bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information From Same‐Race/Ethnicity Experts Online Does Not Increase Vaccine Interest or Intention to Vaccinate
Authors: GADARIAN SHANA KUSHNER , GOODMAN SARA WALLACE , MICHENER JAMILA , NYHAN BRENDAN , PEPINSKY THOMAS B.
Published: March 2022

Policy Points

Mass vaccination is essential for bringing the COVID‐19 pandemic to a close, yet substantial disparities remain between whites and racial and ethnic minorities within the United States.

Online messaging campaigns featuring expert endorsements are a low‐cost way to increase vaccine awareness among minoritized populations, yet the efficacy of same‐race/ethnicity expert messaging in increasing uptake remains unknown.

Our preregistered analysis of an online vaccine endorsement campaign, which randomly varied the racial/ethnic identity of the expert, revealed no evidence that information from same race/ethnicity experts affected vaccine interest or the intention to vaccinate.

Our results do not rule out the possibility that other low‐cost endorsement campaigns may be more effective in increasing vaccine uptake, but do suggest that public health campaigns might profitably focus on issues of access and convenience when targeting minoritized populations in the United States.

Context

The COVID‐19 pandemic in the United States has been unequally experienced across racial and ethnic groups. Mass vaccination is the most effective way to bring the pandemic to an end and to manage its public health consequences. But the racialization of public health delivery in the United States has produced a sizable racial/ethnic gap in vaccination rates. Closing this gap in vaccine uptake is therefore essential to ending the pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a preregistered, well‐powered (N = 2,117) between‐subjects survey experiment, fielded March 24 to April 5, 2021, in which participants from YouGov's online panel—including oversamples of Black (n = 471), Hispanic/Latino/a (n = 430), and Asian American (n = 319) participants—were randomly assigned to see COVID‐19 vaccine information endorsed by same‐ or different‐race/ethnicity experts or to a control condition. We then measured respondents’ vaccination intentions, intention to encourage others to get vaccinated, and interest in learning more information and sharing information with others.

Findings

Same‐race/ethnicity expert endorsements had no measurable effect on nonwhite or white respondents’ willingness to get the COVID‐19 vaccine, to encourage others to get the vaccine, or to learn more or share information with others.

Conclusions

Our study provides empirical evidence suggesting online endorsements from same‐race/ethnicity experts do not increase vaccine interest, advocacy, or uptake, though same‐race/ethnicity endorsements may be effective in other venues or mediums.
Effects of tax benefits on the price elasticity of charitable contributions in South Korea
Authors: Kim YoungRok
Published: March 2022

Using South Korean panel data from 2008 to 2019 and censored quantile regression method, this study calculates the effects of different tax incentives on charitable contributions. We observe price elasticity under two different tax‐benefit systems in South Korea and find that, first, taxpayers tend to be more sensitive to tax incentives under a tax deduction system than a tax credit system. The price elasticity gap between a tax deduction and tax credit is approximately −2.3 to −1.0. Second, we show the existence of heterogeneity in taxpayers’ behaviour: the price elasticity of charitable contributions exhibits a convex shape, where more significant donors have lesser reactions to tax incentives. We further show that socioeconomic contexts, such as income, gender, marital status, and education, affect people's attitudes. In sum, the results are as expected: tax deductions work more efficiently than tax credits.
Analysis of antimicrobial whey protein‐based biocomposites with lactic acid, tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and garlic (Allium sativum) essential oils for Edam cheese coating
Authors: Tamošaitis Almantas , JaruševičienĖ AušrinĖ , StrykaitĖ Monika , Damašius Jonas
Published: March 2022

To protect fermented cheese from spoilage during the cheese maturation process, polymeric films are used. However, aiming for sustainability, interest in protein‐based biodegradable and antimicrobial coatings in the dairy industry has rapidly increased. Therefore, the objective of this study was to improve and analyse whey protein‐based coatings with different polysaccharides such as pectin, sodium alginate and carboxymethylcellulose, and different antimicrobial agents such as montmorillonite, garlic essential oil, tea tree essential oil and lactic acid. The results show that sodium alginate could be combined with lactic acid and used for further application.
Comparative analysis of flavonoids in white and red table grape cultivars during ripening by widely targeted metabolome and transcript levels
Authors: Xia Hui , Zhang Xuefeng , Shen Yanqiu , Guo Yuqi , Wang Tong , Wang Jin , Lin Lijin , Deng Honghong , Deng Qunxian , Xu Kunfu , Lv Xiulan , Liang Dong
Published: March 2022

The flavonoid metabolites were compared between red ‘Summer Black’ (SB) and white ‘Shine Muscat’ (SM) table grapes during fruit development based on widely targeted metabolome. A total of 134 flavonoids were identified in two cultivars, including 37 flavones, 33 flavonols, and 11 anthocyanidins, and so on. From young to veraison, the composition and the content of most flavonoids were decreasing in both cultivars but increased at maturation in SB. In general, SB has higher flavonoid compositions and content than SM during the whole fruit development, especially the content of anthocyanin after veraison. While the SM had higher content of flavonols such as quercetin, kaempferol and their derivatives. The expression of anthocyanin‐related genes such as UFGT, OMT, GST, MATE, MYBA1, and MYBA2 was remarkably higher in SB than those in SM, which may attribute to higher anthocyanin content, while the higher expression of F3H and FLS resulted higher level of flavonols in SM. These results improve our understanding of flavonoid profiles and molecular mechanism in table grape cultivars.
Foaming characteristics and impact of ethanol pretreatment in drying behavior and physical characteristics for avocado pulp powder obtained by foam mat drying
Authors: Santos Newton Carlos , Almeida Raphael Lucas Jacinto , de Medeiros Maria de Fátima Dantas , Hoskin Roberta Targino , da Silva Pedrini Márcia Regina
Published: March 2022

The objective of this study was to optimize the production of powdered avocado using foam mat drying. In order to achieve this, the effect of Emustab® (4, 6, and 8% w/w), goat's milk (10, 15, and 20% w/w), and whipping time (15, 20, and 25 min) on the foam physical properties of avocado pulp were evaluated. In addition, the influence of ethanol pretreatment on the drying kinetics, thermodynamic properties, and physicochemical characteristics of the powders was also assessed. An experimental design 23 with three central points was used in this study and optimized foam conditions were dried at 50, 60, and 70°C, with a fixed air speed of 1.5 m/s. Empirical and diffusive models (boundary conditions of the third type) were adjusted to the experimental data to describe the drying kinetics and to determine the process activation energy and thermodynamic properties. The final products were characterized regarding their physical properties. Optimized foam mat drying conditions were achieved when avocado pulp was whipped for 15 min and 8% of Emustab® and 20% of powdered goat milk were used as foaming agents. The use of an ethanol pretreatment and higher drying temperature (70°C) resulted in higher drying rate (1.6 × 102/min) and shorter processing time (270 min). The ethanol pretreatment reduced the activation energy and Biot number and led to more uniform moisture distribution. The physical properties, such as water content, water activity, bulk, and tapped densities decreased with an increase in drying temperature and pretreatment with ethanol, whereas water absorption capacity increased.

Practical Application

In this work, new information about the drying kinetics and mass transfer of the foam mat avocado pulp using ethanol as pretreatment is obtained. The results will contribute to the optimization production avocado foaming and powder. Ethanol pretreatment can represent an alternative to minimize the negative impacts on drying process and can be surely suggested as an industrial application.
Peptide mediated, enhanced toxicity of a bacterial pesticidal protein against southern green stink bug
Authors: Banerjee Rahul , Flores‐Escobar Biviana , Chougule Nanasaheb P. , Cantón Pablo Emiliano , Dumitru Razvan , Bonning Bryony C.
Published: March 2022

The damage caused by stink bugs that feed on agricultural crops accounts for such significant losses that transgenic plant resistance to stink bugs would be highly desirable. As the level of toxicity of the Bacillus thuringiensis‐derived, ETX/Mtx2 pesticidal protein Mpp83Aa1 is insufficient for practical use against the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula, we employed two disparate approaches to isolate peptides NvBP1 and ABP5 that bind to specific proteins (alpha amylase and aminopeptidase N respectively) on the surface of the N. viridula gut. Incorporation of these peptides into Mpp83Aa1 provided artificial anchors resulting in increased gut binding, and enhanced toxicity. These peptide‐modified pesticidal proteins with increased toxicity provide a key advance for potential future use against N. viridula when delivered by transgenic plants to mitigate economic loss associated with this important pest.
The Intricacies of Firms’ Support for Labor Provisions in US Trade Agreements
Authors: Cezar Rodrigo Fagundes
Published: March 2022

Do pro‐trade firms want trade agreements to include stronger provisions protecting workers? The position of those firms in the US in recent years is often counterintuitive vis‐à‐vis the expectations of the literature. To solve that puzzle, I argue that it is necessary to account for the intricacies of the position of firms/associations on US trade–labor linkage according to their GVC integration. I argue that highly GVC‐integrated firms/associations fear the uncertainties of strong labor provisions in PTAs and prefer to oppose commitments that could potentially lead to sanctions. However, it can be risky to oppose the inclusion of strong labor provisions in US PTAs. Instead, I argue that highly integrated firms/associations nowadays support trade–labor linkage but attach intricate conditions to that support based on lessons from previous experiences. To probe that argument, I perform a qualitative text analysis of the public submissions of firms/industry associations positioning themselves on the link between trade and labor in US PTAs between 2008 and 2020. The empirical analysis underscores the plausibility of my hypothesis. The results point to subtle ways in which pro‐trade firms may lobby trade–labor linkage. The paper has implications to the design of sustainable development provisions in US PTAs and beyond.
Assessing warming impacts on marine fishes by integrating physiology‐guided distribution projections, life‐history changes and food web dynamics
Authors: Kuo Chi‐Yun , Ko Chia‐Ying , Lai Yin‐Zheng
Published: March 2022

Rising ocean temperatures pose a continuing threat to marine fish communities. As warming has far‐reaching impacts at multiple ecological levels, incorporating multimodal data is necessary for more accurately forecasting the responses of species and communities to the warming ocean. Range shifts, life‐history changes, and alterations of trophic dynamics are three important aspects of warming impacts, yet there has not been a formal integration of all three aspects in the same analysis.

Here, we present a novel framework that integrates species distribution projections, life‐history changes, and food web dynamics to assess warming impacts on marine fish communities. We first introduce a simple yet effective way of incorporating thermal physiological data into the species distribution model without the need to empirically measure thermal performance curves. We then use the dynamic size‐spectrum model as the modeling backbone to incorporate data from species distributions and population‐level life history analyses. With this framework, we evaluate how individual species are affected under two warming scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). We also simulate large‐scale top‐down and bottom‐up perturbations to examine community resilience under rising temperatures.

We find that warming generally reduces species biomass and shifts species size spectra towards larger individuals, even though the maximum size tends to decrease under warming. However, the exact responses to rising temperatures differ among species and do not exhibit strong correlations with species size and the pace of life history. More severe warming also renders the focal community more vulnerable to top‐down perturbations, even though the community remains sufficiently resilient overall.

The complex nature of species and community responses result from the fact that distribution range, life history, and food web dynamics change with warming in different directions that may not be intuitive to predict a priori. Importantly, we show that neglecting changes in species distribution or life history will lead to biased assessment of species and community responses. Our analyses highlight trophic dynamics, species biomass, and community resilience as three emergent properties that our framework can uniquely quantify. This integrative framework is readily applicable to other communities of interest and can be scaled up for multi‐regional or global analyses.
Acrolein, an endogenous aldehyde induces synaptic dysfunction in vitro and in vivo: Involvement of RhoA/ROCK2 pathway
Authors: Zhu Zeyu , Lu Junfeng , Wang Shuyi , Peng Weijia , Yang Yang , Chen Chen , Zhou Xin , Yang Xifei , Xin Wenjun , Chen Xinyi , Pi Jiakai , Yin Wei , Yao Lin , Pi Rongbiao
Published: March 2022

Acrolein, an unsaturated aldehyde, is increased in the brain of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and identified as a potential inducer of sporadic AD. Synaptic dysfunction, as a typical pathological change occurring in the early stage of AD, is most closely associated with the severity of dementia. However, there remains a lack of clarity on the mechanisms of acrolein inducing AD‐like pathology and synaptic impairment. In this study, acrolein‐treated primary cultured neurons and mice were applied to investigate the effects of acrolein on cognitive impairment and synaptic dysfunction and their signaling mechanisms. In vitro, ROCK inhibitors, Fasudil, and Y27632, could attenuate the axon ruptures and synaptic impairment caused by acrolein. Meanwhile, RNA‐seq distinct differentially expressed genes in acrolein models and initially linked activated RhoA/Rho‐kinase2 (ROCK2) to acrolein‐induced synaptic dysfunction, which could regulate neuronal cytoskeleton and neurite. The Morris water maze test and in vivo field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) were performed to evaluate spatial memory and long‐term potential (LTP), respectively. Acrolein induced cognitive impairment and attenuated LTP. Furthermore, the protein level of Synapsin 1 and postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) and dendritic spines density were also decreased in acrolein‐exposed mice. These changes were improved by ROCK2 inhibitor Fasudil or in ROCK2+/− mice. Together, our findings suggest that RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway plays a critical role in acrolein‐induced synaptic damage and cognitive dysfunction, suggesting inhibition of ROCK2 should benefit to the early AD.
Acute nicotine treatment enhances compulsive‐like remifentanil self‐administration that persists despite contextual punishment
Authors: Honeycutt Sarah C. , Paladino Morgan S. , Camadine Rece D. , Mukherjee Ashmita , Loney Gregory C.
Published: March 2022

Opioid use disorder (OUD) and opioid‐related deaths remain a significant public health crisis having reached epidemic status globally. OUDs are defined as chronic, relapsing conditions often characterized by compulsive drug seeking despite the deleterious consequences of drug taking. The use of nicotine‐containing products has been linked to increased likelihood of prescription opioid misuse, and there exists a significant comorbidity between habitual nicotine use and opioid dependence. In rodent models, nicotine administration nearly doubles the amount of opioids taken in intravenous self‐administration paradigms. Here, we examined the effect of acute systemic nicotine administration in male rats on responding for the synthetic opioid remifentanil (RMF) in a contextual punishment paradigm using either an exteroceptive punisher (foot‐shock) or an interoceptive punisher (histamine). Nicotine administration, relative to saline, increased RMF intake in both unpunished and punished contexts, regardless of form of punishment, and resulted in significantly higher motivation to obtain RMF in the previously punished context, as measured by progressive ratio breakpoint. Additionally, regardless of context, nicotine‐treated rats were slower to extinguish RMF responding following drug removal and displayed higher levels of cue‐induced reinstatement than saline‐treated controls. Furthermore, these data support that, compared with histamine adulteration, contingent foot‐shock is a more potent form of punishment, as histamine punishment failed to support contextual discrimination between the unpunished and punished contexts. In contrast to RMF administration, augmentation of responding for an audiovisual cue by nicotine pretreatment was lost following contextual punishment. In conclusion, acute nicotine administration in adult male rats significantly enhances compulsive‐like responding for RMF that persists despite contingent punishment of drug‐directed responding.
Changes in predicted opioid overdose risk over time in a state Medicaid program: a group‐based trajectory modeling analysis
Authors: Guo Jingchuan , Gellad Walid F. , Yang Qingnan , Weiss Jeremy C. , Donohue Julie M. , Cochran Gerald , Gordon Adam J. , Malone Daniel C. , Kwoh C. Kent , Kuza Courtney C. , Wilson Debbie L. , Lo‐Ciganic Wei‐Hsuan
Published: March 2022

Background and Aims

The time lag encountered when accessing health‐care data is one major barrier to implementing opioid overdose prediction measures in practice. Little is known regarding how one's opioid overdose risk changes over time. We aimed to identify longitudinal patterns of individual predicted overdose risks among Medicaid beneficiaries after initiation of opioid prescriptions.

Design, Setting and Participants

A retrospective cohort study in Pennsylvania, USA among Pennsylvania Medicaid beneficiaries aged 18–64 years who initiated opioid prescriptions between July 2017 and September 2018 (318 585 eligible beneficiaries (mean age = 39 ± 12 years, female = 65.7%, White = 62.2% and Black = 24.9%).

Measurements

We first applied a previously developed and validated machine‐learning algorithm to obtain risk scores for opioid overdose emergency room or hospital visits in 3‐month intervals for each beneficiary who initiated opioid therapy, until disenrollment from Medicaid, death or the end of observation (December 2018). We performed group‐based trajectory modeling to identify trajectories of these predicted overdose risk scores over time.

Findings

Among eligible beneficiaries, 0.61% had one or more occurrences of opioid overdose in a median follow‐up of 15 months. We identified five unique opioid overdose risk trajectories: three trajectories (accounting for 92% of the cohort) had consistent overdose risk over time, including consistent low‐risk (63%), consistent medium‐risk (25%) and consistent high‐risk (4%) groups; another two trajectories (accounting for 8%) had overdose risks that substantially changed over time, including a group that transitioned from high‐ to medium‐risk (3%) and another group that increased from medium‐ to high‐risk over time (5%).

Conclusions

More than 90% of Medicaid beneficiaries in Pennsylvania USA with one or more opioid prescriptions had consistent, predicted opioid overdose risks over 15 months. Applying opioid prediction algorithms developed from historical data may not be a major barrier to implementation in practice for the large majority of individuals.
The relationship between alcohol outlets and crime is not an artefact of retail geography
Authors: Cameron Michael P.
Published: March 2022

Background and Aims

In previous research, the spatial distribution of alcohol outlets has been shown to be related to the spatial distribution of crime. However, the spatial distribution of alcohol outlets is also related to the spatial distribution of other retail (and non‐retail) activities. We measured whether a residual relationship between alcohol outlets and crime remains statistically significant after controlling for retail density.

Design and setting

A cross‐sectional analysis of area unit data for Hamilton, New Zealand.

Measurements

We constructed index measures of retail density using principal component analysis, based on counts of retail outlets (non‐alcohol outlets alone and all outlets in total). We estimated the relationship between outlets and police calls‐for‐service using negative binomial regression, controlling for social deprivation, population and demographics. In our primary analysis, we employed a two‐stage process that first accounted for the correlation between calls‐for‐service and retail density in a negative binomial regression model, then tested for correlation between alcohol outlet counts and the first‐stage residuals.

Findings

The spatial distributions of retail outlets of all types were highly correlated with each other, and all types of retail outlets (alcohol and non‐alcohol) were correlated with crime, after controlling for social deprivation, population and demographics. After controlling for index measures of retail density and other controls, statistically significant semipartial correlations remained with counts of alcohol outlets of all types. For example, in our preferred specification, which controlled for non‐alcohol retail density in the first stage, an additional off‐licence alcohol outlet was associated with 97.34 (95% confidence interval = 36.66–158.0) additional police calls‐for service.

Conclusions

There is a positive relationship between the spatial distribution of alcohol outlets and the spatial distribution of crime that appears to persist even after controlling for non‐alcohol retail density. The relationship between alcohol outlets and crime is not simply an artefact of retail geography.
Modeling the cost‐effectiveness and impact on fatal overdose and initiation of buprenorphine–naloxone treatment at syringe service programs
Authors: Adams Joëlla W. , Savinkina Alexandra , Fox Aaron , Behrends Czarina N. , Madushani Rajapaksha W. M. A. , Wang Jianing , Chatterjee Avik , Walley Alexander Y. , Barocas Joshua A. , Linas Benjamin P.
Published: March 2022

Aim

To estimate the number of treatment initiations, averted fatal opioid overdoses and the cost‐effectiveness associated with offering buprenorphine–naloxone (buprenorphine) treatment on‐site within existing syringe service programs (SSPs) in Massachusetts, USA.

Design, Setting and Participants

This was a cohort‐based mathematical model and cost‐effectiveness analysis. We derived model inputs from state and national surveillance data, clinical trials and observational cohort studies. We compared an intervention scenario where 30% of SSP clients initiated buprenorphine treatment on‐site at least once annually to a status quo scenario where no buprenorphine was available on‐site among community treatment providers in Massachusetts, 2020–30. In individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) we assumed that 80% of SSP clients had recently injected drugs and that treatment within SSPs would have similar or improved retention compared with standard‐of‐care buprenorphine programs, but higher rates of active opioid use while in treatment.

Measurements

Number of treatment initiations (i.e. individuals began treatment on a medication for opioid use disorder or entered medically managed withdrawal), averted fatal opioid overdoses, quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs) and life‐time discounted costs from a health sector and a limited societal perspective.

Findings

The status quo scenario resulted in 23 051 fatal overdoses and 1 511 613 treatment initiations over a 10‐year simulation period. An intervention scenario with on‐site SSP buprenorphine treatment averted 4797 (−20.8%) fatal opioid overdoses and resulted in 129 359 (+8.6%) additional treatment initiations compared with the status quo. The intervention scenario was the dominating scenario: providing OUD treatment through Massachusetts SSPs cost less (−$3612 per person) with patients accumulating more QALYs (0.2 per person) compared with the status quo scenario.

Conclusions

Offering buprenorphine treatment on‐site within syringe service programs has the potential to decrease fatal overdoses substantially, improve treatment engagement and save on costs.
Predictors of protein intake among people who inject drugs in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California
Authors: Bolshakova Maria , Kral Alex H. , Wenger Lynn D. , Simpson Kelsey , Goldshear Jesse , Sussman Steve , Bluthenthal Ricky N.
Published: March 2022

Background and Objectives

While inadequate nutrition can weaken the immune system and lead to negative health sequelae for vulnerable populations, little is known about nutritional intake among people who inject drugs (PWID). We aimed to quantify nutritional intake among PWID and to explore associations between protein intake and drug use.

Methods

A cross‐sectional design was used to analyze self‐reported participant data. PWID were recruited from community settings in California in 2016/2017. Participants reported on food consumption per day for a 30‐day period, from which a continuous protein intake variable was created.

Results

Modal characteristics of participants (N = 937) were: white (42.5%), male (75.3%), healthy body mass index (BMI) (56.6%), and unhoused (82.9%). Less than 1% of participants met or exceeded recommended guidelines for protein intake (0.80 g/day/1 kg body weight). The final multiple regression model found protein intake to be significantly positively associated with older age, high school or greater education, frequency of opiate and marijuana use, while Latinx ethnicity was inversely associated with protein intake, adjusting for gender.

Discussion and Conclusions

Our study shows PWID are generally not underweight, yet they are grossly protein deficient, which can be harder to recognize. Poverty, homelessness, and other structural barriers likely contribute to this issue, which demonstrates the need for communities to provide more access to nutrient‐rich food to PWID.

Scientific Significance

Our study demonstrates the novel findings that opiate and marijuana use frequency, but not stimulants (methamphetamine and cocaine) may increase preference for protein‐rich foods among PWID.
Unintended environmental consequences of place‐based economic policies
Authors: Fan Maoyong , Tang Qu , Wu Jianxin , Xiao Junji
Published: March 2022

We examine the environmental consequences of two regional economic development (RED) policies that aimed to develop the economy of the relatively underdeveloped upper Pearl River (UPR) regions in Guangdong Province, China. Applying the triple‐difference analysis to annual county‐industry‐level data, we find that the two RED policies caused higher growth in industries with high water pollution than in industries with less water pollution in the UPR regions. The second RED policy with environmental regulations was effective in restraining the new entry of firms in high‐pollution industries into the UPR regions but failed to drive existing high‐pollution firms out of the UPR regions. Firms' location decisions were driven by the more favorable tax regimes and less stringent pollution regulations in the UPR regions.
Quality of life metrics in LVAD patients after hemocompatibility‐related adverse events
Authors: Weber Matthew P. , Stulak John , Maltais Simon , Pagani Francis D. , Cowger Jennifer , Tchantchaleishvili Vakhtang
Published: March 2022

Background

Hemocompatibility‐related adverse events (HRAE) negatively influence survival. However, no study has examined the impact of these events on health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) and functional outcomes following continuous‐flow left ventricular assist device implantation (CF‐LVAD). We assessed the impact of HRAE events on HRQOL and hypothesized that HRAE's adversely impact HRQOL and functional outcomes.

Methods

INTERMACS database identified patients undergoing primary CF‐LVAD implantation from 2008 to 2017. HRAEs included stroke, non‐surgical bleeding, hemolysis, and pump thrombosis and were identified as defined in the literature. HRAEs were further stratified as Tier 1–2 and disabling stroke events. Time‐series analysis was executed for HRAE patients with values pre‐HRAE, post‐HRAE, and closest to 12 months follow up. Local polynomial regression curves modeling individual patients were superimposed into “spaghetti” plots.

Results

All HRQOL and functional metrics improved in patients over time, despite HRAE complications. However, these patient metrics were significantly reduced compared to the non‐HRAE cohort. Advanced data visualization techniques noted a decline after experiencing an HRAE with a subsequent recovery to baseline levels or higher. Six‐minute walk test (6MWT) was noted to be most affected in the post‐HRAE period but recovered similar to other metrics.

Conclusions

The burden of HRAE following CF‐LVAD implantation did not negatively impact the quality of life. However, the 6MWT did not increase in the post‐HRAE period in all HRAE patients. Improvement of heart failure symptoms after CF‐LVAD coupled with optimal management following the HRAE act to preserve the enhanced quality of life.
Role of IL‐22 in homeostasis and diseases of the skin
Authors: Lopez Daniel Villalba , Kongsbak‐Wismann Martin
Published: March 2022

Interleukin‐22 (IL‐22) is a cytokine mainly produced by T cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILC). IL‐22 primarily targets non‐hematopoietic cells such as epithelial cells and fibroblasts. In the skin, IL‐22 promotes the proliferation of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. IL‐22 furthermore regulates innate immune responses as it induces the production of antimicrobial proteins and neutrophil‐attracting chemokines. IL‐22 plays an important role in wound healing and in the protection against skin infections. However, IL‐22 can also contribute to the pathogenesis of several inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. In this review, current information regarding the structure, function and regulation of IL‐22 is discussed with a special focus on the role of IL‐22 in the skin and in skin diseases.
Letter: immunogenicity is not the root cause for loss of response to anti‐TNF agents in patients with IBD in TDM era
Authors: Alsoud Dahham , Verstockt Bram , Vermeire Séverine
Published: March 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Colman et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16733
Letter: risk of inflammatory bowel disease is related to alcohol consumption as well as ACEIs and ARBs
Authors: Yin Jian‐Quan , Wang Bin‐Qiao , Chen Zhi‐Bo , He Hai‐Dong , Huang Si‐Si , Wang Wei‐Kan , Wu Jie , Fu Yang‐Hua , Wang Yong‐Lin
Published: March 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Casey et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16731 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16842
Editorial: opposite effects of genetic polymorphisms known to induce NAFLD on hepatic and cardiovascular outcomes in Chinese population
Authors: Zhang Rui‐Nan , Fan Jian‐Gao
Published: March 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Xia et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16772 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16845
Letter: the value of quality liver biopsy before initiation of corticosteroids for severe alcoholic hepatitis
Authors: Lanthier Nicolas , Spahr Laurent
Published: March 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Vaz et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16539
Scientific analysis and research on the Warring States bronze mirrors unearthed from Changsha Chu cemetery, Hunan province, China
Authors: Luo Zhe , Fan An Chuan , Jin Zheng Yao , Liu Liang , Li Yuan , Fan Zhao Yuan , Wu Xiao Yan , Yang Min , Huang Fang
Published: March 2022

Changsha is one of the densest areas where Warring States bronze mirrors have been unearthed in mainland China. This article first conducts a systematic scientific analysis and research on the Warring States bronze mirrors unearthed from Changsha Chu cemetery. The chemical composition analysis data of 23 bronze mirrors show that most of the bronze mirrors are Cu‐Sn‐Pb ternary alloy, and the bronze mirrors containing metal bodies are mainly high Sn Sn‐Pb bronze. The metallographic microstructures of four bronze mirrors are all high Sn Sn‐Pb bronze casting structures. The results of Pb isotope ratio analysis show that the Pb isotope data of all bronze mirrors conform to the characteristics of common Pb, and their distribution can be divided into three groups. Most of the Pb materials used in bronze mirrors probably come from local mines in Hunan. This fully reveals the importance of Hunan's local metal resources in the production activities of Changsha Chu mirrors. Combining the results of Pb isotope research and related archaeological data, Changsha should be one of the most developed regions in the mirror casting industry of the Chu State during the Warring States period, and it plays a significant role in the bronze production system and metal resource circulation network of the Chu State.
Individual values and career choice: Does cultural context condition the relationship?
Authors: Ayob Abu H , Abd Hamid Hamizah , Sidek Farhana
Published: March 2022

This paper explores how the individual values of self‐direction, power, and benevolence predict career decisions (self‐ or paid employment). By observing heterogeneity in career patterns across countries, this research examines the moderating effect of cultural contexts (gender egalitarianism, performance orientation, and collectivism) on this relationship. Blending the theory of human values (THVs) and institutional theory (IT), we test hypotheses using the World Values Survey (WVS) Wave 6 data and GLOBE cultural dimensions from 21,286 individuals in 26 countries. The findings show that only self‐direction value increases the likelihood of being self‐employed. However, the post‐hoc analysis offers more insightful findings: the decision towards innovative entrepreneurship instead of routine self‐employment is explained by all values of self‐direction, power, and benevolence, together with individualistic culture. Overall, this study finds that the influence of individual values is greater than cultural context on career choice and it differs between self‐ versus paid employment and innovative entrepreneurship versus routine self‐employment.
Roughness of the renal tumor surface could predict the surgical difficulty of robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy
Authors: Tatenuma Tomoyuki , Ito Hiroki , Muraoka Kentaro , Ito Yusuke , Hasumi Hisashi , Hayashi Narihiko , Kondo Keiichi , Nakaigawa Noboru , Makiyama Kazuhide
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Preoperative prediction of surgical difficulty of partial nephrectomy (PN) is essential to minimize the perioperative complications and to achieve a good surgical outcome. Recently, various scoring systems have been used to evaluate the difficulty of PN including R.E.N.A.L (Radius, Exophytic/Endophytic, Nearness, Anterior/Posterior, Location) nephrometry score. There were no scoring systems evaluating the roughness of the renal tumor surface and we hypothesized that the roughness of the renal tumor surface might affect the surgical difficulty of robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of roughness of the renal tumor surface on the surgical outcome of RAPN.

Methods

Overall, 161 patients underwent RAPN performed by the same surgeon between May 2016 and April 2019. We divided those tumors into two groups, like “roughness positive (tumor with roughness of tumor surface)” and “roughness negative (tumor without roughness of tumor surface)” according to the roughness of the endophytic region on preoperative computed tomography images. Clinical and pathological outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results

Eighty‐five and 78 tumors were identified roughness negative and positive, respectively. Cases with roughness positive showed a significantly longer operative time, console time, and ischemia time and had greater blood loss than those with roughness negative. Significant and independent predictors of ischemia time and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decrease were roughness of tumor surface, tumor size (not for eGFR decrease), and N score of the R.E.N.A.L nephrometry score.

Conclusion

Roughness of renal tumor surface was significantly and positively associated with ischemia time and the eGFR decrease rate.
Clinicohistological and immunopathological features of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus at tertiary dermatology centre in Malaysia
Authors: Teh Yeon Chiat , Loo Chai Har , Mohd Ali Norazlima , Lim Ai Lee , Tan Wooi Chiang
Published: March 2022

Background

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is a chronic, autoimmune skin disease with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations in different populations.

Aim

To study the clinicohistological and immunological features of CLE in a multiethnic population and to identify the predictive factors of disease severity based on the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI).

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of CLE conducted from March 2019 to February 2020.

Results

In total, 111 patients were recruited with a female/male ratio of 4.9 : 1. Acute CLE contributed 47.7%, followed by chronic CLE at 46.9% and subacute CLE at 5.4%. A large majority (84%) of patients had systemic lupus erythematosus. Of patients with chronic CLE, about 67.3% developed systemic involvement. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) was detected in 90.0%. Skin biopsy was taken from 42 patients and showed perivascular lymphocytic infiltration (95.2%), epidermal atrophy (47.6%) and hydropic degeneration of the basal layer (47.6%). Immunoglobulin deposition at the dermoepidermal junction was seen in > 40% of patients, predominantly in a granular pattern. Mean CLASI Total was 6.44 ± 7.70, while CLASI Activity (CLASI-A) was 2.75 ± 4.10 and CLASI Damage (CLASI-D) was 3.71 ± 4.76. Involved body surface area (BSA) was found to be an independent predictive factor for CLASI-A (OR = 1.34, P < 0.02). For CLASI-D, positive predictive factors were involved BSA (OR = 4.14, P < 0.001), discoid lupus erythematosus subtype (OR = 13.10, P = 0.001), cutaneous vascular disease (OR = 26.59; P = 0.014), scalp involvement (OR = 8.7, P < 0.01) and hypocomplementaemia (OR = 5.71, P < 0.5). Mean Dermatology Life Quality Index was 5.91 ± 5.34 and correlated significantly with disease severity.

Conclusions

We observed a high percentage of patients with CLE with systemic manifestations and positive ANA result. More aggressive treatment of patients with positive predictive factors for severe disease combined with significant clinical activity may be warranted.
Forest regeneration may reduce the negative impacts of climate change on the biodiversity of a tropical hotspot
Authors: Tonetti Vinicius , Niebuhr Bernardo Brandão , Ribeiro Milton , Pizo Marco Aurélio
Published: March 2022

Aim

Evaluate how large‐scale forest regeneration based on a low‐cost restoration method may mitigate the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation associated to future climate changes on the distribution of birds and arboreal mammals in a tropical biodiversity hotspot; find areas with different current and future potential species richness and assess how passive restoration can reduce the risk of species extinction.

Location

Brazilian Atlantic Forest (BAF).

Methods

We built a forest regeneration scenario via a model of seed dispersal based on the potential movement of frugivorous fauna and projected the potential distribution of 356 bird species and 21 arboreal mammals based on Species Distribution Models (SDM) which employed 79,462 occurrence records and four algorithms for different climate and landscape scenarios. SDM were based on climate and landscape predictors separately and the results were combined into maps of species richness. Finally, we assessed the species’ risk of extinction based on the species–area relationship.

Results

Without considering the effects of climate change, the potential distribution area for each species increases on average by 72.5% (SD = 8%) in the scenario of potential regeneration. Climate change decreases the area of potential occurrence of 252 species, which may suffer a mean reduction of 74.4% (SD = 9.3%) in their current potential distribution areas. BAF regions with the largest amounts of forest had the greatest potential richness of species. In future climate scenario, 3.4% of species may become extinct, but we show that large‐scale regeneration may prevent these extinctions.

Main conclusions

Despite the possible negative impacts of climate change on the distribution of 67% of the studied species, which would increase the risk of species extinction, our analysis indicated that promoting large‐scale BAF restoration based on natural regeneration may prevent biodiversity loss.
Informed dispersal based on prospecting impacts the rate and shape of range expansions
Authors: Ponchon Aurore , Travis Justin M. J.
Published: March 2022

Rapid progress is being made in understanding how dispersal strategies influence the spread of species whose ranges are expanding. However, potentially vital dispersal behaviours have so far been neglected. Social species have been demonstrated to use their own breeding performance (personal information) and the breeding performance of their conspecifics (public information) to inform both their emigration and settlement decisions. Here, to provide insight into how these behaviours may impact range expansion dynamics, we extend a recently‐developed individual‐based model that incorporates the use of personal and public information in emigration decisions and a prospecting phase informing settlement decisions. We find that compared to non‐informed emigration, informed emigration results in slower range expansions, except when individuals prospect a high number of patches or when their perceptual range is high. Spread rate and also the extent of the front strongly depend upon the willingness of individuals to settle in an empty patch. Given the likely prevalence of prospecting and informed dispersal across a wide range of taxa, these results indicate an urgent need for further empirical and modelling studies to improve our understanding and predictive capability of how species exhibiting this informed dispersal strategy will respond to environmental changes.
Quantifying the post‐fire recovery of taxonomic and functional diversity of dung beetles in the Brazilian Pantanal
Authors: Gonçalves Tais Félix , Correa César M. A. , Audino Lívia D. , Vaz‐de‐Mello Fernando Z. , Fontoura Fernanda M. , Guedes Neiva M. R.
Published: March 2022

The Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world and a World Heritage Site. During 2019–2020, the Pantanal has experienced the most severe burning in its history, with vast destroyed areas of vegetation and killed wildlife. Since the long‐term damage caused by fire to the Pantanal is still unknown, understanding how the biodiversity responds to post‐fire disturbance over a short‐term is an important step for conservation initiatives.

The authors studied the effects of fire on dung beetle communities, a recognised bioindicator group, in the Brazilian Pantanal. For this, the authors assessed the patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity between unburned and burned sites (16 months post‐fire).

The authors found that taxonomic and functional diversity of dung beetles were similar between unburned and burned grasslands, but with a distinct taxonomic composition post‐fire. The functional traits composition was similar between unburned and burned sites, demonstrating that this metric is less sensitive to fire effects in the Brazilian Pantanal.

The study's results provide evidence that dung beetles exhibit high resistance to the occurrence of fire and fast recovery from its consequences. Thus, due to its ecological functions (secondary seed dispersion, nutrient cycling and others), these insects may assist ecological restoration of burned sites, being useful tools in restoration approaches for areas of the Pantanal that have been affected by fire.

Finally, combining traditional taxonomic community attributes with functional diversity measurements provides a more comprehensive picture of responses of dung beetle communities, post‐fire, over a short‐term in the Brazilian Pantanal.
PERFICT: A Re‐imagined foundation for predictive ecology
Authors: McIntire Eliot J. B. , Chubaty Alex M. , Cumming Steven G. , Andison Dave , Barros Ceres , Boisvenue Céline , Haché Samuel , Luo Yong , Micheletti Tatiane , Stewart Frances E. C.
Published: March 2022

Making predictions from ecological models—and comparing them to data—offers a coherent approach to evaluate model quality, regardless of model complexity or modelling paradigm. To date, our ability to use predictions for developing, validating, updating, integrating and applying models across scientific disciplines while influencing management decisions, policies, and the public has been hampered by disparate perspectives on prediction and inadequately integrated approaches. We present an updated foundation for Predictive Ecology based on seven principles applied to ecological modelling: make frequent Predictions, Evaluate models, make models Reusable, Freely accessible and Interoperable, built within Continuous workflows that are routinely Tested (PERFICT). We outline some benefits of working with these principles: accelerating science; linking with data science; and improving science‐policy integration.