bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The creative industries effects on economic performance in the time of pandemic
Authors: Che Arshad Noraziah , Irijanto Tubagus Thresna
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate empirically whether creative industries are boosting the economic performance of the ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam) during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applied a random effect and fixed effect estimation approach to investigate the impact of creative industries’ development (government expenditure on education, export of creative industries, trade openness, innovation index, sukuk issuances) on the economic performance spanning from 2010 to 2020.

Findings

The economic performance was proxied by two dependent variables, namely, the gross domestic product and the Misery Index. On top of containment and vaccination measures, the findings demonstrated that creative industries are enhancing economic growth in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, supported by the significant role of the sukuk market as a vital contributor to economic growth.

Originality/value

This study is unique because it provides novel and empirical results of the creative industries’ development on economic performance in the ASEAN countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Resilience of an evolved retail agglomeration: case of rural periodic markets in emerging economies
Authors: Satyam Satyam , Aithal Rajesh K. , Pradhan Debasis
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The objective of the study is to understand the reasons for the resilience of rural periodic markets. Small retailers patronise these markets, and by identifying the reasons for their continued market participation, an attempt has been made to explain the continued existence of these traditional evolved retail agglomerations.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research design was adopted for the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 small retailers, and responses were used to identify the reasons for their continued market participation. A mix of purposeful and snowball sampling was used to select the respondents.

Findings

In a novel endeavour, this study presents rural periodic markets as an evolved retail agglomeration. It identifies six factors responsible for the continued participation of small retailers in these markets. Seven attributes of the rural periodic market, an evolved retail agglomeration, were also identified which contribute to the resilience of these markets.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the literature on retail agglomerations and identifies the reasons for the continued market participation of small retailers, suggesting some trends about their future in emerging economies.

Social implications

Rural periodic markets have affected the overall well-being of surrounding villages by providing opportunities to participate in many ways. This has been identified as a reason for the economic growth of the area.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to explore the resilience of periodic markets from the perspective of small retailers by identifying the reasons for their continued market participation.
Income inequality in Pakistan
Authors: Islam Tanweer Ul , Abrar Mahnoor , Arshad Ramsha , Akram Noor
Published: June 2022

Purpose

In most developing countries like Pakistan, the gap between rich and poor has widened over time. This polarization in the society hinders economic growth and acts as a barrier for development and well-being. The proportion of income distribution varies across the population sub-groups in Pakistan. Therefore, it is important to study the income distribution effects across the four provinces of Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

This study attempts to explore the root causes of income inequality and its changes in a dynamic context across the four provinces of Pakistan over a decade (2005–2006 to 2015–2016) by using a regression-based inequality decomposition method.

Findings

Age, gender and higher education are the most prominent factors explaining the level of inequality across the four provinces of Pakistan. Higher education enhances the level of inequality in all provinces but contributes negatively to its changes except for Balochistan. Skilled agricultural and fishery workers in Balochistan have contributed significantly to reducing the level of inequality over the decade but not to its changes. Healthy contribution of the unpaid family workers in economic activities has reduced the level of inequality in Punjab and Balochistan and contributed positively to the change in income inequality. Employer or self-employed workers enhance the level of income inequality but contribute negatively to its changes for Punjab and Balochistan.

Originality/value

To date, inequality literature on Pakistan focuses on economic growth and poverty. A handful studies focus on the determinants of income inequality in a static context. This study goes beyond the static decomposition tools and attempts to explore the determinants of inequality in a dynamic context.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-09-2021-0573.
Does occupational gender composition affect women's chances of becoming managers? Evidence from France, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK
Authors: di Paola Vanessa , Dupray Arnaud , Moullet Stéphanie
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The authors aim to explore the link between the gender composition of occupations and women's access to managerial positions in four societal contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

Using EU-LFS data for 2015, the authors measure the relative gender equality performance of France, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK regarding women's access to managerial positions, defined as levels 1 and 2 of the 2008 ISCO classification coupled with the exercise of managerial responsibilities.

Findings

While gender-mixed working environments offer the largest number of managerial positions, they are also where women are least likely to reach such a position. Overall, except in Switzerland, women fare best in male-dominated occupations. Women do not appear to fare worse than men in female-dominated occupations, except in France.

Research limitations/implications

The findings question the relevance of policies aimed simply at reducing occupational gender segregation without providing safeguards against the deleterious effects that gender mixing may have on women's career advancement.

Originality/value

The disparities between countries found here show that individual career advancement towards a managerial position may be driven by the social policies, gender ideology and institutions of the societal context. Examining how the societal dimensions involved in the poor performance of women in France and Switzerland are likely to differ sheds light on mechanisms behind the gender gap in management.
Linking managerial capital with explorative strategy and growth in China
Authors: Neill Stern , Wu Minhua , Noel Terry W.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to consider the effect of managerial capital (psychological, intellectual and social) on business strategy and growth. Per upper echelon theory, managerial capital enables high-level managers to drive firm performance in uniquely personal ways. The authors test the effects of managerial capital on a manager’s dominant regulatory focus (promotion and prevention balance) and whether having an explorative strategy mediates the relationship between dominant regulatory focus and the percentage of business unit growth expected from new lines of business.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data from a sample of 211 Chinese executives were used to assess measurement and test hypotheses by means of structural equation modeling.

Findings

Results indicate that the direction of business strategy is influenced by the balance between promotion and prevention focus, which is shaped by managers’ risk propensity, product-market familiarity and bonding tie diversity. Explorative strategy, in turn, mediates the relationship between dominant regulatory focus and expectations of innovative growth.

Originality/value

Examining the effects of managerial capital on innovative firm strategy reveals the role of psychosocial traits of decision-makers.
Evaluating delays in patients treated with post‐operative radiation therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Marwah Ravi , Goonetilleke Daniel , Smith Justin , Chilkuri Madhavi
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Delays in commencing post‐operative radiation therapy (PORT) and prolongation of overall treatment times (OTT) are associated with reduced overall survival and higher recurrence rates in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The objective of this study was to evaluate treatment delays, factors contributing to those delays and to explore strategies to mitigate them.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with mucosal HNSCC at Townsville University Hospital treated with curative intent surgery and PORT between June 2011 and June 2019. The proportion of patients who experienced delays in commencing PORT (>6 weeks) and OTT were evaluated and reasons for these delays were explored.

Results

The study included 94 patients of which 70% experienced PORT delay. Surgery at an external facility (81% vs 56%, P = 0.006) and longer post‐operative length of stay (P = 0.011) were significantly associated with a higher incidence of PORT delay. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients had a higher rate of PORT delay (89% vs 68.2%, P = 0.198). Significant delays were noted from time of surgery to radiation oncology (RO) consult and from RO consult to commencement of radiation treatment.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that the prevalence of PORT delay for patients with HNSCC remains high with room for improvement. Potential strategies to improve delays include developing effective care coordination, addressing specific needs of Indigenous patients, implementing reliable automated tracking and communication systems between teams and harnessing existing electronic referral systems.
Lithuania: Political Developments and Data in 2021
Authors: JASTRAMSKIS MAŽVYDAS , RAMONAITĖ AINĖ
Published: June 2022

The main political developments in Lithuania in 2021 were mayoral elections in three municipalities, tensions in the Cabinet related to management of the COVID‐19 pandemic and a conflict between Lithuania and China, splits in the parliamentary political groups, and party leadership changes. Much of the article is devoted to issue politics, including the migration crisis, and social unrests directed against both the government's pandemic measures and the progressive agenda of the ruling parties.
Surveys of clinician and patient attitudes to an add‐on for in vitro fertilisation
Authors: Anderson Karyn , Blaxall Michelle , Lensen Sarah , Farquhar Cindy
Published: June 2022

Background

Add‐ons at the time of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) have become commonplace, despite a general lack of evidence that they are effective and safe. The ‘Colorado Protocol’ is a commonly used add‐on consisting of aspirin, steroid and an antibiotic. Before commencing planning for a clinical trial evaluating the Colorado Protocol, researchers and funders need evidence that the Colorado Protocol is being prescribed, and to be assured that sufficient numbers of participants can be recruited for a clinical trial.

Aims

To survey fertility clinicians and patients on attitudes toward use of add‐ons during IVF, willingness of patients to be randomly assigned to an add‐on trial treatment or placebo, and what would be the clinically meaningful outcomes, using the Colorado Protocol as a test case.

Materials and methods

Two online surveys were conducted: clinicians from fertility clinics across the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand; and patients from Auckland‐based clinics and NZ patient support groups.

Results

Of 58 clinicians, 44 (75%) had recommended an add‐on within the preceding year. Thirty‐nine (67%) clinicians were aware of the Colorado Protocol, with 17 (29%) having recommended it within the preceding year. Of the 289 patients, 80% indicated willingness to take trial medications during IVF, and 68% were willing to be randomly assigned to the placebo arm of a trial. The median perceived minimum clinically important difference in live births in both samples was 5%.

Conclusions

A future trial of this add‐on in IVF would be supported by patients in the context of the New Zealand fertility healthcare system.
Extinct species identification from late middle Pleistocene and earlier Upper Pleistocene bone fragments and tools not recognizable from their osteomorphological study by an enhanced proteomics protocol
Authors: Bray Fabrice , Flament Stéphanie , Abrams Grégory , Bonjean Dominique , Rolando Christian , Tokarski Caroline , Auguste Patrick
Published: June 2022

Ancient preserved molecules offer the opportunity of gaining a deeper knowledge on their biological past. However, the development of a proteomic workflow remains a challenge. The analysis of fossils must involve a low quantity of material to avoid damaging the samples. In this study an enhanced proteomic protocol was applied to 5‐milligram samples of about 130,000‐year‐old mammalian bones ranging from the end of the Middle Pleistocene up to the earlier Upper Pleistocene, excavated from Scladina Cave (Sclayn, Belgium). Using sequence homology with modern sequences, a biological classification was successfully achieved and the associated taxonomic ranks to each bone were identified consistently with the information gained from osteomorphological studies and palaeoenvironmental and palaeodietary data. Amino acid substitutions on collagens were identified, thus providing new information on extinct species sequences and helping in taxonomy‐based clustering. Considering samples with no osteomorphological information, such as two fragments of bone retouchers, proteomics successfully identified the families providing paleontologists new information on these objects. Combining osteomorphology studies and amino acid variations identified by proteomics, one of the retouchers was potentially identified as belonging to the Ursus spelaeus species.
Robot‐assisted vs ultrasonography‐guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block vs local anaesthesia in urology: results of the UROTAP randomized trial
Authors: Rosen Daniel C. , Winoker Jared S. , Mullen Greg , Moshier Erin , Sim Alan , Pathak Prachee , Wagaskar Vinayak , Sfakianos John P. , Reddy Avinash , Palese Michael , Badani Ketan K. , Wiklund Peter , Tewari Ashutosh , Mehrazin Reza
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To prospectively analyse robotically administered transperitoneal transversus abdominis plane (robot‐assisted transversus abdominis plane [RTAP]) compared with both ultrasonography‐guided transversus abdominis plane (UTAP) and local anaesthesia (LA) with regard to pain control and narcotic use in patients undergoing robot‐assisted prostatectomy (RARP) or robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN).

Subjects/Patients and Methods

Patients undergoing RARP or RAPN were randomized in a single‐blind 2:2:1 fashion to RTAP:UTAP:LA, with the study powered to evaluate superiority of UTAP to LA and non‐inferiority of RTAP to UTAP. We compared time to deliver the block, operating room time, postoperative pain scores using the visual analogue scale, and intra‐operative and postoperative analgesia consumption.

Results

A total of 143 patients were randomized and received treatment. There was no significant difference in patient baseline characteristics. UTAP did not demonstrate superiority to LA in terms of pain control. RTAP and LA were faster to administer than UTAP (time to perform block 2.5 vs 2.5 vs 6.25 min; P < 0.001). There was no difference in postoperative narcotic, acetaminophen, ketorolac or ondansetron requirements among the three groups (P > 0.05). The study was terminated early due to the unexpected efficacy of LA.

Conclusion

This study showed that UTAP and RTAP do not provide superior pain control to LA. The efficiency, effectiveness, and ease of administration of LA make it an excellent option for first‐line therapy for postoperative analgesia.
Consuming and consumed: Biotic interactions of African mistletoes across different trophic levels
Authors: Krasylenko Yuliya , Kinge Tonjock Rosemary , Sosnovsky Yevhen , Atamas Natalia , Tofel Katamssadan Haman , Horielov Oleksii , Rambold Gerhard
Published: June 2022

Mistletoes, as perennial hemiparasitic angiosperms that parasitize woody plants, are an important component of the highly diverse, endemically rich and mosaic African flora, which is attributed to the Holarctic, Paleotropical, and Cape Floristic kingdoms. The richness of African mistletoes from the Loranthaceae and Viscaceae, along with many aspects of their biology and ecology, was covered in the comprehensive monograph of Polhill and Wiens (1998,Mistletoes of Africa, Royal Botanic Gardens). The present review is devoted to the taxonomic and functional diversity of symbionts associated with mistletoes in Africa and adjacent islands that contribute to the major biological functions of mistletoes, such as establishment and growth, nutrition and fitness, resistance to external stresses, as well as pollination and dispersal. These functions are favored by more or less distinct sets of associated bionts, including host plants, animal herbivores, frugivorous birds, nectar‐ and pollen‐feeding insects, and endophytic microorganisms. A separate section is devoted to mistletoe epiparasitism as a special case of host selection. All these organisms, which are components of the mistletoe‐associated community and multitrophic network, define the role of mistletoes as keystone species. Some aspects of the symbiont communities are compared here with patterns reported for mistletoes from other continents, particularly to identify potential relationships that remain to be explored for the African species. In addition, properties of endophytic mistletoe associates that contribute to the plant's communication with coexisting organisms are considered. We also highlight the important gaps of knowledge of the functioning of mistletoe‐associated communities in Africa and indicate some applied issues that need future attention.

Abstract in French is available with online material.
Insights into human‐wildlife coexistence through temporal activity pattern overlaps in a neglected tropical forest in India
Authors: Aditya Vikram , Ganesh Thyagarajan
Published: June 2022

Tropical forests experience high levels of anthropogenic pressure from human activities for the collection of forest products, hunting, and movement of domestic animals that affect circadian temporal activity patterns of mammals. Areas with different protection statuses might show differences in mammal circadian activity because of variation in human use intensity. In this study, we assess if human activity could be a predictor shaping the mammal circadian activity patterns in the Eastern Ghats, a neglected tropical forest landscape in India that experiences high human activity. We present results from camera trap surveys of mammal circadian temporal activity patterns in Papikonda National Park (PNP) and its buffer in the Northern Eastern Ghats hill region. We observed a high overlap between human and mammal activity patterns, particularly with herbivorous species. Mammals displayed high crepuscular activity, particularly herbivores; carnivores, however, were also active during the day. This study provides the first insights on circadian temporal activity patterns of mammals in a protected area and its buffer in India's poorly known Eastern Ghats. We discuss these findings in the context of hunting pressure by humans, protection status, and its implications for mammal behavior in the Eastern Ghats and tropical forests across India.

Abstract in Telugu is available with online material.
Most lichens are rare, and degree of rarity is mediated by lichen traits and biotic partners
Authors: Manzitto‐Tripp Erin A. , Lendemer James C. , McCain Christy M.
Published: June 2022

Aim

Understanding ecological distributions of global biodiversity is stymied by incomplete knowledge of drivers of species rarity. These include trade‐offs among life‐history traits that impact dispersability, competition, reproductive output and speciation and extinction. In this study, we aim to understand potential drivers of rarity in North American lichens.

Location and methods

With nearly 5500 species and a third of global species richness, North America is a hotspot for lichen biodiversity. Here, we employ a continental‐scale dataset on North American lichens to test potential drivers of species rarity. For all species, we determined coarse‐scale geographical distribution along with the mode of reproduction, substrate, growth form and photobiont type.

Results

Our analyses found that most lichens are rare and known only from one or two ecoregions. Rare species are not equally distributed across ecoregions: the Eastern temperate hardwood forests and wet tropical forests of southern Florida harbour the vast majority of rare species. Wet to seasonally wet ecoregions of western North America are home to most remaining narrowly distributed lichen species. In contrast, northern ecoregions along with drier ecoregions including the Great Plains and deserts harbour primarily widespread species. Lichen rarity is significantly associated with species that live on bark or leaves, those with aTrentepohliaphotobiont, those that are small, crustose and live closely appressed to their substrates, and those that reproduce sexually, dispersing only the mycobiont. North American lichens are represented unevenly across trait categories, with 65% of them having a crustose growth form, 73% bearing aTrebouxiaor other green algal photobiont, 78% living on bark or rock and 77% reproducing sexually.

Main conclusions

Our study, spanning an entire continental‐scale biota, helps to establish a generalized relationship among life‐history traits and rarity in lichens and highlights the significance of biotic interactions in structuring biogeographical distributions.
The relationship between phonological processing and arithmetic in children with learning disabilities
Authors: Matejko Anna A. , Lozano Melanie , Schlosberg Nicole , McKay Cameron , Core Lucy , Revsine Cambria , Davis Shelby N. , Eden Guinevere F.
Published: June 2022

Phonological processing skills have not only been shown to be important for reading skills, but also for arithmetic skills. Specifically, previous research in typically developing children has suggested that phonological processing skills may be more closely related to arithmetic problems that are solved through fact retrieval (e.g., remembering the solution from memory) than procedural computation (e.g., counting). However, the relationship between phonological processing and arithmetic in children with learning disabilities (LDs) has not been investigated. Yet, understanding these relationships in children with LDs is especially important because it can help elucidate the cognitive underpinnings of math difficulties, explain why reading and math disabilities frequently co‐occur, and provide information on which cognitive skills to target for interventions. In 63 children with LDs, we examined the relationship between different phonological processing skills (phonemic awareness, phonological memory, and rapid serial naming) and arithmetic. We distinguished between arithmetic problems that tend to be solved with fact retrieval versus procedural computation to determine whether phonological processing skills are differentially related to these two arithmetic processes. We found that phonemic awareness, but not phonological memory or rapid serial naming, was related to arithmetic fact retrieval. We also found no association between any phonological processing skills and procedural computation. These results converge with prior research in typically developing children and suggest that phonemic awareness is also related to arithmetic fact retrieval in children with LD. These results raise the possibility that phonemic awareness training might improve both reading and arithmetic fact retrieval skills.

Research Highlights

Relationships between phonological processing and various arithmetic skills were investigated in children with learning disabilities (LDs) for the first time.

We found phonemic awareness was related to arithmetic involving fact retrieval, but not to arithmetic involving procedural computation in LDs.

The results suggest that phonemic awareness is not only important to skilled reading, but also to some aspects of arithmetic.

These results raise the question of whether intervention in phonemic awareness might improve arithmetic fact retrieval skills.
The association of long‐acting insulin analogue use versus neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin use and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events among individuals with type 2 diabetes: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Brunetti Vanessa C. , Yu Oriana Hoi Yun , Platt Robert W. , Filion Kristian B.
Published: June 2022

Aims

To compare the risk of cardiovascular outcomes associated with long‐acting insulin analogues versus neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a population‐based retrospective cohort study using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum, linked with hospitalization and vital statistics data. Patients with type 2 diabetes who initiated basal insulin treatment between 2002 and 2018 were included in the study. Exposure was defined as current use of long‐acting insulin analogues or NPH insulin, defined using a time‐varying approach. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; a composite endpoint of myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke and cardiovascular death). We used a marginal structural Cox proportional hazards model to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for MACE with current use of long‐acting insulin analogues versus NPH insulin, and in secondary analyses, by long‐acting insulin molecule.

Results

Our cohort included 57 334 patients. A total of 3494 MACE occurred over a mean follow‐up of 1.6 years (incidence rate 37.4, 95% CI 36.2 to 38.7 per 1000 person‐years). Long‐acting insulin analogues were associated with a decreased risk of MACE compared to NPH insulin (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.96).

Conclusions

Current use of long‐acting insulin analogues is associated with a modestly reduced risk of MACE compared to current use of NPH insulin among patients with type 2 diabetes. This study could have important implications for drug plan managers and guideline‐writing committees for recommendations of insulin treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Family communication and the efficacy of family focused therapy in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis with comorbid anxiety
Authors: O'Brien Cannon Arianna C. , Caporino Nicole E. , O'Brien Mary P. , Miklowitz David J. , Addington Jean M. , Cannon Tyrone D.
Published: June 2022

Aim: Comorbid anxiety disorder is related to greater illness severity among individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis, but its potential role in moderating response to Family Focused Therapy (FFT) for CHR is unexamined. We investigated whether comorbid anxiety disorder in CHR individuals is associated with less constructive communication during family problem‐solving interactions, whether their communication skills differentially improve after FFT, and whether FFT is effective in reducing anxiety in this population.

Methods: Individuals recruited into the second phase of the 8‐site North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS2) participated (N = 129). They were randomly assigned to 18‐sessions of FFT‐CHR or three‐sessions of Enhanced Care (EC). Participants completed a diagnostic interview at pre‐treatment, a family interaction task at pre‐treatment and 6‐months, and a self‐report anxiety measure at pretreatment, 6 and 12‐months.

Results: Individuals at CHR with comorbid anxiety engaged in more negative and fewer positive behaviours during family problem‐solving interactions at pre‐treatment than did those without comorbid anxiety. There was a significant interaction between anxiety diagnosis and time on interactional behaviour scores, such that individuals at CHR with an anxiety diagnosis showed a greater decrease in negative behaviours and increase in positive behaviours from baseline to 6‐months than those without anxiety disorder(s) regardless of treatment condition. However, individuals' self‐reported anxiety symptoms decreased more in FFT‐CHR than in EC from pre‐treatment to 12‐month follow‐up, regardless of anxiety diagnoses.

Conclusions: Individuals at CHR with symptoms of anxiety benefit from family interventions in showing reductions in anxiety and improvements in family communication.
Pesticide resistance in arthropods: Ecology matters too
Authors: Bras Audrey , Roy Amit , Heckel David G. , Anderson Peter , Karlsson Green Kristina
Published: June 2022

Pesticide resistance development is an example of rapid contemporary evolution that poses immense challenges for agriculture. It typically evolves due to the strong directional selection that pesticide treatments exert on herbivorous arthropods. However, recent research suggests that some species are more prone to evolve pesticide resistance than others due to their evolutionary history and standing genetic variation. Generalist species might develop pesticide resistance especially rapidly due to pre‐adaptation to handle a wide array of plant allelochemicals. Moreover, research has shown that adaptation to novel host plants could lead to increased pesticide resistance. Exploring such cross‐resistance between host plant range evolution and pesticide resistance development from an ecological perspective is needed to understand its causes and consequences better. Much research has, however, been devoted to the molecular mechanisms underlying pesticide resistance while both the ecological contexts that could facilitate resistance evolution and the ecological consequences of cross‐resistance have been under‐studied. Here, we take an eco‐evolutionary approach and discuss circumstances that may facilitate cross‐resistance in arthropods and the consequences cross‐resistance may have for plant–arthropod interactions in both target and non‐target species and species interactions. Furthermore, we suggest future research avenues and practical implications of an increased ecological understanding of pesticide resistance evolution.
The hunt for the “holy grail”: Condensed tannins in the perennial forage legume white clover (Trifolium repens L.)
Authors: Caradus John R. , Voisey Christine R. , Cousin Grieg R. , Kaur Rupinder , Woodfield Derek R. , Blanc Alexia , Roldan Marissa B.
Published: June 2022

Forage legumes such as white and red clover improve the nutritional quality of grazed pasture but can cause bloat. Their rapid fermentation in the rumen also contributes to environmental issues through higher methane emissions and urinary nitrogen losses. Condensed tannins are known to reduce urinary nitrogen and methane production from grazing animals, reduce bloat, reduce internal parasite burden, and improve animal productivity. Several forage legumes including birdsfoot trefoil and sainfoin do have good levels of condensed tannins but unfortunately these species fail to persist in intensively grazed pasture systems. Conventional breeding approaches including mutagenesis and phenotypic selection have failed to deliver condensed tannins in legumes, such as white clover, red clover or lucerne, that do persist under grazing. A recent advance using a molecular biology approach has identified a transcription factor or master switch that can 'turn on' the condensed tannin pathway present in white clover allowing biologically significant levels of condensed tannin expression in leaf tissue. In vitro tests have demonstrated that the condensed tannins produced in white clover leaves can bind protein at a pH 6.5, as found in the rumen, and then release them at pH 2.5, the pH in the abomasum, before entering the small intestine for amino acid absorption. Additional tests have demonstrated that these condensed tannins can reduce methane production by up to 15.7% in the first 6 h of incubation. The journey to this point, and the challenges ahead to deliver white clover cultivars with condensed tannin expression, is described.
The 6th international cell senescence association conference
Authors: Kawamoto Shimpei , Matsumoto Tomonori , Takasugi Masaki , Hara Eiji
Published: June 2022

The 6th conference of the international cell senescence association (ICSA) on the theme of “A New Era of Senescence Research: The Challenge of Controlling Aging and Cancer” was held on December 12–15, 2021 in Osaka, Japan as a Hybrid Meeting. The conference brought together basic and translational scientists to discuss recent developments in the field of cellular senescence research. In recent years, the study of cellular senescence has become a very hot field of research. It is clear that the ICSA, founded in 2015, has played an important role in this process. The 6th ICSA conference has provided another opportunity for exchanges and new connections between basic and translational scientists. The scientific program consisted of keynote lectures, invited talks, short talks selected from abstracts, a poster session, and luncheon seminars sponsored by the Japanese Society of Anti‐Aging Medicine. In the Meet the Editor session, Dr Christoph Schmitt, Editor‐in‐Chief of Nature Metabolism, gave a short presentation about the journal and answered questions from the audience. Being a hybrid meeting, there was only so much that could be done, but we hope that the meeting was fruitful.
Intracranial and heart valve calcifications in hemodialysis patients—Interrelationship and clinical impact
Authors: Fanadka Feda , Grumberg Tania , Topaz Guy , Benchetrit Sydney , Zitman‐Gal Tali , Wand Ori , Cohen‐Hagai Keren
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Arterial calcification is an integral component of active atherosclerosis and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerosis is a systemic, life‐threating disease that may occur at different sites and in various clinical presentations. Intracranial and valvular calcifications are common among dialysis patients and have been associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical impact of valvular and intracranial arterial calcifications on mortality among chronic hemodialysis patients.

Methods

A blinded neuroradiologist graded intracranial calcifications (ICC) of all hemodialysis patients who underwent brain computerized tomography (CT) from 2015 to 2017 in our institution. Valvular calcifications were assessed by echocardiography. Only hemodialysis patients with available echocardiography and brain CT were included.

Findings

This study included 119 patients (mean age 70.6 ± 12.6 years, 57.1% men, and mean dialysis vintage 25.8 ± 42.6 months). Among the cohort, 19 (16%) had no cardiac or brain calcifications and 65 (54.6%) had both valvular and intracranial calcifications. Considering the patients with no calcification as the reference group yielded adjusted odds ratios for all‐cause mortality of 3.68 (95%CI 1.55–8.75) among patients with any brain calcifications, p = 0.002. While valvular calcifications alone did not increase the 1‐year mortality rate, ICC was the most important predictor of all‐cause 1‐year mortality in the study cohort.

Discussion

We found an independent association between ICC and the risk of death among hemodialysis patients. Assessing ICC may contribute to the risk stratification of hemodialysis patients. These calcifications are no less important than valvular calcifications.
Trends in the psychosocial and mental health of HIV‐positive women in China from 2015 to 2020: Results from two cross‐sectional surveys
Authors: Wang Qian , Fong Vivian W. I. , Qin Qinghua , Yao Hui , Zheng Jiarui , Wang Xiaoyan , Wang Ailing , Gao Qun , Mo Phoenix K. H.
Published: June 2022

Background

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be one of the major public health challenges in the world. Despite the advancement in medication and changes in views towards HIV in Chinese society, little is known about the changes in the psychosocial and mental health of HIV‐positive women in recent years.

Objectives

The present study examined the change in depression, anxiety, stigma, relationship with the child, intimacy with a partner, and social support from family, friends, and health professionals, for HIV‐positive women in China from 2015 to 2020.

Methods

Two cross‐sectional surveys were conducted in 2015 and 2020, and 429 and 382 HIV‐positive women were recruited from the Women's Health Department in Yunnan and Guangxi, China between November 2015 to May 2016, and November 2019 to January 2020, respectively.

Results

After controlling for significant sociodemographic variables, participants recruited in 2019–2020 had significantly lower levels of depression and anxiety and higher scores on emotional and tangible support from friends. On the other hand, they had lower scores in intimacy with partners and emotional and tangible support from family. No significant changes were found in stigma, relationship with the child, and support from health professionals.

Conclusion

Results provide important information on the changes in psychosocial and mental health, which offer insights into the design of interventions to promote psychosocial and mental health among HIV‐positive women in China.

Patient or Public Contribution

HIV‐positive women contributed to the data of this study. Health care professionals were involved in the discussion of the methods and results.
TV serials and movies to boost intercultural communicative competence in Turkish EFL context
Authors: Çakır İsmail
Published: June 2022

Developing intercultural communicative competence in foreign language teaching contexts has been a challenge for many teachers, and they usually tend to neglect this issue because of many reasons, such as lack of knowledge, time constraints, or workload. However, integrating exciting and motivating tools such as movies and TV serials into foreign language teaching syllabi would meet this need. Therefore, this study intended to explore the contributions of these tools. Seventy‐six prospective English teachers studying at a state university participated in the study, and the data were collected through field notes and self‐reflection reports. The results indicate that the participants benefit from TV serials or movies in developing their intercultural awareness.
Video‐blogs and linguistic simplification for students with intellectual disability
Authors: Fajardo Inmaculada , Ávila Vicenta , Delgado Pablo , Gómez‐Merino Nadina , Salmerón Ladislao
Published: June 2022

Background

The Internet provides individuals with intellectual disability with access to information and participation in a broader society, but it also presents risks when content is difficult to comprehend. This study aimed to test whether students with intellectual disability enhanced their comprehension of online blogs as a function of the format (text vs. video) and linguistic simplification.

Method

Young students with intellectual disability read or watched text and video‐blog posts about environment, health, society, and technology in their original version or a linguistically simplified/easy‐to‐read version. Then, they completed tests that assessed their reading processing (e.g., calibration) and comprehension of blog content.

Results

Participants predicted that they would correctly answer 80% of the comprehension questions, but their average comprehension of the blog posts was 55%, regardless of the condition. Previous levels of students' reading comprehension skills predicted their blog comprehension scores and interacted with format and simplification. Those participants with higher reading comprehension skills learned more from non‐simplified than from simplified blog posts while those with lower levels of reading comprehension skills did not benefit from linguistic simplification nor video‐blog format although the difference with regard to higher comprehenders was lower in the video and simplified conditions.

Conclusions

Improving reading comprehension abilities of students with intellectual disability is essential to prevent the digital divide while linguistic simplification is not a useful accommodation and even counterproductive for higher reading comprehenders.
Convective and microwave drying kinetics and modeling of tomato slices, energy consumption, and efficiency
Authors: Guemouni Sara , Mouhoubi Khokha , Brahmi Fatiha , Dahmoune Farid , Belbahi Amine , Benyoub Cylia , Adjeroud‐Abdellatif Nawel , Atmani Karim , Bakhouche Hicham , Boulekbache‐Makhlouf Lila , Madani Khodir
Published: June 2022

This investigation presented presents the drying characteristics, and aimed to predict the drying kinetics of tomato slices (Lycopersicon esculentum MILL.) using convection and microwave methods. Hot air drying was carried out in a ventilated oven at 50, 60, 80, and 100°C temperatures and microwave drying was performed in domestic microwave using 300, 500, 800, and 900 W powers. Twenty‐two mathematical models were undertaken to predict the drying kinetics and the best model was chosen based on the highest R2 values and the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) and χ2 values. Drying kinetics, drying rate variation, diffusivity and energy consumption of both methods were evaluated. Fernando and Amarasinghe model and Sledz model were the best models for convective and microwave drying processes, respectively. Effective moisture diffusivity varied from 0.28 × 10−9 to 2.81 × 10−9 and from 1.32 × 10−9 to 21.52 × 10−9, while the activation energy was 27.64 kJ/mol and 5.71 W/g for convective and microwave drying processes, respectively. The energy consumption increases with increasing temperature or power, the reverse was observed for energy efficiency. Microwave drying process has the advantage of drying time reduction, low‐energy consumption, and high‐drying efficiency at a moderate high‐power level (900 W). Hence, it is recommended to apply this innovative process for drying tomato slices.
Clinical benefits of direct‐acting antivirals therapy in hepatitis C virus patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Liu Hui , Yang Xiao‐Li , Dong Zhao‐Ru , Chen Zhi‐Qiang , Hong Jian‐Guo , Wang Dong‐Xu , Li Tao
Published: June 2022

Background and Aim

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy on the clinical outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

We searched multiple electronic databases from database inception to June 14, 2021. Meta‐analyses were performed separately for HCC recurrence and overall survival (OS).

Results

A total of 23 studies were identified for the primary analysis. Compared with no intervention, pooled data showed significant benefit from DAAs therapy in reducing recurrence (adjusted HR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.41–0.74, P < 0.001; I2 = 66.6%, P < 0.001) and improving OS (adjusted HR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.16–0.83, P = 0.017; I2 = 90.7%, P < 0.001) of HCV‐related HCC patients. Compared with non‐responders, patients with sustained virologic response (SVR) had greater benefit from DAAs therapy in reducing recurrence (HR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.16–0.84, P = 0.017; I2 = 58.8%, P = 0.088) and improving OS (HR = 0.17; 95% CI 0.06–0.50; P = 0.001; I2 = 56.4%, P = 0.130). Though DAAs did not show significant advantages over IFN in reducing recurrence (adjusted HR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.72–1.28, P = 0.784; I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.805), there seems to be a trend toward OS benefit from DAAs therapy (adjusted HR = 0.11, 95% CI 0.01–1.19, P = 0.059).

Conclusion

DAAs therapy can prevent recurrence and improve OS of HCV‐related HCC patients, especially for patients with SVR. Further prospective randomized controlled trial is warranted to validate these results.
Isolated positive deamidated gliadin peptide‐IgG has limited diagnostic utility in coeliac disease
Authors: Vootukuru Nikil , Singh Harveen , Giles Edward
Published: June 2022

Aim

Deamidated gliadin peptide‐IgG (DGP‐IgG) antibody serology testing is widely utilised in screening for coeliac disease in Australia; however, it is used sparingly in Europe. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of a positive DGP‐IgG in the setting of a negative tissue transglutaminase‐IgA (tTG‐IgA) for gastrointestinal pathology among paediatric patients.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all children with an elevated DGP‐IgG in the setting of a negative tTG‐IgA who underwent gastroscopy over a 48‐month period (January 2015–December 2018) at a tertiary paediatric centre. They were identified utilising the electronic pathology database and demographic and clinical data were collected from electronic medical records. Patients who had previously been diagnosed with coeliac disease were on a gluten‐free diet or over the age of 18 were excluded from the study.

Results

Twenty‐six patients with an elevated DGP‐IgG in the setting of a negative tTG‐IgA underwent gastroscopy. Our study yielded a positive predictive value of 1/26 (3.9% CI 95% 0.7%, 18.9%) for the diagnosis of coeliac disease. Overall, there were 25 histopathological diagnoses including 1 diagnosis of coeliac disease among the total 26 patients who were positive DGP‐IgG and negative tTG‐IgA and underwent gastroscopy.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that an isolated positive DGP‐IgG has a very low diagnostic yield for coeliac disease in children and may be indicative of other gastrointestinal pathology.
Frequent alanine aminotransferase flares and promising antiviral therapy efficacy during the preschool age: An opportunity to achieve HBsAg loss in children with mother‐to‐child transmitted hepatitis B
Authors: Yao Naijuan , Wang Jia , Wu Yuchao , Zhu Yage , Feng Yali , Fu Shan , Liu Jinfeng , Yang Yuan , Zhao Yingren , Shi Lei , Yang Nan , Chen Tianyan
Published: June 2022

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) flare remains one of the determinants of initiating antiviral therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Insufficient data exist regarding children with CHB attributed to mother‐to‐child transmission. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of spontaneous ALT flares and identify factors affecting therapy‐induced hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss in the flare cohort. We retrospectively included untreated children with mother‐to‐child transmitted CHB. The primary outcomes were spontaneous ALT flares and therapy‐induced HBsAg loss. Among 83 untreated children, 73.5% (61/83) experienced spontaneous ALT flares during the median follow‐up of 14.6 months (range, 0.1–177.1 months), with 54.1% of the first ALT flares and 44.3% of ALT peaks occurring within 6 years of age. Thirty‐six of 61 children with ALT flares received antiviral therapy, nine (25.0%) of whom achieved therapy‐induced HBsAg loss with a median duration of 19.3 months (range, 6.5–56.2 months). The age of initiation of antiviral therapy was the sole predictor of therapy‐induced HBsAg loss (HR = 0.544, 95% CI 0.353–0.838, p = 0.006). The restricted cubic spline showed a negative relationship between the age of initiation of antiviral therapy and HBsAg loss and identified that 6.2 years of age discriminated children with therapy‐induced HBsAg loss. Kaplan–Meier estimations suggested a higher probability of HBsAg loss in children who started antiviral therapy before 6.2 years old (p = 0.03). In conclusion, asymptomatic ALT flares were frequent in preschool‐aged children with mother‐to‐child transmitted CHB, and early initiation of antiviral therapy showed promising effects in those children with ALT flares.