bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High incidence and reversible bradycardia events following alectinib initiation
Authors: Yuan Dongqi , Zhu Fuyi , Zuo Ran , Wang Yu , Huo Gengwei , Cui Jinfang , Yue Ping , Chen Peng
Published: December 2022

Background

With the widespread use of alectinib in patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)‐positive non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC), its cardiotoxicity has gradually emerged, including new‐onset sinus bradycardia (SB). However, the incidence, timing, severity, and risk factors of alectinib‐induced bradycardia remain unknown.

Methods

From January 2020 to June 2022, 93 patients with ALK‐positive NSCLC treated with alectinib were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. These patients had heart rate (HR) recorded before and after alectinib administration. By reviewing electronic medical records and follow‐up, the HR changes of patients during medication were recorded. The potential risk factors associated with alectinib‐induced SB were explored.

Results

According to an HR cut‐off of 60 beats per minute (bpm), 47 patients (50.54%) experienced at least one recorded bradycardia. The mean HR of total participants before alectinib administration was 78.32 (standard deviation [SD], 9.48) and after was 64.88 (SD, 12.21). The median maximum change in HR (range) for all patients was 11 (−55, +4) bpm. For the bradycardia subgroup, the HR of most patients (76.60%) hovered around 50–60 bpm, and 61.70% of SB occurred within 3 months after alectinib administration. Multivariate analysis indicated that baseline HR (odds ratio [OR] 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79–0.93, p < 0.001) and history of hypertension (OR 13.71, 95% CI 2.49–76.38, p = 0.003) were independent risk factors for alectinib‐related bradycardia.

Conclusions

Alectinib‐induced bradycardia had a high incidence, appeared relatively early, and was reversible by dose reduction or withdrawal.
Cellular expansion of MSCs: Shifting the regenerative potential
Authors: Miclau Katherine , Hambright William S. , Huard Johnny , Stoddart Martin J. , Bahney Chelsea S.
Published: December 2022

Mesenchymal‐derived stromal or progenitor cells, commonly called “MSCs,” have attracted significant clinical interest for their remarkable abilities to promote tissue regeneration and reduce inflammation. Recent studies have shown that MSCs' therapeutic effects, originally attributed to the cells' direct differentiation capacity into the tissue of interest, are largely driven by the biomolecules the cells secrete, including cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles containing miRNA. This secretome coordinates upregulation of endogenous repair and immunomodulation in the local microenvironment through crosstalk of MSCs with host tissue cells. Therapeutic applications for MSCs and their secretome‐derived products often involve in vitro monolayer expansion. However, consecutive passaging of MSCs significantly alters their therapeutic potential, inducing a broad shift from a pro‐regenerative to a pro‐inflammatory phenotype. A consistent by‐product of in vitro expansion of MSCs is the onset of replicative senescence, a state of cell arrest characterized by an increased release of proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors. However, little is known about changes in the secretome profile at different stages of in vitro expansion. Some culture conditions and bioprocessing techniques have shown promise in more effectively retaining the pro‐regenerative and anti‐inflammatory MSC phenotype throughout expansion. Understanding how in vitro expansion conditions influence the nature and function of MSCs, and their associated secretome, may provide key insights into the underlying mechanisms driving these alterations. Elucidating the dynamic and diverse changes in the MSC secretome at each stage of in vitro expansion is a critical next step in the development of standardized, safe, and effective MSC‐based therapies.
Influence of age and experience with magnification on locating the second mesiobuccal canal in maxillary first molars: A preliminary study
Authors: Olbertz Julia , Braguini Ana Paula , Vitali Filipe Colombo , dos Santos Jardel Dorigon , Martins Heloisa Cardoso , Régis Julia Roberta , do Prado Maira , da Silveira Tiecher Priscila Fernanda , Duque Thais Mageste
Published: December 2022

The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical methods in identifying the presence of second mesiobuccal canal in maxillary first molars. The influence of age and experience with microscopy was also assessed. Sixty six teeth were selected and the mesiobuccal canal was confirmed in all of the samples by Cone‐Beam Computed Tomography. After endodontic cavity access, teeth were evaluated through direct visual; dental loupe and operating microscope. None of the methods was successful in finding the mesiobuccal canal in all samples. Professionals <40, the magnification did not influence the location. Professionals >40, the magnification significantly influenced the location. In the direct vision, professionals >40 years located fewer canals than those <40 years of age with experience. In conclusion, these preliminary findings showed that when the microscope was used, the professionals with experience, regardless of age, found a higher number of canals. The use of the microscope was significant for professionals >40 years.
Investigation of male genital system anatomy in the New Zealand rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.)
Authors: Bozbiyik Cevdet , Kirbaş Doğan Gülseren
Published: December 2022

Rabbits are frequently used in research because of their human‐like biological structure. In the present study, 10 male rabbits were preferred. Arterial vascularization of the genital system organs were dissected. Morphometric and macroanatomical results of these organs were taken, and some organs were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, right testis length was measured at 67.24 ± 5.36 mm and left testis length was 62.25 ± 6.55 mm in New Zealand rabbits. Testicular weight was 10.21 ± 1.17 g on the right and 9.90 ± 1.15 g on the left. Right caput epididymidis 0.68 ± 0.08 g, left caput epididymidis 0.80 ± 0.13 g; right corpus epididymidis 0.14 ± 0.03 left corpus epididymidis 0.15 ± 0.03 g; right cauda epididymidis 1.87 ± 0.26 g left cauda epididymidis 1.90 ± 0.31 g. In the present study, right ductus deferens weight was 0.30 ± 0.29 g, and left ductus deferens weight was 0.25 ± 0.03 g; the ampulla ductus deferentis weight was 0.35 ± 0.16 g on the right side and 0.37 ± 0.16 g on the left side. The length of the vesicular gland glandula vesicularis was calculated as 18.54 ± 0.35 mm on the right and 17.55 ± 0.59 mm on the left. The width of the vesicular gland was measured as 16.54 ± 0.28 mm on the right and 16.70 ± 0.45 mm on the left. Vesicular gland weight was 0.91 ± 0.07 g on the right side and 0.96 ± 0.09 g on the left side. The prostate length was recorded as 11.68 ± 2.01 mm and width as 13.02 ± 1.38 mm. The length of the bulbourethral gland was 13.36 ± 2.00 mm on the right side and 12.39 ± 1.21 mm on the left. Its width was recorded as 6.73 ± 0.98 mm on the right and 5.80 ± 0.90 mm on the left. Respectively, it weighed 0.40 ± 0.20 g on the right and 0.44 ± 0.24 g on the left. The prostate consisted of three parts in rabbits: the proprostate, the corpus prostate and the paraprostate. The bulbourethral gland was a green lentil‐sized gland found in pairs. It is thought that the obtained results will contribute to the scientific researches on male genital system in laboratory animals and other animal species, artificial insemination studies, reproductive system diseases and operations in rabbits.
Entrepreneurial activism
Authors: İpek Yasemin
Published: December 2022

Against what they considered the immoral politics of sectarianism, leading activists in Lebanon in the 2010s combined entrepreneurialism and activism to animate systemic change and build an effective nation‐state. In doing so, they created an ethicopolitical subjectivity that I callentrepreneurial activism. Entrepreneurial activists articulated an ethical politics that celebrated patriotic citizens who work autonomously on both individual moralities and political structures. Examining activist biographical accounts that tied entrepreneurialism to imaginations of change and revolution in Lebanon, this ethnography reveals both the possibilities and limitations of the middle‐class politics of entrepreneurial activism. Translocal encounters between the middle class, the aspirational middle class, and the returning diaspora entangled globalized projects of active citizenship and social entrepreneurship with lived experiences of war and leftist legacies in Lebanon. Fostering social mobilization and new ways of doing politics, entrepreneurial activism is a compelling case in which moral and political imaginations co‐constitute each other, and in which entrepreneurialism cannot be reduced to neoliberalism.
Ethnic differences in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for non‐toxic multinodular goitre
Authors: Tamatea Jade A. U. , Karalus Miriam , Boyle Veronica , Meyer‐Rochow Goswin Y. , Elston Marianne S.
Published: December 2022

Background

Māori have an increased incidence of thyrotoxicosis when compvared to non‐Māori, however there are limited data on benign non‐toxic nodular thyroid disease.

Aims

The aims of this study were to determine the rates of non‐toxic multinodular goitre (NTMNG) surgery for Māori and non‐Māori and to determine if there were differences in thyroid size between Māori and non‐Māori undergoing total thyroidectomy for NTMNG.

Methods

Single centre study of patients undergoing thyroidectomy for NTMNG from 1 December 2006 to 30 November 2016.

Results

Māori were overrepresented amongst the 427 patients who underwent surgery for NTMNG at 34% compared to the expected ~17% of the background Māori adult population in the region. At the time of surgery, Māori were younger (P = 0.004) and had a larger thyroid gland (P < 0.001) when compared to non‐Maori also undergoing total/near total thyroidectomy. Complication rates were low across all ethnic groups.

Conclusion

Māori have increased rates of surgery for NTMNG compared to non‐Māori and thyroid size is larger at the time of surgery. The reasons for this are currently unknown and more research is required.
Women, Infants, and Children enrollment and pregnancy‐related behaviors and outcomes among Medicaid recipients in the United States
Authors: Lacci‐Reilly Kandice R. , Brunner Huber Larissa R.
Published: December 2022

Background

Nearly 40% of pregnant women in 2016 were enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Prior studies have investigated nutritional behaviors among WIC participants and access to WIC breastfeeding counseling services. However, there are no (few?) nationally representative, large‐scale analyses of WIC users and pregnancy behaviors. Thus, the present study aims to examine associations between WIC use and select pregnancy outcomes among Medicaid enrollees.

Methods

We examined pregnancy‐related behaviors and outcomes using 2018 U.S. Birth Certificates for Medicaid patients aged 18–45 years (N = 1 159 263). Outcomes included prenatal care (PNC) adequacy, breastfeeding initiation, cigarette use, and gestational weight gain. Standard binary and multinomial logistic regressions were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

After adjustment, WIC users had statistically significant increased odds of adequate PNC (adjusted OR [AOR] = 1.31 [95% CI 1.30, 1.32]), cigarette use (quit smoking during pregnancy 1.09 [1.07, 1.11]; smoked throughout pregnancy 1.16 [1.14, 1.18], and exceeding recommendations of weight gain 1.07 [1.06, 1.08]) compared with non‐WIC users. WIC enrollees also experienced decreased odds of breastfeeding initiation (0.85 [0.85, 0.86]) compared with non‐WIC users.

Conclusions

The study underscores the value of the WIC program in improving access to PNC. Yet, low‐income women remain at risk for smoking during pregnancy and exceeding the recommended amount of weight gain. Breastfeeding initiation is lower than anticipated among WIC participants. Additional studies are needed to investigate WIC program efficacy.
Copy number variations in SPAST and ATL1 are rare among Brazilians
Authors: Fussiger Helena , Pereira Bruna Letícia da Silva , Padilha Janice Pacheco Dias , Donis Karina Carvalho ,   Rare‐Genomes Project Consortium, Siebert Marina , Brusius‐Facchin Ana Carolina , Baldo Guilherme , Saute Jonas Alex Morales
Published: December 2022

Copy number variations (CNV) may represent a significant proportion of SPG4 and SPG3A diagnosis, the most frequent autosomal dominant subtypes of hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP). We aimed to assess the frequency of CNVs in SPAST and ATL1 and to update the molecular epidemiology of HSP families in southern Brazil. A cohort study that included 95 Brazilian index cases with clinical suspicion of HSP was conducted between April 2011 and September 2022. Multiplex Ligation Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) was performed in 41 cases without defined diagnosis by different massive parallel sequencing techniques (MPS). Diagnosis was obtained in 57/95 (60%) index cases, 15/57 (26.3%) being SPG4. Most frequent autosomal recessive HSP subtypes were SPG7 followed by SPG11, SPG76 and cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. No CNVs in SPAST and ATL1 were found. Copy number variations are rare among SPG4 and SPG3A families in Brazil. Considering the possibility of CNVs detection by specific algorithms with MPS data, we consider that this is likely the most cost‐effective approach to investigate CNVs in these genes in low‐risk populations, with MLPA being reserved as an orthogonal confirmatory test.
Retinopathy prevalence, incidence and trajectories in type 2 diabetes: The Fremantle diabetes study phase II
Authors: Drinkwater Jocelyn J. , Davis Timothy M. E. , Turner Angus W. , Davis Wendy A.
Published: December 2022

Aims

To determine diabetic retinopathy (DR) prevalence, incidence, and whether distinct trajectories are associated with DR‐complicating Type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Retinal photographs from Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II (FDS2) participants with Type 2 diabetes recruited in 2008–2011 and who attended biennial assessments for up to 6 years were graded as no DR, mild non‐proliferative DR (NPDR), moderate NPDR or severe NPDR/proliferative DR. Baseline DR prevalence, and the cumulative incidence of moderate NPDR or worse in those without DR at baseline, were calculated. Group‐based DR trajectory modelling was performed. Logistic regression determined independent associates of incident moderate NPDR or worse and trajectory group membership.

Results

Of 1521 participants (mean age 65.6 years, 52.1% males, median diabetes duration 9.0 years; 98% of all FDS2 participants with Type 2 diabetes) with gradable baseline photographs, 563 (37.0%) had DR. During a median 6.1 years of follow‐up, 23 (3.2%) without baseline DR developed at least moderate NPDR (crude incidence 6.1/1000 person‐years) with HbA1c the sole independent predictor (odds ratio [95% CI]: 1.62 [1.30–2.02] per 1% [11 mmol/mol] increase). Trajectory analysis showed two distinct groups, those with baseline/persistent DR (20%) and those remaining DR free (80%). Longer diabetes duration, insulin use, higher mean HbA1c, higher mean systolic blood pressure and higher mean urinary albumin: creatinine ratio all increased the odds (p ≤ 0.014) of being in the persistent DR trajectory group.

Conclusions

The low incidence of at least moderate NPDR reflects the trajectory analysis. The currently recommended biennial retinal screening frequency for individuals without DR could potentially be extended.
Thyroid hormone Beta receptor agonists for treatment of kidney disease: A promising agent?
Authors: Copur Sidar , Yavuz Furkan , Kanbay Mehmet
Published: December 2022

Background

Chronic kidney disease is a common disorder affecting a significant portion of the adult population with high mortality and morbidity. Obesity and hyperlipidemia are prevalent in chronic kidney disease, and they may trigger fat accumulation in renal parenchyma and eventually fatty kidney. Chronic kidney disease and fatty kidney are also strongly associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Because they both lead to detrimental effects on organ function, they both need to be treated effectively to improve the outcome.

Aim

In this narrative review, we have hypothesized that thyroid hormone beta receptor agonists, a novel drug group, may potentially be beneficial in the management of chronic kidney disease due to its promising outcomes among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition sharing multiple common underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Results and Conclusion

Thyroid hormone beta receptors are abundantly expressed in liver and kidney tissues, while both nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic kidney disease share various similar pathophysiological mechanisms and triggers. Therefore, thyroid hormone beta receptor agonists may become a promising tool in the management of patients with chronic kidney disease.
Global maps of lake surface water temperatures reveal pitfalls of air‐for‐water substitutions in ecological prediction
Authors: Armitage David W.
Published: December 2022

In modeling species distributions and population dynamics, spatially‐interpolated climatic data are often used as proxies for real, on‐the‐ground measurements. For shallow freshwater systems, this practice may be problematic as interpolations used for surface waters are generated from terrestrial sensor networks measuring air temperatures. Using these may therefore bias statistical estimates of species' environmental tolerances or population projections – particularly among pleustonic and epilimnetic organisms. Using a global database of millions of daily satellite‐derived lake surface water temperatures (LSWT), I trained machine learning models to correct for the correspondence between air and LSWT as a function of atmospheric and topographic predictors, resulting in the creation of monthly high‐resolution global maps of air‐LSWT offsets, corresponding uncertainty measures and derived LSWT‐based bioclimatic layers for use by the scientific community. I then compared the performance of these LSWT layers and air temperature‐based layers in population dynamic and ecological niche models (ENM). While generally high, the correspondence between air temperature and LSWT was quite variable and often nonlinear depending on the spatial context. These LSWT predictions were better able to capture the modeled population dynamics and geographic distributions of two common aquatic plant species. Further, ENM models trained with LSWT predictors more accurately captured lab‐measured thermal response curves. I conclude that these predicted LSWT temperatures perform better than raw air temperatures when used for population projections and environmental niche modeling, and should be used by practitioners to derive more biologically‐meaningful results. These global LSWT predictions and corresponding error estimates and bioclimatic layers have been made freely available to all researchers in a permanent archive.
Comparison of four tonometers in the measurement of intraocular pressure in healthy horses
Authors: Angeluci Gismelli C. , Ricci Cláudia L. , Passareli João V. G. C. , Estanho Giovana J. G. , Oliveira Adriana S. , Santos Stephany G. A. , Giuffrida Rogério , Rodrigues Mirian , Andrade Silvia F.
Published: December 2022

Background

Measurement of the intraocular pressure (IOP) is a useful diagnostic tool in equine ophthalmology. Handheld tonometers, such as Tonovet and Tonovet Plus (rebound), Tono‐Pen AVIA Vet (applanation), and Kowa HA‐2 (applanation using the Goldmann methodology) are used to obtain IOP measurements in veterinary medicine.

Objectives

To compare and evaluate the accuracy of four handheld tonometers in measuring IOP using different methodologies in healthy horses.

Study design

In vivo experiment and cross‐sectional survey of healthy horses.

Methods

Intraocular pressure was measured in 72 eyes of 36 horses. An in vivo study was conducted on sedated horses to compare the real IOP values obtained using manometry versus those obtained using tonometry, and a field study was conducted on unsedated healthy horses with normal eyes to measure the IOP values using different tonometers.

Results

In the in vivo study, the mean IOP values using ocular manometry was 24.9 ± 4.0 mmHg (range, 20.0–30.0 mmHg). The mean IOP values using tonometry were: Tonovet, 25.7 ± 5.8 mmHg (range 19.5–33.0 mmHg); Tonovet Plus, 24.8 ± 7.1 mmHg (range 13.2–33.2 mmHg); Tono Pen AVIA Vet, 19.2 ± 4.7 mmHg (range 13.1–26.5 mmHg); and Kowa Ha‐2, 24.1 ± 1.2 mmHg (range 22.8–25.8 mmHg). In the field study, the IOP values were: Tonovet, 30.7 ± 5.6 mmHg (range 21.7–38.0 mmHg); Tonovet Plus, 29.6 ± 6.7 mmHg (range 16.2–38.6 mmHg); Tono‐Pen AVIA Vet, 27.3 ± 5.8 mmHg (range 14.6–37.1 mmHg); and Kowa HA‐2, 23.4 ± 2.2 mmHg (range 20.2–28.7 mmHg).

Main limitations

This study included only healthy horses and a limited number of animals in the in vivo study.

Conclusions

There was a strong correlation between the IOP values and manometry for all tonometers. IOP should be estimated using the same tonometer over time, and the bias of the tonometer used, such as overestimation (rebound tonometer) and underestimation (applanation tonometer), should be acknowledged. A normal reference value for each tonometer should be established in horses.
Nickel and zinc micronutrient availability in Phanerozoic oceans
Authors: Sweere Tim C. , Dickson Alexander J. , Vance Derek
Published: December 2022

Nickel and zinc are both bio‐essential micronutrients with a nutrient‐like distribution in the modern ocean, but show key differences in their biological functions and geochemical behavior. Eukaryotic phytoplankton, and especially diatoms, have high Zn quotas, whereas cyanobacteria generally require relatively more Ni. Secular changes in the relative availability of these micronutrients may, therefore, have affected the evolution and diversification of phytoplankton. In this study, we use a large compilation of Ni and Zn concentration data for Phanerozoic sediments to evaluate long‐term changes in Ni and Zn availability and possible links to phytoplankton evolution. Modern data suggest that organic‐rich sediments capture the dissolved deep ocean Ni/Zn ratio, regardless of local depositional conditions. We use this observation to constrain Ni/Zn ratios for past oceans, based on data from the sedimentary record. This record highlights long‐term changes in the relative availability of these micronutrients that can be linked to the (bio)geochemical conditions on the Earth's surface. Early Palaeozoic oceans were likely relatively Ni rich, with sedimentary Ni/Zn ratios for this interval mostly being around ~1 or higher. A comparison with Phanerozoic strontium‐, carbon‐, and sulfur‐isotopic records suggests that the late Palaeozoic decrease in sulfidic conditions and increase in hydrothermal inputs and organic‐carbon burial rates caused a shift towards more Zn‐rich conditions. Mesozoic and Cenozoic sediments show relatively Zn‐rich oceans for these time intervals, with sedimentary Ni/Zn ratios mostly being around ~1 or lower. These observations imply that the diversification of the dominant groups of modern eukaryotic phytoplankton occurred in relatively Zn‐rich oceans and that these organisms still carry this signature in their stoichiometries. However, the Phanerozoic transition to a more Zn‐rich ocean pre‐dates the origin and diversification of modern eukaryotes and, therefore, this transition was likely not the main direct cause for eukaryotic diversification in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras.
Colour characterisation of two‐year‐old Pinot noir wines by UV–Vis spectrophotometry and tristimulus colourimetry (CIELab): Effect of whole bunch or grape stems addition
Authors: Wimalasiri Pradeep M. , Harrison Roland , Olejar Kenneth J. , Hider Richard , Tian Bin
Published: December 2022

Pinot noir wines were made with inclusion of different amount of whole bunches or grape stems: destemmed grapes only (DS), 30% whole bunch (WB30), 60% whole bunch (WB60), 100% whole bunch (WB100), and destemmed grapes with 100% stems added back (DS100). Wines were analysed using modified Somers assay and CIELab method at the end of fermentation and after a 2 years bottle ageing. CIELab analysis showed that DS100 was significantly different from all other treatments at both sampling points, and whole bunch addition treatments (except of WB30) only showed significant colour difference compared to DS treatment after bottle ageing. Total anthocyanins were significantly reduced in stem inclusion treatments at the end of alcoholic fermentation, but after the 2 years bottle ageing, only DS100 treatment showed significantly lower anthocyanins than DS treatment. Stem inclusion treatments significantly increased tannin concentration. Total anthocyanins and tannins in wines reduced by 69%–71% and 24%–31% respectively after bottle ageing.
Ameliorating the prediction ability of laccase time temperature indicator for dynamic monitoring quality of fresh‐cut papaya
Authors: Lin Cheng‐Xuan , Lin Shih‐Bin , Chen Shih‐Hsin , Hsu Hao‐Hsin , Chang Yu‐Hsuan , Chen Hui‐Huang
Published: December 2022

Laccase was immobilised on electrospun chitosan fibres to prepare a laccase time–temperature indicator (LTTI) to predict the quality deterioration of fresh‐cut papaya. Using sodium azide (NaN3) as an enzyme inhibitor could retard the laccase‐catalysed coloration and to expand activation energy (Ea) range, in which the LTTI was calibrated to correlate with fresh‐cut papaya deterioration. The fresh‐cut papaya reaching total plate count (TPC) of 105 CFU g−1 demonstrated unacceptable quality and the time it took was close to the coloration endpoint of formulated LTTI at different storage temperatures. The Ea of the LTTI, formulated with 20 μg cm−2 of laccase and 0.1 mm NaN3, was 55.69 kJ mol−1, which only differed by approximately 15 kJ mol−1 from the Ea of the TPC of fresh‐cut papaya. In the 5, 15, 25, and 35 °C isothermal response tests, the prediction errors were 1.15%, 2.78%, 2.78%, and 0.83%, respectively. In temperature fluctuation response experiments, the coloration endpoint of the LTTI was correlated with the quality deterioration of fresh‐cut papaya. These results revealed that the formulated LTTI had high reliability in evaluating the shelf life of fresh‐cut papaya.
Evaluation of the effect of partial hydrolysis ethyl cellulose on physicochemical properties of soybean oil oleogel
Authors: Mashhadi Hesam , Tabibiazar Mahnaz , Nourabi Atefeh , Roufegarinejad Leila
Published: December 2022

The effects of the solvent composition of ethanol and acetic acid (50/50 and 70/30 v/v), time (30 and 60 min) and temperature (65 and 95°C) of hydrolysis were conducted on the structural and physicochemical properties of ethyl cellulose (EC). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and capillary viscometer results revealed that EC hydrolysis significantly decreased glass transition temperature (Tg) and intrinsic viscosity. FTIR spectra of hydrolysed EC (H‐EC) revealed a breakdown of many glycosidic bonds. The oleogels were prepared by H‐EC at the concentration of 6 wt%. Results showed that hydrolysis conditions significantly affected oleogel formation and strength. An optimal oleogel structure was achieved with H‐EC at 65°C, 50/50 solvent ratio (H‐EC65/50). The rheological analysis of H‐EC65/50 oleogel showed higher strength and a lower melting temperature range than EC oleogel. Microscopic observations confirmed that the H‐EC65/50 forms a new structure with many small cavities, probably the main reason for the firmer gel. The prepared formulation could have potential to prepare reduced fat formulations with the suitable melting point and texture.
Statistical word segmentation: Anchoring learning across contexts
Authors: Antovich Dylan M. , Graf Estes Katharine
Published: December 2022

The present experiments were designed to assess infants' abilities to use syllable co‐occurrence regularities to segment fluent speech across contexts. Specifically, we investigated whether 9‐month‐old infants could use statistical regularities in one speech context to support speech segmentation in a second context. Contexts were defined by different word sets representing contextual differences that might occur across conversations or utterances. This mimics the integration of information across multiple interactions within a single language, which is critical for language acquisition. In particular, we performed two experiments to assess whether a statistically segmented word could be used to anchor segmentation in a second, more challenging context, namely speech with variable word lengths. The results of Experiment 1 were consistent with past work suggesting that statistical learning may be hindered by speech with word‐length variability, which is inherent to infants' natural speech environments. In Experiment 2, we found that infants could use a previously statistically segmented word to support word segmentation in a novel, challenging context. We also present findings suggesting that this ability was associated with infants' early word knowledge but not their performance on a cognitive development assessment.
Two subspecies of a songbird migrant optimise departure from a coastal stopover with regard to weather and the route lying ahead
Authors: Brust Vera , Schmaljohann Heiko , Hüppop Ommo
Published: December 2022

Songbirds on migration spend a greater share of their travelling time at stopover sites in order to rest, recover and refuel compared to actively flying. In the German Bight of the North Sea, two subspecies of the northern wheatear split travelling routes, with Greenlandic/Icelandic breeders (subspecies leucorhoa) facing a long over‐sea flight and Scandinavian breeding birds (subspecies oenanthe) travelling further roughly along the coast. We used automated radio‐telemetry in spring to show that leucorhoa birds stayed significantly longer at a coastal stopover site and clearly selected for favourable weather, especially easterly winds, when resuming flights. Conditions for departures of individuals from the subspecies oenanthe were less obvious. They were more likely to depart on nights with southerly winds, often along with rising air temperatures, while air pressure dropped. Individuals of subspecies leucorhoa thus wait for optimal flying conditions to resume for longer flights, while oenanthe birds, with shorter distances ahead, seem to optimise time by leaving the stopover site more quickly. Our dataset thus confirms that songbirds optimise stopover based on their (sub)species‐specific migration patterns.
COVID‐19 plasma proteome reveals novel temporal and cell‐specific signatures for disease severity and high‐precision disease management
Authors: Iosef Cristiana , Martin Claudio M. , Slessarev Marat , Gillio‐Meina Carolina , Cepinskas Gediminas , Han Victor K. M. , Fraser Douglas D.
Published: December 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a systemic inflammatory condition with high mortality that may benefit from personalized medicine and high‐precision approaches. COVID‐19 patient plasma was analysed with targeted proteomics of 1161 proteins. Patients were monitored from Days 1 to 10 of their intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Age‐ and gender‐matched COVID‐19‐negative sepsis ICU patients and healthy subjects were examined as controls. Proteomic data were resolved using both cell‐specific annotation and deep‐analysis for functional enrichment. COVID‐19 caused extensive remodelling of the plasma microenvironment associated with a relative immunosuppressive milieu between ICU Days 3–7, and characterized by extensive organ damage. COVID‐19 resulted in (1) reduced antigen presentation and B/T‐cell function, (2) increased repurposed neutrophils and M1‐type macrophages, (3) relatively immature or disrupted endothelia and fibroblasts with a defined secretome, and (4) reactive myeloid lines. Extracellular matrix changes identified in COVID‐19 plasma could represent impaired immune cell homing and programmed cell death. The major functional modules disrupted in COVID‐19 were exaggerated in patients with fatal outcome. Taken together, these findings provide systems‐level insight into the mechanisms of COVID‐19 inflammation and identify potential prognostic biomarkers. Therapeutic strategies could be tailored to the immune response of severely ill patients.
Costs and benefits of polyandry in a sexually cannibalistic mantis
Authors: Burke Nathan W. , Holwell Gregory
Published: December 2022

Mating with more than one male often provides direct or indirect benefits to female fitness but can also increase the chance of injury and death. Costs of mating are expected to increase linearly with increasing mating number. But how such costs interact with benefits to determine the net payoff of mating multiply is not well understood. Using the highly cannibalistic Springbok mantis, Miomantis caffra, a species where females are stabbed in the abdomen by males during violent premating struggles that males initiate to avoid being cannibalized, we took an experimental approach to assess the economics of polyandry under the risk of external, male‐inflicted injury. We predicted that females that mate multiply would be more likely to show abdominal injuries, have higher prereproductive mortality, produce fewer offspring and be more likely to engage in pre‐mating cannibalism to avoid unwanted matings. In line with our predictions, we found that the likelihood of abdominal injury was highest among females that mated at least once, and prereproductive death was highest among females that mated twice or three times. Virgin females completely avoided these costs and produced some offspring parthenogenetically but not enough to provide a net benefit. Although mating was better than not mating, there was no singularly optimal mating number: females that mated once and three times produced similarly high numbers of offspring from the first ootheca, which resulted in an intermediate trough in offspring production at two matings. We also found little evidence that cannibalism was deployed as a mate‐avoidance strategy: females consistently attacked and consumed males regardless of how many times they mated or how long they were housed with males. Our results suggest the possibility of two distinct mating strategies in M. caffra, where females either mate at a lower frequency to minimize costs or at a higher frequency to maximize benefits. We discuss possible explanations for this bimodal pattern in offspring production.
Sub‐regional skin grafting for perineal resurfacing after excision of superficial vulvar tumors: An excellent method to achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance
Authors: Che Kexin , Wang Keke , Yuan Ye , Li Fengyong , Li Qiang
Published: December 2022

Objective

To investigate the effect of sub‐regional split‐thickness skin grafting in perineal resurfacing.

Methods

A single‐center retrospective study was conducted in the Genital Plastic Surgery Center. Detailed clinical data of 14 consecutive patients who underwent split‐thickness skin grafting after vulvar tumor resection from February 2013 to June 2022 were analyzed. Clinical data, postoperative photographs, scoring of vulvar appearance, and questionnaire results of the Female Sexual Function Index before and after surgery were analyzed.

Results

The patients had sub‐regional split‐thickness skin grafting ranging from 7 × 8 cm to 11 × 12 cm (88.86 ± 24.99 cm2). After a follow‐up of 8.21 ± 2.22 months (mean ± SD), all patients had a three‐dimensional and aesthetically pleasing vulva and high scoring of vulvar appearance (mean ± SD, 4.43 ± 0.65). All patients had good healing of both the recipient and donor sites without major complications. Only one patient had minor dehiscence in the perineal region and recovered soon after proper treatment. The scores of the Female Sexual Function Index were significantly improved after surgery. Among the included domains, scores of “desire,” “arousal,” “orgasm” and “satisfaction” increased significantly after surgery (p value <0.05).

Conclusions

Sub‐regional split‐thickness skin grafting could achieve excellent cosmetic outcomes with few complications in perineal reconstruction after the excision of superficial vulvar tumors. It can provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance in the vulvar region and improve female sexual function to some extent. In general, sub‐regional split‐thickness skin grafting could be a recommended reconstructive option to repair vulvar defects.
Calibrating for Progress: What are the Instrumental Functions of Theory in Management Research?
Authors: Krlev Gorgi
Published: December 2022

While economics has largely moved ‘beyond theory’, in management research the ‘theory always’ imperative is still held high. This imperative has come under attack lately with scholars saying we have too much theory that explains too little, or that insisting on theoretical contributions in every article hampers our ability to address timely issues. I argue that there is unease with the practice of theorizing in management and organization because we fail to demonstrate what theory does (or cannot do) for advancing knowledge, and under what conditions. In this article, I therefore seek to show when and how management theory is more useful and when less useful for moving research fields forward. Drawing on a position about progress that is rooted in a combination of Popper's critical rationalism and social criticism, I unearth four instrumental functions of theory and three areas of limitation. I suggest that scholars should be clearer about which of these functions their theorizing serves, or use the framework to justify why, instead of crafting theory, they focus on applying theory, on empirical analysis, or on method. The article provides guidance to authors, reviewers, and editors. It also offers suggestions for the strategic positioning and publishing policies of journals.
But what did they do on leave? Differing evaluations of men and women's completion of work tasks on parental leave
Authors: Parks‐Stamm Elizabeth J. , Tharp Derek T.
Published: December 2022

As parental leave policies increasingly encourage new fathers to take paternal leave, the present experimental study explores evaluations of male and female workers who do (or do not) complete work‐related tasks during leave. In line with our preregistered hypotheses, not completing work‐related tasks during leave resulted in costs for men's (but not women's) evaluations and recommendations, whereas working during leave benefited women's (but not men's) evaluations and recommendations. Parallel evaluations of workers' agency suggest prescriptive gender norms underlie these different responses to men's and women's behaviour.
The role of vitamin D in periodontal health and disease
Authors: Lu Emily Ming‐Chieh
Published: December 2022

Vitamin D plays an essential role in calcium and bone metabolism, immune regulation and possesses profound anti‐inflammatory effects. Evidence suggests that low serum vitamin D is associated with increased severity of periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory condition characterised by destruction of the supporting tissues surrounding the tooth, which has several shared risk factors with other chronic non‐communicable diseases. The biological functions of vitamin D are mediated by its strong anti‐microbial, anti‐inflammatory, and host modulatory properties. Experimental periodontitis models involving targeted deletion of 1α‐hydroxylase, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of inactive substrate to active 1,25(OH)2D3 (calcitriol), showed augmented alveolar bone loss and gingival inflammation. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms have also been associated with increased severity of periodontitis. Thus, the involvement of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of periodontitis is biological plausible. Clinical studies have consistently demonstrated an inverse relationship between serum 25OHD3 and periodontal disease inflammation. However, due to the paucity of well‐designed longitudinal studies, there is less support for the impact of vitamin D status on periodontal disease progression and tooth loss. The evidence emphasises the importance of maintaining vitamin D sufficiency in supporting periodontal health. This review aims to first examine the biological mechanisms by which vitamin D might influence the pathogenesis of periodontal disease and second, discuss the clinical evidence which implicate the role of vitamin D in periodontal disease.
Direct and indirect selenium speciation in biofortified wheat: A tale of two techniques
Authors: Subirana Maria Angels , Boada Roberto , Xiao Tingting , Llugany Mercè , Valiente Manuel
Published: December 2022

Wheat can be biofortified with different inorganic selenium (Se) forms, selenite or selenate. The choice of Se source influences the physiological response of the plant and the Se metabolites produced. We looked at selenium uptake, distribution and metabolization in wheat exposed to selenite, selenate and a 1:1 molar mixture of both to determine the impact of each treatment on the Se speciation in roots, shoots, and grains. To achieve a comprehensive quantification of the Se species, the complementarity of high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy was exploited. This approach allowed the identification of the six main selenium species: selenomethionine, selenocysteine, selenocystine, selenite, selenate, and elemental selenium. The three treatments resulted in similar total selenium concentration in grains, 90–150 mg Se kg−1, but produced different effects in the plant. Selenite enhanced root accumulation (66% of selenium) and induced the maximum toxicity, whereas selenate favored shoot translocation (46%). With the 1:1 mixture, selenium was distributed along the plant generating lower toxicity. Although all conditions resulted in >92% of organic selenium in the grain, selenate produced mainly C‐Se‐C forms, such as selenomethionine, while selenite (alone or in the mixture) enhanced the production of C‐Se‐Se‐C forms, such as selenocystine, modifying the selenoamino acid composition. These results provide a better understanding of the metabolization of selenium species which is key to minimize plant toxicity and any concomitant effect that may arise due to Se‐biofortification.
Robotic bronchoscopic needle‐based confocal laser endomicroscopy to diagnose peripheral lung nodules
Authors: Manley Christopher J. , Kramer Tess , Kumar Rohit , Gong Yulan , Ehya Hormoz , Ross Eric , Bonta Peter I. , Annema Jouke T.
Published: December 2022

Background and Objective

Robotic bronchoscopy has demonstrated high navigational success in small peripheral lung nodules but the diagnostic yield is discrepantly lower. Needle based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) enables real‐time microscopic imaging at the needle tip. We aim to assess feasibility, safety and needle repositioning based on real‐time nCLE‐guidance during robotic bronchoscopy in small peripheral lung nodules.

Methods

Patients with suspected peripheral lung cancer underwent fluoroscopy and radial EBUS assisted robotic bronchoscopy. After radial EBUS nodule identification, nCLE‐imaging of the target area was performed. nCLE‐malignancy and airway/lung parenchyma criteria were used to identify the optimal sampling location. In case airway was visualized, repositioning of the biopsy needle was performed. After nCLE tool‐in‐nodule confirmation, needle passes and biopsies were performed at the same location.

Measurements and Main Results

Twenty patients were included (final diagnosis n = 17 (lung) cancer) with a median lung nodule size of 14.5 mm (range 8–28 mm). No complications occurred. In 19/20 patients, good quality nCLE‐videos were obtained. In 9 patients (45%), real‐time nCLE‐imaging revealed inadequate positioning of the needle and repositioning was performed. After repositioning, nCLE‐imaging provided tool‐in‐nodule‐confirmation in 19/20 patients. Subsequent ROSE demonstrated representative material in 9/20 patients (45%) and overall diagnostic yield was 80% (16/20). Of the three patients with malignant nCLE‐imaging but inadequate pathology, two were diagnosed with malignancy during follow‐up.

Conclusion

Robotic bronchoscopic nCLE‐imaging is feasible and safe. nCLE‐imaging in small, difficult‐to‐access lung nodules provided additional real‐time feedback on the correct needle positioning with the potential to optimize the sampling location and diagnostic yield.
Layered Sites of Environmental Justice: Considering the Case of Prisons*
Authors: Opsal Tara , Luzbetak Austin , Malin Stephanie , Luxton India
Published: December 2022

A growing body of scholarship highlights the merits of fusing green criminology and environmental justice frameworks to better understand intersections among carceral systems, race‐ and class‐based stratification, and environmental harm. This paper explores how correctional institutions (CIs) with known histories of federal environmental law violations compare against other previously established environmentally harmful facilities and land uses. In this article, we ask: are prisons and other CIs that have violated federal environmental laws located proximate to areas where there is evidence of existing high‐pollution facilities? Relatedly, are CIs that have established noncompliant histories with federal environmental laws located in similarly marginalized and disadvantaged communities compared to other traditionally defined sites of environmental injustice and harm? To answer these questions, we utilize data from the EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database. Our findings provide evidence that, within our sample of facilities that have recorded noncompliance with federal environmental laws, CIs are significantly more likely to be located proximate to Superfund sites than most of the other facility types/land uses and more likely to be located in communities with racially minoritized populations. Our findings have important implications for further research on carceral systems and environmental justice.
The novel HLA‐C*04:441:01:02 allele was identified in three unrelated bone marrow donors
Authors: Ananeva Anastasiia , Sergeeva Iuliia , Ryzhkova Tatiana , Gaifullina Raushania , Shagimardanova Elena
Published: December 2022

The novel HLA‐C*04:441:01:02 allele was characterized using next generation sequencing technology.
Exponentially larger affine and projective caps
Authors: Elsholtz Christian , Lipnik Gabriel F.
Published: December 2022

In spite of a recent breakthrough on upper bounds of the size of cap sets (by Croot, Lev and Pach and by Ellenberg and Gijswijt), the classical cap set constructions had not been affected. In this work, we introduce a very different method of construction for caps in all affine spaces with odd prime modulus p. Moreover, we show that for all primes with , the new construction leads to an exponentially larger growth of the affine and projective caps in and . For example, when , the existence of caps with growth follows from a three‐dimensional example of Bose, and the only improvement had been to by Edel, based on a six‐dimensional example. We improve this lower bound to .
Analyzing Governor-System Performance
Authors: Schwendner A. F.
Published: December 2022

All the characteristics of a turbine governor considered as an entity have their effect on the operating performance, expressed in terms of speed-regulation sensitivity, rate of response, and stability. The governor can only be judged adequately by observing its operation in conjunction with the system with which it is associated, which can only be done by employing instruments more sensitive and rapid in response than the governor itself. This paper describes the essential features of an instrument, developed specifically for this purpose, the methods of testing employed, and actual tests made with it.