bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diet of small mammals in semi‐deciduous forest fragments in Central Brazil
Authors: Parreira Claro Hermes Willyan , Hannibal Wellington
Published: March 2022

Marsupials and rodents are two of the most specious mammalian group, displaying a variety of diet and feeding habits. However, the knowledge about diet for several small mammal species is scant in the scientific literature, and most species are classified as insectivore–omnivore (marsupials), or frugivore–graminivore (rodents). In this study, we described diet composition based on digestive tract contents of 12 species of small mammals (7‐rodents and 5‐marsupials), in semi‐deciduous forest fragments of Central Brazil. We analysed 47 digestive tract contents belong to Calomys tener (10), Oecomys bicolor (10), Gracilinanus agilis (6), Marmosa murina (5), Rhipidomys macrurus (5), Calomys expulsus (2), Cryptonanus chacoensis (2), Monodelphis kunsi (2), Oecomys catherinae (2), Caluromys philander (1), Oligoryzomys mattogrossae (1) and Necromys lasiurus (1). We found parts of arthropods and fruits in the digestive tract of all species, with the exception of N. lasiurus, which contained only arthropods. The most representative arthropod taxa were Hymenoptera (present in 11 species), Coleoptera (9 spp.), Arachnida (7 spp.) and Isoptera (6 spp.). The seeds of Piperaceae (present in 3 small mammal species), Myrtaceae (2 spp.) and Poaceae (1 sp.) were also identified. This study reports the first records of diet composition for the marsupials C. chacoensis and M. murina, and rodents C. expulsus, C. tener, O. bicolor, O. catherinae and R. macrurus. Our findings contribute to understanding the diet composition and natural history of the Brazilian Savanna small mammals.
Allient™ hemodialysis machine: Sorbent‐based, single‐needle, UF‐controlled dialysis reborn
Authors: Ash Stephen R.
Published: March 2022

By the year 2000, there was rising interest in home hemodialysis in the United States. HemoCleanse decided to resurrect the BioLogic‐HD machine, using updated components. A spin‐off company Renal Solutions (RSI) created the Allient™, with sorbent regeneration of dialysate, hollow fiber dialyzer, pressure‐controlled blood flow rate, controlled filtration, and single‐ or dual‐needle access. RSI merged with Sorb Technology and the Allient™ was built, tested, and FDA‐approved to market. In 2007 Fresenius Medical Corporation (FMC) bought RSI. FMC began an extensive re‐design of the machine to fit the needs of both in‐center and home dialysis. The redesigned machine never was marketed.
Orthopaedic adverse events among adolescents and adults treated with asparaginase for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Valtis Yannis K. , Place Andrew E. , Silverman Lewis B. , Vrooman Lynda M. , DeAngelo Daniel J. , Luskin Marlise R.
Published: March 2022

Osteonecrosis (ON) is a complication of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) treatment with patient‐ (age, female sex, genetic polymorphisms, presence of metabolic syndrome) and treatment‐specific (glucocorticoid type and schedule) risk factors described. The potential role of asparaginase in increasing risk of ON via effects on coagulation, lipid metabolism, and steroid clearance is now also recognised. Paediatric studies consistently identify age as a key risk factor for ON, with adolescents at higher risk than young children. Fewer studies comprehensively report on risk of ON in adults, but available evidence suggests that adolescents and young adults (AYAs) treated with corticosteroid and asparaginase‐containing paediatric‐inspired regimens are more at risk than older adults treated with paediatric‐inspired or traditional adult regimens. There are few proven strategies to prevent or mitigate the severity of ON and other orthopaedic complications of ALL therapy. Future clinical trials should carefully ascertain orthopaedic adverse events in adults. Evidence‐based guidelines should be developed for management of orthopaedic adverse events in adults being treated for ALL, especially high‐risk AYAs being treated with paediatric‐inspired regimens.
Lessons from an experiment with values‐based messaging to support watershed conservation
Authors: Marquina Tatiana , Hackenburg Diana , Duray Hannah , Fisher Brendan , Gould Rachelle K.
Published: March 2022

Conservation professionals use language related to instrumental, intrinsic, and relational values when communicating about the importance of conservation, frequently in connection with ecosystem services. However, few researchers have examined whether messages that emphasize values associated with ecosystem services result in different policy‐support or behavior‐change outcomes among different audiences. We conducted a large‐scale survey experiment with participants (n = 815) who resided in the United States and were recruited online via the survey platform Qualtrics. The experiment tested whether messages about watershed protection that emphasize instrumental, intrinsic, or relational values (as opposed to the information‐only control message) resulted in differing support for policies or behavioral intentions related to watershed conservation. Respondents’ personal characteristics had a stronger effect on conservation beliefs than the way values were framed (i.e., than treatments in the experiment). For example, income positively predicted policy support (β = 0.07, 95% CI 0.02–0.12, p = 0.01, corrected p = 0.03). Instrumental messages decreased (SSG, tense) policy support among people who identified as politically liberal (β = –0.75, 95% CI –1.19 to –0.30, p = 0.001, corrected p = 0.003). Over 40% of respondents selected relational values over other value types as the main reason to protect watersheds. Our results demonstrated that political orientation interacts with how the importance of conservation is framed in complex ways and that conservation practitioners might improve the effectiveness of their communications by incorporating relational values and tailoring messages to different audiences.
The disproportionately high value of small patches for biodiversity conservation
Authors: Riva Federico , Fahrig Lenore
Published: March 2022

Small habitat patches have been historically neglected in conservation, primarily because extinction risk is higher in small patches. Nevertheless, sets of small patches usually harbor more species than one or a few larger patches of equal total area. Resolving this inconsistency is key to policy and practice in biodiversity conservation. Our analysis of 32 datasets (603 patches and 2290 taxa) provides two novel lines of evidence confirming that small patches have disproportionately high value for biodiversity. First, sets of small patches harbor more species than large patches even when considering only species of conservation concern. Second, sets of small patches harbor more species than large patches even when the small patches are very small compared to the large patches. Therefore, higher extinction risk in small than large patches does not decrease the cumulative value of small patches for biodiversity. We contend that acknowledging the conservation value of small patches, even very small patches, will be a necessary step for stemming biodiversity loss in the Anthropocene.
Forest–lake ecotones in a tropical forest: Terrestrial invertebrate inputs to lakes decrease with forest distance
Authors: Dolabela Bárbara Martins , Costa Fernanda Vieira da , Pinto Victor Diniz , Lopes Isabela , Bezerra‐Neto José Fernandes , Barbosa Francisco Antônio Rodrigues , Ribeiro Sérvio Pontes
Published: March 2022

Ecotones between tropical forests and lakes compose an ecosystem interconnection with a high abundance of terrestrial invertebrates, which represent an outstanding resource for the aquatic fauna. However, there is still little quantitative information on tropical forest contribution in terms of invertebrate inputs into lacustrine systems and the factors controlling this flux.

To quantify the terrestrial invertebrate contribution into tropical lakes, we selected six lakes located in the Atlantic rainforest, south‐eastern Brazil, and used pan traps placed in the lakeshore. We focused on total abundance, biomass, and richness of insect orders. To assess the influence of forest and lake morphometry on terrestrial invertebrate inputs into lakes, we measured the forest–lake distance and considered the morphometric characteristics of each lake.

Distance from forest negatively affected the invertebrate biomass reaching the lakes. The dissimilarity across different ecotones also increased with distance from the forest. Perimeter‐to‐area ratio negatively affected the invertebrate abundance, suggesting that more dendritic lakes receive more invertebrates from the forest.

We estimated that annually, on average 21 tons of terrestrial invertebrates fall into the studied lakes, representing a massive food resource for the aquatic ecosystem. Hence, if the distance from the forest increases due, for instance, to severe drought or deforestation, it will create an herbaceous environment unable to provide such a quantity of insects to the water ecosystems, compromising aquatic and terrestrial trophic webs dynamics.
Bacterial community structure and metabolic potential in microbialite‐forming mats from South Australian saline lakes
Authors: Nguyen Suong T. T. , Vardeh David P. , Nelson Tiffanie M. , Pearson Leanne A. , Kinsela Andrew S. , Neilan Brett A.
Published: March 2022

Microbialites are sedimentary rocks created in association with benthic microorganisms. While they harbour complex microbial communities, Cyanobacteria perform critical roles in sediment stabilisation and accretion. Microbialites have been described from permanent and ephemeral saline lakes in South Australia; however, the microbial communities that generate and inhabit these biogeological structures have not been studied in detail. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the composition, diversity and metabolic potential of bacterial communities from different microbialite‐forming mats and surrounding sediments in five South Australian saline coastal lakes using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and predictive metagenome analyses. While Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla recovered from the mats and sediments, Cyanobacteria were significantly more abundant in the mat samples. Interestingly, at lower taxonomic levels, the mat communities were vastly different across the five lakes. Comparative analysis of putative mat and sediment metagenomes via PICRUSt2 revealed important metabolic pathways driving the process of carbonate precipitation, including cyanobacterial oxygenic photosynthesis, ureolysis and nitrogen fixation. These pathways were highly conserved across the five examined lakes, although they appeared to be performed by distinct groups of bacterial taxa found in each lake. Stress response, quorum sensing and circadian clock were other important pathways predicted by the in silico metagenome analysis. The enrichment of CRISPR/Cas and phage shock associated genes in these cyanobacteria‐rich communities suggests that they may be under selective pressure from viral infection. Together, these results highlight that a very stable ecosystem function is maintained by distinctly different communities in microbialite‐forming mats in the five South Australian lakes and reinforce the concept that ‘who’ is in the community is not as critical as their net metabolic capacity.
Highlighting the efficiency of ultrasound‐based emulsifier‐free emulsions to penetrate reconstructed human skin
Authors: Kichou Hichem , Dancik Yuri , Eklouh‐Molinier Christophe , Huang Nicolas , Soucé Martin , Gressin Laurianne , Gillet Guillaume , Chourpa Igor , Munnier Emilie , Bonnier Franck
Published: March 2022

Objective

The cosmetic industry endeavours to strengthen the greener and safer claims of processes to respond to the high demand from customers for natural and environmentally friendly products. High‐frequency ultrasonication technology (HFUT) is a physical process enabling the stabilization of emulsions without requiring additional ingredients, such as emulsifying surfactants (ES) to be introduced into the formulations. In this study, key formulation characteristics of an emulsion synthesized by HFUT and a reference emulsion (RE) were compared, as well as the permeation kinetics of caffeine, used as a model active cosmetic ingredient, from both types of emulsions.

Methods

The pH, droplet size and viscosity of emulsions prepared by the HFUT and the RE were determined and compared. The permeation of caffeine from the HFUT emulsion and the RE applied to the surface of reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) models was compared.

Results

The ES‐free formulations prepared by HFUT displayed a nearly 2‐fold lower average droplet size and over 3‐fold greater viscosity, compared to the RE. Despite these differences, the absence of ES in the HFUT emulsion did not significantly alter the permeation kinetics of caffeine through RHE. The caffeine steady‐state flux, lag time and permeability coefficients differed by 20%–30% only.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the potential of the HFUT to yield topical cosmetic products with lower requirements ingredients‐wise, without losing efficacy, supporting the possible implementation of the technology in the cosmetic industry.
Sense of belonging, international migrants’ spending, and implications for their subjective well‐being
Authors: Hang Haiming , Zhong Jing Yang
Published: March 2022

A lack of a sense of belonging in the host country has become one of the most common challenges facing international migrants in today's sociopolitical environment. Our two online experiments with 881 international migrant workers in the United States jointly demonstrate that, to cope with their lack of a sense of belonging in the host country, international migrants may spend money suboptimally: more on material purchases but less on experiential and prosocial purchases. More importantly, our studies suggest that prosocial purchases are more effective than experiential purchases in increasing international migrants’ subjective well‐being. This is because prosocial purchases can lead to both relatedness need satisfaction and beneficence, with each independently contributing to international migrants’ subjective well‐being. Our research suggests that public policymakers should address the social exclusion international migrants experience when moving to a new country because it can have a negative impact on their subjective well‐being. Our research further suggests that one way to mitigate social exclusion is to encourage international migrants to spend money on others rather than themselves.
Edible multilayer coating using electrostatic layer‐by‐layer deposition of chitosan and pectin enhances shelf life of fresh strawberries
Authors: Adhikari Manita , Koirala Sushil , Anal Anil Kumar
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to develop an edible multilayer coating by electrostatic layer‐by‐layer deposition (LbL) of chitosan‐pectin biopolymers to extend the shelf life of strawberries. A fixed concentration of chitosan (2% w/v) and varying pectin concentrations (0.25–1% w/v) in an LbL sequence were initially applied to coat on the low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) film. The successful assembly of these biopolymers in the LDPE film was confirmed by their zeta potential (chitosan, +43 mV and pectin, −36 to −42 mV) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in the range of 1800–1600 cm‐1 indicating the strong interactions between chitosan and pectin. Chitosan (2% w/v) and pectin (0.25% w/v) had the lowest water vapour permeability (WVP) of 1.86 ± 0.02 × 10−9 in gday‐1 m‐1 Pa‐1 among all other formulations. The application of the coating on strawberries extended the shelf life (9 days) compared to the control (6 days) at room temperature (25 °C) while still retaining the colour, firmness and pH of strawberries. The results obtained illuminate the potential application of safer, ecofriendly and sustainable packaging materials in the food industry.
Little cause for concern: Analysis of gender effects in structured employment references
Authors: Fisher Peter A. , Robie Chet , Hedricks Cynthia A. , Rupayana Disha D. , Puchalski Leigh
Published: March 2022

Recent research has highlighted the fact that narrative letters of recommendation in employment references could contribute to gender bias in personnel selection. Structured, quantitative employment references, however, may limit the opportunity for such biases to emerge. In a sample of nearly one million applicants and ratings by over four million employment reference providers, we found no meaningful effect of gender bias in highly structured, quantitative employment references across job levels and a wide variety of industries. Interestingly, and in contrast to existing theory, the effect of gender bias remained negligible across both stereotypically masculine and feminine jobs. Similarly, in a subsample of 5000 job applicants and 20,000 employment reference providers, coded verbatim comments of reference providers showed little practical gender differences in the frequency with which various comment types are made. These results suggest that highly structured, quantitative and semi‐structured, verbatim employment references are an effective tool in the advancement of fair and equitable personnel selection practices. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and future research is proposed.
Time‐varying impacts of expectations on housing markets across hot and cold phases
Authors: Huang MeiChi
Published: March 2022

This study investigates time‐varying roles of people's expectations in driving the US housing price and quantity dynamics using a Threshold Vector Autoregressive model. The expectation measure, a good‐time‐to‐buy (GTTB) index, works as the threshold indicator to classify pessimism and optimism phases, and represents the model‐based measure of uncertainty. There is strong evidence for regime switches in responses to shocks across the two phases. The results show that good and bad shocks play similar roles in housing markets. Tiny responses of GTTB to both large good and bad shocks in the two regimes suggest “too bad to be believed” and “too good to be believed” patterns. The estimation is biased as volatility shocks are neglected in the housing boom and bust.
Study on the structural, mechanical, and dynamical stabilities and properties of Nb2AN (A = Si, Ge, and Sn) MAX phases by first principle
Authors: Zeng Fanwang , Zheng Haizhong , Li Guifa , Geng Yongxiang , Peng Ping
Published: March 2022

In order to find a kind of MAX phase material suited for thermal barrier coating (TBC) field, the structural properties, mechanical properties, electronic structure, and thermal properties of Nb2AN (A = Si, Ge, and Sn) MAX phase compounds were studied by density functional theory. The results of cohesive energy, formation enthalpy, elastic constants, and lattice dynamics show that the Nb2AN (A = Si, Ge, and Sn) possess good structural stability, mechanical stability, and dynamical stability. Especially in Nb2SnN phase, although its calculated melting point is not the largest one among them, it possesses the best thermal shock resistance. Its coefficient of thermal expansion fits most suitably to the Ni‐based alloy in 300–1452 K and lowest lattice thermal conductivity force it to be an application prospect TBC material. Its mechanical performance is also good for its own smallest deformation of octahedron structure, highest ductileness, and lowest anisotropy. Electronic structure analysis shows that its lowest Debye temperature comes from its highest ionic degree and lowest covalency. Thus, our research provides a deep theoretical basis for the development of new MAX phase materials.
Emergency nurses' burnout levels as the mediator of the relationship between stress and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms during COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Yang Bey‐Jing , Yen Ching‐Wei , Lin Shou‐Ju , Huang Chien‐Hua , Wu Jhong‐Lin , Cheng Yih‐Ru , Hsieh Chia‐Chen , Hsiao Fei‐Hsiu
Published: March 2022

Aims

To examine the association of the working stress with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD), and burnout as the mediator for this association among emergency nurses during COVID‐19 pandemic.

Design

Longitudinal survey study.

Methods

Online survey was used to collect data during the period from August to November 2020 with a sample of 169 emergency nurses. They were invited to complete the following questionnaires at the 6th and 9th months after COVID‐19 outbreak: Posttraumatic Symptom Scale (PTSS‐10), the emergency nurses' COVID‐19 stress questionnaire and Chinese version of 21‐item Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI).

Results

During the 3‐month follow‐up, there were no changes in the number of suspected PTSD cases (6 and above symptoms): 41% at the 6th month and 33.3% at the 9th month. The increases of the personal burnout levels and living apart from families were the main factors associated with the PTSD symptoms. The risk for emergency nurses suffering from PTSD is through stress levels increasing their burnout levels.

Conclusions

Over 30 percent of emergency nurses remained at high risk for suspected PTSD. The burnout levels mediated the relationship between the stress levels and the risks of PTSD.

Impact

Little as know about the impact of COVID‐19 on emergency nurses' stress. This study found emergency nurses remained to be the high risk for the suspected PTSD cases. It is urged to develop a stress‐reduction program targeting at causes of stress and improving burnout for emergency nurses during COVID‐19 pandemic.
Population structure, patterns of natal dispersal and demographic history in a declining aerial insectivore, the purple martin Progne subis
Authors: de Greef Evelien , Brashear Wesley , Delmore Kira E. , Fraser Kevin C.
Published: March 2022

Genetic variation is a fundamental component of biodiversity, and studying population structure, gene flow and demographic history can help guide conservation strategies for many species. Like other aerial insectivores, the purple martin Progne subis is in decline, and yet their genetic background remains largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we assessed population structure in the nominate eastern subspecies (P. s. subis) with relation to natal dispersal and examined historical genetic patterns in all three subspecies (P. s. subis, P. s. arboricola, P. s. hesperia) across their North American breeding range by estimating effective population sizes over time. We used next‐generation sequencing strategies for genomic analyses, integrating whole‐genome resequencing data with continent‐wide band encounter records to examine natal dispersal. We documented population structure across P. s. subis, with the highest differentiation between the northern (Alberta) and more southern colonies and following patterns of isolation‐by‐distance. Consistent with spatial patterns of genetic differentiation, we also found greater longitudinal than latitudinal natal dispersal distances, signifying potential latitudinal constraints on gene flow. Earlier contractions in effective population sizes in the western P. s. arboricola and P. s. hesperia compared to the eastern P. s. subis subspecies suggest these subspecies originated from two different glacial refugia. Together, these findings support latitudinal distinction in P. s. subis, and elucidate the origin of subspecies differentiation, highlighting the importance of conserving populations across the range to maximize genetic diversity and adaptive potential in the purple martin.
PAICE: A new R package to estimate the number of inter‐island colonizations considering haplotype data and sample size
Authors: Coello Alberto J. , Fernández‐Mazuecos Mario , Heleno Ruben H. , Vargas Pablo
Published: March 2022

Aim

Colonization is a central topic in ecology and one of the cornerstones of island biogeography. Although the evolutionary history of island species is widely studied, the quantification of colonization is particularly challenging because the same area may be colonized multiple times by the same species, whereas initially successful colonization events may eventually be followed by extinction. Nevertheless, an estimation of the actual number of within‐archipelago colonization events can be achieved when using adequate sample size and genetic data, which are essential parameters in the inference of colonization success of any species.

Location

Canary Islands, Azores and Galápagos Islands.

Taxon

Buteo galapagoensis, Croton scouleri, Setophaga petechia aureola and Xylocopa darwini (Galápagos); Canarina canariensis, Cistus monspeliensis, Juniperus cedrus and Olea europaea subsp. guanchica (Canary Islands); and Juniperus brevifolia and Picconia azorica (Azores).

Methods

The new R package PAICE uses haplotype (from organelle DNA) sharing and haplotype relationships, and controls for sampling effort to estimate the number of within‐archipelago colonization events in island‐like systems. PAICE applies a sampling‐effort correction based on rarefaction curves of field sampling (number of individuals or populations) and genetic sampling (number of DNA variable positions). The number of colonization events for the 10 insular species were estimated with PAICE and results compared with previous methods.

Results

PAICE estimates a number of inter‐island colonization events up to an order of magnitude greater than previous methods. Furthermore, PAICE can quantify the colonization events of any study species, in multiple biogeographic contexts and considering sampling size, thus providing a standardized estimate of colonization success.

Main conclusions

The new package PAICE provides an estimation of the number of inter‐island colonization events (regardless of dispersal routes or rates) based on haplotype data across islands. This new tool will allow gaining new insights on the intensity of long‐distance‐dispersal events, their drivers and consequences for the assembly of insular faunas and floras.
Morphologic evidence of telocytes in human thyroid stromal tissue
Authors: Rosa Irene , Ibba‐Manneschi Lidia , Guasti Daniele , Perigli Giuliano , Faussone‐Pellegrini Maria‐Simonetta , Manetti Mirko
Published: March 2022

Despite the evidence accumulated over the past decade that telocytes (TCs) are a distinctive, though long neglected, cell entity of the stromal microenvironment of several organs of the human body, to date their localization in the endocrine glands remains almost unexplored. This study was therefore undertaken to examine the presence and characteristics of TCs in normal human thyroid stromal tissue through an integrated morphologic approach featuring light microscopy and ultrastructural analysis. TCs were first identified by immunohistochemistry that revealed the existence of an intricate network of CD34+ stromal cells spread throughout the thyroid interfollicular connective tissue. Double immunofluorescence allowed to clearly differentiate CD34+ stromal cells lacking CD31 immunoreactivity from neighbour CD31+ microvascular structures, and the evidence that these stromal cells coexpressed CD34 and platelet‐derived growth factor receptor α further strengthened their identification as TCs. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of stromal cells ultrastructurally identifiable as TCs projecting their characteristic cytoplasmic processes (i.e., telopodes) into the narrow interstitium between thyroid follicles and blood microvessels, where telopodes intimately surrounded the basement membrane of thyrocytes. Collectively, these morphologic findings provide the first comprehensive demonstration that TCs are main constituents of the human thyroid stroma and lay the necessary groundwork for further in‐depth studies aimed at clarifying their putative implications in glandular homeostasis and pathophysiology.
Survivability and fracture resistance of monolithic and multi‐yttria‐layered zirconia crowns as a function of yttria content: A mastication simulation study
Authors: Badr Zaid , Culp Lee , Duqum Ibrahim , Lim Chek Hai , Zhang Yu , A. Sulaiman Taiseer
Published: March 2022

Objective

To compare four different types of monolithic zirconia crowns in terms of survival rate and fracture resistance after thermocycling and/or thermo‐mechanical loading in a chewing simulator.

Methods

Partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) crowns with fiber‐reinforced resin die assemblies (n = 80) were fabricated using: multi‐yttria‐layered 5Y‐PSZ/3Y‐PSZ, multi‐yttria‐layered 5Y‐PSZ/4Y‐PSZ, monolithic 4Y‐PSZ, and monolithic 3Y‐PSZ as control (n = 20). Half of the samples in each group were subjected to thermo‐mechanical loading under 110 N, 1.4 Hz, 1.2 million cycles with simultaneous thermocycling (10,000 cycles, 5–55°C). The other half were subjected to thermocycling alone. The samples were loaded to failure to measure their fracture resistance. The data were analyzed using by two‐way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD post‐hoc test (α = 0.05).

Results

All specimens survived the aging protocols. The yttria content significantly affected the fracture resistance of the crowns (p < 0.0001). The mean fracture resistance, from highest to lowest: 3Y‐PSZ, 4Y‐PSZ, followed by the two multi‐yttria‐layered systems. The mean difference between the two multi‐yttria‐layered systems were not statistically significant (p = 0.98). The mechanical loading protocol did not affect the mean fracture resistance within each group (p = 0.18).

Conclusions

Within each group, there was no difference in fracture resistance after thermocycling alone and thermo‐mechanical loading. However, increasing the yttria concentration at the occlusal third of the crown decreased its fracture resistance.

Clinical Significance

The term “monolithic zirconia” alone without specifying the actual yttria content is misleading. This term represents different materials with different mechanical properties. The yttria content has an inverse relationship with the fracture resistance of zirconia crowns. The fracture resistance of multi‐layer zirconia crowns is determined by the amount of the weaker zirconia phase at the occlusal part of the restoration rather than enforced by the stronger zirconia at the cervical part of the crown.
Absolute quantification of chromosome copy numbers in the polyploid macronucleus of Tetrahymena thermophila at the single‐cell level
Authors: Zhou Yuanyuan , Fu Lu , Mochizuki Kazufumi , Xiong Jie , Miao Wei , Wang Guangying
Published: March 2022

Amitosis is widespread among eukaryotes, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The polyploid macronucleus (MAC) of unicellular ciliates divides by amitosis, making ciliates a potentially valuable model system to study this process. However, a method to accurately quantify the copy number of MAC chromosomes has not yet been established. Here, we used droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to quantify the absolute copy number of the MAC chromosomes in Tetrahymena thermophila. We first confirmed that ddPCR is a sensitive and reproducible method to determine accurate chromosome copy numbers at the single‐cell level. We then used ddPCR to determine the copy number of different MAC chromosomes by analyzing individual T. thermophila cells in the G1 and the amitotic (AM) phases. The average copy number of MAC chromosomes was 90.9 at G1 phase, approximately half the number at AM phase (189.8). The copy number of each MAC chromosome varied among individual cells in G1 phase and correlated with cell size, suggesting that amitosis accompanied by unequal cytokinesis causes copy number variability. Furthermore, the fact that MAC chromosome copy number is less variable among AM‐phase cells suggests that the copy number is standardized by regulating DNA replication. We also demonstrated that copy numbers differ among different MAC chromosomes and that interchromosomal variations in copy number are consistent across individual cells. Our findings demonstrate that ddPCR can be used to model amitosis in T. thermophila and possibly in other ciliates.
Do people change their eating habits after a diagnosis of cancer? A systematic review
Authors: Aldossari Amal , Sremanakova Jana , Sowerbutts Anne Marie , Jones Debra , Hann Mark , Burden Sorrel T.
Published: March 2022

Background

People who live with and beyond cancer are considered to be motivated to change their diet. However, there is a lack of reviews conducted on what specific dietary changes people make and further evaluation may inform future interventional studies. Hence, we aim to summarise the evidence on dietary changes in observational studies before and after a cancer diagnosis.

Methods

This systematic review followed the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis. Electronic searches were conducted in four databases to identify cohort and cross‐sectional studies on dietary changes before and after a cancer diagnosis, excluding studies that evaluated an intervention. Quality assessment was undertaken, and meta‐analyses were conducted where suitable.

Results

We identified 14 studies with 16,443 participants diagnosed with cancer, with age range 18–75 years. Dietary change was assessed <1–5 years before diagnosis and up to 12 years post‐diagnosis. Meta‐analyses showed that the standard mean difference (SMD) for energy (SMD‐0.32, 95% confidence interval = −0.46 to −0.17) and carbohydrate consumption (SMD 0.20, 95% confidence interval = −0.27 to −0.14). Studies showed inconsistent findings for fat, protein and fibre, most food groups, and supplement intake. A small decrease in red and processed meat consumption was consistently reported.

Conclusions

All studies reported some positive changes in dietary intake and supplement consumption after receiving a cancer diagnosis without any intervention. However, differences for food groups and nutrients were mainly small and not necessarily clinically meaningful. Evidence demonstrates that a cancer diagnosis alone is insufficient to motivate people to change their dietary intake, indicating that most people would benefit from a dietary intervention to facilitate change.
Role of aromatase in distinct brain nuclei of the social behaviour network in the expression of sexual behaviour in male Japanese quail
Authors: Court Lucas , Balthazart Jacques , Ball Gregory F. , Cornil Charlotte A.
Published: March 2022

In male Japanese quail, brain aromatase is crucial for the hormonal activation of sexual behaviour, but the sites producing neuro‐oestrogens that are critical for these behaviours have not been completely identified. This study examined the function of aromatase expressed in several nuclei of the social behaviour network on a measure of sexual motivation known as the frequency of rhythmic cloacal sphincter movements (RCSM) and on copulatory behaviour. Sexually experienced castrated males chronically treated with testosterone were stereotaxically implanted with the aromatase inhibitor vorozole (VOR), or cholesterol as control, and tested for sexual behaviour. In experiment 1, males were implanted in the medial preoptic nucleus (POM) with VOR, a manipulation known to reduce the expression of copulatory behaviour. This experiment served as positive control, but also showed that VOR implanted in the dorsomedial or lateral portions of the POM similarly inhibits male copulatory behaviour compared to control implants. In experiments 2 to 4, males received stereotaxic implants of VOR in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), the nucleus taeniae of the amygdala (TnA) and the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN), respectively. Sexual behaviour was affected only in individuals where VOR was implanted in the PAG: these males displayed significantly lower frequencies of cloacal contact movements, the last step of the copulatory sequence. Inhibition of aromatase in the TnA and VMN did not alter copulatory ability. Overall, RCSM frequency remained unaffected by VOR regardless of implantation site. Together, these results suggest that neuro‐oestrogens produced in the POM contribute the most to the control of male copulatory behaviour, while aromatase expressed in the PAG might also participate to premotor aspects of male copulatory behaviour.
Lived experiences and opinions of women of sub‐Saharan origin on female genital mutilation: A phenomenological study
Authors: Martínez‐Linares José Manuel , López‐Entrambasaguas Olga María , Fernández‐Medina Isabel María , Berthe‐Kone Ousmane , Fernández‐Sola Cayetano , Jiménez‐Lasserrotte María del Mar , Hernández‐Padilla José Manuel , Canet‐Vélez Olga
Published: March 2022

Aims and objectives

This study aimed to describe and understand the lived experiences and opinions of sub‐Saharan women living in Spain in relation to female genital mutilation.

Background

Female genital mutilation is a bloody procedure with serious consequences for the health of women and girls. Understanding mutilated women's lived experiences plays a crucial role in the management of health consequences and could help healthcare professionals to provide assistance to these women.

Design

A descriptive phenomenological study was carried out. The COREQ checklist was followed as guidance to write the manuscript.

Methods

A total of 12 in‐depth interviews were conducted. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using ATLAS.ti 9.0.

Results

Two themes with four subthemes were identified from the data analysis: 1) ‘The traumatic experience of female circumcision’ with the subthemes ‘Female mutilation is a physical and psychological torture procedure’ and ‘recognising and coping with negative emotions’; 2) ‘The fight for the eradication of female genital mutilation’ which contains the subthemes ‘the need for a real sociocultural change at the origin’ and ‘“I want to be the last”: Personal development leads to sociocultural change’.

Conclusions

Female genital mutilation was experienced by women as a very aggressive and traumatic event. It causes considerable negative emotions that last over time. Although there is a tendency to reject the practice, in women's countries of origin, there is social pressure for girls to be mutilated.

Relevance to clinical practice

Caring for women who have suffered from female genital mutilation requires awareness of the traumatic experience they underwent when they were girls. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in eradicating female genital mutilation. Apart from education, preventive measures may include specific recommendations when girls are travelling to the country of origin and participatory action research.
Choice of Policy Instruments with Endogenous Quality: Per‐Passenger and Per‐Flight Airport Charges in Japan*
Authors: Doi Naoshi
Published: March 2022

This study empirically investigates how two types of airport charges (per‐passenger and per‐flight) differentially affect airfares, service quality (flight frequency), and welfare. A structural model endogenizing airfares and flight frequency is estimated with data on Japanese domestic routes and then used for simulation analyses. The results reveal that per‐passenger charges significantly raise airfares, with an average pass‐through rate of 97.5 per cent, and reduce flight frequency. Per‐flight charges decrease flight frequency but have little effect on airfares. The socially preferred type of charges differs across routes: per‐passenger charges tend to be socially preferred on larger routes.
Performance of a simplified scoring system for risk stratification in oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders screening
Authors: Adeoye John , Sakeen Alkandari Abdulrahman , Tan Jia Yan , Wang Weilan , Zhu Wang‐Yong , Thomson Peter , Zheng Li‐Wu , Choi Siu‐Wai , Su Yu‐Xiong
Published: March 2022

Background

Impact and efficiency of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders screening are most realized in “at‐risk” individuals. However, tools that can provide essential knowledge on individuals' risks are not applied in risk‐based screening. This study aims to optimize a simplified risk scoring system for risk stratification in organized oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders screening.

Methods

Participants were invited to attend a community‐based oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders screening program in Hong Kong. Visual oral examination was performed for all attendees and information on sociodemographic characteristics as well as habitual, lifestyle, familial, and comorbidity risk factors were obtained. Individuals' status of those found to have suspicious lesions following biopsy and histopathology were classified as positive/negative and this outcome was used in a multiple logistic regression analysis with variables collected during screening. Odds ratio weightings were then used to develop a simplified risk scoring system which was validated in an external cohort.

Results

Of 979 participants, 4.5% had positive status following confirmatory diagnosis. A 12‐variable simplified risk scoring system with weightings was generated with an AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.82, 0.71, and 0.78 for delineating high‐risk cases. Further optimization on the validation cohort of 491 participants yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 0.75 and 0.87 respectively.

Conclusions

The simplified risk scoring system was able to stratify oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders risk with satisfactory sensitivity and specificity and can be applied in risk‐based disease screening.
Additively Manufactured Scan Bodies for Virtual Patient Integration: Different Designs, Manufacturing Procedures, and Clinical Protocols
Authors: Pérez‐Giugovaz Marcelo Gabriel , Meykadeh Zahra , Revilla‐León Marta
Published: March 2022

Additively manufactured intraoral scan bodies can be used to guide the alignment of a patient's digital file information, including facial and intraoral digital scans both with and without a cone beam computed tomography scan, and to obtain a 3D virtual patient's representation. The present manuscript reviews the different intraoral scan body designs, procedures involved in additive manufacturing, clinical protocols for fabricating an additively manufactured scan body, performing a patient's digital data collection, and completing the alignment techniques.
Surface Roughness and Bond Strength of Resin Composite to Additively Manufactured Zirconia with Different Porosities
Authors: Zandinejad Amirali , Khanlar Leila Nasiry , Barmak Abdul Basir , Tagami Junji , Revilla‐León Marta
Published: March 2022

Purpose

To investigate the bond strength of resin cement to additively manufactured (AM) zirconia with different porosities when compared to milled zirconia.

Materials and Methods

A 12 × 5 mm disk virtual design file was used to fabricate a total of 48 disks divided into 4 groups: 3 groups were AM with different porosities including 0%‐porosity (AMZ0 group), 20%‐porosity (AMZ20 group), and 40%‐porosity (AMZ40 group), and 1 milled zirconia (control or CNCZ group). The dimensions of all specimens were measured using a digital caliper. A 3D‐ confocal laser scanner was used to analyze surface morphology and measure the surface roughness (Sa), followed by SEM analysis. Tensile bond strength of composite resin cement to specimens was measured before and after aging procedures using a universal testing machine (n = 10). Failure modes were evaluated under a light microscope. Volumetric change data was analyzed using one‐way ANOVA, and two‐way ANOVA was used to compare bond strength values (α = 0.05).

Results

There was a significant difference in volumetric changes among the groups. The CNCZ group showed the least changes in diameter 0.027 ± 0.029 mm and thickness 0.030 ± 0.012 mm and AM zirconia with 40% porosity showed the most volumetric changes in diameter 5.237 ± 0.023 mm. ANOVA test indicated an overall significant difference in surface roughness across all groups (F = 242.6, p < 0.001). The CNCZ group showed the highest mean Sa of 1.649 ± 0.240 µm, followed by AMZ40 group with Sa of 0.830 ± 0.063 µm, AMZ20 group with Sa of 0.780 ± 0.070 µm, and the AMZ0 group with Sa of 0.612 ± 0.063 µm. Two‐way ANOVA showed significant difference in bond strength between the CNCZ group 12.109 ± 3.223 MPa and the AMZ0 group 8.629 ± 0.914 MPa, with significant pretest failures in specimens with porosities. Thermal cycling methods reduced the bond strength non‐significantly in CNCZ group with no effect in the AMZ0 group.

Conclusion

Milled zirconia had a higher surface roughness and bond strength to composite resin cement than AM zirconia, and porosities in AM zirconia decreased the bond strength with significant pretest failures.
Additive Manufacturing Technologies: Current Status and Future Perspectives
Authors: Alammar Amirah , Kois John C. , Revilla‐León Marta , Att Wael
Published: March 2022

A review of the main additive manufacturing technologies including vat‐polymerization, material extrusion, material jetting, binder jetting, powder‐based fusion, sheet lamination, and direct energy deposition is provided. Additionally, the dental applications of polymer, metal, and ceramic printing technologies are discussed.
Extremely high diversity and endemism of chlorotypes in Wikstroemia monnula Hance (Thymelaeaceae) shed light on the effects of habitat heterogeneity on intraspecific differentiation in southeast China
Authors: Zhang Chao‐Qiang , Tang Yi‐Wei , Tian De‐Feng , Huang Yan‐Yan , Yang Guang‐Hui , Nan Peng , Wang Yu‐Guo , Li Ling‐Feng , Song Zhi‐Ping , Yang Ji , Zhong Yang , Zhang Wen‐Ju
Published: March 2022

Southeast China is one of the core areas of the Sino‐Japanese floristic region and a hotspot of biodiversity in East Asia. This region has been considered as both a museum and a cradle of woody genera in China. Why a region with highly stable topography and climate could be a cradle of species diversity remains unclear. In this study, the phylogeographic pattern and genetic structure of Wikstroemia monnula, an endemic species to southeast China, were analyzed by sequencing four chloroplast DNA fragments (4679 bp in total) of 836 individuals from 39 populations. Extremely high diversity and endemism of chlorotypes were found. Out of 54 chlorotypes, 51 (94.44%) were private, with genetic diversity index (HT) near 1 (HT = 0.992), and 96.51% of the genetic variation occurring among populations, indicating that this species has undergone strong intraspecific differentiation and very limited migration. The correlational analysis showed that the population differentiation of W. monnula was driven not only via isolation by distance (IBD), but more importantly via isolation by environment (IBE). A significant phylogeographic structure was not found (NST = 0.979, GST = 0.833, P > 0.05); however, the spatial pattern of the sublineages of chlorotypes was largely consistent with the biogeographic boundaries on a smaller scale in the region. These results suggest that habitat heterogeneity in southeast China not only promoted speciation on a long time‐scale, but still continues to impact population differentiation in recent times.
Artists' labour market and gender: Evidence from German visual artists
Authors: Marchenko Maria , Sonnabend Hendrik
Published: March 2022

Using comprehensive data from German visual artists, we provide strong empirical evidence of a gender gap in revenues. We find that female artists have significantly lower revenues from the art market and are about ten percentage points less likely to remain in the top category over three years. This gap persists in the most prominent art forms and is more pronounced for younger artists. Only 30 to 40% of these gaps can be explained by differences in observable characteristics. We also find differences in the networking behaviour of the artists of different genders: females are connecting more, whereas males tend to create tighter links, suggesting the importance of the latter for the art market.