bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Haploidentical Versus Matched Sibling Donor Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Adult Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Study From the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Nagler Arnon , Labopin Myriam , Swoboda Ryszard , Pioltelli Pietro , Arat Mutlu , Yakoub-Agha Ibrahim , Kulagin Alexander , Maria Raiola Anna , Ozdogu Hakan , Risitano Antonio , Nur Ozkurt Zubeyde , Sanz Jaime , Brissot Eolia , Zina Peric , Giebel Sebastian , Ciceri Fabio , Mohty Mohamad
Published: October 2022

The results of haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haploHCT) for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) transplanted in active disease remain largely unknown. We retrospectively analyzed adult patients with R/R ALL who underwent haploHCT or matched sibling donor (MSD-HCT) as a first transplantation between 2012 and 2020. The analysis comprised 274 patients, 94 had a haploHCT, and 180 had an MSD-HCT. The median follow-up was 32 months. The median age was 33 (range 18–76) and 37 (18–76) years in the haplo- and MSD-HCT groups, respectively. Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) was used in 88% of haploHCT and in 4% of the MSD-HCT group. Graft-versus-host disease grade III–IV was higher in haploHCT than in the MSD-HCT group (18% versus 9%; P = 0.042). The 2-year chronic (c) graft-versus-host disease rates were 17% versus 33% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.56; P = 0.14), respectively. By multivariate analysis, relapse incidence, and leukemia-free survival were not significatively different between the transplant groups, while nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was significantly higher (25% versus 18% at 2 years; HR = 2.03; P = 0.042) and overall survival (OS) lower (22% versus 38% at 2 years; HR = 1.72; P = 0.009) in the haploHCT group compared with the MSD-HCT group. We conclude that the 2-year OS of R/R ALL patients undergoing MSD transplants is significantly better than in haploHCT with a higher NRM in the latter.
Bioprosthetic Total Artificial Heart Implantation Does Not Induce Chronic Inflammation
Authors: Peronino Christophe , Guerin Coralie L. , Ivak Peter , Guyonnet Léa , Chocron Richard , Detriché Grégoire , Latremouille Christian , Gruest Maxime , Philippe Aurélien , Capel Antoine , Pya Yuri , Martin Anne-Céline , Jansen Piet , Gendron Nicolas , Netuka Ivan , Smadja David M.
Published: October 2022

The Aeson total artificial heart (A-TAH) has been developed for patients at risk of death from biventricular failure. We aimed to assess the inflammatory status in nine subjects implanted with the A-TAH in kinetics over one year. Laboratory assessment of leukocyte counts, inflammatory cytokines assay, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell collection before and after A-TAH implantation. Leukocyte counts were not significantly modulated according to time after A-TAH implantation (coefficient of the linear mixed effect model with 95% CI, −0.05 (−0.71 to −0.61); p = 0.44). We explored inflammatory cytokine after A-TAH and did not observe, at any time, a modified profile compared to pre-implantation values (all p-values > 0.05). Finally, we compared the distribution of circulating immune cell subpopulations identified based on sequential expression patterns for multiple clusters of differentiation. None of the population explored had significant modulation during the 12-month follow-up (all p-values > 0.05). In conclusion, using a cytokine multiplex assay combined with a flow cytometry approach, we demonstrated the absence of inflammatory signals in peripheral blood over a period of 12 months following A-TAH implantation.
Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Transcutaneous Neuromodulation on Functional Dyspepsia
Authors: Ma Yimin , Shen Jiaqing , Zhao Jing , Yang Xufeng , Yang Jun , Liu Yan , Qiao Zhenguo , Cao Youhong
Published: October 2022

Background and Aims:

Prokinetics and proton pump inhibitors are first-line drugs for functional dyspepsia (FD) patients. However, no available treatment is effective for most FD patients, and the pathogenesis is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of transcutaneous neuromodulation (TN) on FD and its potential mechanisms.

Materials and Methods:

Fifty-seven FD patients were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into 3 groups (TN Neiguan (PC6) group, TN Zusanli (ST36) group, and sham TN group) that received corresponding treatment respectively for 4 weeks. Then, all the patients enrolled received TN PC6 combined with ST36 treatment for another 4 weeks. Dyspepsia symptom questionnaire, Medical outcomes study item short form health survey (SF-36), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to assess the severity of symptoms. Gastric accommodation, gastric emptying rate, and related parameters of electrogastrogram were used to assess the pathophysiological mechanism of FD. The possible gastrointestinal hormonal mechanism involved was assessed by detecting serum ghrelin, neuropeptide Y, and vasoactive intestinal peptide. The possible duodenal inflammation mechanism involved was assessed by detecting duodenal mucosa.

Results:

TN treatment reduced the dyspepsia symptom score (P<0.05) and improved the quality of life. After TN treatment, the gastric accommodation (P<0.01), the gastric emptying rate (P<0.01), and the percentages of preprandial (P<0.05) and postprandial (P<0.05) gastric slow waves (GSW) were increased. The proportions of preprandial (P<0.05) and postprandial (P<0.05) gastric electrical rhythm disorder were reduced. The double acupoint combination therapy further enhanced the therapeutic effect of single acupoint. In addition, the levels of ghrelin (P<0.001) and neuropeptide Y (P<0.001) were significantly increased, the level of vasoactive intestinal peptide (P<0.001) was significantly decreased, and the total number of mast cells (P<0.001) in the duodenal bulb was significantly decreased after double acupoints combination therapy.

Conclusions:

TN treatment significantly improves the dyspepsia symptoms of FD patients and their quality of life. TN treatment increases the percentage of normal GSW, reduces the proportion of gastric electrical rhythm disorder, and improves the gastric accommodation and gastric emptying rate. The therapeutic effect of TN may be caused by regulating gastrointestinal hormone secretion and alleviating local inflammatory responses in duodenum. In addition, the improvement of TN on GSW was closely related to the decrease of bradygastria.
Utilization of hepatitis C virus-positive donors in kidney transplantation
Authors: Shetty Aneesha , Ariyamuthu Venkatesh K. , Gungor Ahmet B. , Tanriover Bekir
Published: October 2022

Purpose of review

Direct-acting antivirals (DAA) have transformed kidney transplantation by increasing the donor pool from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected donors and allowing HCV nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) donor-positive/recipient-negative (D+/R-) transplantation over the last 7 years. Willingness to accept kidneys from HCV-infected donors and timing/duration of DAA therapy have been evolving.

Recent findings

By 2021, most of the HCV NAT+ kidneys (92.6%) were transplanted to HCV-naive recipients. Despite the availability of effective DAA therapy, the discard rate of HCV NAT kidneys has been stagnant around 25%. The proportion of wait-listed patients willing to accept a deceased donor kidney from HCV Ab+ and HCV NAT+ donors increased 20-fold between 2015 and 2022. Wait-listed time to receive HCV NAT+ kidneys has been rising and most of the kidneys are transplanted to HCV-naive recipients. The proportion of deceased donor kidney transplants performed in recipients with HCV seropositivity decreased from 5.1 to 2.8% during the same period. Relatively short courses of DAA therapy (7–8 days) appear to be effective to decrease HCV transmission (<5%) and achieve sustained virological response at 12 weeks if administered prior to revascularization.

Further studies are needed to evaluate long-term outcomes of HCV NAT D+/R− transplantation and the best course of DAA treatment.
Indications for retrograde intramedullary screw fixation of the distal fibula: a retrospective cohort series
Authors: Albana Mohamed F. , Jimenez Megan L. , Brill Benjamin J. , Principe Michael J. , Quercetti Nicholas F.
Published: October 2022

Introduction:

Ankle fractures are a common orthopaedic injury that often require surgical fixation. Because the comorbid population in the United States continues to survive longer, it has become routine to treat comorbid patients with unstable ankle fractures. The literature has identified comorbidities known to increase the risk of ankle fracture complications to include age 55 years or older, body mass index >29.9, polytrauma, open fractures, diabetes mellitus, smoking, peripheral neuropathy, and alcohol use.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed 37 patients who received retrograde intramedullary screw fixation of the distal fibula, all of whom had preexisting conditions known to increase the rate of postoperative complications.

Results:

Thirty-seven patients were included in this study, of whom 36 (97.3%) went on to union. Six of 37 patients (16.2%) had complications although only one (2.7%) was due to inadequate fixation. The average time to weight-bearing as tolerated was 57.2 days (15–115 days). Two patients (5.4%) had symptomatic instrumentation requiring removal after union. Two patients (5.4%) had delayed union of the distal fibula, which responded to the use of a bone stimulator. One patient (2.7%) developed a nonunion which led to chronic subluxation of the ankle joint. One patient (2.7%) had a minor medial ankle wound complication that was treated with oral antibiotics and local wound care.

Conclusions:

Retrograde intramedullary screw fixation of the distal fibula is a viable alternative to plate and screw fixation in patients with unstable ankle fractures who have known risk factors for increased complications. However, not all distal fibula fractures are amenable to this fixation method.

Level of Evidence:

Level III retrospective cohort study.
Going Virtual: A Virtual Summer Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Externship Experience for Medical Students
Authors: Rydberg Leslie , Ankam Nethra , Sauter Carley , Snider Brittany A. , Kasi Ravi E. , Mayer R. Samuel
Published: October 2022

Opportunities for early medical student exposure to the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) are desirable for promoting the field as a career choice and are useful for introducing students to the care of people with disabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical education and caused the cancellation of many in person clinical programs, including the Medical Student Summer Clinical Externship (MSSCE) in PM&R supported by the Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP). This paper describes the process by which an in-person summer clinical externship program was effectively converted into a Virtual PM&R Experience using a combination of independent assignments and small group sessions. Eighty-seven medical students completed the Virtual PM&R Experience over two summers. The participants of the program met the program learning objectives including enhancing their understanding of physiatry as a career and recognizing the medical and social issues that affect persons with disability.
Feasibility and Acceptance of a Teletrauma Surgery Consult Service to Rural and Community Hospitals: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kamine Tovy Haber , Siu Margaret , Kramer Kristina Z , Alouidor Reginald , Kelly Edward , Deutsch Ashley , Mader Timothy J , Visintainer Paul , Grochowski Kristina , Jabbour Nicolas
Published: October 2022

BACKGROUND:

Many trauma patients currently transferred from rural and community hospitals (RCH) to Level I trauma centers (LITC) for trauma surgery evaluation may instead be appropriate for immediate discharge or admission to the local facility after evaluation by a trauma and acute care surgery (TACS) surgeon. Unnecessary use of resources occurs with current practice. We aimed to demonstrate the feasibility and acceptance of a teletrauma surgery consultation service between LITC and RCH.

STUDY DESIGN:

LITC TACS surgeons provided telehealth consults on trauma patients from 3 local RCHs. After consultation, appropriate patients were transferred to LITC; selected patients remained at or were discharged from RCH. Participating TACS surgeons and RCH physicians were surveyed.

RESULTS:

A total of 28 patients met inclusion criteria during the 5-month pilot phase, with 7 excluded due to workflow issues. The mean ± SD age was 63 ± 17 years. Of 21 patients, 7 had intracranial hemorrhage; 12 had rib fractures. The mean ± SD Injury Severity Score was 8.1 ± 4.0). A total of 6 patients were discharged from RCH, 4 admitted to RCH hospitalist service, 2 transferred to a LITC emergency room, and 9 transferred to LITC as direct admission. There was one 30-day readmission and no missed injuries or complications, or deaths. RCH providers were highly satisfied with the teletrauma surgery consultation service, TACS surgeons, and equipment used. Mental demand and effort of consulting TACS surgeons decreased significantly as the consult number increased.

CONCLUSIONS:

Teletrauma surgery consultation involving 3 RCH within our system is feasible and acceptable. A total of 10 transfers and 19 emergency department visits were avoided. There was favorable acceptance by RCH providers and TACS surgeons.
Design of Novel Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Using Computational Modeling Studies
Authors: Svanholm Lena Elisabeth H. , Torrence Ian S. , Nguyen Tram Q. , Siegel Justin B.
Published: October 2022

Low levels of serotonin in the human brain have been associated with a variety of disorders including depression and anxiety. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently being prescribed to treat such conditions and examples of already marketed drugs include paroxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, and citalopram. Nevertheless, side effects such as nausea and drowsiness have been reported for these pharmaceuticals emphasizing the need for continuous development of new and improved lead molecules. In this study, chemical intuition and computational modeling were employed to propose two novel SSRI drug candidates with higher binding affinities to the ts3 human serotonin transporter (hSERT) than currently known SSRIs. Lastly, a homology analysis determined thatMacaca fascicularisis a suitable model organism for future preclinical studies.
A bioinformatics approach to systematically analyze the molecular patterns of monkeypox virus-host cell interactions
Authors: Tang Zhongxiang , Mao Yu , Meng Yuting , Qiu Xiangjie , Bajinka Ousman , Wu Guojun , Tan Yurong
Published: October 2022

Monkeypox has been spreading worldwide since May 2022, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of a “Public health emergency of international concern”. The spread of monkeypox has posed a serious threat to the health of people all over the world but few studies have been carried out on it, and the molecular mechanism of monkeypox after infection remains unclear. We therefore implemented a transcriptome analysis to identify signaling pathways and biomarkers in monkeypox-infected cells to help understand monkeypox-host cell interactions. In this study, the dataset GSE36854 and GSE11234 were obtained from GEO. Among them, 84 significantly different genes were identified in the dataset GSE36854, followed by KEGG, GO analysis protein-protein interaction (PPI) construction and Hub gene extraction. We also analyzed the expression regulation patterns of hub genes and screened the drugs targeting the hub genes. The results showed that monkeypox-infected cells significantly activated the cellular immune response, and induced inflammatory response. IER3, IFIT2, IL11, ZC3H12A, EREG, IER2, NFKBIE, FST, IFIT1 and AREG were the top 10 hub genes, in which anti-viral gene IFIT1 and IFIT2 were significantly suppressed. AP-26113 and itraconazole promoting the expression of IFIT1 and IFIT2 may be used as new candidates for the treatment of monkeypox viral infection. Our results provide a new entry point for understanding the mode of interaction between monkeypox virus and its host.
The use of phylogenetics and ancestral sequence reconstruction to identify improved halophilic enzymes for the biodegradation of poly(R-3-hydroxybutyrate)
Authors: Quirk Stephen , Kosnicki Kassi
Published: October 2022

Evolutionary analysis combined with ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) was utilized to calculate the taxonomic relationship between poly(hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase (PHBase) enzymes belonging to the halophilic genusHalomonas. Enzymes cluster into four distinct clades that differ in sequence length and composition. Like many of the previously studied PHBase proteins, there is a high degree of heterogeneity at the genus level. Ancestor sequences were calculated for each tree node using a maximum likelihood approach. The most ancestral sequence and one extant enzyme from each of the clades were expressed inEscherichia coli, purified to homogeneity, and characterized. The ancestral enzyme binds substrate more efficiently, is kinetically faster, and is more stable at elevated temperatures compared to the extant enzymes. Hence, an evolutionary phylogenetic approach is a viable alternative to other techniques for identifying optimized enzymes for industrial PHB degradation.
Substrate selectivity of the PRDM9 lysine methyltransferase domain
Authors: Hanquier Jocelyne N. , Sanders Kenidi , Berryhill Christine A. , Sahoo Firoj K. , Hudmon Andy , Vilseck Jonah Z. , Cornett Evan M.
Published: October 2022

Lysine methylation is a dynamic, post-translational mark that regulates the function of histone and non-histone proteins. Many of the enzymes that mediate lysine methylation, known as lysine methyltransferases (KMTs), were originally identified to modify histone proteins but have also been discovered to methylate non-histone proteins. In this work, we investigate the substrate selectivity of the lysine methyltransferase PRDM9 to identify both potential histone and non-histone substrates. Though normally expressed in germ cells, PRDM9 is significantly upregulated across many cancer types. The methyltransferase activity of PRDM9 is essential for double-strand break formation during meiotic recombination. PRDM9 has been reported to methylate histone H3 at lysine residues 4 and 36; however, PRDM9 KMT activity had not previously been evaluated on non-histone proteins. Using lysine-oriented peptide (K-OPL) libraries to screen potential substrates of PRDM9, we determined that PRDM9 preferentially methylates peptide sequences not found in any histone protein. We confirmed PRDM9 selectivity throughin vitroKMT reactions using peptides with substitutions at critical positions. A multisite λ-dynamics computational analysis provided a structural rationale for the observed PRDM9 selectivity. The substrate selectivity profile was then used to identify putative non-histone substrates, which were tested by peptide spot array. Finally, PRDM9 methylation non-histone substrates were validated at the protein level byin vitroKMT assays on recombinant proteins. The selectivity profile of PRDM9 will be useful in identifying putative PRDM9 substrates in different cellular contexts, and future studies are required to determine whether PRDM9 methylates non-histone proteins in the context of meiotic recombination or cancer.
Chief Audit Executive as Supervisory Board Member and Executive Compensation Contracts
Authors: Lyu Meng , Sun Xiaojie Christine , Wang Bing
Published: October 2022

This paper studies a unique phenomenon in China's corporate governance—that chief audit executives (CAEs) sit on supervisory boards (CAE duality)—and examines its effects on executive compensation contracts. Using a sample of listed firms between 2010 and 2018, we find a significant positive relation between CAE duality and pay‐for‐performance sensitivity, which suggests that the dual position helps integrate monitoring resources and reduces agency costs. This positive relation is more pronounced when companies face a stricter monitoring environment and in non‐state‐owned enterprises (non‐SOEs) than in SOEs. In addition, we find that the recent reforms on compensation strengthen the role of CAE duality in SOEs. Further analysis identifies the reliability of performance information (i.e., earnings quality) and reduced executive self‐interested behaviours (i.e., perquisite consumption) as the influencing mechanisms that increase the demand for performance‐based compensation and thus improve pay‐for‐performance sensitivity.
Louis Pasteur and the birth of microbiology in Denmark
Authors: Høiby Niels
Published: October 2022

Høiby N. Louis Pasteur and the birth of microbiology in Denmark. APMIS 2022. Louis Pasteur's work initiated the birth of microbiology in Denmark. Carl Julius Salomonsen was the pioneer who inspired and taught Christian Gram, Thorvald Madsen and Bernhard Bang bacteriological techniques in his annual bacteriological course which he started in 1883 at the University of Copenhagen. These pioneers developed Danish human and veterinary microbiology and became world famous. Emil Chr. Hansen developed Danish technical/industrial microbiology in the Carlsberg Laboratory and purified yeast and designed equipment for the propagation of pure yeast which was used worldwide in beer brewing. He also became world famous. The fascinating birth and development of Danish microbiology is summarized in this article, which is dedicated to the 200th birthday of Louis Pasteur, December 27, and 100th birthday of the Danish Pasteur Society, October 25, 2022.
Enigma portal: Peritoneal effusion in a patient with a myeloproliferative neoplasm
Authors: Frankel Diane , Kaspi Elise , Grosdidier Charlotte , Arpin Maud , Costello Regis , Roll Patrice
Published: October 2022

Quiz regarding the cytological analysis of peritoneal effusion in a patient with a history of myeloproliferative neoplasm.
Fire ash residues do not affect ecological functions of Phanaeus palaeno in Cerrado grassland
Authors: Reis Nayara Letícia , Beiroz Wallace , Peñaflor Maria Fernanda Gomes Villalba , Louzada Júlio
Published: October 2022

Fire is a major force acting on the structure and dynamics of the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna). Post‐fire conditions can be severe for soil‐dwelling organisms, such as dung beetles, which play essential roles in the Cerrado ecosystem. This study evaluated whether ash residues affect the ecological functions of dung burial and soil bioturbation by the Cerrado‐native beetle Phanaeus palaeno Blanchard (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Phanaeini), and how its sex and weight influence the performance of ecological functions under post‐fire conditions. The beetles were collected from open natural grasslands and pastures in the Cerrado biome, and the functions performed by the individuals were evaluated in the laboratory. The response of beetles was measured by quantifying the amount of buried dung and soil by both females and males in buckets filled with soil, half covered or fully covered with ash, or in buckets without ash. The amount of buried dung or bioturbated soil did not differ among treatments, demonstrating that ash does not influence P. palaeno in performing these functions. Females bioturbated more soil and buried more dung than males, but neither were affected by ash. As dung beetles perform essential ecosystem functions, this information may be helpful in developing novel fire management practices to conserve Cerrado biodiversity.
Increase in NREM sleep slow waves following injections of sodium oxybate in the mouse cerebral cortex and the role of somatostatin‐positive interneurons
Authors: Spano Giovanna Maria , Cavelli Matias , Marshall William , Tononi Giulio , Cirelli Chiara
Published: October 2022

The systemic administration of sodium oxybate (SXB), the sodium salt of gamma‐hydroxybutyric acid, promotes slow wave activity (SWA, 0.5–4 Hz EEG power) and increases non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. These effects are mediated by the widely expressed GABAb receptors, and thus, the brain areas targeted by SXB remain unclear. Because slow waves are mainly a cortical phenomenon, we tested here whether systemic SXB promotes SWA by acting directly on the cortex. Moreover, because somatostatin (SOM) + cortical interneurons play a key role in SWA generation, we also assessed their contribution to the effects of SXB. In adult SOM‐Cre mice, the injection of SXB in left secondary motor cortex increased SWA during NREM sleep in the first 30 min post‐injection (11 mice: either sex). SWA, the amplitude and frequency of the slow waves, and the frequency of the OFF periods increased ipsilaterally and contralaterally to the SXB injection in frontal and parietal cortex. All these changes disappeared when the intracortical injection of SXB was preceded by the chemogenetic inhibition of the SOM+ cells. Thus, SXB may promote the slow waves of NREM sleep, at least in part, by acting directly on the cortex, and this effect involves GABAergic SOM+ interneurons. Our working hypothesis is that SXB potentiates the ability of these cells to inhibit all other cortical cell types via a GABAb mechanism, thus promoting the transition from ON to OFF periods during NREM sleep.
Association between the risk of seizure and COVID‐19 vaccinations: A self‐controlled case‐series study
Authors: Wan Eric Yuk Fai , Ng Vanessa Wai Sei , Chang Richard Shek‐Kwan , Yan Vincent Ka Chun , Chui Celine Sze Ling , Wong Carlos King Ho , Li Xue , Lai Francisco Tsz Tsun , Chan Esther Wai Yin , Hung Ivan Fan Ngai , Lau Kui Kai , Wong Ian Chi Kei
Published: October 2022

Objective

The risk of seizure following BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccinations has been sparsely investigated. This study aimed to evaluate this association.

Method

Patients who had their first seizure‐related hospitalization between February 23, 2021 and January 31, 2022, were identified in Hong Kong. All seizure episodes happening on the day of vaccination (day 0) were excluded, since clinicians validated that most of the cases on day 0 were syncopal episodes. Within‐individual comparison using a modified self‐controlled case series analysis was applied to estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of seizure using conditional Poisson regression.

Results

We identified 1656 individuals who had their first seizure‐related hospitalization (BNT162b2: 426; CoronaVac: 263; unvaccinated: 967) within the observation period. The incidence of seizure was 1.04 (95% CI .80–1.33) and 1.11 (95% CI .80–1.50) per 100 000 doses of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac administered, respectively. Sixteen and 17 individuals, respectively, received a second dose after having a first seizure within 28 days after the first dose of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccinations. None had recurrent seizures after the second dose. There was no increased risk during day 1–6 after the first (BNT162b2: IRR = 1.39, 95% CI = .75–2.58; CoronaVac: IRR = 1.19, 95% CI = .50–2.83) and second doses (BNT162b2: IRR = 1.36, 95% CI = .72–2.57; CoronaVac: IRR = .71, 95% CI = .22–2.30) of vaccinations. During 7–13, 14–20, and 21–27 days post‐vaccination, no association was observed for either vaccine.

Significance

The findings demonstrated no increased risk of seizure following BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccinations. Future studies will be warranted to evaluate the risk of seizure following COVID‐19 vaccinations in different populations, with subsequent doses to ensure the generalizability.
Multi‐scale analyses on mechano‐electric degradation of film interconnects in flexible electronics
Authors: Huang Xingzhen , Li Zhaoxia
Published: October 2022

In flexible electronics, the fatigue reliability of film interconnects will directly affect the stability of the entire device. Since the thickness of the film material is usually much smaller than its length and width, the fatigue of film interconnects exhibits significant size effects. To evaluate the reliability of film interconnects, based on the theory of continuum damage mechanics, a multi‐scale damage model considering length‐scale effect is established. For the convenience of the model application in damage prediction of film interconnects, a multi‐scale mechano‐electric degradation model is further proposed. Validation with experimental data shows that the model can predict the fatigue life and resistance changes of not pre‐stretched films well. For pre‐stretched films, the proposed model is also applicable to thicker films without debonding or damage localization. The proposed model is expected to provide a facile approach for fatigue life prediction of flexible electronic devices with coplanar mesh structures.
Travertine cascades
Authors: Waltham Tony
Published: October 2022

Travertine is widespread in karst terrains, and less so elsewhere, and some of its varieties constitute spectacular landforms, many of which become popular visitor sites for geologists and non‐geologists alike. Among the many forms of travertine, barrages are the most spectacular, especially where they still have streams or rivers cascading over them. Carbonate travertine is polygenetic, both chemical and organic, and both karstic and geothermal, with a full range of sites between those extremes.
Thomistic Divine Simplicity and its Analytic Detractors: Can one affirm Divine Aseity and Goodness without Simplicity?
Authors: Michelson Jared
Published: October 2022

I evaluate three of the most widespread analytic objections to the doctrine of divine simplicity: that it fails to cohere with the application of accidental predicates like ‘creator’ or ‘lord’ to God, problematically entails that God is identical to an abstract object, and is inconsistent with the freedom and contingency of God’s acts in creation resulting in modal uniformity/collapse. In dialogue with Thomas’s account of the doctrine, I suggest that each objection is either the product of a misinterpretation or is addressed by Thomas himself. This defence of Thomas’s view of divine simplicity further unearths the way his account of divine simplicity is, according to Thomas, necessary to secure divine aseity and ultimacy. This places a burden upon analytic objectors to divine simplicity, questioning whether their neo‐classical conception of God offers an adequate account of divine ultimacy, aseity, and even goodness.
Women who die in custody: What Australian coroners’ reports tell us
Authors: Walsh Tamara
Published: October 2022

Women's deaths in custody remain under‐researched around the world. This article reports on a large‐scale study on deaths in custody conducted in Australia that involved an analysis of 736 coroners’ inquest reports dated between 1991 and 2020. Women were substantially under‐represented among this sample, comprising less than 5% of all deaths, but half of the women were Indigenous. While most of the women had a range of individual risk factors in common – such as a history of victimisation, mental illness and drug and alcohol use – the Indigenous women also experienced systemic racism from their custodians and the medical personnel to whom they were referred for treatment. While most coroners focused primarily on the cause of death, some made recommendations directed at addressing unconscious bias. This research supports calls for alternatives to detention for women and the decriminalisation of racialised offences such as public intoxication.
Aridity drives the loss of dung beetle taxonomic and functional diversity in three contrasting deserts
Authors: Castro Sánchez‐Bermejo Pablo , deCastro‐Arrazola Indradatta , Cuesta Eva , Davis Adrian L. V. , Moreno Claudia E. , Sánchez‐Piñero Francisco , Hortal Joaquín
Published: October 2022

Aim

Aridity gradients are of great interest for understanding the responses of biodiversity to water availability and water stress. However, little is known about the responses of many animal groups, which are crucial for assessing the effects of climate change. Here, we study the effects of aridity on dung beetle communities, a group with well‐known responses to large‐scale environmental gradients.

Location

Sahara, Kalahari and Chihuahuan deserts.

Taxa

Dung beetles of the family Scarabaeidae.

Methods

We conducted standardized surveys along approximately 400 km aridity gradients in each of the three deserts, and measured species richness, abundance, evenness and three aspects of trait‐based functional diversity (functional richness, functional evenness and functional dispersion). By using randomization tests and linear mixed models, we compared observed with expected values for functional diversity indices from null models that hierarchically incorporate additional assembly constraints.

Results

Overall, we found a decrease of both taxonomic richness and functional dispersion along the three aridity gradients. Also, aridity seems to have mild effects on functional richness and functional evenness. Besides these general trends, we identified differences between deserts in the responses of both taxonomic and functional diversity.

Main conclusions

Aridity shows greater importance than competition and other processes of limiting similarity or stochastic processes in community assembly. Also, the functional hypervolume of dung beetle desert communities decreases with aridity not only due to species loss, but also because of selection of a few distinct phenotypes under harsh environmental conditions. Last, we observed that the different regional pools respond to aridity in different ways. Therefore, understanding future responses of dung beetle communities to the progressive decreases in water availability driven by climate change requires determining how the characteristics of the species in the regional pool interact with aridity‐driven assembly processes.
Neurophysiologic predictors of individual risk for post‐operative delirium after elective surgery
Authors: Ross Jessica M. , Santarnecchi Emiliano , Lian Shu Jing , Fong Tamara G. , Touroutoglou Alexandra , Cavallari Michele , Travison Thomas G. , Marcantonio Edward R. , Libermann Towia A. , Schmitt Eva M. , Inouye Sharon K. , Shafi Mouhsin M. , Pascual‐Leone Alvaro ,   the SAGES II Study Group
Published: October 2022

Background

Post‐surgical delirium is associated with increased morbidity, lasting cognitive decline, and loss of functional independence. Within a conceptual framework that delirium is triggered by stressors when vulnerabilities exist in cerebral connectivity and plasticity, we previously suggested that neurophysiologic measures might identify individuals at risk for post‐surgical delirium. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of the approach and provide preliminary experimental evidence of the predictive value of such neurophysiologic measures for the risk of delirium in older persons undergoing elective surgery.

Methods

Electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were collected from 23 patients prior to elective surgery. Resting‐state EEG spectral power ratio (SPR) served as a measure of integrity of neural circuits. TMS–EEG metrics of plasticity (TMS‐plasticity) were used as indicators of brain capacity to respond to stressors. Presence or absence of delirium was assessed using the confusion assessment method (CAM). We included individuals with no baseline clinically relevant cognitive impairment (MoCA scores ≥21) in order to focus on subclinical neurophysiological measures.

Results

In patients with no baseline cognitive impairment (N = 20, age = 72 ± 6), 3 developed post‐surgical delirium (MoCA = 24 ± 2.6) and 17 did not (controls; MoCA = 25 ± 2.4). Patients who developed delirium had pre‐surgical resting‐state EEG power ratios outside the 95% confidence interval of controls, and 2/3 had TMS‐plasticity measures outside the 95% CI of controls.

Conclusions

Consistent with our proposed conceptual framework, this pilot study suggests that non‐invasive and scalable neurophysiologic measures can identify individuals at risk of post‐operative delirium. Specifically, abnormalities in resting‐state EEG spectral power or TMS‐plasticity may indicate sub‐clinical risk for post‐surgery delirium. Extension and confirmation of these findings in a larger sample is needed to assess the clinical utility of the proposed neurophysiologic markers, and to identify specific connectivity and plasticity targets for therapeutic interventions that might minimize the risk of delirium.
Exploring nurses' role in guiding residents' workplace learning: A mixed‐method study
Authors: Jansen Iris , Silkens Milou E. W. M. , Galema Gerbrich , Vermeulen Hester , Geerlings Suzanne E. , Lombarts Kiki M. J. M. H. , Stalmeijer Renée E.
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Understanding residents’ workplace learning could be optimized by not only considering attending physicians’ role but also the role of nurses. While previous studies described nurses' role during discrete activities (e.g. feedback), a more profound understanding of how nurses contribute to residents' learning remains warranted. Therefore, we used the educational concept of guidance and explored the extent to which residents' and nurses' perceptions align regarding nurses' guiding role and which reasons they provide for their perceptions.

Methods

This mixed‐method study was conducted at four Dutch university medical centres in 2021. We simultaneously collected quantitative and qualitative data from 103 residents and 401 nurses through a theory‐informed questionnaire with a Likert‐scale and open‐ended questions. We analyzed quantitative data to explore respondents' perceptions of nurses' guiding role by using anova. The thematically analyzed qualitative open comments explored respondents' reasons for their perceptions.

Results

Nurses indicated to provide significantly more support (p = .01) and guidance on learning from patient care (p < .01) than perceived by residents. Moreover, nurses indicated that attending physicians did not always involve them in guiding residents, whereas residents perceived nurses were being involved (p < .001). Themes suggest that nurses and residents could be divided into two groups: (i) respondents who felt that guiding was inextricably linked to good interprofessional collaboration and patient care and (ii) respondents who saw the guiding role as limited and emphasised the distinct fields of expertise between nurses and physicians.

Conclusions

Residents and nurses felt that nurses played an important role in guiding residents' workplace learning. However, some residents did not always perceive to be guided. To further capitalise on nurses' guiding role, we suggest that residents can be encouraged to engage in the learning opportunities nurses provide to achieve optimal team‐based patient care.
SUE4, a novel PIN1‐interacting membrane protein, regulates acropetal auxin transport in response to sulfur deficiency
Authors: Zhao Qing , Zhao Ping‐Xia , Wu Yu , Zhong Chang‐Quan , Liao Hong , Li Chuan‐You , Fu Xiang‐Dong , Fang Ping , Xu Ping , Xiang Cheng‐Bin
Published: October 2022

Sulfur (S) is an essential macronutrient for plants and a signaling molecule in abiotic stress responses. It is known that S availability modulates root system architecture; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown.

We previously reported an Arabidopsis gain‐of‐function mutant sulfate utilization efficiency4 (sue4) that could tolerate S deficiency during germination and early seedling growth with faster primary root elongation. Here, we report that SUE4, a novel plasma membrane‐localized protein, interacts with the polar auxin transporter PIN1, resulting in reduced PIN1 protein levels and thus decreasing auxin transport to the root tips, which promotes primary root elongation.

Moreover, SUE4 is induced by sulfate deficiency, consistent with its role in root elongation. Further analyses showed that the SUE4–PIN1 interaction decreased PIN1 levels, possibly through 26 S proteasome‐mediated degradation.

Taken together, our finding of SUE4‐mediated root elongation is consistent with root adaptation to highly mobile sulfate in soil, thus revealing a novel component in the adaptive response of roots to S deficiency.
Genetic dissection of quantitative trait loci for spikelets compactness in two Yanzhan1‐derived recombinant inbred line wheat populations
Authors: Hu Wenjing , Wu Hongya , Lu Chengbin , Zheng Xu , Jia Jizeng , Xu Weigang
Published: October 2022

Spikelets compactness (SC) plays an important role in the yield improvement and Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance of wheat. In this study, 151 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from a cross between Yangmai 4 (YM4) and Yanzhan 1 (YZ1) and 143 RIL derived from a cross between Yangmai 5 (YM5) and YZ1 were used to construct two wheat hexaploidy genetic linkage maps, evaluate SC across three years and identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for SC. A total of seven QTL were identified in two populations and explained the phenotypic variation ranging from 6.27% to 22.49%. Four QTL were co‐located in two genomic regions on chromosomes 2D and 6B, namely, QSc‐2D and QSc‐6B, respectively. Comparison analysis showed that QSc‐6B is a novel QTL, whereas QSc‐2D was located in the interval of Rht8. Significant additive effects of QSc‐2D and QSc‐6B on SC were observed in two RIL populations. Moreover, the positive alleles of these two QTL extremely significantly increased grain number per spike (GNS) but did not have a significantly negative effect on thousand‐grain weight (TGW), kernel length (KL) and kernel weight (KW). Whether in spray or point inoculation, QSc‐6B did not significantly influence FHB resistance in two populations. However, QSc‐2D significantly affected FHB resistance in spray inoculation in YM4/YZ1 population. A breeder‐friendly Kompetitive Allele‐Specific PCR (KASP) marker KASP_6B for QSc‐6B has been developed and verified in a set of 181 wheat cultivars/lines. Furthermore, we preliminary analysed the candidate genes within the physical interval of QSc‐6B by sequence similarity, spatial expression patterns and collinearity analysis. TraesCS6B03G1206900, TraesCS6B03G1214800 and TraesCS6B03G1218300 show specific expression in spikelet. These results provide valuable information for map‐based cloning of QSc‐6B and a useful tool for wheat breeding.
Can microcredit reduce vulnerability to poverty? Evidence from rural Vietnam
Authors: Phan Chung Thanh , Vo Thang Tat , Vo Diem Thi Hong
Published: October 2022

Extant literature has extensively explored microcredit's impacts, confirming its essential role in poverty alleviation. However, most studies focus on poverty measures that exclusively emphasize current poverty status without adequately addressing the potential of falling into or remaining in poverty. Furthermore, the role of credit services in helping the poor in rural areas appears to be underexamined in the literature. To address this knowledge gap, this study investigates whether rural microcredit can reduce household vulnerability to poverty. A theoretical framework is developed to capture the mechanism by which microcredit borrowing has a vital role in household businesses and impacts the probability of being poor in the future. The Vietnam Access to Resources Household Survey data set from 2008 to 2016 is used to explore this issue. The findings indicate that rural Vietnam's access to microcredit significantly reduces vulnerability to poverty. Moreover, better‐off households are seemingly the most effective at using microcredit, whereas the opposite is found among worse‐off households. These results are found to be robust using the propensity score matching method.
Berlin's queer archipelago: Landscape, sexuality, and nightlife
Authors: Andersson Johan
Published: October 2022

The metaphor of the archipelago has informed ideas about Berlin's post‐war and post‐wall fractured urban landscape as well as recent work on sexual minorities in the city. In the context of Berlin's landscape, the image refers to green islands of spontaneous vegetation on sites left behind by bomb damage and border infrastructure, while in scholarship on sexuality, it suggests a more dispersed distribution of minority nightlife than in the traditional focus on the gayborhood. The two meanings come together in many of Berlin's electronic dance music clubs, which are located in overgrown voids—or Brachen in German—and form a queer archipelago outside the heteronormative grid. Drawing on insights from queer and ruderal ecology, as well as some of the memory literature from the early German reunification era, this paper explores these club islands in relation to the landscape term terrain vague. By focusing on two sites in the former East Berlin borough of Friedrichshain—Wriezener Park, next to the city's most famous club Berghain, and the Brache‐turned‐dance club ://about blank—Berlin's current status as a global centre for queer club culture is understood through the lens of its unusual urban landscape and spectral ecologies.
Smart Gnathometer for Bite Force Measurement
Authors: Ab Patar Mohd Nor Azmi , Ahmad Ikmal Makhtar  , Mahmud Jamaluddin , Shahrul Azam Abdullah  , Abdul Ghani Hazlina , Ab Ghani Siti Mariam , Lee Hokyoo , Hanafusa Akihiko
Published: October 2022

Bite force measurement on teeth is one of the crucial factors contributing to the development of advanced technology and longevity in the fabrication of prosthesis. Throughout the years, many researchers have developed devices to measure and analyse the maximum bite force. However, the innovations of the devices have some drawbacks, such as precision, measurement accuracy and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, some of the devices may affect the health of patients due to the usage of hazardous material. Therefore, a non-hazardous gnathometer has been innovated in the study to precisely measure and analyse the maximum bite force of dentures. A 3D model of the new gnathometer was designed using CATIA V5 and fabricated using a Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) machine. The gnathomether also consisted of electronic parts, such as an ESP32 and Arduino Nano as a microcontroller, and a flexible force sensor to accurately measure the bite force measurement. A calibration test was carried out on this innovation to measure the accuracy, drift presence and consistency of bite force. This study demonstrated that the force mappings were directly proportional to the voltage and has shown that the resistance gradually decreases until it reaches a minimum or steady state as the force increases. This research on the calibration of force was valid as the accuracy calculated was a minimum of 94.80% with a maximum accuracy error of 5.20%, resulting in high accuracy and reliable results. This study suggested that the gnathometer can analyse the maximum bite force of dentures and is one of the best approaches to obtain precise and accurate bite force measurements. This research can improve dentures studies in the dental industry using the Internet of Things (IoT) technology embedded in the system and real-time bite force monitoring.