bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advancing scholarly excellence at midcareer: the influence of exceptional others on faculty professional growth
Authors: Pifer Meghan J. , Logsdon M. Cynthia , Ibarra Maria , Gardner Kevin
Published: February 2024

Purpose

There is a need to support midcareer faculty who have demonstrated scholarly success but require additional development. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of an initiative for “star faculty” at midcareer, with an emphasis on the role of exceptional others in their professional growth.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an exploratory, single-site case study of a midcareer faculty excellence initiative. Data sources include document/site analysis and individual interviews.

Findings

Findings reveal the value of “exceptional others” in professional growth among high-performing midcareer faculty. Perceptions about excellence at midcareer emerged as an antecedent to developing midcareer faculty members. Analysis generated themes in behaviors related to supporting midcareer scholars’ professional growth.

Research limitations/implications

This study is an initial step toward refining concepts such as exceptional others, academic stars and scholarly advancement within the academy. There is a need for equity-minded research about these topics. In addition to replication across institutional and disciplinary contexts, there is also a need for longitudinal mixed-methods studies of midcareer faculty mentoring outcomes over time.

Practical implications

The study points to the role of the institution and its senior faculty in fostering midcareer scholarly excellence. Mentoring and development around individualized goals may be of value in addition to an emphasis on clarity around institutional expectations and norms in faculty performance reviews.

Originality/value

Midcareer faculty are a crucial component of the academy, yet they are often overlooked as needing career support, resources and development. This study focuses on mentoring and coaching for postsecondary faculty at midcareer and the role of exceptional others in facilitating faculty professional growth.
Comparing flexibility-based measures during different disruptions: evidence from maritime supply chains
Authors: Rogerson Sara , Svanberg Martin , Altuntas Vural Ceren , von Wieding Sönke , Woxenius Johan
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Severe disruptions to maritime supply chains, including port closures, congestion and shortages in shipping capacity, have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper’s purpose is to explore flexibility-based countermeasures that enable actors in maritime supply chains to mitigate the effects of disruptions with different characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with shipping lines, shippers, forwarders and ports. Data on the COVID-19 pandemic's effects and countermeasures were collected and compared with data regarding the 2016–2017 Gothenburg port conflict.

Findings

Spatial, capacity, service and temporal flexibility emerged as the primary countermeasures, whilst important characteristics of disruptions were geographical spread, duration, uncertainty, criticality, the element of surprise and intensity. Spatial flexibility was exercised in both disruptions by switching to alternative ports. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring capacity flexibility included first removing and then adding vessels. Shipping lines exercising service flexibility prioritised certain cargo, which made the spot market uncertain and reduced flexibility for forwarders, importers and exporters that changed carriers or traffic modes. Experience with disruptions meant less surprise and better preparation for spatial flexibility.

Practical implications

Understanding how actors in maritime supply chains exercise flexibility-based countermeasures amid disruptions with different characteristics can support preparedness for coming disruptions.

Originality/value

Comparing flexibility-based measures in a pandemic versus port conflict provides insights into the important characteristics of disruptions and the relevance of mitigation strategies. The resilience of maritime supply chains, although underexamined compared with manufacturing supply chains, is essential for maintaining global supply chain flows.
Exploring participation and engagement in a multi-component, universal early parenting programme
Authors: Hickey Gráinne , Leckey Yvonne , McGilloway Sinead
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Parenting programmes are increasingly a feature of services and policies aimed at improving outcomes for children and families and tackling inequality, yet they remain underused. This study aims to assess parent engagement and retention in the parent and infant (PIN) programme – a universal, multi-component intervention designed to support parents from birth to when their children reach two years of age. The programme can be tailored to parent/community needs but also includes standardised core elements including two Incredible Years parenting programmes. Programme provider perspectives on recruiting and supporting participation were also explored.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed methods study was conducted involving parents (n = 106) and programme providers involved in the PIN programme. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the impact of participant demographic characteristics on the likelihood of programme engagement and attendance. Semi-structured interviews explored facilitators’ experiences of parent recruitment and engagement, as well as barriers and facilitators of parental attendance.

Findings

First-time mothers were more likely to initially enrol in the PIN programme than younger or lone parents. However, older age and married/cohabiting status were the strongest predictors of attending at least one-third of programme sessions. Qualitative findings highlighted the importance of relationship building and connection in supporting participant recruitment and engagement. Practical and psychological barriers to programme participation are also described.

Originality/value

The findings shed light on factors that influence engagement and attendance in universal, early parent support programmes. Barriers to parent engagement are multi-layered and tailored strategies to promote uptake of parenting programmes are needed.
Employee participation in corporate volunteering as the moderator of links between relationships at work, work meaningfulness and affective commitment
Authors: Brzustewicz Paweł , Glińska-Neweś Aldona , Escher Iwona , Fu Yusheng , Józefowicz Barbara
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study is to test for a moderating role of employee participation in volunteering in links between employees' relationships with peers and supervisors, work meaningfulness (WM) and affective commitment (AC).

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a survey conducted on a sample of 711 employees, both those involved and those non-involved in corporate volunteering (CV).

Findings

The results suggest that employee participation in CV strengthens the effects that employees' perceptions of positive relationships with peers and perceived supervisor support (PSS) have on employees' AC. Contrary to expectations, although participation in CV strengthens employees' sense of WM, it does not affect its links with other phenomena analyzed in this study.

Originality/value

CV is a fast-growing practice in corporate social responsibility. The reasons companies implement CV include the benefits they gain from it, such as positive effects on employee attitudes and behaviors. The paper contributes to the understanding of CV effects on employee attitudes and behaviors and builds a better business case for this CSR practice.
Green Public Procurement in open access and traditional journals: a comparative bibliometric analysis
Authors: Galán-Valdivieso Federico , Alonso-Cañadas Juana , Saraite-Sariene Laura , Caba-Perez Carmen
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Green Public Procurement (GPP) has recently gained attention in the academic and policy arenas since climate change has uncovered the need to be addressed by both private companies and public entities. Because of this growing interest this study aims to explore the most influential journals, publishers, categories, topics and therecent trends and future research lines in GPP.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the Web of Science database, 1,008 articles from 1990 to November 2023 devoted to GPP are analysed by using Bibliometrix, an R-tool to perform bibliometric analysis.

Findings

This study introduces the following findings. The most influential journals by far are Journal of Cleaner Production and Sustainability, differing in that the latter is open access (OA) while the former publishes through traditional subscription (TS). This result also occurs regarding the main publishers (Elsevier and MDPI).

Social implications

GPP is a political commitment that contributes to improving the efficiency of the economies and that has aroused the interest of the scientific community. The paper can provide important insights for GPPs formulation in the areas of procurements and literacy.

Originality/value

The paper leads a debate on the opportunities or threats that the OA journals present for the dissemination of scientific knowledge of GPP, compared to TS publications in the same field.
Robustly estimating the demographic contribution of immigration: Simulation, sensitivity analysis and seals
Authors: Christian Murray , Oosthuizen W. Chris , Bester Marthán N. , de Bruyn P. J. Nico
Published: February 2024

Identifying important demographic drivers of population dynamics is fundamental for understanding life‐history evolution and implementing effective conservation measures. Integrated population models (IPMs) coupled with transient life table response experiments (tLTREs) allow ecologists to quantify the contributions of demographic parameters to observed population change. While IPMs can estimate parameters that are not estimable using any data source alone, for example, immigration, the estimated contribution of such parameters to population change is prone to bias. Currently, it is unclear when robust conclusions can be drawn from them.

We sought to understand the drivers of a rebounding southern elephant seal population on Marion Island using the IPM–tLTRE framework, applied to count and mark–recapture data on 9500 female seals over nearly 40 years. Given the uncertainty around IPM–tLTRE estimates of immigration, we also aimed to investigate the utility of simulation and sensitivity analyses as general tools for evaluating the robustness of conclusions obtained in this framework.

Using a Bayesian IPM and tLTRE analysis, we quantified the contributions of survival, immigration and population structure to population growth. We assessed the sensitivity of our estimates to choice of multivariate priors on immigration and other vital rates. To do so we make a novel application of Gaussian process priors, in comparison with commonly used shrinkage priors. Using simulation, we assessed our model's ability to estimate the demographic contribution of immigration under different levels of temporal variance in immigration.

The tLTRE analysis suggested that adult survival and immigration were the most important drivers of recent population growth. While the contribution of immigration was sensitive to prior choices, the estimate was consistently large. Furthermore, our simulation study validated the importance of immigration by showing that our estimate of its demographic contribution is unlikely to result as a biased overestimate.

Our results highlight the connectivity between distant populations of southern elephant seals, illustrating that female dispersal can be important in regulating the abundance of local populations even when natal site fidelity is high. More generally, we demonstrate how robust ecological conclusions may be obtained about immigration from the IPM–tLTRE framework, by combining sensitivity analysis and simulation.
Optimizing coffee production: Increased floral visitation and bean quality at plantation edges with wild pollinators and natural vegetation
Authors: Pereira Machado Ana Carolina , Baronio Gudryan J. , Soares Novaes Cinthia , Ollerton Jeff , Wolowski Torres Marina , Natalina Silva Lopes Danúbia , Rech André Rodrigo
Published: February 2024

Animal pollination is important for more than 75% of agricultural crops, including coffee, whose productivity can increase with adequate pollination. Bees, including many solitary species, are diverse pollinators, with around 85% of them considered more effective than honeybees in pollen transfer. We assessed the coffee plantation and its surrounding vegetation for solitary bee nesting throughout the coffee flowering season and measured their impact on coffee productivity.

We installed collection stations with trap nests inside a coffee plantation, on the border and inside the native vegetation in a farm in Diamantina, MG, Brazil. We used 10 weekly monitored replicates at least 1 km apart. We evaluated fruiting by autogamy in relation to natural pollination and used the increase in fruit set from pollinators to calculate the farmer's monetary gain. We recorded bee visits to the exposed flowers during coffee flowering considering both on the edge and inside the coffee plantation. Ripe fruits were dried, counted and weighed.

We discovered 132 solitary bee nests outside the plantation, with 54% containing coffee pollen grains, indicating coffee as an essential resource for bees even outside the crop area. More bee visits occurred at the coffee plantation's edge, resulting in increased fruit production, denser fruits, and rounder fruits in that area. Bagged flowers produced consistent seeds in all locations. The farmer could earn an extra US$1736.37 per hectare if the entire area received the same level of pollination contribution from bees as observed at the coffee border.

Synthesis and applications. Our study emphasises the key role of pollinators in coffee production and their impact on fruit and seed characteristics. Bee visits were more frequent on border areas, emphasising their reliance on natural nesting sites. Bee‐mediated pollination positively affected fruit traits and self‐pollinated fruits in plantation borders had reduced mass. Solitary bee nesting was primarily observed in native vegetation, underlining its importance for bee populations. Pollen composition in nests varied with proximity to coffee plantations, indicating landscape vegetation influences pollinator foraging. These findings support optimising coffee plantation design by preserving native vegetation to increase coffee yields and conserve biodiversity.
The ritualisation of the surgical safety checklist and its decoupling from patient safety goals
Authors: Facey Marcia , Baxter Nancy , Hammond Mobilio Melanie , Moulton Carol‐anne , Paradis Elise
Published: February 2024

Patient harm, patient safety and their governance have been ongoing concerns for policymakers, care providers and the public. In response to high rates of adverse events/medical errors, the World Health Organisation (WHO) advocated the use of surgical safety checklists (SSC) to improve safety in surgical care. Canadian health authorities subsequently made SSC use a mandatory organisational practice, with public reporting of safety indicators for compliance tied to pre‐existing legislation and to reimbursements for surgical procedures. Perceived as the antidote for socio‐technical issues in operating rooms (ORs), much of the SSC‐related research has focused on assessing clinical and economic effectiveness, worker perceptions, attitudes and barriers to implementation. Suboptimal outcomes are attributed to implementations that ignored contexts. Using ethnographic data from a study of SSC at an urban teaching hospital (C&C), a critical lens and the concepts of ritual and ceremony, we examine how it is used, and theorise the nature and implications of that use. Two rituals, one improvised and one scripted, comprised C&C’s SSC ceremony. Improvised performances produced dislocations that were ameliorated by scripted verification practices. This ceremony produced causally opaque links to patient safety goals and reproduced OR/medical culture. We discuss the theoretical contributions of the study and the implications for patient safety.
Instability, changes, and internal structure of children's attitudes toward mathematics in primary school: A four‐wave investigation
Authors: Feng Hongmin , Xu Yanli , Huang Bijuan , Li Hongxia , Zhang Mingliang , Cui Shuang , Guo Kaiyue , Liu Xiaoyu , Si Jiwei
Published: February 2024

The longitudinal person‐oriented study aimed to explore profiles, stability, gender differences, and compositional relations of math attitudes by tracking Chinese third graders (Ntotal = 1013, Mage(T1) = 8.92 ± 0.46, Ngirls = 404) in four waves with 1‐year intervals. Five profiles and unstable transitional probabilities were identified among the four waves. The relations between enjoyment to confidence and value shifted from reciprocity to enjoyment dominance, but value negatively predicted later enjoyment and confidence. Additionally, boys' advantages were significant in late elementary school (fifth, sixth grades) and girls benefited from initial positive attitudes. These findings suggest that Chinese students' math attitudes in middle childhood are unstable, shaped by internal and external environmental dynamics, and need to be further explored in cross‐cultural research.
Autoantibodies against gAChR in humans and mouse models of autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy
Authors: Nakane Shunya , Yamakawa Makoto , Nakatsuji Yuji
Published: February 2024

The ganglionic nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (gAChR) mediates fast synaptic transmission in all peripheral autonomic ganglia (sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric). Over the last two decades, evidence has accumulated for a role of autoantibodies against gAChR in the development of autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG). In this review we provide an updated overview of the field, with a highlight on the role of autoimmunity against gAChR in the pathogenesis of AAG. Clinical data as well as findings from experimental disease models are summarized in sections focusing on the presence of autoantibodies against gAChR in patients with AAG, the function of gAChR antibodies, the association of antibodies against gAChR with AAG‐related phenotypes, the in vivo pathogenicity of transferred autoantibodies against gAChR in mice, and mouse models of the disease induced by immunization with the nicotinic AChR. Based on a comprehensive assessment of the currently available data, we propose a hypothetical model for the role of autoantibodies against gAChR in the pathogenesis of AAG.
Factors associated with negative colonoscopy in participants with a positive faecal immunochemical test from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Screening Program – a population‐based study
Authors: Hansen Lea Østergaard , Fürst Mathias Benjamin , Bjørsum‐Meyer Thomas , Schelde‐Olesen Benedicte , Deding Ulrik , Kaalby Lasse
Published: February 2024

Aim

In the Danish Colorectal Cancer Screening Program (DCCSP), 37% of participants undergoing colonoscopy have a negative result with no obvious findings that can be attributed to a positive faecal immunochemical test (FIT). The aim of this work was to identify predictors for a negative colonoscopy in DCCSP participants with a positive FIT.

Method

We included 73 655 FIT‐positive DCCSP participants using the Danish Colorectal Cancer Screening Database and linked their screening results with data from several other national health registers. We stratified participants by all predictors, and compared them using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results are reported as odds ratios (ORs).

Results

We found that having a condition linked to gastrointestinal bleeding, for example fissures, haemorrhoids and inflammatory bowel disease, was strongly associated with the probability of having a negative colonoscopy [OR 2.77 (95% CI 2.59, 2.96)]. FIT concentration was inversely related to the probability of a negative colonoscopy, the OR decreased steadily from 0.79 (95% CI 0.75, 0.83) in the 40–59 μg/g group, to 0.44 (95% CI 0.42, 0.46) in the ≥200 μg/g group. Women had a 1.64 (95% CI 1.59, 1.70) times higher probability of a negative colonoscopy than men.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that baseline conditions linked to gastrointestinal bleeding are an associating factor with having a negative colonoscopy. The same is true for low FIT concentration and female sex. Further studies with similar findings could suggest that an incorporation of these factors into a personalized screening approach by differentiating between diagnostic modalities could improve the process for the participant while alleviating the health care system.
Louse‐induced mortality thresholds in Atlantic salmon of wild‐origin
Authors: Bui Samantha , Fjelldal Per Gunnar , Hvas Malthe , Karlsen Ørjan , Dalvin Sussie
Published: February 2024

Wild salmonid fish are faced with the challenge of infections from the ectoparasitic salmon louse, which thus dictates the management of salmon aquaculture in areas where farms and wild populations co‐exist. The mortality risk of wild Atlantic salmon is used as an indicator of threat levels when monitoring wild populations, and therefore the aim of this study was to robustly investigate the effect of infection intensity on probability of mortality in salmon of wild origin. To assess critical infection levels, recently‐smoltified Atlantic salmon were infected with intensities ranging from 0 to 2.5 lice g−1 and exposed to a 48‐h simulated migration. The first mortalities occurred when preadults appeared and ceased as lice became adults. Infection intensity negatively affected mortality probability and survival time, whereas the simulated migration had no influence on the probability of mortality. Individual‐level effects of infection on host mortality is difficult to quantify in the field; however, the correlation between louse load and mortality probability obtained in this study can facilitate indirect estimates of mortality risk of wild salmon populations and contribute to conservation efforts associated with this parasite.
Interpreting motor function outcomes in young males with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Baranello Giovanni
Published: February 2024

This commentary is on the original article by Hoskens et al. on pages 644–653 of this issue.
Mlg1, a yeast acyltransferase located in ER membranes associated with mitochondria (MAMs), is involved in de novo synthesis and remodelling of phospholipids
Authors: Laquel Patricia , Ayciriex Sophie , Doignon François , Camougrand Nadine , Fougère Louise , Rocher Christophe , Wattelet‐Boyer Valérie , Bessoule Jean‐Jacques , Testet Eric
Published: February 2024

In cells, phospholipids contain acyl chains of variable lengths and saturation, features that affect their functions. Their de novo synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum takes place via the cytidine diphosphate diacylglycerol (CDP‐DAG) and Kennedy pathways, which are conserved in eukaryotes. PA is a key intermediate for all phospholipids (PI, PIPs, PS, PE, PC, PG and CL). The de novo synthesis of PA occurs by acylation of glycerophosphate leading to the synthesis of 1‐acyl lysoPA and subsequent acylation of 1‐acyl lysoPA at the sn‐2 position. Using membranes from Escherichia coli overexpressing MLG1, we showed that the yeast gene MLG1 encodes an acyltransferase, leading specifically to the synthesis of PA from 1‐acyl lysoPA. Moreover, after their de novo synthesis, phospholipids can be remodelled by acyl exchange with one and/or two acyl chains exchanged at the sn‐1 and/or sn‐2 position. Based on shotgun lipidomics of the reference and mlg1Δ strains, as well as biochemical assays for acyltransferase activities, we identified an additional remodelling activity for Mlg1p, namely, incorporation of palmitic acid into the sn‐1 position of PS and PE. By using confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation, we also found that this acyltransferase is located in ER membranes associated with mitochondria, a finding that highlights the importance of these organelles in the global cellular metabolism of lipids.
Substance use in a Dutch migraine cohort compared with the general population
Authors: van den Hoek Thomas C. , Verhagen Iris E. , de Boer Irene , Terwindt Gisela M.
Published: February 2024

Objective

To evaluate self‐reported substance user profiles for individuals with migraine and compare these to the general population.

Background

There is increasing attention to lifestyle influences such as substance use as presumed migraine triggers.

Methods

Data on substance use were collected by survey in a large migraine cohort and from the biannual survey in the general Dutch population for substances. A representative cohort of Dutch patients with migraine (n = 5176) and the Dutch general population (n = 8370) was included. Patients with migraine were subdivided into episodic (EM) and chronic migraine (CM). Substance consumption was compared between the general population and patients with migraine, and between migraine subgroups after standardization for sex and level of education.

Results

Included patients with migraine were 83.4% female (4319/5176) and had a mean (standard deviation) age of 44.8 (11.3) years. Patients with migraine reported less illicit drug use (odds ratio [OR] 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42–0.55; p < 0.001), less current and lifetime smoking (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.55–0.65; p < 0.001 and OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.71–0.79; p < 0.001), and less current alcohol consumption (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.62–0.70; p < 0.001) compared with the general population. Prevalence of substance use was compared between CM and EM participants and showed higher illicit drug use (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.11–2.69; p = 0.011), higher current smoking (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.22–2.11; p < 0.001) but less alcohol use (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.43–0.68; p < 0.001) for participants with CM compared with EM. No differences were found for a history of smoking (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.92–1.50, p = 0.19).

Conclusions

Individuals with migraine are less likely to use illicit drugs, smoke, or drink alcohol compared with the general population. Patients with CM less often consume alcohol, while they more often use illicit drugs and smoke compared to those with EM.
Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatment when switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or entecavir to tenofovir alafenamide: A real‐world multicenter cohort study
Authors: Shin Hyunjae , Kim Seung Up , Song Byeong Geun , Park Youngsu , Ko Yunmi , Park Jeayeon , Hur Moon Haeng , Lee Yun Bin , Cho Eun Ju , Lee Jeong‐Hoon , Yu Su Jong , Yoon Jung‐Hwan , Sinn Dong Hyun , Kim Yoon Jun
Published: February 2024

Aim

Antiviral treatment reduces the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B. However, there is a lack of high‐quality evidence regarding the preventive effects of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) on HCC. We evaluated the impact of TAF use after curative treatment on HCC recurrence.

Methods

Patients who underwent surgery or radiofrequency ablation as a curative treatment for HCC were selected. Those patients who continued antiviral treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs; entecavir [ETV] or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [TDF]) or switched to TAF were included. The primary outcome was HCC recurrence, and the time‐varying effect of NA use on HCC recurrence was analyzed using various statistical methods.

Results

Among 2794 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B who received curative treatment for HCC, 199 subsequently switched from ETV or TDF to TAF. After a median of 3.0 years, 1303 patients (46.6%) experienced HCC recurrence. After propensity score matching (ratio 1:10), switching to TAF was not associated with an increased HCC recurrence (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.68–1.47; p = 1.00) by time‐varying Cox analysis. Switching to TAF was not associated with HCC recurrence in subgroups of NA (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.67–1.67; p = 0.81 for TDF, and HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.51–2.33; p = 0.82 for ETV). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed comparable HCC recurrence‐free survival between patients who switched to TAF and those who continued with their NA (p = 0.08). Time‐varying Cox analyses in various subgroups confirmed the primary findings.

Conclusions

TAF is as effective as TDF and ETV in preventing HCC recurrence after curative treatment.
Partial pulpotomy success in primary molars followed up for 24 months: A randomized controlled clinical trial using mineral trioxide aggregate, biodentine, and acemannan
Authors: Tungjitphianpong Praparat , Trairatvorakul Chutima , Thunyakitpisal Pasutha , Songsiripradubboon Siriporn
Published: February 2024

Background

Finding the best treatment approach and suitable capping materials in primary molars with deep carious lesions remains unresolved.

Aim

To compare the success rates of partial pulpotomy in deep caries lesions in primary molars treated with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), biodentine, or acemannan for 6–24 months.

Design

A parallel‐design, non‐inferiority randomized controlled clinical trial was performed. Ninety mandibular primary molars from 65 children meeting the criteria, aged 3–8 years, were included. After inflamed pulp tissue removal and hemostasis, each tooth was randomly allocated into the MTA control group, or the biodentine or acemannan experimental group (N = 30 per group). All teeth were restored with a stainless steel crown. The outcomes were evaluated for 6–24 months. A generalized estimating equation model was used to compare the overall success rate in each group.

Results

After 24 months, 58 children (83 teeth) were available for evaluation. The results indicated that the success rate in the MTA, biodentine, and acemannan groups was 83.3%, 76.9%, and 74.1%, respectively. No significant difference in success rates among groups, however, was observed at the 6‐ to 24‐month follow‐ups (at 24th month, p = .30).

Conclusion

There was no statistically significant difference between MTA, biodentine, or acemannan in the partial pulpotomy success after 24 months.
Clinical study on the role of LncRNA STX17‐AS1 in wound healing and hypertrophic scar formation
Authors: Wang Wendi , Liu Man , Li Xiaobing , Liu Guangjing , Wang Chejiang
Published: February 2024

Wound healing is a complex process that can lead to hypertrophic scarring (HS) when dysregulated. The role of lncRNAs in this process is increasingly recognized, yet the specific contributions of lncRNA STX17‐AS1 require elucidation. This study investigated the expression of STX17‐AS1, its regulatory effects on miR‐145‐5p, and downstream targets, highlighting its impact on wound repair and HS development. In a cohort of 20 HS patients and 20 matched controls, we assessed the expression of STX17‐AS1, miR‐145‐5p and PDK1 via real‐time PCR and immunohistochemistry. We correlated these expressions with wound characteristics and analysed their regulatory impact on the PI3K/AKT pathway, crucial for cellular proliferation and migration in wound healing. Elevated levels of STX17‐AS1 and miR‐145‐5p in patient samples were correlated with larger wound areas and slower healing rates, suggesting the regulatory imbalance in scar formation. The negative correlation of PDK1 expression with age and its positive association with wound size underscored its relevance in wound repair mechanisms. Functional analysis confirmed the interaction between STX17‐AS1 and miR‐145‐5p and modulation of PDK1, indicating the potential disruption of the PI3K/AKT pathway in the wound healing process. The study identified lncRNA STX17‐AS1 as the significant mediator in wound healing, with aberrations in its pathway correlating with impaired healing and HS. The findings proposed lncRNA STX17‐AS1 and miR‐145‐5p as molecular targets to enhance wound healing and prevent pathological scarring, offering a new avenue for therapeutic advances in wound management and regenerative medicine.
Enhanced wound recovery after surgery care in patients with total knee arthroplasty: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Lifeng , Lin Zhijin
Published: February 2024

This study primarily focussed on the impact of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) care on wound healing and pain management in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). TKA is the critical surgical intervention aimed at improving the quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. While this procedure has been effective in enhancing mobility and life quality, postoperative phase, particularly wound healing, remains significant concern. This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ERAS care protocols in promoting wound healing and reducing postoperative wound pain. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify studies focusing on wound healing and pain management in TKA patients under ERAS care. The systematic search employed various terms related to TKA, wound healing and ERAS. During the screening process, data relevant to wound healing outcomes were prioritized for inclusion in the meta‐analysis. Using the R package ‘meta’, meta‐analysis was performed on a sample of 664 patients, divided into 349 in the intervention group (ERAS care) and 315 in the control. The results indicated significant enhancement in wound healing and reduction in postoperative wound pain among patients receiving ERAS care (risk ratio [RR] = 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9152; 1.3929, p < 0.01). Additionally, pain score analysis across the studies revealed that the ERAS group consistently experienced less wound pain postoperatively compared with the control, with average of 0.1 point difference in pain scores indicating significantly less pain. Conclusively, our findings underscored the importance of implementing structured ERAS care protocols in TKA procedures. These protocols not only alleviated postoperative wound pain but also promoted effective wound healing, thereby potentially enhancing overall recovery and surgical outcomes for patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing TKA.
Etiological characteristics of wound infection in severe trauma patients and logistic regression analysis of influencing factors of infection
Authors: Pan Xiaocui , Mo Ling , He Xiuping
Published: February 2024

To investigate the etiological characteristics of wound infection in severe trauma patients and logistic regression analysis of the influencing factors of infection. The 116 patients with severe trauma who were intervened in our hospital from 22 October 2017 to 9 September 2019 were selected as the subjects of this retrospective study and divided into a control group and an observation group according to whether they were infected or not, 58 cases each. Observe and compare the pathogenic characteristics (pathogen distribution and drug resistance) of the two groups of patients and logistic regression analysis of the influencing factors of infection. The gram‐positive bacteria in the observation group were mainly Staphylococcus aureus, accounting for 17.20%; the fungi were mainly Candida tropicalis, accounting for 17.20%; and the gram‐negative bacteria were mainly Acinetobacter baumannii, accounting for 20.39%; the control group was gram‐positive. The main bacteria are S. aureus, accounting for 8.60%; the fungi are mainly Candida albicans, accounting for 4.3%; and the gram‐negative bacteria, which are mainly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, accounting for 14.56%. Gram‐positive bacteria Enterococcus faecium, S. aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis. The highest drug resistance of other gram‐positive bacteria is penicillin and erythromycin at 85.00% and above. Fungi C. tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, C. albicans, fluconazole and amphotericin B have the highest resistance to 80.00% and above. Gram‐negative bacteria A. baumannii, Ps. aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter cloacae and other gram‐negative bacteria are the most resistant to ampicillin, and Piperacillin was 70.00% and above. The combined primary diseases of the two groups of patients, ventilator use ≧3 days, long‐term use of glucocorticoids, catheter use days ≧5 days, fever days ≧3 days and long‐term use of broad‐spectrum antimicrobial drugs, the difference is statistically significant academic significance (p < 0.05). Logistic analysis showed that combined with underlying diseases, fever days ≥3 days, long‐term use of glucocorticoids and catheter use days ≥5 days are the influencing factors for the occurrence of wound infections in patients with severe trauma. Trauma patients are prone to wound infections, and there are many influencing factors. Close observation of patients should be strengthened. Effective prevention and control measures should be taken for related influencing factors to reduce the incidence of infection.
A meta‐analysis of clinical studies of moxibustion for pressure ulcer healing
Authors: Yu Wangling , Shi Beiyin , He Qingqing , Zhang Shuyi
Published: February 2024

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of moxibustion on pressure ulcers. A thorough search was performed for articles published from database inception up to 14 December 2023. Randomized controlled trials, which evaluated the effects of moxibustion were included. Finally, 11 relevant trails that enrolled a total of 795 participants met inclusion criteria. The results of meta‐analysis suggested beneficial effects of moxibustion for pressure ulcer compared with control on the response rate (RR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.13–1.29; p = 0.82; I2 = 0%), healing time (MD: −5.69; 95% CI: −9.58 to −1.80; p<0.05; I2 = 97%) and pressure ulcer scale for healing scores (MD: −1.13; 95% CI: −1.36 to −0.89; p = 0.79; I2 = 0%). The evidence suggests that moxibustion possesses satisfactory efficacy in promoting healing of pressure ulcers. However, due to the small number of trials included in this study, as well as the small sample size and high risk of bias, we were unable to draw firm conclusions about the effectiveness of moxibustion for pressure ulcers.
Examining cognitive accessibility of the VIA Inventory of Strengths for adults with intellectual disability
Authors: Greenberg Kimberly , Hounshel Brice , Kalb Luke , Schwartz Ariel
Published: February 2024

Background

We evaluated cognitive accessibility of the VIA Inventory of Strengths Youth short form with adults with intellectual disability for use in strengths‐based practice.

Methods

We conducted cognitive testing with adults with intellectual disability (n = 33; M age = 36.2; range: 20.4–64.2). Data were coded for the extent to which (1) items were interpreted correctly; (2) participants endorsed items as describing themselves. We calculated descriptive statistics to evaluate item interpretation and response scale use.

Results

On average, 59% of participants interpreted items correctly, 20% misinterpreted items, 14% had mixed interpretations. Positive item endorsement was most associated with the response ‘Very much like me’ (77%); mixed endorsement was most associated with ‘Somewhat like me’ (39%); and negative endorsement of items was most associated with ‘Not at all like me’ (54%).

Conclusions

Revisions are necessary for several items to improve accessibility for adults with intellectual disability and should be made in collaboration with this population.
Functions of the sulfatase‐modifying factor 1 (HaSumf1) in the development and host glucosinolate adaptation of Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Zhang Long , Zhou Zhiran , Cai Fan , Qin Wanli , Liu Li , Kuerban Guli , Jin Lin , Ma Xiaoli
Published: February 2024

The system of gulcosinoalte sulfatase–sulfatase‐modifying factors (Sumfs) in herbivorous insects fulfils an essential function in defending host plant glucosinolates (GLSs)—the compounds of cruciferous plants—by swiftly desulfurising them. Previously, eight HaSulfs and one HaSumf1 were identified in Helicoverpa armigera. GLSs have a significant impact on the growth and development of H. armigera larvae. They can induce the expression of HaSulf in the midgut of H. armigera at both gene and protein levels. In the present study, we utilised RNAi technology to silence the HaSumf1 gene and explored its potential impact on the growth, development, and adaptation of GLSs. The sequence analysis has indicated that the HaSumf1 gene in H. armigera shares a high degree of sequence identity with other insect genes and is expressed at its highest level in the fifth‐instar phase. Additionally, the qRT‐PCR results reveal that the expression of HaSumf1 was upregulated by 1.26 and 0.07 times in third‐instar and 1.65 and 0.19 times in fifth‐instar when fed with 0.004% and 0.04% GLS, respectively. The effectiveness of dsSumf1 silencing was observed in both third‐ and fifth‐instar stages, with silencing rates of 65.5%–88.9% and 61.3%–74.6%, respectively (p < 0.05). The findings of the bioassay indicate that H. armigera's body weight at fifth‐instar significantly increased after treatment with 0.004% GLS and 0.04% GLS, while the larval survival rate, pupation rate, and pupa weight decreased. Notably, when feeding dsRNA‐encapsulated carbon quantum dots (CQD‐dsRNA), this trend was significantly strengthened (p < 0.05). Taken together, these findings provide evidence supporting HaSumf1's conservation involvement in the adaptation of host plant GLSs during lepidopteran insect evolution. Therefore, it plays a critical role in the growth and development of H. armigera, offering molecular targets for developing novel pesticides and targeted control measures against this vital pest.
An equatorial mid‐Atlantic Ocean archipelago as nursery area for the cookiecutter shark: Investigating foraging strategies of neonates through bite mark inferences
Authors: Santos Lucas , Veloso João V. , Santos Theresa B. , Bezerra Natalia P. A. , Oliveira Paulo , Hazin Fabio H. V.
Published: February 2024

This study delves into the foraging ecology of the cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) in the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA), assessing bite marks on pelagic fishes collected between March and September 2018. Examination of 200 individuals from five species revealed the shark's predilection for targeting adult fish, ensuring efficient removal of energy‐rich tissue layers. However, a notable exception is Thunnus albacares, preyed on predominantly during its juvenile stage, possibly due to vertical spatial segregation. Recent bites were pervasive across species, with wahoo displaying a distinctive pattern. Cookiecutter shark bites predominantly targeted the lateral body portion (>55%) except for yellowfin tuna, which exhibited a preference for the ventral region (95%). The estimated length distribution suggests the SPSPA as a potential nursery area for cookiecutter sharks. Bite mark positions and frequencies may be linked to fish behavior, swimming velocity, and fishing gear strategy, highlighting the complex interplay in pelagic ecosystems.
Prospective comparative clinical study: Efficacy evaluation of collagen combined with hyaluronic acid injections for tear trough deformity
Authors: Liu Qing , Guo Lei , Zhu Yuhan , Song Binyu , Zeng Xianhui , Liang Zhen , Liu Jiaxi , Song Baoqiang
Published: February 2024

Background

Tear trough filling is a popular facial rejuvenation procedure, and hyaluronic acid is typically used as the filler of choice. However, Tyndall's phenomenon, a common complication following hyaluronic acid injection, can occur, leading to skin discoloration of the lower eyelid.

Aims

This single‐center, prospective, comparative clinical study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of collagen and hyaluronic acid injections in treating tear trough deformity.

Methods

Sixty patients were enrolled between June 2022 and January 2023. Patients were randomly allocated into three groups: Group A received hyaluronic acid, Group B received hyaluronic acid combined with collagen, and Group C received collagen alone. Baseline characteristics, including age, sex, and tear trough deformity grade were considered before therapy. Changes in tear trough deformity scores, Global Aesthetic Improvement Scores, and the presence of the Tyndall effect were analyzed at 1 and 3 months postinjection to determine differences among the three groups.

Results

Baseline profiles of the three groups were similar. In the first month postinjection, there was no difference in the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scores and tear trough deformity between the three groups. However, in the third‐month postinjection, there was a significant difference in scores between patients in Group C and those in Groups A or B. The Tyndall effect manifested in three patients in Group A, which was significantly different from that in Groups B and C.

Conclusion

The combined use of hyaluronic acid with collagen in injectable fillers corrected tear trough deformities and reduced the occurrence of the Tyndall phenomenon, which can be problematic with hyaluronic acid alone. Additionally, this combination may help overcome the disadvantage of a shorter retention period when using collagen alone.
Molecular characterization of mungbean yellow mosaic India virus infecting Vigna radiata in Oman
Authors: Shahid Muhammad Shafiq , Al‐Sadi Abdullah Mohammed
Published: February 2024

The full‐genome sequences of a bipartite begomovirus were identified in a mungbean (Vigna radiata) crop displaying symptoms such as yellow mosaics and stunting in the Al‐Batinah North region (23.6867° N 57.9058° E), Oman. Initial detection and confirmation of the virus genome were carried out through polymerase chain reaction, followed by obtaining complete genomes using rolling circle amplification. Bioinformatics analysis on both genomic components, DNA‐A and DNA‐B, revealed over 99% nucleotide sequence identity to the mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV), previously known to infect tomato plants. Pairwise sequence analysis using the STD tool and subsequent phylogenetic analysis unveiled that the DNA‐A of the MYMIV isolate formed a cluster with closely related DNA‐A sequences of MYMIV from GenBank, while the DNA‐B clustered with the corresponding DNA‐B of the MYMIV isolate. Additionally, no evidence of recombination events was observed in the recombination analysis. Similarly, the nucleotide substitution rates between the DNA‐A and DNA‐B segments of MYMIV did not show significant differences. This finding represents the first documented instance of bipartite MYMIV infecting V. radiata in Oman.