bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Analysis of Morphometric Changes in Feminization Rhinoplasty Utilizing a Standardized Forehead-Rhinoplasty Technique
Authors: Mookerjee Vikram G , Alper David P , Almeida Mariana N , Hu Kevin G , Parikh Neil , Ihnat Jacqueline , De Baun Heloise M , Alperovich Michael
Published: October 2023

Background

Rhinoplasty is one of the most commonly performed facial gender-affirming surgeries (FGASs) for transgender females, but well-established morphometric parameters describing feminizing nasal changes do not exist.

Objectives

Describe the author's technique for feminization rhinoplasty, analyze the changes in 3-dimensional nasal anthropomorphic parameters, and describe patient-reported outcomes.

Methods

Three-dimensional photogrammetric evaluation was performed both preoperatively and postoperatively in transgender female patients who underwent FGAS. Measurements assessed included the nasofrontal angle, nasolabial angle, dorsal height, mid-dorsal width, alar width, nasal tip width, and tip projection. Patients were surveyed preoperatively and postoperatively using the FACE-Q Nose module. Paired t-tests were utilized to assess changes in postoperative measurements and FACE-Q Nose satisfaction scores.

Results

Twenty patients underwent FGAS during the study period. The average time between surgery and postoperative 3-dimensional images was 13.6 ± 6.8 months. The nasofrontal angle increased by 8.2° (148.0 ± 7.4° to 156.1 ± 6.7°, P < .001) and tip projection increased by 0.017 (0.58 ± 0.03 to 0.60 ± 0.04, P < .01). Dorsal height, mid-dorsal width, and tip width all decreased significantly (P < .05). There were significant improvements in patients’ “Satisfaction with Nose,” “Satisfaction with Facial Appearance Overall,” “Psychological Function,” and “Social Function” on FACE-Q. One revision rhinoplasty was performed, and no documented surgical complications were reported.

Conclusions

There were statistically significant changes in the nasofrontal angle, tip projection, dorsal height, mid-dorsal width, and tip width in patients receiving feminization rhinoplasty. These data may help surgeons with preoperative planning and intraoperative decision making.

Level of Evidence: 4
Computational identification of long non-coding RNAs associated with graphene therapy in glioblastoma multiforme
Authors: Zou Zhuoheng , Zhang Ming , Xu Shang , Zhang Youzhong , Zhang Junzheng , Li Zesong , Zhu Xiao
Published: October 2023

Glioblastoma multiforme represents the most prevalent primary malignant brain tumour, while long non-coding RNA assumes a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and progression of glioblastoma multiforme. Nonetheless, the successful delivery of long non-coding RNA-based therapeutics to the tumour site has encountered significant obstacles attributable to inadequate biocompatibility and inefficient drug delivery systems. In this context, the use of a biofunctional surface modification of graphene oxide has emerged as a promising strategy to surmount these challenges. By changing the surface of graphene oxide, enhanced biocompatibility can be achieved, facilitating efficient transport of long non-coding RNA-based therapeutics specifically to the tumour site. This innovative approach presents the opportunity to exploit the therapeutic potential inherent in long non-coding RNA biology for treating glioblastoma multiforme patients. This study aimed to extract relevant genes from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and associate them with long non-coding RNAs to identify graphene therapy–related long non-coding RNA. We conducted a series of analyses to achieve this goal, including univariate Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and multivariate Cox regression. The resulting graphene therapy–related long non-coding RNAs were utilized to develop a risk score model. Subsequently, we conducted Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses on the identified graphene therapy–related long non-coding RNAs. Additionally, we employed the risk model to construct the tumour microenvironment model and analyse drug sensitivity. To validate our findings, we referenced the IMvigor210 immunotherapy model. Finally, we investigated differences in the tumour stemness index. Through our investigation, we identified four promising graphene therapy–related long non-coding RNAs (AC011405.1, HOXC13-AS, LINC01127 and LINC01574) that could be utilized for treating glioblastoma multiforme patients. Furthermore, we identified 16 compounds that could be utilized in graphene therapy. Our study offers novel insights into the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme, and the identified graphene therapy–related long non-coding RNAs and compounds hold promise for further research in this field. Furthermore, additional biological experiments will be essential to validate the clinical significance of our model. These experiments can help confirm the potential therapeutic value and efficacy of the identified graphene therapy–related long non-coding RNAs and compounds in treating glioblastoma multiforme.
Monitoring left ventricular assist device parameters to detect flow- and power-impacting complications: a proof of concept
Authors: Moazeni Mehran , Numan Lieke , Szymanski Mariusz K , Van der Kaaij Niels P , Asselbergs Folkert W , van Laake Linda W , Aarts Emmeke
Published: October 2023

Aims

The number of patients on left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support increases due to the growing number of patients with end-stage heart failure and the limited number of donor hearts. Despite improving survival rates, patients frequently suffer from adverse events such as cardiac arrhythmia and major bleeding. Telemonitoring is a potentially powerful tool to early detect deteriorations and may further improve outcome after LVAD implantation. Hence, we developed a personalized algorithm to remotely monitor HeartMate3 (HM3) pump parameters aiming to early detect unscheduled admissions due to cardiac arrhythmia or major bleeding.

Methods and results

The source code of the algorithm is published in an open repository. The algorithm was optimized and tested retrospectively using HeartMate 3 (HM3) power and flow data of 120 patients, including 29 admissions due to cardiac arrhythmia and 14 admissions due to major bleeding. Using a true alarm window of 14 days prior to the admission date, the algorithm detected 59 and 79% of unscheduled admissions due to cardiac arrhythmia and major bleeding, respectively, with a false alarm rate of 2%.

Conclusion

The proposed algorithm showed that the personalized algorithm is a viable approach to early identify cardiac arrhythmia and major bleeding by monitoring HM3 pump parameters. External validation is needed and integration with other clinical parameters could potentially improve the predictive value. In addition, the algorithm can be further enhanced using continuous data.
Availability of Cognitive Resources in Early Life Predicts Transitions Between Cognitive States in Middle and Older Adults From Europe
Authors: Lewis Nathan A , Yoneda Tomiko , Melis René J F , Mroczek Daniel K , Hofer Scott M , Muniz-Terrera Graciela
Published: October 2023

Background and Objectives

The existing literature highlights the importance of reading books in middle-to-older adulthood for cognitive functioning; very few studies, however, have examined the importance of childhood cognitive resources for cognitive outcomes later in life.

Research Design and Methods

Using data from 11 countries included in the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data set (N = 32,783), multistate survival models (MSMs) were fit to examine the importance of access to reading material in childhood on transitions through cognitive status categories (no cognitive impairment and impaired cognitive functioning) and death. Additionally, using the transition probabilities estimated by the MSMs, we estimated the remaining years of life without cognitive impairment and total longevity. All models were fit individually in each country, as well as within the pooled SHARE sample.

Results

Adjusting for age, sex, education, and childhood socioeconomic status, the overall pooled estimate indicated that access to more books at age 10 was associated with a decreased risk of developing cognitive impairment (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.79, confidence interval: 0.76–0.82). Access to childhood books was not associated with risk of transitioning from normal cognitive functioning to death, or from cognitive impairment to death. Total longevity was similar between participants reporting high (+1 standard deviation [SD]) and low (−1 SD) number of books in the childhood home; however, individuals with more access to childhood books lived a greater proportion of this time without cognitive impairment.

Discussion and Implications

Findings suggest that access to cognitive resources in childhood is protective for cognitive aging processes in older adulthood.
The Media Coverage of Bruce Willis Reveals Unfamiliarity With Frontotemporal Degeneration
Authors: Hurley Robert S , Pillai Jagan A , Leverenz James B
Published: October 2023

In 2022, Bruce Willis’ family released a statement saying that he had been diagnosed with aphasia (an acquired language impairment) and would no longer be acting. Ten months later, the Willis family released another statement indicating that he received a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). This resulted in an explosion of media coverage, as prominent news outlets scrambled to produce stories describing FTD to a public largely unfamiliar with the disease. The quality of these stories varied widely, and in many cases the relationship between aphasia and FTD was misrepresented, as were basic descriptions and facts about FTD. FTD refers to a class of protein-misfolding diseases that are a common cause of aphasias due to neurodegeneration, or primary progressive aphasias (PPA). Rather than describing how FTD was discovered to be the underlying source of Mr. Willis’ aphasia, many reports described his aphasia as “progressing into” FTD, implying they are two different disorders. Furthermore, these reports used the terminology of frontotemporal “dementia” rather than “degeneration”, a term that invokes many stereotypes in the public imagination and may have contributed to misrepresentations in coverage. Instead of focusing on the language symptoms of PPA, reports often emphasized the personality and behavioral changes more closely associated with other variants of FTD. The substance of various facts, such as how common FTD is and how it can be treated, varied widely across reports. In sum, the media coverage of Mr. Willis’ diagnosis reveals the extent to which the media and general public are uninformed about FTD and PPA. The remedy for this problem is to promote greater awareness of FTD, in both the public and the medical provider class. The Willis family’s disclosure was a courageous act that helped bring much-needed attention to this disease.
Evaluating the heart valve tissue diffusion of amoxicillin in infective endocarditis: a pilot prospective observational non-comparative study
Authors: Dubert Marie , Kably Benjamin , Derobertmasure Audrey , Podglajen Isabelle , Munte Laura , Clauss Darless , Blez Damien , Dahdah Pierre , Billaud Eliane , Lebeaux David , Mainardi Jean-Luc
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Treating patients with infective endocarditis (IE) due to streptococci and enterococci currently involves high-dosage antibiotics. Recent literature suggests a 30%–70% diffusion rate could be extrapolated to human heart valve tissue. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diffusion coefficient of amoxicillin in heart valve tissue of patients operated for IE.

Methods

Adult patients were prospectively included that underwent surgery at the European Hospital Georges Pompidou for IE due to streptococci and enterococci and had previous IV amoxicillin treatment. Plasma (taken 48 h preoperatively) and heart valve tissue amoxicillin concentrations were measured with a validated LC-MS/MS method. The MIC values of amoxicillin were measured for all available isolates.

Results

Seventeen patients were included. Eleven (64.7%) patients had native valve IE and six (35.3%) had prosthetic valve IE. Fourteen IE cases (82.4%) were due to streptococci, one (5.9%) was due to enterococci and two (11.8%) were Haemophilus spp, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, Kingella kingae group infections. Median (IQR) amoxicillin dose administered was 10.5 (8.0–12.0) g/day corresponding to 138.2 (112.5–160.0) mg/kg/day. The median amoxicillin plasma concentrations pre-surgery and intra-tissular weighted concentrations were 31.9 (25.9–51.9) mg/L and 19.0 (7.9–31.4) µg/g, respectively. Median tissue/plasma concentration ratio was 0.47 (0.24–0.67), with a median amoxicillin plasma/MIC ratio of 487 (179–745), and median amoxicillin tissue/MIC ratio of 42 (14–116).

Conclusions

With a significant diffusion coefficient, amoxicillin dosage in heart valve tissues showed a concentration/MIC ratio well above current recommendations for bactericidal activity. Our study suggests that lower doses can be considered for susceptible bacteria.
Managerial and Organizational Cognition
Authors: Blettner Daniela
Published: October 2023

Managerial and organizational cognition is concerned with how managers and members in organizations make sense and structure information, how they interpret information, and how they structure their thinking. Managerial and organizational cognition stretches across multiple levels of the organization. This literature includes multiple levels of analysis. The first level of analysis is the individual, namely, the CEO, the top management team, middle managers, managers, other executives, employees. Another level of analysis is the group or team level, addressing questions of collective cognition within the organization. There is also the level of the organization, where cognition spans across the entire organization. Another level is the industry level, i.e., the cognition at the level of the industry. This article focuses on the level of individual cognition, group/team cognition, and organizational cognition. While also very interesting, industry cognition is outside of the scope of this article. At the individual level, different approaches referred to include Mental Representations and Cognitive Schemas, Cognitive Maps, Biases and Heuristics, Upper Echelons Theory, and Managerial Attention. At the group level, reference is made to different theories of Collective (Group-Level) Cognition. At the organizational level, relevant articles in the streams of literature on Organizational Learning and Sensemaking in Organizations are cited. The field of managerial and organizational cognition is large and draws on many different research traditions, such as behavioral and cognitive approaches. Since it is concerned with the study of cognition of decision-makers in organizations, this field is an applied one. Cognition is studied not only in organizations but also in the laboratory. This is complemented by archival approaches as well as conceptual work. An important challenge of this field is the question of how to elucidate cognition at the individual level and how to aggregate it to the organizational level. A simple aggregation of the individual cognition is inadequate. Researchers have proposed using proxies (e.g., demographic information of key decision-makers, such as CEOs and top management team members), computer simulations, field studies, and laboratory studies. Several technologies are increasingly being used and are particularly promising for the study of managerial and organizational cognition. For instance, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will allow researchers to gain much deeper insights into the cognition of individuals, and machine learning will open new avenues for studying attention in organizations.
Statistical and machine learning approaches to describe factors affecting preweaning mortality of piglets
Authors: Rahman Md Towfiqur , Brown-Brandl Tami M , Rohrer Gary A , Sharma Sudhendu R , Manthena Vamsi , Shi Yeyin
Published: October 2023

High preweaning mortality (PWM) rates for piglets are a significant concern for the worldwide pork industries, causing economic loss and well-being issues. This study focused on identifying the factors affecting PWM, overlays, and predicting PWM using historical production data with statistical and machine learning models. Data were collected from 1,982 litters from the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Nebraska, over the years 2016 to 2021. Sows were housed in a farrowing building with three rooms, each with 20 farrowing crates, and taken care of by well-trained animal caretakers. A generalized linear model was used to analyze the various sow, litter, environment, and piglet parameters on PWM. Then, different models (beta-regression and machine learning model: a random forest [RF]) were evaluated. Finally, the RF model was used to predict PWM and overlays for all listed contributing factors. On average, the mean birth weight was 1.44 kg, and the mean mortality was 16.1% where 5.55% was for stillbirths and 6.20% was contributed by overlays. No significant effect was found for seasonal and location variations on PWM. Significant differences were observed in the effects of litter lines on PWM (P < 0.05). Landrace-sired litters had a PWM of 16.26% (±0.13), whereas Yorkshire-sired litters had 15.91% (±0.13). PWM increased with higher parity orders (P < 0.05) due to larger litter sizes. The RF model provided the best fit for PWM prediction with a root mean squared errors of 2.28 and a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.89 between observed and predicted values. Features’ importance from the RF model indicated that, PWM increased with the increase of litter size (mean decrease accuracy (MDA) = 93.17), decrease in mean birth weight (MDA = 22.72), increase in health diagnosis (MDA = 15.34), longer gestation length (MDA = 11.77), and at older parity (MDA = 10.86). However, in this study, the location of the farrowing crate, seasonal differences, and litter line turned out to be the least important predictors for PWM. For overlays, parity order was the highest importance predictor (MDA = 7.68) followed by litter size and mean birth weight. Considering the challenges to reducing the PWM in the larger litters produced in modern swine industry and the limited studies exploring multiple major contributing factors, this study provides valuable insights for breeding and production management, as well as further investigations on postural transitions and behavior analysis of sows during the lactation period.
The effect of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on pain prevalence and severity in older adults: a large-scale ancillary study of the VITamin D and OmegA-3 triaL (VITAL)
Authors: Soens Mieke A. , Sesso Howard D. , Manson JoAnn E. , Fields Kara G. , Buring Julie E. , Lee I-Min , Cook Nancy R. , Kim Eunjung , Bubes Vadim , Dushkes Rimma , Serhan Charles N. , Rathmell James P.
Published: October 2023

A diet supplemented with vitamin D and marine omega-3 fatty acids may prevent and treat painful disorders by promoting the resolution of inflammation. However, large, randomized placebo-controlled trials evaluating the effects of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D on the presence and severity of pain are lacking. VITamin D and OmegA-3 triaL—Pain (VITAL-Pain) is an ancillary study to the VITAL trial, a large randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D (2000 IU/day) and omega-3 supplementation (1 g/day) over 5.3 years of median follow-up, among 25,871 older men and women. We assessed pain among those reaching the end of the VITAL intervention phase using questions from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. We used ordinal logistic regression to test the effect of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids on the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval [CI] of reporting higher pain prevalence or severity. Overall, 19,611 participants provided complete pain information at the end of the VITAL trial. The ORs for higher pain prevalence or severity for vitamin D and omega-3 supplementation vs placebo were 0.99 ([CI] 0.94-1.05) and 0.99 ([CI] 0.94-1.04), respectively. There was no interaction between the 2 active treatments. Dietary supplementation with commonly used moderate doses of vitamin D or omega-3 fatty acids over a median of 5.3 years did not result in a lower prevalence or severity of pain in middle-aged and older U.S. adults.
Olfactory Bulb Volume and Morphology Changes in COVID-19 Patients With Olfactory Disorders Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Parlak Ayşe Eda , Selçuk Ömer Tarik , Yilmaz Gamze Öztürk , Aydenizoz Doğukan , Selçuk Nursel Türkoğlu , Öcal Ruhsen , Seyman Derya , Yilmaz Muhammet , Eyigör Hülya
Published: October 2023

Objectives

The aims of the study are to explore the morphological changes of olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory sulcus in COVID-19 patients with associated olfactory dysfunction (OD) by measuring the OB volume (OBV) and olfactory sulcus depth (OSD) and to compare the measurement values with those of healthy individuals.

Methods

Between March 2020 and January 2022, 31 consecutive hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 with anosmia and hyposmia who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and 35 normosmic control individuals were retrospectively included in the study. Bilateral OBV and OSD were measured and shape of the OB was determined based on the consensus by a neuroradiologist and an otorrhynolaryngologist.

Results

The mean measurements for the right and the left sides for OBV (38 ± 8.5 and 37.1 ± 8.4, respectively) and OSD (7.4 ± 0.1 and 7.4 ± 1.0 mm, respectively) were significantly lower in COVID-19 patients with OD than those in control group (for the right and the left sides mean OBV 56.3 ± 17.1 and 49.1 ± 13.5, respectively, and mean OSD 9.6 ± 0.8 and 9.4 ± 0.8 mm, respectively). Abnormally shaped OB (lobulated, rectangular, or atrophic) were higher in patient group than those of controls.

For the optimal cutoff values, OBV showed sensitivity and specificity values of 90.32% and, 57.14%, for the right, and 87.1% and 62.86% for the left side, respectively (area under the curve, 0.819 and 0.780). Olfactory sulcus depth showed sensitivity and specificity values of 90.32% and 94.29%, for the right, and 96.77% and 85.71%, for the left side, respectively (area under the curve, 0.960 and 0.944).

Conclusions

Decrease in OBV and OSD measurements in COVID-19 patients with OD at the early chronic stage of the disease supports direct damage to olfactory neuronal pathways and may be used to monitor olfactory nerve renewal while returning back to normal function.
CIRCUSP42 AMELIORATES LPS-INDUCED HUMAN RENAL EPITHELIAL CELLS IN VITRO BY REGULATING THE MIR-182-5P/DUSP1 AXIS
Authors: Luo Shu , Li Mengqin , Ding Xuefeng , Luo Feng , Liao Zhangping
Published: October 2023

Background:Sepsis is a life-threatening systemic inflammatory disease that can cause many diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI). Increasing evidence showed that a variety of circular RNAs were considered to be involved in the development of the disease. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role and potential mechanism of circUSP42 in sepsis-induced AKI.Methods:HK2 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish septic AKI cell model. The expression levels of circUSP42, microRNA-182-5p (miR-182-5p), and DUSP1 in LPS-treated HK2 cells were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or Western blot. Functional experiments were performed by using Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine staining, flow cytometry, oxidative stress assay, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The potential target binding site between miR-182-5p and CircUSP42 or DUSP1 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays.Results:CircUSP42 and DUSP1 were downregulated in serum samples from patients with AKI and LPS-treated HK2 cells, while miR-182-5p was upregulated. Functionally, overexpression of CircUSP42 promoted cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in LPS-triggered HK2 cells. Further mechanism analysis showed that miR-182-5p had potential binding sites with circUSP42 and DUSP1, and circUSP42 regulated LPS-induced cell damage by targeting miR-182-5p. At the same time, miR-182-5p knockdown inhibited LPS-treated HK2 cell damage by regulating DUSP1. In addition, circUSP42 induced DUSP1 expressionviasponging miR-182-5p to ameliorate LPS-induced HK2 cell damage.Conclusion: Our results showed that circUSP42 overexpression might attenuate LPS-induced HK2 cell injury by regulating miR-182-5p/DUSP1 axis. This might provide therapeutic strategy for the treatment of sepsis.
TRENDS IN DISPARITIES RESEARCH ON TRAUMA AND ACUTE CARE SURGERY OUTCOMES: A 10-YEAR SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF TRAUMA AND ACUTE CARE SURGERY
Authors: Breeding Tessa , Ngatuvai Micah , Rosander Abigail , Maka Piueti , Davis Jennifer , Knowlton Lisa M. , Hoops Heather , Elkbuli Adel
Published: October 2023

This is a 10-year review of the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (JTACS) literature related to healthcare disparities, healthcare inequities, and patient outcomes. A retrospective review of articles published in JTACS between January 1st, 2013, and July 15th, 2022, was performed. Articles screened included both adult and pediatric trauma populations. Included articles focused on patient populations related to trauma, surgical critical care, and emergency general surgery. Of the 4178 articles reviewed, 74 met the inclusion criteria. Health care disparities related to gender (n = 10), race/ethnicity (n = 12), age (n = 14), income status (n = 6), health literacy (n = 6), location and access to care (n = 23), and insurance status (n = 13) were described. Studies published on disparities peaked in 2016 and 2022 with 13 and 15 studies respectively but dropped to one study in 2017. Studies demonstrated a significant increase in mortality for patients in rural geographical regions and in patients without health insurance and a decrease in patients who were treated at a trauma center. Gender disparities resulted in variable mortality rates and studied factors including traumatic brain injury (TBI) mortality and severity, venous thromboembolism, ventilator-associated pneumonia, firearm homicide, and intimate partner violence. Under-represented race/ethnicity was associated with variable mortality rates, with 1 study demonstrating increased mortality risk and 3 finding no association between race/ethnicity and mortality. Disparities in health literacy resulted in decreased discharge compliance and worse long-term functional outcomes. Studies on disparities in JTACS over the last decade primarily focused on location and access to healthcare, age, insurance status, and race, with a specific emphasis on mortality. This review highlights the areas in need of further research and funding in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery regarding healthcare disparities in trauma aimed at interventions to reduce disparities in patient care, ensure equitable care, and inform future approaches targeting healthcare disparities.

Level of Evidence

Systematic Review; Level IV
Plant alchemy, Paracelsianism and internal signature theory in the writings of Guy de La Brosse (1586–1641)
Authors: Hedesan Georgiana D.
Published: October 2023

In France, the Jardin des Plantes is one of the oldest surviving scientific institutions, the chief botanical garden and the host of many schools and centres studying the natural sciences. It was established in 1640 as the Royal Garden through the tireless labour of the physician Guy de La Brosse (1586–1641). The present article focuses on La Brosse's views of advancement of plant alchemy as the source of knowledge of plants. It discusses his adoption of the Paracelsian physician Joseph Du Chesne's (Quercetanus, 1546–1609) distinction between external and internal signature theory, opting firmly for the latter as the basis of true knowledge. The internal character, La Brosse argues, can only be revealed empirically, by fire analysis and the practice of distillation, which can also harness the occult properties of plants for human benefit.
Oxidative stress mediates the impact of heatwaves on survival, growth and immune status in a lizard
Authors: Zhang Qiong , Han Xing-Zhi , Burraco Pablo , Wang Xi-Feng , Teng Li-Wei , Liu Zhen-Sheng , Du Wei-Guo
Published: October 2023

Climate change often includes increases in the occurrence of extreme environmental events. Among these, heatwaves affect the pace of life and performance of wildlife, particularly ectothermic animals, owing to their low thermoregulatory abilities. However, the underlying mechanisms by which this occurs remain unclear. Evidence shows that heatwaves alter the redox balance of ectotherms, and oxidative stress is a major mediator of life-history trade-offs. Therefore, oxidative stress may mediate the effect of extreme thermal conditions on the life histories of ectotherms. To test this hypothesis, a 2 × 2 experiment was conducted to manipulate the redox balance (through a mitochondrial uncoupler that alleviates oxidative stress) of the desert toad-headed agama (Phrynocephalus przewalskii) exposed to heatwave conditions. We recorded lizard growth and survival rates and quantified their redox and immune statuses. In control lizards (unmanipulated redox balance), heatwave conditions decreased growth and survival and induced oxidative damage and immune responses. By contrast, lizards with alleviated oxidative stress showed close-to-normal growth, survival, and immune status when challenged with heatwaves. These results provide mechanistic insight into the role of oxidative stress in mediating the effects of extreme temperatures on ectothermic vertebrates, which may have major eco-evolutionary implications.
Colonial green algae in the Cambrian plankton
Authors: Harvey Thomas H. P.
Published: October 2023

The fossil record indicates a major turnover in marine phytoplankton across the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition, coincident with the rise of animal-rich ecosystems. However, the diversity, affinities and ecologies of Cambrian phytoplankton are poorly understood, leaving unclear the role of animal interactions and the drivers of diversification. New exceptionally preserved acritarchs (problematic organic-walled microfossils) from the late early Cambrian (around 510 Ma) reveal colonial organization characterized by rings and plates of interconnected, geometrically arranged cells. The assemblage exhibits a wide but gradational variation in cell size, ornamentation and intercell connection, interpreted as representing one or more species with determinate (coenobial) colony formation via cell division, aggregation and growth by cell expansion. An equivalent strategy is known only among green algae, specifically chlorophycean chlorophytes. The fossils differ in detail from modern freshwater examples and apparently represent an earlier convergent radiation in marine settings. Known trade-offs between sinking risk and predator avoidance in colonial phytoplankton point to adaptations triggered by intensifying grazing pressure during a Cambrian metazoan invasion of the water column. The new fossils reveal that not all small acritarchs are unicellular resting cysts, and support an early Palaeozoic prominence of green algal phytoplankton as predicted by molecular biomarkers.
Evidence of potential Campylobacter jejuni zooanthroponosis in captive macaque populations
Authors: Zang Xiaoqi , Pascoe Ben , Mourkas Evangelos , Kong Ke , Jiao Xinan , Sheppard Samuel K. , Huang Jinlin
Published: October 2023

Non-human primates share recent common ancestry with humans and exhibit comparable disease symptoms. Here, we explored the transmission potential of enteric bacterial pathogens in monkeys exhibiting symptoms of recurrent diarrhoea in a biomedical research facility in China. The common zoonotic bacterium

Campylobacter jejuni

was isolated from macaques (Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis) and compared to isolates from humans and agricultural animals in Asia. Among the monkeys sampled, 5 % (44/973) tested positive for

C. jejuni

, 11 % (5/44) of which displayed diarrhoeal symptoms. Genomic analysis of monkey isolates, and 1254 genomes from various sources in Asia, were used to identify the most likely source of human infection. Monkey and human isolates shared high average nucleotide identity, common MLST clonal complexes and clustered together on a phylogeny. Furthermore, the profiles of putative antimicrobial resistance genes were similar between monkeys and humans. Taken together these findings suggest that housed macaques became infected with

C. jejuni

either directly from humans or via a common contamination source.
How do patent thickets affect financial performance: a three-way interaction model
Authors: Yuan Xiaodong , Hou Fan
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Firms may suffer differently from the patent thickets in a particular technology field. This paper explores how patent thickets affect the financial performance of firms with different patent propensities and technological leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

From the perspective of patent strategy, the authors study how patent propensity, the possibility that a firm applies for patents, affects the patent thickets and financial performance. Additionally, this paper uses patent stock to measure technological leadership, the degree to which a firm can develop, maintain and enhance technology and product innovation, to study the impact of patent propensity on firms. A three-way interaction model is used to explore the relationship among patent thickets, patent propensity, technological leadership and financial performance based on an unbalanced panel of 69 Chinese telecommunication equipment firms from 2008 to 2019.

Findings

The authors find that patent propensity positively moderates patent thickets and financial performance. Notably, technological leadership negatively moderates the moderating effect of patent propensity.

Originality/value

This paper enriches the heterogeneous literature of patent thickets and financial performance. It sheds light on the fact that firms with different technological leadership may use different patent strategies to cut through patent thickets.
What drives the use of crowdfunding by micro-entrepreneurs in Morocco? – exploring fundraiser motives and characteristics
Authors: Meghouar Hicham , Ezzahid Hibat-Allah , Shneor Rotem
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify motivations for the uptake of crowdfunding by micro-entrepreneurs in an emerging economy and the extent to which these vary by entrepreneur characteristics, sector and crowdfunding model.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct qualitative analyses of data collected in interviews with 57 micro-entrepreneurs in Morocco, all of whom used crowdfunding in fundraising.

Findings

The authors identify six key motives for crowdfunding adoption by micro-entrepreneurs including financing needs, legitimacy seeking, sense of achievement, network-building, entrepreneurial and marketing competence enhancements. They also find evidence for moderation effects of fundraiser characteristics on likelihood of adoption, including gender, age, education, training experience and sectoral affiliation. Furthermore, the authors show that the relative importance of different motives varies by the type of crowdfunding model used.

Originality/value

The original aspects of the study include the examination of adoption motives in an emerging market context and the distinguishing between entrepreneurs’ adoption motives based on different gender, age, education, training experience, sectoral affiliation and crowdfunding model used. Moreover, the authors show that enhancement of competencies is a more dominant motive in the emerging market context than mentioned in earlier studies in developed contexts.
Tourism–a look into a brighter future
Authors: Costa Ferreira Pedro
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze how tourism can impact today's world, particularly as we live a decisive moment for the planet, deeply affected by war in Europe and all the implications resulting from this anomalous situation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the author presents five pillars of the differentiating impact that tourism can have in today's world, from the need to modernize an increasingly old world to the need to reduce inequalities.

Findings

The author contends that the tourism industry has a significant and positive impact in the world by building secure bridges for a better future. This is because it is on the right side, opposing disharmony and bringing people closer together, and by leading economic growth, the base factor of all positive economic change.

Originality/value

The article supports the view that tourism generates more equality at local and global levels and that while it may not in itself be the solution for our future, it will be much easier to look into a brighter future, whenever we include tourism in it.
Cultural Origin and Minority Shareholder Expropriation: Historical Evidence
Authors: GU ZHIHUI , SUN WEI , ZHOU FRANK S.
Published: October 2023

Can culture explain regional differences in minority shareholder expropriation? Examining regional variation in China, we document that the influence of historical Confucian values persists, despite decades of political movements clamping down on these values, and that these values reduce minority shareholder expropriation in local public firms. The effect on minority shareholder expropriation, in part, operates through the establishment of oversight mechanisms (i.e., greater financial reporting quality and dividend payouts) that constrain expropriation. The findings have important implications for understanding the origins of enduring regional differences in minority shareholder expropriation and capital market development.
Effects of biological agents on glycogen metabolism in psoriasis patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: He Ting , Chang Zhangqian , Zhang Yingjie , Lang Xiaoqing , Guo Shuping , Cui Hongzhou
Published: October 2023

The effectiveness and safety of biological agents for treating psoriasis have been confirmed; however, their effects on glucose metabolism biomarkers in psoriasis patients remain unclear. A systematic review and meta‐analysis were performed according to PRISMA guidelines. The final analysis enrolled 12 studies, including eight randomized controlled trial (RCT) (n = 5628 patients) and four observational cohort studies (OBSs) (n = 393 patients). The meta‐analysis comprising nine studies (six RCTs and three OBSs) revealed a slight reduction in the levels of HOMA‐IR associated with the use of biological therapies in OBS (biological therapies vs. traditional therapies: WMD = −0.2, CI = −0.10 to 0.50, p = 0.02). Although a considerable number of studies were analysed, our review did not show a significant alteration in HOMA‐IR levels among patients treated with biological therapies such as IL‐17 inhibitors and IL‐12/23 inhibitors at weeks 12–16 in RCTs. We also did not observe remarkable alterations in the fasting plasma glucose levels of patients in both OBS and RCT. Additional RCT on a larger scale and duration is required to provide more conclusive evidence regarding the effect of biological agents on glycogen metabolism in psoriasis.
Pre‐transplant multidrug‐resistant infections in liver transplant recipients‐epidemiology and impact on transplantation outcome
Authors: Lemos Gabriela T. , Terrabuio Debora R. B. , Nunes Nathalia N. , Song Alice T. W. , Oshiro Isabel C. V. , D'Albuquerque Luiz Augusto C. , Levin Anna S. , Abdala Edson , Freire Maristela P.
Published: October 2023

Background

Cirrhotic patients are highly exposed to healthcare services and antibiotics. Although pre‐liver transplantation (LT) infections are directly related to the worsening of liver function, the impact of these infections on LT outcomes is still unclear. This study aimed to identify the effect of multidrug‐resistant microorganism (MDRO) infections before LT on survival after LT.

Methods

Retrospective study that included patients who underwent LT between 2010 and 2019. Variables analyzed were related to patients’ comorbidities, underlying diseases, time on the waiting list, antibiotic use, LT surgery, and occurrences post‐LT. Multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression, and Cox regression for survival analysis.

Results

A total of 865 patients were included; 351 infections were identified in 259 (30%) patients, of whom 75 (29%) had ≥1 pre‐LT MDRO infection. The most common infection was spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (34%). The agent was identified in 249(71%), 53(15%) were polymicrobial. The most common microorganism was Klebsiella pneumoniae (18%); the most common MDRO was ESBL‐producing Enterobacterales (16%), and carbapenem‐resistant (CR) Enterobacterales (10%). Factors associated with MDRO infections before LT were previous use of therapeutic cephalosporin (p = .001) and fluoroquinolone (p = .001), SBP prophylaxis (p = .03), ACLF before LT (p = .03), and days of hospital stay pre‐LT (p < .001); HCC diagnosis was protective (p = .01). Factors associated with 90‐day mortality after LT were higher MELD on inclusion to the waiting list (p = .02), pre‐LT MDRO infection (p = .04), dialysis after LT (p < .001), prolonged duration of LT surgery (p < .001), post‐LT CR‐Gram‐negative bacteria infection (p < .001), and early retransplantation (p = .004).

Conclusion

MDRO infections before LT have an important impact on survival after LT.
The integration of haptic training into the QMUL dental curriculum
Authors: Ranauta Amitha , Audsley Ben , Coulthard Paul
Published: October 2023

The Pandemic has challenged clinical dentistry globally with the dental education sector seeking alternative training environments. Virtual reality (VR) is gaining recognition as a valuable tool for training dental students and its use by dental schools around the world is growing. The continuous improvement of haptic VR dental trainers provides a platform where irreversible procedures can be safely and unlimitedly practised. This driver has led to the exploration and investment into virtual technology to improve education outcomes in dental students. The aim of this study was to share the early experience of a dental school in the United Kingdom that has initiated the process of embedding haptics into their simulation training within the dental curriculum. This paper explores the process of embedding and operationalising haptic training within the undergraduate curriculum. Using current knowledge of education pedagogy, the school aligned to an evidence‐based, best‐practice framework which utilised the concept of deliberate practice in the development of the Haptics curriculum which was adaptable and iterative in design. This paper contextualises the implementation of haptic training in a UK dental education setting by providing an outline of the framework used to develop the curriculum. Virtual reality haptics trainers have created unique opportunities and challenges for dental schools. Dental educators have sought to utilise this technology in a structured framework to enhance training.
Temporal and spatial patterns of foraging in two syntopic ant species, Manica yessensis and Formica lemani, on Mount Fuji, Japan
Authors: Masuko Keiichi
Published: October 2023

Spatiotemporal characteristics of terrestrial foraging were studied in two ant species, Manica yessensis and Formica lemani, in a volcanic desert on the southeast slope of Mount Fuji, Gotenba, Japan. Both ants are common in this habitat, and they construct underground nests in this dry area with sparse vegetation. Nests of M. yessensis have multiple nest‐openings on the surface, whereas nests of F. lemani have very few openings, but their nesting and foraging areas overlap completely. A “mark‐and‐observe” method applied to M. yessensis demonstrated that worker ants of this species move between openings more than 3 m away. A study plot (6 m × 12 m quadrat) was set up, in which all nest‐openings of both species were mapped. Day‐long observations on numbers of foragers in this plot revealed that foraging M. yessensis are active in morning and evening, while F. lemani continues foraging all day, but both species cease activity at night. Associations between locations of foragers and nest‐openings differed significantly between the two species, that is, surface foraging of M. yessensis workers was largely confined to the vicinity of their nest‐openings, whereas foragers of F. lemani travelled far from their nest‐openings. The function of multiple nest‐openings in M. yessensis is discussed.
Myocardial markers are highly altered by higher rates of fluid removal during hemodialysis
Authors: Goto Junko , Ott Michael , Stegmayr Bernd
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Although hemodialysis is lifesaving in patients with kidney failure extensive interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) between dialyses worsens the prognosis. We recently showed a strong correlation between IDWG and predialytic values of cardiac markers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if the cardiac markers N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) and troponin T were influenced by IDWG and speed of fluid removal (ultrafiltration‐rate).

Methods

Twenty hemodialysis patients performed in total 60 hemodialysis (three each). Predialytic values of proBNP and troponin T and changes from predialysis to 180 min hemodialysis (180–0 min) were compared with the IDWG calculated in percent of body weight. The ultrafiltration‐rate was adjusted (UF‐rateadj) to IDWG: (100 × weight gain between dialysis [kg])/(estimated body dry weight [kg] × length of hemodialysis session [hours]).

Results

UF‐rateadj correlated (Spearman) with (1) predialytic values of IDWG (r = 0.983, p < 0.001), proBNP (r = 0.443, p < 0.001), and troponin T (r = 0.296, p = 0.025); and (2) differences in proBNP180–0min (r = 0.572, p < 0.001) and troponin T180–0min (r = 0.400, p = 0.002). UF‐ratesadj above a breakpoint of 0.60 caused more release of proBNP180–0min (p = 0.027). Remaining variables in multiple regression analysis with ProBNP180–0min as dependent factor were predialytic proBNP (p < 0.001) and the ultrafiltration‐rate (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Higher UF‐rateadj during dialysis was correlated to increased levels of cardiac markers. Data support a UF‐rateadj lower than 0.6 to limit such increase. Further studies may confirm if limited fluid intake and a lower UF‐rateadj should be recommended to prevent cardiac injury during dialysis.
Detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by colorimetric assay for reverse transcriptase activity on magnetic beads
Authors: Suzuki K. , Craddock BP , Okamoto N. , Kano T. , Steigbigel RT
Published: October 2023

A colorimetric assay for detection of reverse transcriptase (RT) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was developed using oligodeoxythymidylic acid (oligo‐dT)‐linked magnetic beads and digoxigenin‐deoxyuridine triphosphate (dig‐dUTP). During the RT reaction, dig‐dUTP was incorporated into oligo‐dT which had been hybridized to polyadenylic acid [poly (A)]. At the detection step, an alkaline phosphatase‐conjugated antibody to digoxigenin was added, followed by the addition of a colorimetric substrate for this enzyme. This method showed excellent correlation with the isotopic RT assay, which used tritiated thymidine triphosphate ([3H]dTTP), for detection of purified avian‐myeloblastosis‐virus RT (AMV‐RT). This assay also demonstrated close correlation with the isotopic RT assay using human peripheral‐blood lymphocytes infected in vitro with HIV. This colorimetric RT assay offers important advantages over the conventional radioactive RT assays with respect to its simplicity, safety and cost. The total assay time, including the RT reaction step, was less than 1 h, and therefore provides a reliable rapid assay for detection and quantification of HIV.