bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food inflation and geopolitical risks: analyzing European regions amid the Russia-Ukraine war
Authors: Sohag Kazi , Islam Md Monirul , Tomas Žiković Ivana , Mansour Hoda
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The study's objective is to measure the response of the food prices to the aggregate and disaggregate geopolitical risk events, Russia's geopolitical risks and global energy prices in the context of two European regions, i.e. Eastern and Western Europe covering the monthly data from January 2001 to March 2022.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply a novel and sophisticated econometric method, the cross-quantilogram (CQ) approach, to analyse the authors’ monthly data properties. This method detects the causal relationship between the variables under the bi-variate modelling approach. More importantly, the CQ procedure divulges the bearish and bullish states of the causal association between the variables under short, medium and long memories.

Findings

The authors find that aggregate measures of geopolitical risk reduce food prices in the short term in the Eastern Europe but increases food prices in the Western Europe. Besides, the decomposed measures of geopolitical risk “threats” and “acts” have heterogeneous effects on the food prices. More importantly, Russia's geopolitical risk events and global energy prices enhance the food inflation under long memory.

Research limitations/implications

The authors provide diverse policy implications for Eastern and Western Europe based on the authors’ findings. First, the European policymakers should take concrete and joint policy measures to tackle the detrimental effects of geopolitical risks to bring stability to the food markets. Second, this region should emphasize utilizing their unused agricultural lands to grow more crops to avoid external dependence on food. Third, the European Union and its partners should begin global initiatives to help smallholder farmers because of their contribution to the resilience of disadvantaged, predominantly rural communities. Fourth, geopolitically affected European countries like Ukraine should deal with a crippled supply chain to safeguard their production infrastructure. Fifth, fuel (oil) scarcity in the European region due to the Russia-Ukraine war should be mitigated by searching for alternative sources (countries) for smooth food transportation for trade. Finally, as Europe and its Allies impose new sanctions in response to the Russia-Ukraine war, it can have immediate and long-run disastrous consequences on the European and the global total food systems. In this case, all European blocks mandate cultivating stratagems to safeguard food security and evade a long-run cataclysm with multitudinous geopolitical magnitudes for European countries and the rest of the world.

Originality/value

This is the maiden study that considers the aggregated and disaggregated measures of the geopolitical risk events, Russia's geopolitical risks and global energy prices and delves into these dynamics' effects on food prices. Notably, linking the context of the Russia-Ukraine war is a significant value addition to the existing piece of food literature.
Intelligent construction: unlocking opportunities for the digital transformation of China's construction industry
Authors: You Zhijia
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The existing literature has been mainly focused on local problems but without an overall framework for studying the top-level planning of intelligent construction from a systematic perspective. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts a deductive research approach.

Findings

This research proposes a reference architecture and related business scenario framework for intelligent construction based on the existing theory and industrial practice.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this research is to provide a useful reference to the Chinese government and industry for formulating digital transformation strategies, as well as suggests meaningful future research directions in the construction industry.
Co-workership: development of an assessment tool
Authors: Larsson Gerry , Zander Ann Elisabet , Lönngren Marianne
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to develop an easy-to-use, theoretically well-founded and psychometrically sound assessment tool of the concept co-workership.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, inductively generated examples of favourable and unfavourable co-worker behaviours were collected, clustered and then expressed as frequency-based Likert-type scale items. Data were obtained from 825 Swedish white collar workers and military personnel. A factor analysis (principal axis factoring with oblique rotation) resulted in a seven-factor solution built up by 30 items and forming the instrument Co-Worker Questionnaire (Co-Worker Q).

Findings

The factors have a strong resemblance to the content of dominating models of leadership, followership, organizational citizenship behaviour and leader–member exchange. The factor scales had relatively high reliability (high Cronbach’s alpha coefficients and low standard errors of measurement). Regarding discriminability, women scored more favourably on five of the factors, men on one factor and age differences were noted on two factors.

Research limitations/implications

Shortcomings include the lack of data on possibly related aspects including person factors, such as personality and socio-economic status, and contextual factors such as more detailed data on the type of work environment and organizational culture.

Practical implications

The instrument has an easy-to-use format and can be used in organization development interventions with a co-workership focus and in individualized coaching or mentoring programmes.

Originality/value

The co-workership concept has so far mainly been used in the Nordic countries. The development of the Co-Worker Q opens up for broader applications.
Antecedents of IoT adoption in food supply chain quality management: an integrative model
Authors: Opasvitayarux Pakorn , Setamanit Siri-on , Assarut Nuttapol , Visamitanan Krisana
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The introduction of quality management Internet of things (QM IoT) can help food supply chain members to enhance real-time visibility, quality, safety and efficiency of products and processes. Current literature indicates three main research gaps, including a lack of studies in QM IoT in the food supply chain, the vagueness of integrative adoption of new technology framework and deficient research covering both adoption attitude and intention in the same model. This study aims to propose an analysis model based on the technological–organizational–environmental (TOE) framework and reinforced by the collaborative structure to capture the importance of the supply chain network.

Design/methodology/approach

The partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to test the impacts of the adoption factors on QM IoT adoption attitude and intention among 197 respondents in food manufacturing in Thailand.

Findings

The results indicated that compatibility, trialability, adaptive capacity, innovative capability, executive support, value chain partner pressure, presence of service provider and information sharing significantly impacted the attitude toward QM IoT adoption, while adaptive capability, innovative capability and information sharing directly influenced the QM IoT adoption intention. Furthermore, the attitude toward QM IoT adoption positively impacted the QM IoT adoption intention.

Practical implications

This study contributed to academicians by proposing a more solid adoption framework for QM IoT area. In addition, the business practitioners could actively prepare themselves for the QM IoT adoption, whereas the service providers could provide better and suitable service.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the building of a more solid framework and indicates significant factors that impact the attitude toward QM IoT adoption and adoption intention.
Functional diversity of experimental annual plant assemblages drives plant responses to biological soil crusts in gypsum systems
Authors: Ortiz Laura , Luzuriaga Arantzazu L. , Ferrandis Pablo
Published: November 2022

Biological soil crusts (BSC) are complex biotic aggregates comprised of lichens, cyanobacteria, algae and other micro‐organism that are known to differently affect plant development along life cycle by selecting plant functional traits based on species‐specific effects. In addition, functional differences between interacting species should modulate their response ability to other environmental factors. Thus, it should be expected that the effects of the BSC on plants will be significantly determined by the own functional diversity in the community.

To understand the multiple effects of BSC and the extent to which the functional diversity of interacting plant species can modulate their effects on the development of coexisting species, we applied an experimental approach by manipulating the initial functional diversity of the entire annual plant community and BSC conditions in a common garden trial. We crossed three sorts of assemblages built on the basis of plant stature (combinations of only large, or only small, or diverse sized plant species in pots) with three lichen‐dominated BSC disturbance scenarios (intact, or tiny mechanically disaggregated, or absent portions of BSC).

BSC strongly affected the establishment and development of gypsophilous annual plants in a complex, multifaceted manner, which shifted throughout the plant life cycle. We demonstrated that lichen‐dominated BSC could act as a major physical barrier to the establishment of annual plants at a heterogeneous fine spatial scale. Such a restrictive effect was particularly marked in the presence of intact BSC. However, after annual plants overcame the restrictions imposed by BSC, the same biotic layer facilitated plant growth and fitness, regardless of its physical integrity, resulting in larger plants producing more fruits.

Importantly, our results suggest that the functional diversity structure of the community may also drive growth and fitness of coexisting species by activating alternative coexistence mechanisms such as niche partitioning or competition symmetry. This study highlights the importance of plant neighbourhood features for the performance of interacting species, and confirms a novel, experimental way to explore the effects of community diversity on plants for the interpretation of assembly mechanisms.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Barriers to seedling establishment in grasslands: Implications forNothofagusforest restoration and migration
Authors: van Galen Laura G. , Lord Janice M. , Orlovich David A. , Jowett Tim , Larcombe Matthew J.
Published: November 2022

Tree seedling establishment outside forest boundaries is controlled by many interacting factors. Understanding the relative importance of different pressures is essential for improving techniques for forest restoration and for understanding the potential of forest boundaries to shift and adapt to changing climate conditions.

We investigated constraints on the spread of a key southern hemisphere forest type into grasslands by undertaking a multifactorial experiment sowingNothofagus cliffortioides(Nothofagaceae) in a historically deforested retired pasture. We manipulated factors to determine the relative effects of sheltered microsites, competition with pasture species, availability of ectomycorrhizal fungi, soil nutrients and rabbit herbivory, on seedling emergence and survival.

Overall survival was low (11.7% after 6 months and 1.5% after 10 months), but there were strong treatment effects on both seedling establishment and survival. The availability of shelter and competition with pasture species had strongest effects, with the presence of pasture species initially aiding seedling emergence due to a sheltering effect, but negatively affecting survival at later stages. Most remaining seedlings at the conclusion of the experiment had formed ectomycorrhizae regardless of whether inoculum was supplied, and seedling survival and health was positively related to ectomycorrhizal colonization. Fertilizing had less of an effect than other factors, and results regarding rabbit herbivory were inconclusive.

Synthesis and applications. This study provides new insights into how factors interact to limit tree seedling establishment in grasslands and forest expansion into neighbouring ecosystems. This improves understanding of the ability of an ectomycorrhizal keystone forest species to migrate and adapt to climate change. This study also assists restoration practitioners in selecting techniques that will enhance seedling establishment, and highlights that direct seeding approaches in open grasslands are unlikely to result in high rates ofNothofagusestablishment.
Inter‐Firm Coopetition and Credit Ratings: How the Debt Market Reacts to Inter‐Firm Coopetition
Authors: Droege Cara , Greven Andrea , Fischer‐Kreer Denise , Brettel Malte
Published: November 2022

Due to the high importance and severe consequences of credit ratings, we investigate the effect inter‐firm coopetition—simultaneous cooperation and competition—has on credit ratings. So far, coopetition research has disregarded its effect on the debt market and research on credit ratings has not considered this evermore occurring mode of alliance. Given the combination of debtholders’ high risk sensitivity and coopetition's paradoxical characteristics entailing high risks and potentially high returns, we hypothesize: First, firms who engage in coopetition enjoy higher credit ratings in general. Second, nevertheless, coopetition increases the likeliness of a credit rating downgrade in the short term. Third, firms can weaken the initial, negative reaction through partner selection. Empirical testing with a large‐scale, cross‐industry sample containing 2569 public firms over a time span of 20 years supports our first two hypotheses. A deeper analysis also validates our third hypothesis. Our research contributes to both literature streams by building on paradox theory and thereby revealing a dark side of coopetition.
Spontaneous preterm birth risk among HPV‐vaccinated and ‐unvaccinated women: a nationwide retrospective cohort study of over 240 000 singleton births
Authors: McClymont Elisabeth , Faber Mette T. , Belmonte Federica , Kjaer Susanne K.
Published: November 2022

Objective

To determine whether prior human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination contributes to preterm birth risk.

Design

Population‐based retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Denmark.

Population

A cohort of 243 136 primiparous females born in the period 1961–2004 who had a singleton delivery at >22 weeks of gestation occurring from October 2006 to December 2018.

Methods

High‐quality nationwide registries were linked to provide information on demographics, birth outcomes, HPV vaccination status, smoking, body mass index (BMI), and cervical lesions and treatment history.

Main outcome measures

We assessed the association between HPV vaccination status and spontaneous preterm birth using logistic regression. To address age at vaccination, we performed a stratified analysis by vaccination before and after 17 years of age.

Results

In age‐adjusted and fully adjusted models, there was a nonsignificant difference in the odds of spontaneous preterm birth between vaccinated and unvaccinated women (OR 1.05 (95% CI 0.99–1.12) and OR 1.04 (95% CI 0.98–1.10), respectively). There was no difference in the odds of spontaneous preterm birth in relation to time between vaccination and pregnancy. In contrast, compared with unvaccinated women, the odds of preterm birth were lower among women vaccinated before the age of 17 years (fully adjusted OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.75–1.00). This association was not present for women vaccinated at ≥17 years of age.

Conclusions

In this large, population‐based cohort, we found reduced odds of spontaneous preterm birth among women vaccinated against HPV at an early age compared with women who were unvaccinated. It seems conceivable that HPV vaccination may not only reduce the incidence of cervical cancer and severe precursors, but also reduce the risk of preterm birth related to HPV infection.
Perspectives of nursing home administrators across the United States during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Gadbois Emily A. , Brazier Joan F. , Meehan Amy , Rafat Aseel , Rahman Momotazur , Grabowski David C. , Shield Renee
Published: November 2022

Objective

To characterize the experiences of nursing home administrators as they manage facilities across the United States during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Data Sources and Study Setting

We conducted 156 interviews, consisting of four repeated interviews with administrators from 40 nursing homes in eight health care markets across the country from July 2020 through December 2021.

Study Design

We subjected the interview transcripts to a rigorous qualitative analysis to identify overarching themes using a modified grounded theory approach to applied thematic analysis.

Data Collection Methods

In‐depth, semi‐structured qualitative interviews were conducted virtually or by phone, and audio‐recorded, with participants' consent. Audio recordings were transcribed.

Principal Findings

Interviews with nursing home administrators revealed a number of important cross‐cutting themes. In interviewing each facility's administrator four times over the course of the pandemic, we heard perspectives regarding the stages of the pandemic, and how they varied by the facility and changed over time. We also heard how policies implemented by federal, state, and local governments to respond to COVID‐19 were frequently changing, confusing, and conflicting. Administrators described the effect of COVID‐19 and efforts to mitigate it on residents, including how restrictions on activities, communal dining, and visitation resulted in cognitive decline, depression, and weight loss. Administrators also discussed the impact of COVID‐19 on staff and staffing levels, reporting widespread challenges in keeping facilities staffed as well as strategies used to hire and retain staff. Administrators described concerns for the sustainability of the nursing home industry resulting from the substantial costs and pressures associated with responding to COVID‐19, the reductions in revenue, and the negative impact of how nursing homes appeared in the media.

Conclusions

Findings from our research reflect nursing home administrator perspectives regarding challenges operating during COVID‐19 and have substantial implications for policy and practice.
A qualitative study of clinicians' perspectives on a law that allows for a 12‐month supply of short‐acting contraceptives in Massachusetts: Barriers and facilitators to implementation
Authors: Qasba Neena T. , Dowd Patrick , Bianchet Elyse , Goff Sarah L.
Published: November 2022

Objective

To explore clinicians' perspectives regarding the Massachusetts 2017 law, ‘An Act Relative to Advancing Contraceptive Coverage and Economic Security in Our State’ (ACCESS), including awareness of the law, perceived barriers and facilitators to successful implementation, and recommendations to improve uptake. ACCESS requires all insurers, except self‐insured businesses, to cover short‐acting reversible contraceptives (SARCs) at no cost to patients and for a 12‐month supply to be prescribed/dispensed if desired after the completion of a three‐month trial.

Data Sources and Study Setting

We collected primary data from clinicians in Massachusetts from February 1 to July 31, 2021.

Study Design

Semi‐structured interviews of a purposeful sample of Massachusetts clinicians who provide primary and/or women's health care were conducted via Zoom.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Interview guide and codebook were created using the Theoretical Domains Framework. Interviews were analyzed using framework analysis, including deductive and inductive approaches. Major themes and subthemes were organized by a four‐level model of the health care system: patient, care team (clinician), organization, and environment.

Principal Findings

Most (58.1%) of the 31 participants were not aware of the law. Perceived advantages of this law included decreasing burden on patients, unnecessary clinical visits, and administrative burden on staff for refill requests. Perceived disadvantages focused on concerns that patients would lose their medications or devices (patient‐level) and decreased clinician contact with patients (provider‐level). Perceived organization‐ and environmental‐level barriers to implementation included lack of electronic medical record (EMR) prescription defaults and insurance coverage issues. Many felt EMR modifications and more training for clinicians and pharmacists could lead to a change in practice.

Conclusion

Our study identifies potentially modifiable barriers to the implementation of the ACCESS law. Massachusetts clinicians' lack of awareness of the law demonstrates the need for statewide education, which may allow more eligible patients to obtain a 12‐month SARC supply.
Diagnosis of malignant pleural disease: Ultrasound as “a detective probe”
Authors: Messina Gaetana , Bove Mary , Natale Giovanni , Di Filippo Vincenzo , Opromolla Giorgia , Rainone Anna , Leonardi Beatrice , Martone Mario , Fiorelli Alfonso , Vicidomini Giovanni , Santini Mario , Ronchi Andrea , Massimilla Eva , Della Corte Carminia Maria , Pirozzi Mario , Caterino Marianna , Ciardiello Fortunato , Fasano Morena
Published: November 2022

Background

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an invasive, aggressive pleural tumor with a predominantly local spread. The objective of this study was to assess thoracic ultrasound (TUS) as an imaging modality with high sensitivity for the identification of malignant pleural involvement and in order to guide pleural biopsies.

Methods

In this retrospective single‐center study between January 2018 and June 2022, 51 consecutive patients with impassable circumferential pleural thickening underwent TUS at the Thoracic Surgery Unit of the Vanvitelli University of Naples. Pleural biopsies were performed, and then large and multiple samples were sent to the pathological anatomy for histological examination.

Results

In all patients who underwent ultrasound examination, we chose the optimal point of entry to perform pleural biopsies and selected the areas of greater thickening without pleural effusion. No patient had any complications. No drainage tubes were placed after the pleural biopsies and no pneumothorax was present during the following days of hospitalization. The patients were discharged on the second postoperative day.

Conclusion

With TUS the precise pleural thickening localization, local infiltration, mass extent, its nature (solid, cystic or complex) and ultrasound features can be easily defined. Furthermore, ultrasound is more economical than computed tomography and avoids the risks associated with radiation. Thoracic ultrasound is an important component of the diagnostic procedure in detecting a safe entry site for biopsies of MPMs.
“Separated” precise subsegmentectomy: Single‐port thoracoscopic noncombined subsegmentectomy in one lung lobe
Authors: Zhang Shuliang , Chen Maohui , Huang Yizhou , Huang Guanglei , Zeng Taidui , Zheng Wei , Chen Chun , Zheng Bin
Published: November 2022

Background

In clinical practice, combined segmental resection (CSS) can avoid resection of multiple segments to preserve lung function. When two or more distant lung segments or subsegments of the same lobe present with a ground glass opacity (GGO) that meets the indications for sublobar resection, conventional CSS or wedge resection could not remove all the nodules, and lobectomy is performed in most of these patients. For these particular types of nodules, we perform a single lobe noncombined subsegmental resection, or “separated” precise subsegmentectomy, to preserve more lung tissue. This study was designed to initially assess the feasibility and safety of “separated” precise subsegmentectomy.

Methods

Selected cases of specific GGO were subjected to “separated” precise subsegmentectomy and the results of general clinical data, perioperative operative time, bleeding, length of stay, computed tomography (CT) review, lung function and its dynamic changes were collected and analyzed in these patients.

Results

“Separated” precise subsegmentectomy was performed in 12 patients and successfully completed. The median operation time, bleeding amount, and length of hospital stay were 96 min, 50 ml and 4 days, respectively. There was one case of pulmonary infection and one case of persistent air leakage, no death or pulmonary torsion, bronchopleural fistula and other pulmonary complications occurred. After 3 months, the median percentage of lung function retention was 91.7%, and the CT scan showed that the reserved lung tissue of 12 patients was well inflated and there was no obvious imaging manifestation of atelectasis.

Conclusion

“Separated” precise subsegmentectomy is a novel and safe surgical method that provides a more optimized way for patients with specific multiple nodules to preserve lung function. Further prospective large studies are needed to verify this finding.
“You're overreacting!”: The ambiguity of Asian American microaggressions delegitimizes collective action
Authors: Lee Timothy , Molina Ludwin E.
Published: November 2022

Asian Americans are lauded as the model minority who are intelligent and industrious. Simultaneously, they are deemed as perpetual foreigners. The current research examines how racial microaggressions expressed by a White American source toward an Asian American target affect perceptions of the perpetrator and target. White Americans and Asian Americans read about an interaction between two college students, where the racial microaggression made was either an ambiguous expression of the model minority myth (MMM; all studies), an ambiguous perpetual foreigner stereotype (all studies), an unambiguous MMM (all studies), or no racial bias (Studies 2 and 3). Findings indicate that both Whites and Asian Americans respond differently—when exposed to the aforementioned conditions—regarding perceived racism of the White perpetrator and appropriateness of response by the Asian American target; however, they respond similarly regarding perceived legitimacy of collective action by the target. Nevertheless, Whites and Asian Americans deemed the ambiguous microaggression against the target as a model minority not racist relative to unambiguous MMM. Our findings show that ambiguous forms of bias toward Asian Americans go “under the radar” of both Whites and Asian Americans as being racist and contribute to the maintenance of the racial status quo.
Incidence in pharmacoepidemiology: A conceptual framework for incidence of a single substance or group of substances with statins as an example
Authors: Hoffmann Mikael , Støvring Henrik
Published: November 2022

A framework for analysing incidence in pharmacoepidemiology and drug statistics is suggested using statins as an example. A new case of statin use (first‐ever use or recurrence of treatment) can be defined as new on the group (NoG), new on substance whether new on the group or not (NoS), new on substance and new on the group (NoS_and_NoG), new on substance and not new on the group (NoS_not_NoG).

Method

Individual‐level dispensations of statins 2006–2019 for 1 017 058 individuals with at least one dispensation 2019 in Sweden.

Results

With 12‐month run‐in, corresponding to at least 8 months without treatment, the incidence proportion of NoG was 13.39 new cases per 1000 inhabitants and 8.40 with 10‐year run‐in. Thus, 37% had first been treated with any statin between 12 months and 10 years before the index date.

For atorvastatin, NoS was 10.69, NoS_and_NoG 9.99, and NoS_not_NoG 0.70 per 1000 inhabitants. 0.70 per 1000 inhabitants or 6.6% of new cases of atorvastatin represented a change from another statin during the run‐in.

Conclusion

It is essential to separate new cases that are new both on the substance and on the group from those that represent a change of therapy during the run‐in.
Factors limiting plant recruitment in a tropical Afromontane Forest
Authors: Abiem Iveren , Dickie Ian , Kenfack David , Chapman Hazel M.
Published: November 2022

Predicting how forest species composition may change in response to global change is essential for meaningful management. Which species are most likely to successfully recruit depends on a multitude of factors, but processes operating at the seed‐to‐seedling transition being especially important. Here, we explore how insufficient seed dispersal (dispersal limitation) and ecological filtering of seedlings (establishment limitation) influence species recruitment in an Afromontane Forest. We combined census data from seeds in seed traps and seed‐seedling transition plots in a Nigerian montane forest to measure dispersal and establishment limitation across species, life history strategies, and seed sizes. From 106 seed traps and 318 seedling plots, we recorded 11,278 seeds from 38 species and 2688 seedlings of 61 species. All species except for one liana showed strong dispersal limitation while 23 out of the 30 species showed establishment limitation. The two lianas sampled had significantly lower dispersal limitation compared to the trees investigated in the study. Our results suggest that both dispersal and establishment limitation are markedly high in this Afromontane forest than would be expected in a lowland counterpart.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with an increased risk of herpes zoster: A retrospective United States claims database analysis
Authors: Thompson‐Leduc Philippe , Ghaswalla Parinaz , Cheng Wendy Y. , Wang Min‐Jung , Bogart Michael , Patterson Brandon J. , Duh Mei Sheng , Park Suna , Yawn Barbara P.
Published: November 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been reported as a potential risk factor for developing herpes zoster (HZ). We aimed at comparing incidence rates of HZ between people with versus without COPD in the US. This retrospective cohort study used data from Optum's de‐identified Clinformatics Data Mart database from 1/1/2013 through 12/31/2018. We identified two cohorts of people ≥40 years without prior HZ, HZ vaccination, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) or HZ ophthalmicus: those with (COPD+) and those without (COPD−) a COPD diagnosis. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) of HZ and PHN were calculated using generalized linear models, controlling for the propensity score of being diagnosed with COPD and relevant demographic and clinical characteristics. People in the COPD+ cohort (n = 161 970) were considerably older, had more comorbidities and were more likely to use corticosteroids than those in the COPD− cohort (n = 9 643 522). The incidence rate of HZ was 5.7‐fold higher in the COPD+ versus COPD− cohorts (13.0 vs. 2.3 per 1000 person‐years [PY]; aIRR, 2.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.69 to 2.85; P < 0.001). The unadjusted incidence rate of PHN was 1.7‐fold higher in the COPD+/HZ+ versus COPD−/HZ+ cohort (64.8 vs. 37.1 per 1000 PY), but not after adjustment (aIRR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.79 to 1.45). HZ and PHN incidence rates increased with age. After adjustment, COPD+ adults had a 2.8‐fold increased risk of developing HZ. These results may help to increase awareness about potential risk factors for HZ and highlight the need for vaccination among those at increased risk.
Magnitude–duration relationships of physiological sensitivity and environmental exposure improve climate change vulnerability assessments
Authors: Troia Matthew J.
Published: November 2022

Integrating thermal physiology with environmental temperature is essential to understanding distributions of species and vulnerability to climate change. Warming tolerance – the difference between an organism's maximum thermal tolerance (Tmax) and maximum habitat temperature (Thab) – is frequently used to integrate organismal sensitivity and environmental exposure. Traditionally, applications of warming tolerance define Tmax and Thab as invariable magnitudes, yet tolerance magnitude depends on exposure duration, and diel temperature cycles expose organisms to a range of temperature magnitudes and durations. How traditional (i.e. acute) estimates of warming tolerance compare to estimates from prolonged exposures remains poorly understood. In this study, magnitude–duration curves for tolerances of one cold‐water, two cool‐water and one warm‐water species of freshwater fish were compiled from the literature and compared to magnitude–duration exposures from 66 streams across the eastern United States. Warming tolerances were estimated for exposure durations spanning 0.01–24 h. Current acute (0.01 h) warming tolerances ranged from median 6.30°C for the cold‐water species to 9.68°C for the warm‐water species. The lowest warming tolerances corresponded to prolonged exposures lasting median 3.85–5.30 h among species and were 2.51–4.38°C lower than acute estimates. Although acute estimates remained positive in historically occupied and unoccupied streams (6.30 versus 2.33°C), estimates based on prolonged exposure were positive at occupied streams of the cold‐water species but transitioned to negative in unoccupied streams (2.19 versus −1.12°C). Acute warming tolerances for the cold‐water species also remained positive under future climate (6.29–4.23°C) but approached zero at prolonged durations (2.19–0.09°C) and transitioned to negative for 47.2% of streams. Results demonstrate that acute measures of Tmax and Thab overestimate warming tolerances and therefore underestimate climate change vulnerability. Integrating magnitude–duration relationships into warming tolerance estimates can elucidate physiological mechanisms underlying species distributions and can improve accuracy of climate change vulnerability assessments.
Surgical treatment of a five‐structure dentigerous cyst in a Warmblood filly
Authors: Howell Alicia , Panizzi Luca , Simpson Erin
Published: November 2022

This article describes a unilateral extracranial dentigerous cyst containing five dental structures in a 3‐year‐old Warmblood filly that caused drainage from below the left pinna and behavioural changes due to pain. Initial diagnosis was made using radiographs and further diagnostic imaging in the form of computed tomography was used for effective surgical planning. This highlighted the proximity of the cyst to the calvarium. All the structures were surgically removed using an osteotome and mallet. During surgery, a defect was made in the calvarium leading to a small haemorrhage, which was successfully controlled. The external auditory canal was accidentally entered during the procedure; closure was achieved and no postoperative infection was experienced. The structures were histologically confirmed to be dental in origin. On telephone and photographic follow‐up, the horse showed excellent cosmetic results, with no neurological or motor deficits and complete resolution of clinical signs.
Fault diagnosis for high‐speed train braking system based on disentangled causal representation learning
Authors: Wang Chong , Liu Jie
Published: November 2022

Data‐driven methods have shown a great potential in diagnosing ongoing faults in high‐speed trains (HSTs). However, lacking enough interpretability, data‐driven methods have not been widely considered in practical operation of HST. In recent years, the rapid development of the causal discovery technology provides an effective way to improve the model interpretability. In this work, based on disentangled causal representation learning (DCRL), an effective and interpretable fault diagnosis framework is proposed for HST braking system. Independent potential factors of the high‐dimensional monitoring data are extracted by the DCRL based on factor analysis. A stable and clear causal network in the factor space is obtained based on causal discovery, and the information irrelevant to fault diagnosis can be eliminated by feature selection. With logistic regression as the fault diagnosis model, the risk importance ranking of the monitoring features can be obtained. Compared with most commonly used methods, the method proposed in this paper has high interpretability and application value, which is more conducive to the subsequent fault location and troubleshooting. Based on real monitoring data of a HST braking system, it is justified that the effectiveness of the fault diagnosis model can be significantly improved by DCRL. Moreover, the applicability of the proposed method is also discussed.
Hypoxia regulates tumour characteristic RNA modifications in ovarian cancers
Authors: Monoe Yuya , Miyamoto Shunsuke , Jingushi Kentaro , Tanimoto Masaya , Tanaka Tomohito , Taniguchi Kohei , Komura Kazumasa , Ohmichi Masahide , Tsujikawa Kazutake
Published: November 2022

Analysis of ovarian cancer tissue and normal ovarian tissue revealed 31 RNA modifications with significant differences observed in cancer tissue compared with normal tissue. Moreover, we found Im and chm5U as characteristic RNA modifications in advanced and platinum‐resistant ovarian cancers, respectively. Considering that these differences in RNA modifications may be due to the intra‐tumour microenvironment, we xenografted the ovarian cancer cell line RMG‐1 to create RMG‐1 tumours and compared them with original RMG‐1 cells. As a result, 14 of the 31 RNA modifications showed marked variations during tumorigenesis. Eight RNA modifications (m2,2G, t6A, m7G, m5U, m1G, i6A, m6t6A and m1A), which were upregulated in ovarian cancer tissues and in RMG‐1‐xenografted tumour, were also upregulated under hypoxic conditions. RNAseq analysis, using the matched RNA samples analysed for RNA modifications, showed that 2137 genes were highly expressed in ovarian cancer tissues compared with those in normal ovarian tissues. Of these, 134 genes, which were enriched in a gene set belonging to the hypoxia signalling pathway, were positively correlated with the above eight RNA modifications. These results suggest that the tumour microenvironment, including hypoxia, is important for cancer characteristic RNA modifications.
Effect of dentures and dietary advice on protein intake in older Thai adults with missing posterior occluding teeth
Authors: Rakyoo Kasamaporn , Vichayanrat Tippanart , Anunmana Chuchai , Kriengsinyos Wantanee , Gaewkhiew Piyada
Published: November 2022

Objective

To compare the effectiveness of dentures with dietary advice and dentures alone on protein intake in older Thai adults.

Background

Dentures combined with nutritional advice may improve protein intake in older adults with posterior tooth loss. However, evidence is limited, especially in developing countries.

Methods

A randomised‐control trial including 69 older adults with less than four pairs of posterior occluding teeth was conducted for 3 months. The experimental group received dentures and dietary advice based on the Health Belief Model (HBM); the control group received dentures alone. Three‐day dietary records were collected and protein intake was assessed using INMUCAL‐NUTRIENTS V.4.0 software at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the intervention. Data were analysed using a t‐test, Mann–Whitney U test, chi‐square test, and repeated‐measure ANOVA.

Results

Both groups reported significantly increased protein intake (control group = 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 g kg BW−1 d−1, intervention = 0.4, 0.6, 0.7 g kg BW−1 d−1, at baseline, 1 month and 3 months, respectively). However, participants in the experimental group had significantly higher total protein (36.3 vs. 39.8 g/d, P = .032) and animal protein intake (18.9 vs. 23.2 g/day, P = .020) than those in the control group at 3 months after the intervention; plant protein intake was similar (10.9 vs. 11.5 g/day, P = .923). In addition, the HBM scores of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group after the intervention (P < .001).

Conclusion

Dentures combined with dietary advice significantly increased the total and animal protein intake of older people with posterior tooth loss more than dentures alone. To maintain optimal protein intake, dental practitioners should incorporate dietary advice when providing dental prostheses to older adults with posterior tooth loss.
Solving a pickup and delivery routing problem for fourth‐party logistics providers
Authors: Johannessen Preben Bucher , Hemmati Ahmad , Moshref‐Javadi Mohammad
Published: November 2022

This paper studies a pickup and delivery routing problem for fourth‐party logistics providers. The problem aims to schedule routes of vehicles to pick up orders from suppliers and deliver them to factory locations considering multiple time windows at suppliers and factory locations, a non‐conventional cost structure, and certain factory dock constraints. We formulate the problem as a mathematical model and develop an efficient algorithm based on the adaptive large neighborhood search to solve the problem. The algorithm incorporates several heuristics to efficiently explore the search space for optimal solutions. The algorithm is refined through extensive statistical experiments to optimize the performances of the heuristics and to tune the parameters of the algorithm. The mathematical model and algorithm are evaluated on several problem instances based on a real case study in Europe. The numerical results demonstrate that the solution algorithm consistently obtains near‐optimal solutions to real‐sized problem instances.
Furcation involvement and tooth loss: A registry‐based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Trullenque‐Eriksson Anna , Tomasi Cristiano , Petzold Max , Berglundh Tord , Derks Jan
Published: November 2022

Aim

This registry‐based retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the impact of furcation status on the risk for molar loss.

Materials and Methods

Subjects with and without furcation involvement (FI) in 2010/2011 were identified in a nationwide registry in Sweden (age‐ and gender‐matched sample: 381,450 subjects; 2,374,883 molars). Data on dental and periodontal status were extracted for the subsequent 10‐year period. Impact of FI (at baseline or detected during follow‐up) on molar loss (i.e., tooth extraction) was evaluated through multilevel logistic regression and survival analyses.

Results

FI had a significant impact on molar loss. FI degrees 2 and 3 resulted in adjusted risk ratios of 1.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63–1.71) and 3.30 (95% CI 3.18–3.43), respectively. Following the first detection of deep FI (degrees 2–3), estimated survival decreased by 4% at 5 years and 8% at 10 years. In addition to FI, endodontic status and probing depth were relevant risk factors for molar loss.

Conclusions

Furcation status had a clinically relevant impact on the risk for molar loss. Following first detection of deep FI, however, the decline in molar survival was minor.
Using supply chain databases in academic research: A methodological critique
Authors: Culot Giovanna , Podrecca Matteo , Nassimbeni Guido , Orzes Guido , Sartor Marco
Published: November 2022

This article outlines the main methodological implications of using Bloomberg SPLC, FactSet Supply Chain Relationships, and Mergent Supply Chain for academic purposes. These databases provide secondary data on buyer–supplier relationships that have been publicly disclosed. Despite the growing use of these databases in supply chain management (SCM) research, several potential validity and reliability issues have not been systematically and openly addressed. This article thus expounds on challenges of using these databases that are caused by (1) inconsistency between data, SCM constructs, and research questions (data fit); (2) errors caused by the databases' classifications and assumptions (data accuracy); and (3) limitations due to the inclusion of only publicly disclosed buyer–supplier relationships involving specific focal firms (data representativeness). The analysis is based on a review of previous studies using Bloomberg SPLC, FactSet Supply Chain Relationships, and Mergent Supply Chain, publicly available materials, interviews with information service providers, and the direct experience of the authors. Some solutions draw upon established methodological literature on the use of secondary data. The article concludes by providing summary guidelines and urging SCM researchers toward greater methodological transparency when using these databases.
The role of bacterial membrane vesicles in antibiotic resistance
Authors: MacNair Craig R. , Tan Man‐Wah
Published: November 2022

Bacterial survival during antibiotic exposure is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. On top of antibiotic resistance genes, biofilm formation, and persister tolerance, bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) provide a layer of protection that has been largely overlooked. MVs are spherical nanoparticles composed of lipid membranes and are common to Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. Although the importance of MVs in bacterial pathogenesis and virulence factor transport has been firmly established, a growing body of work now identifies MVs as key contributors to bacterial survival during antibiotic exposure. Herein, we highlight the ability of MVs to reduce antibiotic efficacy and transmit resistance elements. We also discuss the potential of targeting MV production as an unconventional therapeutic approach.
Preadolescent‐versus adolescent‐onset immunoglobulin A vasculitis: The impact of age on prognosis
Authors: Coşkun Serkan , Güngörer Vildan , Ekici Tekin Zahide , Çelikel Elif , Kurt Tuba , Tekgöz Nilüfer , Sezer Müge , Karagöl Cüneyt , Kaplan Melike Mehveş , Polat Merve Cansu , Öner Nimet , Acar Banu Çelikel
Published: November 2022

Background

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of patients with preadolescent‐ and adolescent‐onset immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) and to determine whether age affects IgAV outcomes in adolescents.

Methods

Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of 333 patients diagnosed with IgAV at the Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were classified into two groups: preadolescents (<10 years) and adolescents (10–19 years). Subgroup analyses were also performed by grouping the adolescent patients into early, middle, and late adolescent groups.

Results

Of the 333 patients, 219 (65.8%) and 114 (34.2%) were preadolescents and adolescents. Palpable purpura, renal, joint, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement were detected in 333 (100%), 78 (23.4%), 79 (23.7%), and 124 (37.2%) patients, respectively; testicular involvement was observed in 25 (13.3%) of 187 male patients. The frequency of renal involvement was significantly higher in the adolescent group than in the preadolescent group at the time of diagnosis (p = 0.030). Notably, joint involvement was significantly higher in the adolescent group (p = 0.001). The need for aggressive therapy was significantly higher in the adolescent group than in the preadolescent group (p = 0.003). There was no significant difference in clinical data, demographic characteristics, and laboratory findings between the adolescent subgroups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Immunoglobulin A vasculitis can occur at any age but the disease prognosis appears to worsen with age. The present study reported that joint involvement, kidney involvement, and the need for more aggressive treatment were higher in the adolescent group than in the preadolescent group.