bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling the formation of the public's information needs in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Lu Hongru , Xie Juan , Cheng Ying , Chen Ya
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how the public formed their need for information in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. Exploring the formation of information needs can reveal why the public's information needs differ and provide insights on targeted information service during health crises at an essential level.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 46 participants and analyzed using the grounded theory approach. Concepts, sub-categories and categories were developed, and a model was built to examine how the public formed the need for information about the pandemic.

Findings

The authors found that participants were stimulated by information asymmetry, severity of the pandemic and regulations to control the pandemic, which triggered their perceptions of information credibility, threat and social approval. After the participants perceived that there was a threat, it activated their basic needs and they actively formed the need for information based on cognitive activities. Moreover, information delivered by different senders resulted in a passive need for information. Participants' individual traits also influenced their perceptions after being stimulated.

Research limitations/implications

Long-term follow-up research is needed to help researchers identify more detailed perspectives and do comparative studies. Besides, this study conducted interviews through WeChat voice calls and telephone calls, and might be limited compared with face-to-face interviews.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide theoretical contributions to the information needs research and practical implications for information services and public health management.

Originality/value

There is little systematic research on how the public formed information needs in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The role of strategic internal communication in empowering female employees to cope with workplace gender discrimination
Authors: Li Jo-Yun , Lee Yeunjae , Xu Dongqing
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the excellent practice of public relations concerning strategic internal communication may help empower female employees to cope with workplace gender discrimination. It constructs and empirically tests a theoretical model that investigates the role of transparent internal communication on diversity and inclusion in shaping female employees' sense of empowerment, and that empowerment may affect how they cope with such problems in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted with 402 full-time female employees in large-sized organizations in the United States. Structural equation models were conducted to test the proposed measurement model and hypothesized model.

Findings

The findings of this study offer support for the proposed model that featuring transparent internal communication regarding workplace gender discrimination increases female employees' empowerment to tackle the problems, which in turn encourages them to adopt problem-focused coping and participate in collective coping behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

Excellent internal communication not only facilitates organization-employee relationships as prior research widely demonstrated, but, according to the findings of this study, also creates a sense of empowerment among female employees, which encourage them to proactively address workplace gender discrimination issue.

Practical implications

Organizations should practice transparent communication regarding diversity and inclusion, ensuring employees receive sufficient information, clear guidelines, and opportunities to voice as well as aim to develop empowerment interventions that help employees address discrimination issues in the workplace.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge, this study is among the first empirical studies that present the importance of strategic internal communication, particularly transparent communication, in facilitating gender equality in the workplace.
Online teaching during COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji: challenges, facilitators and improvement strategies
Authors: Okyere Eunice , Salusalu Mosese , Goundar Ramneek , Marfoh Kissinger
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore online teaching experiences of educators in Fiji National University (FNU). Although they quickly adapted to online teaching, their experiences are yet to be explored and documented, hence the relevance of this study.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used phenomenological research design to understand the lived experiences of participants' regarding online teaching. A total of 58 in-depth interviews were conducted among educators, at various levels and analysed thematically using an inductive approach.

Findings

The findings show online teaching challenges including difficulties maintaining students' engagement, teaching practically oriented courses, assessing students and embracing change, limited knowledge impact and output, anxiety and stress, inadequate teaching environment, increased workload and unstable Internet. The facilitators and enablers were flexibility, free Internet, creating conducive environment, Moodle training, skills acquisition and support from faculty members' and information technology team. Recommendations for improvement ranged from modifying course outline, summarising previous lessons, reducing course load, adequate assessment tools, incentives, guidelines enforcement to regular training.

Originality/value

This is an original work carried out by the researchers in a specific context. The findings suggest the need to address various challenges for effective online teaching. School managers' and relevant key stakeholders need to understand educators’ teaching experiences as well as their recommended improvement strategies, to enhance online teaching.
Social and environmental apparel practices and perceived value of “Made in the USA”
Authors: Kim Nokyeon , Bye Elizabeth
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between people’s socially and environmentally responsible apparel practices (SERAP) and valuing US made clothing, current perceptions of US made clothing and factors affecting apparel purchases.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was completed by 502 US consumer aged 18-65. Five factors were identified representing responsible apparel practices and US made clothing. Inter-factor correlations were tested. People’s perceptions toward US made clothing were examined through perceived quality, purchase experience and intentions to pay premium prices.

Findings

There was a positive correlation between SERAP and valuing US made clothing. Perceived quality of US apparel influenced both actual purchase and intentions to pay higher prices. Availability and affordability were major purchase factors.

Practical implications

US apparel companies that produce their products domestically may consider developing specific messaging that resonates with customers, taking advantage of the perception of high quality and being transparent with the cost of producing apparel domestically.

Originality/value

This study suggests domestically made apparel purchases as part of a move toward SERAP. Although previous studies have addressed consumer responsibility and sustainable businesses, the connection has been inconclusive. This study provides current data of renewed and growing interest in US made apparel and expands its value.
Enhancing TQM’s effect on small business performance: a PLS-SEM exploratory study of TQM applied with a comprehensive strategic approach
Authors: Manley Scott C. , Williams Jr. Ralph I. , Hair Jr. Joseph F.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Given the positive organizational principles associated with total quality management (TQM) – customer focus, continuous improvement, and process management – one would assume TQM's application is universally beneficial across businesses. Generally, research supports that notion. However, given resource limitations and shallow management teams in small businesses, there are multiple challenges in implementing TQM in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Therefore, small business leaders should benefit from knowledge linking other management practices to TQM’s positive effect on small firm performance, which enhances these leaders' return on TQM investment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to explore TQM’s effect on small business performance and how other management practices enhance that relationship. Specifically, the authors explore how a comprehensive strategic approach (CSA) – a higher-order construct consisting of strategic planning, goal setting, and financial ratio analysis – moderates the relationship between TQM and small business performance. Given the complexity of the authors' model, the application of higher-order constructs, and the exploratory nature of this work, PLS-SEM is well suited for this study.

Findings

Consistent with prior research, the authors found that TQM (also a higher-order construct, consisting of seven lower-order constructs) positively impacts small firm performance. In addition, the authors found that CSA positively moderates the relationship between TQM and financial performance.

Originality/value

TQM’s effect on small business performance is enhanced when leaders implement a CSA. In other words, when small business leaders strategically plan, set goals, and analyze financial ratios, TQM's positive effect on firm performance is enhanced. This finding provides business leaders insights for how to maximize the TQM investment return.
Approaches to decomposing acoustic data
Authors: Haldorsen Jakob B.U.
Published: September 2022

This note compares different approaches to estimating acoustic plane‐wave components from a set of traces recorded by receivers at known locations. The parameters for these plane waves are estimated following somewhat different approaches:

A heuristic approach without reference to any optimization schemes).

A frequency‐domain least‐squares approach:

With explicit derivation of separate real and imaginary parts of the complex‐valued wave‐field parameters.

Using complex partial differential operators.

All approaches give the same solution. Of the three, the first approach gives a better understanding of the physics – the last approach is far more direct and easier. That the results are identical argues for our use of Wirtinger complex partial differential operators for our least‐squares minimization problem. Using these operators allows the complex numbers z and to be considered independent variables, giving .
Gender diversities and sex education
Authors: Mayo Cris
Published: September 2022

This article suggests that science-based understandings of sex and gender can improve sex education by inviting students to consider what sex and gender mean and by encouraging recognition and respect in a gender-diverse context. In addition, decolonising approaches to gender provide another route to sexuality education that is more attendant to difference and diversity, helping students to see how culturally embedded and resistant meanings and practices have shaped understandings of gender. Together, these divergent approaches—gender science and decolonising education—provide an array of conceptual links between gender identity and other forms of innovation and reclamation. Such tactics of conceptual connection may help sex education to think about gender in different ways, some of which invite gender-diverse students into the curriculum and some of which invite normatively gendered students to consider their own complexities. Using these tactics of conceptual linkage encourages educators and students to develop a fuller vocabulary for addressing how gender, sexuality and struggles over meaning can be a core part of sex education. By thinking and teaching more carefully about the diversities related to key concepts like gender, sex education can both critically examine inequities and aim towards the possibilities of gender diversity.
Can responsibility attributions be sensible in the presence of partisan‐motivated reasoning?
Authors: TROMBORG MATHIAS WESSEL
Published: September 2022

Political accountability requires that voters understand the distribution of policy outcome responsibility among their vote choice options. Research on partisan‐motivated reasoning suggests that voters do not meet this requirement. The problem is that voters condition their attributions of responsibility to the government on their party identification. Government identifiers credit the government for desirable outcomes and blame external forces such as the global economy for undesirable outcomes. This paper draws a more optimistic conclusion. It argues that focusing on the perceived responsibility of the government and external forces is not sufficient for understanding whether voters meet the responsibility attribution requirement. It is also necessary to compare the perceived responsibility of government parties to the perceived responsibility of opposition parties because those are the options that voters get to choose from. This party distribution of perceived responsibility is analyzed with original survey data from Denmark and the United Kingdom. The results demonstrate that while party identification does indeed condition voters’ responsibility attributions, both government identifiers and independents attribute systematically more responsibility to the government than to the opposition regardless of the desirability of the outcome. This suggests that voters tend to meet the responsibility attribution requirement of accountability despite the presence of partisan‐motivated reasoning.
Commentary on CDC data showing an increased risk for pediatric diabetes with COVID‐19 infection
Authors: Gujral Jasmine , Tamborlane William , Nally Laura
Published: September 2022

Highlights

We question certain aspects of the recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (January 2022) showing a significant increase in the incidence of diabetes in children after COVID‐19 infection.

We are concerned at the source of data being limited to commercial health insurances and lack of factoring race, ethnicity, social determinants of health, body mass index, type of diabetes, and viral variants in the interpretation of these data.
#TurntTrending: a systematic review of substance use portrayals on social media platforms
Authors: Rutherford Brienna N. , Lim Carmen C. W. , Johnson Benjamin , Cheng Brandon , Chung Jack , Huang Sandy , Sun Tianze , Leung Janni , Stjepanović Daniel , Chan Gary C. K.
Published: September 2022

Aims

There is a growing body of literature exploring the types of substance‐related content and their portrayals on various social media platforms. We aimed to summarize how content related to substances is portrayed on various social media platforms.

Methods

This systematic review was pre‐registered on PROSPERO (ref: CRD42021291853). A comprehensive search was conducted in the databases of PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Web of Science in April 2021. Original qualitative studies published post‐2004 that included thematic and sentiment analyses of social media content on tobacco, alcohol, psychostimulant, e‐cigarette, cannabis, opiate, stimulant/amphetamine, inhalant and novel psychoactive substance were included. Social media platforms were defined as online web‐ or application‐based platforms that allowed users to generate content and interact via ‘liking’, comment or messaging features. Only studies that included summative and/or thematic content analyses of substance‐related social media content were included.

Results

A total of 73 studies, which covered 15 905 182 substance‐related posts on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Weibo, were identified. A total of 76.3% of all substance‐related content was positive in its depiction of substance use, with 20.2% of content depicting use negatively. Sentiment regarding opiate use however was commonly negative (55.5%). Most studies identified themes relating to Health, Safety and Harms (65.0%) of substance use. Themes relating to Promotions/Advertisements (63.3%), Informative content (55.0%) and Use behaviours (43.3%) were also frequently identified.

Conclusions

Substance‐related content that promotes engagement with substance use or actively depicts use appears to be widely available on social media. The large public presence of this content may have concerning influences on attitudes, behaviours and risk perceptions relating to substance use, particularly among the most vulnerable and heaviest users of social media—adolescents and young adults.
A call for increased addiction psychiatrist engagement in medical student education
Authors: Balasanova Alëna A. , Ritvo Alexis , Renner John A.
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives

Addiction psychiatrists are ideally trained to provide trainees with supervised clinical experiences in caring for patients with co‐occurring substance use disorders and other complex psychiatric disorders.

Methods

This is a call for addiction psychiatrists to step up as clinical champions in medical student education. Our targeted audience is practicing addiction psychiatrists who do not currently have medical students on their clinical services.

Results

We suggest several approaches to incorporating learners into existing addiction psychiatry clinical services both at academic institutions and in the community.

Discussion and Conclusions

For medical schools without addiction psychiatrists on faculty, we suggest unique solutions for collaborating with external educational venues.

Scientific Significance

There is limited literature on the role of addiction psychiatrists in providing supervised experiential learning experiences for medical students. There has been no previous publication specifically advocating for increased addiction psychiatrist engagement in the clinical education of medical students.
Slavery, Colonialism, and Ecological Imperialism: Insights from Stratification Economics
Authors: Goubert Anaïs E. A.
Published: September 2022

Black and Indigenous people in the United States have already begun to disproportionately suffer from the detrimental effects of climate change. Understanding how to address these disproportionate climate vulnerabilities can most potently be done through the lens of stratification economics. The persistent racial wealth gap is a reflection of the racist history of the United States, especially the legacies of slavery and settler colonialism. In addition, that racial history helps explain how Black people have become particularly susceptible to the climate crises. This article offers theoretical outlines to explain and, potentially, resolve ecological imperialism in the United States.
Metabolic and magnetic resonance imaging: complementary modalities for the preoperative assessment of lateral pelvic lymph nodes in rectal cancer
Authors: Cribb Benjamin I. , Kong Joseph C. , Kay James S. , Tan Teng H. , Noe Geertje D. , Gest Bibiche , Lee Allan B. , Oon Sheng F. , Warrier Satish K. , Heriot Alexander G.
Published: September 2022

Background

The management of lateral pelvic lymph nodes for rectal cancer is a topical and controversial issue. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between lateral pelvic lymph node features on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography‐computed tomography (PET‐CT) with oncological outcomes in patients with rectal cancer.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 284 patients with primary locally advanced rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy and surgical resection with curative intent between January 2003 and Dec 2018 was undertaken. From this study population, a select cohort of 77 patients with abnormal lateral pelvic lymph nodes on preoperative imaging had imaging re‐analysed by radiologists blinded to clinical outcomes. Pre and post neoadjuvant therapy MRI and PET‐CT lateral pelvic lymph node features were correlated with oncological outcomes.

Results

A lateral pelvic lymph node short axis size ≥5 mm on post neoadjuvant therapy MRI was a significant predictor of worse 3‐year local recurrence free survival (HR 8.35, P = 0.001). Lateral pelvic lymph node avidity on post neoadjuvant therapy PET‐CT was a significant predictor of worse 3‐year distant recurrence free survival (HR 5.62, P = 0.001).

No correlation of oncological outcomes with overall survival was identified.

Conclusion

Lateral pelvic lymph node imaging features on post‐neoadjuvant therapy MRI and PET‐CT predicted those at risk of rectal cancer recurrence. Further studies are required to confirm these findings that suggest restaging MRI and PET‐CT are complementary modalities for the preoperative assessment of lateral pelvic lymph nodes in rectal cancer.
Automated detection of hyperreflective foci in the outer nuclear layer of the retina
Authors: Schmidt Mathias Falck , Christensen Jakob Lønborg , Dahl Vedrana Andersen , Toosy Ahmed , Petzold Axel , Hanson James V. M. , Schippling Sven , Frederiksen Jette Lautrup , Larsen Michael
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Hyperreflective foci are poorly understood transient elements seen on optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retina in both healthy and diseased eyes. Systematic studies may benefit from the development of automated tools that can map and track such foci. The outer nuclear layer (ONL) of the retina is an attractive layer in which to study hyperreflective foci as it has no fixed hyperreflective elements in healthy eyes. In this study, we intended to evaluate whether automated image analysis can identify, quantify and visualize hyperreflective foci in the ONL of the retina.

Methods

This longitudinal exploratory study investigated 14 eyes of seven patients including six patients with optic neuropathy and one with mild non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In total, 2596 OCT B‐scan were obtained. An image analysis blob detector algorithm was used to detect candidate foci, and a convolutional neural network (CNN) trained on a manually labelled subset of data was then used to select those candidate foci in the ONL that fitted the characteristics of the reference foci best.

Results

In the manually labelled data set, the blob detector found 2548 candidate foci, correctly detecting 350 (89%) out of 391 manually labelled reference foci. The accuracy of CNN classifier was assessed by manually splitting the 2548 candidate foci into a training and validation set. On the validation set, the classifier obtained an accuracy of 96.3%, a sensitivity of 88.4% and a specificity of 97.5% (AUC 0.989).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that automated image analysis and machine learning methods can be used to successfully identify, quantify and visualize hyperreflective foci in the ONL of the retina on OCT scans.
Brainstem noradrenergic neurons: Identifying a hub at the intersection of cognition, motility, and skeletal muscle regulation
Authors: Delbono Osvaldo , Wang Zhong‐Min , Messi María Laura
Published: September 2022

Brainstem noradrenergic neuron clusters form a node integrating efferents projecting to distinct areas such as those regulating cognition and skeletal muscle structure and function, and receive dissimilar afferents through established circuits to coordinate organismal responses to internal and environmental challenges. Genetic lineage tracing shows the remarkable heterogeneity of brainstem noradrenergic neurons, which may explain their varied functions. They project to the locus coeruleus, the primary source of noradrenaline in the brain, which supports learning and cognition. They also project to pre‐ganglionic neurons, which lie within the spinal cord and form synapses onto post‐ganglionic neurons. The synapse between descending brainstem noradrenergic neurons and pre‐ganglionic spinal neurons, and these in turn with post‐ganglionic noradrenergic neurons located at the paravertebral sympathetic ganglia, support an anatomical hierarchy that regulates skeletal muscle innervation, neuromuscular transmission, and muscle trophism. Whether any noradrenergic neuron subpopulation is more susceptible to damaged protein deposit and death with ageing and neurodegeneration is a relevant question that answer will help us to detect neurodegeneration at an early stage, establish prognosis, and anticipate disease progression. Loss of muscle mass and strength with ageing, termedsarcopenia, may predict impaired cognition with ageing and neurodegeneration and establish an early time to start interventions aimed at reducing central noradrenergic neurons hyperactivity. Complex multidisciplinary approaches, including genetic tracing, specific circuit labelling, optogenetics and chemogenetics, electrophysiology, and single‐cell transcriptomics and proteomics, are required to test this hypothesis pre‐clinical.
Editorial: trends in the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease in Korea
Authors: Burisch Johan
Published: September 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Choe et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17125 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17184
Letter: efficacy of peppermint oil in irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Gu Yu , Xiang Yang
Published: September 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Ingrosso et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17179 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17197
Editorial: rising rates of venous thromboembolism among hospitalised patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the USA
Authors: Bodger Keith
Published: September 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Faye et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17162 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17200
Letter: efficacy of peppermint oil in irritable bowel syndrome—authors' reply
Authors: Ingrosso Maria Rosa , Ianiro Gianluca , Nee Judy , Lembo Anthony J. , Moayyedi Paul , Black Christopher J. , Ford Alexander C.
Published: September 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Ingrosso et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17179 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17194
Basin analysis palaeo‐landscape modelling: Testing the critical controls using experimental design constrained by a real 3D geological model, Gippsland Basin, Australia
Authors: Yang Xuemei , Smith Gregory , Gupta Ritu
Published: September 2022

The main controlling variables for palaeo‐landscape evolution are investigated to assess their relative importance using the Gippsland Basin geological history. Palaeo‐landscape reconstruction is a complicated process controlled and affected by multiple variables, including tectonic, palaeo‐environment, sea‐level change, rainfall, sediment erosion, transportation, deposition, etc. The Basin and Landscape Dynamics software (Badlands) software was used with an efficient experimental design (ED) to guide the selected scenarios, process the results, and generate the multi‐variate equations that define and identify the important controlling variables. The ED was used to test and identify the main uncertainties and their possible ranges, based on actual field data, while at the same time ensuring that the full multi‐dimensional space for those variables was covered to enable the computation of multivariate equations from the minimum number of scenario runs. A full suite of 3D forward palaeo‐landscape models of the Gippsland Basin was built to reconstruct the basin history from its formation to the present (Early Cretaceous to Holocene, 137‐0 Ma). The models are compared to the corresponding full 3D realistic structural and stratigraphic model of the basin that has been built in Petrel (Schlumberger software). This constrains the sedimentary, stratigraphic, burial and thermal histories to the relative subsidence rates and basin‐fill for each geological sequence by using the model isopachs input to the Badlands modelling. The ED required only 22 scenarios to fit 12 identified variables and test for possible interactions with each other. The most significant variables are those that control sediment supply including non‐marine erodibility, rainfall, (Rainfall × Area) exponent m, Slope and critical slope while maximum % Marine Deposition and marine dispersal are also required to fill the marine accommodation space. Sea Level and subsidence only become significant when rapid enough to outpace sediment supply. The controlling factors change over time with basin development from rift to post‐rift phases and interactions are highly significant.
TIMP1 promotes cell proliferation and invasion capability of right‐sided colon cancers via the FAK/Akt signaling pathway
Authors: Ma Beibei , Ueda Hiroyuki , Okamoto Koichi , Bando Masahiro , Fujimoto Shota , Okada Yasuyuki , Kawaguchi Tomoyuki , Wada Hironori , Miyamoto Hiroshi , Shimada Mitsuo , Sato Yasushi , Takayama Tetsuji
Published: September 2022

Although right‐sided colorectal cancer (CRC) shows a worse prognosis than left‐sided CRC, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We established patient‐derived organoids (PDOs) from left‐ and right‐sided CRCs and directly compared cell proliferation and invasion capability between them. We then analyzed the expression of numerous genes in signal transduction pathways to clarify the mechanism of the differential prognosis. Cell proliferation activity and invasion capability in right‐sided cancer PDOs were significantly higher than in left‐sided cancer PDOs and normal PDOs, as revealed by Cell Titer Glo and transwell assays, respectively. We then used quantitative RT‐PCR to compare 184 genes in 30 pathways among right‐sided and left‐sided cancer and normal PDOs and found that the TIMP1 mRNA level was highest in right‐sided PDOs. TIMP1 protein levels were upregulated in right‐sided PDOs compared with normal PDOs but was downregulated in left‐sided PDOs. TIMP1 knockdown with shRNA significantly decreased cell proliferation activity and invasion capability in right‐sided PDOs but not in left‐sided PDOs. Moreover, TIMP1 knockdown significantly decreased pFAK and pAkt expression levels in right‐sided PDOs but not in left‐sided PDOs. A database analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed that TIMP1 expression in right‐sided CRCs was significantly higher than in left‐sided CRCs. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed significantly shorter overall survival in high‐TIMP1 patients versus low‐TIMP1 patients with right‐sided CRCs but not left‐sided CRCs. Our data suggest that TIMP1 is overexpressed in right‐sided CRCs and promotes cell proliferation and invasion capability through the TIMP1/FAK/Akt pathway, leading to a poor prognosis. The TIMP1/FAK/Akt pathway can be a target for therapeutic agents in right‐sided CRCs.
The emerging multifaceted role of PINK1 in cancer biology
Authors: Wang Meng , Luan Shijia , Fan Xiang , Wang Jie , Huang Ju , Gao Xu , Han Dong
Published: September 2022

For its various important functions in cells, phosphatase and tensin homolog‐induced kinase 1 (PINK1) has drawn considerable attention for the role it plays in early‐onset Parkinson's disease. In recent years, emerging evidence has supported the hypothesis that PINK1 plays a part in regulating many physiological and pathophysiological processes in cancer cells, including cytoplasmic homeostasis, cell survival, and cell death. According to the findings of these studies, PINK1 can function as a tumor promoter or suppressor, showing a duality that is dependent on the context. In this study we review the mechanistic characters relating to PINK1 based on available published data from peer‐reviewed articles, The Cancer Genome Atlas data mining, and cell‐based assays. This mini review focuses on some of the interplays between PINK1 and the context and recent developments in the field, including its growing involvement in mitophagy and its nonmitophagy organelles‐related function. This review aims to help readers better grasp how PINK1 is functioning in cell physiological and pathophysiological processes, especially in cancer biology.
Six new cases of CRB2‐related syndrome and a review of clinical findings in 28 reported patients
Authors: Adutwum Michelle , Hurst Anna , Mirzaa Ghayda , Kushner Jessica D. , Rogers Caleb , Khalek Nahla , Cristancho Ana G. , Burrill Natalie , Seifert Michael E. , Scarano Maria I. , Schnur Rhonda E. , Slavotinek Anne
Published: September 2022

The Crumbs homolog‐2 (CRB2)‐related syndrome (CRBS‐RS) is a rarely encountered condition initially described as a triad comprising ventriculomegaly, Finnish nephrosis, and elevated alpha‐fetoprotein levels in maternal serum and amniotic fluid. CRB2‐related syndrome is caused by biallelic, pathogenic variants in the CRB2 gene. Recent reports of CRB2‐RS have highlighted renal disease with persistent proteinuria and steroid‐resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). We report six new and review 28 reported patients with pathogenic variants in CRB2. We compare clinical features and variant information in CRB2 in patients with CRB2‐RS and in those with isolated renal disease. The kidneys were the most frequently involved body system and 11 patients had only renal manifestations with SRNS or nephrotic syndrome. Central nervous system involvement was the next most common manifestation, followed by cardiac findings that included Scimitar syndrome. There was a significant clustering of pathogenic variants for CRB2‐RS in exons 8 and 10, whereas pathogenic variants in exons 12 and 13 were associated with isolated renal disease. Further information is needed to determine optimal management but monitoring for renal and ocular complications should be considered.
Genetic overview of postaxial polydactyly: Updated classification
Authors: Ahmad Zaheer , Liaqat Romana , Palander Oliva , Bilal Muhammad , Zeb Shah , Ahmad Farooq , Jawad Khan Muhammad , Umair Muhammad
Published: September 2022

Polydactyly or polydactylism, also known as a hyperdactyly, is a congenital limb defect with various morphologic phenotypes. Apart from physical and functional impairments, the presence of polydactyly is an indication of an underlying syndrome in the newborn. Usually, it follows as an autosomal dominant/recessive inheritance pattern with defects in the limb development's anteroposterior patterning. Although mutations in several genes have been associated with polydactyly; however, the exact underlying cause, pathways, and disease mechanisms are still unexplored, thus making it of multi‐factorial origin. Polydactyly is divided into three subtypes; radial, ulnar, and central polydactyly. So far, 11 loci (PAPA1‐PAPA11) and seven human genes have been reported to cause non‐syndromic postaxial polydactyly in humans, including the ZNF141, GLI3, IQCE, GLI1, FAM92A1, KIAA0825, and DACH1. In this review, we discuss emerging evidences of clinical and molecular characterization of polydactyly types in term of the involvement of newly associated genes and loci for non‐syndromic postaxial polydactyly, and how these might impact our understanding of the genetic mechanisms and molecular etiology involved in the cause of polydactyly.
Expanding the spectrum of KCNJ6‐related disorders: Milder phenotype with pathological startle responses
Authors: van Midden Vesna Marija , Kinsley Lisa , Fraint Avram , Krainc Dimitri , Mencacci Niccolò E.
Published: September 2022

Keppen–Lubinsky syndrome is caused by pathogenic variants in KCNJ6, which encodes the inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J6. The four confirmed cases reported to date were characterized by severe intellectual disability, global developmental delay, feeding difficulties, and dysmorphic features. All but one of the cases also had a severe form of lipodystrophy, resulting in tightly adherent facial skin and appearance of premature aging. Here, we describe a 36‐year‐old female with a de novo pathogenic variant in KCNJ6 (NM_002240.5: c.460G>T; p.(Gly154Cys)) presenting with mild intellectual disability, subtle dysmorphic features, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and an exaggerated startle response. This case indicates that KCNJ6‐related disorders should be considered in patients with less pronounced dysmorphic features and milder cognitive impairment, as well as in patients with startle disorders.
Associations of plasma phosphorylated tau181 and neurofilament light chain with brain amyloid burden and cognition in objectively defined subtle cognitive decline patients
Authors: Huang Yanlu , Li Yuehua , Xie Fang , Guo Qihao
Published: September 2022

Aims

There is increasing evidence that plasma biomarkers are specific biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, but their potential utility in Obj‐SCD (objectively defined subtle cognitive decline) remains unclear.

Methods

A total of 234 subjects, including 65 with brain amyloid beta (Aβ) negative normal cognition (Aβ− NC), 58 with Aβ‐positive NC (Aβ+ NC), 63 with Aβ− Obj‐SCD, and 48 with Aβ+ Obj‐SCD were enrolled. Plasma Aβ42, Aβ40, Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, phosphorylated tau181 (p‐tau181), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and total tau (T‐tau) were measured using Simoa assays. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between plasma biomarkers and brain amyloid, cognition, and imaging measures adjusting for age, sex, education, APOE ε4 status, and vascular risk scores. Receiver operating characteristics were used to evaluate the discriminative validity of biomarkers.

Results

After adjustment, only plasma p‐tau181 and NfL were significantly elevated in Aβ+ Obj‐SCD participants compared to Aβ− NC group. Elevated p‐tau181 was associated with brain amyloid accumulation, worse cognitive performance (visual episodic memory, executive function, and visuospatial function), and hippocampal atrophy. These associations mainly occurred in Aβ+ individuals. In contrast, higher NfL was correlated with brain amyloid burden and verbal memory decline. These associations predominantly occurred in Aβ− individuals. The adjusted diagnostic model combining p‐tau181 and NfL levels showed the best performance in identifying Aβ+ Obj‐SCD from Aβ− NC [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.814], which did not differ from the adjusted p‐tau181 model (AUC = 0.763).

Conclusions

Our findings highlight that plasma p‐tau181, alone or combined with NfL, contributes to identifying high‐risk AD populations.
Connectivity between countries established by landbirds and raptors migrating along the African–Eurasian flyway
Authors: Guilherme João L. , Jones Victoria R. , Catry Inês , Beal Martin , Dias Maria P. , Oppel Steffen , Vickery Juliet A. , Hewson Chris M. , Butchart Stuart H. M. , Rodrigues Ana S. L.
Published: September 2022

The conservation of long‐distance migratory birds requires coordination between the multiple countries connected by the movements of these species. The recent expansion of tracking studies is shedding new light on these movements, but much of this information is fragmented and inaccessible to conservation practitioners and policy makers. We synthesized current knowledge on the connectivity established between countries by landbirds and raptors migrating along the African–Eurasian flyway. We reviewed tracking studies to compile migration records for 1229 individual birds, from which we derived 544 migratory links, each link corresponding to a species’ connection between a breeding country in Europe and a nonbreeding country in sub‐Saharan Africa. We used these migratory links to analyze trends in knowledge over time and spatial patterns of connectivity per country (across species), per species (across countries), and at the flyway scale (across all countries and all species). The number of tracking studies available increased steadily since 2010 (particularly for landbirds), but the coverage of existing tracking data was highly incomplete. An average of 7.5% of migratory landbird species and 14.6% of raptor species were tracked per country. More data existed from central and western European countries, and it was biased toward larger bodied species. We provide species‐ and country‐level syntheses of the migratory links we identified from the reviewed studies, involving 123 populations of 43 species, migrating between 28 European and 43 African countries. Several countries (e.g., Spain, Poland, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo) are strategic priorities for future tracking studies to complement existing data, particularly on landbirds. Despite the limitations in existing tracking data, our data and results can inform discussions under 2 key policy instruments at the flyway scale: the African–Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia.
Long‐term changes in body weight and serum cholesterol in heart transplant recipients
Authors: Miura Kyoko , Yu Regina , Entwistle Timothy R , McKenzie Scott C , Green Adèle C
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Long‐term changes in weight and blood lipids beyond 12 months after heart transplantation are largely unknown. We quantified changes in weight, body mass index (BMI), blood cholesterol, and triglycerides in heart transplant recipients (HTRs) during the 36 months after transplantation, and we assessed the influence of statin therapy on these outcomes.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of adult HTRs, transplanted 1990–2017, in Queensland, Australia. From each patient's medical charts, we extracted weight, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and statin therapy at four time‐points: time of transplant (baseline), and 12‐, 24‐, 36‐month post‐transplant. Changes in weight and blood lipids were assessed according to baseline BMI.

Results

Among 316 HTRs, 236 (median age 52 years, 83% males) with available information were included. During the 36 months post‐transplant, all patients gained weight (83.5–90.5 kg; p < .001), especially those with baseline BMI < 25.0 km/m2 (67.9–76.2 kg; p < .001). Mean blood cholesterol (4.60–4.90 mmol/L; p = .004) and mean blood triglycerides (1.79–2.18 mmol/L; p = .006) also increased significantly in all patients, particularly in those with baseline BMI ≥ 25.0 km/m2 but the differences were not significant (total cholesterol 4.42–5.13 mmol/L; triglycerides 1.76–2.47 mmol/L). Total cholesterol was highest in patients not taking statins, and levels differed significantly (p = .010) according to statin dosing changes during the 36 months post‐transplant.

Conclusion

Patients demonstrate significant rises in weight and blood lipids in the 36 months after heart transplantation.
Guidelines for endoscopic balloon dilation in treating Crohn's disease‐associated small intestinal strictures (supplement to the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Enteroscopy)
Authors: Yamamoto Hironori , Yano Tomonori , Araki Akihiro , Esaki Motohiro , Ohtsuka Kazuo , Ohmiya Naoki , Oka Shiro , Nakase Hiroshi , Bamba Shigeki , Hirai Fumihito , Hosoe Naoki , Matsuda Tomoki , Mitsui Keigo , Watanabe Kenji , Ogata Haruhiko , Katsuki Shinichi , Matsumoto Takayuki , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro , Fujimoto Kazuma , Inoue Haruhiro
Published: September 2022

Balloon‐assisted enteroscopy allows endoscopic treatments in the deeper segments of the small bowel. Endoscopic balloon dilation has become a popular minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of Crohn's disease‐associated small intestinal strictures. As a supplement to the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Enteroscopy, the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society's Working Committee has developed the present “Guidelines for endoscopic balloon dilation in treating Crohn's disease‐associated small intestinal strictures,” based on new scientific techniques and evidence. The guidelines cover standard procedures for the insertion route of the balloon endoscope, bowel preparation, indications, procedure‐related complications, efficacy, target diameter and duration, management of multiple strictures, and the current state of combined and alternative treatments. Unresolved future research questions are also listed in this guideline.
Host preference of the tree‐killing bark beetle Polygraphus proximus across a geographic boundary separating host species
Authors: Takagi Etsuro
Published: September 2022

The life cycles of bark beetles are intimately linked to their host species. Therefore, bark beetle species are expected to show traits that vary among host species and across geographic ranges. The taxonomic proximity of host tree species can also influence host selection. Abies species (Pinaceae) native to Japan are genetically classified into three phylogenetic groups. Their natural distributions are separated by a distinct biogeographic boundary in Japan (i.e., the Tsugaru Strait, also referred to as Blakiston's Line). Therefore, I investigated the host preference of Polygraphus proximus Blandford (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) within four allopatrically distributed Abies species across north and south of the Tsugaru Strait through field surveys and field choice experiments. Abies sachalinensis (F. Schmidt) Mast. is the only species native to Hokkaido, north of the Tsugaru Strait. Field observations and field host‐choice bioassays showed that A. sachalinensis was less severely attacked by P. proximus than was Abies veitchii Lindl. on both sides of the Tsugaru Strait. The beetles also preferred to attack Abies firma Siebold & Zucc. – which belongs to a genetically distinct group (i.e., section Momi) from that of A. veitchii and A. sachalinensis (i.e., section Balsamea) – over A. sachalinensis in both Hokkaido and Honshu. Although Abies homolepis Siebold & Zucc. also belongs to the section Momi, A. firma and A. veitchii had more attacks than A. homolepis. The results provide evidence that P. proximus does not show specialization across the various parts of their geographic range where the host species are different, and there is no positive correlation between taxonomic proximity and host preference for P. proximus.
Digital Module 29: Multidimensional Item Response Theory Equating
Authors: Kim Stella Y.
Published: September 2022

In this digital ITEMS module, Dr. Stella Kim provides an overview of multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) equating. Traditional unidimensional item response theory (IRT) equating methods impose the sometimes untenable restriction on data that only a single ability is assessed. This module discusses potential sources of multidimensionality and presents potential consequences of multidimensionality on equating. To remedy these effects, MIRT equating can be used as a viable alternative to traditional methods of IRT equating. In conducting MIRT equating, the choice of an appropriate MIRT model is necessary, and thus the module describes several existing MIRT models and illustrates each using hypothetical examples. After a brief description of MIRT models, an extensive review of the current literature is presented to identify gaps in the literature on MIRT equating. Then, the steps for conducting MIRT observed‐score equating are described. Finally, the module discusses practical considerations in applying MIRT equating to testing practices and suggests potential areas of research for future studies.