bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data from Granulocyte–Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Influence on Soluble and Membrane-Bound ICOS in Combination with Immune Checkpoint Blockade
Authors: Li Xiaoyu , Li Jingjing , Zheng Yue , Lee Sandra J. , Zhou Jun , Giobbie-Hurder Anita , Butterfield Lisa H. , Dranoff Glenn , Hodi F. Stephen
Published: June 2023

Abstract
With the successful development of immune checkpoint blockade, there remains the continued need to improve efficacy and decrease toxicities. The addition of granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to ipilimumab has previously demonstrated both an improvement in efficacy and decrease in the incidence of high-grade adverse events. ICOS+CD4+ or ICOS+CD8+ peripheral blood T cells are significantly greater in the patients treated with ipilimumab plus GM-CSF than in the patients treated with ipilimumab alone. To better understand the effects of GM-CSF on inducible T-cell costimulator (ICOS) and clinical outcomes, the relative roles of identified soluble ICOS and membrane-bound ICOS were evaluated. The ICOS splice variant was secreted and found to have immunologic suppressive effects. Changes in soluble ICOS splice variant levels in treated patients correlated with clinical outcomes. GM-CSF enhanced membrane-bound ICOS in an IL12-dependent manner but did not increase soluble ICOS levels. Whereas soluble ICOS plays a role in immune suppression, GM-CSF efficacy involves increasing membrane-bound ICOS and induction of dendritic cell development. Thus, soluble ICOS splice variants may be used as a biomarker for GM-CSF and immune checkpoint blockade–based therapies.
Supplementary Tables S1-S2 from Remodeling of Stromal Immune Microenvironment by Urolithin A Improves Survival with Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Mehra Siddharth , Garrido Vanessa T. , Dosch Austin R , Lamichhane Purushottam , Srinivasan Supriya , Singh Samara P , Zhou Zhiqun , De Castro Silva Iago , Joshi Chandrashekar , Ban Yuguang , Datta Jashodeep , Gilboa Eli , Merchant Nipun B , Nagathihalli Nagaraj S
Published: June 2023

Primary antibodies for flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.
Figure S7 from Remodeling of Stromal Immune Microenvironment by Urolithin A Improves Survival with Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Mehra Siddharth , Garrido Vanessa T. , Dosch Austin R , Lamichhane Purushottam , Srinivasan Supriya , Singh Samara P , Zhou Zhiqun , De Castro Silva Iago , Joshi Chandrashekar , Ban Yuguang , Datta Jashodeep , Gilboa Eli , Merchant Nipun B , Nagathihalli Nagaraj S
Published: June 2023

Recorded body weights of PKT mice
treated with Uro A, aPD-1 and Uro A+aPD-1.
Figure S6 from Remodeling of Stromal Immune Microenvironment by Urolithin A Improves Survival with Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Mehra Siddharth , Garrido Vanessa T. , Dosch Austin R , Lamichhane Purushottam , Srinivasan Supriya , Singh Samara P , Zhou Zhiqun , De Castro Silva Iago , Joshi Chandrashekar , Ban Yuguang , Datta Jashodeep , Gilboa Eli , Merchant Nipun B , Nagathihalli Nagaraj S
Published: June 2023

PD-L1 expression in Uro A or PI3Ki
treated KPC cells.
Figure S5 from Remodeling of Stromal Immune Microenvironment by Urolithin A Improves Survival with Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Mehra Siddharth , Garrido Vanessa T. , Dosch Austin R , Lamichhane Purushottam , Srinivasan Supriya , Singh Samara P , Zhou Zhiqun , De Castro Silva Iago , Joshi Chandrashekar , Ban Yuguang , Datta Jashodeep , Gilboa Eli , Merchant Nipun B , Nagathihalli Nagaraj S
Published: June 2023

Cytokine profiling of PKT tumors and
KPC cells treated with PI3Ki or Uro A.
Figure S3 from Remodeling of Stromal Immune Microenvironment by Urolithin A Improves Survival with Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Mehra Siddharth , Garrido Vanessa T. , Dosch Austin R , Lamichhane Purushottam , Srinivasan Supriya , Singh Samara P , Zhou Zhiqun , De Castro Silva Iago , Joshi Chandrashekar , Ban Yuguang , Datta Jashodeep , Gilboa Eli , Merchant Nipun B , Nagathihalli Nagaraj S
Published: June 2023

Gating strategies used for flow
cytometry analysis.
Figure S1 from Remodeling of Stromal Immune Microenvironment by Urolithin A Improves Survival with Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Mehra Siddharth , Garrido Vanessa T. , Dosch Austin R , Lamichhane Purushottam , Srinivasan Supriya , Singh Samara P , Zhou Zhiqun , De Castro Silva Iago , Joshi Chandrashekar , Ban Yuguang , Datta Jashodeep , Gilboa Eli , Merchant Nipun B , Nagathihalli Nagaraj S
Published: June 2023

Raw uncropped images of Western blot membranes for Figs.1e and 3d.
Opportunities and Barriers in the Planning of Hospital Bed Capacity in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Authors: AlFahmi Manal Z. , Elmorsey Soha A. , Aburuzaizah Raghad M. , Almowallad Wedian O.
Published: June 2023

Introduction: In alignment with Saudi Arabia’s 2030 Vision to improve healthcare services, Saudi hospital policymakers must have a clear understanding of the needs of their hospitals to make strategic decisions regarding hospital bed capacity planning. King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC) is a tertiary and quaternary healthcare facility that has four state-of-the-art excellence centers, of which the Cardiac and Oncology Centers are among the largest and the most advanced in the west of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study used a mixed-methods approach. The study’s quantitative component included a revision of retrospective data of KAMC’s operational parameters, such as bed capacity, bed occupancy rate (BOR), and length of stay (LOS). For the study’s qualitative component, researchers used semi-structured interviews. Personnel at different management levels were interviewed to explore factors that might influence an increase in the BOR and patients’ LOS. Results: KAMC’s key performance indicators showed an overall LOS of 9.9 days and an overall BOR of 88%. Analysis broken down by the department shows the General and the Neuroscience Intensive Care Units and the Hematology/Oncology departments to have the highest BOR, ranging between 95% and 97%. Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews suggested that the delays in the provision of consultation services among the hospital’s inpatients were among the factors that have the biggest influence on bed occupancy; the presence of dedicated case managers in every department was among the top suggested solutions. Conclusion: A battery of interventions might help to reduce the LOS by supporting timely patient discharge. The presence of a dedicated case manager with a medical background in each department is one of the most practical interventions. Other vital opportunities include reinforcement of back-referral policies, revising policies, and having cluster-level referral policies and bed management strategies. Although such efforts are likely to have a positive effect, they are expected to only partially meet the existing gap, which probably requires increasing the number of available active beds.
Out of Line or Altered States? Neural Progenitors as a Target in a Polygenic Neurodevelopmental Disorder
Authors: Rukh Shah , Meechan Daniel W , Maynard Thomas M , Lamantia Anthony-Samuel
Published: June 2023

The genesis of a mature complement of neurons is thought to require, at least in part, precursor cell lineages in which neural progenitors have distinct identities recognized by exclusive expression of one or a few molecular markers. Nevertheless, limited progenitor types distinguished by specific markers and lineal progression through such subclasses cannot easily yield the magnitude of neuronal diversity in most regions of the nervous system. The late Verne Caviness, to whom this edition of Developmental Neuroscience is dedicated, recognized this mismatch. In his pioneering work on the histogenesis of the cerebral cortex, he acknowledged the additional flexibility required to generate multiple classes of cortical projection and interneurons. This flexibility may be accomplished by establishing cell states in which levels rather than binary expression or repression of individual genes vary across each progenitor’s shared transcriptome. Such states may reflect local, stochastic signaling via soluble factors or coincidence of cell surface ligand/receptor pairs in subsets of neighboring progenitors. This probabilistic, rather than determined, signaling could modify transcription levels via multiple pathways within an apparently uniform population of progenitors. Progenitor states, therefore, rather than lineal relationships between types may underlie the generation of neuronal diversity in most regions of the nervous system. Moreover, mechanisms that influence variation required for flexible progenitor states may be targets for pathological changes in a broad range of neurodevelopmental disorders, especially those with polygenic origins.
Considerations on the Management of Acute Postoperative Ischemia After Cardiac Surgery: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Gaudino Mario , Dangas George D. , Angiolillo Dominick J. , Brodt Jessica , Chikwe Joanna , DeAnda Abe , Hameed Irbaz , Rodgers Mary L. , Sandner Sigrid , Sun Louise Y. , Yong Celina M. ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia; Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Stroke Council
Published: June 2023

Acute postoperative myocardial ischemia (PMI) after cardiac surgery is an infrequent event that can evolve rapidly and become a potentially life-threatening complication. Multiple factors are associated with acute PMI after cardiac surgery and may vary by the type of surgical procedure performed. Although the criteria defining nonprocedural myocardial ischemia are well established, there are no universally accepted criteria for the diagnosis of acute PMI. In addition, current evidence on the management of acute PMI after cardiac surgery is sparse and generally of low methodological quality. Once acute PMI is suspected, prompt diagnosis and treatment are imperative, and options range from conservative strategies to percutaneous coronary intervention and redo coronary artery bypass grafting. In this document, a multidisciplinary group including experts in cardiac surgery, cardiology, anesthesiology, and postoperative care summarizes the existing evidence on diagnosis and treatment of acute PMI and provides clinical guidance.
Derivation of a Protein Risk Score for Cardiovascular Disease Among a Multiracial and Multiethnic HIV+ Cohort
Authors: Safo Sandra E. , Haine Lillian , Baker Jason , Reilly Cavan , Duprez Daniel , Neaton James D. , Jain Mamta K. , Arenas‐Pinto Alejandro , Polizzotto Mark , Staub Therese ,   for the ESPRIT, INSIGHT FIRST, SMART and START study groups
Published: June 2023

Background

Cardiovascular disease risk prediction models underestimate CVD risk in people living with HIV (PLWH). Our goal is to derive a risk score based on protein biomarkers that could be used to predict CVD in PLWH.

Methods and Results

In a matched case–control study, we analyzed normalized protein expression data for participants enrolled in 1 of 4 trials conducted by INSIGHT (International Network for Strategic Initiatives in Global HIV Trials). We used dimension reduction, variable selection and resampling methods, and multivariable conditional logistic regression models to determine candidate protein biomarkers and to generate a protein score for predicting CVD in PLWH. We internally validated our findings using bootstrap. A protein score that was derived from 8 proteins (including HGF [hepatocyte growth factor] and interleukin‐6) was found to be associated with an increased risk of CVD after adjustment for CVD and HIV factors (odds ratio: 2.17 [95% CI: 1.58–2.99]). The protein score improved CVD prediction when compared with predicting CVD risk using the individual proteins that comprised the protein score. Individuals with a protein score above the median score were 3.10 (95% CI, 1.83–5.41) times more likely to develop CVD than those with a protein score below the median score.

Conclusions

A panel of blood biomarkers may help identify PLWH at a high risk for developing CVD. If validated, such a score could be used in conjunction with established factors to identify CVD at‐risk individuals who might benefit from aggressive risk reduction, ultimately shedding light on CVD pathogenesis in PLWH.
Canagliflozin, Blood Pressure Variability, and Risk of Cardiovascular, Kidney, and Mortality Outcomes: Pooled Individual Participant Data From the CANVAS and CREDENCE Trials
Authors: Fletcher Robert A. , Arnott Clare , Rockenschaub Patrick , Schutte Aletta E. , Carpenter Lewis , Vaduganathan Muthiah , Agarwal Rajiv , Bakris George , Chang Tara I. , Heerspink Hiddo J. L. , Jardine Meg J. , Mahaffey Kenneth W. , Neal Bruce , Pollock Carol , Jun Min , Rodgers Anthony , Perkovic Vlado , Neuen Brendon L.
Published: June 2023

Background

Sodium glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors reduce systolic blood pressure (SBP), but whether they affect SBP variability is unknown. There also remains uncertainty regarding the prognostic value of SBP variability for different clinical outcomes.

Methods and Results

Using individual participant data from the CANVAS (Canagliflozin Cardiovascular Assessment Study) Program and CREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes with Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation) trial, we assessed the effect of canagliflozin on SBP variability in people with type 2 diabetes across 4 study visits over 1.5 years as measured by standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and variability independent of the mean. We used multivariable Cox regression models to estimate associations of SBP variability with cardiovascular, kidney, and mortality outcomes. In 11 551 trial participants, canagliflozin modestly lowered the standard deviation of SBP variability (−0.25 mm Hg [95% CI, –0.44 to −0.06]), but there was no effect on coefficient of variation (0.02% [95% CI, –0.12 to 0.16]) or variability independent of the mean (0.08 U [95% CI, –0.11 to 0.26]) when adjusting for correlation with mean SBP. Each 1 standard deviation increase in standard deviation of SBP variability was independently associated with higher risk of hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio [HR], 1.19 [95% CI, 1.02–1.38]) and all‐cause mortality (HR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.01–1.25]), with consistent results observed for coefficient of variation and variability independent of the mean. Increases in SBP variability were not associated with kidney outcomes.

Conclusions

In people with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk or with chronic kidney disease, higher visit‐to‐visit SBP variability is independently associated with risks of hospitalization for heart failure and all‐cause mortality. Canagliflozin has little to no effect on SBP variability, independent of its established SBP‐lowering effect.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifiers: NCT01032629, NCT01989754, NCT02065791.
Body Composition and Risk of Incident Heart Failure in 1 Million Adults: A Systematic Review and Dose–Response Meta‐Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies
Authors: Oguntade Ayodipupo S. , Islam Nazrul , Malouf Reem , Taylor Hannah , Jin Danyao , Lewington Sarah , Lacey Ben
Published: June 2023

Background

The aim of this systematic review was to quantify the associations between body composition measures and risk of incident heart failure (HF) and its subtypes in the general population.

Methods and Results

We searched Medline, Embase, and Global Health databases from each database inception to January 19, 2023 for prospective studies reporting on body composition and HF risk. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. The Newcastle‐Ottawa scale was used to assess the risk of bias of included studies. Fixed‐effects models were used for meta‐analysis. Thirty‐five studies were included (n
total
=1 137 044; n
cases
=34 422). Summary relative risk (RR) per 5‐kg/m
2
higher body mass index was 1.42 (95% CI, 1.40–1.42; 𝜁
2
=0.02,
I
2
=94.4%), 1.28 (95% CI, 1.26–1.31; 𝜁
2
=0.01,
I
2
=75.8%) per 10‐cm higher waist circumference, and 1.33 (95% CI, 1.28–1.37; 𝜁
2
=0.04,
I
2
=94.9%) per 0.1‐unit higher waist–hip ratio. Pooled estimates of the few studies that reported on regional fat suggested significant positive association between HF risk and both visceral fat (RR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.04–1.12]) and pericardial fat (RR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.06–1.10]). Among HF subtypes, associations were stronger for HF with preserved ejection fraction than HF with reduced ejection fraction. No study reported on lean mass.

Conclusions

Pooled data suggested strong associations between adiposity and HF. The association with adiposity is stronger for HF with preserved ejection fraction than HF with reduced ejection fraction, indicating that different mechanisms may be at play in etiopathogenesis of HF subtypes. Future studies are needed to investigate role of regional fat mass and lean mass in HF risk.

Registration Information

REGISTRATION: URL:
www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/
. Unique identifier: CRD42020224584.
Birth Weight Is Associated With Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Adulthood
Authors: Schuermans Art , Nakao Tetsushi , Ruan Yunfeng , Koyama Satoshi , Yu Zhi , Uddin Md Mesbah , Haidermota Sara , Hornsby Whitney , Lewandowski Adam J. , Bick Alexander G. , Niroula Abhishek , Jaiswal Siddhartha , Ebert Benjamin L. , Natarajan Pradeep , Honigberg Michael C.
Published: June 2023

Background

High and low birth weight are independently associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk in adulthood. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), the age‐related clonal expansion of hematopoietic cells with preleukemic somatic mutations, predicts incident cardiovascular disease independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Whether birth weight predicts development of CHIP later in life is unknown.

Methods and Results

A total of 221 047 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank with whole exome sequences and self‐reported birth weight were analyzed. Of those, 22 030 (11.5%) had low (<2.5 kg) and 29 292 (14.7%) high birth weight (>4.0 kg). CHIP prevalence was higher among participants with low (6.0%,
P
=0.049) and high (6.3%,
P
<0.001) versus normal birth weight (5.7%, ref.). Multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression analyses demonstrated that each 1‐kg increase in birth weight was associated with a 3% increased risk of CHIP (odds ratio, 1.03 [95% CI, 1.00–1.06];
P
=0.04), driven by a stronger association observed between birth weight and
DNMT3A
CHIP (odds ratio, 1.04 per 1‐kg increase [95% CI, 1.01–1.08];
P
=0.02). Mendelian randomization analyses supported a causal relationship of longer gestational age at delivery with
DNMT3A
CHIP. Multivariable Cox regression demonstrated that CHIP was independently and additively associated with incident cardiovascular disease or death across birth weight groups, with highest absolute risks in those with CHIP plus high or low birth weight.

Conclusions

Higher birth weight is associated with increased risk of developing CHIP in midlife, especially
DNMT3A
CHIP. These findings identify a novel risk factor for CHIP and provide insights into the relationships among early‐life environment, CHIP, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
How to Study Virtual Entities Historically? A Proposal
Authors: Ehberger Markus
Published: June 2023

This paper will not present a case study of the historical development of a virtual entity. Rather, I will develop an outlook on virtual entities in the sciences and propose a corresponding method for studying them (historically). In essence, my presentation can be considered a synthesis of different observations from the history and philosophy of science and has its roots in my dissertational research on the development of the virtual particle. Starting with a reflection on the role of presentism for the study of concept formation and development processes, I will show, through the example of the virtual particle, how current debates and interpretations can inform our access to a historical reconstruction. Following these reflections, I will argue for a pragmatist account of concepts as tools for the scientific practitioners. According to the approach presented in my article, concepts perform their functions through representations, and I will lay special focus on verbal representations and their different functions within scientific reasoning. In conclusion, I will frame the outcome of my discussion in terms of a proposal that might, through further research, enrich our understanding of virtual entities in the sciences.
The Ghost in the Machine: Metaphors of the ‘Virtual’ and the ‘Artificial’ in Post-WW2 Computer Science
Authors: Wilson Joseph
Published: June 2023

Metaphors that compare the computer to a human brain are common in computer science and can be traced back to a fertile period of research that unfolded after the Second World War. To conceptualize the emerging “intelligent” properties of computing machines, researchers of the era created a series of virtual objects that served as interpretive devices for representing the immaterial functions of the computer. This paper analyses the use of the terms “artificial” and “virtual” in scientific papers, textbooks, and popular articles of the time, and examines how, together, they shaped models in computer science used to conceptualize computer processes.
Neopatrimonialism in Africa
Authors: Real P. De Sousa Ricardo , Cuadrado Jara
Published: June 2023

Neopatrimonialism is a conceptual framework frequently used to analyse state politics. This paper reviews objectivist and positivist literature to ascertain the relevance of neopatrimonialism in analysing African state politics. It defines neopatrimonialism following the Weberian model, as the coexistence of a legal-rational domination and a patrimonial domination over the state. The paper reviews neopatrimonialism through the evolution of the African state since colonisation. It uses the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) dataset to assess the prevalence of neopatrimonialism across the world and within Africa. It assesses two propositions to conclude that there can be a “developmental neopatrimonialism” if its practices are regulated but that, inversely, “predatory neopatrimonialism” hinders development. Additionally, the detrimental effect of neopatrimonialism on democracy is ambiguous and democratisation can promote or hinder neopatrimonialism. The paper concludes that neopatrimonialism is a useful research concept if it is specific and able to account for the diversity of practices.
Clericalism and the Problem of Leadership in Africa: Reimagination as Praxis
Authors: Orbih William I.
Published: June 2023

The praxis of reimagination explores the dynamic relationship between imagination, story, and praxis. Colonialism has greatly impacted the African church’s imagination of clerical authority. The African church needs to reimagine church authority. This requires a greater attentiveness to the story of God’s redeeming love in the person and ministry of Jesus. It also requires we recognize the equal dignity and co-responsibility of laity and clergy in the church’s mission. While the story of Christ’s sacrificial love, the climax of God’s ongoing involvement in human history has priority in the Christian imagination, the ongoing Synod on Synodality is an opportunity to tell and listen to fresh stories of hope, development, and responsible leadership in contemporary Africa.
Confocal laser scanning microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction delimit species in a taxonomically challenging group: a revision of the plant bug genus Anapus Stål, 1858 (Heteroptera: Miridae)
Authors: Davletshin Shamil Z. , Konstantinov Fedor V.
Published: June 2023

This paper provides a comprehensive revision of the Palearctic plant bug genus Anapus Stål, 1858. Despite a limited number of included species, identification in this group remains challenging due to significant intraspecific polymorphism in the coloration and body proportions. To tackle this issue, confocal microscopy was used to study the male genitalia, and three-dimensional reconstructions of the aedeagus were obtained for all valid species. Our results reveal advantages of these techniques in visualizing small and complex genital structures over traditional methods of taxonomic imaging. A detailed study of the male and female genitalia resulted in finding novel characters allowing for unequivocal species recognition. The differential diagnosis for the genus and a key to all species are given. Habitus photographs, illustrations of male genitalic structures, scanning micrographs of morphological structures, host and distributional information are provided for all species. Anapus longicornis Jakovlev, 1882 is synonymized with Anapus pachymerus (Reuter, 1881) and a lectotype for the latter species is designated. Anapus americanus Knight, 1959 is transferred to the genus Myrmecophyes Fieber, 1870.
From Problem-Centric to Design-Centric STEM Inquiry
Authors: Teo Tang Wee , Tan Yong Leng Kelvin , Neo Melissa
Published: June 2023

Most STEM curricula focus on problem-solving an authentic issue. However, design-centric STEM curricula have been addressed to a lesser extent. This article reports on findings from a case study on a group of students that have conducted a STEM inquiry project to problem-solve an authentic issue. The STEM inquiry transition to design-centric STEM was organically derived from the interactions between the teacher and students. Qualitative data analysis of the students’ interviews, written reports and reflections was conducted using a prescriptive list of codes that categorises different types of knowledge in 21st century learning. The findings showed students’ content, meta, and humanistic learning outcomes during problem-centric inquiry, and other humanistic outcomes during design-centric inquiry. Implications on integrated STEM curriculum design and contributions to the STEM education literature on the potential diverse affordances of different centricities of STEM curriculum are discussed.
A new species of the genus Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from a lowland monsoon forest in Southern Vietnam
Authors: YUSHCHENKO PLATON V. , GRISMER L. LEE , BRAGIN ANDREY M. , DAC LE XUAN , POYARKOV NIKOLAY A.
Published: June 2023

An integrative taxonomic analysis delimits and diagnoses the new species Hemiphyllodactylus cattien sp. nov. from Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam—the eighth species of Hemiphyllodactylus to be described from Vietnam. The new species is recovered as the sister species to a clade comprised of H. indosobrinus from Laos and H. flaviventris from Thailand based on phylogenetic analyses using ND2 mtDNA gene sequences. Unlike the vast majority of Hemiphyllodactylus which are site-restricted upland endemics, Hemiphyllodactylus cattien sp. nov. is a lowland species collected from one of the most well-surveyed regions in Vietnam. Its discovery further emphasizes the need for continued re-sampling of survey sites already considered to be well-explored.
A new, but possibly extinct, species of Semanopterus Hope, 1847 from Lord Howe Island, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae)
Authors: REID CHRIS A.M. , TEES NATALIE A.
Published: June 2023

A new and brachypterous species of Semanopterus Hope, 1847 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Pentodontini) is described: S. kingstoni Reid & Tees, new species. The species is based on a single female specimen, collected on Lord Howe Island in the southwest Pacific Ocean. It is the sixth species of dynastine known from Lord Howe Island; a key is provided for identification of all of the species known from this small island.
A new species of the genus Burmadactylus Heads, 2009 from mid-Cretaceous amber in north Myanmar (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Tridactyloidea)
Authors: FAN SHILV , GU JUN-JIE , CAO CHENGQUAN
Published: June 2023

This paper describes a new species of the genus Burmadactylus Heads, 2009 (Tridactylidae: Dentridactylinae) from Burmese amber, namely: Burmadactylus tenuicerci sp. nov. This new species is similar to Burmadactylus grimaldi Heads, 2009, but differs from latter by mesotibia basally inflated and almost as long as mesofemur; the second segment of cercus distinctly slender; paraproctal lobe covered with sparse and slender setae, one of the setae near the apex distinct thick and long.
One-party Dominance of BJP: Emerging Dynamics of Conflict and Co-operation in Indian Federalism
Authors: Sharma Mool Raj
Published: June 2023

Federalism in India is a unique framework of governance that aims to meet the necessities of a heterogeneous and variegated society. In the Indian design, the destiny of States rests with the Union government, which can alter, dissolve or redefine issues with consultation, but without their consent. The rationale for adopting such an arrangement was to discourage centrifugal forces that had led to communal carnage and the partition of the Indian sub-continent at the time of Independence in 1947. Post-Independence, multiple constitutional, political and societal factors shaped the nature and course of Indian federalism as it evolved from one-party dominance of the Congress party to a phase of multiparty coalitions led by a national and/or regional parties in the 1990s and thereafter under a bi-nodal coalitional system. Subsequently, since 2014 the advent of BJP as a dominant party has strengthened federal centralisation that has unleashed several challenges that have a number of ramifications for federalism. Therefore, this paper examines the working of Indian federalism with a focus on contemporary trends of centralisation, conflict and co-operation.
Return to Play After Surgical Treatment for Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cleary Brian P. , Hurley Eoghan T. , Kilkenny Conor J. , Robinson Jake , Khan Sami U. , Davey Martin S. , Anakwenze Oke , Klifto Christopher S. , Mullett Hannan
Published: June 2023

Background:

Acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation is a common clinical problem among young and athletic populations. Surgical management is widely used for high-grade dislocations (Rockwood III-VI) and in high-demand athletes at high risk of recurrence.

Purpose:

To systematically review the evidence in the literature to ascertain the rate and timing of return to play (RTP) and the availability of specific criteria for safe RTP after surgical treatment for AC joint dislocation.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A systematic literature search based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was conducted in the PubMed database. Clinical studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported on RTP after surgical treatment for AC joint dislocation. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS.

Results:

We found 120 studies including 4327 cases meeting our inclusion criteria. The majority of patients were male (80.2%), with a mean age of 37.2 years (range, 15-85) and a mean follow-up of 34.5 months. Most were recreational athletes (79%), and the most common sport was cycling. The overall rate of RTP was 91.5%, with 85.6% returning to the same level of play. Among collision athletes, the rate of RTP was 97.3%, with 97.2% returning to the same level of play. In overhead athletes, the rate of RTP was 97.1%, with 79.2% returning to the same level of play. The mean time to RTP was 5.7 months (range, 1.5-15). Specific RTP criteria were reported in the majority of the studies (83.3%); time to return to play was the most commonly reported item (83.3%). Type III Rockwood injuries had the highest RTP rate at 98.7% and the earliest RTP at 4.9 months. Among the different surgical techniques, Kirschner wire fixation had the highest rate of RTP at 98.5%, while isolated graft reconstruction had the earliest RTP at 3.6 months.

Conclusion:

The overall rate of RTP was reportedly high after surgical treatment for AC joint dislocation, with the majority of patients returning to their preinjury levels of sport. There is a lack of consensus in the literature for what constitutes a safe RTP, with further focus on this topic required in future studies.
Qualitative Research as a Basis for Transforming an Annual Plague Into an Economic and Nutrition Opportunity for Youths and Their Families in Madagascar: “From Harmful to Useful Critters” for Sustainable Development
Authors: Ratompoarison Christian , Zo Jariseta Rambeloson , Rambeloson Jafetra , Seidel Renata , Rejela Christian
Published: June 2023

Background:

Madagascar is among the 10 highest burden countries for malnutrition. Protein-energy malnutrition, anemia, and vitamin deficiencies are major public health problems. Hunger is exacerbated by an annual locust invasion. The current policy of large-scale government spraying of pesticides from planes is logistically complex, costly, and damaging to the environment.

Objective:

Our research aimed to study the feasibility of turning the locust invasion into a protein-rich food supply for families and an economic opportunity for youth.

Methods:

We conducted 20 focus group discussions (FGDs) with females and males aged 18–24 and 25 years or older and with female artisans in 6 swarm communes in Madagascar’s south to understand enablers and barriers to collection, preparation, and consumption of locusts.

Results:

Enablers include consumption by all ages in Antandroy culture and perception of locusts as a delicacy, tasty, and free. Family members have different roles in the collection and preparation of locusts. Local technologies for mass collection include digging trenches in fields and entrapment via sisal netting. Common preparations include boiling in salted water, drying, skewering, frying, and grinding locusts into flour. Disablers include pesticide contamination of locusts and the view that locusts are a famine food.

Conclusion:

Our research provided a first step in demonstrating the feasibility of transforming locust infestations into economic and nutritional opportunities in a fragile environment with high levels of poverty and malnutrition. It contributes to advocacy in Madagascar to end the use of pesticides. It responds to the government desire to address the protein-energy malnutrition burden and youth poverty in an integrated way.
Incidence of Acute Cellular Rejection After Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor in Lung Transplant Recipients
Authors: Fredrick Stacy R. , Iasella Carlo J. , Sacha Lauren M. , Rivosecchi Ryan M. , Morrell Matthew R. , Sanchez Pablo G. , Pilewski Joseph M. , Snyder Mark E. , McDyer John F. , Moore Cody A.
Published: June 2023

Background

Neutropenia is a common complication in lung transplant recipients (LTRs). Filgrastim may be used to treat neutropenia in LTRs, but its consequences on acute cellular rejection (ACR) remain controversial. Objective: The purpose was to examine the association between filgrastim and incidence of ACR 6 months after filgrastim administration in LTRs. Secondary outcomes included burden of ACR, infections, chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), and survival. Methods: This was a matched cohort study of patients transplanted between January 2010 and October 2019. LTRs who received filgrastim for neutropenia were compared to a cohort who did not. LTRs were matched on transplant indication, sex, age, and time post-transplant and multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the likelihood of ACR. Results: 212 patients were included in the analysis (106 in each group). 50 patients (47.2%) in the filgrastim group experienced ACR compared to 37 patients (34.9%) in the no filgrastim group ( P = .070). In multivariable analysis, filgrastim use was not associated with ACR at 6 months (OR 1.409, 95% CI 0.772-2.571). Time to first ACR was shorter ( P = .049) and 6-month ACR score was higher in the filgrastim group (.49 vs .33, P = .047). LTRs in the filgrastim group had higher incidence of bacterial pneumonia and 1-year mortality. Conclusions: Although not associated with increased likelihood of ACR at 6 months, our study found that filgrastim is associated with increased ACR burden and decreased time to ACR. This study can help inform clinicians of ACR risk after filgrastim use in LTRs.
Is It Okay to Study Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) at the Individual Level? Yes!
Authors: Clark Daniel R. , Pidduck Robert J. , Lumpkin G. T. , Covin Jeffrey G.
Published: June 2023

Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is an important construct in the fields of management and entrepreneurship research. Interest in EO knowledge continues to thrive with a burgeoning research agenda in multiple contexts and with diverse implications. However, a subset of this research, which endeavors to apply the EO construct to explain or predict individuals’ entrepreneurial beliefs and behaviors, has met with resistance. This paper examines the case for EO at the individual level (Ind.EO). We consider the EO legacy concerns, and the various theoretical implications and benefits of doing so. Drawing upon an “EO as a family of constructs” framework, we propose paths forward for studying Ind.EO credibly, consistent with, but distinct from, traditional firm-level EO. Finally, we outline a research agenda and discuss the contributions and potential implications for Ind.EO research across the wider entrepreneurship discipline.
The Effect of Clinical Frailty on Wound Healing in Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia
Authors: Nishian Kunihiko , Fukunaga Masashi , Nishimura Machiko , Fujiwara Reiko , Kawasaki Daizo
Published: June 2023

Purpose:

Clinical frailty increases the risk of adverse outcomes in older people. Patients with Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) also had several clinical frailties. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between clinical frailty scales (CFS) at discharge and wound healing rate in patients with tissue loss.

Methods:

A total of 510 limbs in 431 CLTI patients who were undergone endovascular treatment (EVT) from January 2013 to November 2018 were enrolled in this study. Patients were categorized into 4-groups based on the CFS stages: CFS 1 to 4 (well), CFS 5 (mild), CFS 6 (moderate) and CFS ≥7 (severe). And the change in patient’s activities during hospitalize was classified into 3 groups based on CFS; improve, stable, worse. Primary endpoint was correlation between CFS at discharge and wound healing rate. Secondary endpoint was relationship between the changes in patient’s activities and wound healing rate.

Results:

A total of 365 limbs were obtained complete wound healing during this study period. Patient distribution into the 4 CFS groups was as follows: 13.3% (well), 21.8% (mild), 25.3% (moderate) and 39.6% (severe). Wound healing rate in severe CFS group was significantly lower than that in other CFS groups (p<0.0001). Wound healing rate in the patients who achieved improvement of activity was significantly higher than that in the other groups (p=0.008).

Conclusions:

CFS might be useful for risk stratification in patients with tissue loss. And improvement of activity during hospitalization might lead to increase the wound healing rate.

Clinical Impact

Although the association between clinical frailty and prognosis outcome of Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) has been reported, the effect of clinical frailty on wound healing remains unclear. Clinical frailty scale is independently associated with wound healing and might be useful for risk stratification in patients with tissue loss. Improvement of activity during hospitalization might lead to increase the wound healing rate.
Extrastent Plaque Modification With Knuckle Wire for Resistant Stent Underexpansion
Authors: Annam Sharath Reddy , Seepana Lokanath , Krishna Gundala Anil , Gouni Damodhar Reddy , Kumar Sampath , R Balaji , Premchand
Published: June 2023

Stent under expansion is one of the reasons compromising the outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions. The most common cause of the stent under expansion is calcium deposited in the atherosclerotic plaque. Adequate plaque modification is the paramount before the placement of a stent, as the options to handle under expanded stent are limited and less effective. In this case report, we explore the usage of knuckle wire for the extrastent plaque modification, after being failed with routine methods of handling stent under expansion.
DeepASDPred: a CNN-LSTM-based deep learning method for Autism spectrum disorders risk RNA identification
Authors: Fan Yongxian , Xiong Hui , Sun Guicong
Published: June 2023

Background

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by difficulty communicating with society and others, behavioral difficulties, and a brain that processes information differently than normal. Genetics has a strong impact on ASD associated with early onset and distinctive signs. Currently, all known ASD risk genes are able to encode proteins, and some de novo mutations disrupting protein-coding genes have been demonstrated to cause ASD. Next-generation sequencing technology enables high-throughput identification of ASD risk RNAs. However, these efforts are time-consuming and expensive, so an efficient computational model for ASD risk gene prediction is necessary.

Results

In this study, we propose DeepASDPerd, a predictor for ASD risk RNA based on deep learning. Firstly, we use K-mer to feature encode the RNA transcript sequences, and then fuse them with corresponding gene expression values to construct a feature matrix. After combining chi-square test and logistic regression to select the best feature subset, we input them into a binary classification prediction model constructed by convolutional neural network and long short-term memory for training and classification. The results of the tenfold cross-validation proved our method outperformed the state-of-the-art methods. Dataset and source code are available at https://github.com/Onebear-X/DeepASDPred is freely available.

Conclusions

Our experimental results show that DeepASDPred has outstanding performance in identifying ASD risk RNA genes.
Insights into phylogenetic relationships in Pinus inferred from a comparative analysis of complete chloroplast genomes
Authors: Xia Qijing , Zhang Hongbin , Lv Dong , El-Kassaby Yousry A. , Li Wei
Published: June 2023

Background

Pinus is the largest genus of Pinaceae and the most primitive group of modern genera. Pines have become the focus of many molecular evolution studies because of their wide use and ecological significance. However, due to the lack of complete chloroplast genome data, the evolutionary relationship and classification of pines are still controversial. With the development of new generation sequencing technology, sequence data of pines are becoming abundant. Here, we systematically analyzed and summarized the chloroplast genomes of 33 published pine species.

Results

Generally, pines chloroplast genome structure showed strong conservation and high similarity. The chloroplast genome length ranged from 114,082 to 121,530 bp with similar positions and arrangements of all genes, while the GC content ranged from 38.45 to 39.00%. Reverse repeats showed a shrinking evolutionary trend, with IRa/IRb length ranging from 267 to 495 bp. A total of 3,205 microsatellite sequences and 5,436 repeats were detected in the studied species chloroplasts. Additionally, two hypervariable regions were assessed, providing potential molecular markers for future phylogenetic studies and population genetics. Through the phylogenetic analysis of complete chloroplast genomes, we offered novel opinions on the genus traditional evolutionary theory and classification.

Conclusion

We compared and analyzed the chloroplast genomes of 33 pine species, verified the traditional evolutionary theory and classification, and reclassified some controversial species classification. This study is helpful in analyzing the evolution, genetic structure, and the development of chloroplast DNA markers in Pinus.
Bulk segregant analysis coupled with transcriptomics and metabolomics revealed key regulators of bacterial leaf blight resistance in rice
Authors: Ma Xiaozhi , Zhu Manshan , Liu Wuge , Li Jinhua , Liao Yilong , Liu Dilin , Jin Mengya , Fu Chongyun , Wang Feng
Published: June 2023

Background

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) is a highly destructive disease, causing significant yield losses in rice (Oryza sativa). Genetic variation is contemplated as the most effective measure for inducing resistance in plants. The mutant line T1247 derived from R3550 (BLB susceptible) was highly resistant to BLB. Therefore, by utilizing this valuable source, we employed bulk segregant analysis (BSA) and transcriptome profiling to identify the genetic basis of BLB resistance in T1247.

Results

The differential subtraction method in BSA identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 11 spanning a 27-27.45 Mb region with 33 genes and 4 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Four DEGs (P < 0.01) with three putative candidate genes, OsR498G1120557200, OsR498G1120555700, and OsR498G1120563600,0.01 in the QTL region were identified with specific regulation as a response to BLB inoculation. Moreover, transcriptome profiling identified 37 resistance analogs genes displaying differential regulation.

Conclusions

Our study provides a substantial addition to the available information regarding QTLs associated with BLB, and further functional verification of identified candidate genes can broaden the scope of understanding the BLB resistance mechanism in rice.
Post-induction hypotension with remimazolam versus propofol in patients routinely administered angiotensin axis blockades: a randomized control trial
Authors: Song Seung Woo , Kim Sujin , Park Ji-Hyoung , Cho Yun Hyung , Jeon Yeong-Gwan
Published: June 2023

Background

Certain routine medication could result in post-induction hypotension (PIH), such as angiotensin axis blockades, which are frequently administered as a first-line therapy against hypertension. Remimazolam is reportedly associated with lesser intraoperative hypotension than propofol. This study compared the overall incidence of PIH following remimazolam or propofol administration in patients managed by angiotensin axis blockades.

Methods

This single-blind, parallel-group, randomized control trial was conducted in a tertiary university hospital in South Korea. Patients undergoing surgery with general anesthesia were considered for enrollment if the inclusion criteria were met: administration of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, 19 to 65 years old, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification ≤ III, and no involvement in other clinical trials.

The primary outcome was the overall incidence of PIH, defined as a mean blood pressure (MBP) < 65 mmHg or decrease by ≥ 30% of the baseline MBP. The time points of measurement were baseline, just before the initial intubation attempt, and 1, 5, 10, and 15 min following intubation. The heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and bispectral index were also recorded.

Groups P and R included patients administered propofol and remimazolam, respectively, as an induction agent.

Results

A total of 81 patients were analyzed, of the 82 randomized patients. PIH was less frequent in group R than group P (62.5% versus 82.9%; t value 4.27, P = 0.04, adjusted odds ratio = 0.32 [95% confidence interval 0.10–0.99]). The decrease in the MBP from baseline was 9.6 mmHg lesser in group R than in group P before the initial intubation attempt (95% confidence interval 3.3–15.9). A similar trend was observed for systolic and diastolic blood pressures. No severe adverse events were observed in either group.

Conclusion

Remimazolam results in less frequent PIH than propofol in patients undergoing routine administration of angiotensin axis blockades.

Trial registration

This trial was retrospectively registered on Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), Republic of Korea (KCT0007488). Registration date: 30/06/2022.