bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paediatric autoimmune diseases with ELANE mutations associated with neutropenia
Authors: Zhang Dan , Su Gaixiu , Hao Sheng , Lai Jianming , Feng Shunqiao
Published: April 2023

Objective

To explore the clinical characteristics of autoimmune diseases in children with ELANE mutations.

Methods

Three cases of children with ELANE mutations manifesting as autoimmune diseases, who were under treatment from April 2020 to May 2021, were retrospectively analysed.

Results

Among the three children, two were boys aged 15 years and 22 months (cases 1 and 3) respectively, and the other one was a 22-month-old girl (case 2). All the cases had recurrent infections. Case 1 presented with cyclic neutropenia and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Case 2 presented with severe neutropenia and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AHIA). Case 3 presented with severe neutropenia and anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA)-associated small vasculitis. Genetic tests showed that they all had heterozygous mutations in the ELANE gene. Case 1 was treated with methylprednisolone and hydroxychloroquine sulphate for 2 years, making neutrophil level return to normal. Case 2 received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and has stopped taking antibiotics, steroids and all the immunosuppressors. Case 3 received subcutaneous injections of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, oral prednisone and cyclophosphamide. The boy in case 3 has been followed up for one year, and his absolute neutrophil count has increased to 1.56 × 109/L.

Conclusion

Patients with ELANE mutations, combined with autoimmune diseases, may have recurrent infections. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are effective for autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases with ELANE mutations associated with neutropenia can be cured through allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Metastatic lung tumor from hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus invasion in the pulmonary vein: a case report
Authors: Ohtaka Kazuto , Ohtake Setsuyuki , Ishii Yu , Kaku Saya , Takeuchi Yuta , Mizota Tomoko , Yamamura Yoshiyuki , Ichinokawa Masaomi , Yoshioka Tatsuya , Tamoto Eiji , Murakawa Katsuhiko , Ono Koichi
Published: April 2023

Background

Metastatic lung tumor with a tumor thrombus in the peripheral pulmonary vein is very rare. We present a case of a metastatic lung tumor from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombus invasion in the pulmonary vein that was diagnosed preoperatively and underwent complete resection by segmentectomy.

Case presentation

A 77-year-old man underwent laparoscopic lateral segment hepatectomy for HCC eight years ago. Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II remained elevated from two years ago. Contrast-enhanced chest computed-tomography (CT) showed a 27 mm nodule in the right apical segment (S1). He was pathologically diagnosed with a metastatic lung tumor from HCC via transbronchoscopic biopsy. We planned to perform right S1 segmentectomy. Before surgery, contrast-enhanced CT in the pulmonary vessels phase for three-dimensional reconstruction showed that the tumor extended into the adjusting peripheral pulmonary vein, and we diagnosed tumor thrombus invasion in V1a. The surgery was conducted under 3-port video-assisted thoracic surgery. First, V1 was ligated and cut. A1 and B1 were cut. The intersegmental plane was cut with mechanical staplers. Pathological examination revealed moderately-differentiated metastatic HCC with tumor thrombus invasions in many pulmonary veins, including V1a. No additional postoperative treatments were performed.

Conclusions

As malignant tumors tend to develop a tumor thrombus in the primary tumor, it might be necessary to perform contrast-enhanced CT in the pulmonary vessel phase to check for a tumor thrombus before the operation for metastatic lung tumors.
Co-constructing effective collective intelligence networks in rare diseases: a mixed method approach to identify the parameters that matter for patients, professionals and policy-makers, piloted in Cyprus
Authors: Antoniadou Victoria , Hadjipanayis Adamos
Published: April 2023

Background

Rare diseases are a particular field of public health that is characterized by scattered, often insufficient knowledge and infrastructure. The scarcity of specialized knowledge often forces clinicians and patients to an incomplete picture of the diseases and their associated risks. Effective person-centred networks appear promising for solving such real world and life-defining problems by purposely sourcing expert knowledge that is geographically-dispersed. The design and implementation of the RARE-e-CONNECT network technology is described. The project was funded to create collaborative spaces for the development of international partnerships in Cyprus’ healthcare, promoting the dissemination of expert knowledge on rare diseases while saving resources through teleconsultation. Parameters that matter for patients, providers and policy-makers through the RARE-e-CONNECT experience were evaluated through a participatory mixed-method approach, consisting of (1) a needs assessment survey with 27 patients/families and 26 healthcare professionals at the two referral hospitals for the diagnosis and management of rare diseases in Cyprus; (2) interviews with 40 patients, families and patient representatives, as well as 37 clinicians and laboratory scientists, including national ERN coordinators/members; (3) activity metrics from 210 healthcare professionals and 251 patients/families/patient representatives who participated on the platform at the time of the research.

Results

Our results indicate usage and intention by both healthcare professionals and patients/families to openly provide decentralized specialized information for raising suspicion amongst clinicians to facilitate the necessary referrals, as well as peer to peer psychosocial support to help cope with the everyday challenges of living with the disease. User behavior was largely affected by the prevailing social norm favoring individual practice, as well as missing policies for telemedicine and shared care. This article discusses how telehealth is inextricably linked to social, cultural, organizational, technological and policy factors affecting uptake.

Conclusions

We argue that collective intelligence tools need to be formally considered and work hand in hand with national and European policies/regulatory frameworks to promote proactiveness amongst the healthcare community with regard to the timely diagnosis of rare diseases and the facilitation of patients’ pathway to specialists. Collaborative channels between countries need to be established to source collective intelligence on complex cases and save resources through teleconsultation/telementoring.
Optimization of polymyxin B regimens for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant organism nosocomial pneumonia: a real-world prospective study
Authors: Tang Tiantian , Li Ying , Xu Ping , Zhong Yanjun , Yang Min , Ma Wanjun , Xiang Daxiong , Zhang Bikui , Zhou Yangang
Published: April 2023

Background

Polymyxin B is the first-line therapy for Carbapenem-resistant organism (CRO) nosocomial pneumonia. However, clinical data for its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship are limited. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between polymyxin B exposure and efficacy for the treatment of CRO pneumonia in critically ill patients, and to optimize the individual dosing regimens.

Methods

Patients treated with polymyxin B for CRO pneumonia were enrolled. Blood samples were assayed using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Population PK analysis and Monte Carlo simulation were performed using Phoenix NLME software. Logistic regression analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were employed to identify the significant predictors and PK/PD indices of polymyxin B efficacy.

Results

A total of 105 patients were included, and the population PK model was developed based on 295 plasma concentrations. AUCss,24 h/MIC (AOR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95–0.99, p = 0.009), daily dose (AOR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–0.99, p = 0.028), and combination of inhaled polymyxin B (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.11–0.94, p = 0.039) were independent risk factors for polymyxin B efficacy. ROC curve showed that AUCss,24 h/MIC is the most predictive PK/PD index of polymyxin B for the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia caused by CRO, and the optimal cutoff point value was 66.9 in patients receiving combination therapy with another antimicrobial. Model-based simulation suggests that the maintaining daily dose of 75 and 100 mg Q12 h could achieve ≥ 90% PTA of this clinical target at MIC values ≤ 0.5 and 1 mg/L, respectively. For patients unable to achieve the target concentration by intravenous administration, adjunctive inhalation of polymyxin B would be beneficial.

Conclusions

For CRO pneumonia, daily dose of 75 and 100 mg Q12 h was recommended for clinical efficacy. Inhalation of polymyxin B is beneficial for patients who cannot achieve the target concentration by intravenous administration.
Decentralized and scalable hybrid scheduling-clustering method for real-time applications in volatile and dynamic Fog-Cloud Environments
Authors: Hajvali Masoumeh , Adabi Sahar , Rezaee Ali , Hosseinzadeh Mehdi
Published: April 2023

A major challenge in Cloud-Fog settings is the scheduling of workflow applications with time constraints as the environment is highly volatile and dynamic. Furthermore, adding the complexities of handling IoT nodes, as the major owners of the workflow requests, renders the problem space even harder to address. This paper presents a hybrid scheduling-clustering method for addressing this challenge. The proposed lightweight, decentralized, and dynamic clustering algorithm is based on fuzzy inference with intrinsic support for mobility to form stable and well-sized clusters of IoT nodes while avoiding global clustering and recurrent re-clustering. The proposed distributed method uses Cloud resources along with clusters of mobile and inert Fog nodes to schedule time-constrained workflow applications with considering a proper balance between contradicting criteria and promoting scalability and adaptability. The Velociraptor simulator (version 0.6.7) has been used to throughtly examine and compare the proposed method in real workloads with two contemporary and noteworthy methods. The evaluation results show the superiority of the proposed method as the resource utilization is about 20% better and the schedule success rate is almost 21% better compared with the two other methods. Also, other parameters such as throughput and energy consumption have been studied and reported.
Obese-associated gut microbes and derived phenolic metabolite as mediators of excessive motivation for food reward
Authors: de Wouters d’Oplinter Alice , Verce Marko , Huwart Sabrina J. P. , Lessard-Lord Jacob , Depommier Clara , Van Hul Matthias , Desjardins Yves , Cani Patrice D. , Everard Amandine
Published: April 2023

Background

Excessive hedonic consumption is one of the main drivers for weight gain. Identifying contributors of this dysregulation would help to tackle obesity. The gut microbiome is altered during obesity and regulates host metabolism including food intake.

Results

By using fecal material transplantation (FMT) from lean or obese mice into recipient mice, we demonstrated that gut microbes play a role in the regulation of food reward (i.e., wanting and learning processes associated with hedonic food intake) and could be responsible for excessive motivation to obtain sucrose pellets and alterations in dopaminergic and opioid markers in reward-related brain areas. Through untargeted metabolomic approach, we identified the 3-(3’-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid (33HPP) as highly positively correlated with the motivation. By administrating 33HPP in mice, we revealed its effects on food reward.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that targeting the gut microbiota and its metabolites would be an interesting therapeutic strategy for compulsive eating, preventing inappropriate hedonic food intake.
Using eye-tracking and retrospective verbal reports to explore the cognitive processes of banked gap-filling: a case study featuring methodological triangulation
Authors: Yang Chengsong
Published: April 2023

This study made triangulated use of eye-tracking and retrospective verbal reports (RVRs) to compare the banked gap-filling processes of two same-scorers and those of a top scorer and a bottom scorer. The two same-scorers differed in their cognitive effort on global and local processing, fluency of choice making, and strategy use when completing the task and half of the mutual correct responses. Contrary to findings from previous studies, the top scorer exerted much greater effort on global and local processing than the bottom scorer, in her pursuit of perfection, and she reported much less use of syntax analysis as a strategy. The findings of this study increase our understanding of individual differences in the cognitive processes of English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) reading and test-taking and prove the value of in-depth, multi-faceted process research. Featuring the use of heatmaps, eye-tracking metrics, choice-making graphs, gaze plots, and RVRs, this study also responds to an emergent concern in language assessment about how the enormous process data can be handled effectively. Implications for testing and learning EFL reading are further developed.
Immune checkpoint inhibition mediated with liposomal nanomedicine for cancer therapy
Authors: Ma Guang-Long , Lin Wei-Feng
Published: April 2023

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy for cancer has achieved great success both in clinical results and on the market. At the same time, success drives more attention from scientists to improve it. However, only a small portion of patients are responsive to this therapy, and it comes with a unique spectrum of side effects termed immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The use of nanotechnology could improve ICBs’ delivery to the tumor, assist them in penetrating deeper into tumor tissues and alleviate their irAEs. Liposomal nanomedicine has been investigated and used for decades, and is well-recognized as the most successful nano-drug delivery system. The successful combination of ICB with liposomal nanomedicine could help improve the efficacy of ICB therapy. In this review, we highlighted recent studies using liposomal nanomedicine (including new emerging exosomes and their inspired nano-vesicles) in associating ICB therapy.
Defender self-efficacy and moral disengagement on social support and bystander behaviors among primary school students: a multilevel moderated mediation model
Authors: Wu Yuping , Zhou Yanfang , Shi Leishan
Published: April 2023

This study examines the influence of social support on bystander behaviors, the mediating and moderating effects of moral disengagement and defender self-efficacy at the individual and class levels, and their cross-level interaction. A total of 1310 children in grades 4–6 completed our questionnaire survey at four-time points between October and December in 2021. The questionnaires include the Scale of Perceived Social Support (T1), Moral Disengagement Scale (T2), Defender Self-Efficacy Scale (T3), and Bullying Participant Behaviors Questionnaire (T4). The multilevel moderated mediating model results show that (1) social support negatively predicts reinforcer and outsider behavior and positively predicts defender behavior; (2) defender self-efficacy plays a mediating role between social support and defender behavior, moral disengagement plays a mediating role between social support and bystander behaviors, and defender self-efficacy and moral disengagement play a chain mediation role between social support and bystander behavior; (3a) class-level defender self-efficacy has a direct impact on defender behavior and moderates the relationship between individual defender self-efficacy and reinforcer behavior; and (3b) class-level moral disengagement has a direct impact on defender and outsider behavior and a cross-level moderated role between individual moral disengagement and reinforcer behavior. These results show that the individual and class level defender self-efficacy and moral disengagement can influence the bystander behavior of primary school students, which is of great significance for schools to develop anti-bullying moral education courses and design measures to improve students’ anti-bullying self-efficacy.
The negative impact of atrial fibrillation, and other common cardiac risk factors on cognition
Authors: Oraby Mohammed I. , Soliman Rasha H. , Hussein Mona , Ibrahim Hanan Mohamed M. , ElMonem Noha A. Abd
Published: April 2023

Background

Accumulating evidence has suggested that atrial fibrillation might play a role in the pathogenesis of vascular cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cognitive functions and to determine the pattern of cognitive impairment in stroke-free patients, with AF and other cardiac risk factors (pulmonary hypertension and diastolic dysfunction). 55 patients, diagnosed with AF and 40 matched normal controls underwent psychometric tests, including the Modified Mini-Mental State examination test, PALT test, BVRT test, Token test, Trail B test, and PASAT test. MRI of the brain was performed for the patients to exclude brain infarction and a cardiological assessment included electrocardiography and echocardiogram. All patients had confirmed diagnosis of AF in the last 12 months and 43 patients had pulmonary hypertension.

Results

AF patients had significant impairment (p-value 0.009) in different cognitive domains (verbal, visual memory and working memory), compared to controls. Patients with pulmonary hypertension had a significant impairment in receptive language skills, working memory, attention, and arithmetic capabilities.

Conclusion

AF stroke-free patients and patients with pulmonary hypertension had significant impairment in different cognitive domains.
Adult-onset hypothalamic hamartoma: origin of epilepsy?
Authors: Han Wenjie , Jiang Che , Qi Zijuan , Xiang Wei , Lin Jian , Zhou Youtian , Li Zhensheng , Deng Bingmei
Published: April 2023

Background

Hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) is a congenital non-progressive lesion of hypothalamus during fetal development. Mass-like lesions in different anatomical locations often develop a variously disabling course presenting with cognitive decline, psychiatric symptoms, as well as multiple seizure types. As a rare disease, HH is relatively common in infants and children, but it is extremely rare in adults.

Case presentation

We reported a case of adult-onset hypothalamic hamartoma, and summarized and analyzed relevant reports and studies of HH worldwide. The patient had clinical manifestations characterized by multiple seizure forms. After stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation and drug treatment, the condition was effectively controlled. The patient was followed up till October 2022, with no recurrence of seizures.

Conclusions

Epilepsy caused by HH can resemble that of temporal lobe seizures, as HH forms a complex epileptogenic network with other regions of the brain through anatomical and functional connections. Early treatment of HH can provide better control of the symptoms of epilepsy, and patients with longer disease courses may have more complications.
The effect of e-health interventions on meeting the needs of individuals with infertility: a narrative review
Authors: Hamidzadeh Azam , Salehin Shahrbanoo , Naseri Boori Abadi Tahereh , Chaman Reza , Mogharabian Naser , Keramat Afsaneh
Published: April 2023

Background

The mental health and well-being of millions of people worldwide are negatively impacted by infertility. A promising solution to meet the needs of people suffering from infertility is e-health interventions, such as online counseling and support groups. This study aims to review the current literature on e-health interventions and how they impact people with infertility.

Main body of the abstract

Relevant studies were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Articles were entered into the EndNote software and screened for duplicates and relevance. Two authors then reviewed full-text articles independently, with a third person resolving any disagreements. Thirteen studies conducted between 2007 and 2022 were identified. The interventions aimed to meet various needs, including training on drug use (n= 23), lifestyle modifications (n= 1), periconceptional behavior modifications (n= 1), drug management (n= 1), IVF training (n= 4), psychological support to reduce distress (n= 4), and promoting a positive sexual self-concept (n= 1).

Short conclusion

The limited number of e-health interventions for infertile patients, the heterogeneity of interventions, and the lack of long-term effectiveness data make it challenging to compare e-health interventions to nonelectronic alternatives. However, the increasing use of technology in healthcare, especially during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, suggests that e-health educational interventions such as those using the Internet, psychological support, and patient interaction will continue to play a crucial role in healthcare.
Comparative study of adult tonsillectomy in two methods: harmonic scalpel and classical surgery
Authors: Bagherihagh Ali , Najarzadeh Ahmad Ali , Taheri Abolfazl , Saeedi Masoumeh , Hasanalifard Mahdieh
Published: April 2023

Background

Tonsillectomy is a common surgery to treat tonsillitis. In addition to cold dissection methods, other new methods are also used for tonsillectomy which has several advantages. We compared the cold dissection methods and the harmonic scalpel method and investigated the complications of both methods.

Methods

This is a descriptive analytical study on 50 patients in the population of 18 to 60 years who had tonsillectomy conditions based on the inclusion criteria. These patients were divided into two groups, harmonic scalpel method and cold dissection methods, and the duration of the operation, the amount of bleeding during the operation, the pain on the first, fourth, and seventh days after the operation, and the bleeding after the operation were measured in them.

Results

In this study, 36 men and 14 women were examined. The duration of surgery and the amount of bleeding during surgery were significantly less in the harmonic scalpel method group than in the cold dissection methods group (P = 0.000). Postoperative pain on days 1 and 4 after surgery was significantly less in the harmonic scalpel method group than in the cold dissection methods group (P = 0.047).

Conclusion

According to this study, the amount of bleeding and length of surgery were less in the harmonic scalpel method group. The pain on the first and fourth days after surgery was less in the harmonic group, but the pain on the seventh day was not significantly different from the cold dissection group.
FERONIA and reactive oxygen species: regulators in the self-incompatibility response and in interspecific pollination
Authors: Song Zihan , Zhong Sheng , Qu Li-Jia
Published: April 2023

Graphical Abstract
How to recognize a trustworthy clinical practice guideline
Authors: Lima João Pedro , Mirza Reza D. , Guyatt Gordon H.
Published: April 2023

Trustworthy clinical practice guidelines represent a fundamental tool to summarize relevant evidence regarding a set of clinical choices and provide guidance for making optimal clinical decisions. Clinicians must differentiate between guidelines that provide trustworthy evidence guidance and those that do not. We present six questions clinicians should ask when evaluating a guideline’s trustworthiness. (1) Are the recommendations clear?; (2) Have the panelists considered all alternatives?; (3) Have the panelists considered all patient-important outcomes?; (4) Is the recommendation based on an up-to-date systematic review?; (5) Is the strength of the recommendation compatible with the certainty of the evidence?; (6) Might conflicts of interest influence the recommendations? If yes, were they managed? Once the conclude they are dealing with a trustworthy guideline, clinicians must gain an understanding of the transparent evidence summary that the guideline will offer, and judge the applicability of trustworthy recommendations to their patients and settings. Consideration of the circumstances and values and preferences of patients will be crucial for all weak or conditional recommendations.
Managing epilepsy in people with intellectual disabilities – creating capable communities
Authors: Shankar Rohit
Published: April 2023

Almost a quarter of people with intellectual disabilities have epilepsy. This life-long condition adversely affects their health, safety and well-being and carries an increased risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in this population. This commentary considers what not only health and social services but also communities and people with intellectual disabilities themselves can do to improve outcomes.
AMPK and the Endocrine Control of Metabolism
Authors: Townsend Logan K , Steinberg Gregory R
Published: April 2023

Complex multicellular organisms require a coordinated response from multiple tissues to maintain whole-body homeostasis in the face of energetic stressors such as fasting, cold, and exercise. It is also essential that energy is stored efficiently with feeding and the chronic nutrient surplus that occurs with obesity. Mammals have adapted several endocrine signals that regulate metabolism in response to changes in nutrient availability and energy demand. These include hormones altered by fasting and refeeding including insulin, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1, catecholamines, ghrelin, and fibroblast growth factor 21; adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin; cell stress–induced cytokines like tumor necrosis factor alpha and growth differentiating factor 15, and lastly exerkines such as interleukin-6 and irisin. Over the last 2 decades, it has become apparent that many of these endocrine factors control metabolism by regulating the activity of the AMPK (adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase). AMPK is a master regulator of nutrient homeostasis, phosphorylating over 100 distinct substrates that are critical for controlling autophagy, carbohydrate, fatty acid, cholesterol, and protein metabolism. In this review, we discuss how AMPK integrates endocrine signals to maintain energy balance in response to diverse homeostatic challenges. We also present some considerations with respect to experimental design which should enhance reproducibility and the fidelity of the conclusions.
Narrative Review: Is There a Transfusion Cutoff Value After Which Nonsurvivability Is Inevitable in Trauma Patients Receiving Ultramassive Transfusion?
Authors: Kim Jennie S. , Casem Christleen F. , Baral Erika , Inaba Kenji , Kuza Catherine M.
Published: April 2023

The institution of massive transfusion protocols (MTPs) has improved the timely delivery of large quantities of blood products and improves patient outcomes. In recent years, the cost of blood products has increased, compounded by significant blood product shortages. There is practical need for identification of a transfusion volume in trauma patients that is associated with increased mortality, or a threshold after which additional transfusion is futile and associated with nonsurvivability. This transfusion threshold is often described in the setting of an ultramassive transfusion (UMT). There are few studies defining what constitutes amount or outcomes associated with such large volume transfusion. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an analysis of existing literature examining the effects of UMT on outcomes including survival in adult trauma patients and to determine whether there is a threshold transfusion limit after which mortality is inevitable. Fourteen studies were included in this review. The data examining the utility of UMT in trauma are of poor quality, and with the variability inherent in trauma patients, and the surgeons caring for them, no universally accepted cutoff for transfusion exists. Not surprisingly, there is a trend toward increasing mortality with increasing transfusions. The decision to continue transfusing is multifactorial and must be individualized, taking into consideration patient characteristics, institution factors, blood bank supply, and most importantly, constant reevaluation of the need for ongoing transfusion rather than blind continuous transfusion until the heart stops.
Black Feminist Geohaptics and the Broken Earth
Authors: Tanaka Shouhei
Published: April 2023

This article examines how literary imaginaries of the haptic in Black speculative fiction attend to the racial politics of the Anthropocene and the centrality of sensory praxis to ecological thought. Reading Alexis Pauline Gumbs’s M Archive and N. K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy, the article considers how ecological touch—or what Erin Robinsong calls geohaptics—emerges as a central literary trope that imagines new forms of sensory wayfinding and worldmaking that unearth and contest the epoch’s racial ecologies of power. Expanding the concept’s uses and forms, what the article terms Gumbs’s and Jemisin’s Black feminist geohaptics crafts new political forms of sensory dwelling and planetary futures of environmental liberation for Black life. Sense, these works show, makes legible and transforms the Anthropocene’s geographies of power, unearthing how the categories of the human, inhuman, and more than human are generated and mobilized within the matrix of domination. Their works articulate the production of Black women’s geographies within and against the racial, patriarchal, and colonial Anthropocene, orienting sense and touch as central political figurations for anticolonial and abolitionist ecological thought.
Teaching for a Habitable Future with Octavia Butler’sParable of the Sower
Authors: Katopodis Christina
Published: April 2023

This essay draws on the author’s experiences teaching in the fall of 2020 and serving as associate director of the City University of New York’s Transformative Learning in the Humanities initiative to propose and describe an “environmental” or “habitable pedagogy” for the twenty-first century.
Intersurgeon Variability in Local Treatment Planning for Patients with Initially Unresectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases: Analysis of the Liver Expert Panel of the Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group
Authors: Bond Marinde J. G. , Kuiper Babette I. , Bolhuis Karen , Komurcu Aysun , van Amerongen Martinus J. , Chapelle Thiery , Dejong Cornelis H. C. , Engelbrecht Marc R. W. , Gerhards Michael F. , Grünhagen Dirk J. , van Gulik Thomas , Hermans John J. , de Jong Koert P. , Klaase Joost M. , Kok Niels F. M. , Leclercq Wouter K. G. , Liem Mike S. L. , van Lienden Krijn P. , Molenaar I. Quintus , Neumann Ulf P. , Patijn Gijs A. , Rijken Arjen M. , Ruers Theo M. , Verhoef Cornelis , de Wilt Johannes H. W. , Kazemier Geert , May Anne M. , Punt Cornelis J. A. , Swijnenburg Rutger-Jan
Published: April 2023

Background

Consensus on resectability criteria for colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) is lacking, resulting in differences in therapeutic strategies. This study evaluated variability of resectability assessments and local treatment plans for patients with initially unresectable CRLM by the liver expert panel from the randomised phase III CAIRO5 study.

Methods

The liver panel, comprising surgeons and radiologists, evaluated resectability by predefined criteria at baseline and 2-monthly thereafter. If surgeons judged CRLM as resectable, detailed local treatment plans were provided. The panel chair determined the conclusion of resectability status and local treatment advice, and forwarded it to local surgeons.

Results

A total of 1149 panel evaluations of 496 patients were included. Intersurgeon disagreement was observed in 50% of evaluations and was lower at baseline than follow-up (36% vs. 60%, p < 0.001). Among surgeons in general, votes for resectable CRLM at baseline and follow-up ranged between 0–12% and 27–62%, and for permanently unresectable CRLM between 3–40% and 6–47%, respectively. Surgeons proposed different local treatment plans in 77% of patients. The most pronounced intersurgeon differences concerned the advice to proceed with hemihepatectomy versus parenchymal-preserving approaches. Eighty-four percent of patients judged by the panel as having resectable CRLM indeed received local treatment. Local surgeons followed the technical plan proposed by the panel in 40% of patients.

Conclusion

Considerable variability exists among expert liver surgeons in assessing resectability and local treatment planning of initially unresectable CRLM. This stresses the value of panel-based

decisions, and the need for consensus guidelines on resectability criteria and technical approach to prevent unwarranted variability in clinical practice.
Optimal site selection of electric vehicle charging stations exploiting multi-criteria decision analysis: The case of Greek municipalities
Authors: Sarmas Elissaios , Skaloumpakas Panagiotis , Kafetzis Nikolaos , Spiliotis Vangelis , Lekidis Alexios , Marinakis Vangelis , Doukas Haris
Published: April 2023

The opportunities created in the Greek electric vehicle (EV) market have allowed potential investors to participate in the development of the EV charging infrastructure of the country. Yet, the decision process of relevant stakeholders for strategic investments is challenging, involving the identification of the most promising charging sites from a set of multiple alternative locations of various features that may significantly affect their business competitive advantage. This paper attempts to facilitate decision making in such settings using a comprehensive, yet thorough multi-criteria decision analysis framework. The proposed approach is validated considering ten Greek municipalities of different characteristics. The results show- case the overall strengths of the proposed approach and its utility in the strategic planning process of potential investors.
Diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis: A systematic review and accuracy meta-analysis of non-invasive tests available in primary care
Authors: Bainton Thomas , Jeyapala Sobanakumari , Zamora Javier , Khan Khalid S , Raza Amer
Published: April 2023

Background: Endometriosis is a chronic, often debilitating condition with a current significant delay from symptom onset to diagnosis with much of this in primary care.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the primary literature was conducted to investigate the accuracy of symptoms, clinical history and first-line non-invasive tests to predict pelvic endometriosis (PROSPERO: CRD42020187543). We searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus from conception (1966; 1972; 1997; 2004 respectively) to September 2022 for primary test accuracy studies assessing non-invasive tests against reference standard diagnosis for endometriosis. Two authors independently conducted data extraction and quality assessment. Grading of evidence was performed using a novel visual pentagon model. Meta-analyses of test accuracy was estimated using bivariate random effects models.

Results: The 125 included studies (250,574 participants) showed mixed quality. Studies applying non-surgical (database/self-reporting) reference standard had a greater risk of bias. In 98 studies applying surgical reference standard, summary diagnostic odds ratios for endometriosis were: dysmenorrhoea 2.56 (95% confidence interval 1.99-3.29); pelvic pain 2.56 (1.73-3.74); dyschezia 2.05 (1.36-3.10); dyspareunia 2.45 (1.71-3.52); family history of endometriosis 6.79 (4.08-11.3); nulligravidity of 2.01 (1.62-2.50); body mass index (BMI) ≥30kg/m2 0.37 (0.19-0.68); trans-vaginal ultrasound scan (TVUSS) endometrioma 91.2 (44.0-189); TVUSS invasive endometriosis 26.1 (9.28-73.5); and cancer antigen-125 (CA-125) >35U/mL 16.0 (8.09-31.7). Sensitivity analysis excluding all high-risk studies found concordant results.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis collated the performance of non-invasive tests for endometriosis across a comprehensive and geographically varied population. Study quality was mixed, however results were consistent with high-risk studies excluded. These findings will inform future prediction models for triage in primary care.
The identification of high-performing antibodies for Vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 35 (hVPS35) for use in Western Blot, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence
Authors: Ayoubi Riham , Fotouhi Maryam , Southern Kathleen , McPherson Peter S. , Laflamme Carl ,   NeuroSGC/YCharOS/EDDU collaborative group,   ABIF consortium
Published: April 2023

Vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 35 is a subunit of the retromer complex, a vital constituent of the endosomal protein sorting pathway. The D620N mutation in theVPS35gene has been reported to be linked to type 17 Parkinson’s Disease progression, the exact molecular mechanism remains to be solved. The scientific community would benefit from the accessibility of validated and high-quality anti-hVPS35 antibodies. In this study, we characterized thirteen hVPS35 commercial antibodies for Western Blot, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence using a standardized experimental protocol based on comparing read-outs in knockout cell lines and isogenic parental controls. We identified many high-performing antibodies and encourage readers to use this report as a guide to select the most appropriate antibody for their specific needs.
Exploring the barriers and enablers experienced by people with Cystic Fibrosis and their healthcare professionals in accessing, utilising and delivering maternity and Cystic Fibrosis care during the pre-conception to post-partum period: A mixed methods systematic review protocol.
Authors: Balfe Jen , Donnelly Jennifer , Tecklenborg Sarah , Walsh Aisling
Published: April 2023

Background

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive inherited multi-system disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. New drug therapies and treatments are improving the lives of many people with CF. With improved life expectancy and increased quality of life, many people with CF are now contemplating parenthood and becoming pregnant, an aspiration that decades ago was almost unheard of. Given this quickly evolving and more positive health landscape, it is vital to understand how people with CF experience the care they receive whilst accessing and utilising fertility and maternity services. It is also important to explore the experiences of healthcare professionals involved in providing care during this period. The overall aim of the mixed-methods systematic review will be to explore the barriers and enablers experienced by people with CF and the healthcare professionals involved in their care in the pre-conception to post-partum period.

Methods

The proposed review will be conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for convergent integrated mixed methods systematic reviews. A systematic search of Medline (Ebsco), Cinahl, Embase, APA PsychINFO and Cochrane Library from inception to February 2022 will be conducted. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies pertaining to the experience of pre-conception to post-partum care for people with CF and their healthcare professionals will be included. Two independent reviewers will screen titles, abstracts and full texts with disagreements being resolved by a third reviewer.

Conclusion

This review will help to determine the potential barriers and facilitators experienced by people with Cystic Fibrosis and the health care professionals involved in their care during the pre-conception to post-partum period. The results will be of benefit specifically to the CF population and their healthcare providers when planning further studies in the area of fertility and pregnancy for this population and when delivering care.
Idealized hydrodynamical numerical model dataset with no-river runoff at the western tropical North Atlantic
Authors: Varona Humberto L. , Araujo Julia , Araujo Moacyr , Silva Marcus
Published: April 2023

The western tropical North Atlantic (WTNA) is a very complex region, with the influence of intense western boundary currents in connection with equatorial zonal currents, important atmospheric forcings (e.g Intertropical Convergence Zone), mesoscale activities (e.g NBC rings), and the world’s largest river discharge as the Amazon River runoff. The volume discharge is equivalent to more than one-third of the Atlantic river freshwater input, with a plume that spreads over the region reaching the northwestward Caribbean Sea and eastward longitudes of 30°W, and influencing from physical to biological structures. Therefore, in order to enable and encourage more understanding of the region, here we present a dataset based on an idealized scenario of no river runoff of the Amazon River and Par ́a River in the WTNA. The numerical simulations were conducted with a regional oceanic modeling system (ROMS) model and three pairs of files were generated with the model outputs: (i) ROMS-files, with the parameters of the ROMS-outputs raw data in a NetCDF format and monthly and weekly frequencies; (ii) MATLAB-files, which contain oceanographic parameters also in monthly and weekly frequencies; and (iii) NetCDF-files, with oceanographic parameters again in monthly and weekly frequencies. For each file, we present the coordinates and variable names, descriptions, and correspondent units. The dataset is available in the Science Data Bank repository (doi: https://doi.org/10.57760/sciencedb.02145)
Wind envelope amplitude data at 300 hPa for the study of atmospheric waves in the Southern Hemisphere during austral summer
Authors: Pérez Iago , Barreiro Marcelo
Published: April 2023

Background: Understanding the atmospheric processes linked to the development of weather extremes like heatwaves, extreme rainfall, etc, is key to mitigate future damages caused by these phenomena. One of the atmospheric processes associated to the development of these events are Rossby wave packets, which are meanders of the strong westerly winds that travels in the upper atmosphere.

Methods: In order to track and characterize these wave packets, the wind envelope amplitude of the packet is calculated. In this document we describe two wind envelope amplitude at 300 hPa (V300env) datasets obtained from ERA 5 and NCEP-DOE2 reanalyses for the Southern hemisphere during the austral summer, as well as the methodology followed to obtain the datasets.

Conclusions: We expect that this database will help the study of atmospheric waves in the southern hemisphere, thus, facilitating studies that focus on understanding atmospheric dynamical processes associated to extreme weather events development.
The Endowment Model and Modern Portfolio Theory
Authors: Dimmock Stephen G. , Wang Neng , Yang Jinqiang
Published: April 2023

We develop a dynamic portfolio choice model with illiquid alternative assets to analyze the “endowment model,” widely adopted by institutional investors, such as pension funds, university endowments, and sovereign wealth funds. In the model, the alternative asset has a lockup but can be liquidated at any time by paying a proportional cost. We model how investors can engage in liquidity diversification by investing in multiple illiquid alternative assets with staggered lockup expirations and show that doing so increases alternatives allocations and investor welfare. We show how illiquidity from lockups interacts with illiquidity from secondary market transaction costs resulting in endogenous and time-varying rebalancing boundaries. We extend the model to allow crisis states and show that increased illiquidity during crises causes holdings to deviate significantly from target allocations.

This paper was accepted by Bruno Biais, finance.

Funding: S. G. Dimmock gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Singapore Ministry of Education [Grant R-315-000-133-133]. N. Wang gratefully acknowledges support from CKGSB Research Institute. J. Yang gratefully acknowledges the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 71772112, 71972122, and 72072108], Innovative Research Team of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics [Grant 2016110241], and Shuguang Program of Shanghai Education Development Foundation and Shanghai Municipal Education Commission.

Supplemental Material: Data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4759 .
Meeting report: the 2022 British Adult Congenital Cardiac Nurses Association Annual Conference
Authors: Swift Hannah , Habibi Hajar , Anthony James , Vernon Sheena , Shaughnessy Lynda , Griffiths Linda , Lyon Joy , Mercaldi Rebecca , Simpson Maggie
Published: April 2023

In this month's BANCC column, Hannah Swift and colleagues provide an overview and brief discussion of last year's British Adult Congenital Cardiac Nurses Association Annual Conference.
The effect of land management and organic matter inputs on bacterial population and soil nutrients across different types of agroforestry system
Authors: RINADY MAYDELLA VISTA PUTRI , NURAINI YULIA , PRAYOGO CAHYO , ARFARITA NOVI
Published: April 2023

Abstract. Rinady MVP, Nuraini Y, Prayogo C, Arfarita N. 2023. The effect of land management and organic matter inputs on bacterial population and soil nutrients across different types of agroforestry system. Biodiversitas 24: 1333-1345. Different management of agroforestry systems changes crop composition and growth. This will affect organic matter inputs that become the source of food and energy for soil microorganisms. The soil organisms themself play an important role in amplifying soil biogeochemical processes and regulating soil reactions. This process allows the nutrients to be released into the soil and absorbed by the crop. This study aimed to examine the abundance of soil bacterial population and the changes in soil chemical properties (soil pH, total soil organic carbon (C), and total soil N (Nitrogen) under different land management and organic matter inputs. The determination of total organic C and total soil N was used by Walkey and Black and Kjedahl methods. Total Plate Count (TPC) techniques were employed to measure Total Bacteria Population (TBP) and Total Cellulolytic Bacteria (TCB). The Randomized Complete Block Design was used along with the 5% Tukey's test to examine the significant effect of the treatments. These treatments consisted of various agroforestry system as follow: (i) pine-coffee agroforestry system (PK), (ii) pine-banana agroforestry system (PPs), (iii) pine-cardamom agroforestry system (PR), (iv) pine-vegetable agroforestry system (PS), (v) mixed garden (KC), and (vi) citrus (LJ). Each treatment was repeated four times to obtain 24 experimental plots using a size of 20 m x 20 m. The results showed that the highest organic C and N content was obtained at the PK (agroforestry of pine at 41 years and coffee at 11 years old) plot, which was about 6.64% and 0.56%. Those parameters strongly correspond to the greatest soil bacteria population and soil cellulolytic bacteria population at the value of 1,71 x 105 CFU/g and 4,24 x 104 CFU/g, resulting from the greatest quantity of in-situ litter accumulation at PK plot to reach about 201.35 g. The dry weight value of litter in situ at the PK plot is greater than that of the PS and LJ plots by 81% and 87%. A power equation followed the relationship between soil organic C and the total bacteria population. A similar trend has been observed between total soil Nitrogen and total bacteria population. We concluded that changes in different management could affect soil chemical conditions and the changes in the total population of soil bacteria and cellulolytic soil bacteria.