bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decoding the networking strategies of Asian and Black workers in the London Insurance Market
Authors: Pillai Mani
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study utilizes Bourdieu’s concepts of field, capital and habitus to investigate the networking strategies of Asian and Black knowledge workers in the London Insurance Market. It also examines the factors contributing to the success or failure of these strategies. The trading activities of the London Insurance Market are underpinned by interdependent relations among its participants. It provides an appropriate context for examining the networking strategies adopted by Asian and Black workers to accelerate their careers.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employed a qualitative methodology, gathering data from 24 participants through semi-structured interviews. Participants were selected using purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling methods. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data and develop aggregated concepts from the identified themes and subthemes.

Findings

The London Insurance Market accords great importance to networking. Interpersonal connections significantly influenced career progression, often overshadowing educational attainments. Asian and Black workers faced systemic nepotism and limited access to influential networks in this field. Participants strategically used their interactions to overcome these challenges and advance their careers. Many believed that their careers had a better chance of progressing through informal networks than through formal channels such as Human Resources. Some participants declined to engage in the commonly accepted networking practices, choosing alternative ways to further their careers.

Practical implications

Findings underscore the need for implementing specific organizational policies to address systemic biases and nepotism, particularly in front-office recruitment. Such policies could include prioritizing merit-based hiring practices and developing targeted initiatives to reduce the underrepresentation of minority ethnic workers in front-office positions. By adopting these measures, organizations can create more equitable career advancement opportunities and leverage the full potential of their diverse workforce.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature on minority ethnic workers' careers, networking theory and workplace diversity. It provides insights into the networking strategies of Asian and Black workers within the London Insurance Market, revealing that these strategies are dependent on contextual factors. The study also highlights the pervasive practice of nepotism deeply ingrained in the habitus of the London Insurance Market and which acts as a barrier for gaining access to influential networks.
The L3 Assessment Framework: what we do and do not know about the characterisation of activity component for primary school
Authors: Mealings Kiri , Buchholz Joerg M.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The Listen to Learn for Life (L3) Assessment Framework is a framework that outlines how to systematically assess the links between the classroom environment, listening, learning and well-being. The purpose of this paper is to review the published literature to understand what is known about the characterisation of activity component of the L3 Assessment Framework and determine what is not known and needs to be investigated in future research.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature reviews (Web searches for systematic, scoping or general reviews; scoping reviews following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews protocol; and extended Web searches) were conducted to characterise lecture, group work and independent work activities in terms of the perceptual setting, source degradation and transmission degradation.

Findings

Most research that has been conducted is for classrooms in general and does not specify results specifically for lecture, group work and independent work, which is important for understanding how the learning environment changes with the different activities. What is known about the lecture, group work and independent work activities are discussed; however, it is noted that this often comes from only a few studies. Future research areas to contribute to this literature as well as fill current research gaps are proposed.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first review paper to synthesize previous research characterising the classroom environment for different activities using the L3 Assessment Framework. It provides an analysis of the limitations of existing literature and proposes future research to help fill in these gaps.
Climate change adaptation in Malta: assessment of skills in the built environment
Authors: Borg Axisa Glorianne , Borg Ruben Paul
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The construction industry is one of the major contributors of greenhouse gas emissions (UNEP, 2022), but it provides numerous valuable opportunities to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (IPPC, 2023). Innovation within the industry and the adoption of sustainable practices are key to achieve this. This is possible with the contribution of highly knowledgeable professionals and skilled workers. However, different countries, including Malta are facing skill gaps and resource shortages. The purpose of this paper is to define the existing skill gaps and mismatches in climate change adaptation in the built environment in Malta. The research focuses on the positionality of the professionals working in the sector as they operate within a legal framework guided through various policies, and through their role and responsibility, they are in contact with the other stakeholders in the sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The data generation strategy used in this study involved a pragmatic approach through a mixed method research methodology, namely, interviews, a questionnaire and a focus group discussion. The three tier scaffolding approach in the data generation strategy allowed for a progressive validation of the data generated.

Findings

The research indicates that the professionals in the sector are aware of their roles and responsibilities to address climate change in their practices, and they have the disposition to acknowledge the need of continuous professional training. Moreover, this study points out that the professionals in the built environment sector are concerned about other gaps within the industry and not solely by skill gaps. Their responsibility to address climate change through greener solutions is often hindered by fragmentation in the system including bureaucratic procedures, clients’ demands, lack of enforcement and general education of the need to address and adapt climate change among the general public. The professionals appeal for an overhaul in the “culture” of the construction industry through a comprehensive rather than a piecemeal approach. This research puts in the limelight the need of a comprehensive strategy to address skill gaps and mismatches in accordance with the need for climate change adaptation as the ultimate challenge rather than addressing different issues separately within the sector.

Originality/value

The paper is to define the existing skill gaps and mismatches in climate change adaptation in the built environment in Malta. By identifying these skill gaps and mismatches, it would be possible to devise an action plan to iron-out such hindrances as part of a broader climate action adaptation strategy.
How much (more) is fair to pay? The ethics of merit in assessing poverty wages in organizations
Authors: Pinto Javier , Scalzo Germán R.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of poverty salaries and minimum wage in light of virtue ethics and a new natural law perspective on work.

Design/methodology/approach

Existing approaches to poverty wages are critically examined, including the nonworseness claim and legal minimalism. This paper introduces a more nuanced framework, taking into account the concepts of merit and participation in light of virtue ethics.

Findings

We argue that the fairness of minimum wage policies can be assessed as a matter of contributive-distributive justice by considering individual contributions to an organization's outcomes within an approach that provides a robust foundation for reconciling the dignity of work with the operational realities of organizations.

Research limitations/implications

Empirical research is needed to validate the practical application of the proposed conceptual framework for addressing poverty wages.

Practical implications

The paper provides better decisional arguments for employers concerned with poverty salaries in their organizations considering the moral dimensions of wage policies and employee well-being, offering guidance for potential adjustments in compensation practices. It also contributes to the discourse on social and economic justice by emphasizing the moral obligations of organizations in fostering a just and dignified work environment without the employee's participation.

Originality/value

This paper presents a novel approach that blends virtue ethics and new natural law principles, emphasizing the moral responsibilities of employers and organizations in addressing the conditions of the working poor. It also highlights the potential for a “lesser evil” situation, morally acceptable when it serves as a transitional phase aimed at improving working conditions and employee well-being.
Understanding AI innovation contexts: a review and content analysis of artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial ecosystems research
Authors: Roundy Philip T. , Asllani Arben
Published: June 2024

Purpose

An emerging research stream focuses on the place-based ecosystems where artificial intelligence (AI) innovations emerge and develop. This literature builds on the contextual turn in management research and, specifically, work on entrepreneurial ecosystems. However, as a nascent research area, the literature on AI and entrepreneurial ecosystems is fragmented across academic and practitioner boundaries and unconnected disciplines because of disparate and ill-defined concepts. As a result, the literature is disorganized and its main insights are latent. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize research on AI ecosystems and identify the main insights.

Design/methodology/approach

We first consolidate research on the “where” of AI innovation through a scoping review. To address the fragmentation in the literature and understand how entrepreneurial ecosystems are associated with AI innovation, we then use content analysis to explore the literature.

Findings

We identify the main characteristics of the AI and ecosystems literature and the key dimensions of “AI entrepreneurial ecosystems”: the local actors and factors in geographic territories that are coordinated to support the creation and development of AI technologies. We clarify the relationships among AI technologies and ecosystem dimensions and uncover the latent themes and underlying structure of research on AI entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Originality/value

We increase conceptual precision by introducing and defining an umbrella concept—AI entrepreneurial ecosystem—and propose a research agenda to spur further insights. Our analysis contributes to research at the intersection of management, information systems, and entrepreneurship and creates actionable insights for practitioners influenced by the geographic agglomeration of AI innovation.
A meta-analysis of antecedents and consequences of green trust
Authors: Chauhan Sumedha , Goyal Sandeep
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Increasing demand for goods and services strains environmental sustainability, driving interest in green products. Trust in these products is vital for adoption. Scholars have examined factors affecting green trust, but a comprehensive framework involving cognitive and affective factors as antecedents and behavioral outcomes as consequences is lacking. This study aims to address this gap and introduces cultural and socio-demographic variables as moderators.

Design/methodology/approach

The study consolidates the outcomes of 79 empirical publications on green trust and conducts a meta-analysis.

Findings

All the cognitive and affective factors and behavioral outcomes are significantly associated with green trust. The moderator analysis provides many valuable insights as it highlights the context dependency of various relationships of green trust.

Research limitations/implications

Using an extensive literature review, this study introduces an integrated framework that clarifies the antecedents and consequences of green trust. This work enriches the existing body of knowledge by investigating the influence of cultural and socio-demographic factors as moderators on these relationships, offering significant insights into the realm of green trust.

Practical implications

This research yields valuable guidance for providers of green products/services, shedding light on the factors that foster trust in their offerings and emphasizing the importance of customized strategies that take into account cultural and socio-demographic variables.

Originality/value

This is an original study that contributes to the green trust literature.
Advanced AI-driven image fusion techniques in lung cancer diagnostics: systematic review and meta-analysis for precisionmedicine
Authors: Sun Meiling , Cui Changlei
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to critically evaluate the role of advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced image fusion techniques in lung cancer diagnostics within the context of AI-driven precision medicine.

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted a systematic review of various studies to assess the impact of AI-based methodologies on the accuracy and efficiency of lung cancer diagnosis. The focus was on the integration of AI in image fusion techniques and their application in personalized treatment strategies.

Findings

The review reveals significant improvements in diagnostic precision, a crucial aspect of the evolution of AI in healthcare. These AI-driven techniques substantially enhance the accuracy of lung cancer diagnosis, thereby influencing personalized treatment approaches. The study also explores the broader implications of these methodologies on healthcare resource allocation, policy formation, and epidemiological trends.

Originality/value

This study is notable for both emphasizing the clinical importance of AI-integrated image fusion in lung cancer treatment and illuminating the profound influence these technologies have in the future AI-driven healthcare systems.
Involvement of SARS‐CoV‐2 accessory proteins in immunopathogenesis
Authors: Ito Hayato , Tamura Tomokazu , Wang Lei , Mori Kento , Tsuda Masumi , Suzuki Rigel , Suzuki Saori , Yoshimatsu Kumiko , Tanaka Shinya , Fukuhara Takasuke
Published: June 2024

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is the largest single‐stranded RNA virus known to date. Its genome contains multiple accessory protein genes that act against host immune responses but are not required for progeny virus production. The functions of the accessory proteins in the viral life cycle have been examined, but their involvement in viral pathogenicity remains unclear. Here, we investigated the roles of the accessory proteins in viral immunopathogenicity. To this end, recombinant SARS‐CoV‐2 possessing nonsense mutations in the seven accessory protein open reading frames (ORFs) (ORF3a, ORF3b, ORF6, ORF7a, ORF8, ORF9b, and ORF10) was de novo generated using an early pandemic SARS‐CoV‐2 strain as a backbone. We confirmed that the resultant virus (termed ORF3–10 KO) did not express accessory proteins in infected cells and retained the desired mutations in the viral genome. In cell culture, the ORF3–10 KO virus exhibited similar virus growth kinetics as the parental virus. In hamsters, ORF3–10 KO virus infection resulted in mild weight loss and reduced viral replication in the oral cavity and lung tissue. ORF3–10 KO virus infection led to mild inflammation, indicating that an inability to evade innate immune sensing because of a lack of accessory proteins impairs virus growth in vivo and results in quick elimination from the body. Overall, we showed that SARS‐CoV‐2 accessory proteins are involved in immunopathogenicity.
Novel electrical therapy to improve sleep disturbance in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Authors: Zhao Jiaoshi , He Peili , Wei Qiujing , Zhou Liuzhong , Ers Suleyman Ahmed , Gu Jieruo
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Sleep disturbance is common in autoimmune rheumatism diseases (ARD) and it plays an important role in activating disease and affects the quality of life. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of the novel electrical therapy on sleep disturbance in ARD patients and its effect on immunologic factors.

Methods

A total of 51 ARD patients (26 treatment group and 25 control group) with sleep disturbance were enrolled in this study. Sleep parameters and immunological indicators (serum level of 12 cytokines and immune function) were collected. The novel electrical therapy was prescribed for 15–30 min 3–6 times a day. The Pittsburg Sleep Index (PSQI) was assessed before and after 3 months’ treatment by Mi Energy equipment. Immune function and serum levels of cytokines of all participants at baseline and after treatment were tested with flow cytometry and flow immunofluorescence, respectively. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between sleep disturbance and immunologic factors. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to investigate the risk of sleep disturbance in ARD.

Results

The global score of PSQI (Baseline: 12.81 ± 4.07, After novel electrical therapy: 4.88 ± 2.76) was effectively improved after 3 months of adjuvant therapy by electrical therapy. We also found that serum levels of IL‐8 and IL‐1β statistically significantly decreased after novel electrical therapy. This adjuvant therapy can also significantly decrease the percentage of CD4 + CD8 + T cell, effector memory CD8 + T cell, Memory CD8 + T cell, Th17 cell, and plasma cell and significantly can increase the percentage of naïve CD8 + T cell, Th2 cell, and Tfh2 cell. Nevertheless, all serum level of 12 cytokines and the percentage of immune cells did not correlate with the PSQI global score except the Tc17 cell. Furthermore, age is an independent risk factor influencing PSQI scores (OR = 1.15, p < 0.05) in patients with autoimmune diseases through multiple linear regression analysis.

Conclusions

Novel electrical therapy can effectively improve sleep disturbance in patients with ARD. It can also change the serum level of some cytokines (IL‐8 and IL‐1β) and percentage of immune cells (CD4 + CD8 + T cell, effector memory CD8 + T cell, Memory CD8 + T cell, Th17 cell, naïve CD8 + T cell, Th2 cell, Tfh2 cell, and plasma cell).
Real‐world effectiveness and safety of tofacitinib for alopecia areata: A retrospective cohort study of 202 patients
Authors: Cranwell William , Meah Nekma , Wall Dmitri , Bhoyrul Bevin , Laita Bokhari , Sinclair Rodney D.
Published: June 2024

Background

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune hair loss disorder characterised by collapse of hair follicle immune privilege and mediated by autoreactive CD8+ T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Treatment is often unsatisfactory. The Janus kinase‐signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK–STAT) pathway is implicated in the pathogenesis of AA and Janus Kinase inhibitor (JAKi) medications are promising emerging treatments for AA.

Objectives

We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of tofacitinib in a real‐world setting over 18 months of treatment.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of all patients with scalp AA commenced on tofacitinib between 1 November 2016 and 31 May 2019. The primary endpoint was the percent change in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score at 18 months.

Results

Two hundred and two patients were included. After 18 months of treatment, 55.9%, 42.6% and 29.2% achieved 50%, 75% and 90% reductions in their SALT scores respectively. Increased duration of AA was a negative predictor of hair regrowth. Males and patients with baseline SALT ≥90 were slower to respond to treatment in the first 12 months. One hundred and twenty‐four patients and 168 patients received concomitant systemic corticosteroids or low‐dose oral minoxidil during tofacitinib therapy respectively. There were no serious adverse events.

Conclusion

Tofacitinib was a safe and effective treatment for patients with moderate‐to‐severe AA. Further randomised controlled studies are needed to establish the optimal treatment regimen.
Antibiotic or gastric acid inhibitor use during pregnancy and postpartum depression: Population‐based cohort study
Authors: Gudnadottir Unnur , Kamau Njeri , Fornes Romina , Nguyen Minh Hanh , Callens Steven , Fransson Emma , Engstrand Lars , Bruyndonckx Robin , Brusselaers Nele
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Postpartum depression is one of the most common non‐obstetric postnatal complications. As the microbiome (and gut–brain axis) as well as inflammation may be involved in the mechanism, we aimed to assess if antibiotic or gastric acid inhibition use during pregnancy affects the risk of postpartum depression (clinical diagnosis and/or antidepressant use up to 1 year after childbirth).

Material and Methods

This population‐based cohort study used first singleton pregnancy resulting in a live birth in Sweden from 2006 to 2016. Women with history of depression were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of antibiotics and gastric acid inhibitors and other risk factors, presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Overall, 29% of all 10 666 women with postpartum depression were exposed to antibiotics and 6.2% to gastric acid inhibitors, compared to, respectively, 21% and 3.2% of 613 205 women without postpartum depression. Antibiotic use during pregnancy was associated with postpartum depression (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.37–1.49), particularly for quinolones and other antibacterials (including nitroimidazole derivatives). Gastric acid inhibition was associated with an even higher risk than antibiotics (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.88–2.21). Both antibiotics and gastric acid inhibitors suggested higher risk with increased dose in a dose–response analysis.

Conclusions

The use of antibiotics and gastric acid inhibition drugs during pregnancy appeared to be associated with a higher risk of postpartum depression. However, it is important to consider that other predisposing factors could contribute to this increased risk, even after excluding individuals with a history of depression.
Calcium mass balance in adults during single hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration treatments using lower calcium dialysate concentrations
Authors: Chhabra Roohi , Davenport Andrew
Published: June 2024

Background

Debate continues as to the optimum hemodialysis (HD) dialysate calcium concentration. Although current guidelines advocate 1.25–1.5 mmol/L, some investigators have suggested these may cause calcium gains. As such we investigated whether using dialysate calcium of 1.25 mmol/L risked calcium gains, and whether there were differences between hemodiafiltration and high flux HD.

Methods

We continuously collect an aliquot of effluent dialysate during dialysis sessions, and calculated dialysis calcium mass balance by the difference between the amount of calcium delivered as fresh dialysate and that lost in effluent dialysate.

Results

We studied 106 stable outpatients, 64% male, mean age 64.4 ± 16.2 years, median dialysis vintage 32 (22–60) months. Most sessions (69%) used a 1.0 mmol/L calcium dialysate, with a median sessional loss of 13.7 (11.5–17.1) mmol, whereas using 1.25 mmol/L the median loss was 7.4 (4.9–10.1) mmol, but with 6.9% had a positive balance (p = 0.031 vs dialysate calcium 1.0 mmol/L). Most patients (85.8%) were treated by hemodiafiltration, but there was no difference in sessional losses (11.7 (8.4–15.8) vs 13.5 (8.1–16.8)) with high flux HD. Dialysis sessional calcium balance was associated with the use of lower dialysate calcium concentration (β −19.5, 95% confidence limits (95%CL) −27.7 to −11.3, p < 0.001), and sessional duration (β 0.07 (95% CL) 0.03–012, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Ideally, the choice of dialysate calcium should be individualized, but clinicians should be aware, that even when using a dialysate calcium of 1.25 mmol/L, some patients are at risk of a calcium gain during hemodiafiltration and high‐flux hemodialysis.
The potential mechanism of WT1‐associated protein‐induced N‐6‐methyladenosine modification of colony‐stimulating factor 2 in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma by JAK/STAT3 pathway regulation
Authors: Peng Ruobing , Jiang Shengjun , Jin Zhongzhi
Published: June 2024

Colony‐stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) plays a regulatory role in numerous cancers. However, there is needed to investigate the role of CSF2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) malignant phenotype and the specific mechanisms of CSF2 N‐6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification. Therefore, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of m6A‐modified CSF2 by WT1‐associated protein (WTAP) in OSCC via qRT–PCR, western blot, WTAP and CSF2 overexpression in OSCC. In a panel of OSCCs, Kaplan–Meier plot analysis indicated that high expression of CSF2 was associated with poorer prognosis. Cell functional experiments revealed that enrichment of CSF2 promoted the proliferation and migration of OSCC cells by activating the JAK/STAT3 pathway, whereas the reduced expression of CSF2 resulted in the malignant decline of OSCC cells by blocking the JAK/STAT3 pathway. This study also confirmed that WTAP enhanced the m6A level of CSF2 and facilitated the expression of CSF2 and that CSF2 silencing blocked the invasive phenotype of OSCC cells and reversed the malignancy induced by WTAP overexpression. Overall, this study demonstrated that WTAP mediates the m6A modification of CSF2 and the JAK/STAT3 pathway, which plays an oncogenic role in the development of OSCC and can be a target for the treatment of patients with OSCC.
Oral status of older adults receiving home medical care: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Tanaka Kumi , Tominaga Tomokazu , Kikutani Takeshi , Sakuda Taeko , Tomida Hiroko , Tanaka Yuko , Mizukoshi Arato , Ichikawa Yoko , Ozeki Maiko , Takahashi Noriaki , Tamura Fumiyo
Published: June 2024

Aim

This study examined the oral status and the presence of teeth requiring treatment among older adults receiving home medical care.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted at a Japanese dental clinic specializing in geriatric treatment. We recruited older adults receiving home medical care in the community who had begun to receive domiciliary dental care. The Japanese version of the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT‐J), as well as the presence of teeth requiring extraction and the need for assistance in maintaining oral hygiene were used to evaluate the participants' oral health and its association with other items.

Results

Ninety‐three participants (44 male and 49 female, median age: 87.0 years) were surveyed. The median OHAT‐J score was 6. The duration since the previous dental visit was 23 months. Sixty‐two (73.8%) of 84 participants with ≥1 natural tooth had severe caries or teeth with severe mobility that required extraction. Logistic analysis revealed that requiring assistance in maintaining oral hygiene, mild dementia, severe dementia, and depression were significantly associated with an OHAT score of ≥6.

Conclusions

Older adults receiving home medical care had poor oral health, with approximately 70% of them requiring tooth extraction. The need for assistance in maintaining oral hygiene and poor mental status contribute to poor oral health. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 706–714.
Deciphering lung adenocarcinoma evolution: Integrative single‐cell genomics identifies the prognostic lung progression associated signature
Authors: Zhang Pengpeng , Yang Zijun , Liu Zuo , Zhang Ge , Zhang Lianmin , Zhang Zhenfa , Fan Jun
Published: June 2024

We employed single‐cell analysis techniques, specifically the inferCNV method, to dissect the complex progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) from adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) through minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) to invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC). This approach enabled the identification of Cluster 6, which was significantly associated with LUAD progression. Our comprehensive analysis included intercellular interaction, transcription factor regulatory networks, trajectory analysis, and gene set variation analysis (GSVA), leading to the development of the lung progression associated signature (LPAS). Interestingly, we discovered that the LPAS not only accurately predicts the prognosis of LUAD patients but also forecasts genomic alterations, distinguishes between ‘cold’ and ‘hot’ tumours, and identifies potential candidates suitable for immunotherapy. PSMB1, identified within Cluster 6, was experimentally shown to significantly enhance cancer cell invasion and migration, highlighting the clinical relevance of LPAS in predicting LUAD progression and providing a potential target for therapeutic intervention. Our findings suggest that LPAS offers a novel biomarker for LUAD patient stratification, with significant implications for improving prognostic accuracy and guiding treatment decisions.
Life, complexity, and psychotherapy: A systemic perspective on the elusive construct of extra‐therapeutic factors
Authors: Tramonti Francesco , Saviozzi Valentina , Ferrante Benedetta , Saliani Simone , Galeazzi Enrico , Vatteroni Simona , Genovesi Ilaria , Di Vecchio Ilaria , Možina Miran
Published: June 2024

Study Aims

Despite being mentioned in well‐known models of psychotherapeutic change, the concept of extra‐therapeutic factors seems to have left the scene across time, eaten away by the progressive refinement of the construct of common factors. Aim of the present study is to better understanding the historical evolution of the concept of extra‐therapeutic factors and its importance for psychotherapy today.

Methods

This is a position paper based on a literature review on extra‐therapeutic factors and psychotherapy outcome and process.

Discussion

There is growing evidence of the decisive role of clients' and therapists' characteristics, as well as of the importance of therapeutic alliances and relationships in promoting change. Within this context, the concept of extra‐therapeutic factors still deserves proper attention, rather than being relegated to a residual and vanishing category.

Conclusion

A renewed interest on extra‐therapeutic factors could reinvigorate the debate over the relationship between psychotherapy and life contexts and conditions. In terms of complexity and systems thinking nothing, a priori, really falls outside the realm of psychotherapy and, in turn, psychotherapy is not a practice that could be abstracted from the context in which it is practiced or from clients' and therapists' lives.
Digital resources for surgical and restorative treatment of excessive gingival display in one session
Authors: Giordani Gustavo , Ottoboni Thiago , Ottoboni Gustavo , Martini Carolina Andognini , Almeida Gabriela , Falacho Rui I.
Published: June 2024

Objective

This article aims to showcase the implementation of a digital workflow in addressing a case of multifactorial excessive gingival display in a patient with high esthetic demands, incorporating both surgical and restorative interventions in a single session.

Clinical Considerations

A 28‐year‐old female patient presented with excessive gingival display, attributed to a combination of short teeth due to altered passive eruption, lip hyperactivity, and a sub‐nasal depression that lodged the upper lip during spontaneous smiling. The multidisciplinary treatment strategy encompassed surgical crown lengthening, the placement of a biovolume in the maxillary concavity, and the rehabilitation of the six anterior teeth with direct composite resin, all done in a single session. Smilecloud Biometrics was used to digitally plan the smile, and the final wax‐up/mock‐up was approved by the patient prior to any irreversible procedure. A digital planning center (GuiderLab) enabled the materialization of the virtual planning and the printing of the periodontal surgical guide, the biovolume, and the resin layering guides for the restorative technique.

Conclusions

Adopting a digital workflow in multidisciplinary cases with excessive gingival display leads to predictable and more expedited outcomes, ensuring a favorable result between soft and hard tissues.

Clinical Significance

Excessive gingival display is a condition with multifactorial etiologies, including dentoalveolar, periodontal, skeletal, or muscular origins, or a combination of these factors. The diagnoses of altered passive eruption and a hypermobile upper lip are common in daily clinical practice and can be successfully managed through surgical crown lengthening and filling of the maxillary concavity, respectively. To achieve the desired outcome, restorative procedures often complement these surgical interventions.
What makes a habitat a home? Habitat associations of juvenile European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, in estuarine nurseries
Authors: Freeman Howard A. , Hepburn Leanne J. , Taylor Martin I. , Hunter Ewan , Dumbrell Alex J. , Gregson Benjamin H. , Smith Albert J. , Lamphierre Aaron , Cameron Tom C.
Published: June 2024

Selection of nursery habitats by marine fish, such as European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), is poorly understood. Identifying and protecting the full range of juvenile nursery habitats is vital to supporting resilient fish populations and economically important fisheries. We examined how the condition, stomach fullness, and diet of juvenile European sea bass, along with their abundance, differ at high or low tide between the following estuarine habitats: saltmarsh, oyster reefs, shingle, sand, and mud edge habitats. Using a combination of fyke and seine netting we found no difference in sea bass abundance or condition across high‐tide habitats, suggesting that rather than differentially selecting between them, juvenile sea bass use all available shallow habitats at high tide. Stomach fullness was significantly higher on saltmarsh and sand compared to mud, and thus these habitats may support better foraging. Dietary DNA metabarcoding revealed that sand and saltmarsh diets mostly comprised Hediste polychaetes, whereas zooplanktonic taxa dominated diets over mud. At low tide, sea bass abundance was highest in shingle and oyster reefs, where stomach fullness and condition were lowest. This may indicate a potential trade‐off between using habitats for foraging and refuge. Although sea bass abundance alone does not capture productivity, the high abundance across all estuarine habitats at high tide suggests that it is important to consider the protection of a mosaic of interconnected habitats to support nursery functions rather than focus on individual habitat types.
Model for optimizing lender's decision on dealing with collateral of defaulted mortgage
Authors: Chiang Shu Ling , Tsai Ming Shann
Published: June 2024

In this article, we describe a comprehensive model for obtaining a critical gross recovery rate (GRR) for the short sale of a defaulted mortgage. Our model includes the following factors: settlement period, settlement cost, discounted sale/auction price, opportunity cost, failure probability of the short sale, and lender's willingness for the short sale. The results show that using the short sale yields a lower settlement cost, shorter settlement period, but higher loss given default (LGD). The real GRR of a short sale is about 8%–9% less than the critical GRR calculated from our model. This means the lender's willingness for the short sale is high in reality. The sensitivity analyses show that the lender's likelihood of approving a short sale is low if the settlement cost, contract rate, interest rate, and failure probability of the short sale are high. The greater the expected LGD of a foreclosure, the stronger the lender's willingness to approve the short sale. Also, a higher GRR of short sale leads to a lower expected LGD of short sale. This increases the probability of approval for the short sale. Finally, the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program helped struggling homeowners successfully use a short sale as an alternative to foreclosure, but the HAFA program became less effective as housing prices went up. Our model and analyses should help lenders make the optimal decision about how to efficiently deal with the collateral from a defaulted mortgage to mitigate their LGD.
Orogen‐scale uniformity of recorded granulite facies conditions due to thermal buffering and melt retention
Authors: Diener Johann F. A. , Macey Paul H.
Published: June 2024

Granulite facies metapelitic gneisses collected over a
 km exposed area of the Kakamas Domain of the Namaqua–Natal Metamorphic Province in southern Namibia all contain similar garnet–sillimanite–cordierite–biotite–quartz–K‐feldspar–ilmenite 
 plagioclase 
 magnetite mineral assemblages. These assemblages are interpreted to have equilibrated at suprasolidus retrograde conditions, and most samples contain distinct biotite‐ or sillimanite‐free peak assemblages. Pseudosection modelling constrains extremely uniform residuum solidus conditions of
 kbar and
°C for the entire Kakamas Domain. Estimated peak metamorphic conditions overlap with these but are more smeared out at between 4 and 7 kbar at 760°C to potentially more than 900°C. The uniformity of residuum solidus conditions is not coincidental, but is a consequence of retrograde re‐equilibration due to minor melt retention after peak metamorphism. Re‐equilibration could only stop once all retained melt had crystallized, which required the concomitant growth of a hydrous mineral to account for its H2O component. Biotite is the most stable hydrous mineral in these rocks, such that the residuum
–
conditions in the Kakamas Domain reflect the upper‐
stability of biotite, and also corresponds to the intersection of the well‐known biotite–sillimanite melting reaction that consumed all biotite during prograde metamorphism. The calculated melt fertility of the sample suite indicates that the variable amounts of heat consumed to overcome the latent heat of fusion could have caused a 25°C spread in the peak temperature achieved by the most and least fertile samples. Peak temperature in the Kakamas Domain may have been as much as 100°C higher than residuum solidus conditions for specific samples but cannot be confidently constrained as it is obscured by the effects of both thermal buffering during prograde metamorphism and melt retention during retrograde metamorphism. Both processes are an inescapable part of the evolution of all granulite facies rocks, but their effects are most pronounced in fertile rocks like metapelites that are traditionally the preferred lithology for quantifying the
–
history of exhumed terranes.
Reduction of sleep bruxism events according to contingent electrical stimulus intensity
Authors: Kawahara Shigehito , Kusunoki Takayuki , Arikawa Kaori , Inoue Taro , Kawamoto Akiyo , Takahashi Kazuya , Shimada Akiko
Published: June 2024

Background

Although biofeedback with contingent electrical stimulation (CES) has demonstrated the reduction effect on sleep bruxism (SB), the relationship between the actual applied CES intensity and efficacy remains uncertain.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate whether the reduction of bruxism events and jaw muscle symptoms could vary according to the intensity of CES and in probable sleep bruxers.

Methods

Twenty probable sleep bruxers were initially screened for bruxer confirmation based on a 2‐week recording of SB events with a portable electromyography recorder (BUTLER®GrindCare®, GC4). A 3‐week recording was conducted without CES using a GC4, followed by another 3‐week recording with CES. At baseline and before and after the CES (+) session, clinical muscle symptoms were assessed using a 0–10 numerical rating scale (NRS). The relationships between the actual applied CES intensity and the number of SB events/hour, as well as the NRS of clinical muscle symptoms, were analysed.

Results

The actual applied CES intensity was positively correlated with the reduction rate of the number of SB events/hour (R = .643, p = .002), as well as with the reduction rate of NRS for pain, unpleasantness, fatigue, tension and stiffness (R > .500, p < .011).

Conclusion

Higher CES elicited a more robust reduction in SB events and clinical muscle symptoms, in probable bruxers. Prior to selecting CES biofeedback as a management option for SB, it would be beneficial to assess the tolerance threshold of CES in each bruxer in order to predict the effectiveness of CES in probable sleep bruxers.
Flexural strength of novel glass infiltrated monochrome and multilayer high yttrium oxide containing zirconia upon various sintered cooling rates
Authors: Uasuwan Pithiwat , Juntavee Niwut , Juntavee Apa
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The sintering technique and cooling strategy influence the strength of zirconia. This study examined the impact of altering the cooling rate of glass‐infiltrated monolayer and multilayer 5 mol% yttria‐partially stabilized zirconia (5Y‐PSZ) on their strength.

Materials and Methods

One‐hundred eighty (180) specimens (width × length × thickness = 10 × 20 × 2 mm) were prepared using monolayer (Mo: Cercon‐xt) and multilayer (Mu: Cercon‐xt ML) 5Y‐PSZ. Randomly distributed specimens (n = 15/group) were sintered with traditional (T) versus glass infiltrated (G) technique and cooled down with different cooling rates: slow (S: 5°C/min), normal (N: 35°C/min), and fast (F: 70°C/min). Four‐point bending test was used to measure flexural strength (σ). Microstructures were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Three‐way ANOVA and Tamhane comparisons were determined for a significant difference of σ (p < 0.05). Weibull analysis was determined for Weibull modulus (m).

Results

The highest σ (MPa) was seen for GMuS (696.8 ± 69.8). Mo‐PSZ and Mu‐PSZ showed no significant difference in σ. G‐sintering presented significantly higher σ (659.9 ± 79.3) than T‐sintering (426.0 ± 63.7). S‐cooling (560.9 ± 126.1) had the highest σ. The highest m‐value was observed in GMuN (12.1 ± 3.8). A significant difference in σ was indicated due to cooling rates and sintering techniques (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Glass infiltration significantly enhanced strength through elastic gradience. F‐cooling reduced grain size, impaired grain boundary integration, and increased the tetragonal to monoclinic phase transition, significantly decreasing flexural strength in traditional sintering. Nevertheless, F‐cooling was recommended for glass‐infiltrated 5Y‐PSZ to enhance strength while reducing processing time.
The gender gap in lifetime earnings: A microsimulation approach
Authors: Glaubitz Rick , Harnack‐Eber Astrid , Wetter Miriam
Published: June 2024

To obtain a more complete understanding of the persisting gender earnings gap in Germany, this paper investigates both the cross‐sectional and lifetime dimension of gender inequalities. Based on a dynamic microsimulation model, we analyse how gender differences accumulate over work lives to examine the lifetime dimension of the gender gap. We estimate an average gender gap in lifetime earnings of 51.5 per cent for birth cohorts 1964–72. We show that this unadjusted gender lifetime earnings gap increases strongly with the number of children, ranging from 17.3 per cent for childless women to 68.0 per cent for women with three or more children. Results from a counterfactual analysis approach show an adjusted gender gap in lifetime earnings of around 10 per cent, suggesting that the gender gap in lifetime earnings is rather driven by gender differences in observable characteristics than by differences in rewards.
Obsolescence and abortive innovations in variationist approaches to language change
Authors: Brook Marisa
Published: June 2024

The focus of most variationist studies of linguistic change to date has been the emergence and increase of new forms. The opposing process—obsolescence, or the decline and loss of older variants—is less well understood. Addressing several calls for more attention to be paid to obsolescence and its properties, this article surveys case studies mostly from English and French and suggests generalisations. Obsolescence, for many reasons, is a very long process. While the linguistic factors influencing an obsolescent form often become unpredictable, the social meaning and/or pragmatic effects associated with it may strengthen rather than weaken. A special subset of obsolescent forms are abortive innovations—those that begin by increasing, but then disappear suddenly. The notion that an abortive innovation is always a subcomponent of a two‐step innovation, otherwise successful, applies straightforwardly to several case studies identified in the variationist literature in recent years.
Biochemical and nanotechnological approaches to combat phytoparasitic nematodes
Authors: Opdensteinen Patrick , Charudattan Raghavan , Hong Jason C. , Rosskopf Erin N. , Steinmetz Nicole F.
Published: June 2024

The foundation of most food production systems underpinning global food security is the careful management of soil resources. Embedded in the concept of soil health is the impact of diverse soil‐borne pests and pathogens, and phytoparasitic nematodes represent a particular challenge. Root‐knot nematodes and cyst nematodes are severe threats to agriculture, accounting for annual yield losses of US$157 billion. The control of soil‐borne phytoparasitic nematodes conventionally relies on the use of chemical nematicides, which can have adverse effects on the environment and human health due to their persistence in soil, plants, and water. Nematode‐resistant plants offer a promising alternative, but genetic resistance is species‐dependent, limited to a few crops, and breeding and deploying resistant cultivars often takes years. Novel approaches for the control of phytoparasitic nematodes are therefore required, those that specifically target these parasites in the ground whilst minimizing the impact on the environment, agricultural ecosystems, and human health. In addition to the development of next‐generation, environmentally safer nematicides, promising biochemical strategies include the combination of RNA interference (RNAi) with nanomaterials that ensure the targeted delivery and controlled release of double‐stranded RNA. Genome sequencing has identified more than 75 genes in root knot and cyst nematodes that have been targeted with RNAi so far. But despite encouraging results, the delivery of dsRNA to nematodes in the soil remains inefficient. In this review article, we describe the state‐of‐the‐art RNAi approaches targeting phytoparasitic nematodes and consider the potential benefits of nanotechnology to improve dsRNA delivery.