bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of pulpectomy versus tooth extraction in children's oral health‐related quality of life: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Abanto Jenny , Tsakos Georgios , Olegário Isabel Cristina , Paiva Saul Martins , Mendes Fausto Medeiros , Ardenghi Thiago Machado , Bönecker Marcelo
Published: July 2023

Aim

The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare the impact of two management options for primary molars with pulp necrosis (pulpectomy or extraction) on children's oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL).

Design

A total of 100 children aged 3–5 years with at least one necrotic primary molar were selected and randomized into the study groups. The Brazilian version of early childhood oral health impact scale (B‐ECOHIS) was completed by the parent proxy reports at baseline and after 4, 8 and 12 months. Differences between the trial groups were assessed through bootstrap linear regression for B‐ECOHIS scores, logistic regression for dental pain self‐reports and anxiety scores (α = 5%).

Results

The mean (SD) B‐ECOHIS scores at baseline and after 12 months were 17.7 (6.5) and 3.0 (4.0) in the pulpectomy group and 18.8 (7.7) and 7.9 (7.7) in the extraction group. Both treatments significantly improved OHRQoL, but tooth extraction group showed higher scores in total B‐ECOHIS (p < .001) and most domains, indicating lower OHRQoL. Furthermore, higher anxiety levels were reported for dental extraction compared to pulpectomy (OR = 2.52; p = .008).

Conclusion

Pulpectomy resulted in an improved OHRQoL scores after 12 months when compared to tooth extraction and should be considered as the treatment of choice for necrotic primary molars.
Association between smoking and peri‐implant diseases: A retrospective study
Authors: Martinez‐Amargant J. , de Tapia B. , Pascual A. , Takamoli J. , Esquinas C. , Nart J. , Valles C.
Published: July 2023

Objectives

To determine the association between tobacco and peri‐implant diseases in a sample of patients who had received implant‐supported restorations in a university dental clinic. Furthermore, the study aimed to investigate patient‐ and implant‐related variables associated with peri‐implant diseases.

Materials and Methods

The present retrospective study analyzed data from 117 patients treated with implant‐supported restorations from 2001 to 2013. A total of 450 implants were evaluated. Patients were selected from an electronic database, and patient‐ and implant‐related variables were evaluated. Detailed information regarding the smoking history (i.e., smoking status, lifetime cumulative dose, duration of exposure, intensity of the habit, and smoking cessation) was recorded. The primary study outcome was peri‐implant status [i.e., health (H), peri‐implant mucositis (PM) and peri‐implantitis (PI)]. Univariate and multinomial regression models comparing PM and PI versus peri‐implant health were conducted.

Results

A total of 117 subjects [55 (47%) females and 62 (53%) males] with a mean age at examination of 64.2 years (SD 11.6) and rehabilitated with 450 implants were included. The average number of implants per patient was 4.6 (SD 3.3) with a mean time in function of 8.0 years (SD 1.9). Fifty‐six patients (47.9%) were non‐smokers, 42 (35.9%) were former‐smokers, and 19 (16.2%) were current‐smokers. Thirty‐nine subjects (33.4%) were H, whereas 41 (35%) and 37 (31.6%) exhibited PM and PI, respectively. At implant level, the corresponding values were 142 (31.6%), 230 (51.1%) and 78 (17.3%). In the multinomial regression model, significant associations for peri‐implant diseases were observed for the mean number of implants per patient (p = .016), function time (p = .048), implants placed simultaneously with guided bone regeneration (p = .016), implant surface (p = .020), keratinized mucosa at the buccal aspect (p = .032), and access to interproximal hygiene (p < .001). In addition, ever smokers >23 pack‐years exhibited a significantly higher risk for peri‐implantitis (p = .002). Finally, the multinomial regression analysis revealed that subjects who had stopped smoking more than 21 years before the last examination presented a significantly lower risk of peri‐implant diseases than a smoking cessation of ≤21 years (p = .028).

Conclusions

Smoke intensity was associated with an increased risk of the development of peri‐implantitis. Moreover, the risk of peri‐implant diseases might be similar in those subjects who had stopped smoking for more than 21 years with respect to never‐smokers.
Visual Heuristics for Verb Production: Testing a Deep‐Learning Model With Experiments in Japanese
Authors: Chang Franklin , Tatsumi Tomoko , Hiranuma Yuna , Bannard Colin
Published: July 2023

Tense/aspect morphology on verbs is often thought to depend on event features like telicity, but it is not known how speakers identify these features in visual scenes. To examine this question, we asked Japanese speakers to describe computer‐generated animations of simple actions with variation in visual features related to telicity. Experiments with adults and children found that they could use goal information in the animations to select appropriate past and progressive verb forms. They also produced a large number of different verb forms. To explain these findings, a deep‐learning model of verb production from visual input was created that could produce a human‐like distribution of verb forms. It was able to use visual cues to select appropriate tense/aspect morphology. The model predicted that video duration would be related to verb complexity, and past tense production would increase when it received the endpoint as input. These predictions were confirmed in a third study with Japanese adults. This work suggests that verb production could be tightly linked to visual heuristics that support the understanding of events.
Disseminated and penile mpox with histopathologic correlation: Two separate case reports
Authors: Koh Stephen S. , Youssef Sherry M. , Baghchechi Mohsen , Chang Crystal T. , Kolev Johann , Shay Anthony C. , Lau Sean K. , Cassarino David S.
Published: July 2023

The 2022–2023 mpox outbreak is a global worldwide concern, especially since the virus was previously mainly localized regionally in Central and West Africa. The infection is typically self‐limiting and transmitted by close contact/exposure with infected material. Recent cases have been known to present atypically without prodromal symptoms and initially with skin lesions. The histopathology of mpox lesions is rarely reported. Here, we present two middle‐aged males presenting initially with painless skin lesions confirmed for mpox by nucleic acid amplification assay. Skin biopsies of the lesion were available for clinicopathologic correlation. Histopathology demonstrated ulceration with viral cytopathologic changes.
Phenotypic clues that predict underlying cytogenetic/genetic abnormalities in myeloid malignancies: A contemporary review
Authors: Stone Michael , Lilley Cullen M. , Tang Guilin , Loghavi Sanam , Mirza Kamran M.
Published: July 2023

Precise subclassification of myeloid malignancies per the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system and the International Consensus Classification of Myeloid Neoplasms and Acute Leukaemias (ICC) requires investigation and documentation of the presence of cytogenetic and/or molecular genetic changes. These ancillary studies not only help in diagnosis, but also the prognosis of disease; however, they take time to be completed. In contrast, morphological evaluation of material from the blood and bone marrow specimens of cases where myeloid malignancies are suspected is usually completed quickly. Cytomorphological assessment may predict genetic changes and can be helpful in triaging acuity. This is especially true in haematological emergencies such as acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL), where prompt APL‐specific therapy can be life changing. Similarly, some morphological clues may help identify core binding factor leukaemias where a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) could be rendered without reaching the 20% blast cutoff with immediate treatment‐decision implications, or even a subset of cases of AML with FLT3 ITD/NPM1 mutation(s) which show characteristic features. Even though FISH/cytogenetics and/or PCR are still required for establishing the final diagnosis, evaluation for the presence of specific cytomorphological features that help predict genetic changes can be a useful tool to help guide early therapy.
Understanding and preventing the advertisement and sale of illicit drugs to young people through social media: A multidisciplinary scoping review
Authors: Fuller Ashly , Vasek Marie , Mariconti Enrico , Johnson Shane D.
Published: July 2023

Issues

The sale of illicit drugs online has expanded to mainstream social media apps. These platforms provide access to a wide audience, especially children and adolescents. Research is in its infancy and scattered due to the multidisciplinary aspects of the phenomena.

Approach

We present a multidisciplinary systematic scoping review on the advertisement and sale of illicit drugs to young people. Peer‐reviewed studies written in English, Spanish and French were searched for the period 2015 to 2022. We extracted data on users, drugs studied, rate of posts, terminology used and study methodology.

Key Findings

A total of 56 peer‐reviewed papers were included. The analysis of these highlights the variety of drugs advertised and platforms used to do so. Various methodological designs were considered. Approaches to detecting illicit content were the focus of many studies as algorithms move from detecting drug‐related keywords to drug selling behaviour. We found that on average, for the studies reviewed, 13 in 100 social media posts advertise illicit drugs. However, popular platforms used by adolescents are rarely studied.

Implications

Promotional content is increasing in sophistication to appeal to young people, shifting towards healthy, glamourous and seemingly legal depictions of drugs. Greater inter‐disciplinary collaboration between computational and qualitative approaches are needed to comprehensively study the sale and advertisement of illegal drugs on social media across different platforms. This requires coordinated action from researchers, policy makers and service providers.
Outsourcing the Business of Development: The Rise of For‐profit Consultancies in the UK Aid Sector
Authors: Whitty Brendan , Sklair Jessica , Gilbert Paul Robert , Mawdsley Emma , Russon Jo‐Anna , Taylor Olivia
Published: July 2023

While much attention has been paid to the ways in which the private sector is now embedded within the field of development, one group of actors — for‐profit development consultancies and contractors, or service providers — has received relatively little attention. This article analyses the growing role of for‐profit consultancies and contractors in British aid delivery, which has been driven by two key trends: first, the outsourcing of managerial, audit and knowledge‐management functions as part of efforts to bring private sector approaches and skills into public spending on aid; and second, the reconfiguration of aid spending towards markets and the private sector, and away from locally embedded, state‐focused aid programming. The authors argue that both trends were launched under New Labour in the early 2000s, and super‐charged under successive Conservative governments. The resulting entanglement means that the policies and practices of the UK government's aid agencies, and the interests and forms of for‐profit service providers, are increasingly mutually constitutive. Amongst other implications, this shift acts to displace traditional forms of contestation and accountability of aid delivery.
Both epilepsy and anti‐seizure medications affect bone metabolism in children with self‐limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes
Authors: Shi Xiu‐Yu , Ju Jun , Lu Qian , Hu Lin‐Yan , Tian Ya‐Ping , Guo Guang‐Hong , Liu Zhi‐Sheng , Wu Ge‐Fei , Zhu Hong‐Min , Zhang Yu‐Qin , Li Dong , Gao Li , Yang Liu , Wang Chun‐Yu , Liao Jian‐Xiang , Wang Ji‐Wen , Zhou Shui‐Zhen , Wang Hua , Li Xiao‐Jing , Gao Jing‐Yun , Zhang Li , Shu Xiao‐Mei , Li Dan , Li Yan , Chen Chun‐Hong , Zhang Xiu‐Ju , Zhong Jian‐Min , Zhai Qiong‐Xiang , Sun Yan‐Hong , Lin Xue‐Feng , Ren Rong‐Na , Yin Fei , Chen Yan‐Hui , Jia Fei‐Yong , Yang Zhi‐Xian , Wang Ju‐Li , Xia Zhe‐Zhi , Wang Li‐Wen , Luo Rong , Zou Li‐Ping
Published: July 2023

Objective

Bone metabolism can be influenced by a range of factors. We selected children with self‐limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTS) and lifestyles similar to those of healthy children to control for the confounding factors that may influence bone metabolism. We aimed to identify the specific effects of epilepsy and/or anti‐seizure medications (ASMs) on bone metabolism.

Methods

Patients with SeLECTS were divided into an untreated group and a monotherapy group, and the third group was a healthy control group. We determined the levels of various biochemical markers of bone metabolism, including procollagen type I nitrogenous propeptide (PINP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC), collagen type I cross‐linked C‐telopeptide (CTX), calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and vitamin D3 (VD3).

Results

A total of 1487 patients (from 19 centers) were diagnosed with SeLECTS; 1032 were analyzed, including 117 patients who did not receive any ASMs (untreated group), 643 patients who received only one ASM (monotherapy group), and 272 children in the healthy control group. Except for VD3, other bone metabolism of the three groups were different (p < .001). Bone metabolism was significantly lower in the untreated group than the healthy control group (p < .05). There were significant differences between the monotherapy and healthy control group in the level of many markers. However, when comparing the monotherapy and untreated groups, the results were different; oxcarbazepine, levetiracetam, and topiramate had no significant effect on bone metabolism. Phosphorus and magnesium were significantly lower in the valproic acid group than the untreated group (adjusted p < .05, Cliff's delta .282–.768). CTX was significantly higher in the lamotrigine group than in the untreated group (adjusted p = .012, Cliff's delta = .316).

Significance

Epilepsy can affect many aspects of bone metabolism. After controlling epilepsy and other confounders that affect bone metabolism, we found that the effects of ASMs on bone metabolism differed. Oxcarbazepine, levetiracetam, and topiramate did not affect bone metabolism, and lamotrigine corrected some of the abnormal markers of bone metabolism in patients with epilepsy.
Mast cells are upregulated in hidradenitis suppurativa tissue, associated with epithelialized tunnels and normalized by spleen tyrosine kinase antagonism
Authors: Flora A. , Jepsen R. , Kozera E. K. , Woods J. A. , Cains G. D. , Radzieta M. , Jensen S. O. , Malone M. , Frew J. W.
Published: July 2023

Mast cells have traditionally been associated with allergic inflammatory responses; however, they play important roles in cutaneous innate immunity and wound healing. The Hidradenitis Suppurativa tissue transcriptome is associated with alterations in innate immunity and wound healing‐associated pathways; however, the role of mast cells in the disease is unexplored. We demonstrate that mast cell‐associated gene expression (using whole tissue RNAseq) is upregulated, and in‐silico cellular deconvolution identifies activated mast cells upregulated and resting mast cells downregulated in lesional tissue. Tryptase/Chymase positive mast cells (identified using IHC) localize adjacent to epithelialized tunnels, fibrotic regions of the dermis and at perivascular sites associated with Neutrophil Extracellular Trap formation and TNF‐alpha production. Treatment with Spleen Tyrosine Kinase antagonist (Fostamatinib) reduces the expression of mast cell‐associated gene transcripts, associated biochemical pathways and the number of tryptase/chymase positive mast cells in lesional hidradenitis suppurativa tissue. This data indicates that although mast cells are not the most abundant cell type in Hidradenitis Suppurativa tissue, the dysregulation of mast cells is paralleled with B cell/plasma cell inflammation, inflammatory epithelialized tunnels and epithelial budding. This provides an explanation as to the mixed inflammatory activation signature seen in HS, the correlation with dysregulated wound healing and potential pathways involved in the development of epithelialized tunnels.
Lived experiences of utilities‐based indebtedness in Greece: Tracing the afterlives of austerity
Authors: Koutlou Aliki
Published: July 2023

During the past decade, Greece has been a hotbed of crisis and austerity. Unsurprisingly, austerity and counter‐austerity politics captured academic and public attention. This paper seeks to contribute to discussions on the articulations and legacies of austerity in Greece, and beyond, by emphasising questions of reproduction. The paper centres on utilities‐based indebtedness (UI) to explore the legacies of austerity. It understands UI and experiences with it as tethered to the enduring financial vulnerability and precarity that austerity politics inscribed in life and work during the early 2010s. Drawing on feminist writings, the paper mobilises social reproduction as a lens to explore the legacies of austerity in the encounters and entanglements between the monetary and the mundane. It draws on interviews with households conducted in 2019 in Thessaloniki to show how UI is a legacy of austerity and to trace austerity's afterlives in the visceral realties of living with UI. The paper argues that life with UI was a manifestation of a crisis in social reproduction, whereby households could not meet all their basic needs without falling into UI. It then zooms in on family and personal relations to trace the afterlives of austerity in the everyday. It explores the impact of UI and the uncertainties of reproduction on these relations and how decisions on debt and bill payments as well as reproductive practices became enmeshed in them. Overall, the paper demonstrates that, besides enduring landscapes of hardship, austerity left behind a heightened tension between the necessity for, and unsustainability of, relationships of solidarity as care, which became a key form of support because of austerity.
Soy protein isolate improves the structure, starch retrogradation and water distribution of a Chinese traditional rice/bean food Dousi: towards high low‐temperature storage stability
Authors: Xu Ping , Xu Mengxue , Din Zia‐ud , Chen Xi , Wang Yuehui , Zhuang Kun , Zhang Qi , Chang Xianhui , Chen Lei , Ding Wenping
Published: July 2023

Fresh wet Dousi (FWD) is a traditional Chinese food made from rice and beans through wet milling and dry heating. However, its drawback of storage stability at low temperatures (4 °C) challenges the market development. Thus, soy protein isolate (SPI) was incorporated to improve its structure, starch retrogradation and water distribution. SPI reduced FWD's peak viscosity, trough viscosity, final viscosity and setback values. Additionally, the hardness, retrogradation enthalpies (ΔH), crystallinity and infrared absorbance ratio at 1047/1022 cm−1 and 995/1022 cm−1 of FWD decreased significantly after adding SPI. From the rheological, LF‐NMR and SEM results, SPI was favourable to the formation of porous and flexible structure within FWD. The variation of food structure improved the binding ability of starch or other components with water. This work indicated that SPI could improve the low‐temperature stability of FWD by enhancing the water capability, inhibiting the starch retrogradation, and promoting structural compliance within the network.
Clinical features and prognostic significance of DNMT3A, FLT3, and NPM1 mutations in de novo acute myeloid leukemia patients
Authors: Chen Meiyu , Zeng Zhao , Li Xuewei , Qin Wei , Cai Xiaohui , Chen Suning , Lu Xuzhang
Published: July 2023

Objective

Different co‐mutation patterns are associated with varied clinical manifestations and prognosis. The purpose of this research was to explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of individuals with AML who had DNMT3A, FLT3, and NPM1 mutations.

Materials and Methods

A total of 259 newly diagnosed AML patients were investigated in this study, including 148 AMLFLT3mutDNMT3Awt, 48 AMLFLT3wtDNMT3Amut, and 63 AMLFLT3mutDNMT3Amut patients. Mutations were detected by targeted next‐generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing. In addition, we utilized the publicly available data to analyze the expression profiles of AML.

Results

Correlation analysis showed NPM1 mutations were positively associated with FLT3‐ITD and DNMT3A, but negatively with CEBPA and RUNX1 mutations. In the presence of both DNMT3A and FLT3 mutations, patients were associated with typical clinical manifestations such as heavy disease burden and old age. Patients with both FLT3 and DNMT3A mutations had lower complete remission rates and poorer clinical outcomes than those with FLT3 or DNMT3A mutation alone. Univariate analysis showed that age, response to treatment, DNMT3A R882 mutation, NPM1 mutation, and consolidation treatment options were associated with OS. According to multivariate analysis, only consolidation treatment options could be considered as an independent prognostic factor. In addition, the percentage of AMLFLT3mutDNMT3AmutNPM1mut patients in our study was about 5.9%. Interestingly, the expression profile of this subgroup was significantly related to HOX family and histone H1 family, and enriched pathways associated with transcriptional misregulation.

Conclusion

We comprehensively evaluated the clinical and genetic characteristics, and expression profiles of AML patients with common mutations, and found that AML patients with triple mutations might be a distinct AML subtype, which should be redefined.
Impact of wound complications in obese versus non‐obese patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Yang Yufei , Zhao Zhenqun , Wang Yong , Gao Yuhui , Sun Hongyan , Liu Wanlin
Published: July 2023

This meta‐analysis examined the post‐operative wound effect of both obese and non‐obese in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients. To gather as complete an overview as possible, the researchers took advantage of 4 databases—PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science—to conduct a critical assessment. Following the development of inclusion and exclusion criteria, the researchers evaluated the quality of each document. A total of 9 related trials were conducted to determine the 95% CI (CI) and OR using a fixed‐effect model. The final meta‐analyses were conducted with RevMan 5.3. Our findings indicate that there is no statistically significant benefit in terms of post‐operative wound complications among obese and non‐obese patients. Obese subjects had a significantly higher risk of injury than those without obesity (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.04, 1.95, p = 0.03); obesity was also associated with a significantly higher risk of operative site infection than in non‐obese subjects (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.76, 2.18, p < 0.0001); and after surgery, there was also a significant increase in the risk of post‐operative wound infections among obese subjects than in non‐obese subjects (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.34, 1.84, p < 0.0001). However, due to the small size of the cohort study in this meta‐study, caution is required in the analysis. More randomized, controlled studies will be needed to validate these results.
Immediate loading of dental implants in edentulous mandibles using Locator attachments or Dolder bars: A 9‐year prospective randomized clinical study
Authors: Kostunov Jana , Menzel Regina , Bermejo Justo Lorenzo , Rammelsberg Peter , Giannakopoulos Nikolaos Nikitas , Kappel Stefanie
Published: July 2023

Aim

To evaluate the long‐term survival, incidence of prosthetic/technical and biological complications and the oral‐health‐related quality of life in patients with an edentulous mandible who were fitted with overdentures on two immediately loaded implants in the symphyseal area.

Materials and Methods

Forty‐six patients with edentulous mandibles received two immediately loaded implant‐retained dentures with either two Locator attachments or egg‐shaped bar attachments. Implant outcomes were recorded after a period of observation of 9 years and included prosthetic complications, modified gingiva index (mGI), modified plaque index (mPI), oral health impact profile (OHIP‐G) and radiographic estimation of bone loss.

Results

In 2020/2021, 27 patients with 54 implants were still available for follow‐up. In total, nine implants in six patients were lost. Survival was 89.1% in the bar group and 91.3% in the Locator group. Implant success was 84.6% in the Locator group and 76.9% in the bar group. The mPI values were significantly higher in the bar group than in the Locator group, whereas no difference was seen in the mGI values. During the observation period, 152 prosthetic complications occurred, but the OHIP‐G score did not differ significantly.

Conclusions

There was no difference in implant survival between Locator or joint bar attachments over a 9‐year observation period. Joint bar attachments were associated with slightly more complications, while patients in the Locator group were able to maintain better oral hygiene. The study was registered in the German Register of Clinical (Trials DRKS00004245).
Recent advances with cold plasma technology for millet processing: A brief review
Authors: Balendran Susindra Devi , Kalaivendan Ranjitha Gracy T. , Theagarajan Radhika
Published: July 2023

As a grain with high nutritional content and tolerance to extreme weather, millet has a potential food business. However, the processing is necessary to enhance the physical and nutritional quality of millet. Food products with minimal processing, improved sensorial and natural flavors, with no added chemicals to preserve them are in greater demand among customers. High‐quality product produced using green alternative processing techniques significantly evolved in the last two decades. Moreover, recent years see potential study of cold plasma technology in the food industry for increased functional attributes and energy efficiency. This review has been framed to describe the impact of cold plasma on the quality attributes of millet and millet products exploring cold plasma research on millet products, focusing on nutrition, anti‐nutrient reduction, structural, physicochemical, digestive, hydration, and functional properties. Furthermore, this work pursues to improve interventions by identifying the knowledge gaps in the processing of millet using cold plasma.

Practical Applications

The shelf life of the millet products is extended as a result of the plasma treatment, through the reduction in the moisture content. During the early stages of storage, millet flour is affected by rancidity, which is positively treated by plasma processing. The water absorption and swelling capacity of the treated millet sample have increased along with a rise in solubility. Therefore, the hydration and pasting abilities of millet improved, making it possible to utilize it in complementary food formulations as well as for the development of viscous foods.
An examination of power in a triadic model of parent–child–pediatrician relationships related to early childhood gender development
Authors: Lenne Eline , Sun Christina J. , Klawetter Susanne
Published: July 2023

In this paper, the authors introduce the Triadic Model of Pediatric Care, an innovative conceptual framework for pediatric practice with transgender and gender diverse children. The Triadic Model of Pediatric Care consists of three experts—pediatricians, primary caregiver(s), and children—who each possess unique insights, knowledge, and decision‐making power. This model guides pediatricians to provide gender‐affirming care that acknowledges children as experts of their own experience and worthy of bodily autonomy, while also working to ensure primary caregiver(s) have the information and support necessary to provide a safe and nurturing developmental environment for their child. The authors provide a recommendation for how the Triadic Model of Pediatric Care might be applied in a pediatric healthcare setting and conclude with a summary of the model's implications, limitations, and future directions.
Palaeobiological inferences of “rauisuchians” Fasolasuchus tenax (Los Colorados Fm., Argentina) and Prestosuchus chiniquensis (Santa Maria Super sequence, Brazil) from the Middle–Upper Triassic of South America based on microstructural analyses
Authors: Ponce Denis A. , Scheyer Torsten M. , Cerda Ignacio A. , Desojo Julia B.
Published: July 2023

“Rauisuchia” is a non‐monophyletic group of quadrupedal and carnivorous pseudosuchians that inhabited the entire world during the Middle–Upper Triassic period (Anisian/Ladinian–Rhaetian). In South America, “rauisuchians” reached the largest sizes among continental carnivores. Despite their important ecological role, some aspects of their palaeobiology have been poorly examined. Here, we study appendicular bones, dorsal ribs and osteoderms of two genera, the Argentinean Fasolasuchus tenax (PVL 3850, holotype) and the Brazilian Prestosuchus chiniquensis (SNSB‐BSPG AS XXV) respectively. The femur of F. tenax is formed by laminar fibrolamellar bone, which is composed of non‐fully monorefringent woven‐fibred matrix and primary osteons; the dorsal rib has a Haversian bone composition with an external fundamental system recorded and the osteoderm is formed by well‐organised parallel‐fibred bone. The femur, humerus and fibula of P. chiniquensis are mostly composed of strongly arranged parallel‐fibred bone and a laminar vascularisation. The minimal ages obtained correspond to 9 years for F. tenax (based on the maximum number of growth marks in the osteoderm) and 4 years for P. chiniquensis (obtained from the highest count of growth marks in the femur and in the humerus). F. tenax attained somatic and skeletal maturity, while P. chiniquensis was near to reaching skeletal and sexual maturity, but it was somatically immature. The overall rapid growth rate and the high and uniform vascularisation seems to imply that these features are common in most of “rauisuchians”, except in P. chiniquensis.
The GABA system, a new target for medications against cognitive impairment—Associated with neuroactive steroids
Authors: Bäckström Torbjörn , Turkmen Sahruh , Das Roshni , Doverskog Magnus , Blackburn Thomas P.
Published: July 2023

The prevalence of cognitive dysfunction, dementia, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasing in parallel with an aging population. Distinct types of chronic stress are thought to be instrumental in the development of cognitive impairment in central nervous system (CNS) disorders where cognitive impairment is a major unmet medical need. Increased GABAergic tone is a mediator of stress effects but is also a result of other factors in CNS disorders. Positive GABA‐A receptor modulating stress and sex steroids (steroid‐PAMs) such as allopregnanolone (ALLO) and medroxyprogesterone acetate can provoke impaired cognition. As such, ALLO impairs memory and learning in both animals and humans. In transgenic AD animal studies, continuous exposure to ALLO at physiological levels impairs cognition and increases degenerative AD pathology, whereas intermittent ALLO injections enhance cognition, indicating pleiotropic functions of ALLO. We have shown that GABA‐A receptor modulating steroid antagonists (GAMSAs) can block the acute negative cognitive impairment of ALLO on memory in animal studies and in patients with cognitive impairment due to hepatic encephalopathy. Here we describe disorders affected by steroid‐PAMs and opportunities to treat these adverse effects of steroid‐PAMs with novel GAMSAs.
Non‐executive Employee Ownership and Target Selection in High‐Tech Mergers and Acquisitions
Authors: Shi Wei , Li Jiangyan , McNamara Gerry
Published: July 2023

The quest to build and expand a firm's human capital is a key driver for mergers and acquisitions (M&As), but acquiring firms often face the threat of losing their targets' key employees in the post‐M&A period. This is particularly true for high‐tech M&As, as human capital is especially important in high‐tech industries. Because non‐executive employee ownership can incentivize employees to invest in firm‐specific human capital, reducing the likelihood that employees will leave, we argue that when screening for potential M&A targets, acquiring firms are more likely to target companies with higher levels of employee ownership. We also argue that the screening role of employee ownership in M&A target selection will be stronger when targets have higher R&D intensity but weaker when targets treat their employees better. Using a sample of 26,137 firm‐year observations, we find support for our arguments. Findings from this study contribute to M&A research by highlighting the importance of non‐executive employee ownership as a screen for human capital retention in M&A target selection.
Phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships between morphotypes related to Elymus caninus (Poaceae) based on sequence of a nuclear gene GBSS1 (waxy) and sexual hybridization
Authors: Agafonov Alexander V. , Shabanova Elena V. , Emtseva Maria V. , Asbaganov Sergey V. , Morozov Igor V. , Bondar Alexander A. , Dorogina Olga V.
Published: July 2023

We represent a comparative analysis of GBSS1 gene fragment sequences for a number of species related to Elymus caninus: Elymus prokudinii, Elymus viridiglumis, Elymus goloskokovii, as well as a number of morphologically deviating biotypes, inhabiting Russia and Kazakhstan. Microevolutionary relationships between species were assessed from dendrograms derived from sequences of exons and introns. In all taxa, the St subgenome was represented by St2 variants, rather typical of the North American ancestral line of Pseudoroegneria spicata than of the Asian line descending from Pseudoroegneria strigosa. All putative relatives of E. caninus had H1 subgenome variants linked around the Asian diploid carrier of the H genome from Hordeum jubatum and were divided into two subclades. One of them (H1‐1) contained most of the closely related E. caninus clones, including Elymus uralensis. Another subclade (H1‐2) consisted of five variants phylogenetically related to Elymus mutabilis. We have also studied reproductive relationships between species E. goloskokovii, E. prokudinii, and E. viridiglumis and the degree of their integration into the E. caninus complex. Biotypes included in sexual hybridization formed a single recombination gene pool, within which slight differences in reproductive compatibility were observed. A comprehensive study of microevolutionary differentiation of taxa showed the expediency of taxonomic revision. The species mentioned should probably be relegated to the infraspecific rank within E. caninus s. l.
Effects of tributyrin on the growth performance, survival, tolerance to hypoxic stress, and nutrient digestibility of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, fed different levels of soybean meal
Authors: Rairat Tirawat , Phansawat Putsucha , Keetanon Arunothai , Kachapol Parattagorn , Kumphaphat Sunisa , Kitsanayanyong Lalitphan , Chou Chi‐Chung , Chuchird Niti
Published: July 2023

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of tributyrin on the growth performance, survival, hypoxia tolerance, and nutrient digestibility of Pacific white shrimp fed 25% and 50% soybean meal (SBM) diets. Six experimental diets were formulated: (1) 25% SBM without tributyrin; (2) 25% SBM with 0.05% tributyrin; (3) 25% SBM with 0.1% tributyrin; (4) 50% SBM without tributyrin; (5) 50% SBM with 0.05% tributyrin; and (6) 50% SBM with 0.1% tributyrin. The shrimp were fed the experimental diets daily for 10 weeks. Tributyrin supplementation at 0.1% diet significantly improved the weight gain of shrimp that fed 25% SBM but not the other groups. Nevertheless, shrimp that fed tributyrin had significant improvement in survival rate at both SBM levels. Significant reductions in Vibrio spp. counts in the hepatopancreas and intestine were also evident in all tributyrin‐fed groups. In addition, 0.1% tributyrin in both SBM levels significantly enhanced the shrimp tolerance to hypoxia. Lastly, the digestibilities were generally unaffected by the tributyrin except only for the lipid digestibility of the 0.1% tributyrin in 25% SBM group, which showed a significant increase. Overall, tributyrin was proven beneficial for the shrimp's health, especially for those fed diet with a moderate level of SBM (25%).
Species distribution modeling of deep‐diving cetaceans
Authors: Fiedler Paul C. , Becker Elizabeth A. , Forney Karin A. , Barlow Jay , Moore Jeff E.
Published: July 2023

Species distribution models (SDMs) have been developed and extensively validated for diverse cetaceans within the California Current Ecosystem off the West Coast of the United States. These studies have recognized the challenges associated with developing robust models for deep‐diving cetaceans—sperm whales and beaked whales—thus limiting the accuracy of predictions for management and ecological understanding. In this study, we explore whether additional biologically relevant predictor variables can improve models for deep‐divers. These variables are related to the oxygen minimum layer and phytoplankton and micronekton biomass and could influence prey availability for cetacean top predators. We found that the addition of these variables improved the performance of SDMs for sperm whales, as well as for some more common baleen whale and dolphin species, but that the accuracy of deep‐diver models was nevertheless poor. The sightings data sets for deep‐diving cetaceans have small sample sizes compared to other cetaceans, and sightings are distributed nearly randomly across the study area and model domain. These factors hinder the development of useful environmentally driven models of spatial distribution.
Evaluation of the CHROMagar Candida Plus medium for presumptive identification of yeasts and MALDI‐TOF MS identification
Authors: Taverna Constanza Giselle , Vivot Matías Ezequiel , Arias Bárbara Abigail , Irazu Lucia , Canteros Cristina Elena
Published: July 2023

Rapid and accurate yeasts species identification in clinical laboratories is important for appropriate and timely antifungal treatment. We evaluate the performance of the new medium CHROMagar™ Candida Plus for presumptive identification of yeasts species and MALDI‐TOF identification. We identify 303 strains belonging to 60 clinically relevant yeasts species by using the new medium. Presumptive identification was correct at the Candida albicans complex, Candida tropicalis and Pichia kudriavzevii (Candida krusei) species. However, although this medium was able to identify all Candida auris and Candida glabrata strains, other species were misidentified as C. auris or C. glabrata. A total of 215 strains were identified by using MALDI‐TOF and evaluated two incubation temperatures (30°C and 37°C) and two incubation times (24 h and 72 h). Most strains (94%; 202/215) were correctly identified at the species (n:190) or complex level (n:12) at both temperatures and incubation times. However, we observed that the time of incubation (24 h vs. 72 h) affects the score values when yeasts are incubated at 37°C, but does not affect score values when yeasts are incubated at 30°C. In conclusion, the new medium has a good performance in the presumptive identification of the C. albicans complex, C. tropicalis and P. kudriavzevii (C. krusei). In addition, this medium is useful for the screening of C. auris and C. glabrata isolates, but identification should be confirmed by other more specific techniques, like MALDI‐TOF.
The role of social media in facilitating minority mobilisation: The Russian‐language pro‐war movement in Germany amid the invasion of Ukraine
Authors: Sablina Liliia
Published: July 2023

This article examines the mobilisation of minority groups along ethnic and national lines through social media, an area that has not been fully explored. The study analyses the case of Russian‐speaking minority members who were mobilised in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 via the messaging app Telegram. By taking a bottom‐up perspective, the article reconstructs the pathways of the actors in these mobilisation processes and draws upon diverse literature in digital nationalism, social movements and media studies. The study suggests that social media facilitates minority mobilisation through three primary functions: It allows for the reproduction of ethnicised and racialised boundaries and homogenisation within ethnicised echo chambers and provides a ‘window of opportunity’ for micro, meso and macro levels of actor engagement in facilitating offline mobilisation. Overall, this article provides a theoretical foundation for understanding how social media enables and enhances minority mobilisation and introduces novel empirical data on the emerging pro‐war movement prevalent on Telegram and in offline networks of the Russian‐speaking minority in Germany. The study contributes to the developing field of user‐generated nationalism and highlights the need for more bottom‐up research on emerging patterns of online ethnicised mobilisation.
Values and preferences of health care professionals, policy‐makers, patients and family members regarding recommendations of adapted physical restraint guidelines in critical care: A survey research
Authors: Cui Nianqi , Gan Xiuni , Huang Sufang , Chu Zhe , Chen Dandan , Zhang Yuping , Lan Meijuan , Jin Jingfen
Published: July 2023

Background

The values and preferences of stakeholders are crucial in the development of guidelines.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate stakeholders’ values and preferences regarding draft recommendations for adapted physical restraint guidelines in China.

Study design

This survey research was carried out at four university‐affiliated comprehensive hospitals based in the eastern, central, western, and north eastern zones of China from January 5‐30, 2022. A 48‐item self‐report questionnaire was distributed, and values and preferences were assessed on a 10‐point Likert scale. One‐way ANOVA was used to compare values and preference scores among stakeholders. As effect‐size measures, partial η2 and Cohen's f values are reported for ANOVA results.

Results

A total of 1155 stakeholders were enrolled in the study. The mean value and preference scores were higher than seven for 46 draft recommendations. There was either no significant difference in the values and preferences of the stakeholders for the draft recommendations or there was a significant difference (p values ranged from <0.001 ∼ .048), but the effect size was small or very small (partial η2 value ranged from 0.011 ∼ .044; Cohen's f value ranged from 0.101 ∼ .214). The mean scores of patients for items related to cyber therapy and early tracheotomy were 6.84 and 6.60, respectively, which were lower than those of family members, policy‐makers, and health care professionals and were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The partial η2 and Cohen's f values of the effect size were 0.083/0.062 and 0.302/0.256, respectively, which indicated that the differences were moderate.

Conclusion

These recommendations were in line with the values and preferences of stakeholders. Patients were more supportive of implementing cyber therapy or hypnosis for pain management but did not support early tracheotomy to reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation. Guideline panels could use value and preference information to revise and endorse recommendations of adapted physical restraint guidelines in critical care.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Practitioners should implement recommendations based on the values and preferences of stakeholders.
The landscape is a trap: Duck decoys as multispecies atmospheres of deception and betrayal
Authors: van Heijgen Eugenie , Driessen Clemens , Turnhout Esther
Published: July 2023

Duck decoys are trapping devices designed to catch ducks. From the fourteenth century onwards, duck decoys emerged in riverine lowlands in northwestern Europe. Their operation is based on a rigorously maintained physical structure with a woodland that encloses a water body with protruding extensions called pipes, which end in nets and are surrounded by reed screens. Catching ducks in these places requires a complex interplay between different groups of ducks, a dog, and a human decoyman who together are enmeshed in what becomes a deeply deceptive landscape. This paper explores duck decoys in the Netherlands as relational, situated and co‐designed multispecies atmospheres. Through ethnographic descriptions of field visits, interviews and by drawing on historical accounts, we trace how inter‐ and intraspecies relations and behaviours are interpreted in terms of deception, betrayal, trust and curiosity. The varying interpretations of behaviours and the more‐than‐human knowledges at play reflect the essentially elusive character of the duck decoy. Especially when facing the environmental challenges of the Anthropocene, duck decoys and the ambiguous relations that were until recently maintained in them, encourage us to consider the historical trapping and hunting landscapes as places made by multispecies atmospheres. Even though these atmospheres and the intimate collectives of human and more‐than‐human lives have become increasingly fragile, their afterlives resonate through the changing character of the riverine landscape and its various waterfowl, as well as practices of knowing and conserving biodiversity.
p63 immunoexpression in hair follicles of normal and alopecia X‐affected skin of Pomeranian dogs
Authors: Della Salda Leonardo , Bongiovanni Laura , Massimini Marcella , Romanucci Mariarita , Vercelli Antonella , Colosimo Alessia , Di Matteo Ramona , Defourny Sabrina Vanessa Patrizia
Published: July 2023

Background

Alopecia X in Pomeranians is caused by a hair cycle deregulation, associated with downregulation of key regulatory genes of the Wnt and Shh pathways, and stem‐cell markers. However, the pathogenesis remains unclear. p63 is an important transcription factor correlated with the aforementioned hair cycle modulating genes.

Hypothesis/Objectives

The aim of this study was to highlight possible changes of p63 immunohistochemical expression within the hair follicles in canine alopecia X compared with normal skin.

Animals

Skin biopsies from 19 alopecia X‐affected and six control Pomeranians were analysed.

Materials and Methods

Serial histological sections of skin biopsies harbouring anagen, telogen and kenogen hair follicles were immunohistochemically evaluated for differences in p63 expression in the affected and control samples.

Results

Dogs with alopecia X had a significantly decreased immunoexpression of p63 in telogen and kenogen hair follicles.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

The decrease of p63 immunoexpression observed in canine alopecia X suggests an involvement of p63 in hair cycle.