bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ligelizumab impairs IgE‐binding to plasmacytoid dendritic cells more potently than omalizumab and restores IFN‐α production and FOXP3+ Treg generation
Authors: Benito‐Villalvilla Cristina , de la Rocha‐Muñoz Andrés , López‐Abente Jacobo , Eggel Alexander , Bottoli Iván , Severin Thomas , Woisetschläger Maximilian , Palomares Oscar
Published: October 2022

Background

Ligelizumab is an anti‐IgE monoclonal antibody binding IgE with higher affinity than omalizumab that is under clinical investigation for several IgE‐mediated diseases. We previously showed that omalizumab removes IgE bound to FcεRI on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and restores their ability to produce IFN‐α and regulatory T cells (Tregs). The aim of this work is to investigate the capacity of ligelizumab to regulate functional properties of pDCs in comparison with omalizumab.

Methods

pDCs were isolated from atopic donors and IgE was detached from FcεRI on pDCs with designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) bi53‐79. pDCs were resensitized with IgE alone or in the presence of ligelizumab or omalizumab prior to IgE‐FcεRI crosslinking and Toll‐like receptor 9 (TLR9) stimulation. Flow cytometry, ELISA, coculture experiments and intranuclear staining were performed to determine cytokine production and Treg generation. An antigen‐specific model of resensitization and IgE‐crosslinking was also performed.

Results

The levels of serum total free IgE show a non‐linear positive correlation with the frequency of IgE+ pDCs displaying IgE bound to FcεRI within the 43 individual donors included in the study. Ligelizumab displays stronger capacity than omalizumab to block the binding of free IgE to FcεRI on human pDCs, resulting in a greater restoration of TLR9‐L‐induced IFN‐α production. Ligelizumab also restores the ability of pDCs to generate FOXP3+ Tregs as previously reported for omalizumab.

Conclusions

The uncovered novel molecular mechanisms of ligelizumab to regulate functional properties of pDCs from atopic donors might have important clinical implications for anti‐IgE treatments in different IgE‐mediated diseases.
Mental health and well‐being of anaesthetists during the COVID‐19 pandemic: a scoping review
Authors: Paterson E. , Paterson N. A. B. , Ferris L. J.
Published: October 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic has imposed substantial burdens on clinicians and there is a need to better understand the impact on mental health and well‐being. This scoping review investigates the prevalence of mental health concerns in anaesthetists, risk and protective factors for mental well‐being, and anaesthetists' pandemic‐related concerns and support. We searched online databases for articles published between January 2020 and May 2022, using search terms related to: anaesthesia; burnout, well‐being, mental health or stress; and COVID‐19. We identified 20 articles comprising 19 different populations of anaesthetists (n = 8680) from 14 countries. Studies identified the prevalence of the following condition in anaesthetists: burnout (14–59%); stress (50–71%); anxiety (11–74%); depression (12–67%); post‐traumatic stress (17–25%); psychological distress (52%); and insomnia (17–61%). Significant risk factors for poorer mental health included: direct COVID‐19‐related issues (fear of self and family exposure to infection; requirement for quarantine); practitioner health factors (insomnia; comorbidities); psychosocial factors (loneliness; isolation; perceived lack of support at home and work); demographic factors (female gender; non‐white ethnicity; LGBTQIA+); and workplace factors (redeployment outside area of clinical practice; increased work effort; personal protective equipment shortages). Protective factors identified included: job satisfaction; perceived organisational justice; older age; and male sex. Anaesthetists' self‐reported concerns related to: personal protective equipment; resource allocation; fear of infection; fear of financial loss; increased workload; and effective communication of protocols for patient treatment. Support from family, colleagues and hospital management was identified as an important coping mechanism. Findings from this review may support the design of interventions to enhance anaesthetists' psychological health during pandemic conditions and beyond. Future research should include consistent psychological outcome measures and rigorous experimental design beyond cross‐sectional studies.
Will electronic skins become a quintessential health tracker for everyday life?
Authors: Shah Aakash M.
Published: October 2022

Researchers from MIT have developed a chipless wireless electronic skin capable of detecting health information. They have improved upon the sensitivity, power efficiency, and long‐term wearability of previous electronic skins. Continued development in this sector may soon make health tracking via electronic skin ubiquitous with the population.
Additive effectiveness of acrylonitrile‐co‐methallyl sulfonate surface‐treated membranes in the treatment of pneumonia: A propensity score‐matched retrospective cohort study
Authors: Hayashi Kentaro , Sasabuchi Yusuke , Matsui Hiroki , Nakajima Mikio , Ohbe Hiroyuki , Fushimi Kiyohide , Ono Kazuyuki , Yasunaga Hideo
Published: October 2022

Background

The acrylonitrile‐co‐methallyl sulfonate surface‐treated (AN69ST) membrane has cytokine adsorption capacity and is used for treating sepsis. This study aimed to compare the effects of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) using the AN69ST membrane with those of CRRT using other membranes for patients with pneumonia‐associated sepsis.

Methods

This retrospective, propensity score‐matched, cohort study was based on a nationwide Japanese inpatient database. We included data from adults hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of pneumonia, who received CRRT using either the AN69ST membrane or another membrane within 2 days of admission, and who were discharged from the hospitals between September 2014, and March 2017. Propensity score matching was used to compare in‐hospital mortality between the two groups.

Results

Eligible patients (N = 2393) were categorized into an AN69ST group (N = 631) and a non‐AN69ST group (N = 1762). The overall in‐hospital mortality rate was 38.9%. Among the 545 propensity‐matched patient pairs, the in‐hospital mortality rate was significantly lower in the AN69ST group than in the non‐AN69ST group (35.8 vs. 41.8%, p = 0.046).

Conclusions

Among patients with pneumonia‐associated sepsis treated with CRRT, CRRT with the AN69ST membrane was associated with a significantly lower in‐hospital mortality than CRRT with standard membranes.
Improving adult pulsatile minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation in a mock circulation
Authors: Dürr Anke , Weber Elena , Eisenmann Lisa , Albrecht Günter , Liebold Andreas , Hoenicka Markus
Published: October 2022

Background

Pulsatile extracorporeal circulation (ECC) may improve perfusion of critical organs during cardiac surgery. This study analyzed the influence of the components of a minimal invasive ECC (MiECC) on the transfer of pulsatile energy into the pseudo‐patient of a mock circulation.

Methods

An aortic model with human‐like geometry and compliance was perfused by a diagonal pump. Surplus hemodynamic energy (SHE) was determined from flow and pressure data. Five adult‐size oxygenator models and three sizes of cannulas were compared. Pulsatile pump settings were optimized, and parallel dual‐pump configurations were evaluated.

Results

Oxygenator models showed up to twofold differences in pressure gradients and influenced SHE at flow rates up to 2.0 L min−1. Adjustments of frequency, systole duration, and rotational speed gain significantly improved SHE compared with empirical settings, with SHE above 21% of mean arterial pressure at flow rates of 1.0 L min−1 to 1.5 L min−1 and SHE above 5% at 3.5 L min−1. Small diameter cannula (15 Fr) limited SHE compared with larger cannula (21 Fr and 23 Fr). Two diagonal pumps did not provide higher SHE than a single pump, but permitted additional control over pulse pressure and SHE by varying the total fraction of pulsatile flow and the fraction of flow bypassing the oxygenator.

Conclusions

Proper selection of components and optimizations of pump settings significantly improved pulse pressure and SHE of pulsatile MiECC. Surplus hemodynamic energy depended on flow rate with a maximum at 1.0 L min−1–1.5 L min−1. Pulsatile MiECC may specifically assist organ perfusion during phases of low flow.
Ror1 is expressed inducibly by Notch and hypoxia signaling and regulates stem cell‐like property of glioblastoma cells
Authors: Ishikawa Tomohiro , Ogura Yasuka , Tanaka Kazuhiro , Nagashima Hiroaki , Sasayama Takashi , Endo Mitsuharu , Minami Yasuhiro
Published: October 2022

Ror1 plays a crucial role in cancer progression by regulating cell proliferation and migration. Ror1 is expressed abundantly in various types of cancer cells and cancer stem‐like cells. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating expression of Ror1 in these cells remain largely unknown. Ror1 and its putative ligand Wnt5a are expressed highly in malignant gliomas, especially in glioblastomas, and the extents of Ror1 expression are correlated positively with poorer prognosis in patients with gliomas. We show that Ror1 expression can be upregulated in glioblastoma cells under spheroid culture, but not adherent culture conditions. Notch and hypoxia signaling pathways have been shown to be activated in spheroid‐forming glioblastoma stem‐like cells (GSCs), and Ror1 expression in glioblastoma cells is indeed suppressed by inhibiting either Notch or hypoxia signaling. Meanwhile, either forced expression of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) in or hypoxic culture of glioblastoma cells result in enhanced expression of Ror1 in the cells. Consistently, we show that both NICD and hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 alpha bind to upstream regions within the Ror1 gene more efficiently in GSCs under spheroid culture conditions. Furthermore, we provide evidence indicating that binding of Wnt5a to Ror1, upregulated by Notch and hypoxia signaling pathways in GSCs, might promote their spheroid‐forming ability. Collectively, these findings indicate for the first time that Notch and hypoxia signaling pathways can elicit a Wnt5a–Ror1 axis through transcriptional activation of Ror1 in glioblastoma cells, thereby promoting their stem cell‐like property.
Identification of miR‐3182 and miR‐3143 target genes involved in the cell cycle as a novel approach in TNBC treatment: A systems biology approach
Authors: Khazaei‐Poul Yalda , Mirmotalebisohi Seyed Amir , Zali Hakimeh , Molavi Zahra , Mohammadi‐Yeganeh Samira
Published: October 2022

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer with a poor prognosis, lacking therapeutic targets. miRNAs play crucial roles in TNBC through regulating various mechanisms, including cellular growth and proliferation. This study aims to identify critical target genes of two novel miRNAs (miR‐3143 and miR‐3182) involved in the cell cycle of TNBC as possible therapeutic targets and investigates their regulatory and therapeutic roles through a systems biology approach and in vitro experiment. Datasets related to the TNBC cell line (MDA‐MB‐231) were screened and retrieved, and Gene regulatory networks were constructed. Significant regulatory motifs were detected and analyzed using the FANMOD and Cytoscape analyzer, and the clusters and seeds were identified using the MCODE. Functional enrichment analysis was also performed using DAVID and STRING. The most critical genes were determined using the analysis of GRN motifs and PPI clusters. The essential genes involved in the cell cycle were selected and verified using the bc‐GenExMiner v4.7. We overexpressed miR‐3143 and miR‐3182 in the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line using human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (HUCMSC)‐miRNA loaded exosomes, and the expression of the critical target genes was investigated using RT‐qPCR. We identified eight critical genes as potential therapeutic targets. Their expression decreased by overexpression of miR‐3143 and miR‐3182 in RT‐qPCR. The identified critical genes have probably significant roles in the pathogenesis of TNBC through the cell cycle. We suggest that the overexpression of miR‐3143 and miR‐3182 could be a new therapeutic candidate in TNBC and is worth more investigation.
Enablers and barriers to diabetic retinopathy eye care among first nations and Métis women
Authors: Umaefulam Valerie , Premkumar Kalyani
Published: October 2022

Background

Diabetes is increasingly prevalent in Indigenous women and increases their risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, an eye complication of diabetes and a common cause of vision loss in Canada, especially among adults. Early detection is the most effective approach to prevent vision loss and reduce the impact of diabetic retinopathy.

Objective

This study examined enablers and barriers that influence the diabetes eye care behaviour of First Nations and Métis women with diabetes and at risk of diabetes.

Methods

We conducted a descriptive qualitative study with 35 First Nations and Métis women with diabetes or at risk of diabetes in Saskatoon, Canada. Data were collected via four sharing circle discussions and were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

The study findings showed that understanding of diabetes eye care access and cost, and unsupportive interactions with health care practitioners, were barriers to diabetic retinopathy care behaviour. Conversely, the presence of eye complications, participants' resolve to manage diabetes, self‐efficacy and fear due to experiences of family members with diabetes enabled diabetes eye care.

Conclusions

Our study advances knowledge in socio‐cultural factors influencing diabetic retinopathy care behaviour among First Nations and Métis women living with and at risk of diabetes. The study shows the need for further public health and health system interventions to address barriers and support Indigenous peoples with or at risk of diabetes to make informed health decisions.
Relationship between early neural responses to syntactic and acoustic irregularities in music
Authors: Ishida Kai , Nittono Hiroshi
Published: October 2022

Humans can detect various anomalies in a sound sequence without attending to each dimension explicitly. Event‐related potentials (ERPs) have been used to examine the processes of auditory deviance detection. Previous research has shown that music‐syntactic anomalies elicit early right anterior negativity (ERAN), whereas more general acoustic irregularities elicit mismatch negativity (MMN). Although these ERP components occur in a similar latency range with a similar scalp topography, the relationship between the detection processes they reflect remains unclear. This study compared these components by manipulating music‐syntactic (chord progression) and acoustic (intensity) irregularities orthogonally in two experiments. Non‐musicians (Experiment 1: N = 39; Experiment 2: N = 24) were asked to listen to chord sequences, each consisting of 5 four‐voice chords, as they watched a silent video clip. Standard, harmonic‐deviant, intensity‐deviant and double‐deviant chords occurred at the final position in each sequence. Deviant stimuli were presented infrequently (p = .10) in Experiment 1 and equiprobably (p = .25) in Experiment 2. Regardless of deviance probability, both harmonic and intensity deviants elicited similar negativities, which were indistinguishable in terms of latency or scalp distribution. When the two deviant types occurred simultaneously, the negativity increased in an additive manner; that is, the amplitude of the double‐deviant ERP was as large as the sum of the single‐deviant ERPs. These findings suggest that the detection of music‐syntactic and acoustic irregularities works independently, based on different regularity representations.
New ‘kids’ on the voltage‐gated proton channel block
Authors: Korpos Éva , Papp Ferenc
Published: October 2022

So far one gene for Hv1 has been detected in studied species. The work presented by Chaves et al. in The FEBS Journal reported an ‘Unexpected expansion of the voltage‐gated proton channel family’. They searched for proton channel candidates and found three sequences in the genome of Aplysia californica (Ac), which were named AcHv1, AcHv2 and AcHv3. Based on electrophysiological experiments, AcHv1 and AcHv2 are voltage‐gated channels. While AcHv1 behaves like Hv1 in other species, that is, it is voltage and pH‐dependent, it can be inhibited by zinc and conducts protons outwardly, AcHv2 conducts protons inwards at symmetrical pH. AcHv3 constantly leaks protons, and its C‐terminal part contains several cytoplasmic retention motifs. Through carefully designed and carried out electrophysiological experiments, Chaves et al. determined the biophysical parameters of all three proton channels, such as the voltage and the pH dependence, the threshold‐voltage, the gating charge and the time constants of activation and inactivation.

Comment on: https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.16617.
Modelling the longitudinal distribution, abundance, and habitat use of the giant freshwater shrimp (Macrobrachium spinipes) in a large intermittent, tropical Australian river to inform water resource policy
Authors: Beesley Leah S. , Killerby‐Smith Savannah , Gwinn Daniel C. , Pusey Bradley J. , Douglas Michael M. , Novak Peter A. , Tayer Thiaggo C. , Keogh Chris S. , Kennard Mark J. , Canham Caroline A. , Setterfield Samantha A.
Published: October 2022

Water development threatens rivers and their biodiversity. Amphidromous shrimp are particularly vulnerable as they require migration between freshwater and estuaries to complete their life cycle. The Fitzroy River is a large tropical intermittent river undergoing water development that is home to the amphidromous shrimp Macrobrachium spinipes (cherabin), yet little is known about its habitat use and flow‐ecology making it difficult to inform sustainable water‐take.

We investigated habitat associations, distributional patterns suggestive of amphidromy, and the influence of water availability by sampling main channel and floodplain pools along a 350‐km river length during 2 contrasting flow years. Applying a size‐specific abundance model, we estimated abundance per size class, site, and year. We then predicted abundance at the landscape scale with remotely sensed water to reveal the impact of water availability on the meta‐population.

Our model revealed that juveniles were in greatest abundance in downstream main channel pools, whereas adults were in greatest abundance in upstream floodplain pools. Abundance varied by year with lower numbers predicted in the low‐flow year. Longitudinal and habitat patterns remained when our pool‐level results were scaled to the landscape, and the positive relationship of abundance to wet‐season flow was strengthened. The predominance of smaller cherabin in the lower reaches of the river provides indirect support for an estuarine nursery and amphidromous life history; however, small individuals observed in landlocked pools, during late dry season suggests possible within‐river recruitment.

The importance of water development policies that protect wet‐season flow and passage along the Fitzroy River is supported by this work. These types of policies are likely to be important for this and other amphidromous shrimp species across Australia, Southeast Asia and further afield. Further research detailing the species life history and describing flow–recruitment relationships will be important contributions to understanding this important taxonomic group and refining policies for current and future water resource development.
Perspectives of choice and control in daily life for people following brain injury: A qualitative systematic review and meta‐synthesis
Authors: Murray Carolyn M. , Weeks Scott , van Kessel Gisela , Guerin Michelle , Watkins Emma , Mackintosh Shylie , Fryer Caroline , Hillier Susan , Stanley Mandy
Published: October 2022

Background and Objective

Acquired brain injury (ABI) can result in considerable life changes. Having choice and control over daily life is valued by people following ABI. This meta‐synthesis will analyse and integrate international research exploring perspectives of choice and control in daily life following ABI.

Methods

Databases were searched from 1980 to 13 January 2022 for eligible qualitative studies. After duplicates were removed, 22,768 studies were screened by title and abstract, and 241 studies received full‐text assessment with 56 studies included after pearling. Study characteristics and findings were extracted that related to personal perspectives on choice and control by people with an ABI (including author interpretation and quotes). Data from each study were coded and then segments of coded data across the studies were compared to create multiple broad categories.

Findings

Findings were then reduced from categories into 3 overarching themes with 12 subthemes. These themes were: (1) feeling like a second‐class citizen; (2) reordering life and (3) choosing a path. Participants with an ABI tussled between their feelings of loss following brain injury and their thinking about how they start to regain control and become agents of their own choices. The themes describe their sense of self, their changed self and their empowered self in relation to ‘choice and control’.

Conclusions

Re‐engaging with choice and control after ABI is dynamic and can be challenging. Health professionals and supporters need to facilitate a gradual and negotiated return to agency for people following ABI. A sensitive and person‐centred approach is needed that considers the readiness of the person with ABI to reclaim choice and control at each stage of their recovery. Clear service or process indicators that are built on lived experience research are needed to facilitate changes in service delivery that are collaborative and inclusive.

Patient or Public Contribution

This review included the voices of 765 people living with ABI and was conducted by a diverse team of allied health professionals with practice knowledge and research experience with people following ABI. Twenty‐nine of the 56 included studies had participants contributing to their design or analysis.
How shared is decision‐making in multidisciplinary tumour conferences with patient participation? An observational study
Authors: Schellenberger Barbara , Heuser Christian , Diekmann Annika , Ernstmann Nicole , Schippers Anna , Geiser Franziska , Schmidt‐Wolf Ingo G. H. , Scholl Isabelle , Ansmann Lena
Published: October 2022

Background

In some breast and gynaecologic cancer centres in Germany, patients participate in their own case discussion in multidisciplinary tumour conferences (MTCs), where treatment recommendations are discussed and finalized. However, the extent to which patients in MTCs are involved in decision‐making on treatment recommendations remains largely unexplored. Hence, this study investigates how recommendations are communicated to patients and the extent to which the interactions with patients in MTCs are in line with shared decision‐making (SDM).

Methods

In this observational study, we audio‐recorded MTCs with patient participation in three breast and gynaecologic cancer centres in Germany. We qualitatively analysed the data with regard to content and linguistic aspects.

Results

We analysed 82 case discussions. Recommendations made during MTCs were regarding (i) treatment options, (ii) treatment initiation, (iii) next (treatment) steps and (iv) whether a treatment method should be initiated at all. The decision about recommendations depended in part on patients' preferences or further course/further outcomes. Although the purpose of MTCs is to provide recommendations, some recommendations were framed as the final decision. The majority of the decision‐making conversation could be characterized as option talk (78%), during which patients were mostly proposed only one (treatment) option.

Conclusions

This study establishes limited SDM in MTCs with patient participation. By indicating choices and thereby creating awareness of choices among patients, MTCs with patient participation could be used to foster SDM implementation.

Patient or Public Contribution

Two representatives of a large self‐help organization for patients with breast cancer assisted the research project, particularly, in discussing the results.
Density‐dependent natal philopatry in southern House Wrens
Authors: Carro Mariana E. , Fernández Gustavo J.
Published: October 2022

Staying or leaving the natal site is a decision that not only affects the individual but may have profound implications at the population level. Many studies have analysed natal philopatry in passerines, albeit mostly migratory species in the northern hemisphere. Here we explore the potential ecological drivers of the individual decision to remain or leave the natal site in a southern hemisphere sedentary species, the southern House WrenTroglodytes aedon bonariae. Using a 14‐year database, we assessed if juvenile local recruitment was affected by demographic and/or social factors. Average annual juvenile recruitment was 18.4%, but it varied between years (range 9.3–44%), and male recruitment was higher than female recruitment. Juvenile recruitment was negatively associated with adult breeding abundance in the hatching year, but was not related to variation in adult sex ratio, adult breeding abundance in the breeding year or nesting success. Also, we found no evidence of inbreeding avoidance. The results seem to support the hypothesis that philopatry rate is regulated by intraspecific competition for resources. Juveniles that fledge in years when the density of breeding adults is low may have advantages in obtaining territories and mates early, benefiting from settling in familiar areas and reducing dispersal costs.
Cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light and cerebral atrophy in younger‐onset dementia and primary psychiatric disorders
Authors: Walia Nirbaanjot , Eratne Dhamidhu , Loi Samantha M. , Farrand Sarah , Li Qiao‐Xin , Malpas Charles B. , Varghese Shiji , Walterfang Mark , Evans Andrew H. , Parker Shaun , Collins Steven J. , Masters Colin L. , Velakoulis Dennis
Published: October 2022

Background and Aims

Neurodegeneration underpins the pathological processes of younger‐onset dementia (YOD) and has been implicated in primary psychiatric disorders (PSYs). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light (NfL) has been used to investigate neurodegeneration severity through correlation with structural brain changes in various conditions, but has seldom been evaluated in YOD and PSYs.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with YOD or PSYs with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and CSF NfL analysis. Findings from brain MRI were analysed using automated volumetry (volBrain) to measure white matter (WM), grey matter (GM) and whole brain (WB) volumes expressed as percentages of total intracranial volume. Correlations between NfL and brain volume measurements were computed whilst adjusting for age.

Results

Seventy patients (47 with YOD and 23 with PSY) were identified. YOD types included Alzheimer disease and behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia. PSY included schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. MRI brain sequences were either fast spoiler gradient‐echo (FSPGR) or magnetization‐prepared rapid acquisition gradient‐echo (MPRAGE). In the total cohort, higher NfL was associated with reduced WB in the FSPGR and MPRAGE sequences (r = −0.402 [95% confidence interval (CI), −0.593 to −0.147],P = 0.008 andr = −0.625 [95% CI, −0.828 to −0.395],P < 0.001, respectively). Higher NfL was related to reduced GM in FSPGR (r = 0.385 [95% CI, −0.649 to −0.014],P = 0.017) and reduced WM in MPRAGE (r = −0.650 [95% CI, −0.777 to −0.307],P < 0.001). Similar relationships were seen in YOD, but not in PSY.

Conclusion

Higher CSF NfL is related to brain atrophy in YOD, further supporting its use as a nonspecific marker of neurodegeneration severity.
Effect of thermosonication on physicochemical and anti‐nutritional properties of blood fruit beverage
Authors: Sasikumar Raju , Jaiswal Amit K.
Published: October 2022

The study evaluates the effectiveness of thermosonication treatment on the physicochemical and anti‐nutritional properties of blood fruit beverage. The study has revealed that physicochemical properties such as pH, titratable acidity, color difference, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid content, total polyphenols, total anthocyanins, total flavonoids, and DPPH retained as the fresh juice. Similarly, anti‐nutritional components such as phytate, saponin, alkaloids, tannin, and oxalates were lowered significantly by the TST (Thermosonication treatment) TST‐1 (40°C/30 min), TST‐2 (42°C/27 min), TST‐3 (44°C/24 min), TST‐4 (46°C/21 min), TST‐5 (48°C/18 min), TST‐6 (50°C/15 min), and TST‐7 (52°C/12 min). Thermosonicated beverages had an extended shelf life of 4 weeks at 4°C with desirable physicochemical quality, and the storage study has exhibited minimal quality changes. The results obtained from this study may help the fruit beverage industries design similar processing of blood fruit beverages on a large‐scale production.

Practical applications

Commercialization of blood fruit juice by value addition and lowering of its anti‐nutritional components may result in its availability all over the world along with its nutritious intake and healthy living among people. Thermosonically treated blood fruit juice with the unique parameter combination have resulted in better retention of phytonutrients as well as reduction in its anti‐nutritional factors, thereby offering excellent product quality as compared to the conventionally pasteurized beverages. This might increase the potential for commercialization of blood fruit and also result in the development of a trusted area for startup of this beverage industries, such as iron‐rich fruit beverage (58.16 mg/100) which will again promote better nutritional status, malnutrition free, and better livelihood in the local areas with ample blood fruit availability.
Delayed circadian rhythms in older Africans living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Authors: Redman Kirsten N. , O'Brien Katie E. , Ruiz Francieli S. , Rae Dale E. , Gómez‐Olivé F. Xavier , von Schantz Malcolm , Scheuermaier Karine
Published: October 2022

The increasing number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, (PLWH) have an elevated incidence of risk for noncommunicable comorbidities, the aetiology of which remains incompletely understood. While sleep disturbances are often reported in PLWH, it is unknown to what extent they relate to changes in the circadian and/or sleep homeostatic processes. We studied the relationship between sleep characteristics, circadian phase, and HIV status in older adults from the HAALSI (Health and Ageing in Africa: a Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa) subsample of the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance System in South Africa (n = 187, 36 human immunodeficiency virus positive [HIV+], age: 66.7 ± 11.5 years, range 45—93 years), where HIV prevalence is high and (in contrast to the global north) does not associate significantly with potentially confounding behavioural differences. In participants with valid actigraphy data (n = 172), regression analyses adjusted for age and sex indicated that HIV+ participants had slightly later sleep onset (β = .16, p = .039), earlier sleep offset times (β = −.16, p = .049) and shorter total sleep times (β = −.20, p = .009) compared to the HIV negative (HIV−) participants. In a subset of participants (n = 51, 11 HIV+), we observed a later dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) in HIV+ (21:16 ± 01:47) than in HIV− (20:06 ± 00:58) participants (p = .006). This substantial difference remained when adjusted for age and sex (β = 1.21; p = .006). In 36 participants (6 HIV+) with DLMO and actigraphy data, median phase angle of entrainment was −6 min in the HIV+ group and +1 h 25 min in the HIV− group. DLMO time correlated with sleep offset (ρ = 0.47, p = .005) but not sleep onset (ρ = −0.086, p = .623). Collectively, our data suggest that the sleep phase occurred earlier than what would be biologically optimal among the HIV+ participants. This is the first report of a mistimed circadian phase in PLWH, which has important potential implications for their health and well‐being, especially given the well‐established relationships between circadian asynchrony and sleep deprivation with poorer health outcomes.
Quality and content analysis of female urethroplasty videos on YouTube
Authors: Sahin Yusuf , Paslanmaz Filip , Ulus Ismail , Yilmaz Mehmet , Dincer Muhammet Murat , Muslumanoglu Ahmet Yaser
Published: October 2022

Objectives

In this study, we aimed to analyze scientific quality and content of female urethroplasty videos on YouTube.

Methods

We searched YouTube using the “female urethroplasty”, “female urethral stricture”, and “urethroplasty” keywords on February 22, 2022. The quality and content of videos were analyzed using the Global Quality Score (GQS) and Female Urethroplasty‐Specific Checklist Score (FUSCS) which was developed by our clinic. Video analysis was performed by two independent urologists. The relationship between the video characteristics and GQS and FUSCS was examined.

Results

A total of 38 videos were analyzed. Fourteen (36.8%) videos were uploaded by academic sources such as urology societies and universities/hospitals, while 24 (63.2%) videos were uploaded by urologists. The median GQS was 3 (range, 2–4) and the median FUSCS was 8 (range, 5–9) for all videos. The Cohen's kappa was 0.834 for GQS and 0.899 for FUSCS, indicating a high level of agreement between the observers. The median GQS was 4 (range, 4–5) and the median FUSCS was 9 (range, 8–10) for academic videos, indicating a statistically significantly higher scores than the urologists videos (p = .002 and p < .001, respectively).

Conclusion

Academic videos on female urethroplasty on YouTube have adequate scientific quality and content for both patients and healthcare professionals. The number of videos by academic sources on female urethroplasty should be increased and individuals should be encouraged to search such videos on search engines.
Anchor‐free arbitrary‐oriented construction vehicle detection with orientation‐aware Gaussian heatmap
Authors: Guo Yapeng , Xu Yang , Niu Jin , Li Shunlong
Published: October 2022

Effective detection of arbitrary‐oriented construction vehicles is critical for ensuring construction site safety. Current construction vehicle detection methods are mostly anchor‐based, which require complex manual setting for anchor proposals. This study proposes an anchor‐free network for arbitrary‐oriented construction vehicle detection with an orientation‐aware Gaussian heatmap, which constructs a more appropriate intermediate state and provides more learnable information to accelerate training convergence and improve inference accuracy. The proposed network comprises feature extraction and regression parts. The former is used to extract multilevel features and restore the spatial information of construction vehicles, while the latter regresses the identification tuple including center point position, offset, width, height, and orientation angle in orientation‐aware bounding boxes. Moreover, this study created a multiscale dataset captured from 18 different actual construction sites for training and verification, including 600 images and 1570 construction vehicles. Comparisons with different state‐of‐the‐art methods (including anchor‐based, anchor‐free and segmentation‐based methods) demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Xylem conduit deformation across vascular plants: an evolutionary spandrel or protective valve?
Authors: Zhang Yong‐Jiang , Hochberg Uri , Rockwell Fulton E. , Ponomarenko Alexandre , Chen Ya‐Jun , Manandhar Anju , Graham Adam C. , Holbrook N. Michele
Published: October 2022

The hydraulic system of vascular plants and its integrity is essential for plant survival. To transport water under tension, the walls of xylem conduits must approximate rigid pipes. Against this expectation, conduit deformation has been reported in the leaves of a few species and hypothesized to function as a ‘circuit breaker’ against embolism. Experimental evidence is lacking, and its generality is unknown.

We demonstrated the role of conduit deformation in protecting the upstream xylem from embolism through experiments on three species and surveyed a diverse selection of vascular plants for conduit deformation in leaves.

Conduit deformation in minor veins occurred before embolism during slow dehydration. When leaves were exposed to transient increases in transpiration, conduit deformation was accompanied by large water potential differences from leaf to stem and minimal embolism in the upstream xylem. In the three species tested, collapsible vein endings provided clear protection of upstream xylem from embolism during transient increases in transpiration.

We found conduit deformation in diverse vascular plants, including 11 eudicots, ginkgo, a cycad, a fern, a bamboo, and a grass species, but not in two bamboo and a palm species, demonstrating that the potential for ‘circuit breaker’ functionality may be widespread across vascular plants.
Efficient gene replacement by CRISPR/Cas‐mediated homologous recombination in the model diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana
Authors: Belshaw Nigel , Grouneva Irina , Aram Lior , Gal Assaf , Hopes Amanda , Mock Thomas
Published: October 2022

CRISPR/Cas enables targeted genome editing in many different plant and algal species including the model diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. However, efficient gene targeting by homologous recombination (HR) to date is only reported for photosynthetic organisms in their haploid life‐cycle phase. Here, a CRISPR/Cas construct, assembled using Golden Gate cloning, enabled highly efficient HR in a diploid photosynthetic organism.

Homologous recombination was induced in T. pseudonana using sequence‐specific CRISPR/Cas, paired with a dsDNA donor matrix, generating substitution of the silacidin, nitrate reductase and urease genes by a resistance cassette (FCP:NAT).

Up to c. 85% of NAT‐resistant T. pseudonana colonies screened positive for HR by nested PCR. Precise integration of FCP:NAT at each locus was confirmed using an inverse PCR approach. The knockout of the nitrate reductase and urease genes impacted growth on nitrate and urea, respectively, while the knockout of the silacidin gene in T. pseudonana caused a significant increase in cell size, confirming the role of this gene for cell‐size regulation in centric diatoms.

Highly efficient gene targeting by HR makes T. pseudonana as genetically tractable as Nannochloropsis and Physcomitrella, hence rapidly advancing functional diatom biology, bionanotechnology and biotechnological applications targeted on harnessing the metabolic potential of diatoms.
A behavioral view on responsibility attribution in multi‐level governance: Upward and downward responsibility attribution in response to performance below aspirations
Authors: van der Voet Joris , Rimkutė Dovilė
Published: October 2022

Multi‐level governance systems provide decision‐makers with many avenues for external responsibility attribution in response to lacking performance. This study provides a behavioral perspective that examines responsibility attribution to the national government (upward) and policy implementers (downward) as a function of performance relative to decision‐makers' aspiration levels. The study proposes that perceived accountability increases the propensity of external responsibility attribution, and that decision‐makers' political alignment to actors on other governance levels explains when responsibility is deflected upwards or downwards. Using a survey experiment that presents factual information on youth care overspending to 1086 elected local government officials, the study finds consistent evidence that performance below aspirations increases upward responsibility attribution. Accountability strengthens responsibility attribution for negative performance downward to policy implementers. Finally, responsibility is attributed upward less frequently by decision‐makers who are politically aligned with the national government, but information that signals performance below aspirations attenuates this tendency.
Postanesthesia complications in pediatric patients with previous SARS‐CoV‐2 infection: A cohort study
Authors: Geng‐Ramos Giuliana , Nelson Jonathan , Lee Angela C. , Deutsch Nina , Challa Chaitanya , Pestieau Sophie , Rana Md Sohel , Hubbard Mark , Cronin Jessica A.
Published: October 2022

Background

Children with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection are at increased risk for postanesthesia complications. There is minimal data regarding how long that elevated complication risk persists beyond initial SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis.

Aims

We investigated postanesthesia complications in children with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection within 90 days of diagnosis.

Methods

We completed a single‐center, retrospective, case–control study of pediatric patients with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection within 90 days undergoing anesthesia between January 3–October 7, 2020. Each SARS‐CoV‐2 positive patient was matched 1:2 by age and type of procedure with a non–SARS‐CoV‐2 cohort. The primary outcome was the rate of all postanesthesia complications within 30 days of the procedure, defined as unplanned escalations of care within 48 h, cardiac, respiratory, thrombotic, and hemorrhagic events within 30 days. Secondary outcomes were 30‐day mortality and hospital length of stay.

Results

Of the 341 patients included, 114 patients were SARS‐CoV‐2 positive and 227 were SARS‐CoV‐2 negative. Patients with a positive test 0–7 days prior to anesthesia had an increased risk difference in all postanesthesia complications within 30 days (19.9, 95% CI [4.7, 35.1], p = .001) and increased risk difference in length of hospital stay (7.8, 95% CI [1.2, 14.4], p < .001). Patients who underwent anesthesia greater than 42 days from SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis had an increased risk difference in cardiac complications within 30 days (4.3, 95% CI [0.9, 10.0], p = .029). There was no increased hospital length of stay among SARS‐CoV‐2 positive patients diagnosed greater than 8 days before anesthetic. There were no deaths within 30 days of anesthetic.

Conclusions

Postanesthesia complications are higher in children who undergo anesthesia within 7 days of SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis. Additional cardiac risk may persist beyond the immediate period of initial diagnosis. Larger samples are needed to further evaluate the risk of delayed postanesthesia complications and guide optimal timing of surgery.
Gender, political inclusion, and democracy in Africa: Some empirical evidence
Authors: Nchofoung Tii , Asongu Simplice , Tchamyou Vanessa , Edoh Ofeh
Published: October 2022

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of political inclusion on democracy in Africa. The results of the analyses through ordinary least squares, system generalized method of moments, IV Tobit and instrumental variables two stage least squares show that gender political inclusion enhances democracy in Africa. This result is robust across alternative specifications of political inclusion and democracy. The results equally stood when controlled for colonization and internal conflicts. In terms of policy implications, policy makers in Africa should enhance their fight for political inclusion as one of the gateways to promoting democracy. In this respect, national laws could be put in place which impose gender quotas in political positions in every country. Equally, the African Union could sign a convention on these quotas for respective countries to ratify.

Related Articles

Bingham, Natasha. 2016. “Fighting for Our Cause: The Impact of Women's NGOs on Gender Policy Adoption in Four Former Soviet Republics.” Politics & Policy 44(2): 294–318. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12155.

Hankivsky, Olena. 2013. “Gender Mainstreaming: A Five‐Country Examination.” Politics & Policy 41(5): 629–55. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12037.

Herrick, Rebekah. 2008. “Gender Gap in Early Congressional Retirement.” Politics & Policy 32(3): 294–318. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2004.tb00189.x.
Dimension-Free Mixing for High-Dimensional Bayesian Variable Selection
Authors: Zhou Quan , Yang Jun , Vats Dootika , Roberts Gareth O. , Rosenthal Jeffrey S.
Published: October 2022

Yang et al. proved that the symmetric random walk Metropolis–Hastings algorithm for Bayesian variable selection is rapidly mixing under mild high-dimensional assumptions. We propose a novel Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampler using an informed proposal scheme, which we prove achieves a much faster mixing time that is independent of the number of covariates, under the assumptions of Yang et al. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first high-dimensional result which rigorously shows that the mixing rate of informed MCMC methods can be fast enough to offset the computational cost of local posterior evaluation. Motivated by the theoretical analysis of our sampler, we further propose a new approach called ‘two-stage drift condition’ to studying convergence rates of Markov chains on general state spaces, which can be useful for obtaining tight complexity bounds in high-dimensional settings. The practical advantages of our algorithm are illustrated by both simulation studies and real data analysis.
Upregulation of FOXP3 may act on immunological misbalance in Turner syndrome
Authors: Laranjeira Raysa Samanta Moraes , Oliveira dos Santos Luana , Borborema Maria Eduarda de Albuquerque , Silva Rarysa Ferraz de Almeida e , Bispo Adriana Valéria Sales , de Rezende Duarte Andréa , Araújo Jacqueline , de Azevêdo Silva Jaqueline , Santos Neide
Published: October 2022

Turner syndrome (TS) presents a characteristic immune imbalance among patients. As the X chromosome‐linked FOXP3 gene is a powerful immune regulator, in this work we investigated a possible relationship between FOXP3 and TS. We evaluated 117 TS patients to investigate whether genetic associations within polymorphisms in FOXP3 (rs3761548, rs3761549) were associated with immune conditions. TaqMan Assays genotyping probes were employed in a real‐time PCR‐based method. Subsequently, we compared FOXP3 mRNA expression levels in TS patients and healthy females (control group), using fluorogenic probes through qPCR assay. We detected that the T allele from rs3761549 FOXP3 SNP was significantly associated with chronic inflammatory diseases in TS patients (P = 0.008, OR = 0.17, CI = 0.02‐0.71). Further, we observed an upregulation of FOXP3 mRNA levels in the TS group compared to the HC group (+9.21 FC; P = 2.541 × 10−7). In conclusion, our results demonstrated a differential distribution of the T rs3761549 allele in chronic inflammatory diseases among TS patients, as well as that FOXP3 upregulation may influence appropriate immune or inflammatory regulation in these patients.
A multi‐scale analysis of basketball throw in virtual reality for tracking perceptual‐motor expertise
Authors: Soltani Pooya , Morice Antoine H. P.
Published: October 2022

To benefit from virtual reality (VR) as a complementary tool for training, coaches must determine the proper tools and variables for tracking sports performance. We explored the basketball shooting at several scales (basket‐ball, ball‐player, and player systems) by monitoring success‐rate, and ball and body kinematics. We measured how these scales of analysis allowed tracking players' expertise and perceptual sensitivity to basket distance. Experienced and novice players were instructed to naturally throw and swish an instrumented ball in a stereoscopically rendered virtual basket. We challenged their perceptual‐motor systems by manipulating the distance of the virtual basket while keeping the surrounding environment unchanged. The success‐rate accounted for the players' shooting adjustments to the manipulation of basket distance and allowed tracking their expertise. Ball kinematics also reflected the manipulation of distance and allowed detecting gender, but did not reflect the players' expertise. Finally, body kinematics variables did not echo players' adjustments to the distance manipulation but reflected their expertise and gender. The results gained at each scale of analysis are discussed with regard to the simulator's construct, biomechanical, and psychological fidelity.