bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of cardiac resynchronization therapy in chemotherapy‐induced cardiomyopathy: A systematic review
Authors: Shehram Muhammad , Khalid Hiba , Shafique Hafiz Muhammad , Umer Bakht , Zafar Awais , Ullah Asif , Zaidi Syed Muhammad Jawad , Basit Jawad , Mehmoodi Amin , Malik Jahanzeb
Published: July 2023

Objective

The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with chemotherapy‐induced cardiomyopathy (CIC).

Methods

With the increasing incidence of CIC, the association of CRT with improvement in clinical outcomes, echocardiographic parameters, and New York Heart Classification (NYHA) class was assessed through this qualitative systematic review.

Results

The five studies included a total of 169 patients who underwent CRT after CIC, and of these, 61 (36.1%) patients were males. All studies showed an improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), among other echocardiographic parameters of LV volume. However, these findings are limited by short follow‐up periods, small sample sizes, and the absence of a control group.

Conclusion

CRT was associated with improvement in all patient parameters with CIC.
Black Water Politics: Navigating Oral History, Memory, and Power Along the Rivers of the Guyanese Northwest
Authors: Tamboli Vikram
Published: July 2023

This article enriches the narrative of ethno‐racial politics in Guyana by analysing the lives and histories of people who live and work in the Guyanese Northwest. It narrates how histories of escape, freedom, and fortune—along with the associated development of the Guyanese interior as an extractive space—were essential to understanding the broader forces that shaped working peoples’ mobility in the region. Using a combined method of conducting oral history, memory analysis, ethnography, participant observation, and archival research, the article demonstrates how histories of mobility (or lack of) and notions of being Black produced—and were produced through—the gendered historical politics of socio‐cultural mixture. The borderland space between the Caribbean and Amazonia, this article argues, helps deepen and recontextualise aspects of the divisive political history of Guyana.
Integrating the theory of planned behavior and the self‐determination theory to promote Mediterranean diet adherence: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Caso Daniela , Canova Luigina , Capasso Miriam , Bianchi Marcella
Published: July 2023

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is one of the healthiest and most sustainable food regimes. Nevertheless, MD diffusion is still limited, emphasizing the need to understand the psychosocial factors that could predict and promote its adoption. Starting from an integrated model of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Self‐Determination Theory (SDT), the present randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of manipulating motivation (autonomous vs. controlled) on intention and MD adherence behavior. Participants included 726 Italian adults randomly allocated to one of three conditions: autonomous motivation manipulation, controlled motivation manipulation, and control group. TPB variables were measured immediately after manipulation (T1), while MD adherence was evaluated 2 weeks later (T2). Results from multivariate analyses of variance highlighted that participants in the autonomous motivation condition reported higher intention and a more favorable cognitive attitude than control group participants. However, no change in behavior was found. Moreover, a path analysis with mediation effect showed that the impact of autonomous motivation condition versus control group on intention was mediated by cognitive attitude. Findings support the integration of TPB and SDT to encourage intention to adhere to the MD, also suggesting that prompting autonomous motivation may help to promote a greater diffusion of this healthy and sustainable dietary pattern.
Mesorectal nodal metastasis with seminal vesicle invasion in biochemically recurrent prostate cancer
Authors: Sayyid Rashid K. , Bernardino Rui , Al‐Daqqaq Zizo , Tiwari Raj , Cockburn Jessica , Vijayakanthan Shagana , Leão Ricardo , Qaoud Yazan , Berjaoui Mohamad Baker , Metser Ur , Berlin Alejandro , Fleshner Neil E.
Published: July 2023

Objectives

To determine the prevalence and predictors of mesorectal lymph node (MLN) metastases on prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA)‐based positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) following radical therapy.

Materials and Methods

This was a cross‐sectional analysis of all PCa patients with biochemical failure following radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy who underwent an 18F‐DCFPyL‐PSMA‐PET/CT at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre between December 2018 and February 2021. Lesions with PSMA scores ≥2 were considered positive for PCa involvement (PROMISE classification). Predictors of MLN metastasis were evaluated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results

Our cohort consisted of 686 patients. The primary treatment method was radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy in 528 (77.0%) and 158 patients (23.0%), respectively. The median serum PSA level was 1.15 ng/mL. Overall, 384 patients (56.0%) had a positive scan. Seventy‐eight patients (11.3%) had MLN metastasis, with 48/78 (61.5%) having MLN involvement as the only site of metastasis. On multivariable analysis, presence of pT3b disease (odds ratio 4.31, 95% confidence interval 1.44–14.2; P = 0.011) was significantly associated with increased odds of MLN metastasis, whereas surgical factors (radical prostatectomy vs radiotherapy; performance/extent of pelvic nodal dissection), surgical margin positivity, and Gleason Grade were not.

Conclusions

In this study, 11.3% of PCa patients with biochemical failure had MLN metastasis on 18F‐DCFPyL‐PET/CT. pT3b disease was associated with 4.31‐fold significantly increased odds of MLN metastasis. These findings suggest alternate drainage routes for PCa cells, either via alternate lymphatic drainage from the seminal vesicles themselves or secondary to direct extension from posteriorly located tumours invading the seminal vesicles.
Building the Parent and Child Math Anxiety Network model from empirical evidence
Authors: Carkoglu Can , Eason Sarah H. , Purpura David
Published: July 2023

Math achievement is one of the strongest predictors of academic success and career attainment. While research has focused on cognitive factors that relate to math achievement, a growing body of literature suggests that affective factors like math anxiety also relate to math achievement. The field of math anxiety has expanded to recognize that not only children's but also parents' math anxiety is related to math performance. Yet, specific mechanisms through which parents' math anxiety relates to children's math performance are not well explicated. In this article, we synthesize research on the relation between parents' math anxiety and children's math achievement, and then propose a comprehensive model (the Parent and Child Math Anxiety Network model) to demonstrate the likely pathways through which parents' math anxiety may affect children's math achievement.
1060. Delphinium caucasicum C.A.Mey: Ranunculaceae
Authors: Moore Richard , Langhorne Joanna , Rix Martyn
Published: July 2023

Delphinium caucasicum C.A. Mey. is illustrated from plants cultivated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Its history, nomenclature and ecology are described and instructions for its successful cultivation are given.
Children dynamically update and extend the interface between number words and perceptual magnitudes
Authors: Dramkin Denitza , Odic Darko
Published: July 2023

As adults, we represent and think about number, space, and time in at least two ways: our intuitive—but imprecise—perceptual representations, and the slowly learned—but precise—number words. With development, these representational formats interface, allowing us to use precise number words to estimate imprecise perceptual experiences. We test two accounts of this developmental milestone. Either slowly learned associations are required for the interface to form, predicting that deviations from typical experiences (e.g., presentation of a novel unit or unpracticed dimension) will disrupt children's ability to map number words to their perceptual experiences or children's understanding of the logical similarity between number words and perceptual representations allows them to flexibly extend this interface to novel experiences (e.g., units and dimensions they have not yet learned how to formally measure). 5–11‐year‐olds completed verbal estimation and perceptual sensitivity tasks across three dimensions: Number, Length, and Area. For verbal estimation, they were given novel units (i.e., a three‐dot unit called one “toma” for Number, a 44 px long line called one “blicket” for Length, a 111 px2 blob called one “modi” for Area) and asked to estimate how many tomas/blickets/modies they saw when shown a larger set of dots, lines, and blobs. Children could flexibly link number words to novel units across dimensions, demonstrating positive estimation slopes, even for Length and Area, which younger children had limited experience with. This suggests that the logic of structure mapping can be dynamically utilized across perceptual dimensions, even without extensive experience.
Oral anticoagulation across diabetic subtypes in patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation: A report from the GARFIELD‐AF registry
Authors: Bassand Jean‐Pierre , Virdone Saverio , Camm A. John , Fox Keith A. A. , Goldhaber Samuel Z. , Goto Shinya , Haas Sylvia , Hacke Werner , Kayani Gloria , Keltai Matyas , Misselwitz Frank , Pieper Karen S. , Turpie Alexander G. G. , Verheugt Freek W. A. , Kakkar Ajay K. ,   for the GARFIELD‐AF Investigators
Published: July 2023

Aims

This study aims to describe both management and prognosis of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF), overall as well as by antidiabetic treatment, and to assess the influence of oral anticoagulation (OAC) on outcomes by DM status.

Methods

The study population comprised 52 010 newly diagnosed patients with AF, 11 542 DM and 40 468 non‐DM, enrolled in the GARFIELD‐AF registry. Follow‐up was truncated at 2 years after enrolment. Comparative effectiveness of OAC versus no OAC was assessed by DM status using a propensity score overlap weighting scheme and weights were applied to Cox models.

Results

Patients with DM [39.3% oral antidiabetic drug (OAD), 13.4% insulin ± OAD, 47.2% on no antidiabetic drug] had higher risk profile, OAC use, and rates of clinical outcomes compared with patients without DM. OAC use was associated in patients without DM and patients with DM with lower risk of all‐cause mortality [hazard ratio 0.75 (0.69‐0.83), 0.74 (0.64‐0.86), respectively] and stroke/systemic embolism (SE) [0.69 (0.58‐0.83), 0.70 (0.53‐0.93), respectively]. The risk of major bleeding with OAC was similarly increased in patients without DM and those with DM [1.40 (1.14‐1.71), 1.37 (0.99‐1.89), respectively]. Patients with insulin‐requiring DM had a higher risk of all‐cause mortality and stroke/SE [1.91 (1.63‐2.24)], [1.57 (1.06‐2.35), respectively] compared with patients without DM, and experienced significant risk reductions of all‐cause mortality and stroke/SE with OAC [0.73 (0.53‐0.99); 0.50 (0.26‐0.97), respectively].

Conclusions

In both patients with DM and patients without DM with AF, OAC was associated with lower risk of all‐cause mortality and stroke/SE. Patients with insulin‐requiring DM derived significant benefit from OAC.
Healthy lifestyle and all‐cause and cause‐specific dementia in individuals with type 2 diabetes and the roles of diabetes duration and insulin use in UK Biobank cohort
Authors: Zhou Chunmiao , Dong Caiyun , Wang Qi , Fu Chunying , Xie Ziwei , Hao Wenting , Sun Huizi , Zhu Dongshan
Published: July 2023

Aims

To examine the effect of a healthy lifestyle score derived from seven lifestyle factors recommended by the diabetes management guidelines on all‐cause and cause‐specific dementia in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and how diabetes duration and insulin use status modify their association.

Materials and Methods

This study analysed data of 459 840 participants from the UK Biobank. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals for the association of an overall healthy lifestyle score with all‐cause and cause‐specific dementia of Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and non‐Alzheimer non‐vascular dementia.

Results

Using diabetes‐free participants who scored 5‐7 as the reference group, in diabetes‐free participants, we observed higher healthy lifestyle score was related to lower risk of all‐cause and cause‐specific dementia. However, in people with T2DM, those scored 2‐3, 4 and 5‐7 all had around the two‐time risk of all‐cause dementia (HR: 2.20‐2.36), while those scored 0‐1 had over a three‐time risk (HR: 3.14, 95% confidence interval 2.34‐4.21). A dose‐response trend was observed with vascular dementia (each 2‐point increase: 0.75, 0.61‐0.93) and no significant association with Alzheimer's disease (0.95, 0.77‐1.16). The reduced risk of all‐cause and cause‐specific dementia with higher lifestyle score was observed in patients with a diabetes duration less than 10 years, or in patients with no insulin use.

Conclusion

In people with T2DM, higher healthy lifestyle score was associated with lower risk of all‐cause dementia. Diabetes duration and insulin use moderated the association between healthy lifestyle score and risk of dementia.
Behavioural profiles in a wild population of a cooperatively breeding cichlid
Authors: Reyes‐Contreras Maria , Santiago Carl , Taborsky Barbara
Published: July 2023

In cooperatively breeding species, subordinates can obtain group membership through social interactions with other group members or by providing services such as helping with territory defence. Large subordinate individuals, which can reproduce, are expected to adjust their behaviour as a function of the demand of help and group size because if the environmental conditions allow, they may either leave the group to start breeding or queue for the breeding position in their natal group. The number of helpers in a group is expected to affect the need of help by dominants and consequently also the level of subordination shown by helpers. In a series of field experiments, we manipulated the need of help and the opportunities for subordinates to show submissive behaviour in a wild population of the cooperatively breeding species Neolamprologus pulcher. We assessed if group size determines the social behavioural strategy of large subordinate individuals. When experimentally eliciting submissive behaviour, large subordinates from small groups showed a lower frequency of submissive behaviour compared to large groups; moreover, they tended to show a higher frequency of sand digging than in large groups. In contrast, neither territory defence in the presence of a heterospecific egg and larvae predator nor dispersal propensity, measured as prospecting frequency in neighbouring territories, was affected by group size. A principal component analysis revealed that prospecting is uncorrelated with submissive behaviour and helping behaviour. Our results suggest that group size may be involved in shaping behavioural phenotypes of juvenile subordinates.
Threatened fish species in the Northeast Atlantic are functionally rare
Authors: Coulon Noémie , Lindegren Martin , Goberville Eric , Toussaint Aurèle , Receveur Aurore , Auber Arnaud
Published: July 2023

Aim

The criteria used to define the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List categories are essentially based on demographic parameters at the species level, but they do not integrate species' traits or their roles in ecosystems. Consequently, current IUCN‐based protection measures may not be sufficient to conserve ecosystem functioning and services. Some species may have a singular combination of traits associated with unique functions. Such functionally distinct species are increasingly recognized as a key facet of biodiversity since they are, by definition, functionally irreplaceable. The aim of this study is to investigate whether threatened species are also functionally rare and to identify which traits determine extinction risk.

Location

European continental shelf seas.

Time period

1984–2020.

Major taxa studied

Marine fish.

Methods

Using newly compiled trait information of 425 marine fish species in European waters, and more than 30 years of scientific bottom trawl surveys, we estimated the functional distinctiveness, restrictedness and scarcity of each species and cross‐referenced it with their IUCN conservation status.

Results

In European continental shelf seas, 38% of the species threatened with extinction (9 out of 24 species) were identified as the most functionally distinct. By mapping extinction risk in the multidimensional species trait space, we showed that species with the greatest risk of extinction are long‐lived and of high trophic level. We also identified that the most functionally distinct species are sparsely distributed (4% of the total area on average) and have scarce abundances (<1% of the relative mean abundance of common species).

Main Conclusions

Because a substantial proportion of threatened species are functionally distinct and thus may play unique roles in ecosystem functioning, we stress that species traits—especially functional rarity—should become an indispensable step in the development of conservation management plans.
Art, artifice, and eroticized infantilization: Imagining Japanese femininities in the Weimar Republic in Fritz Lang's Harakiri (1919) and Kapitän Mertens's “Kio, die lasterhafte Kirschblüte” (1924)
Authors: Gueneli Berna
Published: July 2023

This article focuses on the ways in which a Japan‐specific Orientalism regarding Japanese femininities establishes itself in Weimar Germany's popular culture. In this period of German democratization in which we observe Weimar women's social, sexual, and political liberation, I propose that popular culture texts such as Fritz Lang's film Harakiri (1919) and Kapitän Mertens's magazine publication “Kio, die lasterhafte Kirschblüte” (1924) created an alternative fantasy engaging with contemporary anxieties and dreams. I read the depiction of Japanese femininities as a mediation of predominantly heterosexual male fears about the liberation movement of modern Weimar women as circulated in mass media. In developing this reading, I observe a simultaneity of three different imagined Japanese femininities: aestheticized artificialization/reification, eroticization, and infantilization. I argue that the narrative construction of such ultimately subservient exotic, doll‐like figures is diametrically opposed to the widely studied New Woman of Weimar and thus warrants further inquiry.
High prevalence of frailty in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms
Authors: Irie Naohiro , Muramoto Nobuhito , Shirakawa Tomoya , China Toshiyuki , Kawano Haruna , Isotani Shuji , Horie Shigeo
Published: July 2023

Aim

Older adults are more likely to be frail and have a high prevalence of urological diseases such as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The purpose of this study was to clarify the prevalence and characteristics of comorbid frailty in older patients with urological diseases.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 970 patient who visited the Department of Urology, Juntendo University Hospital between October 2015 and October 2016. Patients were selected who were 65 years of age or older and were being evaluated by the Kihon Checklist (KCL) to assess frailty. We examined the prevalence of comorbid frailty in urological diseases, identified factors associated with comorbid frailty in urological diseases, and examined KCL scores in urological diseases with a high prevalence of frailty.

Results

A total of 405 participants were included. Of these, 21.7% were frail, 20.5% were pre‐frail, and 57.8% were robust. LUTS, overactive bladder, and neurogenic bladder showed a statistically significant relationship with comorbid frailty, with high frailty prevalence rates of 44/140 (31.4%), 19/36 (52.8%), and 4/6 (66.7%), respectively. Factors related to the comorbid frailty according to multivariate analysis were female sex (P = 0.001), older age (P < 0.001), and LUTS (P < 0.033). Of the KCL subscale scores, instrumental activities of daily living (P = 0.008), physical function (P < 0.001), oral function (P = 0.008), housebound (P = 0.009), and depression (P = 0.034) were higher in LUTS patients than in non‐LUTS patients.

Conclusions

Among patients with urological diseases, those with LUTS were found to have a high prevalence of frailty. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 609–615.
COSTLY INFORMATION AND SOVEREIGN RISK
Authors: Gu Grace Weishi , Stangebye Zachary R.
Published: July 2023

The consequences of costly information acquisition for sovereign risk are explored in a quantitative sovereign default model. We identify information costs empirically using Bloomberg news‐heat data. The calibrated model microfounds heteroskedasticity in the country risk spread as measured by a novel metric we call the Crisis Volatility Ratio (CVR). Crises are endogenously more volatile because more information is acquired and priced. Recalibrated extant models do not generate CVRs in the empirical range, but ours does. Because effective risk tolerance depends on the information set, the model also suggests that risk premia fall with information costs.
How do controversial foreign country images affect consumers?
Authors: Ortega‐Egea José Manuel , García‐de‐Frutos Nieves
Published: July 2023

Research shows that controversial political–economic, social, and environmental country images affect consumer responses to foreign products. This study adds to the existing evidence by examining the contingent role of subjective country knowledge and (domestic vs. foreign) country image congruence in the relationships between foreign country image and two major determinants of country‐driven (anti‐)consumption: foreign product judgements and consumer animosity. The findings draw on survey data (N = 400) on Spanish consumers' views of China and Chinese apparel products. The results indicate that higher subjective knowledge about social and environmental issues (negatively) affecting the foreign country can lead to attenuated (positive) relationships between such country images and foreign product judgements. Further, more negative foreign product judgements can result from incongruent country images—that is, when consumers are more critical of the foreign than of their home country in political–economic, social, and environmental areas. Instead, there is limited support for the hypotheses involving consumer animosity as an outcome. Implications for theory, policy, and practice are discussed.
Effects of protein formula and extrusion cooking conditions on the techno‐functional properties of texturised pea proteins
Authors: Chan Elyssa , Rodas‐Gonzalez Argenis , Tulbek Mehmet , Koksel Filiz
Published: July 2023

Pea protein concentrate and isolate were blended to obtain protein blend formulas (PBFs) with three levels of protein content and investigated for their potential for developing texturised vegetable proteins (TVPs). PBFs were extruded at three screw speeds and two feed moisture contents to obtain TVPs. Nitrogen solubility index (NSI) and techno‐functional properties, i.e. water holding capacity, oil absorbance capacity, emulsion capacity and emulsion stability, of the raw materials and the TVPs were examined. Raising the protein content through PBF decreased NSI for both the raw formulas and the TVPs. Regardless of the PBF, extrusion processing substantially decreased NSI, but increased oil absorption capacity. Extrusion's impact on water holding capacity, emulsion capacity and stability was complex and might have been impacted by the protein content and source. Overall, PBF's impact on the techno‐functionality of TVPs was more pronounced than that of extrusion conditions. At higher PBF, the NSI, emulsion capacity and stability values of TVPs were negatively impacted, implying that high protein content does not equate to better TVP quality. Future, TVP techno‐functionality research should focus on a wider range of extrusion screw speed and feed moisture content or the effects of protein content and source.
Dealing with safety risks from peer‐to‐peer service sharing: optimal pricing and safety investment for a sharing platform
Authors: Chi Xue , Fan Zhi‐Ping , Dong Zhongpeng
Published: July 2023

In reality, consumers often perceive safety risks from some peer‐to‐peer sharing services such as ride‐sharing and home‐sharing, which would hinder them from participating in service sharing. To deal with the safety risks, some sharing platforms and governments have taken the risk prevention measures. This paper studies the optimal pricing and the safety investment for a sharing platform. In this study, three scenarios are investigated, namely, (1) no risk prevention measures, (2) only the platform takes the risk prevention measures, and (3) both the platform and the government take the risk prevention measures. We find that when both the platform and the government take the risk prevention measures, the benefits of the platform, consumers, and service providers, as well as social welfare, will decrease under certain conditions. Additionally, under a certain condition, taking the risk prevention measures can achieve a Pareto improvement for the platform, consumers, and service providers.
Effectiveness of nursing intervention in the operating room to prevent wound infections in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhu Dan , Luo Qinghua
Published: July 2023

Surgical site wound infection is one of the most common postoperative complications in orthopaedic clinical practice. This study employed a meta‐analysis approach to comprehensively evaluate the effect of operating room nursing interventions on the prevention of surgical site wound infections in orthopaedic surgical patients. A computer search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), VIP, and Wanfang databases from the inception of each database until May 2023 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the application of operating room nursing interventions in orthopaedic surgery. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed study quality. The meta‐analysis was conducted using Stata 17.0. A total of 29 studies involving 3567 patients were included, with 1784 patients in the intervention group, and 1783 patients in the control group. The results of the meta‐analysis showed that compared with the control group, the use of operating room nursing interventions significantly reduced the incidence of surgical site wound infection after orthopaedic surgery (2.85% vs. 13.24%; odds ratio: 0.18, 95% confidence interval: 0.14–0.25; p < 0.001). Current evidence suggests that operating room nursing interventions reduce the incidence of surgical site wound infections. However, owing to the limited number and low quality of the studies, more high‐quality, large‐sample RCTs are needed to further verify these findings.
Mixed modifier effects on structural, mechanical, chemical, and mechanochemical properties of sodium calcium aluminosilicate glass
Authors: Liu Hongshen , Ogrinc Andrew L. , Lin Yinan , Wilkinson Collin , Doss Karan , Fry Aubrey L. , Qu Conghang , He Hongtu , Gross Timothy M. , Smith Nicholas J. , Mauro John C. , Kim Seong H.
Published: July 2023

Glass properties are governed by the interplay between network formers and network modifiers; for a given composition of network formers, the ratio of different cationic modifiers compensating the anionic species in the network has a profound effect, which is often nonlinear, called a mixed modifier effect (MME). We have investigated the MME of sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) in an aluminosilicate (NCAS) glass series following the formula [Na2O]30−x [CaO]x [Al2O3]10 [SiO2]60, where x = 0, 7.5, 15, 22.5, and 30. A nonadditive trend was observed in hardness and indentation toughness, with aqueous corrosion resistance exhibiting a shift from incongruent to congruent corrosion, whereas the network structure determined by molecular dynamics simulations revealed no significant trend with composition. Additionally, the NCAS glass containing both [Na2O] and [CaO] within an intermediate range exhibited superior resistance to wear at high humidity, a clear MME phenomenon previously only observed in soda–lime silica.
Environment‐specific political risk mitigation: Political lobbying versus green innovation
Authors: Rahman Sohanur , Sinnewe Elisabeth , Chapple Larelle , Osborne Sarah
Published: July 2023

Greater political pressure to improve corporate environmental performance and mitigate climate change impact leads firms to operate under greater political risk and uncertainty, affecting productivity and firm value. Using a panel of 3255 US firms from 2002 to 2020, this research tests the effectiveness of two environment‐specific political risk (EPR) mitigation approaches: political lobbying and green innovation. The results suggest that while both approaches mitigate EPR of the current year, only green innovation reduces future EPR. By mitigating EPR, green innovation increases firm value to a greater degree than political lobbying. This study also shows that political lobbying has a larger effect on EPR mitigation for the leaders than the laggards in green innovation. The results are robust to alternative specifications of green innovation, political lobbying and potential endogeneity concerns. Overall, this study supports the value‐enhancing role of green innovation as an effective political risk mitigation strategy.
Population genomic structures and signatures of selection define the genetic uniqueness of several fancy and meat rabbit breeds
Authors: Ballan Mohamad , Bovo Samuele , Bertolini Francesca , Schiavo Giuseppina , Schiavitto Michele , Negrini Riccardo , Fontanesi Luca
Published: July 2023

Following the recent domestication process of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), many different breeds and lines, distinguished primarily by exterior traits such as coat colour, fur structure and body size and shape, have been constituted. In this study, we genotyped, with a high‐density single‐nucleotide polymorphism panel, a total of 645 rabbits from 10 fancy breeds (Belgian Hare, Champagne d'Argent, Checkered Giant, Coloured Dwarf, Dwarf Lop, Ermine, Giant Grey, Giant White, Rex and Rhinelander) and three meat breeds (Italian White, Italian Spotted and Italian Silver). ADMIXTURE analysis indicated that breeds with similar phenotypic traits (e.g. coat colour and body size) shared common ancestries. Signatures of selection using two haplotype‐based approaches (iHS and XP‐EHH), combined with the results obtained with other methods previously reported that we applied to the same breeds, we identified a total of 5079 independent genomic regions with some signatures of selection, covering about 1777 Mb of the rabbit genome. These regions consistently encompassed many genes involved in pigmentation processes (ASIP, EDNRA, EDNRB, KIT, KITLG, MITF, OCA2, TYR and TYRP1), coat structure (LIPH) and body size, including two major genes (LCORL and HMGA2) among many others. This study revealed novel genomic regions under signatures of selection and further demonstrated that population structures and signatures of selection, left into the genome of these rabbit breeds, may contribute to understanding the genetic events that led to their constitution and the complex genetic mechanisms determining the broad phenotypic variability present in these untapped rabbit genetic resources.
The impact of mothers and daughters health education on female adolescents' quality of life during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Neisani Samani Leila , Khanjari Sedigheh , Mirmohammadi Fatemeh , Maadi Esfahan Maryam , Haghani Shima , Tehrani Fereshteh Javaheri
Published: July 2023

Problem

Adolescence is a period of biological, cognitive, psychosocial, and emotional development. Negative experiences of Coronavirus (COVID‐19) infection are associated with more changes which impacts on quality of life (QoL). However, parent‐proxy and child self‐reports may vary, and we have lack of knowledge about these discrepancies. The aim of this study was to identifying the impact of mother−daughter health education on female adolescents' QoL during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

This quasi‐experimental study was conducted at two time points; before (T1) and 3 months after health education thorough blended learning (T2) from January to May of 2020. Then 196 participants were divided into intervention (N = 96) and control (N = 100) groups and Health Related QoL was assessed using the PedsQL™.

Results

The results showed significant increase in scores of total QoL and all QoL domains in adolescents by self‐reports of adolescents and mothers proxy reports (except emotional performance) compared to the control group at T2 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, mother's rated increase in social performance significantly higher in both groups at T2.

Conclusions

With high social anxiety due to COVID‐19, adolescents may be vulnerable to various risks. Improving mothers understanding of the needs of their adolescents are an important issue; given that it is possible increase their QoL by health education, especially during COVID‐19 pandemic. It is recommended to organized health education in schools to increase the knowledge of mother–daughter thorough blended learning.
Cryosurgery versus curettage for intraepidermal carcinoma: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Fougelberg J. , Backman E. , Hasselquist E. , Sjöholm A. , Claeson M. , Paoli J.
Published: July 2023

Background

Cryosurgery is a common destructive treatment method for intraepidermal carcinoma (IEC) above the knee. Curettage alone is a simple, non‐aggressive and inexpensive treatment method commonly used on benign skin lesions. However, only one study has assessed curettage for treatment of IEC.

Objective

We aimed to (1) compare the effectiveness of cryosurgery (standard method) to curettage (experimental method) for treatment of IEC in regard to overall clearance rates at 1‐year follow‐up, and (2) investigate whether wound healing times differed between the treatment groups.

Methods

In this randomized and controlled, non‐inferiority trial, adult patients with one or more IEC with a diameter of 5–20 mm, located above the knee and suitable for destructive treatment were recruited from Sahlgrenska University Hospital (Gothenburg, Sweden). Lesions were randomized to treatment with either cryosurgery or curettage. Wound healing was assessed by a nurse after 4–6 weeks and through self‐report forms. Overall clearance was assessed by a dermatologist after 1 year.

Results

In total, 183 lesions in 147 patients were included, with 93 lesions randomized to cryosurgery and 90 to curettage. Eighty‐eight (94.6%) of the lesions in the cryosurgery group and 71 (78.9%) in the curettage group showed an overall clearance at the 1‐year follow‐up visit (p = 0.002). The non‐inferiority analysis was inconclusive. Curettage resulted in both shorter self‐reported wound healing times (mean time 3.1 vs. 4.8 weeks, p < 0.001) and a larger proportion of healed wounds after 4–6 weeks (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Cryosurgery and curettage both result in high clearance rates for treatment of IEC, but cryosurgery is significantly more effective. On the other hand, curettage may result in shorter wound healing times.
Ambiguity and risk factors in bank stocks
Authors: García‐Feijóo Luis , Viale Ariel M.
Published: July 2023

The determinants of banks' cost of equity are not well understood. We depart from prior work assuming rational expectations and instead explore the impact of Knightian uncertainty or ambiguity on bank stocks. We test a large set of asset pricing models and find that investors' lack of confidence in both the drift and correlation structure driving bank stock returns affects banks' cost of capital. We also investigate the economic relation among ambiguity, market liquidity, and banks' capital shortfall, which reveals the transmission channels through which ambiguity may increase the probability of a systemic crisis. Our findings have implications for macroprudential policy.
Comparative evaluation of drying characteristics and antioxidant quality of raspberry by different drying methods
Authors: Gao Qi , Wang Jiaoling , Ding Tianhang , Song Feihu , Jin Guangyuan , Raghavan Vijaya , Song Weidong , Song Chunfang
Published: July 2023

Four drying methods, hot air drying (HAD), microwave constant temperature drying (MWD), microwave vacuum temperature‐controlled drying (MIVD‐T50), and freeze drying (FD), were investigated for their effects on raspberries in terms of drying time, color, microstructure, rehydration, water activity, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and DPPH scavenging ability. It was found that microwaves combined with vacuum took the shortest time. The color of MIVD‐T50 is similar to that of FD and much better than that of HAD and MWD. A smooth surface and fluffy and porous structure inside were observed in the FD and MIVD by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. FD has the highest energy consumption, followed by HAD, MIVD‐T50 and MWD. The retention rates of total phenols and flavonoids in HAD, MWD and FD were lower than those in MIVD‐T50, and FD had the advantage of retaining anthocyanin content. In general, MIVD‐T50 has significance for the commercial production of raspberry.

Practical applications

The use of natural antioxidants in food processing not only enhances the shelf life of products but also improves their nutritional value. Raspberry is a rich source of antioxidants and is widely used in food processing. However, the drying process is crucial in preserving its antioxidant quality, and different drying methods affect the antioxidant content differently. According to the results of the experiments, the drying method has a considerable impact on the energy usage and quality of dried raspberries. Compared with the HAD and MWD treatments, both FD and MIVD‐T50 showed better nutrient content preservation and antioxidant activity, which may be caused by the lower temperature drying process of FD or the stronger efficiency of MIVD‐T50. However, the drying time of FD is longer, and the energy consumption is higher. Therefore, MIVD‐T50 is a promising raspberry drying technology with low energy consumption, a short drying time, and high quality. It has huge development potential and broad commercial scale production market prospects.
Customized scan bodies to facilitate intraoral scanning for full arch implant prosthesis: A dental technique
Authors: Saaedi Tarek Mohamed Al Sayed El , Thabet Yasmine Galaleldin
Published: July 2023

This article presents the design of customized resin scan bodies with different forms and their use to facilitate intraoral scanning of a maxillary full arch implant case with five implants. The aim is to limit the distance between the scan bodies and to create definite landmarks to facilitate the scanning process in full arch implant cases.
The effect of different abutment and restorative crown materials on stress distribution in single‐unit implant‐supported restorations: A 3D finite element stress analysis
Authors: Gökçimen Gülsüm , Durkan Rukiye , Deste Gökay Gonca , Oyar Perihan
Published: July 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of restorative materials with or without resin content, modeled on zirconia and titanium abutment materials, on the stress distribution on the alveolar bone, implant, and prosthetic crowns with a 3D finite element stress analysis.

Material and Methods

Titanium and zirconia abutments were combined with three implant‐supported crown materials (polymer infiltrated hybrid ceramic (PICN), lithium disilicate (LD), and zirconia‐reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS)) to create six experimental groups. The 40 × 30 × 20 mm alveolar bone, 3.75 × 10 mm implant, esthetic abutment, and maxillary first premolar crown bonded over the abutment were the components of the finite element models. On the lingual cusp of the crown, the 150 N occlusal loading was applied in the buccolingual direction at a 30° angle. Equivalent von Mises stress and maximum and minimum principal stresses were used for both the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the stress distribution of the created models.

Results

The von Mises stress in implant and abutment did not differ according to the crown materials. The use of a zirconia abutment resulted in higher von Mises stress values in the abutment but lower stress values in the implant. The highest stress values were obtained in ZLS (196.65 MPa) and LD (194.05 MPa) crowns. The use of titanium abutments, regardless of crown materials, resulted in higher von Mises stress values in restorative crowns than in zirconia abutments. The principal stress values in alveolar bone showed similar distribution and concentration in all models.

Conclusions

Changes in crown material did not affect stress distribution in the implant and peripheral bone. However, the zirconia esthetic abutment resulted in a lower stress concentration on the implant.
Physiology of lipid digestion and absorption in poultry: An updated review on the supplementation of exogenous emulsifiers in broiler diets
Authors: Oketch Elijah O. , Wickramasuriya Samiru S. , Oh Sungtaek , Choi Jun Seung , Heo Jung Min
Published: July 2023

Lipids are a concentrated source of energy with at least twice as much energy as the same amount of carbohydrates and protein. Dietary lipids provide a practical alternative toward increasing the dietary energy density of feeds for high‐performing modern broilers. However, the digestion and absorption of dietary lipids are much more complex than that of the other macronutrients. In addition, young birds are physiologically limited in their capacity to utilise dietary fats and oils effectively. The use of dietary emulsifiers as one of the strategies aimed at improving fat utilisation has been reported to elicit several physiological responses including improved fat digestibility and growth performance. In practical terms, this allows for the incorporation of lipids into lower‐energy diets without compromising broiler performance. Such an approach may potentially lower feed costs and raise revenue gains. The current review revisits lipids and the different roles that they perform in diets and whole‐body metabolism. Additional information on the process of dietary lipid digestion and absorption in poultry; and the physiological limitation brought about by age on lipid utilisation in the avian gastrointestinal tract have been discussed. Subsequently, the physiological responses resulting from the dietary supplementation of exogenous emulsifiers as a strategy for improved lipid utilisation in broiler nutrition are appraised. Suggestions of nascent areas for a better understanding of exogenous emulsifiers have been highlighted.
The effect of sleep restriction, with or without high‐intensity interval exercise, on behavioural alertness and mood state in young healthy males
Authors: Saner Nicholas J. , Lee Matthew J‐C. , Pitchford Nathan W. , Broatch James R. , Roach Greg D. , Bishop David J. , Bartlett Jonathan D.
Published: July 2023

Mood state and alertness are negatively affected by sleep loss, and can be positively influenced by exercise. However, the potential mitigating effects of exercise on sleep‐loss‐induced changes in mood state and alertness have not been studied comprehensively. Twenty‐four healthy young males were matched into one of three, 5‐night sleep interventions: normal sleep (NS; total sleep time (TST) per night = 449 ± 22 min), sleep restriction (SR; TST = 230 ± 5 min), or sleep restriction and exercise (SR + EX; TST = 235 ± 5 min, plus three sessions of high‐intensity interval exercise (HIIE)). Mood state was assessed using the profile of mood states (POMS) and a daily well‐being questionnaire. Alertness was assessed using psychomotor vigilance testing (PVT). Following the intervention, POMS total mood disturbance scores significantly increased for both the SR and SR + EX groups, and were greater than the NS group (SR vs NS; 31.0 ± 10.7 A.U., [4.4–57.7 A.U.], p = 0.020; SR + EX vs NS; 38.6 ± 14.9 A.U., [11.1–66.1 A.U.], p = 0.004). The PVT reaction times increased in the SR (p = 0.049) and SR + EX groups (p = 0.033) and the daily well‐being questionnaire revealed increased levels of fatigue in both groups (SR; p = 0.041, SR + EX; p = 0.026) during the intervention. Despite previously demonstrated physiological benefits of performing three sessions of HIIE during five nights of sleep restriction, the detriments to mood, wellness, and alertness were not mitigated by exercise in this study. Whether alternatively timed exercise sessions or other exercise protocols could promote more positive outcomes on these factors during sleep restriction requires further research.
Determination of temporal changes in hepatic drug‐oxidizing capacity using plasma metabolite/caffeine ratios in non‐pregnant and pregnant goats
Authors: Altan Feray , Cizmeci Sakine Ulkum , Kose Ayse Merve , Corum Orhan , Uney Kamil
Published: July 2023

Caffeine (CF) is a metabolic probe drug used in the determination of the hepatic drug‐oxidizing capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate temporal changes in the hepatic drug‐oxidizing capacity using plasma metabolite/CF ratios in non‐pregnant goats (n = 11) and pregnant goats (n = 23). CF (5 mg/kg, intravenous) was administered in six periods (Period 1–6) with 45 days between two periods. The plasma levels of CF and its metabolites, theophylline (TP), theobromine (TB) and paraxanthine (PX), were determined by HPLC‐UV. To evaluate hepatic drug‐oxidizing capacity in terms of enzymes that play a role in CF metabolism, the plasma metabolic ratios including TB/CF, PX/CF, TP/CF and TB + PX + TP/CF were determined at 10 h following CF administration. Plasma metabolite/CF ratios were similar between non‐pregnant and pregnant goats. However, plasma metabolite/CF ratios in Period 3 (45 days in pregnant goats) were significantly higher than those other periods in both pregnant and non‐pregnant goats. The effect of pregnancy may not be observed on drugs that are substrates of enzymes involved in CF metabolism in goats.