bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-reactive test rig for combustor-turbine interaction studies in industrial gas turbines
Authors: Fiorineschi Lorenzo , Bacci Tommaso , Frillici Francesco Saverio Saverio , Cubeda Simone , Volpe Yary , Rotini Federico , Carfagni Monica , Facchini Bruno
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to present the design of a particular non-reactive test rig for combustion swirlers and first stage turbine nozzles. The test rig is required for important experimental activities aimed at the optimization of a specific class of gas turbines.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-disciplinary team performed the design process by following a tailored design approach, which has been developed for the specific case. The design outcomes allowed to build a fully functional test rig to be introduced in a test cell and then to perform preliminary experiments about the fluid dynamic behaviour of the turbine elements.

Findings

The followed design approach allowed to efficiently perform the task, by supporting the information exchange among the different subjects involved in both the conceptual and the embodiment design of the test rig. Additionally, the performed experiments allowed to achieve a final configuration that makes the test rig a valuable test case for combustor-turbine interaction studies.

Research limitations/implications

The study described in this paper is focused on the design of a specific test rig, used for first validation tests. However, the achieved results (both in terms of design and test) constitutes the underpinning of the in-depth investigations to be performed in the next steps of the experimental campaign.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the present paper is the first one that comprehensively describes the design activity of an experimental test rig for turbine application, also providing indications about the specific methodological procedure used to manage the process.
Copula methods for evaluating relative tail forecasting performance
Authors: León Ángel , Ñíguez Trino-Manuel
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The authors apply their method to analyze which portfolios are capable of providing superior performance to those based on the Sharpe ratio (SR).

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper the authors illustrate the use of conditional copulas for identifying differences in alternative portfolio performance strategies. The authors analyze which portfolios are capable of providing superior performance to those based on the SR.

Findings

The results show that under the Gaussian copula, both expected tail ratio (ETR) and skewness-kurtosis ratio portfolios exhibit remarkably low correlations respecting the SR portfolio. This means that these two portfolios are different respecting the SR one. The authors also find that copulas which focus on either the upper tail (Gumbel) or the lower tail (Clayton) render significant differences. In short, the copula analysis is useful to understand what kind of equity-screening strategy based on its corresponding performance measure (PM) performs better in relation to the SR portfolio.

Practical implications

Copula methods for evaluating relative tail forecasting performance provide an alternative tool when forecast differences are very small or found non statistically significant through standard tests.

Originality/value

Our copula methods to evaluate models' performance differences are significant because when models' performance is rather similar, conclusions on statistical differences, can be defective as they may hinge on the subsample type or size used, leading to inefficient investment decisions. Our method based in copula is novel in this research topic.
Accounting at your service: university survival, recovery and revolution from COVID-19
Authors: Ng Frederick
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the roles of accounting for university survival, recovery and revolution from the COVID-19 pandemic. It constructively critiques the use of compliance and cost-centric accounting to inform crisis response and proposes roles for accounting to better serve decision-making in a crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses limitations about how accounting information was used in a university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper describes potential roles for accounting across crisis phases. These proposals recognise requirements arising from the university’s regulatory environment and apply concepts from intellectual capital accounting and service-dominant logic.

Findings

This paper proposes that in the survival phase, accounting can mitigate rash responses by clarifying the crisis’s impact and stakeholder alignment. In the recovery phase, accounting can inform resourcing decisions by balancing signals from accounting about staff expense and capital investment. In the revolution phase, accounting helps develop the business models needed to adapt to changing student needs, hybrid teaching delivery and importance of intellectual capital.

Research limitations/implications

The case study discusses the early stages of a university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It does not provide a comprehensive analysis of success or failure of accounting in a crisis. The case raises directions for accounting to clarify the ambiguities in objectives and cause-and-effect relationships from the pandemic.

Practical implications

This paper proposes actions for accounting to support the survival, recovery and revolution of the university sector from the pandemic. The actions cover stakeholder engagement, university sector governance and strategic planning.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a lifecycle of accounting roles at different stages of the COVID-19 response that reflects requirements from the university’s regulatory environment and draws on intellectual capital and service-dominant logic literature.
Investigation the influence of miniaturized RFID tag sensor on coupling effect
Authors: Wang Peng , Dong Lihong , Wang Haidou , Li Guolu , Di Yuelan , Xie Xiangyu , Huang Dong
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The skin and skeleton of aircraft are connected by adhesives or rivets to bear and transfer aerodynamic load. It is easy for crack and fracture damage to occur under the action of cyclic load, thus reducing aircraft bearing capacity/integrity and causing serious security risks. Therefore, it is particularly important that passive wireless radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors be used for the health monitoring of aircraft skin in its whole life cycle. This paper aims to investigate the influence of miniaturization on the coupling effect between RFID tag sensors.

Design/methodology/approach

Two groups of crack sensing systems based on RFID tags were designed. Gain and mutual impedance of sensor tags were analyzed via mode analysis. The reliability of crack detection of both sensing systems was compared using a preset experimental scheme.

Findings

Miniaturized antennas can reduce edge influence and the coupling effect. Gain and mutual impedance decrease with the increase in distance between dual tags. Backscatter power shows a decreasing trend and threshold power to activate tags in reader antenna increases. Results show that the miniaturization of size is more suitable for the application of multiple sensors.

Originality/value

By comparing two groups of sensing systems, the consistency of crack detection sensitivity is better when small tags are placed in parallel, which provides a theoretical basis for the application of small, passive and densely distributed crack sensors in the future.
Synthesis of the unusual lipid bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate in environmental bacteria
Authors: Czolkoss Simon , Borgert Pia , Poppenga Tessa , Hölzl Georg , Aktas Meriyem , Narberhaus Franz
Published: September 2021

The bacterial membrane is constantly remodelled in response to environmental conditions and the external supply of precursor molecules. Some bacteria are able to acquire exogenous lyso‐phospholipids and convert them to the corresponding phospholipids. Here, we report that some soil‐dwelling bacteria have alternative options to metabolize lyso‐phosphatidylglycerol (L‐PG). We find that the plant‐pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens takes up this mono‐acylated phospholipid and converts it to two distinct isoforms of the non‐canonical lipid bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP). Chromatographic separation and quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of two possible BMP stereo configurations acylated at either of the free hydroxyl groups of the glycerol head group. BMP accumulated in the inner membrane and did not visibly alter cell morphology and growth behaviour. The plant‐associated bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti was also able to convert externally provided L‐PG to BMP. Other bacteria like Pseudomonas fluorescens and Escherichia coli metabolized L‐PG after cell disruption, suggesting that BMP production in the natural habitat relies both on dedicated uptake systems and on head‐group acylation enzymes. Overall, our study adds two previously overlooked phospholipids to the repertoire of bacterial membrane lipids and provides evidence for the remarkable condition‐responsive adaptation of bacterial membranes.
Antibacterial efficacy of in‐house designed cell‐penetrating peptide against multi‐drug resistant strains of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium
Authors: Nishanth Maria Anto Dani , Bhoomika Sirsant , Gourkhede Diksha , Dadimi Bhargavi , Vergis Jess , Malik Satya Veer Singh , Barbuddhe Sukhadeo Baliram , Rawool Deepak Bhiwa
Published: September 2021

The in vitro antibacterial efficacy of an in‐house designed cell‐penetrating peptide (CPP) variant of Cecropin A (1–7)‐Melittin (CAMA) (CAMA‐CPP) against the characterized multi‐drug resistant (MDR) field strains of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium were evaluated and compared with two identified CPPs namely, P7 and APP, keeping CAMA as control. Initially, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (μg ml−1) of in‐house designed CAMA‐CPP, APP and CAMA was determined to be 3.91, whereas that of P7 was 7.81; however, the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of all the peptides were twice the MIC. CAMA‐CPP and CAMA were found to be stable under different conditions (high‐end temperatures, proteinase‐K, cationic salts, pH and serum) when compared to the other CPPs. Moreover, CAMA‐CPP exhibited negligible cytotoxicity in HEp‐2 and RAW 264.7 cell lines as well as haemolysis in the sheep and human erythrocytes with no adverse effects against the commensal gut lactobacilli. In vitro time‐kill assay revealed that the MBC levels of CAMA‐CPP and APP could eliminate the intracellular MDR‐Salmonella infections from mammalian cell lines; however, CAMA and P7 peptides were ineffective. CAMA‐CPP appears to be a promising antimicrobial candidate and opens up further avenues for its in vivo clinical translation.
Implementation for impact—Measurement, partnership approaches, and storytelling
Authors: Carson Lisa , Althaus Catherine , Sullivan Helen , van Wanrooy Brigid
Published: September 2021

This is an introductory article to the AJPA symposium on 'Generating and demonstrating implementation impact'. It provides an overview and synthesis of key themes canvassed in the papers, which includes a focus on implementation for impact regarding measurement, partnership approaches, and storytelling.
Maternal serum fructosamine levels and stillbirth: a case–control study of the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network
Authors: Arslan E , Allshouse AA , Page JM , Varner MW , Thorsten V , Parker C , Dudley DJ , Saade GR , Goldenberg RL , Stoll BJ , Hogue CJ , Bukowski R , Conway D , Pinar H , Reddy UM , Silver RM
Published: September 2021

Objective

To evaluate the association between maternal fructosamine levels at the time of delivery and stillbirth.

Design

Secondary analysis of a case–control study.

Setting

Multicentre study of five geographic catchment areas in the USA.

Population

All singleton stillbirths with known diabetes status and fructosamine measurement, and representative live birth controls.

Main outcome measures

Fructosamine levels in stillbirths and live births among groups were adjusted for potential confounding factors, including diabetes. Optimal thresholds of fructosamine to discriminate stillbirth and live birth.

Results

A total of 529 women with a stillbirth and 1499 women with a live birth were included in the analysis. Mean fructosamine levels were significantly higher in women with a stillbirth than in women with a live birth after adjustment (177 ± 3.05 versus 165 ± 2.89 μmol/L, P < 0.001). The difference in fructosamine levels between stillbirths and live births was greater among women with diabetes (194 ± 8.54 versus 162 ± 3.21 μmol/L), compared with women without diabetes (171 ± 2.50 versus 162 ± 2.56 μmol/L). The area under the curve (AUC) for fructosamine level and stillbirth was 0.634 (0.605–0.663) overall, 0.713 (0.624–0.802) with diabetes and 0.625 (0.595–0.656) with no diabetes.

Conclusions

Maternal fructosamine levels at the time of delivery were higher in women with stillbirth compared with women with live birth. Differences were substantial in women with diabetes, suggesting a potential benefit of glycaemic control in women with diabetes during pregnancy. The small differences noted in women without diabetes are not likely to justify routine screening in all cases of stillbirth.

Tweetable abstract

Maternal serum fructosamine levels are higher in women with stillbirth than in women with live birth, especially in women with diabetes.
Do Firms Learn from Pre‐announcement Experience? Evidence from Optimistic Pre‐announcements and Market Responses
Authors: Lim Youngdeok , Oh Hyung Il
Published: September 2021

In this study, we examine whether firms learn from pre‐announcement experience by focusing on optimistic pre‐announcements and market responses. Optimistic pre‐announcements are pre‐announced Earnings Per Share (EPS) higher than or equal to actual EPS. Based on organizational learning theory, we hypothesize that firms experiencing negative market responses to positive pre‐announcements (pre‐announced EPS higher than or equal to analysts' consensus) are less likely to make another pre‐announcement during subsequent time periods. Our findings support this hypothesis. For firms making another pre‐announcement, we find that the experience of a negative market response to a positive pre‐announcement is negatively related to making an optimistic pre‐announcement. Taken together, our findings suggest that firms learn from the previous experience of pre‐announcements and the corresponding market responses.
Activation of angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2/angiotensin (1–7)/mas receptor axis triggers autophagy and suppresses microglia proinflammatory polarization via forkhead box class O1 signaling
Authors: Dang Ruili , Yang Mengqi , Cui Changmeng , Wang Changshui , Zhang Wenyuan , Geng Chunmei , Han Wenxiu , Jiang Pei
Published: September 2021

Brain renin‐angiotensin (Ang) system (RAS) is implicated in neuroinflammation, a major characteristic of aging process. Angiotensin (Ang) II, produced by angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE), activates immune system via angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1), whereas Ang(1–7), generated by ACE2, binds with Mas receptor (MasR) to restrain excessive inflammatory response. Therefore, the present study aims to explore the relationship between RAS and neuroinflammation. We found that repeated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment shifted the balance between ACE/Ang II/AT1 and ACE2/Ang(1–7)/MasR axis to the deleterious side and treatment with either MasR agonist, AVE0991 (AVE) or ACE2 activator, diminazene aceturate, exhibited strong neuroprotective actions. Mechanically, activation of ACE2/Ang(1–7)/MasR axis triggered the Forkhead box class O1 (FOXO1)‐autophagy pathway and induced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), the FOXO1‐targeted antioxidant enzymes. Meanwhile, knockdown of MasR or FOXO1 in BV2 cells, or using the selective FOXO1 inhibitor, AS1842856, in animals, suppressed FOXO1 translocation and compromised the autophagic process induced by MasR activation. We further used chloroquine (CQ) to block autophagy and showed that suppressing either FOXO1 or autophagy abrogated the anti‐inflammatory action of AVE. Likewise, Ang(1–7) also induced FOXO1 signaling and autophagic flux following LPS treatment in BV2 cells. Cotreatment with AS1842856 or CQ all led to autophagic inhibition and thereby abolished Ang(1–7)‐induced remission on NLRP3 inflammasome activation caused by LPS exposure, shifting the microglial polarization from M1 to M2 phenotype. Collectively, these results firstly illustrated the mechanism of ACE2/Ang(1–7)/MasR axis in neuroinflammation, strongly indicating the involvement of FOXO1‐mediated autophagy in the neuroimmune‐modulating effects triggered by MasR activation.
Antimicrobial action of photodynamic therapy on Enterococcus faecalis biofilm using curing light, curcumin and riboflavin
Authors: Moradi Mahsa , Fazlyab Mahta , Pourhajibagher Maryam , Chiniforush Nasim
Published: September 2021

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) with curcumin and riboflavin on three‐week Enterococcus faecalis biofilm. At first the 15‐mm root canals of 65 single rooted extracted human teeth (including maxillary incisors, mandibular and maxillary canines and mandibular premolars) were separated from the crown and were prepared with ProTaper instruments. After autoclave sterilisation, samples were inoculated with E. faecalis suspension, and incubated for three weeks. After ensuring biofilm formation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in two teeth, the remaining 63 teeth were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 9): aPDT + curcumin, aPDT + riboflavin, LED, curcumin, riboflavin, 5.25% NaOCl (positive control) and no intervention (negative control). For light source a LED unit with 390–480 nm wavelength (peak of 460 nm), power density of 1000 ± 100 mW cm−2 and mean energy density of 60 J cm−2 was used. The roots were horizontally sectioned into coronal, middle and apical thirds each with 5 mm thicknesses. Dentin chips with equal weight (1 ± 0.005 g) were collected from the root canal walls with Gates Glidden drills and were transferred into microtubes containing 1 mL of sterile saline and vortexed for 30 s. Next, 10 µL of the contents of each tube was serially diluted and eventually, 10 µL of each solution was cultured on BHI agar. The number of colony‐forming units was determined. Data were analysed using the Kruskal–Wallis and Friedman tests. The colony reduction was not significantly different between NaOCl and either riboflavin + LED or Curcumin + LED. The 5.25% NaOCl group showed maximum reduction in colony count, compared with the negative control (P = 0.00). Groups with aPDT with Curcumin + LED (P = 0.005), and with riboflavin + LED (P = 0.011) showed significant reduction in colony count in all three canal thirds (P < 0.05) without any difference with one another. With significant reduction of E. faecalis colony count, aPDT with Curcumin and riboflavin can serve as an adjunct to routine root canal disinfection method.
On the morality of vaccination tourism
Authors: Espindola Juan , Vaca Moises
Published: September 2021

Vaccination tourism (whereby citizens of one nation travel to a different, usually more developed nation to receive a vaccine unavailable or with little availability at home) during the COVID pandemic raises a host of moral issues and is usually met with criticism. From the perspective of the society of origin, the criticism is that those who use their socio‐economic privileges to go abroad and receive the vaccine ahead of other citizens instead of ‘making the line’ act objectionably because in doing so they use their purchasing power to obtain a benefit that should not be distributed like any other product in the market. From the perspective of the society of destination, the criticism is that citizens and residents should receive the vaccines first; after all, their government purchased vaccines (with their taxes) to immunize the local population. The paper calls into question both objections to vaccination tourism. There might be other reasons to oppose it, but this pair of objections cannot ground a moral criticism of the practice.
Does an interactive table of contents promote learning from videos? A study of consultation strategies and learning outcomes
Authors: Cojean Salomé , Jamet Eric
Published: September 2021

Learning from videos is becoming an important part of educational activities, but video content may be difficult to process, mainly because its organization is not very salient in this medium. The learner's organization process should be enhanced by (1) displaying the structure (ie, table of contents) in the video‐based environment, and (2) proposing interactivity tools (interactive table of contents and cued timeline) to use this structure in a more efficient way. A total of 57 participants (higher education students) were divided into three groups (no table of contents, table of contents, and interactive table of contents) to assess the effects of displaying a structure on learning outcomes and behaviours. Results showed that tables of contents boosted topic recall, and interactivity allowed learners to perform more relevant reviewing behaviours. However, reviewing behaviours appear to be broadly timeline‐driven, and learners did not actively use the interactive table of contents. No significant effect was found on other learning outcomes (ie, content memorization and comprehension). One suggestion is that a table of contents, especially when it is interactive, can be an organizational aid during the construction of a mental model, but learners may underestimate its usefulness.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

Educational videos are increasingly being used for learning

According to the cognitive theory of multimedia learning, organizing incoming information is essential for learning

In written documents, a table of contents may serve as an organizational aid

In information‐seeking tasks, an interactive table of contents improves localization.

What this paper adds

Adding a table of contents to a video may promote topic recall, but not content learning.

An interactive table of contents may enhance consultation strategies (eg, reviewing information).

Learners tend to use timelines, rather than tables of contents, to navigate videos.

Implications for practice

When designing an educational video, adding an interactive table of contents may enhance the quality of learning.

Different strategies seem to be employed by learners, with some of them displaying no reviewing behaviours at all.

Learners may underestimate the usefulness of the table of contents, so it may be necessary to encourage then to use it.
A multicentre double‐blind, double‐dummy, randomised study of recombinant human thrombopoietin versus eltrombopag in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia in Chinese adult patients
Authors: Mei Heng , Xu Min , Yuan Guolin , Zhu Feiyue , Guo Jingming , Huang Ruibin , Qin Jun , Lv Tingting , Qin Fangmei , Cai Huili , Yin Ping , Qin Tingting , Hu Yu
Published: September 2021

We performed a double‐blind, double‐dummy controlled study to compare the efficacy between recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) and eltrombopag in rapidly increasing the platelet counts in Chinese patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). A total of 96 patients diagnosed with ITP for ≥6 months who had baseline platelet counts of <30 × 109/l were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to receive eltrombopag 25 mg/day or rhTPO 300 u/kg for 2 weeks. Compared with the eltrombopag group, a significantly higher proportion of patients in the rhTPO group achieved platelet counts of ≥50 × 109/l [75·00% (36/48) vs. 43·75% (21/48), P = 0·003] or complete response (64·58% vs. 25·00%) on day 15. Moreover, a higher proportion of patients in the rhTPO group either had platelet counts that rapidly increased to twice that of baseline and with platelet counts of ≥30 × 109/l, or reached ≥50 × 109/l at least once when analysed on day 9, 12, and 15. However, upon discontinuation of the treatment, the platelet counts reduced to the baseline within 1 week in the rhTPO group, but on the fourth week in the eltrombopag group. Adverse events were similar in patients given rhTPO and eltrombopag. To conclude, rhTPO is superior to eltrombopag at 25 mg/day in rapidly increasing platelet counts in patients with ITP (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03771378).
What is the role of chest X‐ray imaging in the acute management of children with sickle cell disease?
Authors: Griffin Ryan , Panayiotou Andreas , Allen Pamela , Height Sue , Chakravorty Subarna , Rees David C.
Published: September 2021

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) frequently present to hospital acutely unwell and are often exposed to diagnostic chest X‐rays (CXRs). Little evidence exists to determine when CXRs are clinically useful. Using electronic hospital records, we audited CXR use in children aged 0–18 who presented to hospital over the past 10 years in both an inpatient and emergency department setting. From a total of 915 first CXRs, only 28·2% of CXRs (n = 258) had clinically significant findings that altered management or final diagnosis. Of these abnormalities, consolidation represented 52·3%, effusion 8·9%, cardiomegaly 8·4% and sickle cell‐related bone changes 6·3%. Indications for CXR of respiratory distress (OR = 3·74, 95% CI 2·28–6·13), hypoxia (OR = 1·86, 95% CI 1·50–2·31) and cough (OR = 1·64, 95% CI 1·33–2·02), were more likely to have significant CXR findings. Patients who had higher peak fever (38·4°C vs. 37·4°C, P = 0·001), higher peak CRP (156·4 vs. 46·1, P < 0·001) and higher WCC (20·2 vs. 13·6, P < 0·001) were more likely to have clinically significant abnormalities on CXR. We found a decision tool using either hypoxia, cough, respiratory distress, T > 38°C, CRP > 50 or WCC > 15 × 109/l as indications for CXR, to have a sensitivity of 88% (with 95% CI 0·78–0·95) and specificity of 46% (95% CI 0·43–0·50) for clinically significant findings.
Corporate focus, residential assets, and the performance of French REITs
Authors: Beaubrun‐Diant Kevin , Maury Tristan‐Pierre
Published: September 2021

This paper raises the question of the specific impact of the share of residential assets on the performance of real estate investment trusts (REITs). In the literature, many articles questioning the importance of the nature of assets held in general (and residential assets in particular) do not take the level of diversification of REITs into account. We incorporate this factor into our analysis and integrate our measure of the effects of residential assets in a framework controlling for the impact of the diversification of the type of real estate assets held. Based on French data, we question whether REITs holding residential assets perform better than REITs holding little or no residential assets for a given level of diversification. We do not detect any significant diversification effect on the performances of French REITs. We also test the impact of asset diversification on REITs market volatility. We provide some evidence that firms with strongly concentrated balance sheets are more volatile than diversified firms, but this effect is weaker for REITs holding mostly residential rather than other types of assets.
Does the nudge effect persist? Evidence from a field experiment using social comparison message in China
Authors: Qin Botao , Chen Haoyan
Published: September 2021

We designed and carried out a field experiment in which we imposed social comparison incentives and technical recommendations on student dormitories through electricity consumption reports and energy‐saving suggestions materials, respectively. Our findings are as follows: (1) Regression results on all users show that the effect of social norms is not statistically significant. (2) A social comparison message has a heterogeneous effect on consumers' energy use. Low‐ and high‐energy users reduced their electricity consumption by 26% and 14%, respectively, in the first week after the treatment. (3) The effect of social norms is time sensitive.
THE CONCISE GUIDE TO PHARMACOLOGY 2021/22: Enzymes
Authors: Alexander Stephen P H , Fabbro Doriano , Kelly Eamonn , Mathie Alistair , Peters John A , Veale Emma L , Armstrong Jane F , Faccenda Elena , Harding Simon D , Pawson Adam J , Southan Christopher , Davies Jamie A , Annett Stephanie , Boison Detlev , Burns Kathryn Elisa , Dessauer Carmen , Gertsch Jürg , Helsby Nuala Ann , Izzo Angelo A. , Koesling Doris , Ostrom Rennolds , Papapetropoulos Andreas , Pyne Nigel J. , Pyne Susan , Robson Tracy , Russwurm Michael , Seifert Roland , Stasch Johannes‐Peter , Szabo Csaba , van der Stelt Mario , van der Vliet Albert , Watts Val , Wong Szu Shen
Published: September 2021

The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2021/22 is the fifth in this series of biennial publications. The Concise Guide provides concise overviews, mostly in tabular format, of the key properties of nearly 1900 human drug targets with an emphasis on selective pharmacology (where available), plus links to the open access knowledgebase source of drug targets and their ligands (www.guidetopharmacology.org), which provides more detailed views of target and ligand properties. Although the Concise Guide constitutes over 500 pages, the material presented is substantially reduced compared to information and links presented on the website. It provides a permanent, citable, point‐in‐time record that will survive database updates. The full contents of this section can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/bph.15542. Enzymes are one of the six major pharmacological targets into which the Guide is divided, with the others being: G protein‐coupled receptors, ion channels, nuclear hormone receptors, catalytic receptors and transporters. These are presented with nomenclature guidance and summary information on the best available pharmacological tools, alongside key references and suggestions for further reading. The landscape format of the Concise Guide is designed to facilitate comparison of related targets from material contemporary to mid‐2021, and supersedes data presented in the 2019/20, 2017/18, 2015/16 and 2013/14 Concise Guides and previous Guides to Receptors and Channels. It is produced in close conjunction with the Nomenclature and Standards Committee of the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (NC‐IUPHAR), therefore, providing official IUPHAR classification and nomenclature for human drug targets, where appropriate.
Social preferences, monopsony and government intervention
Authors: Goerke Laszlo , Neugart Michael
Published: September 2021

Monopsony power by firms and social preferences by consumers are well established. We analyze how wages and employment change in a monopsony if workers compare their income with that of a reference group. We show that the undistorted, competitive outcome may no longer constitute the benchmark for welfare comparisons and derive a condition that guarantees that the monopsony distortion is exactly balanced by the impact of social comparisons. We also demonstrate how wage restrictions and subsidies or taxes can be used to ensure this condition, both for a welfarist and a paternalistic welfare objective.
The distribution of COVID‐19–related risks
Authors: Baylis Patrick , Beauregard Pierre‐Loup , Connolly Marie , Fortin Nicole M. , Green David A. , Gutiérrez‐Cubillos Pablo , Gyetvay Samuel , Haeck Catherine , Molnár Tímea Laura , Simard‐Duplain Gaëlle , Siu Henry E. , teNyenhuis Maria , Warman Casey
Published: September 2021

We document two COVID‐19–related risks, viral risk and employment risk, and their distributions across the Canadian population. The measurement of viral risk is based on the VSE COVID‐19 Risk/Reward Assessment Tool, created to assist policy‐makers in determining the impacts of pandemic‐related economic shutdowns and re‐openings. Women are more concentrated in high‐viral‐transmission‐risk occupations, which is the source of their greater employment loss over the first part of the pandemic. They were also less likely to maintain contact with their former employers, reducing employment recovery rates. Low‐educated workers face the same viral risk rates as high‐educated workers but much higher employment losses. This is largely due to their lower likelihood of switching to working from home. For both women and the low‐educated, existing inequities in their occupational distributions and living situations have resulted in them bearing a disproportionate amount of the risk emerging from the pandemic. Assortative matching in couples has tended to exacerbate risk inequities.
De novo tacrolimus extended‐release tablets (LCPT) versus twice‐daily tacrolimus in adult heart transplantation: Results of a single‐center non‐inferiority matched control trial
Authors: van Zyl Johanna S. , Sam Teena , Clark Donna M. , Felius Joost , Doss Amanda K. , Kerlee Kacie R. , Cheung Zi‐On , Martits‐Chalangari Katalin , Jamil Aayla K. , Carey Sandra A. , Gottlieb Robert L. , Guerrero‐Miranda Cesar Y. , Kale Parag , Hall Shelley A.
Published: September 2021

Extended‐release tacrolimus for prophylaxis of allograft rejection in orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) recipients is currently not FDA‐approved. One such extended‐release formulation of tacrolimus known as LCPT allows once‐daily dosing and improves bioavailability compared to immediate‐release tacrolimus (IR‐tacrolimus). We compared the efficacy and safety of LCPT to IR‐tacrolimus applied de novo in adult OHT recipients. Twenty‐five prospective recipients on LCPT at our center from 2017 to 2019 were matched 1:2 with historical control recipients treated with IR‐tacrolimus based on age, gender, and baseline creatinine. The primary composite outcome of death, acute cellular rejection, and/or new graft dysfunction within 1 year was compared using non‐inferiority analysis. LCPT demonstrated non‐inferiority to IR‐tacrolimus, with a primary outcome risk reduction of 20% (90% CI: ‐40%, ‐.5%; non‐inferiority P = .001). Tacrolimus trough levels peaked at 2–3 months and were higher in LCPT (median 14.5 vs. 12.7 ng/ml; P = .03) with similar dose levels (LCPT vs. IR‐tacrolimus: .08 vs. .09 mg/kg/day; P = .33). Cardiovascular‐related readmissions were reduced by 62% (P = .046) in LCPT patients. The complication rate per transplant admission and all‐cause readmission rate did not differ significantly. These results suggest that LCPT is non‐inferior in efficacy to IR‐tacrolimus with a similar safety profile and improved bioavailability in OHT.
Intrauterine drug exposure as a risk factor for cerebral palsy
Authors: Benninger Kristen L , Purnell Jessica , Conroy Sara , Jackson Kenneth , Batterson Nancy , Neel Mary Lauren , Hester Mark E , Maitre Nathalie L ,   NCH Early Developmental Group
Published: September 2021

Aim

To determine whether infants with intrauterine drug exposure (IUDE) are similarly at risk for cerebral palsy (CP) as other high‐risk populations, whether CP classification differs based on IUDE status, and describe the association of CP with specific substances among exposed infants.

Method

This was a retrospective analysis of infants in a high‐risk follow‐up program (n=5578) between January 2014 and February 2018 with a history of IUDE or who received a CP diagnosis. CP rates were compared using two‐sample z‐tests. CP classification was assessed using Fisher’s exact, Cochran–Armitage, and Wilcoxon rank‐sum tests. Models for CP risk were assessed using multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Among all infants with IUDE (n=1086), 53.8% were male with a mean (SD) birth gestational age of 36.8 (3.6) weeks. Among unexposed infants with CP (n=259), 54.4% were male with a mean (SD) birth gestational age of 29.9 (5.7) weeks. Opioids were the most common exposure (93.7%) of all infants with IUDE. The CP rate in the IUDE (5.2%) and unexposed (5.7%) high‐risk populations were not significantly different (p=0.168), nor were there differences in CP typology, topography, or severity between exposed (n=57) and unexposed (n=259) infants (all p>0.05). In patients with IUDE and after controlling for established CP risk factors, the observed odds of CP varied among substances.

Interpretation

We suggest that IUDE should be considered a ‘newborn‐detectable risk’ in the guidelines for the early detection of CP.
A randomized clinical trial on therapeutic effects of 0.25 mg oral minoxidil tablets on treatment of female pattern hair loss
Authors: Vahabi‐Amlashi Sadegh , Layegh Pouran , Kiafar Bita , Hoseininezhad Masoumeh , Abbaspour Mohammadreza , Khaniki Saeedeh Hajebi , Forouzanfar Mehdi , Sabeti Vahideh
Published: September 2021

Topical minoxidil solution is recommended treatment for female pattern hair loss. However, some complications, such as skin allergies, have prevented some patients from completely receiving this treatment. This study intends to evaluate the therapeutic and side effects of oral minoxidil 0.25 mg tablets treatment on FPHL and compare it with conventional treatment of 2% topical minoxidil. This study is a triple‐blind randomized clinical trial in which 72 women with FPHL were treated as two separate groups. Group 1 was treated with oral minoxidil 0.25 mg tablets and topical placebo solution, while topical minoxidil solutions and oral placebo tablets were used to treat group 2 patients. In the oral minoxidil group, the average hair diameter and hair density after the 9‐month treatment reached from 0.044 mm and 102 per cm2 to 0.048 mm and 115 per cm2, respectively. In the topical minoxidil group, the average hair diameter and hair density from initial values of 0.044 mm and 107 per cm2 increased to 0.047 mm and 113 per cm2. In both groups, the changes of hair diameter and hair density were significant compared to initial values (p < 0.001), while the trend of changes was not statically different between the two groups (p = 0.077, p = 0.674 for hair diameter and hair density, respectively) and side effects were trivial. In conclusion, oral minoxidil is an effective and new treatment for FPHL, even with a minimal dose, which can be used as an alternative treatment, especially for patients with poor compliance against topical minoxidil.
How to prevent skin damage from air pollution part 2: Current treatment options
Authors: Damevska Katerina , Simeonovski Viktor , Darlenski Razvigor , Damevska Stefana
Published: September 2021

In the first part of this review, we have summarized the methods used to examine skin exposure to air pollution and the fundamental concept of skin‐exposome interactions. Part 2 of this review focuses on dermatoses, whose aggravation or initiation by air pollution has been confirmed in evidence based medicine manner. Based on the model of photodermatology and photodermatoses, we propose a new concept of “polludermatoses.” A key feature of this concept is identifying patients at risk, which will reveal the noxious effects of air pollutants on skin health. Identifying clinical signs of pollution‐damaged skin could be beneficial in categorizing conditions caused or exacerbated by exposure to air pollution. Finally, we discuss the current treatment options and the pathogenetic processes targeted by these therapeutics or the development of novel treatment modalities.
COVID‐19 vaccination in children and university students
Authors: Ioannidis John P. A.
Published: September 2021

Strategies for the use of COVID‐19 vaccines in children and young adults (in particular university students) are hotly debated and important to optimize. As of late August 2021, recommendations on the use of these vaccines in children vary across different countries. Recommendations are more uniform for vaccines in young adults, but vaccination uptake in this age group shows a large range across countries. Mandates for vaccination of university students are a particularly debated topic with many campuses endorsing mandates in the USA in contrast to European countries, at least as of August 2021. The commentary discusses the potential indirect impact of vaccination of youth on the COVID‐19 burden of disease for other age groups and societal functioning at large, estimates of direct impact on reducing fatalities and nonlethal COVID‐19‐related events in youth, estimates of potential lethal and nonlethal adverse events from vaccines and differential considerations that may exist in the USA, European countries and nonhigh‐income countries. Decision‐making for deploying COVID‐19 vaccines in young people is subject to residual uncertainty on the future course of the pandemic and potential evolution towards endemicity. Rational recommendations would also benefit from better understanding of the clinical and sociodemographic features of COVID‐19 risk in young populations and from dissecting the role of re‐infections and durability of natural vs. vaccine‐induced immunity.
Clinical investigation of dynamic and enduring aspects of global cognition in aged population
Authors: Truong Quoc C. , Choo Carol , Numbers Katya , Merkin Alexander G. , Brodaty Henry , Kochan Nicole A. , Sachdev Perminder S. , Feigin Valery. L. , Medvedev Oleg N.
Published: September 2021

Background

A major issue in evaluating the cognitive status of ageing populations is a clear distinction between enduring and dynamic aspects of global cognition necessary for evaluating risks of dementia and effectiveness of preventive interventions.

Materials and methods

Generalizability Theory was applied to investigate dynamic and enduring aspects of global cognition using longitudinal data over 10 years of follow‐up. Measures included the Mini‐Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status‐modified (TICS‐M). The sample (N = 238) included 154 females, mean age = 76.54 years, SD = 3.94 from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study.

Results

The MMSE measured dynamic and enduring aspects of cognition to a comparable degree with 56% of variance explained by enduring aspects and 44% by dynamic aspects and showed low sensitivity/high specificity in detecting dementia. A shortened version of the MMSE (MMSE‐D8) better captured dynamic aspects of cognition after removing three items less sensitive to change. The TICS‐M predominantly measured enduring aspects of cognition (72%) with the remaining 28% due to dynamic aspects and displayed high sensitivity/high specificity for dementia screening.

Conclusions

The MMSE measures both dynamic and enduring cognitive aspects and is suitable for general clinical assessments, while the MMSE‐D8 can be used to monitor transitory changes of global cognition over time. The TICS‐M is more useful for measuring enduring features of cognition and screening for dementia. Our findings highlight the value of generalizability theory to distinguish dynamic and enduring features of cognition, which may contribute to preventive interventions and monitoring cognitive ability over time.
Elevated emotion reactivity and emotion regulation in individuals at clinical high risk for developing psychosis and those diagnosed with a psychotic disorder
Authors: Vines Leah , Bridgwater Miranda , Bachman Peter , Hayes Rebecca , Catalano Sabrina , Jalbrzikowski Maria
Published: September 2021

Aims

Disrupted affective processes are core features of psychosis; yet emotion reactivity and emotion regulation impairments have not been fully characterized in individuals at clinical high‐risk for developing psychosis (CHR) or adolescents diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (AOP). Characterizing these impairments may provide a fuller understanding of factors contributing to psychosis risk and psychosis onset. Using cross‐sectional and longitudinal data, we evaluated (1) group‐level effects of emotion reactivity and regulation, (2) stability of group‐level effects over time and age, (3) relationships between emotion reactivity and regulation, and (4) associations between these measures and psychosocial functioning and clinical symptomatology.

Methods

Eighty‐seven participants (CHR = 32, TD = 42, AOP = 13; 12–25 years, 1–5 visits) completed the Emotion Reactivity Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. We assessed psychotic symptoms with the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes and measured real‐world functioning with the Global Functioning: Social and Role Scales. We used analysis of variance to assess Aim 1 and linear mixed models to address Aims 2–4.

Results

CHR and AOP endorsed experiencing heightened levels of emotion reactivity and greater difficulty utilizing emotion regulation strategies compared to TD. These impairments were stable across time and adolescent development. Greater levels of emotion reactivity were associated with greater emotion regulation impairments. Greater impairments in emotion regulation were associated with lower social functioning and greater negative symptom severity.

Conclusion

Therapeutic interventions designed to reduce emotion reactivity and improve one's ability to utilize emotion regulation strategies may be effective in reducing clinical symptomatology and improving real‐world functioning in CHR and AOP.
Hiatus Irrationalis: Lask's Fateful Misreading of Fichte
Authors: Bruno G. Anthony
Published: September 2021

‘Facticity’ is a concept that classical phenomenologists like Heidegger use to denote the radically contingent or underivably brute conditions of intelligibility. Yet Fichte coins the term, to which he gives the opposing use of denoting unacceptably brute conditions of intelligibility. For him, radical contingency is a problem to be solved by deriving such conditions from reason. Heidegger rejects Fichte's recoil from facticity with his hermeneutics of facticity, supplanting Fichte's metaphor of our always being in reason's hand with the metaphor of our always having been thrown. How does Heidegger inherit and diametrically repurpose Fichte's neologism? Whence the reversed meaning of ‘facticity’ in post‐Kantian thought? The answer is Lask's doctoral thesis, which exerts an acknowledged impact on Heidegger's habilitation thesis. Lask interprets ‘facticity’ as Fichte's term for the individuality problem, that is, the resistance of the material particularity of individuals to explanation by the categories genetically deduced from reason. On his interpretation, ‘facticity’ denotes radical contingency in the guise of haecceity, that is, the brute uniqueness of individuals. Lask credits Fichte with registering the problem of individuality, which highlights the world's irreducibly pre‐categorial character. But how is ‘facticity’ transmitted from Lask to Heidegger, given their opposing interpretations of how Fichte understands its meaning? I argue that (1) Lask misreads Fichte as a proponent of facticity, that is, one whose accommodation of radical contingency deflates the Wissenschaftslehre's systematic ambitions, and (2) Lask's misreading, without deceiving Heidegger regarding the sincerity of Fichte's ambitions, encourages Heidegger's own hermeneutics of facticity.