bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“It becomes a fight against who I am, rather than what I say”: Gender, positionality, and inclusion in esports leadership
Authors: Piggott Lucy V. , Tjønndal Anne
Published: October 2023

Within this article, we draw upon Kezar and Lester's three components of positionality theory to explore how multiple and overlapping aspects of esports leaders’ identities influence their experiences and perceptions of working within esports organisations. We present findings collected through interviews with 11 leaders from nine Scandinavian esports organisations. Our findings show that the experiences of the esports leaders are strongly gendered. For example, all four women informants reported experiences of discrimination and marginalisation, whilst none of the men informants described incidents of this nature. The positionality of the women influenced the varied nature and extent to which they experienced discrimination and marginalisation, as well as their experiences of agency to resist and transform these practices. Meanwhile, the positionalities of both women and men influenced their recognition of privilege and the value they placed on inclusion and diversity. Furthermore, the gendered experiences of individual leaders were influenced by the specific esports context within which they work, including wider issues of discrimination and marginalisation across the esports community. Overall, our findings demonstrate that future strategies to make esports more gender inclusive need to appreciate how positionality influences the power that individuals have to access and influence esports organisations.
Intimate Partner Violence Survivors’ Perspectives on Coping With Family Court Processes
Authors: Bradshaw Julia , Gutowski Ellen R. , Nyenyezi Kashoro
Published: October 2023

Although intimate partner violence (IPV)-exposed mothers report distress during family court proceedings, no known research examines what helps them cope. We analyzed qualitative responses from 214 IPV-exposed mothers to the question of who/what helped during family court. Participants described (a) receiving social support, (b) accessing tools and resources, (c) modifying actions, thoughts, and emotions to adapt to a system that is not trauma-informed, (d) being believed/validated, and (e) managing post-separation family life as helpful. Participants also reported (f) barriers to navigating family law proceedings; a few expressed nothing helped. Findings support a trauma-informed, network-oriented approach to supporting family court-involved survivor mothers.
Strategic Reflection on Mobility, Gender, and Sustainable Development in Complete Streets: Here’s How
Authors: McAndrews Carolyn , DiPrete Brown Lori
Published: October 2023

As the aspirational Complete Streets movement sweeps North America with multimodal transportation policies and plans, communities need practice-ready tools that reinforce social inclusion and sustainable development through the movement’s implementation. Here we present two such tools: (1) gender analysis, which considers gendered experiences and roles in the context of Complete Streets so as to benefit diverse travelers with improved safety, transportation choices, support for caregivers, and more; and (2) an approach called SDG 360 Thinking, a holistic analysis of Complete Streets policy co-benefits, unintended harms, and trade-offs using the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We piloted these tools in workshops with community members and technical experts. Workshop participants gained new insights, made connections across sectors, took more inclusive and diverse perspectives, and made recommendations about Complete Streets policies. These tools are practical, easy to understand, and could be broadly impactful for communities.
Additive manufacturing of non-uniform scaffolds for mass center control
Authors: Robles-Lorite Laura , Dorado-Vicente Rubén , Medina-Sánchez Gustavo , Guerrero-Villar Francisca , García-Collado Alberto
Published: October 2023

In addition to solid components, additive manufacturing can shape parts with internal structures or lattices to control specific mechanical properties such as the relation between strength and mass, inertia, and the center of mass. This study shows a strategy to produce scaffolds based on linear mapping, exponential parameterization, and Voronoi's diagram. The approach provides layer by layer, a net of lines denser on a specific layer point that can be defined to control the layer center of mass. This method is compatible with current CAD software and three-dimensional printing procedure stages; thus, it is easily reproducible. Furthermore, different linear mapping rulings and parameterizations were tested to evaluate the method's capabilities for modifying the center of mass of a symmetrical NACA 0015 profile. The numerical and experimental results show that it is possible to accommodate the center of mass between −8 and 18 mm to the NACA's theoretical center of mass.
Security, digital border technologies, and immigration admissions: Challenges of and to non-discrimination, liberty and equality
Authors: Saunders Natasha
Published: October 2023

Normative debates on migration control, while characterised by profound disagreement, do appear to agree that the state has at least a prima facie right to prevent the entry of security threats. While concern is sometimes raised that this ‘security exception’ can be abused, there has been little focus by normative theorists on concrete practices of security, and how we can determine what a ‘principled’ use of the security exception would be. I argue that even if states have a right to prevent migrants from entering on grounds of security, the practices required to implement this right will likely compromise core liberal democratic values in ways that have not been sufficiently appreciated. I draw on literature from Science and Technology Studies and Critical Security Studies to examine the proliferation of digital border control technologies which are increasingly dominating state security practices, and explain the challenges these technologies pose to non-discrimination, liberty and equality. I also highlight the difficulties of taking these principles as presumptive limitations on the operation of the security exception. A more sustained conversation among ethical theorists is needed to address the profound ethical challenges that the ever-increasing use of these technologies poses, particularly in pursuit of security.
Evaluating width-wise contraction of different cotton single knit structures due to the positioning of tuck and miss loops at different locations in the structural repeats
Authors: Hossain A K M Mobarok , Al Mamun Md Abdullah , Ahmed A T M Faiz , Amin Md Ruhul
Published: October 2023

The contraction rates of weft knitted plain jersey fabric and some patterned single jersey fabrics with respect to machine gauge were determined. Fabric samples were knitted using cotton yarn at various stitch length values on a positive feed based multi feeder circular weft knitting machine. Widthwise contraction rates of the resulting fabric samples were then calculated using the values of wales per inch and needles per inch. It was discovered that when stitch length increased, the value of the contraction rate decreased. Additionally, it was found that the knitted stitches (knit, tuck and miss) greatly impacted how much the fabric contracts. Fabric with miss stitches showed higher contraction than fabrics knitted with tuck stitches. However, knit-miss based single jersey fabrics showed less contraction than plain single jersey fabrics while all courses are knitted at the same course length value. It was also observed that contraction rates also change due to different positioning of tuck and miss loops in the patterned structures.
The Costs of Polarizing a Pandemic: Antecedents, Consequences, and Lessons
Authors: Van Bavel Jay J. , Pretus Clara , Rathje Steve , Pärnamets Philip , Vlasceanu Madalina , Knowles Eric D.
Published: October 2023

Polarization has been rising in the United States of America for the past few decades and now poses a significant—and growing—public-health risk. One of the signature features of the American response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been the degree to which perceptions of risk and willingness to follow public-health recommendations have been politically polarized. Although COVID-19 has proven more lethal than any war or public-health crisis in American history, the deadly consequences of the pandemic were exacerbated by polarization. We review research detailing how every phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has been polarized, including judgments of risk, spatial distancing, mask wearing, and vaccination. We describe the role of political ideology, partisan identity, leadership, misinformation, and mass communication in this public-health crisis. We then assess the overall impact of polarization on infections, illness, and mortality during the pandemic; offer a psychological analysis of key policy questions; and identify a set of future research questions for scholars and policy experts. Our analysis suggests that the catastrophic death toll in the United States was largely preventable and due, in large part, to the polarization of the pandemic. Finally, we discuss implications for public policy to help avoid the same deadly mistakes in future public-health crises.
NIH Fifth Artificial Pancreas Workshop 2023: Meeting Report: The Fifth Artificial Pancreas Workshop: Enabling Fully Automation, Access, and Adoption
Authors: Aaron Rachel E. , Tian Tiffany , Yeung Andrea M. , Huang Jingtong , Arreaza-Rubín Guillermo A. , Ginsberg Barry H. , Kompala Tejaswi , Lee Wei-An (Andy) , Kerr David , Colmegna Patricio , Mendez Carlos E. , Muchmore Douglas B. , Wallia Amisha , Klonoff David C.
Published: October 2023

The Fifth Artificial Pancreas Workshop: Enabling Fully Automation, Access, and Adoption was held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Campus in Bethesda, Maryland on May 1 to 2, 2023. The organizing Committee included representatives of NIH, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Diabetes Technology Society, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. In previous years, the NIH Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases along with other diabetes organizations had organized periodic workshops, and it had been seven years since the NIH hosted the Fourth Artificial Pancreas in July 2016. Since then, significant improvements in insulin delivery have occurred. Several automated insulin delivery (AID) systems are now commercially available. The workshop featured sessions on: (1) Lessons Learned from Recent Advanced Clinical Trials and Real-World Data Analysis, (2) Interoperability, Data Management, Integration of Systems, and Cybersecurity, Challenges and Regulatory Considerations, (3) Adaptation of Systems Through the Lifespan and Special Populations: Are Specific Algorithms Needed, (4) Development of Adaptive Algorithms for Insulin Only and for Multihormonal Systems or Combination with Adjuvant Therapies and Drugs: Clinical Expected Outcomes and Public Health Impact, (5) Novel Artificial Intelligence Strategies to Develop Smarter, More Automated, Personalized Diabetes Management Systems, (6) Novel Sensing Strategies, Hormone Formulations and Delivery to Optimize Close-loop Systems, (7) Special Topic: Clinical and Real-world Viability of IP-IP Systems. “Fully automated closed-loop insulin delivery using the IP route,” (8) Round-table Panel: Closed-loop performance: What to Expect and What are the Best Metrics to Assess it, and (9) Round-table Discussion: What is Needed for More Adaptable, Accessible, and Usable Future Generation of Systems? How to Promote Equitable Innovation? This article summarizes the discussions of the Workshop.
Tick-Borne Encephalitis in a 6-Year-Old Patient: A Case Report
Authors: Cesaroni Carlo Alberto , Frattini Daniele , Lecis Marco , Bonvicini Federico , Bartolomeo Domenico , Rizzi Susanna , Spagnoli Carlotta , Napoli Manuela , Pascarella Rosario , De Fanti Alessandro , Fusco Carlo
Published: October 2023

Background: Tick-Borne Encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family. TBEV transmission typically occurs through infected Ixodes tick bite or by consumption of unpasteurised milk from infected cattle. Case report: We report the clinical, neuroimaging, electroencephalogram (EEG), and laboratory (microbiological tests and spinal tap) data of a 6- year-old boy with Tick-borne encephalitis. Our patient presented with a biphasic course, initially with a myositis-like picture on his first admission to the emergency department, and after a few days with an encephalitic picture, resulting in a second hospitalization. EEG showed focal slow activity, while his brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a signal abnormality, which completely resolved on repeat MRI after 3 months. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the youngest patient presenting with myositis in the first phase of Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). In the presence of a biphasic clinical course, with previous myositis, aspecific MRI changes in the thalamic and midbrain regions and an EEG documenting slowed bioelectrical activity should prompt suspicion of TBEV infection.
The promises and challenges of addressing artificial intelligence with human rights
Authors: Bakiner Onur
Published: October 2023

This paper examines the potential promises and limitations of the human rights framework in the age of AI. It addresses the question: what, if anything, makes human rights well suited to face the challenges arising from new and emerging technologies like AI? It argues that the historical evolution of human rights as a series of legal norms and concrete practices has made it well placed to address AI-related challenges. The human rights framework should be understood comprehensively as a combination of legal remedies, moral justification, and political analysis that inform one another. Over time, the framework has evolved in ways that accommodate the balancing of contending rights claims, using multiple ex ante and ex post facto mechanisms, involving government and/or business actors, and in situations of diffuse responsibility that may or may not result from malicious intent. However, the widespread adoption of AI technologies pushes the moral, sociological, and political boundaries of the human rights framework in other ways. AI reproduces long-term, structural problems going beyond issue-by-issue regulation, is embedded within economic structures that produce cumulative negative effects, and introduces additional challenges that require a discussion about the relationship between human rights and science & technology. Some of the reasons for why AI produces problematic outcomes are deep rooted in technical intricacies that human rights practitioners should be more willing than before to get involved in.
Contraceptive use among people with disabilities in sub-Sahara Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tenaw Zelalem , Gari Taye , Bitew Zebenay Workneh , Gebretsadik Achamyelesh
Published: October 2023

In sub-Saharan Africa, there are different studies on contraceptive use and associated factors among people with disabilities. However, the findings are inconsistent and inconclusive. This study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of contraceptive use and associated factors among women with disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa. Comprehensive search was performed from different databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guideline was followed to report the results. The data were analyzed by using STATA software. Heterogeneity and publication bias was checked. The pooled odds ratio (POR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to report the measures of associations. The pooled prevalence of contraceptive use was 25.61% (95% CI: 20.68, 30.54). Being married (POR = 2.96; 95% CI: 1.31, 4.62), high income (POR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.42, 2.97), having media access (POR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.24, 2.23), being in the age group of 25–34 (POR = 2.52; 95% CI: 1.01, 3.94), vision impairment (POR = 3.82; 95% CI: 2.05, 5.59), good contraceptive knowledge (POR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.27, 2.91), primary education (POR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.25, 2.39), secondary education (POR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.59) and tertiary educational status (POR = 3.37; 95% CI: 1.28, 5.46) were factors associated with contraceptive use. Contraceptive use among women with disabilities is considerably low in sub-Saharan Africa. The use of contraceptives is primarily dependent on socio-demographic and economic status.
What Does Cleft Lip and Palate Care Cost? The Time and Economic-Associated Burden of Care From Birth to Maturity
Authors: Wells-Durand Emma , Buchel Angela , Tuen Young Ji , Thomson Richard , Staples John , Gibson Travis L , Loo Angelina Y C , McClung Brian , Palm Sheryl , Arneja Jugpal S.
Published: October 2023

Introduction: This study aims to describe the burden of care (BoC) for the management of patients with nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate (CLP) by identifying provider burden, characterizing an interaction burden, and calculating an economic burden associated with their health system interactions. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with nonsyndromic CLP treated at a pediatric tertiary hospital between January 1, 1999, and April 30, 2021. Healthcare utilization data for inpatient and outpatient interactions were extracted. Community outpatient data were obtained from affiliated specialists. Bottom-up microcosting was utilized for hospital costing, the provincial tariff guide for provider reimbursement, and zip code for calculating patient costs. Results: In total, 58 patients identified with CLP had a median of 148.5 healthcare interactions (consults/follow-ups/surgeries) between the ages of 0 and 18 years. Patients had a median of 10.5 surgical procedures, and a median 135.8 outpatient interactions. The most used specialty service was orthodontics, with a median of 71.5 orthodontic interactions per patient. The median cost of care, including direct hospital costs, physician costs, community healthcare costs, and indirect costs, was $73,398. Conclusions: Patients born with nonsyndromic CLP have a very high frequency of healthcare encounters, out of proportion to cost associated with healthcare, suggesting an overall significant BoC.
Enhanced Place Specificity of the Parallel Auditory Brainstem Response: A Modeling Study
Authors: Stoll Thomas J. , Maddox Ross K.
Published: October 2023

While each place on the cochlea is most sensitive to a specific frequency, it will generally respond to a sufficiently high-level stimulus over a wide range of frequencies. This spread of excitation can introduce errors in clinical threshold estimation during a diagnostic auditory brainstem response (ABR) exam. Off-frequency cochlear excitation can be mitigated through the addition of masking noise to the test stimuli, but introducing a masker increases the already long test times of the typical ABR exam. Our lab has recently developed the parallel ABR (pABR) paradigm to speed up test times by utilizing randomized stimulus timing to estimate the thresholds for multiple frequencies simultaneously. There is reason to believe parallel presentation of multiple frequencies provides masking effects and improves place specificity while decreasing test times. Here, we use two computational models of the auditory periphery to characterize the predicted effect of parallel presentation on place specificity in the auditory nerve. We additionally examine the effect of stimulus rate and level. Both models show the pABR is at least as place specific as standard methods, with an improvement in place specificity for parallel presentation (vs. serial) at high levels, especially at high stimulus rates. When simulating hearing impairment in one of the models, place specificity was also improved near threshold. Rather than a tradeoff, this improved place specificity would represent a secondary benefit to the pABR's faster test times.
Durable Change in U.S. Urban Mobility Networks, 2019–2022
Authors: Marlow Thomas , Makovi Kinga , Abrahao Bruno
Published: October 2023

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered how people move between neighborhoods. Tracking these changes is important because a growing literature demonstrates that mobility networks influence social and environmental exposures that interact directly with urban inequalities. Using four years of weekly smartphone-based mobility data in the 25 largest U.S. cities, we investigate how mobility changed in 2021 and 2022. We measure mobility networks with three previously used indices and introduce a fourth, the Dissimilar Mobility Index, to capture the demographic dissimilarity experienced in a mobility network. We find that although mobility hubs and their associated patterns of segregated mobility returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, neighborhood isolation remained depressed until the end of 2022 compared to 2019. Together, these results indicate that despite vaccine availability in 2021, structural changes in urban mobility networks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic were durable for over two years after its onset.
Impact of an Online Question Bank on Resident In-Training Exam Performance
Authors: Scott Nicole P. , Martin Terrell W. , Schmidt Alison M. , Shanks Anthony L.
Published: October 2023

OBJECTIVE

In-training exams (ITEs) are administered annually to Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) residents and have been demonstrated to correlate with success on licensing examinations. Our study objective was to determine the impact of a question bank and mock exam on the performance of Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) ITEs. Secondarily, we investigated the correlation between the extent of question bank usage and performance on the exam.

METHODS

Pre–post intervention study of resident performance on CREOG ITE before and after implementation of the question bank and mock ITE at Indiana University in 2018. Performance was measured as year-to-year improvement in percent correct on ITE exams. Scores were excluded if a resident did not have a prequestion bank score report or if they did not sit for all eligible ITE exams.

RESULTS

There were 51 OBGYN residents at Indiana University during the study period, with 38 available for analysis (75%). Before implementation, average year-to-year improvement for PGY1-2, PGY2-3 and PGY3-4 classes were 0.60%, 1.0% and −1.6%, respectively. After implementation, all resident classes had significant improvements in ITE scores of 6.6% ( P < .01), 9.0% ( P < .01), and 7.2% ( P < .01), respectively. There was a moderate program-wide correlation between the number of questions completed and the percent improvement on the ITE of R = 0.36 ( P = .046).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that access to a question bank and mock ITE significantly improved CREOG ITE performance of OBGYN residents at Indiana University.
European Headache Federation (EHF) critical reappraisal and meta-analysis of oral drugs in migraine prevention – part 3: topiramate
Authors: Raffaelli Bianca , García-Azorín David , Boucherie Deirdre M. , Amin Faisal Mohammad , Deligianni Christina I. , Gil-Gouveia Raquel , Kirsh Sarah , Lampl Christian , Sacco Simona , Uluduz Derya , Versijpt Jan , MaassenVanDenBrink Antoinette , Zeraatkar Dena , Sanchez-del-Rio Margarita , Reuter Uwe
Published: October 2023

Objective

Topiramate is a repurposed first-line treatment for migraine prophylaxis. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to critically re-appraise the existing evidence supporting the efficacy and tolerability of topiramate.

Methods

A systematic search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov was performed for trials of pharmacological treatment in migraine prophylaxis as of August 13, 2022, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA). Randomized controlled trials in adult patients that used topiramate for the prophylactic treatment of migraine, with placebo as active comparator, were included. Two reviewers independently screened the retrieved studies and extracted all data. Outcomes of interest were the 50% responder rates, the reduction in monthly migraine days, and adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation. Results were pooled and meta-analyzed, with sensitivity analysis based on the risk of bias of the studies, the monthly migraine days at baseline, and the previous use of other prophylactic treatments. Certainty evidence was judged according to the GRADE framework.

Results

Eight out of 10,826 studies fulfilled the inclusion/exclusion criteria, accounting for 2,610 randomized patients. Six studies included patients with episodic migraine and two with chronic migraine. Topiramate dose ranged from 50 to 200 mg/day, and all studies included a placebo arm. There was a high certainty that topiramate: 1) increased the proportion of patients who achieved a 50% responder rate in monthly migraine days, compared to placebo [relative risk: 1.61 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29–2.01); absolute risk difference: 168 more per 1,000 (95% CI: 80 to 278 more)]; 2) was associated with 0.99 (95% CI: 1.41–0.58) fewer migraine days than placebo; 3) and had a higher proportion of patients with adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation [absolute risk difference 80 patients more per 1,000 (95% CI: 20 to 140 more patients)].

Conclusions

There is high-quality evidence of the efficacy of topiramate in the prophylaxis of migraine, albeit its use poses a risk of adverse events that may lead to treatment discontinuation, with a negative effect on patient satisfaction and adherence to care.
Determinants of hypertensive crisis among hypertensive patients at adult emergency departments of public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2021: a case–control study
Authors: Gezie Hailemariam , Azazh Aklilu , Melaku Birhanu , Gelaye Habtam
Published: October 2023

Background

Hypertension (HTN) is a major global health problem that affects approximately 1.13 billion people worldwide, and 1–2% of this population has hypertensive crisis. Hypertensive crisis is becoming a major health issue in low-income countries. However, few studies have been conducted in developing countries such as Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the determinants of hypertensive crisis among patients visiting adult emergency departments of public hospitals in Addis Ababa.

Method

A hospital-based unmatched case–control study was conducted among 85 cases with a hypertensive crisis and 170 controls with hypertension without a hypertensive crisis in the adult emergency departments of public hospitals in Addis Ababa from March 15 to May 15, 2021. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Binary logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression were performed. Finally, a statistically significant level was declared at a p value of less than 0.05. The result was summarized and presented in text, tables, and graph.

Result

The odds of having hypertensive crisis were 3.6 times (AOR = 3.621) higher among participants with a history of hypertension compared to those without a history of hypertension. There was also 4 times increased risk of hypertensive crisis among participants who presented with diabetes mellitus than participants who presented without it (AOR = 4.179). Similarly, participants who presented with stroke had 7 times higher odds of having hypertensive crisis (AOR = 7.174) than participants without stroke.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated a statistically significant association between unemployment, diabetes mellitus, stroke, heart failure, history of hypertension, family history of hypertension, and regular follow-up with a hypertensive crisis. The Ethiopian Ministry of Health, Ababa City Administration Health Bureau, and hospitals shall give due attention to the HTN crisis. Health care workers, hospital managers, and other stakeholders shall work towards the early detection and management of HTN-crisis to prevent related morbidity, disability, and mortality.
Determinants of overlapping mismatch in the Turkish labour market
Authors: Ege Ahmet Alper , Erdil Erkan
Published: October 2023

Using a micro dataset from labour force survey of Turkey and employing a multinomial logistic regression, this paper examines the determinants of mere overeducation, mere field of study mismatch and full-mismatch (who are both overeducated and field of study mismatched simultaneously). The target group consists of full-time wage-based employees who graduated from higher education and are aged 20–65. The determinants of mismatch are analysed under four variable groups which are labour market context, demography, field of study and job-specific characteristics. In line with the earlier empirical evidence, we find that the unfavourable economic conditions at the time of entry into the labour market might affect the behavioural pattern of individuals while searching for a matching job. Moreover, the sharp increase in university graduates increased further the fierce competition for the limited jobs available in the labour market, and resulted in a high likelihood of mismatch especially for the recent graduates. In sum, the estimation results yield that any mismatch category is responsive to those determinants where fully-mismatched employees are more responsive. Hence, we propose that the policy implications should better focus on the full-mismatch category.
Warming in combination with increased precipitation mediate the sexual and clonal reproduction in the desert steppe dominant species Stipa breviflora
Authors: Saixiyala  , Chen Lingling , Yi Fengyan , Qiu Xiao , Sun Hailian , Cao Hongxia , Baoyin Taogetao , Ye Xuehua , Huang Zhenying
Published: October 2023

Background

Clonal plants can successfully adapt to various ecosystems. A trade-off between sexual and clonal reproduction is generally assumed in clonal plants, which may be influenced both by the characteristics of the plant itself and environmental conditions. Currently, it is unclear how climate change, and specifically warming and increased precipitation, might affect sexual and clonal reproduction in clonal plants. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate both the sexual and clonal reproduction responses of Stipa breviflora to warming and increased precipitation. A controlled experiment was conducted by inducing increases in precipitation (ambient condition, 25% and 50% increases) and warming (ambient temperature, 1.5 °C and 3.0 °C increases).

Results

Warming significantly influenced both the ratio of reproductive ramet shoot biomass to total shoot biomass, and the ratio of reproductive ramet number to total ramet number. Additionally, the ratio of reproductive ramet shoot biomass to total shoot biomass was also significantly affected by increased precipitation. Increased precipitation benefited sexual reproduction, while effects of warming on reproductive and/or vegetative ramets varied from negative to positive depending on precipitation conditions. There was no relationship between the number or shoot biomass of reproductive ramets and vegetative ramets. Reproductive ramets displayed greater sensitivity to climate change than vegetative ramets.

Conclusions

The findings of our study suggest that there was no trade-off between sexual and clonal reproduction in S. breviflora. The combined impact of warming and increased precipitation promoted sexual reproduction but did not inhibit clonal reproduction. Clonal plants with the capacity for both sexual and clonal reproduction, may cope with climate change well via clonal reproduction, ensuring their survival.
Screening of microRNAs and target genes involved in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) infection in Brassica napus L.
Authors: Xie Ling , Jian Hongju , Dai Haoxi , Yang Youhong , Liu Yiling , Wei Lijuan , Tan Min , Li Jiana , Liu Liezhao
Published: October 2023

Background

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is the third largest source of vegetable oil in the world, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) is a major soil-borne fungal plant pathogen that infects more than 400 plant species, including B. napus. Sclerotinia stem rot caused an annual loss of 10 − 20% in rapeseed yield. Exploring the molecular mechanisms in response to S. sclerotiorum infection in B. napus is beneficial for breeding and cultivation of resistant varieties. To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms regarding B. napus tolerance to Sclerotinia stem rot, we employed a miRNAome sequencing approach and comprehensively investigated global miRNA expression profile among five relatively resistant lines and five susceptible lines of oilseed at 0, 24, and 48 h post-inoculation.

Results

In this study, a total of 40 known and 1105 novel miRNAs were differentially expressed after S. sclerotiorum infection, including miR156, miR6028, miR394, miR390, miR395, miR166, miR171, miR167, miR164, and miR172. Furthermore, 8,523 genes were predicted as targets for these differentially expressed miRNAs. These target genes were mainly associated with disease resistance (R) genes, signal transduction, transcription factors, and hormones. Constitutively expressing miR156b (OX156b) plants strengthened Arabidopsis resistance against S. sclerotiorum accompanied by smaller necrotic lesions, whereas blocking miR156 expression in Arabidopsis (MIM156) led to greater susceptibility to S. sclerotiorum disease, associated with extensive cell death of necrotic lesions.

Conclusions

This study reveals the distinct difference in miRNA profiling between the relatively resistant lines and susceptible lines of B. napus in response to S. sclerotiorum. The identified differentially expressed miRNAs related to sclerotinia stem rot resistance are involved in regulating resistance to S. sclerotiorum in rapeseed by targeting genes related to R genes, signal transduction, transcription factors, and hormones. miR156 positively modulates the resistance to S. sclerotiorum infection by restricting colonization of S. sclerotiorum mycelia. This study provides a broad view of miRNA expression changes after S. sclerotiorum infection in oilseed and is the first to elucidate the function and mechanism underlying the miR156 response to S. sclerotiorum infection in oilseed rape.
Characterization and predictive risk scoring of long COVID in a south indian cohort after breakthrough COVID infection; a prospective single centre study
Authors: Nair Pranav , Nair Chithira V , Kulirankal Kiran G , Corley Elizabeth M , Edathadathil Fabia , Gutjahr Georg , Moni Merlin , Sathyapalan Dipu T
Published: October 2023

Background

With the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus has shifted to understanding and managing long-term post-infectious complications. “Long COVID,“ characterized by persistent or new onset symptoms extending beyond the initial phase of infection, is one such complication. This study aims to describe the incidence, clinical features and risk profile of long COVID among individuals in a South Indian cohort who experienced post-ChAdOx1 n-Cov-2 vaccine breakthrough infections.

Methods

A single-centre hospital-based prospective observational study was conducted from October to December 2021. The study population comprised adult patients (> 18 years) with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis who had received at least a single dose of vaccination. Data was collected using a specially tailored questionnaire at week 2, week 6, and week 12 post-negative COVID-19 test. A propensity score based predictive scoring system was developed to assess the risk of long COVID.

Results

Among the 414 patients followed up in the study, 164 (39.6%) reported long COVID symptoms persisting beyond 6 week’s post-infection. The presence of long COVID was significantly higher among patients above 65 years of age, and those with comorbidities such as Type II Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, asthma, and cancer. Using backwards selection, a reduced model was developed, identifying age (OR 1.053, 95% CI 0.097–1.07, p < 0.001), hypertension (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.46–4.59, p = 0.001), and bronchial asthma (OR 3.7176, 95% CI 1.24–11.12, p = 0.018) as significant predictors of long COVID incidence. A significant positive correlation was observed between the symptomatic burden and the number of individual comorbidities.

Conclusions

The significant presence of long COVID at 12 weeks among non-hospitalised patients underscores the importance of post-recovery follow-up to assess for the presence of long COVID. The predictive risk score proposed in this study may help identify individuals at risk of developing long COVID. Further research is needed to understand the impact of long COVID on patients’ quality of life and the potential role of tailored rehabilitation programs in improving patient outcomes.
One-year mortality prediction for patients with sepsis: a nomogram integrating lactic dehydrogenase and clinical characteristics
Authors: Wang Jin , Fei Weiyu , Song Qianying
Published: October 2023

Background

To explore the association between myocardial enzymes and one-year mortality, and establish a nomogram integrating myocardial enzymes and clinical characteristics to predict one-year mortality among sepsis patients.

Methods

Data of 1,983 sepsis patients were extracted from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database in this retrospective cohort study. All participants were randomly split into the training set for the development of model and testing set for the internal validation at the ratio of 7:3. Univariate logistic regression was used to screen variables with statistical differences which were made for stepwise regression, obtaining the predictors associated with one-year mortality of sepsis patients. Adopted multivariate logistic regression to assess the relationship between myocardial enzymes and one-year mortality of sepsis patients. A nomogram was established in predicting the one-year survival status of sepsis patients, and the performance of developed model were compared with LDH alone, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), simplified acute physiology score II (SAPS II) by receiver operator characteristic, calibration, and decision curves analysis.

Results

The result found that LDH was associated with one-year mortality of sepsis patients [odds ratio = 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18–1.52]. Independent predictors, including age, gender, ethnicity, potassium, calcium, albumin, hemoglobin, alkaline phosphatase, vasopressor, Elixhauser score, respiratory failure, and LDH were identified and used to establish the nomogram (LDH-model) for predicting one-year mortality for sepsis patients. The predicted performance [area under curve (AUC) = 0.773, 95%CI: 0.748–0.798] of this developed nomogram in the training and testing sets (AUC = 0.750, 95%CI: 0.711–0.789), which was superior to that of LDH alone, SOFA score, SAPS II score. Additionally, calibration curve indicated that LDH-model may have a good agreement between the predictive and actual outcomes, while decision curve analysis demonstrated clinical utility of the LDH-model.

Conclusion

LDH level was related to the risk of one-year mortality in sepsis patients. A prediction model based on LDH and clinical features was developed to predict one-year mortality risk of sepsis patients, surpassing the predictive ability of LDH alone as well as conventional SAPS II and SOFA scoring systems.
Breast cancer risk factors and mammographic density among 12518 average-risk women in rural China
Authors: Yan Huijiao , Ren Wenhui , Jia Mengmeng , Xue Peng , Li Zhifang , Zhang Shaokai , He Lichun , Qiao Youlin
Published: October 2023

Background

Mammographic density (MD) is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. We aimed to evaluate the association between MD and breast cancer related risk factors among average-risk women in rural China.

Methods

This is a population-based screening study. 12518 women aged 45–64 years with complete MD data from three maternal and childcare hospitals in China were included in the final analysis. ORs and 95%CIs were estimated using generalized logit model by comparing each higher MD (BI-RADS b, c, d) to the lowest group (BI-RADS a). The cumulative logistic regression model was used to estimate the ORtrend (95%CI) and Ptrend by treating MD as an ordinal variable.

Results

Older age (ORtrend = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.79–0.81, per 2-year increase), higher BMI (ORtrend = 0.73, 95%CI: 0.71–0.75, per 2 kg/m2), more births (ORtrend = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.41–0.54, 3 + vs. 0–1), postmenopausal status (ORtrend = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.38–0.46) were associated with lower MD. For parous women, longer duration of breastfeeding was found to be associated with higher MD when adjusting for study site, age, BMI, and age of first full-term birth (ORtrend = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.27–1.85, 25 + months vs. no breastfeeding; ORtrend = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.20–1.75, 19–24 months vs. no breastfeeding), however, the association became non-significant when adjusting all covariates. Associations between examined risk factors and MD were similar in premenopausal and postmenopausal women except for level of education and oral hormone drug usage. Higher education was only found to be associated with an increased proportion of dense breasts in postmenopausal women (ORtrend = 1.08, 95%CI: 1.02–1.15). Premenopausal women who ever used oral hormone drug were less likely to have dense breasts, though the difference was marginally significant (OR = 0.54, P = 0.045). In postmenopausal women, we also found the proportion of dense breasts increased with age at menopause (ORtrend = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.21–1.43).

Conclusions

In Chinese women with average risk for breast cancer, we found MD was associated with age, BMI, menopausal status, lactation, and age at menopausal. This finding may help to understand the etiology of breast cancer and have implications for breast cancer prevention in China.
Risks of non-ovarian cancers in women with borderline ovarian tumor: a national cohort study in Sweden
Authors: Dobilas Arturas , Jansåker Filip , Li Xinjun , Sundquist Kristina , Borgfeldt Christer
Published: October 2023

Background

Associations between different cancer types are known. The affirmation of the risk for non-ovarian cancer after ovarian borderline tumors (BOT) is, however, sparse.

Aim

To analyze the risk of subsequent or simultaneous cancers in women with BOTs compared with the general female Swedish population.

Methods

An open cohort study (1995–2018) was conducted where a diagnosis of BOTs as well as subsequent or simultaneous cancer diagnoses were obtained from the Swedish Cancer Register and matched to the Total Population Register. Each woman with BOT was followed until non-ovarian cancer, death or emigration and could only be included once for the outcome. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for specific non-ovarian cancers were analyzed.

Results

The 4998 women with serous and mucinous BOTs were diagnosed during 1995–2018 with a mean age of 55.7 years (SD 16.0) at diagnosis. Compared with the general female population, women with BOTs had increased risks for non-ovarian cancer in colon (SIR = 2.5; 95% CI 2.0–3.1), rectum (SIR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.1–2.5), small intestine (SIR = 5.0; 95% CI 2.3–9.5), cervix (SIR = 2.5; 95% CI 1.4–4.2), endometrium (SIR = 2.4; 95% CI 1.9–3.1), pancreas (SIR = 2.3; 95% CI 1.4–3.5), upper aerodigestive tract (SIR = 2.2; 95% CI 1.2–3.8), lung (SIR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.4–2.3), kidney (SIR = 2.3; 95% CI 1.4–3.7) and bladder (SIR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.1–2.8). Among women with serous BOTs, the risk of thyroid gland cancer (SIR = 3.1; 95% CI 1.2–6.4) was also increased. Lung and pancreas cancer showed increased risks more than 1 year after a diagnosis of BOT.

Conclusions

This Swedish population-based study demonstrated an increased risk of multiple malignancies including lung and pancreatic cancers beyond the first year of diagnosis in patients with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs), suggesting a potential shared etiology.
Multiphase CT radiomics nomogram for preoperatively predicting the WHO/ISUP nuclear grade of small (< 4 cm) clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Gao Yankun , Wang Xia , Zhao Xiaoying , Zhu Chao , Li Cuiping , Li Jianying , Wu Xingwang
Published: October 2023

Background

Small (< 4 cm) clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common type of small renal cancer and its prognosis is poor. However, conventional radiological characteristics obtained by computed tomography (CT) are not sufficient to predict the nuclear grade of small ccRCC before surgery.

Methods

A total of 113 patients with histologically confirmed ccRCC were randomly assigned to the training set (n = 67) and the testing set (n = 46). The baseline and CT imaging data of the patients were evaluated statistically to develop a clinical model. A radiomics model was created, and the radiomics score (Rad-score) was calculated by extracting radiomics features from the CT images. Then, a clinical radiomics nomogram was developed using multivariate logistic regression analysis by combining the Rad-score and critical clinical characteristics. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the discrimination of small ccRCC in both the training and testing sets.

Results

The radiomics model was constructed using six features obtained from the CT images. The shape and relative enhancement value of the nephrographic phase (REV of the NP) were found to be independent risk factors in the clinical model. The area under the curve (AUC) values for the training and testing sets for the clinical radiomics nomogram were 0.940 and 0.902, respectively. Decision curve analysis (DCA) revealed that the radiomics nomogram model was a better predictor, with the highest degree of coincidence.

Conclusion

The CT-based radiomics nomogram has the potential to be a noninvasive and preoperative method for predicting the WHO/ISUP grade of small ccRCC.
Unveiling poly(rC)-binding protein 2 as the target protein for curcusone C against prostate cancer: mechanism validation through click chemistry-activity based proteomics profiling approach
Authors: Huang Lan , Ma Buqing , Zhang Chong , Shi Jiaqi , Shen Rui , Zhang Erci , Lian Chenlei , Wang Cuifang , Liu Jieqing
Published: October 2023

Background

Prostate cancer is a disease that seriously troubles men. However, there are some inevitable limitations in interventional therapy for prostate cancer patients at present, most of which are caused by low selectivity and high toxic side effects due to unclear drug targets. In this study, we identified the target protein of Curcusone C with anti-prostate cancer potential activity and verified its target and mechanism of action.

Methods

Click chemistry-activity based proteomics profiling (CC-ABPP) method was used to find target protein of Curcusone C against prostate cancer. Competitive CC-ABPP, drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) methods were used to verifying the target protein. Moreover, potential mechanism was validated by western blot in vitro and by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, detection of apoptosis in tumor tissue (TUNEL), and immunohistochemical (IHC) in vivo.

Results

We found that poly(rC)-binding protein 2 (PCBP2) was the target protein of Curcusone C. In addition, Curcusone C might disrupt the Bax/Bcl-2 balance in PC-3 cells by inhibiting the expression of the target protein PCBP2, thereby inducing mitochondrial damage and activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, and ultimately inducing apoptosis of prostate cancer cells.

Conclusions

Curcusone C is a potential compound with anti-prostate cancer activity, and this effect occurs by targeting the PCBP2 protein, which in turn may affect the TGF/Smad signaling pathway and Bax/Bcl-2 balance. Our results laid a material and theoretical foundation for Curcusone C, to be widely used in anti-prostate cancer.