bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growth mindsets increase flexible work arrangement attractiveness: a policy-capturing study
Authors: Smit Brandon W. , Lawson Katie M.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Although flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are widely regarded as a desirable employee benefit, questions remain about which factors drive (or attenuate) applicant attraction to them. The authors offer a novel theoretical account by advancing the concept of lay theories (i.e. mindsets) around an individual's ability to juggle work and life responsibilities, defined as beliefs that the ability to juggle is either malleable (i.e. growth) or cannot be changed (i.e. fixed), which suggests greater efficacy increases attraction.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing an experimental policy-capturing design, 86 participants each rated a series of 64 job offers (N = 5,376) with several manipulated job attributes. Participants were randomly assigned into a growth or fixed mindset condition.

Findings

Multilevel regressions revealed that a growth (vs fixed) mindset caused participants to place greater weight on flexible work scheduling policies by reporting greater attraction to jobs with flexible arrangements.

Practical implications

Organizations may increase applicant attraction by taking steps to ensure that the value of work–life benefits is salient, such as offering concrete examples of how policies have been used.

Originality/value

This study questions the assumption that those who need flexibility are more attracted to FWAs and demonstrates that beliefs around one's ability to juggle work–life demands are a unique mechanism shaping applicant attraction.
Empowering caregivers of children with learning and developmental disabilities: from situation analysis to community-based inclusive development in Kilifi, Kenya
Authors: Bunning Karen , Gona Joseph Karisa , Newton Charles Richard , Hartley Sally
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Raising a child with learning and developmental disabilities in a low-income setting is challenged by inadequate resources, limited support and poverty. The impacts on caregivers include fatigue, distress and isolation. The purpose of this paper is to report on a programme (2008-2021) that was set up in Kilifi County, Kenya to investigate and address these difficulties.

Methodology

The programme used mixed methods through a series of interconnected studies, starting with a situation analysis, followed by a home-based intervention where the caregiver served as agent for change using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods. This was followed by two community-based inclusive development initiatives: disability awareness training to community groups and empowering self-help groups for caregivers of children growing up with disabilities.

Findings

The situation analysis revealed scarce support services for caregivers and children with learning and developmental disabilities, with report of limited resources, inadequate coverage and poor professional practice. A home-based, AAC intervention was associated with improved caregiver well-being, significant positive changes to caregiver perceptions of the child’s communication and some expansion to the child’ social activities. However, questions around sustainability persisted. Disability awareness training led by persons with lived experience of disability showed positive changes to the views, values and attitudes of established community groups. Caregiver participation in self-help groups was associated with their greater personal agency, perceptions of increased social support and reduced severity of child’s disability.

Originality

The programme narrative demonstrates a rationalised and evidence-based process for community-based inclusive development that is low cost, culturally acceptable, with potential for sustainability.
What drives demand for private tutoring in the Middle East and North Africa region? Evidence from a Youth Survey
Authors: Fakih Ali , Haimoun Nathir , Sleiman Anastasia
Published: March 2022

This paper examines the determinants of private tutoring in five major Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries: Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. The paper uses data extracted from the SAHWA Youth Survey (2016) and runs a probit model. The main findings indicate that age, receiving financial support, having educated parents and living in urban areas increase the demand for private tutoring. Conversely, the results show that being a male student or a child of an employed mother will decrease the need for a private tutor. The empirical findings propose potential policy implications for MENA countries facing the exacerbation of gaps in the education system while emphasizing the challenges hindering public schools from delivering quality education.
The prices of renewable commodities: a robust stationarity analysis*
Authors: Landajo Manuel , Presno María José
Published: March 2022

This paper addresses the problem of testing for persistence in the effects of the shocks affecting the prices of renewable commodities, which have potential implications on stabilisation policies and economic forecasting, among other areas. A robust methodology is employed that enables the determination of the potential presence and number of instant/gradual structural changes in the series, stationarity testing conditional on the number of changes detected and the detection of change points. This procedure is applied to the annual real prices of eighteen renewable commodities over the period of 1900–2018. Results indicate that most of the series display non‐linear features, including quadratic patterns and regime transitions that often coincide with well‐known political and economic episodes. The conclusions of stationarity testing suggest that roughly half of the series are integrated. Stationarity fails to be rejected for grains, whereas most livestock and textile commodities do reject stationarity. Evidence is mixed in all soft commodities and tropical crops, where stationarity can be rejected in approximately half of the cases. The implication would be that for these commodities, stabilisation schemes would not be recommended.
The electoral benefits of environmental position‐taking: Floods and electoral outcomes in England 2010–2019
Authors: BIRCH SARAH
Published: March 2022

The global increase in extreme weather events in recent years has spurred political scientists to examine the potential political effects of such phenomena. This paper explores effect of flooding on electoral outcomes and offers evidence that the impact of adverse events varies with changes in political context. Using a difference‐in‐differences identification strategy to analyse three consecutive general elections in the United Kingdom (2015, 2017 and 2019), the paper finds variability in partisan electoral benefit from one election to the next that calls into question the blind retrospection and rally‐round‐the‐leader explanations which are often advanced to account for electoral reactions to natural disasters. Instead, changing party positions on environmental issues appear to account more convincingly for shifts in electoral support in response to flooding. This suggests that parties can derive benefit from, or be punished for, the positions they take on environmental issues when extreme weather events affect citizens.
Malignant transformation of heterotopic pancreas as middle esophagus adenocarcinoma—A rare case report and comprehensive literature review
Authors: Yang Yong‐Bo , Liu Yi‐Qiang , Dai Liang , Yan Wan‐Pu , Liang Zhen , Chen Ke‐Neng
Published: March 2022

Heterotopic pancreas is a rare congenital abnormality that occurs during the growth and development process. It can be found in any part of the digestive tract, but the most common sites are the stomach, duodenum, and jejunum. Malignant transformation especially in the esophagus is rare. Here, we aim to report an unusual case of mid‐esophageal adenocarcinoma that originated from a heterotopic pancreas.
Risk of posterior capsule rupture in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy during phacoemulsification cataract surgery
Authors: Dawson Valerie J. , Patnaik Jennifer L. , Wildes Michael , Bonnell Levi N. , Miller D. Claire , Taravella Michael J. , Lynch Anne M. , Christopher Karen L.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

To determine whether type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR) is independent risk factor for posterior capsular rupture (PCR) during cataract surgery.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted from 2014 to 2019. Patients from the University of Colorado Cataract Outcomes Database who had undergone phacoemulsification cataract surgery were included. Patients with traumatic, congenital or polar cataracts, type 1 diabetes or less than 18 years old were excluded. The primary outcome was incidence of PCR during surgery in patients with T2DM with and without DR, accounting for previous intravitreal anti‐VEGF injections (IVI).

Results

A total of 6636 patients were included. A PCR occurred in 59 (0.5%) of 10 893 eyes studied: 35 (0.4%) eyes in patients without diabetes, comparatively to 13 (0.7%) eyes with T2DM without DR (p = 0.142) and 11 (1.8%) eyes with DR (p < 0.0001). All groups with previous IVI demonstrated a significant increase in PCR compared with eyes without IVI or T2DM. In the absence of IVI, T2DM without DR was not significant (p = 0.520), but T2DM with DR had a significantly increased risk of PCR in univariate analysis (OR 3.55, 95% CI: 1.49,8.50, p = 0.004) and an increased risk of borderline significance in multivariate analysis (AOR 2.33, 95% CI: 0.98, 5.56, p = 0.056).

Conclusion

Previous IVI is an independent risk factor for PCR. Diabetic retinopathy without previous IVI is likely a risk factor but was of borderline significance due to small sample size. Consideration of PCR risk should be given during surgical planning for patients with DR and/or previous IVI.
BUB1 predicts poor prognosis and immune status in liver hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Qi Wenbo , Bai Yuping , Wang Yiran , Liu Le , Zhang Yaqing , Yu Yang , Chen Hao
Published: March 2022

Accurate assessment of the tumour immune microenvironment promotes individualized immunotherapy regimens and screens dominant populations suitable for immunotherapy. Therefore, potential molecular markers were investigated to make an overall assessment of the immune microenvironment status of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). In this study, a total of 121 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and DEGs were enriched in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition, hypoxia, myogenesis, and p53 pathways. A total of 20 hub genes were selected and a strong correlation was identified between these hub genes and prognosis. The expression of budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles 1 (BUB1) was found to be upregulated in LIHC and was strongly related to immune cells and immune checkpoint molecule expression. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) indicated that BUB1 expression was higher in LIHC tissues than in normal liver tissues. BUB1 knockdown resulted in reduced proliferation and vertical migration ability of LIHC cells, and reduced the expression of phospho‐SMAD family member 2 and phospho‐SMAD family member 3 proteins. IHC showed that BUB1 expression was accompanied by immune cell infiltration into LIHC tissues. These results suggest that BUB1 may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for LIHC and as an indicator of its immune status.
Geological origin of the archaeological obsidian artifacts from the Holocene sequences of Mochena Borago and Yabello, southern Ethiopia
Authors: Negash Agazi
Published: March 2022

Obsidian archaeological artifacts from the Holocene occupation sequences at the contemporary sites of Mochena Borago and Yabello, southern Ethiopia, have been characterized using electron microprobe analysis. Results show the artifacts of each site were partially procured from two separate but known sources, Bantu and Chebe. The inhabitants of both sites also seem to have used obsidian from another, as yet unknown, source. This is interesting as the inhabitants of each site pursued different life ways: one entirely dependent on wild animals and the other incorporating domestic fauna. In spite of the analysis of many geological sources in the Ethiopian Rift System, the unknown sources cannot yet be determined. Despite erupting from several vents, one of the sources, Chebe, has uniform elemental chemistry, representing an exception to the widely held assumption that every eruptive sequence has unique chemistry, the archaeological significance of which should be further explored.
Transcriptional suppression of Dicer by HOXB‐AS3/EZH2 complex dictates sorafenib resistance and cancer stemness
Authors: Tseng Chi‐Feng , Chen Li‐Tzong , Wang Horng‐Dar , Liu Yi‐Hong , Shiah Shine‐Gwo
Published: March 2022

Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor for the standard treatment of advanced liver cancer patients. However, acquired resistance to sorafenib is responsible for a poor prognosis. Therefore, uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying sorafenib sensitization can provide biomarkers for sorafenib treatment and improve sorafenib activity in a precise medication. Here, we report that epigenetic suppression of Dicer by the HOXB‐AS3/EZH2 complex is responsible for sorafenib resistance. We observed that Dicer expression is inversely correlated with EZH2 levels, HOXB‐AS3 expression, sorafenib resistance, and cancer stem cell properties in liver cancer patients. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Dicer induced liver cancer cells resensitization to sorafenib. Mechanistically, we found HOXB‐AS3 physically interacts with EZH2 and recruits EZH2 to the Dicer promoter, resulting in epigenetic suppression of Dicer expression. These findings reveal that HOXB‐AS3/EZH2 complex–mediated Dicer suppression plays an important role in sorafenib resistance and cancer stemness and provide potential therapeutic strategies for diagnosing and treating liver cancer patients.
Trends in cervical cancer incidence and mortality of young and middle adults in Japan
Authors: Tanaka Sayo , Palmer Matthew , Katanoda Kota
Published: March 2022

In most high‐resource countries with organized screening programs, the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer is decreasing. Recent statistics have also revealed a reduction in invasive cervical cancer incidence as a result of national vaccination programs. Paradoxically, cervical cancer incidence has increased in Japan, particularly amongst women of reproductive age. This study aimed to examine the trends in cervical cancer incidence and mortality for young and middle adult women in Japan, by analyzing trends in 10‐year interval age‐groups. Cervical cancer incidence for young and middle adult women (ages 20‐59 years) was obtained from high‐quality population‐based cancer registries in three prefectures from 1985 to 2015. National cancer mortality data were obtained from published vital statistics from 1985 to 2019. Trends in crude and age‐standardized rates (ASR) were analyzed using Joinpoint regression. The cervical cancer incidence trend in 20‐59‐year‐old women combined significantly increased over the observation period. Both crude and ASR increased from 1985 to 2015 with an annual percent change (APC) of +1.6% (95% confidence interval, 1.1, 2.1) and +1.7% (1.2, 2.3), respectively. Similar increases were seen in ages 20‐29, 30‐39, and 40‐49 years with higher APCs especially in 20s and 30s. Both crude and ASR mortality significantly increased after the early 1990s in ages 20‐59 years combined. Based on the recognition that current cervical cancer control strategies in Japan have not been effective in reducing the cervical cancer burden in young and middle adults, promotion of screening and vaccination should be urgently strengthened.
Artificial intelligence to classify ear disease from otoscopy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Habib Al‐Rahim , Kajbafzadeh Majid , Hasan Zubair , Wong Eugene , Gunasekera Hasantha , Perry Chris , Sacks Raymond , Kumar Ashnil , Singh Narinder
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To summarise the accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) computer vision algorithms to classify ear disease from otoscopy.

Design

Systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Methods

Using the PRISMA guidelines, nine online databases were searched for articles that used AI computer vision algorithms developed from various methods (convolutional neural networks, artificial neural networks, support vector machines, decision trees and k‐nearest neighbours) to classify otoscopic images. Diagnostic classes of interest: normal tympanic membrane, acute otitis media (AOM), otitis media with effusion (OME), chronic otitis media (COM) with or without perforation, cholesteatoma and canal obstruction.

Main outcome measures

Accuracy to correctly classify otoscopic images compared to otolaryngologists (ground truth). The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies Version 2 tool was used to assess the quality of methodology and risk of bias.

Results

Thirty‐nine articles were included. Algorithms achieved 90.7% (95%CI: 90.1–91.3%) accuracy to difference between normal or abnormal otoscopy images in 14 studies. The most common multiclassification algorithm (3 or more diagnostic classes) achieved 97.6% (95%CI: 97.3–97.9%) accuracy to differentiate between normal, AOM and OME in three studies. AI algorithms outperformed human assessors to classify otoscopy images achieving 93.4% (95%CI: 90.5–96.4%) versus 73.2% (95%CI: 67.9–78.5%) accuracy in three studies. Convolutional neural networks achieved the highest accuracy compared to other classification methods.

Conclusion

AI can classify ear disease from otoscopy. A concerted effort is required to establish a comprehensive and reliable otoscopy database for algorithm training. An AI‐supported otoscopy system may assist health care workers, trainees and primary care practitioners with less otology experience identify ear disease.
Health‐related quality of life for normal glycaemia, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus: Cross‐sectional analysis of the ADDITION‐PRO study
Authors: Leal Jose , Becker Frauke , Feenstra Talitha , Pagano Eva , Jensen Troels Mygind , Vistisen Dorte , Witte Daniel R. , Jorgensen Marit Eika
Published: March 2022

Aims

We estimated and compared health‐related quality of life for individuals with normal glucose tolerance, prediabetes and diabetes.

Methods

Participants in the ADDITION‐PRO study, Denmark, who attended a health assessment between 2009 and 2011, and who completed the 3‐level EuroQoL 5‐dimensions (EQ‐5D‐3L) questionnaire were included. For the present study, they were classified as normal glucose tolerance, prediabetes and diabetes (screen‐detected and known) using the 2019 American Diabetes Association criteria. Prediabetes was defined as impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance or HbA1c between 5.7–6.4% (39–47 mmol/mol). EQ‐5D‐3L data were converted into utility scores using Danish and UK values, where ‘1’ equals full health and ‘0’ equals death. Regression models estimated the association between utility and the different glucose health states.

Results

The mean EQ‐5D‐3L score in the sample population was 0.86 ± 0.17 (median 0.85, interquartile range 0.76 to 1) using UK values. Almost half of the sample (48%) reported full health with an EQ‐5D score of ‘1’. Individuals with known diabetes reported the lowest EQ‐5D‐3L utility scores (0.81 ± 0.20), followed by individuals with screen‐detected diabetes (0.85 ± 0.19), prediabetes (0.86 ± 0.17) and normal glucose tolerance (0.90 ± 0.15). The differences were statistically significant for normal glucose and known diabetes relative to prediabetes, after adjusting for sex, age, smoking, BMI and physical activity. These findings also held using Danish values albeit the differences were of smaller magnitude.

Conclusions

Having prediabetes and diabetes was significantly associated with lower health‐related quality of life relative to normal glucose tolerance. Our estimates will be useful to inform the value of interventions to prevent diabetes or prediabetes.
Efficacy of lower doses of pioglitazone after stroke or transient ischaemic attack in patients with insulin resistance
Authors: Spence J. David , Viscoli Catherine , Kernan Walter N. , Young Lawrence H. , Furie Karen , DeFronzo Ralph , Abdul‐Ghani Muhammad , Dandona Paresh , Inzucchi Silvio E.
Published: March 2022

Aims

Pioglitazone is a potent insulin‐sensitizing drug with anti‐atherosclerotic properties, but adverse effects have limited its use. We assessed the benefits and risks of lower versus higher doses of pioglitazone taken by participants in the Insulin Resistance Intervention in Stroke Trial.

Materials and Methods

Efficacy [myocardial infarction (MI) or recurrent stroke] new‐onset diabetes) and adverse outcomes (oedema, weight gain, heart failure and bone fracture) were examined for subjects assigned to pioglitazone or placebo within strata defined by mode dose of study drug taken (i.e. the dose taken on most days in the study).

Results

Among the 1938 patients randomized to pioglitazone, the mode dose was <15 mg/day in 546 participants, 15 mg/day in 128, 30 mg/day in 89, and 45 mg/day in 1175. There was no significant effect on stroke/MI or new‐onset diabetes with <15 mg/day. For 15 mg/30 mg/day pooled, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for stroke/MI were 0.48 (0.30, 0.76; p = .002) and 0.74 (0.69, 0.94) for 45 mg/day. For new‐onset diabetes, the adjusted hazard ratios were 0.34 (0.15, 0.81; p = .001) and 0.31 (0.59, 0.94; p = .001) respectively.

For oedema, weight gain and heart failure, the risk estimates for pioglitazone were lower for subjects taking <45 mg daily. For fractures, the increased risk with pioglitazone was similar across all dose strata.

Conclusions

Lower doses of pioglitazone appear to confer much of the benefit with less adverse effects than the full dose. Further study is needed to confirm these findings so that clinicians may optimize dosing of this secondary prevention strategy in patients with stroke.
Respiratory onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a pregnant woman with a novel SOD1 mutation
Authors: Masrori Pegah , Ospitalieri Simona , Forsberg Karin , Moens Thomas G. , Poesen Koen , Race Valerie , Brännström Thomas , Andersen Peter M. , Thal Dietmar R. , Van Damme Philip
Published: March 2022

Background and purpose

With the advent of gene therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the importance of gene testing in ALS is increasing. This will likely lead to the identification of new variants for which the pathogenicity is not established. We aimed to study the pathogenicity of a newly identified variant in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1).

Methods

Gene testing was performed using Sanger sequencing. SOD1 activity in erythrocytes was measured using spectrophotometry. Postmortem brain and spinal cord sections were stained with antibodies against phospho‐TDP‐43 and SOD1.

Results

We identified a novel c.416G>T (p.Gly139Val) mutation in SOD1, which caused a rapidly progressive respiratory onset form of ALS. The mutation resulted in a 50% drop of SOD1 activity. Postmortem examination confirmed the absence of TDP‐43 pathology and displayed typical SOD1 inclusions in remaining motor neurons, confirming the pathogenic nature of the mutation.

Conclusions

Novel variants of unknown pathogenicity will be identified as a result of a surge in gene testing in people with ALS. An in‐depth study of a newly identified p.Gly139Val mutation in SOD1 confirmed the pathogenicity of this mutation. Future patients with this particular mutation should qualify for SOD1 silencing or editing therapies.
RFC1 repeat expansions: A recurrent cause of sensory and autonomic neuropathy with cough and ataxia
Authors: Beijer Danique , Dohrn Maike F. , De Winter Jonathan , Fazal Sarah , Cortese Andrea , Stojkovic Tanya , Fernández‐Eulate Gorka , Remiche Gauthier , Gentile Mattia , Van Coster Rudy , Dufke Claudia , Synofzik Matthis , De Jonghe Peter , Züchner Stephan , Baets Jonathan
Published: March 2022

Background and purpose

Ataxia and cough are rare features in hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies (HSAN), a group of diseases of mostly unknown genetic cause. Biallelic repeat expansions in RFC1 are associated with cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of RFC1 repeat expansions in a cohort of HSAN patients.

Methods

After unremarkable whole‐exome sequencing (WES) analysis, we performed repeat‐primed PCR to detect intronic RFC1 expansions in 12 HSAN families, who all presented with chronic cough.

Results

In these patients, 75% carried biallelic expansions of the pathogenic AAGGG motif. Compared with RFC1−/− cases, RFC1+/+ cases presented more consistently with positive sensory and autonomic symptoms. Afferent ataxia was more severe in the RFC1+/+ cohort and cerebellar ataxia was a common feature (21%).

Conclusions

We demonstrate that RFC1 is a frequent cause of (WES‐negative) HSAN with chronic cough and ataxia. The diagnostic yield of RFC1 repeat‐primed PCR was surprisingly high, given that HSAN is genetically poorly understood. This combination of HSAN, ataxia, and chronic cough symptoms represents a new nosological entity within the neuropathy‐ataxia spectrum.
Successive extreme climatic events lead to immediate, large‐scale, and diverse responses from fish in the Arctic
Authors: Husson Bérengère , Lind Sigrid , Fossheim Maria , Kato‐Solvang Hiroko , Skern‐Mauritzen Mette , Pécuchet Laurène , Ingvaldsen Randi B. , Dolgov Andrey V. , Primicerio Raul
Published: March 2022

The warming trend of the Arctic is punctuated by several record‐breaking warm years with very low sea ice concentrations. The nature and reversibility of marine ecosystem responses to these multiple extreme climatic events (ECEs) are poorly understood. Here, we investigate the ecological signatures of three successive bottom temperature maxima concomitant with surface ECEs between 2004 and 2017 in the Barents Sea across spatial and organizational scales. We observed community‐level redistributions of fish concurrent with ECEs at the scale of the whole Barents Sea. Three groups, characterized by different sets of traits describing their capacity to cope with short‐term perturbations, reacted with different timing and intensity to each ECE. Arctic species co‐occurred more frequently with large predators and incoming boreal taxa during ECEs, potentially affecting food web structures and functional diversity, accelerating the impacts of long‐term climate change. On the species level, responses were highly diversified, with different ECEs impacting different species, and species responses (expansion, geographical shift) varying from one ECE to another, despite the environmental perturbations being similar. Past ECEs impacts, with potential legacy effects, lagged responses, thresholds, and interactions with the underlying warming pressure, could constantly set up new initial conditions that drive the unique ecological signature of each ECE. These results highlight the complexity of ecological reactions to multiple ECEs and give prominence to several sources of process uncertainty in the predictions of climate change impact and risk for ecosystem management. Long‐term monitoring and studies to characterize the vertical extent of each ECE are necessary to statistically link demersal species and environmental spatial–temporal patterns. In the future, regular monitoring will be crucial to detect early signals of change and understand the determinism of ECEs, but we need to adapt our models and management to better integrate risk and stochasticity from the complex impacts of global change.
Decipher soil organic carbon dynamics and driving forces across China using machine learning
Authors: Li Huiwen , Wu Yiping , Liu Shuguang , Xiao Jingfeng , Zhao Wenzhi , Chen Ji , Alexandrov Georgii , Cao Yue
Published: March 2022

The dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) play a critical role in modulating global warming. However, the long‐term spatiotemporal changes of SOC at large scale, and the impacts of driving forces remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of SOC in different soil layers across China through the1980s to 2010s using a machine learning approach and quantified the impacts of the key factors based on factorial simulation experiments.Our results showed that the latest (2000–2014) SOC stock in the first meter soil (SOC100) was 80.68 ± 3.49 Pg C, of which 42.6% was stored in the top 20 cm, sequestrating carbon with a rate of 30.80 ± 12.37 g C m−2 yr−1since the 1980s. Our experiments focusing on the recent two periods (2000s and 2010s) revealed that climate change exerted the largest relative contributions to SOC dynamics in both layers and warming or drying can result in SOC loss. However, the influence of climate change weakened with soil depth, while the opposite for vegetation growth. Relationships between SOC and forest canopy height further confirmed this strengthened impact of vegetation with soil depth and highlighted the carbon sink function of deep soil in mature forest. Moreover, our estimates suggested that SOC dynamics in 71% of topsoil were controlled by climate change and its coupled influence with environmental variation (CE). Meanwhile, CE and the combined influence of climate change and vegetation growth dominated the SOC dynamics in 82.05% of the first meter soil. Additionally, the national cropland topsoil organic carbon increased with a rate of 23.6 ± 7.6 g C m−2 yr−1since the 1980s, and the widely applied nitrogenous fertilizer was a key stimulus. Overall, our study extended the knowledge about the dynamics of SOC and deepened our understanding about the impacts of the primary factors.
Tropicalization of temperate reef fish communities facilitated by urchin grazing and diversity of thermal affinities
Authors: Schuster Jasmin M. , Stuart‐Smith Rick D. , Edgar Graham J. , Bates Amanda E.
Published: March 2022

Aim

Global declines in structurally complex habitats are reshaping both land‐ and seascapes in directions that affect the responses of biological communities to warming. Here, we test whether widespread loss of kelp habitats through sea urchin overgrazing systematically changes the sensitivity of fish communities to warming.

Location

Global temperate latitudes.

Time period

Modern.

Major taxa studied

Fishes.

Methods

Community shifts in thermal affinity related to habitat were assessed by simulating and comparing fish communities from 2271 surveys across 15 ecoregions.

Results

We found that fishes in kelp and urchin barrens differed in realized thermal affinities and range sizes, but only in regions where species pools had high variability in the thermal affinities of species. Barrens on warm temperate reefs host relatively more warm‐affinity fish species than neighbouring kelp beds, highlighting the acceleration of tropicalization processes facilitated by urchin grazing. In contrast, proportionally more cool‐affinity fishes colonize barrens at high temperate latitudes, contributing to community lags with ocean warming in these regions.

Main conclusions

Our findings implicate urchins as drivers of ecological change, in part by affecting ecological resilience to warming.
Reflections on a specialist HIV menopause service
Authors: Chirwa Mimie , Taghinejadi Neda , Macaulay Gabrielle , Mandalia Sundhiya , Bellone Claire , Panay Nicholas , Brum Roberta , Nwokolo Nneka
Published: March 2022

Objectives

We describe here characteristics and clinical outcomes of women living with HIV attending an HIV menopause service.

Methods

This was a retrospective case note review of women attending the monthly HIV menopause clinic from January 2015 to July 2018.

Results

In all, 55 women attended the service. The overall mean age was 49 years; 50% were black and 20% had a previous AIDS‐defining condition. All were on antiretroviral therapy (ART); the median CD4 count was 678 cells/µL; 93% had a viral load < 50 copies/mL; 7% had previous hepatitis C infection; 27% had a history of smoking; 45% had risk factors or existing cardiovascular disease; 24% had a mental health condition. The median duration of symptoms before clinic attendance was 18 months. Vasomotor symptoms (84%), menstrual cycle changes (62%), psychological (56%) and urogenital symptoms (29%) were reported. Twenty‐two per cent had early menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency. The mean age at attendance of women diagnosed with menopause (n = 24) was 52 years. However, their average duration of symptoms prior to review was 28 months. A total of 61% had osteopenia/osteoporosis, 73% received menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), and 73% had symptomatic improvement, although 58% of these required higher doses of MHT. Median time on MHT was 10 months. Five patients had their ART modified. No serious MHT adverse effects were observed.

Conclusions

Menopausal hormone therapy uptake was high, with most women observing an improvement in symptoms. Comorbidities were common, highlighting the need for integrated care based on a woman's needs. The long delay from initial symptoms to treatment demonstrates the need for better access to specialist advice for women experiencing menopause.
Segmentation of collaborative consumption consumers: Social identity theory perspective
Authors: Małecka Agnieszka , Mitręga Maciej , Pfajfar Gregor
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study is to show how consumers' pursuit of social identity drives collaborative consumption. A survey conducted among active participants in various forms of collaborative consumption found four types of users with clearly distinguishable characteristics: Social Followers, Distrustful Prosumers, Doubtful Laggards and Traditional Spenders. We use social identity theory to explain why those users who engage in collaborative consumption because of sociability and seeking excitement are also highly environmentally conscious (Social Followers), while very frugal users show the least trust towards what collaborative consumption has to offer (Distrustful Prosumers). We observe favourable social identity for collaborative consumption in the Social Followers segment and unfavourable social identity in the Doubtful Laggards segment. Our findings suggest that social identity plays an important role in forming consumers’ intentions to participate in collaborative consumption. At the general level of collaborative consumption, our study confirms previous findings that social values outweigh environmental and economic values. However, this study contributes to the discussion and closes the research gap by explaining that each component may predominate depending on the type of collaborative consumption user.
Regulatory role of mitochondrial genes in the tenderisation of lamb meat during postmortem ageing
Authors: Ji Chen , Liu Jijuan , Luo Ruiming
Published: March 2022

The tenderness of mutton is one of the qualities of prime lamb meat. This study investigated the effects of postmortem time on different meat quality parameters and examined the transcriptome involved in the tenderisation of lamb meat during postmortem ageing. Results showed that the pH value and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels considerably decreased in the early stage (0–4 days) of postmortem ageing, whereas caspases‐3 activities increased (0–4 days). The pH value notably increased in the later stage (4–8 days), while ATP levels and caspases‐3 activities decreased (4–8 days). The transcriptional changes at the early stage of ageing (0–4 days) play important regulatory roles in translation and hydrogen transmembrane transport. Mitochondrial genes, ATP synthase F0 subunit 6, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, cytochrome c oxidase subunit II, and cytochrome b were identified as the core genes associated with Tan lamb tenderness. In conclusion, mitochondrial genes most likely contribute to lamb meat tenderness as they affect the activation of caspase‐3.
Dry fractionation as a promising technology to reuse the physically defected legume‐based gluten‐free pasta
Authors: De Angelis Davide , Pasqualone Antonella , Manfredi Luigi , Allegretta Ignazio , Terzano Roberto , Summo Carmine
Published: March 2022

Dry fractionation was applied to the legume‐based pasta (yellow lentils:whole rice 90:10 w:w) discarded for physical defects. After the air classification, the fine fraction showed a 33% increment of the protein content compared to the raw material, with a 21% yield. The scanning electron micrographs revealed the presence of protein–starch complexes and broken starch granules which led to a low protein separation efficiency. The fine fraction showed interesting nutritional features due to the high concentration of the essential micronutrients Zn (43.3 mg kg−1) and Fe (72.6 mg kg−1). However, also the alpha‐galactosides were enriched into the same fraction. The two fractions, fine and coarse, were both characterised by elevated water absorption capacity, with significantly higher values in the fine one. Finally, the gelling capacity varied among the fractions, being influenced by the protein content. Overall, these ingredients could be used to fortify the protein and the essential mineral contents of bakery products, sauces, and creams.
Erythropoiesis signature and ubiquitin‐mediated proteolysis are enriched in systematic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Liu Wenping , Wen Dawei , Liu Ziyi , Wang Kunyu , Wang Jibo
Published: March 2022

Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (sJIA) is a distinctive subtype of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). The pathogenesis of sJIA is still unclear with the limited treatment options. Although previous bioinformatics analyses have identified some genetic factors underlying sJIA, these studies were mostly single centre with a small sample size and the results were often inconsistent. Herein, we combined two data sets of GSE20307 and GSE21521 and select the matrix of patients diagnosed as sJIA in it for further analysis. The GSE20307 and GSE21521 matrixes downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were analysed using online tools GEO2R, Venny, Metascape, STRING and Cytoscape to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), enrichment pathways, protein–protein interaction (PPI), main module and hub genes between sJIA individuals and healthy controls. A total of 289 overlapping genes (consisting of 41 downregulated genes and 248 upregulated genes) were identified. Hub genes were primarily related to erythropoiesis. And the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis of overlapping DEGs were mainly involved in malaria and non‐small cell lung cancer. Besides, DEGs in main module were involved in ubiquitin‐mediated proteolysis. Our study suggests that the erythropoiesis signature indeed exists in sJIA similar to previous reports. And ubiquitin‐mediated proteolysis is important in sJIA.
Effective local governance assisting vulnerable groups: The case of youth not in employment, education or training (NEETs) in Sweden
Authors: Mellberg Carina , Minas Renate , Korpi Tomas , Andersson Lisa
Published: March 2022

Youth not in employment, education or training (NEETs) have been analyzed from either individual or macro‐structural perspectives, while policy discussions have emphasized national policy. This disregards (i) the substantial variation in NEET rates within countries, and (ii) the importance of local governance for this variation. We examine these issues in Sweden through the lens of interactive governance. Theoretically, four aspects of collective action are highlighted: identification of local NEET subgroups, perceptions of problems and of solutions, and stakeholder relationships. Empirically, an initial multi‐level regression analysis of all 290 Swedish municipalities provided the basis for semi‐structured interviews regarding local work with NEETs in 20 strategically selected municipalities. The qualitative data are here analyzed using fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis. The results suggest that municipalities where local governance combines three of the four aspects, namely identifying NEET subgroups and sharing perceptions of problems and of solutions, have lower NEET shares than predicted.
The fluid handling performance of the curea P1 multipurpose dressing against superabsorbent and foam dressing technologies
Authors: Orlov Aleksei , Gefen Amit
Published: March 2022

Using a novel, automated robotic phantom system containing multiple wound simulants, we determined the fluid handling performance of the curea P1 multipurpose dressing vs market‐leading comparator superabsorbent and foam‐based dressings (FBDs). Specifically, we measured the retained, residual, evaporated, and (potentially occurring) spillover fluid shares for high‐ vs low‐viscosity exudate‐simulant test fluids, at 12, 24, and 30 hours postapplication of the dressings. These experiments were conducted for off‐loaded (‘prone’), non‐off‐loaded (‘supine’), and vertical (‘side‐lying’) simulated body positions. We found that the multipurpose dressing exhibited the best and most robust fluid handling performance across all the test configurations, for both the low‐ and high‐viscosity fluids. The FBD consistently showed the poorest performance compared to the other dressings, rendering it unlikely to be able to manage viscous exudates in ambulant patients (such as when applied to venous leg ulcers) as effectively as the other dressings. The superabsorbent dressing performed better than the foam dressing, but its fluid handling metrics were inferior to those of the multipurpose dressing. The current comparative quantification of the shares of retained, residual, evaporated, and spillover fluid, acquired through standardised laboratory tests, should help decision‐makers to select dressings that best meet their patient needs.
Sexual orientation information and hiring: Can individualizing information lead to negative stereotyping of sexual minority group members?
Authors: Niedlich Claudia , Kachel Sven , Steffens Melanie C.
Published: March 2022

Impression formation can be biased by group stereotypes. Experiments on impression formation in the hiring context in which applicants' sexual orientation was manipulated have yielded mixed findings: positive, negative, or no stereotyping and discrimination of lesbian or gay applicants. However, impressions of individuals depend on more than their sexual orientation. The present research targets the question of whether adding individualizing information about an applicant can lead to assimilation to group stereotypes and thus negative impressions. To present individualizing information, we drew on social‐network profiles for their practical relevance in contemporary application processes. Specifically, we tested whether private information concerning the romantic relationship of a lesbian, gay, or bisexual applicant leads to the application of negative stereotypes. In the role of a personnel manager, participants evaluated social‐network profiles and application material. Participants rated one fictitious applicant on agency, communion, and hireability. In Experiment 1 (N = 316), male and female applicants differed in sexual orientation and were additionally depicted alone or being kissed by their partner. In Experiment 2 (N = 419), focusing on male applicants, we hypothesized that negative stereotypes are activated if gay or bisexual, but not heterosexual men live in a non‐normative relationship form (polyamory vs. control: monoamory). Different from expectations, adding individualizing information did not lead to more negative impressions of gay, lesbian, or bisexual applicants. We discuss the implications of these positive impressions for social‐psychological theories.
Institutional features and audit pricing of excess cash holdings: Do auditor liabilities beyond financial statement assurance matter?
Authors: Kuo Nan‐Ting , Li Shu , Zhai Shiyun
Published: March 2022

Our study explores the association between audit fees and clients’ excess cash to clarify how institutional features shape auditor assessment on agency problems. Prior studies suggest that this association is positive because agency problems from excess cash amplify auditor business risk, which induces auditors to charge higher fees as compensation. However, we find that this association is negative for Chinese listed companies. We further find that this negative association is attributable to the institutional features of China, where auditor liabilities do not extend beyond financial statement assurance. While prior literature argues that auditors incorporate clients’ agency problems into risk assessment, our results suggest that this incorporation does not naturally extend to cover agency problems from managerial misuses that are per se not audit failures. Whether auditors view agency problems from excess cash as a risk factor depends on the institutional features about the scope of their liabilities. Our study highlights the importance of institutional features in shaping auditor decisions.
Commentary to “Translational machine learning for child and adolescent psychiatry”
Authors: Davatzikos Christos , Satterthwaite Theodore D.
Published: March 2022

In this commentary on ‘Translational Machine Learning for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,’ by Dwyer and Koutsouleris, we summarize some of the main points made by the authors, which highlight the importance of emerging applications of machine learning for psychiatric disorders in youth but also emphasize principles of good practice. We also offer complementary insights regarding large‐scale training, harmonization, and the ability of these artificial intelligence models to adapt to new datasets, which is critical for their stability across imaging centers, and hence for their widespread clinical adoption.