bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A connectivity modeling and evaluating methodological framework in biodiversity hotspots based on naturalness and linking wilderness
Authors: Xu Bo , Zhang Yun , Lin Wenyue
Published: June 2022

Wilderness is important for the maintenance of biodiversity, but human activities are increasingly fragmenting it. This situation has serious impacts on various ecological processes, especially in biodiversity hotspots. In previous studies, connectivity modeling is mostly focused on key species, but this approach is difficult to use in biodiversity hotspots. Therefore, it is more practical to focus on naturalness or wilderness. In this study, the Boolean tool and morphological analysis were used to extract landscape type core as wilderness core and Bridge as structural corridors. Then, connectivity analysis was used to extract the wilderness landscape source (WLS). Linkage mapper and Pinch‐point mapper were used to identify the potential corridors and analyze the Pinch‐Points in the corridor, and network connectivity indexes were used to evaluate the corridor network structure. Finally, wilderness core, WLS, structural corridor, and potential corridor are superimposed to get a wilderness network map. A method framework for comprehensive identification and evaluation of the wilderness network in biodiversity hotspots was proposed. Taking Nujiang Prefecture as an example, a wilderness network was constructed and evaluated based on naturalness and wilderness. The results show that human activity has a clear impact on connectivity and that wilderness networks have the potential to be an efficient alternative to habitat networks. In addition, the method framework has potential applicability to other biodiversity hotspots’ regions to reduce the impact of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity.
Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided gastrointestinal anastomosis: Current status and future perspectives
Authors: Bronswijk Michiel , Pérez‐Cuadrado‐Robles Enrique , Van der Merwe Schalk
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Both clinical experience and supporting data have improved drastically in the context of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided gastrointestinal anastomosis (EUS‐GIA). Where outcomes used to be questioned, focus has now moved towards performing comparative studies, optimizing technical approaches, improving patient selection, and developing well‐defined treatment algorithms.

Methods

The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of technical developments within EUS‐GIA and to discuss the current status of EUS‐GIA and future directions.

Results

EUS‐GIA techniques such as EUS‐guided gastroenterostomy (EUS‐GE), EUS‐directed transgastric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (EDGE) and EUS‐guided treatment afferent loop syndrome have undergone further development, refining technical approaches, improving patient selection and subsequent outcomes. Retrospective evaluations of EUS‐GE have shown similar safety when compared to enteral stenting, whilst attaining surgical range efficacy. Whereas, in patients with gastric bypass anatomy, EDGE seems less cumbersome and time consuming than enteroscopy‐assisted ERCP, while preventing surgical morbidity associated with laparoscopy‐assisted ERCP. Although less evidence is available on EUS‐guided treatment of afferent loop syndrome, this technique has been associated with higher clinical success and fewer reinterventions and adverse events when compared to enteral stenting and percutaneous drainage, respectively. Several randomized studies are currently underway evaluating EUS‐GE in malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO), whereas more prospective data are still required on EDGE and long‐term fistula management.

Conclusion

EUS‐GIA has become a crucial alternative to established techniques, overcoming technical limitations and subsequently improving patient outcomes. Although we should focus on prospective confirmation of these results in the context of GOO and EDGE, the current evidence already allows for a prominent role for EUS‐GIA in our everyday practice.
The electrophysiological properties of hindlimb motoneurons do not differ between male and female rats
Authors: Drzymała‐Celichowska Hanna , Celichowski Jan , Bączyk Marcin , Krutki Piotr
Published: June 2022

Several studies have reported differences in the morphological characteristics of motoneurons and the contractile properties of motor units of male and female rats. However, differences in spinal motoneuron activity between the sexes are not well understood. This study investigates the electrophysiological properties of spinal α‐motoneurons in male and female Wistar rats under pentobarbital anaesthesia. Fast and slow types of tibial motoneurons were recorded intracellularly in 15 male and 15 female rats, and the measured parameters were compared statistically using two‐way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests. The membrane properties, action potential parameters and firing characteristics were not different between sexes, though significant differences were observed in the properties of fast and slow motoneuron types within both sex groups. We conclude that the sex‐related differences observed in motor performance between male and female rats are largely due to differences in muscle mass, the proportion of muscle fibre types and the related motor unit contractile properties, while the mechanisms of motor control dependent on the electrophysiological activity of motoneurons are similar between the sexes. These findings are significant, as they indicate that results of experiments investigating electrophysiological properties can be reliably compared between sexes.
On noticing transparent states: A compatibilist approach to transparency
Authors: Dewalque Arnaud
Published: June 2022

According to the transparency thesis, some conscious states are transparent or “diaphanous”. This thesis is often believed to be incompatible with an inner‐awareness account of phenomenal consciousness. In this article, I reject this incompatibility. Instead, I defend a compatibilist approach to transparency. To date, most attempts to do so require a rejection ofstrong transparencyin favor ofweak transparency. In this view, transparent states can be attended to by attending (in the right way) to the presented world: that is, they are merelytranslucent. Here, I first argue that this understanding of transparency is too weak to qualify as a compatibilist view. Drawing on insights from Franz Brentano, I then describe a middle road between strong and weak transparency. The crucial idea is that, although transparent states cannot be attended to, they can benoticed(under suitable conditions). This view, I submit, allows supporters of inner awareness to commit themselves to a more interesting understanding of transparency—moderate transparency—that preserves the initial intuition underlying the transparency metaphor.
Brain structure and neurocognitive function in two professional mountaineers during 35 days of severe normobaric hypoxia
Authors: Sönksen Sven‐Erik , Kühn Sven , Basner Mathias , Gerlach Darius , Hoffmann Fabian , Mühl Christian , Tank Jens , Noblé Hans‐Jürgen , Akgün Katja , Ziemssen Tjalf , Jordan Jens , Limper Ulrich
Published: June 2022

Background and purpose

Animal studies suggest that exposure to severe ambient hypoxia for several days may have beneficial long‐term effects on neurodegenerative diseases. Because, the acute risks of exposing human beings to prolonged severe hypoxia on brain structure and function are uncertain, we conducted a pilot study in healthy persons.

Methods

We included two professional mountaineers (participants A and B) in a 35‐day study comprising an acclimatization period and 14 consecutive days with oxygen concentrations between 8% and 8.8%. They underwent cerebral magnetic resonance imaging at seven time points and a cognitive test battery covering a spectrum of cognitive domains at 27 time points. We analysed blood neuron specific enolase and neurofilament light chain levels before, during, and after hypoxia.

Results

In hypoxia, white matter volumes increased (maximum: A, 4.3% ± 0.9%; B, 4.5% ± 1.9%) whilst gray matter volumes (A, −1.5% ± 0.8%; B, −2.5% ± 0.9%) and cerebrospinal fluid volumes (A, −2.7% ± 2.4%; B, −5.9% ± 8.2%) decreased. Furthermore, the number (A, 11–17; B, 26–126) and volumes (A, 140%; B, 285%) of white matter hyperintensities increased in hypoxia but had returned to baseline after a 3.5‐month recovery phase. Diffusion weighted imaging of the white matter indicated cytotoxic edema formation. We did not observe changes in cognitive performance or biochemical brain injury markers.

Discussion

In highly selected healthy individuals, severe sustained normobaric hypoxia over 2 weeks elicited reversible changes in brain morphology without clinically relevant changes in cognitive function or brain injury markers. The finding may pave the way for future translational studies assessing the therapeutic potential of hypoxia in neurodegenerative diseases.
Effects of blood lipids and lipid‐modifying drugs on intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Zhang Baorui , Dong Siyuan , Miao Yan , Song Guangrong , Yuan Fei , Liu Lang , Xia Saide , Qin Yongkai , Huo Xiaochuan , Wu Zhongxue , Miao Zhongrong , Mo Dapeng , Liu Aihua ,   International Stroke Genetics Consortium (ISGC) Intracranial Aneurysm Working Group
Published: June 2022

Background and purpose

We used two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to examine the effects of blood lipids and lipid‐modifying drugs on intracranial aneurysm (IA).

Methods

Genetic variants for the effects of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), apolipoprotein A1, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), apolipoprotein B, and triglycerides and targets for lipid‐modifying drugs were selected from the genome‐wide discovery analyses of the UK Biobank. Summary‐level data on IAs were obtained from the International Stroke Genetics Consortium. Univariate and multivariate MR analyses were performed.

Results

Univariate MR analyses showed that the HDL‐C was negatively correlated with IA (odds ratio [OR] = 0.816, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.715–0.932, p = 0.003) and ruptured IA (rIA; OR = 0.775, 95% CI = 0.663–0.906, p = 0.001). The multivariate MR–inverse variance weighted analysis showed that the HDL‐C was negatively correlated with IA (OR = 0.655, 95% CI = 0.434–0.988, p = 0.043) and rIA (OR = 0.563, 95% CI = 0.347–0.913, p = 0.02), and the LDL‐C was negatively correlated with IA (OR = 0.402, 95% CI = 0.191–0.848, p = 0.017) and rIA (OR = 0.376, 95% CI = 0.160–0.883, p = 0.025). Using genetic proxies of known lipid‐modifying drugs, we found that the increased HDL‐C with cholesterol ester transfer protein proxies was associated with a decreased risk of rIA (OR = 0.852, 95% CI = 0.747–0.973, p = 0.018), and the decreased LDL‐C with 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A reductase proxies was associated with increased risk of IA (OR = 1.772, 95% CI = 1.080–2.908, p = 0.024) and rIA (OR = 1.856, 95% CI = 1.022–3.371, p = 0.042).

Conclusions

Genetically determined HDL‐C and LDL‐C reduce the risk of IA and rIA. The effects of different lipid‐modifying drugs on IA need to be further investigated.
Ultrasonographic identification of mesenteric lipomatosis in a Shetland mare with recurrent colic episodes
Authors: Lesca Héloïse , Fairburn Alison , Fitzharris Laura Emily , Mair Tim S.
Published: June 2022

An obese 17‐year‐old Shetland pony mare with a history of recurrent colic episodes was presented for investigation of colic signs of a few hours' duration associated with marked tachycardia. Transabdominal ultrasonography identified a large amount of multilobulated tissue that was hypoechoic to the adjacent retroperitoneal fat within the caudal and ventral abdomen; this could be seen extending dorsally into the mid‐abdomen between intestinal structures. At exploratory laparotomy, a lipoma at the mesenteric attachment of the mid‐jejunum (considered likely to have caused intermittent extraluminal compression) as well as excessively thick layers of fat in the mesentery of both small and large intestine (compatible with lipomatosis) were identified. The lipoma was removed. Post‐operative recovery was uneventful. A strict diet was enforced, resulting in marked weight loss over the 12‐week post‐surgery period. Follow‐up abdominal ultrasound examination identified a reduction in the thickness of the retroperitoneal fat layer and the abnormal multilobulated tissue. This is the first case report detailing the ultrasonographic findings in a case of extensive mesenteric lipomatosis in a pony and describing the ultrasonographic improvement following a weight loss programme.
Translating Discovery Science. Fostering relationships: Service provider perspectives on community building among veteran families
Authors: Monk J. Kale , Ruhlmann Lauren , Nelson Goff Briana S. , Ogan Matthew , Miller Mary Beth
Published: June 2022

Objective

We sought to identify the social process through which communal support can be established among veteran couples and families.

Background

On the basis of the social organization theory of action and change, a sense of community is crucial for military veterans' well‐being and may serve as a resource for intervention.

Method

We interviewed service providers (n = 8) and corroborated their perspectives by triangulating evaluations from veteran family participants (n = 143). Data were analyzed using grounded theory techniques.

Results

Providers suggested promoting a sense of community in prevention and intervention programming by (a) establishing a safe and empowering space, (b) bridging existing gaps within family and community systems, and (c) encouraging interpersonal healing by promoting connection and facilitating the sharing of common experiences. Providers also described challenges to facilitating the program, including logistics, time, and funding constraints.

Conclusion

According to our results, fostering community among veterans and their family members may be achieved by applying an integrative approach that goes beyond siloed individual, couple, and group therapy orchestrated by practitioners.

Implications

We recommend multicomponent interventions that create synergy between different levels and forms of social support. Providers recommended being intentional about the program structure to focus on community strengths and shared connection.
Food quality mediates responses ofDaphnia magnalife history traits and heat tolerance to elevated temperature
Authors: Sarrazin Jana , Sperfeld Erik
Published: June 2022

Surface waters are warming due to climate change, potentially pushing aquatic organisms closer to their thermal tolerance limits. However, cyanobacterial blooms are expected to occur more often with rising temperature, increasing the likelihood of poor‐quality food available for herbivorous zooplankton. Zooplankton can adapt locally by genetic differentiation or via adaptive phenotypic plasticity to increasing temperatures, but there is limited knowledge on how these processes may be affected by food quality limitation imposed by cyanobacteria.

To test the effects of cyanobacteria‐mediated food quality on local temperature adaptation, we measured juvenile somatic growth and reproduction of fiveDaphnia magnaclones from different latitudinal origin grown on three food qualities at 20, 24, and 28°C. Additionally we estimated short‐term heat tolerance, measured as knockout time (time to immobility) at lethally high temperature, of two clones acclimated to the three temperatures and two food quality levels to test for the effects of food quality on adaptive plastic responses.

As expected, clones from lower latitudes showed on average better somatic growth and reproduction than clones from higher latitudes at higher temperatures. However, the difference in somatic growth diminished with increasing cyanobacteria abundance in the diet, suggesting constraints on local genetic adaptation under predicted decreases in food quality. As expected, short‐term heat tolerance of the clones generally increased with increasing acclimation temperature. However, heat tolerance of animals acclimated to the highest temperature was larger when grown at medium than at good food quality, whereas the opposite response was observed for animals acclimated to the lowest temperature. This suggests a better adaptive phenotypic response of animals to elevated temperatures under higher cyanobacteria abundance, and thus shows an opposite pattern to the results for somatic growth.

Overall, we demonstrate that food quality limitation can mediate responses ofD. magnalife history traits and heat tolerance to increasing temperatures, and that the effects differ depending on the time scale studied, that is, mid‐term (somatic growth) versus short‐term (tolerance to acute heat stress). These aspects will need further attention to accurately predict of how organisms will cope with future global warming by local adaptation and adaptive phenotypic plasticity.
On an ethic of not going there
Authors: Guasco Anna
Published: June 2022

Fieldwork – “going there” – is the presumed norm and baseline of geographical research. In this commentary, I propose a framework for challenging the normative framing of fieldwork in geography and other fields (including those beyond academia): an ethic of not going there. I argue that fieldwork, rather than a neutral rite of passage, is deeply entwined with some of the most entrenched issues in contemporary geography and research more broadly. Building on a range of prior critiques and using the lens of “access”, I propose some ways for critiquing the presumptions inherent in geographical imaginaries of “fieldwork”. This ethical framework argues that doing geographical fieldwork should have to be justified to the same extent as not doing fieldwork is expected to be justified. I envision an ethic of not (always) going there as an alternative way of thinking about research (and researchers) within and beyond geography.
Melanoma survivors are at increased risk for second primary keratinocyte carcinoma
Authors: Sun Huiyan , Li Yayun , Zeng Furong , Meng Yu , Du Songtao , Deng Guangtong
Published: June 2022

Background

Recent large cohorts have reported that melanoma survivors are at risk of developing second keratinocyte carcinoma (KC). However, the detailed proportion and risk are still unknown. We aimed to comprehensively analyze the risk of developing keratinocyte carcinoma after primary melanoma.

Methods

We conducted systematic literature research in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library published prior to September 13, 2021. Proportion and standardized incidence ratios (SIR) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled for assessing the risk.

Results

A total of 15 studies encompassing 168,286 patients were included in our analysis. The pooled proportions of melanoma survivors that developed a subsequent basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and KC were 4.11% (95% CI, 1.32–6.90), 2.54% (95% CI, 1.78–3.31), and 5.45% (95% CI, 3.06–7.84), respectively. The risks of developing a second BCC, SCC, and KC in melanoma survivors were 5.3‐fold (SIR 5.30; 95% CI, 4.87–5.77), 2.6‐fold (SIR 2.58; 95% CI, 1.33–5.04), and 6.2‐fold (SIR 6.17; 95% CI, 3.66–10.39) increased in comparison with the general population. Both fixed effects and random effects models were applied in conducting meta‐analysis and reached a consistent conclusion.

Conclusions

Our results indicated melanoma survivors are at elevated risk of experiencing second primary BCC and SCC, which suggested the significance of surveillance for second primary KC and efforts for prevention in patients with a history of melanoma.
‘It's working together with what you've got’: Healthcare professionals' experiences of working with people with combined intellectual disability and personality disorder diagnoses
Authors: Zarotti Nicolò , Hudson Clive , Human Hannah‐Rose , Muratori Greco , Fisher Paul
Published: June 2022

Background

People with intellectual disability often receive diagnoses which may complicate their clinical care. Among these, personality disorder diagnoses are still considered contentious. Little is also known on the perspectives of staff caring for people with intellectual disability who have received a personality disorder diagnosis.

Methods

Three focus groups were carried out to explore 15 healthcare professionals' subjective experiences of working with people with intellectual disability who also have a recorded additional diagnosis of personality disorder. Data were analysed through thematic analysis.

Findings

Four overarching themes were identified: (a) diagnostic issues and the need for person‐centred approaches; (b) challenges and adjustments to working with combined intellectual disability and PD diagnoses; (c) the importance of multidisciplinary team training, support, and cohesion; (d) provision issues and barriers to service access.

Conclusions

The themes are outlined in depth and a number of implications for clinical management and service improvement are discussed.
Effect of blended learning on student performance in K‐12 settings: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Shuqin , Wang Weihua
Published: June 2022

Background

Blended learning programs in Kindergarten through Grade 12 (K‐12) classrooms are growing in popularity; however, previous studies assessing their effects have yielded inconsistent results. Further, their effects have not been completely quantitatively synthesized and evaluated.

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to synthesize the overall effects of blended learning on K‐12 student performance, distinguish the most effective domains of learning outcomes, and examine the moderators of the overall effects.

Methods

For the purpose, this study conducted a meta‐analysis of 84 studies published between 2000 and 2020, and involved 30,377 K‐12 students.

Results and Conclusions

Results revealed that blended learning can significantly improve K‐12 students' overall performance [g = 0.65, p < 0.001, 95% CI = (0.54–0.77)], particularly in the cognitive domain [g = 0.74, p < 0.001, 95% CI = (0.61–0.88)). The testing of moderators indicates that the factors moderating the impact of blended learning on student performance in these studies included group activities, educational level, subject, knowledge type, instructor, sample size, intervention duration and region.

Implications

The results indicate that blended learning is an effective way to improve K‐12 students' performance compared to traditional face‐to‐face (F2F) learning. Additionally, these findings highlight valuable recommendations for future research and practices related to effective blended learning approaches in K‐12 settings.
US hospital webpages on atrial fibrillation ablation: A potential source for misinformation
Authors: Rajyaguru Chirag , Sandhu Uday , Hadjis Alexios , Dere Juliana , Panchal Somya , Ja Austin , Ong Nicholas , Yu Stephen , Yu Jeremy , Lee Sun Yong , Lee Byron K.
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is performed worldwide. To attract patients, hospitals frequently have webpages that tout the success of the procedure. The information disseminated to the public via these webpages has not been systematically reviewed. Our objective was to assess accuracy of information delivered to the public on hospital websites in regard to atrial AF ablation.

Methods

From July 2019 to January 2020, we performed a Google search for all US hospitals registered with Medicare to see if they had a webpage describing AF ablation. Resulting hospital webpages were abstracted for data on AF ablation success rates and risks. Success rates over 86%, the highest success rate in the medical literature, were deemed exaggerated.

Results

Among 4805 hospitals, 487 had webpages describing AF ablation and 33 discussed success rates of AF ablation. Twelve percentage reported exaggerated success rates, 3% referred to ablation as a cure, and 2.8% referred to ablation as a tool to eliminate AF. Less than 10% of webpages describing AF ablation noted the potential need for a second ablation to achieve the stated success rate and merely 16% mentioned risks of the procedure. One percentage of webpages directly suggested AF ablation could reduce risk of stroke while others indirectly suggested it by discussing cessation of anticoagulation. Two webpages mentioned reduced mortality.

Conclusion

US hospital webpages rarely discuss AF ablation. When discussed, there were concerning unsubstantiated claims regarding mortality, stroke prevention, and need for medical therapy. This could lead to some patients undergoing AF ablation based on faulty understanding.
Altered polymerase theta expression promotes chromosomal instability in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma
Authors: Bai Han , Xia Shilin , Zhu Lei , Dong Yan , Liu Chao , Li Nan , Liu Han , Xiao Jing
Published: June 2022

Genomic instability (GIN) plays a key role in cancer progression. The disorders of polymerase theta (POLQ) were reported to contribute to GIN and progression in many cancers. Here, we found that POLQ over‐expression was related to salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) progression and poor prognosis. Then, we investigated the role and mechanism of POLQ in the GIN in SACC. GIN was assessed by chromosome staining with DAPI and Giemsa, as well as qRT‐PCR of the mitosis‐related gene expression. Meanwhile, PCR‐SSCP was used to evaluate microsatellite instability. Modulation of POLQ expression increased chromosomal instability and enhanced the sensitivity to etoposide without impacting microsatellite stability. Mechanistically, POLQ regulated genome stability by promoting the expression of the error‐prone alt‐NHEJ‐related protein PARP1, and down‐regulating c‐NHEJ‐ and HR‐related proteins KU70 and RAD51. In vitro CCK, Transwell assays and in vivo murine xenograft models indicated that the PARP inhibitor olaparib suppressed SACC growth in the case of etoposide‐induced DNA damage. Bioinformatic analysis identified CEBPB as a potential POLQ‐regulating transcription factor. In summary, our research provides new insights into the mechanisms of SACC chromosomal instability and identifies new potential targets for SACC treatment.
One Big Conversation: The EU's Climate Diplomacy across the International Regime Complex on the Paris Agreement Negotiations
Authors: Earsom Joseph , Delreux Tom
Published: June 2022

The EU participates in many international fora related to climate change (for example UNFCCC, G20, Montreal Protocol), which collectively constitute the international regime complex on climate change (IRCCC). Using the case study of negotiations on the Paris Agreement, this paper addresses the question How and why did the EU use the different fora of the IRCCC to achieve its objectives in the Paris Agreement negotiations? It finds that the EU used the IRCCC in four main ways: employing typical multilateral negotiating activities, overcoming specific issues of the Paris Agreement negotiations, creating political momentum, and ensuring cross‐fora coordination. These uses correspond with the level of political authority of participants and the level of climate‐specialization in a given forum.
Correlation of dehydroepiandrosterone with diabetic nephropathy and its clinical value in early detection
Authors: Ma Ying , Wang Qian , Chen Yunxia , Su Junping , Gao Qian , Fan Yuxin , Feng Jing , Liu Ming , He Qing
Published: June 2022

Aims/Introduction

This study was carried out to assess the association of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) with diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to better predict the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Materials and Methods

A total of 1,082 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital were enrolled in this study, and grouped for comparison. The effect of serum DHEA on DN was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curves were established to explore the optimal concentration of DHEA in patients with DN and non‐DN.

Results

DHEA was significantly decreased in patients with DN (P < 0.001). The prevalence of DN was significantly higher in the low DHEA quartile than in the other quartiles (P < 0.001). Spearman‐related analysis showed that DHEA levels were negatively correlated with patient age, course of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, blood creatinine, uric acid, urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio, 24‐h urine microalbumin, 24‐h urine protein quantification and glomerular filtration rate, and positively correlated with body mass index, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein. Logistic regression analysis showed that the effect of DHEA on DN was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the sensitivity was 81.4%, the specificity was 70% and the area under the curve was 0.812 when the optimal cut‐off value was 1,640 (pg/mL).

Conclusion

DHEA is significantly associated with DN and might be a protective factor for DN, and is important for the prediction of DN.
Estimating Classification Accuracy and Consistency Indices for Multiple Measures with the Simple Structure MIRT Model
Authors: Park Seohee , Kim Kyung Yong , Lee Won‐Chan
Published: June 2022

Multiple measures, such as multiple content domains or multiple types of performance, are used in various testing programs to classify examinees for screening or selection. Despite the popular usages of multiple measures, there is little research on classification consistency and accuracy of multiple measures. Accordingly, this study introduces an approach to estimate classification consistency and accuracy indices for multiple measures under four possible decision rules: (1) complementary, (2) conjunctive, (3) compensatory, and (4) pairwise combinations of the three. The current study uses the IRT‐recursive‐based approach with the simple‐structure multidimensional IRT model (SS‐MIRT) to estimate the classification consistency and accuracy for multiple measures. Theoretical formulations of the four decision rules with a binary decision (Pass/Fail) are presented. The estimation procedures are illustrated using an empirical data example based on SS‐MIRT. In addition, this study applies the estimation procedures to the unidimensional IRT (UIRT) context, considering that UIRT is practically used more. This application shows that the proposed procedure of classification consistency and accuracy could be used with a UIRT model for individual measures as an alternative method of SS‐MIRT.
Nursing home financial transparency and accountability are needed to assure minimum staffing levels
Authors: Halifax Elizabeth , Harrington Charlene
Published: June 2022

See related Article by Falvey et al. in this issue.
Deriving happiness through extraordinary or ordinary brand experiences in times of COVID‐19 threat
Authors: Jiao Jinfeng (Jenny) , Lu Fang‐Chi , Chen Nuoya
Published: June 2022

The authors examined how the joint effect of brand experience type (ordinary vs. extraordinary) and COVID‐19 threat on consumer happiness changed at different stages of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The findings from five studies, with the COVID‐19 threat and lockdown status measured as well as manipulated, suggest that COVID‐19 threat exerts converse moderating influences on the extraordinariness–happiness relationship under no lockdown and lockdown. Under lockdown, threat attenuates the effect of brand extraordinariness on happiness; extraordinary brand experiences bring more happiness than ordinary brand experiences when the perceived threat of COVID‐19 is low, but consumers derive comparable happiness from extraordinary and ordinary experiences when perceived threat is high. Under no lockdown, threat amplifies the positive effect of extraordinariness on happiness. Consumers rarely experience a large‐scale lockdown due to a pandemic, and this research advances understanding of how consumer happiness from a brand experience changes with the trajectory of a pandemic.
Epigenetic aging: Biological age prediction and informing a mechanistic theory of aging
Authors: Li Adam , Koch Zane , Ideker Trey
Published: June 2022

Numerous studies have shown that epigenetic age—an individual's degree of aging based on patterns of DNA methylation—can be computed and is associated with an array of factors including diet, lifestyle, genetics, and disease. One can expect that still further associations will emerge with additional aging research, but to what end? Prediction of age was an important first step, but—in our view—the focus must shift from chasing increasingly accurate age computations to understanding the links between the epigenome and the mechanisms and physiological changes of aging. Here, we outline emerging areas of epigenetic aging research that prioritize biological understanding and clinical application. First, we survey recent progress in epigenetic clocks, which are beginning to predict not only chronological age but aging outcomes such as all‐cause mortality and onset of disease, or which integrate aging signals across multiple biological processes. Second, we discuss research that exemplifies how investigation of the epigenome is building a mechanistic theory of aging and informing clinical practice. Such examples include identifying methylation sites and the genes most strongly predictive of aging—a subset of which have shown strong potential as biomarkers of neurodegenerative disease and cancer; relating epigenetic clock predictions to hallmarks of aging; and using longitudinal studies of DNA methylation to characterize human disease, resulting in the discovery of epigenetic indications of type 1 diabetes and the propensity for psychotic experiences.
Screening neuroimaging in neurologically asymptomatic patients with infective endocarditis
Authors: Das Alvin S. , Jordan Stephanie A. , McKeown Morgan , Li Karen , Dmytriw Adam A. , Regenhardt Robert W. , Feske Steven K.
Published: June 2022

Background and Purpose

Neurological complications from infective endocarditis (IE) are common and often present with minimal clinical symptoms. In this study, we examine whether screening neuroimaging in asymptomatic patients results in increased detection of neurological complications and leads to improved patient outcomes.

Methods

Using a database of consecutive adults with IE admitted to a single health system from 2015 to 2019, we selected patients who presented without any neurological symptoms and determined whether these patients underwent screening neuroimaging. The presence of septic emboli, territorial infarcts, intracranial hemorrhage, and mycotic aneurysms was recorded. Variables with significant differences in univariable analyses (p < .1) between those with and without screening neuroimaging were entered into regression models with age and sex to determine predictors of neurological complications and favorable discharge outcomes (modified Rankin score ≤2).

Results

A total of 214 patients were included in the study, of which 154 (72%) received screening neuroimaging. Septic emboli were more common in patients who underwent screening imaging (31% vs. 15%, p = 0.02). In the first multivariate analysis, screening neuroimaging was associated with septic emboli (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.03‐5.75], p = 0.04). In the second multivariate analysis, territorial infarcts (aOR = 0.28, 95% CI: [0.11‐0.73], p = .01), but not septic emboli (aOR = 0.71, 95% CI: [0.36‐1.43], p = 0.34), were associated with a favorable discharge outcome.

Conclusions

Screening neuroimaging leads to the detection of more septic emboli in IE, but only territorial infarcts (in contrast to septic emboli) correlate with an unfavorable discharge outcome.
From describing disparities to understanding why disparities exist: Anti‐racist methods to support dental public health research
Authors: Fleming Eleanor , Raskin Sarah E. , Brody Erica
Published: June 2022

Racism is understudied in the oral health literature at the same time that race is overutilized as an explanatory factor in study design. Social and behavioral methodologies offer conceptual models that can be used to include racism in dental public health questions. In addition, interdisciplinary and mixed methods approaches allow for understanding racism as an underlying cause of social and health disparities and exploring solutions that address historical, institutional, social, political, and economic drivers of oral health inequity, while recognizing the limits of measuring racism quantitatively. In a collective acknowledgement of the limitations of conventional methods, there are new opportunities to explore how qualitative and mixed methods research can serve as drivers for both social justice and health equity, while building and sustaining a diverse research workforce that can better close these disparities and offer antiracist solutions to oral health inequities.
How do state‐level racism, sexism, and income inequality shape edentulism‐related racial inequities in contemporary United States? A structural intersectionality approach to population oral health
Authors: Bastos João L. , Constante Helena M. , Schuch Helena S. , Haag Dandara G. , Jamieson Lisa M.
Published: June 2022

Objective

Research on racial oral health inequities has relied on individual‐level data with the premise being that the unequal distribution of dental diseases is an intractable problem. We address these insufficiencies by examining the relationships between structural racism, structural sexism, state‐level income inequality, and edentulism‐related racial inequities according to a structural intersectionality approach.

Methods

Data were from two sources, the 2010 survey of the U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and Patricia Homan et al.'s (2021) study on the health impacts from interlocking systems of oppression. While the first contains information on edentulism from a large probabilistic sample of older (65+) respondents, the second provides estimates of racism, sexism, and income inequality across the US states. Taking into account a range of individual characteristics and contextual factors in multilevel models, we determine the extent to which structural forms of marginalization underlie racial inequities in edentulism.

Results

Our analysis reveals that structural racism, structural sexism, and state‐level income inequality are associated with the overall frequency of edentulism and the magnitude of edentulism‐related racial inequities, both individually and intersectionally. Coupled with living in states with both high racism and sexism (but not income inequality), the odds of edentulism were 60% higher among non‐Hispanic Blacks, relative to Whites residing where these structural oppressions were at their lowest.

Conclusions

These findings provide evidence that racial oral health inequities cannot be disentangled from social forces that differentially allocate power and resources among population groups. Mitigating race‐based inequities in oral health entails dismantling the multifaceted systems of oppression in the contemporary U.S. society.
The innovative work behavior of external technology experts in collaborative R&D Projects: Uncovering the role of multiple identifications and extent of involvement
Authors: Schepers Jeroen , de Vries Jelle , Raassens Néomie , Langerak Fred
Published: June 2022

Manufacturers increasingly involve external technology experts (ETEs) from suppliers in collaborative R&D projects. Through their innovative work behavior (IWB), these temporary employees help to creatively solve manufacturers' engineering problems. Previous literature suggests that organizational identification should be an important driver of ETEs' IWB, but the intricacy of ETEs is that they may identify with both the supplier and the manufacturer. Past studies on multiple identification do not account for the frictions or synergies that are fundamental to collaborative innovation settings, and which may alter the role of identification with either organization. In response, this study considers the interactive and nonlinear associations of ETEs' dual identification with their IWB, and also investigates the moderating role of ETEs' extent of involvement in the manufacturer's R&D project. Using moderated multilevel polynomial regression on single‐informant survey data from 186 ETEs, we find support for a linear association of identification congruence: as both supplier identification and manufacturer identification are high, ETEs' IWB is also high. Moreover, we find an inverted U‐shape pattern of identification incongruence: as identification with one organization exceeds identification with the other, ETEs' IWB is lower than when both identifications have a comparable level. The congruence pattern is weaker for ETEs with high involvement (i.e., those individuals active in all innovation stages), while the incongruence pattern is stronger for these ETEs. Remarkably, our analyses indicate that the lowest IWB value for high involvement ETEs is found at a combination of low supplier identification and high manufacturer identification, a point where low involvement ETEs in fact report the highest levels of IWB. Together these findings extend literatures on multiple organizational identification and external contributions in open innovation processes, and also provide valuable insights to managers working in collaborative R&D settings.
Parasomnias during trans‐meridian and long‐distance travel: Critical literature review and clinical practice recommendations
Authors: Walsh Sinead M. , Forward Cameron L. , Flaherty Gerard T.
Published: June 2022

Parasomnias are undesirable events that occur during sleep. They can be classified into rapid eye movement parasomnias and non‐rapid eye movement parasomnias. Those who experience parasomnias may be anxious about travel for many reasons, including the occurrence of unwanted events during the trip, increased exposure to environmental trigger factors, and the propensity for harm to occur due to unfamiliar surroundings while travelling. There is a paucity of literature examining this area. This review summarizes the relevant literature and the clinical experience of the authors to compile clinical practice recommendations. The clinical features of parasomnias and how they relate to trans‐meridian and long‐distance travel are described. Triggers for non‐rapid eye movement parasomnias, particularly the use of sedative hypnotic drugs, alcohol, drug withdrawal, sleep deprivation, emotional stress and environmental stimulations, are described. Management of parasomnias whilst travelling is reviewed, with a particular focus on trigger minimalization. The role for clonazepam and melatonin is outlined. At the pre‐travel health consultation, the physician is strongly advised to screen the traveller for co‐morbid sleep conditions, which exacerbate parasomnias. Areas for further research are explored, including the extent to which these sleep disorders impact on the travel experience.
Higher‐order asymptotics of minimax estimators for time series
Authors: Xu Xiaofei , Liu Yan , Taniguchi Masanobu
Published: June 2022

We consider the minimax estimation of time series in view of higher‐order asymptotic theory. Under the framework of Bayesian inference, we focus on the Bayes estimator and the Bayesian Whittle estimator for parameter estimation. It is shown that these estimators are minimax with respect to the Bayes risk of higher‐order bias appeared in their asymptotic expansion. The minimax problem in the boundary issue with parameter on the boundary of parameter space is also discussed. Our theoretical discovery is justified by simulation studies even when the sample size is small.
On the nature of acquiescence to police authority: A commentary on Hamm et al. (2022)
Authors: Jackson Jonathan , Bradford Ben
Published: June 2022

The excellent target article raises much food for thought. In this commentary we first discuss what is included in their proposed category of ‘positive evaluations and responses to police assertions of power to attempt social influence’. We then consider some of the implications of the concentric diagram for our understanding of police authority and power.
Coyote diet in North America: geographic and ecological patterns during range expansion
Authors: Jensen Alex J. , Marneweck Courtney J. , Kilgo John C. , Jachowski David S.
Published: June 2022

Coyotes Canis latrans have expanded their geographic range by 40% in the last 120 years, raising questions about their ecological impacts in the newly colonised areas. Despite a wealth of local knowledge on coyote diet in North America, we have little information about how and why diet might vary throughout the species' range.

We conducted the first rangewide meta‐analysis of coyote diet by investigating how ecoregion, coyote mass, environmental conditions, presence of top predators and alternative food items are related to coyote dietary diversity, as well as consumption of small mammals, lagomorphs, vegetation and ungulates.

Using data from 93 studies, we used generalised linear mixed models to determine which variables best explained coyote dietary patterns.

Coyotes were generally more carnivorous in temperate forests than in other ecoregions, primarily due to greater ungulate consumption. Dietary diversity was most influenced via a negative effect of mammal consumption; coyote diet was more diverse in the spring and where human footprint was greater. There was minor variation in small mammal consumption, but lagomorph consumption was greater in spring and winter and when coyotes were larger. Vegetation consumption was greatest in summer and autumn. Ungulate consumption was positively related to coyote mass, snow cover and the presence of grey wolves Canis lupus.

Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors were related to coyote diet. Larger coyotes ate larger foods, which parallels the relationship between mass and prey size across the carnivore guild. Wolves and humans have opposing effects on coyote diet. Coyotes seem to prioritise eating wild mammals, though more work is needed to quantify scavenging. Collectively, our findings emphasise the need for continued local or regional studies to understand the highly variable ecological effects of coyotes within the diverse ecosystems they currently inhabit and are poised to inhabit.
Soil microbial diversity and community composition during conversion from conventional to organic agriculture
Authors: van Rijssel Sophie Q. , Veen G. F. (Ciska) , Koorneef Guusje J. , Bakx‐Schotman J. M. T. (Tanja) , ten Hooven Freddy C. , Geisen Stefan , van der Putten Wim H.
Published: June 2022

It is generally assumed that the dependence of conventional agriculture on artificial fertilizers and pesticides strongly impacts the environment, while organic agriculture relying more on microbial functioning may mitigate these impacts. However, it is not well known how microbial diversity and community composition change in conventionally managed farmers' fields that are converted to organic management. Here, we sequenced bacterial and fungal communities of 34 organic fields on sand and marine clay soils in a time series (chronosequence) covering 25 years of conversion. Nearby conventional fields were used as references. We found that community composition of bacteria and fungi differed between organic and conventionally managed fields. In the organic fields, fungal diversity increased with time since conversion. However, this effect disappeared when the conventional paired fields were included. There was a relationship between pH and soil organic matter content and the diversity and community composition of bacteria and fungi. In marine clay soils, when time since organic management increased, fungal communities in organic fields became more dissimilar to those in conventional fields. We conclude that conversion to organic management in these Dutch farmers' fields did not increase microbial community diversity. Instead, we observed that in organic fields in marine clay when time since conversion increased soil fungal community composition became progressively dissimilar from that in conventional fields. Our results also showed that the paired sampling approach of organic and conventional fields was essential in order to control for environmental variation that was otherwise unaccounted for.