bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An audit of the well-being of staff working in intellectual disability settings in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: McMahon Martin , Hatton Chris , Stansfield Julie , Cockayne Gaynor
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions of people worldwide. Individuals with intellectual disability are at a disproportionate risk of mortality, given the health inequalities they experience. This puts a significant burden of responsibility on staff who support these individuals. Consequently, this study aims to establish a baseline of the well-being of staff working in intellectual disability services in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was carried out using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, a brief measure of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and a brief measure of anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder-7).

Findings

In total, 285 staff in the Republic of Ireland completed the survey. These staff reported moderate levels of personal and work-related burnout and mild levels of anxiety and depression. Higher mean scores were recorded across scales from staff who worked in independent living settings and from staff who supported individuals with challenging behaviour.

Originality/value

This study, an audit, provides initial data on the well-being of staff working with individuals with intellectual disability in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights that employers need to consider staff well-being, given the levels of personal and work-related burnout, and anxiety and depression that were found. This is particularly true for staff who work in independent living settings and with adults with challenging behaviour. Future research should focus on proactive strategies for improving staff well-being in the short term, given the current resurgence of COVID-19 in Ireland.
Commentary on “Narrative therapy groups for people with intellectual disability: a critical review of the literature”
Authors: Haydon-Laurelut Mark Andrew
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper is a commentary inspired by Laura McKenzie-Smith’s review paper.

Design/methodology/approach

This commentary provides a personal perspective on the intersections of narrative practice and the support of people with a learning disability.

Findings

This commentary highlights some further possibilities of narrative ideas beyond therapy. This paper explores examples of record keeping and research as sites for story construction about lives and identities.

Research limitations/implications

This is a personal perspective of a systemic psychotherapist and academic working with people with a learning disability.

Practical implications

This paper argues that the stories we tell ourselves and others about our work and the people we support are powerful in ways of which we may not always be aware.

Social implications

In common with person-centred planning, narrative ideas highlight the power of the stories circulating about a person and their network and the implications they may have for their lives and identities.

Originality/value

This commentary explores narrative practices beyond the context of therapy, highlighting organisational, administrative and research practices as story-constructing activities that co-create identities of persons with a learning disability, their networks of support and health and social care professionals.
Wide diversity of parasites in Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) revealed by a high‐throughput sequencing approach
Authors: Bartolomé Carolina , Jabal‐Uriel Clara , Buendía‐Abad María , Benito María , Ornosa Concepción , De la Rúa Pilar , Martín‐Hernández Raquel , Higes Mariano , Maside Xulio
Published: November 2020

Assessing the extent of parasite diversity requires the application of appropriate molecular tools, especially given the growing evidence of multiple parasite co‐occurrence. Here, we compared the performance of a next‐generation sequencing technology (Ion PGM ™ System) in 12 Bombus terrestris specimens that were PCR‐identified as positive for trypanosomatids (Leishmaniinae) in a previous study. These bumblebees were also screened for the occurrence of Nosematidae and Neogregarinorida parasites using both classical protocols (either specific PCR amplification or amplification with broad‐range primers plus Sanger sequencing) and Ion PGM sequencing. The latter revealed higher parasite diversity within individuals, especially among Leishmaniinae (which were present as a combination of Lotmaria passim, Crithidia mellificae and Crithidia bombi), and the occurrence of taxa never reported in these hosts: Crithidia acanthocephali and a novel neogregarinorida species. Furthermore, the complementary results produced by the different sets of primers highlighted the convenience of using multiple markers to minimize the chance of some target organisms going unnoticed. Altogether, the deep sequencing methodology offered a more comprehensive way to investigate parasite diversity than the usual identification methods and provided new insights whose importance for bumblebee health should be further analysed.
Assessment of Water Availability and Scarcity Based on Hydrologic Components in an Irrigated Agricultural Watershed Using SWAT
Authors: Ahn Sora , Sheng Zhuping
Published: November 2020

This study assesses the water availability and the water scarcity based on the hydrologic behavior under different weather conditions and crop coverages in an irrigated agricultural area of Rincon Valley in New Mexico using the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model. Two spatial crop coverages included normal (2008) and dry (2011) years with 14 different crop sets for each year. The SWAT was applied to generate the five essential indicators (surface flow, evapotranspiration, soil water, groundwater recharge, and irrigation water) to evaluate the integrated water availability based on hydrologic response units (HRUs) along with the Arrey Canal to supply irrigation water in the crop areas. The water availability index scores (0–1 range with 1 being the most available and 0 the least available) of alfalfa, corn, cotton, and pecans were 0.21, 0.56, 0.91, and 0.20, respectively, in the normal year and 0.16, 0.78, 0.88, and 0.24, respectively, in the dry year. In the dry year, water scarcity values were high in mostly alfalfa areas, whereas cotton areas have mostly no stress with good water availability. The major water users of crops, ranked in order, were alfalfa, pecans, cotton, and corn. During the dry year, water availability showed to be balanced in terms of water supply and demand by controlling crop patterns from reducing alfalfa acreage by 12% and increasing cotton acreage by 13%.
The Impact of Damage Apportionment on Internal Control System Quality and Financial Reporting Accuracy
Authors: Schrank Reinhard
Published: November 2020

This paper investigates how damage apportionment between auditor and auditee affects the quality of the internal control system (ICS), the supplied audit quality, and social welfare. The analysis takes place in a setting where the audit is not only required to meet obligations towards the primary addressees of the audited report, but where the auditor assumes a public responsibility that also makes them responsible for the losses of ‘foreseeable third parties’. Using a game‐theoretic model, I show that shifting liability away from the auditor towards the auditee can lead to higher audit quality but lower ICS quality. The empirical evidence shows that internal controls and external auditing can be either complements or substitutes. Furthermore, assigning all the damages to the auditor leads to a Pareto‐efficient allocation of ICS quality and audit quality. This finding justifies the common ‘deep pocket’ assumption in the auditing literature.
TheUKCorporate Governance Code Principle of ‘Comply or Explain’: Understanding Code Compliance as ‘Subjection’
Authors: Roberts John , Sanderson Paul , Seidl David , Krivokapic Antonije
Published: November 2020

The focus of this paper is on UK Code compliance and the contests and confusions that have surrounded its principle of ‘comply or explain’. In contrast to many agency theory‐informed studies, the paper suggests that visible compliance with the Code cannot itself be taken as a reliable proxy for board effectiveness. Instead, drawing upon Foucault's account of governance as subjection, we argue that, as a form of board accountability, visible compliance can only support the Code's primary objective of establishing norms which shape the conduct of directors within boards. The contests and confusions as to the meaning of comply or explain are then explored in terms of the challenge regulators have faced, throughout the subsequent life of the Code, in respecting the freedom of action of directors, whilst nevertheless seeking to influence how this is exercised. The paper first explores three key moments in the evolution of the UK Code: the initial Cadbury committee two‐page ‘Code of Best Practice’ in 1992, the more prescriptive 2003 post‐Enron changes to the UK Combined Code following the Higgs review, and the retreat from such prescription in the 2010 changes to the Code. This is complemented by drawing on qualitative empirical research to describe three very different ‘subject positions’—refusal, cynical distance, and willing embrace—which directors have come to adopt in response to the Code. The paper concludes by pointing to the very different consequences for actual board effectiveness implied by these contrasting, but largely invisible, responses to the Code.
Brief Report: Predictors of Relapse for Patients With Dextromethorphan Dependence
Authors: Xu Jie , Ou Hang , Sun Pei , Qin Shiyang , Yuan Ti‐Fei
Published: November 2020

Background and Objectives

The recreational use of dextromethorphan (DXM) triggers dependence. The pattern and clinical predictors of relapse are unclear.

Methods

Here, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical information of 28 patients with DXM dependence (20 males and 8 females).

Results

The mean age at admission was 25.89 years (standard deviation [SD] = 7.84), and the average duration of DXM abuse was 24.96 months (SD = 17.40). The relapse rates at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year were 7.14%, 25%, 71.43%, and 89.29%, respectively. Depression and anxiety status at baseline were positive predictors of relapse (r = −.539, P = .006, R2 = 0.290; r = −.449, P = .024, R2 = 0.202, respectively).

Discussion and Conclusions

Our results suggest that patients with DXM dependence are at high risk of relapse and that measuring affective disturbance is important for predicting the outcomes of their treatment.

Scientific Significance

This study first identified a high relapse rate among patients with DXM dependence and found that the baseline depression and anxiety status was correlated with the time length of relapse. These findings not only warn us of the vulnerability of DXM‐dependent relapse but also reveal the importance of measuring affective disturbance in relapse prevention. (Am J Addict 2020;00:00–00)
Nalangkulurru, the Spirit Beings, and the Black‐Nosed Python: Ontological Self‐Determination and Yanyuwa Law in Northern Australia's Gulf Country
Authors: Kearney Amanda , Bradley John , Brady Liam M.
Published: November 2020

We write from an ontological premise that there are other ways to know and understand the “archaeological record” and “rock art” that are devoid of Western ontology, and there have been for many millennia. In this article, we consider one specific Indigenous place and its associated visual elements, what might be commonly referred to as “rock art.” This place, Nalangkalurru, is replete with meaning, grounded in a well‐founded and understood logic and reason. Nalangkalurru belongs to the Yanyuwa people of the southwest Gulf of Carpentaria region, northern Australia. By adopting methodological openness, we take a journey of steadied nondistraction oriented towards the Yanyuwa ontology that is in place. When viewing the visual elements of Nalangkalurru, which include Ancestral Beings that are visually present on the cave's large rock surface, Yanyuwa have resolutely declared that this “is not a painting.” We explore what this comment means and expand the discussion to consider the nature of rock art research, when “rock art” is not “rock art.” These insights inspire a reflective discussion on the ways Yanyuwa, and Indigenous ontologies more broadly, unsettle and aid the ontological turn. [ontology, rock art, colonialism, Indigenous, Australia]
Usability, acceptability, and feasibility of the World Health Organization Labour Care Guide: A mixed‐methods, multicountry evaluation
Authors: Vogel Joshua P. , Comrie‐Thomson Liz , Pingray Veronica , Gadama Luis , Galadanci Hadiza , Goudar Shivaprasad , Laisser Rose , Lavender Tina , Lissauer David , Misra Sujata , Pujar Yeshita , Qureshi Zahida P. , Amole Taiwo , Berrueta Mabel , Dankishiya Faisal , Gwako George , Homer Caroline S. E. , Jobanputra Jonathan , Meja Sam , Nigri Carolina , Mohaptra Vandana , Osoti Alfred , Roberti Javier , Solomon Dennis , Suleiman Maryam , Robbers Gianna , Sutherland Shireen , Vernekar Sunil , Althabe Fernando , Bonet Mercedes , Oladapo Olufemi T.
Published: November 2020

Introduction

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Labour Care Guide (LCG) is a “next‐generation” partograph based on WHO’s latest intrapartum care recommendations. It aims to optimize clinical care provided to women and their experience of care. We evaluated the LCG’s usability, feasibility, and acceptability among maternity care practitioners in clinical settings.

Methods

Mixed‐methods evaluation with doctors, midwives, and nurses in 12 health facilities across Argentina, India, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Purposively sampled and trained practitioners applied the LCG in low‐risk women during labor and rated experiences, satisfaction, and usability. Practitioners were invited to focus group discussions (FGDs) to share experiences and perceptions of the LCG, which were subjected to framework analysis.

Results

One hundred and thirty‐six practitioners applied the LCG in managing labor and birth of 1,226 low‐risk women. The majority of women had a spontaneous vaginal birth (91.6%); two cases of intrapartum stillbirths (1.63 per 1000 births) occurred. Practitioner satisfaction with the LCG was high, and median usability score was 67.5%. Practitioners described the LCG as supporting precise and meticulous monitoring during labor, encouraging critical thinking in labor management, and improving the provision of woman‐centered care.

Conclusions

The LCG is feasible and acceptable to use across different clinical settings and can promote woman‐centered care, though some design improvements would benefit usability. Implementing the LCG needs to be accompanied by training and supportive supervision, and strategies to promote an enabling environment (including updated policies on supportive care interventions, and ensuring essential equipment is available).
Tradition, power, and resource wastage: A neo‐patrimonial and Weberian perspective of corruption and accountability in Zambia
Authors: Phiri Joseph
Published: November 2020

While corruption and lack of accountability are admittedly global problems, there is a way in which African countries occupy a prominent space within this discourse. This position is reinforced by the persistent increase in the levels of corruption in a number of African countries over the recent past. One factor that is understudied in the accounting literature and yet could help to explain the escalation in corruption levels particularly within Sub‐Saharan African countries is the existence of patrimonial traditions and societies. The study draws on Weber's social theory as an analytical lens for understanding traditional power structures and accounting practices existing within the Zambian society. Data collection was based on both secondary data in form of archival evidence and semi‐structured interviews with respondents drawn from different institutions of accountability. Thematic and template analyses were performed through the identification of “themes” within transcripts and archival reports which were deemed to address the study's research questions. Findings highlight the prominence of traditional power structures and practices within government institutions. Selective accounting practices of a patrimonial nature are embraced that ultimately lead to the diversion of public resources into private hands. Complex mechanisms for diverting public resources are seen to be at play and these make it difficult for institutions of accountability to untangle corrupt activities. The study contributes to Weber's social theory by demonstrating the interlinked and symbiotic nature of the different dimensions of neo‐patrimonialism embedded within traditional power structures.
Management guideline for Werner syndrome 2020. 6. Skin ulcers associated with Werner syndrome: Prevention and non‐surgical and surgical treatment
Authors: Kubota Yoshitaka , Takemoto Minoru , Taniguchi Toshibumi , Motegi Sei‐ichiro , Taniguchi Akira , Nakagami Hironori , Maezawa Yoshiro , Koshizaka Masaya , Kato Hisaya , Mori Seijiro , Tsukamoto Kazuhisa , Kuzuya Masafumi , Yokote Koutaro
Published: November 2020

Aim

To provide guidelines on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of skin ulcers in Werner syndrome.

Methods

This article was based on literature from 1996, when WRN was identified as a gene responsible for Werner syndrome, and we evaluated several authentic clinical cases of genetically diagnosed patients. There were 63 patients with Werner syndrome in the Japanese reports retrieved from Medical Online between January 1996 and December 2017. There were 56 patients with Werner syndrome in English reports written by Japanese authors and retrieved from PubMed during the same period.

Results

Records on skin ulcers were found in 27 (43%) out of 63 patients and 22 (40%) out of 56 patients from the Japanese and English reports, respectively. The reported ulcers were often located at the distal one‐third of the lower legs. There were 8 patients with callosities in the foot in the Japanese reports and 9 patients in the English reports. A skin ulcer in Werner syndrome is generally intractable. Weight‐bearing ulcers or callosity should be critically assessed in surgical procedures because they have effects on patient pain and gait. By adopting a recently advanced technique to facilitate wound healing, the cases of ulcers that were difficult to treat and those requiring major operations can be closed with minimally invasive surgery.

Conclusions

Skin ulcers in Werner syndrome are refractory, and they lead to reduced quality of life of patients. A callosity in Werner syndrome is an important therapeutic target for the prevention of ulcers. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 153–159.
Removal of middle molecules with medium cutoff dialyzer in patients on short frequent hemodialysis
Authors: Reis Thiago , Martino Francesca , Dias Priscila , de Freitas Geraldo R. R. , da Silva Filho Evandro R. , de Azevedo Maria L. C. , Reis Fábio , Cozzolino Mario , Rizo‐Topete Lilia , Ronco Claudio
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Medium cutoff (MCO) membranes for hemodialysis (HD) remove more effectively large middle molecules than high‐flux (HF) membranes. In patients on in‐center short frequent HD regimen (5 sessions per week, 2 hours and 30 minutes per session) the effect of MCO on middle weight uremic toxins has not been elucidated.

Methods

This retrospective study included 15 patients previously performing short frequent HD with HF dialyzer (HF‐HD), that were switched to short frequent HD with MCO dialyzer (MCO‐HD) for 2 months, and returned to HF‐HD. The primary endpoint was the predialysis concentration of α1‐acid glycoprotein during the different study phases. Secondary endpoints were predialysis concentration of other middle molecules, albumin, and assessment of the quality of life using the 36‐item short‐form health survey (SF‐36).

Findings

During MCO‐HD phase there was a reduction in mean ± SD α1‐acid glycoprotein concentration (98.71 ± 25.2 vs. 88.6 ± 24.6 mg/dL, P = 0.107), followed by an increment 2 months after returning to HF‐HD (89.18 ± 26.12 vs. 97.33 ± 31.29 mg/dL, P = 0.002); however, only the second variation was statistically significant. MCO‐HD provided lower median predialysis concentration of prolactin (16 [10.2–25.6] vs. 14.1 [11.7–34.8] ng/mL, P = 0.036). Single‐pool Kt/V, standard Kt/V, predialysis β2‐microglobulin, myoglobin, and SF‐36 questionnaire remained stable during the first two phases (pre‐MCO and MCO). β2‐Microglobulin increased in the post‐MCO phase (20.02 ± 8.14 vs. 21.27 ± 7.64 μg/mL, P = 0.000). Mean predialysis concentration of albumin reduced significantly from pre‐MCO vs. MCO phases (39.9 ± 3.7 vs. 38.3 ± 3.3 g/L, P = 0.020) and rebounded significantly from MCO vs. post‐MCO phases (38.7 ± 3.1 vs. 41.3 ± 3.0 g/L, P = 0.007).

Discussion

In this retrospective analysis, short frequent MCO‐HD promotes a reduction in prolactin, a middle weight uremic toxin, and trends toward a reduction in α1‐acid glycoprotein. No patients developed hypoalbuminemia. These findings are encouraging and deserve investigation in prospective studies.
Recursive linear models optimized by bioinspired metaheuristics to streamflow time series prediction
Authors: Siqueira Hugo , Belotti Jonatas Trabuco , Boccato Levy , Luna Ivette , Attux Romis , Lyra Christiano
Published: November 2020

Time series forecasting problems are often addressed using linear techniques, especially the autoregressive (AR) models, due to their simplicity combined with good performances. It is possible to generalize a linear predictor by allowing infinite impulse response (IIR) through the addition of feedback loops, as occurs in the autoregressive and moving average (ARMA) models and IIR filters. However, the calculation of the free coefficients of these structures is more complex, as the optimization problem has no closed‐form solution. This work conducts an extensive investigation on the use of linear models to predict monthly seasonal streamflow series associated with Brazilian hydroelectric plants. The main goal is to reach the best achievable performance with linear approaches. We propose the application of recursive models, estimating their parameters with the aid of bioinspired metaheuristics: particle swarm optimization (PSO), genetic algorithm (GA), differential evolution (DE), and two immune‐inspired algorithms, the CLONALG, and the artificial immune network for optimization (Opt‐aiNet). The AR model is also considered. The results to multistep ahead forecasting indicated that the insertion of feedback loops increased the performances, with ARMA being the best predictor. The DE, PSO, and GA led to the minimum values of mean‐squared error during the tests, while DE yielded the smallest dispersion.
Artistic Techniques in Heritage Education: An Exploratory SHEO‐Based Study
Authors: Gómez‐Redondo Carmen , Valle‐Gómez Lucía , Fontal Olaia
Published: November 2020

Having started from theoretical premises, the following study showed the results obtained by research work carried out on the use of artistic methodologies in the educational designs inventoried in the database of the Spanish Heritage Education Observatory (SHEO). This article’s aim was to understand and learn about the use of artistic techniques in the designs of heritage education programmes. To this end, the authors resorted to SHEO’s own methodology for the assessment of the quality of educational programmes. In this study, specific modifications were introduced in the latter methodology as well as in the data collection and analysis tools so as to adapt them to the specific topic of our research. In order to achieve this purpose, a descriptive‐statistical analysis of the variables defined for the sample was made by using the SPSS software. The main results were not particularly promising and point to the low representativeness within the whole database of the educational designs inventoried in the SHEO database that use artistic techniques as well at the playful and use that was made of such techniques in those designs and the absence of solid contents in this regard.
The psychological symptoms of patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease (2019) in China: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Li Juan , Yang Zhen , Zhang Jie , Wang An‐ni , Wang Xiao , Dong Li‐li , Wang Fu‐sheng , Wei Rui‐hong , Li Yi‐fei , Zhang Jing‐ping
Published: November 2020

Aims

To determine psychological symptoms of patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 in China and to explore the influencing factors.

Design

A cross‐sectional study.

Methods

A convenience sample of 296 mild coronavirus disease 2019 patients were recruited from a Fangcang hospital in Wuhan, Hubei Province, from 3–5 March, 2020. Participants were assessed using a sociodemographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire, and Symptom Check List 90. The binary logistic regression was utilized to explore the influencing factors of psychological symptoms of patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019.

Results

In total, 296 of 299 patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 participated in the study (response rate: 99.0%). The findings revealed that 12.8% patients with mild symptoms have mental health problems; the most common psychological symptoms are phobic anxiety (58.4%), paranoid ideation (50.7%) and psychoticism (40.2%). Female patients [OR = 3.587, 95% CI (1.694–7.598)] and those having physical symptoms currently [OR = 2.813, 95% CI (1.210–6.539)] are at higher risk, while those in the middle duration of hospitalization [OR = 0.278, 95% CI (0.121–0.639)] protect against mental‐health problems.

Conclusions

The minority of patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 were still suffering from psychological symptoms. Healthcare providers are recommended to pay particular attention to screening these high‐risk groups (women, those in the initial stages of hospitalization and those with physical symptoms currently) and implement targeted psychological care as required.

Impact

This study found that most patients of coronavirus disease 2019 in Fangcang hospital exhibited normal mental health at par with the general Chinese norm and the minority of them were suffering from psychological symptoms. The findings can provide a reference for healthcare providers to screen high‐risk psychological symptoms groups and implement targeted psychological intervention for patients with coronavirus disease 2019.
Differences in ambulatory blood pressure profiles between Japanese and Thai patients with hypertension /suspected hypertension
Authors: Tomitani Naoko , Wanthong Sirisawat , Roubsanthisuk Weranuj , Buranakitjaroen Peera , Hoshide Satoshi , Kario Kazuomi
Published: November 2020

Ethnic differences in the profiles of hypertension and cardiovascular risk have been reported between Asians and Westerners. However, blood pressure (BP) profiles and the risk factors for cardiovascular disease might differ even among different Asian populations because of the diversity of cultures, foods, and environments. We retrospectively examined differences in 24‐h BP profiles between 1051 Japanese (mean age, 62.5 ± 12.4 years; medicated hypertension, 75.7%) and 804 Thai (mean age, 56.9 ± 18.5 years; medicated hypertension, 65.6%) by using the Japanese and Thai ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) databases, in order to check the BP control status in treated hypertensives and to inform the clinical diagnosis of hypertension. The two populations had similar office systolic BP (SBP) (142.7 ± 20.0 vs 142.3 ± 20.6 mm Hg, p = .679). However, the Japanese population had higher 24‐hr average and daytime SBP, and the Thai population had higher nighttime SBP even after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors (all p < .05). Greater morning BP surge was observed in Japanese (31.2 vs 22.8 mm Hg, p < .001). Regarding nocturnal BP dipping status, the prevalence of riser status (higher nighttime than daytime SBP) was higher in the Thai population (30.5% vs 10.9%). These findings suggest that a substantial difference in 24‐hr BP profiles exists between even neighboring countries in Asia.
Long non‐coding RNA EWSAT1 promoted metastasis and actin cytoskeleton changes via miR‐24‐3p sponging in osteosarcoma
Authors: Shen Dewei , Liu Yize , Liu Yuexin , Wang Tao , Yuan Lin , Huang Xuyang , Wang Yong
Published: November 2020

Non‐coding RNAs are closely associated with tumorigenesis in multiple malignant tumours, including osteosarcoma (OS). Long non‐coding RNA Ewing sarcoma‐associated transcript 1 (EWSAT1) plays a role in metastasis, and actin cytoskeletal changes in OS remain unclear. In the current study, we showed that EWSAT1 expression was up‐regulated in OS and that an elevation in the EWSAT1 expression level was correlated with poor prognosis in patients with OS. Functionally, we showed that knockdown of EWSAT1 suppressed migration and induced actin stress fibre degradation in MNNG/HOS and 143B cells. Moreover, we found that ROCK1 was a key downstream effector in EWSAT1‐mediated cell migration and actin stress fibre changes. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ROCK1 and EWSAT1 shared a similar microRNA response element of microRNA‐24‐3p (miR‐24‐3p). Moreover, we verified that miR‐24‐3p suppressed ROCK1 and its mediated migration and actin stress fibres change by direct targeting. EWSAT1 promoted ROCK1‐mediated migration and actin stress fibre formation through miR‐24‐3p sponging. Lastly, through an in vivo study, we demonstrated that EWSAT1 promoted lung metastasis in OS. According to the above‐mentioned results, we suggest that EWSAT1 acts as an oncogene and that EWSAT1/miR‐24‐3p/ROCK1 axial could be a new target in the treatment of OS.
CHALLENGING TERMS: Contemporary Art and the Disciplining of Novelty in the UAE
Authors: Derderian Elizabeth
Published: November 2020

Curators and gallerists are constantly in search of exciting, new contemporary art from around the globe. Yet in order for “emerging” art markets to become visible to the contemporary art elite, they must adopt infrastructures and criteria from that world. In so doing, they often standardize and lose the very novelty for which they are sought. These infrastructures, such as biennials and commercial art fairs, determine how artworks are exhibited and which artists are successful, and they codify art historical narratives which complement, rather than challenge, the dominant Euro‐American art historical canon. This phenomenon is particularly visible in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where infrastructural and market changes have transpired swiftly across the art scene in the past decade, resulting in the frequent sidelining of Arabic‐speaking artists and those who work in more traditional media. [contemporary art, United Arab Emirates (UAE), canon, aesthetics, novelty]
Orthodontic bone screws: A quick update and its promising future
Authors: Chang Chris H. , Lin Lexie Y. , Roberts Wilbur Eugene
Published: November 2020

Orthodontic bone screws (OBSs) provide intraoral anchorage by penetrating oral mucosa and seating firmly in basilar bone (BB). Retromolar (prosthetic‐type) implants introduced the extra‐alveolar (E‐A) concept for BB anchorage to move teeth throughout the alveolar process, but the clinical procedures were complex and expensive. Titanium alloy (Ti) miniscrews placed in inter‐radicular (I‐R) alveolar bone are more convenient and provide some tooth movement potential, but multiple screws are usually required and the devices often interfere with the path of tooth movement. The advantages of BB anchorage and the convenience of miniscrew are combined into the E‐A OBS system. These miniscrews are relatively large in diameter (2 mm), and strong (stainless steel), which are placed intraorally in the BB of the infra‐zygomatic crest (IZC) and mandibular buccal shelf (MBS). E‐A OBSs provide osseous anchorage to retract the dentition and/or rotate either arch. Recovery of impactions is effectively managed with lever arm springs anchored with IZC or MBS bone screws. An emerging frontier is BB anchorage for correcting severe malocclusions with clear aligners. Since the osseous‐anchored mechanics are complementary, fixed appliances and clear aligners can be used individually or in tandem to resolve a broad variety of malocclusions. This report summarizes current concepts for conservatively managing complex malocclusions such as severe crowding, skeletal discrepancies, asymmetries and impactions with the OBS system.
Diagnostic Value of MRI Lamellated Hyperintense Synovitis in Periprosthetic Infection of Hip
Authors: Gao Zongyan , Jin Yi , Chen Xiao , Dai Zhipeng , Qiang Shuo , Guan Shuyuan , Li Qiang , Huang Jincheng , Zheng Jia
Published: November 2020

Objective

To investigate the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lamellated hyperintense synovitis and periprosthetic infection of hip arthroplasty and estimate its value in the diagnosis of infection after hip replacement.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 50 patients who underwent MRI from January 2016 to June 2019 after hip replacement was performed. The MRI scanning was performed with a 1.5T clinical imaging unit using SEMAC protocols. A total of 25 patients (cohort 1) showed infected total hip arthroplasty, and 25 patients had non‐infected arthroplasty as controls (cohort 2). Two musculoskeletal radiologists, blinded to the clinical diagnosis, reviewed all the images for the presence of lamellated hyperintense synovitis independently. The cases were rereviewed by each reader after 2 weeks. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated using the first reads. The Kappa statistic was used to assess inter‐observer and intra‐observer reliability.

Results

The incidence of lamellated hyperintense synovitis was 76%–88% in the experimental group and 8%–16% in the control group. The sensitivity of lamellated hyperintense synovitis for infection was 0.80–0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI]:0.59 – 0.97), the specificity was 0.84~0.92 (95% CI: 0.64  –0.99), the positive predictive value 0.83–0.92 (95% CI: 0.67 – 0.98), the negative predictive value 0.81 – 0.88 (95% CI: 0.65 – 0.96). The agreement between two readers was substantial (Kappa = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58 – 0.94, P < 0.05). There were moderate inter–observer agreements for both readers, reader 1 (Kappa = 0.48, 95%CI: 0.23 – 0.72, P < 0.05) and reader 2 (Kappa = 0.44，95% CI: 0.19 – 0.69, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

In this cohort, the presence of lamellated hyperintense synovitis in the MRI of hip arthroplasty showed high sensitivity and specificity for infection. This sign had substantial intra‐observer reliability and moderate inter‐observer reliability in the classification of the synovial pattern.
Dietary constraints of phytosaurian reptiles revealed by dental microwear textural analysis
Authors: Bestwick Jordan , Jones Andrew S. , Purnell Mark A. , Butler Richard J.
Published: November 2020

Phytosaurs are a group of large, semi‐aquatic archosaurian reptiles from the Middle–Late Triassic. They have often been interpreted as carnivorous or piscivorous due to their large size, morphological similarity to extant crocodilians and preservation in fluvial, lacustrine and coastal deposits. However, these dietary hypotheses are difficult to test, meaning that phytosaur ecologies and their roles in Triassic food webs remain incompletely constrained. Here, we apply dental microwear textural analysis to the three‐dimensional sub‐micrometre scale tooth surface textures that form during food consumption to provide the first quantitative dietary constraints for five species of phytosaur. We furthermore explore the impacts of tooth position and cranial robustness on phytosaur microwear textures. We find subtle systematic texture differences between teeth from different positions along phytosaur tooth rows, which we interpret to be the result of different loading pressures experienced during food consumption, rather than functional partitioning of food processing along tooth rows. We find rougher microwear textures in morphologically robust taxa. This may be the result of seizing and processing larger prey items compared to those captured by gracile taxa, rather than dietary differences per se. We reveal relatively low dietary diversity between our study phytosaurs and that individual species show a lack of dietary specialization. Species are predominantly carnivorous and/or piscivorous, with two taxa exhibiting slight preferences for ‘harder’ invertebrates. Our results provide strong evidence for higher degrees of ecological convergence between phytosaurs and extant crocodilians than previously appreciated, furthering our understanding of the functioning and evolution of Triassic ecosystems.
Food web models reveal potential ecosystem effects of seagrass recovery in the northern Wadden Sea
Authors: Horn Sabine , Coll Marta , Asmus Harald , Dolch Tobias
Published: November 2020

In contrast to the global trend, seagrass beds have recovered in size and density in the northern part of the European Wadden Sea, but ecosystem effects of seagrass recovery and the impacts to ecosystem services are largely unknown. We used temporal‐dynamic food web modeling Ecopath with Ecosim to assess potential ecosystem effects of seagrass recovery in the semi‐enclosed Sylt‐Rømø Bight at the German‐Danish border. In addition to changes in the system's structure and functioning over time, the model predicted changes in biomass of seagrass‐associated species. For seagrass consumers, we projected an increase in biomass as a result of an increase in food supply. Likewise, the model predicted an increase in biomass of seagrass meadow inhabitants from decreased predation pressure. Correspondingly, the main predators of these inhabitants decreased in biomass according to model results. Proxies representing ecosystem services predicted an increase of tourism appeal of the site with increasing seagrass meadows. Indirect mediation effects of seagrass severely influenced the model output and are thus crucial to forecast potential effects of the recovery of habitat‐forming species. Our study illustrates that holistic approaches such as food web models could provide a suitable basis for predicting ecosystem effects of changes in the biomass of habitat‐forming species such as seagrasses.
Enhancing bird diversity via species differential analysis at the Haizhu National Wetland Park in Guangzhou, China: a case study
Authors: Fang Xiaoshan , Wu Renzhi , Feng Yongjun , Huang Yuanxin , Liu Shuang , Yuan Li , Liu Jincheng , Niu Xiaojun , Wang Xiangchun , Hu Huijian
Published: November 2020

The Haizhu National Wetland Park (HNWP) is the only national wetland park in a central megalopolis area in China. It was established to restore and conserve a damaged composite wetland ecosystem comprising urban rivers, inner lakes, and semi‐natural forests with fruit trees in central Guangzhou. In 2013, our survey at HNWP revealed that the bird diversity was poor, which indirectly reflected the low habitat quality. Therefore, we proposed a restoration workflow based on species differential analysis (SDA) and implemented it in this area in 2013. The SDA method determined the bird species (i.e. target species) for which habitat could be restored by analyzing the existing, surrounding, and historical bird community in the area. We screened for target species using SDA and used these species as a basis for site zoning, habitat restoration projects, and recruitment measures. Both species richness and species diversity of the birds in the HNWP increased rapidly from 2014 to 2016 and remained stable in 2017 to 2018. In contrast, the species richness and species diversity in the control area where the SDA method was not used only reached the values of the area where this method was used in 2017. This shows that the SDA‐based method could improve bird diversity effectively and rapidly. In addition, the proportion of waterbirds and migratory birds in the park also increased, indicating that the habitats that were restored for the waterbirds showed an improvement in quality.
Quantile-Frequency Analysis and Spectral Measures for Diagnostic Checks of Time Series With Nonlinear Dynamics
Authors: Li Ta-Hsin
Published: November 2020

Nonlinear dynamic volatility has been observed in many financial time series. The recently proposed quantile periodogram offers an alternative way to examine this phenomena in the frequency domain. The quantile periodogram is constructed from trigonometric quantile regression of time series data at different frequencies and quantile levels, enabling the quantile-frequency analysis (QFA) of nonlinear serial dependence. This paper introduces some spectral measures based on the quantile periodogram for diagnostic checks of financial time series models and for model-based discriminant analysis. A simulation-based parametric bootstrapping technique is employed to compute the p-values of the spectral measures. The usefulness of the proposed method is demonstrated by a simulation study and a motivating application using the daily log returns of the S&P 500 index together with GARCH-type models. The results show that the QFA method is able to provide additional insights into the goodness of fit of these financial time series models that may have been missed by conventional tests. The results also show that the QFA method offers a more informative way of discriminant analysis for detecting regime changes in financial time series.
Genetically encoded multimode reporter of adaptor complex 3 traffic in budding yeast
Authors: Plemel Rachael L. , Odorizzi Greg , Merz Alexey J.
Published: November 2020

AP‐3 (adaptor complex 3) mediates traffic from the late Golgi or early endosomes to late endosomal compartments. In mammals, mutations in AP‐3 cause Hermansky‐Pudlak syndrome type 2, cyclic neutropenias, and a form of epileptic encephalopathy. In budding yeast, AP‐3 carries cargo directly from the trans‐Golgi to the lysosomal vacuole. Despite the pathway's importance and its discovery two decades ago, rapid screens and selections for AP‐3 mutants have not been available. We now report GNSI, a synthetic, genetically encoded reporter that allows rapid plate‐based assessment of AP‐3 functional deficiency, using either chromogenic or growth phenotype readouts. This system identifies defects in both the formation and consumption of AP‐3 carrier vesicles and is adaptable to high‐throughput screening or selection in both plate array and liquid batch culture formats. Episomal and integrating plasmids encoding GNSI have been submitted to the Addgene repository.
Influence of skull biometrics on cosmetic reconstruction after incisivectomy and nasal planectomy reconstruction in dogs
Authors: Goldschmidt Stephanie L. , McKibben Gavin , Rendahl Aaron , Kiefer Kristina M.
Published: November 2020

Objective

To identify biometric skull measurements that are associated with tension and excess narrowing of the resultant nasal aperture during cosmetic nasal planectomy reconstruction.

Study design

Ex vivo study.

Animals

Twenty cadavers of mesocephalic dogs.

Methods

Cosmetic reconstruction was performed after incisivectomy and nasal planectomy. Preoperative and intraoperative skull measurements included width of the nasal planum, rostral and caudal maxilla, labial flap, and maxilla at ostectomy site; the length of the nose, labial flap, and philtrum incision; lip thickness; and philtrum placement. Ratios of select width to length measurements were calculated. Correlation was tested between skull biometrics and tension during reconstruction as well as resulting opening of the nasal aperture.

Results

Breeds included golden retriever, pit bull, Labrador retriever, beagle, shepherd, basset hound, boxer mix, cocker spaniel, and Great Dane. No biometric ratios were predictive of procedural success. The most important objective measurements that were significantly correlated with inferior outcome included width of the nasal planum (>3 cm), width of the caudal maxilla (>6.2 cm), lip thickness (>0.5 cm), width of the labial flap (>2.9 cm), length of the incision created to make the cosmetic “philtrum” (longer incisions >2.8 cm), and philtrum placement (more dorsal placement).

Conclusion

Tension during reconstruction and decreased resultant nasal aperture were associated with wider facial features and thicker lips as well as directly impacted by cosmetic philtrum design and placement.

Clinical significance

Standardized preoperative measurements may help guide clinical decision making in choosing and executing a nasal planectomy reconstructive technique.
Raccoons (Procyon lotor) in the Madrid region of Spain are carriers of antimicrobial‐resistant Escherichia coli and enteropathogenic E. coli
Authors: Orden José A. , García‐Meniño Isidro , Flament‐Simon Saskia C. , Blanco Jorge , de la Fuente Ricardo , Martínez‐Rodrigo Abel , Mas Alicia , Carrión Javier , Sobrino Francisco , Domínguez‐Bernal Gustavo
Published: November 2020

The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance is unclear. Raccoons in North America can carry a variety of enteric bacteria, with associated antimicrobial resistance, that could infect humans and livestock. The potential for raccoons to carry these bacteria in Europe, where they are an invasive species, has not been explored. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli with associated antimicrobial resistance in raccoons from the Madrid region of Spain and to determine whether they are carriers of potential human pathogens, including verotoxin‐producing E. coli (VTEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). In total, we tested 237 E. coli isolates from the faeces of 83 euthanized raccoons for susceptibility to 14 antimicrobial agents and the presence of VTEC and EPEC. Antimicrobial resistance to at least one antimicrobial was detected in the faeces of 51% (42/83; 95% CI, 40.1–61.1) of the raccoons tested. A high percentage of raccoons carried, in their faeces, E. coli isolates resistant to ampicillin (33%), streptomycin (33%), tetracycline (30%), sulphafurazole (31%) and trimethoprim‐sulphamethoxazole (23%). We detected one isolate of extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase‐producing E. coli from the faeces of one raccoon. We detected VTEC in the faeces of one raccoon, and EPEC in the faeces of 12% (10/83) of the raccoons. Of the raccoons that carried EPEC in their faeces, 60% (6/10) carried EPEC isolates that exhibited characteristics associated with pathogenicity in humans. Raccoons in Madrid can carry pathogenic and antimicrobial‐resistant E. coli in their faeces and may be a risk to public health because of their potential to contaminate food and the environment with their faeces.
A Whole-Cell Biosensor for Detection of 2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG)-Producing Bacteria from Grassland Soil
Authors: Hansen Morten Lindqvist , He Zhiming , Wibowo Mario , Jelsbak Lars
Published: November 2020

The interest in bacterial biocontrol agents as biosustainable alternatives to pesticides to increase crop yields has grown. To date, we have a broad knowledge of antimicrobial compounds, such as DAPG, produced by bacteria growing in the rhizosphere surrounding plant roots.
Heterotrimeric G-Protein Signaling Is Required for Cellulose Degradation in Neurospora crassa
Authors: Collier Logan A. , Ghosh Arit , Borkovich Katherine A.
Published: November 2020

Filamentous fungi are critical for the recycling of plant litter in the biosphere by degrading lignocellulosic biomass into simpler compounds for metabolism. Both saprophytic and pathogenic fungi utilize plant cell wall-degrading enzymes to liberate carbon for metabolism. Several studies have demonstrated a role for cellulase enzymes during infection of economically relevant crops by fungal pathogens. Especially in developing countries, severe plant disease means loss of entire crops, sometimes leading to starvation. In this study, we demonstrate that G-protein signaling is a key component of cellulase production. Therefore, understanding the role of G-protein signaling in the regulation of the unique metabolism of cellulose by these organisms can inform innovations in strain engineering of industrially relevant species for biofuel production and in combatting food shortages caused by plant pathogens.