bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tax evasion savings versus unlawful predicate proceeds: a substance-based approach
Authors: Kemsley Deen , Kemsley Sean A.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to determine whether tax evasion savings qualify as unlawful proceeds for money laundering purposes. Litigators, regulators and academics have debated the question for decades. A common argument is that tax evasion allows a bad actor to save money that the perpetrator already has on hand. It does not produce a new inflow of wealth that could properly be classified as proceeds. This paper addresses the validity of this argument by using a substance-based approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies the substance-over-form principle and two specialized judicial doctrines to the matter: the economic-substance and step-transaction doctrines.

Findings

This paper finds that in substance, tax evasion savings qualify as unlawful proceeds. The opposing argument may be valid on the surface, but it does not withstand the scrutiny of the substance-based principle and insights from the doctrines.

Practical implications

The finding of this paper implies that any courts which value substance can embrace tax evasion savings as unlawful proceeds. Government prosecutors can adopt the position with confidence that substance backs them up. National regulators can push the point. The United Nations’ Financial Action Task Force can consider the option to more explicitly recommend treating tax evasion savings as unlawful proceeds for money laundering.

Originality/value

Using a unique substance-based approach, this paper demonstrates that a dollar of tax evasion savings is substantively equivalent to a dollar of unlawful tax refund proceeds for money laundering purposes. Focusing on an unlawful tax refund overcomes many of the common concerns raised against the treatment of tax evasion savings as unlawful proceeds.
The integration of education for sustainable development into accounting education: stakeholders’ salience perspectives
Authors: Al-Hazaima Huthaifa , Low Mary , Sharma Umesh
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This paper applies a stakeholder salience theoretical framework to facilitate the understanding of the roles salient stakeholders can have in the integration of education for sustainable development, one of the important Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), into Jordan’s university accounting education.

Design/methodology/approach

We used stakeholder salience theory to inform our study. This study adopted a qualitative research method. The study used semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative, open-ended data that explored the salient stakeholders’ thoughts, beliefs and feelings about their roles in influencing the integration of education for sustainable development into the Jordanian accounting curriculum.

Findings

The results indicate that education for sustainable development in accounting is important; however, most Jordanian salient stakeholders indicate their inability to integrate sustainable education into the accounting curriculum due to their lack of power to do so. The findings show that there is currently an inappropriate distribution of power, legitimacy and urgency amongst the salient stakeholders, who indicate that a progressive education solution is required in the critical area of education for sustainable development in accounting. This research indicates that a significant number of salient stakeholders would like the Jordanian government to provide power, legitimacy and urgency to enable accounting educators to become definite stakeholders as this will enable them to integrate sustainable education into the accounting curriculum.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to Jordan only. The paper draws attention to the need for an appropriate distribution of power, legitimacy and urgency amongst salient stakeholders in Jordan.

Practical implications

This paper provides evidence that the salient stakeholders in this emerging economy want to make changes in their education system to address climate change concerns, an important SDG, through a better education curriculum for sustainable development in Jordanian universities.

Social implications

Accounting educators should be given the power to make changes in the accounting curriculum, such as integrating education for sustainable development.

Originality/value

There is an inappropriate distribution of power, legitimacy and urgency amongst the Jordanian salient stakeholders and this imbalance hinders the integration of education for sustainable development into the accounting curriculum.
Multiple diagnoses in the context of parallel epidemics: methamphetamine, opioid use disorder and psychiatric conditions
Authors: Zande Taylor , Kopak Albert , Hoffmann Norman
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The most recent wave of the opioid epidemic in the USA has been complicated by a sharp increase in methamphetamine use. In addition, many people classified with opioid use disorder (OUD) and methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) present indications of psychiatric conditions. These diagnoses are also highly prevalent among people who are admitted to jails, but research conducted with this population is limited, due in part to the challenges associated with gaining access to local detention centers. This paper aims to examine the patterns of psychiatric conditions, OUD, and MUD among an understudied population to help inform the development of service delivery systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study was designed to assess the prevalence of OUD, MUD and common psychiatric conditions in a large sample of adults (n = 846) collected from four local jails. Diagnostic patterns were evaluated according to the current criteria established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed; American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Findings

More than half (57.3%) of the sample met criteria for MUD, one-third (37.2%) exceeded the threshold for an OUD diagnosis and 15.7% were classified with both conditions. Participants who met criteria for both MUD and OUD were significantly more likely to experience symptoms of major depression [adjusted odd ratios (aOR) = 1.76, 9, confidence intervals (CI) = 1.16–2.67], post-traumatic stress disorder (aOR = 2.51, 1.64–3.83), panic attacks (aOR = 3.24, 95% CI = 2.05–5.13), obsessive compulsive disorder (aOR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.66–4.51) and antisocial personality (aOR = 3.03, 95% CI = 1.97–4.64).

Originality/value

These results, which were derived from an understudied population of adults detained in local jails, indicate the co-–occurrence of MUD and OUD are associated with certain psychiatric conditions.
Effect of digital skills on citizens’ digital participation: mediating effects of political interest, social issues concern and national identity
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhang Wang , Wang Jie
Published: January 2024

Purpose

In the context of the digital age, this study aims to investigate the impact of citizens' digital participation on the scientific and democratic decision-making processes of the government. Specifically, the authors focus on the factors influencing citizens' digital participation, with a particular emphasis on their digital skills.

Design/methodology/approach

Exploring the influence of citizens' digital skills on their digital participation is of great practical significance for eliminating the digital divide and for promoting a life characterized by enriched digital interactions with the public. This study selected the social consciousness survey database of Chinese netizens in 2017, used ordered Probit and OLS models, and comprehensively used the instrumental variable method (IV), causal stepwise regression method and bootstrap method to empirically verify and construct a mechanism model of the influence of digital skills on citizens' digital participation.

Findings

The empirical findings indicate a noteworthy positive association between citizens' proficiency in digital skills and their active engagement in digital activities. This relationship is positively mediated by factors such as political interest and attention to social issues, underscoring their role in encouraging greater digital participation. Conversely, national identity exhibits a counteractive influence on this mechanism, potentially discouraging digital engagement. Notably, the impact of digital skill mastery on digital participation is more pronounced among non-elderly individuals and those residing in metropolitan areas, highlighting the significance of demographic characteristics in this context.

Originality/value

These research results can help the government and other organizations make better decisions and facilitate improvement of citizens' digital participation by promoting their mastery of digital skills.
Extending the consequences of entrepreneurial bricolage to competitive advantage and sustainability performance: the role of servant leadership
Authors: Abukari Abdul Jelil , Wenyuan Li , Abubakari Mohammed Sadick , Pomegbe Wisdom Wise Kwabla , Sulemana Ibrahim
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study focuses on how entrepreneurial bricolage (EB) drives both competitive advantage (CA) and sustainability performance (SP).

Design/methodology/approach

Relying on structural equation modeling, data were collected from 200 small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) manufacturers in Ghana.

Findings

The results indicate that EB drives both CA and SP positively. SL positively moderated the relationship between EB and CA, while the moderating role of SL in the relationship between EB and SP was not supported.

Originality/value

The study concludes that EB can enhance SP, a notion prior study grossly overlooked.
Ethical decision-making in East Africa: predictors of whistleblowing intention
Authors: Manesh Meysam , Tavakoli Assad , Oyewunmi Adebukola E. , Pillay Soma
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to understand employees’ propensity to blow the whistle in two East African countries. This study develops a model of ethical decision-making (EDM) to assist management in predicting the probability of whistleblowing in Kenya and Uganda. It also seeks to find the moderating effect of perceived retaliation on whistleblowing intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study administers a standardized questionnaire to employees in Kenya and Uganda to measure their perceptions about whistleblowing in their organizations. This study uses partial least square structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses. This study uses four constructs, namely, awareness, judgment, retaliation and likelihood, of blowing the whistle. These constructs are measured with multiple-item scales.

Findings

The results show that ethical awareness and judgment significantly increase willingness to engage in whistleblowing in East Africa. However, this study does not find a significant retaliation effect on whistleblowing intention. Instead, this study finds that awareness and judgment mediate between retaliation and willingness to engage in whistleblowing.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to EDM topics. It advances the understanding of the whistleblowing concept, the retaliation effect and the reasons to encourage blowing the whistle in Africa. However, this study did not consider cultural factors, such as nationality, patriotism and ethnicity. Moreover, the results are only based on data from Uganda and Kenya and may not apply to other sub-Saharan nations.

Practical implications

These findings are particularly significant for managers and policymakers in East Africa, where fear of retaliation and lack of awareness are the main barriers to whistleblowing. The results may help managers develop human resource practices to include policies to support moral behavior. It may also provide insights to the policymakers to understand the factors that facilitate whistleblowing practices and help them to adopt new strategies or policies to stimulate whistleblowing culture.

Originality/value

This study is one of the initial empirical studies in the East Africa context to explore the EDM predictors and the impact of retaliation on the whistleblowing intention.
Explanations for sickness absence due to common mental disorders: A narrative study of young health and social care workers
Authors: Heinonen Noora , Katainen Anu , Lallukka Tea , Nordquist Hilla , Kouvonen Anne
Published: January 2024

Over recent decades, sickness absence due to common mental disorders has increased among young workers. The phenomenon is mostly understood on the basis of epidemiological research, and knowledge regarding the viewpoints of young workers themselves is lacking. Our study explored the explanations for mental health‐related sickness absence in the narrative accounts of young workers in high‐risk health and social care occupations. Semi‐structured narrative interviews were conducted with 23 Finnish young workers (aged 21–34), with self‐reported sickness absence related to common mental disorders over the previous year. Our analysis identified three narrative explanations for the onset of mental health problems leading to sick leave: work as the sole cause, work as an additional cause and work as a trigger. These findings indicate that mental health‐related sickness absences form a complex phenomenon related to various life and work‐related circumstances. More comprehensive preventive measures are needed in the health and social care sector to help tackle mental health problems among young workers.
Symbolic boundary work: Jewish and Arab femicide in Israeli Hebrew newspapers
Authors: Shor Eran , Filkobski Ina
Published: January 2024

We analyze 391 news reports in Israeli newspapers between 2013 and 2015, covering murders of women and their family members by other family members and intimate partners. We compare articles where the perpetrators and victims are Jewish to those where the perpetrators and victims are Palestinian citizens of Israel (henceforth PCI). We found that articles tend to provide much more details about Jewish culprits than about PCI ones. As for ascribed motives, most murder cases by Jews were framed as an outcome of individual personality or the pathology of the culprit. Conversely, when Palestinian citizens were the killers, culture and tradition were invoked as the main motives. We suggest that the routine work of narration that the Israeli media preform when covering femicide is a case of political use of cultural stereotypes to gain moral ground in the intractable conflict between Jews and Palestinians.
Osteoclasts and osteoarthritis: Novel intervention targets and therapeutic potentials during aging
Authors: Wang Haojue , Yuan Tao , Wang Yi , Liu Changxing , Li Dengju , Li Ziqing , Sun Shui
Published: January 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic degenerative joint disease, is highly prevalent among the aging population, and often leads to joint pain, disability, and a diminished quality of life. Although considerable research has been conducted, the precise molecular mechanisms propelling OA pathogenesis continue to be elusive, thereby impeding the development of effective therapeutics. Notably, recent studies have revealed subchondral bone lesions precede cartilage degeneration in the early stage of OA. This development is marked by escalated osteoclast‐mediated bone resorption, subsequent imbalances in bone metabolism, accelerated bone turnover, and a decrease in bone volume, thereby contributing significantly to the pathological changes. While the role of aging hallmarks in OA has been extensively elucidated from the perspective of chondrocytes, their connection with osteoclasts is not yet fully understood. There is compelling evidence to suggest that age‐related abnormalities such as epigenetic alterations, proteostasis network disruption, cellular senescence, and mitochondrial dysfunction, can stimulate osteoclast activity. This review intends to systematically discuss how aging hallmarks contribute to OA pathogenesis, placing particular emphasis on the age‐induced shifts in osteoclast activity. It also aims to stimulate future studies probing into the pathological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches targeting osteoclasts in OA during aging.
Vitamin D3 inhibits p38 MAPK and senescence‐associated inflammatory mediator secretion by senescent fibroblasts that impacts immune responses during ageing
Authors: Sayegh Souraya , Fantecelle Carlos Henrique , Laphanuwat Phatthamon , Subramanian Priya , Rustin Malcom H. A. , Gomes Daniel C. O. , Akbar Arne N. , Chambers Emma S.
Published: January 2024

Vitamin D3 replacement in older insufficient adults significantly improves their antigen‐specific varicella zoster virus (VZV) cutaneous immunity. However, the mechanisms involved in this enhancement of cutaneous immunity are not known. Here, we show for the first time that vitamin D3 blocks the senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP) production by senescent fibroblasts by partially inhibiting the p38 MAPK pathway. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis of skin biopsies from older subjects after vitamin D3 supplementation shows that vitamin D3 inhibits the same inflammatory pathways in response to saline as the specific p38 inhibitor, losmapimod, which also enhances immunity in the skin of older subjects. Vitamin D3 supplementation therefore may enhance immunity during ageing in part by blocking p38 MAPK signalling and in turn inhibit SASP production from senescent cells in vivo.
In vitro bacterial penetration and dissemination through dentinal tubules in roots filled with calcium silicate‐based cements
Authors: Pham Peter , Abbott Paul V.
Published: January 2024

The aim of this study was to assess whether calcium silicate root fillings prevent bacterial penetration and to determine how bacteria penetrate roots. Extracted single‐rooted, single‐canal human teeth were decoronated, prepared and filled with ProRootMTA or Biodentine (n = 12 each). Positive and negative (n = 2 each) controls were not filled. A two‐chamber model was used with Streptococcus gordonii. The lower compartment was evaluated for turbidity over 150 days. Roots were split and examined for bacteria via SEM. The chi‐squared test was used for comparisons (α = 0.05). Experimental groups had bacteria in their coronal thirds. Tubules contained bacteria in 90.9% and 91.7% of areas examined in the Biodentine and ProRootMTA groups, respectively, with no significant difference (p = 0.914). Experimental and negative roots had no turbidity with no significant difference between Biodentine and ProRootMTA (p = 1.000). Positive controls had turbidity. Bacteria penetrate roots via dentine tubules of root‐filled teeth. Biodentine was comparable to ProRoot MTA.
Not all hands get hot: Success rates and hot‐hand predictions
Authors: Braga João Niza , Jacinto Sofia
Published: January 2024

When predicting someone's performance, people expect that short runs of consistent successful outcomes will continue—the hot‐hand. This tendency has been shown in contexts where athletes show a local performance streak, but no other information about their performance is provided. In real‐life settings, performance predictions often use global‐performance records like success‐rate probabilities, although judgements often neglect such statistical information. Aimed at understanding psychological momentums, in a classical sports domain the present work explores how global‐performance information (success rates) about an athlete impacts intentionality judgements and moderate predictions of success after a streak. Four studies show that (1) although participants tend to predict the continuation of streaks of success, they are less likely to predict that successful streaks will continue when success rates are low (vs. high or unknown); (2) sensitiveness to local performance's consistency affects perceived ability for high‐success rate athletes and perceived effort for low success‐rate athletes; (3) the mediation model describing that intentionality attributions mediate the effect of global success‐rate information on performance predictions fits the data. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Neonatal outcome following metformin‐treated gestational diabetes mellitus: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Molin Johanna , Domellöf Magnus , Häggström Christel , Vanky Eszter , Zamir Itay , Östlund Eva , Bixo Marie
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Neonatal hypoglycemia is a common complication associated with gestational diabetes and therefore relevant to consider in evaluations of maternal treatment. We aimed to investigate the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia in offspring exposed to metformin treatment alone (MT) or combined with insulin (MIT) in comparison with nutrition therapy alone (NT), and insulin treatment alone (IT). In addition, we investigated MT in comparison with MIT. Secondary outcomes included neonatal anthropometrics, respiratory morbidity, hyperbilirubinemia, 5‐min Apgar score, and preterm birth.

Material and methods

This Swedish population‐based cohort included 16 181 women diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and their singleton offspring born in 2019–2021. We estimated risk as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), using individual‐level, linkage register‐data in multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

In the main analysis, MT was associated with a lower risk of neonatal hypoglycemia vs NT (aOR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74–0.96), vs MIT (0.74 [0.64–0.87]), and vs IT (0.47 [0.40–0.55]), whereas MIT was associated with a similar risk of neonatal hypoglycemia vs NT (1.14 [0.99–1.30]) and with lower risk vs IT (0.63 [0.53–0.75]). However, supplemental feeding rates were lower for NT vs pharmacological treatments (p < 0.001). In post hoc subgroup analyses including only exclusively breastfed offspring, the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia was modified and similar among MT and NT, and higher in MIT vs NT. Insulin exposure, alone or combined with metformin, was associated with increased risk of being large for gestational age. Compared with NT, exposure to any pharmacological treatment was associated with significantly lower risk of 5‐min Apgar score < 4. All other secondary outcomes were comparable among the treatment categories.

Conclusions

The risk of neonatal hypoglycemia appears to be comparable among offspring exposed to single metformin treatment and nutrition therapy alone, and the lower risk that we observed in favor of metformin is probably explained by a difference in supplemental feeding practices rather than metformin per se. By contrast, the lower risk favoring metformin exposure over insulin exposure was not explained by supplemental feeding. However, further investigations are required to determine whether the difference is an effect of metformin per se or mediated by other external factors.
Endogenous timing of R&D decisions with spillovers: Output versus research subsidies
Authors: Chen Jiaqi , Kim Doori , Lee Sang‐Ho
Published: January 2024

This study considers an endogenous timing game of R&D decisions with research spillovers and compares the effects of output and research subsidies. We show that the simultaneous‐move (sequential‐move) game is an equilibrium if the spillover rate is low (high) under an output subsidy while this equilibrium is socially beneficial if the spillover rate is high or low enough. Under a research subsidy, however, the simultaneous‐move game is a unique equilibrium regardless of the spillover rate, which is always socially beneficial. We also show that an output subsidy in the simultaneous‐move game provides higher (lower) social welfare than a research subsidy if the spillover rate is low (high). Finally, we provide the robustness of our findings and some policy‐relevant discussions.
Interactions of small molecule inhibitors with secreted phospholipase A2: A review of the structural data
Authors: Crous Chantalle , Petzer Anél , Petzer Jacobus P.
Published: January 2024

The secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) family of enzymes hydrolyzes glycerophospholipid substrates at the sn‐2 position of the acyl ester bond. Besides their roles in the degradation of phospholipids, these enzymes also play an important role in the immune response by promoting inflammation. The products of sPLA2‐catalysis (lysophospholipids and free fatty acids such as arachidonic acid) as well as secondary metabolites produced by the arachidonic acid cascade are mediators of inflammation and subsequent tissue injury. Based on their physiological functions, the sPLA2 enzymes are pharmacological targets for the treatment of diseases with an inflammatory component such as atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Interestingly, sPLA2s may also have roles in various types of cancer such as malignant prostate cancer. While a number of sPLA2 inhibitors have been described, compounds which have been co‐crystallized with human sPLA2 enzymes are of much importance as such three‐dimensional structures provide valuable information regarding the structural requirements of good potency inhibitors as well as the molecular interactions between the enzyme and inhibitor. This review selected four structures of human sPLA2s complexed with inhibitors from the Protein Data Bank to illustrate the important molecular interactions of inhibitor compounds with the enzymes and to highlight the structural features important for interaction with the sPLA2 active site. In addition, the complex of the sPLA2 inhibitor, varespladib, with a Lys49‐PLA2‐like snake venom toxin is also discussed. Knowledge of the molecular interactions acquired from such structures would greatly aid the discovery of small molecule inhibitors of sPLA2s for the treatment of snakebite envenoming. The three‐dimensional structures presented in this review have been published by various research groups and have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank.
Guided Exploration of Industrial Sensor Data
Authors: Langer Tristan , Meyes Richard , Meisen Tobias
Published: January 2024

In recent years, digitization in the industrial sector has increased steadily. Digital data not only allows us to monitor the underlying production process using machine learning methods (anomaly detection, behaviour analysis) but also to understand the underlying production process. Insights from Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) play an important role in building data‐driven processes because data scientists learn essential characteristics of the data in the context of the domain. Due to the complexity of production processes, it is usually difficult for data scientists to acquire this knowledge by themselves. Hence, they have to rely on continuous close collaboration with domain experts and their acquired domain expertise. However, direct communication does not promote documentation of the knowledge transfer from domain experts to data scientists. In this respect, changing team constellations, for example due to a change in personnel, result in a renewed high level of effort despite the same knowledge transfer problem. As a result, EDA is a cost‐intensive iterative process. We, therefore, investigate a system to extract information from the interactions that domain experts perform during EDA. Our approach relies on recording interactions and system states of an exploration tool and generating guided exploration sessions for domain novices. We implement our approach in a software tool and demonstrate its capabilities using two real‐world use cases from the manufacturing industry. We evaluate its feasibility in a user study to investigate whether domain novices can reproduce the most important insights from domain experts about the datasets of the use cases based on generated EDA sessions. From the results of this study, we conclude the feasibility of our system as participants are able to reproduce on average 86.5% of insights from domain experts.
Deep learning in the overall process of implant prosthodontics: A state‐of‐the‐art review
Authors: Ying Shunv , Huang Feng , Liu Wei , He Fuming
Published: January 2024

Artificial intelligence represented by deep learning has attracted attention in the field of dental implant restoration. It is widely used in surgical image analysis, implant plan design, prosthesis shape design, and prognosis judgment. This article mainly describes the research progress of deep learning in the whole process of dental implant prosthodontics. It analyzes the limitations of current research, and looks forward to the future development direction.
The impacts of registration‐and‐fixation device positioning on the performance of implant placement assisted by dynamic computer‐aided surgery: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wu Bin‐Zhang , Sun Feng
Published: January 2024

Objectives

To assess the efficacy of dynamic computer‐aided surgery (dCAS) in replacing a single missing posterior tooth, we compare outcomes when using registration‐and‐fixation devices positioned anterior or posterior to the surgical site. Registration is performed on either the anterior or opposite posterior teeth.

Methods

Forty individuals needing posterior single‐tooth implant placement were randomly assigned to anterior or posterior registration. Nine parameters were analyzed to detect the deviations between planned and actual implant placement, using Mann–Whitney and t‐tests for nonnormally and normally distributed data, respectively.

Results

The overall average angular deviation for this study was 2.08 ± 1.12°, with the respective average 3D platform and apex deviations of 0.77 ± 0.32 mm and 0.88 ± 0.32 mm. Angular deviation values for individuals in the anterior and posterior registration groups were 1.58°(IQR: 0.98°–2.38°) and 2.25°(IQR: 1.46°–3.43°), respectively (p = .165), with 3D platform deviations of 0.81 ± 0.29 mm and 0.74 ± 0.36 mm (p = .464), as well as 3D apex deviations of 0.89 ± 0.32 mm and 0.88 ± 0.33 mm (p = .986). No significant variations in absolute buccolingual (platform, p = .659; apex, p = .063), apicocoronal (platform, p = .671; apex, p = .649), or mesiodistal (platform, p = .134; apex, p = .355) deviations were observed at either analyzed levels.

Conclusions

Both anterior and posterior registration approaches facilitate accurate dCAS‐mediated implant placement for single missing posterior teeth. The device's placement (posterior‐to or anterior‐to the surgical site) did not affect the clinician's ability to achieve the planned implant location.
Oral lupus erythematosus: Immunohistochemical evaluation of CD1a, CD21, CD123, and langerin expression in dendritic cells
Authors: Marques Elisa Raquel Martins da Costa , Hsieh Ricardo , Lourenço Silvia Vanessa , Nico Marcello Menta Simonsen
Published: January 2024

Background

Dendritic cells participate in the pathophysiology of lupus erythematosus (LE), which are studied in systemic and cutaneous forms; however, little is known about their oral manifestations.

Methods

The expressions of dendritic cell markers (including CD1a, CD21, CD123, and langerin) were investigated by immunohistochemistry technique. Sixty intraoral and lower lip LE lesions, and additional 10 control samples were collected from 2003 to 2019. They were topographically analyzed in the epithelium (EP), lamina propria (LP), epithelial junction (JUN), and deep perivascular (PV) areas.

Results

The expression of CD1a was decreased in the EP (p = 0.003) and increased in the deep PV area (p = 0.002). Langerin immunostaining showed no significant decrease in EP (p = 0.944); however, it increased in LP (p = 0.012) and JUN (p = 0.006). CD21 was expressed in only two specimens (EP, p = 0.012; LP, p < 0.001; deep PV area, p = 0.018). CD123 expression increased in all topographies (EP, p < 0.005; LP, p < 0.001, JUN, p < 0.001; deep PV, p < 0.001). The comparison between vermilion and intraoral mucosa LE lesions suggested that sun‐exposed sites showed higher expression of CD123 (EP, p = 0.024; LP, p = 0.047; JUN, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

CD1a, langerin, and CD123 expressions were detected coincidently surrounding the inflammatory infiltrate in oral LE, suggesting that these cells may play an important role in immune response. Interestingly, plasmacytoid dendritic cells showed increased CD123 expression in sun‐exposed site lesions, which point out a possible function in their pathogenesis. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Acute REM sleep behaviour disorder associated with alcohol withdrawal: A case report and literature review
Authors: Chakraborty Radhika , Biswas Tathagata , Mishra Biswa Ranjan , Parmar Arpit
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia characterised by the loss of REM sleep muscle atonia and the enactment of dreams. Acute RBD associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome is known, but the studies are limited, particularly on its neurobiological underpinnings and management alongside the withdrawal state. This work attempts to address this using a case study and relevant literature review.

Case Presentation

A 40‐year‐old male with alcohol dependence (for 20 years) reported new‐onset terrifying nightmares and violent behaviours in his sleep precipitated by alcohol withdrawal states for the last 18 months. The polysomnographic finding of REM‐without‐atonia supported the diagnosis of RBD. He was treated with chlordiazepoxide 100 mg/day (gradually tapered and stopped) and thiamine supplements. Post‐discharge, he remained abstinent and symptom‐free during the three months of follow‐up.

Discussion

RBD related to alcohol withdrawal syndrome has been previously described in a few anecdotal reports. Sudden withdrawal from central nervous system suppressants like alcohol is hypothesised to cause a homeostatic imbalance in gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) pathways and ‘REM rebound’, resulting in the clinical and polysomnographic picture of RBD. Benzodiazepines have been found to be useful in both RBD and alcohol withdrawal.

Conclusions

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome may present with acute RBD, which can be treated with a short course of benzodiazepine. However, further studies are needed to explore the long‐term course of RBD in these patients.
Effects of the Sacramento Neighborhood Alcohol Prevention Project on rates of child abuse and neglect 7 years post‐implementation (1999–2010)
Authors: Freisthler Bridget , Price Wolf Jennifer
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Evaluations of alcohol environmental prevention efforts examine short‐term effects of these interventions on alcohol‐related problems. We examine whether the effects of the Sacramento Neighborhood Alcohol Prevention Project (SNAPP), an alcohol environmental intervention aimed to reduce alcohol‐related problems in two neighbourhoods, on child abuse and neglect remained 7 years post‐implementation.

Methods

SNAPP used a quasi‐experimental non‐equivalent control group design, where intervention activities occurred in the South area, followed by those in the North area 2 years later. Our sample size is 3912 space–time units (326 census block groups × 12 years [1999–2010]). Outcomes were measured at the household level and included: (i) all foster care entries total; and (ii) the subset of foster care entries that were alcohol related. Data were analysed using Bayesian conditionally autoregressive space–time models.

Results

We find that the decreases in total (relative rate [RR] = 0.882, 95% credible interval [CrI] 0.795, 0.980) and alcohol‐related (RR = 0.888, 95% CrI 0.791, 0.997) foster care entries remain in the North intervention area although the magnitude of those changes are smaller than immediately post‐intervention. Increases found in alcohol‐related foster care entries in the South area immediately post‐intervention were not significant 7 years later (RR = 1.128, 95% CrI 0.975, 1.307).

Discussion and Conclusions

Reductions in child abuse and neglect due to an alcohol environmental intervention can be maintained. Environmental interventions that provide community‐level primary prevention strategies could be more easily sustained and more cost effective than individual‐level interventions, although more research is needed to identify why interventions may be successful in specific contexts and not others.
Case of single‐balloon enteroscopy‐assisted lithotripsy using a holmium:YAG laser for an impacted stone in the jejunum
Authors: Asano Kyoko , Tonozuka Ryosuke , Itoi Takao
Published: January 2024

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Endoscopic ultrasound sclerotherapy for refractory hepatic encephalopathy associated with rectal varices
Authors: Tominaga Shintaro , Kobayashi Makoto , Kato Hiroki
Published: January 2024

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Use of sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors in France: Analysis of French nationwide health insurance database
Authors: de Germay Sibylle , Pambrun Elodie , Pariente Antoine , Grenet Guillaume , Bezin Julien , Faillie Jean‐Luc
Published: January 2024

Aim

Sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT‐2i) have been commercialized in France for type 2 diabetes since April 2020 and later for heart and renal diseases. Given the recent developments in treating diabetes and the widening of SGLT‐2i indications, we aimed to study changes in the use of glucose‐lowering drugs in France and to characterize SGLT‐2i new users.

Methods

We performed a nationwide utilization study using the French health insurance database. Trends in incidence and prevalence of glucose‐lowering drug use were assessed by a repeated cross‐sectional study in 2019 and 2021. A cohort study of incident SGLT‐2i users was then conducted to describe patient characteristics and the strategy for treating diabetes.

Results

The prevalence of SGLT‐2i use gradually reached 0.1% in the third quarter of 2021 and increased more significantly to 0.2% thereafter. SGLT‐2i became the second most prescribed glucose‐lowering drug class after metformin at the end of 2021 (0.1%). Among the cohort of 125 387 SGLT‐2i new users (mean age 65.0 years; 60.1% of men), 87.6% presented a diabetic comorbidity. The patient profile changed over the study period with an increasing proportion of patients with cardiovascular (28.7% in 2020 vs. 40.2% in 2021) or renal (7.7% in 2020 vs. 11.8% in 2021) comorbidities at initiation. The main combinations used at SGLT‐2i initiation were metformin (12.5%) and metformin plus dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors (8.1%). One‐year probability of SGLT‐2i persistence was estimated to be 55%.

Conclusion

The expansion of indications for SGLT‐2i and the broadening of the target population make it essential to assess the reasons for discontinuation and review their safety profile.
Three centuries of corporate governance in the United Kingdom
Authors: Turner John D.
Published: January 2024

As articulated by Adam Smith, one of the central issues facing companies is that managers will not run the business in the interests of its owners and will misuse resources. This ultimately has a detrimental consequence for the wealth of the nation. This survey reviews the nature and evolution of the corporate governance of UK public companies over the past 300 years. It makes two principal arguments. First, because the separation of ownership and control was one of the rationales for the introduction of the corporate form, we should not be surprised that corporate ownership has generally been diffuse. Second, over time, the way in which owners ensure that managers act in their interests has gradually changed from a system in which shareholders monitored and exercised voice to one where there was more reliance on external forces and exiting ownership.
Sex differences in acute stroke metrics and outcome dependent on COVID status
Authors: Mayer‐Suess Lukas , Marto João Pedro , Strambo Davide , Ntaios George , Nguyen Thanh , Kiechl Stefan , Pechlaner Raimund , Nogueira Raul , Michel Patrik , Knoflach Michael ,   for the Global COVID19 Stroke Registry
Published: January 2024

Background and purpose

Biological sex is known to have an impact on quality metrics of acute stroke. We aimed to determine whether COVID positivity accentuates this effect and constitutes worse outcome.

Methods

The present analysis was based on the Global COVID‐19 Stroke Registry, a retrospective, international, cohort study of consecutive ischemic stroke patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis and/or endovascular thrombectomy between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021. We investigated differences between the sexes in patient characteristics, acute stroke metrics as well as post‐stroke outcome in COVID‐positive and COVID‐negative stroke patients undergoing acute revascularization procedures.

Results

A total of 15,128 patients from 106 centers were recorded in the Global COVID‐19 Stroke Registry, 853 (5.6%) of whom were COVID‐positive. Overall, COVID‐positive individuals were treated significantly slower according to every acute stroke metric compared to COVID‐negative patients. We were able to show that key quality indicators in acute stroke treatment were unfavorable for COVID‐negative women compared to men (last‐seen‐well‐to‐door time + 11 min in women). Furthermore, COVID‐negative women had worse 3‐month outcomes (3‐month modified Rankin Scale score [interquartile range] 3.0 [4.0] vs. 2.0 [3.0]; p < 0.01), even after adjusting for confounders. In COVID‐positive individuals no such difference between the sexes, either in acute management metrics or in 3‐month outcome, was seen.

Conclusion

Known sex‐related differences in acute stroke management exist and extend to times of crisis. Nevertheless, if patients were COVID‐19‐positive at stroke onset, women and men were treated the same, which could be attributed to structured treatment pathways.
Fathers' motivations and expectations from participating in early child care: A study in Ghanaian Municipality
Authors: Adusei Kwame , Manful Esmeranda , Ofori‐Dua Kwadwo , Yeboah Eric Henry
Published: January 2024

Objective

The purpose of this study is to contribute to knowledge on first‐time fathers' motivations and expectations from participating in early child care in Ghana.

Background

This study explores the motivations and expectations of first‐time fathers from participating in early child care, which is mostly a preserved responsibility for mothers worldwide, and Ghana is no exception because fathers were restricted to breadwinning and moral corrections.

Method

We used qualitative case study design, and a total of 28 first‐time fathers participated in semistructured interviews. The interviews were audio recorded and analyzed thematically.

Results

The data analysis revealed that the changing economic condition of the family, the celebration of Father's Day, childcare laws, and the introduction of hands‐on care motivated first‐time fathers' participation in early child care. Securing a better future for the child, using children as insurance for old age, having a law‐abiding child, strengthening the father–child bond, strengthening the husband–wife bond, and gaining community recognition were the expectations of first‐time fathers.

Conclusion

Participants held different motivations and expectations for participating in early child care, and this study calls on policymakers to develop father‐friendly policies and programs that promote and sensitize fathers on their participation in early child care in the family.
The effects of scaling and root planing plus home oral hygiene maintenance in Stage I/II periodontitis population: A 24‐week randomized clinical trial
Authors: Jenkins Wendy , Starke E. Michelle , Nelson Melissa , Milleman Kimberly , Milleman Jeffery , Ward Marilyn
Published: January 2024

Objectives

To compare the effects of powered and manual toothbrushing following scaling and root planing on bleeding on probing and other clinical indicators of periodontitis.

Materials and Methods

This was a randomized, examiner‐blind, parallel‐design, 24‐week clinical study. Eligible subjects were 18–75 years of age with Stage I or II periodontitis. All subjects received scaling and root planing (SRP) within 28 days of enrollment. Thereafter, subjects were randomized to twice daily at‐home use of either a powered toothbrush (PTB) or a manual toothbrush (MTB). Randomization was balanced for gender and periodontitis stage. No other oral hygiene aids were permitted. Subjects were evaluated every 4 weeks for the following measures: bleeding on probing (BOP), surface plaque (MPI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level until Week 24.

Results

Of 328 randomized subjects, 299 subjects completed the study. For BOP at Week 24, the Least Squares (LS) Mean, standard error (SE) reduction from baseline was 0.24 (0.01) for the PTB group and 0.02 (0.01) for the MTB group, resulting in a statistically significant treatment difference of 0.22 (0.01), p‐value < 0.0001. There were also concomitant reductions in MPI and PPD at Week 24, resulting in statistically significant (p‐value < 0.0001) LS Mean (SE) treatment differences of 0.86 (0.04) and 0.24 (0.01), for MPI and PPD, respectively.

Conclusion

When combined with SRP, daily home oral hygiene maintenance including a powered toothbrush significantly reduced clinical symptoms of periodontitis and surface plaque levels compared to a manual toothbrush in a Stage I/II periodontitis population. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04254770).
South‐to‐South parental migration patterns and excess weight among children: Insights from a national cross‐sectional study in Colombia
Authors: Devia Carlos , Flórez Karen , Costa Sergio A. , Huang Terry T.‐K.
Published: January 2024

Background

Evidence from Latin America suggests that children embedded in South‐to‐North migrant networks (i.e. relatives who live abroad, typically in the United States) are at increased risk of excess weight. It is unclear if the same findings apply to children embedded in Latin American intraregional migration or South‐to‐South migration networks.

Objective

To compare excess weight among Colombian children embedded in South‐to‐South migration networks (n = 334) to children with non‐migrant parents (n = 4272) using Colombia's 2015 National Survey of the Nutritional Situation.

Methods

Prevalence ratios (PRs) for excess weight (BMI z‐score ≥1) by parent migration history were estimated using weighted multivariable logistic regression adjusting for demographics, child behaviours, community and household indicators, including household food insecurity.

Results

Most migrant parents returned to Colombia from Venezuela (84%) and reported higher household food insecurity rates than non‐migrant parents (59% versus 32%). Models excluding household food insecurity showed that excess weight among children with migrant parents was 51% lower (PR = 0.49; 95% CI 0.25, 0.98) than among children with non‐migrant parents. After adjustment for household food insecurity, no statistically significant differences were found.

Conclusion

Colombian children with return migrant parents from Venezuela experienced less excess weight than children with non‐migrant parents, but higher rates of food insecurity in migrant households might partially explain this difference. This study calls attention to two serious public health concerns for Colombian children—those who have excess weight and those who lack sufficient food, particularly among migrant returnees (a situation that may have worsened since the COVID‐19 pandemic).