bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metformin—‘BRAINS & AIMS’ pharmacological/prescribing principles of commonly prescribed (Top 100) drugs: Education and discussion
Authors: Koslover Joshua , Bruce Deborah , Patel Shivani , Webb Andrew J. 
Published: December 2022

We review pharmacological/prescribing principles relating to metformin according to our mnemonic framework: ‘BRAINS & AIMS’ (Benefits, Risks, Adverse Effects, Interactions, Necessary prophylaxis, Susceptibilities, Administering, Informing, Monitoring and Stopping):Benefits: Metformin's licensed uses: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treatment, reduction in risk or delay of onset. No clear evidence metformin influences patient‐important outcomes [Cochrane Review (2020) of 18 RCTs (n = 10 680)].Risks: Inexpensive, essential WHO list drug; use contraindicated/not tolerated in 15%: for example, contraindication: lactic acidosis in renal impairment (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2).Adverse effects: Common gastrointestinal (GI) side effects are dose‐related and include abdominal pain, decreased appetite, diarrhoea (usually transient), nausea and vomiting, altered taste; vitamin B12 deficiency. Rare: acute metabolic acidosis (lactic acidosis/diabetic ketoacidosis).Interactions (pharmacokinetic) occur with drugs impairing renal function and hence metformin excretion, and drugs inhibiting organic cation transporter 1 or 2 (OCT1, OCT2), and/or multidrug and toxin extrusion protein 1 (MATE1/2‐K), such as cimetidine, ranolazine, trimethoprim and verapamil, and inducers such as rifampicin. The risk of hypoglycaemia may increase when metformin is used in combination with other medications for diabetes (pharmacodynamic interaction).Necessary prophylaxis: Detect/treat vitamin B12 deficiency.Susceptible groups: Elderly/renal/liver impairment (lactic acidosis); safe in pregnancy/breastfeeding.Administering: Initially 500 mg once daily (morning) with breakfast; titrate only after 1 week.Informing (relevant BRAINS & A(I)MS principles).Monitoring: Renal function beforehand, and 6–12 monthly, HbA1c 3–6 monthly until controlled. Serum vitamin B12 levels if deficiency is suspected/risk factors for.Stopping: Encourage patients to continue medication, unless deteriorating renal/liver function. Reasons for deprescribing: no harms from stopping suddenly.
Follow the genuine leader: The “green imitation”
Authors: Calderón Reyes , De Urbina María Ortiz , Expósito Luis 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe combined effect of coercion (public and private pressure), self‐interest (competitive advantage) and conviction (intrinsically motivated or genuine) explain why environmental issues have become a key priority for companies. While research has explored coercion and competitive advantage, the role of conviction has received little attention. This paper aims to address this gap. Conviction, which has been correlated with institutional and individual drivers, offers more stable results and a potential multiplier effect as good examples are disseminated by imitation throughout an industry. While the role of imitation has drawn increasing attention of business management studies, it has received scant attention in research on sustainability. This is the second gap this paper aims to address, contributing to the literature on sustainability in two ways: firstly, we will further explore the role of conviction in environmental sustainability; secondly, employing a compartmental model of epidemic propagation, used for other social phenomena, we model the role genuine examples by leaders can play within an industry and the dissemination of good behavior by imitation. Defining genuine conviction as the voluntary mitigation of the externalities of a firm's operations beyond that required by law or the market, substantiated in the responsible behavior of its leaders, our model discovers patterns that policymakers could use to create a “sustainability epidemic”. We suggest mathematical models of epidemics can be applied to sustainability, offering a fresh perspective on the phenomenon of imitation, allowing us to discover how some cultural and social habits can be used.
Frequent loss of metastatic ability in subclones of Apc, Kras, Tgfbr2, and Trp53 mutant intestinal tumor organoids
Authors: Morita Atsuya , Nakayama Mizuho , Wang Dong , Murakami Kazuhiro , Oshima Masanobu 
Published: December 2022

AbstractCancer evolution is explained by the accumulation of driver mutations and subsequent positive selection by acquired growth advantages, like Darwin's evolution theory. However, whether the negative selection of cells that have lost malignant properties contributes to cancer progression has not yet been fully investigated. Using intestinal metastatic tumor‐derived organoids carrying Apc, Kras, Tgfbr2, and Trp53 quadruple mutations, we demonstrate here that approximately 30% of subclones of the organoids show loss of metastatic ability to the liver while keeping the driver mutations and oncogenic pathways. Notably, highly metastatic subclones also showed a gradual loss of metastatic ability during further passages. Such non‐metastatic subclones revealed significantly decreased survival and proliferation ability in Matrigel and collagen gel culture conditions, which may cause elimination from the tumor tissues in vivo. RNA sequencing indicated that stemness‐related genes, including Lgr5 and Myb, were significantly downregulated in non‐metastatic subclones as well as subclones that lost metastatic ability during additional passages. Furthermore, a CGH analysis showed that non‐metastatic subclones were derived from a minor population of parental organoid cells. These results indicate that metastatic ability is continuously lost with decreased stem cell property in certain subpopulations of malignant tumors, and such subpopulations are eliminated by negative selection. Therefore, it is possible that cancer evolution is regulated not only by positive selection but also by negative selection. The mechanism underlying the loss of metastatic ability will be important for the future development of therapeutic strategies against metastasis.
ABCA9, an ER cholesterol transporter, inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation via SREBP‐2 signaling
Authors: Hwang Hyeon‐Ji , Lee Kang‐Hoon , Cho Je‐Yoel 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe association between cholesterol metabolism and cancer development and progression has been recently highlighted. However, the role and function of many cholesterol transporters remain largely unknown. Here, we focused on the ATP‐binding cassette subfamily A member 9 (ABCA9) transporter given that its expression is significantly downregulated in both canine mammary tumors and human breast cancers, which in breast cancer patients correlates with poor prognosis. We found that ABCA9 is mainly present in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is responsible for promoting cholesterol accumulation in this structure. Accordingly, ABCA9 inhibited sterol‐regulatory element binding protein‐2 (SREBP‐2) translocation from the ER to the nucleus, a crucial step for cholesterol synthesis, resulting in the downregulation of cholesterol synthesis gene expression. ABCA9 expression in breast cancer cells attenuated cell proliferation and reduced their colony‐forming abilities. We identified ABCA9 expression to be regulated by Forkhead box O1 (FOXO1). Inhibition of PI3K induced enhanced ABCA9 expression through the activation of the PI3K–Akt–FOXO1 pathway in breast cancer cells. Altogether, our study suggests that ABCA9 functions as an ER cholesterol transporter that suppresses cholesterol synthesis via the inhibition of SREBP‐2 signaling and that its restoration halts breast cancer cell proliferation. Our findings provide novel insight into the vital role of ABCA9 in breast cancer progression.
Decompressive surgery in cerebral venous thrombosis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Misra Shubham , Sudhir Pachipala , Nath Manabesh , Sharma Vijay K. , Vibha Deepti 
Published: December 2022

AbstractObjectiveThe efficacy of decompressive surgery (DS) in cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) patients has been reported in several case reports and case series. We aimed at determining the association of DS compared with medical management and timing of surgery with functional outcome and mortality. We also aimed at determining the prevalence of DS in CVT patients.MethodsThe literature search was conducted till 7 November 2022 in PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. Risk of bias was examined using Joanna Briggs Institute scale for case series and case reports. Association of DS compared with medical management and timing of surgery with functional outcome and mortality was determined using odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Pooled prevalence of DS in CVT patients with 95%CI was calculated. Heterogeneity was explored using outlier, meta‐regression, sensitivity and subgroup analyses.ResultsFifty‐one studies consisting of 483 CVT cases with DS were included. The OR of poor outcome with surgery was 0.03; (95%CI: 0.00–0.22) and of mortality with surgery was 0.25; (95%CI: 0.02–2.60) versus that with medical management. Surgery done ≤48 h of admission was significantly associated with less mortality (OR: 0.26; 95%CI: 0.10–0.69). Pooled prevalence of DS in CVT was 12% (95%CI: 8%–17%; I2 = 91%). Revised pooled prevalence after removing outliers was 10% (95%CI: 7%–13%; I2 = 73%).ConclusionsSurgery ≤48 h of admission might decrease mortality in CVT patients and may result in improved functional outcome. Further prospective studies with appropriate control arms are required to confirm its efficacy over medical management.
The impact of metabolic syndrome on chronic kidney disease development. Insights from a big prospective study
Authors: Fanaei Seyedeh Melika , Mehran Ladan , Amouzegar Atieh , Masoumi Safdar , Amouzegar Atefeh , Azizi Freidoun 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) can progress over time and cause renal replacement therapy. Studies showed the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and CKD. Current evidence is from cross‐sectional studies. There is a need for the robust data from big prospective cohort studies with long‐term follow‐up. This study investigated the association between CKD and MetS after 18 years of follow‐up.Material and MethodAmong 15,255 participants aged ≥20 years at baseline (1999–2005), after exclusion of CKD, cancer, and use of corticosteroids, 8987 participants entered the study and followed at a three‐year cycle up to 2018. All participants were divided into five subgroups: (1) MetS‐free, (2) MetS (DM+, HTN−), (3) MetS+ (DM−, HTN+), (4) MetS+ (DM+, HTN+) and (5) MetS+ (DM−, HTN−).ResultAt baseline, the mean age of the participants was 39.8 ± 13.3 years; 4996 (55.6%) were females. CKD was developed in 2038 (22.7%) subjects during 18 years of follow‐up, of whom 1107 had MetS. After adjusting for the confounding variables, MetS (DM+, HTN+) subgroup had the highest risk of CKD (HR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.32–1.71). MetS subjects with five components had a higher incidence rate of CKD (HR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.22–1.68). There was no association between high waist circumference (WC) (HR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.99–1.19) and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) (HR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.98–1.18) with CKD.ConclusionCKD significantly develops in patients with MetS. Metabolic syndrome was associated with the development of chronic kidney disease incidence. Hypertension, diabetes, and age were strong indicators, while abdominal obesity and reduced HDL were not associated with the incidence of CKD.
Morphological and molecular characterization of Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium avenaceum causing a novel needle blight of Picea asperata in China
Authors: Li Zhezhe , Yang Chengde , Cui Lingxiao , Wei Lijuan , Jin Mengjun 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPicea asperata is a unique tree species in China. It has important economic and ecological values. In this study, the disease symptoms resembling needle blight, a new disease of P. asperata (10‐ to 15‐year‐old), were detected in a forest area in Tianshui City, Gansu Province, China, in August 2020. Affected needles turned yellow, the colour became darker at the junction of infected and healthy areas, the needles wilted and even fell off the tree. Through pathogenicity tests, the two pure fungi strains isolated from diseased needles caused distinct needle blight symptoms on P. asperata, with symptoms similar to those observed in the forest. It was observed that they had sickle‐shaped conidia. Subsequently, multilocus phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), translation elongation factor 1‐α (TEF‐1α) and RNA polymerase II second major subunit (RPB2) genes was performed. They were found closely clustered with Fusarium oxysporum and F. avenaceum, respectively. Based on morphological and molecular biological determinations, the two pathogens were identified as F. oxysporum and F. avenaceum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of needle blight caused by F. oxysporum and F. avenaceum on P. asperata in China.
Effects of postharvest processing on aroma formation in roasted coffee – a review
Authors: Cao Xiaotong , Wu Hanjing , Viejo Claudia G. , Dunshea Frank R. , Suleria Hafiz A. R. 
Published: December 2022

SummaryPostharvest processing of coffee cherries significantly influences sensory characteristics and commercial values. Aroma is one of the critical elements in product qualification and differentiation of coffees from different origins, roasting levels and brewing methods. Except for primary coffee volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (furans and pyrazines), which are generated during postharvest processing (dry, honey, wet processing and roasting), aldehydes, ketones, phenols, sulphur compounds and others could also contribute to the complex coffee flavour. Desirable flavour requires a balance between pleasant and defective VOCs. This review comprehensively discussed the mechanisms of conventional and novel postharvest processing of coffee beans, their impact on the sensorial profile of green and roasted coffee, and the composition, generation and analysis techniques of coffee VOCs. This review shows the feasibility of GC–MS and electronic nose (E‐nose) in coffee VOCs and flavour detection, meanwhile building a comprehensive linkage between postharvest processing and coffee sensory characteristics.
Thermoelectric properties of layered oxyselenides with 3d transition metal ions
Authors: Yang Yueyang , Zhou Zhifang , Wei Bin , Liu Junyan , Lan Jin‐Le , Zou Mingchu , Xu Yushuai , Zheng Yunpeng , Nan Ce‐Wen , Lin Yuan‐Hua 
Published: December 2022

AbstractLayered oxychalcogenides have received extensive attention in the fields of magnetism, superconductivity, lithium battery, and luminescence due to their unique electronic, magnetic properties, and layered structure, among which layered oxyselenides have excellent and promising thermoelectric performance, such as BiCuSeO and Bi2LnO4Cu2Se2. Here, we successfully synthesized Sr2MO2Cu2Se2 (M = Co, Ni, Zn) and Sr2FeO3CuSe and investigated the thermoelectric properties at a wide temperature range (298–923 K). They have a relatively high Seebeck coefficient (>300 μV K−1) in medium to high temperature range and possess a low thermal conductivity. The power factor and ZT reach 65 μW m−1 K−1 and 0.07 at 923 K for intrinsic Sr2NiO2Cu2Se2, and a higher performance is expected to be achieved by strategies like carrier concentration optimization and band structure engineering.
Developing Empathy Through Design Thinking in Elementary Art Education
Authors: Montero Jane 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPast research has suggested incorporating design thinking in upper elementary art education helps students develop what are known as the Four Cs: collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. As an instructional strategy, design thinking focuses on empathy first and provides a structure for students to work through real‐world, complex problems in small groups. This exploratory qualitative case study examined the effects of teaching empathy through design thinking in upper elementary art education. Eight teachers participated, representing public, private, charter, and independent school settings. Data included student observations, interviews, and journal reflections. An analysis of findings resulted in three conclusions: (a) design thinking can foster the development of empathy in preadolescents, (b) art education curricula at the upper elementary level can include design thinking, and (c) design thinking is a valid strategy for teaching empathy. Including empathy within art education promotes a classroom culture that is respectful and understanding of others, with students becoming advocates of justice, equity, and inclusion. As society continues to struggle with bullying, physical violence, and social unrest, teaching empathy has the potential to change how students relate to each other in the classroom, and, ultimately, in the world at large.
Impact of an online, individualised, patient reported outcome measures based patient decision aid on patient expectations, decisional regret, satisfaction, and health‐related quality‐of‐life for patients considering total knee arthroplasty: Results from a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Marshall Deborah A. , Trenaman Logan , MacDonald Karen V. , Johnson Jeffrey A. , Stacey Dawn , Hawker Gillian , Smith Christopher , Durand D'Arcy , Bansback Nick 
Published: December 2022

AbstractRationaleTotal knee arthroplasty is a common surgical procedure but not appropriate for all patients with knee osteoarthritis. Patient decision aids (PtDAs) can promote shared decision making and enhance understanding and expectations of procedures among patients, resulting in better discussions between patients and healthcare providers about whether total knee arthroplasty is the most appropriate option.Aims and ObjectivesEvaluate impact of an individualised PtDA for osteoarthritis patients considering total knee arthroplasty 1 year after baseline assessment.MethodsProspective, randomised controlled trial comparing an intervention arm (IA) and routine care arm (RCA). The IA included an online individualised patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) based PtDA and one‐page summary report for the surgeon. We report secondary outcomes from the final assessment: patient expectations, decisional regret, patient satisfaction with outcomes of knee replacement, health‐related quality‐of‐life (HRQOL) and depression. We report changes in HRQOL between baseline and final assessments, study arms, and surgical versus non‐surgical patients. Descriptive statistics were used to describe participant characteristics and continuous variables. Dichotomous outcomes (expectations, decisional regret, satisfaction) were analyzed using logistic regression and continuous outcomes (HRQOL, depression) were modelled using linear regression.ResultsOverall, 140 participants completed all study assessments (IA: n = 69, RCA: n = 71); n = 108 underwent surgery (IA: n = 49, RCA: n = 59). Regardless of study arm, most participants reported expectations were met, minimal decisional regret, satisfaction with outcomes of knee replacement, and had improvements in HRQOL. While no significant differences in study outcomes were found between study arms, IA results were in the direction hypothesised in favour of the PtDA.ConclusionsAlthough we were not able to detect statistically significant benefits associated with implementing this PROMs‐based PtDA, there was no apparent negative effect on these outcomes 1 year after baseline. We anticipate there may be benefit to implementing this PtDA earlier in the osteoarthritis care pathway where patients have more opportunities to manage their disease non‐surgically.
Enhanced heat utilization and fuel saving in a jaggery plant
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Kumar Mahesh 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe shortage of scientific betterment in jaggery manufacturing processes results in a high fuel consumption and low heat utilization efficiency of conventional jaggery production plants. In the present investigation, a semi‐automatically operated modified jaggery plant (SOMJP) has been designed, fabricated, tested, and analyzed. The modifications include implementation of an automatic bagasse dryer, automatic fuel feeder, and improved pans for preheating and concentrating the sugarcane juice for obtaining jaggery. For comparison purpose, a manually operated conventional jaggery plant (MOCJP) has also been fabricated and analyzed. The SOMJP is observed to have higher overall heat utilization efficiency (80.28%), lower bagasse consumption (1.38 kg/kg of jaggery prepared), lower draft generated (11.03 N/m2) and lesser time taken for jaggery production (21 min) than that of MOCJP. In SOMJP, automatic bagasse dryer utilizing thermal energy of waste hot flue gasses has eliminated the labor and space required for the open sun drying of wet bagasse. This resulted in additional profit year by year to the stakeholders and low payback period of the plant. The SOMJP is also observed to be a highly fuel self‐sustainable plant (+12.69 kg/batch).Practical applicationsMajority of the processes adopted in conventional jaggery plants are manual. The drying and feeding of bagasse in conventional jaggery plants are one of the major processes which need more space and labor, because of which the bagasse supply is non‐uniform, higher, time‐consuming, and involves heavy running cost. These drawbacks can be overcome by implementing automation. The implementation of automatic bagasse dryer and feeder would be very helpful to convert a manually operated conventional jaggery plant (MOCJP) into semi‐automatic operated modified jaggery plant (SOMJP). The initial investments involved for making a SOMJP could be recovered, because the adopted modifications have the potential to reduce the fixed and running costs of the plant. The implementation of automation may also improve the overall performance parameters of existing conventional and modified jaggery plants.
A novel hybrid GIS‐based multi‐criteria decision‐making approach for flood susceptibility analysis in large ungauged watersheds
Authors: Sahraei Roya , Kanani‐Sadat Yousef , Homayouni Saeid , Safari Abdolreza , Oubennaceur Khalid , Chokmani Karem 
Published: December 2022

AbstractCharacterizing and identification of flood‐susceptible areas can be a solution to mitigate the damages and fatality rate. This study proposes a novel hybrid MCDM framework to assess flood susceptibility in large ungauged watersheds dealing with data scarcity issues. The proposed method examines the interdependencies and causal relationships between various criteria affecting the flooding procedure using the DEcision‐MAking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL). Moreover, since experts' opinions contain uncertainty, the fuzzy logic is integrated with DEMATEL to overcome this shortcoming. Then, the local weights of criteria were estimated using the Best–Worst Method (BWM) to enhance the pairwise comparisons process. Final criteria weights were obtained using Fuzzy DEMATEL and BWM results in Analytical Network Process (ANP) super‐matrix. Finally, the criteria were distributed spatially using the Complex Proportional Assessment of Alternatives (COPRAS) method based on obtained weights. The proposed method was compared with different approaches such as Fuzzy‐DEMATEL ANP, BWM, and AHP using several statistical measures. We concluded that the novel hybrid proposed method outperformed other approaches based on our results. Moreover, by overlaying classified maps with the historical flood events locations, it was concluded that 85.96% of flooded areas were classified as “high” and “very high.”