bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trypanosoma cruzi isolates naturally adapted to congenital transmission display a unique strategy of transplacental passage
Authors: Faral-Tello Paula , Greif Gonzalo , Romero Selva , Cabrera Andrés , Oviedo Cristina , González Telma , Libisch Gabriela , Arévalo Ana Paula , Varela Belén , Manuel Verdes José , Crispo Martina , Basmadjián Yester , Robello Carlos
Published: July 2022

Chagas disease is mainly transmitted by vertical transmission (VT) in non-endemic areas and in endemic areas where vector control programs have been successful. For the present study, we isolated natural strains vertically transmitted through three generations and proceeded to study their molecular mechanism of VT. No parasitemia was detected in immunocompetent mice, but they were able to induce an immune response and colonize different organs. VT experiments revealed that infection with the different strains did not affect mating, pregnancy or resorptions, but despiting low parasitemia, VT strains reached the placenta and resulted in higher vertical transmission rates than strains of either moderate or high virulence. While the virulent strain modulated more than 2500 placental genes, VT strains modulated 150, and none of the modulated genes is shared between them. VT strains downregulate genes associated with cell division and replication and upregulate immunomodulatory genes leading to anti-inflammatory responses and tolerance. The virulent strain stimulates a strong pro-inflammatory immune response, and this molecular footprint correlated with histopathological analyses. We herein describe a unique placental response regarding the passage of T cruzi VT isolates across the maternal-fetal interphase, challenging the current knowledge derived mainly from studies of laboratory-adapted or highly virulent strains.
Proteomics and metabolomics reveal an abundant α-glucosidase drives sorghum fermentability for beer brewing
Authors: Kerr E. D. , Fox G. P. , Schulz B. L.
Published: July 2022

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), a grass native to Africa, is a popular alternative to barley for brewing beer. The importance of sorghum to beer brewing is increasing because it is a naturally gluten-free cereal and because climate change is expected to cause a reduction in the production of barley over the coming decades. However, there are challenges associated with the use of sorghum instead of barley in beer brewing. Here, we used proteomics and metabolomics to gain insights into the sorghum brewing process, to advise processes for efficient beer production from sorghum. We found that during malting, sorghum synthesises the amylases and proteases necessary for brewing. Proteomics revealed that mashing with sorghum malt required higher temperatures than barley malt for efficient protein solubilisation. Both α- and β-amylase were considerably less abundant in sorghum wort than in barley wort, correlating with lower maltose concentrations in sorghum wort. However, metabolomics revealed higher glucose concentrations in sorghum wort than in barley wort, consistent with the presence of an abundant α-glucosidase detected by proteomics in sorghum malt. Our results indicate that sorghum can be a viable grain for industrial fermented beverage production, but that its use requires careful process optimisation for efficient production of fermentable wort and high-quality beer.
Charting the path between communication strategies and overseas purchasing service performance in the e-commerce context
Authors: Ahn Jiseon
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Despite the growth of the online overseas purchasing industry, there is a lack of studies addressing these companies' communication strategies. Thus, this study aims to examine the impact of customer experiences with communication via overseas purchasing websites.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from overseas purchase customers in the United States, this study examines communication as either firm or customer generated and assesses their effects on brand-related outcomes.

Findings

The results show that both firm- and customer-generated communication influence brand awareness, perceived quality, and loyalty. Also, the impact of brand awareness on perceived quality is supported. Differences in the relationship between communication and behavior across demographic characteristics (i.e. gender, age, income) are identified, and the impact of firm-generated content on customers is found to be greater than that of customer-generated communication.

Research limitations/implications

Given the limitations of quantitative surveys to examine overseas retailing practices, the results of this study provide a starting point for future researchers to conduct more qualitative studies with customers from various cultures.

Originality/value

Due to the importance of communication marketing in the retail setting, this study provides useful guidelines for online retail services to enhance customers' interaction and empowerment.
Learning together: the effects of inclusion of students with disabilities in mainstream schools
Authors: Dalcin Aline Krüger
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This article aims to analyze the impact that the inclusion of students with disabilities has on the achievement of their schoolmates and to analyze the impact that this inclusion has on the achievement of the students with disabilities themselves.

Design/methodology/approach

The author begins investigating how the inclusion of students with disabilities in regular schools affects achievement of schoolmates. To answer this research question, the author explores the natural variation in time in the number of students with disabilities and use data from National Exam of Upper Secondary Education (Enem). Then, the author investigates how the inclusion affects achievement of the students with disabilities themselves and uses propensity score matching methodologies and, again, data from Enem.

Findings

The results show that an additional percentage point in the proportion of students with disabilities would reduce schoolmates' writing scores by a 0.0031 standard deviation. In other subjects, the author finds weak or none evidence of a significant peer effect. In addition, using Propensity Score Matching methodologies, the results show that the mean scores are up to 44% of a standard deviation, which is higher among students with disabilities enrolled in regular schools compared to those who are enrolled in special schools. In summary, the evaluation is that inclusion policies achieve the goal of improving the performance of students with disabilities but such policies have a small and adverse side effect.

Originality/value

For this reason, the present study proposes to fill this gap in the literature by analyzing the impact of the inclusion of students with disabilities on both groups. In addition, this paper contributes to the empirical literature of peer effect with an analysis of the peer effect of students with disabilities per competency. Finally, the article is important given the existence of few articles in Brazil on the topic of education and people with disabilities.
Factors affecting effective facilities management practices in South Africa: a case study of Kwazulu Natal Province
Authors: Mewomo Modupe Cecilia , Ndlovu Petronella Minehle , Iyiola Comfort Olubukola
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Although facilities management (FM) has been advocated in the construction industry to address the issues of facilities in buildings, their adoption is still plagued with barriers. The factors affecting FM practices need detailed investigation. However, few studies have been conducted on the factors affecting FM practices in developing countries such as South Africa. This study aims to investigate the factors affecting effective FM practices in public buildings in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this aim, a quantitative survey was carried out using questionnaire to gather relevant data in the study area. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics and principal component (factor) analysis. The study was conducted on 39 facilities managers in the Department of Public Works in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

Findings

The descriptive analysis revealed that availability of funds, occupants’ knowledge of FM, absence of policy guiding FM practice, state of deterioration of facilities and design concepts and scope were significant challenges affecting effective FM practices in public buildings in South Africa. The result of the principal component analysis of the factors affecting FM practices were grouped into organisational factors, structural/design errors and end users’ elements.

Research limitations/implications

As it is widely understood that “money” plays a significant role in the performance of any activity or function, administrators/governments of public facilities should strive to plan and make appropriate finances accessible to facilities managers. Participation of facilities managers in the planning stage can also help reduce design flaws and their maintenance implications. In addition, adequate training for professionals can improve FM awareness and productivity.

Originality/value

The paper reveals the structural framework of the factors that can influence the effective facilities management practices in public buildings.
Audit committee and CSR disclosure: does the gender diversity of audit committee members matter?
Authors: Rezaei Pitenoei Yasser , Safari Gerayli Mehdi , Khozein Ali
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The gender theory demonstrates that women have made significant contributions to the increases of firm performance and monitoring the management. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the association between audit committee gender diversity (ACGD) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure of the firms listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct regression analysis to test the association between the presence of female members on the AC and CSR disclosure. The final sample in this study consists of 693 firm‐year observations from Iranian listed firms over the period 2012–2018. Moreover, to ensure the robustness of the findings, this study uses a series of sensitivity analysis tests.

Findings

The regression results show that ACGD has a significant positive influence on the level of CSR disclosure. The finding is robust to alternative measure of ACGD, CSR disclosure and endogeneity concern.

Practical implications

The findings have numerous practical implications for regulators, policy makers, managers and investors. This study has implications for Iranian regulators and policymakers and sends positive signal about recommending or requiring gender diversity on the board and its subgroups such as AC. Furthermore, the findings have implications for the investors, so that they have to make informed investment decisions given both financial factors and ACGD, and eventually invest in those firms with women membership in their AC’s composition.

Social implications

Concerning with board of directors and the general assembly of shareholders, as the findings suggest the significant role of ACGD in the enhancement of CSR disclosure, boards and the general assembly are to engage women in AC composition to both increase AC efficiency and improve CSR disclosure level.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of its kind that investigates the association between ACGD and CSR disclosure in emerging capital markets, and therefore can contribute to extend the current literature on CSR in developing countries, especially Iran’s emerging capital market.
Functional training improves the effectiveness of stretching programs for university cleaning staff
Authors: Artiga Oliver , Bucy Ana , Qiu Ruo , Cramer Elaine , Raney Marcella
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine whether combining a structured stretching program with functional movement/body position training would yield additive effects on flexibility, ergonomic practices, and subjective pain levels for employees at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Design/methodology/approach

Nine control and 13 experimental university cleaning staff participated in a 10-week full-body stretching intervention led by undergraduate students. Experimental participants also engaged in functional movement/body position training once per week. Joint range of motion, task ergonomic form, pain level, and stretching motivation results were compared pre- and post-intervention.

Findings

Overall flexibility (+25.75 ± 3.33%) and task ergonomic form (+26.3 ± 10.5%) significantly improved and were negatively correlated with pain levels (r = −0.541 and r = −0.317, respectively). Experimental participants experienced greater improvements in shoulder (control: +16.8 ± 9.0%; experimental: +64.2 ± 11.5%) and hip (control: +31.4 ± 9.9%; experimental: +91.2 ± 19.9%) flexibility as well as in task-specific ergonomic form for vertical (control: +0.0 ± 5.3%; experimental: +35.2 ± 10.1%) and horizontal wiping (control: −4.7 ± 4.7%; experimental: +29.0 ± 7.8%). Intrinsic motivation was increased for both groups (+26.2 ± 15.4%).

Originality/value

Supplementing a workplace stretching program with functional movement/body position training has the potential to improve flexibility and decrease pain while simultaneously increasing the likelihood that cleaning staff will participate in self-directed stretching in the future. The intervention serves as a model for workplace health management and wellness-focused community building on university campuses who insource cleaning staff.
Promotional inputs and selling: evidence from India
Authors: R.M. Harindranath , Sivakumaran Bharadhwaj
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of promotional inputs presented to salespeople, such as continuing medical education (CME) sponsorship and drug samples, on adaptive selling and sales performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a mixed-methods approach. First, depth interviews were done and this was followed by a survey on 247 pharmaceutical executives in India. Data analysis was done using AMOS, Process Macro and floodlight analysis.

Findings

Results showed that CME sponsorship and drug samples drove adaptive selling and sales performance positively. Additionally, results reveal that CME program sponsorship negatively moderated the adaptive selling–sales performance relationship; free drug samples too negatively moderated this relationship.

Practical implications

Firms may hire salespersons with high customer orientation and adaptive selling and train them hone these further. The present research also crucially suggests that pharma firms may allocate CME sponsorship and drug samples to salespeople low on adaptive selling.

Originality/value

This could be the first study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, that uses promotional inputs (such as CME sponsorship and drug samples) as an antecedent to adaptive selling and sales performance. Moreover, this is the only research that has tested CME sponsorships and drug samples as moderators to customer orientation–adaptive selling and adaptive selling–sales performance.
A VECM analysis of Bitcoin price using time-varying cointegration approach
Authors: Lee Yong , Rhee Joon Hee
Published: July 2022

This study proposed an optimal model to examine the relationship between the Bitcoin price and six macroeconomic variables – the Bitcoin price, Standard and Poor's 500 volatility index, US treasury 10-year yield, US consumer price index, gold price and dollar index. It also examined the effectiveness of the vector error correction model (VECM) in analyzing the interrelationship among these variables. The authors employed the following approach: first, the authors sampled the period August 2010–February 2022. This is because Bitcoin achieved a market capitalization of more than US$1 tn over this period, gaining market attention and acceptance from retail, corporate and institutional investors. Second, the authors employed a VECM with the six macroeconomic variables. Finally, the authors expanded the long-run equilibrium relationship (time-invariant cointegration)-based VECM to develop a time-varying cointegration (TVC) VECM. The authors estimated the TVC VECM using the Chebyshev polynomial specification based on various information criteria. The results showed that the Bitcoin price can be modeled with the VECM (p = 1, r = 1). The TVC approach generated more explanatory power for Bitcoin pricing, indicating the effectiveness of the approach for modeling the long-run relationship between Bitcoin price and macroeconomic variables.
Droplet bouncing on topological nonwetting surfaces via laser fabrication
Authors: Zhuang Kai , Xiao Jieru , Yang Xiaolong
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that the droplet impact phenomenon is important for the advancement of industrial technologies in many fields such as spray cooling and ink jet printing. Droplet bouncing on the nonwetting surfaces is a special phenomenon in the impact process which has attracted lots of attention.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, the authors fabricated two kinds of representative nonwetting surfaces including superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) and a slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) with advanced UV laser processing.

Findings

The droplet bouncing behavior on the two kinds of nonwetting surfaces were compared in the experiments. The results indicate that the increasing Weber number enlarges the maximum droplet spreading diameter and raises the droplet bounce height but has no effect on contact time.

Originality/value

In addition, the authors find that the topological SHS and SLIPS with the laser-processed microwedge groove array produce asymmetric droplet bouncing with opposite offset direction. Microdroplets can be continuously transported without any additional driving force on such a topological SLIPS. The promising method for manipulating droplets has potential applications for the droplet-based microfluidic platforms.
Automatic alignment system device of micro–nanofluid control chip and its application
Authors: Wang Junyao , Chen Xingyu , Liu Huan , Sun Gongchen , Li Yunpeng , Cui Bowen , Lang Tianhong , Wang Rui , Zhang Yiying , Sun Maocheng Mao
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide a micro-nano chip automatic alignment system. Used for micron and nanometer channel alignment of microfluidic chip.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, combined with the reconstructed micro–nanoscale Hough transform theory, a “clamp–adsorb–rotate” chip alignment method is proposed. The designed alignment system includes a microscopic identification device, a clamping device and a suction device. After assembly, the straightness of the linear slide rail in the horizontal and vertical directions was tested, respectively. The results show that in the horizontal and vertical directions, the linearity error of the linear slide is +0.29 and 0.30 µm, respectively, which meets the requirement of chip alignment accuracy of 15 µm. In the direction of rotation, the angular error between the microchannel and the nanochannel is ±0.5°. In addition, an alignment flow experiment of the chip is designed. The results demonstrate that the closer the angle between the microchannel and the nanochannel is to 90°, the fluid fills the entire channel. Compared with the conventional method, the method and the assembly system realize fully automatic double-layer chip alignment.

Findings

A mechanical device designed by Hough transform theory can realize microfluidic chip alignment at nanometer and micron level.

Originality/value

The automatic alignment device adopts Hough transform principle and can be used for microfluidic chip alignment.
Chip-level design for intelligent human position detection based on PIR sensor
Authors: Hsia Shih Chang , Wang Szu-Hong , Chen Hung-Lieh
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aims to present a novel technique to localize the human position in a room, to manage people in a specified space.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a real-time human sensing detection and smart lighting control was designed within a single silicon core. The chip has been successfully realized within 1.5 mm2 silicon area using TSMC 0.25 um process.

Findings

This chip can read the weak signal of pyroelectric infrared (PIR) sensor to find the position of human body in a dark room and then help control the smart lighting system for an intelligent surveillance system.

Originality/value

This chip presented the retriggering delay control to expand the LED lighting time infinitely to avoid lighting-off suddenly while users stay on a space. This function is very useful in a practical intelligent surveillance system that is mainly based on human detection to better reduce power dissipation and memory space.
Patient and learner experience in a new set up of a multidisciplinary dermatology‐rheumatology clinic care model for psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Hong Cassandra , Fang Sarah , Yeo Yi‐Wei , Koh Hong‐Yi , Lee Haur Yueh , Low Andrea Hsiu‐Ling , Leung Ying‐Ying
Published: July 2022

Objectives

We described the set‐up of a new multidisciplinary psoriatic arthritis‐psoriasis (PsA‐PsO) clinic incorporating service, education, and research between rheumatologists and dermatologists for PsA. We describe the patients' and learners' experience of this shared‐care model.

Methods

A PsA‐PsO clinic was newly set up in 2019. Each patient was first seen by a trainee, followed by both a dermatologist and a rheumatologist simultaneously in the same consultation room. We collected patients' and learners' experience through self‐administered surveys.

Results

From May 2019 to January 2020, we collected data from 44 visits (55% new referrals, 45% follow up) from 30 patients: 22.7% were referred for diagnostic doubts, 77.3% were for therapeutic issues. Eight of the 10 patients referred for diagnosis had PsA confirmed. Medication changes occurred in 63.6% of visits; 63.6% of patients continued follow up in the PsA‐PsO clinic, and 36.4% were discharged back to the original respective care. The median (interquartile range) rating of patient satisfaction of the care was 8 (7–8) out of 10; 96.1% of patients would "probably" or "definitely recommend" the care to others. From 20 learners, 95% reported the experience as "extremely" or "very" beneficial to training. The PsA‐PsO clinic was suspended during the COVID‐19 pandemic from February 2020 because of lack of available staff. The service was resumed gradually from May 2021.

Conclusion

Despite challenges, we report the set‐up of a new care model between dermatologists and rheumatologists for care of patients with psoriatic disease. The care model was well received by patients. Learners from various levels reported benefit from the learning experience.
Covid‐19 vaccination in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: A multi‐center survey from southern India
Authors: Mohanasundaram Kavitha , Santhanam Sham , Natarajan Raja , Murugesan Hema , Nambi Thilagavathy , Chilikuri Balaji , Nallasivan Subramanian
Published: July 2022

Aim

This survey was conducted to evaluate COVID‐19 vaccination status in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs). Our objectives were to study vaccine hesitancy, adverse effects, breakthrough infections and flare of underlying disease in this population subgroup.

Methods

This was a multi‐center, cross‐sectional, interview‐based survey done at 6 tertiary care centers across Tamil Nadu, in the southern part of India from September 15, 2021 to October 14, 2021. The survey questionnaire was filled up by AIRD patients attending their clinics. The survey questionnaire comprised a set of 14 questions, distributed between patient characteristics, vaccines taken, their characteristics and COVID‐19 infection.

Results

There were 2092 participants, with a mean age of 47.5 ± 13.17 years. Among them, 1293 (61.81%) were vaccinated, of which 837 (64.73%) were fully vaccinated. Two‐thirds of our subjects were vaccinated with ChAdOx1 nCov‐19 (COVISHIELD) (77.64%) and 21.57% with BBV 152 (COVAXIN). Age, gender, education and comorbidities had no association with vaccine hesitancy. The commonest (421; 52.69%) reason for vaccine hesitancy was fear of side effects. The incidence (n = 72) of breakthrough infections was similar in both the vaccine groups, of which 58 (80.55%) were partially vaccinated and 14 (19.44%) were fully vaccinated. Thirty‐two patients had a flare of pre‐existing rheumatic disease.

Conclusion

ChAdOx1 nCov‐19 and BBV 152 were found to be safe in patients with rheumatic diseases. Fear of side effects was the major cause of vaccine hesitancy. All adverse effects were minor and self‐limiting. Breakthrough infections and disease flares occurred only in a small subset of our cohort.
Sweaty motions
Authors: ARCHAMBAULT JULIE SOLEIL
Published: July 2022

In Mozambique, class and gender have long produced sweating bodies entangled in hierarchies of care and labor. Today, the growing popularity of fitness is complicating the cultural politics of bodily substances, especially sweat. Challenging ideals of feminine propriety, new ways of sweating are fostering health‐conscious subjectivities and encouraging alternative ways of becoming and relating. As a bodily “thing,” sweat sits somewhat uncomfortably within posthumanist and neomaterialist efforts at decentering the human. But our understanding of matter's potentiality can be refined by an ethnography that apprehends sweat as a material‐semiotic thing, one that operates simultaneously as matter and as an index of transformation. [anthropology of sweat,fitness,workout ethic,bodily substances,materiality,semiotics,health‐conscious subjectivities,excretion,Mozambique]
Boiling sand, metallic fire
Authors: IALENTI VINCENT
Published: July 2022

In April 2018 four drums of depleted uranium sludge burst open at a US Department of Energy facility at Idaho National Laboratory. This echoed a previous incident in 2014, when a drum erupted with fire and spewed radionuclides at a nuclear waste repository in New Mexico. Such “drum breach” accidents have been characterized in official reports as “isolated events,” and as “self‐initiated” and “spontaneous.” Yet these descriptions misrepresent a temporal tension at the heart of their causation: during the Cold War, nuclear weapons production created latent socioecological hazards that, decades later, too often manifest during waste cleanup. This tends to result from 21st‐century scheduling pressures, fraught labor relationships, and neoliberal subcontracting arrangements. Thus, if we examine the temporal form taken by US nuclear technopolitics, we can recast drum breach accidents not as stand‐alone events, but as outcomes of systemic incentives to speed up waste‐cleanup projects beyond their organizational capacity without commensurately expanding their safety or oversight mechanisms. [nuclear waste, technopolitics, accidents, neoliberalism, temporality, security, Idaho, United States]
Café Break: A Circus Drama
Authors: Offen Julia L.
Published: July 2022

An event unfolds via detailed annotation of its cast of characters in this playful creative nonfiction story. Swiss, German, Moroccan, Polish, Italian, and American workers in a European circus gather at a sidewalk café in Switzerland. Beers are drunk, orders are given, transgressions occur. The afternoon’s social drama develops. Details and meanings reveal themselves without explication. Celebrating the possibilities of creative ethnographic storytelling, this is a play without acts, a narrative without narrative structure. The characters and events portrayed are nonfiction, with all names and some identifying features changed to protect the individuals’ privacy.
Unilateral gustatory flushing in a teenager
Authors: Batchelor Rebecca , Batchelor Grace
Published: July 2022

Unilateral gustatory flushing (also known as Frey syndrome) is presumed to be caused by injury to the autonomic component of the auriculotemporal nerve. It is important to distinguish the symptoms from those of food-induced allergy to avoid unnecessary investigation. The signs of Frey syndrome can persist for several years and can cause patients to feel self-conscious.
Real‐world study on adoption of standard‐of‐care for transplant‐eligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients between 2017 and 2020/2021 across France, Germany, Spain, and Italy
Authors: Weisel Katja , Wadlund Astrid Ottosson , Gungor Guntug , Dergarabetian Eileen , Pacheco Cécile , Masurkar Nihar , Rodriguez‐Otero Paula
Published: July 2022

Objectives

This non‐interventional observational study described the current standard‐of‐care for transplant‐eligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (TE‐NDMM) patients in France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, and recorded the evolution in regimen adoption in distinct elements of frontline treatment during 2017–2020/2021.

Methods

Clinical information on ongoing (I) or previous (II) TE‐NDMM patients was extracted from the Cancerology database. Proportions of patients receiving regimens in each element and the evolution in regimen adoption were determined for the entire population and each country.

Results

Most common induction regimens among I patients were VRd in France (75.3%) and Spain (44.1%), VTd in Italy (65.2%), and regimens other than VRd/VTd/VCd in Germany. Maintenance was ongoing/planned for 78.3%, 62.3%, 65.2%, and 61.4% patients in France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, respectively. Among II patients, VRd induction increased from 27.0% in 2017 to 65.7% in 2019 in France, remained relatively low in Spain and Germany, and not present in Italy. In Italy and Spain, VTd induction declined from 72.4% and 58.3% in 2017 to 52.8% and 17.3% in 2019, respectively. VCd induction in Germany declined from 85.2% in 2017 to 64.1% in 2019.

Conclusion

The use of bortezomib triplets in induction varied markedly over time and between selected countries.
Low CD49d expression in newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia may be associated with high‐risk features and reduced treatment‐free‐intervals
Authors: Elizabeth Smyth , Aidan Kelly , David O' Brien , Deirdre Waldron , Sarah Brophy , Emer Atkinson , Kanthi Perera , Crotty Gerard M. , Aileen Walsh , Michelle Connolly , Ruth Clifford , Hilary O'Leary , Ashique Khan , Bacon Christopher L. , Emily Smyth , McElligott Anthony M. , Fiona Quinn , Elisabeth Vandenberghe , Carmel Waldron
Published: July 2022

This study was carried out to assess the prognostic power of low CD49d expression (≥10%) in newly diagnosed CLL patients using a previously described cohort. Eighty‐five patients were included. Median age at diagnosis; 70 years (43–88); CD49d was expressed in 33/85 (38.8%); 23/33 (69.7%) at ≥30% referred to as ‘HiCD49d’ and 10/33 (30.3%) between 10 and 30% with a bimodal pattern on scatterplot analysis referred to as ‘LoCD49d’. Eleven patients (12.9%) presented as Binet stage B, of whom 8 (72.7%) were CD49d+ (HiCD49d 7/8; LoCD49d 1/8). Seven of 81 patients (8.6%) were NOTCH1 mutated and all were CD49d+ (p ≤ .01). IgVH analysis was performed on 29 (87.8%) of the CD49d+ cases, of whom 21 (72.4%) were unmutated and 8 (27.6%) were mutated. CD38+/CD49d+ accounted for 11/20 (55%) (CD38+/HiCD49D: 9/11; CD38+/LoCD49D: 2/11). At 42 months, treatment had been initiated in 18/85 (21%) patients, of these 10/33 (30.3%) were CD49d+ versus 8/52 (15.4%) of the CD49d− group. The median treatment free interval for the CD49d+ group was 11 months (HiCD49d; 14.5 months, LoCD49d; 11 months) compared to 21.5 months for the CD49d− group. These findings suggest that the predictive value of CD49d expression is retained at expression levels down to 10%.
Motor overflow in the lower limb after stroke: Insights into mechanisms
Authors: Cleland Brice T. , Madhavan Sangeetha
Published: July 2022

Motor overflow (involuntary muscle activation) is common after stroke, particularly in the non‐paretic upper limb. Two potential cortical mechanisms are as follows: (1) The contralesional hemisphere controls both limbs, and (2) inhibition from the ipsilesional to the contralesional hemisphere is diminished. Few studies have differentiated between these hypotheses or investigated motor overflow in the lower limb after stroke. To investigate these potential mechanisms, individuals with chronic stroke performed unilateral isometric and dynamic dorsiflexion. Motor overflow was quantified in the contralateral, resting (non‐target) ankle. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied, and responses were measured in both legs. Relations between motor overflow, excitability of ipsilateral motor pathways, and interhemispheric inhibition were assessed. Non‐target muscle activity (motor overflow) was greater during isometric and dynamic conditions than rest in both legs (p ≤ 0.001) and was higher in the non‐paretic than the paretic leg (p = 0.03). Some participants (25%) had motor overflow >4SD above the group mean in the non‐paretic leg. Greater motor overflow in the non‐paretic leg was associated with lesser inhibition from the ipsilesional to the contralesional hemisphere (p = 0.04). In both legs, non‐target TMS responses were greater during the isometric and dynamic than the rest condition (p ≤ 0.01) but not when normalized to background muscle activity. Overall, motor overflow occurred in both legs after stroke, suggesting a common bilateral mechanism. Our correlational results suggest that alterations in interhemispheric inhibition may contribute to motor overflow. Furthermore, the lack of differences in non‐target motor evoked potentials MEPs between rest, isometric, and dynamic conditions suggests that subcortical and/or spinal pathways may contribute to motor overflow.
GRU‐GBM: A combined intrusion detection model using LightGBM and gated recurrent unit
Authors: Sarıkaya Alper , Günel Kılıç Banu , Demirci Mehmet
Published: July 2022

Due to the increasing sophistication of cyber‐attacks, intrusion detection systems need to be improved constantly. Each machine learning classifier has different advantages against intrusion detection and combining the advantages of different classifiers increases detection rates. In this study, we combine a machine learning classifier with a deep learning model to propose a new approach called GRU‐GBM. The LightGBM gradient boosting machine framework is used for feature selection, and each feature in the dataset is evaluated by a second LightGBM classifier to determine the optimal feature set using a novel threshold‐based approach. After the selection of the feature set, a gated recurrent unit is used for attack detection by a recurrent neural network model. Besides, different training/testing ratios (60/40–70/30) are chosen for comparison of GRU‐GBM accuracy. The proposed combined model achieved 76.61% and 93.65% overall accuracy in multi‐class experiments conducted with the UNSW‐NB15 and LITNET‐2020 datasets, respectively. Lastly, the GRU‐GBM model is compared to other machine learning models. The overall accuracy result is tested with a non‐parametric Friedman test to determine the significance of the results. The test result shows that there is enough evidence that the accuracy of the GRU‐GBM classifier is statistically significant.
From decoding the perception of tightness to a clinical proof of soothing effects derived from natural ingredients in a moisturizer
Authors: Hendrickx‐Rodriguez Sebastian , Connetable Sophie , Lynch Barbara , Pace Joseph , Bennett‐Kennett Ross , Luengo Gustavo S. , Dauskardt Reinhold H. , Potter Anne
Published: July 2022

Objective

To decode the feeling of skin tightness after application of a cosmetic product and how to soothe this discomfort. To pursue this aim, we considered the ingredient's effect on stratum corneum (SC) biomechanics to differentiate between consumers prone to tightness from those that are not and correlate these effects with mechanoreceptor activation.

Methods

In vivo clinical trials were used to assess the tightness perception dichotomy between groups of Caucasian women; in vitro experiments were used to measure the mechanical stresses induced in the SC after cleanser and moisturizer application; and in silico simulations were used to illustrate how the measured mechanical stresses in the SC result in the development of strains at the depth of cutaneous mechanoreceptors, triggering tightness perceptual responses.

Results

Before any cream application, women prone to tightness tend to have a more rigid SC than their less sensitive counterparts, however cleanser application increases SC stiffness in all women. Surprisingly, no correlation was found between tightness perception and hydration measurements by the Corneometer or barrier function, as evaluated by transepidermal water loss. Self‐declared tightness and dryness scores were strongly associated with a self‐described sensitive skin. After application of the optimized moisturizing formula, Osmoskin® containing natural waxes with good filming properties, consumers report a strong decrease in tightness and dryness perception. These results match with laboratory experiments where the cleanser was shown to increase SC drying stresses by 34%, while subsequent application of Osmoskin® decreased stresses by 48%. Finite element modelling, using experimental results as input, elucidates the differences in perception between the two groups of women. It makes clear that Osmoskin® changes the mechanical status of the SC, producing strains in underlying epidermis that activates multiple cutaneous mechano‐receptors at a level correlated with the self‐perceived comfort.

Conclusion

Integration of the in vivo, in vitro and in silico approaches provides a novel framework for fully understanding how skin tightness sensations form and propagate, and how these sensations can be alleviated through the design of an optimized moisturizer.
Comprehensive model for characterizing skin translucency by expert grading, panel evaluation and image analysis in a Chinese population
Authors: Qu Di , Wang Xiaojuan , Liu Jianwei , Wu Ziqi , Kuesten Carla , Hu Weiyi , Totsuka Hirono , Chen Yinbei
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Translucent skin is an attribute widely appreciated by people in East Asian countries. There have been studies in the literature to describe the phenomenon by means of clinical grading, instrumental measurement and image analysis. However, due to its subjective and complex nature, skin translucency has not been comprehensively and rigorously characterized and modelled, particularly in the Chinese population. This study is to develop a mathematical model that quantitatively describes skin translucency from visual cues objectively measured from the skin.

Materials and Methods

The study was designed to characterize and model skin translucency by incorporating expert evaluation, panel perception and image analysis of multiple skin visual attributes in one analysis. Faces of 36 Chinese females aged 18–65 years old were evaluated by a dermatologist to obtain clinical translucency scores. Subject pairs were formed with a relatively high and low translucency score in each pair. Their faces were judged in person by 9 panellists in paired‐comparison (2‐AFC) fashion to pick a ‘more translucent skin’ from each subject pair. Front‐view facial images of the subjects were taken, and multiple colour and other visually perceivable skin attributes were measured using image analysis. Bradley‐Terry analysis and multiple regressions were performed to correlate the panel choices of ‘more translucent skin’ with the objectively measured skin parameters.

Results

Multiple skin colour properties affected the panel choices towards translucent skin. Among them skin tone lightness and skin glossiness had positive effects on skin translucency while the hue, colour unevenness, severity of red and dark spots affected it negatively. Subsurface light reflection and skin visual smoothness had some effect but were not statistically significant. A mathematical model was constructed to predict a person's skin translucency from objectively measured skin attributes.

Conclusion

The subjective property of skin translucency can be characterized and quantified via a comprehensive modelling process involving clinical grading, panel evaluation, image‐based measurement of skin attributes and statistical analysis. A novel skin parameter, Skin Translucency Index (STI) was established, which provides a way to measure skin translucency, making it possible to assess treatment efficacy before and after product application.
Treatments for AIDS/HIV‐related Kaposi sarcoma: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Liew Yasmin Chia Chia , Tam Yew Chong Steve , Oh Choon Chiat
Published: July 2022

Background

Treatment guidelines are not well established in AIDS‐related Kaposi sarcoma (KS).

Objective

We aim to review the evidence on efficacy of treatments for AIDS‐related Kaposi sarcoma.

Methods

We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase Database from date of database inception till July 2020. Randomized controlled trials reporting intervention consisting of any type of treatment compared to control/placebo to a different treatment modality or different combination of treatment/treatment doses with a diagnosis of AIDS‐related KS are selected.

Main outcomes and measures

Primary outcomes were response rates defined as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), or progressive disease (PD). Secondary outcomes were cosmesis and adverse outcomes such as pain and erythema.

Results

Thirteen out of 536 articles met our eligibility criteria. Three studies reported the efficacy of chemotherapy, two studies looked at different doses of radiotherapy regimes, and three studies compared different antiretroviral therapy (ART) and chemotherapy regimens. Other studies reported topical therapies such as alitretinoin gel, IM862, and bHCG injection which showed varied efficacies.

Limitations

Lack of standardization classification of disease activity and clinical outcomes and treatment modalities precluded meaningful comparison of studies.

Conclusion

The evidence of efficacy of any particular intervention is overall varied and there was insufficient evidence to recommend any particular intervention. We have provided an overview of treatments for KS but larger studies need to be carried out to verify the efficacy of treatment options reported in the literature.
Hansen's disease and COVID‐19 co‐infection in Brazil
Authors: Repsold Taynah Alves Rocha , Collin Simon M. , Bouth Raquel Carvalho , Cerqueira Selma Regina Penha Silva , Brezinscki Marisa Simon , Peixoto Rebeca Ruppert Galarda Baptista , Fonseca Andrea Maia Fernandes de Araújo , Peixoto Marlene Leandro dos Santos , Rabelo Mendes Seyna , Gomes Ciro Martins , Salgado Claudio Guedes , Deps Patrícia D.
Published: July 2022

Background

The implications of COVID‐19 co‐infection in patients under treatment for Hansen's disease (HD, leprosy) remain uncertain. We aimed to describe clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes in patients with HD and COVID‐19 in Brazil.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study recruiting adult HD patients with PCR‐confirmed COVID‐19 from five HD treatment centers in Brazil between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. At the time of this study, no patient had received COVID‐19 vaccine.

Results

Of 1377 patients under treatment for HD, 70 (5.1%) were diagnosed with COVID‐19. Of these, 41 (58.6%) had PCR‐confirmed COVID‐19, comprising 19 men and 22 women, aged 24–67 (median 45) years. HD was multibacillary in 39/41 patients. Eight patients ceased WHO Multi‐Drug Therapy for HD, three for lack of drugs, two because of COVID‐19, and three for other reasons. Of the 33 who continued treatment, 26 were on the standard regimen and seven an alternative regimen. Seventeen patients were receiving oral prednisone, including nine patients with type 1 reaction, four with type 2 reaction, three with neuritis, and one with rheumatologic disease. Twelve patients were hospitalized for COVID‐19, and six patients died, of whom three had hypertension and one also had type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Conclusions

COVID‐19 and Hansen's disease co‐infection did not appear to change the clinical picture of either disease in this cross‐sectional study. The wider impact of the pandemic on persons affected by HD requires follow‐up and monitoring.
Innovation as a cause of highly skilled migration: Evidence from Greece
Authors: Labrianidis Lois , Sykas Theodosis , Sachini Evi , Karampekios Nikolaos
Published: July 2022

This study investigates innovation as a cause of highly skilled migration. Drawing on a totally new database that includes all the Greek PhD holders, combined with panel data from the Global Innovation Index covering 57 countries over the 2009–2020 period, we find that innovation constitutes a strong determinant for highly skilled migration. That is, a rise in innovative performance is positively associated with an increase in the number of highly skilled Greek migrants. We further find a two‐way causality between innovation and highly skilled migration. Namely an increase in the number of highly skilled Greek migrants positively affects innovative performance. While most of the recent studies have comprehensively addressed the positive effects of skilled migration on innovation, they have not looked at innovation as a determinant of highly skilled migration. We further discuss the potential implications of our findings on countries displaying low innovative performance coupled with brain drain.
Interferon induction, evasion, and paradoxical roles during SARS‐CoV‐2 infection*
Authors: Chiale Carolina , Greene Trever T. , Zuniga Elina I.
Published: July 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), has caused millions of deaths in the past two years. Although initially little was understood about this virus, recent research has significantly advanced and landed interferons (IFNs) in the spotlight. While Type I and III IFN have long been known as central to antiviral immunity, in the case of COVID‐19 their role was initially controversial. However, the protective function of IFN is now well supported by the identification of human deficiencies in IFN responses as a predictor of disease severity. Here, we will review the cell types and pathways that lead to IFN production as well as the importance of IFN timing and location for disease outcome. We will further discuss the mechanisms that SARS‐CoV‐2 uses to evade IFN responses, and the current efforts to implement IFNs as therapeutics in the treatment of COVID‐19. It is essential to understand the relationships between SARS‐CoV‐2 and IFN to better inform treatments that exploit IFN functions to alleviate COVID‐19.
Short tandem repeat polymorphism analysis for primary peritoneal choriocarcinoma: A case report and literature review
Authors: Yamauchi Kota , Sato Yukiyasu , Usui Hirokazu , Sakurai Azusa , Harada Ryusuke , Goto Masaki
Published: July 2022

The peritoneum is an extremely rare site for primary choriocarcinoma development. Primary peritoneal choriocarcinoma could be either gestational or nongestational, whereas it is straightforward to ascribe uterine or tubal choriocarcinoma to the gestational origin. Herein, we report a case of primary peritoneal choriocarcinoma that is genetically diagnosed as a gestational subtype originating from an occult complete hydatidiform mole. A 46‐year‐old female patient with two‐time induced abortion histories underwent emergency laparotomy under clinical suspicion of ruptured tubal pregnancy. Laparotomy revealed a hemorrhagic tumor in the left mesosalpinx with apparently intact left ovary and fallopian tube. The excised tumor was pathologically diagnosed as choriocarcinoma. Multiplex short tandem repeat polymorphism analysis revealed an androgenetic/homozygous genotype tumor, identifying its origin as a complete hydatidiform mole. Our literature review of nine primary peritoneal choriocarcinoma cases, including ours, highlighted the importance of tumor genotyping in differentiating between gestational and non‐gestational subtypes and identifying the causative pregnancy.