bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sources of bias in artificial intelligence that perpetuate healthcare disparities—A global review
Authors: Celi Leo Anthony , Cellini Jacqueline , Charpignon Marie-Laure , Dee Edward Christopher , Dernoncourt Franck , Eber Rene , Mitchell William Greig , Moukheiber Lama , Schirmer Julian , Situ Julia , Paguio Joseph , Park Joel , Wawira Judy Gichoya , Yao Seth ,   for MIT Critical Data
Published: March 2022

Background

While artificial intelligence (AI) offers possibilities of advanced clinical prediction and decision-making in healthcare, models trained on relatively homogeneous datasets, and populations poorly-representative of underlying diversity, limits generalisability and risks biased AI-based decisions. Here, we describe the landscape of AI in clinical medicine to delineate population and data-source disparities.

Methods

We performed a scoping review of clinical papers published in PubMed in 2019 using AI techniques. We assessed differences in dataset country source, clinical specialty, and author nationality, sex, and expertise. A manually tagged subsample of PubMed articles was used to train a model, leveraging transfer-learning techniques (building upon an existing BioBERT model) to predict eligibility for inclusion (original, human, clinical AI literature). Of all eligible articles, database country source and clinical specialty were manually labelled. A BioBERT-based model predicted first/last author expertise. Author nationality was determined using corresponding affiliated institution information using Entrez Direct. And first/last author sex was evaluated using the Gendarize.io API.

Results

Our search yielded 30,576 articles, of which 7,314 (23.9%) were eligible for further analysis. Most databases came from the US (40.8%) and China (13.7%). Radiology was the most represented clinical specialty (40.4%), followed by pathology (9.1%). Authors were primarily from either China (24.0%) or the US (18.4%). First and last authors were predominately data experts (i.e., statisticians) (59.6% and 53.9% respectively) rather than clinicians. And the majority of first/last authors were male (74.1%).

Interpretation

U.S. and Chinese datasets and authors were disproportionately overrepresented in clinical AI, and almost all of the top 10 databases and author nationalities were from high income countries (HICs). AI techniques were most commonly employed for image-rich specialties, and authors were predominantly male, with non-clinical backgrounds. Development of technological infrastructure in data-poor regions, and diligence in external validation and model re-calibration prior to clinical implementation in the short-term, are crucial in ensuring clinical AI is meaningful for broader populations, and to avoid perpetuating global health inequity.
Two-test algorithms for infectious disease diagnosis: Implications for COVID-19
Authors: Pokharel Sunil , White Lisa J. , Sacks Jilian A. , Escadafal Camille , Toporowski Amy , Mohammed Sahra Isse , Abera Solomon Chane , Kao Kekeletso , Melo Freitas Marcela De , Dittrich Sabine
Published: March 2022

Diagnostic assays for various infectious diseases, including COVID-19, have been challenged for their utility as standalone point-of-care diagnostic tests due to suboptimal accuracy, complexity, high cost or long turnaround times for results. It is therefore critical to optimise their use to meet the needs of users. We used a simulation approach to estimate diagnostic outcomes, number of tests required and average turnaround time of using two-test algorithms compared with singular testing; the two tests were reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and an antigen-based rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT). A web-based application of the model was developed to visualise and compare diagnostic outcomes for different disease prevalence and test performance characteristics (sensitivity and specificity). We tested the model using hypothetical prevalence data for COVID-19, representing low- and high-prevalence contexts and performance characteristics of RT-PCR and Ag-RDTs. The two-test algorithm when RT-PCR was applied to samples negative by Ag-RDT predicted gains in sensitivity of 27% and 7%, respectively, compared with Ag-RDT and RT-PCR alone. Similarly, when RT-PCR was applied to samples positive by Ag-RDT, specificity gains of 2.9% and 1.9%, respectively, were predicted. The algorithm using Ag-RDT followed by RT-PCR as a confirmatory test for positive patients limited the requirement of RT-PCR testing resources to 16,400 and 3,034 tests when testing a population of 100,000 with an infection prevalence of 20% and 0.05%, respectively. A two-test algorithm comprising a rapid screening test followed by confirmatory laboratory testing can reduce false positive rate, produce rapid results and conserve laboratory resources, but can lead to large number of missed cases in high prevalence setting. The web application of the model can identify the best testing strategies, tailored to specific use cases and we also present some examples how it was used as part of the Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator Diagnostics Pillar.
Magnitude and associated factors of depression among prisoners in Wollega zones, Oromia region, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Tadesse Edosa , Merdassa Emiru , Abdisa Eba , Tolossa Tadesse
Published: March 2022

Background

Mental health is for everybody, but the individuals in prisons require more focus. Depression is a contributor to the global burden of disease and affects people in prisons in particular. There were limited studies on depression among prisoners. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the magnitude of depression and factors associated with it among prisoners in Wollega Zones Prisons, western Ethiopia.

Methods

Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected 368 prisoners from June 1, 2019, up to August 1, 2019, in Wollega zones prisons. Data were collected by trained data collectors through interviewer-administered questionnaires. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariable and Multivariable logistic regression model was computed to identify factors associated with depressive symptoms. In the final model, the strength of the association between independent variables and depression was measured using the Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with the corresponding 95% Confidence Interval (CI). Then, in the final model, variables having a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered factors significantly associated with depression.

Results

Of the total study respondents, 166/368 (45.1%) had symptoms of depression. Lack of job opportunity in prison (AOR = 6.64, 95%CI: 3.65, 12.06), not attending religious place at all (AOR = 3.51, 95%CI: 1.30,10.00), and Unsentenced for suspected crime (AOR = 7.36, 95%CI: 2.08, 26.04) were associated with depression.

Conclusion and recommendation

This finding showed that the magnitude of depression in prisons was high. Prisoners in the young age group, attending religious places, being married, prisoners who were sentenced for suspected crime on timely and prisoners performing work in prison were less likely to have depression. The prison institution needs to facilitate income-generating activities in prison, promoting prisoners to attend their religious places and promoting timely sentencing.
Population density and spreading of COVID-19 in England and Wales
Authors: Sutton Jack , Shahtahmassebi Golnaz , Ribeiro Haroldo V. , Hanley Quentin S.
Published: March 2022

We investigated daily COVID-19 cases and deaths in the 337 lower tier local authority regions in England and Wales to better understand how the disease propagated over a 15-month period. Population density scaling models revealed residual variance and skewness to be sensitive indicators of the dynamics of propagation. Lockdowns and schools reopening coincided with increased variance indicative of conditions with local impact and country scale heterogeneity. University reopening and December holidays reduced variance indicative of country scale homogenisation which reached a minimum in mid-January 2021. Homogeneous propagation was associated with better correspondence with normally distributed residuals while heterogeneous propagation was more consistent with skewed models. Skewness varied from strongly negative to strongly positive revealing an unappreciated feature of community propagation. Hot spots and super-spreading events are well understood descriptors of regional disease dynamics that would be expected to be associated with positively skewed distributions. Positively skewed behaviour was observed; however, negative skewness indicative of “cold-spots” and “super-isolation” dominated for approximately 8 months during the period of study. In contrast, death metrics showed near constant behaviour in scaling, variance, and skewness metrics over the full period with rural regions preferentially affected, an observation consistent with regional age demographics in England and Wales. Regional positions relative to density scaling laws were remarkably persistent after the first 5–9 days of the available data set. The determinants of this persistent behaviour probably precede the pandemic and remain unchanged.
Prediction of the potential geographical distribution of Betula platyphylla Suk. in China under climate change scenarios
Authors: Geng Wenliang , Li Yanyan , Sun Dongqi , Li Bin , Zhang Pengyan , Chang Hao , Rong Tianqi , Liu Ying , Shao Jingwen , Liu Zhenyue , Zhu Huiru , Lou Yuanyuan , Wang Qianqian , Zhang Jinbing
Published: March 2022

Climate is a dominant factor affecting the potential geographical distribution of species. Understanding the impact of climate change on the potential geographic distribution of species, which is of great significance to the exploitation, utilization, and protection of resources, as well as ecologically sustainable development. Betula platyphylla Suk. is one of the most widely distributed temperate deciduous tree species in East Asia and has important economic and ecological value. Based on 231 species distribution data points of Betula platyphylla Suk. in China and 37 bioclimatic, soil, and topography variables (with correlation coefficients < 0.75), the potential geographical distribution pattern of Betula platyphylla Suk. under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) climate change scenarios at present and in the 2050s and 2070s was predicted using the MaxEnt model. We analyzed the main environmental variables affecting the distribution and change of suitable areas and compared the scope and change of suitable areas under different climate scenarios. This study found: (1) At present, the main suitable area for Betula platyphylla Suk. extends from northeastern to southwestern China, with the periphery area showing fragmented distribution. (2) Annual precipitation, precipitation of the warmest quarter, mean temperature of the warmest quarter, annual mean temperature, and precipitation of the driest month are the dominant environmental variables that affect the potential geographical distribution of Betula platyphylla Suk. (3) The suitable area for Betula platyphylla Suk. is expected to expand under global warming scenarios. In recent years, due to the impact of diseases and insect infestation, and environmental damage, the natural Betula platyphylla Suk. forest in China has gradually narrowed. This study accurately predicted the potential geographical distribution of Betula platyphylla Suk. under current and future climate change scenarios, which can provide the scientific basis for the cultivation, management, and sustainable utilization of Betula platyphylla Suk. resources.
Genome-wide association mapping of bread wheat genotypes for sustainable food security and yield potential under limited water conditions
Authors: Ahmed Hafiz Ghulam Muhu-Din , Zeng Yawen , Iqbal Muhammad , Rashid Muhammad Abdul Rehman , Raza Humayun , Ullah Aziz , Ali Muhammad , Yar Muhammad Majid , Shah Adnan Noor
Published: March 2022

Determining the genetic basis of yield and water deficient tolerance in wheat is vital for wheat breeding programs. Herein, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed for water deficient and yield-related attributes on wheat genotypes with high-density Illumina 90K Infinium SNP array. Major yield and drought-related attributes were phenotyped on a panel of Pakistani and foreign accessions grown in non-stressed and water deficient stressed environments during two crop cycles. Among all accessions, highly significant variations were shown in studied environments for examined characters. Water deficient conditions, reduced the wheat yield and had strong and positive correlation among relative water content and grain yield per plant. Population structure analyses based on 90,000 SNP data, classify the accessions into 4 sub-populations. Marker-trait association analyses (MTA) revealed that 134 significant SNPs were linked with yield and drought tolerance attributes. Pleotropic lociRAC875_s117925_244andRAC875_c16333_340located on chromosome 5A and 2A respectively, were significantly linked with relative water contents (RWC), cell membrane thermo-stability (CMT), grain per spike (GPS), spikelet per spike (SPS) and grain yield per plant (GYP). The markersRa_c58279_684,BobWhite_c23828_341andIAAV3414located on chromosomes 2A, 6B and 7B respectively, showed pleotropic effects for RWC, GPS and GYP under both environments. The current experiment not only validated several MTAs reported in other studies but also discovered novel MTAs which significant under drought-stressed conditions. A total of 171 candidate genes were recognized that could be cloned and functionally characterized for the respective associated traits. For RWC and CMT, total 11 and 3 associated SNPs were mapped on coding DNA sequence (CDS) of the identified candidate genes. Isolation and characterization of the candidate genes herein mapped SNPs will be useful in discovering novel genes underpinning drought tolerance in bread wheat to fulfill the wheat demand and sustainable food security under limited water conditions.
Cardiovascular risk in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients in India
Authors: Unnikrishnan A. G. , Sahay R. K. , Phadke Uday , Sharma S. K. , Shah Parag , Shukla Rishi , Viswanathan Vijay , Wangnoo S. K. , Singhal Santosh , John Mathew , Kumar Ajay , Dharmalingam Mala , Jain Subodh , Shaikh Shehla , Verberk Willem J.
Published: March 2022

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) worldwide continues to increase, in particular in India. Early T2DM diagnosis followed by appropriate management will result in more cardiovascular event free life years. However, knowledge of the cardiovascular profile of newly diagnosed T2DM patients is still limited. The aim of this study was to understand the extent of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk of newly diagnosed T2DM patients in India.

Methods

A cross sectional observational study was conducted to evaluate clinical laboratory and socio-demographic parameters of 5,080 newly diagnosed T2DM patients (48.3 ± 12.8 years of age; 36.7% female). In addition, we determined their cardiovascular risk according to the guidelines of the Lipid Association of India (LAI) and the criteria of the QRISK3 score.

Results

Of the newly T2DM diagnosed patients in India 2,007(39.5%) were classified as “High risk” and 3,073 (60.5%) were classified as “Very high risk” based on LAI criteria. On average, patients had 1.7 ± 0.9 major atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk factors. Low HDL-C value was the most frequent major risk (2,823; 55.6%) followed by high age (2,502; 49.3%), hypertension (2,141; 42.1%), smoking/tobacco use (1,078; 21.2%) and chronic kidney disease stage 3b or higher (568; 11.2%). In addition, 4,192 (82.5%) patients appeared to have at least one cholesterol abnormality and, if the latest LAI recommendations are applied, 96.5% (4,902) presented with lipid values above recommended targets. Based on the QRISK3 calculation Indian diabetes patients had an average CVD risk of 15.3 ± 12.3%, (12.2 ± 10.1 vs. 17.1 ± 13.5 [p<0.001] for females and males, respectively).

Conclusions

Newly diagnosed Indian T2DM patients are at high ASCVD risk. Our data therefore support the notion that further extension of nationwide ASCVD risk identification programs and prevention strategies to reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases are warranted.
Age of initiation of cigarillo use among young adults: Findings from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, 2013–2017
Authors: Chen Baojiang , Sterling Kymberle L. , Bluestein Meagan A. , Penedo Elena , Kuk Arnold E. , Harrell Melissa B. , Perry Cheryl L. , Pérez Adriana
Published: March 2022

Significance

Young adults, especially those who identify as racial/ethnic minorities, are legal targets of the tobacco industry. Cigarillo initiation is a risk among these vulnerable groups. Estimating the age of initiation of cigarillo use among young adults may inform the timing of prevention interventions.

Methods

Weighted interval-censored survival analyses of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) young adult (ages 18–24 at their first wave of adult participation) annual datasets were conducted (2013–2017). Young adult never cigarillo users (n = 7,101; represents N = 24,023,488) at their first wave of adult participation (2013–2016) were followed-up through 2014–2017 to estimate the age of initiation of ever, past 30-day and fairly regular cigarillo use outcomes. Differences by sex and by race/ethnicity, accounting for previous use of other tobacco products and marijuana and blunt use, were assessed using weighted interval-censored Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

Among PATH young adults, by age 21, 5.8% initiated ever cigarillo use, 4.1% initiated past 30-day cigarillo use, and 1.4% initiated fairly regular cigarillo use. By age 26, 15% initiated ever cigarillo use, and 10.4% initiated past 30-day cigarillo use. Males had higher risk of initiating ever (AHR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.37–1.95) and past 30-day cigarillo use (AHR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.32–2.06) at earlier ages than females. Non-Hispanic Blacks had higher risk of initiating ever (AHR: 2.81, 95% CI: 2.26–3.50), past 30-day (AHR: 4.88, 95% CI: 2.95–5.09) and fairly regular cigarillo use (AHR: 4.62, 95% CI: 2.70–7.93) at earlier ages than non-Hispanic Whites. Hispanics had higher risk of initiating past 30-day cigarillo use at earlier ages than non-Hispanic Whites (AHR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.12–2.03). Non-Hispanic Other race (i.e., Asian, multiracial, etc.) had lower risk of initiating ever (AHR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.28–0.65) and past 30-day cigarillo use (AHR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.26–0.63) at earlier ages than Non-Hispanic Whites.

Conclusion

Along with those aged 21 and younger, interventions should target young adults over the age of 21, specifically males, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic young adults, to stall initiation and progression of cigarillo use behaviors.
Reconciling the economic and biological fishery data gathered through the European Data Collection Framework: A new R-tool
Authors: Bitetto Isabella , Malvarosa Loretta , Berkenhagen Jörg , Spedicato Maria Teresa , Sabatella Evelina , Döring Ralf
Published: March 2022

Fishing fleets and targeted stocks are the basis for the design of multiannual management plans at European or Mediterranean levels. Management Strategy Evaluation and bioeconomic modeling need data at a specific level of resolution in terms of time, area and type of fishing activity for analyzing measures for management procedures using simulations. Within the Data Collection Framework, data are to be aggregated at different levels, e.g.: fleet segment and métier, the former linked to the predominant gear and the size of the vessel and the latter to the activity itself. Fishing costs are collected by fleet segment, effort and landings by fleet segment and métier. Bioeconomic modeling for management purposes requires data at the same resolution. The aim of this paper is to describe a methodology, implemented in SECFISH R package, to disaggregate variable cost data from the fleet segment to the métier level. The presented tool allows to determine the correlation between the variable costs of a vessel and its activities to estimate costs at the activity level (e.g. métiers). The tool is applied to selected Italian fleet segments characterized by a variety of métiers and high dynamicity.
Assessing serum levels of SM22α as a new biomarker for patients with aortic aneurysm/dissection
Authors: Zhang Ning , Wang Ying-Ying , Hu Hai-Juan , Lu Gang , Xu Xin , Dou Yong-Qing , Cui Wei , Gao She-Jun , Han Mei
Published: March 2022

Background

Aortic aneurysm/dissection (AAD) is now encountered more often because of the increasing prevalence of atherosclerosis and hypertension in the population. Despite many therapeutic improvements, in particular timely and successful surgery, in-hospital mortality rates are still higher. Timely identification of patients at high risk will help improve the overall prognosis of AAD. Since early clinical and radiological signs are nonspecific, there is an urgent need for accurate biomarkers. Smooth muscle 22α (SM22α) is a potential marker for AAD because of its abundant expression in vascular smooth muscle, which is involved in development of AAD.

Methods

We prepared three different mouse models, including abdominal aortic aneurysm, neointimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis. SM22α levels were assessed in serum and vascular tissue of the mice. Next, the relationships between serum SM22α level and vascular lesion were studied in mice. Finally, serum from 41 patients with AAD, 107 carotid artery stenosis (CAS) patients and 40 healthy volunteers were tested for SM22α. Serum levels of SM22α were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Compared with the controls, serum SM22α levels were reduced in the models of aortic aneurysm, neointimal formation and atherosclerosis, and elevated in mice with ruptured aneurysm. Serum SM22α level was negatively correlated with apoptosis rate of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), ratio of intima/ media (I/M) area and plaque size. Patients with AAD had significantly higher serum SM22α levels than patients with only CAS, or normal controls.

Conclusion

Serum SM22α could be a potential predictive marker for AAD, and regulation of VSMC is a possible mechanism for the effects of SM22α.
Heavy metals and neurodevelopment of children in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review
Authors: Heng Yi Yan , Asad Iqra , Coleman Bailey , Menard Laura , Benki-Nugent Sarah , Hussein Were Faridah , Karr Catherine J. , McHenry Megan S
Published: March 2022

Background

The presence of harmful environmental exposures, which disproportionately affects low-and-middle income countries (LMICs), contributes to >25% of deaths and diseases worldwide and detrimentally affects child neurodevelopment. Few resources succinctly summarize the existing literature on this topic. Our objective is to systematically review and characterize the evidence regarding the relationship between heavy metals and neurodevelopment of children in LMICs.

Methods

We conducted a medical librarian-curated search on multiple online databases to identify articles that included individuals <18 years living in a LMIC, quantitatively measured exposure to a heavy metal (either prenatal or postnatal), and used a standardized measurement of neurodevelopment (i.e. cognitive, language, motor, and behavior). Reviews, editorials, or case studies were excluded. Results were analyzed qualitatively, and quality was assessed.

Results

Of the 18,043 screened articles, 298 full-text articles were reviewed, and 100 articles met inclusion criteria. The included studies represented data from 19 LMICs, only one of which was classified as a low-income country. Ninety-four percent of postnatal lead and all postnatal manganese studies showed a negative association with metal exposure and neurodevelopment, which were the strongest relationships among the metals studied. Postnatal exposure of mercury was associated with poor neurodevelopment in only half of studies. Limited data on postnatal arsenic and cadmium suggests an association with worse neurodevelopment. Findings were mixed for prenatal arsenic and lead, although some evidence supports that the neurotoxicity of lead was amplified in the presence of manganese.

Conclusions and potential impact

We found that lead and manganese appear to consistently have a detrimental effect on the neurodevelopment of children, and more evidence is needed for mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. Better characterization of these effects can motivate and inform prioritization of much needed international policies and programs to reduce heavy metal exposures for young children within LMICs.
Effects of maternal ritodrine hydrochloride administration on the heart rate of preterm fetal sheep with intraamniotic inflammation
Authors: Murata Tsuyoshi , Kyozuka Hyo , Yasuda Shun , Fukuda Toma , Tanaka Teruyoshi , Fujimori Keiya
Published: March 2022

Ritodrine hydrochloride is used for pregnancy prolongation and intrauterine fetal resuscitation. However, its clinical significance in intraamniotic inflammation during preterm labor and intrauterine fetal distress is unclear. We investigated the effects of maternal ritodrine hydrochloride administration (MRA; 200 μg/min for 2 h, followed by 800 μg/min for 2 h after 24 h) on fetal physiological parameters. For this purpose, we used chronically instrumented pregnant sheep at 113–119 d (term = 145 d) of gestation without (Group 1, n = 5) and with (Group 2, n = 5) intraamniotic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide injection into the amniotic cavity. The changes in fetal heart rate (FHR) and short-term variability (STV) and long-term variability (LTV) in FHR, fetal blood pressure, and fetal arterial blood gas (FABG) values were measured before and at 1 and 2 h after initiating MRA. Before MRA, all parameters were similar between Groups 1 and 2; however, there was significantly higher STV in Group 2 than in Group 1 before MRA at 800 μg/min, significantly higher partial arterial pressure of carbon dioxide in FABG in Group 2 than in Group 1 before MRA at 200 μg/min, and significantly lower blood glucose (BG) in Group 2 than in Group 1 before MRA at 800 μg/min. One hour after MRA, the FHR, STV, and LTV were significantly higher at 800 μg/min than those at the baseline in Group 1, as determined by the Friedman test; however, no significant difference was observed in Group 2. Additionally, the FABG pH significantly decreased 1 h after MRA at 800 μg/min in Group 2, whereas FABG lactate and BG significantly increased 2 h after MRA at 800 μg/min in Groups 1 and 2. Thus, short-term MRA at 800 μg/min increased the FHR, STV, and LTV significantly; these values were further modified under intraamniotic inflammation.
BREAst screening Tailored for HEr (BREATHE)—A study protocol on personalised risk-based breast cancer screening programme
Authors: Liu Jenny , Ho Peh Joo , Tan Tricia Hui Ling , Yeoh Yen Shing , Chew Ying Jia , Mohamed Riza Nur Khaliesah , Khng Alexis Jiaying , Goh Su-Ann , Wang Yi , Oh Han Boon , Chin Chi Hui , Kwek Sing Cheer , Zhang Zhi Peng , Ong Desmond Luan Seng , Quek Swee Tian , Tan Chuan Chien , Wee Hwee Lin , Li Jingmei , Iau Philip Tsau Choong , Hartman Mikael
Published: March 2022

Routine mammography screening is currently the standard tool for finding cancers at an early stage, when treatment is most successful. Current breast screening programmes are one-size-fits-all which all women above a certain age threshold are encouraged to participate. However, breast cancer risk varies by individual. The BREAst screening Tailored for HEr (BREATHE) study aims to assess acceptability of a comprehensive risk-based personalised breast screening in Singapore. Advancing beyond the current age-based screening paradigm, BREATHE integrates both genetic and non-genetic breast cancer risk prediction tools to personalise screening recommendations. BREATHE is a cohort study targeting to recruit ~3,500 women. The first recruitment visit will include questionnaires and a buccal cheek swab. After receiving a tailored breast cancer risk report, participants will attend an in-person risk review, followed by a final session assessing the acceptability of our risk stratification programme. Risk prediction is based on: a) Gail model (non-genetic), b) mammographic density and recall, c) BOADICEA predictions (breast cancer predisposition genes), and d) breast cancer polygenic risk score. For national implementation of personalised risk-based breast screening, exploration of the acceptability within the target populace is critical, in addition to validated predication tools. To our knowledge, this is the first study to implement a comprehensive risk-based mammography screening programme in Asia. The BREATHE study will provide essential data for policy implementation which will transform the health system to deliver a better health and healthcare outcomes.
Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on the informal sector workers in Bangladesh
Authors: Swarna Nahrin Rahman , Anjum Iffat , Hamid Nimmi Nusrat , Rabbi Golam Ahmed , Islam Tariqul , Evana Ezzat Tanzila , Islam Nazia , Rayhan Md. Israt , Morshed KAM , Miah Abu Said Md. Juel
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic put dents on every sector of the affected countries, and the informal sector was no exception. This study is based on the quantitative analyses of the primary data of 1,867 informal workers of Bangladesh to shed light on the impact of the pandemic-induced economic crisis on this working class. The survey was conducted between 8 July and 13 August 2020 across the eight administrative divisions of the country. Analysis points out that about ninety percent of these workers faced an income and food expenditure drop during the lockdown. The effect was higher in males, particularly among the urban-centric and educated males engaged in services and sales. The findings suggest that policy support is needed for the informal workers to face such a crisis.
Amyloid fibril composition type is consistent over time in patients with Val30Met (p.Val50Met) transthyretin amyloidosis
Authors: Anan Intissar , Suhr Ole B. , Liszewska Katarzyna , Mejia Baranda Jorge , Pilebro Björn , Wixner Jonas , Ihse Elisabet
Published: March 2022

Background

We have previously shown that transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis patients have amyloid fibrils of either of two compositions; type A fibrils consisting of large amounts of C-terminal TTR fragments in addition to full-length TTR, or type B fibrils consisting of only full-length TTR. Since type A fibrils are associated with an older age in ATTRVal30Met (p.Val50Met) amyloidosis patients, it has been discussed if the TTR fragments are derived from degradation of the amyloid deposits as the patients are aging. The present study aimed to investigate if the fibril composition type changes over time, especially if type B fibrils can shift to type A fibrils as the disease progresses.

Material and methods

Abdominal adipose tissue biopsies from 29 Swedish ATTRVal30Met amyloidosis patients were investigated. The fibril type in the patients´ initial biopsy taken for diagnostic purposes was compared to a biopsy taken several years later (ranging between 2 and 13 years). The fibril composition type was determined by western blot.

Results

All 29 patients had the same fibril composition type in both the initial and the follow-up biopsy (8 type A and 21 type B). Even patients with a disease duration of more than 12 years and an age over 75 years at the time of the follow-up biopsy had type B fibrils in both biopsies.

Discussion

The result clearly shows that the amyloid fibril composition containing large amounts of C-terminal fragments (fibril type A) is a consequence of other factors than a slow degradation process occurring over time.
A hybrid group-based movie recommendation framework with overlapping memberships
Authors: Ali Yasher , Khalid Osman , Khan Imran Ali , Hussain Syed Sajid , Rehman Faisal , Siraj Sajid , Nawaz Raheel
Published: March 2022

Recommender Systems (RS) are widely used to help people or group of people in finding their required information amid the issue of ever-growing information overload. The existing group recommender approaches consider users to be part of a single group only, but in real life a user may be associated with multiple groups having conflicting preferences. For instance, a person may have different preferences in watching movies with friends than with family. In this paper, we address this problem by proposing a Hybrid Two-phase Group Recommender Framework (HTGF) that takes into consideration the possibility of users having simultaneous membership of multiple groups. Unlike the existing group recommender systems that use traditional methods like K-Means, Pearson correlation, and cosine similarity to form groups, we use Fuzzy C-means clustering which assigns a degree of membership to each user for each group, and then Pearson similarity is used to form groups. We demonstrate the usefulness of our proposed framework using a movies data set. The experiments were conducted on MovieLens 1M dataset where we used Neural Collaborative Filtering to recommend Top-k movies to each group. The results demonstrate that our proposed framework outperforms the traditional approaches when compared in terms of group satisfaction parameters, as well as the conventional metrics of precision, recall, and F-measure.
Clinical utility of comprehensive genomic profiling in Japan: Result of PROFILE-F study
Authors: Aoyagi Yasuko , Kano Yoshihito , Tohyama Kohki , Matsudera Shotaro , Kumaki Yuichi , Takahashi Kenta , Mitsumura Takahiro , Harada Yohei , Sato Akemi , Nakamura Hideaki , Sueoka Eisaburo , Aragane Naoko , Kimura Koichiro , Onishi Iichiro , Takemoto Akira , Akahoshi Keiichi , Ono Hiroaki , Ishikawa Toshiaki , Tokunaga Masanori , Nakagawa Tsuyoshi , Oshima Noriko , Nakamura Reiko , Takagi Masatoshi , Asakage Takahiro , Uetake Hiroyuki , Tanabe Minoru , Miyake Satoshi , Kinugasa Yusuke , Ikeda Sadakatsu
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Clinical sequencing has provided molecular and therapeutic insights into the field of clinical oncology. However, despite its significance, its clinical utility in Japanese patients remains unknown. Here, we examined the clinical utility of tissue-based clinical sequencing with FoundationOne® CDx and FoundationOne® Heme. Between August 2018 and August 2019, 130 Japanese pretreated patients with advanced solid tumors were tested with FoundationOne® CDx or FoundationOne® Heme.

Results

The median age of 130 patients was 60.5 years (range: 3 to 84 years), and among them, 64 were males and 66 were females. Major cancer types were gastrointestinal cancer (23 cases) and hepatic, biliary, and pancreatic cancer (21 cases). A molecular tumor board had been completed on all 130 cases by October 31, 2019. The median number of gene alterations detected by Foundation testing, excluding variants of unknown significance (VUS) was 4 (ranged 0 to 21) per case. Of the 130 cases, one or more alterations were found in 123 cases (94.6%), and in 114 cases (87.7%), actionable alterations with candidates for therapeutic agents were found. In 29 (22.3%) of them, treatment corresponding to the gene alteration was performed. Regarding secondary findings, 13 cases (10%) had an alteration suspected of a hereditary tumor. Of the 13 cases, only one case received a definite diagnosis of hereditary tumor.

Conclusions

Our study showed that clinical sequencing might be useful for detecting gene alterations in various cancer types and exploring treatment options. However, many issues still need to be improved.
Male ant reproductive investment in a seasonal wet tropical forest: Consequences of future climate change
Authors: Donoso David A. , Basset Yves , Shik Jonathan Z. , Forrister Dale L. , Uquillas Adriana , Salazar-Méndez Yasmín , Arizala Stephany , Polanco Pamela , Beckett Saul , Dominguez G. Diego , Barrios Héctor
Published: March 2022

Tropical forests sustain many ant species whose mating events often involve conspicuous flying swarms of winged gynes and males. The success of these reproductive flights depends on environmental variables and determines the maintenance of local ant diversity. However, we lack a strong understanding of the role of environmental variables in shaping the phenology of these flights. Using a combination of community-level analyses and a time-series model on male abundance, we studied male ant phenology in a seasonally wet lowland rainforest in the Panama Canal. The male flights of 161 ant species, sampled with 10 Malaise traps during 58 consecutive weeks (from August 2014 to September 2015), varied widely in number (mean = 9.8 weeks, median = 4, range = 1 to 58). Those species abundant enough for analysis (n = 97) flew mainly towards the end of the dry season and at the start of the rainy season. While litterfall, rain, temperature, and air humidity explained community composition, the time-series model estimators elucidated more complex patterns of reproductive investment across the entire year. For example, male abundance increased in weeks when maximum daily temperature increased and in wet weeks during the dry season. On the contrary, male abundance decreased in periods when rain receded (e.g., at the start of the dry season), in periods when rain fell daily (e.g., right after the beginning of the wet season), or when there was an increase in the short-term rate of litterfall (e.g., at the end of the dry season). Together, these results suggest that the BCI ant community is adapted to the dry/wet transition as the best timing of reproductive investment. We hypothesize that current climate change scenarios for tropical regions with higher average temperature, but lower rainfall, may generate phenological mismatches between reproductive flights and the adequate conditions needed for a successful start of the colony.
Development of mucus-penetrating iodine loaded self-emulsifying system for local vaginal delivery
Authors: Fida Saima , Jalil Aamir , Habib Rukhshanda , Akhlaq Muhammad , Mahmood Arshad , Minhas Muhammad Usman , Khan Kifayat Ullah , Nawaz Asif
Published: March 2022

The major goal of this project was to formulate iodine-based self nano-emulsifying drug delivery system to provide improve antimicrobial activity and enhanced mucosal residence time via mucus penetration. Iodine SNEDDS (Self nano-emulsifying drug delivery system) with different concentration were formulated using castor oil as the oil phase, cremophor ethoxylated (CrEL) as a surfactant and after screening a number of vehicles, PEG 400 was employed as co-surfactant. Self-emulsification time, thermodynamic stability tests, robustness to dilution, percent transmittance, droplet size, and drug release were measured. Ternary phase diagrams were plotted to determine the area of emulsification. When compared to the commercial formulation, dissolving experiments revealed that the iodine from the SNEDDS enhanced aqueous solubility. In-vitro iodine release was determined to be around 15% per hour, with muco-adhesive and, muco-penetrating characteristics showing a 38-fold improvement. Furthermore, SNEDDS demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Similarly, when compared to marketed drugs, in-vitro drug absorption profile from the manufactured SNEDDS shown to be much higher. According to these results iodine containing SNEDDS could be a useful new formulation for iodine mucosal usage.
Combination of curaxin and tyrosine kinase inhibitors display enhanced killing of primitive Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia cells
Authors: Pearson Stella , Whetton Anthony D. , Pierce Andrew
Published: March 2022

Despite the big increase in precision medicine targeted therapies developing curative treatments for many cancers is still a major challenge due mainly to the development of drug resistance in cancer stem cells. The cancer stem cells are constantly evolving to survive and targeted drug treatment often increases the selective pressure on these cells from which the disease develops. Chronic myeloid leukaemia is a paradigm of cancer stem cell research. Targeted therapies to the causative oncogene, BCR/ABL, have been developed but drug resistance remains a problem. The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting BCR/ABL were transformative in the management of CML. However, patients are rarely cured as the tyrosine kinase inhibitors fail to eradicate the leukaemic stem cell which often leads to loss of response to therapy as drug resistance develops and progression to more fatal forms of acute leukaemia occurs. New treatment strategies targeting other entities within the leukemic stem cell either alone or in combination with tyrosine kinase are therefore required. Drawing on our previous published work on the development of potential novel targets in CML and other myeloproliferative diseases along with analysis of the facilitates chromatin transcription (FACT) complex in CML we hypothesised that curaxin, a drug that targets the FACT complex and is in clinical trial for the treatment of other cancers, could be of use in the treatment of CML. We therefore assessed the curaxin CBL0137 as a new agent to extinguish CML primitive cells and show its ability to preferentially target CML cells compared to healthy control cells, especially in combination with clinically relevant tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Sydney: City of the Imagination
Authors: Kaufman Tina
Published: March 2022

Sydney is a Beautiful City, perhaps too lovely; it’s been called a city upstaged by its natural beauty. With its wonderful deepwater harbour, its string of ocean and harbour beaches within easy distance, its balmy and temperate climate, its iconic bridge and of course its Opera House, it offers much to both immediately attract the eye, and to give continuing pleasure. It’s a city that breathes through a system of beautiful urban parks and gardens, many established in early colonial days. While it has a modern, upward-reaching city centre, many suburbs still congregate cosily around the bays and inlets of the harbour, and untouched bushland flourishes on headlands and in coves, as well as on the islands that dot the water.
The World Behind the Coke Sign: Jon Hewitt’s Kings Cross
Authors: Sargeant Jack
Published: March 2022

Kin’s Cross has been known as Sydney’s red light district, and has been the home to strip joints and nightclubs since the 1920s. The most densely populated area in the country, with residents – from the inner city poor to young, single city workers and several generations of bohemians – living in small apartments and units rather than the large houses that inform the classic manifestation of the Australian Dream. Defined by deco apartments, tiny bedsits and what were once workman’s houses, the Cross remains an utterly unique neighbourhood compared to much of the country
Sojourner Sydney: Looking from the Outside
Authors: Mills Jane
Published: March 2022

Sydney is reputedly bold and brassy – all beach bums, babes and bottles of bubbly while bobbing up and down on the harbour with those iconic photo-opportunity locations, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, as backdrop. This contrasts with the auguably less distinctive but more intellectual and yes, more cultured Melbourne. The competitive relationship between the two cities idealises and denigrates both: if Melbourne is all fur coat, Sydney is no knickers, as the saying goes.
Underdogs and Heroes: The Story of Chicago Sports Movies
Authors: Mozaffar Omer M.
Published: March 2022

Sports movies often fall into three categories. First, we have those never-give-up underdog stories designed to fill our hearts with hope. Second, we have those documentaries and docudramas about heroes and villains within the business of sports. Third, we have those films that are not quite about sports as much as they are about the arenas of self-definition beating down upon complicated personal stories. Chicago sports movies add a few other dimensions to these categories.
Cinematic Social Inquiry: A Brief History of Kartemquin Films
Authors: Horsburgh Tim
Published: March 2022

For four decades, one of the world’s most quietly influential documentary production companies has been located inside a large Victorian-era house on the corner of Wellington and Wolcott, in the far west of the Lakeview neighbourhood. A sprawling two-storey brick property of vaulted ceilings, random doors, resale furniture and creaky stairs, it is immediately noticeable from the outside by its imposing corner turret. Harder to notice is which of the three exterior doors to enter by, and that inside the walls iconic films like Hoop Dreams (Steve James, 1994) and The Interrupters (Steve James, 2011) were born.
City in the Sea: Venice’s Canals and Waterways
Authors: Dias Rosie
Published: March 2022

No city or island has so unique a landscape as Venice. Suspended between sea and sky, its singular fusion of the organic and the historic architectural landscape draws visitors from far and wide. For film-makers, the lure of Venice has persisted in spite of (and sometimes because of) the logistical difficulties of filming in the city, offering aesthetic qualities and symbolic force that are given potency through the relationship between Venice’s buildings and its canals and waterways. The fluid landscape of the city – its shifting tides, light and reflections – assumes an ambiguous quality on film, which lends presence and character to genres as disparate as romantic comedy and horror.
City of Reflections, City of Love
Authors: Romanello Emily , Gazzola Giuseppe
Published: March 2022

If Rome is the eternal city, Venice is a glorious emblem of the past. Straddling land and water, Venice transcends boundaries and challenges expectations of what defines a city and its culture. If Rome is everlasting, Venice, the ‘Impermanent City’, is ever-changing. It is the city of Carnevale, masked identities, transvestitism, courtesans, and Gothic architectural marvels connected by a labyrinth of canals into which the city is slowly sinking. It is, therefore, a fitting setting for stories of fleeting and tragic romance. Venice is a maze of love, death, passion and betrayals from which it is often impossible for lovers to escape. This portrayal of Venice is not unique to film, nor is it a phenomenon unique to the twentieth century. Rather, it emerges in every genre of artistic expression, beginning in the Renaissance and lasting to the present day.
Shooting in Venice
Authors: Bleasdale John
Published: March 2022

‘Film-makers are like cats – they are both afraid of water,’ Guido Cerasuolo tells me. We are on the location set of Effie (Richard Laxton, 2013), a film about the life of John Ruskin and his eponymous child bride, written by Emma Thompson and starring Dakota Fanning as Effie and Greg Wise as Ruskin. The location is behind the Bridge of Sighs, less than a minute from Saint Mark’s Square. As we talk, tourists stream over a bridge behind us, some stopping to take pictures. The crew, including an elaborate crane rig, are crammed into a width of pavement. Gondolas pass by as do boats full of anything from fruit and vegetables to washing machines. If you want to move anything in Venice, you go by boat.
Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas & Thee Headcoatees, Saskia Holling (2021)
Authors: Dale Pete
Published: March 2022

Review of: Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas & Thee Headcoatees, Saskia Holling (2021)

N.p.: Spinout Publications, 278 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-52728-458-6, p/bk, £12.00
On Compromise: Art, Politics and the Fate of an American Ideal, Rachel Greenwald-Smith (2021)
Authors: Keeble Arin
Published: March 2022

Review of: On Compromise: Art, Politics and the Fate of an American Ideal, Rachel Greenwald-Smith (2021)

Port Townsend, Washington: Graywolf Press, 232 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-64445-060-4, p/bk, $16.00
Punk, Gender, and Ageing: Just Typical Girls?, Laura Way (2020)
Authors: Bernhard Ellen
Published: March 2022

Review of: Punk, Gender, and Ageing: Just Typical Girls?, Laura Way (2020)

Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited, 234 pp.,

ISBN 987-1-83982-569-9, h/bk, £60