bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
90 An analysis of COVID-19 public health measure adherence among parents and children and the corresponding effects of lockdowns and school closures
Authors: Aglipay Mary , Semalhago Justin , Keown-Stoneman Charles , Tuite Ashleigh , Birken Catherine , Maguire Jonathon
Published: October 2022

Background

Public health preventive measures have been a necessary intervention in preventing COVID-19 transmission.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were 1) To investigate how the adherence to COVID-19 public health measures among parents and children in Ontario changed over time; 2) To determine if provincial lockdowns were associated with higher adherence to public health measures among parents; 3) To determine if school closures were associated with higher adherence to public health measures among children.

Design/Methods

A longitudinal study was conducted in children aged 0-10 years and their parents through the TARGet Kids! COVID-19 Study of Children and Families in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada (April 2020 -May 2021). Parents completed weekly questionnaires on sociodemographics and public health practices. The primary exposure was calendar date. Secondary exposures were provincial lockdowns and school closures. The primary outcome was adherence to public health preventive measures (staying home, limiting visitors in the home, avoiding contact with others, socially distancing, and handwashing, measured as number of days practicing per week) measured separately for parents and children. Linear mixed effects regression and piecewise linear splines mixed effects models were conducted.

Results

819 children and their parents contributed 13,220 observations to the study over 13 months. Mean age was 5.6 years (SD=2.7) and 373 were female (45.5%). 273 children (35.1%) had a parent who worked as an essential worker and 254 (35.4%) of families lived in a COVID-19 ‘hotspot’. The number of days per week that parents adhered to all 5 public health measures decreased by 0.029 days (p<0.001), and by 0.146 days for children (p<0.001) over the study duration. For parents, adherence to the five public health measures decreased over time during the first lockdown (β=-0.06, p<0.001) and first reopening (β=-0.01, p<0.001), but increased again during the second lockdown (β=0.01, p<0.001). For children, adherence to the five public health measures decreased over time during the first school closure, increased during the second closure, and decreased during second reopening (β=-0.04, p<0.01). See Figure 1.

Conclusion

Parents and children both decreased in their adherence to social distancing, staying at home, and avoiding contact with others over time. Lockdown after a period of reopening increased parent adherence to public health measures and school closures increased adherence in children. Supports may be necessary to help children and parents maintain adherence to public measures over prolonged periods of lockdown and school closure.
94 Common Social Determinants of Health as Independent Predictors of Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Derivation of a Clinical Prediction Rule: Findings from a Longitudinal Quality Improvement Study
Authors: Carwana Matthew , Oberg Sara , Loock Christine
Published: October 2022

Background

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are a group of early life events that lead to toxic stress and adverse adult health outcomes. Screening for ACEs can be challenging due to sensitivity and re-traumatization. There is a paucity of evidence regarding whether other social determinants of health (SDoH) might be independent predictors of an ACE score >=4. Likewise, no effective prediction rule exists for an elevated ACE score based on SDoH in children.

Objectives

1) Identify independent predictors of elevated ACE score from commonly screened SDoH.

2) Derive a clinical prediction rule based on the available data.

Design/Methods

Data were drawn from a longitudinal quality improvement SDoH study in pediatric surgical clinics at a provincial children’s hospital. Primary outcome of interest was an ACE score >=4. Multivariable logistic regression was utilized to identify independent predictors among other SDoH. Prediction methods and ROC analyses were completed to derive a prediction rule.

Results

515 respondents answered ACE screening; 63 (12.2%) reported >=4 ACEs. SDoH that were strong independent predictors of ACE score >=4 included poverty (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.19-4.91), parental education (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.17-6.54), and household income (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.09-4.32). Housing status, Indigenous status, and disability status were not associated with elevated ACE score. A clinical prediction rule derived using four SDoH questions with a cut-off score of 1 had 96.67% sensitivity but only 21.54% specificity for an ACE score >=4 (AROC 0.75, 95% CI 0.69-0.81).

Conclusion

Several adverse SDoH were identified as independent predictors of an ACE score >=4 in children. A clinical prediction rule based on SDoH screening was sensitive but poorly specific for ACE >=4. Further research is required.
95 Prevalence and Characterization of Food Insecurity in a Canadian Paediatric Emergency Department
Authors: MacBain Elspeth , Marjerrison Stacey , Wahi Gita , Eltorki Mohamed , Pardhan Alim , Ngo Quang
Published: October 2022

Background

Food insecurity (FI), defined as inadequate or insecure access to food, is a key determinant of child health. FI is associated with a number of adverse physical, psychological and developmental health outcomes and increased emergency department (ED) use. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated financial hardship faced by many families with an unprecedented rise in use of charitable food programs.

Objectives

We sought to determine the prevalence of FI among pediatric ED visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, compare this to pre-pandemic rates, and describe associated risk factors.

Design/Methods

From September to December 2021, families presenting to a tertiary Canadian paediatric ED were asked to complete a survey screening for FI with a validated two-item questionnaire, along with socio-demographic and child health information. Results were compared to data collected in 2012. Multivariable logistic regression was used to measure associations with FI.

Results

In 2021, 26% (n=173/665) of families identified as food insecure compared to 22.7% in 2012 (n=146/644), which was not statistically different (3.3%, 95% CI [-1.4%, 8.1%]). When the definition of FI is expanded to include use of charitable food assistance, the prevalence increased to 29.2%.

In univariate analysis, FI was significantly associated with lack of primary care, caregivers born outside of Canada, status other than Canadian citizenship, having a child with a chronic medical condition, having financial strain related to medical expenses and reason for the ED visit being the child’s chronic condition.

In multivariable analysis, only having more children in the home (OR 1.19, 95% CI [1.01, 1.41]), financial strain from medical expenses (OR 5.31, 95% CI [3.45, 8.18]) and lack of primary care access (OR 1.27, 95% CI [1.08, 1.51]) remained independent predictors of FI.

Approximately half (48.5%) of food insecure families reported use of food charity, most commonly food banks (31.7%), while one-quarter (26%) received help from family or friends. Food insecure families indicated their preferred means of support in hospital would be free/low cost meals and financial assistance with medical expenses.

Conclusion

Greater than one in four families attending a Canadian tertiary pediatric ED screened positive for FI. FI was independently associated with lack of access to primary care, financial strain related to medical expenses, and greater number of children in the household. Further research is necessary to examine the effect of support interventions for families admitted to medical care facilities and financial support for chronic conditions.
Mild allergic airways responses to an environmental mixture increase cardiovascular risk in rats
Authors: Farraj Aimen K , Martin Brandi L , Schladweiler Mette C , Miller Colette N , Smoot Jacob , Williams Wanda , Fisher Anna , Oshiro Wendy , Tennant Alan , Martin W Kyle , Henriquez Andres R , Grindstaff Rachel , Gavett Stephen H , Gilmour M Ian , Kodavanti Urmila P , Hazari Mehdi S , Dye Janice A
Published: October 2022

Recent epidemiological findings link asthma to adverse cardiovascular responses. Yet, the precise cardiovascular impacts of asthma have been challenging to disentangle from the potential cardiovascular effects caused by asthma medication. The purpose of this study was to determine the impacts of allergic airways disease alone on cardiovascular function in an experimental model. Female Wistar rats were intranasally sensitized and then challenged once per week for 5 weeks with saline vehicle or a mixture of environmental allergens (ragweed, house dust mite, and Aspergillus fumigatus). Ventilatory and cardiovascular function, measured using double-chamber plethysmography and implantable blood pressure (BP) telemetry and cardiovascular ultrasound, respectively, were assessed before sensitization and after single and final allergen challenge. Responses to a single 0.5 ppm ozone exposure and to the cardiac arrhythmogenic agent aconitine were also assessed after final challenge. A single allergen challenge in sensitized rats increased tidal volume and specific airways resistance in response to provocation with methacholine and increased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, cytokines interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and keratinocyte chemoattract-growth-related oncogene characteristic of allergic airways responses. Lung responses after final allergen challenge in sensitized rats were diminished, although ozone exposure increased BALF IL-6, IL-13, IL-1 β, and interferon-γ and modified ventilatory responses only in the allergen group. Final allergen challenge also increased systolic and mean arterial BP, stroke volume, cardiac output, end-diastolic volume, sensitivity to aconitine-induced cardiac arrhythmia, and cardiac gene expression with lesser effects after a single challenge. These findings demonstrate that allergic airways responses may increase cardiovascular risk in part by altering BP and myocardial function and by causing cardiac electrical instability.
Adverse Surgical Outcomes Linked to Co-occurring Smoking and Risky Alcohol Use Among General Surgery Patients
Authors: Fernandez Anne C. , Bohnert Kipling M. , Bicket Mark C. , Weng Wenjing , Singh Kushal , Englesbe Michael
Published: October 2022

Objective:

To assess associations between co-occurring preoperative smoking and risky alcohol use on the likelihood of adverse surgical outcomes.

Background:

Risky alcohol use and smoking are the known surgical risk factors with a high co-occurrence and additive adverse effects on multiple organ systems that impact surgical health, yet no research has evaluated the impact of co-occurrence on surgical outcomes.

Methods:

This investigation analyzed 200,816 patients from the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative database between July 1, 2012, to December 31, 2018. Patients were classified based on past year risky alcohol use (>2 drink/day) and cigarette smoking into 4 groups: (1) risky alcohol and smoking, (2) risky alcohol only, (3) smoking only, and (4) no risky alcohol/smoking. We fitted logistic regression models, applying propensity score weights incorporating demographic, clinical, and surgical factors to assess associations between alcohol and smoking and 30-day postoperative outcomes; surgical complications, readmission, reoperation, and emergency department (ED) visits.

Results:

Risky alcohol and smoking, risky alcohol only, and smoking only were reported by 2852 (1.4%), 2840 (1.4%), and 44,042 (22%) patients, respectively. Relative to all other groups, the alcohol and smoking group had greater odds of surgical complications, readmission, and reoperation. Relative to the no alcohol and smoking group, the alcohol only group higher odds of reoperation and smoking only group had higher odds of emergency department visits.

Conclusions:

The combination of smoking and risky drinking conferred the highest likelihood of complications, readmission, and reoperation before surgery. Co-occurring alcohol and smoking at the time of surgery warrants special attention as a patient risk factor and deserves additional research.
Psychroflexus curvus sp. nov., Psychroflexus longus sp. nov. and Psychroflexus montanilacus sp. nov., isolated from salt lakes on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Lu Huibin , Gao Peixin , Phurbu Dorji , Wu Qinglong , Xing Peng
Published: October 2022

Four Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped and non-motile strains (CAK1WT, CAK8WT, CAK57W and CCL10WT) were isolated from salt lakes in China. Comparisons based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the four strains show less than 98.9% similarity to species of the genus

Psychroflexus

. The phylogenetic tree reconstructed based on 16S rRNA gene sequences also showed that

Psychroflexus

species are the most closely related neighbours of the four strains. The sequenced draft genome sizes of strains CAK1WT, CAK8WT, CAK57W and CCL10WT were 3.01, 2.95, 3.01 and 3.04 Mbp with G+C contents of 37.3, 35.8, 37.5 and 36.6 %, respectively. The phylogenomic trees reconstructed based on the UBCG and GET_PHYLOMARKERS pipelines all demonstrated that the four strains belong to the genus

Psychroflexus

. The calculated pairwise orthologous average nucleotide identity based on usearch, digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average amino acid sequence identity values among strains CAK1WT, CAK8WT, CAK57W, CCL10WT and other species of the genus

Psychroflexus

were equal or lower than 91.1, 43.5 and 92.2%; the values between strains CAK1WT and CAK57W were 98.8, 90.2 and 99.0 %, respectively. The respiratory quinone of the four strains was MK-6. Their major fatty acids were iso-C14 : 0, C15 : 1
ω10c, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The major polar lipids of the four strains included phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminolipid and two kinds of unidentified lipids, and only strain CCL10WT contained diphosphatidylglycerol. Based on the above descriptions, strains CAK1WT, CAK8WT, CAK57W and CCL10WT should belong to the genus

Psychroflexus

and represent three independent novel species, for which the names Psychroflexus curvus sp. nov. (type strain CAK1WT=GDMCC 1.2644T=KCTC 82857T), Psychroflexus longus sp. nov. (type strain CAK8WT=GDMCC 1.2646T=KCTC 82859T) and Psychroflexus montanilacus sp. nov. (type strain CCL10WT=GDMCC 1.2631T=KCTC 82860T) are proposed.
Hephaestia mangrovi sp. nov., a novel endophytic bacterium isolated from Aegiceras corniculatum
Authors: Ma Xiao , Tuo Li , Yan Xiaorui , Gao Xinghong , Chen Mingsheng
Published: October 2022

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated CMS5P-6T, was isolated from a surface-sterilized bark of Aegiceras corniculatum collected from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, PR China, and investigated by a polyphasic approach to determine its taxonomic position. Strain CMS5P-6T was found to grow optimally with 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl, at 30 °C and pH 6.0–7.0. Substrate mycelia and aerial mycelia were not formed, and no diffusible pigments were observed on the media tested. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain CMS5P-6T showed high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.7 % to

Hephaestia caeni

DSM 25527T and Sphingomonas colocasiea CC-MHH0539T. The average nucleotide identity, digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average amino acid identity values between strain CMS5P-6T and

H. caeni

DSM 25527T were 78.0, 21.7 and 70.8 %, respectively. The average nucleotide identity, digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average amino acid identity values between strain CMS5P-6T and S. colocasiea JCM 31229T were 74.0, 19.9 and 61.4 %, respectively. Phylogenomic analyses based on genome sequences showed that strain CMS5P-6T and

H. caeni

DSM 25527T formed a distinct cluster within the family

Sphingomonadaceae

and far away from S. colocasiea JCM 31229T. The DNA G+C content of strain CMS5P-6T was determined to be 65.6 mol%. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and ubiquinone Q-10 was identified as the respiratory lipoquinone. The polar lipids were found to comprise diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingoglycolipid and two unidentified aminolipids, and the major fatty acids were identified as C18 : 1
 ω7c, C19 : 0 cycloω8c and C16 : 0. On the basis of phylogenetic, genomic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain CMS5P-6T can be concluded to represent a novel species of the genus

Hephaestia

, for which the name Hephaestia mangrovi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CMS5P-6T (=JCM 33125T=CGMCC 1.13868T).
Saccharothrix luteola sp. nov., a novel cellulose-degrading actinobacterium isolated from soil and emended description of the genus Saccharothrix
Authors: He Chuan , Sun Xiujun , Huang Zhenzhen , Wang Zishan , Luo Xianxian , Song Jia , Wang Xiangjing , Zhao Junwei , Xiang Wensheng
Published: October 2022

A novel cellulose-degrading actinobacterium, designated strain NEAU-S10T, was isolated from soil collected from Chifeng, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, PR China, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Pairwise similarity of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain NEAU-S10T was a representative of

Saccharothrix

and was closely related to

Saccharothrix carnea

NEAU-yn17T (99.2 %),

Saccharothrix saharensis

SA152T (99.0 %),

Saccharothrix texasensis

DSM 44231T (98.5 %) and

Saccharothrix xinjiangensis

NBRC 101911T (98.5 %). Physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics of the strain further supported its affiliation to the genus

Saccharothrix

. The whole-cell sugars contained galactose, ribose and mannose. The polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H0), MK-9(H2), MK-9(H4) and MK-10(H4). The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 71.8 mol%. The levels of digital DNA–DNA hybridization between isolate and

S. carnea

NEAU-yn17T,

S. saharensis

SA152T and

S. texasensis

DSM 44231T were 40.1 % (37.6–42.6 %), 38.soap8 % (36.3–41.3 %) and 44.8 % (42.2–47.3 %) and the ANI values between them were determined to be 90.2, 89.8 and 91.7 %, the results indicated that strain NEAU-S10T could be distinguished from its reference strains. The assembled genome sequence of strain NEAU-S10T was found to be 10 305 394 bp long. The NCBI Prokaryotic Genome Annotation Pipeline (PGAP) revealed 8 994 protein-coding genes. Genomic analysis and Congo red staining test indicated that strain NEAU-S10T had the potential to degrade cellulose. The genomic and phenotypic results indicate that strain NEAU-S10T represents a novel species of the genus

Saccharothrix

, for which the name Saccharothrix luteola sp. nov. is proposed, with NEAU-S10T (=CCTCC AA 2020037T=JCM 34800T) as the type strain.
Limibaculum sediminis sp. nov., isolated from mangrove sediment
Authors: Huang Yuhan , Liu Lirui , Li Jiayi , Pan Jie , LI Meng
Published: October 2022

A Gram-stain-negative, cream-coloured, aerobic, motile and ovoid- to rod-shaped bacterium, designated as FT325T, was isolated from mangrove sediment collected in Shenzhen, PR China. The taxonomic position of strain FT325T was established by phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic analyses. Strain FT325T grew optimally at 37–40 °C and pH 6.0 in the presence of 0 % (w/v) NaCl. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain FT325T was most similarly related to

Limibaculum halophilum

CAU 1123T (96.2 %),

Phaeovulum vinaykumarii

DSM 18714T (93.9%) and

Amaricoccus solimangrovi

HB 172011T (93.7 %). The major fatty acids (>10 %) were C18 : 1
 ω7c (60.0 %) and 11-methyl C18 : 1
 ω7c (16.7 %). The sole respiratory quinone was Q-10. The polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified glycolipid, three unidentified aminolipids and three unidentified phospholipids. Its estimated genome size was 4 318 768 bp and the genomic DNA G+C content was 69.6 mol%. Based on its distinct phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain FT325T represents a novel species of the genus

Limibaculum

, for which the name Limibaculum sediminis sp. nov. is proposed (=MCCC 1K07397T=KCTC 92313T).
Vibrio ostreae sp. nov., a novel gut bacterium isolated from a Yellow Sea oyster
Authors: Muhammad Neak , Nguyen Tra T.H. , Lee Yong-Jae , Ko Jaeho , Avila Forbes , Kim Song-Gun
Published: October 2022

A Gram-stain-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, facultative anaerobic motile bacterium, designated strain OG9-811T, was isolated from the gut of an oyster collected in the Yellow Sea, Republic of Korea. The strain grew at 10–37 °C, pH 6.0–9.0 and with 0.5–10% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain OG9-811T affiliated with the genus

Vibrio

, with the highest sequence similarity of 98.2% to

Vibrio coralliilyticus

ATCC BAA-450T followed by

Vibrio variabilis

R-40492T (98.0 %),

Vibrio hepatarius

LMG 20362T (97.7 %) and

Vibrio neptunius

LMG 20536T (97.6 %); other relatives were

Vibrio tritonius

JCM 16456T (97.4 %),

Vibrio fluvialis

NBRC 103150T (97.0 %) and

Vibrio furnissii

CIP 102972T (97.0 %). The complete genome of strain OG9-811T comprised two chromosomes of a total 4 807 684 bp and the G+C content was 50.2 %. Results of analysis based on the whole genome sequence showed the distinctiveness of strain OG9-811T. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain OG9-811T and the closest strains

V. coralliilyticus

ATCC BAA-450T,

V. variabilis

R-40492T,

V. hepatarius

LMG 20362T,

V. neptunius

KCTC 12702T
, V. tritonius JCM 16456T,

V. fluvialis

ATCC 33809T and V. furnissi CIP 102972T were 73.0, 72.6, 73.3, 73.0, 72.7, 78.5 and 77.8 %, respectively, while the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain OG9-811T and the above closely related strains were 20.8, 21.2, 20.8, 21.7, 20.7, 23.2 and 22.4 %, respectively. The major fatty acids of strain OG9-811T were summed feature 3 (C16:1
ω7c and/or C16:1
ω6c), summed feature 8 (C18:1
ω6c and/or C18:1
ω7c) and C16:0. The polar lipids contained phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. Strain OG9-811T contained Q-8 as a quinone. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic characteristics, strain OG9-811T is considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Vibrio ostreae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is OG9-811T (=KCTC 72623T=GDMCC 1.2610T).
IL-21, inflammatory cytokines and hyper polarized CD8+T cells are central players in Lupus immune pathology
Authors: Sengupta Soumya , Bhattacharya Gargee , Mohanty Subhasmita , Shaw Shubham K , Jogdand Gajendra M , Jha Rohila , Barik Prakash K , Parida Jyoti R , Devadas Satish
Published: October 2022

Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder, broadly characterized by systemic inflammation along with heterogeneous clinical manifestations, severe morbidity, moribund organ failure and eventual mortality. In our study, SLE patients displayed higher percentage of activated, inflamed and hyper polarized CD8+T cells, dysregulated CD8+T cell differentiation, significantly elevated serum inflammatory cytokines, higher accumulation of cellular ROS when compared to healthy controls. Importantly, these hyper inflammatory/hyper polarized CD8+T cells responded better to an anti-oxidant than to an oxidant. Terminally differentiated Tc1 cells also showed plasticity upon Oxidant/antioxidant treatment but was in contrast to the SLE CD8+T cell response. Our studies suggest that the differential phenotype and redox response of SLE CD8+T cells and Tc1 cells could be attributed to their cytokine environs during their respective differentiation and eventual activation environs. Polarisation of Tc1 cells with IL-21 drove hyper cytoxicity without hyper polarisation suggesting that SLE inflammatory environment could drive the extreme aberrancy in SLE CD8+T cell.
Prediction of Ciprofloxacin Resistance in Hospitalized Patients Using Machine Learning
Authors: Mintz Igor , Chowers Michal , Obolski Uri
Published: October 2022

Background

Ciprofloxacin is a widely used antibiotic that has lost efficiency due to extensive resistance. We developed machine learning (ML) models that predict the probability of ciprofloxacin resistance in hospitalized patients.

Methods

Data were collected from electronic records of hospitalized patients with positive bacterial cultures, during 2016-2019. Susceptibility results to ciprofloxacin (n=10,053 cultures) were obtained forE. coli, K. pneumoniae, M. morganii, P.aeruginosa, P. mirabilisandS. aureus. An ensemble model, combining several base models, was developed to predict ciprofloxacin resistant cultures, either with (gnostic) or without (agnostic) information on the infecting bacterial species.

Results

The ensemble models’ predictions were well-calibrated, and yielded ROC-AUCs (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) of 0.763 (95%CI 0.634-0.785) and 0.849 (95%CI 0.799-0.921) on independent test-sets for the agnostic and gnostic datasets, respectively. Shapley additive explanations analysis identified that influential variables were related to resistance of previous infections, where patients arrived from (hospital, nursing home, etc.), sex, and recent resistance frequencies in the hospital. A decision curve analysis revealed that implementing our models can be beneficial in a wide range of cost-benefits considerations of ciprofloxacin administration.

Conclusions

This study develops ML models to predict ciprofloxacin resistance in hospitalized patients. The models achieved high predictive ability, were well calibrated, had substantial net-benefit across a wide range of conditions, and relied on predictors consistent with the literature. This is a further step on the way to inclusion of ML decision support systems into clinical practice.
Entrepreneurship and innovation efficiency: the moderating role of absorptive capacity
Authors: Qian Furong , Hong Jin , Yang Nana , Yuan Xiaoyong
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurship and innovation efficiency (IE), as well as the moderating role of absorptive capacity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a sample of industrial enterprises from Chinese provinces from 2005 to 2016, and it tests the research questions using the method of stochastic frontier analysis.

Findings

The results of this study indicate that entrepreneurship promotes IE, and that absorptive capacity plays a positive moderating role. In addition, the effect of entrepreneurship on IE differs between the central and eastern regions and the western region.

Originality/value

This research provides direct policy implications by demonstrating the role of entrepreneurship and absorptive capacity in IE, thereby guiding corporate management practices and the formulation of government innovation and entrepreneurship policies.
Stakeholder experiential knowledge as evidence in redesigning health-care facilities for improved usability
Authors: Kpamma Zoya Evans , Agyefi-Mensah Stephen , Sadick Abdul-Manan
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Evidence-based design (EBD) is traditionally limited to using empirical research findings based on randomized controlled trials. The purpose of this study is to explore stakeholder experiential knowledge as alternate credible evidence in redesigning health-care facilities for improved usability.

Design/methodology/approach

This research, based on critical participatory action research, involved a case study of redesign and post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of an emergency department (ED) at Holy Family Hospital, Techiman, Ghana. Observation, interviews and document analysis were used to collect data in the redesign and POE. The data was analyzed through directed content analysis.

Findings

Findings indicate that the redesign interventions, generated from stakeholder experiential knowledge, led to improved effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in the ED. This presents stakeholder experiential knowledge as alternate credible evidence in EBD. Furthermore, the POE revealed that open and flexible spatial arrangement, zoning care areas according to severity, and providing staff-support amenities are some redesign interventions for improving ED usability.

Practical implications

Compared to the hard and controlled nature of experimental research knowledge, the soft and fluid experiential knowledge of stakeholders could be more useful for health-care redesign process, especially in iteratively structuring design thinking and making choices.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to theory by validating and illustrating stakeholder experiential knowledge as credible evidence for EBD. Practically, it provides strategies, based on POE findings, for designing EDs to improve usability.
The colonization of Wikipedia: evidence from characteristic editing behaviors of warring camps
Authors: Morris-O'Connor Danielle A. , Strotmann Andreas , Zhao Dangzhi
Published: October 2022

Purpose

To add new empirical knowledge to debates about social practices of peer production communities, and to conversations about bias and its implications for democracy. To help identify Wikipedia (WP) articles that are affected by systematic bias and hopefully help alleviate the impact of such bias on the general public, thus helping enhance both traditional (e.g. libraries) and online information services (e.g. Google) in ways that contribute to democracy. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned objectives.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitatively, the authors identify edit-warring camps across many conflict zones of the English language WP, and profile and compare success rates and typologies of camp edits in the corresponding topic areas. Qualitatively, the authors analyze the edit war between two senior WP editors that resulted in imbalanced and biased articles throughout a topic area for such editorial characteristics through a close critical reading.

Findings

Through a large-scale quantitative study, the authors find that winner-take-all camps exhibit biasing editing behaviors to a much larger extent than the camps they successfully edit-war against, confirming findings of prior small-scale qualitative studies. The authors also confirm the employment of these behaviors and identify other behaviors in the successful silencing of traditional medicinal knowledge on WP by a scientism-biased senior WP editor through close reading.

Social implications

WP sadly does, as previously claimed, appear to be a platform that represents the biased viewpoints of its most stridently opinionated Western white male editors, and routinely misrepresents scholarly work and scientific consensus, the authors find. WP is therefore in dire need of scholarly oversight and decolonization.

Originality/value

The authors independently verify findings from prior personal accounts of highly power-imbalanced fights of scholars against senior editors on WP through a third-party close reading of a much more power balanced edit war between senior WP editors. The authors confirm that these findings generalize well to edit wars across WP, through a large scale quantitative analysis of unbalanced edit wars across a wide range of zones of contention on WP.
Model of boron diffusion in silicon used for solar cell fabrication based on boric acid solutions
Authors: Filipowski Wojciech
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a model that allows determining the boron concentration profile in silicon based on duration and temperature of the diffusion process.

Design/methodology/approach

The model was developed on the basis of the Fick’s second law, which is fundamental for describing the diffusion process. The explicit scheme of the finite difference method was used in the conducted simulations. Results of measurements made using the secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) were used as template dopant concentration profiles. Solution of boric acid in ethanol is the dopant source for which this model was developed.

Findings

Based on the conducted simulations, it was proposed that besides the influence of electric field of ionized dopants, which is already described in literature, an appropriate factor reflecting the influence of the threshold concentration on the coefficient of diffusion of boron in silicone should also be introduced.

Originality/value

The developed model enables determination of the boron concentration profile in silicon consistent with the results of SIMS measurements. A factor taking into account the influence of threshold concentration on the coefficient of diffusion was introduced. The influence of concentration of boric acid in the dopant solution on the concentration profile was also considered.
Inferential power in identifying frequency‐dependent social learning strengthened by increasing behavioural options
Authors: Barrett Brendan J.
Published: October 2022

Two‐option choice experimental designs are the most commonly employed framework for identifying evidence of social learning or social learning strategies in captive and wild populations. In nature, however, animals often choose from more than two behaviours, and multiple innovations may arise simultaneously. Studies of animal social learning are often constrained by small sample sizes, which limit researchers' ability to convincingly identify the proposed social learning strategy responsible for behavioural choice.

In this study, I examine whether expanding behavioural options fromk = 2 tok > 2 and increasing sample size affects inferential power in identifying social learning strategies. I focus on three frequency‐dependent learning strategies: conformist transmission, unbiased transmission and anti‐conformist transmission.

I simulate 100 datasets for 72 parameter combinations, yielding 7200 simulations. I evaluate number of options (k = 2, 3, 4, 5), population size (n = 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250) and the logarithmic strength of frequency dependence (log(f) = log(1∕3),log(1),log(3)). I then fit a Bayesian social learning model to simulated data to evaluate the percent of the posterior consistent with type of frequency dependence, posterior standard deviations, highest posterior density intervals and posterior medians relative to the true simulated value oflog(f).

I show that increasing the number of options an animal can choose from increases the accuracy and certainty of identifying the type and magnitude of frequency‐dependent social learning. These effects are particularly pronounced at small to intermediate sample sizes, which are common in empirical studies of animal social learning.

These findings suggest that knowing what an animal did not choose is equally important as knowing what an animal did choose when identifying social learning strategies. By strategically increasing the number of behaviours from which an animal can choose, researchers can increase inferential power in identifying social learning strategies without increasing sample size, that is, adding additional animals or collecting more data.
Taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity peaks do not coincide along a compositional gradient in forest‐grassland mosaics
Authors: Erdős László , Ho Khanh Vu , Bátori Zoltán , Kröel‐Dulay György , Ónodi Gábor , Tölgyesi Csaba , Török Péter , Lengyel Attila
Published: October 2022

Ecosystems with forest and grassland patches as alternative stable states usually contain various closed, semi‐open and open habitats, which may be aligned along a vegetation cover gradient. Taxonomic diversity usually peaks near the middle of the gradient, but our knowledge on functional and phylogenetic diversity trends along gradients is more limited.

We investigated the eight main habitats of Hungarian forest‐grassland mosaics, representing various vegetation cover values, and compared their species composition as well as their taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity.

We found a compositional gradient ranging from large forest patches through smaller‐sized forest patches and edges to closed and open grasslands. Species richness peaked at the middle of the gradient (at edges). Shannon diversity was high near the middle and at the open end of the gradient. Functional diversity was high throughout woody habitats (in forests and at edges) and was significantly lower in grasslands. When considering all species, phylogenetic diversity tended to peak at north‐facing forest edges. When excluding non‐angiosperms, this peak disappeared.

The high taxonomic diversity at the middle of the gradient is in line with the edge‐effect theory. Our results suggest that community assembly in grasslands may be dominated by environmental filtering, while competition may be decisive in woody habitats. The low phylogenetic diversity of grassland habitats can be explained by their young evolutionary age compared to forests.

Synthesis. Functional and phylogenetic diversity do not necessarily coincide with taxonomic diversity along vegetation cover gradients. In ecosystems where forest and grassland patches represent alternative stable states, the trends of taxonomic diversity may be similar to those revealed here, but functional diversity patterns may be more system‐specific for some traits. Trends in phylogenetic diversity may vary according to the evolutionary age of the habitats.
Luck in a Flat Hierarchy: Wages, Bonuses and Noise
Authors: Sessions John G. , Skåtun John D.
Published: October 2022

We study bonuses in a flat hierarchy and find effort optimality to be violated within a two worker‐type model with noisy performance indicators. Dedicated workers extract informational rents from firms whilst slack worker effort is inefficiently low. Whilst increases in measurement noise reduce the supply‐side effort effects of bonuses, they also induce demand‐side responses from firms seeking to counteract falling worker exertion by increasing bonuses. Our model helps to explain empirical observations that bonuses are more prevalent and larger in jobs with noisy environments, such as within the financial sector.
Trends of clandestine laboratories manufacturing methamphetamine in New Zealand between 2009–2021: Evolution, enforcement, legislative, and COVID‐19 effects
Authors: Bogun Ben , McKinnel Megan , Russell Matthew , Watson Janine , Mayo Erina , Marr Brooke , Larsen Annie , Craig Jessica
Published: October 2022

The most common method of domestic methamphetamine manufacture encountered in New Zealand is the hydrogen iodide (HI) reduction of pseudoephedrine/ephedrine. While the overall method used to manufacture methamphetamine has remained consistent, the processes and chemicals utilized have evolved. Understanding the reason for any changes to methamphetamine manufacturing trends can assist jurisdictions with predicting the potential effects of enforcement and legislative initiatives. This paper presents data and trends amassed from suspected clandestine laboratories, associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine, in New Zealand between 2009 and 2021, along with data on methamphetamine, pseudoephedrine, and ephedrine seizures at the border. The data have shown that clandestine manufacturers in New Zealand have evolved the methamphetamine manufacturing process over the years. These changes in trends can largely be attributed to various enforcement and legislative effects and the COVID‐19 pandemic response. Effects that enforcement, legislation, and the COVID‐19 pandemic response may have had on the precursors, chemicals and equipment encountered are discussed.
Successful treatment of rapid progressive interstitial lung disease in a case of anti‐Zo antibody positive anti‐synthetase syndrome
Authors: Li Yongxia , Liu Gang , Yu Fengjiao , Jiang Yu
Published: October 2022

Background

Anti‐synthetase syndrome (ASS) is a chronic multisystemic autoimmune disease characterized by detectable anti‐aminoacyl‐transfer‐RNA antibodies. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) in anti‐synthetase syndrome patients is often severe and rapidly progressive. Anti‐Zo (phenylalanyl) antibody is reported rarely in ASS. Therefore, the appropriate treatment of anti‐Zo positive ASS is unclear.

Case presentation

Here we present a case of anti‐Zo‐positive ASS with rapid progressive ILD (RP‐ILD) in a Chinese patient successfully treated with a combination of systemic corticosteroids and tacrolimus.

Conclusion

We reviewed 13 anti‐Zo‐positive ASS patients (including our case) and summarized clinical features that have some differences with other ASS. Anti‐Zo‐positive ASS is a rare autoimmune disease with a high burden of ILD, is often severe and rapidly progressive. Corticosteroids with tacrolimus may improve patient outcomes in anti‐Zo antibody positive ASS with RP‐ILD.
A prospective pilot study of a gluten‐free diet for primary sclerosing cholangitis and associated colitis
Authors: Liwinski Timur , Hübener Sina , Henze Lara , Hübener Peter , Heinemann Melina , Tetzlaff Marcus , Hiller Marie I. , Jagemann Bettina , Surabattula Rambabu , Leeming Diana , Karsdal Morten , Monguzzi Erika , Schachschal Guido , Rösch Thomas , Bang Corinna , Franke Andre , Lohse Ansgar W. , Schuppan Detlef , Schramm Christoph
Published: October 2022

Background

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive bile duct disease associated with inflammatory bowel disease (PSC‐IBD).

Aim

To investigate whether patients with PSC‐IBD benefit from a gluten‐free and amylase trypsin inhibitor (ATI)‐free diet (GFD).

Methods

We performed a prospective clinical pilot study administering an eight‐week GFD. The primary outcomes were colonic inflammation assessed by proctosigmoidoscopy, and liver stiffness (surrogate for fibrosis, inflammation and cholestasis) measured by transient elastography before and after GFD. Amongst the secondary (exploratory) outcomes were colonic mucosal and serum cytokine/chemokine changes, the intestinal microbiome and transcriptome dynamics, and shifts in serum markers of hepatic fibrogenesis.

Results

Fifteen patients with PSC‐IBD completed the study. The study did not meet its primary outcome: the endoscopic score and liver stiffness remained unchanged. However, the expression of pro‐inflammatory mucosal cytokines and chemokines such as IL6, IL8, CCL2, and TNFα was significantly down‐regulated. Two critical markers of liver fibrosis and matrix remodelling, thrombospondin‐2 and ‐4, decreased significantly. The microbiota composition changed slightly, including a decrease in the pathogen Romboutsia ilealis. The intestinal transcriptome indicated a gut barrier improvement. Pruritus, fatigue, overall well‐being, faecal calprotectin levels, and serum alkaline phosphatase did not change significantly.

Conclusions

This study did not demonstrate a clinical improvement with short‐term GFD in patients with PSC‐IBD. However, a gluten/ATI‐free diet may improve biomarkers of intestinal inflammation and barrier function in these patients with associated changes in the enteric microbiota. Further investigation of the therapeutic potential of the GFD in PSC‐IBD is warranted.
Anti‐immigration policies of the trump administration: A review of Latinx mental health and resilience in the face of structural violence
Authors: Rabin Julia , Stough Cathleen , Dutt Anjali , Jacquez Farrah
Published: October 2022

Poor mental health outcomes are a growing concern among Latinx children and adults in the U.S. While existing research has documented risk factors to these mental health disparities, such as barriers to healthcare access and fear of deportation, less is known about the impacts of Former President Trump's anti‐immigrant rhetoric and federal efforts to curb migration on Latinx mental health. Thus, the purpose of this review was two‐fold: (1) to review the empirical literature for any quantitative or qualitative findings discussing the relationship between federal immigration policies passed under the Trump administration and mental health outcomes of the Latinx community and (2) to understand the range of resilience factors that may have facilitated Latinx youth and adults to overcome these sociopolitical changes. Utilizing a modified version of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analyses guidelines, we conducted a narrative review of 21 empirical articles. The review characterizes literature across the fields of psychology, counseling, social justice, and law in terms of population of interest, relevant immigration policy, key mental health findings, and culturally sensitive contributions to either the Minority Stress Model or Social Ecological Resilience. Based on our findings, we argue that immigration enforcement served as a unique stressor to Latinx wellbeing and particularly increased rates of negative emotional experiences and internalizing symptoms. However, culturally rooted resilience factors, such as Luchando Adelante (e.g., striving forward despite uncertainty), helped bolster against relevant adversity. We conclude with an argument for the importance of immigration policy reform for improved mental health outcomes in the Latinx community.
Accelerated sediment delivery to continental margins during post‐orogenic rebound of mountain ranges
Authors: Bernard Thomas , Sinclair Hugh D.
Published: October 2022

Changes in sediment flux to continental margins are commonly interpreted in terms of tectonic growth of topography or climatic change. Here, we show that variations in sediment yield from orogenic systems, previously considered as resulting from climate change, drainage reorganisation or mantle processes can be explained by intrinsic mechanisms of mountain belt/foreland basin systems naturally evolving during post‐orogenic decay. Numerical modelling indicates an increase of sediment flux leaving the orogenic system synchronous with the cessation of deposition in the foreland basin and the transition from late syn‐ to post‐orogenesis. Experiments highlight the importance of lithospheric flexure that causes the post‐orogenic isostatic rebound of the foreland basin. Erosion of the rebounding foreland basin combined with continued sediment flux from the thrust wedge drives an acceleration in sediment outflux towards continental margins. Sediment budget records in natural settings such as the Northern Pyrenees or Western European Alps also indicate accelerated post‐orogenic sediment delivery to the Bay of Biscay and Rhône Delta respectively. These intrinsic processes that determine sediment yield to continental margins must be accounted for prior to consideration of additional external tectonic or climatic controls.