bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of household behavioural intention towards reducing, reusing and recycling food waste management
Authors: Chengqin Edmund Khoo , Zailani Suhaiza , Rahman Muhammad Khalilur , Aziz Azmin Azliza , Bhuiyan Miraj Ahmed , Gazi Md. Abu Issa
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the determinants of household behavioural intention towards household reducing, reusing and recycling behaviour of food waste management.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 670 households in Malaysia and analysed by using the partial least square method.

Findings

The findings reveal that motivation to participate, ability to participate and perceived benefits are the crucial factors that significantly influence households’ attitudes. Household attitude has a significant impact on household behavioural intention, whilst social influence and perceived behavioural control are not associated with it. Government support is positively related to perceived behavioural control. The result also indicates that household behavioural intention has a significant impact on household reducing, reusing and recycling behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

The participants of this study were involved in home planning and food preparation in Malaysia. The individuals in charge of the household might have more awareness of food planning and waste control. Thus, it is recommended to adopt findings from other countries and learn from the experience of the local and international communities.

Practical implications

The households’ behavioural intentions can lead to the reducing, reusing and recycling behaviour of food waste management. The government policy mechanisms and households’ awareness can work effectively against food waste reduction because evaluations of the food waste programme were found to be scarce.

Social implications

Food insecurity is one of the major social problems. Many people are not aware of the food waste impacts and consequences; thus, motivation, knowledge and information should be provided to the consumer through forums and campaigns.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to new insights of household behavioural intention towards food waste reduction management by assessing the determinants of household attitude and government support for food waste reduction management programmes towards household reducing, reusing and recycling behaviours.
Development of probiotic yogurt from almond and cow’s milk using Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GR-1
Authors: Burrowes Ruth , Hekmat Sharareh
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of almond milk supplementation on the growth and viability of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GR-1 (LGR-1) in yogurt samples over 6 h of fermentation and 30 days of refrigerated storage.

Design/methodology/approach

Four yogurt treatments (T1–T4) were inoculated with the probiotic strain L. rhamnosus GR-1 and fermented for 6 h at 37°C and then placed in refrigerated storage at 4°C for 30 days. Microbial and pH analysis of each sample was conducted every 2  h throughout the fermentation period and on Days 1, 15 and 30 of cold storage to determine the viability of L. rhamnosus GR-1.

Findings

All samples achieved mean microbial counts of at least 108 CFU/mL during fermentation and storage. During fermentation, mean microbial counts increased for all treatments; however, differences in mean microbial counts between treatments were not significant. During storage, the mean microbial count for T4 at 15 and 30  days was significantly higher (p = 0.031) than microbial counts on Day 1. However, mean microbial counts did not differ significantly across all storage time points for treatments 1, 2 and 3 (p > 0.05). These results suggest that the addition of almond milk, in combination with cow’s milk, is suitable for propagating and preserving the viability of L. rhamnosus GR-1 in yogurt.

Originality/value

There is a consumer shift towards plant-based products due to health, environmental and ethical reasons. Almond milk is a popular nondairy alternative that provides enhanced nutritional value to traditionally dairy-based probiotic yogurts. L. rhamnosus GR-1 is an especially beneficial probiotic for women as it colonizes the gut and vaginal epithelium, promoting urogenital health, including preventing the recurrence of urinary tract infections and bacterial vaginosis.
Study on phase transformation behavior and mechanical properties of equiatomic ratio NiTi alloy formed by selective laser melting
Authors: Song Changhui , Huang Junfei , Liu Linqing , Hu Zehua , Yang Yongqiang , Wang Di , Yang Chao
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to better control the mechanical properties and functional properties of NiTi alloy.

Design/methodology/approach

NiTi alloy samples with equal atomic ratio were formed by selective laser melting (SLM). X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy and tensile testing methods were used to study the effects of different laser power and scanning speed on the densification behavior, phase transformation characteristics and mechanical properties of NiTi alloy.

Findings

Compared with the laser power, the variation of the keyhole effect caused by the change of scanning speed is more intense, which has a greater effect on the densification behavior of SLM NiTi alloy. The effect of the laser power on the phase transition temperature is small. The increase of scanning speed weakens the burning degree of Ni element, so phase transition temperature decreases. The results of DSC test and tensile test show that the scanning velocity can significantly change the phase transition temperature, martensite twins reorientation and stress–strain behavior of SLM NiTi alloy.

Originality/value

This study provides a potential method to regulate the mechanical properties and functional properties of NiTi shape memory alloy in the future and NiTi alloys formed by SLM with good elongation were obtained because the Supercellular crystal structure formed during the nonequilibrium solidification of SLM and the superfine precipitates dispersed in the alloy prevented the dislocation formation.
Do positive and negative shocks of institutional quality affect the ecological footprint in a developing economy?
Authors: Hussain Muzzammil , Mahmood Nasir
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The discourse on the governance and environment nexus has been an important research agenda. However, the debate on the role of institutional quality (IQ) in environmental degradation is continuous. Unlike others, this study aims to examine the asymmetric effect of IQ on the ecological footprint (EF) from 1984 to 2019 in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

The nonlinear autoregressive distributive lag model is used to empirically investigate the linkage of IQ and EF.

Findings

Reported results revealed that positive shocks are negatively affecting EF and negative shocks are positively affecting EF. Findings suggest that a better IQ is substantially reducing EF, whereas energy consumption and economic growth are increasing EF.

Originality/value

This study is original and provided important information about the performance of institutions regarding the environmental concerns in Pakistan. Moreover, this study has robust policy implications.
The effects of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil on analgesic effects and percutaneous absorption of naproxen sodium gel; an in vivo and in vitro study
Authors: Rostamkalaei Seyyed Sohrab , Iman Maryam , Ataee Ramin , Bahari Zahra
Published: December 2022

The percutaneous bioavailability of naproxen is low and several technologies have been utilized to overcome the problem. Although, some studies have reported the permeation‐enhancing properties of natural essential oils, no research has reflected the effectiveness of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil (LAEO) on increasing the percutaneous absorption of naproxen sodium from a topical gel. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate whether LAEO increased the percutaneous absorption and the analgesic effects of naproxen sodium topical gel. In the present study, naproxen topical gel was formulated using carbopol 940 (a gelling agent) and several vehicles such as PEG 400, ethanol, and water and the properties of gels were measured. Percutaneous absorption‐enhancing properties of LAEO were measured too. Based on our data, the essential oil‐containing formulation of naproxen represented greater penetration into (222.19 ± 24.87 vs. 107.65 ± 6.38 μg/cm2), and also across (22.07 ± 4.42 vs. 13.14 ± 2.87 μg/cm2) skin layers compared to the naproxen gel. Additionally, a significant analgesic property was observed in the naproxen topical gel containing 0.5% essential oil during both first and late phases of formalin test, as well as the late phase of tail‐flick test. It could be concluded that LAEO significantly enhanced naproxen percutaneous absorption and also its analgesic effects.
Antibiotic use in pregnancy
Authors: Eschenbach David A.
Published: December 2022

Linked article: This is a mini commentary on Choi et al., pp.415–423 in this issue. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17194
The effect of nursing home closure on local employment in the United States
Authors: Xu Lili , Sharma Hari , Wehby George L.
Published: December 2022

Objective

To estimate the effect of nursing home closure on local employment, overall, and by rurality.

Data Sources and Study Setting

We obtained 2008–2018 county‐level data from the Quarterly Workforce Indicators, Medicare Provider of Services, Area Health Resource, and Urban Influence Codes files. From 2008 to 2018, 878 counties experienced at least one nursing home closure, and 2055 counties did not experience a closure.

Study Design

Using a difference‐in‐difference study design, we compare the changes of total employment, health sector employment and non‐health sector employment over time between counties with and without a nursing home closure. We utilize the variation in the year and quarter of nursing home closures to estimate subsequent employment changes as well as employment trends before closure. We also account for contemporaneous events including nursing home entries and hospital entries and closures, and evaluate heterogeneity by rurality.

Data Extraction

We include data on nursing home closure from the Medicare Provider of Service file. Quarterly county‐level employee counts were obtained from the Quarterly Workforce Indicators provided by the Census Bureau. County‐level demographic data were obtained from the Area Health Resource Files. We use Urban Influence Codes from the Economic Research Service, Department of Agriculture, to classify metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural (noncore) counties.

Principal Findings

Health sector employment decreased by about 3.2%–4.1% (p < 0.01) in counties with a nursing home closure. The reduction was largest in rural counties (approximately 7.2%–9.4%, p < 0.01). The reduction in health sector employment persisted over time, particularly in rural counties. Overall, there was no discernable effect on non‐health sector employment.

Conclusions

Nursing home closure is associated with a persistent decline in health sector employment, particularly in rural counties, suggesting a reduction in the health care workforce and in the ability to sustain health care services supply, particularly in rural areas.
Association between disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs and bone turnover biomarkers
Authors: Azadeh Hossein
Published: December 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis as well as fractures. Patients diagnosed with RA had a 25% increased risk of osteoporotic fracture, according to a recent population‐based cohort study that compared them to people without RA. Several studies have found a correlation between osteoporosis and the presence of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1, and 6. These cytokines play a crucial part in the process of bone resorption by boosting osteoclast activation and encouraging osteoclast differentiation. Based on the correlation between RA, osteoporosis, and inflammation, it is possible that systemic immunosuppression with disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can help individuals with RA have a lower chance of developing osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. There is little information on how different DMARDs, biologic or non‐biologic, affect RA patients' bone metabolism. In this study, we present an overview of the influence that targeted therapies, such as biologics, non‐biologics, and small molecule inhibitors, have on bone homeostasis in RA patients.
Detecting overproduction: Evidence from inventory write‐down
Authors: Comiran Fernando , Siriviriyakul Subprasiri
Published: December 2022

We use inventory write‐downs to differentiate opportunistic and non‐opportunistic overproduction measures. We posit that non‐opportunistic overproduction is positively associated with future write‐downs because overproduction generally leads to excess inventory, while opportunistic overproduction (to inflate earnings) is negatively associated with write‐downs because write‐downs decrease earnings. We find that change‐based proxies (deviations from past behaviour) are positively associated with the likelihood of future write‐downs, whereas residual‐based proxies (deviations from industry norms) are negatively associated with this likelihood, suggesting that the former (latter) primarily capture non‐opportunistic (opportunistic) overproduction. Our study highlights the importance of using appropriate overproduction measures for each research setting.
Investor reactions to key audit matters: Financial and non‐financial contexts
Authors: Hoang Hien , Moroney Robyn , Phang Soon‐Yeow , Xiao Xinning
Published: December 2022

We investigate how a disclosed risk item and key audit matter (KAM) relatedness combine to affect investors' riskiness assessment in financial and non‐financial contexts. When management disclose a high‐risk item, we find that investors react the same way across contexts with KAM relatedness having no effect. When management disclose a low‐risk item, investors react differently in each context. When a KAM is related to the disclosed financial (non‐financial) low‐risk item, investors assess investment riskiness higher (lower) than when a KAM is unrelated to the low‐risk item. Our findings indicate the varying communicative value of KAMs across financial and non‐financial contexts.
Digital financial inclusion and investment diversification: Evidence from China
Authors: Lu Xiaomeng , Lai Yali , Zhang Yong
Published: December 2022

We examine the impact of digital financial inclusion on the diversification of individual stock investments in China using nationwide data from the Chinese Stock Market Individual Investor Survey and the Peking University Digital Financial Inclusion Index of China. We show that digital financial inclusion significantly increases the diversification of individual stock investments, primarily by reducing investors' perceived transaction costs and mitigating investors' limited attention. It also plays a more significant role among investors with lower conventional financial development, lower financial literacy, below 45 years old, shorter investment experience and females. We recommend the continued promotion of digital financial inclusion to optimise asset allocation in Chinese households.
Effect of Er:YAG laser on removal of fibre posts from root canal
Authors: Özcan Nihal , Utar Merve , Çulhaoğlu Ahmet Kürsad , Erdoğan Hamiyet Güngör
Published: December 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of Er:YAG laser in translucent fibre post removal. 60 human single‐rooted anterior teeth were divided into three groups (n = 20) according to post diameters (Exacto1‐E1, Exacto2‐E2, Exacto3‐E3) and subdivided according to laser application. Fibre posts were cemented to endodontically treated teeth, and the specimens were sliced with a thickness of 1.0 ± 0.2 mm. Er:YAG laser was applied and the push out bond strength test was performed. Two‐way analysis of variance was used to perform the statistical analysis. Push out bond strengths at apical area were significantly lower in all test groups (p < 0.05). Laser application caused increase in all radicular thirds, but it was significant for E1 and E3 groups. Laser application to the post‐dentine interface enhances the connection between post and dentine.
Substance use disorders and treatment in Asian American and Pacific Islander women: A scoping review
Authors: Wang Callie L. , Kanamori Margaux , Moreland‐Capuia Alisha , Greenfield Shelly F. , Sugarman Dawn E.
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives

Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) face unique barriers in seeking treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) and are less likely than the general population to receive treatment. Barriers specific to AAPI women may be especially significant given identified gender and racial differences in SUD prevalence and treatment. This review examines rates of SUD in AAPI women and summarizes the literature on SUD treatment for AAPI women.

Methods

Data from 2016 to 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) surveys were extracted to summarize rates of SUD. A scoping review of the literature on AAPI women and SUD treatment was conducted; eight articles published from 2010 to present were reviewed.

Results

The prevalence of SUDs among AAPI women increased overall, although rates of SUDs were generally lower in AAPI women compared to their male counterparts. Patterns of gender differences in SUDs varied for subpopulations of AAPI women. There is limited research on treatment utilization and access for AAPI women. The few studies that examined treatment outcomes found favorable outcomes for AAPI women; research on culturally adapted interventions was promising but nascent.

Discussion and Conclusions

Literature on SUD treatment for AAPI women is limited. The availability of more culturally tailored treatments addressing the specific needs of AAPI women may lead to more acceptability and treatment utilization for this group. Additional research is needed to elucidate the unique barriers to treatment AAPI women face.

Scientific Significance

With rising rates of substance use in AAPI women, there is a need to develop and test effective SUD treatments adapted for AAPI women.
Intersubjectivity, Empathy, Life‐World, and the Social Brain: The Relevance of Husserlian Neurophenomenology for the Anthropology of Consciousness
Authors: Laughlin Charles D.
Published: December 2022

Our species of hominin, Homo sapiens, is an extremely social animal. We are born with social brains. The phenomenology of Edmund Husserl is a methodological approach to social consciousness that offers significant advantages in terms of uncovering and describing the essential structures of our social perceptions and actions. This is especially true in this period of post‐neuro‐turn social science, because the structures described by Husserlian “pure” phenomenology with its emphasis upon “returning to the things,” performing reductions, and developing the skills available to the phenomenological attitude are in synch with neuroscientific research on the neural correlates of consciousness. For the anthropology of consciousness, the Husserlian methodology allows us to explore consciousness in cross‐cultural settings in greater detail and depth of understanding. This is especially the case with respect to the experience of intersubjectivity, the roots of which are found to be part of the inherent life‐world that all normal humans depend upon to true their experiences of the environing world, regardless of cultural background. The Husserlian approach to intersubjectivity challenges the discipline of anthropology to move past its knee‐jerk distinction between nature and nurture, and its erroneous assumption that human experience is somehow “culture all the way down.”
Personalized total neoadjuvant therapy versus chemotherapy during the ‘wait period’ versus standard chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer
Authors: Bedrikovetski Sergei , Traeger Luke , Fitzsimmons Tracy , Perry Joanne , Vather Ryash , Moore James W. , Sammour Tarik
Published: December 2022

Background

This study aimed to compare current treatment response rates with personalized Total Neoadjuvant Therapy (pTNT), against extended chemotherapy in the ‘wait period’ (xCRT) and standard chemoradiotherapy (sCRT) with adjuvant chemotherapy for rectal cancer.

Methods

This was a multicentre retrospective cohort analysis. Consecutive patients with rectal cancer treated with pTNT over a 3.9‐year period were compared to a historical cohort of patients treated with xCRT or sCRT as part of the published WAIT Trial. pTNT patients received 8 cycles mFOLFOX6 or 6 cycles CAPOX in the neoadjuvant setting (no adjuvant treatment). Patients in the WAIT Trial received either 3 cycles 5‐FU/LV during the 10‐week wait period after chemoradiotherapy or standard chemoradiotherapy, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was overall complete response (oCR) rate defined as the proportion of patients who achieved either complete clinical response (cCR) or pathological complete response (pCR).

Results

Of 284 patients diagnosed with rectal cancer during the 3.9‐year period, 107 received pTNT. Forty of these were matched with 49 patients from the WAIT Trial (25 received xCRT and 24 received sCRT). There was a significant difference in oCR between the groups (pTNT n = 21, xCRT n = 6, sCRT n = 7, P = 0.043). Of the patients that underwent surgery, pCR occurred in 13 patients with no significant difference between groups (P = 0.415). There were no significant differences in 2‐year disease‐free survival or overall survival.

Conclusion

Compared with sCRT and xCRT, pTNT results in a significantly higher complete response rate which may facilitate organ preservation.
Application of machine learning to discover interactions predictive of dietary lapses
Authors: Sala Margaret , Taylor Alexei , Crochiere Rebecca J. , Zhang Fengqing , Forman Evan M.
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study it to build a machine learning model to predict dietary lapses with comparable accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity to previous literature while recovering predictor interactions. The sample for the current study consisted of merged data from two separate studies of individuals with obesity/overweight (total N = 87). Participants completed six ecological momentary assessment surveys per day where they were asked about 16 risk factors of lapse and if they had lapsed from their dietary prescriptions since the previous survey. Alcohol consumption and self‐efficacy were the most prevalent in the top 10 stable interactions. Alcohol consumption decreased the protective effect of self‐efficacy, motivation, and planning. Higher planning predicted higher risk for lapse only when consuming alcohol. Low motivation, hunger, cravings, and lack of healthy food availability increased the protective effect of self‐efficacy. Higher self‐efficacy increased risk effect of positive mood and having recently eaten a meal on lapse. For individuals with lower levels of self‐efficacy, planning increased the risk of lapse. Alcohol intake and self‐efficacy interact with several variables to predict dietary lapses, and these interactions should be targeted in just‐in‐time adaptive interventions that deliver interventions for lapses.
Outcomes after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in young adults in Germany
Authors: Frietsch Jochen J. , Flossdorf Sarah , Beck James F. , Kröger Nicolaus , Fleischhauer Katharina , Dreger Peter , Schetelig Johannes , Bornhäuser Martin , Hochhaus Andreas , Hilgendorf Inken
Published: December 2022

Young adults (YA) represent a minority among recipients of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In order to describe the outcome of YA following HSCT in Germany, 9299 patients who were registered with the German Registry for Stem Cell Transplantation were included in this retrospective analysis of the years 1998–2019. The impact of the variables, such as patient age and sex, sex differences, stem cell source, donor type, conditioning, year of HSCT, the diagnosis, and the achieved remission status were tested in univariable and multivariable analysis for overall, event‐free and relapse‐free survival as well as for the cumulative incidences of non‐relapse and therapy‐related mortality. Altogether, the outcome of YA after HSCT improved over time and was determined by the underlying disease, the age at disease onset, stem cell source, and donor type. Patients were most likely to die from relapse, and survival of HSCT recipients after 10 years was reduced by more than half in comparison to the general population of YA. Deeper understanding of modifiable risk factors may be gained by studies comparing the outcome of YA post‐HSCT with that of children, adolescents and elderly patients. A deliberate and strong patient selection may further improve mortality rates.
The increasingly blurred line between induction, consolidation and maintenance in acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Frisch Avi , Rowe Jacob M. , Ofran Yishai
Published: December 2022

Since the early 1970s, the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) has undergone a major transformation. Initially based on only two drugs, an anthracycline and cytosine arabinoside, the aim of therapy was to achieve a haematological response allowing patients to recover and go home. Back in those early days, cure was not a realistic expectation. Treatment was analogous to a heart attack; upon recovery and a short respite, recurrence and death inevitably followed. Over the subsequent decades, slow but remarkable progress was made such that a subgroup of young adults could become long‐term survivors. This astonishing feat was achieved initially without the use of new drugs. Supportive care played a major role with the widespread availability of platelet transfusions and improved antimicrobial therapy, particularly antifungal. No less important was the better use of existing drugs and the development of allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation. While initially the focus was on maximal tolerated therapy, an understanding of the immunologic role of allogeneic transplantation, better genetic characterization of the biology of the disease, advanced tools for detection of minimal disease as well as the recent development of new drugs changed the focus to a more refined approach targeting patients who are more likely to respond. Clearly, the historical paradigm where the term AML was generic and applicable to all patients requires a rethinking from the traditional therapeutic demarcations of therapy into phases of induction, consolidation and maintenance. These evolving new concepts and paradigm will be herein considered.
Prognostic factors in patients in the terminal phase of haematological malignancies who are receiving home medical care
Authors: Miyashita Naohiro , Ohashi Kota , Fujita Mariko , Hosoda Toru , Kawasaki Yasufumi , Takimoto Madoka , Onozawa Masahiro
Published: December 2022

Although there are many prognostic models for patients in the terminal phase of solid tumours, a reliable prognostic scoring system in patients in the terminal phase of haematological malignancies (HM) has not been established. We retrospectively evaluated 180 patients in the terminal phase of HM who were receiving home medical care (HMC). Multivariate analyses revealed that clinician's estimate, consciousness, loss of appetite, dyspnoea, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and lactate dehydrogenase were associated with overall survival (OS). Based on this result, we developed a novel prognostic scoring system, the Japan palliative haematological oncology prognostic estimates, in which four risk groups were shown to clearly differ in survival (p < 0.001): a low‐risk group (n = 41, median OS of 434 days), an intermediate‐low‐risk group (n = 80, median OS of 112 days), an intermediate‐high‐risk group (n = 38, median OS of 31.5 days), and a high‐risk group (n = 21, median OS of 10 days). This is the first investigation of prognostic factors that influence the OS of patients in the terminal phase of HM who are receiving HMC. Providing patients with reliable information about their prognosis is important for them to consider how to spend their remaining life.
Sr‐Nd‐Hf isotopic constraints on the provenance of the modern Zambezi River sand sediments, southern Africa
Authors: Yang Jing , Nie Junsheng , Zhang Haobo , Rasmeni Sonwabile Kidwell , Ncube Lindani , van Niekerk Helena Johanna , Zhao Baojin , Hu Xiaofei
Published: December 2022

Understanding the source‐to‐sink relationship of a large river‐marginal sea system is key to using marginal sea sediments to infer terrestrial erosion/weathering variations. The Zambezi River, the largest river in the southern African region, has been transporting large amounts of sediments to the southwestern Indian Ocean since the Cretaceous, which have been often used to infer river integration history and uplift of the southern African region. Thus, characterizing the geochemical features of different parts of the river is the key to correctly interpreting terrestrial sediment signals in the southwestern Indian Ocean drill cores. Here we present the first provenance study based on Sr‐Nd‐Hf isotopic results of river sands from mainstream and tributaries of the Zambezi River. We find that the isotopic signatures of the river sediments are largely consistent with its underlying basements of the different reaches, which suggests the local geology control of the river sedimentary provenance. This result is in line with the studies of the provenance of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, which suggest that sediments transported by the upper reaches of large rivers draining interior continents are primarily stored in sedimentary basins on land instead of marginal seas. This study suggests caution must be taken in using sediments of marginal seas to infer erosion history of the hinterland mountain uplift and exhumation.
The ecological drivers and consequences of wildlife trade
Authors: Hughes Liam J. , Morton Oscar , Scheffers Brett R. , Edwards David P.
Published: December 2022

Wildlife trade is a key driver of extinction risk, affecting at least 24% of terrestrial vertebrates. The persistent removal of species can have profound impacts on species extinction risk and selection within populations. We draw together the first review of characteristics known to drive species use – identifying species with larger body sizes, greater abundance, increased rarity or certain morphological traits valued by consumers as being particularly prevalent in trade. We then review the ecological implications of this trade‐driven selection, revealing direct effects of trade on natural selection and populations for traded species, which includes selection against desirable traits. Additionally, there exists a positive feedback loop between rarity and trade and depleted populations tend to have easy human access points, which can result in species being harvested to extinction and has the potential to alter source–sink dynamics. Wider cascading ecosystem repercussions from trade‐induced declines include altered seed dispersal networks, trophic cascades, long‐term compositional changes in plant communities, altered forest carbon stocks, and the introduction of harmful invasive species. Because it occurs across multiple scales with diverse drivers, wildlife trade requires multi‐faceted conservation actions to maintain biodiversity and ecological function, including regulatory and enforcement approaches, bottom‐up and community‐based interventions, captive breeding or wildlife farming, and conservation translocations and trophic rewilding. We highlight three emergent research themes at the intersection of trade and community ecology: (1) functional impacts of trade; (2) altered provisioning of ecosystem services; and (3) prevalence of trade‐dispersed diseases. Outside of the primary objective that exploitation is sustainable for traded species, we must urgently incorporate consideration of the broader consequences for other species and ecosystem processes when quantifying sustainability.
Influence of green creativity on organizations: A case study from the perspectives of leaders and subordinates
Authors: Henriques Paulo Lopes , Jerónimo Helena Mateus , Laranjeira Jéssica
Published: December 2022

The sustainability framework has a strong influence on the policies, practices and procedures of companies. Green creativity plays a pivotal role in the development of initiatives and innovations for the environmental pillar of sustainability. Based on a survey applied to a Portuguese company with an accredited environmental management system (N = 146), the findings reveal that green creativity is influenced in different ways when analysed from distinct perspectives. The leader's green creativity is positively influenced by the subordinate's green self‐efficacy and personal identification with the leader, whereas the subordinate's green creativity is positively influenced by their green passion and green self‐efficacy, and the leaders' green creativity. This study shows that green creativity develops differentially according to distinct job positions and expectations that in practice must be complementary and synergistic for its effective development.
Drugging non‐coding RNAs—A new light of hope in senescence‐related cancer therapy
Authors: Sarkar Swarupa , Chowdhury Sougata Ghosh , Karmakar Parimal
Published: December 2022

Cancer is the most prevalent disease of concern worldwide for several decades. Diverse therapeutic aspects are in applications to control this phenomenal disease and also for decennaries. Among many causes and consequences of cancer, senescence has gained much interest in recent times. Senescence, also termed aging, is the natural process that induces cancer in neighboring cells through Senescence‐Associated‐Secretory Phenotypes (SASPs) production. As a cure or preventive measure of cancer progression, studies already light upon multiple proteins and their roles in associated pathways but the aspect of different non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is emerging recently and is under extensive research. Different approaches toward controlling senescence and inhibiting senescent cell accumulation are other aspects of cancer procurement. Thus, the role of ncRNA molecules in senescence and aging is getting much more interest as an alternate therapy for cancer treatment. In this review, at first, the roles of different ncRNAs related to several cellular processes are described. Then we tried to highlight the roles of different non‐coding RNAs in senescence‐induced cancer formation that extends with increasing age and emphasized non‐coding RNAs as a therapeutic target solely or in combination with small molecules where drugging of small molecules targeting these non‐coding RNAs can control cancer development.
HardVis: Visual Analytics to Handle Instance Hardness Using Undersampling and Oversampling Techniques
Authors: Chatzimparmpas A. , Paulovich F. V. , Kerren A.
Published: December 2022

Despite the tremendous advances in machine learning (ML), training with imbalanced data still poses challenges in many real‐world applications. Among a series of diverse techniques to solve this problem, sampling algorithms are regarded as an efficient solution. However, the problem is more fundamental, with many works emphasizing the importance of instance hardness. This issue refers to the significance of managing unsafe or potentially noisy instances that are more likely to be misclassified and serve as the root cause of poor classification performance.

This paper introduces HardVis, a visual analytics system designed to handle instance hardness mainly in imbalanced classification scenarios. Our proposed system assists users in visually comparing different distributions of data types, selecting types of instances based on local characteristics that will later be affected by the active sampling method, and validating which suggestions from undersampling or oversampling techniques are beneficial for the ML model. Additionally, rather than uniformly undersampling/oversampling a specific class, we allow users to find and sample easy and difficult to classify training instances from all classes. Users can explore subsets of data from different perspectives to decide all those parameters, while HardVis keeps track of their steps and evaluates the model's predictive performance in a test set separately. The end result is a well‐balanced data set that boosts the predictive power of the ML model. The efficacy and effectiveness of HardVis are demonstrated with a hypothetical usage scenario and a use case. Finally, we also look at how useful our system is based on feedback we received from ML experts.
Safety and efficacy of prophylactic anticoagulation versus therapeutic anticoagulation in hospital‐admitted COVID‐19 patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Rauniyar Robin , Kuikel Sandip , Mishra Aman , Rauniyar Rohit , Yadav Shikha , Thapaliya Sahil , Nepal Amit Sharma , Rauniyar Rahul
Published: December 2022

Background

COVID‐19 disease‐related coagulopathy and thromboembolic complication, an important aspect of the disease pathophysiology, are frequent and associated with poor outcomes, particularly significant in hospitalized patients. Undoubtedly, anticoagulation forms a cornerstone for the management of hospitalized COVID‐19 patients, but the appropriate dosing has been inconclusive and a subject of research. We aim to review existing literature and compare safety and efficacy outcomes of prophylactic and therapeutic dose anticoagulation in such patients.

Methods

We did a systematic review and meta‐analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of prophylactic dose anticoagulation when compared with therapeutic dosing in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE and COCHRANE databases from 2019 to 2021, without any restriction by language. We screened records, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias in the studies. RCTs that directly compare therapeutic and prophylactic anticoagulants dosing and are not placebo‐controlled trials were included. Analyses of data were conducted using the Mantel–Haenszel random‐effects model (DerSimonian–Laird analysis). The study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021265948).

Results

We included three studies in the final quantitative analysis. The incidence of thromboembolic events in therapeutic anticoagulation was lower in comparison with prophylactic anticoagulation in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients and reached statistical significance [RR 1·45, 95% CI (1.07, 1.97) I2 –0%], whereas major bleeding as an adverse event was found lower in prophylactic anticoagulation in comparison with therapeutic anticoagulation that was statistically significant [RR 0·42, 95% CI(0.19, 0.93) I2 –0%].

Conclusion

Our study shows that therapeutic dose anticoagulation is more effective in preventing thromboembolic events than prophylactic dose but significantly increases the risk of major bleeding as an adverse event. So, the risk–benefit ratio must be considered while using either of them.
Biodiversity accounts for the butterflies of the Australian Capital Territory
Authors: Bond Suzi , Vardon Michael
Published: December 2022

Biodiversity accounting is promoted as a way of improving the conservation of species and ecosystems. Advancing the theory and practice of biodiversity accounting is driven by the United Nation's standardization of ecosystem accounting in 2021 and a desire to make production of ecosystem accounts commonplace and useful. While the theory of biodiversity accounting has advanced, in practice few accounts have been produced and all have focused on iconic or threatened species. We present a set of novel biodiversity accounts for the 92 butterfly species of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), spanning 1978–2021, using historical records and systematic surveys of 224 sites between 2014–15 and 2020–21 in the Southern Hemisphere survey season (Spring‐Autum). We conclude that species level biodiversity accounting is useful for biodiversity conservation and that species accounting must go beyond accounting for iconic and threatened species and reflect other characteristics, such as the distribution, abundance, residential status, breeding status, endemism, and ecological status of all species. Habitat specialization provides a link to ecosystem condition accounting, with changes in the distribution and abundance of habitat specialists a likely indicator of ecosystem condition. With such information, species accounts can be used to assess and target conservation activity and examples for ACT butterflies are provided.
Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety and tolerability of cilofexor, a novel nonsteroidal Farnesoid X receptor agonist, in healthy volunteers
Authors: Younis Islam R. , Kirby Brian J. , Billin Andrew N. , Xiao Deqing , Song Qinghua , Watkins Timothy R. , Othman Ahmed A.
Published: December 2022

Cilofexor is a nonsteroidal farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist being evaluated for treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). This work characterized the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic, safety, and tolerability of cilofexor in healthy participants. Cilofexor single and multiple once‐daily doses (10 to 300 mg fasting or fed and twice‐daily doses [15 and 50 mg; fed]; tablet formulation) were evaluated. In each cohort, participants were randomized to active drug or placebo in a 4:1 ratio (planned n = 15/cohort). Multiple dosing was for 14 days. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic samples were collected and safety and tolerability were assessed. Overall, 120 participants were enrolled in the study and 118 participants received at least one dose of study drug. Cilofexor pharmacokinetics followed bi‐exponential disposition and its exposure increased in a less‐than‐dose‐proportional manner over the 10 to 300 mg dose range, with no significant accumulation with repeated dosing. Moderate‐fat meal reduced cilofexor area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) by 21% to 45%. Cilofexor increased plasma levels of fibroblast growth factor19 (FGF19) and reduced the serum bile acid intermediate 7α‐hydroxy‐4‐cholesten‐3‐one (C4) and bile acids in an exposure‐dependent manner. Cilofexor doses >30 mg appeared to achieve the plateau of intestinal FXR activation. Cilofexor was generally well tolerated; all treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were mild or moderate in severity, with headache being the most frequently observed TEAE. The pharmacokinetics pharmacodynamic safety, and tolerability results from this study supported further evaluations, and informed dose selection, of cilofexor in phase II studies in patients with NASH and PSC.
Why did Chinese state‐owned enterprises have higher export propensity? A study based on 2003–2007 data
Authors: Luo Wei , Lu Yue , Shi Huimin
Published: December 2022

Compared with privately owned enterprises (POEs), Chinese state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) are 6 percent more likely to export, although SOE productivity and external financial ability are 0.9 percent and 20% lower, respectively. To account for SOEs' higher export propensity, we build a model of firms' export decisions, embodying productivity, internal and external financing ability, and two aspects of China's institutional background: invisible subsidies to SOEs and preferential lending. We apply the model to firms from the Chinese Industrial Enterprise Survey Data, from 2003 to 2007, and find that SOEs' advantages in receiving invisible subsidies and more bank loans can significantly explain their higher export propensity.
Early‐onset venous thromboembolisms in newly diagnosed non‐promyelocytic acute myeloid leukemia patients undergoing intensive induction chemotherapy
Authors: Koschade Sebastian E. , Stratmann Jan A. , Steffen Björn , Shaid Shabnam , Finkelmeier Fabian , Serve Hubert , Miesbach Wolfgang , Brandts Christian H. , Ballo Olivier
Published: December 2022

Objectives and Methods

Venous thromboembolic (VTE) events are emerging as frequent complications in acute myeloid leukemia (AML); however, there is insufficient data regarding epidemiology, risk factors, and impact on outcomes. The optimal approach to balance risks of thrombosis and hemorrhage remains unclear. This retrospective single‐center study in AML patients undergoing induction chemotherapy between 2007 and 2018 assessed incidence, risk factors, features, and outcomes of early‐onset VTE.

Results

423 patients (median age 59 years) were enrolled. VTE was diagnosed in 31 patients (7.3%) within 3 months of admission. The median time to VTE was 3 days. Non‐central venous catheter (CVC)‐related VTE occurred in 19 patients (61%). Main risk factor for VTE was leukocytosis at admission, independent of platelet counts/INR. Four patients (13%) exhibited VTE recurrence. No deaths directly related to VTE or major bleeding events associated with platelet‐adjusted anticoagulation in patients with VTE were recorded. There was no clear impact of VTE on 1‐year overall survival; however, non‐CVC‐related VTE may be associated with adverse outcomes.

Conclusions

Early‐onset VTE is a common complication in newly diagnosed AML patients admitted for induction chemotherapy. Leukocytosis is an independent VTE risk factor. The potentially adverse impact of non‐CVC‐related VTE merits further study.
Impacts of healthy marriage and relationship education for expectant and new mothers
Authors: Patnaik Ankita , Wood Robert G. , Gonzalez Kathryn
Published: December 2022

Objective

To build the evidence base on healthy marriage and relationship education (HMRE) programs serving individual adults, this study examined the 1‐year impacts of the MotherWise program, which serves women with low incomes who are pregnant or have just had a baby.

Background

Despite the increasing prevalence of HMRE programs serving individual adults, few studies have rigorously examined their effectiveness.

Method

Women were randomly assigned to either (a) an intervention group offered MotherWise (n = 512), or (b) a control group not offered MotherWise (n = 437). Women's relationship skills, attitudes, and outcomes were measured by a 1‐year follow‐up survey.

Results

MotherWise improved women's relationship skills and attitudes, and reduced the likelihood of unintended pregnancy. MotherWise did not affect levels of intimate partner violence, coparenting quality, and emotional well‐being. Among women in a relationship with their baby's father, MotherWise improved the quality of that relationship.

Conclusion

MotherWise met its immediate goal of helping women develop the skills and attitudes to make informed, healthy decisions about relationships. The program's impact on unintended pregnancy suggests the program encouraged women to make more deliberate decisions about family planning.

Implications

Programs like MotherWise can improve certain outcomes of new and expectant mothers with low incomes by offering them HMRE services and other supports.