bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Macroeconomic and financial determinants of green growth: an empirical investigation on BRICS-T countries
Authors: Arzova Sabri Burak , Şahin Bertaç Şakir
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purposes of this study are to contribute to the limited green growth (GG) literature in emerging markets, to analyze GG from a financial economy perspective and to determine the contribution of financial development and innovation to GG in Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa and Türkiye (BRICS-T). BRICS-T countries significantly impact the world population, international politics, energy resources and economy. In addition, BRICS-T countries are one of the leading countries in the world with their sustainability efforts. Investigating the GG model in these countries may contribute to structuring emerging economies around the principles of GG and advancing global green transformation efforts.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied panel data analysis from 2001 to 2019. GG is economic growth free from environmental depletion in the model. National income, personnel expenditure and foreign direct investments are macroeconomic variables. These variables measure economic development and promote economic and social progress, which is essential for GG. Capital accumulation and innovation are essential tools in GG transformation. Therefore, financial development and patent applications represent the moderating variables. The authors estimate the fixed effect model with Parks-Kmenta robust.

Findings

Empirical results show that national income growth and foreign direct investments positively affect GG. Personnel expenditure negatively affects GG. On the contrary, financial development and patent growth have little moderating role.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on creating a GG model in emerging countries. The study is original in its model and sample.
The Northfield Experiments and the therapeutic community task
Authors: Harrison Tom
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to raise awareness of the importance of the sociological aspects of therapeutic community work, including clarity about the nature of the task, the power of informal interactions between participants and the relevance of leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying insights from historical research to present-day practice.

Findings

The Northfield experiments offer a number of insights into present-day practice of therapeutic communities and enabling environments. These include clarity about the task, the relevance of participant interactions outside of specifically therapeutic work and the importance of leadership.

Social implications

The therapeutic community/enabling environments approach has relevance to a wider sector of society than solely the therapeutic. More attention needs to be paid to leadership issues in the therapeutic community movement, as well as the therapeutic power of the mutual support networks amongst those receiving care.

Originality/value

Through the lens of the Northfield experiments, this paper offers a broadening of the sociological nature of therapeutic community practice, arguing that the purpose is to enable greater social adaptability, thereby enhancing relationships and deepening our awareness of ourselves. Implicit in this perspective is the recognition of the power of non-formal interrelationships in the service as well as the importance of leadership. It is also suggested that our experience in this way of working has a value in other organisations such as work places or schools. However, to achieve this, we need to adapt our language appropriately.
Soil and bark biodiversity forms discrete islands between vineyards that are not affected by distance or management regime
Authors: Jiraska Lucie , Jones Beatrix , Knight Sarah J. , Lennox Jed , Goddard Matthew R.
Published: October 2023

Within geographic regions, the existing data suggest that physical habitat (bark, soil, etc.) is the strongest factor determining agroecosystem microbial community assemblage, followed by geographic location (site), and then management regime (organic, conventional, etc.). The data also suggest community similarities decay with increasing geographic distance. However, integrated hypotheses for these observations have not been developed. We formalized and tested such hypotheses by sequencing 3.8 million bacterial 16S, fungal ITS2 and non‐fungal eukaryotic COI barcodes deriving from 108 samples across two habitats (soil and bark) from six vineyards sites under conventional or conservation management. We found both habitat and site significantly affected community assemblage, with habitat the stronger for bacteria only, but there was no effect of management. There was no evidence for community similarity distance–decay within sites within each habitat. While communities significantly differed between vineyard sites, there was no evidence for between site community similarity distance–decay apart from bark bacterial communities, and no correlations with soil and bark pH apart from soil bacterial communities. Thus, within habitats, vineyard sites represent discrete biodiversity islands, and while bacterial, fungal and non‐fungal eukaryotic biodiversity mostly differs between sites, the distance by which they are separated does not define how different they are.
The molecular structure and function of fibrocystin, the key gene product implicated in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD)
Authors: Bannell Travis A K , Cockburn Joseph J B
Published: October 2023

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease is an early onset inherited hepatorenal disorder affecting around 1 in 20,000 births with no approved specific therapies. The disease is almost always caused by variations in the polycystic kidney and hepatic disease 1 gene, which encodes fibrocystin (FC), a very large, single‐pass transmembrane glycoprotein found in primary cilia, urine and urinary exosomes. By comparison to proteins involved in autosomal dominant PKD, our structural and molecular understanding of FC has lagged far behind such that there are no published experimentally determined structures of any part of the protein. Bioinformatics analyses predict that the ectodomain contains a long chain of immunoglobulin‐like plexin‐transcription factor domains, a protective antigen 14 domain, a tandem G8‐TMEM2 homology region and a sperm protein, enterokinase and agrin domain. Here we review current knowledge on the molecular function of the protein from a structural perspective.
Prevalence and social determinants of periodontal disease in Colombian pregnant women
Authors: Velosa‐Porras Juliana , Rodríguez Malagón Nelcy
Published: October 2023

Objective

The objective of the study was to identify the prevalence of periodontal disease in pregnant women in the Colombian population and its association with social determinants and medical history based on data from the Fourth National Oral Health Survey (ENSAB IV).

Methods

A total of 1012 pregnant women from different areas of Colombia were evaluated. A periodontal evaluation was performed using a North Carolina periodontal probe. The following data were recorded: number of teeth, probing depth (PD), the position of the gingival margin (GM) and clinical attachment level (CAL). An ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed for the association between social determinants and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Periodontology (CDC/AAP) classification and logistic regression between social determinants and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) classification.

Results

The prevalence of periodontitis was 37.1% using the CDC/AAP criteria and 41.2% according to the criteria of EFP distributed in sensitive (40.2%) and specific cases (0.9%). Age, belonging to a subsidized regime, living in a rural area, having an intermittent water supply and bleeding in medical records were found to be positively associated with periodontitis (mild, moderate, severe).

Conclusions

The findings of this national study of pregnant women show a high prevalence of periodontitis—using the CDC/AAP and EFP criteria—associated with age, living in rural areas, subsidized regime, intermittent water supply and bleeding in medical records.
Robust Novel View Synthesis with Color Transform Module
Authors: Kim S. M. , Choi C. , Heo H. , Kim Y. M.
Published: October 2023

The advancements of the Neural Radiance Field (NeRF) and its variants have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in generating photo‐realistic novel views from a small set of input images. While recent works suggest various techniques and model architectures that enhance speed or reconstruction quality, little attention is paid to exploring the RGB color space of input images. In this paper, we propose a universal color transform module that can maximally harness the captured evidence for the neural networks at hand. The color transform module utilizes an encoder‐decoder framework that maps the RGB color space into a new latent space, enhancing the expressiveness of the input domain. We attach the encoder and the decoder at the input and output of a NeRF model of choice, respectively, and jointly optimize them to maintain the cycle consistency of the proposed transform, in addition to minimizing the reconstruction errors in the feature domain. Our comprehensive experiments demonstrate that the learned color space can significantly improve the quality of reconstructions compared to the conventional RGB representation. Its benefits are particularly pronounced in challenging scenarios characterized by low‐light environments and scenes with low‐textured regions. The proposed color transform pushes the boundaries of limitations in the input domain and offers a promising avenue for advancing the reconstruction capabilities of various neural representations. Source code is available at https://github.com/sangminkim-99/ColorTransformModule.
Meso‐Skeleton Guided Hexahedral Mesh Design
Authors: Viville P. , Kraemer P. , Bechmann D.
Published: October 2023

We present a novel approach for the generation of hexahedral meshes in a volume domain given its meso‐skeleton. This compact representation of the topology and geometry, composed of both curve and surface parts, is used to produce a raw decomposition of the domain into hexahedral blocks. Analysis of the different local configurations of the skeleton leads to the construction of a set of connection surfaces that are used as a scaffold onto which the hexahedral blocks are assembled. These local configurations of the skeleton completely determine the singularities of the final mesh, and by following the skeleton, the geometry of the produced mesh naturally follows the geometry of the domain. Depending on the end user needs, the obtained mesh can be further adapted, refined or optimized, for example to better fit the boundary of the domain. Our algorithm does not involve the resolution of any global problem, most decisions are taken locally and it is thus highly suitable for parallel processing. This efficiency allows the user to stay in the loop for the correction or edition of the meso‐skeleton for which a first sketch can be given by an existing automatic extraction algorithm.
A Surface Subdivision Scheme Based on Four‐Directional S13 Non‐Box Splines
Authors: Huang Z.
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we propose a novel surface subdivision scheme called non‐box subdivision, which is generalized from four‐directional S13 non‐box splines. The resulting subdivision surfaces achieve C1 continuity with the convex hull property. This scheme can be regarded as either a four‐directional subdivision or a special quadrilateral subdivision. When used as a quadrilateral subdivision, the proposed scheme can control the shape of the limit surface more flexibly than traditional schemes due to the natural introduction of auxiliary face control vertices.
Reconstructing 3D Human Pose from RGB‐D Data with Occlusions
Authors: Dang Bowen , Zhao Xi , Zhang Bowen , Wang He
Published: October 2023

We propose a new method to reconstruct the 3D human body from RGB‐D images with occlusions. The foremost challenge is the incompleteness of the RGB‐D data due to occlusions between the body and the environment, leading to implausible reconstructions that suffer from severe human‐scene penetration. To reconstruct a semantically and physically plausible human body, we propose to reduce the solution space based on scene information and prior knowledge. Our key idea is to constrain the solution space of the human body by considering the occluded body parts and visible body parts separately: modeling all plausible poses where the occluded body parts do not penetrate the scene, and constraining the visible body parts using depth data. Specifically, the first component is realized by a neural network that estimates the candidate region named the “free zone”, a region carved out of the open space within which it is safe to search for poses of the invisible body parts without concern for penetration. The second component constrains the visible body parts using the “truncated shadow volume” of the scanned body point cloud. Furthermore, we propose to use a volume matching strategy, which yields better performance than surface matching, to match the human body with the confined region. We conducted experiments on the PROX dataset, and the results demonstrate that our method produces more accurate and plausible results compared with other methods.
BubbleFormer: Bubble Diagram Generation via Dual Transformer Models
Authors: Sun Jiahui , Zheng Liping , Zhang Gaofeng , Wu Wenming
Published: October 2023

Bubble diagrams serve as a crucial tool in the field of architectural planning and graphic design. With the surge of Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC), there has been a continuous emergence of research and development efforts focused on utilizing bubble diagrams for layout design and generation. However, there is a lack of research efforts focused on bubble diagram generation. In this paper, we propose a novel generative model, BubbleFormer, for generating diverse and plausible bubble diagrams. BubbleFormer consists of two improved Transformer networks: NodeFormer and EdgeFormer. These networks generate nodes and edges of the bubble diagram, respectively. To enhance the generation diversity, a VAE module is incorporated into BubbleFormer, allowing for the sampling and generation of numerous high‐quality bubble diagrams. BubbleFormer is trained end‐to‐end and evaluated through qualitative and quantitative experiments. The results demonstrate that BubbleFormer can generate convincing and diverse bubble diagrams, which in turn drive downstream tasks to produce high‐quality layout plans. The model also shows generalization capabilities in other layout generation tasks and outperforms state‐of‐the‐art techniques in terms of quality and diversity. In previous work, bubble diagrams as input are provided by users, and as a result, our bubble diagram generative model fills a significant gap in automated layout generation driven by bubble diagrams, thereby enabling an end‐to‐end layout design and generation. Code for this paper is at https://github.com/cgjiahui/BubbleFormer.
Injectable platelet rich fibrin versus hyaluronic acid with bovine derived xenograft for alveolar ridge preservation. A randomized controlled clinical trial with histomorphometric analysis
Authors: Abaza Gehad , Abdel Gaber Hala Kamal , Afifi Nermeen Sami , Adel‐Khattab Doaa
Published: October 2023

Background

Alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) is a technique that aims to maintain bone volume and minimize resorption after tooth extraction.

Objective

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of injectable platelet‐rich fibrin (I‐PRF) versus hyaluronic acid (HA) in combination with xenografts for ARP.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial included 36 patients (20 females and 16 males) who required implant placement in the upper arch. The patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups (n = 12 each): I‐PRF with xenografts, HA with xenografts, or xenografts alone. All patients underwent ARP, and the extraction sockets were sealed with a free gingival graft harvested from the palate, a total of 36 implants were inserted. Cone‐beam CT scans were performed before and 4 months postoperatively to measure radiographic bone gain as the primary outcome. Clinical parameters, including soft tissue thickness and clinical bone width, were evaluated preoperatively, and at 4 months and 1 year postoperatively. Additionally, histological assessment of core bone biopsies was performed 4 months postoperatively using histomorphometric analysis to determine the percentages of newly formed bone, mature bone, and residual grafts.

Results

Regarding the radiographic bone gain 4 months postoperative the HA group exhibited the highest value (9.78 ± 0.87), which was significantly greater than the values observed in the I‐PRF and control groups (8.60 ± 1.27 and 7.99 ± 0.89, respectively) (one‐way ANOVA, p = 0.007). Crestal bone loss was significantly higher in the control group (−0.98 ± 0.18) than in the I‐PRF group (−0.53 ± 0.11) and HA group (−0.33 ± 0.15) groups (one‐way ANOVA, p < 0.001). In the histomorphometric analysis, the mean area fraction of newly formed bone trabeculae was significantly higher in the HA group (56.66 ± 7.35) than in the I‐PRF group (28.74 ± 5.15) and the control group (24.05 ± 3.64) (repeated measures ANOVA, p < 0.001). Additionally, the mean area fraction of residual graft material was higher in the I‐PRF group (6.76 ± 2.59), followed by the control group (2.71 ± 1.24), while the HA group had the lowest value (2.63 ± 1.27) (Repeated measures ANOVA, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The combination of HA with xenografts yielded better radiographic and histological outcomes in terms of new bone formation and degree of bone maturation than the I‐PRF and control groups. Furthermore, I‐PRF improved soft tissue thickness.

Please note that clinical trial registration was not completed prior to participant recruitment and randomization. The registration link for this trial is https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05781529.
Neuroprotective effects of gemfibrozil in neurological disorders: Focus on inflammation and molecular mechanisms
Authors: Ivraghi Mehraveh Sadeghi , Zamanian Mohammad Yasin , Gupta Reena , Achmad Harun , Alsaab Hashem O. , Hjazi Ahmed , Romero‐Parra Rosario Mireya , Alwaily Enas R. , Hussien Beneen M. , Hakimizadeh Elham
Published: October 2023

Background

Gemfibrozil (Gem) is a drug that has been shown to activate PPAR‐α, a nuclear receptor that plays a key role in regulating lipid metabolism. Gem is used to lower the levels of triglycerides and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in patients. Experimental studies in vitro and in vivo have shown that Gem can prevent or slow the progression of neurological disorders (NDs), including cerebral ischemia (CI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Neuroinflammation is known to play a significant role in these disorders.

Method

The literature review for this study was conducted by searching Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases.

Result

The results of this study show that Gem has neuroprotective effects through several cellular and molecular mechanisms such as: (1) Gem has the ability to upregulate pro‐survival factors (PGC‐1α and TFAM), promoting the survival and function of mitochondria in the brain, (2) Gem strongly inhibits the activation of NF‐κB, AP‐1, and C/EBPβ in cytokine‐stimulated astroglial cells, which are known to increase the expression of iNOS and the production of NO in response to proinflammatory cytokines, (3) Gem protects dopamine neurons in the MPTP mouse model of PD by increasing the expression of PPARα, which in turn stimulates the production of GDNF in astrocytes, (4) Gem reduces amyloid plaque pathology, reduces the activity of glial cells, and improves memory, (5) Gem increases myelin genes expression (MBP and CNPase) via PPAR‐β, and (6) Gem increases hippocampal BDNF to counteract depression.

Conclusion

According to the study, Gem was investigated for its potential therapeutic effect in NDs. Further research is needed to fully understand the therapeutic potential of Gem in NDs.
An intronic enhancer of Cebpa regulates adipocyte differentiation and adipose tissue development via long‐range loop formation
Authors: Li Xiaokai , Zeng Sha , Chen Li , Zhang Yu , Li Xuemin , Zhang Biwei , Su Duo , Du Qinjiao , Zhang Jiaman , Wang Haoming , Zhong Zhining , Zhang Jinwei , Li Penghao , Jiang Anan , Long Keren , Li Mingzhou , Ge Liangpeng
Published: October 2023

Cebpa is a master transcription factor gene for adipogenesis. However, the mechanisms of enhancer–promoter chromatin interactions controlling Cebpa transcriptional regulation during adipogenic differentiation remain largely unknown. To reveal how the three‐dimensional structure of Cebpa changes during adipogenesis, we generated high‐resolution chromatin interactions of Cebpa in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes and 3T3‐L1 adipocytes using circularized chromosome conformation capture sequencing (4C‐seq). We revealed dramatic changes in chromatin interactions and chromatin status at interaction sites during adipogenic differentiation. Based on this, we identified five active enhancers of Cebpa in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes through epigenomic data and luciferase reporter assays. Next, epigenetic repression of Cebpa‐L1‐AD‐En2 or ‐En3 by the dCas9‐KRAB system significantly down‐regulated Cebpa expression and inhibited adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, experimental depletion of cohesin decreased the interaction intensity between Cebpa‐L1‐AD‐En2 and the Cebpa promoter and down‐regulated Cebpa expression, indicating that long‐range chromatin loop formation was mediated by cohesin. Two transcription factors, RXRA and PPARG, synergistically regulate the activity of Cebpa‐L1‐AD‐En2. To test whether Cebpa‐L1‐AD‐En2 plays a role in adipose tissue development, we injected dCas9‐KRAB‐En2 lentivirus into the inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) of mice to suppress the activity of Cebpa‐L1‐AD‐En2. Repression of Cebpa‐L1‐AD‐En2 significantly decreased Cebpa expression and adipocyte size, altered iWAT transcriptome, and affected iWAT development. We identified functional enhancers regulating Cebpa expression and clarified the crucial roles of Cebpa‐L1‐AD‐En2 and Cebpa promoter interaction in adipocyte differentiation and adipose tissue development.
Time‐dependent clearance can confound exposure–response analysis of therapeutic antibodies: A comprehensive review of the current literature
Authors: Proctor Jeffrey R. , Wong Harvey
Published: October 2023

Exposure–response (ER) analysis is used to optimize dose and dose regimens during clinical development. Characterization of relationships between drug exposure and efficacy or safety outcomes can be utilized to make dose adjustments that improve patient response. Therapeutic antibodies typically show predictable pharmacokinetics (PK) but can exhibit clearance that decreases over time due to treatment. Moreover, time‐dependent changes in clearance are frequently associated with drug response, with larger decreases in clearance and increased exposure seen in patients who respond to treatment. This often confounds traditional ER analysis, as drug response influences exposure rather than the reverse. In this review, we survey published population PK analyses for reported time‐dependent drug clearance effects across 158 therapeutic antibodies approved or in regulatory review. We describe the mechanisms by which time‐dependent clearance can arise, and evaluate trends in frequency, magnitude, and time scale of changes in clearance with respect to indication, mechanistic interpretation of time‐dependence, and PK modeling techniques employed. We discuss the modeling and simulation strategies commonly used to characterize time‐dependent clearance, and examples where time‐dependent clearance has impeded ER analysis. A case study using population model simulation was explored to interrogate the impact of time‐dependent clearance on ER analysis and how it can lead to spurious conclusions. Overall, time‐dependent clearance arises frequently among therapeutic antibodies and has spurred erroneous conclusions in ER analysis. Appropriate PK modeling techniques aid in identifying and characterizing temporal shifts in exposure that may impede accurate ER assessment and successful dose optimization.
Carbon sequestration in soils and climate change mitigation—Definitions and pitfalls
Authors: Don Axel , Seidel Felix , Leifeld Jens , Kätterer Thomas , Martin Manuel , Pellerin Sylvain , Emde David , Seitz Daria , Chenu Claire
Published: October 2023

The term carbon (C) sequestration has not just become a buzzword but is something of a siren's call to scientific communicators and media outlets. Carbon sequestration is the removal of C from the atmosphere and the storage, for example, in soil. It has the potential to partially compensate for anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and is, therefore, an important piece in the global climate change mitigation puzzle. However, the term C sequestration is often used misleadingly and, while likely unintentional, can lead to the perpetuation of biased conclusions and exaggerated expectations about its contribution to climate change mitigation efforts. Soils have considerable potential to take up C but many are also in a state of continuous loss. In such soils, measures to build up soil C may only lead to a reduction in C losses (C loss mitigation) rather than result in real C sequestration and negative emissions. In an examination of 100 recent peer‐reviewed papers on topics surrounding soil C, only 4% were found to have used the term C sequestration correctly. Furthermore, 13% of the papers equated C sequestration with C stocks. The review, further, revealed that measures leading to C sequestration will not always result in climate change mitigation when non‐CO2 greenhouse gases and leakage are taken into consideration. This paper highlights potential pitfalls when using the term C sequestration incorrectly and calls for accurate usage of this term going forward. Revised and new terms are suggested to distinguish clearly between C sequestration in soils, SOC loss mitigation, negative emissions, climate change mitigation, SOC storage, and SOC accrual to avoid miscommunication among scientists and stakeholder groups in future.
Do regrowth age and microbial inoculant usage affect the microbial diversity and fermentation characteristics of forage peanut silage?
Authors: Macêdo Alberto Jefferson da Silva , Pereira Odilon Gomes , Leite Gabriela Duarte Oliveira , Santos Hosnerson Renan Oliveira , Coutinho Danielle Nascimento , Leite Patrícia Siqueira , da Silva Vanessa Paula , Valadares Filho Sebastião de Campos , Ribeiro Karina Guimarães
Published: October 2023

This study evaluated the fermentation characteristics, microbial diversity, chemical composition, and in vitro digestibility of forage peanut silage harvested at two regrowth ages and treated with microbial inoculants at different fermentation periods. A randomized block design was used, with two regrowth ages (R; 40 and 80 days), three microbial inoculants (I; control without inoculant [CTRL], strain AV14.17—Lactiplantibacillus pentosus strain AV14.17 [ISO], and commercial inoculant [CI] Sil‐All 4 × 4 (Lallemand Animal Nutrition®, Patos de Minas‐MG, Brazil), and four storage time (ST; 3, 14, 30, and 60 days after ensiling) arranged in a 2 × 3 × 4 factorial scheme, with four replications. The R × I × ST interaction had a significant effect (p ≤ .05) on the ammoniacal nitrogen content in relation to total nitrogen (NH3‐N/ total N) and on the yeast population. The I × ST interaction also had a significant effect (p ≤ .05) on pH, soluble carbohydrate, NH3‐N/total N, lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and filamentous fungi. Inoculated silages with ISO and CI showed lower pH and NH3‐N/total N values, as well as lower abundance of enterobacteria, yeast, and filamentous fungi. In silages inoculated with ISO, the relative abundance of genus Lactiplantibacillus was high and that of genus Enterobacter was low. Silages inoculated with ISO and CI showed predominance of the family Lactobacillaceae. The data support the recommendation to ensile forage peanut at both regrowth ages (40 and 80 days) associated with microbial inoculant application to promote improvements in the fermentation characteristics of the silage and a greater abundance of genus Lactiplantibacillus.
Multiregional analysis of combined hepatocellular‐cholangiocarcinoma reveals histologic diversity and molecular clonality
Authors: Na Hee Young , Kim Jee Hyun , Kim Haeryoung , Cho Jai Young , Han Ho‐Seong , Jang Eun Sun , Kim Jin‐Wook , Jeong Sook‐Hyang , Heo Jayoon , Kim Ji‐Won , Kim Jin Won , Ahn Soomin
Published: October 2023

Combined hepatocellular‐cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC‐CC) is a rare type of liver tumour that exhibits both hepatocytic and biliary differentiation within the same tumour. The histology and genomic alterations of recurrent/metastatic cHCC‐CC are poorly understood. We selected six patients with cHCC‐CC whose recurrent or metastatic tumours were histologically confirmed. Four patients with classic cHCC‐CCs and two with intermediate cell carcinomas (ICs) were included. The clinicopathological features were evaluated, and next‐generation sequencing was performed in 17 multiregional and longitudinal tumour samples. The histology of recurrent/metastatic lesions of classic cHCC‐CCs was variable: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was observed in one (25.0%) patient, cHCC‐CC in one (25.0%) patient, and cholangiocarcinoma (CC) in two (50.0%) patients. Among 13 samples from four classic cHCC‐CC patients, the most frequent pathological variants were TP53 (46.2%), TERT promoter (38.5%), ARID1A mutations (23.1%), and MET amplification (30.8%). In the sequencing analysis of each HCC and CC component, three (75.0%) of the four classic cHCC‐CCs shared pathogenic variants. A large proportion of mutations, both pathogenic and those of undetermined significance, were shared by each HCC and CC component. Regarding ICs, the ATM mutation was detected in one patient. In conclusion, the histology of recurrent/metastatic cHCC‐CCs was heterogeneous. Genomic profiling of classic cHCC‐CCs revealed similar genomic alterations to those of HCC. Considerable overlapping genomic alterations in each HCC and CC component were observed, suggesting a monoclonal origin. Genetic alterations in ICs were different from those in either HCC or CC, suggesting the distinct nature of this tumour.
Effect of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy prior to oesophageal cancer surgery on postoperative wound complications in patients: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Huang Xiao , Jia Chunyang , Zhu Ying
Published: October 2023

It is still a matter of controversy whether percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy(PEG) should be used prior to the operation for the purpose of feeding the patient with resectable oesophageal carcinoma (EC). Comparison was made between EC and preoperatively treated PEG and non‐preoperative PEG. An extensive literature review has been conducted to determine the results about PEG and No‐PEG trials. In this paper, we chose 4 papers out of 407 of them through a strict selection process. In this trial, there were 1027 surgical cases of oesophagus carcinoma, 152 with PEG pre‐surgery and 875 without PEG. The total sample size ranged from 14 to 657. Two studies showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of postoperative wound infection among PEG and No‐PEG(OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.38, 2.80 p = 0.96), there was no statistical significance in the likelihood of anastomotic leak among PEG after surgery compared to No‐PEG in 4 trials (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.62–2.07 p = 0.69), and there were no statistical differences between PEG and No‐PEG before operation on anastomotic stricture for esophagectomy(OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.31–1.56 p = 0.38). No wound or anastomosis complications were observed in the PEG group. Thus, PEG preoperatively is an effective and safe procedure without any harmful influence on gastrointestinal structure or anastomosing. It can be applied to patients with oesophagus carcinoma who have a high risk of undernutrition. Nevertheless, because of the limited number of randomized controlled trials in this meta‐analysis, caution should be exercised in their treatment. More high‐quality research involving a large sample is required to confirm the findings.
Higher atherogenic risk in schoolchildren is associated with MTMR9 rs2293855 gene polymorphism and genetic score
Authors: Silva Mariane Alves , Resende Cristina Maria Mendes , Louro Maíra Barros , Ribeiro Sarah Aparecida Vieira , do Carmo Castro Franceschini Sylvia , Velasquez‐Melendez Gustavo , Alvarez‐Leite Jacqueline Isaura , Durso Danielle Fernandes , de Novaes Juliana Farias
Published: October 2023

Childhood dyslipidaemia is associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, so evaluating whether an individual has a genetic predisposition to this pathology is of great importance for early action of prevention and treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the FTO (rs9939609), MC4R (rs17782313) and MTMR9 (rs2293855) polymorphisms, the obesity‐related genetic risk score and atherogenic risk in Brazilian children. This is a cross‐sectional study conducted in 544 children aged 4–9 years in the city of Viçosa, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The single nucleotide polymorphisms rs9939609, rs17782313 and rs2293855, were identified by the system TaqMan SNP genotyping and the obesity‐related genetic risk score was determined. The lipid profile (serum total cholesterol [TC], high density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, low density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, triglycerides) was analysed and the atherogenic indices (Castelli I and II indices), atherogenic coefficient (AC), lipoprotein combined index (LCI) and plasma atherogenic index (PAI) were calculated. A semi‐structured questionnaire was applied, obtaining data on the sociodemographic, economic and lifestyle characteristics of the children. Weight and height measurements were performed in all children, and body composition was evaluated by Dual‐Energy X‐ray Absorptiometry (DXA). 55.5% of the sample had dyslipidaemia, while 28.5% of the sample had at least one polymorphism and 2.2% had three polymorphisms. Children with the AG/AA genotypes in the rs2293855 polymorphism had lower HDL cholesterol levels and higher TC/HDL cholesterol, LDL/HDL cholesterol ratios and AC. Those with one or more polymorphisms (rs9939609, rs17782313 and rs2293855) in the genetic risk score had lower HDL cholesterol levels and higher TC/HDL cholesterol ratios, AC, LCI and PAI. In conclusion, the risk allele of the rs2293855 polymorphism and a higher obesity‐related genetic risk score were positively associated with higher atherogenic risk in Brazilian children.
Lessons for strengthening policymaking for obesity and diet‐related noncommunicable disease prevention: A narrative synthesis of policy literature from the Western Pacific Region
Authors: Reeve Erica , Bell Colin , Sacks Gary , Mounsey Sarah , Waqa Gade , Peeters Anna , Thow Anne Marie
Published: October 2023

Obesity and diet‐related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have a profound impact on individuals, households, health care systems, and economies in low‐ and middle‐ income countries (LMICs), with the Western Pacific Region experiencing some of the highest impacts. Governments have committed to improving population diets; however, implementation challenges limit effective policy action. We undertook meta‐narrative synthesis of the academic literature and used theories of policymaking and implementation to synthesize current knowledge of issues affecting the adoption and implementation of policies to prevent obesity and diet‐related NCDs in LMICs in the Western Pacific Region. We found that political leadership and management of food and nutrition policies often diluted following policy adoption, and that nutrition and health advocates find it difficult to enforce policy compliance from actors outside their sectors. Opportunities for strengthening implementation of food and nutrition policies in the Western Pacific include (1) improved and earlier engagement between health policymakers and implementing agencies; (2) focusing on the need for increased accountability from governments, including through effective engagement and organization of actor networks, knowledge sharing, and in highlighting where stronger action is required; and (3) identifying and building the strategic capacities of policy actors in framing, advocacy, coalition‐building, knowledge translation, and leadership.
Emerging factors affecting peri‐implant bone metabolism
Authors: Insua Angel , Galindo‐Moreno Pablo , Miron Richard J. , Wang Hom‐Lay , Monje Alberto
Published: October 2023

Implant dentistry has evolved to the point that standard implant osseointegration is predictable. This is attributed in part to the advancements in material sciences that have led toward improvements in implant surface technology and characteristics. Nonetheless, there remain several cases where implant therapy fails (specifically at early time points), most commonly attributed to factors affecting bone metabolism. Among these patients, smokers are known to have impaired bone metabolism and thus be subject to higher risks of early implant failure and/or late complications related to the stability of the peri‐implant bone and mucosal tissues. Notably, however, emerging data have unveiled other critical factors affecting osseointegration, namely, those related to the metabolism of bone tissues. The aim of this review is to shed light on the effects of implant‐related factors, like implant surface or titanium particle release; surgical‐related factors, like osseodensification or implanted biomaterials; various drugs, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, proton pump inhibitors, anti‐hypertensives, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory medication, and statins, and host‐related factors, like smoking, diet, and metabolic syndrome on bone metabolism, and aseptic peri‐implant bone loss. Despite the infectious nature of peri‐implant biological complications, these factors must be surveyed for the effective prevention and management of peri‐implantitis.
The association of adolescent fitness with cardiometabolic diseases in late adulthood: A 45‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Laakso Perttu T. T. , Ortega Francisco B. , Huotari Pertti , Tolvanen Asko J. , Kujala Urho M. , Jaakkola Timo T.
Published: October 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine the associations of adolescent cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular fitness (MF), and speed‐agility fitness (SA) with middle‐aged cardiometabolic disease risk and explore sex differences.

Methods

This 45‐year prospective cohort study examined the associations between objectively measured fitness at adolescence (12–19 years) and physician‐ascertained diabetes mellitus, elevated blood pressure (BP), and coronary heart disease reported either in early (37–44 years) or late (57–64 years) middle age, and self‐measurement of waist circumference (WC) in late middle age. Fitness measurements for healthy adolescents in baseline included CRF (1.5 km [girls] and 2 km [boys] run), MF (standing broad jump, sit‐ups, pull‐ups [boys], and flexed‐arm hang [girls]), and SA (50 m dash and 4 × 10 m shuttle run). Logistic regression and general linear models were adjusted for baseline age, sex, and body mass index (BMI), involving data from baseline and at least one follow‐up measurement (N up to 1358, 47% males).

Results

Adolescent CRF was inversely, and regardless of adiposity, associated with middle age accumulated burden of cardiometabolic conditions in the whole sample (N = 562, ß = −0.10, 95% confidence intervals [CI] [−0.18, −0.03], p = 0.006), and elevated BP in females (N = 256, OR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.51, 0.91]). Overall, we observed stronger associations in females than in males. An inverse association of adolescent MF and SA with middle‐aged WC was observed, but it did not show as consistent associations as with CRF.

Conclusions

In this study, adolescent fitness, particularly CRF, was inversely associated with the burden of cardiometabolic conditions up to 45 years. Promotion of fitness in youth may be beneficial in preventing adulthood cardiometabolic diseases.
An analysis of value chain trade in Africa
Authors: Montfaucon Angella Faith , Nigatu Natnael Simachew , Kraido Majune Socrates
Published: October 2023

Africa's participation in global value chains (GVCs) is not well documented compared with the developed world. Clearly understanding GVC participation levels is critical to enable evidence‐based policy. This paper uses two sources of data to assess Africa's GVC participation and empirically estimates determinants of GVC participation across the data sets. The analysis relies on databases based on customs‐level data (firm and country) and firm survey data from which measures of GVCs are constructed. We find that aggregate GVC data mask disparities, as Africa's proportion of firms participating in GVCs is comparable to other regions, but Africa's GVC trade is much lower. A common theme in the multi‐country empirical results is the positive relationship between political stability and GVC participation of African countries. For single‐country analyses, the consistent result is that FDI is positively associated with backward GVC participation, both at the firm level and country level of analysis. This highlights how much institutions and the need to attract FDI are relevant in promoting Africa's future engagements in GVCs. The consistency in GVC participation rates across the two data sets at the country level indicates their suitability in GVC studies in Africa and expanding their country coverage can enable policymakers to make informed decisions.
Identification of a DNA-cytosine methyltransferase that impacts global transcription to promote group B streptococcal vaginal colonization
Authors: Manzer Haider S. , Brunetti Tonya , Doran Kelly S.
Published: October 2023

Group B
Streptococcus
(GBS) colonizes the female reproductive tract (FRT) and causes adverse pregnancy outcomes and invasive disease following vertical transmission to the fetus or newborn. Despite this major public health burden, the mechanisms of GBS FRT colonization are understudied. A recent transposon sequencing screen identified GBS factors contributing to vaginal colonization and ascending spread, including a putative DNA-cytosine methyltransferase (Dcm). We constructed a Δ
dcm
deletion strain and confirmed that
dcm
contributes to murine FRT colonization. Investigation of the evolutionary origin of the
dcm
gene reveals that it is widely distributed across GBS and is encoded as part of a prophage genome that displays evidence of horizontal transfer between GBS strains. We further show that Dcm contributes to 5mC methylation and global regulation of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, transcription regulation, and known adhesins and metabolic factors involved in GBS colonization. Interestingly, GBS genes that are induced in the presence of the highly glycosylated vaginal mucin MUC5B were significantly downregulated in the ∆
dcm
mutant. Furthermore, the ∆
dcm
mutant exhibited reduced binding to immobilized mucin and was attenuated in its ability to grow on numerous carbon sources including the carbohydrates found on mucins. While the ∆
dcm
mutant displayed enhanced clearance from the FRT in wild-type mice, there was no significant difference in
MUC5B
−/−
mice, indicating that Dcm-mediated regulation requires MUC5B to promote GBS colonization. This is the first report to characterize the impact of a DNA methyltransferase on GBS gene regulation and FRT colonization.

IMPORTANCE

Group B
Streptococcus
(GBS) colonizes the female reproductive tract (FRT) in one-third of women, and carriage leads to numerous adverse pregnancy outcomes including the preterm premature rupture of membranes, chorioamnionitis, and stillbirth. The presence of GBS in the FRT during pregnancy is also the largest predisposing factor for the transmission of GBS and invasive neonatal diseases, including pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. The factors contributing to GBS colonization are still being elucidated. Here, we show for the first time that GBS transcription is regulated by an orphan DNA cytosine methyltransferase (Dcm). Many GBS factors are regulated by Dcm, especially those involved in carbohydrate transport and metabolism. We show that GBS persistence in the FRT is dependent on the catabolism of sugars found on the vaginal mucin MUC5B. Collectively, this work highlights the regulatory importance of a DNA methyltransferase and identifies both host and bacterial factors required for GBS colonization.
Complete genome sequence of
Halomonas
sp. strain M1, a thiosulfate-oxidizing bacterium isolated from a hyperalkaline serpentinizing system, Ney Springs
Authors: Alibaglouei Mehdi , Trutschel Leah R. , Rowe Annette R. , Sackett Joshua D.
Published: October 2023

We report the full genome sequence of
Halomonas
sp. strain M1, isolated from a continental high pH serpentinizing spring in northern California, USA. The 3.7 Mb genome has a G + C content of 54.13%, encodes 3,354 protein-coding genes, and provides insights into the metabolic potential for sulfur oxidation.
Complete genome assembly of
Enterococcus faecalis
strain HL1, isolated from an infant fecal sample
Authors: Kim Kyoung Su , Lee Gun-Hyeong , Bak Hyun Ryul , Park Yoon Mee , Lee Seung Hwa , Hong Soo-Jong , Lee Dong-Woo
Published: October 2023

We present the complete genome sequence of
Enterococcus faecalis
strain HL1, isolated from infant feces.
E. faecalis
gains significant attention for its therapeutic potential. The genome of
E. faecalis
HL1 consists of a 2.7 Mb circular chromosome with no plasmids, and it contains a total of 2,546 predicted coding genes.
Draft genome sequences of six bacterial strains isolated from Cannabis rhizosphere soil
Authors: Bookout Tyson , Goff Kira L. , Gauthier Jeff , Levesque Roger C. , Lewenza Shawn
Published: October 2023

Although bacterial isolates from Cannabis flowers were reported and sequenced, few from its rhizosphere have been characterized. Here we report the draft genomes of six bacterial strains isolated from Cannabis rhizosphere soil samples. These sequences may shed light on plant-microbe interactions in the Cannabis rhizosphere at the molecular level.
Primary management of pelvic fracture urethral injury in a woman: challenges and outcome
Authors: Khurana Chiranjeet Singh , Kushwaha Swapnil Singh , Dorairajan Lalgudi Narayanan , Kalra Siddharth
Published: October 2023

Literature on the management of pelvic fracture urethral injuries (PFUI) in women is scarce. We present a case of PFUI in a woman.

A woman in her 50s presented with lower abdominal pain, bleeding per vaginum and inability to void following road traffic accident. Local examination showed mid-urethral transection injury and tear over the left anterolateral aspect of the vagina. Foley’s catheter bulb and bony fragments of the fractured pelvis were palpable anteriorly. Imaging revealed bilateral superior and inferior rami fractures with pubic bone diastasis. She underwent external fixation of pelvic bones with primary repair of urethral and vaginal mucosal injury.

Intraoperatively external pelvic fixator was applied, following which the bony fragments in the vagina were lifted up (due to the realignment of pelvic bones). Mid-urethral transection injury was repaired using end-to-end anastomotic urethroplasty. Per-urethral catheter and suprapubic catheter were placed. Periurethral tissue and vaginal layers were closed over the urethral repair. The postoperative course was uneventful.

External pelvic fixator was removed after 6 weeks of surgery. Micturating cystogram showed no evidence of contrast extravasation. Follow-up at 3 months showed no urinary symptoms with a bell-shaped uroflowmetry curve.