bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of burnout on over-the-counter counseling: a survey of community pharmacists in Vietnam
Authors: De Tran Van , Pham Trung Tin , Le Trung Hieu , Nguyen Thi Thanh Thao , Nguyen Minh Trung , Phan Duong Phuc , Bui Thi Bich Thuy , Nguyen Cuong Minh , Dewey Rebecca Susan , Tran Nguyet Tu
Published: March 2024

Background

In many countries, self-medication is, in fact, the main service provided, exhausting pharmacist time and increasing their workload. However, there are currently no reports describing the impact of burnout on patient medication counseling.

Objectives

This study was conducted to determine the influence of burnout on over-the-counter (OTC) medication counseling services in Vietnam.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in community pharmacies across four districts in Can Tho City, Vietnam, between April and May 2023. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), comprising three subscales: emotional exhaustion (EE; 9 items), depersonalization (DP; 5 items), and personal accomplishment (PA; 8 items). OTC medication counseling activities were evaluated using 12 questions.

Results

Of the 385 participants recruited, 22.3% reported high work intensity as a common factor contributing to burnout. Pharmacists with burnout had significantly lower medication counseling scores than those without burnout (mean = 4.35 vs. mean = 4.55, P = 0.005). Of the 12 OTC medication counseling activities, 6 activities, including inquiring about the recent medications used by the patient (P = 0.044), discouraging long-term medication use (P = 0.021), warning about the possibility of self-misdiagnosis (P < 0.001), warning about the possibility of the patient choosing the wrong treatment method (P = 0.001), providing advice on improving health (P = 0.005), and inquiring about allergies in the patient (P < 0.001), had significantly lower scores in pharmacists with burnout.

Conclusions

There was a significant negative association between burnout and medication counseling activities. Increasing staff numbers may be a useful solution for reducing work intensity, as this factor is reported to contribute the most to burnout among current pharmacists.
German cockroach extract prevents IL‐13‐induced CCL26 expression in airway epithelial cells through IL‐13 degradation
Authors: Alzahrani Khadija Rashed , Gomez‐Cardona Erik , Gandhi Vivek D. , Palikhe Nami Shrestha , Laratta Cheryl , Julien Olivier , Vliagoftis Harissios
Published: March 2024

Inhaled aeroallergens can directly activate airway epithelial cells (AECs). Exposure to cockroach allergens is a strong risk factor for asthma. Cockroach allergens mediate some of their effects through their serine protease activity; protease activity is also a major contributor to allergenicity. The Th2 cytokine interleukin‐13 (IL‐13) induces upregulation of the eosinophil chemotactic factor CCL26. CCL26 induces eosinophil migration in allergic inflammation. In this work, we studied the effect of cockroach proteases on IL‐13‐induced effects. Immersed cultures of the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS‐2B and air‐liquid interface (ALI) cultures of primary normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells were stimulated with IL‐13, Blattella Germanica cockroach extract (CE), or both. IL‐13‐induced genes were analyzed with qRT‐PCR. IL‐13 induced upregulation of CCL26, periostin, and IL‐13Rα2 in bronchial epithelial cells which were decreased by CE. CE was heat‐inactivated (HICE) or pre‐incubated with protease inhibitors. HICE and CE preincubated with serine protease inhibitors did not prevent IL‐13‐induced CCL26 upregulation. CE‐degraded IL‐13 and specific cleavage sites were identified. CE also decreased IL‐4‐induced CCL26 upregulation and degraded IL‐4. Other serine proteases such as bovine trypsin and house dust mite (HDM) serine proteases did not have the same effects on IL‐13‐induced CCL26. We conclude that CE serine proteases antagonize IL‐13‐induced effects in AECs, and this CE effect is mediated primarily through proteolytic cleavage of IL‐13. IL‐13 cleavage by cockroach serine proteases may modulate CCL26‐mediated effects in allergic airway inflammation by interfering directly with the pro‐inflammatory effects of IL‐13 in vivo.
Air pollution, traffic noise, greenness, and temperature and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes: Results from the KORA cohort study
Authors: Badpa Mahnaz , Schneider Alexandra , Schwettmann Lars , Thorand Barbara , Wolf Kathrin , Peters Annette
Published: March 2024

Introduction:

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major public health concern, and various environmental factors have been associated with the development of this disease. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal effects of multiple environmental exposures on the risk of incident T2D in a German population-based cohort.

Methods:

We used data from the KORA cohort study (Augsburg, Germany) and assessed exposure to air pollutants, traffic noise, greenness, and temperature at the participants’ residencies. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the associations with incident T2D, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results:

Of 7736 participants included in the analyses, 10.5% developed T2D during follow-up (mean: 15.0 years). We found weak or no association between environmental factors and the risk of T2D, with sex and education level significantly modifying the effects of air pollutants.

Conclusion:

Our study contributes to the growing body of literature investigating the impact of environmental factors on T2D risks and suggests that the impact of environmental factors may be small.
Xanthogranulomatous mastitis: a rare entity presenting with breast lump and mimicking fibroadenoma in a young female
Authors: Acharya Kshitiz , Rijal Nejina , Kathayat Karishma , Bhusal Amrit , Karmacharya Kavita , Bhatta Naveen C.
Published: March 2024

Introduction and importance:

Xanthogranulomatous mastitis is a rare chronic granulomatous inflammation of breast tissue, characterized by the presence of multinucleated giant cells, lipid-laden foamy macrophages, and cholesterol crystals. The breast is an extremely rare location for xanthogranulomatous inflammation.

Case presentation:

The authors describe a case of xanthogranulomatous mastitis in a 26-year-old female patient who presented with a 4×5 cm lump in her right breast. After ultrasonography (revealed a well-circumscribed hypoechoic lesion, with increased vascularity), and surgical consultation, an excisional biopsy was done, and sent for histopathologic examination, which showed features suggestive of xanthogranulomatous mastitis.

Clinical discussion:

Xanthogranulomatous mastitis, clinically as well as radiologically mimics some other conditions of breast like breast cancer, or fibroadenoma. Ultrasonography usually reveals a well-circumscribed hypoechoic lesion, with increased vascularity, and mammography usually shows BIRADs 3 to 5. Diagnosis is usually based on histopathologic findings of multinucleated giant cells, lipid-laden foamy macrophages, and cholesterol crystals. Treatment is usually surgical excision.

Conclusion:

Though xanthogranulomatous inflammations are rare in the breast, they must be considered a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with various breast symptoms like lump, pain, or features of breast malignancy.
Validation of the revised electronic version of RUCAM for diagnosis of DILI in Chinese patients
Authors: Zhao Xinyan , Wang Yan , Lai Rongtao , Wang Xiaojin , Yu Yuecheng , Li Min , Zhao Hong , Ma Zikun , Li Mengqi , Guo Tiantian , Han Xiao , Meng Yao , Zhang Mengmeng , Su Yu , Hao Kunyan , Deng You , Kong Yuanyuan , Li Zhenyu , Xie Qing , Xie Wen , Chen Chengwei , Jia Jidong
Published: March 2024

Background & Aims:

The Revised Electronic Causality Assessment Method (RECAM), a computerized update of the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Methodology (RUCAM), was recently proposed. In this study, we validated and compared the utility of the RECAM and RUCAM in Chinese patients with a single conventional or herbal agent-induced liver injury.

Methods:

In this retrospective multicenter cohort of well-established DILI and non-DILI patients from 5 centers in China, the diagnostic performance of the RUCAM and RECAM was compared by AUC analysis. The consistency was evaluated by weighted kappa. The major causes of discrepancy were explored.

Results:

A total of 481 DILI and 100 non-DILI patients were included. In total, 62.6% of the DILI cases were induced by conventional agents, and 37.4% were induced by herbs. The RECAM had relatively higher AUC than RUCAM for overall [0.947 (0.926–0.964) vs. 0.867 (0.836–0.893), p=0.0016], conventional agents [0.923 (0.890–0.949) vs. 0.819 (0.775–0.858), p=0.0185], and herbs [0.972 (0.941–0.989) vs.0.911 (0.866–0.944), p=0.0199]. Latency, scores associated with hepatitis B, and hepatotoxicity information of the insulting drugs were the 3 main causes for the inconsistency between RECAM and RUCAM scores.

Conclusions:

The RECAM had relatively better diagnostic performance than RUCAM, with a higher AUC for Chinese DILI patients. Timely updates of the LiverTox category and refinement of serum markers to exclude hepatitis B activity would further improve the applicability of RECAM in areas where the use of herbs and resolution of past HBV infections are common.
Unmasking the long-term effects: unravelling neuropsychiatric and neurological consequences of COVID-19
Authors: Tariq Mahnoor , Mahak FNU , Kumar Rahul , Kumar Ajay , Kumar Anish , Khan Javeria , Muhammad Marvi Ali , Memon Unaiza , Maqsood Kanza Mirza , Tanveer Fariha Shahid , Gill Anosh , Jawed Areesha , Shrestha Sunita , Waheed Muhammad Hamza
Published: March 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only burdened healthcare systems but has also led to a new emerging medical enigma that is post-COVID-19 syndrome or “long COVID.” Characterized by persistent symptoms that extend beyond the acute phase of the illness, long COVID has rapidly become a public health concern with ambiguous neurological and neuropsychiatric dimensions. This narrative review aims at synthesizing available research to decode the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on neurological and mental health. Drawing from a multitude of studies, this review synthesizes evidence on various neuropsychiatric and neurological symptoms, including cognitive deficits, mood disorders, and more. The narrative delves into potential pathogenic mechanisms, hoping to fill existing research gaps and offering directions for future inquiry. The objective is not just academic; it has immediate real-world implications. Understanding these long-term effects is crucial for developing effective treatments and interventions, thereby better serving the millions of individuals living with these lingering symptoms. As healthcare systems continue to grapple with the fallout from the pandemic, this review provides much-needed context and insights into an area that demands urgent research and action.
Nationwide Update on Prevalence of Falls, Injurious Falls, Concerns About Falling, and Fall Prevention in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Abou Libak , McCloskey Chloe , Wernimont Cory , Fritz Nora E. , Kratz Anna L.
Published: March 2024

Objective

The aim of the study is to estimate the current nationwide prevalence of falls, injurious falls, concerns about falling, and information on fall prevention among people with multiple sclerosis.

Design

This is a cross-sectional national web-based survey that included 965 adult people with multiple sclerosis. Participants self-reported falls and injurious falls experienced in the past 6 months. Participants also provided information on their concerns about falling and information on fall prevention received.

Results

A total of 56% reported falling in the past 6 months. The prevalence of falls at the population level ranges between 53% and 59%. Most falls occur inside of participants’ homes (68%). About 30% of fallers reported an injurious fall. Most respondents, 87% expressed being concerned about falling and 68% reported they had cut down on activities due to their concerns about falling. Among participants who received information about falling (64%), only 9% received a formal fall prevention course.

Conclusions

Despite advances in falls research over the last decades, falling continues to be a highly prevalent problem for people with multiple sclerosis. About one-third of those falls result in injuries. Concerns about falling among fallers and nonfallers affect the performance of daily activities and independence. Few people receive a formal falls prevention education or training.
Self-organization of embryonic stem cells into a reproducible embryo model through epigenome editing
Authors: Lodewijk Gerrald A. , Kozuki Sayaka , Han Clara , Topacio Benjamin R. , Zargari Abolfazl , Lee Seungho , Knight Gavin , Ashton Randolph , Qi Lei S. , Shariati S. Ali
Published: March 2024

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can self-organizein vitrointo developmental patterns with spatial organization and molecular similarity to that of early embryonic stages. This self-organization of ESCs requires transmission of signaling cues, via addition of small molecule chemicals or recombinant proteins, to induce distinct embryonic cellular fates and subsequent assembly into structures that can mimic aspects of early embryonic development. During natural embryonic development, different embryonic cell types co-develop together, where each cell type expresses specific fate-inducing transcription factors through activation of non-coding regulatory elements and interactions with neighboring cells. However, previous studies have not fully explored the possibility of engineering endogenous regulatory elements to shape self-organization of ESCs into spatially-ordered embryo models. Here, we hypothesized that cell-intrinsic activation of a minimum number of such endogenous regulatory elements is sufficient to self-organize ESCs into early embryonic models. Our results show that CRISPR-based activation (CRISPRa) of only two endogenous regulatory elements in the genome of pluripotent stem cells is sufficient to generate embryonic patterns that show spatial and molecular resemblance to that of pre-gastrulation mouse embryonic development. Quantitative single-cell live fluorescent imaging showed that the emergence of spatially-ordered embryonic patterns happens through the intrinsic induction of cell fate that leads to an orchestrated collective cellular motion. Based on these results, we propose a straightforward approach to efficiently form 3D embryo models through intrinsic CRISPRa-based epigenome editing and independent of external signaling cues. CRISPRa-Programmed Embryo Models (CPEMs) show highly consistent composition of major embryonic cell types that are spatially-organized, with nearly 80% of the structures forming an embryonic cavity. Single cell transcriptomics confirmed the presence of main embryonic cell types in CPEMs with transcriptional similarity to pre-gastrulation mouse embryos and revealed novel signaling communication links between different embryonic cell types. Our findings offer a programmable embryo model and demonstrate that minimum intrinsic epigenome editing is sufficient to self-organize ESCs into highly consistent pre-gastrulation embryo models
Phylogenomics definesStreptofilumas a novel deep branch of streptophyte algae
Authors: Žárský Vojtěch , Eliáš Marek
Published: March 2024

Streptophytes constitute a major organismal clade comprised of land plants (embryophytes) and several related green algal lineages. Their seemingly well-studied phylogenetic diversity was recently enriched by the discovery ofStreptofilum capillaum, a simple filamentous alga forming a novel deep streptophyte lineage in a two-gene phylogeny1. A subsequent phylogenetic analysis of plastid genome-encoded proteins resolvedStreptofilumas a sister group of nearly all known streptophytes, including Klebsormidiophyceae and Phragmoplastophyta (Charophyceae, Coleochaetophyceae, Zygnematophyceae, and embryophytes)2. In a stark contrast, another recent report, published inCurrent Biologyby Bierenbroodspot et al.3, presented a phylogenetic analysis of 845 nuclear loci resolvingS. capillatumas a member of Klebsormidiophyceae, nested among species of the genusInterfilum. Here we demonstrate that the latter result is an artefact stemming from an unrecognized contamination of the transcriptome assembly fromS. capillatumby sequences fromInterfilum paradoxum. When genuineS. capillatumsequences are employed in the analysis, the position of the alga in the nuclear genes-based tree fully agrees with the plastid genes-based phylogeny. The “intermediate” phylogenetic position ofS. capillatumpredicts it to possess a unique combination of derived and plesiomorphic traits, here exemplified, respectively, by the “Rho of plants” (ROP) signaling system and the cyanobacteria-derived plastidial transfer-messenger ribonucleoprotein complex (tmRNP). Our results underscoreS. capillatumas a lineage pivotal for the understanding of the evolutionary genesis of streptophyte, and ultimately embryophyte, traits.
Enhancing Gastrodin Production in Yarrowia lipolytica by Metabolic Engineering
Authors: Wu Yuanqing , Li Shuocheng , Sun Baijian , Guo Jingyi , Zheng Meiyi , Li Aitao
Published: March 2024

Gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, has been widely used in the treatment of neurogenic and cardiovascular diseases. Currently, gastrodin biosynthesis has been achieved in model microorganisms. However, the production levels are insufficient for industrial applications. In this study, we successfully engineered a Yarrowia lipolytica strain to overproduce gastrodin through metabolic engineering. Initially, the engineered strain expressing the heterologous gastrodin biosynthetic pathway, which comprises chorismate lyase, carboxylic acid reductase, phosphopantetheinyl transferase, endogenous alcohol dehydrogenases, and a UDP-glucose dependent glucosyltransferase, produced 1.05 g/L of gastrodin from glucose in a shaking flask. Then, the production was further enhanced to 6.68 g/L with a productivity of 2.23 g/L/day by over-expressing the key node DAHP synthases of the shikimate pathway and alleviating the native tryptophan and phenylalanine biosynthetic pathways. Finally, the best strain, Gd07, produced 13.22 g/L of gastrodin in a 5-L fermenter. This represents the highest reported production of gastrodin in an engineered microorganism to date, marking the first successful de novo production of gastrodin using Y. lipolytica.

Abstract Figure
X-ray-induced atomic transitions via machine learning: A computational investigation
Authors: Budewig Laura , Son Sang-Kil , Jurek Zoltan , Abdullah Malik Muhammad , Tropmann-Frick Marina , Santra Robin
Published: March 2024

Intense x-ray free-electron laser pulses can induce multiple sequences of one-photon ionization and accompanying decay processes in atoms, producing highly charged atomic ions. Considering individual quantum states during these processes provides more precise information about the x-ray multiphoton ionization dynamics than the common configuration-based approach. However, in such a state-resolved approach, extremely huge-sized rate-equation calculations are inevitable. Here we present a strategy that embeds machine-learning models into a framework for atomic state-resolved ionization dynamics calculations. Machine learning is employed for the required atomic transition parameters, whose calculations possess the computationally most expensive steps. We find for argon that both feedforward neural networks and random forest regressors can predict these parameters with acceptable, but limited accuracy. State-resolved ionization dynamics of argon, in terms of charge-state distributions and electron and photon spectra, are also presented. Comparing fully calculated and machine-learning-based results, we demonstrate that the proposed machine-learning strategy works in principle and that the performance, in terms of charge-state distributions and electron and photon spectra, is good. Our work establishes a first step toward accelerating the calculation of atomic state-resolved ionization dynamics induced by high-intensity x rays.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Frank-Read Mechanism in Nematic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Long Cheng , Deutsch Matthew J. , Angelo Joseph , Culbreath Christopher , Yokoyama Hiroshi , Selinger Jonathan V. , Selinger Robin L. B.
Published: March 2024

In a crystalline solid under mechanical stress, a Frank-Read source is a pinned dislocation segment that repeatedly bows and detaches, generating concentric dislocation loops. We demonstrate that, in nematic liquid crystals, an analogous Frank-Read mechanism can generate concentric disclination loops. Using experiment, simulation, and theory, we study a disclination segment pinned between surface defects on one substrate in a nematic cell. Under applied twist of the nematic director, the pinned segment bows and emits a new disclination loop which expands, leaving the original segment intact; loop emission repeats for each additional 180° of applied twist. We present experimental micrographs showing loop expansion and snap-off, numerical simulations of loop emission under both quasistatic and dynamic loading, and theoretical analysis considering both free energy minimization and the balance of competing forces. We find that the critical stress for disclination loop emission scales as the inverse of segment length and changes as a function of strain rate and temperature, in close analogy to the Frank-Read source mechanism in crystals. Lastly, we discuss how Frank-Read sources could be used to modify microstructural evolution in both passive and active nematics.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Beyond boundaries: exploring the Metaverse in tourism
Authors: Chen Zhisheng
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the engagement gap between Metaverse and in-person travel, the influence of Metaverse tourism on tourists and the industry and the challenges and responses associated with Metaverse technology. The study presents practical cases and highlights the implications of this research for practice, society and future research.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a literature review to explore concerns about Metaverse technology in tourism. It analyzes the difference between in-person travel and Metaverse tourism, the impact on tourists and the industry and challenges and responses to Metaverse. The review shows a rising trend in Metaverse tourism research.

Findings

These findings suggest differences between Metaverse tourism and in-person travel. By providing personalized travel options, social interaction, immersive experiences and soliciting visitor feedback, it is possible to enhance the tourist experience. Additionally, the study highlights the opportunities and challenges that Metaverse tourism presents to the tourism industry. The study provides practical cases in the tourism industry and implications for practice, society and future research.

Practical implications

The study’s implications for Metaverse tourism are practical, societal and future research-related. Metaverse technology can enhance the tourist experience through personalized options, social interaction, immersive experiences and feedback. This inclusivity can promote social equity and cultural exchange. Further research is needed to explore the social effects of Metaverse tourism and its long-term impacts on local communities, economies and the environment.

Originality/value

This study contributes by exploring the impact of Metaverse tourism, supporting academic research and practice. It fills a knowledge gap by analyzing the application of Metaverse technology in tourism, providing insights for researchers and practitioners. It offers practical guidance by identifying opportunities and challenges in Metaverse tourism, fostering industry innovation. Additionally, it informs policymakers about the impact of Metaverse tourism on development.
Cultural orientation and knowledge: the effects on the Hispanic American whistleblower
Authors: Sallaberry Jonatas Dutra , Martinez-Conesa Isabel , Flach Leonardo , Santos Edicreia Andrade dos
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the relationships between cultural orientation and normative knowledge, in a direct and moderate way, on the whistleblowing intentions of accountants from Hispanic American countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used responses from a sample of 410 accountants, preparers and auditors of financial statements from Hispanic American countries. Descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests and structural equations with partial least squares algorithm were applied for data analysis.

Findings

The results emphasized the cultural positioning of horizontality, in which an individual perceives themselves as equals to their colleagues, allowing discussions on various aspects of individual behavior. The knowledge variable is proved to be important in explaining the intention to report and can also moderate the influence of cultural variables on intentions.

Practical implications

These findings contribute to the literature by offering a clearer definition the normative knowledge variable, and to organizations, which can explore the research’s evidence to improve their training and qualification programs, thereby generating significant knowledge for their employees.

Originality/value

Whistleblowing is the main tool for identifying organizational frauds, but it is differently perceived in several cultural contexts. The results demonstrated the ethical cultural positioning of these Hispanic American professionals in relation to cultural aspects of other countries. Some studies highlight knowledge as a relevant factor in the organizational environment, but this study innovates by testing and demonstrating its impact on whistleblowing and culture.
Decoding the complexity of the Brazilian pork supply chain
Authors: Link Camila Paulus , Kruger Silvana Dalmutt , Foguesatto Cristian Rogério , Neckel Alcindo , Bucior Lucas , Zanella Cleunice , Casagranda Yasmin Gomes , de Vargas Mores Giana
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This research examines the impact of governance structures within the Brazilian pork supply chain on the necessary controls for exportation. Specifically, the goal is to unravel the intricacies of this supply chain and decode its complexity.

Design/methodology/approach

Using transaction cost economics as a theoretical lens, we surveyed the main bodies responsible for the export and quality assurance sectors of Brazilian organizations that trade and export pork. Our sample comprises 53.5% of the country’s pork exporting companies during the period analyzed.

Findings

The presence of vertical and horizontal governance structures in the pork export chain stands out. While the vertical structure enables greater control due to command relations, there are trust and cooperation relations in the horizontal structure. This makes it possible to establish mechanisms to control health, quality, safety and traceability in both structures. We also identified each company’s characteristics: formation configuration (if the cooperative, publicly traded company, or other modality), capital stock, location, the average daily slaughter of pigs for export and sows per producer. We conclude that the organizations have concerns related to the food safety programs, as there are programs that seek transparency throughout the process in many supply chain stages.

Research limitations/implications

Studies that relate the level of orientation to the export market with the occurrence or risk of corrupt and opportunistic behavior and the coordination mechanisms adopted may represent an interesting and important opportunity for studies.

Originality/value

This study helps to understand the complexity of the Brazilian pork supply chain.
Protecting wild bird nests against predators: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of non‐lethal methods
Authors: Gautschi Daniel , Čulina Antica , Heinsohn Robert , Stojanovic Dejan , Crates Ross
Published: March 2024

Implementing effective, affordable and ethical conservation management will be crucial for minimising future biodiversity losses. Such management requires reliable foundational evidence to help managers make informed choices about how to address the needs of their target species. Unfortunately, such evidence is still lacking for many species and management scenarios.

One major global challenge is improving the reproductive success of threatened species in the context of predation. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of in situ experiments that used non‐lethal methods to protect bird nests against predators, with the aims of summarising global trends in nest protection efforts, comparing the effectiveness of different protection measures and informing future research and management. We considered peer‐reviewed studies in English.

We detected a large geographic and taxonomic bias in the evidence base with 58% of articles conducted in North America and 76% on ground‐nesting birds. Less than 3% of articles involved taxa listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered and 51% of study units lasted just a single breeding season.

Nests protected with exclosures, fences and guards were more likely to be successful than their unprotected controls. Interventions involving deterrents, conditioned taste aversion, chemical camouflage and diversionary feeding did not have a significant positive effect on nest success, but the interventions in these categories were less common and more diverse in nature.

Synthesis and applications. To increase their conservation value, future non‐lethal nest protection experiments should whenever possible clearly state overall aims, take place over multiple seasons, use a comparable control and test non‐lethal protection methods independently of lethal predator control. Greater focus is required on under‐studied taxa such as cup‐nesting songbirds and birds in South America, Africa and Asia, and novel protection techniques such as deterrents and chemical camouflage. Practitioners should consider the evidence we synthesise here when deciding whether non‐lethal nest protection approaches are optimal for their study system, to increase conservation success and reduce ethical and financial costs.
Validity and reliability of a needs analysis questionnaire for the development of a creativity module
Authors: Govindasamy Parthiban , Cumming Therese M. , Abdullah Noraini
Published: March 2024

Despite the acknowledged importance of integrating creativity into school curricula, students with learning disabilities often lack the skill of creativity, due to its absence in classroom instruction. To address these gaps, the authors developed a needs analysis questionnaire assessing the necessity of a creativity module for primary school students with learning disabilities, focusing on Torrance's four creativity elements: (a) Originality, (b) Fluency, (c) Flexibility, and (d) Elaboration. This study, emphasizing content validity and reliability testing, comprised rigorous validation by a panel of nine special education experts, resulting in high content validity scores. In Part II, all items were accepted, yielding an overall S‐CVI score of 0.97, indicating a ‘very suitable’ construct. In Part III two items were rejected; the overall S‐CVI score remained at 0.80, signifying ‘very suitable’. A pilot test with 30 special education teachers demonstrated Cronbach's Alpha values 0.87, indicating high reliability for all questionnaire parts. The study emphasizes the questionnaire's efficacy in assessing teachers' understanding of creativity skills and their perspectives on the importance of a customized creativity module. This tool holds substantial potential for educators and curriculum developers, providing insights to address specific student needs, foster creativity in classrooms and enhance overall educational experiences.
Assessing the inconsistency of microplastic measurements in foods and beverages
Authors: Canga Emine Merve , Gowen Aoife , Xu Jun‐Li
Published: March 2024

The widespread occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in the food chain has gained substantial recognition as a pressing concern, highlighting the inevitability of human exposure through ingestion of foodborne MPs, coupled with the release of MPs from plastic packaging. However, there are notable disparities in the reported numbers of MPs in foods and beverages, warranting a thorough investigation into the factors contributing to these discrepancies. Table salt is one of the major sources of MPs, and there was an approximately hundred‐fold difference between the reviewed studies that reported the highest and lowest number of MPs. In addition, more noticeable discrepancies were discovered between studies on MPs released from teabags. One study reported that approximately 15 billion MPs were released into a cup of tea from a single teabag, whereas another research paper found only approximately 106.3 ± 14.6 MP/teabag after brewing. This comprehensive review focuses on the inconsistencies observed across studies examining MPs, shedding light on the plausible factors underlying these variations. Furthermore, the review outlines areas in analytical procedures that require enhancement and offers recommendations to promote accuracy and standardization in future research efforts, such as employing analytical methods capable of confirming the presence of MPs, using appropriate filter sizes, considering representative sample sizes when extrapolation is involved, and so on. By pinpointing the detection processes leading to the inconsistent results observed in MP studies, this comparative analysis will contribute to the development of reliable analytic methods for understanding the extent of microplastic contamination in the human food chain.
The association between alcohol consumption and all‐cause mortality: An umbrella review of systematic reviews using lifetime abstainers or low‐volume drinkers as a reference group
Authors: Sarich Peter , Gao Shuhan , Zhu Yining , Canfell Karen , Weber Marianne F.
Published: March 2024

Background and aims

Systematic reviews of the relationship between alcohol consumption and all‐cause mortality have reported different relative risk (RR) curves, possibly due to the choice of reference group. Results have varied from ‘J‐shaped’ curves, where low‐volume consumption is associated with reduced risk, to monotonically increased risk with increasing consumption. We summarised the evidence on alcohol consumption and all‐cause mortality exclusively from systematic reviews using lifetime abstainers or low‐volume/occasional drinkers as the reference group.

Methods

We conducted a systematic umbrella review of systematic reviews of the relationship between alcohol consumption and all‐cause mortality in prospective cohort studies using a reference group of lifetime abstainers or low‐volume/occasional drinkers. Several databases (PubMed/Medline/Embase/PsycINFO/Cochrane Library) were searched to March 2022. Reviews were assessed for risk of bias, and those with reference groups containing former drinkers were excluded.

Results

From 2149 articles retrieved, 25 systematic reviews were identified, and five did not include former drinkers in the reference group. Four of the five included reviews had high risk of bias. Three reviews reported a J‐shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and all‐cause mortality with significant decreased risk for low‐volume drinking (RR range 0.84 to 0.95), while two reviews did not. The one review at low risk of bias reported monotonically increased risk with greater consumption (RRs = 1.02, 1.13, 1.33 and 1.52 for low‐, medium‐, high‐ and higher‐volume drinking, respectively, compared with occasional drinking). All five reviews reported significantly increased risk with higher levels of alcohol consumption (RR range 1.28 to 3.70). Sub‐group analyses were reported by sex and age; however, there were evidence gaps for many important factors. Conversely, 17 of 20 excluded systematic reviews reported decreased mortality risk for low‐volume drinking.

Conclusions

Over 70% of systematic reviews and meta‐analyses published to March 2022 of all‐cause mortality risk associated with alcohol consumption did not exclude former drinkers from the reference group and may therefore be biased by the ‘sick‐quitter effect’.
Breastfeeding interventions and programmes conducted in Portuguese‐speaking sovereign states: A scoping review
Authors: Aboul‐Enein Basil H. , Vettore Mario Vianna , Keller Teresa , Kelly Patricia J.
Published: March 2024

Aim

This scoping review aimed to identify and appraise the effectiveness and impact of breastfeeding promotion interventions conducted across Portuguese‐speaking sovereign countries.

Methods

Using the PRISMA‐ScR guidelines, we searched 14 electronic databases for publications published through 31 July 2023. The search terms were designed to find studies promoting breastfeeding or exclusive breastfeeding in pre‐defined Portuguese‐speaking countries.

Results

Of the 5263 papers initially retrieved, 30 interventional studies on breastfeeding met the inclusion criteria across three countries: Brazil (N = 26), Portugal (N = 2) and Guinea Bissau (N = 2). Participants ranged from pregnant women, mothers, mother–infant pairs, healthcare professionals, and school children. Overall, the interventions increased exclusive breastfeeding and better breastfeeding practices, such as a higher duration of breastfeeding. The interventions positively affected maternal breastfeeding self‐efficacy, knowledge and perception. Only four studies used a theoretical framework.

Conclusion

While the results were often statistically significant, no study had an outcome close to the recommended UNICEF and WHO goal of 70% breastfeeding at six months. The need to determine what works for the recommended six months postpartum period is critical for maximising children's health in Portuguese‐speaking countries.
Exploring policy entrepreneurs' modes of action: Positioning, networking, outmaneuvering, and worldmaking
Authors: Braun Sophia Marie , Cabero Tapia Patricia , Mauer René
Published: March 2024

Policy entrepreneurs interact with their wider social environment to create social and policy change. To understand entrepreneurial behavior in this context, adopting multi‐level approaches becomes increasingly important. They are crucial to explaining the interdependencies of individual entrepreneurs, immediate stakeholders (such as team members), and their wider context. Scholars focus on specific links, such as those between entrepreneurs and their local community. Very few papers have to date take a holistic approach, even though studying how entrepreneurs interact with multiple levels of stakeholders over time has the potential to better explain entrepreneurial processes. By following a qualitative research approach using two case studies of policy entrepreneurs in Bolivia and Germany, we show that policy entrepreneurs employ different modes of action over time when interacting with their immediate and wider contexts in attempting to foster policy change. Our results suggest that they co‐create with policymakers in order to shape their ecosystems and society at large.
Editorial: The tsunami of steatotic liver disease in India, the Asia‐Pacific region and the world—Authors' reply
Authors: Prasad Manya , Prabhakar Tushar , Sarin Shiv Kumar
Published: March 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Prabhakar et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17892 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17903
Oral vancomycin is associated with improved inflammatory bowel disease clinical outcomes in primary sclerosing cholangitis‐associated inflammatory bowel disease (PSC‐IBD): A matched analysis from the Paediatric PSC Consortium
Authors: Ricciuto Amanda , Liu Kuan , El‐Matary Wael , Amin Mansi , Amir Achiya Z. , Aumar Madeleine , Auth Marcus , Di Guglielmo Matthew D. , Druve Tavares Fagundes Eleonora , Rodrigues Ferreira Alexandre , Furuya Katryn N. , Gupta Nitika , Guthery Stephen , Horslen Simon P. , Jensen Kyle , Kamath Binita M. , Kerkar Nanda , Koot B. G. P. , Laborda Trevor J. , Lee Christine K. , Loomes Kathleen M. , Mack Cara , Martinez Mercedes , Montano‐Loza Aldo , Ovchinsky Nadia , Papadopoulou Alexandra , Perito Emily R. , Sathya Pushpa , Schwarz Kathleen B. , Shah Uzma , Shteyer Eyal , Soufi Nisreen , Stevens James Patrick , Taylor Amy , Tessier M. Elizabeth , Valentino Pamela , Woynarowski Marek , Deneau Mark ,   the Pediatric PSC Consortium
Published: March 2024

Background

Data on oral vancomycin for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)‐associated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are limited.

Aims

Using data from the Paediatric PSC Consortium, to examine the effect of vancomycin on IBD activity.

Methods

In this retrospective multi‐centre cohort study, we matched vancomycin‐treated and untreated patients (1:3) based on IBD duration at the time of primary outcome assessment. The primary outcome was Physician Global Assessment (PGA) of IBD clinical activity after 1 year (±6 months) of vancomycin. We used generalised estimating equations (GEE) to examine the association between vancomycin and PGA remission, adjusting for IBD type, severity and medication exposures. Secondary outcomes included serum labs and endoscopic remission (global rating of no activity) among those with available data and also analysed with GEE.

Results

113 PSC‐IBD patients received vancomycin (median age 12.7 years, 63% male). The matched cohort included 70 vancomycin‐treated and 210 untreated patients. Vancomycin was associated with greater odds of IBD clinical remission (odds ratio [OR] 3.52, 95% CI 1.97–6.31; adjusted OR [aOR] 5.24, 95% CI 2.68–10.22). Benefit was maintained in sensitivity analyses restricted to non‐transplanted patients and those with baseline moderate–severe PGA. Vancomycin was associated with increased odds of endoscopic remission (aOR 2.76, 95% CI 1.002–7.62; N = 101 with data), and with lower CRP (p = 0.03) and higher haemoglobin and albumin (both p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Vancomycin was associated with greater odds of IBD clinical and endoscopic remission. Additional, preferably randomised, controlled studies are needed to characterise efficacy using objective markers of mucosal inflammation, and to examine safety and define optimal dosing.
The use and production of black Mn‐based pigments for painting late (c. 900–1450) and Inca (c. 1450–1600) periods ceramic vessels in Northwestern Argentina: a multi‐analytical approach using μRaman, FT‐IR, and XRD
Authors: De La Fuente Guillermo A. , Basile Mara , Desimone Mariela , Rasmussen Kaare L. , Martínez Carricondo Marina G. , Rozas Guillermo , Vera Sergio D. , Tomba Juan P. , Crespo Esteban
Published: March 2024

Late and Inca period pottery in the Northwestern Argentine region present two or three characteristic prefiring colors (red, black, and white or cream) in their decoration. Sanagasta and Belén vessels from Late Period are characterized by a bichrome black‐on‐red/cream and black‐on‐red painted decoration, respectively, whereas Inca vessels exhibit a black‐on‐red painted decoration. Analytical results obtained by μRaman, FT‐IR, and XRD analyses on a relatively large number of samples show that the pre‐Hispanic potters during Late and Inca periods used a manganese‐based technique to obtain black colours in these large vessels fired in an oxidising atmosphere. Black paints were produced by the systematic use of different mineral complex mixtures of Mn (pyrolusite, bixbyte, and hausmannite) and hematite. As a result, spinel phases like jacobsite (a Fe‐Mn compound) and magnetite were formed at different firing temperatures. Red paints were obtained using the mineral hematite. A detailed discussion is presented concerning the firing conditions to obtain these black hues.
On the emergence of cooperative industrial and labour relations
Authors: Cardullo Gabriele , Conti Maurizio , Ricci Andrea , Scicchitano Sergio , Sulis Giovanni
Published: March 2024

We explore the long‐run determinants of current differences in the degree of co‐operative labour relations at the local level. We do this by estimating the effect of the medieval communes –that were established in certain cities in Centre‐Northern Italy towards the end of the 11th century – and that contributed to the emergence of a co‐operative attitude in the population on various proxies for current co‐operative labour relations. Conditional on a large set of firm and municipality level controls, as well as a full set of province fixed effects, we find that firms located in municipalities that had been a free medieval commune in the past have higher current probabilities to adopt two‐tier bargaining structures and to be unionized. We also report instrumental variables (IV) and propensity score estimates that confirm our main results.
Sexuality education for disabled children and youth in Ontario, Canada: Addressing epistemic injustice through school‐based sexuality education
Authors: Davies Adam , O'Leary Samantha , Prioletta Jessica , Shay Bronte , Bryan Malissa , Neustifter Orion
Published: March 2024

While conversations pertaining to school‐based sexuality education are becoming more prominent, the experiences of disabled children and youth are still under‐discussed in research. Despite disabled childhood studies emerging as a field of inquiry, there is still a lack of critical conversation pertaining to disabled students' sexuality education within their respective schooling. This article draws from Fricker's theory of epistemic injustice to describe some of the ethical questions that arise in the denial of disabled children and youth's access to sexuality education in school contexts. By engaging with relevant literature on sexuality education and disabled students in schooling, this article puts forward that the continual exclusion of disabled students from accessing school‐based sexuality education promotes a form of epistemic injustice and silencing of the voices, perspectives and experiences of disabled students.
Physical modulation of mesenchymal stem cell exosomes: A new perspective for regenerative medicine
Authors: Wu Dan , Zhao Xiansheng , Xie Jiaheng , Yuan Ruoyue , Li Yue , Yang Quyang , Cheng Xiujun , Wu Changyue , Wu Jinyan , Zhu Ningwen
Published: March 2024

Mesenchymal stem cell‐derived exosomes (MSC‐Exo) offer promising therapeutic potential for various refractory diseases, presenting a novel therapeutic strategy. However, their clinical application encounters several obstacles, including low natural secretion, uncontrolled biological functions and inherent heterogeneity. On the one hand, physical stimuli can mimic the microenvironment dynamics where MSC‐Exo reside. These factors influence not only their secretion but also, significantly, their biological efficacy. Moreover, physical factors can also serve as techniques for engineering exosomes. Therefore, the realm of physical factors assumes a crucial role in modifying MSC‐Exo, ultimately facilitating their clinical translation. This review focuses on the research progress in applying physical factors to MSC‐Exo, encompassing ultrasound, electrical stimulation, light irradiation, intrinsic physical properties, ionizing radiation, magnetic field, mechanical forces and temperature. We also discuss the current status and potential of physical stimuli‐affected MSC‐Exo in clinical applications. Furthermore, we address the limitations of recent studies in this field. Based on this, this review provides novel insights to advance the refinement of MSC‐Exo as a therapeutic approach in regenerative medicine.