bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Welfare Economic Dogmas: A Reply to Sagoff
Authors: Cookson Richard
Published: June 2023

This article examines Sagoff's criticisms of ‘Four Dogmas of Environmental Economics’ ( Environmental Values, Winter 1994) and argues that none of them are fatal. Many of the criticisms appear to rest on general misunderstandings about welfare economics. One misunderstanding is that transaction costs are theoretically indistinguishable from regular production costs. The theoretical distinction is that transaction costs vary under alternative policies and institutions whereas production costs are fixed by tastes, technology and endowments. Another misunderstanding is that market failure concerns only Pareto efficiency. Market failure also concerns social efficiency with respect to the ‘social welfare function’, a device for making explicit ethical judgments about the interpersonal distribution of welfare. A third misunderstanding is that the ‘rationality assumption’ drives economic theory. In fact, the explanatory power of economic models comes mainly from explicit assumptions about the constraints facing economic agents. A fourth misunderstanding is that welfare economics is used as a mechanism for making legal and political decisions. Rather, welfare economics is used as a method for informing legal and political decisions by evaluating their outcomes on the basis of individual welfare. Used properly, it can improve the democratic process by bringing hidden costs and difficult issues to the attention of both policy-makers and the wider public.
Nature Conservation and the Precautionary Principle
Authors: Francis John M.
Published: June 2023

The application of the precautionary principle to an area of environmental protection, such as nature conservation, requires commitment to the idea that full scientific proof of a causal link between a potentially damaging operation and a long term environmental impact is not required. Adoption of the principle in Government statements related to sustainable development should therefore be seen in this context. The paper addresses the particular case of marine fish farming in Scotland where the principle was advocated but not upheld in practice. In the light of this experience there is a need for educators and philosophers, ethicists and concerned scientists to ensure that the principle is more widely interpreted and understood.
On the Reconciliation of Anthropocentric and Nonanthropocentric Environmental Ethics
Authors: Steverson Brian K.
Published: June 2023

I argue that James Sterba's recent attempt to show that, despite their foundational axiological differences regarding the relative value of humans and members of nonhuman species, anthropocentrists and nonanthropocentrists would accept the exact same principles of environmental justice fails. The failure to reconcile the two positions is a product of an underestimation of the divergence that occurs at the level of general principles and practical policy as a result of the initial value commitments which characterise each position. The upshot of this is that, contrary to those who argue that environmental ethicists ought to move beyond the traditional anthropocentric-nonanthropocentric debate, the foundational debate about interspecific egalitarianism will continue to issue in substantial debates about environmental policy formation.
Environmental Victims: Arguing the Costs
Authors: Williams Christopher
Published: June 2023

The costs of anthropogenic environmental change are usually discussed in broad terms, for example embracing damage to the ecosystem or buildings. There has been little consideration of the direct human dimension –the cost to and of environmental victims – except in clinical terms.

In order to prevent and minimise environmental victimisation it seems necessary to present cost arguments to governments and commerce. This paper outlines the personal, social and cash costs of environmental victimisation, using the psycho-social literature, and brief case studies of intellectual disability, road transport and cross-border pollution. It is proposed that governments and commerce might not respond in obvious ways to these cost arguments, but ‘trust’ is identified as a cost that both may recognise. It is concluded that the concept of loss-costs should be central to any analysis, and the paper provides a ‘Framework for comprehensive argument of the costs of environmental victimisation’, in the form of a simple matrix.
Rolston, Naturogenic Value and Genuine Biocentrism
Authors: Thomas Emyr Vaughan
Published: June 2023

Holmes Rolston III attempts to get us to recognise nature as an objectively independent valuational sphere with its own activity of defending value. But in inspiring our ‘…psychological joining (with) on-going planetary natural history…’ what his account ultimately does is assimilate nature to the human. For, on his account, we find value in nature through a recognition that something that goes on in us (namely, defending value) also occurs in the natural world. That, it is argued, is far from the authentically deep form of biocentrism that is implicitly his ideal. The real depth to a biocentric viewpoint is to be found through a route other than the one taken by Rolston. Moreover, it is a route that has nothing to do with advancing the idea of what I call a ‘naturogenic’ value – a value generated by nature. Rather, it relates to seeing nature as other than the human (as illustrated with reference to Emerson), in a way that is genuinely unsullied by the claims of self – which, in the case of human beings, are the most elemental supports for a species perspective.
Landcare, Stewardship and Sustainable Agriculture in Australia
Authors: Curtis Allan , De Lacy Terry
Published: June 2023

There are over 2,500 Landcare groups with 65,000 members operating across Australia. With considerable evidence of program impact, Landcare is an important example of state sponsored community participation in natural resource management. However, the authors suggest excessive emphasis has been placed upon attitudinal change – the development of landholder stewardship, as the lever for effecting major changes in land management. Analysis of data from a landholder survey failed to establish predicted stewardship differences between Landcare and nonLandcare respondents or between those who joined early/late, or participated more/less in group activities. And there was no relationship between stewardship and adoption for most of the sustainable agriculture practices surveyed. Further analysis clearly linked Landcare participation and concern about the environmental and economic impacts of land degradation. Whilst respondents were significantly more concerned about economic impacts, research findings were consistent with earlier work indicating that most land managers have a strong stewardship ethic. The authors also suggest that concerns that Landcare is not addressing biodiversity conservation are largely unjustified and reflect urealistic expectations of these voluntary groups.
Risk and Trust: The Performative Dimension1
Authors: Szerszynski Bronislaw
Published: June 2023

This paper will explore some of the implications of attending to the performative aspects of language for the sociological understanding of issues of risk and trust among lay communities. Ulrich Beck and Anthony Giddens have alerted us to the way that in late or reflexive modernity trust in authority cannot be taken for granted, but increasingly has to be actively earned and actively invested. For his part, Brian Wynne has pointed out that lay judgements are relational and hermeneutic, including as they do judgements about the behaviour of relevant expert institutions, and about the risk to one's self-identity incurred by being caught up in relationships of dependency. Wynne has also argued that public avowals of trust can often mask deep private distrust, and thus be expressions more of fatalistic acceptance than of genuine trust. However, all of these analyses work from a basic model of ‘trust’ as being the result of a cognitive process – as a judgement as to the trustworthiness of others. Yet trust is frequently ‘active’ in an even stronger sense than this. To take a posture of trust towards another can often be best understood not just as a cognitive judgement but as an attempt to bind the ‘trusted’ into a relationship and attitude of responsibility – and thus perhaps to alter their behaviour – through the taking up of a position in a social ritual. Speech act theory can help us be sensitive to this sort of use of the language of ‘trust’, by reminding us that language can perform a number of different functions – not just that of describing the world, or of acting out ascribed roles and identities, but also that of trying to change the world. The analysis of public discourse about risk, trust and mistrust must thus be sensitive to the range of things that people might be attempting to do when they are saying things if it is to avoid drawing misleading conclusions about public attitudes to risk.
Patient, Caregiver, and Clinician Perceptions of Palliative Care that Influence Access and Use: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis
Authors: Slusser Kim , Velasco Roque Anthony F. , Coats Heather
Published: June 2023

Objective: Benefits of integration of palliative care early in the trajectory of a patient’s serious illness are well established in the literature. Yet, barriers to palliative care access in the US continue to exist. The purpose of this study is to synthesize existing qualitative data of patient, caregiver, and clinician perceptions of palliative care (PC) that influence PC access and use in the US. Methods: A formal qualitative meta-synthesis was completed. The meta-synthesis included 1) a systematic literature search of qualitative studies conducted from 2016 to 2021, 2) a critical appraisal of the included studies, and 3) a reciprocal translation of the study’s findings through an interpretive thematic analysis. Results: Seven articles met inclusion criteria resulting in a sample size of patients (n=18), caregivers (n=15), and clinicians (n=118). Three themes emerged with associated subthemes: knowledge and opinions of PC (subthemes of patient and caregiver knowledge and awareness and clinician knowledge and beliefs); care coordination and collaboration (subthemes of communication and trust); and social and structural drivers (subthemes of socioeconomic demographics and time and resources). Conclusions: This qualitative meta-synthesis identifies barriers and facilitators to palliative care access and use. The study findings illuminate the commonalities and differences of the perceptions of the three key stakeholder groups. In addition, this qualitative meta-synthesis reveals the complexities within the US healthcare system, and the challenges patients and their caregivers face accessing PC.
Do Social Programs Help Some Beneficiaries More Than Others? Evaluating the Potential for Comparison Group Designs to Yield Low-Bias Estimates of Differential Impact
Authors: Jaciw Andrew P.
Published: June 2023

In the current socio-political climate, there is an extra urgency to evaluate whether program impacts are distributed fairly across important student groups in education. Both experimental and quasi-experimental designs (QEDs) can contribute to answering this question. This work demonstrates that QEDs that compare outcomes across higher-level implementation units, such as schools, are especially well-suited to contributing evidence on differential program effects across student groups. Such designs, by differencing away site-level (macro) effects, on average produce estimates of the differential impact that are closer to experimental benchmark results than are estimates of average impact based on the same design. This work argues for the importance of routine evaluation of moderated impacts, describes the differencing procedure, and empirically tests the methodology with seven impact evaluations in education. The hope is to encourage broader use of this design type to more-efficiently develop the evidence base for differential program effects, particularly for underserved students.
A longitudinal examination of mental health and marital functioning of mothers and fathers of autistic adolescents during COVID-19
Authors: Ekas Naomi V , Kouros Chrystyna D , Rigsby Brock A , Madison Sarah , Hymel Julianne , Filippi Maddy
Published: June 2023

Parents, particularly mothers, of autistic children may be especially vulnerable to the negative effects of COVID-19. The current longitudinal study examined changes in psychological distress (anxiety, depression, stress) and marital functioning of mothers and fathers of autistic children across three time points between April and October 2020, and the extent to which pre-COVID factors predicted changes in these outcomes. Participants were 94 mothers and 58 fathers of autistic children drawn from a larger longitudinal study about family relationships and autistic children’s mental health that began prior to the pandemic. Results indicated that mothers reported higher levels of psychological distress compared to fathers in July and October 2020. Although, on average, levels of psychological distress and marital functioning did not significantly change for mothers and fathers, pre-pandemic child functioning and marital satisfaction predicted individual differences in change in marital satisfaction during the pandemic for mothers. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Lay abstract

Parents of autistic children may be especially vulnerable to the negative effects of COVID-19. The current study examined changes in mental health and marital functioning of mothers and fathers of autistic children across three time points between April and October 2020. The study also explored whether pre-COVID factors could predict outcomes during the pandemic. Participants were 94 mothers and 58 fathers of autistic children drawn from a larger study about family relationships and autistic children’s mental health that began prior to the pandemic. Results indicated that mothers reported higher levels of mental health problems compared to fathers in July and October 2020. Levels of mental health and marital functioning did not change between April and October 2020. Pre-pandemic child functioning and marital satisfaction predicted changes in mother’s ratings of marital satisfaction. The findings have implications for ways to best support families during challenging periods.
Multi-body dynamics in vehicle engineering
Authors: Rahnejat H. , Johns-Rahnejat P.M. , Dolatabadi N. , Rahmani R.
Published: June 2023

Since Euler's original gyro-dynamic analysis nearly two and a half centuries ago, the use of multi-body dynamics (MBD) has spread widely in application scope from large displacement rigid body dynamics to infinitesimal amplitude elastodynamics. In some cases, MBD has become a multi-physics multi-scale analysis, comprising contact mechanics, tribo-dynamics, terramechanics, thermodynamics, biomechanics, etc. It is an essential part of all analyses in many engineering disciplines, including vehicle engineering. This paper provides an overview of historical developments with emphasis on vehicle development and investigation of observed phenomena, including noise, vibration and harshness. The approach undertaken is comprehensive and provides a uniquely focused perspective, one which has not hitherto been reported in the literature.
Policy responses to diversity in early childhood education and care: Setting the agenda and meeting the challenges
Authors: Papakosma Maria
Published: June 2023

This article examines the contemporary Swedish policy responses to increased cultural and linguistic diversity in the field of early childhood education and care (ECEC). More specifically, it explores how national authorities and organizations initiate collaborations, use and produce policy knowledge and identify priorities and challenges. The analysis draws on a review of policy texts and in-depth interviews with high-level policy actors who act as an epistemic community. Using the concepts of representations and problematization, this study connects the generation of policy knowledge on diversity with the identification of solutions to address cultural and linguistic diversity. The findings suggest a consensus over the definitions of priorities for diversity policies in ECEC within this epistemic community. A core priority is emphasizing the importance of the Swedish language within a wider multilingual approach linked to increased participation in preschools, and to discourses of school readiness and societal integration. Yet, there is a tension between identifying policy priorities and structural challenges at different levels. Unequal conditions, residential segregation and lack of educated preschool staff present difficulties that require a more comprehensive approach than those taken by the official policy frames.
Treatment of eculizumab refractory paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: A systematic review about current treatment options and future direction
Authors: Syed Saad , Khan Reda , Khurram Fahmida , Khan Faiza Humayun , Safi Danish , Safi Salah Ud Din
Published: June 2023

Objectives:

C5 inhibitors such as eculizumab and ravulizumab are the first-line treatment in the management of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). However, some patients develop novel symptoms as part of their treatment with eculizumab, and the disease is termed as eculizumab refractory PNH. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review on the available treatment modalities for the management of eculizumab refractory PNH.

Methods:

Two authors independently searched two databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A total of 70 studies were obtained: 4 out 70 studies were found to meet the inclusion criteria.

Results:

Four studies were found to meet the inclusion criteria of our study. Two studies were published in 2021 and two studies were published in 2020. All four studies were multicenter clinical trials. Two studies were phase III clinical trials, one study was a phase II clinical trial, and one study was a phase I clinical trial. Two studies were about pegcetacoplan, one was about danicopan, and one was about iptacopan.

Conclusion:

Based upon the findings of our systematic review, we recommend an individualized treatment plan based on the mechanism of eculizumab refractoriness and the mechanism of PNH breakthrough. This recommendation is subject to the available resources and clinical expertise available at different hospitals. More studies using study designs such as randomized controlled trials comparing multiple drugs should be performed to accurately assess the different medications and aid in designing guidelines of the management of eculizumab refractory PNH.

Level of evidence:

Level I
Emphysematous pyelonephritis after urinary diversion by percutaneous nephrostomy in patient with advanced cervical cancer: A case report
Authors: Zanon Jeferson Rodrigo , Durante Henrique , Nóbrega Leandro de Medeiros , Accorsi Guilherme , Pedrão Priscila Grecca , dos Reis Ricardo
Published: June 2023

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a severe kidney infection that is common in women and patients with diabetes mellitus, but rare in cancer patients. A 64-year-old patient with advanced uterine cervical cancer developed emphysematous pyelonephritis after urine diversion by percutaneous nephrostomy of the left kidney, which is a possible approach to this infection. Antibiotic therapy was started to achieve clinical improvement and preserve renal function, and radical nephrectomy was not an option due to the functional exclusion of the contralateral kidney. The patient progressed with worsening renal function; thus, she started outpatient hemodialysis, with improvement of the uremic encephalopathy. She died 7.7 months after admission, 1 month after treatment for emphysematous pyelonephritis. Treatment should be adjusted to the patients’ needs, including maintenance of hemodialysis to improve symptoms. Further investigation is needed to identify possible causes and prevent emphysematous pyelonephritis in cancer patients.
Climate-smart forestry in the world’s drylands: A review of challenges and opportunities
Authors: Stavi Ilan , Xu Chi , Argaman Eli
Published: June 2023

Land degradation and desertification are widespread across the world’s drylands. These processes are substantially affected by climatic change, with long-term and severe droughts on the one hand, and high intensity rainstorms and devastating floods on the other hand. Simultaneously, land-use change and mismanagement practices have led to processes of accelerated soil erosion, depletion of soil organic carbon pools, and the degradation of extensive drylands. Forestry has been accepted as an effective means for restoring degraded drylands, and for attaining a range of regulating, provisioning, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services. Specifically, forestry is widely perceived as an effective means for soil erosion control, organic carbon sequestration, microclimate improvement, and climate change mitigation. However, forestry in drylands often proves to generate substantial environmental challenges, resulting in deterioration of ecosystem functions and health. The objective of this essay is to review the challenges and opportunities induced by dryland afforestation and reforestation, and highlight the need to attain climate-smart strategies for establishing and managing these land-uses. Particularly, tree species invasion and allelopathy, which are common in dryland forestry projects, jeopardize species richness and diversity of native vegetation communities. Further, the challenges linked with tree invasiveness necessitate predicting the distribution of potentially invasive species and foreseeing their impacts on the recipient ecosystems under projected climate change scenarios. The effect of allelopathy is significant under limited water availability conditions and is expected to be determined by the expanding drylands and intensifying aridity worldwide. Therefore, judicious selection of tree species should not only focus on ones with high water-use efficiency, low flammability, high pest resistance, and fast growth, but also on low invasiveness and allelopathic capacities. Insights of this essay may be used by land managers, stakeholders, and policy makers involved in environmental development of drylands.
Urban Regeneration: Search for Identity in the Historic Core–A Case of Hassan City
Authors: Jayaprakash Sumana , Swamy Vimala
Published: June 2023

Urban Regeneration seeks to bring about appropriate guided transformations in the physical, social, economic and environmental contexts of the city that has deteriorated over a period of time. The historic core of the city is one such place that gets worn out, disguised and ultimately destroyed. This collective asset of the city and its community is valuable, needs to be recognised, restored and managed. The case of each Indian city is such that it presents a unique character, hence demands unique intervention. The present article focuses on a small city of Hassan, in the state of Karnataka, India. The historic core of the city is centred on community living, and traditional occupations, dotted with temples marked by local fairs and festivals, presently endangered with traffic movement, parking, inappropriate land uses and the like. The proposal aims at restoration of the historic glory of the city based on a careful analysis of the existing situation and opportunities available. A holistic intervention approach proposed is based on the internal–external factor evaluation, and the prioritization matrix. The work presented can be a model for urban regeneration intervention that can be replicated contextually in the urban historic core of any small city across the globe.
Abdominal Wall Hernias in Patients with Hiatal Hernias: Predictors of Association in a Large Cohort of Patients
Authors: Mehta Nisarg , Eriksson Sven E. , Zheng Ping , Sarici Inanc S. , Zaidi Ali H. , Jobe Blair A. , Ayazi Shahin
Published: June 2023

Introduction:

Hiatal hernia and abdominal wall hernia (AWH) have a common theme of pathogenesis and etiology. This suggests a potential relationship between these 2 types of hernia. However, no large studies have examined such an association. We designed the current study to characterize this association and identify factors associated with this coexistence.

Methods:

A database of patients seen at a large multi-center health network serving 3 states in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States was queried for patients with a documented diagnosis of hiatal hernia (HH) or paraesophageal hernia (PEH). This population was then divided into groups based on whether or not they had a history of another type of AWH (ventral, inguinal/ femoral, umbilical, or incisional hernia). Demographic and clinical data were compared between groups using univariate, followed by multivariable logistic analysis.

Results:

The final study population consisted of 28 114 patients (66.5% female) with HH/PEH. The prevalence of AWH in this population was 8.2% (n = 2299). Of these 69.1% had only one AWH with the remaining 30.9% having two or more hernias. Multivariable analysis showed male patients with HH/PEH were more likely to have AWH (OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.810-2.162, P <0 .0001). The odds of AWH were higher in patients aged 50 to 80 years old compared to younger patients (OR: 1.527; 95% CI: 1.348-1.730, P <0 .0001). Patients with any comorbidity were also more likely to develop AWH (OR: 1.764; 95% CI: 1.566-1.986, P < 0.0001), with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) being the comorbidity with the highest risk (OR: 1.295; 95% CI: 1.161-1.444, P <0 .0001), followed by obesity (OR: 1.267; 95% CI: 1.156-1.388, P <0 .0001).

Conclusion:

The prevalence of an AWH in patients with a HH/PEH was 8.2%. Although HH/PEH are more prevalent in females, males with HH/PEH are at higher risk for AWH. Obesity, OSA, tobacco use, hypertension, diabetes, and hypothyroidism are independent risk factors for presence of an AWH in patients with HH/PEH.
Is the number of non-native species in the European Union saturating?
Authors: Haubrock Phillip J. , Balzani Paride , Macêdo Rafael , Tarkan Ali Serhan
Published: June 2023

Background

Non-native species can have significant negative impacts on the environment, economies, and amongst others, also human Non-native species can have significant negative impacts on the environment, economies, and human Non-native species can have significant negative impacts on the environment, economies, and human well-being, among other factors. Globalisation and economic incentives have substantially facilitated the growth in the numbers of newly recorded non-native species in the European Union. The European Union’s diversity in terms of political and socio-economic differences across member states may have contributed to the introduction of non-native species.

Results

Data reported in the Alien Species First Record Database, however, suggests a decreasing trend in the number of non-native species recorded over the past three decades. InvaCost, a database of non-native species with economic impacts, similarly shows increasing numbers of reported non-native species with costs until the 2010s, which were, however, followed by a plateauing and ultimately decline. Although the recent trends in non-native species reports may be affected by a lag time in reporting and data allocation as well as possibly a disparity in research efforts, their impacts persist, leading to a growing ecological but also economic burden. We further identified substantial spatial differences as western European member states generally reported higher numbers of non-native species and non-native species with monetary impacts.

Conclusions

Without improved actions, biological invasions and their associated impacts will continue to rise, degrading natural capital and hampering sustainable development and sustainability targets. Therefore, improved coordinated efforts across the European Union are necessary to improve reporting of non-native species and a centralized collation of data through accessible databases should be considered.
Habitat development and species arrival drive succession of the benthic invertebrate community in restored urban streams
Authors: Gillmann Svenja M. , Hering Daniel , Lorenz Armin W.
Published: June 2023

Background

Urban streams are characterised by species-poor and frequently disturbed communities. The recovery of heavily polluted urban streams is challenging but the simple community structure makes recolonisation patterns more transparent. Therefore, they are generally applicable model systems for recolonisation of restored streams. Principal questions of stream restoration concern the drivers and patterns of recolonisation processes. Rarely, recolonisation of restored streams is recorded for a sufficient time to observe patterns of habitat and community development in detail. Over 10 years, we monitored benthic habitat changes and macroinvertebrate communities of eight restored sites in an urban stream network that was formerly used as an open sewer and thus, almost uninhabitable for macroinvertebrates prior to restoration. We analysed changes in environmental variables and communities with a selection of multi-variate analyses and identified indicator species in successional stages.

Results

Proportions of stony substrate and conductivity decreased over time since restoration, while the riparian vegetation cover increased along with the amount of sandy substrate. The communities fluctuated strongly after restoration but began to stabilise after around eight years. TITAN analysis identified 9 species, (e.g. the mayflyCloeon dipterumand the beetleAgabus didymus), whose abundances decreased with time since restoration, and 19 species with an increasing abundance trend (e.g. several Trichopteran species, which colonised once specific habitats developed). Woody riparian vegetation cover and related variables were identified as major driver for changes in species abundance. In the last phase of the observation period, a dry episode resulted in complete dewatering of some sites. These temporarily dried sections were recolonised much more rapidly compared to the recolonisation following restoration.

Conclusions

Our results underline that community changes following urban stream restoration are closely linked to the evolving environmental conditions of restored streams, in particular habitat availability initialised by riparian vegetation. It takes about a decade for the development of a rich and stable community. Even in streams that were almost completely lacking benthic invertebrates before restoration, the establishment of a diverse macroinvertebrate community is possible, underlining the potential for habitat restoration in formerly heavily polluted urban areas.
Flowering and fruit-set in cassava under extended red-light photoperiod supplemented with plant-growth regulators and pruning
Authors: Baguma Julius K. , Mukasa Settumba B , Nuwamanya Ephraim , Alicai Titus , Omongo Christopher , Hyde Peter T. , Setter Tim L. , Ochwo-Ssemakula Mildred , Esuma William , Kanaabi Michael , Iragaba Paula , Baguma Yona , Kawuki Robert S.
Published: June 2023

Background

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is staple food and major source of calories for over 500 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. The crop is also a source of income for smallholder farmers, and has increasing potential for industrial utilization. However, breeding efforts to match the increasing demand of cassava are impeded by its inability to flower, delayed or unsynchronized flowering, low proportion of female flowers and high fruit abortions. To overcome these sexual reproductive bottlenecks, this study investigated the effectiveness of using red lights to extend the photoperiod (RLE), as a gateway to enhancing flowering and fruit set under field conditions.

Materials and methods

Panels of cassava genotypes, with non- or late and early flowering response, 10 in each case, were subjected to RLE from dusk to dawn. RLE was further evaluated at low (LL), medium (ML) and high (HL) red light intensities, at ~  ≤ 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5PFD (Photon Flux Density) in µmol m−2 s−1 respectively. Additionally, the effect of a cytokinin and anti-ethylene as plant growth regulators (PGR) and pruning under RLE treatment were examined.

Results

RLE stimulated earlier flower initiation in all genotypes, by up to 2 months in the late-flowering genotypes. Height and number of nodes at first branching, particularly in the late-flowering genotypes were also reduced, by over 50%. Number and proportion of pistillate flowers more than doubled, while number of fruits and seeds also increased. Number of branching levels during the crop season also increased by about three. Earlier flowering in many genotypes was most elicited at LL to ML intensities. Additive effects on flower numbers were detected between RLE, PGR and pruning applications. PGR and pruning treatments further increased number and proportion of pistillate flowers and fruits. Plants subjected to PGR and pruning, developed bisexual flowers and exhibited feminization of staminate flowers. Pruning at first branching resulted in higher pistillate flower induction than at second branching.

Conclusions

These results indicate that RLE improves flowering in cassava, and its effectiveness is enhanced when PGR and pruning are applied. Thus, deployment of these technologies in breeding programs could significantly enhance cassava hybridizations and thus cassava breeding efficiency and impact.
Predictive model for long-term weight recovery after gastrectomy for gastric cancer: an introduction to a web calculator
Authors: Jeon Chul-Hyo , Park Ki Bum , Kim Sojung , Seo Ho Seok , Song Kyo Young , Lee Han Hong
Published: June 2023

Background

Weight changes after gastrectomy affect not only quality of life but also prognosis and survival. However, it remains challenging to predict the weight changes of individual patients. Using clinicopathological variables, we built a user-friendly tool to predict weight change after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Methods

The clinical data of 984 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy between 2009 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify variables predictive of postoperative weight change. A nomogram was developed and verified via bootstrap resampling.

Results

Age, sex, performance status, body mass index, extent of resection, pathological stage, and postoperative weight change significantly influenced postoperative weight recovery. Postoperative levels of hemoglobin, albumin, ferritin and total iron-binding capacity were significant covariates. The nomogram performed well (concordance index = 0.637); calibration curves indicated appropriate levels of agreement. We developed an online weight prediction calculator based on the nomogram (http://gc-weightchange.com/en/front/).

Conclusions

The novel, Web-calculator based on the predictive model allows surgeons to explore patient weight patterns quickly. The model identifies patients at high risk for weight loss after gastrectomy; such patients require multidisciplinary medical support.
Children with mild hyponatremia at the emergency department are at higher risk of hospitalization
Authors: Pintaldi Stefano , Zago Alessandro , Pizzolon Carlo , Magni Elena , Cozzi Giorgio , Andrade Stefanny , Barbi Egidio , Amaddeo Alessandro
Published: June 2023

Background

Mild hyponatremia is frequently encountered in the pediatric emergency department (PED). Although usually of little clinical concern, its prognostic meaning as a possible marker of more severe disease has not yet been well established.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from children and adolescents who performed a blood sample with plasmatic sodium measurement on admission to the PED of IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo” Pediatric Hospital in Trieste, Italy, in 2019. We compared the rate, length of admissions and laboratory characteristics of patients with hyponatremia to those with normal sodium.

Results

Among 807 subjects, hyponatremia (sodium < 135 mEq/L) was present in 17.6%, being mild (between 130 and 134 mEq/L) in 16.5%. Hyponatremic patients were younger, more frequently males, with an infection diagnosis, mainly of the respiratory tract and viral aetiology. They presented higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR). Compared to normonatremic individuals, hyponatremic patients presented a higher risk of underlying infection (aOR 2.02; 95%CI 1.33–3.08), hospital admission (aOR 1.72; 95%CI 1.06–2.48), and a hospital stay of > 5 days (aOR 1.99; 95%CI 1.03–3.85). When considering only subjects with mild hyponatremia, we found similar results.

Conclusion

Hyponatremia and mild hyponatremia in the PED are associated with an increased admission rate and extended hospital stays. Mild hyponatremia should be considered a warning sign for a possibly more serious condition.
Suicidal behaviors and associated factors among patients attending an emergency department: a facility-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Wordefo Dureti Kassim , Kassim Faiz Mohammed , Birhanu Elizabeth , Mamo Girma
Published: June 2023

Background

Emergency departments (ED) are an important site for screening patients with suicidal behaviors. However, there is insufficient data in low-and middle-income countries regarding the magnitude of suicidal attempts among patients attending EDs. Therefore, the present study aimed to screen suicidal behavior and factors associated with suicide in patients attending an ED of Addis Ababa Burn, Emergency and Trauma Hospital, Ethiopia.

Method

A facility-based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2018. A total of 398 participants were recruited using a consecutive sampling technique. The collected data collected includes structured questionnaires containing sociodemographic determinants, chronic medical illness conditions, substance use characteristics, social support level, common mental disorders (CMD) screening, suicidal behaviors assessment and suicidal attempts reason and method.

Results

The prevalence of suicidal behavior and suicidal attempts were 8% and 6.3%, respectively. Suicide was attempted most frequently in the 18–24 age group. There was no overall difference in sex distribution for suicidal attempts. However, there were sex-based differences when the age group was taken into consideration. The commonest underlying reason for the attempt was social reasons (44%), while the most frequently reported attempt method was hanging (36%). No single factor was found to be significantly associated with the suicidal attempt.

Conclusion

Although suicidal behaviors are more common in patients attending the ED than in the general population, these facts have previously got little attention in patient attending EDs in low and middle income countries. The present findings support the need for a more detailed assessment of suicidal behaviours in patients attending ED and in patients with CMD.
Impact of anesthetist licensing examination on quality of education in Ethiopia: a qualitative study of faculty and student perceptions
Authors: Asemu Yohannes Molla , Yigzaw Tegbar , Desta Firew Ayalew , Melese Tewodros Abebaw , Gemeda Leulayehu Akalu , Scheele Fedde , van den Akker Thomas
Published: June 2023

Background

Ethiopia drastically increased the anesthesia workforce density by training ‘associate clinician anesthetists’ as a task-shifting and sharing strategy. However, there were growing concerns about educational quality and patient safety. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health introduced the anesthetist national licensing examination (NLE) to assure the quality of education. However, empirical evidence is scarce to support or refute the overall impact of NLEs, which are relatively costly for low- and middle-income settings. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the impact of introducing NLE on anesthetists’ education in Ethiopia.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Data were prospectively collected from ten anesthetist teaching institutions. Fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted with instructors and academic leaders, and six focus groups were held with students and recently tested anesthetists. Additional data were gathered by analyzing relevant documents, including versions of curricula, academic committee minutes, program quality review reports, and faculty appraisal reports. Interviews and group discussions were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Atlas.ti 9 software.

Results

Both faculty and students demonstrated positive attitudes toward the NLE. Student motivation, faculty performance, and curriculum strengthening were the three primary changes that emerged, resulting in three subsequent spin-offs on assessment, learning, and quality management practices. Academic leaders’ dedication to evaluating examination data and turning these into action led to changes that improved education quality. Increased accountability, engagement, and collaboration were the predominant factors facilitating change.

Conclusion

Our study indicates that the Ethiopian NLE has prompted anesthesia teaching institutions to improve their teaching, learning, and assessment practices. However, more work is required to improve exam acceptability among stakeholders and drive broader changes.
METTL3-mediated m6A modification of SIRT1 mRNA inhibits progression of endometriosis by cellular senescence enhancing
Authors: Wang Xiaotong , Wang Jing , Zhao Xibo , Wu Han , Li Jixin , Cheng Yan , Guo Qiuyan , Cao Xuejiao , Liang Tian , Sun Liyuan , Zhang Guangmei
Published: June 2023

Background

Endometriosis (EMs), the ectopic planting of functional endometrium outside of the uterus, is a leading cause of infertility and pelvic pain. As a fundamental mRNA modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) participates in various pathological processes. However, the role of m6A RNA modification in endometriosis remains unclear. The present study explores METTL3-mediated m6A modification and the mechanisms involved in endometriosis.

Methods

The dominant m6A regulators in EMs were analysed using RT‒PCR. Candidate targets and possible mechanisms of METTL3 were assessed by m6A-mRNA epitranscriptomic microarray and RNA sequencing. A primary ESCs model was employed to verify the effect of METTL3 on m6A modification of SIRT1 mRNA, and the mechanism was elucidated by RT‒PCR, Western blotting, MeRIP, and RIP assays. CCK-8 viability assays, Transwell invasion assays, EdU proliferation assays, wound healing migration assays, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining were performed to illuminate the potential biological mechanism of METTL3 and SIRT1 in ESCs in vitro. An in vivo PgrCre/ + METTL3 −/− female homozygous mouse model and a nude mouse xenograft model were employed to further investigate the physiologic consequences of METTL3-mediated m6A alteration on EMs.

Results

Our data show that decreased METTL3 expression significantly downregulates m6A RNA methylation levels in ESCs. Silencing m6A modifications mediated by METTL3 accelerates ESCs viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. The m6A reader protein YTHDF2 binds to m6A modifications to induce the degradation of SIRT1 mRNA. SIRT1/FOXO3a signalling pathway activation is subsequently inhibited, promoting the cellular senescence of ESCs and inhibiting the ectopic implantation of ESCs in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that METTL3-mediated m6A methylation epigenetically regulates the ectopic implantation of ESCs, resulting in the progression of endometriosis. Our study establishes METTL3-YTHDF2-SIRT1/FOXO3a as a critical axis and potential mechanism in endometriosis.
Youth cannabis use in Canada post-legalization: service providers’ perceptions, practices, and recommendations
Authors: Kourgiantakis Toula , Lee Eunjung , Kosar A. Kumsal Tekirdag , Tait Christine , Lau Carrie K.Y. , McNeil Sandra , Craig Shelley , Ashcroft Rachelle , Williams Charmaine C. , Goldstein Abby L. , Chandrasekera Uppala , Sur Deepy , Henderson J. L.
Published: June 2023

Background

In 2018, Canada legalized recreational cannabis use with the purpose of protecting youth and restricting access. However, concerns have been raised that this objective has not been met as rates of cannabis use among youth aged 16–24 have not declined. Youth cannabis use is associated with various adverse effects including psychosis, anxiety, depression, suicidality, respiratory distress, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, and intoxications. Service providers play a crucial role in addressing youth cannabis use. This study aimed to understand Ontario service providers’ perceptions, practices, and recommendations on youth cannabis use.

Methods

This mixed method study included a survey and two focus groups. The survey was distributed to mental health service providers serving youth aged 16–24 across Ontario who were given the option to participate in a focus group. The survey included closed and open-ended questions regarding perceptions, practices, and recommendations, while the focus groups explored these categories in greater depth. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze close-ended questions and interpretative content analysis was applied for open-ended questions. Focus group data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

The survey was completed by 160 service providers and 12 participated in two focus groups. Regarding perceptions, 60% of survey participants agreed with legalization, 26% had a strong understanding of medical versus recreational cannabis, 84% believed that cannabis has physical and mental health risks, and 49% perceived stigmatization. Less than half of the survey participants reported screening or assessing cannabis use, 16% stated they are highly familiar with treating cannabis use, and 67% reported that they rarely work with families. Subthemes identified in the focus groups under perceptions included normalization and stigmatization, harms for youth, and stigma, racism, and discrimination. Subthemes under practice included cannabis not being the primary focus, challenges with screening, assessment, and intervention, and referral to specialized services. Both the survey and focus group participants recommended increasing public education, enhancing service provider training, improving regulation and policies, reducing stigma and minimization, improving service access, and providing more culturally responsive services.

Conclusion

Youth cannabis use in Canada remains a significant public health concern, necessitating a more comprehensive plan to protect Ontario youth and reduce associated harms.