bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Configurations of green human resource management practices on supply chain integration
Authors: Chen Forrence HsinHung , Tsai Yao-Te , Oen Willy Andreas
Published: December 2022

Building on the resource-based view theory, the purpose of this study is to investigate the configurational relationship between green human resource management (GHRM) practices and supply chain integration. There were six dimensions of GHRM practices in our study. To investigate their configurational effects, a conceptual model was examined through a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. The responses from 76 production supervisors and managers in Indonesian footwear companies were collected. The results revealed three distinct combinations of GHRM practices to affect supply chain integration. The first configuration suggested that green development and training and teamwork would affect supply chain integration. The second configuration indicated that green recruitment and selective hiring and green performance evaluation also influence supply chain integration. In addition, achieving all GHRM practices was also important. This study provides implications from the complicated relationships between the dependent variable and independent variables other than structural equation modeling.
Advances in Insulin Infusion Set in the New Era of Automated Insulin Delivery: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zhang Gina , Romo-Anselmo Evan , Kwa Tim , Cohen Ohad , Vigersky Robert , Chattaraj Sarnath
Published: December 2022

Introduction:

Automated insulin delivery (AID) has become a well-known research topic devoted to achieving better glycemic outcomes. AID systems consist primarily of three components: the continuous glucose monitoring system, the insulin delivery system, either tethered or patch pump, and the control system (algorithm). A key component in the tethered pump AID system is the insulin infusion set (IIS). This Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) study was conducted to evaluate the IIS evolution in the era of AID and to provide future perspectives of IIS clinical use.

Methods:

Literature searches for articles published from January 2016 to July 2022 were performed in Embase/Medline and PubMed. Data were extracted following PRISMA guidelines. Primary meta-analysis outcomes were IIS wear duration, total daily dose of insulin, and IIS failure reasons/modes.

Results:

We identified 387 publications, of which 15 eligible studies compared various IISs comprising over 1400 participants and >53 000 wears. Half of the studies published in 2022 were focused on extended IISs designed for wear durations of seven days or more. Three clinical trials have demonstrated the safe use of extended IISs to seven days of wear in individuals with type 1 diabetes, and two also demonstrated good glycemic control throughout the seven-day use.

Conclusions:

Research in insulin infusion technology has increased in the last six years, and extended IISs have demonstrated improved overall performance, particularly in duration of wear. Paths for future products are discussed with an emphasis on understanding the existing barriers related to both technical and nontechnical issues.
Epoxy biocomposites-based chemically treated coffee dystrophy and castor oil
Authors: Mousa Ahmad , Gedan-Smolka Michaela
Published: December 2022

An agro-waste such as coffee beans has been used to generate cellulose particles. Coffee roast which is brown in color, was treated with 6% sodium chlorite solution, followed by alkali treatment. This chemically treated mass was subjected to acid treatment with 20% sulfuric acid. Cellulose microwhiskers were released. These micro particles were examined by an X-ray diffractometer (XRD). X-Ray diffraction study of these white cellulose particles and the residue showed a highly crystalline nature of the cellulose particles. The fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were carried out to further investigate any structural changes after chemical treatment. The spectra of the treated powder showed lesser peak intensity at 1630 cm−1. This peak is related to the aromatic ring of lignin. Thus, indicating that the removal of aromatic rings of lignin and polysaccharides after hydrolysis process, simultaneously increases degree of crystallinity. Composites of epoxy resin with a conventional amide-type hardener reinforced with renewable materials were investigated in the presence of castor oil (CO). The renewable material was extracted from coffee beans using various chemical agents. The extracted renewable material has been incorporated into epoxy resin. The composites were evaluated by FTIR to check any interactions. The remarkable hint is the increased intensity of the peak located at 3941 cm−1 being assigned to the –NH2 of the amine cured epoxy. The increment in the intensity is being attributed to the enhanced degree of interaction between the multifunctional CO and the amine cured epoxy resin as mentioned earlier. Tests of tensile and impact strength properties were carried out and Izod impact was determined at room temperature. It has been found that the incorporation of CO has significantly increased the elongation at break. The impact resistance of the composites with CO has significantly increased as compared to the control and the samples without CO. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were taken to assess the effects of reinforcement and homogenization of the composites. It was noticed that the incorporation of the CO has turned the topography of the samples to a smooth surface with respect to rugged phase of the samples without CO.
Advanced strategies for constructing interfacial tissues of bone and tendon/ligament
Authors: Luo Wangwang , Wang Yang , Han Qing , Wang Zhonghan , Jiao Jianhang , Gong Xuqiang , Liu Yang , Zhang Aobo , Zhang Han , Chen Hao , Wang Jincheng , Wu Minfei
Published: December 2022

Enthesis, the interfacial tissue between a tendon/ligament and bone, exhibits a complex histological transition from soft to hard tissue, which significantly complicates its repair and regeneration after injury. Because traditional surgical treatments for enthesis injury are not satisfactory, tissue engineering has emerged as a strategy for improving treatment success. Rapid advances in enthesis tissue engineering have led to the development of several strategies for promoting enthesis tissue regeneration, including biological scaffolds, cells, growth factors, and biophysical modulation. In this review, we discuss recent advances in enthesis tissue engineering, particularly the use of biological scaffolds, as well as perspectives on the future directions in enthesis tissue engineering.
Comparison of two regimens of weekly paclitaxel plus gemcitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer: propensity score–matched analysis of real-world data
Authors: Gong Chengcheng , Xie Yizhao , Zhao Yannan , Li Yi , Zhang Jian , Wang Leiping , Cao Jun , Tao Zhonghua , Hu Xichun , Wang Biyun
Published: December 2022

Purpose:

Weekly gemcitabine + paclitaxel (wGT) administration is widely applied in real-world clinical practice. The 28-day and 21-day regimens of wGT are the most widely accepted regimens. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of wGT administration in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and compared the two regimens.

Methods:

Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-negative MBC who received wGT between October 2013 and October 2016 were identified using an electronic database. The outcome variables included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety profile. Propensity score matching was performed to minimize potential confounders.

Results:

A total of 140 patients were included. The median PFS and OS was 7.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.0–8.7] months and 22.5 (95% CI = 18.8–26.1) months, respectively. The toxicity of wGT was manageable. Among the patients, 90 (64.3%) received the 21-day regimen and 50 (35.7%) received the 28-day regimen. A higher number of younger patients and patients receiving later-line therapy received the 28-day regimen. There was no significant difference between the two groups in PFS after propensity score matching, though subgroup analysis showed that patients with early relapse benefited more from the 28-day regimen. The ORR was numerically higher in 28-day regimen (37.8% versus 28.0%, p = 0.310). However, the 21-day regimen was better tolerated than the 28-day regimen.

Conclusion:

wGT administration showed efficacy and safety in patients with MBC. The efficacy was comparable between the two regimens after adjustment for confounding factors while the 21-day regimen was better tolerated.

Plain Language Summary

21-day regimen of wGT was well tolerated in patients with metastatic breast cancer Weekly gemcitabine + paclitaxel (wGT) administration is widely applied in real-world clinical practice. The 28-day and 21-day regimens of wGT are the most widely accepted regimens. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of wGT administration in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and compared the two regimens. Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-negative MBC who received wGT between October 2013 and October 2016 were identified using an electronic database. The outcome variables included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety profile. Propensity score matching was performed to minimize potential confounders. We found that the efficacy was comparable between the two regimens after adjustment for confounding factors while the 21-day regimen was better tolerated.
Right-sided native-valve infective endocarditis caused by Streptococcus acidominimus: A case report
Authors: Thulini Madubashini Liyana Arachchige Dona , Roneesha Lakmali Jayawardane Pathiranage , N Shirani Chandrasiri , Matthias Anne Thushara
Published: December 2022

Streptococcus acidominimus is rarely pathogenic in humans. In the literature, there are only few cases related to S. acidominimus, including pneumonia, meningitis, brain abscess, pericarditis, sepsis, and endocarditis. Up to now, only a few cases have been published on infective endocarditis due to S. acidominimus, commonly causing left-sided disease. Increasingly, it was noted that it is resistant to beta-lactams. There are no published cases of infective endocarditis due to S. acidominimus in Sri Lanka. Here, we report a case of right-sided native-valve infective endocarditis caused by S. acidominimus which was sensitive to beta-lactams in a 52-year-old man with congenital heart disease.
The Optimal Mix? Presentation Order Affects Preference Ratings of Vocal Amplitude Levels in Popular Music
Authors: Knoll Anna Lena , Siedenburg Kai
Published: December 2022

Mixing popular music is a complex task requiring the consideration of artistic goals, as well as preferences of both the mixing engineer and potential listeners. Vocals are of particular importance in the mixing process. Here, we tested whether listeners possess stable preferences for the mixing level of vocals, whether these preferences are subject to order effects, and the extent to which individual differences between listeners play a role. In Experiments 1 and 2 participants rated which of two mixes in a pair of song excerpts (unchanged reference versus comparison mix with adjusted vocal level) they preferred. Each excerpt pair was presented in two orders – reference first and comparison first. Generally, listeners preferred increased vocal levels and showed pronounced primacy effects, yielding higher ratings for the mix that was presented first. To circumvent order effects, Experiment 3 presented and asked for a rating of only one excerpt at a time and showed ratings similar to reference-first excerpt pairs in Experiments 1 and 2. No systematic influences of demographic variables were observed. However, we found two clusters of participants that differed in their overall preferences, with one group showing stronger preferences for higher vocal levels. The present findings underscore the role of listening history of the immediate past in complex auditory tasks such as evaluating the level of a salient sound source in a musical mixture.
Current Trends in the Use of Postless Hip Arthroscopy: A Survey of the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy Membership
Authors: Kraeutler Matthew J. , Fasulo Sydney M. , Harris Joshua D. , Mei-Dan Omer , Scillia Anthony J.
Published: December 2022

Background:

Previous studies have demonstrated the risks of pudendal nerve and/or soft tissue complications due to the use of a perineal post during hip arthroscopy. Recently, various postless hip arthroscopy techniques have been described in the literature.

Purpose:

To assess the current international trends in the use of postless hip arthroscopy among hip preservation specialists.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

An anonymous 11-item survey was sent by email to all members of the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy (ISHA) in January 2022. Surgeons were asked various questions regarding their current use of post-assisted or postless hip arthroscopy, if they had changed their setup technique during their career and the reason for that change, and their perceived rate of pudendal nerve and/or perineal soft tissue injuries using their current technique. Descriptive statistics were used to report the results of each question. The Student t test was used to compare the number of years in practice between post-assisted and postless users. Fisher exact tests were performed to compare categorical rates of pudendal nerve and soft tissue complications between post-assisted and postless users.

Results:

A total of 126 surveys were completed from 431 ISHA members (29.2%). Sixty-one percent of the surgeons currently use a perineal post, while 33% use a postless technique. Seventy-five percent of the perineal post users and 98% of the postless users self-reported a rate of pudendal nerve and/or soft tissue injury of <1% ( P = .015). Among 41 respondents who indicated changing their technique at some point, 59% reported doing so because of pudendal nerve and/or soft tissue complications. Among surgeons who switched from a perineal post to a postless setup, 71% indicated they have noticed a decrease in the rate of pudendal nerve and/or soft tissue complications.

Conclusion:

Although use of a perineal post is still a more common setup technique among hip arthroscopists, approximately one-third of surgeons use a postless technique. Surgeons who have switched to a postless technique often did so because of perineal complications, with the majority noticing a subjective decrease in these complications with the use of postless hip arthroscopy.
Benefits of spontaneous confidence alignment between dyad members
Authors: Pescetelli Niccolò , Yeung Nick
Published: December 2022

In many domains, imitating others’ behaviour can help individuals to solve problems that would be too difficult or too complex for the individuals. In collective decision making tasks, people have been shown to use confidence as a means to communicate the uncertainty surrounding internal noisy estimates. Here, we show that confidence alignment, namely, shifting average confidence between dyad members towards each other, naturally emerges when interacting with others’ opinions. This alignment has a measurable impact on group performance as well as the accuracy of individual members following information exchange. It is suggested that confidence alignment arises among individuals from the necessity of minimising confidence variation arising from task-unrelated variables (trait confidence), while at the same time maximising variation arising from stimulus characteristics (state confidence).
Analysis of the T-cell repertoire and transcriptome identifies mechanisms of regulatory T-cell suppression of GVHD
Authors: Lohmeyer Juliane K. , Hirai Toshihito , Turkoz Mustafa , Buhler Stephane , Lopes Ramos Teresa , Köhler Natalie , Baker Jeanette , Melotti Astrid , Wagner Ingrid , Pradier Amandine , Wang Sisi , Ji Xuhuai , Becattini Simone , Villard Jean , Merkler Doron , Chalandon Yves , Negrin Robert S. , Simonetta Federico
Published: December 2022

CD4+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) have demonstrated efficacy in the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that Tregs are able to protect from GVHD without interfering with the graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), although the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. To elucidate Treg suppressive function during in vivo suppression of acute GVHD, we performed paired T-cell receptor (TCRα and ΤCRβ genes) repertoire sequencing and RNA sequencing analysis on conventional T cells (Tcons) and Tregs before and after transplantation in a major histocompatibility complex –mismatched mouse model of HCT. We show that both Tregs and Tcons underwent clonal restriction, and Tregs did not interfere with the activation of alloreactive Tcon clones and the breadth of their TCR repertoire but markedly suppressed their expansion. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that Tregs predominantly affected the transcriptome of CD4 Tcons and, to a lesser extent, that of CD8 Tcons, thus modulating the transcription of genes encoding pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules as well as enzymes involved in metabolic processes, inducing a switch from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. Finally, Tregs did not interfere with the induction of gene sets involved in the GVT effect. Our results shed light onto the mechanisms of acute GVHD suppression by Tregs and will support the clinical translation of this immunoregulatory approach.
Synchronization and Stability of a Nonlinear Vibrating Mechanical System Characterized by Asymmetrical Piecewise Linearity
Authors: Zhang Xueliang , Li Zhenmin , Hu Wenchao , Wen Bangchun
Published: December 2022

In previous studies about the synchronization of vibrators, the restoring forces of springs are mainly treated as linear directly, whereas the nonlinear features are rarely considered in vibrating systems. To make up this drawback, a dynamical model of a nonlinear vibrating mechanical system with double rigid frames (RFs), driven by two vibrators, is proposed to explore the synchronization and stability of the system. In this paper, the nonlinearity is reflected in nonlinear restoring forces of springs characterized by asymmetrical piecewise linear, where the nonlinear stiffness of springs is linearized equivalently using the asymptotic method. Based on the average method and Hamilton’s principle, the theory conditions to achieve synchronization and stability of two vibrators are deduced. After the theory analyses, some numerical qualitative analyses are given to reveal the coupling dynamical characteristics of the system and the relative motion properties between two RFs. Besides, some experiments are carried out to examine the validity of the theoretical results and the correctness of the numerical analyses results. Based on the comparisons of the theory, numeric and experiment, the ideal working regions of the system are suggested. Based on the present work, some new types of vibrating equipment, such as vibrating discharging centrifugal dehydrators/conveyers/screens, can be designed.
LC-MS/MS based metabolomics and proteomics reveal candidate biomarkers and molecular mechanism of early IgA nephropathy
Authors: Zhang Di , Li Yaohan , Liang Mingzhu , Liang Yan , Tian Jingkui , He Qiang , Yang Bingxian , Jin Juan , Zhu Wei
Published: December 2022

Background

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), a globally common primary chronic glomerulopathy, is one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease. However, the underlying mechanisms of IgAN have yet to be demonstrated. There were no adequate and reliable plasma biomarkers for clinical diagnosis, especially at the early stage. In the present study, integrative proteomics and metabolomics were aimed at exploring the mechanism of IgAN and identifying potential biomarkers.

Methods

Plasma from IgAN and healthy individuals were collected and analyzed in a randomized controlled manner. Data-independent acquisition quantification proteomics and mass spectrometry based untargeted metabolomics techniques were used to profile the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) between two groups and identify potential biomarkers for IgAN from health at the early stage. Disease-related pathways were screened out by clustering and function enrichment analyses of DEPs and DAMs. And the potential biomarkers for IgAN were identified through the machine learning approach. Additionally, an independent cohort was used to validate the priority candidates by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Proteomic and metabolomic analyses of IgAN plasma showed that the complement and the immune system were activated, while the energy and amino acid metabolism were disordered in the IgAN patients. PRKAR2A, IL6ST, SOS1, and palmitoleic acid have been identified as potential biomarkers. Based on the AUC value for the training and test sets, the classification performance was 0.994 and 0.977, respectively. The AUC of the external validation of the four biomarkers was 0.91.

Conclusion

In this study, we combined proteomics and metabolomics techniques to analyze the plasma of IgAN patients and healthy individuals, constructing a biomarker panel, which could provide new insights and provide potential novel molecular diagnoses for IgAN.
OsSAP6 Positively Regulates Soda Saline–Alkaline Stress Tolerance in Rice
Authors: Zhu Fengjin , Wang Kai , Li Danni , Liu Ziang , Li Minghui , Wang Zhenyu , Li Xiufeng , Lan Xingguo , Guan Qingjie
Published: December 2022

Background

Soil salinization is a worldwide environmental problem, especially in the arid and semiarid regions of northeastern China, which are heavily affected by soda saline–alkaline stress. At present, there is an urgent need to improve the soda saline–alkaline stress tolerance of rice.

Results

Stress-associated proteins are involved in regulating the abiotic stresses in plants. There are 18 members of the rice stress-associated protein (OsSAP) gene family. In this study, the expression levels of OsSAP6 in leaves and roots were upregulated with increasing NaHCO3 stress duration. OsSAP6 was located in nucleus and cytoplasm. The bud length and total root length of OsSAP6 overexpression rice were significantly longer than those of Lj11 (Oryza sativa longjing11) during germination stage, and the survival rates, plant height and malondialdehyde content at the seedling stage showed tolerance growth of saline–alkaline stress. The expression of OsCu/Zn-SOD, OsAPX2, and OsCAT1 in transgenic lines was increased significantly under SAE (soda saline–alkali soil eluent) stress. OsSAP6 interacts with OsPK5 according to yeast two-hybrid screening and luciferase complementation experiments. The expression of OsPK5 increased under NaHCO3 and H2O2 stress, and the overexpression of OsPK5 in rice improved soda saline–alkaline tolerance.

Conclusion

Overexpression of OsSAP6 in rice significantly enhanced saline–alkaline tolerance compared with the wild type. It is speculated that OsSAP6 responds to soda salinity stress and interacts with OsPK5 to positively regulate soda saline–alkaline tolerance through ROS homeostasis. This study revealed the features of OsSAP6 involved in response to soda saline–alkaline stress and the interaction with OsPK5, which provided resources for breeding aimed at improving the soda saline–alkaline stress tolerance of rice.
Deciphering the role of RNA structure in translation efficiency
Authors: Lin Jianan , Chen Yang , Zhang Yuping , Lin Haifan , Ouyang Zhengqing
Published: December 2022

Background

RNA secondary structure has broad impact on the fate of RNA metabolism. The reduced stability of secondary structures near the translation initiation site/start codon of the coding region promotes the efficiency of translation in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic species. However, the inaccuracy of in silico folding and the focus on the coding region limit our understanding of the global relationship between the whole mRNA structure and translation efficiency. Leveraging high-throughput RNA structure probing data in the transcriptome, we aim to systematically investigate the role of RNA structure in regulating translation efficiency.

Results

Here, we analyze the influences of hundreds of sequence and structural features on translation efficiency in the mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and zebrafish developmental stages. Our findings reveal that overall in vivo RNA structure has a higher relative importance in predicting translation efficiency than in vitro RNA structure in both mESCs and zebrafish. Also, RNA structures in 3’ untranslated region (UTR) have much stronger influence on translation efficiency compared to those in coding regions or 5' UTR. Furthermore, strong alternation between in vitro and in vivo structures in 3' UTR are detected in highly translated mRNAs in mESCs but not zebrafish. Instead, moderate alteration between in vitro and in vivo RNA structures in the 5’ UTR and proximal coding regions are detected in highly translated mRNAs in zebrafish.

Conclusions

Our results suggest the openness of the 3’ UTR promotes the translation efficiency in both mice and zebrafish, with the in vivo structure in 3’ UTR more important in mice than in zebrafish. This reveals a novel role of RNA secondary structure on translational regulation.
Comparative epigenomics by machine learning approach for neuroblastoma
Authors: Sugino Ryuichi P. , Ohira Miki , Mansai Sayaka P. , Kamijo Takehiko
Published: December 2022

Background

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the second most common pediatric solid tumor. Because the number of genetic mutations found in tumors are small, even in some patients with unfavorable NB, epigenetic variation is expected to play an important role in NB progression. DNA methylation is a major epigenetic mechanism, and its relationship with NB prognosis has been a concern. One limitation with the analysis of variation in DNA methylation is the lack of a suitable analytical model. Therefore, in this study, we performed a random forest (RF) analysis of the DNA methylome data of NB from multiple databases.

Results

RF is a popular machine learning model owing to its simplicity, intuitiveness, and computational cost. RF analysis identified novel intermediate-risk patient groups with characteristic DNA methylation patterns within the low-risk group. Feature selection analysis based on probe annotation revealed that enhancer-annotated regions had strong predictive power, particularly for MYCN-amplified NBs. We developed a gene-based analytical model to identify candidate genes related to disease progression, such as PRDM8 and FAM13A-AS1. RF analysis revealed sufficient predictive power compared to other machine learning models.

Conclusions

RF is a useful tool for DNA methylome analysis in cancer epigenetic studies, and has potential to identify a novel cancer-related genes.
Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and meta-QTL analysis for kernel size-related traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Ma Jingfu , Liu Yuan , Zhang Peipei , Chen Tao , Tian Tian , Wang Peng , Che Zhuo , Shahinnia Fahimeh , Yang Delong
Published: December 2022

Background

Kernel size-related traits, including kernel length (KL), kernel width (KW), kernel diameter ratio (KDR) and kernel thickness (KT), are critical determinants for wheat kernel weight and yield and highly governed by a type of quantitative genetic basis. Genome-wide identification of major and stable quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and functional genes are urgently required for genetic improvement in wheat kernel yield. A hexaploid wheat population consisting of 120 recombinant inbred lines was developed to identify QTLs for kernel size-related traits under different water environments. The meta-analysis and transcriptome evaluation were further integrated to identify major genomic regions and putative candidate genes.

Results

The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed more significant genotypic effects for kernel size-related traits, indicating the moderate to high heritability of 0.61–0.89. Thirty-two QTLs for kernel size-related traits were identified, explaining 3.06%—14.2% of the phenotypic variation. Eleven stable QTLs were detected in more than three water environments. The 1103 original QTLs from the 34 previous studies and the present study were employed for the MQTL analysis and refined into 58 MQTLs. The average confidence interval of the MQTLs was 3.26-fold less than that of the original QTLs. The 1864 putative candidate genes were mined within the regions of 12 core MQTLs, where 70 candidate genes were highly expressed in spikes and kernels by comprehensive analysis of wheat transcriptome data. They were involved in various metabolic pathways, such as carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, carbon metabolism, mRNA surveillance pathway, RNA transport and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites.

Conclusions

Major genomic regions and putative candidate genes for kernel size-related traits in wheat have been revealed by an integrative strategy with QTL linkage mapping, meta-analysis and transcriptomic assessment. The findings provide a novel insight into understanding the genetic determinants of kernel size-related traits and will be useful for the marker-assisted selection of high yield in wheat breeding.
Time to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole initiation among patients with rheumatic disease complicated by Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia: impact on 90-day mortality
Authors: Song Siyang , Zhang Yang , Yu Jie , Xie Cuiying , Chen Yi , Zhang Xingyu
Published: December 2022

Background

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a life-threatening disease with increasing prevalence in patients with rheumatic disease. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) is an effective treatment for patients with rheumatic disease hospitalized for PJP. This study aimed to describe the 90-day mortality of patients with rheumatic disease complicated by PJP and investigate whether the administration of TMP/SMX after 7 days from initial symptoms correlates with 90-day mortality.

Methods

We enrolled consecutive patients with rheumatic disease complicated with PJP in our center from August 2018 to August 2021. The participants were classified into two groups according to when TMP/SMX was initiated: early (within the first 7 days) and late (after 7 days). The primary outcome was 90-day PJP-related mortality. Multivariate cox regression and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors for mortality and examine differences in survival between early and late use of TMP/SMX.

Results

Thirty-seven patients with rheumatic disease (median age 50.1 years, 24.3% male) complicated by PJP were enrolled in our study, and 15 (40.5%) patients died at or before 90 days of follow-up. The most common comorbidity was systemic lupus erythematosus (14, 37.8%), followed by inflammatory myopathy (11, 27.9%). Patients in the early group were less likely to require mechanical ventilation (8/27, 29.6% vs. 9/10, 90.0%, P = 0.002), lower doses glucocorticoids (43.2 mg/d vs. 72.2 mg/d, P = 0.039) and had lower mortality (7/27, 25.9% vs. 8/10, 80.0%, P = 0.006) than those in the late group. In the Kaplan–Meier analysis, the survivor probability of the early group was notably higher than that of the late group (P = 0.007). Multivariate cox regression analysis showed that initiation of TMP/SMX after 7 days from admission (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–30.4; P = 0.034) and a higher level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; HR: 6.0, 95% CI: 1.1–31.8; P = 0.035) were associated with 90-day mortality in patients with rheumatic disease complicated by PJP.

Conclusion

Patients with rheumatic disease complicated by PJP had poor prognoses, with mortality rates as high as 40.5%. TMP/SMX initiation after 7 days from initial symptoms and a higher level of serum LDH were significantly associated with increased 90-day mortality.
A radiomic model to classify response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer
Authors: McAnena Peter , Moloney Brian M. , Browne Robert , O’Halloran Niamh , Walsh Leon , Walsh Sinead , Sheppard Declan , Sweeney Karl J. , Kerin Michael J. , Lowery Aoife J.
Published: December 2022

Background

Medical image analysis has evolved to facilitate the development of methods for high-throughput extraction of quantitative features that can potentially contribute to the diagnostic and treatment paradigm of cancer. There is a need for further improvement in the accuracy of predictive markers of response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). The aim of this study was to develop a radiomic classifier to enhance current approaches to predicting the response to NAC breast cancer.

Methods

Data on patients treated for breast cancer with NAC prior to surgery who had a pre-NAC dynamic contrast enhanced breast MRI were included. Response to NAC was assessed using the Miller–Payne system on the excised tumor. Tumor segmentation was carried out manually under the supervision of a consultant breast radiologist. Features were selected using least absolute shrinkage selection operator regression. A support vector machine learning model was used to classify response to NAC.

Results

74 patients were included. Patients were classified as having a poor response to NAC (reduction in cellularity < 90%, n = 44) and an excellent response (> 90% reduction in cellularity, n = 30). 4 radiomics features (discretized kurtosis, NGDLM contrast, GLZLM_SZE and GLZLM_ZP) were identified as pertinent predictors of response to NAC. A SVM model using these features stratified patients into poor and excellent response groups producing an AUC of 0.75. Addition of estrogen receptor status improved the accuracy of the model with an AUC of 0.811.

Conclusion

This study identified a radiomic classifier incorporating 4 radiomics features to augment subtype based classification of response to NAC in breast cancer.
Improving awareness of kidney function through electronic urine output monitoring: a comparative study
Authors: Murad Omar , Orjuela Cruz Daniel F , Goldman Aliza , Stern Tal , van Heerden Peter Vernon
Published: December 2022

Background

The current classification for acute kidney injury (AKI) according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria integrates both serum creatinine (SCr) and urine output (UO). Most reports on AKI claim to use KDIGO guidelines but fail to include the UO criterion. It has been shown that patients who had intensive UO monitoring, with or without AKI, had significantly less cumulative fluid volume and fluid overload, reduced vasopressor use, and improved 30-day mortality. We examined whether real-time monitoring of this simple, sensitive, and easy-to-use biomarker in the ICU led to more appropriate intervention by healthcare providers and better outcomes. 

Methods

RenalSense Clarity RMS Consoles were installed in the General ICU at the Hadassah Medical Center, Israel, from December 2019 to November 2020. The Clarity RMS system continuously and electronically monitors UO in real-time. 100 patients were randomly selected from this period as the study group (UOelec) and compared to a matched control group (UOmanual) from the same period two years earlier. To test whether there was an association between oliguric hours and fluid treatment in each group, the correlation was calculated and analyzed for each of the different UO monitoring methods.

Results

Therapeutic intervention: The correlation of the sum of all oliguric hours on Day 1 and 2 with the sum of any therapeutic intervention (fluid bolus or furosemide) showed a significant correlation for the study group UOelec (P = 0.017). The matched control group UOmanual showed no such correlation (P = 0.932). Length of Stay (LOS): Median LOS [IQR] in the ICU of UOelec versus UOmanual was 69.46 [44.7, 125.9] hours and 116.5 [62.46, 281.3] hours, respectively (P = 0.0002).

Conclusions

The results of our study strongly suggest that ICU patients had more meaningful and better medical intervention, and improved outcomes, with electronic UO monitoring than with manual monitoring.
Construction and validation of the Oxford Neurodevelopment Assessment (OX-NDA) in 1-year-old Brazilian children
Authors: Fernandes Michelle , Bassani Diego , Albernaz Elaine , Bertoldi Andrea D. , Silveira Mariangela F. , Matijsevich Alicia , Anselmi Luciana , Cruz Suélen , Halal Camila S. , Tovo-Rodrigues Luciana , Cruz Gloria Isabel Nino , Metgud Deepa , Santos Ina S.
Published: December 2022

Background

Over 250 million children under 5 years, globally, are at risk of developmental delay. Interventions during the first 2 years of life have enduring positive effects if children at risk are identified, using standardized assessments, within this window. However, identifying developmental delay during infancy is challenging and there are limited infant development assessments suitable for use in low- and middle-income (LMIC) settings. Here, we describe a new tool, the Oxford Neurodevelopment Assessment (OX-NDA), measuring cognition, language, motor, and behaviour, outcomes in 1-year-old children. We present the results of its evaluation against the Bayley Scales of Infant Development IIIrd edition (BSID-III) and its psychometric properties.

Methods

Sixteen international tools measuring infant development were analysed to inform the OX-NDA’s construction. Its agreement with the BSID-III, for cognitive, motor and language domains, was evaluated using intra-class correlations (ICCs, for absolute agreement), Bland-Altman analyses (for bias and limits of agreement), and sensitivity and specificity analyses (for accuracy) in 104 Brazilian children, aged 12 months (SD 8.4 days), recruited from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study. Behaviour was not evaluated, as the BSID-III’s adaptive behaviour scale was not included in the cohort’s protocol. Cohen’s kappas and Cronbach’s alphas were calculated to determine the OX-NDA’s reliability and internal consistency respectively.

Results

Agreement was moderate for cognition and motor outcomes (ICCs 0.63 and 0.68, p < 0.001) and low for language outcomes (ICC 0.30, p < 0.04). Bland-Altman analysis showed little to no bias between measures across domains. The OX-NDA’s sensitivity and specificity for predicting moderate-to-severe delay on the BSID-III was 76, 73 and 43% and 75, 80 and 33% for cognition, motor and language outcomes, respectively. Inter-rater (k = 0.80-0.96) and test-rest (k = 0.85-0.94) reliability was high for all domains. Administration time was < 20 minutes.

Conclusion

The OX-NDA shows moderate agreement with the BSID-III for identifying infants at risk of cognitive and motor delay; agreement was low for language delay. It is a rapid, low-cost assessment constructed specifically for use in LMIC populations. Further work is needed to evaluate its use (i) across domains in populations beyond Brazil and (ii) to identify language delays in Brazilian children.
General practitioners’ knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices surrounding the prescription of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation: a mixed-methods systematic review
Authors: Selamoglu Melis , Erbas Bircan , Kasiviswanathan Karthika , Barton Chris
Published: December 2022

Background

General practitioners (GPs) play an important role in providing patients who smoke with health information, support and treatment to encourage them to quit smoking. Despite conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as a smoking cessation aid, there is growing interest in the role e-cigarettes might play as an alternative to smoking tobacco. This systematic review aims to synthesise evidence from qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies of the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and social norms of GPs with respect to the use of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids.

Methods

This study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies from MEDLINE, CINAHL, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, EMBASE and grey literature were searched. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts and full-text articles to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. A data extraction form was used to extract relevant data from included papers and were quality appraised using the MMAT checklist. A PRISMA flow diagram was used to record the flow of papers and reasons for exclusion. Studies were included if they collected quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods data to determine knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and social norms of GPs for use of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids.

Results

A total of 4056 abstracts were screened and 25 articles were included. Our findings showed that GPs had mixed views on recommending e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid. Some GPs were optimistic and had recommended e-cigarettes to their patients. Others were reluctant and disagreed that e-cigarettes are an effective method to quit smoking. Most GPs lacked knowledge and confidence in having discussions with patients around e-cigarette safety and efficacy as smoking cessation alternatives.

Conclusion

This systematic review shows there are mixed views on e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids. Clear guidance on the role of e-cigarettes is needed to inform and upskill GPs about e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.

PROSPERO registration

CRD42021227612.
Association between friendship quality and subjective wellbeing among adolescents: a systematic review
Authors: Alsarrani Abdullah , Hunter Ruth F. , Dunne Laura , Garcia Leandro
Published: December 2022

Background

Social integration with friends has an important role in shaping adolescents’ behavior and determining their wellbeing. Friendship features such as companionship, trust, closeness, intimacy, and conflicts all form the concept of friendship quality. The quality of friendships can either enhance or impede mental development during adolescence. Therefore, this systematic review was conducted to understand the association between friendship quality and adolescents’ mental wellbeing.

Methods

In November 2020 and later in August 2022, the search for evidence was conducted on five databases (Medline, Embase, ProQuest, Scopus, and PsycINFO). Only peer-reviewed quantitative studies published from January 2000 to August 2022 that investigated friendship quality as their exposure variable in relation to six constructs of subjective wellbeing (mood, loneliness, life satisfaction, happiness, self-esteem, and subjective wellbeing) were included. After screening for eligibility, two reviewers independently extracted the data based on population characteristics, study design, exposure and outcome variables, outcome measures used, and results. Risk of bias assessment was performed utilizing the NIH Quality Assessment Tool. Narrative evidence synthesis was performed based on the constructs of subjective wellbeing.

Results

Forty-three articles out of 21,585 records were included in the review. The relationship between friendship quality and depression has been investigated extensively in the literature and negative (beneficial) associations were found in eighteen studies out of twenty-three. Poor peer relationship was associated with loneliness in nine studies out of ten. All seven studies on life satisfaction and quality of peer connection found a positive association. In five studies, better peer relationship was found to be associated with happiness. A positive association between friendship quality and self-esteem was observed in five out of six applicable studies. Friendship quality was found to be positively associated with subjective well-being in all of five included studies.

Conclusions

Although majority of the included studies were cross-sectional in nature, this review demonstrates the paramount value of promoting healthy friendship to adolescents’ subjective wellbeing constructs. Interventions that aim to promote subjective wellbeing among adolescents should consider the development and maintenance of healthy friendships.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42020219312.
Reply to: Letter to the Editor regarding "Covid-19 transmission in fitness centers in Norway—a randomized trial"
Authors: Helsingen Lise M. , Løberg Magnus , Bretthauer Michael , Kalager Mette
Published: December 2022

In this correspondence we respond to critique of our randomized trial of Covid-19 transmission in fitness centers. The trial was performed in Norway during May and June 2020.
Altered muscle recruitment patterns during isometric shoulder abduction in individuals with chronic upper trapezius pain: a cross sectional study
Authors: Kim Hyun-A , Kwon Oh-Yun , Yi Chung-Hwi , Jeon Hye-Seon , Choi Woochol Joseph , Weon Jong-Hyuck
Published: December 2022

Background

Upper trapezius (UT) pain with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) can affect movement at the glenohumeral joint as well as at the scapulothoracic joint. The investigation of muscle recruitment patterns can discern motor control strategies. The purpose of this study was to compare shoulder muscle recruitment patterns and muscle activity according to various loads between individuals with and without chronic UT pain.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, twenty-four participants that had UT pain with MTrPs and sex, age, body weight matched 24 controls with no UT pain were recruited. Surface EMG electrodes were attached to the UT, the serratus anterior (SA), the lower trapezius (LT) and the middle deltoid (MD). All participants performed isometric shoulder abduction with a load of 25%, 50%, or 75% of the maximum strength at 60° of shoulder abduction. The EMG activity, the activity ratio (SA/UT, LT/UT, MD/UT), and the relative contribution of each muscle activity were calculated.

Results

MD activity was significantly decreased in the UT pain group compared to that in the control group (p < 0.05). The EMG activity ratio of SA/UT (p < 0.025) and the relative contribution of SA activity to shoulder abduction (p < 0.05) were significantly greater in the UT pain group than in the control group in the 25% loading condition.

Conclusion

The results of present study showed that UT pain with MTrPs may increase the relative contribution of SA activity and decrease MD activity at low loads. Altered recruitment patterns of scapular upward rotators can be altered in the proper scapular position, which results in decreased MD activity. Clinicians should consider altered recruitment patterns when managing UT pain.

Trial registration

Clinical Research Information Service: Clinical Research Information Service (KCT0007370; 08/06/2022).