bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chicago classification v4.0 protocol improves specificity and accuracy of diagnosis of oesophagogastric junction outflow obstruction
Authors: Visaggi Pierfrancesco , Ghisa Matteo , Del Corso Giulio , Baiano Svizzero Federica , Mariani Lucia , Tolone Salvatore , Frazzoni Marzio , Buda Andrea , Bellini Massimo , Savarino Vincenzo , Penagini Roberto , Gyawali C. Prakash , Savarino Edoardo V. , de Bortoli Nicola
Published: June 2022

Background

Chicago classification version 4.0 (CCv4.0) introduced stringent diagnostic criteria for oesophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO), in order to increase the clinical relevance of the diagnosis, although this has not yet been demonstrated.

Aims

To determine the prevalence of EGJOO using CCv4.0 criteria in patients with CCv3.0‐based EGJOO, and to assess if provocative manoeuvres can predict a conclusive CCv4.0 diagnosis of EGJOO.

Methods

Clinical presentation, high resolution manometry (HRM) with rapid drink challenge (RDC), and timed barium oesophagogram (TBE) data were extracted for patients diagnosed with EGJOO as per CCv3.0 between 2018 and 2020. Patients were then re‐classified according to CCv4.0 criteria, using clinically relevant symptoms (dysphagia and/or chest pain), and abnormal barium emptying at 5 min on TBE. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses identified HRM predictors of EGJOO.

Results

Of 2010 HRM studies, 144 (7.2%) fulfilled CCv3.0 criteria for EGJOO (median age 61 years, 56.9% female). Upon applying CCv4.0 criteria, EGJOO prevalence decreased to 1.2%. On ROC analysis, integrated relaxation pressure during RDC (RDC‐IRP) was a significant predictor of a conclusive EGJOO diagnosis by CCv4.0 criteria (area under the curve: 96.1%). The optimal RDC‐IRP threshold of 16.7 mm Hg had 87% sensitivity, 97.1% specificity, 95.7% negative predictive value and 91.3% positive predictive value for a conclusive EGJOO diagnosis; lower thresholds (10 mmHg, 12 mmHg) had better sensitivity but lower specificity.

Conclusion

CCv4.0 criteria reduced the prevalence of EGJOO by 80%, thereby refining the diagnosis and identifying clinically relevant outflow obstruction. Elevated RDC‐IRP can predict conclusive EGJOO per CCv4.0.
Subset Selection for Linear Mixed Models
Authors: Kowal Daniel R.
Published: June 2022

Linear mixed models (LMMs) are instrumental for regression analysis with structured dependence, such as grouped, clustered, or multilevel data. However, selection among the covariates—while accounting for this structured dependence—remains a challenge. We introduce a Bayesian decision analysis for subset selection with LMMs. Using a Mahalanobis loss function that incorporates the structured dependence, we derive optimal linear coefficients for (i) any given subset of variables and (ii) all subsets of variables that satisfy a cardinality constraint. Crucially, these estimates inherit shrinkage or regularization and uncertainty quantification from the underlying Bayesian model, and apply for any well-specified Bayesian LMM. More broadly, our decision analysis strategy deemphasizes the role of a single “best” subset, which is often unstable and limited in its information content, and instead favors a collection of near-optimal subsets. This collection is summarized by key member subsets and variable-specific importance metrics. Customized subset search and out-of-sample approximation algorithms are provided for more scalable computing. These tools are applied to simulated data and a longitudinal physical activity dataset, and demonstrate excellent prediction, estimation, and selection ability.
Splicing factor 3B subunit 1 (SF3B1) mutation in the context of therapy‐related myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Volpe Virginia O. , Al Ali Najla , Chan Onyee , Padron Eric , Sallman David A. , Kuykendall Andrew , Sweet Kendra , Lancet Jeffrey E. , Komrokji Rami S.
Published: June 2022

Splicing factor 3B subunit 1 (SF3B1) somatic mutation in the context of therapy‐related myelodysplastic syndromes (t‐MDS) has not been well defined. In a large cohort of patients with MDS, those with known SF3B1 somatic mutation were compared as de novo MDS (n = 289) and t‐MDS with mutant SF3B1 (SF3B1mut; n = 31). Baseline characteristics, concomitant mutations, and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) transformation were similar between the two groups. The median overall survival (OS) of de novo MDS SF3B1mut was significantly longer compared to t‐MDS SF3B1mut but not significantly different when adjusted for comorbidities. Comparing t‐MDS wild‐type SF3B1 (SF3B1WT; n = 241) to t‐MDS SF3B1mut (n = 31), complex cytogenetics were seen in 37.4% versus 10.3% (p = 0.009), tumour protein p53 (TP53) mutation was 36.1% versus 10% (p = 0.004), and AML transformation was 34.4% compared to 12.9% (p = 0.016) respectively. OS was significantly shorter in SF3B1WT versus SF3B1mut. When applying the International Working Group for Prognosis of MDS (IWG‐PM) proposed SF3B1 criteria, OS was significantly shorter in SF3B1mut t‐MDS compared to de novo MDS SF3B1mut with no significance in AML transformation. Survival was compared between t‐MDS SF3B1mut who met the new proposed IWG‐PM criteria to t‐MDS SF3B1mut who did not meet criteria to survival of SF3B1WT t‐MDS. OS was 53 versus 22 and 18 months respectively (p = 0.006). AML transformation was 0%, 26.7% and 32.3% (p = 0.021). Leukaemia‐free survival was not reached among the three.
Mutations in LRP5 and BMP4 are associated with mesiodens, tooth agenesis, root malformation, and oral exostoses
Authors: Kantaputra Piranit Nik , Guven Yeliz , Tripuwabhrut Kanich , Adisornkanj Ploy , Hatsadaloi Athiwat , Kaewgahya Massupa , Olsen Bjorn , Ngamphiw Chumpol , Jatooratthawichot Peeranat , Tongsima Sissades , Ketudat Cairns James R.
Published: June 2022

WNT/β‐catenin and BMP signaling pathways play important roles in the process of tooth development. Dysregulation of WNT/β‐catenin and BMP signaling is implicated in a number of human malformations, including dental anomalies. Whole exome and Sanger sequencing identified seven patients with LRP5 mutations (p.Asn1121Asp, p.Asp856Asn, p.Val1433Met, and p.Val1245Met) and six patients with BMP4 mutations (p.Asn150Lys, p.Gly168Arg, p.Arg269Gln, and p.Ala42Glu). All patients were affected with isolated dental anomalies (dental anomalies with no other structural defects), including mesiodens, tooth agenesis, unseparated roots, narrow roots, shortened and tapered roots, and taurodontism. Five patients with LRP5 and one with BMP4 mutations had oral exostoses. Protein models of LRP5 mutations indicate the possible functional effects of the mutations. Here we report for the first time that mutations in LRP5 are associated with dental anomalies. LRP5 appears to be the first gene related to pathogenesis of mesiodens. We also show for the first time that in addition to tooth agenesis, mutations in BMP4 are also implicated in root maldevelopment and torus mandibularis. Sharing of the phenotypes of the patients with LRP5 and BMP4 mutations, which include root maldevelopment, tooth agenesis, and torus mandibularis, implicates cross talks between the WNT/β‐catenin and BMP signaling pathways, especially during root development.
Correlation between chest CT severity scores and clinical and biochemical parameters of COVID‐19 pneumonia
Authors: Komurcuoglu Berna , Susam Seher , Batum Özgür , Turk Merve A. , Salik Bilge , Karadeniz Gulistan , Senol Gunes
Published: June 2022

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic, which first appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and spread rapidly around the globe, continues to be a serious threat today. Rapid and accurate diagnostic methods are needed to identify, isolate and treat patients as soon as possible because of the rapid contagion of COVID‐19. In the present study, the relation of the semi‐quantitative scoring method with computed tomography in the diagnosis of COVID‐19 in determining the severity of the disease with clinical and laboratory parameters and survival of the patients were investigated along with its value in prognostic prediction.

Material and method

A total of 277 adult patients who were followed up in the chest diseases clinic because of COVID‐19 pneumonia between 11.03.2020 and 31.05.2020 were evaluated retrospectively in the present study. Both lungs were divided into five regions in line with their anatomical structures, and semiquantitative radiological scoring was made between 0 and 25 points according to the distribution of lesions in each region. The relations between semiquantitative radiological score and age, gender, comorbidity, and clinical and laboratory parameters were examined.

Results

A significant correlation was detected between advanced age, lymphopenia, low oxygen saturation, high ferritin, D‐dimer, and radiological score in the univariate analysis performed in the present study. The cut‐off value of the semiquantitative radiology score was found to be 15 (AUC: 0.615, 95% CI: 0.554–0.617,p = 0.106) in ROC analysis. The survival was found to be better in cases with a radiology score below 15, in Kaplan–Meier analysis (HR: 4.71, 95% CI: 1.43–15.46,p < 0.01). In the radiological score and nonparametric correlation analyses, positive correlations were detected between CRP, D‐dimer, AST, LDH, ferritin, and pro‐BNP, and a negative correlation was found between partial oxygen pressure and oxygen saturation (p = 0.01,r = 0.321/0.313/0.362/0.343/0.313/0.333/−0.235/−0.231, respectively)

Conclusion

It was found that the scoring system that was calculated quantitatively in thorax HRCTs in Covid‐19 patients is a predictive actor in determining the severity and prognosis of the disease in correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters. Considering patients who have a score of 15 and above with semiquantitative scoring risky in terms of poor prognosis and short survival and close follow‐up and early treatment may be effective to reduce mortality rates.
Cutaneous lupus‐erythematosus‐like reaction arising after COVID‐19 vaccination
Authors: Rose Colin , Apgar Ryan , Green Margaret
Published: June 2022

Multiple adverse cutaneous reactions have been described following vaccination against COVID‐19. This case report describes a reaction to the Pfizer‐BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccine that histopathologically resembles cutaneous lupus erythematosus with vacuolar interface alteration, superficial to mid‐dermal perivascular and periadnexal lymphocytic infiltrate with clusters of CD123+ cells, and mildly increased dermal mucin.
Hybrid closed‐loop therapy with a first‐generation system increases confidence and independence in diabetes management in youth with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Roberts Alison , Fried Leanne , Dart Julie , de Bock Martin , Fairchild Janice , King Bruce , Ambler Geoffrey R. , Cameron Fergus , McAuley Sybil A. , Keech Anthony C. , Jenkins Alicia , O′Neal David N. , Davis Elizabeth A. , Jones Timothy W. , Abraham Mary B. ,   for the Australian JDRF Closed Loop Research group
Published: June 2022

Aim

Hybrid closed‐loop (HCL) therapy improves glycaemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes; however, little is known about their lived experience using these systems. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of youth with type 1 diabetes using HCL therapy, and their parents, to provide insight into their lived experiences.

Methods

Adolescents and young adults aged 12–25 years, who used Medtronic MiniMed™ 670G HCL system during a 6‐month randomised clinical trial, and their parents, were invited to participate in a semi‐structured interview at the end of the study. Open‐ended questions were used to explore the lived experiences of families using HCL. The interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis to determine the main themes.

Results

In all, 17 young people with type 1 diabetes mean ± SD age: 17.5 ± 4.2 years, diabetes duration: 11.0 ± 4.9 years and HbA1c 64 ± 9 mmol/mol (8.0 ± 0.8%) and 10 parents were interviewed. Three themes were identified: (1) ‘Developing confidence and trust in the system’, (2) ‘Reduction in anxiety’ and (3) ‘Issues with device’. They reported a positive experience using HCL, with improvements in glucose levels and increased independence with diabetes management. However, frustration around the number of alarms and notifications associated with the system were also identified as issues.

Conclusion

Both youth and parents acknowledged the benefits of this first‐generation HCL system in improving glycaemic outcomes and in providing flexibility and independence. These lived experiences provide valuable information in the introduction and provision of targeted education with HCL therapy.
University insiders' perceptions of doctoral education development in five East and Southeast Asian countries: An institutional logics perspective
Authors: Zhuang Tengteng , Liu Baocun , Ding Ruichang
Published: June 2022

This article reports on a study that analysed multiple logics behind the development of doctoral education in China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. The analysis focused on the development over the past two decades and general measures to ensure quality. Research materials analysed in this article consisted of semi‐structured interviews with insiders in the doctoral education system in each of the five countries. The findings reveal that the growth of the doctoral education sector in China follows state logic, profession logic and corporation logic. Doctoral education in Japan shows state logic, profession logic and market logic. State logic, market logic and corporation logic are manifested in South Korea's doctoral education sector, whereas state logic and profession logic are prominent in Singapore. Doctoral education in Thailand mostly follows state logic and market logic. Establishing and completing the external and internal quality mechanisms, tightening quality inspection procedures and raising requirements for students are common measures put in place for quality assurance throughout East and Southeast Asia.
Forecasting seizure clusters from chronic ambulatory electrocorticography
Authors: Ilyas Adeel , Hoffman Clarissa , Vakilna Yash , Chaliyeduth Sreekanth , Muhlhofer Wolfgang , Riley Kristen O. , Dabaghian Yuri , Lhatoo Samden D. , Pati Sandipan
Published: June 2022

Seizure clusters are seizures that occur in rapid succession during periods of heightened seizure risk and are associated with substantial morbidity and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. The objective of this feasibility study was to evaluate the performance of a novel seizure cluster forecasting algorithm. Chronic ambulatory electrocorticography recorded over an average of 38 months in 10 subjects with drug‐resistant epilepsies was analyzed pseudoprospectively by dividing data into training (first 85%) and validation periods. For each subject, the probability of seizure clustering, derived from the Kolmogorov–Smirnov statistic using a novel algorithm, was forecasted in the validation period using individualized autoregressive models that were optimized from training data. The primary outcome of this study was the mean absolute scaled error (MASE) of 1‐day horizon forecasts. From 10 subjects, 394 ± 142 (mean ± SD) electrocorticography‐based seizure events were extracted for analysis, representing a span of 38 ± 27 months of recording. MASE across all subjects was .74 ± .09, .78 ± .09, and .83 ± .07 at .5‐, 1‐, and 2‐day horizons. The feasibility study demonstrates that seizure clusters are quasiperiodic and can be forecasted to clinically meaningful horizons. Pending validation in larger cohorts, the forecasting approach described herein may herald chronotherapy during imminent heightened seizure vulnerability.
The Depths of Christ’s Love
Authors: Bae Hyunju
Published: June 2022

This article seeks to overcome the conventional separation between agape and eros and explores the full humanity and embodiment of Jesus Christ by focusing on his divine eros. When eros turns creative, sacramental, and prophetic, divine eros emerges. The story of the encounter between Jesus and the woman in Luke 7:36‐50 receives a fresh interpretation in light of the presence of divine eros. Divine eros is a manifestation of Jesus’ embodied radical love. Confronting unprecedented global challenges, the ecumenical movement is searching for new wineskins to unleash relational power at its diverse levels to rejuvenate itself. Lessons from Jesus’ art of loving might serve as a rich inspiration for those who desire to do justice to the sacred web of life and to love well as bridge‐building instruments of Christ’s love.
Given for Us
Authors: Ekué Amélé Adamavi‐Aho
Published: June 2022

Against the background of the theme of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC), “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity,” this article explores the relevance of “gifts” and “giving” in the context of ecumenical relationships and the role that ethics play in these relationships. Giving, receiving, and giving back in turn are seen as important ethical indicators in three ways. First, in terms of cultural anthropology, they point to the diverse ways in which different cultures understand the human being. Second, gifts denote social structures, status, and how people relate to each other in a wider creative web of relationships. Third, the idea of the gift picks up the central theological concept of God’s grace, freely given. At the heart of the narrative of Jesus and the events of the cross and resurrection is the reconciling and liberating gift and giving of Jesus. Such a non‐sacrificial reading is central to the questions evoked by the theme for the WCC assembly, scheduled for August–September 2022 in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Emerging positions of German firms in the industrial internet of things: A global technological ecosystem perspective
Authors: Lechowski Grzegorz , Krzywdzinski Martin
Published: June 2022

The industrial internet of things (IIoT) has created entirely new inter‐firm competitive and collaborative dynamics that focus on the supply of digital infrastructures, services and platforms for industrial users. These dynamics typically involve machinery builders, information technology suppliers and traditional technology buyers from various asset‐intensive sectors. Given the global character of IIoT technology, transnationally relevant inter‐firm arrangements have emerged for which we still lack a conceptually grounded understanding. This study addresses this research gap from the German perspective by combining the concepts of global value chains and complex technical systems. Empirically, we develop a multiple case study of established German firms that have provided IIoT technologies in the domain of ‘smart manufacturing.’ We investigate the firms’ evolving positions within the multi‐layered IIoT stack and explore their technological dependency on global cloud‐infrastructure suppliers. Second, we put the case study into the context of the recent German industrial‐policy initiatives related to the discourse of ‘digital sovereignty’, which attempt to improve the positions of domestic actors vis‐à‐vis the multi‐national tech companies. Conceptually, this study offers the framework of global technological ecosystems as a new perspective on the transnational platform economy, which highlights the enabling character of global‐scale digital infrastructures and acknowledges active involvement of non‐firm actors in ecosystem governance.
On not ‘being there’: Making sense of the potent urge for physical proximity in transnational families at the outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Simola Anna , May Vanessa , Olakivi Antero , Wrede Sirpa
Published: June 2022

This paper investigates transnational families’ experiences of the COVID‐19 pandemic outbreak and the accompanying sudden and unexpected travel restrictions. Our data consist of written stories collected in April–June 2020 from migrants with ageing kin living in another country. For many respondents, the situation provoked an acutely felt urge for physical proximity with their families. By analysing their experiences of ‘not being there’, we seek to understand what exactly made the urge to ‘be there’ so forceful. Bringing into dialogue literature on transnational families with Jennifer Mason's recent theoretical work on affinities, we move the focus from families’ transnational caregiving practices to the potent connections between family members. We argue that this approach can open important avenues for future research on families—transnational or otherwise—because it sheds light on the multisensory and often ineffable charges between family members that serve to connect them.
Negotiating public service bargains in postrevolutionary times: The case of Iran's diplomatic corps
Authors: Beaud Guillaume
Published: June 2022

New political regimes stemming from revolutions eventually find themselves confronted with the imperative to build upper bureaucratic apparatuses geared towards facilitating regime stability. This article examines the process of “re‐bureaucratization” in the Islamic Republic of Iran, whereby institutions are designed and reworked over time to accommodate distinct features of the reshuffled bureaucratic elite initially incongruous in a deregulated revolutionary environment. Precisely, it examines state institutions established to recruit and train postrevolutionary Iranian diplomats following the purges of state bureaucracies. Relying on qualitative and quantitative data, the article shows how such institutions allowed to outstrip loyalty‐driven politico‐administrative arrangements that are essentially short‐sighted, as once their aim fulfilled—asserting regime elites' control over the state—, they channel policy‐making deficiency. Conversely, their very designs craft a “Public Service Bargain” that concomitantly fosters diplomats' loyalty, expertise, and representativeness—which, for to the revolutionary canon, commingles diplomats' plebeianization and provincialization—into stabilized institutional arrangements.
Understanding the Evolution of Groundwater‐Contaminant Plume Chemistry Emanating from Legacy Contaminant Sources: An Example from a Long‐Term Crude Oil Spill
Authors: Cozzarelli Isabelle M. , Baedecker Mary Jo , Mumford Adam C. , Jaeschke Jeanne B. , Spencer Tracey A.
Published: June 2022

Understanding the evolution of plumes emanating from residual hydrocarbon contaminant sources requires evaluating how changes in source compositions over time cause changes in dissolved plume chemistry as residual sources age. This study investigates such changes at the site of a 1979 crude‐oil pipeline spill and is the first comprehensive look at groundwater chemistry associated with a residual hydrocarbon source zones in different stages of aging. The data show a direct relationship between concentrations of benzene and naphthalene in the residual oil and those measured in water samples collected below the oil. Groundwater associated with oil near the spill site had different chemical composition compared with water associated with oil that had spread downgradient from the spill zone, indicating a shift in biodegradation reactions. These results emphasize that source zone processes are spatially and temporally heterogeneous and should be accounted for in natural attenuation studies where residual source zones persist.
Simple biliary cysts of the liver can be lined by mucinous epithelium
Authors: Wong Newton A C S , Abdalkoddus Muhammad , Al‐Khafaji Nadeem , Roach Huw , Abbadi Reyad
Published: June 2022

Aims & Methods

Simple biliary cysts of the liver are described to be lined by biliary epithelium and may be managed nonsurgically or by deroofing only. By contrast, its important differential diagnosis—mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN)—is at least focally lined by mucinous epithelium, has malignant potential, and therefore should be resected. Following anecdotal observations in routine diagnostic practice, the following case series was assembled to confirm whether simple biliary cysts of the liver can be lined by mucinous epithelium. Detailed clinicoradiological review, including postoperative follow‐up, was also completed to assess whether the presence of mucinous epithelium had any associations, including a risk of hepatobiliary neoplasia.

Results

Histological review of 21 simple biliary cysts received as surgical specimens over a 3‐ year period confirmed an absence of ovarian‐like stroma in all cases. The lining epithelium of seven cysts showed focal supranuclear/apical mucin, as confirmed histochemically. Cysts with mucinous epithelium were generally larger and more often showed histological evidence of previous haemorrhage than cysts without this epithelium. There were no other statistically‐significant differences in clinicoradiological features between cysts with and without mucinous epithelium, including at postoperative radiological follow‐up.

Conclusions

Focal mucinous epithelium can be present in at least one‐third of surgically‐managed, simple biliary cysts of the liver. Such epithelium may be metaplastic and should not be misinterpreted to indicate a diagnosis of MCN but, apart from this, appears to have no clinical significance. Ovarian‐like stroma may therefore be the only histological feature that reliably distinguishes MCN from simple biliary cyst.
OPENING THE FLOODGATES: PARTIAL AND GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM ADJUSTMENTS TO LABOR IMMIGRATION
Authors: Bratsberg Bernt , Moxnes Andreas , Raaum Oddbjørn , Ulltveit‐Moe Karen Helene
Published: June 2022

We investigate the impact of a large immigration shock on occupational wages. We develop a general equilibrium model where individuals sort into occupations and confront testable hypotheses with data. To identify the effect of the labor supply shock, we introduce a novel instrument that exploits that immigrants systematically sort into different occupations than natives. We study the immigration wave to Norway after the Eastern enlargement and find that immigration led to lower relative occupational wages. A quantification of the general equilibrium shows welfare effects of immigration close to zero for natives, but negative effects for the pre‐existing population of immigrants.
Nutritional value and potential bioactivities of Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas)
Authors: Negara Bertoka Fajar Surya Perwira , Mohibbullah Md. , Sohn Jae‐Hak , Kim Jin‐Soo , Choi Jae‐Suk
Published: June 2022

Globally, Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) have a high market demand owing to their increased nutritional value. Crassostrea gigas can be a dietary source to meet the daily nutritional needs. Several studies have evaluated the nutritional value and bioactivity of C. gigas. However, a review of studies examining the nutritional value and bioactivity of C. gigas has not been previously performed. This study aimed to review the studies evaluating the nutritional value and bioactivities of C. gigas components using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. The online databases Web of Science, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE and PubMed were searched to retrieve published studies on the nutritional value and bioactivity of C. gigas. Among the 37 studies obtained after filtering, the highest number of studies evaluated other bioactivities of C. gigas, followed by studies evaluating the antioxidant activity. This review examined the C. gigas components, including protein, moisture, glycogen, minerals, essential amino acids and fatty acids, which exerted beneficial effects on human health. Environmental conditions and cultivation techniques influenced the nutritional contents of C. gigas. The bioactive components of C. gigas exhibited antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antitumor and anticancer, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, hypoglycaemic, skin whitening, skin immunomodulatory, antiwrinkle, cholesterol‐lowering, antiaudiogenic seizure and probiotic activities. In conclusion, C. gigas has a high nutritional value and comprises various bioactive components. Thus, C. gigas can be a source of bioactive components and a functional food. However, most studies evaluating the bioactivity of C. gigas were performed in vitro.
The diagnostic accuracy of Sysmex XN for identification of pseudothrombocytopenia using various thresholds for definition of platelet aggregation
Authors: Lunde Hanne Elisabeth , Hjelmtvedt Agnete Nyborg , Amundsen Erik Koldberg
Published: June 2022

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the flag PLT‐Clumps from the WNR/WDF and the PLT‐F channels from Sysmex XN and to study how different cut‐offs for investigation for pseudothrombocytopenia (PTCP) and the definition of platelet aggregation affected the diagnostic accuracy.

Methods

A smear review was performed for samples with platelet count <150 × 109/L and samples flagged for platelet aggregation by Sysmex XN‐20. The samples were investigated for platelet aggregation in 30 fields using 40× objective. Findings were classified by size and quantity using two definitions of aggregation: the Norwegian quality improvement of laboratory investigations (Noklus) and the Groupe Francophone de'Hematologie Cellulaire (GFHC). The Q‐values for the PLT‐Clumps flag from the WNR/WFD channel and the PLT‐F channel were compared with smear findings.

Results

ROC analysis showed that the diagnostic accuracy of the PLT‐clumps flags increased with increasing stringency of the definition of platelet aggregation and when only samples with thrombocytopenia were investigated. With the most stringent PTCP definitions, the diagnostic accuracy of the PLT‐Clumps flag from PLT‐F was very high (AUC 0.97–0.98) and markedly better than for WNR/WDF.

Conclusion

The diagnostic accuracy of PLT‐F from Sysmex XN‐20 for identification of PTCP was very good and superior to the WNDR/WDF channel in samples with platelet count <150 × 109/L and a moderate to high number of aggregates in the smear. There is a need for a more precise definition of platelet aggregation.
Association between maternal antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and childhood obesity in the Japan Environment and Children's Study
Authors: Sakurai Kenichi , Yamamoto Midori , Eguchi Akifumi , Takatani Rieko , Watanabe Masahiro , Mori Chisato ,   the Japan Environment and Children's Study Group
Published: June 2022

Background

The association between maternal antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and childhood obesity is still unclear.

Objectives

The study aimed to evaluate the association between prenatal exposure to antibiotics and obesity at age 3 years using data from a large Japanese birth cohort.

Methods

The Japan Environment and Children's Study is a nationwide birth cohort study. In this study, singleton vaginal full‐term births were included. Obesity was defined as body mass index ≥95th percentile according to child growth standards. Prenatal antibiotic exposure was defined as antimicrobial agent use during pregnancy and was collected from maternal interviews and medical record transcripts. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association of prenatal antibiotic exposure with child obesity at 3 years.

Results

In the crude and adjusted models with all children, maternal antibiotic exposure during pregnancy showed a marginal relationship with child obesity at 3 years. In the analyses according to exposure period and sex, exposure to antibiotics during the second/third trimester was significantly associated with obesity at the age of 3 years in female infants, but not in male infants, although the exposure during the first trimester was not in both sexes.

Conclusion

Maternal antibiotic exposure during mid/late pregnancy may result in child obesity.
Analysis of a situational judgment test for teamwork as a preselection tool for an assessment center: A construct‐based approach
Authors: Goerke Panja , Maier Julia
Published: June 2022

Situational judgment tests (SJTs) constitute an efficient and well‐established method for predicting professional success. However, more information is needed regarding their relationship to applicants' behavior as observed in an assessment center (AC) at the construct level. In the present study, an SJT for teamwork (SJT‐TW) was assessed in terms of its suitability as a preselection tool for ACs in the context of a multistage selection. Data were collected from 276 applicants for ab initio pilot training during their selection process. Results from the regression analyses showed that the SJT‐TW test performance is a significant predictor for the AC result and it contributed more than knowledge, cognitive performance tests, and personality scales thereto. The SJT‐TW also caused significant increments for the prediction of single AC dimensions. Therefore, it was concluded that construct‐based SJTs are useful for the assessment of behavioral constructs and can complement selection processes as a preselection tool.
A protocol for the cultivation and monitoring of ileal gut microbiota surrogates
Authors: Akritidou Theodora , Smet Cindy , Akkermans Simen , Tonti Maria , Williams Jennifer , Van de Wiele Tom , Van Impe Jan F. M.
Published: June 2022

Aims

This research aimed to develop and validate a cultivation and monitoring protocol that is suitable for a surrogate microbial community that accounts for the gut microbiota of the ileum of the small intestine.

Methods and Results

Five bacterial species have been selected as representatives of the ileal gut microbiota and a general anaerobic medium (MS-BHI, as minimally supplemented brain heart infusion) has been constructed and validated against BCCM/LGM recommended and commercial media. Moreover, appropriate selective/differential media have been investigated for monitoring each ileal gut microbiota surrogate. Results showed that MS-BHI was highly efficient in displaying individual and collective behaviour of the ileal gut microbiota species, when compared with other types of media. Likewise, the selective/differential media managed to identify and describe the behaviour of their targeted species.

Conclusions

MS-BHI renders a highly efficient, inexpensive and easy-to-prepare cultivation and enumeration alternative for the surrogate ileal microbiota species. Additionally, the selective/differential media can identify and quantify the bacteria of the surrogate ileal microbial community.

Significance and Impact of Study

The selected gut microbiota species can represent an in vitro ileal community, forming the basis for future studies on small intestinal microbiota. MS-BHI and the proposed monitoring protocol can be used as a standard for gut microbiota studies that utilize conventional microbiological techniques.
Potential probiotic strains with heavy metals and mycotoxins bioremoval capacity for application in foodstuffs
Authors: Massoud Ramona , Zoghi Alaleh
Published: June 2022

Heavy metals and mycotoxins in foodstuffs are one of the major concerns of our world nowadays. Food decontamination with the help of microbial biomass is a cheap, easy, efficient and green method known as bioremoval. Probiotics are able to reduce the availability of heavy metals and toxins in food products. The purpose of this review is to summarize the probiotics and potential probiotics' interesting role in food bio-decontamination. After a brief glance at the definition of potential probiotic strains with bioremoval ability, LABs (lactic acid bacteria) are described as they are the most important groups of probiotics. After that, the role of the main probiotic and potential probiotic strains (Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, Pediococcus, Propionibacterium, Streptococcus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for heavy metals and mycotoxins bioremoval are described. Additionally, the bioremoval mechanism and the effect of some factors in bioremoval efficiency are explained. Finally, the investigations about probiotic and contaminant stability are mentioned. It is worth mentioning that this review article can be exerted in different food and beverage industries to eliminate the heavy metals and mycotoxins in foodstuffs.
Ontogeny of swimming performance of hatchery‐reared post‐larvae and juvenile fish: a case of two threatened Mediterranean species
Authors: Ducos Salomé , Pugliese Sally , Demolliens Mikaël , Beraud Louisa , Boussard Alizée , Delmas Alban , Agostini Sylvia , Garcia Jessica , Aiello Antoine , Durieux Eric D. H.
Published: June 2022

Swimming performance is a well‐established key physiological parameter of fish that is highly linked to their fitness in the wild. In the context of fish restocking purposes, it therefore appears crucial to study this specific behaviour. Here, the authors investigated intra and interspecies differences in the swimming performance of hatchery‐reared post‐larvae and juveniles belonging to two Mediterranean candidate threatened species, the common dentex, Dentex dentex (Sparidae), and the brown meagre, Sciaena umbra (Sciaenidae), with body sizes ranging from 8 to 37 mm total length (TL, from 24 to 58 days post‐hatch). The swimming abilities were estimated through the calculation of their critical swimming speed (Ucrit), their relative Ucrit and their Reynolds number (Re). Two different patterns were observed between D. dentex and S. umbra, showing a different effect of ontogeny on the performance of both species. The relative Ucrit of S. umbra decreased linearly through ontogeny, whereas the relative Ucrit and Ucrit of D. dentex increased linearly through the range of sizes tested. The ontogenetic change in Ucrit of S. umbra occurred in two stages: a first stage of sharp improvement and a second stage of a slow decrease in performance. Both stages were separated by a breakpoint that coincided with the appearance of a refusal to swim behaviour that occurred shortly after the end of metamorphosis and can potentially be associated with the establishment of this species sedentary behaviour. The swimming performance of both species showed ontogenetic differences. Sciaena umbra had the highest relative performance when its body sizes were the smallest, whereas D. dentex showed the highest relative performance when its body sizes were the largest. These results will be linked to future research on both of these species concerning their escape, exploratory and predatory behaviours, and for restocking purposes to draw a more realistic overview of hatchery‐reared juvenile performance. Knowledge of both species’ behavioural and swimming performance through ontogeny is important to consider when using hatchery‐reared fish juveniles for restocking, as size‐at‐release can have a large impact on fish survival and thus on restocking success.
Comparability of skeletal fibulae surfaces generated by different source scanning (dual‐energy CT scan vs. high resolution laser scanning) and 3D geometric morphometric validation
Authors: Pietrobelli Annalisa , Sorrentino Rita , Notariale Veronica , Durante Stefano , Benazzi Stefano , Marchi Damiano , Belcastro Maria Giovanna
Published: June 2022

This work aims to test accuracy and comparability of 3D models of human skeletal fibulae generated by clinical CT and laser scanner virtual acquisitions. Mesh topology, segmentation and smoothing protocols were tested to assess variation among meshes generated with different scanning methods and procedures, and to evaluate meshes‐interchangeability in 3D geometric morphometric analysis. A sample of 13 left human fibulae were scanned separately with Revolution Discovery CT dual energy (0.625 mm resolution) and ARTEC Space Spider 3D structured light laser scanner (0.1 mm resolution). Different segmentation methods, including half‐maximum height (HMH) and MIA‐clustering protocols, were compared to their high‐resolution standard generated with laser‐scanner by calculating topological surface deviations. Different smoothing algorithms were also evaluated, such as Laplacian and Taubin smoothing. A total of 142 semilandmarks were used to capture the shape of both proximal and distal fibular epiphyses. After Generalized Procrustes superimposition, the Procrustes coordinates of the proximal and distal fibular epiphyses were used separately to assess variation due to scanning methods and the operator error. Smoothing algorithms at low iteration do not provide significant variation among reconstructions, but segmentation protocol may influence final mesh quality (0.09–0.24 mm). Mean deviation among CT‐generated meshes that were segmented with MIA‐clustering protocol, and laser scanner‐generated ones, is optimal (0.42 mm, ranging 0.35–0.56 mm). Principal component analysis reveals that homologous samples scanned with the two methods cluster together for both the proximal and distal fibular epiphyses. Similarly, Procrustes ANOVA reveals no shape differences between scanning methods and replicates, and only 1.38–1.43% of shape variation is due to scanning device. Topological similarities support the comparability of CT‐ and laser scanner‐generated meshes and validate its simultaneous use in shape analysis with potential clinical relevance. We precautionarily suggest that dedicated trials should be performed in each study when merging different data sources prior to analyses.
A clinical prediction model to estimate the risk for coarctation of the aorta: From fetal to newborn life
Authors: Wang Hui‐Hui , Wang Xi‐Ming , Zhu Mei , Liang Hao , Feng Juan , Zhang Nan , Wang Yue‐Mei , Yu Yong‐Hui , Wang An‐Biao
Published: June 2022

Aim

A prenatal diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is challenging. This study aimed to develop a coarctation probability model incorporating prenatal cardiac sonographic markers to estimate the probability of an antenatal diagnosis of CoA.

Methods

We reviewed 89 fetuses as an investigation cohort with prenatal suspicion for CoA and categorized them into three subgroups: severe CoA: symptomatic CoA and surgery within the first 3 months; mild CoA: surgery within 4 months to 1 year (29); and false‐positive CoA: not requiring surgery (45). Logistic regression was used to create a multiparametric model, and a validation cohort of 86 fetuses with suspected CoA was used to validate the model.

Results

The prediction model had an optimal criterion >0.25 (sensitivity of 97.7%; specificity of 59.1%), and the area under the receiver operator curve was 0.85. The parameters and their cut‐off values were as follows: left common carotid artery to left subclavian artery distance/distal transverse arch (LCCA‐LSCA)/DT Index >1.77 (sensitivity 62%, specificity 88%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6–0.8), and z‐score of AAo peak Doppler > −1.7 (sensitivity 77%, specificity 56%, 95% CI: 0.6–0.8). The risk assessment demonstrated that fetuses with a model probability >60% should have inpatient observation for a high risk of CoA, whereas fetuses with a model probability <15% should not undergo clinical follow‐up.

Conclusion

The probability model performs well in predicting CoA outcomes postnatally and can also improve the accuracy of risk assessment. The objectivity of its parameters may allow its implementation in multicenter studies of fetal cardiology.
The intergenerational transmission of gender: Paternal influences on children's gender attitudes
Authors: Cano Tomás , Hofmeister Heather
Published: June 2022

Objective

This study provides the first systematic longitudinal analysis of the influence of paternal involvement in family life—across childhood and adolescence—on the gender‐role attitudes of children by the age of 14 or 15.

Background

Recent research suggests that, in post‐industrial societies, paternal involvement in family life is increasing. Although previous studies of paternal involvement have considered paternal influences on children's cognitive or socio‐emotional development, such studies have not yet addressed paternal influences on children's attitudes toward gender. Relatedly, previous studies on the intergenerational transmission of gender attitudes have analyzed maternal influences, but have neglected the significance of paternal influences. This study engages both strands of the research by analyzing the effects of paternal behaviors on children's attitudes toward gender roles.

Method

Multivariate linear regressions models were estimated on data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC); a survey with biannual observations over 10 years for 2796 children born between 1999 and 2000.

Results

Fathers' time spent on childcare during childhood was associated with gender‐egalitarian attitudes in children by the age of 14 or 15. The most powerful predictor of children's gender‐role attitudes, however, was the amount of time fathers spent on housework during children's adolescence, both absolute and relative to the amount of time mothers spent on housework. Fathers' unpaid labor at home was as relevant for children's gender‐role attitudes as mothers' paid labor in the workforce. These results held after controlling for maternal domestic behaviors and for the gender‐role attitudes of both parents.

Conclusion

Father involvement in childcare and housework during childhood and adolescence play an important role in shaping children's gender‐egalitarian attitudes.
Bayesian clinical reasoning in the first opinion approach to a dog with suspected thoracolumbar pain
Authors: Khan S. , Freeman P.
Published: June 2022

Whilst multi‐planar imaging has allowed advances in diagnosis and treatment of canine spinal cord disorders, it is sometimes inaccessible to pet owners leading to a reliance on imaging modalities and ancillary tests that are more readily available. For this reason, this essay considers how Bayesian clinical reasoning may aid in deciding which tests, if any, are most useful for the diagnosis of spinal disease in clinical practice and choosing reasonable empiric therapies.
Heritage, the power of the past, and the politics of (mis)recognition
Authors: Smith Laurajane
Published: June 2022

Heritage sites and places are often mobilized to represent a group's identity and sense of place and belonging. This paper will illustrate how heritage and museum visiting, as a leisure activity, facilitates or impedes recognition and redistribution in direct and indirect ways. Drawing on extensive qualitative interviews with visitors to 45 heritage sites and museums in the USA, Australia, and England, the paper demonstrates the importance of emotions in mundane struggles over recognition and misrecognition. How emotions uphold or challenge investments in heritage narratives are examined. The paper argues that heritage and heritage‐making is a valuable focus of analysis that reveals the nuances of how people sustain or impede claims for recognition and redistribution.
Mobility Imaginaries of Humanitarian Intervention: Gender, Migration, and Violence along Mexico's Southern Border
Authors: Wurtz Heather M.
Published: June 2022

Thousands of Central American women have been displaced from their countries of origin by violence. While the violence committed against them is often portrayed as isolated acts of aggression, women's suffering is also produced and perpetuated by humanitarian interventions that immobilize women in dangerous transit zones. Interventions are then justified by institutional logics that juxtapose women's vulnerability against the threat of their own mobility. This article draws on 14 months of ethnographic fieldwork along the southern Mexico border among migrant women who sought out humanitarian assistance following violent encounters. Central to my argument is the concept of mobility imaginaries, or widely shared social assumptions about how mobility should and can be accessed, by whom, and under what circumstances. Through this framework, I show how gendered mobility biases that underlie institutional logics compound other forms of institutional inequality, which often serves to reproduce, rather than mitigate, root causes of gender‐based vulnerability.