bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the financial sustainability of the cooperative savings and credit sector in Peru
Authors: Flores-Chia James , Mougenot Benoit
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This research analyzes the determinants of the financial sustainability of the cooperative savings and credit sector in Peru.

Design/methodology/approach

The econometric analysis uses a balanced data panel with a sample of 34 savings and credit cooperatives in Peru for the period 2010–2017. The estimates were considered using the static fixed-effects model to assess the financial sustainability.

Findings

The results show that the interest rate differential, the number of years of activity, the size of assets and the return on assets are explanatory variables of the financial sustainability of savings and credit cooperatives in Peru.

Research limitations/implications

This research promotes reflection and discussion for the design of policies that improve the level of competition for the Peruvian savings and credit cooperative model, based on the level of financial sustainability.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to identify the determinants of the financial sustainability of the savings and credit cooperative sector in Peru.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-01-2022-0064
Explaining variation in the implementation of observational processes by school leaders: evidence from a Tennessee-based researcher–practitioner partnership
Authors: Hunter Seth B.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Recent teacher evaluation reforms across the globe can improve student outcomes, though doing so depends on implementation by school leaders. This study aims to describe how teacher reports about classroom observation processes (TROPs) vary across within-teacher observations, teachers and schools and depend on contextual, teacher and school characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

A researcher–practitioner partnership collected TROPs using surveys administered multiple times during one semester and linked results to Tennessee administrative data. Random effects quantify TROP variation within examined clusters and estimate relationships between TROPs and the examined characteristics.

Findings

Although observation processes are well implemented on average, TROPs vary considerably across teachers and observations within teachers over a short period. TROPs also depend on several examined characteristics, but not necessarily in ways predisposed toward teacher development.

Originality/value

The study extends the understanding of the degree and extent to which teacher evaluation implementation by school leaders varies. Leadership preparation programs and in-service support providers might use the evidence herein to improve the extent to which evaluation-related observation processes are implemented consistently and in ways supporting teacher development.
Issues of e-government services quality in the digital-by-default era – the case of the national e-procurement platform in Czechia
Authors: Špaček David , Špačková Zuzana
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Scholarly research on e-procurement has been limited and, like e-government, e-procurement has been researched primarily from the perspective of adoption/non-adoption. This paper aims to focus on public administration employees’ perceptions of the quality of národní elektronický nástroj (NEN) – the Czech national e-procurement tool they are required to use.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based primarily on statistical analysis of data obtained through two questionnaire surveys addressed to contacts from of all Czech central state administration bodies using NEN; 175 completed questionnaires were gathered in 2020 and 128 in 2022 and subjected to statistical analysis in SPSS.

Findings

NEN was launched as fully operational in August 2015. The research indicates that in 2022 there were still important gaps in the quality of NEN as perceived by public employees.

Social implications

The paper has important practical implications for e-procurement policymakers. It shows that making the e-procurement system compulsory is not sufficient. The government needs to guarantee that it would be competitive with tools that would otherwise be preferred. Otherwise, the application of the digital-by-default principle may lead to institutionalisation of services that are not user-friendly. This has important implications for e-government/e-procurement management and change management.

Originality/value

Little is known about public employees’ perceptions of the quality of e-government and e-procurement. Although e-procurement is an area where the digital-by-default principle was implemented rather early, the quality of e-procurement has still received limited attention in research.
Social bricolage and business model innovation: a framework for social entrepreneurship organizations
Authors: Scuotto Adriana , Cicellin Mariavittoria , Consiglio Stefano
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The last two decades have witnessed a surge of interest in social entrepreneurship organizations (SEOs). Understanding their business models is crucial for sustaining their long-term growth. This paper analyses how SEOs that use the approach of social bricolage adapt their business model to develop social innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used in-depth multiple comparative case studies and narrative analysis to focus on the South of Italy, where these ventures play a crucial role in the entrepreneurial process of minor and abandoned cultural heritage sites, generating economic and social value and employment opportunities.

Findings

By developing a conceptual framework, this paper enhances current understanding of the social dimensions of SEOs’ business model. These ventures using the approach of social bricolage can produce social innovation, reinventing and innovating their business model. The business model innovation of the cases revealed a strong social mark and identified peculiar strategies that both respond to social needs and long-term sustainability in complex contexts.

Practical implications

This study connects previous knowledge on social bricolage with the business model innovation, highlighting routines and processes used by ventures, and provides a starting point for social entrepreneurs and innovators in the complex and often uncertain cultural domain of the Third Sector in Italy.

Originality/value

The paper aims to contribute to the literature on SEOs by exploring their main features and social dimensions. By combining social bricolage and business model innovation, it offers a novel conceptual framework for developing social innovation and for the study of SEOs.
CCN1 upregulates IL‐36 via AKT/NF‐κB and ERK/CEBP β‐mediated signaling pathways in psoriasis‐like models
Authors: Zhang Jie , Shu Jie , Sun Hanxiao , Zhai Tianhang , Li Huidan , Li Haichuan , Sun Yue , Huo Rongfen , Shen Baihua , Sheng Huiming
Published: November 2022

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder characterized by epidermal keratinocyte hyperproliferation and inflammatory infiltration. CCN1 (also termed CYR61 or cysteine‐rich angiogenic inducer 61) is an extracellular matrix‐associated protein that is involved in multiple physiological functions. In psoriasis, we recently demonstrated that the overexpression of CCN1 promoted keratinocyte proliferation and activation. Furthermore, CCN1 was highly expressed in psoriatic skin lesions from psoriasis vulgaris patients. Here, we dissect the underlying molecular mechanism in imiquimod (IMQ) and interleukin (IL)‐23‐induced psoriasis‐like models. Our results demonstrate that CCN1 can significantly upregulate IL‐36 production in the murine skin of IMQ and IL‐23‐induced psoriasis‐like models. Injection of CCN1‐neutralizing antibody improved epidermal acanthosis and significantly reduced IL‐36 production in vivo. These results suggest that CCN1 can be a critical upstream pro‐inflammatory factor in psoriasis. In primary normal human epidermal keratinocytes, we demonstrated that CCN1 can selectively induced the production of IL‐36α and IL‐36γ through the activation of the protein kinase B (AKT)/nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF‐κB) and extracellular‐regulated kinase (ERK)/CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (CEBPβ) signaling pathways via integrin receptor α6β1 in vitro. Our results suggest that targeting CCN1 can be a potential therapeutic strategy for psoriasis.
Buccal mucosal graft in ureteral strictures: A case series and review of literature
Authors: Cheung Fu Ho Victor , Chow Henry , Ng Chi Yuen , Poon Yick Kwan Vincent , Ip Chi Ho , Chiu Yi , Chu Tin Yu , Ma Wai Kit , Lam Yiu Chung
Published: November 2022

Objective

Proximal ureteric stricture is one of the many challenging problems urologists face. We aim to evaluate the results of buccal mucosal graft ureteroplasty at our institution.

Methodology

All buccal mucosal graft ureteroplasties performed at the Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, between December 2020 and July 2022 were reviewed. This review included patients with ureteric strictures of different aetiologies and various stricture lengths. Collected data consisted of patients' demographics, previous interventions, surgical approach, early and intermediate outcomes.

Results

Six patients (median age 59.5 years) were included in this case series. Four had previously failed ureteral interventions. Pre‐operatively four had ureteral stents and two were on nephrostomy tubes. Five had a robotic‐assisted laparoscopic repair while one had an open repair. Onlay graft was performed in five patients and augmented anastomotic repair in one patient. The median stricture length was 2 cm. Median operative time was 268 min, estimated blood loss was 200 mL, and length of stay was 7.5 days. Four patients with adequate follow‐up were considered successful at a median follow‐up of 13.7 months.

There were no intra‐operative complications. Anastomotic leakage and donor site bleeding were observed in one patient (Clavien‐Dindo III).

Conclusion

Buccal mucosal graft ureteroplasty is suitable in appropriately selected patients with proximal ureteral strictures. Robotic surgical approaches have made this technique promising. Long‐term outcomes are eagerly awaited.
Identifying sensory drivers of liking for plant‐based milk coffees: Implications for product development and application
Authors: Chung Yi‐Lin , Kuo Wan‐Yuan , Liou Bo‐Kang , Chen Po‐Chuan , Tseng Yu‐Chuan , Huang Rui‐Yu , Tsai Mei‐Chu
Published: November 2022

The global plant‐based product market is growing rapidly, and plant‐based milks show promising potential in the coffee beverage sector. This study aimed to identify sensory drivers of liking of plant‐based milk coffees for guiding the development of plant‐based products with competitive advantages over dairy milk coffees. Twelve coffee samples were prepared with plant‐based (oat, soy, almond, and coconut) and dairy (cow) milk. Quantitative descriptive analysis was used to generate sensory attribute terms for the 12 samples. Check‐all‐that‐apply (CATA) questions were given to consumers to evaluate the sensory profiles and consumer acceptance of the 12 samples. Correspondence analysis and cluster analysis of the CATA results from 80 consumers showed that the oat and soy milk coffee samples were closer to what the consumers perceived as “typical” milk products, while the coconut and almond milk coffee samples were closer to the “flavored” milk products. Partial least squares regression results revealed that the attributes smooth, milky, and thick were important drivers of liking for the milk coffee samples. On the contrary, rancid oil, greasy, astringent, and rice bran were the major sensory attributes lowering the panelists’ acceptance of the milk coffee samples. The majority of consumers (53.5%) were “dairy milk lovers,” who specifically liked the dairy milk coffee sample and had low acceptance for the plant‐based milk coffee samples. There was also a group of consumers (46.2%) classified as “plant‐based milk coffee lovers.” They enjoyed coffees prepared with a wide range of milks (both dairy and nondairy milks) and represent high‐potential consumers for plant‐based milk coffee products.

Practical Application

The positive and negative drivers of liking for plant‐based milk coffee samples were identified. A competitive landscape analysis method for assessing the acceptability and sensory attributes of 12 milk coffee samples (11 commercial plant‐based milks and 1 dairy milk product) in the current Asian market was established. The sensory terms developed in this study can also be applied to evaluate sensory profiles of other plant‐based and dairy milk coffee samples.
How can we possibly resolve the planet's nitrogen dilemma?
Authors: Matassa Silvio , Boeckx Pascal , Boere Jos , Erisman Jan Willem , Guo Miao , Manzo Raffaele , Meerburg Francis , Papirio Stefano , Pikaar Ilje , Rabaey Korneel , Rousseau Diederik , Schnoor Jerald , Smith Peter , Smolders Erik , Wuertz Stefan , Verstraete Willy
Published: November 2022

Nitrogen is the most crucial element in the production of nutritious feeds and foods. The production of reactive nitrogen by means of fossil fuel has thus far been able to guarantee the protein supply for the world population. Yet, the production and massive use of fertilizer nitrogen constitute a major threat in terms of environmental health and sustainability. It is crucial to promote consumer acceptance and awareness towards proteins produced by highly effective microorganisms, and their potential to replace proteins obtained with poor nitrogen efficiencies from plants and animals. The fact that reactive fertilizer nitrogen, produced by the Haber Bosch process, consumes a significant amount of fossil fuel worldwide is of concern. Moreover, recently, the prices of fossil fuels have increased the cost of reactive nitrogen by a factor of 3 to 5 times, while international policies are fostering the transition towards a more sustainable agro‐ecology by reducing mineral fertilizers inputs and increasing organic farming. The combination of these pressures and challenges opens opportunities to use the reactive nitrogen nutrient more carefully. Time has come to effectively recover used nitrogen from secondary resources and to upgrade it to a legal status of fertilizer. Organic nitrogen is a slow‐release fertilizer, it has a factor of 2.5 or higher economic value per unit nitrogen as fertilizer and thus adequate technologies to produce it, for instance by implementing photobiological processes, are promising. Finally, it appears wise to start the integration in our overall feed and food supply chains of the exceptional potential of biological nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen produced by the nitrogenase enzyme, either in the soil or in novel biotechnology reactor systems, deserves to have a ‘renaissance’ in the context of planetary governance in general and the increasing number of people who desire to be fed in a sustainable way in particular.
Average nucleotide diversity should be weighted by per‐site sample size
Authors: Samuk Kieran
Published: November 2022

Konopiński (2022) suggests that when averaging nucleotide diversity over a sequence, ignoring per‐site sample size variation (i.e., using an unweighted mean) offers an improvement in precision (lower variation) and accuracy (reduced bias). Here, I argue that preserving uncertainty due to variation in sample size is in line with best statistical practices, and that the increase in accuracy observed is not a general feature of the unweighted mean proposed by Konopiński (2022). As such, I conclude that the use of a weighted mean, as employed by (Korunes & Samuk, 2020), remains the preferred method for averaging nucleotide diversity over multiple sites.
Lycopersene: A review on extraction, identification and purification and applications
Authors: Arumugam Sathishkumar , Ramessh Chelvi , Kaliappan Gobala Krishnana , Govindhan Rajiv , Prakasam Sebastein Belciya , Murugan Silambarasan , Pandian Sureshkumar , Asgar Ebadollahi , Ravi Prasanth
Published: November 2022

Lycopersene is a stable and safe triterpenoid. Lycopersen had utilized as an antioxidant, antimutagenic, antiproliferative, cytotoxicity, antibacterial and pesticide. Obtaining pure Lycopersene from natural sources is very important for fundamental research and the above applications. The present overview provides an up‐to‐date and comprehensive summary of the various methods used for extraction, isolation and purification of Lycopersene from natural sources with its applications in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical fields. Many different extraction methods ranging from conventional techniques (e.g. Soxhlet extraction, Maceration and Rotary evaporator) and other advanced extraction technologies (e.g. Solid‐phase microextraction, steam distillation with Clevenger, Clevenger apparatus, Chromatography on SiO2 column, centrifuge, sonication) had been used to obtain Lycopersene from flora and fauna. Purification techniques, alone or in combination, have been investigated for isolation and purification of Lycopersene from crude extracts in various natural sources. The review of Lycopersene identified cap areas like purity and application in various fields.
The sound stimulation method and EEG change analysis for development of digital therapeutics that can stimulate the nervous system: Cortical activation and drug substitution potential
Authors: Kim Deachang , Woo JaeHyun , Jeong Jeahoon , Kim Sungmin
Published: November 2022

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to propose a treatment method and the effect on the nervous system of digital therapeutics, which is a new treatment method to replace surgery and drug prescription for the treatment and prevention of diseases.

Methods

The 20 subjects who participated in the experiment, including men and women, had an average age of 26 ± 2.40 years. The proposed treatment method used three types of sound stimulation and air or bone conduction sound transmission methods to induce total of 6‐time EEG electroencephalogram(EEG) changes. EEG was measured with 200 sampling rate each in the P4, Cz, F8 and T7 channel located in the parietal, central, frontal and temporal lobes, respectively, according to the 10/10 system. A total of 2 min of data were created by extracting EEG signals with less noise from the measured data and the extracted data were applied with a 1–40 Hz Butterworth filter and a 50 Hz notch filter with a quality factor of 30. After that, EEG are subdivided into delta (0.5–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–13 Hz), beta (13–30 Hz), and gamma (30–45 Hz) bands. Finally, EEG changes in response to sound stimuli were analyzed using power spectral density and T‐test validation in the frequency band.

Results

When a sound stimulus of less than 1 KHz was stimulated by air conduction, brainstem activation was induced and the reticular activation system was activated. In addition, a great potential for replacing drugs was confirmed by inducing changes in the nervous system similar to drugs used for sedation.

Conclusion

These results will be able to expand the concept of digital therapeutics, and it is expected that it will be developed as a safer treatment method that can replace surgery and drugs.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the face: A clinicopathologic and molecular study of 34 cases
Authors: Han Qianqian , Chen Min , Yang Jieliang , Du Tianhai , Peng Heng
Published: November 2022

Background

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is one of the most common dermal sarcomas, but facial DFSP is rare.

Patients and Methods

The clinicopathological characteristics of 34 facial DFSPs were reviewed. Additional immunostaining (CD34) and PDGFB/COL1A1‐PDGFB fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) detection were performed.

Results

Patients were aged from 24 to 64 years (mean 42.9 years), with a male‐to‐female ratio of 4.7 : 1. Morphologically, classic DFSP (25/34, 73.5 %), pigmented DFSP (2/34, 5.9 %), DFSP with myoid differentiation (1/34, 2.9 %) and fibrosarcomatous DFSP (FS‐DFSP) (6/34, 17.6 %) were found. Moreover, myxoid degeneration was observed in three FS‐DFSP cases (3/6, 50.0 %). All 29 cases that underwent CD34 immunohistochemistry exhibited positive staining (100 %). Genetically, PDGFB rearrangement/COL1A1‐PDGFB fusion was detected in 94.1 % (16/17) of patients. Regarding prognosis, the recurrence (83.3 % vs. 59.1 %) and metastasis (33.3 % vs. 0 %) rates were higher in FS‐DFSPs than that in ordinary DFSPs. All available surgical margins were positive before DFSPs recurrence. All patients with negative excision or re‐excision margins were alive without evidence of disease (mean, 81.8 months; median, 81 months).

Conclusions

Facial DFSP occurs predominantly in males, while FS‐DFSPs are more likely to exhibit myxoid degeneration and a worse prognosis. Notably, negative surgical margin status determined a satisfactory prognosis.
Medical and surgical treatment of postbariatric hypoglycaemia: Retrospective data from daily practice
Authors: de Heide Loek J. M. , Wouda Sterre H. T. , Peters Vincent J. T. , Oosterwerff‐Suiker Mirjam , Gerdes Victor A. , Emous Marloes , van Beek André P.
Published: November 2022

Aim

To evaluate medical and surgical treatment of postbariatric hypoglycaemia (PBH) in daily practice.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective data were extracted from medical records from four hospitals. PBH was defined by neuroglycopenic symptoms together with a documented glucose <3.0 mmol/L in the postprandial setting after previous bariatric surgery. Data were scored semiquantitatively on efficacy and side effects by two reviewers independently. Duration of efficacy and of use were calculated.

Results

In total, 120 patients were included with a median follow‐up of 27 months with a mean baseline age of 41 years, total weight loss of 33% and glucose nadir 2.3 mmol/L. Pharmacotherapy consisted of acarbose, diazoxide, short‐ and long‐acting octreotide and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist analogues (liraglutide and semaglutide) with an overall efficacy in 45%‐75% of patients. Combination therapy with two drugs was used by 30 (25%) patients. The addition of a second drug was successful in over half of the patients. Long‐acting octreotide and the glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist analogues scored best in terms of efficacy and side effects with a median duration of use of 35 months for octreotide. Finally, 23 (19%) patients were referred for surgical intervention. Efficacy of the surgical procedures, pouch banding, G‐tube placement in remnant stomach and Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass reversal, pooled together, was 79% with a median duration of initial effect of 13 months.

Conclusions

In daily practice, pharmacotherapy for PBH was successful in half to three quarters of patients. Combination therapy was often of value. One in five patients finally needed a surgical procedure, with overall good results.
Safety and efficacy of an oral insulin (Capsulin) in patients with early‐stage type 2 diabetes: A dose‐ranging phase 2b study
Authors: New Roger R. C. , Ramanujam Sukumar , Chaudhari Varsha , Bogus Michal , Travers Glen N. , Namjoshi Gajanan
Published: November 2022

Aim

To compare the pharmacodynamic properties of different doses of regular human insulin administered in capsule form twice daily in a randomised twelve‐week open‐label study.

Methods

A total of 100 individuals (48 males, 52 females) with type 2 diabetes on metformin completed the study according to the protocol. The mean (SD) age was 48.5 (6.7) years, body mass index 25.7 (2.8) kg/m2 and HbA1c 8.10% (0.65%). Subjects randomized upon admission were assigned to one of three groups receiving formulated regular insulin at dose levels of 75 iu BD, 150 iu insulin BD, or 300 iu BD, all in enteric‐coated capsules. The primary and secondary endpoints were change from baseline in HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), respectively.

Results

The study met its primary clinical endpoint of a decrease in HbA1c of 0.5% or higher (least square mean decrease 0.52%; P = .004, median decrease 0.6%) in the dose group receiving 150 iu BD. In a subset of this population, with starting HbA1c values of 9% to 9.5%, an average decrease of 1.575% was observed. In the total population, least square mean decreases in HbA1c for the 75 and 300 iu BD groups were −0.11% and −0.42%, respectively. Mean change in FPG in the 150 iu BD dose group was −18.8 mg/dl (P = .017) and −14.8 and −2.7 mg/dl for the 75 and 300 iu BD groups, respectively. A decrease of 20% for triglycerides (−40 mg/dl) was observed in the 150 iu BD dose group. No significant increases in body weight were observed, and significant decreases in systolic blood pressure were seen in all groups. No serious treatment‐related adverse events were recorded, and no incidence of hypoglycaemia was reported throughout the entire 12‐week study period.

Conclusions

Capsulin oral insulin administered twice per day at a dose of 150 iu per capsule is safe, with no confirmed treatment‐linked hypoglycaemic events, and results in significant decreases from baseline in HbA1c, FPG and triglycerides.
Liquidity Requirements, Bank Deposits and Financial Development
Authors: Limodio Nicola , Strobbe Francesco
Published: November 2022

In the presence of low trust in the banking system, liquidity requirements can stimulate bank deposits and financial development by enhancing depositor repayment in bad states. We study an unannounced and unexpected policy that increased the liquid assets of Ethiopian banks by 33% in one quarter of 2011, and present three findings consistent with this hypothesis. First, a panel of depositors shows deposit growth among wealthy individuals. Second, a survey reports higher bank deposits in branches opened after the policy in high‐income cities. Third, bank balance sheets and two sources of bank exposure highlight an increase in deposits, loans and branches.
Inflammatory cytokines and their correlations with different left ventricular geometries and functions in PHT patients
Authors: Zan Yu , Wang Jian , Wang Wenjuan , Cui Tong , Xu Kun , Li Yiying , Huang Xiaochun , Zhang Yanjing , Wei Na , Xing Xueqing
Published: November 2022

Objectives

To investigate relationships between hypersensitive C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), tumor necrosis factor ‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐17A (IL‐17A), and interferon ‐γ (IFN‐γ), with left ventricular geometry (LVG) and function in patients with primary hypertension (PHT).

Methods

A total of 396 PHT patients were assigned into four groups: Normal Geometry (NG), Concentric Remodeling (CR), Eccentric Hypertrophy (EH), and Concentric Hypertrophy (CH). The correlation between hs‐CRP, TNF‐α, IL‐17A, IFN‐γ, and clinical, biochemical parameters were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis and Logistic regression. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the clinical values of hs‐CRP, TNF‐α, IL‐17A, and IFN‐γ for abnormal LVG prediction.

Results

NG, CR, EH, and CH group all presented increasingly higher levels of Hs‐CRP, TNF‐α, IL‐17A, and IFN‐γ, and the increase was the most prominent in the CH group. Pearson correlation analysis showed that hs‐CRP, IL‐17A, and IFN‐γ were all positively correlated with LASct. Hs‐CRP, TNF‐α, and IL‐17A were all negatively correlated with GLS, LASr, and LAScd. However, IFN‐γ was only negatively correlated with GLS and LAScd. Logistic regression analysis showed that hs‐CRP and IL‐17A were independently correlated with CR; hs‐CRP, TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, and IL‐17A were independently correlated with EH and CH. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of hs‐CRP was 0.816. When the optimal diagnostic threshold of hs‐CRP was 3.04 mg/L, the sensitivity and specificity of the abnormal LVG were 72.1% and 81.5%, respectively.

Conclusion

In PHT patients, hs‐CRP, TNF‐α, IL‐17A, and IFN‐γ were correlated with abnormal LVG and left ventricular function, suggesting that inflammatory cytokines may be involved in the process of PHT‐induced abnormal left ventricular structure and function. In addition, hs‐CRP can be used as a health screening index for patients at high risk of abnormal LVG.
Covariation of brain and skull shapes as a model to understand the role of crosstalk in development and evolution
Authors: Conith Andrew J. , Hope Sylvie A. , Albertson R. Craig
Published: November 2022

Covariation among discrete phenotypes can arise due to selection for shared functions, and/or shared genetic and developmental underpinnings. The consequences of such phenotypic integration are far‐reaching and can act to either facilitate or limit morphological variation. The vertebrate brain is known to act as an “organizer” of craniofacial development, secreting morphogens that can affect the shape of the growing neurocranium, consistent with roles for pleiotropy in brain–neurocranium covariation. Here, we test this hypothesis in cichlid fishes by first examining the degree of shape integration between the brain and the neurocranium using three‐dimensional geometric morphometrics in an F5 hybrid population, and then genetically mapping trait covariation using quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis. We observe shape associations between the brain and the neurocranium, a pattern that holds even when we assess associations between the brain and constituent parts of the neurocranium: the rostrum and braincase. We also recover robust genetic signals for both hard‐ and soft‐tissue traits and identify a genomic region where QTL for the brain and braincase overlap, implicating a role for pleiotropy in patterning trait covariation. Fine mapping of the overlapping genomic region identifies a candidate gene, notch1a, which is known to be involved in patterning skeletal and neural tissues during development. Taken together, these data offer a genetic hypothesis for brain–neurocranium covariation, as well as a potential mechanism by which behavioral shifts may simultaneously drive rapid change in neuroanatomy and craniofacial morphology.
Contribution of the μ‐opioid receptor system to affective disorders in temporal lobe epilepsy: A bidirectional relationship?
Authors: Sone Daichi , Galovic Marian , Myers Jim , Leonhardt Georg , Rabiner Ilan , Duncan John S. , Koepp Matthias J. , Foong Jacqueline
Published: November 2022

Objective

Affective disorders are frequent comorbidities of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The endogenous opioid system has been implicated in both epilepsy and affective disorders, and may play a significant role in their bidirectional relationship. In this cross‐sectional study, we investigated the association between μ‐opioid receptor binding and affective disorders in patients with TLE.

Methods

Nine patients with TLE and depression/anxiety underwent 11C‐carfentanil positron emission tomography (CFN PET) and neuropsychiatric assessment, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. The normalized CFN PET scans were compared with those of 26 age‐matched healthy controls. Correlation analyses with affective symptoms were performed by region of interest‐based analysis focusing on the limbic circuit and orbitofrontal cortex.

Results

We observed widely reduced CFN binding potential (BP) in bilateral frontal lobes and striata in patients with TLE compared to healthy controls. In the TLE group, more severe anxiety and negative affect were associated with decreased CFN BP in the posterior cingulate gyrus.

Significance

In patients with TLE, interictally reduced binding in the opioid system was associated with higher levels of anxiety and negative affect. We speculate that seizure‐related agonist‐driven desensitization and downregulation of opioid receptors could be a potential underlying pathomechanism.
Country‐wide genetic monitoring over 21 years reveals lag in genetic recovery despite spatial connectivity in an expanding carnivore (Eurasian otter,Lutra lutra) population
Authors: Thomas Nia E. , Hailer Frank , Bruford Michael W. , Chadwick Elizabeth A.
Published: November 2022

Numerous terrestrial mammal species have experienced extensive population declines during past centuries, due largely to anthropogenic pressures. For some species, including the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), environmental and legal protection has more recently led to population growth and recolonization of parts of their historic ranges. While heralded as conservation success, only few such recoveries have been examined from a genetic perspective, i.e. whether genetic variability and connectivity have been restored. We here use large‐scale and long‐term genetic monitoring data from UK otters, whose population underwent a well‐documented population decline between the 1950s and 1970s, to explore the dynamics of a population re‐expansion over a 21‐year period. We genotyped otters from across Wales and England at five time points between 1994 and 2014 using 15 microsatellite loci. We used this combination of long‐term temporal and large‐scale spatial sampling to evaluate 3 hypotheses relating to genetic recovery that (i) gene flow between subpopulations would increase over time, (ii) genetic diversity of previously isolated populations would increase and that (iii) genetic structuring would weaken over time. Although we found an increase in inter‐regional gene flow and admixture levels among subpopulations, there was no significant temporal change in either heterozygosity or allelic richness. Genetic structuring among the main subpopulations hence remained strong and showed a clear historical continuity. These findings highlight an underappreciated aspect of population recovery of endangered species: that genetic recovery may often lag behind the processes of spatial and demographic recovery. In other words, the restoration of the physical connectivity of populations does not necessarily lead to genetic connectivity. Our findings emphasize the need for genetic data as an integral part of conservation monitoring, to enable the potential vulnerability of populations to be evaluated.
A hybrid convolutional neural network‐support vector machine architecture for classification of super‐resolution enhanced chromosome images
Authors: Menaka Dinesh , Ganesh Vaidyanathan Subramanian
Published: November 2022

This article offers a framework of a hybrid convolution neural network (CNN) – support vector machine (SVM) model for the classification of human metaphase chromosome images. In this model, the features extracted by CNN were fed to the SVM classifier to label the chromosomes into 24 classes. Classification accuracy is generally affected by low‐resolution chromosome images. Hence, in the proposed work, a Laplacian pyramidal super‐resolution network (LaPSRN) was deployed to improve input chromosome images resolution before feeding them to the classifier network. The experimentation showed that due to LaPSRN, resolution‐enhanced images are obtained, which has improved the classification accuracy by 3% compared to the architecture without a super‐resolution block. In addition, instead of using the usual ReLU function in CNN architecture, a Swish activation function was utilized, which enhanced the validation accuracy by 0.8%. After experimenting with various hyper‐parameters for the CNN SVM architecture, the ADAM optimizer with step decay outperformed the other standard optimizers. The novel part of this work is the combination of Laplacian pyramidal super‐resolution with the hybrid CNN‐SVM model, which has not been employed yet for chromosome classification tasks as per our knowledge. The proposed hybrid CNN SVM architecture with the Swish activation function and super‐resolution techniques was tested on the metaphase chromosome images from the BioImLab dataset, and an improved classification accuracy of 94.6% was obtained. Moreover, the standard metrics for classification like F1 score, precision, support, and the confusion matrix values of the proposed CNN model with SVM classifier are superior to the prevailing CNN architectures for chromosome images.
High‐temperature creep‐fatigue‐oxidation behaviors of P92 steel: Evaluation of life prediction models
Authors: Wang Kang‐Kang , Wen Jian‐Feng , Xia Xian‐Xi , Wang Run‐Zi , Zhang Guo‐Dong , Zhang Xian‐Cheng , Tu Shan‐Tung
Published: November 2022

Damages caused by the effects of cyclic loading (fatigue) and high temperature (creep and oxidation) have been considered critical and need to be appropriately evaluated. A series of strain‐controlled fatigue and creep‐fatigue tests are performed on P92 at 873 K under oxygen‐containing environment. The creep‐fatigue life prediction results are summarized using models based on strain‐range partition, Manson–Coffin equation and linear damage summation (LDS) rule. Obviously, the models based on the LDS rule show relatively good performance with an error band of ±2.5. In view of the adverse effects of oxidation on creep‐fatigue endurance, this paper further develops a physically‐based oxidation damage equation, which is incorporated into LDS rule for the improvement of life assessment. The predicted and experimental results falling into ±1.5 error band proved the accuracy of the proposed oxidation damage equation in the LDS rule. Additionally, model selection criteria are recommended to evaluate the model prediction capabilities.
Non‐linear loss of suitable wine regions over Europe in response to increasing global warming
Authors: Sgubin Giovanni , Swingedouw Didier , Mignot Juliette , Gambetta Gregory Alan , Bois Benjamin , Loukos Harilaos , Noël Thomas , Pieri Philippe , García de Cortázar‐Atauri Iñaki , Ollat Nathalie , van Leeuwen Cornelis
Published: November 2022

Evaluating the potential climatic suitability for premium wine production is crucial for adaptation planning in Europe. While new wine regions may emerge out of the traditional boundaries, most of the present‐day renowned winemaking regions may be threatened by climate change. Here, we analyse the future evolution of the geography of wine production over Europe, through the definition of a novel climatic suitability indicator, which is calculated over the projected grapevine phenological phases to account for their possible contractions under global warming. Our approach consists in coupling six different de‐biased downscaled climate projections under two different scenarios of global warming with four phenological models for different grapevine varieties. The resulting suitability indicator is based on fuzzy logic and is calculated over three main components measuring (i) the timing of the fruit physiological maturity, (ii) the risk of water stress and (iii) the risk of pests and diseases. The results demonstrate that the level of global warming largely determines the distribution of future wine regions. For a global temperature increase limited to 2°C above the pre‐industrial level, the suitable areas over the traditional regions are reduced by about 4%/°C rise, while for higher levels of global warming, the rate of this loss increases up to 17%/°C. This is compensated by a gradual emergence of new wine regions out of the traditional boundaries. Moreover, we show that reallocating better‐suited grapevine varieties to warmer conditions may be a viable adaptation measure to cope with the projected suitability loss over the traditional regions. However, the effectiveness of this strategy appears to decrease as the level of global warming increases. Overall, these findings suggest the existence of a safe limit below 2°C of global warming for the European winemaking sector, while adaptation might become far more challenging beyond this threshold.
High‐level compliance to opt‐out HIV testing in the emergency department (ED) of a large teaching hospital using the biochemistry sample as the sample type for HIV screening
Authors: Marchant Rebecca , Patterson Anne , Dragovic Bojana , Kelly Bernard , Hamzah Lisa , Hempling Melissa
Published: November 2022

Introduction

HIV remains a key public health issue. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and British HIV Association guidance recommends that patients should be offered HIV testing when admitted to hospital or attending emergency departments (EDs) in areas with a prevalence ≥ 2 per 1000. We report a novel method of testing and the first 3‐year results from our HIV ED testing programme utilizing biochemistry samples for HIV testing, with the aim of improving uptake while ensuring no changes to clinical practice in EDs.

Methods

Routine ED HIV testing was implemented on 1 October 2018; it was initially opt‐in and was subsequently changed to opt‐out on 1 February 2019. HIV testing was added to all ED blood test order sets and was performed on the biochemistry samples of those aged 18–59 years. The age range was extended to include those aged 16+ years on 1 March 2021 along with a move to notional consent.

Results

A total of 78 333 HIV tests were performed from an estimated 110 683 attendees who had bloods taken in the same age range, demonstrating an overall 69.5% testing coverage. On implementation of opt‐out testing after the first 4 months, the proportion of tests increased (from 57.9% to 69%). After increase in age range to 16+ years and a move to notional consent, the overall testing coverage improved to 74.2%. Of 1054 reactive results, 728 (69%) were known people living with HIV, eight (0.8%) were not contactable, two (0.2%) re‐tested elsewhere and three (0.3%) declined a re‐test. A total of 259 false‐positives were determined by follow‐up testing and 50 (4.8%) were newly diagnosed with HIV. An HIV diagnosis was suspected in only 22%, and 48% had never previously tested for HIV.

Conclusions

An opt‐out HIV testing programme with notional consent and using biochemistry samples within the ED is feasible, acceptable and provides an excellent opportunity to diagnose patients who do not perceive themselves to be at risk or have never tested before.
Alternative pathway activation in pregnancy, a measured amount “complements” a successful pregnancy, too much results in adverse events
Authors: Smith‐Jackson Kate , Harrison Richard Alexander
Published: November 2022

During pregnancy, the maternal host must adapt in order to enable growth of the fetus. These changes affect all organ systems and are designed both to protect the fetus and to minimize risk to the mother. One of the most prominent adaptations involves the immune system. The semi‐allogenic fetoplacental unit has non‐self components and must be protected against attack from the host. This requires both attenuation of adaptive immunity and protection from innate immune defense mechanisms. One of the key innate immune players is complement, and it is important that the fetoplacental unit is not identified as non‐self and subjected to complement attack. Adaptation of the complement response must, however, be managed in such a way that maternal protection against infection is not compromised. As the complement system also plays a significant facilitating role in many of the stages of a normal pregnancy, it is also important that any necessary adaptation to accommodate the semi‐allogenic aspects of the fetoplacental unit does not compromise this. In this review, both the physiological role of the alternative pathway of complement in facilitating a normal pregnancy, and its detrimental participation in pregnancy‐specific disorders, are discussed.
Burden and severity of children's hospitalizations by respiratory syncytial virus in Portugal, 2015–2018
Authors: Bandeira Teresa , Carmo Mafalda , Lopes Hugo , Gomes Catarina , Martins Margarida , Guzman Carlos , Bangert Mathieu , Rodrigues Fernanda , Januário Gustavo , Tomé Teresa , Azevedo Inês
Published: November 2022

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) in young children and is of considerable burden on healthcare systems. Our study aimed to evaluate ALRI hospitalizations related to RSV in children in Portugal.

Methods

We reviewed hospitalizations potentially related to RSV in children aged <5 years from 2015 to 2018, using anonymized administrative data covering all public hospital discharges in mainland Portugal. Three case definitions were considered: (a) RSV‐specific, (b) (a) plus unspecified acute bronchiolitis (RSV‐specific & Bronchiolitis), and (c) (b) plus unspecified ALRI (RSV‐specific & ALRI).

Results

A total of 9697 RSV‐specific hospitalizations were identified from 2015 to 2018—increasing to 26 062 for RSV‐specific & ALRI hospitalizations—of which 74.7% were during seasons 2015/2016–2017/2018 (November–March). Mean hospitalization rates per season were, for RSV‐specific, RSV‐specific & Bronchiolitis, and RSV‐specific & ALRI, respectively, 5.6, 9.4, and 11.8 per 1000 children aged <5 years and 13.4, 22.5, and 25.9 in children aged <2 years. Most RSV‐specific hospitalizations occurred in healthy children (94.9%) and in children aged <2 years (96.3%). Annual direct costs of €2.4 million were estimated for RSV‐specific hospitalizations—rising to €5.1 million for RSV‐specific & ALRI—mostly driven by healthy children (87.6%).

Conclusion

RSV is accountable for a substantial number of hospitalizations in children, especially during their first year of life. Hospitalizations are mainly driven by healthy children. The variability of the potential RSV burden across case definitions highlights the need for a universal RSV surveillance system to guide prevention strategies.
Reproductive cycles of the oviparous sponges Cinachyrella apion (Spirophorida) and Tethya maza (Tethyida) in a tropical intertidal environment
Authors: Vasconcellos Vivian , Lanna Emilio
Published: November 2022

Environmental factors are constantly changing in the intertidal region. Consequently, the various benthic organisms that densely colonize this ocean area had to adapt to these constant changes. Reproductive strategy might be considered one of these adaptations. However, knowledge about this aspect of the biology of marine invertebrates is still contentious for some groups, especially with regard to sponges (Porifera). Here, we investigated the effects of different environmental factors on the timing and effort of sexual and asexual reproduction in Cinachyrella apion and Tethya maza, two oviparous demosponges in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. We analyzed the influence of humidity, atmospheric temperature, seawater temperature, photoperiod, rainfall, height of low tides, and chlorophyll‐a concentration on the density and size of oocytes and buds of these sponges. Both species reproduced aperiodically. Cinachyrella apion had a maximum 2.8 ± 4.04 oocytes/mm2 and 0.73 ± 0.15 buds/mm2, whereas T. maza had a maximum 6.0 ± 12.21 oocytes/mm2 and 0.31 ± 0.13 buds/mm2. The density of oocytes in C. apion was positively influenced by chlorophyll‐a concentration, whereas that of T. maza was negatively modulated by relative humidity. We did not observe any relationship between the environmental factors and bud density in C. apion, but bud density variation in T. maza was positively related to chlorophyll‐a concentration and to seawater temperature. It seems that individuals of both species alternated between the production of sexual and asexual propagules, suggesting a trade‐off between reproductive modes. Therefore, asexual and sexual reproduction seems to impact population growth and reproduction of both species, likely contributing to the recruitment of new sponges. In tropical intertidal regions, multiple environmental factors seem to contribute more to determining the quantity of sexual and asexual reproductive elements rather than the species' reproductive period.