bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Orthostatic hypotension is associated with higher levels of circulating endostatin
Authors: Ricci Fabrizio , Larsson Anders , Ruge Toralph , Galanti Kristian , Hamrefors Viktor , Sutton Richard , Olshansky Brian , Fedorowski Artur , Johansson Madeleine
Published: April 2024

Aims

The pathophysiology of orthostatic hypotension (OH), a common clinical condition, associated with adverse outcomes, is incompletely understood. We examined the relationship between OH and circulating endostatin, an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor with antitumour effects proposed to be involved in blood pressure (BP) regulation.

Methods and results

We compared endostatin levels in 146 patients with OH and 150 controls. A commercial chemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay was used to measure circulating levels of endostatin. Linear and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to test the association between endostatin and OH. Endostatin levels were significantly higher in OH patients (59 024 ± 2513 pg/mL) vs. controls (44 090 ± 1978pg/mL, P < 0.001). A positive linear correlation existed between endostatin and the magnitude of systolic BP decline upon standing (P < 0.001). Using multivariate analysis, endostatin was associated with OH (adjusted odds ratio per 10% increase of endostatin in the whole study population = 1.264, 95% confidence interval 1.141–1.402), regardless of age, sex, prevalent cancer, and cardiovascular disease, as well as traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusion

Circulating endostatin is elevated in patients with OH and may serve as a potential clinical marker of increased cardiovascular risk in patients with OH. Our findings call for external validation. Further research is warranted to clarify the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
Association between lipoprotein(a), LPA genetic risk score, aortic valve disease, and subsequent major adverse cardiovascular events
Authors: Moore Matthew K , Jones Gregory T , McCormick Sally , Williams Michael J A , Coffey Sean
Published: April 2024

Aims

Cohort studies have demonstrated associations between calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) and Lp(a). As Lp(a) is almost entirely genetically determined, in this study, we aim to determine whether Lp(a), when predicted from genetic data, is associated with CAVD and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).

Methods and results

Patients undergoing coronary angiography between January 2012 and May 2013 were invited to participate in the study. Of 752 analysable participants, 446 had their Lp(a) measured and 703 had a calculable LPA genetic risk score (GRS). The primary outcomes were the presence of CAVD at baseline and MACE over a 7-year follow-up. The GRS explained 45% of variation in Lp(a). After adjustment for cardiac risk factors and coronary artery disease (CAD), the odds of CAVD increased with increasing Lp(a) [odds ratio (OR) 1.039 per 10-unit increase, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.022–1.057, P < 0.001] and GRS (OR 1.054 per 10-unit increase, 95% CI 1.024–1.086; P < 0.001). Lipoprotein(a) and the GRS as continuous variables were not associated with subsequent MACEs. A dichotomized GRS (>54) was associated with MACE, but this relationship became non-significant when CAD classification was added into the model (OR 1.333, 95% CI 0.927–1.912; P = 0.12).

Conclusion

An LPA GRS can explain 45% of variation in Lp(a) levels, and both Lp(a) and the GRS are associated with CAVD. An elevated GRS is associated with future cardiac events in a secondary risk setting, but, if the CAD status is known, it does not provide additional prognostic information.
The role of exercise training on cardiovascular risk factors and heart disease in patients with chronic kidney disease G3–G5 and G5D: a Clinical Consensus Statement of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology of the ESC and the European Association of Rehabilitation in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Kouidi Evangelia , Hanssen Henner , Anding-Rost Kirsten , Cupisti Adamasco , Deligiannis Asterios , Grupp Clemens , Koufaki Pelagia , Leeson Paul , Segura-Orti Eva , Van Craenenbroeck Amaryllis , Van Craenenbroeck Emeline , Clyne Naomi , Halle Martin
Published: April 2024

Cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality is high in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Most patients reveal a high prevalence of CV risk factors such as diabetes or arterial hypertension and many have manifest cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as coronary artery disease and chronic heart failure with an increased risk of clinical events including sudden cardiac death. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension contribute to the development of CKD and the prevalence of CKD is in the range of 20–65% in diabetic and 30–50% in hypertensive patients. Therefore, prevention and optimal treatment of CV risk factors and comorbidities are key strategies to reduce CV risk and improve survival in CKD. Beyond common CV risk factors, patients with CKD are often physically inactive and have low physical function leading to subsequent frailty with muscle fatigue and weakness, sarcopenia and increased risk of falling. Consequently, the economic health burden of CKD is high, requiring feasible strategies to counteract this vicious cycle. Regular physical activity and exercise training (ET) have been shown to be effective in improving risk factors, reducing CVD and reducing frailty and falls. Nonetheless, combining ET and a healthy lifestyle with pharmacological treatment is not frequently applied in clinical practice. For that reason, this Clinical Consensus Statement reviews the current literature and provides evidence-based data regarding the role of ET in reducing CV and overall burden in patients with CKD. The aim is to increase awareness among cardiologists, nephrologists, and healthcare professionals of the potential of exercise therapy in order to encourage implementation of ET in clinical practice, eventually reducing CV risk and disease, as well as reducing frailty in patients with CKD G3–G5D.
Can rectal MRI and endorectal ultrasound accurately predict the complete response to neoadjuvant immunotherapy for rectal cancer?
Authors: Zhai Menglan , Lin Zhenyu , Wang Haihong , Yang Jinru , Li Mingjie , Li Xin , Zhang Lan , Zhang Tao
Published: April 2024

Background

Standardized assessments of clinical complete response (cCR) to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) for rectal cancer have been established, but their utility and accuracy remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of rectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and endorectal ultrasonography (ERUS) for the determination of cCRs after neoadjuvant immunotherapy and to investigate the concordance between cCR and pathological complete response (pCR).

Methods

Ninety-four patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy with or without immunotherapy were included. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each evaluation method were calculated.

Results

Combined MRI and ERUS assessments found cCR in seven of the 94 patients in our cohort. In the non-immunotherapy group, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI for diagnosing cCR were 50.0%, 85.2%, and 77.1%, respectively, whereas those of ERUS were 50.0%, 92.6%, and 82.9%, respectively; those of combined MRI and ERUS were 25.0%, 96.3%, and 87.5%, respectively. In the immunotherapy group, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy with which MRI identified CR were 51.7%, 76.7%, and 64.4%, respectively; those of ERUS were 13.8%, 90.0%, and 52.5%, respectively, and those of combined MRI and ERUS were 10.3%, 96.7%, and 54.2%, respectively. We also found that 32 of 37 patients with pCR did not meet the cCR evaluation criteria. Of these pCR patients, 78.4% (29/37) received immunotherapy. In the entire cohort, there were five pCRs among the seven cCRs. Of the four cCRs that occurred in the immunotherapy group, three were pCRs.

Conclusions

Rectal MRI and/or ERUS did not provide sufficiently accurate assessments of cCR in patients with rectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant therapy, especially immunotherapy, and cCR did not predict pCR.
Profiles of Lifestyle Health Behaviors and Postmortem Dementia-Related Neuropathology
Authors: Lange-Maia Brittney S , Wagner Maude , Rogers Christina A , Mehta Rupal I , Bennett David A , Tangney Christy , Schoeny Michael E , Halloway Shannon , Arvanitakis Zoe
Published: April 2024

High engagement in lifestyle health behaviors appears to be protective against cognitive decline in aging. We investigated the association between patterns of modifiable lifestyle health behaviors and common brain neuropathologies of dementia as a possible mechanism. We examined 555 decedents from the Rush Memory and Aging Project, free of dementia at their initial concurrent report of lifestyle health behaviors of interest (physical, social, and cognitive activities, and healthy diet), and who underwent a postmortem neuropathology evaluation. First, we used latent profile analysis to group participants based on baseline behavior patterns. Second, we assessed the associations of profile membership with each neurodegenerative (global Alzheimer’s disease [AD] pathology, amyloid-beta load, density of neurofibrillary tangles, and presence of cortical Lewy bodies and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 cytoplasmic inclusions) and neurovascular pathologies (presence of chronic gross or microscopic infarcts, arteriolosclerosis, atherosclerosis, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy), using separate linear or logistic regression models, adjusted for age at death, sex (core model), vascular disease risk factors, and vascular conditions (fully adjusted model). Participants had either consistently lower (N = 224) or consistently higher (N = 331) engagement across 4 lifestyle health behaviors. We generally found no differences in neuropathologies between higher and lower engagement groups in core or fully adjusted models; for example, higher engagement in lifestyle health behaviors was not associated with global AD pathology after core or full adjustment (both p > .8). In conclusion, we found no evidence of associations between patterns of lifestyle health behaviors and neuropathology. Other mechanisms may underlie protective effects of health behaviors against dementia.
Roles of the APETALA3–3 ortholog in the petal identity specification and morphological differentiation in Delphinium anthriscifolium flowers
Authors: Zhang Peng , Xie Yanru , Xie Wenjie , Li Li , Zhang Hanghang , Duan Xiaoshan , Zhang Rui , Guo Liping
Published: April 2024

The genus Delphinium (Ranunculaceae) with its unique and highly complex floral structure is an ideal system to address some key questions in terms of morphological and evolutionary studies in flowers. In D. anthriscifolium, for example, the original eight petal primordia differentiate into three types at maturity (i.e., two dorsal spurred, two lateral flat, and four ventral reduced petals). The mechanisms underlying their identity determination and morphological differentiation remain unclear. Here, through a comprehensive approach combining digital gene expression (DGE) profiles, in situ hybridization, and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), we explore the role of the APETALLATA3–3 (AP3–3) ortholog in D. anthriscifolium. Our findings reveal that the DeanAP3–3 not only functions as a traditionally known petal identity gene but also plays a critical role in petal morphological differentiation. The DeanAP3–3 gene is expressed in all the petal primordia before their morphological differentiation at earlier stages, but shows a gradient expression level difference along the dorsventral floral axis, with higher expression level in the dorsal spurred petals, intermediate level in the lateral flat petals and lower level in the ventral reduced petals. VIGS experiments revealed that flowers with strong phenotypic changes showed a complete transformation of all the three types of petals into non-spurred sepals. However, in the flowers with moderate phenotypic changes, the transformation of spurred petals into flat petals is associated with moderate silencing of the DeanAP3–3 gene, suggesting a significant impact of expression level on petal morphological differentiation. This research also shed some insights into the role of changes in gene expression levels on morphological differentiation in plants.
Genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses provide insights into the evolution and development of a medicinal plantSaposhnikovia divaricata(Apiaceae)
Authors: Wang Zhen-Hui , Liu Xiao , Cui Yi , Wang Yun-He , Lv Ze-Liang , Cheng Lin , Liu Bao , Liu Hui , Liu Xin-Yang , Deyholos Michael K , Han Zhong-Ming , Yang Li-Min , Xiong Ai-Sheng , Zhang Jian
Published: April 2024

Saposhnikovia divaricata, 2n = 2x = 16, as a perennial species, is widely distributed in China, Mongolia, Russia, etc. It is a traditional Chinese herb used to treat tetanus, rubella pruritus, rheumatic arthralgia, and other diseases. Here, we assembled a 2.07 Gb and N50 scaffold length of 227.67 Mb high-quality chromosome-level genome of S. divaricata based on the PacBio Sequel II sequencing platform. The total number of genes identified was 42 948, and 42 456 of them were functionally annotated. A total of 85.07% of the genome was composed of repeat sequences, comprised mainly of long terminal repeats (LTRs) which represented 73.7% of the genome sequence. The genome size may have been affected by a recent whole-genome duplication event. Transcriptional and metabolic analyses revealed bolting and non-bolting S. divaricata differed in flavonoids, plant hormones, and some pharmacologically active components. The analysis of its genome, transcriptome, and metabolome helped to provide insights into the evolution of bolting and non-bolting phenotypes in wild and cultivated S. divaricata and lays the basis for genetic improvement of the species.
Telomere-to-telomere reference genome for Panax ginseng highlights the evolution of saponin biosynthesis
Authors: Song Yiting , Zhang Yating , Wang Xu , Yu Xikai , Liao Yi , Zhang Hao , Li Linfeng , Wang Yingping , Liu Bao , Li Wei
Published: April 2024

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a representative of Chinese traditional medicine, also used worldwide, while the triterpene saponin ginsenoside is the most important effective compound within it. Ginseng is an allotetraploid, with complex genetic background, making the study of its metabolic evolution challenging. In this study, we assembled a telomere-to-telomere ginseng reference genome, constructed of 3.45 Gb with 24 chromosomes and 77 266 protein-coding genes. Additionally, the reference genome was divided into two subgenomes, designated as subgenome A and B. Subgenome A contains a larger number of genes, whereas subgenome B has a general expression advantage, suggesting that ginseng subgenomes experienced asymmetric gene loss with biased gene expression. The two subgenomes separated approximately 6.07 million years ago, and subgenome B shows the closest relation to Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus. Comparative genomics revealed an expansion of gene families associated with ginsenoside biosynthesis in both ginseng subgenomes. Furthermore, both tandem duplications and proximal duplications play crucial roles in ginsenoside biosynthesis. We also screened functional genes identified in previous research and found that some of these genes located in colinear regions between subgenomes have divergence functions, revealing an unbalanced evolution in both subgenomes and the saponin biosynthesis pathway in ginseng. Our work provides important resources for future genetic studies and breeding programs of ginseng, as well as the biosynthesis of ginsenosides.
Fishing, Freedom, and the Market in Early Modern London
Authors: Sargeant Jack David
Published: April 2024

In 1699, London’s Billingsgate fish market was confirmed as a ‘free market’ by parliament. This statute marked the culmination of a commercial conflict between London’s Fishmongers’ Company and their arriviste rivals, the Company of Free Fishermen. This article uses the conflict to examine shifting ideas and practices governing the food markets of early modern London. Tensions between the popular values of the moral economy and the novel commercial and military priorities of central government placed strain on traditional understandings of economic ‘freedom’, as authorities increasingly came to accept the role of market competition in the allocation of basic foodstuffs.
A comprehensive review on reliability and degradation of PV modules based on failure modes and effect analysis
Authors: Rajput Pramod , Singh Digvijay , Singh K Y , Karthick Alagar , Shah Mohd Asif , Meena Radhey Shyam , Zahra Musaddak Maher Abdul
Published: April 2024

This review paper aims to evaluate the impact of defects on the reliability and degradation of photovoltaic (PV) modules during outdoor exposure. A comprehensive analysis of existing literature was conducted to identify the primary causes of degradation and failure modes in PV modules, with a particular focus on the effect of defects. Based on a risk priority number (RPN) analysis of previous studies, dust accumulation on the PV surface (severity = 9), module shading (severity = 8) and humidity (severity = 7) were found to be the most significant causes of degradation. Furthermore, the degree of performance and degradation of PV modules were analyzed based on the identified failure mechanisms and modes. The analysis revealed that the decrease in efficiency ranged from 0.2 to 3%. The dust accumulation reduced the module efficiency by 3%, while corrosion in the module decreased efficiency by 1.9%. These findings highlight the importance of addressing specific defects to maintain optimal PV module performance in outdoor conditions. This review paper provides valuable insights into the effect of defects on the performance of PV modules, and critical defects occur during outdoor exposure to PV modules which depend on the type of PV technology and outdoor environment conditions and are able to mitigate the further performance of PV modules. The present study will help manufacturers improve the design and maintenance strategies of PV systems.
A flexible time-to-build model of supply chain disruptions
Authors: Kahn James
Published: April 2024

Accepted by: Aris Syntetos

This paper examines the impact of temporary supply chain disruptions in a general equilibrium model with multiple stages of production for capital goods and a flexible time-to-build structure. Production disruptions at one or more stages result in declines in overall shipments and increases in the ratios of unfilled orders and work-in-process inventories to shipments. The model is calibrated to industries in durable goods manufacturing during the Covid-19 pandemic, and is shown to generate realistic dynamic responses to temporary production disruptions. Consistent with the data, an unanticipated 1-month disruption to upstream production results in a decline in shipments and an increase in the ratio of unfilled orders to shipments lasting more than 6 months.
An Elekes–Rónyai Theorem for Sets With Few Products
Authors: Mudgal Akshat
Published: April 2024

Given $n \in \mathbb{N}$, we call a polynomial $F \in \mathbb{C}[x_{1},\dots ,x_{n}]$ degenerate if there exist $P\in \mathbb{C}[y_{1}, \dots , y_{n-1}]$ and monomials $m_{1}, \dots , m_{n-1}$ with fractional exponents, such that $F = P(m_{1}, \dots , m_{n-1})$. Our main result shows that whenever a polynomial $F$, with degree $d \geq 1$, is non-degenerate, then for every finite, non-empty set $A\subset \mathbb{C}$ such that $|A\cdot A| \leq K|A|$, one has $$ \begin{align*} & |F(A, \dots, A)| \gg |A|^{n} 2^{-O_{d,n}((\log 2K)^{3 + o(1)})}. \end{align*} $$This is sharp since for every degenerate $F$ and finite set $A \subset \mathbb{C}$ with $|A\cdot A| \leq K|A|$, one has $$ \begin{align*} & |F(A,\dots,A)| \ll K^{O_{F}(1)}|A|^{n-1}.\end{align*} $$Our techniques rely on Freiman type inverse theorems and Schmidt’s subspace theorem.
Varied microbial community assembly and specialization patterns driven by early life microbiome perturbation and modulation in young ruminants
Authors: Pan Zhe , Ma Tao , Steele Michael , Guan Le Luo
Published: April 2024

Perturbations and modulations during early life are vital to affect gut microbiome assembly and establishment. In this study, we assessed how microbial communities shifted during calf diarrhea and with probiotic yeast supplementation (Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii, SCB) and determined the key bacterial taxa contributing to the microbial assembly shifts using a total of 393 fecal samples collected from 84 preweaned calves during an 8-week trial. Our results revealed that the microbial assembly patterns differed between healthy and diarrheic calves at 6- and 8-week of the trial, with healthy calves being stochastic-driven and diarrheic calves being deterministic-driven. The two-state Markov model revealed that SCB supplementation had a higher possibility to shift microbial assembly from deterministic- to stochastic-driven in diarrheic calves. Furthermore, a total of 23 and 21 genera were specific ecotypes to assembly patterns in SCB-responsive (SCB-fed calves did not exhibit diarrhea) and nonresponsive (SCB-fed calves occurred diarrhea) calves, respectively. Among these ecotypes, the area under a receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that Blautia and Ruminococcaceae UCG 014, two unidentified genera from the Ruminococcaceae family, had the highest predictiveness for microbial assembly patterns in SCB-responsive calves, while Prevotellaceae, Blautia, and Escherichia-Shigella were the most predictive bacterial taxa for microbial assembly patterns in SCB-nonresponsive calves. Our study suggests that microbiome perturbations and probiotic yeast supplementation serving as deterministic factors influenced assembly patterns during early life with critical genera being predictive for assembly patterns, which sheds light on mechanisms of microbial community establishment in the gut of neonatal calves during early life.
The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Task Force on clinical algorithms for fracture risk report
Authors: Burnett-Bowie Sherri-Ann M , Wright Nicole C , Yu Elaine W , Langsetmo Lisa , Yearwood Gabby M H , Crandall Carolyn J , Leslie William D , Cauley Jane A
Published: April 2024

Using race and ethnicity in clinical algorithms potentially contributes to health inequities. The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Professional Practice Committee convened the ASBMR Task Force on Clinical Algorithms for Fracture Risk to determine the impact of race and ethnicity adjustment in the US Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (US-FRAX). The Task Force engaged the University of Minnesota Evidence–based Practice Core to conduct a systematic review investigating the performance of US-FRAX for predicting incident fractures over 10 years in Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White individuals. Six studies from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) and Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) were eligible; cohorts only included women and were predominantly White (WHI > 80% and SOF > 99%), data were not consistently stratified by race and ethnicity, and when stratified there were far fewer fractures in Black and Hispanic women vs White women rendering area under the curve (AUC) estimates less stable. In the younger WHI cohort (n = 64 739), US-FRAX without bone mineral density (BMD) had limited discrimination for major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) (AUC 0.53 (Black), 0.57 (Hispanic), and 0.57 (White)); somewhat better discrimination for hip fracture in White women only (AUC 0.54 (Black), 0.53 (Hispanic), and 0.66 (White)). In a subset of the older WHI cohort (n = 23 918), US-FRAX without BMD overestimated MOF. The Task Force concluded that there is little justification for estimating fracture risk while incorporating race and ethnicity adjustments and recommends that fracture prediction models not include race or ethnicity adjustment but instead be population-based and reflective of US demographics, and inclusive of key clinical, behavioral, and social determinants (where applicable). Research cohorts should be representative vis-à-vis race, ethnicity, gender, and age. There should be standardized collection of race and ethnicity; collection of social determinants of health to investigate impact on fracture risk; and measurement of fracture rates and BMD in cohorts inclusive of those historically underrepresented in osteoporosis research.
Strategic Fertility, Education Choices, and Conflicts in Deeply Divided Societies
Authors: Bezin Emeline , Chabé-Ferret Bastien , de la Croix David
Published: April 2024

Fertility becomes a strategic choice for minorities when having a larger share of the population helps to increase power. If parents invest resources to educate their children, then raising fertility for strategic reasons might be at the cost of future human capital. We dispel this view using census data from several developing countries. We show that religious and ethnic minorities in Indonesia, China, and Malaysia tend to invest more in both education and fertility compared to larger groups. Solving for the Nash equilibrium of an appropriation game between two groups with education and fertility being prescribed as group-specific behavioral norms, we offer a rationale for the observed patterns provided that human capital is an important input to appropriation.
A metabarcoding assessment of the diet of the insectivorous bats of Madeira Island, Macaronesia
Authors: Gonçalves Angelina , Nóbrega Eva K , Rebelo Hugo , Mata Vanessa A , Rocha Ricardo
Published: April 2024

Understanding the trophic structure of species assemblages is crucial in order to comprehend how syntropic species coexist in space and time. Bats are the second most taxonomically diverse group of mammals and display a wide range of dietary strategies. Due to their ability to disperse over water, ca. 60% of all extant bat species occur on islands and for the most part their interspecific ecological interactions are poorly known. Using DNA metabarcoding, this study offers the first insights into the diet of Macaronesian bats by providing a holistic overview of prey consumed by all 3 bat species found on Madeira Island (Pipistrellus maderensis, Nyctalus leisleri verrucosus, and Plecotus austriacus) and investigating both interspecific (between P. maderensis and N. l. verrucosus) and intraspecific (between female and male N. l. verrucosus) dietary differences. We identified a total of 110 species of arthropod prey in the diet of the 3 bat species, including multiple agriculture and forestry pest species, a human disease-relevant species, and numerous taxa not previously recorded on the island. Lepidoptera was the primary prey order for all 3 bat species. The diet composition of P. maderensis and N. l. verrucosus differed significantly, with P. maderensis consuming more Diptera and multiple prey taxa not found in the diet of N. l. verucosus. Moreover, male N. l. verrucosus exhibited a broader niche breadth than females. This study is among the first to use DNA metabarcoding to evaluate the diet of insular bats and thus greatly advances knowledge regarding the trophic ecology and pest suppression services of these poorly-known mammals.
Parent, child, and adolescent lived experience using the insulin-only iLet Bionic Pancreas
Authors: Howard Kelsey R , Garza Kimberly P , Feldman Marissa , Weissberg-Benchell Jill
Published: April 2024

Objective

Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems show great promise for improving glycemic outcomes and reducing disease burden for youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The current study examined youth and parent perspectives after using the insulin-only iLet Bionic Pancreas (BP) during the 13-week pivotal trial.

Methods

Parents and youth participated in focus group interviews, with questions assessing participants’ experiences in a variety of settings and were grounded in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Qualitative analysis was completed by 3 authors using a hybrid thematic analysis approach.

Results

Qualitative analysis of focus groups revealed a total of 19 sub-themes falling into 5 major themes (Diabetes Burden, Freedom and Flexibility, Daily Routine, Managing Glucose Levels, and User Experience). Participants’ overall experience was positive, with decreased burden and improved freedom and flexibility. Some participants reported challenges in learning to trust the system, adjusting to the user interface, and the system learning their body.

Conclusion

This study adds to the growing literature on patient perspectives on using AID systems and was among the first to assess caregiver and youth experiences with the BP system over an extended period (13 weeks). Patient feedback on physical experiences with the device and experiences trusting the device to manage glucose should inform future development of technologies as well as approaches to education for patients and their families.
Robotic management of superior mesenteric artery syndrome
Authors: Muñoz-Palomeque Santiago A , Tobar-Tinoco Ariadna , Torres-Guaicha Máximo V , Tinoco-Ortiz Tábata L
Published: April 2024

Wilkie’s syndrome is an unusual cause of upper intestinal obstruction due to mechanical compression of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) to the duodenum, with nonspecific symptoms, whose diagnosis is confirmed by angiotomography. Initially, the treatment is conservative to regain weight and restore mesenteric adipose tissue, associated with postural changes of the patient. If this fails, surgical treatment is indicated, being laparoscopic duodenojejunostomy described as the gold standard. Robotics’ assistance is feasible and safe to carry out the procedure. We present the case of a 21-year-old male patient who comes with stabbing abdominal pain and persistent postprandial vomiting that has caused weight loss of 11 kilograms in the last 2 years without apparent cause, associated with gastroesophageal reflux. During the procedure, we evidenced open diaphragmatic pillars and duodenal compression due to SMA, and robotic-assisted laparoscopic hyatoplasty + Nissen fundoplication + duodenojejunostomy were performed without complications, with excellent post-surgical results.
Lateral process fracture of the talus in a basketball player treated with arthroscopic reduction-internal fixation: a case report
Authors: Morimoto Shota , Morio Futoshi , Tachibana Toshiya , Iseki Tomoya
Published: April 2024

An open reduction-internal fixation is generally recommended in Type I lateral process fractures of the talus when the dislocation of the fragment is >2 mm. This report describes a case of a lateral process fracture of the talus in a 24-year-old male basketball player who underwent arthroscopic reduction-internal fixation. The patient complained of pain on the lateral aspect of his left ankle during a cutting motion. Based on physical examination and radiological findings, the patient was diagnosed with a lateral process fracture of the talus and underwent surgical treatment with arthroscopic reduction-internal fixation. At 12 weeks after the surgery, bone union was achieved, and the patient was able to resume playing basketball at his pre-injury level without symptoms, complications, or functional impairment. Lateral process fracture of the talus in a 24-year-old male basketball player was successfully treated with arthroscopic reduction-internal fixation.
An approach to achieve tension-free closure and mitigate recurrence in the management of recurrent cervical keloids
Authors: Lohasammakul Suphalerk , Jyot Apram , Chaiyasate Kongkrit
Published: April 2024

Keloid is a burdensome condition that negatively affects patient’s quality of life. It is influenced by a spectrum of risk factors, including tension. We propose an approach to address the tension-free closure and optimize surgical outcomes in neck keloid. A retrospective review of neck keloid patients who underwent surgical treatment between 2014 and 2022 was performed. Five patients underwent surgical interventions. Two patients had sufficient and three had insufficient tissue redundancy. The former underwent keloid excision with tension-free closure. The latter underwent keloid excision with full thickness skin graft for tension-free closure. One patient required re-excision with free flap coverage. All patients received postoperative low dose radiation. All patients were satisfied with the results and there were no signs of keloid recurrence during the follow-up period. Tension during closure following keloid excision is a modifiable risk factor. An appropriate algorithm providing tension-free closure can minimize the recurrence.
Multidisciplinary management and surgical resection of a rare posterior mediastinal haemangioma
Authors: Zhang Kaixin , Dai Wei , Yu Hongfan , Shi Qiuling , Xie Shaohua , Hu Bin , Li Qiang , Wei Xing
Published: April 2024

Mediastinal haemangiomas pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges owing to their rarity and complex anatomy. A 36-year-old man, with a history of smoking and drinking, presented with a posterior mediastinal mass with back pain. Initial investigations suggested a lymphangioma. However, owing to persistent symptoms and complex pathology, we performed surgical intervention involving open resection of the tumour, which was closely associated with the descending aorta and extended into the right posterior mediastinum. The surgical approach was influenced by the proximity of the tumour to vital structures, necessitating an open procedure. Postoperative complications included chylothorax, managed with a fat-free diet. The final pathological diagnosis was consistent with a benign vascular tumour with a low proliferative rate. Two months post-surgery, computed tomography revealed no complications, and the patient’s pain had decreased. A multidisciplinary approach and surgical intervention played important roles in the diagnosis and treatment of this posterior mediastinal haemangioma.
Identifying hot subdwarf stars from photometric data using a Gaussian mixture model and graph neural network
Authors: Liu Wei , Bu Yude , Kong Xiaoming , Yi Zhenping , Liu Meng
Published: April 2024

Hot subdwarf stars are very important for understanding stellar evolution, stellar astrophysics, and binary star systems. Identifying more such stars can help us better understand their statistical distribution, properties, and evolution. In this paper, we present a new method to search for hot subdwarf stars in photometric data (BP, RP, G, g, r, i, z, y) using a machine-learning algorithm, a graph neural network, and a Gaussian mixture model. We use a Gaussian mixture model and Markov distance to build the graph structure, and on the graph structure we use a graph neural network to identify hot subdwarf stars from a dataset containing 31838 stars, with the recall, precision, and F1 score maximized on the original, weight, and synthetic minority oversampling technique datasets. Finally, to validate the model, we selected about 2116 hot subdwarf candidates from the Gaia Data Release 3 database and compared them with the studies by Culpan et al. (2022, A&A, 662, A40) and Geier et al. (2019, A&A, 621, A38).
Radio emission from SN 1181 hosting a white dwarf merger product
Authors: Ko Takatoshi , Tsuna Daichi , Hatsukade Bunyo , Shigeyama Toshikazu
Published: April 2024

The remnant of the historical supernova 1181 is claimed to be associated with a white dwarf merger remnant J005311. The supernova remnant (SNR) shock, and a termination shock expected to be formed by the intense wind of J005311, are potential sites for radio emission via synchrotron emission from shock-accelerated electrons. In this paper, we estimate the radio emission from these two shocks, and find the peak radio flux to be 0.1–10 mJy (at 0.01–1 GHz) in the outer SNR shock and 0.01–0.1 mJy (at 1–10 GHz) in the inner termination shock. We also search for radio emission from this source in the archival data of the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) Sky Survey at 3 GHz, the NRAO VLA Sky Survey at 1.4 GHz and the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey at 408 MHz, finding no significant detection. While targeted observations with higher sensitivity are desired, we particularly encourage those at higher frequency and angular resolution to probe the inner termination shock and its evolution.
Translational activation by a synthetic PPR protein elucidates control of psbA translation in Arabidopsis chloroplasts
Authors: Rojas Margarita , Chotewutmontri Prakitchai , Barkan Alice
Published: April 2024

Translation initiation on chloroplast psbA mRNA in plants scales with light intensity, providing its gene product, D1, as needed to replace photodamaged D1 in Photosystem II. The psbA translational activator HIGH CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE 173 (HCF173) has been hypothesized to mediate this regulation. HCF173 belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily, associates with the psbA 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR), and has been hypothesized to enhance translation by binding an RNA segment that would otherwise pair with and mask the ribosome binding region. To test these hypotheses, we examined whether a synthetic pentatricopeptide repeat (sPPR) protein can substitute for HCF173 when bound to the HCF173 binding site. We show that an sPPR designed to bind HCF173's footprint in the psbA 5′-UTR bound the intended site in vivo and partially substituted for HCF173 to activate psbA translation. However, sPPR-activated translation did not respond to light. These results imply that HCF173 activates translation, at least in part, by sequestering the RNA it binds to maintain an accessible ribosome binding region, and that HCF173 is also required to regulate psbA translation in response to light. Translational activation can be added to the functions that can be programmed with sPPR proteins for synthetic biology applications in chloroplasts.
Multimodal imaging analysis in silver fir reveals coordination in cellulose and lignin deposition
Authors: Pérez-de-Lis Gonzalo , Richard Béatrice , Quilès Fabienne , Deveau Aurélie , Adikurnia Ignatius-Kristia , Rathgeber Cyrille B K
Published: April 2024

Despite lignin being a key component of wood, the dynamics of tracheid lignification are generally overlooked in xylogenesis studies, which hampers our understanding of environmental drivers and blurs the interpretation of isotopic and anatomical signals stored in tree rings. Here, we analyzed cell wall formation in silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) tracheids to determine if cell wall lignification lags behind secondary wall deposition. For this purpose, we applied a multimodal imaging approach combining transmitted light microscopy (TLM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and confocal Raman microspectroscopy (RMS) on anatomical sections of wood microcores collected in northeast France on 11 dates during the 2010 growing season. Wood autofluorescence after laser excitation at 405 and 488 nm associated with the RMS scattering of lignin and cellulose, respectively, which allowed identification of lignifying cells (cells showing lignified and nonlignified wall fractions at the same time) in CLSM images. The number of lignifying cells in CLSM images mirrored the number of wall-thickening birefringent cells in polarized TLM images, revealing highly synchronized kinetics for wall thickening and lignification (similar timings and durations at the cell level). CLSM images and RMS chemical maps revealed a substantial incorporation of lignin into the wall at early stages of secondary wall deposition. Our results show that most of the cellulose and lignin contained in the cell wall undergo concurrent periods of deposition. This suggests a strong synchronization between cellulose and lignin-related features in conifer tree-ring records, as they originated over highly overlapped time frames.
Photosynthetic capacity and assimilate transport of the lower canopy influence maize yield under high planting density
Authors: Yan Yanyan , Duan Fengying , Li Xia , Zhao Rulang , Hou Peng , Zhao Ming , Li Shaokun , Wang Yonghong , Dai Tingbo , Zhou Wenbin
Published: April 2024

Photosynthesis is a major trait of interest for the development of high-yield crop plants. However, little is known about the effects of high-density planting on photosynthetic responses at the whole-canopy level. Using the high-yielding maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars “LY66,” “MC670,” and “JK968,” we conducted a 2-yr field experiment to assess ear development in addition to leaf characteristics and photosynthetic parameters in each canopy layer at 4 planting densities. Increased planting density promoted high grain yield and population-scale biomass accumulation despite reduced per-plant productivity. MC670 had the strongest adaptability to high-density planting conditions. A physiological analysis showed that increased planting density primarily led to decreases in the single-leaf area above the ear for LY66 and MC670 and below the ear for JK968. Furthermore, high planting density decreased chlorophyll content and the photosynthetic rate due to decreased canopy transmission, leading to severe decreases in single-plant biomass accumulation in the lower canopy. Moreover, increased planting density improved presilking biomass transfer, especially in the lower canopy. The yield showed significant positive relationships with photosynthesis and biomass in the lower canopy, demonstrating the important contributions of these leaves to grain yield under dense planting conditions. Increased planting density led to retarded ear development as a consequence of reduced glucose and fructose contents in the ears, indicating reductions in sugar transport that were associated with limited sink organ development, reduced kernel number, and yield loss. Overall, these findings highlighted the photosynthetic capacities of the lower canopy as promising targets for improving maize yield under dense planting conditions.
Simplified Algorithm for the Worldvolume HMC and the Generalized Thimble HMC
Authors: Fukuma Masafumi
Published: April 2024

The Worldvolume Hybrid Monte Carlo method (WV-HMC method) is a reliable and versatile algorithm towards solving the sign problem. Like the tempered Lefschetz thimble method, this method removes the ergodicity problem inherent in algorithms based on Lefschetz thimbles. In addition to this advantage, the WV-HMC method significantly reduces the computational cost because one need not compute the Jacobian of deformation in generating configurations. A crucial step in this method is the RATTLE algorithm, where the Newton method is used at each molecular dynamics step to project a transported configuration onto a submanifold (worldvolume) in the complex space. In this paper, we simplify the RATTLE algorithm by employing a simplified Newton method (the fixed-point method) along with iterative solvers for orthogonal decompositions of vectors, and show that this algorithm further reduces the computational cost. We also apply this algorithm to the HMC algorithm for the generalized thimble method (GT-HMC method). We perform a numerical test for the convergence of the simplified RATTLE algorithm, and show that the convergence depends on the system size only weakly. The application of this simplified algorithm to various models will be reported in subsequent papers.
Anti-Instability of Complex Ghost
Authors: Kubo Jisuke , Kugo Taichiro
Published: April 2024

We argue that Lee–Wick’s complex ghost appearing in any higher derivative theory is stable and its asymptotic field exists. It may be more appropriate to call it “anti-unstable”, in the sense that the more the ghost "decays" into lighter ordinary particles, the larger the probability that the ghost remains as itself becomes. This is explicitly shown by analyzing the two-point functions of the ghost Heisenberg field which is obtained as an exact result in the N → ∞ limit in a massive scalar ghost theory with light O(N)-vector scalar matter. The anti-instability is a consequence of the fact that the poles of the complex ghost propagator are located on the physical sheet in the complex plane of four-momentum squared. This should be contrasted with the case of the ordinary unstable particle, whose propagator has no pole on the physical sheet.
Evaluating the efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma injection for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Deabes Mostafa , Deameh Mohammad Ghassab , Bani Irshid Baha' Aldeen , Al Darraji Ali Hasan , Serag Ibrahim , Almosilhy Nereen A , Dwidar Ahmed , Aldemerdash Mohamed A , Shahin Hatim Nasruldin
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is rich in factors that play a role in stem cell recruitment, inflammation modulation, and angiogenesis. With numerous preclinical and clinical studies exploring PRP as a potential treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), this study focused on assessing the effectiveness of intracorporeal PRP injection for ED patients based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Objectives

The study sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intracorporeal injection of PRP in treating ED through a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.

Methods

This study adhered to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted on online databases (PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) to identify RCTs comparing PRP with a placebo for ED treatment. The primary outcomes assessed were the proportion of patients achieving the minimal clinically important difference in the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) domain and the change in the IIEF domain from baseline. The results were combined as a standardized mean difference between the PRP and placebo groups.

Results

Three RCTs comprising 230 patients were included. The overall effect favored PRP over placebo: total patients attaining minimal clinically important difference in the IIEF domain (odds ratio [OR], 5.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.05 to 15.55; P = .0008), IIEF change from baseline (mean difference [MD], 2.99; 95% CI, 1.74 to 4.24; P = .00001), PSV (MD, 9.34; 95% CI, 0.84 to 17.84; P = .03), end-diastolic volume (standardized MD, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.83; P = .003), Sexual Encounter Profile question 3 (standardized MD, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.45 to 1.12; P = .00001), and visual analog scale score (MD, −0.30; 95% CI, −0.53 to −0.08; P = .008).

Conclusion

PRP appears to be a safe and effective treatment for mild-to-moderate ED. However, further support from high-quality RCTs is needed to strengthen these findings.