bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Observational cohort study of long‐term outcomes of liver transplantation in haemophilia
Authors: Ragni Margaret V. , Callis Jessica , Daoud Nabil , Hu Brian , Manuel Matthew , Santos Jarren , Schwartz Jonathan , Friedman Kenneth D. , Kouides Peter , Kuriakose Philip , Leavitt Andrew D. , Lim Ming Y. , Machin Nicoletta , Recht Michael , Chrisentery‐Singleton Tammuella
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Gene therapy is now a reality for individuals with haemophilia, yet little is known regarding the quality‐of‐life impact of factor correction. As few data exist, and recognizing the analogy to liver transplantation (OLTX), we identified OLTX+ and OLTX‐ men in the ATHNdataset to compare post‐OLTX factor VIII and IX on quality of life (QoL) by Haem‐A‐QoL and PROMIS‐29.

Methods

OLTX‐ were matched to OLTX+ by age, race, and haemophilia type and severity. Deidentified demographic data, including post‐transplant factor levels, genotype and target joint disease were analysed by descriptive statistics. Haem‐A‐Qol and PROMIS‐29 were compared in OLTX+ and OLTX‐ by student's t‐test and univariate regression models.

Results

Of 86 people with haemophilia A (HA) or haemophilia B (HB) cared for at 10 haemophilia treatment centers (HTCs), 21 (24.4%) OLTX+ and 65 (75.6%) OLTX‐ were identified. OLTX+ and OLTX‐ had a similar frequency of target joint disease (p = .806), HA genotypes, null versus non‐null (p = .696), and HIV infection (p = .316). At a median 9.2 years post‐OLTX, median FVIII, .63 IU/mL [IQR 0.52–0.97] and FIX, .91 IU/mL [IQR .63–1.32], Haem‐A‐QoL, PROMIS‐29, and HOT scores were comparable. Severe HA/HB had lower post‐OLTX ‘dealing with haemophilia’ scores (p = .022) and higher ‘sports and leisure’ (p = .010) and ‘view of yourself’ scores (p = .024) than OLTX+ non‐severe participants. Non‐caucasian OLTX+ had significantly lower scores in sports and leisure (p = .042), future expectations (p = .021) and total score (p = .010).

Conclusion

Nine years after OLTX, QoL is comparable to OLTX–, but significantly better in OLTX+ with severe than non‐severe disease and in caucasians than non‐caucasians.
A new imaging classification for safer radial access visceral intervention of the liver and optimal case selection: A preliminary report
Authors: Kawamura Yusuke , Akuta Norio , Fujiyama Shunichiro , Hosaka Tetsuya , Saitoh Satoshi , Sezaki Hitomi , Suzuki Fumitaka , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Ikeda Kenji , Arase Yasuji , Kumada Hiromitsu
Published: December 2023

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a new classification for safer transradial access hepatic interventional radiology, based on preoperative evaluation of the location of the left subclavian artery bifurcation in the aortic arch.

Methods

A total of 38 consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 74 sessions of radial access for visceral intervention (R.A.V.I.) were reviewed. We classified the location of the left subclavian artery bifurcation in the aortic arch in three areas using an oblique view computed tomography image matched with the curve of the aortic arches according to a new criteria Three Areas Criteria For R.A.V.I. (named “TAC‐F‐R”), and measured the required time from initial left radial artery arteriography to celiac artery or superior mesenteric artery arteriography.

Results

The median time required for left radial artery arteriography to the celiac artery or superior mesenteric artery arteriography in each of the three areas were: area A, 0:11:10 (h, min, s); area B, 0:14:44; and area C, 0:31:51. There were significant differences between each area after Bonferroni correction (p < 0.01; A vs. B, p = 0.086; A vs. C, p = 0.001; and B vs. C, p = 0.045), with areas A and B requiring a significantly shorter time. Finally, no patients showed neurogenic disfunction within 1 week after the R.A.V.I. procedure.

Conclusions

The new classification, “TAC‐F‐R,” for safer transradial access hepatic interventional radiology is effective for avoiding difficult cases, and selects more suitable patients with hepatocellular carcinoma for the R.A.V.I. procedure.
Accessing Meals on Wheels: A qualitative study exploring the experiences of service users and people who refer them to the service
Authors: Papadaki Angeliki , Wakeham Mary , Ali Becky , Armstrong Miranda Elaine Glynis , Willis Paul , Cameron Ailsa
Published: December 2023

Aims

This study aimed to explore the perceptions of Meals on Wheels (MoWs) service users (SUs), and people who refer them to MoWs (‘referrers’), with accessing and commencing the service in England, the barriers that might hinder service uptake, and what information would be valued when considering accessing the service.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted in May–July 2022 with seven SUs and 21 referrers, recruited from four MoWs providers across England. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Participants indicated various pathways into the service, but referrers (family members) were more likely to be the ones enquiring about, and commencing, MoWs for SUs. Once an enquiry about MoWs had been made, the service was perceived as straightforward to set up. However, existing preconceptions and stereotypes were perceived to act as barriers to accessing MoWs. Information that participants deemed important to have available when deciding on whether to access MoWs related to the meals, the specific services provided, the reliability and flexibility of delivery and the cost of services.

Conclusion

These findings could inform MoWs service providers' public awareness strategies about MoWs, to facilitate referrals to the service for adults with care and support needs.

Patient or Public Contribution

An advisory group of people with lived experience of MoWs (users of the service and their family referrers) extensively discussed the findings of the research and advised on the implications and future dissemination steps.
Preparation and adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics of sodium humate‐modified diatomite
Authors: Chen Hongye , Gao Ruqin , Ma Qiuhui
Published: December 2023

Diatomaceous earth has been used as a nonorganic carrier to prepare a sodium humate modified diatomaceous space using the sol‐gel method. X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, and other methods were used to characterize its physio‐chemical properties. The effects of sodium humate/diatomite on the pH of tetracycline in water, the dosage of adsorbent, and pollutant temperature on the adsorption effect were studied. The results show that after alkali modification, the porous structure of diatomite remains undamaged, and the specific surface area of the modified sample is increased to 12.712 m2/g, and the average pore diameter is reduced to 146.19 nm. Adding 20‐mg sodium humate/diatomite into 100‐mL tetracycline wastewater with an initial concentration of 20 mg/L, and pH of 5 at a temperature of 55°C, the adsorption capacity reaches 75.1 mg/L, and the removal rate reaches 78.3%. The quasi‐second‐order kinetic model was fitted by regression and found to have R2 > 0.99, indicating that the adsorption process was one of surface adsorption. It is a process that involves initially rapid adsorption and then slowly reaching equilibrium. As an adsorption thermodynamics model, the Temkin, Redlich‐Peterson and Koble‐Corrigan models can explain humic acid sodium/diatomite behavior in the adsorption of tetracycline in water (each with R2 ≥ 0.99), and the effects of surface behavior in multilayer adsorption and electrostatic attraction on uneven heterogeneous adsorption.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccination among male nurses
Authors: Sağtaş Furkan , Gürsoy Melike Yalçın
Published: December 2023

Aim

This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of male nurses towards human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccination and to examine whether knowledge about the HPV vaccine affects attitudes and beliefs about HPV vaccines.

Background

HPV is responsible for ≈5% of all cancers worldwide. Therefore, vaccination against HPV is recommended to prevent HPV infections and HPV‐related cancers in men and women.

Methods

The study group included 383 male nurses who were asked to complete online questionnaires. The data were collected using the following tools: a sociodeomographical characteristics form, the Human Papillomavirus Knowledge Scale (HPVKS), and The Carolina HPV Immunization Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (CHIAS).

Results

It was determined that the general HPV knowledge of the male nurses participating in the study was at a moderate level, but their knowledge of HPV screening test, HPV vaccination, and current HPV vaccination programmes were at a low level. Male nurses' HPV vaccination rates were relatively low, and most of them did not intend to be vaccinated. In addition, CHIAS Attitudes and Beliefs scores of the male nurses were at an average level and HPV knowledge affected the attitudes and beliefs of the nurses.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate an opportunity to improve information and awareness about HPV and vaccines by nursing education.
Real‐world outcomes of avelumab plus axitinib as first‐line therapy in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma in Japan: A multicenter, retrospective, observational study (J‐DART)
Authors: Kato Taigo , Nakano Yuzo , Hongo Fumiya , Katano Hidenori , Miyagawa Tomoaki , Ueda Kosuke , Azuma Haruhito , Nozawa Masahiro , Hinata Nobuyuki , Hori Junichi , Otoshi Taiyo , Shimizu Nobuaki , Aizawa Mana , Osada Shingo , Matsui Akiko , Oya Mototsugu , Eto Masatoshi , Tomita Yoshihiko , Shinohara Nobuo , Uemura Hirotsugu
Published: December 2023

Objectives

In the phase 3 JAVELIN Renal 101 trial in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC), objective response rate (ORR) and progression‐free survival (PFS) were significantly improved in patients treated with first‐line avelumab plus axitinib vs sunitinib. Here we evaluate real‐world outcomes with first‐line avelumab plus axitinib in Japanese patients with aRCC.

Methods

In this multicenter, noninterventional, retrospective study, clinical data from patients with aRCC treated with first‐line avelumab plus axitinib between December 2019 and December 2020 in Japan were reviewed. Endpoints included ORR and PFS per investigator assessment, and time to treatment discontinuation (TTD).

Results

Data from 48 patients (median age, 69 years) from 12 sites were analyzed. Median follow‐up was 10.4 months (range, 2.6–16.5), and median duration of treatment was 7.4 months (range, 0.5–16.5). International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium risk category was favorable, intermediate, or poor in 16.7%, 54.2%, and 29.2% of patients, respectively. The ORR was 48.8% (95% CI, 33.3%–64.5%), including complete response in 3/43 patients (7.0%). Thirteen patients (27.1%) had disease progression or died, and median PFS was 15.3 months (95% CI, 9.7 months – not estimable). At data cutoff, 24 patients (50.0%) were still receiving avelumab plus axitinib, and median TTD was 15.2 months (95% CI, 7.4 months – not estimable). Three patients (6.3%) received high‐dose corticosteroid treatment for immune‐related adverse events, and 8 (16.7%) received treatment for infusion‐related reactions.

Conclusions

We report the first real‐world evidence of the effectiveness and tolerability of first‐line avelumab plus axitinib in Japanese patients with aRCC. Results were comparable with the JAVELIN Renal 101 trial.
Recombinant bone matrix maintains the graft space, induces vascularized bone regeneration and preserves canine tooth extraction socket structure
Authors: Okamura Ai , Hiratsuka Takahiro , Fushimi Hideo , Nishimura Ichiro
Published: December 2023

Aim

Recombinant bone matrix (RBM) is a newly conceived and engineered porous bone graft granule of average size 600 μm composed of purified recombinant collagen peptide. We sought to examine the behaviour with time of RBM that was grafted in the canine tooth extraction socket.

Materials and Methods

The canine tooth extraction socket of the hemisectioned mandibular third premolar distal root was grafted with RBM granules, whereas the opposite side extraction socket served as non‐grafted control. The mandibular samples were harvested at 1, 3 and 6 months of healing and subjected to micro‐CT imaging and decalcified paraffin‐embedded histology. Separately, the effect of RBM was compared with that of deproteinized cancellous bovine bone (DCBB) and bovine atelocollagen plug (BACP) in the canine tooth extraction model at 3 months of healing.

Results

RBM maintained the grafted space in the socket and the gingival connective tissue until new bone was formed within its porous space. The regenerated bone was highly vascularized and continued to mature, while RBM was completely bioresorbed by 6 months. The buccal and lingual alveolar ridge heights of the RBM‐grafted extraction socket was better preserved than those of non‐grafted control sockets. The degree of socket preservation by RBM was equivalent to that by DCBB, although their healing mechanisms were different.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that RBM induced controlled active bone regeneration and preserved the extraction socket structure in a canine model. Bioresorbable RBM engineered without animal or human source materials presents a novel bone graft category with robust bone regenerative property.
CCR2 is a potential therapeutic target in peri‐implantitis
Authors: Yuan Shasha , Wei Yiping , Jiang Wenting , Sun Fei , Li Siqi , Li Qingqing , Song Zhanming , Liu Zhongtian , Mo Yaqian , Wang Xuekang , Li Ning , Lv Ping , She Shaoping , Wang Cui , Zhang Yu , Wang Ying , Hu Wenjie
Published: December 2023

Aim

CCR2 (C‐C chemokine receptor type 2) plays a crucial role in inflammatory and bone metabolic diseases; however, its role in peri‐implantitis remains unclear. This study aimed to explore whether CCR2 contributes to peri‐implantitis and the treatment effects of cenicriviroc (CVC) on peri‐implant inflammation and bone resorption.

Materials and Methods

The expression of CCR2 was studied using clinical tissue analysis and an in vivo peri‐implantitis model. The role of CCR2 in promoting inflammation and bone resorption in peri‐implantitis was evaluated in Ccr2−/− mice and wild‐type mice. The effect of CVC on peri‐implantitis was evaluated using systemic and local dosage forms.

Results

Human peri‐implantitis tissues showed increased CCR2 and CCL2 levels, which were positively correlated with bone loss around the implants. Knocking out Ccr2 in an experimental model of peri‐implantitis resulted in decreased monocyte and macrophage infiltration, reduced pro‐inflammatory cytokine generation and impaired osteoclast activity, leading to reduced inflammation and bone loss around the implants. Treatment with CVC ameliorated bone loss in experimental peri‐implantitis.

Conclusions

CCR2 may be a potential target for peri‐implantitis treatment by harnessing the immune‐inflammatory response to modulate the local inflammation and osteoclast activity.
Tanning bed use in Germany between 2015 and 2022: Representative data of 28,000 individuals on indoor tanning, risk awareness and reasons for use
Authors: Diehl Katharina , Breitbart Eckhard W. , de Buhr Yvonne , Görig Tatiana
Published: December 2023

Background

Tanning beds were classified as first‐group carcinogens in 2009. Nonetheless, research shows that people in industrialized Western countries use tanning beds. Based on the National Cancer Aid Monitoring (NCAM) including representative data on 28,000 individuals from Germany, we quantified the prevalence as a trend from 2015 to 2022, identified determinants of tanning bed use and analysed risk awareness and reasons for use.

Methods

We used NCAM data from 2015 to 2022 to analyse the trends in the prevalence of tanning bed use (n = 28,000). To determine the characteristics of tanning bed users, risk awareness and reasons, we combined data from the waves 2019 to 2022 (n = 16,000, 49.2% female, 16–65 years) in a pooled dataset to have sufficient power to detect even smaller associations.

Results

Tanning bed use decreased to 5.1% in 2022. The use of tanning beds in spas, fitness and beauty facilities increased, except during the COVID‐19 pandemic, while the use in tanning salons decreased. Typical tanning bed users were female, middle‐aged, occupied, higher educated, had an immigrant background and were former or current smokers. Risk awareness was the lowest among the current users. The most frequently mentioned reasons were relaxation, enhancement of attractiveness and pre‐tanning.

Discussion

Our nationwide representative data showed that the prevalence of indoor tanning has decreased. Of concern are the lower risk awareness among current users and the shift in place of use towards facilities associated with health and wellness. To further reduce the use of tanning beds, targeted information, educational campaigns and extended legislation are considered helpful.
Development and application of a recombinase‐aided amplification combined with a lateral flow dipstick assay for rapid visual detection of anguillid herpesvirus 1
Authors: Chen Xi , Chen Hua , Ge Jun‐Qing
Published: December 2023

Eel (Anguilla sp.) is an important freshwater‐cultured species with high economic value in China. Anguillid herpesvirus 1 (AngHV‐1) has been proven to be the pathogen of “mucus sloughing and haemorrhagic septicaemia disease” in eels, resulting in significant mortality and substantial losses to the eel industry. Current diagnostic methods for detecting AngHV‐1 are limited to laboratory‐based tests, for example, conventional end‐point PCR and qPCR. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an accurate, rapid, and simple detection method for on‐site diagnosis of AngHV‐1. In this study, we developed a recombinase‐aided amplification combined lateral flow dipstick (RAA‐LFD) assay for the detection of AngHV‐1. The RAA‐LFD assay can be performed within a temperature range of 18–45°C, with a reaction time of just 10 min for amplification. Importantly, the established RAA‐LFD assay exhibited no reactivity with other common aquatic viral pathogens, indicating its high specificity. The limit of detection for this method is 102 copies of AngHV‐1, which is more sensitive than the established conventional end‐point PCR method similarly targeting ORF95. Clinical detection of the diseased samples demonstrated that the accuracy of RAA‐LFD was significantly higher than that of the conventional end‐point PCR. In conclusion, the developed RAA‐LFD assay has proven to be a convenient, rapid, sensitive, and reliable tool for on‐site diagnosis of AngHV‐1. This advancement will be invaluable for the prevention and control of AngHV‐1 in the eel farming industry.
Modeling the effects of levee setbacks on flood hydraulics
Authors: Lammers Roderick W. , Chambers Matthew , Bledsoe Brian P.
Published: December 2023

Relocating levees further back from river channels to increase river–floodplain connection can reduce flood stages and provide a host of co‐benefits. Modeling case studies show the significant potential of large levee setbacks for reducing flood stages; however, the difficulty of comparing between these case studies limits our understanding of how the hydraulic effects of setbacks vary in different settings. We filled this research gap by systematically modeling the hydraulic effects of setbacks across a range of river and flood conditions. We used unsteady, 1D Hydrologic Engineering Center‐River Analysis System models to quantify changes in flood stage, channel velocity, and sediment transport capacity for various setback sizes with different river slopes, widths, floodplain roughness, and flood sizes (peak flows) and durations. Setbacks reduce flood stages within the setback, as well as up‐ and downstream. Channel velocity and sediment transport capacity both increased upstream and decreased within the setback. Channel slope, flood size, and flood duration had the largest influence on hydraulic changes. There are diminishing returns in hydraulic effects with increasing setback size. These results can help guide the design and prioritization of levee setback projects and help set reasonable expectations for the scale of changes to flood hydraulics relative to the size of the reconnected floodplain.
Real‐time prediction and ponding process early warning method at urban flood points based on different deep learning methods
Authors: Zhou Yihong , Wu Zening , Jiang Mengmeng , Xu Hongshi , Yan Denghua , Wang Huiliang , He Chentao , Zhang Xiangyang
Published: December 2023

Accurate prediction of urban floods is regarded as one of the critical means to prevent urban floods and reduce the losses caused by floods. In this study, a refined prediction and early warning method system for urban flood and waterlogging processes based on deep learning methods is proposed. The spatial autocorrelation of rain and ponding points is analyzed by Moran's I (a common used statistic for spatial autocorrelation). For each ponding point, the relationship model between the rainfall process and ponding process is constructed based on different deep learning methods, and the results are analyzed and verified by mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), Nash efficiency coefficient (NSE) and correlation coefficient (CC). The results show that the gradient boosting decision tree algorithm has the highest accuracy and efficiency (with a 0.001 m RMSE of the predicted and measured ponding depth) for ponding process prediction and is regarded as the most suitable method for ponding process prediction. Finally, the real‐time prediction and early warning of urban floods and waterlogging processes driven by rainfall forecast data are realized, and the results are verified by the measured data. The research results can provide theoretical support for urban flood prevention and control.
Image quality evaluation for FIB‐SEM images
Authors: Roldán Diego , Redenbach Claudia , Schladitz Katja , Kübel Christian , Schlabach Sabine
Published: December 2023

Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB‐SEM) tomography is a serial sectioning technique where an FIB mills off slices from the material sample that is being analysed. After every slicing, an SEM image is taken showing the newly exposed layer of the sample. By combining all slices in a stack, a 3D image of the material is generated. However, specific artefacts caused by the imaging technique distort the images, hampering the morphological analysis of the structure. Typical quality problems in microscopy imaging are noise and lack of contrast or focus. Moreover, specific artefacts are caused by the FIB milling, namely, curtaining and charging artefacts. We propose quality indices for the evaluation of the quality of FIB‐SEM data sets. The indices are validated on real and experimental data of different structures and materials.
Endometriotic mesenchymal stem cells promote the fibrosis process of endometriosis through paracrine TGF‐β1 mediated RASAL1 inhibition
Authors: Feng Ying , Dong Han , Tan Buzhen
Published: December 2023

Background

Endometrial‐derived stem cells are key players in endometriosis (EMs) pathogenesis, while the mechanism involved is still unclear. Herein, the role and regulatory mechanism of endometriotic mesenchymal stem cells (ecto‐MSCs) in regulating fibrosis during EMs progression were investigated.

Methods

The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using qRT‐PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence. Flow cytometry was adopted to analyze the markers of MSCs. Transwell assay was adopted to examine endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs) migration and invasion. The interactions between DNMT3A and RASAL1 were analyzed by ChIP assay. In addition, MSP was employed to detect RASAL1 promoter methylation level.

Results

Ecto‐MSCs promoted ESCs migration, invasion, and fibrosis process by TGF‐β1 paracrine. It was subsequently revealed that TGF‐β1 upregulated DNMT3A in ESCs in a SMAD3‐dependent manner. As expected, DNMT3A knockdown abolished ecto‐MSCs' facilitation on ESCs migration, invasion, and fibrosis process. DNMT3A, as a methyltransferase, reduced RASAL1 expression in TGF‐β1‐treated ESCs by increasing RASAL1 promoter methylation level. RASAL1, as an antifibrotic protein, was lowly expressed in TGF‐β1‐treated ESCs, and its overexpression ameliorated TGF‐β1‐induced increase in ESCs migration, invasion, and fibrosis process.

Conclusion

TGF‐β1 secreted by ecto‐MSCs facilitated fibrogenesis in EMs through SMAD3/DNMT3A‐mediated RASAL1 inhibition.
Well‐Being of Children and Families in COVID‐19 Hotspots in Chicago
Authors: Kan Kristin , Enaholo Ososese , Kanaley Madeleine , Holtzman Gwen , Ibrahim Khalid , Morales Lu , Lombard Lisa , Gupta Ruchi
Published: December 2023

Background

Families in high‐risk communities for COVID‐19 transmission experienced a disproportionate burden during the pandemic. This study assessed these families' needs, changes in children's well‐being, and perceptions related to the pandemic.

Methods

Four online surveys were administered January 2021 to September 2021 to parents of students, enrolled in parochial, kindergarten‐eighth grade schools in Chicago neighborhoods with higher COVID‐19 incidence rates by ZIP code, compared to the city average, and higher resource need.

Results

The response rate was 69.1% (n = 186 of 269) in the baseline survey; and other surveys were at 1 (n = 151), 3 (n = 145), and 5 months (n = 154). Of the sample, 83% of parents identified as Hispanic/Latinx with a mean age of 38.3 years (SD: 8.5). Approximately a quarter of parents reported difficulty paying cable and internet bills (26%) and paying utilities (25%). Parents reported children as happy (94% and 95%, p = .59) and hopeful (96% and 95%, p = .74) at 1‐month (February to May 2021) and 5‐month surveys (June to September 2021). Parents also reported fewer children were irritable (29% vs 19%, p = .03), felt lonely (17% vs 10%, p = .03), and felt isolated (28% vs 9%, p < .001) between those survey waves. The majority (67%) of parents felt that their child had no difficulty wearing a mask in public.

Conclusions

In this longitudinal study, Chicago parents rated children's well‐being highly and reported a decrease in negative emotions over time. The areas of need identified may be particularly relevant for outreach and providing resources to Hispanic/Latino families in future emergencies or global health threats.
When necessity is the mother of disruption: Users versus producers as sources of disruptive innovation
Authors: Preißner Stephanie , Raasch Christina , Schweisfurth Tim
Published: December 2023

This study investigates the sources of disruptive innovation. The disruptive innovation literature suggests that these do not originate from existing customers, in contrast to what is predicted by the user innovation literature. We compile a unique content‐analytical dataset based on 60 innovations identified as disruptive by the disruptive innovation literature. Using multinomial and binomial regression, we find that 43% of the sample disruptive innovations were originally developed by users. Disruptive innovations are more likely to originate from users (producers) if the environment has high turbulence in customer preferences (technology). Disruptive innovations that involve high functional (technological) novelty tend to be developed by users (producers). Users are also more likely to be the source of disruptive process innovations and to innovate in environments with weaker appropriability. Our article forges new links between the disruptive and the user innovation literatures, and offers guidance to managers on the likely source of disruptive threats.
Sex‐related difference analyses of efficacy and safety in clinical trials of direct‐acting antivirals to treat chronic HCV genotype 1 and 3 infections
Authors: Zhou Shuang , Qi Karen , Bersoff‐Matcha Susan J. , Mishra Poonam , Struble Kimberly
Published: December 2023

This study aims to identify clinically meaningful sex differences in efficacy and selected safety adverse events for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) or HIV/HCV co‐infection in those receiving combination direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) regimens. Our assessment was based on adult trial participants treated at the approved DAA dosage and treatment duration from 40 phase 3 clinical trials submitted to the FDA. Female enrollment ranged from 11% to 54% (overall mean 38%). Females with HCV genotype (GT) 1 or 3 infection had statistically significant higher unadjusted or covariant‐adjusted odds of achieving sustained virologic response at post‐treatment Week 12 (SVR12) compared with males. Odds ratios favouring females were observed among Whites and those ≥40 years of age with HCV GT1 or 3 infections, and among those ≥50 years of age, non‐cirrhotic and those with HCV GT3 infection who were treatment‐experienced. These differences were not clinically relevant due to the high SVR12 rate achieved by females and males, overall or in subgroups. No differences were observed in SVR12 rates between HCV GT1 mono‐infected and HCV GT1/ HIV‐1 co‐infected participants. Numerically, more females reported headache, fatigue and nausea compared to males, but the differences were small and predominately Grade 1 or 2 severity. Discontinuation rates for any reason or due to an adverse event were low and similar between the sexes. Our study demonstrated females successfully complete DAA regimens and achieve high SVR12 rates despite numerically higher adverse events for certain commonly reported events.
GANs training: A game and stochastic control approach
Authors: Guo Xin , Mounjid Othmane
Published: December 2023

Training generative adversarial networks (GANs) are known to be difficult, especially for financial time series. This paper first analyzes the well‐posedness problem in GANs minimax games and the widely recognized convexity issue in GANs objective functions. It then proposes a stochastic control framework for hyper‐parameters tuning in GANs training. The weak form of dynamic programming principle and the uniqueness and the existence of the value function in the viscosity sense for the corresponding minimax game are established. In particular, explicit forms for the optimal adaptive learning rate and batch size are derived and are shown to depend on the convexity of the objective function, revealing a relation between improper choices of learning rate and explosion in GANs training. Finally, empirical studies demonstrate that training algorithms incorporating this adaptive control approach outperform the standard ADAM method in terms of convergence and robustness. From GANs training perspective, the analysis in this paper provides analytical support for the popular practice of “clipping,” and suggests that the convexity and well‐posedness issues in GANs may be tackled through appropriate choices of hyper‐parameters.
Abiotic and biotic contexts shape the effect of disturbance on non‐native plant invasion
Authors: Chiuffo Mariana C. , Hierro José L.
Published: December 2023

Making predictions about when and where a given mechanism of invasion will be weak or strong is crucial for the effective management of non‐native species. Despite the importance of disturbance on invasion, our understanding of how variation in abiotic and/or biotic conditions may modify the disturbance‐invasion relationship is scarce. Here, we aimed to evaluate how abiotic (soil type) and biotic (tree and shrub cover) contexts affect the disturbance–invasion relationship in disturbed and nearby non‐disturbed communities in the semi‐arid open forest of central Argentina (ca 36°S) using field sampling. We found that abiotic context modulated non‐native species success in disturbed communities, whereas both abiotic and biotic context modulated success in nearby non‐disturbed communities. These findings suggest that the plant invasion–disturbance relationship is context‐dependent. Our results hint at the possibility that the significance of disturbance in predicting invasion might diminish as the importance of abiotic filters increases.
Seasonal soil moisture thresholds inhibit bacterial activity and decomposition during drought in a tallgrass prairie
Authors: Lemoine Nathan P. , Budny Michelle L. , Rose Ethan , Lucas Jane , Marshall Christopher W.
Published: December 2023

Soil moisture reductions during drought often inhibit soil microbial activity and inhibit decomposition rates by reducing microbial biomass or by altering microbial communities. Evidence suggests that soil water must drop below a critical threshold to inhibit microbial activity. Thus, it is likely that the seasonal timing of drought will determine the extent to which belowground processes are adversely impacted by drought. Specifically, the effects of drought might be minimal during cool, wet periods typical of late spring but dramatic during hot summer months with high evapotranspiration rates that lower soil moisture levels below the critical threshold. Here, we present results from a study designed to quantify the effect of drought on soil microbial abundance, community composition, and soil water diffusion across four months, and to then assess how drought impacts the microbial decomposition of leaf matter. We imposed a season‐long drought in a Wisconsin tallgrass prairie and measured soil moisture, bacterial composition and abundance, microbial respiration, and decomposition rates throughout the growing season. Bacterial communities varied considerably among dates, but drought did not affect either bacterial abundance or community composition. Microbial respiration declined significantly during periods of drought when soil pores likely became hydrologically isolated, ultimately reducing cumulative microbial respiration by 10%. The reduction in microbial activity in drought treatments caused a 50% decline in the decomposition of refractory material. Our study highlights that sublethal effects of drought on microbial communities, occurring only when soil moisture declined below a tolerance threshold, can have large impacts on microbial carbon release or decomposition, highlighting the need to incorporate such measures into future studies.
Urban spatial heterogeneity shapes the evolution of an antiherbivore defense trait and its genes in white clover
Authors: Ishiguro Tomoki , Johnson Marc T. J. , Utsumi Shunsuke
Published: December 2023

Urbanization is a global threat to biodiversity due to its large impact on environmental changes. Recently, urban environmental change has been shown to impact the evolution of many species. However, much remains unknown about how urban environments influence evolutionary processes and outcomes due to the non‐linearity and discontinuity of environmental variables along urban–rural gradients. Here, we focused on the evolution of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production and its components (presence/absence of cyanogenic glycosides and the hydrolytic enzyme linamarase) in the herbaceous plant white clover Trifolium repens, which thrive in both urban and rural areas. To comprehensively elucidate how plants evolve and adapt to heterogenous urban environments, we collected 3299 white clover plants from 122 populations throughout Sapporo, Japan. We examined the spatial variation in environmental factors, such as herbivory, sky openness, impervious surface cover, snow depth, and temperature, and how variation in these factors was related to the production of HCN, cyanogenic glycosides, and linamarase. Environmental factors showed complex spatial variation due to the heterogeneity of the urban landscape. Among these factors, herbivory, sky openness, and impervious surface cover were highly related to the frequency of plants producing HCN in populations. We also found that impervious surface cover was related to the frequency of plants producing cyanogenic glycosides, while herbivory pressure was not. As a result, the cyanogenic glycoside frequency showed a clearer trend along urban–rural gradient rather than HCN frequency, and thus, the predicted spatial distributions of HCN and cyanogenic glycosides were inconsistent. These results suggest that urban landscape heterogeneity and trait multifunctionality determines mosaic‐like spatial distribution of evolutionary traits.
Availability of mates and food influence the plasticity in strategies mediating life‐history tradeoffs in an insect
Authors: Stahlschmidt Zachary R. , Bui Daniel , Chen Jessica , Zhao William
Published: December 2023

Different life‐history strategies can be employed to navigate the tradeoff between investment into reproductive and somatic tissues, and plasticity in life‐history strategies may be one of animals' most important tools to counter ongoing global change. Therefore, we factorially manipulated the availability of two critical resources – mates and food – to determine plasticity in life‐history investment strategies. We tested several hypotheses using females of the variable field cricket Gryllus lineaticeps because it exhibits a wing dimorphism that mediates a tradeoff between investment into ovary mass and dispersal (flight capacity) during early adulthood – long‐winged females' investment into flight muscle obligates reduced ovaries, while short‐winged females lack flight but instead heavily invest into ovaries. The availability of food and mates played different roles in the plasticity of life‐history strategies. Song exposure as a proxy for mate density exerted its strongest (negative) effects on somatic tissue and flight capacity. Meanwhile, food availability strongly influenced food intake, which exerted its strongest (positive) effects on reproduction. Raw traits of reproductive and somatic investment, such as ovary and non‐ovary mass gained, respectively, positively covaried; yet, reproduction‐soma relationships disappeared or became negative (i.e. characterizing tradeoffs) when resource (food) acquisition was accounted for. Thus, failure to account for food intake can lead to misdiagnoses of the plasticity of reproduction‐related tradeoffs. Further, the negative effect of flight capacity on ovary mass gain was dependent on male song (acoustic × flight interaction) and food availability (food × flight interaction). These were likely adaptive responses because they allowed flight‐capable females to invest heavily into reproduction when conditions for reproduction were favorable (i.e. abundance of food and mates). In sum, we uncovered multi‐directional effects among dispersal capacity, resource availability, and the plasticity of the tradeoff between investment into reproductive and non‐reproductive tissues.
PROVENANCE STUDIES IN ARCHAEOLOGY – MORE REFLECTIVE OF ‘QUALITY CONTROL’ WITHIN A RESOURCESCAPE THAN GEOCHEMISTRY?
Authors: Pollard A.M. , Liu R.
Published: December 2023

Despite the obvious methodological similarities between archaeology and geology, we argue here that the fundamental assumption in scientific provenance studies of inorganic artefacts provides an insufficient basis for the methodology. That assumption is that there is a geochemical link between the source of the raw material and the finished object. Although this is undoubtedly necessary, it is not sufficient. We argue that, particularly for highly processed materials such as metal, glass, or ceramics, an equally (if not more) important factor is the sequence of human activities which are applied to the raw material during processing to become an object. In fact, we suggest that the main requirement for successful provenance work is the existence of sustained and repeatable quality assurance processes during production, carried out within a defined resourcescape. Ironically, this makes provenance studies more relevant to archaeology than does the simple search for sources.
Intercalary Prosthetic Reconstruction with Three‐Dimensional‐Printed Custom‐Made Porous Component for Defects of Long Bones with Short Residual Bone Segments After Tumor Resection
Authors: Li Zhuangzhuang , Lu Minxun , Zhang Yuqi , Wang Jie , Wang Yitian , Gong Taojun , He Xuanhong , Luo Yi , Zhou Yong , Min Li , Tu Chongqi
Published: December 2023

Background

Intercalary reconstruction for patients with short residual bone segments remains challenging. Three‐dimensional (3D)‐printed custom‐made porous implants are a promising technique for short‐segment fixation in these patients. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of 3D‐printed custom‐made porous components (3DCPCs) for short‐segment fixation, focusing on prosthesis survivorship, radiographic results, and potential complications.

Methods

This retrospective study involved 39 patients who underwent intercalary prosthetic reconstruction with 3DCPCs after tumor resection of the femur, tibia, or humerus from June 2015 to October 2020. Segment bone loss involved the femur (n = 15), tibia (n = 16), and humerus (n = 8), leaving 78 residual bone segments. There were 46 short segments requiring 46 3DCPCs and 32 segments with the ability to accommodate 32 off‐the‐shelf standard uncemented stems for prosthesis fixation. Clinical and functional outcomes were evaluated. Prosthesis‐overall survivorship and prosthesis‐specific survivorship were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Radiographic results and modes of failure of using this technique were also examined.

Results

The mean follow‐up was 41 months. The prosthesis‐overall survivorship was 87.2% and 84.6% at 2 and 5 years, respectively. The prosthesis‐specific survivorship was 92.1% and 89.5% at 2 and 5 years, respectively. There was not a substantial difference in prosthesis survivorship among the femur, tibia, and humerus. The average MSTS score was 26.2, ranging from 22 to 28. The radiographic evaluation results revealed excellent or good interface (38/46) in most of the 46 porous components. A total of 38 of 46 bone segments’ remolding demonstrated no change. In total, seven patients (16.3%) had complications requiring further surgery.

Conclusion

The prosthesis survivorship of using 3DCPCs for short‐segment fixation is similar or better compared to other studies involving intercalary prosthetic reconstruction with short‐segment fixation. Radiographic evaluation revealed good osteointegration and avoidance of stress shielding. Overall, intercalary prosthetic reconstruction with 3DCPC is a feasible modality for patients with short residual bone segments after tumor resection.
Characteristic analysis of China's actions against the COVID‐19 in schools and comparison with other countries
Authors: Li Na , Yu Xiang
Published: December 2023

Background

The outbreak of the COVID‐19 poses a great threat to students globally. China has taken steps to keep students from becoming infected for more than 30 months, while other countries have also taken steps. Comparing the intentions, implementation, immediate and long‐term effects of these initiatives can shed more light on the care of adolescents in schools.

Objective

The focus of the study is to describe the full range of school prevention measures in China, identifying when they work and when they do not. At the same time, some typical measures taken in other countries’ schools are presented and compared to provide a comprehensive discussion.

Methods

This study attempted to combine data comparison, information analysis, policy interpretation, and participatory observation to form a comprehensive analytical network.

Results

China's schools have gone through of lucky periods, safety periods, difficult periods, and crisis periods. These efforts are due to the government's intense control measures, strict accountability of school administrators, frequent nucleic acid testing, widespread vaccination, and widely implemented online learning. In comparison, the measures taken by China are difficult to implement, and the price paid by the government, schools and students needs to be further assessed and reflected upon.

Conclusions

The virus is able to destroy the school's defence with ease. There should be a consensus among countries for a permanent virus control strategy, but the severity of the various measures needs to be appropriately determined, strict control measures can also have negative effects.
Differential gene expression patterns and physiological responses improve adaptation to high salinity concentration in pepper accessions
Authors: López‐Serrano Lidia , Martínez‐Cuenca Mary‐Rus , López‐Galarza Salvador , Calatayud Ángeles
Published: December 2023

High salinity decreases the productivity of crops worldwide. Pepper is particularly sensitive to high salt concentrations. Herein, we subjected three tolerant pepper accessions (C12, B14 and A25) to high sodium chloride concentration (70 mM NaCl). The aerial and root biomass, leaf and root osmotic potential (Ψπ), Na+, Cl−, K+ and proline concentrations and the relative expression of the putative genes CaSOS1, CaHKT1, three CaNHXs and CaP5CS were measured. Different salinity tolerance strategies depending on the pepper accession were identified. In C12, tolerance was attributed to the accumulation of Na+ in vacuoles and endosomes by the activation of vacuolar CaNHXs genes and the reduction in Ψπ; additionally, the activation of CaHKT1 and CaSOS1 in leaves and roots moved and accumulated Na+ ions in the xylem and xylem parenchyma cells (XPC) as well as expulsed it out of the root cells. A25 accession, on the contrary, was specialized in compartmentalizing Na+ ions in root and leaf vacuoles and root XPC by the up‐regulation of CaNHXs and CaHKT1, respectively, avoiding a toxic accumulation in leaves. Finally, B14 accession moved and accumulated Na+ in xylem and XPC, reducing its concentration in roots by the activation of CaSOS1 and CaHKT1. This study shade light on different tolerance mechanisms of pepper plants to overcome salt stress.
Single‐cell transcriptome analyses reveal cellular and molecular responses to low nitrogen in burley tobacco leaves
Authors: Feng Yuqing , Zhao Yuanyuan , Ma Yanjun , Liu Deshui , Shi Hongzhi
Published: December 2023

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is cultivated and consumed worldwide. It requires great amounts of nitrogen (N) to achieve the best yield and quality. With a view to sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture, developing new genotypes with high productivity under low N conditions is an important approach. It is unclear how genes in tobacco are expressed at the cellular level and the precise mechanisms by which cells respond to environmental stress, especially in the case of low N. Here, we characterized the transcriptomes in tobacco leaves grown in normal and low‐N conditions by performing scRNA‐seq. We identified 10 cell types with 17 transcriptionally distinct cell clusters with the assistance of marker genes and constructed the first single‐cell atlas of tobacco leaves. Distinct gene expression patterns of cell clusters were observed under low‐N conditions, and the mesophyll cells were the most important responsive cell type and displayed heterogene responses among its three subtypes. Pseudo‐time trajectory analysis revealed low‐N stress decelerates the differentiation towards mesophyll cells. In combination with scRNA‐seq, WGCNA, and bulk RNA‐seq results, we found that genes involved in porphyrin metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, carbon fixation, photosynthesis, and photosynthesis‐antenna pathway play an essential role in response to low N. Moreover, we identified COL16, GATA24, MYB73, and GLK1 as key TFs in the regulation of N‐responsive genes. Collectively, our findings are the first observation of the cellular and molecular responses of tobacco leaves under low N stress and lay the cornerstone for future tobacco scRNA‐seq investigations.