bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prior experience with behavioral control over stress facilitates social dominance
Authors: Coleman Philip T. , Costanza-Chavez Gabriel W. , Martin Heather N. , Amat Jose , Frank Matthew G. , Sanchez Rory J. , Potter Garrett J. , Mellert Simone M. , Carter Rene K. , Bonnici Gianni N. , Maier Steven F. , Baratta Michael V.
Published: June 2023

Dominance status has extensive effects on physical and mental health, and an individual’s relative position can be shaped by experiential factors. A variety of considerations suggest that the experience of behavioral control over stressors should produce winning in dominance tests and that winning should blunt the impact of later stressors, as does prior control. To investigate the interplay between competitive success and stressor control, we first examined the impact of stressor controllability on subsequent performance in a warm spot competition test modified for rats. Prior experience of controllable, but not physically identical uncontrollable, stress increased later effortful behavior and occupation of the warm spot. Controllable stress subjects consistently ranked higher than did uncontrollable stress subjects. Pharmacological inactivation of the prelimbic (PL) cortex during behavioral control prevented later facilitation of dominance. Next, we explored whether repeated winning experiences produced later resistance against the typical sequelae of uncontrollable stress. To establish dominance status, triads of rats were given five sessions of warm spot competition. Reversible inactivation of the PL or NMDA receptor blockade in the dorsomedial striatum led to a long-term reduction in social rank. Stable dominance blunted the later stress-induced increase in dorsal raphe nucleus serotonergic activity, as well as prevented stress-induced social avoidance. In contrast, endocrine and neuroimmune responses to uncontrollable stress were unaffected, indicating a selective impact of prior dominance. Together, these data demonstrate that instrumental control over stress promotes later dominance, but also reveal that winning experiences buffer against the neural and behavioral outcomes of future adversity.
In silicoandin vitrocharacterization of the mycobacterial protein Ku to unravel its role in non-homologous end-joining DNA repair
Authors: Baral Joydeep , Bhattacharje Gourab , Dash Sagarika , Samanta Dibyendu , Hinde Elizabeth , Rouiller Isabelle , Das Amit Kumar
Published: June 2023

Non-homologous end-joining DNA repair is essential for the survival and sustenance ofM. tuberculosis(Mtb) in the dormant stage of its life cycle. The ability of Mtb to sustain itself in the inactive form has been reported to be the critical factor for its resilience over the years. To unravel one of the salient features of the Mtb’s arsenal, we exploitedin silicoandin vitrotools to characterize the DNA binding properties of mycobacterial protein Ku (mKu) and its role in mycobacterial NHEJ. Here, we report the strong affinity of mKu for linear dsDNA exhibiting positive cooperativity for dsDNAs (ζ40bp). Molecular dynamics complemented within vitroexperiments showed that the DNA binding of mKu provides stability to both mKu homodimer and the DNA. Furthermore, mKu end-capping of DNA was seen to protect the DNA termini against nucleolytic degradation by exonuclease. The DNA-mKu association formed higher-order oligomers probably due to the lodgement of two DNA molecules at opposite ends of the mKu homodimer. The ability of mKu to form continuous filament-like structures with DNA indicated its potential role in mycobacterial NHEJ synapsis.
The intra-individual reliability of1H-MRS measurement in the anterior cingulate cortex across one year
Authors: Wang Meng-Yun , Korbmacher Max , Eikeland Rune , Craven Alexander R. , Specht Karsten
Published: June 2023

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is the primary method that can measure the levels of metabolites in the brain in vivo. To achieve its potential in clinical usage, the reliability of the measurement requires further articulation. Although there are many studies that investigate the reliability of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), comparatively few studies have investigated the reliability of other brain metabolites, such as glutamate (Glu), N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), phosphocreatine (PCr), or myo-inositol (mI), which all play a significant role in brain development and functions. In addition, previous studies which predominately used only two measurements (two datapoints) failed to provide the details of the time effect (e.g., time-of-day) on MRS measurement within subjects. Therefore, in this study, MRS data located in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were repeatedly recorded across one year leading to at least 25 sessions for each subject with the aim of exploring the variability of other metabolites by using the index coefficient of variability (CV); the smaller the CV, the more reliable the measurements. We found that the metabolites of NAA, tNAA, and tCr showed the smallest CVs (between 1.61 and 4.90 %), and the metabolites of Glu, Glx, mI, and tCho showed modest CVs (between 4.26 and 7.89 %). Furthermore, we found that the concentration reference of the ratio to water with tissue correction results in smaller CVs compared to the ratio to tCr. In addition, we did not find any time-of-day effect on the MRS measurements. Collectively, the results of this study indicate that the MRS measurement is reasonably reliable in quantifying the levels of metabolites.

Key points

The MRS measurement is reliable within subject.

The ratio to water provides more reliable results compared to the ratio to tCr.

The ratio to water is recommended as the internal concentration reference.
Glucose Hypometabolism Prompts RAN Translation and Exacerbates C9orf72-related ALS/FTD Phenotypes
Authors: Nelson A.T. , Cicardi M.E. , Markandaiah S.S. , Han J. , Philp N. , Welebob E. , Haeusler A.R. , Pasinelli P. , Manfredi G. , Kawamata H. , Trotti D.
Published: June 2023

The most prevalent genetic cause of both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia is a (GGGGCC)nnucleotide repeat expansion (NRE) occurring in the first intron of theC9orf72gene (C9). Brain glucose hypometabolism is consistently observed in C9-NRE carriers, even at pre-symptomatic stages, although its potential role in disease pathogenesis is unknown. Here, we identified alterations in glucose metabolic pathways and ATP levels in the brain of asymptomatic C9-BAC mice. We found that, through activation of the GCN2 kinase, glucose hypometabolism drives the production of dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), impairs the survival of C9 patient-derived neurons, and triggers motor dysfunction in C9-BAC mice. We also found that one of the arginine-rich DPRs (PR) can directly contribute to glucose metabolism and metabolic stress. These findings provide a mechanistic link between energy imbalances and C9-ALS/FTD pathogenesis and support a feedforward loop model that opens several opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
Aripiprazole once monthly as a maintenance treatment for patients with schizophrenia and alcohol/substance use disorder: an observational, real-world study
Authors: Chiappini Stefania , Mosca Alessio , Miuli Andrea , Di Carlo Francesco , d'Andrea Giacomo , Napolitano Alessandra , Santangelo Monica , Esposito Corradina , Rosazza Anna , Haefele Elena , Di Petta Gilberto , Pettorruso Mauro , Sensi Stefano L. , Martinotti Giovanni
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the role of aripiprazole once monthly as a maintenance treatment in a sample of patients with schizophrenia comorbid with alcohol and substance use disorder (AUD/SUD).

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 24 Italian adult patients has been recruited and treated with aripiprazole once monthly after clinical stabilization with oral aripiprazole during May 2021 and June 2022. Clinical evaluations have been performed at the baseline (T0) and after 12 (T1) and 24 (T2) weeks.

Findings

During the study period, an improvement of both the clinical condition and general health from baseline was observed, as well as a reduction of craving for alcohol/substances. However, from T0, the number of patients who continued with this study decreased at T1 (n = 8) and then at T2 (n = 4). No serious adverse events were reported, including changes in weight, lipid/glucose metabolism, electrocardiogram and extra-pyramidal side effects.

Originality/value

Although limited by the high number of drop outs, this observational real-world study provided insights into the use of aripiprazole once monthly among a sample of patients with schizophrenia and comorbid SUD/AUD. Further studies of longer duration and on a larger sample are needed.
A multi-level modeling approach for predicting real-estate dynamics
Authors: Gude Vinayaka
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This research developed a model to understand and predict housing market dynamics and evaluate the significance of house permits data in the model’s forecasting capability.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses a multilevel algorithm consisting of a machine-learning regression model to predict the independent variables and another regressor to predict the dependent variable using the forecasted independent variables.

Findings

The research establishes a statistically significant relationship between housing permits and house prices. The novel approach discussed in this paper has significantly higher prediction capabilities than a traditional regression model in forecasting monthly average prices (R-squared value: 0.5993), house price index prices (R-squared value: 0.99) and house sales prices (R-squared value: 0.7839).

Research limitations/implications

The impact of supply, demand and socioeconomic factors will differ in various regions. The forecasting capability and significance of the independent variables can vary, but the methodology can still be applicable when provided with the considered variables in the model.

Practical implications

The resulting model is helpful in the decision-making process for investments, house purchases and construction as the housing demand increases across various cities. The methodology can benefit multiple players, including the government, real estate investors, homebuyers and construction companies.

Originality/value

Existing algorithms and models do not consider the number of new house constructions, monthly sales and inventory in the real estate market, especially in the United States. This research aims to address these shortcomings using current socioeconomic indicators, permits, monthly real estate data and population information to predict house prices and inventory.
Uncovering the gamified customer experience in the retail environment
Authors: Disse Isabel Kittyma , Olsson Marcus
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Retailers increasingly are using gamification to make the customer experience (CX) more exciting and encourage favourable customer outcomes. This paper aims to conceptualise the gamified customer experience (GCX), including relevant affordances, and investigate its effects on key customer outcomes, as well as its influential factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a qualitative interview study with retail customers and gamification experts, plus a scenario-based experiment to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Five distinct affordances induced by game elements in retail have led to a more exciting CX. The connections between these affordances and the holistic CX have led to a GCX that influences customer engagement, satisfaction and brand attitude. This effect is dependent on different factors, e.g. retail brand personality, customers' shopping motivation and fear of manipulation.

Originality/value

This study contributes to retail research by conceptualising the GCX phenomenon and providing a summary of relevant affordances. It further provides insights into the GCX's effects on customer outcomes and influential factors, some of which have been ignored in previous research.
Drivers and consequences of strategic leader indecision: an exploratory study in a complex case
Authors: Motloung Musa , Lew Charlene
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The research explores indecision of strategic leaders in a complex case organization. This research offers new insights into the drivers of indecision of upper echelons decision-makers and explores the perceived consequences of the decision-makers' indecision.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a review of literature on upper echelons theory and strategic decision-making, indecision and the antecedents and consequences of indecision, the research follows a qualitative exploratory design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 20 upper echelons decision-makers with responsibility across 19 Sub-Saharan African countries in a case company. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The findings reveal that specific organizational, interpersonal and personal factors work together to drive strategic leader indecision in a complex organization. Strategic leader indecision brings about several negative organizational consequences and demotivates team members.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based on a single-case exploratory design but represent geographical diversity.

Practical implications

The research cautions organizations to deal with the drivers of strategic leader indecision to help avoid potential negative consequences of stifled organizational performance and team demotivation.

Originality/value

The study offers previously unknown insights into strategic leader indecision. This study builds on current literature on the antecedents and consequences of indecision and has a new research setting of strategic leader indecision in a complex organization.
Additive manufacturing of Inconel-625: from powder production to bulk samples printing
Authors: Ur Rehman Asif , Karakas Burak , Mahmood Muhammad Arif , Başaran Berkan , Ur Rehman Rashid , Kirac Mertcan , Khraisheh Marwan , Salamci Metin Uymaz , Ünal Rahmi
Published: June 2023

Purpose

For metal additive manufacturing, metallic powders are usually produced by vacuum induction gas atomization (VIGA) through the breakup of liquid metal into tiny droplets by gas jets. VIGA is considered a cost-effective technique to prepare feedstock. In VIGA, the quality and the morphology of the produced particles are mainly controlled by the gas pressure used during powder production, keeping the setup configuration constant.

Design/methodology/approach

In VIGA process for metallic additive manufacturing feedstock preparation, the quality and morphology of the powder particles are mainly controlled by the gas pressure used during powder production.

Findings

In this study, Inconel-625 feedstock was produced using a supersonic nozzle in a close-coupled gas atomization apparatus. Powder size distribution (PSD) was studied by varying the gas pressure.

Originality/value

The nonmonotonic but deterministic relationships were observed between gas pressure and PSD. It was found that the maximum 15–45 µm percentage PSD, equivalent to 84%, was achieved at 29 bar Argon gas pressure, which is suitable for the LPBF process. Following on, the produced powder particles were used to print tensile test specimens via LPBF along XY- and ZX-orientations by using laser power = 475 W, laser scanning speed = 800 mm/s, powder layer thickness = 50 µm and hatch distance = 100 µm. The yield and tensile strengths were 9.45% and 13% higher than the ZX direction, while the samples printed in ZX direction resulted in 26.79% more elongation compared to XY-orientation.
Exploring the relationship between digital trails of social signals and bitcoin returns
Authors: Yelkenci Tezer , Dobrucalı Yelkenci Birce , Vardar Gülin , Aydoğan Berna
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to empirically investigate the linkages between digital trails of social signals (content and profile features of bitcoin-related tweets) and bitcoin price return using a VAR-BEKK-GARCH model.

Design/methodology/approach

Bitcoin-related tweets were collected every hour for six months from September 1, 2020, to February 29, 2021. The analysis involved two steps: first, examining tweet content, profiles, sentiment and emotions; and second, investigating the relationship between social signal volatility and hourly bitcoin price return.

Findings

Results indicate that bitcoin price changes can impact the sentiment expressed in tweets about bitcoin, and vice versa. While sadness exhibits a bidirectional volatility spillover with bitcoin, fear and anger display a one-period lag. Quartile analyses reveal that only fear in the second quartile shows a bidirectional spillover effect with bitcoin, while all other emotions except sadness demonstrate a unidirectional spillover effect in all remaining quartiles.

Originality/value

The study uses a novel two-step approach to analyze volatility spillovers between social signals and bitcoin price returns. Findings can guide investors and portfolio managers in making better allocation decisions and assist policymakers and regulators in reducing the adverse effects of bitcoin’s volatility on financial system stability.
Simultaneous random noise attenuation and three‐dimensional seismic‐data interpolation with faster adaptive rank reduction
Authors: Wang Jianhua , Wang Yandong , Niu Cong , Sun Wenbo
Published: June 2023

Rank‐reduction‐based simultaneous random noise attenuation and three‐dimensional seismic‐data interpolation has recently become a hot topic in reflection seismology. However, the rank of traditional methods is fixed without considering the variation of signal‐to‐noise ratio on different frequency components, leading to serious residual noise and further affecting the following processing and interpretation tasks. In addition, traditional methods also heavily rely on the application of singular value decomposition technique for rank reduction, which is proven to be computationally expensive for large‐scale data. Thus, a fast‐adaptive rank‐reduction method is proposed in this study. First, the information entropy theory is introduced to adaptively select the optimal rank at various frequencies by calculating the increment of singular entropy. Second, we propose a fast Random Block Krylov algorithm and a subspace multiplexing technique to replace the singular value decomposition algorithm used in traditional methods. The proposed method can significantly improve computational efficiency and yield better seismic‐data reconstruction performance than traditional methods. Applications of the proposed approach on both synthetic and field seismic data demonstrate its superior performance over a well‐known rank‐reduction‐based method, that is the random multi‐channel singular spectrum analysis, in terms of recovered signal‐to‐noise ratio and visual view.
A meta‐analysis reveals that dragonflies and damselflies can provide effective biological control of mosquitoes
Authors: Priyadarshana Tharaka S. , Slade Eleanor M.
Published: June 2023

Dragonfly/damselfly naiads have the potential to control mosquitoes, and indirectly the diseases they carry, due to their extensive predation on mosquito larvae. Experimental studies have measured the effectiveness of individual dragonfly/damselfly naiads in controlling mosquitoes by introducing them to mosquito larvae and counting the number of larvae eaten in a given time period (i.e. predation success).

Without a quantitative synthesis, however, such individual measures are unable to provide a generalized estimation about the effectiveness of dragonflies/damselflies as biological mosquito control agents. To achieve this, we assembled a database containing 485 effect sizes across 31 studies on predation successes of 47 species of commonly found dragonfly/damselfly naiads on nine species of mosquito larvae belonging toAedes,AnophelesandCulex. These studies covered 14 countries across Asia, Africa and South and North America, where mosquitoes are the vectors of Chikungunya, Dengue, Japanese encephalitis, Lymphatic filariasis, Malaria, Rift Valley fever, West Nile fever, Yellow fever and Zika.

Using this database, we conducted a meta‐analysis to estimate the average predation success per day by a single individual dragonfly/damselfly naiad on these mosquito larvae as a generalized measure of the effectiveness of dragonflies/damselflies for mosquito control. We also built an interaction network for predator‐dragonflies/damselflies and prey‐mosquitoes and the diseases they vector to understand the functioning of this important predator‐prey network.

Our results showed that mosquito larvae were significantly reduced through predation by dragonfly/damselfly naiads. Within experimental containers, a single individual dragonfly/damselfly naiad can eat on average 40 (95% confidence intervals [CIs] = 20, 60) mosquito larvae per day, equivalent to a reduction of the mosquito larval population by 45% (95% CIs = 30%, 59%) per day. The average predation success did not significantly vary amongAedes,AnophelesandCulexmosquitoes or among the four (I–IV) mosquito larval stages.

These results provide strong evidence that dragonflies/damselflies can be effective biological control agents of mosquitoes, and environmental planning to promote them could lower the risk of spreading mosquito‐borne diseases in an environmentally friendly and cost‐effective manner.
The implications of seasonal climatic effects for managing disturbance dependent populations under a changing climate
Authors: Hindle Bethan J. , Quintana‐Ascencio Pedro F. , Menges Eric S. , Childs Dylan Z.
Published: June 2023

The frequency of ecological disturbances, such as fires, is changing due to changing land use and climatic conditions. Disturbance‐adapted species may thus require the manipulation of disturbance regimes to persist.

However, the effects of changes in other abiotic factors, such as climatic conditions, are frequently disregarded in studies of such systems. Where climatic effects are included, relatively simple approaches that disregard seasonal variation in the effects are typically used.

We compare predictions of population persistence using different fire return intervals (FRIs) under recent and predicted future climatic conditions for the rare fire‐dependent herb Eryngium cuneifolium. We used functional linear models (FLMs) to estimate the cumulative effect of climatic variables across the annual cycle, allowing the strength and direction of the climatic impacts to differ over the year. We then estimated extinction probabilities and minimum population sizes under past and forecasted future climatic conditions and a range of FRIs.

Under forecasted climate change, E. cuneifolium is predicted to persist under a much broader range of FRIs, because increasing temperatures are associated with faster individual growth. Climatic impacts on fecundity do not result in a temporal trend in this vital rate due to antagonistic seasonal effects operating through winter and summer temperatures. These antagonistic seasonal climatic effects highlight the importance of capturing the seasonal dependence of climatic effects when forecasting their future fate.

Synthesis. Awareness of the potential effects of climate change on disturbance‐adapted species is necessary for developing suitable management strategies for future environmental conditions. However, our results suggest that widely used simple methods for modelling climate impacts, that disregard seasonality in such effects, may produce misleading inferences.
Determinants of stillbirths in sub‐Saharan Africa: A systematic review
Authors: Mukherjee Ankita , Di Stefano Lydia , Blencowe Hannah , Mee Paul
Published: June 2023

Background

Sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries have high stillbirth rates compared with high‐income countries, yet research on risk factors for stillbirth in SSA remain scant.

Objectives

To identify the modifiable risk factors of stillbirths in SSA and investigate their strength of association using a systematic review.

Search Strategy

CINAHL Plus, EMBASE, Global Health and MEDLINE databases were searched for literature.

Selection Criteria

Observational population‐ and facility‐level studies exploring stillbirth risk factors, published in 2013–2019 were included.

Data Collection and Analysis

A narrative synthesis of data was undertaken and the potential risk factors were classified into subgroups.

Main Results

Thirty‐seven studies were included, encompassing 20 264 stillbirths. The risk factors were categorised as: maternal antepartum factors (0–4 antenatal care visits, multiple gestations, hypertension, birth interval of >3 years, history of perinatal death); socio‐economic factors (maternal lower wealth index and basic education, advanced maternal age, grand multiparity of ≥5); intrapartum factors (direct obstetric complication); fetal factors (low birthweight and gestational age of <37 weeks) and health systems factors (poor quality of antenatal care, emergency referrals, ill‐equipped facility). The proportion of unexplained stillbirths remained very high. No association was found between stillbirths and body mass index, diabetes, distance from the facility or HIV.

Conclusions

The overall quality of evidence was low, as many studies were facility based and did not adjust for confounding factors. This review identified preventable risk factors for stillbirth. Focused programmatic strategies to improve antenatal care, emergency obstetric care, maternal perinatal education, referral and outreach systems, and birth attendant training should be developed. More population‐based, high‐quality research is needed.
FOXA1‐induced LINC00621 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression via activating the TGF‐β signaling pathway
Authors: Wei Jingjing , Yu Haiyang , Liu Tan , Wang Ziming , Lang Chuandong , Pan Yueyin
Published: June 2023

Background

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is highly malignant and associated with poor prognoses in patients worldwide. There has been widespread recognition that lncRNAs are tightly linked to LUAD tumorigenesis and development. Here, we identified that the LINC00621 level was increased in LUAD tissues and concerned with the poor prognoses in LUAD patients.

Methods

Bioinformatical analysis and RT‐qPCR determined the level of LINC00621 in LUAD tissues and cell lines. The admeasurement of the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of LUAD cells was utilized in the CCK8 and Transwell formulas. Luciferase reporter assay was used to corroborate the downstream target genes of LINC00621. The phosphorylated SMAD3 protein was tested by Western blotting assay. The impression of LINC00621 knockdown on LUAD tumor growth and metastasis put into effect by murine models. ChIP‐qPCR assay was carried out to verify the transcriptional regulation by FOXA1 on LINC00621.

Results

In vitro, the knockdown of LINC00621 significantly reduced the proliferative, migrating, and invasive abilities, the same was true for tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo. MiR‐34a‐5p as a straight target of LINC00621 was ascertained, and LUAD patients with inferior miR‐34a‐5p levels had undesirable prognoses. Furthermore, TGFBR1 is an immediate and functional connection site of miR‐34a‐5p. Collectively, LINC00621 can sponge miR‐34a‐5p and upregulate TGFBR1 levels, which further sensitized TGF‐β signaling pathway. Finally, it was revealed that FOXA1 transcriptionally upregulated LINC00621.

Conclusion

This study uncovered that FOXA1‐induced LINC00621 promotes LUAD progression via the miR‐34a‐5p/TGFBR1/TGF‐β axis, and is one novel therapeutic target that may be used in LUAD treatment.
A species richness estimator for sample‐based incidence data sampled without replacement
Authors: Chiu Chun‐Huo
Published: June 2023

The accurate estimation of species richness in a target region is still a statistical challenge, especially in a highly heterogeneous community. Most richness estimators have been developed based on the assumption that data are randomly sampled with replacement or that data are sampled from an infinite population. However, in reality, most sampling schemes in the field are implemented as sampling without replacement (SWOR). As such, estimators derived based on sampling with replacement may cause overestimation as the sampling fraction increases and not converge to the true richness as the sampling fraction approaches one. Sample‐based incidence data, in which the sampling unit is a plot, and only the presence or absence of a species in each chosen plot is recorded, is one of the most commonly used data types for assessing species diversity in ecological studies.

In this manuscript, according to sample‐based incidence data collected through SWOR, a new richness estimator is proposed using a truncated beta‐binomial mixture model. The new estimator was obtained through the moment approach, which avoids using iterative numerical algorithms for parameter estimation and presents a closed‐form estimator as an alternative to the maximum likelihood method. Although the newly proposed method is a parametric‐based richness estimator, similar to nonparametric estimators, only the rare species in the sample (i.e. the frequencies of uniques and duplicates) are required to estimate undetected richness.

Based on the hypothetical models, the statistical performances of the proposed estimator are evaluated under varying degrees of heterogeneity and different mean species detection rates. Compared to other widely used nonparametric and parametric estimators, the simulation results indicate that the proposed estimator has a smaller bias and lower root mean square error when the sampling fraction is greater than 10%, particularly in highly heterogeneous communities.

In addition, one ForestGEO permanent forest plot dataset is used to evaluate and compare the proposed approach with other estimators discussed in the study. The results demonstrate that the proposed estimator, in comparison to other widely used estimators, produces less biased estimate of true richness, along with more accurate 95% confidence interval.
Pain relief after major ankle and hindfoot surgery with repetitive peripheral nerve blocks: A feasibility study
Authors: Hannig Kjartan E. , Hauritz Rasmus W. , Bjørn Siska , Jensen Hanne Irene , Henriksen Claus W. , Jessen Christian , Bendtsen Thomas F.
Published: June 2023

Background

Major ankle and hindfoot surgery (e.g., ankle, triple and subtalar arthrodesis) typically causes severe postoperative pain, especially the first two postoperative days. Current modalities of postoperative analgesic treatment often include continuous peripheral nerve blocks of the saphenous and sciatic nerves via catheters in order to extend the duration of pain‐ and opioid‐free nerve blockade to 48 h. Unfortunately, the 48 h‐efficacy of continuous infusion via a catheter is reduced by a high displacement rate. We hypothesised that one‐time repetition of the single injection peripheral nerve blocks would provide effective analgesia with a low opioid consumption the first 48 postoperative hours.

Methods

Eleven subjects preoperatively received a popliteal sciatic and a saphenous single injection nerve block with a protracted local anaesthetic mixture. Surgery was performed under general anaesthesia. The one‐time repetition of the single injection nerve block was carried out approximately 24 h after the primary nerve block. The main outcomes were pain and cumulative opioid consumption during the first 48 postoperative hours.

Results

Nine of the 11 (82%) patients had effective analgesia without opioids during the first 48 postoperative hours. Two patients each required a single dose of 7.5 mg of oral morphine equivalents after 43 h.

Conclusion

One‐time repetition of single injection saphenous and sciatic nerve blocks consistently provided effective analgesia practically without opioids for 48 h after major elective ankle and hindfoot surgery.
Role of OTC options in stock price efficiency: Evidence from the Chinese market
Authors: Zhou Yaping , Diao Xundi , Lv Dayong
Published: June 2023

We examine the effect of Chinese OTC equity options on the underlying stock information efficiency by using the standardisation of the OTC options market as an exogenous event. The results show that, due to the tight short‐sale constraints, the introduction of OTC stock options can widen the divergence of opinion about the stock price, and thus reduce the price efficiency. The significantly lower margin‐debt ratio exhibited by optioned stocks supports the argument that OTC stock options act as a substitute for margin trading. Further analysis reveals that optioned stocks are more speculative, but there is no significant change in liquidity.
Spatial distribution of saproxylic beetles on trunks of standing Scots pine trees
Authors: Foit J. , Čermák V. , Kudláček T.
Published: June 2023

The spatial distribution of saproxylic beetles landing and climbing stems of 12 grown and healthy Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) was examined in detail during a 3‐year trial. The beetles were sampled using sticky traps attached to the tree trunk at three tree parts (i.e., the trunk base, middle part of the trunk, and trunk in crown). Each tree part was sampled using two sticky traps facing opposite cardinal directions (north and south).

In total, 4063 individuals representing 169 taxa of saproxylic beetles were yielded in the 1405 obtained samples.

Remarkable interstrata diversification of saproxylic beetle assemblages reflecting distribution of breeding substrates in the forest stand was observed. Overall, species richness decreased considerably from the trunk base to the crown, with intermediate values for the middle part of the trunk. However, the abundance of mycetophages and saproxylophages decreased from the trunk base to the crown, with xylophages being the most abundant in the tree crown.

The cardinal direction exhibited overall weak effects on abundance, species richness, and composition, but the occurrence of a few particular species was significantly associated with the south (13 species) or north (3 species) facing part of the trunk.

Our results suggest that primary attraction and random landing strategies are combined during the substrate selection by many species.

High variability in the importance of the studied explanatory variables was observed among taxa, which shows how the species composition recorded in any study might alter its general outcomes.
Long‐term follow‐up of laser trabeculoplasty in multi‐treated glaucoma patients
Authors: Rasmuson Erika , Bengtsson Boel , Lindén Christina , Heijl Anders , Aspberg Johan , Andersson‐Geimer Sabina , Jóhannesson Gauti
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the long‐term effect of laser trabeculoplasty (LTP) in patients randomized to multi‐treatment in the Glaucoma Intensive Treatment Study (GITS).

Methods

Patients with untreated newly diagnosed open‐angle glaucoma were treated with three intraocular pressure (IOP)‐lowering substances for 1 week and then 360° argon or selective LTP was performed. IOP was measured just before LTP and repeatedly during the 60‐month study period. Our previous report on 12 months follow‐up data revealed no effect of LTP in eyes having an IOP <15 mmHg before the laser treatment.

Results

Before LTP, the mean IOP ± standard deviation in all 152 study‐eyes of 122 multi‐treated patients was 14.0 ± 3.5 mmHg. Three eyes of three deceased patients were lost to follow‐up during the 60 months. After exclusion of eyes that received increased therapy during follow‐up, the IOP was significantly reduced at all visits up to 48 months in eyes with pre‐LTP IOP ≥15 mmHg; 2.6 ± 3.1 mmHg at 1 month and 1.7 ± 2.8 mmHg at 48 months, n = 56 and 48, respectively. No significant IOP reduction was seen in eyes with pre‐LTP IOP <15 mmHg. Seven eyes, i.e., <13%, with pre‐LTP IOP ≥15 mmHg at baseline had required increased IOP‐lowering therapy at 48 months.

Conclusion

LTP performed in multi‐treated patients may provide a useful IOP reduction that is maintained over several years. This was true on a group level when the initial IOP was ≥15 mmHg, but if the pre‐laser IOP was lower than that, chances of LTP success were small.
Exploration of the barriers and enablers of benzodiazepines deprescribing in prisons: A qualitative study among health and social care professionals
Authors: Fay Clothilde , Bonsergent Marion , Saillard Justine , Huon Jean‐François , Prot‐Labarthe Sonia
Published: June 2023

Background

The prison environment is a place of high consumption of benzodiazepines (BZDs) due to the anxiety and sleep disturbances, mental disorders, detoxification and trafficking.

Objective

The study aims to explore experiences of health and social care professionals on the use of BZDs in prisons, as well as the barriers and enablers to their deprescribing.

Method

Semistructured individual interviews with professionals working in a prison setting were performed between March and April 2022, based on an interview guide. They were recorded and transcribed using the NVivo software. A qualitative analysis using an inductive approach based on a thematic analysis was performed.

Results

Sixteen health professionals were interviewed, including psychiatrists, general practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, musicologists and pharmacy technicians. The identified barriers to deprescribing BZDs were problems of coordination between prescribers, lack of time and alternatives. Concerning the enablers, therapeutic education groups, staff's awareness of the irrelevance of some medication and multi‐professional advice were identified.

Discussion

This study highlights the similarities in deprescribing difficulties between prison and other settings. Some of the levers identified in our study have shown their effectiveness in different settings.

Conclusion

Deprescribing is done most of the time in good conditions but requires an additional delay compared to the outside environment.
A Stochastic Block Ising Model for Multi-Layer Networks with Inter-Layer Dependence
Authors: Zhang Jingnan , Li Chengye , Wang Junhui
Published: June 2023

Community detection has attracted tremendous interests in network analysis, which aims at finding group of nodes with similar characteristics. Various detection methods have been developed to detect homogeneous communities in multi-layer networks, where inter-layer dependence is a widely acknowledged but severely under-investigated issue. In this paper, we propose a novel stochastic block Ising model (SBIM) to incorporate the inter-layer dependence to help with community detection in multi-layer networks. The community structure is modeled by the stochastic block model (SBM) and the inter-layer dependence is incorporated via the popular Ising model. Furthermore, we develop an efficient variational EM algorithm to tackle the resultant optimization task and establish the asymptotic consistency of the proposed method. Extensive simulated examples and a real example on gene co-expression multi-layer network data are also provided to demonstrate the advantage of the proposed method.
Insufficient GDF15 expression predisposes women to unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss by impairing extravillous trophoblast invasion
Authors: Lyu Chunzi , Ni Tianxiang , Guo Yaqiu , Zhou Tingting , Chen Zi‐Jiang , Yan Junhao , Li Yan
Published: June 2023

Insufficient extravillous trophoblast (EVT) invasion during early placentation has been shown to contribute to recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). However, the regulatory factors involved and their involvement in RPL pathogenesis remain unknown. Here, we found aberrantly decreased growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) levels in both first‐trimester villous and serum samples of unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (URPL) patients as compared with normal pregnancies. Moreover, GDF15 knockdown significantly reduced the invasiveness of both HTR‐8/SVneo cells and primary human EVT cells and suppressed the Jagged‐1 (JAG1)/NOTCH3/HES1 pathway activity, and JAG1 overexpression rescued the invasion phenotype of the GDF15 knockdown cells. Induction of a lipopolysaccharide‐induced abortion model in mice resulted in significantly reduced GDF15 level in the placenta and serum, as well as increased rates of embryonic resorption, and these effects were reversed by administration of recombinant GDF15. Our study thus demonstrates that insufficient GDF15 level at the first‐trimester maternal–foetal interface contribute to the pathogenesis of URPL by impairing EVT invasion and suppressing JAG1/NOTCH3/HES1 pathway activity, and suggests that supplementation with GDF15 could benefit early pregnancy maintenance and reduce the risk of early pregnancy.
Is male out‐migration associated with women's participation in post‐disaster rebuilding? Evidence from Nepal after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake
Authors: Scogin Shana
Published: June 2023

How does male out‐migration impact women's experience of post‐disaster reconstruction? This paper employs survey data collected by Nepal's Housing Recovery Reconstruction Platform in 2018 to establish robust associations between male out‐migration and three indicators of women's participation in rebuilding their private houses after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake: (i) knowing where to consult for information; (ii) visiting a local government official by oneself; and (iii) signing a rebuilding agreement with the local government. Twenty‐six semi‐structured interviews conducted in 2022 further revealed that women whose husbands were abroad undertook roles that they would not have performed had their spouse been present, including in relation to management and decision‐making. However, the interviews also highlighted challenges that women had to overcome, such as a lack of knowledge of procuring materials and difficulties leading the process as a woman. This study advances the literature by establishing a relationship between male out‐migration and variation in women's post‐earthquake rebuilding experiences.
Association between lower limb spasticity and cryptorchidism in males with cerebral palsy
Authors: Bortnick Eric M. , Logvinenko Tanya , Wang Hsin‐Hsiao Scott , Fogelman David J. , Shore Benjamin J. , Nelson Caleb P. , Kurtz Michael P.
Published: June 2023

Aim

To explore the association between presence and severity of lower limb spasticity (LLS) and risk of orchidopexy for cryptorchidism among people with cerebral palsy (CP) and to further define the cremasteric muscle spasticity theory.

Method

We queried the Pediatric Health Information System database for male patients with CP, stratified patients into those with/without LLS, and compared groups for orchidopexy occurrence. Comparative statistics were performed using χ2 and Mann–Whitney U tests for categorical and continuous variables respectively. The association between orchidopexy and spasticity type was investigated using logistic regression.

Results

In total, 44 561 males with CP were identified. Of these, 1.6% underwent orchidopexy (median age: 7 years 8 months [interquartile range: 4 years 6 months–11 years 4 months]). LLS presence was significantly associated with higher orchidopexy rate compared to spasticity absence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.33 [1.10–1.59], p = 0.003). Among 7134 patients with LLS, intervention was significantly associated with higher orchidopexy rate (injection procedures: OR = 2.47 [2.27–6.39], p = 0.034; surgical procedure: OR = 2.60 [1.22–6.76], p = 0.026). LLS groin proximity was significantly associated with higher orchidopexy rate (OR = 2.52 [1.42–4.96], p = 0.003).

Interpretation

A strong association exists between LLS presence and severity and orchidopexy risk among people with CP. These findings support a cremasteric spasticity hypothesis as an important factor of cryptorchidism in CP. Providers should continue to examine for cryptorchidism in males with CP as they age.

What this paper adds

Lower limb spasticity (LLS) is associated with higher orchidopexy rate in cerebral palsy.

Orchidopexy rate was higher in more severe LLS.

Orchidopexy rate was higher in more proximal LLS.
Policy uncertainty and inventory behavior: Evidence from the US manufacturing sector
Authors: Lu Chun , Routledge James , Chan Kam C. , Li Tongxia
Published: June 2023

This study investigates the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on asymmetric inventory investment (i.e., inventory stickiness or sticky inventory management). Using a sample of 74,912 US firm‐year observations over the 1984–2021 period, we observe a significantly negative relationship between EPU and asymmetric inventory investment. Our cross‐sectional analyses reveal that managers' pessimistic expectations regarding future demand and higher cost of funding and maintaining capacity are the channels through which EPU affects asymmetric inventory behavior. Moreover, this negative impact is more pronounced for firms that face longer‐duration uncertainty, rely heavily on government purchases, and have higher firm‐specific political risk. Lastly, we find that reducing inventory stickiness leads to improved firm performance during periods of increasing policy uncertainty.
Attorneys, tell your clients to think before they post: Social media data may influence how evaluators view their parental fitness
Authors: Jones Ashley C. T. , Batastini Ashley B. , Vitacco Michael J. , Standridge Rheanna L. , Knuth Sean B.
Published: June 2023

Information from social media is used in evaluations of parental fitness with some regularity. Yet, research is lacking on perceptions of this information and no research has examined how social media data impacts forensic evaluators' opinions related to parental fitness. This study compared forensic evaluators' perceptions of data trustworthiness, usefulness, and initial opinion of parental fitness in a fictitious case in which parental fitness was questioned. Perceptions of a parent's behavior were compared across two types of data in which it was presented (an Instagram post or a medical record note) and across genders of the parent (mother or father) being hypothetically evaluated. As hypothesized, information documented on social media was viewed more critically than information documented by a healthcare provider. Further, information primarily referencing the father in the case was viewed as less trustworthy than information referencing the mother, which appeared influenced by evaluators' identified self‐reported sexist attitudes. Results suggest that family law attorneys, regardless of which parent they are representing, should advise their clients of the risks to using social media.