bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
‘Dalarinji’: A flexible clinic, belonging to and for the Aboriginal people, in an Australian emergency department
Authors: Preisz Paul , Preisz Anne , Daley Scott , Jazayeri Farzad 
Published: July 2021

AbstractObjectiveEquity and access to high‐quality healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people has remained refractory for complex and multifactorial reasons, and there are sound ethical arguments for addressing this urgently. In EDs all patients who ‘leave at own risk’ (LAOR) or ‘do not wait to be seen’ (DNW) are at increased risk of readmission, morbidity or death. This also incurs additional resource costs to the health system. Aboriginal patients have high rates of DNW and LAOR. The Flexiclinic model of care was co‐designed to better support the needs of Aboriginal patients in the ED and to reduce the rates of DNW and LAOR.Methods‘Dalarinji’, or Flexiclinic, is a flexible model of care within the ED collaboratively devised with the Aboriginal Health Unit to address the major factors that influence this vulnerable cohort leaving the St Vincent's Hospital ED (SVHED) prior to being assessed or before completion of treatment.ResultsIn the 3 months since its introduction, the Flexiclinic approach has significantly improved the quality and equity of access to medical care at SVHED for Aboriginal patients with the average summed rate of DNW and LAOR falling to 5.2% of presentations, representing a fivefold decrease in the probability of Aboriginal patients receiving incomplete care.ConclusionThe Flexiclinic approach has significantly improved medical care at SVHED for Aboriginal patients. It has been well received by both staff and patients and has had no adverse effects on delivery of services to other patient groups.
Deep learning for segmentation in radiation therapy planning: a review
Authors: Samarasinghe Gihan , Jameson Michael , Vinod Shalini , Field Matthew , Dowling Jason , Sowmya Arcot , Holloway Lois 
Published: July 2021

SummarySegmentation of organs and structures, as either targets or organs‐at‐risk, has a significant influence on the success of radiation therapy. Manual segmentation is a tedious and time‐consuming task for clinicians, and inter‐observer variability can affect the outcomes of radiation therapy. The recent hype over deep neural networks has added many powerful auto‐segmentation methods as variations of convolutional neural networks (CNN). This paper presents a descriptive review of the literature on deep learning techniques for segmentation in radiation therapy planning. The most common CNN architecture across the four clinical sub sites considered was U‐net, with the majority of deep learning segmentation articles focussed on head and neck normal tissue structures. The most common data sets were CT images from an inhouse source, along with some public data sets. N‐fold cross‐validation was commonly employed; however, not all work separated training, test and validation data sets. This area of research is expanding rapidly. To facilitate comparisons of proposed methods and benchmarking, consistent use of appropriate metrics and independent validation should be carefully considered.
smartsnp, an r package for fast multivariate analyses of big genomic data
Authors: Herrando‐Pérez Salvador , Tobler Raymond , Huber Christian D. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a powerful tool for the analysis of population structure, a genetic property that is essential to understand the evolutionary processes driving biological diversification and (pre)historical colonizations, migrations and extinctions. In the current era of high‐throughput sequencing technologies, population structure can be quantified from scores of genetic markers across hundreds to thousands of genomes. However, these big genomic datasets pose substantial computing and analytical challenges.

We present the r package smartsnp for fast and user‐friendly computation of PCA on single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. Inspired by the current field‐standard software EIGENSOFT, smartsnp includes appropriate SNP scaling for genetic drift and allows projection of ancient samples onto a modern genetic space while also providing permutation‐based multivariate tests for population differences in genetic diversity (both location and dispersion).

Our extensive benchmarks show that smartsnp's PCA is 2–4 times faster than EIGENSOFT's SMARTPCA algorithm across a wide range of sample and SNP sizes. All four smartsnp functions (smart_pca, smart_permanova, smart_permdisp and smart_mva) process datasets with up to 100 samples and 1 million simulated SNPs in less than 30 s and accurately recreate previously published SMARTPCA of ancient‐human and wolf genotypes.

The package smartsnp provides fast and robust multivariate ordination and hypothesis testing for big genomic data that is also suitable for ancient and low‐coverage modern DNA. The simple implementation should appeal to biological conservation, evolutionary, ecological and (palaeo)genomic researchers, and be useful for phenotype, ancestry and lineage studies.
Characterisation and action mode of Gluconacin, a bacteriocin with antimicrobial activity against Xanthomonas albilineans
Authors: de Almeida Ramos Elizabeth Teixeira , Meneses Carlos Henrique Salvino Gadelha , Vidal Marcia Soares , Baldani José Ivo 
Published: July 2021

AbstractGluconacin, a bacteriocin produced by Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAL5, has previously shown a large spectrum of inhibitory activity against beneficial and phytopathogenic bacteria. The present study proposes a three‐dimensional (3D) structure for Gluconacin based on modelling and describes some physicochemical characteristics and the effect of the peptide on cells of the phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas albilineans ICMP196. The Gluconacin 3D structural model results demonstrated the 7 α‐helices and 11 β‐sheets. Growth inhibition of the indicator microorganism, X. albilineans, occurred in the first moments of contact with Gluconacin (0.25 μg μl−1). Treatment of bacterial cells caused significant loss of inorganic phosphate and UV‐absorbing materials. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that Gluconacin‐treated X. albilineans cells were fully lysed. These results suggest that the mode of action of this peptide involves altered membrane integrity and increased permeability, resulting in complete cell lysis. Physicochemical characterisation demonstrated stability of biological activity under high temperatures, including autoclaving conditions and low pH. The activity was reduced after treatment with proteases and some surfactants and abolished with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The 3D conformation model indicates the possibility of a hydrophobic region, which could possibly interact directly with the cell membrane of target bacteria. In conclusion, the ability of Gluconacin to inhibit growth of phytopathogens of agricultural importance opens up new opportunities for biotechnological applications and, consequently, a reduction in the use of pesticides.
Nrf2 deficiency decreases NADPH from impaired IDH shuttle and pentose phosphate pathway in retinal pigmented epithelial cells to magnify oxidative stress‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction
Authors: Cano Marisol , Datta Sayantan , Wang Lei , Liu Tongyun , Flores‐Bellver Miguel , Sachdeva Mira , Sinha Debasish , Handa James T. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐related factor‐2 (Nrf2), a major antioxidant transcription factor, is decreased in several age‐related diseases including age‐related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness among the elderly in western society. Since Nrf2’s mito‐protective response is understudied, we investigated its antioxidant response on mitochondria. Control and Nrf2‐deficient retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells were compared after treating with cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Mitochondrial antioxidant abundance and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were quantified. Mitochondrial function was assessed by TMRM assay, NADPH, electron transport chain activity, and Seahorse. Results were corroborated in Nrf2−/− mice and relevance to AMD was provided by immunohistochemistry of human globes. CSE induced mitochondrial ROS to impair mitochondrial function. H2O2 increase in particular, was magnified by Nrf2 deficiency, and corresponded with exaggerated mitochondrial dysfunction. While Nrf2 did not affect mitochondrial antioxidant abundance, oxidized PRX3 was magnified by Nrf2 deficiency due to decreased NADPH from decreased expression of IDH2 and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) genes. With severe CSE stress, intrinsic apoptosis was activated to increase cell death. PPP component TALDO1 immunolabeling was decreased in dysmorphic RPE of human AMD globes. Despite limited regulation of mitochondrial antioxidant expression, Nrf2 influences PPP and IDH shuttle activity that indirectly supplies NADPH for the TRX2 system. These results provide insight into how Nrf2 deficiency impacts the mitochondrial antioxidant response, and its role in AMD pathobiology.
Telomere length and metabolic syndrome traits: A Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Loh Nellie Y. , Noordam Raymond , Christodoulides Constantinos 
Published: July 2021

AbstractObservational studies have revealed associations between short leucocyte telomere length (LTL), a TL marker in somatic tissues and multiple Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) traits. Animal studies have supported these findings by showing that increased telomere attrition leads to adipose tissue dysfunction and insulin resistance. We investigated the associations between genetically instrumented LTL and MetS traits using Mendelian Randomisation (MR). Fifty‐two independent variants identified at FDR<0.05 from a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) including 78,592 Europeans and collectively accounting for 2.93% of LTL variance were selected as genetic instruments for LTL. Summary‐level data for MetS traits and for the MetS as a binary phenotype were obtained from the largest publicly available GWAS and two‐sample MR analyses were used to estimate the associations of LTL with these traits. The combined effect of the genetic instruments was modelled using inverse variance weighted regression and sensitivity analyses with MR‐Egger, weighted‐median and MR‐PRESSO were performed to test for and correct horizonal pleiotropy. Genetically instrumented longer LTL was associated with higher waist‐to‐hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (β = 0.045 SD, SE = 0.018, p = 0.01), raised systolic (β = 1.529 mmHg, SE = 0.332, p = 4x10−6) and diastolic (β = 0.633 mmHg, SE = 0.222, p = 0.004) blood pressure, and increased MetS risk (OR = 1.133, 95% CI 1.057–1.215). Consistent results were obtained in sensitivity analyses, which provided no evidence of unbalanced horizontal pleiotropy. Telomere shortening might not be a major driver of cellular senescence and dysfunction in human adipose tissue. Future experimental studies should examine the mechanistic bases for the links between longer LTL and increased upper‐body fat distribution and raised blood pressure.
Solution using Stomahesive® wafers for allergic contact dermatitis caused by isobornyl acrylate in glucose monitoring sensors
Authors: Ng Kay Lin , Nixon Rosemary L. , Grills Claire , Tam Mei Mui 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIsobornyl acrylate (IBOA) has recently caused a number of cases of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) from its use in medical devices. We would like to enhance the awareness of this issue with the reporting of three Australian cases, involving two adults and a child. We also report a successful solution by using hydrocolloid wafer (Stomahesive®) as a barrier. As IBOA is not usually found on baseline patch test series and does not cross‐react with other acrylic monomers, ACD to IBOA may be missed by clinicians.
IRE1 and PERK signaling regulates inflammatory responses in a murine model of contact hypersensitivity
Authors: Gendrisch Fabian , Völkel Lukas , Fluck Melanie , Apostolova Petya , Zeiser Robert , Jakob Thilo , Martin Stefan F. , Esser Philipp R. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundContact sensitizers may interfere with correct protein folding. Generation of un‐/misfolded proteins can activate the IRE‐1 or PERK signaling pathways initiating the unfolded protein response (UPR) and thereby determine inflammatory immune responses. We have analyzed the effect of sensitizers with different potencies on the induction of UPR activation/inhibition and the subsequent generation of a pro‐inflammatory micromilieu in vitro as well as the effect of UPR modulation on the inflammatory response in the murine contact hypersensitivity (CHS) in vivo.MethodsSemi‐quantitative and quantitative PCR, fluorescence microscopy, ELISA, NF‐κB activation and translocation assays, DC/keratinocyte co‐culture assay, FACS, and in vivo CHS experiments were performed.ResultsSensitizers and irritants activate IRE‐1 and PERK in murine and human keratinocytes. Synergistic effects occur after combination of different weak sensitizers / addition of irritants. Moreover, tolerogenic dinitrothiocyanobenzene can be converted into a strong sensitizer by pre‐activation of the UPR. Blocking UPR signaling results in decreased NF‐κB activation and cytokine production in keratinocytes and in activation marker downregulation in a HaCaT/THP‐1 co‐culture. Interestingly, not only systemic but also topical application of UPR inhibitors abrogates CHS responses in vivo.ConclusionThese observations highlight an important role of the UPR in determination of the inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo further underlining the importance of tissue stress and damage responses in the development of ACD and provide mechanistically based concepts as a basis for the development of new therapeutic approaches to treat allergic contact dermatitis.
The Mechanics of Sovereignty: Autonomy and Interdependence across Three Cables to Iceland
Authors: Johnson Alix 
Published: July 2021

ABSTRACTThis article examines three telecommunications cables to Iceland as material instantiations of sovereignty politics. Tracing the historical case of the island's first telegraph, then examining two contemporary efforts to lay subsea fiber‐optic cables, I show how each cable embodies a particular sovereignty project, which is complicated by the process of laying, operating, and maintaining the line. I develop the concept ofmechanics of sovereigntyin order to describe the everyday and ongoing work of tinkering with and tending to transnational connections. Contributing to recent efforts to theorize sovereignty as a process and practice (rather than a political abstraction), this research sheds fresh light on the specific relationship between information technology (IT) and the nation‐state: while IT is often imagined as either eroding or enhancing sovereignty, close attention to communications cables in Iceland shows they serve as conduits for both autonomy and interdependence. [sovereignty, infrastructure, mechanics, information technology, Iceland]
Neoliberal Fictions for the Audit Theater: University Educators and Administrators Navigating Accountability Regimes
Authors: Aydarova Elena 
Published: July 2021

SummaryThis ethnographic story explores fiction‐making in the context of audit cultures and accountability regimes. Based on a critical multi‐sited ethnography conducted between 2011 and 2015 in the Russian Federation, this composite narrative draws on eighty interviews, casual conversations, and observations at several universities. It documents how educators at higher education institutions responded to audit reviews by constructing paper façades of reports and curriculum documents that obscured what they were doing or how their departments were run. When an inspection took place, the reviewers focused on paperwork to infer the quality of educational services. The fictions and paper façades created to convince the state that institutions were functioning well also sheltered the illicit practices and corruption that operated at various levels of the institutional hierarchy. In this audit theater, faculty participated in producing fakery, dupery, and swagger that protected them from immediate punishment, but they ended up feeling cheated by their own production. As educators navigated new reporting requirements, they also made sense of the state’s own fakery, hypocrisy, and duplicity. New relationships among educators, institutions, and the state created by accountability regimes produced a politics of disposability to sustain state fictions of success.
Perioperative and oncologic outcomes of right anterior sectionectomy for liver disease: A single‐center experience with 415 patients
Authors: Kwon Jaewoo , Lee Jae Hoon , Park Seo Young , Lee Woohyung , Song Ki Byung , Hwang Dae Wook , Kim Song Cheol , Lee Young Joo 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundRight anterior sectionectomy (RAS) is technically difficult and performed infrequently, so there are few published reports about experiences with this surgery. We describe 10 years' worth of clinicopathologic and oncologic outcomes associated with RAS.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 415 patients treated with RAS for hepatic tumors located at segment five and/or eight between January 2008 and December 2017.ResultsAll patients underwent RAS with the alternative Glissonean pedicle clamp and Kelly clamp‐crushing methods for transection. The mean operative time was 165 min, and the mean transection time was 28 min. Major morbidity (≥grade III) occurred in 28 cases (6.7%). Bile leakage occurred in 63 patients (15.1%), but no patients required reoperation. Grade A, B, and C post‐hepatectomy liver failure occurred in 39 (9.4%), 7 (1.7%), and 0 patients, respectively. There were no in‐hospital deaths caused by postoperative complications. The mean hospital stay was 13.3 days. The mean tumor size was 3.8 cm. Among hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients (n = 361, 87.0%), the 5‐ and 10‐year overall survival rates were 78.3%, 64.4%, and the 5‐ and 10‐year disease‐free survival rates were 57.2%, 37.7%, respectively.ConclusionsRAS was associated with acceptable procedure‐related morbidity and mortality as well as appropriate oncologic outcomes for HCC patients.
Context matters: Self‐regulation of healthy eating at different eating occasions
Authors: Bouwman Emily P. , Reinders Machiel J. , Galama Joris , Verain Muriel C. D. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSelf‐regulation plays an important role in healthy eating behaviors. The current research explores temporary fluctuations in self‐regulation next to variations between individuals. In an online observational study, 892 participants (Mage = 44.3, SDage = 12.7) monitored their self‐regulation three times a week before a meal moment for 3 weeks. To analyze the data, a random intercept and slopes model was used, including variables on within‐individual level (i.e. meal moment, tiredness, distractedness, social, and physical environment) and variables on between‐individual level (i.e. self‐efficacy, intrinsic motivation, and perception of social and physical opportunity). Self‐regulation was found to be higher at breakfast compared with dinner (estimate = −0.08, p < .001), higher at home than out‐of‐home (estimate = −0.08, p < .001) and lower when individuals are more tired (estimate = 0.04, p < .001) and distracted (estimate = 0.07, p < .001). Moreover, self‐regulation was higher for individuals with higher levels of intrinsic motivation (estimate = 0.19, p < .001) and self‐efficacy (estimate = 0.41, p < .001). Insights from this research advance our knowledge regarding temporal influences on self‐regulation and can provide input for behavior change tools such as personalized dietary advice.
TH1902, a new docetaxel‐peptide conjugate for the treatment of sortilin‐positive triple‐negative breast cancer
Authors: Demeule Michel , Charfi Cyndia , Currie Jean‐Christophe , Larocque Alain , Zgheib Alain , Kozelko Sophie , Béliveau Richard , Marsolais Christian , Annabi Borhane 
Published: July 2021

AbstractTriple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous subgroup of cancers which lacks the expression and/or amplification of targetable biomarkers (ie, estrogen receptor, progestrogen receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2), and is often associated with the worse disease‐specific outcomes than other breast cancer subtypes. Here, we report that high expression of the sortilin (SORT1) receptor correlates with the decreased survival in TNBC patients, and more importantly in those bearing lymph node metastases. By exploiting SORT1 function in ligand internalization, a new anticancer treatment strategy was designed to target SORT1‐positive TNBC‐derived cells both in vitro and in two in vivo tumor xenografts models. A peptide (TH19P01), which requires SORT1 for internalization and to which many anticancer drugs could be conjugated, was developed. In vitro, while the TH19P01 peptide itself did not exert any antiproliferative or apoptotic effects, the docetaxel‐TH19P01 conjugate (TH1902) exerted potent antiproliferative and antimigratory activities when tested on TNBC‐derived MDA‐MB‐231 cells. TH1902 triggered faster and more potent apoptotic cell death than did unconjugated docetaxel. The apoptotic and antimigratory effects of TH1902 were both reversed by two SORT1 ligands, neurotensin and progranulin, and on siRNA‐mediated silencing of SORT1. TH1902 also altered microtubule polymerization and triggered the downregulation of the anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐xL biomarker. In vivo, both i.p. and i.v. administrations of TH1902 led to greater tumor regression in two MDA‐MB‐231 and HCC‐70 murine xenograft models than did docetaxel, without inducing neutropenia. Altogether, the data demonstrates the high in vivo efficacy and safety of TH1902 against TNBC through a SORT1 receptor‐mediated mechanism. This property allows for selective treatment of SORT1‐positive TNBC and makes TH1902 a promising avenue for personalized therapy with the potential of improving the therapeutic window of cytotoxic anticancer drugs such as docetaxel.
Effects of anthropogenic landscapes on population maintenance of waterbirds
Authors: Wang Xiaodan , Li Xinhai , Ren Xiaotong , Jackson Micha V. , Fuller Richard A. , Melville David S. , Amano Tatsuya , Ma Zhijun 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAnthropogenic impacts have reduced natural areas but increased the area of anthropogenic landscapes. There is debate about whether anthropogenic landscapes (e.g., farmlands, orchards, and fish ponds) provide alternatives to natural habitat and under what circumstances. We considered whether anthropogenic landscapes can mitigate population declines for waterbirds. We collected data on population trends and biological traits of 1203 populations of 579 species across the planet. Using Bayesian generalized linear mixed models, we tested whether the ability of a species to use an anthropogenic landscape can predict population trends of waterbird globally and of species of conservation concern. Anthropogenic landscapes benefited population maintenance of common but not less‐common species. Conversely, the use of anthropogenic landscapes was associated with population declines for threatened species. Our findings delineate some limitations to the ability of anthropogenic landscapes to mitigate population declines, suggesting that the maintenance of global waterbird populations depends on protecting remaining natural areas and improving the habitat quality in anthropogenic landscapes.Article impact statement: Protecting natural areas and improving the quality of anthropogenic landscapes as habitat are both needed to achieve effective conservation.