bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DNA nanopores as artificial membrane channels for origami-based bioelectronics
Authors: Luo Le , Manda Swathi , Park Yunjeong , Demir Busra , Vicente Jesse , Anantram M.P. , Oren Ersin Emre , Gopinath Ashwin , Rolandi Marco
Published: March 2023

Biological membrane channels mediate information exchange between cells and facilitate molecular recognition1-4. While tuning the shape and function of membrane channels for precision molecular sensing via de-novo routes is complex, an even more significant challenge is interfacing membrane channels with electronic devices for signal readout5-8. This challenge at the biotic-abiotic interface results in low efficiency of information transfer - one of the major barriers to the continued development of high-performance bioelectronic devices9. To this end, we integrate membrane spanning DNA nanopores with bioprotonic contacts to create programmable, modular, and efficient artificial ion-channel interfaces that resolve the ‘iono-electronic’ disparity between the biotic environment and electronics. Through simulations and experiments, we show that cholesterol modified DNA nanopores spontaneously and with remarkable affinity span the lipid bilayer formed over the planar bio-protonic electrode surface and mediate proton transport across the bilayer. Using the ability to easily modify DNA nanostructures, we illustrate that this bioelectronic device can be programmed for electronic recognition of biomolecular signals such as presence of Streptavidin, without disrupting the native environment of the biomolecule. We anticipate this robust biotic-abiotic interface will allow facile electronic measurement of inter-cellular ionic communication and also open the door for active control of cell behavior through externally controlled selective gating of the channels.
Multi-species atlas resolves an axolotl limb development and regeneration paradox
Authors: Zhong Jixing , Aires Rita , Tsissios Georgios , Skoufa Evangelia , Brandt Kerstin , Sandoval-Guzmán Tatiana , Aztekin Can
Published: March 2023

Humans and other tetrapods are considered to require apical-ectodermal-ridge, AER, cells for limb development, and AER-like cells are suggested to be re-formed to initiate limb regeneration. Paradoxically, the presence of AER in the axolotl, the primary regeneration model organism, remains controversial. Here, by leveraging a single-cell transcriptomics-based multi-species atlas, composed of axolotl, human, mouse, chicken, and frog cells, we first established that axolotls contain cells with AER characteristics. Surprisingly, further analyses and spatial transcriptomics revealed that axolotl limbs do not fully re-form AER cells during regeneration. Moreover, the axolotl mesoderm displays part of the AER machinery, revealing a novel program for limb (re)growth. These results clarify the debate about the axolotl AER and the extent to which the limb developmental program is recapitulated during regeneration.
Abusive supervision and employee unethical pro-organizational behavior: a moderated mediation model of moral disengagement and traditionality
Authors: Yan Wei , Chen Huan , He Yan , Zhang Cuilian
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to understand how abusive supervision influences employees’ unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB). In particular, the mediating effect of moral disengagement and moderating role of traditionality on this relationship were examined.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a two-wave questionnaire survey using data collected from 629 employees from different companies in China. Moderated mediation analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that moral disengagement mediates the relationship between abusive supervision and employees’ UPB. Employee traditionality enhances the relationship between abusive supervision and moral disengagement as well as the indirect effect of abusive supervision on employees’ UPB via moral disengagement.

Originality/value

First, by exploring the positive impact of abusive supervision on UPB, the authors enhance the current understanding of the role of negative leadership in the development of UPB and enrich the research on the antecedents of UPB and outcomes of abusive supervision. Second, based on social cognitive theory, this study enriches the literature on abusive supervision and employee UPB by identifying moral disengagement as a mediator. Third, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the authors are among the first to incorporate traditionality to tell a Chinese story about how traditional employees respond to the effects of abusive supervision on UPB, providing a new lens for the cultural boundary condition in the occurrence mechanism of UPB.
BIM-enabled Kanban system in construction logistics for real-time demand reporting and pull replenishment
Authors: Zeng Ningshuang , Ye Xuling , Liu Yan , König Markus
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The unstable labor productivity and periodic planning method cause barriers to improving construction logistics management. This paper aims to explore a demand-driven mechanism for efficient construction logistics planning to record the material consumption, report the real-time demand and trigger material replenishment from off-site to on-site, which is aided by Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the Kanban technique.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper follows the design science research (DSR) principles to propose a system of designing and applying Kanban batch with 4D BIM for construction logistics planning and monitoring. Prototype development with comparative simulation experiments of a river remediation project is conducted to analyze the conventional and Kanban-triggered supply. Two-staged industrial interviews are conducted to guide and evaluate the system design.

Findings

The proposed BIM-enabled Kanban system enables construction managers and suppliers to better set integrated on- and off-site targets, report real-time demands and conduct collaborative planning and monitoring. The simulation results present significant site storage and schedule savings applying the BIM-enabled Kanban system. Feedback and constructive suggestions from practitioners are collected via interviews and analyzed for further development.

Originality/value

This paper brings to the limelight the benefits of implementing BIM-enabled demand-driven replenishment to remove waste from the material flow. This paper combines lean production theory with advanced information technology to solve construction logistics management problems.
Legislation and practice: the case of historic concrete buildings
Authors: Naldini Silvia , Ioannou Ioannis , Hadjimichael Maria , Musso Stefano F. , Pompejano Federica , Dušek Ondřej
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Only recently have historic concrete buildings received attention and the need for their protection has been understood. Their listing as architectural heritage in most countries is ruled by legislations. The research carried out within the framework of the CONSECH20 JPI project on the conservation of historic concrete buildings in the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Italy and the Netherlands has allowed to study the legislations in the four aforementioned countries and how these are brought to practice. This paper aims at the evaluation of these legislations and of their function in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The legislations have been examined focussing on the protection of historic buildings and the guidelines to achieve a correct technical conservation. These were assessed in practical situations. The situations of the four countries were studied and the parameters used allowed comparisons.

Findings

Concrete buildings are at risk and the guidelines should be further developed to meet actual conservation needs, including historical and aesthetical compatibility. The re-use of listed concrete buildings often means transforming and adapting these to a variety of modern needs and norms: the complexity of this assignment asks for a multidisciplinary teamwork. The bottom-up Dutch programme for quality in conservation, striving to bring ethical and technological principles to practice, could be a sound basis for developing respectful conservation strategies of heritage concrete buildings.

Research limitations/implications

The research concerns the four countries involved in the CONSECH30 project and could be extended to include more countries.

Practical implications

More stakeholders have to be involved in the process of conservation and transformation of heritage concrete buildings. This should be directed by the legislation.

Social implications

No direct social implications are foreseen from the outcome of the research. However, the suggestion is made that social involvement is essential in planning concrete building transformations.

Originality/value

The study focussed on the application of theory (the legislation) to practice (thus showing the limits of the legislation), which is an innovative way of contributing to the conservation of historic concrete buildings.
Psychosocial support for indigenous informal caregivers in Colombia
Authors: Paredes-Arturo Yenny Vicky , Florez-Madroñero Andrea , Aguirre-Acevedo Daniel Camilo
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze how psychosocial support influences caring activities toward indigenous older adults.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive study with the participation of 229 informal indigenous caregivers. The study considered both sociodemographic and medical variables. It used the mini-mental test to determine the cognitive level in the elderly. It applied the Yesavage and Zarit scales to establish depressive symptomatology and caregiver burden. Finally, the study used the MOS psychosocial support and Apgar screening questionnaires to assess the psychosocial dimension and the patient’s family functional state, respectively.

Findings

The study observed a low caregiver burden effect using the MOS questionnaire. This may be explained due to variability in the Zarit Scale Score product of other variables like years of care (−0.17 and −0.28), depressive symptoms (0.16 and 0.18), cognitive level (mini-mental) (−0.13 and −0.14) and comorbidity (0.26 and −0.27). The study obtained an incidence between (−0.02 and −0.12) when including all assessed dimensions into the model. The instrumental dimension in the social support questionnaire obtained the highest score.

Originality/value

Protective factors prevail in the group of indigenous caregivers allowing this activity to not trigger overload. Yet, variables such as the female gender, some comorbidities and the presence of depressive symptoms could be potential variables for dysfunction in this occupational role.
Decoupling analysis of water consumption and economic development of arid and semiarid regions in Northwest China
Authors: Shi Changfeng , Li Luji , Chiu Yung‐Ho , Wang Yanying , Li Ang
Published: March 2023

The contradiction between China's economic development, its need for resources and the protection of the environment is ctitical. Scarce water resources have resulted in a considerable bottleneck restricting the economic development of water‐deficient areas. An objective evaluation of the decoupling state of water consumption and economic development has become an important indicator of regional economic sustainable development. Based on panel data from 2000 to 2017 for six provinces in the arid and semiarid regions of Northwest China, the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index method is employed to decompose the factors of the decoupling index and establish a decoupling relationship model between water consumption and economic development. The reasons that affect the decoupling state of water resource utilization and economic development are herein discussed, and the stability of the decoupling trend is analysed. Based on the overall regional trend, the decoupling state of the arid and semiarid regions in Northwest China improved from weak to strong, but the high decoupling stability index varied among the provinces. The intensity and structure were promotional factors for decoupling water consumption and economic development, and the contribution rate of the intensity factor was higher than that of the structure factor. Income and population were inhibiting factors for decoupling water consumption and economic development, and the contribution rate of the income factor was higher than that of the population factor. Based on these results, corresponding policy recommendations are provided.
Productivity in Indonesian agriculture: Impacts of domestic and international research
Authors: Warr Peter
Published: March 2023

Total factor productivity growth contributed 38% of Indonesia's agricultural output growth from the mid‐1970s to the mid‐2000s. This study uses time series data analysed with an error correction mechanism to examine the contribution that Indonesian publicly funded agricultural research made to this outcome, allowing for other possible determinants of productivity growth, including international agricultural research, extension, government price policy and weather. The results imply a 27% real annual rate of return from a marginal increase in Indonesian agricultural research expenditure. Indonesia's public agricultural research explains virtually all of its agricultural total factor productivity growth between 1975 and 2006.
Influencers as institutions: Impact of digital politics in the Global South
Authors: Sinha Karishma , Jhalani Paarmita , Khan Aasim , Mukherjee Payel Chattopadhyay
Published: March 2023

The digital space has become indispensable for campaigns around the world. However, it is not obvious how digital influence translates to leverage on‐ground action, particularly in its impact on protest movements that challenge the status quo. In our study, we seek to clarify these conceptual issues with the idea of influence in digital politics and develop a framework to understand its institutional impact, particularly in the Global South. Taking two prominent movements, #BlackLivesMatter, which was successful in changing the state's policy on racism, and #AntiCAA in India, a similar movement that achieved less success, we develop a comparative framework that can be applied to understand the limits of digital influence in the Global South. Highlighting the difference in their institutional contexts, we show that digital influence emerges not only in terms of its positive impact but also in the negative impact it can have when the state and its institution seek to counter the protests.
The usefulness of a nasopharyngeal multiplex polymerase chain reaction system to screen pediatric patients with preoperative fever
Authors: Sueda Aya , Otake Shogo , Kasai Masashi , Kagawa Tetsuro
Published: March 2023

Background

When children have a preoperative fever, anesthesiologists must help determine whether to postpone or proceed with surgery, as fever may be a sign of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Such infections are a known risk factor for perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs), which are still one of the prime causes of anesthetic mortality and morbidity in pediatric patients. Since the COVID‐19 pandemic, preoperative assessments have become drastically more complex as hospitals strive to balance practicality and safety. In our facility, if pediatric patients presented with preoperative fever, we used the FilmArray® Respiratory Panel 2.1 to determine whether to postpone or proceed with surgery.

Methods

This is a single‐center retrospective observational study evaluating the efficacy of the FilmArray® Respiratory Panel 2.1 as a preoperative screening test. This study included pediatric patients scheduled for elective surgeries between March 2021 and February 2022. FilmArray was used if a patient had a preoperative fever (determined by axillary temperature, ≥38°C for <1‐year‐old, ≥37.5°C for ≥1‐year‐old) between hospital admission and before surgery. We excluded patients if they had apparent symptoms of URTI.

Results

In the FilmArray positive group, 11 of 25 (44%) cases developed subsequent symptoms after surgery was canceled. No patients in the negative group developed symptoms. The proportion of the development of subsequent symptoms between the FilmArray positive and negative groups was statistically significant (p < .001, odds ratio: 29.6, 95% confidence interval: [3.80–1356.01]).

Conclusions

Our retrospective observational study revealed that 44% of the FilmArray positive group subsequently developed symptoms, and no PRAEs were observed in the FilmArray negative group. We suggest that FilmArray could be useful as a screening test for pediatric patients with preoperative fever.
A gender‐based secondary analysis of the ADAPT‐2 combination naltrexone and bupropion treatment for methamphetamine use disorder trial
Authors: Levander Ximena A. , Carmody Thomas , Cook Ryan R. , Potter Jennifer S. , Trivedi Madhukar H. , Korthuis Philip Todd , Shoptaw Steven
Published: March 2023

Background and Aims

Socio‐cultural (gender) and biological (sex)‐based differences contribute to psychostimulant susceptibility, potentially affecting treatment responsiveness among women with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). The aims were to measure (i) how women with MUD independently and compared with men respond to treatment versus placebo and (ii) among women, how the hormonal method of contraception (HMC) affects treatment responsiveness.

Design

This was a secondary analysis of ADAPT‐2, a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multicenter, two‐stage sequential parallel comparison design trial.

Setting

United States.

Participants

This study comprised 126 women (403 total participants); average age = 40.1 years (standard deviation = 9.6) with moderate to severe MUD.

Interventions

Interventions were combination intramuscular naltrexone (380 mg/3 weeks) and oral bupropion (450 mg daily) versus placebo.

Measurements

Treatment response was measured using a minimum of three of four negative methamphetamine urine drug tests during the last 2 weeks of each stage; treatment effect was the difference between weighted treatment responses of each stage.

Findings

At baseline, women used methamphetamine intravenously fewer days than men [15.4 versus 23.1% days, P = 0.050, difference = −7.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −15.0 to −0.3] and more women than men had anxiety (59.5 versus 47.6%, P = 0.027, difference = 11.9%, 95% CI = 1.5 to 22.3%). Of 113 (89.7%) women capable of pregnancy, 31 (27.4%) used HMC. In Stage 1 29% and Stage 2 5.6% of women on treatment had a response compared with 3.2% and 0% on placebo, respectively. A treatment effect was found independently for females and males (P < 0.001); with no between‐gender treatment effect (0.144 females versus 0.100 males; P = 0.363, difference = 0.044, 95% CI = −0.050 to 0.137). Treatment effect did not differ by HMC use (0.156 HMC versus 0.128 none; P = 0.769, difference = 0.028, 95% CI −0.157 to 0.212).

Conclusions

Women with methamphetamine use disorder receiving combined intramuscular naltrexone and oral bupropion treatment achieve greater treatment response than placebo. Treatment effect does not differ by HMC.
Analysis of genetic diversity and selection signals in Chaling cattle of southern China using whole‐genome scan
Authors: Li Shuang , Lei Hong , Li Jianbo , Sun Ao , Ahmed Zulfiqar , Duan Hongfeng , Chen Lin , Zhang Baizhong , Lei Chuzhao , Yi Kangle
Published: March 2023

China has diversified resources of indigenous cattle, which are classified into Northern, Central, and Southern groups according to their geographical distribution. Chaling cattle belong to Southern group. This breed is famous for the production of good quality meat with elite meat grades. To analyze the genetic diversity of Chaling cattle, 20 samples were sequenced using whole‐genome resequencing technology, along with 138 published whole‐genome sequencing data of Indian indicine cattle, Chinese indicine cattle, East Asian taurine cattle, Eurasian taurine cattle, and European taurine cattle as control. It was found that Chaling cattle originated from Chinese indicine cattle. The genetic diversity of Chaling cattle is higher than that of Indian indicine cattle, East Asian taurine cattle, Eurasian taurine cattle, and European taurine cattle, but lower than that of Chinese indicine cattle and Xiangxi cattle. Annotating the selection signals obtained by composite likelihood ratio, θπ, FST, π‐ratio, and XP‐EHH methods, several genes associated with immunity, heat tolerance, reproduction, growth, and meat quality showed strong selection signals. In general, this study provides a theoretical basis for analyzing the genetic mechanism of Chaling cattle with excellent adaptability, rough feeding tolerance, good immune performance, and good meat quality. This work lays a foundation for genetic breeding of Chaling cattle in future.
Lymph node assessment technique matters in radical cystectomy for bladder cancer
Authors: Chau Matthew , Thia Ivan , Viswambaram Pravin , Hawks Cynthia , Green William , Swarbrick Nicole , McCombie Steve P. , Hayne Dickon
Published: March 2023

Background

For patients undergoing radical cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection for urothelial cancer, a lymph node count of at least 16 is associated with improved cancer‐specific and overall survival. Lymph node yield is presumed to relate directly to extent of dissection and surgical quality, however limited studies have reviewed the impact of the pathological assessment process of lymph nodes on lymph node yield.

Method

A retrospective assessment of 139 patients who had radical cystectomy for urothelial cancer between March 2015 and July 2021 from Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth, Australia) by a single surgeon was assessed. A change in pathological assessment process from assessment of only palpable lymph nodes to microscopic assessment of the entire submitted specimens occurred in August 2018. Patients were divided into two groups accordingly and other relevant demographic and pathological data was recorded. The impact of pathological processing technique on lymph node yield was assessed using the Student T test and logistical regression was used to assess the impact of other demographic variables.

Results

The mean lymph node yield was 16.2 nodes (IQR 12–23) in 54 patients in the pre‐process change group compared to 22.4 nodes (IQR 15–28.4) in 85 patients in the post‐process change group (P < 0.0001). 53.7% had 16 or more nodes in the pre‐process change group compared to 71.3% in the post‐process change group (P = 0.04). Age, BMI, and gender were not significant predictors of lymph node yield.

Conclusion

The current study demonstrates that the microscopic assessment of all lymph node tissue detects significantly more lymph nodes than only examining palpably abnormal tissue. Pathologic assessment protocols should be standardized to this technique to ensure the utility of lymph node yield as a quality metric.
European study confirms the combination of fever and petechial rash as an important warning sign for childhood sepsis and meningitis
Authors: Kohlmaier Benno , Leitner Manuel , Hagedoorn Nienke N. , Borensztajn Dorine M. , von Both Ulrich , Carrol Enitan D. , Emonts Marieke , van der Flier Michiel , de Groot Ronald , Herberg Jethro , Levin Michael , Lim Emma , Maconochie Ian K. , Martinon‐Torres Federico , Nijman Ruud G. , Pokorn Marko , Rivero‐Calle Irene , Tan Chantal D. , Tsolia Maria , Vermont Clementien L. , Zachariasse Joany M. , Zavadska Dace , Moll Henriette A. , Zenz Werner ,   PERFORM consortium (Personalised Risk assessment in febrile children to optimise Real‐life Management across the European Union)
Published: March 2023

Aim

This study investigated febrile children with petechial rashes who presented to European emergency departments (EDs) and investigated the role that mechanical causes played in diagnoses.

Methods

Consecutive patients with fever presenting to EDs in 11 European emergency departments in 2017–2018 were enrolled. The cause and focus of infection were identified and a detailed analysis was performed on children with petechial rashes. The results are presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

We found that 453/34010 (1.3%) febrile children had petechial rashes. The focus of the infection included sepsis (10/453, 2.2%) and meningitis (14/453, 3.1%). Children with a petechial rash were more likely than other febrile children to have sepsis or meningitis (OR 8.5, 95% CI 5.3–13.1) and bacterial infections (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0–1.8) as well as need for immediate life‐saving interventions (OR 6.6, 95% CI 4.4–9.5) and intensive care unit admissions (OR 6.5, 95% CI 3.0–12.5).

Conclusion

The combination of fever and petechial rash is still an important warning sign for childhood sepsis and meningitis. Ruling out coughing and/or vomiting was insufficient to safely identify low‐risk patients.
Randomised, placebo‐controlled trial and meta‐analysis show benefit of ondansetron for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea: The TRITON trial
Authors: Gunn David , Topan Rabia , Barnard Lorna , Fried Ron , Holloway Ivana , Brindle Richard , Corsetti Maura , Scott Mark , Farmer Adam , Kapur Kapil , Sanders David , Eugenicos Maria , Trudgill Nigel , Whorwell Peter , Mclaughlin John , Akbar Ayesha , Houghton Lesley , Dinning Phil G. , Aziz Qasim , Ford Alexander C. , Farrin Amanda J. , Spiller Robin
Published: March 2023

Background

Ondansetron may be beneficial in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS‐D).

Aim

To conduct a 12‐week parallel group, randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of ondansetron 4 mg o.d. (titrated up to 8 mg t.d.s.) in 400 IBS‐D patients. Primary endpoint: % responders using the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) composite endpoint. Secondary and mechanistic endpoints included stool consistency (Bristol Stool Form Scale) and whole gut transit time (WGTT). After literature review, results were pooled with other placebo‐controlled trials in a meta‐analysis to estimate relative risks (RR), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and number needed to treat (NNT).

Results

Eighty patients were randomised. On intention‐to‐treat analysis, 15/37 (40.5%; 95% CI 24.7%–56.4%) met the primary endpoint on ondansetron versus 12/43 (27.9%; 95% CI 14.5%–41.3%) on placebo (p = 0.19). Ondansetron improved stool consistency compared with placebo (adjusted mean difference − 0.7; 95% CI −1.0 to−0.3, p < 0.001). Ondansetron increased WGTT between baseline and week 12 (mean (SD) difference 3.8 (9.1) hours, versus placebo −2.2 (10.3) hours, p = 0.01). Meta‐analysis of 327 patients from this, and two similar trials, demonstrated ondansetron was superior to placebo for the FDA composite endpoint (RR of symptoms not responding = 0.86; 95% CI 0.75–0.98, NNT = 9) and stool response (RR = 0.65; 95% CI 0.52–0.82, NNT = 5), but not abdominal pain response (RR = 0.95; 95% CI 0.74–1.20).

Conclusions

Although small numbers meant the primary endpoint was not met in this trial, when pooled with other similar trials meta‐analysis suggests ondansetron improves stool consistency and reduces days with loose stool and urgency.

Trial registration – http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN17508514
Effects of medium‐chain fatty acids (MCFAs) on in vitro rumen fermentation, methane production, and nutrient digestibility under low‐ and high‐concentrate diets
Authors: Luan Jiaming , Feng Xin , Yang Dongxu , Yang Meng , Zhou Jinying , Geng Chunyin
Published: March 2023

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different dosages and types of medium‐chain fatty acids (MCFAs) on rumen fermentation in vitro under low‐ and high‐concentrate diets. For this purpose, two in vitro experiments (Exp.) were conducted. In Exp. 1, the concentrate–roughage ratio of the fermentation substrate [total mixed rations (TMR), dry matter (DM) basis] was 30:70 (low‐concentrate diet), while in Exp. 2, it was 70:30 (high‐concentrate diet). Three types of MCFAs with octanoic acid (C8), capric acid (C10), and lauric acid (C12) were added accounting for 1.5%, 6%, 9%, and 15% of the in vitro fermentation substrate weight (200 mg or 1 g, DM basis) based on control group, respectively. The results showed that the addition of MCFAs all could significantly reduce methane (CH4) production and the number of rumen protozoa, methanogens, and methanobrevibacter under the two diets with the dosages increased (p < 0.05). In addition, MCFAs had a certain degree of improvement on rumen fermentation and influenced in vitro digestibility under low‐ and high‐concentrate diets, and their effects were related to the dosages and types of MCFAs. This study provided a theoretical basis for the selection of types and dosages of MCFAs in ruminants production.
The phenomenon of decision oscillation: A new consequence of pathology in game trees
Authors: Levene Mark , Fenner Trevor
Published: March 2023

Random minimaxing studies the consequences of using a random number for scoring the leaf nodes of a full width game tree and then computing the best move using the standard minimax procedure. Experiments in Chess showed that the strength of play increases as the depth of the lookahead is increased. Previous research by the authors provided a partial explanation of why random minimaxing can strengthen play by showing that, when one move dominates another move, then the dominating move is more likely to be chosen by minimax. This paper examines a special case of determining the move probability when domination does not occur. Specifically, we show that, under a uniform branching game tree model, whether the probability that one move is chosen rather than another depends not only on the branching factors of the moves involved, but also on whether the number of ply searched is odd or even. This is a new type of game tree pathology, where the minimax procedure will change its mind as to which move is best, independently of the true value of the game, and oscillate between moves as the depth of lookahead alternates between odd and even.
The effect of child allowances on female labour supply: evidence from Israel
Authors: Mazar Yuval , Reingewertz Yaniv
Published: March 2023

This study estimates the effect of the sharp reduction in Israel's child allowances in the early 2000s on female labour supply. The study uses the difference‐in‐differences method to estimate changes in the labour supply of Israeli women with more children (four or five) compared to changes in the labour supply of women with fewer children (two or three). The results show an increase of approximately 3.1 percentage points (4.4%) in the labour supply of women with four or five children, relative to that of women with two or three children. These numbers translate to an income elasticity of labour supply in the range −0.50 to −0.81. Finally, we document the heterogeneity of these effects and provide several tests of their validity.
Shame and shamelessness in Oskar Roehler'sDie Unberührbare
Authors: Gallagher Kaleen
Published: March 2023

This article makes the case that the life of Hanna Flanders, the protagonist of Oskar Roehler's filmDie Unberührbare(2000), is marked by a dialectic of shame and shamelessness that persists even into her death by suicide and indeed beyond it. Roehler based the film on the life of his mother, the writer Gisela Elsner, and he highlights the centrality of shame and shamelessness to his own enterprise—which could invite shame by publicizing the suicide of a family member but also risks shamelessly exploiting her death for financial gain—first, by maintaining a high level of ambiguity about how much of the film is true, and second, through an aesthetic approach that evokes both shame and shamelessness through a play of intimacy and distance. In doing so, he draws attention to the fact that the dialectic that characterizes his protagonist's life also shapes his film.
Pricing contingent convertibles with idiosyncratic risk
Authors: Wang Xiaolin , Yang Zhaojun , Zeng Pingping
Published: March 2023

We consider capital structure including equity, straight bonds (SBs), and contingent convertibles (CoCos) for nonfinancial firms. We price equity and CoCos by a utility‐based method. We show that benefits from issuing CoCos increase dramatically with idiosyncratic risk and risk aversion. The firm value is concave in CoCos' conversion ratio and the optimal conversion ratio increases with risk aversion and idiosyncratic risk. If risk aversion is sufficiently high, shareholders' risk‐shifting incentives disappear, and the firm issues less CoCos and equity and more SBs as idiosyncratic risk rises. The higher the idiosyncratic risk or risk aversion, the higher the leverage.
The value of informal learning within work‐based learning: The economic benefits of WBL
Authors: Plasman Jay , Thompson Caleb
Published: March 2023

Recent updates to federal policy governing career and technical education (CTE) in the United States have emphasised the need to include work‐based learning (WBL) experiences as central components of CTE programming. Many of these experiences showcase an informal learning component which has strong ties to early career success as suggested by the Human Capital Theory. This study explores the following questions: What is the relationship between WBL and early career income? Are there differential relationships based on the type of WBL experience? The Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS) includes nationally representative data for student participation in WBL and early career income. We used school‐fixed effects and propensity score matching techniques to respond to our questions regarding the potential relationship between WBL participation and early career income. We found that students who participated in at least one WBL experience in high school could expect to have an average 7% higher income compared to non‐WBL participants. With respect to specific WBL experiences, job shadowing, community service, and mentoring had the largest positive relationship to higher early career income. Findings from this study indicate that participation in WBL experiences can have a positive impact on a high school graduate's college and career readiness as measured through early career income. Given the differential relationships observed for different types of WBL, schools, policymakers, and students should explore WBL options that best align with their personal goals.
The effects of forest bathing on psychological well‐being: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Siah Chiew Jiat Rosalind , Goh Yong Shian , Lee Jungup , Poon Sum Nok , Ow Yong Jenna Qing Yun , Tam Wai‐San Wilson
Published: March 2023

Globally, around half (55%) of the population live in fast‐paced urban settings where many people find it challenging to manage their stress and respond to crises with a positive mindset. This resulted in prolonged distress where anxiety and fatigue caused physical and mental health concerns. Nature walks involving immersive exposure in the forest, and green spaces have been posited to offer physiological and psychological benefits. Therefore, in this systematic review, we evaluated the effects of forest bathing on psychological and physiological outcomes. We searched four English and five non‐English databases (Chinese and Korean) for peer‐reviewed studies published between January 2000 and March 2021. This review adhered to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analysis Statement 2020. The primary outcomes explored in this review were mainly psychological, including anxiety, depression, mood and quality of life. The secondary outcomes were physiological outcomes such as blood pressure and heart rate. We conducted a meta‐analysis on each outcome using the random‐effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed by the I2 statistic. Thirty‐six articles (21 in English, 3 in Chinese and 12 in Korean) with 3554 participants were included in this review. Our meta‐analysis suggested that forest bathing can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, we did not observe as many benefits in physiological outcomes. Against the background of the negative effects of urbanization on mental well‐being, this review highlighted the potential therapeutic role of forests in the contemporary world, lending further evidence‐based support for forest conservation.
Dietary fat supplements influence weight gain and egg production, but not offspring sex ratios in Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica
Authors: Curry James , Kim Woo Yun , Mendonça Mary T. , Navara Kristen J.
Published: March 2023

Sex ratio theory suggests that females should bias offspring sex ratios based on maternal condition and the availability of critical food resources. Work in birds indicates that females do, indeed, bias sex ratios according to maternal condition and food quality and quantity. Yet it is unknown whether these sex ratio skews occur due to fluctuations in particular micro‐ or macro‐nutrients, caloric content overall or even the perception of food availability. We hypothesized that dietary fats may drive biases in offspring sex ratios, because measures of maternal condition often reflect fat reserves, and fats are critical for the process of egg‐laying in birds. To test this, we provided breeding Japanese quail, a species that biases sex ratios in response to maternal condition, with either a control breeding diet or a diet supplemented with two oils (safflower oil and flaxseed oil). These oils were chosen for their high omega‐3 and omega‐6 fatty acid content as well as their importance in mammalian sex allocation. We then measured influences of these diets on the sex ratio of offspring, the change in maternal weight, and the laying rates of female quail. The dietary oil supplements increased weight gains in quail but decreased the number of eggs laid during the experiment. There was no influence of the oil supplements on offspring sex ratios. This indicates that fat may not be a macro‐nutrient involved in the process of sex ratio adjustment in quail.
Prevalence and prognosis of atrial fibrillation in a hypertensive population: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Chang , Du Zhi , Ye Ning , Liu Songyue , Geng Danxi , Sun Yingxian
Published: March 2023

Identifying risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) and evaluating their impact are essential to avoid the occurrence of adverse events. However, few studies to date have explored the prevalence, risk factors, and prognosis of AF in hypertensive patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of AF in a hypertensive population and determine the relationship between AF and all‐cause mortality. At baseline, a total of 8541 Chinese patients with hypertension were enrolled from the Northeast Rural Cardiovascular Health Study. A logistic regression model was established to assess the relationship between blood pressure and AF, and Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis and multivariate Cox regression were used to explore the relationship between AF and all‐cause mortality. Meanwhile, subgroup analyses illustrated the robustness of results. This study found that the overall prevalence rate of AF was 1.4% in its Chinese hypertensive population. After adjusting for the confounding factors, every standard deviation increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was associated with a 37% increase in the prevalence of AF (95% confidence interval: 1.152–1.627, p < .001). Compared to hypertensive patients without AF, those with AF had an increased risk of all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio = 1.866, 95% confidence interval: 1.117–3.115, p = .017) in the adjusted model. The results show that the burden of AF is quite large in rural‐dwelling Chinese hypertensive patients. Focusing on the control of DBP to prevent the occurrence of AF can be helpful. Meanwhile, AF increases risk of all‐cause mortality in hypertensive patients. Our results indicated a huge burden of AF. Considering that most of the risk factors of AF were unmodifiable in hypertensive individuals and given their high risk of mortality, long‐term interventions, including AF education, timely screening, and widespread use of anticoagulant drugs, should be emphasized in hypertensive populations.
Periodontitis and the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A longitudinal study of an adult Japanese cohort
Authors: Saito Mizuki , Shimazaki Yoshihiro , Yoshii Saori , Takeyama Hideo
Published: March 2023

Aim

To examine the relationship between periodontitis as an independent effect of smoking and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Japanese people based on longitudinal data.

Materials and Methods

We targeted 4745 people who underwent pulmonary function tests and dental check‐ups at baseline and 8 years later. The Community Periodontal Index was used to assess periodontal status. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to examine the relationship between the incidence of COPD and periodontitis and smoking. To clarify the interaction between smoking and periodontitis, interaction analysis was performed.

Results

In a multivariable analysis, both periodontitis and heavy smoking had significant effects on COPD development. When periodontitis was analysed as a continuous value (number of sextants with periodontitis) and as a category (presence or absence of periodontitis) in the multivariable analyses after adjusting for smoking, pulmonary function and other variables, periodontitis had significantly higher hazard ratios (HRs) for the incidence of COPD; the HRs were 1.09 (1.01–1.17) and 1.48 (1.09–2.02), respectively. Interaction analysis showed no significant interaction between heavy smoking and periodontitis on COPD.

Conclusions

These results suggest that periodontitis has no interaction with smoking but has an independent effect on developing COPD.
Association between oral hygiene and gingival abrasion in a rural population in southern Brazil: A multilevel secondary analysis
Authors: Santi Samantha Simoni , Oliveira Leandro Machado , Casarin Maísa , Susin Cristiano , Moreira Carlos Heitor Cunha , Zanatta Fabrício Batistin
Published: March 2023

Aim

To evaluate associations between oral hygiene and gingival abrasion (GA) in a rural population from southern Brazil.

Materials and Methods

A population‐based sample representative of individuals from a rural community in southern Brazil was included. Individuals aged 15 years or older and who had five teeth or more present were selected for this analysis. GA extent was defined as the total number of abrasions per individual. An adjusted multilevel negative binomial regression analysis was used to investigate the associations between site‐, tooth‐ and individual‐level variables and GA. Mean ratios (MR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.

Results

Five hundred ninety‐five dentate individuals aged 15–82 years were analysed. In the adjusted models, brushing more than twice a day (MR = 1.13; 95% CI 1.02–1.26) and brushing with a hard/medium‐bristle toothbrush (MR = 1.11; 95% CI 1.01–1.23) were significantly associated with more generalized GA.

Conclusions

The extent of GA was independently associated with greater brushing frequency and the use of a toothbrush with harder bristles in residents of a rural area.
Zinc‐finger protein GmZF351 improves both salt and drought stress tolerance in soybean
Authors: Wei Wei , Lu Long , Bian Xiao‐Hua , Li Qing‐Tian , Han Jia‐Qi , Tao Jian‐Jun , Yin Cui‐Cui , Lai Yong‐Cai , Li Wei , Bi Ying‐Dong , Man Wei‐Qun , Chen Shou‐Yi , Zhang Jin‐Song , Zhang Wan‐Ke
Published: March 2023

Abiotic stress is one of the most important factors reducing soybean yield. It is essential to identify regulatory factors contributing to stress responses. A previous study found that the tandem CCCH zinc‐finger protein GmZF351 is an oil level regulator. In this study, we discovered that the GmZF351 gene is induced by stress and that the overexpression of GmZF351 confers stress tolerance to transgenic soybean. GmZF351 directly regulates the expression of GmCIPK9 and GmSnRK, leading to stomata closing, by binding to their promoter regions, which carry two CT(G/C)(T/A)AA elements. Stress induction of GmZF351 is mediated through reduction in the H3K27me3 level at the GmZF351 locus. Two JMJ30‐demethylase‐like genes, GmJMJ30‐1 and GmJMJ30‐2, are involved in this demethylation process. Overexpression of GmJMJ30‐1/2 in transgenic hairy roots enhances GmZF351 expression mediated by histone demethylation and confers stress tolerance to soybean. Yield‐related agronomic traits were evaluated in stable GmZF351‐transgenic plants under mild drought stress conditions. Our study reveals a new mode of GmJMJ30‐GmZF351 action in stress tolerance, in addition to that of GmZF351 in oil accumulation. Manipulation of the components in this pathway is expected to improve soybean traits and adaptation under unfavorable environments.
The correlation between ABO blood types and acne vulgaris severity
Authors: Gürok Neşe Göçer
Published: March 2023

Background

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease with multifactorial etiology. Studies on the pathogenesis of acne are still important. Recently, various studies have been conducted on the significance of genetics in the pathogenesis of acne. Blood group is transferred genetically and could affect the development, progress, and severity of certain diseases.

Aim

In the current study, the correlation between the severity of acne vulgaris and ABO blood groups was investigated.

Materials and Methods

A total of 380 patients (263 mild and 117 severe acne vulgaris patients) and 1000 healthy individuals were included in the study. Severity of acne vulgaris patients and healthy controls was determined based on the blood group and Rh factor data obtained retrospectively from the patient files in the hospital automation system.

Results

In the study, the rate of females was significantly higher in the acne vulgaris group (X2:154.908; p:0.000). The mean age of the patient was significantly lower when compared to the controls (t:37.127; p:0.0001). The mean age of the patients with severe acne was significantly lower when compared to those with mild acne. When compared to the control group, the incidence of severe acne was higher in those A blood type when compared to the patients with mild acne, while the incidence of mild acne was higher in other blood groups when compared to the control (X2:17.756; p:0.007). No significant difference was determined between the Rh blood groups of the patients with mild, severe acne and the control group (X2:0.812; p:0.666).

Conclusion

The results revealed a significant correlation between acne severity and ABO blood groups. Future studies that would be conducted with larger samples in different centers could confirm the current study findings.