bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Attempt to Understand the War in Ukraine – An Escalation of Commitment Perspective
Authors: Michailova Snejina
Published: June 2022

The war that has been unfolding in Ukraine over the past several months is one of the latest global disasters. In an attempt to understand the war beyond disturbing headlines and shocking images, I apply an escalation of commitment perspective. I consider important historical developments and cultural influences that help explain the current state of affairs.
The education gap over immigration and socioeconomic security
Authors: Rooduijn Matthijs
Published: June 2022

Worries about polarization are on the rise. In today's Europe, one of the most manifest gaps is the education divide over immigration. Where lower educated citizens tend to be negative about immigration, higher educated individuals are generally positive. Yet the magnitude of this education divide strongly differs between countries. What explains these differences? I theorize that when the levels of socioeconomic security are high, in particular less well educated citizens will be more likely to focus on issues with a strong cultural component, like immigration, and therefore hold more radical opinions. As a result, existing divides will be more pronounced. Analyzing 23 countries between 2002 and 2018, I show that social welfare spending fuels the education divide over immigration. I demonstrate that, indeed, it does so by affecting the immigration attitudes of the less well educated—not those of the better educated.
On organizational robustness: A conceptual framework
Authors: Xie Yancong , Desouza Kevin C. , Jabbari Mohammad
Published: June 2022

Understanding robustness and how organizations can configure and adapt is fundamental for their survival. In this paper, we build on the general system theory to conceptualize the underlying mechanisms of organizational robustness. We propose a framework that defines the fundamental notions and typologies of robustness— instrumental, structural, and cognitive robustness. We define mechanisms for these three categories of robustness as strategical mechanisms, functional mechanisms, and infrastructure mechanisms, and we explain how these mechanisms enable proactive, structured, or agile organizational responses to predictable and unpredictable crises.
Environmental DNA persistence and fish detection in captive sponges
Authors: Cai Wang , Harper Lynsey R. , Neave Erika F. , Shum Peter , Craggs Jamie , Arias María Belén , Riesgo Ana , Mariani Stefano
Published: June 2022

Large and hyperdiverse marine ecosystems pose significant challenges to biodiversity monitoring. While environmental DNA (eDNA) promises to meet many of these challenges, recent studies suggested that sponges, as “natural samplers” of eDNA, could further streamline the workflow for detecting marine vertebrates. However, beyond pilot studies demonstrating the ability of sponges to capture eDNA, little is known about the dynamics of eDNA particles in sponge tissue, and the effectiveness of the latter compared to water samples. Here, we present the results of a controlled aquarium experiment to examine the persistence and detectability of eDNA captured by three encrusting sponge species and compare the sponge's eDNA capturing ability with established water filtration techniques. Our results indicate that sponges and water samples have highly similar detectability for fish of different sizes and abundances, but different sponge species exhibit considerable variance in performance. Interestingly, one sponge appeared to mirror the eDNA degradation profile of water samples, while another sponge retained eDNA throughout the experiment. A third sponge yielded virtually no DNA sequences at all. Overall, our study suggests that some sponges will be suitable as natural samplers, while others will introduce significant problems for laboratory processing. We suggest that an initial optimization phase will be required in any future studies aiming to employ sponges for biodiversity assessment. With time, factoring in technical and natural accessibility, it is expected that specific sponge taxa may become the “chosen” natural samplers in certain habitats and regions.
Working with UK farmers to investigate anecic earthworm middens and soil biophysical properties
Authors: Stroud Jacqueline L. , Dummett Iain , Kemp Simon J. , Sturrock Craig J.
Published: June 2022

The conversion from conventional tillage to no‐tillage soil management practices is generally associated with an improvement in aggregate stability and anecic earthworm populations. We worked with UK farmers who measured Lumbricus terrestris midden area (%) and earthworm numbers associated with middens compared to the general soil. They found that middens covered up to 42% of the soil surface. Middened soil (i.e., soil underlying the middens) was associated with significantly more earthworms than the general soil (i.e., non‐middened soil) in agreement with research from scientific field trials. We compared the biophysical properties of middened soil to general soil across an experimental field trial recently converted to no‐tillage soil management practices. We measured water‐stable aggregation, soil porosity at scales relevant to water storage and gas diffusion and invertebrate feeding activity. Middened areas covered up to 13% of the field trial and were associated with significantly improved aggregate stability and porosity compared to the general soil. Our findings highlight the importance of considering middens when surveying soil quality and health in arable systems.
Preliminary patterns of seasonal changes in species composition of surface‐active arthropods in a South African savannah
Authors: Mavasa Risuna , Yekwayo Inam , Mwabvu Tarombera , Tsvuura Zivanai
Published: June 2022

Surface‐active arthropods have limited dispersal abilities and their abundances are responsive to changes in the environment. Their sensitivity allows for the identification of aspects of environmental variation that are responsible for changes in community assemblages of these arthropods. Limited dispersal abilities allow for changes in the populations of surface‐active arthropods to be linked reliably to changes in their local environment. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that seasonal variation in resource availability drives assemblages of three groups of surface‐active arthropods (ants, beetles and spiders). Ten study sites were selected, where sampling was carried out continually during the wet, austral summer season (December 2018–February 2019) and then repeated at the same sites in the dry winter season (June 2019–August 2019) in a mesic savannah of Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Pitfall trapping was used to sample the surface‐active arthropods. We found 89 morphospecies of ants, 48% of which were members of the Myrmicinae, while 32% of the 163 morphospecies of beetles were the Scarabaeidae. There were 262 morphospecies of spiders, of these, 22% were from the Salticidae. We found similar abundance and species richness of ants between seasons but significantly greater abundance and species richness of beetles and spiders in summer than in winter. These results show that the impact of seasonal variation in resource availability differs among arthropod taxa. However, the species compositions of all three taxa were significantly different between summer and winter. These results can be explained by the ‘niche differentiation hypothesis’ coupled with the ‘resource‐ratio hypothesis’. Additionally, these results highlight the role that temporal and dietary niche differentiation play in driving the assemblage composition of surface‐active arthropods in a mesic savannah.
Fetal hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with placental inflammation and early breakdown of maternal‐fetal tolerance in pre‐term birth
Authors: Bala Renu , Verma Rachna , Budhwar Snehil , Prakash Nikita , Sachan Shikha
Published: June 2022

Problem

Hyperhomocysteinemia (hypHcy) due to impaired folate metabolism is shown to be a risk factor for preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) in mothers. However, the relationship of fetal hypHcy with adverse pregnancy outcomes is under‐represented. The present study aims to investigate the association of fetal hypHcy with oxidative stress and placental inflammation that can contribute to an early breakdown of maternal‐fetal tolerance in pre‐term birth (PTB).

Methods

Cord blood and placenta tissue were collected from PTB and term infant group. Levels of homocysteine, folic acid, vitamin B12 and oxidative stress markers (MDA, T‐AOC, 8‐OHdG) were measured in cord blood serum using ELISA and respective standard assay kits. Relative expression of candidate genes (TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL1‐β, VEGF‐A, MMP2 and MMP9) was also checked using RT‐PCR and immunoblotting/immunohistochemistry.

Results

PTB infants showed significantly higher levels of homocysteine (P = .02) and lower levels of vitamin B12 (P = .005) as compared to term infants. We also found that PTB infants with hypHcy had lower T‐AOC (P = .003) and higher MDA (P = .04) levels as compared to term infants with normal homocysteine levels. The mRNA and protein levels of TNF‐α, VEGF‐A, MMP2 and MMP9 were significantly higher in hypHcy PTB infants.

Conclusion

Our results show that fetal hypHcy is associated with oxidative stress and an increase in inflammatory markers in the placenta. Thus, in conclusion, our study demonstrates that fetal hypHcy during pregnancy is a potential risk factor that may initiate an early breakdown of uterine quiescence due to activation of inflammatory processes leading to PTB.
Replacing plastic bread clips with cardboard will prevent bowel perforation
Authors: Andersen Lalita Maria , Yuide Peter
Published: June 2022

Plastic bread clips cause significant morbidity and mortality if accidentally ingested. A review of all existing case reports published in medical literature was conducted in PubMed, MedLine and Google Scholar. Key words included but was not limited to; clip, tag, tab, closure, kwik lok, bread, bag, ingestion, bowel, obstruction, perforation, plastic and foreign body. References of all the articles were sought out to ensure completeness. Fifty‐six cases between 1975 and 2020 were analysed to understand the complications and the characteristics of the bread clip that caused these. About 28% of case reports described bowel perforation, with 61% of these occurring in the small bowel. Plastic bread clips are firm in nature, long lasting, and are shaped to grasp onto bowel, thus leading to these complications. Commercially available alternatives are introduced in order to encourage replacing plastic bread clips worldwide.
Immune checkpoint blockades in gynecological cancers: A review of clinical trials
Authors: Peng Hongling , He Xiang , Wang Qiao
Published: June 2022

Advanced and recurrent gynecological cancers are associated with a poor prognosis and there is still a lack of effective treatments. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy is an important element of cancer‐targeted therapy and immunotherapy. The programed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1) and cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated antigen 4 (CTLA‐4) pathways are the two main targets of ICB. In this study, we provide a comprehensive review of clinical evidence concerning ICB therapy in gynecological cancers and discuss future implications. All clinical trials of ICB therapy in gynecological cancers were reviewed. We searched ClinicalTrials.gov to collect data from completed and ongoing clinical trials. The clinical evidence regarding the efficacy of ICB agents in gynecological cancers were discussed. Six phase III clinical trials have reported their results of primary outcomes, and a total of 25 phase II clinical trials have been completed. As revealed in phase III trials, pembrolizumab (a PD‐1 antibody) improved the overall survival and progression‐free survival in endometrial cancer patients with mismatch repair deficiency and cervical cancer patients with expressions of PD‐L1. Based on these findings, pembrolizumab was approved by the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency as a cancer medication used to treat certain patients with endometrial cancer or cervical cancer. Other PD‐1 antibodies, including dostarlimab and cemiplimab, also showed antitumor efficacy in clinical trials. Dostarlimab treatment showed an encouraging response rate in endometrial cancer patients with mismatch repair deficiency. Cemiplimab treatment led to a longer overall survival and a lower risk of death than chemotherapy among patients with recurrent cervical cancer. Three completed phase III trials investigated anti‐PD‐L1 agents (atezolizumab and avelumab) in the treatment of ovarian cancer. The results were not encouraging. Other strategies of ICB therapy which had showed potential clinical benefit in the treatment of gynecological cancers in early‐phase trials need to be further evaluated in late‐stage trials. The antitumor efficacy of ICB therapy is promising, and the key to making further progress in the treatment of gynecological cancers is to identify more biomarkers and explore innovative combination treatments with other targeted therapies.
Multicentre study revealed significant gaps between evidence‐based recommendations for using corticosteroids for croup and clinical practice
Authors: Pierantoni Luca , Stera Giacomo , Andreozzi Laura , Pellegrino Francesco , Dondi Arianna , Fabi Marianna , Corsini Ilaria , Ghizzi Chiara , Lanari Marcello
Published: June 2022

Aim

Adherence to croup management recommendations has been poorly investigated. This study aimed to describe the treatment patterns in two paediatric emergency departments and analyse the adherence to recommendations.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of children diagnosed with croup in two Italian paediatric emergency departments in 2017. Data on clinical presentation, corticosteroid administration and home therapy were collected. Length of stay, hospitalisation and re‐access rates were compared among different corticosteroid treatment groups.

Results

We enrolled 632 patients (61.1% males) with a mean age of 42.8 ± 55.1 months. Corticosteroids were administered to 403 (63.8%) children in the emergency departments. Dexamethasone was administered to 1 (0.4%) patient. Inhaled and oral corticosteroids were given to 342 (54.1%) and 226 (35.8%) patients, respectively. Home therapy was prescribed for 603 (95.4%) patients, either with inhaled (86.2%) and/or oral (43.8%) corticosteroids. The re‐access rate was 2.8%. The actual pharmaceutical costs were an estimated 10 times higher than they would have been if the recommendations had been followed.

Conclusion

A significant gap between the evidence and clinical practice for croup treatment was observed. Improving adherence to the recommendations could lead to clinical and economic benefits.
Social assistance programs during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Bangladesh: Does faith‐based approach matters?
Authors: Salahuddin Abul Fazal Md , Hossain Md. Ismail , Ali Isahaque , Azman Azlinda
Published: June 2022

This paper aimed to examine the role of faith‐based organizations (FBOs) in the distribution of social assistance (SA) during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Bangladesh. The paper adopts a qualitative case‐study approach to explore the best practices in the distribution of SA by five (5) organizations including FBOs, governmental organizations (GOs), Non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), political groups, and private voluntary groups. In this study, 14 beneficiaries of SA were selected by stratified proportionate random sampling method, and five (5) key personnel were selected purposively based on their experiences in the management of SA distribution. The study found that “no‐move, no touch” approach followed by FBOs is more likely to establish human rights and social justice and reduce the transmission of diseases. In contrast to the modern idea, which undermines the faith‐based charity, the study proved that faith‐based charity is gaining attraction as an effective approach combating global pandemic. The findings of this paper will be useful for policymakers, voluntary service workers, GO, and NGO workers to ensure the distribution of SA in a more productive and disciplined way during and after an emergency like the COVID‐19 pandemic.
‘You don't compare horrors, you just don't do that’: Examining assumptions and extending the scope of comparative victim beliefs
Authors: Vollhardt Johanna Ray , Ünal Helin , Nair Rashmi
Published: June 2022

Social psychological research on collective victimhood has often focused on comparisons between the ingroup's and outgroups' collective victimization (i.e. comparative victim beliefs such as competitive victimhood or inclusive victim beliefs). This qualitative study examines how people in different contexts of collective victimization and its aftermath make sense of items commonly used to assess comparative victim beliefs, and how they extend or challenge these constructs and their underlying assumptions. We used thematic analysis to analyse eight focus group discussions among four minority groups in the United States with historical or more recent experiences of collective victimization (Armenian Americans, Burundian refugees, Jewish Americans and Nepali‐speaking Bhutanese refugees). Findings extend commonly assessed comparative victim beliefs and reveal participants' critical perspectives on these constructs. The findings also highlight the dialectical structure of collective victim beliefs: Participants not only endorsed but also rejected comparative victim beliefs, and relatedly described both ingroup power and outgroup power in the context of their group's victimization. These findings extend existing social psychological literature on comparative victim beliefs and intergroup relations.
Brown adipose tissue activation with ginsenoside compound K ameliorates polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Ye Rongcai , Yan Chunlong , Zhou Huiqiao , Zhang Chuanhai , Huang Yuanyuan , Dong Meng , Zhang Hanlin , Lin Jun , Jiang Xiaoxiao , Yuan Shouli , Chen Li , Jiang Rui , Cheng Ziyu , Zheng Kexin , Yu Anni , Zhang Qiaoli , Quan Lin‐hu , Jin Wanzhu
Published: June 2022

Background and Purpose

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common metabolic and endocrine disease affecting women of reproductive age. Due to its complex aetiology, there is no currently effective cure for PCOS. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity is significantly decreased in PCOS patients, and BAT activation has beneficial effects in animal models of PCOS. Here, we investigated the effect of ginsenoside compound K (CK) in an animal model of PCOS and its mechanism of BAT activation.

Experimental Approach

Primary brown adipocytes, Db/Db mice and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)‐induced PCOS rats were used. The core body temperature, oxygen consumption, energy metabolism related gene and protein expression were assessed to identify the effect of CK on overall energy metabolism. Oestrous cycle, serum sex hormone, ovarian steroidogenic enzyme gene expression and ovarian morphology were also evaluated following CK treatment.

Key Results

Our results indicated that CK treatment could significantly protect against body weight gain in Db/Db mice via BAT activation. Furthermore, we found that CK treatment could normalize hyperandrogenism, oestrous cyclicity, normalize steroidogenic enzyme expression and decrease the number of cystic follicles in PCOS rats. Interestingly, as a potential endocrine intermediate, C‐X‐C motif chemokine ligand‐14 protein (CXCL14) was significantly up‐regulated following CK administration. In addition, exogenous CXC14 supplementation was found to reverse DHEA‐induced PCOS in a phenotypically similar manner to CK treatment.

Conclusion and Implications

In summary, CK treatment significantly activates BAT, increases CXCL14 expression and ameliorates PCOS. These findings suggest that CK might be a potential drug candidate for PCOS treatment.
The tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib targets the discoidin domain receptor DDR2 in calcific aortic valve stenosis
Authors: Carracedo Miguel , Pawelzik Sven‐Christian , Artiach Gonzalo , Pouwer Marianne G. , Plunde Oscar , Saliba‐Gustafsson Peter , Ehrenborg Ewa , Eriksson Per , Pieterman Elsbet , Stenke Leif , Princen Hans M. G. , Franco‐Cereceda Anders , Bäck Magnus
Published: June 2022

Background and Purpose

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) used to treat chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) have been associated with cardiovascular side effects, including reports of calcific aortic valve stenosis. The aim of this study was to establish the effects of first and second generation TKIs in aortic valve stenosis and to determine the associated molecular mechanisms.

Experimental Approach

Hyperlipidemic APOE*3Leiden.CETP transgenic mice were treated with nilotinib, imatinib or vehicle. Human valvular interstitial cells (VICs) were isolated and studied in vitro. Gene expression analysis was perfromed in aortic valves from 64 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery.

Key Results

Nilotinib increased murine aortic valve thickness. Nilotinib, but not imatinib, promoted calcification and osteogenic activation and decreased autophagy in human VICs. Differential tyrosine kinase expression was detected between healthy and calcified valve tissue. Transcriptomic target identification revealed that the discoidin domain receptor DDR2, which is preferentially inhibited by nilotinib, was predominantly expressed in human aortic valves but markedly downregulated in calcified valve tissue. Nilotinib and selective DDR2 targeting in VICs induced a similar osteogenic activation, which was blunted by increasing the DDR2 ligand, collagen.

Conclusions and Implications

These findings suggest that inhibition of DDR2 by nilotinib promoted aortic valve thickening and VIC calcification, with possible translational implications for cardiovascular surveillance and possible personalized medicine in CML patients.
Institutional entrepreneurship for responsible digital innovation: The case of corporate digital responsibility
Authors: Trittin‐Ulbrich Hannah , Böckel Alexa
Published: June 2022

How does responsible digital innovation become an accepted and desired innovation practice for businesses? Drawing on the case of Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR), we study how institutional entrepreneurs across different fields construct CDR as an issue to legitimize corporate commitment to responsible digital innovation. Our qualitative study from Germany suggests that institutional entrepreneurship for responsible digital innovation entails the discursive, relational and material legitimation of responsible digital innovation through the issue of CDR. The findings of this study enrich institutional research on digital innovation by shedding light on the field‐level construction of responsible digital innovation through Corporate Digital Responsibility. We further extend existing CDR frameworks by detailing the multi‐stakeholder efforts that may shape a firm's approach to CDR, as well as by revealing additional topics associated with the issue. We highlight the theoretical and practical implications of our research.
Community support, family resilience and mental health among caregivers of youth with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Hayes Katey N. , Rossetti Kristina G. , Zlomke Kimberly
Published: June 2022

Background

Caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been shown to have unique mental health vulnerabilities that community support may buffer. Positive caregiver mental health can stimulate family resilience behaviours, such as strong communication and problem‐solving. Further, community support has been found to be related to caregiver mental health, as well as improved child functioning. The current study aims to investigate caregiver mental health as a mediator between community support and family resilience in families of a child with an autism spectrum disorder.

Methods

Data obtained from caregivers of 654 children with a reported diagnosis of ASD were utilized from the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) public database.

Results

Community support was positively correlated with family resilience and caregiver mental health. Bivariate correlations indicated significant positive associations between community support and family resilience. Caregiver mental health, significantly, partially mediated the relationship between community support and family resilience.

Conclusions

The present study provides important insight into fostering caregiver health as a strategy to promote family resilience behaviours. Interventions designed to address family resilience behaviours among families of children with ASD should focus on ways that positively impact caregiver mental health.
Interaction between maternal dietary fat intake, breast milk omega‐3 fatty acids and infant growth during the first year of life
Authors: Bahreynian Maryam , Feizi Awat , Daniali Seyede Shahrbanoo , Kelishadi Roya
Published: June 2022

Background

Long chain fatty acids (LCFA) of human milk (HM) might be associated with different patterns of weight gain in infancy. This study aims to examine the interaction between maternal dietary fat intake, breast milk content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with infant growth during the first year of life.

Methods

This longitudinal study was conducted among 215 Iranian mother–infant pairs. The infants were followed up from birth to 12 months of age. Trained healthcare providers measured infant anthropometrics including weight, length and head circumference at birth, 2, 4, 6 and 12 months of age. Breast hind milk samples were collected in the morning through hand expression between 6 and 12 weeks postpartum. Maternal dietary intake was assessed using a 3‐day dietary record. Linear mixed effects models were performed to determine the interaction between maternal dietary fat intake, the breast milk content of EPA and DHA with infant growth. Further adjustments were applied for potential confounders.

Results

Mean and standard deviation (SD) of maternal age and body mass index were 29.70 (5.24) years and 24.47 (4.42) kg/m2, respectively. Mean (SD) of infant birth weight was 3177.50 (413.20) g, and 50% were boys. An inverse interaction existed between maternal dietary fat intake and breast milk EPA with infant 4‐month weight (β: −366.2, P‐value: 0.01). We found a significant association of maternal dietary fat intake and infant 6‐month weight (β: 22.5, P‐value: 0.04). An inverse interaction was documented between maternal dietary fat intake and breast milk DHA with infant weight at 12‐month of age (β: −95.3, P‐value: 0.02). We found a significant association between maternal dietary fat intake and infant length at 12‐month (β: 0.06, P‐value: 0.02).

Conclusion

We found an inverse interaction between maternal dietary fat intake and breast milk omega‐3 fatty acids with infant weight at 4 and 12 months of age. Although longer follow‐up of growth indices is recommended, these findings suggest functional relevance of HM composition to infant growth.
A case of 46,XY disorders of sex development with congenital heart disease caused by a GATA4 variant
Authors: Shichiri Yui , Kato Yoshimi , Inagaki Hidehito , Kato Takema , Ishihara Naoko , Miyata Masafumi , Boda Hiroko , Kojima Arisa , Miyake Misa , Kurahashi Hiroki
Published: June 2022

GATA4 is known to be a causative gene for congenital heart disease, but has also now been associated with disorders of sexual development (DSD). We here report a pathogenic variant of GATA4 in a 46,XY DSD patient with an atrial septal defect, identified by whole‐exome sequencing to be c.487C>T (p.Pro163Ser). This mutation resulted in reduced transcriptional activity of the downstream gene. When we compared this transcriptional activity level with other GATA4 variants, those that had been identified in patients with cardiac defects and DSD showed less activity than those in patients with cardiac defect only. This suggests that the normal development of the heart requires more strict regulation of GATA4 transcription than testicular development. Further, when the different variants were co‐expressed with wild‐type, the transcriptional activities were consistently lower than would be expected from an additive effect, suggesting a dominant‐negative impact of the variant via dimer formation of the GATA4 protein. Since these pathogenic GATA4 variants are occasionally identified in healthy parents, a threshold model of quantitative traits may explain the cardiac defect or DSD phenotypes that they cause.
Integrating earthquake early warnings into business continuity and organisational resilience: lessons learned from Mexico City
Authors: Pescaroli Gianluca , Velazquez Omar , Alcántara‐Ayala Irasema , Galasso Carmine
Published: June 2022

Earthquake early warning (EEW) is becoming a popular tool for mitigating earthquake‐induced losses. However, the current literature separates EEW technical components and their operational and behavioural implications. This paper investigates how EEW can be integrated into business continuity practices, organisational resilience, and disaster risk reduction (DRR). A mixed methods approach is applied to analyse EEW perceptions in the case‐study context of Mexico City, Mexico, which is characterised by a high level of seismic hazard and social and physical exposure/vulnerability. The dataset includes evidence from 15 semi‐structured interviews with representatives of the public and private sectors, such as governments and enterprises, and 78 valid questionnaires compiled by local organisations, including civil protection and education institutions. The results reveal inconsistencies between technical EEW methodologies and their integration into three core domains of organisational practice: accountability, governance, and jurisdiction; standardisation of plans and procedures; training and education. Finally, open challenges for future research are highlighted.
Mirror movements and brain pathology in children with unilateral cerebral palsy
Authors: Kuo Hsing‐Ching , Ferre Claudio L. , Chin Karen Y. , Friel Kathleen M. , Gordon Andrew M.
Published: June 2022

Aim

We systematically examined the relationship between mirror movements and brain lesion type, corticospinal tract (CST) organization, and hand function to determine the relevance between mirror movements, brain lesion, the CST pattern, and hand function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP).

Method

Forty‐eight children (mean age 9y 9mo [SD 3y 3mo], range 6–18y; 30 males, 18 females) with unilateral CP participated. Mirror movements, brain lesion type, CST pattern identified by transcranial magnetic stimulation, and clinical outcomes were evaluated. Children performed four unilateral tasks: hand opening/closing, finger opposition, individuation, and finger ‘walking’. Mirror movements induced in the contralateral hand were scored using standardized criteria (scores 0–4 using the Woods and Teuber scale).

Results

We found that children with periventricular lesion may have stronger mirror movement scores induced in either hand than those with middle cerebral artery lesion (more affected hand: p=0.02; less affected hand: p<0.01). The highest mirror movement score a child exhibits across the tested tasks (i.e. scores of 3–4 using the Woods and Teuber scoring criteria) may potentially be an indicator of an ipsilateral CST connectivity pattern (p=0.03). Significant correlations were observed between higher mirror movement scores when performing hand opening/closing as well as finger walking and better unimanual dexterity (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient rs=0.44, p=0.002; rs=0.46, p=0.002 respectively).

Interpretation

Brain lesions may be predictive of the strength of mirror movements in either hand in children with unilateral CP. Our findings warrant further studies to extensively investigate the relationship between mirror movements and the underlying brain pathology.

What this paper adds

Brain lesion type may be predictive of mirror movement scores induced in either hand in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.

The highest mirror movement score a child exhibits across the tested tasks may indicate corticospinal tract connectivity pattern in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.
Typology and categorization in developmental coordination disorder: Where does this leave us?
Authors: Green Dido
Published: June 2022

This commentary is on the original article by Lust et al. on pages 1366–1374 of this issue.
How evidence, implementation, policy, and politics come together within evidence systems: Lessons from South Africa
Authors: Stewart Ruth
Published: June 2022

Motivation

Although the field of evidence‐informed policy‐making has grown significantly in the last 20 years, little is written about how it manifests within government policy, and whether it makes a meaningful difference to development outcomes. This article seeks to fill that gap.

Purpose

Through reflection and analysis of shifts in the wider evidence ecosystem, and developments in South Africa specifically, the article describes how in South Africa the political and policy spheres come together with changes in production and use of evidence to increase the potential to improve the lives of millions of people.

Methods and approach

This article is based on structured reflection and analysis of 20 years of contributions to the evidence ecosystem in low‐, lower‐middle, and upper‐middle income countries (L&MICs), in particular in Africa. It includes analysis of documentation of initiatives, policies, and practices relating to the production and use of evidence, with a focus on South Africa.

Findings

There are clear shifts within evidence‐informed decision‐making (EIDM) systems over time in the production of evidence and in the implementation of evidence approaches. The varied experiences documented in South Africa and across L&MICs highlight valuable lessons for others. In South Africa the policies underpinning evidence use, and the political context in which evidence‐informed decision‐making takes place, combine to contribute to increasing use of evidence in the country. Reflecting on the system developments across Africa and further afield reveals how one country's system is both influenced by these wider contexts and has potential to influence the wider system with clear policy implications.

Policy implications

Routine use of evidence in decision‐making requires new practices to become standard across not only policy systems, but also evidence systems. Changes are needed across a range of actors, organizations, and institutions. There are lessons to be learnt from varied experiences including those in L&MICs, to inform advances towards the institutionalization of evidence use in policy. This case study highlights the importance of synergistic developments in both evidence production and use, of genuine partnerships at all levels, and of the policies and frameworks that underpin change.
Mitral annular calcification: The incremental diagnostic value of 3D transesophageal echocardiography
Authors: Yirerong Juliet , Wen Jason , Jain Ankit
Published: June 2022

Three‐dimensional (3D) echocardiography is an important tool in the evaluation of mitral valve anatomy. We illustrate a case of a 67‐year‐old female who was admitted for non‐ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and underwent two‐vessel coronary artery bypass grafting for surgical disease. Her two‐dimensional (2D) echocardiographic images intraoperatively demonstrated a mass on the posterior mitral valve leaflet which created a diagnostic challenge; 3D transesophageal imaging was crucial in identifying the true nature of the pathology to be mitral annular calcification with supra‐annular extension.
Spread of Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss influences litter‐dwelling arthropod communities in native forests: a case study from Sri Lanka
Authors: Wijewickrama Tharanga , Karunaratne Inoka , Wijesundara Siril , Nijamdeen Mafaziya , Ekanayake Gayandi , Jayawardhane Jayamini , Abeysundara Sachith P. , Madawala Sumedha
Published: June 2022

Both native and non‐native bamboo populations can expand their distributions in a rather irregular manner, inflicting changes in native vegetation with potential consequences for litter‐dwelling arthropod communities. To our knowledge, no studies have been undertaken to explore the impacts of bamboo spread on litter‐dwelling arthropods.

This study examined the impacts of Bambusa bambos, a spreading native bamboo species, on abundance and order richness of litter‐dwelling arthropods in tropical moist evergreen forests. Bamboo‐rich and non‐bamboo forests were compared in three study sites at Moragahakanda in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Arthropods were sampled from leaf litter and individuals were categorised into their respective orders.

Arthropod abundance and order richness were higher in bamboo‐rich forests than in non‐bamboo forests across all sites, indicating more hospitable micro‐habitat conditions following bamboo spread. Litter‐dwelling arthropods belonging to orders Blattodea, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera were either more prevalent or more frequently associated with bamboo‐rich forests than non‐bamboo forests, suggesting a potential shift in community structure.

The abundance and order richness of litter‐dwelling arthropods in non‐bamboo forests was explained by environmental variables, whilst no such associations were observed in bamboo‐rich forests.

The overall findings indicate that the spread of bamboo may facilitate litter‐dwelling arthropods and cause a compositional shift in taxonomic assemblages, perhaps as a result of changes in the micro‐habitat conditions on the forest floor.
Early report on the severity of COVID‐19 in hematologic patients infected with the SARS‐CoV2 omicron variant
Authors: Ullrich Fabian , Hanoun Christine , Turki Amin T. , Liebregts Tobias , Breuckmann Katharina , Alashkar Ferras , Reinhardt Hans Christian , von Tresckow Bastian , von Tresckow Julia
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Patients with hematologic disease are at high risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID‐19 due to disease‐inherent and therapy‐related immunodeficiency. Whether infection with the SARS‐CoV2 omicron variant leads to attenuated disease severity in these patients is currently unknown.

Methods

We assessed clinical and laboratory parameters in 61 patients with underlying hematologic conditions with a SARS‐CoV2 omicron variant infection confirmed by nucleic acid amplification testing.

Results

Fifty patients reported symptoms of COVID‐19, most commonly fatigue (37 patients, 60.66%) and cough (32 patients, 52.46%). 39.34% of patients reported fever. Dyspnea was reported by 10 patients and 7 patients (11.48%) required oxygen therapy. Anosmia and ageusia were relatively rare, occurring in less than 10% of patients. Severity of SARS‐CoV2 infection could be assessed in 60 patients. Five cases of critical illness leading to ICU admission occurred during the observation period. Overall mortality was 9.84% in this patient cohort, with heterogeneous causes of death. The majority of omicron‐infected hematologic patients experienced mild symptoms or remained asymptomatic.

Discussion

In this study, symptoms of COVID‐19 tended to be milder than described for previous SARS‐CoV2 variants. However, the extent to which attenuated severity of omicron‐variant SARS‐CoV2 infection is caused by altered viral pathogenicity or pre‐existing host immunity cannot be inferred from our data and should be investigated in larger prospective studies.
Chemical processes in receiving soils accelerate solubilisation of phosphorus from desert dust and fire ash
Authors: Tiwari Sudeep , Erel Ran , Gross Avner
Published: June 2022

Atmospheric deposition of desert dust and ash from wildfires are recognised as major suppliers of phosphorus (P) to soils in many terrestrial ecosystems. The biological effects of desert dust and fire ash P depend on their interactions with the receiving soils. However, the chemical processes and environmental conditions that control dust and ash P bioavailability post deposition are unknown. Soil and rhizospheric pH and organic exudates are acknowledged as central parameters that control soil P bioavailability. Here we performed a series of in‐vitro incubation experiments to study their effects on P solubility of various desert dust and fire ash samples. Then, we tested the dust and ash P solubility that were added to acidic and alkaline soils. Our results show that dust P solubility gradually increases by a few orders of magnitude as pH decreases from 7 to 2.5 and also with increased concentrations of oxalic and malic acids, two ubiquitous P solubilising organic exudates in soils. In both cases, the increase in dust P solubility occurs mainly by dissolving P from insoluble Ca‐P minerals such as apatite, the major P bearing mineral in desert dust. P solubility of fire ash was dramatically higher than that of desert dust but showed the same pattern of a gradual increase with decreasing pH or with increasing concentrations of oxalic and malic acids. When the dust was suspended with soils, extractable P level was ~10 times higher in alkaline soil than acidic soil despite the lower pH of the later, probably due to the strong P sorption capacity of the acidic soils. On the contrary, when fire ash was suspended, extractable P in the acidic soil was higher than that of the alkaline soil indicating substantial variation in P forms. Overall, our results indicate that the bioavailability of P from desert dust and fire ash is largely controlled by environmental and chemical factors in the receiving soils.

Highlights

Atmospheric deposition from desert dust and fire ash is a major phosphorus source to soils.

However, the actual bioavailability of dust and ash P post deposition is unknown.

Soil pH, organic acids concentrations and P sorption capacity controls dust and ash bioavailability.

The bioavailability of atmospheric P is controlled by environmental factors in the receiving soils.
A New Departure on the Path to Reconciliation and Unity in Christ
Authors: Sauca Ioan
Published: June 2022

In 2022, the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) is to gather in Karlsruhe, Germany, around the theme “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.” The churches in Germany, together with churches in the neighbouring countries of France and Switzerland, will host the delegates of the WCC member churches from all over the world. This is the third time a WCC assembly will take place in Europe, following the founding assembly in Amsterdam in 1948 and the WCC’s 4th Assembly in Uppsala in 1968. This article examines the context for the assembly, especially that of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and the path of the fellowship since the WCC’s 10th Assembly in Busan in 2013, which was expressed in the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace. It will also examine the theological grounding, contextual relevance, and thematic coherence of the assembly.
The German Protestant Churches and the World Council of Churches
Authors: Raiser Konrad
Published: June 2022

Against the background of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, to be held in Germany in 2022, this article reviews the history of the relationship between German Protestantism and the WCC from the mid‐20th century to the present day. It recalls the relationship between the German Protestant Church and the ecumenical movement in the period of National Socialism, the new beginning that followed the Second World War, controversies over social and political involvement in the 1960s and subsequent decades, the existence of Protestantism in the two German states during the Cold War period, and subsequent efforts to promote justice, peace, and nonviolence.
Retelling, Reimagining, and Repurposing
Authors: Rajkumar Peniel Jesudason Rufus
Published: June 2022

The forthcoming assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) is scheduled for 2022 in Karlsruhe, Germany, more than 50 years after the last assembly on European soil, held in 1968 in Uppsala, Sweden. In the past half century, Europe has changed dramatically. So, what does Europe, as the context for this great ecumenical event, hold for the prophetic witness of the ecumenical movement in our time, and what does it mean for a WCC assembly to “return” to Europe in this specific context? This article reflects on this European context for the assembly from a perspective of postcolonialism, understood not just as an abstract critical theory but as a critical commitment to the transformation of the current world (dis)order brought about by colonialism. The article goes on to discuss postcolonialism as an interpretive tool for developing a transformative ecumenical vision for the 21st century in the run‐up to the WCC assembly in Karlsruhe and beyond.
Novel graphical family tree representation to develop an interactive expert system
Authors: Mostafa Mohamed A. , Al‐Qurishi Muhammad , Al‐Amri Atif , Aksoy Mehmet S. , Emam Ahmed
Published: June 2022

Family inheritance distribution is an interesting and challenging problem. When a person dies, all of their wealth is passed on to their heirs. Heirs are family members of the deceased with specific relationships. The distribution process of wealth in Islam has many rules that make it difficult to understand and require an expert to solve. Many interrelated rules make it difficult to teach and learn. Therefore, there have been multiple attempts to develop an expert system to help solve the family inheritance problem. The existing solutions have some limitations in terms of the completeness of rules, and user‐system interactions, which make these systems unreliable. In this study, we developed an expert system to calculate family inheritance. The two main contributions of this work are the development of a complete set of inheritance rules and the design of intelligent user‐system interaction. We innovate the design of the family tree, which plays the role of an interaction layer with the user. The results of our proposed system demonstrate an accuracy of approximately 93%.
Incorporating knowledge of changes in climatic, oceanographic and ecological conditions in Canadian stock assessments
Authors: Pepin Pierre , King Jacquelyne , Holt Carrie , Gurney‐Smith Helen , Shackell Nancy , Hedges Kevin , Bundy Alida
Published: June 2022

Environmental impacts on fisheries are pervasive, yet methods to account for them in stock assessments and management decisions vary in rigour and quality. The prevalence and efficacy of methods to account for environmental impacts are not well documented, limiting our ability to adequately respond to future environmental and climate changes for adaptive resource management. In Canada, legislation now requires that environmental conditions are considered in the management of fish stocks, yet the current extent of implementation in assessment processes is poorly understood. We assessed the use of climate, oceanographic and ecological considerations in science advisory processes for 178 stock assessments by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. We evaluated whether these considerations were included in conceptual hypotheses about broad‐scale mechanisms, quantitative or qualitative analyses, and the development of management advice on current or future stock status. Conceptual hypotheses were included in 46% of assessments; quantitative inclusions occurred in 21% of assessments, while qualitative interpretations appeared in 31% of assessments; and 27% of assessments included climate, oceanographic and/or ecological considerations in the advice. Assessments of salmonids, invertebrates and pelagic taxa more frequently made use of environmental data than those for groundfish and elasmobranchs. Comparing our findings with assessments in other jurisdictions highlighted a gap in Canada's ability to respond to environmental changes and a need to develop integrated management approaches, such as regional ecosystem assessments and approaches that combine modelling and empirical analyses, with socio‐economic analysis within interdisciplinary teams.