bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of the Italian version of the spirituality and spiritual care rating scale (SSCRS‐ita)
Authors: Parozzi Mauro , Terzoni Stefano , Ferrara Paolo , Miseroni Francesco , D'Antuono Agostino , Di Prisco Laura , Mcsherry Wilfred , Destrebecq Anne
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To translate and validate the Italian version of the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale (SSCRS‐ita).

Methods

A single‐center cross‐sectional study was performed from October 15 to November 15, 2019 in a public hospital in Milan, Italy. The scale was drafted using the back‐translation method. Prior to administration, the Italian version of the scale was assessed for content validity and retest stability by calculating the content validity index. Internal consistency was investigated by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient, test‐retest stability by Spearman's rho coefficient.

Findings

A total n = 337 nurses participated in the survey by correctly completing the scale. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test (0.81) and Bartlett's test of sphericity (p < 0.001) confirmed the adequacy of the sample to conduct exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The factorial model of EFA without rotation and then with nonorthogonal Promax rotation confirmed the presence of the four constructs identified by the original author.

Conclusions

SSCRS‐ita showed promising psychometric properties in terms of validity and reliability. The results of this study, together with the lack of in‐depth studies in the Italian health and educational panorama, suggest the need to develop an educational pathway which, starting from the curricula of basic training and continuing with the updating of nursing staff, is dedicated to the detection of the spiritual needs of the patient.

Implications for nursing practice

The SSCRS‐ita is the first validated Italian tool concerning the consideration of the needs of spirituality and spiritual care in healthcare contexts; the possibility to use this tool is the first step towards a better integration of the mentioned dimensions of care in a nursing care qualitative perspective in Italy.
Sex differences in α‐adrenergic receptor function contribute to impaired hypothalamic metaplasticity following chronic intermittent ethanol exposure
Authors: Munier Joseph J. , Marty Vincent N. , Spigelman Igor
Published: July 2022

Background

Individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) exhibit maladaptive responses of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis to stress, which has been linked to high rates of relapse to drinking among abstinent individuals. Corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) parvocellular neuroendocrine cells (PNCs) within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) are critical to stress‐induced HPA axis activation. Here, we investigate sex differences in synaptic transmission and plasticity in PNCs following the application of the stress‐associated neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) in a rat model of AUD.

Methods

Adult Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to 40 days of chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapor and 30 to 108 days of protracted withdrawal. We measured changes in holding current, evoked synaptic currents, and short‐term glutamatergic plasticity (STP) in putative PNCs following the application of NE (10 μM) with and without the selective α1 adrenergic receptor (AR) antagonist prazosin (10 μM) or the α2AR antagonist atipamezole (10 μM). The experiments were performed using whole‐cell patch clamp recordings in slices from CIE rats and air‐exposed controls.

Results

NE application caused two distinct effects: a depolarizing, inward, postsynaptic current and a reduction in amplitude of an evoked glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic current (eEPSC). Both effects were sex‐ and CIE‐specific. Prazosin blocked the postsynaptic inward current, while atipamezole blocked the NE‐mediated suppression of eEPSCs. Additionally, STP formation was facilitated following NE application only in stress‐naïve males and this response was lost in stressed animals exposed to a 30‐min restraint stress following CIE exposure. Furthermore, NE + prazosin restored STP formation in stressed CIE males.

Conclusions

NE exerts excitatory and inhibitory effects on CRF PVN PNCs, and both effects are influenced by sex and CIE. Behavioral and hormonal responses to stress are influenced by STP formation within the PVN, which is lost following CIE and restored with the preapplication of prazosin. The selective blockade of α1AR may, therefore, ameliorate CIE‐induced deficits in HPA responses to stress in a sex‐specific manner.
Diffusion of integrated reporting, insights and potential avenues for future research
Authors: Hossain Amir , Bose Sudipta , Shamsuddin Abul
Published: July 2022

This study reviews the diffusion of integrated reporting (IR) research. The systematic literature review method is used to review the effects of IR at the organisational level, determinants of IR adoption and integrated report quality (IRQ), assurance on IR, economic consequences of IR/IRQ, and research design issues to set agendas for future research. The review covers 119 peer‐reviewed IR articles published in 36 journals between 2012 and 2021. It finds that the IR literature is dominated by organisational‐level studies, but there is limited research on the economic consequences of IR/IRQ, and the findings are inconclusive to date. Further, the factors that determine IR adoption/IRQ are not conclusive, and there is scarce research on IR assurance. This review contributes to the emerging IR literature and provides valuable insights to the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) in establishing the IR framework as a global reporting norm in practice.
Intra‐seasonal and daily variations in nectar availability affect bee assemblage in a monodominant afforested Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: Ballarin Caio S. , Hachuy‐Filho Leandro , Doria Maria Júlia W. , Giffu Murilo M. , Polizello Diego S. , Oliveira Pablo H. , Lacerda‐Barbosa Pedro A. , Amorim Felipe W.
Published: July 2022

Nectar is the most common floral resource that mediates plant–pollinator interactions, and its spatiotemporal distribution is related to pollinator attraction and can influence pollinator activity through time. Therefore, assessing patterns of floral phenology of nectar‐producing plants can help better understand the pollinator assemblage's temporal dynamics. We used an area of afforested Brazilian Cerrado covered with a high‐density plantation of Inga vera, a mass‐flowering nectar‐producing tree, to investigate whether intra‐seasonal and daily variations in nectar availability provided by I. vera flowers affect the bee assemblage. We showed that bee abundance was positively related to intra‐seasonal patterns in floral phenology and daily changes in nectar production. Although bee species richness was also associated with intra‐seasonal changes in nectar availability, bee diversity (quantified using Simpson's diversity index) did not follow the same pattern. We suggest that the dominance of the invasive honeybee, Apis mellifera, on I. vera flowers may have affected the overall bee diversity over time due to an exacerbated increase in honeybee abundance. Therefore, by evaluating the temporal dynamics of nectar availability, an important floral attribute that influences plant–pollinator interactions, we suggest that planting high‐rewarding tree species at high densities in open ecosystems can affect the dynamics of native bee assemblages negatively due to the exacerbated recruitment of the dominant exotic honeybee.
A General Framework for Subgroup Detection via One-Step Value Difference Estimation
Authors: Johnson Dana , Lu Wenbin , Davidian Marie
Published: July 2022

Recent statistical methodology for precision medicine has focused on either identification of subgroups with enhanced treatment effects or estimating optimal treatment decision rules so that treatment is allocated in a way that maximizes, on average, predefined patient outcomes. Less attention has been given to subgroup testing, which involves evaluation of whether at least a subgroup of the population benefits from an investigative treatment, compared to some control or standard of care. In this work, we propose a general framework for testing for the existence of a subgroup with enhanced treatment effects based on the difference of the estimated value functions under an estimated optimal treatment regime and a fixed regime that assigns everyone to the same treatment. Our proposed test does not require specification of the parametric form of the subgroup and allows heterogeneous treatment effects within the subgroup. The test applies to cases when the outcome of interest is either a time-to-event or a (uncensored) scalar, and is valid at the exceptional law. To demonstrate the empirical performance of the proposed test, we study the type I error and power of the test statistics in simulations and also apply our test to data from a Phase III trial in patients with hematological malignancies.
Peripheral‐blood cytopenia, an early indicator of inborn errors of immunity
Authors: Cornelissen Helena M. , Musekwa Ernest M. , Glashoff Richard H. , Esser Monika , Zunza Moleen , Abraham Deepthi R. , Chapanduka Zivanai C.
Published: July 2022

Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are inherited monogenic disorders resulting in defective immune response. Non‐infectious presentations are increasingly more apparent. Widely available, cost‐effective early indicators are needed. Peripheral‐blood cytopenia may be a presenting laboratory feature or an observed secondary phenomenon. This retrospective review of the South African Primary Immunodeficiency Registry (SAPIDR) aimed to assess the haematological indices at presentation and their association with the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) 2019 IEI classification and mortality. Of 396 patients on the SAPIDR, 66% (n = 257) had available haematological results. Sixty percent were males and 85% under 18 years. A majority (53%) had predominantly antibody deficiency. At presentation, infection was prominent (86%) followed by cytopenia (62%). Neutropenia was associated with IUIS III [odds ratio (OR) 3.65, confidence interval (CI) 1.44–9.25], thrombocytopenia with IUIS II (OR 14.39, CI 2.89–71.57), lymphopenia with IUIS I (OR 12.16, CI 2.75–53.73) and pancytopenia with IUSI I (OR 12.24, CI 3.82–39.05) and IUIS II (OR 5.99, CI 2.80–12.76). Cytopenia showed shorter overall survival (OR 2.81, CI 1.288–4.16). Cytopenias that are severe, persistent, unusual and/or recurrent should prompt further investigation for IEI. The full blood count and leucocyte differential may facilitate earlier identification and serve as an adjunct to definitive molecular classification.
Hydrogen bonding penalty used for virtual screening to discover potent inhibitors for Papain‐Like cysteine proteases of SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Zhao Guangjian , Liu Xiaochun , Wang Suyun , Bai Zhongyue , Zhang Siyu , Wang Yifan , Yu Haibo , Xu Ximing
Published: July 2022

The Papain‐Like proteases (PLpro) of SARS‐CoV‐2 play a crucial role in viral replication and the formation of nonstructural proteins. To find available inhibitors, the 3D structure of PLpro of SARS2 was obtained by homologous modelling, and we used this structure as a target to search for inhibitors through molecular docking and MM/GBSA binding free energy rescoring. A novel hydrogen bonding penalty was applied to the screening process, which meanwhile took desolvation into account. Finally, 61 compounds were acquired and 4 of them with IC50 at micromolar level tested in vitro enzyme activity assay, which includes clinical drugs tegaserod. Considering the importance of crystal water molecules, the 4 compounds were re‐docked and considered bound waters in the active site as a part of PLpro. The binding modes of these 4 compounds were further explored with metadynamics simulations. The hits will provide a starting point for future key interactions identified and lead optimization targetting PLpro.
Abutment mechanical complications of a Morse taper connection implant system: A 1‐ to 9‐year retrospective study
Authors: Yang Fan , Ruan Yan , Liu Yunqing , Chen Jianping , Chen Yunfang , Zhang Wentao , Ding Yude , Wang Linhong
Published: July 2022

Background

The fracture of a Morse tapered abutment connection in an osseointegrated implant is one of the most serious mechanical complications, and it is extremely hard to deal with this complication in clinical practice.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to explore the cumulative mechanical complications focus on abutment of a platform switching Morse taper connection implant system after loading, and to perform a retrospective, approximately 1‐ to 9‐year follow‐up study to identify the predisposing factors.

Materials and Methods

A total of 495 patients with 945 fitted implants were enrolled in this study with a follow‐up from January 2012 to January 2020. The data of mechanical complications of the abutment, including abutment fracture (AF) and abutment screw loosening (ASL), and possible causative factors were extracted and evaluated statistically.

Results

A total of 25 out of 945 (2.65%) cumulative abutment mechanical complications occurred. AF was the most common complication (n = 13, 1.38%), followed by ASL (n = 12, 1.27%). For AF, gender, type of prosthesis, abutment design, and implant diameter were identified as the causative factors. AF was mostly observed in the single crown of males in molar areas, while ASL was more likely to occur on an angled abutment than on a non‐angled abutment. Moreover, the abutment with the positioning index (/X) had a higher incidence of fracture than the abutment without the positioning index (C/).

Conclusions

This study shows that the Morse taper connection is a safe abutment connection. AF occurs more frequently within single crowns in molar area of males, especially with the positioning index (/X), while ASL is more likely to occur in an angled abutment.
Anoplasty for anatomical anal stenosis: systematic review of complications and recurrences
Authors: Gallo Gaetano , Picciariello Arcangelo , Di Tanna Gian Luca , Pelizzo Patrizia , Altomare Donato Francesco , Trompetto Mario , Santoro Giulio Aniello , Roviello Franco , Felice Carla , Grossi Ugo
Published: July 2022

Aim

The optimal surgical treatment for anatomical anal stenosis (AS) remains to be determined. The aim of this study was to determine the rates of complications and recurrence after anoplasty for anatomical AS and, wherever feasible, compare the outcomes for the various techniques.

Method

A PROSPERO‐registered systematic review was reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. Medline, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library of Systematic Review, Scopus and Web of Science were searched for articles published up to May 2021. Studies that assessed the outcomes of anoplasty in adult patients with anatomical AS were selected. The primary outcomes were complications and recurrence. The methodological quality of studies was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools.

Results

From the total of 2705 unique screened records, 151 were assessed for eligibility. Only 29 studies (two prospective) met the inclusion criteria, reporting data on 556 patients [mean age 53 (18–83) years, 46% female]. Previous history of surgery for haemorrhoidal disease accounted for three quarters of cases. A total of 14 types of anoplasty were found, with the Y–V flap being the most performed technique [27% of cases (n = 149)]. Complications frequently occurred, with a pooled prevalence of 10.2% (95% CI 3.9%–24.1%) after Y–V flap and 11.5% (5.3%–23.0%) after rhomboid/diamond flap. Patients undergoing house flap achieved better results in terms of clinical improvement, satisfaction and quality of life compared with Y–V flap and rhomboid/diamond flap. When considering only studies with at least 12 months of follow‐up, the pooled prevalence of recurrence was 4.7% (2.2%–9.8%), with significantly higher rates observed in the prospective versus retrospective series [pooled prevalence 18.9% (11.5%–29.5%) vs. 3.6% (1.7–7.8%), respectively; p < 0.001].

Conclusion

Both complications and recurrence were significantly lower after house flap compared with rhomboid/diamond and Y–V flap. Better designed multicentre studies with longer follow‐up are needed to confirm these findings.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021239493.
Ownership, innovation, and variable institutional quality
Authors: Tran Hien Thu , Freel Mark
Published: July 2022

Research question/issue

Innovation has been a constant feature of the tales of transition and transformation. State ownership as the engine of innovation and technological change may be juxtaposed with the “liability of stateness” and the notion that “privatization works.” This study seeks to investigate the relationship between legal ownership and innovation inputs and outputs, while accounting for the moderating effect of institutional quality on this relationship.

Research findings/insights

We exploit unique data from a very large‐scale panel survey of enterprises (65,750 firms between 2006 and 2014) in Vietnam, a fast‐growing but understudied transition country, and apply advanced methodologies that control for the endogeneity of institutions. Our findings point to the continued dominance of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) in innovation activities in Vietnam. However, the returns to innovation in SOEs accrue only up to a point and improving institutional quality serves to diminish their advantage over privately‐owned enterprises (POEs) and to level the playing field.

Theoretical/academic implications

We employ an integrated framework that develops predictions from resource dependence, agency, and institutional theories to explore the direct and contingent influences of ownership and institutional quality on firm‐level innovation activities. Our study contributes to the growing literature on state ownership and innovation in transition and emerging economies and the recent calls for greater attention to local institutional context and revising the existing theories on “state underperformance.”

Practitioner/policy implications

This study offers insights to policy makers in enhancing the quality of local institutions. Higher‐quality institutions moderate the advantages state ownership confers and ameliorate the disadvantages associated with private ownership.
Policy and the social burden of bald eagle recovery
Authors: Watts Bryan D. , Byrd Mitchell A.
Published: July 2022

One of the challenges of applying endangered species policy on private property is striking an equitable balance between species protection and civil liberties. The future of many imperiled species depends on a public‐private trust. We estimate the social burden of managing bald eagles on private lands within the lower Chesapeake Bay (1976–2016). We quantify the area of private and government‐owned land deemed critical around nests and estimate the value of private properties as an index of burden. The bald eagle population increased from 30 to 1052 breeding pairs and the land within nest buffers increased from 384 to 10,670 ha with >80% on private lands. Estimated value of private property “under guidelines” increased more than 900 fold. More than 94% of this burden was imposed after eagles reached recovery goals. Restricting activities on private lands to achieve diminishingly small conservation benefits threatens to undermine landowner participation in conservation efforts.
Next‐generation sequencing improves agreement and accuracy in the diagnosis of Spitz and spitzoid melanocytic lesions
Authors: Roth Andrew , Lampley Nathaniel , Boutko Anastasiya , Zhao Jeffrey , Benton Sarah , Olivares Shantel , Zembowicz Artur , Gerami Pedram
Published: July 2022

Background

Spitzoid melanocytic neoplasms can be challenging to diagnose on histopathology alone. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) offers promise as a valuable aid in the diagnosis. Recently, one study reported increased inter‐rater agreement in the diagnosis of spitzoid melanocytic neoplasms among 20 expert melanoma pathologists after incorporating NGS data. We hypothesized that NGS would carry a similar utility in a broader group of dermatopathologists and general pathologists.

Methods

Sixty‐three participants of a live online (www.Dermpedia.org) CME course rendered a diagnosis on 70 cases composed of melanocytic neoplasms with spitzoid features. In Survey 1, cases included H&E slides and demographic information only, while Survey 2 included NGS data.

Results

With NGS information, inter‐rater agreement significantly improved from “fair” to “almost perfect” and from “fair” to “substantial” for categorizing lesions as Spitz versus non‐Spitz and conventional melanoma versus not, respectively. There was also an increase in diagnostic accuracy, evidenced by improved recognition of three metastatic tumors as being conventional melanomas.

Conclusion

The study supports the adoption of NGS as a valuable diagnostic adjunct for both expert and broader dermatopathologists in their assessments of spitzoid neoplasms.
Defining an epidemiological landscape that connects movement ecology to pathogen transmission and pace‐of‐life
Authors: Manlove Kezia , Wilber Mark , White Lauren , Bastille‐Rousseau Guillaume , Yang Anni , Gilbertson Marie L. J. , Craft Meggan E. , Cross Paul C. , Wittemyer George , Pepin Kim M.
Published: July 2022

Pathogen transmission depends on host density, mobility and contact. These components emerge from host and pathogen movements that themselves arise through interactions with the surrounding environment. The environment, the emergent host and pathogen movements, and the subsequent patterns of density, mobility and contact form an ‘epidemiological landscape’ connecting the environment to specific locations where transmissions occur. Conventionally, the epidemiological landscape has been described in terms of the geographical coordinates where hosts or pathogens are located. We advocate for an alternative approach that relates those locations to attributes of the local environment. Environmental descriptions can strengthen epidemiological forecasts by allowing for predictions even when local geographical data are not available. Environmental predictions are more accessible than ever thanks to new tools from movement ecology, and we introduce a ‘movement‐pathogen pace of life’ heuristic to help identify aspects of movement that have the most influence on spatial epidemiology. By linking pathogen transmission directly to the environment, the epidemiological landscape offers an efficient path for using environmental information to inform models describing when and where transmission will occur.
Impact of vaccination on COVID‐19 outcome in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Bsteh Gabriel , Gradl Christiane , Heschl Bettina , Hegen Harald , Di Pauli Franziska , Assar Hamid , Leutmezer Fritz , Traxler Gerhard , Krajnc Nik , Zulehner Gudrun , Hiller Maria‐Sophia , Rommer Paulus , Wipfler Peter , Guger Michael , Enzinger Christian , Berger Thomas ,   for the AUT‐MuSC investigators
Published: July 2022

Background and purpose

COVID‐19 continues to challenge neurologists in counseling persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) regarding disease‐modifying treatment (DMT) and vaccination. The objective here was to characterize predictors of COVID‐19 outcome in pwMS.

Methods

We included pwMS with polymerase chain reaction‐confirmed COVID‐19 diagnosis from a nationwide population‐based registry. COVID‐19 outcome was classified as either mild or severe. Impact of DMT, specifically anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibodies (anti‐CD20), and vaccination on COVID‐19 outcome was determined by multivariate models adjusted for a priori risk (determined by a cumulative risk score comprising age, disability, and comorbidities).

Results

Of 317 pwMS with COVID‐19 (mean age = 41.8 years [SD = 12.4], 72.9% female, median Expanded Disability Status Scale = 1.5 [range = 0–8.5], 77% on DMT [16% on anti‐CD20]), 92.7% had a mild course and 7.3% a severe course, with 2.2% dying from COVID‐19. Ninety‐seven pwMS (30.6%) were fully vaccinated. After a median 5 months from vaccination to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (range = 1–9), severe COVID‐19 occurred in 2.1% of fully vaccinated pwMS compared to 9.5% in unvaccinated pwMS (p = 0.018).

A priori risk robustly predicted COVID‐19 severity (R2 = 0.605, p < 0.001). Adjusting for a priori risk, anti‐CD20 treatment was associated with increased COVID‐19 severity (odds ratio [OR] = 3.3, R2 = 0.113, p = 0.003), but exposure to any other DMT was not. Fully vaccinated pwMS showed a significantly decreased risk for severe COVID‐19 (OR = 0.21, R2 = 0.144, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

In a population‐based MS cohort, COVID‐19 course is primarily predicted by a priori risk (depending on age, disability, and comorbidities) explaining about 60% of variance. Anti‐CD20 treatment is associated with a moderately increased risk, whereas reassuringly vaccination provides protection from severe COVID‐19.
A single genomic region involving a putative chromosome rearrangement in flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) is associated with differential host resilience to the parasite Bonamia ostreae
Authors: Sambade Inés Martínez , Casanova Adrian , Blanco Andrés , Gundappa Manu K. , Bean Tim P. , Macqueen Daniel J. , Houston Ross D. , Villalba Antonio , Vera Manuel , Kamermans Pauline , Martínez Paulino
Published: July 2022

European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) is an ecologically and economically important marine bivalve, that has been severely affected by the intracellular parasite Bonamia ostreae. In this study, a flat oyster SNP array (~14,000 SNPs) was used to validate previously reported outlier loci for divergent selection associated with B. ostreae exposure in the Northeast Atlantic Area. A total of 134 wild and hatchery individuals from the North Sea, collected in naïve (NV) and long‐term affected (LTA) areas, were analysed. Genetic diversity and differentiation were related to the sampling origin (wild vs. hatchery) when using neutral markers, and to bonamiosis status (NV vs. LTA) when using outlier loci for divergent selection. Two genetic clusters appeared intermingled in all sampling locations when using outlier loci, and their frequency was associated with their bonamiosis status. When both clusters were compared, outlier data sets showed high genetic divergence (FST > 0.25) unlike neutral loci (FST not ≠ 0). Moreover, the cluster associated with LTA samples showed much higher genetic diversity and significant heterozygote excess with outlier loci, but not with neutral data. Most outliers mapped on chromosome 8 (OE‐C8) of the flat oyster genome, supporting a main genomic region underlying resilience to bonamiosis. Furthermore, differentially expressed genes previously reported between NV and LTA strains showed higher mapping density on OE‐C8. A range of relevant immune functions were specifically enriched among genes annotated on OE‐C8, providing hypotheses for resilience mechanisms to an intracellular parasite. The results suggest that marker‐assisted selection could be applied to breed resilient strains of O. edulis to bonamiosis, if lower parasite load and/or higher viability of the LTA genetic cluster following B. ostreae infection is demonstrated.
Implementation of sliding mode backstepping controller for boost converter in real‐time for LED application
Authors: Deo Rajesh Narayan , Shrivastava Ashish , Chatterjee Kalyan
Published: July 2022

This paper describes the real‐time implementation of a sliding mode backstepping controller for boost converters for LED lighting applications. The sliding surface is used to calculate the first error value in the backstepping control procedure, which ensures the system's robustness over a wide range of disturbances by achieving an asymptotically stable system based on the Lyapunov function. Due to the non‐minimum phase nature of boost converter, the system will become unstable. Hence the output voltage is indirectly controlled by controlling the sliding surface in the proposed sliding mode backstepping controller in order to achieve the asymptotically stable system. The detailed simulation is carried out on the MATLAB/Simulink platform, and the results are compared to that of a conventional proportional‐integral‐derivative (PID) controller and a traditional sliding mode controller, which ensures system robustness across a wide range of load resistance and input voltage changes, resulting in enhanced transient and, steady‐state responses. In the laboratory, a prototype of proposed controller is designed to ensure its accuracy in real‐time. By comparing the proposed control technique to the conventional sliding mode controller and PID controller, the flexibility of the proposed control method is validated for any variation at the input and output sides. From the experimental results, it is apparent that the proposed controller responds accurately and rapidly regardless of the disturbances caused to the system.
Family processes and structure: Longitudinal influences on adolescent disruptive and internalizing behaviors
Authors: Savell Shannon M. , Saini Ravjot , Ramos Mayra , Wilson Melvin N. , Lemery‐Chalfant Kathryn , Shaw Daniel S.
Published: July 2022

Objective

The present study revisits the assumption in American culture, based in “family privilege,” that children fare better in two‐parent households by longitudinally examining associations between family structure, process, and adolescent behavior.

Background

Societal assumptions and cross‐sectional research suggest that there is a difference in child adjustment across varying family structures. Relatedly, the family process literature emphasizes the importance of parent–child relationship quality in addition to family structure on child adjustment.

Method

We utilized a longitudinal, prospective design that assessed family structures on nine occasions covering a 12‐year period beginning when the target child was 2 years of age for a large (N = 714), ethnically and racially diverse sample of low‐income families. We examined the relation between self‐reported, teacher‐reported, and primary caregiver‐reported adolescent disruptive and internalizing problem behavior across family structures and parent–child relationship quality.

Results

Across seven identified family structures, adolescent behavior did not differ after accounting for middle‐childhood adjustment and relevant contextual factors. However, consistent with family process models of child adjustment, positive parent–child relationship quality predicted lower rates of adolescent maladaptive behavior.

Conclusion

These findings serve to combat stigma related to family structures that deviate from married parents raising their children and highlight the need for interventions designed to foster positive parent–child relationships.

Implications

Policy makers and practitioners should aim to support efforts to foster positive parent–child relationships across types of family structures and refrain from promoting or discouraging the formations of specific family structure types.
How to write a good scientific review article
Authors: Dhillon Paraminder
Published: July 2022

Literature reviews are valuable resources for the scientific community. With research accelerating at an unprecedented speed in recent years and more and more original papers being published, review articles have become increasingly important as a means to keep up‐to‐date with developments in a particular area of research. A good review article provides readers with an in‐depth understanding of a field and highlights key gaps and challenges to address with future research. Writing a review article also helps to expand the writer’s knowledge of their specialist area and to develop their analytical and communication skills, amongst other benefits. Thus, the importance of building review‐writing into a scientific career cannot be overstated. In this instalment of The FEBS Journal’s Words of Advice series, I provide detailed guidance on planning and writing an informative and engaging literature review.
Organizational commitment in local government bureaucracies: The case of Zambia
Authors: Resnick Danielle , Siame Gilbert
Published: July 2022

What drives organizational commitment in local government? Despite the growth of decentralization initiatives in many developing countries and concurrent investments by international donors to build public sector capacity, there thus far has been little consideration of what drives bureaucrats to stay committed to local government service. This paper addresses this question by drawing on original survey data with more than 150 bureaucrats across 16 district councils in Zambia. The findings show that along with education, key factors that shape commitment include alignment with the mission of local government service, clear job objectives provided by supervisors, and placement in a city council. By contrast, extrinsic rewards and political interference play a more important role when examining drivers of job satisfaction. The results underscore the need for nuanced and multi‐modal policy interventions in developing country contexts to retain skilled staff in local government and improve the delivery of services to local communities.
The entrenchment of the ideal worker norm during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Evidence from working mothers in the United States
Authors: Zanhour Mona , Sumpter Dana McDaniel
Published: July 2022

We study shifts in the ideal worker culture as experienced by working mothers across organizations in the United States during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Experiences of 53 interviewees who attended to increased responsibilities across both work and family domains revealed an entrenchment of the ideal worker culture across nearly all organizations and professions. This manifested in three levels: as (1) a reinforced ideal worker culture in the workplace through work intensification, increased competitiveness, and surface‐level support; (2) the reinforcing of organizations' ideal worker norms at home, with gendered division of space and labor; and (3) experienced internalized ideal worker norms in the expectations working mothers maintained for themselves. These findings offer insight into the lives of working mothers during the COVID‐19 pandemic and the challenges which have pushed many mothers to reduce work hours or leave the workforce. Highlighting the intricate nature of the entrenchment of the ideal worker culture informs implications for theory of gendered organizations and for organizational practice.
Physical function and physical activity in hemodialysis patients with peripheral artery disease
Authors: Harada Manae , Suzuki Yuta , Matsuzawa Ryota , Watanabe Takaaki , Yamamoto Shohei , Imamura Keigo , Yoshikoshi Shun , Aoyama Naoyoshi , Osada Shiwori , Yoshida Atsushi , Matsunaga Atsuhiko
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is commonly observed in patients undergoing hemodialysis. PAD impairs the vasculature and leads to pathophysiologic changes in the skeletal muscles, causing physical function impairment and physical inactivity in general. However, it is unclear whether PAD adversely affects physical function and physical activity in patients on hemodialysis.

Methods

We performed a cross‐sectional study with a retrospective review of the data to determine whether PAD is associated with impaired physical function and physical activity in patients undergoing hemodialysis. The study population comprised 310 patients and 88 healthy subjects. PAD was diagnosed based on an ankle‐brachial index of <1.00 in patients on hemodialysis. Measurements of physical function included maximum walking speed, muscle strength in the lower extremities, and balance while standing.

Findings

Of the 310 patients, 84 (27.1%) had PAD. When patients undergoing hemodialysis were divided into those without PAD and those with PAD, both groups had poorer physical function and physical activity than the healthy control subjects. After adjustments for potential confounders, it was found that patients on hemodialysis with PAD had slower walking speed, poorer standing balance, and less physical activity than those without PAD. However, there was no significant difference in lower extremity muscle strength between the two groups.

Discussion

PAD diagnosed based on an ankle‐brachial index of <1.00 was independently associated with impaired physical function and reduced physical activity in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Skin and mucosal telangiectatic lesions in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia patients
Authors: Hyldahl Stefanie J. , El‐Jaji Mounir Q. , Schuster Annette , Kjeldsen Anette Drøhse
Published: July 2022

Background

The diagnostic criteria for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) include the presence of telangiectatic lesions in common sites (nose, fingers, oral cavity, and lips). Telangiectatic lesions are described as red spots in the skin, but this description is inadequate. Few studies have investigated the characteristics of telangiectatic lesions in HHT, and we aimed to describe the distribution and morphology of telangiectatic lesions in HHT patients.

Methods

We reviewed the telangiectatic lesions in 34 adult HHT patients seen at our HHT center. Photo documentation was used to describe the morphology and distribution of the lesions.

Results

The telangiectatic lesions in both HHT1 and HHT2 patients were predominantly round and either flat or slightly elevated. However, elongated flat lesions and larger round, elevated lesions were also observed. Patients with HHT1 had more lesions in the mucosa (tongue and oral cavity) compared with HHT2 patients. There was no difference between HHT1 and HHT2 patients in the total number of lesions in the skin and mucosa.

Conclusions

The typical round, flat telangiectatic lesion is the most common lesion in HHT, but it is very often accompanied by elevated or elongated lesions. The total number of lesions did not vary between gender, but women had significantly more lesions in the mucosa (p = 0.027). The presentation of telangiectatic lesions may vary a little between HHT1 and HHT2 patients but not in such a way that allows the morphology and location of the lesions to predict the HHT subtype.
Study of purine derivatives and their relation to renal disorders in patients with psoriasis
Authors: Bazid Heba A. S. , Shoeib Mohamed A. , El‐Sayed Samar , Mostafa Mohammad I. , Shoeib May M. , Eldeen Eman Salah
Published: July 2022

Background

Psoriasis (Pso) is a chronic proliferative skin condition associated with hyperuricemia that may impair renal function.

Objectives

The current study investigates the correlation between purine derivatives (PDs) and renal function in patients with Pso.

Patients/Methods

This case–control study comprises 30 psoriatic patients and 30 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. The enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess serum xanthine oxidase (XO) and urine albumin levels. Serum uric acid (SUA) and urinary creatinine were measured using the colorimetric method.

Results

There was a rise in the related PDs levels in patients with Pso compared to controls, as evidenced by the enhanced SUA levels (p < 0.001) and XO levels (p < 0.001). The presence of the related PDs in the serum was linked to the severity of Pso, and there was also a connection between the related PDs levels in the blood and indicators of renal dysfunction. Moreover, SUA and urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) were found to be significantly correlated (r = 0.371 and p = 0.044), as were XO and UACR (r = 0.422 and p = 0.020). In psoriatic patients with itching and palmoplantar affection, mean SUA levels were considerably more significant than those in other instances (p = 0.005 and p = 0.018, respectively).

Conclusion

Pso, being a hyperproliferative disease, is associated with hyperuricemia, which has a harmful effect on kidney function. The related PDs may be unique serological biomarkers for patients with Pso who are at high risk of developing renal abnormalities, especially with higher severity scores.
Country‐level checklists and occurrences for the world's Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)
Authors: Sandall Emily L. , Pinkert Stefan , Jetz Walter
Published: July 2022

Aim

Biogeographical inference and assessments of species' threat status and trends depend on comprehensive information on the current geographical distribution of species. Even country‐level presences remain poorly known for many insect species and consistent global overviews for those species are missing. Here we integrate information from literature checklists, point occurrences, and identify potential species range gaps to provide a database of country‐level checklists of dragonfly and damselfly species and a useful baseline for global biogeographical assessment and for assessing remaining gaps in taxonomic and spatial knowledge.

Location

Global.

Taxon

Odonata (damselflies and dragonflies).

Methods

Our database of checklist information contains country‐level species distribution information from 491 literature sources, with a focus on checklist data from 1990 to 2021 to reflect the present taxonomic and country boundaries. Additionally, we apply a novel method to interpolate potential species–country combinations missing from the literature and point data by generating a list of species present in >50% of the surrounding countries.

Results

Of the 6,322 globally recognized odonate species, taxonomically harmonized literature checklist records and quality‐controlled point occurrence data address 6,076 and 4,170 species, respectively. Our compilation provides a total of 31,569 unique species–country combinations, with 23,239 uniquely provided by literature checklist and 2,031 point occurrence data, respectively.

Main Conclusions

This odonate country checklist dataset provides a resource for scientists and conservation practitioners to examine questions related to baseline odonate species richness, distributions, regional conservation, and gaps in taxonomic and spatial data coverage. The combined literature and point occurrence country‐level information provide the most comprehensive data available to date on the global distribution of Odonata. Our results show that checklist and point occurrences are concordant in well‐studied regions and that literature data are of complementary value in tropical and species‐rich countries.
Resveratrol, novel application by preconditioning to attenuate myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice through regulate AMPK pathway and autophagy level
Authors: Li Haiyan , Zheng Fuchun , Zhang Yanmei , Sun Jiajia , Gao Fenfei , Shi Ganggang
Published: July 2022

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI) is the main cause of deaths in the worldwide, leading to severe cardiac dysfunction. Resveratrol (RSV) is a polyphenol plant‐derived compound. Our study aimed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism of preconditioning RSV in protecting against MI/RI. Mice were ligated and re‐perfused by the left anterior descending branch with or without RSV (30 mg/kg·ip) for 7 days. Firstly, we found that RSV pretreatment significantly alleviated myocardial infarct size, improved cardiac function and decreased oxidative stress. Furthermore, RSV activated p‐AMPK and SIRT1, ameliorated inflammation including the level of TNF‐α and IL‐1β, and promoting autophagy level. Moreover, neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) and H9c2 cells with knockdown the expression of AMPK, SIRT1 or FOXO1 were used to uncover the underlying molecular mechanism for the cardio‐protection of RSV. In NRVMs, RSV increased cellular viability, decreased LDH release and reduced oxidative stress. Importantly, Compound C(CpC) and EX527 reversed the effect of RSV against MI/RI in vivo and in vitro and counteracted the autophagy level induced by RSV. Together, our study indicated that RSV could alleviate oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes through activating AMPK/SIRT1‐FOXO1 signallingpathway and enhanced autophagy level, thus presenting high potential protection on MI/RI.
Infection risk in psoriatic patients receiving tumour necrosis factor inhibitors: a 20‐year systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Wang Y.‐C. , Lin Y.‐H. , Ma S.‐H. , Chang Y.‐T. , Chen C.‐C.
Published: July 2022

Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) are commonly used for treating psoriatic diseases; however, the risk of infection while receiving TNFis remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the infection risk in patients with psoriatic disease receiving TNFis. A prospectively registered systematic literature search was conducted in Medline (PubMed), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE and the ClinicalTrials.gov databases from inception to December 31, 2021. We included double‐blind randomized controlled trials that compared TNFis or other biologics with placebo in adults with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. The primary outcomes included overall and serious infection risks, and secondary outcomes included upper respiratory infections and nasopharyngitis risks. The risk ratio of the dichotomous outcome was calculated using the Mantel–Haenszel method with random effects, and heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q statistic and quantified using the I‐squared statistic. A total of 48 studies with 15 464 patients with psoriatic diseases were included. The meta‐analysis demonstrated a slightly increased overall infection risk (risk ratio = 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.15) but not serious infection risk (risk ratio = 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.61–1.49) among patients receiving TNFis. There were also no increased risks of upper respiratory infections (risk ratio = 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.94–1.28) or nasopharyngitis (risk ratio = 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.30). In subgroup analyses using the fixed effects model, only etanercept and certolizumab pegol were, respectively, associated with an increased risk of overall infection (RR = 1.14, 95% CI, 1.03–1.27) and upper respiratory infections (RR = 1.42, 95% CI, 1.02–1.98). In conclusion, evidence to date suggests an increased overall infection risk that is generally tolerable in patients with psoriatic diseases receiving TNFis. There are no increased risks of serious infections, upper respiratory infections or nasopharyngitis.