bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
103 Impact of Fescue Variety on Fecal Egg Counts in Mature Beef Cattle
Authors: Williams Katherine , Rajo Edwin Benjamin , Weaver Andrew R , Poole Daniel H , Pickworth Carrie L
Published: May 2023

Fescue toxicosis decreases beef cattle performance in a multitude of ways, including decreased health and immunity. Cattle challenged by fescue toxicosis are often grazing in an environment favorable for development of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). Interactions of fescue toxicosis and parasite challenge may result in further performance and economic losses. Many beef producers treat animals regularly for GIN parasites with little insight on necessity or effectiveness of anthelmintic products. Overuse of anthelmintics can result in development of anthelmintic resistance in GIN populations. To minimize the development of anthelmintic resistance, implementation of selective deworming practices should be considered. However, level of parasite burden and effects of fescue toxicosis on parasite burden need to be better understood in beef cattle herds before recommendations can be offered. Therefore, the objective was to investigate the impact of fescue toxicosis on GIN parasite infection rates through fecal egg counts (FEC), body weight (BW), hematocrit (HCT), and body condition score (BCS). Starting in April, for 14 consecutive weeks post-weaning, pregnant Angus-based cows (2 to 4 years old, n = 65) were rotationally grazed on either novel endophyte (EN) fescue or endophyte-infected (EI) fescue pastures. Hematocrit, BCS, and BW were assessed weekly, while FEC were measured bi-weekly to monitor the physiological changes as a result of consuming endophyte-infected tall fescue. All data were analyzed using Proc MIXED in SAS with repeated measures. Statistical significance was declared at P ≤ 0.05 and a trend at 0.10 > P > 0.05. Overall, FEC were low (4.2 ± 0.9 eggs/gm) in these mature cattle and grazing EI or EN fescue did not have any overall effect (P > 0.05) on the FEC. However, FEC decreased (P < 0.05) over the course of the study from week 1 to week 13. Body weight, HCT, and BCS were not affected (P > 0.05) by the type of fescue grazed. There was a tendency (P < 0.10) for 2-3 and 4-6 year old cattle to have lower BW when grazing EI compared with EN fescue while cattle >7 were not affected. Cattle gained BW (P < 0.05) over the 14-week study (471.4 and 527.7 ± 0.6 kg, 0 and4 week respectively). For cattle grazing EI fescue, HCT linearly decreased (P < 0.05) from week 1 to week 14 whereas cattle grazing EN fescue had a linear increase (P < 0.05) in HCT from week 1 to week 14. More research is warranted to investigate beef cattle FEC and the potential impact of fescue type on FEC in younger beef cattle.
148 Economic Assessment of Beef Cattle Backgrounding in Brazil at Pre and During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Reis Beatriz Q , Silva Edmar , Bernardes Elaine , Sarturi Jhones
Published: May 2023

The production costs of beef cattle grazing backgrounding systems between 2018/2019 (pre) and 2020/2021 (during) pandemic were evaluated. A comprehensive mathematical model for the cost of production was used according to the Economic Theory. Costs were collected and allocated into Fixed Cost (FC), Variable Cost (VC), and Total Cost (TC). In addition, analyses were performed concerning total income and profitability. A survey was carried out in 2018 with a rancher in the state of Minas Gerais (Brazil) to define major technical indicators of production. The spot prices used in our analysis were collected in 2018/19 and 2020/21. The base-animal used for such growing phase assessment represented the Nelore breed (Bos indicus), intact males and females, weaned at approximately 7-10 mo, and averaging 195 ± 15 kg of live shrunk BW (body weight), which remained in a grazing system for 12 mo. The average selling weight was 360 ± 15 kg shrunk BW. Animals (n = 34) were separated into three lots according to the ranch of origin and sex. Mineral supplementation was provided for 150 d during the greatest forage supply, while protein supplementation was offered for 210 d during the least forage supply for all animals. After comprehensively accounting for inputs, the cost index was compared between the two periods. The total cost for the 2018/19 production-period was US$ 1.13kg of BW, while an increase of approximately 53% (US$ 1.70kg of BW) was observed for 2020/21. The FC represented in the year 20/21 was 2.66 % less than 2018/19, which represented 22.9% of all costs combined. The VC represented 66.3% of the total cost in 2018/19, in which cattle purchase cost and feed cost represented 58.8% and 7.1%, respectively. For 2020/21, the VC increased to 70.7% of the total cost, in which cattle purchase cost and feed cost represented 62% and 8.5%, respectively. Regardless of the period, the most representative items analyzed were the cattle purchase price and feed costs. There was a 68.9% increase in gross income, followed by a raise in profit from US$ 0.26/kg BW in 2018/19 to US$ 2.9/kg of BW in 2020/21. The factors that influenced profitability the most were the purchase and sale price of animals. The shorter feeder cattle supply during the pandemic induced greater overall costs, although also positively affecting the final sale price of long-yearlings, which generated widened margins. The current cost calculation model showed to be helpful while allowing testing scenarios, possibilities, and helping producers to manage risk in such cattle enterprises.
Development of supercooling preservation method of adherent cultured human cells
Authors: Hikichi Maaya , Shimizu Takuya , Sato Kiichi
Published: May 2023

Cryopreservation of mammalian cells is an important technology; however, freezing damage due to osmotic pressure differences and ice crystal formation is inevitable. In addition, cryopreserved cells cannot be used immediately after thawing in many cases. Therefore, in this study, we developed a method for supercooling and preserving adherent cells using a precision temperature-controlled CO2 incubator. The effects of the cooling rate from 37 to −4°C, the warming rate from −4 to 37°C and a preservation solution on cell viability after storage were examined. Human hepatocarcinoma-derived cell line HepG2 cells, preserved with HypoThermosol FRS at −4°C with a cooling rate of −0.028°C/min (24 h from 37°C to −4°C) and warming to 37°C at a rate of +1.0°C/min (40 min from −4 to 37°C), displayed high cell viability after 14 days of preservation. The superiority of supercooling preservation at −4°C was demonstrated by comparing the obtained results with that of refrigerated preservation at +4°C. Cells preserved for 14 days under optimal conditions showed no cell shape abnormalities and may be used for experiments immediately after thawing. The optimized supercooling preservation method determined in this study is suitable for the temporary preservation of adherent cultured cells.
Taking Stock: Assessing the Current Status and Evolution of the United Nations Security Council’s Legislative Resolutions
Authors: Musmeci Daniele
Published: May 2023

The present essay intends to provide for an in-depth analysis concerning the enactment of new legislative resolutions by the UN Security Council with a view to dealing with foreign terrorist fighters and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as well. It will be argued that, instead of voicing unweavering concerns about the Council’s increasing tendency to resort to this specific tool, UN Member States have widely welcomed these resolutions, deeming them necessary and proportionate response to urgent threats faced by the International Community as a whole. Accordingly, this has generated a clear distinction between the previous legislative resolutions and the recent ones. As a result, by dwelling more specifically on States’ utterances made during the meetings devoted to discuss these new general resolutions, it is argued that such resolutions are to be looked upon as subsequent practice pursuant to Article 31, paragraph 3(b) of 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT), which means that they are relevant in order to interpret Article 41 of the UN Charter. Ultimately, and based on the assumption that States are now more inclined to accept general obligations in the counter-terrorism’s domain, the manuscript addresses the topic of how the UN Security Council should legislate in order to secure the widest acceptance possible and be in accordance with several International Law’s requirements.
Mini-review: the distinct roles of STING signaling in tumor immunity—recent progress
Authors: Wang Shengli , Li Tao , Sun Hongyan , Chen Danchun , Xu Hongbiao , Hao Jianlei
Published: May 2023

New strategies targeting STING proteins appear promising for eliciting immunotherapeutic responses. Activation of the STING pathway under the right circumstances can drive dendritic cell maturation, antitumor macrophage differentiation, T-cell initiation and activation, natural killer cell activation, vascular reprogramming, and/or cancer cell death, leading to immune-mediated tumor elimination and generation of antitumor immune memory. However, activation of the STING signaling pathway is complicated in tumor immunity. On one hand, STING signaling was found to promote tumor growth. On the other hand, the cGAS-STING pathway has great potential for regulating antitumor immunity. The development of activators of the cGAS-STING pathway may profoundly change tumor immunotherapy, providing an excellent direction for the development and clinical application of immunotherapeutic strategies for related diseases. This review provides a concise summary of the role of the STING pathway in tumors in recent years.
Embedding lifestyle interventions into cancer care: has telehealth narrowed the equity gap?
Authors: Dennett Amy M , Hirko Kelly A , Porter Kathleen J , Loh Kah Poh , Liao Yue , Yang Lin , Arem Hannah , Sukumar Jasmine S , Salerno Elizabeth A
Published: May 2023

Lifestyle interventions targeting energy balance (ie, diet, exercise) are critical for optimizing the health and well-being of cancer survivors. Despite their benefits, access to these interventions is limited, especially in underserved populations, including older people, minority populations and those living in rural and remote areas. Telehealth has the potential to improve equity and increase access. This article outlines the advantages and challenges of using telehealth to support the integration of lifestyle interventions into cancer care. We describe 2 recent studies, GO-EXCAP and weSurvive, as examples of telehealth lifestyle intervention in underserved populations (older people and rural cancer survivors) and offer practical recommendations for future implementation. Innovative approaches to the use of telehealth-delivered lifestyle intervention during cancer survivorship offer great potential to reduce cancer burden.
Pharmacokinetics of cancer therapeutics and energy balance: the role of diet intake, energy expenditure, and body composition
Authors: Purcell Sarah A , Kok Dieuwertje E , Ketterl Tyler , Garcia Miriam B , Joffe Lenat , Brown Justin C , Dieli-Conwright Christina M , Williams Grant R
Published: May 2023

Energy balance accounts for an individual’s energy intake, expenditure, and storage. Each aspect of energy balance has implications for the pharmacokinetics of cancer treatments and may impact an individual’s drug exposure and subsequently its tolerance and efficacy. However, the integrated effects of diet, physical activity, and body composition on drug absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion are not yet fully understood. This review examines the existing literature on energy balance, specifically the role of dietary intake and nutritional status, physical activity and energy expenditure, and body composition on the pharmacokinetics of cancer therapeutics. As energy balance and pharmacokinetic factors can be influenced by age-related states of metabolism and comorbidities, this review also explores the age-related impact of body composition and physiologic changes on pharmacokinetics among pediatric and older adult populations with cancer.
Proper RPA acetylation promotes accurate DNA replication and repair
Authors: Gan Xiaoli , Zhang Yueyue , Jiang Donghao , Shi Jingyao , Zhao Han , Xie Chengyu , Wang Yanyan , Xu Jingyan , Zhang Xinghua , Cai Gang , Wang Hailong , Huang Jun , Chen Xuefeng
Published: May 2023

The single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein complex RPA plays a critical role in promoting DNA replication and multiple DNA repair pathways. However, how RPA is regulated to achieve its functions precisely in these processes remains elusive. Here, we found that proper acetylation and deacetylation of RPA are required to regulate RPA function in promoting high-fidelity DNA replication and repair. We show that yeast RPA is acetylated on multiple conserved lysines by the acetyltransferase NuA4 upon DNA damage. Mimicking constitutive RPA acetylation or blocking its acetylation causes spontaneous mutations with the signature of micro-homology-mediated large deletions or insertions. In parallel, improper RPA acetylation/deacetylation impairs DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair by the accurate gene conversion or break-induced replication while increasing the error-prone repair by single-strand annealing or alternative end joining. Mechanistically, we show that proper acetylation and deacetylation of RPA ensure its normal nuclear localization and ssDNA binding ability. Importantly, mutation of the equivalent residues in human RPA1 also impairs RPA binding on ssDNA, leading to attenuated RAD51 loading and homologous recombination repair. Thus, timely RPA acetylation and deacetylation likely represent a conserved mechanism promoting high-fidelity replication and repair while discriminating the error-prone repair mechanisms in eukaryotes.
RPA engages telomeric G-quadruplexes more effectively than CST
Authors: Olson Conner L , Barbour Alexandra T , Wieser Thomas A , Wuttke Deborah S
Published: May 2023

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are a set of stable secondary structures that form within guanine-rich regions of single-stranded nucleic acids that pose challenges for DNA maintenance. The G-rich DNA sequence at telomeres has a propensity to form G4s of various topologies. The human protein complexes Replication Protein A (RPA) and CTC1-STN1-TEN1 (CST) are implicated in managing G4s at telomeres, leading to DNA unfolding and allowing telomere replication to proceed. Here, we use fluorescence anisotropy equilibrium binding measurements to determine the ability of these proteins to bind various telomeric G4s. We find that the ability of CST to specifically bind G-rich ssDNA is substantially inhibited by the presence of G4s. In contrast, RPA tightly binds telomeric G4s, showing negligible changes in affinity for G4 structure compared to linear ssDNAs. Using a mutagenesis strategy, we found that RPA DNA-binding domains work together for G4 binding, and simultaneous disruption of these domains reduces the affinity of RPA for G4 ssDNA. The relative inability of CST to disrupt G4s, combined with the greater cellular abundance of RPA, suggests that RPA could act as a primary protein complex responsible for resolving G4s at telomeres.
KVFinder-web: a web-based application for detecting and characterizing biomolecular cavities
Authors: Guerra João V S , Ribeiro-Filho Helder V , Pereira José G C , Lopes-de-Oliveira Paulo S
Published: May 2023

Molecular interactions that modulate catalytic processes occur mainly in cavities throughout the molecular surface. Such interactions occur with specific small molecules due to geometric and physicochemical complementarity with the receptor. In this scenario, we present KVFinder-web, an open-source web-based application of parKVFinder software for cavity detection and characterization of biomolecular structures. The KVFinder-web has two independent components: a RESTful web service and a web graphical portal. Our web service, KVFinder-web service, handles client requests, manages accepted jobs, and performs cavity detection and characterization on accepted jobs. Our graphical web portal, KVFinder-web portal, provides a simple and straightforward page for cavity analysis, which customizes detection parameters, submits jobs to the web service component, and displays cavities and characterizations. We provide a publicly available KVFinder-web at https://kvfinder-web.cnpem.br, running in a cloud environment as docker containers. Further, this deployment type allows KVFinder-web components to be configured locally and customized according to user demand. Hence, users may run jobs on a locally configured service or our public KVFinder-web.
DEPICTER2: a comprehensive webserver for intrinsic disorder and disorder function prediction
Authors: Basu Sushmita , Gsponer Jörg , Kurgan Lukasz
Published: May 2023

Intrinsic disorder in proteins is relatively abundant in nature and essential for a broad spectrum of cellular functions. While disorder can be accurately predicted from protein sequences, as it was empirically demonstrated in recent community-organized assessments, it is rather challenging to collect and compile a comprehensive prediction that covers multiple disorder functions. To this end, we introduce the DEPICTER2 (DisorderEd PredictIon CenTER) webserver that offers convenient access to a curated collection of fast and accurate disorder and disorder function predictors. This server includes a state-of-the-art disorder predictor, flDPnn, and five modern methods that cover all currently predictable disorder functions: disordered linkers and protein, peptide, DNA, RNA and lipid binding. DEPICTER2 allows selection of any combination of the six methods, batch predictions of up to 25 proteins per request and provides interactive visualization of the resulting predictions. The webserver is freely available at http://biomine.cs.vcu.edu/servers/DEPICTER2/
Two clinical prediction tools to inform rapid tuberculosis treatment decision-making in children
Authors: Brooks Meredith B , Hussain Hamidah , Siddiqui Sara , Ahmed Junaid F , Jaswal Maria , Amanullah Farhana , Becerra Mercedes , Malik Amyn A
Published: May 2023

Background and Objectives

In the absence of bacteriologic confirmation to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) in children, it is suggested that treatment should be initiated when sufficient clinical evidence of disease is available. However, it is unclear what clinical evidence is sufficient to make this decision. To identify children who would benefit from rapid initiation of TB treatment, we developed two clinical prediction tools.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of a prospective intensified TB patient-finding intervention conducted in Pakistan in 2014-2016.TB disease was determined through either bacteriologic confirmation or a clinical diagnosis. We derived two tools; one uses Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis to develop decision trees while the second uses multivariable logistic regression to calculate a risk score.

Results

Of the 5,162 and 5,074 children included in the CART and prediction-score, respectively, 1,417 (27.5%) and 1,365 (26.9%) were eligible for TB treatment. CART identified abnormal chest radiographs and family history of TB as the most important predictors (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]: 0.949). The final prediction-score model included age group (0-4, 5-9, 10-14), weight <5th percentile, cough, fever, weight loss, chest radiograph suggestive of TB disease, and family history of TB; the identified best cutoff score was 9 (AUC: 0.985%).

Conclusions

Use of clinical evidence was sufficient to accurately identify children who would benefit from treatment initiation. Our tools performed well compared to existing algorithms, though needs to be externally validated prior to operationalization.
The Frequency of Specific KRAS Mutations, and Their Impact on Treatment Choice and Survival, in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Fernández Montes Ana , Alonso Orduña Vicente , Asensio Martínez Elena , Rodríguez Salas Nuria , Torres Esperanza , Cacho Lavín Diego , Rodríguez Alonso Rosa María , Falcó Esther , Oliva Joan Carles , Cirera Lluis , García Gómez Jesus , Pericay Carles
Published: May 2023

Background

Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and KRAS mutations have a poor prognosis, seemingly dependent on the location of the mutation. This multicenter, retrospective, cohort study assessed the frequency and prognostic value of specific KRAS mutation codon locations in mCRC patients, and survival outcomes in relation to treatment.

Materials and Methods

Data from mCRC patients treated in 10 Spanish hospitals between January 2011 and December 2015 were analyzed. The main objective was to investigate (1) the impact of KRAS mutation location on overall survival (OS), and (2) the effect of targeted treatment plus metastasectomy and primary tumor location on OS in patients with KRAS mutations.

Results

The KRAS mutation location was known for 337/2002 patients. Of these, 177 patients received chemotherapy only, 155 received bevacizumab plus chemotherapy, and 5 received anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy plus chemotherapy; 94 patients underwent surgery. The most frequent KRAS mutation locations were G12A (33.8%), G12D (21.4%), and G12V (21.4%). Compared with other locations, patients with a G12S mutation had the shortest median OS (10.3 [95% CI, 2.5-18.0] months). OS was longer in patients who underwent surgery versus those who did not, with a trend toward prolonged survival with bevacizumab (median OS 26.7 [95% CI, 21.8-31.7] months) versus chemotherapy alone (median OS 23.2 [95% CI, 19.4-27.0] months).

Conclusion

These findings confirm that KRAS mutation location may predict survival outcomes in patients with mCRC, and suggest that pre-/post-operative bevacizumab plus metastasectomy provides survival benefits in patients with KRAS mutations.
Humoral Immunity After COVID-19 Vaccination in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Other Indolent Lymphomas: A Single-Center Observational Study
Authors: Doukas Peter G , St. Pierre Frederique , Karmali Reem , Mi Xinlei , Boyer Jennifer , Nieves Mariana , Ison Michael G , Winter Jane N , Gordon Leo I , Ma Shuo
Published: May 2023

Background

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHLs) lead to broad immunosuppression, conferring a greater risk for morbidity and mortality from SARS-CoV-2. Our study analyzed antibody (Ab) seropositivity from SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with these cancers.

Methods

In the final analysis, 240 patients were involved, and seropositivity was defined as a positive total or spike protein Ab.

Results

Seropositivity was 50% in CLL, 68% in WM, and 70% in the remaining NHLs. Moderna vaccination led to higher seropositivity compared to Pfizer vaccination across all cancers (64% vs. 49%; P = .022) and specifically CLL patients (59% vs. 43%; P = .029). This difference was not explainable by differences in treatment status or prior anti-CD20 monoclonal Ab therapy. In CLL patients, current or prior cancer therapy led to lower seropositivity compared to treatment-naïve patients (36% vs. 68%; P = .000019). CLL patients treated with Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors had better seropositivity after receiving the Moderna vaccination compared to Pfizer (50% vs. 23%; P = .015). Across all cancers, anti-CD20 agents within 1 year led to a lower Ab response compared to greater than one year (13% vs. 40%; P = .022), a difference which persisted after booster vaccination.

Conclusion

Antibody response is lower in patients with indolent lymphomas compared to the general population. Lower Ab seropositivity was found in patients with a history of anti-leukemic agent therapy or those immunized with Pfizer vaccine. This data suggests that Moderna vaccination may confer a greater degree of immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with indolent lymphomas.
β-1,3-GLUCANASE10 regulates tomato development and disease resistance by modulating callose deposition
Authors: Pei Yangang , Xue Qihan , Zhang Zehong , Shu Peng , Deng Heng , Bouzayen Mondher , Hong Yiguo , Liu Mingchun
Published: May 2023

β-1,3-Glucanases are considered key regulators responsible for the degradation of callose in plants, yet little is known about the role and mode of action of their encoding genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). In the present study, we identified the β-1,3-glucanase encoding gene β-1,3-GLUCANASE10 (SlBG10) and revealed its regulation in tomato pollen and fruit development, seed production, and disease resistance by modulating callose deposition. Compared with wild-type (WT) or SlBG10 overexpressing (SlBG10-OE) lines, knockout of SlBG10 caused pollen arrest and failure to set fruit with reduced male rather than female fecundity. Further analyses showed that SlBG10-knockout promoted callose deposition in anther at the tetrad-to-microspore stages, resulting in pollen abortion and male sterility. Moreover, loss-of-function SlBG10 delayed degradation of endosperm cell wall calloses during cellularization and impeded early seed development. We also uncovered that Botrytis cinerea infection induces SlBG10 expression in WT tomato, and the knockout lines showed increased callose accumulation in fruit pericarps, reduced susceptibility to B. cinerea, and enhanced antioxidant capacity to maintain tomato fruit quality. However, the expression of genes encoding cell wall hydrolases decreased in SlBG10-knockout tomatoes and thus led to an increase in pericarp epidermal thickness, enhancement in fruit firmness, reduction of fruit water loss, and extension of tomato shelf life. These findings not only expand our understanding of the involvement of β-1,3-glucanases as callose regulators in multiple developmental processes and pathogen resistance but also provide additional insight into the manipulation of multiagronomic traits for targeted tomato breeding.
Do Banks Worry about Attentive Depositors? Evidence from Multiple-Brand Banks
Authors: Chavaz Matthieu , Slutzky Pablo
Published: May 2023

Panic-based (non-fundamental) spikes in depositors’ attention can be a source of bank fragility in theory, but separating such spikes from underlying fundamentals is challenging empirically. Using online search data, we show that during the Global Financial Crisis, UK banks facing surges in attention respond by increasing retail deposit rates, but only for instant withdrawal deposits. Exploiting variation across brands owned by the same bank (and thus sharing the same fundamentals), we find that banks respond even when surges are not justified by fundamentals. In addition, comparing onshore and offshore deposits by the same brand, we show that bank response is substantially stronger when the lack of deposit insurance and a larger presence of wholesale depositors magnifies potential losses to depositors.
15Theatre and Performance
Authors: Simpson Hannah
Published: May 2023

It’s a cliché, of course, to open an annual review by pointing out how the texts under discussion reflect our contemporary moment. And none of the books reviewed here are modish responses to passing scholarly fads. All speak first and foremost to concerns located at the very heart of the theatre medium itself: the imaginative construction of alternative shared worlds, and the exploration of our hopes and fears around modes of interpersonal touch and intimacy. So, forgive me just one brief reflection on how it is surely no coincidence that the books that intervene most excitingly and meaningfully in the scholarly field this year are also those that speak to some of the most pressing anxieties and desires in the broader world as well, in the wake of pandemic contagion, the #MeToo movement, a cost-of-living crisis, and continued dystopic crises in both the academic industry and in national and global politics.

The first section of this chapter, ‘Utopia’, reviews three monographs that discuss the intersections between theatre, concepts of utopia and utopian thinking: Siân Adiseshiah’s Utopian Drama: In Search of a Genre, Selina’s Busby’s Applied Theatre: A Pedagogy of Utopia and Ryan Claycomb’s In the Lurch: Verbatim Theater and the Crisis of Democratic Deliberation. The second section, ‘Touch and Intimacy’, reviews two books that cast an eye on questions of touch and intimacy onstage, from a contemporary practice-based and historical scholarly perspective respectively: Supporting Staged Intimacy: A Practical Guide for Theatre Creatives, Managers, and Crew, co-authored by Alexis Black and Tina M. Newhauser, and Alex MacConochie’s Staging Touch in Shakespeare’s England.
8Film Theory
Authors: Lash Dominic
Published: May 2023

This chapter discusses three notable books concerning film theory that were published in 2022 which are particularly significant in what they reveal about the current understanding of form within the discipline. The chapter is divided into four sections: 1. Kyle Stevens (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Film Theory; 2. Eugenie Brinkema, Life-Destroying Diagrams; 3. Jordan Schonig, The Shape of Motion: Cinema and the Aesthetics of Movement. 4. Conclusion.
The Temporal Relationship Between the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic and Preterm Birth
Authors: Grobman William A. , Sandoval Grecio J. , Metz Torri D. , Manuck Tracy A. , Clifton Rebecca G. , Hughes Brenna L. , Saade George R. , Longo Monica , Sowles Amber , Clark Kelly , Simhan Hyagriv N. , Rouse Dwight J. , Mendez-Figueroa Hector , Gyamfi-Bannerman Cynthia , Bailit Jennifer L. , Costantine Maged M. , Sehdev Harish M. , Tita Alan T. N. , Macones George A.
Published: May 2023

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate whether preterm birth rates changed in relation to the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and whether any change depended on socioeconomic status.

METHODS:

This is an observational cohort study of pregnant individuals with a singleton gestation who delivered in the years 2019 and 2020 at 1 of 16 U.S. hospitals of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. The frequency of preterm birth for those who delivered before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (ie, in 2019) was compared with that of those who delivered after its onset (ie, in 2020). Interaction analyses were performed for people of different individual- and community-level socioeconomic characteristics (ie, race and ethnicity, insurance status, Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) of a person's residence).

RESULTS:

During 2019 and 2020, 18,526 individuals met inclusion criteria. The chance of preterm birth before the COVID-19 pandemic was similar to that after the onset of the pandemic (11.7% vs 12.5%, adjusted relative risk 0.94, 95% CI 0.86–1.03). In interaction analyses, race and ethnicity, insurance status, and the SVI did not modify the association between the epoch and the chance of preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation (all interaction P>.05).

CONCLUSION:

There was no statistically significant difference in preterm birth rates in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic onset. This lack of association was largely independent of socioeconomic indicators such as race and ethnicity, insurance status, or SVI of the residential community in which an individual lived.
Effect of a Multimedia Educational Tool on Contraception Use 1 Year Postpartum
Authors: Qureshey Emma J. , Ibarra Claudia J. , Wagner Stephen M. , Chen Han-Yang , Ashimi Sunbola , Ross Patti Jayne , Blackwell Sean C. , Sibai Baha M. , Chauhan Suneet P.
Published: May 2023

Almost half of all pregnancies are unintended, and individuals with high-risk medical conditions are disproportionately affected. We previously published results from our randomized controlled trial, which showed an increase in the use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) at 12 weeks postpartum in a high-risk population after the use of a multimedia educational tool (MET group) compared with routine care (RC group). Here we report a planned analysis of the 1-year follow-up of that trial using electronic surveys of the trial participants. At 1 year postpartum, LARC use was similar between groups (30.3% vs 21.7%, relative risk [RR] 1.40, 95% CI 0.95–2.05), but overall contraceptive use was significantly higher in the MET group compared with the RC group (81.6% vs 70.7%; P=0.03, RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02–1.31, number needed to treat 9). The use of a multimedia educational tool increased the overall use of contraception at 1 year postpartum in individuals with an antecedent high-risk pregnancy.

FUNDING SOURCE:

Supported in part by a research grant from Investigator-Initiated Studies program of Organon. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent Organon.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRAION:

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04291040.
The first hour of trauma reception is critical for patients with major thoracic trauma
Authors: Helsloot Dries , Fitzgerald Mark C. , Lefering Rolf , Verelst Sandra , Missant Carlo
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND

Up to 25% of trauma deaths are related to thoracic injuries.

OBJECTIVE

The primary goal was to analyse the incidence and time distribution of death in adult patients with major thoracic injuries. The secondary goal was to determine if potentially preventable deaths occurred within this time distribution and, if so, identify an associated therapeutic window.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational analysis.

SETTING

TraumaRegister DGU.

PATIENTS

Major thoracic injury was defined as an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 3 or greater. Patients with severe head injury (AIS ≥ 4) or injuries to other body regions with AIS being greater than the thoracic injury (AIS other >AIS thorax) were excluded to ensure that the most severe injury described was primarily thoracic related.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence and time distribution of mortality were considered the primary outcome measures. Patient and clinical characteristics and resuscitative interventions were analysed in relation to the time distribution of death.

RESULTS

Among adult major trauma cases with direct admission from the accident scene, 45% had thoracic injuries and overall mortality was 9.3%. In those with major thoracic trauma (n = 24 332) mortality was 5.9% (n = 1437). About 25% of these deaths occurred within the first hour after admission and 48% within the first day. No peak in late mortality was seen. The highest incidences of hypoxia and shock were seen in non-survivors with immediate death within 1 h and early death (1 to 6 h). These groups received the largest number of resuscitative interventions. Haemorrhage was the leading cause of death in these groups, whereas organ failure was the leading cause of death amongst those who survived the first 6 h after admission.

CONCLUSION

About half of adult major trauma cases had thoracic injuries. In non-survivors with primarily major thoracic trauma, most deaths occurred immediately (<1h) or within the first 6 h after injury. Further research should analyse if improvements in trauma resuscitation performed within this time frame will reduce preventable deaths.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The present study is reported within the publication guidelines of the TraumaRegister DGU® and registered as TR-DGU project ID 2020-022.
Student Nurse Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment Training Program
Authors: Zucker Donna M. , Rataj Suzanne , Linowski Sally , DiFulvio Gloria T. , Fedorchak Diane , Dion Kimberly , Chandler Genevieve E.
Published: May 2023

Background

Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based set of skills and strategies used by health care providers. Data have suggested SBIRT should be used in detecting persons at risk for substance use and be included in every primary care encounter, as many needing substance abuse treatment do not receive it.

Methods

This descriptive study evaluated data for 361 undergraduate student nurses who participated in SBIRT training. Pretraining and 3-month posttraining surveys were used to evaluate changes in trainees' knowledge, attitudes, and skills toward people with substance use disorder. A satisfaction survey immediately after the training measured satisfaction with and usefulness of the training.

Results

Eighty-nine percent of students self-reported that the training increased their knowledge and skills related to screening and brief intervention. Ninety-three percent reported that they intended to use these skills in the future. Pre–post measures indicated statistically significant increases in knowledge, confidence, and perceived competence on all measures.

Conclusions

Both formative and summative evaluation assisted in improving trainings each semester. These data confirm the need to integrate SBIRT content across the undergraduate nursing curriculum and include faculty and preceptors to improve rates of screening in clinical practice.
Increasing Awareness on Substance Use Disorder
Authors: Scott Jennifer , Schachman Kathleen , Hupert Cynthia
Published: May 2023

Background

There is a lack of substance use disorder (SUD) providers in the micropolitan Midwestern state. Individuals who live in rural areas with SUD may have a gap in treatment for their addiction.

Objective

The objective of this quality improvement project was to increase the engagement, participation, and awareness of rural primary care providers in treatment of individuals with SUD.

Methods

This is a quality improvement project that utilized a skip-logic standardized survey to evaluate participants who attended Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Addiction educational sessions.

Results

Findings included 176 participants over 14 sessions, while reaching primary care providers in 62 clinics over a 7-month period. However, it was found that only half of those participants completed the survey. A variety of topics surrounding SUD were offered. In addition, each session included a case study with feedback provided by the team. Seventy participants (79%) rated “strongly agree” and “agree” to “I will make changes to my practice.” Participants provided feedback as to how they would change their practice after an educational session; responses included adapting how naltrexone is prescribed based on the recommendations made during the presentation, update treatment guidelines, screen for adverse childhood experiences, utilize motivational interviewing, feeling more confident in providing medication-assisted treatment for patients, and finally, better able to manage pain in those with SUD.

Conclusion

Project ECHO Addiction is an evidence-based translational quality improvement project that reaches rural primary care providers to help increase awareness, engagement, and networking in treatment of patients with SUD, which in turn improves patient outcomes as they receive treatment in a timely fashion.
Opioid Use Disorder
Authors: Griffith Patricia S. , Brown Lana M. , Lensing Shelly Y. , Nahata Ravi , Padala Prasad R. , Snow Lisa , Milholland Katherine , Mullins Melinda
Published: May 2023

Background

Substance use disorders are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with opioid use disorder representing a growing public health concern and economic burden. Veterans within the Veterans Health Administration are impacted by opioid use disorder.

Significance

A common medication-assisted treatment is sublingual Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) used in combination with behavior modification therapy. Missed Suboxone doses may lead to withdrawal and potential drug diversion. Sublocade (buprenorphine extended-release) is an alternative once-monthly subcutaneous injection administered by a healthcare provider. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to examine the effects of Sublocade on cravings in veterans with opioid use disorder.

Methods

Veterans were considered for Sublocade monthly injections if they were enrolled in the Suboxone program, not taking Suboxone as prescribed, and disenrolled from the Suboxone program more than 2 times. Cravings were measured before and after Sublocade program enrollment.

Results

Fifteen veterans were enrolled in the Sublocade program over a 12-month timeframe. Most were male (93%) with a median (range) age of 42 (33–62) years. The following were the primary opioids used before enrollment in the substance use disorder program: hydrocodone (47%), oxycodone (20%), and heroin (20%). Sublocade significantly reduced cravings (p = .001). In this small group, cravings were fully eliminated.

Discussion

Recent studies have shown Sublocade effectively blocks the effects of other opioids and minimizes the risk of medication diversion that occurs with Suboxone. For these reasons, Sublocade is an alternative medication-assisted treatment for veterans with opioid use disorder.
Associations Between Clinic-Based HIV Testing Guidelines and Population-Level HIV Testing Rates in the United States
Authors: Siddiqi Khairul A. , Gwynn Melanie , Olatosi Bankole , Ostermann Jan
Published: May 2023

Between 2005 and 2006, the United States Preventive Services Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised their risk-based HIV testing guidelines to include universal HIV testing in routine health care. We examined trends in HIV testing and associations with changing policy recommendations using the 2000–2017 National Health Interview Surveys. Multivariable logistic regression and difference-in-difference approach were used to assess rates and correlates of HIV testing before and after the policy changes. Changes in recommendations had minimal effects on overall HIV testing rates but had significant effects on selected subpopulations. The odds of HIV testing increased disproportionately among African Americans, Hispanics, individuals with some college education, low perceived HIV risks, and those who were never married but decreased among those with no regular source of care. A strategy combining risk-based and routine opt-out testing holds promise to rapidly link recently infected individuals to care while reaching individuals who have never been tested.
Development and Validation of HAS (Hajibandeh Index, ASA Status, Sarcopenia) - A Novel Model for Predicting Mortality After Emergency Laparotomy
Authors: Hajibandeh Shahab , Hajibandeh Shahin , Hughes Ioan , Mitra Kalyan , Puthiyakunnel Saji Alwin , Clayton Amy , Alessandri Giorgio , Duncan Trish , Cornish Julie , Morris Chris , O’Reilly David , Kumar Nagappan
Published: May 2023

Objectives:

To develop and validate a predictive model to predict the risk of postoperative mortality after emergency laparotomy taking into account the following variables: age, age ≥ 80, ASA status, clinical frailty score, sarcopenia, Hajibandeh Index (HI), bowel resection, and intraperitoneal contamination.

Summary Background Data:

The discriminative powers of the currently available predictive tools range between adequate and strong; none has demonstrated excellent discrimination yet.

Methods:

The TRIPOD and STROCSS statement standards were followed to protocol and conduct a retrospective cohort study of adult patients who underwent emergency laparotomy due to non-traumatic acute abdominal pathology between 2017 and 2022. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to develop and validate the model via two protocols (Protocol A and B). The model performance was evaluated in terms of discrimination (ROC curve analysis), calibration (calibration diagram and Hosmer-Lemeshow test), and classification (classification table).

Results:

One thousand forty-three patients were included (statistical power = 94%). Multivariable analysis kept HI (Protocol-A: P=0.0004; Protocol-B: P=0.0017), ASA status (Protocol-A: P=0.0068; Protocol-B: P=0.0007), and sarcopenia (Protocol-A: P<0.0001; Protocol-B: P<0.0001) as final predictors of 30-day postoperative mortality in both protocols; hence the model was called HAS (HI, ASA status, sarcopenia). The HAS demonstrated excellent discrimination (AUC: 0.96, P<0.0001), excellent calibration (P<0.0001), and excellent classification (95%) via both protocols.

Conclusions:

The HAS is the first model demonstrating excellent discrimination, calibration, and classification in predicting the risk of 30-day mortality following emergency laparotomy. The HAS model seems promising and is worth attention for external validation using the calculator provided. HAS mortality risk calculator https://app.airrange.io/#/element/xr3b_E6yLor9R2c8KXViSAeOSK.
UDCA May Promote COVID-19 Recovery: A Cohort Study with AI-Aided Analysis
Authors: Yu Yang , Yu Guo , Han Lu-Yao , Li Jian , Zhang Zhi-Long , Liu Tian-Shuo , Li Ming-Feng , Zhan De-Chuan , Tang Shao-Qiu , Zhou Zhi-Hua , Wang Guang-Ji
Published: May 2023

To investigate the impact of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment on the clinical outcome of mild and moderate COVID-19 cases, a retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of UDCA on patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during the peak of the Omicron outbreak in China. This study presents promising results, demonstrating that UDCA significantly reduced the time to Body Temperature Recovery after admission and a higher daily dose seems to be associated with a better outcome without observed safety concerns. We also introduced VirtualBody, a physiologically plausible artificial neural network model, to generate an accurate depiction of the drug concentration-time curve individually, which represented the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of UDCA in each patient. It exhibits exceptional performance in modeling the complex PK-PD profile of UDCA, characterized by its endogenous and enterohepatic cycling properties, and further validates the effectiveness of UDCA as a treatment option from the drug exposure-response perspective. Our work highlights the potential of UDCA as a novel treatment option for periodic outbreaks of COVID-19 and introduces a new paradigm for PK-PD analysis in retrospective studies to provide evidence for optimal dosing strategies.
Six3 and Six6 jointly regulate the identities and developmental trajectories of multipotent retinal progenitor cells in the mouse retina
Authors: Ferrena Alexander , Zhang Xusheng , Shrestha Rupendra , Zheng Deyou , Liu Wei
Published: May 2023

Formation, maintenance, and differentiation of tissue-specific progenitor cells are fundamental tasks during organogenesis. Retinal development is an excellent model for dissecting these processes; mechanisms of retinal differentiation can be harnessed for retinal regeneration toward curing blindness. Using single-cell RNA sequencing of embryonic mouse eye cups in which transcription factor Six3 was conditionally inactivated in peripheral retinas on top of germline deletion of its close paralog Six6 (“DKO”), we identified cell clusters and then inferred developmental trajectories in the integrated dataset. In control retinas, naïve retinal progenitor cells had two major trajectories leading to ciliary margin cells and retinal neurons, respectively. The ciliary margin trajectory was directly from naïve retinal progenitor cells at G1 phase, and the retinal neuron trajectory was through a neurogenic state marked byAtoh7expression. UponSix3andSix6dual deficiency, both naïve and neurogenic retinal progenitor cells were defective. Ciliary margin differentiation was enhanced, and multi-lineage retinal differentiation was disrupted. An ectopic neuronal trajectory lacking the Atoh7+ state led to ectopic neurons. Differential expression analysis not only confirmed previous phenotype studies but also identified novel candidate genes regulated bySix3/Six6. Six3 and Six6 were jointly required for balancing the opposing gradients of the Fgf and Wnt signaling in the central-peripheral patterning of the eye cups. Taken together, we identify transcriptomes and developmental trajectories jointly regulated by Six3 and Six6, providing deeper insight into molecular mechanisms underlying early retinal differentiation.