bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on whole-brain functional and effective connectivity
Authors: Bedford Peter , Hauke Daniel J. , Wang Zheng , Roth Volker , Nagy-Huber Monika , Holze Friederike , Ley Laura , Vizeli Patrick , Liechti Matthias E. , Borgwardt Stefan , Müller Felix , Diaconescu Andreea O.
Published: November 2022

Psychedelics have emerged as promising candidate treatments for various psychiatric conditions, and given their clinical potential, there is a need to identify biomarkers that underlie their effects. Here, we investigate the neural mechanisms of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) using regression dynamic causal modelling (rDCM), a novel technique that assesses whole-brain effective connectivity (EC) during resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We modelled data from two randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over trials, in which 45 participants were administered 100μg LSD and placebo in two resting-state fMRI sessions. We compared EC against whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) using classical statistics and machine learning methods. Multivariate analyses of EC parameters revealed widespread increases in interregional connectivity and reduced self-inhibition under LSD compared to placebo, with the notable exception of primarily decreased interregional connectivity and increased self-inhibition in occipital brain regions. This finding suggests that LSD perturbs the Excitation/Inhibition balance of the brain. Moreover, random forests classified LSD vs. placebo states based on FC and EC with comparably high accuracy (FC: 85.56%, EC: 91.11%) suggesting that both EC and FC are promising candidates for clinically-relevant biomarkers of LSD effects.
Ketamine induces multiple individually distinct whole-brain functional connectivity signatures
Authors: Moujaes Flora , Ji Jie Lisa , Rahmati Masih , Burt Joshua , Schleifer Charles H. , Adkinson Brendan , Savič Aleksandar , Santamauro Nicole , Tamayo Zailyn , Diehl Caroline , Kolobaric Antonija , Flynn Morgan , Rieser Nathalie M. , Fonteneau Clara , Camarro Terry , Xu Junqian , Cho Youngsun T. , Repovš Grega , Fineberg Sarah K. , Morgan Peter , Seifritz Erich , Vollenweider Franz X. , Krystal John , Murray John D. , Preller Katrin H. , Anticevic Alan
Published: November 2022

Background

Ketamine has emerged as one of the most promising therapies for treatment-resistant depression. However, inter-individual variability in response to ketamine is still not well understood and it is unclear how ketamine’s molecular mechanisms connect to its neural and behavioral effects.

Methods

We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled study in which 40 healthy participants received acute ketamine (initial bolus 0.23 mg/kg, continuous infusion 0.58 mg/kg/hour). We quantified resting-state functional connectivity via data-driven global brain connectivity, related it to individual ketamine-induced symptom variation, and compared it to cortical gene expression targets.

Results

We found that: i) both the neural and behavioral effects of acute ketamine are multi-dimensional, reflecting robust inter-individual variability; ii) ketamine’s data-driven principal neural gradient effect matched somatostatin (SST) and parvalbumin (PVALB) cortical gene expression patterns in humans, implicating the role of SST and PVALB interneurons in ketamine’s acute effects; and iii) behavioral data-driven individual symptom variation mapped onto distinct neural gradients of ketamine, which were resolvable at the single-subject level.

Conclusions

Collectively, these findings support the possibility for developing individually precise pharmacological biomarkers for treatment selection in psychiatry.

Funding

This study was supported by NIH grants DP5OD012109-01 (A.A.), 1U01MH121766 (A.A.), R01MH112746 (J.D.M.), 5R01MH112189 (A.A.), 5R01MH108590 (A.A.), NIAAA grant 2P50AA012870-11 (A.A.); NSF NeuroNex grant 2015276 (J.D.M.); Brain and Behavior Research Foundation Young Investigator Award (A.A.); SFARI Pilot Award (J.D.M., A.A.); Heffter Research Institute (Grant No. 1–190420); Swiss Neuromatrix Foundation (Grant No. 2016–0111m Grant No. 2015 – 010); Swiss National Science Foundation under the frame-work of Neuron Cofund (Grant No. 01EW1908), Usona Institute (2015 – 2056).
ERK-dependent DICER1 phosphorylation promotes open chromatin state and lineage plasticity to mediate tumor progression
Authors: Reyes-Castro Raisa A. , Chen Shin-Yu , Seemann Jacob , Arur Swathi
Published: November 2022

DICER1 controls micro(mi)RNA-mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to regulate tumorigenesis of lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs). We discovered that DICER1 is phosphorylated by ERK and nuclear translocated and phospho-DICER1 contributes to tumorigenesis. Mechanisms through which phospho-DICER1 regulates tumor progression remain undefined. We show that phospho-nuclear DICER1 associates with invasive human LUADs with oncogenicKRASmutations and promotes late-stage tumor progression in mice with oncogenicKrasmutations. Surprisingly, phosphomimetic DICER1 regulates LUAD progression independent of miRNAs and EMT. Integrating single-cell RNA sequencing, fluorescentin situRNA hybridization, immunofluorescence, and ATAC-sequencing, in mice, we discovered that phosphomimetic DICER1 generates an open chromatin state in the lung tumor alveolar cells leading to expression of gastrointestinal genes and altered AT2 cell identity. Strikingly, we also observe the gastric gene signature in human LUADs with phospho-DICER1 andKRASmutations. We propose that phosphorylated nuclear DICER1 regulates chromatin remodeling leading to tumor cell reprogramming which drives lung cancer progression.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation to frontal but not occipital cortex disrupts endogenous attention
Authors: Fernández Antonio , Hanning Nina M. , Carrasco Marisa
Published: November 2022

Covert endogenous (voluntary) attention improves visual performance. Human neuroimaging studies suggest that the putative human homolog of macaque FEF (FEF+) is critical for this improvement, whereas early visual areas are not. Yet, MRI methods are correlational, as they do not manipulate brain function. Here we investigated whether rFEF+ or V1/V2 play acausalrole in endogenous attention. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to alter activity in visual cortex (Exp.1) or rFEF+ (Exp.2) when observers performed an orientation discrimination task while attention was manipulated. On every trial, they received double-pulse TMS at a predetermined site (stimulated region) around the occipital pole or the rFEF+. Two cortically magnified gratings were presented, one in the stimulated region (contralateral to the stimulated cortical area) and another in the symmetric (ipsilateral) non-stimulated region. Grating contrast was varied to measure contrast response functions (CRFs) for all attention and stimulation combinations. InExp.1, the CRFs were similar at the stimulated and non-stimulated regions, indicating that early visual areas do not modulate endogenous attention during stimulus presentation. In contrast, occipital TMS eliminates exogenous (involuntary) attention effects on performance (1). InExp.2, rFEF+ stimulation decreased the overall attentional effect; neither benefits at the attended location nor cost at the unattended location were significant. This pattern is mimicked in the frequency and directionality of microsaccades: Whereas occipital stimulation did not affect microsaccades, rFEF+ stimulation caused a higher microsaccade rate selectively directed toward the stimulated hemifield. These results providecausalevidence of the role of this frontal region for endogenous attention.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Human neuroimaging studies have revealed activity in frontal regions (e.g., FEF+) as a neural correlate of endogenous (voluntary) attention, and early visual areas (V1/V2) as neural correlates of both endogenous and exogenous (involuntary) attention. Using a causal manipulation–transcranial magnetic stimulation–we show that briefly disrupting activity in rFEF+ weakens endogenous attention’s benefits at attended and costs at unattended locations. In contrast, V1/V2 stimulation did not alter endogenous attention (although we have previously demonstrated that it eliminates effects of exogenous attention). Correspondingly, whereas stimulation to rFEF+ increased the rate of microsaccades directed toward the stimulated hemifield, occipital stimulation did not. Together, these results providecausalevidence for the role of rFEF+ but not V1/V2 in endogenous attention.
Letrozole delays acquisition of water maze task in female BALB/c mice: possible involvement of anxiety
Authors: Mamczarz Jacek , Lane Malcolm , Merchenthaler Istvan
Published: November 2022

Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor (AI), is used as an adjuvant therapy in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer patients. Similar to other AIs, it induces many side effects, including impaired cognition. Despite its negative effect in humans, results from animal models are inconsistent and suggest that letrozole can either impair or improve cognition. Here we studied effects of letrozole on cognitive behavior of adult female BALB/c mice, a relevant animal model for breast cancer studies. Mice were continuously treated with once-a-day subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of letrozole (0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg/day) or vehicle and subjected to behavioral testing starting on day 21 after treatment initiation. During the treatments, vaginal smears were taken from the mice to evaluate estrous cyclicity. Both doses of letrozole suspended cyclicity and the smears showed that the mice were in constant metestrus. Exposure to letrozole did not significantly affect response to novelty measured as a locomotor activity in open field. However, repeated testing in open field (4 days × 15 min) revealed that letrozole 0.3 mg/kg facilitated locomotor habituation (a form of non-associative learning), significantly reducing locomotor activity on 3rd and 4th day of testing. These findings suggest that certain doses of letrozole may have positive effects on cognitive behavior. Training to find a hidden platform in the Morris water maze (15 days x 4 trials), however, indicated that letrozole 0.1 mg/kg-treated mice had significant learning impairment, as, throughout the training, they swam longer times than vehicle-treated mice to reach the hidden platform. Similarly, in a probe test performed 72 h after the last day of the training, letrozole 0.1 mg/kg-treated mice did not show preference for the training platform zones. These results indicate that cognitive impairments reported by women treated with letrozole can be captured in BALB/c mice treated with clinically relevant doses of the drug. Interestingly, most of the letrozole 0.1 mg/kg-treated mice were able to learn the new platform position in reversal training and performed similar to control mice in a reversal probe test. Results of the reversal test suggest that letrozole did not completely disrupt spatial navigation but rather delayed acquisition of spatial information. The current study shows that letrozole dose dependently modulates behavioral response and that its effects are task dependent.
Enterobacteriaceae isolated from patients share antibiotic resistance conferring plasmids recently acquired from those isolated from sinks in the same treatment room
Authors: Taylor Bradford P , Che You , Passarelli Hemanoel , Smollan Gill , Cohen Carmit , Rapaport Rotem , Tal Ilana , Zade Nani Pinas , Jaber Hanaa , Keller Nati , Hanage William P , Regev-Yochay Gili
Published: November 2022

Identifying how and where pathogens acquire antibiotic resistance is crucial to developing effective strategies to limit its spread. Many bacterial species carry and share plasmids harboring antibiotic resistant genes. Plasmids are mobile genetic elements whose horizontal transmission is difficult to assess through genomic comparison due to assembly issues when using short-read sequencing alone. In this study, we use hybrid assembly to fully assemble plasmids that are shared between different Enterobacteriaceae isolated from patients and sinks in the same hospital rooms. We isolated and sequenced pairs of carbapenem resistantEnterobacter hormaecheisubsp.xiangfangensisandKlebsiella pneumoniaefrom patients and sinks within the same hospital room. The isolate pairs share plasmids that putatively confer antibiotic resistance, including carbapenem resistance. These plasmids differ by few mutations and structural changes, while the isolates carry unique plasmids. Together, this suggests that plasmids can act as vectors of antibiotic resistance spread from sink reservoirs to patients.
Podocyte lineage marker expression is preserved across Wilms tumor subtypes and enhanced in tumors harboring the SIX1/2 p.Q177R mutation
Authors: Stevenson Matthew J. , Phanor Sabrina K. , Patel Urvi , Gisselbrecht Stephen S. , Bulyk Martha L. , O’Brien Lori L.
Published: November 2022

Wilms tumors present as an amalgam of varying proportions of three tissues normally located within the developing kidney, one being the multipotent nephron progenitor population. While incomplete differentiation of the nephron progenitors is widely-considered the underlying cause of tumor formation, where this barrier occurs along the differentiation trajectory and how this might promote therapeutic resistance in high-risk blastemal-predominant tumors is unclear. Comprehensive integrated analysis of genomic datasets from normal human fetal kidney and high-risk Wilms tumors has revealed conserved expression of genes indicative of podocyte lineage differentiation in tumors of all subtypes. Comparatively upregulated expression of several of these markers, including the non-canonical WNT ligandWNT5A, was identified in tumors with the relapse-associated mutation SIX1/2 p.Q177R. These findings highlight the shared progression of cellular differentiation towards the podocyte lineage within Wilms tumors and enhancement of this differentiation program through promotion of non-canonical WNT/planar cell polarity signaling in association with SIX1/2 p.Q177R.
Determinants of white and fatty fish consumption by Croatian and Italian consumers
Authors: Krešić Greta , Dujmić Elena , Lončarić Dina , Zrnčić Snježana , Liović Nikolina , Pleadin Jelka
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of sociodemographic characteristics, perceived risks, health and nutritional motives and taste preference on at-home fish consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of people responsible for food purchasing in households, using the CAWI (computer-aided web interviewing) method. The eligible study sample comprised 977 participants in Croatia and 967 in Italy, who reported fishery products consumption in the previous 12 months. A questionnaire was used to examine sociodemographic characteristics, fish consumption frequency and factors affecting fish consumption. Determinants of white and fatty fish consumption were estimated with ordered probit models, along with marginal effects for each factor in the models.

Findings

Common positive determinants of white and fatty fish consumption in Croatia and Italy were health and nutritional motives (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.010), taste preference (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.001) and maritime nature of the living region. The common negative determinant of white and fatty fish consumption in Croatia and Italy was financial risk (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.005). The country-specific positive determinant in Croatia was the number of household members (p < 0.001), while negative determinants for white and fatty fish were functional risk (p = 0.004, p = 0.013), number of children (p = 0.030, p = 0.001) and female gender (for fatty fish) (p = 0.028). In Italy, older age negatively affected (p < 0.001) fish consumption, while number of children (p = 0.009) and household income positively affected white fish consumption.

Originality/value

An adequate probabilistic model of national representative samples ensures credibility of results. Policy and marketing activities are proposed that can encourage higher fish consumption.
Linking resource bundling and logistics capability with performance: study on 3PL providers in India
Authors: Kumar Devinder , Prashar Anupama
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study examines the effect of human and technological resource bundling on the financial and non-financial performance of third-party logistics (3PL) firms in India.

Design/methodology/approach

For achieving the research aim, 248 practitioners from India based 3PL firms were surveyed. The relationships between human and technology resources and firm performance were examined using structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

The results of empirical tests revealed that human and technological resources significantly enhance the performance of the 3PL firm. However, the firm's logistic capabilities related to track and trace, order management and final assembly do not mediate this relationship.

Originality/value

This study contributes by examining resource bundling in India's 3PL industry using empirical data and providing knowledge of the relationship between resources and business performance. It guides managers to consciously develop resource capabilities that influence firm performance.
How to facilitate improvements in public service systems: propositions for action
Authors: Gyllenhammar Daniel , Hammersberg Peter
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to increase the understanding of how improvements can be facilitated in a public service containing multiple actors in terms of identifying, aligning and prerequisites for the improvements.

Design/methodology/approach

The research utilizes an interactive research approach where data were gathered though a conference, workshop and a survey. The study alternately combines quality management methods such as affinity and interrelationship diagrams with computer aided text mining and latent semantic analysis.

Findings

The research shows that practitioners must consider interconnectedness between improvements and benefits that are crossing organizational levels of the public service system as well as professional borders. In public service systems, the complex reality can be better understood when improvements and benefits are classified into different organizational layers and an interconnectedness and sequence of improvement areas are acknowledged.

Research limitations/implications

The research is set in the Swedish public service of the tax-paid sick leave insurance. Future research would benefit by investigating similar cases in other nations and other services.

Practical implications

The used methodology can be applied by practitioners to enhance a unified understanding of the system required to improve. The study also guides practitioners for how to support, relive hinders and prioritize improvements.

Originality/value

The research fills a gap of understanding of improvements in public services with multiple actors. As this area is difficult to improve, a novel combination of qualitative and quantitative methods paved the way for deeper and more unified understanding of the system.
Prevalence, comorbidities, and treatment patterns of Japanese patients with alopecia areata: A descriptive study using Japan medical data center claims database
Authors: Campos‐Alberto Eduardo , Hirose Tomohiro , Napatalung Lynne , Ohyama Manabu
Published: November 2022

Real‐world data on alopecia areata (AA) demographics, comorbidities, and treatment patterns are sparse, not only in Japan but worldwide. This cross‐sectional study assessed the current prevalence of AA in Japan, including analysis of severe subsets, frequency of comorbidities, and unmet medical needs surrounding treatment. Patients registered in the Japan Medical Data Center claims database (January 2012 to December 2019) and diagnosed with AA were included. Prevalence was calculated yearly, with the most common comorbidities evaluated, and treatments described in the Japanese Dermatological Association AA management guidelines and approved in Japan were included in the analysis. In total, 61 899 patients were diagnosed with AA. Among them, 1497 were diagnosed with severe subtypes. AA prevalence in Japan has been gradually increasing (from 0.16% in 2012 to 0.27% in 2019). The most common comorbidities are allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. Depression and anxiety are frequent in these patients, as are autoimmune diseases, e.g., vitiligo, thyroid diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis. Intriguingly, the analysis found Down syndrome to be a comorbidity associated with severe AA in children. The principal treatments were topical corticosteroids, followed by carpronium chloride and cepharanthine. The use of systemic corticosteroids and antihistamines is increased in severe disease. The Japanese Dermatological Association guidelines do not support the use of oral corticosteroids in children; however, in the database, this has been prescribed in up to 2.5% and 9.8% of all pediatric and severe pediatric AA cases, respectively. Despite the limitations of using a claims database, the current study demonstrates that AA prevalence in Japan has gradually increased in recent years, with allergic diseases being the most common comorbidities. The data also imply that there is a need for effective and safe therapies, especially for severe and pediatric cases.
An extended epiphenotype for an extended phenotype inToxoplasma gondiiinfected feral house mice
Authors: Ngo Philip , Lignereux Louis , O'Handley Ryan , Vyas Ajai
Published: November 2022

Parasitism of mice byToxoplasma gondiireduces the host's aversion to cat odours, likely increasing predation and transmission of the parasite to its definitive host. This behavioural change suggests a parasitic manipulation where host behaviour becomes an extended phenotype of the parasite.

Independently, epigenetic changes within an organism are now known to create behavioural change.

The results described here provide an experimental connection between these disparate strands of extended phenotypes and the role of epigenetics in behavioural diversity.

Using mice captured on Kangaroo Island in Australia, we demonstrate thatToxoplasma gondiiinfection leads to specific DNA hypomethylation events in the host brain.

Previous laboratory studies have shown that these epigenetic changes underlie the central processing of cat odours. We posit that the concept of extended phenotype can be expanded to extended epiphenotype, thus linking parasite genes to host behaviour through epigenesis. This phenomenon has broad implications for inter‐species relationships.

Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.
Global commodity market disruption and the fallout
Authors: Ferguson Shon , Ubilava David
Published: November 2022

The war in the breadbasket of Europe, which spawned at the heels of the once‐in‐a‐lifetime pandemic, sent major cereal prices spiralling upward. The unprecedented sequence of events leading to and including the war has tested the resilience of global commodity markets and the craftsmanship of policymakers. While the circumstances may differ, the disruption of global commodity markets is not exactly uncharted territory, with many examples and experiences from near and distant history. By showcasing anecdotal and empirical evidence from the past, this study puts the current crisis and its consequences in perspective and offers an outlook with a specific focus on low‐ and middle‐income countries.
Decreased functional connectivity in salience network is associated with symptom severity in betel quid‐dependent chewers
Authors: Ban Meiting , Zhan Zhongyuan , Wang Dongcui , He Jincheng , Zhu Xueling , Yuan Fulai
Published: November 2022

Background

Betel quid (BQ) is the fourth most popular psychoactive agent worldwide. Neuroimaging studies have showed that substance‐addicted individuals including alcohol, heroin, nicotine and other addictive substance exhibit altered activity patterns of the salience network (SN). However, no study has yet investigated the neural correlates of the resting‐state SN and BQ dependence (BQD)‐related physiopathological characteristics.

Methods

Thirty‐two BQ‐dependent (BQD) chewers and 32 healthy controls were recruited to participate in this study. Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were analysed by independent component analysis (ICA).

Results

BQD chewers exhibited decreased functional connectivity in bilateral insula, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), medial superior frontal gyrus (MSFG) and inferior orbital frontal gyrus (IOFG) [false discovery rate (FDR) correction,p < 0.05]. In the BQD group, the decreased functional connectivity in left ACC correlated negatively with BQDS (BQD Scale) and the duration of BQ.

Conclusions

We reported decreased functional connectivity in resting‐state SN of BQD individuals. The decreased functional connectivity in left ACC correlated negatively with BQDS and the duration of BQ. Our findings provided evidence for the importance of the SN in the pathophysiology of BQD and indicated that the SN dysfunction might provide a potential mechanism in BQD development.
The Lexical Association Technique: A randomized controlled trial with breast cancer patients
Authors: Niveau Noémie , Beaudoin Marine , De Cornulier Joanne , New Boris
Published: November 2022

Low self‐esteem is a vulnerability factor for depressive disorders, and the prevention of psychological disorders is essential in cancer patients. The enhancement of self‐esteem in breast cancer patients may therefore be an appropriate clinical target. Previous studies have shown the efficacy of the Lexical Association Technique to enhance self‐esteem in healthy subjects. This study aims to test the clinical efficacy and acceptability of the Lexical Association Technique on the self‐esteem of cancer patients. A double‐blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 63 breast cancer patients during their radiotherapy treatment. Global self‐esteem measures were taken using the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale before and after the Lexical Association Technique and 1 month after its end. The results showed a significant improvement in global self‐esteem in patients immediately after performing the Lexical Association Technique compared to an active control group. However, the positive effects did not last 1 month. These results confirm the efficacy and suitability of the Lexical Association Technique for cancer patients. Avenues of research are proposed to extend the effects of the technique and increase its transdiagnostic applicability.
Children's lives and rights under lockdown: A Northern Irish perspective by autistic young people
Authors: O'Hagan Gillian , Byrne Bronagh
Published: November 2022

By June 2021, children and young people had experienced two periods of lockdown and home learning in Northern Ireland. The detrimental impact of these periods of indefinite confinement is wider reaching than reported educational stagnation, with the fundamental rights of childhood: play; rest; and leisure; all adversely implicated. Autistic children's experiences of Covid‐19 have been largely absent from current crisis and recovery discourse. This is the first published study to directly and specifically involve autistic children both as research advisors and as research participants in a rights‐based participatory study relating to the pandemic. Drawing on concepts of ableist childism and epistemic injustice, this article presents, through Photovoice, the emotional, social and educational experiences of post‐ primary aged autistic young people in Northern Ireland during the first 2020 lockdown of the Covid‐19 pandemic. The project was grounded in a child rights‐based approach and was guided by a group of four autistic young advisors aged 11–15. The paper concludes by arguing that government responses to the pandemic, as experienced by autistic young people, act as forms of oppression that prioritises and further embeds normative non‐autistic structures and responses under the guise of public health necessity.
Kidney utility and futility
Authors: Stratta Robert J.
Published: November 2022

Changes in kidney allocation coupled with the COVID‐19 pandemic have placed tremendous strain on current systems of organ distribution and logistics. Although the number of deceased donors continues to rise annually in the United States, the proportion of marginal deceased donors (MDDs) is disproportionately growing. Cold ischemia times and kidney discard rates are rising in part related to inadequate planning, resources, and shortages. Complexity in kidney allocation and distribution has contributed to this dilemma. Logistical issues and the ability to reperfuse the kidney within acceptable time constraints increasingly determine clinical decision‐making for organ acceptance. We have a good understanding of the phenotype of “hard to place” MDD kidneys, yet continue to promote a “one size fits all” approach to organ allocation. Allocation and transportation systems need to be agile, mobile, and flexible in order to accommodate the expanding numbers of MDD organs. By identifying “hard to place” MDD kidneys early and implementing a “fast‐track” or open offer policy to expedite placement, the utilization rate of MDDs would improve dramatically. Organ allocation and distribution based on location, motivation, and innovation must lead the way. In the absence of change, we are sacrificing utility for futility and discard rates will continue to escalate.
Unpicking Precarity: Informal Work in Eastern India's Coal Mining Tracts
Authors: Noy Itay
Published: November 2022

Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, this article explores two widespread types of informal and precarious work in eastern India's coal mining tracts. It seeks to contribute to recent attempts to disaggregate the umbrella notion of precarity and the related concept of ‘classes of labour’ in the context of the global South. It does so by illuminating the more nuanced yet significant relative distinctions between different forms of precarious coal‐related work as perceived and experienced by labourers. The article illustrates how labourers evaluate such forms of work in relation to one another in terms of relative stability, autonomy, tempo and gender dynamics, which affect their livelihood decisions and activities. It thereby turns attention to differentiating dimensions of precarious work that are easily veiled in broad debates about precarity and ‘classes of labour’. Such dimensions are essential to probe — through comparative ethnographic study — to understand how people engage with different modalities of precarious work on the ground and how they configure their livelihood strategies in particular capitalist and social contexts.
Religion received: A Lutheran consideration of religion
Authors: Kristensen Johanne S. T.
Published: November 2022

This article considers the conception of religion from a contemporary Lutheran perspective. It begins by recollecting the 20th‐century Protestant strife over the concept of religion, and by articulating a deep Protestant ambivalence in regard to religion. This ambivalence is considered an inherently Lutheran insight essentially belonging to Luther's rediscovering of justification by faith alone, including his simul justus et peccator. Thus, the article asks how this ambivalence might be expressed today in a specifically Lutheran approach to religion. It proposes an answer by reference to a critical phenomenological interpretation of Wolfhart Pannenberg's reception of Luther. This proposal considers the concept of religion as an expression of a genuinely passive and open, historical, and embodied practice, which means that religion is an essentially eschatological concept, and to be conceptualized eschatologically. Such an eschatological approach may serve as both a criticism of current religious practice, and as a promise for a particular human being and the community through, and in which, this particular human lives. Hence, by returning to sola fide, the article proposes to conceptualize religion eschatologically as the received reconciliation and freedom of a Christian.
Outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and risk factors associated with severe COVID‐19 in patients with mature B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphomas: A US electronic health record cohort study
Authors: Yue Xiaomeng , Hallett David , Liu Yangyang , Basa Elisa , McNeill Annie , Dean James P.
Published: November 2022

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to assess the risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outcomes in patients with mature B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (mature B‐cell NHL) compared with other cancers and to identify risk factors associated with severe COVID‐19.

Methods

This study used Optum's electronic health record database. Risk factors were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Patients with mature B‐cell NHL were more likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID‐19 (age‐ and sex‐standardized risk: 15.6%, 2.1%, respectively) than those without cancer (9.5%, 1.2%), or with solid tumors (9.7%, 1.3%). In patients with mature B‐cell NHL, factors associated with severe COVID‐19 outcomes included: greater age (75–84 years, adjusted odds ratio, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.3–2.0]; ≥85, 2.6 [2.0–3.4]), male sex (1.4 [1.2–1.6]), chronic kidney disease (1.4 [1.1–1.7]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.3 [1.0–1.6]), type 2 diabetes (1.3 [1.1–1.5]), and receiving treatment for NHL (1.5 [1.1–2.1]).

Conclusions

These data suggest that patients with mature B‐cell NHL are at a higher risk of severe COVID‐19 than patients with solid tumors or without cancer and that risk factors are largely consistent with those in the general population.
Federated learning based Covid‐19 detection
Authors: Chowdhury Deepraj , Banerjee Soham , Sannigrahi Madhushree , Chakraborty Arka , Das Anik , Dey Ajoy , Dwivedi Ashutosh Dhar
Published: November 2022

The world is affected by COVID‐19, an infectious disease caused by the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus. Tests are necessary for everyone as the number of COVID‐19 affected individual's increases. So, the authors developed a basic sequential CNN model based on deep and federated learning that focuses on user data security while simultaneously enhancing test accuracy. The proposed model helps users detect COVID‐19 in a few seconds by uploading a single chest X‐ray image. A deep learning‐aided architecture that can handle client and server sides efficiently has been proposed in this work. The front‐end part has been developed using StreamLit, and the back‐end uses a Flower framework. The proposed model has achieved a global accuracy of 99.59% after being trained for three federated communication rounds. The detailed analysis of this paper provides the robustness of this work. In addition, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) will improve the ease of access to the aforementioned health services. IoMT tools and services are rapidly changing healthcare operations for the better. Hopefully, it will continue to do so in this difficult time of the COVID‐19 pandemic and will help to push the envelope of this work to a different extent.
Understanding L2 use in MMOGs: A linguistic framework of digital gaming
Authors: Ibrahim Karim
Published: November 2022

The Challenge

Despite an increase in research surrounding digital games and L2 learning, our understanding remains limited. This paper attempts to answer some key questions such as—What are the dynamics of linguistic interaction in massive‐multiplayer online games? How are these interactions embedded in, and shaped by, different ecological forces? How could these dynamics motivate, facilitate, or scaffold digital game‐based L2 use and practice?
Effects of various straw incorporation strategies on soil phosphorus fractions and transformations
Authors: Pu Jiahui , Jiang Nan , Zhang Yulan , Guo Lingling , Huang Wenjing , Chen Lijun
Published: November 2022

Returning straw to the field is an effective method for optimizing the soil phosphorus (P) availability, in which bacteria play an important role. However, the effects of various straw incorporation strategies on P transformation between different soil P pools remain unclear. In this study, variations in soil P fractions, phosphatase activities and the abundance of phosphatase genes (phoD, phoX and phoC) as well as a P‐solubilizing gene (pqqC) at DNA (total) and cDNA (transcribed) levels were analysed in three straw incorporation treatments, including chopped straw (StrawD), straw compost (Compost) and straw‐derived biochar (Biochar), and control (no straw, CK). Compared with the CK, the moderately labile inorganic P (NaOH I‐Pi) content significantly decreased and the non‐available P (Residual P) content significantly increased in the StrawD treatment. At the same time, phosphodiesterase (PD) activity and the transcribed phoC and phoX genes as well as total pqqC gene abundance significantly increased in the StrawD treatment, suggesting that the input of chopped straw stimulated P transformations from both organic and inorganic P pools. In addition, the stable Pi (NaOH II‐Pi) content and total pqqC gene abundance in the Biochar treatment were significantly higher than that in the CK, indicating that the input of biochar increased the NaOH II‐Pi that could release available P by Pi‐solubilizing bacteria. In comparison to the CK, the Compost input significantly decreased one labile Pi (resin‐Pi) only. However, its P fractions were significantly different from that of CK, Biochar and StrawD treatments, suggesting that the effects of compost input on P should not be ignored. In conclusion, chopped straw input increased soil P transformation but not available P, biochar input may promote inorganic P transformation, and compost input has a latent effect on P transformation. The study provided a comprehensive understanding of straw incorporation strategies for regulating soil P availability.
Addressing inequities in headache care by embedding services in a community health center in Boston, MA
Authors: Vgontzas Angeliki , Loder Elizabeth
Published: November 2022

There is a critical need to diagnose and treat headache disorders in primary care settings. This is especially true for those who face systemic barriers to healthcare access due to racism or poverty. In order to target those at higher risk of disability associated with neurologic disease in our healthcare system, we embedded a specialized headache and neurology clinic within the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Southern Jamaica Plain Community Health Center in Boston, MA. The goal was to create a sustainable, integrated clinic consistent with the CHC’s racial justice mission, with an emphasis on equitable care, awareness of structural barriers to care, improved communication with primary care and inclusion of trainees as important members of a healthcare team. In its’ first year, the clinic had over 400 patient visits, with a near‐perfect rate of completion of consults. In addition to improved access to tertiary care headache services, successes have included improving continuity of care, cultivating a model of shared care with primary care practitioners and stimulating interest in headache medicine among staff and trainees. Challenges have included the use of staff time to complete prior authorizations, and the need to find or develop Spanish‐language and culturally appropriate patient educational resources. By providing care within the patient’s medical home, the headache specialist gains a deeper appreciation of a patient’s social determinants of health and can readily access resources to navigate barriers. The personal and professional fulfillment that headache specialists may experience while doing this important work could help protect against burnout. Sustainability depends on ensuring equitable provider reimbursement; departmental and institutional support is essential. We believe this clinic can serve as a model for specialists throughout the United States who wish to improve the delivery of care to patient populations who face access barriers.
Do the reasons why people desist from crime vary by age, length of offending career or lifestyle factors?
Authors: Farrall Stephen , Shapland Joanna
Published: November 2022

Research into desistance from crime has progressed enormously in the past three decades. Despite this tremendous growth, some issues remain unexplored. Among these is the extent to which the reasons why people stop offending might vary by the age at which they stop, and their previous lifestyles. Herein we explore the extent to which the reasons why people desist are associated with their age, and the length and nature of their criminal career. We find that there are no particular associations between the reasons for their desistance and any of these variables, though social context is important. So particular social contexts are seen by those desisting as key to their wish to desist, but they may occur at different ages and it is when they are salient to that individual that they promote action. We close by discussing why this might be the case and the ramifications for theories of desistance.
Willingness to be tested for a secondary cause of hypertension: a survey of the Australian general community
Authors: Lai Jordan H. , Gwini Stella M. , Chen Gang , Long Katrina M. , Russell Grant , Schlaich Markus P. , Stowasser Michael , Young Morag J. , Fuller Peter J. , Mori Trevor A. , Wolley Martin , Reid Christopher M. , Yang Jun
Published: November 2022

Background

Primary aldosteronism (PA) represents the most common and potentially curable cause of secondary hypertension. However, PA is not commonly screened for, and up to 34% of patients who screen positive do not complete the full diagnostic process. This suggests that the diagnostic process may pose a barrier to patients and may contribute to the under‐diagnosis of PA.

Aims

To evaluate the willingness of the Australian general public to undergo testing for secondary causes of hypertension and identify enablers or barriers to testing from the patients' perspective.

Methods

An online survey containing questions on knowledge and attitudes towards hypertension, willingness to be tested and enablers/barriers towards testing was distributed to the Australian community.

Results

Of 520 adult respondents (mean age 50.4 years, SD 27.3 years; 28.8% hypertensive; 56.0% female), the majority of non‐hypertensive and hypertensive respondents (82.7% vs 70.0%; P = 0.03) were willing to undergo testing for a secondary cause of hypertension that involved blood and urine tests. Greater knowledge of hypertensive risk modification strategies and complications was predictive of willingness to be tested, whereas age, sex, education level, geographic location, socio‐economic status and cardiovascular comorbidities were not. The top three barriers to testing included fear of a serious underlying condition, lack of belief in further testing and increased stress associated with further testing.

Conclusion

A high proportion of patients are willing to engage in testing for a secondary cause of hypertension. Education about the risks associated with hypertension and the testing process may overcome several barriers to testing.
Clinical efficacy of flap transplantation combined with vacuum sealing drainage and methylprednisolone and cyclosporine in the treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum
Authors: Hao Yonghong , He Juan , Zhao Zigang , Li Chengxin , Feng Zheng
Published: November 2022

This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of flap transplantation combined with vacuum sealing drainage and methylprednisolone and cyclosporine in the treatment of ulcer wound of patients with pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). From August 2014 to February 2022, 30 patients with pyoderma gangrenosum ulcer wounds were selected as the research objects and randomly divided into the observation group (n = 12) and the control group (n = 18) in this retrospective study. The patients in observation group were treated with VSD combined with flap transplantation and immunosuppressive agent treatment, while the control group was treated with normal dressing change combined with hormone and cyclosporine. The ulcer wound healing time and dressing change times were compared between the two groups. All the 30 cases of two groups healed after corresponding treatment. The wound healing time of ulcer in the observation group was 35–40 days, with an average healing time of (35.83 ± 1.95) days, and the wound healing time of the control group was 60–200 days, with an average healing time of (44.14 ± 9.67) days. The healing time of observation groups was significantly shorter than that in the control group (t = 4.652, P < .05). The frequency of dressing change in the observation group was seven–eight times, with an average of (7.17 ± 0.39) times, and the frequency of dressing change in the control group was 75–86 times, with an average of (79.22 ± 3.62) times. The difference between the two groups was significant (t = 6.214, P < .05). The treatment of VSD combined with flap transplantation and immunosuppressive agent treatment promote ulcer wound healing of pyoderma gangrenosum.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus after cord blood transplantation from an unrelated donor with a disease‐sensitive haplotype
Authors: Matsumoto Kensuke , Matsuyama Taisuke , Sumiyoshi Ritsu , Takuji Matsuo , Yamamoto Tadashi , Shirasaki Ryosuke , Tashiro Haruko
Published: November 2022

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT), a curative treatment for hematopoietic neoplasms, often causes various autoimmune disease‐like conditions. In contrast, allo‐HSCT‐related type 1 diabetes mellitus is extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of allo‐HSCT‐related type 1 diabetes mellitus in a patient who had undergone cord blood transplantation (CBT) as a treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. The patient's human leukocyte antigen was replaced with the donor type after transplantation. The donor had a disease‐sensitive haplotype. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of type 1 diabetes mellitus following CBT.
Impact and evaluation of an online culinary nutrition course for health, education and industry professionals to promote vegetable knowledge and consumption
Authors: Asher Roberta C. , Clarke Erin D. , Bucher Tamara , Shrewsbury Vanessa A. , Roberts Steven , Collins Clare E.
Published: November 2022

Background

Poor diet, including inadequate vegetable intake, is a leading risk factor for noncommunicable disease. Culinary and nutrition education provided to trainee and practising health and education professionals is an emerging strategy to promote improved dietary intake, including vegetable consumption. We evaluated the impact and feasibility of an online culinary medicine and nutrition (CM/CN) short course for health, education and vegetable industry professionals. The course aimed to improve participants’ skills and confidence to prepare vegetables, knowledge of evidence‐based nutrition information and recommendations for improving vegetable consumption and diet quality.

Methods

A pre–post study consisting of two separate groups participating in two course rounds recruited practising professionals (n = 30) working in health; community, adult and/or culinary education; and the vegetable industry. Evaluation assessed diet quality, vegetable consumption barriers, cooking and food skill confidence, nutrition knowledge and process measures.

Results

Seventeen participants (68%) completed the programme. Pre‐ to postintervention statistically significant increases in vegetables (M 1.3, SD 2.2), fruit (M 1.6, SD 3.1), and breads and cereal (M 1.1, SD 1.7) intakes were observed. Statistically significant increases and large effect sizes for mean food skill confidence scores (M 8.9, SD 15.4, Cohen's d 0.56) and nutrition knowledge scores (M 6.2, SD 15.4, Cohen's d 0.83) were also observed pre‐ to postintervention.

Conclusions

The short online course was feasible and improved diet quality, food skill confidence and nutrition knowledge. Online CM/CN education for practising professionals represents a promising area of research. Future research involving a larger study sample and a more rigorous study design such as a randomised control trial is warranted.