bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postdischarge functional outcomes in older patients with acute heart failure in Japan: the Longevity Improvement & Fair Evidence study
Authors: Narii Nobuhiro , Kitamura Tetsuhisa , Hirayama Atsushi , Shimomura Yoshimitsu , Zha Ling , Komatsu Masayo , Komukai Sho , Sotomi Yohei , Okada Katsuki , Sakata Yasushi , Murata Fumiko , Maeda Megumi , Kiyohara Kosuke , Sobue Tomotaka , Fukuda Haruhisa
Published: July 2024

Background

The association between care needs level (CNL) at hospitalisation and postdischarge outcomes in older patients with acute heart failure (aHF) has been insufficiently investigated.

Methods

This population-based cohort study was conducted using health insurance claims and CNL data of the Longevity Improvement & Fair Evidence study. Patients aged ≥65 years, discharged after hospitalisation for aHF between April 2014 and March 2022, were identified. CNLs at hospitalisation were classified as no care needs (NCN), support level (SL) and CNL1, CNL2–3 and CNL4–5 based on total estimated daily care time as defined by national standard criteria, and varied on an ordinal scale between SL&CNL1 (low level) to CNL4–5 (fully dependent). The primary outcomes were changes in CNL and death 1 year after discharge, assessed by CNL at hospitalisation using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

Of the 17 724 patients included, 7540 (42.5%), 4818 (27.2%), 3267 (18.4%) and 2099 (11.8%) had NCN, SL&CNL1, CNL2–3 and CNL4–5, respectively, at hospitalisation. One year after discharge, 4808 (27.1%), 3243 (18.3%), 2968 (16.7%), 2505 (14.1%) and 4200 (23.7%) patients had NCN, SL&CNL1, CNL2–3, CNL4–5 and death, respectively. Almost all patients’ CNLs worsened after discharge. Compared to patients with NCN at hospitalisation, patients with SL&CNL1, CNL2–3 and CNL4–5 had an increased risk of all-cause death 1 year after discharge (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.19 [1.09–1.31], 1.88 [1.71–2.06] and 2.56 [2.31–2.84], respectively).

Conclusions

Older patients with aHF and high CNL at hospitalisation had a high risk of all-cause mortality in the year following discharge.
The Discourse of Digital Activism: A Linguistic Analysis of Calls for Action Concerning the Fashion Revolution
Authors: De Cock Barbara , Aulit Laetitia , Cigada Sara , Greco Sara , Modrzejewska Ewa , Palmieri Rudi
Published: July 2024

In this study, we analyze the calls for action in a corpus of tweets with the hashtag #FashionRevolution, related to the 2020 Fashion Revolution week. We offer a linguistic analysis of the discourse of digital activism, relying on insights from pragmatics, discourse analysis, and argumentation. Our analysis focuses on the calls for action concerning the move towards a more sustainable fashion system, issued by account owners that do not have any impositive force on their audience. This leads us to showing that a variety of actors call for action through an imperative but also through other deontic structures. However, those responsible for carrying out the actions towards a fashion revolution are often left vague, in line with overall campaigning strategies. The motive for the call for action, crucial to convince, appears sometimes in an argument and/or through a reference to social or environmental sustainability. Through this case study, we then contribute to the linguistic analysis of digital activism, and to a better understanding of the challenges of bringing about behavioral change from a non-impositive position.
The interplay of DNA damage and repair, gene expression, and mutagenesis in mammalian cells during oxidative stress
Authors: Besaratinia Ahmad , Caliri Andrew W , Tommasi Stella
Published: July 2024

We investigated the interplay among oxidative DNA damage and repair, expression of genes encoding major base excision repair (BER) enzymes and bypass DNA polymerases, and mutagenesis in mammalian cells. Primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts were challenged with oxidative stress induced by methylene blue plus visible light, and formation and repair of DNA damage, changes in gene expression, and mutagenesis were determined at increasing intervals posttreatment (0–192 hours). Significant formation of oxidative DNA damage together with upregulation of Ogg1, Polβ, and Polκ, and no changes in Mutyh and Nudt1 expression were found in treated cells. There was a distinct interconnection between Ogg1 and Polβ expression and DNA damage formation and repair whereby changes in expression of these two genes were proportionate to the levels of oxidative DNA damage, once a 3-plus hour lag time passed (P < .05). Equally notable was the matching pattern of Polκ expression and kinetics of oxidative DNA damage and repair (P < .05). The DNA damage and gene expression data were remarkably consistent with mutagenicity data in the treated cells; the induced mutation spectrum is indicative of erroneous bypass of oxidized DNA bases and incorporation of oxidized deoxynucleoside triphosphates during replication of the genomic DNA. Our findings support follow-up functional studies to elucidate how oxidation of DNA bases and the nucleotide pool, overexpression of Polκ, delayed upregulation of Ogg1 and Polβ, and inadequate expression of Nudt1 and Mutyh collectively affect mutagenesis consequent to oxidative stress.
The microRNA Expression in Crypt-Top and Crypt-Bottom Colonic Epithelial Cell Populations Demonstrates Cell-Type Specificity and Correlates with Endoscopic Activity in Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Inciuraite Ruta , Ramonaite Rima , Kupcinskas Juozas , Dalgediene Indre , Kulokiene Ugne , Kiudelis Vytautas , Varkalaite Greta , Zvirbliene Aurelija , Jonaitis Laimas Virginijus , Kiudelis Gediminas , Franke Andre , Schreiber Stefan , Juzenas Simonas , Skieceviciene Jurgita
Published: July 2024

Background and Aims

Colonic epithelial barrier dysfunction is one of the early events in ulcerative colitis [UC], and microRNAs [miRNAs] participate in its regulation. However, the cell type-specific miRNome during UC remains unknown. Thus, we aimed to explore miRNA expression patterns in colon tissue and epithelial cells during active and quiescent UC.

Methods

Small RNA-sequencing in colon tissue, crypt-bottom [CD44+], and crypt-top [CD66a+] colonic epithelial cells from two cohorts of UC patients [n = 74] and healthy individuals [n = 50] was performed. Data analysis encompassed differential expression, weighted gene co-expression network, correlation, and gene-set enrichment analyses.

Results

Differentially expressed colonic tissue miRNAs showed potential involvement in the regulation of interleukin-4 [IL-4] and IL-13 signalling during UC. As this pathway plays a role in intestinal barrier regulation, consecutive analysis of spatially distinct colonic epithelial cell populations was performed. Cell-type- [crypt-top and crypt-bottom] specific miRNA expression patterns were identified in both active and quiescent UC. Target genes of differentially expressed epithelial miRNAs under different disease activity were overrepresented in epithelial cell migration and therefore intestinal barrier integrity regulation. The pro-inflammatory miRNA co-expression module M1 correlated with endoscopic disease activity and successfully distinguished active and quiescent UC not only in both epithelial cell populations, but also in the colon tissue. The anti-inflammatory module M2 was specific to crypt-bottom cells and was significantly enriched in quiescent UC patients.

Conclusions

miRNA expression was specific to colonic epithelial cell populations and UC state, reflecting endoscopic disease activity. Irrespective of the UC state, deregulated epithelial miRNAs were associated with regulation of intestinal barrier integrity.
Classifying Inflammation on Intestinal Ultrasound Images and Cineloops－A Learning Curve Study
Authors: Madsen Gorm Roager , Tolsgaard Martin Grønnebæk , Gecse Krisztina , Novak Kerri , Boscardin Christy , Attauabi Mohamed , Burisch Johan , Boysen Trine , Wilkens Rune
Published: July 2024

Background and Aims

Intestinal ultrasound has become a crucial tool for assessing inflammation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, prompting a surge in demand for trained sonographers. Whereas educational programmes exist, the length of training needed to reach proficiency in correctly classifying inflammation remains unclear. Our study addresses this gap partly by exploring the learning curves associated with the deliberate practice of sonographic disease assessment, focusing on the key disease activity parameters of bowel wall thickness, bowel wall stratification, colour Doppler signal, and inflammatory fat.

Methods

Totals of 21 novices and six certified intestinal ultrasound practitioners engaged in an 80-case deliberate practice online training programme. A panel of three experts independently graded ultrasound images representing various degrees of disease activity and agreed upon a consensus score. We used statistical analyses, including mixed-effects regression models, to evaluate learning trajectories. Pass/fail thresholds distinguishing novices from certified practitioners were determined through contrasting-groups analyses.

Results

Novices showed significant improvement in interpreting bowel wall thickness, surpassing the pass/fail threshold, and reached mastery level by Case 80. For colour Doppler signal and inflammatory fat, novices surpassed the pass/fail threshold but did not achieve mastery. Novices did not improve in assessing bowel wall stratification.

Conclusions

We found considerable individual- and group-level differences in learning curves, supporting the concept of competency-based training for assessing bowel wall thickness, colour Doppler signal, and inflammatory fat. However, despite practice over 80 cases, novices did not improve in their interpretation of bowel wall stratification, suggesting that a different approach is needed for this parameter.
Prognostic value of weight loss in hospitalized patients with heart failure
Authors: Nagahiro Takanori , Konishi Masaaki , Kagiyama Nobuyuki , Kasai Takatoshi , Kamiya Kentaro , Saito Hiroshi , Saito Kazuya , Maekawa Emi , Kitai Takeshi , Iwata Kentaro , Jujo Kentaro , Wada Hiroshi , Momomura Shin-Ichi , Hibi Kiyoshi , Tamura Kouichi , Matsue Yuya
Published: July 2024

Background

Weight loss is a poor prognostic factor in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). However, whether the same is true for hospitalized patients with HF is unknown, even though hospitalization is the first opportunity for many patients to be diagnosed with HF. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of weight loss in patients hospitalized for HF.

Methods and results

This was a post-hoc analysis of the FRAGILE-HF study, a prospective multi-center, observational study including 1332 hospitalized older (≥65 years) patients with HF. The primary outcome was all-cause death within two years of discharge. Self-reported body weight data 1 year prior to hospital admission were available for 1106 patients (83.0%) and were compared with their weight after decongestion therapy. The median weight change was −6.9% [−2.4 − −11.9] and 86.8% of the overall cohort experienced some weight loss. Whereas patients with weight loss ≥5%, which is a well-validated cut-off in chronic HF, had comparable mortality to those with less weight loss (P = 0.96 by log-rank test), patients with weight loss >12%, the lowest quartile value, had higher mortality than those with less weight loss (P = 0.024 for all-cause mortality, P = 0.028 for non-cardiovascular mortality, and P = 0.28 for cardiovascular mortality, respectively). In a Cox proportional hazard model, >12% weight loss was associated with high mortality after adjusting for known prognostic factors and history of malignancy (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.485 [1.070–2.062], P = 0.018).

Conclusion

Weight loss derived from patient-reported body weight 1 year before hospitalization was significantly associated with increased mortality after discharge, mainly due to non-cardiovascular etiology, in elderly patients hospitalized for HF.
Transcatheter vs. surgical mitral valve interventions in patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Ismayl Mahmoud , Ahmed Hasaan , Goldsweig Andrew M , Alkhouli Mohamad , Eleid Mackram F , Rihal Charanjit S , Guerrero Mayra
Published: July 2024

Background

A significant proportion of patients requiring mitral valve (MV) intervention have undergone prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Reoperative heart surgery is associated with increased risk.

Aims

To evaluate the utilization and outcomes of transcatheter vs. surgical MV interventions in patients with prior CABG.

Methods

We queried the Nationwide Readmission Database (2016–21) to identify adults with prior CABG hospitalized for transcatheter or surgical MV intervention. In-hospital outcomes were compared using multivariable regression and propensity-matching analyses. Readmissions were compared using Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results

Of 305 625 weighted hospitalizations for MV intervention, 23 506 (7.7%) occurred in patients with prior CABG. From 2016Q1–2021Q4, the use of transcatheter MV interventions increased among patients with prior CABG (72 to 191 for repair and 6 to 45 for replacement per 100 000 hospitalizations, both ptrend < 0.001). Compared with surgical MV repair and replacement, transcatheter MV repair and replacement were associated with similar in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20–1.03 for repair; aOR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38–1.02 for replacement) and 180-day heart failure (HF) readmissions (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.56, 95% CI 0.85–2.87 for repair; aHR 1.15, 95% CI 0.63–2.09 for replacement) and lower stroke, acute kidney injury, permanent pacemaker placement, length of stay, and non-home discharges, respectively. Vascular complications were higher with transcatheter vs. surgical MV replacement.

Conclusion

Transcatheter MV interventions are increasingly used as the preferred modality of MV intervention in patients with prior CABG and are associated with similar in-hospital mortality and 180-day HF readmissions compared with surgical MV interventions.
The Integrative Life History of Maternal Effects
Authors: Marks Jamie R , Lailvaux Simon P
Published: July 2024

Synopsis

Context-dependent allocation of resources drives trade-offs among fitness-related traits and other phenotypes to which those traits are linked. In addition, the amount and type of acquired resources can also affect the phenotypes of other organisms through indirect genetic effects, as exemplified by the maternal provisioning of offspring. Despite a large literature on maternal effects, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the extent to which mothers might affect the phenotypes of their offspring, as well as the various mechanisms by which they do so, particularly with regard to many functional traits that are key determinants of survival and reproduction. Our goals in this paper are to review the various approaches to measuring and understanding maternal effects and to highlight some promising avenues for integration of maternal effects with some other key areas of evolutionary ecology. We focus especially on nutritional geometry; maternal age; and traits proximate to fitness such as whole-organism performance. Finally, we discuss the logistic and practical limits of quantifying these effects in many animal systems and emphasize the value of integrative approaches in understanding the mechanisms underlying maternal influence on offspring phenotypes.
Reduced Likelihood of Hospitalization With the JN.1 or HV.1 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Variants Compared With the EG.5 Variant
Authors: Levy Matthew E , Chilunda Vanessa , Davis Richard E , Heaton Phillip R , Pawloski Pamala A , Goldman Jason D , Schandl Cynthia A , McEwen Lisa M , Cirulli Elizabeth T , Wyman Dana , Rossi Andrew Dei , Dai Hang , Isaksson Magnus , Washington Nicole L , Basler Tracy , Tsan Kevin , Nguyen Jason , Ramirez Jimmy , Sandoval Efren , Lee William , Lu James , Luo Shishi
Published: July 2024

Within a multistate viral genomic surveillance program, we evaluated whether proportions of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections attributed to the JN.1 variant and to XBB-lineage variants (including HV.1 and EG.5) differed between inpatient and outpatient care settings during periods of cocirculation. Both JN.1 and HV.1 were less likely than EG.5 to account for infections among inpatients versus outpatients (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.60 [95% confidence interval (CI), .43–.84; P = .003] and 0.35 [.21–.58; P < .001], respectively). JN.1 and HV.1 variants may be associated with a lower risk of severe illness. The severity of coronavirus disease 2019 may have attenuated as predominant circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages shifted from EG.5 to HV.1 to JN.1.
Effect of plasma-activated water on planktonic and biofilm cells of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated from cutting board surfaces in retail seafood markets
Authors: Zarei Mehdi , Ghahfarokhi Maryam Ghaderi , Sabaeian Mohammad , Sepahi Mahtab , Alirezaie Soraya , Mohebi Mohadeseh
Published: July 2024

Aims

This research aimed to analyze cutting board surfaces in seafood markets to find Vibrio parahaemolyticus, assess the isolates’ ability to form biofilms, generate and evaluate characteristics of plasma-activated water (PAW), and compare the effect of PAW on planktonic and biofilm cells of the isolated V. parahaemolyticus strains.

Methods and results

A total of 11 V. parahaemolyticus strains were isolated from 8.87% of the examined cutting boards. Biofilm-forming ability was evaluated for these isolates at temperatures of 10°C, 20°C, and 30°C using crystal violet staining. Four strains with the highest biofilm potential were selected for further analysis. The pH of the PAW used in the study was 3.41 ± 0.04, and the initial concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, nitrate, and nitrite were 108 ± 9.6, 742 ± 61, and 36.3 ± 2.9 µM, respectively. However, these concentrations decreased significantly within 3–4 days during storage at room temperature. PAW exhibited significant antimicrobial effects on V. parahaemolyticus planktonic cells, reducing viable bacteria up to 4.54 log CFU/ml within 20 min. PAW also reduced the number of biofilm cells on stainless steel (up to 3.55 log CFU/cm2) and high-density polyethylene (up to 3.06 log CFU/cm2) surfaces, although to a lesser extent than planktonic cells.

Conclusions

PAW exhibited significant antibacterial activity against V. parahaemolyticus cells, although its antibacterial properties diminished over time. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of PAW against biofilm cells of V. parahaemolyticus was less pronounced compared to the planktonic cells. Therefore, the actual effectiveness of PAW in seafood processing environments can be affected by biofilms that may form on various surfaces such as cutting boards if they are not cleaned properly.
Effects of rate of body weight gain during the first trimester of gestation on beef heifer and offspring performance, concentrations of hormones and metabolites, and response to vaccination
Authors: Baumgaertner Friederike , Menezes Ana Clara B , Diniz Wellison J S , Hurlbert Jennifer L , Bochantin-Winders Kerri A , Underdahl Sarah R , Kirsch James D , Dorsam Sheri T , McCarthy Kacie L , Ramirez-Zamudio German D , Sedivec Kevin K , Caton Joel S , Dahlen Carl R
Published: July 2024

Our study objectives were to evaluate the effects of divergent rates of body weight (BW) gain during early gestation in beef heifers on F0 performance, metabolic and endocrine status, colostrum immunoglobulins, and subsequent F1 calf characteristics, growth performance, concentrations of hormones and metabolites, and response to vaccination. Angus-based heifers (n = 100; BW = 369 ± 2.5 kg) were adapted to individual feeding for 14 d and bred using artificial insemination with female-sexed semen. Heifers were ranked by BW and assigned to either a basal diet targeting 0.28 kg/d gain (low [LG], n = 50) or the basal diet plus an energy/protein supplement targeting 0.79 kg/d gain (moderate gain [MG], n = 50) until day 84 of gestation. Dam BW and blood samples were collected at 6 time points during gestation; body composition was evaluated on days −10 and 84; and fetal measurements were taken on days 42, 63, and 84. At calving (LG, n = 23; MG, n = 23), dam and calf BW were recorded; and colostrum, calf body measurements, and blood samples were collected. Cow–calf pairs were managed on a common diet from calving to weaning, followed by a common postnatal development period for all F1 female offspring. Growth performance, hormone and metabolite profiles, feeding behavior, and reproductive performance were assessed from birth to prebreeding in F1 heifers. Offspring were vaccinated against respiratory disease and bovine viral diarrhea pathogens on days 62.3 ± 4.13 and 220.3 ± 4.13 postcalving. By design, MG dams were heavier (P < 0.0001) than LG on day 84, and the BW advantage persisted until subsequent weaning of F1 calves. Concentrations of serum IGF-1 and glucose were increased throughout gestation (P < 0.001) in MG dams, whereas concentrations of NEFA were decreased (P < 0.001) in LG dams. Calves from MG dams were 2.14 kg heavier (P = 0.03) and had larger chest circumference (P = 0.04) at birth compared with LG cohorts. Heifers from MG dams continued to have greater (P ≤ 0.03) BW gain and feed efficiency during the development period, but no differences were observed (P ≥ 0.13) in body composition, concentrations of hormones and metabolites, feeding behavior, puberty attainment, and response to vaccination in F1 offspring. Hence, early gestation rate of gain impacted BW and concentrations of glucose and IGF-1 throughout gestation in the F0 dam, resulting in altered F1 calf BW and measurements at birth and increased gain and efficiency during the development period.
Beyond simple vs. complex: exploring the nuanced and unexpected effects of spatial environmental complexity on mating patterns and female fecundity
Authors: Talagala Sanduni , Rakosy Emily , Long Tristan A F
Published: July 2024

The features of the physical environment set the stage upon which sexual selection operates, and consequently can have a significant impact on variation in realized individual fitness, and influence a population’s evolutionary trajectory. This phenomenon has been explored empirically in several studies using fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) which have found that changing the spatial complexity of the mating environment influenced male–female interaction dynamics, (re)mating rates, and realized female fecundities. However, these studies did not explore mating patterns, which can dramatically alter the genetic composition of the next generation, and frequently only compared a single, small “simple” environment to a single larger “complex” environment. While these studies have shown that broadly changing the characteristics of the environment can have big effects on reproductive dynamics, the plasticity of this outcome to more subtle changes has not been extensively explored. Our study set out to compare patterns of mating and courtship between large- and small-bodied males and females, and female fecundities in both a simple environment and 2 distinctly different spatially complex environments. We found that realized offspring production patterns differed dramatically between all 3 environments, indicating that the effects of increasing spatial complexity on mating outcomes are sensitive to the specific type of environmental complexity. Furthermore, we observed female fecundities were higher for flies in both complex environments compared those in the simple environment, supporting its role as a mediator of sexual conflict. Together, these results show that the union of gametes within a population can be greatly influenced by the specific spatial features of the environment and that while some outcomes of increased environmental complexity are likely generalizable, other phenomena such as mating patterns and courtship rates may vary from one complex environment to another.
Population genetic diversity and structure of Tephritis angustipennis and Campiglossa loewiana (Diptera: Tephritidae) based on COI DNA barcodes in the three-river source region, China
Authors: Zhang Li-Jun , Liu Ying , Wang Yan-Long , Xie Le-Le , Wang Xin-You , Ma Yu-Shou
Published: July 2024

Tephritis angustipennis (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Campiglossa loewiana (Diptera: Tephritidae) are phytophagous pests in China. Their damage has significantly impacted the collection and cultivation of germplasm resources of native Asteraceae plants. However, the genetic characteristics and structure of their population are unclear. This study focused on the highly damaging species of T. angustipennis and C. loewiana collected from the three-river source region (TRSR). We amplified the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene sequences of these pests collected from this area and compared them with COI sequences from GenBank. We also analyzed their genetic diversity and structure. In T. angustipennis, 5 haplotypes were identified from 5 geographic locations; the genetic differentiation between France population FRPY (from Nylandia, Uusimaa) and China populations GLJZ (from Dehe Longwa Village, Maqin County), GLDR (from Zhique Village, Dari County), and GLMQ (from Rijin Village, Maqin County) was the strongest. GLJZ exhibited strong genetic differentiation from GLDR and GLMQ, with relatively low gene flow. For C. loewiana, 11 haplotypes were identified from 5 geographic locations; the genetic differentiation between the Chinese population GLMQ-YY (from Yangyu Forest Farm, Maqin County) and Finnish population FDNL (from Nylandia, Uusimaa) was the strongest, with relatively low gene flow, possibly due to geographical barriers in the Qinghai–Tibet plateau. Only 1 haplotype was identified across GLDR, GLMQ, and GLBM. High gene flow between distant locations indicates that human activities or wind dispersal may facilitate the dispersal of fruit flies and across different geographic. Geostatistical analysis suggested a recent population expansion of these 2 species in TRSR. Our findings provide technical references for identifying pests in the TRSR region and theoretical support for managing resistance, monitoring pest occurrences, analyzing environmental adaptability, and formulating biological control strategies for Tephritidae pests on Asteraceae plants.
Exploring the combined therapeutic efficacy of bexarotene and icariin in type 2 diabetic rats
Authors: Dik Burak , Parlak Tugba Melike , Ates Mehmet Burak , Tufan Oznur
Published: July 2024

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the single and combined antidiabetic activity and side effects of the retinoid X receptor agonist bexarotene and the thioredoxin-interacting protein inhibitor and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and AMP-activated protein kinase activator icariin.

Methods

The rats were grouped as healthy (control), diabetes, diabetes + bexarotene (20 mg/kg), diabetes + icariin (60 mg/kg), diabetes + bexarotene (10 mg/kg) + icariin (30 mg/kg) low-dose combination and diabetes + bexarotene (20 mg/kg) + icariin (60 mg/kg) high-dose combination groups.

Key findings

Icariin treatment led to a significant reduction in glucose levels compared with the diabetes control group, a remarkable outcome observed 45 days after the initial application. HbA1c levels of the icariin and low-dose combination treatment groups were significantly lower than in the diabetes group. Notably, icariin treatment also significantly elevated HOMA-β levels, which is indicative of improved β-cell function. Icariin significantly decreased glucose levels at 30 and 120 min in the oral glucose tolerance test. Moreover, it ameliorated hepatocyte degeneration, hepatic cord dissociation, congestion, mononuclear cell infiltration in the liver, and degeneration in the pancreas.

Conclusions

Icariin treatment exhibited robust antidiabetic effects with fewer side effects than other treatment options in this study. In future studies, long-term and varying doses of icariin will contribute to the development of novel antidiabetic drugs.
Development of a small shuttle plasmid for use in oral Veillonella and initial appraisal of potential for fluorescence-based applications
Authors: Goetting-Minesky M Paula , Kim Jordan , White Duane T , Hayashi Michael , Rickard Alexander H , Fenno J Christopher
Published: July 2024

Oral Veillonella species are among the early colonizers of the human oral cavity. We constructed a small, single-selectable-marker shuttle plasmid, examined its ability to be transformed into diverse oral Veillonella strains, and assessed its potential use for expressing a gene encoding an oxygen-independent fluorescent protein, thus generating a fluorescent Veillonella parvula strain. Because tetracycline resistance is common in Veillonella, we replaced genes encoding ampicillin- and tetracycline-resistance in a previously described shuttle plasmid (pBSJL2) with a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. The resulting plasmid pCF1135 was successfully introduced into four strains representing V. parvula and V. atypica by either natural transformation or electroporation. We then modified this plasmid to express a gene encoding an oxygen-independent fluorescent protein in V. parvula SKV38. The resulting strain yielded a fluorescence signal intensity ∼16 times higher than the wild type in microplate-based fluorimetry experiments. While fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that planktonic cells, colonies, and biofilms of fluorescent V. parvula could also be imaged, photobleaching was a significant issue. In conclusion, we anticipate this genetic system and information provided here will facilitate expanded studies of oral Veillonella species’ properties and behavior.
Social network analysis of the Babylonian Talmud
Authors: Satlow Michael L , Sperling Michael
Published: July 2024

This article analyzes the citation network of the Babylonian Talmud, building on an earlier article that we published (Satlow and Sperling 2022). The article has three goals. Our first goal is to show how an ontological-based information extraction system combined with pattern matching can successfully extract structured data from a very complicated, unstructured text. Our second goal is to extend our previous analysis and demonstrate how citation data might lead to wider conclusions about redactional patterns. In addition to highlighting the citation tendencies of different tractates (which could indicate different redactors for those tractates), we hypothesize that there existed a source document originating in the circle of Rav Yehudah bar Yehezkel, used by at least some redactors, and that the character of Rabbi Zeira deserves further attention as an important figure connecting different nodes on the network. Finally, we seek to outline an analytical workflow that could be helpful to other historical projects in the digital humanities.
Diagnostic performance of the (1-3)-β-d-glucan assay in patients with different risks for invasive fungal diseases
Authors: Nham Eliel , Kim Si-Ho , Ko Jae-Hoon , Huh Kyungmin , Cho Sun Young , Kang Cheol-In , Chung Doo Ryeon , Peck Kyong Ran
Published: July 2024

We evaluated the diagnostic performance of the β-d-glucan (BDG) test (Beijing Gold Mountain River Tech) in diagnosing invasive fungal disease (IFD) and its variations among patients with different risks. Patients ≥18 years old who underwent a serum BDG test (positive cutoff value >80 pg/ml) from April 2017 through May 2018 were collected consecutively. Patients were classified into three groups: group 1, patients with host factors as defined by the prior 2008 European Organization for Research and Treatment (EORTC) criteria; group 2, those with extended host factors in 2020 EORTC criteria; and group 3, those without any risk factor mentioned in the criteria. IFD was defined by 2020 EORTC criteria, but BDG was not considered. Diagnostic performance of the serum BDG test was measured by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver-operating characteristic curve. Among 469 patients, 15.4% (72/469) were diagnosed with IFD (48/191 [25.1%], 14/144 [9.7%], and 10/134 [7.5%] in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively). The BDG assay showed fair performance (AUC 0.748 [95% CI: 0.688–0.810]). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 77.8%, 60.7%, 26.4%, and 93.8%, respectively. PPV was higher in group 1, and NPV was higher in group 3. Additionally, diagnostic odds ratios were 6.73, 2.88, and 5.92 in groups 1, 2, and 3. Immunosuppressant use, non-IFD/Candida colonization, and central venous catheter were associated with false positivity. Clinicians should cautiously interpret the BDG assay, considering the various diagnostic performances depending on the different levels of risk.
Sampling globally and locally correct RNA 3D structures using Ernwin, SPQR and experimental SAXS data
Authors: Thiel Bernhard C , Bussi Giovanni , Poblete Simón , Hofacker Ivo L
Published: July 2024

The determination of the three-dimensional structure of large RNA macromolecules in solution is a challenging task that often requires the use of several experimental and computational techniques. Small-angle X-ray scattering can provide insight into some geometrical properties of the probed molecule, but this data must be properly interpreted in order to generate a three-dimensional model. Here, we propose a multiscale pipeline which introduces SAXS data into modelling the global shape of RNA in solution, which can be hierarchically refined until reaching atomistic precision in explicit solvent. The low-resolution helix model (Ernwin) deals with the exploration of the huge conformational space making use of the SAXS data, while a nucleotide-level model (SPQR) removes clashes and disentangles the proposed structures, leading the structure to an all-atom representation in explicit water. We apply the procedure on four different known pdb structures up to 159 nucleotides with promising results. Additionally, we predict an all-atom structure for the Plasmodium falceparum signal recognition particle ALU RNA based on SAXS data deposited in the SASBDB, which has an alternate conformation and better fit to the SAXS data than the previously published structure based on the same data but other modelling methods.
Association of personalized and tumor-informed ctDNA with patient survival outcomes in pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Botta Gregory P , Abdelrahim Maen , Drengler Ronald L , Aushev Vasily N , Esmail Abdullah , Laliotis George , Brewer Chris M , George Giby V , Abbate Steven M , Chandana Sreenivasa R , Tejani Mohamedtaki A , Malla Midhun , Bansal Dhruv , Rivero-Hinojosa Samuel , Spickard Erik , McCormick Nicole , Cecchini Michael , Lacy Jill , Fei Naomi , Kasi Pashtoon Murtaza , Kasi Anup , Dayyani Farshid , Hanna Diana L , Sharma Shruti , Malhotra Meenakshi , Aleshin Alexey , Liu Minetta C , Jurdi Adham
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Personalized and tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing is feasible and allows for molecular residual disease (MRD) identification in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods

In this retrospective analysis of commercial cases from multiple US institutions, personalized, tumor-informed, whole-exome sequenced, and germline-controlled ctDNA levels were quantified and analyzed in patients with PDAC. Plasma samples (n = 1329) from 298 clinically validated patients were collected at diagnosis, perioperatively (MRD-window; within 2-12 weeks after surgery, before therapy), and during surveillance (>12 weeks post-surgery if no ACT or starting 4 weeks post-ACT) from November 2019 to March 2023.

Results

Of the initially diagnosed patients with stages I-III PDAC who went for resection, the median follow-up time from surgery was 13 months (range 0.1-214). Positive ctDNA detection rates were 29% (29/100) and 29.6% (45/152) during the MRD and surveillance windows, respectively. Positive ctDNA detection was significantly associated with shorter DFS within the MRD window (median DFS of 6.37 months for ctDNA-positive vs 33.31 months for ctDNA-negative patients; HR: 5.45, P < .0001) as well as during the surveillance period (median DFS: 11.40 months for ctDNA-positive vs NR for ctDNA-negative; HR: 12.38, P < .0001). Additionally, DFS was significantly better with KRAS wildtype status followed by KRASG12R (HR: 0.99, P = .97), KRASG12D (HR: 1.42, P = .194), and worse with KRASG12V (HR: 2.19, P = .002) status. In multivariate analysis, ctDNA detection at surveillance was found to be the most significant prognostic factor for recurrence (HR: 24.28, P < .001).

Conclusions

Perioperative tumor-informed ctDNA detection in PDAC is feasible across all stages and is associated with patient survival outcomes.
The Sovereign Lives of India and Pakistan
Authors: Mishra Atul
Published: July 2024

Sovereign Lives explores what it has meant for India and Pakistan to act as sovereign states that became entangled at birth by an unsatisfactory partition. Sovereignty is conventionally understood as a means to achieve the goals that states set for themselves. This book argues that for India and Pakistan, sovereignty has become an end in itself, and that its pursuit has aided majoritarianism, insecurity, ideological conflict, and mutual estrangement that adversely affect the two states as well as their peoples. The book examines the trajectory of three problems that the partition of 1947 bequeathed to the two states. It investigates the state–minority relations, national identity debates, and contestation over Kashmir to outline the parallel processes of minoritization, homogenization, and territorialization. It shows how these processes signify the two states’ quest for sovereignty. The scholarship on India and Pakistan often privileges their bilateral relations. In contrast, this book carries out the deeper task of a single-frame analysis and critique of their intertwined statehoods. Ultimately, the book shows the inadequacy of the nation state form as the basis for political community in the subcontinent. It concludes by pointing to the contemporary relevance of alternative ideas of sovereignty and political community in South Asia that were articulated during the first half of the twentieth century.
American Popular Music and Its Business in the Digital Age
Authors: Sanjek Rick
Published: July 2024

This book is a sequel to my father’s American Popular Music and its Business—the First 400 Years, also published by Oxford University Press. It compares the music business to a funnel through which money spent by consumers and licensees flows before reaching performers and songwriters after deducting the cost of financing, managing, promoting, and marketing. It also traces how the delivery of music transitions from analog vinyl and tape to digital successors from CDs through MP3s, to subscription streaming. It follows the Big Six major label groups consolidating to the Big Three by 2020, and the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster completing the transition of ticketing from paper to electronic to digital. Technology including the internet, smartphones, broadband, and social media platforms facilitated the management of the metadata emanating from the all-important relationship between consumers and creators, for without this relationship, there is no music business. The book has three main sections spanning 1985 to 1995, 1996 until 2006, and 2007 through 2019. Each has five chapters starting with “The Game of Musical Thrones” about the competition between record labels. “Records, Retail, Radio, and the Charts That Bind Them” examines the revenue generated by record sales and radio airplay. Then comes “Publishing, Copyright, Legislation, and Litigation,” “The Creators of Music—Getting Paid,” and “The Consumer—From Whom, How, and Where the Money Flows,” Finally an epilogue covers the effects of COVID-19 in 2020 on all involved, closing with a glimpse into the crystal ball of the digital future.
Records, Radio, Retail, Streaming, and the Charts
Authors: Sanjek Rick
Published: July 2024

Record revenue continued to fall through the 2008 recession, settling at $7 billion for 2010 through 2015. In 2010 Charlie Anderson, CEO of Anderson Merchandisers, chief supplier to Walmart, predicted the demise of the CD as a viable retail product within six years. Spotify launched in the US in 2011. Apple Music followed in 2015. As downloads, and then streaming, replaced revenue from retail sales, Billboard adjusted its chart formulas accordingly. Leading retail distributor Alliance diversified into other music products. Record Store Day promoted the growing vinyl revival. SiriusXM invested in and then acquired Pandora with plans to maximize their synergistic potential. In 2019 record revenue reached $11.4 billion with 79.5 percent from streaming, and only 10.1 percent from retail. Streaming had led the industry to recovery, retail bin space had been reduced to superstars and vinyl, and radio revenue had fallen by a third but still dominated in-car listening.
Not All Wounds Are Visible
Authors: Hammond Louisa
Published: July 2024

I live and work in Manchester, UK, and studied Visual Arts at the University of Salford, from which I graduated in 2008. Since that time, I have been creating artwork and exhibiting in a variety of galleries, festivals, and public spaces. Getting involved in art-based projects around the destigmatization of mental illness is close to my heart. I was unexpectedly diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2010, which became a very dramatic, turbulent time in my life. During my recovery, I was referred to art therapy sessions using a variety of media, including textiles. It was at these workshops at an art-for-health National Health Service (NHS) organization that I was inspired to begin producing artwork again. I feel that my practice has very much been impacted and inspired by this life-changing experience, and I aim to voice my knowledge of living with mental illness through what I create.
In Chiron’s Footsteps
Authors: Williams Paula J
Published: July 2024

I have always been drawn to the concept of the wounded healer, an idea going back to Greek mythology and developed as an archetype by Jung. It centers around Chiron, a centaur who is wounded in battle by an arrow dipped in Hydra’s blood. He embarks upon a journey to try to find a way to heal the terrible pain of his injury; as he travels, seeking his cure, he teaches others the art of healing. In so doing, he finds his own healing, learning to understand others’ pain from his own experience of pain. This idea is comforting to me as it removes the pressure to have healed myself before I can help others to heal, and it helps me make sense of my own path.
Sisyphus (or: Rocks Fall and Everyone Dies)
Authors: Voss J R Sullivan
Published: July 2024

“Sisyphus (or: Rocks Fall and Everyone Dies),” a graphic diary by Sullivan Voss.
The Lived Experience of LGBT Veterans
Authors: Wagner Kathryn
Published: July 2024

The Tuesday following the Orlando shooting I walked into my psychotherapy group and was greeted with tears and silence. This was the LGBT Group for Veterans, run by myself and another co-leader at a VA hospital on the East Coast. Most members didn’t know what to say and many were openly crying. “Shocked,” “sad,” and “fear” were just a few words these veterans used to describe their feelings. Throughout the hour, my patients expressed strong reactions to Orlando, remembering their own experiences of being stigmatized and even assaulted within the military for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Our discussion also touched on racial dynamics, both within Orlando and the group itself. A few of the older veterans in my group, who had come out later in life, were not aware about safe spaces for LGBT people of color, such as the dance club where the shooting took place; these men appreciated learning from other members in the group about why such spaces were important. This particular group was populated with four gay men, two lesbians, a transgender man, and two transgender women. While not a veteran, I am queer, gender-nonconforming, and disabled—identities about which I talk openly in the
Psychiatry
Authors: Millett Kate
Published: July 2024

Madhouse, Madhouse . . . Memories of Incarceration, Flux Sculpture Exhibition, NOHO Gallery New York, 1995.
Problem Glyphs
Authors: Gauger Eliza
Published: July 2024

Problem Glyphs is a sort of occult advice column. I’m an illustrator by trade, but, four years ago, I started drawing sigils for people who sent me their problems. I tried to get at the crux of their issues; if I didn’t have any useful advice, I just tried to be encouraging. The drawings did a lot of the work for me because they changed every time someone different looked at them: common symbols are personally interpreted in entirely subjective ways, and the sparse text (just a title) conveyed a meaning but did not force the interpretation. The early ones were very simple; the later ones more complex and illustrative.
Gleam
Authors: McLeod Nikkiesha N
Published: July 2024

Nicodemus and the Metallic Mechanical Whale
When the Levee Breaks
Authors: Ostovar Afshon
Published: July 2024

This chapter discusses how the attacks of 9/11 prompted the Bush administration to embark on an ambitious effort to remake the Middle East through the war in Iraq. The administration’s initial response to 9/11 was the war in Afghanistan, which inspired a brief diplomatic exchange between the United States and Iran—one that collapsed following Bush’s infamous “axis of evil” speech. The prospect of war in Iraq triggered a crisis among Arab states which sought a way to avoid it—an effort that failed due to the disunity and acrimony of Arab leaders. The invasion of Iraq was successful, but the occupation quickly stumbled. Controversial policies such as de-Baathification helped fuel insurgency among disaffected Sunni Arabs, and Muqtada al-Sadr inspired Shia followers to resist the occupation. The Mahdi Army’s failed uprising created an opportunity that Iran would quickly seize.
The Razor’s Edge
Authors: Ostovar Afshon
Published: July 2024

This chapter explores how hostilities between the United States and Iran drew them perilously close to open war. Trump withdrew the United States from the JCPOA and imposed a “maximum pressure” campaign designed to compel Iranian capitulation under the threat of economic ruin. Iran responded in a campaign of escalation. Through attacks that included downing a US surveillance drone, striking Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil installations at Abqaiq and Khurais, and attacks on U.S. forces by Shia militias in Iraq, Iran tested Trump’s appetite for conflict. U.S. counterstrikes on Kataib Hezbollah in Syria and the assassination of Qassem Soleimani by a U.S. hellfire missile followed Iran’s escalations. The latter led to dramatic retaliation: an Iranian ballistic missile barrage against U.S. forces stationed at Ayn al-Asad base in Iraq. Anticipating a response, IRGC missile forces shot down Ukraine Air Flight 752. Trump declined to respond to Iran’s aggression, averting war.
Individualization and New Techniques
Authors: Bernstein Alyssa G.
Published: July 2024

Palestinians in prison developed strategies to overcome the barriers to collective resistance enumerated in the previous chapters. New strategies included ‘strikes of the elite’, that is, strikes where a smaller, committed number participate so that cohesion is easier to maintain. Individuals also began going on hunger strike alone, primarily to protest their indefinite detention. These individual strikes sometimes lasted far longer than the body would normally be able to withstand and indicate that some were taking supplements or nutrition in order to sustain their fast, with the goal of survival. Additionally, the chapter describes three ‘removal activities’ that are also indicators of individual resistance: individual education (i.e. secretly taking university classes); creating ways to have and raise children from within prison; and escaping from prison. The new resistance activities were re-adjustments to the reality of the Prisoners Movement, and assertions of the importance of Palestinian life.