bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leaders of war: modelling the evolution of conflict among heterogeneous groups
Authors: Sankey D. W. E. , Hunt K. L. , Croft D. P. , Franks D. W. , Green P. A. , Thompson F. J. , Johnstone R. A. , Cant M. A.
Published: April 2022

War, in human and animal societies, can be extremely costly but can also offer significant benefits to the victorious group. We might expect groups to go into battle when the potential benefits of victory (
V
) outweigh the costs of escalated conflict (
C
); however,
V
and
C
are unlikely to be distributed evenly in heterogeneous groups. For example, some leaders who make the decision to go to war may monopolize the benefits at little cost to themselves (‘exploitative’ leaders). By contrast, other leaders may willingly pay increased costs, above and beyond their share of
V
(‘heroic’ leaders). We investigated conflict initiation and conflict participation in an ecological model where single-leader–multiple-follower groups came into conflict over natural resources. We found that small group size, low migration rate and frequent interaction between groups increased intergroup competition and the evolution of ‘exploitative’ leadership, while converse patterns favoured increased intragroup competition and the emergence of ‘heroic’ leaders. We also found evidence of an alternative leader/follower ‘shared effort’ outcome. Parameters that favoured high contributing ‘heroic’ leaders, and low contributing followers, facilitated transitions to more peaceful outcomes. We outline and discuss the key testable predictions of our model for empiricists studying intergroup conflict in humans and animals.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Intergroup conflict across taxa’.
Turkana warriors’ call to arms: how an egalitarian society mobilizes for cattle raids
Authors: Mathew Sarah
Published: April 2022

Humans are able to overcome coordination and collective action problems to mobilize for large-scale intergroup conflict even without formal hierarchical political institutions. To better understand how people rally together for warfare, I examine how the politically decentralized Turkana pastoralists in Kenya assemble raiding parties. Based on accounts of 54 Turkana battles obtained from semi-structured interviews with Turkana warriors, I describe the precipitating factors, recruitment process, exhortations and leadership involved in marshalling a raiding party. Details of this ethnographic case shed light on how voluntary informal armies are mobilized, and illustrate how culturally evolved institutions harness our cooperative dispositions at multiple scales to produce large-scale warfare.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Intergroup conflict across taxa’.
Environmental stress increases out-group aggression and intergroup conflict in humans
Authors: De Dreu Carsten K. W. , Gross Jörg , Reddmann Lennart
Published: April 2022

Peaceful coexistence and trade among human groups can be fragile and intergroup relations frequently transition to violent exchange and conflict. Here we specify how exogenous changes in groups' environment and ensuing carrying-capacity stress can increase individual participation in intergroup conflict, and out-group aggression in particular. In two intergroup contest experiments, individuals could contribute private resources to out-group aggression (versus in-group defense). Environmental unpredictability, induced by making non-invested resources subject to risk of destruction (versus not), created psychological stress and increased participation in and coordination of out-group attacks. Archival analyses of interstate conflicts showed, likewise, that sovereign states engage in revisionist warfare more when their pre-conflict economic and climatic environment were more volatile and unpredictable. Given that participation in conflict is wasteful, environmental unpredictability not only made groups more often victorious but also less wealthy. Macro-level changes in the natural and economic environment can be a root cause of out-group aggression and turn benign intergroup relations violent.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Intergroup conflict across taxa’.
Ablation of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Hyperintensity Clusters and Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Improves Seizure Outcomes after Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy
Authors: Kim Min Jae , Hwang Brian , Mampre David , Negoita Serban , Tsehay Yohannes , Sair Haris , Kang Joon Y. , Anderson William S.
Published: April 2022

Objective

MR-guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LiTT) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for intractable mesial temporal epilepsy (mTLE). LiTT is safe and effective but seizure outcomes are highly variable due to patient variability, suboptimal targeting, and incomplete ablation of epileptogenic zone. Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) is an MRI sequence that can identify potential epileptogenic foci in the mesial temporal lobe to improve ablation and seizure outcome. The objective of this study was to investigate whether ablation of tissue clusters with high ADC values in the mesial temporal structures is associated with seizure outcome in mTLE after LiTT.

Methods

Thirty mTLE patients who underwent LiTT at our institution were analyzed. Seizure outcome was categorized as complete seizure freedom (ILAE Class I) and residual seizures (ILAE Class II – VI). Volumes of hippocampus and amygdala were segmented from preoperative T1 MRI sequence. Spatially distinct hyperintensity clusters were identified in the preoperative ADC map. Percent cluster volume and number ablated were associated with seizure outcomes.

Results

The mean age at surgery was 36.6 years and mean follow-up duration was 1.9 years. Proportions of hippocampal cluster volume (35.20% vs. 16.5 %, p = 0.014) and cluster number (27.1 % vs 4.2 %, p = 0.0007) ablated were significantly higher in patients with seizure freedom. For amygdala clusters, only proportion of cluster number ablated was significantly associated with seizure outcome (13.2 % vs. 0 %, p = 0.016). Ablation of hippocampal clusters predicted seizure outcome, both by volume (AUC = 0.7679) and number (AUC = 0.8086) ablated.

Significance

Seizure outcome after LiTT in mTLE patients was significantly associated with the extent of cluster ablation in the hippocampus and amygdala. The results suggest that preoperative ADC analysis may help identify high-yield pathological tissue clusters that represent epileptogenic foci. ADC based cluster analysis can potentially assist ablation targeting and improve seizure outcome after LiTT in mTLE.
A co-operative knock-on mechanism underpins Ca2+-selective cation permeation in TRPV channels
Authors: Ives Callum M. , Thomson Neil J. , Zachariae Ulrich
Published: April 2022

The selective exchange of ions across cellular membranes is a vital biological process. Ca2+-mediated signalling is implicated in a broad array of physiological processes in cells, whilst elevated intracellular concentrations of Ca2+ are cytotoxic. Due to the significance of this cation, strict Ca2+ concentration gradients are maintained across the plasma and organelle membranes. Therefore, Ca2+ signalling relies on permeation through selective ion channels that control the flux of Ca2+ ions. A key family of Ca2+-permeable membrane channels are the polymodal signal-detecting Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) ion channels. TRP channels are activated by a wide variety of cues including temperature, small molecules, transmembrane voltage and mechanical stimuli. Whilst most members of this family permeate a broad range of cations non-selectively, TRPV5 and TRPV6 are unique due to their strong Ca2+-selectivity. Here, we address the question of how some members of the TRPV subfamily show a high degree of Ca2+-selectivity whilst others conduct a wider spectrum of cations. We present results from all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of ion permeation through two Ca2+-selective and two non-selective TRPV channels. Using a new method to quantify permeation co-operativity based on mutual information, we show that Ca2+-selective TRPV channel permeation occurs by a three binding site knock-on mechanism, whereas a two binding site knock-on mechanism is observed in non-selective TRPV channels. Each of the ion binding sites involved displayed greater affinity for Ca2+ over Na+. As such, our results suggest that coupling to an extra binding site in the Ca2+-selective TRPV channels underpins their increased selectivity for Ca2+ over Na+ ions. Furthermore, analysis of all available TRPV channel structures shows that the selectivity filter entrance region is wider for the non-selective TRPV channels, slightly destabilising ion binding at this site, which is likely to underlie mechanistic decoupling.
Loss-of-function mutations in novel triacylglycerol lipase genes are associated with low rancidity in pearl millet flour
Authors: Aher Rasika Rajendra , Reddy Palakolanu Sudhakar , Bhunia Rupam Kumar , Flyckt Kayla S. , Shankhapal Aishwarya R , Ojha Rabishankar , Everard John D. , Wayne Laura L. , Ruddy Brian M. , Deonovic Benjamin , Gupta Shashi K. , Sharma Kiran K. , Bhatnagar-Mathur Pooja
Published: April 2022

Commercialization and utilization of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) by consumers and processing industry is constrained due to rapid onset of rancidity in its milled flour. We studied the underlying biochemical and molecular mechanisms to flour rancidity in contrasting inbreds under 21-day accelerated storage. Rapid TAG decrease was accompanied by FFA increase in high rancidity genotype compared to the low rancidity line, that maintained lower FFA and high TAG levels, besides lower headspace aldehydes. DNA sequence polymorphisms observed in two lipase genes revealed loss-of-function mutations that were functionally confirmed in yeast system. We outline a direct mechanism for mutations in these key TAG lipases in pearl millet and the protection of TAG and fatty acids from hydrolytic and oxidative rancidity respectively,. Natural variation in the PgTAGLip1 and PgTAGLip2 genes may be selected through marker assisted breeding or by precision genetics methods to develop hybrids with improved flour shelf life.
Association of history of metformin use with delirium and mortality: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yamanashi Takehiko , Anderson Zoe-Ella EM , Modukuri Manisha , Chang Gloria , Tran Tammy , Marra Pedro S. , Wahba Nadia E. , Crutchley Kaitlyn J. , Sullivan Eleanor J. , Jellison Sydney S. , Comp Katie R. , Akers Cade C. , Meyer Alissa A. , Lee Sangil , Iwata Masaaki , Cho Hyunkeun R. , Shinozaki Eri , Shinozaki Gen
Published: April 2022

Objective

To investigate the relationship between history of metformin use and delirium risk, as well as long-term mortality.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, subjects recruited between January 2016 and March 2020 were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between metformin use and delirium. Log-rank analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were used to investigate the relationship between metformin use and 3-year mortality.

Results

The data from 1404 subjects were analyzed. 242 subjects were categorized into a DM-without-metformin group, and 264 subjects were categorized into a DM-with-metformin group. Prevalence of delirium was 36.0% in the DM-without-metformin group, and 29.2% in the DM-with-metformin group. A history of metformin use reduced the risk of delirium in patients with DM (OR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.32 to 0.79]) after controlling for age, sex, and dementia status, body mass index (BMI), and insulin use. The 3-year mortality in the DM-without-metformin group (survival rate, 0.595 [95% CI, 0.512 to 0.669]) was higher than in the DM-with-metformin group (survival rate, 0.695 [95% CI, 0.604 to 0.770]) (p=0.035). A history of metformin use decreased the risk of 3-year mortality after adjustment for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, BMI, history of insulin use, and delirium status (HR, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.48 to 0.98]).

Conclusions

It was found that metformin usage was associated with decreased delirium prevalence and lower 3-year mortality. The potential benefit of metformin on delirium risk and mortality were shown.
Does Metformin Decrease Mortality in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Hospitalized for COVID-19? A Multivariable and Propensity Score-adjusted Meta-analysis
Authors: Ma Zhiyuan , Krishnamurthy Mahesh
Published: April 2022

Aims

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new pandemic that the entire world is facing since December of 2019. Increasing evidence has shown that metformin is linked to favorable outcomes in patients with COVID-19. The aim of this study was to address whether outpatient or inpatient metformin therapy offers low in-hospital mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus hospitalized for COVID-19.

Methods

We searched studies published in PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library up to October 1, 2021. Raw event data extracted from individual study were pooled using the Mantel-Haenszel approach. Odds ratio (OR) or hazard ratio (HR) adjusted for covariates that potentially confound the association using multivariable regression or propensity score matching was pooled by the inverse-variance method. Random effect models were applied for meta-analysis due to variation among studies.

Results

Nineteen retrospective observational studies were selected. The pooled unadjusted OR for outpatient metformin therapy and in-hospital mortality was 0.54 (95% CI, 0.42-0.68), whereas the pooled OR adjusted with multivariable regression or propensity score matching was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.47-1.12). The pooled unadjusted OR for inpatient metformin therapy and in-hospital mortality was 0.19 (95% CI, 0.10-0.36), whereas the pooled adjusted HR was 1.10 (95% CI, 0.38-3.15).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that there is a significant reduction of in-hospital mortality with metformin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus hospitalized for COVID-19 in the unadjusted analysis, but this mortality benefit does not retain after adjustments for confounding bias.
Opposing diet, microbiome and metabolite mechanisms regulate inflammatory bowel disease in a genetically susceptible host
Authors: Pereira Gabriel Vasconcelos , Boudaud Marie , Wolter Mathis , Alexander Celeste , Sciscio Alessandro De , Grant Erica. T. , Trindade Bruno Caetano , Pudlo Nicholas A. , Singh Shaleni , Campbell Austin , Shan Mengrou , Zhang Li , Yang Qinnan , Willieme Stéphanie , Kim Kwi , Denike-Duval Trisha , Fuentes Jaime , Bleich André , Schmidt Thomas M. , Kennedy Lucy , Lyssiotis Costas A. , Chen Grace Y. , Eaton Kathryn A. , Desai Mahesh S. , Martens Eric C.
Published: April 2022

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic conditions characterized by periods of spontaneous intestinal inflammation and are increasing in industrialized populations. Combined with host genetics, diet and gut bacteria are thought to contribute prominently to IBDs, but mechanisms are still emerging. In mice lacking the IBD-associated cytokine, Interleukin-10, we show that low dietary fiber promotes bacterial erosion of colonic mucus, leading to lethal colitis. A fiber-free exclusive enteral nutrition diet also induces mucus erosion but inhibits inflammation by simultaneously increasing an anti-inflammatory bacterial metabolite, isobutyrate. Diet-induced inflammation is driven by Th1 immune responses, which increase in the presence of mucin-degrading bacteria and are preceded by expansion of natural killer cells and altered immunoglobulin-A coating of some bacteria. Inflammation occurs first in intestinal regions with thinner mucus. Our work underscores the importance of focusing on microbial functions—not taxa—contributing to IBDs and some diet-mediated functions block those that promote disease.
Fungal States of Minds
Authors: Adamatzky Andrew , Vallverdu Jordi , Gandia Antoni , Chiolerio Alessandro , Castro Oscar , Dodig-Crnkovic Gordana
Published: April 2022

Fungal organisms can perceive the outer world in a way similar to what animals sense. Does that mean that they have full awareness of their environment and themselves? Is a fungus a conscious entity? In laboratory experiments we found that fungi produce patterns of electrical activity, similar to neurons. There are low and high frequency oscillations and convoys of spike trains. The neural-like electrical activity is yet another manifestation of the fungal intelligence. In this paper we discuss fungal cognitive capabilities and intelligence in evolutionary perspective, and question whether fungi are conscious and what does fungal consciousness mean, considering their exhibiting of complex behaviours, a wide spectrum of sensory abilities, learning, memory and decision making. We overview experimental evidences of consciousness found in fungi. Our conclusions allow us to give a positive answer to the important research questions of fungal cognition, intelligence and forms of consciousness.
Sub-micrometer focusing setup for high-pressure crystallography at the Extreme Conditions beamline at PETRA III
Authors: Glazyrin K. , Khandarkhaeva S. , Fedotenko T. , Dong W. , Laniel D. , Seiboth F. , Schropp A. , Garrevoet J. , Brückner D. , Falkenberg G. , Kubec A. , David C. , Wendt M. , Wenz S. , Dubrovinsky L. , Dubrovinskaia N. , Liermann H.-P.
Published: April 2022

Scientific tasks aimed at decoding and characterizing complex systems and processes at high pressures set new challenges for modern X-ray diffraction instrumentation in terms of X-ray flux, focal spot size and sample positioning. Presented here are new developments at the Extreme Conditions beamline (P02.2, PETRA III, DESY, Germany) that enable considerable improvements in data collection at very high pressures and small scattering volumes. In particular, the focusing of the X-ray beam to the sub-micrometer level is described, and control of the aberrations of the focusing compound refractive lenses is made possible with the implementation of a correcting phase plate. This device provides a significant enhancement of the signal-to-noise ratio by conditioning the beam shape profile at the focal spot. A new sample alignment system with a small sphere of confusion enables single-crystal data collection from grains of micrometer to sub-micrometer dimensions subjected to pressures as high as 200 GPa. The combination of the technical development of the optical path and the sample alignment system contributes to research and gives benefits on various levels, including rapid and accurate diffraction mapping of samples with sub-micrometer resolution at multimegabar pressures.
A novel solution for controlling hardware components of accelerators and beamlines
Authors: Khokhriakov Igor , Merkulova Olga , Nozik Alexander , Fromme Petra , Mazalova Victoria
Published: April 2022

A novel approach to the remote-control system for the compact multi-crystal energy-dispersive spectrometer for X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) applications has been developed. This new approach is based on asynchronous communication between software components and on reactive design principles. In this paper, the challenges faced, their solutions, as well as the implementation and future development prospects are identified. The main motivation of this work was the development of a new holistic communication protocol that can be implemented to control various hardware components allowing both independent operation and easy integration into different SCADA systems.
Searching for higher-performance, income-generating assets: a mutual fund assessment on asset-backed securities
Authors: Li Wenhui , Loviscek Anthony , Ortiz-Eggenberg Miki
Published: April 2022

Purpose

In the search for alternative income-generating assets, the paper addresses the following question, one that the literature has yet to answer: what is a reasonable allocation, if any, to asset-backed securities within a 60–40% stock-bond balanced portfolio of mutual funds?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply the Black–Litterman model of Modern Portfolio Theory to test the efficacy of adding asset-backed securities to the classic 60–40% stock-bond portfolio of mutual funds. The authors use out-of-sample tests of one, three, five, and ten years to determine a reasonable asset allocation. The data are monthly and range from January 2000 through September 2021.

Findings

The statistical evidence indicates a modest reward-risk added value from the addition of asset-backed securities, as measured by the Sharpe “reward-to-variability” ratio, in holding periods of three, five, and ten years. Based on the findings, the authors conclude that a reasonable asset allocation for income-seeking, risk-averse investors who follow the classic 60%–40% stock-bond allocation is 8%–10%.

Research limitations/implications

The findings apply to a stock-bond balanced portfolio of mutual funds. Other fund combinations could produce different results.

Practical implications

Investors and money managers can use the findings to improve portfolio performance.

Originality/value

For investors seeking higher income-generating securities in the current record-low interest rate environment, the authors determine a reasonable asset allocation range on asset-backed securities. This study is the first to provide such direction to these investors.
Assessing pariah party status: Concept operationalization and the case of the Sweden Democrats
Authors: Leander Cornelia
Published: April 2022

This study presents a novel operationalization of pariah party status, conceiving of pariah status in terms of two continuous dimensions involving (1) a party's coalition potential, and (2) a party's legislative cooperation potential. Recent success of radical right parties has been identified as a common trend throughout Western Europe. Research has focused on mainstream parties' strategies toward these controversial challengers, as well as why some controversial challenger parties are involved in collaborations but others are not. Yet, an elaborate discussion—disentangling the status as pariah—has hitherto been absent in the literature. The article further demonstrates the usefulness of the suggested operationalization, using the Sweden Democrats as an empirical example. When entering parliament in 2010, the Sweden Democrats were a complete pariah party. Recently, however, the party's status has evolved and the Sweden Democrats are now to be regarded as partly pariah.
Limited Attention: Implications for Financial Reporting
Authors: LU JINZHI
Published: April 2022

I develop a theory to study the consequences of providing more detailed information to rationally inattentive investors. I first consider a simple data‐provision problem and show that adding more data or detail in financial statements can make it more difficult for investors to extract information. Consequently, investors who have limited information‐processing capacity may prefer less detailed information. I also show that when investors' decisions are complements, providing details in addition to a summary may reduce investors' welfare. More specifically, because of increased disclosure of details, a coordination failure could occur in investors' attention‐allocation decisions. By showing that adding more detail in financial statements can lead to an information overload problem for investors, this study yields valuable insights for accounting standard setters.
Do mergers really increase output? Evidence from English hospitals
Authors: Cirulli Vanessa , Marini Giorgia
Published: April 2022

The English hospital sector underwent a major restructuring program between 2000 and 2008 to centralize activity in fewer and larger hospitals. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effects of such consolidations on hospital outputs. As mergers occurred in a staggered way, treatment could start and end at every time and treatment duration varied over the years. As every time is a mix of hospital pre‐treatment, treatment and post‐treatment phases, the canonical difference‐in‐differences assumption of homogeneous policy effects is not only meaningless but also misleading, raising doubts about the appropriateness of the methods previously used in this literature and consequently the accuracy of its results. We instead adopt a new matching and difference‐in‐differences approach, the flexible conditional difference‐in‐differences approach, developed by Dettmann et al. in 2020, more appropriate for causal analysis of treatments characterized by varying start dates and varying treatment duration. Our results suggest that mergers downsize hospital activities, especially the most expensive ones. If the goal of hospital mergers is to gain efficiency by centralization of activity, our findings suggest this restructuring programme is not the most successful policy to pursue. Mergers reduce the scope for competition between hospitals and do not create any incentive for poorly performing hospitals.
How I treat triple‐class refractory multiple myeloma
Authors: Costa Luciano J. , Hungria Vania , Mohty Mohamad , Mateos Maria‐Victoria
Published: April 2022

Immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs), proteasome inhibitors (PIs) and anti‐CD38 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) are the pillars of modern multiple myeloma (MM) therapy. The prognosis of patients with MM that became refractory to these three classes (triple‐class refractory [TCR]) is historically poor. Observational studies indicate an overall response rate of ~30% and overall survival inferior to 1 year with existing therapies. While no randomised trial has been completed in this setting, several agents exploring new mechanisms of action showed activity in TCR MM in single‐arm trials, including anti‐B‐cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor T cells, anti‐BCMA antibody‐drug conjugates and exportin 1 (XPO1) inhibitors. Among agents in development, anti‐BCMA bispecific T‐cell engagers (TCE), and non‐BCMA TCEs demonstrated activity in most patients. Additionally, specific agents may exhibit unique activity in biologically defined patient subsets, as exemplified by venetoclax in t(11;14) MM. The main open questions in TCR MM are preferred sequence of existing therapies, the utility of sequential use of agents with similar mechanism of action, but different immunotherapy target and the relative efficacy of the different anti‐BCMA platforms. Here, we summarise the existing literature and provide general guidance on selecting therapy for this challenging and heterogenous group of patients.
Tumor‐derived immunoglobulin like transcript 5 induces suppressive immunocyte infiltration in colorectal cancer
Authors: Shi Wenjing , Zhang Fang , Chen Xiaozheng , Wang Shuyun , Zhang Haiqin , Yang Zijiang , Wang Guiying , Zheng Yan , Han Yali , Sun Yuping , Gao Aiqin
Published: April 2022

Infiltration of immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) induced colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and its resistance to immunotherapy. Identification of tumor‐specific factors to modulate inhibitory immunocyte infiltration would provide alternative and novel targets for CRC immunotherapy. Immunoglobulin‐like transcript (ILT) 5 is a negative regulator of myeloid cell activation. However, its expression and functional role in solid tumors is still unknown. Using human CRC tissues and cell lines, we found that ILT5 was highly expressed in CRC cells compared with normal colorectal epithelial cells. Enriched ILT5 in tumor cells was correlated with advanced tumor stages and poor patient survival. Our subsequent in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that tumor‐derived ILT5 inhibited the infiltration of T cells, especially that of CD8+ T cells in the TME, creating suppressive T‐cell contexture. Furthermore, ILT5 directed M2‐like polarization of tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs). Inhibition of tumor‐derived ILT5 restored the immunosuppressive T‐cell and TAM contexture, and restricted CRC progression. Our findings identified ILT5 expression in solid tumor cells for the first time and raised ILT5 as a potential immunotarget and prognostic predictor in CRC.
Comparison of tomographic kidney volumes measured by semiautomatic segmentation method with scintigraphic split renal function in predicting posttransplant kidney functions
Authors: Yılmaz Vural T. , Tulum Gökalp , Dandin Özgür , Kısaoğlu Abdullah , Cüce Ferhat , Ergin Tuncer , Özel Deniz , Demiryılmaz İsmail , Koçak Hüseyin , Aydınlı Bülent , Osman Onur
Published: April 2022

Introduction

In this study, it was aimed to compare scintigraphic split renal function (SRF) and computed tomographic (CT) kidney volumes by semiautomatic segmentation method in predicting graft functions after kidney transplantation.

Methods

One hundred and twelve patients (77 males, 35 females) who had a living‐donor kidney transplant between 2015 and 2017 in our centre were included in the study. While SRF was calculated with technetium‐99m‐diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc‐DTPA) scintigraphy, CT angiography was used for volumetric calculations.

Results

CT‐volumetric measurements, especially renal cortical volume (RCV: 103.8 ± 20 ml) and ratio to body mass index (RCV/BMI: 4.45 ± 1.3) were found to be more significant than 99mTc‐DTPA‐SRF in predicting graft functions. The correlations between SRF and RCV with 6th‐month estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (rSRF: 0.052, rRCV: 0.317, p = 0.041) and 1st‐year eGFR (rSRF: 0.104, rRCV: 0.374, p = 0.033) were found to be more significant in favour of RCV. The correlation between SRF/BMI and RCV/BMI with 1st‐, 6th‐ and 12th‐month eGFR (respectively, p = 0.02/0.048/0.024) were found to be more significant in favour of RCV/BMI. Although univariate analysis showed a significant relationship between most volumetric measurements and 1st‐year graft functions, in multivariate analysis only RCV [odds ratio (OR): 1.04 (1.01–1.07), p = 0.023] and RCV/BMI [OR: 2.5 (1.27–5.39), p = 0.013] showed a significant relationship between graft functions.

Conclusion

In our study, it was shown that CT‐based renal volumetric measurements, especially RCV and RCV/BMI, predicted graft functions more strongly than scintigraphic 99mTc‐DTPA‐SRF.
Clinical and echocardiographic differences in three different etiologies of severe mitral stenosis
Authors: Kagawa Shunsuke , Omori Taku , Uno Goki , Maeda Mika , Rader Florian , Siegel Robert J. , Shiota Takahiro
Published: April 2022

Background

In our institute, the causes of mitral stenosis (MS) are generally categorized into three main etiologies—rheumatic MS (RMS), degenerative MS with annular and leaflet calcification, and post‐clip MS as a consequence of transcatheter mitral valve repair with clips for treating mitral regurgitation. However, clinical differences among the three etiologies are uncertain.

Methods

We retrospectively assessed 293 consecutive patients (53 with RMS, 118 with degenerative MS, and 122 with post‐clip MS) who had a three‐dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) derived mitral valve orifice area (MVA) of ≤1.5 cm2, and a mean transmitral pressure gradient of ≥5 mmHg on transthoracic echocardiography.

Results

Although there was no difference in 3D‐TEE‐derived MVA among the three groups, patients with post‐clip MS had a significantly lower mean transmitral pressure gradient compared to those with either of the other two types of MS (10.8 ([7.9–15.2] mmHg vs. 9.6 [7.3–12.5] mmHg vs. 6.9 [6.0–9.2] mmHg; p < .001). Patients with RMS had a higher prevalence of dyspnea. The independent determinants of dyspnea were pressure half time in RMS, 3D‐TEE‐derived MVA and estimated right atrial pressure in degenerative MS, and left ventricle ejection fraction in post‐clip MS.

Conclusions

Patients with post‐clip MS had the lowest mean transmitral pressure gradient, and patients with RMS had the highest prevalence of dyspnea, despite having a similar 3D‐TEE‐derived MVA. The determinants of dyspnea were different among the three etiologies of MS.
US macroeconomic surprises and the emerging‐market sovereign CDS market
Authors: Chiu Junmao , Tsai Wei‐Che , Yin Chi
Published: April 2022

Our primary aim is to examine whether US macroeconomic surprises affect the slope of the term structure of ‘sovereign credit default swap’ (SCDS) spreads in emerging markets. Our empirical results show that positive (negative) US macroeconomic surprises are likely to reduce (increase) the term structure slope of SCDS spreads in emerging countries. We find that the slope values in emerging markets are positively related to future market returns over 1‐ and 2‐day horizons. Our results provide general support for the future informational role played by SCDS spreads for the national stock market within emerging markets.
Effect of leaders' regulatory‐fit messages on followers' motivation
Authors: Hayashi Yoichiro , Sasaki Hiroyuki
Published: April 2022

The regulatory fit between regulatory focus and framing of leaders' messages to motivate their followers was examined in this study. Toward this end, an exploratory survey was conducted to develop messages germane to regulatory focus. These messages were employed in the following two experimental studies. Study 1 tested the regulatory‐fit hypotheses from the perspective of leaders, who selected positively or negatively framed messages for promotion‐ and prevention‐focused scenarios. The results revealed that leaders were more likely to choose positively framed messages when conveying promotion‐focused messages and negatively framed messages when conveying prevention‐focused messages. While leaders high in promotion focus and transformational leadership tended to choose positive framing, those high in prevention and authoritarian leadership were inclined to prefer negative framing. The effect of regulatory fit from followers' perspective was examined in Study 2 to determine whether regulatory‐fit messages increased followers' motivation. The results revealed that participants in the regulatory‐fit condition exhibited higher motivation only in the promotion and positive‐framing condition. The implications of the findings for regulatory‐fit theory and leadership research are discussed.
Sclerostin in periodontal ligament: Homeostatic regulator in biophysical force‐induced tooth movement
Authors: Nam Yoo‐Sung , Yang Dong‐Wook , Moon Jung‐Sun , Kang Jee‐Hae , Cho Jin‐Hyoung , Kim Ok‐Su , Kim Min‐Seok , Koh Jeong‐Tae , Kim Young‐Jun , Kim Sun‐Hun
Published: April 2022

Aim

To study the role of sclerostin in periodontal ligament (PDL) as a homeostatic regulator in biophysical‐force‐induced tooth movement (BFTM).

Materials and Methods

BFTM was performed in rats, followed by microarray, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and real‐time polymerase chain reaction for the detection and identification of the molecules. The periodontal space was analysed via micro‐computed tomography. Effects on osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption were evaluated in the bone‐marrow‐derived cells in mice. In vitro human PDL cells were subjected to biophysical forces.

Results

In the absence of BFTM, sclerostin was hardly detected in the periodontium except in the PDL and alveolar bone in the furcation region and apex of the molar roots. However, sclerostin was up‐regulated in the PDL in vivo by adaptable force, which induced typical transfiguration without changes in periodontal space as well as in vitro PDL cells under compression and tension. In contrast, the sclerostin level was unaffected by heavy force, which caused severe degeneration of the PDL and narrowed periodontal space. Sclerostin inhibited osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption, which corroborates the accelerated tooth movement by the heavy force.

Conclusions

Sclerostin in PDL may be a key homeostatic molecule in the periodontium and a biological target for the therapeutic modulation of BFTM.
A higher energy‐adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index is positively associated with total and visceral body fat in young male adults
Authors: Corrêa Cinthia R. , da Costa Bruno G. G. , Silva Kelly S. , Shivappa Nitin , Wirth Michael D. , Hébert James R. , Nunes Everson A.
Published: April 2022

Background

The energy‐adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E‐DII™) has been associated with a high body mass index and markers of chronic diseases. Also, pro‐inflammatory diets with a high E‐DII have been positively associated with metabolic disturbances such as glucose intolerance and type II diabetes mellitus. However, it is unclear whether E‐DII scores are positively associated with body fat percentage and visceral fat per se. This cross‐sectional study aimed to evaluate whether the E‐DII is associated with body fat content and metabolic health indicators in lean and obese young men.

Methods

The present study was conducted on 59 participants, without comorbidities, not using tobacco, medication and nutritional supplements. Dietary data were obtained by 3‐day food records to calculate E‐DII scores based on 28 food parameters. Body composition was assessed by dual X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Blood samples were taken to measure fasting glucose, insulin, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, and low‐ and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. An oral glucose tolerance test also was performed. Associations were determined by mixed‐effects linear regression.

Results

E‐DII scores ranged from −3.48 to +3.10. Energy intake was similar across E‐DII tertiles. After adjusting for covariates, the highest E‐DII tertile was associated with increased body fat, visceral adipose tissue and waist circumference. There was no association between E‐DII scores and glycaemic parameters.

Conclusions

In young participants, a dietary pattern with a higher E‐DII (i.e., pro‐inflammatory) score was associated with high body fat and markers of central adiposity assessed by DXA, regardless of body mass.
Is There a Risk Premium in the Stock Lending Market? Evidence from Equity Options
Authors: MURAVYEV DMITRIY , PEARSON NEIL D. , POLLET JOSHUA M.
Published: April 2022

Recent research argues that uncertainty about future stock borrowing fees hinders short‐selling, and this risk explains the performance of short strategies. One possible mechanism is that borrowing fee risk carries a risk premium. Since the present value of the uncertain borrowing fee is reflected in options prices, the difference between option‐implied and realized fees estimates this premium. We find that the risk premium is small. Moreover, if the risk premium is substantial, it should be reflected in the returns to short‐selling stock after adjusting for stock borrowing fees. However, borrowing fee risk does not predict fee‐adjusted returns.
Microbiological etiology in prosthetic valve endocarditis: A nationwide registry study
Authors: Berisha Blerand , Ragnarsson Sigurdur , Olaison Lars , Rasmussen Magnus
Published: April 2022

Background

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a feared complication after heart valve surgery. Studies on differences in bacteriology in various types of PVE are limited.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the microbiology of PVE depending on the type of prosthetic valve and timing of diagnosis.

Methods

A retrospective study based on the Swedish Registry on Infective Endocarditis focusing on PVE was conducted. The cohort was divided into mechanical and bioprosthetic valves; into endocarditis localization in the aortic, mitral, or tricuspid valve; and into early and late PVE. The microbiology in these groups was compared. Predictors of Staphylococcus aureus as the cause of PVE were examined by multivariable logistic regression.

Results

A total of 780 episodes of PVE in 749 patients were compared regarding the distribution of causative microbiological agents. The most common agents included alpha‐hemolytic streptococci (29%), S. aureus (22%), enterococci (14%), coagulase‐negative staphylococci (CoNS) (12%), and Cutibacterium acnes (6%). S. aureus was more commonly found on mechanical valves compared to bioprosthetic ones (36% vs. 17%, p < 0.001) whereas alpha‐hemolytic streptococci, enterococci, and CoNS were more common on bioprosthetic valves. There were no significant differences in the microbiology of PVE affecting mitral or aortic valves or in cases of early and late PVE. Predictors for S. aureus as the cause of PVE were end‐stage renal disease, intravenous drug use, mechanical valve, and tricuspid localization of endocarditis.

Conclusions

The type of prosthetic heart valve is associated with the causative pathogen. Patients with mechanical valves are more likely to have PVE caused by S. aureus.
Self‐Assessment of Comprehensibility and Accentedness in Second Language Korean
Authors: Isbell Daniel R. , Lee Junkyu
Published: April 2022

This study investigated L2 Korean speakers’ self‐assessment of speech comprehensibility and accentedness, including a conceptual replication of Trofimovich, Isaacs, Kennedy, Saito, and Crowther (2016, Experiment 1) and exploratory analyses of individual differences in self‐assessment. L2 Korean speakers (N = 198) self‐assessed their comprehensibility and accentedness using 9‐point scales, rated their satisfaction with their pronunciation and the value (importance) of pronunciation on 9‐point scales, completed a background questionnaire, and recorded a monologic speaking task. L1 Korean listeners (N = 82) judged 28 randomly assigned speakers for comprehensibility and accentedness using 9‐point scales, and scores for each speaker were adjusted to account for variation in listener severity. Listener and self‐assessments for both comprehensibility and accentedness correlated moderately (r = .54). Individuals with lower listener‐based scores tended to overestimate their ability in self‐assessment and vice versa, but higher listener‐based scores were associated with smaller absolute miscalibration. Regression analyses suggested that pronunciation satisfaction and perceived value of pronunciation both influenced self‐assessment scores and calibration.
Chemotaxonomic investigation of plant terpenoids with an established database (TeroMOL)
Authors: Zeng Tao , Chen Yuxinxin , Jian Yongxing , Zhang Fan , Wu Ruibo
Published: April 2022

Terpenoids constitute the biggest class of plant‐derived natural products with diverse chemical structures and extensive biological activities. Interpreting enzyme functions and mining new structures of terpenoids could be inspired by the cheminformatic and chemotaxonomic analysis, whereas it is hampered by the incompleteness of available data for terpenoids.

Here a dedicated terpenoids database, TeroMOL, is developed to collect more than 170 000 terpenoids and their derivatives annotated with reported biological sources, along with a user‐friendly and freely accessible webserver to visualise and analyse the terpenoids skeletons and organism sources.

The quantitative distributions as well as the qualitative trends between terpenoid skeletons and organism sources in plant kingdom are revealed from a chemotaxonomic view, while no comparisons are attempted due to the inherent data biases. Nevertheless, the terpenoid chemomarkers in several organisms are discussed based on the available data with highly enriched and exclusive carbon skeletons.

We believe that the TeroMOL database and its accessory computational tools will be very promising for exploring the chemical space and biological sources of terpenoids, and assisting the terpenoid research community in the future.
Trends in low vision service utilisation: A retrospective study based on general population healthcare claims
Authors: Stolwijk Miriam L , van Nispen Ruth M A , Verburg Ilona W M , van Gerwen Lieke , van de Brug Tim , van Rens Ger H M B
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To identify parameters associated with the downward trend in the uptake of Low Vision Services (LVS) in the Netherlands.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on a Dutch national health insurance claims database (Vektis CV) of all adults (≥18 years) who received LVS from 2015 until 2018. Descriptive statistics were used to assess socio‐demographic, clinical and contextual characteristics and other healthcare utilisation of the study population. General estimating equations trends in characteristics and healthcare utilisation were determined over time.

Results

A total of 49,726 unique patients received LVS, but between 2015 and 2018, the number of patients decreased by 15%. The majority was aged 65 years or older (53%), female (54%), had a middle (38%) or low (24%) socio‐economic status and lived in urban areas (68%). Between 2015–2018, significant downward trends were found for treatment with intravitreal injections and lens‐related diseases for LVS patients. For physical comorbidity, utilisation of ophthalmic care, low vision aids and occupational therapy, a significant upward trend was found over time.

Conclusion

The decrease of Dutch LVS patients by 15% between 2015 and 2018 might be explained by a reduced distribution of patients treated with intravitreal injections and patients with lens‐related diseases within the LVS. Compared to 2015, patients were more likely to have physical comorbidity, to see an ophthalmologist and to use low vision aids and occupational therapy in 2016, 2017 and 2018. This might indicate enhanced access to LVS when treated by ophthalmologists or within other medical specialties, or the opposite, i.e., less access when not treated within one of these medical specialties. Future research is needed to examine differences in patterns between LVS users and non‐users further.
Reply
Authors: Grosu Horiana B. , Porfyridis Ilias ,   all authors
Published: April 2022

See related Letter
Optimal Thinning of MCMC Output
Authors: Riabiz Marina , Chen Wilson Ye , Cockayne Jon , Swietach Pawel , Niederer Steven A. , Mackey Lester , Oates Chris. J.
Published: April 2022

The use of heuristics to assess the convergence and compress the output of Markov chain Monte Carlo can be sub-optimal in terms of the empirical approximations that are produced. Typically a number of the initial states are attributed to ‘burn in’ and removed, while the remainder of the chain is ‘thinned’ if compression is also required. In this paper, we consider the problem of retrospectively selecting a subset of states, of fixed cardinality, from the sample path such that the approximation provided by their empirical distribution is close to optimal. A novel method is proposed, based on greedy minimisation of a kernel Stein discrepancy, that is suitable when the gradient of the log-target can be evaluated and approximation using a small number of states is required. Theoretical results guarantee consistency of the method and its effectiveness is demonstrated in the challenging context of parameter inference for ordinary differential equations. Software is available in the Stein Thinning package in Python, R and MATLAB.