bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A qualitative meta-synthesis of research into patients’ past experiences and perceptions of orthodontic treatment outcomes
Authors: Mohammed Hisham , Daniel Ben K , Skilbeck Michael , Kumar Reginald , Halberstadt Jamin B , Farella Mauro
Published: January 2022

Background

There is a growing body of evidence emphasizing the importance of research into patient-centred experience in orthodontics. Benefits following orthodontic treatment are mainly related to improved aesthetics and psychosocial outcomes. However, treatment experience from the perspective of orthodontic patients is yet to be fully understood.

Objective

To understand the past experiences and current perceptions of treatment outcomes of orthodontic patients.

Study design

A qualitative meta-ethnography.

Selection criteria

Qualitative studies and mixed-methods articles with a distinct qualitative component presenting patients’ perception of outcomes and overall experiences after an active course of orthodontic treatment were included.

Search methods

Comprehensive electronic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and EMBASE up to May 2021, supplemented by grey literature and manual searches.

Data collection and analysis

Two independent reviewers were involved in study selection, data extraction, and quality appraisal. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool for qualitative research was used to assess the quality of included studies. Analysis of data was conducted using meta-ethnographic methods.

Results

Out of 801 retrieved search hits, six studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the synthesis. The analysis revealed three main themes and associated sub-themes: (1) Reflection on the past treatment experience, (2) Patient satisfaction with treatment outcomes, and (3) Learning to live with retainers.

Limitations

Results express patients’ opinions shortly after treatment, and the long-term impact of orthodontic treatment is yet to be understood.

Conclusions

Orthodontic patients mainly viewed their experiences and treatment results positively. Desirable aesthetic outcomes, psychosocial outcomes, and satisfaction with smiles were often reported in the studies reviewed. However, some barriers to optimal experiences were noticed concerning orthodontic retention.

Registration

PROSPERO (CRD42020180121).
Teacher agency and washback: insights from classrooms in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Ali Md. Maksud , Hamid M Obaidul
Published: January 2022

Although washback has been widely explored by applied linguists and education researchers, little attention has been paid to teacher agency in relation to it. It is critical to understand how language teachers navigate their pedagogy and respond to the broader curricular goals at a time when schools and teachers are being governed using examination and test data as accountability mechanisms. Drawing on data from classroom observations and interviews with two English teachers from a rural Bangladeshi school, this article illustrates how these teachers exercised their agency even under strong political pressure to improve students’ test data. The findings indicate that traditional understanding of washback as deterministic may be insufficient to account for the complex ways in which teachers may respond to broader educational goals in the context of washback. The study concludes with theoretical, empirical, and pedagogic implications for washback research and teacher education.
National High-Stakes Testing, Gender, and School Stress in Europe: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis
Authors: Högberg Björn , Horn Daniel
Published: January 2022

In this study, we ask if high-stakes testing affects school-related stress among students and if there are gender differences in these effects. Students’ results on high-stakes tests can have long-term consequences for their future educational trajectories and life chances. For girls, who tend to have higher educational aspirations and tend to gain more from higher education, the stakes involved may be even higher. The use of high-stakes testing has increased across Europe, but little is known about their consequences for stress or wellbeing. We combine macro-level data on high-stakes testing with survey data on more than 300,000 students aged 11–15 years in 31 European countries from three waves (2002, 2006, and 2010) of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. With variation in high-stakes testing across countries, years, and grade levels, we use a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design for the identification of causal effects. We find that high-stakes testing increases the risk of moving from low to high levels of self-reported school stress by 4 percentage points, or by 12 per cent relative to baseline values. This effect is somewhat larger for girls, though not significantly so. The results are robust to a range of sensitivity analyses.
A systematic literature review of patient self-assessment instruments concerning quality of primary care in multiprofessional clinics
Authors: Derriennic Jérémy , Nabbe Patrice , Barais Marie , Le Goff Delphine , Pourtau Thomas , Penpennic Benjamin , Le Reste Jean-Yves
Published: January 2022

Background

Quality of care remains a priority issue and is correlated with patient experience. Measuring multidimensional patient primary care experiences in multiprofessional clinics requires a robust instrument. Although many exist, little is known about their quality.

Objective

To identify patient perception instruments in multiprofessional primary care and evaluate their quality.

Methods

Systematic review using Medline, Pascal, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, Cochrane, Scopus, and CAIRN. Eligible articles developed, evaluated, or validated 1 or more self-assessment instruments. The instruments had to measure primary care delivery, patient primary care experiences and assess at least 3 quality-of-care dimensions. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist was used to assess methodological quality of included studies. Instrument measurement properties were appraised using 3 possible quality scores. Data were combined to provide best-evidence synthesis based on the number of studies, their methodological quality, measurement property appraisal, and result consistency. Subscales used to capture patient primary care experiences were extracted and grouped into the 9 Institute of Medicine dimensions.

Results

Twenty-nine articles were found. The included instruments captured many subscales illustrating the diverse conceptualization of patient primary care experiences. No included instrument demonstrated adequate validity and the lack of scientific methodology for assessing reliability made interpreting validity questionable. No study evaluated instrument responsiveness.

Conclusion

Numerous patient self-assessment instruments were identified capturing a wide range of patient experiences, but their measurement properties were weak. Research is required to develop and validate a generic instrument for assessing quality of multiprofessional primary care.

Trial registration

Not applicable.
How do general practitioners handle couple relationship problems in consultations? A focus group study
Authors: Berge Siri D , Brekke Mette , Meland Eivind , Mildestvedt Thomas
Published: January 2022

Background

Couple relationship problems are common and associated with health problems. The aim of this study was to explore general practitioners’ (GPs’) experiences, expectations, and educational needs when dealing with couple relationship problems in consultations.

Methods

We conducted an exploratory qualitative study by carrying out 3 semistructured focus group interviews with 18 GPs. We used systematic text condensation for the analyses.

Results

Participants shared their experiences of handling couple relationship problems in consultations. Three main themes emerged: (i) pragmatic case-finding: golden opportunities to reveal patients’ couple relationship problems; (ii) conceptual and role confusion; (iii) professional competence and personal experience. While issues in relationships could serve as an explanation for relevant clinical problems, some GPs questioned whether relationship issues are strictly medical. All participants had engaged in individual supportive therapy, but none saw themselves as therapists. The interviews revealed that an individual supportive focus might lead to a consolidation of 1 partner’s view, rather than challenging their position. Long-term doctor–patient relationships made it easier to talk about these issues.

Conclusions

This study revealed several paradoxes. GPs are confident in offering individual supportive therapy for couple relationship issues but should be aware of substantial pitfalls such as side-taking and constraining change. Despite dealing with relationship problems, GPs do not see themselves as therapists. They use professional and personal experience but would benefit from increasing their skills in cognitive restructuring promoting behavioural flexibility facing relationship problems.
Timing of Eocene compressional plate failure during subduction initiation, northern Zealandia, southwestern Pacific
Authors: Stratford W R , Sutherland R , Dickens G R , Blum P , Collot J , Gurnis M , Saito S , BordenaveG A , Etienne S J G , Agnini C , Alegret L , Asatryan G , Bhattacharya J , Chang L , Cramwinckel M J , Dallanave E , Drake M K , Giorgioni M , Harper D T , Huang H-H M , Keller A L , Lam A R , Li H , Matsui H , Morgans H E G , Newsam C , Park Y-H , Pascher K M , Pekar S F , Penman D E , Westerhold T , Zhou X
Published: January 2022

Rapid onset of subduction tectonics across the western Pacific convergent margins in the early Eocene was followed by a slower phase of margin growth of the proto Tonga-Kermadec subduction system north of Zealandia during a middle Eocene phase to tectonic adjustment. We present new age constraints from International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 371 borehole data on deformation events in northern Zealandian sediments that document the formation of the convergent margin boundary northwest of New Zealand. The deformation shows a shortening event that lasted up to 20 myr and acted over distances of ∼1000 km inboard of the evolving plate margin, just northwest of New Zealand. Multichannel seismic profiles tied to our new borehole sites show shortening occurred predominantly between 45 Ma and 35 Ma with some deformation related to slope failure continuing into the Oligocene. The termination of shortening is linked to opening of the backarc basins of the southwest Pacific and the migration of the Tonga-Kermadec Trench to the east which may have removed the structural evidence of the Eocene plate margin. Paleogene deformation observed inboard of the evolving proto Tonga-Kermadec subduction system indicates that the lithosphere of northern Zealandia, a region of thin continental crust, was strong enough to act as a stress guide. Compressive stresses that caused intra plate folding and faulting developed behind the initiating subduction system with the finite period of deformation indicating the time frame over which an active convergent margin lay along the northern margin of Zealandia.
Aftershock productivity of intermediate-depth earthquakes in Japan
Authors: Chu S X , Beroza G C
Published: January 2022

Intermediate-depth earthquakes occur at temperatures and pressures thought to prohibit brittle fracture and are deficient in aftershocks compared to shallow earthquakes. We search for aftershock sequences of M > 5.5 intermediate-depth earthquakes in two subducting slabs under Japan, and perform a statistical analysis to see if variations in aftershock productivity can be linked to slab properties. Our study regions are the older, colder and steeper Pacific Plate and the younger, warmer, shallower Philippine Sea Plate. We find that productive aftershock sequences behave similarly to those of crustal earthquakes and tend to appear mainly in the Pacific Plate where they are significantly correlated with along-strike variations in VP−VS ratio, suggesting a role for fluids in enabling intermediate-depth aftershock activity.
Identification of the genetic mechanism that associates L3MBTL3 to multiple sclerosis
Authors: Alcina Antonio , Fedetz Maria , Vidal-Cobo Isabel , Andrés-León Eduardo , García-Sánchez Maria-Isabel , Barroso-del-Jesus Alicia , Eichau Sara , Gil-Varea Elia , Luisa-Maria Villar  , Saiz Albert , Leyva Laura , Vandenbroeck Koen , Otaegui David , Izquierdo Guillermo , Comabella Manuel , Urcelay Elena , Matesanz Fuencisla
Published: January 2022

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. One of the challenges of the post-genome-wide association studies (GWAS) era is to understand the molecular basis of statistical associations to reveal gene networks and potential therapeutic targets. The L3MBTL3 locus has been associated with MS risk by GWAS. To identify the causal variant of the locus, we performed fine mapping in a cohort of 3440 MS patients and 1688 healthy controls. The variant that best explained the association was rs6569648 (P = 4.13E-10, odds ratio = 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.64–0.79), which tagged rs7740107, located in intron 7 of L3MBTL3. The rs7740107 (A/T) variant has been reported to be the best expression and splice quantitative trait locus (eQTL and sQTL) of the region in up to 35 human genotype-tissue expression (GTEx) tissues. By sequencing RNA from blood of 17 MS patients and quantification by digital qPCR, we determined that this eQTL/sQTL originated from the expression of a novel short transcript starting in intron 7 near rs7740107. The short transcript was translated into three proteins starting at different translation initiation codons. These N-terminal truncated proteins lacked the region where L3MBTL3 interacts with the transcriptional regulator Recombination Signal Binding Protein for Immunoglobulin Kappa J Region which, in turn, regulates the Notch signalling pathway. Our data and other functional studies suggest that the genetic mechanism underlying the MS association of rs7740107 affects not only the expression of L3MBTL3 isoforms, but might also involve the Notch signalling pathway.
Association with HLA-DRβ1 position 37 distinguishes juvenile dermatomyositis from adult-onset myositis
Authors: Deakin Claire T , Bowes John , Rider Lisa G , Miller Frederick W , Pachman Lauren M , Sanner Helga , Rouster-Stevens Kelly , Mamyrova Gulnara , Curiel Rodolfo , Feldman Brian M , Huber Adam M , Reed Ann M , Schmeling Heinrike , Cook Charlotte G , Marshall Lucy R , Ll Wilkinson Meredyth G , Eyre Stephen , Raychaudhuri Soumya , Wedderburn Lucy R ,   the Juvenile Dermatomyositis Cohort and Biomarker Study, the Childhood Myositis Heterogeneity Study Group, and the Myositis Genetics Consortium (MYOGEN)
Published: January 2022

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare, severe autoimmune disease and the most common idiopathic inflammatory myopathy of children. JDM and adult-onset dermatomyositis (DM) have similar clinical, biological and serological features, although these features differ in prevalence between childhood-onset and adult-onset disease, suggesting that age of disease onset may influence pathogenesis. Therefore, a JDM-focused genetic analysis was performed using the largest collection of JDM samples to date. Caucasian JDM samples (n = 952) obtained via international collaboration were genotyped using the Illumina HumanCoreExome chip. Additional non-assayed human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci and genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were imputed. HLA-DRB1*03:01 was confirmed as the classical HLA allele most strongly associated with JDM [odds ratio (OR) 1.66; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46, 1.89; P = 1.4 × 10−14], with an independent association at HLA-C*02:02 (OR = 1.74; 95% CI 1.42, 2.13, P = 7.13 × 10−8). Analyses of amino acid positions within HLA-DRB1 indicated that the strongest association was at position 37 (omnibus P = 3.3 × 10−19), with suggestive evidence this association was independent of position 74 (omnibus P = 5.1 × 10−5), the position most strongly associated with adult-onset DM. Conditional analyses also suggested that the association at position 37 of HLA-DRB1 was independent of some alleles of the Caucasian HLA 8.1 ancestral haplotype (AH8.1) such as HLA-DQB1*02:01 (OR = 1.62; 95% CI 1.36, 1.93; P = 8.70 × 10−8), but not HLA-DRB1*03:01 (OR = 1.49; 95% CR 1.24, 1.80; P = 2.24 × 10−5). No associations outside the HLA region were identified. Our findings confirm previous associations with AH8.1 and HLA-DRB1*03:01, HLA-C*02:02 and identify a novel association with amino acid position 37 within HLA-DRB1, which may distinguish JDM from adult DM.
NSD1 mutations deregulate transcription and DNA methylation of bivalent developmental genes in Sotos syndrome
Authors: Brennan Kevin , Zheng Hong , Fahrner Jill A , Shin June Ho , Gentles Andrew J , Schaefer Bradley , Sunwoo John B , Bernstein Jonathan A , Gevaert Olivier
Published: January 2022

Sotos syndrome (SS), the most common overgrowth with intellectual disability (OGID) disorder, is caused by inactivating germline mutations of NSD1, which encodes a histone H3 lysine 36 methyltransferase. To understand how NSD1 inactivation deregulates transcription and DNA methylation (DNAm), and to explore how these abnormalities affect human development, we profiled transcription and DNAm in SS patients and healthy control individuals. We identified a transcriptional signature that distinguishes individuals with SS from controls and was also deregulated in NSD1-mutated cancers. Most abnormally expressed genes displayed reduced expression in SS; these downregulated genes consisted mostly of bivalent genes and were enriched for regulators of development and neural synapse function. DNA hypomethylation was strongly enriched within promoters of transcriptionally deregulated genes: overexpressed genes displayed hypomethylation at their transcription start sites while underexpressed genes featured hypomethylation at polycomb binding sites within their promoter CpG island shores. SS patients featured accelerated molecular aging at the levels of both transcription and DNAm. Overall, these findings indicate that NSD1-deposited H3K36 methylation regulates transcription by directing promoter DNA methylation, partially by repressing polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) activity. These findings could explain the phenotypic similarity of SS to OGID disorders that are caused by mutations in PRC2 complex-encoding genes.
Potential effects of management options on marine recreational fisheries – the example of the western Baltic cod fishery
Authors: Haase Kevin , Weltersbach Marc Simon , Lewin Wolf-Christian , Zimmermann Christopher , Strehlow Harry Vincent
Published: January 2022

Globally, marine recreational fishing is a popular activity that contributes substantially to fishing mortality for some stocks and therefore should be considered in stock assessments and fisheries management. Using the example of the German western Baltic Sea recreational cod fishery, this study examines the effects of the first-time introduction of a bag limit on a previously largely unregulated marine recreational fishery. Furthermore, the study simulates and compares effects of different bag limits, seasonal closures, minimum length, and harvest slot limits to inform scientists, stakeholders, and managers about alternative management strategies and their potential effects on the fishery. After the first-time introduction of the bag limit, recreational removals decreased more than expected and the fishing participation slightly declined. The simulations showed that management measures adapted to the fishing methods reduced recreational removals but with different effects on cod length distributions and angler welfare. A combination of a high bag limit, seasonal closure and size/slot limits were most suitable for limiting cod removals with minimal impacts on angler welfare. This study demonstrates that recreational fisheries management measures need to be evaluated considering fishing methods and angler preferences before their implementation to avoid unexpected biological, social, and economic consequences.
Norwood procedure for hypoplastic left heart syndrome associated with valvular pulmonary stenosis
Authors: Iwai Shigemitsu , Miwa Koji , Nagashima Toshiaki
Published: January 2022

Association between hypoplastic left heart syndrome and valvular pulmonary stenosis is very rare. Severity of valvular pulmonary stenosis in this setting limits management options. Consequently, patients with this condition are considered poor candidates for Norwood stage one reconstruction. Herein, we describe a newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and significantly dysplastic pulmonary valve who successfully underwent the Norwood procedure with neoaortic valve reconstruction. Therefore, the Norwood procedure with neoaortic valve reconstruction might be an option for this difficult condition.
Time-dependent mechanical behaviour of the aortic chronic dissection flap
Authors: Panpho Phakakorn , Yang Ying , Davies Hannah A , Nawaytou Omar , Harky Amer , Torella Francesco , Field Mark , Madine Jillian , Akhtar Riaz
Published: January 2022

OBJECTIVES

The transition of aortic dissection from acute to chronic is poorly understood. We examined time-dependent mechanical behaviour and biochemical properties of chronic dissection tissues.

METHODS

Aorta samples were obtained from 14 patients with mixed aetiology who were undergoing elective surgery for chronic dissected aneurysms, ranging from 3 months to 15 years post-dissection. The tissue elastic modulus and tissue deformation following application of loading for 5 h were measured for the false lumen (FL), true lumen (TL) and flap (FP) tissues with a custom-indentation technique. Collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycan levels were determined with established biochemical assays. Elastin fragmentation was graded from histological sections. The number of tissues characterized was as follows: FP (n = 10), TL (n = 5 for biomechanical testing, n = 8 for biochemical analysis, n = 8 for histological assessment) and FL (n = 4).

RESULTS

Tissues stiffness was highest in FP [59.8 (14.8) kPa] as compared with TL [50.7 (6.2) kPa] and FL [40.5 (4.7) kPa] (P = 0.023 and P = 0.006, respectively). FP [0.5 (0.08) mm] also exhibited reduced deformation relative to TL [0.7 (0.02) mm] and FL [0.9 (0.08) mm] (P = 0.003 and P = 0.006, respectively), lowest collagen concentration [FP: 40.1 (19.6) µg/mg, TL: 59.9 (19.5) µg/mg, P = 0.008; FL: 79.1 (32.0) µg/mg, P = 0.006] and the lowest collagen: elastin ratio [0.4 (0.1)] relative to the other tissues [TL; 0.6 (0.3), P = 0.006, FL; 1.5 (0.4); P = 0.003]. Significant elastin loss was evident in the FL-stained tissue sections whereas highly aligned, long fibres were visible in the FP and TL. A linear relationship was found between the stiffness, deformation and the time from the dissection event to surgical intervention for the FP. All data are presented as median (interquartile range).

CONCLUSIONS

FP exhibited reduced time-dependent deformation and distinct biochemical properties relative to TL and FL irrespective of connective tissue disorder or the anatomical region of the dissection.
Inhibitory Metaplasticity in Juvenile Stressed Rats Restores Associative Memory in Adulthood by Regulating Epigenetic Complex G9a/GLP
Authors: Raghuraman Radha , Manakkadan Anoop , Richter-Levin Gal , Sajikumar Sreedharan
Published: January 2022

Background

Exposure to juvenile stress was found to have long-term effects on the plasticity and quality of associative memory in adulthood, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood.

Methods

Three- to four week-old male Wistar rats were subjected to a 3-day juvenile stress paradigm. Their electrophysiological correlates of memory using the adult hippocampal slice were inspected to detect alterations in long-term potentiation and synaptic tagging and capture model of associativity. These cellular alterations were tied in with the behavioral outcome by subjecting the rats to a step-down inhibitory avoidance paradigm to measure strength in their memory. Given the role of epigenetic response in altering plasticity as a repercussion of juvenile stress, we aimed to chart out the possible epigenetic marker and its regulation in the long-term memory mechanisms using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Results

We demonstrate that even long after the elimination of actual stressors, an inhibitory metaplastic state is evident, which promotes synaptic competition over synaptic cooperation and decline in latency of associative memory in the behavioral paradigm despite the exposure to novelty. Mechanistically, juvenile stress led to a heightened expression of the epigenetic marker G9a/GLP complex, which is thus far ascribed to transcriptional silencing and goal-directed behavior.

Conclusions

The blockade of the G9a/GLP complex was found to alleviate deficits in long-term plasticity and associative memory during the adulthood of animals exposed to juvenile stress. Our data provide insights on the long-term effects of juvenile stress that involve epigenetic mechanisms, which directly impact long-term plasticity, synaptic tagging and capture, and associative memory.
Pharmacists’ perceptions and experiences of medicinal cannabis dispensing: A narrative review with a systematic approach
Authors: Sabmeethavorn Que , Bonomo Yvonne Ann , Hallinan Christine Mary
Published: January 2022

Objectives

Medicinal cannabis was introduced with limited understanding of effect, and minimal rigorous evidence supporting efficacy, yet the global demand for medicinal cannabis continues to increase. In Australia, pharmacists remain a key conduit between the prescriber and patient, as most medicinal cannabis products are available only through approved prescriptions. This places pharmacists in a strong position to inform the evolving policy and practice of medicinal cannabis. This review aims to explore pharmacists’ experiences and perceptions on medicinal cannabis in the global context by conducting a narrative review with a systematic approach.

Method

MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, and PubMed were searched on July 2021 using keywords and MeSH terms, with studies independently screened for eligibility. Of 278 identified studies, five met inclusion criteria, and were subjected to thematic synthesis for emergent themes.

Key findings

Whilst pharmacists valued being central to medicinal cannabis access, a repeating theme was that pharmacists perceived they were underprepared when engaging with patients about medicinal cannabis. These perceptions were congruent with their dispensing experiences, as most pharmacists reported patients seeking guidance on medicinal cannabis from them, yet only a small proportion felt comfortable in providing this guidance. Underpinning this was a lack of knowledge and low uptake of educational resources.

Conclusions

Pharmacists are key in providing access to medicinal cannabis, yet they are expected to provide guidance with limited education. These limitations necessitate further investment in ongoing education to pharmacists in countries wishing to involve them in dispensing medicinal cannabis.
Maximal Tori in HH1 and the Fundamental Group
Authors: Briggs Benjamin , Rubio y Degrassi Lleonard
Published: January 2022

We investigate maximal tori in the Hochschild cohomology Lie algebra ${\operatorname {HH}}^1(A)$ of a finite dimensional algebra $A$, and their connection with the fundamental groups associated to presentations of $A$. We prove that every maximal torus in ${\operatorname {HH}}^1(A)$ arises as the dual of some fundamental group of $A$, extending the work by Farkas, Green, and Marcos; de la Peña and Saorín; and Le Meur. Combining this with known invariance results for Hochschild cohomology, we deduce that (in rough terms) the largest rank of a fundamental group of $A$ is a derived invariant quantity, and among self-injective algebras, an invariant under stable equivalences of Morita type. Using this we prove that there are only finitely many monomial algebras in any derived equivalence class of finite dimensional algebras; hitherto this was known only for very restricted classes of monomial algebras.
Connectivity of Ample, Conic, and Random Simplicial Complexes
Authors: Barmak Jonathan Ariel
Published: January 2022

A simplicial complex is $r$-conic if every subcomplex of at most $r$ vertices is contained in the star of a vertex. A $4$-conic complex is simply connected. We prove that an $8$-conic complex is $2$-connected. In general a $(2n+1)$-conic complex need not be $n$-connected but a $5^n$-conic complex is $n$-connected. This extends results by Even-Zohar, Farber, and Mead on ample complexes and answers two questions raised in their paper. Our results together with theirs imply that the probability of a complex being $n$-connected tends to $1$ as the number of vertices tends to $\infty $. Our model here is the medial regime.
Capital Mobility and Taxation: State–Business Collusion in China
Authors: Chen Ling , Hollenbach Florian M
Published: January 2022

Do more mobile firms pay lower taxes? Conventional wisdom argues that capital mobility creates downward pressure on corporate taxes, as firms can threaten to exit. Nevertheless, empirical findings are highly mixed and hard to reconcile, partly due to a lack of data at the microlevel. Using two comprehensive panel data sets with more than 780,000 Chinese firms over two decades, we find that firms with higher shares of mobile capital pay higher effective tax rates. We contend that this counterintuitive finding results from the strategic interaction between firms and governments. Knowing their vulnerability and sunk cost, firms with more fixed assets were more active in protecting themselves by bribing and colluding with local officials. Meanwhile, officials were more willing to seek bribes from these firms in exchange for tax cuts. In contrast, mobile firms were disadvantaged. Although capital mobility may provide additional bargaining power, firms with fixed assets can overcome this advantage through state–business collusion. Our quantitative and qualitative evidence show that fixed firms paid lower taxes in cities with cozy government–business relations. However, such advantages decreased after the launch of anti-corruption campaigns and in cities with higher fiscal transparency.
The “Connected” Caregivers: Exploring the Interplay of Left-Behind Women’s Socio-Structural Immobilities and Communicative Mobilities in Transnational Power Geometries
Authors: Chen Hong
Published: January 2022

Drawing on an ethnographic study on different groups of left-behind women (mothers, aunts, and grandmothers) in Fuqing, a major transnational migrant-labor-sending area in China, this article examines how they collaborate with their overseas family members in childrearing through digital media use. Applying the “im/mobilities” framework, this study explains how different left-behind caregivers use mediated communication as communicative mobilities to negotiate family roles and relationships in situated transnational power geometry. Despite the common structural constraints (rural patriarchy and inadequate social resources), left-behind women’s socio-structural immobilities vary depending on their specific relationship with migrants (conjugal, kinship, and intergenerational dynamics), which embodies the asymmetrical nature of transnationalism. The findings highlight the dynamic negotiation between left-behind caregivers’ communicative mobilities and their contextualized socio-structural immobilities, which leads to diverse forms of agency and disempowerment. This article shows that communicative mobility is not only manifested as media use but also embodied as media (non)use.

Lay Summary

Transnational labor migration has allowed people in poor areas to improve their financial well-being, but has also caused separations among many families. Thanks to the prevalence of various digital media (e.g., instant messaging, webcam and voice calls, and social media platforms, etc.), fragmented family members are able to maintain and manage different family relationships despite geographic constraints. This study draws on three groups of female caregivers (mothers, aunts, and grandmothers) in Fuqing, a major transnational migrant-labor-sending area in China. I am particularly interested in how these left-behind women collaborate with migrant parents to fulfil their duties of raising left-behind children through digital media. The findings suggest that left-behind women’s life experiences are not only related to gender norms and inadequate social resources (e.g., a lack of job opportunities and robust social welfare system) in rural China, but also pertinent to their specific relationship with migrants (e.g., conjugal, kinship, and intergenerational dynamics). While female caregivers’ different situations influence their media practices during childrearing collaboration with migrant parents, such media engagement also contributes to the shaping of their transnational family relationships.
When Is HILO Low? Price Image Formation Based on Frequency versus Depth Pricing Strategies
Authors: Sheehan Daniel , Hamilton Ryan , Chellappa Ramnath K
Published: January 2022

One of the prominent pricing decisions a retailer can make is its choice of pricing strategy. Previous research investigating consumers’ responses to stores with frequent, shallow price advantages relative to competitors (a frequency strategy) versus stores with infrequent, deep price advantages (a depth strategy) was all conducted by allowing people to simultaneously view prices from multiple stores, a setting that emphasized across-store comparisons. The present research finds that when a store’s prices are evaluated separately, as opposed to simultaneously across stores, many of the prominent findings of previous research are reversed. The authors demonstrate that without simultaneous comparisons across stores, consumers shift from using across-store prices as reference points to using within-category reference prices. As a result of this shift, deep price advantages are easier to evaluate than frequent price advantages, and therefore more influential on consumers’ formation of price image. When stores are evaluated separately, the result is most often a depth advantage, where stores with a HILO pricing strategy are evaluated as having a lower price image than EDLP stores, even when the average prices are the same. These results cannot be explained by prior work related to frequency and depth pricing strategies that relied on across-store comparisons.
The Off by 100% Bias: The Effects of Percentage Changes Greater than 100% on Magnitude Judgments and Consumer Choice
Authors: Fisher Matthew , Mormann Milica
Published: January 2022

Percentage changes greater than 100% are frequently used in consumer contexts; for example, a cordless vacuum cleaner may boast “125% longer runtime” compared to competitors. Via six studies (n = 2,395) and 11 supplementary studies (n = 3,249), the current research shows that consumers systematically underestimate the magnitude of percentage changes greater than 100%. Specifically, many consumers apply the relative size usage (e.g., “125% of,” equivalent to 25% more) instead of the appropriate relative change (e.g., “125% more,” equivalent to 100% more + 25% more), which leads them to be off by exactly 100% in their magnitude estimates. The rate of bias decreases when the difference between these two usages is emphasized. The Off by 100% bias occurs across a variety of consumer contexts, influencing behavioral intentions and incentive-compatible choice. The findings make theoretical contributions to research on processing of percentages, probability versus frequency formats, and magnitude judgments. Finally, understanding how different presentation formats of the same information can lead to different magnitude judgments enables marketers and policymakers to ensure more effective communication.
Spatio-temporal Variation of Spinosad Susceptibility in Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), a Three-year Study in California’s Monterey Bay Region
Authors: Ganjisaffar Fatemeh , Gress Brian E , Demkovich Mark R , Nicola Nicole L , Chiu Joanna C , Zalom Frank G
Published: January 2022

Spinosyn insecticides are widely used in conventional berry production, and spinosad is regarded as the most effective insecticide for managing Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), spotted-wing drosophila, in organic berry crops. Following the 2017 identification of spinosad resistance in caneberry fields in the Watsonville area, Santa Cruz Co., California, we conducted a study to examine the seasonal and annual susceptibility of D. suzukii over a three-year period. Adult flies were collected from two conventional and two organic caneberry fields in the Monterey Bay region, California, at ‘early’, ‘middle’, and ‘late’ time points during the 2018–2020 growing seasons, and their susceptibility to spinosad was assessed. Results demonstrated that spinosad susceptibility in the D. suzukii field populations generally decreased during the fruit production season (from June through November), and over consecutive seasons. LC50 values of adults from the conventional sites were determined to be as high as 228.7 mg l−1 in 2018, 665.6 mg l−1 in 2019, and 2700.8 mg l−1 in 2020. For the organically managed fields, LC50s of adults were as great as 300.0 mg l−1 in 2018, 1291.5 mg l−1 in 2019, and 2547.1 mg l−1 in 2020. Resistance ratios based on the LC50 values were as high as 10.7-, 13.2-, and 16.9-fold in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. These results should serve as a caution for growers in other production areas, facilitate informed choice of insecticides used in D. suzukii management, and emphasize the need to develop effective insecticide resistance management strategies for this insect.
Velocity gradients choice affecting seismic site response in deep alluvial basins: Application to the Venetian Plain (Northern Italy)
Authors: Cascone Valeria , Barone Ilaria , Boaga Jacopo
Published: January 2022

The average shear-wave velocity of the first 30 metres of subsoil and the depth of the engineering bedrock are considered the key parameters for simplified seismic site response modelling. However, a reliable estimate of the site amplification should consider the entire shear-wave velocity profile from the ground surface down to the engineering bedrock. In deep alluvial basins, a typical geological context where the soil–bedrock interface may lie below the penetration depth of most common prospecting methods, only the shallow velocity profile can be defined in detail, while the deeper structures are commonly extrapolated with linear equations. The choice of a realistic interpolation between the shallow and deep soil still remains an open issue. We compute the 1D seismic site response of two sectors of the Venetian Plain (Northern Italy) characterised by gravelly and sandy deep formations. We model the 1D soil columns using theoretical non-linear gradients proposed in literature for deep alluvial basins. The numerical modelling results, in terms of strong motion parameters, show variations in the seismic site response up to 20%. The effect of the velocity gradients is also evaluated comparing the numerical simulations with real accelerometers recorded by a deep borehole seismometer and a seismic station located at the top of the borehole. These results demonstrate that the selection of the velocity gradient is crucial for seismic site characterisation of deep alluvial basins. In particular, the study suggests which is the most conservative gradient among the ones tested in terms of ground motion hazard estimation.
Randomness study of the concatenation of generalized sequences
Authors: Cardell Sara D , Orúe Amalia B , Requena Verónica , Fúster-Sabater Amparo
Published: January 2022

Keystream sequences should look as random as possible, i.e. should present no logical pattern to be exploited in cryptographic attacks. The generalized self-shrinking generator, a sequence generator based on irregular decimation, produces a family of sequences with good cryptographic properties. In this work, we display a detailed analysis on the randomness of the sequences resulting from the concatenation of elements of this family. We apply the most important batteries of statistical and graphical tests providing powerful results and a new method to construct sequences with good cryptographic properties.
Global and saturated probabilistic approximations based on generalized maximal consistent blocks
Authors: Clark Patrick G , Grzymala-Busse Jerzy W , Hippe Zdzislaw S , Mroczek Teresa , Niemiec Rafal
Published: January 2022

In this paper incomplete data sets, or data sets with missing attribute values, have three interpretations, lost values, attribute-concept values and ‘do not care’ conditions. Additionally, the process of data mining is based on two types of probabilistic approximations, global and saturated. We present results of experiments on mining incomplete data sets using six approaches, combining three interpretations of missing attribute values with two types of probabilistic approximations. We compare our six approaches, using the error rate computed as a result of ten-fold cross validation as a criterion of quality. We show that for some data sets the error rate is significantly smaller (5% level of significance) for lost values, for some data sets the smaller error rate is associated with attribute-concept values, and sometimes with ‘do not care’ conditions. Again, for some approaches the error rate is significantly smaller for saturated probabilistic approximations than for global probabilistic approximations, while for some approaches it is the other way around. Thus, for an incomplete data set, the best approach to data mining should be chosen by trying all six approaches.
Exposure to Temperature and Insecticides Modulates the Expression of Small Noncoding RNA-Associated Transcripts in the Colorado Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Ben Youssef Mariem , Christelle Ouédraogo Brigitte , Bastarache Pierre , Dumas Pascal , Moffat Chandra E , Vickruck Jessica L , Morin Pier Jr
Published: January 2022

The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)) is an insect that can adapt to various challenges, including temperature fluctuations or select insecticide treatments. This pest is also an ongoing threat to the potato industry. Small noncoding RNAs such as miRNAs, which can control posttranscriptionally the expression of various genes, and piRNAs, which can notably impact mRNA turnover, are modulated in insects under different conditions. Unfortunately, information regarding the expression status of key players involved in their synthesis and function is for the most part lacking. The current study thus aims at assessing the levels of such targets in L. decemlineata exposed to hot and cold temperatures as well as treated to the insecticides chlorantraniliprole, clothianidin, imidacloprid, and spinosad. Transcript expression levels of Ago1, Ago2, Ago3, Dcr2a, Dcr2b, Expo-5, Siwi-1, and Siwi-2, components of pathways associated with small noncoding RNA production or function, were measured by qRT-PCR and revealed modulation of select transcripts in response to temperature challenges and to select insecticides. RNAi-mediated reduction of Ago2 transcript levels in L. decemlineata injected with Ago2-targeting dsRNA and exposed to cold and warm temperatures was also conducted. Changes in survival rates were observed for the latter condition in dsRNA- versus saline-injected insects. These results showcase the differential expression of select targets involved in small noncoding RNA homeostasis and provide leads for the subsequent assessment of their involvement during stress response in L. decemlineata using RNAi-based approaches.
A randomized clinical trial of guided self-help intervention based on mindfulness for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: effects and mechanisms
Authors: Liu Zengxia , Li Min , Jia Yong , Wang Shuo , Zheng Lufang , Wang Cong , Chen Li
Published: January 2022

Background

Compared with face-to-face mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), online mindfulness interventions may be more convenient for patients with limited resources and can provide self-help mindfulness methods to improve the quality of life of cancer patients. This study investigated the effects of guided self-help mindfulness-based interventions (GSH-MBIs) on psychological distress, quality of life and sleep quality in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and explored the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

A total of 122 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were randomly divided into the intervention group or the conventional treatment group. Psychological distress, quality of life, sleep quality, psychological flexibility and perceived stress were evaluated in the groups before the intervention at baseline, after the intervention, at 1-month follow-up and 3-month follow-up. The intervention’s effects over time and the potential mediating effects were analysed using generalized estimating equations (GEE).

Results

GEE results indicated significant time–group interaction effects on psychological distress (P < 0.001) and sleep quality (P < 0.001). The intervention significantly improved psychological flexibility (β, −2.066; 95% CI, −3.631, −0.500) and reduced perceived stress (β, −2.639; 95% CI, −4.110, −1.169). Psychological flexibility and perceived stress played a mediating role in the observed results.

Conclusion

GSH-MBIs can improve psychological distress and sleep quality via changing the psychological flexibility and perceived stress in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.
Admissibility of Counterclaims: The Practice of UNCLOS Tribunals
Authors: de Herdt Sandrine
Published: January 2022

This article considers the admissibility and procedural aspects relating to the filing of counterclaims in international law, with particular reference to bodies exercising jurisdiction under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea —namely the International Court of Justice, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and Arbitral Tribunal instituted under Annex VII to this Convention. Counterclaims in the context of UNCLOS tribunals raise specific questions. For instance, the ambiguity concerning the rules applicable to counterclaims presented in Annex VII proceedings has recently been dealt with by an Annex VII Arbitral Tribunal in The ‘Enrica Lexie’ Incident case. The approach of the Tribunal needs careful consideration. In the M/V “Virginia G” Case, the approach taken by ITLOS questions the manner of interpretation of the ‘direct connection’ requirement in the context of UNCLOS cases. For this purpose, the present study of counterclaims provides a comparative analysis of the rules and practices of the three aforementioned bodies.
Necrotizing esophagitis and gastritis due to hypervirulent PVL positive ST 121 CA-MRSA
Authors: Richier Quentin , Pilmis Benoît , Chhor Vibol , Tran Marc , Bruel Cédric , Philippart François
Published: January 2022

Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL) positive Staphylococcus aureus usually cause skin/soft tissue infections. Here, we report the first case of a necrotizing esophagitis and gastritis due to a hypervirulent sequence type 121 PVL positive community-associated Methicillin resistant S. aureus, acquired and onset in a Benin’s healthcare facility.