bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Claustrum modulates behavioral sensitivity and EEG activity of propofol anesthesia
Authors: Luo Tian‐Yuan , Li Long‐Yu , Li Jia , Cai Shuang , Wang Yuan , Zhang Lin , Yu Shou‐Yang , Yu Tian
Published: November 2022

Aims

The claustrum has long been regarded as a vital center for conscious control. Electrical stimulation or damage to the claustrum can result in decreased awareness or loss of consciousness, suggesting that the claustrum may be a target for the action of general anesthetics. This study aimed to determine the role of the claustrum in propofol anesthesia.

Methods

We first applied a fiber photometry calcium signal recording system to record the claustral neuronal activity during the entire process of propofol anesthesia. Chemogenetic activation of claustral neurones was then performed to verify their role in anesthesia. Finally, muscimol (GABAa receptor agonist) and gabazine (GABAa receptor antagonist) were microinjected into the claustrum to determine whether their GABAa receptors were involved in modulating propofol anesthesia. EEG and behavioral indicators, such as anesthetic sensitivity and efficacy, were recorded and analyzed.

Results

An evident anesthesia‐related change in claustrum neuronal activity was suppressed during propofol‐induced unconsciousness and restored following recovery from anesthesia. Chemogenetic activation of claustrum neurons results in attenuated propofol sensitivity, a shorter anesthesia duration, and an EEG shift toward wakefulness. Manipulation of GABAa receptors in the claustrum showed bidirectional control of propofol sensitivity, as activation decreases anesthesia efficiency while inactivation augments it. Additionally, inhibiting claustrum GABAa receptors increases cortical EEG slow waves.

Conclusions

Claustrum neurones and their GABAa receptors are implicated in the modulation of propofol anesthesia in both behavioral and EEG assessments. Our findings create scope to reveal the brain targets of anesthetic action further and add to the existing evidence on the consciousness‐modulating role of the claustrum.
Behavioral Signatures of Memory Resources for Language: Looking beyond the Lexicon/Grammar Divide
Authors: Divjak Dagmar , Milin Petar , Medimorec Srdan , Borowski Maciej
Published: November 2022

Although there is a broad consensus that both the procedural and declarative memory systems play a crucial role in language learning, use, and knowledge, the mapping between linguistic types and memory structures remains underspecified: by default, a dual‐route mapping of language systems to memory systems is assumed, with declarative memory handling idiosyncratic lexical knowledge and procedural memory handling rule‐governed knowledge of grammar.

We experimentally contrast the processing of morphology (case and aspect), syntax (subordination), and lexical semantics (collocations) in a healthy L1 population of Polish, a language rich in form distinctions. We study the processing of these four types under two conditions: a single task condition in which the grammaticality of stimuli was judged and a concurrent task condition in which grammaticality judgments were combined with a digit span task. Dividing attention impedes access to declarative memory while leaving procedural memory unaffected and hence constitutes a test that dissociates which types of linguistic information each long‐term memory construct subserves.

Our findings confirm the existence of a distinction between lexicon and grammar as a generative, dual‐route model would predict, but the distinction is graded, as usage‐based models assume: the hypothesized grammar–lexicon opposition appears as a continuum on which grammatical phenomena can be placed as being more or less “ruly” or “idiosyncratic.” However, usage‐based models, too, need adjusting as not all types of linguistic knowledge are proceduralized to the same extent. This move away from a simple dichotomy fundamentally changes how we think about memory for language, and hence how we design and interpret behavioral and neuroimaging studies that probe into the nature of language cognition.
Seasonal variation of cytomegalovirus disease in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Jorgenson Margaret R. , Kleiboeker Hanna L. , Astor Brad C. , Gentry Amy C. , Saddler Christopher M. , Smith Jeannina A. , Aziz Fahad , Mandelbrot Didier , Garg Neetika
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Studies conducted in the northern United States found cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease after liver transplantation follows a seasonal pattern, with increased incidence in fall and winter. This has not been evaluated in kidney transplant recipients. Improved understanding of CMV seasonality may help guide use of preventative therapies.

Methods

We evaluated adult patients receiving a kidney transplant at our center in Wisconsin from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2018. CMV event was defined as quantifiable viral replication with clinical signs or symptoms suspicious for CMV per current consensus recommendations. Seasons were divided as follows: winter (December–February), spring (March–May), summer (June–August), and fall (September–November). The primary objective was to evaluate the annual distribution of CMV disease and determine whether this differed by season.

Results

There were 6151 kidney transplants in the study period. A total of 913 patients had 1492 episodes of CMV. Median time from transplant to first detection was 5.51 months (interquartile range [IQR] 2.87–11.7). The observed overall incidence exceeded the expected incidence in winter (+.7%), spring (+5.5%), and fall (+3.4%) and was less than expected in summer (−9.5%) (p = .18). The incidence of CMV during summer, however, was 21% less than expected (p = .001) in recipients who were CMV positive (R+) at the time of transplantation. No such difference was observed in CMV negative recipients (R−; p = .58).

Conclusion

CMV after kidney transplant appears to be less common during the summer season in patients who were R+ at transplant but does not follow seasonal variation in R−. Reasons for this are unclear but are likely related to CMV‐specific cell‐mediated immunity. These findings may have clinical implications, particularly the use of non‐pharmacologic strategies to improve response to antiviral therapy.
P‐body dynamics revealed by DDX6 protein knockdown via the auxin‐inducible degron system
Authors: Dhamodharan Adithya , Okada Hajime , Muraoka Masafumi , Wright Danelle , Okubo Akemi , Saga Yumiko
Published: November 2022

The transcriptome dynamically changes via several transcriptional and post‐transcriptional mechanisms. RNA‐binding proteins contribute to such mechanisms to regulate the cellular status. DDX6 is one such protein and a core component of processing bodies (P‐bodies), membrane‐less cytosolic substructures where RNA and proteins localize and are functionally regulated. Despite the importance of DDX6, owing to the lack of tightly controlled methods for protein knockdown, it was difficult to assess in high time resolution how its depletion exactly affects the P‐body assembly structure. Therefore, we adopted an advanced protein degradation method, the auxin‐induced degron (AID) system, to degrade DDX6 acutely in ES cells. By introducing AID‐tagged DDX6 and the E3 ligase subunit of OsTIR1 into ES cells, we successfully degraded DDX6 following auxin analog (indole‐3‐acetic acid, IAA) treatment. The degradation rate of DDX6 was slower than that of the cytosolic reporter protein EGFP but was enhanced by increasing the OsTIR1 dosage. Lastly, we confirmed that a substantial portion of P‐bodies disappears around the time of 1 hr after IAA addition consistent with DDX6 depletion detected by western blot. In accordance with this, we detected transcriptome changes by 6 hr after IAA treatment. Therefore, we demonstrated the applicability of the AID method to gain insight into the function of P‐bodies and their protein components.
Reputational recovery under political instability: Public debt in Portugal, 1641–83
Authors: Costa Leonor Freire , Miranda Susana Münch
Published: November 2022

This article examines the reputation recovery of Portugal's public debt during the war of liberation against the former Habsburg ruler. Using novel datasets on long‐ and short‐term debt and nominal interest rates, this study provides evidence that the sovereign borrower used debt credibility to build a pact of regime in a revolutionary context with implications for financing the war. The Portuguese kings followed an implicit budget balance rule as a reputational scheme, which made Portugal an exceptional case of military success with a low debt‐to‐GDP ratio and low interest rates. These conclusions contribute to the literature in various attributes of war finance, debt management, and state‐making by showing that default avoidance could be as important to military success as fiscal capacity.
A case of malignant transformation of equine immune‐mediated keratitis to B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Lisankis Anthony P. , Beavis Brittany B. , Weigt Anne K. , Nunnery Catherine
Published: November 2022

A 13‐year‐old Thoroughbred/Oldenburg gelding presented as a tertiary referral for a 6‐year history of immune‐mediated keratitis (IMMK) after the development of corneal and limbal nodules in the presence of medical therapy. A keratectomy extending to the limbus was performed to remove the affected cornea and limbal nodules. Two corneal‐limbal samples were submitted for histopathology and initially diagnosed as marked lympho‐histiocytic stromal keratitis with epithelial hyperplasia, keratinisation and keratinocyte apoptosis consistent with IMMK. Additional testing with immunohistochemical staining for CD3, CD20, PAX5 and IBA1 revealed large, atypical B‐lymphocytes on a background of histiocytes and mature T‐lymphocytes, with concern for T‐cell‐rich large B‐cell lymphoma. PCR antigen receptor rearrangement clonality testing was also performed and was diagnostic for large B‐cell lymphoma. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for equine herpesvirus 5 (EHV‐5) was positive. Following keratectomy, a short course of neomycin/polymyxin B/dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment was prescribed; no other treatment nor adjunct therapy was performed. Eighteen months post‐operation, the case remains visual and comfortable on no medications.
Family and consumer sciences graduate research productivity in 2021
Authors: Wilmarth Melissa J. , Milstead Morgan
Published: November 2022

Graduate student degree completion and research has been collected annually since 1992. This year’s data collection began with an e‐mail invitation to 593 institutional contacts at 165 U.S. universities and colleges in June 2022. This e‐mail requested information on family and consumer sciences graduate degrees and research completed in 2021. A total of 150 master’s theses, 122 doctoral dissertations, and 664 non‐thesis master’s degrees were conferred in 2021 from family and consumer sciences programs. This review reports not only degree completion, but also highlights the topical trends of theses and dissertations completed within family and consumer sciences programs.
Participation of fibroblast growth factor‐1 and interleukin‐10 in connective tissue repair following subcutaneous implantation of bioceramic materials in rats
Authors: Delfino Mateus Machado , Jampani José Leandro de Abreu , Lopes Camila Soares , Guerreiro‐Tanomaru Juliane Maria , Tanomaru‐Filho Mário , Sasso‐Cerri Estela , Cerri Paulo Sérgio
Published: November 2022

Aim

To evaluate whether the bioceramic materials Bio‐C Pulpo (Bio‐C, Angelus) and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Repair HP (MTA‐HP, Angelus) induce fibroblast proliferation and release of interleukin‐10 (IL‐10), an anti‐inflammatory cytokine, stimulating connective tissue remodelling. The tissue response of Bio‐C and MTA‐HP was compared with the White MTA (WMTA; Angelus) since studies have demonstrated that WMTA induces tissue repair.

Methodology

Bio‐C, MTA‐HP and WMTA were inserted into polyethylene tubes and implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of Holtzman rats for 7, 15, 30 and 60 days. As a control group (CG), empty tubes were implanted subcutaneously. The number of fibroblasts (FB), Ki‐67‐, fibroblast growth factor‐1‐ (FGF‐1) and IL‐10‐immunolabelled cells and collagen content in the capsules was obtained. The data were subjected to two‐way anova followed by Tukey's test (p ≤ .05).

Results

At 7 days, significant differences in the number of FB were not detected amongst Bio‐C, MTA‐HP and WMTA groups (p ˃ .05). The capsules of all groups exhibited a significant increase in the number of FB and content of collagen over time. From 7 to 60 days, a significant reduction in the number of FGF‐1‐ and Ki‐67‐immunolabelled cells was seen in the capsules of all specimens. In all periods, no significant difference in the number of FGF‐1‐immunolabelled cells was detected between Bio‐C and CG specimens. At 60 days, significant differences in the immunoexpression of FGF‐1 were not observed amongst the groups. At 7 and 15 days, the highest immunoexpression for Ki‐67 was present in Bio‐C specimens whilst, after 30 and 60 days, no significant difference was observed amongst the bioceramic materials. At 7 days, few IL‐10 immunolabelled cells were present in the capsules of all specimens whereas, at 60 days, a significant increase in the IL‐10‐immunostaining was present in all groups. At 60 days, the Bio‐C, MTA‐HP and WMTA groups showed a greater number of IL‐10‐immunolabelled cells than in the CG specimens (p < .0001).

Conclusions

Bio‐C, MTA‐HP and WMTA stimulate fibroblast proliferation, leading to the formation of collagen‐rich capsules. FGF‐1 and IL‐10 may mediate the remodelling of capsules around Bio‐C, MTA‐HP and WMTA bioceramic materials.
Evaluation of the WBC‐differential flagging performances and accuracy of the HORIBA Yumizen H2500 cell counter in oncology patients from a single institution
Authors: Durrieu Françoise
Published: November 2022

Introduction

The Yumizen H2500 (YH2500) cell analyser was compared to the Pentra DX Nexus (both from HORIBA Medical) to evaluate the efficiency of the new YH2500 technology for the WBC‐differential in samples from oncology patients with WBC‐diff abnormalities.

Material and Methods

The 220 samples with slide review criteria on the Nexus were systematically analysed on the YH2500. The WBC‐diff was compared to flow cytometry (FCM). The 100 additional samples with Monocyte/Neutrophil separation flags were evaluated. The flagging performance and the accuracy of the WBC‐diff were analysed.

Results

The YH2500 generated fewer flags than the Nexus (47.73% vs 66.64%; p < .0001), except for Monocyte/Neutrophil flag (15.5% vs. 2.7%; p < 0.0001). Overall performances were higher on the YH2500 (Sensitivity, 100 vs. 89.6%; Specificity 81.0% vs. 50.9%; PPV, 74.3% vs. 62.9%; NPV, 100% vs. 69.5%; Efficiency, 87.7% vs. 69.5%). YH2500 showed a statistically significant better correlation with FCM for the 6‐part differential than the Nexus. On 134 samples with Monocyte/Neutrophil separation flag, it was shown that, in samples with less than 10% monocytes on the YH2500, the results of monocyte and neutrophil counts were comparable to the manual count, and that these samples did not need a slide review if no other main criterion for review was present.

Conclusion

The YH2500 demonstrated better performance characteristics than the previous cell counter, the Nexus. Its implementation in our laboratory routine work significantly improved the practice workflow, decreased the number of manual cell counts and increased the pertinence of slide review and reporting of the microscopic count.
Mast cells impair melanoma cell homing and metastasis by inhibiting HMGA1 secretion
Authors: Benito‐Martin Alberto , Nogués Laura , Hergueta‐Redondo Marta , Castellano‐Sanz Elena , Garvin Eduardo , Cioffi Michele , Sola‐Castrillo Paloma , Buehring Weston , Ximénez‐Embún Pilar , Muñoz Javier , Matei Irina , Villanueva Josep , Peinado Héctor
Published: November 2022

Metastatic disease is the major cause of death from cancer. From the primary tumour, cells remotely prepare the environment of the future metastatic sites by secreted factors and extracellular vesicles. During this process, known as pre‐metastatic niche formation, immune cells play a crucial role. Mast cells are haematopoietic bone marrow‐derived innate immune cells whose function in lung immune response to invading tumours remains to be defined. We found reduced melanoma lung metastasis in mast cell‐deficient mouse models (Wsh and MCTP5‐Cre‐RDTR), supporting a pro‐metastatic role for mast cells in vivo. However, due to evidence pointing to their antitumorigenic role, we studied the impact of mast cells in melanoma cell function in vitro. Surprisingly, in vitro co‐culture of bone‐marrow‐derived mast cells with melanoma cells showed that they have an intrinsic anti‐metastatic activity. Mass spectrometry analysis of melanoma‐mast cell co‐cultures secretome showed that HMGA1 secretion by melanoma cells was significantly impaired. Consistently, HMGA1 knockdown in B16‐F10 cells reduced their metastatic capacity in vivo. Importantly, analysis of HMGA1 expression in human melanoma tumours showed that metastatic tumours with high HMGA1 expression are associated with reduced overall and disease‐free survival. Moreover, we show that HMGA1 is reduced in the nuclei and enriched in the cytoplasm of melanoma metastatic lesions when compared to primary tumours. These data suggest that high HMGA1 expression and secretion from melanoma cells promote metastatic behaviour. Targeting HMGA1 expression intrinsically or extrinsically by mast cells actions reduce melanoma metastasis. Our results pave the way to the use of HMGA1 as anti‐metastatic target in melanoma as previously suggested in other cancer types.
Fused silica with sub‐angstrom roughness and minimal surface defects polished by ultrafine nano‐CeO2
Authors: Wu Zehua , Zhang Zhixin , Jia Yong , Teng Fei , Li Gang , Wang Feng , Jin Yuqi
Published: November 2022

Surface quality of fused silica, particularly surface defect and surface roughness, is a key factor affecting the performance of high‐power laser and short‐wave optical instrument, and so on. Herein, the super smooth surface of fused silica with roughness of sub‐angstrom level and exceedingly few submicron defects was achieved by using ultrafine nano‐CeO2 with primary particle size less than 4 nm, low secondary particle agglomeration strength, and high Ce3+ concentration. Furthermore, CeO2 involve in polishing process in the form of primary particle was certified by experiment. Moreover, the cause for the generation of submicron defects on fused silica surface was investigated for the first time from the perspective of secondary particle agglomeration strength of CeO2. The concentration of Ce3+ in CeO2 was characterized by the redshift of the band‐gap energy, and the analysis of material removal rate (MRR) and contact angle of polished fused silica shows that Ce3+ enhances MRR through increasing the silanol group on fused silica.
Contact force catheter ablation for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation: Results from the PERSIST‐END study
Authors: Lo Monica , Nair Devi , Mansour Moussa , Calkins Hugh , Reddy Vivek Y. , Colley B. Judson , Tanaka‐Esposito Christine , Sundaram Sri , DeLurgio David B. , Sanders Prashanthan , Khatib Sammy , Bernard Michael , Olson Nicholas , Gibson Douglas , Miller Amber , Li Jingyun , Natale Andrea
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Use of a novel magnetic sensor enabled optical contact force ablation catheter has been established to be safe and effective for treatment of symptomatic drug‐refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) but has yet to be demonstrated in the persistent AF (PersAF) population.

Methods

PERSIST‐END was a multicenter, prospective, nonrandomized, investigational study designed to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of TactiCath™ Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled™(SE) (TactiCath SE) for use in the treatment of subjects with documented PersAF refractory or intolerant to at least one Class I/III AAD. The ablation strategy included pulmonary vein isolation and additional targets at physician discretion. Follow‐up through 15‐months, including a 3‐month blanking period and 3‐month therapy consolidation period, was performed with cardiac event and Holter monitoring. Primary safety, primary effectiveness, clinical success, and quality of life (QOL) endpoints were analyzed.

Results

Of 224 subjects enrolled at 21 investigational sites in the United States and Australia, 223 underwent ablation with the investigational catheter. The primary safety event rate was 3.1% (seven events in seven subjects). The Kaplan–Meier estimate of freedom from AF/atrial flutter/atrial tachycardia recurrence at 15‐months was 61.6% and clinical success at 15 months was 89.8%. Subject QOL significantly improved following ablation as assessed via AFEQT (31.6 point increase, p < .0001) and EQ‐5D‐5L (10.7 point increase, p < .0001) and was met with a 53% reduction in all cause cardiovascular healthcare utilization.

Conclusion

The sensor‐enabled force‐sensing catheter is safe and effective for the treatment of drug refractory recurrent symptomatic PersAF, reducing arrhythmia recurrence while improving QOL and healthcare utilization.
Resisting agrarian neoliberalism and authoritarianism: Struggles towards a progressive rural future in Mozambique
Authors: Monjane Boaventura
Published: November 2022

After nearly two and a half decades with a Land Law widely considered progressive, Mozambique is preparing to revise its legal framework for land. Land activists accuse the government of pursuing an authoritarian approach, excluding civil society participation, and falsifying public consultations. The revision would mark a major shift in Mozambique's land policy towards an even more neoliberal framework to allow the transfer of individual land titles. This turning point is a crucial moment for popular movements to mobilize against the consolidation of agrarian neoliberalism and fight for pro‐poor land policy that benefits small‐scale food producers and rural communities at large. While recognizing different rural and agrarian class formations and interests in Mozambique, I argue that embryonic forms of a cross‐class alliance are becoming apparent. As deagrarianization proceeds, the National Union of Peasants (UNAC) plays a key role in mobilizing the rural poor — petty commodity producers, farm workers, fishermen, small agrarian capitalists, and agrarian civil society at large — using left‐wing populism to oppose agrarian neoliberalism, which takes authoritarian forms.
Perspectives on interpersonal touch are related to subjective sleep quality
Authors: Dueren Anna Lena , Bowling Natalie C. , Vafeiadou Aikaterini , Madrid‐Valero Juan J. , Hammond Claudia , Gregory Alice M. , Banissy Michael J.
Published: November 2022

Affective touch has been reported for its calming effects; however, it is less clear whether touch is associated with sleep. Here, the relationship between different touch variables and self‐reported sleep indicators was investigated. Data were extracted from the Touch Test, a cross‐sectional survey conducted in 2020. Data from a sample of 15,049 healthy adults from the UK (mean age = 56.13, SD = 13.8; 75.4% female) were analysed. Participants were asked to attribute positive, negative, or no effects on sleep to hugs, strokes, massages, intimate touch, and sleep onset with and without touch. The time since last intentional touch, touch amount satisfaction, and childhood bed routine with hugs and kisses were assessed. Sleep quality, duration, latency, wake after sleep onset and diurnal preference were measured. Data were analysed using chi‐square tests and logistic regressions. Affective touch before sleep was perceived to have positive effects on sleep. Touch recency emerged as a significant predictor for some sleep variables, with a longer timespan since the last intentional touch relating to improved sleep quality, longer sleep duration, and shorter and fewer instances of waking up after sleep onset in some participants. Experiencing too much touch was related to lower sleep quality and higher instances of waking up after sleep onset. These findings highlight the importance of interpersonal touch for subjective sleep quality.
Symptom dynamics among nightmare sufferers: An intensive longitudinal study
Authors: Dumser Britta , Werner Gabriela G. , Ehring Thomas , Takano Keisuke
Published: November 2022

Nightmares are considerably prevalent in the general population and are known to be closely associated with a variety of mental disorders. However, not much is known about the immediate antecedents and consequences of nightmares. Therefore, we used intensive longitudinal assessments to investigate the night‐to‐night within‐person associations between nightmares on the one hand and fear of sleep, somatic as well as cognitive pre‐sleep arousal, and sleep quality on the other hand. Young women with regular nightmares (n = 16) maintained a sleep diary for around 30 days; upon awaking, the participants reported on nightmares and sleep quality during the past night as well as the pre‐sleep levels of arousal and fear of sleep (which resulted in 461 observations). Participants also wore an actigraph, which provided objective sleep parameters. Multilevel modeling showed that higher levels of fear of sleep and lower subjective sleep quality were significantly associated with higher levels of nightmare distress. Furthermore, we found individual differences in the strength of these associations, which implies that factors proximate to nightmares may vary across individuals. Pre‐sleep arousal, however, did not show expected within‐person associations with nightmares or fear of sleep. These findings highlight the crucial role of fear of sleep in the etiology of nightmares and sleep disturbances, while pointing to the importance of pursuing individual, personalised models that explain heterogeneity in the process of triggering nightmares.
Classification and survival prediction in early‐stage cirrhosis by gene expression profiling
Authors: Wang Qingliang , Li Xiaojie , Chen Yaqiong , Gong Jiao , Hu Bo
Published: November 2022

Liver cirrhosis has been increasingly diagnosed at an early stage owing to the non‐invasive diagnostic techniques. However, it is difficult to identify patients at high risk of disease progression. Screening cirrhotic patients with poor prognosis who are most in need of surveillance is still challenging. Gene expression data GSE15654 and GSE14520 were downloaded for performing unsupervised clustering analysis. The prognostic differences between the different clusters were explored by Cox regression. Integrative analysis of gene expression signature, immune cell enrichments and clinical characterization was performed for different clusters. Two distinctive subclasses were identified in HCV‐related GSE15654, and Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated that subtype 2 had lower survival rates than subtype 1 (p = 0.0399). Further analysis revealed subtype 2 had a higher density of follicular T helper cells, resting natural killer cells and M0, M2 macrophages while subtype 1 with a higher fraction of naive B cells, memory B cells, resting memory CD 4 T cells, activated natural killer cells and monocytes. 226 differentially expressed genes were identified between the two subtypes, and Reactome analysis showed the mainly enriched pathways were biological oxidations and fatty acid metabolism. Five hub genes (AKT1, RPS16, CDC42, CCND1 and PCBP2) and three significant modules were extracted from the PPI network. The results were validated in HBV‐related GSE14520 cohort. We identified two subtypes of patients with different prognosis for hepatitis C‐related early‐stage liver cirrhosis. Bioinformatics analysis of the gene expression and immune cell profile may provide fresh insight into understanding the prognosis difference.
Relative adrenal insufficiency in the non‐critically ill patient with cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wentworth Brian J. , Schliep Matthew , Novicoff Wendy , Siragy Helmy M. , Geng Calvin X. , Henry Zachary H.
Published: November 2022

Background & Aims

Characterization of relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) in cirrhosis is heterogeneous with regard to studied patient populations and diagnostic methodology. We aimed to describe the prevalence and prognostic importance of RAI in non‐critically ill patients with cirrhosis.

Methods

A systematic review and meta‐analysis was performed using MeSH terms and Boolean operators to search five large databases (Ovid‐MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov). The population of interest was patients with cirrhosis and without critical illness. The primary outcome was the pooled prevalence of RAI as defined by a peak total cortisol level <18 μg/dl, delta total cortisol <9 μg/dl or composite of the two thresholds in response either a standard‐dose or low‐dose short synacthen test. Odds ratios and standardized mean differences from random‐effects models estimated important clinical outcomes and patient characteristics by adrenal functional status.

Results

Twenty‐two studies were included in final analysis, comprising 1991 patients with cirrhosis. The pooled prevalence of RAI was 37% (95% CI 33–42%). The prevalence of RAI varied by Child–Pugh classification, type of stimulation test used, specific diagnostic threshold and by severity of illness. Ninety‐day mortality was significantly higher in patients with RAI (OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.69–4.92, I2 = 15%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Relative adrenal insufficiency is highly prevalent in non‐critically ill patients with cirrhosis and associated with increased mortality. Despite the proposed multifactorial pathogenesis, no studies to date have investigated therapeutic interventions in this specific population.
Genome‐scale signatures of adaptive gene expression changes in an invasive seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla
Authors: Xiang Jin‐Xi , Saha Mahasweta , Zhong Kai‐Le , Zhang Quan‐Sheng , Zhang Di , Jueterbock Alexander , Krueger‐Hadfield Stacy A. , Wang Gao‐Ge , Weinberger Florian , Hu Zi‐Min
Published: November 2022

Invasive species can successfully and rapidly colonize new niches and expand ranges via founder effects and enhanced tolerance towards environmental stresses. However, the underpinning molecular mechanisms (i.e., gene expression changes) facilitating rapid adaptation to harsh environments are still poorly understood. The red seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla, which is native to the northwest Pacific but invaded North American and European coastal habitats over the last 100 years, provides an excellent model to examine whether enhanced tolerance at the level of gene expression contributed to its invasion success. We collected G. vermiculophylla from its native range in Japan and from two non‐native regions along the Delmarva Peninsula (Eastern United States) and in Germany. Thalli were reared in a common garden for 4 months at which time we performed comparative transcriptome (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) sequencing. MRNA‐expression profiling identified 59 genes that were differently expressed between native and non‐native thalli. Of these genes, most were involved in metabolic pathways, including photosynthesis, abiotic stress, and biosynthesis of products and hormones in all four non‐native sites. MiRNA‐based target‐gene correlation analysis in native/non‐native pairs revealed that some target genes are positively or negatively regulated via epigenetic mechanisms. Importantly, these genes are mostly associated with metabolism and defence capability (e.g., metal transporter Nramp5, senescence‐associated protein, cell wall‐associated hydrolase, ycf68 protein and cytochrome P450‐like TBP). Thus, our gene expression results indicate that resource reallocation to metabolic processes is most likely a predominant mechanism contributing to the range‐wide persistence and adaptation of G. vermiculophylla in the invaded range. This study, therefore, provides molecular insight into the speed and nature of invasion‐mediated rapid adaption.
Season, age, sex, and location impact the density of tooth rake mark and dorsal fin notch ofIndo‐Pacifichumpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) in the northern South China Sea
Authors: Serres Agathe , Lin Wenzhi , Liu Binshuai , Lin Mingli , Liu Mingming , Chen Shenglan , Li Songhai
Published: November 2022

Tooth rake marks are usually used as an indicator of received aggression in odontocetes whose social interactions are difficult to observe directly. Photographic data from five locations of the northern South China Sea were used to analyze seasonal, demographic, and geographic effects on the density of tooth rake marks and dorsal fin notches in Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis, IPHDs). The analysis revealed that fresh tooth rake marks were most frequent during the dry season. Males exhibited significantly higher rake mark density than females and rake density declined significantly with age. The density of notches was also significantly higher for males than for females, and lower for young dolphins than for mid‐aged and adult ones. Geographically, tooth rake mark and notch density were the highest in Sanniang Bay and Southwestern Hainan. These results provide indirect evidence of variation in social interactions across seasons, across the lifespan of an individual, between sexes, and among different locations. This variation may result from changes in biological parameters, differences in social lives, and habitat characteristics. A model to determine the sex of dolphins was tested, and after further validation, such sex assignment could contribute to understanding IPHDs' social structure.
Phosphorus limitation of early growth differs between nitrogen‐fixing and nonfixing dry tropical forest tree species
Authors: Toro Laura , Pereira‐Arias Damaris , Perez‐Aviles Daniel , Vargas G. German , Soper Fiona M. , Gutknecht Jessica , Powers Jennifer S.
Published: November 2022

Tropical forests are often characterized by low soil phosphorus (P) availability, suggesting that P limits plant performance. However, how seedlings from different functional types respond to soil P availability is poorly known but important for understanding and modeling forest dynamics under changing environmental conditions.

We grew four nitrogen (N)‐fixing Fabaceae and seven diverse non‐N‐fixing tropical dry forest tree species in a shade house under three P fertilization treatments and evaluated carbon (C) allocation responses, P demand, P‐use, investment in P acquisition traits, and correlations among P acquisition traits.

Nitrogen fixers grew larger with increasing P addition in contrast to non‐N fixers, which showed fewer responses in C allocation and P use. Foliar P increased with P addition for both functional types, while P acquisition strategies did not vary among treatments but differed between functional types, with N fixers showing higher root phosphatase activity (RPA) than nonfixers.

Growth responses suggest that N fixers are limited by P, but nonfixers may be limited by other resources. However, regardless of limitation, P acquisition traits such as mycorrhizal colonization and RPA were nonplastic across a steep P gradient. Differential limitation among plant functional types has implications for forest succession and earth system models.
Multicenter assessment of the outcomes of subcutaneous ICD implantation in patients with prior or future sternotomy
Authors: Al‐Kofahi Mejalli , Adeola Oluwaseun G. , Payne Jason , Mohammed Moghniuddin , Reddy Y. Madhu , Dendi Raghuveer , Pimentel Rhea , Berenbom Loren , Emert Martin , Ramirez Rigoberto , Noheria Amit , Montgomery Jay A. , Sheldon Seth H.
Published: November 2022

Background

The subcutaneous ICD (S‐ICD) is a viable alternative to transvenous ICD and avoids intravascular complications in patients without a pacing indication. The outcomes of S‐ICD implantation are uncertain in patients with prior sternotomy.

Objective

We aim to compare the implant techniques and outcomes with S‐ICD implantation in patients with and without prior sternotomy.

Methods

Multicenter retrospective cohort study including adult patients with an S‐ICD implanted between January 2014 and June 2020. Outcomes were compared between patients with and without prior sternotomy.

Results

Among the 212 patients (49 ± 15 years old, 43% women, BMI 30 ± 8 kg/m2, 68% primary prevention, 30% ischemic cardiomyopathy, LVEF median 30% IQR 25%–45%) who underwent S‐ICD implantation, 47 (22%) had a prior sternotomy. There was no difference in the sensing vector (57% vs. 53% primary, p = 0.55), laterality of the S‐ICD lead to the sternum (94% vs. 96% leftward, p = 0.54), or the defibrillation threshold (65 ± 1.4 J vs. 65 ± 0.8 J, p = 0.76) with versus without prior sternotomy. The frequency of 30‐day complications was similar with and without prior sternotomy (n = 3/47 vs. n = 15/165, 6% vs. 9%, p = 0.56). Over a median follow‐up of 28 months (IQR 10–49 months), the frequency of inappropriate shocks was similar between those with and without prior sternotomy (n = 3/47 and n = 16/165, 6% vs. 10%, p = 0.58).

Conclusion

Implantation of an S‐ICD in patients with prior sternotomy is safe with a similar risk of 30‐day complications and inappropriate ICD shocks as patients without prior sternotomy.
Keep going on: A qualitative comparative analysis on the durability of solidarity initiatives during and after crisis
Authors: Boonstra Beitske , Claessens Sophie , Warsen Rianne , Van Meerkerk Ingmar
Published: November 2022

During the COVID‐19 lockdowns in the Netherlands, numerous solidarity initiatives emerged, providing relief to those affected by lockdown measures. These initiatives have an important added value for a society under crisis as they provide instant solutions to timely, crisis‐related needs, strengthen connectivity between stakeholders and divide the burdens of the crisis. The durability of these initiatives is however a concern and although the literature on durability of community‐based initiatives is growing, there is a lack of understanding how initiatives can sustain under the challenging dynamics of a major crisis. Using a fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of 14 COVID‐19 solidarity initiatives in Rotterdam, this article explores whether conditions for the durability of community‐based initiatives in general (social capital, organizational resources, transformational leadership, and government support) also apply during a crisis, with special attention of the configurations of conditions under the challenging context of the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Quantitative plant taphonomy: the cosmopolitan Mesozoic fern Weichselia reticulata as a case study
Authors: Blanco‐Moreno Candela , Martín‐Abad Hugo , Buscalioni Ángela D.
Published: November 2022

A quantitative approach to plant taphonomy focusing on preservation type and fragment size is tested by comparing 3338 Weichselia reticulata fragments from 25 Lower Cretaceous localities of different ages and depositional environments. Moreover, palaeobiological insights are also obtained from the taphonomic analyses. In the case of the specimens of Weichselia reticulata included in this work, charred remains are the most frequent preservation type, and are the smallest and most homogeneous in size, probably due to the fragmentation of the fronds while burning and to the fact that burnt fragments are more fragile and break easily during the initial abrasion and attrition produced by transport. The size of charred fragments varies depending on the depositional environment, suggesting that biostratinomic processes, and not fire temperature, are the main cause for size differences, and providing valuable insight into the distance the remains might have travelled from production to final deposition. The taphonomic analysis suggests that Weichselia reticulata is allochthonous in all the localities analysed, and that its habitat would have been prone to fire and not far from freshwater systems. This case study shows promising results that can be implemented on different plant groups and chronostratigraphic ages, allowing for the proposal of a taphonomic model.
It's not just in my head: An intersectional, social and systems‐based framework in gender and sexuality diversity
Authors: Dunlop Brendan J. , Lea James
Published: November 2022

Background

The mental health and well‐being of gender and sexuality diverse (GSD) people needs to be understood within a socio‐political and cultural context.

Aims

In this paper, an intersectional, social and system‐based framework for understanding the mental health and well‐being of GSD people is presented, for practitioners within this field to consider GSD mental health experiences and challenges within context.

Materials and Methods

Starting with a consideration of the current landscape of understanding, pivotal theories and understandings within the field are outlined. The need for a framework that centralises intersectionality and broader systemic considerations is presented.

Results

The framework provided has an explicit focus on four key features: (1) intersectionality, (2) institutions, policies and laws, (3) people and groups and (4) social stories.

Discussion

Consideration of each of these ‘circles of influence’ can help practitioners to understand the multi‐layered and intersectional experience of GSD folk and allows for an understanding of potential intervention at both an individual and systemic and societal level.

Conclusion

Use of such a framework in practice goes above and beyond what is currently available by centralising the role and impact of such wider systemic variables through an intersectional lens. The framework can be applicable worldwide given its flexibility to consider and apply pertinent policies, laws, people, groups and social stories within a particular country or culture.
A comparative study on deep‐learning methods for dense image matching of multi‐angle and multi‐date remote sensing stereo‐images
Authors: Albanwan Hessah , Qin Rongjun
Published: November 2022

Deep‐learning (DL) stereomatching methods gained great attention in remote sensing satellite datasets. However, most of these existing studies conclude assessments based only on a few/single stereo‐images lacking a systematic evaluation on how robust DL methods are on satellite stereo‐images with varying radiometric and geometric configurations. This paper provides an evaluation of four DL stereomatching methods through hundreds of multi‐date multi‐site satellite stereopairs with varying geometric configurations, against the traditional well‐practiced Census‐semi‐global matching (SGM), to comprehensively understand their accuracy, robustness, generalisation capabilities, and their practical potential. The DL methods include a learning‐based cost metric through convolutional neural networks (MC‐CNN) followed by SGM, and three end‐to‐end (E2E) learning models using Geometry and Context Network (GCNet), Pyramid Stereo Matching Network (PSMNet), and LEAStereo. Our experiments show that E2E algorithms can achieve upper limits of geometric accuracies, while may not generalise well for unseen data. The learning‐based cost metric and Census‐SGM are rather robust and can consistently achieve acceptable results. All DL algorithms are robust to geometric configurations of stereopairs and are less sensitive in comparison to the Census‐SGM, while learning‐based cost metrics can generalise on satellite images when trained on different datasets (airborne or ground‐view).
Moral philosophy has much more to offer
Authors: Hansson Sven Ove
Published: November 2022

Moral philosophy is a rich tradition that contains many alternative approaches to determining what is right and wrong. A limited account that only considers (hedonistic) utilitarianism and deontology cannot do justice to moral philosophy. It is necessary to also consider the many other general‐purpose moral theories that have been proposed, as well as the approaches developed in various branches of applied ethics, such as healthcare ethics, the ethics of technology, and the ethics of risk.
Complex challenges should be approached by a multitude of theories and models
Authors: Braut Geir Sverre
Published: November 2022

The ongoing pandemic may be regarded as a wicked problem. Therefore, it should be analyzed by a multitude of theories and models. Approaching the complex set of challenges posed to individuals and society by singular methods, can lead to suboptimal decisions. Good decisions must take into account the large set of uncertainties we are facing, by using well established procedures, as for example health technology assessment (HTA) and a nuanced ethical framework.
Advancing Publicly Engaged Sociology1
Authors: Smith Robert Courtney
Published: November 2022

This article is a version of Professor Smith's Presidential Address as delivered at the annual meetings of the Eastern Sociological Society in Boston, March 2022. Most sociologists go into the field hoping our work will help address the inequalities or injustices we study, but academic institutions and careers strongly guide most of our work away from the engagement needed to have such impacts. With others, I argue for changes in academic careers and institutions to better recognize, promote, and reward publicly engaged sociology, which would help academia honor its social contract. I briefly engage Burawoy's concept of public sociology, then propose types of publicly engaged sociology that align with how many sociologists do such work: Reframing/Debunking Sociology, Institutionally Engaged Sociology, and Community Engaged Sociology. Next, I analyze several obstacles to publicly engaged—and especially community engaged—sociology, including epistemic assumptions and evaluative practices stemming from instrumental positivism, belief in a canonical Hawthorne effect as a clean experimental finding, and a bias against research that helps research participants or partners. Finally, I offer advice and strategies to younger sociologists wishing to do such work and recommend ways academic institutions and practices could better support publicly engaged sociology, including by training students and faculty in how to do it, creating a Journal of Publicly Engaged Sociology, and amending ASA's Code of Ethics.
Complementation and the creole continuum in the Eastern Caribbean
Authors: Walker James A. , Meyerhoff Miriam
Published: November 2022

This article examines complement clauses in the Caribbean English spoken in Bequia (St Vincent and the Grenadines). Despite a small population (about 5,000), physical proximity and pervasive kinship ties across villages, Bequia English is characterised by considerable inter‐group differentiation, suggesting the existence of a (post‐)creole continuum. We analyse variation in the complementisers used to introduce finite (that, zero) and non‐finite subordinate clauses (for, to, zero) and relative clauses (that, wh‐forms, zero) in recorded conversations with 26 speakers from four villages. While frequency of complementiser use differs markedly across villages, patterns of variation do not present a straightforward continuum between more (Standard‐)English‐like and more creole‐like speech. Examination of the linguistic constraints conditioning complementiser choice provides evidence for distinct emergent endonormative patterns for Bequia English that belie the superficial differences between villages. We argue that linguistic details serve as a common means of expressing a highly local variety of English.