bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validity of the Brief Assessment of Impaired Cognition case‐finding instrument for identification of dementia subgroups and staging of dementia
Authors: Jørgensen Kasper , Nielsen Thomas Rune , Nielsen Ann , Waldorff Frans Boch , Høgh Peter , Gottrup Hanne , Vestergaard Karsten , Oxbøll Anne‐Britt , Waldemar Gunhild
Published: November 2022

Background and purpose

The aims of this study were to examine the psychometric properties of the Brief Assessment of Impaired Cognition (BASIC) case‐finding instrument in clinical settings focusing on (i) test–retest reliability, (ii) the discriminative validity of BASIC and its components for identification of Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia and non‐AD dementia, and (iii) the association of expert clinical rating of cognitive status with BASIC performance.

Methods

The test–retest reliability analysis was based on a sample of general practice patients (n = 59) retested with a mean interval of 19 days. Discriminative validity analyses and analysis of the association of cognitive status with BASIC performance were based on data from the primary validation study of BASIC in memory clinics.

Results

The test–retest reliability of BASIC was high (r = 0.861). No significant difference in discriminative validity was found for identification of AD dementia (sensitivity = 0.99, specificity = 0.98) and non‐AD dementia (sensitivity = 0.90, specificity = 0.98). All components of BASIC contributed to the high discriminative validity of both AD and non‐AD dementia. BASIC performance was significantly correlated with expert clinical rating of the cognitive status of patients. A crude staging model for cognitive status using BASIC score intervals had superior classification accuracy (70%) compared to a Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) score range‐based model (58% accuracy).

Conclusions

BASIC is a reliable and valid case‐finding instrument for AD dementia and non‐AD dementia in clinical settings. BASIC performance is significantly associated with the degree of cognitive impairment, and BASIC seems to be superior to MMSE for staging of impairment.
Effect of long aramid fiber on the properties of styrene‐butadiene rubber composites based on extrusion
Authors: Zhang Hao , Luo Zhu , Zhong Jincheng , Wang Xingyu , Xu Yinhan
Published: November 2022

In this paper, long aramid fiber (LAF) reinforced styrene‐butadiene rubber/carbon black composites was prepared via a high pressure and low shear rate extrusion process, and the average length of the remaining fiber exceeded 6 mm. With LAF as reinforcement phase, the bonding between the fiber coated with butadiene styrene vinyl‐pyridine rubber latex and rubber matrix was increased. The results showed that the addition of LAF improved the properties of the composites, particularly in terms of dynamic fatigue life of the notched samples, which was increased by 352.7%. The long fibers with good interfacial bonding were peeled off in fatigue process, which can significantly absorb strain energy; thus, the propagation of fatigue cracks was effectively inhibited. This study proposes a feasible strategy to significantly improve the service life of rubber products under alternating stress, such as tires, by using the reinforcement of long fiber.
Bridging the gap between microclimate and microrefugia: A bottom‐up approach reveals strong climatic and biological offsets
Authors: Finocchiaro Marie , Médail Frédéric , Saatkamp Arne , Diadema Katia , Pavon Daniel , Meineri Eric
Published: November 2022

In the context of global warming, a clear understanding of microrefugia—microsites enabling the survival of species populations outside their main range limits—is crucial. Several studies have identified forcing factors that are thought to favor the existence of microrefugia. However, there is a lack of evidence to conclude whether, and to what extent, the climate encountered within existing microrefugia differs from the surrounding climate. To investigate this, we adopt a “bottom‐up” approach, linking marginal disconnected populations to microclimate. We used the southernmost disconnected and abyssal populations of the circumboreal herbaceous plant Oxalis acetosella in Southern France to study whether populations in sites matching the definition of “microrefugia” occur in particularly favorable climatic conditions compared to neighboring control plots located at distances of between 50 to 100 m. Temperatures were recorded in putative microrefugia and in neighboring plots for approximately 2 years to quantify their thermal offsets. Vascular plant inventories were carried out to test whether plant communities also reflect microclimatic offsets. We found that current microclimatic dynamics are genuinely at stake in microrefugia. Microrefugia climates are systematically colder compared to those found in neighboring control plots. This pattern was more noticeable during the summer months. Abyssal populations showed stronger offsets compared to neighboring plots than the putative microrefugia occurring at higher altitudes. Plant communities demonstrate this strong spatial climatic variability, even at such a microscale approach, as species compositions systematically differed between the two plots, with species more adapted to colder and moister conditions in microrefugia compared to the surrounding area.
Government contracts and audit fees
Authors: Dao Mai , Pham Trung , Xu Hongkang
Published: November 2022

Topics concerning government contracts have recently attracted much attention from researchers and the public because of the US government's significant spending on goods and services. In this study, we investigate whether audit fees are associated with audit clients' government contracts. We find that firms with a higher proportion of government sales to total sales pay higher audit fees than other firms. Our further analysis shows the audit premium is driven mainly by the federal government and local government contracts. We also show that local government contracts have a larger effect than federal government contracts on the determination of audit fees. Taken together, our findings enhance our understanding of a potential determinant of audit fees and imply that auditors may view firms with and without government contracts differently.
CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated methoprene‐tolerant 1 knockout results in precocious metamorphosis of beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) only at the late larval stage
Authors: Zhao Jing , Tan Yongan , Jiang Yiping , Zhu‐Salzman Keyan , Xiao Liubin
Published: November 2022

Juvenile hormone (JH) controls almost every aspect of an insect, especially metamorphosis. Since RNA interference works on transcripts and is often insufficient in Lepidoptera, how JH affects larval development in these insects is not well studied. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique, we knocked out Spodoptera exigua methoprene‐tolerant 1 (SeMet1) gene of beet armyworm by modifying two sites in the coding region. However, SeMet1 knockout did not affect egg hatch rate or larval development at L1–L3 stages. In contrast to the consistent five larval instars of the control group, L4 SeMet1 mutants began to show signs of precocious metamorphosis, that is, small patches of pupal cuticle. Most L4 and all L5 SeMet1 mutants died for failing to shed their mosaic cuticles. RNA‐seq indicated that most genes encoding pupal cuticle proteins and chitinase genes were altered in SeMet1 mutant L4 larvae. SeKr‐h1, a key transcription factor in JH action was significantly down‐regulated in L3‐L5 larvae, while SeBR‐C, a pupal indicator was only upregulated in L4‐L5 larvae. These results suggested that S. exigua larvae may initially develop independently of JH, and involve SeMet1 in transducing JH signalling, leading to controlled larval metamorphosis at the late larval stage. We believe our findings will enhance better understanding of JH regulation of larval development.
Simultaneously enhancing the Td and the thermal stability of the real‐time d33 in BNT‐based piezoceramics
Authors: Chen Jun , Zhou Changrong , Chen Kelin , Li Qingning , Yuan Changlai , Xu Jiwen , Cheng Shuai , Zhao Jingtai , Rao Guanghui
Published: November 2022

One of the inherent disadvantages of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3‐based (BNT‐based) piezoceramics is that an increment of the depolarization temperature (Td) is generally accompanied by a deterioration of the temperature stability of the real‐time piezoelectric constant (d33), which severely restricts the practical applications of the materials. Herein, we propose a new strategy to mitigate the conflict between the elevation of Td and the temperature stability of the real‐time d33 in BNT‐based ceramics via integrating the pressure‐assisted sintering and quenching process. By this strategy, we not only increased the Td from 109 to 166°C but also improved the temperature stability of the real‐time d33 (the temperature coefficient Ttc = ± 13 pC/N) in 0.94Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–0.06BaTiO3 ceramic. Both the built‐in field and the increment of the field‐induced R3c phase fraction play the significant role in enhancing the Td and the temperature stability of the real‐time d33. Thus, our work provides a simple and effective approach for designing piezoceramics with high Td and a superior temperature stability of the real‐time d33.
Enhancing the mechanical properties of ceramics by high‐temperature rolling: A first demonstration using alumina
Authors: Li Yingwei , Tan Chi
Published: November 2022

We herein report a technique, namely, high‐temperature rolling that can roll ceramics at high temperature with controllable speed. A first demonstration using alumina reveals that, after rolling at 800, 900, and 1000°C, the bending strength (), Vickers’ hardness (), and fracture toughness () of alumina enhanced significantly. For instance, for the specimen rolled at 900°C, , , and increased by ∼20% (360–430 MPa), ∼10% (13.1–14.5 GPa), and ∼61% (3.1–5 MPa m0.5), respectively. This technique is expected to develop into a universal solution to enhance the mechanical properties of ceramics.
Factors related to self‐reported smartphone addiction among Brazilian adolescents in the face of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A mixed‐method study
Authors: de Freitas Bruna H. B. M. , Gaíva Maria Aparecida M. , Diogo Paula M. J. , Bortolini Juliano
Published: November 2022

Problem

(1) To identify the factors associated with self‐reported smartphone addiction (SRSA) among adolescents in the face of the COVID‐19 pandemic; and (2) to analyze the adolescents' perception of these factors related to SRSA.

Methods

A mixed‐method study with a sequential explanatory design, carried out with Brazilian adolescents aged between 15 and 18 years old.

Findings

The prevalence of SRSA was 56.37%, and the variables that remained in the final model of association were as follows: public schools; longer smartphone use during the COVID‐19 pandemic; number of hours connected to the smartphone; preference for sleeping during the day; use of the device immediately after waking up, smartphone use after 9 p.m., amount of sleep less than 8 h a day; and smartphone use during meals. Sequentially, after analyzing the data obtained in the focus groups, it was possible to describe how adolescents perceive the intensification of smartphone uses, its repercussions, and activities carried out on it during the pandemic.

Conclusions

The pandemic had repercussions on the behavior established with the smartphone, such as time and period of use, being associated with the SRSA. In addition, it was found that such conditions also affect the adolescents' sleep quality, diet, and studies.
Complete protection from Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata by expressing long double‐stranded RNAs in potato plastids
Authors: Xu Wenbo , Zhang Miao , Li Yangcun , He Wanwan , Li Shengchun , Zhang Jiang
Published: November 2022

RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a powerful technology for pest management. Previously, we have shown that plastid‐mediated RNAi (PM‐RNAi) can be utilized to control the Colorado potato beetle, an insect pest in the Chrysomelidae family; however, whether this technology is suitable for controlling pests in the Coccinellidae remained unknown. The coccinellid 28‐spotted potato ladybird (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata; HV) is a serious pest of solanaceous crops. In this study, we identified three efficient target genes (β‐Actin, SRP54, and SNAP) for RNAi using in vitro double‐stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) fed to HV, and found that dsRNAs targeting β‐Actin messenger RNA (dsACT) induced more potent RNAi than those targeting the other two genes. We next generated transplastomic and nuclear transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants expressing HV dsACT. Long dsACT stably accumulated to up to 0.7% of the total cellular RNA in the transplastomic plants, at least three orders of magnitude higher than in the nuclear transgenic plants. Notably, the transplastomic plants also exhibited a significantly stronger resistance to HV, killing all larvae within 6 d. Our data demonstrate the potential of PM‐RNAi as an efficient pest control measure for HV, extending the application range of this technology to Coccinellidae pests.
Effect of Virtual Reality and Music Therapy on the Physiologic Parameters of Pregnant Women and Fetuses and on Anxiety Levels: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Estrella‐Juarez Fatima , Requena‐Mullor Mar , Garcia‐Gonzalez Jessica , Lopez‐Villen Antonia , Alarcon‐Rodriguez Raquel
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Anxiety negatively affects pregnant women and their fetuses. It can cause misleading test readings in electronic fetal monitoring, affect the duration of the first stage of labor, and influence certain aspects related to childbirth. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of virtual reality and music therapy on anxiety levels, maternal and fetal physiologic parameters, and labor and birth outcomes.

Methods

A total of 343 full‐term pregnant women participated in a randomized controlled trial and were divided into 3 parallel groups: music therapy intervention (n = 104), virtual reality intervention (n = 124), and control (n = 115). The interventions were delivered during a nonstress test in the third trimester and during labor. Data were collected from April 2017 to May 2018. Measures included the Spielberger State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, maternal blood pressure, maternal and fetal heart rates, and labor and birth outcomes. The study was registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12621001647820).

Results

Women in the music therapy and virtual reality groups had lower levels of anxiety after a nonstress test (P < .001), and the women were more likely to have a reactive nonstress test (P < .001) compared with the control group. After the nonstress test and intervention were complete, the music therapy and virtual reality groups had significant decreases in systolic blood pressure (P < .001), diastolic blood pressure (P < .001), and maternal heart rate (P = .003) compared with the control group. Furthermore, fetuses in the control group were more likely to experience nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracings compared with the music therapy and virtual reality groups, respectively (P = .004).

Discussion

Our findings support the use of music and virtual reality during nonstress tests and labor as nonpharmacologic interventions to reduce anxiety, improve maternal and fetal physiologic parameters, and improve labor and birth outcomes. This research should be replicated in diverse perinatal settings.
Moderating Effects of School Ethnic Composition of Acculturative Stress and Academic Outcomes in Latinx Youth
Authors: Estrada Juan , Galliher Renee V.
Published: November 2022

Acculturative stress has demonstrated significant negative relationships with Latinx students' academic outcomes. Framed through interpersonal contact theory, we examined the moderating roles of school ethnic representation (proportion of same‐ethnic peers) and school ethnic diversity (proportion of different ethnic groups in student body) in the relationship between acculturative stress and both academic self‐efficacy and school belonging. A sample of 190 Latinx youth (14–18 years old) completed measures of acculturative stress and school functioning, and they provided the name and location of their high school to facilitate calculation of school ethnic composition. Both ethnic representation and ethnic diversity moderated relationships between English Competency Pressure (ECP), a specific form of acculturative stress, and academic‐self efficacy. School ethnic diversity also interacted with ECP to predict school belonging. Negative relationships between ECP and academic self‐efficacy or school belonging only emerged for students in schools with very low ethnic diversity. In contrast, ECP was significantly negatively related to academic self‐efficacy only for students in schools with the highest ethnic representation. These findings add complexity to the discussion of how school context matters for Latinx students' academic performance.
The Effect of cytoskeleton inhibitors on coccolith morphology in Coccolithus braarudii and Scyphosphaera apsteinii
Authors: Langer Gerald , Probert Ian , Cox Madison B. , Taylor Alison , Harper Glenn M. , Brownlee Colin , Wheeler Glen
Published: November 2022

The calcite platelets of coccolithophores (Haptophyta), the coccoliths, are among the most elaborate biomineral structures. How these unicellular algae accomplish the complex morphogenesis of coccoliths is still largely unknown. It has long been proposed that the cytoskeleton plays a central role in shaping the growing coccoliths. Previous studies have indicated that disruption of the microtubule network led to defects in coccolith morphogenesis in Emiliania huxleyi and Coccolithus braarudii. Disruption of the actin network also led to defects in coccolith morphology in E. huxleyi, but its impact on coccolith morphology in C. braarudii was unclear, as coccolith secretion was largely inhibited under the conditions used. A more detailed examination of the role of actin and microtubule networks is therefore required to address the wider role of the cytoskeleton in coccolith morphogenesis. In this study, we have examined coccolith morphology in C. braarudii and Scyphosphaera apsteinii following treatment with the microtubule inhibitors vinblastine and colchicine (S. apsteinii only) and the actin inhibitor cytochalasin B. We found that all cytoskeleton inhibitors induced coccolith malformations, strongly suggesting that both microtubules and actin filaments are instrumental in morphogenesis. By demonstrating the requirement for the microtubule and actin networks in coccolith morphogenesis in diverse species, our results suggest that both of these cytoskeletal elements are likely to play conserved roles in defining coccolith morphology.
The efficacy of interventions provided by nurses to improve glycemic control of children with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review
Authors: Bakir Elif , Sezer Tufan Aslı
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Nurses have a very important role in diabetes education of children and adolescents, however, no systematic review has been performed that evaluates the effectiveness of the independent interventions of the nurses. This systematic review aims to identify and assess randomized controlled trials (RCT) that included interventions implemented by nurses to improve glycemic control for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Eligibility Criteria

PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct databases were systematically searched up to 2022. Interventions provided by nurses for any child ≤18 years diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus were included.

Sample

Seven RCT articles met our review criteria.

Results

All included studies were published between 2005 and 2021. Studies varied in terms of intervention type; telephone case management, coping skills training, motivational interview as well as home visit education programs. Interventions were found to significantly decrease the HbA1c level in three of seven studies.

Conclusions

Our systematic review suggests that nurses can improve the glycemic control of children with type 1 diabetes by conducting care interventions. According to current evidence, this study suggests that telephone contact by nurses and motivational interviewing can be beneficial in improving glycemic control in this population.

Implications

Nurses may encourage children and adolescents with diabetes to engage in self‐management of their glucose levels. There is a need for more randomized controlled studies assessing the efficacy of nursing interventions for children with type 1 diabetes.
On highly skewed fractional log‐stable noise sequences and their application
Authors: Pavlopoulos Harry , Chronis George
Published: November 2022

Considering log‐LFSN (log‐linear fractional stable noise) sequences , driven by non‐Gaussian one‐sided LFSN with constant skewness intensity , for any and , we show that the auto‐covariance function (ACVF) exists if and only if is persistent, with stability index , Hurst exponent and extreme skewness (if ) or (if ). Within that range of existence, and in short, we calculate explicitly and establish persistence of too, by showing asymptotic proportionality of , as . We discuss explicit links of to a generalized co‐difference function of the driving one‐sided LFSN , and to the ACVF's of fractional Gaussian noise (FGN) and log‐FGN. The results are numerically demonstrated via ensemble simulation of synthetic time series generated by the considered log‐LFSN model fitted to time series of spatio‐temporal accumulations of rain rate data.
On the asymptotic behavior of bubble date estimators
Authors: Kurozumi Eiji , Skrobotov Anton
Published: November 2022

In this study, we extend the three‐regime bubble model of Pang et al. (2021, Journal of Econometrics, 221(1):227–311) to allow the forth regime followed by the unit root process after recovery. We provide the asymptotic and finite sample justification of the consistency of the collapse date estimator in the two‐regime AR(1) model. The consistency allows us to split the sample before and after the date of collapse and to consider the estimation of the date of exuberation and date of recovery separately. We have also found that the limiting behavior of the recovery date varies depending on the extent of explosiveness and recovering.
Should we burn the Cerrado? Effects of fire frequency on open savanna plant communities
Authors: Rodrigues Cassy Anne , Fidelis Alessandra
Published: November 2022

Aims

Tropical savanna evolved in the presence of fire, depending on it to maintain its physiognomies and biodiversity. Open ecosystems of tropical savanna burn frequently, and thus changes in fire frequency can affect their plant communities. In this study we aimed to analyze the effects of different fire frequencies on the composition, structure and post‐fire regeneration of open savanna plant communities of the Cerrado.

Location

Open savannas, Central Brazil (13°35–38′S and 47°45–51′W).

Methods

We conducted surveys in areas with different fire frequencies (fire exclusion, burned annually and burned biennially for 6 years, from 2013). Vegetation sampling was carried out before application of fire treatments in 2017, and then 1 and 2 years after. Species cover was estimated visually and later grouped into graminoids, shrubs and forbs.

Results

Evaluation of the plant communities after 6 years of fire treatment indicated that fire frequency did not affect species richness. Fire frequency did, however, promote alteration in species occurrence and abundance, resulting in three dissimilar plant communities. Regarding post‐fire regeneration, annually burned plots showed consistency in species richness and growth form cover over 6 years of annually applied fire. Biennially burned plots tended to be more variable than the other treatments, with a large increase in species richness and growth form cover in the first year after fire, succeeded by a decrease in the second year. Not all species that were recruited just after fire were able to persist in the above‐ground community in the second year after fire.

Conclusions

Open savannas of the Cerrado are highly resilient to fire, even to annual fires, with 6 years of annual fire treatments not affecting post‐fire species diversity or growth form cover. However, communities differed in species composition, which can influence their functional diversity and lead to alterations in ecosystem services. Our findings encourage long‐term studies to evaluate the resilience of areas frequently burned, as well as longer fire exclusion periods.
Gastric sensorimotor function and its clinical measurement
Authors: O'Grady Greg , Carbone Florencia , Tack Jan
Published: November 2022

Background

Gastroduodenal symptoms are highly prevalent, with underlying sensorimotor dysfunction contributing in many patients. Common symptoms include early satiation, postprandial fullness, epigastric bloating, pain or burning, nausea and vomiting, which collectively affect over 7% of adults. However, the clinical evaluation of these symptoms remains challenging, with current tests of gastric function remaining limited in their ability or availability to separate specific patient subgroups or guide‐targeted care.

Purpose

In the current edition of Neurogastroenterology & Motility, Silver et al. present new data showing correlations between patterns of intragastric meal distribution and symptom profiles in a large series of patients undergoing gastric emptying scintigraphy. Studies of this type are important, as they motivate understanding beyond existing disease labels, and orient focus toward deeper mechanistic profiling. This brief review provides an overview of gastric sensorimotor function and profiles several current and emerging methods of clinical evaluation. Perspectives are provided on accommodation testing, gastric emptying, measuring gastric myoelectrical activity including new approaches, and antroduodenal manometry. Although gastric physiology is complex, recent progress has been encouraging, with the heterogenous pathophysiology of gastric symptoms continuing to be unraveled, and new techniques for evaluating gastric function and symptoms emerging.

Conclusions and Inferences

Ongoing progress will now depend on continuing to accurately profile the underlying mechanisms of gastroduodenal disorders to identify specific disease phenotypes that inform care.
Magnetic resonance imaging as a non‐invasive tool to assess gastric emptying in mice
Authors: Chavero‐Pieres Marta , Viola Maria Francesca , Appeltans Iris , Abdurahiman Saeed , Gsell Willy , Matteoli Gianluca , Himmelreich Uwe , Boeckxstaens Guy
Published: November 2022

Background

Methods to study gastric emptying in rodents are time consuming or terminal, preventing repetitive assessment in the same animal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non‐invasive technique increasingly used to investigate gastrointestinal function devoid of these shortcomings. Here, we evaluated MRI to measure gastric emptying in control animals and in two different models of gastroparesis.

Methods

Mice were scanned using a 9.4 Tesla MR scanner. Gastric volume was measured by delineating the stomach lumen area. Control mice were scanned every 30 min after ingestion of a 0.2 g meal and stomach volume was quantified. The ability of MRI to detect delayed gastric emptying was evaluated in models of morphine‐induced gastroparesis and streptozotocin‐induced diabetes.

Key Results

Magnetic resonance imaging reproducibly detected increased gastric volume following ingestion of a standard meal and progressively decreased with a half emptying time of 59 ± 5 min. Morphine significantly increased gastric volume measured at t = 120 min (saline: 20 ± 2 vs morphine: 34 ± 5 mm3; n = 8–10; p < 0.001) and increased half emptying time using the breath test (saline: 85 ± 22 vs morphine: 161 ± 46 min; n = 10; p < 0.001). In diabetic mice, gastric volume assessed by MRI at t = 60 min (control: 23 ± 2 mm3; n = 14 vs diabetic: 26 ± 5 mm3; n = 18; p = 0.014) but not at t = 120 min (control: 21 ± 3 mm3; n = 13 vs diabetic: 18 ± 5 mm3; n = 18; p = 0.115) was significantly increased compared to nondiabetic mice.

Conclusions and Inferences

Our data indicate that MRI is a reliable and reproducible tool to assess gastric emptying in mice and represents a useful technique to study gastroparesis in disease models or for evaluation of pharmacological compounds.
Soil fauna precipitate the convergence of organic matter quality during decomposition
Authors: Joly François‐Xavier , Coq Sylvain , Subke Jens‐Arne
Published: November 2022

Plant litter constitutes the dominant resource to soil food webs, which gradually decompose litter and transform it into soil organic matter. A central paradigm of this transformation posits that differences in quality between distinct litter types disappear during decomposition, as litter types converge towards similar physicochemical characteristics. Yet, this paradigm is debated and not based on clear metrics. It is also largely derived from microbial decomposition studies, while the effect of litter‐feeding soil animals, by transforming large quantities of litter into faeces, remains poorly documented. We addressed this knowledge gap by quantifying the variability in physicochemical characteristics amongst leaf litter of six tree species of contrasting quality, before and after conversion into faeces by six soil animal species. We found that litter conversion into faeces by diverse soil animals largely reduced the variability in physical and chemical characteristics between contrasting litter types. We also evaluated the consequences of this animal‐driven convergence on further microbial‐driven convergence during decomposition, by decomposing intact litter and soil animal faeces and comparing the chemical characteristics of decomposed materials. Chemical variability amongst uningested litter and amongst soil animal faeces converged at similar rates. This indicates that animal‐ and microbial‐driven convergence are additive, and that soil animals precipitate organic matter quality convergence during decomposition. We propose here a new framework and an associated metric to study changes in organic matter quality variability during decomposition, which we argue are essential for an improved understanding and modelling of litter decomposition and soil organic matter formation.
Cervical dorsal root ganglion stimulation for complex regional pain syndrome: Technical description and results of seven cases
Authors: Rosado Caracena Rogelio , Mendiola de la Osa Agustín , Rincón Higuera Ana , Abad Fau de Casajuana Eva , Ruiz Córdoba Gabriel , García de Lucas Fernando
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is characterized by nociplastic pain with alterations in sympathetic function. Neuromodulation could be a useful alternative therapy option. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation has demonstrated better results than conventional spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for patients with CRPS in lower limbs.

Methods

We report a case series of seven patients treated with cervical DRG stimulation for CRPS of the hand that required neuromodulation for pain relief, after no response with other analgesic techniques (medication and interventional). We report retrospective data collection of seven consecutive patients with a 1‐year follow‐up.

Results

Seven patients were trialed, and six were implanted with a permanent pulse generator after achieving more than 50% pain relief during 2–7 days of trial phase. The average pain relief (rated on a standard 100 mm visual analog scale) after 1 year of treatment was 64.3% ± 16.6. No major complications were observed during a 1‐year follow‐up.

Discussion

The results for cervical DRG stimulation are similar to other DRG stimulation studies for the treatment of refractory CRPS at lower levels. The cervical DRG implant technique guided with C‐arm fluoroscopy and under conscious sedation could be a safe and effective option for relieving pain of the upper limbs CRPS. Monitoring neural status is required for cervical DRG stimulation either with a responder awake patient or with intraoperative neural monitoring in non‐responder patients.
Self‐forgiveness, self‐compassion and psychological health: A qualitative exploration of change during compassion focused therapy groups
Authors: Maynard Peter G. , van Kessel Kirsten , Feather Jacqueline S.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Little research exists into the relationships between self‐forgiveness, self‐compassion, affect and psychological health, and are only just beginning to be explored within the self‐compassion and the Compassion‐Focused Therapy (CFT) literature.

Methods

This qualitative study (n = 31) utilised Thematic Analysis (TA) to understand participants’ experiences of participating in a 12‐week compassion‐focused therapy group.

Results

Thematic analysis yielded two major themes: ‘becoming self‐compassionate and self‐forgiving’, and ‘the CFT group was beneficial’. The first major theme reflected participants’ growing familiarity, awareness and insight into their inhibitions to and the benefits of self‐compassion and self‐forgiveness, their capacities for self‐condemnation, becoming appropriately responsible for their thoughts and actions, and the links between self‐compassion and the process of self‐forgiveness. The second major theme reflected participants’ impressions that taking part in the CFT group and developing CFT skills had facilitated personal change through taking compassionate ownership for their thoughts and feelings about themselves and their mistakes, rather than condemning themselves and others. Participants reported that these changes helped to regulate their negative affect through the development of more compassionate and balanced thinking about their mistakes, leading to improvements in psychological health.

Conclusions

The findings of this study provide explanations of the processes of change in CFT in relation to self‐forgiveness, affect and psychological health and contribute to the theory and practice of CFT especially as practiced within a group format.
Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on families of patients with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis
Authors: Kubota Masaya , Haga Nobuhiko
Published: November 2022

Background

Novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) outbreaks have dramatically changed lifestyles, with various effects on the physical and mental health of families and children with various childhood‐onset neurological diseases. A questionnaire survey was conducted to identify family‐specific issues and needs of patients with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) during major changes in their daily lives due to the COVID‐19 outbreaks.

Methods

An anonymous questionnaire was sent to 56 families that were members of the Association of Patients and Families of CIPA in Japan between October and November 2020, the first 2 months of the third outbreak.

Results

Thirty‐eight families (67.2% response rate) responded to the questionnaire. The current concerns of the parents were (1) difficulty in predicting the future (19 parents, 50%), (2) household and work concerns (eight parents, 21.1%), and (3) whether they would become infected (25 parents, 65.8%). Fifteen families indicated stress due to increased time together (stress + group), and 10 families had a better understanding of each other due to increased time together. New sleep disturbances and behavioral changes were observed in approximately 20% and 50% of patients with CIPA, respectively. No single factor could explain family stress. There were also free descriptions of the importance of peer support, connections with experts, and prompt responses for resolution.

Conclusions

Each family has its own way of coping with multiple factors that contribute to the stress of the patient and family. A long‐established resilience to the disease proved effective during this pandemic.
Urinary tract infection caused by bacterial pathogens of the respiratory tract in children
Authors: Takahashi Yoko Kobayashi , Funaki Takanori , Ishiguro Akira , Miyairi Isao
Published: November 2022

Background

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by bacterial pathogens of the respiratory tract such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis are rare and little is known about their clinical features and potential host risk factors. The aim of this study is to reveal their clinical characteristics.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective descriptive study on pediatric UTI due to S. pneumoniae, Haemophilus spp., or M. catarrhalis at a tertiary‐care pediatric hospital. Pediatric patients diagnosed with UTI between 2002 and 2020 were included. Patient demographics, laboratory data, and microbiological findings were extracted from their electronic medical records and the infectious disease surveillance system.

Results

Among 46,332 urine samples, 76 bacteriuria (0.16%) and 22 UTI (0.05%) events due to the targeted species were identified (S. pneumoniae, n = 7, and Haemophilus spp., n = 15). Of the patients, 17 (85%) had underlying urinary tract abnormalities and 13 (60%) had vesicocutaneous fistula. All the UTI episodes caused by S. pneumoniae and Haemophilus spp. occurred after cystostomy. All the patients had satisfactory clinical outcomes.

Conclusions

Although S. pneumoniae and Haemophilus spp. are rare causes of UTIs in children, they could be the true causative bacteria of UTI, particularly in the patients with urinary tract abnormalities and vesicocutaneous fistulas. Thus, clinicians should not ignore these pathogens as contaminations in special populations.
Managing Your Boss (MYB) as a proactive followership behavior: Construct validation and theory development
Authors: Gajendran Ravi S. , Mistry Sal , Tangirala Subrahmaniam
Published: November 2022

Employees can be proactive in establishing good working relationships with their managers to enhance their own effectiveness. We propose that an important way that they can do so is by engaging in behaviors we refer to as “Managing Your Boss” (MYB) that involve employees taking the initiative to understand their managers’ goals, needs, and working styles and adapt their job priorities and actions accordingly. We integrate theories on proactivity and followership to lay the conceptual foundation for the study of MYB. We underscore the conceptual distinctiveness of MYB from related constructs. Moreover, we propose that MYB can help employees improve their performance by enabling them to develop high quality leader‐member exchanges (LMX) and argue that these effects are amplified in unstructured work environments where jobs are not standardized or when managers fail to provide adequate task structure. Using 1313 working adults across a set of four studies and seven samples, we develop a validated measure of MYB, establish its nomological network, and demonstrate support for key elements of our theoretical model. We discuss the implications of our findings for research and practice.
Fontan‐associated liver disease after heart transplant
Authors: Griffiths Eric R. , Lambert Linda M. , Ou Zhining , Shaaban Akraam , Rezvani Maryam , Carlo Waldemar F. , Schumacher Kurt R. , DiPaola Frank , O'Connor Matthew J. , Nandi Deipanjan , Zangwill Steven , McCulloch Michael A. , Friedland‐Little Joshua M. , West Shawn C. , Lee Teresa M. , Alejos Juan C. , Chen Sharon , Molina Kimberly M.
Published: November 2022

Background

Fontan associated liver disease (FALD) potentially impacts Fontan patients undergoing heart transplant. This multi‐center study sought to identify pre‐transplant risk factors and characterize any post‐transplant liver recovery in those patients undergoing heart‐alone transplant.

Methods

Review of Fontan patients at 12 pediatric institutions who underwent heart transplant between 2001‐2019. Radiologists reviewed pre and post‐transplant liver imaging for fibrosis. Laboratory, pathology and endoscopy studies were reviewed.

Results

156 patients underwent transplant due to decreased ventricular function (49%), protein losing enteropathy (31%) or plastic bronchitis (10%); median age at transplant was 13.6 years (interquartile range IQR 7.8, 17.2) with a median of 9.3 years (IQR 3.2, 13.4) between the Fontan operation and transplant. Few patients had pre‐transplant endoscopy (18%), and liver biopsy (19%). There were 31 deaths (20%). The median time from transplant to death was 0.5 years (95% Confidence Interval CI 0.0, 3.6). The five‐year survival was 73% (95% CI 64%, 83%). Deaths were related to cardiac causes in 68% (21/31) and infection in 6 (19%). A pre‐transplant elevation in bilirubin was a predictor of death. Higher platelet levels were protective. Immediate post‐transplant elevations in creatinine, AST, ALT, and INR were predictive of death. Advanced liver fibrosis identified on ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging was not predictive of death. Liver imaging suggested some improvement in liver congestion post‐transplant.

Conclusions

Elevated bilirubin, but not fibrosis on liver imaging, was associated with post‐heart transplant mortality in Fontan patients in this multicenter retrospective study. Additionally, heart transplant may alter the progression of FALD.
Alternative hosts of Erysiphe quercicola in the Brazilian cashew ecosystem
Authors: Fonseca Wéverson L. , Cardoso José E. , Lima Cristiano S. , Vieira Regimara F. B. S. , Brasil Suane D. O. S. , Muniz Celli R. , Andrade Israel L. , Martins Marlon V. V.
Published: November 2022

Powdery mildew is currently the most important disease of the cashew plant across all producing regions of Brazil. A recent study reported the occurrence of Erysiphe quercicola as the causal agent of the symptoms on leaves, inflorescences, pseudofruits and kernels. Morphological evidence raised the question of whether different hosts of the fungus occur in areas near to cashew orchards. This study was developed to compare the fungi that cause powdery mildew in plants in the cashew ecosystem in order to understand the host relationships, and raising the possibility that alternative hosts are involved in the epidemics verified in the cashew tree. The work consisted of collecting samples of plants with symptoms of powdery mildew and carrying out morphological, phylogenetic and cross‐pathogenicity analysis of the fungal pathogens. The results of this characterization showed that annatto (Bixa orellana), sombrero (Clitoria fairchildiana) and mango (Mangifera indica) are possible alternative hosts of E. quercicola pathogenic to cashew and can therefore represent a source of inoculum for cashew powdery mildew. In addition, the occurrence of this pathogen in mango in Brazil was identified for the first time.
Alternative plant protection strategies for tomorrow's coffee
Authors: Koutouleas Athina , Collinge David B. , Ræbild Anders
Published: November 2022

Continuous pesticide usage has negative impacts on people and ecosystems associated with coffee farms. Alternative plant protection strategies can be implemented that are sustainable for both the environment and the coffee farmer. In this review, new genomic techniques (NGTs) such as RNAi (RNA interference, using spray‐induced gene silencing – SIGS) are presented as a possible novel strategy to manageCoffea arabicapests and diseases. Exploitation of the coffee agroforestry system (AFS) is presented as another strategy, offering both plant protection and ecosystem restoration functions. Interactions within a coffee‐AFS were found to both hinder and bolster the development of some coffee pests and diseases. Biological control represents a third strategy that has been examined to‐date to combat important coffee pests and diseases (i.e., American leaf spot, black coffee twig borer, coffee berry borer, coffee berry disease, coffee leaf miner, coffee leaf rust, coffee wilt disease and green coffee scale). The astute use of RNAi, AFS and/or biological control have the potential to provide alternatives to conventional pesticides for future sustainable coffee production. However, these approaches must be compatible with the coffee farmers' local needs and accessibility and bolstered through nationwide support by advisory services and coffee authorities.
Intensity and inter‐stimulus‐interval effects on human middle‐ and long‐latency auditory evoked potentials in an unpredictable auditory context
Authors: López‐Caballero Fran , Coffman Brian , Seebold Dylan , Teichert Tobias , Salisbury Dean F.
Published: November 2022

It is not known how Auditory‐Evoked Responses (AERs) comprising Middle Latency Responses (MLRs) and Long Latency Responses (LLRs) are modulated by stimulus intensity and inter‐stimulus interval (ISI) in an unpredictable auditory context. Further, intensity and ISI effects on MLR and LLR have never been assessed simultaneously in the same humans. To address this important question, thirty participants passively listened to a random sequence of auditory clicks of three possible intensities (65, 75, and 85 dB) at five possible ISI ranges (0.25 to 0.5 s, 0.5 to 1 s, 1 to 2 s, 2 to 4 s, 4 to 8 s) over four to seven one‐hour sessions while EEG was recorded. P0, Na, Pa, Nb, and Pb MLR peaks and N1 and P2 LLR peaks were measured. MLRs P0 (p = .005), Pa (p = .021), and Pb (p = <.001) were modulated by intensity, while only MLR Pb (p = <.001) was modulated by ISI. LLR N1 and P2 were modulated by both intensity and ISI (all p values < .001). Intensity and ISI interacted at Pb, N1, and P2 (all p values < .001), with greater intensity effects at longer ISIs and greater ISI effects at louder intensities. Together, these results provide a comprehensive picture of intensity and ISI effects on AER across the entire thalamocortical auditory pathway, while controlling for stimulus predictability. Moreover, they highlight P0 as the earliest MLR response sensitive to stimulus intensity and Pb (~50 ms) as the earliest cortical response coding for ISIs above 250 ms and showing an interdependence between intensity and ISI effects.
Chinese cultural biases, value congruence, and support for and compliance with protective policies during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Yuan Meng , Swedlow Brendon
Published: November 2022

Public support for and voluntary compliance with protective policy measures are crucial to mitigating the spread of infectious disease. However, it is unclear why and how people with diverse cultural biases support particular protective policies. Relying on the Cultural Theory (CT) of risk, we hypothesize that value congruence with social distancing and a vaccine mandate during the COVID‐19 pandemic influences the level of public support for and compliance with these protective policies. Analyzing a Chinese nationwide sample, we find that the effects of cultural biases on public support and compliance vary not only with cultural biases but by how these are mediated through value congruence with particular protective policies. As hypothesized, hierarchical cultural biases increase public support for and compliance with social distancing and a vaccine mandates both directly and (indirectly) through value congruence. By contrast, as hypothesized, fatalistic cultural biases decrease public support for and compliance with social distancing both directly and (indirectly) through lack of value congruence and individualistic biases decrease public support for and compliance with social distancing and a vaccine mandate both directly and (indirectly) through lack of value congruence. However, the hypothesized effects of fatalistic biases did not hold for the vaccine mandate. We discuss reasons why these latter hypotheses regarding the vaccine mandate were not validated and suggest that risk analysts and communicators do more to discover and explain why particular protective policies are congruent with diverse cultural values.