bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urolithin B suppressed osteoclast activation and reduced bone loss of osteoporosis via inhibiting ERK/NF‐κB pathway
Authors: Li Yajun , Zhuang Qi , Tao Lihong , Zheng Kai , Chen Shuangshuang , Yang Yunshang , Feng Chengcheng , Wang Zhifang , Shi Haiwei , Shi Jiandong , Fang Yiling , Xiao Long , Geng Dechun , Wang Zhirong
Published: June 2022

Objectives

The main target of current drugs for alleviating bone loss is osteoclasts. However, the long‐term application of such drugs will also cause side effects. Therefore, it is of great need to develop new and safer therapeutics for osteoporosis. In recent years, drug development based on gut microbiota has gradually attracted attention. This manuscript investigates the inhibitory effect of urolithin B (UB) on osteoclastogenesis and differentiation in vitro and in ovariectomized (OVX) mice.

Materials and Methods

CCK‐8 was used to analyse the cytotoxicity of UB; BMMs cells were differentiated into osteoclasts by RANKL, and respectively treated with 1, 5, and 25 μmol/L UB during this process. After one week of intervention, tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was used to analyse the number and average area of osteoclasts. F‐actin staining and immunofluorescence staining were conducted to evaluate the morphology and function of osteoclasts. Bone resorption function of osteoclasts was detected by Pit Formation Assay. The expression of osteoclast‐related protein genes in RAW264.7 cells were investigated via western blot and RT‐PCR assays. Western blot analysis of RANKL‐mediated activation of MAPK/NF‐κB pathway after 0, 5, 15, 30, 60 min of intervention. For in vivo experiments, OVX mice received intraperitoneal injection of 10, 50 mg/kg every two days, 8 weeks later, the femurs of mice were taken for morphological analysis, and the serum content of CTX‐1, a bone metabolism index, was analysed.

Results

UB could inhibit the osteoclast differentiation of rankl‐induced bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) and RAW264.7 cells in vitro, suppress the uptake activity of hydroxyapatite and expression of osteoclast‐related gene MMP9, CTSK, NFATc1 and c‐fos. Furthermore, UB repressed the rankl‐induced phosphorylation and degradation of IκB and the phosphorylation of P65 in the NF‐κB pathway of RAW264.7 cells, and also down‐regulated the phosphorylation level of ERK in the MAPK pathway. For in vivo studies, UB‐treated OVX mice showed more significant improved various parameters of distal femur compared with the control group, with fewer NFATc1, MMP9 and TRAP‐positive osteoclasts in bone tissues, and less serum content of CTX‐1.

Conclusion

Urolithin B attenuated bone loss in OVX mice by inhibiting the formation and activation of osteoclasts via down‐regulation of the ERK/NF‐κB signalling pathway.
Utilization of skin biopsy for diagnosis in a case of Lafora disease
Authors: Rozenova Krasimira A. , Lehman Julia S. , Grande Joseph P. , Fine Anthony L. , Wieland Carilyn N.
Published: June 2022

Lafora disease is a rare inherited neurodegenerative disease with onset in adolescence. Patients present with progressive myoclonic seizures and cognitive decline. The disease is linked to mutations in either of the two genes encoding malin and laforin, and it is associated with the accumulation of polyglucosan inclusions (Lafora bodies [LBs]) in various tissues, such as brain, liver, muscle, and skin, with the skin being particularly accessible for biopsy. Histopathologic examination of affected tissue with demonstration of LBs, together with the presence of pathologic mutation in EPM2A or NHLRC1 genes, is sufficient for diagnosis of this neurologic disorder when clinically suspected. Here, we report the case of a 16‐year‐old female with progressive neurologic symptoms and homozygous mutation in the NHLRC1 gene encoding malin. The skin biopsy was instrumental in reaching the final diagnosis by showing LBs in sweat glands by histopathologic and electron microscopic examination.
“By only considering the end product it means that our participation has always been in vain”: Defining benefits in HIV vaccine trials in Tanzania
Authors: Pancras Godwin , Ezekiel Mangi , Nderitu David , Dauda Bege , Mbugi Erasto Vitus
Published: June 2022

Debates about what constitutes benefits in human research continue to be less informed due to a lack of empirical evidence from the developing world. This study aimed to explore what constitutes benefits in HIV vaccine trials in Tanzania and examine inherent ethical implications. A qualitative case study design was deployed and a total of 29 purposively selected study participants comprising of experienced researchers, institutional review board members and community advisory board members were included. Collected data were analyzed by thematic analysis aided by computer software: MAXQDA version 20.4.0. The study findings indicate that there is a growing appreciation of benefits beyond actual vaccines to include 1) capacity building at individual, community, institutional and regulatory levels; and 2) non‐capacity building related benefits such as strengthened collaborations, ancillary care and employment opportunities. So, as the struggle for viable HIV vaccines continues, other benefits that have accrued from such trials are not to be blindsided especially for developing countries like Tanzania.
The role of heterotopy and heterochrony during morphological diversification of otocephalan epibranchial organs
Authors: Cohen Karly E. , Ackles Acacia L. , Hernandez L. Patricia
Published: June 2022

Epibranchial organs (EBOs), found in at least five of the eight otomorphan families, are used to aggregate small prey inside the buccopharyngeal cavity and range in morphological complexity from a singular, small slit on the pharyngeal roof to several, elongated soft tissue tubes. Despite broad phylogenetic representation, little is known about the origin, development, or evolution of EBOs. We hypothesize that both heterochronic and heterotopic changes throughout the evolution of EBOs are at the root of their morphological diversity. Heterochrony is a foundational explanation in developmental studies, however, heterotopy, a developmental change in spatial or topographical relationships, can have even more profound effects on a given structure but has received relatively little attention. Here, we investigate how developmental mechanisms may drive morphological diversity of EBOs within otomorphan fishes. We compare early pharyngeal development in three species, Anchoa mitchilli (Engraulidae) which has the most basic EBO, B. tyrannus (Clupeidae) which has a more complex EBO, and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Cyprinidae) which has the most complex EBO yet described. Using branchial arch growth rates and morphological analyses, we illustrate how both heterochronic and heterotopic mechanisms are responsible for some of the phenotypic diversity seen in otomorphan EBOs. Importantly, we also identify conserved developmental patterns that further our understanding of how EBOs may have first originated and evolved across actinopterygian fishes.
Institutional embeddedness and the language of accountability: Evidence from 20 years of Canadian public audit reports
Authors: Liston‐Heyes Catherine , Juillet Luc
Published: June 2022

Due to the expansion of the mandate assigned to public auditors in the past decades, audit reports have become more prominent indicators of the quality of government. Accordingly, it is important to investigate the factors that shape the communication of audit findings. We suggest that while internal and legislative auditors belong to the same community of practice, they are also embedded in distinct institutional environments that incentivize them to report their findings in different ways. In particular, we hypothesize that to draw attention and mobilize support for their work, legislative auditors are encouraged to use a language that is more negative and emotive than internal auditors. Applying methods of computational text analysis to a corpus of 3245 audit reports produced in the Government of Canada between 2000 and 2019, we present empirical evidence in favor of these hypotheses. Among other things, our findings provide large‐sample evidence that despite comparable professional norms and guidance, public auditors are sensitive to their institutional context and, in response to their environment, resort to rhetorical strategies to either amplify or mitigate the reputational risks associated with their reports.
Detection of small internal fatigue cracks in Ti‐6Al‐4V via synchrotron radiation nanocomputed tomography
Authors: Xue Gaoge , Tomoda Yuta , Nakamura Takashi , Fujimura Nao , Takahashi Kosuke , Yoshinaka Fumiyoshi , Takeuchi Akihisa , Uesugi Masayuki , Uesugi Kentaro
Published: June 2022

Two types of synchrotron radiation computed tomography (SR‐CT)—projection CT (micro‐CT) and phase‐contrast imaging CT (nano‐CT)—were used to observe internal fatigue cracks in (α + β) Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy. Micro‐CT detected cracks in the specimen at ~1 μm spatial resolution, and the nano‐CT provided magnified images at ~200 nm spatial resolution. The crack initiation sites were clarified as the α‐phase for both the surface and internal cracks; however, their opening behaviors differed. A sharp crack tip was observed in the surface crack, and the crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) increased with an increase in the applied load. By contrast, a blunted crack tip, similar to that of a crack in a vacuum, was observed for the internal crack, and its CTOD remained almost constant regardless of the applied load. These phenomena are likely to explain the different behaviors of surface and internal cracks, particularly the slower growth rate of internal cracks, which leads to a longer fatigue life in the very high cycle fatigue regime.
Geopolitics as an ethnographic object and agenda
Authors: Firat Bilge
Published: June 2022

Over the last 3 decades, while ethnography has arguably become a popular and legitimate method to study geopolitics among geographers, anthropologists have increasingly turned towards geopolitics as a popular subject to investigate former and emergent empires as everyday phenomena. Yet, their efforts remain rather disjointed. Written by an anthropologist, this review essay aims to put these rather disjointed efforts into a programmatic conversation and think about how one might (re)calibrate geopolitics as an ethnographic object and agenda. To that end, the essay first takes stock of the existing ethnographic knowledge of geopolitics through a review of selected works by geographers and anthropologists. Then, to help students and scholars of geopolitics from within these cognate disciplines move this engagement forward, the essay concludes by proposing the ‘cultures of geopolitical expertise’ as a productive avenue to recalibrate geopolitics as an ethnographic object and agenda.
Urban gardens on the edge of city‐making in Metro Manila
Authors: Saguin Kristian Karlo
Published: June 2022

Urban gardens have emerged at the cracks and edges of the densely built environment of Metro Manila, taking on a variety of forms that cultivate a sense of habitability amid harsh urban conditions. The empirical diversity in the spaces, practices and trajectories of urban gardens in the city, however, often exceeds their usual framings either as state‐sponsored projects from above that seek to transform individual dispositions, or as grassroots initiatives from below that result from conscious collective resistance or encroachment. Framing gardens as a locus to understand city‐making amid massive urbanisation, this paper aims to provide a different account of urban gardens by focusing on how they emerge from a certain edginess, characterised by a coming together of various actions, aspirations and relations, and by a mode of practice marked by a distinctive temporality and peripheral logic. Using particular accounts of gardening from across Metro Manila, the paper demonstrates the edginess of urban gardens in terms of four articulations: as interstitial, provisional, transversal and experimental. Making a garden work and maintaining its place in the city entail consolidating relationships between various urban elements that carve spaces of manoeuvre, produce diverse eventualities, and map onto the indeterminate politics of the maybe.
Ambulation status at an acute care hospital predicts pneumonia and mortality in stroke patients: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yamauchi Kota , Kumagae Kenichi , Goto Kei , Harayama Eisei , Tanaka Shota , Hagiwara Risa , Uchida Yoshiko , Kuroyama Sota , Koyanagi Yasuhiro , Arakawa Shuji
Published: June 2022

Aim

Higher post‐stroke functional performance is associated with lower mortality in patients with stroke. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ambulation ability in the acute phase of stroke, and pneumonia and mortality 1 year after stroke onset.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included consecutive stroke patients between April 2008 and December 2018. Patients were divided into six groups according to their Functional Ambulation Category score at discharge (0 [unable to walk] to 5 [able to walk independently]). We observed pneumonia cases and all‐cause mortality over 1 year, and investigated the association between Functional Ambulation Category score and pneumonia or mortality. Survival analysis was carried out using Kaplan–Meier curves, log‐rank tests and Cox regression models.

Results

We analyzed 1727 consecutive patients (median age 77 years; 54% men). During the observation period, 144 patients (8.3%) experienced pneumonia and 157 (9.1%) died. Increasing ambulatory impairment showed stepwise relationships with the risk of pneumonia and mortality. Compared with patients with a Functional Ambulation Category score of 5, those with scores of 4 and 3 showed no significant association with pneumonia risk; a score ≤2 was significantly different. There was a stepwise relationship between increased gait disturbance and risk of death compared with the Functional Ambulation Category 5 group.

Conclusions

Ambulation ability at discharge from an acute hospital is an important predictor of pneumonia incidence and survival in stroke patients at 1 year; these associations were observed even after controlling for clinical parameters, such as stroke severity and comorbidity. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 554–559.
Pressurised hot water extraction of phenolic compounds with a focus on eriocitrin and hesperidin from lemon peel
Authors: Alasalvar Hamza , Kaya Murat , Berktas Serap , Basyigit Bülent , Cam Mustafa
Published: June 2022

In this study, the extraction of bioactive compounds from lemon peel, a by‐product of the food industry, was investigated using pressurised hot water extraction (PHWE) at different extraction temperatures (40–200 °C) and times (5–30 min) under 10.34 MPa pressure. The selectivity of the PHWE process on eriocitrin and hesperidin extraction was also tested. The highest total phenolic content (TPC) (59.57 mg gallic acid equivalents g−1), total flavonoid content (TFC) (8.22 mg catechin equivalents g−1) and antioxidant capacity by DPPH (42.59 mg Trolox equivalents (TE) g−1) were obtained at 160 °C for 30 min. The maximum eriocitrin (30.41 mg g−1) and hesperidin (25.90 mg g−1) contents were achieved at 160 °C for 5 min with a 5‐hydroxymethyl furfural content of 0.07 mg g−1. PHWE provided better results for individual compounds and antioxidant capacities than conventional extraction. The results indicated the potentiality of PHWE in the selective extraction of eriocitrin and hesperidin from lemon peel by controlling the extraction temperature and time.
Satisfaction is insufficient: Insights from a randomized, controlled trial of a marketing simulation game
Authors: Skjelbred Siv‐Elisabeth , Daus Stephan
Published: June 2022

Background

The development and promotion of educational games are still outpacing knowledge of these games' effects, raising calls for evidence of benefits and challenges. Studies suggest that students and teachers like games, but the payoff of the investment in terms of increased motivation and achievement remains unclear.

Objectives

This study investigates the pure effect of a marketing simulation game on motivation, perceived learning and achievement, above and beyond regular student‐active instruction.

Methods

We applied a randomized, controlled experiment in a marketing course in upper‐secondary schools (Nclasses = 22; Nstudents = 433) comparing a collaborative–competitive marketing simulation game with regular, case‐based, student‐active instruction on three groups of outcome measures: motivation, perceived ability, and achievement. Additionally, students and teachers provided quantitative and qualitative feedback on game experiences.

Results and Conclusions

We showcase the importance of a robust study design with valid compound instruments. Moreover, investigations of the game implementation and experiences reveal insights about intervention timing, differential negative consequences by gender and need for reflection opportunities. We find no clear evidence of positive or negative effects of the game, despite students' and teachers' satisfaction.

Implications

Beyond the effect evaluation, we offer recommendations to researchers and developers of educational games about scaffolding, timing and teacher competence building.
Examining the Sociopolitical Development of Immigrant‐Origin Youth During a Season of Social Unrest
Authors: Karras Juliana E. , Maker Castro Elena , Emuka Christine
Published: June 2022

The sociopolitical context for immigrant‐origin (I‐O) youth's civic development in the U.S. has dramatically shifted in the years following the 2016 election (e.g., heightened xenophobia). I‐O children comprise 26% of young people in the U.S. and include those born outside the U.S. (first generation) and those with at least one parent born outside the U.S. (second generation). Using a qualitative approach, this study examined how I‐O youth (N = 65, M = 16.22 years) experienced and engaged with the phenomena of the 2020 election season amidst recent economic, political, and social consequences from the pandemic and the current social movements against systemic racism. Findings expand our understanding of how I‐O youth engage as political actors by examining the processes surrounding their sociopolitical development.
Follow‐up evaluation of patients with liver test abnormalities detected during SARS‐CoV2 infection
Authors: Canillas Lidia , Broquetas Teresa , Carrión José A. , Pagano Giulia , Soriano Agnès , Garrido Esther , Fernández Rosa , Viu Ana , Romero Judit , Díaz Gemma , Cañete Nuria , Coll Susana , Naranjo Dolores , Bessa Xavier , Garcia‐Retortillo Montserrat , Puigvehí Marc
Published: June 2022

Abnormal liver function tests (A‐LFTs) during admission for coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) are frequent, but its evolution after COVID‐19 resolution remains unexplored. We evaluated factors related to A‐LFTs during COVID‐19 and assessed the liver outcome after patients' discharge. This is a observational study including: (1) retrospective analysis of variables related to A‐LFTs during COVID‐19; and (2) follow‐up evaluation with blood test, transient elastography and liver biopsy in those with persistent A‐LFTs. A‐LFTs were defined according to CTCAEv4.0. Among 595 patients, 366 (61.5%) showed A‐LFTs. The ratio of partial pressure of oxygen and inspired oxygen fraction (P/F) below 200, ferritin ≥1000 ng/mL, male gender and antibiotic and immunomodulatory treatments were related to A‐LFTs. Follow‐up evaluation was performed in 153 individuals. Persistent A‐LFTs at follow‐up was similar in patients with/without A‐LFTs during admission (14.1% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.104). Fifteen (93%) and 58 (39%) patients with/without A‐LFTs at follow‐up showed metabolic fatty liver disease criteria (p < 0.001), which were histologically confirmed. In conclusion, A‐LFTs during COVID‐19 were related to infection severity. Abnormalities remitted at follow‐up in >80% of patients, and no correlation between A‐LFTs at admission and at follow‐up was found. Most patients with A‐LFTs at follow‐up had non‐invasive and histologically proven fatty liver disease.
Thermal conductivity of basalt between 225 and 290 K
Authors: Halbert D. , Parnell J.
Published: June 2022

Thermal conductivity of natural rock is only well characterized for temperatures above 273 K, i.e., at typical Earth values. In planetary science, there is a requirement to explore the thermal characteristics of rock at temperatures below 273 K, for which thermal conductivity data are sparse or contested. Here, we present empirical data for a basalt showing thermal conductivity ranging from 2.71 ± 0.09 W m−1 K−1 at 224.4 K, to 2.63 ± 0.05 W m−1 K−1 at 288.8 K. Previous work reports much lower values in this range, which may be due to the fragmented nature of the previous research, the use of powdered samples for some data, and the effect of porosity. The high‐temperature thermal conductivity laws of Sass et al. (1992) and Haenel and Zoth (1973) can be robustly extrapolated to cover the temperature range of our data.
Genome‐wide identification of fitness determinants in the Xanthomonas campestris bacterial pathogen during early stages of plant infection
Authors: Luneau Julien S. , Baudin Maël , Quiroz Monnens Thomas , Carrère Sébastien , Bouchez Olivier , Jardinaud Marie‐Françoise , Gris Carine , François Jonas , Ray Jayashree , Torralba Babil , Arlat Matthieu , Lewis Jennifer D. , Lauber Emmanuelle , Deutschbauer Adam M. , Noël Laurent D. , Boulanger Alice
Published: June 2022

Plant diseases are an important threat to food production. While major pathogenicity determinants required for disease have been extensively studied, less is known on how pathogens thrive during host colonization, especially at early infection stages.

Here, we used randomly barcoded‐transposon insertion site sequencing (RB‐TnSeq) to perform a genome‐wide screen and identify key bacterial fitness determinants of the vascular pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris (Xcc) during infection of the cauliflower host plant (Brassica oleracea). This high‐throughput analysis was conducted in hydathodes, the natural entry site of Xcc, in xylem sap and in synthetic media.

Xcc did not face a strong bottleneck during hydathode infection. In total, 181 genes important for fitness were identified in plant‐associated environments with functional enrichment in genes involved in metabolism but only few genes previously known to be involved in virulence. The biological relevance of 12 genes was independently confirmed by phenotyping single mutants. Notably, we show that XC_3388, a protein with no known function (DUF1631), plays a key role in the adaptation and virulence of Xcc possibly through c‐di‐GMP‐mediated regulation.

This study revealed yet unsuspected social behaviors adopted by Xcc individuals when confined inside hydathodes at early infection stages.
Resurrecting Shannon's surprise: landscape heterogeneity complements information use and population growth
Authors: Schmidt Kenneth A. , Massol Francois , Szymkowiak Jakub
Published: June 2022

Shannon's information (H) has two meanings: information and surprise (Shannon's original term.) This terminology characterizes the dual nature of H: 1) a reduction in uncertainty, and 2) heterogeneity, the enabler of surprise, for there is no information in a heterogeneity continuously homogeneous world. Embracing the dual nature of information/heterogeneity produces common ground between behavioral ecology and its sister fields: landscape, population, community and evolutionary ecology. In particular, we explore connections between variance and heterogeneity in resources distributions within landscapes and how such heterogeneity facilitates or hinders individuals' to be informed and utilize the appropriate tail of a resource distribution, and the consequences thereof. We examine both short‐ and long‐term consequences of two scenarios informed breeding habitat selection (site fidelity and conspecific prospecting). We emphasize two main conclusions: 1) the ecological role of heterogeneity to enhance the ability to discriminate between options (poor versus good breeding sites) in ecological time, and 2) how landscape heterogeneity feedbacks on the evolution information use when populations are small to ameliorate negative consequences of global change.
The novel infra‐pectineal buttress plates used for internal fixation of elderly quadrilateral surface involved acetabular fractures
Authors: Wan Yizhou , Yao Sheng , Ma Yan , Zeng Lian , Wang Yulong , Qu Yanzhen , Huang Guixiong , Guo Xiaodong , Chen Kaifang
Published: June 2022

Objectives

In geriatric acetabular fractures, the quadrilateral surface (QLS) was frequently involved in acetabular fracture patterns and accompanied by medial displacement. It was important to buttress the medial displaced QLS and reconstruct the congruity of the affected acetabulum. To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the novel infra‐pectineal quadrilateral surface buttress plates for the treatment of geriatric acetabular fractures.

Methods

Twenty‐three geriatric patients who were treated for acetabular fractures involving QLS with the novel infra‐pectineal buttress plates (NIBP) through a single supra‐ilioinguinal approach between January 2015 and June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed; all patients received at least 1 year's follow‐up. All patients were aged ≥60 years old and including 18 males and five females. Radiologic and clinical outcomes of patients involved in the study were collated and analyzed according to the Matta scoring system and the Merle D'Aubigné–Postel scoring system. The functional recovery scoring was compared using q‐test.

Results

All 23 consecutive patients had relatively satisfactory clinical treatment effectiveness. Average ages, length of incision, operation time, and intraoperative blood loss were 69.8 ± 6.1 years, 12.1 ± 2.6 cm, 166.5 ± 43.5 min, and 500 (500,700) ml, respectively. According to the Matta scoring system, 14 cases of reduction were graded as excellent, five as good, and four as fair. At the last follow‐up, the clinical outcome evaluation was excellent in 13 cases, good in seven cases, and poor in three cases with the use of the Merle D'Aubigné–Postel scoring system. The difference of modified Merle D'Aubigne‐Postel score at 3 months, 6 months and last follow up was statistically significant (F = 21.56, p < 0.05). Postoperative lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury occurred in three patients and heterotopic ossification occurred in one patient.

Conclusions

For the treatment of geriatric acetabular fractures, the NIBP could provide stable and effective fixation to the QLS involved acetabular fractures, and related satisfactory clinical results with few complications were noted.
The impact of provincial lockdown policies and COVID‐19 case and mortality rates on anxiety in Canada
Authors: Plett Donna , Pechlivanoglou Petros , Coyte Peter C.
Published: June 2022

Aim

COVID‐19 has had significant mental health impacts internationally and anxiety rates are estimated to have tripled during the pandemic, but the specific causes remain underexplored. This study's purpose was to investigate the associations of sociodemographic factors, COVID‐19‐related policies, and COVID‐19 case/mortality rates with levels of anxiety among Canadians during the pandemic.

Methods

This study used linear regression models populated with three integrated sources of data: a repeated cross‐sectional survey (n = 7008), Oxford COVID‐19 Government Response Tracker data, and COVID‐19 case/mortality rates. Sociodemographic factors included were age, gender, race, province, income, education, rurality, household composition, and factors related to employment.

Results

Local COVID‐19 case and mortality rates and stay‐at‐home orders were positively associated with anxiety symptom severity. Anxiety was most severe among those who: were female, Indigenous, or Middle Eastern; had postsecondary education; lived with others; and became unemployed or had working hours altered during the pandemic. Anxiety was less severe among: older adults; male, Caucasians, and black individuals; those with high incomes, and; those for whom employment did not change during the pandemic.

Conclusion

Anxiety was primarily driven by socioeconomic factors among Canadians during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Policies that alleviate socioeconomic uncertainty for groups that are most vulnerable may reduce the long‐term harm of the pandemic and associated lockdown policies.
Irregular verb morphology in Nigerian English
Authors: Olatoye Temitayo
Published: June 2022

Verb regularization is often characterized as a morphological Americanism in contemporary English. Using a synchronic approach, this study investigates the regular ‐edvs. irregular ‐talternation in preterites and past participles from British, American, and Nigerian Englishes. Although verb regularization patterns in Nigerian English are considered to be under the growing influence of American English, corpus evidence from theGlobal Web‐based English corpusand theInternational Corpus of Englishreveals that irregular‐tvariants remain prevalent in the written data. To examine the conditioning factors, a dataset of 1,643 annotated observations was subjected to probabilistic modelling. The results indicate that significant predictors of verb regularization behave heterogeneously in the three varieties, and there is some evidence for probabilistic indigenization in Nigerian English. These findings suggest that the role of prescriptivism in shaping the usage patterns of Nigerian users of English as a Second Language (ESL) can hardly be overlooked.
Technology-Based Student-Centred ESP Writing With Genre-Based Teaching Approach
Authors: Osman Hajibah , Turiman Syamimi
Published: June 2022

Capitalising on current students’ preference for learning via technology, this article proposes a genre-based teaching approach for ESP writing employing the technology afforded for language learning. A module was designed to teach ESP writing to accounting students using sustainability reports as the basis. The module includes details of how to guide students to carry out genre analysis and corpus analysis in order to discover the language use in the reports. ESP students are reported to enjoy writing genres related to their disciplines where they are more prepared to participate. This is expected to be achieved with this module.
Reading Needs and Perception of Using Authentic Materials in Teaching Aviation Management Trainees
Authors: Satvindar Singh Reshminder Kaur , Yin Mei Cheong Cecilia , Abdul Rahman Nor Aida
Published: June 2022

Reading skill has been given less importance in many higher learning institutions. Most English language teachers assume that the learners are adults, and they can comprehend when reading. Although these learners may not face problems recognising words and their pronunciation, teaching reading skills is vital, especially to learners in discipline-specific programmes who may have difficulties understanding materials of different genres and contexts. The purpose of this study is to assess the reading needs of aviation management personnel in order to evaluate the need to teach reading to aviation management trainees before joining the aviation industry. The study employed a mixed-method approach; interviews and a survey questionnaire which gathered participants' opinions. The participants involved are aviation management personnel working in local and foreign aviation companies. Findings suggest that as the trainees need to read specific workplace documents, they might face difficulties if not exposed early to the reading materials. This paper highlights the challenges participants faced when reading work-related documents and the factors affecting participants’ reading comprehension. It emphasises the importance of teaching reading using authentic materials to aviation management trainees in order to prepare them for their future work requirements and to ensure that the trainees are exposed to aviation management related documents.
Students’ Level of Critical Thinking Skills (CTS) in Writing Problem Statement (PS) in Theses
Authors: Mohd Sharif Nurhidayah , Abdul Rahman Shazwani , Azizan Awis Rumaisya , Mustaffa Faizal Yamimi , Haji Salam Abdul Rahim
Published: June 2022

When organising ideas in a thesis, students have to deal with a set of structures to meet its communicative purposes. Numerous attempts have been made to investigate the move structures of the problem statement (PS), which is a section in the introduction chapter of a thesis. However, there is no previous work that accounts for the element of critical thinking skills (CTS) in PS. This study recognises that CTS combined with move structures are necessary for students to write an effective PS. A guideline for writing an effective PS that embodies organised moves and CTS is non-existent. Therefore, this study aims to introduce a Rubric for Assessing Critical Thinking Skills in Problem Statement (RACTSPS) to rate the PS section, taking into account students’ CTS guided by the correct moves when writing them. This rubric was developed based on thematic analysis from previously developed models and rubrics. Thirty PS sections were extracted from 30 English-written theses from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Institutional Repository using the purposive sampling method. The PS samples were then rated using RACTSPS, and the scores were recorded. The scores were then triangulated with the raters’ feedback in a focus group interview. The findings reveal that students display an average level of CTS. This is concerning for the university as it reflects the lack of graduates’ ability to think critically – a skill much needed in the academic and industry settings. As a result, a guide should be offered to both students and teachers early in the thesis writing process, which this study proposes. The model, the RACTSPS, will create awareness of the CTS level expected to be reflected in the students’ thesis.
High-Density Drilling Fluids for Managed Pressure Drilling: Lab Development and Field Trial
Authors: Wagle Vikrant , AlYami Abdullah , Aljubran Mohammad , Al-Bahrani Hussain
Published: June 2022

Managed pressure drilling (MPD) offers a closed-loop circulation system in which formation fracture pressure, bottom hole pressure, and pore pressure are considered and managed at surface. The right choice of drilling fluid used during MPD operation facilitates proper mud management and treatment. Lab formulation and field trial of a high-density water-based drilling fluid comprising a mixture of barite (BaSO4) and manganese tetroxide (Mn3O4) as weighting agents have been described in this paper. Drilling fluids having a mixture of Mn3O4 and BaSO4 as weighting agents would have lower equivalent circulating density (ECD), better sag, better acid solubility, and lower fluid cost as compared to conventional BaSO4-based fluids. This paper describes the formulation of three different water-based drilling fluids viz. 100, 120, and 150 pcf drilling fluids having a mixture of Mn3O4 and BaSO4 and hot rolled at temperatures of 270, 250, and 300 °F, respectively. Rheological properties, sag resistance, and high pressure-high temperature (HPHT) filtration properties of the three fluids have been described in the paper. Data obtained from the field trial of 160 pcf high-density drilling fluids having a mixture of Mn3O4 and BaSO4 for wells with a 300 °F bottom hole static temperature have been described. HPHT operations across naturally fractured formations with 0.5–1.0 pcf drilling fluid window have been described in the paper. During the field trial, the fluid having a mixture of Mn3O4 and BaSO4 showed good rheological, filtration, and sag properties thereby resulting in successful drilling of the well with no issues. MPD operation became more successful and practical with high-density drilling fluids having a mixture of Mn3O4 and BaSO4 as it facilitated better drilling fluid management and treatment in comparison to conventional fluids.
Chronic oiling in global oceans
Authors: Dong Yanzhu , Liu Yongxue , Hu Chuanmin , MacDonald Ian R. , Lu Yingcheng
Published: June 2022

Ocean oil slicks can be attributed to natural seepages or to anthropogenic discharges. To date, the global picture of their distribution and relative natural and anthropogenic contributions remains unclear. Here, by analyzing 563,705 Sentinel-1 images from 2014–2019, we provide the first global map of oil slicks and a detailed inventory of static-and-persistent sources (natural seeps, platforms, and pipelines). About 90% of oil slicks were within 160 kilometers of shorelines, with 21 high-density slick belts coinciding well with shipping routes. Quantified by slick area, the proportion of anthropogenic discharges was an order of magnitude greater than natural seepages (94 versus 6%), in contrast to the previous estimate quantified by volume during 1990–1999 (54 versus 46%). Our findings reveal that the present-day anthropogenic contribution to marine oil pollution may have been substantially underestimated.
Modifying insulin to improve performance
Authors: Lin Nai-Pin , Chou Danny Hung-Chieh
Published: June 2022

A platform to enable precise modifications of insulin could improve drug functionality
Chip-scale power booster for light
Authors: Kim Jungwon
Published: June 2022

A miniature amplifier with high power is realized with an ion-doped waveguide
Clues to long COVID
Authors: Couzin-Frankel Jennifer
Published: June 2022

Scientists strive to unravel what is driving disabling symptoms
Monkeypox could establish new reservoirs in animals
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: June 2022

Concern grows that virus will get footholds in species outside Africa
Human Papillomavirus and Risk of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Iran
Authors: Karimi Abbas , Mohebbi Elham , Mckay-Chopin Sandrine , Rashidian Hamideh , Hadji Maryam , Peyghambari Vahideh , Marzban Maryam , Naghibzadeh-Tahami Ahmad , Gholipour Mahin , Kamangar Farin , Tommasino Massimo , Gheit Tarik , Zendehdel Kazem
Published: June 2022

Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for a subset of neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but knowledge of the prevalence of and risk factors for oral HPV infection, especially cutaneous types in Iran, remains unknown. In a large retrospective study, the authors used a sensitive assay for the detection of α-, β-, and γ-HPVs in oral rinse samples of HNSCC and matched controls.
Guided, internet based, cognitive behavioural therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled non-inferiority trial (RAPID)
Authors: Bisson Jonathan I , Ariti Cono , Cullen Katherine , Kitchiner Neil , Lewis Catrin , Roberts Neil P , Simon Natalie , Smallman Kim , Addison Katy , Bell Vicky , Brookes-Howell Lucy , Cosgrove Sarah , Ehlers Anke , Fitzsimmons Deborah , Foscarini-Craggs Paula , Harris Shaun R S , Kelson Mark , Lovell Karina , McKenna Maureen , McNamara Rachel , Nollett Claire , Pickles Tim , Williams-Thomas Rhys
Published: June 2022

Objective

To determine if guided internet based cognitive behavioural therapy with a trauma focus (CBT-TF) is non-inferior to individual face-to-face CBT-TF for mild to moderate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to one traumatic event.

Design

Pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled non-inferiority trial (RAPID).

Setting

Primary and secondary mental health settings across the UK’s NHS.

Participants

196 adults with a primary diagnosis of mild to moderate PTSD were randomised in a 1:1 ratio to one of two interventions, with 82% retention at 16 weeks and 71% retention at 52 weeks. 19 participants and 10 therapists were purposively sampled and interviewed for evaluation of the process.

Interventions

Up to 12 face-to-face, manual based, individual CBT-TF sessions, each lasting 60-90 minutes; or guided internet based CBT-TF with an eight step online programme, with up to three hours of contact with a therapist and four brief telephone calls or email contacts between sessions.

Main outcome measures

Primary outcome was the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) at 16 weeks after randomisation (diagnosis of PTSD based on the criteria of theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, DSM-5). Secondary outcomes included severity of PTSD symptoms at 52 weeks, and functioning, symptoms of depression and anxiety, use of alcohol, and perceived social support at 16 and 52 weeks after randomisation.

Results

Non-inferiority was found at the primary endpoint of 16 weeks on the CAPS-5 (mean difference 1.01, one sided 95% confidence interval −∞ to 3.90, non-inferiority P=0.012). Improvements in CAPS-5 score of more than 60% in the two groups were maintained at 52 weeks, but the non-inferiority results were inconclusive in favour of face-to-face CBT-TF at this time point (3.20, −∞ to 6.00, P=0.15). Guided internet based CBT-TF was significantly (P<0.001) cheaper than face-to-face CBT-TF and seemed to be acceptable and well tolerated by participants. The main themes of the qualitative analysis were facilitators and barriers to engagement with guided internet based CBT-TF, treatment outcomes, and considerations for its future implementation.

Conclusions

Guided internet based CBT-TF for mild to moderate PTSD to one traumatic event was non-inferior to individual face-to-face CBT-TF and should be considered a first line treatment for people with this condition.

Trial registration

ISRCTN13697710.
Teaching undergraduate medical students virtual consultation skills: a mixed-methods interventional before-and-after study
Authors: Booth Edie , McFetridge Kate , Ferguson Evelyn , Paton Catherine
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To evaluate the impact and transferability of a novel teaching method on virtual communication skills for final year medical students.

Design

Mixed-methods, interventional before-and-after study.

Setting

NHS Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Participants

21 final year medical students on their obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) placement from September to December 2020.

Interventions

A two-part teaching session on virtual communication skills.

Main outcome measures

Self-reported confidence in conducting consultations preteaching and post-teaching, exposure to virtual consultations, usefulness of teaching and transferability to primary care. Data were collected using preteaching and post-teaching evaluation tools and an online survey.

Results

Of 21 participants, 1 student did not attend the second session so was excluded from post-teaching evaluation results and the online survey. Preteaching results were collected from 21 participants and post-teaching results from 20. Mean confidence scores increased across all domains post-teaching. Mean confidence in opening the consultation increased from 2.67 (95% CI 2.21 to 3.13) to 4.70 (95% CI 4.50 to 4.90); history-taking from 3.38 (95% CI 3.07 to 3.69) to 4.45 (95% CI 4.19 to 4.71); decision-making and forming a management plan from 2.62 (95% CI 2.28 to 2.96) to 3.90 (95% CI 3.66 to 4.14) and closing the consultation from 2.81 (95% CI 2.45 to 3.17) to 4.60 (95% CI 4.38 to 4.81). There was no change in exposure to virtual consultations during O&G placement. 16 (80%) participants responded to the online survey; 14 (87.5%) rated the sessions ‘very useful’ and all 16 considered them worthwhile continuing. 12 (75%) had the opportunity to practise virtual consultations on general practitioner, mostly via telephone.

Conclusions

We found that teaching students virtual consultation skills improved short term confidence and were transferable to primary care placements. Future research is suggested to assess this teaching model following adaptation and incorporation into medical education and training across specialties and grades. It would be useful to evaluate the impact on competence post intervention through observed skills.
Digital intervention promoting physical activity among obese people (DIPPAO) randomised controlled trial: study protocol
Authors: Mazéas Alexandre , Chalabaev Aïna , Blond Marine , Pereira Bruno , Duclos Martine
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Physical inactivity and excessive sedentary behaviours are major preventable causes in both the development and the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Nevertheless, current programmes struggle to engage and sustain physical activity (PA) of patients over long periods of time. To overcome these limitations, the Digital Intervention Promoting Physical Activity among Obese people randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a group-based digital intervention grounded on gamification strategies, enhanced by social features and informed by the tenets of the self-determination theory and the social identity approach.

Methods and analysis

This trial is a two-arm parallel RCT testing the effectiveness of the Kiplin digital intervention on obese and patients with T2DM in comparison to the usual supervised PA programme of the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France. A total of 50 patients will be randomised to one of the two interventions and will follow a 3-month programme with a 6-month follow-up postintervention. The primary outcome of the study is the daily step count change between the baseline assessment and the end of the intervention. Accelerometer data, self-reported PA, body composition and physical capacities will also be evaluated. To advance our understanding of complex interventions like gamified and group-based ones, we will explore several psychological mediators relative to motivation, enjoyment, in-group identification or perceived weight stigma. Finally, to assess a potential superior economic efficiency compared with the current treatment, we will conduct a cost–utility analysis between the two conditions. A mixed-model approach will be used to analyse the change in outcomes over time.

Ethics and dissemination

The research protocol has been reviewed and approved by the Local Human Protection Committee (CPP Ile de France XI, No 21 004-65219). Results will inform the Kiplin app development, be published in scientific journals and disseminated in international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT04887077.
Association between purpose in life and healthcare use among women and men in Germany: cross-sectional analysis of the nationally representative German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) study
Authors: Hajek André , König Hans-Helmut
Published: June 2022

Objectives

It remains almost unknown whether purpose in life is associated with healthcare use (HCU) in general. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine the association between purpose in life and HCU (in terms of frequency of outpatient physician visits and hospitalisation) stratified by sex.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting and participants

A representative sample of the general adult population in Germany (n=1238; collected from September 2020 to February 2021); taken from the innovation sample of the German Socio-Economic Panel.

Outcome measures

The frequency of outpatient physician visits in the past 3 months was used as first outcome measure. Hospitalisation in the last 12 months was used as the second outcome measure. Purpose in life was quantified by means of the subscale ‘purpose in life’ of the six-factor model of psychological well-being. Covariates were selected based on the Andersen model.

Results

Average purpose in life equaled 4.5 (SD: 0.8; ranging on a scale from 1 to 6, with higher values indicating higher purpose in life). Adjusting for various potential confounders, regressions revealed that higher purpose in life was associated with an increased frequency of outpatient physician visits in the past 3 months among women (IRR 1.16, 95% CI:1.03 to 1.30), but not men (IRR 0.96, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.07). In contrast, higher purpose in life was associated with in an increased likelihood of hospitalisation among men (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.93), but not women (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.34).

Conclusion

Even after adjusting for various potential confounders, there was still a gender-specific association between higher purpose in life and increased HCU. This knowledge may assist in addressing individuals at risk for underuse or overuse of healthcare services.