bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of apico‐coronal positioning of tissue‐level implants on marginal bone stability during supracrestal tissue height establishment: A multi‐center prospective study
Authors: Spinato Sergio , Bernardello Fabio , Lombardi Teresa , Soardi Carlo Maria , Messina Marcello , Zaffe Davide , Stacchi Claudio
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Supracrestal tissue height establishment is a crucial factor influencing peri‐implant marginal bone modifications prior to prosthesis delivery. If mucosal thickness is insufficient, peri‐implant marginal bone resorption occurs to allow appropriate supracrestal tissue height formation. This study evaluates if marginal bone resorption occurring around tissue‐level implants before prosthetic loading could be compensated by adapting apico‐coronal positioning to mucosal thickness.

Methods

Patients requiring placement of one single implant in the posterior mandible were treated with tissue‐level implants with a 3‐mm high transmucosal machined component and moderately rough implant body. Based upon vertical mucosal thickness measured after buccal flap reflection, implants were placed with the treated part: (group 1) 2 mm below crestal level in presence of thin mucosa (<2.5 mm); (group 2) 1 mm below the crestal level in presence of medium mucosa (2.5–3.5 mm); (group 3) at equicrestal level in presence of thick mucosa (>3.5 mm).

Results

Forty‐nine implants, placed in 49 patients were included in final analysis (group 1: 18 implants; group 2: 16 implants; group 3: 15 implants). Mean marginal bone resorption after 5 months of healing was 0.66 ± 0.49 mm, 0.32 ± 0.41 mm, and 0.22 ± 0.52 mm in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Inter‐group analysis highlighted significant differences between the three groups after ANOVA test (p = 0.025). However, adaptation of apico‐coronal implant positioning in relation to mucosal thickness, allowed to avoid early exposure of the treated surface in 100%, 93.7%, and 53.3% of the implants in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

Conclusion

During supracrestal tissue height formation, tissue‐level implants inserted adapting apico‐coronal positioning in relation to mucosal thickness exhibited greater marginal bone resorption at sites with thin mucosa than at sites with medium or thick mucosa. However, anticipating supracrestal tissue height establishment by adapting apico‐coronal implant positioning in relation to mucosal thickness may effectively prevent unwanted exposure of treated implant surface.
Biodiversity conservation funding in Bhutan: Thematic, temporal, and spatial trends over four decades
Authors: Devkota Dikshya , Miller Daniel C. , Wang Sonam W. , Brooks Jeremy S.
Published: August 2022

Access to sufficient financial resources is vital for effective biodiversity conservation. Although the importance of biodiversity conservation is widely recognized, lack of funding has been a significant impediment to achieving conservation goals. Yet, information on the allocation of conservation funding remains limited. This study addresses this gap by mapping conservation funding flows in Bhutan over the past four decades. We identified 249 projects totaling US$ 239.4 million allocated for biodiversity conservation in Bhutan from 1980 to 2019. Most of this funding derived from bilateral and multilateral aid agencies, with domestic trust fund and private foundations also contributing. Funding for projects with coupled conservation and development objectives and gender components was relatively high, particularly for funds allocated by multilateral and bilateral organizations. By contrast, domestic funding typically did not include development or gender components. Private foundations and domestic sources emphasized capacity development interventions. Despite relatively limited funding flows, the socio‐political context in Bhutan, which favors environmentally friendly practices, may have been key to the country's widely recognized conservation success. Evidence on trends and patterns in conservation finance, as presented here for Bhutan, can advance conservation science and practice by shedding new light on historical and current conservation priorities and helping inform future allocation.
Do revisitation studies overestimate local extinction?
Authors: Holderegger Rolf , Spillmann John
Published: August 2022

Revisitation studies use historical information from literature or museum collections to assess rates of local extinction. However, revisitation studies suffer from the bias that they can only detect decline or stasis relative to the number of historical sites, as newly colonized sites are not detected. This drawback can be avoided with complete resurveys of study areas. We used 100‐year‐old historical information on 99 mountain plants from a 174 km2 area in Switzerland and performed a revisitation study and a complete resurvey. The resurvey was used to determine the magnitude of the bias of revisitation. In the revisitation study, we found an average loss of historical sites of plant species of 51.1% (SE = 3.4%). When sites newly observed in the resurvey were also considered and assumed to represent new colonizations, the average loss in sites declined to 26.8% (SE = 5.7%). However, if newly observed sites were treated as historically overlooked sites the loss of sites was only 45.7% (SE = 3.4%). Our results thus show that revisitation studies can overestimate local extinction, but that the corresponding bias depends on whether newly observed sites are considered as historically overlooked sites or as new colonizations.
The experiences and support needs of students with diabetes at university: An integrative literature review
Authors: Hagger Virginia , J. Lake Amelia , Singh Tarveen , Hamblin Peter S. , Rasmussen Bodil
Published: August 2022

Aims

Commencing university presents particular challenges for young adults with diabetes. This integrative literature review aimed to synthesise the research exploring the experiences and support needs of university students with diabetes.

Methods

Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo and EMBASE databases were searched for quantitative and qualitative studies, among undergraduate and postgraduate students with type 1 or type 2 diabetes conducted in the university setting. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full‐text articles. Data were analysed thematically and synthesised narratively utilising the ecological model as a framework for interpreting findings and making recommendations.

Results

We identified 25 eligible papers (20 studies) utilising various methods: individual interview, focus group, survey, online forum. Four themes were identified: barriers to self‐care (e.g. lack of structure and routine); living with diabetes as a student; identity, stigma and disclosure; and strategies for managing diabetes at university. Students in the early years at university, recently diagnosed or moved away from home, reported more self‐care difficulties, yet few accessed university support services. Risky alcohol‐related behaviours, perceived stigma and reluctance to disclose diabetes inhibited optimal diabetes management.

Conclusion

Despite the heterogeneity of studies, consistent themes related to diabetes self‐care difficulties and risky behaviours were reported by young adults with diabetes transitioning to university life. No effective interventions to support students with diabetes were identified in this setting. Multilevel approaches to support students to balance the competing demands of study and diabetes self‐care are needed, particularly in the early years of university life.
Is indigenous knowledge serving climate adaptation? Evidence from various African regions
Authors: Filho Walter Leal , Wolf Franziska , Totin Edmond , Zvobgo Luckson , Simpson Nicholas Philip , Musiyiwa Kumbirai , Kalangu Jokastah W. , Sanni Maruf , Adelekan Ibidun , Efitre Jackson , Donkor Felix Kwabena , Balogun Abdul‐Lateef , Mucova Serafino Afonso Rui , Ayal Desalegn Yayeh
Published: August 2022

Motivation

Communities across the global south use their rich indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) to predict weather events and climate hazards. ILK may assist efforts to address climate change challenges in Africa and make subsequent decisions regarding climate adaptation.

Purpose

The article documents evidence of the ILK's potential in reducing vulnerability to climate change and/or improving the resilience of communities. The study also reflects on major barriers that hinder the improved mainstreaming of ILK into adaptation strategies.

Methods and approach

The present study uses two main methods: a literature review and a presentation of case studies from a sample of African countries where ILK informs adaptation options, including indigenous land‐tenure practices and weather prediction. The selected case studies highlight the historical legacy of ILK and its effectiveness in reducing vulnerability and the impacts of climate change.

Findings

The results indicate that, despite being acknowledged as a valuable resource for climate adaptation, current national adaptation policies on the African continent still show serious gaps in effectively integrating ILK systems within the legal frameworks to reduce vulnerability.

Policy implications

ILK should be better integrated with modern climate change adaptation strategies to anticipate more effective responses. Both rural communities and relevant government agencies should complement the use of ILK with climate change strategies, so as to maximize its contribution to the effective implementation of climate change policies.
Consequences: Bench to home
Authors: Kapur Jaideep , Long Lucretia , Dixon‐Salazar Tracy
Published: August 2022

Seizure clusters (also referred to as acute repetitive seizures) consist of several seizures interspersed with brief interictal periods. Seizure clusters can break down γ‐aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) inhibition of dentate granule cells, leading to hyperactivation. Functional changes to GABAA receptors, which play a vital neuroinhibitory role, can include altered GABAA receptor subunit trafficking and cellular localization, intracellular chloride accumulation, and dysregulation of proteins critical to chloride homeostasis. A reduction in neuroinhibition and potentiation of excitatory neurotransmission in CA1 pyramidal neurons represent pathological mechanisms that underlie seizure clusters. Benzodiazepines are well‐established treatments for seizure clusters; however, there remain barriers to appropriate care. At the clinical level, there is variability in seizure cluster definitions, such as the number and/or type of seizures associated with a cluster as well as the interictal duration between seizures. This can lead to delays in diagnosis and timely treatment. There are gaps in understanding between clinicians, their patients, and caregivers regarding acute treatment for seizure clusters, such as the use of rescue medications and emergency services. This lack of consensus to define seizure clusters in addition to a lack of education for appropriate treatment can affect quality of life for patients and place a greater burden on patient families and caregivers. For patients with seizure clusters, the sense of unpredictability can lead to continuous traumatic stress, during which patients and families live with a heightened level of anxiety. Clinicians can affect patient quality of life and clinical outcomes through improved seizure cluster education and treatment, such as the development and implementation of a personalized seizure action plan as well as prescriptions for suitable rescue medications indicated for seizure clusters and instructions for their proper use. In all, the combination of targeted therapy along with patient education and support can improve quality of life.
Care‐resistant behaviour during oral examination in Dutch nursing home residents with dementia
Authors: Willems Malou S. , Hollaar Vanessa R. Y. , van der Maarel‐Wierink Claar D. , van der Putten Gert‐Jan , Satink Ton
Published: August 2022

Objective

To assess the occurrence and associations of verbal and non‐verbal care‐resistant behaviour (CRB) during oral examination by a dental hygienist in nursing home residents with dementia.

Background

CRB is a barrier to providing professional oral care and daily oral hygiene care. Understanding the predictors of CRB might help care professionals in learning to anticipate this behaviour.

Methods

In this multicentre cross‐sectional study signs of verbal and non‐verbal CRB were reported during the oral examination. Data collection occurred in the psychogeriatrics wards of 14 different nursing homes in the Netherlands (N = 367).

Results

A total of 367 residents were included. CRB was evident in 82 residents (22.3%), of whom 45 (55%) showed verbal and 37 (45%) non‐verbal CRB. Associated with CRB were age >85 years, duration of residential stay longer than 2 years, and having Korsakov dementia. Other factors associated with CRB were duration of residential stay (categories “>2 and ≤4 years” or “>4 years”) and having a natural dentition (P = .043‐.005, OR = 1.20‐1.33, 95% CI = 1.00‐8.48). Significant associations for verbal and non‐verbal CRB were age between 76 and 85 years, vascular dementia and Korsakov dementia (P = .031‐.006, OR = .020‐1.49, 95% CI = 0.43‐2.15).

Conclusion

The occurrence of CRB was 22.3% and was associated with older age and longer duration of residential stay, Vascular and Korsakov dementia and natural dentition.
‘RECLUSION IS NO MORE POSSIBLE WHILE OUR WORLD STANDS IN FLAMES’: EMERGING POLITICAL SUBTEXTS IN THE GENESIS OF STEFAN ZWEIG'S UNGEDULD DES HERZENS
Authors: Resch Stephan
Published: August 2022

Ungeduld des Herzens (1939) is the only novel published during Stefan Zweig's lifetime. Written between 1936 and 1938, the book's genesis coincided with key events in Austrian and European history, including the mass displacement of Jews from Germany and the ‘Anschluss’ of Austria with Nazi‐Germany. A closer inspection of the changes from the first to the tenth and final manuscript version of the novel indicates that Zweig started out with the intention to write a psychological novella about a tragic love story. As work on the text progressed, however, Zweig added characters and plot elements which appear to comment on the political developments of the time. In this article, I will argue that the revisions Zweig made while he was re‐writing the novel add an important political subtext that aligns with the ethical objectives of his later exile works.
Mitochondrial fission in hepatocytes as a potential therapeutic target for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Miyao Masashi , Kawai Chihiro , Kotani Hirokazu , Minami Hirozo , Abiru Hitoshi , Hamayasu Hideki , Eguchi Satoru , Tamaki Keiji
Published: August 2022

Aim

The mitochondria are highly plastic and dynamic organelles; mitochondrial dysfunction has been reported to play causative roles in diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the relationship between mitochondrial fission and NAFLD pathogenesis remains unknown. We aimed to investigate whether alterations in mitochondrial fission could play a role in the progression of NAFLD.

Methods

Mice were fed a standard diet or choline‐deficient, L‐amino acid‐defined (CDAA) diet with vehicle or mitochondrial division inhibitor‐1.

Results

Substantial enhancement of mitochondrial fission in hepatocytes was triggered by 4 weeks of feeding and was associated with changes reflecting the early stage of human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), steatotic change with liver inflammation, and hepatocyte ballooning. Excessive mitochondrial fission inhibition in hepatocytes and lipid metabolism dysregulation in adipose tissue attenuated liver inflammation and fibrogenesis but not steatosis and the systemic pathological changes in the early and chronic fibrotic NASH stages (4‐ and 12‐week CDAA feeding). These beneficial changes due to the suppression of mitochondrial fission against the liver and systemic injuries were associated with decreased autophagic responses and endoplasmic reticulum stress in hepatocytes. Injuries to other liver cells, such as endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, and hepatic stellate cells, were also attenuated by the inhibition of mitochondrial fission in hepatocytes.

Conclusions

Taken together, these findings suggest that excessive mitochondrial fission in hepatocytes could play a causative role in NAFLD progression by liver inflammation and fibrogenesis through altered cell cross‐talk. This study provides a potential therapeutic target for NAFLD.
Diel and seasonal variation of Striped Cuckoo (Tapera naevia) vocalizations revealed using automated signal recognition
Authors: Pérez‐Granados Cristian , Schuchmann Karl‐L.
Published: August 2022

Studying seasonal changes in the vocal activity of birds may shed light on the function of avian vocalizations and the phenology of life history events. Our current knowledge regarding the seasonality of the vocal behaviour of tropical birds in general, and avian brood parasites in particular, is very limited. Here, we employed passive acoustic monitoring with automated signal recognition to monitor the vocal behaviour of the Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia over a complete annual cycle in the Brazilian Pantanal. We evaluated whether the pattern of vocal activity differed between the two main vocalizations of the species (sem‐fim and wee‐series songs) and whether vocal activity varied with time of day and season. The diel pattern of vocal activity for both vocalization types showed a bimodal pattern, with the first peak of vocal activity in the few hours after sunrise and the second peak before sunset, in agreement with prior studies in other cuckoos. The sem‐fim song was also produced during the night, while the wee‐series song was produced only during the day. Both vocalization types showed clear seasonality and were produced between mid‐June and mid‐February. Seasonal changes in vocal activity suggest that the Striped Cuckoo breeds during the dry season and leaves the study area during the flooding period. The seasonal pattern of the wee‐series song showed strong seasonality, with 90% of these calls detected in September and October, whereas the sem‐fim song showed weaker seasonality, with 80% of the calls detected during the July–October period. Our study indicates that automated signal recognition might be a reliable tool for monitoring cuckoos. Further research could evaluate whether the different seasonal patterns of the sem‐fim and wee‐series songs of the Striped Cuckoo are related to different functions.
Do auditors account for firm‐level political risk?
Authors: Hossain Mahmud , Mitra Santanu
Published: August 2022

We examine whether firm‐level political risk influences auditor behaviour. Using a text‐based political risk measure, we find that firms subject to higher levels of political risk face longer audit report lags, are more likely to have going‐concern opinions issued by their auditors and pay higher audit fees. However, the effect of political risk on audit outcomes becomes moderated in the presence of higher lobbying efforts. Our findings suggest that political risk and lobbying efforts to mitigate such risk both influence auditors' judgments in planning audit services. Our original findings survive in a battery of robustness checks, and the primary results do not change when we use an exogenous political shock as an alternative proxy for firm‐level political risk.
The first Australian experience with ward‐based continuous positive airway pressure for COVID‐19 respiratory failure: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Gerhardy Benjamin , Comsa Monica , Tahir Ali , Lynch Dalton , Polkinghorne Adam , Orde Sam , Branley James , Morgan Lucy
Published: August 2022

We present the first Australian cohort of patients with COVID‐19 respiratory failure managed with escalating respiratory support including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on a standard medical ward at a tertiary Sydney hospital during the 2021 COVID‐19 Delta variant outbreak. We demonstrate an equivalent mortality to CPAP delivered in intensive care unit and outline our ward structure and management during the pandemic.
Inconsistent discharge diagnoses for young cardiac arrest episodes: insights from a statewide registry
Authors: Paratz Elizabeth D. , van Heusden Alexander , Ball Jocasta , Smith Karen , Zentner Dominica , Morgan Natalie , Parsons Sarah , Thompson Tina , James Paul , Connell Vanessa , Pflaumer Andreas , Semsarian Christopher , Ingles Jodie , Stub Dion , La Gerche Andre
Published: August 2022

Background

Administrative coding of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is heterogeneous, with the prevalence of noninformative diagnoses uncertain.

Aim

To characterize the prevalence and type of non‐informative diagnoses in a young cardiac arrest population.

Methods

Hospital discharge diagnoses provided to a statewide OHCA registry were characterised as either ‘informative’ or ‘noninformative.’ Informative diagnoses stated an OHCA had occurred or defined OHCA as occurring due to coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, channelopathy, definite noncardiac cause, or no known cause. Noninformative diagnoses were blank, stated presenting cardiac rhythm only, provided irrelevant information or presented a complication of the OHCA as the main diagnosis. Characteristics of patients receiving informative versus noninformative diagnoses were compared.

Results

Of 1479 patients with OHCA aged 1 to 50 years, 290 patients were admitted to 15 hospitals. Ninety diagnoses (31.0%) were noninformative (arrest rhythm = 50, blank = 21, complication = 10 and irrelevant = 9). Two hundred diagnoses (69.0%) were informative (cardiac arrest = 84, coronary artery disease = 54, noncardiac diagnosis = 48, cardiomyopathy = 8, arrhythmia disorder = 4 and unascertained = 2). Only 10 diagnoses (3.5%) included both OHCA and an underlying cause. Patients receiving a noninformative diagnosis were more likely to have survived OHCA or been referred for forensic assessment (P = 0.011) and had longer median length of stay (9 vs 5 days, P = 0.0019).

Conclusion

Almost one third of diagnoses for young patients discharged after an OHCA included neither OHCA nor any underlying cause. Underestimating the burden of OHCA impacts ongoing patient and at‐risk family care, data sampling strategies, international statistics and research funding.
Stock market integration in Africa: Further evidence from an information‐theoretic framework
Authors: Nyakurukwa Kingstone , Seetharam Yudhvir
Published: August 2022

This study revisits stock market integration in Africa using an information‐theoretic framework that quantifies the flow of information between exchanges. We use daily return data for seven MSCI‐classified African stock exchanges between 2011 and 2021. As Bitcoin has become an important asset class on the African continent, we also explore whether this cryptocurrency confers any diversification benefits. Our method holds that stock markets are integrated if there is a significant flow of information between exchanges. The results reveal a statistically insignificant flow of information among African stock exchanges, and for the few cases in which information flow is statistically significant, the magnitudes are low. South Africa is the most influential stock market, as it transmits most of the total transfer entropy (informational value) in the system. We also observe that African stock exchanges are weakly integrated with Bitcoin.
Characteristics associated with frequent health system use by Australian adults with intellectual disability: A cohort study
Authors: Song Menghuan , Ware Robert S. , Doan Tan N. , Harley David
Published: August 2022

Background

In a cohort of adults with intellectual disability who were followed for up to 16‐years, we investigated characteristics associated with frequent emergency department (ED) presentations, hospitalisation, and psychiatric care.

Method

Community‐dwelling adults with intellectual disability residing in Queensland, Australia, were followed from 1999 to 2015. Healthcare presentations were extracted from administrative databases. Adults who presented frequently were identified and characteristics associated with frequent presentations were identified.

Results

Data from 445 adults were analysed. Chronic disease and challenging behaviour were associated with frequent ED presentations (adjusted odds ratio = 1.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.1–3.0 and aOR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.2–3.9 respectively). Chronic disease and severe/profound intellectual disability were associated with frequent hospitalisations (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.2–3.2 and aOR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.2–3.3 respectively). Psychotropic medication use was associated with frequent psychiatric presentations (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.0–3.4).

Conclusions

Adults at high risk of frequent healthcare presentations should be identified for programmes of optimising health system use, and potentially improving health care quality.
SERPINA5 promotes tumour cell proliferation by modulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway in gastric cancer
Authors: Fan Meiyang , Xiong Xiaofan , Han Lin , Zhang Lingyu , Gao Shanfeng , Liu Liying , Wang Xiaofei , Huang Chen , Tong Dongdong , Yang Juan , Zhao Lingyu , Shao Yuan
Published: August 2022

SERPINA5 belongs to the serine protease inhibitor superfamily and has been reported to be lowly expressed in a variety of malignancies. However, few report of SERPINA5 in gastric cancer has been found. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of SERPINA5 in GC and to investigate potential tumorigenic mechanisms. We performed qPCR to determine the level of SERPINA5 expression in GC. We used public databases to evaluate whether SERPINA5 could be utilized to predict overall survival and disease‐free survival in GC patients. We also knocked down the expression of SERPINA5 and evaluated its effect on cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, we explored the signal pathways and regulatory mechanisms related to SERPINA5 functions. According to our findings, SERPINA5 was shown to exhibit high expression in GC. Notably, SERPINA5 was prognostic in GC with high expression being unfavourable. SERPINA5 was further observed to promote GC tumorigenesis by modulating GC cell proliferation ability. Mechanically, SERPINA5 could inhibit CBL to regulate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway, thereby promoting GC carcinogenesis progression. These results highlight the important role of SERPINA5 in GC cell proliferation and suggest that SERPINA5 could be a novel target for GC treatment and a predictor for GC prognosis.
Confocal microscopy of telangiectatic capillaries (TelCaps) and other features of microvascular remodeling following branch retinal vein occlusion
Authors: Darche Marie , Verschueren Anna , Castro Farias Daniela , Borella Ysé , Paques Michel
Published: August 2022

Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is a frequent retinal vascular disease that may cause extensive microvascular remodeling leading to severe visual impairment. Little is known regarding the histology of non‐neovascular microvascular remodeling. Here, we examined by confocal microscopy the structure of retinal microvessels of a donor eye with longstanding BRVO. The post‐mortem retina of a 91‐year‐old woman that had superotemporal BRVO for 2 years was examined by confocal microscopy after anti‐collagen IV (collIV), alpha‐smooth muscle cell (αSMA), and anti‐von Willebrand factor (vWf) immunolabeling. In the retinal quadrant affected by BRVO, extensive vascular remodeling affected all vessels, from arterioles to venules, including the foveal avascular zone. Most affected vessels were either irregularly dilated or, on the opposite, reduced to micrometric‐size CollIV positive, vWf negative, nuclear‐staining negative strings. Telangiectatic capillaries of various sizes and shapes were seen, the largest one (233 μm) being located in the parafoveal area. Some telangiectatic capillaries had a thick, multilayered vWf‐ and CollIV‐positive wall, that often occluded the lumen. Other features included double‐channeled arterioles. The majority of microvascular abnormalities were devoid of nuclear staining, suggesting extensive loss of endothelial cells. We describe the spectrum of microvascular abnormalities upstream of a longstanding BRVO. This spectrum comprises a large parafoveal telangiectatic capillary corresponding to what has been previously clinically defined as TelCap. The absence of intraluminal nuclear staining in the majority of abnormal vessels raises the hypothesis that the loss of endothelial cells plays a crucial role in the development of the different manifestations of capillary remodeling. The presence of vWF in de‐endothelialized vessels suggests deposition of plasma, hence that they may remain perfused. Our work may help to understand the clinical imaging features of TelCaps.
The orbitalauricular chord of Alligator: The unusual functional linkage between the earflap and eyelid of Crocodylians
Authors: Young Bruce A. , Grondel Bryson , Preston Peace , Cramberg Michael
Published: August 2022

One of the distinctive features of the Crocodylia is the presence of a superficial meatal chamber the aperture of which is regulated by two earflaps. The movements of the upper earflap have been detailed by multiple workers, however, the mechanics of the lower earflap remain unresolved. The present study was undertaken to document the mechanics of the lower earflap in the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, and to explore the functional bases of coordinated movements between the lower earflap and lower eyelid in this species. This anatomical system was examined using a combination of fresh dissection, histology, and micro‐CT analyses applied to post‐embryonic specimens. The rostral margin of the lower earflap is tightly bound to a block of dense connective tissue herein termed the orbitalauricular chord. The orbitalauricular chord is anatomically distinct from both a ligament and a tendon. The dorsal surface of the orbitalauricular chord is attached to a slip of the levator palpebra, while the ventral surface is attached to a slip of the depressor palpebra. These attachments produce a simple mechanism for the elevation and depression of the lower earflap, and thus the opening and closing of the meatal aperture. The caudal surface of the orbitalauricular chord has connective tissue links to the rostral margin of the lower earflap. The morphology of the orbitalauricular chord appears to explain both the mechanics of the lower earflap and the functional coupling between the lower eyelid and lower earflap.
From shame to guilt: negotiating moral and legal responsibility within apologies for historical institutional abuse
Authors: MCALINDEN ANNE‐MARIE
Published: August 2022

This article explores the role of apology in addressing moral and legal responsibility for historical institutional abuse (HIA). Drawing on extensive fieldwork in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, it analyses juridical techniques within official apologies, principally by the Catholic Church, to circumvent legal responsibility for HIA: the use of language, the avoidance of tangible redress, and the preference for offering private apologies. Moving beyond the literature, it highlights a more nuanced range of legal and ideological barriers to sincere apologies: the role of canon law, the role of lawyers, and concerns with multiple audiences. The article argues that traversing the complex moral and legal dimensions of apology entails moving from the general expression of remorse and shaming of the self to the specific acceptance of harm to others and responsibility for repair. It concludes by reflecting on the core elements of ‘remedial responsibility’, new classifications of apologies, and their broader therapeutic value.
Dynamic assessment of oropharynx with ultrasonography as a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Govindagoudar Manjunath B. , Lalwani Lokesh Kumar , Singh Pawan Kumar , Sen Jyotsna , Chaudhry Dhruva
Published: August 2022

Ultrasonography is an easily available and portable tool to assess the dynamic changes in the upper airway and surrounding soft tissue. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of oropharynx ultrasonography as a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study sequentially enrolled overweight individuals (body mass index >25 kg/m2) and subjected them to OSA screening tools (Berlin questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and STOP‐Bang scores), ultrasonography of the oropharynx followed by overnight polysomnography. A total of 30 healthy individuals were also recruited as controls. Detailed dynamic and static ultrasonography measurements of the oropharynx and surrounding tissue were done. The diagnostic ability of various ultrasonography parameters to detect OSA was determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. A total of 63 subjects were enrolled, with 33 in the OSA group and 30 in non‐OSA overweight group. All baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. Except for the dynamic measurements of oropharynx (Retropalatal% change‐inspiration, retropalatal% change‐Muller manoeuvre, retroglossal% change‐inspiration, and retroglossal% change‐Muller manoeuvre) all other parameters were similar in the OSA and non‐OSA overweight subjects. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was highest for retropalatal% change‐inspiration: 0.989, followed by retropalatal% change‐Muller manoeuvre: 0.988. Both were also significant predictors of OSA with odds ratios of 0.338 (p = 0.003; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.164–0.696) and 0.346 (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.143–0.837), respectively. Ultrasonography provides a near complete picture of the dynamic changes and collapsibility of the oropharynx and can be an effective tool in screening for OSA.
Determining the effect of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on peripheral vestibular system and hearing
Authors: Solmaz Fevzi , Ekim Buse , Şimşek Abdullah , Durgut Osman
Published: August 2022

There have been studies in the literature regarding the effect of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on hearing function, but studies on the effect of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on the peripheral vestibular system are limited. The aim of the present study was to determine whether obstructive sleep apnea syndrome causes functional neurological changes, particularly in the peripheral vestibular system, using the video head impulse test. Overall, 57 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were included; the ‘Snorers’ group comprised 20 volunteers diagnosed with simple snoring in the polysomnography test. The severity of apnea was assessed by monitoring cardiac and respiratory functions during sleep in both groups. The video head impulse test and audiological evaluations were performed in both groups. Statistically significant differences were found in the cochlea and semicircular canals of our patients in the video head impulse test and audiological battery tests. It may be assumed that decreased blood oxygen concentrations and chronic hypoxaemia have negative effects on the vestibule, cochlear sensory epithelium, and the auditory pathways. We think that inner ear structures and pathways may be affected due to hypoxia in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Therefore, screening patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with an audiometry battery may help to detect inner ear pathologies early.
Domestic cat hepadnavirus associated with hepatopathy in cats: A retrospective study
Authors: Piewbang Chutchai , Dankaona Wichan , Poonsin Panida , Yostawonkul Jakarwan , Lacharoje Sitthichok , Sirivisoot Sirintra , Kasantikul Tanit , Tummaruk Padet , Techangamsuwan Somporn
Published: August 2022

Background

Whether domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH) infection is associated with clinical disease remains to be determined.

Objectives

To determine the relationship between DCH detection, hematology, serum bichemistry and liver histology in DCH‐positive cats.

Animals

One thousand twenty‐two cats in Thailand without concurrent diseases and not undergoing treatments adversely affecting the liver.

Methods

Retrospective cross‐sectional study. Samples derived from cats with concurrent virus detection were excluded. DCH detection was determined in blood and fresh‐frozen liver by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and further investigated in liver sections showing histological parenchymal disorders (HPD) and normal liver (HNL) using in situ hybridization (ISH). Proliferative/apoptotic activities were determined using immunohistochemistry and ISH panels. Biochemical variables and risk factors for DCH infection were investigated.

Results

Six hundred sixty‐one (557 blood and 119 liver samples) cats were included. DCH was detected in 18.50% (103/557), 13.85% (9/65), and 3.70% (2/54) of the blood, HPD, and HNL groups, respectively. Cats with DCH revealed abnormally high activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P = .001) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P < .001). Among DCH‐positive HPD case 2/9 an 7/9 were acute and chronic hepatitis, of which 4/7 had hepatitis. Log viral copy number (LVCN) was positively correlated with ALT (P < .001), triglyceride (P < .001), and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) (P = .022). The LVCN also had a positive association with degree of hepatitis (P < .05). There was hepatocyte proliferation activity in DHC positive cats.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

Domestic cat hepadnavirus infection was associated with high serum activity of liver enzymes and chronic lymphoplasmacytic hepatitis (LPH).
Skilled maintenance trades under lean manufacturing: Evidence from the car industry
Authors: Roberts Ron , Cullinane Niall
Published: August 2022

This article explores how skilled maintenance trades have fared under lean automotive manufacturing, a cohort of workers relatively neglected in the literature. Historically, such trades possessed a distinct ‘craft consciousness’ derived from apprenticed‐acquired skill, autonomy in job execution, strict job boundaries and relative occupational status and prestige. The article assesses how lean has impacted this craft tradition over time, drawing on a case study of one UK car plant to assess its trajectory across three decades. Four different skilled cohorts—electrical, mechanical, control engineers and die maintenance fitters—are examined to gauge respective trends in skill, autonomy, demarcation and status. While the study finds variation in experiences across different trades, the general trend points to a deterioration in work conditions on all four benchmarks of assessment. The article concludes by inferring implications for the future trajectory of skilled trades considering recent accounts provided in Industry 4.0 narratives.
Quantitative intersectionality: Imperatives and opportunities for advancing social equity
Authors: Whitebread Geoffrey , Dolamore Stephanie , Stern Brendan
Published: August 2022

Social equity is a pillar of public administration (PA), yet its actualization remains elusive. The path forward to closing persistent social equity gaps requires the utilization of quantitative intersectionality in PA. This article explores the literature related to quantitative intersectionality and the imperative for use in the scholarship and practices of PA. To exemplify this concept in practice, we present a case study examining Vocational Rehabilitation performance data reports. Findings illustrate how quantitative intersectionality provides an opportunity to unpack overlapping identities for people with disabilities whose individual characteristics include historically oppressed race/ethnicity and gender identities. Findings assert the imperative for using quantitative intersectionality to achieve social equity for all.
Effect of the temperature of activation medium on fish sperm quality: Impact on fertilization in vitro in aquaculture practice
Authors: Merino Osvaldo , Risopatrón Jennie , Valdebenito Iván , Figueroa Elías , Farías Jorge G.
Published: August 2022

Motility is a key in spermatozoon function, determining semen quality and fertilizing capacity. Motility in fish spermatozoa occurs when they are diluted in a swimming solution, the adequacy of which is determined by factors which vary by species. Spermatozoon motility rate and velocity, as well as the duration of the motility period, are influenced by the temperature of the swimming medium. Increasing the temperature of the swimming medium has a significant negative effect on spermatozoa motility kinematics. It increases the metabolism rate of cells, causing a mismatch of energy resources and promoting changes in sperm movement. It also generates an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thus oxidative stress, and moreover results in an inadequate capacity of antioxidant enzymes to protect the cell against the effects of oxidative stress induced by higher temperatures. The aim of this review is to update present knowledge about: mitochondria main source of ATP; the protein phosphorylation related to motility; epigenetic regulation of the temperature of the activation and the role of ion channels in regulation motility. These mechanisms involved in sperm motility are of vital importance in regulating fertilization, all of which can be influenced by the environment. We emphasize the importance of investigating spermatozoon mechanisms in depth, especially in the context of climate change which results in changing water temperatures. Our findings provide a better understanding of fish sperm physiology, and a biological foundation for the further development of spermatozoon motility investigation, and reproduction technologies.
Quantitative computed tomography of the chest for fibrotic lung diseases: Prime time for its use in routine clinical practice?
Authors: Egashira Ryoko , Raghu Ganesh
Published: August 2022

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Kaolinite deposition from moving suspensions: The roles of flocculation, salinity, suspended sediment concentration and flow velocity/bed shear
Authors: Schieber Juergen , Li Zhiyang , Yawar Zalmai , Cao Xiaomeng , Ashley Thomas , Wilson Ryan
Published: August 2022

Understanding how mud moves and deposits is essential for conceptualizing the dynamic nature of surface environments and their ancient counterparts. Experimental study has largely been pursued by civil engineers, using kaolinite as an active ingredient. Yet, applying their data to the physical comprehension of mudstone sedimentology is hampered by multiple flume configurations between labs, and data sets tailored to specific engineering needs. The need for a better grasp of underlying processes is acute, given recent flume studies that show that moving suspensions form large bedload floccules, migrating floccule ripples and bed accretion under currents capable of moving sand grains. To advance mudstone sedimentology, integrated study of suspended sediment concentration, salinity and bed shear stress on the deposition of floccules is crucial. Described here is a set of tightly controlled experiments that explored suspended sediment concentrations from 70 to 900 mg/l, freshwater, brackish and marine salinities, flow velocities in the 5 to 50 cm/s range (equivalent to 0.01 to 0.58 Pa bed shear), measured the size of in‐flow and bedload floccules, and the critical velocity of sedimentation that marks the onset of sustained bedload accumulation. The critical velocity of sedimentation of kaolinite clays is in the 26 to 28 cm/s flow velocity range (0.22 to 0.25 Pa), appears insensitive to a wide range of suspended sediment concentrations and salinities, and coincides with the formation of sand‐size bedload floccules. Further decrease of flow velocity/bed shear stress is accompanied by a steady increase in the size of bedload floccules. Large bedload floccules appear to form in the high‐shear basal part of the flow, a phenomenon requiring further investigation. Better understanding of the mechanisms that facilitate mud deposition from moving suspensions is critical for more realistic assessments of the depositional conditions of mud and mudstones, as well as for refining predictive models for the flux of fine‐grained sediments across the Earth's surface.
An analysis of the underrepresentation of minoritized groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education
Authors: Neally Kate
Published: August 2022

The current school system lacks adequate racial representation among science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers, particularly among Black and Latinx populations. This is a critical equity issue due to the increasing racial diversity of the student population and the benefits of race congruence between teachers and students. Using a Critical Race Theory framework, this phenomenological mixed‐methods study explores the underrepresentation of minoritized groups in STEM education. Original surveys and interviews were used to explore the experiences of Black and Latinx STEM majors. The purpose of this study is to better understand the Students of Color's (SOC) positive and negative educational experiences in STEM and how those experiences impact a SOC's interest in becoming a STEM teacher. Findings reveal that SOC are not interested in pursuing careers in STEM teaching because of the low pay of the teaching profession and the impact of stereotype threat. This research confirms that the inequities in the STEM education pipeline are taking place at the K‐12 and post‐secondary education level. Change is required in K‐12 education, post‐secondary, and at the policy level in order to create a more equitable education system for all students.
The number of mitochondrial DNA mutations as a genetic feature for hair cycle arrest (alopecia X) in Pomeranian dogs
Authors: Kang Yeong‐Hun , Hyun Jae‐Eun , Hwang Cheol‐Yong
Published: August 2022

Background

Hair cycle arrest (HCA) is a noninflammatory alopecic disease affecting various dog breeds, particularly Pomeranian dogs. This disease is probably a hereditary disorder considering the strong breed predisposition. Despite efforts to identify the pathogenesis of this disease, an underlying specific cause is unknown.

Objective

To identify candidate gene mutations for HCA in Pomeranian dogs.

Animals

Four Pomeranian dogs diagnosed with HCA and four unaffected Pomeranian dogs.

Materials and methods

Whole blood was used for DNA extraction. Whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) was performed, and variants were analysed using a Genome Analysis Toolkit (GATK) and SnpEff. All reads were aligned to the reference genome, Dog10K_Boxer_Tasha. Sanger sequencing was performed to define the complex mutations.

Results

A total of 113 variants of mitochondrial DNA were found to be effective gene mutations in the eight dogs. The affected dogs showed significantly increased effective mutations (average 57 variants) compared with unaffected dogs (average eight variants; p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of chromosomal DNA mutations between the two groups.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

We suggest that an increased number of mitochondrial gene mutations are features for HCA in Pomeranian dogs.