bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supporting parents as essential care partners in neonatal units during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic
Authors: van Veenendaal Nicole R. , Deierl Aniko , Bacchini Fabiana , O’Brien Karel , Franck Linda S. ,   the International Steering Committee for Family Integrated Care
Published: March 2021

Aim

To review the evidence on safety of maintaining family integrated care practices and the effects of restricting parental participation in neonatal care during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases were searched from inception to the 14th of October 2020. Records were included if they reported scientific, empirical research (qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods) on the effects of restricting or promoting family integrated care practices for parents of hospitalised neonates during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic. Two authors independently screened abstracts, appraised study quality and extracted study and outcome data.

Results

We retrieved 803 publications and assessed 75 full‐text articles. Seven studies were included, reporting data on 854 healthcare professionals, 442 parents, 364 neonates and 26 other family members, within 286 neonatal units globally. The pandemic response resulted in significant changes in neonatal unit policies and restricting parents' access and participation in neonatal care. Breastfeeding, parental bonding, participation in caregiving, parental mental health and staff stress were negatively impacted.

Conclusion

This review highlights that SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic‐related hospital restrictions had adverse effects on care delivery and outcomes for neonates, families and staff. Recommendations for restoring essential family integrated care practices are discussed.
The role of tax in COVID‐19 response in Indonesia: The principles of flexibility, solidarity, and transparency
Authors: Utami Denita , Ilyas Wirawan B.
Published: March 2021

As of October 16, Indonesia currently has the highest fatalities of COVID‐19 in Southeast Asia. Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP) is now expected to shrink by 1.5 percent this year. This is largely due to reduced consumption and investment as the results of containment measures that disrupted the activity and mobility of major industries. As taxes account for a significant portion of government revenue in Indonesia, the role of tax is substantial as the primary source of state budget funding for financing the economic response to COVID‐19. This article argues for flexibility, solidarity, and transparency as the principles of tax in the economic policy response of COVID‐19 in Indonesia. Understanding the extent of flexibility, solidarity, and transparency is crucial to adjust state spending and tax policies, and tax compliance is imperative to ensure a viable source of funding to respond to the pandemic.
Drug–drug interactions with warfarin: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Mei , Zeraatkar Dena , Obeda Michael , Lee Munil , Garcia Cristian , Nguyen Laura , Agarwal Arnav , Al‐Shalabi Farah , Benipal Harsukh , Ahmad Afreen , Abbas Momina , Vidug Kristina , Holbrook Anne
Published: March 2021

Aims

The objective of this paper is to systematically review the literature on drug–drug interactions with warfarin, with a focus on patient‐important clinical outcomes.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE and the International Pharmaceutical Abstract (IPA) databases were searched from January 2004 to August 2019. We included studies describing drug–drug interactions between warfarin and other drugs. Screening and data extraction were conducted independently and in duplicate. We synthesized pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), comparing warfarin plus another medication to warfarin alone. We assessed the risk of bias at the study level and evaluated the overall certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Results

Of 42 013 citations identified, a total of 72 studies reporting on 3 735 775 patients were considered eligible, including 11 randomized clinical trials and 61 observational studies. Increased risk of clinically relevant bleeding when added to warfarin therapy was observed for antiplatelet (AP) regimens (OR = 1.74; 95% CI 1.56–1.94), many antimicrobials (OR = 1.63; 95% CI 1.45–1.83), NSAIDs including COX‐2 NSAIDs (OR = 1.83; 95% CI 1.29–2.59), SSRIs (OR = 1.62; 95% CI 1.42–1.85), mirtazapine (OR = 1.75; 95% CI 1.30–2.36), loop diuretics (OR = 1.92; 95% CI 1.29–2.86) among others. We found a protective effect of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) against warfarin‐related gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (OR = 0.69; 95% CI 0.64–0.73). No significant effect on thromboembolic events or mortality of any drug group used with warfarin was found, including single or dual AP regimens.

Conclusions

This review found low to moderate certainty evidence supporting the interaction between warfarin and a small group of medications, which result in increased bleeding risk. PPIs are associated with reduced hospitalization for upper GI bleeding for patients taking warfarin. Further studies are required to better understand drug–drug interactions leading to thromboembolic outcomes or death.
Statistical inference in abstracts of 3 influential clinical pharmacology journals analysed using a text‐mining algorithm
Authors: Amiri Marjan , Deckert Markus , Michel Martin C. , Poole Charles , Stang Andreas
Published: March 2021

Aims

To describe the trend in the prevalence of statistical inference in 3 influential clinical pharmacology journals.

Methods

We applied a computer‐based algorithm to abstracts of 3 clinical pharmacology journals published in 1976–2016 to identify statistical inference and its subtypes. Furthermore, we manually reviewed a random sample of 300 articles to access algorithm's performance in finding statistical inference in abstracts and as a screening tool for presence and absence of statistical inference in full text.

Results

The algorithm identified 59% (13 375/22 516 [mid‐P 95% confidence interval {CI}, 59–60%]) article abstracts with statistical inference. The percentage of abstracts with statistical inference was similar in 1976 and 2016, 48% (179/377 [mid‐P 95%CI, 42–52%]) vs. 49% (386/791 [mid‐P 95%CI, 45–52%]). Statistical reporting pattern varied among journals. Among abstracts containing any statistical inference in the publications from 1976 to 2016, null‐hypothesis significance testing was the most prevalent reported statistical inference. The algorithm had high sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for finding statistical inferences in abstract. While positive predictive value for predicting the statistical inference in full text (including abstract, text, tables and figures) was high, negative predictive value was low.

Conclusion

Despite journals’ editorials and statistical associations' guidelines, most authors focused on testing rather than estimation. In the future, better statistical reporting might be ensured by improving the statistical knowledge of authors and an addition of statistical guides to journals' instruction to authors to the extent that editors would like their statistical inference preferences to be incorporated into submitted manuscripts.
Inverse probability weighted estimators of vaccine effects accommodating partial interference and censoring
Authors: Chakladar Sujatro , Rosin Samuel , Hudgens Michael G. , Halloran M. Elizabeth , Clemens John D. , Ali Mohammad , Emch Michael E.
Published: March 2021

Estimating population‐level effects of a vaccine is challenging because there may be interference, that is, the outcome of one individual may depend on the vaccination status of another individual. Partial interference occurs when individuals can be partitioned into groups such that interference occurs only within groups. In the absence of interference, inverse probability weighted (IPW) estimators are commonly used to draw inference about causal effects of an exposure or treatment. Tchetgen Tchetgen and VanderWeele proposed a modified IPW estimator for causal effects in the presence of partial interference. Motivated by a cholera vaccine study in Bangladesh, this paper considers an extension of the Tchetgen Tchetgen and VanderWeele IPW estimator to the setting where the outcome is subject to right censoring using inverse probability of censoring weights (IPCW). Censoring weights are estimated using proportional hazards frailty models. The large sample properties of the IPCW estimators are derived, and simulation studies are presented demonstrating the estimators' performance in finite samples. The methods are then used to analyze data from the cholera vaccine study.
Discovery of a novel, potent and selective small‐molecule inhibitor of PD‐1/PD‐L1 interaction with robust in vivo anti‐tumour efficacy
Authors: Liu Chenglong , Zhou Feilong , Yan Ziqin , Shen Lian , Zhang Xichen , He Fenglian , Wang Heng , Lu Xiaojie , Yu Ker , Zhao Yujun , Zhu Di
Published: March 2021

Background and purpose

PD‐1/PD‐L1 antibodies have achieved great success in clinical treatment. However, monoclonal antibody drugs also have challenges, such as high manufacturing costs, poor diffusion, low oral bioavailability and limited penetration into tumour tissue. The development of small‐molecule inhibitors of PD‐1/PD‐L1 interaction represents a promising perspective to overcome the above challenges in cancer immunotherapy.

Experimental approach

We explored structural activity relationships and used biochemical assays to generate a lead compound (ZE132). CD8+ T‐cells killing assay and Ifng expression assay were used to verify the in vitro cellular activity of ZE132. Off‐target study was performed to verify the selectivity. Syngeneic mouse models were used to verify the in vivo activity of ZE132 in tumour immune microenvironment (TIME). We also performed pharmacokinetics profiling in mice and The Cancer Genome Atlas database analysis.

Key results

ZE132 can effectively inhibit the PD‐1/PD‐L1 interactions in vitro, and it has a potent affinity to PD‐L1. ZE132 shows robust anti‐tumour effects in vivo, better than anti‐PD‐1 antibody. In the analysis of TIME, we found that ZE132 treatment promotes cytotoxic T‐cell tumour infiltration and induces IL‐2 expression. In addition, ZE132 elicits strong inhibitory effects on the mRNA expression of TGF‐β, which may serve as a potential biomarker to predict responsiveness to PD‐1/PD‐L1 immunotherapies.

Conclusion and implications

We identified a new lead compound ZE132 targeting PD‐1/PD‐L1 interactions, not only showing favourable drug‐like properties in vitro and in vivo but also showing the advantage of overcoming the barrier of TIME compared to anti‐PD‐1 antibody.
Emerging therapies and their delivery for treating age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: Thomas Chloe N. , Sim Dawn A. , Lee Wen Hwa , Alfahad Nada , Dick Andrew D. , Denniston Alastair K. , Hill Lisa J.
Published: March 2021

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in the Western world and is characterised in its latter stages by retinal cell death and neovascularisation and earlier stages with the loss of parainflammatory homeostasis. Patients with neovascular AMD (nAMD) are treated with frequent intraocular injections of anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies, which are not only unpopular with patients but carry risks of sight‐threatening complications. A minority of patients are unresponsive with no alternative treatment available, and some patients who respond initially eventually develop a tolerance to treatment. New therapeutics with improved delivery methods and sustainability of clinical effects are required, in particular for non‐neovascular AMD (90% of cases and no current approved treatments). There are age‐related and disease‐related changes that occur which can affect ocular drug delivery. Here, we review the latest emerging therapies for AMD, their delivery routes and implications for translating to clinical practice.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on Inflammation, Repair and Ageing. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.9/issuetoc
Dual inhibition of CB1 receptors and iNOS, as a potential novel approach to the pharmacological management of acute and long COVID‐19
Authors: Cinar Resat , Iyer Malliga R. , Kunos George
Published: March 2021

COVID‐19 (SARS‐CoV‐2) causes multiple inflammatory complications, resulting not only in severe lung inflammation but also harm to other organs. Although the current focus is on the management of acute COVID‐19, there is growing concern about long‐term effects of COVID‐19 (Long Covid), such as fibroproliferative changes in the lung, heart and kidney. Therefore, the identification of therapeutic targets not only for the management of acute COVID‐19 but also for preventing Long Covid are needed, and would mitigate against long‐lasting health burden and economic costs, in addition to saving lives. COVID‐19 induces pathological changes via multiple pathways, which could be targeted simultaneously for optimal effect. We discuss the potential pathologic function of increased activity of the endocannabinoid/CB1 receptor system and inducible NO synthase (iNOS). We advocate a polypharmacology approach, wherein a single chemical entity simultaneously interacts with CB1 receptors and iNOS causing inhibition, as a potential therapeutic strategy for COVID‐19‐related health complications.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on The second wave: are we any closer to efficacious pharmacotherapy for COVID 19? (BJP 75th Anniversary). To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.10/issuetoc
Donor‐recipient body size mismatch has no impact on outcomes after deceased donor whole liver transplantation: Role of donor liver size measurement
Authors: Kubal Chandrashekhar A. , Mihaylov Plamen , Fridell Jonathan , Cabrales Arianna , Nikumbh Tejas , Timsina Lava , Soma Daiki , Ekser Burcin , Mangus Richard
Published: March 2021

The role of donor‐recipient body size mismatch (DRSM) on outcomes after whole liver transplantation (LT) is not clearly defined. At our center, in presence of considerable DRSM, objective assessment of the donor liver by a radiology or intraoperative evaluation by procuring surgeon was incorporated. To evaluate the impact of DRSM on graft outcomes with this approach, adult deceased donor whole liver transplants between July 2001 and December 2017 at our center were studied. DRSM was considered when the donor‐recipient body surface area (BSA) ratio (DR‐BSAr) was either <0.69 or >1.25. There were 54 (3.2%) transplants with DR‐BSAr <0.69 and 61 (3.6%) with DR‐BSAr >1.25. One‐year graft survival was 85% vs. 89% vs. 89%; (p = .64) for transplants with DR‐BSArs of <0.69, 0.69–1.25, and >1.25, respectively. Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) (28% vs. 27% vs. 37%; p = .07), post‐transplant coagulopathy, bilirubinemia, and renal function were also comparable. In conclusion, with the actual measurement of the donor liver and recipient abdominal cavity, significant DRSM did not have a negative impact on early and long‐term outcomes. Routine measurement of donor liver size by radiology may be incorporated in liver allocation to improve utilization.
Efficacy and safety of ertugliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease using insulin: AVERTIS CVsubstudy
Authors: Lingvay Ildiko , Greenberg Michelle , Gallo Silvina , Shi Harry , Liu Jie , Gantz Ira
Published: March 2021

Aim

To assess the efficacy and safety of ertugliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) inadequately controlled by insulin.

Materials and methods

VERTIS CV was the cardiovascular outcome study for ertugliflozin. Patients were randomly assigned to placebo, or ertugliflozin 5 mg or 15 mg once daily. We report the results of a substudy in patients on a stable dose of insulin ≥20 units/d. The primary endpoint was glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) change from baseline to 18 weeks. Secondary endpoints were changes in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), body weight (BW), the proportion of patients with HbA1c <53 mmol/mol (<7%), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure and insulin dose.

Results

Of 8246 patients randomized in VERTIS CV, 1065 were included in the substudy (68.2% men, mean [SD] age 64.8 [7.8] years, T2DM duration 16.7 [9.0] years, HbA1c 8.4 [1.0]%). At week 18, the least squares (LS) mean change from baseline in HbA1c was significantly greater with ertugliflozin 5 mg and 15 mg versus placebo (placebo‐adjusted LS mean change −0.58%, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.71, −0.44 and −0.65%, 95% CI −0.78, −0.51, respectively;P< 0.001 for both). Ertugliflozin significantly reduced FPG, BW and SBP. In women, the incidence of genital mycotic infections was higher with ertugliflozin (3.5%) versus placebo (0.0%). The incidence of symptomatic hypoglycaemia was similar across treatment groups.

Conclusions

Ertugliflozin added to insulin improved glycaemic control, BW and SBP versus placebo at 18 weeks in patients with T2DM and ASCVD.
The effects of canagliflozin on heart failure and cardiovascular death by baseline participant characteristics: Analysis of the CREDENCE trial
Authors: Arnott Clare , Li Jing‐Wei , Cannon Christopher P. , de Zeeuw Dick , Neuen Brendon L. , Heerspink Hiddo J. L. , Charytan David M. , Agarwal Anubha , Huffman Mark D. , Figtree Gemma A. , Bakris George , Chang Tara I‐Hsin , Feng Kent , Rosenthal Norman , Zinman Bernard , Jardine Meg J. , Perkovic Vlado , Neal Bruce , Mahaffey Kenneth W.
Published: March 2021

Heart failure is prevalent in those with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. In the CREDENCE trial, canagliflozin reduced the risk of hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) or cardiovascular (CV) death by 31%. In the current analysis we sought to determine whether the effect of canagliflozin on HHF/CV death differed in subgroups defined by key baseline participant characteristics. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Canagliflozin was associated with a reduction in the relative risk of HHF/CV death regardless of age, sex, history of heart failure or CV disease, and the use of loop diuretics or glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (all pinteraction > .114). The absolute benefit of canagliflozin was greater in those at highest baseline risk, such as those with CV disease (50 fewer events/1000 patients treated over 2.5 years vs. 20 fewer events in those without CV disease) or advanced kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] 30–45 mL/min/1.73m2: 61 events prevented/1000 patients treated over 2.5 years vs. 23 events in eGFR 60–90 mL/min/1.73m2). Canagliflozin consistently reduces the proportional risk of HHF/CV death across a broad range of subgroups with greater absolute benefits in those at highest baseline risk.
The beneficial short‐term effects of a high‐protein/low‐carbohydrate diet on glycaemic control assessed by continuous glucose monitoring in patients with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Dimosthenopoulos Charilaos , Liatis Stavros , Kourpas Elias , Athanasopoulou Elpida , Driva Stamatina , Makrilakis Konstantinos , Kokkinos Alexander
Published: March 2021

Aim

To compare the effects of three different but isocaloric dietary patterns, high‐protein/low‐carbohydrate (HPD) with 20% of calories as carbohydrates, Mediterranean/low glycaemic index (MED) with 40% carbohydrates, and a reference diet (REF) with 50% carbohydrates, in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Materials and Methods

In a randomized crossover study, 15 patients with T1D were assigned to the three dietary patterns for three separate weeks, with 7‐day washout periods in between. Continuous glucose monitoring was applied during the intervention periods. The primary outcome was glycaemic control, as measured by the percentage of time patients spent within the euglycaemic range (TIR70–140 mg/dl). Other key glycaemic metrics were also investigated as secondary outcomes.

Results

TIR70–140 was not statistically different between HPD, MED and REF (p = .105). Pairwise analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between HPD and REF at the .05 level, which was not retained after applying Bonferroni correction (54.87% ± 14.11% vs. 48.33% ± 13.72%; p = .018). During the HPD period, 11 out of 15 participants spent more time within TIR70–140 compared with either the REF or MED. The HPD performed significantly better than the REF in terms of TIR70–180 (74.33% ± 12.85% vs. 67.53% ± 12.73%; p = .012), glycaemic variability (coefficient of variation: 36.18% ± 9.30% vs. 41.48% ± 8.69%; p = .016) and time spent in the hypoglycaemic range (TBR70 mg/dl; median: 12, IQR: 16 vs. median: 14, IQR: 20; p = .007), whereas no statistically significant differences were observed between MED and HPD or REF.

Conclusions

Compared with REF and MED, an HPD plan may have a positive impact on glycaemic control in patients with T1D. During the HPD, patients spent a shorter time in hypoglycaemia and exhibited lower glycaemic variability.
CircRUNX1 functions as an oncogene in colorectal cancer by regulating circRUNX1/miR‐485‐5p/SLC38A1 axis
Authors: Yu Juan , Chen Xiaoguang , Li Jing , Wang Furang
Published: March 2021

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as vital regulators in human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we aimed to explore the roles of circRUNX1 in CRC.

Methods

The levels of circRUNX1, RUNX1 mRNA, solute carrier family 38 member 1 (SLC38A1) mRNA and microRNA‐485‐5p (miR‐485‐5p) were determined by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) analysis. The protein level of SLC38A1 was measured by Western blot assay. Cell colony formation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were assessed by colony formation assay, wound‐healing assay, Transwell assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The interaction between miR‐485‐5p and circRUNX1 or SLC38A1 was verified by dual‐luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. The levels of extracellular glutamine, intracellular glutamate and α‐ketoglutarate (α‐KG) were measured with specific kits. The functional role of circRUNX1 in CRC development in vivo was explored by murine xenograft model assay.

Results

CircRUNX1 was upregulated in CRC tissues and cells compared with normal tissues and cells. CircRUNX1 deficiency restrained CRC cell colony formation, migration, invasion and glutaminolysis and induced apoptosis in vitro as well as blocked tumour growth in vivo. CircRUNX1 directly sponged miR‐485‐5p, which negatively modulated SLC38A1 expression in CRC cells. The effects of circRUNX1 knockdown on CRC cell colony formation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and glutaminolysis were reversed by miR‐485‐5p inhibition. Moreover, miR‐485‐5p overexpression repressed the malignant behaviours of CRC cells, with SLC38A1 elevation overturned the impacts.

Conclusion

CircRUNX1 promoted CRC cell growth, metastasis and glutamine metabolism and repressed apoptosis by elevating SLC38A1 through sponging miR‐485‐5p, which might provide a novel target for CRC treatment.
Changes in land use affect dung beetle communities but do not affect ecosystem services in the Cerrado of Central Brazil
Authors: Oliveira Yuri F. , Oliveira Charles M. , Frizzas Marina R.
Published: March 2021

1. Changes in land use have been identified as one of the main drivers of global biodiversity loss, and also negatively affect ecosystem services. Dung beetles are capable of providing a variety of ecosystem services and can be used as bioindicators.

2. We assess whether the land use changes of the Cerrado areas for agricultural purposes (pasture and soybean crops) affects dung beetle community and the associated ecosystem services (dung removal and secondary seed dispersal) provided by dung beetles on their diversity in the Federal District, Brazil.

3. A total of 32 261 individuals (Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae and Anaidinae) were collected. The abundance and biomass of dung beetles were significantly higher in soybean (n = 19 354; biomass = 1145.4 g) and pasture (n = 9865; biomass = 753.6 g) compared to cerrado (n = 3042; biomass = 311.6 g). Sixty‐one species were collected in the cerrado, 58 in soybean and 56 in pasture, most species were paracoprids (52–60%), but no significant differences were observed for the species richness and diversity indices among the different land use systems. The structure of the dung beetle community in areas of the cerrado was distinct from that in pasture and soybean areas, and the latter two were similar. The land use systems did not affect the ecosystem services provided by dung beetles.

4. Our results showed that the Cerrado dung beetle community was unique and specific, indicating an imperative need for its preservation, due to its intrinsic value and its importance for the functioning of the ecosystem.
P‐SCADA ‐ A novel area and energy efficient FPGA architectures for LSTM prediction of heart arrthymias in biot applications
Authors: Varadharajan Senthil Kumaran , Nallasamy Viswanathan
Published: March 2021

Recurrent neural networks (RNN) are extensively used to determine the optimal solutions to the various class recognition problems such as image processing, prediction of biomedical data and speech recognition. With the gradient problems, RNN is slowing losing its shade which is replaced by the Long short term memory (LSTM). However the hardware implementation of the LSTM requires more challenge due to its complexity and high power consumption which makes it unsuitable for implementing in Biological Internet of things networks for prediction of heart diseases. Several algorithms were proposed for an effective implementation of LSTM, but hand‐offs between the performance and utilization still needs improvisation. The paper proposes the novel energy efficient and high performance architecture Pipelined Stochastic Adaptive Distributed Architectures (P‐SCADA) for LSTM networks. In this architecture, hybrid structure has been developed with the help of new distributed arithmetic stochastic computing (DSC) along with the binary circuits to advance the performance of the FPGA such as energy, area and accuracy. The proposed system has been implemented in ARTIX‐7 FPGA with special purpose software has been designed and evaluated with different ECG datasets. For the different series data, area utilization is about 40%–44% and power consumption is about 20%–25% with the prediction of accuracy of 98%. Moreover the proposed architecture has been compared with the other existing architecture such as SPARSE architectures, normal stochastic architectures in which the proposed architecture excels in terms area, power and efficiency.
Family Dynamics in Dementia Caregiving: Development and Validation of the Interpersonal Triggers of Guilt in Dementia Caregiving Questionnaire (ITGDCQ)
Authors: Gallego‐Alberto Laura , Losada AndrÉs , MÁrquez‐GonzÁlez MarÍa , Romero‐Moreno Rosa , Cabrera Isabel
Published: March 2021

The objective was to develop the Interpersonal Triggers of Guilt in Dementia Caregiving Questionnaire (ITGDCQ). An emotion frequently experienced by caregivers is guilt. However, the studies analyzing potential factors that generate guilt are scarce. Guilt may be generated through interpersonal interactions. A total of 201 dementia caregivers were evaluated for frequency of leisure, guilt, anxiety, depression, and a pool of items measuring the frequency, and guilt was derived from different behaviors performed by the care recipient (ITGDCQ‐CR) and other relatives (ITGDCQ‐OR). Exploratory factor analysis of the ITGDCQ‐CR showed a two‐factor solution, explaining 56.24% of the variance. The ITGDCQ‐OR subscale also showed two factors, explaining 63.24% of the variance. All the factors had acceptable to good reliability indexes. Positive associations were found between both subscales and depression, anxiety, guilt, and stress associated with CR’s behavioral problems. ITGDCQ‐CR was negatively correlated with frequency of leisure. The interpersonal dynamics assessed with the ITGDCQ generated other emotions such as anger or sadness. Through structural equation modeling, 28% of the variance of caregivers’ distress was explained by the assessed variables, including a significant contribution of the interpersonal dynamics assessed with the ITGDCQ. The results provide preliminary support for the use of the ITGDCQ as a valid and reliable measure of care recipients’ or other relatives’ factors that trigger or facilitate the experience of guilt in the caregivers. The association between these factors and caregiver distress suggests potential clinical implications for the findings.
Pasture legumes differ in herbage production and quality throughout spring, impacting their potential role in fodder conservation and animal production
Authors: Hackney Belinda , Rodham Craig , Dyce Gabrielle , Piltz John
Published: March 2021

This study reports on the herbage production and quality of a range of pasture legume species during spring, at three sites with moderate to strongly acidic soils in southern NSW, Australia. These data have enabled prediction of livestock production when legumes are conserved as silage or hay. Total herbage production, its timing and quality differed significantly between species, which generally was not predicted by the traditional metric of time to flowering. Trifolium incarnatum L., T. michelianum L., Biserrula pelecinus L., Ornithopus sativus Brot. and Hedysarum coronarium L. all maintained growth rates exceeding 200 kg DM/ha/d for 4 weeks over spring, while T. vesiculosum Savi. maintained this for 6 weeks, with a peak growth rate of 561 kg DM/ha/d. Herbage quality of all species declined over time and was greatest in species with a rapid increase in stem‐to‐leaf ratio or with weak stems, resulting in lodging. The modelling inferred that maximizing potential livestock production via fodder conservation required earlier cutting. Only the indeterminate species B. pelecinus and Ornithopus spp. increased potential liveweight gain per hectare through delayed harvesting from (probable) silage to hay‐making time.
Root growth response of serradella species to aluminium in solution culture and soil
Authors: Kidd Daniel R. , Ryan Megan H. , Colmer Timothy D. , Simpson Richard J.
Published: March 2021

Serradella (Ornithopus) species are high‐quality pasture legumes that originate from the Mediterranean basin and have been increasingly used in southern Australian temperate grazing systems. They are generally regarded as tolerant of soils with low pH and, by inference, elemental toxicities such as aluminium (Al). No studies have examined the effect of high Al concentrations on the growth of French serradella (Ornithopus sativus Brot.) or newly developed cultivars of yellow serradella (O. compressus L.). Several cultivars/accessions of each species were grown in low ionic‐strength nutrient solutions at pHCa 4.5 containing a range of Al concentrations. Their susceptibility to root growth inhibition by Al was benchmarked against reference species ranging from Al‐sensitive to Al‐tolerant. Most serradella cultivars had moderate‐to‐high Al tolerance in solution culture but one yellow and two French serradella cultivars ranked alongside the Al‐sensitive reference species. A subset of cultivars and reference species were then grown in an Al‐toxic soil to test the validity of the solution culture results; these cultivars spanned the apparent range in Al sensitivity/tolerance indicated by the solution culture experiment. Variation in the relative root length achieved in Al‐toxic solution culture explained ~59% of the variation in the relative root length achieved in the acidic Al‐toxic soil. This result supports the conclusion that Al tolerance varies among serradella and that some cultivars may not thrive in soils with pHCa < 4.5 and elevated extractable Al concentrations.
Effect of tongue piercing on periodontal and peri‐implant health: A cross‐sectional case‐control study in adults
Authors: Ibraheem Wael I. , S Preethanath Reghunathan , Devang Divakar Darshan , Al‐Askar Mansour , Al‐Kheraif Abdulaziz A.
Published: March 2021

Objectives

The authors hypothesize that periodontal and peri‐implant inflammatory parameters are poorer in adult patients with tongue piercing compared with controls. The aim was to assess the influence of tongue piercing on periodontal and peri‐implant health status in adults.

Methods

Test and control groups comprised of individuals with and without tongue piercing, respectively. A questionnaire was used to collect information about gender, age, duration of tongue piercing and implants in function, jaw location of the implant, reasoning for wearing the tongue ornament, and oral hygiene and ornament cleaning habits. Full‐mouth and peri‐implant plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing depth (PD) and marginal/crestal bone loss (MBL and CBL, respectively) on mesial and distal surfaces of teeth/implants were recorded. The material (plastic or metal) from which, the bar and ball‐ends of the ornament were fabricated was also recorded. A p < 0.01 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Forty‐eight and 49 individuals were included in the test and control groups, respectively. There was no difference in PI, GI, PD, CAL and MBL (mesial and distal) among individuals in the test and control groups. In the test group, peri‐implant PI (p < 0.01), GI (p < 0.01), PD (p < 0.01) and mesial (p < 0.01) and distal (p < 0.01) CBL were significantly higher in the anterior mandible compared with implants in other jaw locations. In the control group, there was no difference in peri‐implant PI, GI, PD and CBL around implants placed in both jaws.

Conclusion

Wearing tongue piercings could increase the risks of periodontal and peri‐implant diseases particularly in the mandibular anterior segment.
Studying the in vitro corrosion response of nanostructured TaN coatings in Hank's physiological solution
Authors: Babaei Kazem , Fattah‐alhosseini Arash , Elmkhah Hassan , Imantalab Omid , Ghomi Hamidreza
Published: March 2021

The goal of this research is to determine the effect of N2 pressure to argon pressure on the microstructural analysis and corrosion behavior of nanostructured TaN deposited coatings using a reactive DC‐magnetron sputtering (RDCMS) technique. The samples coated microstructure was studied by the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), and elemental distribution was studied using energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS). To investigate the corrosion behavior of nanostructured TaN coatings, the potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests were performed in Hank's physiological solution. The results of different tests revealed that the coating with a content of 17.6% PN2/PAr consisted of hexagonal and orthorhombic TaN phases and had denser microstructure and free pores. This coating showed superior corrosion behavior in comparison to the other ones. Also, the corrosion resistance of this coating raised by increasing the time of immersion from 48 to 168 h.
Service quality in the sharing economy: A review and research agenda
Authors: Akhmedova Anna , Manresa Alba , Escobar Rivera Dalilis , Bikfalvi Andrea
Published: March 2021

The growth of sharing economy (SE) business models across different sectors suggests global shifts in consumer expectations, values, behaviours and lifestyles. SE products and service are not standardized, and it is impossible to talk about quality as it is traditionally understood. The methodological and theoretical approaches to study the quality in this setup remain segmented. This warrants a revision and systematization of existing knowledge. We use a hybrid review based on integration of bibliometric and structured reviews. We identify research streams, theoretical frameworks, contexts and methods related to perceived service quality in the SE, and also detect current gaps and formulate future research directions.
Success drivers of co‐branding: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Paydas Turan Ceyda
Published: March 2021

While considerable research attention has been given to co‐branding (brand alliance), empirical evidence of the success drivers remains fragmented with inconclusive findings. This meta‐analysis aims to synthesize the existing research and provide a comprehensive and generalisable set of findings. It integrates data of 197 effect sizes from 37 independent studies reported in 27 articles. The findings reveal that the relationship between the partner brands has a significantly larger impact on the success of co‐branding than the individual brand characteristics, and brand image fit is a relatively more important driver than product category fit and brand equity. Moderator analysis indicates that the relative importance of the relationship between brands is generalisable to the type of industry, business and co‐branding strategy. This paper advances theoretical understanding in three ways: (a) it increases generalisability of existing studies by investigating the impact of theoretical, contextual, and method‐related moderators on the effect sizes, (b) it brings a consensus to the equivocal findings on the importance of success drivers and (c) it identifies the knowledge gaps, and presents a future research agenda. In so doing, the paper guides practitioners by highlighting which factors to be considered and prioritised when forming a brand alliance.
Rethinking Gentrification and the Right to the City: The Process and Effect of the Urban Social Movement against Redevelopment in Tokyo
Authors: Miura Rinpei
Published: March 2021

This article focuses on the anti‐redevelopment movement in Shimokitazawa, an area adjacent to the central Tokyo metropolitan area, to analyze resistance to the gentrification‐like phenomenons in Japan. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of international comparative studies on gentrification, and an inductive analysis based on an understanding of the various contexts of each city is needed. This article takes on this task, referring to the key concept of the right to the city, which has been used as a framework for understanding anti‐gentrification movements. In doing so, I aim to reveal the bias in existing gentrification research. In Shimokitazawa the rights to enjoy the culture of the city and the rights to speak out about the state of the city were newly recognized. The evolving debate on this area shows that these rights should be widely shared not only by landowners and residents but also by visitors. However, these rights are not adequately captured by existing conceptions of the right to the city. Shimokitazawa's anti‐gentrification movement provides an opportunity to participate in an autonomous movement. Notably, the opposition movement has been using its newly acquired voice to create alternative public spaces. The emerging trend of urban social movements that recognize and bring to light the potential value of urban space offers insights for guidelines for the future development of urban society.
Functional outcomes after robot‐assisted radical cystectomy: A review of literature
Authors: Iqbal Umar , Durrani Mohammad M , Elsayed Ahmed S , Hussein Ahmed A , Shigemura Katsumi , Fujisawa Masato , Guru Khurshid A
Published: March 2021

Robot‐assisted radical cystectomy has steadily gained wider acceptance among urologists compared with open and laparoscopic approaches. Robot‐assisted radical cystectomy has shown comparable perioperative and oncologic outcomes compared with open radical cystectomy. Nevertheless, data about the functional outcomes and quality of life after robot‐assisted radical cystectomy remain limited. We sought to review the literature and describe urinary, sexual and bowel functions after robot‐assisted radical cystectomy in addition to mental health and health‐related quality of life. Despite limitations of the available literature, data suggests that functional outcomes after robot‐assisted radical cystectomy are comparable to open radical cystectomy. However, more studies utilizing standardized definitions are required.
Selection approaches to the variation of responses to soil compaction stress among maize hybrids (Zeamays L.)
Authors: Grzesiak Maciej T. , Maksymowicz Anna , Jurczyk Barbara , Hura Tomasz , Rut Grzegorz , Rzepka Andrzej , Grzesiak Stanisław
Published: March 2021

Soil compaction stress can strongly affect plant growth, development and productivity. Effects of different levels of soil compaction were investigated in 18 maize hybrids during field and greenhouse experiments. Maize hybrids in the field experiments were subjected to low (L) or high (H) and in the greenhouse experiments to low (L: 1.10) and high (C: 1.60 g cm−3 soil) soil compaction level. Differences between maize hybrids grown under non‐stress and stress conditions were found in a decrease in grain yield (GY), grain number (GN), weight of 1,000 grain (W‐1000), seedling dry matter (DM), emergence (EM), plant height (H), leaf area (LA) and leaf greening (SPAD). Stress susceptibility index (SSI), geometric mean productivity index (GMP) and tolerance index (TI) were evaluated by determining the effects of low (L) or high (H) soil compaction levels on grain yield (GY) or dry matter of the above‐ground part (DM). The values of SSI, GMP and TI enabled us to rank the tested hybrids with respect to their susceptibility to soil compaction stress. SSI and TI made it possible to identify maize hybrids resistant and sensitive to soil compaction stress. Changes in growth traits were greater in the hybrids with high SSI and TI. Correlation coefficient (r) between stress susceptibility index (SSI) of maize hybrids in the field and greenhouse experiment was high and statistically significant. This observation may indicate that genetically determined susceptibility to soil compaction stress in maize hybrids was similar throughout ontogenesis.
Global distribution of microwhip scorpions (Arachnida: Palpigradi)
Authors: Mammola Stefano , Souza Maysa Fernanda Villela Rezende , Isaia Marco , Ferreira Rodrigo Lopes
Published: March 2021

Aim

Historically, research on global distribution patterns has mostly concentrated on conspicuous organisms and thus a large proportion of biodiversity on Earth remains unmapped. We examined the global distribution of palpigrades, a poorly studied group of low dispersive arachnids specialized to subterranean life. We asked what are the ecological factors driving their distributions, and to what extent sampling bias may influence the observed patterns.

Location

Global.

Taxon

Palpigrades (Arachnida: Palpigradi) in the genusEukoenenia.

Methods

We assembled a database of over 1000 localities and referring to 57 soil‐ and 69 cave‐adapted palpigrades. We tested for differences in range sizes of soil‐ and cave‐adapted species. We used variance partitioning analysis to explore the contribution of climate, nutrient availability and geology in driving observed distributions. Finally, we verified the potential correlation between the number of occurrence records and the number of palpigrades' researchers.

Results

Europe and Brazil emerged as centres of diversification of cave‐adapted palpigrades. Conversely, the diversity of soil‐adapted species was distributed over a broader geographical expanse, mainly in the Southern Hemisphere. Both cave and soil species had narrow distribution ranges, with a median value of 0.01 km2; only a few parthenogenetic species were distributed over multiple continents. The distribution of cave‐ and soil‐adapted palpigrades was primarily explained by climatic conditions, and secondarily by nutrient and habitat availability. In the Alps, the distribution of cave‐adapted species also bears the signature of historical events related to glaciation cycles. We observed, however, a pronounced people‐species correlation, suggesting that the observed patterns are not generalizable to poorly explored areas.

Main conclusions

Our study highlights enormous gaps in current knowledge about the biogeography of palpigrades. Even if the information is largely incomplete and biased, we show how data can be harnessed to draw a preliminary picture of the global distribution patterns of palpigrades. Thus, we offer a jumping‐off point for future studies on the macroecology and conservation of poorly known organisms.
Contrasting response of native and non‐native plants to disturbance and herbivory in mountain environments
Authors: Geppert Costanza , Boscutti Francesco , La Bella Greta , De Marchi Vittoria , Corcos Daria , Filippi Antonio , Marini Lorenzo
Published: March 2021

Aim

Climate warming and increasing human disturbance are expected to promote non‐native plant invasions in mountain ecosystems. Although biological invasions are also expected to be modulated by biotic interactions, it is still not clear how invertebrate herbivores can affect plant invasion dynamics. Using a large manipulative experiment, we aimed at testing: (1) the effect of soil disturbance and elevation on native and non‐native plant communities, and (2) the effect of plant‐herbivore interactions, nitrogen deposition, and elevation in driving plant establishment after soil disturbance.

Location

European Alps, NE Italy.

Taxon

Vascular plants.

Methods

We selected remote, uninvaded dry semi‐natural grasslands along the core elevational range of non‐native plants in the European Alps (c. 100–1300 m) and manipulated soil disturbance, nitrogen deposition, and invertebrate herbivory. Then, we followed the natural establishment under real field conditions of both native and non‐native plants over one growing season. We used generalized mixed‐effects models to test the effects of the experimental treatments.

Results

Native and non‐native species showed contrasting responses to soil disturbance and elevation. Low elevations and disturbance promoted non‐native success, while affecting native species diversity negatively. Two‐thirds of the experimental sites acquired novel non‐natives after disturbance. Most of the observed non‐natives were not present in the surrounding vegetation as mature plants, indicating that propagules were able to reach even remote natural areas. While current N deposition levels did not affect plant establishment, we found that after disturbance invertebrate herbivory might play an important role in facilitating non‐native invasions by reducing native cover.

Main conclusions

Our findings show that highly resistant ecosystems such as continuous grasslands can be easily invaded once the resident vegetation has been removed, and that natural herbivory pressure from invertebrates might amplify the negative effects of disturbance on resident native species irrespective of elevation. Together, these results indicate increasing risks of future plant invasions on mountains under global change.