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Abdominal wall scar endometriosis (AWE) is a rare endometriosis that usually occurs after gynecological or obstetric surgery and for which surgical resection is the standard treatment. For large tissue defects after resection, abdominal wall reconstruction is needed. Here, we describe a mesh bridging technique using biological and polypropylene meshes for abdominal wall reconstruction. A 34‐year‐old woman visited the center with complaints of low abdominal wall pain during menstruation for more than 5 years. Her surgical history included undergoing a cesarean section delivery twice. A mass measuring 6 cm × 5 cm × 3 cm was found above the symphysis pubis in the lower part of the abdominal incision. Endometriosis lesion was considered based on abdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging findings. After a multidisciplinary discussion that included surgical experts and gynecologists, the decision was made to perform abdominal endometrial focus excision plus abdominal wall reconstruction. Two kinds of mesh were skillfully used in the operation of this patient. Biological mesh was used close to the peritoneal side and covered with polypropylene mesh to reduce the stimulation by the polypropylene mesh of the peritoneum, enhance the strength of the biological mesh, and reduce the incidence of abdominal wall hernia. Our case demonstrates that accurate diagnosis of AWE followed by complete resection and reconstruction of the abdominal wall using a combination of biological and polypropylene mesh bridging can achieve good therapeutic results and patient satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three structurally diverse 5‐phenyltetrazolato (Tz) Ti, Zr, and Ta complexes, namely, (C2H8N)[Ti2(C7H5N4)5(C2H6N)4]·1.45C6H6 or (Me2NH2)[Ti2(NMe2)4(2,3‐μ‐Tz)3(2‐η1‐Tz)2]·1.45C6H6, (1·1.45C6H6), [Zr2(C7H5N4)6(C2H6N)2(C2H7N)2]·1.12C6H6·0.382CH2Cl2 or [Zr2(Me2NH)2(NMe2)2(2,3‐μ‐Tz)3(2‐η1‐Tz)2(1,2‐η2‐Tz)]·1.12C6H6·0.38CH2Cl2 (2·1.12C6H6·0.38CH2Cl2), and (C2H8N)2[Ta2(C7H5N4)8(C2H6N)2O]·0.25C7H8 or (Me2NH2)2[Ta2(NMe2)2(2,3‐μ‐Tz)2(2‐η1‐Tz)6O]·0.25C7H8 (3·0.25C7H8), where TzH is 5‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazole, have been synthesized and structurally characterized. All three complexes are dinuclear; the Ti center in 1 is six‐coordinate, whereas the Zr and Ta atoms in 2 and 3 are seven‐coordinate. The coordination environments of the Ti centers in 1 are similar, and so are the ligations of the Ta centers in 3. In contrast, the two Zr centers in 2 bear a different number of ligands, one of which is a bidentate η2‐5‐phenyltetrazolato ligand that has not been observed previously for d‐block elements. The dimethylamido ligand, present in the starting materials, remained unchanged, or was converted to dimethylamine and dimethylammonium during the synthesis. Dimethylamine coordinates as a neutral ligand, whereas dimethylammonium is retained as a hydrogen‐bonded entity bridging Tz ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avacopan 30 mg twice daily (BID) is approved for the treatment of severe active antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody–associated vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis). Food effect on avacopan pharmacokinetics (PKs) and PK bridging in Japanese participants were examined through 2 phase 1 studies involving healthy adult participants. In Study 1, an open‐label, crossover trial, participants received oral administration of a single 30‐mg dose of avacopan under fasted and fed conditions. Study 2 was a randomized, single‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in Caucasian and Japanese participants: Part A investigated single doses of 10 and 30 mg of avacopan under fasted and fed conditions and Part B investigated 30 and 50 mg BID avacopan. The PKs of single‐dose administrations of 10 and 30 mg in Japanese participants was compared with that in Caucasian participants under fasted conditions. Food substantially increased plasma avacopan area under the plasma concentration‐time curve from time 0 to time infinity (AUC0‐inf) by 1.72‐fold, supporting the recommendation of taking avacopan with food. Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) remained relatively unchanged. The median time to reach Cmax (tmax) was delayed by 3 hours. No significant food effect was observed on the active metabolite CCX168‐M1 (M1) AUC. Avacopan and M1 exposures were <1.5‐fold higher in Japanese participants than in Caucasian participants following multiple‐dose administration of avacopan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This review article discussed the use of bridging therapy with low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH) in patients who undergo noncardiac surgery (NCS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Hypotheses: Patients who undergo PCI are at an increased risk of thrombotic events due to their underlying cardiovascular disease. However, many of these patients may require NCS at some point in their lives, which poses a significant challenge for clinicians as they balance the risk of thrombotic events against the risk of bleeding associated with antithrombotic therapy. Results: This review evaluates the current evidence on the use of bridging therapy with LMWH in patients undergoing NCS after PCI, focusing on outcomes related to the efficacy and safety of antithrombotic therapy. The article also discusses the limitations of the current evidence and highlights areas where further research is needed to optimize the management of antithrombotic therapy in this patient population. Conclusion: The goal of this review was to provide clinicians with a comprehensive summary of the available evidence to guide clinical decision‐making and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface modification of polymeric materials to control their interaction with proteins has been studied extensively, leading to widespread bio‐applications. However, the development of nonbiological, smart polymer surfaces, mimicking the recognition ability of biomolecules, remains a challenge. The present study presents a thioether‐bridging surface modification of polymeric microspheres as a new approach for mimicking protein A affinity for immunoglobulin G (IgG). The bridge‐modified surface is created through an epoxide linking reaction of porous polymeric microspheres with potassium thioacetate in a 2:1 molar ratio, acting as a protein A ligand, which is essential for industrial IgG purification. This surface exhibits buffer responsiveness and selective high‐affinity binding to the IgG Fc region. Remarkably, a comparison among the binding behaviors of a series of thioether‐modified microspheres indicates that bridging structures composed of β,β′‐dihydroxysulfide play a predominant role in IgG recognition. This straightforward approach can lead to the development of economical and practical nonbiological alternatives to protein A‐conjugated materials, providing solutions for various applications such as biosensors and site‐specific reagents utilizing the affinity of the IgG Fc region. The improved understanding of protein interactions at bridged/non‐bridged interfaces can be valuable in various applications such as implant materials and biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In bacteria, faithful DNA segregation of chromosomes and plasmids is mainly mediated by ParABS systems. These systems, consisting of a ParA ATPase, a DNA binding ParB CTPase, and centromere sites parS, orchestrate the separation of newly replicated DNA copies and their intracellular positioning. Accurate segregation relies on the assembly of a high‐molecular‐weight complex, comprising a few hundreds of ParB dimers nucleated from parS sites. This complex assembles in a multi‐step process and exhibits dynamic liquid‐droplet properties. Despite various proposed models, the complete mechanism for partition complex assembly remains elusive. This study investigates the impact of DNA supercoiling on ParB DNA binding profiles in vivo, using the ParABS system of the plasmid F. We found that variations in DNA supercoiling does not significantly affect any steps in the assembly of the partition complex. Furthermore, physical modeling, leveraging ChIP‐seq data from linear plasmids F, suggests that ParB sliding is restricted to approximately 2 Kbp from parS, highlighting the necessity for additional mechanisms beyond ParB sliding over DNA for concentrating ParB into condensates nucleated at parS. Finally, explicit simulations of a polymer coated with bound ParB suggest a dominant role for ParB‐ParB interactions in DNA compaction within ParB condensates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA in bacterial chromosomes is organized into higher‐order structures by DNA‐binding proteins called nucleoid‐associated proteins (NAPs) or bacterial chromatin proteins (BCPs). BCPs often bind to or near DNA loci transcribed by RNA polymerase (RNAP) and can either increase or decrease gene expression. To understand the mechanisms by which BCPs alter transcription, one must consider both steric effects and the topological forces that arise when DNA deviates from its fully relaxed double‐helical structure. Transcribing RNAP creates DNA negative (−) supercoils upstream and positive (+) supercoils downstream whenever RNAP and DNA are unable to rotate freely. This (−) and (+) supercoiling generates topological forces that resist forward translocation of DNA through RNAP unless the supercoiling is constrained by BCPs or relieved by topoisomerases. BCPs also may enhance topological stress and overall can either inhibit or aid transcription. Here, we review current understanding of how RNAP, BCPs, and DNA topology interplay to control gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the bridging role non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can play between a divided public administration in a conflict-ridden country. Based on interviews with various stakeholders in Yemen, we argue that NGO might need to mediate between conflicting authorities to effectively carry out their activities. By doing so, they serve as a bridge that could help maintain relations between the two fragmented administrations and possibly facilitate the process of post-conflict state building. While not all NGOs are capable or required to fulfill this role, we identify four enabling factors: (1) the readiness of stakeholders to engage; (2) public support for the NGO; and (3) NGOs' adequate capacity; and (4) the donor's support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) require systemic anticoagulation. The use of enoxaparin for bridging to warfarin remains understudied in this population. Methods: This single‐center retrospective study was performed to characterize enoxaparin use and associated thrombotic and bleeding outcomes in adult outpatients with LVADs from January 2018 to July 2021. Results: Fifty‐four enoxaparin bridging events were evaluated in 49 patients. Most patients with HeartMate II (HM2) and HeartWare (HVAD) devices received enoxaparin dosed 1 mg/kg every 12 h. In patients with HeartMate 3 (HM3) devices, an equal number of patients received 0.5 mg/kg every 12 h and 1 mg/kg every 12 h, with a smaller subset receiving intermediate doses. The median duration of bridging was 6 days (4–8 [IQR]). One major bleeding event required discontinuation of enoxaparin and hospitalization in a patient with an HM3 device. Thrombotic events occurred in four patients with two incidents of pump thrombosis requiring pump exchange and two ischemic strokes. All thrombotic events occurred in patients with HVAD or HM2 devices. Conclusion: These results suggest that enoxaparin bridging in LVAD patients was well‐tolerated with low bleeding and thrombotic rates, particularly with the HM3 device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Social connectedness is associated with slower cognitive decline among older adults. Recent research suggests that distinct aspects of social networks may have differential effects on cognitive resilience, but few studies analyze brain structure. METHODS: This study includes 117 cognitively impaired and 59 unimpaired older adults. The effects of social network characteristics (bridging/bonding) on brain regions of interests were analyzed using linear regressions and voxel‐wise multiple linear regressions of gray matter density. RESULTS: Increased social bridging was associated with greater bilateral amygdala volume and insular thickness, and left frontal lobe thickness, putamen, and thalamic volumes. Increased social bonding was associated with greater bilateral medial orbitofrontal and caudal anterior cingulate thickness, as well as right frontal lobe thickness, putamen, and amygdala volumes. DISCUSSION: The associations between social connectedness and brain structure vary depending on the types of social enrichment accessible through social networks, suggesting that psychosocial interventions could mitigate neurodegeneration. Highlights: Distinct forms of social capital are uniquely linked to gray matter density (GMD).Bridging is associated with preserved GMD in limbic system structures.Bonding is associated with preserved GMD in frontal lobe regions.Bridging is associated with increased brain reserve in sensory processing regions.Bonding is associated with increased brain reserve in regions of stress modulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gravel bed clogging, caused by infiltration and accumulation of fine sediment, degrades the river ecology. A proper understanding of the infiltration process, and underlying mechanism and causes, are necessary to take preventive measures. The process of fine sediment infiltration into static gravel bed is studied by distinguishing between bridging and percolation behaviours, as they affect the river ecology and physical processes occurring in the river system differently. However, several contradicting observations, concerning their occurrences, are reported. We employed the unresolved CFD–DEM method to simulate and investigate the infiltration process. The theoretical size ratios, corresponding to different geometrical configurations for a binary mixture of mono‐disperse spherical particles, representing bridging and percolation processes, are considered and simulated with and without flowing water effects. The effects of several turbulence models on the infiltration process are also studied. We found that fine sediment infiltration in fluvial deposits is mainly gravity‐dominated, supporting Cui's hypothesis that fine sediment infiltration through intra‐gravel flow is similar to fine sediment infiltration driven by gravity. In contrast to consensus in the field, our results demonstrate that the occurrences of different infiltration processes (bridging and percolation) seem to be independent of gravel bed thickness, rather depend only on the relative grain size distribution of fine sediment and gravel. However, a precise definition of a 'thick enough' gravel bed is necessary to distinguish between bridging and percolation behaviours. Here, we hypothesize a suitable gravel bed thickness, which might be regarded as a 'thick enough' gravel bed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) that are triple‐exposed to immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, and anti‐CD38 monoclonal antibodies have a poor prognosis. Standard treatment for these patients has not been established. Patients with extramedullary disease or secondary plasma cell leukemia often display high tumor cell proliferation and might therefore be susceptible to chemotherapy. While current regimens are often platinum‐based, we present single‐center data on 70 patients with RRMM who were treated with cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and dexamethasone (CED) after a median of four lines of therapy. An overall response rate of 52% was achieved after 1–6 cycles, with 23% of patients having a very good partial response. Comparable response rates and survival were observed in patients with extramedullary disease and high‐risk cytogenetics. Treatment resulted in non‐hematological °III‐IV adverse events in 31% of patients. No treatment‐related deaths occurred. The median progression‐free and overall survival were 6.2 and 10.9 months, respectively. 23% of patients were bridged to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. In summary, CED is an effective treatment regimen for RRMM cases with a tolerable safety profile and suitable as bridging therapy to CAR T cell treatment and ASCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation therapy (RT) for lymphomas has improved dramatically with modern imaging and treatment techniques, encompassing only the necessary volume with minimal doses to normal structures. Prescribed radiation doses are reduced, and fractionation schedules are under revision. With effective systemic treatment only initial macroscopic disease is irradiated. With no or less effective systemic treatment, possible microscopic disease is also included. Risks of long‐term side effects of RT have diminished dramatically and should be weighed against risks from more systemic treatment or increased risk of relapse. Lymphoma patients are often elderly, they tolerate modern limited RT very well. Lymphomas refractory to systemic treatments often remain radioresponsive, and brief, mild RT may offer effective palliation. New roles for RT are emerging with immune therapies. RT for "bridging," keeping the lymphoma under control while waiting for immune therapy, is well established. Enhancement of the immune response to lymphomas, so‐called "priming," is being intensively researched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Locoregional therapies are commonly used as bridging strategies to decrease the drop‐out of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) awaiting liver transplantation (LT). The present paper aims to assess the outcomes of bridging therapies in patients with HCC considered for LT according to an intention‐to‐treat (ITT) survival analysis. Material and methods: Medline and Web of Science databases were searched for reports published before May 2021. Papers assessing adult patients with HCC considered for LT and reporting ITT survival outcomes were included. Two reviewers independently identified, extracted the data, and evaluated the papers according to Newcastle‐Ottawa criteria. Outcomes analyzed were: drop‐out rate; time on the waiting list; 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year survival after LT and based on an ITT analysis. Results: The search identified 3106 records; six papers (1043 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Patients with HCC, listed for LT and submitted to bridging therapies presented a longer waiting time before LT (MD 3.77, 95% CI 2.07‐5.48) in comparison with the non‐interventional group. However, they presented a raised post LT after 1‐year (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.18‐3.41), 3‐years (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.01‐2.15), and 5‐years (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.06‐2.13) survival. Conclusion: Patients submitted to bridging procedures, despite having a longer interval on the waiting list, presented better post‐LT survival outcomes. Bridging therapies for selected patients at low risk of post‐procedural complications and long expected intervals on the waiting list should be encouraged. However, further clinical trials should confirm the survival benefit of bridging therapies in patients with HCC listed for LT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vaccine research towards the prevention of infectious diseases, immune response biomarkers serve as an important tool for comparing and ranking vaccine candidates based on their immunogenicity and predicted protective effect. However, analyses of immune response outcomes can be complicated by differences across assays when immune response data are acquired from multiple groups/laboratories. Motivated by a real‐world problem to accommodate the use of two different neutralization assays in COVID‐19 vaccine trials, we propose methods based on left‐censored multivariate normal model assuming common assay differences across settings, to adjust for differences between assays with respect to measurement error and the lower limit of detection. Our proposed methods integrate external paired‐sample data with bridging assumptions to achieve two objectives, both using pooled data acquired from different assays: (i) comparing immunogenicity between vaccine regimens, and (ii) evaluating correlates of risk. In simulation studies, for the first objective, our method leads to unbiased calibrated assay mean with good coverage of bootstrap confidence interval, as well as valid test for immunogenicity comparison, while the alternative method assuming constant calibration model between assays leads to biased estimate of assay mean with undercoverage problem and invalid test with inflated type‐I error; for the second objective, in the presence of noticeable left‐censoring rate, our proposed method can drastically outperform the existing method that ignores left‐censoring, in terms of reduced bias and improved precision. We apply the proposed methods to SARS‐CoV‐2 spike‐pseudotyped virus neutralization assay data generated in vaccine and convalescent samples by two different laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the understanding of community to families living in insecure housing in one Australian state during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Five female‐headed families were interviewed during the pandemic and asked to identify what community meant to them. All participants were referred by an agency caring for families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Community was defined using Bourdieu's concept of social capital, allowing for both bonding and bridging relationships to be explored. Bonding relationships refer to close emotional ties with family and friends, while bridging ties establish networks that provide individuals with access to resources. Two themes emerged that shed light on how community is understood during times of crisis: The first suggests that for families experiencing housing insecurity, particularly women escaping family violence, their links with community were primarily maintained by welfare and church agencies. These organisations provided bridging social capital during the pandemic that allowed the women and their children to cope with the isolation and to maximise opportunities. The second themes point to traditional notions of community as family and geographical space. Here the findings are mixed. Resources provided by government, and mediated through the welfare agency, allowed these families to create a safe and comfortable space. However, for First Nations women, the lockdown meant that it was difficult to maintain community obligations, while children who appeared to identify community with attendance at school found the lockdown confusing because of the disruption to their normal social space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: "Bridging" is a term used to describe the implementation of various treatment modalities to improve waitlist survival while a patient awaits lung transplantation. ECMO and PLAD are technologies used to bridge patients to lung transplantation. ECMO and PLAD are cardiopulmonary support systems that help move blood forward while using an artificial membrane to remove CO2 from and add O2 to the blood. Recent studies showed that these technologies are increasingly effective in bridging patients to lung transplantation, especially with optimizing patient selection, implementing physical rehabilitation and ambulation goals, standardization of management decisions, and increasing staff experience, among other considerations. We review these technologies, their roles as bridges to pediatric lung transplantation, as well as indications, contraindications, complications, and mortality rates. Conclusion: Finally, we discuss the existing knowledge gaps and areas for future research to improve patient outcomes and understanding of lung assist devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates regional social capital development by focusing on disparities in bonding and bridging social capital among rural and urban areas of Japan. Rural–urban differences in social capital in Western contexts have been discussed by many studies. Their main finding is that bonding social capital is richer in rural areas and bridging social capital is richer in urban areas. However, the empirical evidence presented in this article suggests that in Japan both bridging and bonding social capital are richer in rural than urban areas, diverging from traditional thinking about these two types of social capital. This finding suggests that urbanization and depopulation in rural areas of Japan have led to changes in people's behavior and their demand for social networks, promoting the development of bridging social capital in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While most common‐space estimations rely upon members who served in both the House and Senate as "bridges" to scale the remaining members, this assumes that these "bridge members" do not change their preferences when they change chambers. Such an assumption conflicts with standard notions of representation, that is, that legislators' votes reflect (at least to some degree) the wishes of their constituents. We examine the constancy of this common‐space voting assumption by focusing on a subset of House members who move to the Senate: those who come from statewide House districts. Using these members as the bridge actors—and thus bridging by constituency explicitly—in a one‐dimensional item response theory model, we find that the standard assumption of chamber switchers in common‐space estimations is technically, but immaterially, false. While there are statistically distinguishable differences in House and Senate voting records for chamber switchers, they are not sufficiently large to meaningfully undermine bridging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrapolation from a source to a target, eg, from adults to children, is a promising approach to utilize external information when data are sparse. In the context of meta-analyses, one is commonly faced with a small number of studies, whereas potentially relevant additional information may also be available. Here, we describe a simple extrapolation strategy using heavy-tailed mixture priors for effect estimation in meta-analysis, which effectively results in a model-averaging technique. The described method is robust in the sense that a potential prior-data conflict, ie, a discrepancy between source and target data, is explicitly anticipated. The aim of this paper is to develop a solution for this particular application to showcase the ease of implementation by providing R code, and to demonstrate the robustness of the general approach in simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric drug development in the United States has grown under the current regulations made permanent by the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act of 2012. Over 1200 pediatric studies have now been submitted to the US FDA, but there is still a high rate of failure to obtain pediatric labeling for the indication pursued. Pediatric oncology represents special problems in that the disease is most often dissimilar to any cancer found in the adult population. Therefore, the development of drug dosing in pediatric oncology patients represents a special challenge. Potential approaches to pediatric dosing in oncology patients include extrapolation of efficacy from adult studies in those few cases where the disease is similar, inclusion of adolescent patients in adult trials when possible, and bridging the adult dose to the pediatric dose. An analysis of the recommended phase 2 dose for 40 molecularly targeted agents in pediatric patients provides some insight into current practices. Increased knowledge of tumor biology and efforts to identify and validate molecular targets and genetic abnormalities that drive childhood cancers can lead to increased opportunities for precision medicine in the treatment of pediatric cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Patients requiring an interruption in dual-antiplatelet therapy ( DAPT) within 6 months of cardiac stenting are at risk for thrombotic events. Bridging with short-acting intravenous antiplatelet agents has been proposed to minimize the risk of thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications. Methods This retrospective analysis of a tirofiban bridging strategy did not use an initial bolus loading dose. Tirofiban infusions were initiated 24-48 hours after the last oral antiplatelet dose at a rate of 0.1 μg/kg/min (or 0.05 μg/kg/min if renal dysfunction) and continued until 4-8 hours before surgery or until DAPT could be resumed. Coprimary end points were occurrence of major adverse cardiac events ( MACE) and bleeding. Results Twenty patients requiring DAPT interruption within 6 months of cardiac stenting for either a surgical procedure or who were unable to take any medications by mouth were included. The median time from stent implantation to DAPT interruption was 33 days (range 3-146 days). Two patients experienced a MACE during their hospital stay. No major bleeding events occurred; minor bleeding occurred in four patients during tirofiban therapy. Five patients in this analysis had end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis. Of these patients, no MACE or major bleeding events occurred. Conclusions This analysis observed that a tirofiban bridging strategy without an initial bolus loading dose has comparable efficacy and safety as previously published reports. A tirofiban infusion without bolus dosing may be a safe option for antiplatelet bridging in patients with a recent cardiac stent implant to prevent stent thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Randomized controlled trials have shown that bridging endovascular therapy (EVT) after intravenous thrombolysis ( IVT) therapy improves outcome in patients with stroke with large-artery anterior circulation stroke compared with IVT alone. It remains unknown whether IVT adds any benefit to EVT in these patients. The aim of this study was to assess recanalization rates and thrombus dislocation before initiation of EVT in patients receiving bridging therapy. Methods All patients in the Bernese stroke registry (2008-2015) in whom bridging therapy was considered were included in this analysis. Relevant recanalization before EVT, thrombus dislocation and increase in thrombus load between initial and control imaging were assessed retrospectively. Results A total of 319 patients were included. Relevant recanalization before EVT occurred in 8.8% and thrombus dislocation in 7.2% of patients before EVT. Recanalization rates were significantly higher in distal compared with large and more proximal vessel occlusions of the anterior circulation (occlusion of internal carotid artery, 5.4%; middle cerebral artery segment M1, 8.1%; middle cerebral artery segment M2, 17.6%) and in drip-and-ship patients compared with mother-ship patients. In multivariable regression analysis the occlusion site was the only independent predictor of relevant recanalization before EVT ( P = 0.046). Conclusions Relevant recanalization after IVT and prior to EVT in patients receiving bridging therapy was highly dependent on the occlusion site. These findings suggest that future randomized controlled trials should consider occlusion site and treatment paradigm to specify patients who benefit most from bridging therapy in comparison to EVT or IVT alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roles of bridging actors in emergency response networks can be important to disaster response outcomes. This paper is based on an evaluation of wildfire preparedness and response networks in 21 large-scale wildfire events in the wildland-urban interface near national forests in the American Northwest. The study investigated how key individuals in responder networks anticipated seeking out specific people in perceived bridging roles prior to the occurrence of wildfires, and then captured who in fact assumed these roles during actual large-scale events. It examines two plausible, but contradictory, bodies of theory-similarity and dissimilarity-that suggest who people might seek out as bridgers and who they would really go to during a disaster. Roughly one-half of all pre-fire nominations were consistent with similarity. Yet, while similarity is a reliable indicator of how people expect to organise, it does not hold up for how they organise during the real incident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2011 we reviewed clinical updates and controversies surrounding anticoagulation bridge therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Since then, options for oral anticoagulation have expanded with the addition of four direct oral anticoagulant ( DOAC) agents available in the United States. Nonetheless, vitamin K antagonist ( VKA) therapy continues to be the treatment of choice for patients who are poor candidates for a DOAC and for whom bridge therapy remains a therapeutic dilemma. This literature review identifies evidence and guideline and consensus statements from the last 5 years to provide updated recommendations and insight into bridge therapy for patients using a VKA for AF. Since our last review, at least four major international guidelines have been updated plus a new consensus document addressing bridge therapy was released. Prospective trials and one randomized controlled trial have provided guidance for perioperative bridge therapy. The clinical trial data showed that bridging with heparin is associated with a significant bleeding risk compared with not bridging; furthermore, data suggested that actual perioperative thromboembolic risk may be lower than previously estimated. Notably, patients at high risk for stroke have not been adequately represented. These findings highlight the importance of assessing thrombosis and bleeding risk before making bridging decisions. Thrombosis and bleeding risk tools have emerged to facilitate this assessment and have been incorporated into guideline recommendations. Results from ongoing trials are expected to provide more guidance on safe and effective perioperative management approaches for patients at high risk for stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation therapy (RT) for lymphomas has improved dramatically with modern imaging and treatment techniques, encompassing only the necessary volume with minimal doses to normal structures. Prescribed radiation doses are reduced, and fractionation schedules are under revision. With effective systemic treatment only initial macroscopic disease is irradiated. With no or less effective systemic treatment, possible microscopic disease is also included. Risks of long-term side effects of RT have diminished dramatically and should be weighed against risks from more systemic treatment or increased risk of relapse. Lymphoma patients are often elderly, they tolerate modern limited RT very well. Lymphomas refractory to systemic treatments often remain radioresponsive, and brief, mild RT may offer effective palliation. New roles for RT are emerging with immune therapies. RT for "bridging," keeping the lymphoma under control while waiting for immune therapy, is well established. Enhancement of the immune response to lymphomas, so-called "priming," is being intensively researched., (© 2023 The Authors. Hematological Oncology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Midwifery educators and regulators in Canada have begun to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in admission processes and program curricula. Populations served by midwives value internationally educated midwives from their countries of origin. The International Midwifery Pre-Registration Program at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario, provides assessment, midwifery workplace orientation, and accelerated education for internationally educated midwives on behalf of the regulatory College of Midwives of Ontario. Between 2003 and 2015, midwives from 41 countries participated in the bridging program, and 214 (80%) successfully completed the program and qualified for licensure. Of these 214 graduates, 100% passed the Canadian Midwifery Registration Examination and 193 (90%) were employed full time as midwives within 4 months of graduation. The program curriculum enables the integration of these midwives into health care workplaces utilizing innovative approaches to assessment and competency enhancement. Critical to the bridging process are simulation-based practices to develop effective psychomotor learning, virtual and real primary care community placements, and coaching in empathetic, client-centered communication. Cultural sensitivity is embedded into the multiple assessment and learning modalities, and addresses relevant barriers faced by immigrant midwives in the workplace. Findings from the 13 years of the program may be applicable to increase diversity in other North American midwifery settings. This article describes the process, content, outcomes, and findings of the program. Midwifery educators and regulators may consider the utility of these approaches for their settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This prospective clinical comparative study aimed to analyze the postoperative bleeding risk of patients continuing their anticoagulation therapy ( AT) and undergoing implant surgery and bone grafting procedures. Materials and methods The treatments ranged from the insertion of single or multiple dental implants over implant exposures to sinus floor augmentation and vertical and/or lateral bone grafting with autologous bone grafts. The patients of the test groups ( AT groups) were treated with platelet aggregation inhibitors ( PAIs), Vitamin-K inhibitors, Vitamin-K inhibitor withdrawal bridged with heparin ( LMWH), or new/direct oral anticoagulants ( NOACs/ DOACs). Patients of the control group were non-anticoagulated (non- AT group). Surgical procedures were performed in the same manner in all groups. Pre, intra, and postoperative data concerning the treatment, extent of the surgery and bleedings was recorded and statistically evaluated. Results There were seven postoperative bleedings in 564 patients (1.2%), four in the AT groups (3.4%), and three in the non- AT group (0.6%). No thromboembolic complication occurred in the whole observation period. The invasiveness of the surgical procedure had no statistically significant effect on bleeding frequencies. Patients taking Vitamin-K inhibitors had a significantly higher risk of a postoperative bleeding compared to patients without any AT ( P = 0.038). Two patients were hospitalized due to the severity of the bleeding as a precautionary measure (one in the non- AT and one in the PAI group). All bleedings were easily controllable with local hemostatic measures. There was no postoperative bleeding recorded for patients taking DOACs. Conclusions Anticoagulation therapy should be continued in patients undergoing implant surgery and bone grafting procedures avoiding thromboembolic complications. Surgeons should always apply the most minimally invasive approach to reduce postoperative risks and be able to apply local hemostatic measures in terms of a bleeding complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report describes 2 Quarter Horses diagnosed with severe bridging spondylosis deformans of the cervical spine. Clinical signs in both horses included severe neck stiffness, reduced mobility and issues with grazing normally. Both were diagnosed with cervical radiographs. Ataxia was noted in one horse. One horse has shown progressively worsening signs over 4 years. Where severe neck stiffness and reduced mobility are noted in a horse, cervical spondylosis deformans should be considered as a differential diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including HIV transmission prevention, sexually transmitted infections, and public health.

First-dose-in-children relies on the prediction of clearance from adults for which little information is available on the accuracy of the scaling-approaches applied. For CYP3A-metabolized compounds, scaling of clearance is further challenged by different isoforms and by the CYP3A7 to CYP3A4 switch at young ages. This investigation aimed to evaluate the accuracy of two frequently used scaling approaches and to gain insights into the ontogeny of CYP3A. Hence, a literature database was compiled containing 203 clearance values from term-neonates to adults for 18 CYP3A-metabolized compounds. The clearances in adults were scaled to children using (i) allometric scaling plus maturation function and (ii) a mechanistic approach based on the well-stirred model. Three maturation functions were separately evaluated. In children >3 months, all approaches were interchangeable heeding the maturation function applied and biases were mostly observed in children <3 months. The results from a sensitivity analysis indicate that these biases are possibly caused by disregarding the CYP3A7 activity which could account for up to 86% of the metabolism in term-neonates. Only the mechanistic approach using an overall-CYP3A maturation function led to unbiased predictions of clearances across all ages. The current investigation adds to the predictions of the first-dose-in-children of compounds (partially) metabolized by CYP3A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Definite expressions may be used to introduce a referent into discourse when their familiarity between speaker and listener can be inferred, a strategy known as bridging. However, for a number of reasons, bridging may be difficult to acquire compared to the acquisition of indefinite introductions for noninferable referent types, with the native language of the second language (L2) learners suggested to be a major factor influencing L2 acquisition. Two experiments were conducted into the use of bridging, using a controlled picture sequence where neutral, weakly, or strongly inferable referents were to be introduced. The first study investigated native speaker data from English, Mandarin Chinese, and Korean, and the second study focused on a cross-section of learner data from Mandarin and Korean L2 English learners from six proficiency levels ranging from A1 (Basic user) to C2 (Proficient user) of the Common European Framework. The native results show that the three languages introduce inferable referents in markedly different ways: definite articles for English, omission of numeral + classifiers before the noun for Mandarin, and with Korean making no apparent distinction for inferability in terms of noun-phrase form. The L2 results show that the acquisition of the definite article + noun construction to introduce inferable referents in L2 English occurs at lower Common European Framework levels for the Mandarin group than the Korean group. Therefore, it is claimed that Mandarin L2 English learners may have less difficulty mapping L2 syntactic form to pragmatic function in their L2 narrative production than their Korean counterparts, as a possible consequence of positive transfer from their native language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article examines the relationship between networking modes and performance for 138 nonprofits in Israel. We draw upon the bridging and bonding concepts and social exchange theory and introduce the sharing and consulting networking modes to predict performance in terms of organizational growth in resources. We suggest that differences in networking modes (1) reflect variations in organizational size and age and (2) affect organizational growth in resources. We show that (1) the consulting networking mode is more frequent among managers of smaller and younger nonprofits, (2) sharing is characteristic of managers in older and larger nonprofits, (3) sharing has a strong effect on organizational growth, and (4) the sharing and consulting modes are better predictors of organizational performance than those of bonding and bridging. The results indicate that nonprofit growth in organizational resources is possible with networking when managers aspire to higher involvement in the networking process due to the scope and extent of goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For patients prescribed chronic vitamin K antagonist therapy requiring a surgical or invasive procedure, the question of whether or not to bridge and how to bridge is commonly encountered in clinical practice. Bridging anticoagulation has evolved over the years and the evidence base for current practice is deficient in many areas. Clinical trials currently being completed with conventional anticoagulants should help strengthen the evidence base for future practice. The availability of novel oral anticoagulants is a welcome addition, though their optimal management peri-procedure is yet to be determined. Prospective multi-centre controlled studies that can provide the evidence base for novel oral anticoagulant peri-procedural management are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY New bridging techniques are introduced to match high degree polynomials. This permits piecewise resolutions of elliptic partial differential equations (PDEs) in the framework of a boundary meshless method introduced recently. This new meshless method relies on the computation of Taylor series approximations deduced from the PDE, the shape functions being high degree polynomials. In this way, the PDE is solved quasi-exactly inside the subdomains so that only discretization of the boundary and the interfaces are needed, which leads to small size matricial problems. The bridging techniques are based on the introduction of Lagrange multipliers and a set of collocation points on the boundary and the interfaces. Several numerical applications establish that the method is robust and permits an exponential convergence with the degree. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long lead rainfall forecasts are highly valuable for planning and management of water resources and agriculture. In this study, we establish multiple statistical calibration and bridging models that use general circulation model (GCM) outputs as predictors to produce monthly rainfall forecasts for Australia with lead times up to 8 months. The statistical calibration models make use of raw forecasts of rainfall from a coupled GCM, and the statistical bridging models make use of sea surface temperature (SST) forecasts of the GCM. The forecasts from the multiple models are merged through Bayesian model averaging to take advantage of the strengths of individual models. The skill of monthly rainfall forecasts is generally low. Compared to forecasting seasonal rainfall totals, it is more challenging to forecast monthly rainfall. However, there are regions and months for which forecasts are skillful. In particular, there are months of the year for which forecasts can be skillfully made at long lead times. This is most evident for the period of November and December. Using GCM forecasts of SST through bridging clearly improves monthly rainfall forecasts. For lead time 0, the improvement is particularly evident for February to March, July and October to December. For longer lead times, the benefit of bridging is more apparent. As lead time increases, bridging is able to maintain forecast skill much better than when only calibration is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Social capital has been widely advocated as a way of understanding and building community participation in the interest of health improvement. However, the concept as proposed by Putnam, has been criticised for presenting an overly romanticised account of complex community relations. This paper presents analysis from a qualitative evaluation of a Healthy Living Centre (HLC) in the North of England, to examine the utility of the concept of social capital in this context. We found the concepts of 'bridging' and 'bonding' social capital were useful - though not without limitations - in helping to make sense of the complexities and contradictions in participants' experiences of community group participation. 'Bridging' helped provide an understanding of how the decline in shared social spaces such as local shops impacts on social relationships. 'Bonding' highlighted how community group membership can have positive and negative implications for individuals and the wider community. It was found that skilled group leadership was key to strengthening bridging capital. Politically, in the UK, community participation is seen as having an essential role in social change, for example, its centrality to the coalition government's idea of the 'Big Society'. A micro-examination of this HLC using the lens of social capital provides a valuable critical insight into community participation. It shows that this kind of initiative can be successful in building social capital, given conditions such as an appropriate setting and effective leadership. However, they cannot substitute for other kinds of investment in the physical infrastructure of a community. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transarterial chemoembolization ( TACE) has gained wide acceptance as a bridge to liver transplantation ( LT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC). Aim of this analysis was to compare long-term results with and without neoadjuvant TACE and to identify subgroups, which particularly benefit from TACE. Patients with HCC transplanted at our center were retrospectively analyzed. The following were excluded to increase consistency: incidental- HCC, Child- C, living-related- LT, other HCC-specific-treatment. Of 336 patients, 177 were subject of this analysis, 71 received TACE and 106 no HCC therapy. Patients with and without TACE showed similar five-yr survival (73/67%) and recurrence rates (23/29%). Progression on the waiting list was associated with a higher recurrence rate in the TACE (50 vs.12%) and the non- TACE group (40 vs. 22%). HCC recurrence was reduced in patients inside Milan (0.053) and UCSF (0.037) criteria by neoadjuvant TACE but not outside UCSF (0.99). Also a trend towards an improved survival was seen within these criteria. Our large single center experience suggests that TACE lowers the HCC recurrence rate in patients inside the Milan and UCSF criteria. Moreover, the response to TACE is a good indicator of low recurrence rates. The effect of TACE might be more pronounced in patients with longer waiting time than in this cohort (mean, 4.6 months). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The evolution of sociality alters the genetic structure of populations, often leading to an increase in the level of inbreeding and a concomitant decrease in the ratio between the benefits and costs of dispersal. 2. The association between an absence of dispersal and sociality in spiders has so far been established indirectly from the age distribution of colonies, their genetic structure and their sex ratio. Using a functional and mechanistic approach, we investigated the dispersal tendencies and abilities of individuals of both sexes in species of spiders with different degrees of sociality. We predicted that dispersal tendencies and abilities would decrease when sociality increased. 3. In seven species of Anelosimus (Theridiidae), we tested whether there is a sharp transition between dispersing subsocial species and non-dispersing social ones, or whether dispersal ability decreases more gradually as level of sociality increases and whether both sexes are equally affected. Our assays measured the propensity and ability to bridge, a common aerial locomotion mode in spiders that is especially relevant during pre-mating dispersal. 4. We found that the tendency to disperse by bridging and, at least in males, the ability to disperse, significantly decrease as the level of sociality increases, and that this occurs without a pronounced threshold between subsocial and social species. Additionally, we detected a reduction of leg length relative to body size with increasing sociality and decreasing dispersal abilities in males, which may be mechanistically related to their reduced ability to bridge. 5. We propose that the loss of dispersal ability associated with the evolution of sociality in spiders, especially in males, could contribute to the maintenance of their inbred social systems by substantially increasing dispersal costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores whether pharmacokinetic bridging studies between Caucasian and Asian populations should be required for the approval of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Topics include the purpose of pharmacokinetic bridging studies, intrinsic and extrinsic ethnic factors in dose regimens of small molecules and therapeutic mAbs, and distinguishing factors between small molecules and mAbs, such as their specific elimination pathways.

- This article argues that now is an opportune time to draw together the accumulated bodies of knowledge in developmental and cultural psychology in order to build a new vision for developmental psychology scholarship that bridges universal and cultural perspectives. Such bridging requires rethinking (a) the entity of developmental psychological analysis, (b) the scope and meaning of developmental psychology concepts, and (c) the nature of theoretical frameworks. This rethinking will render developmental psychology more broadly valid across cultures and more applicable to local cultural conditions. This is imperative in an increasingly global world where diverse peoples interact more than ever. Although the present focus is on rethinking developmental psychology, conclusions about the implications of bridging universal and cultural perspectives may be of interest in other fields and disciplines addressing psychological thought and behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify and validate the efficacious monotherapy dosing regimen for topiramate in children aged 2 to <10 years with newly diagnosed epilepsy using pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) modeling and simulation bridging. Several models were developed in pediatric and adult populations to relate steady-state trough plasma concentrations (Cmin) of topiramate to the magnitude of clinical effect in monotherapy and adjunctive settings. These models were integrated to derive and support the monotherapy dosing regimen for pediatric patients. A two-compartmental population PK model with first-order absorption described the time course of topiramate Cmin as a function of dosing regimen. Disposition of topiramate was related to age, body weight, and use of various concomitant antiepileptic drugs. The PK-PD model for monotherapy indicated that the hazard of time to first seizure decreased with increasing Cmin and time since randomization. Higher baseline seizure frequency increased risk for seizures. Age did not significantly influence hazard of time to first seizure after randomization to monotherapy. For adjunctive therapy, the distribution of drug and placebo responses was not significantly different among age groups. Based on the available PK-PD modeling data, the dosing regimen expected to achieve a 65-75% seizure freedom rate after 1 year for pediatric patients age 2-10 years is approximately 6-9 mg/kg per day. This analysis indicated no difference in PK-PD of topiramate between adult and pediatric patients. Effects of indication and body weight on PK were adequately integrated into the model, and monotherapy dosing regimens were identified for children 2-10 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many patients who need cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) require chronic anticoagulation. Current guidelines recommend discontinuation of warfarin and the initiation of anticoagulant “bridging” therapy during these procedures. We evaluated the safety of CRT-device (CRT-D) implantation without interruption of warfarin therapy. Methods: A total of 123 consecutive patients requiring CRT-D therapy were enrolled, 49 identified as high risk for thromboembolic events who received either intravenous heparin, low molecular weight heparin, or warfarin therapy. The control group comprised 74 patients with low risk of thromboembolic events who required only cessation of warfarin perioperatively. Patients were evaluated at discharge and 15 and 30 days postoperatively for pocket hematomas, thromboembolic events, and bleeding. Patients’ length of stay was also catalogued. Results: Patients in the bridging arm had a significant increase in the rate of pocket hematomas (4.1%[control] vs 5.0%[warfarin] vs 20.7%[bridging], P = 0.03) and subsequent longer length of stay (1.6 ± 1.6 [control] vs 2.9 ± 2.7 [warfarin] vs 3.7 ± 3.2 [bridging], P < 0.001). Hematoma formation postoperatively was not different among patients undergoing an upgrade procedure versus those without preexisting cardiac rhythm devices (12% vs 6.2%, P = NS). Patients with a prosthetic mechanical mitral valve had a higher incidence of pocket hematoma formation (1.8% vs 20%, P = 0.03). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that implantation of CRT-Ds without interruption of warfarin therapy in patients at high risk of thromboembolic events is a safe alternative to routine bridging therapy. This strategy is associated with reduced risk of pocket hematomas and shorter length of hospital stay. (PACE 2010; 400–406) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of tendon to withstand tensile forces is largely attributable to an extracellular matrix containing parallel collagen fibrils organized into fascicles. A major belief is that force is transmitted between collagen fibrils via interactions of molecules at the fibril surface. However, there is existing evidence (reviewed here) for persistent connections between fibrils formed by interfibrillar fusion. Furthermore, in vitro studies have shown the ability of the ends of fibrils to fuse together. In this study, we show using serial section electron microscopy of embryonic mouse-tail tendon further evidence for interfibril fusion in vivo. We showed: (1) fibrils fused via Y-shaped branches without disruption of the 67 nm D-periodicity, (2) the frequency of the branches was ∼1:20 000 D-periods, and (3) the small angle of the Y ranged from 4° to 10°, indicating a structure-based mechanism of branch formation. The regular occurrence of Y-shaped branches between collagen fibrils suggests direct force transmission between fibrils. Furthermore, the formation of the Y-shaped branches by tip-to-shaft fusion would explain the paucity of fibril tips in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the interconnection of IEEE 802.15.4 beacon enabled network clusters. We discuss two types of interconnections. One type can be achieved by using the PAN coordinator node as the bridging device and the other type is achieved by using ordinary network nodes as bridge nodes. We discuss design and performance issues of both kinds of interconnections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In the existing studies of strain‐based displacement field detection for thin rectangular plate, either the boundary conditions are too difficult to handle or the sensors layout and algorithm computing process are too complex to satisfy the requirement of rapid reconstruction of nonlinear vibration shape. In this paper, a strain‐displacement conversion method for reconstructing the deformed shape of rectangular plate with typical boundary conditions is presented. This method overcomes the above shortcomings for small deflection nonlinear vibration in linear elastic range. Strains measuring points are uniformly and regularly distributed in the middle area of the plate. Unmeasurable boundary strains will be estimated using the new derived formula according to quadratic interpolation of strains and boundary conditions. The principle of the proposed method is to bridge the orthogonal deflection curves by translating and rotating them. In this way, framework of displacement field can be formed. First, curvature integral method is employed to shape the orthogonal deflection curves of deformed plate. Then, the rotating angles and translating displacements are deduced according to boundary conditions. For some special boundary plates, it even needs to solve nonlinear optimization problem to get the rotating angles. The displacement field reconstructed by the proposed method shows great agreement with the finite element analyses results, which verifies the effectiveness of the methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]