bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Allograft discard risk index for heart transplantation
Authors: Reul Ross M. , Saleem Asad A. , Keller Christian N. , Malik Tahir H. , Rosengart Todd K. , Goss John A. , Rana Abbas A.
Published: July 2021

Background

The numberof patients awaiting heart transplantation (HTx) substantially exceeds the number of donor hearts transplanted each year, yet nearly 65% of eligible donor hearts are discarded rather than transplanted.

Methods

Deceased organ donors listed within the UNOS Deceased Donor Database between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed. Those greater than 10 years old and consented for heart donation were included and randomly separated into training (n = 48 435) and validation (n = 24 217) cohorts. A discard risk index (DSRI) was created using the results of univariable and multivariable analyses. Discard data were assessed at DSRI value deciles, and stratum‐specific likelihood ratio (SSLR) analysis and Kaplan‐Meier survival function were used for mortality data.

Results

Factors associated with higher DSRI values included donor age > 45, LVEF, HBV‐core antibodies, hypertension, and diabetes. The DSRI C‐statistic was .906 in the training cohort and .904 in the validation cohort. The DSRI did not reliably predict 30‐day or 1‐year mortality after transplantation (C‐statistic .539 and .532, respectively).

Conclusions

The factors leading to heart allograft discard are not correlated to the same degree with post‐transplant outcomes. This suggests that optimizing utilization of certain allografts with slightly higher risk of discard could increase the heart donor pool with limited impact on posttransplant mortality.
Associations between ayahuasca consumption in naturalistic settings and current alcohol and drug use: Results of a large international cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Perkins Daniel , Opaleye Emerita S. , Simonova Hana , Bouso José C. , Tófoli Luís F. , GalvÃo‐Coelho Nicole L. , Schubert Violeta , Sarris Jerome
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Emerging evidence suggests that psychedelic compounds, including the Amazonian botanical decoction ayahuasca, may provide clinical benefit in the treatment of alcohol or other drug use disorders. This study investigates associations between ayahuasca consumption in naturalistic settings and current alcohol and other drug use.

Methods

Online cross‐sectional study of people who have consumed ayahuasca in religious, traditional and non‐traditional settings in over 40 countries. A total of 8629 participants (53% male, average age 40 years) were included in the analysis. Logistic regressions were used to explore associations between ayahuasca drinking variables and the current use of alcohol and other drugs, as well as the influence of confounding factors, such as church or community membership.

Results

The number of times ayahuasca had been consumed was strongly associated with increased odds of never or rarely drinking alcohol, never or rarely engaging in ‘risky drinking’ and having not consumed a range of drugs in the past month, with these effects greater for those with a prior substance use disorder compared to those without. The strength of ayahuasca drinkers subjective spiritual experience, number of personal self‐insights obtained and drinking ayahuasca with an ayahuasca church were also associated with lower substance use in some models.

Discussion and Conclusions

Consumption of ayahuasca in naturalistic settings is associated with lower self‐reported current consumption of alcohol and other drugs for those with and without prior substance use disorders, with such effects present after adjusting for religious or social group effects.
Sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibition reduces cellular senescence in the diabetic kidney by promoting ketone body‐induced NRF2 activation
Authors: Kim Mi Na , Moon Joon Ho , Cho Young Min
Published: July 2021

Aims

To evaluate whether sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibition reduces cellular senescence in the kidney and to investigate the molecular pathways involved in the renoprotective effect.

Materials and methods

Dapagliflozin (1 mg/kg), glimepiride (2.5 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered daily via oral gavage for 8 weeks in db/db mice. Expression levels of ageing marker genes (p21, p16, and p53) and oxidative stress were measured in the kidney using real‐time RT‐PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis. For in vitro analysis, HK‐2 cells, a human renal tubular epithelial cell line, were pretreated with H2O2 to induce cellular senescence, and the levels of ageing markers were measured after treatment with β‐hydroxybutyrate (β‐HB) or NRF2‐specific siRNA.

Results

Expression levels of ageing marker genes (p21, p16 and p53) and senescence‐associated secretory phenotypes of the kidney were increased in the vehicle‐treated db/db (db/db + vehicle) group compared with the db/+ group, and this increase was markedly reversed in the dapagliflozin‐treated db/db (db/db + SGLT2 inhibitor) group, but not in the glimepiride‐treated db/db (db/db + sulphonylurea [SU]) group. In the kidneys of mice in the db/db + SGLT2 inhibitor group, oxidative stress and DNA damage were also reduced compared with those of mice in the db/db + vehicle and db/db + SU groups. Dapagliflozin increased plasma β‐HB, which reduced H2O2‐induced DNA damage and senescence in HK‐2 cells. β‐HB‐induced NRF2 nuclear translocation mediated anti‐senescent effects by inducing antioxidant pathways.

Conclusions

Dapagliflozin prevented the progression of diabetic kidney disease by inhibiting cellular senescence and oxidative stress via ketone‐induced NRF2 activation.
Enhancing political representation in Lebanese confessionalism: Toward a randomly selected senate in power‐sharing states
Authors: Badran Simon
Published: July 2021

Under the current confessional system, representative democracy in Lebanon suffers from a double crisis. At the institutional level, the prolonged presidential and cabinet vacancies combined with the slowness of the governmental machine reveal a considerable efficiency deficit. At the structural level, the current electoral representative system increasingly supports the organization of an oligarchic Lebanese regime where the concentration of power in a small number of people serves to benefit the interests of the confessional political elite. In this paper, I consider the establishment of a randomly selected senate as an alternative political answer to the crisis facing representative democracy in Lebanon. I identify the structural and political inadequacies of one of the dominant proposed resolutions, the “referendum solution,” to deal with the current representative crisis. I argue that the introduction of sortition in Lebanese political procedures could be considered an evolution toward further deliberative democratization of the system.
Review on COVID‐19 diagnosis models based on machine learning and deep learning approaches
Authors: Alyasseri Zaid Abdi Alkareem , Al‐Betar Mohammed Azmi , Doush Iyad Abu , Awadallah Mohammed A. , Abasi Ammar Kamal , Makhadmeh Sharif Naser , Alomari Osama Ahmad , Abdulkareem Karrar Hameed , Adam Afzan , Damasevicius Robertas , Mohammed Mazin Abed , Zitar Raed Abu
Published: July 2021

COVID‐19 is the disease evoked by a new breed of coronavirus called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). Recently, COVID‐19 has become a pandemic by infecting more than 152 million people in over 216 countries and territories. The exponential increase in the number of infections has rendered traditional diagnosis techniques inefficient. Therefore, many researchers have developed several intelligent techniques, such as deep learning (DL) and machine learning (ML), which can assist the healthcare sector in providing quick and precise COVID‐19 diagnosis. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the most recent DL and ML techniques for COVID‐19 diagnosis. The studies are published from December 2019 until April 2021. In general, this paper includes more than 200 studies that have been carefully selected from several publishers, such as IEEE, Springer and Elsevier. We classify the research tracks into two categories: DL and ML and present COVID‐19 public datasets established and extracted from different countries. The measures used to evaluate diagnosis methods are comparatively analysed and proper discussion is provided. In conclusion, for COVID‐19 diagnosing and outbreak prediction, SVM is the most widely used machine learning mechanism, and CNN is the most widely used deep learning mechanism. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity are the most widely used measurements in previous studies. Finally, this review paper will guide the research community on the upcoming development of machine learning for COVID‐19 and inspire their works for future development. This review paper will guide the research community on the upcoming development of ML and DL for COVID‐19 and inspire their works for future development.
Forests buffer against variations in precipitation
Authors: O'Connor John C. , Dekker Stefan C. , Staal Arie , Tuinenburg Obbe A. , Rebel Karin T. , Santos Maria J.
Published: July 2021

Atmospheric moisture recycling effectively increases the amount of usable water over land as the water can undergo multiple precipitation–evapotranspiration cycles. Differences in land cover and climate regulate the evapotranspiration flux. Forests can have deep roots that access groundwater facilitating transpiration throughout the dry season independent of precipitation. This stable transpiration buffers the forest against precipitation variability. However, it is not known whether the buffering effect, already modeled for tropical forests, is common to all forests globally. Here we apply a state‐of‐the‐art Lagrangian moisture tracking model (UTrack) to study whether forest land cover in the upwind precipitationshed can lead to a reduction in monthly precipitation variability downwind. We found a significant buffering effect of forests in the precipitation variability of 10 out of 14 biomes globally. On average, if 50% of precipitation originates from forest, then we find a reduction in the coefficient of variation of monthly precipitation of 60%. We also observed that a high fraction of precipitation from non‐forest land sources tends to have the opposite effect, that is, no buffering effect. The average variation of monthly precipitation was 69% higher in areas where 50% of precipitation originates from non‐forest land sources in the precipitationshed. Our results emphasize the importance of land cover composition in the precipitationshed to buffer precipitation variability downwind, in particular forest cover. Understanding the influence of land cover in a precipitationshed on atmospheric moisture transport is key for evaluating an area's water‐climate regulatory ecosystem services and may become increasingly important due to continued changes in land cover and climate change.
Too Many Streams and Not Enough Time or Money? Analytical Depletion Functions for Streamflow Depletion Estimates
Authors: Li Qiang , Gleeson Tom , Zipper Samuel C. , Kerr Ben
Published: July 2021

Groundwater pumping can cause streamflow depletion by reducing groundwater discharge to streams and/or inducing surface water infiltration. Analytical and numerical models are two standard methods used to predict streamflow depletion. Numerical models require extensive data and efforts to develop robust estimates, while analytical models are easy to implement with low data and experience requirements but are limited by numerous simplifying assumptions. We have pioneered a novel approach that balances the shortcomings of analytical and numerical models: analytical depletion functions (ADFs), which include empirical functions expanding the applicability of analytical models for real‐world settings. In this paper, we outline the workflow of ADFs and synthesize results showing that the accuracy of ADFs compared against a variety of numerical models from simplified, archetypal models to sophisticated, calibrated models in both steady‐state and transient conditions over diverse hydrogeological landscapes, stream networks, and spatial scales. Like analytical models, ADFs are rapidly and easily implemented and have low data requirements but have significant advantages of better agreement with numerical models and better representation of complex stream geometries. Relative to numerical models, ADFs have limited ability to explore nonpumping related impacts and incorporate subsurface heterogeneity. In conclusion, ADFs can be used as a stand‐alone tool or part of decision‐support tools as preliminary screening of potential groundwater pumping impacts when issuing new and existing water licenses while ensuring streamflow meets environmental flow needs.
Doxycycline and minocycline inHelicobacter pyloritreatment: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhao Jixiang , Zou Yunzhi , Li Ke , Huang Xin , Niu Changping , Wang Zikang , Zhao Shuyang , Zhang Yizhen , Song Conghua , Xie Yong
Published: July 2021

Background and aims

The decreasingHelicobacter pylorieradication rate and the increasing antibiotic resistance trend are of great concern. Therefore, new and effective therapies are needed forH. pyloriinfection. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of semisynthetic tetracycline regimens inH. pyloritreatment.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library were searched. The outcome indicators were the eradication rate, risk ratio (RR, ie, the risk of the semisynthetic tetracycline regimen relative to the control), and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Controls were patients undergoing any other treatment without semisynthetic tetracycline.

Results

Twenty‐three studies with 5240 participants were included. The eradication rates of triple regimens with semisynthetic tetracyclines in most studies were less than 70% in both the intention‐to‐treat (ITT) and the per‐protocol (PP) analyses. The pooled eradication rates of quadruple therapies with doxycycline and controls were 95% and 84% in the PP analyses, respectively. The pooled RR associated with efficacy in the quadruple therapy with doxycycline group compared with the control group was 1.12 (95% CI: 1.04–1.20) in the PP analysis. The pooled RR of side effects in the quadruple therapy with doxycycline group compared with the control group was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.65–1.55).

Conclusion

Seven‐day and ten‐day quadruple therapy with doxycycline might be an optional first‐line therapy. The safety of regimens containing semisynthetic tetracyclines was relatively satisfactory. However, the triple regimen is not recommended.
Effectiveness of a structured short intervention against stigmatisation in chronic visible skin diseases: Results of a controlled trial in future educators
Authors: Weinberger Natascha‐Alexandra , Mrowietz Sonja , Luck‐Sikorski Claudia , von Spreckelsen Regina , John Sven M. , Sommer Rachel , Augustin Matthias , Mrowietz Ulrich
Published: July 2021

Background

Chronic visible skin diseases are highly prevalent, and patients affected frequently report feeling stigmatised. Interventions to reduce stigmatisation are rare.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured short intervention in reducing stigmatising attitudes towards psoriasis in future educators.

Methods

The intervention consisted of four components: (1) self‐reflection, (2) education on skin diseases, (3) contact between participants and a person with psoriasis and (4) practising of knowledge via case studies. A quasi‐experimental, pre–post study design was chosen with a nonrandomized contemporaneous control group that attended regular lessons. The main outcomes were participants' desire for social distance, stereotype endorsement, illness‐related misconceptions and intended behaviour. Intervention effects were analysed using mixed repeated‐measures analysis of variance, with Bonferroni post‐hoc tests for pairwise comparisons.

Results

The sample consisted of 221 students attending vocational training as educators (n = 118 intervention group, n = 103 control group). While no effect of the intervention was found in social distance, small to large effect sizes were observed for intended behaviour (r = .14), illness‐related misconceptions (r = .28) and stereotype endorsement (r = .42). The intervention group reported significantly higher satisfaction with the seminar compared to the control group.

Conclusions

Overall, the short intervention was effective at reducing stigmatising attitudes in future educators. In perspective, revised versions could help in reducing stigmatisation in various demographics and promote patient empowerment by acknowledging and including them as experts on their own behalf.

Patient or Public Contribution

Patient advocate groups were consulted and involved in the superordinate destigmatization research programme and intervention.
Efficacy and durability of two‐ vs. three‐drug integrase inhibitor‐based regimens in virologically suppressed HIV‐infected patients: Data from real‐life ODOACRE cohort
Authors: Fabbiani Massimiliano , Rossetti Barbara , Ciccullo Arturo , Oreni Letizia , Lagi Filippo , Celani Luigi , Colafigli Manuela , De Vito Andrea , Mazzitelli Maria , Dusina Alex , Durante Miriam , Montagnani Francesca , Rusconi Stefano , Capetti Amedeo , Sterrantino Gaetana , D’Ettorre Gabriella , Di Giambenedetto Simona ,   for the ODOACRE Study Group
Published: July 2021

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy and durability of treatment switch to two‐drug (2DR) vs. three‐drug (3DR) integrase inhibitor (InSTI)‐based regimens in a real‐life setting.

Methods

Within the ODOACRE cohort, we selected adult patients with HIV RNA < 50 copies/mL switching to an InSTI‐based 2DR or 3DR. Survival analyses were performed to estimate the probability of virological failure (VF, defined as one HIV RNA > 1000 copies/mL or two consecutive HIV RNA > 50 copies/mL) and treatment discontinuation (TD, defined as any modification, intensification or interruption of the regimen), and to evaluate their predictors.

Results

Overall, 1666 patients were included, of whom 1334 (80%) were treated with a 3DR (19.9%, 25.0% and 55.1% elvitegravir‐, raltegravir‐ and dolutegravir‐based, respectively) and 332 (20%) with a 2DR (79.2% dolutegravir + lamivudine and 20.8% dolutegravir + rilpivirine).

Over a median (interquartile range) follow‐up of 100 (52–150) weeks, 52 (3.1%) patients experienced VF with an incidence of 1.5/100 person‐year of follow‐up (PYFU). The estimated 96‐week probability of VF was similar for the 2DR and 3DR groups (2.3% vs. 2.8%, P = 0.53), but it was higher for elvitegravir (4.9%) and raltegravir (5.0%) than for dolutegravir (1.5%) (P = 0.04).

Four hundred (24%) patients discontinued their InSTI‐based regimen, with an incidence of 11.3/100 PYFU. At 96 weeks, 3DRs showed a higher probability of TD for any reason (20.6% vs. 11.2%, P < 0.001) and TD for toxicity (9.0% vs. 6.6%, P = 0.02) when compared with 2DRs. A higher risk of TD for central nervous system toxicity was observed for dolutegravir than for elvitegravir and raltegravir (4.0% vs. 2.5% vs. 0.6%, P = 0.005).

Conclusions

In virologically suppressed HIV‐infected patients, 2DRs showed an efficacy similar to 3DRs but with better tolerability.
Networks of trust: Accessing informal work online in Indonesia during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: OCTAVIA Joanna
Published: July 2021

Although studies on digital labour platforms show how the internet has opened up access to income opportunities in the developing world, they have not explored how informal workers use the internet to access work without an intermediary. Using data from digital ethnography and interviews with workers in Indonesia, this article examines how platform‐based motorcycle taxi drivers and domestic workers accessed work through social media during the COVID‐19 pandemic when the platforms were not allowed to operate. Findings suggest that while social media offered workers increased opportunities, their success was largely dependent on their social networks and bounded by the algorithms designed by platform owners.
Optimization of an inventory system with partial backlogging from a financial investment perspective
Authors: San‐José Luis‐A. , Sicilia Joaquín , Pando Valentín , Alcaide‐López‐de‐Pablo David
Published: July 2021

In some real inventory systems, item sales can be adjusted to a stable demand rate along the inventory cycle. For instance, home appliances, electrical products, lounge furniture, home water supply, etc., are items with a stable demand rate. In this work, we analyze an inventory system for an item of this type, where the demand rate is constant. Shortages are allowed, and it is assumed that a fraction of demand during the stock‐out period is backlogged. It is supposed that the shortage costs (backorder cost and lost sales cost) have an affine structure: a fixed cost plus a linear cost that depends on the period of time where shortages exist. In this paper, instead of the maximization of the profit per unit time, or the minimization of the average inventory cost per unit time, the objective is the maximization of the return on inventory investment, which is a quotient defined as the average profit divided by the average inventory cost. The optimal inventory policy is obtained in a closed form under this new perspective. Moreover, it is shown that the optimal policy that maximizes the return on inventory investment is, in general, different from the one that maximizes the profit per unit time. In addition, the new optimal perspective offers some advantages. The optimal inventory policy that maximizes the return on investment does not depend on the unit selling price. Therefore, the inventory manager does not need to change his/her inventory policy if this price changes. These advantages are not usually present when the objective is the maximization of the profit per unit time. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the theoretical results developed in this work. A sensitivity analysis of the optimal policy with respect to the system input parameters is also developed.
Relationship among faculty fatigue, academic rank, and scholarship and service productivity
Authors: Poole Ellen L. , Spies Martha A.
Published: July 2021

Aim

To examine the relationship among the level of fatigue, academic rank, workload (credit hours) and faculty productivity (as measured by scholarship and service activities).

Design

Descriptive cross‐sectional correlational design.

Participants

All full‐time faculty in national year‐round nursing college.

Methods

An Internet survey was distributed May/June 2017 to all full‐time faculty (n = 318). Responses reported are from 81 faculty members in the prelicensure baccalaureate programme. Survey items included workload, scholarship and service activities and demographic data. Fatigue was measured by the trait version of Occupational Fatigue, Exhaustion Recovery scale which has three subscales: Acute, Persistent, and Chronic.

Results

Mean fatigue for all traits ranged from 45.9 to 52.48. More service activities were reported than scholarship activities. There was a significant positive correlation between chronic fatigue and credit hours. No significant differences existed in fatigue scores based on frequency of scholarship and service activities.

Conclusion

This first study of fatigue in nursing faculty establishes the existence of fatigue in this group. This can be serious related to the existence of chronic fatigue. Strategies to reduce fatigue are important to support the long‐term employment of nursing faculty.

Impact

What problem did the study address? Fatigue in faculty members and its relationship to academic rank and scholarship and service productivity.

What were the main findings? Fatigue in faculty members exists. Higher rank was associated with more scholarship and service activities. Chronic fatigue is less than acute or persistent fatigue. Chronic fatigue is related to workload.

Where and on whom will the research have impact? Findings may impact retention of nursing faculty members and academic leaders responsible for supporting work–life balance among nursing faculty.
Anti‐growth and pro‐apoptotic effects of dasatinib on human oral cancer cells through multi‐targeted mechanisms
Authors: Park Nam‐Sook , Park Yu‐Kyung , Yadav Anil Kumar , Shin Young‐Min , Bishop‐Bailey David , Choi Jong‐Soon , Park Jong Wook , Jang Byeong‐Churl
Published: July 2021

Dasatinib is an inhibitor of Src that has anti‐tumour effects on many haematological and solid cancers. However, the anti‐tumour effects of dasatinib on human oral cancers remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of dasatinib on different types of human oral cancer cells: the non‐tumorigenic YD‐8 and YD‐38 and the tumorigenic YD‐10B and HSC‐3 cells. Strikingly, dasatinib at 10 µM strongly suppressed the growth and induced apoptosis of YD‐38 cells and inhibited the phosphorylation of Src, EGFR, STAT‐3, STAT‐5, PKB and ERK‐1/2. In contrast, knockdown of Src blocked the phosphorylation of EGFR, STAT‐5, PKB and ERK‐1/2, but not STAT‐3, in YD‐38 cells. Dasatinib induced activation of the intrinsic caspase pathway, which was inhibited by z‐VAD‐fmk, a pan‐caspase inhibitor. Dasatinib also decreased Mcl‐1 expression and S6 phosphorylation while increased GRP78 expression and eIF‐2α phosphorylation in YD‐38 cells. In addition, to its direct effects on YD‐38 cells, dasatinib also exhibited anti‐angiogenic properties. Dasatinib‐treated YD‐38 or HUVEC showed reduced HIF‐1α expression and stability. Dasatinib alone or conditioned media from dasatinib‐treated YD‐38 cells inhibited HUVEC tube formation on Matrigel without affecting HUVEC viability. Importantly, dasatinib's anti‐growth, anti‐angiogenic and pro‐apoptotic effects were additionally seen in tumorigenic HSC‐3 cells. Together, these results demonstrate that dasatinib has strong anti‐growth, anti‐angiogenic and pro‐apoptotic effects on human oral cancer cells, which are mediated through the regulation of multiple targets, including Src, EGFR, STAT‐3, STAT‐5, PKB, ERK‐1/2, S6, eIF‐2α, GRP78, caspase‐9/3, Mcl‐1 and HIF‐1α.
Can identical dental shade guides be used interchangeably?
Authors: Rahbani Nobar Behrad , Tabatabaian Farhad , Namdari Mahshid
Published: July 2021

Objective

To determine if identical dental shade guides can be used interchangeably considering their precision.

Materials and methods

Twenty Vita classical (VC) and Vita 3D‐Master (VM) shade guides were subjected to spectrophotometric measurements and their CIELab values were measured in three shade tab regions: incisal, middle, and cervical and also in total. The mean L*, a*, and b* values for analogous shade tabs were calculated to identify CIELab values for typical shades. ∆E00 color differences between a typical shade and its analogous shade tabs were measured. ∆E00 values were compared with perceptibility (∆E00 = 0.8) and acceptability (∆E00 = 1.8) thresholds using one‐sample t test (α = 0.05). An error was considered when the ∆E00 value was greater than the threshold. Subsequently, the shade guides' precision scores were calculated.

Results

Mean ∆E00 values ranged between 0.3 and 0.5 for VC tabs and between 0.3 and 0.6 for VM tabs. Precision scores for both shade guides ranged from 83.3% to 100%, considering the perceptibility threshold. Regarding the acceptability threshold, precision scores for VC ranged from 93.3% to 100%, while the precision scores for VM were 100%.

Conclusions

Owing to high precision of VC and VM, identical dental shade guides can be used interchangeably.

Clinical Significance

Using identical dental shade guides interchangeably may affect the color results of restorative treatments. This study identified high levels of precision for identical shade tabs of Vita classical and Vita 3D‐Master across different batches. Thus, similar dental shade guides can be used interchangeably.
Seroreversion of hepatitis B surface antigen among subjects with resolved hepatitis B virus infection: A community‐based cohort study
Authors: Yeh Ming‐Lun , Liang Po‐Cheng , Huang Ching‐I , Hsieh Meng‐Hsuan , Lin Yi‐Hung , Jang Tyng‐Yuan , Wei Yu‐Ju , Hsu Po‐Yao , Hsu Cheng‐Ting , Wang Chih‐Wen , Hsieh Ming‐Yen , Lin Zu‐Yau , Chen Shinn‐Cherng , Huang Chung‐Feng , Huang Jee‐Fu , Dai Chia‐Yen , Chuang Wan‐Long , Yu Ming‐Lung
Published: July 2021

Background and Aim

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) seroreversion usually occurs during immunosuppressive therapy. The risk and factors of HBsAg seroreversion from resolved HBV infection in the general population remained unclear.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled subjects with resolved HBV infection and who had received at least two times of screening in a longitudinal community screening program. HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antibody (anti‐HBs), and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti‐HCV) were tested every time in all subjects. The primary endpoint was HBsAg seroreversion.

Results

Of the 7630 subjects enrolled, 5158 (67.6%) subjects had positive anti‐HBs at baseline. HBsAg seroreversion occurred in 84 subjects during 42 815‐person‐year follow‐up with an annual incidence of 0.2% and a 10‐year cumulative risk of 1.9%. Anti‐HBV treatment‐experienced subjects had a significantly higher risk of HBsAg seroreversion than anti‐HBV treatment‐naive subjects (83/310 [26.8%] vs 1/7320 [0.01%], P < 0.001). Lower rates of positive anti‐HBs and anti‐HCV were observed in anti‐HBV treatment‐experienced subjects who developed HBsAg seroreversion. Both positive anti‐HBs (hazard ratio/95% confidence interval: 0.56/0.348–0.903, P = 0.017) and positive anti‐HCV (hazard ratio/95% confidence interval: 0.08/0.030–0.234, P < 0.001) were independent factors of HBsAg seroreversion in anti‐HBV treatment‐experienced subjects. Less than 5% of the HBsAg seroreverters had clinical hepatitis flare at HBsAg seroreversion. The HBsAg titer was low, and only transient reappeared in most of the HBsAg seroreverters.

Conclusions

Subjects with resolved HBV infection were at a minimal risk of HBsAg seroreversion, unless with prior anti‐HBV treatment experience. Fortunately, even with a reappearance of HBsAg, it was transient and clinically non‐relevant.
The impact of macroeconomic uncertainty on inequality: An empirical study for the United Kingdom
Authors: Theophilopoulou Angeliki
Published: July 2021

The role of economic uncertainty on macroeconomic fluctuations has been studied extensively in the empirical literature; however, its distributional effects have received little attention. This paper attempts to fill this gap by investigating whether macroeconomic uncertainty affects income, wage, and consumption inequality in the United Kingdom. Our findings suggest that measures of inequality fall significantly to a macroeconomic uncertainty shock. Households in the middle and right tail of the income distribution appear to be more adversely affected relative to ones in the left tail. Income composition and households indebtedness explain a large part of the heterogeneous response. Uncertainty also appears to account significantly for the variation of income and consumption inequality.
Morphological assessment of GABA and glutamate inputs to GnRH neurons in intact female mice using expansion microscopy
Authors: Yeo Shel‐Hwa , Herde Michel K. , Herbison Allan E.
Published: July 2021

The roles GABAergic and glutamatergic inputs in regulating the activity of the gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons at the time of the preovulatory surge remain unclear. We used expansion microscopy to compare the density of GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses on the GnRH neuron cell body and proximal dendrite in dioestrous and pro‐oestrous female mice. An evaluation of all synapses immunoreactive for synaptophysin revealed that the highest density of inputs to rostral preoptic area GnRH neurons occurred within the first 45 µm of the primary dendrite (approximately 0.19 synapses µm‐1) with relatively few synapses on the GnRH neuron soma or beyond 45 µm of the dendrite (0.05‐0.08 synapses µm‐1). Triple immunofluorescence labelling demonstrated a predominance of glutamatergic signalling with twice as many vesicular glutamate transporter 2 synapses detected compared to vesicular GABA transporter. Co‐labelling with the GABAA receptor scaffold protein gephyrin and the glutamate receptor postsynaptic density marker Homer1 confirmed these observations, as well as the different spatial distribution of GABA and glutamate inputs along the dendrite. Quantitative assessments revealed no differences in synaptophysin, GABA or glutamate synapses at the proximal dendrite and soma of GnRH neurons between dioestrous and pro‐oestrous mice. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that the GnRH neuron receives twice as many glutamatergic synapses compared to GABAergic synapses and that these inputs preferentially target the first 45 µm of the GnRH neuron proximal dendrite. These inputs appear to be structurally stable before the onset of pro‐oestrous GnRH surge.
Efficacy of a combined chemical peel and topical salicylic acid‐based gel combination in the treatment of active acne
Authors: Calvisi Lucia
Published: July 2021

Background

Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition affecting the pilosebaceous unit of the skin characterized by the presence of comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts, which might result in permanent scars. It commonly affects adolescents, but it can occur in any age‐group with the second group of incidence in young women in their 30s.

Acne vulgaris can highly affect a person's quality of life. Therefore, it is necessary to act against it to prevent emotional impact and long‐term complications.

Aim

This study aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of a chemical peel in combination with a home care‐exfoliating and purifying product in improving mild and moderate acne.

Methods

The study included 45 patients with mild‐to‐moderate acne. Patients were treated with a chemical peel containing a mix of salicylic acid, pyruvic acid, and retinoic acid once every 3 weeks for 4 times, plus a home care treatment after the healing process.

Michaelson's acne severity score, Subject Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, and Face Skin Q questionnaire were used to evaluate patients’ skin improvement and patients’ satisfaction.

Results

All patients have shown improvement in skin lesions after 4 sessions of chemical peel according to Michaelson's acne severity score and Subject Global Aesthetic Improvement Score. Face Skin Q questionnaire demonstrated an improved quality of life in all treated patients.

Conclusion

The combination of salicylic acid‐based chemical peel plus exfoliating home care treatment appears to be a very good strategy against acne. Therefore, the physician may use this combination as an effective treatment for patients dealing with acne vulgaris.
Dual‐species origin of an adaptive chemical defense polymorphism
Authors: Olsen Kenneth M. , Goad David M. , Wright Sara J. , Dutta Maya L. , Myers Samantha R. , Small Linda L. , Li Lin‐Feng
Published: July 2021

Allopolyploid speciation and chemical defense diversification are two of the most characteristic features of plant evolution; although the former has likely shaped the latter, this has rarely been documented. Here we document allopolyploidy‐mediated chemical defense evolution in the origin of cyanogenesis (HCN release upon tissue damage) in white clover (Trifolium repens).

We combined linkage mapping of the loci that control cyanogenesis (Ac, controlling production of cyanogenic glucosides; and Li, controlling production of their hydrolyzing enzyme linamarase) with genome sequence comparisons between white clover, a recently evolved allotetraploid, and its diploid progenitors (Trifolium pallescens, Trifolium occidentale).

The Ac locus (a three‐gene cluster comprising the cyanogenic glucoside pathway) is derived from T. occidentale; it maps to linkage group 2O (occidentale subgenome) and is orthologous to a highly similar cluster in the T. occidentale reference genome. By contrast, Li maps to linkage group 4P (pallescens subgenome), indicating an origin in the other progenitor species.

These results indicate that cyanogenesis evolved in white clover as a product of the interspecific hybridization that created the species. This allopolyploidization‐derived chemical defense, together with subsequent selection on intraspecific cyanogenesis variation, appears to have contributed to white clover’s ecological success as a globally distributed weed species.
Predicting hospital mortality in COVID‐19 hemodialysis patients with developed scores
Authors: Sevinc Can , Demirci Recep , Timur Ozge
Published: July 2021

Various risk scores such as COVID‐GRAM Critical Illness Risk Score (COVID‐GRAM), quick COVID‐19 Severity Index (qCSI), and systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII) have been developed to determine critical illness in hospitalized patients. None of these risk scoring systems was evaluated in HD patients who indeed carry the highest risk of developing critical illnesses. We aimed to evaluate, in hemodialysis (HD) patients with COVID‐19, the performance of these scoring systems for the need of intensive care unit (ICU) and mortality. The qCSI, COVID‐GRAM, and SII scores of the patients at admission to hospital were calculated and grouped according to the scoring results. The primary outcome of the study was mortality and need of ICU. Critical illness was described as a composition of admission to the ICU, invasive ventilation, or death. It was determined that when the qCSI is over 6.5, the need for ICU increased 13.8 times and mortality increased 21.3 times. When the COVID‐GRAM score is >157, the ICU need increased 14.7 times and the mortality increased 33.7 times. We found that the need for ICU increased 4.2 times and mortality increased 3.1 times when the SII score was >1145. These tests, which can be easily calculated, could be used to estimate the risk of developing critical illness among COVID‐19 HD patients. Estimating the risk of critical illness could help to reduce mortality in HD patients.
Statistical characterization of a confined submarine fan system: The Pennsylvanian Lower Atoka Formation, Ouachita Mountains, USA
Authors: Hou Pengfei , Jobe Zane R. , Wood Lesli J.
Published: July 2021

Current knowledge of submarine fan deposits has historically relied heavily on qualitative field and subsurface observations and interpretations, but recent studies using statistical analyses have enhanced the understanding of submarine fan sub‐environments, including the degree of confinement, stratigraphic patterns and potential control factors. The purpose of this study is to improve the quantitative understanding of synorogenic submarine fan deposition at foreland basin settings with a statistical approach. A suite of statistical methods is integrated and developed (Hurst Statistics/rescaled range analysis, bed thickness frequency distribution analysis, Markov Chains and time‐series analysis), and applied to the well‐understood Pennsylvanian lower Atoka submarine fan system in the Ouachita Mountains, United States, for this purpose. The results of the Hurst Statistics and bed thickness analyses corroborate qualitative interpretations that: (i) the lower Atoka is lobe‐dominated; and (ii) the south‐eastern (wedge top) portion of the system is more strongly confined than the northern (foredeep) portion. The Markov Chains and time‐series analyses reveal the prevalence (56% of the measured sections) of stratigraphic orderliness and cyclicity; these results are used to discuss potential control signals, which are otherwise difficult to distinguish, on the turbidite sandstone recurrence cycles. The results of this study demonstrate that these integrated statistical methods can be utilized to quantify depositional interpretations and extract hidden information using outcrops with limited exposures.
Glyoxalase I‐4 functions downstream of NAC72 to modulate downy mildew resistance in grapevine
Authors: Li Tiemei , Cheng Xin , Wang Xiaowei , Li Guanggui , Wang Bianbian , Wang Wenyuan , Zhang Na , Han Yulei , Jiao Bolei , Wang Yuejin , Liu Guotian , Xu Tengfei , Xu Yan
Published: July 2021

Glyoxalase I (GLYI) is part of the glyoxalase system; its major function is the detoxification of α‐ketoaldehydes, including the potent and cytotoxic methylglyoxal (MG). Methylglyoxal disrupts mitochondrial respiration and increases production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which also increase during pathogen infection of plant tissues; however, there have been few studies relating the glyoxalase system to the plant pathogen response. We used the promoter of VvGLYI‐4 to screen the upstream transcription factors and report a NAC (NAM/ATAF/CUC) domain‐containing transcription factor VvNAC72 in grapevine, which is localized to the nucleus. Our results show that VvNAC72 expression is induced by downy mildew, Plasmopara viticola, while the transcript level of VvGLYI‐4 decreases. Further analysis revealed that VvNAC72 can bind directly to the promoter region of VvGLYI‐4 via the CACGTG element, leading to inhibition of VvGLYI‐4 transcription. Stable overexpression of VvNAC72 in grapevine and tobacco showed a decreased expression level of VvGLYI‐4 and increased content of MG and ROS, as well as stronger resistance to pathogen stress. Taken together, these results demonstrate that grapevine VvNAC72 negatively modulates detoxification of MG through repression of VvGLYI‐4, and finally enhances resistance to downy mildew, at least in part, via the modulation of MG‐associated ROS homeostasis through a salicylic acid‐mediated defense pathway.
Junior High School Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Inquiry-Based Science Teaching: Enabling or Disabling Dispositions?
Authors: Mohammed Salifu Maigari , Amponsah Kwaku Darko
Published: July 2021

This study sought to examine whether junior high school teachers’ attitudes are enabling or disabling dispositions toward inquiry-based science teaching. We used concurrent triangulation mixed methods design involving surveys and multiple case studies to collect quantitative and qualitative data. We sampled 308 integrated science teachers and a subsample of 18 teachers from junior high schools in urban and rural areas. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were satisfactory for research. Credibility and dependability of the semi-structured interview schedule were also sufficient. Findings suggest that most junior high school teachers in the study context hold weak unfavourable attitudes that are disabling dispositions toward inquiry-based science teaching. Findings also suggest that the combination of societal subjective norms, perceived context dependency, and weak unfavourable attitudes of most junior high school teachers adversely influence their intentions and behaviours toward inquiry-based science teaching. Findings further suggest that most teachers in the study context developed weak unfavourable attitudes partly because they never had inquiry-based science teaching and learning experiences when they were students. Again, the teachers developed weak general attitudes toward science teaching partly because most science teaching and learning experiences they had were in specific subjects such as biology, chemistry, and physics instead of general (integrated) science. We recommend frequent attitude-focused inquiry-based science in-service trainings for junior high school teachers. We also recommend reforms in education that engages preservice teachers in attitude-focused inquiry-based science teaching and learning experiences.
Cohesive Behaviors of Hydrogel Under Large-Scale Bridging
Authors: Wan Xiaodong , He Yunfeng , Chen Yujie , Yang Canhui
Published: July 2021

It has been recently revealed that large-scale bridging mechanism can be invoked to drastically improve the debonding resistance of hydrogel adhesion, but the optimization of the improvement remains elusive. Aiming at shedding light on the optimization, the present article investigates the cohesive behaviors of hydrogel under the condition of large-scale bridging in 90-deg peel. A quasi-static model is established based on the principle of minimum potential energy, with the traction-separation law determined from experiments. The model is proved reliable in predicting the force-displacement response and the backing profile up to the peak peel force. Further theoretical analyses indicate that, within the range of interest, the peak peel force decreases with the extended length, increases with the Young’s modulus of backing, increases, and then plateaus with the adhesion length and the thickness and bending stiffness of backing. In addition, the vertical displacement at peak peel force escalates with the extended length, remains mostly constant with varying adhesion length, declines with the Young’s modulus of backing, and declines and then stabilizes with increasing thickness and bending stiffness of backing. These theoretical insights may help tailor the material properties and geometric parameters for on-demand design of hydrogel adhesion and other soft adhesives for biomedicine and engineering.
Nonlinear Oscillations of Particle-Reinforced Electro-Magneto-Viscoelastomer Actuators
Authors: Khurana Aman , Kumar Deepak , Sharma Atul Kumar , Joglekar M. M.
Published: July 2021

This work presents the dynamic modeling and analysis of a particle-reinforced and pre-stressed electro-magneto-viscoelastic plate actuator. The actuator belongs to a smart actuator category and is made of an electro-magneto-active polymer filled with a particular volume fraction of suitable fillers. An energy-based electro-magneto-viscoelastic model is developed to predict the actuator response and interrogate the impact of particle reinforcement on the dynamic oscillations of a pre-stressed condition of the actuator. An Euler–Lagrange equation of motion is implemented to deduce the governing dynamic equation of the actuator. The findings of the model solutions provide preliminary insights on the alteration of the nonlinear behavior of the actuator driven by DC and AC dynamic modes of actuation. It is observed that the enrichment in the particle reinforcement characterized by the amount of fillers strengthens the polymer and depleted the associated level of deformation. Also, the depletion in the intensity of oscillation and enhancement in the frequency of excitation is perceived with an increase in the particle reinforcement. In addition, the time-history response, Poincare plots, and phase diagrams are also plotted to assess the stability, periodicity, beating phenomenon, and resonant behavior of the actuator. In general, the current study provides initial steps toward the modern actuator designs for various futuristic applications in the engineering and medical field.
Anisotropic Cutting Force Characteristics in Milling of Maraging Steel Processed Through Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Tamura Shoichi , Matsumura Takashi , Ezura Atsushi , Mori Kazuo
Published: July 2021

Additive manufacturing (AM) process of maraging steel has been studied for high value parts in aerospace and automotive industries. The hybrid additive/subtractive manufacturing is effective to achieve tight tolerances and surface finishes. The additive process induces anisotropic mechanical properties of maraging steel, which depends on the laser scanning direction. Because anisotropy in the workpiece material has an influence on the cutting process, the surface finish and the dimension accuracy change according to the direction of the cutter feed with respect to the laser scanning direction. Therefore, the cutting parameters should be determined to control the cutting force considering material anisotropy. The paper discusses the cutting force in milling of maraging steel stacked with selective laser melting, as an AM process. Anisotropic effect on the cutting forces is proved with the changing rate of the cutting force in milling of the workpieces stacked by repeating laser scanning at 0/90 deg and 45/−45 deg. The cutting forces, then, are analyzed in the chip flow models with piling up of orthogonal cuttings. The force model associates anisotropy with the shear stress on the shear plane. The changes in the cutting forces with the feed direction are discussed in the cutting tests and analysis.