bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Site-suitability difference and the expectation of species richness difference in stochastic two-subcommunities models
Authors: Iritani Ryosuke
Published: January 2023

Understanding how community assembly during the initial faunization phases determines the difference in species richness is a fundamental question in ecology. However, there are few predictions for when and to what degree the differences in species richness between subcommunities will emerge. Here, we investigate the expectation of richness difference in a pair of subcommunities, assuming that species may have different and independent presence probabilities. We then introduce several indices and examine how expected richness difference is determined by the indices. We found that (i) species differences (the average of species presence probabilities in two subcommunities divided by the total presence probability) have inconsistent effects on richness difference; (ii) the degree of spatial heterogeneity (average of differences in species presence probabilities in two subcommunities across species) may, but not always, have a good predictive ability for richness difference; and (iii) the absolute difference in average presence probabilities (site-suitability difference) has robust predictive ability for richness difference unless richness difference is very small. This work provides a theoretical framework for predicting and analyzing species richness difference from presence-absence data based on null models.
Pore-like diffusion barriers in murine cardiac myocytes
Authors: Deisl Christine , Chung Jay A. , Hilgemann Donald W.
Published: January 2023

Using both optical and electrical methods, we document that solute diffusion in the cytoplasm of BL6 murine cardiac myocytes becomes restricted >30-fold as molecular weight increases from 30 to 2000, roughly as expected for pores with dimensions of cardiac porin channels. The Bodipy-FL ATP analogue diffuses ∼50-fold slower in BL6 cardiac cytoplasm than in free water. From several fluorophores analyzed, our estimates of bound fluorophore fractions range from 0.1 for a 2 kD FITC-labeled polyethylene glycol to 0.93 for sulforhodamine. We estimate that diffusion coefficients of unbound fluorophores range from 0.5 to 8 x 10-7cm2/s. Analysis of Na/K pump and veratridine-modified Na channel currents confirms that Na diffusion is nearly unrestricted (time constant for equilibration with the pipette tip, ∼20 s). Using three different approaches, we estimate that ATP diffuses 8 to 10-times slower in the cytoplasm of BL6 myocytes than in free water. To address whether restrictions are caused more by cytoplasmic protein or membrane networks, we verified first that a protein gel, 10 gram% gelatin, restricts solute diffusion with strong dependence on molecular weight. Solute diffusion in membrane-extracted cardiac myofilaments, confined laterally by suction into large-diameter pipette tips, is however less restricted than in intact myocytes. Notably, myofilaments from equivalently extracted skeletal (diaphragm) myocytes restrict diffusion less than cardiac myofilaments. Solute diffusion in myocytes with sarcolemma permeabilized by β-escin (80 µM) is similarly restricted as in intact myocytes. Diffusion restriction in cardiac myocytes is strain-dependent, being about two-fold greater in BL6 myocytes than in myocytes with a CD1/J6/129svJ background. Furthermore, diffusion is 2.5-fold more restricted in CD1/J6/129svJ myocytes lacking the mitochondrial porin, Vdac1, than in WT CD1/J6/129svJ myocytes. We conclude that both myofilaments and mitochondria networks restrict diffusion in cardiac myocytes. As a result, long-range solute diffusion may preferentially occur via passage through porin channels and intramembrane mitochondrial spaces, where diffusion is less restricted than in myofilament spaces.
Incorporating models of subcortical processing improves the ability to predict EEG responses to natural speech
Authors: Lindboom Elsa , Nidiffer Aaron , Carney Laurel H. , Lalor Edmund
Published: January 2023

The goal of describing how the human brain responds to complex acoustic stimuli has driven auditory neuroscience research for decades. Often, a systems-based approach has been taken, in which neurophysiological responses are modeled based on features of the presented stimulus. This includes a wealth of work modeling electroencephalogram (EEG) responses to complex acoustic stimuli such as speech. Examples of the acoustic features used in such modeling include the amplitude envelope and spectrogram of speech. These models implicitly assume a direct mapping from stimulus representation to cortical activity. However, in reality, the representation of sound is transformed as it passes through early stages of the auditory pathway, such that inputs to the cortex are fundamentally different from the raw audio signal that was presented. Thus, it could be valuable to account for the transformations taking place in lower-order auditory areas, such as the auditory nerve, cochlear nucleus, and inferior colliculus (IC) when predicting cortical responses to complex sounds. Specifically, because IC responses are more similar to cortical inputs than acoustic features derived directly from the audio signal, we hypothesized that linear mappings (temporal response functions; TRFs) fit to the outputs of an IC model would better predict EEG responses to speech stimuli. To this end, we modeled responses to the acoustic stimuli as they passed through the auditory nerve, cochlear nucleus, and inferior colliculus before fitting a TRF to the output of the modeled IC responses. Results showed that using model-IC responses in traditional systems analyses resulted in better predictions of EEG activity than using the envelope or spectrogram of a speech stimulus. Further, it was revealed that model-IC derived TRFs predict different aspects of the EEG than acoustic-feature TRFs, and combining both types of TRF models provides a more accurate prediction of the EEG response.x
Genomic relationships among diploid and polyploid species of the genusLudwigiaL. sectionJussiaeausing a combination of molecular cytogenetic, morphological, and crossing investigations
Authors: Barloy D. , Portillo - Lemus L. , Krueger-Hadfield S. A. , Huteau V. , Coriton O.
Published: January 2023

The genusLudwigiaL. sectionJussiaeais composed of a polyploid species complex with 2x, 4x, 6x and 10x ploidy levels, suggesting possible hybrid origins. The aim of the present study is to understand the genomic relationships among diploid and polyploid species in the section Jussiaea. Morphological and cytogenetic observations, controlled crosses, genomicin situhybridization (GISH), and flow cytometry were used to characterize species, ploidy levels, ploidy patterns, and genomic composition across taxa. Genome sizes obtained were in agreement with the diploid, tetraploid, hexaploid, and decaploid ploidy levels. Results of GISH showed that progenitors ofLudwigia stolonifera(4x) wereLudwigia peploidessubsp.montevidensis(2x) andLudwigia helminthorrhiza(2x), which also participated for one part (2x) to theLudwigia ascendensgenome (4x).Ludwigia grandiflorasubsp.hexapetala(10x) resulted from the hybridization betweenL. stolonifera(4x) andLudwigia grandiflorasubsp.grandiflora(6x). One progenitor ofL. grandiflorasubsp.grandiflorawas identified asL. peploides(2x). Our results suggest the existence of several processes of hybridization, leading to polyploidy, and possibly allopolyploidy, in the section Jussiaea due to the diversity of ploidy levels. The success of GISH opens up the potential for future studies to identify other missing progenitors inLudwigiaL. as well as other taxa.
How honey bees make fast and accurate decisions
Authors: MaBouDi HaDi , Marshall James A. R. , Dearden Neville , Barron Andrew B.
Published: January 2023

Honey bee ecology demands they make both rapid and accurate assessments of which flowers are most likely to offer them nectar or pollen. To understand the mechanisms of honey bee decision-making we examined their speed and accuracy of both flower acceptance and rejection decisions. We used a controlled flight arena that varied both the likelihood of a stimulus offering reward and punishment and the quality of evidence for stimuli. We found that the sophistication of honey bee decision-making rivalled that reported for primates. Their decisions were sensitive to both the quality and reliability of evidence. Acceptance responses had higher accuracy than rejection responses and were more sensitive to changes in available evidence and reward likelihood. Fast acceptances were more likely to be correct than slower acceptances; a phenomenon also seen in primates and indicative that the evidence threshold for a decision changes dynamically with sampling time. To investigate the minimally sufficient circuitry required for these decision-making capacities, we developed a novel model of decision-making. Our model can be mapped to known pathways in the insect brain and is neurobiologically plausible. Our model proposes a system for robust autonomous decision-making with potential application in robotics.
ErbB inhibition impairs cognition via disrupting myelination and aerobic glycolysis in oligodendrocytes
Authors: Hu Xu , Zhu Qingyu , Lou Tianjie , Hu Qianqian , Li Huashun , Niu Xiaojie , He Li , Huang Hao , Xu Yijia , Qiu Mengsheng , Shen Ying , Jia Jie-Min , Tao Yanmei
Published: January 2023

White matter abnormalities are an emerging feature of schizophrenia, yet the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are largely unknown. Disruption of ErbB signaling that is essential for peripheral myelination has been genetically associated with schizophrenia and white matter lesions in schizophrenic patients. However, the roles of ErbB signaling in oligodendrocytes remain elusive. Here, we used a pan-ErbB inhibition strategy and demonstrated the synergistic functions of endogenous ErbB receptors in oligodendrocytes. Through analyses of the cellular, histological, biochemical, behavioral, and electrophysiological differences in mice with manipulation of ErbB activities in oligodendrocytes at different differentiation stages, we found that ErbB signaling regulates myelination and aerobic glycolysis in oligodendrocytes, and both functions are required for working memory. ErbB inhibition in oligodendrocytes at early differentiation stages induces hypomyelination by suppressing the differentiation of newly-formed oligodendrocytes. In contrast, ErbB inhibition in mature oligodendrocytes alters neither myelination nor oligodendrocyte numbers, but accelerates axonal conduction decline under energy stress. Mechanistically, mature oligodendrocytes with ErbB inhibition reduce the expression of lactate dehydrogenase A, failing to provide lactate to electrically active axons. Supplementation of L-lactate restores axonal conduction and working memory capacity that are suppressed by ErbB inhibition in mature oligodendrocytes. These findings reveal the indispensable roles of ErbB signaling in white matter integrity and function, and provide insights into the multifaceted contributions of white matter abnormalities to cognitive impairment.
Effect of Nivolumab therapy on Metastatic Lung Cancer in Human Microbiome
Authors: Kubba Rohan , Evans Robert J. , Nguyen Sonha , Pai Ramadas , Borneman James
Published: January 2023

Nivolumab, a type of immunotherapy, has enhanced the 5-year survival of patients with renal cell cancer, melanoma, and lung cancer which is now mechanistically understood. However, relatively sparse information assesses its relationship with shaping the gut microbiome. We aimed to assess the degree to which nivolumab treatment contributes to alterations in the species composition of the colon in lung cancer patients undergoing nivolumab treatment. Our pilot study utilized stool samples of five lung cancer patients at Inland Hematology Oncology (IHO) before administration of nivolumab and three months after initiation of treatment. 16S and ITS rRNA sequence analysis were used to assess alterations in species abundance and richness of the colon. After sequencing, statistical analysis, specifically a paired t-test, was performed to assess if any significant differences in any microbial species were observed before and after immunotherapy treatment. Although different proportions of microorganisms existed at baseline prior to treatment for each patient, a significant reduction in theMegasphaera elsdeniipopulation was observed (p=.0488; n=4), when comparing before and after treatment. Our findings differ from that of Huang et. al (2022), who has recently posited that a positive association exists betweenMegasphaera elsdeniiand the survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. Our conclusions suggest that different cancers may elicit differential effects onMegasphaera elsdeniiin the gut microbiome.

Importance

Nivolumab is a relatively new form of cancer therapy called immunotherapy, which enables the body to use its own immune system to effectively fight cancer. Due to advances in microbial sequencing in 16S rRNA, this project explores differences in the abundance of microbial communities before and three months of treatment in patients who have advanced on chemotherapy. Our findings suggest that reduction ofMegasphaera elsdenii, a metabolically active bacterium, is associated with positive outcomes, which differs from findings from other literature. Our project advocates for a more robust profiling of the microbiome during lung cancer treatment, and immunotherapy, in particular, to establish a more substantive profile of the changing gut in the midst of treatment.
Bioinformatics Approaches to Determine the Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Zhou Xinyi , Huang Tengda , Pan Hongyuan , Lan Jiang , Wu Tian , Du Ao , Song Yujia , Lv Yue , Yuan Kefei
Published: January 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has infected millions of individuals throughout the world, which poses a serious threat to human health. COVID-19 is a systemic disease that affects tissues and organs, including the lung and liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) are the most common liver cancer, and cancer patients are particularly at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The relationship between HCC and COVID-19 has been reported in previous studies, but ICC has been rare. With the methods of systems biology and bioinformatics, this study explored the link between COVID-19 and ICC. Transcriptional profiling of COVID-19 and ICC were obtained from the GEO database. A total of 70 common differentially expressed gene (DEGs) of both diseases were identified to investigate shared pathways. Then top-ranked 10 key DEGs (SCD, ACSL5, ACAT2, HSD17B4, ALDOA, ACSS1, ACADSB, CYP51A1, PSAT1, and HKDC1) were identified as hub genes by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. In addition, transcriptional regulatory networks regulating hub genes were revealed by hub Gene-transcription factor (TF) interaction analysis and hub gene-microRNA (miRNAs) interaction analysis. This study is expected to provide new references for future research and treatment of COVID-19 and ICC.
The greenwashing effects on corporate reputation and brand hate, through environmental performance and green perceived risk
Authors: Santos Célia , Coelho Arnaldo , Marques Alzira
Published: January 2023

Purpose

When a company practices greenwashing, it violates consumers' expectations by deliberately deceiving them about their environmental practices or the benefits of their products/services. This study investigated the effects of greenwashing on corporate reputation and brand hate. Furthermore, this study explored the mediating effects of perceived environmental performance and green perceived risk.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey design using cross-sectional primary data from 420 Portuguese consumers who identified and recognized brands engaged in greenwashing was employed. The proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling techniques.

Findings

This study's findings show that consumer perceptions of greenwashing may damage brands. The results show that greenwashing has a negative effect on corporate reputation through perceived environmental performance and green perceived risk. Additionally, greenwashing has a positive direct effect on brand hate and a negative effect on green perceived risk. Therefore, reducing greenwashing practices can improve consumers' perceptions of corporate environmental performance, buffer green perceived risk, and ultimately enhance corporate reputation. This can lead to positive relationships with customers.

Originality/value

Based on signaling and expectancy violation theories, this study develops a new framework highlighting the detrimental effects of greenwashing on brands. The combination of these theories provides the right framework to understand how greenwashing may lead to extreme feelings like brand hate and negative perceptions of corporate reputation, thus advancing the current research that lacks studies on the association between these constructs.
Does TMT internationalization promote corporate digital transformation? A study based on the cognitive process mechanism
Authors: Chen Yujiao , Li Rui , Song Tiebo
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Corporate digital transformation (DT) and top management team (TMT) internationalization seem to be concomitant phenomena in recent years, the former is a major change and a thorough transformation requiring continuously new technologies and ideas. Excitingly, the latter shows a relatively broad vision, a large risk appetite and interest in new things. Does TMT internationalization promote DT? This question is essential for DT. Given that, this article will aim to discuss and examine whether and how TMT internationalization affects corporate DT.

Design/methodology/approach

This article takes China's A-share listed manufacturing companies from 2011 to 2019 as a sample. The quantitative text analysis method is used to measure attention related to digitalization. This paper discusses: (1) The decision-making logic and cognitive process mechanism of “TMT internationalization–attention related to digitalization–corporate DT”. (2) The moderating effect of shared corporate mission of the TMT on the cognitive process of decision-making, that is, the social process of transforming individual cognition into team cognition, and the social process of transforming team cognition into corporate decision-making.

Findings

TMT internationalization promotes DT. As an external manifestation of team cognition, attention plays a positive role as an intermediary mechanism. Specifically, executives with overseas experience have higher urgency assessment and manageable assessment, thus affecting their attention to digitalization positively, thereby promoting DT. This article does not demonstrate the moderating effect of shared corporate mission on the cognitive process, but it promotes DT directly, and only plays a role in the precognitive stage.

Originality/value

This article is the first one to study the relationship between TMT internationalization and corporate DT, which has practical guiding significance for DT and the “going out” strategies of the TMT. Also, the combination of upper echelons theory and cognitive theory opens up the black box of the strategic process. Lastly, this research explores the formation process of team cognition, which is always neglected by previous studies of the TMT demographic characteristics.
A global perspective on the impact of COVID-19 on peer-to-peer accommodation: human mobility, case number and lockdown policies
Authors: Cheng Mingming , Hu Maggie , Lee Adrian
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Taking a global perspective, this paper aims to examine the impact of COVID-19 on Airbnb booking activities through three critical perspectives – the initial Wuhan lockdown, local COVID-19 cases and local lockdowns.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Airbnb reviews and cancellations as proxies for Airbnb bookings on a global scale, econometrics was used to examine the impacts of the initial Wuhan lockdown, local COVID-19 cases and local lockdowns on Airbnb bookings.

Findings

The authors find that local lockdowns result in a 57.8% fall in global booking activities. Every doubling of newly infected cases is associated with a 4.16% fall in bookings. The sensitivity of bookings to COVID-19 decreases with geographic distance to Wuhan and increases with government stringency of lockdown policies and human mobility within a market.

Practical implications

The empirical evidence from this research can provide governments with insights into more accurate assessment of the financial loss of Airbnb hosts so that proper support can be offered based on the financial needs because of due to sudden lockdown.

Originality/value

This research contributes to new knowledge on peer-to-peer accommodation during a time of crisis and provides much needed global evidence to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on the accommodation industry.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) trauma and mental health support during the UK lockdown: exploring women’s experiences
Authors: Mulongo Peggy , Khan Roxanne , McAndrew Susan , McKeown Michael
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to report findings from interviews with seven African-heritage women attending a female genital mutilation (FGM) Clinic in the north of England, during the COVID-19 lockdown. The Clinic, established several years before the pandemic, provides specialist therapeutic support to women and girls from minority ethnic communities who are affected by harmful “traditional” practices, including FGM. The services provided by the Clinic include early interventions, peer support, community engagement and empowerment around FGM.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected during an online focus group discussion with seven women who had received counselling for FGM, to gain insight into their lived experiences of therapeutic support during the pandemic.

Findings

Using Braun and Clarke (2006) six-step thematic analysis, four superordinate themes derived from the data: consistency and continuity; safety in shared experience and creativity; feeling heard, feeling stronger; and altruism and desire for change.

Research limitations/implications

It is important to recognise some limitations within this study. It is based on one focus group discussion that involved seven participants, who had experienced FGM, were living in a targeted area and whose mental health had been further compromised by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Practical implications

The findings of this study indicate that it is essential to consider participants’ experiences of receiving therapeutic support during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was observed that emotional stressors linked with participants’ experiences of FGM may be exacerbated by those related to COVID-19.

Social implications

There is a need to conduct similar research, perhaps on an individual basis, that would reach a wider sample of women from ethnic minority populations who are survivors of FGM, including those from FGM practicing communities who have been hospitalised through their deteriorating mental health. This would add to the small but growing body of evidence, to provide a better understanding of the experiences of their mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and perhaps better identify effective therapeutic interventions.

Originality/value

These themes provide an insight into these women’s experiences of the trauma associated with FGM and receiving mental health support during the pandemic.
Examining stress regulation impacts from integrating mindfulness and self-compassion interventions into doctoral-level leadership courses
Authors: Hariharan Yamini , Meiers Christopher , Robert Catherine , Bresciani Ludvik Marilee
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore mindfulness and self-compassion teachings and practices embedded in a leadership course and their outcome on stress regulation of doctoral-level students.

Design/methodology/approach

Eight valid and reliable pre-and post-assessment inventories were administered prior to the first week of class and following the completion of the doctoral-level class. The test scores were measured for improvement and for differences between various demographic groups.

Findings

The results suggest significant improvement on almost every mindfulness subscale with approximately 5–22% of the variance in subscale scores attributed to participation. Doctoral students over 40 indicated more score improvement than students under 40, and doctoral students of color indicated more significant score increases than White students.

Research limitations/implications

The research involves doctoral-level students which limits generalizability to other levels of education. Based on the findings, scaling analysis should be conducted on other types of students for generalization purposes.

Practical implications

Institutions looking to incorporate wellness practices into curriculum can embed these types of practices into their course design.

Social implications

Faculty can become more intentional in how they engage students in mindful compassion skills within their academic programs.

Originality/value

The paper adds a quantitative study into the literature surrounding efficacy of wellness practices in structured curriculum. Institutions looking to provide more resources to students to improve their wellness may find the model useful on their campuses, particularly for students over 40 and students of color.
Selective and differential feeding on marine prokaryotes by mucous mesh feeders
Authors: Thompson Anne W. , Sweeney Carey P. , Sutherland Kelly R.
Published: January 2023

Microbial mortality impacts the structure of food webs, carbon flow, and the interactions that create dynamic patterns of abundance across gradients in space and time in diverse ecosystems. In the oceans, estimates of microbial mortality by viruses, protists, and small zooplankton do not account fully for observations of loss, suggesting the existence of underappreciated mortality sources. We examined how ubiquitous mucous mesh feeders (i.e. gelatinous zooplankton) could contribute to microbial mortality in the open ocean. We coupled capture of live animals by blue‐water diving to sequence‐based approaches to measure the enrichment and selectivity of feeding by two coexisting mucous grazer taxa (pteropods and salps) on numerically dominant marine prokaryotes. We show that mucous mesh grazers consume a variety of marine prokaryotes and select between coexisting lineages and similar cell sizes. We show that Prochlorococcus may evade filtration more than other cells and that planktonic archaea are consumed by macrozooplanktonic grazers. Discovery of these feeding relationships identifies a new source of mortality for Earth's dominant marine microbes and alters our understanding of how top‐down processes shape microbial community and function.
Control HRM and employee creativity: a curvilinear moderated mediation model
Authors: Wu Yiqi , Gu Qinxuan
Published: January 2023

Drawing on social information processing theory (SIP) and activation theory, this study theorizes a curvilinear moderated mediation model that links employee‐experienced control human resource management (control HRM) and employee creativity. Using multisource data from 814 employees and 157 supervisors, we find that employee‐experienced control HRM has an inverted U‐shaped relationship with employee work vigor and that work vigor is positively related to employee creativity. Employee‐experienced commitment HRM moderates the direct effect of employee‐experienced control HRM on work vigor and the indirect effect on employee creativity. When employee‐experienced commitment HRM is high and employee‐experienced control HRM is moderate, employees are more vigorous and in turn more creative. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
The development of a tumor‐associated autoantibodies panel to predict clinical outcomes for immune checkpoint inhibitor‐based treatment in patients with advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhao Jing , Wu Yang , Yue Yuan , Chen Minjiang , Xu Yan , Liu Xiangning , Liu Xiaoyan , Gao Xiaoxing , Wang Hanping , Si Xiaoyan , Zhong Wei , Zhang Xiaotong , Zhang Li , Wang Mengzhao
Published: January 2023

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become one important therapeutic strategy for advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It remains imperative to identify reliable and convenient biomarkers to predict both the efficacy and toxicity of immunotherapy, and tumor‐associated autoantibodies (TAAbs) are recognized as one of the promising candidates for this.

Patients and Methods

This study enrolled 97 advanced NSCLC patients with ICI‐based immunotherapy treatment, who were divided into a training cohort (n = 48) and a validation cohort (n = 49), and measured for the serum level of 35 TAAbs. According to the statistical association between the serum positivity and clinical outcome of each TAAb in the training cohort, a TAAb panel was developed to predict the progression‐free survival (PFS), and further examined in the validation cohort and in different subgroups. Similarly, another TAAb panel was derived to predict the occurrence of immune‐related adverse events (irAEs).

Results

In the training cohort, a 7‐TAAb panel composed of p53, CAGE, MAGEA4, GAGE7, UTP14A, IMP2, and PSMC1 TAAbs was derived to predict PFS (median PFS [mPFS] 9.9 vs. 4.3 months, p = 0.043). The statistical association between the panel positivity and longer PFS was confirmed in the validation cohort (mPFS 11.1 vs. 4.8 months, p = 0.015) and in different subgroups of patients. Moreover, another 4‐TAAb panel of BRCA2, MAGEA4, ZNF768, and PARP TAAbs was developed to predict the occurrence of irAEs, showing higher risk in panel‐positive patients (71.43% vs. 28.91%, p = 0.0046).

Conclusions

Collectively, our study developed and validated two TAAb panels as valuable prognostic biomarkers for immunotherapy.
Efficacy and safety of antiangiogenic agents or chemotherapy plus EGFR‐TKIs in advanced non‐small cell lung cancer: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Dai Jiali , Liu Xinyin , Li Jun , Qu Tianyu , Cui Yanan , Jin Shidai , Zhang Erbao , Guo Renhua
Published: January 2023

Background

The combination of antiangiogenic agents with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFR‐TKIs) and chemotherapy with EGFR‐TKIs are the most common combination treatment options in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) positive non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This network meta‐analysis was performed to evaluate the differences between them.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register up to August 2022. The primary outcomes were progression‐free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR). The secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR) and adverse events (AEs). The data of hazard ratio (HR) or risk ratio (RR) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted in the studies. A network meta‐analysis (NMA) was used to indirectly compare the efficacy and safety of antiangiogenic agents plus EGFR‐TKIs and chemotherapy plus EGFR‐TKIs.

Results

Pooled data of included studies were demonstrated that chemotherapy plus EGFR‐TKIs had a benefit in ORR compared to antiangiogenic agents plus EGFR‐TKIs in patients with EGFR mutated NSCLC (RR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0–1.2). However, there were no significant differences in PFS, OS and DCR between in the two group (PFS: HR = 1.0, 95% CI: 0.74–1.6; OS: HR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.45–1.5; DCR: RR = 1.0, 95% CI: 0.94–1.1). The common treatment‐related AEs in the two groups were relatively manageable.

Conclusion

Based on the efficacy and safety, the combination of chemotherapy with EGFR‐TKIs is considered the best combination treatment options in advanced NSCLC with EGFR mutation.
Challenges of the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for pathologists focusing on early stage lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wang Yu‐Ting , Chang Il‐Chi , Chen Chih‐Yi , Hsia Jiun‐Yi , Lin Frank Cheau‐Feng , Chao Wan‐Ru , Ke Tuan‐Ying , Chen Ya‐Ting , Chen Chih‐Jung , Hsieh Min‐Shu , Huang Shiu‐Feng
Published: January 2023

Background

The eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for lung cancer adopts new criteria for tumor size, and for determining pTis, pT1a(mi), and pT1a. The latter is based on the size of stromal invasion. It is quite challenging for lung pathologists.

Methods

All patients who had undergone surgical resection for pulmonary adenocarcinoma (ADC) at Chung Shan Medical University Hospital between January 2014 and April 2018 were reviewed, and restaged according to the eighth AJCC staging system. The clinical characteristics and survival of patients with tumor stage 0 (pTis), I or II were analyzed.

Results

In total, 376 patients were analyzed. None of the pTis, pT1a(mi), or pT1a tumors recurred during the follow‐up period up to 5 years, but pT1b, pT1c, pT2a, and pT2b tumors all had a few tumor recurrences (p < 0.0001). In addition, 95.2%, 100%, and 77.5% of pTis, pT1a(mi), and pT1a tumors, respectively, had tumor sizes ≤1.0 cm by gross examination. All pTis, pT1a(mi), and pT1a tumors exhibited only lepidic, acinar, or papillary patterns histologically.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated excellent survival for lung ADC patients with pTis, pT1a(mi), and pT1a tumors when completely excised. To reduce the inconsistencies between pathologists, staging lung ADC with tumors of ≤1 cm in size grossly as pTis, pT1a(mi), or pT1a may not be necessary when the tumors exhibit only lepidic, acinar, or papillary histological patterns. A larger cohort study with sufficient follow‐up data is necessary to support this proposal.
Case of robot‐assisted salvage surgery for esophageal cancer with a mediastinal fistula after definitive chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Kadowaki Daisuke , Noma Kazuhiro , Hashimoto Masashi , Maeda Naoaki , Tanabe Shunsuke , Shirakawa Yasuhiro , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi
Published: January 2023

Salvage surgery for esophageal cancer after definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) is effective, but it is associated with a high rate of perioperative complications. The indications for robot‐assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) are expanding. However, there are few reports of salvage RAMIE. A 73‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital for residual esophageal cancer with a mediastinal fistula after dCRT. The perioperative diagnosis was T3N1M0‐Stage III, and the salvage RAMIE was performed. Although the dissection was difficult due to fibrosis caused by dCRT and the esophageal mediastinal fistula, RAMIE was performed safely with no complications. Multiple features of RAMIE contributed to stable surgery. The monopolar dissection is effective for hard scar tissue caused by CRT and inflammation.
Spatially Adaptive Calibrations of Airbox PM2.5 Data
Authors: Tzeng ShengLi , Lai Chi-Wei , Huang Hsin-Cheng
Published: January 2023

The Taiwan air quality monitoring network (TAQMN) and the AirBox network both monitor PM2.5 in Taiwan. The TAQMN, managed by Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), provides high-quality PM2.5 measurements at 77 monitoring stations. The AirBox network launched more recently consists of low-cost, small internet-of-things (IoT) microsensors (i.e., AirBoxes) at thousands of locations. While the AirBox network provides broad spatial coverage, its measurements are unreliable and require calibrations. However, applying a universal calibration procedure to all AirBoxes does not work well because the calibration line varies with local factors, including the chemical compositions of PM2.5, which are not homogeneous in space. Therefore, different calibrations are needed at different locations to adapt to their local environments. Unfortunately, AirBoxes and EPA locations are misaligned, challenging the calibration task. In this paper, we propose a spatial model with spatially varying coefficients to account for the heterogeneity in the data. Our method gives spatially adaptive calibrations of AirBoxes and produces accurate PM2.5 concentration estimates with their error bars at any location, incorporating two types of measurements. In addition, the proposed method is robust to outliers, requires no colocated data, and provides calibration formulas for new AirBoxes once they are added to the network. We illustrate our approach using hourly PM2.5 data in 2020. After the calibration, the results show that the PM2.5 prediction improves by about 38%–68% in root-mean-squared prediction error. Once the calibration formulas are established, we can obtain reliable PM2.5 values even if we ignore EPA data.
Electrolyte abnormalities and stress dosing predict illness‐related hospitalizations among infants and toddlers with congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Authors: Tseng Teresa , Seagroves Amy , Tanawattanacharoen Veeraya K. , Liang Mark C. , Koppin Christina M. , Keenan Madison , Davidowitz Elana , Nguyen Eugene , Chand Sanjay , Geffner Mitchell E. , Chang Todd P. , Kim Mimi S.
Published: January 2023

Objective

Infants and toddlers with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are at high risk for morbidity/mortality arising from life‐threatening adrenal crisis. Management of acute illnesses in CAH requires an understanding of factors leading to emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in the first few years of life. We, therefore, examined adrenal crisis at prehospital and ED stages of illness in young children with CAH as they related to medical outcomes.

Patients and Design

Retrospective cohort study of 39 children with CAH due to 21‐hydroxylase deficiency (0–4 years of age) and 27 age‐matched controls.

Measurements

ED visit, acute illness symptoms (fever, vomiting, diarrhoea) and other characteristics (hospitalizations, administration of stress‐dose hydrocortisone, electrolyte abnormalities).

Results

CAH infants and toddlers had significantly higher rates of ED visits (0.50 [0.25–0.88] per person‐year) than controls (0 [0–0] per person‐year; p < .001). Moreover, CAH children under 6 months old had significantly higher rates of ED visits compared with older ages. Only 50% (51/102) of illness‐related ED visits in CAH children were preceded by the administration of either oral (46/51) or intramuscular (11/51) stress dosing by parents. A total of 10.8% of ED visits resulted in hospital admission. Controlling for age and 17‐hydroxyprogesterone at diagnosis, electrolyte abnormalities and administration of parenteral hydrocortisone in the ED significantly predicted hospital admission. Receiving a hydrocortisone injection before the ED was a significant predictor of having electrolyte abnormalities.

Conclusions

Infants and toddlers with classical CAH are at high risk for acute illness and hospitalizations and often do not receive adequate stress dosing before the ED.
A chemically defined system supports two distinct types of stem cell from a single blastocyst and their self‐assembly to generate blastoid
Authors: Wu Baojiang , Yang Zhiqing , Liu Yijie , Li Jianwen , Chen Chen , Li Xihe , Bao Siqin
Published: January 2023

The pluripotent stem cells exist in a narrow window during early development and its derivation depends on intrinsic and extrinsic growth signalling in vitro. It has remained challenging to derive two or three distinct cell lines that are representative of blastocyst‐stage lineages from one preimplantation embryo simultaneously in a chemical defined condition. Therefore, it is desirable to establish a system by manipulating extrinsic signalling in culture to derive multiple types of stem cells from a single blastocyst. This study used a defined medium containing Activin A, WNT activator and LIF (ACL medium), enabling establishment of ACL‐ESCs and ACL‐XEN cells from one blastocyst. ACL‐blastoids were generated by suspending ACL‐ESCs and ACL‐XEN cells with ACL‐blastoid medium in three‐dimensional culture system. Lineage markers expression of ACL‐blastoids were performed by immunofluorescence. Our results indicate that ACL‐ESCs and ACL‐XEN cells derived from one blastocyst represent ICM and PrE lineages. Importantly, we obtained ACL‐blastoid from ACL‐ESCs and ACL‐XEN cells self‐aggregation, partially recapitulating early development and initiation of early implantation events. This study would not only provide ACL culture system for derivation and maintenance of two types of cell lines corresponding to ICM as well as PrE, but also reconstruct blastoids with them to deepen our understanding of early embryogenesis and widen insights into translational application of stem cells.
Lifestyle intervention for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in women with prior gestational diabetes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Retnakaran Matthew , Viana Luciana V. , Kramer Caroline K.
Published: January 2023

Aim

To determine whether current evidence supports lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevention in women with previous gestational diabetes (GD).

Methods

We systematically searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Global Health, Sinomed and Clinicaltrials.gov for randomized controlled trials (published from 1 January 1950 to 14 December 2022) comparing lifestyle intervention with standard care in women with previous GD. Our primary outcome was incident T2D, with pooled estimates calculated by a fixed‐effects model.

Results

Of 1652 studies identified, 13 were eligible and were included in our analysis (N = 3745 women). Compared with standard care, lifestyle intervention yielded a reduction of 24% in the incidence of T2D (relative risk 0.76 [95% CI 0.63‐0.93]). Meta‐regression analyses revealed no impact of the duration of lifestyle intervention (P = .81) or baseline body mass index (P = .90) on the observed reduction in incident T2D. Importantly, this published literature shows evidence of publication bias on funnel plot and Egger test (P = .048).

Conclusions

Current published evidence suggests that lifestyle intervention can reduce the risk of T2D in women with prior GD. However, this finding should be interpreted with caution in the presence of documented publication bias.
Efficacy and safety of janagliflozin monotherapy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled on diet and exercise: A multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, Phase 3 trial
Authors: Ji Linong , Jiang Xiaozhen , Hao Qingshun , Cheng Zhifeng , Wang Kun , Pang Shuguang , Liu Meiying , Guo Yushan , Chen Xiaowen , Su Xiuhai , Ning Tao , Liu Jie , Bian Fang , Li Yulan , Zhang Zhinong , Song Weihong , Sun Jingfang
Published: January 2023

Aims

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of janagliflozin, a selective renal sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitor, as monotherapy in drug‐naive Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Materials and methods

This Phase 3 trial included a 24‐week, multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled period, followed by a 28‐week extension period. A total of 432 patients with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels ≥7.0% (53 mmol/mol) and ≤10.5% (91 mmol/mol) were randomized (1:1:1) to receive once‐daily placebo, 25 mg or 50 mg janagliflozin. After 24 weeks, patients on placebo were switched and re‐randomized (1:1) to 25 mg or 50 mg janagliflozin, whereas patients on janagliflozin maintained the initial therapy. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in HbA1c after 24 weeks.

Results

At Week 24, the placebo‐adjusted least squares mean changes in HbA1c were −0.80% (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.98% to −0.62%)/−8.7 mmol/mol (95% CI −10.7 mmol/mol to −6.8 mmol/mol) and −0.88% (95% CI −1.06% to −0.70%)/−9.6 mmol/mol (95% CI −11.6 mmol/mol to −7.7 mmol/mol), respectively (P < 0.001 for both). A higher proportion of patients achieved HbA1c <7.0% (53 mmol/mol) with janagliflozin 25 mg and janagliflozin 50 mg compared with placebo (47.2%, 49.3%, and 23.5%, respectively). Both janagliflozin doses significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose, 2‐hour postprandial glucose, body weight and systolic blood pressure, as well as increased high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and insulin sensitivity compared with placebo (P < 0.05 for all). The trends in improvement of these variables were sustained during the 28‐week extension period. Overall incidences of adverse events were 67.8%, 71.5% and 60.7% with janagliflozin 25 mg, janagliflozin 50 mg and placebo, respectively. The incidence of urinary tract infections and genital fungal infections was low. No severe hypoglycaemia or ketoacidosis occurred.

Conclusions

Janagliflozin 25 mg and 50 mg monotherapy once‐daily effectively improved glycaemic control, reduced body weight and blood pressure, improved HDL cholesterol and insulin sensitivity, and was generally well tolerated.
The effect of phenotypic heterogeneity on behaviours linked to invasive success
Authors: Jessop Aaron , Deacon Amy , Barbosa Miguel
Published: January 2023

While most introduced species fail to become invasive, those that succeed are a major threat to global biodiversity. To improve the management of invasive species, a predictive understanding of invasion risk is needed. There is strong evidence that invasive success is linked to specific traits of the introduced species, and it is well recognised that phenotypic trait heterogeneity is linked to population viability. However, the effects of population‐level traits, and the contribution of trait heterogeneity to invasive success, remain poorly addressed in invasion biology. Here, we address this gap by quantifying the contribution of founding population phenotypic heterogeneity to reproductive success (a proxy for invasion success). Namely, we use the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata) to test the prediction that founding populations composed of phenotypically heterogeneous males produce larger broods of more viable offspring than founding populations of reduced male heterogeneity. We found that founding populations of greater male phenotypic heterogeneity produced larger broods. Furthermore, whilst male sexual behaviour was an important predictor of brood size for all groups of reduced male heterogeneity, this was not observed for phenotypically heterogeneous populations. Taken together, our results provide strong support for the key role phenotypic heterogeneity plays in the invasion process.