bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Employee silence as a response to cronyism in the workplace: the roles of felt violation and continuance commitment
Authors: Islam Talat , Rizvi Farheen , Farooq Waqas , Ahmed Ishfaq
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The practice of cronyism is a pervasive problem for most businesses and a great hindrance for employees, but empirical literature on its outcomes is scant. In light of such gaps, the objective of this study is to examine the relationship between organizational cronyism and employees' silence behavior through the mediating role of felt violation and the moderating role of continuance commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

A time-lagged cross-sectional survey comprising 226 respondents is carried out in a metropolitan city of a developing country (Lahore, Pakistan). The respondents were selected using the convenience sampling technique.

Findings

The findings reveal that organizational cronyism influences employees' silence (acquiescent and quiescent) both directly and indirectly (via felt violation). However, continuance commitment was noted to work as a boundary condition only between felt violation and quiescent silence.

Research limitations/implications

Although the study deals with common method bias by collecting data in two waves, it may restrict causality. The findings not only have implications for the academicians, but also contribute to the conservation of resources theory. This study suggests organizations develop and implement a comprehensive intervention strategy that focuses on both prevention and damage control as a result of organizational cronyism.

Originality/value

Drawing upon the conservation of resources theory, this study adds value to the literature by empirically investigating the outcomes of cronyism at work. Moreover, the outcomes and mechanisms under consideration have largely been ignored in the literature.
Amaro's business model innovation: DNVB or platform?
Authors: da Silva Wellington José , Araújo Giselle da Costa , Rehder Adriano , Pedroso Marcelo Caldeira
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This teaching case aims to analyze the business model of Amaro, a company that directly sells lifestyle goods to end consumers (B2C), focused on the women's market. Amaro's original business model is introduced and a challenging dilemma is proposed: could Amaro innovate its business model, moving from a digitally native vertical brand (DNVB)-type company to a platform, specifically a vertical marketplace focused on the female audience? Would Amaro be prepared for this evolution or would it be more appropriate to focus on or strengthen the DNVB model?

Design/methodology/approach

This teaching case was developed based on in-depth interviews with Amaro's leadership. The teaching notes were proposed based on business model innovation, competitive positioning and market trends concepts. The teaching case considers a new type of business model called DNVB. Students can review the concepts, create analyses and recommend which strategic options can leverage the company for a new growing cycle.

Findings

Using the case study in the classroom should promote the discussion and reflections on business model innovation and the future of retail in omnichannel contexts - Amaro offers products online (on an e-commerce platform and native mobile applications) and physically in locations called guide shops. The authors suggested the adoption of frameworks and tools (e.g. the competitive positioning map to allow students to visualize ways to compare strategies and make decisions).

Research limitations/implications

The case introduces a fictional dilemma related to the decision to maximize offline or online investments or completely change the company's business model by adding a new vertical marketplace approach.

Practical implications

This teaching case contributes to the student's learning about business model innovation and evolution. Case discussions could explore contemporary concepts such as value proposition, disintermediation and omnichannel commerce.

Originality/value

Offering goods directly to the consumers by using modern technological architecture through vertical integration within the supply chain makes the DNVB business model an original topic in the start-up segment.
Melanie Perkins: poised to redesign Canva from tech unicorn to tech giant?
Authors: Prasad V. Namratha , Koti Vinod Babu
Published: September 2023

Research methodology

The case was written using information and data from secondary sources. It describes real people and the situations experienced by them. It does not use any fictitious names, scenarios or organizations.

Case overview/synopsis

The case study “Melanie Perkins: Poised to Redesign Canva from Tech Unicorn to Tech Giant?” describes the entrepreneurship journey of Melanie Perkins (she) (Perkins), the CEO of Australia-based tech unicorn and graphic design company, Canva Pty Ltd. (Canva). The case starts with a brief look into Perkins’ background and documents her entrepreneurial spirit, which, at the age of 19, led her to identify a hitherto unserved market (yearbooks) in the graphic design industry and offer an online design system through her venture, Fusion Books (Fusion). Fusion was completely bootstrapped and became a runaway success within five years. That encouraged her to envision setting up a one-stop-shop design site that would make design accessible to everyone.

However, when she tried to raise funds, Perkins encountered multiple rejections from venture capitalists. She persevered and continually refined her strategy. Eventually, she managed to raise venture capital funding and establish her design startup, Canva, in 2013. Canva then went on to disrupt the graphic design industry. The case describes in detail the reasons for Canva’s success, which went on to be one of the few profitable unicorn start-ups. The case also throws light on how Perkins used Canva as a tool to change society with her two-step plan. Despite its market success, Canva faced heavy competition in the design and publishing space from well-established players. Can Perkins challenge the competition and ultimately make Canva a software giant in the future?

Complexity academic level

The case is intended for use in teaching the subjects “Entrepreneurship Development,” “Business Strategy,” “Leadership Skills and Change Management” and “Positive Psychology for Managers” in both graduate and post-graduate programs.
Reproductive performance of Peregrine falcons relative to the use of organochlorine pesticides, 1946–2021
Authors: Oli Madan K. , Smith George D. , McGrady Michael J. , Chaudhary Vratika , Rollie Chris J. , Mearns Richard , Newton Ian , Lambin Xavier
Published: September 2023

Populations of some fish‐ and meat‐eating birds suffered dramatic declines globally following the introduction of organochlorine pesticides during the late 1940s and 1950s. It has been hypothesised that these population declines during the 1950s–1970s were largely driven by a combination of reproductive failure due to eggshell‐thinning, egg breakage and embryonic death attributable to DDT and its metabolites, and to enhanced mortality attributable to the more toxic cyclodiene compounds such as aldrin and dieldrin.

Using 75 years (1946–2021) of Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) monitoring data (315 unique nest‐sites monitored for 6110 nest‐years), we studied the breeding performance of a resident Peregrine population in southern Scotland relative to the spatiotemporal pattern of organochlorine pesticide use.

We show that (i) Peregrine breeding success and measures of breeding performance increased substantially following the reduction in, and subsequently a complete ban on, the use of organochlorine pesticides; (ii) improvements in Peregrine breeding performance were more dramatic in southeastern Scotland where agriculture was the predominant land use than in southwestern Scotland where there was less arable and more forested land; (iii) Peregrines nesting closer to the coast generally had higher fledging success (that is, a higher proportion of clutches that produced at least one fledgeling) than those nesting inland farther away from the coast; (iv) low temperatures and excessive rain in May negatively affected Peregrine fledging success; and (v) Peregrine abundance increased in parallel with improvements in reproductive performance following the reduction and then complete ban on the use of organochlorine pesticides in the UK. However, recovery was gradual and occurred over four decades, and rate of recovery varied among measures of reproductive performance (egg, nestling and fledgeling production).

Our results suggest that the temporal pattern of organochlorine pesticide use strongly influenced Peregrine reproductive parameters but that the pattern of influence differed regionally. Overall results are consistent with the hypothesis that reproductive failure caused by organochlorine pesticides was an important driver of the decline in the south Scottish Peregrine population, and that improvements in all measures of breeding performance following a reduction and eventual ban on organochlorine use facilitated the observed increase in this population.
Niche dynamics along two centuries of multiple crayfish invasions
Authors: Viana Duarte S. , Oficialdegui Francisco J. , Soriano María del Carmen , Hermoso Virgilio , Clavero Miguel
Published: September 2023

The realised ecological niches of species may change in response to dynamic abiotic and biotic environments, particularly under fast global change. To fully understand the dynamics of niche features and their drivers, it is essential to have a long‐term view of species distributions and the factors that may have influenced them.

Here, we analysed the distribution and niche dynamics of the Italian crayfish (Austropotamobius fulcisianus) in the Iberian Peninsula over the past 200 years. The Italian crayfish was introduced to Spain in the 16th century, and spread due to multiple stocking events until the 1970s, when two North American crayfish (red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii, and signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus) were introduced. Both North American species are carriers of a pathogen (Aphanomyces astaci, the causal agent of crayfish plague) lethal to the Italian crayfish. We hypothesised that the realised niche of the Italian crayfish, both in breadth and in position, has changed over time following changes in its range.

The distribution of the Italian crayfish expanded from the mid‐19th century until the mid‐20th century, in association with an enlargement of its realised niched, mostly towards less abrupt and more coastal‐influenced areas. After the introduction of the North American crayfishes, the collapse of the Italian crayfish involved a niche shift towards rough terrains in mountain areas. North American crayfish have eventually occupied most of the Italian crayfish's niche space, with the few no‐coexistence areas being relegated to the most abrupt and high‐elevation territories.

Our historical approach allowed us to document and understand the highly dynamic distribution and niche of the Italian crayfish in the presence of invader counterparts, and to explore the environmental conditions under which their coexistence is minimised.
The Antinomies of Insurgency: The Case of the Scottish National Party
Authors: Foley James , Montgomery Tom , Kerr Ewan
Published: September 2023

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has emerged from generations on the periphery to make a substantial imprint on mainstream British politics. However, in only a matter of months, the foundations of that success have crumbled and, by the admission of its leaders, the SNP is experiencing its greatest crisis in five decades. The roots of this crisis are not well understood, since most recent research has sought to explain the SNP's post‐2014 successes. However, the article argues that these successes have always hinged upon a prior moment of politicisation in 2014 on the one hand, and annual cycles of mobilisation and demobilisation on the other. The article draws attention to the SNP's governing strategy of stabilising itself through a process of strategic depoliticisation on independence, which supplanted activist mobilisation with a politics of spectatorship. It then goes on to suggest that, for the SNP, this depended on a paradox of crisis in the British state and being a governing party of the British state.
Prevalence of alcohol and other drug detections in non‐transport injury events
Authors: Lau Georgina , Mitra Biswadev , Gabbe Belinda J , Dietze Paul M , Reeder Sandra , Cameron Peter A , Smit De Villiers , Schneider Hans G , Symons Evan , Koolstra Christine , Stewart Cara , Beck Ben
Published: September 2023

Objective

To measure the prevalence of alcohol and/or other drug (AOD) detections in suspected major trauma patients with non‐transport injuries who presented to an adult major trauma centre.

Methods

This registry‐based cohort study examined the prevalence of AOD detections in patients aged ≥18 years who: (i) sustained non‐transport injuries; and (ii) met predefined trauma call‐out criteria and were therefore managed by an interdisciplinary trauma team between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2022. Prevalence was measured using routine in‐hospital blood alcohol and urine drug screens.

Results

A total of 1469 cases met the inclusion criteria. Of cases with a valid blood test (n = 1248, 85.0%), alcohol was detected in 313 (25.1%) patients. Of the 733 (49.9%) cases with urine drug screen results, cannabinoids were most commonly detected (n = 103, 14.1%), followed by benzodiazepines (n = 98, 13.4%), amphetamine‐type substances (n = 80, 10.9%), opioids (n = 28, 3.8%) and cocaine (n = 17, 2.3%). Alcohol and/or at least one other drug was detected in 37.4% (n = 472) of cases with either a blood alcohol or urine drug test completed (n = 1263, 86.0%). Multiple substances were detected in 16.6% (n = 119) of cases with both blood alcohol and urine drug screens (n = 718, 48.9%). Detections were prevalent in cases of interpersonal violence (n = 123/179, 68.7%) and intentional self‐harm (n = 50/106, 47.2%), and in those occurring on Friday and Saturday nights (n = 118/191, 61.8%).

Conclusion

AOD detections were common in trauma patients with non‐transport injury causes. Population‐level surveillance is needed to inform prevention strategies that address AOD use as a significant risk factor for serious injury.
The long arm of the gang: Disengagement under gang governance in Central America
Authors: Cruz José Miguel , Rosen Jonathan D. , Mizrahi Yemile
Published: September 2023

Institutionalized gangs are youth groups that have developed the ability to persist, expand, and restructure organizationally around criminal activities and have imposed their norms and behavioral prescriptions on the communities where they operate. So how does a gang member manage to leave these groups and abandon violent crime? This article proposes a new theoretical model of gang disengagement based on a comparative case study with MS‐13 and Barrio 18 gangs in Central America. It is based on 112 in‐depth interviews with former gang members in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The article identifies three forms of gang disengagement: religious conversion, secular pass, and walking away. Two factors, the gang's organizational structure and its territorial reach, mediate in the choices gang members have when leaving an institutionalized gang. The specific combination of these factors makes some disengagement modes more likely than others. The article underscores the role of gang governance in shaping gang members’ disengagement processes.
Source‐sink patterns on coffee trees related to annual climate variability: An approach through stable isotopes analysis
Authors: Toro‐Herrera M. A. , Pennacchi J. P. , Vieira D. A. , Costa V. E. , Honda Filho C. P. , Barbosa A. C. M. C. , Barbosa J. P. R. A. D.
Published: September 2023

Stable isotopic determination constitutes a useful tool to identify the processes that control the dynamics of the carbon and nitrogen flow in plants, unravelling the mechanisms of their differential investment under different environments. This work aimed to evaluate the spatiotemporal variation of source‐sink patterns of coffee trees under field conditions in response to climatic conditions through the assessment of stable isotopes. For this purpose, stems, leaves, and fruit samples from coffee trees were collected following a temporal pattern based on the region's climatic characteristics and the plant's phenology and a spatial pattern considering different parts of the canopy. The carbon and nitrogen percentage content, the C/N ratio, and the carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions (δ13C and δ15N) were determined for all samples. The basal portion of the orthotropic branch was also considered for the isotopic analysis of the tree's growth rings. The results obtained were correlated with the climatic variables of the region through a Pearson correlation analysis (p < .05). Coffee plants showed traditional δ13C values of C3 plants. Temporal δ13C variation was associated with the different growth rates between phenological stages and the use of substrates produced at different times under different environmental conditions leading to differences in photosynthetic discrimination. Spatial δ13C variation was observed with heterotrophic tissues isotopically heavier than leaves, with a significant decrease trend in δ13C values from the top (upper third) to the bottom (lower third), associated with ecophysiological differences between the canopy, isotopic fractionation processes downstream of photosynthetic carbon discrimination, and the fixation of C from other pools. Temporal δ15N variation was associated with the precipitation rates in the region and the fertilization distribution across the tree, while the spatial variation was with the plant's nitrogen assimilation and translocation patterns. The tree growth rings isotopic analyses showed isotopic differences between growth rings of the same plant addressed by the climatic conditions, with precipitation being the primary climatic determinant influencing the fixation and discrimination against 13C. Our results highlight the importance of using stable isotope analysis as a reference point for coffee ecophysiological studies to characterize how the temporal and spatial patterns of δ13C and δ15N emerge and signal the influence of climate on the source‐sink relationship of coffee trees under field conditions.
Factors associated with daily use of benzodiazepines/tranquilizers and opioids among people who use drugs
Authors: Kozak Zofia , Urquhart Glenna J. , Rouhani Saba , Allen Sean T. , Park Ju N. , Sherman Susan G.
Published: September 2023

Background

Co‐use of benzodiazepines and opioids significantly increases fatal overdose risk, yet few studies have examined co‐use of these drugs when obtained both with and without a prescription. We examined associations of daily co‐use of prescribed benzodiazepines/tranquilizers (BZD/TRQ) and prescribed and nonprescribed opioids among people who use street opioids (PWUO).

Methods

PWUO (N = 417) were recruited from Baltimore City and neighboring Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and surveyed on sociodemographic characteristics, structural vulnerabilities, healthcare access and utilization, substance use, and overdose experiences. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with self‐reported co‐use.

Results

Participants were 46 years old on average, and predominantly Black (74%) males (62%). Daily co‐use was reported by 22%. In multivariable analyses, odds of co‐use were significantly higher among participants who did not have a high school degree/GED (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–2.88), endorsed receiving mental health treatment in the past 6 months (aOR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.28–3.56), reported daily use of powdered cocaine (aOR: 3.57, 95% CI: 1.98–6.45), and synthetic cannabinoids (aOR: 3.11, 95% CI: 1.40–6.93). Odds of co‐use were significantly lower among Black participants compared to white participants (aOR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.19–0.82).

Conclusions and Scientific Significance

Clinicians working with PWUO or who prescribe BZDs or opioids should screen patients who use cocaine or synthetic cannabinoids, have low level of educational attainment, or recently accessed mental health services, as these patients may be at higher risk for daily co‐use of BZD/TRQ and opioids, and therefore lethal overdose.
Flowing Capital‐Disrupted Homes: Financialisation and Maintenance of Rental Housing in Sweden
Authors: Kadıoğlu Defne , Kellecioğlu Ilhan
Published: September 2023

Studies on rental housing financialisation have blossomed over the last decade. Studies are often concerned with issues around affordability and displacement, while less focus has been on how financialisation reconfigures the materials of housing, home, and the residential environment by subordinating maintenance to aggressive and unsustainable renovation strategies. We look at the case of Sweden and zoom in on a working‐class Stockholm suburb where part of the housing stock is owned by the German, publicly listed real estate company Vonovia. We discuss how national and international regulations remain insufficient in ensuring that every day and structural maintenance is conducted properly by financialised landlords, leaving tenants stuck with delayed and poor‐quality repair and replacement work as well as insufficient communication, severely affecting their quality of life. We propose to discuss the concepts of “housing as infrastructure” to account for these complex consequences.
Hormonal, immune, and oxidative stress responses to blood flow‐restricted exercise
Authors: Hjortshoej M. H. , Aagaard P. , Storgaard C. D. , Juneja H. , Lundbye‐Jensen J. , Magnusson S. P. , Couppé C.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Heavy‐load free‐flow resistance exercise (HL‐FFRE) is a widely used training modality. Recently, low‐load blood‐flow restricted resistance exercise (LL‐BFRRE) has gained attention in both athletic and clinical settings as an alternative when conventional HL‐FFRE is contraindicated or not tolerated. LL‐BFRRE has been shown to result in physiological adaptations in muscle and connective tissue that are comparable to those induced by HL‐FFRE. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear; however, evidence suggests that LL‐BFRRE involves elevated metabolic stress compared to conventional free‐flow resistance exercise (FFRE).

Aim

The aim was to evaluate the initial (<10 min post‐exercise), intermediate (10–20 min), and late (>30 min) hormonal, immune, and oxidative stress responses observed following acute sessions of LL‐BFRRE compared to FFRE in healthy adults.

Methods

A systematic literature search of randomized and non‐randomized studies was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus. The Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB2, ROBINS‐1) and TESTEX were used to evaluate risk of bias and study quality. Data extractions were based on mean change within groups.

Results

A total of 12525 hits were identified, of which 29 articles were included. LL‐BFRRE demonstrated greater acute increases in growth hormone responses when compared to overall FFRE at intermediate (SMD 2.04; 95% CI 0.87, 3.22) and late (SMD 2.64; 95% CI 1.13, 4.16) post‐exercise phases. LL‐BFRRE also demonstrated greater increase in testosterone responses compared to late LL‐FFRE.

Conclusion

These results indicate that LL‐BFRRE can induce increased or similar hormone and immune responses compared to LL‐FFRE and HL‐FFRE along with attenuated oxidative stress responses compared to HL‐FFRE.
Can obesity exacerbate hyperinsulinaemia in the presence of the mutation of an insulin receptor gene?
Authors: Calcaterra Valeria , Zuccotti Gianvincenzo , Mari Alessandra , Iafusco Fernanda , Maione Giovanna , Iafusco Dario , Tinto Nadia
Published: September 2023

Insulin receptor gene (INSR) mutations are a relatively rare and diverse cause of insulin resistance (IR), typically associated with a lean phenotype. However, we present a unique case of severe obesity and Type A severe IR syndrome in a patient with a heterozygous mutation of the INSR gene. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis was conducted to identify the genetic variant. A 16‐year‐old girl with severe obesity (BMI‐SDS +2.79) exhibited markedly elevated basal insulin levels (>800 mcU/L). Despite obesity being a known cause of hyperinsulinism, further investigation was pursued due to the severity of hyperinsulinaemia. A heterozygous nucleotide variant at the donor splicing site of intron 13 (c.2682 + 1G > A) of the INSR gene was identified. This mutation was also present in the proband's normal‐weight mother and her two younger brothers with obesity. Metformin treatment provided limited benefits, but subsequent liraglutide therapy resulted in weight loss and decreased IR 3 months after initiation. Our findings suggest that obesity can exacerbate hyperinsulinaemia in individuals with an INSR gene mutation. Although INSR signalling defects play a minor role in the aetiology of IR, they should still be considered in the diagnostic pathway, particularly in severe phenotypes. Clinicians should not overlook the possibility of genetic causes in patients with obesity and IR, as they may require personalized management approaches.
Contact allergy to rubber accelerators in consecutively patch tested Danish eczema patients: A retrospective observational study from 1990 to 2019
Authors: Kursawe Larsen Christoffer , Schwensen Jakob F. B. , Zachariae Claus , Johansen Jeanne D.
Published: September 2023

Background

Rubber accelerators are used in the production of rubber gloves and may cause contact allergy.

Objectives

To estimate long‐term trend and prevalence of contact allergy to rubber accelerators for a 30‐year period in Denmark, high‐risk occupations, and exposures.

Methods

Data from all patients with contact dermatitis consecutively patch tested at the department of Skin and Allergy Gentofte hospital with the rubber accelerators from the European baseline series (EBS) from 1990 to 2019, were analysed. Further, patients under suspicion of rubber accelerator contact allergy were additionally patch‐tested with rubber accelerators from the specialised rubber series from 2005 to 2019 and these were additional extracted.

Results

The overall prevalence of contact allergy to one or more of the rubber accelerators from the EBS series was 2.7% with a significant decline in the first 12‐years, followed by a stable frequency in the past 18‐years. Associations with occupational contact dermatitis, hand dermatitis, and leg/foot dermatitis were found. Wet‐work occupations were most often affected and gloves the most frequent exposure.

Conclusions

Contact allergy to one or more of the rubber accelerators from the EBS is frequent and has been unchanged for several decades, which calls for prevention.
An evaluation of 910 premolars transplanted in the anterior region—A retrospective analysis of survival, success, and complications
Authors: Louropoulou Anna , Andreasen Jens Ove , Leunisse Manfred , Eggink Edwin , Linssen Marcel , Van der Weijden Fridus , Barendregt Dick
Published: September 2023

Aim

The aim this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the survival, success and possible complications of transplanted premolars to the anterior region subdivided in development stage and patient's age.

Materials and Methods

The material comprised patients that underwent a tooth transplantation between April 2004 and December 2021. A total of 910 premolars were transplanted in 707 patients. Tooth mobility, oral hygiene, and periodontal parameters were clinically evaluated. Standardized radiographs were used to evaluate pulpal and periodontal healing and root formation. The cumulative survival rate was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

The data were subdivided in three groups based on the stage of root development and patient's age. The average age at surgery was 16 years. The main indication for transplantation was trauma, followed by agenesis and other indications. Two premolars were lost during the whole observation period. The overall survival and success in the immature premolars group after an observation period of 10 years was 99.8%. The 10‐year survival and success rate when fully developed premolars were transplanted in the anterior region in adolescents were 100% and 96.3%, respectively. In adults, the 10‐year survival and success rate were 87.5%.

Conclusion

Transplantation of premolars with developing and fully developed roots to the anterior region in children, adolescents, and adults is a predictable treatment modality.
Comparative evaluation of three materials used for fragment reattachment in uncomplicated crown fracture—An in vitro study using bovine teeth
Authors: Jhunjhunwala Garima , Tewari Nitesh , Atif Mohammad , Morankar Rahul , Mathur Vijay Prakash , Bansal Kalpana
Published: September 2023

Background/Aims

The recommended treatment for uncomplicated crown fractures is bonding the fractured fragment or the fragment reattachment. A paucity was identified regarding the studies comparing the efficacy of micro‐hybrid and nanohybrid composites in fragment reattachment. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate and compare three materials for bonding of fragments rehydrated by humidification in teeth with uncomplicated crown fractures.

Material and Methods

Eighty mandibular bovine incisors with similar dimensions and free of any structural deformities were fractured similar to the technique followed in previous studies. Fracture was simulated, fragments, and stumps were coded, stumps were stored in artificial saliva and the fragments were dehydrated at room temperature and pressure. They were randomly assigned to Group‐1 (no rehydration), Group‐2 (rehydrated and bonded by flowable nanohybrid composite—3M Filtek Supreme Syringe Flowable Composite Resin—A2, Sao Paulo, Brazil), Group‐3 (rehydrated and bonded by flowable micro‐hybrid composite‐ Ruby Flow, InciDental, England, United Kingdom), and Group‐4 (rehydrated and bonded by light‐cured Glass‐Ionomer‐Cement—Voco Ionoseal, Cuxhaven, Germany). The samples were subjected to a universal testing machine to evaluate the force required to fracture the bonded fragments.

Results

The highest median value of the force required to fracture was recorded for Group 2 (208.4 N) followed by Group 3 (195.2). The force required to fracture the bonded fragments was lowest in Group 4 (67.2 N) which was lower than the negative control (131.4 N). The differences between the observations in Groups 2 and 3 were not found to be statistically significant.

Conclusion

The nano and micro‐hybrid composites showed greater force required to fracture than fragments bonded by LC‐GIC. Dehydrated fragments bonded using nanocomposites performed better than rehydrated fragments bonded by using LC‐GIC.
BCR::ABL1 kinase domain mutation testing and clinical outcome in a nationwide chronic myeloid leukemia patient population
Authors: Kockerols Camille , Valk Peter J. M. , Blijlevens Nicole M. A. , Cornelissen Jan J. , Dinmohamed Avinash G. , Geelen Inge , Hoogendoorn Mels , Janssen Jeroen J. W. M. , Daenen Laura G. M. , Reijden Bert A. van der , Westerweel Peter E.
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Acquired missense mutations in the BCR::ABL1 kinase domain (KD) may cause tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment failure. Based on mutation‐specific in vitro derived IC50‐values, alternative TKI may be selected. We assessed clinical practice of BCR::ABL1 KD mutation testing, clinical response in relation to IC50‐values, and clinical outcome of tested patients.

Methods

Patients from six Dutch CML reference centers and a national registry were included once a mutational analysis was performed. Reasons for testing were categorized as suboptimal TKI response, and primary or secondary TKI resistance.

Results

Four hundred twenty analyses were performed in 275 patients. Sixty‐nine patients harbored at least one mutation. Most analyses were performed because of suboptimal TKI response but with low mutation incidence (4%), while most mutations were found in primary and secondary resistant patients (21% and 51%, respectively). Harboring a BCR::ABL1 mutation was associated with inferior overall survival (HR 3.2 [95% CI, 1.7–6.1; p < .001]). Clinically observed responses to TKI usually corresponded with the predicted TKI sensitivity based on the IC50‐values, but a high IC50‐value did not preclude a good clinical response per se.

Conclusions

We recommend BCR::ABL1 KD mutation testing in particular in the context of primary or secondary resistance. IC50‐values can direct the TKI choice for CML patients, but clinical efficacy can be seen despite adverse in vitro resistance.
Evaluation of anti‐inflammatory activity of kaurenol: Experimental evaluation and mechanistic insights
Authors: Furtado Ricardo Andrade , Ross Samir A. , de Almeida Junior Silvio , de Mendonça Rafael Paranhos , Bernardes Cristiane Teixeira Vilhena , da Silva Mauro Nogueira , Zoccal Karina Furlani , Faccioli Lúcia Helena , Bastos Jairo Kenupp
Published: September 2023

Background

Kaurenol, a diterpene alcohol found in Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (known as “copaiba”), is historically used in traditional medicine for inflammatory conditions.

Objectives

This study aims to comprehensively assess the potential anti‐inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of kaurenol.

Methods

To this end, the following experiments were conducted to evaluated toxicity: locomotor performance and acute toxicity; nociception: acetic acid‐induced writhing and formalin‐induced antinociception; and anti‐inflammatory activity: carrageenan and dextran‐induced paw edema at 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, and measurement of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) in macrophages at 1, 3, and 9 μg/ml.

Results

Kaurenol did not show significant locomotor changes, acute toxicity, and central analgesic activity in the first phase of formalin test at dosages tested. Kaurenol showed 53%, 64%, 64%, and 58% of inhibition in the acetic acid‐induced writhing, second phase of formalin test, carrageenan and dextran‐induced paw edema, respectively.

Conclusion

The anti‐inflammatory activity was associated with the regulation of NO release and probably with the regulation of mediators, such as serotonin and prostaglandin in vascular permeability, as well as by being associated with the regulation of IL‐6 and IL‐10. Kaurenol display anti‐inflammatory activity but has no analgesic activity.
A long‐established invasive species alters the functioning of benthic biofilms in lakes
Authors: McKie Brendan G. , Tattersdill Kristina , Ecke Frauke , Frainer André , Sponseller Ryan A.
Published: September 2023

Invasive species often transform environmental conditions, exclude native species and alter ecosystem functioning, including key ecosystem processes underpinning nutrient and energy cycles. However, such impacts have been most documented during periods of invasive species dominance; their influences on functioning at lower relative abundances and after long‐term establishment are less well‐known.

We investigated the effects of Elodea canadensis, a macrophyte native to North America with a long invasion history in many regions of the world, on the biomass accrual and metabolism of littoral zone biofilms growing on organic and inorganic substrates.

We deployed nutrient diffusing substrates (NDS) in 18 replicate transects distributed across six lakes, comprising three invaded by E. canadensis and three uninvaded reference lakes. NDS were amended with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or N + P together, or were deployed as unamended controls. E. canadensis relative abundance varied widely in the invaded transects, ranging from 13% to 93% of all macrophyte cover.

On control substrates, algal biomass, quantified as Chlorophyll‐a, and gross primary production (GPP) were 42% and 78% greater in the invaded compared to uninvaded lakes, respectively. Respiration rates, attributable to responses of both autotrophs and heterotrophs, were 45% greater on control substrates in invaded lakes. By contrast, N‐limitation of both biofilm GPP and respiration was 25% and 35% greater in uninvaded compared with invaded lakes.

There was no evidence for differences in nutrients, light availability or grazing pressure between invaded and uninvaded transects. Rather, the observed differences in metabolism suggest that the presence of E. canadensis increases availability of N at local scales, reducing N‐limitation of biofilms and resulting in elevated rates of biofilm productivity.

Our results demonstrate that invasive elodeids might have significant impacts on biofilms and processes associated with the cycling of nutrients, even when long‐established and present at lower relative abundances.
The combined effects of treated sewage discharge and land use on rivers
Authors: Albini Dania , Lester Lauren , Sanders Philip , Hughes Jocelyne , Jackson Michelle C.
Published: September 2023

Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly threatened by multiple anthropogenic stressors. Release of treated sewage effluent and pollution from agricultural or urban sources can independently reduce water quality with implications for ecological communities. However, our knowledge of the combined effects of these stressors is limited. We performed a field study to quantify the combined effect of treated sewage discharge and land use on nutrient concentrations, sewage fungus presence and communities of macroinvertebrates and benthic algae. Over three seasons in four rivers we found that a model which included an interaction between sewage pollution and time of the year (i.e. months) was the best predictor of nutrient concentrations and the abundance of algae and sewage fungus. Both macroinvertebrate and algae communities shifted downstream of sewage input. Specifically, more tolerant groups, such as cyanobacteria and oligochaetes, were more abundant. The EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Tricoptera) water quality score was best explained by an interaction between month and agriculture in the surrounding landscape. Overall, our results show that sewage discharge has a significant impact on water quality and benthic riverine communities, regardless of the surrounding land uses. Agricultural inputs, however, could be more important than treated sewage discharge in reducing the abundance of sensitive invertebrate taxa. We need both improvements to wastewater treatment processes and reductions in agricultural pollution to reduce threats to vulnerable freshwater communities.
Drivers of microbially and plant‐derived carbon in topsoil and subsoil
Authors: Huang Weigen , Kuzyakov Yakov , Niu Shuli , Luo Yu , Sun Bo , Zhang Jiabao , Liang Yuting
Published: September 2023

Plant‐ and microbially derived carbon (C) are the two major sources of soil organic matter (SOM), and their ratio impacts SOM composition, accumulation, stability, and turnover. The contributions of and the key factors defining the plant and microbial C in SOM along the soil profile are not well known. By leveraging nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and biomarker analysis, we analyzed the plant and microbial C in three soil types using regional‐scale sampling and combined these results with a meta‐analysis. Topsoil (0–40 cm) was rich in carbohydrates and lignin (38%–50%), whereas subsoil (40–100 cm) contained more proteins and lipids (26%–60%). The proportion of plant C increases, while microbial C decreases with SOM content. The decrease rate of the ratio of the microbially derived C to plant‐derived C (CM:P) with SOM content was 23%–30% faster in the topsoil than in the subsoil in the regional study and meta‐analysis. The topsoil had high potential to stabilize plant‐derived C through intensive microbial transformations and microbial necromass formation. Plant C input and mean annual soil temperature were the main factors defining CM:P in topsoil, whereas the fungi‐to‐bacteria ratio and clay content were the main factors influencing subsoil CM:P. Combining a regional study and meta‐analysis, we highlighted the contribution of plant litter to microbial necromass to organic matter up to 1‐m soil depth and elucidated the main factors regulating their long‐term preservation.
Identification and functional analysis of Cochliomyia hominivoraxU6 gene promoters
Authors: Novas Rossina , Basika Tatiana , Williamson Megan E. , Fresia Pablo , Menchaca Alejo , Scott Maxwell J.
Published: September 2023

The New World screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, is an obligate parasite, which is a major pest of livestock. While the sterile insect technique was used very successfully to eradicate C. hominivorax from North and Central America, more cost‐effective genetic methods will likely be needed in South America. The recent development of CRISPR/Cas9‐based genetic approaches, such as homing gene drive, could provide a very efficient means for the suppression of C. hominivorax populations. One component of a drive system is the guide RNA(s) driven by a U6 gene promoter. Here, we have developed an in vivo assay to evaluate the activity of the promoters from seven C. hominivorax U6 genes. Embryos from the related blowfly Lucilia cuprina were injected with plasmid DNA containing a U6‐promoter‐guide RNA construct and a source of Cas9, either protein or plasmid DNA. Activity was assessed by the number of site‐specific mutations in the targeted gene in hatched larvae. One promoter, Chom U6_b, showed the highest activity. These U6 gene promoters could be used to build CRISPR/Cas9‐based genetic systems for the control of C. hominivorax.
Association between SARS‐CoV‐2 infections during pregnancy and preterm live birth
Authors: Mohanty Sarita , Tita Alan T. , Varner Michael , Stockwell Melissa S. , Newes‐Adeyi Gabriella , Battarbee Ashley N. , Reichle Lawrence , Morrill Tyler , Daugherty Michael , Mourad Mirella , Silverio Francisco Raul A. , Woodworth Kate , Wielgosz Kristina , Galang Romeo , Maniatis Pete , Semenova Vera , Dawood Fatimah S.
Published: September 2023

We examined associations between mild or asymptomatic prenatal SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and preterm live birth in a prospective cohort study. During August 2020–October 2021, pregnant persons were followed with systematic surveillance for RT‐PCR or serologically confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection until pregnancy end. The association between prenatal SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and preterm birth was assessed using Cox proportional‐hazards regression. Among 954 pregnant persons with a live birth, 185 (19%) had prenatal SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and 123 (13%) had preterm birth. The adjusted hazard ratio for the association between SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and preterm birth was 1.28 (95% confidence interval 0.82–1.99, p = 0.28), although results did not reach statistical significance.
Neuropsychiatric disorders in adults with atopic dermatitis: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Wan Joy , Wang Sonia , Shin Daniel B. , Syed Maha N. , Abuabara Katrina , Lemeshow Adina R. , Gelfand Joel M.
Published: September 2023

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) may be associated with an increased burden of neuropsychiatric outcomes such as anxiety and depression, but longitudinal data on the impact of AD severity is lacking, and a comprehensive assessment of neuropsychiatric disease in adults with AD is needed.

Objectives

Determine risk of incident neuropsychiatric disease among adults with AD by severity.

Methods

A cohort study using electronic health records data from UK general practices from 1994 to 2015. Adults (≥18 years) with AD were matched on age, practice and index date to patients without AD. AD severity was categorized using treatments and dermatology referrals. Outcomes were incident anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD), suicidality and completed suicide.

Results

Comparing 625,083 adults with AD to 2,678,888 adults without AD, AD was associated with higher risk of anxiety [HR 1.14 (1.13–1.15)], depression [1.14 (1.13–1.15)] and OCD [1.48 (1.38–1.58)] across all severities. Mild or moderate AD was also associated with higher risk of autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder and suicidality.

Conclusions

Atopic dermatitis is associated with a higher risk of multiple neuropsychiatric conditions, but these risks differ by specific condition and AD severity. Clinicians should inquire about mental health in patients with AD.
High-performing plastic clones best explain the spread of yellow monkeyflower from lowland to higher elevation areas in New Zealand
Authors: Williamson Michelle , Gerhard Daniel , Hulme Philip E. , Millar Aaron , Chapman Hazel
Published: September 2023

The relative contribution of adaptation and phenotypic plasticity can vary between core and edge populations, with implications for invasive success. We investigated the spread of the invasive yellow monkeyflower, Erythranthe gutatta in New Zealand, where it is spreading from lowland agricultural land into high-elevation conservation areas. We investigated the extent of phenotypic variation among clones from across the South Island, looked for adaptation and compared degrees of plasticity among lowland core versus montane range-edge populations. We grew 34 clones and measured their vegetative and floral traits in two common gardens, one in the core range at 9 m a.s.l. and one near the range-edge at 560 m a.s.l. Observed trait variation was explained by a combination of genotypic diversity (as identified through common gardens) and high phenotypic plasticity. We found a subtle signature of local adaptation to lowland habitats but all clones were plastic and able to survive and reproduce in both gardens. In the range-edge garden, above-ground biomass was on average almost double and stolon length almost half that of the same clone in the core garden. Clones from low-elevation sites showed higher plasticity on average than those from higher elevation sites. The highest performing clones in the core garden were also top performers in the range-edge garden. These results suggest some highly fit general-purpose genotypes, possibly pre-adapted to New Zealand montane conditions, best explains the spread of E. gutatta from lowland to higher elevation areas.

Abstract

Erythranthe gutatta growing along a roadside in the Lewis Pass, New Zealand. Photo Credit Aaron Millar.
Rapid hyperthyroidism-induced adaptation of salmonid fish in response to environmental pollution
Authors: Esin Evgeny V. , Shulgina Elena V. , Shkil Fedor N.
Published: September 2023

The streams draining volcanic landscapes are often characterized by a complex series of factors that negatively affect hydrobionts and lead to declines in their populations. However, in a number of cases, a range of rapid adaptive changes ensure the resilience of hydrobiont populations. Here, we present both field and experimental data shedding light on the physiological basis of adaptation to heavy metal contamination in populations of Dolly Varden charr (Salvelinus malma) differing in duration of isolation in volcanic streams. The study reveals that isolated populations have a physiological phenotype that distinguishes them from populations inhabiting clean waters. They are characterized by a hyperthyroid status accompanied by an increased metabolic rate, elevated activity of antioxidant enzymes, decreased ionic conductivity of tissues and reduced stored energy reserves. Our experimental data reveal that hyperthyroidism is an adaptive characteristic enhancing the resistance to heavy metal contamination and shaping the evolution of these populations. The similarity of physiological, developmental and morphological changes in isolated populations suggests a common source and mechanisms underpinning this case of ‘evolutionary rescue’. Thus, populations of S. malma trapped in volcanic streams represent a genuine case of rapid endocrine-driven adaptation to changing environmental stimuli.

Abstract

Volcanic heavy metal pollution leads to severe oxidative stress in landlocked fish populations. We found that fish can rapidly develop toxicosis resistance via adaptive physiological and developmental shifts. Alterations of pituitary–thyroid axis activity underlie these adaptive transformations. Thus, neurally driven endocrine changes provide an evolutionary rescue for fish.