bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental Degradation and Economic Growth: A Longitudinal Analysis Across Different Income Group Countries
Authors: Kumar Piyali , Datta Soumyendra Kishore
Published: November 2023

This study attempts to analyse the relation of ecological footprint (EF) and air pollutants—CO2, N2O, SO2 and CH4—with economic growth, urbanisation, foreign direct investment and energy consumption through environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) framework by employing fixed/random effect model. It involves a panel of 55 selected countries from several income groups—high, middle and low—covering the period 1990–2018. A theoretical approach has been developed to analyse the pollution intensity of population, based on decomposition analysis coherent with application of the notion of Kaya identity. The results confirmed the existence of inverted U-shaped relationship for EF and SO2 in all types of countries. The pollutants—CO2, N2O and CH4—exhibit inverse U-shaped EKC in middle- and low-income countries. Only for high-income countries, N2O model detects the existence of U-shaped curve. The study suggests that reconsideration of some economic and environmental policies is necessary to mitigate environmental degradation issues.

JEL Codes: Q54, O4, O21, Q43, Q56
Need Fulfillment During Intergroup Contact: Three Experience Sampling Studies
Authors: Kreienkamp Jannis , Agostini Maximilian , Bringmann Laura F. , de Jonge Peter , Epstude Kai
Published: November 2023

One challenge of modern intergroup contact research has been the question of when and why an interaction is perceived as positive and improves intergroup relations. We propose to consider the perceived fulfillment of the situationally most relevant need. We conducted three intensive longitudinal studies with recent migrants to capture their interactions with the majority out-group ( Nmeasurements = 10,297; Nparticipants = 207). The situational need fulfillment mechanism is consistently a strong predictor of perceived interaction quality and positive out-group attitudes following intergroup interactions. The model is specific to out-group contact, robust to various need types, and works at least as well as Allport’s contact conditions. As one of the first studies to test intergroup contact theory using intensive longitudinal data, we offer insight into the mechanisms of positive intergroup contact during real-life interactions and find situational motivations to be a key building block for understanding and addressing positive intergroup interactions.

Public significance statement: In this article, we provide evidence that the fulfillment of situational needs during real-life intergroup contacts meaningfully predicts perceived interaction quality and positive outgroup attitudes. Methodologically, this offers a testament to the emerging practice of capturing real-life interactions using intensive longitudinal data. Theoretically, our results give weight to motivational fulfillment as a flexible and effective mechanism for understanding positive intergroup contact.
Online misinformation and everyday ontological narratives of social distinction
Authors: Hall Natalie-Anne , Chadwick Andrew , Vaccari Cristian
Published: November 2023

Most research into online misinformation has investigated its direct effects—the impact it may have on citizens’ beliefs and behavior. Much less attention has been paid to how citizens themselves make sense of misinformation as a broader social problem. We integrate theories of narrative, identity, cultural capital, and social distinction to examine how people construct the problem of misinformation and their orientation to it. We show how people engage in everyday ontological narratives of social distinction. These involve making a variety of discursive moves to position one’s “taste” in information consumption as superior to others constructed as lower in a social hierarchy. This serves to enhance social status by separating oneself from misinformation, which is presented as “other people’s problem.” We argue that these narratives have significant implications not only for citizens’ vigilance toward misinformation but also their receptiveness to interventions by policymakers, fact-checkers, news organizations, and media educators.
Real-world effectiveness of fremanezumab for the preventive treatment of migraine: Interim analysis of the pan-European, prospective, observational, phase 4 PEARL study
Authors: Ashina Messoud , Mitsikostas Dimos D. , Amin Faisal Mohammad , Kokturk Pinar , Schankin Christoph J. , Sahin Gurdal , Pozo-Rosich Patricia , Dorman Paul J. , Nežádal Tomáš , Poole Anne Christine , Martins Isabel Pavão , Sumelahti Marja-Liisa , Ramirez Campos Verena , Ahn Andrew H. , Lyras Leonidas , Tassorelli Cristina
Published: November 2023

Background

The ongoing Pan-European Real Life (PEARL) phase 4 study is evaluating fremanezumab effectiveness and safety for the prevention of episodic and chronic migraine. This interim analysis reports primary, secondary and exploratory endpoints from when 500 participants completed at least six months of treatment.

Methods

Adults with episodic migraine or chronic migraine maintaining daily headache diaries were enrolled upon initiation of fremanezumab. Primary endpoint: proportion of participants with ≥50% reduction in monthly migraine days during the six-month period after fremanezumab initiation. Secondary endpoints: mean change from baseline across months 1–12 in monthly migraine days, acute migraine medication use, and headache-related disability. Exploratory endpoint: mean change in headache severity from baseline across months 1–12. Safety was assessed through adverse events reported.

Results

Overall, 897 participants were enrolled and 574 included in the effectiveness analyses (episodic migraine, 25.8%; chronic migraine, 74.2%). Of participants with data available, 175/313 (55.9%) achieved ≥50% monthly migraine days reduction during the six-month period post-initiation. Across months 1–12, there were sustained reductions in mean monthly migraine days, acute medication use, disability scores, and headache severity. Few adverse events were reported.

Conclusion

PEARL interim results support the effectiveness and safety of fremanezumab for migraine prevention in a real-world population across several European countries. Trial registration: encepp.eu: EUPAS35111
Development and psychometric properties of the Reproductive Health Assessment in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Mixed-Methods study
Authors: Behboodi Moghadam Zahra , Zareiyan Armin , Faezi Seyedeh Tahereh , Rezaei Elham
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with a high morbidity rate (7% in general and 325/100.000 in reproductive period) was known as “the mother of autoimmune diseases.” But healthcare providers hadn't reliable scales to measure the effectiveness of interventions to improve reproductive health. Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) express concern about a significant gap in their reproductive and sexual health during medical care due to the lack of a specific scale to measure this concept. This study developed psychometrically specific scale to evaluate this concept in Iranian women.

Methods

The study utilized a sequential-exploratory mixed-methods design, wherein the concept of reproductive health was clarified during the qualitative phase using conventional content analysis (inductive-deductive) to create a pool of RHASLE (Reproductive Health Assessment in SLE) items. During the psychometric process, the face, content, and construct validities of the RHASLE were checked with 650 individuals (320 using exploratory factor analysis [EFA] and 330 using confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]) through interviews and completion of the questionnaire. Convergent and divergent validities were then checked, and the reliability was assessed through stability and internal consistency. Finally, the measurement error, responsiveness, and interpretability of the scale were evaluated and confirmed.

Results

The study's findings revealed that the RHASLE consisted of 5 factors (33 items): physical-psychological disorder (13 items), relaxing feeling (6 items), spirituality (3 items), high-risk pregnancies (5 items), and sexual satisfaction (6 items). These factors explained a total of 99.97% of the variance in the concept of reproductive health. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the good model fit, and its validity and reliability were deemed acceptable.

Conclusion

The RHASLE consisted of 27 items with high internal consistency, stability, responsiveness, and interpretability. That was able to get approval of Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. Based on the results, RHASLE is a valid and reliable multidimensional scale that encompasses various aspects of reproductive health (physical, sexual, psychological, social, and spiritual).
Cash or m-Payment? The Dilemma of Payment Behaviour During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Graziano Elvira Anna , Leonelli Lucia , Petroccione Gerardo , Stella Gian Paolo
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic represented an unexpected shock to the global economy, with a significant impact on business and consumer behaviour, particularly on spending and payments. This article aims to identify the drivers affecting consumers’ payment behaviour in Italy during the COVID-19 lockdown. We develop an empirical study, using structural equation modelling on data collected from 2,872 consumers in the period May 2020–June 2020 through the computer-assisted web interviewing methodology. A robustness check is run with an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis. The findings highlight the positive and significant effect of COVID-19 worries on consumers’ payment behaviour. The uniqueness of this work derives from the creative approach with which it investigates the financial and social consequences of the COVID-19 crisis and focuses on possible solutions to encourage the adoption of innovative tools.
Education Policy Imaginary and Crises: The Case of EdTech and the COVID-19 Crisis
Authors: Sayed Yusuf , Chandran Meera , Pappu Rekha
Published: November 2023

Crises manifest in diverse ways and among the various effects that ensue, educational provisioning is impacted. Crises may result in significant shifts in how education figures in the policy imaginary. The COVID-19 crisis marks one such moment that decisively shaped the education policy imaginary. EdTech came to be seen as a global solution enabling education to continue in an uninterrupted manner. This new imaginary is distinct from the pre-pandemic models (that sought to integrate digital technologies into education in a phased manner) in that EdTech can be packaged, personalised, platformed and made available to consumers at their convenience and capacity to pay for devices and resources. The note thus tracks the emergence during the COVID-19 crisis of an education policy imaginary that is built around EdTech and argues for the need to critically review it, given how such policy responses can and do reveal and exacerbate the existing inequities in education.
Avoiding the China shock: How Chinese state-backed internationalization drives changes in European economic governance
Authors: Gräf Helena , Schmalz Stefan
Published: November 2023

The state-backed internationalization of Chinese companies has led to conflicts in the EU over potential market distortions and security concerns. The EU has responded to this challenge with increasing state intervention and defensive measures in trade and investment regulation, competition policy, and industrial policy. Drawing on comparative capitalisms research and Neo-Gramscian perspectives on European integration, we analyze how European economic governance has changed under the pressure of Chinese competition. Based on 31 semi-structured expert interviews and a document analysis, this exploratory study examines the EU’s response in these policy fields. We observe a gradual, albeit contested change of European Economic Governance in two phases since 2017, primarily driven by a new “China-threat-coalition” in Germany. We argue that there is no overall paradigm shift in the neoliberal mode of European integration, but there are nonetheless significant changes as new “filter functions” have emerged that tend to “bypass” EU economic governance and filter out “market-distorting” state-capitalist influences.
How southern is Southern criminology in Latin America?
Authors: Galleguillos Sebastián
Published: November 2023

Criminological research published in Latin America has received limited attention in global debates. Inspired by the Southern criminology project, in this article I aim to fill this gap by describing the main features of articles published in Latin America and exploring to what extent these publications reflect the core elements posited by Southern criminologists. To this end, I propose a novel operationalization of Southern criminology coding topics and theoretical frameworks using a dataset I compiled with articles published in 2020 in Latin America (N = 230). The results show that most of the articles are non-empirical and almost half of them are Southern articles. Also, the findings suggest that when articles adopt a Southern theoretical framework, almost all of them are non-empirical. I conclude by discussing the results within the larger context of Latin American academia, arguing for the need to expand empirical approaches to achieve the goals of Southern criminology.
Improvement of airflow uniformity and noise reduction with optimized V-shape configuration of perforated plate in the air distributor
Authors: Liu Zhe , Sun Bohua , Cui Haihang , Huang Minghua
Published: November 2023

The air distributor is the end component of the ventilation system, and its performance directly determines the comfortable and pleasant feeling of the residence. A perforated plate can be added to the air distributor to convert dynamic pressure into static pressure first and then distribute the air flow, which provides better self-adjustment compared with the embedded guide vane structure. However, the perforated plate can lead to a contradiction between head loss, noise and distribution uniformity. To reconcile this problem, a novel V-shape configuration of the perforated plate was put forward in this study. The internal flow and aeroacoustic properties of different types of perforated plates were systematically studied, and a full-scale test platform was built to verify the flow characteristics. The effects of hole size and installation position of the perforated plate on the uniform distribution of air flow were analyzed by the parametric analysis method. Then, the sound pressure level of the optimized perforated plate air distributor was further analyzed. The results show that, with the optimized perforated plate structure, the uniform flow performance was improved by about 30% and the overall sound pressure level was reduced by up to 12 dB.
The Amanuensis Hypothesis in New Testament Scholarship: Its Origin, Evidential Basis, and Application
Authors: Williams Travis B.
Published: November 2023

For centuries, the authorship claims of certain New Testament epistles have been defended by postulating the use of a secretary. According to the amanuensis hypothesis, secretaries in the Greco-Roman world were afforded varying degrees of compositional freedom during the letter-writing process. Proponents of this view maintain that such a consideration invalidates the practice of making authenticity judgments based on the style or even content of a given letter. To better understand the merits and limitations of the amanuensis hypothesis, this article outlines its earliest formulations, traces the development of its evidential basis, and examines the various ways it has been applied within modern authorship debates.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Full Practice Authority, Provider Supply, and Health Outcomes: A Border Analysis
Authors: Bae Kihwan , Norris Conor , Shakya Shishir , Timmons Edward
Published: November 2023

Due to a growing physician shortage, patients have difficulty accessing primary care. In an effort to expand access and support patient health, many states are reducing barriers for advanced practice registered nurses to provide primary care without physician collaboration. Maryland provides an interesting case study. We leverage Maryland's policy change to explore the effects of full practice authority (FPA), focusing on the number of professionals and health outcomes for patients. Employing a border county comparison between Maryland and Pennsylvania, we estimate the effect of FPA. Our analysis of health outcomes focuses on three county-level health outcomes: poor or fair health, poor mental health days, and preventable hospital stays. We find that FPA is associated with increases in the number of certified nurse midwives by 0.6 per 100,000 residents and nurse practitioners by 22.4 per 100,000 residents. We also find evidence of an association of FPA with reductions in the share of residents who report being in poor or fair health by 2.8 percentage points and poor mental health days per month by 0.354 days per person. Combined, our results provide suggestive evidence that moving to FPA improves access to care and leads to improved health outcomes for Maryland residents. Removing regulatory barriers that prevent certified nurse midwives and nurse practitioners from working to the full extent of their training may increase access to primary care and improve patient outcomes.
Seizure Detection Devices in Children: One Step Closer
Authors: Joshi Charuta
Published: November 2023

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Participatory Evaluation of a Direct Payment Program for Equity in Dementia Care in Nova Scotia, Canada: A Study Protocol
Authors: Reid-Musson Emily , Aubrecht Katie , Kelly Christine , Embrett Mark G. , Hallstrom Lars K. , Hamilton-Hinch Barbara , Johnson Shanthi , Knocton Shala , Lawrence Logan , MacDonald Marilyn , Mah Jasmine , Marier Patrik , Moody Elaine , Sim Meaghan
Published: November 2023

Nova Scotia's Supportive Care Program (SCP) is an individualized funding program that provides funds for people living with dementia (PLWD) or acquired brain injuries to purchase basic home care services such as personal care, respite, cleaning and cooking. The SCP has the potential to address the Quintuple Aim of enhancing care experience, improving population health, reducing costs, improving provider experience and improving health equity, yet qualitative evidence is lacking. The aim of this study is to use participatory program evaluation methods to evaluate the SCP and consider how effective it is in addressing the Quintuple Aim. The study objectives and corresponding methods are to (1) Co-develop a SCP logic model to guide the evaluation through consultations with a diverse group of stakeholders including PLWD, caregivers, care providers, researchers, government representatives, and nongovernment organizations, with attention to gender; (2) Evaluate the SCP based on the outcomes and outputs identified in the logic model using focus groups with PLWD, caregivers and home care providers, and interviews with PLWD and their caregivers; and (3) Mobilize knowledge about the ways the SCP addresses the Quintuple Aim through integrated knowledge translation activities with public, policy and research audiences. By focusing on clinically and socially vulnerable populations of PLWD and caregivers, the proposed evaluation of the SCP offers a valuable case in assessing the effectiveness of individually-funded home care in addressing the Quintuple Aim including health equity within the context of dementia care.
Paediatric trigger fingers: a 47-year experience
Authors: Wan Rou , Sarcon Aida K. , Pommer Paula Pino , Mundell Benjamin F. , Zhao Chunfeng , Moran Steven L.
Published: November 2023

Paediatric trigger finger is rare compared to adult trigger finger or paediatric trigger thumb, and the aetiology is unclear. Proposed causes include local trauma, anatomical anomalies and systemic conditions. The aim of the present study was to detail the anatomical causes of surgically treated paediatric trigger fingers and provide an operative algorithm based on the anatomical findings. A total of 76 trigger fingers in 38 patients were identified retrospectively at our institution between 1975 and 2022. In total, 41 fingers in 26 patients had anatomical variations. A nodular thickening on the tendon, similar to Notta’s nodule in trigger thumbs, was the most common anatomical cause. Abnormal decussation of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon was the second most common variation. The recurrence rate was significantly lower after resection of one slip of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon compared to other surgical techniques in these patients. We recommend that surgeons assess for possible anatomical variation during surgery for the trigger finger.

Level of evidence: IV
An unusually indolent well-differentiated Wilson-Jones angiosarcoma: A case report
Authors: Rohr Eliana , Laverde-Saad Alexandra , Zargham Hanieh , Chergui May , Watters Kevin , Balbul Alfred
Published: November 2023

Cutaneous angiosarcomas are rare soft tissue tumours originating from hematogenous vasculature that are aggressive and carry a poor prognosis. We describe the case of a 73-year-old man with a low-grade well-differentiated angiosarcoma. Our case distinguishes itself from those previously reported in the slow progression and important delay to the presentation of 30 months and survival time of 5.5 years. Additionally, its severe clinical appearance (T2 stage) but milder pathological picture (T1 stage) is very uncommon. A repeat biopsy is warranted when results are inconclusive and there is a high clinical suspicion of angiosarcoma.
Association Between Arterial Stiffness and Measures of Autonomic Dysfunction in People With Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Davies Rachelle , Wiebe Natasha , Brotto Andrew , Stickland Michael K. , Braam Branko , Thompson Stephanie
Published: November 2023

Background:

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction and vascular stiffness increase cardiovascular risk in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Chronic elevations in sympathetic activity can lead to increased arterial stiffness; however, the relationship between these variables is unknown in CKD.

Objective:

To explore the association between measures of autonomic function and arterial stiffness in patients with moderate-to-severe CKD.

Methods:

This study was a prespecified secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. This included the following measures: 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP), carotid-femoral and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWV), and postexercise heart rate recovery (HRR). We used mixed effect linear regression models with Bayesian information criteria (BIC) to assess the contribution of ANS measurements.

Results:

Forty-four patients were included in the analysis. Mean carotid-femoral and carotid-radial PWV were 7.12 m/s (95% CI 6.13, 8.12) and 8.51 m/s (7.90, 9.11), respectively. Mean systolic dipping, calculated as percentage change in mean systolic readings from day to night, was 10.0% (95% CI 7.79, 12.18). Systolic dipping was independently associated with carotid-radial PWV, MD −0.09 m/s (95% CI −0.15, −0.02) and had the lowest BIC.

Conclusions:

Systolic dipping was associated with carotid-radial PWV in people with moderate-to-severe CKD; however, there was no association with carotid-femoral PWV. Systolic dipping may be a feasible surrogate of ANS function, as the association with carotid-radial PWV was consistent with the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Future studies are needed to define the relationship between ANS function, arterial stiffness, and CV events over time in people with CKD.
Finnish supervised probationary freedom as support for a desistance from crime
Authors: Järveläinen Eeva , Rantanen Teemu , Toikko Timo
Published: November 2023

Electronic monitoring enables different, more transparent and open ways of enforcing sentences. This study examines Finnish Supervised Probationary Freedom (SPF) from the perspective of a desistance from crime. We analyze what meanings sentenced people give to SPF in terms of their desistance from crime, adopting the viewpoints of moderate social constructionism and rhetorical analysis. The research data was collected from interviews of 26 people who had experience with SPF. According to the results, SPF supervision and participation in SPF activities can create a framework for practicing a crime- and drug-free life. The person’s own desire to desist is the starting point. Support provided by prison and probation employees appears to be central to the construction of a new identity. Support from social work is necessary to complete SPF, and NGO support enhances reintegration into society during the SPF. However, the opportunities on offer for reentry are limited.
Impact of Financial Education on Financial Wellness During COVID-19
Authors: Bhojak Nimesh P. , Modi Ashwin G. , Jani Dhimen , Momin Mohammadali
Published: November 2023

The study intentions to examine the result of getting financial education through the workshop on the financial wellness of people during the COVID-19. Primary data are collected from the participants of a Financial Education workshop in India. The study contained 996 respondents for research using the Personal Financial Well-Being Scale (PFWS) questionnaire from the respondents before and after participating in the workshop. Using Hayes’ macro process model and SPSS, the study tested mediation (financial behavior) and moderation (financial education). All the independent variables were encouraging effect on financial wellness by taking the financial behavior and participation of the respondent as the mediator and moderator variables. The independent variables of subjective aspects such as financial stress, situation, and condition have a more significant effect on financial wellness. This study indicates that policymakers and financial regulatory institutions should improve FE to improve financial behavior and wellness during a crisis for individual and economic well-being.
Short-Form HIV Disability Questionnaire Sensibility, Utility, and Implementation Considerations in Community-Based Settings: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: O’Brien Kelly K. , Ibáñez-Carrasco Francisco , Solomon Patricia , Chan Carusone Soo , Stewart Ann , Bayoumi Ahmed M. , Brown Darren A. , Quigley Adria , Ahluwalia Puja , Erlandson Kristine M. , Vera Jaime H. , Bergin Colm , Hanna Steven E. , Swinton Marilyn , Torres Brittany , McDuff Kiera , Da Silva George , Bradford Glen , Islam Shaz , Price Colleen , Lindsay Joanne D. , Murray Carolann , McClellan Natalia , Krizmancic Katrina , Anand Praney , Yates Tammy , Baltzer Turje Rosalind , McDougall Patrick , Maksimcev Vladislava Vlatka , Harding Richard
Published: November 2023

Purpose: We assessed the sensibility, utility, and implementation considerations of the Short-Form HIV Disability Questionnaire (SF-HDQ) in community-based settings. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study with adults living with HIV and community providers in seven community sites in Canada. We administered the SF-HDQ, a sensibility questionnaire and conducted semi-structured interviews. The SF-HDQ was sensible if median scores were ≥5/7(adults living with HIV) and ≥4/7(community providers) for ≥80% of the sensibility questionnaire items. Qualitative interview data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Median sensibility scores were ≥5 for adults living with HIV (n = 44) and ≥4 for community providers (n = 10) for 95% and 100% of items, respectively. The SF-HDQ is comprehensive, represented disability, captured its episodic nature, and was easy to complete. Community utility included: facilitating communication and engagement with community; taking a snapshot of disability and tracking changes over time; guiding referrals; fostering self-reflection; and informing community programs. Considerations for implementation included flexible, person-centered approaches to mode and processes of administration, and communicating scores based on personal preferences among persons living with HIV. Conclusion: The SF-HDQ possesses sensibility and utility for use in community-based settings.
Book review: Dwarka Bharti, A Rebellious Cobbler
Authors: Ranjan Alok , Shuchi
Published: November 2023

Dwarka Bharti, A Rebellious Cobbler. Panther’s Paw Publication, 2023, 126 pp., ₹499 (Hardcover). ISBN: 978818194399551.*
Genome-scale metabolic models reveal determinants of phenotypic differences in non-Saccharomyces yeasts
Authors: Pettersen Jakob P. , Castillo Sandra , Jouhten Paula , Almaas Eivind
Published: November 2023

Background

Use of alternative non-Saccharomyces yeasts in wine and beer brewing has gained more attention the recent years. This is both due to the desire to obtain a wider variety of flavours in the product and to reduce the final alcohol content. Given the metabolic differences between the yeast species, we wanted to account for some of the differences by using in silico models.

Results

We created and studied genome-scale metabolic models of five different non-Saccharomyces species using an automated processes. These were: Metschnikowia pulcherrima, Lachancea thermotolerans, Hanseniaspora osmophila, Torulaspora delbrueckii and Kluyveromyces lactis. Using the models, we predicted that M. pulcherrima, when compared to the other species, conducts more respiration and thus produces less fermentation products, a finding which agrees with experimental data. Complex I of the electron transport chain was to be present in M. pulcherrima, but absent in the others. The predicted importance of Complex I was diminished when we incorporated constraints on the amount of enzymatic protein, as this shifts the metabolism towards fermentation.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that Complex I in the electron transport chain is a key differentiator between Metschnikowia pulcherrima and the other yeasts considered. Yet, more annotations and experimental data have the potential to improve model quality in order to increase fidelity and confidence in these results. Further experiments should be conducted to confirm the in vivo effect of Complex I in M. pulcherrima and its respiratory metabolism.
Probable human origin of the SARS-CoV-2 polybasic furin cleavage motif
Authors: Romeu Antonio R.
Published: November 2023

Background

The key evolutionary step leading to the pandemic virus was the acquisition of the PRRA furin cleavage motif at the spike glycoprotein S1/S2 junction by a progenitor of SARS-CoV-2. Two of its features draw attention: (i) it is absent in other known lineage B beta-coronaviruses, including the newly discovered coronaviruses in bats from Laos and Vietnam, which are the closest known relatives of the covid virus; and, (ii) it introduced the pair of arginine codons (CGG-CGG), whose usage is extremely rare in coronaviruses. With an occurrence rate of only 3%, the arginine CGG codon is considered a minority in SARS CoV-2. On the other hand, Laos and Vietnam bat coronaviruses contain receptor-binding domains that are almost identical to that of SARS-CoV-2 and can therefore infect human cells despite the absence of the furin cleavage motif.

Results

Based on these data, the aim of this work is to provide a detailed sequence analysis between the SARS-CoV-2 S gene insert encoding PRRA and the human mRNA transcripts. The result showed a 100% match to several mRNA transcripts. The set of human genes whose mRNAs match this S gene insert are ubiquitous and highly expressed, e.g., the ATPase F1 (ATP5F1) and the ubiquitin specific peptidase 21 (USP21) genes; or specific genes of target organs or tissues of the SARS-CoV-2 infection (e.g., MEMO1, SALL3, TRIM17, CWC15, CCDC187, FAM71E2, GAB4, PRDM13). Results suggest that a recombination between the genome of a SARS-CoV-2 progenitor and human mRNA transcripts could be the origin of the S gene 12-nucleotide insert encoding the S protein PRRA motif.

Conclusions

The hypothesis of probable human origin of the SARS-CoV-2 polybasic furin cleavage motif is supported by: (i) the nature of human genes whose mRNA sequence 100% match the S gene insert; (ii) the synonymous base substitution in the arginine codons (CGG-CGG); and (iii) further spike glycoprotein PRRA-like insertions suggesting that the acquisition of PRRA may not have been a single recombination event.
Identification of plasmids in avian-associated Escherichia coli using nanopore and illumina sequencing
Authors: Sanderson Haley , McCarthy Madeline C. , Nnajide Chinenye R. , Sparrow Jessica , Rubin Joseph E. , Dillon Jo-Anne R. , White Aaron P.
Published: November 2023

Background

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) are the causative agents of colibacillosis in chickens, a disease which has significant economic impact on the poultry industry. Large plasmids detected in APEC are known to contribute to strain diversity for pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance, but there could be other plasmids that are missed in standard analysis. In this study, we determined the impact of sequencing and assembly factors for the detection of plasmids in an E. coli whole genome sequencing project.

Results

Hybrid assembly (Illumina and Nanopore) combined with plasmid DNA extractions allowed for detection of the greatest number of plasmids in E. coli, as detected by MOB-suite software. In total, 79 plasmids were identified in 19 E. coli isolates. Hybrid assemblies were robust and consistent in quality regardless of sequencing kit used or if long reads were filtered or not. In contrast, long read only assemblies were more variable and influenced by sequencing and assembly parameters. Plasmid DNA extractions allowed for the detection of physically smaller plasmids, but when averaged over 19 isolates did not significantly change the overall number of plasmids detected.

Conclusions

Hybrid assembly can be reliably used to detect plasmids in E. coli, especially if researchers are focused on large plasmids containing antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors. If the goal is comprehensive detection of all plasmids, particularly if smaller sized vectors are desired for biotechnology applications, the addition of plasmid DNA extractions to hybrid assemblies is prudent. Long read sequencing is sufficient to detect many plasmids in E. coli, however, it is more prone to errors when expanded to analyze a large number of isolates.
Development and evaluation of an anesthesia module for electronic medical records in the operating room: an applied developmental study
Authors: Jokar Marjan , Sahmeddini Mohammad Ali , Zand Farid , Rezaee Rita , Bashiri Azadeh
Published: November 2023

Developing an anesthesia module in the operating room is one of the significant steps toward the implementation of electronic medical records (EMR) in health care centers. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the web based-anesthesia module of an electronic medical record Sciences, in the operating room of the Namazi Medical Training Center of Shiraz University of Medical Iran. This developmental and applied study was conducted in steps including determining the functional and non-functional requirements, designing and implementing the anesthesia module, and usability evaluation. 3 anesthesiologists, 3 anesthesiologist assistants, and 12 anesthetist nurses were included in the study as a research community. React.js, Node.js programming language to program this module, Mongo dB database, and Windows server for data management and USE standard questionnaire were used. In the anesthesia module, software quality features were determined as functional requirements and non-functional requirements included 286 data elements in 25 categories (demographic information, surgery information, laboratory results, patient graphs, consults, consent letter, physical examinations, medication history, family disease records, social record, past medical history, type of anesthesia, anesthesia induction method, airway management, monitoring, anesthesia chart, blood and fluids, blood gases, tourniquets and warmers, accessories, positions, neuromuscular reversal, transfer the patient from the operating room, complications of anesthesia and, seal/ signature). Also, after implementing the anesthesia module, results of the usability evaluation showed that 69.1% of the users agreed with the use of this module in the operating room and considered it user-friendly.
Advanced lung cancer inflammation index combined with geriatric nutritional risk index predict all-cause mortality in heart failure patients
Authors: Shi Tao , Wang Yan , Peng Yunzhu , Wang Meifen , Zhou Yanji , Gu Wenyi , Li Yanyan , Zou Jie , Zhu Na , Chen Lixing
Published: November 2023

Background

This study was undertaken to explore the predictive value of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) combined with the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) for all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure (HF).

Methods and results

We enrolled 1123 patients with HF admitted to our cardiology department from January 2017 to October 2021. Patients were divided into four groups, according to the median ALI and GNRI. From the analysis of the relationship between the ALI and GNRI, we concluded that there was a mild positive linear correlation (r = 0.348, p < 0.001) and no interaction (p = 0.140) between the ALI and GNRI. Kaplan‒Meier analysis showed that the cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality in patients with HF was highest in Group 1 (log-rank χ2 126.244, p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that ALI and GNRI were independent predictors of all-cause mortality in HF patients (ALI: HR 0.407, 95% CI 0.296–0.560, p < 0.001; GNRI: HR 0.967, 95% CI 0.954–0.980, p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for ALI combined with GNRI was 0.711 (p < 0.001), according to the time-dependent ROC curve.

Conclusion

ALI and GNRI were independent predictors of all-cause mortality in HF patients. Patients with HF had the highest risk of all-cause mortality when the ALI was < 24.60 and the GNRI was < 94.41. ALI combined with the GNRI has good predictive value for the prognosis of HF patients.
Diagnosing Fabry nephropathy: the challenge of multiple kidney disease
Authors: Esposito Pasquale , Caputo Carmela , Repetto Monica , Somaschini Alberto , Pietro Bellone , Colomba Paolo , Zizzo Carmela , Parodi Angelica , Zanetti Valentina , Canepa Marco , Eustachi Virginia , Sanguineri Francesca , Mandich Paola , Viazzi Francesca
Published: November 2023

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked inherited lysosomal disorder due to a deficiency of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A (α-gla) due to mutations in the GLA gene. These mutations result in plasma and lysosome accumulation of glycosphingolipids, leading to progressive organ damage and reduced life expectancy. Due to the availability of specific disease-modifying treatments, proper and timely diagnosis and therapy are essential to prevent irreversible complications. However, diagnosis of FD is often delayed because of the wide clinical heterogeneity of the disease and multiple organ involvement developing in variable temporal sequences. This observation is also valid for renal involvement, which may manifest with non-specific signs, such as proteinuria and chronic kidney disease, which are also common in many other nephropathies. Moreover, an additional confounding factor is the possibility of the coexistence of FD with other kidney disorders. Thus, suspecting and diagnosing FD nephropathy in patients with signs of kidney disease may be challenging for the clinical nephrologist. Herein, also through the presentation of a unique case of co-occurrence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and FD, we review the available literature on cases of coexistence of FD and other renal diseases and discuss the implications of these conditions. Moreover, we highlight the clinical, laboratory, and histological elements that may suggest clinical suspicion and address a proper diagnosis of Fabry nephropathy.
The trajectory of a range of commonly captured symptoms with standard care in people with kidney failure receiving haemodialysis: consideration for clinical trial design
Authors: Hnynn Si Pann Ei , Hernández-Alava Mónica , Dunn Louese , Wilkie Martin , Fotheringham James
Published: November 2023

Background

Despite the recognized high symptom prevalence in haemodialysis population, how these symptoms change over time and its implications for clinical practice and research is poorly understood.

Methods

Prevalent haemodialysis patients in the SHAREHD trial reported 17 POS-S Renal symptoms (none, mild, moderate, severe and overwhelming) at baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months. To assess the prevalence change at population level in people reporting moderate or worse symptoms at baseline, the absolute change in prevalence was estimated using multi-level mixed effects probit regression adjusting for age, sex, time on haemodialysis and Charlson Comorbidity Score. To assess changes at individual level, the proportion of people changing their symptom score every 6 months was estimated.

Results

Five hundred fifty-two participants completed 1725 questionnaires at four timepoints. Across all 17 symptoms with moderate or worse symptom severity at baseline, the majority of the change in symptom prevalence at population level occurred in the ‘severe’ category. The absolute improvement in prevalence of the ‘severe’ category was ≤ 20% over 18 months in eleven of the seventeen symptoms despite a large degree of relatively balanced movement of individuals in and out of severe category every six months. Examples include depression, skin changes and drowsiness, which had larger proportion (75–80%) moving in and out of severe category each 6 months period but < 5% difference between movement in and out of severe category resulting in relatively static prevalence over time. Meanwhile, larger changes in prevalence of > 20% were observed in six symptoms, driven by a 9 to 18% difference between movement in and movement out of severe category. All symptoms had > 50% of people in severe group changing severity within 6 months.

Conclusions

Changes in the severity of existing symptoms under standard care were frequent, often occurring within six months. Certain symptoms exhibited clinically meaningful shifts at both the population and individual levels. This highlighted the need to consider improvements in symptom severity when determining sample size and statistical power for trials. By accounting for potential symptom improvements with routine care, researchers can design trials capable of robustly detecting genuine treatment effects, distinguishing them from spontaneous changes associated with standard haemodialysis.
Economic burden of in-hospital AKI: a one-year analysis of the nationwide French hospital discharge database
Authors: Monard Céline , Rimmelé Thomas , Blanc Esther , Goguillot Mélanie , Bénard Stève , Textoris Julien
Published: November 2023

Background

Although Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) incidence is increasing worldwide, data investigating its cost are lacking. This population-wide study aimed to describe the characteristics and costs of hospital stays with, and without AKI, and to estimate the AKI-associated increases in costs and length of stay (LOS) in three subgroups (major open visceral surgery (MOV), cardiovascular surgery with extracorporeal circulation (CVEC), and sepsis).

Methods

All hospital stays that occurred in France in 2018 were included. Stay and patient characteristics were collected in the French hospital discharge database and described. Medical conditions were identified using the 10th International Classification of Diseases and the medical acts classification. In each subgroup, the adjusted increase in cost and LOS associated with AKI was estimated using a generalized linear model with gamma distribution and a log link function.

Results

26,917,832 hospital stays, of which 415,067 (1.5%) with AKI, were included. AKI was associated with 83,553 (19.8%), 7,165 (17.9%), and 15,387 (9.2%) of the stays with sepsis, CVEC, and MOV, respectively. Compared to stays without AKI, stays with AKI were more expensive (median [IQR] €4,719[€2,963-€7782] vs. €735[€383-€1,805]) and longer (median [IQR] 9[4–16] vs. 0[0–2] days). AKI was associated with a mean [95%CI] increase in hospitalization cost of 70% [69;72], 48% [45;50], and 68% [65;70] in the sepsis, CVEC, and MOV groups respectively, after adjustment.

Conclusion

This study confirms the major economic burden of in-hospital AKI in a developed country. Interventions to prevent AKI are urgently needed and their cost should be balanced with AKI-related costs.
The association between trimethylamine N-oxide levels and ischemic stroke occurrence: a meta-analysis and Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Hu Xinhua , Ren Haiyan , Cao Yuan
Published: November 2023

Background

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), an intestinal microbiota-derived choline metabolite, has been found to be associated with ischemic stroke (IS) in more and more studies. However, the causal role of TMAO on IS occurrence remains perplexing.

Methods

We comprehensively screened the related clinical studies on PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. Case-control and cohort studies that reported the TMAO levels of both IS patients and healthy controls were included, and the risk of bias was assessed according to the criteria by the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine in Oxford, UK. A meta-analysis of the retrieved publications was performed with a random-effect model to analyze the connection between TMAO levels and IS events. Besides, a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to study the causal effect of TMAO on IS, with pooled data of TMAO and IS obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The following methods were used: MR-Egger, weighted median, inverse-variance weighted, simple mode, and weighted mode. The study has been registered in INPLASY (Registration number: INPLASY2023100027).

Results

Eight cohort or case-control studies covering 2444 cases and 1707 controls were identified. The pooled data indicated that the IS patients tended to have higher TMAO levels compared with the controls (mean difference: 1.97 μM; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87, 3.07; P = 0.0005), while distinctive heterogeneity (I2 = 96%, P < 0.00001) was observed. Sub-group analysis revealed that the heterogeneity of the studies might be derived from the studies themselves. However, no causal effect of TMAO on IS was observed (P > 0.05) in the Mendelian randomization analysis of this study.

Conclusion

We confirmed that IS patients tend to have higher TMAO levels than healthy individuals, while our findings of MR analysis did not support the causal role of TMAO in IS occurrence. Therefore, more studies are required for a better understanding of the relationship between TMAO levels and IS onset.