bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trading permits and informal entrepreneurship: evidence from South Africa
Authors: Balde Racky
Published: April 2024

We present an empirical analysis of the relationship between trading permits, informal entrepreneurship and unemployment. We exploit a unique regulatory framework of the informal sector in South Africa to estimate the effects of trading permits in the informal sector using individual panel data. To provide a causal effect of these regulations, we apply a difference-in-difference strategy. Trading permits decreased informal entrepreneurship and informal trading by respectively 11.5 per cent and 9.6 per cent for those who were working in the informal sector. We investigate potential indirect effects on formal entrepreneurship, unemployment, and informal wage employment. The adoption of trading permits in the informal sector significantly increases the probability of being unemployed by 4.5 per cent and significantly decreases the probability of being informally employed by 15.5 per cent for those who were in the informal sector. The results suggest that a policy increasing the costs of informality might reduce informality but at the cost of rising unemployment.
Characteristics of contemporary health research practice: A shift from ivory tower to collaborative power
Authors: Wadsworth Daniel P , Craswell Alison , Ward Andy , Tulloch Kristen , Schaumberg Mia A , Stoner Lee , Meredith Pamela J , Askew Christopher D
Published: April 2024

The academic world is rapidly changing due to multiple influences, including COVID-19, technological advancement, tertiary competition, shifting government policies, and emerging research practices and priorities. Given this rapidly changing tertiary-education landscape, added importance is placed on the need for emerging research leaders to understand contemporary research practices which likely exceeds the skills displayed by their supervisors and mentors. Consequently, reflecting on 80+ years of collective post-PhD research experience, we identify and discuss six common characteristics of contemporary health research practice, with the aim of guiding and empowering higher degree by research students and emerging early career researchers as they develop their research identities and shape their approaches and values on the path to becoming research leaders in health. Indicative of today’s dynamic and exacting research environment, we propose that best practice contemporary health research should be: Diverse; Creative; Collaborative; Authentic; Respectful; and, Trusting. By understanding a diverse range of research approaches, and through working in collaborative and creative teams, diversity of thought, approach, and methods can become a cornerstone of practice. By blending this understanding with questions and research approaches that facilitate the pathway of translation uptake for the next-user, emerging research leaders can deliver authentic research with the requisite ingredients for impact.
Mothers’ and fathers’ neural responses toward gender-stereotype violations by their own children
Authors: Portengen Christel M , van Baar Anneloes L , Endendijk Joyce J
Published: April 2024

Gender stereotypes facilitate people’s processing of social information by providing assumptions about expected behaviors and preferences. When gendered expectations are violated, people often respond negatively, both on a behavioral and neural level. Little is known about the impact of family kinship on the behavioral and neural reactions to gender-stereotype violations. Therefore, we examined whether parents show different responses when gender stereotypes are violated by their own children vs unknown children. The sample comprised 74 Dutch families with a father (Mage = 37.54), mother (Mage = 35.83), son, and daughter aged 3–6 years. Electroencephalography measurements were obtained while parents viewed pictures of their own and unknown children paired with toy or problem behavior words that violated or confirmed gender stereotypes. In half of the trials, parents evaluated the appropriateness of toy–gender and behavior–gender combinations. Parents showed stronger late positive potential amplitudes toward gender stereotype-violating behaviors by own children compared to unknown children. Moreover, parents’ P1 responses toward gender stereotype-violating child behaviors were stronger for boys than for girls and for parents who evaluated gender-stereotype violations as less appropriate than gender-stereotype confirmations. These findings indicated that gender-stereotype violations by parents’ own children are particularly salient and viewed as less appropriate than gender-stereotype confirmations.
Disrupted cognitive and affective empathy network interactions in autistic children viewing social animation
Authors: Guo Xinrong , Xu Chuanyong , Chen Jierong , Wu Zhiliu , Hou Shumeng , Wei Zhen
Published: April 2024

Empathy can be divided into two core components, cognitive empathy (CE) and affective empathy (AE), mediated by distinct neural networks. Deficient empathy is a central feature of autism spectrum conditions (ASCs), but it is unclear if this deficit results from disruption solely within empathy networks or from disrupted functional integration between CE and AE networks. To address this issue, we measured functional connectivity (FC) patterns both within and between empathy networks in autistic children (4–8 years, n = 31) and matched typically developing (TD) children (n = 26) using near-infrared spectroscopy during the presentation of an animated story evoking CE and AE. Empathy and social communication ability were also assessed using the Empathy Quotient/Systemizing Quotient (EQ/SQ) and Social Responsiveness Scale, respectively. The results showed that the FC in the AE network of autistic children did not differ from the TD group across conditions; however, the ASC group showed weaker FC in the CE network under the CE condition and weaker FC between networks when processing AE information, the latter of which was negatively correlated with EQ scores in ASC. The empathy defect in ASC may involve abnormal integration of CE and AE network activities under AE conditions.
Among crises: how businesspeople built expectations of resilience in the face of COVID-19
Authors: Sendroiu Ioana
Published: April 2024

Interviews with 60 businesspeople coping with COVID-19 show that they elaborate the pandemic with reference to other crises they have faced. A model of sensemaking among crises is put forward, conceptualizing crises as recurrent, rather than singular or continuous. Among crises, comparisons to past experiences help make sense of the present situation: businesspeople who perceived COVID-19 to have analogues to crises they had (successfully) faced before felt hopeful about their ability to cope with the pandemic, while those who insisted that the pandemic was without precedent were more pessimistic than their peers. In this way, crises enter cultural repertoires, helping to make sense of unsettled times and even underpinning expectations of resilience. This process is an integral part of the entrepreneurial story: given cultural repertoires replete with narratives of virtuous economic actors successfully surmounting crises and managing risk, it is among crises that businesspeople either substantiate or challenge such beliefs.
“There’s So Much That They’re Enduring”
Authors: Kata Anna , Dillon Ellis C , Christina Keny RN , Yank Veronica , Covinsky Kenneth E , Raue Patrick J , Sandhu Harleen K , Tang Victoria L
Published: April 2024

Objective:

This qualitative study aimed to explore the psychosocial experience of older adults undergoing major elective surgery from the perspective of both the patient and family caregiver.

Summary Background Data:

Older adults face unique psychological and social vulnerabilities that can increase susceptibility to poor health outcomes. How these vulnerabilities influence surgical treatment and recovery is understudied in the geriatric surgical population.

Methods:

Adults aged 65 and older undergoing a high-risk major elective surgery at the University of California, San Francisco and their caregivers were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at three time points: 1-2 weeks before surgery, and at 1- and 3-months following surgery. An inductive qualitative approach was used to identify underlying themes.

Results:

Twenty-five older adult patients (age range 65-82 years, 60% male) and 11 caregivers (age range 53-78 years, 82% female) participated. Three themes were identified. First, older surgical patients experienced significant challenges to emotional well-being both before and after surgery, which had a negative impact on recovery. Second, older adults relied on a combination of personal and social resources to navigate these challenges. Lastly, both patients and caregivers desired more resources from the healthcare system to address “the emotional piece” of surgical treatment and recovery.

Conclusions:

Older adults and their caregivers described multiple overlapping challenges to emotional well-being that spanned the course of the perioperative period. Our findings highlight a critical component of perioperative care with significant implications for the recovery of older surgical patients.
Senolytic therapy combining Dasatinib and Quercetin restores the chondrogenic phenotype of human osteoarthritic chondrocytes by promoting the release of pro-anabolic mediators
Authors: Maurer Svenja , Kirsch Valeria , Ruths Leonie , Brenner Rolf E. , Riegger Jana
Published: April 2024

Cellular senescence is associated with various age-related disorders and is assumed to play a major role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Based on this, we tested a senolytic combination therapy using Dasatinib (D) and Quercetin (Q) on aged isolated human articular chondrocytes (hACs), as well as in OA-affected cartilage tissue (OARSI grade 1-2). Stimulation with D+Q selectively eliminated senescent cells in both, cartilage explants and isolated hAC. Furthermore, the therapy significantly promoted chondroanabolism, as demonstrated by increased gene expression levels of COL2A1, ACAN, and SOX9, as well as elevated collagen type II and glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis. Additionally, D+Q treatment significantly reduced the release of SASP factors (IL6, CXCL1). RNA sequencing analysis revealed an upregulation of the anabolic factors, inter alia, FGF18, IGF1, and TGFB2, as well as inhibitory effects on cytokines and the YAP-1 signaling pathway, explaining the underlying mechanism of the chondroanabolic promotion upon senolytic treatment. Accordingly, stimulation of untreated hAC with conditioned medium of D+Q-treated cells similarly induced the expression of chondrogenic markers. Detailed analyses demonstrated that chondroanabolic effects could be mainly attributed to Dasatinib, while monotherapeutical application of Quercetin or Navitoclax did not promote the chondroanabolism. Overall, D+Q therapy restored the chondrogenic phenotype in OA hAC most likely by creating a pro-chondroanabolic environment through the reduction of SASP factors and upregulation of growth factors. This senolytic approach could therefore be a promising candidate for further testing as a disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug.
SRSF2 is a key player in orchestrating the directional migration and differentiation of MyoD progenitors during skeletal muscle development
Authors: Sha Rula , Guo Ruochen , Duan Huimin , Peng Qian , Yuan Ningyang , Wang Zhenzhen , Li Zhigang , Xie Zhiqin , You Xue , Feng Ying
Published: April 2024

SRSF2 plays a dual role, functioning both as a transcriptional regulator and a key player in alternative splicing. The absence of SRSF2 in MyoD+ progenitors resulted in perinatal mortality in mice, accompanied by severe skeletal muscle defects. SRSF2 deficiency disrupts the directional migration of MyoD progenitors, causing them to disperse into both muscle and non-muscle regions. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis revealed significant alterations in SRSF2-deficient myoblasts, including a reduction in extracellular matrix components, diminished expression of genes involved in ameboid-type cell migration and cytoskeleton organization, mitosis irregularities, and premature differentiation. Notably, one of the targets regulated by SRSF2 is the serine/threonine kinase Aurka. Knockdown of Aurka led to reduced cell proliferation, disrupted cytoskeleton, and impaired differentiation, reflecting the effects seen with SRSF2 knockdown. Crucially, the introduction of exogenous Aurka in SRSF2-knockdown cells markedly alleviated the differentiation defects caused by SRSF2 knockdown. Furthermore, our research unveiled the role of SRSF2 in controlling alternative splicing within genes associated with human skeletal muscle diseases, such as BIN1, DMPK, FHL1, and LDB3. Specifically, the precise knockdown of the Bin1 exon17-containing variant, which is excluded following SRSF2 depletion, profoundly disrupted C2C12 cell differentiation. In summary, our study offers valuable insights into the role of SRSF2 in governing MyoD progenitors to specific muscle regions, thereby controlling their differentiation through the regulation of targeted genes and alternative splicing during skeletal muscle development.
Exploring the Digital Landscape: A Comprehensive Analysis of Infertility Narratives on Instagram
Authors: Gillellamudi Abhijay , Vellanki Venkata Sujatha , Panjiyar Binay Kumar
Published: April 2024

In the digital age, the prevalence of infertility and the trend of delaying childbearing have significantly influenced fertility choices. Social media, particularly Instagram, has emerged as a vital part of daily life for many, with a notable percentage of American adults engaging daily. Recognizing the impact of online platforms, this cross-sectional observational study, conducted in May 2023, delved into the nature and quality of 673 Instagram posts related to infertility. It aimed to analyze the information and support available to individuals’ navigating infertility, particularly focusing on the posts DISCERN and Global Quality Scores (GQS) to assess their reliability and quality.

The findings reveal that many women derive substantial benefits from their online experiences. Instagram serves as a source of coping mechanisms for the challenges associated with infertility diagnosis and treatment. The platform allows for the sharing of personal feelings and experiences, providing a valued sense of community and support. However, it also presents a risk of spreading misinformation, underscoring the need for careful consideration of content quality.

The study emphasizes the importance of accessible and reliable online resources. It suggests that healthcare professionals should play a more active role in guiding patients to trustworthy information. In conclusion, while social media offers valuable support and unique insights for individuals dealing with infertility, the quality and reliability of the information remain critical concerns. The study advocates for a more informed and conscientious use of these platforms, highlighting the potential for both support and misinformation.
Longitudinal course of inflammatory-cognitive subgroups across first treatment severe mental illness and healthy controls
Authors: Sæther Linn Sofie , Ueland Thor , Haatveit Beathe , Vaskinn Anja , Flaaten Camilla Bärthel , Mohn Christine , Ormerod Monica B. E.G. , Aukrust Pål , Melle Ingrid , Steen Nils Eiel , Andreassen Ole A. , Ueland Torill
Published: April 2024

Background

While inflammation is associated with cognitive impairment in severe mental illnesses (SMI), there is substantial heterogeneity and evidence of transdiagnostic subgroups across schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar (BD) spectrum disorders. There is however, limited knowledge about the longitudinal course of this relationship.

Methods

Systemic inflammation (C-Reactive Protein, CRP) and cognition (nine cognitive domains) was measured from baseline to 1 year follow-up in first treatment SZ and BD (n=221), and healthy controls (HC, n=220). Linear mixed models were used to evaluate longitudinal changes separately in CRP and cognitive domains specific to diagnostic status (SZ, BD, HC). Hierarchical clustering was applied on the entire sample to investigate the longitudinal course of transdiagnostic inflammatory-cognitive subgroups.

Results

There were no case-control differences or change in CRP from baseline to follow-up. We confirm previous observations of case-control differences in cognition at both time-points and domain specific stability/improvement over time regardless of diagnostic status. We identified transdiagnostic inflammatory-cognitive subgroups at baseline with differing demographics and clinical severity. Despite improvement in cognition, symptoms and functioning, the higher inflammation – lower cognition subgroup (75% SZ; 48% BD; 38% HC) had sustained inflammation and lower cognition, more symptoms, and lower functioning (SMI only) at follow-up. This was in comparison to a lower inflammation – higher cognition subgroup (25% SZ, 52% BD, 62% HC), where SMI participants showed cognitive functioning at HC level with a positive clinical course.

Conclusions

Our findings support heterogenous and transdiagnostic inflammatory-cognitive subgroups that are stable over time, and may benefit from targeted interventions.
Correlation between Electrocatalytic Activity and Impedance Shape: A Theoretical Analysis
Authors: Huang Jun
Published: April 2024

Though electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been widely used in mechanistic investigations of electrocatalytic reactions, the correlation between the shape of an EIS diagram and the electrocatalytic activity is largely unclear; the complexity of electrocatalytic reactions in terms of reaction mechanisms and influencing factors casts an air of pessimism over the existence and, if it exists, the stability of such a correlation. Nevertheless, understanding the correlation can help select reaction mechanisms and electrical circuit models in data analysis, use the EIS shape as a descriptor of electrocatalytic activity, and detect side reactions if the measured shapes deviate from the theoretical prediction based on the main reaction. Herein, the problem is tackled by a systematic mathematical analysis of firstly single-adsorbate reactions and then more complicated reactions involving multiple adsorbates. A complete regime diagram of all possible EIS shapes of single-adsorbate reactions is provided, navigating the subsequent analysis in the multidimensional parametric space. For single-adsorbate reactions involving two steps with identical transfer coefficients of 0.5 in the absence of lateral adsorbate interactions, several rigorous remarks on the EIS shape are made. Unfortunately, many of them require modifications when different transfer coefficients and lateral interactions are considered. Nevertheless, several trends in EIS shapes are robust against complexities of reaction mechanisms and variations in reaction parameters, which also receive experimental evidence collected from the literature. The theoretical analysis presented here may trigger interest in finding a correlation between the impedance shape and the electrocatalytic activity across a wide range of reactions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
A sub-100 nm thickness flat jet for extreme ultraviolet to soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy
Authors: De Angelis Dario , Longetti Luca , Bonano Gabriele , Pelli Cresi Jacopo Stefano , Foglia Laura , Pancaldi Matteo , Capotondi Flavio , Pedersoli Emanuele , Bencivenga Filippo , Krstulovic Marija , Menk Ralf Hendrik , D'Addato Sergio , Orlando Stefano , de Simone Monica , Ingle Rebecca A. , Bleiner Davide , Coreno Marcello , Principi Emiliano , Chergui Majed , Masciovecchio Claudio , Mincigrucci Riccardo
Published: April 2024

Experimental characterization of the structural, electronic and dynamic properties of dilute systems in aqueous solvents, such as nanoparticles, molecules and proteins, are nowadays an open challenge. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is probably one of the most established approaches to this aim as it is element-specific. However, typical dilute systems of interest are often composed of light elements that require extreme-ultraviolet to soft X-ray photons. In this spectral regime, water and other solvents are rather opaque, thus demanding radical reduction of the solvent volume and removal of the liquid to minimize background absorption. Here, we present an experimental endstation designed to operate a liquid flat jet of sub-micrometre thickness in a vacuum environment compatible with extreme ultraviolet/soft XAS measurements in transmission geometry. The apparatus developed can be easily connected to synchrotron and free-electron-laser user-facility beamlines dedicated to XAS experiments. The conditions for stable generation and control of the liquid flat jet are analyzed and discussed. Preliminary soft XAS measurements on some test solutions are shown.
Sustainability performance in science and technology parks: how can firms benefit most?
Authors: Forés Beatriz , Fernández-Yáñez José María
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Achieving good sustainability performance requires balancing higher economic profits with better environmental and social performance. Knowledge plays a key role in improving corporate sustainability performance, but this knowledge is becoming increasingly complex, specific and dispersed among many scientific, technological and business actors. Science and technology parks (STPs) are infrastructures designed to host varying types of organizations that can bring together new, disruptive knowledge. Our purpose is to unveil how these spaces can be drivers of sustainability performance for companies.

Design/methodology/approach

We test our hypotheses on a longitudinal database of Spanish companies over the period 2009–2016 using structural equation models (SEMs).

Findings

This research confirms that a firm’s location in an STP helps improve its sustainability performance, provided that conditions are optimal in the STP. These optimal conditions are based on an abundance of knowledge spillovers available to the firm and the firm’s ability to harness them, especially those of a more disruptive nature, through absorptive capacity.

Originality/value

Results of this study yield implications for academia in the form of future lines of research and practical implications for policymakers and managers of both STPs and the organizations that host them.
Transformative social marketing and social innovation for sustainable development through participatory design with economically marginalized users
Authors: Juusola Katariina , Kleber Daniel Marco Stefan , Popat Archana
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The study is positioned at the crossroads of transformative social marketing and social innovation literature through the lens of participatory design (PD). This exploratory study aims to explore how social enterprises in India engage economically marginalized people in transformative social marketing and innovation for sustainable development through PD.

Design/methodology/approach

The study includes a case study with a matched pairs analysis approach. The data analysis reports three themes depicting the role of PD in different stages of the social innovation process (codiscovery, codesign and scaling-up), the challenges faced in the process and the outcomes of the PD process.

Findings

The authors propose that social enterprises can act as sustainable development catalysts for more inclusive sustainable development through their proactive and creative uses of PD. Still, PD also has limitations for addressing the challenges stemming from marginalized contexts, which requires effective social marketing strategies to overcome.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the emerging dialogue on PD with marginalized users and widens the scope of studies on transformative social marketing and innovation. The findings also provide practical insights for PD practitioners on how designers can learn from diverse PD practices in the context of economically marginalized people.
Preliminary study on building practitioners’ compliance behaviour with 7-star house energy ratings in Australia: perceptions of industry experts
Authors: Lu Yi , Karunasena Gayani , Liu Chunlu
Published: April 2024

Purpose

From May 2024, Victoria (Australia) will mandatorily raise the minimum house energy rating standards from 6 to 7 stars. However, the latest data shows that only 5.73% of new Victorian houses were designed beyond 7-star. While previous literature indicates the issue’s link to the compliance behaviour of building practitioners in the design phase, the underlying behavioural determinants are rarely explored. This study thus preliminarily examines building practitioners’ compliance behaviour with 7-star Australian house energy ratings and beyond.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a widely-applied method to initially examine an under-explored phenomenon, eight expert interviews were conducted with building practitioners, a state-level industry regulator and a leading national building energy policy researcher. The study triangulated the data with government-led research reports.

Findings

The experts indicate that most building practitioners involved in mainstream volume projects do not go for 7 stars, mainly due to perceived compliance costs and reliance on standardized designs. In contrast, those who work on custom projects are more willing to go beyond 7-star mostly due to the moral norms for a low-carbon environment. The experts further agree that four behavioural determinants (attitudes towards compliance, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and personal norms) co-shape building practitioners’ compliance behaviour. Interventions targeting these behavioural determinants are recommended for achieving 7 stars and beyond.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the behavioural determinants that influence building practitioners’ compliance decisions, and offers insight regarding how far they will go to meet 7 stars. It can facilitate the transition to 7 stars by informing policymakers of customized interventions to trigger behaviour change.
Restoring that which has never been: Hmong millenarianism and the reinvention of tradition
Authors: Hickman Jacob R.
Published: April 2024

While change and flexibility in ritual practices and traditions have been in some sense constitutive elements of Hmong religion, the religious landscape of the contemporary Hmong diaspora is marked by dramatic changes of an altogether new scale. These include the proliferation of a wide range of competing millenarian movements. Leaders of these movements vie for recognition by casting traditional Hmong ritual practice in a way that allows them to convey their ritual innovations as more authentic than traditional religious forms, underwritten by a genuine mandate of heaven. This requires religious activists to decouple the indexical relationship between traditional ritual and its objects (ancestors and a prosperous future) in order to forge new semiotic relationships between new ritual canons, orthographies, and the future of Hmong society. Hmong millenarian activism challenges conventional notions of ‘conversion’ and ‘proselytizing’, both because the intended audience is limited to fellow Hmong, and because the suasive practices in which these activists engage are actively trying to rework semiotic connections within a broadly shared Hmong matrix of meaning.
The impact of ability‐, motivation‐ and opportunity‐enhancing HR sub‐bundles on employee wellbeing: An examination of nonlinearities and occupational differences in skill levels
Authors: Lai Yanqing , Lin Cai‐Hui (Vernoica) , Saridakis George , Georgellis Yannis
Published: April 2024

Existing research examines the impact of human resource (HR) practices on employee wellbeing by considering each practice in isolation or multiple practices as a bundle, focusing on linear associations. Drawing on the too‐much‐of‐a‐good‐thing (TMGT) meta‐theory, we examine possible nonlinear effects of Ability‐Motivation‐Opportunity (AMO) sub‐bundles on job satisfaction and job stress. We, also, examine boundary conditions on whether and how the nature of the identified curvilinear associations varies across employees in high‐, medium‐, and low‐skilled occupations. Using data from the Workplace Employment Relations Study (WERS2011), we uncover an inverse U‐shaped association between motivation‐enhancing (ME) practices and job satisfaction and a U‐shaped association between opportunity‐enhancing (OE) practices and job stress. No evidence of a curvilinear ability‐enhancing (AE) practices‐wellbeing association emerges. Additionally, occupational differences in skills levels moderate the curvilinear ME practices‐stress association. Likewise, occupational skills differences moderate the associations between OE practices and job satisfaction, and work stress. There is no suggestion that occupational differences moderate the AE practices‐wellbeing association. These findings underline the contingent nature of the TMGT effect and call for a more nuanced investigation of the HR‐wellbeing association.
Employee Characteristics and Corporate Risk‐Taking: Focusing on Tenure
Authors: Cho Hyungjin , Choi Sera , Kwon Dae‐Hyun
Published: April 2024

This study investigates whether employee characteristics are associated with corporate risk‐taking activities. The analysis shows that employee tenure is negatively associated with corporate risk‐taking. This association remains robust to the instrumental variable approach and propensity score matching method. Furthermore, the negative relation between employee tenure and corporate risk is stronger for firms offering lower wages and for more labor‐intensive firms. Overall, this study highlights the importance of considering the interaction between managers and stakeholders such as employees when understanding corporate risk‐taking.
Editorial: Recompensation in PBC is good. But is it good enough?
Authors: Verhelst Xavier
Published: April 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Hofer et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17908 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17966
Letter: The emerging role of novel capsule endoscopy systems in gastroenterology with specific reference to small bowel Crohn's disease
Authors: Nedumannil Leya , Mohamedrashed Mustafa , Bohra Anuj , Sood Siddharth , Lewis Diana
Published: April 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Thwaites et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17944 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17970
Editorial: Diagnosis of GERD in patients with extra‐oesophageal symptoms–still a long way to go…
Authors: Roman Sabine , Mion François
Published: April 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Calabrese et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17934 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17960
Postpartum care for parent–infant dyads: A community midwifery model
Authors: Thompson‐Lastad Ariana , Harrison Jessica M. , Taiwo Tanya Khemet , Williams Chanda , Parimi Mounika , Wilborn Briana , Chao Maria T.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Postpartum health is in crisis in the United States, with rising pregnancy‐related mortality and worsening racial inequities. The World Health Organization recommends four postpartum visits during the 6 weeks after childbirth, yet standard postpartum care in the United States is generally one visit 6 weeks after birth. We present community midwifery postpartum care in the United States as a model concordant with World Health Organization guidelines, describing this model of care and its potential to improve postpartum health for birthing people and babies.

Methods

We conducted semi‐structured interviews with 34 community midwives providing care in birth centers and home settings in Oregon and California. A multidisciplinary team analyzed data using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

A total of 24 participants were Certified Professional Midwives; 10 were certified nurse‐midwives. A total of 14 midwives identified as people of color. Most spoke multiple languages. We describe six key elements of the community midwifery model of postpartum care: (1) multiple visits, including home visits; typically five to eight over six weeks postpartum; (2) care for the parent–infant dyad; (3) continuity of personalized care; (4) relationship‐centered care; (5) planning and preparation for postpartum; and (6) focus on postpartum rest.

Conclusion

The community midwifery model of postpartum care is a guideline‐concordant approach to caring for the parent–infant dyad and may address rising pregnancy‐related morbidity and mortality in the United States.
The rural side of the rainbow: Mental health and the intersections of geography, sexuality, and partnership
Authors: Stackhouse Matthew
Published: April 2024

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) persons tend to be geographically concentrated in larger metropolitan areas and research persistently observes LGB persons as a disadvantaged population for mental health outcomes when compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Conflicting evidence suggests that mental health risk exposures are greater for LGB people in rural spaces while other research posits that urban residency is more detrimental for LGB mental health. One positively contributing factor to the mental well‐being of LGB persons is their partnership status. To date, no study estimates how partnership may ameliorate unfavourable mental health outcomes for LGB populations in urban and rural areas. Using 10 years of pooled data from the nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), this study examines mental health and the intersection of sexuality, geographic residency, and partnership. Logistic regression models estimate the intersections of sexuality, geography, and partnership status on mental health, stratified by respondents’ gender. Findings show partnered gay men in rural areas experiencing better mental health than their partnered heterosexual counterparts in the largest urban cities. Although not significant, the same pattern is observed for partnered lesbian women who do not experience a significant mental health disadvantage at any geographic level. Regardless of partnership and geographic space, bisexual men, and especially bisexual women, exhibit worse mental health outcomes compared to their heterosexual counterparts.
Cardiovascular outcomes in solid organ transplant recipients undergoing cardiac surgery: A matched pair analysis
Authors: Kim Kitae , Jung Sung‐Ho , Kim Hong Rae , Yoo Jae Suk , Kim Joon Bum , Chung Cheol Hyun
Published: April 2024

Introduction

This study aimed to compare postoperative outcomes after cardiac surgery in solid‐organ transplant recipients and nontransplant patients.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 78 consecutive transplant recipients who underwent cardiac surgery at Asan Medical Center between 2000 and 2022 and were matched with 312 nontransplant patients who underwent cardiac surgery at a 1:4 ratio. The outcomes included 30‐day mortality, all‐cause death, cardiac death, readmission, and cardiac readmission.

Results

There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups. The most common type of cardiac surgery performed in solid organ transplant recipients was isolated valve surgery, followed by isolated CABG. The 30‐day mortality was not significantly different between transplant recipients and nontransplant patients (3.9% vs. 3.5%;P > .99). Solid organ transplant recipients showed a higher all‐cause mortality compared to nontransplant patients (29.1% vs. 14.3% at 5 years;P = .001); however, there was no significant difference in cardiac death between the two groups (2.6% vs. 3.2% at 5 years;P = .80). In addition, the readmission and cardiac readmission rates showed comparable findings to that of mortality.

Conclusion

Cardiac surgery can be performed safely in solid organ transplant recipients, with postoperative cardiovascular outcomes comparable to those observed in nontransplant patients.
Roadside disturbance promotes plant communities with arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in mountain regions worldwide
Authors: Clavel Jan , Lembrechts Jonas J. , Lenoir Jonathan , Haider Sylvia , McDougall Keith , Nuñez Martin A. , Alexander Jake , Barros Agustina , Milbau Ann , Seipel Tim , Pauchard Anibal , Fuentes‐Lillo Eduardo , Ratier Backes Amanda , Dar Pervaiz , Reshi Zafar A. , Aleksanyan Alla , Zong Shengwei , Arevalo Sierra José Ramón , Aschero Valeria , Verbruggen Erik , Nijs Ivan
Published: April 2024

We assessed the impact of road disturbances on the dominant mycorrhizal types in ecosystems at the global level and how this mechanism can potentially lead to lasting plant community changes. We used a database of coordinated plant community surveys following mountain roads from 894 plots in 11 mountain regions across the globe in combination with an existing database of mycorrhizal–plant associations in order to approximate the relative abundance of mycorrhizal types in natural and disturbed environments. Our findings show that roadside disturbance promotes the cover of plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. This effect is especially strong in colder mountain environments and in mountain regions where plant communities are dominated by ectomycorrhizal (EcM) or ericoid‐mycorrhizal (ErM) associations. Furthermore, non‐native plant species, which we confirmed to be mostly AM plants, are more successful in environments dominated by AM associations. These biogeographical patterns suggest that changes in mycorrhizal types could be a crucial factor in the worldwide impact of anthropogenic disturbances on mountain ecosystems. Indeed, roadsides foster AM‐dominated systems, where AM‐fungi might aid AM‐associated plant species while potentially reducing the biotic resistance against invasive non‐native species, often also associated with AM networks. Restoration efforts in mountain ecosystems will have to contend with changes in the fundamental make‐up of EcM‐ and ErM plant communities induced by roadside disturbance.
Principles of experimental design for ecology and evolution
Authors: Marshall Dustin J.
Published: April 2024

Good experimental design is critical for sound empirical ecology and evolution. However, many contemporary studies fail to replicate at the appropriate biological or organizational level, so causal inference might have less vigorous support than often assumed. Here, I provide a guide for how to identify the appropriate scale of replication for a range of common experimental designs in ecological and evolutionary studies. I discuss the merits of replicating multiple scales of biological organization. I suggest that experimental design be discussed in terms of the scale of replication relative to the scale at which inferences are sought when designing, discussing and reviewing experiments in ecology and evolution. I also suggest that more conversations about experimental design are needed, and I hope this piece stimulates such conversation.
Cross‐reactivity among and between macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramins: Study on the French pharmacovigilance database
Authors: Le Baron Quentin , Bourneau‐Martin Delphine , Babin Marina , Gouraud Aurore , Tauber Marie , Fresse Audrey , Lebrun‐Vignes Bénédicte , Delaunay Juliette , Morisset Martine , Briet Marie
Published: April 2024

Background

Hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) are reported for the macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramins (MLS) antibiotic family. Data about cross‐reactivity among and between MLS remain scarce or controversial.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to provide an overview of hypersensitivity cross‐reactions among MLSs based on data extracted from the French National Pharmacovigilance Database (FPVD).

Methods

Cases of HSR to MLSs reported between January 1985 and December 2019 were extracted from the FPVD using standardized MedDRA queries (SMQ). Cases including an allergological test involving multiple MLSs and giving at least one positive result were included.

Results

Of the 8394 cases reviewed, 149 were included. HSR mainly involved pristinamycin (n = 83; 53.2%) and spiramycin (n = 31; 19.9%). HSR to MLS was immediate in 54 cases and delayed in 94 cases. Skin tests represented the majority of the allergological tests performed (n = 728; 84.7%), followed by reintroduction tests (n = 79; 9.2%). Eighty‐six cross‐reactivities among MLS were identified in 62 cases (41.6%). All the 25 explorations performed for streptogramins showed cross‐reactivities, but only 30/253 among macrolides (11.9%). Cross‐reactivities between the three MLS were observed in 31/322 (9.6%) of the allergological explorations.

Conclusion

This study highlights the possibility of cross‐reactivity among and between MLSs. Dermatologists and allergologists managing patients with HSR to MLSs should be aware of a risk of cross‐reactivity among the macrolides and between the different classes of MLS and to perform MLSs allergological testing before recommending an alternative antibiotic, especially in severe drug hypersensitivity from the MLS family.
Efficient isolation and characterization of functional melanin from various plant sources
Authors: Aghajanyan Armen E. , Hambardzumyan Artur A. , Minasyan Ela V. , Hovhannisyan Gayane J. , Yeghiyan Karine I. , Soghomonyan Tigran M. , Avetisyan Sona V. , Sakanyan Vehary A. , Tsaturyan Avetis H.
Published: April 2024

In recent years, natural pigments in living organisms have attracted increased interest as an excellent biological material for the development of new biotechnological approaches. Melanin, a large polymeric pigment, has important functions in cells, including free radical scavenging and radiation protection, making this molecule attractive for medical and nutritional purposes. The variety of forms of melanin in organisms requires the use of various approaches to its purification. In this study, we have developed a simple yet unique and effective method for extracting melanin from six plant sources. The melanin yield was in the range of 6.7–21.5% for the plant sources used. The advantage of using grape skin waste as a raw material is shown, which is of great importance for obtaining cheap and functional melanin. The activity of purified melanin in scavenging 2, 2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical is IC50 3.2–99.0 mg L−1. This remarkable feature highlights the attractiveness of grape melanin for further use as a natural antioxidant in medicine. The ability of grape melanin to adsorb heavy metal ions highlights its attractiveness for the food industry and for the development of other biotechnological applications. Smoke, after passing through a cigarette filter charged with melanin, is significantly enriched with reducing agents, which is a phenomenon for the health of smokers.
Construction and parameter calibration of potato double‐layer flexible bonding model based on discrete‐element method
Authors: Gai Xiuzhi , Xie Shengshi , Deng Weigang , Lu Kailiang , Ji Xinjie
Published: April 2024

The current discrete‐element simulation models for potatoes are multisphere polymer models derived from the Hertz–Mindlin (no slip) contact model in the discrete‐element simulation software (EDEM). These models oversimplify by considering potato peel and flesh as sharing identical mechanical properties within the structure. This oversimplification impedes a thorough investigation of the characteristics and mechanisms underlying potato peel‐breaking damage during mechanized harvesting, making in‐depth exploration challenging through simulation experiments. Consequently, this study conducted laboratory tests to determine the water content of potato peel and flesh, as well as the friction coefficients and collision recovery coefficients for various material pairs: flesh–steel, peel–steel, peel–peel, peel–flesh, and flesh–flesh. Subsequently, based on these findings, a double‐layer flexible bonding model for potato samples and whole stems under specific water content conditions was developed using EDEM software. The bonding parameters of the double‐layer flexible model for potato samples were refined through virtual shear calibration tests, leading to the identification of the optimal parameter combination: Flesh particle–flesh particle normal stiffness(tangential stiffness) per unit area X1 = 4.39 × 108 N/m3, peel particle–flesh particle normal stiffness(shear stiffness) per unit area X3 = 1.81 × 109 N/m3, peel particle–peel particle shear stiffness per unit area X6 = 1.99 × 109 N/m3, peel particle–peel particle critical normal stress X7 = 2.06 × 109 Pa. To validate the accuracy of the bonding parameters, shear and compression validation tests were conducted on entire potato stems. Comparison of the validation results from laboratory tests and simulation tests revealed an average relative error of e = 3.25%, signifying the feasibility of the constructed double‐layer flexible bond model for potatoes. This model meets the requirements for studying the characteristics and mechanisms of peel‐breaking damage in potatoes.

Practical Applications

The paper introduces a novel double‐layer flexible bonding model for potatoes using the discrete‐element method (DEM), which accurately simulates the mechanical properties and damage characteristics of potato peels and flesh. This research has significant practical applications in agricultural machinery design, improving the efficiency and reducing the damage during mechanical harvesting. By providing a more realistic simulation of potato behavior under mechanical stress, it can guide the development of gentler handling equipment, reduce waste, and enhance the quality of harvested potatoes. This contributes to optimizing the post‐harvest process, ensuring better storage, and extending the marketable life of potatoes.
Do goals of care documentation reflect the conversation?: Evaluating conversation‐documentation accuracy
Authors: Ma Jessica E. , Schlichte Lindsay , Haverfield Marie , Gambino Julia , Lange Allison , Blanchard Kelly , Morgan Brianne , Bekelman David B.
Published: April 2024

Background

Documenting goals of care in the electronic health record is meant to relay patient preferences to other clinicians. Evaluating the content and documentation of nurse and social worker led goals of care conversations can inform future goals of care initiative efforts.

Methods

As part of the ADvancing symptom Alleviation with Palliative Treatment trial, this study analyzed goals of care conversations led by nurses and social workers and documented in the electronic health record. Informed by a goals of care communication guide, we identified five goals of care components: illness understanding, goals and values, end of life planning, surrogate, and advance directives. Forty conversation transcripts underwent content analysis. Through an iterative team process, we defined documentation accuracy as four categories: (1) Complete—comprehensive accurate documentation of the conversation, (2) Incomplete—partial documentation of the conversation, (3) Missing—discussed and not documented, and (4) Incorrect—misrepresented in documentation. We also defined—Not Discussed—for communication guide questions that were not discussed nor documented. A constant comparative approach was used to determine the presence or absence of conversation content in the documentation.

Results

All five goals of care components were discussed in 67% (27/40) of conversation transcripts. Compared to the transcripts, surrogate (37/40, 93%) and advance directives (36/40, 90%) were often documented completely. Almost 40% of goals and values (15/40, 38%) and half of end of life planning (19/40, 48%) were incomplete. Illness understanding was missing (13/40, 33%), not discussed (13/40, 33%), or incorrect (2/40, 5%).

Conclusion

Nurse and social worker led goals of care conversations discussed and documented most components of the goals of care communication guide. Further research may guide how best to determine the relative importance of accuracy, especially in the broad setting of incomplete, missing, and incorrect EHR documentation.