bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Male alternative reproductive tactics and sperm competition: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Dougherty Liam R. , Skirrow Michael J. A. , Jennions Michael D. , Simmons Leigh W.
Published: March 2022

In many animal species, males may exhibit one of several discrete, alternative ways of obtaining fertilisations, known as alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs). Males exhibiting ARTs typically differ in the extent to which they invest in traits that improve their mating success, or the extent to which they face sperm competition. This has led to the widespread prediction that males exhibiting ARTs associated with a high sperm competition risk, or lower investment into traits that improve their competitiveness before mating, should invest more heavily into traits that improve their competitiveness after mating, such as large ejaculates and high‐quality sperm. However, despite many studies investigating this question since the 1990s, evidence for differences in sperm and ejaculate investment between male ARTs is mixed, and there has been no quantitative summary of this field. Following a systematic review of the literature, we performed a meta‐analysis examining how testes size, sperm number and sperm traits differ between males exhibiting ARTs that face either a high or low sperm competition risk, or high or low investment in traits that increase mating success. We obtained data from 92 studies and 67 species from across the animal kingdom. Our analyses showed that male fish exhibiting ARTs facing a high sperm competition risk had significantly larger testes (after controlling for body size) than those exhibiting tactics facing a low sperm competition risk. However, this effect appears to be due to the inappropriate use of the gonadosomatic index as a body‐size corrected measure of testes investment, which overestimates the difference in testes investment between male tactics in most cases. We found no significant difference in sperm number between males exhibiting different ARTs, regardless of whether sperm were measured from the male sperm stores or following ejaculation. We also found no significant difference in sperm traits between males exhibiting different ARTs, with the exception of sperm adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content in fish. Finally, the difference in post‐mating investment between male ARTs was not influenced by the extent to which tactics were flexible, or by the frequency of sneakers in the population. Overall, our results suggest that, despite clear theoretical predictions, there is little evidence that male ARTs differ substantially in investment into sperm and ejaculates across species. The incongruence between theoretical and empirical results could be explained if (i) theoretical models fail to account for differences in overall resource levels between males exhibiting different ARTs or fundamental trade‐offs between investment into different ejaculate and sperm traits, and (ii) studies often use sperm or ejaculate traits that do not reflect overall post‐mating investment accurately or affect fertilisation success.
“Listen to us!” A qualitative study of adolescents with disabilities to help plan a transition service
Authors: Brandão Marina B. , Bueno Kátia M. P. , Silvério Ana Paula M. , Antunes Fernanda I. T. , Feitosa Aline M. , Figueiredo Priscilla R. P. , Mancini Marisa C.
Published: March 2022

Background

The development and implementation of transition services for adolescents with disabilities should incorporate perceptions of their needs and interests. The aim of the study was to understand the concerns of adolescents with physical disabilities during adolescence and their expectations regarding adulthood to help plan a transition programme in Brazil.

Methods

This is a qualitative study, using a phenomenological approach. Eight adolescents with physical disabilities (seven with cerebral palsy, one with muscular dystrophy), aged between 15 and 17 years, participated in two focus groups. Prior to the conduction of the groups, clinicians selected topics related to adolescence and the transition to adulthood, based on their professional experience and available literature. During the focus groups, illustrative images of each topic were presented to the participants. Each adolescent was asked to select five topics that he/she considered important to be discussed in a future transition programme. The participants justified their individual choices and, in groups, reached a consensus on the groups' priorities. This strategy was chosen to motivate the discussion among the participants and to explore their concerns regarding adolescence and transition to adulthood. The focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed for content analysis.

Results

Three themes emerged from the content analysis: (1) “Adolescents and their social relationships,” (2) “Identity formation: self‐awareness and development of autonomy,” and (3) “What about adulthood?”

Conclusion

The themes revealed conflicts between the adolescents' desire to achieve independence and autonomy and the awareness of their limitations. The interpretation of the results helped structuring the actions of the Adolescence in Focus Programme, with two main actions: promotion of the adolescent's functional performance in daily living activities and assistance with their identity formation and preparation for adulthood.
School belonging and hope among at‐risk youth: The contribution of academic support provided by youths' social support networks
Authors: Sulimani‐Aidan Yafit , Melkman Eran
Published: March 2022

Based on resilience and hope theories (Snyder, 2000; Ungar & Theron, 2020), in the present study, we explored the contribution of academic support provided by family, school staff and mentors, as well as the contribution of family‐staff contact, to the hopefulness of 175 at‐risk youth (M = 17.67; SD = 0.63), who had indicated having a mentor, and how school belonging mediated these relations. Structural equation modelling revealed that academic support provided by mentors and school staff contributed to youths' hopeful thinking. Whereas the support provided by mentors had a direct effect on hope, staff support contributed indirectly via school belonging. The discussion highlights the importance of academic support provided via youths' social networks and sheds light on the role of school belonging in increasing youths' hopefulness. Implications for practice highlight the importance of strengthening youths' aspirations, motivation and knowledge regarding their future goals in school settings.
A homozygous frame‐shift variant in PROSER1 is associated with developmental delay, hypotonia, genitourinary malformations, and distinctive facial features
Authors: Salah Azza , Almannai Mohammed , Al Ojaimi Mode , Radefeldt Mandy , Gulati Nishtha , Iqbal Maria , Alawbathani Salem , Al‐Ali Ruslan , Beetz Christian , El‐Hattab Ayman W.
Published: March 2022

We report four children from three related families who presented with a similar phenotype characterized by developmental delay, hypotonia, seizures, failure‐to‐thrive, strabismus, drooling, recurrent otitis media, hearing impairment, and genitourinary malformations. They also shared common facial features including arched eyebrows, prominent eyes, broad nasal bridge, low‐hanging columella, open mouth, thick lower lip, protruding tongue, large low‐set ears, and parietal bossing. Exome sequencing for affected individuals revealed a homozygous frame‐shift variant, c.1833del; p.(Thr612Glnfs*22), in PROSER1 which encodes the proline and serine rich protein 1 (PROSER1). PROSER1 has recently been found to be part of the histone methyltransferases KMT2C/KMT2D complexes. PROSER1 stabilizes TET2, a member of the TET family of DNA demethylases which is involved in recruiting the enhancer‐associated KMT2C/KMT2D complexes and mediating DNA demethylation, activating gene expression. Therefore, PROSER1 may play vital and potentially general roles in gene regulation, consistent with the wide phenotypic spectrum observed in the individuals presented here. The consistent phenotype, the loss‐of‐function predicted from the frame‐shift, the co‐segregation of the phenotype in our large pedigree, the vital role of PROSER1 in gene regulation, and the association of related genes with neurodevelopmental disorders argue for the loss of PROSER1 to be the cause for a novel recognizable syndrome.
Why are you allowed to go to school on your own? Exploring children's voices on independent mobility
Authors: Legorburu Idoia , Idoiaga Mondragon Nahia , Alonso Israel , Berasategi Naiara
Published: March 2022

This study aims to analyse 1002 children's and adolescent's reasons for going to school alone or accompanied and to explore how parents influence their choice. The findings revealed that children who could go to school alone feel that their parents trust them more. Moreover, children who live close to school are more likely to commute autonomously and those who do so feel their environment is safer. Finally, there are significant gender differences in autonomous travel to school, largely due to parental influence. In conclusion, there is a real need to work with children and families to develop targeted interventions to support the normalisation of children's autonomous walking and to address the fears of parents.
Dragging Anthropology Towards a Just and Egalitarian Future
Authors: Maskovsky Jeff
Published: March 2022

I propose a dialogue between new abolitionist approaches and black feminist theory on the one hand and anticapitalist critical urban social theory on the other. This dialogue has great potential to advance approaches that unhide the death dealing logics that shape city‐making and also to identify and amplify the emancipatory potentialities and forms of cultural, social, economic, and political improvisation that can lead us to more positive futures.
The impact of COVID‐19 upon the delivery of exercise services within cystic fibrosis clinics in the United Kingdom
Authors: Tomlinson Owen W. , Saynor Zoe L. , Stevens Daniel , Urquhart Don S. , Williams Craig A.
Published: March 2022

Objectives

The COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedent changes to clinical practice, and as the impact upon delivery of exercise services for people with cystic fibrosis (CF) in the United Kingdom was unknown, this was characterised via a national survey.

Methods

An electronic survey was distributed to healthcare professionals involved in the exercise management of CF via established professional networks.

Results

In total, 31 CF centres participated. Findings included significant reductions in exercise testing and widespread adaptation to deliver exercise training using telehealth methods. Promisingly, 71% stated that they would continue using virtual methods of engaging patients in future practice.

Conclusion

These findings highlight adaptation to the COVID‐19 pandemic and the need to develop sustainable and standardised telehealth services to manage patients moving forwards.
Ambulance attendance for substance and/or alcohol use in a pandemic: Interrupted time series analysis of incidents
Authors: Mason Rachael , Roberts Amanda , Spaight Robert , Shaw Debbie , Whitley Gregory Adam , Hogue Todd E. , Siriwardena Aloysius Niroshan , Rogers Jim , Law Graham R.
Published: March 2022

Introduction

The ambulance attendance for substance and/or alcohol use in a pandemic (ASAP) study explores incidents during the COVID‐19 lockdown in the East Midlands region of the United Kingdom (23 March–4 July 2020).

Method

Retrospective cross‐sectional count per day of ambulance attendances from the East Midlands Ambulance Service Trust. Ambulance attendances relating to alcohol or other drug use in the year prior, during lockdown and weeks following, were examined using interrupted time series analysis by patient demographics and geographical location.

Results

A total of 36 104 records were identified (53.7% male, 84.5% ethnicity classified as White, mean age 38.4 years). A significant drop in the number of attendances per day at the start of lockdown (−25.24, confidence interval − 38.16, −12.32) was observed, followed by a gradual increase during the ongoing lockdown period (0.36, confidence interval 0.23, 0.46). Similar patterns were found across genders, age groups 16–64 and urban/rural locations.

Discussion and Conclusion

The pattern of ambulance attendances for alcohol or other drug use changed during the COVID‐19 lockdown period. Lockdown significantly affected the use of ambulances for incidents involving alcohol or other drug use, impacting on health‐care services. Further research into hazardous use of alcohol or other drugs during the lockdown periods is needed to inform policy, planning and public health initiatives.
Neural correlates of distinct levels of predatory threat in dorsal periaqueductal grey neurons
Authors: Bindi Ricardo P. , Maia Ricardo G. O. , Pibiri Francesca , Baldo Marcus Vinicius C. , Poulter Steven L. , Lever Colin , Canteras Newton S.
Published: March 2022

The dorsal periaqueductal grey (PAG) is an important site for integrating predatory threats. However, it remains unclear whether predator‐related activation in PAG primarily reflects threat itself and thus can distinguish between various degrees of threat, or rather reflects threat‐oriented behaviours, with the PAG potentially orchestrating different types of defensive repertoire. To address this issue, we performed extracellular recording of dorsal PAG neurons in freely behaving rats and examined neuronal and behavioural responses to stimulus conditions with distinct levels of predatory threat. Animals were sequentially exposed to a nonthreatening stimulus familiar environment (exposure to habituated environment) and to a novel nonthreatening stimulus (i.e., a toy animal—plush) and to conditions with high (exposure to a live cat), intermediate (exposure to the environment just visited by the cat, with remnant predator scent), and low (exposure on the following day to the predatory context) levels of predatory threat. To test for contributions of both threat stimuli and behaviour to changes in firing rate, we applied a Poisson generalized linear model regression, using the different predator stimulus conditions and defensive repertoires as predictor variables. Analysis revealed that the different predator stimulus conditions were more predictive of changes in firing rate (primarily threat‐induced increases) than the different defensive repertoires. Thus, the dorsal PAG may code for different levels of predatory threat, more than it directly orchestrates distinct threat‐oriented behaviours. The present results open interesting perspectives to investigate the role of the dorsal PAG in mediating primal emotional and cognitive responses to fear‐inducing stimuli.
Evolution of prudent predation in complex food webs
Authors: Gutiérrez Al‐Khudhairy Orestes U. , Rossberg Axel G.
Published: March 2022

Prudent predators catch sufficient prey to sustain their populations but not as much as to undermine their populations’ survival. The idea that predators evolve to be prudent has been dismissed in the 1970s, but the arguments invoked then are untenable in the light of modern evolution theory. The evolution of prudent predation has repeatedly been demonstrated in two‐species predator–prey metacommunity models. However, the vigorous population fluctuations that these models predict are not widely observed. Here we show that in complex model food webs prudent predation evolves as a result of consumer‐mediated (‘apparent’) competitive exclusion of resources, which disadvantages aggressive consumers and does not generate such fluctuations. We make testable predictions for empirical signatures of this mechanism and its outcomes. Then we discuss how these predictions are borne out across freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Demonstrating explanatory power of evolved prudent predation well beyond the question of predator–prey coexistence, the predicted signatures explain unexpected declines of invasive alien species, the shape of stock–recruitment relations of fish, and the clearance rates of pelagic consumers across the latitudinal gradient and 15 orders of magnitude in body mass. Specific research to further test this theory is proposed.
Seasonal shifts from plant diversity to consumer control of grassland productivity
Authors: Zaret Max M. , Kuhs Molly A. , Anderson Jonathan C. , Seabloom Eric W. , Borer Elizabeth T. , Kinkel Linda L.
Published: March 2022

Plant biodiversity and consumers are important mediators of energy and carbon fluxes in grasslands, but their effects on within‐season variation of plant biomass production are poorly understood. Here we measure variation in control of plant biomass by consumers and plant diversity throughout the growing season and their impact on plant biomass phenology. To do this, we analysed 5 years of biweekly biomass measures (NDVI) in an experiment manipulating plant species richness and three consumer groups (foliar fungi, soil fungi and arthropods). Positive plant diversity effects on biomass were greatest early in the growing season, whereas the foliar fungicide and insecticide treatments increased biomass most late in the season. Additionally, diverse plots and plots containing foliar fungi reached maximum biomass almost a month earlier than monocultures and plots treated with foliar fungicide, demonstrating the dynamic and interactive roles that biodiversity and consumers play in regulating biomass production through the growing season.
Auditing governable space—A study of place‐based accountability in England
Authors: Ferry Laurence , Midgley Henry , Murphie Aileen , Sandford Mark
Published: March 2022

The governance of territories has become increasingly fragmented and complex, challenging the accountability arrangements for “governable spaces.” Tension between central and local governments is a perennial feature of their relationship, but few analyses have explored the implications of this tension for accountability relationships. This article assesses policy initiatives within England aimed at increasing accountability in localities, by establishing governable spaces that include territorializing, mediating, adjudicating, and subjectivizing. During the 2010s, the UK government sought to introduce a form of place‐based accountability within the context of reduced central government funding to English local authorities. This meant that local government faced new forms of accountability while adapting to considerable financial shocks. Accounting methods—assessing what phenomena can and should be governed—underpin audit and orthodox concepts of accountability in the United Kingdom. These have driven a narrow finance‐focused narrative of local audit and local accountability. However, we also argue that developments in England in the 2010s have undermined political accountability in the localities, because they have worked against critical components within it for making governable space auditable: interpretation of data, judgments on service quality and the impact of cross‐public sector relationships on local authorities’ “decision space.”
When more is less: heritable gain‐of‐function chk1 mutations impair human fertility
Authors: Gillespie David A.
Published: March 2022

Heritable loss‐of‐function mutations in genes encoding key regulators of DNA repair and genome stability can result in degenerative progeroid and/or cancer predisposition syndromes; however, such mutations have never been found to affect the Chk1 protein kinase, despite its central role in DNA damage signalling and checkpoint activation. Remarkably, two recent reports now demonstrate that heritable, gain‐of‐function mutations within the Chk1 C‐terminal regulatory domain can cause female infertility in humans. In vitro, oocytes from individuals heterozygous for such mutant Chk1 alleles fail to undergo the first mitotic division after fertilization owing to arrest in G2 phase of the cell cycle. This arrest results from inhibition of the master regulator of mitosis, the cyclin‐dependent kinase CDK1, through the same molecular mechanisms that are engaged by activated Chk1 to impose G2 checkpoint arrest in somatic cells bearing DNA damage. Remarkably, the failure of this first zygotic division in heterozygotes in vitro can be rescued through treatment with selective Chk1 inhibitor drugs, allowing development of apparently normal blastocysts and offering hope that a pharmacological solution to this cause of infertility may be possible.
Present status and future directions: Root resorption
Authors: Patel Shanon , Saberi Navid , Pimental Tiago , Teng Peng‐Hui
Published: March 2022

Root resorption is the loss of dental hard tissue because of odontoclastic action. In permanent teeth, it is undesirable and pathological in nature. Root resorption may occur on the inner aspect of the root canal (internal root resorption) or on the outer aspect of the root (external root resorption). Regardless of its location, root resorption is irreversible, and may result in discomfort for the patient, requires management and/or, in some cases, results in the premature loss of the affected tooth. Root resorption is often challenging to accurately diagnose and manage. The aim of this narrative review is to present the relevant literature on the aetiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and management, as well as discuss the future directions of diagnosis and management of root resorption.
DNA methylation and miRNA expression in colon adenomas compared with matched normal colon mucosa and carcinomas
Authors: Gebrekiristos Mezgebe , Melson Joshua , Jiang Alice , Buckingham Lela
Published: March 2022

Dysregulation of DNA methylation patterns and non‐coding RNA, including miRNAs, has been implicated in colon cancer, and these changes may occur early in the development of carcinoma. In this study, the role of epigenetics as early changes in colon tumorigenesis was examined through paired sample analysis of patient‐matched normal, adenoma and carcinoma samples. Global methylation was assessed by genomic 5‐methyl cytosine (5‐mC) and long interspersed nuclear element‐1 (LINE‐1) promoter methylation by pyrosequencing. KRAS mutations were also assessed by pyrosequencing. Expression of miRNA, specifically, two microRNA genes—miR‐200a and let‐7c—was analysed using RT‐qPCR. Differences in global methylation in adenomas were not observed, compared with normal tissue. However, LINE‐1 methylation was decreased in adenomas (p = .056) and carcinomas (p = .011) compared with normal tissue. Expressions of miRNA, miR‐200a and let‐7c were significantly higher in adenomas than normal tissues (p = .008 and p = .045 respectively). Thus the significant changes in LINE‐1 methylation and microRNA expression in precancerous lesions support an early role for epigenetic changes in the carcinogenic process. Epigenetic characteristics in adenomas may provide potential diagnostic and prognostic therapeutic targets early in cancer development at the adenoma stage.
Porocarcinoma: an epidemiological, clinical, and dermoscopic 20‐year study
Authors: De Giorgi Vincenzo , Silvestri Flavia , Savarese Imma , Venturi Federico , Scarfì Federica , Trane Luciana , Bellerba Federica , Zuccaro Biancamaria , Maio Vincenza , Massi Daniela , Gandini Sara
Published: March 2022

Background

Porocarcinoma (PC) is a rare cutaneous adnexal tumor with a variable metastatic potential. Given the paucity of data, guidelines and specific recommendations for PC are not yet well‐established. In this study, we evaluate the disease‐specific characteristics and outcome of this rare and often underestimated tumor.

Materials and method

A retrospective study of the epidemiological, clinical, and dermoscopic characteristics among cases of histopathologically diagnosed PC, collected from the database of two skin cancer clinics in Italy (Firenze, Pistoia) from 2000 to 2020, was conducted.

Results

Among the 52 patients with 53 tumors, 31 were men (59.6%) and 21 were women (40.4%) with an age range of 49–96 years (median age 82 years). The most common locations were the head/neck region in men (34% in men vs. 17% in women) and the lower limb in women (17% in women vs. 9% in men). Forty‐eight cases (91%) underwent local excision. Of these patients, two (4%) experienced local recurrence, and one (2%) developed a second PC on a different anatomical site 1 month after the primary tumor's excision. Lymph node metastases were present in three cases (6%). Two of them have been treated surgically with adjuvant radiotherapy (both are disease‐free after a 2‐year follow‐up period), whereas the third case developed visceral metastases followed by PC‐related death.

Conclusions

This study, with 52 patients with 53 tumors covering a follow‐up period of more than 5 years, shows a less aggressive behavior of PC with 4% local recurrence, 6% nodal metastases, and 2% mortality.
High levels of FSH before puberty are associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome during pubertal transition
Authors: Aydin Banu Kucukemre , Stenlid Rasmus , Ciba Iris , Cerenius Sara Y. , Dahlbom Marie , Bergsten Peter , Nergårdh Ricard , Forslund Anders
Published: March 2022

Background

During perimenopause, the rise in serum follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) is associated with increased adiposity, insulin resistance (IR), and metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, data for the pubertal period, which is characterized by increasing FSH levels and changing body composition, are limited.

Objectives

To investigate the relationships between FSH and anthropometric changes, IR markers, and development of MetS in the peripubertal period.

Methods

Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Childhood Obesity (ULSCO) is an ongoing study that aims to understand the factors contributing to childhood obesity and the development of obesity‐related diseases. We analysed the subset of participants who were prepubertal at the first visit (n = 95, 77 with obesity). Mean follow‐up time was 3.0 ± 1.4 years.

Results

Higher serum FSH levels at the first visit were associated with an increased likelihood of elevation in body mass index (BMI SDS) (p = 0.025, OR = 16.10) and having MetS (p = 0.044, OR = 4.67) at the follow‐up. We observed nonlinear relationships between varying serum FSH levels and markers of adiposity and IR, especially in girls. At the first visit, when girls were prepubertal, FSH was negatively associated with BMI (β = −0.491, p = 0.005) and positively associated with sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG) (β = 0.625, p = 0.002). With the progression of puberty, negative associations between BMI and SHBG disappeared while FSH became positively associated with HOMA‐IR (β = 0.678, p = 0.025) and fasting insulin (β = 0.668, p = 0.027).

Conclusions

Higher serum FSH levels in prepubertal children were associated with an increased risk of MetS development during pubertal transition. Along with nonlinear associations between varying serum FSH levels and IR markers, our results might imply a relationship between FSH and IR of puberty.
The roles of interleukin‐1 receptor accessory protein in certain inflammatory conditions
Authors: Zarezadeh Mehrabadi Ali , Aghamohamadi Nazanin , Khoshmirsafa Majid , Aghamajidi Azin , Pilehforoshha Mohammad , Massoumi Ramin , Falak Reza
Published: March 2022

Interleukin‐1 receptor accessory protein (IL‐1RAcP) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily proteins consisting of soluble and membranous isoforms. IL‐1RAcP plays an essential role in the signaling of the IL‐1 family cytokines such as IL‐1, IL‐33 and IL‐36, as well as tyrosine kinases FLT3 and C‐Kit. IL‐1RAcP generally initiates inflammatory signaling pathway through the recruitment of signaling mediators, including MYD88 and IRAK. Chronic inflammation following prolonged signaling of cytokine receptors is a critical process in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory disorders, including autoimmunity, obesity, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes, endometriosis, preeclampsia and Alzheimer's disease. Recently IL‐1RAcP aberrant signaling has been considered to play a central role in the pathogenesis of these chronic inflammatory diseases. Targeting IL‐1RAcP signaling pathway that was recently considered in clinical trials related to malignancies also indicates its potential as therapeutic target for the inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. This review summarizes the molecular structure, components associated with IL‐1RAcP signaling pathways, and their involvement in the pathogenesis of different inflammatory diseases. We will also discuss the effect of IL‐1RAcP inhibition for treatment proposes.
Patient‐dependent risk factors for wound infection after skin surgery: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Schlager Justin Gabriel , Hartmann Daniela , Wallmichrath Jens , Ruiz San Jose Virginia , Patzer Kathrin , French Lars Emil , Kendziora Benjamin
Published: March 2022

Postoperative wound infection in dermatologic surgery causes impaired wound healing, poor cosmetic outcome and increased morbidity. Patients with a high‐risk profile may benefit from perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. The objective of this systematic review was to identify risk factors for surgical site infection after dermatologic surgery. In this article, we report findings on patient‐dependent risk factors. The literature search included MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and trial registers. We performed meta‐analysis, if studies reported sufficient data to calculate risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Study quality was assessed according to the Newcastle‐Ottawa‐Scale. Seventeen observational studies that analysed 31213 surgical wounds were eligible for inclusion. Fourteen studies qualified for meta‐analysis. Nine studies showed good, three fair and five poor methodological quality. The reported incidence of surgical site infection ranged from 0.96% to 8.70%. Meta‐analysis yielded that male gender and immunosuppression were significantly associated with higher infection rates. There was a tendency towards a higher infection risk for patients with diabetes, without statistical significance. Meta‐analysis did not show different infection rates after excision of squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma, but studies were substantially heterogenous. There was no significant association between risk for wound infection and smoking, age over 60 years, oral anti‐aggregation or anti‐coagulation or excision of malignant melanoma. In conclusion, the risk for surgical site infection in dermatologic surgery is low. Infection rates were increased significantly in male as well as immunosuppressed patients and non‐significantly in diabetics.
Relaxation behavior of PbZrO3‐SrTiO3 thin film for enhancing energy storage performances
Authors: Duan Yinuo , Shangguan Duandan , Wang Chao , Bai Yu , Zhang Fan , Wu Yusheng , Song Guihong , Wang Zhan Jie
Published: March 2022

In recent years, antiferroelectric materials have attracted significant attention as energy storage materials in pulsed power systems. In this study, (1‐x)PbZrO3‐xSrTiO3 (PZO‐STO) antiferroelectric films were prepared, and the effects of the STO content on the microstructure and energy storage performance of the thin films were investigated in detail. The results showed that when the PZO/STO ratio was near the morphotropic phase boundary, the long‐range PZO‐STO‐ordered structure could be broken by the paraelectric nanograins generated at the grain boundary. The number of nanoparticles increased gradually with an increase in the STO content, thereby leading to the microstructure transformation of the thin films from antiferroelectric to relaxation ferroelectric. When the STO content was 20%, the as‐prepared thin film had a maximum energy storage density of 15.26 J/cm3, which was 117.14% higher than that of the pure PZO thin film.
Rethinking Risk Management
Authors: Stulz René M.
Published: March 2022

This paper presents a theory of corporate risk management that goes beyond the “variance‐minimization” model that long dominated academic discussions of the subject. It argues that the primary goal of risk management is not to dampen swings in corporate earnings, cash flows, or value, but rather to provide protection against the possibility of costly lower‐tail outcomes—situations that would cause financial distress or make a company unable to carry out its investment strategy. In the jargon of finance specialists, risk management can be viewed as the purchase of “well‐out‐of‐the‐money put options” designed to limit downside risk.

By eliminating downside risk and reducing the expected costs of financial trouble, risk management can also help a company to achieve both its value‐maximizing capital structure and its optimal ownership structure. For besides increasing corporate debt capacity, the reduction of downside risk also encourages larger equity stakes for managers by shielding their investments from “uncontrollables.”

The paper also departs from standard finance theory in suggesting that some companies may have a comparative advantage in bearing certain financial market risks—an advantage that derives from information acquired through their normal business activities. Although such specialized information may lead some companies to take speculative positions in commodities or currencies, it is more likely to encourage “selective” hedging, a practice in which the risk manager's “view” of future price movements influences the percentage of the exposure that is hedged.

But to the extent that such view‐taking becomes an accepted part of a company's risk management program, it is important to evaluate managers’ bets on a risk‐adjusted basis and relative to the market. If risk managers want to behave like money managers, they should be evaluated like money managers.
Real Options and Hidden Leverage∗
Authors: Myers Stewart C. , Read James A.
Published: March 2022

Financial leverage is customarily measured by the ratio of debt to net assets or debt to enterprise value. These measures usually understate effective leverage, because corporate commitments to ongoing and future capital investments create hidden leverage that acts like debt, but does not appear on book balance sheets.

Hidden leverage acts like debt in two important ways. First, it increases financial risk. The more hidden leverage, the more volatile are stock market returns. Second, failure to meet hidden‐leverage obligations is costly. Failure may mean loss of investment opportunities or other damage to the company's long‐term prospects and value.

In the case of growth companies, the most important source of hidden leverage is options for future investment. Investment opportunities are real call options, where the underlying asset is a real (as distinct from a financial) asset. Suppose an energy company has a good greenfield site and the opportunity to build a petrochemical plant when and if the time is ripe. The future decision will depend on the spread between feedstock and product prices, on energy and transportation costs, and on the resolution of other uncertainties that will determine the plant's future NPV. Though the plant may never be constructed, the option to construct it is valuable now.

Most companies also have real put options: opportunities to abandon assets. Abandonment options are generally more abundant in mature or declining industries.

Starting with insight that real call options are equivalent to leveraged positions in the underlying asset, the authors use option pricing concepts to calculate the amounts of option leverage. They show why high‐growth companies like Apple are effectively far more leveraged than their GAAP accounting balance sheets would suggest. Such analysis helps explain why companies like Apple also keep so much cash and marketable securities on hand.

Growth (call) options typically have negative debt capacity, which displaces explicit borrowing. Abandonment (put) options have positive debt capacity, which allows the company to borrow more than its assets in place would normally support. This can explain the high debt ratios in many LBOs.

The authors explore other effects of hidden leverage. For example, standard procedures for estimating the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) will overestimate WACC for growth firms and underestimate it for mature firms with valuable abandonment options.
Global cognitive function correlates with P‐wave dispersion in frail hypertensive older adults
Authors: Mone Pasquale , Pansini Antonella , Calabrò Francesco , De Gennaro Stefano , Esposito Mafalda , Rinaldi Paolo , Colin Antonio , Minicucci Fabio , Coppola Antonio , Frullone Salvatore , Santulli Gaetano
Published: March 2022

P‐Wave Dispersion (PWD) is an ECG parameter defined as the difference between the longest and the shortest P‐Wave duration. PWD has been associated with hypertension, a leading cause of age‐related cognitive decline. Moreover, hypertension is associated with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. Based on these considerations, we evaluated PWD and global cognitive function in frail hypertensive older adults with a previous diagnosis of cognitive decline. We evaluated consecutive frail hypertensive patients ≥65‐year‐old with a Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) score <26. Patients with evidence of secondary hypertension, history of stroke, myocardial infarction, or therapy with beta‐blockers or acetylcholinesterase inhibitors were excluded. Beta‐blocker therapy causes a significant decrease in PWD; patients treated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors were not included to avoid confounding effects on cognitive function. By examining 180 patients, we found that PWD significantly correlated with MMSE score. Strikingly, these effects were confirmed in a linear multivariate analysis with a regression model. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that PWD correlates with global cognitive function in frail hypertensive older adults.
siRNA‐induced CD44 knockdown suppresses the proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer stem cells through inhibiting epithelial–mesenchymal transition
Authors: Zou Weiyan , Zhang Yi , Bai Guangfu , Zhuang Jialu , Wei Lin , Wang Zishu , Sun Meiqun , Wang Junbin
Published: March 2022

CD44 has shown prognostic values and promising therapeutic potential in multiple human cancers; however, the effects of CD44 silencing on biological behaviors of cancer stem cells (CSCs) have not been fully understood in colorectal cancer. To examine the contribution of siRNA‐induced knockdown of CD44 to the biological features of colorectal CSCs, colorectal CSCs HCT116‐CSCs were generated, and CD44 was knocked down in HCT116‐CSCs using siRNA. The proliferation, migration and invasion of HCT116‐CSCs were measured, and apoptosis and cell‐cycle analyses were performed. The sensitivity of HCT116‐CSCs to oxaliplatin was tested, and xenograft tumor growth assay was performed to examine the role of CD44 in HCT116‐CSCs tumorigenesis in vivo. In addition, the expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers E‐cadherin, N‐cadherin and vimentin was quantified. siRNA‐induced knockdown of CD44 was found to inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion, induce apoptosis, promote cell‐cycle arrest at the G1/G0 phase and increase the sensitivity of HCT116‐CSCs to oxaliplatin in HCT116‐CSCs, and knockdown of CD44 suppressed in vivo tumorigenesis and intrapulmonary metastasis of HCT116‐CSCs. Moreover, silencing CD44 resulted in EMT inhibition. Our findings demonstrate that siRNA‐induced CD44 knockdown suppresses the proliferation, invasion and in vivo tumorigenesis and metastasis of colorectal CSCs by inhibiting EMT.
Searching for seadragons: predicting micro‐habitat use for the common (weedy) seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) based on habitat and prey
Authors: Allan Sam J. , O'Connell Max J. , Harasti David , Klanten O. Selma , Booth David J.
Published: March 2022

Habitat associations can be critical predictors of larger‐scale organism distributions and range shifts. Here the authors consider how a critical habitat, kelp (Ecklonia radiata) and prey (mysid crustacean swarms), can influence small‐ and large‐scale distribution on the iconic common (weedy) seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus:Syngnathidae). P. taeniolatus are charismatic fish endemic to the temperate reefs of southern Australia, reported to range from Geraldton, Western Australia (28.7667°S, 114.6167°E) around southern Australia to Port Stephens, New South Wales (32.614369°S, 152.325676°E). The authors test a previously developed model of seadragon habitat preferences to predict P. taeniolatus occurrence within four sites from Sydney to the northern limit of their range in eastern Australia. They determined that P. taeniolatus associations with Ecklonia and mysid shrimp can be extrapolated across multiple sites to predict the occurrence of individual P. taeniolatus within a location/site. For instance, the authors demonstrated a significant positive relationship between the density of mysid swarms and the density of P. taeniolatus, evident across all sites despite large differences in the density of mysid swarms among sites. The findings are the first to model P. taeniolatus habitat associations across multiple sites to the northern limit of their range and have applications in protecting P. taeniolatus populations and how they may respond under climate change scenarios, such as poleward kelp retractions.
Anisakidae parasitism activated immune response and induced liver fibrosis in wild anadromous Coilia nasus
Authors: Ying Congping , Fang Xin , Wang Honglan , Yang Yanping , Xu Pao , Liu Kai , Yin Guojun
Published: March 2022

Anisakidae nematode larvae is one of the most common parasites in wild anadromous Coilia nasus. This study aims to explore the mechanism of the C. nasus immune response to the parasitism of Anisakid nematode larvae. Results found that Anisakid nematode larvae parasitism caused liver injury as evidenced by histomorphology results as well as high levels of aminotransferase and aspertate aminotransferase. Furthermore, Anisakid nematode larvae parasitism induced an immune response in the host, which was characterized by the elevated populations of macrophages and neutrophils in the liver and head‐kidney in the Anisakidae‐infected group compared to the noninfected group. The expression of immunoglobulin IgM and IgD in the liver and head‐kidney was also increased in the Anisakidae‐infected group. The Anisakidae‐infected group showed higher activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase, which indicates severe oxidative stress, and increased production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, TNF‐α, IL‐6 as well as MCP‐1 in the liver compared with the noninfected group. As a result of inflammation, livers of hosts in the Anisakidae‐infected group showed fibrosis, and elevated expression of associated proteins including α‐smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, collagen type I and type III compared with the noninfected group. We demonstrated that Anisakid nematode larvae parasitism results in injury and fibrosis in the liver, and triggers immune cell infiltration and inflammation in the liver and head‐kidney of C. nasus. Altogether, the results provide a foundation for building an interaction between parasite and host, and will contribute to C. nasus population and fishery resource protection.
Median and ulnar nerve fascicle imaging using MR microscopy and high‐resolution ultrasound
Authors: Žiga Snoj , Igor Serša , Urša Matičič , Domen Plut , Erika Cvetko , Gregor Omejec
Published: March 2022

Background and Purpose

Understanding nerve microanatomy is important as different neuropathies and some nerve neoplasms present with fascicle enlargement. The aim of our study was to gain clinically oriented knowledge on nerve fascicular anatomy using imaging modalities.

Methods

On a cadaveric upper extremity, high‐resolution ultrasound (HRUS) scan with 22 MHz probe was performed. Sections of the median and ulnar nerves were excised at the level of the distal arm and after magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM), histological cross‐sections (HCS) were prepared. Cross‐referencing of the MRM and HRUS images with HCS was performed. Fascicle and nerve contouring was performed with morphometric software in order to assess nerve and fascicular cross‐sectional area (CSA), fascicle count, and interfascicular distances. Based on fascicle differentiation, factual fascicle (FF) group and fascicular cluster (FC) group were defined.

Results

On the cross‐referenced imaging material, fascicles were differentiated in 92.7% on MRM and in 57.3% on HRUS. High to very high positive correlation among imaging material was observed for the fascicle CSA. FF depiction was 30.1% on HRUS. In comparison to the FF group, the FC group had significantly larger fascicle CSA and shorter interfascicular distances.

Discussion

The findings of our study contribute to understanding of fascicle depiction on imaging modalities. HRUS offers good visualization of fascicles. The capability of differentiating fascicles is modality specific and depends on the fascicle CSA and the amount of interfascicular epineurium.
Peircean realism: A primer
Authors: Ritz Bridget
Published: March 2022

Charles S. Peirce's realism has been neglected by pragmatists and critical realists alike in the current debate over metatheoretical realism in sociology. This paper introduces Peirce's view of what is at stake in the question of realism, specifically regarding causation. Leveraging current interest in Peirce's conception of abduction, I show how realism about causation is implicit therein. I present a genealogy of the concept of real causation Peirce embraces. I explicate Peirce's view of the scientific significance of realism about causation, and why he finds it compelling. Finally, I argue that Peirce would intervene in the current debate by saying that those committed to abductive theorizing and causal explanation are implicitly realist.
How gender, marital status, and gender norms affect savings goals
Authors: Agunsoye Ariane , Monne Jerome , Rutterford Janette , Sotiropoulos Dimitris P.
Published: March 2022

Setting savings goals can increase wealth accumulation behaviour, yet it depends on how challenging the goals are. Using rarely available savings goal data from 1,760 clients of an advisory investment firm, we identify gender attitudinal differences in goal amounts: men choose more ambitious savings goals than women, independently from expected life‐long earnings. This, however, holds only for individuals living in a couple, for which men's savings goals reach the highest levels. Based on insights from qualitative research (56 semi‐structured interviews of 60 participants), we argue that these differences originate from gender‐normative roles assigned to members within the households. Most women are assigned to daily budget management, exacerbating worries about financial security issues in the short term and negatively impacting savings goals. This observation holds even when women, rather than men, manage long‐term investment for the household. Men's assignment to long‐term financial planning is related to optimism and ambition with regards to their savings goal choice, but these attitudes remain conditional on the fact that they do not deal with day‐to‐day budget management.