bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The aftermath of the Syrian crisis: a glimpse of the challenging life of widowed and divorced refugee women in Jordan
Authors: Nashwan Ayat J. , Alzouabi Lina
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to address the social, cultural, financial and psychological obstacles these women face in preserving their living arrangements and in parenting as well as the coping mechanisms women adopt to overcome everyday challenges. Researchers used qualitative methodology and interviews to fulfill the aims.

Design/methodology/approach

Researchers used qualitative methodology and interviews to fulfill the aims. The sample consists of 20 Syrians living in Jordan’s Amman, Irbid and Al Ramtha in specially designed compounds for them (14 widows and 6 divorcees).

Findings

This study’s findings demonstrate that social and cultural norms existing in Jordan and Syria are generally similar, in which women view the males in the family as a source of socioeconomic and emotional stability for them. Widows and divorcees face serious sociocultural, financial and psychological challenges in maintaining their living conditions and the integration process as well as performing single parenting. Faith and social connections represent an important part of coping with the situation in the short term; nevertheless, financial and psychological support seems a vital component in the long term. Research on the conditions of widows and divorcees provides evidence to comprehensively approach the issue of “vulnerabilities” in the humanitarian-policy programming targeting refugees. Theoretically, the findings may provide empirical insights for discussions around women’s changing identities through displacement, agency and empowerment in relation to parenting experiences.

Originality/value

The lived experience of widowhood and divorce among Syrian is understudied, while their resilience strategies are less known. To fill these gaps, this study focuses on Syrian refugee widows and divorcees who are raising their children in specially designated compounds in Jordan and the difficulties they face on social, economic and emotional levels. Besides its originality in providing empirical material about challenges Syrian women faced, our study contributes to better understand women's claims for agency and empowerment as a part of identity changes.
The positive relationship between NUTRIC score, bioelectric measures and hospital mortality in critically ill patients
Authors: Ferreira Rannapaula Lawrynhuk Urbano , da Silva Miriam Farias , de Macedo Olimpio Nathalya Julianny , Oliveira Márcia Regina Dantas de Araújo , Vermeulen-Serpa Karina Marques , Brandão-Neto José , Lima Vale Sancha Helena , Leite-Lais Lucia , Lopes Marcia Marilia Gomes Dantas
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) and phase angle (PA) have importance in assessing nutritional and prognosis, and this study hypothesized that these measurements can have a relationship with nutritional risk and outcomes. This study aims to analyze the association between Nutrition Risk in the Critically ill (NUTRIC) score and bioelectrical impedance measures with hospital mortality in critically ill patients.

Design/methodology/approach

A prospective, cohort study was performed with a consecutive sample of patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), between January and June 2017 at a hospital university in Northwest Brazil. The NUTRIC score and the bioelectric measures, such as resistance (R), reactance (Xc), PA and BIVA, were completed within the first 24 h of admission. The Student’s t or Mann–Whitney, Pearson’s or Spearman’s coefficient and Fisher’s exact tests and BIVA were used for statistical analyses.

Findings

The sample consisted of 81, with a mean age of 57 (16.7) years, with 60.5% women. It was detected that PA and Xc were lower (p < 0.001), and age was higher (p < 0.001) in a high nutritional-risk group. It was found an association between low nutritional risk and hospital discharge (p < 0.001), and that individuals who died spent more days in the ICU (p = 0.0375), had significantly lower PA and Xc values (p = 0.043 and p = 0.0172, respectively) and higher NUTRIC scores (<0.0001). There was a displacement of the mean impedance vector in men and women with high nutritional risk (p = 0.0037 and p = 0.004, respectively).

Research limitations/implications

The height measurement was estimated using predictive formulas, which may affect the accuracy of the values; BIA was performed only upon admission of the patient to the ICU and the study population was heterogeneous, as it is a general ICU.

Originality/value

This paper shows that, in critically ill patients, nutritional screening and the assessment of bioelectrical measures help in clinical-nutritional decisions, and were able to predict outcomes.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of government intervention strategies to control and prevent COVID-19 in Malaysia by systems thinking
Authors: Cheng Jack Kie , Mohamad Fazeeda , Tamyez Puteri Fadzline M. , Kamaruzzaman Zetty Ain , Zainudin Maizura Mohd , Zulkipli Faridah
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the interaction of different intervention strategies implemented in Malaysia towards flattening the curve of COVID-19 cases. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many approaches were adopted and implemented by the Malaysian government. Some strategies gained quick wins but with negative unintended consequences after execution, whereas other strategies were slow to take effect. Learning from the previous strategies is pivotal to avoid repeating mistakes.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents the cause, effect of and connection among the implemented COVID-19 intervention strategies using systems thinking through the development of a causal loop diagram. It enables the visualisation of how each implemented strategy interacted with each other and collectively decreased or increased the spread of COVID-19.

Findings

The results of this study suggested that it is not only essential to control the spread of COVID-19, but also to prevent the transmission of the virus. The Malaysian experience has demonstrated that both control and preventive strategies need to be in a state of equilibrium. Focusing only on one spectrum will throw off the balance, leaving COVID-19 infection to escalate rapidly.

Originality/value

The developed feedback loops provided policy makers with the understanding of the merits, pitfalls and dynamics of prior implemented intervention strategies before devising other effective intervention strategies to defuse the spread of COVID-19 and prepare the nation for recovery.
The impact of B Corporations’ certification timing on a firm’s economic and social value creation
Authors: Lee Chong Kyoon , Dmytriyev Sergiy D. , Rutherford Matthew A. , Lee Jin Young
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Certified B Corporations (B Corps) represent a prominent manifestation of applying stakeholder principles in practice by emphasizing social and environmental performance and striving to create value for all stakeholders. This paper aims to investigate an important question that has been unexplored so far in a vast body of literature on stakeholder management and fast-growing research on B Corps: does the timing of a B Corp’s certification impact the firm’s economic and social performance?

Design/methodology/approach

The research on the timing of obtaining B Corp certification is built around three intriguing puzzles: the impact of certification timing on a firm’s economic performance, social performance overall and social performance per stakeholder. In particular, the study examines the relationship between B Corp’s certification date and firms’ financial and social performance between 2017 and 2020.

Findings

Based on the data from 168 privately owned B Corps in the USA, the results of our study suggest that while there is no financial benefit associated with earlier certification, there are significant improvements in social performance. Yet, a firm’s social performance improvement is not uniform among its stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

This study explored the impact of B Corp certification’s timing on the firm’s economic performance within only three years, from 2017 to 2019. This limitation comes from the specifics of the PrivCo database. Measuring a firm economic performance over a longer period may benefit the research on B Corp certification’s timing and which can be a promising path for future research.

Practical implications

When it comes to practical implications, it is important that firms deciding to pursue a B Corp certification understand that certification may not result in an immediate financial impact. This practical implication, though, may need to be calibrated depending on the extent to which participating organizations publicize their certification.

Social implications

Despite the growing popularity of B Corps in the USA and worldwide, it has been a black box when it comes to understanding when exactly firms should start to pursue B Corp certification to enhance their social value creation. Thus, this study is well timed to contribute to unpacking this black box by showing that the earlier a firm obtains B Corp certification, the more social value it would create. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the only study to date that explored the social performance implications of timing to certify as a B Corp.

Originality/value

When it comes to practical implications, it is important that firms deciding to pursue a B Corp certification understand that certification may not result in an immediate financial impact. This practical implication, though, may need to be calibrated depending on the extent to which participating organizations publicize their certification.
Plant functional traits predict heterogeneous distributional shifts in response to climate change
Authors: Madsen‐Hepp Tesa R. , Franklin Janet , McFaul Shane , Schauer Lisa , Spasojevic Marko J.
Published: March 2023

Climate change is causing the rapid redistribution of vegetation as plant species move to track their climatic optima. Despite a global trend of upward movement in latitude and elevation, there is extensive heterogeneity among species and locations, with few emerging generalizations. Greater generalization may be achieved from considering multidimensional changes in species' distributions as well as incorporating ecologically relevant functional traits into studies of range shifts.

To better understand how recent changes in climate are influencing the elevational distribution of plant species and how species' functional traits mediate distributional changes, we resampled a 2438 m elevation transect spanning a distance of 16 km which encompasses desert scrub, pinyon‐juniper woodland, chaparral and coniferous forest plant communities.

Over the last 42 years, total perennial cover and species' average cover increased at lower elevations and decreased at higher elevations while average elevational leading‐edge increased 116 m and elevational rear edge decreased 84 m. Notably, these changes were mediated by species' functional traits, where species exhibiting more conservative traits (lower specific leaf area [SLA], greater δ13C, larger seed mass) and taller height shifted upward in their leading‐edge range limit, average elevation and trailing edge range limit, while declining in abundance at the median and trailing edge of their range. Species possessing more acquisitive traits (higher SLA, lower δ13C, smaller seed mass) and shorter height shifted downward and increased in abundance at their trailing edge, with increases in their total range size.

Our results provide clear evidence that heterogeneous range dynamics under recent climate change can be generalized by considering ecologically relevant plant functional traits, and how they respond to localized climate exposure. Furthermore, by documenting changes across a steep elevational gradient comprising a large aridity gradient, we show divergent patterns for plants occupying contrasting positions along the global spectrum of plant form and function, which provides critical insight into how trait‐mediated changes under increasing aridity will impact ecosystem functioning.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Large leaf hydraulic safety margins limit the risk of drought‐induced leaf hydraulic dysfunction in Neotropical rainforest canopy tree species
Authors: Ziegler Camille , Levionnois Sébastien , Bonal Damien , Heuret Patrick , Stahl Clément , Coste Sabrina
Published: March 2023

The sequence of key water potential thresholds from the onset of water stress to mortality, and the timing of stomatal closure with regard to leaf xylem embolism formation are essential to characterizing plant adaptive strategies to drought. This constitutes a critical knowledge gap for tropical rainforest species, which may be less vulnerable to drought than previously thought.

We recorded key leaf and stem water potential thresholds, leaf hydraulic safety margins (HSMleaf), leaf stomatal safety margins (SSMleaf) and estimated native embolism levels during a normal‐intensity dry season across 18 neotropical rainforest tree species. We also solved a sequence of key water potential thresholds. Additionally, we provide a cross‐biome analysis of SSMleaf encompassing 97 species from four major biomes based on a literature survey.

In the studied rainforest species, leaf turgor loss point, used as a surrogate for stomatal closure, typically occurred before the onset of leaf xylem embolism. Most species exhibited positive HSMleaf and SSMleaf, with contrasting values across species and nearly absent embolism levels during the dry season irrespective of the experienced midday leaf water potentials. Our results point out that leaf xylem embolism is not routine for Neotropical rainforest tree species.

Based on our proposal of the water potential sequence for tropical rainforest trees, we argue that leaf xylem embolism is a rare event for these species. This was supported by the literature survey, indicating that across biomes, most woody species have rather large SSMleaf and that leaves of tropical rainforest trees are not necessarily more vulnerable than in other biomes. However, we found evidence that some tropical rainforest species may be more vulnerable than others to ongoing climate change. Our data provide an opportunity to parametrize tree‐based or land‐surface models for tropical rainforests.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
An attention‐guided convolution neural network for denoising of distributed acoustic sensing–vertical seismic profile data
Authors: Li Yue , Zhang Yipan , Dong Xintong , Wang Hongzhou
Published: March 2023

Distributed acoustic sensing technology is a new type of signal acquisition technology, and this technology has been widely used in obtaining vertical seismic profile data in recent years. Distributed acoustic sensing technology has the advantages of high sampling density and strong tolerance to a harsh environment. However, in the real distributed acoustic sensing–vertical seismic profile data, the effective signal will be annihilated by various noises, which significantly complicates data analysis and interpretation. Deep learning approaches have developed rapidly in the noise suppression field in recent years. In order to eliminate the noise in distributed acoustic sensing–vertical seismic profile data, based on traditional convolution neural network, we add channel attention and spatial attention modules to the network to enhance the feature extraction ability of the network and use extended convolution to increase the receptive field to build a more efficient denoising model. In addition, we use different indicators to evaluate the quality of denoising, including signal‐to‐noise ratio, mean absolute error, kurtosis and skewness. The experimental results show that our method can recover the uplink wave field and downlink wave field, remove horizontal noise, optical system noise, random noise and other noises and improve the overall signal‐to‐noise ratio before and after denoising by 22 dB, reflecting a good ability of denoising and recovering effective signals.
Moving from theory to practice in occupational therapy education for planetary health: A theoretical view
Authors: Hess Ka Yan , Rihtman Tanya
Published: March 2023

Introduction

There remains a dearth of easily implemented strategies for translating environmental and sustainability policy into practice within occupational therapy education. In this context, the research‐implementation time lag is problematic because time is of the essence when seeking evidence‐based educational strategies to address planetary health challenges. The undertaking of practical experimentation to develop strategies for policy implementation and translation is challenged by the urgency of the issues faced.

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to conversations around translating awareness of planetary health to practical action for occupational therapy education by proposing a framework for practical “doing” skills, based on conceptually sound, theoretical foundations that support likely efficacy.

Methods

Three skills are suggested as a means to close the theory‐practice gap while incorporating what is known about educational processes supporting the transition from novice to expert occupational therapy practitioner. The first skill proposed is a rethinking of essential forms of clinical reasoning, with the introduction of environmental and sustainable reasoning as mandatory. Founded in an adoption of “two‐eyed seeing,” the second skill emphasises bidirectional questioning for climate‐just, person‐centred care. The third skill explores interprofessional educational collaboration for environmental sustainability.

Conclusions

Acknowledging the centrality of novice practitioner as part of occupational therapy learner professional identity requires appropriate strategies for learning clinical reasoning skills related to environmental sustainability, planetary health, and the potential discomfort of authentic bidirectional questioning. Implications of adopting these strategies are discussed in relation to their potential contribution to positive change for the occupational therapy profession and wider society.
Consent in Contracts of Employment
Authors: Niezna Maayan , Davidov Guy
Published: March 2023

This article considers the problem of questionable consent in contracts of employment. We suggest that in the context of employment, consent should be understood as a continuum that includes some level of coercion and some level of choice. We show that despite labour law's assumption of inequality of bargaining power, consent is still legally valid in various contexts of employment. We propose some solutions: procedural rules increasing the chance of free and informed consent, and substantive standards restricting recognition of consent due to public policy considerations. The ‘menu’ we put forward includes some solutions already recognised by law (in some specific contexts) and we also propose some new ones. We then demonstrate how the proposed solutions, both procedural and substantive, can be applied in common contexts where employee consent might be put into question: variation of contractual terms, waiver of access to courts, waiver of legislated rights, waivers related to human rights, and implicit waivers of employee status.
Agricultural input subsidies, extension services, and farm labour productivity nexus: Evidence from maize farmers in Tanzania
Authors: Malimi Kilugala
Published: March 2023

This paper examines the effect of agricultural input subsidies (AIS) and agricultural extension services (AES) on farm labour productivity in plots planted with maize in Tanzania, using panel data from the National Panel Survey in Tanzania. To control for the endogeneity of the two programmes, a control function and instrumental variable approach is used to estimate the effects of AIS and AES on farm labour productivity. The results show that AIS and AES are significant in raising labour productivity in maize‐planted plots. Similarly, AIS and AES are also effective in increasing land productivity in these plots. Moreover, each programme has comparable effects on land productivity and farm labour productivity. These findings imply that public investments in AIS and AES are effective in raising farm productivity.
Validation of the InnoXtract™ DNA extraction method for bone, teeth, and rootless hair
Authors: Sinha Sudhir K. , Brown Hiromi , Holt Hailey , Khan Mah‐ro , Sgueglia Joanne B. , Murphy Gina
Published: March 2023

Forensic casework samples often include human hairs, teeth, and bones. Hairs with roots are routinely processed for DNA analysis, while rootless hairs are either not tested or processed using mitochondrial DNA. Bones and teeth are submitted for human remains identifications for missing persons and mass disaster cases. DNA extraction from these low templates and degraded samples is challenging. The new InnoXtract DNA extraction method utilizes magnetic beads that are optimized to bind small DNA fragments, as small as 100 base pairs, to purify high‐yield DNA from compromised samples. This validation study evaluates InnoXtract's ability to obtain amplifiable DNA from samples such as rootless hairs and skeletal remains. Studies performed include sensitivity, stability, repeatability, reproducibility, non‐probative samples, and comparison to standard organic extractions. Sensitivity studies demonstrate average yield recoveries ranging from 53% to 100% and 73% to 85% for the InnoXtract hair and bone methods, respectively. Studies demonstrate consistent results across a range of sample types, such as insulted and un‐insulted bone and teeth, as well as hair shafts from donors of various ages, gender, race, and hair characteristics. The InnoXtract bone method outperformed organic extraction. The method was successfully automated on a MagMAX™ Express‐96, with recoveries over 70% relative to the manual version. InnoXtract has the potential as an automated high‐throughput, high‐yield bone extraction method with 6 h of total extraction time for up to 96 samples. The validation study results demonstrate that the InnoXtract kits produce high‐yield and high‐quality DNA from compromised bone, teeth, and hair shaft samples.
Vonoprazan is noninferior to proton pump inhibitors in bismuth‐containing quadruple therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection: A propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Wang Juan , Li Yue Yue , Lin Min Juan , Liu Jing , Lin Bo Shen , Ding Yu Ming , Wan Meng , Zhang Wen Lin , Kong Qing Zhou , Wang Shao Tong , Mu Yi Jun , Duan Miao , Han Zhong Xue , Zuo Xiu Li , Li Yan Qing
Published: March 2023

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vonoprazan (VPZ) versus proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in clarithromycin‐based bismuth‐containing quadruple therapy (C‐BQT) for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication.

Methods

Medical records of patients in whom H. pylori was eradicated between 1 July 2018 and 31 December 2021 were retrieved retrospectively from the Outpatient Unit of Qilu Hospital. Efficacy, safety, and compliance were compared between VPZ‐based and PPI‐based C‐BQT, containing vonoprazan 20 mg or proton pump inhibitors (lansoprazole 30 mg or esomeprazole 20 mg), bismuth 220 or 200 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and clarithromycin 500 mg, twice daily for 2 weeks by 1:1 propensity score matching analysis. The trial was registed on ClinicalTrials.gov (registration no. NCT05301725).

Results

The H. pylori eradication rates of VPZ‐based and PPI‐based therapies were 88.8% (151/170) and 87.6% (149/170) in the intention‐to‐treat analysis, 94.1% (144/153) and 91.1% (144/158) in the per‐protocol analysis, respectively. The noninferiority of VPZ to PPI was confirmed in all analyses (P < 0.001). The incidence of adverse events was 30.0% (51/170) and 27.1% (46/170) in the VPZ‐based and PPI‐based groups, respectively. VPZ‐based and PPI‐based therapies were well tolerated and showed good patient compliance without significant differences.

Conclusions

VPZ‐based therapy resulted in a satisfactory eradication rate and was well tolerated for H. pylori eradication, which are comparable to PPIs in C‐BQT as a first‐line treatment for H. pylori infection.
Parental influences on tobacco use and likelihood of future use among sexual minority young adult men and women in the United States
Authors: Romm Katelyn F. , Dopke Campbell , Price Olga A. , Pannell Alexandria , Williams River , Berg Carla J.
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives

Limited research has examined mechanisms, including parenting behaviors, contributing to tobacco use disparities among sexual minority young adults (SMYAs).

Methods

Participants were 644 young adult (ages 18–29; 36.5% racial/ethnic minority) women (N = 416; 44.7% bisexual, 7.2% lesbian, 48.1% heterosexual) and men (N = 288; 11.0% bisexual, 13.2% gay, 75.9% heterosexual). Bivariate analyses examined differences among sex‐by‐sexual identity subgroups in perceived parenting (psychological control, behavioral control, knowledge, autonomy support, warmth, communication), past 30‐day cigarette, e‐cigarette, and cigar use, and likelihood of future use. Multivariable regression examined associations of sexual identity subgroup and parenting behaviors to tobacco use outcomes among women and men.

Results

Bisexual (vs. heterosexual) women reported greater parental psychological control and less autonomy support, warmth, and communication. Bisexual (vs. heterosexual) women had greater odds of past 30‐day cigarette and cigar use and greater likelihood of future cigarette and e‐cigarette use, and parenting behaviors were associated with past 30‐day cigarette (knowledge, warmth), e‐cigarette (psychological control, autonomy support, warmth), and cigar use (behavioral control, warmth) and likelihood of future cigarette (psychological control, warmth) and e‐cigarette use (autonomy support, communication). Gay (vs. heterosexual) men reported greater parental behavioral control, less knowledge, autonomy support, warmth, and communication. Sexual identity and parenting behaviors were largely not associated with tobacco use among men.

Discussion and Conclusions

Findings highlight the role of parenting behaviors as potential mechanisms contributing to tobacco use disparities among SMYA women.

Scientific Significance

Tobacco prevention/cessation programs should be tailored toward specific SMYA subgroups, combinations of parenting behaviors, and patterns of tobacco use.
Multi‐plant coordination in the U.S. beef packing industry
Authors: Pudenz Christopher C. , Schulz Lee L.
Published: March 2023

Most U.S. beef packers with multiple plants now openly employ multi‐plant coordination. Using a Salop Circular City framework that includes negotiated and formula pricing, we demonstrate that multi‐plant coordination leads to wider spreads between downstream beef prices and upstream fed cattle prices if multi‐plant coordination markdowns outweigh multi‐plant coordination efficiencies. Taken together with market concentration, geography and transportation costs, and cattle cycles and related beef packer capacity utilization, multi‐plant coordination helps explain persistently wide farm‐to‐wholesale beef price spreads. We find that, as cattle inventories decline, a multi‐plant coordinator will permanently shut down a plant before the same plant run as a separate profit center will shut down, which is consistent with packer behavior in recent years. We also demonstrate that adding a strategically‐located packing plant, owned by an entrant firm, can narrow price spreads. This framework is important for ongoing policy discussions regarding the structure, conduct, and performance of the beef packing industry.
Exploring avoidable presentations from residential aged care facilities to the emergency department of a large regional Australian hospital
Authors: Gullick David , Islam Md Rafiqul
Published: March 2023

Objectives

The study aimed at determining the factors that contributed to older people presenting from residential aged care facilities (RACFs) to the emergency department (ED) of a regional Victorian hospital located in MM3 regional area.

Methods

Appropriateness of transfer was assessed based on predefined criteria, and associated costs for each presentation were calculated.

Design

The study carried out a retrospective review of records between July and December 2021. Data were extracted in a MS Excel spreadsheet and transferred to STATA 15.0 for analysis.

Setting

Large regional health service in Victoria.

Participants

Residential aged care facilities residents presenting to the ED.

Main Outcome Measures

Was transfer appropriate or avoidable, costs associated with avoidable transfer, characteristics of the patient and circumstances relating to presentation to hospital.

Results

A total of 448 presentations were recorded, and 85% of residents were >75 years of age. More than 60% of presentations occurred during weekends or after hours, with the most common reason being falls (31.9%). Over half (55.6%) of all presentations were avoidable which incurred a cost of $777 200 in 6 months. In multiple logistic regression, higher ED presentations were observed in residents with no prior GP assessment (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.02–2.11).

Conclusions

Necessary interventions such as preventing falls and increasing primary care access along with improving the quality of advance care directives (ACD) may reduce RACF transfers to the regional ED. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper of this kind that provides new data from an Australian rural and regional perspective and adds value to the growing body of knowledge in the intersection of aged care and acute emergency care.
A randomised controlled trial of the analgesia nociception index for intra‐operative remifentanil dose and pain after gynaecological laparotomy
Authors: Yoon H.‐K. , Kim Y. J. , Lee H. S. , Seo J.‐H. , Kim H.‐S.
Published: March 2023

We aimed to investigate the effect of the analgesia nociception index on postoperative pain. We randomly allocated 170 women scheduled for gynaecological laparotomy and analysed results from 159: in 80 women, remifentanil was infused to maintain analgesia nociception indices 50–70; and in 79 women, remifentanil was infused to maintain systolic blood pressure < 120% of baseline values. The primary outcome was the proportion of women with pain scores ≥ 5 (scale 0–10) within 40 min of admission to recovery. The proportion of women with pain scores ≥ 5 was 62/80 (78%) vs. 64/79 (81%), p = 0.73. Mean (SD) doses of fentanyl in recovery were 53.6 (26.9) μg vs. 54.8 (20.8) μg, p = 0.74. Intra‐operative remifentanil doses were 0.124 (0.050) μg.kg−1.min−1 vs. 0.129 (0.044) μg.kg−1.min−1, p = 0.55.
Lactobacillus plantarumsecretions may exert a cryoprotective effect on human sperm motility: A prospective in vitro study
Authors: Raad Georges , Fakih Fadi , Bazzi Marwa , Massaad Vinal , Nasrallah Estrellita , Yarkiner Zalihe , Mourad Youmna , Khater Danielle Abou , Balech Rita , Saliba Christine , Serdarogullari Munevver , Fakih Chadi
Published: March 2023

Background

Semen cryopreservation is a widely used procedure for fertility preservation, despite some level of cryodamage that may occur in spermatozoa after thawing. However, there is some evidence that lactobacilli, one of the bacteria found in semen, might benefit sperm quality.

Objectives

This study aims to determine whether the addition ofLactobacillus plantarumsecretions to sperm freezing medium has an impact on sperm motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation.

Materials and methods

This is a prospective auto‐controlled study. It was conducted on 30 raw semen samples from 30 infertile men attending a fertility center for semen analysis. Before freezing, all the samples were analyzed for motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation percentages. Each sample was then divided equally into three aliquots. Cryopreservation was performed on each aliquot using one of the following three media: withoutLactobacillus plantarumsecretions (control group) or with 107or 108colony‐forming units/mLLactobacillus plantarumsecretions. Sperm motility, morphology, and DNA integrity were evaluated after the cryopreservation media were added and after semen thawing.

Results

The results of this study indicated that after thawing, no statistically significant decrease in progressive motility and non‐progressive percentages were detected in the sperm freezing medium supplemented with 108colony‐forming units/mLLactobacillus plantarumsecretions than the fresh raw semen. Moreover, multivariate linear regression model analyses showed that the progressive motility (p = 0.02), non‐progressive motility (p = 0.016), and non‐motile spermatozoa (p = 0.012) percentages were significantly decreased in the freezing medium (withoutLactobacillus plantarumsecretions) compared to the fresh raw semen.

Discussion and conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing thatLactobacillus plantarumsecretions had a cryoprotective effect on sperm motility when added to the sperm freezing medium. Furthermore,Lactobacillus plantarumsecretions were found to protect sperm DNA integrity more effectively than the freezing medium withoutLactobacillus plantarumsecretions in non‐normozoospermia group. Cryopreservation procedures must therefore be optimized to minimize any iatrogenically induced sperm DNA damage, given the correlation between sperm DNA damage and increased mutation loads in progeny.
TheABC‐Dof animal linguistics: are syntax and compositionality for real?
Authors: Schlenker Philippe , Coye Camille , Leroux Maël , Chemla Emmanuel
Published: March 2023

In several animal species, an alarm call (e.g.ABCnotes in the Japanese titParus minor) can be immediately followed by a recruitment call (e.g.Dnotes) to yield a complex call that triggers a third behaviour, namely mobbing. This has been taken to be an argument for animal syntax and compositionality (i.e. the property by which the meaning of a complex expression depends on the meaning of its parts and the way they are put together). Several additional discoveries were made across species. First, in some cases, animals respond with mobbing to the orderalarm–recruitmentbut not to the orderrecruitment–alarm. Second, animals sometimes respond similarly to functionally analogous heterospecific calls they have never heard before, and/or to artificial hybrid sequences made of conspecific and heterospecific calls in the same order, thus adding an argument for the productivity of the relevant rules. We consider the details of these arguments for animal syntax and compositionality and argue that, with one important exception (Japanese titABC‐Dsequences), they currently remain ambiguous: there are reasonable alternatives on which each call is a separate utterance and is interpreted as such (‘trivial compositionality’). More generally, we propose that future studies should argue for animal syntax and compositionality by explicitly pitting the target theory against two deflationary analyses: the ‘only one expression’ hypothesis posits that there is no combination in the first place, for example just a simplexABCDcall; while the ‘separate utterances’ hypothesis posits that there are separate expressions (e.g.ABCandD), but that they form separate utterances and are neither syntactically nor semantically combined.
Understanding unusual sensory experiences: a randomised experimental study of a school‐based intervention for adolescents
Authors: Radez Jerica , Johns Louise , Waite Felicity
Published: March 2023

Background

One in ten young people experience unusual sensory experiences (USE), such as hallucinations. From a cognitive perspective, the appraisal of USE determines the impact of these experiences. Negative appraisal, as well as other psychological processes (e.g. thinking flexibility, maladaptive schemas, anxiety/depression), is associated with more distress. Our aim was to (a) develop a universal single‐session school‐based intervention on USE for adolescents and (b) evaluate the effect of the intervention on appraisals of and help seeking intentions for USE.

Methods

A randomised controlled experimental design with a one‐month follow‐up was used to test the effectiveness of the intervention in one school. Students (n = 223) aged 12–13 were randomised by class to a single‐session intervention on USE or a control intervention (generic mental wellbeing). Participants completed measures of appraisals of and help‐seeking intentions for USE at pre‐ and postintervention and at one‐month follow‐up. They also completed measures of schemas, thinking flexibility and anxiety/depression at preintervention.

Results

Overall, 190 adolescents completed the main outcome measures at all three points. The intervention on USE led to a significant (p < .05) increase of positive appraisals of USE compared with the control, with effects sustained at one‐month follow‐up. The intervention on USE did not lead to significantly greater help‐seeking intentions for USE (p = .26). Adolescents' schemas were associated with appraisals and slow thinking and anxiety/depressive symptoms with help‐seeking behaviour for USE.

Conclusions

A single‐session universal school‐based intervention shows promise by improving appraisals of USE. Further research is required across different school populations.
Atopic dermatitis – Perspectives and unmet medical needs
Authors: Buhl Timo , Werfel Thomas
Published: March 2023

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease for which many new insights have been gained in recent years through a better understanding of pathophysiology, concomitant diseases and therapeutics in particular. In this review, new and practice‐relevant results from current research are presented. Many studies have been performed on the diagnosis of AD and on different subtypes, yet no diagnostic biomarker or clinical predictor of treatment response has been established. For topical treatment, some agents such as Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are in advanced stages of clinical trials or already approved in some countries, which will be available in Europe for the treatment of certain eczema subtypes in the foreseeable future. Current systemic therapies in Europe include two antibodies for inhibition of the interleukin (IL)‐4/13 signaling cascades and three oral JAK inhibitors with somewhat different efficacy and safety profiles. Among the antibody therapies for AD already advanced in development, promising new targets include blockade of IL‐31, of neurokinin‐1 receptor on sensory neurons, and inhibition of the OX40/OX40L axis for cutaneous dendritic cell and T lymphocyte interaction. Primary prevention and modulation of sequential disease progression as well as effects on concomitant diseases by early therapeutic intervention will be important questions in future research on AD.
Children's social wariness toward a different‐race stranger relates to individual differences in temperament
Authors: Hwang Hyesung G. , Filippi Courtney A. , Morales Santiago , Fox Nathan A. , Woodward Amanda
Published: March 2023

When children first meet a stranger, there is great variation in how much they will approach and engage with the stranger. While individual differences in this type of behavior—called social wariness—are well‐documented in temperament research, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the social groups (such as race) of the stranger and how these characteristics might influence children's social wariness. In contrast, research on children's social bias and interracial friendships rarely examines individual differences in temperament and how temperament might influence cross‐group interactions. The current study bridges the gap across these different fields of research by examining whether the racial group of an unfamiliar peer or adult moderates the association between temperament and the social wariness that children display. Utilizing a longitudinal dataset that collected multiple measurements of children's temperament and behaviors (including parent‐reported shyness and social wariness toward unfamiliar adults and peers) across early childhood, we found that 2‐ to 7‐year‐old children with high parent‐reported shyness showed greater social wariness toward a different‐race stranger compared to a same‐race stranger, whereas children with low parent‐reported shyness did not. These results point to the importance of considering racial group membership in temperament research and the potential role that temperament might play in children's cross‐race interactions.

Research Highlights

Previous research on temperament has not considered how the race of strangers could influence children's social wariness.

We find evidence that 2‐ to 7‐year‐old children with high parent‐reported shyness show greater social wariness toward a different‐race stranger compared to a same‐race stranger.

These results point to the importance of considering racial group membership in temperament research.

Our findings also suggest temperament may play a role in children's cross‐race interactions.
Pain management following dental trauma and surgical procedures
Authors: Malamed Stanley F.
Published: March 2023

Surgical procedures and post‐traumatic management of dental patients require effective pain management during treatment, but being considerably more invasive than conservative treatments, pain management is required into the postoperative period. Clinical trials on pain intensity following dental surgical procedures (e.g., 3rd molar extraction, implant placement, periodontal, and endodontic surgery) have shown that pain is most intense approximately 5–6 h after completion of the procedure, reaching its peak levels during the first postoperative day. Greatest consumption of analgesics occurs during the first 48–72 h after 3rd molar extraction. For the management of perioperative pain associated with either conservative or surgical dental treatment, the local anesthetics articaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, and prilocaine are preferred. These drugs, with a vasoconstrictor, provide a rapid onset and a duration of pulpal anesthesia adequate to complete most dental and surgical procedures painlessly. For management of post‐traumatic and postsurgical pain, bupivacaine—administered by an appropriate nerve block—near the conclusion of a surgical procedure, can provide the patient with a pain‐free period of up to 12 h. Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs represent the most effective drugs for the management of dental postsurgical pain. NSAIDs, as a group in therapeutic doses, have numbers needed to treat (NNTs) ranging from 2 to 3, while opioid analgesics do not approach those for NSAIDs. A protocol for management of pain following surgical procedures and traumatic injuries is discussed in this paper and includes preemptive NSAID; perioperative pain management; postoperative pain management—local anesthesia; postoperative pain management—analgesics; postoperative telephone call.
Long‐term trajectories of non‐native vegetation on islands globally
Authors: Walentowitz Anna , Lenzner Bernd , Essl Franz , Strandberg Nichola , Castilla‐Beltrán Alvaro , Fernández‐Palacios José María , Björck Svante , Connor Simon , Haberle Simon G. , Ljung Karl , Prebble Matiu , Wilmshurst Janet M. , Froyd Cynthia A. , de Boer Erik J. , de Nascimento Lea , Edwards Mary E. , Stevenson Janelle , Beierkuhnlein Carl , Steinbauer Manuel J. , Nogué Sandra
Published: March 2023

Human‐mediated changes in island vegetation are, among others, largely caused by the introduction and establishment of non‐native species. However, data on past changes in non‐native plant species abundance that predate historical documentation and censuses are scarce. Islands are among the few places where we can track human arrival in natural systems allowing us to reveal changes in vegetation dynamics with the arrival of non‐native species. We matched fossil pollen data with botanical status information (native, non‐native), and quantified the timing, trajectories and magnitude of non‐native plant vegetational change on 29 islands over the past 5000 years. We recorded a proportional increase in pollen of non‐native plant taxa within the last 1000 years. Individual island trajectories are context‐dependent and linked to island settlement histories. Our data show that non‐native plant introductions have a longer and more dynamic history than is generally recognized, with critical implications for biodiversity baselines and invasion biology.
Understanding the stereotypes of Millennials in the workplace
Authors: Arras‐Djabi Mélia , Cottard Laura , Shimada Sakura
Published: March 2023

Recent research on the generations in the workplace has acknowledged the role organizations play in creating generations and the stereotypes associated with them. However, how these stereotypes are formed has yet to be empirically explored. This paper analyzes the stereotypes associated with Millennials based on an in‐depth case study of a population of drivers in a French railway company. This shows that these stereotypes mostly reflect the transformation of professional and organizational identities. The “elders” differentiate themselves from the new organizational generation to enhance the appearance of their skills, knowledge, and values, thus maintaining a balance of power that is favorable to them. Stereotypes also represent generational imprints that work as time markers in shaping the collective memory of their profession. By exploring the relationship among organizational changes, organizational generations, and generational stereotypes, this research produces a more complete understanding of the generational phenomenon in the workplace.
An ultra‐brief systemic intervention to address child mental health symptomatology
Authors: Philipp Diane A. , Prime Heather , Darwiche Joëlle
Published: March 2023

Drawing on decades of research in family systems, coparenting, and developmental science, we present a clinical approach to address unmet service needs in children's mental health. Specifically, we describe Lausanne Family Play – Brief Intervention (LFP‐B) – a manualized family systems approach providing a caregiver‐caregiver‐child therapy (and sibling/s, when applicable). The LFP‐B is ultra‐brief, typically delivered in as few as three sessions (two assessment sessions followed by a video feedback session), with the aim of reducing children's mental health symptomatology by enhancing the coparenting relationship. We review literature on systemic family therapies and provide a rationale for including coparents and children in child mental health care. We then provide a rationale for using behavioral observations and video feedback in treatment, drawing on research in related family‐based treatments (e.g., parent–child therapies). Finally, we provide an overview of the LFP‐B manual and a case illustration.