bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Yeast Tor complex 1 phosphorylates eIF4E‐binding protein, Caf20
Authors: Kamada Yoshiaki , Ando Ryoko , Izawa Shingo , Matsuura Akira
Published: September 2023

Tor complex 1 (TORC1), a master regulator of cell growth, is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase within eukaryotic organisms. To control cell growth, TORC1 governs translational processes by phosphorylating its substrate proteins in response to cellular nutritional cues. Mammalian TORC1 (mTORC1) assumes the responsibility of phosphorylating the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)‐binding protein 1 (4E‐BP1) to regulate its interaction with eIF4E. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses a pair of 4E‐BP genes, CAF20 and EAP1. However, the extent to which the TORC1‐4E‐BP axis regulates translational initiation in yeast remains uncertain. In this study, we demonstrated the influence of TORC1 on the phosphorylation status of Caf20 in vivo, as well as the direct phosphorylation of Caf20 by TORC1 in vitro. Furthermore, we found the TORC1‐dependent recruitment of Caf20 to the 80S ribosome. Consequently, our study proposes a plausible involvement of yeast's 4E‐BP in the efficacy of translation initiation, an aspect under the control of TORC1.
Serum vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of γδ T cell exhaustion in HBV‐infected patients
Authors: Li Ke , Lu Eying , Wang Qian , Xu Ruirong , Yuan Wenhui , Wu Ruan , Lu Ligong , Li Peng
Published: September 2023

Previous studies have demonstrated that T cell exhaustion is associated with poor clearance of Hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, whether the expression of exhaustion markers on innate‐like circulating γδ T cells derived from patients with HBV infection correlates with the serum level of vitamin D is not completely understood. In this study, we found that the frequency of circulating Vδ2+ T cell and serum levels of vitamin 25(OH)D3 were significantly decreased in patients with HBV. And serum 25(OH)D3 levels in HBV‐infected patients were negatively correlated with HBV DNA load and PD‐1 expression on γδ T cells. Interestingly, 1α,25(OH)2D3 alleviated the exhaustion phenotype of Vδ2 T cells in HBV‐infected patients and promoted IFN‐β expression in human cytotoxic Vδ2 T cells in vitro. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that vitamin D plays a pivotal role in reversing γδ T‐cell exhaustion and is highly promising target for ameliorating HBV infection.
The influence of direct anterior approach and postero‐lateral approach on wound complications after total hip arthroplasty: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Wu Ning , Ma Jingzu , Xiong Xianghua , Luo Xiaohai , Ma Xiaolin , Yang Xiao , Wang Wei , Wang Yuhai , Wang Zhaofu , Ma Feng
Published: September 2023

To date, we have reviewed the synthesis literature critically through four databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Eight relevant studies were examined after compliance with the criteria for inclusion and exclusion, as well as documentation quality evaluation. This report covered all randomised, controlled studies of total hip arthroplasty (THA) comparing the direct anterior approach (DAA) with the postero‐lateral approach (PLA). The main result was surgical site infection rate. The secondary results were duration of the operation, length of the incision and VAS score after surgery. The results of the meta‐analyses of wound infections in the present trial did not show any statistically significant difference in DAA versus PLA (between DAA and PLA) (OR = 1.42, 95%CI: 0.5 to 4.04, p = 0.51). Compared with PLA, DAA had shorter surgical incision (WMD = −3.2, 95%CI: −4.00 to −2.41; p < 0.001) and longer operative times(WMD = 14. 67, 95%CI: 9.24 to 20.09; p < 0.001). Postoperative VAS scores were markedly lower in DAA compared with PLA within 6 weeks of surgery (p < 0.05), with low heterogeneities(I2 = 0). We found that DAA did not differ significantly from PLA in terms of the risk of wound infection for THA and that the surgical incisions was shorter and less postoperative pain after surgery, even though DAA surgery takes longer.
Simultaneously low resistance drift and ultra‐fast phase change speed based on GeSb/Sb multilayer thin films
Authors: Wang Cheng , Hu Yifeng , Zhang Jianhao , Zhu Xiaoqin
Published: September 2023

Thermal stability and phase transition rate are two important issues that restrict the engineering applications of phase change memories. In this paper, GeSb/Sb multilayer films were prepared by multilayer stacking, and their phase transition properties were investigated. GeSb/Sb multilayer films had higher crystallization temperature, better data retention, and lower resistance drift than pure Sb films, which indicated that they had excellent thermal stability and accuracy of resistance identification. The test results of X‐ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy showed that GeSb spacer layers could inhibit grain growth of Sb film layers, thus reducing the roughness and potential fluctuation of the film surface. X‐ray reflectivity experiments showed that the GeSb/Sb multilayer films before and after crystallization had small volume changes. The devices based on [GeSb(7 nm)/Sb(3 nm)]8multilayer films could achieve reversible resistive transition operation between SET and RESET at a pulse width of 10 ns, showing satisfactory transition rate and operational power consumption. The low resistance drift and ultra‐fast phase transition speed make GeSb/Sb multilayer films one of the promising choices for phase change memories.
Association of leadless pacing with ventricular and valvular function
Authors: Arps Kelly , Li Bicong , Allen John Carson , Alenezi Fawaz , Frazier‐Mills Camille , Al‐Khatib Sana M. , Jackson Kevin P. , Jackson Larry R. , Thomas Kevin L. , Piccini Jonathan P.
Published: September 2023

Background

Traditional transvenous pacemakers are associated with worsening tricuspid valve function due to lead‐related leaflet impingement, as well as ventricular dysfunction related to electromechanical dyssynchrony from chronic right ventricular (RV) pacing. The association of leadless pacing with ventricular and valvular function has not been well established. We aimed to assess the association of leadless pacemaker placement with changes in valvular regurgitation and ventricular function.

Methods and Results

Echocardiographic features before and after leadless pacemaker implant were analyzed in consecutive patients who received a leadless pacemaker with pre‐ and postprocedure echocardiography at Duke University Hospital between November 2014 and November 2019. Valvular regurgitation was graded ordinally from 0 (none) to 3 (severe). Among 54 patients, the mean age was mean age was 70.1 ± 14.3 years, 24 (44%) were women, and the most frequent primary pacing indication was complete heart block in 24 (44%). The median RV pacing burden was 45.4 (interquartile range [IQR] 3.5–97.0). On echocardiogram performed 8.9 months (IQR 4.5–14.5) after implant, there was no change in the average severity of tricuspid regurgitation (mean change 0.07 ± 1.15, p = .64) from pre‐procedure echocardiogram. We observed a decrease in the average left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (52.3 ± 9.3 to 47.9 ± 12.1, p = .0019) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (1.8 ± 0.6 to 1.6 ± 0.4, p = .0437). Thirteen patients (24%) had absolute drop in LVEF of ≥10%.

Conclusion

We did not observe short term worsening valvular function in patients with leadless pacemakers. However, consistent with the pathophysiologic impact of RV pacing, leadless pacing was associated with a reduction in biventricular function.
A novel ablation strategy for recurrent atrial fibrillation: Fractionated signal area in the atrial muscle ablation 1‐year follow‐up
Authors: Hirokami Jun , Nagashima Michio , Fukunaga Masato , Korai Kengo , Sadohara Yohei , Kaimi Ryogo , Takeo Ayaka , Niu Harushi , Ando Kenji , Hiroshima Kenichi
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Treatment of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) is sometimes challenging due to non‐pulmonary vein (PV) foci. Fractionated signal area in the atrial muscle (FAAM) is a valid predictor of the location of non‐PV foci. FAAM ablation has the potential to decrease the recurrence rate of atrial tachyarrhythmia in patients with recurrent AF. We compared the clinical impact of FAAM ablation for recurrent AF, using 1 year follow up date.

Methods

A total of 230 consecutive patients with symptomatic recurrent AF who underwent catheter ablation specifically targeting non‐PV foci as FAAM‐guided ablation (n = 113) and non‐FAAM‐guided ablation (n = 117) were retrospectively analyzed. FAAM was assigned a parameter (peaks slider, which indicates the number of components of fractionated signals), ranging from 1 to 15, indicating the location of the FAAM (1: largest, 15: smallest). FAAM‐guided ablation was performed by ablating FAAM until none inducibility of non‐PV foci. On the other hand, non‐FAAM‐guided ablation was performed via linear ablation, complex fractionated atrial electrogram ablation, superior vena cava isolation, and focal ablation according to the location of the non‐PV foci. The RHYTHMIA system was used to perform all the procedures. The primary endpoints were AF recurrence, atrial flutter, and/or atrial tachycardia.

Results

After a 1‐year follow up, freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia was achieved in 90.3% and 75.2% of patients in the FAAM and non‐FAAM groups, respectively (hazard ratio = 0.438 [95% confidence interval: 0.243–0.788], p  =  .005).

Conclusions

FAAM ablation showed a promising decrease in the recurrence rate of atrial tachyarrhythmia in patients with recurrent AF during a 1‐year follow‐up.
Venous anatomy of the left ventricular summit region: Insights from high‐speed rotational retrograde angiography
Authors: Mi Lijie , Zhang Kuo , Zhang Hongda , Ding Lei , Yu Fengyuan , Weng Sixian , Jiang Zihan , Zhang Aikai , Dong Xiaonan , Tang Min
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Mapping and ablation through the coronary venous system (CVS) have shown potential for ventricular arrhythmias originating from the left ventricular summit (LVS). Multielectrode catheters and balloons are frequently used for mapping and venous ethanol ablation (VEA). However, there is limited data on the venous size and drainage condition in the LVS region. This study aimed to investigate the morphology, angiographic size, and drainage condition of LV summit veins via high‐speed rotational angiography (RA).

Methods

We measured and analyzed the size of the great cardiac vein (GCV), the anterior interventricular vein (AIV), veins near to the LVS, and other main tributaries of CVS in 102 patients undergoing electrophysiology study.

Results

Rotational retrograde angiography of LVS was successfully performed in 81 patients. The diameter of GCV at the level of the Vieussens valve and the distal end of GCV (junction of GCV‐AIV) was larger in males than females (6.8 ± 1.1 vs. 5.6 ± 1.2 mm, p < .001; 5.2 ± 0.9 vs. 4.6 ± 0.8, p = .002, respectively) while no significant gender differences were observed in other tributaries. The LV summit veins presented downward drainage direction in half of the patients, indicating potential anatomic adjacency with His bundle. Left anterior oblique (LAO) 45° projection might provide the practical and optimal view of the LV summit veins.

Conclusions

The coronary veins of the LVS region present various anatomical morphologies and ostium sizes. We provide a systematic description and angiographic size spectrum of CVS. RA could facilitate assessing the feature of CVS comprehensively.
Treat‐to‐target in dermatology: A scoping review and International Eczema Council survey on the approach in atopic dermatitis
Authors: Renert‐Yuval Yael , Del Duca Ester , Arents Bernd , Bissonnette Robert , Drucker Aaron M. , Flohr Carsten , Guttman‐Yassky Emma , Hijnen Dirkjan , Kabashima Kenji , Leshem Yael A. , Paller Amy S. , Silverberg Jonathan I. , Simpson Eric L. , Spuls Phyllis , Vestergaard Christian , Wollenberg Andreas , Irvine Alan D. , Thyssen Jacob P.
Published: September 2023

Treat‐to‐target (T2T) is a pragmatic therapeutic strategy being gradually introduced into dermatology after adoption in several other clinical areas. Atopic dermatitis (AD), one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases, may also benefit from this structured and practical therapeutic approach. We aimed to evaluate existing data regarding the T2T approach in dermatology, with a specific focus on AD, as well as the views of International Eczema Council (IEC) members on the potential application of a T2T approach to AD management. To do so, we systematically searched for peer‐reviewed publications on the T2T approach for any skin disease in the PubMed and Scopus databases up to February 2022 and conducted a survey among IEC members regarding various components to potentially include in a T2T approach in AD. We identified 21 relevant T2T‐related reports in dermatology, of which 14 were related to psoriasis, five to AD, one for juvenile dermatomyositis and one for urticaria. In the IEC member survey, respondents proposed treatable traits (with itch, disease severity and sleep problems getting the highest scores), relevant comorbidities (with asthma being selected most commonly, followed by anxiety and depression in adults), recommended specialists that should define the approach in AD (dermatologists, allergists and primary care physicians were most commonly selected in adults), and applicable assessment tools (both physician‐ and patient‐reported), in both adult and paediatric patients, for potential future utilization of the T2T approach in AD. In conclusion, while the T2T approach may become a useful tool to simplify therapeutic goals and AD management, its foundation in AD is only starting to build. A multidisciplinary approach, including a wide range of stakeholders, including patients, is needed to further define the essential components needed to utilize T2T in AD.
Phenotypic variation and genomic variation in insect virulence traits reveal patterns of intraspecific diversity in a locust-specific fungal pathogen
Authors: Parker Dinah , Meyling Nicolai V. , De Fine Licht Henrik H.
Published: September 2023

Intraspecific pathogen diversity is crucial for understanding the evolution and maintenance of adaptation in host–pathogen interactions. Traits associated with virulence are often a significant source of variation directly impacted by local selection pressures. The specialist fungal entomopathogen, Metarhizium acridum, has been widely implemented as a biological control agent of locust pests in tropical regions of the world. However, few studies have accounted for natural intraspecific phenotypic and genetic variation. Here, we examine the diversity of nine isolates of M. acridum spanning the known geographic distribution, in terms of (1) virulence towards two locust species, (2) growth rates on three diverse nutrient sources, and (3) comparative genomics to uncover genomic variability. Significant variability in patterns of virulence and growth was shown among the isolates, suggesting intraspecific ecological specialization. Different patterns of virulence were shown between the two locust species, indicative of potential host preference. Additionally, a high level of diversity among M. acridum isolates was observed, revealing increased variation in subtilisin-like proteases from the Pr1 family. These results culminate in the first in-depth analysis regarding multiple facets of natural variation in M. acridum, offering opportunities to understand critical evolutionary drivers of intraspecific diversity in pathogens.

Abstract

Exploring the intricate world of host–pathogen interactions, our study delves into the diverse landscape of Metarhizium acridum, a specialist fungal entomopathogen. By dissecting patterns of virulence, growth dynamics, and genomic variability across its geographic distribution, we unveil compelling evidence of intraspecific diversity. Our findings highlight varying virulence patterns among distinct locust species and a notable abundance of gene diversity, particularly in subtilisin-like proteases. These insights shed light on potential evolutionary drivers shaping natural variation within M. acridum.
Sex-specific trait architecture in a spider with sexual size dimorphism
Authors: Kralj-Fišer Simona , Kuntner Matjaž , Debes Paul Vincent
Published: September 2023

Sexual dimorphism, or sex-specific trait expression, may evolve when selection favours different optima for the same trait between sexes, that is, under antagonistic selection. Intra-locus sexual conflict exists when the sexually dimorphic trait under antagonistic selection is based on genes shared between sexes. A common assumption is that the presence of sexual-size dimorphism (SSD) indicates that sexual conflict has been, at least partly, resolved via decoupling of the trait architecture between sexes. However, whether and how decoupling of the trait architecture between sexes has been realized often remains unknown. We tested for differences in architecture of adult body size between sexes in a species with extreme SSD, the African hermit spider (Nephilingis cruentata), where adult female body size greatly exceeds that of males. Specifically, we estimated the sex-specific importance of genetic and maternal effects on adult body size among individuals that we laboratory-reared for up to eight generations. Quantitative genetic model estimates indicated that size variation in females is to a larger extent explained by direct genetic effects than by maternal effects, but in males to a larger extent by maternal than by genetic effects. We conclude that this sex-specific body-size architecture enables body-size evolution to proceed much more independently than under a common architecture to both sexes.

Abstract

Variation for body size of female and male African hermit spiders—a species with extreme female-biased sexual size dimorphism—shows sex-differences in the contributions by direct genetic and maternal components. Body size variation of females shows considerable direct genetic and only little maternal contribution, whereas body size variation of males shows little or no direct genetic contribution but considerable maternal contribution.
Population dynamics of the long‐snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829) in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon
Authors: Vivas M. , Peñalver J. , Oliver J. A. , López Giraldo J. D. , Mena C.
Published: September 2023

A 10‐year monitoring program was developed to quantify the population dynamics of the long‐snouted seahorse population in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon. Based on 985 underwater visual censuses, we estimated the long‐snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829) population size in the Mar Menor lagoon and its reduction in size in the last decades, as well as the effect of eutrophication crises in 2016 and 2019 on the species. The annual recruitment for the 2013–2020 period was estimated by comparing the relative abundance of early seahorse life stages in the ichthyoplankton. The density ranged from 0.0458 specimens/m3 at the beginning of the sampling period to 0.0004 at the end, showing a statistically significant difference between the three analyzed periods (Hgl=2 = 14.0, p = 0.001). The long‐snouted seahorse population from the Mar Menor lagoon exemplifies the impact of fishing activities and human pressure, especially euxinic episodes and habitat destruction. As a result of this, the Mar Menor population has decreased from several million specimens to a few thousand, in only three decades. This species showed considerable resilience, the seahorse population began to recover once fishing activity stopped. In contrast, the long‐snouted seahorse showed high vulnerability to habitat loss and an episodic flooding event. Adult seahorses showed preferences for highly complex habitats, especially Caulerpa prolifera–Cymodocea nodosa mixed meadows and habitats of high complexity and anthropogenic origin, such as harbors, jetties, or breakwaters. In contrast, juvenile seahorses preferred monotonous seabeds with low complexity, such as the sandy beds that are characteristic of the Mar Menor lagoon littoral.
Reply to: Comment on: 2023 Updated AGS Beers Criteria® for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults
Authors: Semla Todd P. , Steinman Michael A.
Published: September 2023

This letter comments on the letter by Burnett et al. in this issue.
Adult psychiatric and psychosocial outcomes of children with mild intellectual disability: a register follow‐up of a population‐based cohort
Authors: Landgren V. , Hedman E. , Lindblad I. , Gillberg C. , Fernell E.
Published: September 2023

Background

Very few longitudinal psychiatric and psychosocial outcome studies of children with mild intellectual disability (MID) have been performed.

Methods

The study group was population based and consisted of 82 individuals, born in 1979–1985 and diagnosed in childhood at ages between 3 and 15 years with MID. In the present study, register data regarding school attendance, employment, economic situation, psychiatric diagnoses and criminal sentences were retrieved for the years 1997–2018, when the individuals were up to 39 years old.

Results

At follow‐up, data were obtained for 78 of the 82 individuals (47 male and 31 female). Mean age at follow‐up was 36 years. Of the 78 individuals, 57 (73%) had exclusively received education for pupils with MID, but 21 (27%) had graduated from regular education of some sort (at least 9 years). Forty‐four (56%) had never been employed, and 34 (44%) had been registered as employed for at least a shorter period. Forty‐seven (60%) had received a sick pension at some point in adulthood. Of the 78 individuals, 44 (56%) had any psychiatric disorder recorded and about half of these (n = 21) had had inpatient treatment. A total of 31 of the 44 individuals in psychiatric care (70%) had ID noted as one of their diagnoses. Of the 78 individuals, 48 (62%) had support from the Act concerning Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional Impairments (Swedish LSS law) as adults. Twenty‐one individuals (27%) had had a criminal conviction, of whom five male individuals had been incarcerated.

Conclusions

Individuals with MID constitute a heterogeneous group with regard to severity of functional impairment, co‐occurring psychiatric disorders and need of support from society. Primary health care, psychiatry and habilitation services need to work together in order to meet the multiple needs of this group.
Three‐dimensional analysis of mandibular and mental canals corroborating with teeth and mental foramen by cone beam computed tomography
Authors: Xu Wenke , Wang Bing , Jia Lu , Ge Shaohua , Shao Jinlong
Published: September 2023

Background

This study aimed to analyse the 3D patterns of the mandibular and mental canals (MDC and MC) referring to the surrounding prominent surgical landmarks such as teeth and mental foramen by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods

CBCT scans of 354 patients aged 18–67 years with mandibular first premolar to second molar were included and reconstructed 3‐dimensionally (3D) by mimics. The parameters of MDC and MC were measured referring to teeth and mental foramen.

Results

From the first premolars to the second molars, the mandibular canals showed a trend of gradually closer to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) of the adjacent teeth and farther away from the buccal cortical plate. The distance of the MDC with the root apexes (RA) was relatively constant from the first premolar to the first molar, but became much closer to the second molar. About 10.8% of the second molars had MDC‐RA distances of shorter than 2 mm, and 1.34% even had the MDC superior to the RA. Moreover, the Type III of MC presented in 66.0% of the subjects and had a relatively longer length. Besides, the existence of Type I MC may be related to the MDC featuring with close distances to the RA and CEJ of the adjacent teeth.

Conclusion

Dentists and surgeons should know the patterns of mandibular and mental canals. A better understanding of the MDC and MC and their relationship to local anatomical landmarks may facilitate the planning of surgeries and alert potential nerve injuries in the operative procedures.
iMS‐Bmal1−/− mice show evident signs of sarcopenia that are counteracted by exercise and melatonin therapies
Authors: Fernández‐Martínez José , Ramírez‐Casas Yolanda , Aranda‐Martínez Paula , López‐Rodríguez Alba , Sayed Ramy K. A. , Escames Germaine , Acuña‐Castroviejo Darío
Published: September 2023

Sarcopenia is an age‐related disease characterized by a reduction in muscle mass, strength, and function and, therefore, a deterioration in skeletal muscle health and frailty. Although the cause of sarcopenia is still unknown and, thus, there is no treatment, increasing evidence suggests that chronodisruption, particularly alterations in Bmal1 clock gene, can lead to those deficits culminating in sarcopenia. To gain insight into the cause and mechanism of sarcopenia and the protective effect of a therapeutic intervention with exercise and/or melatonin, the gastrocnemius muscles of male and female skeletal muscle‐specific and inducible Bmal1 knockout mice (iMS‐Bmal1−/−) were examined by phenotypic tests and light and electron microscopy. Our results revealed a disruption of the normal activity/rest rhythm, a drop in skeletal muscle function and mass, and increased frailty in male and female iMS‐Bmal1−/− animals compared to controls. A reduction in muscle fiber size and increased collagenous tissue were also detected, accompanied by reduced mitochondrial oxidative capacity and a compensatory shift towards a more oxidative fiber type. Electron microscopy further supports mitochondrial impairment in mutant mice. Melatonin and exercise ameliorated the damage caused by loss of Bmal1 in mutant mice, except for mitochondrial damage, which was worsened by the latter. Thus, iMS‐Bmal1−/− mice let us to identify Bmal1 deficiency as the responsible for the appearance of sarcopenia in the gastrocnemius muscle. Moreover, the results support the exercise and melatonin as therapeutic tools to counteract sarcopenia, by a mechanism that does not require the presence of Bmal1.
Intravesical injections of autologousplatelet‐richplasma for the treatment of refractory interstitial cystitis
Authors: Kuo Hann‐Chorng
Published: September 2023

The urothelium acts as a barrier for the urinary bladder that prevents the influx of urinary toxic substances, electrolytes, urea nitrogen, and pathogens into the circulation. Acute or chronic inflammation of the urinary bladder may impair the regenerative function of urothelial cells and thus urothelial cell differentiation. In an inflamed bladder wall, mature apical cells are defective, resulting in impaired barrier function and thus increased urothelial permeability. This is considered to be the potential mechanism of the symptom trigger in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Previous studies have revealed that increased bladder inflammation, impaired urothelial cell maturation, a defective umbrella cell barrier, and defective junction proteins are prominent in IC/BPS bladders. Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) contains many growth factors and cytokines that are essential proteins for modulating inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration and thus wound healing. As such, PRP has been used as a regenerative therapy in many medical fields. Our preliminary studies have demonstrated that multiple intravesical PRP injections could improve symptoms in 70% of IC/BPS patients. Repeated PRP treatments also improve junctional protein, increase cytoskeleton protein expression, and decrease urinary inflammatory proteins. These preliminary results suggest that PRP injections might reduce bladder inflammation and improve urothelial cell regeneration in IC/BPS patients. This article reviews recently published clinical and basic research on the treatment potential of PRP for IC/BPS patients.
The politics of irrationality
Authors: Denyer Willis Laurie , Kayendeke Miriam , Chandler Clare IR
Published: September 2023

In siloed discussions of antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic use on farms in the Global South has emerged as a key site for intervention. The antibiotic consumption targeted is not all consumption, but “irrational” consumption. This concept of irrationality is neither new, nor true, but rather is a long‐standing form of maintenance work within global health systems. Via an attention to chickens and the antibiotics farmers use to raise them in the suburbs of Kampala, we suggest that claims of irrationality are a central part of constituting what Tania Li has called the ‘deficient subject’. In other words, irrationality, like the chicken and the antibiotic, is itself a humanitarian device that maintains a certain condition of governance where ‘Africans’ are imagined as being in deficit of rationality and good behavior. Claims of irrationality justify (and mask the political nature of) intervention.
World accumulation and planetary life, or, why capitalism will not survive until the ‘last tree is cut’
Authors: Moore Jason W.
Published: September 2023

Why does it seem easier to imagine the end of the world than to see the end of capitalism? Part of the answer turns on a rift between radical economic and ecological thought.
Construction of a risk prediction model for detecting postintensive care syndrome—mental disorders
Authors: Wang Faying , Li Jingshu , Fan Yuying , Qi Xiaona
Published: September 2023

Background

Postintensive care syndrome (PICS) has adverse multidimensional effects on nearly half of the patients discharged from ICU. Mental disorders such as anxiety, depression and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the most common psychological problems for patients with PICS with harmful complications. However, developing prediction models for mental disorders in post‐ICU patients is an understudied problem.

Aims

To explore the risk factors of PICS mental disorders, establish the prediction model and verify its prediction efficiency.

Study Design

In this cohort study, data were collected from 393 patients hospitalized in the ICU of a tertiary hospital from April to September 2022. Participants were randomly assigned to modelling and validation groups using a 7:3 ratio. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analysis was performed to select the predictors, multiple logistic regression analysis was used to establish the risk prediction model, and a dynamic nomogram was developed. The Hosmer–Lemeshow (HL) test was performed to determine the model's goodness of fit. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the model's prediction efficiency.

Results

The risk factors of mental disorders were Sepsis‐related organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), delirium duration, ICU depression score and ICU sleep score. The HL test revealed that p = .249, the area under the ROC curve = 0.860, and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 84.8% and 71.0%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve of the verification group was 0.848. A mental disorders dynamic nomogram for post‐ICU patients was developed based on the regression model.

Conclusions

The prediction model provides a reference for clinically screening patients at high risk of developing post‐ICU mental disorders, to enable the implementation of timely preventive management measures.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

The dynamic nomogram can be used to systematically monitor various factors associated with mental disorders. Furthermore, nurses need to develop and apply accurate nursing interventions that consider all relevant variables.
Simplification of soil biota communities impairs nutrient recycling and enhances above‐ and belowground nitrogen losses
Authors: Bender S. Franz , Schulz Stefanie , Martínez‐Cuesta Rubén , Laughlin Ronald J. , Kublik Susanne , Pfeiffer‐Zakharova Kristina , Vestergaard Gisle , Hartman Kyle , Parladé Eloi , Römbke Jörg , Watson Catherine J. , Schloter Michael , van der Heijden Marcel G. A.
Published: September 2023

Agriculture is a major source of nutrient pollution, posing a threat to the earth system functioning. Factors determining the nutrient use efficiency of plant–soil systems need to be identified to develop strategies to reduce nutrient losses while ensuring crop productivity. The potential of soil biota to tighten nutrient cycles by improving plant nutrition and reducing soil nutrient losses is still poorly understood.

We manipulated soil biota communities in outdoor lysimeters, planted maize, continuously collected leachates, and measured N2O‐ and N2‐gas emissions after a fertilization pulse to test whether differences in soil biota communities affected nutrient recycling and N losses.

Lysimeters with strongly simplified soil biota communities showed reduced crop N (−20%) and P (−58%) uptake, strongly increased N leaching losses (+65%), and gaseous emissions (+97%) of N2O and N2. Soil metagenomic analyses revealed differences in the abundance of genes responsible for nutrient uptake, nitrate reduction, and denitrification that helped explain the observed nutrient losses.

Soil biota are major drivers of nutrient cycling and reductions in the diversity or abundance of certain groups (e.g. through land‐use intensification) can disrupt nutrient cycling, reduce agricultural productivity and nutrient use efficiency, and exacerbate environmental pollution and global warming.
Are Economics Conferences Gender‐Neutral? Evidence from Ireland*
Authors: Samahita Margaret , Devereux Kevin
Published: September 2023

We study gender inequality in conference acceptance using data from the Irish Economic Association annual conference from 2016 to 2022, exploiting the introduction of anonymized submission in 2021 to study the effect of blinding. While no gender gap is observed in organizers' acceptance decisions, there is an indication of gender difference favouring the in‐group at the reviewer stage. In particular, male reviewers persistently give higher scores to papers with an increasing share of male authors. Evidence suggests that the difference stems from unconscious stereotyping against lesser known female authors. Anonymization eliminates the gender gap of male reviewers, but introduces a gender gap in favour of male authors for female reviewers. We explore differential selection as an alternative explanation, finding that reviewer experience postblinding could potentially account for our results.
A source of hidden diversity: soil seed bank and aboveground populations of a common herb contain similar levels of genetic variation
Authors: Iberl K. , Poschlod P. , Reisch C.
Published: September 2023

In many landscapes, successful re‐establisment of plant populations depends on the presence of diaspores, either near or directly beneath sites to be restored. The soil seed bank is, therefore, an important part of ecosystem resilience and a vital pillar for regeneration of genetic diversity in many plant populations. However, regeneration from the soil seed bank and the siubsequent restoration can only be considered successful when genetic diversity of restored populations is not eroded nor genetic differentiation inflated.

We compared genetic variation within and among soil seed bank and aboveground populations of Origanum vulgare, to test whether genetically variable populations can be restored from the soil seed bank. We explored levels of genetic diversity within aboveground populations and the corresponding soil seed banks. Furthermore, we assessed the extent to which the soil seed bank differs genetically from the aboveground population.

Levels of genetic diversity were to generally similar in aboveground populations and the corresponding soil seed banks. Only levels of inbreeding were slightly higher in the lower layer of the soil seed bank compared to the aboveground populations, probably because of selection processes acting against homozygotes accumulating in the seed bank. Furthermore, significant genetic differentiation between the aboveground population and the corresponding seed banks was completely absent. Across all sites, genetic differentiation between the soil seed bank was similar to that between aboveground populations, probably due to the absence of severe climate conditions, strong bottlenecks or disturbance events.

Our conclusions support the possibility of successful re‐establishment of healthy, genetically variable plant populations after aboveground destruction or following soil re‐allocation from persistent seed banks.
Treatment of periorbital hyperpigmentation using sublative fractional radiofrequency (SFR)
Authors: Nilforoushzadeh Mohammad Ali , Heidari‐Kharaji Maryam , Fakhim Tannaz , Torkamaniha Elham , Tehrani Sepideh , Delavar Shohreh , Rafiee Shohreh , Nouri Maryam , Najar Nobari Niloufar , Shahverdi Mohammadhasan
Published: September 2023

Background

Periorbital hyperpigmentation (POH) is a common cosmetic concern. Numerous techniques of treatment have been assessed with variable results.

Aim

The purpose of this research is to assess the efficacy of non‐ablative radiofrequency, Sublative fractional Radiofrequency (SFR) on POH treatment.

Methods

In this research study, nine patients with POH and the age range of 25−57 years, were enrolled. The patients were treated by non‐ablative radiofrequency SRF. The outcomes were assessed by biometric assessment. The skin lightness and melanin content of the periorbital skin were assessed by colorimeter and Mexameter. Skin elasticity was assessed by Cutometer. The skin ultrasound imaging system was used to evaluate the diameter and density of the epidermis and dermis. Visioface was used to evaluate the skin color and wrinkles. Also, patient's satisfaction and physician's assessment were assessed.

Results

The results showed that the lightness and elasticity of the periorbital skin were significantly increased after treatment. Also, the melanin content of the skin was decreased. The denser skin layers were seen in both dermis and epidermis. The Visioface results displayed the reduction in the percent change of the skin color and wrinkle (p < 0.05). Similarly, the physician and patients’ assessment confirmed the outcomes. No serious adverse effect was reported.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the SFR technique is an effective and satisfactory therapeutic choice for treatment of POH.
The role of imagination and recollection in the method of phenomenal contrast
Authors: Nourbakhshi Hamid
Published: September 2023

The method of phenomenal contrast (in perception) invokes the phenomenal character of perceptual experience as a means to discover its contents. The method implicitly takes for granted that ‘what it is like’ to have a perceptual experience e is the same as ‘what it is like’ to imagine or recall it; accordingly, in its various proposed implementations, the method treats imaginations and/or recollections as interchangeable with real experiences. The method thus always contrasts a pair of experiences, at least one of which is imagined or remembered rather than occurrent. Surveying all eighteen forms of implementing the method, I argue that in all of the proposed pairings, the substitution of imagination or recollection for perceptual experience in the method, is either inconceivable or impermissible. I identify four reasons why I think imagination cannot be substituted for real experience, and three reasons why recollection cannot be substituted for real experience. If my argument works, there is no form of implementing the method that is useful for discovering the contents of experience, and thus the method is not a well‐functioning tool to study the contents of perception.
Supplemental findings of the 2021 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey
Authors: Kracalik Ian , Sapiano Mathew R. P. , Wild Robert C. , Chavez Ortiz Joel , Stewart Phylicia , Berger James J. , Basavaraju Sridhar V. , Free Rebecca J.
Published: September 2023

Background

The Department of Health and Human Services' National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS) has been conducted biennially since 1997. Data are used to estimate national blood collection and use. Supplemental data from the 2021 NBCUS not presented elsewhere are presented here.

Methods

Data on survey participation, donor characteristics, blood component cost, transfusion‐associated adverse reactions, and implementation of blood safety measures, including pathogen‐reduction of platelets, during 2021, were analyzed. Comparisons are made to 2019 survey data where available (2013–2019 for survey participation).

Results

During 2021, there were 11,507,000 successful blood donations in the United States, a 4.8% increase from 2019. Persons aged 45–64 years accounted for 42% of all successful blood donations. Donations by persons aged 65 years and older increased by 40.7%, while donations among minorities and donors aged <25 years decreased. From 2019 to 2021, the median price hospitals paid per unit of leukoreduced red blood cells, leukoreduced and pathogen‐reduced apheresis platelets, and fresh frozen plasma increased. The largest increase in price per unit of blood component in 2021 was for leukoreduced apheresis platelets, which increased by ~$51. Between 2019 and 2021, the proportion of transfusing facilities reporting use of pathogen‐reduced platelets increased, from 13% to 60%. Transfusion‐related adverse reactions declined slightly between 2019 and 2021, although the rate of transfusion‐transmitted bacterial infections remained unchanged.

Conclusion

During 2021, blood donations increased nationally, although donations from those aged <25 years and minorities declined. The prices hospitals paid for most blood products increased, as did the use of pathogen‐reduced platelets.
The use of oclacitinib compared to azathioprine in the management of canine pemphigus foliaceus: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Hernandez‐Bures Andrea , Bidot Wille A. , Griffin Craig E. , Rosenkrantz Wayne S.
Published: September 2023

Background

Oclacitinib (Apoquel; Zoetis) has been reported to be beneficial for treating immune‐mediated disorders.

Hypothesis/Objectives

This retrospective study evaluates in which group of dogs [oclacitinib (OC) or azathioprine (AZ)] remission of pemphigus foliaceus (PF) was more effectively achieved with matched induction dosing of glucocorticoids; it further evaluates which group had a higher glucocorticoid‐sparing effect.

Animals

Review of 30 medical records of dogs diagnosed with PF presented to a private practice dermatological service.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective analysis of dogs diagnosed with PF and treated with OC or AZ in combination with glucocorticoids.

Results

There was no significant difference in the ability to induce remission between AZ and OC groups. In the AZ group, 13 of 15 dogs went into some type of remission (partial or complete), compared with 11 of 15 in the OC group. There was no significant difference between the two groups for the glucocorticoid‐sparing effect. The AZ group had an average reduction of 77.9% from the induction glucocorticoid dose, and OC group had an average reduction of 64.4%. One of 15 patients in the AZ group and three of 15 patients in the OC group had a 100% reduction of the glucocorticoid dose.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

These results indicate that OC can be considered as a treatment option for canine PF.
Diabetic Retinopathy Image Classification Using Shift Window Transformer
Authors: Ali Dihin Rasha , Mahmoud Al-Jawher Waleed A , AlShemmary Ebtesam N
Published: September 2023

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most dangerous complications for diabetic patients, leading to blindness if not diagnosed early. However, early diagnosis can control and prevent the disease from progressing to blindness. Transformers are considered state-of-the-art models in natural language processing that do not use convolutional layers. In transformers, means of multi-head attention mechanisms capture long-range contextual relations between pixels. For grading diabetic retinopathy, CNNs currently dominate deep learning solutions. However, the benefits of transformers, have led us to propose an appropriate transformer-based method to recognize diabetic retinopathy grades. A major objective of this research is to demonstrate that the pure attention mechanism can be used to determine diabetic retinopathy and that transformers can replace standard CNNs in identifying the degrees of diabetic retinopathy. In this study, a Swin Transformer-based technique for diagnosing diabetic retinopathy is presented by dividing fundus images into nonoverlapping batches, flattening them, and maintaining positional information using a linear and positional embedding procedure. Several multi-headed attention layers are fed into the resulting sequence to construct the final representation. In the classification step, the initial token sequence is passed into the SoftMax classification layer, which produces the recognition output. This work introduced the Swin transformer performance on the APTOS 2019 Kaggle for training and testing using fundus images of different resolutions and patches. The test accuracy, test loss, and test top 2 accuracies were 69.44%, 1.13, and 78.33%, respectively for 160*160 image size, patch size=2, and embedding dimension C=64. While the test accuracy was 68.85%, test loss: 1.12, and test top 2 accuracy: 79.96% when the patch size=4, and embedding dimension C=96. And when the size image is 224*224, patch size=2, and embedding dimension C=64, the test accuracy: 72.5%, test loss: 1.07, and test top 2 accuracy: 83.7%. When the patch size =4, embedding dimension C=96, the test accuracy was 74.51%, test loss: 1.02, and the test top 2 accuracy was 85.3%. The results showed that the Swin Transformer can achieve flexible memory savings. The proposed method highlights that an attention mechanism based on the Swin Transformer model is promising for the diabetic retinopathy grade recognition task.
Fast Dust Sand Image Enhancement Based on Color Correction and New Fuzzy Intensification Operators
Authors: Hakem Alsaeedi Ali , Alazzawi Yarub , Mohammed Hadi Suha
Published: September 2023

Images captured in dusty environments suffering from poor visibility and quality. Enhancement of these images such as sand dust images plays a critical role in various atmospheric optics applications. In this work, proposed a new model based on Color Correction and New Fuzzy Intensification Operators to enhance san dust images. The proposed model consists of three phases: correction of color shift, removal of haze, and enhancement of contrast and brightness. The color shift is corrected using a fuzzy intensification operator to adjust the values of U and V in the YUV color space. The Adaptive Dark Channel Prior (A-DCP) is used for haze removal. The stretching contrast and improving image brightness are based on Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE). The proposed model tests and evaluates through many real sand dust images. The experimental results show that the proposed solution is outperformed the current studies in terms of effectively removing the red and yellow cast and provides high quality and quantity dust images.
Public Television for Liberals? The Demographic and Behavioral Characteristics of The PBS Newshour Viewers
Authors: Kang Taewoo
Published: September 2023

Non-academic sources suggest that PBS, an American public broadcast service, mostly serves liberals. However, there is little scholarly evidence on the demographic and behavioral characteristics of those who get news about government and politics from PBS. Using the data from the American National Election Study’s 2020 Time Series (N=8,280), this research examines how PBS viewership is related to party identification, ideology, education, sex, race, political knowledge, religion, income and age. It also explores how PBS viewers are different from MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News viewers in their political attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs.