bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empowering leadership and healthcare workers performance outcomes in times of crisis: the mediating role of safety climate
Authors: Dahleez Khalid Abed , Aboramadan Mohammed , Abu sharikh Nabila
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Drawing upon the norm of reciprocity and social exchange theory, the purpose of this study is to propose and empirically test a model on the relationship between empowering leadership and employees' work-related outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this model, safety climate was theorized as an intervening mechanism between (1) empowering leadership and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and (2) empowering leadership and risk-taking behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a cross-sectional research design, data were gathered from a sample of 228 full-time staff working in the healthcare sector in Palestine. Data were analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling to examine the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that empowering leadership is related to extra-role behaviors in a time of crisis. Furthermore, the results suggest that safety climate fully mediates the relationships between (1) empowering leadership and OCB and (2) empowering leadership and risk-taking behavior.

Practical implications

Healthcare administrators are invited to train their supervisors to foster the empowerment philosophy, especially during crisis times, and select leaders with empowering mentality. Besides, healthcare administrators are called upon to consider the critical role of maintaining a safe climate since it is related to employees' outcomes.

Originality/value

In this study, the authors contribute to leadership literature in crisis times by highlighting the critical role of leadership in sharing power and control with employees to encourage their OCB and willingness to take risks for the organization's interest. Moreover, to the researchers' best knowledge, this study is among the few studies that examine the consequences of empowering leadership in crisis times.
Examining consumer's purchasing behavior of energy-efficient appliance through the lenses of theory of planned behavior and environmental factors
Authors: Harun Siti Aminah , Fauzi Muhammad Ashraf , Sulaiman Noor Suhani
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study investigates consumer purchases of energy-efficient appliances (EEAs). The adoption of EEA would reduce the detrimental impact of the environment from the consumer behavioral perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This study evaluates consumer purchase of EEA based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), environmental factors, and consumer energy-efficient behavior (EEB). Applying partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), 412 household respondents within the five regions in Malaysia were analyzed.

Findings

Findings depicted that EEB has a significant influence on intention to purchase and subsequently purchasing behavior of EEA. Similarly, the TPB variables were significant predictors of EEB and intention to purchase except for attitude. Meanwhile, among the environmental factors, only environmental awareness was significant.

Research limitations/implications

Implications include integrating educational programs through formal and informal measures. The former includes infusing within the mainstream educational system. On the other hand, the latter is through effective and captivating media communication.

Originality/value

The integration of EEB towards consumers' intention and behavior of purchasing EEAs.
Investigating the performance of genetic algorithm and particle swarm for optimizing daylighting and energy performance of offices in Alexandria, Egypt
Authors: Allam Amr S. , Bassioni Hesham , Ayoub Mohammed , Kamel Wael
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to compare the performance of two nature-inspired metaheuristics inside Grasshopper in optimizing daylighting and energy performance against brute force in terms of the resemblance to ideal solution and calculation time.

Design/methodology/approach

The simulation-based optimization process was controlled using two population-based metaheuristic algorithms, namely, the genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The objectives of the optimization routine were optimizing daylighting and energy consumption of a standard reference office while varying the urban context configuration in Alexandria, Egypt.

Findings

The results from the GA and PSO were compared to those from brute force. The GA and PSO demonstrated much faster performance to converge to design solution after conducting only 25 and 43% of the required simulation runs, respectively. Also, the average proportion of the resulted weighted sum optimization (WSO) per case using the GA and PSO to that from brute force algorithm was 85 and 95%, respectively.

Originality/value

The work of this paper goes beyond the current practices for showing that the performance of the optimization algorithm can differ by changing the urban context configuration while solving the same problem under the same design variables and objectives.
Impact of chief financial officer’s experience on the assurance of corporate social responsibility reports in China
Authors: Khalid Fahad , Naveed Khwaja , He Xingxing , Ye Chenyun
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Given the emerging importance of the chief financial officer’s (CFO) role, this study aims to probe into the prevalence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) assurance practices in China and to examine whether or not CFO foreign, professional or academic experience affects the likelihood of CSR assurance decision.

Design/methodology/approach

All A-share listed Chinese companies during the year 2008–2017 with 5,144 firm-year observations have been investigated for this study.

Findings

This study finds a positive effect of CFO foreign and professional experience on CSR assurance. No significant association has been found between the CFO’s academic experience and CSR assurance. Additional analysis for Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sampled firms shows that the academic and professional experience of CFOs has a significant positive association with CSR assurance. However, the main findings are replicated in the case of firms under mandatory CSR reporting.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of this study are its generalizability, unidimensional measure of CSR assurance which is unable to capture its quality and explore the other traits of CFOs.

Practical implications

It provides assurance practitioners with valuable longitudinal data on China’s CSR reporting and assurance services. Also, firms should recognize the importance of having competent CFOs to improve the credibility of their CSR reporting. The cross-sectional variation analysis (GRI and mandatory CSR) will help firms to assess the value of each CFO attribute for their nonfinancial reporting and auditing choices while considering internal and external stakeholder demands.

Originality/value

This study not only updates the existing understanding of CSR assurance methods in China but also explains the significance of CFO-specific experience in enhancing the credibility of nonfinancial reporting.
Functional redundancy dampens precipitation change impacts on species‐rich invertebrate communities across the Neotropics
Authors: Céréghino Régis , Trzcinski Mark Kurtis , MacDonald A. Andrew M. , Marino Nicholas A. C. , Acosta Mercado Dimaris , Leroy Céline , Corbara Bruno , Romero Gustavo Q. , Farjalla Vinicius F. , Barberis Ignacio M. , Dézerald Olivier , Hammill Edd , Atwood Trisha B. , Piccoli Gustavo C. O. , Ospina Bautista Fabiola , Carrias Jean‐François , Leal Juliana S. , Montero Guillermo , Antiqueira Pablo A. P. , Freire Rodrigo , Realpe Emilio , Amundrud Sarah L. , de Omena Paula M. , Campos Alice B. A. , Srivastava Diane S.
Published: April 2022

Animal community responses to extreme climate events can be predicted from the functional traits represented within communities. However, it is unclear whether geographic variation in the response of functional community structure to climate change is primarily driven by physiological matching to local conditions (local adaptation hypothesis) or by differences between species pools in functional redundancy (insurance hypothesis).

We conducted a coordinated experiment to understand how aquatic invertebrate traits mediate the responses of multitrophic communities to changes in the quantity and evenness of rainfall in 180 natural freshwater microcosms (tank bromeliads) distributed across six sites from 18°N in the Caribbean to 29°S in South America. At each site, we manipulated the mean and dispersion of the daily amount of rainfall that entered tank bromeliads over a 2‐month period. Manipulations covered a response surface representing 50% to 200% of the dispersion of daily rainfall crossed with 10% to 300% of the mean amounts of rainfall.

The response of functional community structure to precipitation regimes differed across sites. These geographic differences were not consistent with the local adaptation hypothesis, as responses did not correlate with the current amplitude in precipitation. Geographic differences in community responses were consistent with the insurance hypothesis: sites with the lowest functional redundancy in their species pools had the strongest response to a gradient in hydrological variability induced by uneven precipitation. In such sites, an increase in the hydrologic variability induced a shift from communities with both pelagic and benthic traits using both green and brown energy channels to strictly benthic, brown energy communities.

Our results predict uneven impacts of precipitation change on community structure and energy channels within communities across Neotropical regions. This geographic variation is due more to differences in the size and redundancy of species pools than to local adaptation. Strategies for climate change adaptation should thus seek to identify and preserve functionally unique species and their habitats.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Kelp habitat fragmentation reduces resistance to overgrazing, invasion and collapse to turf dominance
Authors: Reeves Simon E. , Kriegisch Nina , Johnson Craig R. , Ling Scott D.
Published: April 2022

Across many temperate coastlines worldwide, kelp habitat has degraded to be replaced by alternative reef‐states with consequences to ecosystem functioning. Identifying both causes of decline and mechanisms of resilience of remnant kelp habitat is critical for managing and restoring these ecosystems.

We use a combination of aerial imagery and field experiments to reveal dynamics of kelp habitat fragmentation during phase‐shift from kelp Ecklonia radiata to overgrazed sea urchin barrens Heliocidaris erythrogramma in Port Phillip bay (Australia).

Analysis of aerial images spanning 6 years (2009–2014) revealed fragmentation of kelp patches to result in increase in perimeter‐to‐area ratio during phase‐shift.

Sea urchin foraging behaviour also changed from the edge to interior of kelp patches, with destructive grazing at the patch edge. Multiple modes of grazing were observed, with greatest rates of kelp bed decline occurring when urchins simultaneously grazed from the ‘outside‐in’ and ‘inside‐out’ of kelp patches. Overgrazing also triggered establishment of invasive kelp Undaria pinnatifida and proliferation of turf algae. Overgrazing reinforced native kelp decline, with overgrazing exacerbated by reduced provision of drift‐kelp.

Synthesis and applications. Perimeter–area ratio of kelp patches can predict phase‐shift, with patch extinction occurring when ratios exceeded a critical ratio of ~0.7. Monitoring dynamics of this critical ratio using aerial imagery provides a novel and cost‐effective indicator of kelp ecosystem resilience for preventing further losses. Targeted culling/harvesting of overgrazing sea urchins along patch edges will enhance native kelp survival and decrease perimeter‐to‐area ratio of remnant kelp patches; reducing risk of phase‐shift to sediment‐trapping turfs and invasive kelp, dually promoting recovery of kelp ecosystems.
Documentation of paediatric head injuries in a mixed metropolitan emergency department
Authors: Lee Sean Shi‐Jie , Manivel Vijay , Vignakaran Suganya , Hochholzer Karina , De Alwis Chamila , Espinoza David , Teo Stephen Sze Shing
Published: April 2022

Objective

Head injuries are a common presentation of children to Australian EDs. Healthcare documentation is an important tool for enhancing patient care. In our study, we aimed to assess the adequacy of paediatric head injury documentation in a mixed ED.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of presentations to a mixed ED between 2017 and 2018. Children aged <16 years old with a primary diagnosis of head injury were included. Documentation items based on local head injury guidelines were assessed in both medical and nursing documentation. We compared cases aged <1 and ≥1 year.

Results

There were 427 presentations that met the case definition. Medical documentation was present in 422 cases and nursing documentation in 310 cases. In combined medical and nursing documentation, items poorly documented include blood pressure (BP; 21.3%) and secondary survey (16.9%). In solely medical documentation, least commonly documented items are high‐risk bony injuries (22.5%), high‐risk soft tissue injuries (22.3%), seizure (22.0%) and non‐accidental injury (3.6%). Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was poorly documented in cases aged <1 year (10.9%, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The largest gaps in the documentation of paediatric head injuries were BP and paediatric GCS in infants. Future audits and educational strategies should focus on targeting clinically relevant items that are predictive of serious outcomes.
Integrative analysis of circRNAs from Yangtze River Delta white goat neck skin tissue by high‐throughput sequencing (circRNA‐seq)
Authors: Wang Jian , Wu Xi , Kang Yan , Zhang Liuming , Niu Haoyuan , Qu Jingwen , Wang Yanhu , Ji Dejun , Li Yongjun
Published: April 2022

The Yangtze River Delta white goat is a unique goat species that can produce superior‐quality brush hair. The formation of this brush hair is controlled by a series of critical genes and related signaling pathways. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), are ubiquitous endogenous non‐coding RNAs that regulate many biological and physiological processes in mammals. However, little is known about the potential regulatory role of circRNAs on superior‐quality brush hair formation in Yangtze River Delta white goat. In this study, high‐throughput sequencing technology was used to only detect circRNAs in the neck skin tissue of normal‐quality goats (NHQs) and superior‐quality goats (HQs). A total of 61 803 circRNAs were identified and 32 of them were differentially expressed in the NHQ group vs. the HQ group. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the source gene of differentially expressed circRNAs (DE‐circRNAs) was enriched mostly in platelet activation and the focal adhesion signal pathway. Action mechanism analysis revealed that DE‐circRNAs could sponge to many identified miRNAs, including miR‐31, miR‐125b, miR‐let‐7a and miR‐149‐5p, which have important roles in goat hair follicle stem cell growth, hair follicle development and morphogenesis. Altogether, our findings provide a valuable basis for studying circRNAs involved in superior‐quality brush hair traits and meanwhile advance our understanding of circRNA complex regulation mechanisms in Yangtze River Delta white goat skin hair follicle development.
Attachment differences in psychological distress: The mediating roles of filial piety and mindfulness
Authors: Huang Yu‐Lien , Yeh Kuang‐Hui
Published: April 2022

Evidence for the role of attachment differences in psychological distress is accumulating. Culture may serve as an important influencing factor in this relationship, especially in collectivist societies. We examined the role of two cultural factors relevant to Taiwan: dual filial piety motivations and dispositional mindfulness. Specifically, we investigated whether the associations between attachment insecurities (attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) and psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) were mediated by dispositional mindfulness and filial piety among Taiwanese emerging adults. We expected that filial piety and dispositional mindfulness might jointly mediate the influence of attachment differences on an individual's level of psychological distress. In total, 302 emerging adults completed the survey questions. After controlling for the mediating effects of filial piety and dispositional mindfulness, attachment anxiety still directly predicts greater depression, anxiety, and perceived stress, but attachment avoidance does not predict psychological distress. Attachment anxiety indirectly predicts greater depression, anxiety, and perceived stress via the mediation of lower dispositional mindfulness, and attachment avoidance indirectly predicts higher depression via lower reciprocal filial piety and lower dispositional mindfulness. Interestingly, we note a negative relationship between attachment avoidance and reciprocal filial piety, which may support the culture‐fit hypothesis that a person’s attachment orientation will be more problematic when it is incompatible with cultural values.
Impact of the Heartfulness program on loneliness in high schoolers: Randomized survey study
Authors: Iyer Ranjani B. , Vadlapudi Sumedha , Iyer Lina , Kumar Vetriliaa , Iyer Laya , Sriram Priya , Tandon Roma , Morel Yumeris , Kunamneni Hymavathi , Narayanan Smriti , Ganti Aditi , Sriram Sidhya , Tandon Reena , Sreenivasan Siddharth , Vijayan Sharanya , Iyer Priya
Published: April 2022

High levels of loneliness are prominent in teenagers ranging from ages 14–19. The 4‐week Self‐Care program, offered by the Heartfulness Institute, is designed to develop social–emotional skills and self‐observation. This study examined the impact of the Self‐Care program on loneliness in high school students in the United States in a randomized, wait‐list control trial with baseline and postintervention assessments. High school participants, aged 14–19, were randomized into a control‐wait‐listed group (n = 54) and a Heartfulness group (n = 54). Both the groups completed the intervention and the presurveys and postsurveys online, assessing their loneliness with the UCLA Loneliness Scale. The initial analysis noted the baseline equivalence of the data. A repeated measures ANOVA found a significant time * group interaction, with a significant decrease in loneliness reported in the Heartfulness Intervention group but no significant pre–post difference in the control group. In summary, the short online intervention program consisting of self‐care tools decreased loneliness scores in the participants. This study opens up a new valley of possibilities, apart from existing research, and demonstrates that the online intervention used might be helpful to decrease loneliness levels in teens.
Employees' fear at work, job crafting, and work engagement on a daily basis: The case for fear of COVID‐19
Authors: Zampetakis Leonidas A.
Published: April 2022

In the present study, we seek to understand how public sector employees that go to work to perform essential duties for the society and the economy cope with the fear of COVID‐19 and maintain their motivation, energy, and enthusiasm for their work. We hypothesized that because employees are motivated to protect their health, an increase in daily fear of COVID‐19 would be related to a daily increase in coping behaviors in the form of job crafting, which would consequently be related to employees' daily motivation. Data were based on 64 tenured employees working in public service organizations during the third wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic (March 2021), who completed a quantitative diary for five consecutive workdays (N = 320 occasions). Results from multilevel analysis indicated that fear of COVID‐19 had an indirect effect on work engagement through only one dimension of job crafting, seeking job resources. The study contributes to the ongoing theoretical extension of the beneficial role of job crafting by suggesting seeking social resources as an effective coping strategy for fear of COVID‐19.
Vedolizumab treatment persistence and safety in a 2‐year data analysis of an extended access programme
Authors: Danese Silvio , Subramaniam Kavitha , Van Zyl Jan , Adsul Shashi , Lindner Dirk , Roth Jeannine , Vermeire Séverine
Published: April 2022

Background

Vedolizumab was shown to be effective and safe for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) in the GEMINI phase 3 and long‐term safety (LTS) studies.

Aim

To report treatment persistence and safety results up to 2 years after enrolment in the vedolizumab extended access programme (XAP)

Methods

Vedolizumab XAP is a phase 3b/4, prospective, open‐label, multinational, interventional study. At rollover from GEMINI LTS, patients who were experiencing continued clinical benefit with vedolizumab received reduced dosing frequency from every 4 weeks (Q4W) to every 8 weeks (Q8W). Patient persistence on Q8W dosing, incidence of relapse, and safety 2 years after enrolment were investigated.

Results

We enrolled 311 patients (142 UC and 169 CD). At baseline, 93.7% (UC) and 89.3% (CD) of patients were in clinical remission; 93.0% (UC) and 84.6% (CD) reduced dosing frequency to Q8W at enrolment. Of those who reduced dosing frequency to Q8W at enrolment, 93.9% (UC) and 91.6% (CD) remained on Q8W dosing; 6.1% (UC) and 8.4% (CD) re‐escalated to Q4W dosing. Relapse was reported in 9.1% (UC) and 14.0% (CD) of patients who reduced dosing to Q8W. Adverse events related to vedolizumab were infrequent; no new events were reported.

Conclusion

We observed high patient persistence on vedolizumab Q8W in the first 2 years after the reduction of dosing frequency in the XAP along with low rates of Q4W dose re‐escalation and relapse. The safety profile was consistent with previous reports.

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02743806.
Combination of fibrates with obeticholic acid is able to normalise biochemical liver tests in patients with difficult‐to‐treat primary biliary cholangitis
Authors: Soret Pierre‐Antoine , Lam Laurent , Carrat Fabrice , Smets Lena , Berg Thomas , Carbone Marco , Invernizzi Pietro , Leroy Vincent , Trivedi Palak , Cazzagon Nora , Weiler‐Normann Christina , Alric Laurent , Rosa‐Hezode Isabelle , Heurgué Alexandra , Cervoni Jean‐Paul , Dumortier Jérôme , Potier Pascal , Roux Olivier , Silvain Christine , Bureau Christophe , Anty Rodolphe , Larrey Dominique , Levy Cynthia , Pares Albert , Schramm Christoph , Nevens Frederik , Chazouillères Olivier , Corpechot Christophe
Published: April 2022

Background

Obeticholic acid (OCA) and fibrates are second‐line therapies for patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with an inadequate response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).

Aim

To know whether OCA and fibrates, administered together in combination with UDCA, have additive beneficial effects in patients with difficult‐to‐treat PBC.

Methods

PBC patients treated for ≥3 months with UDCA, OCA and fibrates (bezafibrate or fenofibrate) due to failure of either second‐line therapy were included in a multicentre, uncontrolled retrospective cohort study. Changes in biochemical liver tests and pruritus were analysed using a generalised linear mixed‐effect model.

Results

Among 58 patients included, half received OCA as second‐line and fibrates as third‐line therapy (Group OCA‐Fibrate), while the other half had the inverse therapeutic sequence (Group Fibrate‐OCA). The mean duration of triple therapy was 11 months (range 3‐26). Compared to dual therapy, triple therapy was associated with a significant gain in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) reduction: 22% per first year (95% CI 12%‐31%), an effect that was stronger in OCA‐Fibrate than in Fibrate‐OCA group. Triple therapy was associated with a 3.4 (95% CI 1.4‐8.2) odds ratio (OR) of reaching normal ALP and with a significant decrease in gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin. The ORs of achieving the Paris‐2 and Toronto criteria of adequate biochemical response were 6.8 (95% CI 2.8‐16.7) and 9.2 (95% CI 3.4‐25.1) respectively. Finally, triple therapy significantly improved pruritus in OCA‐Fibrate but not in Fibrate‐OCA group.

Conclusions

Triple therapy with UDCA, OCA and fibrates is able to normalise biochemical liver tests and improve pruritus in patients with difficult‐to‐treat PBC.
“… because I'm so drunk at the time, the last thing I'm going to think about is calories”: Strengthening the argument for Drunkorexia as a food and alcohol disturbance, evidence from a qualitative study
Authors: Vogt Katharina Sophie , Harper Michela , Griffin Bethany Leigh
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Drunkorexia are inappropriate compensatory behaviours in response to alcohol consumption (restricting food intake, excessive exercise, and purging). Past (predominantly quantitative) research shows that Drunkorexia is prevalent in 18–26‐year‐olds, and has significant negative health‐related consequences. There is a debate whether Drunkorexia constitutes an eating or substance disorder, or a Food and Alcohol Disturbance (FAD). To further explore this, and understand underlying motivators, this study utilized qualitative methods.

Design

Qualitative interviews with ten participants (aged 18–26).

Methods

Interviews were analysed with Thematic Analysis.

Results

Three themes were developed: (1) Appearance concerns as motivators, (2) Drunkorexia behaviours to get value for money, and (3) “It’s just a pattern… something I’ve always done”: Drunkorexia as a routine. Results show that Drunkorexia is driven by appearance‐related concerns, such as, wanting to look better/slimmer, engaged in, in relation to an event, such as going out drinking, and carried out despite negative health‐related consequences. However, disregard for compensatory behaviours once drunk was also described, culminating in the consumption of high‐calorie food. This suggests that Drunkorexia is not a persistent pattern of maladaptive behaviour as found in eating or substance use disorders. Wanting value for money (i.e., feeling the maximum intoxication) was described as another reason for Drunkorexia engagement; thus showing that participants consider compensatory behaviours part of their routine of going out drinking.

Conclusions

These result support the view of Drunkorexia as a FAD, rather than an eating or substance use disorder, and show that 18–26‐year‐olds are an at‐risk group for Drunkorexia and its negative health‐related consequences.
Pharmacogenetic testing among patients with depression in a US managed care population
Authors: Anderson Heather D. , Thant Thida M. , Kao David P. , Crooks Kristy R. , Mendola Nicholas D. , Aquilante Christina L.
Published: April 2022

Actionable drug–gene pairs relevant to depression treatment include CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 with specific antidepressants. While clinical use of pharmacogenetic testing is growing, little is known about pharmacogenetic testing for depression treatment in managed care. We determined the incidence of single‐gene CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 testing following a new depression episode among US managed care patients, and described characteristics and antidepressant use of patients receiving tests. We used paid medical and pharmacy claims for patients from commercial health plans in the US. For adult patients with a new depression episode from January 1, 2013 to June 30, 2018, we identified covered claims for single‐gene CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 pharmacogenetic tests and antidepressant fills. Fewer than 1% (n = 1795) of the depressed cohort (n = 438,534) received a single‐gene CYP2D6 or CYP2C19 test through their insurance within 365 days of their earliest depression episode. The percentage of patients who received a test nearly tripled from 0.2% in 2013 to 0.5% in 2014 before plateauing at 0.4% from 2014 to 2017. Among the patients who received a single‐gene CYP2D6 or CYP2C19 test and filled an antidepressant within 365 days of their depression diagnosis, up to 30% may have had their initial antidepressant informed by the test result. Our findings describe the use of antidepressants before and after pharmacogenetic testing, which is clinically relevant as pharmacogenomic testing becomes more common in clinical practice. Our study also emphasizes the need for procedure and billing codes that capture multiple‐gene panel tests to be more widely implemented in administrative databases.
Young people with prior health service contacts have increased risk of repeated alcohol‐related harm hospitalisations
Authors: Sims Scott A. , Pereira Gavin , Preen David , Fatovich Daniel , O'Donnell Melissa
Published: April 2022

Introduction

After a first alcohol‐related hospitalisation in youth, subsequent hospitalisations may demonstrate an increased risk of further alcohol‐related hospitalisations, but there is no existing data on this.

Methods

A retrospective longitudinal study between July 1992 and June 2017 using linked hospital administrative data identified 23 464 Western Australian young people [9009 (38.4%) females and 14 455 (61.6%) males], aged 12–24 years hospitalised for at least one alcohol‐related harm (ARH) episode of care. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) between risk factors and repeated alcohol‐related hospitalisation after the first discharge for ARH.

Results

Of those admitted for an alcohol‐related hospitalisation (n = 23 464), 21% (n = 4996) were readmitted for ARH. This high‐risk sub‐group comprised 46% (n = 16 017) of the total alcohol‐related admissions (n = 34 485). After the first discharge for ARH, 16% (804) of people who experienced an alcohol‐related readmission were readmitted within 1 month, and 51.8% (2589) were readmitted within 12 months. At increased risk of readmission were Aboriginal people and those with prior health service contacts occurring before their first alcohol‐related hospitalisation, including illicit drug hospitalisations, mental health contacts and, in a sub‐analysis, emergency department presentations.

Discussion and Conclusions

The probability of a repeated ARH hospitalisation was highest in the first month after initial discharge. There is a high‐risk sub‐group of young people more likely to have a repeat ARH hospitalisation. This represents an opportunity to provide interventions to those most at risk of repeated ARH.
The observed link between urbanization and invasion can depend on how invasion is measured
Authors: Gippet Jérôme M. W. , Rocabert Charles , Colin Théotime , Grangier Julien , Tauru Hugo , Dumet Adeline , Mondy Nathalie , Kaufmann Bernard
Published: April 2022

Aim

Cities are thought to promote biological invasions because invasive species are more often introduced in urban areas and because they are more successful in disturbed environments. However, the association is not as strongly supported by the literature as is generally assumed and might depend on how urbanization and invasion are measured. In this study, we test if the type of data used to assess the link between urbanization and invasion can affect a study's conclusions.

Location

Europe and middle Rhône valley (~5000 km2 in south‐eastern France).

Method

We studied the spatial distribution of the invasive garden ant Lasius neglectus in its current introduced range in Europe and tested its association with urbanization using three measures of invasion (presence‐only, presence–absence and population area) and two measures of urbanization (urban/nonurban land cover classification and proportion of impervious surfaces (buildings, road) per spatial unit).

Results

Based on presence‐only data across Europe, L. neglectus occurred in urban areas 10 times more often than expected from a random geographical distribution. However, when controlling for spatial bias in sampling effort with presence–absence data (1870 sampling locations in the middle Rhône valley, France), the occurrence of the species was independent of urbanization. Moreover, the surface occupied by L. neglectus populations was negatively correlated with urbanization.

Main conclusions

These findings show that the type of occurrence data used to test the link between urbanization and invasion can strongly affect the conclusion of a study. This is particularly concerning because invasion studies often use presence‐only data that are likely biased towards cities. Future urban invasions studies must be carefully designed to avoid this pitfall.
Contribution of genome‐scale metabolic modelling to niche theory
Authors: Régimbeau Antoine , Budinich Marko , Larhlimi Abdelhalim , Pierella Karlusich Juan José , Aumont Olivier , Memery Laurent , Bowler Chris , Eveillard Damien
Published: April 2022

Standard niche modelling is based on probabilistic inference from organismal occurrence data but does not benefit yet from genome‐scale descriptions of these organisms. This study overcomes this shortcoming by proposing a new conceptual niche that resumes the whole metabolic capabilities of an organism. The so‐called metabolic niche resumes well‐known traits such as nutrient needs and their dependencies for survival. Despite the computational challenge, its implementation allows the detection of traits and the formal comparison of niches of different organisms, emphasising that the presence–absence of functional genes is not enough to approximate the phenotype. Further statistical exploration of an organism's niche sheds light on genes essential for the metabolic niche and their role in understanding various biological experiments, such as transcriptomics, paving the way for incorporating better genome‐scale description in ecological studies.
Predictors of malnutrition risk in neurodegenerative diseases: The role of swallowing function
Authors: Pizzorni Nicole , Ciammola Andrea , Casazza Giovanni , Ginocchio Daniela , Bianchi Federica , Feroldi Sarah , Poletti Barbara , Nanetti Lorenzo , Mariotti Caterina , Mora Gabriele , Schindler Antonio
Published: April 2022

Background and purpose

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is generally recognized to increase the risk of malnutrition; however, its role in patients with neurodegenerative disease has yet to be determined. This cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate the impact of swallowing function on malnutrition risk in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

Methods

Patients with oral nutrition and diagnosis of Huntington disease (HD), Parkinson disease (PD), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were recruited. Demographic and clinical data were collected. The swallowing assessment included a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, an oral phase assessment, and a meal observation scored with the Mealtime Assessment Scale (MAS). Malnutrition risk was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment.

Results

Overall, 148 patients were recruited (54 HD, 33 PD, and 61 ALS). One hundred (67.6%) patients were considered at risk of malnutrition. In the multivariate analysis, age ≥ 65 years (odds ratio [OR] = 3.16, p = 0.014), disease severity (moderate vs mild OR = 3.89, severe vs mild OR = 9.71, p = 0.003), number of masticatory cycles (OR = 1.03, p = 0.044), and MAS safety (OR = 1.44, p = 0.016) were significantly associated with malnutrition risk.

Conclusions

Prolonged oral phase and signs of impaired swallowing safety during meals, together with older age and disease severity, are independent predictors of malnutrition risk in neurodegenerative diseases. This study broadens the focus on dysphagia, stressing the importance of early detection not only of pharyngeal signs, but also of oral phase impairment and meal difficulties through a multidimensional swallowing assessment.
Gendered beliefs and behaviors in couple relationships as predictors of physiological stress functioning
Authors: Seiter Natasha S. , Lucas‐Thompson Rachel G. , Faw Meara H. , Brown Samantha M. , Prosser Julie L. , Quirk Kelley , Smith Amy D.
Published: April 2022

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate associations among egalitarianism and marital equity with patterns of diurnal cortisol.

Background

Gender role ideology (i.e., beliefs about gender roles on a spectrum from egalitarian to traditional) and marital equity (i.e., fairness in the division of marital tasks) are distinct constructs that are related to relationship outcomes as well as health, and stress physiology is a potential mechanism linking egalitarianism and marital equity to health.

Methods

Sixty‐two heterosexual couples with children completed several questionnaires, including gender ideology and division of household tasks (a measure of marital equity). Diurnal cortisol concentrations were assessed from saliva samples at four time points across 2 days.

Results

Results suggested that men's more traditional gender ideologies significantly predicted more dysregulated physiological stress functioning for both men and women, as indicated by lower cortisol levels at awakening as well as flatter cortisol slopes throughout the day. Women with more traditional gender ideologies had steeper slopes, an indicator of more regulated physiological functioning, when they reported engaging in greater traditional feminine tasks.

Conclusion

These results suggest that men's greater traditional gender role ideology is linked to physiological stress dysregulation. In addition, when women have more traditional expectations, having more clearly delineated gendered roles in the home may relieve stress.

Implications

This research highlights the importance of addressing gender roles and ideologies in interventions for couples, including couples therapy. The inclusion of the assessment and discussion of gender roles and ideologies in couples therapy may help to alleviate physiological stress.
A novel element of comprehensive program evaluation: Using a domain matrix design
Authors: O'Neal Catherine Walker , Lucier‐Greer Mallory
Published: April 2022

Objective

This brief presents a novel element of program evaluation, termed a domain matrix design, and demonstrates the application of the design element with an example from a collaborative evaluation project focused on the Department of the Air Force's Personal Financial Readiness program.

Background

Utilizing sound scientific principles and employing a replicable approach to program evaluation, the domain matrix design is an adaptable approach to quantitative data collection for program evaluation that minimizes participant survey burden while maximizing available data.

Method

This goal is primarily achieved through the identification of domains of measurable training outcomes that are pertinent to the evaluation and then the strategic assignment of program participants to survey assessment groups that provide sufficient, but limited, overlap of these domains.

Results

The proposed approach provides sufficient data on all outcome domains, and analyses can be utilized to examine how each domain is linked to other domains as outlined in the program's logic model, while also minimizing the participant burden and streamlining data collection.

Conclusion

This brief serves as an example of bridging evaluation to meet internal program stakeholders' needs with opportunities to contribute to the broader research community, specifically the fields of family science and evaluation. That is, the example project demonstrates how evaluation can meet both the internal needs of program stakeholders (e.g., does this program work for us? what modifications are needed to enhance program effectiveness?) and the external needs of the research community (e.g., broad dissemination of findings to share and compare results).
Mixed‐mode I/II stress intensity factors for frictional centrally cracked Brazilian disk with confining pressure
Authors: Hammouda Mohammad M. I.
Published: April 2022

This work analytically derives closed form mathematical expressions for normalized mode I and mode II stress intensity factor (SIF) of Brazilian disk compressed with two diametric forces and confining pressure. The disk has central inclined crack with frictional surfaces. The influences of relative crack length, crack inclination, friction coefficient, and confining pressure are demonstrated. The present work defines the loading and geometric conditions to have a crack in the disk (1) operating in pure mode II loading, (2) with sticking surfaces, and (3) dormant. Mode II SIF of a crack with frictional surfaces decreases with the increase in the confining pressure and the friction coefficient. There is a close agreement between present results and relevant results found in the literature.
Large and small cribriform architecture have similar adverse clinical outcome on prostate cancer biopsies
Authors: Rijstenberg L Lucia , Hansum Tim , Kweldam Charlotte F , Kümmerlin Intan P , Remmers Sebastiaan , Roobol Monique J , van Leenders Geert J L H
Published: April 2022

Aims

Invasive cribriform and intraductal carcinoma (IDC) are associated with adverse outcome in prostate cancer patients, with the large cribriform pattern having the worst outcome in radical prostatectomies. Our objective was to determine the impact of the large and small cribriform patterns in prostate cancer biopsies.

Methods and results

Pathological revision was carried out on biopsies of 1887 patients from the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer. The large cribriform pattern was defined as having at least twice the size of adjacent benign glands. The median follow‐up time was 13.4 years. Hazard ratios for metastasis‐free survival (MFS) and disease‐specific survival (DSS) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Any cribriform pattern was found in 280 of 1887 men: 1.1% IDC in grade group (GG) 1, 18.2% in GG2, 57.1% in GG3, 55.4% in GG4 and 59.3% in GG5; the large cribriform pattern was present in 0, 0.5, 9.8, 18.1 and 17.3%, respectively. In multivariable analyses, small and large cribriform patterns were both (P < 0.005) associated with worse MFS [small: hazard ratio (HR) = 3.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.93–4.78; large: HR = 3.17, 95% CI = 1.68–5.99] and DSS (small: HR = 4.07, 95% CI = 2.51–6.62; large: HR = 4.13, 95% CI = 2.14–7.98). Patients with the large cribriform pattern did not have worse MFS (P = 0.77) or DSS (P = 0.96) than those with the small cribriform pattern.

Conclusions

Both small and large cribriform patterns are associated with worse MFS and DSS in prostate cancer biopsies. Patients with the large cribriform pattern on biopsy have a similar adverse outcome as those with the small cribriform pattern.
Efficacy of fosfomycin in preventing infection after endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery in periods of limited supply of first‐ and second‐generation cephalosporins
Authors: Etani Toshiki , Asaoka Minami , Kondo Shuhei , Wachino Chiharu , Tomiyama Nami , Hattori Tatsuya , Nagai Takashi , Iida Keitaro , Taguchi Kazumi , Naiki Taku , Hamamoto Shuzo , Okada Atsushi , Kawai Noriyasu , Yanagita Takeshi , Nakamura Atsushi , Yasui Takahiro
Published: April 2022

Objectives

In March 2019, cefazolin was unavailable owing to difficulty in procuring the active ingredient. Furthermore, the supply of alternative drugs, such as cefotiam and cefmetazole, was limited. In the Department of Nephro‐Urology, fosfomycin‐based drugs are used as substitutes for cefazolin, which is a perioperative prophylactic antibacterial drug. Herein, we investigated the effectiveness of fosfomycin sodium and cefotiam in preventing infection after endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery as a retrospective preliminary study.

Methods

A total of 200 patients who underwent endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery at our department between August 2017 and January 2021 were included. The patients were administered cefotiam (n = 95) or fosfomycin (n = 105) as perioperative antibacterial agents. There were no significant differences in the median age or surgery time between the cefotiam and fosfomycin groups. Propensity score matching was performed to match the preoperative urine bacterial counts of both groups. Sixty‐eight patients were selected from each group.

Results

The median postoperative hospital stay duration was 4 days for the two groups. The median maximum postoperative temperatures were 37.5 and 37.4°C, respectively. There were no significant differences between the maximum postoperative temperatures in both groups. Furthermore, there were no differences between the groups regarding the white blood cell counts, C‐reactive protein levels, and aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels postoperatively, as well as in terms of postoperative fever requiring additional antibiotics.

Conclusions

During a period of difficulty in acquiring cefazolin and cefotiam, the use of fosfomycin allowed us to continue with the procedure without increased clinical complications.
On the optimal layout of a dining room in the era of COVID‐19 using mathematical optimization
Authors: Contardo Claudio , Costa Luciano
Published: April 2022

We consider the problem of maximizing the number of people that a dining room can accommodate provided that the chairs belonging to different tables are socially distant. We introduce an optimization model that incorporates several characteristics of the problem, namely: the type and size of surface of the dining room, the shapes and sizes of the tables, the positions of the chairs, the sitting sense of the customers, and the possibility of adding space separators to increase the capacity. We propose a simple, yet general, set‐packing formulation for the problem. We investigate the efficiency of space separators and the impact of considering the sitting sense of customers in the room capacity. We also perform an algorithmic analysis of the model, and assess its scalability to the problem size, the presence of (or lack thereof) room separators, and the consideration of the sitting sense of customers. We also propose two constructive heuristics capable of coping with large problem instances otherwise intractable for the optimization model.
Mechanisms responsible for enhancing low‐temperature oxidation resistance of nonstoichiometric (Zr,Ti)C
Authors: Lun Huilin , Yuan Junhao , Zeng Yi , Xiong Xiang , Wang Qing , Ye Ziming
Published: April 2022

A series of (Zr,Ti)Cx (x = 0.7–1.0) samples were fabricated by a modified spark plasma sintering apparatus to investigate the effects of carbon concentration and Ti substitutions on the oxidation behavior. Crushed powders of (Zr,Ti)Cx were oxidized in lab air (N2–20‐vol.% O2) from room temperature to 900°C. The results indicated that Zr0.8Ti0.2C0.8, with a nominal carbon concentration x = 0.8, displayed good oxidation resistance, which was attributed to the formation of dense t‐(Zr,Ti)O2 oxide solid solution. During the oxidation of (Zr,Ti)Cx, Ti substitutions for Zr enhanced the outward diffusion of carbon, enabling a uniform carbon layer and a Zr–Ti–C–O layer on the surface of carbides. The formed carbon layer improved the oxidation resistance of (Zr,Ti)Cx below 550°C, where carbon is relatively oxidation resistant. Increasing the Ti concentration was found to enhance the oxidation resistance of (Zr,Ti)Cx with an increased oxidation onset temperature (672 ± 2°C for Zr0.8Ti0.2C0.8).