bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pathway-enhanced Transformer-based robust model for quantifying cell types of origin of cell-free transcriptome
Authors: Yan Shuo , Tian Xuetao , Qin Yulong , Li Jiayi , Yang Tingyu , Yu Dongyue , Liu Wentao , Sun Jinghua , Hu Chengbin , Zhou Qing , Liu Zhongzhen , Wang Wen-Jing
Published: February 2024

Analyzing cell types of origin of cell-free RNA can enhance the resolution of liquid biopsies, thereby deepening the understanding of molecular and cellular changes in development and disease processes. Existing deconvolution methods typically rely on meticulously curated gene expression profiles or employ deep neural network with vast and complex solution spaces that are difficult to interpret. These approaches overlook the synergistic and co-expression effects among genes in biological signaling pathways, compromising their generalizability and robustness. we developed ‘Deconformer’, a Transformer-based deconvolution model that integrates biological signaling pathways at the embedding stage, to address these issues. Compared to popular methods on multiple datasets, Deconformer demonstrates superior performance and robustness, and is capable of tracking the developmental process of the fetal and placenta. Additionally, pathway-level interpretability of Deconformer offers new insights into crosstalk, dependencies, and other interactions within cell-free RNA pathways, supporting further biological discoveries. We posit that Deconformer represents a significant advancement in the precise analysis of the cell-free transcriptome. It holds the promise of describing disease progression and severity with a new level of accuracy, focusing on the contributions of originating cell types and their pathway dependencies. This model has the potential to catalyze the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools and enhance our understanding of the underlying biology of diseases.
Statistical learning of incidental perceptual regularities induces sensory conditioned cortical responses
Authors: Greco Antonino , D’Alessandro Marco , Gallitto Giuseppe , Rastelli Clara , Braun Christoph , Caria Andrea
Published: February 2024

Statistical learning of sensory patterns can lead to predictive neural processes enhancing stimulus perception and enabling fast deviancy detection. Predictive processes have been extensively demonstrated when environmental statistical regularities are relevant to task execution. Preliminary evidence indicates that statistical learning can even occur independently of task relevance and top-down attention, although the temporal profile and neural mechanisms underlying sensory predictions and error signals induced by statistical learning of incidental sensory regularities remain unclear. In our study, we adopted an implicit sensory conditioning paradigm that elicited the generation of specific perceptual priors in relation to task-irrelevant audio-visual associations, while recording Electroencephalography (EEG). Our results showed that learning of non-relevant but statistically interrelated neutral audio-visual stimuli resulted in early neural responses to predictive auditory stimuli conveying anticipatory signals of expected visual stimulus presence or absence, and in specific modulation of cortical responses to probabilistic visual stimulus presentation or omission. Pattern similarity analysis indicated that predictive auditory stimuli tended to resemble the response to expected visual stimulus presence or absence. Remarkably, Hierarchical Gaussian filter modeling estimating dynamic changes of prediction error signals in relation to differential probabilistic occurrences of audio-visual stimuli further demonstrated instantiation of predictive neural signals by showing distinct neural processing of prediction error in relation to violation of expected visual stimulus presence or absence. Overall, our findings indicated that statistical learning of non-salient and task-irrelevant perceptual regularities can induce the generation of neural priors at the time of predictive stimulus presentation, possibly conveying sensory-specific information of the predicted consecutive stimulus.
Diet-induced metabolic and immune impairments are sex-specifically modulated by soluble TNF signaling in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: De Sousa Rodrigues Maria Elizabeth , Bolen MacKenzie L. , Blackmer-Raynolds Lisa , Schwartz Noah , Chang Jianjun , Tansey Malú Gámez , Sampson Timothy Robert
Published: February 2024

Emerging evidence indicates that high-fat, high carbohydrate diet (HFHC) impacts central pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) across both human incidences and animal models. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are poorly understood. Here, we identify compartment-specific metabolic and inflammatory dysregulations that are induced by HFHC diet in the 5xFAD mouse model of AD pathology. We observe that both male and female 5xFAD mice display exacerbated adiposity, cholesterolemia, and dysregulated insulin signaling. Independent of biological sex, HFHC diet also resulted in altered inflammatory cytokine profiles across the gastrointestinal, circulating, and central nervous systems (CNS) compartments demonstrating region-specific impacts of metabolic inflammation. In male mice, we note that HFHC triggered increases in amyloid beta, an observation not seen in female mice. Interestingly, inhibiting the inflammatory cytokine, soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) with the brain-permeant soluble TNF inhibitor XPro1595 was able to restore aspects of HFHC-induced metabolic inflammation, but only in male mice. Targeted transcriptomics of CNS regions revealed that inhibition of soluble TNF was sufficient to alter expression of hippocampal and cortical genes associated with beneficial immune and metabolic responses. Collectively, these results suggest that HFHC diet impairs metabolic and inflammatory pathways in an AD-relevant genotype and that soluble TNF has sex-dependent roles in modulating these pathways across anatomical compartments. Modulation of energy homeostasis and inflammation may provide new therapeutic avenues for AD.

Highlights

HFHC diet triggers metabolic and inflammatory dysregulation in 5xFAD mice

Aβ42 and Aβ40 increase in the CNS of male 5xFAD mice fed a HFHC diet.

SolTNF inhibition partially reverts HFHC diet-induced metabolic and inflammatory dysregulation in male, but not female, 5xFAD mice.
A non-Hebbian code for episodic memory
Authors: Pang Rich , Recanatesi Stefano
Published: February 2024

Hebbian plasticity has long dominated neurobiological models of memory formation. Yet plasticity rules operating on one-shot episodic memory timescales rarely depend on both pre- and postsynaptic spiking, challenging Hebbian theory in this crucial regime. To address this, we present an episodic memory model governed by a simple non-Hebbian rule depending only on presynaptic activity. We show that this rule, capitalizing on high-dimensional neural activity with restricted transitions, naturally stores episodes as paths through complex state spaces like those underlying a world model. The resulting memory traces, which we term path vectors, are highly expressive and decodable with an odor-tracking algorithm. We show that path vectors are robust alternatives to Hebbian traces when created via spiking and support diverse one-shot sequential and associative recall tasks, and policy learning. Thus, non-Hebbian plasticity is sufficient for flexible memory and learning, and well-suited to encode episodes and policies as paths through a world model.
Circulating plasma fibronectin affects normal adipose tissue insulin sensitivity and adipocyte differentiation
Authors: Mahmoodi Mahdokht , Dahagi Elahe Mirzarazi , Nabavi Mir-Hamed , Penalva Ylauna , Gosaine Amrita , Murshed Monzur , Couldwell Sandrine , Munter Lisa , Kaartinen Mari T.
Published: February 2024

Plasma fibronectin (pFN), a liver-derived, circulating protein, has been shown to affect adipocyte morphology, adipogenesis, and insulin signalling in preadipocytesin vitro. In this study, we show via injections of fluorescence-labelled pFN to micein vivoits abundant accrual visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues (VAT and SAT). Diet-induced obesity model of liver-specific conditionalFn1knockout (pFN KO), showed no altered weight gain or differences, whole-body fat mass or SAT or VAT volumes after 20- week HFD-feeding, however, mice showed significantly improved glucose clearance and whole-body insulin sensitivity on normal diet. Furthermore,in vivoinsulin sensitivity assay revealed significant increase in AKT phosphorylation in pFN KO SAT on normal diet as well as in normal and obese VAT of the pFN KO. Histological assessment of the pFN KO depots showed significant increase in small adipocytes on normal diet, which was particularly prominent in SAT. RNA sequencing of the normal diet-fed pFN versus control SAT revealed alterations in fatty acid metabolism and thermogenesis suggesting presence of beige adipocytes. VAT RNA sequencing after HFD showed alternations in genes reflecting stem cell populations. Our data suggests that the absence of pFN alters cell pools in AT favoring cells with increased insulin sensitivity.
A Lung Cancer Mouse Model Database
Authors: Cai Ling , Gao Ying , DeBerardinis Ralph J. , Acquaah-Mensah George , Aidinis Vassilis , Beane Jennifer E. , Biswal Shyam , Chen Ting , Concepcion-Crisol Carla P. , Grüner Barbara M. , Jia Deshui , Jones Robert , Kurie Jonathan M. , Lee Min Gyu , Lindahl Per , Lissanu Yonathan , Lorz Lopez Maria Corina , Martinelli Rosanna , Mazur Pawel K. , Mazzilli Sarah A. , Mii Shinji , Moll Herwig , Moorehead Roger , Morrisey Edward E. , Ng Sheng Rong , Oser Matthew G. , Pandiri Arun R. , Powell Charles A. , Ramadori Giorgio , Santos Lafuente Mirentxu , Snyder Eric , Sotillo Rocio , Su Kang-Yi , Taki Tetsuro , Taparra Kekoa , Xia Yifeng , van Veen Ed , Winslow Monte M. , Xiao Guanghua , Rudin Charles M. , Oliver Trudy G. , Xie Yang , Minna John D.
Published: February 2024

Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer mortality, exhibits diverse histological subtypes and genetic complexities. Numerous preclinical mouse models have been developed to study lung cancer, but data from these models are disparate, siloed, and difficult to compare in a centralized fashion. Here we established the Lung Cancer Mouse Model Database (LCMMDB), an extensive repository of 1,354 samples from 77 transcriptomic datasets covering 974 samples from genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), 368 samples from carcinogen-induced models, and 12 samples from a spontaneous model. Meticulous curation and collaboration with data depositors have produced a robust and comprehensive database, enhancing the fidelity of the genetic landscape it depicts. The LCMMDB aligns 859 tumors from GEMMs with human lung cancer mutations, enabling comparative analysis and revealing a pressing need to broaden the diversity of genetic aberrations modeled in GEMMs. Accompanying this resource, we developed a web application that offers researchers intuitive tools for in-depth gene expression analysis. With standardized reprocessing of gene expression data, the LCMMDB serves as a powerful platform for cross-study comparison and lays the groundwork for future research, aiming to bridge the gap between mouse models and human lung cancer for improved translational relevance.
Improved base editing and functional screening inLeishmaniavia co-expression of the AsCas12a ultra variant, a T7 RNA Polymerase, and a cytosine base editor
Authors: May Nicole Herrmann , Cao Ngoc Anh , Schmid Annika , Link Fabian , Arias-del-Angel Jorge , Meiser Elisabeth , Beneke Tom
Published: February 2024

The ability to analyse the function of all genes in a genome is highly desirable, yet challenging inLeishmaniadue to a repetitive genome, limited DNA repair mechanisms and lack of RNA interference in most species. While our introduction of a cytosine base editor (CBE) demonstrated potential to overcome these limitations (Engstler and Beneke (2023)), challenges remained, including low transfection efficiency, variable editing rates across species, parasite growth effects, and competition between deleterious and non-deleterious mutations. Here, we present an optimized approach addressing these issues.

We identified a T7 RNAP promoter variant ensuring high editing rates acrossLeishmaniaspecies without compromising growth. A revised CBE single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) scoring system was developed to prioritize STOP codon generation. Additionally, a triple-expression construct was created for stable integration of CBE sgRNA expression cassettes into aLeishmaniasafe harbor locus using AsCas12a ultra-mediated DNA double-strand breaks, increasing transfection efficiency by ∼400-fold to one transfectant per 70 transfected cells. Using this improved system for a small-scale proof-of-principle pooled screen, we successfully confirmed the essential and fitness-associated functions of CK1.2, CRK2, CRK3, AUK1/AIRK, TOR1, IFT88, IFT139, IFT140 and RAB5A inL. mexicana, demonstrating a significant improvement over our previous method. Lastly, we show the utility of co-expressing AsCas12a ultra, T7 RNAP and CBE for hybrid CRISPR gene replacement and base editing within the same cell line.

Overall, these improvements will broaden the range of possible gene editing applications inLeishmaniaspecies and will enable a variety of loss-of-function screens in the near future.
Cannabis Use and Cannabis Use Disorder among U.S. Adults with Psychiatric Disorders: 2001-2002 and 2012-2013
Authors: Hasin Deborah S. , Mannes Zachary L. , Livne Ofir , Fink David S. , Martins Silvia S. , Stohl Malki , Olfson Mark , Cerdá Magdalena , Keyes Katherine M. , Keyhani Salomeh , Wisell Caroline G. , Bujno Julia M. , Saxon Andrew
Published: February 2024

Objective

Rates of cannabis use disorder (CUD) have increased disproportionately among Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients with psychiatric disorders, but determining whether such an increase occurred more generally among U.S. adults requires nationally representative data.

Methods

Data came from 2001-2002 (n=43,093) and 2012-2013 (n=36,309) national surveys. Outcomes were any past-year non-medical cannabis use, frequent non-medical use (≥3 times weekly), and DSM-IV CUD. Psychiatric disorders included mood, anxiety disorders, antisocial personality disorder, and bipolar I. Logistic regressions were used to generate predicted marginal prevalences of the outcomes for each survey, risk differences calculated, and additive interaction tests determined whether between-survey differences in risk of cannabis outcomes differed between those with and without psychiatric conditions.

Results

Cannabis outcome prevalences increased more among those with than without any psychiatric disorder. The difference in prevalence differences included any past-year non-medical cannabis use, 2.45% (95%CI=1.29, 3.62); frequent non-medical cannabis use, 1.58% (95%CI=0.83, 2.33); CUD, 1.40% (95%CI=0.58, 2.21). For each specific disorder, prevalences increased more among those with the disorder, except CUD among those with antisocial personality disorder.

Conclusions

In the U.S. general population, rates of cannabis use and CUD increased at a greater rate among adults with psychiatric disorders, similar to findings from VHA patients. These results suggest that although VHA patients are not representative of all U.S. adults, findings from this important patient group can be informative. As U.S. cannabis use continues to expand, greater clinical and policy attention to CUD is needed for adults with psychiatric disorders.
Epigenetic timing effects on child developmental outcomes: A longitudinal meta-regression of findings from the Pregnancy And Childhood Epigenetics Consortium
Authors: Neumann Alexander , Sammallahti Sara , Cosin-Tomas Marta , Reese Sarah E , Suderman Matthew , Alemany Silvia , Almqvist Catarina , Andrusaityte Sandra , Arshad Syed H , Bakermans-Kranenburg Marian J , Beilin Lawrence , Breton Carrie , Bustamante Mariona , Czamara Darina , Dabelea Dana , Eng Celeste , Eskenazi Brenda , Fuemmeler Bernard F , Gilliland Frank D , Grazuleviciene Regina , Håberg Siri E , Herberth Gunda , Holland Nina , Hough Amy , Hu Donglei , Huen Karen , Hüls Anke , Jin Jianping , Julvez Jordi , Koletzko Berthold V , Koppelman Gerard H , Kull Inger , Lu Xueling , Maitre Léa , Mason Dan , Melén Erik , Merid Simon K , Molloy Peter L , Mori Trevor A , Mulder Rosa H , Page Christian M , Richmond Rebecca C , Röder Stefan , Ross Jason P , Schellhas Laura , Sebert Sylvain , Sheppard Dean , Snieder Harold , Starling Anne P , Stein Dan J , Tindula Gwen , van IJzendoorn Marinus H , Vonk Judith , Walton Esther , Witonsky Jonathan , Xu Cheng-Jian , Yang Ivana V , Yousefi Paul D , Zar Heather J , Zenclussen Ana C , Zhang Hongmei , Tiemeier Henning , London Stephanie J , Felix Janine F , Cecil Charlotte
Published: February 2024

DNA methylation (DNAm) is a developmentally dynamic epigenetic process, yet we still know little about how epigenetic effects on health outcomes vary over time; whether DNAm alterations during certain periods of development are more informative than others; and whether epigenetic timing effects differ by outcome. To address these questions, we applied longitudinal meta-regression to published meta-analyses from the PACE consortium that examine DNAm at multiple time points (prospectively at birth and cross-sectionally in childhood) in relation to the same child outcome (ADHD, general psychopathology, sleep, BMI, asthma). Our findings reveal three new insights: (i) across outcomes, effects sizes are larger when DNAm is measured in childhood compared to at birth; (ii) higher effect sizes do not necessarily translate into more significant findings, as associations also become noisier in childhood for most outcomes (i.e. showing larger standard errors); and (iii) DNAm signals are highly time-specific while showing pleiotropy across health outcomes.
Prediction of
Pcc
states in a quark model
Authors: Yan Ye , Huang Hongxia , Zhu Xinmei , Ping Jialun
Published: February 2024

Inspired by the observation of hidden-charm pentaquark Pc and Pcs states by the LHCb Collaboration, we explore the qqcc¯c (q=u or d) pentaquark systems in the quark delocalization color screening model. The interaction between baryons and mesons and the influence of channel coupling are studied in this work. Three compact qqcc¯c pentaquark states are obtained, whose masses are 5259 MeV with I(JP)=0(1/2−), 5396 MeV with I(JP)=1(1/2−), and 5465 MeV with I(JP)=1(3/2−). Two molecular states are obtained, which are I(JP)=0(1/2−)ΛcJ/ψ with 5367 MeV and I(JP)=0(5/2−)  Ξcc*D¯* with 5690 MeV. These predicted states may provide important information for future experimental search.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Hadron-level NLO predictions for QCD observables in photo-production at the Electron-Ion Collider
Authors: Meinzinger Peter , Krauss Frank
Published: February 2024

We present the first next-to-leading order accurate hadron-level predictions for inclusive QCD and jet observables in photo-production for electron-proton beams at the upcoming electron-ion collider. Our predictions show large K factors of about 60% and a dominating real correction.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Stability of nonsingular cosmologies in Galileon models with torsion: A no-go theorem for eternal subluminality
Authors: Mironov S. , Valencia-Villegas M.
Published: February 2024

Generic models in Galileons or Horndeski theory do not have cosmological solutions that are free of instabilities and singularities in the entire time of evolution. We extend this no-go theorem to a spacetime with torsion. On this more general geometry the no-go argument now holds provided the additional hypothesis that the graviton is also subluminal throughout the entire evolution. Thus, critically different for Galileons’ stability on a torsionful spacetime, an arguably unphysical although arbitrarily short (deep UV) phase occurring at an arbitrary time, when the speed of gravity (cg) is slightly higher than luminal (c), and by at least an amount cg≥2c, can lead to an all-time linearly stable and nonsingular cosmology. As a proof of principle we build a stable model for a cosmological bounce that is almost always subluminal, where the short-lived superluminal phase occurs before the bounce, and that transits to general relativity in the asymptotic past and future.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Predictions for feed-down enhancements at the
ΛcD¯
and
ΛcD¯*
thresholds via the triangle and box singularities
Authors: Duan Ming-Xiao , Qiu Lin , Ling Xi-Zhe , Zhao Qiang
Published: February 2024

We demonstrate that triangle singularity (TS) and box singularity (BS) mechanisms can produce unique narrow enhancements at the ΛcD¯ and ΛcD¯* thresholds in the invariant mass spectra of J/ψp and J/ψpπ, respectively. Taking into account that such mechanisms only depend on the initial Σc(*)D¯(*) interactions near threshold within the TS or BS kinematic regimes, the ΛcD¯ and ΛcD¯* threshold enhancements can also acquire contributions from both the heavier pentaquark decays and the Σc(*)D¯(*) scatterings of the continuum as a feed-down phenomenon. A search for these structures in the J/ψp and J/ψpπ spectra in both exclusive and semi-inclusive processes will provide a crucial evidence for the hadronic molecule nature of these observed pentaquarks and clarify the role played by the TS and BS in the near-threshold dynamics.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
ClusterFinder: a fast tool to find cluster structures from pair distribution function data
Authors: Anker Andy S. , Friis-Jensen Ulrik , Johansen Frederik L. , Billinge Simon J. L , Jensen Kirsten M. Ø.
Published: February 2024

A novel automated high-throughput screening approach, ClusterFinder, is reported for finding candidate structures for atomic pair distribution function (PDF) structural refinements. Finding starting models for PDF refinements is notoriously difficult when the PDF originates from nanoclusters or small nanoparticles. The reported ClusterFinder algorithm can screen 104 to 105 candidate structures from structural databases such as the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database (ICSD) in minutes, using the crystal structures as templates in which it looks for atomic clusters that result in a PDF similar to the target measured PDF. The algorithm returns a rank-ordered list of clusters for further assessment by the user. The algorithm has performed well for simulated and measured PDFs of metal–oxido clusters such as Keggin clusters. This is therefore a powerful approach to finding structural cluster candidates in a modelling campaign for PDFs of nanoparticles and nanoclusters.
Toward teacher residency program implementation: navigating the complexities
Authors: Mazzye Doreen L. , Gujarati Joan
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Research in this field is becoming increasingly clear that a teacher residency program (TRP) has a strong potential for developing effective teachers in a teacher preparation context. There are specific features of a TRP that yield results in the development of teachers. However, there are often barriers to full implementation of a TRP that schools and university partnerships must consider and resolve. The purpose of this article is to disseminate the lessons we have learned and processes we have developed in navigating the barriers and complexities of shifting toward a TRP.

Design/methodology/approach

The university faculty members with a dual role as Professional Development School (PDS) liaisons examine, reflect on, and present their multiyear process of moving from an undergraduate traditional teacher preparation model to a teacher residency model.

Findings

In response to the barriers of funding, defining roles and responsibilities, and changes in leadership, we developed an undergraduate residency blueprint to navigate these challenges productively. One of the goals of this document is to provide clarity for all stakeholders as well as be a transparent solution for leadership transitions. The blueprint serves as a guide for the details of residency program design.

Originality/value

In movement toward a TRP, there are often barriers to full implementation that schools and university partnerships must consider and resolve. This article provides a model for partnerships seeking to navigate teacher residency work.
dentist: Quantifying uncertainty by sampling points around maximum likelihood estimates
Authors: Boyko James D. , O'Meara Brian C.
Published: February 2024

It is standard statistical practice to provide measures of uncertainty around parameter estimates. Unfortunately, this very basic and necessary enterprise is often absent in macroevolutionary studies using maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs).

dentist is an R package that allows an approximation of confidence intervals (CI) around parameter estimates without an analytic solution to likelihood equations. This package works by ‘denting’ the likelihood surface by sampling points a specified distance around the MLE following what is essentially a Metropolis‐Hastings walk.

We describe the importance of estimating uncertainty around parameter estimates, as well as demonstrate the ability of dentist to accurately approximate CI.

We introduce several plotting tools to visualize the results of a dentist analysis. dentist is freely available fromhttps://github.com/bomeara/dentist, written in the R language, and can be used for any given likelihood function.
Adult genital psoriasis: An updated review for clinicians
Authors: Wu Michelle , Fischer Gayle
Published: February 2024

Genital psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that has been reported in up to 63% of patients with psoriasis on other parts of their skin. It has a profound impact on quality of life and sexual function which is often overlooked by current severity scores. Despite its prevalence and disease burden, genital psoriasis remains largely under‐reported and under‐treated. Historically, this was due to the impracticality and limited efficacy data of standard psoriasis treatments when applied to genital skin. However, there have been recent advancements with several new agents currently being developed and evaluated for genital psoriasis. This clinical review aims to provide an overview of the current evidence regarding the clinical features of genital psoriasis, available management options and tools for assessing patients' quality of life. Key takeaways from this review emphasise the recognition of genital psoriasis as a chronic and debilitating condition, unique in its impact on patients' quality of life, necessitating sensitive and attentive approaches to address their needs.
Alterations in gut microbiome associated with severity of atopic dermatitis in infants
Authors: Liu Xiaoyi , Cai Meiqin , Chen Meiru , Chen Ji , Zhu Tingyu , Wu Shiyin , Jia Jie
Published: February 2024

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) often arises in infancy, and gut microbial dysbiosis is associated with the development of AD. However, less is known about specific changes in early‐life gut microbiome associated with AD and AD severity. This study aims to reveal the gut microbial composition and function profiles associated with the severity of AD in infants.

Methods

Sixty‐two infants (mean [SD] age, 4.7[1.9] months) with different severities of AD were enrolled and divided into three groups (mild, moderate and severe) according to the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. The profiles of gut microbial composition and function were analysed by sequencing 16S ribosomal RNA amplicons. Quality of life on children and the family was evaluated using published questionnaires.

Results

Decreased levels of Clostridium sensu stricto, Collinsella and increased level of Parabacteroides presented in the severe AD group compared with the mild AD group after adjusting potential confounders (p < 0.05). There were strong positive correlations between the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index and the relative abundance (RA) of Bacteroides and functional pathways for metabolism of sphingolipids and glycosphingolipids (p < 0.05). The SCORAD index was negatively correlated with the RA of Clostridium sensu stricto (p < 0.05), and was also positively correlated with the index of quality of life on children and the family (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Discrepancies in gut microbial composition and functional pathways were observed in infants with mild‐to‐severe AD. Alterations in butyrate‐producing bacteria (Clostridium sensu stricto), sphingolipid‐producing bacteria (Parabacteroides, Bacteroides), and related functional pathways were associated with the severity of AD infants.
El disco es cultura: Sonic artifacts and Latinx Chicago
Authors: Chávez Alex E.
Published: February 2024

In music production, a sonic artifact refers to sonic material that is accidental or unwanted, typically the result of the manipulation of sound. This understanding connotes both physical and figurative meanings: artifact as material alteration and as subjectively defined auditory disturbance. Both meanings attune the act of listening to noise—the perception of which relies on normative conceptions of rationality. This article takes up the sonic artifact as an aesthetic figure to listen to Latinx Chicago with attention to vinyl records (or discos) as literal material artifacts and asks: how do discos broadcast—in embodied and symbolic ways—the racialized politics of urban territory, and in turn amplify forms of spatial entitlement? Chicago's racial geography relies on the social reproduction of valuable forms of inequality that render Latinx communities displaceable, or unheard. What place‐making strategies emerge given such profound and intersecting dispossessions, and how are they amplified within the aural public sphere? El disco es cultura provides one answer. As curatorial practice, it embodies a phonoaesthetic assemblage of transcultural and transhemispheric sounds and connections that avails sonic artifacts as layered auditory experiences forged within the politics of displacement, pointing us toward the materiality of Latinx place‐making aesthetics and auditory fields of social recognition.
Staffs' experiences and strategies to maintain care for individuals with intellectual disabilities living in supported living facilities during the Covid‐19 pandemic
Authors: Ersfjord Ellen M. I. , Plasil Tanja , Johnsen Hege M.
Published: February 2024

Background

We explored the experiences of staff working in Norwegian community‐based living facilities, caring for people with intellectual disabilities during the Covid‐19 pandemic, and what self‐regulatory strategies staff used to maintain health and care service delivery and contribute to organisational resilience.

Methods

A qualitative design was utilized. Data were collected from September 2021 to April 2022 with individual and focus group interviews. In this study, 25 staff members participated. Thematic analysis was conducted.

Findings

Five main themes were identified regarding the experiences of staff during the pandemic: Lockdown of facilities, social isolation of residents, lack of health follow‐up, high sick leave rates and communication challenges. Only some of the strategies to mitigate pandemic‐related challenges were based on current Norwegian infection control guidelines. Some strategies were successful while others were not and some were negligent and challenged the delivery of health and care services for the residents.

Conclusions

Our study shows that people with intellectual disabilities living in the community‐based living facilities were subjected to human rights violations and violations of the Norwegian infection control law. This was caused by a lack of several important organisational qualities in the facilities.
ASXL3‐related disorder: Molecular phenotyping and comprehensive review providing insights into disease mechanism
Authors: Woods Emily , Holmes Nicola , Albaba Shadi , Evans Iwan R. , Balasubramanian Meena
Published: February 2024

ASXL3‐related disorder, sometimes referred to as Bainbridge‐Ropers syndrome, was first identified as a distinct neurodevelopmental disorder by Bainbridge et al. in 2013. Since then, there have been a number of case series and single case reports published worldwide. A comprehensive review of the literature was carried out. Abstracts were screened, relevant literature was analysed, and descriptions of common phenotypic features were quantified. ASXL3 variants were collated and categorised. Common phenotypic features comprised global developmental delay or intellectual disability (97%), feeding problems (76%), hypotonia (88%) and characteristic facial features (93%). The majority of genetic variants were de novo truncating variants in exon 11 or 12 of the ASXL3 gene. Several gaps in our knowledge of this disorder were identified, namely, underlying pathophysiology and disease mechanism, disease contribution of missense variants, relevance of variant location, prevalence and penetrance data. Clinical information is currently limited by patient numbers and lack of longitudinal data, which this review aims to address.
Management of acute and chronic pelvic sepsis after total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer—a 10‐year experience of a national referral centre
Authors: Sharabiany Sarah , Joosten Johanna J. , Musters Gijsbert D. , Talboom Kevin , Tanis Pieter J. , Bemelman Wilhelmus A. , Hompes Roel
Published: February 2024

Aim

Uncontrolled pelvic sepsis following rectal cancer surgery may lead to dramatic consequences with significant impact on patients' quality of life. The aim of this retrospective observational study is to evaluate management of pelvic sepsis after total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer at a national referral centre.

Method

Referred patients with acute or chronic pelvic sepsis after sphincter preserving rectal cancer resection, with the year of referral between 2010 and 2014 (A) or between 2015 and 2020 (B), were included. The main outcome was control of pelvic sepsis at the end of follow‐up, with healed anastomosis with restored faecal stream (RFS) as co‐primary outcome.

Results

In total 136 patients were included: 49 in group A and 87 in group B. After a median follow‐up of 82 months (interquartile range 35–100) in group A and 42 months (interquartile range 22–60) in group B, control of pelvic sepsis was achieved in all patients who received endoscopic vacuum assisted surgical closure (7/7 and 2/2), in 91% (19/21) and 89% (31/35) of patients who received redo anastomosis (P = 1.000) and in 100% (18/18) and 95% (41/43) of patients who received intersphincteric resection (P = 1.000), respectively. Restorative procedures resulted in a healed anastomosis with RFS in 61% (17/28) of patients in group A and 68% (25/37) of patients in group B (P = 0.567).

Conclusion

High rates of success can be achieved with surgical salvage of pelvic sepsis in a dedicated tertiary referral centre, without significant differences over time. In well selected and motivated patients a healed anastomosis with RFS can be achieved in the majority.
Changing Trees, Enduring Forests: Institutional Bricolage, Gradual Change and Community Forestry among Yucatec Mayans in Mexico
Authors: Mendoza Fuente Noé Manuel , Marin Andrei
Published: February 2024

This article seeks to understand why community forestry enterprises in the Mayan rainforest of Mexico are losing ground, while middlemen and manufacturers are regaining control over forestry resources. It focuses on the case of the Ejido San Felipe Oriente where an NGO codesigned a commercialization platform with the objective of bringing together local cooperatives to negotiate in the market from a position of strength. The project was hampered by an internal rupture in the ejido; in investigating this rupture, the authors use the concept of institutional bricolage to understand local power struggles, and the theory of gradual change to search for historical causal mechanisms. They find that the proximate causes of the rupture were family rivalries, suspicions of embezzlement, unfair exclusions, and the disruption of customary practices regarding the distribution of monetary benefits. However, historical continuities lay beneath the power struggle: ejidos in the Yucatan Peninsula have used their function as intermediaries to subordinate local interests rather than promote endogenous development. The authors advocate for an institutional design process that takes account of the unconscious and taken‐for‐granted meanings that influence institutional adaptation; they encourage development practitioners promoting community forestry enterprises in the Mayan rainforest of Mexico to address historical continuities in local institutions as a focal target of development interventions.
The number of nephroprotection targets attained is associated with cardiorenal outcomes and mortality in patients with diabetic kidney disease. The CKD‐REIN cohort study
Authors: Bonnet Fabrice , Balkau Beverley , Lambert Oriane , Diawara Yakhara , Combe Christian , Frimat Luc , Laville Maurice , Liabeuf Sophie , Massy Ziad A. , Metzger Marie , Stengel Bénédicte , Alencar de Pinho Natalia , Fouque Denis
Published: February 2024

Aim

The risk of cardiorenal events remains high among patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), despite the prescription of recommended treatments. We aimed to determine whether the attainment of a combination of nephroprotection targets at baseline (glycated haemoglobin <7.0%, urinary albumin‐creatinine ratio <300 mg/g, blood pressure <130/80 mmHg, renin‐angiotensin system inhibition) was associated with better cardiorenal outcomes and lower mortality.

Materials and Methods

From the prospective French CKD‐REIN cohort, we studied 1260 patients with diabetes and CKD stages 3‐4 (estimated glomerular filtration rate: 15‐60 ml/min/1.73 m2); 69% were men, and at inclusion, mean ± SD age: 70 ± 10 years; estimated glomerular filtration rate: 33 ± 11 ml/min/1.73 m2. The median follow‐up was 4.9 years.

Results

In adjusted Cox regression models, the attainment of two nephroprotection targets was consistently associated with a lower risk of cardiorenal events [hazard ratio 0.70 (95% confidence interval 0.57‐0.85)], incident kidney failure with replacement therapy [0.58 (0.43‐0.77)], four major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for heart failure) [0.75 (0.57‐0.99)] and all‐cause mortality [0.59 (0.42‐0.82)] when compared with the attainment of zero or one target. For patients with a urinary albumin‐creatinine ratio ≥300 mg/g, those who attained at least two targets had lower hazard ratios for cardiorenal events [0.61 (0.39‐0.96)], four major adverse cardiovascular events [0.53 (0.28‐0.98)] and all‐cause mortality [0.35 (0.17‐0.70)] compared with those who failed to attain any targets.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the attainment of a combination of nephroprotection targets is associated with better cardiorenal outcomes and a lower mortality rate in people with diabetic kidney disease.
So far, Central Bank Digital Currencies have failed
Authors: Dowd Kevin
Published: February 2024

This article examines the experiences of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) implemented so far. To date, CBDCs have been implemented in two countries (Finland and Ecuador) where they have failed and been abandoned. They have also been implemented in three Caribbean cases and in China and Nigeria; these five cases are ongoing. These experiences can be summarised as a series of abandoned experiments, embarrassing flops and monumental exercises in policymaker hubris, one of which has already produced a major disaster. In each case where data exist to assess the situation, the public demand for CBDCs has been extremely low. Experience suggests that CBDCs do not offer tangible benefits which existing alternatives cannot already deliver. One might speculate that future CBDCs will fail for similar reasons.
The hukou system and wage gap between urban and rural migrant workers in China: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Ma Xinxin , Li Yalan , Iwasaki Ichiro
Published: February 2024

This study involved a meta‐analysis of 506 estimates extracted from 75 studies to estimate the effect size of rural household registration (hukou) on wage levels. Our meta‐synthesis results indicated that the negative effect of rural hukou on wages is statistically significant; however, the effect size remains small in terms of the partial correlation coefficient. The results of the meta‐regression analysis and test for publication selection bias indicated that the differences in the wage effect of hukou among genders, corporate ownership sectors, and periods are insignificant. We also found that publication selection bias is unlikely, and genuine evidence exists in the literature.
Review of skin grafting in equine wounds: Indications and techniques
Authors: Williams Zoë J. , Pezzanite Lynn M. , Hendrickson Dean A.
Published: February 2024

Skin grafting is a simple technique that can be performed by equine practitioners to improve cosmetic outcomes in wounds with large skin defects that would not heal functionally or cosmetically with standard wound therapy interventions. Successful skin grafting is not difficult but relies upon appropriate preparation of the wound bed and effective immobilisation of the grafted area after skin graft placement. Prior to grafting, the wound bed should be treated with a moist wound healing dressing to prepare the granulation tissue bed to receive the graft. For best results, skin grafts should be placed in wounds free of infection with healthy granulation tissue, and motion should be reduced in the graft region in the early postoperative period. When successful, skin grafts cover granulation tissue and encourage wound contraction and epithelialisation while decreasing exuberant granulation tissue resulting in a more cosmetic result. This review will advance practitioners' understanding of skin grafting in horses, including graft classification and techniques, donor site selection, recipient site preparation and postoperative management strategies to optimise graft retention and ongoing research in this field.
“A crossroads generation.” Great‐grandchildren of Holocaust survivors' perspectives on the impact of the genocide on family functioning
Authors: Olstein Justin , Sheen Jade , Reupert Andrea
Published: February 2024

As a cultural trauma, the Holocaust exerted negative psychological effects on many survivors, with such effects often extending to their families. Research has explored these effects with respect to the survivors' children and grandchildren, but the experiences of the next generation have yet to be canvassed. Knowledge about resilience in Holocaust survivor families is also comparatively sparse. In this exploratory study, 10 semi‐structured interviews were conducted with Australian great‐grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, garnering perspectives concerning the genocide's impact on family functioning. Six superordinate themes were identified through Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis: The experience of being raised by the third generation, honoring traumatic family histories, the need to move on, proudly identifying with the Holocaust, valuing achievement and ambition, and the importance of not taking things for granted. The findings suggest that multiple generations within survivor families grapple with the lingering negative effects of the Holocaust. Concurrently, attempting to redress these effects has the potential to benefit family dynamics and processes.
ChatGPT: Game‐changer or wildcard for systematic searching?
Authors: Sutton Anthea , Parisi Veronica
Published: February 2024

In this editorial, Anthea Sutton and Veronica Parisi reflect on ChatGPT, how it may contribute to systematic searching, and provide their overview of some recent training they attended on ChatGPT, AI and systematic literature reviews.
Unpacking Chinese young learners’ L2 learning motivation: Does CLIL make a difference?
Authors: Zhu Yan , Peng Bo , Shu Dingfang , Du Fangyuan
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to compare the English language learning motivation of two cohorts of Chinese primary school learners in a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) and a non‐CLIL instructional setting. A total of 270 learners from third, fourth and fifth grades in the CLIL programme (N = 184) and the non‐CLIL programme (N = 86) participated in this study. Data were collected through a young learners’ L2 motivation questionnaire. Results indicated that CLIL learners overall displayed a significantly higher level of L2 motivation than their non‐CLIL counterparts in the Ideal L2 Self domain and L2 Learning Experience. However, students in the non‐CLIL programme overall rated themselves higher in the Ought‐to L2 Self domain. When comparing L2 motivation levels between CLIL and non‐CLIL sub‐groups in different grades, we found that the non‐CLIL subsamples’ mean motivational scores witnessed a continuous decline with the increase of grade in the scales of Ideal L2 Self, Ought‐to L2 Self and Parental Expectations. Regarding Cultural Interest and L2 Learning Experience, CLIL students in both the fourth‐ and fifth‐grade cohorts exhibited a significantly higher level of motivation than their non‐CLIL peers. This study provides empirical evidence supporting the implementation of CLIL programme as a potential strategy to boost young learners’ motivation towards L2 learning.
Impact evaluation of a new counselling and support programme for unemployed with multiple placement obstacles
Authors: Böheim René , Eppel Rainer , Mahringer Helmut
Published: February 2024

We analysed a new counselling and support programme for people with low employment prospects in Austria. The Austrian Public Employment Service introduced regional pilots to investigate whether a new counselling strategy could improve labour market outcomes for this group. Eligible unemployed individuals could opt for third‐party counselling and support, access a wide range of low‐threshold services, and focus on personal stability rather than job placement. The goal was to achieve similar or even better labour market outcomes at lower cost. By comparing pilot and control regions, we found that introducing the offer resulted in higher costs without improving labour market outcomes.
RETRACTED: Effect of topical application of autologous platelet gel on sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Yifan , Wu Zhong
Published: February 2024

Following heart operation, a severe life‐threatening complication has been identified by investigators who have recently discovered that local application of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) can lower the rate of wound infection in heart surgery. Nevertheless, due to the low quality of these trials, we have tried to perform high‐quality meta‐analyses to prove the efficacy of PRP in heart surgery for post‐operative wound infections. In this study, five randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were chosen from three databases, and there were 1005 studies to analyse the data. Among 181 cases, PRP was applied to the surgical site, and 205 in the control group. Both the CI and the OR or the average difference (MD) were computed with either a fixed or random‐effect model. A meta‐analysis of the data was carried out with RevMan 5.3. The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of post‐operative surgical site infection (SSI) in control group compared to those treated with PRP gel (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.38, 2.47; p = 0.95); In the heart operation, the local application of PRP gel decreased the rate of drainage after operation (MD, −217.82; 95% CI, −335.38, −100.26; p = 0.0003); The operation time of the PRP gel was not significantly different from that of the control group (MD, 12.65; 95% CI, −2.95, 28.24; p = 0.11). Contrary to earlier research, the application of autoplatelet gel in heart surgery did not seem to decrease operative site infections after the operation, but it did decrease the amount of postoperative drainage. Nevertheless, because of the limited number of RCTs in this meta‐analysis, caution should be exercised in their treatment. More high‐quality randomised, large‐sample trials are required to further confirm the findings.