bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous Repositioning of Significant Blow-out Orbital Roof Fracture Associated With Intracranial Hematoma
Authors: Park Tae Hwan , Park Yun Joo
Published: June 2023

Orbital roof fractures are relatively rare facial bone fractures that usually occur in conjunction with other facial bone fractures or intracranial hematoma during high-velocity facial trauma. This study reports a patient with a significant blow-out orbital roof fracture combined with a nondisplaced frontal bone fracture and epidural hematoma at the superior aspect of unilateral frontoparietal convexity. Despite the severe superiorly-displaced fracture segment, the follow-up computed tomography scans taken 4 days after the injury showed a spontaneous reduction of blow-out orbital roof fracture. At the 1-week follow-up, the coronal image of craniofacial magnetic resonance imaging was taken, showing spontaneous realignment of orbital roof fracture and physiological evolution of cerebral contusion. In conclusion, conservative treatment can acquire the best outcome regarding cosmesis and function unless the patient requires an emergent operation for other medical conditions. This is key for successfully returning the patient’s form and function.
Customed 3D-printed Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Implant for Secondary Salvage Reconstruction of Mandibular Defects: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Long Jiazhen , Zhang Jie , Kang Jianfeng , Fan Yunjian , Zhang Zhaoqiang , Shi Jiayu , Zhang Zhen , Huang Yuanjin , Liu Shuguang
Published: June 2023

Given the insufficient height of single-barrel fibula and inadequate bone volume of double-barrel vascularized fibula in mandibular reconstruction, it is a better choice to combine the upper full-thickness vascularized fibula with the lower half-thickness nonvascularized fibula. However, the nonvascularized fibula may fail due to complications, affecting the facial shape and occlusal function. Polyetheretherketone is a thermoplastic polymer used for bone defect reconstruction due to its good mechanical properties and biocompatibility. This case report mainly presents a secondary salvage reconstruction of the mandible by using customed 3-dimensional-printing polyetheretherketone, which restored the continuity and symmetry of the mandible, improved the patient’s facial shape, and restored functional occlusion through dental implants. After a 28-month follow-up, no complications occurred, and the patient was satisfied with the final restoration.
The Impact of Professional Oral Hygiene in Orthognathic Surgery
Authors: Consorti Giuseppe , Monarchi Gabriele , Betti Enrico , Balercia Paolo
Published: June 2023

Introduction:

Oral hygiene represents a fundamental element with regard to outcomes in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Both basic hygiene that the patient must perform daily at home and obviously professional hygiene aimed at preventing any complications in the surgical field.

Methods:

Patients undergoing orthognathic surgery in our Department of Maxillofacial Surgery in Ancona, in a total number of 137 in the period studied (2016–2021), were divided into 2 groups: period 1, (2016–2018) and period 2 (2019–2021). The division into 2 groups derives from the establishment of a professional oral hygiene protocol established starting from January 2019 and put into practice by dental hygienists. The protocol consists of preoperative counseling and above all very precise instructions in the postoperative so as to optimize the oral hygiene process, assist in the best possible wound healing and reduce possible postoperative complications. Anamnestic, cephalometric data, measurements of the distances between certain landmarks for the evaluation of facial edema, patient-referred pain, accurate intraoral and extraoral physical examination both pre and postoperative, and complications were collected for each patient.

Conclusions:

The main goal of the study authors set is to evaluate the effective impact of professional oral hygiene in the pre and postoperative management of patients undergoing orthognathic surgery, taking into account parameters, such as facial edema and pain, and using evaluation scales, making a comparison with the data reported in the 3 years before and after the establishment of the protocol applied by the authors.
Zobellia alginiliquefaciens sp. nov., a novel member of the flavobacteria isolated from the epibiota of the brown alga Ericaria zosteroides (C. Agardh) Molinari & Guiry 2020
Authors: Barbeyron Tristan , Le Duff Nolwen , Duchaud Eric , Thomas François
Published: June 2023

Strain LLG6346-3.1T, isolated from the thallus of the brown algaEricaria zosteroidescollected from the Mediterranean Sea near Bastia in Corsica, France, was characterised using a polyphasic method. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-flagellated, motile by gliding, rod-shaped and grew optimally at 30–33 °C, at pH 8–8.5 and with 4–5 % NaCl. LLG6346-3.1Tused the seaweed polysaccharide alginic acid as a sole carbon source which was vigorously liquefied. The results of phylogenetic analyses indicated that the bacterium is affiliated to the genusZobellia(familyFlavobacteriaceae, classFlavobacteriia). LLG6346-3.1Texhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 98.6 and 98.3 % to the type strains ofZobellia russelliiandZobellia roscoffensis, respectively, and of 97.4–98.5 % to members of other species of the genusZobellia. The DNA G+C content of LLG6346-3.1Twas determined to be 38.3 mol%. Digital DNA–DNA hybridisation predictions by the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and genome to genome distance calculator (GGDC) methods between LLG6346-3.1Tand other members of the genusZobelliashowed values of 76–88 % and below 37 %, respectively. The results of phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic analyses indicate that LLG6346-3.1Tis distinct from species of the genusZobelliawith validly published names and that it represents a novel species of the genusZobellia, for which the nameZobellia alginiliquefacienssp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LLG6346-3.1T(= RCC7657T= LMG 32918T).
Pathogen genomics in public health laboratories: successes, challenges, and lessons learned from California’s SARS-CoV-2 Whole-Genome Sequencing Initiative, California COVIDNet
Authors: Smith Emily A. , Libuit Kevin G. , Kapsak Curtis J. , Scribner Michelle R. , Wright Sage M. , Bell John , Morales Christina , Crumpler Megan , Messenger Sharon , Hacker Jill K. , Ledin Katya , Glaser Carol , Jacobson Kathleen , Sevinsky Joel R. , Wadford Debra A.
Published: June 2023

The capacity for pathogen genomics in public health expanded rapidly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but many public health laboratories did not have the infrastructure in place to handle the vast amount of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequence data generated. The California Department of Public Health, in partnership with Theiagen Genomics, was an early adopter of cloud-based resources for bioinformatics and genomic epidemiology, resulting in the creation of a SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance system that combined the efforts of more than 40 sequencing laboratories across government, academia and industry to form California COVIDNet, California’s SARS-CoV-2 Whole-Genome Sequencing Initiative. Open-source bioinformatics workflows, ongoing training sessions for the public health workforce, and automated data transfer to visualization tools all contributed to the success of California COVIDNet. While challenges remain for public health genomic surveillance worldwide, California COVIDNet serves as a framework for a scaled and successful bioinformatics infrastructure that has expanded beyond SARS-CoV-2 to other pathogens of public health importance,
A panoramic view of the genomic landscape of the genus Streptomyces
Authors: Nikolaidis Marios , Hesketh Andrew , Frangou Nikoletta , Mossialos Dimitris , Van de Peer Yves , Oliver Stephen G. , Amoutzias Grigorios D.
Published: June 2023

We delineate the evolutionary plasticity of the ecologically and biotechnologically important genus

Streptomyces

, by analysing the genomes of 213 species. Streptomycetes genomes demonstrate high levels of internal homology, whereas the genome of their last common ancestor was already complex. Importantly, we identify the species-specific fingerprint proteins that characterize each species. Even among closely related species, we observed high interspecies variability of chromosomal protein-coding genes, species-level core genes, accessory genes and fingerprints. Notably, secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (smBGCs), carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and protein-coding genes bearing the rare TTA codon demonstrate high intraspecies and interspecies variability, which emphasizes the need for strain-specific genomic mining. Highly conserved genes, such as those specifying genus-level core proteins, tend to occur in the central region of the chromosome, whereas those encoding proteins with evolutionarily volatile species-level fingerprints, smBGCs, CAZymes and TTA-codon-bearing genes are often found towards the ends of the linear chromosome. Thus, the chromosomal arms emerge as the part of the genome that is mainly responsible for rapid adaptation at the species and strain level. Finally, we observed a moderate, but statistically significant, correlation between the total number of CAZymes and three categories of smBGCs (siderophores, e-Polylysin and type III lanthipeptides) that are related to competition among bacteria.
Reassessing the modularity of gene co-expression networks using the Stochastic Block Model
Authors: Melo Diogo , Pallares Luisa F. , Ayroles Julien F.
Published: June 2023

Finding communities in gene co-expression networks is a common first step toward extracting biological insight from these complex datasets. Most community detection algorithms expect genes to be organized into assortative modules, that is, groups of genes that are more associated with each other than with genes in other groups. While it is reasonable to expect that these modules exist, using methods that assume they exist a priori is risky, as it guarantees that alternative organizations of gene interactions will be ignored. Here, we ask: can we find meaningful communities without imposing a modular organization on gene co-expression networks, and how modular are these communities? For this, we use a recently developed community detection method, the weighted degree corrected stochastic block model (SBM), that does not assume that assortative modules exist. Instead, the SBM attempts to efficiently use all information contained in the co-expression network to separate the genes into hierarchically organized blocks of genes. Using RNA-seq gene expression data measured in two tissues derived from an outbred population ofDrosophila melanogaster, we show that (a) the SBM is able to find ten times as many groups as competing methods, that (b) several of those gene groups are not modular, and that (c) the functional enrichment for non-modular groups is as strong as for modular communities. These results show that the transcriptome is structured in more complex ways than traditionally thought and that we should revisit the long-standing assumption that modularity is the main driver of the structuring of gene co-expression networks.
Cytokine expression patterns: A single-cell RNA sequencing and machine learning based roadmap for cancer classification
Authors: Ren Zhixiang , Ren Yiming , Liu Pengfei , Xu Huan
Published: June 2023

Cytokines are small protein molecules that exhibit potent immunoregulatory properties, which are known as the essential components of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). While some cytokines are known to be universally upregulated in TIME, the unique cytokine expression patterns have not been fully resolved in specific types of cancers. To address this challenge, we develop a TIME single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset, which is designed to study cytokine expression patterns for precise cancer classification. The dataset, including 39 cancers, is constructed by integrating 695 tumor scRNA-seq samples from multiple public repositories. After screening and processing, the dataset retains only the expression data of immune cells. With a machine learning classification model, unique cytokine expression patterns are identified for various cancer categories and pioneering applied to cancer classification with an accuracy rate of 78.01%. Our method will not only boost the understanding of cancer-type-specific immune modulations in TIME but also serve as a crucial reference for future diagnostic and therapeutic research in cancer immunity.
Towards a wavefront-preservation X-ray crystal monochromator for high-repetition-rate FELs
Authors: Zhang Lin , Seaberg Matthew , Yavaş Hasan
Published: June 2023

The wavefront preservation of coherent X-ray free-electron laser beams is pushing the requirement on the quality and performance of X-ray optics to an unprecedented level. The Strehl ratio can be used to quantify this requirement. In this paper, the criteria for thermal deformation of the X-ray optics are formulated, especially for crystal monochromators. To preserve the X-ray wavefront, the standard deviation of the height error should be sub-nm for mirrors and less than 25 pm for crystal monochromators. Cryocooled silicon crystals combined with two techniques can be used to achieve this level of performance for monochromator crystals: (1) using a focusing element to compensate the second-order component of the thermal deformation; (2) introducing a cooling pad between the cooling block and silicon crystal and optimizing the effective cooling temperature. Each of these techniques allows the thermal deformation in standard deviation of the height error to be reduced by an order of magnitude. As an example, for the LCLS-II-HE Dynamic X-ray Scattering instrument, the criteria on thermal deformation of a high-heat-load monochromator crystal can be achieved for a 100 W SASE FEL beam. Wavefront propagation simulations confirm that the reflected beam intensity profile is satisfactory on both the peak power density and focused beam size.
Investigation on the wall thickness variation of an eccentric tube in the rotary draw bending process
Authors: Zhang Zengkun , Li Dongru , Wu Jianjun , Muhammad Muzamil , Li Yang
Published: June 2023

Purpose

When bending a large diameter thin-walled tube, the thickn ess of outer side wall will reduce greatly, which leads to a decrease of structural strength of the tube. To solve this problem, this paper investigated the deformation principles of an eccentric tube in the rotary draw bending process, trying to find a way to reduce the wall thickness difference between inner and outer diameters.

Design/methodology/approach

An finite element model is established for analyzing the deformation of an eccentric tube in rotary draw bending process. The wall thickness distribution of the formed pipe was analyzed along the axis and diameter, respectively.

Findings

It is found that there exists an optimal eccentricity between the inner and outer circle center of the tube cross-section. If the eccentricity of the tube is chosen properly, it is possible to get a bent tube with equal thickness of inner and outer side walls. In addition, it is also found the optimal eccentricity on the cross-section can be influenced by bending radius, wall thickness, diameter and bending angle. The optimal eccentricity increases greatly with the decreasing of bending radius, the increase of outer diameter and the increase of wall thickness. The influence of bending angle on the optimal eccentricity can be divided into two situations. When the bending angle is small, the optimal eccentricity increases with the increase of bending angle. When the bending angle exceeds a certain value, the pipe enters a stable forming state. The optimal eccentricity of the stable forming region does not change with the bending angle.

Originality/value

Such a research is beneficial for reducing the thickness difference between inner and outer side walls in the rotary draw bending process.
Labour attitudes towards gender equity in Spain: the role of education throughout an economic cycle
Authors: Gil-Lacruz Ana I. , Gil-Lacruz Marta , Gracia Bernal Amparo , Flores-García Mónica , Domingo-Torrecilla Paola
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyse the background and consequences of the Spanish job market on the employment conditions of Spanish women and on underlying attitudes on gender role in the working environment.

Design/methodology/approach

From the European Social Survey (2004, 2008, 2010, 2016), the authors draw a sample of 3,706 individuals aged from 25 to 64 years old living in Spain. The sample allows the authors to make estimations from several aggregation levels depending on gender (men and women) and generational cohort (baby boom and X generation).

Findings

Education improves the perception of women’s work among both men and women. The role of education is especially interesting for older people. Educational levels help women adapt to a changing context, promote female participation in the job market and protect them from unemployment situations. This study demonstrates that both gender and generational cohort moderate the impact of education on gender labour attitudes and working status.

Research limitations/implications

Finally, this work is not exempt from limitations. For example, the use of cross sections does not allow the authors to obtain a richer set of causal relationships than the use of panel data would allow them. In addition, it would be interesting to replicate the study of gender labour attitudes among human resource managers and workers to have a broader view of what happens within companies.

Originality/value

The main contribution to the state of the art is to demonstrate that both gender and generational cohort moderate the impact of education on gender labour attitudes and working status. In addition, this study analyses whether gender labour attitudes change throughout the economic cycles, because population characteristics change (endowment effect) and/or because the same characteristics have different impacts (coefficient effect).
Implications of orality for management practices in Iran: an application of Walter Ong’s theory
Authors: Yeganeh Hamid
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the implications of orality for management practices in a developing country such as Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper relies on the seminal theory of Walter Ong (1982) and a leading line of anthropological research to analyze the implications of orality/literacy for management practices in Iran. The authors first define orality and literacy as distinct modes of communication and examine their conceptual properties. Then, the authors draw on the existing literature to analyze the five main management functions impacted by orality.

Findings

The analyses suggest that the predominance of orality in Iran is associated with a wide range of management practices, including short-term or unstructured planning, spontaneous decision-making, fluid organizational structure, the prevalence of interpersonal relations, authoritarian and traditional leadership and behavior-based controlling mechanisms.

Originality/value

While most studies have focused on the impacts of cultural dimensions and economic variables, this paper offers a novel approach to analyzing management practices. More specifically, the paper suggests that in addition to the implications of cultural dimensions and economic variables, the mode of communication, namely, orality/literacy, could have significant implications for management practices.
Factors affecting the intention to receive the Sinofarm vaccine
Authors: Ghorbanzadeh Davood
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explain the factors associated with receiving a specific brand of COVID-19 vaccine within the framework of the theory of reasoned action (TRA). This study extends the TRA with the country-of-origin image (COI), brand image and electronic word of mouth variables.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a cross-sectional survey conducted among 460 people who received the Sinofarm vaccine. Participants were selected using an online convenience sampling method. The structural equation modeling technique tests the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results showed that the essential factor associated with the intent to get the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine is the attitude toward the Signopharm vaccine. Also, word of mouth, subjective norms and brand image are the most critical factors that play a role in forming a favorable attitude toward the Sinopharm vaccine. Finally, the country-of-origin image does not affect attitudes toward the Sinopharm vaccine.

Originality/value

The area of vaccine marketing has been given limited attention in academic literature. This study addresses this area with little research and is greatly attractive to many brands targeting the consumer market. The study results can form a foundation for creating the branding strategy for this product category and assessing its demand in various markets.
Becoming an entrepreneur in the cooperation and poverty contexts
Authors: Batista Freitag Maria Salete , Borges de Carvalho Jéssica , Camargo Filho Altair , Arantes Fernanda Paula
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the process of becoming an entrepreneur in the cooperation and poverty contexts takes place.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a phenomenological approach for data collection purposes. Autoscopy, which is a methodological device of reflective nature, was herein applied to a group of interlocutors comprising seven representatives of waste pickers’ cooperatives (RC). Data analysis focused on defining the meaning of participants’ speech was conducted in compliance with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis guidelines.

Findings

The current findings have shown that becoming a representative of cooperatives involves mobilization toward empowerment and a sense of collectively doing on behalf of community interests. Moreover, these RCs become entrepreneurs in the poverty context, as they perceive opportunities, are persistent and take risks pursuing alternatives for both the survival and improvement of theirs own living conditions, and of others.

Research limitations/implications

Adopting a reflective approach associated with an ontology of becoming could have led to deeper results if the current research was a longitudinal study, rather than a cross-sectional one.

Practical implications

Training programs provided for waste pickers should take into consideration that their learning process is mainly based on practice.

Social implications

Behaviors disclosed by participants toward fostering collective and entrepreneurial actions in the poverty context may be an inspiration for future changes.

Originality/value

The methodological option for adopting a reflective approach resulted in a contribution device that is barely applied to research in the management field; thus, the current investigation can introduce a new pathway for further research.
The influence of national and individual Islamic governance on Islamic banks’ social performance
Authors: Meskovic Admir , Kozarevic Emira , Avdukic Alija
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between Islamic governance and the social performance of Islamic banks, pioneering a new aspect in terms of the impact of the National Shariah Board (NSB) on the social performance of Islamic banks. The essential body in the Islamic banks in charge of Islamic governance is the Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB). Therefore, in this study, the authors explore how the characteristics of the Shariah board and Islamic governance mechanisms influence the social performance of Islamic banks.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel data methods are applied to the annual data of 43 banks from 14 countries over the period 2012–2018 to explore the impact of Islamic governance on Islamic banks’ social performance. The authors have used all available bank annual reports in the given period. Social performance is measured by Maqasid al-Shariah (in terms of the goals of the Islamic moral economy) index using a comprehensive evaluation framework. Islamic governance is represented by the improved Islamic Governance Score (IG-Score) index, which measures the quality of Islamic governance in Islamic banks. In the research, the authors also introduce the frequency of SSB meetings in IG-Score.

Findings

The findings suggest a strong link between Islamic governance and the social performance of Islamic banks, illustrating the importance of the Shariah board in achieving maqasid. On the other hand, the research discovered that NSBs are inefficient and the existence of NSB can jeopardize the social performance of Islamic banks. The results of this research imply valuable recommendations for Islamic banks that are keen to improve their social performance.

Originality/value

Besides investigating the impact of SSB governance on the social performance of Islamic banks by using an improved IG score index, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the impact of NSBs on the social performance of Islamic banks.
Do auditors respond when listed firms pledge shares? Evidence from China
Authors: Kong Kitty Mo , Huang Hedy Jiaying
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper investigates whether the audit fees of Chinese listed firms are associated with the share pledging practice of the firm’s controlling shareholders.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the audit pricing model to estimate the association between the share pledging of listed firms and audit fees. Cross-sectional analysis is conducted on a large sample of Chinese listed firms during the period 2004 to 2019. The authors further test the moderating effects of listing on the Main Board, state ownership and abnormal audit report lag on the association between share pledging and audit fees. The results remain robust to various endogeneity tests including two-stage least squares instrumental variable analysis, entropy balancing analysis and difference-in-difference analysis.

Findings

The study finds that audit fees are positively associated with the proportion of shares pledged by the listed firm’s controlling shareholder in China. The results also provide new evidence that the positive association between audit fees and the share pledging of controlling shareholders could be mitigated if the firm is listed on the Main Board and/or it is a state-owned enterprise. In contrast, pledged firms with abnormal audit report lag are found to have higher audit fees than their pledged counterparts without the excessively long audit delay.

Practical implications

Findings of this study have important practical implications to those charged with governance, as boards need to comprehensively understand the adverse consequences of share pledging when pursuing it as the firm’s major source of financing. The study also has policy implications for stock market regulators such as the China Securities Regulatory Commission in China. Regulators could consider developing a threshold-based share pledging disclosure and pledge ratio requirements based on factors such as a firm’s listing status and ownership structure.

Originality/value

This study provides new evidence on the audit-related consequences of share pledging in a significant capital market. Findings of this study also enrich the existing audit literature by introducing the share pledging activities of controlling shareholders into the audit pricing decision-making model.
Employee and customer loyalty: two targets, one endeavor?
Authors: Pelaez M Sergio , Roman Calderon Juan Pablo
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Recently, leading scholars suggested that firms should align strategic and tactical human resource management efforts to cope with growing turnover rates, and that the human resource management field should broaden its scope by embracing the views of all stakeholders. In this research paper, the authors aim to present a study inquiring about the influence of the implementation of an employee experience strategy on employee loyalty and the effect of employee loyalty on customer loyalty in a firm operating in the service sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used longitudinal data collected yearly from 2020 to 2022. Overall, 766 employees participated in the longitudinal study. The authors also analyzed cross-sectional data from 166 employees and their customers.

Findings

The study’s results suggest that implementing an employee experience strategy increases employee loyalty. The study’s findings also indicate that organizations implementing such a human resource management strategy reach employee and customer loyalty.

Originality/value

There is a lack of evidence about the positive effect of the alignment of an employee experience strategy and tactics on different organizational stakeholders. This study provides insights for scholars and practitioners willing to use the employee and customer experience framework to positively impact organizations.
Expanding network ecology in freshwater ecosystems
Authors: Windsor F. M.
Published: June 2023

Research in freshwater ecosystems has always had a strong focus on ecological interactions. The vast majority of studies, however, have investigated trophic interactions and food webs, overlooking a wider suite of non‐trophic interactions (e.g. facilitation, competition, symbiosis and parasitism) and the ecological networks they form.

Without a complete understanding of all potential interactions, ranging from mutualistic through to antagonistic, we may be missing important ecological processes with consequences for ecosystem assembly, structure and function. Ecological networks can be constructed at different scales, from genes to ecosystems, but also local to global, and as such there is significant opportunity to put them to work in freshwater research.

To expand beyond food webs, we need to leverage technological and methodological advances and look to recent research in marine and terrestrial systems—which are far more advanced in terms of detecting, measuring and contextualising ecological interactions.

Future studies should look to emerging technologies to aid in merging the wide range of ecological interactions in freshwater ecosystems into networks to advance our understanding and ultimately increase the efficacy of conservation, management, restoration and other applications.
Why we should increase Rent Assistance
Authors: Bradbury Bruce
Published: June 2023

While the 2023–24 Budget saw the first real increase in rent assistance in Australia since 1990, this was small compared to the growth in real incomes over the three decades. Rapid increases in advertised rents, and expectations that these will flow through to average rents, make an increase in this payment all the more urgent. This article reviews the arguments for and against providing rent assistance to income support recipients in Australia and argues for a serious consideration of the 2010 recommendations of the Report into Australia's Future Tax System for a substantial increase in this payment.
It's time to prioritise women's health
Authors: J. Crosbie Emma
Published: June 2023

Deputy Editor‐in‐Chief, Emma J. Crosbie, discusses her top articles from this issue in an audio podcast available at: https://soundcloud.com/bjog/july‐editorial‐2023
Development of etching paste for serial number restoration on aluminum engine block
Authors: Uysal Serdar , Yildiz Emrecan , Armutcu Canan , Yalçın Sarıbey Aylin , Uzun Lokman
Published: June 2023

Engine numbers, which involve information regarding the engine type, production number, and year and place of manufacture, are used for identification purposes. Comprising of unique alphanumeric characters, the engine numbers are fully or partially obliterated especially in auto theft and smuggling cases to conceal the origin, identity, and owner of vehicles. The limitations of the current restoration techniques such as the difficulty of using chemical liquid etching in vertical sites, the restrictions of magnetic and optical methods, and the applicability of several techniques like electron backscatter diffraction only in the laboratory environment prompt the development of new techniques. In view of these limitations and the importance of restoring engine numbers in criminal investigations, this unique study aimed to develop an etching paste that would restore the effaced characters on a real aluminum alloy engine block. The characters which were cold‐stamped on the engine block were milled at varying depths and restoration attempts were conducted using etching pastes formed with different chemicals and materials. The analyses indicate that the etching paste formed with 200 mg of perlite, 400 mg of iron powder, and 450 μL of 20 M NaOH provided restoration to a good extent. The prevention of over‐etching through the controlling of the chemical reaction and the cost‐effectiveness appears to be the advantages of this technique. The success of recovery on the real engine block, the facilitation of restoration on curved surfaces, and the chance of on‐site usage will likely make the etching paste a widely used tool in serial number restoration.
CircCRIM1 mediates proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cell through regulating miR‐942‐5p/IL1RAP axis
Authors: Yu Fen , Xing Jie , Li Lingyun , Xiang Mi
Published: June 2023

Background

Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe complication that occurs during pregnancy and a main cause of perinatal mortality of mothers as well as infants, which is characterized by abnormal placental trophoblast. Previous study reported that aberrant circular RNA (circRNA) was involved in the pathogenesis and progression of PE. Herein, we aimed to investigate the role of circCRIM1 and explore the mechanism of circCRIM1 in PE.

Methods

The quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) was conducted to determine the relative expression of circCRIM1, miR‐942‐5p, and IL1RAP in tissues and cells. Cell proliferation viability was assessed by both MTT and EdU assays. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed using flow cytometry. Transwell assay was performed to test the cell migration and invasion. The protein levels of CyclinD1, MMP9, MMP2, and IL1RAP were measured by western blot. The putative binding sites between miR‐942‐5p and circCRIM1 or IL1RAP 3′UTR were verified by dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay. Rescue experiment was performed to confirm that miR‐942‐5p/IL1RAP axis was functional target of circCRIM1 in trophoblast cells.

Results

CircCRIM1 was upregulated in placenta tissues of PE and its expression was inversely related to infant weight. Overexpression of circCRIM1 suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion and reduced the protein levels of CyclinD1, MMP9, MMP2 of trophoblast cells, whereas its knockdown exerted the opposite effect. CircCRIM1 could interact with miR‐942‐5p, and introduction of miR‐942‐5p partially abated the inhibitory effect of circCRIM1 on trophoblast cell behaviors. IL1RAP was directly targeted and negatively regulated by miR‐942‐5p. miR‐942‐5p played its regulatory role on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast by IL1RAP. Further analysis showed that circCRIM1 modulated IL1RAP expression via sponging miR‐942‐5p.

Conclusion

The results of the present study demonstrated that circCRIM1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells through sponging miR‐942‐5p and up‐regulating IL1RAP, providing a possible new mechanism of PE.
Higher rate of HBsAg loss after discontinuation of tenofovir than entecavir in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Chen Chien‐Hung , Peng Cheng‐Yuan , Hu Tsung‐Hui , Wang Jing‐Houng , Hung Chao‐Hung , Lu Sheng‐Nan
Published: June 2023

Background/Aims

To compare the rates of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss after discontinuation of entecavir versus tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) without cirrhosis.

Methods

A total of 891 patients who received entecavir (n = 556) or TDF (n = 335) followed up post‐treatment for at least 12 months were retrospectively assessed. A total of 677 patients who had continued entecavir or TDF therapy for at least 4 years were enrolled as the continued group.

Results

Patients who discontinued TDF had higher rates of virological and clinical relapse and retreatment than patients who discontinued entecavir in both the HBeAg‐positive and HBeAg‐negative subgroups. In the entire discontinued cohort, the cumulative rates of HBsAg loss at 7 years were 22.6% and 35.4% in the entecavir and TDF groups respectively. Patients who discontinued TDF had significantly higher rates of HBsAg loss than patients who discontinued entecavir therapy in all (p = 0.019) and propensity score‐matched (p = 0.015) patients, especially among the subgroups who achieved a sustained response (p < 0.001). Cox regression analysis revealed that TDF, longer treatment duration and lower HBsAg levels at end of treatment were independently associated with HBsAg loss in the entire discontinued group. The incidence of HBsAg loss was significantly higher in the discontinued group than in the continued group after propensity score matching (p < 0.001), including HBeAg‐positive and HBeAg‐negative patients.

Conclusions

Patients who discontinued TDF had significantly higher rates of HBsAg loss than patients who discontinued entecavir, especially among the subgroups without HBV relapse after cessation of therapy.
Evaluation of the drug disposition of RO7049389 with in vitro data and human mass balance supported by physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling
Authors: Zhang Yuchen , Umehara Kenichi , Romeo Andrea A. , Singh Nand , Cantrill Carina , Savage Mark , Chen Ethan , Zhang Wen , Parrot Neil John , Paehler Axel
Published: June 2023

Aims

RO7049389 (linvencorvir) is a developmental oral treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The aim of this work was to conduct mass balance (MB) and absolute bioavailability (BA) analyses in healthy volunteers, alongside in vitro evaluations of the metabolism of RO7049389 and a major circulating active metabolite M5 in human hepatocytes, and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling to refine the underlying drug disposition paradigm.

Methods

Participants in the clinical study (MB: Caucasian, male, n = 6; BA: Caucasian and Asian, male and female, n = 16, 8 in each ethnic groups) received oral [14C] or unlabelled RO7049389 (600/1000 mg) followed by 100 μg intravenous [13C]RO7049389. Metabolic pathways with fractions metabolized—obtained from the in vitro incubation results of 10 μM [14C]RO7049389 and 1 μM M5 with (long‐term cocultured) human hepatocytes in the absence and presence of the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitor itraconazole—were used to complement the PBPK models, alongside the clinical MB and BA data.

Results

The model performance in predicting the pharmacokinetic profiles of RO7049389 and M5 aligned with clinical observations in Caucasians and was also successfully applied to Asians. Accordingly, the drug disposition pathways for RO7049389 were postulated with newly characterized estimates of the fractions: biliary excretion by P‐glycoprotein (~41%), direct glucuronidation via uridine 5′‐diphosphoglucuronosyltransferase 1A3 (~11%), hexose conjugation (~6%), oxidation by CYP3A4 (~28%) and other oxidation reactions (~9%).

Conclusion

These results support the ongoing clinical development program for RO7049389 and highlight the broader value of PBPK and MB analyses in drug development.
Towards a mechanistic understanding of the impacts of nitrogen deposition on producer–consumer interactions
Authors: Vogels Joost J. , Van de Waal Dedmer B. , WallisDeVries Michiel F. , Van den Burg Arnold B. , Nijssen Marijn , Bobbink Roland , Berg Matty P. , Olde Venterink Harry , Siepel Henk
Published: June 2023

Nitrogen (N) deposition has increased substantially since the second half of the 20th century due to human activities. This increase of reactive N into the biosphere has major implications for ecosystem functioning, including primary production, soil and water chemistry and producer community structure and diversity. Increased N deposition is also linked to the decline of insects observed over recent decades. However, we currently lack a mechanistic understanding of the effects of high N deposition on individual fitness, species richness and community structure of both invertebrate and vertebrate consumers. Here, we review the effects of N deposition on producer–consumer interactions, focusing on five existing ecological frameworks: C:N:P ecological stoichiometry, trace element ecological stoichiometry, nutritional geometry, essential micronutrients and allelochemicals. We link reported N deposition‐mediated changes in producer quality to life‐history strategies and traits of consumers, to gain a mechanistic understanding of the direction of response in consumers. We conclude that high N deposition influences producer qualityviaeutrophication and acidification pathways. This makes oligotrophic poorly buffered ecosystems most vulnerable to significant changes in producer quality. Changes in producer quality between the reviewed frameworks are often interlinked, complicating predictions of the effects of high N deposition on producer quality. The degree and direction of fitness responses of consumers to changes in producer quality varies among species but can be explained by differences in life‐history traits and strategies, particularly those affecting species nutrient intake regulation, mobility, relative growth rate, host‐plant specialisation, ontogeny and physiology. To increase our understanding of the effects of N deposition on these complex mechanisms, the inclusion of life‐history traits of consumer species in future study designs is pivotal. Based on the reviewed literature, we formulate five hypotheses on the mechanisms underlying the effects of high N deposition on consumers, by linking effects of nutritional ecological frameworks to life‐history strategies. Importantly, we expect that N‐deposition‐mediated changes in producer quality will result in a net decrease in consumer community as well as functional diversity. Moreover, we anticipate an increased risk of outbreak events of a small subset of generalist species, with concomitant declines in a multitude of specialist species. Overall, linking ecological frameworks with consumer life‐history strategies provides a mechanistic understanding of the impacts of high N deposition on producer–consumer interactions, which can inform management towards more effective mitigation strategies.
‘It hurts to give up on a child who has already been given up’: School counsellors' perspectives on their support for children in foster care
Authors: Levkovich Inbar , Awwad‐Tabry Sawsan , Shachoach Bat Hen
Published: June 2023

This qualitative study examines how 17 elementary school counsellors perceive their work with out‐of‐home foster‐care children. Three main themes emerged from the in‐depth semi‐structured interviews, highlighting the challenges and conflicts faced by these counsellors: (1) shying away from providing deep therapy but helping with specific issues, (2) the professional and ethical dilemmas of having to report to the authorities about foster families' domestic neglect or abuse while maintaining positive work relationships with these families and the children and (3) prevailing admiration towards the foster parents. The study recommends comprehensive training for school counsellors, administrators and staff as well as professional peer‐support groups for counsellors.
Do family ownership and control influence the consequences of IFRS adoption?
Authors: Wu Chloe Yu‐Hsuan , Hsu Hwa‐Hsien , Lin Che‐Hung
Published: June 2023

Research Question/Issue

This study investigates whether the impact of the mandatory adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on earnings management practices varies between family and non‐family firms. Specifically, we examine the effects of different family ownership configurations and the CEO family identity.

Research Findings/Insights

We find that firms in Taiwan use less accrual‐based earnings management (ABEM) under the IFRS but more real earnings management (REM). On average, IFRS adoption is less likely to result in upward ABEM and REM in family firms than in non‐family firms. However, family firms with greater family ownership, lower family cash–vote divergence, a founder CEO, or a professional CEO are more likely to promote the positive effect of the IFRS on ABEM and mitigate the negative effect of the IFRS on REM. Furthermore, these firms are less likely to substitute ABEM with REM after the transition to the IFRS.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

While recent literature has paid increasing attention to various governance characteristics that shape management's reporting incentives and, thus, affect the consequences of mandatory IFRS adoption, we focus on family firms in which the principal–principal agency relationship between controlling owners and other shareholders is salient. We highlight the effect of family owners' different agency features in relation to a structural change in the accounting regime.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

This study addresses how a firm's corporate governance influences the net benefits of implementing new accounting standards. Our evidence offers insights to policymakers and capital market participants, showing that variations in family owners' reporting incentives may have different impacts on the consequences of adopting the IFRS.
Brain linear measurements for differentiating normal pressure hydrocephalus from Alzheimer's disease: an exploratory study
Authors: Luca Antonina , Donzuso Giulia , Mostile Giovanni , Terranova Roberta , Cicero Calogero Edoardo , Nicoletti Alessandra , Zappia Mario
Published: June 2023

Background and purpose

Easy and reliable tools for the differential diagnosis between idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are needed.

Materials and methods

In this cross‐sectional study iNPH and AD patients referred to the Neurology Unit of the University of Catania from 1 January 2020 to 1 December 2022 were enrolled. The following brain linear measurements (BLMs) were calculated: Evan's index (EI), the parieto‐occipital ratio (POR) and the temporal ratio (TR). For each index, sensitivity, specificity and the area under the curve (AUC) were calculated. Moreover, a cumulative index, the BLM index, was also considered.

Results

Fifty patients (25 iNPH and 25 AD) were enrolled. In differentiating iNPH from AD, EI had the highest AUC (0.956), POR had the highest specificity (100%) whilst TR had the highest sensitivity (92%). The BLM index differentiated iNPH and AD with a sensitivity of 96%, a specificity of 92% and an AUC of 0.963 with an optimal cut‐off value of 0.303.

Conclusion

Evan's index, POR and TR may be useful in the differential diagnosis between iNPH and AD. At an individual level, the BLM index represents a valid and reliable tool to achieve an accurate differentiation between these two conditions.