bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continuity and change: Chinese lesson study redefined in the context of key competencies-based reform
Authors: Fang Yanping , Paine Lynn , Huang Rongjin
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This special issue reveals how lesson study in China continues to serve as a powerful platform to support change in teaching. The papers included in this issue explore how university faculty members and researchers support teachers to cross boundaries resulting from the introduction of key competencies-based (hexin suyang 核心素养) curriculum reform (KCR).

Design/methodology/approach

The theme of continuity and change is examined against the backdrop of Chinese lesson study's (CLS's) consistent supporting role in enabling curriculum reform. These analyses make use of concepts involved in understanding boundary crossing, such as using boundary objects and their roles, to help make sense of the new theories, tools, and resources as well as relationships engendered in responding to the reform's demand. While recognizing the continuity at play in Chinese LS, the authors use the lens of learning at the boundary of research-practice partnerships (RPPs) (Farrell et al., 2022) to contemplate the future of CLS.

Findings

The papers touch on three major themes: (1) the role of university-school partnerships in meeting the new demands of key competencies reform; (2) resourceful tools, strategies and structures to support boundary crossing for teachers; and (3) roles and relationships for mutual learning in university-school partnerships. Together these three themes, considered across the papers in this issue, point to the need to redefine CLS to engender versatility and hybridity and to enlist mutual learning relationships in future university-school partnerships. Such redefinition positions lesson study to both continue and change.

Research limitations/implications

The papers in this issue are expected to promote mutualist learning in future CLS research-practice partnerships. To do so, research needs to move from focusing on change of a single case teacher to clarifying what experts and teachers each learn from the LS and from each other. Attention also needs to focus on the collaborative discourse and ways such discourse is able to promote mutual learning, emotional support in facing change as well as critical and constructive problem solving.

Practical implications

Practically, to better support boundary crossing, this special issue encourages academics and teachers to identify and work around boundary objects and their enabling features to enhance knowledge and identity of both university and teacher participants for more effective research-practice partnerships.

Originality/value

This special issue offers a pioneering set of studies that contributes to an in-depth understanding of how CLS is supporting the current competencies-based reform in China. It also provides concrete future directions for research and practice to enhance university-school partnerships' response to reform.
An exploration of service users’ experience of telehealth occupational therapy interventions in adult mental health services, Ireland, during COVID-19
Authors: Daly Karen , Isdell Emer , Moynihan Leona , O'Callaghan Kate , O'Leary Sonia , Pepper Andrea , Pennisi Yvonne
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the delivery of occupational therapy (OT) community mental health services nationally, resulting in the rapid expansion and delivery of services through telehealth. While telehealth technology and its use are not new, widespread adoption was precipitated by the cessation of face-to-face services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Research in this field has been conducted previously; however, it is not specific to OT in the Irish context. This study aims to explore service users’ experience of telehealth OT interventions in adult mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive qualitative approach was used to explore service users’ experience of mental health telehealth OT services. Five service users were recruited to participate in a focus group to explore their experience of OT via telehealth. The themes identified from this focus group were then further explored via individual interviews. Four of the service users who participated in the focus group chose to complete in-depth interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was then completed.

Findings

Two key themes emerged from the data. The theme of positive telehealth experiences included subthemes of gratitude for the option of telehealth and accessibility. The second theme of learning from experience, included subthemes of human connection, preferred platforms of telehealth methods and future considerations for telehealth interventions.

Originality/value

These findings provide a unique insight into the importance of continuing OT services via telehealth, from the service users’ perspective.
Work from home issues due to COVID-19 lockdown in Indian higher education sector and its impact on employee productivity
Authors: Nayak Anuradha , Dubey Akanksha , Pandey Mrinalini
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study focuses on work from home (WFH) issues faced by faculty members of higher education institutes in India during the coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic. The study aims to understand the impact of these issues on faculty productivity. The study also analyzes the moderating effect of information technology (IT) training on the relationship between work- from-home issues and faculty productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is quantitative. Data were collected from 215 faculty members working in higher education institutes in India. Correlation and hierarchical regression analysis have been used to analyze the data.

Findings

The analysis revealed that online teaching, lack of technology acceptance, poor working environment and work–life conflict negatively impacts faculty productivity. Thus, IT training work as a moderator plays an important role in reducing the WFH issues mainly Online Teaching, Lack of Technology acceptance & Poor Working Enviornment by increasing faculty productivity. IT training work does not moderate the relationship between work–life conflict and faculty productivity.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to the higher education sector; the research limits the generalization of the higher education sector's finding to other sectors.

Practical implications

The findings would help policymakers and educational institutes to explore the use of digital technology to break boundaries of workplace and education institutes to disseminate knowledge to a global level. The findings also help to understand how the workplace is essential for the smooth functioning of tasks of the institute.

Social implications

The study will also help management, institute, organization, society and individuals to change their mindset that education can be imparted through online mode in a better way with the help of digital technology.

Originality/value

There is a scarcity of research work examining WFH issues in conducting mandatory online classes due to COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19's relation to faculty productivity in the higher education sector. This study contributes to the knowledge regarding the impact of COVID-19 on faculty productivity in the education sector.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure and firm performance: does national culture matter?
Authors: Wasiuzzaman Shaista , Ibrahim Salihu Aramide , Kawi Farahiyah
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the extent to which culture may affect the relationship between environmental, social and governance disclosure (ESGD) and firm performance (FP).

Design/methodology/approach

Data for testing the hypotheses are collected from 668 firms in the energy sector worldwide over a period of eight years from 2009 to 2016. The analysis is carried out using the instrumental variables regression technique to account for endogeneity. Hofstede’s cultural dimensions of power distance (PD), masculinity (MASC), long-term orientation (LTO), uncertainty avoidance (UNCAVOID) and individualism (INDV) are used as proxies for culture.

Findings

The results show that ESGD has a significant negative impact on the profitability of energy firms. When cultural dimensions are taken into account, PD and LTO are found to significantly moderate the relationship between ESGD and FP, whereas MASC, UNCAVOID and INDV have no significant effect on the relationship between ESGD and FP.

Practical implications

The findings of this study highlight the need for regulators to consider the importance of cultural dimensions when seeking to develop a single global standard for ESGD. In addition, regulators need to weigh both the costs and benefits of developing a global standard for it to be effective and acceptable.

Social implications

This study emphasizes the need to take into account the cultural orientation of the society in which firms operate when devising strategies to fulfill societal expectations and achieve business goals.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that addresses the role of culture in affecting the impact of ESGD on FP.
Business attire: challenges for employees regularly in contact with customers in the Sri Lankan apparel industry
Authors: Seram Niromi , Samarasekara Githmi Deshani
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The person who works in an office starts his or her day with a choice of attire. The way they look in the office depends on the decisions they make on their clothes. This study aims to identify the challenges faced by employees in the management positions in the Sri Lankan apparel industry who regularly come into contact with customers when they have to decide upon the most appropriate work attire for the position they are occupying in their organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Collection of data was primarily achieved through a well-structured questionnaire containing a mixture of open- and closed-ended questions. Targeted employees were managers, designers and merchandisers belonging to Generation Y whose total number was sufficient to obtain 50 feedbacks. Six more interviews were conducted with the intention of finding out more about this matter.

Findings

The majority of employees in the management positions in the Sri Lankan apparel industry who have regular contact with customers prefer to dress in “smart casual attire”, which means semi-formal clothes. Lack of availability of certain varieties of business attire in Sri Lanka proved to be a major challenge for some employees. Overpriced clothing, less comfortable clothing and lack of the right fabrics and designs were also challenges. These findings highlight the importance of manufacturing a wider variety of business attire using moderately priced but comfortable fabrics to make affordable and good quality products. There is a need to have a persuasive merchandising method to achieve good sales and provide a pleasant shopping experience to the customers.

Originality/value

Sri Lankan workwear retailers as well as apparel designers can benefit from the findings of this research as there is no evidence of any other studies on this subject. Therefore, this will help them to fill the market gap for business attire by addressing these challenges.
Corporate responsibility coalitions and the sustainability issues management capabilities of firms
Authors: Vidal Natalia G. , Van Buren III Harry J.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore how business-only corporate responsibility coalitions (CRCs) help member firms manage sustainability issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual analysis of business-only CRCs, using the literature on sensemaking and social issues management, explores how participation in CRCs enhances firms’ capabilities for sustainability issues management by improving their sensemaking competencies, abilities to choose and adapt issue responses and efficiency in implementing issue responses through better issue response mechanisms.

Findings

Business-only CRCs help firms with high as well as low levels of sustainability orientation better manage sustainability issues by carrying out the exploratory aspects of issues management: scanning, identifying and evaluating issues and proposing responses to issues.

Practical implications

The widely applicable, nonbinding and scripted responses proposed by CRCs allow participating firms a high degree of autonomy to choose and adapt their responses. However, firms must approach their CRC memberships with collaborative intent and high transparency to achieve these benefits.

Social implications

Participation in CRCs can help scale up firms’ responses to sustainability issues through more efficient issues management processes that allow them to customize issue responses to their needs.

Originality/value

Research on the management of sociopolitical issues can be enriched if these issues are understood as collective, multilevel challenges rather than purely strategic issues faced by individual firms. This study contributes to the business collective action and issues management literatures by emphasizing the importance of collective management of sustainability issues and how it may improve firms’ capabilities for sustainability issues management.
Fungal communities in European alpine soils are not affected by short‐term in situ simulated warming than bacterial communities
Authors: Sannino Ciro , Cannone Nicoletta , D'Alò Federica , Franzetti Andrea , Gandolfi Isabella , Pittino Francesca , Turchetti Benedetta , Mezzasoma Ambra , Zucconi Laura , Buzzini Pietro , Guglielmin Mauro , Onofri Silvano
Published: June 2022

The impact of global warming on biological communities colonizing European alpine ecosystems was recently studied. Hexagonal open top chambers (OTCs) were used for simulating a short‐term in situ warming (estimated around 1°C) in some alpine soils to predict the impact of ongoing climate change on resident microbial communities. Total microbial DNA was extracted from soils collected either inside or outside the OTCs over 3 years of study. Bacterial and fungal rRNA copies were quantified by qPCR. Metabarcoding sequencing of taxonomy target genes was performed (Illumina MiSeq) and processed by bioinformatic tools. Alpha‐ and beta‐diversity were used to evaluate the structure of bacterial and fungal communities. qPCR suggests that, although fluctuations have been observed between soils collected either inside and outside the OTCs, the simulated warming induced a significant (p < 0.05) shift only for bacterial abundance. Likewise, significant (p < 0.05) changes in bacterial community structure were detected in soils collected inside the OTCs, with a clear increase of oligotrophic taxa. On the contrary, fungal diversity of soils collected either inside and outside the OTCs did not exhibit significant (p < 0.05) differences, suggesting that the temperature increase in OTCs compared to ambient conditions was not sufficient to change fungal communities.
Measurement of pre‐treatment inflammatory cytokine levels is valuable for prediction of treatment efficacy to tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in axial spondyloarthritis patients
Authors: Peng Fei , Chen Fengyun , Wen Huijun , Bai Jie , Tian Yuping
Published: June 2022

Aim

To evaluate the correlation of inflammatory cytokines with the treatment response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients.

Methods

This study enrolled 86 axSpA patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs). Inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐12, IL‐17A, IL‐21, IL‐23, and IL‐32 were determined in serum samples of axSpA patients before treatment and in HCs after enrollment. All patients received 40 mg adalimumab every 2 weeks for 12 weeks; meanwhile, ASAS40 (40 criteria of the Assessment by the SpondyloArthritis International Society) response rates were evaluated at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12.

Results

Most inflammatory cytokines were elevated in axSpA patients compared with HCs (all P < 0.05) except for IL‐32 (P = 0.101). In axSpA patients, ASAS40 response rates were 0%, 19.5%, 34.5%, 47.1%, and 56.3% at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12, respectively. Baseline [interquartile range] IL‐6 (47.3 [32.5‐53.4] pg/mL vs 31.7 [23.0‐50.9] pg/mL, P = 0.005) and IL‐17A (127.9 [90.7‐149.5] pg/mL vs 96.6 [56.1‐112.6] pg/mL, P < 0.001) were higher in axSpA patients with ASAS40 response compared with those without ASAS40 response, while baseline TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐12, IL‐21, IL‐23, and IL‐32 were not different between them (all P > 0.050). Multivariate logistic regression analysis disclosed that baseline IL‐17A (P = 0.037), C‐reactive protein (P = 0.012), and history of TNF inhibitor (P = 0.029) were independently associated with ASAS40 response. Furthermore, baseline IL‐17A, C‐reactive protein, history of TNFi, and their combination had an acceptable to good ability for predicting ASAS40 response.

Conclusion

Measurement of pre‐treatment inflammatory cytokine levels is valuable for predicting treatment efficacy of TNFi in axSpA patients.
Intention to maintain and willingness to stop: Applying a dual‐process model to understanding the maintenance of COVID‐19 preventive behaviors
Authors: He Mu , Chen Juliet Honglei , Wu Anise M. S. , Tong Kwok Kit
Published: June 2022

Preventive behaviors have played an essential role in coping with COVID‐19 and may continue to exerting a crucial impact on pandemic control in the future. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of social‐cognitive factors on maintenance of COVID‐19 preventive behaviors based on a dual‐process model, which encompasses a reasoned path via the intention to maintain and a social reaction path via the willingness to stop. We collected a probability sample of 472 community‐dwelling adults. Social‐cognitive factors, behavioral tendencies, and preventive behaviors of COVID‐19 were measured. The results supported that the dual‐process framework could account for individual differences in preventive behaviors. Self‐efficacy and response cost significantly explained the intention to maintain preventive behaviors, while favorability of risk image and subjective norm significantly explained the willingness to stop preventive behaviors. Our findings proposed strategies for promoting individuals' maintenance of preventive behaviors during a pandemic. The development of prevention policies may focus on two paths: strengthening the intended path by enhancing self‐efficacy and decreasing response cost of preventive behaviors and monitoring and improving social influences, such as risk prototype and subjective norm, which can reduce the willingness to stop preventive behaviors.
Notes on the postulate of the monotonicity in distance in inequality
Authors: Chakravarty Satya R. , Sarkar Palash
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we strengthen Cowell and Flachaire's observation regarding the failure to satisfy Cowell's “monotonicity in distance” postulate by several well‐known inequality indices. We also identify a general analytical reason for this failure to arise.
Racial/ethnic match and student–teacher relationships
Authors: Nguyen My , Le Kien
Published: June 2022

This paper explores the role of teacher race/ethnicity in the teacher‐perceived relationships with kindergarten and early elementary school students. Employing a model with both student and teacher fixed effects, we discover a positive link between the racial/ethnic match and the teacher‐reported relationships with students. Specifically, minority students tend to have closer relationships with their teachers when they are taught by a minority teacher. Our analyses also provide suggestive evidence that the effects on the teacher–student relationships could not be driven by differential racial discrimination between white and minority teachers. Particularly, white and minority teachers are not differentially biased in judging their relationships with minority students, implying that the source of the racial/ethnic interaction effects is likely to come from the role modeling of behaviors. Given the importance of the relationships between young children and nonparental adults in their early stages of life, these findings have crucial policy implications.
Evidence of beta amyloid independent small vessel disease in familial Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Littau Jessica Lisa , Velilla Lina , Hase Yoshiki , Villalba‐Moreno Nelson David , Hagel Christian , Drexler Dagmar , Osorio Restrepo Santiago , Villegas Andres , Lopera Francisco , Vargas Sergio , Glatzel Markus , Krasemann Susanne , Quiroz Yakeel T. , Arboleda‐Velasquez Joseph F. , Kalaria Rajesh , Sepulveda‐Falla Diego
Published: June 2022

We studied small vessel disease (SVD) pathology in Familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) subjects carrying the presenilin 1 (PSEN1) p.Glu280Ala mutation in comparison to those with sporadic Alzheimer's disease (SAD) as a positive control for Alzheimer's pathology and Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) bearing different NOTCH3 mutations, as positive controls for SVD pathology. Upon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in life, some FAD showed mild white matter hyperintensities and no further radiologic evidence of SVD. In post‐mortem studies, total SVD pathology in cortical areas and basal ganglia was similar in PSEN1 FAD and CADASIL subjects, except for the feature of arteriosclerosis which was higher in CADASIL subjects than in PSEN1 FAD subjects. Further only a few SAD subjects showed a similar degree of SVD pathology as observed in CADASIL. Furthermore, we found significantly enlarged perivascular spaces in vessels devoid of cerebral amyloid angiopathy in FAD compared with SAD and CADASIL subjects. As expected, there was greater fibrinogen‐positive perivascular reactivity in CADASIL but similar reactivity in PSEN1 FAD and SAD groups. Fibrinogen immunoreactivity correlated with onset age in the PSEN1 FAD cases, suggesting increased vascular permeability may contribute to cognitive decline. Additionally, we found reduced perivascular expression of PDGFRβ AQP4 in microvessels with enlarged PVS in PSEN1 FAD cases. We demonstrate that there is Aβ‐independent SVD pathology in PSEN1 FAD, that was marginally lower than that in CADASIL subjects although not evident by MRI. These observations suggest presence of covert SVD even in PSEN1, contributing to disease progression. As is the case in SAD, these consequences may be preventable by early recognition and actively controlling vascular disease risk, even in familial forms of dementia.
Bumblebee attraction toMatthiola lividaflowers is altered by combined water stress and insect herbivory
Authors: Salman Ibrahim N. A. , Cna'ani Alon , Tzin Vered , Seifan Merav
Published: June 2022

Floral volatiles are among the well‐known cues that mediate plant‐pollinator interactions. Understanding plant‐pollinator interactions is especially important in arid regions, where the low abundance of pollinators limits their visiting frequency and, thus, constraints the reproductive success of many plant species. Moreover, plants in such arid habitats are exposed to abiotic stress, particularly to water shortage. Plants in arid habitats are also prone to suffer from multiple stress factors, such as the addition of pathogen and herbivore attacks. All these stress factors induce disruptions in the plant metabolism and increase physiological costs that may lead to changes in floral volatiles, thus affecting the communication between the plant and its pollinators, consequently intensifying the constraints on the plants' reproductive success. To explore this general hypothesis, we used as a modelMatthiola livida(Delile) DC. (Brassicaceae), a common native plant species in arid regions of the Middle East. We first tested whether water shortage and insect herbivory, inflicted by whiteflies,Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), caused stress inM. livida, based on the change in carbohydrates and starch content, and examined whether the plants produced distinct volatile composition in response to these stressors. Then, we tested whether bumblebees,Bombus terrestris(L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), common pollinators ofM. livida, were able to differentiate between plants suffering from water shortage and insect herbivory based only on volatile emission. We found that both water shortage and insect herbivory caused stress in the plants. We also found that the plants produced a distinct volatile composition in relation to the specific stress they were exposed to. Specifically, in comparison to control plants, insect herbivory increased the amounts of volatile alkanes, aldehydes, and alcohols, and reduced the amounts of esters, benzenoids, and phenylpropanoids. Water shortage reduced the amount of aldehyde volatiles and increased the amount of alcohol volatiles. Moreover, using choice experiments, we found that bumblebees differentiated between stressed and non‐stressed plants based on their volatile compositions, and preferred less stressed ones. Our study indicated that pollinators may use floral volatiles in their foraging decisions and are highly sensitive to variation in the plant conditions. This suggests that volatile cues may create a constraint on the ability of the plants to secure their reproductive success in arid habitats, that are added to the direct stress created by the arid conditions themselves.
Differential survival and dispersal of avian feather mites with contrasting host specificities
Authors: Matthews Alix E. , Barnett Cody J. , Boves Than J.
Published: June 2022

Host specificity is a fundamental life history trait of symbionts and exists on a broad continuum from symbionts that are specific to one or a few hosts (host specialists), to those associated with multiple different host species (host generalists). However, the biological mechanisms underlying the complexity and wide variation in symbiont host specificity are poorly understood from both the symbiont and host perspectives across many symbiotic systems.

Feather mites are common avian symbionts that vary in their host specificity from extreme host generalists to host specialists, even among species within the same genus.

Here, we measured and compared survival probability and rate of dispersal to determine how these traits differ between two species of feather mites in the same genus: one host generalist associated with 17 host species (Amerodectes ischyros) and one host specialist with only one known host (A. protonotaria).

We initially predicted that the host generalist would live longer and disperse more rapidly but discovered that while the host generalist mite survived longer, the host specialist mite dispersed more quickly.

The differing environmental and ecological conditions in which the hosts of these mites are associated may explain the survival and dispersal patterns we uncovered, as differential microclimates may have led to different selective pressures on each species of mite. We also noted mite behavioural observations and suggest experiments to extend our understanding of feather mite ecology and evolution.
Modeling Slipping Effects in a Large‐Scale Assessment with Innovative Item Formats
Authors: Cuhadar Ismail , Binici Salih
Published: June 2022

This study employs the 4‐parameter logistic item response theory model to account for the unexpected incorrect responses or slipping effects observed in a large‐scale Algebra 1 End‐of‐Course assessment, including several innovative item formats. It investigates whether modeling the misfit at the upper asymptote has any practical impact on the parameter estimates. With a simulation study, it also investigates the amount of bias in the parameter estimates when the slipping effects are ignored. Findings from the empirical data indicate that the impact of ignoring slipping effects is negligible when the abilities are evaluated within the context of classification of students into performance levels; however, it is present toward the extreme ends of ability continuum within the context of individual abilities. Findings from the simulations reveal that when the proportion of items with the slipping effects is small (20%), ignoring misfit does not have practical importance; however, when the proportion of items with the slipping effects is moderate to large (50%–80%), the abilities are generally underestimated at both ends of ability scale. When an upper asymptote parameter was used for modeling the slipping effects, the items became easier and more discriminative in general than the model ignoring the slipping effects.
Global increase in methane production under future warming of lake bottom waters
Authors: Jansen Joachim , Woolway Richard Iestyn , Kraemer Benjamin M. , Albergel Clément , Bastviken David , Weyhenmeyer Gesa A. , Marcé Rafael , Sharma Sapna , Sobek Sebastian , Tranvik Lars J. , Perroud Marjorie , Golub Malgorzata , Moore Tadhg N. , Råman Vinnå Love , La Fuente Sofia , Grant Luke , Pierson Don C. , Thiery Wim , Jennings Eleanor
Published: June 2022

Lakes are significant emitters of methane to the atmosphere, and thus are important components of the global methane budget. Methane is typically produced in lake sediments, with the rate of methane production being strongly temperature dependent. Local and regional studies highlight the risk of increasing methane production under future climate change, but a global estimate is not currently available. Here, we project changes in global lake bottom temperatures and sediment methane production rates from 1901 to 2099. By the end of the 21st century, lake bottom temperatures are projected to increase globally, by an average of 0.86–2.60°C under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 2.6–8.5, with greater warming projected at lower latitudes. This future warming of bottom waters will likely result in an increase in methane production rates of 13%–40% by the end of the century, with many low‐latitude lakes experiencing an increase of up to 17 times the historical (1970–1999) global average under RCP 8.5. The projected increase in methane production will likely lead to higher emissions from lakes, although the exact magnitude of the emission increase requires more detailed regional studies.
Global networks in national governance? Changes of professional expertise in Amazon environmental governance
Authors: Maglia Cristiana
Published: June 2022

In 2019, wildfires in the Amazon renewed international concern about Brazilian environmental policy, led by Jair Bolsonaro. As one of the biggest repositories of the world's biodiversity, the Amazon Rainforest has been a source of concern in global environmental governance. Given this salience, one would expect that domestic governance would be highly permeated by professionals with international circulation and that transnational ties would be a central target of Bolsonaro's populist nationalistic perspective. In this article, I seek to understand whether and how professionals involved in policymaking in the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment are connected to national and international organizations, by analyzing the networks of career paths of high‐ranking staff in the Rousseff, Temer and Bolsonaro administrations. The data show a consistently low percentage of ties between professionals and international organizations. However, the types of international experience and knowledge that are deemed important shifted significantly under Bolsonaro.
Flexible versus committed and specific versus uniform: wholesale price contracting in a supply chain with downstream process innovation
Authors: Yan Shuangqi , Xiong Yu , Lin Zhibin , Zhou Yu
Published: June 2022

If buyers are asymmetric in terms of their operating costs, researchers and managers broadly agree that the supplier can optimize her/his own profit by offering the more efficient buyer a higher price. In this paper, we develop a game theoretical model to investigate the interaction between one supplier and two asymmetric buyers within a supply chain. We formulate buyers' operating costs as a function of their process innovation levels, which implies that they can reduce the unit operating cost via investments in process innovation in the long run. Our research demonstrates that the uniform wholesale price (UWP) is always preferred over the buyer‐specific wholesale price by the supplier because of the effect of innovation stimulation. The optimal timing of pricing is contingent on the level of market demand variance. If two buyers have the same ability to reduce their operating costs via process innovation, the UWP strategy forms a win‐win situation to the supplier and two buyers. Our results provide the supplier with suggestions regarding when to adopt the UWP strategy and how to enhance downstream innovation performance within the supply chain.
Transient left phrenic nerve paralysis after ethanol infusion into the vein of Marshall
Authors: Sasaki Wataru , Nakatani Yosuke , Take Yutaka , Kishi Shohei , Naito Shigeto
Published: June 2022

An 80‐year‐old man underwent catheter ablation for atrial tachycardia (AT), which developed after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. The AT was diagnosed as dual‐loop tachycardia, which included peri‐mitral and roof‐dependent ATs. An ethanol infusion into the vein of Marshall resulted in left phrenic nerve paralysis. During the procedure, the phrenic nerve paralysis was completely relieved.
Automated detection of atrial fibrillation based on vocal features analysis
Authors: Golovchiner Gregory , Glikson Michael , Swissa Moshe , Sela Yaron , Abelow Aryeh , Morelli Olga , Beker Amir
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Early detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) is desirable but challenging due to the often‐asymptomatic nature of AF. Known screening methods are limited and most of them depend of electrocardiography or other techniques with direct contact with the skin. Analysis of voice signals from natural speech has been reported for several applications in medicine.

The study goal was to evaluate the usefulness of vocal features analysis for the detection of AF.

Methods

This prospective study was performed in two medical centers. Patients with persistent AF admitted for cardioversion were enrolled. The patients pronounced the vowels “Ahh” and “Ohh” were recorded synchronously with an ECG tracing. An algorithm was developed to provide an “AF indicator” for detection of AF from the speech signal.

Results

A total of 158 patients were recruited. The final analysis of “Ahh” and “Ohh” syllables was performed on 143 and 142 patients, respectively. The mean age was 71.4 ± 9.3 and 43% of patients were females. The developed AF indicator was reliable. Its numerical value decreased significantly in sinus rhythm (SR) after the cardioversion (“Ahh”: from 13.98 ± 3.10 to 7.49 ± 1.58; “Ohh”: from 11.39 ± 2.99 to 2.99 ± 1.61). The values at SR were significantly more homogenous compared to AF as indicated by a lower standard deviation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was >0.98 and >0.89 (“Ahh” and “Ohh,” respectively, p < .001). The AF indicator sensitivity is 95% with 82% specificity.

Conclusion

This study is the first report to demonstrate feasibility and reliability of the identification of AF episodes using voice analysis with acceptable accuracy, within the identified limitations of our study methods. The developed AF indicator has higher accuracy using the “Ahh” syllable versus “Ohh.”
Integrated analysis of pivotal biomarker of LSM1, immune cell infiltration and therapeutic drugs in breast cancer
Authors: Tzeng Yen‐Dun Tony , Tsui Kuan‐Hao , Tseng Ling‐Ming , Hou Ming‐Feng , Chu Pei‐Yi , Sheu Jim Jinn‐Chyuan , Li Chia‐Jung
Published: June 2022

The discovery of early diagnosis and prognostic markers for breast cancer can significantly improve survival and reduce mortality. LSM1 is known to be involved in the general process of mRNA degradation in complexes containing LSm subunits, but the molecular and biological functions in breast cancer remain unclear. Here, the expression of LSM1 mRNA in breast cancer was estimated using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Oncomine, TIMER and bc‐GenExMiner databases. We found that functional LSM1 inactivation caused by mutations and profound deletions predicted poor prognosis in breast cancer (BRCA) patients. LSM1 was highly expressed in both BRCA tissues and cells compared to normal breast tissues/cells. High LSM1 expression is associated with poorer overall survival and disease‐free survival. The association between LSM1 and immune infiltration of breast cancer was assessed by TIMER and CIBERSORT algorithms. LSM1 showed a strong correlation with various immune marker sets. Most importantly, pharmacogenetic analysis of BRCA cell lines revealed that LSM1 inactivation was associated with increased sensitivity to refametinib and trametinib. However, both drugs could mimic the effects of LSM1 inhibition and their drug sensitivity was associated with MEK molecules. Therefore, we investigated the clinical application of LSM1 to provide a basis for sensitive diagnosis, prognosis and targeted treatment of breast cancer.
Correlated evolution between orb weaver glue droplets and supporting fibres maintains their distinct biomechanical roles in adhesion
Authors: Kelly Sean D. , Opell Brent D. , Correa‐Garwhal Sandra M.
Published: June 2022

Orb weaving spiders employ a ‘silken toolkit’ to accomplish a range of tasks, including retaining prey that strike their webs. This is accomplished by a viscous capture spiral thread that features tiny glue droplets, supported by a pair of elastic flagelliform fibres. Each droplet contains a glycoprotein core responsible for adhesion. However, prey retention relies on the integrated performance of multiple glue droplets and their supporting fibres, with previous studies demonstrating that a suspension bridge forms, whose biomechanics sum the adhesive forces of multiple droplets while dissipating the energy of the struggling insect. While the interdependence of the droplet's glycoprotein and flagelliform fibres for functional adhesion is acknowledged, there has been no direct test of this hypothesized linkage between the material properties of each component. Spider mass, which differs greatly across orb weaving species, also has the potential to affect flagelliform fibre and glycoprotein material properties. Previous studies have linked spider mass to capture thread performance but have not examined the relationship between spider mass and thread material properties. We extend earlier studies to examine these relationships in 16 orb weaving species using phylogenetic generalized least squares. This analysis revealed that glycoprotein stiffness (elastic modulus) was correlated with flagelliform fibre stiffness, and that spider mass was related to the glycoprotein volume, flagelliform fibre cross‐sectional area and droplets per unit thread length. By shaping the elastic moduli of glycoprotein adhesive and flagelliform fibres, natural selection has maintained the biomechanical integration of this adhesive system.
Functional and cognitive outcomes after suprapubic catheter placement in nursing home residents: A national cohort study
Authors: Chou Wesley H. , Covinsky Kenneth , Zhao Shoujun , Boscardin W. John , Finlayson Emily , Suskind Anne M.
Published: June 2022

Background

Long‐term functional and cognitive outcomes in nursing home residents after procedures are poorly understood. Our objective was to evaluate these outcomes after suprapubic tube (SPT) placement.

Methods

We performed a retrospective, cohort study in the nursing home setting. Participants were long‐term nursing home residents who underwent SPT placement from 2014 to 2016 in the United States. SPT placements were identified in Medicare Inpatient, Outpatient, and Carrier files using International Classification of Diseases and Current Procedural Terminology codes. Residents were identified through the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 for Nursing Home Residents. MDS Activities of Daily Living (MDS‐ADL) and Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) scores were used to assess function and cognition, respectively. Outcomes of interest were worsening MDS‐ADL and BIMS scores at 1 year postoperatively, 30‐day postoperative complications, and 1‐year mortality. Functional and cognitive trajectories were modeled to 1 year postoperatively using mixed‐effect spline models.

Results

From 2014 to 2016, 9647 residents with a mean age of 80.9 (SD 8.1) years underwent SPT placement. At 1 year postoperatively, 37.6% of residents died, while of survivors, 33.7% had worsening MDS‐ADL and 36.2% worsened BIMS. Residents had steeper postoperative rates of functional decline compared to relatively stable preoperative trends that never recovered to baseline status. However, robustly characterizing an association between SPT placement and functional decline would require a propensity score matched cohort without SPT placement. Decline in cognitive status was not clearly associated with SPT placement, suggesting either the natural course of a vulnerable population or limitations of BIMS scores.

Conclusions

Outcomes important to older adults, such as functional ability and cognitive status, do not show improvement after SPT placement. These findings emphasize that this “minor” procedure should be considered with caution in this population and primarily for palliation.
Thoracolumbar stenosis and neurologic symptoms: Quantitative MRI in achondroplasia
Authors: Calandrelli Rosalinda , Pilato Fabio , Massimi Luca , Onesimo Roberta , D'Apolito Gabriella , Tenore Lorenzo , Leoni Chiara , Zampino Giuseppe , Colosimo Cesare
Published: June 2022

Background and Purpose

Whole‐spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, to identify structural abnormalities associated with the development of symptomatic spinal stenosis in achondroplasia.

Methods

Forty‐two subjects with achondroplasia were grouped into four age‐related categories. Congenital spinal deformities (vertebral body and disc height, interpedicular distance), acquired spinal degenerative changes, thoracic kyphotic (TK) angle, thoracolumbar kyphotic (TLK) angle, spinal canal widths were evaluated by MRI.

Results

Patients in the first three groups were asymptomatic and younger (group 1: 4.4 ± 0.78 years; group 2: 8.18 ± 0.60 years; group 3: 10.95 ± 0.93 years) than the symptomatic group (group 4: 23 ± 1.30 years). Patients showed height of vertebral bodies, whole canal width, and average lumbar interpedicular distance reduced. Discs degeneration was more pronounced in the lumbar region and in symptomatic adult patients. TK and TLK angles showed a positive correlation with age (p < .05, r = .42; p < .05, r = .41), whereas thoracic and thoracolumbar canal width had a negative correlation (p < .05, r = −.69; p < .05, r = −.58). A negative correlation between lumbar discs degeneration and canal width was found only at L1‐L3 level (p < .05, r = −.35). At L1‐L3, the canal width cutoff value of .59 allowed the differentiation between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients (area under the curve of .966, p < .0001).

Conclusion

In achondroplasia, the spinal canal narrowing, due to accelerated degenerative changes, is a predisposing factor of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis. Lumbar canal MRI is a helpful tool to detect the risk of the development of neurological symptoms; in adult patients, a stenosis higher than 60% of upper lumbar canal could be a critical value for the onset of neurological symptoms.
Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide affects the angiogenic function of endothelial progenitor cells via Akt/FoxO1 signaling
Authors: Deng Hui , Gong Yixuan , Chen Yuan , Zhang Guigui , Chen Hui , Cheng Tianfan , Jin Lijian , Wang Yi
Published: June 2022

Aims

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) function as the angiogenic switch of many physiological and pathological conditions. We aimed to investigate the effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide on the angiogenic capacity of EPCs and delineate the underlying mechanisms.

Materials and Methods

EPCs were isolated from human umbilical blood. CCK‐8 assay was undertaken to analyze the cell viability. The migration and tube formation capacity were assessed by wound healing and tube formation, respectively. The protein expression of Akt/p‐Akt, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/p‐eNOS, and Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1)/p‐FoxO1 was determined by Western blot. The intracellular localization of FoxO1 was evaluated by immunofluorescent staining.

Results

P. gingivalis LPS at 10 μg/ml significantly increased the viability (10.9 ± 2.9%), migration (16.3 ± 3.1%), and tube formation (38.6 ± 5.5%) of EPCs, along with increased phosphorylation of Akt, eNOS, and FoxO1. Mechanistically, Akt inhibition by specific inhibitor wortmannin and FoxO1 forced expression by adenovirus transfection in EPCs markedly attenuated the P. gingivalis LPS‐induced eNOS activation, tube formation, and migration. Moreover, P. gingivalis LPS‐induced phosphorylation and nuclear exclusion of FoxO1 were blunted by Akt inhibition.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that P. gingivalis LPS could affect the angiogenic function of EPCs through the Akt/FoxO1 signaling. The current findings may shed light on the clinical association of periodontitis with aberrant angiogenesis seen in atherosclerotic plaque rupture.
The secreted ribonuclease T2 protein FoRnt2 contributes to Fusarium oxysporum virulence
Authors: Qian Hengwei , Wang Lulu , Wang Baoshan , Liang Wenxing
Published: June 2022

Secreted RNase proteins have been reported from only a few pathogens, and relatively little is known about their biological functions. Fusarium oxysporum is a soilborne fungal pathogen that causes Fusarium wilt, one of the most important diseases on tomato. During the infection of F. oxysporum, some proteins are secreted that modulate host plant immunity and promote pathogen invasion. In this study, we identify an RNase, FoRnt2, from the F. oxysporum secretome that belongs to the ribonuclease T2 family. FoRnt2 possesses an N‐terminal signal peptide and can be secreted from F. oxysporum. FoRnt2 exhibited ribonuclease activity and was able to degrade the host plant total RNA in vitro dependent on the active site residues H80 and H142. Deletion of the FoRnt2 gene reduced fungal virulence but had no obvious effect on mycelial growth and conidial production. The expression of FoRnt2 in tomato significantly enhanced plant susceptibility to pathogens. These data indicate that FoRnt2 is an important contributor to the virulence of F. oxysporum, possibly through the degradation of plant RNA.
Evaluation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in severe obesity using noninvasive tests and imaging techniques
Authors: Theel Willy , Boxma‐de Klerk Bianca M. , Dirksmeier‐Harinck Femme , van Rossum Elisabeth F. C. , Kanhai Danny A. , Apers Jan , van Dalen Bas M. , de Knegt Robert J. , Holleboom Adriaan G. , Tushuizen Maarten E. , Grobbee Diederick E. , Wiebolt Janneke , Castro Cabezas Manuel
Published: June 2022

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the more severe and inflammatory type, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is increasing rapidly. Especially in high‐risk patients, that is those with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, the prevalence of NAFLD can be as high as 80% while NASH may be present in 20% of these subjects. With the worldwide increase of obesity, it is most likely that these numbers will rise. Since advanced stages of NAFLD and NASH are strongly associated with morbidity and mortality—in particular, cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma—it is of great importance to identify subjects at risk. A great variety of noninvasive tests has been published to diagnose NAFLD and NASH, especially using blood‐ and imaging‐based tests. Liver biopsy remains the gold standard for NAFLD/NASH. This review aims to summarize the different mechanisms leading to NASH and liver fibrosis, the different noninvasive liver tests to diagnose and evaluate patients with severe obesity.