bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences of peer victimization and teacher support in secondary school predict university enrolment 5 years later: Role of school engagement
Authors: Grew Eva , Baysu Gülseli , Turner Rhiannon N.
Published: March 2022

Background

Peer victimization has an adverse effect on academic outcomes. However, longitudinal research on how peer victimization affects access to higher education is lacking.

Aims

In this study, we investigated the mechanisms through which peer victimization and teacher support affect aspirations for and enrolment at university 5 years later through engagement in secondary school. We also examined whether these effects were moderated by ethnicity, and whether teacher support may compensate for the effects of peer victimization.

Sample

The sample (N = 15,110, 51% male, 68% White, 12% Black and 20% Asian) was drawn from a nationally representative study of young people in England. We used data from four waves, following adolescents over 3 years of secondary education (T1–T2–T3, age 13 to 15 years) until university (T4, age 18 years).

Method

Data were analysed in a longitudinal structural equation model in Mplus 8.

Results

Adolescents subjected to more peer victimization at T1 had lower university aspirations 2 years later and were less likely to attend university 5 years later. These effects were mediated via secondary school engagement. Teacher support at T1 was related to higher school engagement, leading to higher aspirations (T3) and higher likelihood of university enrolment (T4) over time. We also found evidence that teacher support may lessen the effect of peer victimization on school engagement, and that ethnic background may moderate the effect of teacher support.

Conclusions

Peer victimization had a small long‐lasting negative effect on university choices via school engagement, while teacher support had a positive effect. In summary, relationships in secondary school have long‐lasting implications for university aspirations and enrolment.
Proprotein convertase furin is a driver and potential therapeutic target in proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Abu El‐Asrar Ahmed M. , Nawaz Mohd I. , Ahmad Ajmal , Siddiquei Mohammad M. , Allegaert Eef , Gikandi Priscilla W. , De Hertogh Gert , Opdenakker Ghislain
Published: March 2022

Background

Furin converts inactive proproteins into bioactive forms. By activating proinflammatory and proangiogenic factors, furin might play a role in pathophysiology of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods

We studied vitreous samples from PDR and nondiabetic patients, epiretinal membranes from PDR patients, retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs), retinal Müller cells and rat retinas by ELISA, Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence microscopy. We performed in vitro angiogenesis assays and assessed adherence of monocytes to HRMECs.

Results

Furin levels were significantly increased in PDR vitreous samples. In epiretinal membranes, immunohistochemistry analysis revealed furin expression in monocytes/macrophages, vascular endothelial cells and myofibroblasts. Furin was significantly upregulated in diabetic rat retinas. Hypoxia and TNF‐α induced significant upregulation of furin in Müller cells and HRMECs. Furin induced upregulation of phospho‐ERK1/2, p65 subunit of NF‐κB, ADAM17 and MCP‐1 in cultured Müller cells and phospho‐ERK1/2 in cultured HRMECs and induced HRMECs migration. Treatment of monocytes with furin significantly increased their adhesion to HRMECs. Intravitreal administration of furin in normal rats induced significant upregulation of p65 subunit of NF‐κB, phospho‐ERK1/2 and ICAM‐1 in the retina. Inhibition of furin with dec‐CMK significantly decreased levels of MCP‐1 in culture medium of Müller cells and HRMECs and significantly attenuated TNF‐α‐induced upregulation of p65 subunit of NF‐κB, ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 in HRMECs. Dec‐CMK significantly decreased adherence of monocytes to HRMECs and TNF‐α‐induced upregulation of adherence of monocytes to HRMECs. Treatment of HRMECs with dec‐CMK significantly attenuated migration of HRMECs.

Conclusions

Furin is a potential driver molecule of PDR‐associated inflammation and angiogenesis.
The link between wildlife trade and the global donkey skin product network
Authors: Su Shan , Macdonald Ewan A. , Beseng Maurice , Thomaz Felipe , Macdonald David W.
Published: March 2022

Unsustainable global wildlife trade impacts biodiversity and threatens national and global security, but many aspects of this trade remain opaque. Our study is a novel investigation of the alleged links between the trade in wildlife products and in donkey skins. The global donkey skin trade is a newly prevalent and lucrative business, largely driven by Chinese demand for E‐Jiao, a traditional medicine derived from donkey skins. Records of donkey skins being seized alongside other wildlife products lead us to hypothesize that there is a link between these two trades. We identified all donkey skin dealers on seven business‐to‐business e‐commerce websites and obtained 14,949 data points. These were used in a network analysis to demonstrate the structure of the network and reveal the connection between the products, including wild animal and plant products offered alongside donkey skins. We identified at least 13 groups of CITES‐listed species in the densely connected donkey skin product network, demonstrated an association between the online trade in wildlife products and donkey skins, and discuss the implications of this overlap—including the potential to shed light on potential novel trade pathways in legal and illegal domestic animal and wildlife trade.
Data‐limited approach to the management and conservation of the pelagic thresher shark in the Northwest Pacific
Authors: Tsai Wen‐Pei , Huang Chia‐Han
Published: March 2022

The pelagic thresher shark is among the most heavily exploited shark species in the commercial fisheries of the tropical Indo‐Pacific oceans. Despite this severe exploitation, little is known about pelagic thresher population dynamics, particularly the species' life history traits, and overall stock status. The pelagic thresher exhibits slow growth and extremely low fecundity, indicating the need for reassessment of the population status of this globally threatened shark. Because information on catch and effort of this bycatch species is scarce, several data‐limited methods—quantitative demographic methods, per‐recruit analysis, and risk assessment—were employed in this study to provide an accurate measurement of the status of pelagic thresher shark stocks. For each sex, the composite risk assessments indicated that the probability of the current fishing mortality increasing beyond any level of yield‐per‐recruit (YPR) was approximately zero given the biological reference points (BRPs). Moreover, the current spawning potential ratio (SPR) was found to be significantly below the target reference point of SPR60%, but slightly above the limit reference point of SPR40%. However, because SPR‐based BRPs are much less sensitive to input parameter uncertainties than YPR‐based BRPs, results derived from the SPR model are more suitable for species management. Management strategy simulations based on demographic two‐sex models indicated that without mortality from fishing, female pelagic threshers have a higher population growth rate than males. However, the stock status of female pelagic thresher shark is poorer than that of males under current conditions. The findings suggest that sex‐specific management decisions must be made to achieve the sustainable utilization of this species. Overall, both the sex‐specific per‐recruit and demographic models determined that recruitment overfishing has occurred in the female pelagic thresher population of the Northwest Pacific Ocean, indicating that close monitoring of female sharks is urgent and necessary to ensure that stocks remain sustainable.
Assisted reproduction technologies and reproductive justice in the production of parenthood and origin: Uses and meanings of the co‐produced gestation and the surrogacy in Brazil
Authors: da Silva Junior Aureliano Lopes , Fortuna Pontes Mônica , Uziel Anna Paula
Published: March 2022

This article examines the construction of parenthood, drawing on Brazilian cisgender, heterosexual, and homosexual couples' experiences in using assisted reproduction technologies (ART), particularly the surrogacy. For that purpose, we interviewed: 1) a lesbian woman who had her daughter through her partner's pregnancy, using ART with anonymous donor semen; 2) a gay man who, together with his partner, used a surrogacy service under contract via a specialised offshore agency; 3) a woman who was a surrogate, in Brazil, for her sister‐in‐law and brother who lived abroad and, from abroad, sent an embryo fertilised for surrogacy; 4) a woman who resorted to her sister‐in‐law in order to be a mother by surrogacy, with ovules from the woman herself fertilised with semen from her husband; and 5) the sister‐in‐law mentioned in 4), who acted as surrogate for her brother and his wife. These interviews made it possible to think about the discursive construction of the legitimacy of such parenthoods, as it is produced by access to, and manipulation and circulation of, reproductive technologies and persons. This biomedical management of bodies sets up a material and discursive circuit that, in turn, produces a complex web of personal, normative, legal, professional and market relationships, particularly with a view to construction of a parenthood anchored in a notion of biologically‐constituted origin. In this respect, biological, affective and social bonds merge to produce a precise placement of who is the father and/or who is the mother, as well as who are the important others and how they are linked to the child in a broader web of parenthood.
Thyroid hormone shapes craniofacial bones during postembryonic zebrafish development
Authors: Keer Stephanie , Storch Joshua D. , Nguyen Stacy , Prado Mia , Singh Rajendra , Hernandez Luz Patricia , McMenamin Sarah K.
Published: March 2022

Changing the shape of craniofacial bones can profoundly alter ecological function, and understanding how developmental conditions sculpt skeletal phenotypes can provide insight into evolutionary adaptations. Thyroid hormone (TH) stimulates metamorphosis and regulates skeletal morphogenesis across vertebrates. To assess the roles of this hormone in sculpting the craniofacial skeleton of a non‐metamorphic vertebrate, we tested zebrafish for developmental periods of TH‐induced craniofacial shape change. We analyzed shapes of specific bones that function in prey detection, capture and processing. We quantified these elements from late‐larval through adult stages under three developmental TH profiles. Under wild‐type conditions, each bone progressively grows allometrically into a mature morphology over the course of postembryonic development. In three of the four bones, TH was required to sculpt an adult shape: hypothyroidism inhibited aspects of shape change, and allowed some components of immature shape to be retained into adulthood. Excess developmental TH stimulated aspects of precocious shape change leading to abnormal morphologies in some bones. Skeletal features with functional importance showed high sensitivities to TH, including the transformator process of the tripus, the mandibular symphysis of the lower jaw, the scutiform lamina of the hyomandibula, and the anterior arm of the pharyngeal jaw. In all, we found that TH is necessary for shaping mature morphology of several essential skeletal elements; this requirement is particularly pronounced during larval development. Altered TH titer leads to abnormal morphologies with likely functional consequences, highlighting the potential of TH and downstream pathways as targets for evolutionary change.
The relationship between sleep, dissociation and psychotic‐like experiences
Authors: Creatura Gina M. , Ered Arielle , Murty Vishnu P. , Ellman Lauren M.
Published: March 2022

Background

Sleep disturbances have frequently been associated with the full spectrum of psychosis, from psychotic‐like experiences (PLEs) to individuals who meet diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia. Similarly, dissociative experiences have been linked to both sleep disturbances and PLEs.

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the role of dissociation in the relationship between sleep quality and PLEs.

Methods

PLEs, dissociative symptoms, and sleep quality were examined in 1677 young adults using self‐report measures. A mediation analysis was performed to examine whether dissociative experiences account for some of the relationship between sleep quality and PLEs.

Results

Dissociative symptoms significantly mediated the relationship between sleep quality and PLEs, with both age and gender used as covariates.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that dissociation may be a key contributor to the relationship between disrupted sleep and PLEs, which could have treatment and identification implications.
Life history mediates the trade‐offs among different components of demographic resilience
Authors: Capdevila Pol , Stott Iain , Cant James , Beger Maria , Rowlands Gwilym , Grace Molly , Salguero‐Gómez Roberto
Published: March 2022

Accelerating rates of biodiversity loss underscore the need to understand how species achieve resilience—the ability to resist and recover from a/biotic disturbances. Yet, the factors determining the resilience of species remain poorly understood, due to disagreements on its definition and the lack of large‐scale analyses. Here, we investigate how the life history of 910 natural populations of animals and plants predicts their intrinsic ability to be resilient. We show that demographic resilience can be achieved through different combinations of compensation, resistance and recovery after a disturbance. We demonstrate that these resilience components are highly correlated with life history traits related to the species’ pace of life and reproductive strategy. Species with longer generation times require longer recovery times post‐disturbance, whilst those with greater reproductive capacity have greater resistance and compensation. Our findings highlight the key role of life history traits to understand species resilience, improving our ability to predict how natural populations cope with disturbance regimes.
Automatic individual recognition of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) from sequential images
Authors: Ueno Masataka , Kabata Ryosuke , Hayashi Hidetaka , Terada Kazunori , Yamada Kazunori
Published: March 2022

Automatic individual recognition techniques can support data collection in the field of ethology. Recent studies have contributed to development of automatic individual recognition techniques using machine learning and deep learning. However, varied conditions in the wild, such as the presence of occlusions and head rotations of individuals, can lower the accuracy of automatic recognition techniques. Thus, there is requirement for improvement in the accuracy and robustness of these techniques. In this study, we have used previously observed information updated with given current observation by Bayesian inference to improve the automatic individual recognition of free‐ranging Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) at Katsuyama, Japan. We collected static images and video footage of 51 adult individuals. Using the static images, we created eight individual recognition systems (classifiers), using GoogLeNet and ResNet‐18 as convolutional neural network models. Additionally, sequential data of the faces of the macaques were obtained from 86 video recordings of the 51 individuals to evaluate the classifiers. We were able to successfully recognize 90% or more individuals with each classifier through the combination of the sequential Bayesian filter and the classifier. Eighty‐five percent or more of the individuals had posterior probabilities of 90% or above when conducting recognition tests using the sequential Bayesian filter with 10 images. The best classifier recognized 98% of individuals using 10 images and all individuals using 50 images. Recognition was also successful when the sequential Bayesian filter was applied to cases in which the recognition rate was <50% with test data when the filter was not applied. Based on the above results, we posit that the accuracy of individual recognition systems can be improved using a sequential Bayesian filter that considers past information for individuals.
Downward educational mobility and the life satisfaction of adolescents and parents
Authors: Pollmann‐Schult Matthias
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study examines whether parental and adolescent life satisfaction is lower when adolescents are on a lower educational trajectory than their parents, and whether this association is mediated by the quality of the parent–adolescent relationship.

Background

Existing literature shows that families seek to ensure status maintenance and to avoid downward educational mobility in their children. Little is known, however, about whether downward educational mobility has negative consequences for adolescents' and their parents' well‐being.

Method

Using data on 3781 16‐year‐old adolescents and their parents from the German Socio‐Economic Panel (SOEP), this study examined associations between downward educational mobility, parent–adolescent relationship quality, and the life satisfaction of adolescents and their parents.

Results

In families with two college‐educated parents, risks of downward educational mobility were associated with increased parent–child conflicts and quarrels over school issues as well as with lower life satisfaction in parents and adolescents.

Conclusion

Adolescents and parents report reduced levels of life satisfaction when adolescents are on a lower educational trajectory than their parents, probably because the risk of declining status across generations negatively affects the psychological well‐being of parents and adolescents.

Implications

Providers of family services should consider that the psychological effects of low educational achievement in adolescents vary depending on parental levels of education.
Validation of a generic impact survey for use by health library services indicates the reliability of the questionnaire
Authors: Urquhart Christine , Brettle Alison
Published: March 2022

Background

A validated generic impact questionnaire can demonstrate how individual and groups of health libraries contribute to continuing education and patient care outcomes.

Objectives

To validate an existing generic questionnaire for Knowledge for Healthcare, England by examining: (1) internal reliability; (2) content validity; and (3) suggest revisions.

Methods

Methods used included Cronbach's alpha test, simple data mining of patterns among a data set of 187 questionnaire responses and checking respondents' interpretation of questions.

Results

Cronbach's alpha was 0.776 (acceptable internal reliability). The patterns of responses indicated that respondents' interpretations of the questions were highly plausible, and consistent. The meaning of ‘research’ varied among different occupational groups, but overall, respondents could identify relevant personal and service impacts. However, users were confused about the terms that libraries use to describe some services.

Discussion

The analysis indicated that the questionnaire worked well for the two types of personal services (literature/evidence searches and training/e‐learning) frequently cited on the responses. Further research may be required for library assessment of the impact of other services such as digital resource services.

Conclusions

The generic questionnaire is a reliable way of assessing the impact of health library and knowledge services, both individually and collectively.
Maternal sensitivity during mealtime and free play: Differences and explanatory factors
Authors: van Vliet Merel S. , Mesman Judi , Schultink Janneke M. , Vereijken Carel M. J. L. , Martens Vanessa E. G. , van der Veek Shelley M. C.
Published: March 2022

Mealtime is a parent–toddler interaction that occurs multiple times a day. This study examined whether observed maternal sensitivity differed between a mealtime and free‐play setting, aiming to explain differences between the two situations by studying moderating effects of children's eating behavior. The sample consisted of 103 first‐time mothers and their 18‐month‐old children. Maternal sensitivity was assessed by coding videotaped interactions of free‐play sessions and mealtimes, using the Ainsworth Sensitivity Scale (range 1–9). Additionally, child eating behavior during the meal was coded and also assessed through the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire—Toddlers. First, a small but significant amount of stability was found between sensitivity during mealtime and sensitivity during play (r = 0.24). Second, mothers were more sensitive during free play (mean = 7.11) than during mealtime (mean = 6.52). Third, observed child eating behavior was related to maternal sensitivity during mealtime, with more food enjoyment being associated with higher levels of sensitivity, and more challenging child behavior with lower levels of sensitivity. Finally, when children showed a high degree of challenging behavior during the meal, there was more discrepancy between sensitivity during mealtime and free play. Our results highlight the importance of taking context into account when observing parental sensitivity.
A plant mannose-binding lectin and fluconazole: Key targets combination against Candida albicans
Authors: Del Rio Marianela , Radicioni Melisa B. , Mello Érica O. , Ribeiro Suzanna F. F. , Taveira Gabriel B. , Carvalho André O. , de la Canal Laura , Gomes Valdirene M. , Regente Mariana
Published: March 2022

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the combined effect of a mannose-binding lectin Helja with fluconazole (FLC) on Candida albicans and to get insights about the joint action mechanism.

Methods and Results

The fungal growth was assessed following the optical density at 630 nm. Fungal cell morphology and nucleus integrity were analysed by flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy using Calcofluor White (CFW) and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining respectively. The basis of Helja + FLC action on cell wall and plasma membrane was analysed using perturbing agents. The Helja + FLC combination exhibited an inhibitory effect of fungal growth about three times greater than the sum of both compounds separately and inhibited fungal morphological plasticity, an important virulence attribute associated with drug resistance. Cells treated with Helja + FLC showed morphological changes, nucleus disintegration and formation of multimera structures, leading to cell collapse.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that the Helja + FLC combination exhibited a potent antifungal activity based on their simultaneous action on different microbial cell targets.

Significance and Impact of Study

The combination of a natural protein with conventional drugs might be helpful for the design of effective therapeutic strategies against Candida, contributing to minimize the development of drug resistance and host cell toxicity.
Psychological bases of anti‐immigration attitudes among populist voters
Authors: Pellegrini Valerio , Salvati Marco , De Cristofaro Valeria , Giacomantonio Mauro , Leone Luigi
Published: March 2022

The ascent of populism has been linked with economic and cultural disruptions of modernization. From this perspective, it could be implied that factors such as psychological insecurity and uncertainty are key in making voters gravitate toward the populist narrative. The present research aimed at highlighting the psychological determinants that uncertainties deriving from modernization processes may activate in populist voters. Specifically, we focused on immigration in Italy, investigating whether and how support for different populist parties relates to development of negative attitudes toward immigrants. Two samples of Italian adults (total N = 1655), who voted in the Italian general elections of March 4, 2018 took part in the research. Multigroup path analysis showed that assumption of anti‐immigration stances through the joint mediating role of Dangerous World Belief and Right‐Wing Authoritarianism was shared by different groups of populist voters. However, different populist voters differed in the strength of the path passing through Competitive Jungle World Belief and Social Dominance Orientation. Results underline the relevance of social worldviews and ideological attitudes in shaping the attitudes of the Italian populist electorate.
Financial versus strategic bidders and underpricing as an acquisition motive
Authors: Salva Carolina , Zhang Xiqian
Published: March 2022

We examine the difference between financial and strategic bidders in exploiting target underpricing. To isolate underpricing from other sources of acquisition gain, we estimate the target revaluation of bids that fail to be completed. We document larger revaluations for targets of financial bidders, precisely private equity bidders than for those of strategic bidders when targets are most likely to be underpriced, that is, when they are small. This differential effect between financial and strategic bidders in target revaluation is robust after controlling for differential sorting into deal failure, future takeover activity and anticipated operational changes and therefore indicates that it is greater target underpricing before bid announcements that financial bidders reveal to the market than strategic bidders do. This suggests that financial bidders and private equity firms attempting to buy smaller firms are more likely associated with underpriced targets than strategic bidders.
A millennium of climatic and floristic dynamics in the Eastern Cordillera of the Colombian Andes
Authors: Correa‐Metrio Alex , Escobar Jaime , Bird Broxton W. , Caballero‐Rodríguez Dayenari , Steinman Byron A. , Rodríguez‐Zorro Paula A. , Curtis Jason
Published: March 2022

Aim

The transition from the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA, 950–1250 CE) to the Little Ice Age (LIA, 1350–1800 CE) is the largest pre‐industrial climate shift within the last two millennia, offering an opportunity to study how vegetation responds to rapid climate change. We analysed a sedimentary record from the Colombian Andes to reconstruct regional vegetation dynamics during this time interval, identify the modern environmental distribution of taxa present in the fossil record and provide a reference for modern regional temperature change.

Location

Lake Tota, Eastern Cordillera, Colombian Andes.

Taxon

Angiosperm and Gymnosperms.

Methods

A sediment core was analysed for organic geochemistry and pollen to reconstruct environmental and vegetation variability between 800 and 1800 CE. Modern occurrences of individuals of the genera found in the fossil record were used to model the distribution of taxa across gradients of mean annual temperature and precipitation. These models were used to reconstruct temperature and precipitation across time and evaluate the probability of occurrence of taxa from the fossil record across the contemporary landscape.

Results

Reconstructed regional vegetation dynamics were highly coupled with global temperature patterns. Reconstructed climate showed that conditions were warm and dry during the MCA, and cold and relatively wet during the LIA, although quantitative estimations might have been amplified by human disturbances. Rates of temperature change during the MCA‐LIA transition were substantially lower than those calculated for the last two decades. Vegetation turnover between 800 and 1800 CE resembled those expressed through a transect extending ~30 km southeast from the lake.

Main conclusions

Around lake Tota, modern rates of temperature change have no precedent within the last two millennia. The modern environmental affinities of taxa involved in vegetation turnover during the MCA‐LIA transition point to the importance of landscape diversity and connectivity for rapid vegetation response to climate change.
Radiofrequency ablation using a novel insulated‐tip ablation catheter can create uniform lesions comparable in size to conventional irrigated ablation catheters while using a fraction of the energy and irrigation
Authors: Aryana Arash , Irastorza Ramiro M. , Berjano Enrique , Cohen Richard J. , Kraus Jeffrey , Haghighi‐Mood Ali , Reddy Vivek Y. , d'Avila André
Published: March 2022

Introduction

During radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using conventional RFA catheters (RFC), ~90% of the energy dissipates into the bloodstream/surrounding tissue. We hypothesized that a novel insulated‐tip ablation catheter (SMT) capable of blocking the radiofrequency path may focus most of the energy into the targeted tissue while utilizing reduced power and irrigation.

Methods

This study evaluated the outcomes of RFA using SMT versus an RFC in silico, ex vivo, and in vivo. Radiofrequency applications were delivered over porcine myocardium (ex vivo) and porcine thigh muscle preparations superfused with heparinized blood (in vivo). Altogether, 274 radiofrequency applications were delivered using SMT (4–15 W, 2 or 20 ml/min) and 74 applications using RFC (30 W, 30 ml/min).

Results

RFA using SMT proved capable of directing 66.8% of the radiofrequency energy into the targeted tissue. Accordingly, low power–low irrigation RFA using SMT (8–12 W, 2 ml/min) yielded lesion sizes comparable with RFC, whereas high power–high irrigation (15 W, 20 ml/min) RFA with SMT yielded lesions larger than RFC (p < .05). Although SMT was associated with greater impedance drops ex vivo and in vivo, ablation using RFC was associated with increased charring/steam pop/tissue cavitation (p < .05). Lastly, lesions created with SMT were more homogeneous than RFC (p < .001).

Conclusion

Low power–low irrigation (8–12 W, 2 ml/min) RFA using the novel SMT ablation catheter can create more uniform, but comparable‐sized lesions as RFC with reduced charring/steam pop/tissue cavitation. High power–high irrigation (15 W, 20 ml/min) RFA with SMT yields lesions larger than RFC.
Vein of Marshall alcohol ablation for dormant pulmonary vein conduction: A case report
Authors: Janga Chaitra , Madhavan Malini , Siontis Konstantinos C. , Killu Ammar M.
Published: March 2022

We report a case of alcohol ablation into a vein of Marshall for recurrent dormant conduction into the pulmonary veins with adenosine testing in a patient where two prior ablation attempts failed to isolate the left vein.
On the profitability of interfirm bundling in oligopolies
Authors: Kim Sang‐Hyun , Hahn Jong‐Hee
Published: March 2022

This paper examines the profitability of interfirm bundling among independent single‐good producers in a two‐dimensional Hotelling framework. We show that interfirm bundling tends to relax price competition by preventing consumers from mixing and matching (i.e., making it difficult to switch brands) and therefore is more profitable than separate sales, provided that firms are sufficiently symmetric. Hence, firms have mutual incentives to offer their products as a bundle or to make exclusive dealing arrangements. This result sheds new light on the competitive effect of bundling in oligopolies that have been neglected in the literature.
miR‐144‐3p/miR‐451a promotes lymphovascular invasion through repression of PTEN/p19 in rectal neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Murayama Noriaki , Okamoto Koichi , Nakagawa Tadahiko , Miyoshi Jinsei , Nishida Kensei , Kawaguchi Tomoyuki , Kagemoto Kaizo , Kitamura Shinji , Ma Beibei , Miyamoto Hiroshi , Muguruma Naoki , Yano Mitsuyasu , Tsuneyama Koichi , Fujimori Takahiro , Sato Yasushi , Takayama Tetsuji
Published: March 2022

Background and Aim

Although rectal neuroendocrine tumor (NET‐G1) have potential metastatic capability, even among small tumors, no predictive biomarker for invasion and metastasis has been reported. We analyzed microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in rectal NET‐G1 tissues with and without lymphovascular invasion (LVI). Moreover, we then investigated their target genes to clarify the mechanism of invasion/metastasis in NET‐G1.

Methods

miRNA array analysis was performed using seven rectal NET‐G1 tissues with LVI and seven without LVI. miRNA expression was confirmed by quantitative real‐time PCR. A NET cell line H727 was transfected with miRNA mimic or target gene small interfering RNA, and migration and invasion assays were performed.

Results

The expression levels of miR‐144‐3p and miR‐451a were significantly higher in NET‐G1 with LVI versus without LVI, as determined by miRNA array analysis and RT‐qPCR. A significant correlation was observed between miR‐144‐3p and miR‐451a expression levels, strongly suggesting miR144/451 cluster overexpression in NET‐G1 with LVI. Bioinformatic analysis of target genes revealed that miR‐144‐3p and miR‐451a directly interact with PTEN and p19 mRNA, respectively. Immunohistochemistry revealed significantly lower expression of PTEN and p19 in NET‐G1 tissues with LVI than in those without LVI. The miR‐144‐3p and miR‐451a mimic significantly increased cell migration/invasion capability, respectively. Knockdown of PTEN and p19 induced significant augmentation of cell invasion and migration capability, respectively.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that overexpression of miR‐144/miR‐451 cluster promotes LVI via repression of PTEN and p19 in rectal NET‐G1 cells. miR‐144/451 cluster may be a novel biomarker for predicting invasion/metastasis in rectal NET‐G1.
Comparison of safety and short‐term outcomes between endoscopic and laparoscopic resections of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors with a diameter of 2–5 cm
Authors: Liu Yan‐Bo , Liu Xin‐Yang , Fang Yong , Chen Tian‐Yin , Hu Jian‐Wei , Chen Wei‐Feng , Li Quan‐Lin , Cai Ming‐Yan , Qin Wen‐Zheng , Xu Xiao‐Yue , Wu Linfeng , Zhang Yi‐Qun , Zhou Ping‐Hong
Published: March 2022

Background and Aim

Developments of endoscopic techniques brought the possibility of endoscopic resection for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) of larger sizes. We aim to compare safety and short‐term outcomes between endoscopic and laparoscopic resections of gastric GISTs with a diameter of 2–5 cm.

Methods

This is a single‐center, retrospective cohort study. The clinical data, perioperative conditions, and the adverse events of patients who underwent endoscopic or laparoscopic resection for gastric GIST of 2–5 cm in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, from January 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

A total of 346 patients were reviewed; 12 patients who failed to accomplish the planned procedure were excluded; 182 underwent laparoscopic resection; and 152 underwent endoscopic resection. Significant differences exist in the tumor size between the laparoscopic group (3.43 ± 0.86 cm) and the endoscopic group (2.78 ± 0.73 cm) (P < 0.01). Compared with laparoscopic resection, endoscopic resection was associated with faster recovery (P < 0.01), shorter hospital stays (P < 0.01), and lower cost (P < 0.01). The incidence of Clavien–Dindo grade II–V adverse events in the endoscopic group (3/152) was significantly lower than that in the laparoscopic group (12/182) (P = 0.04). After a propensity score matching analysis, the endoscopic group showed similar incidences of complications with the laparoscopic group, while the advantages over laparoscopic resection in postoperative hospital stay, time to first oral intake, and hospitalization expenses remained significant (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Endoscopic resection is a safe and cost‐effective method for 2–5 cm of gastric GISTs compared with laparoscopic resection.
Comment on: Falls in older adults after hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Avci Candeniz , Ozsurekci Cemile , Naharci M. İlkin
Published: March 2022

See the Reply by Goldstein et al
Implementation of a telehealth videoconference to improve hospital‐to‐skilled nursing care transitions: Preliminary data
Authors: Bellantoni Julia , Clark Elspeth , Wilson Jonathan , Pendergast Jane , Pavon Juliessa M. , White Heidi K. , Malone Deanna , Knechtle William , Jolly Graham Aubrey
Published: March 2022

Background

Transition‐related patient safety errors are high among patients discharged from hospitals to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and interventions are needed to improve communication between hospitals and SNF providers. Our objective was to describe the implementation of a pilot telehealth videoconference program modeled after Extension for Community Health Outcomes‐Care Transitions and examine patient safety errors and readmissions.

Methods

A multidisciplinary telehealth videoconference program was implemented at two academic hospitals for patients discharged to participating SNFs. Process measures, patient safety errors, and hospital readmissions were evaluated retrospectively for patients discussed at weekly conferences between July 2019–January 2020. Results were mapped to the constructs of the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE‐AIM) model. Descriptive statistics were reported for the conference process measures, patient and index hospitalization characteristics, and patient safety errors. The primary clinical outcome was all‐cause 30‐day readmissions. An intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis was conducted using logistic regression models fit to compare the probability of 30‐day hospital readmission in patients discharged to participating SNFs across 7 months prior to after telehealth project implementation.

Results

There were 263 patients (67% of eligible patients) discussed during 26 telehealth videoconferences. Mean discussion time per patient was 7.7 min and median prep time per patient was 24.2 min for the hospital pharmacist and 10.3 min for the hospital clinician. A total of 327 patient safety errors were uncovered, mostly related to communication (54%) and medications (43%). Differences in slopes (program period vs. pre‐implementation) of the probability of readmission across the two time periods were not statistically significant (OR 0.95, [95% CI 0.75, 1.19]).

Conclusions

A pilot care innovations telehealth videoconference between hospital‐based and SNF provider teams was successfully implemented within a large health system and enhanced care transitions by optimizing error‐prone transitions. Future work is needed to understand process flow within nursing homes and its impact on clinical outcomes.
Regional analysis of aluminum and steel flows into the American automotive industry
Authors: Hua Nate P. , Kelly Jarod C. , Lewis Geoffrey M. , Keoleian Gregory A.
Published: March 2022

Aluminum and steel represent the two most dominant metals in light‐duty vehicles, yet the flows of these materials into the American automotive industry have not been well characterized. This study proposes and implements a method for analyzing the flow of these metals into the automotive industry. We create a framework for performing regionally linked, sector‐specific material flow analyses and use this framework to trace flows of aluminum and steel entering the American automotive industry, focusing on flows downstream from raw material production. We show that automotive aluminum sheet and extrusions are sourced primarily from the NPCC (23%), SERC (20%), MRO (18%), and RFC (13%) North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) regions, and a spatially unresolved local region within the United States and Canada (18%). We determine that primary aluminum is largely from Canada (70%), nearly all from Quebec (69%). Further upstream, alumina and bauxite originate mostly from Brazil, Australia, and Jamaica. We also show that finished automotive steel is sourced primarily from the RFC (63%) and SERC (20%) regions. The crude steel supply similarly originates mainly from the RFC (69%) and SERC (7%) regions. Upstream raw materials including coke, coking coal, iron ore, lime, and steel scrap are primarily sourced from the United States with only direct reduced iron and pig iron used in electric arc furnace steel production coming mostly from outside the United States. The framework developed here allows for increased spatial resolution of material flows, which can be used to develop more specific life cycle impact factors for life cycle assessments.
Path model on decision‐making ability of clinical nurses
Authors: Park Minsook , Gu Minkyung , Sok Sohyune
Published: March 2022

Aims and objectives

To identify and examine the relationship between the factors influencing the decision‐making ability of clinical nurses in hospitals, South Korea, and to establish a model, to verify the fit and the effect.

Background

Clinical nurses are exposed to environments and situations where they make continuous decisions according to the need of direct treatment and nursing.

Design

This study used a cross‐sectional descriptive design, relation prediction modelling and adheres to the STROBE guidelines.

Methods

The model construction was based on the information processing theory by Hansen and Thomas (Nursing Research, 17, 436, 1968). The model consists of 5 exogenous variables (expertise, critical thinking disposition, knowledge‐sharing behaviour, nursing work environment, and decision‐making stress) and 3 endogenous variables (analytic‐systematic decision‐making type, intuitive‐interpretive decision‐making type and decision‐making ability). Participants were 274 clinical nurses, who were working at two hospitals in Seoul, South Korea. The data was analysed using SPSS WIN 18.0 and AMOS 20.0 program. Path analysis to verify the hypothetical model was used, and the fit was evaluated byχ2/df, GFI, AGFI, NFI, CFI and RMSEA. Data were collected from March to May 2017.

Results

The fit index of the modified path model wasχ2/df= 2.25, GFI = .972, AGFI = .929, NFI = .967, CFI = .981 and RMSEA = .068. The analytic‐systematic decision‐making type had the greatest direct effect on the clinical nurses’ decision‐making ability, which is the final outcome variable, followed by significant direct and indirect effects on critical thinking disposition.

Conclusion

This study suggests that the clinical nurses’ decision‐making ability in hospitals were leadingly influenced by analytic‐systematic decision‐making type and critical thinking disposition.

Relevance to clinical practice

In the nursing practice, nurses need to pay attention the analytic‐systematic decision‐making type and critical thinking disposition for improving decision‐making ability of clinical nurses in hospitals.
Effects of head flexion posture in patients with dysphagia
Authors: Nagura Hirotaka , Kagaya Hitoshi , Inamoto Yoko , Shibata Seiko , Ozeki Megumi , Otaka Yohei
Published: March 2022

Background

The chin‐down posture is often used as a compensatory manoeuvre for patients with dysphagia. This posture presumably involves flexion of the head and/or neck, but this is not clearly defined.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the effects of head flexion posture in a retrospective study of videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VF).

Methods

A total of 73 patients who underwent VF both with and without head flexion posture in the lateral projection were included in the analysis. The head and neck angles at the initiation of the swallowing reflex, penetration–aspiration scale (PAS), nasopharyngeal closure time, stage transition duration, duration of laryngeal closure, time from swallowing reflex to laryngeal closure and to the opening of upper oesophageal sphincter (UES), duration of UES opening, location of the bolus leading edge at swallowing reflex, and bolus transition time were evaluated.

Results

The head flexion angle increased (p < 0.001), but the neck flexion angle did not change in the head flexion posture. Moreover, PAS improved (p < 0.001), aspiration was reduced (p < 0.001), the time between the swallowing reflex and the onset of laryngeal closure was shortened (p = 0.006), and the leading edge of the bolus at swallowing reflex became shallower (p = 0.004) in the head flexion posture. Other parameters did not significantly change.

Conclusion

The head flexion posture resulted in earlier laryngeal closure and a shallower position of the leading bolus edge at swallowing reflex, resulting in PAS improvement and decreased aspiration.
Retrospective evaluation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 68 dogs
Authors: Schober Karsten E. , Fox Phillip R. , Abbott Jonathan , Côté Etienne , Luis‐Fuentes Virginia , Matos Jose Novo , Stern Joshua A. , Visser Lance , Scollan Katherine F. , Chetboul Valerie , Schrope Donald , Glaus Tony , Santilli Roberto , Pariaut Romain , Stepien Rebecca , Arqued‐Soubeyran Vanessa , Baron Toaldo Marco , Estrada Amara , MacDonald Kristin , Karlin Emily T. , Rush John
Published: March 2022

Background

There is a lack of clinical data on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in dogs.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To investigate signalment, clinical signs, diagnostic findings, and survival in dogs with HCM.

Animals

Sixty‐eight client‐owned dogs.

Methods

Retrospective multicenter study. Medical records were searched between 2003 and 2015. The diagnosis of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy was made by echocardiographic examination.

Results

Three hundred and forty‐five dogs with LV hypertrophy were identified, of which 277 were excluded. The remaining 68 dogs were 0.3 to 14 years old and predominantly <10 kg (85%), and without a sex predilection. Twenty‐four % were Shih Tzu and 24% terrier breeds. Most (80%) had a systolic heart murmur. Owner‐determined exercise intolerance (37%) and syncope (18%) were most commonly reported signs. The majority (84%) of dogs had symmetrical LV hypertrophy, whereas asymmetrical septal and LV free wall hypertrophy was observed in 9% and 6% of dogs, respectively. Isolated basal interventricular septal hypertrophy was not observed. Commonly recorded were systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve (60%) and LV diastolic dysfunction (89% of dogs where diastolic function was evaluated). Six dogs died unexpectedly, and 3 developed congestive heart failure. Known survival times were between 1 day and 114 months after diagnosis.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in dogs should be considered as a differential diagnosis if LV hypertrophy is identified. Small breed dogs are overrepresented, and it is uncommon for dogs with HCM to develop CHF although sudden death can occur.
BP180NC16a autoantibody positivity may predict low‐risk mucous membrane pemphigoid
Authors: Endo Hiroyasu
Published: March 2022

Objective

The objective of the present study was to explore the clinical characteristics of BP180NC16a autoantibody‐positive mucous membrane pemphigoid.

Subjects and methods

Data from 22 patients were collected by retrospective chart review. For the detection of BP180NC16a autoantibody, a commercially available enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay or chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay kit was used. The patients were classified into the following clinical phenotypes: low‐risk patients who had lesions only in the oral mucosa or in the oral mucosa and skin and high‐risk patients who had lesions in the oral mucosa and any of the following sites: the eyes, upper respiratory tract, or esophagus.

Results

Eleven of the 22 patients (50%) were BP180NC16a‐positive at the time of diagnosis. All the positive patients were in the low‐risk group. There was a significant difference in the incidence of low‐risk mucous membrane pemphigoid between BP180NC16a autoantibody‐positive and BP180NC16a autoantibody‐negative patients (p = 0.004). Patients' age, disease duration, and oral disease activity scores were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusion

BP180NC16a reactivity was associated with the clinical phenotype characterized by only oral mucosal lesions or combined oral mucosal and skin lesions. BP180NC16a autoantibody might be useful as a serum marker to predict low‐risk mucous membrane pemphigoid.