bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The feasibility and acceptability of delivering a group trauma‐focused intervention to children in care
Authors: Davis Rebecca S. , Devaney John , Halligan Sarah L. , Meiser‐Stedman Richard , Oliveira Paula , Smith Patrick , Stallard Paul , Kandiyali Rebecca , Phillips Alice , John Aalia , Hiller Rachel M.
Published: July 2024

Objective

Young people in care (i.e., in the child welfare system) are a group who have often experienced very high rates of potentially traumatic events, including maltreatment. It is well‐documented that they have high rates of trauma‐related mental health difficulties, such as posttraumatic stress. To address the needs of the large number of young people who may benefit from support, scalable interventions are crucial. But also important is that they are effective and deliverable – particularly given the complexity of this group and services. We assessed a five‐session group CBT‐based intervention for PTSD. The primary goal was to understand core procedural and protocol uncertainties to address prior to a definitive trial.

Methods

Participants were 34 10–17 year olds in care, with moderate to severe posttraumatic stress symptoms, and their caregiver. We ran seven groups (four online), delivered in social care and NHS‐based mental health teams. Data were collected via pre‐, post‐, 3‐month follow‐up questionnaires and qualitative interviews.

Results

Of the 34 participants allocated to the intervention, 27 (80%) attended at least three of the five sessions (most attended all). Caregiver attendance was lower (50%). There was generally good completion of assessment measures. Qualitatively, most participants were positive about the intervention, and many reported improvements in areas such as coping, sleep, and willingness to talk about experiences. However, there were important concerns about the lack of ongoing support, given this was a low‐intensity intervention for a group who often had complex needs.

Conclusion

The intervention and research protocols were acceptable to most young people and carers. With modifications, a future definitive trial would likely be possible. However, key considerations include: how (and whether) to screen for PTSD; the trial design; and the option to embed high‐intensity support (e.g., via assessing a stepped‐care model).
Hypertonicity and/or acidosis induce marked rheological changes under hypoxic conditions in sickle trait red blood cells
Authors: Ellsworth Patrick , Pawlinski Izabela J. , Sielaty Rachel , Ilich Anton , Prokopenko Yuriy , Moonla Chatphatai , Monroe Dougald M. , Pawlinski Rafal , Key Nigel S.
Published: July 2024

Deformability and sickling of red blood cells (RBCs) from individuals with sickle cell trait (SCT) was evaluated under harsh biophysical conditions that mimic certain vascular beds in vivo. RBC deformability in osmotic‐gradient ektacytometry was decreased in HbAS (SCT) compared to HbAA (wild‐type) RBCs at supraphysiological osmolalities. RBC deformability was also measured by oxygen‐gradient ektacytometry. Whereas RBC sickling was not observed under isotonic and neutral pH conditions, hypertonicity and acidosis alone or in combination induced reversible sickling of SCT RBC. These data suggest that hyperosmolality and/or acidosis enhance hypoxia‐induced sickling of SCT RBC.
Selective impacts of subsistence hunting on mammal communities in Manu National Park, Peru
Authors: McFarlane Jennifer Jane , Chacón Oscar Mujica , Arauco‐Aliaga Roxana Patricia , Braunholtz Laura , Sanderson Roy , Pfeifer Marion
Published: July 2024

Research on impacts of subsistence hunting on habitat use and species communities of forest wildlife is limited. Subsistence hunting of mammals in one of the world's most biodiverse region, Manu National Park, Peru, is considered sustainable, but this is based on sparse evidence. We analyzed change in species relative abundance and functional composition of mammal communities, including non‐hunted species along a hunting pressure gradient. We used camera trap data and tested for confounding effects of environmental and disturbance gradients (distances to rivers, lakes, settlements, and trails; NDVI at survey point). We found that sites with no hunting or at further distances from settlements harbor relatively more species with a larger body mass, long generation lengths, and small litters (primarily carnivores: 36% at non‐hunted site vs. 13%–29% at hunted sites), indicating selective impacts of hunting pressure on mammal communities. However, all carnivore species still occurred at all sites. Species with a smaller body mass, short generation lengths, and large litters were more prevalent at the hunted sites (mostly rodents: 23%–31% at hunted sites vs. 20% at non‐hunted site). Surprisingly, large herbivores appeared unaffected by hunting despite being one of the most hunted mammals in Manu (25% at non‐hunted site vs. 23%–27% at hunted sites). Our findings suggest that current hunting pressure is largely sustainable with only local depletion of a few sensitive species. Habitat is more important for some species than hunting pressure (e.g., distance to lake), further emphasizing the importance of local forest management.
Penicillin Allergy in China: Consequences of Inappropriate Skin Testing Practices and Policies
Authors: Shi Weihong , Liu Ning , Huang Jin‐xian , Xiao Hao , Meng Juan , Li Philip H.
Published: July 2024

Penicillins are the most frequently prescribed class of medications worldwide and first‐line antibiotic of choice for most bacterial infections. They are also commonly labelled as the culprit of drug ‘allergy’; leading to obligatory use of second‐line antibiotics, suboptimal antibiotic therapy and increased antimicrobial resistance. However, the majority of reported penicillin ‘allergy’ labels are found to be incorrect after allergy testing, emphasising the importance of proper drug allergy testing and evaluation. Penicillin skin testing (PST) remains an important component of drug allergy diagnosis; however, its practice and policies significantly differ across the world. Inappropriate and non‐evidence‐based PST practices can lead to consequences associated with allergy mislabelling. Even within different regions of China, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, there are marked differences in the implementation, execution and interpretation of PST. This review aims to examine the differences in PST between Mainland China, Hong Kong and the rest of the world. We critically analyse the current practice of ‘pre‐emptive’ PST in Mainland China, which has a significant false‐positive rate leading to high levels of penicillin allergy mislabelling. Non‐evidence‐based practices further compound the high false‐positive rates of indiscriminatory PST. We postulate that inappropriate PST policies and practices may exacerbate the mislabelling of penicillin allergy, leading to unnecessary overuse of inappropriate second‐line antibiotics, increasing antimicrobial resistance and healthcare costs. We advocate for the importance of more collaborative research to improve the contemporary workflow of penicillin allergy diagnosis, reduce mislabelling and promote the dissemination of evidence‐based methods for allergy diagnosis.
Melatonin attenuates scopolamine‐induced cognitive dysfunction through SIRT1/IRE1α/XBP1 pathway
Authors: Liu Xiao‐Qi , Huang Shun , Zheng Jia‐Yi , Wan Can , Hu Tian , Cai Ye‐Feng , Wang Qi , Zhang Shi‐Jie
Published: July 2024

Background

The prevalence of dementia around the world is increasing, and these patients are more likely to have cognitive impairments, mood and anxiety disorders (depression, anxiety, and panic disorder), and attention deficit disorders over their lifetime. Previous studies have proven that melatonin could improve memory loss, but its specific mechanism is still confused.

Methods

In this study, we used in vivo and in vitro models to examine the neuroprotective effect of melatonin on scopolamine (SCOP)‐induced cognitive dysfunction. The behavioral tests were performed. 18F‐FDG PET imaging was used to assess the metabolism of the brain. Protein expressions were determined through kit detection, Western blot, and immunofluorescence. Nissl staining was conducted to reflect neurodegeneration. MTT assay and RNAi transfection were applied to perform the in vitro experiments.

Results

We found that melatonin could ameliorate SCOP‐induced cognitive dysfunction and relieve anxious‐like behaviors or HT22 cell damage. 18F‐FDG PET‐CT results showed that melatonin could improve cerebral glucose uptake in SCOP‐treated mice. Melatonin restored the cholinergic function, increased the expressions of neurotrophic factors, and ameliorated oxidative stress in the brain of SCOP‐treated mice. In addition, melatonin upregulated the expression of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), which further relieved endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by decreasing the expression of phosphorylate inositol‐requiring enzyme (p‐IRE1α) and its downstream, X‐box binding protein 1 (XBP1).

Conclusions

These results indicated that melatonin could ameliorate SCOP‐induced cognitive dysfunction through the SIRT1/IRE1α/XBP1 pathway. SIRT1 might be the critical target of melatonin in the treatment of dementia.
Undetected and undiagnosed comorbidity in patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery—Results from the Berlin Bariatric Cohort study
Authors: Pommer Wolfgang , Krautschneider Hendrik , Kuhlmann Susanne D. , Koplin Gerold , Susewind Martin , Tsuprykov Oleg
Published: July 2024

The quality of general obesity management before bariatric surgery (BS) is rarely investigated. Inadequate information regarding undetected and undiagnosed comorbidities (UUCs) in individuals with obesity may influence the penetration, risks, and outcomes of BS. We conducted a cohort study involving a pre‐specified medical check‐up in a cooperation between a BS department and an outpatient medical centre. A total of 1068 patients (74.4% women) were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 42.1 years (standard deviation [SD] 11.9) and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 46.1 (SD 6.91). The onset of obesity occurred in 11.4% of patients during childhood, 47.2% during schooltime/adolescence, 41.4% in adulthood. Gender differences were observed: men had higher BMI, systolic blood pressure, and impaired metabolic state (including diabetes, dyslipidemia, and liver disease with p‐values <.001 for all). Women had lower haemoglobin levels, impaired iron status, lower albumin levels (p < .001), and increased C‐reactive protein levels (p < .05). The prevalence of UUC conditions (percentage of cases) was as follows: arterial hypertension, 53%; decreased cystatin C clearance, 57%; dyslipidemia, 41%; fatty liver, 40%; iron deficiency, 37%; diabetes mellitus, 34%; vitamin D deficiency, 32%; chronic pain syndrome, 23%; liver fibrosis, 12%; obstructive sleep apnea, 10%; and vitamin deficiencies (vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin K1) <10%. Undiagnosed hypertension was more prevalent in younger women, and nutritional deficits were associated with high BMI in both genders. Older age and high BMI were associated with undiagnosed diabetes and decreased glomerular filtration rate in both genders, and with liver fibrosis in men. UUC are highly prevalent in individuals undergoing BS. A refined assessment is recommended to improve health conditions and outcome in these candidates.
Expedited liver transplantation as first‐line therapy for severe alcohol hepatitis: ELFSAH; deferring corticosteroids in the sickest subset of patients
Authors: Mohy‐ud‐din Nabeeha , Lin Fei‐Pi , Rachakonda Vikrant , Al‐Khafaji Ali , Biggins Scott W. , Ganesh Swaytha , Bataller Ramon , DiMartini Andrea , Hughes Christopher , Humar Abhinav , Malik Shahid M.
Published: July 2024

Background & aims

Severe alcohol‐associated hepatitis (SAH) represents a lethal subset of alcohol‐associated liver disease. Although corticosteroids are recommended by guidelines, their efficacy and safety remain questionable and so liver transplantation (LT) has been increasingly utilized. The timing and indication of corticosteroid use, specifically in patients being considered for LT requires further clarification.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 256 patients with SAH between 2018 and 2022 at a single US center.

Results

Twenty of these patients underwent LT. Of the 256 patients, 38% had what we termed “catastrophic” SAH, defined as a MELD‐Na ≥35 and/or discriminant function (DF) ≥100, which carried a mortality of 90% without LT. Compared with 100 matched controls, patients undergoing LT exhibited a one‐year survival rate of 100% versus 35% (p < .0005). LT provided an absolute risk reduction of 65%, with a number needed to treat of 1.5. Steroid utilization in the entire cohort was 19% with 60% developing severe complications. Patients administered steroids were younger with lower MELD and DF scores. Only 10% of those prescribed steroids derived a favorable response. Sustained alcohol use post‐LT was 20%.

Conclusions

We propose ELFSAH: Expedited LT as First Line Therapy for SAH; challenging the current paradigm with recommendations to defer steroids in patients with “catastrophic” SAH (defined as: MELD‐Na ≥35 and/or DF ≥100). Patients should be seen urgently by hepatology, transplant surgery, psychiatry and social work. Patients without an absolute contraindication should be referred for LT as first‐line therapy during their index admission.
Comparing Functional Frailty and Radiographic Sarcopenia as Predictors of Outcomes After Liver Transplant
Authors: Olson Sydney L. , Polineni Praneet , Schwartz William Alexander Henry , Thuluvath Avesh J. , Duarte‐Rojo Andres , Ladner Daniela P.
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Frailty and sarcopenia are associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and mortality in patients with end‐stage liver disease. The ability to identify frail patients at risk of adverse outcomes could help optimize liver transplant (LT) evaluations and pre‐transplant care. This study compared sarcopenia, via L3‐psoas muscle index (L3‐PMI), to frailty, via liver frailty index (LFI) and analyzed associated outcomes after liver transplantation (LT).

Methods

A retrospective review of consecutive LT‐recipients with cross‐sectional abdominal/pelvic imaging were reviewed over 5 years at a single transplant center.

Results

Four hundred and twenty‐six patients underwent transplant during this study interval; 31% of patients were sarcopenic. Two hundred eight patients underwent LFI evaluation: 25% were frail, 59% were prefrail, and 16% were robust. Sarcopenic patients had higher LFI scores indicating greater frailty (p = 0.02). Both sarcopenia and LFI‐frailty were associated with significantly higher MELD‐Na scores. Length of post‐LT hospital stay was increased in sarcopenic (mean 14 vs. nonsarcopenic 11 days, p = 0.02) and LFI‐frail patients (mean 13 vs. 10 prefrail, 8 robust, p = 0.04). As a categorical variable, neither LFI‐frailty nor sarcopenia were significantly associated with reduced survival at 1‐year (robust 100%, prefrail 93.5%, frail 91.1%, p = 0.31) (nonsarcopenic 94.4%, sarcopenic 91.4%, p = 0.30). However, LFI score was significantly associated with mortality at 1‐year (OR 2.133, p = 0.047).

Conclusions

Radiographic sarcopenia is a suitable proxy for in‐person frailty assessment as both L3‐PMI and LFI capture frail patients’ pre‐LT. However, physical assessment with frailty better predicts 1‐year mortality post‐LT than the measurement of muscle mass.
Lack of Association Between Donor‐Derived Cell‐Free DNA and Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy
Authors: Alharethi Rami , Knight Stacey , Luikart Helen I. , Wolf‐Doty Theresa , Bride Daniel L. , Kim Daniel. T. , Khush Kiran K.
Published: July 2024

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a leading cause of death after heart transplantation (HT). We evaluated donor‐derived cell‐free DNA (dd‐cfDNA) as a noninvasive biomarker of CAV development after HT.

The INSPIRE registry at the Intermountain Medical Center was queried for stored plasma samples from HT patients with and without CAV. At Stanford University, HT patients with CAV (cases) and without CAV (controls) were enrolled prospectively, and blood samples were collected. All the samples were analyzed for dd‐cfDNA using the AlloSure assay (CareDx, Inc.). CAV was defined per the ISHLT 2010 standardized classification system. Univariate associations between patient demographics and clinical characteristics and their CAV grade were tested using chi‐square and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Associations between their dd‐cfDNA levels and CAV grades were examined using a nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test.

A total of 69 pts were included, and 101 samples were analyzed for dd‐cfDNA. The mean age at sample collection was 58.6 ± 13.7 years; 66.7% of the patients were male, and 81% were White. CAV 0, 1, 2, and 3 were present in 37.6%, 22.8%, 22.8%, and 16.8% of included samples, respectively. The median dd‐cfDNA level was 0.13% (0.06, 0.33). The median dd‐cfDNA level was not significantly different between CAV (−) and CAV (+): 0.09% (0.05%–0.32%) and 0.15% (0.07%–0.33%), respectively, p = 0.25 and with similar results across all CAV grades.

In our study, dd‐cfDNA levels did not correlate with the presence of CAV and did not differ across CAV grades. As such, dd‐cfDNA does not appear to be a reliable noninvasive biomarker for CAV surveillance.
Objects of “imprisonment”: Diasporic museum collections on ethnographic display
Authors: Brulon Soares Bruno
Published: July 2024

The article reflects on the place and the narratives in which collections of the Afro‐Brazilian diaspora are inscribed in the context of ethnographic museums in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Presenting a brief sociohistorical analysis of two collections, one in the Civil Police Museum and the other in the Édison Carneiro Folklore Museum, it demonstrates how different regimes of knowledge are used to “imprison” objects of faith as museum objects in the eyes of the police or in those of ethnographers. “Incarcerated” in museums, these collections have been kept by state institutions that frame them either as testimonies of offenses to the public order, or as objects of folklore, religious artifacts disconnected from terreiros. Finally, recurring to a theoretical framework of nonduality to provoke museum's stable categories, the article considers the current transformative role of museums in the “liberation” of a diasporic heritage, by proposing dialogue and collaboration as important elements in the liminal work of musealization. Ultimately, what is at stake in the case of Afro‐Brazilian sacred materials kept in museums is the ability of objects disassociated from their ritual context to transmit the sacred in the museum environment.
Consumption of alcohol‐free and alcoholic beverages among Dutch university students: Substitution or addition?
Authors: Groefsema Martine M. , van Hooijdonk Kirsten J. M. , Voogt Carmen V. , Hendriks Hanneke , Vink Jacqueline M.
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Alcohol‐free drinks are suggested as healthy alternatives for alcohol consumption. To achieve benefits, alcohol‐free beverages must be consumed as a substitute for alcoholic beverages, not in addition. This study examined in a student sample (i) the frequency/quantity of alcohol(‐free) consumption; (ii) the relationship between alcohol‐free and alcohol consumption; (iii) alcohol‐free drinks as substitution or in addition to alcoholic drinks; and (iv) possible gender differences.

Methods

Survey data regarding alcohol(‐free) consumption (May–June 2022) of Dutch university students (N = 4.318, females 70.2%; males 28.5%, average age 22.6 years [SD = 2.4]).

Results

(i) A total of 42.8% of the students indicated they had never consumed alcohol‐free versus 10.1% who never consumed alcoholic beverages; (ii) the group who recently consumed alcohol‐free also most often recently consumed alcoholic beverages (42.7%). The group that had never consumed alcohol‐free drank on average more alcoholic beverages (M = 3.98 on a drinking day) compared to past and recent alcohol‐free drinkers (respectively, M = 3.44 and M = 3.59). (iii) Most students (54.9%) reported drinking alcohol‐free beverages in addition to alcohol, 17.4% indicated using it as a substitution. Students who consumed alcohol‐free as ‘substitution’ were older, more often living alone or with a partner, less often living with parents and more often involved in a steady relationship compared to students who consumed in ‘addition’. (iv) No prominent gender differences were found.

Discussion and Conclusions

The majority of students remained consuming the same number of alcoholic beverages since they started consuming alcohol‐free beverages, pointing to an addition effect. A small group did use alcohol‐free beverages as a substitute for their alcohol consumption.
Nocturnal avian migration drives high daily turnover but limited change in abundance on the ground
Authors: Nussbaumer Raphaël , Van Doren Benjamin M. , Hochachka Wesley M. , Farnsworth Andrew , La Sorte Frank A. , Johnston Alison , Dokter Adriaan M.
Published: July 2024

Every night during spring and autumn, the mass movement of migratory birds redistributes bird abundances found on the ground during the day. However, the connection between the magnitude of nocturnal migration and the resulting change in diurnal abundance remains poorly quantified. If departures and landings at the same location are balanced throughout the night, we expect high bird turnover but little change in diurnal abundance (stream‐like migration). Alternatively, migrants may move simultaneously in spatial pulses, with well‐separated areas of departure and landing that cause significant changes in the abundance of birds on the ground during the day (wave‐like migration). Here, we apply a flow model to data from weather surveillance radars (WSR) to quantify the daily fluxes of nocturnally migrating birds landing and departing from the ground, characterizing the movement and stopover of birds in a comprehensive synoptic scale framework. We corroborate our results with independent observations of the diurnal abundances of birds on the ground from eBird. Furthermore, we estimate the abundance turnover, defined as the proportion of birds replaced overnight. We find that seasonal bird migration chiefly resembles a stream where bird populations on the ground are continuously replaced by new individuals. Large areas show similar magnitudes of take‐off and landing, coupled with relatively small distances flown by birds each night, resulting in little change in bird densities on the ground. We further show that WSR‐inferred landing and take‐off fluxes predict changes in eBird‐derived abundance turnover rate and turnover in species composition. We find that the daily turnover rate of birds is 13% on average but can reach up to 50% on peak migration nights. Our results highlight that WSR networks can provide real‐time information on rapidly changing bird distributions on the ground. The flow model applied to WSR data can be a valuable tool for real‐time conservation and public engagement focused on migratory birds' daytime stopovers.
Grading objective diagnostic components in paroxysmal events: One‐year follow‐up at a tertiary epilepsy center
Authors: Aaftink Daniel , Reijneveld Jaap C. , de Lange Frederik , Sander Josemir W. , Thijs Roland D.
Published: July 2024

Objective

This study was undertaken to develop a model and perform a preliminary internal validation study of the Scale for Objective Diagnostic Components of Paroxysmal Events (STAMP).

Methods

We developed STAMP, which builds on the International League Against Epilepsy task force scale for functional seizures with additional categories for epileptic seizures and syncope. We included 200 consecutive referrals to a Dutch tertiary epilepsy center to evaluate seizurelike events. We recorded demographic and clinical data and collected the clinical evaluation at referral and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of follow‐up. We ascertained the STAMP at each time point and evaluated factors predicting an improvement in STAMP grade during follow‐up.

Results

Of the 200 referrals at baseline, 131 were classified as having epileptic seizures, 17 as functional seizures, and three as syncope, and 49 were unclassifiable. STAMP grade at baseline was 4 (absent) in 56 individuals, 3 (circumstantial) in 78, 2 (clinically established) in six, and 1 (documented) in 11. Over time, 62 cases STAMP grades improved, and 23 remained unclassifiable. A refinement of STAMP grade during follow‐up was due to successful event recordings in 34 people (30 video‐electroencephalographic [EEG] recordings, four tilt table testing), home videos or clinician‐witnessed events in 13, and identification of interictal EEG or magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities in seven. An improved STAMP grade after 12 months of follow‐up was significantly more likely in those with higher event frequency, unclassifiable events, longer event duration, and a shorter time since the first event and less likely in those with a history suggestive of seizures.

Significance

This epilepsy service evaluation underscores the crucial role of event recording in improving diagnostic certainty. STAMP may be used to monitor diagnostic performance over time but requires further validation.
Large potential impacts of marine heatwaves on ecosystem functioning
Authors: Guibourd de Luzinais Vianney , Gascuel Didier , Reygondeau Gabriel , Cheung William W. L.
Published: July 2024

Ocean warming is driving significant changes in the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems, shifting species' biogeography and phenology, changing body size and biomass and altering the trophodynamics of the system. Particularly, extreme temperature events such as marine heatwaves (MHWs) have been increasing in intensity, duration and frequency. MHWs are causing large‐scale impacts on marine ecosystems, such as coral bleaching, mass mortality of seagrass meadows and declines in fish stocks and other marine organisms in recent decades. In this study, we developed and applied a dynamic version of the EcoTroph trophodynamic modelling approach to study the cascading effects of individual MHW on marine ecosystem functioning. We simulated theoretical user‐controlled ecosystems and explored the consequences of various assumptions of marine species mortality along the food web, associated with different MHW intensities. We show that an MHW can lead to a significant biomass reduction of all consumers, with the severity of the declines being dependent on species trophic levels (TLs) and biomes, in addition to the characteristics of MHWs. Biomass of higher TLs declines more than lower TLs under an MHW, leading to changes in ecosystem structure. While tropical ecosystems are projected to be sensitive to low‐intensity MHWs, polar and temperate ecosystems are expected to be impacted by more intense MHWs. The estimated time to recover from MHW impacts is twice as long for polar ecosystems and one‐third longer for temperate biomes compared with tropical biomes. This study highlights the importance of considering extreme weather events in assessing the effects of climate change on the structures and functions of marine ecosystems.
Mycorrhization enhances plant growth and stabilizes biomass allocation under drought
Authors: Tang Bo , Man Jing , Romero Ferran , Bergmann Joana , Lehmann Anika , Rillig Matthias C.
Published: July 2024

Plants and their symbionts, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, are increasingly subjected to various environmental stressors due to climate change, including drought. As a response to drought, plants generally allocate more biomass to roots over shoots, thereby facilitating water uptake. However, whether this biomass allocation shift is modulated by AM fungi remains unknown. Based on 5691 paired observations from 154 plant species, we conducted a meta‐analysis to evaluate how AM fungi modulate the responses of plant growth and biomass allocation (e.g., root‐to‐shoot ratio, R/S) to drought. We found that AM fungi attenuate the negative impact of drought on plant growth, including biomass production, photosynthetic performance and resource (e.g. nutrient and water) uptake. Accordingly, drought significantly increased R/S in non‐inoculated plants, but not in plants symbiotic with established AM fungal symbioses. These results suggest that AM fungi promote plant growth and stabilize their R/S through facilitating nutrient and water uptake in plants under drought. Our findings highlight the crucial role of AM fungi in enhancing plant resilience to drought by optimizing resource allocation. This knowledge opens avenues for sustainable agricultural practices that leverage symbiotic relationships for climate adaptation.
Going loca: Depression at work as a public feeling in Peru
Authors: Bisht Riya , Riach Kathleen
Published: July 2024

In this article, we invite the reader to join us in developing a culturally situated understanding of mental health at work in the Global South. Basing our analysis within the context of Peru, we situate depression as a feminist‐inspired “Public Feelings project,” whereby embodied experiences such as depression are inseparable from historical, social, and political structures of oppression (Cvetkovich, 2007). Through methodologically engaging in a mode of Nguyen et al.’s (2016) epistemic friendship, we explore the experiences of 12 Peruvian working women who self‐identify as having depression. Using interviews and arts‐based methods; specifically, Peruvian‐inspired portraiture, as a potential well for hope, healing, and humanity, we consider the narratives, experiences, feelings, and other embodied forms of knowing around depression and work in Peru. Working with the in vivo concept of “being loco,” we develop two art‐works presenting in dialogue with findings that explore the potential of how a Public Feelings lens might open up theoretical and methodological vistas for exploring in situ health experiences as constituted in particular geohistorical and gendered landscapes.
Implementation Strategies for Quality Improvement in Palliative Care: A Scoping Review
Authors: Dai Yunyun , Daveson Barbara A. , Gan Luyu , Ding Jinfeng , Chen Yongyi , Johnson Claire E.
Published: July 2024

Background

Quality improvement (QI) programs based on person‐centred outcome measures (PCOMs) play an important role in promoting optimal palliative care. However, routine use of PCOMs has been slow and difficult to implement, including within QI programs.

Objective

This study aimed to identify implementation strategies that support the implementation of PCOMs as routine practice in hospital‐based palliative care, as well as the implementation theories, models and frameworks (TMFs) guiding the design of these implementation strategies.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Scoping Review framework. Four databases (Medline, CINAHL, Scopus and PubMed) were systematically searched for literature published between 1 January 1990 and 8 March 2024.

Results

One hundred and fifteen unique implementation strategies, identified from 11 included studies, were mapped onto the 73 Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) discrete implementation strategies, covering 52% of the ERIC strategies. The most commonly used categories were train and educate stakeholders, and support clinicians, followed by develop stakeholder interrelationships and use evaluation and iterative strategies. Three key themes emerged: what to do; how to do it; and who to do it with. Only four studies employed TMFs to guide the design of the implementation strategies in this review.

Conclusions

To promote the implementation of PCOM‐based QI programs, strategies should be developed based on identified/potential barriers and facilitators by using rigorous TMFs. The components of the implementation strategies must be reported transparently and consistently to enable replication and measurement in future research and practice.

Patient and Public Contribution

This scoping review does not directly involve patients or the general public in its design or execution. However, it is part of an implementation study aimed at integrating the Palliative Care Outcome Collaboration (PCOC) model into routine clinical practice at a cancer hospital in China. Before the formal implementation, palliative care professionals from this hospital highlighted the need for a comprehensive analysis of existing evidence to support the effective adoption of the PCOC model in their specific clinical setting.
Artificial intelligence in endodontics: Fundamental principles, workflow, and tasks
Authors: Ourang Seyed AmirHossein , Sohrabniya Fatemeh , Mohammad‐Rahimi Hossein , Dianat Omid , Aminoshariae Anita , Nagendrababu Venkateshbabu , Dummer Paul Michael Howell , Duncan Henry F. , Nosrat Ali
Published: July 2024

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has seen significant advancements, particularly in areas requiring image interpretation. Endodontics, a specialty within dentistry, stands to benefit immensely from AI applications, especially in interpreting radiographic images. However, there is a knowledge gap among endodontists regarding the fundamentals of machine learning and deep learning, hindering the full utilization of AI in this field. This narrative review aims to: (A) elaborate on the basic principles of machine learning and deep learning and present the basics of neural network architectures; (B) explain the workflow for developing AI solutions, from data collection through clinical integration; (C) discuss specific AI tasks and applications relevant to endodontic diagnosis and treatment. The article shows that AI offers diverse practical applications in endodontics. Computer vision methods help analyse images while natural language processing extracts insights from text. With robust validation, these techniques can enhance diagnosis, treatment planning, education, and patient care. In conclusion, AI holds significant potential to benefit endodontic research, practice, and education. Successful integration requires an evolving partnership between clinicians, computer scientists, and industry.
Oral tolerance to dietary antigens and Foxp3+ regulatory T cells
Authors: Miranda‐Waldetario Mariana C. G. , Curotto de Lafaille Maria A.
Published: July 2024

Immune tolerance to foods develops in the intestine upon food ingestion and is essential to prevent IgE‐mediated food allergy and gut inflammation. In homeostasis, the intestine is a tolerogenic environment that favors the formation of food‐specific Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. A tolerogenic intestinal environment depends on colonization by diverse microbiota and exposure to solid foods at a critical period in early life. These early immune responses lead to the induction of antigen‐specific Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in draining mesenteric lymph nodes. These peripherally induced regulatory cells circulate and seed the lamina propria of the gut, exerting suppressive function systemically and locally in the intestine. Successful establishment of a tolerogenic intestinal environment in early life sets the stage for oral tolerance to new antigens in adult life.
Diagnostic Accuracy of the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID‐19 Antigen Card Test, Puerto Rico
Authors: Madewell Zachary J. , Major Chelsea G. , Graff Nathan , Adams Cameron , Rodriguez Dania M. , Morales Tatiana , Medina Lopes Nicole A. , Tosado Rafael , Sánchez‐González Liliana , Perez‐Padilla Janice , Volkman Hannah R. , Bertrán‐Pasarell Jorge , Sainz de la Peña Diego , Munoz‐Jordan Jorge , Santiago Gilberto A. , Lorenzi Olga , Rivera‐Amill Vanessa , Rolfes Melissa A. , Paz‐Bailey Gabriela , Adams Laura E. , Wong Joshua M.
Published: July 2024

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic underscored the need for rapid and accurate diagnostic tools. In August 2020, the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID‐19 Antigen Card test became available as a timely and affordable alternative for SARS‐CoV‐2 molecular testing, but its performance may vary due to factors including timing and symptomatology. This study evaluates BinaxNOW diagnostic performance in diverse epidemiological contexts.

Methods

Using RT‐PCR as reference, we assessed performance of the BinaxNOW COVID‐19 test for SARS‐CoV‐2 detection in anterior nasal swabs from participants of two studies in Puerto Rico from December 2020 to May 2023. Test performance was assessed by days post symptom onset, collection strategy, vaccination status, symptomatology, repeated testing, and RT‐PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values.

Results

BinaxNOW demonstrated an overall sensitivity of 84.1% and specificity of 98.8%. Sensitivity peaked within 1–6 days after symptom onset (93.2%) and was higher for symptomatic (86.3%) than asymptomatic (67.3%) participants. Sensitivity declined over the course of infection, dropping from 96.3% in the initial test to 48.4% in testing performed 7–14 days later. BinaxNOW showed 99.5% sensitivity in participants with low Ct values (≤ 25) but lower sensitivity (18.2%) for participants with higher Cts (36–40).

Conclusions

BinaxNOW demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, particularly in early‐stage infections and symptomatic participants. In situations where test sensitivity is crucial for clinical decision‐making, nucleic acid amplification tests are preferred. These findings highlight the importance of considering clinical and epidemiological context when interpreting test results and emphasize the need for ongoing research to adapt testing strategies to emerging SARS‐CoV‐2 variants.
Waterlogging‐Induced Changes in ABA, Carbohydrates and CBF6 Modify Freezing Tolerance in Prehardened Festuca pratensis
Authors: Jurczyk Barbara , Dziurka Michał , Janowiak Franciszek , Pociecha Ewa , Grzesiak Maciej , Rapacz Marcin
Published: July 2024

Changes in precipitation and snow melt during warmer winters can increase low‐temperature waterlogging. Such conditions may bring about different effects when compared with a single stress trigger, such as low‐temperature or water excess. The effects of waterlogging are clearly related to water temperature, and the consequences of water excess might be less severe, as more oxygen is dissolved in colder water. The effect of waterlogging during cold acclimation (CA) is poorly understood; most experiments concerning water excess are performed at relatively high‐temperatures. In this study, we examined the effect of 3 weeks of waterlogging (approx. 2 cm above the soil level) on CA in Festuca pratensis Huds. (Fp), a cool‐season grass. Measurements were taken before CA (after prehardening, before flooding) and after 3 weeks of CA in waterlogged (treated) and non‐waterlogged (control) plants. The work included: (i) freezing tolerance test (regrowth after freezing), (ii) analysis of abscisic acid (ABA) content in the leaf, (iii) leaf stomatal conductance, (iv) leaf water content, (v) carbohydrates analysis, including fructans, and (vi) transcript levels of selected genes involved in freezing tolerance, ABA signalling and fructan biosynthesis. The aim of the study was to test a hypothesis that low‐temperature waterlogging in Fp enhances freezing tolerance (plant regrowth after freezing) related to increased ABA accumulation, increased C‐repeat‐binding transcription factor expression and/or increased carbohydrate accumulation, including fructans. Two out of four genotypes exhibited enhanced regrowth following freezing due to waterlogging relative to control. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a positive correlation between ABA levels and freezing tolerance in both treatments, with a more pronounced effect observed in the waterlogged plants. However, the phytohormone played different roles in these two treatments. In the context of low‐temperature waterlogging, ABA may be involved in the dehydration tolerance response in genotypes suffering from physiological drought, as well as the induction of C‐repeat‐binding transcription factors (CBFs) and sucrose, which may improve freezing tolerance. The increased fructan amount and polymerisation degree due to waterlogging may provide a carbohydrate sink to maintain a high photosynthetic efficiency, but are not directly responsible for freezing tolerance changes. The study indicates that tolerance mechanisms of Fp exposed to low‐temperature waterlogging involve maintaining a high photosynthetic rate, as well as oxidative and dehydration stress tolerance.
Unravelling tumour cell diversity and prognostic signatures in cutaneous melanoma through machine learning analysis
Authors: Cheng Wenhao , Ni Ping , Wu Hao , Miao Xiaye , Zhao Xiaodong , Yan Dali
Published: July 2024

Melanoma, a highly malignant tumour, presents significant challenges due to its cellular heterogeneity, yet research on this aspect in cutaneous melanoma remains limited. In this study, we utilized single‐cell data from 92,521 cells to explore the tumour cell landscape. Through clustering analysis, we identified six distinct cell clusters and investigated their differentiation and metabolic heterogeneity using multi‐omics approaches. Notably, cytotrace analysis and pseudotime trajectories revealed distinct stages of tumour cell differentiation, which have implications for patient survival. By leveraging markers from these clusters, we developed a tumour cell‐specific machine learning model (TCM). This model not only predicts patient outcomes and responses to immunotherapy, but also distinguishes between genomically stable and unstable tumours and identifies inflamed (‘hot’) versus non‐inflamed (‘cold’) tumours. Intriguingly, the TCM score showed a strong association with TOMM40, which we experimentally validated as an oncogene promoting tumour proliferation, invasion and migration. Overall, our findings introduce a novel biomarker score that aids in selecting melanoma patients for improved prognoses and targeted immunotherapy, thereby guiding clinical treatment decisions.
Dangerous winds: Criminal threats and the indigenized security of wind power in Colombia
Authors: Schwartz Steven
Published: July 2024

Global energy companies have regularly depended on state and private security for sustaining their operations, often with deadly consequences for union leaders, environmental defenders, and local communities. This article examines how these security arrangements are mutating amid the rapid expansion of renewable energy in Latin America. It uncovers how wind energy companies in Colombia rely on Indigenous knowledge, social networks, and legal norms to safeguard themselves in La Guajira, a border region reputed by outsiders as haunted by criminality and (il)legal practices. Through long‐term ethnographic research of corporate spaces, I argue that Wayúu lifeways are mobilized by green energy capital to craft a hybrid security apparatus that, though failure‐prone, is crucial for Colombia's low‐carbon future. This case reveals how corporate and Indigenous configurations of protection and risk prevention work in tandem across sites that are being demarcated for the energy transition and climate change mitigation in Latin America.
Early postoperative growth hormone measurement as a predictive marker for acromegaly remission
Authors: Kraljevic Ivana , Solak Mirsala , Kovac Diana , Polovina Tanja Skoric , Tomsic Karin Zibar , Balasko Annemarie , Dusek Tina , Kastelan Darko
Published: July 2024

Growth hormone (GH) has a short half‐life and declines abruptly following somatotropinoma surgery, enabling its prompt measurement as an indicator of surgical success. This study assesses the predictive value of early postoperative GH levels for 3‐month and >1‐year remission of acromegaly. We conducted a retrospective search in our database of patients who had undergone transsphenoidal surgery of GH‐secreting pituitary adenoma from January 2011 to June 2022. Only the patients who underwent the first pituitary surgery and had GH measurements on the fifth postoperative day were included. The 3‐month and >1‐year remission of acromegaly was defined as achieving the GH nadir of <0.4 μg/L during an oral glucose tolerance test and maintaining normal insulin‐like growth factor 1 levels at the initial follow‐up visit 3 months after surgery and throughout at least the first year postoperation. We included 63 patients in the analysis, with a median follow‐up of 51.8 (13–155) months. The 3‐month remission was achieved in 42 (66.7%) patients, and >1‐year remission without additional therapy in 38 (60.3%) patients. Those who achieved >1‐year remission had significantly lower fifth‐day postoperative GH levels (0.59 [0.09–8.92] vs. 2.63 [0.25–24.64] μg/L, p < .001). Receiver‐operating characteristic analysis revealed a significant value of fifth‐day postoperative GH levels regarding the prediction of 3‐month (area under the curve [AUC], 0.834; p < .0001) and >1‐year (AUC, 0.783; p < .0001) acromegaly remission. The GH threshold of ≤1.57 μg/L yielded a sensitivity of 90.5% and a specificity of 71.4% at 3 months and 89.5% sensitivity and 60% specificity at the >1‐year remission, respectively. Notably, all patients with fifth‐day postoperative GH levels ≤0.23 μg/L exhibited remission of acromegaly throughout the follow‐up period. Early postoperative GH measurement could be a reliable predictor of both 3‐month and >1‐year remission of acromegaly.
Pilot study on the relationship between oral function or subjective symptoms and appetite
Authors: Yamaga Ryosuke , Chikaishi Masato , Iwasaki Toshihiro , Tada Akira , Mizutani Saki , Amano Kota , Iwase Yoko , Taniguchi Hiroshige
Published: July 2024

Objective

This pilot study evaluated the relationships between appetite and oral function, and between appetite and the subjective symptoms of decreased oral function.

Methods

Seventy‐one adult dental clinic patients (22 males, 66.0 ± 14.0 years) participated in this study. A Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire score of ≤28 indicated anorexia, and the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short‐form, body mass index and skeletal muscle mass index were used to define subject characteristics. Seven oral function tests and seven subjective symptoms related to oral function were evaluated. The relationship between subject characteristics, oral function tests, subjective symptoms and anorexia was analysed using the chi‐square test and univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Result

There were significant differences between the normal appetite group and the anorexia group for the 10‐item Eating Assessment Tool (EAT‐10) survey and the question ‘Food remains in the oral cavity after eating’ (p < .05). Univariate logistic regression found significant differences in the items of masticatory function, the EAT‐10 survey and the question ‘Food remains in the oral cavity after eating’. Multivariate logistic regression revealed significant differences in masticatory function (AOR 4.35; 95% CI: 1.03–18.35; p = .045) and EAT‐10 (AOR 6.27; 95% CI: 1.40–24.02; p = .016).

Conclusion

This pilot study investigated the influence of factors related to oral function on appetite. Relationships were found among poor masticatory function, poor swallowing function and anorexia.