bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Financial barriers for sports consumption: the dynamics of the income–expenditure relation
Authors: Thibaut Erik , Eakins John , Willem Annick , Scheerder Jeroen
Published: May 2020

Purpose

First, the income elasticities are calculated for different levels of income, for both the decision to spend money on sports and the amount of money that is spent. Second, the study researches whether different operationalisations of income (i.e. family versus personal) result in different elasticity values. Third, the effect of sports-specific and non-sports leisure variables on sports participation is investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

A representative dataset of 3,775 adults is used containing a wide variety of leisure characteristics, gathered by means of a face-to-face survey. By means of a Tobit regression model both the determining factors of sports expenditure and the income elasticities are analysed.

Findings

For lower income individuals, a rise in income has a relatively bigger influence on the probability to spend money on sports participation, than is the case for higher income individuals. A positive relationship is found with sex (male), education, number of minutes and disciplines of sports and membership of a socio-cultural organisation, while age, watching TV and attending cultural events have a negative effect.

Social implications

The study provides evidence that income-based segmentation of sports participants could turn out to be an efficient policy tool. By lowering the monetary-burden for lower incomes, it can be expected that participation rates can be raised efficiently.

Originality/value

For the first time the relationship between income and expenditure is explored for different levels of income and for two operationalisations of income. Moreover, the inclusion of non-sports leisure variables allows investigating relationships between sports consumption and other leisure activities.
Enhancing sustainability in the contemporary model of CSR: a case of fast fashion industry in developing countries
Authors: Nguyen Hoang Tien , Le Doan Minh Duc , Ho Thien Thong Minh , Nguyen Phuong Mai
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This study aims to point out the importance and the relevance of sustainability issues and the need for their enhancement in the contemporary model of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as the top priority for business entities. Furthermore, it also highlights ways to enhance sustainability in the contemporary CSR model in the fast fashion industry of developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review has been extensively done through available databases, including ProQuest and ScienceDirect.

Findings

This study delivers a full insight into the current state of research on the CSR model and sustainability in developing countries. The prevalent corporate environmental sustainability practices of global apparel brands are identified to propose ways to enhance sustainability in the contemporary CSR model.

Research limitations/implications

The growth of fast fashion industry brings the risks of unsustainability to developing countries. Thus, it is a must for the garment and textile companies to enhance a sustainable CSR model through promoting sustainable leadership and integrating corporate culture.

Originality/value

To the best of author’s knowledge, this study is the first to emphasise the role of sustainable leadership in promoting a sustainable CSR model in the fast fashion industry of developing countries.
Structural complexity and large‐sized trees explain shifting species richness and carbon relationship across vegetation types
Authors: Mensah Sylvanus , Salako Valère K. , Seifert Thomas
Published: May 2020

It is prominently claimed that enhancing forest diversity would play a dual role of nature conservation and climate regulation. While the idea is intuitively appealing, studies show that species richness effects on above‐ground carbon (AGC) are not always positive, but instead unpredictable especially across scales and complex terrestrial systems having large‐diameter and tall‐stature trees. Previous studies have further considered structural complexity and larger trees as determinants of AGC. Yet it remains unclear what drives differential diversity–AGC relationships across vegetation types.

Here we test whether structural complexity and large‐sized trees play an influential role in explaining shifting diversity–AGC relationships across vegetation types, using a 22.3‐ha sampled dataset of 124 inventory plots in woodlands, gallery forests, tree/shrub savannas and mixed plantations in West Africa.

Natural vegetation had greater species richness and structural complexity than mixed plantations, as expected. In addition, AGC was highest in gallery forests and mixed plantations, which is consistent with favourable environmental conditions in the former and high stocking densities and presence of fast‐growing species in the latter. Significant interaction effects of species richness and vegetation on AGC revealed a vegetation‐dependent species richness–AGC relationship: consistently, we found positive species richness–AGC relationship in both mixed plantations and woodlands, and nonsignificant patterns in gallery forests and tree/shrub savanna. Furthermore, there was a vegetation‐dependent mediation of structural complexity in linking species richness to AGC, with stronger positive structural complexity effects where species richness–AGC relationships were positive, and stronger positive large‐sized trees’ effect where species richness–AGC relationships were neutral.

Our study provides strong evidence of vegetation‐dependent species richness–AGC relationships, which operated through differential mediation by structural complexity of the species richness and large trees’ effects. We conclude that even higher species richness in diversified ecosystems may not always relate positively with AGC, and that neutral pattern may arise possibly as a result of larger dominant individual trees imposing a slow stand dynamic flux and overruling species richness effects.

A freePlain Language Summarycan be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Asynchrony among species and functional groups and temporal stability under perturbations: Patterns and consequences
Authors: Huang Mengjiao , Liu Xiang , Zhou Shurong
Published: May 2020

A number of theoretical and empirical studies have demonstrated the effects of perturbations on ecosystem stability. Compensatory dynamics among taxonomic units have been proposed as a major mechanism regulating the temporal stability of biomass production (hereafter ‘temporal stability’). However, most studies have focused on the effects of species asynchrony on temporal stability in response to perturbations, and few studies examined how compensatory changes among functional groups affected temporal stability.

Here, we conducted a 4‐year functional group removal experiment and a 4‐year experimental warming and nitrogen addition experiment in an alpine meadow of Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau to investigate the effects of perturbations (functional group removal, experimental warming and nitrogen addition) on temporal stability and the potential mechanisms.

In both experiments, temporal stability was positively related to both species and functional group asynchrony. However, species asynchrony and functional group asynchrony responded differently to different types of perturbations. In the removal experiment, although asynchrony among both species and functional groups decreased as more functional groups were removed, structural equation modelling showed that removal of different functional groups could affect temporal stability through altering either species or functional group asynchrony. Warming suppressed temporal stability through decreasing asynchrony among species, while nitrogen addition reduced temporal stability mainly through decreasing functional group asynchrony.

Synthesis. Our findings demonstrate the importance of considering compensatory dynamics at different taxonomic levels for predicting temporal stability under anthropogenic perturbations in alpine meadows, and throw light on the importance of protecting both species and functional group richness to maintain temporal stability in the context of global change.
Relative impact of human harvest and wolf predation on two ungulate species in Central Italy
Authors: Bassi Elena , Gazzola Andrea , Bongi Paolo , Scandura Massimo , Apollonio Marco
Published: May 2020

Data collected from 2000 to 2010 on a predator–prey system in eastern Tuscany (central Italy) were used to investigate the relative impact of human harvest and natural predation by wolves (Canis lupus) on the local populations of their main prey: wild boar (Sus scrofa) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). We estimated the percent composition of wolf diet from scat analysis (n = 2,150) and converted it into ingested biomass and number of killed individuals by quantifying the energy requirement of the resident wolf pack based on the field metabolic rate formula. Moreover, we collected data on hunting bags, and investigating the age/weight class preferences of both wolves and hunters compared their impacts on the two ungulate populations. In both prey species, losses due to hunting resulted to be eight to nine times higher than those due to wolf predation. In terms of number of individuals removed per year, the wild boar was the main prey species for wolves (mean ±SD: 83 ± 23) and the most harvested by hunters (mean ±SD: 609 ± 241). Wolves targeted the intermediate weight class (10–35 kg) in wild boar and showed no preference for a specific class of roe deer, while hunters targeted the largest classes in both species. The combined removal by hunters and wolf predation did not exceed the recruitment of both ungulate populations. We can therefore argue that a top‐down force is unlikely to contrast the population growth of the two ungulate species in Central Italy.
Leading Innovative Practice: Leadership Attributes in LEAP Practices
Authors: CRABTREE BENJAMIN F. , HOWARD JENNA , MILLER WILLIAM L. , CROMP DeANN , HSU CLARISSA , COLEMAN KATIE , AUSTIN BRIAN , FLINTER MARGARET , TUZZIO LEAH , WAGNER EDWARD H.
Published: May 2020

Policy Points

An onslaught of policies from the federal government, states, the insurance industry, and professional organizations continually requires primary care practices to make substantial changes; however, ineffective leadership at the practice level can impede the dissemination and scale‐up of these policies.

The inability of primary care practice leadership to respond to ongoing policy demands has resulted in moral distress and clinician burnout.

Investments are needed to develop interventions and educational opportunities that target a broad array of leadership attributes.

Context

Over the past several decades, health care in the United States has undergone substantial and rapid change. At the heart of this change is an assumption that a more robust primary care infrastructure helps achieve the quadruple aim of improved care, better patient experience, reduced cost, and improved work life of health care providers. Practice‐level leadership is essential to succeed in this rapidly changing environment. Complex adaptive systems theory offers a lens for understanding important leadership attributes.

Methods

A review of the literature on leadership from a complex adaptive system perspective identified nine leadership attributes hypothesized to support practice change: motivating others to engage in change, managing abuse of power and social influence, assuring psychological safety, enhancing communication and information sharing, generating a learning organization, instilling a collective mind, cultivating teamwork, fostering emergent leaders, and encouraging boundary spanning. Through a secondary qualitative analysis, we applied these attributes to nine practices ranking high on both a practice learning and leadership scale from the Learning from Effective Ambulatory Practice (LEAP) project to see if and how these attributes manifest in high‐performing innovative practices.

Findings

We found all nine attributes identified from the literature were evident and seemed important during a time of change and innovation. We identified two additional attributes—anticipating the future and developing formal processes—that we found to be important. Complexity science suggests a hypothesized developmental model in which some attributes are foundational and necessary for the emergence of others.

Conclusions

Successful primary care practices exhibit a diversity of strong local leadership attributes. To meet the realities of a rapidly changing health care environment, training of current and future primary care leaders needs to be more comprehensive and move beyond motivating others and developing effective teams.
Application of a rolled cookie laboratory exercise as a method for students to gain undergraduate research experience in food science
Authors: Heermann Melanie L. , Getty Kelly J. K. , Yucel Umut
Published: May 2020

Hands‐on learning is a proven method of improving students’ critical thinking skills. Undergraduate research projects are encouraged to help students develop research and laboratory skills. If properly designed and implemented, research opportunities can be embedded in existing student coursework, which increases the number of students who can participate in these research opportunities. Objectives of this study were twofold: (a) to determine students’ perceptions of an undergraduate research laboratory exercise and (b) provide an innovative laboratory exercise for instructors to implement in their own classrooms. Rolled cookies were prepared by a food science class according to American Association of Cereal Chemists Method 10–50.05, using sucrose and alternative sweeteners and evaluated for physicochemical and organoleptic attributes. After completing the exercise, students evaluated cookie physical/organoleptic properties using a hedonic scale, were asked about personal demographics, and were surveyed about research/writing skills and food processing knowledge using a Likert scale. Approximately 50% of the class responded to the 2018 survey and nearly 85% responded to the 2019 survey. On average, 81.6% of students responded with “Strongly Agree” or “Somewhat Agree” to all survey questions, including data collection and analysis, critical thinking skills, experimental design, and replications. Students responded that detailed instructions provided by instructors were beneficial to their ability to understand experimental design, scientific communication, and the importance of using scientific resources.
Ocular manifestations in hemodialysis patients and short‐term changes in ophthalmologic findings
Authors: Sariyeva Ismayılov Ayna , Aydin Guclu Ozge , Erol Haşim Atakan
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of ocular manifestations in hemodialysis (HD) patients and short‐term changes in ophthalmologic findings. A total of 142 eyes of 71 HD patients were included in this study. Patients with corneal and conjunctival deposits, diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, cataract, optic atrophy, or glaucoma were recorded. Schirmer I tests and the tear break up time (TBUT) were performed in the listed order to evaluate dry eye. Axial length (AL) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were measured using ultrasound biometry using an infrared system. The TBUT test, Schirmer I test, intraocular pressure, AL, and ACD were applied within 30 minutes before and after a single session of HD. The most common ocular findings included conjunctival calcification (60.6%), cataract (50.7%), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (21.1%). The average TBUT results decreased from 10.81 ± 4.90 to 9.43 ± 4.78 seconds after HD, and was statistically significant (P < .001). The mean Schirmer I test results decreased from 13.59 ± 4.67 to 12.07 ± 4.86 mm after HD. The decline in the Schirmer I test results was statistically significant (P = .005). The mean intraocular pressure decreased from 14.57 ± 4.40 to 13.43 ± 3.91 mm Hg after HD, and was statistically significant (P < .001). The mean ACD increased from 3.19 ± 0.53 to 3.25 ± 0.55 mm, and the mean AL increased from 23.05 ± 1.35 to 23.13 ± 1.35 mm, both increases being significant after HD (both P < .001). Eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, corneo‐conjunctival calcification, and dry eye are common in HD patients; these patients should undergo early and frequent eye examinations.
Backwater Confluences of the Ohio River: Organic and Inorganic Fingerprints Explain Sediment Dynamics in Wetlands and Marinas
Authors: Ford W.I. , Fox J.F. , Mahoney D.T. , DeGraves G. , Erhardt A. , Yost S.
Published: May 2020

In the Ohio River (OR), backwater confluence sedimentation dynamics are understudied, however, these river features are expected to be influential on the system’s ecological and economic function when integrated along the river’s length. In the following paper, we test the efficacy of organic and inorganic tracers for sediment fingerprinting in backwater confluences; we use fingerprinting results to evidence sediment dynamics controlling deposition patterns in confluences used for wetland and marina functions; and we quantify the spatial extent of tributary drainages with wetland and marina features in OR confluences. Both organic and inorganic tracers statistically differentiate sediment from stream and river end‐members. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes produce greater uncertainty in fingerprinting results than inorganic elemental tracers. Uncertainty analysis of the nonconservative tracer term in the organic matter fingerprinting application estimates an apparent enrichment of the carbon stable isotopes during instream residence, and the nonconservativeness is quantified with a statistical approach unique to the fingerprinting literature. Wetland and marina features in OR confluences impact 42% and 11% of tributary drainage areas, respectively. Sediment dynamics show wetland and marina confluences experience deposition from river backwaters with longitudinally linear and nonlinear patterns, respectively, from sediment sources.
A 51 bp indel polymorphism within the PTH1R gene is significantly associated with chicken growth and carcass traits
Authors: Ren T. , Zhang Z. , Fu R. , Yang Y. , Li W. , Liang J. , Mo G. , Luo W. , Zhang X.
Published: May 2020

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a crucial regulator of calcium homeostasis and bone remodeling, and the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R) belongs to a class II G‐protein‐coupled receptor. PTH activates PTH1R, which mediates catabolic and anabolic processes in the skeleton. However, the functional mechanism of PTH1R has not been thoroughly elucidated in organisms. This study identified a 51 bp indel mutation in the first intron of the PTH1R gene and elucidated the effect of this gene mutation on the growth and carcass traits in chickens. The results indicated that the 51 bp indel was significantly associated with subcutaneous fat thickness, abdominal fat weight, body weight and daily gain over 4–8 weeks. Furthermore, we found that PTH1R gene expression was highest in the kidney and liver tissues, and it showed a trend of decreasing in leg and breast muscle tissues at different embryonic stages. In addition, we examined the expression of the three genotypes of the PTH1R gene in the liver, breast muscle and abdominal fat and found that the II genotype was significantly higher than the DD and ID genotypes. In summary, these findings suggest that the PTH1R gene can serve as a potential molecular marker for chicken breeding.
Breed difference and regulatory role of CRTC3 in porcine intramuscular adipocyte
Authors: Liu J. , Nong Q. , Wang J. , Chen W. , Xu Z. , You W. , Xie J. , Wang Y. , Shan T.
Published: May 2020

The cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB)‐regulated transcription coactivator 3 (CRTC3) is a member of the CRTC protein family and plays an important role in energy metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine if the expression of porcine CRTC3 is related to intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition and meat quality in Heigai pigs (a local fatty breed in China) and Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) pigs (a lean crossbred pig widely cultured in China). In addition, the effect of ectopic expression of CRTC3 on gene expression in porcine IMF adipocytes was also examined. Our results showed that Heigai pigs had lower lean percentage, thicker back fat thickness and smaller loin muscle area than DLY pigs. Compared with DLY pigs, Heigai pigs had higher marbling scores, better meat color and higher IMF contents and triglyceride concentrations. Higher levels of oxidative metabolic enzyme and expression of the slow oxidative muscle fiber‐related genes were observed in longissimus dorsi muscle and psoas major muscle (P < 0.05) from Heigai pigs. Notably, CRTC3 and adipocyte‐specific marker genes were highly expressed in muscle tissues of Heigai pigs. The expression of lipolysis‐related genes ATGL and HSL were lower in Heigai muscles. Moreover, forced expression of CRTC3 promoted lipid accumulation and increased the expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα, leptin and FABP4 (P < 0.05), whereas it decreased the expression of ATGL and HSL in IMF adipocytes. These results suggest that CRTC3 expression is associated with lipid accumulation and IMF deposition in pigs.
Animal industry and veterinary science in eastern New Guinea: World WarIIto Independence, 1975
Authors: Egerton JR , Rothwell TLW , Harvey PR , Owen IL , Copland JW
Published: May 2020

We have described the efforts of the Australian administration of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea (TPNG) to establish a veterinary service and viable animal industries. These efforts began with planning before the end of World War II in 1945 and continued until independence in 1975. Whereas pre‐war cattle had mostly been used to control grass on plantations, post‐war, the objective was to use the country's extensive, unoccupied grasslands for cattle production. During this period, the cattle population increased from 4000 to more than 150,000. The greatest success was achieved in herds with crosses ofBos indicusandBos taurusowned by expatriates. The only serious disease constraint on production was myiasis due toChrysomya bezziana,a parasite throughout New Guinea and South‐east Asia. Attempts were made to increase the productivity of the indigenous pig population. Success was limited by a failure to manage inadequate nutrition and internal parasites and to fully understand the cultural aspects of pig ownership. Similar problems inhibited chicken production in villages. The serious viral infections of pigs and birds were absent from TPNG, but a border with Indonesian Papua represents a potential route for the incursion of animal diseases exotic to both Papua New Guinea and to Australia.
Mobilising the Periphery: Brazil's My House My Life Programme and the Homeless Workers' Movement
Authors: Albert Victor A.
Published: May 2020

Brazil's Movimento de Trabalhadores Sem Teto (MTST, Homeless Workers' Movement) has grown dramatically in recent years. This growth was partly provided for by the use of a large government housing programme, Minha Casa Minha Vida (MCMV, My House My Life), which allowed the MTST to construct housing for its members and swell its ranks with thousands of new members. Yet some have argued that the MCMV programme used by the MTST may compromise the autonomy of civil society organisations. This article, by contrast, argues that while the MCMV programme encouraged bureaucratic practices, it also helped to promote the cultural politics of the
MTST.
Role of Pd(II)–chitooligosaccharides–Gboxin analog in oxidative phosphorylation inhibition and energy depletion: Targeting mitochondrial dynamics
Authors: Elbehairi Serag Eldin I. , Alfaifi Mohammad Y. , Shati Ali A. , Alshehri Mohammed A. , Elshaarawy Reda F.M. , Hafez Hani S.
Published: May 2020

In this work, we have successfully upgraded the crab wastes into Pd(II) complex of Gboxin analog–chitooligosaccharides conjugate (Pd(II)COS@GbA). This new complex has a high capacity to inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer cells (IC50 = 1.92 μg/ml). This activity could be attributed to its ability to induce mitochondrial fragmentation through increasing mitochondrial fission dynamin‐related protein 1 (p < .05) and down‐regulation of optic atrophy 1 proteins (p < .05). Moreover, this complex can effectively disrupt ATP synthase action leading to declined ATP production, along with downstream of ATPase inhibitor factor1 that hinder energy production in the cancer cells. Also, it has an anti‐inflammatory effect by triggering modulators for the release of inflammatory molecules such as TNF‐α (p < .05), IL‐6 (p < .05), and mRNA transcripts of COX‐II (p < .01). Therefore, Pd(II)COS@GbA exhibited significant anti‐prostate cancer activity through different mechanisms in inducing energy depletion and mitochondrial fragmentation leading to disrupted oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Complex Pd(II)COS@GbA is more cytotoxic for PC3 than RWPE‐1 which in turn means it is may act as a selective cytotoxic agent for prostate cancer.
Narrative review regarding the applicability, accuracy, and clinical outcome of flapless implant surgery with or without computer guidance
Authors: Naeini Emitis Natali , Atashkadeh Mandana , De Bruyn Hugo , D'Haese Jan
Published: May 2020

Background

The advent of computer‐guided surgery removed the need for complex surgical interventions such as extensive flap elevations, second stage implant exposure, and complications usually associated with conventional protocols.

Purpose

(a) Analyze available literature reporting on applicability, accuracy, clinical outcome of flapless surgery with or without computer guidance. (b) Evaluate quality of studies, in terms of scientific level of evidence and ethical committee approval.

Materials and methods

A PUBMED search was performed in July 2018. A first search was based on a general search string limited to “Dental Implants” and “flapless surgery.” A second search focused on accuracy of computer‐guided surgery using search string “Surgery, Computer‐Assisted” or “guided surgery,” and “Dental implants.” The following inclusion criteria were applied: (a) studies in English; (b) human studies (excluding cadaver); (c) systematic reviews; (d) systematic reviews with meta‐analysis. Reviews not mentioning accuracy were excluded in search 2.

Results

Nine reviews included in total. Implant survival ranged between 89% and 100%. Early surgical and prosthetic complications reported in 9.1% to 36.4% of reviewed papers. Tooth‐supported guides show more accuracy than bone or mucosa‐supported guides. Fully guided surgery yields higher accuracy, with lower values for horizontal coronal, horizontal apical and angular deviation (1.00, 1.23, and 3.13°mm, respectively) than those placed with half guided surgery (1.44, 1.91, and 4.30 mm, respectively). Thirty‐four of 71 human studies included in nine reviews, mentioned ethical committee approval or compliance with Declaration of Helsinki.

Conclusions

Guided flapless surgery is comparable to free‐hand surgery in terms of implant survival, marginal bone remodeling, and peri‐implant variables. Clinicians advised to take care in all steps of the protocol, and include safety margins around virtually planned implants. Regarding compliance with research ethics, we should question whether scientific reports of clinical trials performed without an ethical umbrella are trustworthy. Compliance of ethics standards is imperative for submitted research papers.
Long‐term renal function in living kidney donors with simple renal cysts: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Waldram Madeleine M. , Thomas Alvin G. , Yu Yifan , Holscher Courtenay M. , Nguyen Anh Q. , Halpern Samantha E. , Ottman Shane , Muzaale Abimereki D. , Henderson Macey L. , Lentine Krista L. , Al Ammary Fawaz , Brennan Daniel C. , Garonzik‐Wang Jacqueline M. , Segev Dorry L. , Massie Allan B.
Published: May 2020

Simple (Bosniak I) renal cysts are considered acceptable in living kidney donor selection in terms of cancer risk. However, they tend to increase in number and size over time and might compromise renal function in donors. To clarify their implications for long‐term renal function, we characterized the prevalence of renal cysts in 454 individuals who donated at our center from 2000 to 2007. We estimated the association between the presence of cysts in the kidney remaining after nephrectomy (ie, retained cysts) and postdonation eGFR trajectory using mixed‐effects linear regression. Donors with retained cysts (N = 86) were older (P < .001) and had slightly lower predonation eGFR (median 94 vs 98 mL/min/1.73 m2,P < .01) than those without cysts. Over a median 7.8 years, donors with retained cysts had lower baseline eGFR (−8.7−5.6−2.3 mL/min/1.73 m2,P < .01) but similar yearly change in eGFR (−0.40.020.4 mL/min/1.73 m2,P = .2) compared to those without retained cysts. Adjusting for predonation characteristics, there was no difference in baseline eGFR (P = .6) or yearly change in eGFR (P > .9). There continued to be no evidence of an association when we considered retained cyst(s) ≥10 mm or multiple retained cysts (allP > .05). These findings reaffirm current practices of accepting candidates with simple renal cysts for donor nephrectomy.
Elastophagocytosis and interstitial granulomatous infiltrate are more common in extragenital vs genital lichen sclerosus
Authors: Fancher Kendall , Gardner Jerad M. , Shalin Sara C.
Published: May 2020

Background

Genital and extragenital lichen sclerosus (LS) share similar histopathologic features. A recent small series documented elastophagocytosis uniquely in extragenital LS. We evaluated a larger series of LS for elastophagocytosis, elastic fiber loss, and other histopathologic features. We evaluated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression to determine if these proteins play an etiologic role.

Methods

Genital (n = 42) and extragenital (n = 41) LS biopsies were examined for histopathologic features, elastic fiber alteration (Verhoeff van Gieson staining), and MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 expression (immunohistochemistry).

Results

Elastophagocytosis and an interstitial granulomatous pattern were significantly more common in extragenital LS than genital LS (43.9% vs 4.7% and 56.1% vs 9.5%). Extragenital LS had mild/focal elastic fiber loss (43.9%), while genital LS had moderate (61.9%) or marked (19%) loss. MMP‐9 was diffusely expressed in histiocytes in both types of LS (genital 97.5%; extragenital 100%). Weak MMP‐2 expression was seen in genital (58%) and extragenital (55%) LS.

Conclusions

Extragenital LS, but not genital LS, frequently exhibits elastophagocytosis and interstitial granulomatous infiltrate, and these patterns could contribute to elastic fiber destruction in extragenital LS. While MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 expression are common in LS, expression did not significantly differ depending on anatomic site and thus is unlikely to explain observed histopathologic differences.
Validation of a three‐dimensional printed model for training of surgical extraction of supernumerary teeth
Authors: Chae Yong Kwon , Lee Hyeonjong , Jih Myeong Kwan , Lee Hyo‐Seol , Lee Jung‐Woo , Kim Su‐Hwan , Kim Gyu‐Tae , Choi Sung Chul , Nam Ok Hyung
Published: May 2020

Introduction

This study aimed to validate a three‐dimensional (3D) printed model to provide training for supernumerary teeth (SNTs) extraction.

Materials and Methods

Each of the 30 participants, grouped as experienced and without experience, conducted two identically simulated surgeries on a 3D‐printed replica of human mixed dentition with a SNT. The surgery time, area of bony window and volume of removed material were measured; subsequently, responses to a five‐item questionnaire were recorded. The collected data were statistically analysed.

Results

The surgery time was 228.37 ± 141.53 seconds and 125.47 ± 53.03 seconds in the first and second surgery, respectively. The training significantly decreased the surgery time in the participants without experience (P = .000). However, there were no significant differences in the area of window opening (P = .271) and volume of removed material between the two surgeries (P = .075). The participants who perceived educational benefits accounted for more than 60% of the respondents for every question. Participants without experience in SNT extraction showed a tendency to rate a higher score than did those with experience.

Conclusions

A 3D‐printed model for surgical extraction of a SNT can improve surgical skill and, especially, shorten the learning curve in beginners.
Impact of the COVID‐19 outbreak on acute stroke pathways – insights from the Alsace region in France
Authors: Pop R. , Quenardelle V. , Hasiu A. , Mihoc D. , Sellal F. , Dugay M. H. , Lebedinsky P. A. , Schluck E. , LA Porta A. , Courtois S. , Gheoca R. , Wolff V. , Beaujeux R.
Published: May 2020

Background and purpose

To date, no study has attempted to quantify the impact of the COVID‐19 outbreak on the incidence and treatment of acute stroke.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of acute stroke pathway parameters in all three stroke units in the Alsace region during the first month of the outbreak (1–31 March 2020), using the similar period from 2019 as a comparator. A secondary detailed analysis of all stroke alerts and stroke unit admissions was performed in the centre with the largest case volume.

Results

Compared to the same period in 2019, in March 2020 there were 39.6% fewer stroke alerts and 33.3% fewer acute revascularization treatments [40.9% less intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and 27.6% less mechanical thrombectomy (MT)]. No marked variation was observed in the number of stroke unit admissions (−0.6%). The proportion of patients with acute revascularization treatments (IVT or MT) out of the total number of stroke unit admissions was significantly lower in March 2020 (21.3%) compared to 2019 (31.8%), P = 0.034. There were no significant differences in time delays or severity of clinical symptoms for patients treated by IVT or MT, nor in the distribution of final diagnosis amongst stroke alerts and stroke unit admissions.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the overall incidence of stroke remained the same, but fewer patients presented within the therapeutic time window. Increased public awareness and corrective measures are needed to mitigate the deleterious effects of the COVID‐19 outbreak on acute stroke care.
Pregnancy outcome in Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease: results of the CMT‐NET cohort study in Germany
Authors: Rudnik‐Schöneborn S. , Thiele S. , Walter M. C. , Reinecke L. , Sereda M. , Schöneborn R. , Elbracht M.
Published: May 2020

Background and purpose

Systematic research on the effect of Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) disease on the outcome of pregnancy and conversely the effect of pregnancy on neuropathy is still sparse.

Methods

A clinical cohort study and cross‐sectional study within the German CMT‐NET was conducted between 2016 and 2019. Inclusion criteria were a confirmed diagnosis of CMT and at least one completed pregnancy after 1990. All participants agreed to fill in questionnaires and have their medical files reviewed.

Results

The study group comprised 54 women with a total of 98 pregnancies. The mean age at onset of CMT disease was 12.6 years (range 0–37 years). Fifty (92%) patients had autosomal dominant CMT; two patients each (4%) had X‐linked and autosomal recessive CMT. Forty patients (74%) had a PMP22 gene duplication (CMT1A). Obstetric complications did not differ significantly from a German reference population, neither in the whole group nor in the CMT1A group. Overall there was no increased newborn morbidity and mortality. About one‐third of patients reported exacerbation of CMT disease in or after pregnancy. No adverse effects of anaesthesia were reported. Most participants stressed a positive attitude and awareness of challenges associated with pregnancy. Important issues were assistance and support in caring for the family.

Discussion

In line with findings from our previous study undertaken in the 1990s, there were no increased complication rates for pregnancy and delivery. These results are reassuring for the vast majority of CMT patients and are important for family planning and clinical care.
Program of Active Consumer Engagement in Self‐Management in Epilepsy: Replication and extension of a self‐management randomized controlled trial
Authors: Johnson Erica K. , Fraser Robert T. , Lashley Steven , Barber Jason , Brandling‐Bennett Erica M. , Vossler David G. , Miller John W. , Caylor Lisa , Warheit‐Niemi Tessala
Published: May 2020

Objective

The Program of Active Consumer Engagement in Self‐Management in Epilepsy (PACES) is an evidenced‐based self‐management intervention for adults with epilepsy. Prior randomized controlled trial (RCT) data show that PACES reduces depression and improves self‐management, self‐efficacy, and quality of life for 6 months postprogram. The objective of this study was to replicate a PACES RCT with key extensions: more diverse patient pool from community‐based epilepsy centers; option for telephone‐based participation; and longer follow‐up (12 months with booster support for intervention group), to examine duration of impact and inform dissemination and implementation.

Methods

Participants were adults with chronic epilepsy (n = 101) without serious mental illness or substantive intellectual impairment, recruited from three epilepsy centers. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention or waitlist control groups. Outcomes included the Epilepsy Self‐Management Scale (ESMS), Epilepsy Self‐Efficacy Scale (ESES), Quality of Life in Epilepsy‐31, Patient Health Questionnaire‐9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7, administered at baseline, postintervention (8 weeks), and 6 and 12 months postintervention. Intervention was an 8‐week group of five to eight adults co‐led by a psychologist and trained peer with epilepsy that met once per week by teleconference or in person at a hospital for 60‐75 minutes. Topics included medical, psychosocial, cognitive, and self‐management aspects of epilepsy, as well as community integration and epilepsy‐related communication. Treatment group provided program evaluation.

Results

PACES participants (n = 49) improved relative to controls (n = 52) on the ESES (P < .022) and overall distress composite (P = .008). At 6 months, PACES participants remained improved on the ESES (P = .008) and composite (P = .001), and were improved on the ESMS (P = .005). At 12 months, PACES participants remained improved on the ESMS (P = .006) and were improved on an overall distress composite of combined measures (P = .018). Attrition was low (<6% in each group), and all program satisfaction ratings exceeded 4.0/5.0.

Significance

A consumer‐generated epilepsy self‐management program with broad psychosocial and medical emphasis can be effectively delivered by telephone or in person and facilitates long‐term epilepsy self‐management, adjustment, and coping up to 1 year after treatment.
Protein trapping leads to altered synaptic proteostasis in synucleinopathies
Authors: Santos Patrícia I. , Outeiro Tiago F.
Published: May 2020

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with the accumulation of alpha‐synuclein (aSyn) in intracellular inclusions known as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. Under physiological conditions, aSyn is found at the presynaptic terminal and exists in a dynamic equilibrium between soluble, membrane‐associated and aggregated forms. Emerging evidence suggests that, under pathological conditions, aSyn begins to accumulate and acquire a toxic function at the synapse, impairing their normal function and connectivity. However, the precise molecular mechanisms linking aSyn accumulation and synaptic dysfunction are still elusive. Here, we provide an overview of our current findings and discuss the hypothesis that certain aSyn aggregates may interact with proteins with whom aSyn normally does not interact with, thereby trapping them and preventing them from performing their normal functions in the cell. We posit that such abnormal interactions start to occur during the prodromal stages of PD, eventually resulting in the overt manifestation of clinical features. Therefore, understanding the nature and behaviour of toxic aSyn species and their contribution to aSyn‐mediated toxicity is crucial for the development of therapeutic strategies capable of modifying disease progression in PD and other synucleinopathies.
Increased soil release of greenhouse gases shrinks terrestrial carbon uptake enhancement under warming
Authors: Liu Shuwei , Zheng Yajing , Ma Ruoya , Yu Kai , Han Zhaoqiang , Xiao Shuqi , Li Zhaofu , Wu Shuang , Li Shuqing , Wang Jinyang , Luo Yiqi , Zou Jianwen
Published: May 2020

Warming can accelerate the decomposition of soil organic matter and stimulate the release of soil greenhouse gases (GHGs), but to what extent soil release of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) may contribute to soil C loss for driving climate change under warming remains unresolved. By synthesizing 1,845 measurements from 164 peer‐reviewed publications, we show that around 1.5°C (1.16–2.01°C) of experimental warming significantly stimulates soil respiration by 12.9%, N2O emissions by 35.2%, CH4 emissions by 23.4% from rice paddies, and by 37.5% from natural wetlands. Rising temperature increases CH4 uptake of upland soils by 13.8%. Warming‐enhanced emission of soil CH4 and N2O corresponds to an overall source strength of 1.19, 1.84, and 3.12 Pg CO2‐equivalent/year under 1°C, 1.5°C, and 2°C warming scenarios, respectively, interacting with soil C loss of 1.60 Pg CO2/year in terms of contribution to climate change. The warming‐induced rise in soil CH4 and N2O emissions (1.84 Pg CO2‐equivalent/year) could reduce mitigation potential of terrestrial net ecosystem production by 8.3% (NEP, 22.25 Pg CO2/year) under warming. Soil respiration and CH4 release are intensified following the mean warming threshold of 1.5°C scenario, as compared to soil CH4 uptake and N2O release with a reduced and less positive response, respectively. Soil C loss increases to a larger extent under soil warming than under canopy air warming. Warming‐raised emission of soil GHG increases with the intensity of temperature rise but decreases with the extension of experimental duration. This synthesis takes the lead to quantify the ecosystem C and N cycling in response to warming and advances our capacity to predict terrestrial feedback to climate change under projected warming scenarios.
Pandemic and macho organizations: Wake‐up call or business as usual?
Authors: Alcadipani Rafael
Published: May 2020

The COVID‐19 pandemic is one of the greatest challenges of our generation. The global spread of the virus is affecting societies’ gender dynamics in general and in organizations in particular. Based on ethnographic research being carried out in a police organization in Brazil, this piece discusses how COVID‐19 is impacting hegemonic masculinity in organizations. Police organizations are prototypical hegemonic masculinity organizations. I argue that the COVID‐19 pandemic at first encouraged the performance of the typical police macho masculinity, but as the disease progressed, it created a situation that challenged it. I explore that even though the pandemic threatens macho masculinity in organizations, it is still unclear if an alternative gender dynamic will emerge from this crisis in macho organizations.
Towards a relational ethics in pandemic times and beyond: Limited accountability, collective performativity and new subjectivity
Authors: De Coster Marjan
Published: May 2020

It is often said that desperate times call for desperate measures. Yet, in the contemporary pandemic crisis, desperate organizational measures seem all but present. Instead, for most of us it is ‘business as usual’ while we are at the same time required to take care of our kids. The situation makes us highly uncomfortable and overwhelms many of us with feelings of stress — when trying to keep on going with the flow — or feelings of guilt — when just not being able to juggle all the different things. In this short piece, I draw on a personal vignette to first theorize how the pandemic crisis leverages the constitution of a masculine subjectivity and, so doing, further increases the ontological struggle in the constitution of a female subjectivity under neoliberal governance. In a second instance, I turn to an email sent by my PhD supervisor to illustrate how a relational ethics, recognizing the openness and generosity in the relation, and collective performativity can lower the ethical burden we face. I conclude by arguing that such an alternative script and the subjectivity fostered through it is urgently needed, not only today in pandemic times, but also in times beyond.
Differential expression of microRNA in serum fractions and association of Argonaute 1 microRNAs with heart failure
Authors: Meiri Eti , Volinsky Natalia , Dromi Nir , Kredo‐Russo Sharon , Benjamin Hila , Tabak Sarit , Marmor Hagai , Motin Maria , Lebanony Danit , Lithwick‐Yanai Gila , Kadosh Etti , Kreader Carol , Grosman‐Rimon Liza , Amir Offer
Published: May 2020

The serum or plasma microRNA (miRNA) molecules have been suggested as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, in various pathological conditions. However, these molecules are also found in different serum fractions, such as exosomes and Argonaute (Ago) protein complexes. Ago1 is the predominant Ago protein expressed in heart tissue. The objective of the study was to examine the hypothesis that Ago1‐associated miRNAs may be more relevant to cardiac disease and heart failure compared with the serum. In total, 84 miRNA molecules were screened for their expression in the whole serum, exosomes and Ago1, and Ago2 complexes. Ago1‐bound miR‐222‐3p, miR‐497‐5p and miR‐21‐5p were significantly higher, and let‐7a‐5p was significantly lower in HF patients compared with healthy controls, whereas no such difference was observed for those markers in the serum samples among the groups. A combination of these 4 miRNAs into an Ago1‐HF score provided a ROC curve with an AUC of 1, demonstrating clear discrimination between heart failure patients and healthy individuals. Ago1 fraction might be a better and more specific platform for identifying HF‐related miRNAs compared with the whole serum.
Cigarette smoking and risk of rosacea: a nationwide population‐based cohort study
Authors: Dai Y.‐X. , Yeh F.‐Y. , Chou Y.‐J. , Chang Y.‐T. , Chen T.‐J. , Li C.‐P. , Wu C.‐Y.
Published: May 2020

Background

Most evidence regarding the relationship between cigarette smoking and risk of rosacea is obtained from cross‐sectional or case–control studies.

Objective

To examine the association between smoking and risk of developing rosacea.

Methods

Participants were collected from four rounds (2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013) of the Taiwan National Health Interview Survey. Incident cases of rosacea were identified from the National Health Insurance database. Cox proportional hazard model was used for the analyses.

Results

Of the 59 973 participants, 379 developed rosacea during a mean follow‐up of 10.8 years. After adjustment for potential confounders, current smokers had a lower risk of rosacea than never smokers [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.60; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39–0.92]. An increase in smoking intensity was associated with a decreased risk of rosacea among current smokers (Ptrend = 0.0101). Compared with never smokers, current smokers of >15 cigarettes/day had an aHR of 0.51 (95% CI: 0.26–0.99) for rosacea. For incident rosacea, the aHRs (95% CIs) of current smokers of ≤10 years of smoking and ≤10 pack‐years of smoking were 0.44 (0.22–0.88) and 0.51 (0.29–0.89), respectively. Former smoking was not associated with rosacea risk.

Conclusion

Current smoking was significantly associated with a decreased risk of rosacea.