bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individual variation in the avian gut microbiota: the influence of host state and environmental heterogeneity
Authors: Somers Shane E. , Davidson Gabrielle L. , Johnson Crystal N. , Reichert Michael S. , Crane Jodie M. S. , Paul Ross R. , Stanton Catherine , Quinn John L.
Published: September 2022

The gut microbiome has important consequences for fitness, yet the complex, interactive nature of ecological factors that influence the gut microbiome has scarcely been investigated in natural populations. We sampled the gut microbiota of wild great tits (Parus major) at different life stages and across multiple conifer and mixed woodland fragments, allowing us to evaluate multiple factors that relate to within-individual gut microbiota acquisition, including habitat type, nest position and life history traits. The gut microbiota varied with both environment and life-history in ways that were largely dependent on age. Notably, it was the nestling, as opposed to the adult gut microbiota that was most sensitive to ecological variation, pointing to a high degree of developmental plasticity. Individual nestling differences in gut microbiota were consistently different (repeatable) from one to two weeks of life, driven entirely by the effect of sharing the same nest. Our findings point to important early developmental windows in which the gut microbiota are most sensitive to environmental variation and suggest reproductive timing, and hence parental quality or food availability, interact with the microbiome.
Identification of Biomarker Genes Based on Multi-Omics Analysis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Xia Ji , He Hai-bin , Liu Ying , Wang Yi , Shu Kun-Xian , Ma Ming-Yue
Published: September 2022

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a complex disease with a high mortality rate and a poor prognosis, but its molecular mechanisms and effective biomarkers are still unclear. Comprehensive analysis of multiple histological data can effectively exclude random events and is helpful in improving the reliability of the findings. In this study, we used three types of omics data, RNA-seq, microRNA-seq, and DNA methylation data, from public databases to explore the potential biomarker genes of two major subtypes of NSCLC.

Results

Through the combined differential analysis of multi-omics, we found 873 and 1378 potential high-risk genes in LUAD and LUSC, respectively. Then, we used WGCNA and PPI analyses to identify hub-genes and LASSO regression to construct prognostic models, and we obtained 15 prognostic genes. We also used survival analysis, univariate COX analysis, and GEO datasets to validate prognostic genes. Finally, we found ten genes associated with NSCLC, and eight of them have been reported in previous research.

Conclusions

In this study, two novel biomarker genes were identified: NES and ESAM. The two genes were both gene expression down-regulation and DNA methylation up-regulation, and regulated by miR-122 and miR-154. Moreover, the NES gene can contribute to the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of NSCLC.
Scream’s roughness confers a privileged access to the brain during sleep
Authors: Legendre G , Moyne M , Dominguez-Borras J , Kumar S , Sterpenich V , Schwartz S , Arnal LH
Published: September 2022

During sleep, recognizing threatening signals is crucial to know when to wake up and when to continue vital sleep functions. Screaming is perhaps the most salient and efficient signal for communicating danger at a distance or in conditions of limited visibility. Beyond the intensity or the pitch of the sound, rapid modulations of sound pressure in the so-called roughness range (i.e. 30-150 Hz) are particularly powerful in capturing attention and accelerating reactions. Roughness is an acoustic feature that characterizes alarm signals such as screams. However, whether rough sounds are also processed in a privileged manner during sleep is unknown.

We tested this hypothesis by stimulating sleeping human participants with low-intensity screams and neutral calls. We found that screams trigger more reliable and better time-locked responses in wakefulness and NREM sleep. In addition, screams boosted sleep spindles, suggesting elevated stimulus salience. The increase in sleep spindle power was linearly proportional to the roughness of vocalizations, but not to their pitch.

These findings demonstrate that, even at low sound intensity, scream’s roughness conveys stimulus relevance and enhances processing in both the waking and sleeping states. Preserved differential neural responses based on stimulus salience may ensure adaptive reactions –and ultimately survival– in a state where the brain is mostly disconnected from external inputs.
NUDT6, the Antisense Protein of FGF2 Gene, Plays a Depressogenic Role by Promoting Inflammation and Suppressing Neurogenesis without Altering FGF2 Signaling
Authors: Uzay Burak , Hökelekli Fatma Özlem , Yılmaz Murat , Esen Emre Cem , Başar Koray , Bahadır-Varol Aslıhan , Ayhan Yavuz , Dalkara Turgay , Eren-Koçak Emine
Published: September 2022

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) is involved in the regulation of affective behavior and shows antidepressant effects through Akt and ERK1/2 pathways. NUDT6 is a protein encoded from FGF2 gene’s antisense strand and its role in the regulation of affective behavior is unclear. Here, we show that increasing NUDT6 expression in the hippocampus results in depression-like behavior in rats without changing FGF2 levels or activating its downstream effectors, Akt and ERK1/2. Instead, NUDT6 acts by inducing inflammatory signaling, specifically by increasing S100A9 levels, activating NF-κB and rising microglia number along with a reduction in neurogenesis. Conversely, inhibition of hippocampal NUDT6 expression by shRNA results in antidepressant effects and increases neurogenesis without altering FGF2 levels. Together these findings suggest that NUDT6 may play a role in major depression by inducing a proinflammatory state and serve as a novel therapeutic target for antidepressant development. This is the first report of an antisense protein acting through a different mechanism of action than regulation of its sense protein. The opposite effects of NUDT6 and FGF2 on depression-like behavior may serve as a mechanism to fine-tune affective behavior. Our findings open up new venues for studying the differential regulation and functional interactions of sense and antisense proteins in neural function and behavior as well as in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Estrogen signaling in the dorsal raphe regulates binge-like drinking in mice
Authors: Torres Irizarry Valeria C. , Feng Bing , Yang Xiaohua , Nirali Patel , Schaul Sarah , Ibrahimi Lucas , Ye Hui , Luo Pei , Carrillo-Sáenz Leslie , Lai Penghua , Kota Maya , Dixit Devin , Wang Chunmei , Lasek Amy W. , He Yanlin , Xu Pingwen
Published: September 2022

The ovarian hormone estrogens promote binge alcohol drinking and contribute to sex differences in alcohol use disorder. However, the mechanisms for estrogen-induced binge drinking are largely unknown. This study aims to test if estrogens act on 5-hydroxytryptamine neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (5-HTDRN) to promote binge drinking. We used the drinking in the dark (DID) behavioral test in mice to mimic binge drinking in humans. We found that female mice drank more alcohol than male mice in chronic DID tests. This sex difference was associated with distinct alterations in mRNA expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and 5-HT-related genes in the DRN, suggesting a potential role of estrogen/ERs/5-HT signaling in binge alcohol drinking. In supporting this view, 5-HTDRN neurons from naïve male mice had lower baseline neuronal firing activity but higher sensitivity to alcohol-induced excitation compared to 5-HTDRN neurons from naïve female mice. Notably, this higher sensitivity was blunted by 17β-estradiol treatment in males, indicating an estrogen-dependent mechanism. We further showed that both ERα and ERβ are expressed in 5-HTDRN neurons, whereas ERα agonist propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) depolarizes 5-HTDRN neurons and ERβ agonist diarylpropionitrile (DPN) hyperpolarizes 5-HTDRN neurons. Notably, both PPT and DPN treatments blocked the stimulatory effects of alcohol on 5-HTDRN neurons in males, despite the fact that they have antagonistic effects on the activity dynamics of 5-HTDRN neurons. These results suggest that ERs’ inhibitory effects on ethanol-induced burst firing of 5-HTDRN neurons may contribute to higher levels of binge drinking in females. Consistently, chemogenetic activation of ERα- or ERβ-expressing neurons in the DRN reduced binge alcohol drinking. These results support a model in which estrogens act on ERα/β to prevent alcohol-induced activation of 5-HTDRN neurons, which in return leads to higher binge alcohol drinking.
Preliminary prospective study on the predictive significance of plasma miR-30b-5p through the study of echocardiographic modifications in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels affected by different stages of myxomatous mitral valve disease: the PRIME study
Authors: Ghilardi Sara , Lecchi Cristina , Bagardi Mara , Romito Giovanni , Colombo Fabio M. , Polli Michele , Franco Celeste , Brambilla Paola G.
Published: September 2022

Specific microRNAs expressions may accurately characterize different stages of canine myxomatous mitral valve disease. This preliminary study aimed to (1) describe the clinical and echocardiographic parameters of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels affected by myxomatous mitral valve disease at different American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) stages (B1, B2 and C) and healthy control group (ACVIM A), comparing the parameters collected during the first examination (T0) and the end of the follow-up (T1); (2) assess the association between the values of echocardiographic parameters at T1 and the expression profile of miR-30b-5p at T0. Thirty-five Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (median age 4.29 years and median weight 9 Kg) in different ACVIM stages were included (7 A, 19 B1, 6 B2 and 3 C). Inverse probability weighting analysis was performed to estimate the association of the exposure variable (miR-30b-5p) with the outcome variables (clinical and echocardiographic variables). Time was included as variable.

The results pointed out that high levels of plasma miR-30b-5p corresponded to lower values of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter normalized for body weight, end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes indexed for body weight, and left atrium-to aortic root ratio. Hence, higher miR-30b-5p expressions were associated with milder forms of mitral valve disease in our study population. In contrast, the results obtained for the intensity of heart murmur, the mitral regurgitation severity, and the Mitral INsufficiency Echocardiographic score) were not statistically significant. A relationship between high abundance of miR-30b-5p and myxomatous mitral valve disease that appear echocardiographically more stable over time has been demonstrated. In conclusion, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels affected by myxomatous mitral valve disease that at the first cardiologic evaluation showed an upregulation of miR-30b-5p are expected to experience lesser variations on their echocardiographic examination between T0 and T1.
The PROSCOOP10 gene encodes two extracellular hydroxylated peptides and impacts flowering time in Arabidopsis
Authors: Guillou Marie-Charlotte , Balliau Thierry , Vergne Emilie , Canut Hervé , Chourré Josiane , Herrera-León Claudia , Ramos-Martín Francisco , Ahmadi-Afzadi Masoud , D’Amelio Nicola , Ruelland Eric , Zivy Michel , Renou Jean-Pierre , Jamet Elisabeth , Aubourg Sébastien
Published: September 2022

Abstract

The Arabidopsis PROSCOOP genes belong to a family predicted to encode secreted propeptides which undergo maturation steps to produce peptides named SCOOP. Some of them are involved in defence signalling through their perception by a receptor complex including MIK2, BAK1 and BKK1. Here, we focused on the PROSCOOP10 gene which is highly and constitutively expressed in the aerial organs. The MS/MS analyses of leaf apoplastic fluids allowed the identification of two distinct peptides, named SCOOP10#1 and SCOOP10#2, covering two different regions of PROSCOOP10. They both possess the canonical S-X-S family motif and have hydroxylated prolines. This identification in apoplastic fluids confirms for the first time the biological reality of SCOOP peptides. NMR and molecular dynamics studies showed that the SCOOP10 peptides, although largely unstructured in solution, tend to assume a hairpin-like fold exposing the two serine residues previously identified as essential for the peptide activity. Furthermore, PROSCOOP10 mutations led to an early flowering phenotype and an increased expression of the floral integrators SOC1 and LEAFY, consistent with the transcription of PROSCOOP10 in several mutants displaying an early or late flowering phenotype. These results suggest a role of PROSCOOP10 in flowering time, illustrating the functional complexity of the PROSCOOP family.

Highlight

The PROSCOOP10 gene encodes two post-translationally modified extracellular SCOOP10 peptides and acts upstream of SOC1 and LFY to delay flowering.
Attenuation hotspots in neurotropic human astroviruses
Authors: Ali Hashim , Lulla Aleksei , Nicholson Alex S. , Wignall-Fleming Elizabeth B. , O’Connor Rhian L. , Vu Diem-Lan , Graham Stephen C. , Deane Janet E. , Guix Susana , Lulla Valeria
Published: September 2022

During the last decade, the detection of neurotropic astroviruses has increased dramatically. The MLB genogroup of astroviruses represents a genetically distinct group of zoonotic astroviruses associated with gastroenteritis and severe neurological complications in young children, the immunocompromised and the elderly. Using different virus evolution approaches, we identified dispensable regions in the 3′ end of the capsid-coding region responsible for attenuation of MLB astroviruses in susceptible cell lines. To create recombinant viruses with identified deletions, MLB reverse genetics and replicon systems were developed. Recombinant truncated MLB viruses had wild type-like or enhanced growth and replication properties in permissive cells but were strongly attenuated in iPSC-derived neuronal cultures confirming the location of neurotropism determinants. This approach can be used for the development of vaccine candidates using attenuated astroviruses that infect humans, livestock animals and poultry.
Site dependence of the magnetocaloric effect in Mn5−x
Fe
x
Si3
Authors: Ait Haddouch Mohammed , Abboushi Nour , Sharma Neetika , Eich Andreas , Grzechnik Andrzej , Li Cheng , Tolkiehn Martin , Alsamamra Husain , Voigt Jörg , Friese Karen
Published: September 2022

The nuclear and magnetic structures of Mn3Fe2Si3 are investigated in the temperature range from 20 to 300 K. The magnetic properties of Mn3Fe2Si3 were measured on a single crystal. The compound undergoes a paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition at T
N2 ≃ 120 K and an antiferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition at T
N1 ≃ 69 K. A similar sequence of magnetic phase transitions is found for the parent compound Mn5Si3 upon temperature variation, but the field-driven transition observed in Mn5Si3 is not found in Mn3Fe2Si3, resulting in a strongly reduced magnetocaloric effect. Structurally, the hexagonal symmetry found for both compounds under ambient conditions is preserved in Mn3Fe2Si3 through both magnetic transitions, indicating that the crystal structure is only weakly affected by the magnetic phase transition, in contrast to Mn5Si3 where both transitions distort the nuclear structure. Both compounds feature a collinear high-temperature magnetic phase AF2 and transfer into a non-collinear phase AF1 at low temperature. While one of the distinct crystallographic sites remains disordered in the AF2 phase in the parent compound, the magnetic structure in the AF2 phase involves all magnetic atoms in Mn3Fe2Si3. These observations imply that the distinct sites occupied by the magnetic atoms play an important role in the magnetocaloric behaviour of the family.
Recent trends in agile new product development: a systematic review and agenda for future research
Authors: Palsodkar Manoj , Yadav Gunjan , Nagare Madhukar R.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The market's intense competition, the unpredictability of customer demands and technological advancements are compelling organizations to adopt new approaches, such as agile new product development (ANPD), which enables the introduction of new products to the market in a short span. The existing ANPD literature review articles are lacking in portraying recent developments, potential fields of adoption and the significance of ANPD in organizational development. The primary goal of this article is to investigate emerging aspects, current trends and conduct a meta-analysis using a systematic review of 177 ANPD articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 1998 and 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

The articles were categorized based on their year of publication, publishers, journals, authors, countries, universities, most cited articles, etc. The authors attempted to identify top journals, authors, most cited articles, enablers, barriers, performance metrics, etc. in the ANPD domain through the presented study.

Findings

The major themes of research articles, gaps and future trends are identified to assist academicians and ANPD practitioners. This study will benefit ANPD professionals by providing them with information on available literature and current ANPD trends.

Originality/value

Through meta-analysis, this study is one of the unique attempt to categorize ANPD articles to identify research gaps and highlight future research trends. A distinguishing feature of the presented study is the identification of active journals, publishers and authors, as well as enablers, barriers and performance metrics.
Services personalization in digital academic libraries: a Delphi study
Authors: Khavidaki Samaneh , Rezaei Sharifabadi Saeed , Ghaebi Amir
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the realm of literature about personalization of digital library services. This paper focuses on users’ unique needs and will identify different types of personalized services. Therefore, this study has identified different types of services personalization in the context of digital academic libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, the systematic review method has been used to obtain the relevant indicators of different types of personalization in the context of libraries. To explain basic indicators, a Delphi method has been used. The Delphi panel’s members consisted of 15 experts (faculty members, researchers, professional users and software designers). A purposeful sampling and the Delphi fulfillment process were performed in three rounds. After collecting data, descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation), inferential statistics (binomial distribution test) and the Kendall coordination coefficient were used to determine the consensus rate among experts.

Findings

A total of 103 indicators were extracted for different types of personalization through a systematic literature review. Of these, 90 indicators were considered significant in the experts’ view. Generally, content personalization, interactive personalization, collaborative personalization and information retrieval personalization are the main components of personalization types, each of which has its own indicators.

Originality/value

This study has dealt with the issue of what is personalized in the context of digital academic library. The findings should be helpful and effective in the development of a holistic view on personalization of services in digital libraries.
Measuring the social sustainability of hotels: a case study from the Canary Islands
Authors: Guzmán-Pérez Beatriz , Mendoza-Jiménez Javier , Pérez-Monteverde María Victoria
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to demonstrate the derivation of social sustainability metrics that guide the decision-making of hotel managers regarding sustainability strategies based on the case study of Hotel Tigaiga in the Canary Islands, using a noninstrumental approach of the stakeholder theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The analytic–synthetic method of integrated social value (ISV) was used. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the stakeholders’ representatives, direct observations and relevant documents.

Findings

Metrics referring to hotel outputs valued by stakeholders and expressed in monetary terms were obtained.

Research limitations/implications

The findings cannot be directly applied to a similar hotel. Applying the ISV model to a set of similar hotels to standardize outputs and proxies is necessary.

Practical implications

The results can guide efforts to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of Hotel Tigaiga’s social sustainability strategies.

Originality/value

Research on measuring the sustainability of hotels in terms of generating maximum value for society is limited. This study is unique because it demonstrates the process of deriving comprehensible indicators to guide hotel managers toward social sustainability.
Changes in qualities and abilities of Japanese teachers through participation in Global Lesson Study on mathematics
Authors: Sakai Takeshi , Akai Hideyuki , Ishizaka Hiroki , Tamura Kazuyuki , Lee Yew-Jin , Choy Ban Heng , Ozawa Hiroaki
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The authors aim to determine the effects of Global Lesson Study (GLS) – a two-year, one-cycle program defined as “international cooperative lesson study through international exchange among teachers using ICT” – on intercultural competence for lesson study based on pre- and post-survey conducted for Japanese teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

In accordance with the GLS program, mathematics lesson studies on mathematics between Japanese and Singaporean elementary school teachers were conducted over a two-year period. Questionnaire surveys on intercultural competence for lesson study was conducted using 7-point Likert scale and descriptive questions with Japanese teachers (N = 5). Analysis of Wilcoxon's signed rank test and correlation analysis were conducted.

Findings

Followings are identified as the effects of GLS for Japanese teachers: (1) Japanese participants felt improvement of their competence in areas of attitude, internal outcomes and outward impact. (2) Participating in a GLS led to the improvement of Japanese teachers' qualities and abilities for subject teaching related to mathematics education. (3) Improvement of intercultural competence for lesson study was related to each other, and GLS led to improvement of these competences. (4) It was meaningful to have a two-year period to assimilate and adjust to independent experience of the host and guest.

Originality/value

The GLS led to teacher empowerment among this sample, not only as cooperative research, but also at the individual level of teachers where participants continued to develop lessons based on the GLS learning after study completion. This has important implications for the implementation and dissemination of the GLS.
Circular economy performance measurements and blockchain technology: an examination of relationships
Authors: Kouhizadeh Mahtab , Zhu Qingyun , Sarkis Joseph
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study proposes a systematic and comprehensive circular economy (CE) performance measure as an instrument to operationalize and quantify circularity. It seeks to evaluate the relative contribution of blockchain technology to evaluate various measures in this study. A general research agenda for investigating blockchain capabilities to performance assessment in CE is presented.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical survey data from 32 CE and blockchain experts are collected to inform this study. Inductive reasoning, heatmaps, and a middle-range theory building approach are utilized to generalize theoretical patterns for blockchain support of CE performance assessment and measurement. A series of propositions are then developed as a middle-range theory for the true, false, perceptible, and hidden affordances of blockchain technology capabilities for CE performance measurement.

Findings

Overall, sixteen performance measures and metrics are identified and examined. The authors find most of these measures and metrics – based on literature and expert opinion – can be supported using blockchain technology capabilities. Four major blockchain capabilities, transparency and traceability, reliability and security, smart contracts, and incentivization and tokenization are shown to have varying potential support for CE performance assessment. There needs to be an evaluation of true, false, perceptible, and hidden affordances of blockchain technology capabilities for CE performance measurement in future studies.

Originality/value

Blockchain application for CE, and specifically performance measurements, is a new area. Research and practice evaluation on this issue is important but needs substantially additional investigation to help CE progress. This study provides a framework for evaluation and a foundation for future research at the nexus of CE, blockchain technology, and performance measurement.
Analysis of damage evolution and causative factors of outer raceway micromorphology of small needle roller bearings under impact load
Authors: Liu Baoxuan , Feng Yu , Wu Shaolei , Wei Chunjie , Wang Wei
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the damage evolution of bearing raceways under impact conditions from the perspective of three-dimensional (3D) surface morphology changes and to analyze the causal factors with the aid of simulation.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental device containing an impact generating mechanism, a transmission mechanism and a torque load is designed for the experiments of impact damage to the outer raceway of a small needle roller bearing HK1208 without an inner ring. Microscopic images and height color maps of each experimental stage were obtained using a 3D laser measurement microscope. The characterization parameters of the surface 3D morphology were extracted and analyzed. Dynamics simulations of the impact condition were performed using the finite element method to investigate the variations and distribution characteristics of the roller forces on the raceway.

Findings

The changes in roughness and 3D micromorphology show that the surface flattening phenomenon caused by the flattening effect occurs before the surface of the bearing raceway is damaged. The result of dynamic simulations shows that the maximum load of the bearing under the impact state is obviously greater than that under a steady state, and the load distribution under the two conditions is significantly different.

Originality/value

This paper provides new ideas for analyzing the damage of bearings under impact conditions by analyzing the real 3D morphology of bearing raceways in combination with the finite element method.
Designing augmented reality services for enhanced customer experiences in retail
Authors: Vaidyanathan Nageswaran , Henningsson Stefan
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To deliver superior customer experiences, retailers are increasingly turning to augmented reality (AR) technologies for new digital services that can enhance their customer interactions. The potential of AR has been validated in lab experiments, but when implemented in real-world contexts, its commercial impact has been limited. Therefore, this paper investigates how to design AR-based services (AR services) that enhance customer experiences in retail.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a conceptual research approach to integrate research on AR in the context of retail, combining customer, retailer, and technical perspectives with the design thinking method to demonstrate how the challenge of AR service design can be addressed through design thinking.

Findings

The paper develops propositions that explain how a design thinking method is useful in the design of effective AR services. The paper also articulates principles for how to implement the design thinking method in the specific context of AR for enhanced customer experiences.

Practical implications

The study documents critical practices for retailers seeking to be competitive with superior customer experiences under the increasing digitalization of retailer-customer interactions.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the service design literature by answering the call to develop moderately abstracted explanations of how different digital technologies can be used to provision new services in different application domains, with the focus here being the design of AR services in the context of retail.
Enzymatic hydrolysis of milk protein by complex enzyme mixture of alcalase and neutrase: Kinetic model and hydrolysis control
Authors: Li Hongbo , Zhang Shuhua , Xu Siyuan , Yang Jingjing , Yuan Yujing , Gao Xianjun , Li Hongjuan , Yu Jinghua
Published: September 2022

In order to achieve accurate control of the hydrolysis of cow milk protein, a kinetic model for the hydrolysis of milk protein by a complex enzyme composed of alcalase and neutrase was established. The kinetic model was degree of hydrolysis and the kinetic constants of k2, kd and c0 were 23.752 min−1, 3.545 min−1 and 1.495 × 10−3 g/L, respectively. The relationship between hydrolysis conditions, DH and molecular weight was further investigated and quantified, which contributes to the quality control of protein hydrolysates and also provides a theoretical basis for the control of milk protein hydrolysis by complex enzyme.
Real‐world effectiveness of mood stabilizer use in schizophrenia
Authors: Puranen Arto , Koponen Marjaana , Lähteenvuo Markku , Tanskanen Antti , Tiihonen Jari , Taipale Heidi
Published: September 2022

Objective

Mood stabilizers (MS) are often used as adjunctive medication in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the real‐world effectiveness of MS use in persons with schizophrenia.

Methods

The study cohort included all persons treated in inpatient care due to schizophrenia during 1972–2014 in Finland (N = 61,889). Drug purchase data were obtained from the national Prescription register and modeled with the PRE2DUP method. The follow‐up period covered the years 1996–2017. Mood stabilizers included carbamazepine, valproic acid, lamotrigine, and lithium. The main outcome was psychosis hospitalization. We utilized within‐individual design to compare the risk of outcome between time‐periods of MS use and non‐use within the same person. Stratified Cox regression analyses were conducted with adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Mean age at cohort entry was 46.2 years (SD 16.0) and 50.3% were male. During the follow‐up (maximum of 22 years, median 14.8 years, interquartile range 7.5–22.0), 28.1% (N = 17,370) of the study cohort used MS, valproic acid being the most often used one (60.4%, N = 10,483). Risk of psychosis hospitalization was lower during MS use than non‐use (aHR 0.88, 95% CI 0.86–0.90). Use of lithium (0.84, 0.81–0.87), valproic acid (0.87, 0.85–0.90), and lamotrigine (0.90, 0.85–0.95) were associated with lower risk of psychosis hospitalization compared with their non‐use, whereas carbamazepine use was not.

Conclusions

Mood stabilizers were relatively often used as adjunctive treatments in schizophrenia and their use was associated with a 12% decreased risk of psychosis rehospitalization, a marker of relapse in schizophrenia.
Effect of ventilation mode on postoperative pulmonary complications following lung resection surgery: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Li X.‐F. , Jin L. , Yang J.‐M. , Luo Q.‐S. , Liu H.‐M. , Yu H.
Published: September 2022

The effect of intra‐operative mechanical ventilation modes on pulmonary outcomes after thoracic surgery with one‐lung ventilation has not been well established. We evaluated the impact of three common ventilation modes on postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing lung resection surgery. In this two‐centre randomised controlled trial, 1224 adults scheduled for lung resection surgery with one‐lung ventilation were randomised to one of three groups: volume‐controlled ventilation; pressure‐controlled ventilation; and pressure‐control with volume guaranteed ventilation. Enhanced recovery after surgery pathways and lung‐protective ventilation protocols were implemented in all groups. The primary outcome was a composite of postoperative pulmonary complications within the first seven postoperative days. The outcome occurred in 270 (22%), with 87 (21%) in the volume control group, 89 (22%) in the pressure control group and 94 (23%) in the pressure‐control with volume guaranteed group (p = 0.831). The secondary outcomes also did not differ across study groups. In patients undergoing lung resection surgery with one‐lung ventilation, the choice of ventilation mode did not influence the risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications. This is the first randomised controlled trial examining the effect of three ventilation modes on pulmonary outcomes in patients undergoing lung resection surgery.
How Sweden approached the COVID‐19 pandemic: Summary and commentary on the National Commission Inquiry
Authors: Ludvigsson Jonas F.
Published: September 2022

Aim

Sweden initially chose a different disease prevention and control path during the pandemic than many other European countries. In June 2020, the Swedish Government established a National Commission to examine the management of COVID‐19 in Sweden. This paper summarises, and discusses, its findings.

Methods

Three reports published by the Commission were analysed. The first focused on the care of older people during the pandemic. The second examined disease and infection transmission and control and health care and public health. The third updated the first two reports and also covered economic aspects, crisis management and public communication.

Results

By 25 February 2022, when the final report was published, 15 800 individuals, 1.5 per 1000 Swedish inhabitants, had died after COVID‐19. The death rates were high in spring 2020, but overall excess mortality in 2020–2021 was +0.79%, which was lower than in many other European countries. The Commission suggested that the voluntary measures that were adopted were appropriate and maintained Swedes' personal freedom during the pandemic. However, more extensive and earlier measures should have been taken, especially during the first wave.

Conclusion

The Swedish COVID‐19 Commission felt that earlier and more extensive pandemic action should have been taken, particularly during the first wave.
Electroconvulsive therapy following incident bipolar disorder: When, how, and for whom?
Authors: Salagre Estela , Rohde Christopher , Vieta Eduard , Østergaard Søren D.
Published: September 2022

Objective

The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) remains poorly described. Based on data from Danish registries with complete nationwide coverage, this study of patients with incident BD aimed to describe when, how, and for whom ECT is used in the context of BD.

Methods

We identified patients receiving their first diagnosis of BD in the period from 2008 to 2018, who subsequently received ECT. Descriptive statistics were used to clarify when, how, and for whom ECT is used.

Results

We identified 1338 patients with incident BD who subsequently received ECT. The median age at the first ECT session was 50.6 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 26.4), and 62% of those treated with ECT were female. The median time from the diagnosis of BD to the first ECT treatment was 0.6 years (IQR: 2.6), and 58% of the patients receiving ECT had the first treatment within the first year after being diagnosed with BD. The most common indication for the first ECT treatment was depression (mainly non‐psychotic depression), followed by mania (mainly psychotic mania). The first ECT session was typically provided to inpatients (97%), upon patient consent (98%) and with bilateral electrode placement (60%).

Conclusions

A substantial proportion of the patients with incident BD who receive ECT require this treatment within the first year after the diagnosis. The most common indication for ECT is depression followed by (psychotic) mania. Inpatient voluntary ECT using bilateral electrode placement is the most common form of administration.
How does social trust affect corporate financial performance? The mediating role of corporate social responsibility
Authors: Jung Jae C. , Im Junyon
Published: September 2022

Prior studies assert that social trust may positively influence the economic performance of countries and firms (within those countries). This paper proposes a more nuanced mechanism whereby corporate social responsibility (CSR) mediates the relationship between country‐level social trust and firm‐level financial performance. Anchored in neo‐institutional theory, we theorize that social trust instills norms of trustworthiness and willingness to trust others guiding individual and corporate behaviors. In order to comply with such norms and gain legitimacy, firms in high‐trust society are more likely to commit to CSR activities that serve the interests of stakeholders. CSR activities, in turn, can positively influence financial performance by enabling firms to access stakeholders' resources and capabilities and to decrease transactions costs in the stakeholder relationships. We tested our theory by analyzing 9818 firm‐year observations across 34 countries, during the 2006 to 2015 period. Our analysis shows the expected CSR mediation in the relationship between social trust and firm‐level financial performance. Our findings are robust across different models addressing the concerns of endogeneity, alternative measures, and potential moderators.
Functional Data Analysis with Covariate-Dependent Mean and Covariance Structures
Authors: Zhang Chenlin , Lin Huazhen , Liu Li , Liu Jin , Li Yi
Published: September 2022

Functional data analysis has emerged as a powerful tool in response to the ever-increasing resources and efforts devoted to collecting information about response curves or anything that varies over a continuum. However, limited progress has been made with regard to linking the covariance structures of response curves to external covariates, as most functional models assume a common covariance structure. We propose a new functional regression model with covariate-dependent mean and covariance structures. Particularly, by allowing variances of random scores to be covariate-dependent, we identify eigenfunctions for each individual from the set of eigenfunctions that govern the variation patterns across all individuals, resulting in high interpretability and prediction power. We further propose a new penalized quasi-likelihood procedure that combines regularization and B-spline smoothing for model selection and estimation and establish the convergence rate and asymptotic normality of the proposed estimators. The utility of the developed method is demonstrated via simulations, as well as an analysis of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children concerning parental effects on the growth curves of their offspring, which yields biologically interesting results.
Aβ plaques do not protect against HSV‐1 infection in a mouse model of familial Alzheimer's disease, and HSV‐1 does not induce Aβ pathology in a model of late onset Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Bocharova Olga V. , Fisher Aidan , Pandit Narayan P. , Molesworth Kara , Mychko Olga , Scott Alison J. , Makarava Natallia , Ritzel Rodney , Baskakov Ilia V.
Published: September 2022

The possibility that the etiology of late onset Alzheimer's disease is linked to viral infections of the CNS has been actively debated in recent years. According to the antiviral protection hypothesis, viral pathogens trigger aggregation of Aβ peptides that are produced as a defense mechanism in response to infection to entrap and neutralize pathogens. To test the causative relationship between viral infection and Aβ aggregation, the current study examined whether Aβ plaques protect the mouse brain against Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV‐1) infection introduced via a physiological route and whether HSV‐1 infection triggers formation of Aβ plaques in a mouse model of late‐onset AD that does not develop Aβ pathology spontaneously. In aged 5XFAD mice infected via eye scarification, high density of Aβ aggregates did not improve survival time or rate when compared with wild type controls. In 5XFADs, viral replication sites were found in brain areas with a high density of extracellular Aβ deposits, however, no association between HSV‐1 and Aβ aggregates could be found. To test whether HSV‐1 triggers Aβ aggregation in a mouse model that lacks spontaneous Aβ pathology, 13‐month‐old hAβ/APOE4/Trem2*R47H mice were infected with HSV‐1 via eye scarification with the McKrae HSV‐1 strain, intracranial inoculation with McKrae, intracranial inoculation after priming with LPS for 6 weeks, or intracranial inoculation with high doses of McKrae or 17syn + strains that represent different degrees of neurovirulence. No signs of Aβ aggregation were found in any of the experimental groups. Instead, extensive infiltration of peripheral leukocytes was observed during the acute stage of HSV‐1 infection, and phagocytic activity of myeloid cells was identified as the primary defense mechanism against HSV‐1. The current results argue against a direct causative relationship between HSV‐1 infection and Aβ pathology.
The bee fauna associated with Pacific Northwest (USA) native plants for gardens
Authors: Anderson Aaron G. , Costner Lucas , Best Lincoln , Langellotto Gail A.
Published: September 2022

Growing public awareness of pollinator declines has led to an increase in gardening for pollinators, particularly bees. In most regions of the United States a better understanding of the plants that support abundant and species rich bee communities will help urban pollinator conservation programs. To address this, we compared the relative attractiveness of 23 native Pacific Northwest plant species to bees. We performed timed bee counts and vacuum‐sampled bee communities, weekly, when plots were in peak bloom. Across three field seasons, we found that Douglas' aster (Symphyotrichum subspicatum), California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), varileaf phacelia (Phacelia heterophylla), Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), farewell‐to‐spring (Clarkia amoena), globe gilia (Gilia capitata), and Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum) consistently harbored high bee abundance and species richness, and show great potential for garden pollinator plantings. These findings can be applied to residential and community gardens, municipal parks and other plantings, as well as by restoration professionals and policy makers interested in creating and supporting pollinator habitat.
Postoperative statin therapy is not associated with reduced incidence of venous thromboembolic events following kidney transplantation
Authors: Frasco Peter E. , Rosenfeld David M , Jadlowiec Caroline C , Zhang Nan , Heilman Raymond L. , Bauer Isabel L. , Alvord Jeremy , Poterack Karl A.
Published: September 2022

Background

The pleiotropic effects of statin therapy on inflammation and coagulation may reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism. This study evaluated whether statin therapy is associated with decreased venous thromboembolic (VTE) events following kidney transplantation.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of all primary kidney transplants performed between January 2014 and December 2019 at Mayo Clinic Arizona. Patients were divided into two groups depending on sustained statin therapy during the first year following transplantation. Recipient and donor clinical and demographic data were collected. The primary outcome was admission for symptomatic VTE events (deep vein thrombosis [DVT] or pulmonary embolism [PE]).

Results

Sustained statin therapy in the first year following transplant was observed in 16.1% (n = 223) of 1384 kidney transplants. The overall incidence of VTE events in the year following kidney transplant was 3.8%. VTE occurred in 4.1% of recipients treated with statins and 3.8% of the controls – (hazard ratio [HR] .92, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] .39, 2.21, p = .86). However, there were significant differences between the groups in terms of age, sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, indication for transplant, diagnosis of diabetes and discharge antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy. Following sensitivity analysis in which cohort matching was performed to account for these differences, there was no difference in VTE event‐free survival (HR .89, 95% CI .41, 1.96, p = .78) or overall survival (HR .54, 95% CI .15, 1.94, p = .35) between patients treated with statins compared to controls.

Conclusion

Statin therapy in the year following successful kidney transplant was not associated with a reduction in risk of VTE.
The need for integrated clinical and administrative data models for risk adjustment in assessment of the cost transplant care
Authors: Axelrod David A. , Schwantes Issac R. , Harris Alyssa H. , Hohmann Samuel F. , Snyder Jon J. , Balakrishnan Ramji , Lentine Krista L. , Kasiske Bertram L. , Schnitzler Mark A.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Value‐based purchasing requires accurate techniques to appropriately measure both outcomes and cost with robust adjustment for differences in severity of illness. Traditional methods to adjust cost estimates have exclusively used administrative data derived from billing claims to identify comorbidity and complications. Transplantation uniquely has accurate national clinical registry data that can be used to supplement administrative data.

Methods

Administrative claims from the Vizient, Inc, Clinical Data Base (CDB) were linked with clinical records from the Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients for 76 liver and 109 kidney transplant programs. Using either or both datasets, we fitted a regression model to the total direct cost of care for 16,649 kidney and 6058 liver transplants.

Results

The proportion of variation explained by these risk‐adjustment models increased significantly when combined administrative and clinical data were used for kidney (administrative only R2= .069, clinical only R2= .047, combined R2= .14, p < .0001) and liver (administrative only R2= .28, clinical only R2= .25, combined R2= .33, p < .0001).

Conclusion

Incorporating accurate clinical data into risk‐adjustment methodologies can improve risk adjustment methodologies; however, as majority of variation in cost remains unexplained by these risk‐adjustment models further work is needed to accuracy assess transplant value.