bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compensatory growth and recovery of tissue cytoarchitecture after transient cartilage-specific cell death in foetal mouse limbs
Authors: H’ng Chee Ho , Amarasinghe Shanika L. , Zhang Boya , Chang Hojin , Powell David R. , Rosello-Diez Alberto
Published: June 2023

A major question in developmental and regenerative biology is how organ size is controlled by progenitor cells. For example, while limb bones exhibit catch-up growth (recovery of a normal growth trajectory after transient developmental perturbation), it is unclear how this emerges from the behaviour of chondroprogenitors, the cells sustaining the cartilage anlagen that are progressively replaced by bone. Here we show that transient sparse cell death in the mouse foetal cartilage was repaired postnatally, via a two-step process. During injury, progression of chondroprogenitors towards more differentiated states was delayed, leading to altered cartilage cytoarchitecture and impaired bone growth. Then, once cell death was over, chondroprogenitor differentiation was accelerated and cartilage structure recovered, including partial rescue of bone growth. At the molecular level, ectopic activation of mTORC1 correlated with, and was necessary for, part of the recovery, revealing a specific candidate to be explored during normal growth and in future therapies.
Detection of threshold-level stimuli modulated by temporal predictions of the cerebellum
Authors: Andersen Lau M. , Dalal Sarang
Published: June 2023

0 Abstract

The cerebellum has the reputation of being a primitive part of the brain that mostly is involved in motor coordination and motor control. Older lesion studies and more recent electrophysiological studies have, however, indicated that it is involved in temporal perception and temporal expectation-building. An outstanding question is whether this temporal expectation-building cerebellar activity hasfunctional relevance.In this study, we collected magnetoencephalographic data from 30 healthy participants performing a detection task on at-threshold stimulation that was presented at the end of a sequence of temporally regular or irregular above-threshold stimulation.

We found that behavioural detection rates depended on the degree of irregularity in the sequence preceding it. We also found cerebellar responses evoked by above-threshold and at-threshold stimulation. The evoked responses to at-threshold stimulation differed significantly, depending on whether it was preceded by a regular or an irregular sequence. Finally, we found that detection performance across participants correlated significantly with the differences in cerebellar evoked responses to the at-threshold stimulation, demonstrating the functional relevance of cerebellar activity in sensory expectation-building.

We furthermore found evidence of thalamic involvement, as indicated by responses in the beta band (14-30 Hz) and by significant modulations of cerebello-thalamic connectivity by the regularity of the sequence and the kind of stimulation terminating the sequence.

These results provide evidence that the temporal expectation-building mechanism of the cerebellum, what we and others have called an internal clock, shows functional relevance by regulating behaviour and performance in sensory action that requires acting and integrating evidence over precise time-scales.
Beyond persuasive representations of facts: “figuring out” what sustainable value creation means in practice
Authors: Busco Cristiano , Granà Fabrizio , Izzo Maria Federica
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Although accounting and reporting visualisations (i.e. graphs, maps and grids) are often used to veil organisations’ untransparent actions, these practices perform irrespectively of their ability to represent facts. In this research, the authors explore accounting and reporting visualisations beyond their persuasive and representational purpose.

Design/methodology/approach

By building on previous research on the rhetoric of visualisations, the authors illustrate how the design of accounting visualisations within integrated reports engages managers in a recursive process of knowledge construction, interrogation, reflection and speculation on what sustainable value creation means. The authors articulate the theoretical framework by developing a longitudinal field study in International Fashion Company, a medium-sized company operating in the fashion industry.

Findings

This research shows that accounting and reporting visualisations do not only contribute to creating unclear and often contradicting representations of organisations’ sustainable performance but, at the same time, “open up” and support managers’ unfolding search for “sustainable value” by reducing its unknown meaning into known and understandable categories. The inconsistencies and imperfections that accounting and reporting visualisations leave constitute the conditions of possibility for the interrogation of the unknown to happen in practice, thus augmenting managers’ questioning, reflections and speculation on what sustainable value means.

Originality/value

This study shows that accounting and reporting visualisations can represent good practices (the authors are not saying a “solution”) through which managers can re-appreciate the complexities of measuring and defining something that is intrinsically unknown and unknowable, especially in contexts where best practices have not yet consolidated into a norm. Topics such as climate change and sustainable development are out there and cannot be ignored, cannot be reduced through persuasive accounts and, therefore, need to be embraced.
Structuring concrete boundary objects for project-to-project learning: a state-of-practice review
Authors: Ferres Geoffrey Mark , Moehler Robert C.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Effective project learning can prevent projects from repeating the same mistakes; however, knowledge codification is required for project-to-project learning to be up-scaled across the temporal, geographical and organisational barriers that constrain personalised learning. This paper explores the state of practice for the structuring of codified project learnings as concrete boundary objects with the capacity to enable externalised project-to-project learning across complex boundaries. Cross-domain reconceptualisation is proposed to enable further research and support the future development of standardised recommendations for boundary objects that can enable project-to-project learning at scale.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrative literature review method has been applied, considering knowledge, project learning and boundary object scholarship as state-of-practice sources.

Findings

It is found that the extensive body of boundary object literature developed over the last three decades has not yet examined the internal structural characteristics of concrete boundary objects for project-to-project learning and boundary-spanning capacity. Through a synthesis of the dispersed structural characteristic recommendations that have been made across examined domains, a reconceptualised schema of 30 discrete characteristics associated with boundary-spanning capacity for project-to-project learning is proposed to support further investigation.

Originality/value

This review makes a novel contribution as a first cross-domain examination of the internal structural characteristics of concrete boundary objects for project-to-project learning. The authors provide directions for future research through the reconceptualisation of a novel schema and the identification of important and previously unidentified research gaps.
Business groups and the impact of industry relatedness on firms' borrowing costs
Authors: Chandera Yane
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study analyzes whether industry relatedness between a corporate borrower and its group peers significantly affects that firm's borrowing cost.

Design/methodology/approach

A regression analysis is run on bank-loan data of a sample of Indonesian companies for 2010–2020. The main variables of interest are the natural logarithms of the borrowing firm's number of affiliates classified within either similar 2- or 4-digit GICS industries, and the Caves weighted index of these firms' related diversification. This index measures how firms in a group are diversified in relation to the borrower. The dependent variable is the all-in credit spread, stated in basis points, over the LIBOR or similar benchmark, as of the loan issuance date.

Findings

Findings support the industry-relatedness hypothesis and contradict the risk-reduction hypothesis and show that banks charge lower loan spreads on a borrowing firm that either operates within a similar industry as its affiliate or diversifies into related sectors or industries. Consistent with the co-insurance-effect hypothesis, the results also underline the importance of the parent and first-layer firms as supporting instead of the tunneling vehicles within business groups. These conclusions hold even after segregating the sample and using the loan maturity as the dependent variable.

Originality/value

This study uses a unique diversification measurement based on the borrowing firm's sector or industry, relative to other group members, and offers new insights on business group diversification and bank loan costs.
Thoughts on Spanish urban tourism in a post-pandemic reality: challenges and guidelines for a more balanced future
Authors: Torres-Delgado Anna , López Palomeque Francisco , Ivars-Baidal Josep , Vera-Rebollo Fernando
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to identify the challenges faced by urban destinations in Spain in the current transitional stage towards a new reality of tourism, caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 and the ongoing global changes in the tourism industry.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review and an analysis of current debates were conducted to identify the different factors that have influenced the recent tourism phenomenon and the development of destinations on a global, regional-national and local-urban scale.

Findings

Four main challenges are identified, including the new mobility patterns of the population; information and communication technologies and the digitalisation process in urban and tourism management; sustainability, as a factor of the competitiveness, stability and viability of urban destinations; and governance in urban destinations.

Originality/value

The study’s findings provide valuable insights for urban destination managers to make informed decisions and adapt to the new reality of tourism.
Tell me how you write and I'll tell you what you read: a study on the writing style of book reviews
Authors: Alzetta Chiara , Dell'Orletta Felice , Miaschi Alessio , Prat Elena , Venturi Giulia
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The authors’ goal is to investigate variations in the writing style of book reviews published on different social reading platforms and referring to books of different genres, which enables acquiring insights into communication strategies adopted by readers to share their reading experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a corpus-based study focused on the analysis of A Good Review, a novel corpus of online book reviews written in Italian, posted on Amazon and Goodreads, and covering six literary fiction genres. The authors rely on stylometric analysis to explore the linguistic properties and lexicon of reviews and the authors conducted automatic classification experiments using multiple approaches and feature configurations to predict either the review's platform or the literary genre.

Findings

The analysis of user-generated reviews demonstrates that language is a quite variable dimension across reading platforms, but not as much across book genres. The classification experiments revealed that features modelling the syntactic structure of the sentence are reliable proxies for discerning Amazon and Goodreads reviews, whereas lexical information showed a higher predictive role for automatically discriminating the genre.

Originality/value

The high availability of cultural products makes information services necessary to help users navigate these resources and acquire information from unstructured data. This study contributes to a better understanding of the linguistic characteristics of user-generated book reviews, which can support the development of linguistically-informed recommendation services. Additionally, the authors release a novel corpus of online book reviews meant to support the reproducibility and advancements of the research.
The impact of female directors on earnings management and the moderating effect of board quality: enabler or deterrent?
Authors: Yami Nafisah , Poletti-Hughes Jannine , Hussainey Khaled
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The authors motivate this research on the gender diversity of the board because of the recent increases in the number of women in top executive teams (Francis et al., 2015), which has probably been the result of the adoption of legislation for gender quotas as well as the establishment of corporate governance recommendations for gender diverse boards in several countries. The purpose of this study is to consider the quality of board directors when examining the effect of female directors on earnings management.

Design/methodology/approach

The analyses follow the system generalized method of moment to address endogeneity concerns (e.g. a board with higher quality is more likely to have female directors on board and vice versa). Besides the lags of the endogenous variables, the authors use the female industry ratio as an additional instrument (Liu et al., 2014), as female directors might be inspired by other female directors according to industrial sectors (measured by the two-digit industry codes), where competitors are likely to follow gender diversity practices of other firms within the same industrial sector.

Findings

The authors’ findings show a negative and significant association between board gender diversity and earnings management (EM), suggesting that independent female directors are the drivers of such effect. High-quality boards decrease the incidence of EM but hinder the potential involvement from female directors towards reducing EM. The incumbent effect of high-quality boards on female director’s contribution on EM reverses with less powerful CEOs.

Originality/value

The authors contribute to the extant literature by recognizing that the effectiveness of a female director on decreasing EM is a function of the environment in which decision-making takes place (i.e. board quality/powerful CEOs).
Impact of online product presentation on sales: the effects of text-image introductory information and celebrity endorsements
Authors: Liu Lei , Wu Shaohui , Cai Guoliang
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Product presentation plays a critical role in influencing consumers’ purchasing decisions in online shopping. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of text-image information on online product presentation pages on sales. This study also specifically explores the moderating role of celebrity endorsements in the relationship between text-image presentation information and sales.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on regression analysis using data sets from the largest online book retailer in China, Dangdang.com.

Findings

The results of this study show that there is an inverse U-shaped relationship between word count and book sales. Conversely, image quantity has a positive linear effect on book sales. Furthermore, celebrity endorsements moderate the relationship between word count and sales in two distinct ways. First, the positive effect of increasing word count from low to medium is enlarged by increasing the number of celebrity endorsers. Second, the turning point of the inverse-U relationship between word count and sales rank moves to the right as the number of endorsers increases.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to examine the effects of text-image quantity on sales across the full continuum. This study adds understanding on how information load might have distinct consequences on the processing performance of text and images. Furthermore, this study investigates how sales are impacted by the quantity of celebrity endorsers in relation to textual and pictorial information in online shopping contexts, extending our knowledge of the effectiveness of celebrity endorsements.
Technology protocols and new health regulations for pandemic severity control: an S-O-R theoretical risk reduction approach
Authors: Ausaf Ali , Yuan Haixia , Nasir Saba Ali
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Developed countries control pandemics using smart decisions and processes based on medical standards and modern technologies. Studies on risk-reduction and humantechnology interaction are scarce. This study developed a model to examine the relationship between citizens, pandemic-related technology and official safety practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigated the mediating role of new health regulations and moderating role of safety incentives due to COVID-19 case reduction in pandemic severity control. This study included 407 operations managers, nursing staff conducting pandemic testing and reporting, doctors and security personnel in China. An artificial neural network (ANN) was used to check nonlinear regressions and model predictability.

Findings

The results demonstrated the impact of the introduction of new technology protocols on the implementation of new health regulations and aided pandemic severity control. The safety incentive of case reductions moderated the relationship between new health regulations and pandemic severity control. New health regulations mediated the relationship between the introduction of new technology protocols and pandemic severity control.

Research limitations/implications

Further research should be conducted on pandemic severity in diversely populated cities, particularly those that require safety measures and controls. Future studies should focus on cloud computing for nurses, busy campuses and communal living spaces.

Social implications

Authorities should involve citizens in pandemic-related technical advances to reduce local viral transmission and infection. New health regulations improved people's interactions with new technological protocols and understanding of pandemic severity. Pandemic management authorities should work with medical and security employees.

Originality/value

This study is the first to demonstrate that a safety framework with technology-oriented techniques could reduce future pandemics using managerial initiatives.
Entrepreneurial passion and family SMEs internationalization success: examining the moderating effect of the adversity of fragile countries
Authors: Jneid Cherine
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The assessment of the role of entrepreneurial passion in international entrepreneurship needs further attention. This study aims to fill this research gap by assessing the role of developing entrepreneurial passion, when moderated by the adversity of fragile countries, in the success of small and medium family enterprises’ (family SMEs) internationalization success.

Design/methodology/approach

Using time-lagged survey date from decision-makers on internationalized family SMEs from fragile countries (Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt and Syria) between 2020 and 2022, this study assesses the relationship between the entrepreneurial passion and family SMEs’ internationalization success as well as the moderating effect of the institutional context of these fragile countries.

Findings

The results demonstrated that the developing entrepreneurial passion is positively related to the family SMEs’ internationalization success. Moreover, the adversity of fragile home countries significantly moderates this relationship.

Originality/value

This study is a catalyst for future passion theoretical research on fragile countries. Moreover, it will encourage more studies on the understanding of the entrepreneurial passion for organizational performance of family SMEs, especially in an international context.
Corporate entrepreneurship in HCL Technologies: managing the scaling-up challenges
Authors: Sinha Sabyasachi , Malik Naveen Kumar
Published: June 2023

Research methodology

Data from HCL company and their corporate entrepreneurship activities were sourced using interviews and discussions. Secondary data was collected from the company website and other information available in the public domain.

Case overview/synopsis

This case narrates activities undertaken by the Enterprise Technology Office (ETO) of HCL Technologies Infrastructure Service Division to build the Corporate Entrepreneurship function. Around 2015–2016, the ETO started engaging with multiple people and organizations associated with the technology ecosystem outside the firm boundary for novel technologies and solutions. These entities included venture capitalists and start-ups. The ETO also began engaging with internal teams and existing customers to promote the identified novel technologies and innovative solutions. The ETO function grew organically by hiring resources from internal and external pools. ETO also undertook specific programs to increase the involvement of internal teams in their initiatives, like the Joint Exploration Program. ETO explored several options to further the ecosystem innovation strategy and institutionalize corporate entrepreneurship activities. The ETO team deliberated on ways to align the stakeholder goals and evaluate if technology could play a role.

Complexity academic level

This case can be used in any course on “Managing Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation,” “Strategic Management of Technology Enterprises” or any course focused on managing technology and innovation for graduate (MBA) or executive participants.
Smart customer experience, customer gratitude, P-WOM and continuance intentions to adopt smart banking services: the moderating role of technology readiness
Authors: Khashan Mohamed A. , Elsotouhy Mohamed M. , Ghonim Mohamed A. , Alasker Thamir Hamad
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Smart banking services (SBS) are critical for developing countries to achieve developmental goals. The success of SBS is dependent on the considerable perceived customer experience of provided services. Based on technology adoption studies, this study aims to model smart customer experience (SCE) outcomes by investigating the relationships between SCE, customer gratitude, continuance intentions and positive word-of-mouth (P-WOM).

Design/methodology/approach

The current research included 384 bank clients as participants. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

According to the findings, SCE directly increases customer gratitude, continuance intention to adopt smart services and P-WOM. Customer gratitude enhances continuance intentions and P-WOM. Additionally, customer gratitude mediates the relationship between SCE, continuance intention and P-WOM. Finally, the findings revealed that customer innovativeness and optimism play a substantial moderating impact among the variables studied.

Originality/value

This is the first research to include all of these variables. Furthermore, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first empirical study of these linkages in the banking sector of emerging nations.
Macrophyte species richness improves resilience to grazing
Authors: Roth Jamila S. , Reynolds Laura K.
Published: June 2023

Grazing pressure is increasing in the northern Gulf of Mexico due to tropicalization (i.e. range expansion of tropical species) and conservation efforts. Populations of herbivorous parrotfish, green turtles and manatees are all increasing in this region, and overgrazing can lead to loss of foundation species and their associated ecosystem services.

With environmental conditions changing rapidly and seagrass abundance declining in many regions globally, understanding mechanisms that promote seagrass resilience to stressors (e.g. grazing) will be crucial for managing and restoring seagrass meadows and the valuable ecosystem services they provide. Diverse communities often exhibit higher resilience due to positive interactions and increased response diversity (i.e. differing reactions to environmental change), indicating that diversity may provide a tool for enhancing seagrass resilience.

To investigate how macrophyte species richness influences resilience to increased grazing pressure, we simulated green turtle grazing events every 2 weeks for 8 weeks in plots that naturally varied in species richness. We recorded macrophyte metrics between the simulated grazing events and after a longer 4‐week recovery period.

Both species identity and species richness impacted response to simulated herbivory. Four weeks after the last simulated grazing event, plots with higher species richness had recovered macrophyte shoot density better than plots with lower species richness, indicating that species richness may increase resilience. The grazing events had the strongest negative impact on the persistent species (i.e. longer‐lived species with slower shoot turnover), Thalassia testudinum, reducing T. testudinum density and dominance and indicating that areas dominated by this species may be the most negatively impacted by increased grazing pressure.

Synthesis: Our results showed a positive impact of species richness on resilience and indicated that persistent seagrass species may have reduced dominance following repeated disturbances. Diverse seagrass beds can, therefore, improve ecosystem stability by allowing opportunistic species to replace species that are most negatively impacted by disturbances. These findings can be used to incorporate resilience into ecosystem management and identify seagrass beds that may be less resilient to changing environmental conditions.
Supporting occupational therapists to initiate conversations about sexuality with people with intellectual disability: Co‐design by deliberative dialogue
Authors: Piantedosi Diana K. , Reed Kirk , O'Shea Amie
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Occupational therapists routinely report low levels of confidence in addressing needs related to sexuality and intimacy. These issues are compounded when supporting clients with intellectual disability, due to prevailing assumptions about capacity and few practical support resources. At a disciplinary level, there is ongoing discourse around how to best conceptualise and support sexual and gender identities generally, within models of human occupation. Leveraging interdisciplinarity, where sexuality overlaps as a sphere of interest, can aid the development of practical support resources. Engagement with sociology (focussed on relationality) and disability studies (focussed on embodiment) offers a generative path forward.

Methods

The deliberative dialogues framework was used to develop a co‐designed resource by occupational therapists for occupational therapists. Six Australian occupational therapists with experience working with clients with intellectual disability and/or sexuality were purposively recruited to participate in co‐design groups. Using the eight features of deliberative dialogue, data was collected and analysed by an interdisciplinary research team to collaboratively produce a practical support resource.

Results

Participants agreed the greatest need was to develop a resource for clinicians, to support conversations with clients about sexuality. Five key themes emerged: (1) Theoretical explanations addressing why sexuality is important must be paired with practical advice; (2) make a conversational call to action from ‘OTs’ for ‘OTs’ by locating sexuality within the domain of occupational therapy; (3) make explicit that people with intellectual disability are sexual beings; (4) need for self‐reflection; and (5) demonstrate how existing understandings of occupation apply to sexuality.

Conclusion

A resource in the form of a brochure was developed, intended to be used as a conversation primer. The process used to develop the resource demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and the utility of deliberative dialogue as a co‐design method.
Takayasu arteritis with acute pulmonary embolism as the primary clinical symptom: A case study
Authors: Huang Dongmei , Huang Wenhan , Tang Lin
Published: June 2023

We report a case of Takayasu arteritis with acute pulmonary embolism as the first clinical manifestation for the first time.
Growth and Nongrowth Capital Investments and Future Performance*
Authors: Chu Ling , Mathieu Robert , Mbagwu Chima
Published: June 2023

Most studies on the impact of capital expenditure on future performance use the aggregate capital expenditure disclosed in the cash flow statement. In this study, however, we distinguish between growth capital investments (that increase production capacity) from nongrowth capital investments (that only maintain or reduce current capacity). For growth capital investments, we document a negative association with year‐ahead performance, which becomes positive in the subsequent year. For nongrowth capital investments, we observe a non‐negative association with year‐ahead performance. For nongrowth capital investments, we document a positive association, suggesting that the divestment is beneficial. That is, firms are likely disposing of nonproductive assets. Our results suggest that disclosing the nature of capital investments is important to better assess the future impact of a firm's investment decisions.
Cohort effects of women's mid‐life binge drinking and alcohol use disorder symptoms in the United States: Impacts of changes in timing of parenthood
Authors: Adams Rachel Sayko , McKetta Sarah C. , Jager Justin , Stewart Maureen T. , Keyes Katherine M.
Published: June 2023

Background and Aims

Alcohol use is increasing among women in mid‐life concurrently with societal changes in timing of parenthood and changing cultural norms, which may influence alcohol use. The aim of this study was to determine if age of first parenting was associated with excessive drinking [i.e. past 2‐week binge drinking and past 5‐year alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms] among women during mid‐life in the United States and to determine if there were pronounced cohort effects influencing these relationships.

Design

This was a retrospective cohort, longitudinal study.

Setting, Participants and Measurements

Data were drawn from the Monitoring the Future survey, an annual ongoing survey of high school students’ substance use behaviors in the United States. Participants were women who completed the age 35 survey between 1993 and 2019, corresponding to high school senior years 1976–2002 (n = 9988). Past 2‐week binge drinking and past 5‐year AUD symptoms were self‐reported. Age of first parenting was self‐reported.

Findings

Binge drinking and AUD symptoms were higher among women in recent than in older cohorts. Women from the 2018–19 cohort had increased odds of binge drinking [odds ratio (OR) = 1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.41–2.12] and AUD symptoms (OR = 1.51, CI = 1.27–1.80) relative to women from the 1993–97 cohort. Throughout cohorts, there was an inverse association between transition to parenthood and excessive drinking outcomes (e.g. range for ORs for binge drinking among those without children compared with those who had had children between the ages of 18 and 24: 1.22–1.55). Simultaneously, there was a population shift towards delaying parenting in recent cohorts (i.e. 54% of women in the 1993–97 cohort had children before age 30 compared with 39% in the two recent cohorts), increasing the size of the group at highest risk for excessive drinking.

Conclusions

In the United States, subgroups of women at highest risk of excessive drinking appear to be expanding, probably supported in part by a trend towards delayed parenting.
A critical evaluation of physical and manufacturing properties of genuine and counterfeit rotary nickel–titanium endodontic instruments
Authors: Madytianos B , Liu E , Marshall A , Mahony E , Liu K , Manogaran J , Liu HH , Parashos P , Evans M
Published: June 2023

Background

Rotary nickel–titanium (NiTi) instruments are made to exacting standards and are costly to manufacture, and quality control is paramount. Consequently, unauthorized factories make counterfeit instruments that are less expensive and may therefore be attractive to dentists. Little information exists about the metallurgy and manufacturing quality of such instruments. There is the potential for counterfeit instruments to be at higher risk of fracture during treatment, thereby compromising clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate physical and manufacturing properties of genuine and counterfeit ProTaper Next™ and Mtwo® rotary NiTi instruments.

Methods

This study investigated the metallurgical properties, manufacturing quality, microhardness and number of cycles to failure of two commonly used rotary NiTi systems and compared them with counterfeit products purporting to be genuine articles.

Results

Counterfeit instruments were found to be inferior in manufacturing standards and were less resistant to cyclic fatigue when compared to genuine instruments.

Conclusions

Counterfeit rotary NiTi instruments may be less efficient at preparing root canals and may be at higher risk of fracture during endodontic treatment. Dentists must be aware that, although less expensive, counterfeit instruments may be of dubious manufacturing quality and at higher risk of fracture if used in patients. © 2023 Australian Dental Association.
My mother's kitchen
Authors: Wong Yoke‐Sum
Published: June 2023

This writing is part of a special section on the “hundreds” in honor of Kathleen Stewart. This piece attempts to capture the temporal drifts of aging and meaning‐making out of everyday materiality and practices.
Incidence and management of gallbladder cancer in cholecystectomy specimens: a 5‐year tertiary centre experience
Authors: Malik Hassan , Izwan Sara , Ng Justin , Teng Roy , Chan Erick , Damodaran Prabha Ramesh , Puhalla Harald
Published: June 2023

Background

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an uncommon, but highly aggressive cancer. Half of these cases are diagnosed pre‐operatively, and the remaining cases are discovered incidentally on post‐cholecystectomy specimens. There is a significant geographical variability in GBC incidence, with increasing age, female sex, and prolonged duration of cholelithiasis being risk factors for GBC. The primary aim was to define the overall local incidence of GBC incidental GBC and management of these cases. The secondary aim was to determine any pertinent risk factors in our case population.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was performed on all the cholecystectomy specimens at the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service from 1 January 2016 to 2 December 2021. Data was collected via the electronic medical record. The incidence and management of gallbladder cancers was calculated, and association with body mass index (BMI), smoking status, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was identified.

Results

3904 cholecystectomy specimens were reviewed. GBC was identified in 0.46% of cholecystectomies. 50% of these cases were found incidentally. Abdominal pain was the most common presenting complaint (94.4%). GBC was associated with increased age and BMI and female sex. There was no association between smoking status, diabetes or IBD with an increased incidence of cancer. Tumour staging guided surgical and/or adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusion

GBC is rare. Patients with symptoms are associated with a poor prognosis. Incidental cancers are common, and negative margin resection based on the T stage of the cancer is the most reliable curative option.
Neurobiological perspective on the development of executive functions
Authors: Horowitz‐Kraus Tzipi , Randell Kathy , Morag Iris
Published: June 2023

Executive functions are a set of top‐down cognitive processes necessary for emotional self‐regulation and goal‐directed behaviour supporting, among others, academic abilities. Premature infants are at high risk for subsequent cognitive, psychosocial, or behavioural problems even in the absence of medical complications and in spite of normal brain imaging. Given that this is a sensitive period of brain growth and maturation, these factors may place preterm infants at high risk for executive function dysfunction, disrupted long‐term development, and lower academic achievements. Therefore, careful attention to interventions at this age is essential for intact executive functions and academic development.
A homozygous frameshift variant in SYCP2 caused meiotic arrest and non‐obstructive azoospermia
Authors: Xu Junwei , Sun Yifan , Zhang Yuxiang , Ou Ningjing , Bai Haowei , Zhao Jingpeng , Xu Shuai , Luo Jiaqiang , Han Sha , Li Peng , Tian Ruhui , Zhi Erlei , Huang Yuhua , Zhang Jing , Liu Gang , Li Zheng , Yao Chencheng
Published: June 2023

Genetic causation for the majority of non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA) remains unclear. Mutations in synaptonemal complex (SC)‐associated genes could cause meiotic arrest and NOA. Previous studies showed that heterozygous truncating variants in SYCP2 encoding a protein essential for SC formation, are associated with non‐obstructive azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia. Herein, we showed a homozygous loss‐of‐function variant in SYCP2 (c.2689_2690insT) in an NOA‐affected patient. And this variant was inherited from heterozygous parental carriers by natural reproduction. HE, IF, and meiotic chromosomal spread analyses demonstrated that spermatogenesis was arrested at the zygotene stage in the proband with NOA. Thus, this study revealed that SYCP2 associated with NOA segregates in an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, rather than an autosomal dominant pattern. Furthermore, our study expanded the knowledge of variants in SYCP2 and provided new insight into understanding the genetic etiology of NOA.
Einfluss von Adipositas auf die Hämodynamik der Beinvenen
Authors: Langan Ewan A. , Wienandt Malte , Bayer Andreas , Ellebrecht Lena , Kahle Birgit
Published: June 2023

Hintergrund und Ziele

Obwohl Adipositas ein anerkannter Risikofaktor für die Entwicklung von Venenerkrankungen der unteren Gliedmaßen ist, wurde der objektiven Messung der Auswirkung der Stammfettsucht auf den Blutfluss in den unteren Gliedmaßen bisher wenig Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt.

Patienten und Methodik

Der Durchmesser der Venen der unteren Gliedmaßen und der venöse Blutfluss wurden bei 44 Patienten (65,6 ± 12,5 Jahre, 25 Frauen, 19 Männer) mit zentripetaler Adipositas und chronischer Venenerkrankung gemessen.

Ergebnisse

Der mittlere Durchmesser der Vena femoralis communis (VFC) nahm im Liegen nach Anhebung des Bauchs (Pannikulus) signifikant zu (rechts: ∆0,73 ± 1,21 mm; p ≤ 0,001, links: ∆1,16 ± 1,42 mm; p ≤ 0,001). Außerdem gab es einen signifikanten Anstieg des venösen Flussvolumens in der linken VFC (∆62,96 ± 117,85 ml/min; p = 0,001). Ebenso nahm der Durchmesser der linken Vena saphena magna (∆0,24 ± 0,41 mm; p = 0,002), gemessen in der Mitte des Oberschenkels, zu, wenn der Patient seinen Bauch anhob. Schließlich korrelierte der Grad der Fettleibigkeit mit dem Ausmaß der Venenerkrankung.

Schlussfolgerungen

Diese Daten liefern vorläufige Beweise dafür, dass zentripetale Adipositas sowohl strukturelle als auch hämodynamische Veränderungen in den Venen der unteren Extremitäten zur Folge hat, selbst wenn kein klassischer Reflux vorliegt.
Vergleichende Wirksamkeit der Behandlungen von Molluscum contagiosum: Eine systematische Übersicht und Netzwerk‐Metaanalyse
Authors: Chao Yuan‐Chen , Ko Mei‐Ju , Tsai Wan‐Chuan , Hsu Le‐Yin , Wu Hon‐Yen
Published: June 2023

Hintergrund und Ziele

Obwohl verschiedene Interventionen zur Behandlung von Molluscum contagiosum eingesetzt wurden, sind Nutzen und Wirksamkeit nach wie vor unklar. Um die Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit der Interventionen gegen Molluscum contagiosum vergleichend zu beurteilen, wurde eine Netzwerk‐Metaanalyse durchgeführt.

Patienten und Methodik

Embase, PubMed und Cochrane Library wurden nach Artikeln durchsucht, die zwischen dem 1. Januar 1990 und dem 30. November 2020 veröffentlicht wurden. Geeignet waren randomisierte klinische Studien (randomized clinical trials, RCT) von Interventionen bei immunkompetenten Kindern und Erwachsenen mit genitalen/nichtgenitalen Molluscum contagiosum‐Läsionen.

Ergebnisse

Zwölf Interventionen aus 25 RCT mit 2123 Teilnehmern wurden beurteilt. Im Vergleich mit Placebo hatte Ingenolmebutat den deutlichsten Effekt auf die vollständige Abheilung (Odds Ratio [OR] 117,42, 95%‐Konfidenzintervall [KI] 6,37–2164,88), gefolgt von Kryotherapie (OR 16,81, 95%‐KI 4,13–68,54), Podophyllotoxin (OR 10,24, 95%‐KI 3,36–31,21) und Kaliumhydroxid (KOH) (OR 10,02, 95%‐KI 4,64–21,64). Aufgrund der dürftigen Datenlage konnte keine quantitative Synthese zu unerwünschten Wirkungen durchgeführt werden.

Schlussfolgerungen

Ingenolmebutat, Kryotherapie, Podophyllotoxin und KOH waren hinsichtlich einer vollständigen Abheilung wirksamer als die anderen Interventionen. Allerdings wurden vor kurzem Sicherheitsbedenken hinsichtlich Ingenolmebutat geäußert. Aufgrund der Möglichkeit einer spontanen Abheilung ist bei asymptomatischen Infektionen auch nur deren Beobachtung gerechtfertigt. Faktoren wie unerwünschte Wirkungen, Kosten, Patientenwunsch und medizinische Verfügbarkeit sollten berücksichtigt werden.
Liposuktion beim Lipödem – Doch besser als ihr Ruf?
Authors: Seefeldt Tobias , Aitzetmüller‐Klietz Marie‐Luise , Kückelhaus Maximilian , Wiebringhaus Philipp , Hirsch Tobias , Harati Kamran , Aitzetmüller-Klietz Matthias M.
Published: June 2023

Hintergrund

Das Lipödem ist eine häufige chronische Fettverteilungsstörung, die oft mit Schmerzen und eingeschränkter Lebensqualität einhergeht und 6% bis 10% der weiblichen Bevölkerung betrifft. Obwohl das Lipödem in den letzten zehn Jahren mehr wissenschaftliche Aufmerksamkeit erhalten hat, bleiben validierte Diagnose und Behandlung für Spezialisten eine Herausforderung.

Patienten und Methodik

In diesem Artikel werden die Auswirkungen der Fettabsaugung auf Aussehen, Schmerzen und Begleiterkrankungen von 860 Patienten mit Lipödemen untersucht. Die Symptome von Patienten mit unterschiedlichen Stadien des Lipödems wurden mittels t‐Tests für unabhängige Stichproben und Kruskal‐Wallis‐Tests vor und nach der Liposuktion verglichen.

Ergebnisse

Unsere Studie belegt den positiven Effekt auf die Schmerzreduktion bei Patienten mit Lipödem nach der Liposuktion (NRS 2,24) im Vergleich zum Schmerzempfinden vor der Liposuktion (NRS 6,99) und zum Schmerzempfinden von Patienten mit konservativer Behandlung (NRS 6,26). Es zeigten sich signifikante Unterschiede in der Wahrnehmung zwischen den Stadien des Lipödems sowie signifikante Verringerung des Schmerzempfindens durch die Liposuktion. Außerdem zeigten Patienten mit Lipödem Begleiterkrankungen wie Menstruationsbeschwerden (43%), Schlaflosigkeit (36%) und Migräne (35%).

Schlussfolgerungen

Ein Fortschreiten des Lipödems führt nicht nur zu Veränderungen des Aussehens und der Proportionen, sondern auch zur progressiven Zunahme der Schmerzen. Die Liposuktion zeigt als einzige Therapieoption einen signifikanten Effekt auf die Schmerzreduktion ‐ unabhängig vom Stadium des Lipödems der Patienten.
Role of PERK‐mediated pathway in the effect of mild hypothermia after cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion
Authors: Zhao Jie , Xia Chenzhong , Tang Yingying , Wan Haifang
Published: June 2023

Background

Hypothermia is an effective method of reducing brain injury caused by a variety of neurological insults. It is aimed to elucidate whether a change in the expression of PERK‐mediated pathway proteins is an indicator of the neuroprotective effect of mild hypothermia after cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion.

Methods

One hundred and ninety‐two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups: a sham group, a cerebral normothermic ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) group and a cerebral hypothermic I/R group. A cerebral ischaemia model was established by ligating the bilateral common carotid artery for 15 min. Mice in the hypothermia group stayed in a cage that was set at 33°C, sprayed with a spray of 70% ethanol, and blown with two high‐speed fans. The state of neurons was assessed on micropreparations stained with haematoxylin–eosin and TUNEL. The expressions of GRP78, p‐perk, p‐eif2α, ATF4 and CHOP were measured by western blot analysis 6, 12, 24 and 72 h after reperfusion.

Results

The number of surviving cells was significantly higher in the hypothermia group than in the group without hypothermia (p < .05). The GRP78 expression in the hypothermia group was statistically higher (p < .05) than in the ischaemia/reperfusion group. Optical densities of p‐perk, p‐eif2α and ATF4 in hippocampus CA1 neurons ischaemia were statistically significantly lower in the hypothermia group than in the ischaemia/reperfusion group (p < .05). The CHOP expression in the hypothermia group was statistically lower (p < .05) than in the ischaemia/reperfusion group.

Conclusion

Mild hypothermia for 6 h promoted moderate neuroprotection by mediating the expression of GRP78, p‐PERK, p‐eIF2α, ATF4 and CHOP.
Soil moisture, stressed vegetation and the spatial structure of soil erosion in a high latitude rangeland
Authors: Cutler N. A. , Kodl G. , Streeter R. T. , Thompson P. I. J. , Dugmore A. J.
Published: June 2023

Soil erosion has been a persistent problem in high‐latitude regions and may worsen as climate change unfolds and encourages increased anthropogenic exploitation. We propose that soil moisture is likely to shape future erosion trends, as moisture stress reduces the capacity of vegetation cover to retard erosive processes. However, the spatial variability of soil moisture in high‐latitude soils—and the ways in which this variability drives the spatial distribution of erosion features—is poorly understood. We addressed this knowledge gap with a study of andosol erosion in southern Iceland. Our study used a combination of high‐resolution (<3 cm) remote sensing data (using normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalised difference red edge as metrics of plant vitality) and long‐term, in situ measurements of soil moisture to unpick the relationship between moisture stress, vegetation vitality and patchy soil erosion. Mean NDVI increased with distance from eroded areas, varying from ~0.6 in vegetated areas on the margins of erosion patches to ~0.8 in areas >10 m from eroded terrain. We found lower moisture availability close to existing erosion features: mean volumetric soil moisture content varied from 17% (proximal to erosion patch) to 36% (distal to erosion patch). We also found that variability in soil moisture decreased with distance from eroded areas: the coefficient of variation (CV) in soil moisture varied from 0.33 (proximal to erosion patch) to 0.13 (distal to erosion). Our findings indicate that the margins of erosion patches have a stressful soil environment due to exposure to the atmosphere. The vegetation in these locations grows less vigorously, and the exposed soil becomes more vulnerable to erosion, leading to erosion patch expansion and coalescence. If these conditions hold more generally, they may represent a feedback mechanism that facilitates the lateral propagation of soil erosion in high‐latitude regions.