bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evidence on the use of Birthrate Plus® to guide safe staffing in maternity services – a systematic scoping review
Authors: Griffiths Peter , Turner Lesley , Lown Jenny , Sanders Julia 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundBirthrate Plus® is a widely used tool that informs decisions about the number of midwifery staff needed to provide safe and high quality care in maternity services.Evidence about the effectiveness, validity, reliability, and feasibility of tools such as this is needed.ObjectiveTo identify, describe and analyse the available evidence supporting the use of Birthrate Plus.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Scopus, Academic Search, British Library Ethos, Directory of Open Access Journals and Science Direct. Studies were eligible if they reported empirical data relevant to the validity, reliability, or useability of Birthrate Plus or if they measured the impact on staffing levels, outcomes, costs or provided a comparison with other methods.Results23 sources of evidence were identified and reviewed. We found no prospective intervention studies on the use of Birthrate Plus to demonstrate outcomes for mothers, babies or staff wellbeing. Nor did we find studies comparing the tool to other methods or addressing resource use. Most of the evidence was descriptive, focussing on the use of the tool or the results of Birthrate Plus assessments. There is some evidence of the reliability of application of categories within the tool, the ability of the tool to detect variation in demand and to highlight staff shortages.ConclusionsIn terms of traditional hierarchies of evidence, the evidence for Birthrate Plus is weak. There is a need for more independent research or simulation using real world data to understand how the tool performs in the current context of midwifery practice.Statement of significanceProblem or IssueIt is important to ensure that there are sufficient midwives to provide safe and effective care and support positive experiences for women during pregnancy and child birth.What is Already KnownBirthrate Plus is a widely used tool to calculate staffing requirements, which is promoted by the company as being ‘evidence based’.What this Paper AddsThis review of evidence found major gaps. There is no direct evidence that Birthrate Plus calculates the correct level of staffing or performs better than other systems or professional judgement alone.
High-Resolution Melt Curve Analysis: An Approach for Mutation Detection in the TPO Gene of Congenital Hypothyroid Patients in Bangladesh
Authors: Begum Mst. Noorjahan , Mahtarin Rumana , Islam Md Tarikul , Antora Nusrat Jahan , Sarker Suprovath Kumar , Sultana Nusrat , Sajib Abu A. , Islam Abul B.M.M.K , Banu Hurjahan , Hasanat M A , Shyamaly Kohinoor Jahan , Begum Suraiya , Konika Tasnia Kawsar , Haque Shahinur , Hasan Mizanul , Sultana Sadia , Bhuiyan Taufiqur Rahman , Mannoor Kaiissar , Qadri Firdausi , Akhteruzzaman Sharif 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThyroid Peroxidase (TPO) is known to be the major gene involved in Congenital hypothyroid patients with thyroid dyshormonogenesis. This present study aimed to establish high-resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis as a supplementary mutation detection approach of Sanger sequencing targeting commonly found mutations c.1117G>T, c.1193G>C, and c.2173A>C in the TPO gene in Bangladeshi patients. We enrolled 36 confirmed cases of congenital hypothyroid patients with dyshormonogenesis to establish the HRM method. Blood samples were collected, and genomic DNA was isolated for molecular techniques. Among the 36 specimens, 20 were pre-sequenced, and mutations were characterized through Sanger sequencing. The pre-sequenced specimens (n=20) were then subjected to real-time PCR-HRM curve analysis to get the appropriate HRM condition capable of differentiating heterozygous and homozygous states for the three mutations from the wild-type state. Furthermore, 16 unknown specimens were subjected to HRM analysis to validate the method. This method showed 100 percent sensitivity and specificity to distinguish wild-type alleles from homozygous or heterozygous states (c.1117G>T, c.1193G>C, and c.2173A>C) of alleles commonly found in Bangladeshi patients. The HRM data was found to be similar to the sequencing result, thus confirming the validity of the HRM approach forTPOgene mutation.In conclusion, the established HRM-based molecular technique targeting c.1117G>T, c.1193G>C, and c.2173A>C mutations could be used as a high throughput, rapid, reliable, and cost-effective screening approach for the detection of all common mutations inTPOgene in Bangladeshi patients with dyshormonogenesis.
Ranked severe maternal morbidity index for population-level surveillance at delivery hospitalization based on hospital discharge data
Authors: Kuklina Elena V. , Ewing Alexander C. , Satten Glen A. , Callaghan William M. , Goodman David A. , Ferre Cynthia D. , Ko Jean Y. , Womack Lindsay S. , Galang Romeo R. , Kroelinger Charlan D. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundSevere maternal morbidity (SMM) is broadly defined as an unexpected and potentially life-threatening event associated with labor and delivery. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) produced 21 different indicators based on International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) hospital diagnostic and procedure codes to identify cases of SMM.ObjectivesTo examine existing SMM indicators and determine which indicators identified the most in-hospital mortality at delivery hospitalization.MethodsData from the 1993–2015 and 2017–2019 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s National Inpatient Sample were used to report SMM indicator-specific prevalences, in-hospital mortality rates, and population attributable fractions (PAF) of mortality. We hierarchically ranked indicators by their overall PAF of in-hospital mortality. Predictive modeling determined if SMM prevalence remained comparable after transition to ICD-10-CM coding.ResultsThe study population consisted of 18,198,934 hospitalizations representing 87,864,173 US delivery hospitalizations. The 15 top ranked indicators identified 80% of in-hospital mortality; the proportion identified by the remaining indicators was negligible (2%). The top 15 indicators were: restoration of cardiac rhythm; cardiac arrest; mechanical ventilation; tracheostomy; amniotic fluid embolism; aneurysm; acute respiratory distress syndrome; acute myocardial infarction; shock; thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism; cerebrovascular disorders; sepsis; both DIC and blood transfusion; acute renal failure; and hysterectomy. The overall prevalence of the top 15 ranked SMM indicators (∼22,000 SMM cases per year) was comparable after transition to ICD-10-CM coding.ConclusionsWe determined the 15 indicators that identified the most in-hospital mortality at delivery hospitalization in the US. Continued testing of SMM indicators can improve measurement and surveillance of the most severe maternal complications at the population level.
Xrs2 C-terminus mediates Tel1-dependent meiotic double-strand break interference
Authors: Dorme Marie , Aithal Rakesh , Cayrou Christelle , Vernerey Julien , Llorente Bertrand , Garcia Valérie 
Published: October 2023

AbstractDuring meiosis, the programmed formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by Spo11, a conserved topoisomerase-like protein, initiates homologous recombination that leads to crossovers between homologous chromosomes, essential for accurate segregation and genome evolution. Because DSBs are a threat to genome integrity, their number, distribution and timing of formation are regulated during the meiotic program. InS. cerevisiae, DSB interference prevents the coincident formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in neighboring hotspots through a Tel1/ATM dependent mechanism that remains unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that Tel1 is recruited to meiotic DSBs hotspots in response to Spo11-DSB formation. Tel1 also localizes to chromosomal axis sites in a DSB-dependent manner, thus supporting the TLAC model that postulates meiotic DSBs are being formed within the chromosome axis environment. Tel1 recruitment to meiotic DSBs, DSB interference and the meiotic DNA damage checkpoint are dependent on both the Tel1-FATC domain and the C-terminal moiety of Xrs2, known to mediate Tel1-Xrs2 interaction in somatic cells. However, in a Xrs2 (FxF/Y) mutant DSBs interference remains functional despite Tel1 binding to DSB sites being significantly reduced and the Tel1-dependent DNA damage checkpoint abolished. Altogether, this work highlights the complex regulation of Tel1 multiple functions in meiotic cells, and fine-tuning through interaction with Xrs2.
Mechanisms of theFTOlocus association with obesity: Irx3 controls a sumoylation-dependent switch between adipogenesis and osteogenesis
Authors: Bjune Jan-Inge , Laber Samantha , Lawrence-Archer Laurence , Zhao Xu , Yamada Shuntaro , Al-Sharabi Niyaz , Mustafa Kamal , Njølstad Pål R. , Claussnitzer Melina , Cox Roger D. , Chymkowitch Pierre , Mellgren Gunnar , Dankel Simon N. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundIRX3 is implicated in genetic predisposition to obesity via theFTOvariant locus.IRX3showsFTOrisk allele-dependent upregulation specifically during early adipogenesis, leading to a shift from energy-dissipation to fat storage in mature adipocytes. However, how changes inIRX3expression at one developmental stage affect cellular phenotype at a later stage remains unclear. We here hypothesize that IRX3 regulates adipocyte development via transcriptional modulation of epigenetic reprogramming factors.MethodsWe combined ChIP-, ATAC- and RNA-sequencing to map direct Irx3 target genes in regions of open chromatin during early adipogenesis of wild-type andIrx3-KO preadipocytes. Gene ontology analyses was performed to identify significantly enriched biological pathways. Denaturing western blotting was used to assess sumoylation levels, and the inhibitor ML-792 was used to specifically block sumoylation. Luciferase assays were performed to estimate effects of ML-792 on Pparγ activity. Bodipy lipid staining, immunofluorescence and qPCR were employed to assess adipogenic differentiation in 3D culture. Alkaline phosphatase and Alizarine Red S staining, as well as immunofluorescence and qPCR were used to assess osteogenic differentiation in 3D culture.ResultsWe identified more than 300 Irx3 binding sites in preadipocytes, and these were almost exclusively restricted to promoter regions, with a strong enrichment of genes related to sumoylation, histone modifications and chromatin remodeling. Genes from every step of the sumoylation cycle were bound by Irx3 and differentially expressed in response toIrx3-KO, leading to increased global sumoylation levels in the KO cells. Irx3 ablation and elevated sumoylation inhibited Pparγ activity and adipogenic differentiation in preadipocytes, both of which could be restored by pharmacological inhibition of sumoylation. TheIrx3-KO cells demonstrated reduced epigenetic suppression against osteogenesis, resulting in increased osteogenesis in 3D culture. Finally, osteogenesis induced by Irx3 ablation could partially be reversed by inhibition of sumoylation.ConclusionsOur study has uncovered IRX3 as a novel upstream regulator of sumoylation, and a potent controller of epigenetic regulators, both directly and indirectly via suppressing global sumoylation levels. This study indicates that theFTOlocus promotes obesity via IRX3-mediated suppression of sumoylation, which promotes adipogenic commitment and differentiation through epigenetic programming.Graphical abstract
Cockayne syndrome patient iPSC-derived brain organoids and neurospheres show early transcriptional dysregulation of biological processes associated with brain development and metabolism
Authors: Szepanowski Leon-Phillip , Wruck Wasco , Kapr Julia , Rossi Andrea , Fritsche Ellen , Krutmann Jean , Adjaye James 
Published: October 2023

SummaryCockayne syndrome is a rare hereditary autosomal recessive disorder characterized by diverse neurological afflictions. However, little is known about the cerebral development in CS patients.We generated neurospheres and cerebral organoids utilizing Cockayne Syndrome B Protein (CSB) deficient induced pluripotent stem cells derived from two patients with distinct severity levels of CS and healthy controls. The transcriptome of both developmental timepoints was explored using RNA-Seq and bioinformatic analysis to identify dysregulated biological processes common to both CS patients in comparison to control. CSB-deficient neurospheres displayed upregulation of VEGFA-VEGFR2 signaling pathway, Vesicle-Mediated transport and head development. CSB-deficient cerebral organoids exhibited downregulation of brain development, neuron projection development and synaptic signalling. We further identified upregulation of Steroid Biosynthesis as common to both timepoints, in particular upregulation of the Cholesterol Biosynthesis branch.Our results provide insights into the neurodevelopmental dysregulation in CS patients and strengthen the theory, that CS is not only a neurodegenerative, but also a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Binge feeding-induced Olfactory Cortex Suppression Reduces Satiation
Authors: Lo Hung , Tantirigama Malinda L.S. , Schoenherr Anke , Moreno-Velasquez Laura , Faiss Lukas , Rost Benjamin R. , Larkum Matthew E. , Judkewitz Benjamin , Stumpenhorst Katharina , Rivalan Marion , Winter York , Schmitz Dietmar , Johenning Friedrich W. 
Published: October 2023

SUMMARYBinge eating commonly leads to overeating, but the exact mechanism is unclear. While it is known that experiencing flavor contributes to satiety, the interactions between flavor, feeding rate, and food intake remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate a novel feeding rate-dependent feedback loop between olfactory flavor representation in the anterior olfactory (piriform) cortex (aPC) and food intake. Using miniscopes forin vivocalcium imaging in freely foraging mice, we identified specific excitatory neuronal responses to food and water during slow feeding. Switching to binge feeding transformed these specific responses into unspecific global suppression of neuronal activity. Food consumption was predicted by the degree of suppression of neuronal activity in the aPC during binge feeding. Also, food deprivation enhanced neuronal activity suppression. We confirmed the hypothesis that aPC suppression promotes food intake with closed-loop optogenetics experiments. Together, we show that olfactory sensory representation in the aPC reciprocally interacts with consummatory behavior to enhance food intake.
Identification of Evolutionarily Conserved VSX2 Enhancers in Retinal Development
Authors: Honnell Victoria , Sweeney Shannon , Norrie Jackie , Ramirez Cody , Xu Beisi , Teubner Brett , Lee Ah Young , Bell Claire , Dyer Michael A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractSuper-enhancers (SEs) are expansive regions of genomic DNA that regulate the expression of genes involved in cell identity and cell fate. Recently, we found that distinct modules within a murine SE regulate gene expression of master regulatory transcription factorVsx2in a developmental stage- and cell-type specific manner.Vsx2is expressed in retinal progenitor cells as well as differentiated bipolar neurons and Müller glia. Mutations inVSX2in humans and mice lead to microphthalmia due to a defect in retinal progenitor cell proliferation. Deletion of a single module within theVsx2SE leads to microphthalmia. Deletion of a separate module within the SE leads to a complete loss of bipolar neurons, yet the remainder of the retina develops normally. Furthermore, theVsx2SE is evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates, suggesting that these modules are important for retinal development across species. In the present study, we examine the ability of these modules to drive retinal development between species. By inserting the human build of oneVsx2SE module into a mouse with microphthalmia, eye size was rescued. To understand the implications of these SE modules in a model of human development, we generated human retinal organoids. Deleting one module results in small organoids, recapitulating the small-eyed phenotype of mice with microphthalmia, while deletion of the other module leads to a complete loss of ON cone bipolar neurons. This prototypical SE serves as a model for uncoupling developmental stage- and cell-type specific effects of neurogenic transcription factors with complex expression patterns. Moreover, by elucidating the gene regulatory mechanisms, we can begin to examine how dysregulation of these mechanisms contributes to phenotypic diversity and disease.Summary StatementHerein, we describe how conserved modules within a single super-enhancer can regulateVSX2gene expression across species in both mice and human retinal organoids.
Functional analysis of chromatin-associated proteins inSordaria macrosporareveals similar roles for RTT109 and ASF1 in development and DNA damage response
Authors: Breuer Jan , Ferreira David Emanuel Antunes , Kramer Mike , Bollermann Jonas , Nowrousian Minou 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWe performed a functional analysis of two potential partners of ASF1, a highly conserved histone chaperone that plays a crucial role in the sexual development and DNA damage resistance in the ascomyceteSordaria macrospora. ASF1 is known to be involved in nucleosome assembly and disassembly, binding histones H3 and H4 during transcription, replication and DNA repair and has direct and indirect roles in histone recycling and modification as well as DNA methylation, acting as a chromatin modifier hub for a large network of chromatin-associated proteins. Here, we functionally characterized two of these proteins, RTT109 and CHK2. RTT109 is a fungal-specific histone acetyltransferase, while CHK2 is an ortholog to PRD-4, a checkpoint kinase ofNeurospora crassathat performs similar cell cycle checkpoint functions as yeast RAD53. Through the generation and characterization of deletion mutants, we discovered striking similarities between RTT109 and ASF1 in terms of their contributions to sexual development, histone acetylation and protection against DNA damage. Phenotypic observations revealed a developmental arrest at the same stage in Δrtt109 and Δasf1 strains, accompanied by a loss of H3K56 acetylation, as detected by western blot analysis. Deletion mutants ofrtt109andasf1are sensitive to the DNA damaging agent MMS (methylmethane sulfonate), but not HU (hydroxyurea). In contrast,chk2mutants are fertile and resistant to MMS, but not HU. Our findings suggest a close functional association between ASF1 and RTT109 in the context of development, histone modification and DNA damage response, while indicating a role for CHK2 in separate pathways of the DNA damage response.Article summaryIn the filamentous fungusSordaria macrospora, the conserved histone chaperone ASF1, which interacts with histones H3 and H4, was previously shown to be required for multicellular development and DNA damage response. Here, we have analyzed two additional chromatin-associated proteins.rtt109encodes a histone acetyltransferase, and deletion of the gene inS. macrosporaresults in a phenotype similar to that of a Δasf1 mutant, whereaschk2is involved in different aspects of the DNA damage response, but not in development.
Caller identification and characterization of individual humpback whale acoustic behavior
Authors: Zeh Julia M , Perez-Marrufo Valeria , Adcock Dana L , Jensen Frants H , Knapp Kaitlyn J , Robbins Jooke , Tackaberry Jennifer E , Weinrich Mason , Friedlaender Ari S , Wiley David N , Parks Susan E 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAcoustic recording tags are biologging tools that provide fine scale data linking acoustic signaling with individual behavior; however, when an animal is in a group, it is challenging to tease apart calls of other conspecifics and identify which individuals produce each call. This, in turn, prohibits robust assessment of individual acoustic behavior including call rates and silent periods, call bout production within and between individuals, and caller location. To overcome this challenge, we simultaneously instrumented small groups of humpback whales on a western North Atlantic feeding ground with sound and movement recording tags. This simultaneous tagging approach enabled us to compare the relative amplitude of each call across individuals and infer caller identity though amplitude differences. Focusing on periods when the tagged animals were isolated from other conspecifics, we were able to assign caller ID for 97% of calls in this dataset. From these labeled calls, we found that humpback whale individual call rates are highly variable across individuals and groups (0-89 calls/h), with calls produced throughout the water column and in bouts with short inter-call intervals (ICI = 2.2 s). Most calls received a likely response from a conspecific within 100 s. These results are important for modelling signal detection range for passive acoustic monitoring and density estimation. Future studies can expand on these methods for caller identification and further investigate the nature of sequence production and counter-calling in humpback whale social calls. Finally, this approach can be helpful for understanding intra-group communication in social groups across other taxa.Summary statementTagging entire humpback whale social groups with sound and movement recording tags allows us to for the first time parse out call behavior within groups and understand individual acoustic behavior.
Communicating financial stability in monetary policy reports: a text-mining experiment in postcommunist countries
Authors: Kurowski Łukasz , Smaga Paweł 
Published: October 2023

PurposeFinancial stability has become a focal point for central banks since the global financial crisis. However, the optimal mix between monetary and financial stability policies remains unclear. In this study, the “soft” approach to such policy mix was tested – how often monetary policy (in inflation reports) analyses financial stability issues. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned objective.Design/methodology/approachA total of 648 inflation reports published by 11 central banks from post-communist countries in 1998-2019 were reviewed using a text-mining method.FindingsResults show that financial stability topics (mainly cyclical aspects of systemic risk) on average account for only 2%of inflation reports’ content. Although this share has grown somewhat since the global financial crisis (in CZ, HU and PL), it still remains at a low level. Thus, not enough evidence was found on the use of a “soft” policy mix in post-communist countries.Practical implicationsGiven the strong interactions between price and financial stability, this paper emphasizes the need to increase the attention of monetary policymakers to financial stability issues.Originality/valueThe study combines two research areas, i.e. monetary policy and modern text mining techniques on a sample of post-communist countries, something which to the best of the authors’ knowledge has not been sufficiently explored in the literature before.
Exploring students’ perceptions toward the use of augmented reality for digital library services
Authors: Taha Sawsan , Kaba Abdoulaye , Al-Qeed Marzouq Ayed 
Published: October 2023

Purpose
This study aims to investigate whether students would accept augmented reality technology in Al Ain University (AAU) libraries as part of digital library services.

Design/methodology/approach
This study used a modified technology acceptance model–based survey instrument for data collection. Data was collected through an online questionnaire, which was sent to 400 students via email in March 2023. Out of the total participants, 176 students completed the questionnaire.

Findings
This study found that AAU students have a positive perception of augmented technology use in the library. They believe that augmented technology will be useful and easy to use, and students are willing to use it to access library resources and services.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the digital library perspectives in academic libraries.