bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Micro-loans and financial performance: a case of a Chinese commercial bank
Authors: Alam Jasmine , Ibn Boamah Mustapha , Liu Yuheng
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between a commercial bank’s micro-loaning activity and overall performance over a 10-year period.

Design/methodology/approach

Quarterly data was obtained from the Wind Database, China Minsheng Banks’s official annual reports and annual corporate social responsibility reports from 2009 to 2019, to test the linear relationship between micro-loan activities and the overall financial performance of the bank.

Findings

The results of this study empirically demonstrate that there is a positive relationship between increases in micro-loaning activity and the overall performance of the bank. Some key recommendations for the sector are shared in the conclusion of this paper.

Originality/value

In the financial sector, some corporate social responsibility activities focus on the issuance of micro-loans. It is unclear, however, if this has also served as a means to increase profitability and overall performance for such institutions.
Conventional and emergent technologies for honey processing: A perspective on microbiological safety, bioactivity, and quality
Authors: Scepankova Hana , Pinto Carlos A. , Paula Vanessa , Estevinho Letícia M. , Saraiva Jorge A.
Published: October 2021

Honey is a natural food of worldwide economic importance. Over the last decades, its potential for food, medical, cosmetical, and biotechnological applications has been widely explored. One of the major safety issues regarding such applications is its susceptibility to being contaminated with bacterial and fungi spores, including pathogenic ones, which may impose a hurdle to its consumption in a raw state. Another factor that makes this product particularly challenging relies on its high sugar content, which will lead to the formation of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) when heated (due to Maillard reactions). Moreover, honey's bioactivity is known to be affected when it goes through thermal processing due to its unstable and thermolabile components. Therefore, proper food processing methodologies are of utmost importance not only to ensure honey safety but also to provide a high‐quality product with low content of HMF and preserved biological properties. As so, emerging food processing technologies have been employed to improve the safety and quality of raw honey, allowing, for example, to reduce/avoid the exposure time to high processing temperatures, with consequent impact on the formation of HMF. This review aims to gather the literature available regarding the use of conventional and emergent food processing technologies (both thermal and nonthermal food processing technologies) for honey decontamination, preservation/enhancement of honey biological activity, as well as the sensorial attributes.
Fractional carbon dioxide laser for treating hypertrophic scars: A systematic review of randomised trials
Authors: Simbolon Sitohang Irma Bernadette , Sirait Sondang Aemilia P. , Safira Fadhila Dea
Published: October 2021

Hypertrophic scars present collagen deposition and an abnormal extracellular matrix that cause abnormal shape changes and limit normal movement. Although fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser therapy has provided promising evidence, the improvement of scarring has not been thoroughly reviewed. A systematic review of prospective randomised trial articles collected from PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane and Scopus databases was conducted on 15 March 2020 in accordance with the PRISMA‐P statement. Types and duration of fractional carbon dioxide laser used in this study along with the comparative modalities were recorded in this review. Treatment efficacy was assessed as the primary outcome. Adverse events and patient satisfaction were assessed as the secondary outcome. Five prospective randomised studies were included in this study. All studies included showed a consistent result with a conclusion that CO2 fractional laser treatment demonstrated statistically significant improvement for various scar scoring methods. Combination with other modalities may yield better results in some studies with the risk of more severe adverse events. Temporary side effects such as itching or burning sensation, erythema and oedema were present but appeared to be minimal and well tolerated. Overall patients reported significant improvement in quality of life. Some of the studies are uncontrolled with relatively short‐term follow‐up. Controlled comparative studies within the same scar with larger sample size and longer follow‐up period are required. This evidence suggests that fractional CO2 laser treatment is effective for improving the clinical appearance of hypertrophic scars with a good safety profile.
Cold‐inducible RNA‐binding protein regulates cyclin B1 against spermatogenesis arrest caused by heat stress
Authors: Liu Heyu , Xu Chengcheng , Bao Meng , Huang Jin , Zou Liping , Fan Xiaorong , Zhu Changhong , Xia Wei
Published: October 2021

Background

Spermatogenesis arrest and spermatogenic cell apoptosis occur in the testes of heat‐stressed mice. Although heat stress‐induced spermatogenic cell apoptosis is due to the decreased expression of cold‐inducible RNA‐binding protein (CIRBP), it remains unclear whether spermatogenesis arrest is also affected by CIRBP. Additionally, the specific mechanism by which CIRBP regulates spermatogenic cell apoptosis or inhibits spermatogenesis remains to be elucidated.

Objectives

To investigate the mechanism by which CIRBP contributes to heat stress‐induced testicular spermatogenesis arrest.

Materials and methods

Target mRNAs downstream of CIRBP in testicular tissue of BALB/c mice, exposed or not to heat stress, were sequenced. Sequencing data were subjected to bioinformatics analysis to identify key mRNAs and pathways associated with heat stress‐induced spermatogenic damage. The link between CIRBP and its target mRNA Ccnb1 (cyclin B1) was verified by western blotting, flow cytometry, and RNA pulldown assays, and the ability of CIRBP to inhibit germ cell cycle arrest by regulating cyclin B1 expression was investigated in a mouse spermatocyte cell line (GC‐2spd).

Results

Changes in mRNA expression downstream of CIRBP were mainly associated with the cell cycle and RNA binding, transport and splicing. Cyclin B1 was found to regulate the G2/M transition during the first meiotic division of spermatogenic cells. Further, CIRBP was shown to bind directly to the 3′‐untranslated region of Ccnb1 mRNA and was associated with cyclin B1‐induced inhibition of spermatogenesis arrest.

Discussion and conclusion

In conclusion, our results provide strong evidence that CIRBP may exert its key function in heat stress‐induced testicular spermatogenic cell injury partly by regulating the expression of Ccnb1, the product of which inhibits spermatogenesis arrest.
The association between intrapartum opioid fentanyl and early breastfeeding: A prospective observational study
Authors: Oommen Hanna , Oddbjørn Tveit Tor , Eskedal Leif T. , Myr Rachel , Swanson David M. , Vistad Ingvild
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Intrapartum opioids in labor may interfere with the early breastfeeding phase and cause breastfeeding difficulties. This study examines the effects of intrapartum fentanyl given intravenously (IV) or through epidural analgesia (EDA) on early breastfeeding.

Material and methods

This is a prospective observational study conducted in a regional maternity unit. We included 1101 healthy mothers of term singleton babies in vertex presentation born between 2016 and 2018 (468 nulliparous and 633 multiparous). The main data were collected prospectively, and additional data were retrieved from hospital records. The main outcome measures were exclusive breastfeeding at discharge, spontaneous suckling, and breastfeeding problems after birth. We assessed the outcomes in four groups categorized by intrapartum opioid exposure: none, IV fentanyl, EDA fentanyl and IV+EDA fentanyl. We also analyzed the dose–response relation of fentanyl administered by epidural or IV and early breastfeeding. Ultimately, we dichotomized the IV fentanyl group into two groups (≤200 µg and >200 µg) to further study the effect on early breastfeeding.

Results

The odds of non‐exclusive breastfeeding were doubled with EDA fentanyl (odds ratio [OR] 2.45, 95% CI 1.34–4.48, p = 0.004) and four times higher with IV+EDA fentanyl (OR 4.20, 95% CI 2.49–7.09, p < 0.001) compared with no opioid exposure. Spontaneous suckling was negatively associated with intrapartum fentanyl use (p < 0.001) irrespective of mode of administration. When the IV fentanyl doses exceeded 200 µg compared with less than 200 µg, we found a reduction in exclusive breastfeeding (81% vs. 89%; p = 0.014) and spontaneous suckling (68% vs. 83%; p < 0.001) and an increase in breastfeeding problems (41% vs. 27%; p = 0.004).

Conclusions

Fentanyl in labor is associated with breastfeeding difficulties. However, IV fentanyl in low doses (≤200 µg) seems to affect breastfeeding less than EDA fentanyl and is therefore a viable alternative when labor analgesia is needed. This could be most relevant for multiparous women, where a shorter labor is expected. More research is needed to determine the optimal dose and route of administration of fentanyl for labor analgesia.
‘We are unlikely to return to the same world, and I do not want it to destroy my future.’ Young people's worries through the outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Bjørknes Ragnhild , Sandal Gro Mjeldheim , Mæland Silje , Haug Ellen , Lehmann Stine
Published: October 2021

This study aims to explore what worries youth were having during the seventh to ninth week of the COVID‐19 lockdown. Our findings build on the responses to an open‐ended survey question from 1314 youths. The worries covered three main themes: ‘That my mom dies, then I am left all alone’: worries related to COVID‐19 virus infection; ‘To me, this is lost youth’: worries about the consequences of measures for the present life and near future; and ‘I will face a very difficult life in the future’: worries about the consequences of measures for the outlook on life. Young people worried that the measures would have a huge impact on their present life and outlook on life. The costs of restriction measures were unevenly distributed and indicated that the measures affected their mental health. Listening to youth voices during the pandemic is important for practitioners, educators and policymakers. The results indicate that the threshold for closing schools also including the provision of distance learning should be kept high. Social and health services for youth should offer early intervention and be prepared for an escalation in mental health problems in the imminent future.
Perception of moderate‐intensity physical activity by onset of obesity: A randomized crossover trial
Authors: Rupp Kristie , Stewart Andrea L. , Friel Ciarán P.
Published: October 2021

Moderate‐intensity physical activity is recommended for inactive adults with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). The objective of this study is to determine if differences exist in the selection of moderate intensity between inactive adults with juvenile‐onset (JO) and adult‐onset (AO) OW/OB. Participants (JO = 18, AO = 20) were stratified by onset and completed two separate 20‐minute moderate‐intensity exercise sessions on a treadmill and cycle ergometer (randomized order). Multiple linear regression was used to determine whether exercise intensity (average METS, % age‐predicted HRmax), self‐reported pleasure or exertion differed by onset, controlling for age and gender. On the treadmill, JO and AO participants selected an average intensity of (mean [SD]) 3.5 (0.9) and 3.7 (0.9) METS, and 64.0 (7.7) and 64.9 (7.5) % of age‐predicted HRmax, respectively. On the cycle, JO and AO participants selected an average intensity of 3.3 (0.9) and 3.3 (1.0) METS, and 65.2 (8.8) and 60.7 (7.2) % of age‐predicted HRmax. After adjustment, participant intensity selection did not significantly differ by obesity onset when walking or cycling. There were no significant differences in pleasure or perceived exertion by onset, however, perception of exertion was on the high‐end of moderate for both the cycle (13.0, 12.5) and treadmill (12.0, 12.1), in JO and AO participants, respectively. Perception of moderate intensity did not differ by obesity onset. Self‐selected intensity was at the low end of moderate for walking and cycling.
Semantic Memory Search and Retrieval in a Novel Cooperative Word Game: A Comparison of Associative and Distributional Semantic Models
Authors: Kumar Abhilasha A. , Steyvers Mark , Balota David A.
Published: October 2021

Considerable work during the past two decades has focused on modeling the structure of semantic memory, although the performance of these models in complex and unconstrained semantic tasks remains relatively understudied. We introduce a two‐player cooperative word game, Connector (based on the boardgame Codenames), and investigate whether similarity metrics derived from two large databases of human free association norms, the University of South Florida norms and the Small World of Words norms, and two distributional semantic models based on large language corpora (word2vec and GloVe) predict performance in this game. Participant dyads were presented with 20‐item word boards with word pairs of varying relatedness. The speaker received a word pair from the board (e.g., exam‐algebra) and generated a one‐word semantic clue (e.g., math), which was used by the guesser to identify the word pair on the board across three attempts. Response times to generate the clue, as well as accuracy and latencies for the guessed word pair, were strongly predicted by the cosine similarity between word pairs and clues in random walk‐based associative models, and to a lesser degree by the distributional models, suggesting that conceptual representations activated during free association were better able to capture search and retrieval processes in the game. Further, the speaker adjusted subsequent clues based on the first attempt by the guesser, who in turn benefited from the adjustment in clues, suggesting a cooperative influence in the game that was effectively captured by both associative and distributional models. These results indicate that both associative and distributional models can capture relatively unconstrained search processes in a cooperative game setting, and Connector is particularly suited to examine communication and semantic search processes.
GARPTools: R software for data preparation and model evaluation of GARP models
Authors: Haase Catherine G. , Yang Anni , McNyset Kristina M. , Blackburn Jason K.
Published: October 2021

The aim of the GARPTools package is to provide tools to prepare data for input into the desktop version of the genetic algorithm for rule‐set prediction (GARP), for the evaluation of the accuracy of output models, and for summary/examination of environmental coverages used in GARP rule sets for best models in an experiment. GARP is a software package for biodiversity and ecological research that allows the user to predict and analyze wild species' geographic distributions. GARP is a presence‐background genetic algorithm that models species' potential geographic distributions through an iterative process of training and testing that occurs through resampling and replacement of input data. GARP develops rule‐sets of if/then logic statements that assign presence or absence, which are then mapped on the landscape. Toward this, GARPTools provides preparation functions including splitting species presence locations into training and testing data sets and resampling environmental layers to the same spatial resolution (raster cell size) and extent. Model evaluation functions are relevant to current procedures applied to species distribution modeling, including the receiver operating characteristic curves and omission and commission indices. There are also functions to estimate the contribution of environmental coverages (covariates) based on the GARP outputs by examining the individual rules. GARPTools intends to provide a means to systematically prepare data, evaluate models, and summarize environmental coverages among multiple systems and species without the need for complex software programming.
Hiding among holes: mechanisms underlying the evolution of masquerade in flea beetles (Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Folgar‐Cameán Yeray , Gómez‐Rodríguez Carola , Konstantinov Alexander S. , Baselga Andrés
Published: October 2021

1. The herbivorous flea beetles (Chrysomelidae: Alticini) have evolved a masquerading strategy by hiding among their own feeding damage. Similarities between beetle bodies and their feeding damage may act as a defence that reduces detection by visual predators.

2. We analyse the evolutionary origin of flea beetles' camouflage using the French fauna (284 species) as a case study. We assess two competing hypotheses: (H1) the type of leaf tissue is the primary determinant of the colour and size of beetle species feeding on them, because each type of leaf tissue may have a tendency to result in a particular type of damage or, (H2) the morphological characteristics of the beetle explain the damage pattern, because beetle species evolve strategies to produce feeding damage that matches its own characteristics.

3. We assessed bipartite networks of feeding interactions (beetle species and host plants). Beetle‐host interactions were non‐randomly distributed and highly modular, with more than 25% of the network modules showing beetle colour and size distributions significantly different from null expectations.

4. Our results suggest that the evolutionary origin of flea beetles masquerading can be partially explained by both hypotheses. Some host plants seem to restrict feeding damage appearance on their leaves, favouring the survival of specific beetles with matching colour and size (H1). However, in most plant taxa, it is suggested, the existence of beetle‐associated constraints exert a selective pressure for the beetle to damage leaves in a particular way, similar to its own colour and size (H2).
COVID‐19 pandemic's effects and telehealth in Early Psychosis Services of Quebec, Canada: Will changes last?
Authors: Pires de Oliveira Padilha Paula , Bertulies‐Esposito Bastian , L'Heureux Sophie , Olivier David , Lal Shalini , Abdel‐Baki Amal
Published: October 2021

Aim

To explore the impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic first wave in Quebec, Canada on practices in early intervention services (EIS) for first‐episode psychosis, including reorganization of clinical and administrative practices and teleconsultation use.

Methods

Adopting a cross‐sectional descriptive study design, a 41 questions online survey was sent to the team leaders of all the 33 Quebec EIS, of which 100% responded. Data were collected from 18 May to 4 June 2020 and analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Programmes were categorized as urban/non‐urban and results were compared between these.

Results

All 33 existing Quebec EIS (16 urban and 17 non‐urban) completed the survey. Among them, 85% did not experience redeployment of EIS team staff and 58% reported stable frequency of patient interactions, either in‐person or through telemedicine. During the studied period, 64% of programmes reported that all professionals used teleconsultation at least occasionally. However, 73% of programmes, mostly in non‐urban areas, reported some limitations regarding clinicians' degree of ease with teleconferencing platforms and half of EIS could not access technical support to use them. The majority of EIS (94%) expressed interest to participate in a training program about the use of technologies for teleconsultations. Many smaller clinics reported interest in offering multiregional/multiclinics group teletherapy, therefore merging their pool of patients and clinical staff workforce.

Conclusions

Further studies are warranted to improve access to and use of technology‐mediated treatment, which seems to be a promising alternative to provide high‐quality mental healthcare during the COVID‐19 pandemic and beyond.
School closures in France in 2020: Inequalities and consequences for perceptions, practices and relationships towards and within schools
Authors: Pirone Filippo
Published: October 2021

The French education system is known for its inequalities, as well as difficulties in relations between teachers, pupils and their families. But what happens when schools close their gates and begin teaching remotely? To support a sociological discussion of quantitative (N = 5,875) and qualitative (N = 20) data collected with the participation of French teachers during the 2020 COVID‐19 pandemic, this article illustrates how the period of distance teaching was handled and the consequences for perceptions, practices and relations between teachers, pupils and families. The results from our survey show that, although educational inequalities increased during the period of school closures, it nonetheless enabled a good number of school stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to learning and teaching and to strengthen social connections. If the exceptional constraints forced teachers to seek out new educational solutions and develop new professional knowledge and skills, it remains open to question, however, whether these changes will permanently improve French school climate and reduce learning inequalities.
An Empirical Study of Commuting Efficiency Between Different Educational Categories of Workers in Shanghai
Authors: Yue Liying , O'Kelly Morton E. , Wu Ruijun
Published: October 2021

Spatial interaction models can simulate commuting levels and evaluate the effort required for commuting optimization, providing more valuable information than a linear program. We take advantage of a large data set in Shanghai and exploit the fact that these data can be split by a key socioeconomic stratifier (education). By simulating the effect of shorter trip length, we estimate the extent to which commuting is relatively organized or excessive. More important, however, is that characteristics of the study region promote somewhat different results compared to US cities: well‐educated cohorts use their higher‐income to dominate central locations with higher access and amenity. The findings are consistent with the mathematical expectation from prior work, in that trip length reduction represents a decrease in entropy (i.e., an increase in organization). The potential for such improvement varies by educational level, and generally is higher for well‐educated workers and lower for poorly educated workers.
How much feedback do employees need? A field study of absolute feedback frequency reports and performance
Authors: Mertens Shana , Schollaert Eveline , Anseel Frederik
Published: October 2021

Scholars and practitioners in the field of performance management have advocated an increase in the exchange of feedback in the workplace. Practitioners would benefit from guidelines about appropriate feedback frequencies, but the current literature does not offer much guidance. Our study investigates how self‐reports of absolute frequencies relate to performance and job satisfaction. In a sample of diverse organizations, employees reported, on average, 3.8 feedback conversations in 3 weeks. Contrary to earlier suggestions that there might be an optimal feedback frequency, we find support for the notion that more feedback is better, without any indication of a downward trend at the highest feedback frequency. Our findings suggest that leader–member exchange may be one underlying mechanism that mediates this relationship.
Nurses’ views and practices on parental mental illness: An integrative review
Authors: Vives‐Espelta Judit , Burjalés‐Martí Maria‐Dolors , Ferré‐Grau Carme
Published: October 2021

When a parent has a mental health problem, family members can be affected by it. Nursing professionals can provide care for the whole family, including children. Nurses can support the parental role of parents with mental illness. This integrative review aimed at the following: To identify and to synthesize the views and practices of nurses on parental mental illness (PMI). An integrative review methodology was employed, following PRISMA guidelines. Theoretical and empirical literature was included. Twenty‐three articles were obtained to be analysed, using the Whittemore and Knafl approach. A lack of knowledge about nurses' views and practices on PMI was found. Especially, in some demographic areas such as Mediterranean countries and Central and South America. Different issues which influence how nurses perceive PMI were identified: subjective meaning of family concept, personal experience of being parent, and perceptions of mental illness, among others. The main findings on nurses’ practices were as follows: guidelines to implement family‐focused practices, knowledge, and skills; therapeutic relationship; and teamwork and interagency communication; among others. These issues are intimately related. They could act as enablers or barriers to support parental role of parents with mental illness. Adequate guidelines and policies are necessary to support parents with mental illness and their families. There is a need to include knowledge about PMI and family‐focused approach in nursing education curricula. Training could include reflection on nurses’ experiences and personal values to become aware of how these can affect their interventions and practices.
Mental health clinician training and experiences with utilization of advance statements in Victoria, Australia
Authors: James Russell , Maude Phil , Searby Adam
Published: October 2021

Advance statements, advance directives, or psychiatric wills are a key component of a shift to mental healthcare that promotes autonomy and choice and aims to reduce restrictive and coercive care practices in mental health treatment settings. The use of advance statements has gained momentum to provide a means for individuals to detail clear preferences for mental health treatment. This paper uses a qualitative descriptive design to explore the experiences of clinicians (n = 15) implementing advance statements in the state of Victoria, Australia, a region that introduced advance statements as part of an overhaul of mental health legislation in 2014. The study, reported using the COREQ framework, found two key themes after analysis: experiences of advance statement training, with the availability and quality of training and training as a driver of change emerging as sub‐themes, and experiences of advance statements in practice, with participants providing narratives of the barriers and facilitators to successful advance statement implementation. We recommend that clinician and service user experiences of advance statement implementation are further explored to identify existing and emerging barriers to implementation of these tools, which are crucial to achieve autonomy and choice for individuals receiving mental healthcare.
Non‐restrictive interventions to reduce self‐harm amongst children in mental health inpatient settings: Systematic review and narrative synthesis
Authors: Griffiths Robert , Dawber Alison , McDougall Tim , Midgley Salli , Baker John
Published: October 2021

Rates of self‐harm amongst children appear to be increasing. This presents challenges for practitioners responsible for maintaining the safety of children admitted to mental health inpatient settings. Policy guidelines recommend that practitioners should aim to avoid the use of restrictive practices for children. It is currently unclear, however, what evidence‐based alternatives to restrictive practices are available. We aimed to identify what non‐restrictive interventions have been proposed to reduce self‐harm amongst children in mental health inpatient settings and to evaluate the evidence supporting their use in clinical practice. A systematic search of five databases (CINAHL, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, APA Psycinfo, and Cochrane) was conducted to identify articles reporting on non‐restrictive interventions aimed at reducing self‐harm amongst children in mental health inpatient settings. Articles were quality assessed and relevant data were extracted and synthesized using narrative synthesis. Searches identified relatively few relevant articles (n = 7) and these were generally of low methodological quality. The underlying theoretical assumptions and putative mechanisms of change for the interventions described were often unclear. Despite concerns about the rates of self‐harm amongst children in mental health inpatient settings, there is a lack of high‐quality research to inform clinical practice. There is an urgent need to develop effective non‐restrictive interventions aimed at reducing self‐harm for children using inpatient mental health services. Intervention development should be theoretically informed and be conducted in collaboration with people who have lived experience of this issue.
The biomechanical efficacy of a hydrogel‐based dressing in preventing facial medical device‐related pressure ulcers
Authors: Grigatti Angela , Gefen Amit
Published: October 2021

Continuous positive airway pressure masks for breathing assistance are used widely during the coronavirus pandemic. Nonetheless, these masks endanger the viability of facial tissues even after a few hours because of the sustained tissue deformations and extreme microclimate conditions. The risk of developing such device‐related pressure ulcers/injuries can be reduced through suitable cushioning materials at the mask‐skin interface, to alleviate localised contact forces. Here, we determined the facial tissue loading state under an oral‐nasal mask while using hydrogel‐based dressing cuts (Paul Hartmann AG, Heidenheim, Germany) for prophylaxis, which is a new concept in prevention of device‐related injuries. For this purpose, we measured the compressive mask‐skin contact forces at the nasal bridge, cheeks, and chin with vs without these dressing cuts and fed these data to a finite element, adult head model. Model variants were developed to compare strain energy densities and effective stresses in skin and through the facial tissue depth, with vs without the dressing cuts. We found that the dry (new) dressing cuts reduced tissue exposures to loads (above the median loading level) by at least 30% at the nasal bridge and by up to 99% at the cheeks, across the tissue depth. These dressing cuts were further able to maintain at least 65% and 89% of their protective capacity under moisture at the nasal bridge and cheeks, respectively. The hydrogel‐based dressings demonstrated protective efficacy at all the tested facial sites but performed the best at the nasal bridge and cheeks, which are at the greatest injury risk.
Dissensuality and Affect in Education
Authors: Skregelid Lisbet
Published: October 2021

This article is a contribution to arts‐based approaches to education. It makes a proposition for pedagogy of dissensus, a pedagogy inspired by Jacques Rancière, that is informed by the characteristics of art that possibly enables transformations and de‐territorialisations of the subject. The ongoing project My stunning stream – Made with a little mischief (2020–) combining art and running in a repetitive manner is used as a point of departure. The project is used to discuss how art‐practice as a lived inquiry relying on dissensual and affective awareness can inform teaching. Important and visible parts of the project are films made about three times a week from the same spot by the sea. The article makes use of a / r / tography as an arts‐based research methodology and thereby investigating the art practice from a first‐person perspective. The article demonstrates the importance of embodying and living the concepts and the pedagogy one calls for.
Constructing the advanced nurse practitioner identity in the healthcare system: A discourse analysis
Authors: Thompson Wayne , McNamara Martin
Published: October 2021

Aims

To explore how Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP) are positioned within current nursing and health system structures in Ireland by making explicit the discourses that construct ANPs’ identities and how they both enable and constrain their roles.

Background

Ambiguity and confusion characterize debates about the ANP role having a profound impact on ANP identity and how they realize their roles. Without clear definitions, boundaries are difficult to ascertain, the full potential of the ANP is not realized and, consequently, ANPs are underutilized. Although this study is relevant outside Ireland's borders, it is of particular concern in the Irish setting as current policy aims to increase ANP numbers.

Design

A qualitative discourse analysis using Gee's Tools of Inquiry.

Method

Data were collected between April 2019 and January 2020 through seven in‐depth interviews and four focus groups and analysed using Gee's Tools of Inquiry. Participants included ANPs, nurses, doctors and allied healthcare professionals.

Findings

Five key discourses emerged. Language‐in‐use established, first, that ANPs add value to the healthcare system and, second, highlighted the centrality of nursing to ANPs’ identity. The third discourse builds an educated and skilled identity for ANPs, one that, however, lacked the expertise and influence of their medical colleagues. The fourth discourse constructs an identity for ANPs as medical substitutes, lesser roles, yet innovative additions to the system and a threat to existing structures. The final discourse constructs tensions between independence and autonomy, on the one hand, and control, on the other.

Conclusion

This study alerts healthcare professionals to ways in which discourses influence opinion and frame ANPs’ identity. Healthcare professionals should challenge Conversations and Discourses that disparage the ANP role. ANPs need to clearly articulate their role, the value that it adds to the healthcare system and demonstrate how it aligns with and complements other healthcare professionals’ roles.

Impact

By identifying and critiquing extant Discourses and Conversations, healthcare professionals, and health system leaders and managers will gain a better understanding of the issues that both enable and constrain the ANP role.
Role of HRTPT in kidney proximal epithelial cell regeneration: Integrative differential expression and pathway analyses using microarray and scRNA‐seq
Authors: Shrestha Swojani , Singhal Sonalika , Kalonick Matthew , Guyer Rachel , Volkert Alexis , Somji Seema , Garrett Scott H. , Sens Donald A. , Singhal Sandeep K.
Published: October 2021

Damage to proximal tubules due to exposure to toxicants can lead to conditions such as acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ultimately end‐stage renal failure (ESRF). Studies have shown that kidney proximal epithelial cells can regenerate particularly after acute injury. In the previous study, we utilized an immortalized in vitro model of human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells, RPTEC/TERT1, to isolate HRTPT cell line that co‐expresses stem cell markers CD133 and CD24, and HREC24T cell line that expresses only CD24. HRTPT cells showed most of the key characteristics of stem/progenitor cells; however, HREC24T cells did not show any of these characteristics. The goal of this study was to further characterize and understand the global gene expression differences, upregulated pathways and gene interaction using scRNA‐seq in HRTPT cells. Affymetrix microarray analysis identified common gene sets and pathways specific to HRTPT and HREC24T cells analysed using DAVID, Reactome and Ingenuity software. Gene sets of HRTPT cells, in comparison with publicly available data set for CD133+ infant kidney, urine‐derived renal progenitor cells and human kidney‐derived epithelial proximal tubule cells showed substantial similarity in organization and interactions of the apical membrane. Single‐cell analysis of HRTPT cells identified unique gene clusters associated with CD133 and the 92 common gene sets from three data sets. In conclusion, the gene expression analysis identified a unique gene set for HRTPT cells and narrowed the co‐expressed gene set compared with other human renal–derived cell lines expressing CD133, which may provide deeper understanding in their role as progenitor/stem cells that participate in renal repair.
1‐MCP and pulsed controlled atmosphere affect internal storage disorders and desired quality of watercored “Fuji” apples
Authors: Yuan Junwei , Wang Haifen , Li Yusheng , Chen Lan , Zheng Yanli , Jiang Yuqian , Tang Yao , Li Xihong , Wang Luyin , Li Jixin
Published: October 2021

Watercored apple is a type of fruit with unique flavor and visual appearance. However, the watercore feature of apples will gradually disappear or develop internal disorders during storage, which would compromise their commercial value. In this study, the dissipation of watercore and spread of internal storage disorders (ISD) of the apple were investigated during 120 days preservation at 0°C under the four preservation conditions below: (a) regular air as control; (b) 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP) then stored in regular air; (c) at 2.5 kPa O2 plus 2.5 kPa CO2 with pulsed controlled atmosphere (pCA) storage; and (d) with 1‐MCP then stored at 2.5 kPa O2 plus 2.5 kPa CO2 with pulsed controlled atmosphere (1‐MCP + pCA). Results indicated that the watercore disappeared from the control group faster than that from the treated groups. The 1‐MCP + pCA watercore group maintained the highest watercore index and the minimum weight loss, but ISD became significantly serious compared to other treatments at the end of the 120 days storage. Although some ISD occurred in the pCA treatment group, the decreases firmness of pulp and accumulations of malondialdehyde were the least among all four groups. In conclusion, pCA treatment retained larger watercore, less likelihood of ISD, higher firmness, less weight loss than control group, and less browning in comparison to 1‐MCP + pCA group after 120 days' storage. The results help us further understand the mechanism of watercore regulation during storage.
Evaluation and disposition of older adults presenting to the emergency department with abdominal pain
Authors: Friedman Ari B. , Chen Angela T. , Wu Rachel , Coe Norma B. , Halpern Scott D. , Hwang Ula , Kelz Rachel R. , Cappola Anne R.
Published: October 2021

Background

Abdominal pain is the most common chief complaint in US emergency departments (EDs) among patients over 65, who are at high risk of mortality or incident disability after the ED encounter. We sought to characterize the evaluation, management, and disposition of older adults who present to the ED with abdominal pain.

Methods

We performed a survey‐weighted analysis of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), comparing older adults with a chief complaint of abdominal pain to those without. Visits from 2013 to 2017 to nationally representative EDs were included. We analyzed 81,509 visits to 1211 US EDs, which projects to 531,780,629 ED visits after survey weighting. We report the diagnostic testing, evaluation, management, additional reasons for visit, and disposition of ED visits.

Results

Among older adults (≥65 years), 7% of ED visits were for abdominal pain. Older patients with abdominal pain had a lower probability of being triaged to the “Emergent” (ESI2) acuity on arrival (7.1% vs. 14.8%) yet were more likely to be admitted directly to the operating room than older adults without abdominal pain (3.6% vs. 0.8%), with no statistically significant differences in discharge home, death, or admission to critical care. Ultrasound or CT imaging was performed in 60% of older adults with abdominal pain. A minority (39%) of older patients with abdominal pain received an electrocardiogram (EKG).

Conclusions

Abdominal pain in older adults presenting to EDs is a serious condition yet is triaged to “emergent” acuity at half the rate of other conditions. Opportunities for improving diagnosis and management may exist. Further research is needed to examine whether improved recognition of abdominal pain as a syndromic presentation would improve patient outcomes.
Characterization and function of circulating mucosal‐associated invariant T cells and γδT cells in oral lichen planus
Authors: Yang Jing‐Ya , Wang Fang , Zhou Gang
Published: October 2021

Background

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T‐cell‐mediated chronic inflammatory disease with uncertain aetiology. Mucosal‐associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and γδT cells are unconventional, innate‐like T cells with immunoregulatory capacity. This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of MAIT and γδT cells on the pathogenesis of OLP.

Methods

Circulating MAIT cells and γδT cells were identified using flow cytometry. Surface proteins including CD4, CD8, CD69, CD103, CD49d, programmed death‐1 (PD‐1) and its ligand PD‐L1 were assessed. Cytokines containing interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐17, interferon (IFN)‐γ, granzyme B and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α released by MAIT and γδT cells were measured following PMA and ionomycin stimulation.

Results

Circulating MAIT and γδT cells were deficient in OLP. The percentage of CD4+, CD69+, CD103+ and PD‐1+ MAIT cells was increased in OLP, while that of CD8+ and CD49d+ MAIT cells was decreased. The percentage of CD103+, PD‐1+ and PD‐L1+ γδT cells was upregulated in OLP. Both the MAIT and γδT cells in OLP produced less IL‐4 than controls. The granzyme B‐producing MAIT cells were increased, while γδT cells secreting granzyme B and TNF‐α were reduced in OLP. IL‐17 and IFN‐γ in OLP MAIT and γδT cells were not significantly different from that in controls. The frequency of OLP MAIT cells and the MAIT/γδT rate were positively associated with the disease severity.

Conclusion

The deficient MAIT and γδT cells expressing functional proteins and releasing cytokines may play an immunoregulatory role in the pathogenesis of OLP.
CHRISTIAN COMMITMENTS TO POLITICAL NONVIOLENCE
Authors: Babyak Joyce K.
Published: October 2021

Should we as religious ethicists seek to understand what traditions other than our own or our own area of scholarship have to say about particular ethical issues as knowledge parallel to our own, or can we allow what we learn to make a difference in our own ethical positions? Writing from the perspective of Christian ethics, the author argues that we can indeed allow what we learn to inform Christian ethical evaluations and to shape ethical conclusions, with neighbor love and concern for the common good as grounds for doing this. Using forms of commitments to political nonviolence as a test case, the author first reviews major positions on war and peace ethics within Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and then explores how Jewish and Muslim ethical assessments can inform a choice between Christian absolute pacifism and practical pacifism.
AL‐GHAZĀLĪ'S DIVINE COMMAND THEORY
Authors: Malik Shoaib Ahmed
Published: October 2021

This article reviews al‐Ghazālī's conception of Divine Command Theory (DCT) in light of contemporary philosophical developments. There are two well‐known objections against DCT. These include the problem of arbitrariness (PoA), which states that God randomly chose our moral framework for no reason given His capability to choose any moral commands; and the problem of God's goodness (PoGG), which questions God's goodness if morality could be other than what it is. Modern defenders of DCT have attempted to counter these objections through various strategies. This article juxtaposes al‐Ghazālī's interpretation of DCT with modern strategies to illustrate how these two issues are untroubling concerns in al‐Ghazālī's framework. In doing so, it highlights where and how they differ in their approaches. Additionally, it critiques interpretations suggested by some contemporary thinkers who suggest that al‐Ghazālī may not be a strict proponent of DCT.
Tax evasion with a conscience
Authors: Dufwenberg Martin , Nordblom Katarina
Published: October 2021

How do moral concerns affect fraud and detection, for example, tax compliance and the need for audits? We propose answers by exploring a psychological inspection game which incorporates belief‐dependent guilt, unawareness, and third‐party audience effects. Novel conclusions are drawn regarding whose behavior is affected by moral concerns (it's the inspector's more than the inspectee's) as well as the policy issue whether to allow the use of a principle of public access whereby tax returns are made public information.
Association of different antidepressant classes with clinical attachment level and alveolar bone loss in patients with periodontitis: A retrospective study
Authors: Hakam Abeer Essam , Duarte Poliana Mendes , Mbadu Marcia Phemba , Aukhil Ikramuddin , da Silva Hélio Doyle Pereira , Chang Jia
Published: October 2021

Objective

Our study aimed to determine the relationship of antidepressant medicine use with periodontal diseases, exploring the association of different pharmacological classes of antidepressant with observations of clinical attachment loss (CAL) and alveolar bone level (BL) in patients with periodontitis.

Background

Existing evidence on the impact of antidepressant medication on periodontal tissues has focused on some classes only and is still unclear. Therefore, this retrospective study evaluated the association of different antidepressant classes with clinical attachment loss (CAL) and alveolar bone level (BL).

Methods

This study was carried out in a population of patients aged ≥ 30 years old with periodontitis who sought treatment at the University of Florida from 2014 to 2018. The following variables were obtained from patients’ records; usage of antidepressant medications and their pharmacological classes (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRI], serotonin‐norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors [SNRI], tricyclic, atypical, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors [MAO]), age, gender, smoking habit, mild systemic diseases, CAL, and cement‐enamel junction (CEJ) and alveolar bone crest (BC) distance, defined as BL, in the Ramfjord index teeth.

Results

Five hundred and eighty‐two periodontitis patients were evaluated, of which 113 (19.4%) were antidepressant users. Antidepressant users exhibited significantly lower BL and fewer sites with severe CAL (≥5 mm), than non‐users (p < .05). Among all single‐class antidepressant users, the SSRI users showed significantly less CAL and lower BL than non‐users (p < .05). Patients taking combinations of the different classes of antidepressants also showed better CAL and BL than non‐users. Generalized linear models, including variables such as gender, age, systemic diseases, and smoking, demonstrated that antidepressant users were more likely to have lower mean BL and fewer sites with severe bone loss (i.e. BL > 3 and >5 mm) than non‐users (p < .05).

Conclusions

Antidepressant medications were associated with higher alveolar bone level and less clinical attachment loss in patients with periodontitis. When the different classes of antidepressants were analyzed individually, only the SSRI class users and the multiple‐class users showed significantly less periodontal breakdown than non‐users.