vasyltsiv V. , Kushlyk M. , Kostyk L. , Slobodzyan D.
Published: March 2024

Photoluminescence, luminescence excitation spectra, and electrical conductivity of β-Ga2O3-In2O3 solid solutions were studied. For this purpose, polycrystalline samples of unintentionally doped (UID) and doped with Ca or Zr β-Ga2O3-In2O3 solid solution with 20% In were synthesized and characterized. All samples were obtained by the high-temperature solid-phase method from appropriate oxides at 1300 °C at low and high oxygen partial pressure. It was established that UID and doped with Ca2+ or Zr4+ samples synthesized in an oxygen atmosphere were highly resistive, while the samples synthesized in an argon atmosphere had high conductivity. The conductivity was the lowest in the samples doped with Ca2+ and was 10−13 Ω−1 cm−1, while in the samples doped with Zr4+, the electrical conductivity was the highest and reached 10−3 Ω−1 cm−1. The broadband luminescence of β-Ga2O3-In2O3 solid solution is a superposition of three elementary bands with maxima in the violet 3.08 eV, blue 2.73 eV, and green 2.45 eV regions of the spectrum. Doping with Ca2+ or Zr4+ impurities and varying the synthesis atmosphere led mainly to a redistribution of intensities between the elementary luminescence bands. The luminescence arises from the radiative recombination of charge carriers through donor–acceptor pairs and self-localized holes. Donors and acceptors are formed by native defects such as (Gai, VGa, VGaVo) or doping impurities (Zr4+, Ca2+). Unlike the luminescence spectra, the luminescence excitation spectra change significantly when the synthesis conditions vary or when doping with divalent impurities. The excitation band at 4.46 eV is due to electron transitions from the VGa or VGaVO acceptor levels to the conduction band. Electron transitions from acceptor levels of Ca2+ impurities are manifested in the intense excitation band at 4.1 eV.
Using an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Approach to Overcome Distractive Overthinking With a High School Baseball Player
Authors: Wood Samuel , Turner Martin J.
Published: March 2024

The present paper outlines a case study in sport psychology service delivery provided to a 16-year-old high school baseball player. The client reported experiencing distraction from overthinking in training and competition, which hindered his concentration and performance. An acceptance and commitment therapy intervention was implemented over 10 sessions across a 5-month period. The aim of the intervention was to overcome anxiety by encouraging acceptance of unhelpful thoughts, rather than changing or removing them, and helping the client focus on moving toward the athlete he wanted to be. This case offers a novel contribution to the wider literature by reporting an acceptance and commitment therapy intervention addressing performance anxiety in sport. We report how psychological flexibility was achieved through exercises to “unhook” the client from his thoughts around perfection and self-imposed pressure. Reflections from the client and practitioner capture the evaluation of the service delivery process.
Soccer Skill Performance and Retention Following an 8-Week Adapted Soccer Intervention in Adults With Disabilities
Authors: Lang Danielle M. , Munn Emily E. , Tielke Claire E. , Nix Caden Mary G. , Evans Tessa M. , Pangelinan Melissa M.
Published: March 2024

This study evaluated the efficacy of an 8-week (two sessions/week; 60 min/session) adapted soccer intervention on skill performance and retention in 30 adults (18 men and 12 women) ages 17–40 years with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and intellectual disability. Of these 30 participants, 18 completed a 1-month retention test. The program included behavior supports and adaptations for participants with varying levels of behavioral needs. Dribbling, kicking a moving ball, kicking a stationary ball, throw-ins, trapping, and a composite skill score were examined. Linear mixed-effect regression revealed a significant time main effect with improvements from pretest to posttest and pretest to retention for all skills. In addition, modest offline gains (i.e., posttest < retention) were observed for throw-ins, kicking a moving ball, and the composite skill score. A significant main effect of diagnosis was observed such that participants with autism spectrum disorder had better performance on kicking a moving ball than those with Down syndrome and intellectual disability. Finally, a significant main effect of level of function was observed. This program enabled adults with various disabilities to acquire fundamental soccer skills that may lead to meaningful participation in community soccer programs.
The Association Between Physical Activity and Fatigue Among Adults With Rheumatic Disease in a Nationally Representative Sample
Authors: Lewis Jordan E. , Beattie Emily H. , Ylitalo Kelly R.
Published: March 2024

Objective: Adults with rheumatic disease (RD) experience high levels of fatigue. Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce fatigue among adults. Despite this evidence, adults with RD are more likely to be physically inactive compared with those without RD. Little information is known about the association of physical activity level and fatigue among adults with RD. This study investigated the association of physical activity level and fatigue among adults with and without RD. Methods: Adults (≥18 y) who participated in the 2018 National Health Interview Survey (unweighted n = 25,471) were included in this cross-sectional study. Physical activity and fatigue were self-reported. Statistical analyses were weighted to account for complex survey sampling design. Results: Significantly more adults with RD experience fatigue compared with adults without RD (26.19% vs 13.23%). Adults with RD who were inactive had 2.81 times (95% CI, 2.37–3.34) higher odds of experiencing fatigue compared to adults with RD who were sufficiently active, after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions: Overall, fatigue was more common among adults with RD than it was in the population without RD.
Emergence of co-tuning in inhibitory neurons as a network phenomenon mediated by randomness, correlations, and homeostatic plasticity
Authors: Lagzi Fereshteh , Fairhall Adrienne L.
Published: March 2024

Cortical excitatory neurons show clear tuning to stimulus features, but the tuning properties of inhibitory interneurons are ambiguous. While inhibitory neurons have been considered to be largely untuned, some studies show that some parvalbumin-expressing (PV) neurons do show feature selectivity and participate in co-tuned subnetworks with pyramidal neurons. In this study, we first use mean-field theory to demonstrate that a combination of homeostatic plasticity governing the synaptic dynamics of the connections from PV to excitatory neurons, heterogeneity in the excitatory postsynaptic potentials that impinge on PV neurons, and shared correlated input from layer 4 results in the functional and structural self-organization of PV subnetworks. Second, we show that structural and functional feature tuning of PV neurons emerges more clearly at the network level, i.e., that population-level measures identify functional and structural co-tuning of PV neurons that are not evident in pairwise individual-level measures. Finally, we show that such co-tuning can enhance network stability at the cost of reduced feature selectivity.
Sulfur disproportionation in deep COHS slab fluids drives mantle wedge oxidation
Authors: Maffeis Andrea , Frezzotti Maria Luce , Connolly James Alexander Denis , Castelli Daniele , Ferrando Simona
Published: March 2024

Sulfur degassed at volcanic arcs calls for dissolved sulfate ions (S
6+
) released by subduction-zone fluids, oxidizing (in association with carbon) the subarc mantle, but sulfur speciation in subduction fluids at subarc depths remains unclear. We apply electrolytic fluid thermodynamics to model the dissolution behavior of pyrite in metacarbonate sediments as a function of
P
,
T
and rock redox state up to 4.3 gigapascals and 730°C. At subarc depth and the redox conditions of the fayalite-magnetite-quartz oxygen buffer, pyrite dissolution releases oxidized sulfur in fluids by disproportionation into sulfate, bisulfite, and sulfide species. These findings indicate that oxidized, sulfur-rich carbon-oxygen-hydrogen-sulfur (COHS) fluids form within subducting slabs at depths greater than 100 kilometers independent from slab redox state and that sulfur can be more effective than the concomitantly dissolved carbon at oxidizing the mantle wedge, especially when carbonates are stable.
An RNA origami robot that traps and releases a fluorescent aptamer
Authors: Vallina Néstor Sampedro , McRae Ewan K. S. , Geary Cody , Andersen Ebbe S.
Published: March 2024

RNA nanotechnology aims to use RNA as a programmable material to create self-assembling nanodevices for application in medicine and synthetic biology. The main challenge is to develop advanced RNA robotic devices that both sense, compute, and actuate to obtain enhanced control over molecular processes. Here, we use the RNA origami method to prototype an RNA robotic device, named the “Traptamer,” that mechanically traps the fluorescent aptamer, iSpinach. The Traptamer is shown to sense two RNA key strands, acts as a Boolean AND gate, and reversibly controls the fluorescence of the iSpinach aptamer. Cryo–electron microscopy of the closed Traptamer structure at 5.45-angstrom resolution reveals the mechanical mode of distortion of the iSpinach motif. Our study suggests a general approach to distorting RNA motifs and a path forward to build sophisticated RNA machines that through sensing, computing, and actuation modules can be used to precisely control RNA functionalities in cellular systems.
An evolutionarily conserved olfactory receptor is required for sex differences in blood pressure
Authors: Xu Jiaojiao , Choi Rira , Gupta Kunal , Warren Helen R. , Santhanam Lakshmi , Pluznick Jennifer L.
Published: March 2024

Sex differences in blood pressure are well-established, with premenopausal women having lower blood pressure than men by ~10 millimeters of mercury; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We report here that sex differences in blood pressure are absent in olfactory receptor 558 knockout (KO) mice.
Olfr558
localizes to renin-positive cells in the kidney and to vascular smooth muscle cells. Female KOs exhibit increased blood pressure and increased pulse wave velocity. In contrast, male KO mice have decreased renin expression and activity, altered vascular reactivity, and decreased diastolic pressure. A rare
OR51E1
(human ortholog) missense variant has a statistically significant sex interaction effect with diastolic blood pressure, increasing diastolic blood pressure in women but decreasing it in men. In summary, our findings demonstrate an evolutionarily conserved role for OLFR558/OR51E1 to mediate sex differences in blood pressure.
Coherent charge hopping suppresses photoexcited small polarons in ErFeO
3
by antiadiabatic formation mechanism
Authors: Kim Ye-Jin , Mendes Jocelyn L. , Michelsen Jonathan M. , Shin Hyun Jun , Lee Nara , Choi Young Jai , Cushing Scott K.
Published: March 2024

Polarons are prevalent in condensed matter systems with strong electron-phonon coupling. The adiabaticity of the polaron relates to its transport properties and spatial extent. To date, only adiabatic small polaron formation has been measured following photoexcitation. The lattice reorganization energy is large enough that the first electron–optical phonon scattering event creates a small polaron without requiring substantial carrier thermalization. We measure that frustrating the iron-centered octahedra in the rare-earth orthoferrite ErFeO
3
leads to antiadiabatic polaron formation. Coherent charge hopping between neighboring Fe
3+
─Fe
2+
sites is measured with transient extreme ultraviolet spectroscopy and lasts several picoseconds before the polaron forms. The resulting small polaron formation time is an order of magnitude longer than previous measurements and indicates a shallow potential well, even in the excited state. The results emphasize the importance of considering dynamic electron-electron correlations, not just electron-phonon–induced lattice changes, for small polarons for transport, catalysis, and photoexcited applications.
Insights into the enigma of oral streptococci in carcinogenesis
Authors: Senthil Kumar Sangeetha , Johnson Michael D. L. , Wilson Justin E.
Published: March 2024

The genus
Streptococcus
consists of a taxonomically diverse group of Gram-positive bacteria that have earned significant scientific interest due to their physiological and pathogenic characteristics. Within the genus
Streptococcus,
viridans group streptococci (VGS) play a significant role in the oral ecosystem, constituting approximately 80% of the oral biofilm. Their primary role as pioneering colonizers in the oral cavity with multifaceted interactions like adherence, metabolic signaling, and quorum sensing contributes significantly to the complex dynamics of the oral biofilm, thus shaping oral health and disease outcomes. Perturbations in oral streptococci composition drive oral dysbiosis and therefore impact host-pathogen interactions, resulting in oral inflammation and representing VGS as an opportunistic pathogen. The association of oral streptococci in tumors across distant organs, spanning the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, and colon, illuminates a potential association between oral streptococci, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. This finding emphasizes the need for further investigations into the role of oral streptococci in mucosal homeostasis and their involvement in carcinogenesis. Hence, here, we review the significance of oral streptococci in biofilm dynamics and how the perturbation may impact mucosal immunopathogenesis in the context of cancer, with a vision of exploiting oral streptococci for cancer intervention and for the development of non-invasive cancer diagnosis.
Using metabolic networks to predict cross-feeding and competition interactions between microorganisms
Authors: Silva-Andrade Claudia , Rodriguez-Fernández María , Garrido Daniel , Martin Alberto J. M.
Published: March 2024

Understanding the interactions between microorganisms and their impact on bacterial behavior at the community level is a key research topic in microbiology. Different methods, relying on experimental or mathematical approaches based on the diverse properties of bacteria, are currently employed to study these interactions. Recently, the use of metabolic networks to understand the interactions between bacterial pairs has increased, highlighting the relevance of this approach in characterizing bacteria. In this study, we leverage the representation of bacteria through their metabolic networks to build a predictive model aimed at reducing the number of experimental assays required for designing bacterial consortia with specific behaviors. Our novel method for predicting cross-feeding or competition interactions between pairs of microorganisms utilizes metabolic network features. Machine learning classifiers are employed to determine the type of interaction from automatically reconstructed metabolic networks. Several algorithms were assessed and selected based on comprehensive testing and careful separation of manually compiled data sets obtained from literature sources. We used different classification algorithms, including K Nearest Neighbors, XGBoost, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest, tested different parameter values, and implemented several data curation approaches to reduce the biological bias associated with our data set, ultimately achieving an accuracy of over 0.9. Our method holds substantial potential to advance the understanding of community behavior and contribute to the development of more effective approaches for consortia design.

IMPORTANCE

Understanding bacterial interactions at the community level is critical for microbiology, and leveraging metabolic networks presents an efficient and effective approach. The introduction of this novel method for predicting interactions through machine learning classifiers has the potential to advance the field by reducing the number of experimental assays required and contributing to the development of more effective bacterial consortia.
AgeMeta: Quantitative Gene Expression Database of Mammalian Aging
Authors: Tikhonov Stanislav , Batin Mikhail , Gladyshev Vadim N. , Dmitriev Sergey E. , Tyshkovskiy Alexander
Published: March 2024

AgeMeta is a database that provides systemic and quantitative description of mammalian aging at the level of gene expression. It encompasses transcriptomic changes with age across various tissues of humans, mice, and rats, based on a comprehensive meta-analysis of 122 publicly available gene expression datasets from 26 studies. AgeMeta provides an intuitive visual interface for quantification of aging-associated transcriptomics at the level of individual genes and functional groups of genes, allowing easy comparison among various species and tissues. Additionally, all the data in the database can be downloaded and analyzed independently. Overall, this work contributes to the understanding of the complex network of biological processes underlying mammalian aging and supports future advancements in this field. AgeMeta is freely available at: https://age-meta.com/.

Graphic abstract
Predictive machine learning models for ascending aortic dilatation in patients with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves undergoing cardiothoracic surgery: a prospective, single-centre and observational study
Authors: Gaye Bamba , Vignac Maxime , Gådin Jesper R , Ladouceur Magalie , Caidahl Kenneth , Olsson Christian , Franco-Cereceda Anders , Eriksson Per , Björck Hanna M
Published: March 2024

Objectives

The objective of this study was to develop clinical classifiers aiming to identify prevalent ascending aortic dilatation in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV).

Design and setting

A prospective, single-centre and observational cohort.

Participants

The study involved 543 BAV and 491 TAV patients with aortic valve disease and/or ascending aortic dilatation, excluding those with coronary artery disease, undergoing cardiothoracic surgery at the Karolinska University Hospital (Sweden).

Main outcome measures

Predictors of high risk of ascending aortic dilatation (defined as ascending aorta with a diameter above 40 mm) were identified through the application of machine learning algorithms and classic logistic regression models.

Exposures

Comprehensive multidimensional data, including valve morphology, clinical information, family history of cardiovascular diseases, prevalent diseases, demographic details, lifestyle factors, and medication.

Results

BAV patients, with an average age of 60.4±12.4 years, showed a higher frequency of aortic dilatation (45.3%) compared with TAV patients, who had an average age of 70.4±9.1 years (28.9% dilatation, p <0.001). Aneurysm prediction models for TAV patients exhibited mean area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC) values above 0.8, with the absence of aortic stenosis being the primary predictor, followed by diabetes and high-sensitivity C reactive protein. Conversely, prediction models for BAV patients resulted in AUC values between 0.5 and 0.55, indicating low usefulness for predicting aortic dilatation. Classification results remained consistent across all machine learning algorithms and classic logistic regression models.

Conclusion and recommendation

Cardiovascular risk profiles appear to be more predictive of aortopathy in TAV patients than in patients with BAV. This adds evidence to the fact that BAV-associated and TAV-associated aortopathy involves different pathways to aneurysm formation and highlights the need for specific aneurysm preventions in these patients. Further, our results highlight that machine learning approaches do not outperform classical prediction methods in addressing complex interactions and non-linear relations between variables.
Latent class analysis of Chinese healthcare providers’ attitudes towards oocyte cryopreservation: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Lu Jingjing , Tian Xuezi , Wang Zhaochen
Published: March 2024

Objectives

The present study was designed to examine the attitudes towards oocyte cryopreservation among healthcare providers working in hospitals across specialties and potential influencing factors.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

The questionnaire was distributed among Chinese healthcare providers via the Credamo platform.

Participants

There were 877 respondents recruited from 8 April to 8 May 2022, among whom 160 were identified as unqualified because of inconsistency between the IP and work addresses.

Outcome measures

Individual attitudes towards oocyte cryopreservation under four different settings, familiarity with oocyte cryopreservation and perceived risks about oocyte cryopreservation of healthcare providers were measured using a self-designed questionnaire.

Results

There were 877 respondents recruited, and 717 were identified as qualified respondents. Two latent classes of healthcare providers characterised by different attitudes towards oocyte cryopreservation under four different settings were identified, the supportive and reluctant. Familiarity with oocyte cryopreservation had a significant direct effect on perceived risks, with better familiarity predicting lower perceived risks (β=−0.102, p<0.05). Perceived risks showed a significant direct effect on participants’ attitudes towards oocyte cryopreservation, with higher perceived risks predicting a more reluctant attitude (β=0.165, p<0.001).

Conclusions

The majority of healthcare providers held a reluctant attitude towards oocyte cryopreservation of unmarried women for non-medical reasons, which might relate to their worries about the risks to offspring’s health and lack of knowledge about a reproductive technique.
Inter-reviewer reliability of human literature reviewing and implications for the introduction of machine-assisted systematic reviews: a mixed-methods review
Authors: Hanegraaf Piet , Wondimu Abrham , Mosselman Jacob Jan , de Jong Rutger , Abogunrin Seye , Queiros Luisa , Lane Marie , Postma Maarten J , Boersma Cornelis , van der Schans Jurjen
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Our main objective is to assess the inter-reviewer reliability (IRR) reported in published systematic literature reviews (SLRs). Our secondary objective is to determine the expected IRR by authors of SLRs for both human and machine-assisted reviews.

Methods

We performed a review of SLRs of randomised controlled trials using the PubMed and Embase databases. Data were extracted on IRR by means of Cohen’s kappa score of abstract/title screening, full-text screening and data extraction in combination with review team size, items screened and the quality of the review was assessed with the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2. In addition, we performed a survey of authors of SLRs on their expectations of machine learning automation and human performed IRR in SLRs.

Results

After removal of duplicates, 836 articles were screened for abstract, and 413 were screened full text. In total, 45 eligible articles were included. The average Cohen’s kappa score reported was 0.82 (SD=0.11, n=12) for abstract screening, 0.77 (SD=0.18, n=14) for full-text screening, 0.86 (SD=0.07, n=15) for the whole screening process and 0.88 (SD=0.08, n=16) for data extraction. No association was observed between the IRR reported and review team size, items screened and quality of the SLR. The survey (n=37) showed overlapping expected Cohen’s kappa values ranging between approximately 0.6–0.9 for either human or machine learning-assisted SLRs. No trend was observed between reviewer experience and expected IRR. Authors expect a higher-than-average IRR for machine learning-assisted SLR compared with human based SLR in both screening and data extraction.

Conclusion

Currently, it is not common to report on IRR in the scientific literature for either human and machine learning-assisted SLRs. This mixed-methods review gives first guidance on the human IRR benchmark, which could be used as a minimal threshold for IRR in machine learning-assisted SLRs.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023386706.
Cohort profile: The Health, Food, Purchases and Lifestyle (SMIL) cohort – a Danish open cohort
Authors: Sørensen Kathrine Kold , Andersen Mikkel Porsborg , Møller Frederik Trier , Eves Caroline , Junker Thor Grønborg , Zareini Bochra , Torp-Pedersen Christian
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The Health, Food, Purchases and Lifestyle (SMIL) cohort is a prospective open Danish cohort that collects electronic consumer purchase data, which can be linked to Danish nationwide administrative health and social registries. This paper provides an overview of the cohort’s baseline characteristics and marginal differences in the monetary percentage spent on food groups by sex, age and hour of the day.

Participants

As of 31 December 2022, the cohort included 11 214 users of a smartphone-based receipt collection application who consented to share their unique identification number for linkage to registries in Denmark. In 2022, the composition of the cohort was as follows: 62% were men while 24% were aged 45–55. The cohort had a median of 63 (IQR 26–116) unique shopping trips. The cohort included participants with a range of health statuses. Notably, 21% of participants had a history of cardiovascular disease and 8% had diabetes before donating receipts.

Findings to date

The feasibility of translating consumer purchase data to operationalisable food groups and merging with registers has been demonstrated. We further demonstrated differences in marginal distributions which revealed disparities in the amount of money spent on various food groups by sex and age, as well as systematic variations by the hour of the day. For example, men under 30 spent 8.2% of their total reported expenditure on sugary drinks, while women under 30 spent 6.5%, men over 30 spent 4.3% and women over 30 spent 3.9%.

Future plans

The SMIL cohort is characterised by its dynamic, continuously updated database, offering an opportunity to explore the relationship between diet and disease without the limitations of self-reported data. Currently encompassing data from 2018 to 2022, data collection is set to continue. We expect data collection to continue for many years and we are taking several initiatives to increase the cohort.
Exploring the pharmacists’ role in optimising antithrombotic therapy in primary care: a qualitative study
Authors: van Paassen Jacqueline G , Tan Jaïr P , Deneer Vera H M , Bouvy Marcel L
Published: March 2024

Objective

In antithrombotic therapy, the balance between efficacy and safety is delicate, which makes it challenging for healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, to optimise therapy. Pharmacists may play an important role in optimising antithrombotic therapy, but especially in primary care, this role has not been elucidated. Here, we study how community pharmacists (pharmacists in primary care) perceive their current and future role in antithrombotic therapy.

Design

We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. The interview protocol and subsequent analysis were based on the Theoretical Domains Framework, and the findings were interpreted with the Capability Opportunity Motivation – Behaviour System.

Setting and participants

The interview participants were community pharmacists, located across the Netherlands, from the Utrecht Pharmacy Practice network for Education and Research.

Results

We interviewed 16 community pharmacists between February and August 2021 and identified several major themes which were important for the pharmacist’s role in antithrombotic therapy. Pharmacists felt responsible for the outcome of antithrombotic treatment and intended to invest in their role in antithrombotic therapy. Pharmacists did, however, experience barriers to their role in antithrombotic therapy, like a lack of access to clinical information such as the indication of antithrombotic treatment and a lack of specific knowledge on this treatment.

Conclusion

Community pharmacists perceive a role for themselves in antithrombotic therapy. To fulfil this role, several preconditions must be met.
Experiences of the clinical academic pathway: a qualitative study in Greater Manchester to improve the opportunities of minoritised clinical academics
Authors: Lin Chiu-Yi , Greco Cinzia , Radhakrishnan Hema , Finn Gabrielle M , Cowen Rachel L , Gardiner Natalie J
Published: March 2024

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators faced by clinical academics (CAs) in the Greater Manchester region, with particular attention to the experiences of minoritised groups.

Design

A qualitative study using semistructured interviews and focus groups was conducted. A reflexive thematic analysis was applied to identify key themes.

Setting

University of Manchester and National Health Service Trusts in the Greater Manchester region.

Participants

The sample of this study was composed of 43 participants, including CAs, senior stakeholders, clinicians and medical and dental students.

Results

Six themes were identified. CAs face several barriers and facilitators, some of which—(1) funding insecurity and (2) high workload between the clinic and academia—are common to all the CAs. Other barriers, including (3) discrimination that translates into struggles with self-worth and feeling of not belonging, (4) being or being perceived as foreign and (5) unequal distribution of care duties, particularly affect people from minoritised groups. In contrast, (6) mentorship was commonly identified as one of the most important facilitators.

Conclusions

Cultural and structural interventions are needed, such as introducing financial support for early career CAs and intercalating healthcare students to promote wider social and cultural change and increase the feelings of belonging and representation across the entire CA pipeline.
Communication to adult patients undergoing cancer care by non-specialist nurses: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Kachimanga Chiyembekezo , McGlashan Jennifer , Cunningham Nicola , Hoyle Louise
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Little is known regarding how non-specialist nurses communicate with patients living with cancer when the patients are receiving care outside of their cancer units/teams. This scoping review aims to identify, examine and report on the currently available evidence about communication by non-specialist nurses when caring for adults living with cancer outside of their cancer care unit/teams.

Methods and analysis

A scoping review following the JBI methodology for scoping reviews will be conducted. We will search for empirical studies that meet the inclusion criteria in six databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus and PsycINFO). Handsearching in references of included articles will be performed to find additional articles. The population of interest will be non-specialist nurses. Three concepts will be explored, namely (1) all adult patients living with cancer, (2) a focus on three stages of the cancer continuum of care (cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship) and (3) a focus on communication between non-specialist nurses and patients living with cancer. We will include studies describing all healthcare settings outside patients’ specialised cancer units or oncology teams. After article selection, two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts and perform a full-text article review, risk of bias assessments and data extraction. A third reviewer will resolve all disagreements. A narrative summary will provide an overview of how the results relate to the research aims and questions. The included articles will be limited to English and published between 2012 and 2023.

Ethics and dissemination

No ethical approval is required since we will use publicly available empirical research sources. This review will provide current research on communication by non-specialist nurses with patients with a cancer diagnosis outside of an oncology setting, evidence that will support effective communication. As such, we aim to disseminate the findings in academic conferences and peer-reviewed journals.
Circular RNA as a source of neoantigens for cancer vaccines
Authors: Ren Yi , Manoharan Thamizhanban , Liu Beijia , Cheng Cyrus Zai Ming , En Siew Bei , Cheong Wai-Kit , Lee Kai Yin , Tan Ian Jse-Wei , Lieske Bettina , Tan Ker-Kan , Chia Gloryn
Published: March 2024

Background

The effectiveness of somatic neoantigen-based immunotherapy is often hindered by the limited number of mutations in tumors with low to moderate mutation burden. Focusing on microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (CRC), this study investigates the potential of tumor-associated circular RNAs (circRNAs) as an alternative source of neoepitopes in CRC.

Methods

Tumor-associated circRNAs in CRC were identified using the MiOncoCirc database and ribo-depletion RNA sequencing of paired clinical normal and tumor samples. Candidate circRNA expression was validated by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) using divergent primers. TransCirc database was used for translation prediction. Human leukocyte antigen binding affinity of open reading frames from potentially translatable circRNA was predicted using pVACtools. Strong binders from messenger RNA-encoded proteins were excluded using BlastP. The immunogenicity of the candidate antigens was functionally validated through stimulation of naïve CD8+T cells against the predicted neoepitopes and subsequent analysis of the T cells through enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay, intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) and granzyme B (GZMB) reporter. The cytotoxicity of T cells trained with antigen peptides was further tested using patient-derived organoids.

Results

We identified a neoepitope from circRAPGEF5 that is upregulated in CRC tumor samples from MiOncoCirc database, and two neoepitopes from circMYH9, which is upregulated across various tumor samples from our matched clinical samples. The translation potential of candidate peptides was supported by Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium database using PepQuery. The candidate peptides elicited antigen-specific T cells response and expansion, evidenced by various assays including ELISpot, ICS and GZMB reporter. Furthermore, T cells trained with circMYH9 peptides were able to specifically target and eliminate tumor-derived organoids but not match normal organoids. This observation underscores the potential of circRNAs as a source of immunogenic neoantigens. Lastly, circMYH9 was enriched in the liquid biopsies of patients with CRC, thus enabling a detection-to-vaccination treatment strategy for patients with CRC.

Conclusions

Our findings underscore the feasibility of tumor-associated circRNAs as an alternative source of neoantigens for cancer vaccines targeting tumors with moderate mutation levels.
Dinosaur biostratigraphy of the non-marine Cretaceous of Utah
Authors: Kirkland James I. , Sertich Joseph J. W. , Titus Alan L.
Published: March 2024

Over the past 30 years, exploration of the terrestrial Mesozoic section in Utah has resulted in a more than five-fold increase in the known species of dinosaurs. A highly resolved temporal and sequence stratigraphic framework for these strata is facilitating the utility of these newly discovered dinosaur assemblages in geological, evolutionary, palaeoecological and palaeogeographic research. Local subsidence due to salt tectonics in the northern Paradox Basin is responsible for this region of eastern Utah preserving basal Cretaceous dinosaur faunas, known nowhere else in North America, that document Jurassic–Cretaceous faunal turnover palaeobiogeographic connections across the proto-North Atlantic with Europe. The more medial Cretaceous strata west of the San Rafael Swell, in central Utah, preserve a unique dinosaur assemblage on an isolated North America. These strata also record the first immigration of Asian dinosaurs into North America and the last occurrences of a number of endemic North American dinosaur lineages. Through the Late Cretaceous, extensive, fossiliferous floodplain deposits are exposed in the high plateaus of southern Utah within the Grand Canyon Bight on the western side of the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway. Research on microvertebrate sites has resulted in a diverse record of vertebrate life substage by substage through most of the Upper Cretaceous sequence. Particularly, rich dinosaur-bearing beds through the Campanian have resulted in the discovery of many new dinosaur species distinct from the coeval dinosaur-bearing beds farther north along the western coast of the Western Interior Seaway in Montana and Alberta. The further development of these numerous rich dinosaur assemblages will provide the basis for considerable research in the future.
Language-Based Software Testing
Authors: Steinhöfel Dominic , Zeller Andreas
Published: March 2024

Constraints over grammar elements can make test generation easier than ever.
A Survey on Software Vulnerability Exploitability Assessment
Authors: Elder Sarah , Rahman Md Rayhanur , Fringer Gage , Kapoor Kunal , Williams Laurie
Published: March 2024

Knowing the exploitability and severity of software vulnerabilities helps practitioners prioritize vulnerability mitigation efforts. Researchers have proposed and evaluated many different exploitability assessment methods. The goal of this research is to assist practitioners and researchers in understanding existing methods for assessing vulnerability exploitability through a survey of exploitability assessment literature. We identify three exploitability assessment approaches: assessments based on original, manual Common Vulnerability Scoring System, automated Deterministic assessments, and automated Probabilistic assessments. Other than the original Common Vulnerability Scoring System, the two most common sub-categories are Deterministic, Program State based, and Probabilistic learning model assessments.