bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial intelligence in educational leadership: a symbiotic role of human-artificial intelligence decision-making
Authors: Wang Yinying
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to a type of algorithms or computerized systems that resemble human mental processes of decision-making. This position paper looks beyond the sensational hyperbole of AI in teaching and learning. Instead, this paper aims to explore the role of AI in educational leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore the role of AI in educational leadership, I synthesized the literature that intersects AI, decision-making, and educational leadership from multiple disciplines such as computer science, educational leadership, administrative science, judgment and decision-making and neuroscience. Grounded in the intellectual interrelationships between AI and educational leadership since the 1950s, this paper starts with conceptualizing decision-making, including both individual decision-making and organizational decision-making, as the foundation of educational leadership. Next, I elaborated on the symbiotic role of human-AI decision-making.

Findings

With its efficiency in collecting, processing, analyzing data and providing real-time or near real-time results, AI can bring in analytical efficiency to assist educational leaders in making data-driven, evidence-informed decisions. However, AI-assisted data-driven decision-making may run against value-based moral decision-making. Taken together, both leaders' individual decision-making and organizational decision-making are best handled by using a blend of data-driven, evidence-informed decision-making and value-based moral decision-making. AI can function as an extended brain in making data-driven, evidence-informed decisions. The shortcomings of AI-assisted data-driven decision-making can be overcome by human judgment guided by moral values.

Practical implications

The paper concludes with two recommendations for educational leadership practitioners' decision-making and future scholarly inquiry: keeping a watchful eye on biases and minding ethically-compromised decisions.

Originality/value

This paper brings together two fields of educational leadership and AI that have been growing up together since the 1950s and mostly growing apart till the late 2010s. To explore the role of AI in educational leadership, this paper starts with the foundation of leadership—decision-making, both leaders' individual decisions and collective organizational decisions. The paper then synthesizes the literature that intersects AI, decision-making and educational leadership from multiple disciplines to delineate the role of AI in educational leadership.
Measuring contagion during COVID-19 through volatility spillovers of BRIC countries using diagonal BEKK approach
Authors: Malik Kunjana , Sharma Sakshi , Kaur Manmeet
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented shock to the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) economy and their financial markets have plummeted significantly due to it. This paper adds to the recent literature on contagion due to spillover by uniquely examining the presence of pairwise contagion or volatility transmissions in stock markets returns of India, Brazil, Russia, China and USA prior to and during COVID-19 pandemic period.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) by Bollerslev (1986) under diagonal parameterization is used to estimate multivariate GARCH framework also known as BEKK (Baba EngleKraft and Kroner) model on stock market returns of BRIC nations and the US.

Findings

The empirical results show that the model captures the volatility spillovers and display statistical significance for own past mean and volatility with both short- and long-run persistence effects. Own volatility spillovers (Heatwave phenomenon) have been found to be highest for the US, China and Brazil compared to Russia and India. The coefficients indicate persistence of volatility for each country in terms of its own past errors. The highest and long-term spillover effect is found between US and Russia. The results recommend that Russia is least vulnerable to outside shocks. Finally after examining the pairwise results, it is suggested that the BRIC countries stock indices have exhibited volatility spillover due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research limitations/implications

The study may be extended to include other emerging market economies under a dynamic framework.

Practical implications

Researchers and policymakers may draw useful insights on cross-market interdependencies regarding the spillovers in BRIC countries' stock markets. It also helps design international portfolio diversification strategies and in constructing optimal portfolios during COVID and in a post-COVID world.

Originality/value

COVID-19 has been an improbable event in the history of the world which can have a large impact on the financial economies across the emerging countries. This event can be deemed to be informative enough to measure the co-movements of the equity markets amongst cross-country return series, which has not been investigated so far for BRIC nations.
Recognizing service users’ diversity: social identity narratives of British Pakistanis in a mental health context
Authors: Hussain Basharat , Sheikh Abdullah Zafar , Repper Julie , Stickley Theodore , Timmons Stephen , Shah Mahmood Hussain
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how British Pakistani people talk about their social identity, in the context of mental health, and how this shapes their experiences and perceptions of care delivered by the National Health Service, UK.

Design/methodology/approach

Eight narrative interviews were conducted among members of the Pakistani community living in a city in the UK. The data were analyzed using a narrative analysis approach using “social identity” as a theoretical lens.

Findings

Considering Pakistani service users as a single social entity, and responding with generic approaches in meeting their mental health needs, may not be helpful in achieving equitable treatment. Study participants reject a simple conceptualization of race and ethnicity and how a response based upon stereotypes is woefully inadequate. The study revealed that people from one ethnic or national background cannot be assumed to have a fixed social identity.

Originality/value

This study broadens understanding of how people from a single ethnic background may construct and view their social identities markedly different to others from the same ethnic group. This has implications for service providers in understanding how their clients’ social identity is treated and understood in practice.
Topic structure and evolution patterns of documentary heritage preservation and conservation research in China
Authors: Yun Bai , Yue Zhao , Yaolin Zhou
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to identify the prominent topics, the distribution and association characteristics of topics and the topic evolutionary trends of Documentary Heritage Preservation and Conservation (DHPAC) research in China.

Design/methodology/approach

Keywords of relevant papers in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were extracted as the data source in this study. First, frequency and co-occurrence of keywords of the selected papers were obtained by using SATI. Second, co-word network indicators were calculated with the Pajek software. Then, VOSviewer was applied to optimize the visualization of the sub-communities. Finally, a topics evolution map of this research field was implemented by CorTexT.

Findings

The research topics of DHPAC research in China were unbalanced but distinct. Topics of DHPAC research in China possessed inconspicuous orientation and consistency. The core topics had less influence on the overall network. A research system had formed with archival conservation and ancient books conservation as the core research directions. Research in this field had formed four continuous evolutionary paths about ancient books conservation, salvage conservation, archival conservation and archives conservation technology science with topics fusion and differentiation coexisting. Attentions on “ancient books conservation”, “paper relics conservation”, “electronic record”, “digitization”, “minority”, “documents in the republic of China” had increased during the past two decades and new hot topics of DHPAC research kept appearing in China.

Originality/value

This study synthesized and analyzed the research results of DHPAC research in China from a more comprehensive perspective and revealed the topic structure and longitudinal evolution process intuitively with co-word analysis and social network analysis, which can assist researchers to improve research systematization, discover new research directions and seek cooperative research path.
The nexus between the exchange rates and interest rates: evidence from BRIICS economies during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Garg Bhavesh , Prabheesh K.P.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether the interest rate differentials Granger cause expected change in the exchange rate during the COVID-19 period. The study examines if the investors in the international assets and exchange rate markets take advantages of the relevant information obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used daily data ranging from January 31, 2020 to June 30, 2020 and considered BRIICS economies. The study implemented the Toda–Yamamoto’s Granger causality approach to identify the causality between interest rate differentials and exchange rates. For robustness checks, the study used ARLD short-run dynamics to infer causal relations.

Findings

Overall, the results indicate that the interest rate differentials improve the predictability of subsequent exchange rate changes in all six BRIICS economies during the COVID-19 period wherein investors are forward-looking. The empirical results pass the robustness checks.

Originality/value

There is a lack of studies exploring the relationship between interest rate differentials and exchange rates in the presence of an unanticipated event such as the current pandemic. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the causal linkages between interest rate differentials and expected change in exchange rates, focusing on the COVID-19 outbreak period.
Securities cross-holding in the Colombian financial system: a topological approach
Authors: León Carlos , Miguélez Javier
Published: February 2021

Purpose

From a financial stability viewpoint, this paper aims to study cyclical interdependencies arising from the cross-holding of securities in the Colombian financial system.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-holding of securities in financial systems occurs when two financial institutions hold securities issued by each other or when more than two financial institutions hold securities issued by each other in a circular structure. Securities cross-holding is key for financial stability because of potential contagion arising from cyclical interdependencies in the connective architecture of financial systems. The presence of cyclical interdependencies is studied based on network analysis. The data set is a multilayer network that comprises bonds, certificates of deposit and equity issued and held by Colombian financial institutions from 2016 to 2019.

Findings

Results show that the extent of securities’ cyclical interdependencies is particularly low and stable – even when cross-holding across different types of securities is considered.

Research limitations/implications

The monetary value of exposures and their size with respect to financial institutions’ balance sheets are not considered. Studying the impact on the financial system’s solvency is a compulsory research path.

Practical implications

The network topology suggests that increased potential contagion by cyclical interdependencies and feedback effects from securities cross-holding is rather limited.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that cyclical interdependencies arising from the securities cross-holding are studied. From a financial stability perspective, the methodology is general and promising for monitoring and analytical purposes.
Commentary on “The experiences of older carers of people with learning disabilities: ‘I just carry on with it’”
Authors: Sunman Jan
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on the article by Rachel Forrester-Jones on the experiences of older carers of people with learning disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The commentary reflects on the themes identified in the original article, comparing its findings to the lived experiences of those taking part in older carers’ projects in Oxfordshire, England.

Findings

Similar broad themes were identified in both samples. Given these findings, the extent to which matters have changed, since the Valuing People work on older carers is considered.

Originality/value

The paper discusses policy and practice implications to improve the quality of life of older carers and their families and explores how the voice of older carers can be strengthened to enable them to shape practice and policy.
Edoxaban prevented adverse effects including pyrexia and elevation of D‐dimer caused by the combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors in a patient with BRAF‐mutant melanoma
Authors: Mukai Kei , Kamata Masahiro , Miyazaki Mirei , Nagata Mayumi , Fukaya Saki , Hayashi Kotaro , Fukuyasu Atsuko , Ishikawa Takeko , Ohnishi Takamitsu , Tada Yayoi , Tanaka Takamitsu
Published: February 2021

The combination of BRAF inhibitor and MEK inhibitor is one of the first‐line treatments for unresectable BRAF‐mutant melanoma or as an adjuvant therapy. However, some patients who received the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib (CombiDT) or the combination of encorafenib and binimetinib (CombiEB) had adverse events (AEs) including pyrexia. We herein report a patient with BRAF‐mutated melanoma who repeatedly developed elevated levels of D‐dimer and pyrexia after CombiDT and CombiEB treatments. Moreover, concomitant edoxaban prevented these AEs, enabling the patient to continue receiving CombiEB.
Spatiotemporal patterns of rhizosphere microbiome assembly: From ecological theory to agricultural application
Authors: Munoz‐Ucros Juana , Zwetsloot Marie J. , Cuellar‐Gempeler Catalina , Bauerle Taryn L.
Published: February 2021

There is urgency in optimizing agricultural production in light of climate uncertainty, human population growth and resource limitations. The rhizosphere microbiome is a promising genetic resource, yet it is poorly understood. Additionally, research into rhizosphere microbial community assembly (MCA) lacks a consistent ecological framework that incorporates the dynamics of the occurring interactions.

We explore the ecological principles that guide community establishment as they pertain to the rhizosphere while reviewing relevant research and highlighting the gaps in knowledge.

We propose a conceptual model for studying the rhizosphere, and argue for higher resolution characterizations of the rhizosphere, under a framework of root and microbial traits that will determine its resulting composition. For this, we borrow concepts from ecological theory to chronologically describe MCA as a function of colonization, distribution and succession under changing plant‐imposed filters. We argue that there is a need to consider the temporal and spatial scale of rhizosphere processes in a manner that is relevant to its microbial components.

Finally, we discuss strategies for managing the rhizosphere microbiome for agriculture and the remaining gaps in knowledge that impede their application.

Synthesis and applications. We aim to initiate a comprehensive conversation on ecological processes and plant and microbial traits that affect rhizosphere assembly. Rhizosphere microbiome research is relatively new and highly multidisciplinary. The use of a shared vocabulary and ecological theory will facilitate the development and advances in this discipline.
Flowering fields, organic farming and edge habitats promote diversity of plants and arthropods on arable land
Authors: Gayer Christoph , Berger Jochen , Dieterich Martin , Gallé Róbert , Reidl Konrad , Witty Rosa , Woodcock Ben A. , Batáry Péter
Published: February 2021

Increased farming intensity led to massive declines across multiple farmland taxa. In Europe, measures introduced to counteract these losses include those considered agronomically productive, such as organic farming, as well as those that support no direct production of crops, such as non‐crop flowering fields in conventional farming systems.

We studied biodiversity effects of non‐productive flowering fields managed under conventional farming compared to both an organically managed cereal mono‐crop (organic winter spelt fields) and a flowering mixed‐crop (organic lentil mixed‐crop fields) as well as conventionally managed winter wheat fields, which served as control crop. These four crop‐use types were studied on six sites over 3 years (17 sites in total) to assess their impact on the activity density (cover for plants), species richness and community composition of wild plants, carabids, spiders, butterflies and wild bees.

Species richness of wild plants was highest under organic farming and at field edges when compared to the interior. In the case of carabids and spiders, species richness was highest at the field edges, but there was no difference between the four crop‐use types. In contrast, activity density and species richness of butterflies and wild bees responded only to flowering crop‐use types, showing no edge effects. Arable land cover in 500 m buffer area also affected community composition of all taxa, with the exception of spiders, but had only minor effects on activity densities and species richness.

Synthesis and applications. Our findings underline that there is no single best measure to promote biodiversity on arable land. Instead a mosaic of non‐productive and productive measures such as conventional flowering fields, organic crops and field edge habitats might be more appropriate to support the regional species pool in arable‐dominated landscapes. To support a range of complementary biodiversity‐promoting farming practices, agricultural policy should foster the coordination and collaboration between multiple farmers within the same region by covering additional costs for coordination and prioritizing collaborative schemes.
Age Segregation, Intergenerationality, and Class Monopoly Rent in the Student Housing Submarket
Authors: Revington Nick
Published: February 2021

Studentification—the concentration of students within a particular neighbourhood and associated impacts—represents a “generationed” or age‐segregated housing submarket defined by a distinct life course stage. I analyse this submarket through the lens of David Harvey’s concept of class monopoly rent, a critical theory of residential submarkets, drawing on semi‐structured interviews with key informants and students in Waterloo—Canada’s largest private purpose‐built student accommodation market. Planning interventions, real estate strategies, and neighbourhood politics have intertwined to enable the extraction of class monopoly rent from a clearly delineated student housing submarket. I show how studentification, and the age segregation it entails, is produced by and serves to reproduce capitalist urbanisation, illustrating temporal power dynamics of rent. A radical political response to the impacts of studentification on students and other residents alike must therefore adopt an intergenerational perspective that confronts class and life course dimensions of the process simultaneously.
Combination of bis (α‐furancarboxylato) oxovanadium (IV) and metformin improves hepatic steatosis through down‐regulating inflammatory pathways in high‐fat diet‐induced obese C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Liu Quan , Li Linyi , Gao Lihui , Li Caina , Huan Yi , Lei Lei , Cao Hui , Li Ling , Gao Anli , Liu Shuainan , Shen Zhufang
Published: February 2021

The effects of the combination of bis (α‐furancarboxylato) oxovanadium (IV) (BFOV) and metformin (Met) on hepatic steatosis were investigated in high‐fat diet‐induced obese C57BL/6J mice (HFC57 mice) for 6 weeks. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed to evaluate glucose metabolism. Moreover, blood and hepatic biochemical and histological indices were detected. Besides, Affymetrix‐GeneChip analysis and Western blot of the liver were performed. Comparing to the monotherapy group, BFOV + Met showed more effective improvement in glucose metabolism, which decreased the fasting blood glucose, insulin levels and improved insulin sensitivity in HFC57 mice. BFOV + Met significantly decreased serum ALT and AST activities and reduced hepatic triglyceride content and iNOS activities, accompanied by ameliorating intrahepatic fat accumulation and hepatocellular vacuolation. Enhanced hepatic insulin signalling transduction and attenuated inflammation pathway were identified as the major pathways in the BFOV + Met group. BFOV + Met significantly down‐regulated the protein expression levels of MMPs, NF‐κB, iNOS and up‐regulated phosphorylation of AKT and AMPK levels. We concluded that a combination of BFOV and metformin ameliorates hepatic steatosis in HFC57 mice via alleviating hepatic inflammation and enhancing insulin signalling pathway, suggesting that the combination of BFOV and metformin is a potential treatment for hepatic steatosis.
Anti‐inflammatory effects of α7‐nicotinic ACh receptors are exerted through interactions with adenylyl cyclase‐6
Authors: Zhu Simeng , Huang Shiqian , Xia Guofang , Wu Jin , Shen Yan , Wang Ying , Ostrom Rennolds S. , Du Ailian , Shen Chengxing , Xu Congfeng
Published: February 2021

Background and Purpose

Nicotinic ACh receptors containing the α7 sub‐unit (α7‐nAChRs) suppress inflammation through a wide range of pathways in immune cells. These receptors are thus potentially involved in a number of inflammatory diseases. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying the anti‐inflammatory effects of α7‐nAChRs remain to be described.

Experimental Approach

Anti‐inflammatory effects of α7‐nAChR agonists were assessed in both murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) and bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDM), stimulated with LPS, using immunoblotting, RT‐PCR and luciferase reporter assays. The role of adenylyl cyclase‐6 in the degradation of Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) following endocytosis, was explored via overexpression and knockdown. A mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) induced by porcine pancreatic elastase was used to confirm key findings.

Results

Anti‐inflammatory effects of α7‐nAChRs were largely dependent on adenylyl cyclase‐6 activation, as knockdown of adenylyl cyclase‐6 considerably reduced the effects of α7‐nAChR agonists while adenylyl cyclase‐6 overexpression promoted them. We found that α7‐nAChRs and adenylyl cyclase‐6 are co‐localized in lipid rafts of macrophages and directly interact. Activation of adenylyl cyclase‐6 led to increased degradation of TLR4. Administration of the α7‐nAChR agonist PNU‐282987 attenuated pathological and inflammatory end points in a mouse model of COPD.

Conclusion and Implications

The α7‐nAChRs inhibit inflammation through activating adenylyl cyclase‐6 and promoting degradation of TLR4. The use of α7‐nAChR agonists may represent a novel therapeutic approach for treating COPD and possibly other inflammatory diseases.
Molecular diversity of dragonflies in three high‐elevation Andean tropical lakes through DNA barcoding
Authors: Chiriboga‐Ortega Rodrigo , Van der Heyden Christine , Sulen Burgos Maria Eugenia , Ortega Sania , Oña Tania , Velarde Elizabeth , Goethals Peter , Alfaro‐Núñez Alonzo
Published: February 2021

Genetic and morphological identification of dragonflies' larvae species in three high‐elevation Andean tropical lakes was done using DNA barcoding of the cytochrome oxidase 1 gene (COI). Phylogeny allowed inferring the evolutionary relationships of at least five species (from 74 samples) that belong to two different families within the Odonata order.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Paternal safety of the use of mycophenolic acid in kidney transplant recipients. Results of the EMVARON study
Authors: Martin‐Moreno Paloma L. , Sánchez‐Fructuoso Ana I. , Mazuecos Auxiliadora , Mir Marisa , Lopez‐Lopez Isabel , González‐Rinne Ana , Coca Armando , Valero Rosalía , Ventura Galiano Ana , Ridao Natalia , Toapanta‐Gaibor Nestor G. , Fernández‐Tagarro Ernesto , Cruzado‐Vega Leonidas , Pérez‐Mir Mónica , Jiménez Carlos
Published: February 2021

Background

The use of mycophenolic acid (MPA) in women during pregnancy causes an increase in miscarriages and birth defects with a typical embryopathy profile. Although epidemiological data does not suggest a greater risk among the offspring of male kidney transplant recipients, the European Medicines Agency and The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices introduced the recommendation of using contraceptive methods.

Methods

We conducted a national retrospective study in 15 Spanish Kidney Transplant Centers to evaluate the frequency of miscarriages and birth defects between the offspring from male kidney transplants recipients. We included 151 males who had fathered 239 offspring, 225 under MPA and 14 without MPA.

Results

The results of our study showed an incidence of miscarriages in the MPA group of 9.8%, and of birth defects of 4%.

Conclusions

We observed an incidence of miscarriages between the offspring fathered by kidney transplant males under MPA lower than the general population. The incidence of birth defects was similar to the incidence described in other studies and the fact that we did not find the typical embryopathy profile makes it difficult to associate them to the use of MPA. Because of that, we urge the European and Spanish Agencies to reconsider their recommendations for males.
Reisevorbereitungen für Patienten mit Psoriasis unter Immunsuppression
Authors: Stephan Brigitte , Tittelbach Jörg , Bühler Silja
Published: February 2021

Mit der Etablierung moderner Systemtherapien bei Psoriasis ist eine umfassende Beratung für Reisen unter Immunmodulation erforderlich. Es sind organisatorische Aspekte bezüglich Transport und Aufbewahrung, klimatische Besonderheiten des Reiselandes und substanzabhängige Risiken bezüglich Infektionen zu beachten. Impfungen und präventive Maßnahmen sollten vor Reisebeginn erfolgen; je nach geltenden aktuellen nationalen Empfehlungen sind Besonderheiten bei Impfungen unter Immunsuppression zu berücksichtigen.
Role of transforming growth factor‐β1 in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Twaroski Kirk , Chen Weili , Pickett‐Leonard Michael , Tolar Jakub
Published: February 2021

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) develops in more than 80% of individuals with the skin blistering disorder recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB). In contrast with UV‐induced SCC, RDEB‐SCC results from skin damage and has a high proliferative and metastatic rate with 5‐year survival near zero. Our objective is to determine the mechanisms underlying the increased metastatic tendencies of RDEB‐SCC. RDEB‐SCC cultured cell lines were treated with RDEB and non‐RDEB fibroblast conditioned media and assayed for migration and invasion with and without small molecule inhibitors for TGFβ and other downstream signal transduction pathways. TGFβ1 secreted by RDEB dermal fibroblasts has been found to induce migration and invasion and to increase expression of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition markers in an RDEB‐SCC line. These effects were reversed upon inhibition of TGFβ signalling and its downstream pathways MEK/ERK, P38 kinase and SMAD3. A number of small molecule inhibitors for these pathways are in different phases of various clinical trials and may be applicable to RDEB‐SCC patients. Studying the mechanisms of the extreme form RDEB‐SCC may inform studies of other types of SCC, as well as lead to better therapies for RDEB patients.
Histological categorisation of the desmoplastic reaction is a predictor of patient prognosis in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Sakai Akihiro , Nakashima Yuichiro , Miyashita Yu , Ao Tadakazu , Kimura Yasue , Shinto Eiji , Oki Eiji , Shimokawa Mototsugu , Ueno Hideki , Oda Yoshinao , Mori Masaki
Published: February 2021

Aims

Histological categorisation of the desmoplastic reaction (DR) is an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancer. However, it is unknown whether DR categorisation is predictive of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of DR categorisation in OSCC patients.

Methods and results

Data were collected from 118 patients with OSCC who underwent a curative oesophagectomy with T2 or deeper wall invasion. The DR in each tumour was classified as mature, intermediate or immature based on the presence or absence of keloid‐like collagen and myxoid stroma. We identified 49 mature DR tumours, 41 intermediate DR tumours and 28 immature DR tumours. The 5‐year overall survival (OS) rate was highest in the mature DR group (42.8%), followed by the intermediate DR group (25.0%) and the immature DR group (19.9%) (P = 0.022, log‐rank test; P = 0.006, log‐rank trend test). The 5‐year disease‐specific survival (DSS) rate was also highest in the mature DR group (48.5%), followed by the intermediate DR group (30.8%) and the immature DR group (26.8%) (P = 0.031, log‐rank test; P = 0.010, log‐rank trend test, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that an immature DR was an independent poor prognostic factor of OS and DSS (P = 0.002 and P = 0.004).

Conclusions

DR categorisation of OSCC stroma following oesophagectomy is a useful diagnostic tool and an independent prognostic marker.
Diel vertical movements and feeding behaviour of blue humphead parrotfish Scarus ovifrons in a temperate reef of Japan
Authors: Gomi Kazuma , Nakamura Yohei , Kanda Masaru , Honda Kentaro , Nakaoka Masahiro , Honma Chiho , Adachi Masao
Published: February 2021

The feeding ecology of scarinine parrotfishes on tropical coral reefs has received considerable attention in the past few decades; nonetheless, relatively few studies have been conducted in high‐latitude reefs. Among the Indo‐Pacific Scarus species, Scarus ovifrons is unique, being largely restricted to the warm temperate waters of Japan. Nonetheless, there is very little information available on the feeding ecology of this species. In this study, the authors used acoustic telemetry to detect the diel vertical movement patterns of S. ovifrons, video survey to detect its feeding depths and substrata and focal follow survey and genetic analysis to identify algae composition on the feeding scars at Kashiwajima Island, southwestern Japan (32° 46′ N, 132° 38′ E). Acoustic telemetry revealed that S. ovifrons spent most of its time in shallow water (<10 m) during the day and slept in deeper water (10–15 m) at night. Video and focal follow surveys revealed that most fishes of various sizes regularly took bites on epilithic algae and detrital materials on rocky substrata at depths of <10 m, but large fishes (>40 cm total length) sometimes took bites directly on live corals (Acropora solitaryensis) at the 5 m depth zone where live tabular corals dominated the benthos. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that epilithic algae collected from feeding scars were mainly composed of Rhodophyta, and coralline algae were less often targeted. Overall, this study revealed that S. ovifrons feeds mostly at depths <10 m, and the feeding algae substrata of the species are similar to those of tropical coral reef parrotfishes.
Risk factors of vaginal cuff infection in women undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign gynecological diseases
Authors: Tsuzuki Yoko , Hirata Takumi , Tsuzuki Shinya , Wada Shinichiro , Tamakoshi Akiko
Published: February 2021

Aim

This study aimed to identify the risk factors for vaginal cuff infection after laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign gynecological diseases.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 1559 Japanese women who underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) for benign indications between 2014 and 2018 at Teine Keijinkai Hospital in Sapporo, Japan. All patients received preoperative antibiotics based on appropriate timing, choice, and weight‐based dosing. We assessed the risk factors of vaginal cuff infection after TLH, including demographic and clinical variables, and patient‐ and surgery‐related factors, using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results

Among all the patients who underwent TLH, 71 cases of vaginal cuff infections (4.6%) were recorded. Univariate analyses showed that current smoking, pathological result of adenomyosis, use of Seprafilm as an antiadhesive material, white blood cell counts on postoperative day (POD) 2, C‐reactive protein (CRP) level on POD2 and postoperative vaginal cuff hematoma were significantly associated with an increased risk of vaginal cuff infection. In multivariate analysis, current smoking, use of seprafilm, CRP level on POD2 and vaginal cuff hematoma were significantly associated with an increased risk of vaginal cuff infection.

Conclusion

Current smoking, use of seprafilm, CRP level on POD2 and vaginal cuff hematoma were identified as significant risk factors of vaginal cuff infection in the 30 days after surgery in Japanese women who underwent TLH for benign indications.
Circular suture of the uterine serosa and myometrium layer around placental attachment site for refractory postpartum hemorrhage
Authors: Shi Xueqin , Wu Han , Liu Changyue , Zhu Xiaoyan
Published: February 2021

Objective

The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical outcomes of circular suture at placental attachment site for refractory postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), which could block blood supply of the serosa and myometrium layer.

Methods

Eighty cases of refractory PPH were enrolled and retrospective analyzed in this study for further analysis from a consecutive single center database between 2010 and 2018. After undergoing circular suture of the uterine serosa and myometrium layer around placental attachment site, surgical and perioperative outcomes were recorded and analyzed.

Results

Among all the patients enrolled, 28 cases (35.0%) of refractory PPH were mainly caused by uterine inertia, 36 cases (45.0%) caused by ectopic placenta, and 2 cases (2.5%) caused by coagulation disorders. After circular suture of the uterine serosa and myometrium layer at placental attachment site, all the uterine active bleeding was controlled below 40 ml without recurrence. The perioperative results were similar between the vaginal and cesarean sections groups.

Conclusions

Circular suture of the uterine serosa and myometrium at the placental attachment site could control refractory PPH with few postoperative complications. Circular suture around placenta site could be applied in time to protect the endometrium even in primary hospital.
Corporate Governance Research in the Wake of a Systemic Crisis: Lessons and Opportunities from the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Zattoni Alessandro , Pugliese Amedeo
Published: February 2021

The Covid‐19 pandemic offers an unprecedented opportunity to advance research on how various corporate governance mechanisms shape firms’ decision‐making, survival and success. In the short term, corporate governance research could pinpoint which mechanisms in place before the pandemic (e.g., ownership structure, board attributes, executive compensation) will shape corporate responses, thus affecting firms’ survival in the post‐pandemic period. In the long term, the crisis will trigger structural changes in governance mechanisms to enable firms to either prevent or respond to the occurrences of potentially similar events. In the reminder of this essay, we will first discuss the peculiar nature of the recent crisis in relation to other recent crises. Then, we will analyse the impact of Covid‐19 on five key areas in the field of corporate governance (i.e., corporate purpose, ownership structure, board of directors, executive compensation and accountability) and, for each of them, we will suggest a series of research questions that contribute to redirecting and advancing the domain.
Origin of the degassing pipes at the Ries impact structure and implications for impact‐induced alteration on Mars and other planetary bodies
Authors: Caudill Christy , Osinski Gordon R. , Greenberger Rebecca N. , Tornabene Livio L. , Longstaffe Fred J. , Flemming Roberta L. , Ehlmann Bethany L.
Published: February 2021

The impact melt‐bearing breccias at the Ries impact structure, Germany, host degassing pipes: vertical structures that are inferred to represent conduits along which gases and fluids escaped to the surface, consistent with hydrothermal activity that occurs soon after an impact event. Although the presence of degassing pipes has been recognized within the well‐preserved and long‐studied ejecta deposits at the Ries, a detailed mineralogical study of their alteration mineralogy, as an avenue to elucidate their origins, has not been conducted to date. Through the application of high‐resolution in situ reflectance imaging spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction, this study shows for the first time that the degassing pipe interiors and associated alteration are comprised of hydrated and hydroxylated silicates (i.e., Fe/Mg smectitic clay minerals with chloritic or other hydroxy‐interlayered material) as secondary hydrothermal mineral phases. This study spatially extends the known effects of impact hydrothermal activity into the ejecta deposits, beyond the crater rim. It has been suggested that the degassing pipes at the Ries are analogous to crater‐related pit clusters observed in impact melt‐bearing deposits on Mars, Ceres, and Vesta. The results of this work may inform on the presence of crustal volatiles and their interaction during the impact process on rocky bodies throughout the solar system. The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover may have the opportunity to investigate impact‐related features in situ; if so, this work suggests that such investigations may provide key information on the origin and formation of clay minerals on Mars as well as hold exciting implications for future Mars exploration.
Pore constrictions in intervessel pit membranes provide a mechanistic explanation for xylem embolism resistance in angiosperms
Authors: Kaack Lucian , Weber Matthias , Isasa Emilie , Karimi Zohreh , Li Shan , Pereira Luciano , Trabi Christophe L. , Zhang Ya , Schenk H. Jochen , Schuldt Bernhard , Schmidt Volker , Jansen Steven
Published: February 2021

Embolism spreading in angiosperm xylem occurs via mesoporous pit membranes between vessels. Here, we investigate how the size of pore constrictions in pit membranes is related to pit membrane thickness and embolism resistance.

Pit membranes were modelled as multiple layers to investigate how pit membrane thickness and the number of intervessel pits per vessel determine pore constriction sizes, the probability of encountering large pores, and embolism resistance. These estimations were complemented by measurements of pit membrane thickness, embolism resistance, and number of intervessel pits per vessel in stem xylem (n = 31, 31 and 20 species, respectively).

The modelled constriction sizes in pit membranes decreased with increasing membrane thickness, explaining the measured relationship between pit membrane thickness and embolism resistance. The number of pits per vessel affected constriction size and embolism resistance much less than pit membrane thickness. Moreover, a strong relationship between modelled and measured embolism resistance was observed.

Pore constrictions provide a mechanistic explanation for why pit membrane thickness determines embolism resistance, which suggests that hydraulic safety can be uncoupled from hydraulic efficiency. Although embolism spreading remains puzzling and encompasses more than pore constriction sizes, angiosperms are unlikely to have leaky pit membranes, which enables tensile transport of water.
Determination of prognostic factors for orthognathic surgery in children with cleft lip and/or palate
Authors: Lim Jaeyeon , Tanikawa Chihiro , Kogo Mikihiko , Yamashiro Takashi
Published: February 2021

Objective

To determine the prognostic factors for orthognathic surgery (OGS) in children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) using artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

An orthodontic department at a university dental hospital.

Participants

This study included 126 patients with bilateral and unilateral CL/P for whom lateral cephalograms were obtained at three time points: 7 (T1), 10 (T2) and 15 (T3) years of age.

Main outcome measures

Cleft type, severity of lip separation at birth, number of missing teeth, sex, palatal repair methods and surgeons, cephalometric variables at T1 and T2, and the total duration of orthodontic treatment were examined as predictors. The need for OGS and skeletal and dental discrepancies at T3 was examined as outcomes.

Results

A total of six models were developed, with a mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.93. Multiple prognostic factors for OGS were identified. In particular, the number of clefts in the lip and alveolus showed relatively high odds ratios, as did anterior crossbite at T3. Achieving palatal closure with the push‐back method, rather than Furlow's method, was also found to be a predictive factor for anterior crossbite at T3, with high odds ratios.

Conclusions

The prognostic factors for OGS determined by the AI systems were the number of clefts in the lip and alveolus, the palatal repair method, male sex, several cephalometric variables for the sagittal and vertical dimensions, growth patterns and the number of missing teeth.
Revisiting Koch's postulate to determine the plausibility of viral transmission by human milk
Authors: Van de Perre Philippe , Molès Jean‐Pierre , Nagot Nicolas , Tuaillon Edouard , Ceccaldi Pierre‐Emmanuel , Goga Ameena , Prendergast Andrew J. , Rollins Nigel
Published: February 2021

As breastfeeding is of utmost importance for child development and survival, identifying whether breast milk is a route of transmission for human viruses is critical.

Based on the principle of Koch's postulate, we propose an analytical framework to determine the plausibility of viral transmission by breast milk. This framework is based on five criteria: viral infection in children receiving breast milk from infected mothers; the presence of virus, viral antigen, or viral genome in the breast milk of infected mothers; the evidence for the virus in breast milk being infectious; the attempts to rule out other transmission modalities; and the reproduction of viral transmission by oral inoculation in an animal model. We searched for evidence in published reports to determine whether the 5 criteria are fulfilled for 16 human viruses that are suspected to be transmissible by breast milk. We considered breast milk transmission is proven if all 5 criteria are fulfilled, as probable if 4 of the 5 criteria are met, as possible if 3 of the 5 criteria are fulfilled, and as unlikely if less than 3 criteria are met. Only five viruses have proven transmission through breast milk: human T‐cell lymphotropic virus 1, human immunodeficiency virus, human cytomegalovirus, dengue virus, and Zika virus. The other 11 viruses fulfilled some but not all criteria and were categorized accordingly.

Our framework analysis is useful for guiding public health recommendations and for identifying knowledge gaps amenable to original experiments.
Randomized trial of different initial intravenous immunoglobulin regimens in Kawasaki disease
Authors: He Lan , Liu Fang , Yan Weili , Huang Min , Huang Meirong , Xie Lijian , Guo Ying , Xu Xinyi , Chu Chen , Wu Lin , Liang Xuecun , Sun Shuna , Wang Feng , Zhao Lu , Zhao Quming , Ma Xiaojing , Xie Liping , Huang Guoying
Published: February 2021

Background

We aimed to assess the efficacy of different initial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) regimens in Kawasaki disease (KD) patients to find more cost‐effective therapy options.

Methods

A multicenter, open‐label, blind‐endpoint randomized controlled trial was conducted from January 2014 to December 2015. Patients with KD, within 10 days of illness, were randomly assigned to receive different IVIG regimens (Group A, 2 g/kg once; Group B, 1 g/kg for 2 consecutive days; Group C, 1 g/kg once) and aspirin 30mg/kg/d. Primary outcomes included hours to defervescence and development of coronary artery lesions during the study period. Major secondary outcomes included total fever days, total dose of IVIG, changes of laboratory data, length of stay, and hospitalization expenses. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02439996).

Results

A total of 404 patients underwent randomization. No difference was found in the outcomes of defervescence among three groups at 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours after completion of initial IVIG infusion. There were no differences in the incidence of coronary artery lesions during the study period (at week 2, month 1, month 3, and month 6 of illness), changes of laboratory data, total fever days, and length of stay. Group C patients had the lowest total dose of IVIG (mean: 1.2 vs 2.2 vs 2.1 g/kg; P < 0.001) and hospitalization expenses (mean: 8443.8 vs 10798.4 vs 11011.4 Chinese Yuan; P < 0.001) than other two groups.

Conclusions

A single dose of 1g/kg IVIG is a low‐cost treatment with the same efficacy as 2 g/kg IVIG and can be an option for the initial therapy of KD patients.
Cognitive training improves emotion regulation in Chinese preschool children
Authors: Xie Jinlan , Liu Siman , Fang Ping
Published: February 2021

Background

The ability to regulate emotion effectively plays a key role in child psychosocial development and mental health. The current study examines the effect of cognitive training for executive function on emotion regulation in Chinese preschool children, and further investigate the underlying mediating mechanisms.

Methods

A cluster randomized control trial design with pre‐test and post‐test was conducted in 61 preschool children aged 3–6 years in China. The intervention group consisted of 30 children who received eight cognitive training sessions on executive function, while the control group consisted of 31 children who did not receive any psychological training. Children's executive function was measured individually via five laboratory tasks both in the pre‐test and post‐test. Adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies were coded in emotion‐elicit contexts.

Results

Intervention group outperformed control group in working memory and inhibitory control. Children in the intervention group exhibited increased use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies and decreased use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies than children in the control group. Mediation analyses indicated that there were significantly indirect effects of Intervention Condition on the gain scores of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies through the gain score of inhibitory control.

Conclusions

Executive function training effectively promotes working memory, inhibitory control and the use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies, and reduces the use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. In addition, executive function training improves the use of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies through the enhancement of inhibitory control capacity.