bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compound‐42 alleviates acute kidney injury by targeting RIPK3‐mediated necroptosis
Authors: He Xiao‐yan , Wang Fang , Suo Xiao‐guo , Gu Ming‐zhen , Wang Jia‐nan , Xu Chuan‐hui , Dong Yu‐hang , He Yuan , Zhang Yao , Ji Ming‐lu , Chen Ying , Zhang Meng‐meng , Fan Yin‐guang , Wen Jia‐gen , Jin Juan , Wang Jie , Li Jun , Zhuang Chun‐lin , Liu Ming‐ming , Meng Xiao‐ming
Published: May 2023

Background and Purpose

Necroptosis plays an essential role in acute kidney injury and is mediated by receptor‐interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), receptor‐interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3), and mixed lineage kinase domain‐like pseudokinase (MLKL). A novel RIPK3 inhibitor, compound 42 (Cpd‐42) alleviates the systemic inflammatory response. The current study was designed to investigate whether Cpd‐42 exhibits protective effects on acute kidney injury and reveal the underlying mechanisms.

Experimental Approach

The effects of Cpd‐42 were determined in vivo through cisplatin‐ and ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R)‐induced acute kidney injury and in vitro through cisplatin‐ and hypoxia/re‐oxygenation (H/R)‐induced cell damage. Transmission electron microscopy and periodic acid–Schiff staining were used to identify renal pathology. Cellular thermal shift assay and RIPK3‐knockout mouse renal tubule epithelial cells were used to explore the relationship between Cpd‐42 and RIPK3. Molecular docking and site‐directed mutagenesis were used to determine the binding site of RIPK3 with Cpd‐42.

Key Results

Cpd‐42 reduced human proximal tubule epithelial cell line (HK‐2) cell damage, necroptosis and inflammatory responses in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo, cisplatin‐ and I/R‐induced acute kidney injury was alleviated by Cpd‐42 treatment. Cpd‐42 inhibited necroptosis by interacting with two key hydrogen bonds of RIPK3 at Thr94 and Ser146, which further blocked the phosphorylation of RIPK3 and mitigated acute kidney injury.

Conclusion and Implications

Acting as a novel RIPK3 inhibitor, Cpd‐42 reduced kidney damage, inflammatory response and necroptosis in acute kidney injury by binding to sites Thr94 and Ser146 on RIPK3. Cpd‐42 could be a promising treatment for acute kidney injury.
Homeobox A7 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression through C‐C motif chemokine ligand 2‐mediated tumor‐associated macrophage recruitment
Authors: Feng Anqi , He Lingnan , Jiang Jiakai , Chu Yuan , Zhang Zehua , Fang Kang , Wang Zeyu , Li Zhaoxing , Sun Mingchuang , Zhao Ziying , Shi Jianing , Zhang Li , Chen Tao , Xu Meidong
Published: May 2023

Homeobox A7 (HOXA7) plays essential roles in multiple malignancies and was reported to be overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, its functions in the ESCC tumor microenvironment remain to be explored. In this study, we showed that HOXA7 was overexpressed in ESCC among HOXA family members and correlated with tumor‐associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration both in The Cancer Genome Atlas database and ESCC clinical samples. Moreover, transactivation of C‐C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) by HOXA7 was identified (real‐time quantitative PCR [RT‐qPCR], western blot analysis, ELISA, and ChIP‐qPCR), which was detected to drive chemotaxis and M2 polarization of macrophages both in vitro (Transwell assay) and in vivo (xenograft tumors models). In addition, CCL2 triggers macrophage expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) (RT‐qPCR and ELISA), which promotes tumor proliferation and metastasis by activating its receptor EGFR. In addition, EGF‐induced ESCC cell proliferation and migration can be abrogated by HOXA7 knockdown (CCK‐8 proliferation assay, EdU fluorescence, and Transwell assay). These results indicate a novel mechanistic role of HOXA7 in the cross‐talk between ESCC and TAMs, which could be an underlying therapeutic target for ESCC.
Xanthones as potential α‐glucosidase non‐competition inhibitors: Synthesis, inhibitory activities, and in silico studies
Authors: Wang Lili , Ai Chenyang , Jin Chaoqun , Mou Jiajia , Deng Yanru
Published: May 2023

α‐glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) were commonly used in clinical for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Xanthones were naturally occurring antioxidants, and they may also be potential AGIs. In this study, eleven 1,6‐ and 1,3‐substituted xanthone compounds were designed and synthesized, of which four were new compounds. Their α‐glucosidase inhibitory activities in vitro and in silico were evaluated. Five xanthone compounds with higher activity than acarbose were screened out, and the xanthones substituted at the 1,6‐positions were more likely to be potential α‐glucosidase non‐competitive inhibitors. The binding mode of xanthones with α‐glucosidase was further studied by molecular docking method, and the results showed that the inhibitory effect of non‐competitive inhibitors on site 1 of α‐glucosidase may be related to the hydrogen bonds formed by the compounds with amino acid residues ASN165, HIS209, TRY207, ASP243, and SER104. This study provided a theoretical basis of the rapid discovery and structural modification of non‐competitive xanthone inhibitors of α‐glucosidase.
Evaluation of a platform‐switched Morse taper connection for all‐on‐four or six treatment in edentulous or terminal dentition treatment: A retrospective study with 1–8 years of follow‐up
Authors: Ding Yude , Zhou Huajun , Zhang Wentao , Chen Jianping , Zheng Yuanna , Wang Linhong , Yang Fan
Published: May 2023

Background

The survival rate, marginal bone loss and soft tissue health of the Ankylos implants and the balanced base abutments in all‐on‐four or six implant restoration of edentulous or terminal dentition patients has not been reported in the clinical research.

Purpose

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the Ankylos implants and the balanced base abutments in all‐on‐four or six implant restoration of edentulous or terminal dentition patients after 1–8 years of follow‐up.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective study was conducted based on the medical records of 33 patients who received all‐on‐four or six treatments from April 2014 to May 2020. Four radiographic examinations [immediate postoperative (T0), definitive restorations (T1), 1–3 years after prosthetic restorations (T2), and more than 3 years after prosthetic restorations (T3)] were obtained to evaluate vertical bone height (VBH). We also calculated the survival rate and examined the condition of soft tissue with this implant system in edentulous or terminal dentition patients. Three‐level linear model analyses were used to explore potential risk factors for VBH changes on the mesial and distal sides. The generalized linear model was used to analyze the influencing factors of BOP and plaque.

Results

A total of 218 implants were included in this study. The cumulative survival rate of the implants was 97.25% before the definitive prosthesis, 96.33% within 3 years of follow‐up and 95.32% after more than 3 years of follow‐up. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) bone losses of the VBH were 0.27 ± 0.05 mm (T1‐T3) on the mesial side and 0.49 ± 0.06 mm (T1‐T3) on the distal side. During 1–8 years of follow‐up, the height and angle of the abutment (p < 0.001), the mandible implant site (p < 0.001), the length of the implant (p = 0.014 < 0.05) and age (p = 0.029 < 0.05) showed statistically significant effects on vertical mesial bone height (VMBH) and vertical distal bone height (VDBH). The risk of BOP among participants who brushed three times a day was lower than those who brushed less than three times. The plaque risk of short abutment height was higher than the long abutment.

Conclusion

The current study showed that the Ankylos implants with the balanced base abutments in all‐on‐four or six implants treatment is a viable and predictable option with a high survival rate and low marginal bone loss in edentulous or terminal dentition patients. VBH around the implants was strongly associated with the mandible implant site, abutment height and angle, the length of the implant and age. Moreover, teeth‐brushing times and abutment height significantly affect soft tissue health.
Solubility prediction of CI Disperse Red 4 and CI Disperse Red 15 in supercritical carbon dioxide based on the back propagation neural network
Authors: Yan Jun , Du Shuang , Hu Jinhua , Tamura Kazuhiro , Li Hong
Published: May 2023

The solubility of 1‐amino‐2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxy‐anthraquinone (CI Disperse Red 4) and 1‐amino‐2‐hydroxy‐anthraquinone (CI Disperse Red 15) in supercritical carbon dioxide was measured using a dynamic method over a temperature range from 343.15 to 373.15 K and a pressure range from 14 to 22 MPa. The experimental data are analysed by using the back propagation neural network constructed by MATLAB. In the back propagation neural network, the input layer consisted of two inputs, which are temperature and pressure, the output layer consisted of the solubility of dyes, and the hidden layer function was composed of a non‐linear function. The results of the analysis showed that a good fitting level of 0.99 was obtained, which means that the back propagation neural network can accurately estimate the solubility data in supercritical carbon dioxide.
Infectious complications associated with bronchial anastomotic dehiscence in lung transplant recipients
Authors: Courtwright Andrew M. , Doyon Jeffery B. , Blumberg Emily A. , Cevasco Marisa , Cantu Ed , Bermudez Christian A. , Crespo Maria M.
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Bronchial anastomotic dehiscence (AD) is an uncommon complication following lung transplantation that carries significant morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to characterize fungal and bacterial infections in ADs, including whether infections following AD were associated with progression to bronchial stenosis.

Methods

This was a single‐center study of 615 lung transplant recipients between 6/1/2015 and 12/31/2021. Airway complications were defined according to ISHLT consensus guidelines.

Results

22 of the 615 recipients (3.6%) developed an AD. Bronchial ischemia or necrosis was common prior to dehiscence (68.1%). Fourteen (63.6%) recipients had bacterial airway infections, most commonly with Gram‐negative rods, prior to dehiscence. Thirteen (59.1%) recipients had an associated pleural infection, most commonly with Candida species (30.8%). Post‐dehiscence Aspergillus species were isolated in 4 recipients, 3 of which were de novo infections. Eleven had bacterial infections prior to dehiscence resolution, most commonly with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Eleven recipients developed airway stenosis requiring dilation and/or stenting. Development of secondary infection prior to AD resolution was not associated with progression to stenosis (OR = .41, 95% CI = .05‐3.30, p = .41).

Conclusions

Gram‐negative bacterial infections are common before and after AD. Pleural infection should be suspected in most cases. Infections prior to healing were not associated with subsequent development of airway stenosis.
Not all home drinking is equal: A latent class analysis of drinking patterns and alcohol consumption levels following initial COVID‐19 restrictions in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom
Authors: Strating Tom R. , Puljević Cheneal , Davies Emma , Barratt Monica J. , Winstock Adam , Ferris Jason
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Initial COVID‐19 restrictions forced changes in the contexts (e.g., with who and where) within which individuals consumed alcohol. We aimed to explore different profiles of drinking contexts during initial COVID‐19 restrictions and their association with alcohol consumption.

Method

We used latent class analysis (LCA) to explore subgroups of drinking contexts among 4891 respondents of the Global Drug Survey from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia who reported drinking alcohol in the month prior to data collection (3 May–21 June 2020). Ten binary LCA indicator variables were generated from a survey question about last month alcohol settings. Negative binomial regression was used to explore the association between the latent classes and respondents' total number of drinks consumed in the last 30 days (i.e., alcohol consumption).

Results

The LCA found six distinct classes of individuals who reported drinking in the following contexts: household (36.0%); alone (32.3%); alone and household (17.9%); gatherings and household (9.5%); party (3.2%); and everywhere (1.1%), with the last group associated with the highest probability of increased alcohol consumption during this time. Male respondents and those aged 35 or older were most likely to report increased alcohol consumption.

Discussion and Conclusions

Our findings suggest that drinking contexts, sex and age influenced alcohol consumption during the early stages of the COVID‐19 pandemic. These findings highlight a need for improved policy targeting risky drinking in home settings. Further research should explore whether COVID‐19‐induced shifts in alcohol use persist as restrictions are lifted.
The UK gender pay gap: Does firm size matter?
Authors: Jones Melanie , Kaya Ezgi
Published: May 2023

Motivated by the introduction of the UK Gender Pay Gap Reporting legislation to large firms, defined as over 250 employees, we use linked employee–employer panel data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings to explore pre‐legislation variation in the gender pay gap by firm size. In doing so, we contribute to the evidence on the relationship between two prominent empirical regularities in the labour economics literature, namely the gender pay gap and the firm‐size wage premium. We find that both the raw and adjusted gender pay gaps increase with firm size in the UK private sector, even after controlling for unobserved worker heterogeneity, consistent with the legislation being targeted effectively. However, this conclusion changes after accounting for unobserved firm‐level heterogeneity. Large firms have smaller within‐firm raw gender pay gaps and similar adjusted gender pay gaps when compared to smaller firms. Our findings are not specific to the current definition of large firms but hold more generally, including at alternative proposed size thresholds.
Evaluation of dental students' clinical communication skills from three perspective approaches: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Ab Ghani Siti Mariam , Mohd Khairuddin Puteri Nurul Adila , Lim Tong Wah , Md Sabri Budi Aslinie , Abdul Hamid Nor Faharina , Baharuddin Izyan Hazwani , Schonwetter Dieter
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The communication skills of clinicians are very crucial in providing better health outcomes for patients. Therefore, this study aimed to assess undergraduate dental students' communication skills in relation to their demographics and clinical setting using a three‐perspective approach; the student, the patient and the clinical instructor perspective.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted using validated modified‐communication tools; Patient Communication Assessment Instruments (PCAI), Student Communication Assessment Instruments (SCAI) and Clinical Communication Assessment Instruments (CCAI) which included four communication domains. One hundred and seventy‐six undergraduate clinical year students were recruited in this study whereby each of them was assessed by a clinical instructor and a randomly selected patient in two settings: Dental Health Education (DHE) and Comprehensive Care (CC) clinic.

Results

Comparing the three perspectives, PCAI yielded the highest scores across all domains, followed by SCAI and CCAI (p < .001). SCAI exhibited a better score in Year 5 compared to Year 3 and Year 4 (p = .027). The male students perceived they performed better than females in all domains (p < .05). Patients rated the students higher in the DHE clinic as compared to the CC clinic for the team interaction domain.

Conclusion

There was an upward pattern of the communication skills score rated from the clinical instructor perspective to the student and patient perspectives. The use of PCAI, SCAI and CCAI collectively gave a complementary view of students' communication performance in all the domains assessed.
Assessing the effectiveness of long‐term monitoring of the Broad‐toothed Rat in the Barrington Tops National Park, Australia
Authors: Alley Charlotte , Beard Peter , Clulow John , Griffin Andrea , Fawcett Adam , James Geoffrey , Hayward Matt W.
Published: May 2023

Biodiversity monitoring is crucial for effective conservation efforts. Effective monitoring allows managers to determine the status and trends of biodiversity, as well as the success of conservation actions. The population of the Broad‐toothed Rats (Mastacomys fuscus) in the Barrington Tops National Park New South Wales, Australia has been monitored since 1999 via scat and live‐trapping surveys. We reviewed the methods used and analysed the data produced with the aim of describing patterns of population change over time using a range of outcome variables and identifying different climate correlates. A secondary aim was to explore the use of population statistics that account for imperfect detection by comparing naïve occupancy, with an index of relative abundance based on trap effort, the latency to find scats during scat surveys and an occupancy model based on trapping surveys. Neither of these three methods accounts for detectability variation. Naïve occupancy decreased slightly over time, while the relative abundance based on trap effort revealed no evidence of change. Additionally, naïve occupancy decreased with increasing temperature while temperature had no clear impact on relative abundance. Finally, precipitation had no impact on either naïve occupancy or relative abundance. We found no evidence of a relationship between the latency to find scats and the index of relative abundance, suggesting that one or neither is related to actual abundance. Finally, a multi‐season occupancy model found occupancy probability to be 0.78 ± 0.23 (standard error); detection probability as 0.51 ± 0.06; seasonal colonisation rate as 0.36 ± 0.13 and seasonal extinction rate at 0.44 ± 0.13. We conclude that despite significant investment in monitoring, this historical data set does not allow managers to ascertain whether population change has occurred and to identify potential drivers of change. Careful consideration of future methods, in particular, whether there is imperfect detection in scat surveys, will help to inform future monitoring.
Clinical application of the wooden shoe to complement surgical management of laminitis and other foot‐related disease in the horse: A report of three cases
Authors: Torrent‐Crosa Albert , Kamus Louis , O'Grady Stephen E.
Published: May 2023

This article describes three cases in which severe foot pathology was managed with surgery and the application of a wooden shoe. Although all three horses would have fulfilled the grounds for humane euthanasia, they were successfully managed and had a favourable outcome. This article supports current farriery concepts and shows how the wooden shoe can effectively redistribute the horse's weight on the solar surface of the foot, alleviate foot pain, enhance foot biomechanics and serve as a valuable tool for veterinarians and farriers in post‐surgical management of laminitis and other foot‐related injuries.
Urban environments provide new perspectives for forecasting vegetation phenology responses under climate warming
Authors: Yang Lu , Zhao Shuqing , Liu Shuguang
Published: May 2023

Given that already‐observed temperature increase within cities far exceeds the projected global temperature rise by the end of the century, urban environments often offer a unique opportunity for studying ecosystem response to future warming. However, the validity of thermal gradients in space serving as a substitute for those in time is rarely tested. Here, we investigated vegetation phenology dynamics in China's 343 cities and empirically test whether phenological responses to spatial temperature rise in urban settings can substitute for those to temporal temperature rise in their natural counterparts based on satellite‐derived vegetation phenology and land surface temperature from 2003 to 2018. We found prevalent advancing spring phenology with “high confidence” and delaying autumn phenology with “medium confidence” under the context of widespread urban warming. Furthermore, we showed that space cannot substitute for time in predicting phenological shifts under climate warming at the national scale and for most cities. The thresholds of ~11°C mean annual temperature and ~600 mm annual precipitation differentiated the magnitude of phenological sensitivity to temperature across space and through time. Below those thresholds, there existed stronger advanced spring phenology and delayed autumn phenology across the spatial urbanization gradients than through time, and vice versa. Despite the complex and diverse relationships between phenological sensitivities across space and through time, we found that the directions of the temperature changes across spatial gradients were converged (i.e., mostly increased), but divergent through temporal gradients (i.e., increased or decreased without a predominant direction). Similarly, vegetation phenology changes more uniformly over space than through time. These results suggested that the urban environments provide a real‐world condition to understand vegetation phenology response under future warming.
A mesoplankton biomass decline in the Central Atlantic coupled with an increase of surface temperature and an expansion of low‐productive zones
Authors: Vereshchaka A. L. , Mikaelyan A. S. , Piontkovski S. A. , Lunina A. A.
Published: May 2023

Aim

Climate‐driven trends in environmental processes and their effect on marine ecosystems remain poorly understood despite an obvious decrease in marine biological resources which undergo changes in stock size mediated by phyto‐ and mesoplankton. A mesoplankton multiannual dataset is one of the best tools to elucidate general trends in marine ecosystems.

Location

Oligo‐ and mesotrophic waters of the Central Atlantic.

Time Period

1950–2016.

Major Taxa Studied

Chaetognatha, Cnidaria, Crustacea, Mollusca.

Methods

Wet mesoplankton biomass (B) values were estimated in 1159 mesoplankton (animals 0.5–30.0 mm long) samples collected in the open ocean epipelagic (0–200 m) in 1950–2016. We ran Generalized Linear Mixed Models and analysed general trends in B, in satellite‐derived surface chlorophyll (Chl, as a proxy of phytoplankton biomass in 1998–2015), and surface temperature (SST, NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, 1948–2015). We further compared the multiannual trends in B, SST, Chl and in space of the oligotrophic and mesotrophic Chl contours in selected regions and in the whole Central Atlantic.

Results

We showed a statistically significant decline of B within the whole Central Atlantic (9‐fold during 1950–2016) and within each of the three selected regions. These trends were always coupled with other statistically significant effects: increase of SST, decline of Chl, expansion of Chl‐depleted areas and shrinkage of Chl‐enriched areas.

Main Conclusions

The results unveil the following causal relationship in the Central Atlantic: SST increase → strengthening of stratification → Chl decline—expansion of low‐productive areas → B decrease, which, along with existing prognostic climate models, suggests future mesoplankton decline in the Central Tropical Atlantic. The decline in Chl and B is expected to amplify decrease of higher trophic levels biomass and thus to result in changes in the marine food webs. Observed changes in biomass and production will imply direct repercussions for world fisheries and other services provided by Ocean.
Global depth distribution of belowground net primary productivity and its drivers
Authors: Xiao Liujun , Wang Guocheng , Chang Jinfeng , Chen Yaoyao , Guo Xiaowei , Mao Xiali , Wang Mingming , Zhang Shuai , Shi Zhou , Luo Yiqi , Cheng Lei , Yu Kailiang , Mo Fei , Luo Zhongkui
Published: May 2023

Aim

This study aimed to infer the allocation of belowground net primary productivity (BNPP) to sequential soil depths down to 2 m across the globe at a 1 km resolution and assess underlying environmental drivers.

Location

Global.

Time Period

Contemporary (1932–2017).

Major Taxa Studied

Terrestrial plants.

Methods

Global datasets including field net primary production (NPP, i.e., the difference between plant assimilated and respired carbon) from 725 soil profiles, root biomass and its depth distribution from 559 soil profiles were compiled and used to infer the depth distribution of BNPP across the globe and digitally map depth‐resolved BNPP globally at 1 km resolution. Drivers of the depth distribution of BNPP were evaluated using machine learning‐based models.

Results

Global average BNPP allocated to the 0–20 cm soil layer is estimated to be 1.1 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, accounting for ~60% of total BNPP. Across the globe, the depth distribution of BNPP varies largely, and more BNPP is allocated to deeper layers in hotter and drier regions. Edaphic, climatic and topographic properties (in order of importance) explain >80% of such variability; and the direction and magnitude of the influence of individual properties are soil depth‐ and biome‐dependent.

Main Conclusions

The findings suggest that mean annual temperature and precipitation are the two most important factors regulating BNPP across the globe. Soil properties such as soil actual evaporation and total nitrogen also play a vital role in regulating the depth distribution of BNPP. The maps of BNPP provide global benchmarks of depth‐resolved BNPP for the prediction of whole‐profile soil carbon dynamics across biomes.
Cut‐off values for severe low muscle strength and skeletal muscle mass in post‐acute patients with sarcopenia
Authors: Nagano Fumihiko , Yoshimura Yoshihiro , Matsumoto Ayaka , Sato Yoichi , Abe Takafumi , Bise Takahiro , Kido Yoshifumi , Shimazu Sayuri , Shiraishi Ai
Published: May 2023

Aim

This study aimed to calculate the cut‐off values for severe decline in muscle strength and skeletal muscle mass in post‐acute patients with sarcopenia and to determine their effect on activities of daily living.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients with sarcopenia consecutively admitted to a Japanese rehabilitation hospital between 2014 and 2016. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass index. The outcome was the functional independence measure of motor function at discharge. Cut‐off values for predicting severe decline in handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass index were calculated separately by sex. Values below the cut‐off were used to define severely low handgrip strength and severely low skeletal muscle mass index.

Results

Overall, 451 patients (median age, 83 years; 61.4% women) were evaluated. The median functional independence measure of motor function score at discharge was 57. The optimal cut‐off values for severely low handgrip strength were 9.0 kg for women and 14.6 kg for men, and those for severely low skeletal muscle mass index were 4.6 kg/m2 for women and 5.6 kg/m2 for men. Severely low handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass index were independently associated with the functional independence measure of motor function score at discharge (β = −0.178, P = 0.005).

Conclusions

In post‐acute patients with sarcopenia, a severe decline in muscle strength and skeletal muscle mass is further negatively associated with an improvement in activities of daily living. The cut‐off values herein can serve as indicators to assess sarcopenia severity. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 493–499.
Unpack the black box of pilot sampling in policy experimentation: A qualitative comparative analysis of China's public hospital reform
Authors: He Alex Jingwei , Fan Yumeng , Su Rui
Published: May 2023

Governments increasingly use policy experimentation programs to seek solutions for complex problems. Because randomization and controllability are unrealistic for real‐world policy experiments, how subnational pilots are selected is crucial for generating sound evidence for national replication. However, the received wisdom on pilot sampling is thin and paradoxical. While some studies suggest that policymakers prefer to select regions with favorable conditions, others contend that securing representativeness remains the principal concern when it comes to pilot selection. This study resolves the paradox by elucidating the logic of selecting pilots in large policy experimentation programs. We focus on China's huge public hospital reform program and through a novel research design that combines comparative qualitative analysis and illustrative case studies we seek to explain the strategy for pilot selection. Our analyses reveal five distinctive pathways of pilot sampling: piloting for challenge, piloting for advancement, piloting for innovation, piloting for action, and piloting for regional generalization. Each modality represents a specific experimental purpose. We reveal that piloting serves as a versatile governance tool that can fulfill multiple functions in complex reforms.
Nondomain biopolymers: Flexible molecular strategies to acquire biological functions
Authors: Arakawa Kazuharu , Hirose Tetsuro , Inada Toshifumi , Ito Takuhiro , Kai Toshie , Oyama Masaaki , Tomari Yukihide , Yoda Takao , Nakagawa Shinichi
Published: May 2023

A long‐standing assumption in molecular biology posits that the conservation of protein and nucleic acid sequences emphasizes the functional significance of biomolecules. These conserved sequences fold into distinct secondary and tertiary structures, enable highly specific molecular interactions, and regulate complex yet organized molecular processes within living cells. However, recent evidence suggests that biomolecules can also function through primary sequence regions that lack conservation across species or gene families. These regions typically do not form rigid structures, and their inherent flexibility is critical for their functional roles. This review examines the emerging roles and molecular mechanisms of “nondomain biomolecules,” whose functions are not easily predicted due to the absence of conserved functional domains. We propose the hypothesis that both domain‐ and nondomain‐type molecules work together to enable flexible and efficient molecular processes within the highly crowded intracellular environment.
Quantification of element levels and arsenic species in commonly available rice in Sri Lanka and assessment of adverse health effects
Authors: Senarathne E.M.N.S. , Edirisinghe E.M.R.K.B. , Kim Tae‐Young , Yoo Ji‐Hyock
Published: May 2023

Quantification of some important elements, including several heavy metals, and assessment of health risks associated with rice consumption was conducted. Twelve different rice varieties were analysed for fourteen metals i.e. As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, U, and Zn using Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP‐MS). In addition, arsenic species were separated and determined by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with ICP‐MS. The As levels ranged from 24.16 to 178.66 μg kg−1, while Cd levels varied from 31.38 to 155.88 μg kg−1. The principal component analysis clearly differentiates traditional and non‐traditional varieties. The maximum Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) value, 120.56 μg kg−1 bw day−1, was reported for Zn from Kekulu Samba, while the highest Cancer Risk (CR) value, 1.17 × 10−02, was reported for Cd from red raw rice. The Madathawalu rice recorded the highest Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) value of 5.51. The EDI, CR, and THQ levels showed some health risks for some rice varieties. The most predominant species detected was As(III), followed by As(V), and the total inorganic As level ranged from 77.3 to 91.3%. THQ and CR levels suggested considerable potential non‐carcinogenic risk and carcinogenic risk due to the consumption of rice.
Quality disclosure and unauthorized channel choice
Authors: Yu Xiaohui , Xiao Tiaojun
Published: May 2023

When a manufacturer sells products in two markets, its retailer may create an unauthorized channel to divert products between markets. This paper develops game models to investigate quality disclosure strategy of a manufacturer facing an unauthorized channel. We find that: if the cost of creating an unauthorized channel is high, or consumers’ acceptance degree of gray market product and the difference in consumers’ willingness to pay between markets are low, the manufacturer should conceal quality information to prevent unauthorized channel; if the three parameters are medium, the manufacturer should disclose quality information, and the retailer has a certain possibility to create an unauthorized channel; if the cost is low, or consumers’ acceptance degree and the difference between markets are high, the manufacturer should conceal quality information to save disclosure cost and allow unauthorized channel. When the retailer chooses quality disclosure strategy, it may voluntarily promise not to create an unauthorized channel.
Identification and verification of ferroptosis‐related genes in diabetic foot using bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Wang Xiaoxiang , Dai Shangtai , Zheng Wenlian , Chen Wentao , Li Jiehua , Chen Xiaodong , Zhou Sitong , Yang Ronghua
Published: May 2023

Ferroptosis is a novel form of cell death that plays a key role in several diseases, including inflammation and tumours; however, the role of ferroptosis‐related genes in diabetic foot remains unclear. Herein, diabetic foot‐related genes were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus and the ferroptosis database (FerrDb). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression algorithm was used to construct a related risk model, and differentially expressed genes were analysed through immune infiltration. Finally, we identified relevant core genes through a protein–protein interaction network, subsequently verified using immunohistochemistry. Comprehensive analysis showed 198 genes that were differentially expressed during ferroptosis. Based on functional enrichment analysis, these genes were primarily involved in cell response, chemical stimulation, and autophagy. Using the CIBERSORT algorithm, we calculated the immune infiltration of 22 different types of immune cells in diabetic foot and normal tissues. The protein–protein interaction network identified the hub gene TP53, and according to immunohistochemistry, the expression of TP53 was high in diabetic foot tissues but low in normal tissues. Accordingly, we identified the ferroptosis‐related gene TP53 in the diabetic foot, which may play a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic foot and could be used as a potential biomarker.
Effectiveness of mindfulness‐based interventions on mental, cognitive outcomes and neuroplastic changes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Leow Yihong , Rashid Nur Lidiya Binte Abdul , Klainin‐Yobas Piyanee , Zhang Zemiao , Wu Xi Vivien
Published: May 2023

Aims

To evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness‐based interventions (MBIs) on mental and cognitive outcomes including, anxiety, depression, attention, memory, global cognition and neuroplastic changes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Design

Systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Data source

A three‐step search strategy was conducted on eight electronic databases, grey literature and reference lists from inception to February 2022.

Review methods

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining MBIs on older adults with MCI were screened and assessed for risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Meta‐analysis was conducted using RevMan using a random‐effect model. Narrative synthesis was performed for studies where results could not be pooled statistically.

Results

Ten RCTs were included in the review. Results suggested that right frontal parietal and left inferior temporal gyrus of the brain showed increased cortical thickness after receiving MBIs. There were significant interaction effects for global efficiency and significant interactions in the insular and gyrus regions. Functional connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex, bilateral medial prefrontal cortex and left hippocampus were increased in participants undergoing MBIs. Nevertheless, meta‐analysis showed non‐significant pooled effects, favouring control groups on anxiety, depression, attention, memory and global cognition.

Conclusion

This review suggested the potential effects of MBIs in improving cortical thickness and connectivity in regions associated with memory and attention. Nevertheless, the effects of MBIs compared to active control groups on depression, anxiety, attention, memory and global cognition are inconclusive due to the lack of studies and non‐significant results.

Impact

The review advocates for more rigorous studies with larger sample size and utilizing wait‐list controls to evaluate the effects of MBIs. MBIs can be considered as an adjunct with other therapies to further enhance the effect on psychological and cognitive outcomes for older adults with MCI.

No Patient or Public Contribution as this is a meta‐analysis.
Development and psychometric testing of the perception of nursing profession instrument
Authors: Glerean Niina , Talman Kirsi , Glerean Enrico , Hupli Maija , Haavisto Elina
Published: May 2023

Background

Perceptions of the nursing profession influence career choices in nursing. An unrealistic perception might lead students to drop out of nursing education programmes. Objective measurement of the nursing applicants' perceptions at the student selection stage could enhance their career choices in nursing.

Aim

To develop and psychometrically evaluate the Perception of Nursing Profession Instrument (PNPI).

Design

Mixed method design.

Method

Two versions of the PNPI were developed during the years 2016–2022. The first version was based on documents describing the nursing profession and the second version was based on an integrative literature review, a focus groups study and a document analysis of descriptions of the nursing profession. The meta‐ethnographic approach was used to synthesize the results and form a theoretical framework for developing the PNPI (60 items). Item content validity was evaluated by an expert panel of nurses (n = 7). The psychometric properties of the instrument were analysed using the item response theory approach.

Results

The development process resulted in the 40‐item PNPI with the following subscales: the content of nursing work, the career in nursing, the nature of nursing work and the characteristics of a nurse. The psychometric analysis revealed unidimensionality and goodness of fit to the partial credit model; however, the item difficulty was not well matched with the participants' abilities.

Conclusion

The PNPI is a novel instrument for objectively measuring perceptions of the nursing profession. For further development, item difficulty must be enhanced to improve the measurement accuracy of the nursing applicants' perceptions of the nursing profession.

Impact

Perceptions of the nursing profession influence career choices, but there is a lack of objective assessment instruments that can be used in nursing student selection setting to measure the perception. The results of this study offer an instrument to measure perception, while also suggesting ideas for further development.
Interaction of low‐level dietary supplementation of Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck, 1890, and feeding duration on growth hormone, growth performance and serum biochemistry of red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus × Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Talba , Shariff Mohamed , Goh Yong Meng , Banerjee Sanjoy , Yusoff Fatimah M.
Published: May 2023

Chlorella is one of the most widely accepted Chlorophyta used by many as livestock and aquaculture feed. Nonetheless, different studies on the overall performances of fish reported the unfavourable effect of high‐level supplementations of Chlorella vulgaris. The current study determined the impact of low‐level dietary supplementation of C. vulgaris alongside the different feeding durations and their interactions on the growth hormone (GH), growth performances, serum‐biochemical indices, hepatic function and some immunological parameters of red hybrid tilapia. The fingerlings (mean weight: 14.25 ± 0.01 g, length: 13.5 ± 0.49 cm) were fed diets containing 0, 0.99%, 2.91% and 4.76% of C. vulgaris powder per kilogram dry diet for 90 days. GH, growth performance, serum‐biochemical indices (total serum protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase) and some immunological (respiratory burst and lysozyme activities) parameters of the fish were examined after 30, 60 and 90 days of feeding. The results demonstrated that tilapia fed C. vulgaris–supplemented diets showed increased levels of respiratory burst, lysozyme, albumin and total protein, GH and growth performances (P < 0.05), and the effects were duration dependent. After the 90 days of feeding, there was no adverse effect on the hepatic function of the fish. Besides, low survivability was observed in the control group than in the group fed the experimental diets. The group fed the diet supplemented with 4.76% C. vulgaris had significantly higher (P < 0.05) lysozyme activity throughout the duration of the feeding experiment. These results indicate that C. vulgaris enhanced growth performances, GH concentration, serum‐biochemistry and some immunological parameters of red hybrid tilapia.
Defining and measuring singlehood in family studies
Authors: Mortelmans Dimitri , Claessens Elke , Thielemans Gert
Published: May 2023

Many authors have documented a global rise in singlehood during the past decades, expanding beyond Western or industrialized countries. Simultaneously, the number of single households is increasing, not only due to the aging of the population, but also because young adults are increasingly living solo. Whereas having no partner and solo living do not necessarily coincide, existing studies tend to overlook this distinction. In this paper, we provide conceptual clarity as to what types of singlehood can be distinguished, through a framework that builds on two dimensions: living solo and being partnered. Next, we delve into the issue of measurement. We illustrate the issues in implementing an extended singlehood framework to empirical data. To do so, we examine internationally comparative retrospective studies and prospective panel studies, and identify three levels of operationalization that current datasets achieve when identifying a redefined notion of singlehood.
Prognostic significance of a novel index score based on the inflammation‐based prognostic scores of patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Kudou Kensuke , Hasuda Hirofumi , Tsuda Yasuo , Kusumoto Eiji , Uehara Hideo , Yoshida Rintaro , Koga Tadashi , Yamashita Yo‐Ichi , Sakaguchi Yoshihisa , Kusumoto Tetsuya
Published: May 2023

Background and Aim

This study aimed to clarify the prognostic value of various inflammation‐based prognostic scores (IBPSs) in patients who underwent radical surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) and to develop a novel prognostic index using IBPSs and other predictive factors.

Methods

Data of 1157 patients who underwent radical surgery for CRC were reviewed. The predictive value of various IBPSs in determining the CRC prognosis was compared. A novel index score based on the IBPSs and other parameters that were associated with survival in patients with CRC was established, and its usefulness was evaluated.

Results

The patients were randomly divided into the training (n = 694) and validation (n = 463) sets. Male sex (P = 0.0001), age ≥ 75 years (P < 0.0001), a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level of > 5 (P = 0.0009), a C‐reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) of ≥ 0.04 (P = 0.0033), and a prognostic nutritional index (PNI) of < 43.1 (P = 0.0004) were poor independent prognostic factors of overall survival. The novel index score was calculated based on the scores of these five prognostic factors. The Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that the CRC patients with higher novel index scores in the training and validation datasets had poorer overall survival.

Conclusions

CAR and PNI were superior to other IBPSs for predicting the prognosis of CRC patients. The novel index score established based on sex, age, CEA level, CAR, and PNI can predict the prognosis of CRC with more precise and clearer stratification than the individual parameters alone.
The Heuristics and Biases of Top Managers: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Hodgkinson Gerard P. , Burkhard Barbara , Foss Nicolai J. , Grichnik Dietmar , Sarala Riikka M. , Tang Yi , Van Essen Marc
Published: May 2023

Psychology‐grounded research on heuristics and biases in decision making has become increasingly influential in the field of management studies. However, although this line of inquiry is recognized as a valuable perspective for advancing understanding of decision processes in the upper echelons of firms, extant research remains unbalanced, the bulk of previous endeavours having been focused on managerial overconfidence, with insights from more recent dual‐process theory and ecological rationality conceptions of heuristics less explored. This introductory article to the special issue of the Journal of Management Studies, entitled ‘the heuristics and biases of top managers: Past, present, and future’, offers a reflective review of prior work addressing its focal theme and places the articles incorporated into the special issue within this broader context. In addition, it sets out a number of directions for future work, with a view to inspiring the continuing advancement of conceptual and empirical knowledge and management practice.
Preliminary analysis of the buccal mucosal fungal microbiome in oral lichen planus patients
Authors: Du Guanhuan , Jiang Xinke , Han Xiaozhe , Pan Lei , Tang Guoyao
Published: May 2023

Objective

To determine the structure and co‐occurrence patterns of mucosal fungal community in oral lichen planus (OLP) patients.

Subjects and Methods

Mucosal swab samples from 20 OLP patients and 10 healthy controls (HCs) were collected and the mucosal mycobiomes were sequenced. The abundance, frequency, and diversity of fungi were analyzed, as well as the inter‐genera interactions. The associations between fungal genera and OLP severity were further identified.

Results

At the genus level, the relative abundance of unclassified_Trichocomaceae was significantly decreased in the reticular and erosive OLP groups compared to HCs. Meanwhile, significantly lower levels of Pseudozyma were observed in the reticular OLP group compared to HCs. The negative:positive cohesiveness ratio was significantly lower in the OLP group than HCs, indicating a relatively unstable fungal ecological system in the OLP group. In the OLP group, the abundance of unclassified_Nectriaceae was significantly correlated with the reticulation/erythema/ulceration (REU) score.

Conclusions

Compared to HCs, the decreased stability of fungal communities and the decreased abundances of two genera (unclassified_Trichocomaceae and Pseudozyma) on buccal mucosa were identified in OLP patients.