bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does sport media raise her name? Examining intersectional representation in media narratives
Authors: Isard Risa F. , Melton E. Nicole 
Published: September 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this research was to examine the role of intersectionality (multiple marginalized identities) in narratives used within online media coverage of women's sports. The authors adopted an intersectionality lens and drew from sports media literature to explore the representation of Black athletes in women's sport.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a quantitative content analysis of online articles from ESPN, CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated from the 2020 WNBA Season. The authors coded the number of times an athlete was mentioned in an article, the athlete's race, publicly disclosed sexual orientation and gender expression. The authors used hierarchical regression to examine the relationship between an athlete's social identities and frequency of media mentions.FindingsWithin mainstream online sport media, Black WNBA athletes receive less media attention than white WNBA athletes. Black athletes who do not present in traditionally feminine ways receive the least amount of media attention, while white athletes have the freedom to express their gender in a variety of ways and still capture media interest. Within league press releases, however, there is no difference in media mentions based on race, sexual orientation or gender expression.Practical implicationsThe findings in this research are important for sport media professionals who write stories and player-activists who are pursuing racial justice. Outlets should commit to antiracist storytelling practices. Players, player agents and players' associations—all of whom have shown their power to create change for a more equitable industry and society—should also advocate for and organize around practices that create more equitable media coverage.Originality/valueThis study is one of the few empirical investigations of women's professional sport that examines the influence of intersecting social identities.
Pessary or surgery for a symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse: the PEOPLE study, a multicentre prospective cohort study
Authors: van der Vaart LR , Vollebregt A , Milani AL , Lagro‐Janssen AL , Duijnhoven RG , Roovers J‐PWR , Van der Vaart CH 
Published: September 2021

ObjectiveTo compare the 24‐month efficacy of pessary or surgery as the primary treatment for symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (POP).DesignMulticentre prospective comparative cohort study.SettingTwenty‐two Dutch hospitals.PopulationWomen referred with symptomatic POP of stage ≥2 and moderate‐to‐severe POP symptoms.MethodsThe primary outcome was subjective improvement at the 24‐month follow‐up according to the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI‐I) scale. Secondary outcomes included improvement in prolapse‐related symptoms measured with the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI‐20), improvement in subjective severeness of symptoms according to the Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI‐S) scale and crossover between therapies. The primary safety outcome was the occurrence of adverse events.Main outcome measurePGI‐I at 24 months.ResultsWe included 539 women, with 335 women (62.2%) in the pessary arm and 204 women (37.8%) in the surgery arm. After 24 months, subjective improvement was reported by 134 women (83.8%) in the surgery group compared with 180 women (74.4%) in the pessary group (risk difference 9.4%, 95% CI 1.4–17.3%, P < 0.01). Seventy‐nine women (23.6%) switched from pessary to surgery and 22 women (10.8%) in the surgery group underwent additional treatment. Both groups showed a significant reduction in bothersome POP symptoms (P ≤ 0.01) and a reduction in the perceived severity of symptoms (P ≤ 0.001) compared with the baseline.ConclusionsSignificantly more women in the surgery group reported a subjective improvement after 24 months. Both therapies, however, showed a clinically significant improvement of prolapse symptoms.Tweetable abstractPessary treatment and vaginal surgery are both efficacious in reducing the presence and severity of prolapse symptoms, although the chance of significant improvement is higher following surgery.
T‐cell subsets in the skin and their role in inflammatory skin disorders
Authors: Kortekaas Krohn Inge , Aerts Joeri L. , Breckpot Karine , Goyvaerts Cleo , Knol Edward , Van Wijk Femke , Gutermuth Jan 
Published: September 2021

AbstractT lymphocytes (T cells) are major players of the adaptive immune response. Naive T cells are primed in the presence of cytokines, leading to polarization into distinct T‐cell subsets with specific functions. These subsets are classified based on their T‐cell receptor profile, expression of transcription factors, surface cytokine and chemokine receptors, and their cytokine production, which together determine their specific function. This review provides an overview of the various T‐cell subsets and their function in several inflammatory skin disorders ranging from allergic inflammation to skin tumors. Moreover, we highlight similarities of T‐cell responses across different skin disorders, demonstrating the presence of similar and opposing functions for the different T‐cell subsets. Finally, we discuss the effects of currently available and promising therapeutic approaches to harness T cells in inflammatory skin diseases for which efficacy next to unwanted side effects provide new insights into the pathophysiology of skin disorders.
Review article: therapeutic aspects of bile acid signalling in the gut‐liver axis
Authors: Simbrunner Benedikt , Trauner Michael , Reiberger Thomas 
Published: September 2021

SummaryBackgroundBile acids are important endocrine modulators of intestinal and hepatic signalling cascades orchestrating critical pathophysiological processes in various liver diseases. Increasing knowledge on bile acid signalling has stimulated the development of synthetic ligands of nuclear bile acid receptors and other bile acid analogues.AimThis review summarises important aspects of bile acid‐mediated crosstalk between the gut and the liver (“gut‐liver axis”) as well as recent findings from experimental and clinical studies.MethodsWe performed a literature review on bile acid signalling, and therapeutic applications in chronic liver disease.ResultsIntestinal and hepatic bile acid signalling pathways maintain bile acid homeostasis. Perturbations of bile acid‐mediated gut‐liver crosstalk dysregulate transcriptional networks involved in inflammation, fibrosis and endothelial dysfunction. Bile acids induce enterohepatic feedback signalling by the release of intestinal hormones, and regulate enterohepatic circulation. Importantly, bile acid signalling plays a central role in maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and antibacterial defense, which is particularly relevant in cirrhosis, where bacterial translocation has a profound impact on disease progression. The nuclear bile acid farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a central intersection in bile acid signalling and has emerged as a relevant therapeutic target.ConclusionsExperimental evidence suggests that bile acid signalling improves the intestinal barrier and protects against bacterial translocation in cirrhosis. FXR agonists have displayed efficacy for the treatment of cholestatic and metabolic liver disease in randomised controlled clinical trials. However, similar effects remain to be shown in advanced liver disease, particularly in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.
Free‐of‐charge medicine schemes in the NHS: A local and regional drug and therapeutic committee's experience
Authors: O'Callaghan Simon , Ferner Robin E. , Barron Andrew , Saxby Katherine , Sofat Reecha 
Published: September 2021

IntroductionFree‐of‐charge (FoC) medicine schemes are increasingly available and allow access to investigational treatments outside clinical trials or in advance of licensing or NHS commissioning.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed FoC medicine schemes evaluated between 2013 and 2019 by a single NHS trust and a regional drug and therapeutics committee (DTC). The details of each locally reviewed FoC scheme, and any nationally available Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Early Access to Medicines Scheme (MHRA EAMS) in the same period, were recorded and categorised.ResultsMost FoC schemes (95%) allowed access to medicines intended to address an unmet clinical need. Over 7 years, 90% were company‐FoC schemes and 10% were MHRA EAMS that were locally reviewed. Phase 3 clinical trial data were available for 44% of FoC schemes, 37% had phase 2 data and 19% were supported only by phase 1 data, retrospective observational studies or preclinical data. Utilisation of company‐FoC schemes increased on average by 50% per year, while MHRA EAMS schemes showed little growth.ConclusionCompany‐FoC medicine schemes are increasingly common. This may indicate a preference for pharmaceutical companies to independently co‐ordinate schemes. Motivations for company‐FoC schemes remain unclear and many provide access to treatments that are yet to be evaluated in appropriately conducted clinical trials, and whose efficacy and risk of harm remain uncertain. There is no standardisation of this practice and there is no regulatory oversight. Moreover, no standardised data collection framework is in place that could demonstrate the utility of such programmes in addressing unmet clinical need or to allow generation of further evidence.
Doppler ultrasound to assess the pharmacodynamic effects of splanchnic vasoactive compounds
Authors: Marynissen Heleen , Lodeweyckx Thomas , Bielen Didier , de Hoon Jan 
Published: September 2021

AimsIn search of noninvasive biomarkers to assess the pharmacodynamic effects of portal pressure‐lowering drugs, the reproducibility of flow measurements in the superior mesenteric artery was evaluated using Doppler ultrasound.MethodsA reproducibility study was conducted in 15 healthy male volunteers (18–50 y). Eight ultrasound measurements were performed for each subject: 2 observers each conducted 2 measurements during 2 separate visits. The following flow parameters were captured: peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), pulsatility index (PI), volume flow (VF) and vessel diameter. Reproducibility was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient.ResultsResults are presented as intraclass correlation coefficient [95% confidence interval]. The flow parameters PSV, EDV, PI and VF correlated excellently within observer during visit 1 (0.888 [0.748–0.953], 0.910 [0.793–0.962], 0.844 [0.656–0.933] and 0.916 [0.857–0.951], respectively) and visit 2 (0.925 [0.829–0.968], 0.942 [0.863–0.976], 0.883 [0.719–0.954] and 0.915 [0.855–0.951], respectively). Measurements conducted during 2 separate visits by 1 observer correlated well to excellently for PSV, EDV, PI and VF (0.756 [0.552–0.875], 0.836 [0.694–0.916], 0.807 [0.631–0.904] and 0.839 [0.783–0.882], respectively). Measurements conducted by 2 distinct observers correlated well to excellently for PSV, EDV and VF during visit 1 (0.813 [0.584–0.922], 0.884 [0.597–0.945] and 0.786 [0.575–0.899], respectively) and visit 2 (0.779 [0.498–0.912], 0.861 [0.672–0.945], 0.810 [0.553–0.926], respectively). Vessel diameter measurements were poorly reproducible.ConclusionDoppler ultrasound is a reproducible method for flow measurements in the superior mesenteric artery in a standardized group of healthy volunteers. Therefore, it is a promising technique to assess pharmacodynamic effects of splanchnic vasoactive compounds in early clinical drug development.
SDHC phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma: A UK‐wide case series
Authors: Williams Sophie T. , Chatzikyriakou Prodromos , Carroll Paul V. , McGowan Barbara M. , Velusamy Anand , White Gemma , Obholzer Rupert , Akker Scott , Tufton Nicola , Casey Ruth T. , Maher Eamonn R. , Park Soo‐Mi , Porteous Mary , Dyer Rebecca , Tan Tricia , Wernig Florian , Brady Angela F. , Kosicka‐Slawinska Monika , Whitelaw Benjamin C. , Dorkins Huw , Lalloo Fiona , Brennan Paul , Carlow Joseph , Martin Richard , Mitchell Anna L. , Harrison Rachel , Hawkes Lara , Newell‐Price John , Kelsall Alan , Igbokwe Rebecca , Adlard Julian , Schirwani Schaida , Davidson Rosemarie , Morrison Patrick J. , Chung Teng‐Teng , Bowles Christopher , Izatt Louise 
Published: September 2021

AbstractObjectivePhaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGL) are rare, but strongly heritable tumours. Variants in succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) subunits are identified in approximately 25% of cases. However, clinical and genetic information of patients with SDHC variants are underreported.DesignThis retrospective case series collated data from 18 UK Genetics and Endocrinology departments.PatientsBoth asymptomatic and disease‐affected patients with confirmed SDHC germline variants are included.MeasurementsClinical data including tumour type and location, surveillance outcomes and interventions, SDHC genetic variant assessment, interpretation, and tumour risk calculation.ResultsWe report 91 SDHC cases, 46 probands and 45 non‐probands. Fifty‐one cases were disease‐affected. Median age at genetic diagnosis was 43 years (range: 11–79). Twenty‐four SDHC germline variants were identified including six novel variants. Head and neck paraganglioma (HNPGL, n = 30, 65.2%), extra‐adrenal paraganglioma (EAPGL, n = 13, 28.2%) and phaeochromocytomas (PCC) (n = 3, 6.5%) were present. One case had multiple PPGLs. Malignant disease was reported in 19.6% (9/46). Eight cases had non‐PPGL SDHC‐associated tumours, six gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) and two renal cell cancers (RCC). Cumulative tumour risk (95% CI) at age 60 years was 0.94 (CI: 0.79–0.99) in probands, and 0.16 (CI: 0–0.31) in non‐probands, respectively.ConclusionsThis study describes the largest cohort of 91 SDHC patients worldwide. We confirm disease‐affected SDHC variant cases develop isolated HNPGL disease in nearly 2/3 of patients, EAPGL and PCC in 1/3, with an increased risk of GIST and RCC. One fifth developed malignant disease, requiring comprehensive lifelong tumour screening and surveillance.
Lachnospira is a signature of antihistamine efficacy in chronic spontaneous urticaria
Authors: Liu Runqiu , Peng Cong , Jing Danrong , Xiao Yangjian , Zhu Wu , Zhao Shuang , Zhang Jianglin , Chen Xiang , Li Jie 
Published: September 2021

AbstractChronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a mast cell‐driven disease with many advances in its aetiology and pathogenesis over the past years. The main treatment of CSU is oral second‐generation antihistamines. However, only an average of 50% of CSU patients responded adequately to conventional or quadruple doses of non‐sedative antihistamines. Meanwhile, gut microbiota can affect the efficacy of drugs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota and the efficacy of antihistamines in patients with CSU. The patients with CSU were divided into responders and non‐responders according to the efficacy of antihistamine monotherapy. The gut microbiota of faecal samples from 15 responders and 15 non‐responders was detected by 16S rDNA sequencing, and the differential bacterial species between the two groups were verified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Additional faecal samples from 30 responders and 30 non‐responders were used as an extended cohort to further verify the above differential bacterial species by qPCR. Lachnospiraceae and its subordinate taxa were found to be the main differences in gut microbiota between responders and non‐responders. The abundance of Lachnospira in responders was higher than that in non‐responders. Lachnospira exhibits moderate diagnostic value in evaluating the efficacy of antihistamine. Lachnospira is a signature for predicting the efficacy of antihistamine in patients with CSU.
Systematic fatigue spectrum editing by fast wavelet transform and genetic algorithm
Authors: Mohseni Mohamad , Santhanam Sridhar , Williams Jesse , Thakker Ash , Nataraj C. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractFatigue testing is critical in order to establish the service life of load‐bearing components and structures. The extensive time associated with full fatigue spectrum testing can lead to prohibitive costs. A significant need exists for a fatigue load spectrum editing methodology, based on the mechanics of fatigue, that produces load spectra that can replicate service damage in laboratory testing and can lead to compressed testing times and reduced costs. In this work, a wavelet genetic (WAVEGEN) algorithm is developed to edit fatigue loading spectra using wavelet analysis to greatly reduce the length of a spectrum while retaining the same damage accumulation characteristics. In addition, an optimization protocol using a genetic algorithm is included within this process to automatically select the best wavelet editing parameters. The algorithm is designed to identify the most suitable wavelet type, filter, and level to optimally edit a given fatigue spectrum and ensure equivalence between edited and unedited spectra from a damage perspective. The algorithm was applied to two well‐known aircraft fatigue spectra: Fighter Aircraft Loading Standard for Fatigue evaluation (FALSTAFF) and Transport Wing Standard (TWIST). The proposed approach has demonstrated that both spectra can be compressed significantly even while ensuring equivalence from a damage perspective.
Achieving rural revitalization in China: A suitable framework to understand the coordination of material and social space quality of rural residential areas in the plain
Authors: Qu Yanbo , Dong Xiaozhen , Zhan Lingyun , Zhu Weiya , Wang Sen , Ping Zongli , Zhang Bailin 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe spatial system of rural residential areas is a key carrier to support the high‐quality development of rural residential areas. The effective identification of the space quality and its coordinated characteristics of rural residential areas are helpful to provide scientific basis for rural revitalization. From the perspective of space, the high‐quality development of rural residential area may be seen as a state of spatial coordination aiming at rural revitalization under the high‐level development of material space and social space. Taking Ningjin County of Shandong Province as the research area, this paper discusses the quality characteristics of rural residential areas in plains areas through representative case studies. For this purpose, the quality of material space and social space of these areas, and their coordinated development patterns, are obtained using the entropy weight TOPSIS, the mutual exclusivity matrix, and the coordinate quadrant method. Finally, the paper provides an identification of barriers by the obstacle degree diagnosis model and then proposes some quality improvement strategies for rural revitalization. The results show that: (a) The quality of material space and social space of rural residential areas in Ningjin County are medium and high. (b) The coordinated development patterns of material‐social space of rural residential areas in Ningjin County are characterized by medium‐quality‐led, low‐quality second‐class, high‐quality less. (c) The obstacle factors of high‐quality development of rural residential areas in Ningjin County are mainly reflected in the four dimensions of living space, production space, cultural space, and communication space. (d) Rural revitalization in Ningjin County can be achieved through the coordinated optimization of high‐quality development patterns, the focused improvement of medium‐quality development patterns, and the comprehensive consolidation of low‐quality development.
Silencing of Nesprin‐2 inhibits the differentiation of myofibroblasts from fibroblasts induced by mechanical stretch
Authors: Xu Quanchen , Miao Yuanxin , Ren Jizheng , Sun Yu , Li Cong , Cai Xia , Wang Zhiguo 
Published: September 2021

AbstractMechanical force plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of hypertrophic scar (HTS). Dermal fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are the key cells involved in HTS. Myofibroblasts in HTS possess different biochemical and biophysical characteristics by which myofibroblasts are often distinguished from fibroblasts. The role of mechanotransducers outside the nucleus in the pathogenesis of HTS has been reported in many studies. However, the role of Nesprin‐2 in HTS is not clear. Hence, we aim to construct a cell model of HTS and explore the role of Nesprin‐2 in this process. Myofibroblasts and fibroblasts were isolated from HTS and healthy skin tissues of the same patient. Fibroblasts were exposed to cyclic stretch with 10% magnitude and a frequency of 0.1 Hz for 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days, respectively. After the cell model was confirmed, fibroblasts transfected with siRNA targeting human Nesprin‐2 were exposed to cyclic stretch. The mechanical behaviour and biochemical reaction of the dermal fibroblasts were analysed. The stretched fibroblasts at day 5 showed the same mechanotransductive and biochemical features as unstretched myofibroblasts. Mechanical strain could induce the myofibroblasts differentiation and a cell model of HTS was established successfully at day 5. The expressions of lamin A/C, alpha‐smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor beta 1, and collagen type I in fibroblasts were reduced by the silencing of Nesprin‐2. Mechanical strain could induce the myofibroblasts differentiation and silencing of Nesprin‐2 could block the mechanical stimulation of terminal myofibroblasts differentiation. Nesprin‐2 might be a potential target to treat the HTS.
Chatbots for language learning—Are they really useful? A systematic review of chatbot‐supported language learning
Authors: Huang Weijiao , Hew Khe Foon , Fryer Luke K. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe use of chatbots as learning assistants is receiving increasing attention in language learning due to their ability to converse with students using natural language. Previous reviews mainly focused on only one or two narrow aspects of chatbot use in language learning. This review goes beyond merely reporting the specific types of chatbot employed in past empirical studies and examines the usefulness of chatbots in language learning, including first language learning, second language learning, and foreign language learning.AimsThe primary purpose of this review is to discover the possible technological, pedagogical, and social affordances enabled by chatbots in language learning.Materials & MethodsWe conducted a systematic search and identifies 25 empirical studies that examined the use of chatbots in language learning. We used the inductive grounded approach to identify the technological and pedagogical affordances, and the challenges of using chatbots for students’ language learning. We used Garrison's social presence framework to analyze the social affordances of using chatbots in language learningResultsOur findings revealed three technological affordances: timeliness, ease of use, and personalization; and five pedagogical uses: as interlocutors, as simulations, for transmission, as helplines, and for recommendations. Chatbots appeared to encourage students’ social presence by affective, open, and coherent communication. Several challenges in using chatbots were identified: technological limitations, the novelty effect, and cognitive load.Discussion and ConclusionA set of rudimentary design principles for chatbots are proposed for meaningfully implementing educational chatbots in language learning, and detailed suggestions for future research are presented.