bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Circulating levels of leptin in different phases of the menstrual cycle – a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Panchawagh Suhrud J. , Kumar Pratyush , Srikumar Shabarini , Prajapati Khushi , Sarkar Manali , Abhishek Kumar , Agrawal Poonam , Kaushal G. P. , Martínez Daniel Jesús García , Kalra Swati , Bhutia Euden , Agarwal Aman , Singh Kunika , Sharma Shubhangi , Ashok Tejaswini , Shah Urmil , Shukla Rushikesh , Gupta Sejal , Shaikh Hareem , Soumya K. Sri , S Poorvikha
Published: August 2023

Leptin is a peptide hormone synthesized by white adipose tissue. Its principal site of action is in the brainstem and hypothalamus, where it acts to modulate satiety and control of reward and aversion. Leptin deficiency or resistance is associated with dysregulation of cytokine production, increased susceptibility to infections, autoimmune disorders, malnutrition, and inflammatory responses. Studies have shown variation in leptin levels between males and females, and in different phases of the menstrual cycle as well. Our study aims to explain the variation in leptin levels and their physiological role in the menstrual cycle. A total of 1887 records were identified from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane. We included studies where females were 18-40 years of age, who had achieved menarche, and were on regular menstrual cycles. We excluded studies which were cross-section, pre-prints, or studies where inadequate information was provided. Seven studies were included in the study. We used the standardized mean difference as the outcome measure. Leptin levels varied significantly in the phases of the menstrual cycle as well as during prepubertal, pubertal, and postpubertal phases. The standardized mean difference in leptin levels between the follicular phase and the luteal phase was 2.67 ng/mL (95% CI: 0.16 to 5.19 ng/mL). Fluctuations in leptin levels can cause weight changes and reproductive cycle disturbances. Hence, in cases of infertility with abnormal menstrual cycles, measurement of the physiologic variability in leptin levels may help to diagnose the cause of infertility and appropriate interventions can be started.
Absence of Lipopolysccharide (LPS) expression in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: de Miranda Noel FCC , Smit Vincent THBM , van der Ploeg Manon , Wesseling Jelle , Neefjes Jacques
Published: August 2023

The association between bacterial activity and tumorigenesis has gained attention in recent years, alongside the well-established link between viruses and cancer. A recent study proposed the presence of intracellular bacteria in cancer cells, particularly in melanomas and breast cancers, with detectable bacterial DNA. The authors suggested that these bacteria contribute to the tumors’ development. We sought to replicate these findings using the same experimental methods on different tissue microarrays. Our investigation included 129 breast cancer samples, but we found no evidence of LPS expression within cancer cells. Instead, LPS immunoreactivity was observed in ducts or immune cells, specifically macrophages. The discrepancies in LPS staining warrant caution in interpreting the reported observations, and further research is needed to elucidate the potential role of intracellular bacteria in cancer development.
Duration of high school education on early fertility and marriage: evidence from a policy change in Ghana
Authors: Boahen Emmanuel Adu , Nunoo Jacob , Opoku Kwadwo
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to examine the effect of spending one extra year in high school on early marriage and childbirth.

Design/methodology/approach

The study takes advantage of the education reform in 2007 that extended the years of high school education by one to conduct a quasi experiment. The marriage and fertility outcomes of women who completed a four-year senior high school education are compared to those who completed a three-year senior high school education.

Findings

The findings from the study indicate that the one-year extension in high school education led to a 4.75 percentage point reduction in the probability of ever marrying by age 27 and a 6.7 percentage point reduction in the probability of ever given birth. The authors demonstrate that the extension of the duration of high school education by one year has a heterogeneous effect, as it reduced the fertility and marriage outcomes of rural girls more than urban girls. The study reveals opportunity costs and confinement effects as possible mechanisms through which the policy affected early marriage and birth.

Originality/value

This study is one of the few studies that examine the impact of the duration of secondary school education on fertility and marriage. For Africa in particular, there is no such study. Thus, this study provides a unique contribution to the literature since available studies on this subject matter can only be found in advanced economies. Unlike other studies in Africa that use a design that provides the combined effect of duration of schooling and school enrolment on fertility and marriage, this design enables the authors to only look at the effect of duration of schooling on fertility and marriage.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-04-2023-0323
Working together: what we’ve learned from building a school–university partnership
Authors: DiCicco Michael , Faulkner Shawn A. , Cooley Mac
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this viewpoint article is to share the reflections of school and university leaders on the success of their emerging school–university partnership for the preparation of middle school teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is a reflective paper in which the leaders of the school–university partnership discuss the benefits of establishing the initial school–university partnership and reflect on what has helped the partnership experience success in the partnership's first five years of existence.

Findings

While the authors describe their school-university partnership as emerging, both the school and the university have experienced successes. Upon reflection, the authors discuss four specific essential elements to their initial partnership success. Communication and collaboration among all stakeholders ensure all voices are heard and valued. Allowing the university to have a physical presence in the middle school encourages the building of trusting relationships. For partnerships to succeed, partners must allow time for the partnership to mature and grow. Finally, when the middle school hires graduates from the partnering university, this benefits both the school and university partners.

Originality/value

As teacher preparation moves further away from the university campus to engage more closely with schools, there are lessons to be learned. Reflection is an essential component of growth. The partners in this school–university partnership believe sharing the partners' experiences will enhance the effectiveness of the partners' own partnership and encourage others that choose to begin this journey.
A systematic review on behavioral biases affecting individual investment decisions
Authors: Badola Sneha , Sahu Aditya Kumar , Adlakha Amit
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to systematically review various behavioral biases that impact an investor’s decision-making process. The prime objective of this paper is to thematically explore the behavioral bias literature and propose a comprehensive framework that can elucidate a more reasonable explanation of changes in financial markets and investors’ behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematic literature review (SLR) methodology is applied to a portfolio of 71 peer-reviewed articles collected from different electronic databases between 2007 and 2021. Content analysis of the extant literature is performed to identify the research themes and existing gaps in the literature.

Findings

This research identifies publication trends of the behavioral biases literature and uncovers 24 different biases that impact individual investors’ decision-making. Through thematic analysis, an attribute–consequence–impact framework is proposed that explains different biases leading to individual investors’ irrationality. The study further proposes directions for future research by applying the theory–characteristics–context–methodology framework.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this research will help scholars and practitioners in understanding the existence of various behavioral biases and assist them in identifying potential strategies which can evade the negative effects of these biases. The findings will further help the financial service providers to understand these biases and improve the landscape of financial services.

Originality/value

The essence of the current paper is the application of the SLR method on 24 biases in the area of behavioral finance. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt of its kind which provides a methodical and comprehensive compilation of both cognitive and emotional behavioral biases that affect the individual investor’s decision-making.
The “nicest place on the Internet”? Trouble at Pinterest, Inc
Authors: Shea-Van Fossen Rita J. , Rovenpor Janet , Stickney Lisa T.
Published: August 2023

Research methodology

Data for the case came from public sources, including legal proceedings, court filings and Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The authors perused hundreds of court documents and identified 28 that were most relevant to this case. The authors also used press interviews with the women highlighted in the case. The authors have no relationship with the company and no one from the company has reviewed the information presented in this case. As the case is drawn from sworn legal testimonies, interviews and related documents in the public domain, the authors did not have to seek approval for publication.

Case overview/synopsis

Pinterest touted itself as “the nicest place on the Internet.” It had an almost 80% female user base and purported to have an inclusive culture that embraced diversity. However, in June 2020, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, two former female employees of color violated their non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to publicly accuse Pinterest of racial and gender discrimination. In August 2020, Pinterest’s former Chief Operating Officer, Francoise Brougher, filed a lawsuit charging the company with gender discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination, and authored a public blog post titled, The Pinterest Paradox: Cupcakes and Toxicity, detailing her own experience with the company’s discriminatory culture. Three days later 236 of Pinterest’s 2,545 employees staged a virtual walkout and 445 employees signed a petition in an attempt to change Pinterest’s policies and culture. The case provides a brief overview of Pinterest, including its mission, values and organizational culture, and details several incidents and complaints by female and minority employees. The case questions whether employee complaints are a relatively narrow issue involving disgruntled former employees who did not fit at the organization or a much broader issue involving discrimination and managerial neglect in creating and maintaining a nondiscriminatory, inclusive culture. Students are encouraged to evaluate the situation in which Co-Founder, Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Ben Silbermann finds himself, evaluate the actions taken and decide if Silbermann should take any additional actions to address the discrimination claims and ensure a positive culture for all employees.

Complexity academic level

This case is appropriate for graduate and advanced undergraduate level courses in organizational behavior, human resource management and business law or any course where discrimination and workplace culture are discussed.
Managing innovative talent: a moderated-mediation model of the relationship between leader–member exchange, learning strategies and innovation
Authors: Smothers Jack
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to extend understanding of individual innovation by examining how learning strategies and relational dynamics influence the generation and promotion of innovative ideas. By investigating the extent to which the relationship between learning strategies and innovation varies as a function of a social factor (i.e. leader–member exchange), this research strengthens the conceptual model of individual innovation by integrating cognitive, behavioral and environmental factors.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected from 667 working adults met satisfactory standards of construct reliability, and confirmatory factor analyses were used to verify sufficient convergent and discriminant construct validity. A first-stage moderated-mediation model was used to measure the direct and indirect effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable, as well as the effect of the moderating variable.

Findings

Leader–member exchange positively moderated the relationship between behavioral learning strategies and idea generation, but not the relationship between cognitive learning strategies and idea generation. Furthermore, idea generation mediated the relationship between the interaction (i.e. behavioral learning strategies × leader–member exchange) and idea promotion. Idea generation also mediated the relationship between cognitive learning strategies and idea promotion.

Originality/value

This research extends the generalizability of social cognitive theory within individual innovation processes and provides a greater understanding of how relational dynamics strengthen employee innovation through behavioral learning strategies. Support for the hypothesized moderated-mediation model empirically validates how organizational leaders can leverage relational dynamics and learning strategies to elicit the conceptualization and championing of innovative ideas in the workplace.
MiR‐671‐5p sponging activity of circMMP1 promotes esophageal squamous cancer progression
Authors: Li Rong , Chai Linyan , Lei Lei , Guo Rong , Wen Xiulin
Published: August 2023

Background

The aim of this study was to explore the function and mechanism of circular RNA (circRNA) matrix metallopeptidase 1 (circMMP1) in the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

CircMMP1 expression was detected by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR), and its relationship with the prognosis of ESCC patients was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier analysis. Cells were transfected using corresponding plasmids, and the cell proliferation activity, migration and invasion capabilities in vitro were assessed. The protein level in tissues and cells was analyzed using western blotting. RNA pulldown, dual‐luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were performed in ESCC cells to detect the interaction between circMMP1 and miR‐671‐5p, or the correlation between miR‐671‐5p and ANO1. Xenograft tumor experiment was carried out to uncover the function of circMMP1 in vivo.

Results

The high level of circMMP1 in tumor tissues was associated with poor prognoses of ESCC patients. Knockdown of circMMP1 suppressed ESCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. MiR‐671‐5p was the target of circMMP1 and mediated the inhibition effect of circMMP1 on ESCC cells. CircMMP1 targeted miR‐671‐5p to regulate ANO1 expression, which was downstream of miR‐671‐5p. Overexpression of ANO1 weakened tumor‐repressive function of circMMP1 knockdown in ESCC cells. Moreover, silencing of circMMP1 impeded ESCC tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusion

Our study provided novel evidence that circMMP1 accelerated ESCC progression by acting as a miR‐671‐5p sponge to enhance ANO1 expression.
An 8‐year retrospective review of emergency laparotomy outcomes in a Queensland rural hospital
Authors: Cheng Dong Tony , Miyata Nariyoshi , Asomah Francis
Published: August 2023

Objective

Emergency laparotomy (EL) is a major operation performed in critically unwell patients. The National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA), undertaken in the UK since 2013 has shown progressive improvement in clinical outcomes, specifically reduced mortality, and length of stay (LOS) through the implementation of perioperative key performance indicators (KPIs) (ANZ J Surg. 2021;91:2575, Br J Surg. 2015;102:57, Br J Surg. 2017;104:463, JAMA Surg. 2019;154:e190145). The objective is to generate a rural hospital EL audit (MELA) to evaluate local outcomes and clinical standards of practice with regional, national, and international benchmarks.

Methods

A review of medical records between January 2014 and December 2021 of patients who undergo an EL. Data collected include patient demographics, clinical information, compliance to KPIs and the primary outcomes of 30‐day mortality and LOS.

Design

This is a descriptive quantitative study. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were similar to those defined in NELA and ANZELA‐QI.

Setting and Participants

The general surgeons at the rural hospital provide emergency surgery services for the North‐West Queensland community.

Main Outcome Measures

To review local clinical outcomes of 30‐day mortality, LOS, and adherence to perioperative KPIs.

Results

Overall, 84 patients met inclusion criteria. The median age (IQR) was 61 (48.8–70.3) years. The 30‐day mortality was 3.6% and mean LOS was 12.8 (±13.4) days which was secondary to the low‐risk patients within the data set. Compliance to KPIs (≥80%) was achieved in five of eight standards assessed.

Conclusion

Local outcomes appear to be comparable to national and international benchmarks and a similar rural setting. The audited cohort outperformed the national standard in adherence to perioperative KPIs.
Sense of danger, sense of country's mastery, and sense of personal mastery as concomitants of psychological distress and subjective well‐being in a sample of Poles following Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Prospective analyses
Authors: Kaniasty Krzysztof , Baran Maria , Urbańska Beata , Boczkowska Marta , Hamer Katarzyna
Published: August 2023

This study investigated psychological toll of the ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine in a sample of adult Poles (N = 1245). Data were collected online in early February and August 2022. Prospective analyses that accounted for psychological health status assessed before the Russian invasion showed that higher levels of sense of danger due to the war predicted higher levels of psychological distress and lower levels of affect balance close to 6 months after Russia attacked Ukraine. Sense of country's mastery (i.e. beliefs that government, its major institutions, and citizens would effectively cope with various emergencies and crises) served as a protective factor. Likewise, Poles who had confidence in their personal mastery (e.g., beliefs in ability to exercise control over life challenges) exhibited less distress and more subjective well‐being. These findings emerged after controlling for sociodemographic factors, the presence of stressful experiences associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic, and other life events. Wars dramatically reverberate beyond the borders of the countries involved. People's own sense of mastery and their trust in the resilience of their governmental and public institutions are critical in times of coping with existential security threats and wars.
When offering a patient beneficial treatment undermines public health
Authors: Eyal Nir , Williams Bridget
Published: August 2023

Sometimes, offering someone beneficial care is likely to thwart the similar or more serious medical needs of more people. For example, when acute shortage is strongly predicted to persist, providing the long period on scarce intensive care that a certain COVID‐19 patient needs is sometimes projected to block several future COVID‐19 patients from receiving the shorter periods on intensive care that they will need. Expected utility is typically higher if the former is denied intensive care. A tempting initial account of such cases is that consequentialism supports denying care to that patient and nonconsequentialism supports providing that care. This paper argues that the consequentialist case is more complicated than it may initially seem and that nonconsequentialism sides more readily with denial of the beneficial treatment. It also shows that when denying it would directly enhance public health by a lot, either ethical approach would normally recommend denying it. Practical implications are discussed, including how to address conscientious objection to this shared recommendation.
Effect of 1H‐NMR serum lipoproteins on immunotherapy response in advanced triple‐negative breast cancer patients
Authors: Tian Zhenluan , Rao Qunxian , He Zhanghai , Zhao Wei , Chen Liangyu , Liu Jieqiong , Wang Ying
Published: August 2023

We previously reported the results of a phase II trial of anti‐PD‐1 antibody plus anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitors and eribulin in heavily pretreated advanced triple‐negative breast cancer with a favorable objective response rate (ORR) of 37.0% (NCT04303741). Here we report updated survival outcomes and serum metabolite changes of the study. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to detect metabolite dynamics and explore biomarkers for response. We found that treatment‐sensitive patients had higher very low‐density lipoprotein‐related metabolite expression at baseline. A lipid proteomics model consisting of six metabolites predicted ORR and progression‐free survival at 6 months with area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.88 and 0.87, respectively. Serum asparagine and sarcosine concentrations were significantly higher after treatment in treatment‐resistant patients. In conclusion, we constructed a model consisting of six metabolites to identify patients who benefit more from the triplet treatment, and asparagine and sarcosine may be associated with treatment resistance.
The Diversity of Strategies Used in Working Memory for Colors, Orientations, and Positions: A Quantitative Approach to a First‐Person Inquiry
Authors: Slana Ozimič Anka , Oblak Aleš , Kordeš Urban , Purg Nina , Bon Jurij , Repovš Grega
Published: August 2023

The study of individual experience during the performance of a psychological task using a phenomenological approach is a relatively new area of research. The aim of this paper was to combine first‐ and third‐person approaches to investigate whether the strategies individuals use during a working memory task are associated with specific task conditions, whether the strategies combine to form stable patterns, and whether the use of specific strategies is related to task accuracy. Thirty‐one participants took part in an experiment in which they were instructed to remember colors, orientations, or positions of stimuli presented in a change detection task. After every 7th–15th trial, participants took part in an in‐depth phenomenological interview in which they described their experiences during the trial that immediately preceded the interview. Qualitative analysis revealed a set of 18 strategies that participants used while performing the task, which we divided into active and passive strategies of encoding, maintenance, and retrieval. Quantitative analysis revealed that while many strategies were used in all task conditions, some strategies and their combinations may be better suited to the specific task demands, while others are more general in nature. The results also suggest a distinction between strategies for encoding object identity and spatial features. Finally, our results did not provide robust evidence for a relationship between specific strategies and task accuracy.
Basic situation and trend analysis in heart transplantation research funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
Authors: Xie Xianyu , Wu Qinde
Published: August 2023

Introduction

This study analyzes heart transplantation funding provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) between 1986 and 2022. The findings offer an objective and scientific reference for heart transplantation research.

Methods

CiteSpace visualization was used to present keywords in heart transplantation research.

Results

From 1986 to 2022, the NFSC disbursed ¥117.68 million to fund 259 projects related to heart transplantation. Hubei, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, and Heilongjiang received the most funding. General and youth science fund projects accounted for 58.69% and 30.50%, respectively. The main discipline category was organ transplantation and transplantation immunity, accounting for 40.93%. Research hotspots included “immune tolerance,” “rejection reaction,” “t cell” “dendritic cell,” “stem cell,” and “transplantation tolerance.” Research foci were “rejection reaction,” “heart failure,” “immune tolerance,” “heart transplantation,” “stem cell,” “suppressor cell,” “dendritic cell,” “dilated cardiomyopathy,” and “t cell.” In the past 5 years, the research frontier has targeted “transplantation tolerance,” “ischemia‐reperfusion injury,” and “heart transplantation.”

Conclusion

Continuous NSFC funding for heart transplantation research has promoted the development of disciplines and cultivation of talent. Novel technologies (e.g., artificial hearts and donor maintenance) have generated new requirements for heart transplantation research.
From scarcity to solutions: Therapeutic strategies to restore adipose tissue functionality in rare disorders of lipodystrophy
Authors: Tiwari Mansi , Mcilroy George D.
Published: August 2023

Aims

Lipodystrophy is a rare disorder characterised by abnormal or deficient adipose tissue formation and distribution. It poses significant challenges to affected individuals, including the development of severe metabolic complications like diabetes and fatty liver disease. These conditions are often chronic, debilitating and life‐threatening, with limited treatment options and a lack of specialised expertise. This review aims to raise awareness of lipodystrophy disorders and highlights therapeutic strategies to restore adipose tissue functionality.

Methods

Extensive research has been conducted, including both historical and recent advances. We have examined and summarised the literature to provide an overview of potential strategies to restore adipose tissue functionality and treat/reverse metabolic complications in lipodystrophy disorders.

Results

A wealth of basic and clinical research has investigated various therapeutic approaches for lipodystrophy. These include ground‐breaking methods such as adipose tissue transplantation, innovative leptin replacement therapy, targeted inhibition of lipolysis and cutting‐edge gene and cell therapies. Each approach shows great potential in addressing the complex challenges posed by lipodystrophy.

Conclusions

Lipodystrophy disorders require urgent attention and innovative treatments. Through rigorous basic and clinical research, several promising therapeutic strategies have emerged that could restore adipose tissue functionality and reverse the severe metabolic complications associated with this condition. However, further research and collaboration between academics, clinicians, patient advocacy groups and pharmaceutical companies will be crucial in transforming these scientific breakthroughs into effective and viable treatment options for individuals and families affected by lipodystrophy. Fostering such interdisciplinary partnerships could pave the way for a brighter future for those battling this debilitating disorder.
Genetic risk score of cerebral infarction in atrial fibrillation genome‐wide association study
Authors: Ebana Yusuke , Liu Lian , Ihara Kensuke , Abe Keiko , Terao Chikashi , Kamatani Yoichiro , Sasano Tetsuo , Furukawa Tetsushi
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Stroke is a leading cause of death and the primary cause of adult‐acquired disability. Patients with cardiogenic embolic stroke also have higher mortality and recurrence rates than patients with other stroke subtypes. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for cerebral infarction (CI). The large‐scale study identified 32 loci in the MEGASTROKE study. However, few studies have attempted to identify novel stroke risk variants in patients with a history of AF. Our overall aim was to identify novel CI risk variants in AF cases and explore whether their associations with the CI risk were affected by the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2‐VASc scores.

Methods

We performed association study with CI using 8181 AF cases in previous genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and imputation data without controls. We classified AF cases into those with or without past history of CI, and the genetic associations with the CI risk were examined.

Results

GWAS identified eight associated loci. The generated genetic risk score (GRS) for the eight loci was significantly associated with CI in patients with AF (1.46 × 10−8). We estimated bivariate logistic regression model which contained GRS and CHADS2 score (GRS: p‐Value = 7.41 × 10−9, CHADS2 score: p‐Value <2.0 × 10−16) or CHA2DS2‐VASc scores (GRS: p‐Value = 2.52 × 10−10, CHA2DS2‐VASc score: p‐Value <2.0 × 10−16).

Conclusion

We identified eight genetic variants that were potentially associated with the risk of CI of AF cases and the significant GRS, whose associations were independent of the CHADS2 or CHA2DS2‐VASc score.
Ecological and evolutionary consequences of temporal variation in dispersal
Authors: Peniston Jimmy H. , Backus Gregory A. , Baskett Marissa L. , Fletcher Robert J. , Holt Robert D.
Published: August 2023

The importance of dispersal rates and distances has long been appreciated by ecologists and evolutionary biologists. An emerging field of research is revealing how temporal variation in dispersal can substantially influence ecological and evolutionary outcomes. We review how dispersal rates can temporally vary substantially in many ecosystems, a pattern that is particularly well‐documented for aquatic organisms but is likely pervasive in terrestrial ecosystems as well. We then synthesize the effects of temporal variation in dispersal on five key ecological and evolutionary processes: 1) metapopulation dynamics, 2) local adaptation, 3) range limits and range expansions, 4) species coexistence and 5) metacommunity dynamics. Our review demonstrates that temporal variation in dispersal is more than just statistical ‘noise' but can in fact lead to different outcomes than expected were dispersal temporally constant. For example, increasing the magnitude of temporal variation in dispersal can lead to lower metapopulation growth rates, permit greater local adaptation, facilitate and accelerate range expansion, increase regional coexistence, and alter local and regional species diversity. These effects of temporal variation in dispersal can inform conservation and natural resource management decisions such as prioritization in spatial planning, management of spillover from domesticated or captive populations into native populations, and the design of effective control strategies for invasive species.
Postoperative de novo epilepsy after resection of brain arteriovenous malformations: A national database study of 536 patients
Authors: Sioutas Georgios S. , Palepu Chandrasekhar , Salem Mohamed M. , Nia Anna M. , Vivanco‐Suarez Juan , Burkhardt Jan‐Karl , Jankowitz Brian T. , Srinivasan Visish M.
Published: August 2023

Objective

We aimed to assess the incidence and risk factors for de novo epilepsy after arteriovenous malformation (AVM) resection and compare them with a nonresection cohort after propensity score matching, utilizing a national database.

Methods

Utilizing the TriNetX Research Network, we queried cases from January 1, 2004 to March 1, 2022. We included patients of all ages who underwent supratentorial AVM resection, presenting without seizures on or before surgery and without being on antiseizure medications at least 1 day before surgery. The primary outcome was seizures manifesting at least 6 weeks after surgery. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared between the cohorts with and without postoperative epilepsy. Further cohorts were created to compare cohorts with and without embolization or rupture. After propensity score matching, we compared an additional cohort of patients with an AVM diagnosis who did not undergo resection.

Results

Of the 536 patients (mean age = 38.9 ± 19.6, 52% females) presenting without seizure who underwent AVM resection, 99 (18.5%) developed de novo epilepsy, with a 1‐year cumulative incidence of 13.8%. Patients with epilepsy had higher rates of intracerebral hemorrhage, and intracerebral hemorrhage was less common in the embolization cohort. Patients in the ruptured cohort were older and more often males. After propensity score matching with 18 588 patients with AVM diagnosis but no resection, each group consisted of 529 patients, and de novo epilepsy at 1 year was significantly higher in the AVM resection cohort compared to the nonresection cohort (11.5% vs. 3.4%, p < .001).

Significance

This analysis of 536 patients provides evidence that de novo epilepsy after brain AVM resection occurs at a 1‐year cumulative incidence of 13.8%, with a total of 19.4% developing de novo epilepsy. Intracerebral hemorrhage was inconsistently associated with postoperative de novo epilepsy. De novo epilepsy was significantly less frequent after AVM diagnosis without resection.
Share repurchases and managerial reference points
Authors: Clarke Nicholas , Norris Dylan , Schrowang Andrew
Published: August 2023

This study examines the relationship between managerial reference points and corporate payout policy. We find that share repurchase activity increases as a firm's current stock price declines in relation to the price at which it previously repurchased shares. To facilitate a behavioral interpretation of this relation, we show that it weakens around stock splits, is asymmetric over gains and losses, and strengthens when prior repurchase prices are more salient. Further, the relation is not explained by traditional repurchase motives. The results suggest a behavioral pattern in which managers use prior repurchase prices as reference points for current repurchases.
Bioenergy crops, biodiversity and ecosystem services in temperate agricultural landscapes—A review of synergies and trade‐offs
Authors: Winberg Josefin , Smith Henrik G. , Ekroos Johan
Published: August 2023

The Paris agreement on climate change requires rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. One important mitigation strategy, at least in the intermediate future, is the substitution of fossil fuels with bioenergy. However, using agriculture‐ and forest‐derived biomass for energy has sparked controversy regarding both the climate mitigation potential and conflicts with biodiversity conservation. The urgency of the climate crisis calls for using forests for carbon sequestration and storage rather than for bioenergy, making agricultural biomass an attractive alternative for fossil energy substitution. However, this calls for comprehensive assessments of its sustainability in terms of consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services. In this review, we provide a first holistic overview of the impacts on ecosystems of land‐use changes from bioenergy crop production in temperate climates, by synthesizing results on both biodiversity and ecosystem service impacts. We found that bioenergy‐related land‐use changes can have both positive and negative effects on ecosystems, with original land use, bioenergy crop type and scale of bioenergy production being important moderators of impacts. Despite the risk of opportunity cost for food production, perennial crop cultivation on arable land had the lowest occurrence of negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Growing biomass for bioenergy on surplus land has been suggested as a way to alleviate competition with food production and biodiversity conservation, but our results demonstrate that utilizing marginal or abandoned land for bioenergy crop production cannot fully resolve these trade‐offs. Furthermore, there is a lack of empirical studies of the biodiversity value of marginal and abandoned land, limiting our understanding of the sustainability implications of biomass cultivation on surplus land. We argue that future research and policies for bioenergy production must explicitly consider biodiversity and ecosystem services in combination to avoid potential trade‐offs between the two and to ensure sustainable bioenergy production.
Drought‐tolerant succulent plants as an alternative crop under future global warming scenarios in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Buckland Catherine E. , Thomas David S. G. , Jägermeyr Jonas , Müller Christoph , Smith J. Andrew C.
Published: August 2023

Globally, we are facing an emerging climate crisis, with impacts to be notably felt in semiarid regions across the world. Cultivation of drought‐adapted succulent plants has been suggested as a nature‐based solution that could: (i) reduce land degradation, (ii) increase agricultural diversification and provide both economic and environmentally sustainable income through derived bioproducts and bioenergy, (iii) help mitigate atmospheric CO2 emissions and (iv) increase soil sequestration of CO2. Identifying where succulents can grow and thrive is an important prerequisite for the advent of a sustainable alternative ‘bioeconomy’. Here, we first explore the viability of succulent cultivation in Africa under future climate projections to 2100 using species distribution modelling to identify climatic parameters of greatest importance and regions of environmental suitability. Minimum temperatures and temperature variability are shown to be key controls in defining the theoretical distribution of three succulent species explored, and under both current and future SSP5 8.5 projections, the conditions required for the growth of at least one of the species are met in most parts of sub‐Saharan Africa. These results are supplemented with an analysis of potentially available land for alternative succulent crop cultivation. In total, up to 1.5 billion ha could be considered ecophysiologically suitable and available for succulent cultivation due to projected declines in rangeland biomass and yields of traditional crops. These findings may serve to highlight new opportunities for farmers, governments and key stakeholders in the agriculture and energy sectors to invest in sustainable bioeconomic alternatives that deliver on environmental, social and economic goals.
Niche unfilling dominates the naturalization of species from intercontinentally disjunct genera
Authors: Liu Yunpeng , Heberling J. Mason , Wang Zhiheng , Soltis Douglas E. , Soltis Pamela S.
Published: August 2023

Aim

Quantifying niche shifts of non‐native species and their interactions with natives is vital in evaluating invasion risk yet remains difficult. Climate filtering and competition with native congeners are two important processes impacting niche changes and yielding contradictory predictions for the coexistence of non‐native and native species. Closely related species representing the Eastern Asia (EA)–Eastern North America (ENA) floristic disjunction provide a powerful yet unexplored system for assessing the relative roles of these two processes. Here, we tested three niche change scenarios (unfilling, expansion and stable) using EA species naturalized in ENA. We aim to answer: (1) which scenario is observed for naturalized species? and (2) how has niche overlap between EA and ENA congeners changed after naturalization?

Location

ENA and EA.

Time Period

Present.

Major Taxa Studied

Angiosperms.

Methods

Niches were estimated using both occurrences and predictions generated by ecological niche models. Niche changes of naturalized species and their niche overlap with natives were measured using Schoener's D. Contributions of niche expansion and unfilling on niche changes of naturalized niches were evaluated using hierarchical partitioning and linear regressions. We further measured pairwise phylogenetic distances among EA and ENA congeners and evaluated the association with niche overlap.

Results

Unfilling‐dominated postintroduction niche changes of the naturalized species. EA species naturalized in ENA exhibited lower niche overlap with ENA native congeners compared with native range populations in EA. These results remain when considering time since introduction and potential physical dispersal limitations interpreted by projecting suitable niche space between EA and ENA. However, dispersal limitation may contribute to the degree of niche unfilling.

Main Conclusions

Using intercontinental disjunct species as a study system, we found that naturalization is shaped jointly by climate filtering and competition with native congeners, providing valuable insights for evaluating invasion risk underlying global floristic exchanges.
Sensory hypersensitivities are associated with post‐traumatic headache‐related disability
Authors: Martindale Cecilia , Presson Angela P. , Schwedt Todd J. , Brennan K. C. , Cortez Melissa M.
Published: August 2023

Objective

To examine whether sensory hypersensitivity contributes to headache‐related disability in a secondary analysis of patients with post‐traumatic headache.

Background

Up to one‐third of individuals with traumatic brain injuries report persistent headache 3 months post‐injury. High rates of allodynia and photophobia have been observed in clinical studies and animal models of post‐traumatic headache, but we do not fully understand how sensory amplifications impact post‐traumatic headache‐related disability.

Methods

We identified a cross‐sectional sample of patients from the American Registry for Migraine Research database with new or worsening headaches post‐head injury from 2016 to 2020 and performed a secondary analysis of those data. We modeled the relationship between sensory sensitivity and Migraine Disability Assessment scores using questionnaires. Candidate variables included data collection features (study site and year), headache‐related and general clinical features (headache frequency, migraine diagnosis, abuse history, sex, age, cognitive and affective symptom scores), and sensory symptoms (related to light, sound, and touch sensitivity).

Results

The final sample included 193 patients (median age 46, IQR 22; 161/193, 83.4% female). Migraine Disability Assessment scores ranged from 0 to 260 (median 47, IQR 87). The final model included allodynia, hyperacusis, photosensitivity, headache days per month, abuse history, anxiety and depression, cognitive dysfunction, and age (R2 = 0.43). An increase of one point in allodynia score corresponded to a 3% increase in headache disability (95% CI: 0%–7%; p = 0.027), an increase of one‐tenth of a point in the photosensitivity score corresponded to a 12% increase (95% CI: 3%–25%; p = 0.002), and an increase of one point in the hyperacusis score corresponded to a 2% increase (95% CI: 0%–4%; p = 0.016).

Conclusions

Increased photosensitivity, allodynia, and hyperacusis were associated with increased headache‐related disability in this sample of patients with post‐traumatic headache. Symptoms of sensory amplification likely contribute to post‐traumatic headache‐related disability and merit an ongoing investigation into their potential as disease markers and treatment targets.
Serum inducible protein 10 kDa/C‐X‐C motif chemokine 10 levels predict regression of M2BPGi‐based liver fibrosis after hepatitis C virus eradication by direct‐acting antiviral agents
Authors: Nagura Yoshihito , Suzuki Takanori , Matsuura Kentaro , Ogawa Shintaro , Kawamura Hayato , Kuno Kayoko , Fujiwara Kei , Nojiri Shunsuke , Nagaoka Katsuya , Iio Etsuko , Watanabe Takehisa , Kataoka Hiromi , Tanaka Yasuhito
Published: August 2023

Aim

It is desirable to identify predictors of regression of liver fibrosis after achieving sustained virological response by anti‐hepatitis C virus (anti‐HCV) therapy. We retrospectively investigated the serum interferon‐γ inducible protein 10 kDa (IP‐10) level as a predictive indicator of regression of liver fibrosis after successful hepatitis C virus eradication by direct‐acting antiviral agents (DAAs) therapy.

Methods

The study participants were recruited from a historical cohort of 116 chronically hepatitis C virus‐infected patients who had achieved sustained virological response by DAAs therapy and whose serum Mac‐2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) levels at baseline (before DAAs therapy) were ≥2.0 cut‐off index. We defined patients with M2BPGi levels <1.76 and ≥1.76 cut‐off index at 2 years after the end of treatment (EOT) as the regression (n = 71) and non‐regression (n = 45) groups, respectively.

Results

Multivariate analyses revealed that the albumin‐bilirubin score at baseline, and albumin‐bilirubin score, Fibrosis‐4 index at 24 weeks after the EOT, and serum IP‐10 change from baseline to 24 weeks after the EOT (IP‐10 change) were significantly associated with regression of M2BPGi‐based liver fibrosis. In addition, IP‐10 change was significantly associated with regression of M2BPGi‐based liver fibrosis by a multivariate analysis, even when the serum M2BPGi levels were aligned by propensity score matching and in patients with advanced M2BPGi‐based liver fibrosis: M2BPGi levels ≥3.3 cut‐off index at baseline.

Conclusions

Serum IP‐10 change from baseline to 24 weeks after the EOT is a feasible predictor of regression of M2BPGi‐based liver fibrosis after achieving sustained virological response with DAA therapy.
Development and validation of educational multimedia to promote public health literacy about healthy cognitive aging
Authors: Rooha Aysha , Shetty Shreya , Bajaj Gagan , Jacob Nidhi L. , George Vinitha M. , Bhat Jayashree S.
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Health literacy (HL) about healthy cognitive aging is essential in preventing cognitive decline and promoting cognitive well‐being. It is important that one such HL module should be scientifically designed, delivered in a technically sound manner to the audience, and specific to the context. The present study thus aimed at developing and validating educational multimedia about cognitive health.

Methods

The study followed a methodological framework and was carried out across three phases, that is, identification of themes, development and validation of educational script and design, and validation of educational multimedia. The module was scripted based on the Integrated HL framework and the recommendations made during the modified nominal group technique among the research team. Seven speech‐language pathologists (SLPs), with expertise in the field of cognitive sciences, and 15 representatives of the general public validated the module using the Educational Content Validation Instrument in Health and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Materials questionnaire.

Results

The scientific content of the educational script received satisfactory agreements among the experts (content validity index [CVI]: 0.93) and representatives of the general public (CVI: 0.86). The technical aspects of the educational multimedia were rated to have high understandability (experts: 92.8%; representatives of general public: 98.8%) and actionability (experts and representatives of general public 100%).

Conclusion

Overall, the developed educational multimedia scored optimally with respect to the objective, structure, relevance of the content, actionability and understandability of the multimedia. The developed module holds the potential to be used at community and national level health educational programs or awareness campaigns to enhance public knowledge and beliefs pertaining to cognitive health.

Patient or Public Contribution

SLPs with expertise in the field of cognitive science and representatives from the general public were included to validate and obtain feedback on the developed educational multimedia.