bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Women's rural businesses: for economic viability or gender equality? – a database study from the Swedish context
Authors: Tillmar Malin , Sköld Birgitta , Ahl Helene , Berglund Karin , Pettersson Katarina
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and discuss to what extent and why women's entrepreneurship contributes to rural economic viability and gender equality in an advanced welfare state.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use detailed register data to explore men's and women's rural businesses in the most common industries for rural women entrepreneurs in the Swedish welfare state. Based on a literature review, the authors develop hypotheses and analyse how family, business and industry factors influence earnings.

Findings

Women's rural entrepreneurship is important for rural viability, as women's businesses provide a wide range of services necessary for life in rural areas. Although women's rural businesses are not significantly smaller than those of men, women's income is lower and more sensitive to business and industry variables. Marriage has positive effects for the earnings of men but negative effects for the earnings of women. The authors argue that the results are contingent on the gendering of entrepreneurship and industries, as well as on the local rural gender contracts. For these reasons, the importance of women entrepreneurs for rural viability is not reflected in their own incomes. Hence, women's rural entrepreneurship does not result in (economic) gender equality.

Originality/value

Entrepreneurship scholars rarely explore women's rural entrepreneurship, and particularly not in the Global North or Western welfare states. Therefore, this empirical study from Sweden provides novel information on how the gender order on the business, industry and family levels influences the income of men and women entrepreneurs differently.
A systematic literature review on frauds in banking sector
Authors: Mangala Deepa , Soni Lalita
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Banking industry peculiarly has become soft target for several pernicious deceptive and fraudulent activities. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the literature published in past 20 years on bank frauds and present a holistic view on causes and consequences of bank frauds and measures to curtail this menace. Towards the end the paper provides avenues for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review approach is used in this study and articles are selected via pre-set inclusion criteria. The literature is mapped on the basis of databases, year of publication, country of study and journal of publication. This paper is based on 70 selected articles published in four prominent databases between 2000 and 2021.

Findings

This study reveals that frauds in banking industry have become a matter of grave concern for almost all countries across the globe, causing significant financial and non-financial damages to banks, customers, other stakeholders and economy. Numerous factors such as pressure and opportunity are responsible for fraud occurrence. This study further evinced that banking institutions inevitably should have a robust fraud risk management in place to prevent, detect and respond to defalcation.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the only paper among 70 selected articles which systematically reviews the literature published in past 20 years and provides a comprehensive view on all aspects related to bank frauds.
From corporate entrepreneurship to turnover intention: a view from humane entrepreneurship
Authors: Nam Jungmin , Kim Do Hui , Kang Jae
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Based on the humane entrepreneurship perspective, this study examines the mediating relationship of organizational trust (OT) between corporate entrepreneurship (CE) and turnover intention (TI). In addition, it tests the moderating role of top talent management (TTM) between corporate entrepreneurship and OT.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a multi-level research method to provide a conceptually comprehensive understanding of how CE works in an organization by testing the relationship between organizational practices and employees' outcomes.

Findings

This study found the mediating role of OT between cooperate entrepreneurship and employee TI. The authors also found the moderating role of TTM between CE and OT.

Originality/value

In this study, it is meaningful that OT is set as a mediating variable to identify the relationship between CE and workers' attitudes (TI). Although previous studies have shown a positive correlation between CE and TI, there was a lack of specific research on the indirect process by which CE affects workers' attitudes. This study looked more closely at the impact of CE on workers' attitudes using a multiple quasi-analysis.
Riding on the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in re-thinking organizational design: a contingency-based approach
Authors: Chong Josephine , Duan Sophia Xiaoxia
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to explore what organizational structural designs and strategies that organizations can seek to adopt so as to enable them to respond effectively to the post-COVID-19 environment conditions. It adopts the contingency theory, which asserts that organizational survival is dependent on the fit between organizational structures and contingencies. Furthermore, the paper applies Mileset al. (1978) typology of business strategy to study four strategic orientations that organizations can adopt in achieving better organizational performances.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework of six strategic orientation archetypes is proposed that can support organizations in re-thinking their organizational structural designs for building up and strengthening resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors explore the influence of transactional leadership and transformational leadership and organizational culture on the adoption of strategic orientation. In addition, the authors developed six propositions.

Findings

Organizations that have a prospector orientation tend to focus on creativity and innovation. Organizations that have a defender orientation tend to focus on reducing manufacturing and distribution costs and maintaining or improving product quality. Analyzers tend to be second-movers after prospectors making slower and fewer changes to their products.

Originality/value

To the authors’ best understanding, this study is one of the first to explore the interrelationship between organizational structures, situational factors and strategic orientation.
Application of telemetry and stable isotope analyses to inform the resource ecology and management of a marine fish
Authors: Brownscombe Jacob W. , Shipley Oliver N. , Griffin Lucas P. , Morley Danielle , Acosta Alejandro , Adams Aaron J. , Boucek Ross , Danylchuk Andy J. , Cooke Steven J. , Power Michael
Published: January 2022

Animal movement and resource use are essential considerations for effective environmental management, but they are challenging to quantify in expansive natural ecosystems such as oceans.

We used a novel combination of fish tracking with expansive acoustic telemetry networks, stable isotope analysis and integrated modelling techniques to characterize the spatial and trophic ecology of a marine fish species, permit Trachinotus falcatus, and to address specific resource management needs in the Florida Keys.

Tracking‐based movement patterns indicated that permit remained primarily within the designated fisheries management unit (92% of individuals), but they moved frequently among distinct habitat types and fisheries. Movement metrics from 109 individuals were integrated into Bayesian isotope mixing models, revealing variable reliance on seagrass‐ versus offshore/pelagic‐based energy channels amongst individuals. Variance was driven mainly by fish habitat use and home range size (km2).

A telemetry‐based regional isoscape, informed by individual‐level estimates of resource use (% seagrass reliance; median = 70%, 29%–100% range), illustrated connectivity among habitats and fisheries. Specifically, seagrass flats were highly connected with the Florida reef tract, with frequent movements between these habitat types and a high reliance on seagrass‐based prey. There was a distinction between these fish and those occupying artificial reefs, with the latter showing high use of pelagic/offshore (i.e. planktonic) energy channels.

Synthesis and applications. This study used a novel combination of telemetry, stable isotope analysis and integrated modelling techniques to identify two distinct ecotypes of a nearshore fish species, permit, in the Florida Keys. Of the two ecotypes, nearshore Florida Keys permit support multiple valuable fisheries; for these fish management should prioritize conservation of seagrass flats as a key permit food source, as well as fisheries protection measures at spawning sites on the Florida reef tract. This study highlights the capacity for integrated telemetry‐isotope models to provide key insights into animal ecology that has direct implications for applied environmental management.
Enhanced rapid review of the applicability of ultrasound in the assessment of sucking, swallowing and laryngeal function in the paediatric population
Authors: Viviers Mari , Edwards Louise , Asir Maya , Hibberd Judi , Rowe Rebecca , Phillips Sophie , Thomas Victoria , Keesing Melissa , Sugar Analou , Allen Jodi
Published: January 2022

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has renewed interest in the use of ultrasound (US) amongst dysphagia‐trained clinicians working with infants and children. US is a portable, minimally intrusive tool which carries reduced risk of aerosol‐generation provoked by other instrumental swallowing assessment tools such as fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). For this reason, US could be a valuable addition to the dysphagia assessment toolkit. A recently published rapid review of US evidence for the assessment of swallowing and laryngeal function in the adult population provided a framework for this neonatal and paediatric review.

Aims

This enhanced rapid review aimed to establish the applicability of US as an instrumental assessment tool for sucking, swallowing and laryngeal function in the neonatal and paediatric populations.

Methods & Procedures

A rapid review of six electronic databases was conducted to identify articles using US to assess sucking, swallowing or laryngeal function in the selected populations, compared with varied reference tests. Abstract screening was completed according to pre‐defined inclusion/exclusion criteria with 10% of articles assessed by a second screener. Data was extracted from the included studies using a pre‐developed form. A modified QUADAS‐2 tool was used to assess study quality. Results from the included studies were summarised and grouped into sucking, swallowing and laryngeal function data.

Outcomes & Results

Twelve studies using US in the assessment of swallowing and/or laryngeal function met inclusion criteria. No studies using US for assessment of sucking met the inclusion criteria. All were peer‐reviewed, primary studies across a range of clinical populations and with a wide geographical spread. Five studies had an overall low risk of bias. Seven studies had at least one domain where risk of bias was judged as high. All studies had high applicability. The two studies assessing swallowing differed in terms of aims and use of US. The studies assessing laryngeal function predominately investigated vocal fold movement and laryngeal pathology. Sensitivity and specificity data were provided or calculated from raw data for nine of the laryngeal function studies (respective ranges of 75%–100% and 80%–100%).

Conclusions & Implications

Emerging evidence exists to support the use of US as adjunct to clinical assessment of swallowing and laryngeal function in the neonatal and paediatric population. A paucity of evidence to support use of US in the assessment of sucking exists. Further research is needed to establish evidence‐based assessment and analysis protocols as well as development of paediatric data.
Two Ways of Looking at a Printed Book
Authors: Goh Benjamin
Published: January 2022

This article revisits a recent debate in copyright scholarship surrounding the dominant utilitarian‐proprietary approach to copyright and its limits as identified by three readers of Immanuel Kant's 1785 essay, ‘On the Wrongfulness of Reprinting’. It is argued that although these scholars have demonstrated the power of Kant's essay and its concept of the book as communicative act to reshape our understanding of authorship and copyright, they have also underestimated the material dimension of the text that affords the production of its meaning. A more adequate understanding of Kant's text and how it could illuminate the present digital transformation of authorship and copyright would require that we attend closely to its medial‐materialities.
Effects of aromatherapy massage on the severity of restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Amrollahi Akram , Rafiei Amirreza , Bahri Ahdie , Nasiriani Khadijeh
Published: January 2022

Background

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is one of the most common problems among hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study determined the effect of aromatherapy massage with lavender oil on the severity of RLS in HD patients.

Methods

This randomized clinical trial was performed on 42 HD patient that were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Patients in the intervention group underwent 4 weeks of effleurage massage with lavender oil. The information was collected using RLS Questionnaire. Data analysis were done performed using SPSS16.

Results

Based on the findings, the mean score of the severity of RLS showed a significant difference between the groups after the intervention (p = 0.0001). In addition, there was a significant difference between the scores of RLS in the intervention group before and after intervention (p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

The use of lavender oil during massage therapy can serve as a complementary treatment along with other care to alleviate the symptoms of RLS.
Effects of family history of substance use disorder on reward processing in adolescents with and without attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Paraskevopoulou Maria , van Rooij Daan , Schene Aart H. , Batalla Albert , Chauvin Roselyne J. , Buitelaar Jan K. , Schellekens Arnt F. A.
Published: January 2022

Patients with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often develop early onset substance use disorder (SUD) and show poor treatment outcomes. Both disorders show similar reward‐processing alterations, but it is unclear whether these are associated with familial vulnerability to SUD. Our aim was to investigate effects of family history of SUD (FH) on reward processing in individuals with and without ADHD, without substance misuse. Behavioural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from a modified monetary incentive delay task were compared between participants with and without FH (FH positive [FH+]: n = 76 and FH negative [FH−]: n = 69; 76 with ADHD, aged 16.74 ± 3.14, 82 males), while accounting for continuous ADHD scores. The main analysis showed distinct positive association between ADHD scores and reaction times during neutral versus reward condition. ADHD scores were also positively associated with anticipatory responses of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, independent of FH. There were no main FH effects on brain activation. Yet, FH+ participants showed distinct neural alterations in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), dependent on ADHD. This was driven by positive association between ADHD scores and VLPFC activation during reward outcome, only in FH+. Sensitivity analysis with stricter SUD index showed hyperactivation of anterior cingulate cortex for FH+, independent of ADHD, during reward anticipation. There were no FH or ADHD effects on activation of ventral striatum in any analysis. Findings suggest both FH and ADHD effects in circuits of reward and attention/memory during reward processing. Future studies should examine whether these relate to early substance use initiation in ADHD and explore the need for adjusted SUD prevention strategies.
Revision of the New Zealand ladybird genus Adoxellus Weise, 1895 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Authors: Szawaryn Karol , Czerwiński Tomasz , Tomaszewska Wioletta
Published: January 2022

Species of the endemic New Zealand ladybird genus Adoxellus Weise, 1895 are revised. Male and female genitalia are illustrated for the first time, a key to species, images of larva and pupa and distribution map are provided. A lectotype for Scymnus flavihirtus Broun, 1880 and a neotype for Scymnus picinus Broun, 1880 are designated.
Measuring Digital Financial Inclusion in Emerging Market and Developing Economies: A New Index
Authors: Khera Purva , Ng Stephanie , Ogawa Sumiko , Sahay Ratna
Published: January 2022

Adoption of technology in the financial services industry has been accelerating in recent years. To assess its contribution to financial inclusion, we develop a novel digital financial inclusion index covering 52 emerging market and developing economies. We find that (i) the adoption of digital financial services has been a key driver of financial inclusion; and (ii) there is wide variation across countries and regions, with the greatest progress recorded in Africa and Asia. Given the accelerated adoption of digital payments during the COVID‐19 pandemic, policies are needed to close the digital divide to ensure continued progress in financial inclusion and safeguard trust in financial services.
Will female managers support gender equality? The study of “Queen Bee” syndrome in China
Authors: Xiong Ailun , Tao Jiajia , Li Hongyi , Westlund Hans
Published: January 2022

This research aimed to study queen bee syndrome in China. Results from a nationwide survey (Chinese General Social Survey) revealed that female managers are less likely to defend the existing gender hierarchy. We also found that female managers are analogous to men in many other aspects, such as hobbies and values. Female managers adopt a mixed strategy to deal with social identity threats. Individual characteristics, such as educational attainments and the speed of career development, are significant predictors of queen bee traits. The results refute the claim that queen bees syndrome is common in the workplace. It is also important to note that different dimensions of queen bee syndrome are not always interrelated.
Experimental assessment of a novel artificial anal sphincter with shape memory alloy
Authors: Wang Minghui , Liu Yunlong , Nong Qingjun , Yu Hongliu
Published: January 2022

Background

Fecal incontinence caused by sphincter dysfunction is a difficult medical problem that has not been fully resolved. The artificial anal sphincter provides a new therapeutic strategy for fecal incontinence. In order to solve the biomechanical compatibility problem between the artificial anal sphincter and intestinal tissue in clinical application, a design of constant force artificial anal sphincter was assessed in this paper.

Methods

The constant force properties and safety of this novel device were evaluated by an experiment conducted in pig intestines with various thicknesses. The constant force characteristic of the device was evaluated by the intestinal pressure of the pig intestine. The safety of the device was evaluated by the surface contact stress of the pig intestine clamped by an artificial anal sphincter.

Results

The average measured value of the intestinal pressure of the pig intestines with three thicknesses is about 55.3 mm Hg, the maximum pressure difference is 1 mm Hg, and the fluctuation error of constant clamping load is about 1.8%. The constant clamping load fluctuation error of the four measuring points of the pig intestines with three thicknesses is less than 2%. Even if the thickness of the pig intestines is changed, the measured contact stress value is lower than 10 kPa, which may avoid bit damage for the intestinal tissue.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that the novel artificial sphincter has constant force properties and safety, which prevent ischemic necrosis of soft tissues caused by excessive pressure. Therefore, this study raises the possibility of the long‐term efficacy of artificial anal sphincter.
One SMS a day keeps the stress away? A just‐in‐time planning intervention to reduce occupational stress among apprentices
Authors: Schenkel Konstantin , Haug Severin , Castro Raquel Paz , Lüscher Janina , Scholz Urte , Schaub Michael P. , Radtke Theda
Published: January 2022

Background: Occupational stress is one of the main sources of stress in apprentices with physical and psychological health consequences. Just‐in‐time planning interventions (JITPIs) are one opportunity to deliver intervention components at the right times and locations to optimally support apprentices in stressful situations. The aim of this study was to test the proximal effect of a mobile phone‐delivered JITPI to reduce occupational stress in 386 apprentices within a planning intervention.

Methods: An AB/BA crossover design in which participants were randomly allocated to (A) the planning intervention or (B) the assessment only condition was implemented.

Results: The analyses of the study “ready4life”, multilevel modeling, revealed no significant effect of the planning intervention on occupational stress reduction.

Conclusions: Possible reasons for the missing effect might be the low stress level of participants or the type of the intervention delivery. Since apprenticeships in Switzerland differ considerably, future studies should enable more adapted interventions for the apprentices and consider individual circumstances of stress. Further, the intervention should focus on apprentices with high occupational stress levels or a high‐risk of stress. Studies should investigate exactly when and why a person needs support regarding her/his occupational stress. Therefore, objective measurements of stress could be helpful.
Pharmacogenomic alerts: Developing guidance for use by healthcare professionals
Authors: Carter John‐Paul L. , Critchlow James , Jackson Sarah , Sanghvi Sonali , Feger Helene , Chaudhry Afzal , Foley Lorraine , Sofat Reecha
Published: January 2022

Aims

For diseases with a genetic cause, genomics can deliver improved diagnostics and facilitate access to targeted treatments. Drug pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics are often dependent on genetic variation underlying these processes. As pharmacogenomics comes of age, it may be the first way in which genomics is utilised at a population level. Still required is guidance and standards of how genomic information can be communicated within the health record, and how clinicians should be alerted to variation impacting the use of medicines.

Methods

The Professional Record Standards Body commissioned by NHS England developed guidance on using pharmacogenomics information in clinical practice. We conducted research with those implementing pharmacogenomics in England and internationally to produce guidance and recommendations for a systems‐based approach.

Results

A consensus viewpoint is that systems need to be in place to ensure the safe provision of pharmacogenomics information that is curated, actionable and up‐to‐date. Standards should be established with respect to notification and information exchange, which could impact new or existing prescribing and these must be in keeping with routine practice. Alerting systems should contribute to safer practices.

Conclusion

Ensuring pharmacogenetics information is available to make safer use of medicines will require a major effort, of which this guidance is a beginning. Standards are required to ensure useful genomic information within the health record can be communicated to clinicians in the right format and at the right times to be actioned successfully. A multidisciplinary group of stakeholders must be engaged in developing pharmacogenomic standards to support the most appropriate prescribing.
The effect of systemic and topical ophthalmic medications on choroidal thickness: A review
Authors: Yeung Shanna C. , Park Jamie Y. , Park Daniel , You Yuyi , Yan Peng
Published: January 2022

The choroid plays an important role in various ocular pathologies and retinal blood supply. There is a knowledge gap on how the choroid is affected by systemic and topical medications. Systemic medications that affect microvasculature elsewhere in the body can also affect the microvasculature of the choroid. This review summarizes current knowledge on associations between systemic and topical medications and changes in choroidal thickness (CT). This review included 71 studies on mydriatics/cycloplegics, intraocular pressure (IOP)‐lowering therapies, antihypertensives, adrenergic antagonists, statins, corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine, isotretinoin, hormonal contraceptives, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, antipsychotics, antineoplastic agents, ethanol, caffeine and nicotine. IOP‐lowering therapies, atropine eye drops, and systemic administration of β blockers and ethanol are associated with a significant increase in CT. Cyclopentolate and phenylephrine are associated with a CT reduction. Systemic medications that decrease CT include caffeine and nicotine. Tropicamide, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, statins, corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine and hormonal contraceptives have mixed findings. CT increase associated with IOP‐lowering therapies is possibly achieved by enhancing aqueous humour flow to the choroid thus elevating choroidal blood flow and thickness. CT changes appear to be independent from systemic blood pressure changes, suggesting that a significant association with an antihypertensive could be due to an idiosyncratic drug property. Statins and candesartan decrease macrophage accumulation and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression in the choroid. The choroid and its response to various disease processes and systemic medication can be further investigated to improve patient care, particularly in patients with choroid and retina pathologies.
Distinguishing between depression in bipolar disorder and unipolar depression using magnetic resonance imaging: a systematic review
Authors: Siegel‐Ramsay Jennifer E. , Bertocci Michele A. , Wu Bryan , Phillips Mary L. , Strakowski Stephen M. , Almeida Jorge R. C.
Published: January 2022

Objectives

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies comparing bipolar and unipolar depression characterize pathophysiological differences between these conditions. However, it is difficult to interpret the current literature due to differences in MRI modalities, analysis methods, and study designs.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of publications using MRI to compare individuals with bipolar and unipolar depression. We grouped studies according to MRI modality and task design. Within the discussion, we critically evaluated and summarized the functional MRI research and then further complemented these findings by reviewing the structural MRI literature.

Results

We identified 88 MRI publications comparing participants with bipolar depression and unipolar depressive disorder. Compared to individuals with unipolar depression, participants with bipolar disorder exhibited heightened function, increased within network connectivity, and reduced grey matter volume in salience and central executive network brain regions. Group differences in default mode network function were less consistent but more closely associated with depressive symptoms in participants with unipolar depression but distractibility in bipolar depression.

Conclusions

When comparing mood disorder groups, the neuroimaging evidence suggests that individuals with bipolar disorder are more influenced by emotional and sensory processing when responding to their environment. In contrast, depressive symptoms and neurofunctional response to emotional stimuli were more closely associated with reduced central executive function and less adaptive cognitive control of emotionally oriented brain regions in unipolar depression. Researchers now need to replicate and refine network‐level trends in these heterogeneous mood disorders and further characterize MRI markers associated with early disease onset, progression, and recovery.
Late‐onset hearing loss case associated with a heterozygous truncating variant of DIAPH1
Authors: Kim Bong Jik , Miyoshi Takushi , Chaudhry Taimur , Friedman Thomas B. , Choi Byung Yoon , Ueyama Takehiko
Published: January 2022

Diaphanous‐related formin 1 (DIAPH1) is a formin homology F‐actin elongating protein encoded by DIAPH1. Homozygous recessive variants resulting in the loss of DIAPH1 function cause seizures, cortical blindness, and microcephaly syndrome (SCBMS), but hearing loss has not been reported. In contrast, dominant variants of human DIAPH1 are associated with DFNA1 non‐syndromic sensorineural hearing loss. The deafness phenotype is due partly to abnormal F‐actin elongation activity caused by disruption of the DIAPH1 autoinhibitory mechanism. We report an elderly female heterozygous for the c.3145C>T: p.R1049X variant who showed late‐onset sensorineural hearing loss in her fifth decade. p.R1049X lacks F‐actin elongation activity because this variant truncates one‐third of the FH2 domain, which is vital for DIAPH1 dimerization and processive F‐actin elongation activity. Concordantly, no increase of F‐actin or processive F‐actin elongation activity was observed after overexpression of p.R1049X DIAPH1 in HeLa cells or by single‐molecule microscopy using Xenopus XTC cells. However, overexpression of the p.R1049X variant impairs formation of cell–cell junctions and mitosis. We speculate that late‐onset hearing loss is a long‐term consequence of heterozygosity for the recessive p.R1049X variant, a phenotype that may have been overlooked among carriers of other recessive alleles of DIAPH1.
Risk assessment of venous thromboembolism and bleeding in COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Wang Lan , Zhao Lan , Li Feng , Liu Ji , Zhang Li , Li Qiuhong , Gu Jin , Liang Shuo , Zhao Qinhua , Liu Jinmin , Xu Jin‐fu
Published: January 2022

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a newly recognized illness that has spread rapidly all over the world. More and more reports highlight the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in COVID‐19. Our study aims to identify in‐hospital VTE risk and bleeding risk in COVID‐19 patients.

Methods

We retrospectively studied 138 consecutively enrolled patients with COVID‐19 and identified in‐hospital VTE and bleeding risk by Padua Prediction Score and Improve bleed risk assessment model. The clinical data and features were analyzed in VTE patients.

Results

Our findings identified that 23 (16.7%) patients with COVID‐19 were at high risk for VTE according to Padua prediction score and 9 (6.5%) patients were at high risk of bleeding for VTE prophylaxis according to Improve prediction score. Fifteen critically ill patients faced double high risk from thrombosis (Padua score more than 4 points in all 15 [100%] patients) and hemorrhage (Improve score more than 7 points in 9 [60.0%] patients). Thrombotic events were identified in four patients (2.9%) of all COVID‐19 patients. All of them were diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis by ultrasound 3 to 18 days after admission. Three (75.0%) were critically ill patients, which means that the incidence of VTE among critically ill patients was 20%. One major hemorrhage happened in critically ill patients during VTE treatment.

Conclusion

Critically ill patients with COVID‐19 suffered both a high risk of thrombosis and bleeding risks. More effective VTE prevention strategies based on an individual assessment of bleeding risks were necessary for critically ill patients with COVID‐19.
Prevalence of tobacco smoking and its socioeconomic determinants
Authors: Mahdaviazad Hamideh , Foroutan Reza , Masoompour Seyed Masoom
Published: January 2022

Introduction

The epidemic tobacco use is a public health concern worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of tobacco use and its socioeconomic determinants in the city of Shiraz, Iran.

Methods

In total, 5873 adults aged 20 and older were included in this study from the city of Shiraz, Iran, from June to October 2015. The sampling was conducted using the stratified random sampling method. Active cigarette, hookah, and second‐hand smokers were labeled as tobacco users in this study. Past smokers and non‐smokers were labeled as non‐tobacco users. The participants' socioeconomic status (SES) was determined based on their self‐reported level of education, occupation, income, and residence.

Results

In this study, 35.4% of the participants were tobacco users. The prevalence of active cigarette, active hookah, dual‐users, and secondhand smokers was 13.3%, 8.3%, 0.4%, and 13.4%, respectively. The prevalence of tobacco use was highest among individuals with primary education level (40.9%), manual jobs (46.4%), lowest income level (38.1%), and those living in the suburban areas (36.4%). In multivariate analysis, the most socioeconomic factors related to tobacco usage were lack of academic education, manual job, and low‐income level.

Conclusions

Tobacco control efforts should be more focused on vulnerable groups of cigarette and hookah users in the southwest of Iran. Moreover, SES and reduction of health‐related disparities and inequality should be considered a crucial concern in this regard.
Long‐term changes in flowering synchrony reflect climatic changes across an elevational gradient
Authors: Fisogni Alessandro , de Manincor Natasha , Bertelsen C. David , Rafferty Nicole E.
Published: January 2022

Synchrony defines an organism's overlap with potential resources and mates, essential for survival and reproduction. Flowering synchrony influences gene flow within species and patterns of interaction among plants and with other trophic levels, including pollinators. Climate‐change driven shifts in plant phenology may disrupt plant–plant and plant–pollinator interactions, resulting in reshuffling of communities and altered ecosystem processes. We present a unique long‐term metacommunity‐wide study relating changes in flowering synchrony within and among species along an elevational gradient to changes in local climatic conditions. We apply a circular statistical method that estimates flowering phenology overlap between entire flowering distributions, overcoming limitations and biases of single indicators such as first and last flowering dates. We analyzed more than 300 000 flowering overlap estimates between 217 species in five plant communities across a 1267 m gradient over four decades (1984–2019) in the southwestern USA. We show that co‐flowering synchrony significantly decreased in all plant communities, with a maximum of 28.1% of synchrony lost at the lowest elevations. Decreased synchrony was significantly negatively correlated with increasing temperatures recorded across the gradient. Reduced precipitation had locally‐dependent effects and, in combination with warmer temperatures, accelerated the decrease in synchrony, especially at the lowest elevations. Flowering synchrony within plant species occurring in multiple communities increased between most community pairs, with a maximum increase of 30.5%, and at accelerated rates in recent years. The exception, likely associated with differences in topography, was a 5.6% decrease in synchrony between the two highest‐elevation communities. Overall, increased synchrony within species occurring at multiple elevations indicates homogenization of flowering phenology across the gradient. These results show significant reshaping of flowering synchrony within and between plant communities in response to changing climate. Because plant phenology influences many ecological processes, such fundamental changes may have far‐reaching and negative effects on ecosystem stability.
Effect of remote limb ischemic post‐conditioning on the expression of miR‐21‐5p/PirB in the brain of rats with focal cerebral ischemia
Authors: Jiao Yiming , Wang Jinlan , Xue Mengzhou
Published: January 2022

Cerebral ischemia causes great damage to ischemic brain regions. Remote limb post‐conditioning (RLIPostC) has neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia. Paired immunoglobulin receptor B (PirB) has been confirmed to affect the cerebral ischemia injury. Therefore, this study investigated the mechanism of RLIPostC on cerebral ischemia injury. The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established in rats, followed by RLIPostC (by blocking the blood flow in the distal limb for 10 min after MCAO, and restored for 10 min, three cycles), or in vivo lentivirus infection of miR‐21‐5p agomir, sh‐PirB and oe‐PirB. The locomotor abilities were assessed using the foot fault test and balance beam walking test at 48 h, 7 and 21 days after operation, and neurological function was measured on day 21. The cerebral infarct area, Nissl bodies and the pathology of brain tissues were examined using histological staining, followed by the assessment of miR‐21‐5p and PirB levels and the binding relationship between miR‐21‐5p and PirB. miR‐21‐5p was poorly expressed in MCAO rats. Both RLIPostC and overexpression of miR‐21‐5p reduced motor dysfunction, neurological function score, cerebral infarction area and brain edema; increased Nissl bodies in MCAO rats and thus alleviated the brain damage caused by cerebral ischemia. RLIPostC promoted miR‐21‐5p expression. PirB was highly expressed in cerebral ischemia, and miR‐21‐5p targeted PirB. Overall, RLIPostC promotes miR‐21‐5p expression and then inhibits PirB to alleviate cerebral ischemia injury, which provides theoretical basis for basic research on motor dysfunction and neuron injury after cerebral ischemia and the development of neuroscience.
Long‐lasting housing environment manipulation and acute loss of environmental enrichment impact BALB/c mice behaviour in multiple functional domains
Authors: Sukegawa Momoe , Yoshihara Toru , Hou Shengqun , Asano Masahide , Hannan Anthony J. , Wang Dan Ohtan
Published: January 2022

Understanding environmental influences on individuals' behaviour is challenging. Here we have investigated the housing impact of 9 weeks of enriched environment (EE) and social isolation (SI) and the impact of abrupt deprivation of EE (enrichment removal: ER) on BALB/c mice. Compared with the widely used C57BL/6 strain in research, BALB/c synthesises serotonin less efficiently due to a genetic variation and thus may potentially represent human populations at higher risk of stress‐related disorders. We assessed the effects of EE and SI by conducting a behavioural test battery and the effects of acute ER by monitoring homecage activities and social behaviour. We found that EE and SI impact BALB/c's physiological states and behavioural performances from lower to higher cognitive processes: increased body weight, increased rectal temperature, altered performance in motor and sensory tasks, the activity level in a novel environment and altered performance in tests of anxiety‐like behaviour, stress‐coping strategies and learning and memory. Furthermore, acute ER triggered stress/frustration‐like behaviour in BALB/c, with increased aggression, increased social distancing and disrupted daily/nightly activities. Our results demonstrate that long‐lasting housing manipulation such as EE and SI, impact behaviour via multilayered processes over a wide range of functional domains, and unforeseen change to a negative environment, ER, is a major stressor that causes behavioural and psychological consequences through environment–gene interactions, a model of direct relevance to human health.
Investigating the Split‐Attention Effect in Computer‐Based Assessment: Spatial Integration and Interactive Signaling Approaches
Authors: Moon Jung Aa , Lindner Marlit Annalena , Arslan Burcu , Keehner Madeleine
Published: January 2022

Many test items use both an image and text, but present them in a spatially separate manner. This format could potentially cause a split‐attention effect in which the test taker's cognitive load is increased by having to split attention between the image and text, while mentally integrating the two sources of information. We investigated the split‐attention effect in computer‐based assessment by implementing: (a) spatial integration which embeds text information into a diagram as labels, and (b) interactive signaling which highlights a segment of a diagram when test takers hover their mouse over an answer option that refers to the relevant segment. Adult participants solved computer‐based geometry items in which spatial integration was used as a within‐subject variable and interactive signaling was used as a between‐subject variable. The main findings showed that, compared with the nonintegrated and nonsignaled items, (a) spatial integration significantly increased item‐solving efficiency indicated by reduced time on task, especially for test takers who had higher prior knowledge, and (b) interactive signaling increased item‐solving efficiency only in the spatially integrated items. The current findings suggest that applying multimedia design principles for reducing split‐attention to test item design could potentially reduce test takers’ construct‐irrelevant cognitive load in computer‐based assessment.
Multiple cerebral cavernous malformations: Clinical course of confirmed, assumed and non‐familial disease
Authors: Santos Alejandro N. , Rauschenbach Laurèl , Saban Dino , Chen Bixia , Darkwah Oppong Marvin , Herten Annika , Gull Hanah Hadice , Rieß Christoph , Deuschl Cornelius , Schmidt Börge , Jabbarli Ramazan , Wrede Karsten H. , Zhu Yuan , Frank Benedikt , Sure Ulrich , Dammann Philipp
Published: January 2022

Background and Purpose

Analyze and compare the natural course of confirmed familial cerebral cavernous malformation (FCCM), assumed FCCM and non‐familial multiple cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) disease over a 5‐year period.

Methods

Our institutional database was screened for patients with CCM admitted between 2003 and 2020. Patients with complete magnetic resonance imaging dataset, evidence of multiple CCM, clinical baseline characteristics, and follow‐up examination were included. Patients were separated into confirmed familial cases, assumed familial cases or non‐familial multiple cavernous malformations. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the cumulative 5‐year risk for hemorrhage and recurrent hemorrhage.

Results

A total of 238 patients with multiple CCM were analyzed; 90 individuals had a confirmed FCCM disease, 115 an assumed FCCM, and 33 were allocated to the non‐FCCM group. Univariate Cox regression analysis identified intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) as mode of presentation (p = 0.001) as a predictor for occurrence of recurrent hemorrhage during the 5‐year follow‐up (FU). The cumulative 5‐year risk of (re)bleeding was 21.6% for the entire cohort, 30.7% for patients with ICH at diagnosis, 22.1% for those patients with a confirmed diagnosis of FCCM, 23.5% for those with an assumed FCCM, and 21% for the non‐FCCM cases.

Conclusions

FCCM patients with ICH at diagnosis are prone to develop rebleeding. During untreated 5‐year FU, FCCM patients and patients with sporadic multiple CCM reveal an almost equal susceptibility for (re)hemorrhage. Moreover, confirmed, assumed and non‐FCCM patients showed an equal cumulative 5‐year risk of symptomatic ICH. The probability of hemorrhage tends to increase over time, particularly in cases with ICH at presentation.
Bank lending networks and the propagation of natural disasters
Authors: Ivanov Ivan T. , Macchiavelli Marco , Santos João A. C.
Published: January 2022

We study how syndicated lending networks propagate natural disasters. Natural disasters lead to an increase in corporate credit demand in affected regions. Banks meet the increase in credit demand in part by reducing credit to distant regions, unaffected by disasters. Capital constraints play a key role in this effect as lower‐capital banks propagate disasters to unaffected regions to a greater extent. While shadow banks offset the reduction in bank credit supply on term loan syndicates, they do not offset the loss in credit line financing. As a result, corporate credit in unaffected regions falls by approximately 3%.
Unraveling a century of global change impacts on winter bird distributions in the eastern United States
Authors: Saunders Sarah P. , Meehan Timothy D. , Michel Nicole L. , Bateman Brooke L. , DeLuca William , Deppe Jill L. , Grand Joanna , LeBaron Geoffrey S. , Taylor Lotem , Westerkam Henrik , Wu Joanna X. , Wilsey Chad B.
Published: January 2022

One of the most pressing questions in ecology and conservation centers on disentangling the relative impacts of concurrent global change drivers, climate and land‐use/land‐cover (LULC), on biodiversity. Yet studies that evaluate the effects of both drivers on species’ winter distributions remain scarce, hampering our ability to develop full‐annual‐cycle conservation strategies. Additionally, understanding how groups of species differentially respond to climate versus LULC change is vital for efforts to enhance bird community resilience to future environmental change. We analyzed long‐term changes in winter occurrence of 89 species across nine bird groups over a 90‐year period within the eastern United States using Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) data. We estimated variation in occurrence probability of each group as a function of spatial and temporal variation in winter climate (minimum temperature, cumulative precipitation) and LULC (proportion of group‐specific and anthropogenic habitats within CBC circle). We reveal that spatial variation in bird occurrence probability was consistently explained by climate across all nine species groups. Conversely, LULC change explained more than twice the temporal variation (i.e., decadal changes) in bird occurrence probability than climate change on average across groups. This pattern was largely driven by habitat‐constrained species (e.g., grassland birds, waterbirds), whereas decadal changes in occurrence probabilities of habitat‐unconstrained species (e.g., forest passerines, mixed habitat birds) were equally explained by both climate and LULC changes over the last century. We conclude that climate has generally governed the winter occurrence of avifauna in space and time, while LULC change has played a pivotal role in driving distributional dynamics of species with limited and declining habitat availability. Effective land management will be critical for improving species’ resilience to climate change, especially during a season of relative resource scarcity and critical energetic trade‐offs.