bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Phytomeric Growth Contributes to Local Adaptation in Barley
Authors: Huang Yongyu , Maurer Andreas , Giehl Ricardo F H , Zhao Shuangshuang , Golan Guy , Thirulogachandar Venkatasubbu , Li Guoliang , Zhao Yusheng , Trautewig Corinna , Himmelbach Axel , Börner Andreas , Jayakodi Murukarthick , Stein Nils , Mascher Martin , Pillen Klaus , Schnurbusch Thorsten
Published: January 2024

Vascular plants have segmented body axes with iterative nodes and internodes. Appropriate node initiation and internode elongation are fundamental to plant fitness and crop yield; however, how these events are spatiotemporally coordinated remains elusive. We show that in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), selections during domestication have extended the apical meristematic phase to promote node initiation, but constrained subsequent internode elongation. In both vegetative and reproductive phases, internode elongation displays a dynamic proximal—distal gradient, and among subpopulations of domesticated barleys worldwide, node initiation and proximal internode elongation are associated with latitudinal and longitudinal gradients, respectively. Genetic and functional analyses suggest that, in addition to their converging roles in node initiation, flowering-time genes have been repurposed to specify the timing and duration of internode elongation. Our study provides an integrated view of barley node initiation and internode elongation and suggests that plant architecture should be recognized as a collection of dynamic phytomeric units in the context of crop adaptive evolution.
GSDMD and GSDME synergy in the transition of acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease
Authors: Chen Zhengyue , Chen Caiming , Lai Kunmei , Wu Chengkun , Wu Fan , Chen Zhimin , Ye Keng , Xie Jingzhi , Ma Huabin , Chen Hong , Wang Yujia , Xu Yanfang
Published: January 2024

Background and hypothesis

Acute kidney injury (AKI) could progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the AKI-CKD transition has major clinical significance. A growing body of evidence has unveiled the role of pyroptosis in kidney injury. We postulate that GSDMD and GSDME exert cumulative effects on the AKI-CKD transition by modulating different cellular responses.

Methods

We established an AKI-CKD transition model induced by folic acid in wildtype (WT), Gsdmd−/−, Gsdme−/−, and Gsdmd−/−Gsdme−/− mice. Tubular injury, renal fibrosis and inflammatory responses were evaluated. In vitro studies were conducted to investigate the interplay among tubular cells, neutrophils, and macrophages.

Results

Double deletion of Gsdmd and Gsdme conferred heightened protection against AKI, mitigating inflammatory responses, including the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), macrophage polarization and differentiation, and ultimately renal fibrosis, compared with wildtype mice and mice with single deletion of either Gsdmd or Gsdme. Gsdme, but not Gsdmd deficiency, shielded tubular cells from pyroptosis. GSDME-dependent tubular cell death stimulated NETs formation and prompted macrophage polarization towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Gsdmd deficiency suppressed NETs formation and subsequently hindered NETs-induced macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition (MMT).

Conclusion

GSDMD and GSDME collaborate to contribute to AKI and subsequent renal fibrosis induced by folic acid. Synchronous inhibition of GSDMD and GSDME could be an innovative therapeutic strategy for mitigating the AKI-CKD transition.
Long-term health-related quality of life in meningioma survivors: A mixed-methods systematic review
Authors: Frances Sé Maria , Murray Louise , Nicklin Emma , Velikova Galina , Boele Florien
Published: January 2024

Background

Meningiomas account for ~25% of all primary brain tumors. These tumors have a relatively favorable prognosis with ~92% of meningioma patients surviving >5 years after diagnosis. Yet, patients can report high disease burden and survivorship issues even years after treatment, affecting health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We aimed to systematically review the literature and synthesize evidence on HRQOL in meningioma patients across long-term survival, defined as ≥2 years post-diagnosis.

Methods

Systematic literature searches were carried out using Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science Core Collection. Any published, peer-reviewed articles with primary quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods data covering the physical, mental, and/or social aspects of HRQOL of meningioma survivors were included. A narrative synthesis method was used to interpret the findings.

Results

Searches returned 2253 unique publications, of which 21 were included. Of these, N = 15 involved quantitative methodology, N = 4 mixed methods, and N = 2 were qualitative reports. Patient sample survival ranged from 2.75 to 13 years. HRQOL impairment was seen across all domains. Physical issues included persevering symptoms (eg, headaches, fatigue, vision problems); mental issues comprised emotional burden (eg, high prevalence of depressive symptoms and anxiety) and cognitive complaints; social issues included role limitations, social isolation, and affected work productivity. Due to study heterogeneity, the impact of treatment on long-term HRQOL remains unclear.

Conclusions

The findings from this review highlight the areas of HRQOL that can be impacted in long-term survivorship for patients with meningioma. These findings could help raise awareness among clinicians and patients, facilitating support provision.
Negative enthalpy alloys and local chemical ordering: a concept and route leading to synergy of strength and ductility
Authors: An Zibing , Yang Tao , Shi Caijuan , Mao Shengcheng , Wang Lihua , Li Ang , Li Wei , Xue Xianmeng , Sun Ming , Bai Yifan , He Yapeng , Ren Fuzeng , Lu Zhouguang , Yan Ming , Ren Yang , Liu Chain-Tsuan , Zhang Ze , Han Xiaodong
Published: January 2024

Solid solutions are ubiquitous in metals and alloys. Local chemical ordering (LCO) is a fundamental sub-nano/nanoscale process that occurs in many solid solutions and can be used as a microstructure to optimize strength and ductility. However, the formation of LCO has not been fully elucidated, let alone how to provide efficient routes for designing LCO to achieve synergistic effects on both superb strength and ductility. Herein, we propose the formation and control of LCO in negative enthalpy alloys. With engineering negative enthalpy in solid solutions, genetic LCO components are formed in negative enthalpy refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs). In contrast to conventional ‘trial-and-error’ approaches, the control of LCO by using engineering negative enthalpy in RHEAs is instructive and results in superior strength (1160 MPa) and uniform ductility (24.5%) under tension at ambient temperature, which are among the best reported so far. LCO can promote dislocation cross-slip, enhancing the interaction between dislocations and their accumulation at large tensile strains; sustainable strain hardening can thereby be attained to ensure high ductility of the alloy. This work paves the way for new research fields on negative enthalpy solid solutions and alloys for the synergy of strength and ductility as well as new functions.
Stereoselective recognition of morphine enantiomers by μ-opioid receptor
Authors: Wang Yibo , Ngo Van A , Wang Xiaohui
Published: January 2024

Stereospecific recognition of chiral molecules plays a crucial role in biological systems. The μ-opioid receptor (MOR) exhibits binding affinity towards (−)-morphine, a well-established gold standard in pain management, while it shows minimal binding affinity for the (+)-morphine enantiomer, resulting in a lack of analgesic activity. Understanding how MOR stereoselectively recognizes morphine enantiomers has remained a puzzle in neuroscience and pharmacology for over half-a-century due to the lack of direct observation techniques. To unravel this mystery, we constructed the binding and unbinding processes of morphine enantiomers with MOR via molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the thermodynamics and kinetics governing MOR's stereoselective recognition of morphine enantiomers. Our findings reveal that the binding of (−)-morphine stabilizes MOR in its activated state, exhibiting a deep energy well and a prolonged residence time. In contrast, (+)-morphine fails to sustain the activation state of MOR. Furthermore, the results suggest that specific residues, namely D1142.50 and D1473.32, are deprotonated in the active state of MOR bound to (−)-morphine. This work highlights that the selectivity in molecular recognition goes beyond binding affinities, extending into the realm of residence time.
Digital Smoking Cessation With a Comprehensive Guideline-Based App—Results of a Nationwide, Multicentric, Parallel, Randomized Controlled Trial in Germany
Authors: Rupp Alexander , Rietzler Stephan , Di Lellis Maddalena A , Weiland Timo , Tschirner Claudia , Kreuter Michael
Published: January 2024

Background

Smoking tobacco implies significant health hazards. Digital cessation support can get more smokers in contact with guideline-based cessation. The objective was to test the efficacy of a guideline-based smoking cessation app (NichtraucherHelden®). The hypothesis was a significantly higher cessation rate in the intervention group.

Methods

The study was a nationwide, multicentric, prospective, parallel, randomized controlled trial in Germany from November 2021 to March 2023. Recruitment took place in medical practices and by telephone via study centers. Eligible participants were adult tobacco-dependent smokers according to ICD-10 (F17.2). Randomization (1:1) was operated by a computer-generated stratified 1:1 block procedure. Intervention (IG; n = 336) and control group (CG; n = 325) were briefly advised with regard to stop smoking, IG was additionally treated with the cessation app. The primary endpoint was the self-reported 7-day-point abstinence after 6 months with an intention to treat analysis. Secondary endpoints comprised prolonged abstinence and biochemically verified abstinence. The study was registered at the German Registry of Clinical Trials (DRKS00025933, UTN U1111-1268-2181) and was approved by the competent ethics committees (leading ethic committee Berlin #Eth-52/20).

Results

Three hundred thirty six participants (IG) and 325 (CG) were analyzed. Seven-day point prevalence was significantly higher in the app group (IG) (20% vs. 10%, OR 2.2 (1.4–3.4)). Additionally, the prolonged abstinence and the objective abstinence rates were significantly higher in the app group.

Conclusions

The NichtraucherHelden app doubles the abstinence rate. Apps can bridge the gap between the small number of therapeutic offers and the need for modern evidence-based cessation support.

Implications

The study is the first to provide evidence for the feasibility and efficacy of guideline-based digital smoking cessation provided by a smartphone app for the German statutory health insurance (SHI) system. Smoking cessation support by smartphone apps could be broadly distributed and thus bring more smokers in contact with guideline-based cessation support than to date and increase the number of successful quitters substantially.
Magnitude and Durability of the Antibody Response to mRNA-Based Vaccination Among SARS-CoV-2 Seronegative and Seropositive Health Care Personnel
Authors: Ciccone Emily J , Zhu Deanna R , Gunderson Annika K , Hawke Sam , Ajeen Rawan , Lodge Evans K , Shook-Sa Bonnie E , Abernathy Haley , Garrett Haley E , King Elise , Alavian Naseem , Reyes Raquel , Taylor Jasmine L , Beatty Cherese , Chung Christy , Mendoza Carmen E , Weber David J , Markmann Alena J , Premkumar Lakshmanane , Juliano Jonathan J , Boyce Ross M , Aiello Allison E
Published: January 2024

Few studies have described changes in SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in response to infection and vaccination at frequent intervals and over extended follow-up periods. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in SARS-CoV-2–specific antibody responses among a prospective cohort of health care personnel over 18 months with up to 22 samples per person. Antibody levels and live virus neutralization were measured before and after mRNA-based vaccination with results stratified by (1) SARS-CoV-2 infection status prior to initial vaccination and (2) SARS-CoV-2 infection at any point during follow-up. We found that the antibody response to the first dose was almost 2-fold higher in individuals who were seropositive prior to vaccination, although neutralization titers were more variable. The antibody response induced by vaccination appeared to wane over time but generally persisted for 8 to 9 months, and those who were infected at any point during the study had slightly higher antibody levels over time vs those who remained uninfected. These findings underscore the need to account for SARS-CoV-2 natural infection as a modifier of vaccine responses, and they highlight the importance of frequent testing of longitudinal antibody titers over time. Together, our results provide a clearer understanding of the trajectories of antibody response among vaccinated individuals with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The new insights of hyperbaric oxygen therapy: focus on inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Chen Leilei , Wang Yan , Zhou Huihui , Liang Yi , Zhu Fengqin , Zhou Guangxi
Published: January 2024

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), with an increasing incidence, pose a significant health burden. Although there have been significant advances in the treatment of IBD, more progress is still needed. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been shown to treat a host of conditions such as carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, and gas gangrene. In the last few years, there has been an increase in research into the use of HBOT as an adjunct to conventional treatment for IBD. Related research has shown that HBOT may exert its therapeutic effects by decreasing oxidative stress, inhibiting mucosal inflammation, promoting ulcer healing, influencing gut microbes, and reducing the incidence of IBD complications. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of experimental and clinical trials exploring HBOT as a supplement to IBD treatment strategies.
Opioid therapy trajectories of patients with chronic non-cancer pain over 1 year of follow-up after initiation of short-acting opioid formulations
Authors: Acharya Mahip , Hayes Corey J , Li Chenghui , Painter Jacob T , Dayer Lindsey , Martin Bradley C
Published: January 2024

Objective

This study compared opioid utilization trajectories of persons initiating tramadol, short-acting hydrocodone, or short-acting oxycodone, and it characterized opioid dose trajectories and type of opioid in persistent opioid therapy subsamples.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of adults with chronic non-cancer pain who were initiating opioid therapy was conducted with the IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus for Academics data (2008–2018). Continuous enrollment was required for 6 months before (“baseline”) and 12 months after (“follow-up”) the first opioid prescription (“index date”). Opioid therapy measures were assessed every 7 days over follow-up. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was used to identify trajectories for any opioid and total morphine milligram equivalent measures, and longitudinal latent class analysis was used for opioid therapy type.

Results

A total of 40 276 tramadol, 141 023 hydrocodone, and 45 221 oxycodone initiators were included. GBTM on any opioid therapy identified 3 latent trajectories: early discontinuers (tramadol 39.0%, hydrocodone 54.1%, oxycodone 61.4%), late discontinuers (tramadol 37.9%, hydrocodone 39.4%, oxycodone 33.3%), and persistent therapy (tramadol 6.7%, hydrocodone 6.5%, oxycodone 5.3%). An additional fourth trajectory, intermittent therapy (tramadol 16.4%), was identified for tramadol initiators. Of those on persistent therapy, 2687 individuals were on persistent therapy with tramadol, 9169 with hydrocodone, and 2377 with oxycodone. GBTM on opioid dose resulted in 6 similar trajectory groups in each persistent therapy group. Longitudinal latent class analysis on opioid therapy type identified 6 latent classes for tramadol and oxycodone and 7 classes for hydrocodone.

Conclusion

Opioid therapy patterns meaningfully differed by the initial opioid prescribed, notably the presence of intermittent therapy among tramadol initiators and higher morphine milligram equivalents and prescribing of long-acting opioids among oxycodone initiators.
Minor intron–containing genes as an ancient backbone for viral infection?
Authors: Wuchty Stefan , White Alisa K , Olthof Anouk M , Drake Kyle , Hume Adam J , Olejnik Judith , Aguiar-Pulido Vanessa , Mühlberger Elke , Kanadia Rahul N
Published: January 2024

Minor intron–containing genes (MIGs) account for <2% of all human protein–coding genes and are uniquely dependent on the minor spliceosome for proper excision. Despite their low numbers, we surprisingly found a significant enrichment of MIG-encoded proteins (MIG-Ps) in protein–protein interactomes and host factors of positive-sense RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, MERS coronavirus, and Zika virus. Similarly, we observed a significant enrichment of MIG-Ps in the interactomes and sets of host factors of negative-sense RNA viruses such as Ebola virus, influenza A virus, and the retrovirus HIV-1. We also found an enrichment of MIG-Ps in double-stranded DNA viruses such as Epstein–Barr virus, human papillomavirus, and herpes simplex viruses. In general, MIG-Ps were highly connected and placed in central positions in a network of human–host protein interactions. Moreover, MIG-Ps that interact with viral proteins were enriched with essential genes. We also provide evidence that viral proteins interact with ancestral MIGs that date back to unicellular organisms and are mainly involved in basic cellular functions such as cell cycle, cell division, and signal transduction. Our results suggest that MIG-Ps form a stable, evolutionarily conserved backbone that viruses putatively tap to invade and propagate in human host cells.
An exploratory study into cell approaches for intelligence collection from detainees within an English Police Custody Suite
Authors: Stanier Ian , Nunan Jordan , May Brandon
Published: January 2024

The value of intelligence gathered from cell approaches in police custody suites remains largely unexplored, presenting a crucial area for research. This study explores the collection of Human Intelligence (HUMINT) and the generation of Source (Covert Human Intelligence Source, CHIS) referrals during cell approaches. Data was collected from 102 cell approaches by which 54 were undertaken by dedicated intelligence officers and 48 by detectives in a police custody suite in England over a 3-month period. Results revealed that detectives, when tasked, were significantly more successful than dedicated intelligence officers in securing intelligence during cell approaches and to make source (CHIS) referrals. A detainee’s willingness to engage was associated with intelligence provision, with revenge and lifestyle as key motivating factors. Detainees were significantly more likely to provide intelligence post-charge rather than pre-charge, though the time of day and detainee age showed no significant correlations with intelligence gathering. This study discussed the importance of optimizing intelligence collection and source referrals during cell approaches.
Leveraging multisource feedback to address diversity, equity, and inclusivity
Authors: Lui Justin K , Duke Jennifer D , Russo Joseph V , Kelm Diana J , Hinkle Laura J
Published: January 2024

Multisource feedback has long been a recommended tool to assess clinical competencies within graduate medical education. Additionally, incorporating feedback supplied by patients and other members of the healthcare team can provide the framework to bridge perspectives and viewpoints that may be different from their own. This, in effect, can aid in fortifying values in diversity, equity, and inclusivity by developing more knowledgeable, empathetic, and respectful future healthcare providers.
Equivalence of lattice operators and graph matrices
Authors: Yumoto Jun , Misumi Tatsuhiro
Published: January 2024

We explore the relationship between lattice field theory and graph theory, placing special emphasis on the interplay between Dirac and scalar lattice operators and matrices within the realm of spectral graph theory. Beyond delving into fundamental concepts of spectral graph theory, such as adjacency and Laplacian matrices, we introduce a novel matrix called an “antisymmetrized adjacency matrix”, specifically tailored for cycle digraphs (T1 lattice) and simple directed paths (B1 lattice). The nontrivial relationship between graph theory matrices and lattice operators shows that the graph Laplacian matrix mirrors the lattice scalar operator and the Wilson term in lattice fermions, while the antisymmetrized adjacency matrix, along with its extensions to higher dimensions, is equivalent to naive lattice Dirac operators. Building upon these connections, we provide rigorous proofs for two key assertions: (i) The count of zero-modes in a free lattice scalar operator coincides with the zeroth Betti number of the underlying graph (lattice). (ii) The maximum count of Dirac zero-modes in a free lattice fermion operator is equivalent to the cumulative sum of all Betti numbers when the D-dimensional graph results from a Cartesian product of cycle digraphs (T1 lattice) and simple directed paths (B1 lattice).
Halving the European farm uses of pesticides: Looking for alternative technologies
Authors: Gohin Alexandre
Published: January 2024

With the Green Deal roadmap, the European Union aims to half the uses and risks of pesticides by the end of this decade. The European Commission (EC) claims that the proposal for pesticides will not disrupt European agri-food production and price. The EC argues that previous assessments of the roadmap provide an upper limit to the effects of the proposal, mostly by ignoring alternative production techniques that rely on integrated pest management principles. Our paper first explains that the general equilibrium approach applied by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) does correctly capture these alternatives, measured implicitly in econometric studies on the price inelasticity of pesticide use. Second, we show that the USDA study significantly underestimates the negative effects of the proposal in terms of agri-food production due to the input taxes rebated as output subsidies. Finally, we show that the underestimation is robust to the other arguments raised by the EC.
Advances in functional coatings on biliary stents
Authors: Yang Kaining , Sun Wenxin , Cui Lanyue , Zou Yuhong , Wen Cuie , Zeng Rongchang
Published: January 2024

Biliary stenting is an important interventional method for the prevention and treatment of biliary tract diseases. However, complications, such as postoperative biliary infection and restenosis, frequently occur due to the extensive scope of the biliary system and the complex composition of bile. The combination of coating technology and biliary stents is expected to bring new approaches to the solution of these problems. The cutting-edge advance on functional coatings on biliary stents is reviewed from seven perspectives: anticorrosion, -bacterial, -tumor, stone-dissolving, X-ray visibility, antistent migration and functional composite coatings. The development trend is also discussed. Overall, the performance of the numerous functional coatings for various purposes is generally up to expectations, but the balance between the medications’ effectiveness and their safety needs to be further adjusted. Many contemporary investigations have advanced to the level of animal experiments, offering crucial fundamental assurance for broader human studies. The combination of biliary stents and functional coatings is an innovative idea with great potential for future development.
Development and internal validation of a clinical and genetic risk score for rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease
Authors: Wheeler Austin M , Baker Joshua F , Riley Thomas , Yang Yangyuna , Roul Punyasha , Wysham Katherine D , Cannon Grant W , Kunkel Gary , Kerr Gail , Ascherman Dana P , Monach Paul , Reimold Andreas , Poole Jill A , Merriman Tony R , Mikuls Ted R , England Bryant R
Published: January 2024

Objective

Although clinical and genetic risk factors have been identified for rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD), there are no current tools allowing for risk stratification. We sought to develop and validate an ILD risk model in a large, multicentre, prospective RA cohort.

Methods

Participants in the Veterans Affairs RA (VARA) registry were genotyped for 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. ILD was validated through systematic record review. A genetic risk score (GRS) was computed from minor alleles weighted by effect size with ILD, using backward selection. The GRS was combined with clinical risk factors within a logistic regression model. Internal validation was completed using bootstrapping, and model performance was assessed by the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC).

Results

Of 2386 participants (89% male, mean age 69.5 years), 9.4% had ILD. Following backward selection, five SNPs contributed to the GRS. The GRS and clinical factors outperformed clinical factors alone in discriminating ILD (AUC 0.675 vs 0.635, P < 0.001). The shrinkage-corrected performance for combined and clinical-only models was 0.667 (95% CI 0.628, 0.712) and 0.623 (95% CI 0.584, 0.651), respectively. Twenty percent of the cohort had a combined risk score below a cut-point with >90% sensitivity.

Conclusion

A clinical and genetic risk model discriminated ILD in a large, multicentre RA cohort better than a clinical-only model, excluding 20% of the cohort from low-yield testing. These results demonstrate the potential utility of a GRS in RA-ILD and support further investigation into individualized risk stratification and screening.
Comparative risk of incident and recurrent acute anterior uveitis across different biological agents in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Kwon Oh Chan , Lee Hye Sun , Yang Juyeon , Park Min-Chan
Published: January 2024

Objective

To evaluate the comparative risk of incident and recurrent acute anterior uveitis (AAU) across different biological DMARDs (bDMARDs) in patients with AS.

Methods

A retrospective nationwide cohort study was conducted on 34 621 patients with AS without a previous history of AAU using a national claims database. Patients were followed-up from 2010 to 2021. The comparative risk of incident and recurrent AAU across different bDMARDs was examined using multivariable time-dependent Cox models and counting process (Anderson–Gill) models, respectively.

Results

The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% CIs for incident AAU (bDMARDs non-exposure as reference) were: adalimumab 0.674 (0.581–0.891), etanercept 1.760 (1.540–2.012), golimumab 0.771 (0.620–0.959), infliximab 0.891 (0.741–1.071) and secukinumab 1.324 (0.794–2.209). Compared with adalimumab exposure, etanercept [aHR 2.553 (2.114–3.083)], infliximab [aHR 1.303 (1.039–1.634)] and secukinumab [aHR 2.173 (1.273–3.710)] exposures showed a higher risk of incident AAU. The aHRs and 95% CIs for recurrent AAU (bDMARDs non-exposure as reference) were: adalimumab 0.798 (0.659–0.968), etanercept 1.416 (1.185–1.693), golimumab 0.874 (0.645–1.185), infliximab 0.926 (0.729–1.177) and secukinumab 1.257 (0.670–2.359). Compared with adalimumab exposure, etanercept exposure [aHR 1.793 (1.403–2.292)] was associated with a higher risk of recurrent AAU.

Conclusion

Our data suggest preference for bDMARDs in the following order: adalimumab/golimumab > infliximab > secukinumab > etanercept (for incident AAU prevention) and adalimumab > golimumab/infliximab/secukinumab > etanercept (for recurrent AAU prevention).
A review of the evidence for the utility of physical activity monitor use in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
Authors: Rockette-Wagner Bonny , Aggarwal Rohit
Published: January 2024

Few proven therapies exist for patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), partly due to the lack of reliable and valid outcome measures for assessing treatment responses. The current core set measures developed by the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies group were developed to standardize assessments of disease activity and treatment effect. None of the current measures address functional improvement in muscle weakness. Therefore, supplemental measures to more objectively assess physical activity levels and fatiguability in free-living settings are needed to assess disease activity more comprehensively. Validated physical activity monitors (PAMs) have the potential to serve as an objective functional outcome measure in clinical trials and observational studies. This review examines the current evidence for the use of body-worn PAMs in clinical settings with IIM patients. A practical overview of methods for PAM use in clinical patient populations (including measurement details and data processing) that focuses on IIM patients is also presented.
Common risk factors in cross-sectional FX options returns
Authors: Zhang Xuanchen , So Raymond H Y , Driouchi Tarik
Published: January 2024

We identify a comprehensive list of thirty-eight characteristics for predicting cross-sectional FX options returns. We find that three factors—long-term straddle momentum, implied volatility, and illiquidity—can generate economically and statistically significant risk premia not explained by other return predictors. Meanwhile, the predictability of the other characteristics becomes insignificant after accounting for the FX option three-factor model. The significance of the three factors is confirmed through a series of robustness tests covering different data sources, alternative options strategies, diversification effects, bootstrapping, and omitting crisis years.
Risk of Psychosis Among Individuals Who Have Presented to Hospital With Self-harm: A Prospective Nationwide Register Study in Sweden
Authors: Bolhuis Koen , Ghirardi Laura , Kuja-Halkola Ralf , Lång Ulla , Cederlöf Martin , Metsala Johanna , Corcoran Paul , O’Connor Karen , Dodd Philip , Larsson Henrik , Kelleher Ian
Published: January 2024

Background and Hypothesis

Recent research showed that young people who presented to hospital with self-harm in Finland had a significantly elevated risk of later psychosis. We investigated the prospective relationship between hospital presentation for self-harm and risk of psychosis in an unprecedentedly large national Swedish cohort.

Study Design

We used inpatient and outpatient healthcare registers to identify all individuals born between 1981 and 1993 who were alive and living in Sweden on their 12th birthday and who presented to hospital one or more times with self-harm. We compared them with a matched cohort, followed up for up to 20 years, and compared the cumulative incidence of psychotic disorders. Furthermore, we examined whether the strength of the relationship between hospital presentation for self-harm and later psychosis changed over time by examining for cohort effects.

Study Results

In total, 28 908 (2.0%) individuals presented to hospital with self-harm without prior psychosis diagnosis during the follow-up. For individuals who presented to hospital with self-harm, the cumulative incidence of diagnosed psychosis was 20.7% at 20 years follow-up (hazard radio = 13.9, 95% CI 13.3–14.6, P-value <5 × 10−308). There was no evidence of a dilution of the effect over time: while the incidence of hospital self-harm presentation increased, this did not result in an attenuation over time of the strength of the relationship between hospital self-harm presentation and subsequent psychosis.

Conclusions

Individuals who present to hospital with self-harm in their teens and 20s represent an important risk group for psychosis prediction and prevention.
The Discrimination and Anomaly in the Property Rights of Indian Women
Authors: Suswaram Aditya
Published: January 2024

The proviso of section 10 of the Transfer of Property Act of 1882, is a regressive law restraining women of certain religions from alienating property received from an inter-vivos transaction. This paper highlights this aspect of the statute and calls for reform in the property rights of such women, as the proviso violates the Indian Constitutional guarantee of preventing gender and religion-based discrimination. Further, the proviso creates an anomaly in the property interest of women who fall within the ambit of both section 10 and the Indian Succession Act. This paper also argues that the mere deletion of the impugned proviso will not address the issue of patriarchy and secure the welfare of women. Dowry is one such example discussed in this paper, which persists despite statutes aimed at eradicating it. The reasons for the existence of section 10, as given by the English Judges of the colonial past, continue to plague Indian women even today. On the contrary, a woman’s absolute interest in property would make her susceptible to dowry abuse, consequently perpetuating the practice of dowry demands. Therefore, in addition to legal reform, this paper advocates increasing efforts in sensitizing society to bring about real change.
Better Regulation and its Evolution in the Hellenic Legislative and Parliamentary System
Authors: Fitsilis Fotios , Theodorakopoulos Georgios
Published: January 2024

This article highlights the state-of-play in law-making in Greece especially following the adoption of law 4622/2019 aiming at establishing a culture of principles and means for enhancing the quality of laws. The revised model for new legislation, as well as the approach taken for the transformation of existing laws into the new model, the so-called codification process, are presented. In this framework, the role of the Hellenic Parliament is discussed and its position vis-à-vis other regulatory authorities is highlighted. The ongoing legislative modernization activities are approached under the light of digital tools and services that are being developed to further advance law-making processes in Greece.
The 2023 SSSP Presidential Address Recycled: The Emergence and Re-emergence of Social Problems
Authors: Jackson Shirley A
Published: January 2024

This presidential address uses an autoethnographic approach to social problems to give the audience an opportunity to reflect upon the ways in which social problems exist, morph, wane, and return. Looking back over the social problems we have encountered over our lives as individuals and as social scientists, how might we work not only to identify but solve problems? Social problems are difficult to solve, since problems change with the times as well as with the social, political, and economic climate. The past is the present and the present is the past. The fact that the same problems reemerge time and time again shows they are significant enough to require not only our attention but also potential solutions. We should prepare our students to identify those problems that are most compelling and persistent, encouraging them and ourselves to apply a confluence of sociology, social work, economics, political science, urban studies, history in a search for solutions. We must move from the sidelines to participate not only in the study of society and its social problems but in finding solutions.
Racial Exclusion by Bureaucratic Omission: Non-Enumeration, Documentary Dispossession, and the Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar
Authors: Cheong Amanda R
Published: January 2024

This article traces the bureaucratic bases of the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. I draw on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with Rohingya activists to elucidate the political struggles and competing archival logics surrounding their disenfranchisement and displacement. I explain a curious shift in the past decade in Myanmar’s approach to managing the Rohingya population, whereby longstanding strategies of legally-encoded racial exclusion gave way to moves to withhold and contract the state’s administrative reach: 1) the repudiation of the Rohingya category in the 2014 census; and 2) the dispossession of documents leading up to the 2015 elections. I develop the concept of “bureaucratic omission” to reveal an alternative mode by which the state’s symbolic power can be accumulated and exercised. In the wake of new claims-making pressures during Myanmar’s short-lived democratic opening, state officials nullified Rohingyas’ claims for recognition as citizens by depriving them of the material evidence to support these claims. In response, Rohingya activists invoked this same epistemic power of documents, leveraging archival sources and documentary vestiges to build their own historical counternarratives of indigenous belonging. By protagonizing stateless Rohingyas, I provide insight into top-down administrative efforts to un-make race and into how minorities can contest these omissions.
Optimal Therapeutic Strategy of Bone Marrow-Originated Autologous Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells for ALS
Authors: Kim Seung Hyun , Oh Ki-Wook , Noh Min-Young , Kwon Min-Soo
Published: January 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by selective and progressive neurodegenerative changes in motor neural networks. Given the system complexity, including anatomically distributed sites of degeneration from the motor cortex to the spinal cord and chronic pro-inflammatory conditions, a cell-based therapeutic strategy could be an alternative approach to treating ALS. Lessons from previous mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC) trials in ALS realized the importance of 3 aspects in current and future MSC therapy, including the preparation of MSCs, administration routes and methods, and recipient-related factors. This review briefly describes the current status and future prerequisites for an optimal strategy using bone-marrow-originated MSCs to treat ALS. We suggest mandatory factors in the optimized therapeutic strategy focused on advanced therapy medicinal products produced according to Good Manufacturing Practice, an optimal administration method, the selection of proper patients, and the importance of biomarkers.
Examining the taxonomic distribution of tetracycline resistance in a wastewater plant
Authors: Ochman Howard , Quandt Erik M , Gottell Neil , Gilbert Jack A
Published: January 2024

Microbial communities serve as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and facilitate the dissemination of these genes to bacteria that infect humans. Relatively little is known about the taxonomic distribution of bacteria harboring ARGs in these reservoirs and the avenues of transmission due to the technical hurdles associated with characterizing the contents of complex microbial populations and the assignment of genes to particular genomes. Focusing on the array of tetracycline resistance (Tcr) genes in the primary and secondary phases of wastewater treatment, 17 of the 22 assayed Tcr genes were detected in at least one sample. We then applied emulsion, paired isolation, and concatenation PCR (epicPCR) to link tetracycline resistance genes to specific bacterial hosts. Whereas Tcr genes tend to vary in their distributions among bacterial taxa according to their modes of action, there were numerous instances in which a particular Tcr gene was associated with a host that was distantly related to all other bacteria bearing the same gene, including several hosts not previously identified. Tcr genes are far less host-restricted than previously assumed, indicating that complex microbial communities serve as settings where ARGs are spread among divergent bacterial phyla.
Microbial threats and sustainable solutions for molluscan aquaculture
Authors: Kunselman Emily , Wiggin Kara , Diner Rachel E , Gilbert Jack A , Allard Sarah M
Published: January 2024

Aquaculture is responsible for producing almost half of the world’s seafood. As the global climate changes and population continues to increase, we must prepare for increased disease in aquatic animals, a risk compounded by high-density aquafarms that are necessary to keep up with demand. This review will highlight major microbial threats to aquaculture and current and alternative solutions to these threats with consideration for the accessibility of the proposed solutions. Molluscs are ideal for sustainable aquaculture because they require less inputs than most other protein sources, and through filter feeding, they improve local ecosystem health. However, they are also plagued by microbial diseases, and rising water temperatures will only exacerbate this problem by enhancing pathogen survival, range, and growth. At the same time, microbial treatments hold great promise for reducing disease burden and increasing yield and food safety. In order to combat threats to sustainable aquaculture, it is critical to monitor and predict microbial behavior in coastal water and animal populations, explore sustainable microbial treatment options such as probiotics and phage therapy, reduce reliance on antimicrobials, and develop mitigation strategies through partnership with mollusc farmers, government regulators, industry, academic researchers, and indigenous peoples.
Postmanufacturing techniques for mitigation of viral pathogens in porcine-derived feed ingredients: a review
Authors: Harrison Olivia L , Paulk Chad B , Woodworth Jason C , Gebhardt Jordan T , Jones Cassandra K
Published: January 2024

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a highly infectious virus known to cause substantial mortality and morbidity in pigs. The transmissibility and severity of disease within pigs, as well as the potentially resultant catastrophic trade ramifications, warrant its status as a foreign animal disease of substantial concern to the United States. The ASFV virus can survive for extended periods of time outside its host, and its greatest concentration is often observed in blood and organs, products that are frequently used as raw materials to manufacture porcine-derived ingredients fed to animals in the United States. Unlike ruminant-based proteins that cannot be fed to ruminant animals, it is permissible to feed porcine-derived ingredients to pigs in the United States. However, the increased threat of ASFV entry into the United States and our evolving understanding of viral transmission by feedstuffs warrant further investigation into this practice. The objectives of this review are to describe the current knowledge of ASFV survival in raw materials used to produce porcine-based ingredients, identify priorities for future research, and summarize potential options for managing risk until additional knowledge can be gained. While limited data is available for ASFV-specific mitigation, the temperatures used in both spray-drying and rendering have proven to effectively reduce viral concentrations of multiple swine viruses below detectable limits. However, some of these procedures may not eliminate the risk of recontamination, which necessitates the need for additional prevention or mitigation measures. Most published research in this area relies on direct inoculation of raw ingredient, not the finished porcine-derived ingredient. Currently, three published studies report ASFV mitigation in either thermally processed conditions (>40 °C) or ingredient quarantine (<40 °C). Virus inactivation, or the reduction of viral concentrations below detectable levels, was observed in the thermally processed study and one of the two ingredient quarantine studies. In conclusion, there is little knowledge to eliminate the risk of recontamination in porcine-derived ingredients; therefore, future research should aim to support and validate the currently available literature for the continued and safe production of porcine-derived ingredients in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak.
Surgical smoke and its components, effects, and mitigation: a contemporary review
Authors: Benaim Ezer H , Jaspers Ilona
Published: January 2024

Energy-based surgical instruments produce surgical smoke, which contains harmful byproducts, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and viable microorganisms. The research setting has shifted from the laboratory to the operating room. However, significant heterogeneity in the methods of detection and placement of samplers, diversity in the tissue operated on, and types of surgeries tested has resulted in variability in detected levels and composition of surgical smoke. State regulation limiting surgical smoke exposure through local evacuators is expanding but has yet to reach the national regulatory level. However, most studies have not shown levels above standard established limits but relatively short bursts of high concentrations of these harmful by-products. This review highlights the limitations of the current research and unsupported conclusions while also suggesting further areas of interest that need more focus to improve Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.
A systems toxicology approach for identification of disruptions in cholesterol homeostasis after aggregated exposure to mixtures of perfluorinated compounds in humans
Authors: Westerhout Joost , den Heijer-Jordaan Annemiek , Princen Hans M G , Stierum Rob
Published: January 2024

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used in various household and industrial products. In humans, positive associations were reported between PFAS, including perfluorsulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid, and cholesterol, a cardiometabolic risk factor. Animal studies show the opposite. Human-centered approaches are needed to better understand the effects of PFAS mixtures on cholesterol. Here, a systems toxicology approach is described, using a gene-centered cholesterol biokinetic model. PFAS exposure-gene expression relations from published data were introduced into the model. An existing PFAS physiologically based kinetic model was augmented with lung and dermal compartments and integrated with the cholesterol model to enable exposure-effect modeling. The final model was populated with data reflecting lifetime mixture exposure from: tolerable weekly intake values; the environment; high occupational exposures (ski waxing, PFAS industry). Results indicate that low level exposures (tolerable weekly intake, environmental) did not change cholesterol. In contrast, occupational exposures clearly resulted in internal PFAS exposure and disruption of cholesterol homeostasis, largely in line with epidemiological observations. Despite model limitations (eg, dynamic range, directionality), changes in cholesterol homeostasis were predicted for ski waxers, hitherto unknown from epidemiological studies. Here, future studies involving lipid metabolism could improve risk assessment.