bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimentally EvolvedStaphylococcus aureusSurvives in the Presence ofPseudomonas aeruginosaby Acquiring Mutations in the Amino Acid Transporter, GltT
Authors: Alexander Ashley M. , Luu Justin M. , Raghuram Vishnu , Bottacin Giulia , van Vliet Simon , Read Timothy D. , Goldberg Joanna B.
Published: July 2023

Staphylococcus aureusandPseudomonas aeruginosaare the most common bacterial pathogens isolated from cystic fibrosis (CF) related lung infections. When both of these opportunistic pathogens are found in a coinfection, CF patients tend to have higher rates of pulmonary exacerbations and experience a more rapid decrease in lung function. When cultured together under standard laboratory conditions, it is often observed thatP. aeruginosaeffectively inhibitsS. aureusgrowth. Previous work from our group revealed thatS. aureusfrom CF infections have isolate-specific survival capabilities when cocultured withP. aeruginosa. In this study, we designed a serial transfer evolution experiment to identify mutations that allowS. aureusto adapt to the presence ofP. aeruginosa. UsingS. aureusUSA300 JE2 as our ancestral strain, populations ofS. aureuswere repeatedly cocultured with freshP. aeruginosastrain, PAO1. After 8 coculture periods,S. aureuspopulations that survived better in the presence of PAO1 were observed. We found two independent mutations in the highly conservedS. aureusaspartate transporter,gltT, that were unique to evolvedP. aeruginosa-tolerant isolates. Subsequent phenotypic testing demonstrated thatgltTmutants have reduced uptake of glutamate and outcompete wild-typeS. aureuswhen glutamate is absent from chemically-defined media. These findings together demonstrate that the presence ofP. aeruginosaexerts selective pressure onS. aureusto alter its uptake and metabolism of key amino acids when the two bacteria are cultured together.

Importance

Staphylococcus aureusandPseudomonas aeruginosaare the two most common bacterial pathogens that infect people with the genetic disease, cystic fibrosis (CF). They are often found together in CF-associated polymicrobial infections that are associated with worse patient prognosis. Understanding how these very different opportunistic pathogens influence each other in a shared environment is pertinent to improving the treatment of polymicrobial infections. While much attention has been brought to the interspecific interactions betweenS. aureusandP. aeruginosa,few studies have used experimental evolution methods to identify determinants of their competition and coexistence. Here, we use a serial transfer experimental evolution approach and identified a single genetic change associated with improved survival ofS. aureusin the presence ofP. aeruginosa.Our findings implicate metabolism of shared resources as an important factor inS. aureus’sability to survive in the presence ofP. aeruginosa.
In situ neutron diffraction for analysing complex coarse-grained functional materials
Authors: Hinterstein Manuel , Lemos da Silva Lucas , Knapp Michael , Schoekel Alexander , Etter Martin , Studer Andrew
Published: July 2023

Complex functional materials play a crucial role in a broad range of energy-related applications and in general for materials science. Revealing the structural mechanisms is challenging due to highly correlated coexisting phases and microstructures, especially for in situ or operando investigations. Since the grain sizes influence the properties, these microstructural features further complicate investigations at synchrotrons due to the limitations of illuminated sample volumes. In this study, it is demonstrated that such complex functional materials with highly correlated coexisting phases can be investigated under in situ conditions with neutron diffraction. For large grain sizes, these experiments are valuable methods to reveal the structural mechanisms. For an example of in situ experiments on barium titanate with an applied electric field, details of the electric-field-induced phase transformation depending on grain size and frequency are revealed. The results uncover the strain mechanisms in barium titanate and elucidate the complex interplay of stresses in relation to grain sizes as well as domain-wall densities and mobilities.
A multi-level perspective of the value congruence mechanisms underlying transformational leadership and cooperative voice
Authors: Li Jun (Justin) , Liu Xiaoming , Houghton Jeffery D. , Li Li , Zou WenChi
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Transformational leadership (TFL) has been identified by a number of studies as a positive force for business success. However, few studies have explicitly examined its influence on the cooperative employment relationship, such as frontline employees' voice in the workplace. Thus, this study conducts an empirical analysis of dual-level (i.e. group-focused and individual-focused) TFL and its effect on frontline employees' cooperative voice.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical study is based on data from a survey of 468 full-time frontline workers from 38 hotels in China.

Findings

The empirical results revealed that both individual-level and group-level TFL are significantly associated with frontline employees' cooperative voice. Person–Organization value congruence and Person–Supervisor value congruence both act as mediators in the linkage between group-level TFL and employees' cooperative voice behaviors. The partial mediating role of Demand–Ability congruence on the relationship between individual-level TFL and cooperative voice is also established.

Originality/value

First, this study investigates the dual-level effects of TFL on the cooperative voice behavior of frontline employees. Second, this study explores whether three dimensions of value congruence mediate the influence of TFL on the voice behaviors of employees.
The moderating effect of knowledge-sharing on learning organisation and quality improvement practices
Authors: Hijazi Rawa
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The aim of this research is to determine the impact of a learning organisation (LO) on developing quality improvement practices (QIPs) and to propose knowledge-sharing (KS) as a moderator which is anticipated to support the beneficial effect of a LO on QIP. A further objective is to establish whether training provision raises the abilities of healthcare organisations (HCOs) to attain greater standards of QIP via a LO and KS.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 240 responses, obtained from employees working at private HCOs in Jordan, comprised the valid dataset. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilised for data analysis. Multigroup analysis (MGA) was performed to compare the impact of workers who had or had not undergone training.

Findings

The findings indicated that QIP was significantly enhanced by LO. HCOs with the objective of converting a KS-moderated LO could attain improved QIP standards, but within the surveyed establishments, this effect was only appreciated at modest degrees. By performing MGA, no variations were identified in the impact of workers.

Practical implications

Managers should place more emphasis on training and learning within HCOs. However, respondents did indicate that their establishments had notable degrees of KS, suggesting a potential strength that could be used positively by the managerial hierarchy.

Originality/value

This study encompasses an original contribution to contemporary scholarship in the field of knowledge management and quality through its examination of the moderating effect of KS on LO and QIP.
Examining a two-step working model of safety knowledge in translating safety climate into safety behavior
Authors: Ashraf Hassan , Ejaz Mir Kiannat , Memon Shoeb Ahmed , Shen Yuzhong , Maqsoom Ahsen , Sunindijo Riza Yosia
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Given a baffling contradiction that the availability of safety knowledge may not necessarily lead to workers' safety behavior, this study aims to develop an exploratory two-step working model of safety knowledge in translating safety climate into safety behavior. In particular, this study highlights the importance of articulating tacit safety knowledge and improving workers' systematic problem solving (SPS) capacity in a favorable safety climate.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses 110 valid responses from Pakistan-based construction workers to test five hypotheses which embody the exploratory two-step working model of safety knowledge. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is used to analyze the data.

Findings

The results of this study support the two-step working mechanism of safety knowledge in translating safety climate into safety behavior. Furthermore, results suggest that safety climate as a job resource facilitates converting construction workers' tacit safety knowledge into explicit safety knowledge (i.e. safety knowledge articulation) and then enabling them to spot non-conformities in safety management practices (i.e. SPS) and consequently to work safely (i.e. safety behavior).

Originality/value

The study has both theoretical and practical significance. In theory, it extends organizational learning theory and job demands-resources (JD-R) theory in the construction safety research domain and elaborates on the mediating role of safety knowledge articulation and SPS for the relationship between safety climate and safety behavior. In practice, it highlights the importance of continuous articulation of tacit safety knowledge and accumulation and use of explicit safety knowledge in construction safety management practices.
International relationship management during social distancing: the role of AI-integrated social CRM by MNEs during the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Chatterjee Sheshadri , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Thrassou Alkis , Vrontis Demetris
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The research empirically examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) integrated with social customer relationship management (SCRM) in multinational enterprises (MNEs) towards international relationship management under social distancing conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The study initially undertakes pertinently focused theoretical research in the fields of international marketing, knowledge management, and customer relationship management. And, utilizing the theories of resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capability view (DCV) theory, the study develops a theoretical model that is subsequently empirically validated through a survey and structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study highlights the importance and means of adopting AI-integrated social CRM by MNEs, in the context of international relationship management, under the Covid-19 social distancing conditions. The study more specifically elucidates the role and significance of MNE leadership approach and support towards the adoption of AI-integrated social CRM systems and, ultimately, performance improvement of MNEs under such conditions.

Research limitations/implications

The study presents insights and prescriptive explications on a topic at the heart of state-of the-art technology-based international marketing in the explicit context of the primary business-defining environment of the Covid-19 pandemic. The research provides practicable suggestions to MNEs' leadership towards the adoption of an AI-integrated social CRM system. And the study presents a unique model for international relationship management under social distancing conditions, potentially applicable during other crises.

Originality/value

The research is original and on a ‘fresh’ topic that combines the latest technological advancements in business (AI-integrated CRM) with the present critical business context (pandemic). The research develops a tested theoretical model that (a) is unique in its field; (b) provides a solid foundation for further research; (c) bears generic value and application during other-than-Covid-19 conditions; and (d) enhances the understanding of important fields of international marketing, including international customer relationship management and global knowledge management.
Examining technostress and its impact on worker well-being in the digital gig economy
Authors: Umair Azka , Conboy Kieran , Whelan Eoin
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Online labour markets (OLMs) have recently become a widespread phenomenon of digital work. While the implications of OLMs on worker well-being are hotly debated, little empirical research examines the impact of such work on individuals. The highly competitive and fast-paced nature of OLMs compels workers to multitask and to perform intense technology-enabled work, which can potentially enhance technostress. This paper examines the antecedents and well-being consequences of technostress arising from work in OLMs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw from person–environment fit theory and job characteristics theory and test a research model of the antecedents and consequences of worker technostress in OLMs. Data were gathered from 366 workers in a popular OLM through a large-scale online survey. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the research model.

Findings

The findings extend existing research by validating the relationships between specific OLM characteristics and strain. Contrary to previous literature, the results indicate a link between technology complexity and work overload in OLMs. Furthermore, in OLMs, feedback is positively associated with work overload and job insecurity, while strain directly influences workers' negative affective well-being and discontinuous intention.

Originality/value

This study contributes to technostress literature by developing and testing a research model relevant to a new form of work conducted through OLMs. The authors expand the current research on technostress by integrating job characteristics as new antecedents to technostress and demonstrating its impact on different types of subjective well-being and discontinuous intention. In addition, while examining the impact of technostressors on outcomes, the authors consider their impact at the individual level (disaggregated approach) to capture the subtlety involved in understanding technostressors' unique relationships with outcomes.
An analysis of citing and referencing habits across all scholarly disciplines: approaches and trends in bibliographic referencing and citing practices
Authors: Santos Erika Alves dos , Peroni Silvio , Mucheroni Marcos Luiz
Published: July 2023

Purpose

In this study, the authors want to identify current possible causes for citing and referencing errors in scholarly literature to compare if something changed from the snapshot provided by Sweetland in his 1989 paper.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analysed reference elements, i.e. bibliographic references, mentions, quotations and respective in-text reference pointers, from 729 articles published in 147 journals across the 27 subject areas.

Findings

The outcomes of the analysis pointed out that bibliographic errors have been perpetuated for decades and that their possible causes have increased, despite the encouraged use of technological facilities, i.e. the reference managers.

Originality/value

As far as the authors know, the study is the best recent available analysis of errors in referencing and citing practices in the literature since Sweetland (1989).
Bank stability and digitalisation: empirical evidence from selected Indian banks
Authors: Puri Vaibhav , Kaur Gurleen , Kalra Jappanjyot Kaur , Gill Kawal
Published: July 2023

Purpose

India’s efforts to achieve large-scale financial inclusion are challenged by growing concerns related to the stability and profitability of the overall banking system. Although a rising dependence on digital finance and the acceptability of wallet-based payments was also visible during the post-demonetisation era and the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, issues related to bank stability and profitability could be addressed through the extension of digital financial services (DFS), making the system more transparent and resilient to internal as well as external perturbations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study provides empirical evidence to support the bank digitalisation and extension of DFS to achieve financial inclusion. The impact of digital finance, macroeconomic aspects and microprudential factors (bank specific) on stability is examined for selected Indian banks using quarterly observations spanning 2011Q1–2020Q4. The relationship between banking stability (measured through z-score and Sharpe ratio) is established with digitalisation factors using the instrumental variable regression two-stage least square -based panel regression. Robustness is tested using panel vector autoregression models.

Findings

Digital transactions including mobile banking, National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) prove vital and significant in establishing stable banking activity in the Indian context across both public and private banking institutions. Access to broadband services provides a positive impetus in this direction. These issues could be addressed through the extension of DFS making the system more transparent and resilient to internal as well as external perturbations. As an implication, the adoption of innovative means of transaction could empower the financially excluded sections of society.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study is to bring the discussion of digitalisation and bank stability (riskiness) in the Indian context to light. As the first of its kind, this study paves the way for providing an empirical justification for promoting and achieving bank stability through digitalisation in the era of post-demonetisation and Covid-19.
Research hotspots, trends and opportunities on the metaverse in health education: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Agac Gokhan , Sevim Ferit , Celik Omer , Bostan Sedat , Erdem Ramazan , Yalcin Yusuf Ileri
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The metaverse offers great potential for creating a new educational environment with unique experiences. Currently, it has been integrated into many stages of education, including classroom study aids, clinical skill interaction and image training simulators, thanks to a new generation of Internet applications. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive systematic review using bibliometric analysis on the metaverse in health education and analyze the trends and patterns of research output within the field.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper conducts bibliometric analysis and follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to ensure a rigorous and transparent review process. Specifically, this article identifies research questions, develops a data-collection strategy and establishes a screening approach that includes determining relevant keywords and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Findings

A bibliometric analysis is conducted comprising 231 studies from 145 scientific journals to assess the trends, patterns and collaboration networks in research on the use of metaverse technology in health education. This paper provides insights into the research themes, publication trends and countries leading in this field, which can guide future research in this field.

Originality/value

The use of metaverse technology in health education has gained momentum in recent years. Despite this interest, comprehensive studies to review and analyze the existing literature on this topic systematically are lacking. In response, this paper provides a systematic review that explores the potential role of the metaverse in health education. By considering the current research, key trends, research hotspots and opportunities for future investigations are identified. The findings not only shed light on the current state of research but also offer guidance for advancing this exciting field.
Mitogenome‐based phylogeny of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Chen De‐Hong , He Shu‐Lin , Fu Wen‐Bo , Yan Zhen‐Tian , Hu Yun‐Jian , Yuan Huan , Wang Ming‐Bin , Chen Bin
Published: July 2023

Mosquitoes are of great medical significance as vectors of many deadly diseases. Mitogenomes have been widely used in phylogenetic studies, but mitogenome knowledge within the family Culicidae is limited, and Culicidae phylogeny is far from resolved. In this study, we surveyed the mitogenomes of 149 Culicidae species, including 7 newly sequenced species. Comparative analysis of 149 mosquito mitogenomes shows gene composition and order to be identical to that of an ancestral insect, and the AT bias, length variation, and codon usage are all consistent with that of other reported Dipteran mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analyses based on the DNA sequences of the 13 protein‐coding genes from the 149 species robustly support the monophyly of the subfamily Anophelinae and the tribes Aedini, Culicini, Mansoniini, Sabethini, and Toxorhynchitini. To resolve ambiguous relationships between clades within the subfamily Culicinae, we performed topological tests and show that Aedini is a sister to Culicini and that Uranotaeniini is a sister to (Mansoniini + (Toxorhynchitini + Sabethini)). In addition, we estimated divergence times using a Bayesian relaxation clock based on the sequence data and 3 fossil calibration points. The results show mosquitoes diverged during the Early Jurassic with massive Culicinae radiations during the Cretaceous, coincident with the emergence of angiosperms and the burst of mammals and birds. Overall, this study, which uses the largest number of Culicidae mitogenomes sequenced to date, comprehensively reveals the mitogenome characteristics and mitogenome‐based phylogeny and divergence times of Culicidae, providing information for further studies on the mitogenome, phylogeny, evolution, and taxonomic revision of Culicidae.
Comprehensive DNA barcode reference library and optimization of genetic divergence threshold facilitate the exploration of species diversity of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)
Authors: Lai Yan , Li Kaiyu , Liu Xingyue
Published: July 2023

Chrysopidae are a family of Neuroptera of significant importance in biocontrol against agricultural pests because of their predatory larvae. Currently, the taxonomy of Chrysopidae lacks a comprehensive revision, which impedes the exploration of species diversity as well as the selection and the conservation of green lacewings as biocontrol agents. We have established a DNA barcode reference library of the Chinese green lacewings based on an approximately complete sampling (95.63%) in 25 of the 34 provincial regions in China, comprising 1 119 barcodes of 25 genera and 197 species (representing 85% genera and 43.62% species from China). Combining other 1 049 high quality green lacewing DNA barcodes, we first inferred the optimal threshold of interspecific genetic divergence (1.87%) for successful species identification in multiple simulated scenarios based on present data. We further inferred the threshold of genetic divergence (7.77%) among genera with biocontrol significance. The inference and performance of the threshold appears to be mainly associated with the completeness of sampling, the proportion of closely related species, and the analytical approaches. Six new combinations, Apertochrysa platypa (Yang & Yang, 1991) comb. nov., Apertochrysa shennongana (Yang & Wang, 1990) comb. nov., Apertochrysa pictifacialis (Yang, 1988) comb. nov., Apertochrysa helana (Yang, 1993) comb. nov., Plesiochrysa rosulata (Yang & Yang, 2002) comb. nov., and Signochrysa hainana (Yang & Yang, 1991), are proposed according to integrative species delimitation. Our library and optimal threshold will effectively facilitate the exploration of species diversity of green lacewings. Our study also provides a methodological reference in molecular delimitation of other insects.
China's 5G and supercomputing industrial policies: A critical (comparative) analysis
Authors: Zhang Yuhan
Published: July 2023

The Chinese central government has greatly supported two strategic high‐tech industries: 5G and supercomputing. However, when both encountered similar U.S. sanctions, the 5G industry failed to make crucial upstream components while the supercomputing industry could. This article argues that the central government‐level industrial policies contributed to these divergent outcomes. Using natural language processing and qualitative content analysis of meticulously collected official documents and secondary sources, key policy differences were identified. Before the U.S. sanctions in May 2019, China's 5G industrial policies were significantly unbalanced, with inadequate attention given to research and development of vital upstream components, contributing to a lack of upstream investment. Although recent attempts to rebalance 5G industrial development since 2021, the policy focus remains largely on the mid and downstream segments. In contrast, before the U.S. sanctions in 2015, the supercomputing industrial policies emphasised the development of the entire industrial chain, including crucial upstream components, resulting in China's possession of entirely homegrown supercomputers. Leveraging a tri‐level analysis framework rooted in political economics, this study also offers possible explanations for the policy divergence and discusses implications. It contributes to the existing literature and ongoing debate on China and industrial policy amidst great power high‐tech competition.
Effect of the progressive taper enlargement of buccal root canals of three‐rooted maxillary molars: A stepwise micro‐CT study
Authors: Barbosa Ana Flávia Almeida , de Lima Carolina Oliveira , Antunes Bernardo Rempto , Sassone Luciana Moura , Versiani Marco Aurélio , da Silva Emmanuel João Nogueira Leal
Published: July 2023

This study evaluated unprepared canal areas, volume of dentine removal, and dentine thickness after the progressive enlargement of the buccal canals of 22 maxillary molars, with and without the MB2, using instruments with the same tip size (0.25 mm) but 4 different tapers (0.03, 0.05, 0.06 and 0.08 v). Micro‐CT scans were performed after each instrument. Data were compared using a general linear mixed model post hoc comparisons with Kenward‐Roger for Wald F tests (α = 5%). After each treatment step, it was observed an increase in the percentage volume of removed dentine and a decrease in the unprepared areas and dentine thickness at the pericervical region of all canals (p < 0.05). The percentage reduction of dentine thickness in MB2 canal was higher than in the mesiobuccal and distobuccal canals (p < 0.05). Knowledge of pre‐operative dimensions and dentine thickness before enlargement of buccal canals of maxillary molars is an important factor to avoid excessive dentine removal.
Depleted by Debt: “Green” Microfinance, Over‐Indebtedness, and Social Reproduction in Climate‐Vulnerable Cambodia
Authors: Guermond Vincent , Iskander Dalia , Michiels Sébastien , Brickell Katherine , Fay Gráinne , Ly Vouch Long , Natarajan Nithya , Parsons Laurie , Picchioni Fiorella , Green W. Nathan
Published: July 2023

The operations of microfinance are exalted in mainstream development thinking as a key means of supporting smallholder farmers facing growing crises of agricultural productivity in the context of daily, ongoing, and often slow‐onset climate disasters. Microfinance products and services are claimed to enhance coping and adaptative capacity by facilitating both risk recovery and reduction. Challenging the status quo, this paper brings together original and mixed‐method data collected between 2020 and 2022 in Cambodia to critically examine the “green finance” agenda by highlighting the ways in which microfinance contributes to reproducing and exacerbating climate precarity and harm for many. We evidence how credit‐taking can lead to more dangerous and individualised efforts to cope with, and adapt to, existing conditions at home, often at the cost of emotional and bodily depletion. By doing so, we contribute to answering calls for connecting literatures and thinking on social reproduction, depletion, and climate change adaptation.
One nation, under war: Did the language of Fox News and MSNBC converge during the invasion of Ukraine?
Authors: Wetherell Geoffrey , Thompson Jordan L. , Vallejo Isabella , Lanning Kevin
Published: July 2023

Evidence suggests that political differences have increased markedly in the United States in recent decades. Differences may also emerge in the way that partisans express themselves through language, and it is possible that language differences vary in times of crisis and war. In the current work we examined over a decade's worth of transcripts from a liberal (MSNBC) and conservative (Fox) news network. More specifically, we examined evidence for two competing perspectives on language differences during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. One perspective, the depolarization perspective, suggests that we should see decreased differences, or parity in language styles between the two networks leading up to and during the invasion. Another perspective, the polarization perspective, suggests we should see increased differences in language styles between networks leading up to and during the early stages of the invasion. We examined an index of personalizing and formalizing language as well as 77 Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) dictionaries plus noun frequency using smoothed curves and linear discriminant function analyses (LDA) to examine the pattern of results in our data. Our results provide more support for the depolarization perspective, showing that both Fox News and MSNBC became more similar than different leading up to and during the invasion. Implications are discussed.
Bayesian Functional Data Analysis Over Dependent Regions and Its Application for Identification of Differentially Methylated Regions
Authors: Chatterjee Suvo , Chowdhury Shrabanti , Ryu Duchwan , Basu Sanjib
Published: July 2023

We consider a Bayesian functional data analysis for observations measured as extremely long sequences. Splitting the sequence into several small windows with manageable lengths, the windows may not be independent especially when they are neighboring each other. We propose to utilize Bayesian smoothing splines to estimate individual functional patterns within each window and to establish transition models for parameters involved in each window to address the dependence structure between windows. The functional difference of groups of individuals at each window can be evaluated by the Bayes factor based on Markov Chain Monte Carlo samples in the analysis. In this paper, we examine the proposed method through simulation studies and apply it to identify differentially methylated genetic regions in TCGA lung adenocarcinoma data.
Multifaced roles of desmoplastic reaction and fibrosis in pancreatic cancer progression: Current understanding and future directions
Authors: Sato Hiromichi , Hara Tomoaki , Meng Sikun , Tsuji Yoshiko , Arao Yasuko , Saito Yoshiko , Sasaki Kazuki , Kobayashi Shogo , Doki Yuichiro , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Ishii Hideshi
Published: July 2023

Desmoplastic reaction is a fibrosis reaction that is characterized by a large amount of dense extracellular matrix (ECM) and dense fibrous stroma. Fibrotic stroma around the tumor has several different components, including myofibroblasts, collagen, and other ECM molecules. This stromal reaction is a natural response to the tissue injury process, and fibrosis formation is a key factor in pancreatic cancer development. The fibrotic stroma of pancreatic cancer is associated with tumor progression, metastasis, and poor prognosis. Reportedly, multiple processes are involved in fibrosis, which is largely associated with the upregulation of various cytokines, chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and other growth factors that promote tumor growth and metastasis. Fibrosis is also associated with immunosuppressive cell recruitment, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs) with suppressing function to antitumor immunity. Further, dense fibrosis restricts the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the tumor cells, which can contribute to drug resistance. Furthermore, the dense collagen matrix can act as a physical barrier to block the entry of drugs into the tumor, thereby further contributing to drug resistance. Thus, understanding the mechanism of desmoplastic reaction and fibrosis in pancreatic cancer will open an avenue to innovative medicine and improve the prognosis of patients suffering from this disease.
Baicalein enhances immune response in TNBC by inhibiting leptin expression of adipocytes
Authors: Liu Mengjie , Li Chaofan , Qu Jingkun , Sun Shiyu , Zhao Zitong , Wang Weiwei , Lv Wei , Zhang Yu , Cai Yifan , Zhao Fang , Wu Fei , Zhang Shuqun , Zhao Xixi
Published: July 2023

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a special pathological type of breast cancer (BC) with poor prognosis. Obesity is shown to be involved in TNBC tumor progression. The interaction between obesity and BC has generated great attention in recent years, however, the mechanism is still unclear. Here, we showed that leptin secreted by adipocytes upregulated PD‐L1 expression in TNBC through the p‐STAT3 signaling pathway and that baicalein inhibited PD‐L1 expression in tumor microenvironment by suppressing leptin transcription of adipocytes. Collectively, our findings suggest that leptin may be the key factor participating in obesity‐related tumor progression and that baicalein can break through the dilemma to boost the anti‐tumor immune response.
Farnesoid X receptor represses human sulfotransferase 1A3 expression through direct binding to the promoter
Authors: Dou Yuanyuan , Pei Shuhua , Li Yingying , Wang Mengqing , Liu Zhuangzhuang , Li Jiqin , Cao Jinlan , Qin Jia , Zhang Mingzhu , Hou Lili , Sun Hua
Published: July 2023

Human sulfotransferases 1A3 (SULT1A3) has received particular interest, due to their functions of catalyzing the sulfonation of numerous phenolic substrates, including bioactive endogenous molecules and therapeutic agents. However, the regulation of SULT1A3 expression and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the regulation effects of bile acid‐activated farnesoid X receptor (FXR) on SULT1A3 expression, and to shed light on the mechanism thereof. Our results demonstrated that FXR agonists (CDCA and GW4064) significantly inhibit the expression of SULT1A3 at mRNA and protein levels. In addition, overexpression of FXR led to decrease in SULT1A3 expression and knockdown of FXR significantly induced the expression of SULT1A3 in protein and mRNA levels, confirming that FXR expression manifestly showed negative regulatory effect on basal SULT1A3 expression. Furthermore, a combination of luciferase reporter gene and CHIP assays showed that FXR repressed SULT1A3 transcription through direct binding to the region at base pair positions −664 to −654. In conclusion, this study for the first time confirmed FXR was a negative transcriptional regulator of human SULT1A3 enzyme.
Social determinants of self‐reported oral health among Sámi in Sweden
Authors: Yekkalam Negin , Storm Mienna Christina , Stoor Jon Petter Anders , San Sebastian Miguel
Published: July 2023

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence of poor self‐reported oral health and to identify socio‐demographic, socio‐economic and cultural‐related risk factors associated with poor oral health among Sámi in Sweden.

Methods

A Sámi sample frame was constructed drawing from three pre‐existing registers. All identified persons aged 18–84 were invited to participate in the study during February–May 2021. Among the 9249 invitations, 3779 answered the survey. The frequencies of the independent variables in terms of socio‐economic, socio‐demographic and cultural‐related factors as well as the outcome, self‐reported oral health, were calculated first. Prevalence ratios (PRs) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated to assess the relationship between the independent variables and the outcome.

Results

Overall, 32.5% of the participants reported a poor oral health with a higher prevalence among men compared to women. Among the socio‐demographic factors, being old (PR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.59–2.51), unmarried (PR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.03–1.33) and divorced or widow‐er (PR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.09–1.46) were statistically associated to poor self‐reported oral health. Among the socio‐economic factors, a low education level (PR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.29–1.89), belonging to the poorest quintile (PR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.35–1.96), and experiencing difficulties to make ends meet several times during the last 12 months (PR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.51–1.99) were statistically significant related to poor oral health.

Conclusions

The self‐reported oral health among Sámi in Sweden appears to be worse than that of the general Swedish population. Several socio‐economic and socio‐demographic factors were found to be strongly associated with poor self‐reported oral health. Targeted interventions addressing these social determinants are needed to reduce inequalities in oral health among the Sámi population.
An attention‐based deep learning model for credibility assessment of online health information
Authors: Padhy Swarup , Rathore Santosh Singh
Published: July 2023

With the surge of searching and reading online health‐based articles, maintaining the quality and credibility of online health‐based articles has become crucial. The circulation of deceptive health information on numerous social media sites can mislead people and can potentially cause adverse effects on people's health. To address these problems, this work uses deep learning approaches to automate the assessment and scoring of online health‐related articles' credibility. The paper proposed an Attention‐based Recurrent Multichannel Convolutional Neural Network (ARMCNN) model. The proposed model incorporates a BiLSTM layer, a multichannel CNN layer, and an attention layer and predicts the credibility of online health information. To perform a reliable evaluation of the presented model, we utilize the health articles reviewed by the experts, compiled in a labeled dataset termed “Pubhealth,” which consists of thousands of health articles. The results are evaluated using five performance measures, accuracy, precision, recall, f1‐score, and area under the ROC curve (AUC). Furthermore, we extensively compared the proposed model with different deep learning and machine learning models such as Long short‐term memory (LSTM), Bidirectional LSTM, CNN (Convolutional neural network), and RNN‐CNN. The experimental results showed that the proposed model produced state‐of‐the‐art performance on the used dataset by achieving an accuracy of 0.88, precision of 0.92, recall of 0.87, f1‐score of 0.90, and AUC of 0.94. Further, the proposed model yielded better performance than other benchmarked techniques for the credibility assessment of online health articles.
Investigations of the distant metastatic non‐small cell lung cancer without local lymph node involvement: Real world data from a large database
Authors: Huang Bao‐Wen , Wang Wen‐Qin , Cai Jing‐Sheng , Zhang Su‐Wen
Published: July 2023

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate the presentations and survival outcomes of the distant metastatic non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without lymph node involvement to obtain a clearer picture of this special subgroup of metastatic NSCLC.

Method

A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalized Cox regression analysis was used to select the prognostic variables. A nomogram and corresponding risk‐classifying systems were constructed. The C‐index and calibration curves were used to evaluate the performance of the model. Overall survival (OS) curves were plotted using the Kaplan–Meier method, and the log‐rank test was used to compare OS differences between groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to reduce bias.

Result

A total of 12 610 NSCLC patients with M1 category (N0 group: 3045 cases; N1‐3 group: 9565 cases) were included. Regarding the N0 group, multivariate analysis demonstrated that age, sex, race, surgery, grade, tumor size, and M category were independent prognostic factors. A nomogram and corresponding risk‐classifying systems were formulated. Favorable validation results were obtained from the C‐index, calibration curves, and survival comparisons. Survival curves demonstrated that N0 NSCLC patients had better survival than N1‐3 NSCLC patients both before and after PSM. Furthermore, the survival of resected N0M1 patients was superior to that of those without surgery.

Conclusion

In this study, a prognostic nomogram and risk‐classifying systems designed for the T1‐4N0M1 NSCLC patients showed acceptable performance. Primary lung tumor resection might be a feasible treatment for this population subset. Additionally, we proposed that lymph node stage might have a place in the forthcoming tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) staging proposal for NSCLC patients with M1 category.
Classification of events contributing to postneonatal cerebral palsy: Development, reliability, and recommendations for use
Authors: Pudig Luise , Delobel‐Ayoub Malika , Horridge Karen , Gergeli Anja Troha , Sellier Elodie , Ehlinger Virginie , Hollody Katalin , Virella Daniel , Vik Torstein , Arnaud Catherine
Published: July 2023

Aim

This paper introduces the Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (SCPE) classification of events contributing to postneonatally acquired cerebral palsy, presents its interrater reliability, and describes the cases identified in the SCPE database.

Method

The development of the classification, based on literature review and expert discussions, resulted in six main categories and 19 subcategories. The first chronological event designated as the primary event was mainly reported. Interrater reliability was assessed through online exercise providing 24 clinical vignettes representing single/complex pathways. Percent agreement and Gwet's AC1 index of reliability were estimated. Primary events were described using data of 221 children born between 2008 and 2012.

Results

Thirty‐nine professionals (21 registries) participated in the reliability exercise. Substantial overall agreement was reached (0.75), with some contrast between complex (0.48, moderate agreement) and single events involved (0.89, almost perfect). The distribution of primary events showed that 32.1% were infections (category A), 23.1% head injuries (B), 15.4% related to surgery or medical interventions (C), 13.1% cerebrovascular accidents (D), 9.1% hypoxic brain damaging events of other origins (E), and 7.2% miscellaneous (F).

Interpretation

This classification allows all the events involved to be recorded while consistently reporting the primary event, and may be used in different settings.

What this paper adds

A standardized classification enables the description of the events contributing to postneonatal cerebral palsy (CP).

The first chronological event in complex pathway leading to CP is coded.

Category choice and coding of the primary event identify preventable situations.

The detailed 2‐level classification is easy to use in various settings.

Substantial overall interrater reliability shows that main categories can be consistently differentiated.
Heterogeneous predictive association of CO2 with global warming
Authors: Chen Liang , Dolado Juan J. , Gonzalo Jesús , Ramos Andrey
Published: July 2023

Global warming is a non‐uniform process across space and time. This opens the door to a heterogeneous relationship between and temperature that needs to be explored going beyond the standard analysis based on mean temperature. We revisit this topic through the lens of a new class of factor models for high‐dimensional panel data, called quantile factor models. This technique extracts quantile‐dependent factors from the distributions of temperature across a wide range of stable weather stations in the northern and southern hemispheres over 1959–2018. In particular, we test whether the (detrended) growth rate of concentrations helps to predict the underlying factors of the different quantiles of the distribution of (detrended) temperatures in the time dimension. We document that predictive association is greater at the lower and medium quantiles than at the upper quantiles of temperature in all stations, and provide some conjectures about what could be behind this non‐uniformity. These findings complement recent results in the literature documenting steeper trends in lower temperature levels than in other parts of the spatial distribution.
Evaluation of problem‐based learning in dental trauma education: An observational cohort study
Authors: Puranik Chaitanya P. , Pickett Kaci , de Peralta Tracy
Published: July 2023

Background/Aim

Problem‐based learning (PBL) allows higher thinking among dental students and has improved first‐time pass‐rates in predoctoral pediatric dentistry education. The aim of this retrospective observational cohort study was to evaluate the impact of PBL‐based, traumatic dental injuries case discussions on predoctoral dental trauma education.

Materials and Methods

Student performance and perceptions after receiving dental trauma curriculum with or without PBL‐based dental trauma case discussions were evaluated. All the students challenged their simulated patient‐based assessments. Three recall‐based, objective structured clinical examinations, and critical thinking competencies assessed student knowledge about management of traumatic injuries affecting primary or permanent dentition including avulsion. The scores and number of attempts for each competency were compared between the study cohorts using t‐tests. Student's self‐perceived learning outcomes were measured through a voluntary, five‐question survey. Mantel–Haenszel ordinal Chi‐square tests were used to assess for differences in rates of agreement on survey responses from the students. Linear regression was used to assess effect of training on scores adjusting for student type (predoctoral or advanced standing). Pearson's correlations were used to assess association between scores. Significance was set at 0.05.

Results

For the PBL cohort, there was a significant (p > 0.05) improvement in the first‐time pass‐rates and scores in three out of four competencies. A higher proportion of students in the PBL cohort perceived that their dental trauma education improved their radiographic and diagnostic skills compared to the cohort that did not receive PBL (p > 0.05). There was no correlation between recall‐memory versus critical thinking competencies (r < 0.5).

Conclusion

The PBL‐based dental trauma case discussion had a positive impact on predoctoral student learning and perceived benefits while managing simulated traumatic dental injuries. Due to a lack of correlation between recall‐memory and critical thinking assessments, evaluation of predoctoral student's dental trauma competencies should involve multi‐model assessment.