bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decreased fetal cardiac output in pregnant women with severe SARS‐Cov‐2 infection
Authors: Turgut Ezgi , Sakcak Bedri , Uyan Hendem Derya , Oluklu Deniz , Goncu Ayhan Sule , Sahin Dilek
Published: May 2022

Aim

We aimed to examine fetal cardiac output (CO) in patients who recovered from severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection.

Materials

This prospective study included 48 pregnant women recovered from SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and 50 control cases. SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in patients. Fetal echocardiographic evaluations were performed at 24–37 weeks of gestation in pregnant women who recovered from the infection and control group.

Results

The median value of ultrasound evaluation was 34 (2.6) weeks of gestation in the recovery from the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (RSI) group, and 32 (7.6) weeks in the control group (p = .565). Left cardiac output (LCO) z score was significantly lower in the RSI group than the control group (p = .041). LCO and combine cardiac output (CCO) z score were significantly lower in the severe disease group than mild, moderate disease groups, and controls (p = .019 and p = .013). CCO (ml/min/kg) was decreased in the severe disease group when compared with control and mild disease groups (p = .044).

Conclusion

In the present study, fetal cardiac output in pregnant women who recovered from SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was found to be significantly reduced in those with severe disease, while there was no significant difference in mild and moderate cases. Placental dysfunction and inflammatory cytokines might cause fetal cardiac changes. Further studies could be clarified on the impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on fetal cardiac function.
Specific sequence of arrival promotes coexistence via spatial niche pre‐emption by the weak competitor
Authors: Fragata Inês , Costa‐Pereira Raul , Kozak Mariya , Majer Agnieszka , Godoy Oscar , Magalhães Sara
Published: May 2022

Historical contingency, such as the order of species arrival, can modify competitive outcomes via niche modification or pre‐emption. However, how these mechanisms ultimately modify stabilising niche and average fitness differences remains largely unknown. By experimentally assembling two congeneric spider mite species feeding on tomato plants during two generations, we show that order of arrival affects species’ competitive ability and changes the outcome of competition. Contrary to expectations, order of arrival did not cause positive frequency dependent priority effects. Instead, coexistence was predicted when the inferior competitor (Tetranychus urticae) arrived first. In that case, T. urticae colonised the preferred feeding stratum (leaves) of T. evansi leading to spatial niche pre‐emption, which equalised fitness and reduced niche differences, driving community assembly to a close‐to‐neutrality scenario. Our study demonstrates how the order of species arrival and the spatial context of competitive interactions may jointly determine whether species can coexist.
Larval feeding habits of the large‐bodied diving beetle Cybister rugosus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) under laboratory conditions
Authors: Yamasaki Shun , Watanabe Kohei , Ohba Shin‐ya
Published: May 2022

The population of the diving beetle Cybister rugosus (Macleay, 1825) has been declining in recent years, and it is designated as “Vulnerable” (VU) in the Red List of Japan. However, there have been no quantitative studies on the feeding habits of the larval stage of this beetle. Revealing the feeding habits is indispensable for understanding the life history of C. rugosus. In the current study, we reared C. rugosus larvae on different prey taxa (Odonata nymph, fish, tadpole, and shrimp) and evaluated their growth and survival rates. Previous studies have shown that three congeneric Cybister species larvae feed mainly on invertebrates. However, all larval instars of C. rugosus were able to feed on invertebrates and vertebrates and grow. Thus, we considered C. rugosus to be a generalist compared to the other Cybister species. The larval periods were shorter for C. rugosus that fed on Odonata nymphs than on any other prey. Feeding different prey taxa had no significant effect on the body length of newly emerged adult males. However, the body length of newly emerged adult females was larger when the larvae fed on Odonata nymphs than when the larvae fed on fish. As in other Cybister species, we concluded that the Odonata nymph is an appropriate food from the viewpoint of increased growth rate in C. rugosus.
Euro area banks' interest rate risk exposure to level, slope and curvature swings in the yield curve
Authors: Foos Daniel , Lütkebohmert Eva , Markovych Mariia , Pliszka Kamil
Published: May 2022

We investigate the interest rate risk exposures of euro area banks during times of crises and very low interest rates. First, we assess sensitivities of banks' stock prices to changes in the level, slope and curvature of the yield curve using the Bayesian DCC M‐GARCH model. Our findings reveal that stock price sensitivities change over time and that, on average, banks benefit from increases in the level, slope and curvature of the yield curve. Second, we observe that banks with higher capital ratios, more customer lending and less deposit financing are particularly sensitive to interest rate movements.
Translating Discovery Science. Improving self‐efficacy in grandparents raising grandchildren: Results from a strengths‐based education intervention
Authors: Fox Aimee L. , Riggs Nathaniel R. , Yancura Loriena , Sharp Julia L. , Fruhauf Christine A.
Published: May 2022

Background

Custodial grandparents often protect against childhood trauma and promote resilience in their grandchildren. In this role, grandparents face many challenges and may lack confidence in their parenting abilities. Increasing grandparent self‐efficacy may help promote grandfamily resilience. Yet few interventions exist to help grandparents adapt to challenges faced as primary parenting figures for grandchildren.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine the preliminary efficacy of a strengths‐based intervention for grandparents raising grandchildren and explore whether it would improve grandparent self‐efficacy.

Method

Grandparents providing primary care to grandchildren participated in a 6‐week intervention, single‐group, pretest–posttest design. Self‐efficacy was assessed at baseline (N = 149), post‐intervention (n = 104), and 6 months (n = 55). A linear mixed effects analysis was conducted to test the effect of the intervention on grandparent self‐efficacy.

Results

The intervention was associated with small improvements in grandparents' self‐efficacy, after controlling for demographic variables and perceived social support. These improvements were sustained over time.

Conclusion

Our intervention addresses the complex needs of grandparents raising grandchildren and has a positive effect on their self‐efficacy. This study provides support for the feasibility of strengths‐based intervention programs for grandfamilies.

Implications

Programs that foster effective strategies to enhance self‐efficacy are important for the well‐being of grandfamilies.
To use or not use: Understanding Chinese consumers' intention toward “serving chopsticks”
Authors: Chen Qian , Huang Rong , Zhang Aiping , Guo Yingzhi
Published: May 2022

Serving chopsticks (or “community‐use chopsticks”) refers to chopsticks that are used to serve food from a shared dish to an individual's plate, they are used because of concerns about hygiene. This study aims to examine consumers' perceived values toward serving chopsticks and provide an insight into the formation of consumers' intentions to use serving chopsticks. A mixed‐method approach was utilized to collect data; interviews were conducted with 62 consumers, followed by a web‐based survey with 630 consumers. Qualitative analysis and structural equation modeling analysis were used in the data analysis. Qualitative analysis highlighted four dimensions that contribute to consumers' perceived value of serving chopsticks: functional, altruistic, symbolic, and emotional values. Structural equation modeling analysis illustrated that the more positive values consumers endorse toward serving chopsticks, the stronger they believe not using serving chopsticks has negative consequences. Also, the more they feel responsible for problems caused by not using serving chopsticks, the more they feel personally obliged to use serving chopsticks. Moreover, subjective norm was confirmed as having positive impacts upon consumers' intention to use serving chopsticks. This study contributes to the development of the value‐belief‐norm theory through exploring the dimensions of the value construct. In addition, the results can assist governments and industry in developing more effective strategies that promote the use of serving chopsticks.
Endogenous fertility cycles and childcare services
Authors: Muro Kazunobu
Published: May 2022

We construct a two‐sector overlapping generation model with endogenous fertility, where one sector produces goods and the other produces childcare services. The elasticity of fertility‐related expenditures on services is crucial for determining labor participation and whether fertility converges to a steady state with monotone or oscillation. If capital intensity in the goods sector is greater than the products of elasticity and capital intensity in the service sector, then capital per capita and fertility converge to a steady state monotonically. Conversely, they converge to a steady state with oscillations, otherwise. We find an inverse J‐shaped relationship between fertility and elasticity.
Multi‐objective reference point techniques to optimize profitability, growth, and risk in the non‐life insurance industry: international analysis
Authors: González‐Fernández Ana Isabel , Rubio‐Misas María , Ruiz Francisco
Published: May 2022

This paper combines reference point techniques and econometric analyses to provide the profile of non‐life insurers that simultaneously optimize the strategic growth, profitability, and risk goals. The econometric analyses provide the relevant relations among the variables. Non‐life insurers from 33 Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development countries over a six‐year period are analyzed. A cluster analysis allows forming groups of countries according to the non‐life insurance penetration ratio. Several scenarios, which are characterized by the maturity of the market and the crisis/non‐crisis situation, are studied. The results indicate that the highest level of profitability (growth) is linked to scenarios with a medium (low) level of maturity and booming times. They also show that the lowest level of risk that is representative of good performance is associated with scenarios where markets have a high level of maturity and crisis times. We find that a higher recommendable size is associated with more mature markets. The results also indicate that reinsurance utilization is linked to a crisis time. We additionally find that the recommendable level of capitalization differs significantly among scenarios.
The viability and acceptability of a Virtual Wound Care Command Centre in Australia
Authors: Barakat‐Johnson Michelle , Kita Badia , Jones Aaron , Burger Mitchell , Airey David , Stephenson John , Leong Thomas , Pinkova Jana , Frank Georgina , Ko Natalie , Kirk Andrea , Frotjold Astrid , White Kate , Coyer Fiona
Published: May 2022

The objective of this study was to assess the viability and acceptability of an innovative Virtual Wound Care Command Centre where patients in the community, and their treating clinicians, have access to an expert wound specialist service that comprises a digitally enabled application for wound analysis, decision‐making, remote consultation, and monitoring. Fifty‐one patients with chronic wounds from 9 centres, encompassing hospital services, outpatient clinics, and community nurses in one metropolitan and rural state in Australia, were enrolled and a total of 61 wounds were analysed over 7 months. Patients received, on average, an occasion of service every 4.4 days, with direct queries responded to in a median time of 1.5 hours. During the study period, 26 (42.6%) wounds were healed, with a median time to healing of 66 (95% CI: 56‐88) days. All patients reported high satisfaction with their wound care, 86.4% of patients recommended the Virtual Wound Care Command Centre with 84.1% of patients reporting the digital wound application as easy to use. Potential mean travel savings of $99.65 for rural patients per visit were recognised. The data revealed that the Virtual Wound Care Command Centre was a viable and acceptable patient‐centred expert wound consultation service for chronic wound patients in the community.
The prognostic impact of symptom clusters in patients with heart failure: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Qiu Chen , Yu Doris Sau‐fung , Song Dan , Wang Xiaobing
Published: May 2022

Aim

To determine the impact of symptom clusters on clinical outcomes among heart failure patients.

Design

Systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Data sources

Peer‐reviewed articles were searched from 12 English and Chinese language databases from inception to August 2021.

Review Methods

Narrative syntheses were first conducted to integrate symptom clusters reported in the identified studies. This was followed by meta‐analysis to synthesize the evidence on the association or predictive effects of symptom clusters on clinical outcomes.

Results

Twelve studies were identified. Among studies which identified highly correlated symptoms as in a cluster, meta‐analysis indicated that severe congestive (r = .45, 95% CI = 0.38–0.52), weary (r = .41, 95% CI = 0.33–0.50), ischaemic (r = .29, 95% CI = 0.04–0.51) and stress‐related (r = .62, 95% CI = 0.31–0.81) symptom clusters were correlated with a poorer health‐related quality of life. As for studies used latent class to identified patient cohorts of similar symptom pattern, high symptom cohorts (hazard ratio = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.39–2.48) and incongruent physical and psycho‐cognitive symptom cohorts was associated with a significantly higher risk (hazard ratio = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.44–3.07) of combined event rate relative to low symptom presentation.

Conclusions

This review has identified the impact of symptom clusters on clinical outcomes in heart failure patients. In addition to the classical physical symptoms highlighted in the clinical management guidelines, our findings suggested the important predictive role of psycho‐cognitive and weary symptoms in determining the clinical outcomes of HF patients.

Impact

This review concluded the promising prospect of symptom clusters in shaping clinical outcomes of heart failure. The findings highlighted the importance of integrating care to minimize the disease impact on psycho‐cognitive function and weary symptoms among this clinical cohort. The review also inform the direction on how to advance the knowledge on symptom clusters among this clinical cohort.
Genetic and genomic analysis of oxygen consumption in mice
Authors: Ogawa Shinichiro , Darhan Hongyu , Suzuki Keiichi
Published: May 2022

We estimated genetic parameters for oxygen consumption (OC), OC per metabolic body weight (OCMBW) and body weight at three through 8 weeks of age in divergently selected mice populations, with an animal model considering maternal genetic, common litter environmental and cytoplasmic inheritance effects. Cytoplasmic inheritance was considered based on maternal lineage information. With respect to OC, estimated direct heritability was moderate (0.32) and the estimated proportion of the variance of cytoplasmic inheritance effects to the phenotypic variance was very low (0.01), implying that causal genes for OC could be located on autosomes. To assess this hypothesis, we attempted to identify possible candidate causal genes through selective signature detection with the results of pooled whole‐genome resequencing using pooled DNA samples from high and low OC mice. We made a list of possible candidate causal genes for OC, including those relating to electron transport chain and ATP‐binding proteins (Ndufa12, Sdhc, Atp10b, etc.), Prr16 encoding Largen protein, Cry1 encoding a key component of the circadian core oscillator and so on. The results, although careful interpretation must be required, could contribute to elucidate the genetic mechanism of OC, an indicator for maintenance energy requirement, and therefore feed efficiency.
Height‐based equations as screening tools for high blood pressure in pediatric practice, the GENOBOX study
Authors: Pérez‐Gimeno Gloria , Ruperez Azahara I. , Gil‐Campos Mercedes , Aguilera Concepción M. , Anguita Augusto , Vázquez‐Cobela Rocío , Skapino Estela , Moreno Luis A. , Leis Rosaura , Bueno‐Lozano Gloria
Published: May 2022

Due to the absence of easily applicable cut‐off points to determine high blood pressure or hypertension in children, as in the adult population, blood pressure is rarely measured in the pediatrician's clinical routine. This has led to an underdiagnosis of high blood pressure or hypertension in children. For this reason, the present study evaluate the utility of five equations for the screening of high blood pressure in children: blood pressure to height ratio, modified blood pressure to height ratio, new modified blood pressure to height ratio, new simple formula and height‐based equations. The authors evaluated 1599 children between 5 and 18 years. The performance of the five equations was analyzed using the receiver‐operating characteristics curves for identifying blood pressure above P90th according to the American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guideline 2017. All equations showed an area under the curve above 0.882. The new modified blood pressure to height ratio revealed a high sensitivity whereas the height‐based equations showed the best performance, with a positive predictive value above 88.2%. Finally, all equations showed higher positive predictive values in children with overweight or obesity. The height‐based equation obtained the highest PPV values above 71.1% in children with normal weight and above 90.2% in children with overweight or obesity. In conclusions, the authors recommend the use of the height‐based equations equation because it showed the best positive predictive values to identify children with elevated blood pressure, independently of their sex, pubertal and weight status.
Evaluating the cascading‐use of wood furniture: How value‐retention processes can contribute to material efficiency and circularity
Authors: Russell Jennifer D. , Huff Kendria , Haviarova Eva
Published: May 2022

As utilized technical products, durable wood furniture plays an important role in a future circular economy (CE). However, contemporary CE literature predominantly focuses on wood's biochemical properties and its potential as a consumable material within the bio‐cycle. This perspective prevents meaningful consideration of CE strategies for the wood products sector, particularly for value‐retention processes (VRPs), including reuse, repair, and refurbishment. We adapt and apply the VRP model introduced by the UN International Resource Panel (IRP) to wood furniture products to quantify select environmental benefits made possible through cascading‐use, via VRPs (vs. new manufacturing). Unlike traditional life cycle assessment (LCA), this model accounts for impacts incurred and avoided through product life‐extension and VRPs, relative to conventional systems of new manufacturing, disposal, and replacement. Three case studies of wood‐based chairs are conducted to demonstrate this new application of the VRP model to compare the relative environmental impacts associated with wood furniture that is diverted to cascading‐use, prior to recycling. In collaboration with industry partners, new material requirements (kg/unit), energy requirements (kWh/unit), emissions (kg CO2‐e./unit), and waste generation (kg/unit) were calculated for newly manufactured chairs (OEM new) and subsequent cascading‐use via reuse, repair, and refurbishment. The differing degrees of environmental impact avoidance and material efficiency are presented for each case study product and VRP, to provoke discussion and future research regarding the effective and optimal utilization of technical, durable wooden furniture within a CE.
Inpatients Self‐Administration of Medication: Stakeholders' views and prerequisites
Authors: van Herpen‐Meeuwissen Loes J. M. , Djodikromo Melissa F. , Maat Barbara , van den Bemt Bartholemeus J. F. , Bekker Charlotte L. , van Onzenoort Hendrikus A. W.
Published: May 2022

Aims and objectives

To identify stakeholders' views on inpatient Self‐Administration of Medication and corresponding prerequisites for successful implementation.

Background

Self‐Administration of Medication allows capable patients to manage their medication regimen throughout hospitalisation. It is assumed to facilitate continuity of care, increase medication safety and patient empowerment. To enable sustainable implementation stakeholders should support it. Knowledge about stakeholders' views regarding Self‐Administration of Medication is currently lacking.

Design

A qualitative study was conducted among stakeholders using semi‐structured interviews.

Methods

Using purposive and snowball sampling fourteen representatives from Dutch healthcare associations, organisations and authorities were interviewed between April and July 2019. These stakeholders were asked to reflected on Self‐Administration of Medication and its implementation. Data were examined using inductive thematic content analysis and reported following the COREQ checklist.

Results

Most stakeholders were positive towards Self‐Administration of Medication and foresaw benefits in terms of the following: improvements to patient‐centred care, contributions to sustainable use of healthcare assets and the need and opportunity for change. Critical concerns included reflecting potential risks for patient safety, concerns about implementation feasibility and questions regarding implementation necessity. Stakeholders highlighted prerequisites pertaining to the implementation process in which the following two themes emerged: (1) initiate a supported change and (2) perform research for best practices and identification of benefits. Other prerequisites concerned distinct levels within healthcare including individual patients (i.e. adequate communication), hospital organisation (i.e. to establish a workflow to secure medication safety) and healthcare system (i.e. to facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration in healthcare).

Conclusion

Stakeholders were predominantly positive about Self‐Administration of Medication. For successful and sustainable implementation of Self‐Administration of Medication, prerequisites identified in this study should be met.

Relevance to clinical practice

This study provided knowledge about stakeholders' views which could foster implementation and evaluation of Self‐Administration of Medication, which may, in turn, promote effective deployment and patient empowerment.
HE4 is associated with clinical risk prognostic factors and survival outcome in primary fallopian tube carcinoma patients
Authors: Mi Dong , Zhang Yuexiang , Chen Shuqin
Published: May 2022

Aim

To explore whether HE4 was associated with clinical risk prognostic factors and survival outcome in primary fallopian tube carcinoma patients.

Methods

Ninety‐six primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) patients from March 2011 to June 2019 were enrolled in this study. Serum CA125 and HE4 concentrations were measured at four time points including primary diagnosis, postsurgery, pre‐recurrence, and recurrence. The relations between clinical risk prognostic factors with HE4 concentrations were investigated, and multivariate survival analysis was used to calculate the hazard ratios between HE4 levels with recurrence‐free survival and overall survival.

Results

HE4 were significantly elevated in poor performance status, advanced stage, high histological grade and residual tumor diameter >1 cm, and positive lymph node status, respectively, compared with those in well performance status, early stage, low histological grade, residual tumor diameter ≤1 cm, and negative lymph node status, respectively. Multivariate survival analysis indicated serum HE4 can predict outcome of recurrence‐free survival and overall survival with hazard ratios of 9.92 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.95–33.32) and 3.12 (95% CI: 1.07–9.08), respectively.

Conclusion

HE4 is associated with clinical risk prognostic factors in PFTC and contributes to predict survival outcome in PFTC cases.
Reliability and validity of the 15‐item Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Questionnaire in China: A short‐form instrument to measure quality of life
Authors: Wang Weiren , Chen Qiuyu , Kang Yuanyuan , Wang Junyan , Wen Yan , Peng Chuanyang , Gao Yuqin , Cai Yannan , Yuan Lulu
Published: May 2022

Background

Chronic oral mucosal diseases have been a common problem, which affected individuals' health and social functions seriously. Although there has been a rigorous Chinese version of the Chronic Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire (COMDQ‐26) to measure the quality of life of patients with chronic oral mucosal diseases, 26 items were so redundant to be a burden for patients. It was necessary to make a brief, practical, and easy‐to‐use tool in China. This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the short‐form Chronic Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire (COMDQ‐15).

Methods

A total of 165 respondents from a tertiary stomatological hospital were recruited in this study from July to December, 2020. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, criterion validity, confirmatory factor analysis, and exploratory factor analysis were used to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of Chronic Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire‐15.

Results

The total Cronbach's α of 0.841 and subscale ranging from 0.736 to 0.965 revealed good internal consistency of the reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficients exceeded 0.80 indicated excellent test–retest reliability. Compared with the Oral Health Impact Profile‐14, the criterion validity was 0.549. The confirmatory factor analysis results supported acceptable validity of the Chinese version of Chronic Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire‐15, and the exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that the 15 items were classified into four domains, with a cumulative proportion of 71.52%.

Conclusion

The Chinese version of Chronic Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire‐15 is a brief and low‐burden tool, and has been proved reliable and valid to assess the quality of life of patients with chronic oral mucosal diseases in China (the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (no. ChiCTR2000031607).
Relationships of mineralized dermal layer of mountain endemic miniature frogs with climate
Authors: Mari R. de B. , Mori G. M. , Vannucchi F. S. , Ribeiro L. F. , Correa C. N. , de Lima S. K. S. , Teixeira L. , Sandretti‐Silva G. , Nadaline J. , Bornschein M. R.
Published: May 2022

The mineralized dermal layer (MDL) is found in most terrestrial anurans. Its thickness represents on average up to 8% of that of the entire skin. It has been proposed that it may reduce body water loss, act on homeostasis, support skin structure, or conversely, it may be a currently functionless trait constrained by groups' evolutionary history. We described the MDL morphology of 11 Brachycephalus species, terrestrial, miniaturized and microendemic anurans, and tested for its relationship with climate of higher latitude regions of the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil. All species presented MDL, described with two distinct morphological patterns: homogeneous or heterogeneous MDL, the latter distinguishable by MDL with dorsal or lateral expansion, sometimes up to the limit of the epidermis and comprising up to 50% of the thicknesses of the entire skin. Climate differed between locations by MDL morphological group, less rainy or seasonally less rainy where species with heterogeneous MDL occur. Our results indicate that the abundance of calcium in MDL and its heterogeneous condition suggest its adaptive function in reduce water loss. Such adaptations in anurans in very humid highlands reinforce the mountains' propensity for rapid loss of humidity, demystifying them as an extremely abundant source of water. This is the third study that tested the relationship between the MDL morphology and the environment where species occur and the first that correlated this structure with the climate of anurans of the same habit and distributed in a single habitat, the Atlantic Rainforest.
The Relative Contribution of Language Complexity to Second Language Video Lectures Difficulty Assessment
Authors: ALGHAMDI EMAD A. , GRUBA PAUL , VELLOSO EDUARDO
Published: May 2022

Although core in the teaching of academic language skills, little research to date has investigated what makes video‐recorded lectures difficult for language learners. As part of a larger program to develop automated videotext complexity measures, this study reports on selected dimensions of linguistic complexity to understand how they contribute to overall videotext difficulty. Based on the ratings of English language learners of 320 video lectures, we built regression models to predict subjective estimates of video lecture difficulty. The results of our analysis demonstrate that a 4‐component partial least square regression model explains 52% of the variance in video difficulty and significantly outperformed a baseline model in predicting the difficulty of videos in an out‐of‐sample testing set. The results of our study point to the use of linguistic complexity features for predicting overall videotext difficulty and raise the possibility of developing automated systems for measuring video difficulty, akin to those already available for estimating the readability of written materials.
Different symptomatic improvement pattern revealed by factor analysis between placebo response and response to Esketamine in treatment resistant depression
Authors: Ohnishi Takashi , Wakamatsu Akihide , Kobayashi Hisanori
Published: May 2022

Aims

The aim of this study is to determine whether there is difference in the change in each symptom of depression and in symptomatic improvement pattern between placebo and antidepressant responses.

Methods

Using data from a randomized, double‐blind (DB), placebo‐controlled trial of esketamine (ESK) in patients with treatment‐resistant depression (TRD), we conducted exploratory analyses. To determine differences in the change in each depressive symptom on the MADRS subscale between placebo and antidepressant responses, a two‐way factorial analysis was conducted using the amount of change on Day 2 and 28 of treatment. In addition, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on the MADRS subtotal variables on Day 2 and 28 of treatment to determine symptomatic improvement pattern between placebo response and antidepressant responses.

Results

We found that as well as MADRS total score, each subscale of MADRS score did not significantly differ between esketamine and placebo at Day 2 and 28. On the other hand, factor analysis revealed that the factor structure of the response was different between esketamine and placebo at the 2nd day. There was no difference in the factor structure between esketamine and placebo in response on Day 28 of treatment.

Conclusion

Factor analysis revealed different patterns of symptom improvement in the early phase of the intervention between esketamine and placebo. This finding suggests that a data driven approach may provide detailed efficacy information in clinical trials for antidepressants.

Clinical Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02918318. Registered: 28 September 2016.
Normal‐proper functions in the philosophy of mind
Authors: Rubner Andrew
Published: May 2022

This paper looks at the nature of normal‐proper functions and the role they play in theories of representational content. More specifically: I lay down two desiderata for a theory which tries to capture what's distinctive of normal‐proper functions and discuss two prominent theories which claim to satisfy them. I discuss the advantages of having normal‐proper functions ground a theory of representational content. And, I look at both orthodox and heterodox versions of such theories.
Transgender health and the dilemma of insurance
Authors: Altemose Autumn Jacqueline , Ivanov Luba Louise
Published: May 2022

Transgender health is an important concept nationally and globally. Over the last few decades, a collective effort has been made by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, genderqueer, queer, intersexed, agender, asexual, and ally population, commonly referred to as LGBTQIA+, for equality in all aspects of life like that of their heterosexual counterparts. However, equality in treatment options has not been realized. Public health nurses and other health care providers working with this population need to understand the needs of the transgender population so that they can adequately advocate for them.
Update of pathological diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma using genomic‐based morphological techniques, for both histological and cytological investigations
Authors: Nabeshima Kazuki , Hamasaki Makoto , Kinoshita Yoshiaki , Matsumoto Shinji , Sa‐ngiamwibool Prakasit
Published: May 2022

As more than 80% of pleural mesothelioma (PM) cases start with pleural effusions, diagnosis with effusion smear cytology or pleural biopsy is important. For diagnosing PM, a three‐step approach is used: (1) detecting atypical cells; (2) verifying their mesothelial origin using immunohistochemistry (IHC); and (3) discriminating PM from benign mesothelial proliferations (BMP). The third step is critical for diagnosing early lesions. In small biopsy or cytologic specimens in which tumor cell fat invasion cannot be assessed, genomic‐based assays, including IHC‐detected BAP1 loss and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)‐detected homozygous deletion (HD) of CDKN2A/p16, are effective for differentiation. Both BAP1 IHC and CDKN2A FISH can equally be applied to histologic and cytologic specimens, with 100% specificity in discriminating PM from BMP. We found that methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) loss as detected by IHC could serve as a feasible alternative in tissue and cytologic preparations for CDKN2A FISH. However, a combination including FISH was still most effective: the addition of NF2 FISH to CDKN2A FISH and BAP1 IHC yielded a greater sensitivity of close to 100% in diagnosing PM tissues. Although IHC is more feasible than FISH, owing to remaining challenges in data interpretation, caution and familiarity are warranted when diagnosing PM.
Estimation of temperature and flooding depth thresholds for Phragmites australis rhizome bud sprouting
Authors: Tang Haoran , Bai Jiangshan , Yu Dongjia , Lou Yanjing
Published: May 2022

Current climate models predict more intense rainstorms and temperature extreme events under future global climate change. Estimation of environmental factors thresholds might provide important information for the common patterns of species distributions and management of wetland ecosystems. The laboratory experiment and the greenhouse experiment examined separately the effects of temperature (10 constant temperature regimes of 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 26, 30 and 35°C) and flooding depth (10 flooding depth treatments of −15, −10, −5, 0, +5, +10, +15, +20, +25 and +30 cm relative to the substrate surface) on rhizome bud sprouting and establishment of Phragmites australis. Our results revealed that the final sprouting percentage, relative growth rate and ramet height showed hump‐shaped relationships with temperature. Higher temperature led to shorter mean time to sprout, faster sprouting rate and greater ramet survival. The estimated base temperature for rhizome bud sprouting was 5.0 ± 1.27°C. The optimum temperature for rhizome bud sprouting and early growth might be the range of 23–30°C. The final sprouting percentage, relative growth rate and ramet height showed unimodal patterns with flooding depth. The mean time to sprout was increased with deeper flooding depth, while sprouting rate and ramet survival were decreased. The optimum flooding depth for rhizome bud sprouting and early growth might be the range of −7 to 0 cm. Our results will contribute to a better understanding of the influence of climate change on early plant recruitment processes and distribution of P. australis.
Local problems need global solutions: The metabolic needs of regenerating organisms
Authors: Kübler Ines C. , Kretzschmar Jenny , Brankatschk Marko , Sandoval‐Guzmán Tatiana
Published: May 2022

The vast majority of species that belong to the plant or animal kingdom evolved with two main strategies to counter tissue damage—scar formation and regeneration. Whereas scar formation provides a fast and cost‐effective repair to exit life‐threatening conditions, complete tissue regeneration is time‐consuming and requires vast resources to reinstall functionality of affected organs or structures. Local environments in wound healing are widely studied and findings have provided important biomedical applications. Less well understood are organismic physiological parameters and signalling circuits essential to maintain effective tissue repair. Here, we review accumulated evidence that positions the interplay of local and systemic changes in metabolism as essential variables modulating the injury response. We particularly emphasise the role of lipids and lipid‐like molecules as significant components long overlooked.
The Impact of New Technologies on the Demand for News Media: The Case of the Czech Republic
Authors: Čihák Jakub
Published: May 2022

The share of everyday readers of print newspapers is declining every year, as is the average number of print newspapers sold. This study aims to examine individual data from the Czech Republic to identify possible reasons for the decline in print newspaper readers in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, the study focuses on socioeconomic factors that affect the demand for the news. Based on the random effect tobit and logit model, the results clearly show that the decrease in print newspaper readers is due to the existence of substitutes in the form of online news. The study shows that new technologies, such as the expansion of Internet access or a higher share of smartphones, play an important role. These results have some implications for the policy and news industry.
Precarious Work in Comparative Perspective
Authors: Kalleberg Arne L. , Hewison Kevin , Shin Kwang-Yeong
Published: May 2022

The chapter presents our conceptualization of precarious work, which includes nonregular work, informal economy work, and self-employment. Precarious work results from the interplay between the dynamics of global and regional capitalism and the relations between the state, business, and labor in Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia. Who works in precarious jobs is also important, highlighting the importance of gender and social reproduction. The chapter outlines how the rise of precarious work contributes to an understanding of inequality and poverty.
Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia
Authors: Kalleberg Arne L. , Hewison Kevin , Shin Kwang-Yeong
Published: May 2022

Chapter 2 offers an overview of the three countries included in this study: Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia. The patterns of economic development, political dynamics, and relationships with the global division of labor are summarized for the three countries up to the early 1990s. The three countries industrialized at different times, and such differences meant variation in terms of national state capacities to shape their domestic institutions and influence global forces. Recent information on the population and other characteristics of these countries is also presented. An important demographic difference is the age profile: Japan’s population is aging rapidly and Indonesia has the youngest population. In all three countries the labor force participation rates for women hover around 50%. Finally, patterns of industrial transformation are discussed and show that all three countries are heavily dominated by service industries, although a substantial portion of Indonesian workers still work in agriculture.
Conclusion
Authors: Kalleberg Arne L. , Hewison Kevin , Shin Kwang-Yeong
Published: May 2022

This chapter summarizes our conclusions about precarious work in Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia and indicates their implications for current and emergent issues, such as automation and the platform economy. It also considers possible changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for comprehensive social protections to help people cope with the risks presented by the rise of precarious work is underscored. Although there is agreement on the outcomes that are needed, there is less consensus on how to achieve them, prompting important policy debates. There needs to be class-based redistribution of income and wealth to reduce inequality between nonregular and regular workers. Such a change would require a broad redistribution of political power.
Transnational Cosmopolitanism
Authors: Mirsepassi Ali
Published: May 2022

This chapter offers readers an overview of Arani’s life and times. It weaves together his experiences living in foreign-occupied Tabriz, his coming of political age in Berlin, and his return to Tehran to contextualize the development of his increasingly cosmopolitan vision for Iran. It surveys Arani’s intellectual and political activities in 1920s Berlin, and his work as editor of Donya magazine in 1930s Tehran.
Among the Nationalists in Berlin, 1922–1929
Authors: Mirsepassi Ali
Published: May 2022

This chapter examines the interwar history of Iran, focusing on the Pahlavi state’s assumption of power and Iran’s occupation by British, Russian, and Ottoman forces during World War I. It assesses how Iranians in 1920s Berlin responded to these events, and examines their political activities and written output. It argues that an overtly racialist strand of Iranian nationalism, which sought to situate Iran in the arena of Aryan nations contra its Arab and Turkish neighbors, developed a response to pan-Turkism and Ottoman nationalism, which was encapsulated in Roshani Beik’s arguments for the “Turkishness” of Iranian Azerbaijan.
The Persian Language, Past and Present
Authors: Mirsepassi Ali
Published: May 2022

One of the most noteworthy pieces of Arani’s writings is his essay “Changing the Persian Language.” In it, Arani articulates his vision of a cosmopolitan Iran by juxtaposing his vision of of the nation rooted in its material or historical reality against those Iranian nationalists who sought to alienate Iran from their own cultural heritage by purging the Persian language of Arabic words. This chapter argues that Arani’s call to adapt Persian to modern scientific realities by accepting the use of foreign technical terms already in currency evinced his pragmatic and antichauvinist sense of nationalism.
Past-Tense Futures
Authors: Choi Tina Young
Published: May 2022

Contingency played a central role in the rescripting of predictable, historical narratives, whether drawn from the Bible or from popular melodrama. In Principles of Geology Charles Lyell focused on moments of contingency to rewrite the earth’s history, as he asserted authority over causes and apocalyptic events in his geological narrative. In Adam Bede, George Eliot mobilized contingency to open spaces of temporal and causal flexibility in an otherwise familiar tale of a woman’s seduction and downfall, while in On the Origin of Species Charles Darwin envisioned the natural world as the synchronic and diachronic result of nature’s own experiments with contingency and its multiplication of alternative outcomes.
Two Experiments in Probabilistic Thinking
Authors: Choi Tina Young
Published: May 2022

James Clerk Maxwell and George Eliot advanced probabilistic approaches to describe invisible phenomena to which they could not apply more traditional empirical methods. Maxwell asserted that the movements of molecules could only be understood statistically and questioned the absolute truth of the second law of thermodynamics by proposing a subjectively unlikely but still statistically possible distribution of molecules. For George Eliot, thinking probabilistically allowed for a sympathetic approach to others while still allowing for the contingencies of character. Like Maxwell, she was interested in the points of intersection between personal belief and statistical likelihood, and from that probabilistic stance she reframed novelistic coincidences as statistically possible events in Daniel Deronda.
A Responsible Power?
Authors: Murphy Dawn C.
Published: May 2022

China created special envoys for the Middle East, Syria, and Africa to address what it perceives as hot spots and challenges to peace and security in these regions. When it was initially established, China's special envoy for Middle East issues focused on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In a post-Arab awakening environment, the envoy's scope expanded to include Syria, Iran, Yemen, Libya, and the Belt and Road Initiative. Eventually China set up a separate envoy to address issues in Syria. In Africa, China's envoy initially focused on Darfur, but in recent years it has shifted attention to South Sudan and Sudan, Mali, Africa’s Great Lakes region, economic engagement with Africa, a shared colonial history with the continent, and the spread of Ebola. The special envoy for Middle East issues is competitive and norm divergent.
Competing for Influence?
Authors: Murphy Dawn C.
Published: May 2022

Although China's level of investment in these regions is low compared with other areas of the world, it is heavily involved in trade, services, and aid provision. It uses state support for Chinese companies, free trade agreements, special economic zones, and agricultural demonstration centers to promote economic interactions with the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. China differentiates itself from the United States and other great powers by providing substantial state support for economic activity, distributing foreign aid without political conditions, sharing its development experience with other developing countries, and supporting broad economic development in these regions. China's economic behavior is competitive with the United States, but sometimes China competes inside the liberal order, and sometimes it competes outside it. This chapter helps readers understand how China is managing its economic relations with these regions and the economic order China is constructing.
The Ubiquitous Human Skin Commensal Staphylococcus hominis Protects against Opportunistic Pathogens
Authors: Severn Morgan M. , Williams Michael R. , Shahbandi Ali , Bunch Zoie L. , Lyon Laurie M. , Nguyen Amber , Zaramela Livia S. , Todd Daniel A. , Zengler Karsten , Cech Nadja B. , Gallo Richard L. , Horswill Alexander R.
Published: May 2022

Human skin is home to a variety of commensal bacteria, including many species of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). While it is well established that the microbiota as a whole maintains skin homeostasis and excludes pathogens (i.e., colonization resistance), relatively little is known about the unique contributions of individual CoNS species to these interactions.
Staphylococcus hominis
is the second most frequently isolated CoNS from healthy skin, and there is emerging evidence to suggest that it may play an important role in excluding pathogens, including
Staphylococcus aureus
, from colonizing or infecting the skin.