bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The experiences of palliative care professionals and their responses to work‐related stress: A qualitative study
Authors: Fisher Shaun , Gillanders David , Ferreira Nuno
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Previous qualitative research has demonstrated that palliative care professionals (PCPs) deal with a wide array of emotionally challenging issues associated with the care they provide. Although previous research has identified self‐care strategies PCPs engage in, there is a lack of focus on what responses are helpful and/or unhelpful. The aim of the current study is to understand and describe the experiences of PCPs and to explore the helpful and unhelpful responses to work‐related stress they employ.

Design

This was a qualitative study of the experiences of working PCPs in a hospice setting.

Methods

Nine semi‐structured interviews were conducted and subsequently analysed using the framework method.

Results

The current study revealed five overarching themes: (1) Sources of Meaning and Purpose (making a difference, personal growth), (2) Sources of Stress (emotional challenges, patient family dynamics, work environment factors, public perception, uncontrollability of symptoms), (3) Personal Impact (life engagement, perceptions of death), (4) Unhelpful Responses (self‐doubt, emotional suppression, rumination, overidentifying, lack of self‐care), and (5) Helpful Responses (acceptance, being present, perspective taking, being able to switch off, social support, active self‐care).

Conclusions

The experiences of PCPs can be interpreted from or directly mapped onto the psychological (in)flexibility model in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It is suggested that ACT training for professionals may encourage more reliable and explicit helpful responses and reduce the impact of unhelpful responses. Thus, an ACT training intervention may enhance wellbeing and effectiveness in PCPs.
Fenfluramine significantly reduces day‐to‐day seizure burden by increasing number of seizure‐free days and time between seizures in patients with Dravet syndrome: A time‐to‐event analysis
Authors: Sullivan Joseph , Specchio Nicola , Devinsky Orrin , Auvin Stéphane , Perry M. Scott , Strzelczyk Adam , Gil‐Nagel Antonio , Dai David , Galer Bradley S. , Gammaitoni Arnold R.
Published: October 2021

Objective

The number, unpredictability, and severity of seizures experienced by patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) negatively impact quality of life (QOL) for patients, caregivers, and families. Metrics are needed to assess whether patients with residual seizures have moved meaningfully toward seizure freedom after treatment with new antiseizure medications.

Methods

We evaluated the time required postrandomization for each patient to experience the same number of seizures experienced during baseline (i.e., time‐to‐nth seizure), using a post hoc time‐to‐event (TTE) analysis of data from two Phase 3 placebo‐controlled trials of adjunctive fenfluramine for DS (Study 1,N = 119; Study 2,N = 87). Patients aged 2–19 years were randomized to placebo or adjunctive fenfluramine (Study 1: .7 mg/kg/day or .2 mg/kg/day; Study 2: .4 mg/kg/day with stiripentol). Data were analyzed by Kaplan–Meier TTE curves and waterfall plots.

Results

The proportion of patients who never reached baseline seizure frequency was greater with fenfluramine than with placebo (Study 1: fenfluramine .7 mg/kg/day, 60%; fenfluramine .2 mg/kg/day, 31%; placebo, 13%; Study 2: fenfluramine .4 mg/kg/day, 58%; placebo, 2%). Median time‐to‐nth seizure was longer after fenfluramine than after placebo (Study 1: fenfluramine .7 mg/kg/day, 13 weeks; .2 mg/kg/day, 10 weeks; placebo, 7 weeks; Study 2: fenfluramine .4 mg/kg/day, 13 weeks; placebo, 5 weeks;p < .001). Longest duration of convulsive seizure‐free days was increased in active groups versus the placebo group (Study 1: fenfluramine .7 and .2 mg/kg/day, 25.0 and 15.0 days; placebo, 9.5 days [p = .0001;p = .0352]; Study 2: fenfluramine .4 mg/kg/day, 22.0 days; placebo, 13.0 days [p = .004]). The most common adverse events included decreased appetite, pyrexia, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, and fatigue.

Significance

These data demonstrate that fenfluramine can significantly reduce day‐to‐day seizure burden in patients with DS, providing prolonged periods of convulsive seizure‐free days, which may help reduce the physical and emotional disease toll while improving health‐related QOL for patients and caregivers.
Dynamic optimal restructuring policies under debt renegotiation with positive externalities
Authors: Luo Pengfei , Tan Yingxian , Yang Jinqiang
Published: October 2021

This paper develops a debt renegotiation model with positive externalities using the Nash bargaining game and explores dynamic optimal downward debt restructuring policies in times of financial distress. We derive closed‐form expressions for the optimal restructuring policies. Moreover, we provide theoretical support for the advantages of debt renegotiation with positive externalities. In addition, our model could explain the violation of the absolute priority rule for firms in financial distress. Finally, we find that debt renegotiation is facilitated among firms with relatively low risk and a high leverage ratio, as documented by empirical evidence.
A quantitative trait variant inGabra2underlies increased methamphetamine stimulant sensitivity
Authors: Goldberg Lisa R. , Yao Emily J. , Kelliher Julia C. , Reed Eric R. , Wu Cox Jiayi , Parks Cory , Kirkpatrick Stacey L. , Beierle Jacob A. , Chen Melanie M. , Johnson William E. , Homanics Gregg E. , Williams Robert W. , Bryant Camron D. , Mulligan Megan K.
Published: October 2021

Psychostimulant (methamphetamine, cocaine) use disorders have a genetic component that remains mostly unknown. We conducted genome‐wide quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of methamphetamine stimulant sensitivity. To facilitate gene identification, we employed a Reduced Complexity Cross between closely related C57BL/6 mouse substrains and examined maximum speed and distance traveled over 30 min following methamphetamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.). For maximum methamphetamine‐induced speed following the second and third administration, we identified a single genome‐wide significant QTL on chromosome 11 that peaked near theCyfip2locus (LOD = 3.5, 4.2; peak = 21 cM [36 Mb]). For methamphetamine‐induced distance traveled following the first and second administration, we identified a genome‐wide significant QTL on chromosome 5 that peaked near a functional intronic indel inGabra2coding for the alpha‐2 subunit of the GABA‐A receptor (LOD = 3.6–5.2; peak = 34–35 cM [66–67 Mb]). Striatalcis‐expression QTL mapping corroboratedGabra2as a functional candidate gene underlying methamphetamine‐induced distance traveled. CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated correction of the mutant intronic deletion on the C57BL/6J background to the wild‐type C57BL/6NJ allele was sufficient to reduce methamphetamine‐induced locomotor activity toward the wild‐type C57BL/6NJ‐like level, thus validating the quantitative trait variant (QTV). These studies show the power and efficiency of Reduced Complexity Crosses in identifying causal variants underlying complex traits. Functionally restoringGabra2expression decreased methamphetamine stimulant sensitivity and supports preclinical and human genetic studies implicating the GABA‐A receptor in psychostimulant addiction‐relevant traits. Importantly, our findings have major implications for studying psychostimulants in the C57BL/6J strain—the gold standard strain in biomedical research.
The combined effects of climate and canopy cover changes on understorey plants of the Hyrcanian forest biodiversity hotspot in northern Iran
Authors: Naqinezhad Alireza , De Lombaerde Emiel , Gholizadeh Hamid , Wasof Safaa , Perring Michael P. , Meeussen Camille , De Frenne Pieter , Verheyen Kris
Published: October 2021

Understanding forest understorey community response to environmental change, including management actions, is vital given the understorey's importance for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning. The Natural World Heritage Hyrcanian temperate forests (Iran) provide an ideal template for furnishing an appreciation of how management actions can mitigate undesired climate change effects, due to the forests’ broad environmental gradients, isolation from colonization sources and varied light environments. We used records of 95 understorey plant species from 512 plots to model their probability of occurrence as a function of contemporary climate and soil variables, and canopy cover. For 65 species with good predictive accuracy, we then projected two climate scenarios in the context of either increasing or decreasing canopy cover, to assess whether overstorey management could mitigate or aggravate climate change effects. Climate variables were the most important predictors for the distribution of all species. Soil and canopy cover varied in importance depending on understorey growth form. Climate change was projected to negatively affect future probabilities of occurrence. However, management, here represented by canopy cover change, is predicted to modify this trajectory for some species groups. Models predict increases in light‐adapted and generalist forbs with reduced canopy cover, while graminoids and ferns still decline. Increased canopy cover is projected to buffer an otherwise significant decreasing response of cold‐adapted species to climate change. However, increasing canopy cover is not projected to buffer the predicted negative impact of climate change on shade‐adapted forest specialists. Inconsistent responses of different species and/or growth forms to climate change and canopy cover reflect their complicated life histories and habitat preferences. Canopy cover management may help prevent the climate change induced loss of some important groups for biodiversity conservation. However, for shade‐adapted forest specialists, our results imply a need to adopt other conservation measures in the face of anticipated climate change.
Ascorbic acid 2‐glucoside: An ascorbic acid pro‐drug with longer‐term antioxidant efficacy in skin
Authors: Jacques Carine , Genies Camille , Bacqueville Daniel , Tourette Amelie , Borotra Nathalie , Chaves Fernanda , Sanches Fabio , Gaudry Anne L. , Bessou‐Touya Sandrine , Duplan Hélène
Published: October 2021

Objective

Deleterious effects of pollutants and ultraviolet radiation on the skin can be attenuated using formulations containing antioxidants. However, these have disadvantages, including chemical instability, photodegradation, poor bioavailability or biological activity. Here, two commercial formulations were evaluated: one optimized to stabilize and deliver ascorbic acid (AA) at 15% and the other containing a glucoside form of AA, namely ascorbic acid 2‐glucoside (AA2G), at 1.8% and at a physiological pH. We compared the skin delivery, antioxidative effects and chemical stability of AA2G with AA in their respective formulations.

Methods

Skin delivery was measured using fresh viable human skin explants, and oxidative stress was measured using a human reconstructed epidermal (RHE) model according to levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase.

Results

Ascorbic acid 2‐glucoside was completely metabolized to AA by the skin before entering the receptor compartment. The skin contained parent and AA, indicating a reserve of AA2G was present for further metabolism. For AA2G and AA, maximum flux of AA‐equivalents was at 12 h, with continued absorption over 24 h. The absolute amount in µg was higher in the skin after application of AA than after application of AA2G. This may suggest a greater antioxidative effect; however, according to all three measurements of oxidative stress, the protective effect of AA and AA2G was similar. Unlike AA, AA2G was chemically stable under storage conditions.

Conclusion

A lower concentration of AA2G is as effective as the active metabolite, AA, in terms of antioxidant effects. AA2G was chemically stable and can be applied at a lower concentration than AA, thus avoiding the need for an acidic formulation with a pH below 3.5.
Prevalence of periapical lesions, root canal treatments and restorations in teeth adjacent to implant‐ or tooth‐supported crowns: A multi‐centre cross‐sectional study
Authors: Baruwa Abayomi O. , Martins Jorge N. R. , Pereira Beatriz , Meirinhos João , Ordinola‐Zapata Ronald , Souza Erick M. , Ginjeira António
Published: October 2021

Aim

To describe the prevalence of periapical lesions, root canal treatments and coronal restorations on teeth adjacent to either implant‐ or natural tooth‐supported crowns using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) assessment compared to nonadjacent teeth.

Methodology

A total of 1249 CBCT volumes were screened by five pre‐calibrated observers in 11 health centres. A step‐by‐step screening protocol was implemented and reviewed every 3 months, and mandatory setting characteristics were established for all CBCT scans using dedicated visualization software. Intra‐ and inter‐rater reliability tests were conducted. The prevalence of periapical lesions, root canal treatments and coronal restorations was recorded on both teeth adjacent and nonadjacent to implant‐ (predictor 1) or natural tooth‐supported crowns (predictor 2). A binary logistic model (Generalizing Estimating Equations test) was used to verify whether the prevalence of periapical lesion, root canal filling and the tooth restorative status are altered when the assessed tooth is adjacent or not to an implant‐supported crown (predictor 1); or to a natural tooth‐supported crown (predictor 2). Odds ratio and confidence intervals for the dependent variables at both predictors were obtained. The significance level was set at .05.

Results

A global sample of 22 899 teeth was included. Compared to nonadjacent teeth, the prevalence of periapical lesion, root canals treatments and restorative procedures when adjacent to implant‐supported crowns was 10.7%, 19.6% and 22.9% higher, respectively, and when adjacent to tooth‐supported crowns was 19.3%, 35.6% and 37.4% higher respectively. These results were significant only for variables root canal filling and coronal restoration (p < .0001). Odds ratio to present root canal treatment is 2.57 times higher (CI 1.95–3.39, p = .0001) when the tooth is adjacent to implant‐supported crown and 4.39 times (CI 3.49–5.53, p = .0001) when adjacent to tooth‐supported crown, whilst for restorative procedure, the odds are, respectively, 1.63 (CI 1.29–2.06, p = .0001) and 2.30 (CI 1.92–2.76, p = .0001).

Conclusions

Teeth adjacent to both implant‐ and natural tooth‐supported crowns were associated with a higher frequency of root canal filling and coronal restorations.
Nurse‐guided incentive spirometry use and postoperative pulmonary complications among cardiac surgery patients: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Alwekhyan Saja Ahmad , Alshraideh Jafar Alasad , Yousef Khalil Moh'd , Hayajneh Ferial
Published: October 2021

Aims

To assess the effect of nurse‐guided use of incentive spirometer on postoperative oxygenation and pulmonary complications after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background

Deep breathing exercises have been shown to improve postoperative lung expansion and reduce pulmonary complications. An incentive spirometer is a deep breathing exercises device that imitates continuous sigh‐like maximal inspiration.

Design

Randomized control trial, two groups nonblinded parallel design.

Methods

A total of n = 89 eligible patients were randomized to either control or intervention group. Patients in the intervention group received bihourly nurse‐guided incentive spirometry for 48‐h postextubation. The endpoints were: the number and duration of hypoxic events during the first 24‐hr postsurgery, pneumonia and pulmonary function parameters. Data were collected May to September 2019.

Results

Patients in the intervention group had a significantly lower mean number of hypoxic events with shorter duration and shorter length of stay in the hospital and the ICU. Patients in the intervention group also had greater postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second.

Conclusion

Nurse‐guided use of the incentive spirometer reduces the risk of pulmonary complications and hospital length of stay after cardiac surgery.
Social protection and the platform economy: The anomalous approach of the French legislator
Authors: Daugareilh Isabelle
Published: October 2021

Addressing the social protection of platform workers, the French legislator in 2016 and then in 2019 made moves to incorporate these workers into the general social security regime with regard to certain covered risks (work injury and occupational diseases), and to improve adequacy (enabling possible access to complementary coverage). However, these moves rest on radically opposed perspectives. Rather than reasserting the legal responsibility of the employer vis‐à‐vis workers’ health and safety, we see responsibility placed with the platform, but only on a voluntary basis under the aegis of corporate social responsibility. This risks fragmenting social benefits, to be determined by each platform, thus weakening the practices of mutual protection and risk pooling among enterprises and workers that lie at the heart of social security. In doing so, the legislator has broken the link that had as its historic objective the goal of social inclusion and has encouraged in different ways the privatization, or a re‐commodification, of social security in the commercial interest of private insurance companies. Moreover, this has been done using the Trojan Horse of the French labour code. This approach is in contrast to the converging position of international organizations, such as the European Union, International Labour Organization or the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development, recommending that States establish a right to social protection for all atypical workers and non‐salaried workers. Instead of identifying the common challenges that face workers who work for platforms, and offering responses specific to their situation, rather, it considers platform work as one of the new forms of atypical work undertaken by those who may have the status of employee or self‐employed.
Which social security regime for platform workers in Italy?
Authors: Borelli Silvia , Gualandi Sofia
Published: October 2021

This article highlights the debate on social security regimes applicable to platform workers in Italy. As social security regimes differ according to the type of employment or self‐employment relationship, Italian case law dealing with platform workers’ employment status will be illustrated. Italian legislation, case law and collective bargaining on health and safety at work will then be presented, clarifying the coverage to which platform workers are entitled in the event of accidents at work and occupational diseases, with a focus on the COVID‐19 pandemic impact. In turn, the two main Italian minimum income schemes and the related scholarly debate will be outlined, as well as their impact on the ability of digital labour platforms to avoid their responsibilities as regards workers’ rights, including access to adequate social protection.
Novel functions of S1P in chronic itchy and inflammatory skin diseases
Authors: Gray N. , Limberg M.M. , Bräuer A.U. , Raap U.
Published: October 2021

S1P is a pleotropic sphingolipid signalling molecule that acts through binding to five high‐affinity G‐protein coupled receptors. S1P‐signaling affects cell fate in a multitude of ways, e.g. influencing cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis, as well as playing an important role in immune cell trafficking. Though many effects of S1P‐signaling in the human body have been discovered, the full range of functions is yet to be understood. For inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, evidence is emerging that dysfunction and imbalance of the S1P‐axis is a contributing factor. Multiple studies investigating the efficacy of S1PR modulators in alleviating the severity and symptoms of skin conditions in various animal models and human clinical trials have shown promising results and validated the interest in the S1P‐axis as a potential therapeutic target. Even though the involvement of S1P‐signalling in inflammatory skin diseases still requires further clarification, the implications of the recent findings may prompt expansion of research to additional skin conditions and more S1P‐axis modulatory pharmaceuticals.
Fat‐soluble vitamin assessment, deficiency and supplementation in infants with cholestasis
Authors: Mancell Sara , Islam Maeisha , Dhawan Anil , Whelan Kevin
Published: October 2021

Background

Infants with cholestasis are at risk of fat‐soluble vitamin deficiency. The present study amied to review practice relating to the assessment, deficiency and supplementation of fat‐soluble vitamins in infants with cholestasis.

Methods

The medical records of all newly diagnosed infants with cholestasis (conjugated bilirubin >17 mmol L–1/>20% total bilirubin) at King's College Hospital between 2017 and 2019 were reviewed. Data extracted included bilirubin, serum vitamin concentrations (A, D, E), international normalised ratio and evidence of supplementation at initial assessment, as well as at 3 and 6 months. Rates of vitamin assessment, deficiency and supplementation were compared using chi‐squared or Fisher's exact test.

Results

In total, 136 infants (87 male) with idiopathic neonatal cholestasis (n = 62), biliary atresia (n = 40) and other aetiology (n = 34) were included. Assessment of serum vitamins (A, D, E) was low (33.3%–52.2%) and deficiency was initially high for vitamin D (60.6%) and vitamin E (70.9%). Supplementation prevalence at initial assessment was high (A, E, K), but dropped significantly at 3 and 6 months for vitamin E (p = 0.003) and vitamin K (p = 0.001), whereas vitamin D supplementation was consistently low throughout (25%–33.3%). Infants with biliary atresia were more likely to have vitamins assessed (3 months), be deficient initially (D, E) and supplemented (E, K) throughout. Supplementation continued in up to 80% of infants despite cholestasis resolving.

Conclusions

Supplementation was generally high and continued in many despite cholestasis resolving. Deficiency of vitamin D and vitamin E was high at initial assessment, although lower at follow‐up. Actual prevalence of deficiency of all vitamins is unknown because monitoring was not consistently performed.
What kind of labour regime is contract farming? Contracting and sharecropping in Java compared
Authors: White Ben , Wijaya Hanny
Published: October 2021

This article compares contract farming with share tenancy, another labour regime in which smallholder farmers are bound by contract to deliver produce to another, usually more powerful party. Based on research in the Javanese village of Kaliloro, we explore contracting and sharecropping as labour regimes, each with their own specific mechanisms of surplus transfer from producers to non‐producers. The cases compared are sharecropping of irrigated rice, contract farming of watermelon, and contract farming of poultry. There are important differences in how labour inputs are organized, how decisions are made, how costs are divided between landowner/contractor and farmer, and in the mechanisms of surplus transfer between the contracting parties. Exploring these differences allows us to understand and compare the role of the two labour regimes in the penetration of capital into the rural economy. Neither contract farming nor share tenancy arein themselves“win‐win” or “win‐lose” relationships, good or bad for small‐scale cultivators. The actual balance of burdens and benefits—often contravening the provisions of written contracts or state regulation—is determined by power relations between the contracting parties.
Soft tissue filler augmentation of the orbicularis retaining ligament to improve the lid‐cheek junction
Authors: Bernardini Francesco P. , Casabona Gabriela , Alfertshofer Michael G. , Frank Konstantin , Moellhoff Nicholas , Gotkin Robert H. , Davidovic Kristina , Voropai Daria , Valli Andrea , Cotofana Sebastian
Published: October 2021

Background

The orientation of facial ligaments changes with increasing age due to the loss of bony support. Soft tissue filler injections placed in close proximity to facial ligaments can alter their orientation to help achieve an improved and younger aesthetic appearance.

Objective

To assess the anatomic and aesthetic effects of a standardized injection with soft tissue filler placed directly inferior to the orbicularis retaining ligament in the infraorbital region.

Methods

A total of 163 patients with signs of infraorbital aging were treated with a standardized soft tissue filler injection into and in close proximity to the orbicularis retaining ligament (ORL). 2D frontal images of the infraorbital region were rated by eleven blinded and independent raters with regards to the aesthetic appearance of the infraorbital region before and after the standardized injection treatment.

Results

The aesthetic appearance of the entire infraorbital region (lid‐cheek junction) was rated before and after the treatment. The severity of the tear trough (medial aspect of the infraorbital region) as well as the hollowing of the lateral aspect of the infraorbital region also was rated before and after the treatment. Aesthetic improvement was statistically significant when evaluated by the blinded raters, the treating physician, and the patients. All the results were “very much improved” compared to baseline.

Conclusion

The effectiveness of this injection technique is thought to be due to the strategic placement of soft tissue filler that helps to reposition facial ligaments that have changed their orientation during the aging process.
Proliferating cell nuclear antigen presentation, as a marker of folliculogenesis, in the transplanted ovarian tissue
Authors: Vatanparast Mahboubeh , Karimi Zarchi Mojgan , Nabi Ali , Ali Khalili Mohammad
Published: October 2021

Aim

One of the most important ways to understand the ovarian biology is studding the initiation of primordial follicle development and subsequent folliculogenesis control. In this study, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) presentation was used as a marker of follicular development in the thawed ovarian tissue (OT) following transplantation onto chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) using two methods of freezing of slow freezing and vitrification.

Methods

Samples of OT from 10 patients were subjected to slow freezing and vitrification. After warming, CAM transplantation was done and PCNA proliferation index (PI; percent of PCNA‐positive granulosa cells) was calculated for each follicle stage. Image J software was used to determine the mean staining intensity.

Results

PCNA was positive for granulosa cells and oocytes nuclei, but negative for ooplasm. There were no remarkable PCNA staining in the granulosa cells of primordial follicles, but increased significantly as follicle progression (p < 0.05). Proliferation rate was also insignificantly higher in the vitrified than slow freezing group, before and after transplantation (p < 0.05). Lower PCNA presentation index was observed after CAM transplantation (p < 0.05). The earliest stage of follicular recruitment took place in the transitional follicles, before squamous cells transform to cuboidal cells.

Conclusion

PCNA showed that follicles had proliferation power after cryopreservation. Higher presentation after vitrification may indicate accelerated folliculogenesis in the thawed OT.
Validation of the GALAD model for early diagnosis and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma in Chinese multicenter study
Authors: Huang Chenjun , Fang Meng , Xiao Xiao , Wang Hong , Gao Zhiyuan , Ji Jun , Liu Lijuan , Gu Erli , Li Ya , Wang Mengmeng , Gao Chunfang
Published: October 2021

Background

GALAD is an algorithm model estimating the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the participants enrolled in the GALAD differ from those of Chinese subjects whose HCCs are mainly hepatitis B virus infection related. Therefore, the cross‐sectional as well as longitudinal multicenter study was designed to assess the clinical performances of GALAD in the Chinese population.

Methods

A case‐control study of 602 patients with HCC (34.10% within Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer 0‐A stage) and 923 subjects without HCC from five Chinese medical centres was conducted. Longitudinally the performances of GALAD identifying HCC were assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves analyses. Furthermore, the surveillance performance of GALAD for 204 HCC patients after radical surgery and for the early detection of HCC prospectively in an independent cohort of chronic hepatitis B were analysed, respectively.

Results

We found the GALAD identified early stage HCC at an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) above 0.85 and outperformed significantly than AFP, PIVKAII, AFP‐L3 and BALAD‐2 respectively. Meanwhile the GALAD could stratify HCC into two distinct subgroups with high or low risks of overall survival and recurrence. The GALAD could detection HCC 24 (AUC: 0.848) or even 48 (AUC: 0.833) weeks before clinical diagnosis.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that the GALAD exhibits outstanding performance in the early diagnosis, prognosis prediction as well as risk monitoring of HCC in our cross‐sectional and longitudinal multicenter study of 1561 patients. GALAD should be implanted into clinical practice early so as to improve the clinical efficacy of individual biomarkers in HCC early monitoring and prognosis prediction.
Population genomic, olfactory, dietary, and gut microbiota analyses demonstrate the unique evolutionary trajectory of feral pigs
Authors: Petrelli Simona , Buglione Maria , Maselli Valeria , Troiano Claudia , Larson Greger , Frantz Laurent , Manin Aurelie , Ricca Ezio , Baccigalupi Loredana , Wright Dominic , Pietri Christian , Fulgione Domenico
Published: October 2021

Domestication is an intriguing evolutionary process. Many domestic populations are subjected to strong human‐mediated selection, and when some individuals return to the wild, they are again subjected to selective forces associated with new environments. Generally, these feral populations evolve into something different from their wild predecessors and their members typically possess a combination of both wild and human selected traits. Feralisation can manifest in different forms on a spectrum from a wild to a domestic phenotype. This depends on how the rewilded domesticated populations can readapt to natural environments based on how much potential and flexibility the ancestral genome retains after its domestication signature. Whether feralisation leads to the evolution of new traits that do not exist in the wild or to convergence with wild forms, however, remains unclear. To address this question, we performed population genomic, olfactory, dietary, and gut microbiota analyses on different populations of Sus scrofa (wild boar, hybrid, feral and several domestic pig breeds). Porcine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) analysis shows that the feral population represents a cluster distinctly separate from all others. Its members display signatures of past artificial selection, as demonstrated by values of FST in specific regions of the genome and bottleneck signature, such as the number and length of runs of homozygosity. Generalised FST values, reacquired olfactory abilities, diet, and gut microbiota variation show current responses to natural selection. Our results suggest that feral pigs are an independent evolutionary unit which can persist so long as levels of human intervention remain unchanged.
Integrating plant physiology and community ecology across scales through trait‐based models to predict drought mortality
Authors: Trugman Anna T.
Published: October 2021

Forests are a critical carbon sink and widespread tree mortality resulting from climate‐induced drought stress has the potential to alter forests from a carbon sink to a source, causing a positive feedback on climate change. Process‐based vegetation models aim to represent the current understanding of the underlying mechanisms governing plant physiological and ecological responses to climate. Yet model accuracy varies across scales, and regional‐scale model predictive skill is frequently poor when compared with observations of drought‐driven mortality. I propose a framework that leverages differences in model predictive skill across spatial scales, mismatches between model predictions and observations, and differences in the mechanisms included and absent across models to advance the understanding of the physiological and ecological processes driving observed patterns drought‐driven mortality.
Regularly irregular atrial rhythm after superior vena cava isolation: Another manifestation of sinoatrial node injury?
Authors: Nakashima Takashi , Nagase Masaru , Shibahara Taro , Ono Daiju , Yamada Takehiro , Tanabe Gen , Suzuki Keita , Yamaura Makoto , Ido Takahisa , Takahashi Shigekiyo , Aoyama Takuma
Published: October 2021

The present case described an unusual clinical manifestation of the sinoatrial node (or sinoatrial junction) injury during superior vena cava isolation.
A review of public versus private reforestation programs in the Senegalese Sahel: taking stock of realities and challenges
Authors: Sarr Mame S. , Diallo Adja M. , King‐Okumu Caroline
Published: October 2021

The Great Green Wall (GGW) across the Sahara is expected to generate a wide range of ecological and socioeconomic benefits. Ideally, ecosystem recovery should be assessed using measurable indicators (Society for Ecological Restoration [SER] principal 5). This requires agreement on only a few clear goals and targets and the establishment of effective measurement systems, yet in practice, each stakeholder and funder brings different targets that the GGW must achieve. Alongside its ecological objectives and biodiversity indicators, the GGW must also demonstrate meaningful socioeconomic benefits, engage communities, and contribute to green economic development in the restoration areas. Since the engagement of the private sector is presently seen as a critical challenge, we compare the current GGW approach and performance with that of an established Acacia senegal plantation focusing more narrowly on a commercial objective to produce gum arabic for export. Our analysis of information from both programs demonstrates strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the restoration successes achieved. These insights can help to guide ongoing programing and evaluation of the GGW toward both ecological and socioeconomic objectives in Senegal. They also reflect on emerging global discussion of business cases for reinvestment by all stakeholders to halt and reverse ecological damage.
Public Investment and Regional Resilience: Empirical Evidence from the Greek Regions
Authors: Psycharis Yannis , Panori Anastasia , Athanasopoulos Dimitrios
Published: October 2021

This paper examines empirically the contribution of public investment expenditures to regional resilience. Analysis is based on a novel dataset including public investment expenditures data decomposed by sub‐categories and disaggregated at NUTS III Greek regions over the period 2000–2017. Results indicate that public investment expenditures had a positive influence on regional resilience during the period of the economic crisis. Decomposing public investment expenditures by type the analysis provides evidence that the decentralized public investment expenditures that were executed through the tiers of local government and those that were related with the secondary and tourism sectors asserted a positive and significant impact on regional resilience. These results are signifying the importance of public policy in regional resilience and could be utilized for the formulation of regional policy during recessions.
Impact of whole‐body resistance exercise timing on mitigating hyperglycaemia‐induced vascular dysfunction
Authors: Russell Brooke M. , Smith Laura , Chang Courtney R. , Roach Lauren A. , Christie Hannah E. , Francois Monique E.
Published: October 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Is the estrous cycle affected during disuse atrophies and if so, how do estrous cycle
changes relate to musculoskeletal outcomes?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Rodent estrous cycles are altered during disuse atrophy, which corresponds to musculoskeletal outcomes. However, the estrous cycle does not appear changed in Lewis Lung Carcinoma, which corresponded to no differences in muscle size compared to healthy controls. These findings suggest a relationship between estrous cycle and muscle size during atrophic pathologies.

Hyperglycemia can cause disruptions in vascular function, whereas exercise has been shown to restore vascular function. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effect of performing whole‐body resistance exercise, 30‐min before, immediately following, or 30‐ or 60‐min after a high carbohydrate meal, on endothelial function, measured by flow‐mediated dilation (FMD). Healthy adults will be recruited to this randomized crossover trial to compare the postprandial glycaemic and vascular responses to four different exercise timing conditions and a control: i) C‐ control, high carbohydrate meal/no exercise, ii) 30Pre‐ 30 min of resistance exercises (~30% of 1RM [Repetition Maximum]), 30 min before a high carbohydrate meal, iii) IP‐ 30 min of resistance exercises (~30% of 1RM), immediately following a high carbohydrate meal, iv) 30Post‐ 30 min of resistance exercises, 30 min after a high carbohydrate meal and v) 60Post‐ 30 min of resistance exercises, 60 min after a high carbohydrate meal. Measures of metabolic and vascular function will be assessed at baseline and for two hours following the carbohydrate‐based breakfast meal.
Evaluation of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloy Repaired via Additive Friction Stir Deposition
Authors: Avery D. Z. , Cleek C. E. , Phillips B. J. , Rekha M. Y. , Kinser R. P. , Rao H. M. , Brewer L. N. , Allison P. G. , Jordon J. B.
Published: October 2021

A novel solid-state additive manufacturing (AM) process, additive friction stir deposition (AFS-D), provides a new pathway for additively repairing damaged nonweldable aerospace materials that are susceptible to induced thermal gradients within the microstructure. In this work, we quantify the microstructural evolution and mechanical performance of an additively repaired AA7075-T651 (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu) via the AFS-D process. To evaluate the AFS-D process for repairing high strength aluminum alloys, the AFS-D technique was used to additively fill a linear groove that was machined into an AA7075-T651 plate. After repairing the plate with the AFS-D process, the repaired plate was subjected to standard T6 heat treatment. The results of this study show that the heat-treated AFS-D repair did not exhibit any significant grain growth and demonstrated an increase in the average Vickers hardness in the repair compared with the wrought 7075-T651 control. Tensile and fatigue behavior was investigated for heat-treated repair and compared with the wrought AA7075-T651 control. The heat-treated repair exhibited wrought-like tensile properties for yield stress (YS) and ultimate stress; however, the heat-treated repair had significant scatter in the elongation to failure. Additionally, the mean fatigue behavior of the heat-treated repairs displayed a reduction in cycles to failure compared with the wrought control. Lastly, a microstructure-sensitive fatigue life model was used to elucidate process-structure-property fatigue mechanism relations of the heat-treated repair and wrought AA7075.
Improved growth quality of epitaxial ZnTe thin films on Si (111) wafer with ZnSe buffer layer
Authors: Zhu Xiaolong , Wu Jianqiang , Hu Qimin , Hao Xia , Li Wei , Liu Cai , Su Rong
Published: October 2021

To achieve high-quality and low-cost ZnTe epitaxial films, a low-temperature (LT, 200 °C) ZnSe buffer layer with a thickness of 5 nm was grown on Si (111) wafers prior to the epitaxy of ZnTe layers by molecular beam epitaxy. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction patterns reveal that ZnTe epilayers grown at 335 °C with a thickness of 100 nm on the LT-ZnSe buffer layer present a completely two-dimensional growth mode. Film surfaces present smooth and flat morphology with the lowest surface roughness of ∼2.2 nm at a Te/Zn beam equivalent pressure ratio of 1.6. X-ray diffraction θ-2θ scanning indicates that the out-of-plane structure of ZnTe films is highly preferred with the (111) growth orientation of ZnSe/Si. X-ray diffraction φ scanning further confirms that the in-plane structure of ZnTe epilayer is also a single-crystal orientation growth. Thus, high-quality ZnTe (111) single-crystal epilayer with the lowest full-width at half-maximum of ∼200 arc sec and the smallest dislocation density of ∼1.12 × 108 cm−2 was grown on Si (111) wafers. In addition, the ZnSe buffer layer could alleviate the residual stress effectively for the heteroepitaxy of Si wafers. The most balanced residual stress for ZnTe/ZnSe/Si with σx of ∼96.5 MPa and σy of ∼94.2 MPa was obtained, which is essential for achieving high-performance and good mechanical properties of ZnTe-based devices.
The toppling of a uniform rectangular block
Authors: Hinrichsen Peter F.
Published: October 2021

The toppling motion of a uniform rectangular block is investigated as a function of the friction between its pivot edge and the horizontal surface on which it rests. Initially, the edge of the block remains stationary, but it inevitably slips before the block lands. The inclination angle at which slipping occurs and the direction of slip depend on the coefficient of static friction. The toppling motion of a granite block was monitored at 400 Hz with MEMs gyro/accelerometers at the center of mass and at the pivot edge, as well as by “Tracker” analysis of video recorded at 240 fps.
Individual acoustic differences in female black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) fee-bee songs
Authors: Montenegro Carolina , Sahu Prateek K. , Sturdy Christopher B.
Published: October 2021

In songbirds, song has traditionally been considered a vocalization mainly produced by males. However, recent research suggests that both sexes produce song. While the function and structure of male black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) fee-bee song have been well-studied, research on female song is comparatively limited. Past discrimination and playback studies have shown that male black-capped chickadees can discriminate between individual males via their fee-bee songs. Recently, we have shown that male and female black-capped chickadees can identify individual females via their fee-bee song even when presented with only the bee position of the song. Our results using discriminant function analyses (DFA) support that female songs are individually distinctive. We found that songs could be correctly classified to the individual (81%) and season (97%) based on several acoustic features including but not limited to bee-note duration and fee-note peak frequency. In addition, an artificial neural network was trained to identify individuals based on the selected DFA acoustic features and was able to achieve 90% accuracy by individual and 93% by season. While this study provides a quantitative description of the acoustic structure of female song, the perception and function of female song in this species requires further investigation.
Recruiting and Retaining Graduate Students in Kinesiology at a Hispanic-Serving Institution
Authors: Liu Ting , Hamilton Michelle , Chen YuChun , Harris Katie , Pandya Rushali
Published: October 2021

Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in interest in master’s education in the United States. However, not much attention has been paid to recruiting and retaining master’s students in the field of kinesiology. This article describes recruitment and retention strategies that have been successfully implemented in a kinesiology graduate program at a Hispanic-serving institution. Recruiting from undergraduate programs, removing use of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in graduate admissions, awarding graduate teaching assistantships, creating new programs that flow with the evolving workforce, actively promoting the program at other universities and conferences, and building partnership with other universities are described for recruiting quality master’s students. Establishing a peer/faculty mentorship program and building a strong student network/organization have been shown to have a positive impact on retention. Readers may pick and choose the strategies that work best with the student population, faculty, and other resources available in the program.
Lessons Learned During the Pandemic: Recommendations for Kinesiology Programs’ Emerging Future
Authors: Leary Miriam E. , Bryner Randy W. , Eddo Oladipo O.
Published: October 2021

In response to the pandemic, kinesiology programs rose to the challenge of remote teaching by incorporating novel teaching and classroom approaches to ensure students continued to receive excellent instruction. This review identifies remote and hybrid teaching elements, many used by our two kinesiology programs, which showed promise during the pandemic. Using evidence and best practices, we argue for kinesiology programs to include these teaching strategies moving forward. Discussions focus on improving students’ success, learning, and matriculation into the vulnerable first year of college; rigorous teaching and assessment practices for laboratory and lecture classes in core curriculum; and remote capstone opportunities to prepare graduates for a postpandemic workforce. As we anticipate a physical return to campus, the strategies described here show promise for keeping kinesiology programs innovative and competitive in the emerging future of hybrid teaching in higher education.
Erratum: Concerning the Theory of Photoconductivity in Infrared-sensitive Semiconducting Films
Authors: Rittner E. S.
Published: October 2021

In my recent paper "Concerning the Theory of Photoconductivity in Infrared-sensitive Semiconducting Films" (
Science
, 1950, 111) page 685, line 7, column 2, should read ". . . to essentially pictures (1) or (2). . . ." rather than ". . . pictures (
10
) or (
5
). . . " On page 687, line 5, column, 1, the words "fixed," "positive," and "electrons" should be deleted.
A World-wide Stratospheric Aerosol Layer
Authors: Junge Christian E. , Chagnon Charles W. , Manson James E.
Published: October 2021

An aerosol layer has been identified by a stratospheric balloon and aircraft aerosol collection program. Measurements of horizontal extension and vertical distribution indicate that this layer is a world-wide phenomenon, displaying little variation with time and latitude. The particles in this layer range in size between 0.1 and 2 μ in radius, are water soluble, and contain sulfur as the predominant constituent. It is most likely that they are formed within the stratosphere.
Repression of Acid Phosphatase Synthesis in
Euglena gracilis
Authors: Price C. A.
Published: October 2021

Phosphate-repressible phosphatase synthesis occurs in the algae,
Euglena gracilis
. This phenomenon differs from the similar process known to occur in bacteria in that (i) the enzyme is an acid rather than an alkaline phosphatase, and (ii) enzyme activity nearly disappears after addition of phosphate to the culture.
Histoplasma capsulatum
: Occurrence in Soil from the Emilia-Romagna Region of Italy
Authors: Sotgiu Giulio , Mazzoni Aldo , Mantovani Adriano , Ajello Libero , Palmer Joseph
Published: October 2021

The existence of an area in Europe in which histoplasmosis is endemic was revealed by the isolation of
Histoplasma capsulatum
from soil. The soil specimen was collected in a chicken yard on a farm near Bologna, Italy. The Emilia-Romagna region had been selected for study because several, apparently autochthonous, human cases of histoplasmosis had originated there.