bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does governance matter? Comparing the determinants of Chinese and Western trade with Africa
Authors: Landry David
Published: March 2024

In recent decades, China has risen to prominence in the global economy with breakneck speed. Many have hypothesised that Chinese economic actors undermine the global drive to promote good governance in developing countries, and in Africa in particular, by disproportionately engaging economically with countries that suffer from poor governance outcomes. Using bilateral trade data, this paper explicitly compares how different aspects of African countries' governance levels impact their trade patterns with China and the West. It finds that African countries with better corruption controls and improved democratic development levels export more to the Western countries sampled, though the opposite is true with regard to their exports to China. Interestingly, democratic development is associated with greater imports from both the West and China, but the opposite holds with regard to respect for human rights. Finally, political stability has no significant impact on African trade—with either the West or China. However, when oil exporters are excluded from the sample, the relationship between political stability and African exports strengthens dramatically, which suggests that both Western and Chinese importers are willing to tolerate political instability to secure oil.
Do risk scores improve use of faecal immunochemical testing for haemoglobin in symptomatic patients in primary care?
Authors: Digby Jayne , Fraser Callum G. , Clark Gavin , Mowat Craig , Strachan Judith A. , Steele Robert J. C.
Published: March 2024

Aim

Faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is used in the detection of colorectal cancer (CRC). FIT is invariably used at a single faecal haemoglobin (f‐Hb) concentration threshold. The aim of this observational study was to explore risk scoring models (RSMs) with f‐Hb and other risk factors for CRC in symptomatic patients attending primary care, potentially speeding diagnosis and saving endoscopy resources.

Method

Records of patients completing FIT were linked with The Scottish Cancer Registry and with other databases with symptoms, full blood count and demographic variables, and randomized into derivation and validation cohorts. Stepwise multivariable logistic regression created RSMs assessed in the validation cohort.

Results

Of 18 805 unique patients, 9374 and 9431 were in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively: f‐Hb, male sex, increasing age, iron deficiency anaemia and raised systemic immune inflammation index created the final RSM. A risk score threshold of ≥2.363, generating the same number of colonoscopies as a f‐Hb threshold of ≥10 μg Hb/g gave improved sensitivity for CRC in both cohorts. A RSM which excluded f‐Hb was used to investigate the effect of raising the f‐Hb threshold from ≥10 to ≥20 μg Hb/g in those with a low risk score. This approach would have generated 234 fewer colonoscopies but missed four CRCs.

Conclusion

The RSM conferred no significant benefit to patients with very low f‐Hb and CRC. Alternative strategies combining FIT with other variables may be more appropriate for safety‐netting of symptomatic patients. Further work to develop and investigate the value of RSM for significant bowel disease other than CRC may also be beneficial.
Influence of neoadjuvant treatment strategy on perioperative outcomes in locally advanced rectal cancer
Authors: McFeetors Carson , O'Connell Lauren V. , Choy Megan , Dundon Niamh , Regan Mark , Joyce Myles , Meshkat Babak , Hogan Aisling , Nugent Emmeline
Published: March 2024

Aim

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer facilitates tumour downstaging and complete pathological response (pCR). The goal of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy (total neoadjuvant chemotherapy, TNT) is to further improve local and systemic control. While some patients forgo surgery, total mesorectal excision (TME) remains the standard of care. While TNT appears to be noninferior to nCRT with respect to short‐term oncological outcomes few data exist on perioperative outcomes. Perioperative morbidity including anastomotic leaks is associated with a negative effect on oncological outcomes, probably due to a delay in proceeding to adjuvant therapy. Thus, we aimed to compare conversion rates, rates of sphincter‐preserving surgery and anastomosis formation rates in patients undergoing rectal resection after either TNT or standard nCRT.

Methods

An institutional colorectal oncology database was searched from January 2018 to July 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised patients with histologically confirmed rectal cancer who had undergone neoadjuvant therapy and TME. Exclusion criteria comprised patients with a noncolorectal primary, those operated on emergently or who had local excision only. Outcomes evaluated included rates of conversion to open, sphincter‐preserving surgery, anastomosis formation and anastomotic leak.

Results

A total of 119 patients were eligible for inclusion (60 with standard nCRT, 59 with TNT). There were no differences in rates of sphincter preservation or primary anastomosis formation between the groups. However, a significant increase in conversion to open (p = 0.03) and anastomotic leak (p = 0.03) was observed in the TNT cohort.

Conclusion

In this series TNT appears to be associated with higher rates of conversion to open surgery and higher anastomotic leak rates. While larger studies will be required to confirm these findings, these factors should be considered alongside oncological benefits when selecting treatment strategies.
Skeletal muscle estimation: A review of techniques and their applications
Authors: Rodriguez Christian , Mota Jacob D. , Palmer Ty B. , Heymsfield Steven B. , Tinsley Grant M.
Published: March 2024

Quantifying skeletal muscle size is necessary to identify those at risk for conditions that increase frailty, morbidity, and mortality, as well as decrease quality of life. Although muscle strength, muscle quality, and physical performance have been suggested as important assessments in the screening, prevention, and management of sarcopenic and cachexic individuals, skeletal muscle size is still a critical objective marker. Several techniques exist for estimating skeletal muscle size; however, each technique presents with unique characteristics regarding simplicity/complexity, cost, radiation dose, accessibility, and portability that are important factors for assessors to consider before applying these modalities in practice. This narrative review presents a discussion centred on the theory and applications of current non‐invasive techniques for estimating skeletal muscle size in diverse populations. Common instruments for skeletal muscle assessment include imaging techniques such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, peripheral quantitative computed tomography, dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry, and Brightness‐mode ultrasound, and non‐imaging techniques like bioelectrical impedance analysis and anthropometry. Skeletal muscle size can be acquired from these methods using whole‐body and/or regional assessments, as well as prediction equations. Notable concerns when conducting assessments include the absence of standardised image acquisition/processing protocols and the variation in cut‐off thresholds used to define low skeletal muscle size by clinicians and researchers, which could affect the accuracy and prevalence of diagnoses. Given the importance of evaluating skeletal muscle size, it is imperative practitioners are informed of each technique and their respective strengths and weaknesses.
Using environmental education to nurture positive human–wildlife interactions in India
Authors: Salazar Gabby , Satheesh Nitya , Ramakrishna Ishika , Monroe Martha C. , Mills Morena , Karanth Krithi K.
Published: March 2024

Environmental education has the potential to help reduce negative human–wildlife interactions by increasing positive attitudes toward wildlife and providing participants with knowledge and skills that can help mitigate conflict situations and promote safety. To promote positive human–wildlife relationships, effective programs could be implemented widely in areas near remote wildlife reserves and protected areas. We created and evaluated a new environmental education program for 10‐ to 13‐year‐old students in rural schools in India where human–wildlife conflicts with large mammals frequently occur. Between July 2019 and March 2020, we tested the program at 129 schools, reaching 4331 students. The program, which was iteratively designed to fit the local context, is both cost‐effective and scalable. We found that participation in the program resulted in a significant positive increase in local environmental knowledge, in knowledge of safe behaviors, and in some measures of environmental attitudes. This paper reports on the lessons learned while creating this program that may help other organizations interested in using environmental education in regions where negative human–wildlife interactions frequently occur.
Telencephalic eversion in embryos and early larvae of four teleost species
Authors: Folgueira Mónica , Clarke Jonathan D. W.
Published: March 2024

The telencephalon of ray‐finned fishes undergoes eversion, which is very different to the evagination that occurs in most other vertebrates. Ventricle morphogenesis is key to build an everted telencephalon. Thus, here we use the apical marker zona occludens 1 to understand ventricle morphology, extension of the tela choroidea and the eversion process during early telencephalon development of four teleost species: giant danio (Devario aequipinnatus), blind cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus), medaka (Oryzias latipes), and paradise fish (Macroposus opercularis). In addition, by using immunohistochemistry against tubulin and calcium‐binding proteins, we analyze the general morphology of the telencephalon, showing changes in the location and extension of the olfactory bulb and other telencephalic regions from 2 to 5 days of development. We also analyze the impact of abnormal eye and telencephalon morphogenesis on eversion, showing that cyclops mutants do undergo eversion despite very dramatic abnormal eye morphology. We discuss how the formation of the telencephalic ventricle in teleost fish, with its characteristic shape, is a crucial event during eversion.
The neuropeptide pigment‐dispersing factor signals independently of Bruchpilot‐labelled active zones in daily remodelled terminals of Drosophila clock neurons
Authors: Hofbauer Benedikt , Zandawala Meet , Reinhard Nils , Rieger Dirk , Werner Christian , Evers Jan Felix , Wegener Christian
Published: February 2024

The small ventrolateral neurons (sLNvs) are key components of the central clock in the Drosophila brain. They signal via the neuropeptide pigment‐dispersing factor (PDF) to align the molecular clockwork of different central clock neurons and to modulate downstream circuits. The dorsal terminals of the sLNvs undergo daily morphological changes that affect presynaptic sites organised by the active zone protein Bruchpilot (BRP), a homolog of mammalian ELKS proteins. However, the role of these presynaptic sites for PDF release is ill‐defined.

Here, we combined expansion microscopy with labelling of active zones by endogenously tagged BRP to examine the spatial correlation between PDF‐containing dense‐core vesicles and BRP‐labelled active zones. We found that the number of BRP‐labelled puncta in the sLNv terminals was similar while their density differed between Zeitgeber time (ZT) 2 and 14. The relative distance between BRP‐ and PDF‐labelled puncta was increased in the morning, around the reported time of PDF release. Spontaneous dense‐core vesicle release profiles of sLNvs in a publicly available ssTEM dataset (FAFB) consistently lacked spatial correlation to BRP‐organised active zones. RNAi‐mediated downregulation of brp and other active zone proteins expressed by the sLNvs did not affect PDF‐dependent locomotor rhythmicity. In contrast, down‐regulation of genes encoding proteins of the canonical vesicle release machinery, the dense‐core vesicle‐related protein CADPS, as well as PDF impaired locomotor rhythmicity.

Taken together, our study suggests that PDF release from the sLNvs is independent of BRP‐organised active zones, while BRP may be redistributed to active zones in a time‐dependent manner.
International family justice as collaborative justice
Authors: Menon Sundaresh
Published: March 2024

Globalization has fueled the rise of international family disputes, which raise difficult legal issues that cannot be addressed by any court or jurisdiction working alone. These challenges require a considered and coherent response on the international front, supported by the willingness of individual family judges to communicate and cooperate to identify and implement practical solutions. To meet these new challenges, this paper proposes a vision of international family justice as collaborative justice. There are three aspects or phases to the proposed endeavor: (a) the articulation of common aspirations and values; (b) continuing cooperation and communication between family courts and institutions; and (c) convergence in the substantive norms and practice of international family law.
Skin and mucosal manifestations of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in people living with HIV: a review
Authors: Górecka Aleksandra , Majewski Sławomir , Szymańska Elżbieta , Walecka Irena
Published: March 2024

Opportunistic infections have significantly decreased in individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus and receiving antiretroviral therapy. However, in approximately 10%–25% of patients, severe skin reactions during immune reconstruction are constantly increasing. This may manifest as either an exacerbation of a chronic disease or the development of a new disorder, referred to as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. This review focuses on the current knowledge regarding the dermatological symptoms of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome observed in recent years. These symptoms encompass various pathogens, neoplasms, and certain autoimmune diseases. In addition to the most common skin reactions, attention is directed towards conditions not previously described in any review, such as psoriasis.
Nail involvement in connective tissue diseases: an epidemiological, clinical, and dermoscopic study
Authors: Ghannem Azza , Zaouak Anissa , Aydi Zohra , Somai Mehdi , Hammami Houda , Boussema Fatma , Fenniche Samy
Published: March 2024

Background

The assessment of nail changes in connective tissue diseases (CTD) has been rarely explored in previous studies. The use of dermoscopy to study vascular changes in nailfolds is an interesting diagnostic technique. The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and dermoscopic features of nail lesions in CTD.

Methods

A prospective study was performed at the Dermatology Department of Habib Thameur Hospital (Tunis, Tunisia) in collaboration with the Internal Medicine Department over a period of 15 months, from July 2020 to September 2021, including patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and dermatomyositis (DM).

Results

Our study included 48 patients. Nail involvement was found in 44 cases. Dermoscopic nailfold abnormalities were identified in 37 cases. The most common clinical features were ragged cuticle, nailfold erythema, and onycholysis. Additionally, splinter hemorrhage, longitudinal ridging, lunula abnormalities, melanonychia, trachyonychia, leukonychia, increase in transverse curvature, parrot beak nail, half and half nails, and onychorrhexis were described. Nailfold dermoscopy showed a normal pattern in 10 cases, a nonspecific pattern in nine cases (SLE), and a scleroderma pattern in 29 cases (SS and DM). The scleroderma pattern was further categorized into an early pattern (6), an active pattern (14), and a late pattern (9). Normal pattern was observed solely in patients in remission. The late scleroderma pattern was associated with disease duration and systemic involvement. In SLE, disease activity correlated with onycholysis, nailfold erythema, and pathologic pattern in dermoscopy. However, patients with DM displayed a positive correlation between pulmonary involvement and scleroderma pattern.

Conclusion

Nail involvement in CTD includes a diverse range of abnormalities. Despite being nonspecific, it can provide crucial clues for establishing a diagnosis. Nailfold dermoscopy serves as a mirror for microangiopathy, enabling the detection of changes at an initial stage, and thus, it becomes a diagnostic and prognostic tool.
Paradoxical leadership on firm performance: What role can guanxi HRD practices play?
Authors: Chang Yi‐Ying , Hu Qilin , Hughes Mathew , Chang Taiwei , Chang Che‐Yuan
Published: March 2024

Research shows that paradoxical leadership has a strong positive but inconsistent relationship with firm performance. Drawing on leadership contingency theory, we provide a theoretical model explaining how business unit level (BU‐level) paradoxical leadership positively impacts BU‐level performance mediated by BU‐level corporate entrepreneurship (CE). However, we also show that this relationship can turn negative when the degree of firm‐level Guanxi on human resource development (Guanxi HRD) practices is high. By relying on the responses from 276 BUs and performance archival data from the Taiwan Economic Journal database, we found that BU‐level CE mediates the relationship between BU‐level paradoxical leadership and BU‐level performance. Firm‐level Guanxi HRD practices diminish this effect and turn the positive relationship between BU‐level paradoxical leadership and BU‐level performance through BU‐level CE negative. Our study reveals the dark side of firm‐level Guanxi HRD practices and provides new theoretical and empirical insights that reconcile the relationship between paradoxical leadership and firm performance.
Risk and protective factors in the training‐employment trajectory of young adult migrants who have left the guardianship system
Authors: Díaz‐Esterri Jorge , De‐Juanas Ángel , Goig‐Martínez Rosa M. , García‐Castilla Francisco Javier
Published: March 2024

In recent years, young people's economic and employment possibilities have been compromised, especially in the case of vulnerable populations such as unaccompanied foreign minors who migrate to Spain and enter the guardianship system. The aim of this study was to identify this group's most representative training trajectories, and determine the risk and protective factors involved in their insertion to the labour market. To this end, 16 semi‐structured interviews were conducted with young adult migrants who had left the system and 15 with professionals involved in their socio‐educational intervention. The results highlight various factors that hinder the inclusion of young adult migrants in the formal education system, which has a negative impact on their subsequent insertion to the labour market. Actions and proposals were collected that aim to foster the educational inclusion of young adult migrants and promote their labour market insertion; an area considered essential in the transition to adulthood.
Comparison of the perioperative outcomes of using the Firefly system with indocyanine green during robotic‐assisted cystectomy with urinary diversion
Authors: Fu Hangcheng , Hillman Emily , Talluri Sriharsha , Liang Lifan , Mohammed Said , Messer Jamie
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Use of indocyanine green (ICG) with near‐infrared fluorescence (NIRF) has been demonstrated to be an effective tool for intraoperative assessment of bowel and ureteric vascularity. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ICG on postsurgical outcomes such as anastomotic bowel leak and uretero‐enteric stricture formation during robot‐assisted cystectomy (RAC) and intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD).

Methods

We identified 238 patients who underwent RAC at the University of Louisville between September 2012 and August 2021. Patients were divided into two groups based on the utilization of ICG. Demographic, perioperative outcomes, and rate of anastomotic bowel leak were compared.

Results

In total, 138 patients were in the ICG group and 100 patients were in the non‐ICG group. More intracorporeal urinary diversions and more simple cystectomies were observed in the ICG group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.015, respectively). The ICG group patients initiated an oral diet sooner than the control group (4.9 vs. 7.1 days, p < 0.001). The mean length of stay of the ICG group was shorter than the non‐ICG group (8.3 vs. 12.8 days, p < 0.001). The rate of postoperative ileus was not significantly different between cohorts. No patients in the ICG group experienced a bowel leak compared with five patients in the non‐ICG group (p = 0.008).

Conclusions

In our study, the use of ICG for intraoperative assessment of bowel and ureteric vascularity was associated with earlier bowel recovery and a shorter length of stay. It was also significantly correlated with a lower rate of anastomotic bowel leak.
The Listening Guide: Illustrating an underused voice‐centred methodology to foreground underrepresented research populations
Authors: Morgan Brianna E. , Hodgson Nancy A. , Massimo Lauren M. , Ravitch Sharon M.
Published: February 2024

Aim

To highlight the value of utilizing the Listening Guide methodology for nursing research and provide an exemplar applying this methodology to explore a novel concept in an underrepresented group—inner strength in persons newly diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment along with their care partners.

Design

Methodology discussion paper.

Methods

The exemplar study used the Listening Guide methods for data elicitation and analysis. Methods included adaptations for the study population and novice qualitative researchers.

Results

The Listening Guide methodology with adaptations enabled the research team to centre the voices of persons living with mild cognitive impairment, highlight an abstract phenomenon and attend to the influences of the sociopolitical context. Further, this methodology helped address common challenges emerging qualitative researchers encounter, including understanding methods of application, engaging reflexively and immersing in the data.

Conclusion

The Listening Guide is a voice‐centred qualitative methodology that is well suited to foreground the experiences of groups underrepresented in research and explore emerging phenomena.

Implications for Nursing

Nurses are central to striving for health equity. The Listening Guide methodology offers a valuable and accessible research tool to understand the experiences and needs of underrepresented groups and shape healthcare in response.

Impact

The Listening Guide methodology can be broadly applied to research with persons with mild cognitive impairment, and other underrepresented groups, to explore other phenomena beyond inner strength and move the science forward in representing the perspectives of groups underrepresented by research.

Patient or Public Contribution

Persons living with cognitive impairment and their care partners participated in study conceptualization, interview guide development, methods development and dissemination plans.
Data‐driven classification of left atrial morphology and its predictive impact on atrial fibrillation catheter ablation
Authors: Li Jiaju , Chen Ke , He Liu , Luo Fangyuan , Wang Xianqing , Hu Yucai , Zhao Jiangtao , Zhu Kui , Chen Xiaowei , Zhang Yuekun , Tao Hailong , Dong Jianzeng
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Various left atrial (LA) anatomical structures are correlated with postablative recurrence for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Comprehensively integrating anatomical structures, digitizing them, and implementing in‐depth analysis, which may supply new insights, are needed. Thus, we aim to establish an interpretable model to identify AF patients' phenotypes according to LA anatomical morphology, using machine learning techniques.

Methods and Results

Five hundred and nine AF patients underwent first ablation treatment in three centers were included and were followed‐up for postablative recurrent atrial arrhythmias. Data from 369 patients were regarded as training set, while data from another 140 patients, collected from different centers, were used as validation set. We manually measured 57 morphological parameters on enhanced computed tomography with three‐dimensional reconstruction technique and implemented unsupervised learning accordingly. Three morphological groups were identified, with distinct prognosis according to Kaplan−Meier estimator (p < .001). Multivariable Cox model revealed that morphological grouping were independent predictors of 1‐year recurrence (Group 1: HR = 3.00, 95% CI: 1.51−5.95, p = .002; Group 2: HR = 4.68, 95% CI: 2.40−9.11, p < .001; Group 3 as reference). Furthermore, external validation consistently demonstrated our findings.

Conclusions

Our study illustrated the feasibility of employing unsupervised learning for the classification of LA morphology. By utilizing morphological grouping, we can effectively identify individuals at different risks of postablative recurrence and thereby assist in clinical decision‐making.
Perceptions of the effect of parental deportation on adult intimate relationships
Authors: Espinoza Sandra , Davis Sean , Seshadri Gita
Published: March 2024

Research has shown that children of undocumented Latinx parents in the United States are at greater risk for negative long‐term effects on their mental health and overall well‐being. Chief among these concerns are the negative effects of disrupted attachment processes, as deported parents are often taken from their families by force and required to parent from afar, if they can continue parenting at all. Despite the ubiquity of deported families, little is known about the effects of deportation on the attachment of left‐behind children and the subsequent potential disruptive effect of deportation on their adult relationships. This phenomenological study aims to understand how adults who have experienced parental deportation in their childhood describe the effects of that event on their adult intimate relationships. Themes of (1) ambiguous loss; (2) inability to trust others; (3) fear of separation from loved ones; and (4) shame emerged and are discussed considering existing literature on attachment theory, immigration, and the Latinx population. Treatment implications are also discussed.
Drivers and consequences of borrowers' voluntary privacy information disclosure—Evidence from a Chinese online consumer financing platform
Authors: Zhang Xiaodan , Fu Guoqun , Guo Maiju , Wang Zeng
Published: March 2024

This study explores the drivers and consequences of consumers' voluntary information disclosure in the context of online consumer financing. Using unique secondary data from a Chinese online consumer financing company, we uncover a non‐linear relationship between borrowers' credit ratings and the quantity of voluntary information disclosure, and an inverted U‐shaped relationship between the amount of information disclosure and loan default. Specifically, low‐credit borrowers who opt for more voluntary information disclosure manifest a higher likelihood of default than those who disclose less, suggesting a strategic inclination toward information disclosure. Finally, we identify that disclosing high‐cost information reduces loan default, whereas disclosing low‐cost information increases default. Our findings enrich the existing literature on consumer information disclosure by providing insights into the underlying motivation and highlighting the applicability of signaling theory and privacy calculus theory. This has practical implications for lenders, borrowers, and regulators in overcoming barriers in online lending.
The effect of emulgel preparation on the stability of Kojic acid in the topical anti‐hyperpigmentation products
Authors: Khadivi Yousef , Shakeri Saina , Arjmandmazidi Shiva , Shokri Javad , Monajjemzadeh Farnaz
Published: February 2024

Background

The emulgel, a novel drug delivery system, merges emulsion and gel, offering advantages like enhanced stability, precise control over drug release kinetics, and increased drug absorption compared to emulsions alone. Kojic acid (KA) demonstrates potent inhibition of the tyrosinase enzyme, a crucial player in the melanin synthesis pathway.

Aims

The main objective of this experimental study is to formulate KA within an emulgel framework and assess its stability under various environmental conditions.

Methods

One percent of KA emulgel and 1% simple gel, serving as the control product, were supplemented with varying concentrations of sodium metabisulfite (SMBS) for its antioxidant properties. The formulations were segregated into four groups and subjected to diverse maintenance and stress conditions over a three‐month period. Monthly evaluations of physicochemical alterations were conducted, initially employing digital photography, followed by the extraction of KA and subsequent quantification of its concentration through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Results

The best formulations for retaining KA among the prepared ones were the 0.25% SMBS KA emulgel and the 0.1% SMBS KA simple gel, capable of retaining 86% and 76% of the initial KA content under stress conditions, respectively (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Regarding to this study, ideal storage condition for KA emulgel and simple gel is in the refrigerator temperatures. Moreover, optimal SMBS concentrations for stability enhancement are 0.25% for emulgel and 0.1% for the simple gel. A significant statistical difference was observed between refrigerated emulgel and simple gel in the retention of KA in the presence of optimum concentration of antioxidants (p < 0.0001).
Advanced practice nurses' evidence‐based healthcare competence and associated factors: A systematic review
Authors: Ylimäki Saija , Oikarinen Anne , Kääriäinen Maria , Pölkki Tarja , Mikkonen Kristina , Holopainen Arja , Kaakinen Pirjo , Kanste Outi , Meriläinen Merja , Jansson Miia , Immonen Kati , Tuomikoski Anna‐Maria
Published: February 2024

Background

Evidence‐based healthcare (EBHC) enables consistent and effective healthcare that prioritises patient safety. The competencies of advanced practice nurses (APNs) are essential for implementing EBHC because their professional duties include promoting EBHC.

Aim

To identify, critically appraise, and synthesise the best available evidence concerning the EBHC competence of APNs and associated factors.

Design

A systematic review.

Data Sources

CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Medic, ProQuest, and MedNar.

Methods

Databases were searched for studies (until 19 September 2023) that examined the EBHC competence and associated factors of APNs were included. Quantitative studies published in English, Swedish and Finnish were included. We followed the JBI methodology for systematic review and performed a narrative synthesis.

Results

The review included 12 quantitative studies, using 15 different instruments, and involved 3163 participants. The quality of the studies was fair. The APNs' EBHC competence areas were categorised into five segments according to the JBI EBHC model. The strongest areas of competencies were in global health as a goal, transferring and implementing evidence, while the weakest were generating and synthesising evidence. Evidence on factors influencing APNs' EBHC competencies was contradictory, but higher levels of education and the presence of an organisational research council may be positively associated with APNs' EBHC competencies.

Conclusion

The development of EBHC competencies for APNs should prioritise evidence generation and synthesis. Elevating the education level of APNs and establishing a Research Council within the organisation can potentially enhance the EBHC competence of APNs.

Implications for the Profession

We should consider weaknesses in EBHC competence when developing education and practical exercises for APNs. This approach will promote the development of APNs' EBHC competence and EBHC implementation in nursing practice.

Registration, and Reporting Checklist

The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021226578), and reporting followed the PRISMA checklist.

Patient/Public Contribution

None.
Giving birth after fertility‐sparing treatment for primary leiomyosarcoma of the fallopian tube
Authors: Wang Guo‐zeng , Xu Hua‐yun , Deng Shuang‐shuang , Gao Jin‐li , Cheng Jing‐xin
Published: March 2024

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the fallopian tube (PLFT) is an extremely rare gynecological malignancy that has only been described in case reports. Fertility‐sparing treatment for PLFT has not been reported previously. A 24‐year‐old nulligravida woman was diagnosed with stage IC1 PLFT in the right fallopian tube after experiencing right lower quadrant pain for 2 weeks. She underwent laparoscopic right salpingectomy to preserve fertility followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine/docetaxel. She subsequently became pregnant spontaneously, delivering a term baby 27 months after treatment. This appears to be the only report of the use of fertility‐preserving treatment for PLFT. The success of the treatment provides valuable information on the preservation of fertility in young women with PLFT.
The gains from changes in internal trade costs: A quantitative analysis of China
Authors: Che Zhilu , Che Jialu , Wang Sen
Published: March 2024

We study how internal trade costs affect the Chinese economy. Combining regional and industry data with a multiregional multisector general equilibrium model, we quantify the magnitude of total trade costs and institutional trade costs, and the impact of their changes on aggregate, regional, and sectoral total factor productivity, gross domestic product, and welfare. Using unique data, we estimate the sectoral trade elasticity of internal trade in 16 tradable sectors. We use our calibrated model to perform a variety of counterfactual exercises. We find that the welfare gains are negative for a 5% reduction in total trade costs and for the elimination of institutional trade costs, which can be attributed to inherent inefficiencies in the economy. However, as total trade costs decrease further, the positive welfare effect significantly exceeds the impact of inefficiency. The regional and sectoral effects of changes in trade costs show that the spatial structure of the economy, input‐output linkages, and local factors together determine the heterogeneity of sectoral and regional consequences. Finally, we infer the relative changes in China's internal trade costs from 2012 to 2017, and calculate their economic effects.
Comparative analysis of 326 chloroplast genomes in Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba): Structural variations, horizontal gene transfer events, and evolutionary patterns impacting its domestication from wild jujube
Authors: Yang Meng , Zhang Shu‐Feng , Li Bin , Lan Yun‐Xin , Yang Yi‐Han , Liu Meng‐Jun
Published: March 2024

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), renowned for its nutritional value and health benefits, is believed to have originated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River in China, where it underwent domestication from wild jujube. Nonetheless, the evolutionary trajectory and species differentiation between wild jujube and cultivated jujube still require further elucidation. The chloroplast genome (plastome), characterized by its relatively lower mutation rate compared to the nuclear genome, serves as an excellent model for evolutionary and comparative genomic research. In this study, we analyzed 326 nonredundant plastomes, encompassing 133 jujube cultivars and 193 wild jujube genotypes distributed throughout China. Noteworthy variations in the large single copy region primarily account for the size differences among these plastomes, impacting the evolution from wild jujube to cultivated varieties. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) unveiled a unique chloroplast‐to‐nucleus transfer event, with transferred fragments predominantly influencing the evolution of the nuclear genome while leaving the plastome relatively unaffected. Population genetics analysis revealed two distinct evolutionary pathways from wild jujube to cultivated jujube: one driven by natural selection with minimal human interference, and the other resulting from human domestication and cultivation. Molecular dating, based on phylogenetic analysis, supported the likelihood that wild jujube and cultivated jujube fall within the same taxonomic category, Z. jujuba. In summary, our study comprehensively examined jujube plastome structures and HGT events, simultaneously contributing novel insights into the intricate processes that govern the evolution and domestication of jujube species.
Reduced plant species diversity and soil carbon and nitrogen contents driven by vegetation patchiness in alpine meadows
Authors: Xi Shougang , Hu Tinghua , Mou Xiaoming , Kou Xiaoxue , Wang Xianzhi , Yu Yingwen
Published: February 2024

Question

Patchiness of herbaceous species is a common feature of degraded alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau; however, the impact of this phenomenon on vegetation, soil seed bank (SSB), and soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) is largely unknown. We asked how different herbaceous patches affect above‐ground vegetation, the SSB and soil organic C (SOC) and total N (TN) contents in alpine meadows.

Location

An alpine meadow on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, China.

Methods

We used field and greenhouse experiments to evaluate above‐ground vegetation parameters, the SSB composition, and SOC and TN contents of four commonly distributed herbaceous patches (Leymus secalinus, Kobresia humilis, Leontopodium nanum and Pedicularis kansuensis) and non‐patch vegetation (control).

Results

There were significant differences in the species composition of above‐ground vegetation, with the plant species richness, Shannon–Wiener index, Simpson index, and Pielou evenness index reduced in the four patches compared to the control. In addition, patches had increased above‐ground biomass (AGB) and a lower below‐ground biomass to above‐ground biomass ratio (BGB:AGB); while the species diversity indices did not change considerably among the patches. The species composition of the SSB in the four patches differed from that in the control and the seed density increased markedly, but the species richness and diversity of the SSB remained unaltered. Moreover, the contents of SOC, total C, TN, microbial biomass C, and microbial biomass N in the four patches were markedly lower than in the control.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that patchiness of herbaceous species can alter the flora composition of alpine meadows and reduce plant species diversity, as well as the SOC and TN contents, which will adversely impact grassland biodiversity conservation and soil C sequestration, and then may intensify the degradation of alpine meadows on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.
Serum PRO‐C3 is useful for risk prediction and fibrosis assessment in MAFLD with chronic kidney disease in an Asian cohort
Authors: Tang Liang‐Jie , Sun Dan‐Qin , Song Sherlot Juan , Yip Terry Cheuk‐Fung , Wong Grace Lai‐Hung , Zhu Pei‐Wu , Chen Sui‐Dan , Karsdal Morten , Leeming Diana Julie , Jiang Pei , Wang Cong , Chen Qiang , Byrne Christopher D. , Targher Giovanni , Eslam Mohammed , George Jacob , Wong Vincent Wai‐Sun , Zheng Ming‐Hua
Published: March 2024

Background

Metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an emerging risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). N‐terminal propeptide of collagen type 3 (PRO‐C3) is a biomarker of advanced fibrosis in MAFLD and PRO‐C3 may be involved in renal fibrosis. We aimed to use PRO‐C3 measurements to generate a new algorithmic score to test the prediction of MAFLD with chronic kidney disease (MAFLD–CKD).

Methods

A derivation and independent validation cohort of 750 and 129 Asian patients with biopsy‐confirmed MAFLD were included. Serum PRO‐C3 concentration was measured and regression analyses were performed to examine associations with MAFLD–CKD. A derivative algorithm for MAFLD–CKD risk prediction was evaluated with receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

The study included two Asian cohorts (n = 180 with MAFLD–CKD; mean‐eGFR: 94.93 mL/min/1.73 m2; median‐urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio: 6.58 mg/mmol). PRO‐C3 was associated with the severity of MAFLD‐CKD and independently associated with MAFLD–CKD (adjusted odds ratio = 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–1.23, p < .001). A new non‐invasive score (termed PERIOD) including PRO‐C3 efficiently predicted MAFLD‐CKD (AUROC = .842, 95% CI: .805–.875). Accuracy, specificity and negative predictive values were 80.2%, 85.1% and 88.4%, respectively. In the validation cohort, the PERIOD score had good diagnostic performance (AUROC = .807, 95% CI: .691–.893) with similar results in all patient subgroups. In the MAFLD–CKD subgroup, the accuracy for identifying advanced fibrosis was further improved by combining the PRO‐C3‐based ADAPT with the Agile 3+ scores (AUROC = .90, 95% CI: .836–.964).

Conclusions

The PERIOD score is helpful for accurately predicting the risk of MAFLD–CKD. PRO‐C3 can also be used to assess liver fibrosis in people with MAFLD–CKD.
Thor's hammer: How warfare enables and disables nation formation
Authors: Hutchinson John
Published: February 2024

Scholars have neglected at a theoretical level the structuring role of warfare in the rise of nations and states. I argue that war‐making has been a constitutive force in the emergence and persistence of many national identities in four ways. First, wars can act as ‘turning points’ for good or ill to become national mythomoteurs. Second, they can create enduring popular we–they stereotypes against significant others. Third, they can generate a gemeinschaft of national sacrifice that anchors the nation after a return to peace. Finally, the outcomes of wars can legitimate ruling establishments or mobilise peoples against them. However, warfare can also disable nation formation. I shall focus on the impact of imperial wars on Eurasian borderland populations. While generating nationalism in these regions, such wars create shatter zones, marked by ethnic diversity and conflict that frustrate the formation of stable national communities.
BRAFV600E mutation mediates invasive and growth features in ameloblastoma
Authors: Zhang Chen‐Xi , Zhang Lin‐Zhou , Lin Hao , Man Qi‐Wen , Liu Bing
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Ameloblastoma (AM), a locally aggressive tumor with extensive growth capacity, causes significant damage to the jaw and affects facial appearance. Although the high prevalence of BRAF V600E mutation in AM is known, its specific impacts on patients with AM remain unclear. Thus, the present study investigated the role of BRAF V600E mutation, thereby focusing on its impact on AM invasion and growth.

Materials and Methods

Immunohistochemical analysis was used to compare BRAF V600E, MMP2, MMP9, and Ki‐67 expressions in AM (n = 49), normal oral mucosa (NOM) (n = 10), and odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) (n = 15) tissues. AM was further classified according to the presence or absence of BRAF V600E. The relationship between BRAF V600E and invasion as well as growth was evaluated. In addition, correlation analysis was performed using immunohistochemistry and confirmed via double‐labeling immunofluorescence. Finally, comparative analyses using mass spectrometry, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence were performed to explore and identify underlying mechanisms.

Results

AM exhibited a higher incidence of BRAF V600E mutation than NOM and OKC. BRAF V600E expression was positively correlated with the invasion‐associated proteins MMP2 and MMP9 and the growth‐related protein Ki‐67. Proteomic data revealed that BRAF V600E primarily activates the MAPK signaling pathway in AM, particularly driving the phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2).

Conclusions

In summary, the findings suggested that the BRAF V600E mutation enhances the invasion and growth abilities of AM via the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Thus, targeting BRAF V600E or the MAPK/ERK pathway may be a potential AM therapy.
Beyond peaks and troughs: Multiplexed performance monitoring signals in the EEG
Authors: Ullsperger Markus
Published: February 2024

With the discovery of event‐related potentials elicited by errors more than 30 years ago, a new avenue of research on performance monitoring, cognitive control, and decision making emerged. Since then, the field has developed and expanded fulminantly. After a brief overview on the EEG correlates of performance monitoring, this article reviews recent advancements based on single‐trial analyses using independent component analysis, multiple regression, and multivariate pattern classification. Given the close interconnection between performance monitoring and reinforcement learning, computational modeling and model‐based EEG analyses have made a particularly strong impact. The reviewed findings demonstrate that error‐ and feedback‐related EEG dynamics represent variables reflecting how performance‐monitoring signals are weighted and transformed into an adaptation signal that guides future decisions and actions. The model‐based single‐trial analysis approach goes far beyond conventional peak‐and‐trough analyses of event‐related potentials and enables testing mechanistic theories of performance monitoring, cognitive control, and decision making.
“Hurdles” or “lubricants”: Petty corruption and Chinese migrants in Africa
Authors: Wang Jinpu
Published: March 2024

Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in Ghana and China between 2016 and 2022, this paper provides a sociological analysis of how new Chinese migrants in Ghana, and more generally in Sub‐Saharan Africa, navigate their social and economic integration into the host society by dealing with petty corruption in everyday life. This article examines how similarities and discrepancies in corruption norms contribute to “cultural matching” and cultural conflicts in Sino‐African encounters, as well as the coping strategies and social‐cultural techniques the migrants develop to navigate their relationship with local bureaucracy. My findings demonstrate that for migrants within the Global South, corruption in the sending and receiving regions is likely to be rooted in different politico‐economic structures and cultural grounds. Conflicting understandings of corruption can pose challenges to migrants' initial adaptation in the host society. However, as the migrants develop a proper “cultural toolkit,” engagement in corruption and rent‐seeking activities may provide a “cultural matching” interface that facilitates the rapid integration of new migrants into the local market and society. This study provides new insights into our understanding of bureaucracy in international migration, corruption, and migration settlement, as well as the sociocultural negotiation of corruption codes and norms in cross‐cultural encounters.