bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
More fluency of the mental imagery, more effective?
Authors: Cheng Li-Keng , Toung Chung-Lin
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Fear appeals in advertising communication are considered by advertisers when other types of advertising appeals do not achieve expected effects. Fear appeals, by arousing the fear that something may threaten consumers’ present lives, are often adopted to persuade individuals to take a particular action. Although this topic has been widely studied, the internal operation mechanism of fear appeals in consumers has not been fully understood or agreed upon.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experiments were conducted where the type of fear appeal was manipulated (i.e. physical fear appeal or social ear appeal), as well as consumers’ consideration of future consequences (CFC) and mental imagery approaches.

Findings

This study examined the effects of fear appeal on mental imagery fluency and how it affects advertising effectiveness and the moderating effect of consumers’ CFC were discussed. When receiving advertisements with physical fear appeals, consumers with low CFC had greater mental imagery fluency than did those with high CFC. Furthermore, consumers’ purchase intentions could be improved by increasing consumers’ mental imagery fluency on fear appeal. Therefore, the interaction between fear appeal and CFC on purchase intention was mediated by mental imagery fluency. This study found that consumers responded differently to fear appeal advertising when they engaged in different mental imagery approaches.

Originality/value

The present study adds to social marketing literature by showing how consumers’ mental imagery fluency influence the fear appeal effectiveness, and this study’s results also enable social marketers to understand the two factors (i.e. consumers’ CFC level and mental imagery approaches) that affect the influence of fear appeals on consumers’ purchase intentions. Moreover, social marketers are recommended to provide consumers with advertising information by using various message types to facilitate consumers’ imagination of advertising appeals. This heightens the importance of consumers’ acceptance and absorption of advertising content, in turn, strengthening their purchase intentions.
Service on student-run free clinic executive board improves leadership skills of medical students in the underserved medical system
Authors: Lessans Spencer , Bogdanovski Kristijan , Porter Katherine R. , Ballantyne Katie , Pasarica Magdalena
Published: October 2020

Purpose

As the need for effective physician leaders caring for underserved populations grows, it is important to initiate interventions for medical professionals early in their education. Board experience on a student-run free clinic serving vulnerable populations within the community has the potential to educate medical students in a hands-on environment. This paper aims to determine if serving as a leader of a student-run free clinic impacts leadership skills and future leadership goals of medical students.

Design/methodology/approach

Medical students leading a student-run free clinic completed an anonymous electronic survey to determine how this experience affected their teamwork skills, interprofessional leadership skills and future leadership career goals. The survey consisted of 12 items to which students responded with how closely they agreed via a five-point Likert scale with 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree. Descriptive statistics are reported.

Findings

From the 46 students (42.2% response rate) responding to the survey, 95.45% had a previous leadership experience and 89.2% expressed previous interest in a leadership position. Students scored on average 4.36 (out of 5) for improvement in teamwork skills, 4.34 (out of 5) for improvement in interprofessional skills and 3.88 (out of 5) for impact on future leadership career goals.

Originality/value

This study suggests that service on a student-run free clinic improves teamwork and interprofessional leadership skills as well as future leadership plans of medical students in an underserved vulnerable population environment. Other institutions could use student-run free clinics for early development of effective leaders in medical health care for the vulnerable population.
Integrated thinking rolls! Stakeholder engagement actions translate integrated thinking into practice
Authors: Devalle Alain , Gromis di Trana Melchior , Fiandrino Simona , Vrontis Demetris
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the approaches to and the actions of integrated thinking (IT) based on stakeholder engagement practices to mitigate the perception of IT as an “abstract construct” and to overcome the “silos” thinking of managing, communicating and reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

The research develops a single case-study of a leading Italian company in the sustainability setting: Lavazza. The authors gathered in-depth information with semi-structured interviews on their approaches to IT and actions of IT and the related stakeholder engagement practices which involved over time.

Findings

This study addresses the concept of IT, arguing for integrated circularity as a strategic mindset, which builds upon open communication and collaborative partnerships with stakeholders for value creation.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of this study stem from the nature of a single case study, thus the findings are most relevant to those companies operating in comparable sectors with similar historical and organizational characteristics.

Practical implications

The study provides a systematic framework of IT approaches and related actions based on stakeholder engagement practices that define a company as an integrated thinker. This can be used by managers and companies to implement an integrated logic of thinking and reporting.

Originality/value

This is a pioneering study in this area as there are very few ones that take into account the relationship between the IT of design and reporting from a stakeholder perspective. The more IT is embedded in the business, the fuller the consideration of key stakeholders’ interests is incorporated as a relevant part of conducting business.
Modelling and optimisation of natural fibre reinforced polymer nanocomposite: application of mixture-design technique
Authors: Bellairu Pavana Kumara , Bhat Shreeranga , Gijo E.V.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The aim of this article is to demonstrate the development of environment friendly, low cost natural fibre composites by robust engineering approach. More specifically, the prime objective of the study is to optimise the composition of natural fibre reinforced polymer nanocomposites using a robust statistical approach.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, the material is prepared using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), Cantala fibres and Epoxy Resin in accordance with the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards. Further, the composition is prepared and optimised using the mixture-design approach for the flexural strength of the material.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that MWCNT plays a vital role in increasing the flexural strength of the composite. Moreover, it is observed that interactions between second order and third order parameters in the composition are statistically significant. This leads to proposing a special cubic model for the novel composite material with residual analysis. Moreover, the methodology assists in optimising the mixture component values to maximise the flexural strength of the novel composite material.

Originality/value

This article attempts to include both MWCNT and Cantala fibres to develop a novel composite material. In addition, it employs the mixture-design technique to optimise the composition and predict the model of the study in a step-by-step manner, which will act as a guideline for academicians and practitioners to optimise the material composition with specific reference to natural fibre reinforced nanocomposites.
Assessing advertisement quality on C2C social commerce platforms: an information quality approach using text mining
Authors: Trehan Deepak , Sharma Rajat
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test relevance of the information quality (IQ) framework in understanding quality of advertisements (ads) posted by ordinary consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

The main objective of this study is to assess quality ads posted on customer-to-customer (C2C) social commerce platforms from an IQ framework. The authors deployed innovative text mining techniques to generate features from the IQ framework and then used a machine learning (ML) algorithm to classify ads into three categories ‐ high quality, medium quality and low quality.

Findings

The results show that not all dimensions of IQ framework are important to assess quality of ads posted on the platforms. Potential buyers on these platforms look for appropriate amount of information, which is objective, concise and complete, to make a potential purchase decision.

Research limitations/implications

As the research focuses on specific product categories, it lacks generalisability. Therefore, it needs to be tested for other product categories.

Practical implications

The paper includes recommendation for C2C marketplaces on how to increase quality of ads posted by consumers on the platform.

Originality/value

This study has focused on the user-generated content posted by ordinary consumers on the C2C commerce platform to sell used goods. Though C2C model has been developed on ads posted on C2C platforms, it can be established for brands as it provides them with an insight into latent dimensions that a consumer shall look for in an ad on social commerce platforms.
Retaining, resigning and firing: bibliometrics as a people analytics tool for examining research performance outcomes and faculty turnover
Authors: Ryan James C.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the use of bibliometric indicators as a people analytics tool for examining research performance outcome differences in faculty mobility and turnover.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing bibliometric information from research databases, the publication, citations, h-index and newly developed individual annualized h-index (hIa-index) for a sample of university faculty is examined (N = 684). Information relating to turnover decisions from a human resource (HR) information system and bibliometric data from a research database are combined to explore research performance differences across cohorts of retained, resigned or terminated faculty over a five-year period in a single university.

Findings

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results indicate traditional bibliometric indicators of h-index, publication count and citation count which are limited in their ability to identify performance differences between employment status cohorts. Results do show some promise for the newly developed hIa-index, as it is found to be significantly lower for terminated faculty (p < 0.001), as compared to both retained and resigned faculty. Multinomial logistic regression analysis also confirms the hIa metric as a predictor of terminated employment status.

Research limitations/implications

First, the results imply that the hIa-index, which controls for career length and elements of coauthorship is a superior bibliometric indicator for comparison of research performance.

Practical implications

Results suggest that the hIa metric may serve as a useful tool for the examination of employment decisions for universities. It also highlights the potential usefulness of bibliometric indicators for people analytics and the examination of employment decisions, performance management and faculty turnover in research-intensive higher education contexts.

Originality/value

This empirical paper is entirely unique. No research has previously examined the issue of turnover in a university setting using the bibliometric measures employed here. This is a first example of the potential use of hIa bibliometric index as an HR analytics tool for the examination of HR decisions such as employee turnover in the university context.
High-performance work systems and employee voice behaviour: an integrated model and research agenda
Authors: Mowbray Paula K. , Wilkinson Adrian , Tse Herman H.M.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual model drawing together and integrating research from employment relations (ER), human resource management (HRM) and organizational behaviour (OB) to identify how high-performance work systems (HPWS) encourage voice behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors identify shortcomings in research on the relationship between HPWS practices and employee voice behaviour, attributable to the disparate conceptualization of voice across management disciplines. The authors then present a conceptual model using the ability, motivation and opportunity (AMO) framework to theorize how the ER climate influences the design of the HPWS and subsequently how the HPWS encourages voice behaviour. Practical implications and recommendations for future studies are provided.

Findings

The mutual gains ER climate will influence the design of the HPWS; in turn the HPWS' practices will influence line manager AMO to manage voice and the employees' AMO to engage in voice behaviour, resulting in the encouragement of both employer and employee interest forms of voice.

Practical implications

The HPWS-voice behaviour interaction model sheds light on the types of HR practices organisations can implement to optimize employee voice behaviour.

Originality/value

The conceptual model demonstrates how ER, HRM and OB factors influence voice behaviour within a HPWS, which has not previously been considered by voice scholars. The integrated conceptual model encourages a multidisciplinary approach to studying employee voice in future research.
OhioLINK librarians and Google Scholar over time: a longitudinal analysis of attitudes and uses
Authors: Luftig David , Plungis Joan
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study aims to focus on how librarians use and promote Google Scholar (GS) within their library instruction sessions. This study also examines how Google Scholar and the Google Scholar discovery layer, library links, is promoted on library websites. This information is then analyzed across the three date ranges.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides a longitudinal analysis of the opinions and uses of Google Scholar by the Ohio consortium of libraries, OhioLINK. This study uses survey data that was collected in 2007, 2014 and 2019 via the OhioLINK Listserv and builds off of co-author’s previous study (2008), which examined the attitudes of OhioLINK librarians as it related to Google Scholar.

Findings

The results of this research suggested that there were significant changes in use and opinions of Google Scholar between 2007 and 2014 with more normalization of uses and opinions occurring between 2014 and 2019.

Research limitations/implications

Respondents were not asked for the type of library where they work or to identify their position within their libraries, which necessarily limits the conclusions that can be drawn from the survey responses. In retrospect, limiting the sample to instruction librarians or faculty librarians might have yielded more meaningful results. Additionally, this project did not evaluate the uses and opinions of librarians using GS at the reference desk. By providing this information, it would be easier to truly glean the uses and opinions of librarians with regard to GS.

Practical implications

This research will assist librarians contextualize how one of the most popular research resources has been used and promoted by those within the field and how those opinions have changed over time. This study will provide context into how Google Scholar became one of the most popular research tools and how attitudes of this unprecedented, and controversial, resource came to be accepted by librarians over the past 15 years.

Social implications

This study will help librarians better contextualize how other librarians use and promote Google Scholar. Furthermore, it demonstrates how a controversial information research tool became accepted by those in the field over time.

Originality/value

According to the authors’ knowledge, this research is the only study to provide a longitudinal analysis of the librarian opinions of Google Scholar. It targeted the same audience in identical surveys in a way no other Google Scholar research has done. It builds off of the co-author’s (2008) work, which is a well-cited study regarding librarian attitudes of Google Scholar. This research was done on the 15th year anniversary of Google Scholar.
Development, implementation and importance of an undergraduate peer research consultant program at the University of North Dakota’s Chester Fritz Library
Authors: Clark Karlene T. , Gabriel Holly M. , Borysewicz Kristen
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to describe both the development of a peer research consultant program – using student assistants to staff the reference desk with minimal supervision while providing high-quality research assistance to their undergraduate peers, and the steps taken to create buy-in for the program from campus and librarians.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors provide a description of peer reference services and describe how a remodel of the library building facilitated a redesign of services. The paper covers the process of developing program guidelines, securing funding, expectations of peer research consultants, the training process and lessons learned from a medium-sized academic library.

Findings

The findings after the first year demonstrate that undergraduates are highly skilled at providing high-quality reference services when provided with quality training and support. In addition, undergraduate students are now seeking out peer researchers for assistance with research items such as topic formation, keyword development in databases and proper citations.

Research limitations/implications

No formal research or assessment of the program has been completed as of this time.

Practical implications

Well-trained Peer Research Consultants (PRCs) provide valued assistance to librarians in freshman composition classes, at the Ask Us reference desk, and to their peers. The program has allowed librarians to provide more outreach to their subject areas.

Social implications

Students prefer going to their peers for research assistance rather than a professional librarian when given the choice. The training the PRCs are provided by librarians provides credibility and trust, which encourages undergraduate students to approach PRCs for assistance.

Originality/value

This paper draws on multiple iterations of peer reference models to create an original program, involving training student employees to provide reference services at a paraprofessional level, as well as providing the methodology for other academic libraries to develop and launch a similar program.
Neuromodulatory effect of curcumin on catecholamine systems and inflammatory cytokines in ovariectomized female rats
Authors: Saied Nashwa M. , Georgy Gehan S. , Hussien Rokaya M. , Hassan Wafaa A.
Published: October 2020

Anti‐inflammatory products may represent the future for depressive disorder therapies. Curcumin (CUR) is a polyphenol and an active component of the turmeric plant Curcuma longa. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of CUR, as a natural anti‐inflammatory agent, on neuro‐inflammation related to depression and compare it with the effects of fluoxetine (FLX) and estradiol (E2) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The experimental animals were divided into the following five treatment groups (n = 10): sham‐operated, OVX, OVX‐E2 (100 μg/kg, im, every other day), OVX‐FLX (20 mg/kg, ip, daily), and OVX‐CUR (100 mg/kg, po, daily). The results indicated that CUR improved the animals’ performances in the open field test and modulated dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine levels in several brain regions compared with the OVX group. CUR resulted in the down‐regulation of monoamine oxidase b and up‐regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase, as well asDA receptor mRNA in the limbic region. In addition, CUR significantly attenuated the production of serum corticosterone hormone, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha, interleukin‐β1, interleukin‐6, and nitric oxide in the limbic system. Furthermore, CUR normalized malondialdehyde levels and led to a significant upsurge in total antioxidant capacity, compared with the OVX group. Consequently, CUR, besides being harmless, was efficient against inflammation and oxidative–nitrosative stress, showing a greater effect on DA receptor expression than FLX and E2 in OVX rats.
The impact of vitamin D status on cardiometabolic effects of fenofibrate in women with atherogenic dyslipidemia
Authors: Krysiak Robert , Kowalcze Karolina , Okopień Bogusław
Published: October 2020

Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for cardiometabolic disease. The aim of this study was to determine the role of vitamin D status in the impact of fenofibrate on plasma levels of cardiometabolic risk factors. The study population (n = 61) consisted of three matched groups of women with atherogenic dyslipidaemia: vitamin D‐naïve women with vitamin D insufficiency (group A), women receiving vitamin D preparations because of vitamin D deficiency (group B), as well as vitamin D‐naïve women with normal vitamin D status (group C), who were treated with micronized fenofibrate (200 mg daily). Glucose homeostasis markers, plasma lipids, as well as plasma levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, uric acid, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), fibrinogen and homocysteine were determined at the beginning of the study and 6 months later. At entry, group A was characterized by lower levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, reduced insulin sensitivity and higher concentrations of uric acid, hsCRP, fibrinogen and homocysteine. Apart from a weaker effect on HDL‐cholesterol and triglycerides in group A, there were no differences between the treatment arms in the effect of fenofibrate on plasma lipids. However, only in groups B and C the drug improved insulin sensitivity and reduced circulating levels of uric acid and hsCRP, as well as increased levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and these effects correlated with the degree of improvement in insulin sensitivity. Treatment‐induced increase in homocysteine was observed only in group A. The results of the study indicate that cardiometabolic effects of fibrates may depend on the vitamin D status of patients
Relative importance of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators for reproduction in the early spring flowering shrub Stachyurus praecox (Stachyuraceae)
Authors: Funamoto Daichi , Sugiura Shinji
Published: October 2020

Generalized pollination systems may be favored in early spring flowering plants, as during this period pollinator activity is unpredictable. Many previous studies have concentrated on the importance of diurnal visitors in pollination, and consequently, information on the contribution of nocturnal visitors to pollination in early spring is limited. This study was conducted to evaluate the relative importance of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators in the early spring flowering dioecious shrub Stachyurus praecox (Stachyuraceae), in two temperate forests in central Japan. Visitors to the female and male flowers were observed during day and night, and their relative contributions to seed set were compared. The pollinator observations revealed that the diurnal and nocturnal insects visited both male and female flowers, and that the main flower visitors were diurnal small bees and flies as well as nocturnal settling moths. The diurnal and nocturnal flower visitors also acted as pollinators, as the pollen grains of S. praecox were attached to the insects collected from the female flowers. Pollination experiments demonstrated that the contributions of diurnal pollinators to the seed set were higher than those of the nocturnal pollinators. The results of this study indicate that S. praecox has a generalized pollination system, comprising both diurnal insects and nocturnal settling moths. Although the roles of diurnal insects are more important in the pollination of S. praecox, nocturnal settling moths may have a complementary role in early spring.
Do PCAOB Inspections Improve the Accuracy of Accounting Estimates?
Authors: STUBER SARAH B. , HOGAN CHRIS E.
Published: October 2020

Despite issuing extensive guidance related to the evaluation of accounting estimates, the PCAOB continues to identify deficiencies related to the audit of estimates through their inspections process. We examine whether PCAOB inspections lead to more accurate audited accounting estimates, defined as those that more closely match economic reality, by examining a significant estimate within the banking industry. We find that in contrast with the PCAOB's goal of more accurate and unbiased estimates, allowance for loan losses (ALL) estimates become less accurate and more conservative with higher levels of ALL‐related inspection findings for public company audits. We find no evidence of auditor response to PCAOB inspection findings for private‐company audits, which are not subject to PCAOB inspection. Overall, our findings cast doubt on the efficacy of PCAOB inspections in improving estimate accuracy and suggest that firms are managing inspection risk to the potential detriment of audit quality.
Effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on efficacy and safety of therapeutic apheresis for severe hypertriglyceridemia
Authors: Bagir Gulay Simsek , Bakiner Okan Sefa , Haydardedeoglu Filiz Eksi , Araz Filiz , Ertorer Melek Eda , Kozanoglu İlknur
Published: October 2020

The efficacy and safety of triglyceride (TG) apheresis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is unclear. Diabetic complications may predispose patients to adverse events (AEs) associated with the apheresis procedure, and diabetic dyslipidemia may negatively affect the efficacy of therapeutic apheresis (TA). We investigated the effect of DM on the efficacy and complications of TA. Patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia who underwent apheresis for treatment or for the prevention of acute pancreatitis were included in this retrospective study. Epidemiological data, lipid parameters, and AEs were recorded before and after each therapeutic session. A total of 166 procedures were performed in 27 patients. Group 1 included 17 patients with type 2 DM, and Group 2 included 10 patients without DM. The mean percentage decrease in TG levels (TG%) was higher in Group 1 (71.9% vs 60.6%, P < .001). The TG% was negatively correlated with the duration of DM in Group 1 (r = −.49, P < .001). The total number of TA sessions was 142 in patients who underwent double filtration plasmapheresis and 24 in patients who underwent therapeutic plasma exchange. We observed 9 (5.4%) mild‐to‐moderate AEs. No intergroup difference was observed in the total number of AEs (P = .06). TA is safe and effective in patients with type 2 DM with severe hypertriglyceridemia.
Disturbed sensory physiology underlies poor balance and disrupts activities of daily living in alcohol use disorder
Authors: Sullivan Edith V. , Zahr Natalie M. , Sassoon Stephanie A. , Pfefferbaum Adolf
Published: October 2020

Postural stability is a multi‐factorial skill maintained implicitly. Components of quiet standing can decline with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), cause instability, and disrupt activities of daily living (ADL). To examine how stability factors contribute to ADL and balance, 638 force platform testing sessions measured sway paths acquired during quiet standing in 151 AUD and 96 control men and women, age 25–75. Structural equation (seq) path analysis estimated contributions from age, diagnosis, and sensory perception to sway and measures of ADL and roadside ataxia testing. Whether eyes were open or closed, older AUD and control participants had longer sway paths than younger ones; older men had longer sway paths than older women. Although each sensory ability tested declined with aging, different factor constellations influenced ADL, ataxia scores, or sway path. Seq‐path analysis indicated that ADL was strongly dependent on sensory (but not cognitive) systems with sway‐path length accounting for upwards of 25% of variance. Within the AUD group, an index of historically‐experienced withdrawal symptoms was a common predictor of stability regardless of vision condition. The greatest variance measured by the seq‐path model was for predicting platform sway and simple ataxia testing of one‐leg standing even though these measures were affected by different predictor variables: strong predictors of one‐leg standing were diagnosis and age (R2 = 39.6%–43.2%), whereas strong predictors of sway‐path length were sensory factors and withdrawal index (R2 = 22.0%–22.9%). These findings present evidence for appreciating selective factors that contribute to declining postural stability and to liability for compromised quality of life in AUD.
The role of withdrawal in mesocorticolimbic drug cue reactivity in opioid use disorder
Authors: Shi Zhenhao , Jagannathan Kanchana , Padley James H. , Wang An‐Li , Fairchild Victoria P. , O'Brien Charles P. , Childress Anna Rose , Langleben Daniel D.
Published: October 2020

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is characterized by heightened cognitive, physiological, and neural responses to opioid‐related cues that are mediated by mesocorticolimbic brain pathways. Craving and withdrawal are key symptoms of addiction that persist during physiological abstinence. The present study evaluated the relationship between the brain response to drug cues in OUD and baseline levels of craving and withdrawal. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine brain responses to opioid‐related pictures and control pictures in 29 OUD patients. Baseline measures of drug use severity, opioid craving, and withdrawal symptoms were assessed prior to cue exposure and correlated with subsequent brain responses to drug cues. Mediation analysis was conducted to test the indirect effect of drug use severity on brain cue reactivity through craving and withdrawal symptoms. We found that baseline drug use severity and opioid withdrawal symptoms, but not craving, were positively associated with the neural response to drug cues in the nucleus accumbens, orbitofrontal cortex, and amygdala. Withdrawal, but not craving, mediated the effect of drug use severity on the nucleus accumbens' response to drug cues. We did not find similar effects for the neural responses to stimuli unrelated to drugs. Our findings emphasize the central role of withdrawal symptoms as the mediator between the clinical severity of OUD and the brain correlates of sensitization to opioid‐related cues. They suggest that in OUD, baseline withdrawal symptoms signal a high vulnerability to drug cues.
Pregnancy‐specific continuous reference intervals for haematology parameters from an Australian dataset: A step toward dynamic continuous reference intervals
Authors: Markus Corey , Flores Cindy , Saxon Ben , Osborn Kym
Published: October 2020

Background

Pregnancy is a time of dynamic physiological changes occurring as a continuous spectrum. Smoothed centile curves describe the distribution of measurements as a function of age. There has been no application of centile charts in pregnancy for haematological parameters.

Aims

To derive gestational age‐specific centile curves for six haematological parameters and compare these with published reference intervals.

Materials and Methods

An LMS approach was used with haematology results from an obstetric hospital laboratory database. After application of exclusion criteria, smoothed centiles conditional on gestational age were obtained by a two‐step process: (i) finding the best model within four response distributions using Bayesian information criteria, and (ii) selecting the best model among the response distributions based on test‐dataset global deviance.

Results

In total, 11 255 deliveries were extracted from 10 813 patients. There was little difference between distributions, and Box‐Cox power exponential was selected overall. Red cell parameters showed similar trends: values fell until the second trimester and increased thereafter. Leukocyte and neutrophil counts rapidly increased and plateaued around 15 weeks. Platelets exhibited a gradual fall with advancing gestation.

Conclusions

This is the first study to use an LMS approach to model gestational age‐dependent variations in haematological parameters. Proposed haemoglobin reference intervals were lower than those published but reflect our patient population. Serial monitoring of antenatal patients, as is the standard of care, in conjunction with these centile charts, may highlight trends in red cell changes with advancing gestation, allowing early identification of adverse pregnancy outcomes and evolving anaemia.
Efficacy and safety of breast milk eye drops in infants with eye discharge
Authors: Sugimura Tetsu , Seo Tomoko , Terasaki Nami , Ozaki Yukiko , Rikitake Noriko , Okabe Rumiko , Matsushita Masami
Published: October 2020

Aim

Breast milk (BM) contains various protective components, such as immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, lysozyme, oligosaccharides and immune cell subsets. We evaluated the effectiveness of BM eye drops in infants with eye discharge in a randomised controlled study.

Methods

Subjects were breastfed infants aged ≤180 days, with eye discharge. We randomly assigned patients to receive eye drops of BM or sodium azulene sulphonate hydrate 0.02% ophthalmic solution (OS). The patients received drop of BM or OS for 7 days. Improvement score of eye discharge in the groups was compared using a non‐inferiority test.

Results

The number of patients improved eye discharge was 119/155 (76.8%) and 119/157 (75.8%) in BM and OS groups, respectively. There were no significant differences between groups. The improvement score in eye discharge was 1.76 ± 0.91 in the BM group and 1.71 ± 0.96 in the OS group. The BM group was considered non‐inferior to the OS group.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that BM is no less effective than OS in infants with eye discharge aged ≤6 months. The results suggested that the use of breast milk as eye drops could be considered as a first‐line treatment for infants aged ≤6 months with eye discharge.
Body mass index trajectories up to preschool age in a multi‐ethnic population; relations with maternal gestational diabetes, BMI and gestational weight gain
Authors: Toftemo Ingun , Jenum Anne Karen , Sletner Line
Published: October 2020

Aim

Independent effects of gestational diabetes (GDM), maternal prepregnant obesity and gestational weight gain on offspring BMI and obesity are scarcely documented. We examined associations between GDM and children's BMI trajectories from birth to 4‐5 years age, and effects of prepregnant obesity and gestational weight gain not mediated through GDM.

Methods

We included 734 children from a population‐based, multi‐ethnic cohort of women and their offspring followed from early pregnancy. All women were screened for GDM. Using linear mixed models, we explored associations between maternal factors and children's BMI development through seven serial measurements.

Results

At birth and age 4‐5 years, BMI of children exposed to GDM was similar to those not exposed. However, they had slower BMI growth (B = −0.1 BMI units/month (95% CI: −0.17, −0.04)) during first 6 months, and faster BMI growth from 6 months to 4‐5 years. Maternal prepregnant obesity was associated with higher child BMI at birth, and thereafter persistently higher BMI. High gestational weight gain was associated with faster BMI growth from 6 months to 4‐5 years.

Conclusion

Effects of maternal GDM, prepregnant obesity, and gestational weight gain on children's BMI and BMI trajectories from birth to preschool age differed in relation to effect size, timing and direction.
GLP‐1 modulates insulin‐induced relaxation response through β‐arrestin2 regulation in diabetic mice aortas
Authors: Taguchi Kumiko , Kaneko Nozomu , Okudaira Kanami , Matsumoto Takayuki , Kobayashi Tsuneo
Published: October 2020

Aims

Diabetes impairs insulin‐induced endothelium‐dependent relaxation by reducing nitric oxide (NO) production. GLP‐1, an incretin hormone, has been shown to prevent the development of endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we hypothesized that GLP‐1 would improve the impaired insulin‐induced relaxation response in diabetic mice. We also examined the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Using aortic rings from ob/ob mice, an animal model of obesity and type 2 diabetes, and from lean mice, vascular relaxation responses and protein expressions were evaluated using insulin, GLP‐1, and pathway‐specific inhibitors to elucidate the mechanisms of response. In parallel experiments, β‐arrestin2 siRNA‐transfected aortas were treated with GLP‐1 to evaluate its effects on aortic response pathways.

Results

When compared to that of untreated ob/ob aortas, GLP‐1 increased insulin‐induced vasorelaxation and NO production. AMPK inhibition did not alter this vasorelaxation in both GLP‐1‐treated lean and ob/ob aortas, while Akt inhibition reduced vasorelaxation in both groups, and co‐treatment with GLP‐1 and insulin caused Akt/eNOS activation. Additionally, GLP‐1 decreased GRK2 activity and enhanced β‐arrestin2 translocation from the cytosol to membrane in ob/ob aortas. β‐Arrestin2 siRNA decreased insulin‐induced relaxation both in lean aortas and GLP‐1‐treated ob/ob aortas.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that insulin‐induced relaxation is dependent on β‐arrestin2 translocation and Akt activation via GLP‐1‐stimulated GRK2 inactivation in ob/ob aortas. We showed a novel cross‐talk between GLP‐1‐responsive β‐arrestin2 and insulin signalling in diabetic aortas.
Visual Attention in Real‐World Conversation: Gaze Patterns Are Modulated by Communication and Group Size
Authors: Maran Thomas , Furtner Marco , Liegl Simon , Ravet‐Brown Theo , Haraped Lucas , Sachse Pierre
Published: October 2020

Gaze behavior both initiates and maintains conversations, playing a crucial role in real‐world collaboration. Hitherto, most findings on social attention stem from research using pictures of faces in the laboratory, however, attention operates differently in the real world. Thus, we know little of how gaze behavior operates in naturalistic interactions. To bridge this gap, we applied mobile eye‐tracking to investigate the gaze patterns present in naturalistic conversations. Specifically, we examined gaze behavior of participants in a group of two or five, either sitting together in silence, or engaging in a conversation, in which they took turns either listening or speaking to each other. Results show that participants looked more frequently towards others when the group was communicating compared to when remaining silent, and that they looked at others more frequently when listening compared to when speaking. Furthermore, being part of a dyad led to more social attention being afforded during conversation compared to the group situation, regardless of whether subjects were listening or speaking. Meanwhile, when sitting in silence subjects showed less social gazing in a dyad than in a group of five. Our results provide qualitative and quantitative insights into the patterns of visual attention during dynamic naturalistic conversations.
Development of a brief psychological intervention for perinatal depression (BIND‐P)
Authors: Ransing Ramdas , Kukreti Prerna , Raghuveer Pracheth , Mahadevaiah Mahesh , Puri Manju , Pemde Harish , Karkal Ravichandra , Patil Suvarna , Nirgude Abhay , Kataria Dinesh , Sagvekar Shraddha , Deshpande Smita N.
Published: October 2020

Background

Lack of recognition in national programs, poor referral system, and non‐availability of trained human resources are the important barriers for the delivery of perinatal depression (PND) services in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LAMICs). To address this there is an urgent need to develop an integrative and non‐specialist‐based stepped care model. As part of its research thrust on target areas of India's National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), the Indian Council of Medical Research funded a research project on the outcome of PND at four sites. In this article, we describe the development of the primary health care worker‐based stepped care model and brief psychological intervention for PND.

Methods

A literature review focused on various aspects of PND was conducted to develop a model of care and intervention under NMHP. A panel of national and international experts and stakeholders reviewed the literature, opinions, perspectives, and proposal for different models and interventions, using a consensus method and WHO implementation toolkit.

Results

A consensus was reached to develop an ANM (Auxillary nurse midwife)‐based stepped‐care model consisting of the components of care, training, and referral services for PND. Furthermore, a brief psychological intervention (BIND‐P) was developed, which includes the components of the low‐intensity intervention (eg, exercise, sleep hygiene).

Conclusion

The BIND‐P model and intervention provide a practical approach that may facilitate effective identification, treatment, and support women with PND. We are currently evaluating this model across four study sites in India, which may help in the early detection and provision of appropriate and integrative care for PND.
Hospitalization for COVID‐19 in patients treated with selected immunosuppressant and immunomodulating agents, compared to the general population: A Danish cohort study
Authors: Nørgård Bente Mertz , Nielsen Jan , Knudsen Torben , Nielsen Rasmus Gaardskær , Larsen Michael Due , Jølving Line Riis , Kjeldsen Jens
Published: October 2020

Aims

In the Danish population, we examined whether patients treated with thiopurines, methotrexate, systemic corticosteroids, anti‐tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α agents, anti‐interleukin therapeutic agents, selective immunosuppressive agents and cyclosporine/tacrolimus had an increased risk of hospitalization for COVID‐ 19, compared to the background population.

Methods

A nationwide cohort study including all people alive in Denmark on 1 March 2020. Exposed patients constituted those exposed to thiopurines (n =5484), methotrexate (n =17 977), systemic corticosteroids (n =55 868), anti‐TNF‐α agents (n =17 857), anti‐interleukin therapeutic agents (n =3744), selective immunosuppressive agents (n =3026) and cyclosporine/tacrolimus (n =1143) in a period of 12 months prior to 1 March 2020 (estimated time of outbreak in Denmark). We estimated the adjusted risk of hospitalization for COVID‐19 for patients treated with the above‐mentioned categories of medications, compared to the rest of the population.

Results

The adjusted odds ratios of hospitalization in patients treated with corticosteroids and cyclosporine/tacrolimus were 1.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35 to 2.00) and 4.75 (95% CI 1.96 to 11.49), respectively. The risks of hospitalization in patients treated with thiopurines, methotrexate, and anti‐TNF‐α agents, were 1.93 (95% CI 0.91 to 4.08), 0.74 (95% CI 0.43 to 1.28), 1.00 (95% CI 0.52 to 1.94), respectively. The number of outcomes in patients treated with anti‐interleukin therapeutic agents and selective immunosuppressive agents was too small for analysis.

Conclusion

Patients treated with systemic corticosteroids and cyclosporine/tacrolimus had a significantly increased risk of being hospitalized for COVID‐19. Our study does not uncover whether the increased risk is related to the drug itself, the underlying condition for which the patient is treated or other factors.
Alterations in plasma kynurenine pathway metabolites in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder and unaffected offspring of bipolar parents: A preliminary study
Authors: Benevenuto Deborah , Saxena Kirti , Fries Gabriel R. , Valvassori Samira S. , Kahlon Ramandeep , Saxena Johanna , Kurian Sherin , Zeni Cristian P. , Kazimi Iram F. , Scaini Giselli , Soares Jair C. , Quevedo João
Published: October 2020

Background

There has been growing scientific evidence in recent years that bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with alterations in the kynurenine (KYN) pathway. However, many of these studies have been limited by their focus on adults. Thus, this preliminary study investigated differences in the peripheral levels of KYN metabolites in children and adolescents with BD, unaffected offspring of parents with BD, and healthy controls (HCs).

Methods

Plasma samples were collected from 49 youths with BD, 19 bipolar offspring, and 31 HCs. Tryptophan (TRP), KYN, and kynurenic acid (KYNA) were separated using electrospray ionization.

Results

One‐Way ANCOVA after controlling for age, gender, race, BMI‐for‐age, and smoking status showed that BD had lower levels of KYN, while unaffected high‐risk offspring subjects had lower levels of TRP, KYN, and KYNA when compared to HCs. Moreover, we found that KYN, KYN/TRP, and KYNA/KYN levels predicted the severity of depressive symptoms, while the YMRS score was not associated with any metabolite.

Conclusions

In summary, this preliminary study has shown that KYN metabolites are decreased in both affected and unaffected subjects, strengthening the idea that the KYN pathway might underlie the familial risk of BD shown by high‐risk offspring individuals. However, longitudinal studies are needed to examine whether the alterations observed in this study represent early markers of risk for later developing BD.
Molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying the adaptability of polyploid plants
Authors: Scarrow Margaret , Wang Yiling , Sun Genlou
Published: October 2020

Polyploidization influences the genetic composition and gene expression of an organism. This multi‐level genetic change allows the formation of new regulatory pathways leading to increased adaptability. Although both forms of polyploidization provide advantages, autopolyploids were long thought to have little impact on plant divergence compared to allopolyploids due to their formation through genome duplication only, rather than in combination with hybridization. Recent advances have begun to clarify the molecular regulatory mechanisms such as microRNAs, alternative splicing, RNA‐binding proteins, histone modifications, chromatin remodelling, DNA methylation, and N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation underlying the evolutionary success of polyploids. Such research is expanding our understanding of the evolutionary adaptability of polyploids and the regulatory pathways that allow adaptive plasticity in a variety of plant species. Herein we review the roles of individual molecular regulatory mechanisms and their potential synergistic pathways underlying plant evolution and adaptation. Notably, increasing interest in m6A methylation has provided a new component in potential mechanistic coordination that is still predominantly unexplored. Future research should attempt to identify and functionally characterize the evolutionary impact of both individual and synergistic pathways in polyploid plant species.