bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disease in regenerating pine forests linked to temperature and pathogen spillover from the canopy
Authors: Caballol Maria , Méndez‐Cartín Ana Lucía , Serradó Francesc , De Cáceres Miquel , Coll Lluís , Oliva Jonàs
Published: July 2022

Previous investigations of the role of pathogens as drivers of community dynamics in forests have mostly focused on interspecific interactions between canopy trees and seedlings via soil feedbacks. However, feedbacks can also occur directly between canopy trees and seedlings when spores of foliar and stem pathogens fall onto seedlings regenerating underneath the canopy.

We studied pathogen spillover between canopy trees and conspecific and heterospecific regeneration in the Pinus nigra–Diplodia sapinea pathosystem. We sampled 70 pine stands distributed across a temperature gradient of 9.5–13.7°C (mean annual temperature). In each stand, we linked spore load and spore survival in the canopy with pathogen biomass and disease severity in regenerating seedlings. The density of regenerating seedlings and the health status of conspecific and heterospecific seedlings were also measured. The strength of canopy–understorey interactions was correlated with both climatic and stand variables.

The most severe symptoms of disease in regenerating seedlings were found in the warmest stands. Structural equation models suggested that disease severity in seedlings was mediated by an increased spore spillover from the canopy. Temperature also increased the pathogen survival rate within seedlings, further contributing to disease severity. Interestingly, disease severity in the canopy did not correlate with spore load in the canopy, suggesting that adult trees were spilling pathogens onto the understorey regardless of their health status. Pathogen spillover increased in more open stands. Greater disease severity in seedlings correlated with stands with a higher density of oak seedlings.

Synthesis. These results suggest an understudied mechanism of the Janzen–Connell theory, according to which, canopy–understorey negative feedbacks could be driven by canopy pathogens. Our data also suggest that temperature shapes canopy–understorey interactions, which implies that under a warming climate scenario, an acceleration of conspecific negative feedbacks could be expected, with implications for forest regeneration dynamics.
Exactly Where Does the River Need Space to Move? Seeking Participatory Translation of Fluvial Geomorphology into Flood Management
Authors: Warner Benjamin P. , Vogel Eve , Hatch Christine E.
Published: July 2022

Fluvial geomorphic risks are rarely incorporated into and mitigated by river flood management in the United States. Identifying where such risks exist is difficult and there is much scholarly debate on how best to do it. We incorporate this debate into a stakeholder‐driven process to assess its viability in translational fluvial geomorphology. Focusing on Massachusetts, USA we describe a decade‐long, stakeholder‐driven project that sought to better manage flood risks across the state. We found that even if a diverse group of expert stakeholders agrees on the science, politics complicate the transfer of science into policy in highly participatory settings. Stakeholders agreed that fluvial geomorphic risk mapping should result in a “river corridor” that must be process‐based, variable‐width, and based on readily available, easily measured data sources. However, without an agreed‐upon sense of how to resolve the geographic mismatch between an expansive scientifically defined corridor and one constrained by social and economic practicalities, stakeholders struggled to determine what a fluvial geomorphology‐informed river corridor would be usedfor, and by whom.
Influence of Sewershed Characteristics on Rainfall‐Derived Inflow and Infiltration
Authors: Sebo Spencer , McDonald Walter
Published: July 2022

Basement backups and sewer overflows from rainfall‐derived inflow and infiltration (RDII) are a significant threat to human and environmental health; however, reducing inflow and infiltration is a challenge for municipalities due to the difficulty and resources required to accurately identify source areas. This case study seeks to address this challenge by evaluating the influence that sewershed characteristics have on inflow and infiltration into sanitary sewer systems. To do so, we used 4.5 years of monitoring data from 19 sanitary sewer locations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to explore the relationships between RDII defined using the RTK unit hydrograph method and sewershed physical, land cover, and pipe characteristics. Results demonstrate that inflow, or fast direct flows into the system, is positively correlated to pipe length per acre, number of parcels, and medium intensity land use. Infiltration, or slow inputs from groundwater sources, is negatively correlated with imperviousness, pipe length per acre, low intensity, and medium intensity land use. Multivariable linear regression using these parameters explained between 55% and 72% of the variance in normalized inflow and infiltration. These findings demonstrate a way in which collection system managers may be able to narrow the search areas for RDII sources within their sanitary sewer systems by evaluating sewershed characteristics.
Increased incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Figures from an Italian tertiary care center
Authors: Schiaffini Riccardo , Deodati Annalisa , Rapini Novella , Pampanini Valentina , Cianfarani Stefano
Published: August 2022

Highlights

In 2021 as a whole we report an increase (22% to 35%) in incidence of type 1 diabetes compared to the years 2017 to 2020.

A peak of incidence in the last 4 months of 2021, when the “fourth wave” of COVID‐19 peaked in Italy, has been observed.

In the last quarter of 2021 there was a significant increased type 1 diabetes incidence in the age group under 12 years.

We speculate that SARS‐CoV‐2 infection may have had an impact on type 1 diabetes incidence in children, especially in age groups not protected by vaccination.
Should I stay or should I go? Migrating away from an incumbent platform
Authors: Biglaiser Gary , Crémer Jacques , Veiga André
Published: August 2022

We study incumbency advantage in markets with positive consumption externalities. Users of an incumbent platform receive stochastic opportunities to migrate to an entrant and can either accept them or wait for a future opportunity. In some circumstances, users have incentives to delay migration until others have migrated. If they all do so, no migration takes place, even when migration would have been Pareto‐superior. We use our framework to identify environments where incumbency advantage is larger. A key result is that having more migration opportunities actually increases incumbency advantage.
Robotic‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery improves perioperative outcomes in overweight and obese patients with non–small‐cell lung cancer undergoing lobectomy: A propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Li Rongyang , Ma Zheng , Li Yanzhi , Qu Chenghao , Qiu Jianhao , Zhang Yu , Wang Kun , Yue Weiming , Tian Hui
Published: July 2022

Background

The effectiveness of robotic‐assisted lobectomy (RAL) for patients with non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been fully evaluated.

Methods

This retrospective study compared the perioperative outcomes of NSCLC patients who underwent RAL and video‐assisted lobectomy (VAL) using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Subgroup analyses were then performed.

Results

A total of 822 NSCLC patients (359 RAL cases and 463 VAL cases) were included, and there were 292 patients in each group after PSM. Compared with the VAL group, the RAL group had a significantly higher number of lymph nodes (LNs) harvested (10 vs. 8, p < 0.001) and more LN stations examined (6 vs. 5, p < 0.001). The operative duration (95 minutes vs. 115 minutes, p < 0.001) and intraoperative estimated blood loss (65 mL vs. 80 mL, p < 0.001) were significantly reduced, and the drainage volume on postoperative day (POD) 1 (240 mL vs. 200 mL, p < 0.001) and hospitalization costs (¥81084.96 vs. ¥66142.55, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the RAL group. Subgroup analysis indicated that the incidence of postoperative complications (17.9% vs. 26.7%, p = 0.042) was significantly reduced in the RAL group for overweight and obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥24 kg/m2), which became insignificant in the BMI < 24 kg/m2 subgroup (31.0% vs. 24.8%, p = 0.307).

Conclusion

RAL might have potential advantages in terms of lymph node assessment, reducing intraoperative blood loss, and shortening operation duration. Overweight and obese patients could benefit more from RAL because of reduced risk of postoperative complications.
Risk Analysis of Pension Fund Investment Choices
Authors: Bissoondoyal‐Bheenick Emawtee , Brooks Robert , Do Hung Xuan
Published: August 2022

We provide a comprehensive and more consistent approach to analyse and compare the risk‐return relationships of Australian superannuation investment options for the period January 1990 to December 2016. In estimating the risk profiles of the investment options, we allow for the movement of the asset classes over time by employing a varying coefficient panel estimation technique. We find that while risk increases across different investment options from moderate to aggressive options, using different percentages of identifying a balanced fund does not impact the long‐term risk measurement. We equally find that the risk‐return relationships of investment options are not sensitive to the modelling framework, except for the crisis analysis, in which the Fama‐French five‐factor model provides greater sensitivity.
Modeling the impact of COVID‐19 pandemic‐driven increases in alcohol consumption on health outcomes and hospitalization costs in the United States
Authors: Barbosa Carolina , Dowd William N. , Neuwahl Simon J. , Rehm Jürgen , Imtiaz Sameer , Zarkin Gary A.
Published: August 2022

Background and aims

Alcohol consumption increased in the early phases of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United States. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and risky drinking are linked to harmful health effects. This paper aimed to project future health and cost impacts of shifts in alcohol consumption during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Design

An individual‐level simulation model of the long‐term drinking patterns for people with life‐time AUD was used to simulate 10 000 individuals and project model outcomes to the estimated 25.9 million current drinkers with life‐time AUD in the United States. The model considered three scenarios: (1) no change (counterfactual for comparison); (2) increased drinking levels persist for 1 year (‘increase‐1’) and (3) increased drinking levels persist for 5 years (‘increase‐5’).

Setting

United States.

Participants

Current drinkers with life‐time AUD.

Measurements

Life expectancy [life‐years (LYs)], quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs), alcohol‐related hospitalizations and associated hospitalization costs and alcohol‐related deaths, during a 5‐year period.

Findings

Short‐term increases in alcohol consumption (increase‐1 scenario) resulted in a loss of 79 000 [95% uncertainty interval (UI]) 26 000–201 000] LYs, a loss of 332 000 (104 000–604 000) QALYs and 295 000 (82 000–501 000) more alcohol‐related hospitalizations, costing an additional $5.4 billion ($1.5–9.3 billion) over 5 years. Hospitalizations for cirrhosis of the liver accounted for approximately $3.0 billion ($0.9–4.8 billion) in hospitalization costs, more than half the increase across all alcohol‐related conditions. Health and cost impacts were more pronounced for older age groups (51+), women and non‐Hispanic black individuals. Increasing the duration of pandemic‐driven increases in alcohol consumption in the increase‐5 scenario resulted in larger impacts.

Conclusions

Simulations show that if the increase in alcohol consumption observed in the United States in the first year of the pandemic continues, alcohol‐related mortality, morbidity and associated costs will increase substantially over the next 5 years.
Do doctors preferring forceps encounter more obstetric anal sphincter injuries: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Nagi Kusam , Karantanis Emmanuel , Mallitt Kylie‐Ann
Published: July 2022

Background

Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) is a hospital‐acquired injury and can affect a woman's quality of life with problems such as anal incontinence, perineal pain, dyspareunia, mental health, psychosexual issues, and concerns about future childbirth choices.

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a correlation between a doctor's preference for instruments, their individual OASIS rate and whether factors such as their fully dilated caesarean section rate, rate of double instrumental and seniority, influences their individual rate of OASIS.

Materials and methods

A population‐based retrospective cohort study was performed on 1340 term nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies who underwent an instrumental delivery or fully dilated caesarean section. A survey of doctors involved in these deliveries was performed. The risk of OASIS was analysed for maternal age, ethnicity, birth position, level of training and doctor's instrument preference using a generalised linear mixed model. Doctors’ instrument preferences were established in two ways: a self‐reported survey and data‐inferred preference based on the most used instrument per doctor. The OASIS rate for individual doctors was calculated.

Results

The overall risk of OASIS is higher for forceps compared to vacuum deliveries. Doctors with a preference for forceps compared to vacuum, correlated with both a lower OASIS rate and a higher fully dilated caesarean section rate.

Conclusions

Doctors preferring forceps report a lower OASIS and higher fully dilated caesarean section rate. Doctors preferring vacuum must consider carefully whether forceps should follow if a vacuum fails as OASIS is more likely to occur.
In Strongman We Trust: The Political Legacy of the New Village Movement in South Korea
Authors: Hong Ji Yeon , Park Sunkyoung , Yang Hyunjoo
Published: August 2022

This study explores how authoritarian distributive policies may not only generate political support for the autocrat but may also help sustain powerful and lasting authoritarian legacies. We use microlevel data from South Korea's New Village Movement, a 1970s rural development program implemented under dictator Park Chung‐hee and widely touted as contributing to the country's rapid economic development. Our analysis shows that townships in receipt of larger cash transfers cast more votes for Park's incumbent party in the subsequent election. More importantly, we show that the effects of the subsidies still appeared almost four decades later in 2012, when the dictator's daughter was democratically elected as the president of South Korea. We show that these effects were not driven by villagers’ long‐term income gains or enhanced social capital due to the program but by the unwavering support of the beneficiary villagers for the dictator, whose legacy remained strong long after democratization.
“A Sacred Effort”: Lincoln's Second Inaugural and the Problem of Justice
Authors: Ruderman Richard S.
Published: August 2022

Lincoln's Second Inaugural has both impressed and perplexed audiences since its initial delivery. While most have been deeply moved by his call for “malice toward none” and “charity for all,” they have often been equally puzzled and even put off by the stern religiosity on display in the paragraph prior to his peroration. He was even accused, at the time, of “substituting religion for statesmanship.” I argue that it is his statesmanlike use of religion—indeed, of a new hybrid (still unnamed) religion, Judeo‐Christianity—that provided the moral and psychological ground for overcoming the “malice” that so often attends the end of wars. Unlike the post religious (and uncharitable) statesmanship of the Allies in World War I that contributed to the outbreak of World War II, Lincoln's statesmanship in the Second Inaugural provides a model for how to keep the “settling of scores”—the desire for punitive justice—from snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Indigenous Philosophies and the "Psychedelic Renaissance"
Authors: Williams Keith , Romero Osiris Sinuhé González , Braunstein Michelle , Brant Suzanne
Published: July 2022

The Western world is experiencing a resurgence of interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, most of which are derived from plants or fungi with a history of Indigenous ceremonial use. Recent research has revealed that psychedelic compounds have the potential to address treatment‐resistant depression and anxiety, as well as post‐traumatic stress disorder and addictions. These findings have contributed to the decriminalization of psychedelics in some jurisdictions and their legalization in others. Despite psychedelics’ opaque legal status, numerous companies and individuals are profiting from speculative investments with few, if any, benefits accruing to Indigenous Peoples. In this paper, we suggest that the aptly named “psychedelic renaissance,” like the European Renaissance, is made possible by colonial extractivism. We further suggest that Indigenous philosophical traditions offer alternative approaches to reorient the “psychedelic renaissance” towards a more equitable future for Indigenous Peoples, psychedelic medicines, and all our relations.
Unexplained fever in children—Benefits and challenges of FDG‐PET/CT
Authors: Nygaard Ulrikka , Larsen Laerke Vinge , Vissing Nadja Hawwa , von Linstow Marie‐Louise , Myrup Charlotte , Berthelsen Anne Kiil , Poulsen Anja , Borgwardt Lise
Published: July 2022

Aim

To explore [fluorine‐18]‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose positron‐emission‐tomography/computed tomography (18FDG‐PET/CT) in patients where standard investigations were non‐diagnostic.

Methods

We reviewed medical records of previously healthy children who had 18FDG‐PET/CT performed at Copenhagen University Hospital in 2015–2020 due to unexplained fever.

Results

Thirty‐five of 819 paediatric 18FDG‐PET/CT were performed due to unexplained fever. The final diagnoses were malignancy (11%), infections (23%), inflammatory diseases (43%) and miscellaneous (26%). 18FDG‐PET/CT was diagnostic in six cases with Takayasu's arteritis, tuberculosis, Langerhans cell histiocytosis and Ewing sarcoma. Sixteen cases had focal 18FDG‐uptake, but 18FDG‐PET/CT could only differentiate malignancy, infection and inflammation in three cases. In six cases with inflammatory diseases and no focal signs, PET/CT was normal except increased non‐specific 18FDG‐uptake in bone marrow and spleen in five cases. One case was false positive (suspicion of appendicitis) and two false negative (leukaemia and inflammatory disease).

Conclusion

18FDG‐PET/CT was diagnostic, or contributed to the diagnosis, in several children with unexplained fever referred to a tertiary centre. Challenges comprised (i) only increased non‐specific 18FDG‐uptake in bone marrow and spleen in half of cases with inflammatory diseases, (ii) no differentiation between complicated infections, malignancy and inflammation in most cases with focal processes and (iii) a small risk of false positive and false negative results.
Out in the field
Authors: Mackay Anson W. , Bishop Isabel J.
Published: July 2022

This commentary expands upon Bracken & Mawdsley's (2004) paper, ‘Muddy glee: rounding out the picture of women and physical geography fieldwork’ to consider the experiences of LGBTQI+ people. Reflecting on our own fieldwork experiences between the early 1990s and today, we provide personal insight into some of the challenges faced by LGBTQI+ field scientists. Although the nature of our personal challenges differs through time, space and our own specific identities and intersectionalities, we concur that exclusion of LGBTQI+ people is a widespread problem in fieldwork. This is true of many different modes of physical fieldwork, suggesting that redefining what fieldwork looks like does not automatically remove barriers to entry for marginalised groups. Instead, we argue that inclusivity should be championed across all types of field activities, and that discipline‐wide effort is required to ensure safe strategies are developed for all at‐risk individuals.
Cemeteries and crematoria, forgotten public space in multicultural Europe. An agenda for inclusion and citizenship
Authors: Maddrell Avril , Beebeejaun Yasminah , Kmec Sonja , Wingren Carola
Published: July 2022

In western Europe, municipal or otherwise state‐commissioned cemeteries and crematoria are public spaces and services, open to all. Cemeteries and crematoria grounds are neglected in geographical, planning and policy debates about the character, design, management, use and accessibility of public spaces, and likewise debates about the social inclusion of migrants and minorities. This may reflect a tendency to situate cemeteries socially and geographically in the peripheries of contemporary European society, but they are, nonetheless, sites of vital public health infrastructure, as well as being highly significant symbolic, religious‐spiritual, secular‐sacred, and emotionally laden places. Examining cemeteries‐crematoria against a criteria of inclusive public space provides new insights into (1) the nature of public space and its governance; (2) rights and barriers to shared public spaces and associated infrastructure in everyday multicultural contexts; (3) national–local negotiations of majority‐minorities social relations and cultural practices in and through public spaces; and (4) the need to place municipal cemeteries‐crematoria centre stage in scholarship and policy on public space which is culturally inclusive and serves all citizens.
Joint Semiparametric Models for Case-Cohort Designs
Authors: Zhong Weibin , Diao Guoqing
Published: August 2022

Two-phase studies such as case-cohort and nested case-control studies are widely used cost-effective sampling strategies. In the first phase, the observed failure/censoring time and inexpensive exposures are collected. In the second phase, a subgroup of subjects is selected for measurements of expensive exposures based on the information from the first phase. One challenging issue is how to utilize all the available information to conduct efficient regression analyses of the two-phase study data. This paper proposes a joint semiparametric modeling of the survival outcome and the expensive exposures. Specifically, we assume a class of semiparametric transformation models and a semiparametric density ratio model for the survival outcome and the expensive exposures, respectively. The class of semiparametric transformation models includes the proportional hazards model and the proportional odds model as special cases. The density ratio model is flexible in modeling multivariate mixed-type data. We develop efficient likelihood-based estimation and inference procedures and establish the large sample properties of the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimators. Extensive numerical studies reveal that the proposed methods perform well under practical settings. The proposed methods also appear to be reasonably robust under various model mis-specifications. An application to the National Wilms Tumor Study is provided.
Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies in haematological patients paucisymptomatic for COVID‐19: The GIMEMA EMATO‐0321 study
Authors: Marasco Vincenzo , Piciocchi Alfonso , Candoni Anna , Pagano Livio , Guidetti Anna , Musto Pellegrino , Bruna Riccardo , Bocchia Monica , Visentin Andrea , Turrini Mauro , Tucci Alessandra , Pilerci Sofia , Fianchi Luana , Salvini Marco , Galimberti Sara , Coviello Elisa , Selleri Carmine , Luppi Mario , Crea Enrico , Fazi Paola , Passamonti Francesco , Corradini Paolo
Published: July 2022

COVID‐19 continues to be a relevant issue among patients with haematological malignancies (HM). Vaccines are frequently not effective in subjects on active treatment. In this multicentre retrospective study of Gruppo Italiano Malattie EMatologiche dell'Adulto (GIMEMA), we collected data from 91 paucisymptomatic HM patients treated with anti‐spike neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (nMoAbs) to determine time to viral clearance, referencing it to the expected value of 28 days from an historical group of untreated paucisymptomatic patients. Secondary endpoints included rate of hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, COVID‐19 related death and safety. SARS‐CoV‐2 molecular swab negativity was obtained in 86 patients (95%), with a median time of 18 days (IQR 13–26; p < 0.0001). We did not find significant variations according to age, diagnosis, treatment type, vaccination status or nMoAbs type. Rate of hospitalization due to COVID‐19 progression was 12% (11/91), with 2 patients (2.2%) requiring ICU admission. With a median follow‐up of 2.33 months, the overall mortality was 5.5% (5/91), with 3 deaths due to COVID‐19. Side effects were rare and self‐limiting. Our data suggest that nMoAbs can limit the detrimental effect of immunosuppressive treatments on COVID‐19 clinical progression and time to viral clearance. The original trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04932967.
Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) mediates pyrene‐induced inflammatory responses in mouse liver, with increased serum amyloid A proteins and Th17 cells
Authors: Shi Zhe , Li Xue , Zhang Yu‐Man , Zhou Yi‐Yao , Gan Xiu‐Feng , Fan Qiao‐Ying , He Chen‐Qing , Shi Tong , Zhang Shu‐Yun
Published: July 2022

Background and Purpose

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), a known xenobiotic sensor, plays an important role in drug metabolism by regulating numerous genes. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pyrene, an environmental pollutant, is a CAR activator and induces mouse hepatotoxicity via CAR. Here, we investigate the molecular mechanisms of the inflammatory response in pyrene‐caused mice liver injury.

Experimental Approach

Effects of pyrene on the liver were investigated in wild‐type and CAR knockout (KO) mice. Levels of pyrene and its urinary metabolite were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Inflammatory responses were measured by qRT‐PCR, western blotting, and ELISA for cytokines.

Key Results

Serum amyloid A proteins (SAAs) were markedly increased in the liver and serum of pyrene‐exposed wild‐type mice. IL‐17‐producing helper T cells (Th17 cells) and IL‐17 levels were increased in the liver of pyrene‐exposed wild‐type mice. Hepatic mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines including IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNFα, and serum IL‐6 levels were significantly elevated in pyrene‐treated wild‐type mice. However, these changes were not observed in CAR KO mice.

Conclusion and Implications

CAR plays a crucial role in pyrene‐caused mice liver inflammatory response with increased SAAs and Th17 cells. Our results suggest that serum SAAs may be a convenient biomarker for early diagnosis of liver inflammatory response caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, including pyrene. CAR and Th17 cells may be potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies for xenobiotic‐induced liver inflammation.
Asia Pacific perspectives on the second year of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A follow‐up survey
Authors: Pawankar Ruby , Thong Bernard Yu‐Hor , Tiongco‐Recto Marysia , Wang Jiu‐Yao , Latiff Amir Hamzah Abdul , Leung Ting Fan , Li Philip Hei , Lobo Rommel Crisenio M. , Lucas Michela , Oh Jae‐Won , Kamchaisatian Wasu , Nagao Mizuho , Rengganis Iris , Udwadia Zarir F. , Dhar Raja , Munkhbayarlakh Sonomjamts , Narantsetseg Logii , Pham Duy Le , Zhang Yuan , Zhang Luo
Published: July 2022

Background

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic is currently in its third year. This follow‐up survey was commissioned by the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology (APAAACI) Task Force on COVID‐19 to compare and contrast changes in the epidemiology, clinical profile, therapeutics and public health measures of the pandemic in the Asia Pacific region.

Methods

A questionnaire‐based survey comprising 32 questions was electronically sent out to all 15 member countries of APAAACI using Survey Monkey® from 1 December 2021 to 28 February 2022.

Results

Seventeen responses were received from 14/15 (93.4%) member countries and 3 individual members. Mild‐to‐moderate COVID‐19 predominated over severe infection, largely contributed by COVID‐19 vaccination programmes in the region. The incidence of vaccine adverse reactions in particular anaphylaxis from messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines was no longer as high as initially anticipated, although perimyocarditis remains a concern in younger males. Novel therapeutics for mild‐to‐moderate disease including neutralizing antibodies casirivimab/imdevimab (REGEN‐COV®) and sotrovimab (Xevudy®), anti‐virals Paxlovid® (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) and Molnupiravir pre‐exposure prophylaxis for high‐risk persons with Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab (Evusheld) are now also available to complement established therapeutics (e.g., remdesivir, dexamethasone and baricitinib) for severe disease. In the transition to endemicity, public health measures are also evolving away from containment/elimination strategies.

Conclusions

With access to internationally recommended standards of care including public health preventive measures, therapeutics and vaccines among most APAAACI member countries, much progress has been made over the 2‐year period in minimizing the morbidity and mortality from COVID‐19 disease.
Cost-effectiveness of topical pharmacological, oral pharmacological, physical and combined treatments for acne vulgaris
Authors: Mavranezouli Ifigeneia , Welton Nicky J. , Daly Caitlin H. , Wilcock Jane , Bromham Nathan , Berg Laura , Xu Jingyuan , Wood Damian , Ravenscroft Jane C. , Dworzynski Katharina , Healy Eugene
Published: July 2022

Background

Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition that may cause psychosocial distress. There is evidence that topical treatment combinations, chemical peels and photochemical therapy (combined blue/red light) are effective for mild-to-moderate acne, while topical treatment combinations, oral antibiotics combined with topical treatments, oral isotretinoin and photodynamic therapy are most effective for moderate-to-severe acne. Effective treatments have varying costs. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England considers cost-effectiveness when producing national clinical, public health and social care guidance.

Aim

To assess the cost-effectiveness of treatments for mild-to-moderate and moderate-to-severe acne to inform relevant NICE guidance.

Methods

A decision–analytical model compared costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) of effective topical pharmacological, oral pharmacological, physical and combined treatments for mild-to-moderate and moderate-to-severe acne, from the perspective of the National Health Service in England. Effectiveness data were derived from a network meta-analysis. Other model input parameters were based on published sources, supplemented by expert opinion.

Results

All of the assessed treatments were more cost-effective than treatment with placebo (general practitioner visits without active treatment). For mild-to-moderate acne, topical treatment combinations and photochemical therapy (combined blue/red light) were most cost-effective. For moderate-to-severe acne, topical treatment combinations, oral antibiotics combined with topical treatments, and oral isotretinoin were the most cost-effective. Results showed uncertainty, as reflected in the wide confidence intervals around mean treatment rankings.

Conclusion

A range of treatments are cost-effective for the management of acne. Well-conducted studies are needed to examine the long-term clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the full range of acne treatments.
Microsurface Transformations
Authors: Atanasov A. , Koylazov V. , Dimov R. , Wilkie A.
Published: July 2022

We derive a general result in microfacet theory: given an arbitrary microsurface defined via standard microfacet statistics, we show how to construct the statistics of its linearly transformed counterparts. A common use case of such transformations is to generate anisotropic versions of a given surface. Traditional anisotropic derivations based on varying the roughness of an isotropic distribution in an ellipse have a general closed‐form formula only for the subclass of shape‐invariant distributions. While our formulation is equivalent to these specific constructs, it is more general in two aspects: it leads to simple closed‐form solutions for all distributions, including shape‐variant ones, and works for all invertible 2D transform matrices. The latter is of particular importance in case of deformation of the macrosurface, since it can be approximated locally by a linear transformation in the tangent plane. We demonstrate our results using the Generalized Trowbridge‐Reitz (GTR) distribution which is shape‐invariant only in the special case of the popular Trowbridge‐Reitz (GGX) distribution.
Controlling Material Appearance by Examples
Authors: Hu Yiwei , Hašan Miloš , Guerrero Paul , Rushmeier Holly , Deschaintre Valentin
Published: July 2022

Despite the ubiquitous use of materials maps in modern rendering pipelines, their editing and control remains a challenge. In this paper, we present an example‐based material control method to augment input material maps based on user‐provided material photos. We train a tileable version of MaterialGAN and leverage its material prior to guide the appearance transfer, optimizing its latent space using differentiable rendering. Our method transfers the micro and meso‐structure textures of user provided target(s) photographs, while preserving the structure and quality of the input material. We show our methods can control existing material maps, increasing realism or generating new, visually appealing materials.
Recolorable Posterization of Volumetric Radiance Fields Using Visibility‐Weighted Palette Extraction
Authors: Tojo Kenji , Umetani Nobuyuki
Published: July 2022

Volumetric radiance fields have recently gained significant attention as promising representations of photorealistic scene reconstruction. However, the non‐photorealistic rendering of such a representation has barely been explored. In this study, we investigate the artistic posterization of the volumetric radiance fields. We extend the recent palette‐based image‐editing framework, which naturally introduces intuitive color manipulation of the posterized results, into the radiance field. Our major challenge is applying stylization effects coherently across different views. Based on the observation that computing a palette frame‐by‐frame can produce flickering, we propose pre‐computing a single palette from the volumetric radiance field covering its entire visible color. We present a method based on volumetric visibility to sample visible colors from the radiance field while avoiding occluded and noisy regions. We demonstrate our workflow by applying it to pre‐trained volumetric radiance fields with various stylization effects. We also show that our approach can produce more coherent and robust stylization effects than baseline methods that compute a palette on each rendered view.
Point‐Pattern Synthesis using Gabor and Random Filters
Authors: Huang Xingchang , Memari Pooran , Seidel Hans‐Peter , Singh Gurprit
Published: July 2022

Point pattern synthesis requires capturing both local and non‐local correlations from a given exemplar. Recent works employ deep hierarchical representations from VGG‐19 [SZ15] convolutional network to capture the features for both point‐pattern and texture synthesis. In this work, we develop a simplified optimization pipeline that uses more traditional Gabor transform‐based features. These features when convolved with simple random filters gives highly expressive feature maps. The resulting framework requires significantly less feature maps compared to VGG‐19‐based methods [TLH19; RGF∗20], better captures both the local and non‐local structures, does not require any specific data set training and can easily extend to handle multi‐class and multi‐attribute point patterns, e.g., disk and other element distributions. To validate our pipeline, we perform qualitative and quantitative analysis on a large variety of point patterns to demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. Finally, to better understand the impact of random filters, we include a spectral analysis using filters with different frequency bandwidths.
Scoring system for predicting the prognosis of elderly gastric cancer patients after endoscopic submucosal dissection
Authors: Ito Nobuhito , Funasaka Kohei , Fujiyoshi Toshihisa , Nishida Kazuki , Furukawa Kazuhiro , Kakushima Naomi , Furune Satoshi , Ohno Eizaburo , Nakamura Masanao , Horiguchi Noriyuki , Shibata Tomoyuki , Miyahara Ryoji , Haruta Jun‐Ichi , Hirooka Yoshiki , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro , Kawashima Hiroki
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Comprehensive assessments of the long‐term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC) in the elderly are unavailable. We aimed to create a scoring system to predict the long‐term prognosis after ESD for EGC among patients aged ≥75 years.

Methods

We conducted retrospective studies of two cohorts: a single‐center cohort (2006–2011) for developing the scoring system, and a multicenter cohort for validating the developed system (2012–2016). In the development cohort, factors related to death after ESD were identified using multivariable Cox regression analysis, and a predictive scoring system was developed. In the validation cohort, the scoring system was validated in 295 patients.

Results

In the development cohort, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) ≥3 (hazard ratio [HR] 3.017), high psoas muscle index (PMI) (HR 2.206), and age ≥80 years (HR 1.978) were significantly related to overall survival after ESD. Therefore, high CCI, low PMI, and age ≥80 years were assigned 1 point each. The patients were categorized into low (≤1 point) and high (≥2 points) score groups based on their total scores. In the validation cohort, 184 and 111 patients were assigned to the low‐ and high‐score groups, respectively. In comparisons based on Kaplan–Meier curves, the 5‐year survival rate was 91.5% in the low‐score group and 57.8% in the high‐score group (log‐rank test; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our scoring system including high CCI, low PMI, and age ≥80 years could stratify the long‐term prognosis of elderly patients aged ≥75 years after ESD for EGC.
Salivary noncoding RNA in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Koopaie Maryam , Kolahdooz Sajad , Fatahzadeh Mahnaz , Aleedawi Zainab Abdulkareem
Published: July 2022

Background

Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the most deadly malignancies, primarily because of its diagnostic challenges. We performed a systematic review and diagnostic meta‐analysis to evaluate the diagnostic value of noncoding salivary RNAs in pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

Methods

Our investigation involved pertinent studies published in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LIVIVO, Ovid and also the Google Scholar search engine. Specificity and sensitivity were calculated, as were positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR), and the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). The summary receiver‐operating characteristics and area under the curve were plotted and assessed.

Results

This meta‐analysis and systematic review involved and examined five studies that contained 145 study units with a total of 2731 subjects (1465 pancreatic cancer patients versus 1266 noncancer controls). The pooled specificity, sensitivity, NLR, PLR and DOR were 0.783 (95% CI: 0.759–0.805), 0.829 (95% CI: 0.809–0.848), 0.309 (95% CI: 0.279–0.343), 3.386 (95% CI: 2.956–3.879) and 18.403 (95% CI: 14.753–22.954), respectively, with the area under the curve (AUC) equal to 0.882. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the saliva type (unstimulated and stimulated), mean age of patients, sample size, type of control, serum carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA19‐9) level and type of salivary noncoding RNA (microRNA (miRNA) and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)).

Conclusions

The results of our systematic review and meta‐analysis suggest that noncoding RNA biomarkers in the stimulated saliva could be a promising approach for accurate pancreatic cancer diagnosis in the early stages.
Paediatric dentistry trainee views on training relating to the medically compromised child and oral medicine elements of specialty training curricula
Authors: Atkin Philip Alan , Simms Melanie Louise , Reeve‐Brook Lauren Jenny , Ezzeldin Maryam
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Paediatric dentists care for children who are medically compromised and with an orofacial disease; therefore, trainees need appropriate training in these areas. The prevalence of congenital and chronic diseases in children is increasing, and future specialists need an understanding of human health and disease and oral medicine. This study aimed to determine if current teaching and assessments were fulfilling these requirements.

Materials and Methods

A survey distributed to the UK and Ireland specialty trainees asked their opinions on whether knowledge gained prior to entering training, and teaching and learning during training equipped them for future management of medically compromised children and those with oral medicine diagnoses.

Results

The response rate was 51% (26 trainees). Most were aware of curriculum elements for medically compromised children and oral medicine. The majority felt that knowledge and experience gained as undergraduates and early graduates was insufficient and recognised the need for these topics in speciality training. For medically compromised children, this learning was considered a good use of time by 96% of trainees, and 88% felt that this topic should be given more attention. For oral medicine, this learning was considered a good use of time by 96% of trainees, and 69% felt that this topic should have more attention.

Conclusion

Paediatric dentistry specialty trainees recognise that knowledge and experience of managing patients considered medically compromised and those with oral medicine conditions are an important part of training and need greater emphasis, especially in light of changing demographics with congenital and acquired chronic disease, and children with oral medicine disorders.
First record of the parasitoid Cryptochetum jorgepastori (Cadahia, 1984) (Cryptochetidae: Diptera) from Jordan
Authors: Katbeh Bader Ahmad , Al‐Jboory Ibrhim J.
Published: August 2022

Cryptochetum jorgepastori (Cryptochetidae: Diptera) is recorded from Jordan for the first time. Adult flies emerged from the giant date palm mealybug, Pseudaspidoproctus hyphaeniacus (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae), attacking date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, Canary Island date palm, Phoenix canariensis, and fan palms, Washingtonia sp., in Ghawr Kabid in the central Jordan Valley. The collected specimens were identified according to the original descriptions for the adult (including male and female genitalia) and the operculum of the pupa. Specimens were deposited at the University of Jordan Insects Museum. A survey to confirm the current distribution of C. jorgepastori and its hosts in Jordan is needed as well as the study of its biology and ecology and to evaluate its potential role in integrated pest management programmes.
MT1‐MMP and ADAM10/17 exhibit a remarkable overlap of shedding properties
Authors: Werny Ludwig , Grogro Antonia , Bickenbach Kira , Bülck Cynthia , Armbrust Fred , Koudelka Tomas , Pathak Kriti , Scharfenberg Franka , Sammel Martin , Sheikhouny Farah , Tholey Andreas , Linder Stefan , Becker‐Pauly Christoph
Published: July 2022

Membrane‐type‐I matrix metalloproteinase (MT1‐MMP) is one of six human membrane‐bound MMPs and is responsible for extracellular matrix remodelling by degrading several substrates like fibrillar collagens, including types I‐III, or fibronectin. Moreover, MT1‐MMP was described as a key player in cancer progression and it is involved in various inflammatory processes, as well as in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The membrane‐tethered metalloprotease meprin β as well as a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) and ADAM17 are also associated with these diseases. Interestingly, meprin β, ADAM10/17 and MT1‐MMP also have a shared substrate pool including the interleukin‐6 receptor and the amyloid precursor protein. We investigated the interaction of these proteases, focusing on a possible connection between MT1‐MMP and meprin β, to elucidate the potential mutual regulations of both enzymes. Herein, we show that besides ADAM10/17, MT1‐MMP is also able to shed meprin β from the plasma membrane, leading to the release of soluble meprin β. Mass spectrometry‐based cleavage site analysis revealed that the cleavage of meprin β by all three proteases occurs between Pro602 and Ser603, N‐terminal of the EGF‐like domain. Furthermore, only inactive human pro‐meprin β is shed by MT1‐MMP, which is again in accordance with the shedding capability observed for ADAM10/17. Vice versa, meprin β also appears to shed MT1‐MMP, indicating a complex regulatory network. Further studies will elucidate this well‐orchestrated proteolytic web under distinct conditions in health and disease and will possibly show whether the loss of one of the above‐mentioned sheddases can be compensated by the other enzymes.
Integrating online pronunciation instruction: The case of learners of French
Authors: Meritan Camille
Published: August 2022

The Challenge

How can we teach pronunciation when COVID‐19 has taken time away from in‐class interaction? Can intelligible speech be achieved through online pronunciation instruction to save time in the classroom? This article presents how homework‐based online pronunciation lessons can support intelligibility and comprehensibility in intermediate French learners.
Soil moisture–atmosphere feedback dominates land N2O nitrification emissions and denitrification reduction
Authors: Liao Jiayuan , Luo Qiqi , Hu Ang , Wan Wenkai , Tian Dian , Ma Jingwei , Ma Tian , Luo Hao , Lu Sheng
Published: August 2022

Soil moisture (SM) is essential to microbial nitrogen (N)‐cycling networks in terrestrial ecosystems. Studies have found that SM–atmosphere feedbacks dominate the changes in land carbon fluxes. However, the influence of SM–atmosphere feedbacks on the N fluxes changes, and the underlying mechanisms remain highly unsure, leading to uncertainties in climate projections. To fill this gap, we used in situ observation coupled with gridded and remote sensing data to analyze N2O fluxes emissions globally. Here, we investigated the synergistic effects of temperature, hydroclimate on global N2O fluxes, as the result of SM–atmosphere feedback impact on N fluxes. We found that SM–temperature feedback dominates land N2O emissions by controlling the balance between nitrifier and denitrifier genes. The mechanism is that atmospheric water demand increases with temperature and thereby reduces SM, which increases the dominant N2O production nitrifier (containing amoA AOB gene) and decreases the N2O consumption denitrifier (containing the nosZ gene), consequently will potential increasing N2O emissions. However, we find that the spatial variations of soil–water availability as a result of the nonlinear response of SM to vapor pressure deficit caused by temperature are some of the greatest challenges in predicting future N2O emissions. Our data‐driven assessment deepens the understanding of the impact of SM–atmosphere interactions on the soil N cycle, which remains uncertain in earth system models. We suggest that the model needs to account for feedback between SM and atmospheric temperature when estimating the response of the N2O emissions to climatic change globally, as well as when conducting field‐scale investigations of the response of the ecosystem to warming.