bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flower size constrains reproductive potential in three Andean monkeyflower species
Authors: Henríquez‐Gangas Francisca , Reyes Sebastián A. , Carvallo Gastón O.
Published: November 2023

Plants exhibit contrasting flower morphologies depending on their reproductive strategy, with autogamous species typically having smaller flowers than allogamous ones. Flower size can restrict the reproductive potential of species, as the development among flower parts is interrelated. This can result in a constraint on ovary size in adult plants, reducing the number of ovules produced, particularly in autogamous species with small flowers, in contrast to allogamous species with larger flowers. To test this hypothesis, we studied the static allometric relationships (allometry measured at mature flowers) of monkeyflower species (Erythranthe) endemic to the Andean region, including an autogamous species (E. glabrata), two allogamous species (E. depressa and E. lutea), and hybrids obtained from E. depressa × E. lutea crosses. We measured flower traits, counted ovules, and determined the static allometric relationships among traits for all taxa. Our study revealed that static allometric relationships are highly maintained among studied Erythranthe, with flower length serving as a crucial indicator of the dimensions that different flower parts reach. This suggests that flower length is an important factor determining the maternal reproductive potential in Erythranthe, with both autogamous and allogamous species showing a positive relationship between flower length and ovule number. Overall, investigating allometric relationships in Erythranthe, including hybrids, can shed light on the complex interactions between flower morphology and reproductive strategies in plants.
Farming efficiency and environmental resource dependence: Evidence from panel data for rural Central Vietnam
Authors: Bierkamp Sina , Nguyen Trung Thanh , Grote Ulrike
Published: November 2023

Farming and natural resource extraction are the main livelihood strategies of the rural poor in developing countries. A better understanding of their relationship is needed to alleviate existing pressures on resources and to reduce poverty. To date, mainly monetary indicators have been used to measure environmental resource dependence. However, these are inadequate for poor people who consume rather than sell their environmental products. Therefore, we propose the Environmental Resource Dependence Index (ERDI) to better capture the multidimensionality of dependence. We analyse the relationship between farming efficiency and environmental resource dependence using a simultaneous equations model (SEM) and panel data for 2013, 2016 and 2017 from three rural provinces in Central Vietnam. Time‐variant farming efficiency is estimated using a stochastic frontier model (SFM) with true random effects and Mundlak's adjustment. Our results show that monetary measures underestimate the extent of dependency. Therefore, policymakers should be careful to correctly identify those who are dependent on the environment. In addition, the results suggest that improved farming efficiency reduces the dependence on environmental resources. At the same time, higher dependence does not have a significant effect on farming efficiency.
Revisiting Female Pilgrimage in Medieval Oxford: Evidence from the Miracula Sancte Frideswide*
Authors: Bailey Anne E.
Published: November 2023

The most common form of female pilgrimage in medieval England was local pilgrimage to a saint's shrine. One English pilgrimage destination which is especially associated with women is St Frideswide's shrine in Oxford, owing to a collection of miracle stories compiled in the 1180s in which women are particularly prevalent. Drawing on a new edition and translation of the Miracula sancte Frideswide, this article revisits the cult of Frideswide in the late twelfth century and takes a fresh look at the experiences of women visiting Oxford on pilgrimage. The article reassesses previous speculations about women's attraction to the cult, brings to light some little‐appreciated aspects of female pilgrimage, and finds that many of the accounts challenge assumptions made about female behaviour and expectations in the Middle Ages.
Nation‐builders and market architects: How social origins mold the careers of law graduates over 200 years in Norway
Authors: Toft Maren
Published: November 2023

This paper examines the types of work that jurists have historically undertaken and maps how opportunities for legal practice have been shaped by social origins across three centuries: after constitutional independence in the mid‐1800s, during industrial capitalism in the mid‐1900s, and at present‐day advanced capitalism. I analyze historical archive data on law graduates from the 19th and 20th centuries in combination with administrative registry data from the 1990s onwards and employ correspondence analysis to explore how social backgrounds shape careers, considering transformations in class structures and the changing significance of juridical expertise over time. Within each period, jurists have served in very different roles including those that craft and cater to the institutional make‐up of the state and the markets. My analysis shows that the impact of social origin on occupational outcomes has undergone significant changes, mirroring shifts in the broader social structure; from the importance of legal and political capital (within regional jurisdictions) in the 19th century to the significance of economic capital as the main structuring principle, but also a greater significance of cultural capital, in contemporary times. The ability to reach the most powerful positions among law graduates—within the polity in the 19th century, and the economy in the 21st century—has been differently structured by origins. I argue that expansion of the student body, the declining standing of the university, and heightened differentiation of the social structure and the juridical field have made intimate familiarity with the business world pivotal for forging mutually beneficial alliances between jurists and the increasingly dominant capitalist class. Today, a select group of jurists have managed to connect with and contribute to the rising power of private capital. Thus, the historical tale of jurists cannot be accurately captured by notions of uniform descent from national power structures.
A decade of wireless emergency alerts: A longitudinal assessment of message content and completeness
Authors: Olson Michele K. , Sutton Jeannette , Cain Lauren B. , Waugh Nichoals
Published: November 2023

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) provide a direct way for public safety officials to reach at‐risk publics via text‐based messages on their mobile devices. Although WEAs were introduced over a decade ago and can be either 90 or 360 characters in length, we currently do not know what these messages have contained. To address this gap, we quantify the contents of the last decade of WEA messages using the principles of effective warning message design. Specifically, we use quantitative content analysis to conduct a longitudinal assessment of 6080 WEAs sent by Alerting Authorities from 2012 to 2022. We code these messages according to the concepts in the Warning Response Model, which establishes that WEAs need to include information about the hazard, location, source, guidance, and time. Our results indicate that source and timing information are included at a much lower rate than location, hazard, and guidance information. Furthermore, only 8.5% of these messages are complete—or include all five pieces of WRM content. Complete WEA messages can minimise protective action delay while maximising message understanding, belief, and personalisation. We also find that 360‐character WEAs are more likely to be complete than 90‐character WEAs. Thus, those responsible for crafting WEAs should continue to take full advantage of the increased number of characters to write complete messages that warn populations at risk, rather than simply alert them to the existence of a hazard.
Editorial: Scholar‐stakeholder collaboration for rigorous and relevant HRM research—Possible contributions and key requirements of collaborative studies in HRM
Authors: Guerci Marco , Huzzard Tony , Radaelli Giovanni , Shani Abraham B. (Rami)
Published: November 2023

Human Resource Management research is striving to develop rigorous and actionable knowledge for today’s social and environmental global challenges. For years, academic‐stakeholder collaborative knowledge creation processes have been considered as potentially rewarding ways to achieve this objective. However, applications of collaborative HRM research are still relatively sparse, as HR scholars tend to engage with more traditional processes of knowledge creation. The aim of this editorial is to foster more widespread conduct of collaborative HRM research in the future. Drawing on Habermas, whose ideas on human knowledge are considered to be at the core of the epistemology of collaborative management research, we first highlight three avenues for collaborative HRM research that addresses our technical, practical and emancipatory knowledge‐constitutive interests. For each of them, we highlight key theoretical assumptions and risks. Thereafter, we describe two key requirements for rigour and relevance in the context of any collaborative HRM study. Finally, we present the papers included in this special section and discuss their implications for HRM research.
Preparation, chemical profiles, antioxidative activities, and angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 inhibitory effect of date fruit vinegar
Authors: Tang Minmin , Wang Zhihuang , Luo Jiaxin , Zhu Tingting , Song Fei , Chen Hua
Published: November 2023

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an important commercial crop extensively consumed as a staple food and has been applied in many ethnomedical systems. Fruit vinegar is a preservative, condiment, and beverage with a spectrum of health benefits. Studies about the preparation, chemical profiles, and bioactivities of date fruit vinegar (DFV) are fundamental requirements for industrialization production. This study focused on the lab‐scaled producing conditions, chemical profiles of DFV, and its bioactivities in vitro. According to the results, a date wine containing 9.75% methanol was obtained by yeast fermenting the enzyme‐hydrolyzed date juice with 23.11% ± 0.39% of total sugar content. The optimized acidic fermentation conditions were an inoculation amount of 0.02%, a fermentation temperature of 31.14°C, and an initial alcohol content of 7.78%. Total acidity and total phenolic contents of the DFV were 7.74% ± 0.29% and 1.44 mg gallic acid equivalent/mL, respectively. In total, 32 organic acids were quantitated in the unaged DFV, with acetic, L‐malic, and oxoglutaric acids as the predominant compounds. A total of 930 volatiles were identified in the DFV, including 186 esters, 177 terpenoids, and 148 heterocyclic compounds. There are 18 phenolic acids presented in the DFV. In addition, 42 flavonoids were quantitated in the DFV, including catechin, taxifolin, and cynaroside. The results of free radical scavenging activities and reducing power demonstrated that the DFV displayed good antioxidant properties. The DFV also acted well on angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 inhibition. These results suggest that the DFV can be industrially developed as a dietary supplement.
Against Melancholy: Robert Blakeway and the Anglican Definition of an Orthodox Sorrow in Early Eighteenth‐Century England
Authors: Gattinoni Andrés
Published: November 2023

Scholars have long recognized the significance of the concept of ‘enthusiasm’ in eighteenth‐century British culture. Its association with melancholy made it a powerful tool for dealing with religious and political dissent by dismissing enthusiasts' claims to divine inspiration as the delusions of their troubled minds. However, the medicalization of enthusiasm also meant that many Christians felt the need to defend their own faith against accusations that it caused melancholy. By examining and contextualizing Robert Blakeway's essay on religious melancholy, this article explores this latter concern. It suggests that such a preoccupation was related both to the fear of enthusiasm and to the fear of irreligion. Blakeway's essay is presented as an example of a broader effort by Anglican clergy to define an ‘orthodox sorrow’ as a middle way between enthusiastic melancholy and lukewarm indifference. Finally, the article emphasizes the polemical dimension of the vocabulary of sorrow in eighteenth‐century England.
Traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of patients with hyperuricemia: A randomized placebo‐controlled double‐blinded clinical trial
Authors: Leong Pui‐Ying , Chen Huang‐Hsi , Gau Shuo‐Yan , Chen Chia‐Yin , Su Yi‐Chang , Wei James Cheng‐Chung
Published: November 2023

Background

Studies have demonstrated the association of hyperuricemia with hypertension, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and chronic renal disease. Although Western medicine presents promising effects for treating hyperuricemia and gout, identifying a safe and effective alternative to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating hyperuricemia is essential.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of TCM formulas, “Wu‐Ling San” and “Yin Chen Wu‐Ling San,” in patients with hyperuricemia.

Methods

A randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled clinical trial in adults with hyperuricemia was conducted. Sixty patients with serum urate level higher than 8 mg/dL were enrolled in the study. Patients were then randomized into three arms: “Wu‐Ling San,” “Yin Chen Wu‐Ling San,” and placebo for 4 weeks. Efficacy and safety were evaluated at weeks 2, 4, and 8. Primary and secondary endpoints were set to evaluate the serum urate concentration and related indicators at weeks 2, 4, and 8.

Results

No significant differences were observed among the three arms in terms of the serum urate level (<6 mg/dL) at week 4. The serum urate level was lower in the “Yin Chen Wi‐Ling” arm at week 8 (8.1 mg/dL vs. 9.1 mg/dL, p = .034). The serum urate levels were significantly different in both the “Wu‐Ling San” and “Yin Chen Wu‐Ling San” arms from those at the baseline (p < .05).

Conclusions

Two TCM formulas were found to be relatively safe for the short‐term treatment of the patients with hyperuricemia. No statistically significant difference was observed in reaching the target–serum urate level <6 mg/dL.
Financial statement adequacy and firms' MD&A disclosures
Authors: Brown Stephen V. , Hinson Lisa A. , Tucker Jennifer Wu
Published: November 2023

Firms are required to provide financial information via the financial statements and the management discussion and analysis (MD&A), a narrative explanation of the financial statements. Our study examines how firms use the MD&A channel when their financial statement channel is inadequate. We focus on two textual attributes of the MD&A: non‐GAAP disclosure and forward‐looking statements. We find that firms with less adequate financial statements discuss non‐GAAP measures more and provide a larger number of forward‐looking statements. We then identify the topics, and therefore the context, in which non‐GAAP and forward‐looking disclosures are provided. Our study provides evidence on how managers use the MD&A, a relatively more flexible channel, to provide information when their financial statement channel is less adequate.
Successful reproduction of female loggerhead sea turtles with severe limb amputations
Authors: Marco A. , Sáez A. , Martins S. , Abella‐Pérez E. , Clarke L. J. , Crespo‐Picazo J. L.
Published: November 2023

We evaluate the frequency of flipper amputation and its impact on reproduction in the threatened loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) population of the Eastern Atlantic, through a long‐term study on several high‐density nesting beaches of Cabo Verde. 5982 adult females were individually identified, tagged and measured, and the presence of limb amputations was recorded. 918 of them had one or multiple amputations of the rear or front flippers. Most of these turtles (n = 778) had partial rather than complete flipper amputations. However, we found no difference in body condition indices (1.2 vs. 1.1), clutch size (82 vs. 83 eggs), or hatching success (79 vs. 80%) between amputated and non‐amputated females. While amputations may cause individual mortality or reduced fitness, our results indicate that some amputated turtles successfully nest and survive across multiple nesting seasons. Moreover, the amputations do not appear to be impacting the strong recovery of this population. This study provides evidence of the successful reproductive capacity of amputated loggerhead sea turtles and, by extension, the potential reproductive success of amputees released from recovery centers.
Unintended Consequences of End‐of‐Year Rush Toward Innovation: Evidence from Patent Application Filings*
Authors: Park Jiyoung , Shin Hyun‐Han
Published: November 2023

This study employs novel data on patents filed in Korea to investigate whether there is an end‐of‐year rush phenomenon for innovation. Our findings indicate that patent applications tend to be concentrated in the second half of the year more than in the first half of the year, and the number of application filings gradually increases toward the end of the year. We also examine the quality of patents and find that applications filed near the end of the year are more likely to be low‐quality innovations. Firms in our sample that filed more patent applications in the second half of the year engaged in incremental innovation, which entails the exploitation of existing knowledge or research areas rather than the exploration of new knowledge in new areas. Furthermore, our study reveals that this end‐of‐year rush on innovation is more prevalent among firms with high free cash flow and among firms belonging to business groups. Our findings demonstrate that the end‐of‐year rush has unintended consequences for innovation.
A mixed‐method approach to examining the experiences of allied health clinicians and managers of the performance, appraisal and development framework in a regional health care service
Authors: Maurer Carly , Alexander Inga , Nezic Lucija , Woods Sharon , Humphries Brendan
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Evaluating employee performance is important for organisational success however, limited research exists across the allied health workforce.

Objective

This study investigated allied health clinician and manager experiences and perceptions of the appropriateness of the performance and development (PAD) framework.

Design

A mixed methods design with purposive sampling was conducted in a medium size hospital and health service in regional Queensland to investigate the appropriateness of the PAD framework. A 29 item online survey collected likert scale and open ended responses. Identified respondents also completed a semi‐structured interview. Aggregated satisfaction scores identifying PAD alignment, processes, education, resources and perceptions were analysed to identify organisational PAD appropriateness. Themes from interviews provided concurrent experiential data.

Findings

Eighty‐five respondents completed the online survey and 20 interviews were conducted. A Chi‐Square Goodness of Fit test revealed a significant (p < 0.05) clinician (n = 75) response of moderate dissatisfaction (36%) for the PAD framework, while managers (n = 10) were neither dissatisfied nor satisfied (50%) or moderately satisfied (40%). Clinician aggregated agreement responses were significantly (p < 0.05) higher for PAD alignment (45%), processes (63%), education (49%) and lower for feedback (33%) and resources (28%). Manager aggregated agreement responses were high for PAD alignment (85%), processes (55%), education (57%), feedback (65%) and perceptions (50%). Interviews (n = 20) revealed three themes: uncertainty around PAD framework; expectations for experienced leadership and importance of discipline specific knowledge.

Discussion

This study draws on both clinician and manager input to assess the overall PAD framework with responses favouring clinician dissatisfaction to the current process.

Conclusion

The PAD framework is valuable for staff development when there is positive rapport and discipline alignment between both clinician and manager. Successful staff appraisals require efficient and appropriate documentation that promotes individual development, clinical performance and organisational priorities.
Of Other Dreamlands: Vernacular Adaptation, Urban Exploration, and Alternative Spectacles in China's Abandoned Themed Spaces
Authors: Audin Judith
Published: November 2023

This article studies social meanings and practices emerging from two abandoned themed spaces in China: disused theme parks and mega‐event sites. Theme parks first appeared in the late 1980s–early 1990s, in the emerging leisure economy and society. In the 1990s–early 2000s, mega‐event urbanism became a driver of China's urban development and a strategy of national and international legitimacy. Since their abandonment and disuse by official owners, themed spaces have become ruinscapes where workers and visitors produce agency through rubble and ruination. These spaces constitute sites of vernacular occupation through farming, urban exploration, or wedding photography. Abandoned mega‐event sites create alternative spectacles of dereliction forming a critique of the original spectacle. Based on urban exploration as an ethnographic method and on fieldwork in Chinese abandoned themed spaces between 2015 and 2019, this article analyses the spatial and social dimensions of abandoned themed spaces in their afterlives as ruins and rubble.
Antibacterial copper‐filled TiO2 coating of cardiovascular implants to prevent infective endocarditis—A pilot study
Authors: Beltsios Eleftherios , Zubarevich Alina , Ruemke Stefan , Rubalskii Evgenii , Osswald Anja , Arjomandi Rad Arian , Heidenau Frank , Buer Jan , Hanke Jasmin , Schmitto Jan , Popov Aron‐Frederik , Kuehn Christian , Schmack Bastian , Ruhparwar Arjang , Weymann Alexander
Published: November 2023

Background

Infective endocarditis (IE) poses a significant health risk, especially in patients with prosthetic heart valves. Despite advances in treatment, mortality rates remain high. This study aims to investigate the antibacterial properties of a copper titanium dioxide (4× Cu‐TiO2) coating on cardiovascular implants against Staphylococcus aureus, a common causative agent of IE.

Methods

Titanium oxide carriers functionalized with copper ions were employed as an antibacterial coating for heart and vascular prostheses. The coating's antibacterial efficacy was assessed using S. aureus ATCC 29213. Microscopic evaluations were conducted on both biological and artificial materials. Antibacterial activity was qualitatively assessed via a modified disc diffusion method and quantitatively measured through colony counts in NaCl suspensions.

Results

The coating process was successfully applied to all tested cardiovascular prosthetic materials. Qualitative assessments of antibacterial effectiveness revealed an absence of bacterial growth in the area directly beneath the coated valve. Quantitative evaluations showed a significant reduction in bacterial colonization on coated mechanical valves, with 2.95 × 104 CFU per valve, compared to 1.91 × 105 CFU in control valves.

Conclusions

The 4× Cu‐TiO2 coating demonstrated promising antibacterial properties against S. aureus, suggesting its potential as an effective strategy for reducing the risk of bacterial colonization of cardiovascular implants. Further studies are needed to assess the longevity of the coating and its efficacy against other pathogens.
Safety and efficacy of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination in patients with immune thrombocytopenia: A two‐centre review
Authors: Stefani Sara , Buti Noora , Hart Alice C. J. , Paul Deena , Rizvi Naghma , Ragoonanan Vashti , Vladescu Camelia , Szydlo Richard , Ademokun Christine , Jansen A. J. Gerard , Cooper Nichola
Published: November 2023

Multiple studies have reported immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) relapse following SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination, however baseline ITP relapse rate and antibody response to vaccination are not known. Patients with ITP who received at least one of the first three SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination doses were included in the study. One hundred and twenty‐four patients met the inclusion criteria. Relapse rate was 4.2% following a first vaccine dose, 9.1% after a second and 2.9% after a third; baseline relapse rate was 7.6%. Ninety‐four per cent of patients who received three vaccine doses developed a clinical antibody response. SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination appears to be safe and effective in patients with ITP.
Metabolic tumour volume in Hodgkin lymphoma—A comparison between manual and AI‐based analysis
Authors: Sadik May , Barrington Sally F. , Trägårdh Elin , Saboury Babak , Nielsen Anne L. , Jakobsen Annika L. , Gongora Jose L. L. , Urdaneta Jesus L. , Kumar Rajender , Edenbrandt Lars
Published: November 2023

Aim

To compare total metabolic tumour volume (tMTV), calculated using two artificial intelligence (AI)‐based tools, with manual segmentation by specialists as the reference.

Methods

Forty‐eight consecutive Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients staged with [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography were included. The median age was 35 years (range: 7–75), 46% female. The tMTV was automatically measured using the AI‐based tools positron emission tomography assisted reporting system (PARS) (from Siemens) and RECOMIA (recomia.org) without any manual adjustments. A group of eight nuclear medicine specialists manually segmented lesions for tMTV calculations; each patient was independently segmented by two specialists.

Results

The median of the manual tMTV was 146 cm3 (interquartile range [IQR]: 79–568 cm3) and the median difference between two tMTV values segmented by different specialists for the same patient was 26 cm3 (IQR: 10–86 cm3). In 22 of the 48 patients, the manual tMTV value was closer to the RECOMIA tMTV value than to the manual tMTV value segmented by the second specialist. In 11 of the remaining 26 patients, the difference between the RECOMIA tMTV and the manual tMTV was small (<26 cm3, which was the median difference between two manual tMTV values from the same patient). The corresponding numbers for PARS were 18 and 10 patients, respectively.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that RECOMIA and Siemens PARS AI tools could be used without any major manual adjustments in 69% (33/48) and 58% (28/48) of HL patients, respectively. This demonstrates the feasibility of using AI tools to support physicians measuring tMTV for assessment of prognosis in clinical practice.
Effects of cannabis legalisation on patterns of cannabis consumption among adolescents in Ontario, Canada (2001–2019)
Authors: Imtiaz Sameer , Nigatu Yeshambel T. , Sanches Marcos , Ali Farihah , Boak Angela , Douglas Laura , Hamilton Hayley A. , Rehm Jürgen , Rueda Sergio , Schwartz Robert M. , Wells Samantha , Elton‐Marshall Tara
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Cannabis legalisation was enacted on 17 October 2018 in Canada. Accordingly, the effects of cannabis legalisation on patterns of cannabis consumption were examined among adolescents, including on cannabis initiation, any cannabis use, daily cannabis use and cannabis dependence.

Methods

Data from a biennial population‐based, cross‐sectional survey of students in Ontario were pooled in a pre‐post design (2001‐2019; N = 89,238). Participants provided self‐reports of cannabis initiation, any cannabis use, daily cannabis use and cannabis dependence. Long‐term trends in these patterns of cannabis consumption over two decades of observation were characterised to provide a broader context of usage. The effects of cannabis legalisation on patterns of cannabis consumption were quantified using logistic regression analyses.

Results

Long‐term trends over the two decades of observation indicated that cannabis initiation decreased and then increased (p = 0.0220), any cannabis use decreased and daily cannabis use decreased (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0001, respectively) and cannabis dependence remained unchanged (p = 0.1187). However, in comparisons between the pre‐cannabis legalisation period (2001–2017) and the post‐cannabis legalisation period (2019), cannabis legalisation was not associated with cannabis initiation (odds ratio; 95% confidence interval 1.00; 0.79–1.27), but it was associated with an increased likelihood of any cannabis use (1.31; 1.12–1.53), daily cannabis use (1.40; 1.09–1.80) and cannabis dependence (1.98; 1.29–3.04).

Discussion and Conclusions

Cannabis legalisation was not associated with cannabis initiation, but it was associated with an increased likelihood of any cannabis use, daily cannabis use and cannabis dependence.
Continuous glucose monitoring in older adults with diabetes: Data from the diabetes prospective follow‐up (DPV) registry
Authors: Grammes Jennifer , Schmid Stefanie , Bozkurt Latife , Heinemann Lutz , Hess Gregor , Kubiak Thomas , Küstner Eva , Priesterroth Lilli‐Sophie , Stahl Christian , Holl Reinhard W. ,   for the DPV initiative
Published: November 2023

Aims

To analyse predictors for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use in people with diabetes aged ≥60 years using insulin therapy and to assess the rates of CGM use during recent years (2019–2021).

Research Design and Methods

Prospective study including 6849 individuals with diabetes and insulin therapy (type 2 diabetes: n = 5320; type 1 diabetes: n = 1529) aged ≥60 years. Data from 129 treatment centres were retrieved from the Diabetes Prospective Follow‐up Registry (DPV) in March 2023.

Results

Sensor use in individuals aged ≥60 years has increased in type 1 (2019: 28%, 2020: 39%, 2021: 45%) and type 2 diabetes (2019: 10%, 2020: 16%, 2021: 18%). Predictors for sensor use in older individuals with type 1 diabetes are younger age and CSII use (p < 0.001). Predictors in older individuals with type 2 diabetes are younger age, longer diabetes duration, higher BMI and CSII use (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

CGM has become more common in older adults with diabetes and will presumably increase further. Age is a predictor for sensor use in older adults with diabetes. Age‐related physical barriers and insufficient usability of devices, lack of interest in technologies, but possibly also effects of prejudice on the grounds of age may contribute to this finding.
How Much Moral Psychology Does Anyone Need? Tolstoy's Examples of Character Development and Their Impact on Readers
Authors: Moulin Daniel
Published: November 2023

Nothing was more important to Tolstoy than character development. For him, the purpose of life is to grow morally. The purpose of literature — as all art — is to aid that growth. Abstract philosophy and pedantic scholarship are therefore redundant. Indeed, even the psychological novel is a distraction. Moral truths are self‐evident. They are always simple. They are expressed by the humble. They are known by the meek. To become good, all we need to do is peel back the layers of hypocrisy and deceit that have overwrought us. Moral truths are known all over the world, but they are forgotten or covered up. There is nothing like a folktale, a pithy aphorism, or the words of a farm laborer or child to point this out. We may be surprised by what we already know and how deceived we were. All Tolstoy's varied endeavors, his literature, pedagogic theory and philosophy, center on moral conversion and its only legitimate motivation: love. Tolstoy's affront on modern civilization, documented vehemently in his later works sought to teach this lesson. This was a view of character development that had wide ranging impact all over the world, influencing many of the most famous thinkers, educators, and activists of the twentieth century. Tolstoy's stories continue to enthrall and inspire moral transformation. In this article Daniel Moulin explains why.
The disease burden of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in Denmark: Epidemiology, survival, healthcare resource utilization, costs, treatment gaps, and labor market attachment
Authors: Rich Carly , Wilson Koo , Olsen Jens , Pedersen Mikkel , Frederiksen Henrik
Published: November 2023

Objectives

To establish epidemiology, healthcare costs, and labor market attachment in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (Pt‐PNH) in Denmark.

Methods

Data were from Statistics Denmark and the Danish Health Data Authority national population registers (2005–2021). Descriptive baseline statistics characterized the Pt‐PNH analytic population; ordinary least squares and adjusted Cox proportional hazards regressions measured outcomes in the Pt‐PNH versus Danish general population matched comparators.

Results

Overall PNH incidence in Denmark was n = 11 during 2007–2009, n = 25 during 2016–2018 and n = 7 during 2019–2020; prevalence increased from n = 13 in 2006 to n = 62 in 2021. Of the overall n = 85 Pt‐PNH; n = 24 were treated with complement‐5 inhibitors (Pt‐C5i) and n = 61 not treated with C5i (Pt‐nC5i). Versus respective comparators, all patients had significantly greater annual per‐patient costs (from inpatient hospital admissions, outpatient contacts, PNH treatments; indirect costs from lost earnings + transfer payments; post‐diagnosis for Pt‐PNH and Pt‐nC5i, post‐treatment initiation for Pt‐C5i). The Pt‐C5i incurred the greatest healthcare and indirect cost differences (€709 119; €152 832, respectively) followed by the Pt‐PNH (€189 323; €29 159, respectively) and Pt‐nC5i (€95 548; €4713, respectively). The Pt‐PNH versus comparators also had an increased hazard of death (2.71 [95% CI, 1.63 − 4.51]).

Conclusion

Although a rare disease, PNH is associated with significant patient, healthcare system, and societal burdens in Denmark.
Multiple corporate and functional performance feedback and problemistic search
Authors: Syrigos Evangelos D. , Kostopoulos Konstantinos C. , Mammassis Constantinos S.
Published: November 2023

In this study, we examine how decision makers assess and respond to more than two performance feedback regarding goals across different hierarchical levels. Building on Cyert and March's seminal work and later research on pattern perception, we argue that pattern simplicity and pattern predictability of multiple (functional) feedback help decision makers to better guide problemistic search and generate more plausible solutions to fix a serious corporate performance shortfall. In a longitudinal sample of 97 global incumbent pharmaceutical firms, we find that a simpler and more predictable set of functional performance signals strengthens the relationship between poor performance on a corporate goal (i.e., ROA) and the number of functional solutions (i.e., number of new product development projects) that a firm initiates. We discuss the implications of our findings to the performance feedback and managerial search literature.
Hyponatremia is associated with unfavorable outcomes after reperfusion treatment in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Pelouto Anissa , Reimer Jorieke , Hoorn Ewout J. , Zandbergen Adrienne A. M. , den Hertog Heleen M.
Published: November 2023

Background and purpose

In patients with acute ischemic stroke, hyponatremia (plasma sodium < 136 mmol/L) is common and associated with unfavorable outcomes. However, data are limited for patients who underwent intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Therefore, our aim was to assess the impact of hyponatremia on postreperfusion outcomes.

Methods

We analyzed data of consecutive patients who presented with acute ischemic stroke and were treated with IVT and/or EVT at Isala Hospital, the Netherlands, in 2019 and 2020. The primary outcome measure was the adjusted common odds ratio (acOR) for a worse modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3‐month follow‐up. Secondary outcomes included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, in‐hospital mortality, infarct core, and penumbra volumes.

Results

Of the 680 patients (median age = 73 years, 49% female, median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale = 5), 430 patients (63%) were treated with IVT, 120 patients (18%) with EVT, and 130 patients (19%) with both. Ninety‐two patients (14%) were hyponatremic on admission. Hyponatremia was associated with a worse mRS score at 3 months (acOR = 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–2.76) and in‐hospital mortality (aOR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.23–4.67), but not with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.39–3.47). Hyponatremia was also associated with a larger core (17.2 mL, 95% CI = 2.9–31.5) and core to penumbra ratio (55.0%, 95% CI = 7.1–102.9).

Conclusions

Admission hyponatremia in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with IVT and/or EVT was independently associated with unfavorable postreperfusion outcomes, a larger infarct core, and a larger core to penumbra ratio. Future studies should address whether correction of hyponatremia improves the prognosis.
Antimicrobial use as an adjunctive treatment in dental‐related sinusitis in horses: A systematic review
Authors: Souza Gabryela Brinhol , Mendes Rubens Peres , de Souza Anderson Fernando , Corrêa Rodrigo Romero
Published: November 2023

Dental‐related sinusitis is a common condition in horses and often involves polymicrobial infection. Tooth extraction followed by sinus lavage and debridement are the recommended treatment. However, infection may persist or recur due to incomplete removal of infected material or, in rare cases, potential antimicrobial resistance. Although the use of antibiotics may be considered, evidence supporting their indication is scarce. This systematic literature review sets out to examine existing evidence supporting the use of antimicrobial therapy in dental‐related sinusitis in horses. Five articles (retrospective studies, prospective studies and case series) were included. Doxycycline, sulphadiazine‐trimethoprim, metronidazole and procaine benzylpenicillin combined with neomycin were the most commonly used antimicrobials. Oxytetracycline, gentamicin and cephazolin were used to a lesser extent. Two or more active pharmaceutical substances were often combined. In all studies, antimicrobial therapy was used as an ancillary strategy and criteria for drug selection were not reported. This review highlighted the scarcity of evidence supporting the use of antimicrobials in horses with dental‐related sinusitis. In cases with positive clinical outcomes, it was not possible to determine whether clinical improvement was due to antibiotics or other therapeutic interventions. Therefore, the actual contribution of antimicrobials could not be established.
Sex differences in the reciprocal relationship between glycemic control and depressive symptoms among older adults with diabetes: Using a nationwide population‐based sample
Authors: Kang Gyeong A , Won Chang Won , Kim Miji , Yoon Ju Young
Published: November 2023

Aim

As life expectancy increases worldwide, the prevalence and the disease burden of diabetes in older adults are also increasing. This study aimed to examine sex differences in the reciprocal relationship between glycemic control and depressive symptoms among older adults with diabetes by using longitudinal data at two timepoints.

Methods

Wave 1 (W1, 2016–2017) and wave 2 (W2, 2018–2019) data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study were used. Finally, 416 older adults with diabetes who satisfied the inclusion criteria were analyzed (215 males, 201 females). The reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels was examined using a cross‐lagged panel model.

Results

HbA1c levels and depressive symptoms at earlier time points were the most significant factors contributing to HbA1c levels and depressive symptoms at later timepoints. The relationship between HbA1c level and depressive symptoms differed according to sex. The cross‐path from depressive symptoms (W1) to HbA1c levels (W2) was positively statistically significant in males (β = 0.18, SD = 0.05, P = 0.001). The path from HbA1c levels (W1) to depressive symptoms (W2) was positively statistically significant in females (β = 0.12, SD = 0.06, P = 0.032).

Conclusions

Early management of blood glucose levels and depressive symptoms is important in older adults with diabetes. Moreover, glycemic control through social activities in the community could be effective in relieving depressive symptoms in older females with diabetes, and managing depressive symptoms and glucose levels together could be effective in glycemic control in older males with diabetes. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 32–39.
Determination of Trace Se and Te in Geological Samples by Photochemical Vapour Generation Combined with Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Yuan Yonghai , Han Zhixuan , Yang Feng , Yu Hongxia , Zhang Yinhui , Wen Meilan
Published: November 2023

An analytical method to accurately determine trace levels of Se and Te is essential to meet the growing importance of these elements to Earth science research. Herein, an in‐house assembled photochemical vapour generation (PVG) unit, instead of normal sample nebulisation, with inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS), was developed for the detection of Se and Te in geological samples. The major parameters that might potentially influence the PVG efficiencies of Se(IV) and Te(IV) were investigated. The unit could fully generate volatile species under 30 s of ultraviolet irradiation in the presence of 15% v/v formic acid, 15% v/v acetic acid and 50 mg l‐1 of Co2+. Under optimised conditions, the limit of detections (LODs, 3s, n = 11) of the proposed method were 0.5 ng l‐1 for Se and 0.6 ng l‐1 for Te. The RSDs of Se and Te were 2.0% and 2.3% (1 μg l‐1, n = 7), respectively. Interference experiments showed that Fe, Ti, V and Cu have certain negative effects, so the standard addition method was used for real sample analysis. Measurement results for eleven CRMs, including soils (GSS‐4, GSS‐7), sediments (GSD‐9, GSD‐10) and rocks (GSR‐1, GSR‐2, GSR‐3, GSR‐5, AGV‐2, GSP‐2 and W‐2a), were consistent with literature values, and showed better precision, indicating the feasibility of the proposed method for determination of trace Se and Te in geological samples.
N‐acetyl‐L‐hydroxyproline – A potent skin anti‐ageing active preventing advanced glycation end‐product formation in vitro and ex vivo
Authors: Knoblich Chiara , Dunckelmann Katja , Krüger Andrea , Küper Thomas , Blatt Thomas , Weise Julia M.
Published: November 2023

Objective

Advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs) represent a large group of compounds generated by a non‐enzymatic reaction between reducing sugars and amino groups. The formation and accumulation of AGEs in the skin lead to protein crosslinking, dermal stiffening and yellowing, which ultimately contribute to cutaneous ageing. Amino acids have been described to exhibit anti‐glycation effects. The objective of this study was to understand the inhibitory role of the amino acid derivative N‐acetyl‐L‐hydroxyproline (NAHP) as an anti‐glycation active for human skin.

Methods

A cell‐free assay investigating the inhibition of glycation of serum albumin by NAHP was used to determine the capability of NAHP to decrease AGE formation. Also, by assessing the amount of the AGE N‐(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) the anti‐glycation abilities of NAHP were investigated utilizing dot blot analysis. The improvement of cell–matrix interaction by NAHP was determined in vitro using a glycated fibroblast‐populated collagen lattice (FPCL) dermis model. In skin biopsies, AGE autofluorescence was determined after treatment with NAHP and/or glucose ex vivo.

Results

NAHP significantly and dose‐dependently inhibited levels of AGEs, which were induced by the glycation of a protein solution. This decrease could be visualized by showing that the brownish appearance as well as the AGE‐specific fluorescence of glucose‐treated samples were reduced after the application of increasing amounts of NAHP. Also, CML formation was dose‐dependently inhibited by NAHP. In FPCLs, the contractile capacity of fibroblasts was significantly disturbed after glycation. This could be prevented by the addition of NAHP. Compared to glyoxal‐treated samples, the co‐application of NAHP significantly decreased the diameter as well as the weight of glycated FPCLs. Ex vivo application of glucose to skin explants showed a higher AGE fluorescence signal compared to control explants. Co‐treatment with NAHP and glucose decreased the level of AGE fluorescence in comparison to glucose‐treated explants.

Conclusion

These data provide clear evidence that under glycation stress conditions treatment with NAHP inhibited AGE formation in vitro and ex vivo and prevented the loss of cellular contractile forces in a glycated dermis model. Thus, NAHP obviously provides a beneficial treatment option to counteract AGE‐related changes in human skin such as dermal stiffening and yellowish skin appearance.
Hydrolytic and antioxidant activities of pork loin protein hydrolysates treated with various freeze‐dried kiwifruit powders during incubation
Authors: Kim Haeun , Chin Koo Bok
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the protease activity of freeze‐dried kiwifruits as affected by the various colours and the antioxidant activities of protein hydrolysates from pork loin protein (sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins) containing different freeze‐dried kiwifruit powder during incubation times. The protease activity of freeze‐dried kiwifruit powders was determined using casein and meat protein as substrates. Gold and green kiwifruit powders showed higher protease activity than red kiwifruit powders. Each type of kiwifruit showed different hydrolysis degrees for myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins. The myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins with kiwifruit powder showed increased antioxidant activity compared to the control. The protein hydrolysates obtained from pork loins treated with green and gold kiwifruit powders increased antioxidant activity with increased incubation time. These results suggested that the protein hydrolysates of pork loins containing freeze‐dried kiwifruit powders had potential antioxidant activity, resulting in maintaining meat product quality during storage.
Enzymatic hydrolysis for functionalisation of watermelon seed protein from ultrasound‐assisted extraction in comparison to soy protein isolate
Authors: Şenol Ezgi , Özçelik Beraat , Neidhart Sybille , Leitenberger Martin , Jekle Mario
Published: November 2023

The functional characteristics of a watermelon seed protein isolate (UA‐WSPI), which resulted from an underutilised protein source by ultrasound‐assisted extraction and freeze‐drying, and a commercial spray‐dried soy protein isolate were compared. Both were enzymatically treated with pepsin plus trypsin (PT) or additionally with PT plus Alcalase (PAT) for functionalisation by obtaining different partial hydrolysates. Composition, DPPH scavenging activity, digestibility and technological functionality (such as dispersibility, water‐/oil‐holding capacity, and zeta potential) were analysed for each protein isolate and the hydrolysates. UA‐WSPI had advantages such as higher protein solubility. Enzymatic digestion of UA‐WSPI resulted in the highest peptide yields and degrees of hydrolysis. Hydrolysis by the PT treatment even increased the antioxidant activity and emulsifying properties of the hydrolysate compared to UA‐WSPI, whereas the soy protein isolates yielded hydrolysates of lowered antioxidant activity. Watermelon seeds proved to yield protein isolates as new functional food components, especially when applying appropriate enzyme combinations.