bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental and theoretical evidence for effective corrosion mitigation in mild steel using novel Garcinia gummi-gutta leaf extract
Authors: G.K. Shamnamol , John Sam , Jacob Jaya Mary
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Surface pretreatment of iron and its alloys to remove stains and inorganic contaminants on the metal surface undergoes dissolution by virtue of the strong acidic media thereby increasing its susceptibility to corrosion. The purpose of this study is to explore the corrosion mitigation prospects of green corrosion inhibitors on mild steel surface.

Design/methodology/approach

Corrosion inhibition performance of Garcinia gummi-gutta leaf extract (GGLE) was explored against mild steel in 1 M HCl solution using the weight-loss method, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) techniques. Surface characterization was carried out to study the mechanism of inhibitor action.

Findings

The concentration of GGLE varied from 100 to 6,000 ppm and the result indicates that corrosion inhibition efficiency was amplified by raising the inhibitor concentration. The maximum inhibition efficiency was 82.2% at 6,000 ppm concentration. EIS results show the development of a protective layer of inhibitor molecule over the metal surface and PDP demonstrates that the inhibitor operates as a mixed-type inhibitor. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were executed to assess the surface morphology and roughness, respectively.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, so far, no studies have been reported on the corrosion inhibition performance of GGLE which is rich in many bioactive components especially hydroxyl citric acid. This work encompasses the corrosion inhibition capability of GGLE against mild steel in an acidic medium.
Organizational hierarchical position, perception of unfair pay, and job satisfaction: evidence from large nation-wide surveys in Poland
Authors: Adamchik Vera A. , Hyclak Thomas J. , Sedlak Piotr
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The study examines the relationship between perceived unfair pay and job satisfaction and how this relationship is contingent on organizational hierarchical rank.

Design/methodology/approach

The proprietary data are from ongoing surveys of individual workers conducted by a major Polish human resource consulting firm. The pooled cross-section dataset is comprised of nearly 330,000 individuals working in the Polish labor market during 2015–2017. Drawing upon various theories, the authors formalize and test three hypotheses. The estimations are performed using the ordered probit method.

Findings

Ceteris paribus, job satisfaction is increasing with organizational hierarchical rank; perceived unfairness of pay is negatively associated with job satisfaction, and organizational hierarchical rank exacerbates this negative relationship by making it stronger for employees holding higher organizational positions.

Originality/value

First, prior research is mainly confined to studying pay satisfaction as a contributing factor to job satisfaction, and perceived fairness of pay was rarely considered. Second, very few studies examine the role of hierarchical level as a moderator in the relationship between organizational justice and workplace outcomes. Third, the authors add to the scarce empirical literature on job satisfaction for post-Communist Central and East European countries as only a limited number of such studies exist for Poland.
A positive, negative and zero sequences electric power, to improve upon the standard IEEE 1459-2010
Authors: Bialobrzheskyi Oleksii V. , Rod'Kin Dmytro
Published: July 2022

Purposes

The purpose of this paper is to identify on the instantaneous electrical power basis of a nonsinusoidal periodic current three-phase asymmetric system, active and reactive positive, negative and zero sequence powers, taking into account higher harmonics. The main power theories, including those embodied in the IEEE 1459 standard, do not allow to evaluate some of power components.

Design/methodology/approach

A well-known fact is that the three-phase AC system total power with the symmetry of currents and voltages is constant. It corresponds to the electrical energy transfer process in a DC system. In this case, the electrical energy transmission can be taken as high quality. It has been established that the components of active and reactive powers are because of the product of current and voltage of unidirectional sequences. The orthogonal components of the oscillating power are because of the product of the voltage and current components of different sequences, with the exception of the zero sequence.

Findings

For an unbalanced nonsinusoidal mode of a three-phase system, the components of instantaneous power were defined, corresponding to the active and reactive positive and negative and zero sequences powers with the selection of the fundamental and higher harmonics. The active and reactive powers of sequences were divided into two categories – consumed and generated.

Originality/value

It is proposed to use the ratio of “interfere” power RMS value to the total power RMS value to assess the instantaneous power distortion.
Gender difference in nutrition and health in Nigeria’s agricultural households: the role of corporate social responsibility in oil-producing communities
Authors: Uduji Joseph Ikechukwu , Okolo-Obasi Elda Nduka
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the multinational oil companies’ (MOCs) corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in Nigeria. Its special focus is to investigate the impact of the global memorandum of understanding (GMoU) on gender difference in nutrition and health in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a survey research technique, aimed at gathering information from a representative sample of the population, as it is essentially cross-sectional, describing and interpreting the current situation. A total of 800 women respondents were sampled across the rural areas of the Niger Delta region.

Findings

The results from the use of a combined propensity score matching and logit model indicate that CSR of the MOCs using GMoU model has made significant success in closing the gender difference in nutrition and health in agricultural household in the Niger Delta region. The findings also show that mainstreaming gender in nutrition within the field of agriculture is a critical aspect of strengthening gender and nutrition/health linkages, in recognition of women’s substantial contribution to agriculture production and their central role in household food collection, preservation/processing and preparation.

Practical implications

This suggests that mainstreaming gender in nutrition offers opportunities to integrate agriculture and health approaches in GMoU projects, which will require increased collaboration and coordination between the MOCs’ and CBD clusters in the field of gender and nutrition to exploit existing complementary and comparative advantages, and to apply a holistic approach in host communities.

Social implications

This implies that gender and nutrition/health have multiple dimensions and are highly context-specific; and the pathway towards improved food and nutrition security for all should be a gender-equitable process incorporated in CSR programmes and projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the gender debate in agriculture from a CSR perspective in developing countries and rationale for demands for social project by host communities. It concludes that business has an obligation to help in solving problems of public concern.
A deep learning counting model applied to quality control
Authors: Jaramillo Juan R.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to present two different methods to speed up a test used in the sanitary ware industry that requires to count the number of granules that remains in the commodity after flushing. The test requires that 2,500 granules are added to the lavatory and less than 125 remain.

Design/methodology/approach

The problem is approached using two deep learning computer vision (CV) models. The first model is a Vision Transformers (ViT) classification approach and the second one is a U-Net paired with a connected components algorithm. Both models are trained and evaluated using a proprietary data set of 3,518 labeled images, and performance is compared.

Findings

It was found that both algorithms are able to produce competitive solutions. The U-Net algorithm achieves accuracy levels above 94% and the ViT model reach accuracy levels above 97%. At this time, the U-Net algorithm is being piloted and the ViT pilot is at the planning stage.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first approach using CV to solve the granules problem applying ViT. In addition, this work updates the U-Net-Connected components algorithm and compares the results of both algorithms.
Commentary – The ServCollab Perspective on Elevating Human Experience
Authors: Fisk Raymond P.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This commentary describes ServCollab’s perspective on Elevating Human Experience and urges researchers to join in collaborating on research to reduce suffering and improve human well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

This commentary is based on ServCollab’s pioneering approach to building a serving humanity logic and growing service research capacity to work on the hardest service systems problems humanity faces.

Findings

ServCollab’s ongoing efforts to Elevate the Human Experience are described. First, ServCollab seeks to develop a serving humanity logic. Second, ServCollab seeks to coalesce divergent perspectives on service. Third, ServCollab seeks to build a serving humanity movement capable of addressing complex service systems problems.

Practical implications

Practical ideas are offered for serving humanity through collaboration.

Social implications

Because human life depends on service systems, this ServCollab commentary has broad application to all human experience.

Originality/value

This commentary offers a unique approach to building collaborative service research projects capable of addressing service inclusion, service language and climate change.
Ecological significance of intraplant variation: Epigenetic mosaicism in Lavandula latifolia plants predicts extant and transgenerational variability of fecundity‐related traits
Authors: Herrera Carlos M. , Medrano Mónica , Bazaga Pilar , Alonso Conchita
Published: July 2022

Intraindividual epigenetic mosaicism is probably widespread among long‐lived plants, yet its ecological significance as a potential source of variation in fitness‐related traits in plant populations remains virtually unexplored. This paper examines the hypothesis that extant epigenetic variation within plants can have both current and transgenerational fecundity correlates which could eventually translate into fitness variations among different parts of the same individual and their respective offspring.

Five modules, each consisting of a terminal branchlet bearing one inflorescence and its subtending leaves, were collected from each of 15 wild‐growing Lavandula latifolia (Lamiaceae) plants. They were characterized epigenotypically by the methylation state of methylation‐sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphism (MS‐AFLP) markers, and phenotypically by fecundity‐related traits (inflorescence length, and size, number and mass of seeds produced). Seeds from the different modules were sown in the greenhouse and resulting ‘subprogenies’ characterized phenotypically (germination probability and time to emergence, seedling size, susceptibility to fungal disease).

All plants sampled were internally heterogeneous with regard to the methylation state of 1%–13% of MS‐AFLP markers. Predictable relationships were found between epigenotypic and phenotypic variation across the extant modules of individual L. latifolia shrubs. Phenotypes of subprogenies from different modules of the same plant grown under homogeneous conditions in the greenhouse were predictably related to the epigenotype of the maternal module which produced the seeds.

Synthesis. The variable epigenotypes of different modules in the same plant not only predicted extant phenotypic variation among the modules themselves, but also phenotypic differences among the subprogenies produced by different modules. These relationships linking intraplant epigenotypic mosaicism with both extant and transgenerational heterogeneity in fitness‐related traits support the ‘epigenetic mosaicism hypothesis’ for plant variation, and also suggest hitherto unexplored ecological consequences of epigenotypically enhanced variation in the context of plant populations and communities.
EZH2 promotes the progression of osteosarcoma through the activation of the AKT/GSK3β pathway
Authors: Wan Dongdong , Han Xiuxin , Zhang Chao , Zhang Yan , Ma Yulin , Wang Guowen
Published: July 2022

Enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) is a clarified promoter in a list of tumours, including osteosarcoma (OS). Our research was projected to define the mechanism involved in EZH2‐mediated OS progression through the protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) pathway. EZH2 expression was tested in 66 OS tissues and five osteosarcoma cell lines (143B, SJSA‐1, HOS, MG63, and U2OS). In HOS and U2OS cells, cellular malignant characteristics, and the markers of the AKT/GSK3β signalling pathway were measured when EZH2 was silenced or overexpressed. Meanwhile, rescue assays were implemented to observe whether the AKT/GSK3β signalling pathway inhibitor (MK‐2206) could affect the role of overexpressed EZH2 in OS cells. EZH2 was up‐regulated in tumour tissues of OS patients. OS cell lines (HOS and U2OS) showed impairments of proliferative, migratory, invasive and anti‐apoptotic properties when EZH2 was silenced. Downregulated EZH2 inhibited the activation of the AKT/GSK3 signalling pathway. However, the situation in HOS and U2OS cells over‐expressing EZH2 was opposite. MK‐2206 erased EZH2 up‐regulation‐induced promotion of OS cell growth. It is demonstrated that EZH2 promotes the progression of OS via inducing the activation of the AKT/GSK3β pathway, offering a therapeutic direction for OS treatment.
Consumer Perceptions of Sustainable Development Goals: Conceptualization, Measurement and Contingent Effects
Authors: Foroudi Pantea , Marvi Reza , Cuomo Maria T , Bagozzi Richard , Dennis Charles , Jannelli Roberto
Published: July 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic has caused drastic disruptions to many multinational companies’ (MNCs’) supply chain management, pushing them to relocate their manufacturing activities to their home countries, a phenomenon known as reshoring. Grounded in moral psychology theory and the resource‐based view (RBV), the aims of this research are to provide an extended conceptualization of sustainable development goal (SDG) perceptions from local consumers, develop a scale, and assess this scale in relation to the reliability and validity of consumer perception of SDG antecedents and consequences in reshoring contexts from three industries, with the help of six studies. We conceptualise these perceptions on the basis of seven components (i.e. society/community wellbeing, affordable and clean energy consumption, economic growth, responsible consumption, responsible production, sustainable industrialization and innovation and gender equality). Using data from three distinct industries and a sample of 1075 reshoring MNC customers, we also determine how local consumers perceive and react to reshoring initiatives geared towards achieving SDGs and advocacy. The findings offer relevant implications for both the management and research of SDGs in a reshoring context at a scale level, which we describe in the form of future research directions.
Racism towards the Chinese Minority in Malaysia: Political Islam and Institutional Barriers
Authors: Chin James
Published: July 2022

Politics in Malaysia revolves around the tensions between the three major ethnic groups: Malays, Chinese and Indians. After the 1969 ethnic riots, the country adopted an affirmative action programme widely regarded as racist towards the non‐Malays. The rise of political Islam in recent times has added a religious layer to institutional racism. This article looks at contemporary racism towards the Malaysian Chinese community and argues that things will get worse in the future owing to the omnipresence of the Malay Islamic supremacy ideology.
Impact of the Affordable Care Act's Physician Payments Sunshine Act on branded statin prescribing
Authors: Li Jing , Wu Bingxiao , Flory James , Jung Jeah
Published: July 2022

Objective

To evaluate the impact of the Affordable Care Act's Physician Payments Sunshine Act (PPSA), which mandates disclosure of industry payments to physicians, on physician prescribing of branded statins.

Data Sources

Administrative claims data from 2011 to 2015 from three large national commercial insurers were provided by the Health Care Cost Institute.

Study Design

We adopted a difference‐in‐differences and event study design, leveraging the control group of physicians in two states, MA and VT, which implemented state laws on disclosure of industry payments prior to the national PPSA. To further address potential confounding caused by differences in prescribing patterns across states, our analytical sample includes physicians practicing in border counties between the treatment (NH, NY, and RI) and control (MA and VT) states.

Data Collection

We restricted our sample to physicians who had at least 50 new‐fill prescription claims for statins during the five‐year study period, with at least one new‐fill prescription claim each year.

Principal Findings

We found that the PPSA led to a 7% (p < 0.001) reduction in monthly new prescriptions of brand‐name statin over the study period, with little change in generic prescribing. The reduction in branded prescriptions was concentrated among physicians with the highest tercile of drug spending pre‐PPSA, with a decrease of 15% (p < 0.001) in new branded statin prescriptions. The decline was most prominent after mandated reporting of industry payments began before the payment data was published.

Conclusions

The PPSA may have achieved its intended effect of reducing branded prescriptions at least in the short run, particularly among physicians most likely to have engaged in excessive or low‐value prescribing of branded drugs.
Regressive changes of crown‐root morphology and their volumetric segmentation for adult dental age estimation
Authors: Merdietio Boedi Rizky , Shepherd Simon , Oscandar Fahmi , Mânica Scheila , Franco Ademir
Published: July 2022

Cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) enables the assessment of regressive morphological changes in teeth, which can be used to predict chronological age (CA) in adults. As each tooth region is known to have different correlations with CA, this study aimed to segment and quantify the sectional volumes of the tooth crown and root from CBCT scans to test their correlations with the chronological age (CA). Seventy‐five CBCT scans from individuals with age between 20 and 60 years were collected retrospectively from an existing database. A total of 192 intact maxillary anterior teeth fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The upper tooth volume ratio (UTVR), lower tooth volume ratio (LTVR), and sex were used as predictor variables. The UTVR and LTVR parameters were both found to be differently correlated to CA and independent from each other. Regression models were derived from each tooth, with the highest R2 being the maxillary lateral incisor (R2 = 0.67). Additional single predictor models using each ratio were capable of reliably predicting the CA. The segmentation approach in volumetric adult dental age estimation proved to be beneficial in enhancing the reliability of the regression model.
The rest period between chemotherapy and immunotherapy influences the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer
Authors: Kang Da Hyun , Choi Seong‐woo , Sun Pureum , Chung Chaeuk , Park Dongil , Lee Song‐I , Koh Jeong Suk , Kim Yoonjoo , Lee Jeong Eun
Published: July 2022

Background

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as first‐line treatment rather than as second‐line treatment makes a big difference in the drug efficacy and progression‐free survival. However, the mechanism for this is still not clear. This study aimed to analyze the effects of the rest period between chemotherapy and immunotherapy on the efficacy of ICIs.

Methods

This study included 100 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibitors at Chungnam National University Hospital (CNUH) between May 2016 and August 2019. The rest period was defined from the last dose of cytotoxic chemotherapy to the first dose of ICIs. We retrospectively reviewed patients' clinical data and blood test records and analyzed lymphocyte subsets using flow cytometry.

Results

The median rest period was 64 days. The long rest period group (≥36 days) showed significantly higher clinical benefits than the short rest period group (<36 days) (69.4% vs. 39.5%, p = 0.003). White blood cell (WBC) count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), and neutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) just before chemotherapy were not different between the two groups. However, the blood test after chemotherapy immediately before immunotherapy showed significantly higher ANC and NLR in the short rest period group than in the long rest period group. The frequency of the Th1 subset and PD‐1 + CD8+ T cells were significantly higher in the long rest period group than in the short rest period group.

Conclusion

Time interval from chemotherapy to immunotherapy may affect immune cell status and efficacy of ICIs.
Faster cytotoxicity with age: Increased perforin and granzyme levels in cytotoxic CD8+ T cells boost cancer cell elimination
Authors: Zöphel Dorina , Angenendt Adrian , Kaschek Lea , Ravichandran Keerthana , Hof Chantal , Janku Sandra , Hoth Markus , Lis Annette
Published: July 2022

A variety of intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to the altered efficiency of CTLs in elderly organisms. In particular, the efficacy of antiviral CD8+ T cells responses in the elderly has come back into focus since the COVID‐19 pandemic outbreak. However, the exact molecular mechanisms leading to alterations in T cell function and the origin of the observed impairments have not been fully explored. Therefore, we investigated whether intrinsic changes affect the cytotoxic ability of CD8+ T cells in aging. We focused on the different subpopulations and time‐resolved quantification of cytotoxicity during tumor cell elimination. We report a surprising result: Killing kinetics of CD8+ T cells from elderly mice are much faster than those of CD8+ T cells from adult mice. This is true not only in the total CD8+ T cell population but also for their effector (TEM) and central memory (TCM) T cell subpopulations. TIRF experiments reveal that CD8+ T cells from elderly mice possess comparable numbers of fusion events per cell, but significantly increased numbers of cells with granule fusion. Analysis of the cytotoxic granule (CG) content shows significantly increased perforin and granzyme levels and turns CD8+ T cells of elderly mice into very efficient killers. This highlights the importance of distinguishing between cell‐intrinsic alterations and microenvironmental changes in elderly individuals. Our results also stress the importance of analyzing the dynamics of CTL cytotoxicity against cancer cells because, with a simple endpoint lysis analysis, cytotoxic differences could have easily been overlooked.
Light spectra blocking films reduce numbers of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa
Authors: Fountain Michelle T. , Delgado Alvaro , Deakin Greg , Davis Frederick , Hemer Sebastian
Published: July 2022

Frankliniella occidentalis is a pest of horticultural crops, including commercial strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa). Control is challenging because certain populations are resistant to insecticides and, in strawberry, now relies on the application of biocontrols. However, this approach is not always successful if F. occidentalis populations overwhelm biocontrols. We investigated whether targeted spectral modifications to cladding materials could reduce numbers of F. occidentalis, in strawberry flowers.

Five UV‐attenuating plastic‐film materials were tested in three, 6‐week, semi‐field tunnel experiments containing strawberry plants. F. occidentalis were introduced into tunnels from a laboratory culture and subsequent numbers that developed in strawberry flowers were recorded.

Limiting UV‐A radiation to the crop significantly reduced the numbers of adult and larval F. occidentalis in strawberry flowers. The numbers of adult (and larvae) in flowers were reduced by 42 (47)%, 54 (41)%, 70 (73)%, and 82 (73)% in UV350, UV370, UV400, and UV430‐attenuating films, respectively, compared with the UVopen (control) film. However, no damage to strawberry fruits was observed regardless of the film treatment.

Incorporating UV‐attenuating films as tunnel cladding can suppress F. occidentalis numbers in strawberry. Reducing populations of F. occidentalis in crops is likely to enable the more successful use of other non‐chemical control strategies.
Surgical resection of chest wall sarcomas: an analysis of survival and predictors of outcome at an Australian multidisciplinary sarcoma service
Authors: Thakur Sameer , Choong Emma , Balasooriya Anuradha , Spelman Tim , Wright Gavin , Choong Peter
Published: July 2022

Background

Chest wall sarcomas are a rare group of tumours. Surgical resection is considered the mainstay of curative treatment, however, resection and reconstruction of chest wall defects presents complex issues for the clinician.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 59 patients undergoing surgical management of chest wall sarcoma between December 1996 and July 2020 was conducted across a multidisciplinary sarcoma service in Melbourne, Australia. Patient demographics, pathologic data, and long‐term outcomes were recorded.

Results

Mean age at surgery was 48.4 years (SD 18.3), and 66.1% were male. Median follow‐up was 29 months (IQR 11.8, 51.0 months). Fifty‐one patients presented with primary tumours, while the others had secondary tumours resected. Most tumours arose in bone (72.9%) as opposed to soft tissues (27.1%). Chondrosarcoma was the most common histologic subtype (50.8%). The most common reconstructive techniques involved the use of mesh (79.7%) or mesh supplemented with bone cement (33.9%). Overall survival at 1 and 5 years was 92% and 70%, respectively. Seven patients died of metastatic sarcoma during the follow up period with a median survival time of 27 months. Twelve patients had evidence of disease recurrence during the follow‐up period. Stage 4 disease, soft tissue tumours, secondary tumours, leiomyosarcoma and UPS subtypes, and plating reconstruction were associated with increased disease recurrence.

Conclusions

The results suggest that outcomes for chest wall sarcoma are similar to extremity sarcomas and may be treated in a similar manner. Patients requiring adjuvant radiotherapy and those who develop disease‐recurrence are more likely to have worse overall survival outcome despite complete surgical resection.
Negotiating dignity in public geography: The ethics of public engagement in pandemic times
Authors: Plyushteva Anna
Published: July 2022

In this paper, I reflect on some of the ethical dimensions of public engagement with geographic research. The paper draws on my recent experience of a project entitled ‘Not working from home’, which sought to make visible the everyday experiences of essential workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The project was intended as a space for essential workers to document their daily lives using text, images and video, enabling them to engage with each other, while also informing the wider public about the everyday challenges of not working from home during the pandemic. The paper discusses some of the ethical implications and challenges of conducting this project, drawing on a critical engagement with dignity as an ethical framework for public engagement. I discuss the implications of calling workers ‘essential’, the role of collective and professional identities explored by the participants, and the impact of offering rewards. I also ask some broader questions on the role that the concept of dignity might play in the ethics of public engagement with research in human geography.
The 2022 British guidelines for narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy: an absolute necessity for anyone administering or prescribing phototherapy
Authors: Wolf Peter
Published: July 2022

Linked Article: Goulden et al. Br J Dermatol 2022; 187:295–308.
Comorbidities in lichen planus by phenome-wide association study in two biobank population cohorts
Authors: Fromme Malin , Schneider Carolin V. , Schlapbach Christoph , Cazzaniga Simone , Trautwein Christian , Rader Dan J. , Borradori Luca , Strnad Pavel
Published: July 2022

Background

Lichen planus (LP) is a relatively frequent mucocutaneous inflammatory disease affecting the skin, skin appendages and mucosae, including oral mucosae, and less frequently the anogenital area, conjunctivae, oesophagus or larynx.

Objectives

To estimate the association of LP, with emphasis on dermatological and gastrointestinal conditions, in two large independent population cohorts.

Materials and methods

We performed a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) and examined conditions associated with LP in two unrelated cohorts, i.e. the multicentre, community-based UK Biobank (UKB: 501 381 controls; 1130 LP subjects) and the healthcare-associated Penn Medicine BioBank (PMBB; 42 702 controls; 764 LP subjects). The data were analysed in 2021. The ‘PheWAS’ R package was used to perform the PheWAS analyses and Bonferroni correction was used to adjust for multiple testing. Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for age, sex and body mass index.

Results

In the UKB, PheWAS revealed 133 phenome codes (PheCodes) significantly associated with LP and most of them were confirmed in PMBB. Dermatological and digestive PheCodes were the most abundant: 29 and 34 of these disorders, respectively, were significantly overrepresented in LP individuals from both cohorts. The 29 dermatological and 12 oral disorders were often highly enriched, whereas hepatic, gastric, oesophageal and intestinal PheCodes displayed ORs in the range of 1·6–4·5. Several autoimmune disorders also exhibited OR > 5 in both cohorts.

Conclusions

PheWAS in two large unrelated cohorts identified previously unknown comorbidities and may support clinical counselling of patients with LP.

What is already known about this topic?  Lichen planus (LP) is known to affect the skin, skin appendages and mucosae, including oral mucosae, and less frequently the anogenital area, conjunctivae, oesophagus or larynx.

What does this study add?  Our data provide the most comprehensive collection of associated dermatological, digestive and autoimmune disorders to date.Our findings are expected to be useful for the evaluation and management of patients with LP.
Reasons for using indoor tanning devices: A systematic review of qualitative evidence
Authors: Eden Martin , Lyons Stephanie , Lorigan Paul , Payne Katherine , Green Adele C. , Epton Tracy
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Despite the established causal links to skin cancer, skin ageing and eye inflammation, people continue to use indoor tanning devices (hereafter ‘sunbeds’). Understanding the reasons underlying the use of sunbeds is essential for developing effective interventions. The purpose of this study was to collate all existing evidence from qualitative papers published to date that had assessed motivations for using sunbeds.

Methods

Six databases were searched from inception to February 2020 for qualitative studies that explored adults' experiences of using sunbeds. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria, and a narrative evidence synthesis was used to collate findings from each primary study.

Results

Users of sunbeds were motivated primarily by aesthetic concerns but also by perceived psychological benefits (well‐being, confidence and ‘fitting in’) and physical benefits (improvement in skin conditions such as acne, acquiring vitamin D and preventing sunburn). People also chose indoor tanning over alternatives such as fake tans because they considered the alternatives unacceptable and did not consider indoor tanning a serious health risk. To date, no studies have explored alternatives to meeting non‐aesthetic needs related to the use of sunbeds.

Conclusions

This comprehensive explanation for the practice of indoor tanning provides the basis for development of complex interventions to reduce the harm caused by using sunbeds. Effective interventions should include promotion of alternatives, such as different methods of relaxing, to satisfy underlying motivations, changing social norms and correcting misperceptions about health benefits.
Interventions in child welfare: A Swedish inventory
Authors: Bergström Martin , Sundell Knut , Olsson Tina , Leander Lina , Åström Therese
Published: July 2022

In Swedish child welfare, there are no mandatory guidelines on what interventions to use. Local authorities are able to set their own criteria for implementing or designing interventions. We carried out a survey to identify interventions in use in Children's Social Services and Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Care in Sweden. A total of 102 interventions were stated to have been in use, with between 31 and 45 different interventions for each of the four different child welfare populations. Of the 102 interventions, 56 were designed outside Sweden and later imported. Only 27 interventions were supported with some kind of research evidence. About half of the interventions targeted the child. Possible implications for practice and research are discussed.
Substance use and other factors associated with child welfare case duration: Looking beyond out of home care
Authors: Hall Martin T. , Hardy Garrett C. , Golder Seana , Huebner Ruth A. , McNeil Audrianna J. , Walton Matthew T.
Published: July 2022

Little is known about factors associated with child welfare case duration. Understanding factors associated with case duration may help stakeholders make more informed decisions about funding and service allocation and improve compliance with federal law. This study had two research questions: (1) What factors are associated with child welfare case duration? And (2) Do factors differ depending on whether children were placed exclusively with parents or with others (e.g. relatives and foster care) during the case? The study sample consisted of families (N = 874) with co‐occurring child maltreatment and substance use in one midwestern state in the United States between 2007 and 2016. Linear regression models were used to identify correlates of case duration while controlling for child placement status. Overall, having a child under 1 year of age, benzodiazepine use, methamphetamine use and injection drug use were all associated with longer case duration, whereas marijuana use with no other substance use was associated with shorter case duration. Additionally, factors associated with case duration differed based on child placement status during the case. These findings suggest important heterogeneity in families involved with child welfare services and may allow for proactive mitigation of cases at greater risk.
Patch test results to extracts of synthetic garments in textile dye positive patients
Authors: Linauskiene Kotryna , Zimerson Erik , Sörensen Östen , Antelmi Annarita , Bruze Magnus , Dahlin Jakob , Malinauskiene Laura , Stenton Joanna , Svedman Cecilia , Isaksson Marléne
Published: July 2022

Background

Disperse dyes (DDs) are the most prevalent causes of textile‐related allergic contact dermatitis and are used for colouring synthetic textile materials based on fibres such as polyester, acrylic, acetate and polyamide. Eight DDs are included in a textile dye mix (TDM) 6.6% petrolatum (pet.) in the European baseline patch test series.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to patch test TDM 6.6% pet. positive individuals with the extracts of synthetic fibre clothes that do not contain any of the pure DDs present in the TDM 6.6% to study the reactivity pattern.

Methods

Seventy‐three TDM‐positive former patients tested between 2012 and 2017 at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology in Malmö, Sweden were invited to join the study, 10 participated. Twenty‐four textile items (collected in nine countries in Europe, Asia and North America in 2012) were extracted in dichloromethane. The TDM 6.6% was patch tested simultaneously with the 24 textile item preparations in petrolatum made from the extracts. Prior to patch testing the participants filled the 7‐question questionnaire regarding possible symptoms from textile exposure.

Results

Ten individuals, agreed to join the study. Eight of them reacted to TDM 6.6%. Nine participants reacted to 20 of 24 extracts. One reacted to 19 extracts, another to 14, 3 to 5 extracts, 1 to 4, 1 to 3 extracts and 2 to 2 extracts. One was negative to all tested preparations including TDM 6.6%. The participants mainly reacted to six textile extracts. All controls tested negatively to tested extracts. Four individuals of the 10 TDM‐allergic individuals previously had had problems after wearing clothes. Four out of the 10 participants had had atopic eczema in childhood. All women had dyed their hair with permanent hair dyes but none of the males.

Conclusion

TDM‐positive patients react to textile extracts made from synthetic garments, even if they do not contain any of the pure DDs present in TDM 6.6%. More studies are needed to pin‐point the culprit haptens in these extracts.
A novel lung nodule accurate detection of computerized tomography images based on convolutional neural network and probability graph model
Authors: Xia Xunpeng , Zhang Rongfu , Yao Xufeng , Huang Gang , Tang Tiequn
Published: July 2022

Precisely detecting lung nodules from original computerized tomography (CT) images is a critical technology in the earlier screening of lung cancer. Therefore, the domain of accurate detection has gradually attracted the attention of researchers. However, due to the complex characteristics of pulmonary nodules and the limitations of CT imaging property, detecting nodules with high accuracy from lung CT images is a challenging task. This article proposes an effective and robust detection network to accurately detect lung nodules by innovatively implementing a probability graph model in the candidate detection and false‐positive reduction phase. Different from previous works which use complex 3‐dimensional image information to reduce false positives, we propose two effective probability graph mechanisms, which analyze multiscale information and continuous slices (interslice changes) motion information to improve performance. We evaluated our method on an open‐source LIDC‐IDRI dataset which contains a total of 243,958 CT images and achieved high‐precision lung nodule detection results (sensitivity score of 0.945). Via introducing multiscale information and the dynamic information of the interslice, the task of lung nodule detection obtains higher precision detection results than other similar methods.
The market value of cash and the creation of high‐governance listings of voluntary adoption: Evidence from the Brazilian stock exchange
Authors: Manoel Aviner Augusto Silva , da Moraes Marcelo Botelho Costa , Pündrich Gabriel Pereira
Published: July 2022

Research Question/Issues

In this article, we analyze whether the initiative of a domestic stock exchange that designed three high‐governance listings of voluntary adoption, in addition to maintaining its traditional listing, can mitigate managers' ability to expropriate cash. As a result of the reduction in improper cash diversion in firms with higher disclosure and corporate governance standards, we hypothesize that investors place a higher value on cash in the firms that voluntarily migrate to the premium listing.

Research Findings/Insights

After a series of robustness checks, we document that investors place a higher value on the cash of firms from the non‐mandatory premium listing ($0.589) in relation to the cash of the companies from the regular traditional listing ($0.239). Our findings also reveal that the market value of cash is higher in firms from the segment with the highest standards ($0.687), where companies follow the “one share, one vote” principle.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

The empirical results suggest that shareholders associate the premium listings segments as a commitment that reduces the risk that cash holdings will be converted into private benefits, and consequently, they place a premium on the cash of companies that subject themselves to these levels. Hence, by lessening shareholders' markdown of cash holdings, the premium listing segments mitigate part of the value loss associated with weak governance in Brazil.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

Our results provide important policy implications by demonstrating that a domestic stock exchange, by creating a premium listing of voluntary adoption, can provide mechanisms for firms to self‐select into segments with greater transparency and stricter corporate governance that, in turn, send a positive signal about the underlying risk that firms may expropriate cash. Hence, emerging countries where reforms of corporate law are designed to protect investors from facing serious political opposition may also consider creating special listings such as in Brazil, as a private contractual arrangement, to increase the protection of shareholders.
Managing endothelial dysfunction in COVID‐19 with statins, beta blockers, nicorandil, and oral supplements: A pilot, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized clinical trial
Authors: Matli Kamal , Al Kotob Abdulrahman , Jamaleddine Wassim , Al Osta Soad , Salameh Pascale , Tabbikha Rami , Chamoun Nibal , Moussawi Ahmad , Saad Jean‐Michel , Atwi Gibran , Saad Tarik Abu , Jamal Omar , Mokhbat Jacques , Ghanem Georges
Published: July 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Pharmacologically targeting the different mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction may improve clinical outcomes and lead to reduced morbidity and mortality. In this pilot, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized clinical trial, we assigned patients who were admitted to the hospital with mild, moderate, or severe COVID‐19 infection to receive, on top of optimal medical therapy, either an endothelial protocol consisting of (Nicorandil, L‐arginine, folate, Nebivolol, and atorvastatin) or placebo for up to 14 days. The primary outcome was time to recovery, measured by an eight category ordinal scale and defined by the time to being discharged from the hospital or hospitalized for infection‐control or other nonmedical reasons. Secondary outcomes included the composite outcome of intensive care unit (ICU) admission or the need for mechanical ventilation, all‐cause mortality, and the occurrence of side effects. Of 42 randomized patients, 37 were included in the primary analysis. The mean age of the patients was 57 years; the mean body mass index of study participants was 29.14. History of hypertension was present in 27% of the patients, obesity in 45%, and diabetes mellitus in 21.6%. The median (interquartile range) time to recovery was not significantly different between the endothelial protocol group (6 [4–12] days) and the placebo group (6 [5–8] days; p value = 0.854). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in the need for mechanical ventilation or ICU admission, all‐cause mortality, or the occurrence of side effects between the endothelial protocol group and the placebo group. Among patients hospitalized with mild, moderate, or severe COVID‐19 infection, targeting endothelial dysfunction by administering Nicorandil, L‐arginine, Folate, Nebivolol, and Atorvastatin on top of optimal medical therapy did not decrease time to recovery. Based on this study’s findings, targeting endothelial dysfunction did not result in a clinically significant improvement in outcome and, as such, larger trials targeting this pathway are not recommended.
The influence of phoneme contexts on adaptation in vowel‐evoked envelope following responses
Authors: Easwar Vijayalakshmi , Chung Lauren
Published: July 2022

Repeated stimulus presentation leads to neural adaptation and consequent amplitude reduction in vowel‐evoked envelope following responses (EFRs)—a response that reflects neural activity phase‐locked to envelope periodicity. EFRs are elicited by vowels presented in isolation or in the context of other phonemes such as consonants in syllables. While context phonemes could exert some forward influence on vowel‐evoked EFRs, they may reduce the degree of adaptation. Here, we evaluated whether the properties of context phonemes between consecutive vowel stimuli influence adaptation. EFRs were elicited by the low‐frequency first formant (resolved harmonics) and middle‐to‐high‐frequency second and higher formants (unresolved harmonics) of a male‐spoken /i/ when the presence, number and predictability of context phonemes (/s/, /a/, /∫/ and /u/) between vowel repetitions varied. Monitored over four iterations of /i/, adaptation was evident only for EFRs elicited by the unresolved harmonics. EFRs elicited by the unresolved harmonics decreased in amplitude by ~16–20 nV (10%–17%) after the first presentation of /i/ and remained stable thereafter. EFR adaptation was reduced by the presence of a context phoneme, but the reduction did not change with their number or predictability. The presence of a context phoneme, however, attenuated EFRs by a degree similar to that caused by adaptation (~21–23 nV). Such a trade‐off in the short‐ and long‐term influence of context phonemes suggests that the benefit of interleaving EFR‐eliciting vowels with other context phonemes depends on whether the use of consonant‐vowel syllables is critical to improve the validity of EFR applications.
Insights on the etiopathogenesis of onychomycosis by dermatophyte, yeast and non‐dermatophyte mould in ex vivo model
Authors: Veiga Flavia Franco , de Castro‐Hoshino Lidiane Vizioli , Rezende Pamela Stéphani Tymniak , Baesso Mauro Luciano , Svidzinski Terezinha Inez Estivalet
Published: July 2022

Fungal biofilms have been involved in the pathogenesis of onychomycosis, but the aspects contributing to this association need to be enlightened. This study aimed to investigate the ability of three different fungi to form biofilm on the nail. All evaluated fungi were able to grow on the nails, using them as the only nutritional source and formed a structure strongly suggestive of biofilms. However, their architecture and morphology were highly contrasting: Candida albicans showed dense growth, exhibited a well‐structured community and a large amount of extracellular matrix (ECM), and FTIR‐ATR spectroscopy reinforced these findings revealing components suggestive of the biofilm. For Fusarium oxysporum, these events were also observed, but in lower intensity. Furthermore, while Trichophyton rubrum presented a well‐organized architecture, the ECM was not visualized. We hypothesize that these findings are related to the symptomatology of onychomycosis. When it is caused by a non‐dermatophyte, it usually is accompanied with paronychia, pain, oedema, inflammation and few signals of keratolysis, while dermatophytes are more associated with intense onycholysis and absence of the inflammatory signals. Biofilm seems to be crucial for non‐dermatophytes to cause onychomycosis, but not for T. rubrum.