bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A needle in a haystack: a new metabarcoding approach to survey diversity at the species level of Arcellinida (Amoebozoa: Tubulinea)
Authors: González-Miguéns Rubén , Cano Emilio , Guillén-Oterino Antonio , Quesada Antonio , Lahr Daniel J.G. , Tenorio-Rodríguez Daniel , de Salvador-Velasco David , Velázquez David , Carrasco-Braganza María Isabel , Patterson R. Timothy , Lara Enrique , Singer David
Published: July 2022

Environmental DNA-based diversity studies have increased in popularity with the development of high throughput sequencing technologies. This permits the potential simultaneous retrieval of vast amounts of molecular data from many different organisms and species, thus contributing to a wide range of biological disciplines. Environmental DNA protocols designed for protists often focused on the highly conserved small subunit of the ribosome gene, that does not permit species-level assignments. On the other hand, eDNA protocols aiming at species-level assignments allow a fine level ecological resolution and reproducible results. These protocols are currently applied to organisms living in marine and shallow lotic freshwater ecosystems, often in a bioindication purpose. Therefore, in this study, we present a species-level eDNA protocol, designed to explore diversity of Arcellinida (Amoebozoa: Tubulinea) testate amoebae taxa, that is based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). These organisms are widespread in lentic water bodies and soil ecosystems. We applied this protocol to 42 samples from peatlands, estuaries and soil environments, recovering all the infraorders in Glutinoconcha (with COI data), except for Hyalospheniformes. Our results revealed an unsuspected diversity in morphologically homogeneous groups such as Cylindrothecina, Excentrostoma or Sphaerothecina. With this protocol we expect to revolutionize the design of modern distributional Arcellinida surveys. Our approach involve a rapid and cost effective analysis of testate amoeba diversity living in contrasted ecosystems. Therefore, Arcellinida clade have the potential to be established as a model group for an array of theoretical and applied studies.
Cellular senescence preserves viral genome maintenance
Authors: Pham Alexander M , Ortiz Luz E , Lukacher Aron E , Kwun Hyun Jin
Published: July 2022

Senescent cells accumulate in the host during the aging process and are associated with age-related pathogenesis, including cancer. Although persistent senescence seems to contribute to many aspects of cellular pathways and homeostasis, the role of senescence in virus-induced human cancer is not well understood. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer induced by a life-long human infection of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Here, we show that MCPyV large T (LT) antigen expression in human skin fibroblasts causes a novel nucleolar stress response followed by p21-dependent senescence and senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs) which are required for MCPyV genome maintenance. The senolytic, navitoclax, treatment resulted in decreased senescence and MCPyV genome levels, suggesting a potential therapeutic for MCC prevention. Our results uncover the mechanism of a host stress response regulating human polyomavirus genome maintenance in viral persistency, which may lead to the targeted intervention for MCC.
A proteomic screen of Ty1 integrase partners identifies the protein kinase CK2 as a regulator of Ty1 retrotransposition
Authors: Barkova Anastasia , Adhya Indranil , Conesa Christine , Asif-Laidin Amna , Bonnet Amandine , Rabut Elise , Chagneau Carine , Lesage Pascale , Acker Joël
Published: July 2022

Background

Transposable elements are ubiquitous and play a fundamental role in shaping genomes during evolution. Since excessive transposition can be mutagenic, mechanisms exist in the cells to keep these mobile elements under control. Although many cellular factors regulating the mobility of the retrovirus-like transposon Ty1 inSaccharomyces cerevisiaehave been identified in genetic screens, only very few of them interact physically with Ty1 integrase (IN).

Results

Here, we perform a proteomic screen to establish Ty1 IN interactome. Among the 265 potential interacting partners, we focus our study on the conserved CK2 kinase. We confirm the interaction between IN and CK2, demonstrate that IN is a substrate of CK2in vitroand identify the modified residues. We find that Ty1 IN is phosphorylatedin vivoand that these modifications are dependent in part on CK2. No significant change in Ty1 retromobility could be observed when we introduce phospho-ablative mutations that prevent IN phosphorylation by CK2in vitro. However, the absence of CK2 holoenzyme results in a strong stimulation of Ty1 retrotransposition, characterized by an increase in Ty1 mRNA and protein levels and a high accumulation of cDNA.

Conclusion

Our study highlights an important role of CK2 in the regulation of Ty1 retrotransposition. We provide the first evidence that Ty1 IN is post-translationally modifiedin vivo, as observed for retroviral INs, and demonstrate that CK2 strongly represses Ty1 mobility by inhibiting Ty1 transcription. The proteomic approach enabled the identification of many new Ty1 IN interacting partners, whose potential role in the control of Ty1 mobility will be interesting to study.
The temperature dimension of emotions
Authors: Bruno Pascal , Melnyk Valentyna , Murray Kyle B.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The literature to-date has focused on dimensions of emotions based on emotions’ affective state (captured by valence, arousal and dominance, PAD). However, it has ignored that emotional reactions also depend on emotions’ functionality in serving to solve recurrent adaptive problems related to survival and reproduction. Evolutionary psychology suggests that relationships with others are the key that helps individuals reach both goals. The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize, measure and validate the temperature dimension of emotions that underlies such human relationships, as suggested by frequent verbalization of emotional states via temperature-related terms (“cold fear” and “warm love”).

Design/methodology/approach

Across three studies (nStudy1a = 71; nStudy1b = 33; and nStudy2 = 317) based on samples from two countries (Germany and the USA) and using two different methods (semantic and visual), the temperature dimension of emotions is conceptualized and measured. Across a wide spectrum of emotions, factor analyses uncover temperature as an emotional dimension distinct from PAD and assess the dimension’s face, discriminant, convergent, nomological and criterion validity.

Findings

Emotional temperature is a bipolar dimension of an affective state that underlies human relationships, ranging from cold to warm, such that social closeness is linked to emotional warmth and social distance to emotional coldness. Emotional temperature is uncovered as a dimension distinct from PAD, that is, it is correlated with but separate from PAD.

Research limitations/implications

In this research, a portfolio of 17 basic emotions relevant in everyday consumption contexts was examined. Future research could further refine the emotional temperature dimension by analyzing more complex emotions and their position on the temperature map. In general, this paper sets the stage for additional work examining emotional temperature and its effects on consumer behavior.

Practical implications

The results have strategic implications for marketers on which emotions to select for campaigns, depending on factors like the climate or season.

Social implications

This research provides a better foundation upon which to understand the effect of emotions that invoke warmth or coldness.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to conceptualize, measure and comprehensively validate the temperature dimension of emotions.
Universities’ built heritage as a means to diversify urban tourist destinations’ cultural supply: the case of the University of Porto
Authors: Leão Maria Teresa Gomes , Brandão Filipa Aguiar
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aims to illustrate the potential of the many centuries-old universities buildings, in European cities, in a historical, architectural, aesthetic and symbolic dimension to diversify and differentiate urban tourist destinations supply.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative study supported by the analysis of public and classified documents, for which the main source is based on webography, and by conducting interviews.

Findings

The deficit of cultural tours, in the dimension of built heritage, is identified as one of the weaknesses of the city of Porto, as tourist destination, to be overcome. The interviewees are unanimous in recognizing the cultural, architectural and aesthetic impact of the historic buildings of the University of Porto, and most of them strongly agree with the integration of this legacy into the tourist offer of the city. The strategic sense of the heritage is emphasized, because of its location in charismatic areas of the city. The practice of effective networking, however, falls short of what is required to achieve ambitious and consistent objectives.

Research limitations/implications

The practice of effective networking, however, falls short of what is required to achieve ambitious and consistent objectives.

Originality/value

Emphasis is placed on the cities’ built heritage as a type of heritage that defines their uniqueness. The dissemination of cultural itineraries, which allows tourists and the community itself a broader and deeper cultural knowledge, contributes to the effective understanding of historic cities’ tourism. Given the scarcity of studies on the relationship between historic university buildings and tourism, the relevance of research focuses on highlighting the contribution of these cultural elements, through a network-based dynamic, to urban tourism destinations’ attractiveness. In particular, the University of Porto's potential for the integration of structured tourism products that contribute to the diversification and differentiation of the city of Porto as a destination is illustrated.
Sustainability performance at stake during COVID-19 pandemic? Evidence from Sharia-compliant companies in emerging markets
Authors: Hambali Ahmad , Adhariani Desi
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aims to analyse whether Sharia-compliant companies have better sustainability performance, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic context is worth investigating as there is a concern that companies will reduce their sustainability activities to focus more on economic recovery, thereby leading to lower sustainability performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses data from companies listed on Indonesian and Malaysian stock exchanges. These two countries have experienced rapid developments in Islamic finance and possess similar criteria in assigning the Sharia compliance label to a company. The data on sustainability performance and its three dimensions (environmental, social and governance) were gathered from Refinitiv (Thomson Reuters) and analysed using panel data regression.

Findings

The results show that Sharia-compliant companies had a higher sustainability performance in all research periods, but not during the COVID-19 pandemic. This implies that the pandemic has not triggered a need for Sharia-compliant companies to improve their sustainability performance. The results can be interpreted that sustainability performance is not only at stake during the COVID-19 pandemic but it can also indicate a “business-as-usual” approach applied by companies regardless of the Sharia-compliant label.

Originality/value

Sustainability performance has been intensively investigated in prior research, but how it is related to the current health crisis and Sharia compliance has been scantily studied and becomes the originality of this research.
An institutional approach on the effects of diversification type
Authors: Krug Juliano , Falaster Christian
Published: July 2022

Purpose

In this study, the authors argue that there is more than meets the eye on the effects over postacquisition performance and diversification. This study aims to propose that the conditions that allow higher returns are dependent on the institutional context. The authors suggest that diversification strategies differ in their impact on postacquisition performance when moderated by the institutional inefficiencies of economies.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on a quantitative approach. The authors statistically test the hypotheses based on multiple regression analysis.

Findings

Results show a negative moderating effect of the institutional inefficiencies of the target country on the relationship between the diversification decisions of the firm and its postacquisition performance. So that Latin American firms that perform Cross-border acquisitions with higher degrees of diversification are related to worse performance. However, the degree of institutional inefficiencies negatively moderates this relation, attenuating the negative effects of diversification over performance.

Originality/value

Although past research has shown that economies with high institutional inefficiencies can benefit from higher levels of diversification, no study has considered the impact of the institutional inefficiencies when discussing many economies, to authors’ acknowledgment. The authors provide evidence that, in the case of Latin American firms, diversification reduces performance; however, the degree of institutional inefficiencies negatively moderates this relation.
Social shopping at Goel Stores: forging ahead through the use of social media
Authors: Shukre Anagha , Verma Naresh
Published: July 2022

Research methodology

The case study is based on field research and also on secondary data. A primary survey is included in the case study. Simple frequency and factor analysis as statistical tools have been used.

Case overview/synopsis

Family businesses, like that of Kiran Rai’s, owning a local Mom and Pop store in an emerging city were faced with a serious problem of sustaining their businesses. These family businesses countered immense competition from: their own types, i.e. from other local Mom and Pop stores within the same cities; online stores; and the organised stores.The choice of the customers to buy goods from the neighbourhood shops has remained largely as an age-old tradition in the households. With the millennials and the Generation Z (Gen Z) exposed to an array of brands, can they become the first choice of young customers for shopping for all kinds of products and varieties? Can the local Mom and Pop stores spread their wings across the young generations, particularly the Millennials and Gen Z through inexpensive social media channels? What are their growth options? How can the social media serve this purpose? The case uses the social cognition theory and the use gratification theory to throw light on the new concept of Social Shopping.

Complexity academic level

The case is meant to be discussed in courses like Fundamentals of Marketing, Digital Marketing and Retail Marketing in a 90-min session in the Post Graduate as well as in the Working Executives’ Management programmes. The case analysis will expose the students to the use of social media and its benefits to the small businesses. The students will also be able to analyse and understand the different types of Online Consumers’ Shopping Personalities. This would enable them to strategize for different stages in the decision-making processes.
Industrial tail exposure risk and asset price: Evidence from US REITs
Authors: Song Jeongseop , Liow Kim Hiang
Published: July 2022

In this study, we investigate the impact of industry‐based tail dependence risk on the cross‐section of stock returns. To this end, we propose a novel tail risk dependence measure (industrial tail exposure risk [ITER]), which captures the tail risk exposure of individual stocks to multiple industries. Using US equity real estate investment trusts (REITs) data from 1993 to 2020, we document that stocks in the highest ITER portfolio outperform stocks in the lowest ITER portfolio by 8.40% per annum. This positive return spread is significant even after controlling for well‐known firm characteristics. The return premium of ITER is stronger for small, value, and highly levered stocks and is substantially high during recession periods. Finally, the effects of ITER are cross‐sectionally more associated with REITs that have greater degrees of the following factors: bivariate tail exposure risks of major industries, exposure to local industry tail risk, geographical concentration, and ownership of home‐biased investors. Overall, our results suggest that REIT investors are indeed averse to tail risks that are associated with various sectors.
Conjunctive use of synchrotron X‐ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement in Fe‐oxide clays for forensic applications
Authors: Testoni Samara Alves , Prandel Luis Valerio , Melo Vander Freitas , Dawson Lorna Anne , da Silva Salvador Fábio Augusto
Published: July 2022

Soils have distinctive chemical, physical, mineralogical and biological properties, which make it possible to differentiate them in different environments and also to test for an association of a particular questioned item with a crime scene. Mineral compositions and structures in the soil clay fraction can reflect a distinct characteristic when analyzed by powerful techniques. In this way, the aim of this study was to compare the discriminative power of Fe‐oxides concentrated clay samples from the same soil class with and without differences in parent material when analyzed using the Rietveld method and two sources of X‐ray diffraction: conventional and high‐resolution synchrotron radiations. Clay samples were Fe concentrated (kaolinite and gibbsite removal) to clarify mineralogical composition of 12 samples from three simulated crime scenes, developed under claystone and granite. By Rietveld refinement, detailed crystallographic data were obtained to discriminate samples according their provenance. By synchrotron radiation, mineral data demonstrated the power of quantitative (crystallite size and minerals contents) and qualitative (identification of majoritarian and accessory minerals) analysis by Rietveld refinement, which provides well‐resolved data able to discriminate samples from different and same geology. The techniques can be applied in other criminal investigations given their potential of discrimination.
Chlorella unsaturated fatty acids suppress high‐fat diet‐induced obesity in C57/BL6J mice
Authors: Yang Yang , Ge Shenhan , Chen Qingyan , Lin Shaoling , Zeng Shaoxiao , Tan Bee K. , Hu Jiamiao
Published: July 2022

Chlorella has been identified as a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids. Since the antiobesity effects of unsaturated fatty acids have been well documented; therefore, we explored the antiobesity actions of chlorella unsaturated fatty acids (C.UFAs) in the current study. The obtained results demonstrated C.UFAs, which contain abundant linoleic acid, could retard body weight gain (reducing body weigh by 13.93% after 16 weeks of treatment), improve blood glucose (19.29% lower) and lipid profile (23.45% lower in TG, 8.76% lower in TC) compared to high‐fat diet‐fed C57BL/6J mice. The possible underlying mechanisms might involve reducing hepatic lipid accumulation via down‐regulation of lipogenic genes (PPARγ, C/EBPα, LPL, aP2, FAS, and SREBP‐1c) and up‐regulation of lipolytic gene (adiponectin). We also demonstrate C.UFAs could reduce HFD‐induced adipocyte hypertrophy via activation of AMPK signaling pathway in adipose tissue and liver. In summary, our study highlights the potential of C.UFAs as a functional food for obesity management.

Practical Application

Chlorella has already been commercialized as a functional food antiobesity function. In the current study, the unsaturated fatty acids isolated from chlorella were found to exert beneficial effects on hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and adipocyte hypertrophy in high‐fat diet‐fed mice. This may provide theoretical foundation for developing novel chlorella‐based functional foods.
Dynamic 18F‐FDG PET/CT can predict the major pathological response to neoadjuvant immunotherapy in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Chen Zhi‐Yong , Fu Rui , Tan Xiao‐Yue , Yan Li‐Xu , Tang Wen‐Fang , Qiu Zhen‐Bin , Qi Yi‐Fan , Li Yu‐Fa , Hou Qing‐Yi , Wu Yi‐Long , Zhong Wen‐Zhao , Jiang Ben‐Yuan
Published: July 2022

Major pathological response (MPR) is a potential surrogate for overall survival. We determined whether the dynamic changes in 18F‐labeled fluoro‐2‐deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F‐FDG PET/CT) were associated with MPR in patients receiving neoadjuvant immunotherapy. Forty‐four patients with stage II–III non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received neoadjuvant immunotherapy and radical surgery were enrolled. Moreover, 18F‐FDG PET/CT scans were performed at baseline and within 1 week before surgery to evaluate the disease. All histological sections were reviewed to assess MPR. The detailed clinical features of the patients were analyzed. The reliability of the clinical variables was assessed in differentiating between MPR and non‐MPR using logistic regression. Receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis identified the SUVmax changes threshold most associated with MPR. Most of the patients were pathologically diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and received anti‐PD‐1 antibodies plus chemotherapy. The immunotherapy regimens included nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and camrelizumab. MPR was observed in more than half of lesions. Tumors with MPR had a higher decrease in the longest dimension on dynamic PET/CT than those without MPR. Furthermore, the decline in SUVmax was significantly different between MPR and non‐MPR diseases, and MPR lesions had a prominent mean reduction in SUVmax. SUVmax reduction was independently associated with MPR in the multivariate regression. On ROC analysis, the threshold of SUVmax decrease in 60% was associated with MPR. Dynamic changes in SUVmax were associated with MPR. The tumors with MPR showed a greater PET/CT response than those without MPR. A SUVmax decrease of more than 60% is more likely to result in an MPR after receiving neoadjuvant immunotherapy.
Non‐small cell lung cancer with tumor proportion score > 90% could increase the risk of severe immune‐related adverse events in first‐line treatments with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A retrospective single‐center study
Authors: Akazawa Yuki , Yoshikawa Aki , Kanazu Masaki , Yano Yukihiro , Yamaguchi Toshihiko , Mori Masahide
Published: July 2022

Background

Since 2015, immune checkpoint inhibitors have been a clinical treatment strategy for patients with advanced or recurrent non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the relationship between immune‐related adverse event (irAE) risk factors and patient clinical characteristics is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between irAE risk and the clinical characteristics of patients with NSCLC.

Methods

We included patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC with known programmed death‐ligand 1 expression levels treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. We retrospectively examined the medical records of 260 patients with NSCLC (March 2016–November 2020) and analyzed the relationship between the patient clinical characteristics and irAEs.

Results

Our retrospective analysis revealed that tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥ 90% and adenocarcinoma histology were independent risk factors for irAEs (odds ratio: 3.750 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.58–8.89 and 0.424 95% CI: 0.19–0.97, respectively) in first‐line treatment. However, in patients receiving second‐ or later‐line treatments, no clinical characteristics were identified as risk factors for irAEs. Furthermore, no difference was observed in the response rates to first‐line treatments between the TPS ≥ 90% and TPS < 90% groups (74% vs. 71%, p = 0.83). In later‐line treatments, the TPS ≥ 90% group had a better response rate than the TPS < 90% group (55% vs. 17%, p < 0.05). However, no significant differences in overall survival were observed in either of the groups.

Conclusions

TPS ≥ 90% and adenocarcinoma histology were independent risk factors for irAEs in previously untreated patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC. Therefore, patients at high risk of irAEs require additional monitoring.
Global prevalence of help‐seeking for problem gambling: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bijker Rimke , Booth Natalia , Merkouris Stephanie S. , Dowling Nicki A. , Rodda Simone N.
Published: July 2022

Background and Aims

Multiple studies have examined barriers and facilitators to help‐seeking, but the prevalence of help‐seeking for problem gambling (PG) is not well established. We aimed to estimate the international prevalence of help‐seeking for PG among the general population and among subgroups of people at risk for PG (i.e. low‐risk, moderate‐risk and PG).

Methods

Systematic search of grey literature (through gambling repositories, gambling research institutes and Google) and peer‐reviewed literature (through ProQuest, PsycINFO, PubMed and Scopus) for gambling prevalence studies that reported on help‐seeking for PG. This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analyses. Studies used representative sampling methods to determine the prevalence of gambling participation and data collection 2010 onward. Twenty‐four studies met the inclusion criteria. The main outcome was population prevalence of help‐seeking for PG. Help‐seeking was defined as any intentional action to change gambling behaviours, including professional services (inclusive of in‐person or distance help), non‐professional help (e.g. from family and friends) and self‐help. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explain variability in help‐seeking prevalence estimates.

Results

Measurement of help‐seeking was inconsistent across included studies and, overall, there was high risk of bias. We estimated a general population help‐seeking prevalence for PG of 0.23% (95% CI, 0.16–0.33). Prevalence estimates were significantly higher in studies assessing lifetime (0.50%; 95% CI, 0.35–0.71) compared with current help‐seeking (0.14%; 95% CI, 0.10–0.20, P < 0.001), but there was no evidence of difference in prevalence estimates by gambling participation, region, type of help‐seeking, or year of data collection. Compared with people with low‐risk gambling (0.27%; 95% CI, 0.07%–1.04%), prevalence estimates were significantly higher in those with moderate‐risk (3.73%; 95% CI, 2.07%–6.63%) and problem gambling (20.63%; 95% CI, 12.89%–31.35%, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

One in 25 moderate‐risk gamblers and 1 in 5 people with problem gambling have sought help for problems related to their gambling.
The clinical features, treatment, and prognostic factors for peripheral T‐cell lymphomas: A single‐institution analysis of 240 Chinese patients
Authors: Chen Haizhu , Tao Yunxia , Zhou Yu , Liu Peng , Yang Jianliang , He Xiaohui , Zhou Shengyu , Qin Yan , Song Yongwen , Gui Lin , Zhang Changgong , Yang Sheng , Shi Yuankai
Published: July 2022

Aim

This study aimed to analyze the clinical features, treatment, survival, and prognostic factors of Chinese patients with peripheral T‐cell lymphoma (PTCL) excluding natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma (NKTCL).

Methods

Data on patients with newly diagnosed PTCLs between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2017 at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with NKTCL were excluded.

Results

A total of 240 patients were included. PTCL, not otherwise specified (PTCL‐NOS), was the most frequent subtype (42.5%), followed by angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma (AITL) (21.3%), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)‐negative anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma (ALK‐ALCL) (16.7%), ALK‐positive ALCL (ALK+ALCL) (10.8%) and others (8.8%). With a median follow‐up of 81.1 months, the 5‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates for all patients were 30.4% (95% CI 25.0%–37.0%) and 48.8% (95% CI 42.6%–55.7%), respectively. On multivariate analysis, no consolidative autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and not achieving complete response after first‐line chemotherapy retained independently prognostic value for inferior PFS and OS. Besides, bone marrow involvement and serum albumin level were independent factors for PFS, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥2 was significantly predictive of inferior OS. Compared with PTCL‐NOS, significantly superior PFS and OS were observed for ALK+ALCL and ALK‐ALCL.

Conclusion

The survival outcomes with current treatment for most PTCL subtypes are still unsatisfactory. Prospective randomized studies are needed to establish the value of consolidative ASCT in PTCL, and novel therapeutic approaches should be explored.
Short‐term outcomes of intracorporeal versus extracorporeal anastomosis in laparoscopic surgery for right‐sided colon cancer: A propensity score‐matched study
Authors: Sakurai Tsubasa , Yamaguchi Tomohiro , Noguchi Tatsuki , Sakamoto Takashi , Mukai Toshiki , Hiyoshi Yukiharu , Nagasaki Toshiya , Akiyoshi Takashi , Fukunaga Yosuke
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Recently, intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) has been attracting attention. We aimed to compare the short‐term outcomes of IA and extracorporeal anastomosis (EA) in laparoscopic surgery for right‐sided colon cancer, after propensity score matching.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 404 consecutive patients with right‐sided primary colon cancer between January 2019 and July 2021, 359 of whom underwent laparoscopic surgery. We classified them into IA (n = 72) and EA (n = 287) groups. Propensity score matching analysis was performed, and the matched groups were compared.

Results

The IA group had a longer operation time and shorter time to first flatus, passage of stool, and oral intake. There were no differences in blood loss, postoperative complications, and postoperative hospital stay between the groups. The IA group had a higher inflammatory response in the laboratory data on postoperative day 1 compared to the EA group; however, there were no differences in the incidence of abdominal or surgical site infection (SSI). The IA group had a longer distal resection margin, and there were no peritoneal recurrences in either group.

Conclusion

In the IA group, patients had earlier bowel recovery and a longer distal resection margin; however, other postoperative clinical outcomes were comparable. Although there was a higher postoperative inflammatory response in IA, there was no significant difference in postoperative complications, including SSI and intra‐abdominal infection. Although long‐term outcomes are not yet available, IA could be a useful procedure.
Isotretinoin: reasserting its public health value at the population level, addressing potential neuropsychiatric risk at the individual level
Authors: Chosidow Olivier , Beylot-Barry Marie , Corgibet Florence , Jouan Nicole , Dupin Nicolas , Guillot Bernard ,   Centre of Evidence of the French Society of Dermatology
Published: July 2022

Linked Articles:  Paljarvi et al. Br J Dermatol 2022; 187:64–72; Ravencroft and Eichenfield. Br J Dermatol 2022; 187:8–9.
Clonally unrelated Richter syndrome are truly de novo diffuse large B‐cell lymphomas with a mutational profile reminiscent of clonally related Richter syndrome
Authors: Favini Chiara , Talotta Donatella , Almasri Mohammad , Andorno Annalisa , Rasi Silvia , Adhinaveni Ramesh , Kogila Sreekar , Awikeh Bassel , Schipani Mattia , Boggione Paola , Mouhssine Samir , Ghanej Joseph , Al Essa Wael , Mahmoud Abdurraouf Mokhtar , Dondolin Riccardo , Alessa Nariman , Margiotta Casaluci Gloria , Boldorini Renzo , Gattei Valter , Gaidano Gianluca , Moia Riccardo
Published: July 2022

Richter syndrome (RS) is mostly due to the direct transformation of the chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) clone, as documented by the same immunoglobulin heavy‐chain variable region (IGHV) rearrangement in both CLL and RS cells. In rare cases characterized by a better outcome, the RS clone harbours a different IGHV rearrangement compared to the CLL phase. We investigated the CLL phase of clonally unrelated RS to test whether the RS clone was already identifiable prior to clinicopathologic transformation, albeit undetectable by conventional approaches. CLL cells of eight patients with unrelated RS were subjected to an ultra‐deep next‐generation sequencing (NGS) approach with a sensitivity of 10−6. In 7/8 cases, the RS rearrangement was not identified in the CLL phase. In one case, the RS clone was identified at a very low frequency in the CLL phase, conceivably due to the concomitance of CLL sampling and RS diagnosis. Targeted resequencing revealed that clonally unrelated RS carries genetic lesions primarily affecting the TP53, MYC, ATM and NOTCH1 genes. Conversely, mutations frequently involved in de novo diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) without a history of CLL were absent. These results suggest that clonally unrelated RS is a truly de novo lymphoma with a mutational profile reminiscent, at least in part, of clonally related RS.
Risk factors for Drug‐resistant Epilepsy (DRE) and a nomogram model to predict DRE development in post‐traumatic epilepsy patients
Authors: Yu Tingting , Liu Xiao , Sun Lei , Lv Ruijuan , Wu Jianping , Wang Qun
Published: July 2022

Objectives

To identify factors affecting the development of drug‐resistant epilepsy (DRE), and establish a reliable nomogram to predict DRE development in post‐traumatic epilepsy (PTE) patients.

Methods

This study conducted a retrospective clinical analysis in patients with PTE who visited the Epilepsy Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2013 to December 2018. All participants were followed up for at least 3 years, and the development of DRE was assessed. Data from January 2013 to December 2017 were used as development dataset for model building. Those independent predictors of DRE were included in the final multivariable logistic regression, and a derived nomogram was built. Data from January 2018 to December 2018 were used as validation dataset for internal validation.

Results

Complete clinical information was available for 2830 PTE patients (development dataset: 2023; validation dataset: 807), of which 21.06% (n = 596) developed DRE. Among all parameters of interest including gender, age at PTE, family history, severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI), single or multiple injuries, lesion location, post‐TBI treatments, acute seizures, PTE latency, seizure type, status epilepticus (SE), and electroencephalogram (EEG) findings, four predictors showed independent effect on DRE, they were age at PTE, seizure type, SE, and EEG findings. A model incorporating these four variables was created, and a nomogram to calculate the probability of DRE using the coefficients of the model was developed. The C‐index of the predictive model and the validation was 0.662 and 0.690, respectively. The goodness‐of‐fit test indicated good calibration for model development and validation (p = 0.272, 0.572).

Conclusions

The proposed nomogram achieved significant potential for clinical utility in the prediction of DRE among PTE patients. The risk of DRE for individual PTE patients can be estimated by using this nomogram, and identified high‐risk patients might benefit from non‐pharmacological therapies at an early stage.
Private benefits of corporate philanthropy and distortions to corporate financing and investment decisions
Authors: Masulis Ronald W. , Reza Syed Walid
Published: July 2022

Research Question/Issue

This study examines whether private benefits of control, as measured by corporate philanthropic activities, distort corporate financing and investment decisions.

Research Findings/Insights

We find that corporate giving represents a private benefit of control that distorts corporate investment and financing activity, consistent with free cash flow agency theory. Corporate giving discourages managers from pursuing external financing, especially debt issuance, to minimize outside monitoring. It creates preferences for internally financed cash acquisitions for the same reason. These distortions reduce shareholder wealth. Following both the 2003 dividend tax cut and hedge fund activism, corporate charitable contributions fall while investment rises, suggesting suboptimal investment caused by managerial private benefit extraction. Acquisition announcements of firms making large charitable contributions show negative stock market reactions that are more pronounced for acquirers with poor corporate governance.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

Our findings suggest that due to agency problems and managerial rent extraction, corporate philanthropic activities can distort corporate financing and investment decisions and yield corporate charitable contribution allocations that personally benefit a firm's CEO at shareholder expense.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

As corporate philanthropy imposes a significant cost to shareholders, managers may seek shareholder approval on corporate philanthropic activities. The Securities and Exchange Commission may also require timely disclosure of corporate donations.
Preoperative blood pressure and risk of delayed graft function in deceased donor kidney transplantation
Authors: Wazir Shoaib , Abbas Muhammad , Ratanasrimetha Praveen , Zhang Casey , Hariharan Sundaram , Puttarajappa Chethan M.
Published: July 2022

Background

In kidney transplantation, delayed graft function (DGF) is associated with increased morbidity and a higher risk of graft failure. Prior research suggests that chronic hypotension increases DGF risk, but the relationship of preoperative blood pressure to DGF is unclear.

Methods

In this single center study of adult deceased donor kidney transplant recipients transplanted between 2015 and 2019, we evaluated the question of whether preoperative mean arterial pressure (MAP) affected DGF risk. Additionally, we investigated whether the risk of DGF was moderated by certain donor and recipient characteristics. For recipient characteristics associated with increased DGF risk and preoperative MAP, we performed a mediation analysis to estimate the proportion of DGF risk mediated through preoperative MAP.

Results

Among 562 deceased donor kidney recipients, DGF risk decreased as preoperative MAP increased, with a 2% lower risk per 1 mm Hg increase in MAP. This increased risk was similar, with no statistically significant interaction effect between preoperative MAP and donor (donation after circulatory death) and recipient characteristics (diabetes, body mass index, and use of anti‐hypertensive medications). Preoperative MAP was negativity correlated with recipient BMI and duration of pre transplant dialysis. On mediation analysis, MAP accounted for 12% and 16% of the DGF risk associated with recipient BMI and pre‐transplant dialysis duration, respectively.

Conclusion

In deceased donor kidney transplantation, each 1 mm Hg increase in preoperative MAP was associated with 2% lower DGF risk. Preoperative MAP was influenced by recipient BMI and dialysis duration, and likely contributes to some of the high DGF risk from obesity and long dialysis vintage.
Hidradenitis suppurativa‐related expenditure, a call for awareness: systematic review of literature
Authors: Tsentemeidou Aikaterini , Sotiriou Elena , Ioannides Dimitrios , Vakirlis Efstratios
Published: July 2022

Data regarding hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)‐related expenditure is limited and non‐homogeneous, but HS does incur significant expenses. We performed a systematic review of literature reports documenting financial data regarding any healthcare domain or other expenditure incurred by HS and/or HS impact on work, income and personal economic growth (indirect costs). Three electronic databases were searched (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library – last search date: September 14th, 2021). All costs were adjusted for inflation (2022) and converted into US dollars. Twenty‐three papers were included (18 cost‐of‐illness studies, 4 observational studies and 1 case series), drawing economic data from 77,287 HS patients. The total mean cost incurred by HS per patient per year ranged from $ 258 to $ 8,078. This number increased in case of surgical intervention, disease progression, antibiotic failure and certain comorbid diseases. The costliest healthcare sector was inpatient care, followed by outpatient and emergency care. Significant differences were observed between the USA and the rest of studied countries. Hospitalization was likelier, lengthier, and costlier for HS compared to psoriasis patients, whereas the less costly outpatient care appeared to be reduced among HS patients. Preventing disease progression by optimizing early diagnosis and dermatology outpatient care could decrease HS‐related expenditure.
Multiproduct pricing under the multinomial logit model with local network effects
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Mohan , Zhang Heng , Zhang Zhiqi
Published: July 2022

Motivated by direct interactions with practitioners and real‐world data, we study a monopoly firm selling multiple substitute products to customers characterized by their different social network degrees. Under the multinomial logit model framework, we assume that the utility a customer with a larger network degree derives from the seller's products is subject to more impact from her neighbors and describe the customers' choice behavior by a Bayesian Nash game. We show that a unique equilibrium exists as long as these network effects are not too large. Furthermore, we study how the seller should optimally set the prices of the products in this setting. Under the homogeneous product‐related parameter assumption, we show that if the seller optimally price‐discriminates all customers based on their network degrees, the products' markups are the same for each customer type. Building on this, we characterize the sufficient and necessary condition for the concavity of the pricing problem, and show that when the problem is not concave, we can convert it to a single‐dimensional search and solve it efficiently. We provide several further insights about the structure of optimal prices, both theoretically and numerically. Furthermore, we show that we can simultaneously relax the multinomial logit model and homogeneous product‐related parameter assumptions and allow customer in‐ and out‐degrees to be arbitrarily distributed while maintaining most of our conclusions robust.
Angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor (thiorphan/irbesartan) improved cardiac function in a rat model of myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury
Authors: Mohammed Abdulsalam Takwa , Hasanin Amany H. , Hussein Mohamed Reham , Khairy Eman , Mahmoud Dalia , Habib Eman , Badawy Ahmed El Sayed
Published: July 2022

Mitochondria‐mediated apoptosis plays a critical role in myocardial ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury and causes a negative impact on cardiac efficiency and function. The combined angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) is a promising cardioprotective pharmacological agent that could rescue the heart from IR injury. This study investigated the cardioprotective effect of thiorphan (TH) in combination with three different doses of irbesartan (IRB) on myocardial IR injury and detected the most effective dose combination. Male Wistar rats were used and divided into five groups (10 rats/group): (I) Sham, (II) ischemia–reperfusion I/R, (III) TH/IRB + IR (0.1/5 mg/kg), (IV) TH/IRB + IR (0.1/10 mg/kg), and (V) TH/IRB + IR (0.1/15 mg/kg) groups. Thiorphan and irbesartan were injected intraperitoneally 15 min before IR induction. Mean arterial blood pressure, left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), left ventricular maximum rate of pressure (LVdp/dtmax), and cardiac levels of creatine kinase–MB, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and endothelin‐1 were measured. Cardiac mitochondria complexes activities, histopathological examination of myocardial tissues, immunohistochemistry studies for myocardial apoptosis (Bax and Bcl‐2), and electron microscopy examination of left ventricle were performed. TH/IRB combination preserved cardiac functions and mitochondria complex activities and mitigated cardiac damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis following IR. Also, there was an evident improvement in histopathological changes and electron microscopy examination of left ventricle compared with I/R group. TH/IRB in a dose of 0.1/10 mg/kg showed significant improvement compared with the other treated groups. Thiorphan/irbesartan improved cardiac functions following IR injury. This could be explained by the reported improvement of mitochondria complex activities and reduction of oxidative stress, endothelin‐1, and apoptosis.
Temperature impacts on fish physiology and resource abundance lead to faster growth but smaller fish sizes and yields under warming
Authors: Lindmark Max , Audzijonyte Asta , Blanchard Julia L. , Gårdmark Anna
Published: July 2022

Resolving the combined effect of climate warming and exploitation in a food web context is key for predicting future biomass production, size‐structure and potential yields of marine fishes. Previous studies based on mechanistic size‐based food web models have found that bottom‐up processes are important drivers of size‐structure and fisheries yield in changing climates. However, we know less about the joint effects of ‘bottom‐up’ and physiological effects of temperature; how do temperature effects propagate from individual‐level physiology through food webs and alter the size‐structure of exploited species in a community? Here, we assess how a species‐resolved size‐based food web is affected by warming through both these pathways and by exploitation. We parameterize a dynamic size spectrum food web model inspired by the offshore Baltic Sea food web, and investigate how individual growth rates, size‐structure, and relative abundances of species and yields are affected by warming. The magnitude of warming is based on projections by the regional coupled model system RCA4‐NEMO and the RCP 8.5 emission scenario, and we evaluate different scenarios of temperature dependence on fish physiology and resource productivity. When accounting for temperature‐effects on physiology in addition to on basal productivity, projected size‐at‐age in 2050 increases on average for all fish species, mainly for young fish, compared to scenarios without warming. In contrast, size‐at‐age decreases when temperature affects resource dynamics only, and the decline is largest for young fish. Faster growth rates due to warming, however, do not always translate to larger yields, as lower resource carrying capacities with increasing temperature tend to result in decline in the abundance of larger fish and hence spawning stock biomass. These results suggest that to understand how global warming affects the size structure of fish communities, both direct metabolic effects and indirect effects of temperature via basal resources must be accounted for.