bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agricultural development promises more growth and less poverty in Africa: Modelling the potential impact of implementing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme in six countries
Authors: Diallo Mariam , Wouterse Fleur
Published: September 2022

Motivation

Countries of Africa have, through the Maputo and Malabo declarations and the companion Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) committed to increased public investment in agriculture. If implemented, this should contribute substantially to realizing several development goals, including reduction of poverty and hunger and making rural populations more resilient to climate change.

Purpose

How much would implementation of National Agriculture Investment Plans (NAIPs) formulated within CAADP help achieve the aims of the Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2063, and the Malabo Declaration—namely, to boost agricultural growth, eradicate hunger, and reduce poverty and inequality?

Methods and approach

We use data from Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, and Rwanda compiled in a Social Accounting Matrix. We run Computable General Equilibrium models with microeconomic models for each country to simulate the potential effect of implementation of the NAIPs. Three different methods to finance increased spending on agriculture are simulated: one that reallocates public expenditure with no overall increase in spending; a second that finances extra spending by more taxes; and one that relies on external funding to increase total spending.

Findings

Results show that agriculture‐led investment would significantly increase agricultural growth, raise farm productivity, reduce dependency on food imports, improve incomes of food producers, and cut poverty. In most countries, increased investment in agriculture does more to boost growth, create jobs, and cut poverty than investments in industry or services. Raising overall public spending to allow more agricultural investment is far more effective than shifting spending within a fixed budget.

Policy implications

For the six countries modelled, an agriculture‐led investment strategy appears the best way to eradicate hunger and reduce poverty and inequality while building resilience of rural households.
Survival analysis of fragment reattachments and direct composite restorations in permanent teeth after dental traumatic injuries
Authors: Haupt Franziska , Meyerdiercks Christopher , Kanzow Philipp , Wiegand Annette
Published: September 2022

Background/Aim

In case of crown fractures after traumatic dental injuries, the affected teeth can be restored either with reattachment of the fractured fragment or with a direct composite restoration. So far, longevity data for reattachments and direct composite restorations with regard to different failure types (pulp necrosis and infection, restoration loss) are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the restorative and biological survival of reattached fragments and composite restorations after crown fractures in permanent teeth.

Material and Methods

Dental records of patients treated between 2000 and 2018 were retrospectively analysed regarding the restoration (reattachment or direct composite restorations) of teeth with crown fractures. Survival (no further intervention) and restorative and/or biological failure of all restored teeth were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan–Meier statistics, and the mean annual failure rates for two and 5 years were calculated. Furthermore, the effect of potential risk factors on survival was assessed. Log‐rank tests and univariate Cox regression models (likelihood ratio tests) were used to assess the univariate effect of all variables of interest. Variables with a p‐value ≤.10 were included in a multivariate Cox regression model with shared frailty (p < .05).

Results

Overall, 164 patients with 235 teeth (uncomplicated crown fracture: N = 201, complicated crown fracture: N = 34) were included (1.6 ± 2.5 years observation time). Of these, 59 teeth were restored with reattachment of the fragment and 176 with a composite restoration. Overall, composite restorations had a significantly higher survival rate than reattachments (p = .002). The cumulative survival after 2 years was 42.9% and 65.0% for teeth treated with a reattachment (mAFR = 34.5%) and a composite restoration (mAFR = 19.3%), respectively. When differentiating between failure types, restoration failure and pulp necrosis were significantly more frequently detected in reattached crown fractures compared to composite restorations (restorative failure: p = .001; biological failure: p = .036). In the multivariate Cox regression model, the variable jaw and luxation significantly influenced the survival when the tooth was restored with a composite restoration. The survival was not influenced by the fracture type.

Conclusions

Restorative and biological failures were more frequently detected when the tooth was restored with a reattached fragment compared to a direct composite restoration. Both, restoration failure and pulp necrosis with infection should be considered as frequent complications after restoration of crown‐fractured teeth which emphasizes the necessity of regular and short follow‐up intervals throughout the first 2 years.
General and dental injuries sustained at concerts: A questionnaire‐based study
Authors: Schifferle Anne‐Kathrin , Eggmann Florin , Mukaddam Khaled , Kühl Sebastian , Filippi Andreas
Published: September 2022

Background/Aim

Evidence on the risk of injury at concerts is scant. The aim of this study was to collect data on general and dental injuries incurred by concertgoers in Switzerland and to investigate whether the frequency of accidents was related to music genre, gender and consumption of alcohol.

Materials and methods

A questionnaire‐based, cross‐sectional study comprising 451 concertgoers in Switzerland was conducted on the timeframe January 2019 to February 2021. The survey gathered data on general and dental injuries, alcohol consumption and drug use. The statistical analysis included Fisher's exact tests, chi‐squared tests, rank sum tests and logistic regressions (α = .05).

Results

There were 28.8% of respondents who reported an injury incurred at a concert. Contusion was the most prevalent injury, accounting for 33.8% of all injuries. Legs were the most commonly injured body part (34.6%). Injuries to their mouth/lips/teeth were reported by 17.7% of respondents. Dental injuries, accounting for 4.6% of all reported injuries, comprised four tooth fractures, one lateral luxation and one avulsion. The risk of injury while attending punk rock concerts was 8.6 times higher than for pop concerts (p < .001). In comparison with pop concerts, metal and rock concerts had an increased risk of injury by factors of 5.1 and 2.3, respectively (p ≤ .029). Neither gender nor drug use had a significant effect on the injury risk (p ≥ .3). Heavy alcohol consumption (>5 standard glasses) increased the risk of injury by a factor of 2.3 (p = .028).

Conclusions

This study suggests that concert attendees at rock, metal and punk concerts face an increased risk of injury, which is likely due to the frequency of aggressive dance styles such as moshing. Heavy alcohol consumption leads to a greater risk of injury at concerts.
Clinical view versus guideline adherence in ferritin monitoring and initiating iron chelation therapy in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Rozema Johanne , van Asten Ivar , Kwant Beau , Kibbelaar Robby E. , Veeger Nic J. G. M. , de Wit Harry , van Roon Eric N. , Hoogendoorn Mels ,   the HemoBase Population Registry Consortium
Published: September 2022

Objectives

In patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with >20 transfusions and ferritin levels >1000 μg/L, international guidelines recommend iron chelation therapy (ICT). The study's objective was to determine guideline adherence and the intensity of ferritin monitoring in clinical practice.

Methods

We performed an observational population‐based study using the HemoBase Registry, which contains data of all MDS patients diagnosed since 2005 in Friesland, the Netherlands. Clinical information on transfusions, ferritin measurements, ICT, and clinical performance as defined by age ≤ 80 years, Charlson Comorbidity Index <2 and lower‐risk MDS was collected from health records.

Results

Two hundred and thirty seven of 292 patients (81.1%) received ≥1 transfusion, and 121 (41.4%) received >20 transfusions. In 57 of these 121 patients (47.1%), ferritin measurements were performed at least once. Clinical performance was significantly associated with monitoring ferritin around the 20th transfusion (RR: 2.49, p = .016). Clinical performance was also associated with initiating ICT (RR: 5.99, p < .001). ICT was offered to 22.3% (n = 25) of eligible patients.

Conclusions

In this population‐based study, ferritin levels were measured in <50% of MDS patients who received >20 transfusions, and clinical performance was significantly associated with measuring ferritin. Our study suggests that in heavily transfused MDS patients, ferritin monitoring is primarily based on patients' clinical performance rather than guideline recommendations.
Disentangling direct and indirect drivers of farmland biodiversity at landscape scale
Authors: Meier Eliane Seraina , Lüscher Gisela , Knop Eva
Published: September 2022

To stop the ongoing decline of farmland biodiversity there are increasing claims for a paradigm shift in agriculture, namely from conserving and restoring farmland biodiversity at field scale (α‐diversity) to doing it at landscape scale (γ‐diversity). However, knowledge on factors driving farmland γ‐diversity is currently limited. Here, we quantified farmland γ‐diversity in 123 landscapes and analysed direct and indirect effects of abiotic and land‐use factors shaping it using structural equation models. The direction and strength of effects of factors shaping γ‐diversity were only partially consistent with what is known about factors shaping α‐diversity, and indirect effects were often stronger than direct effects or even opposite. Thus, relationships between factors shaping α‐diversity cannot simply be up‐scaled to γ‐diversity, and also indirect effects should no longer be neglected. Finally, we show that local mitigation measures benefit farmland γ‐diversity at landscape scale and are therefore a useful tool for designing biodiversity‐friendly landscapes.
Lessons learned from the use of rotenone to eradicate feral fish in two irrigation lakes in Western Australia
Authors: Thompson Graham G. , Thompson Scott A.
Published: September 2022

An eradication program using rotenone was implemented primarily targeting a localised population of the feral Pearl Cichlid (Geophagus brasiliensis), and as a secondary objective to also remove the widespread Eastern Gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki) in two artificial lakes used for irrigation purposes in Byford, Western Australia (WA). Rotenone, applied at the approved rate (i.e. 0.25 ppm), failed to eradicate all Eastern Gambusia, and possibly all of the Pearl Cichlids in the first attempt, but at a higher dose rate (i.e. 1 ppm) it eradicated both species on the second attempt. We attributed the initial failure partially to the low dose rate of rotenone approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). Pearl Cichlids are present in multiple public ponds and lakes, and waterways in the greater Perth metropolitan area (www.abc.net.au/news/2012‐06‐27/feral‐fish‐overtake‐wa‐native‐species/4096580), and needs to be more aggressively managed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
Demographic resilience of brook trout populations subjected to experimental size‐selective harvesting
Authors: Clarke Shannon H. , McCracken Gregory R. , Humphries Shelley , Ruzzante Daniel E. , Grant James W. A. , Fraser Dylan J.
Published: September 2022

Sustainable management of exploited populations benefits from integrating demographic and genetic considerations into assessments, as both play a role in determining harvest yields and population persistence. This is especially important in populations subject to size‐selective harvest, because size selective harvesting has the potential to result in significant demographic, life‐history, and genetic changes. We investigated harvest‐induced changes in the effective number of breeders () for introduced brook trout populations (Salvelinus fontinalis) in alpine lakes from western Canada. Three populations were subject to 3 years of size‐selective harvesting, while three control populations experienced no harvest. The decreased consistently across all harvested populations (on average 60.8%) but fluctuated in control populations. There were no consistent changes in between control or harvest populations, but one harvest population experienced a decrease in of 63.2%. The / ratio increased consistently across harvest lakes; however we found no evidence of genetic compensation (where variance in reproductive success decreases at lower abundance) based on changes in family evenness () and the number of full‐sibling families (). We found no relationship between and or between / and . We posit that change in was buffered by constraints on breeding habitat prior to harvest, such that the same number of breeding sites were occupied before and after harvest. These results suggest that effective size in harvested populations may be resilient to considerable changes in Nc in the short‐term, but it is still important to monitor exploited populations to assess the risk of inbreeding and ensure their long‐term survival.
Computed tomographic findings in 101 horses presented for the investigation of headshaking
Authors: Fairburn Alison J. , Meehan Lucinda Jayne , Roberts Veronica L. H.
Published: September 2022

Background

The majority of horses presenting to a hospital with signs of headshaking receive a diagnosis of trigeminal‐mediated headshaking. This diagnosis is one of exclusion, so ruling out other possible causes of headshaking is essential.

Objectives

The aims of this study were to describe the computed tomographic (CT) findings in horses that were presented for investigation of headshaking and underwent CT examination of the head under standing sedation. A secondary aim was to establish whether the proximity of the apices of the caudal maxillary cheek teeth to the infra‐orbital canal varied between age‐matched groups of horses presented for CT examination for investigation of headshaking and those presented for investigation of other conditions.

Study design

Retrospective case series of horses undergoing CT examination of the head as part of the investigation of headshaking at the Equine Centre, University of Bristol.

Methods

Case records of horses that had standing CT images of the head obtained, reviewed and reported at the Equine Centre, University of Bristol over a 5‐year period (February 2012–March 2017) were reviewed. Cases that had presented for investigation of headshaking were included. The proximity of the apices of the maxillary cheek teeth to the infra‐orbital canal was assessed in age‐matched horses presenting for CT for investigation of headshaking and other reasons.

Results

A total of 101 horses presented for investigation of headshaking were included. There were four horses in which CT detected likely causative pathology for the headshaking which had not been identified by other diagnostic tests; however, radiographs had not been obtained in two of these horses. Three horses had periapical infection of the maxillary cheek teeth, and one horse had a fracture of the paracondylar process of the occipital bone. Clinical signs resolved following treatment in three horses; two with periapical infection and one with a paracondylar process fracture. One horse with periapical infection was lost to follow‐up. There was no significant difference in the proximity of the apices of the maxillary cheek teeth to the infra‐orbital canal between the head‐shaking and non‐head‐shaking groups.

Main limitations

Retrospective study; pre‐selection of cases through discussion of the case and, in some instances assessment of videos of the behaviour, by the last author, prior to referral; lack of radiographs.

Conclusions

Whilst trigeminal‐mediated headshaking is the most common cause of headshaking in horses, it is a diagnosis of exclusion so thorough investigation to rule out other possible causes is essential. We consider CT examination of the head to be a valuable tool in this investigation, although the diagnostic yield is likely to be low.
An unsupervised policy relevance scoring method: Taking Chinese social security policies as the application case
Authors: Sun Jingyun , Huang Shaobin , Li Rongsheng
Published: September 2022

Organizing and managing policy documents (PDs) issued to the public in a good way can improve the efficiency of government employees and make it easier for the public to find the needed policy information. However, existing PDs are organized only by dates and manually defined categories; besides, PDs issued by different government branches are isolated from each other. These problems make it challenging and time‐consuming for the public to find the needed policy information. We argue that implicit links should be established between PDs based on their relevance, thus helping the public find the needed policy information efficiently. To this end, we propose an unsupervised relevance scoring method for PDs consist six modules, taking Chinese social security policies as the application case. The method combines the TextRank algorithm, TF‐IDF representation, mutual information and left–right information entropy algorithm, and BERT. The method can decrease the interference of noisy words in PDs to relevance scoring. In addition, the method can consider multiple features of PDs simultaneously so that the measure of relevance can be more comprehensive. The method is not driven by domain‐specific labelled data, hence can be easily generalized to PDs in various domains. We construct a dataset containing 5000 Chinese social security policies and then conduct experiments on it to evaluate our method. Experimental results show that our method is feasible and can bring convenience to government agencies and the public to a certain extent. Furthermore, our method achieves more than a 3% improvement in evaluation results on test tasks than the methods with a similar purpose in the legal AI community.
Global phylogeography of hyperdiverse lanternfishes indicates sympatric speciation in the deep sea
Authors: Freer Jennifer J. , Collins Rupert A. , Tarling Geraint A. , Collins Martin A. , Partridge Julian C. , Genner Martin J.
Published: September 2022

Aim

Lanternfishes (Myctophidae) are one of the most species‐rich families of mid‐water fishes. They inhabit the mesopelagic zone, where physical barriers to dispersal and gene flow are permeable. Thus, modes of speciation that rely exclusively on geographical separation are potentially of less importance than those that rely more prominently on evolution of assortative mating through divergent habitat use and/or sexual signals, including visual signals from bioluminescent light organs. Here we used phylogenetic, ecological and morphological data to investigate the roles of geography, habitat use and lateral photophores in lanternfish speciation.

Location

Global.

Time period

Data collected between 1950 and 2015.

Major taxa studied

Lanternfishes (Myctophidae).

Methods

Ecological niche models (ENMs) were developed for 167 species, enabling the community composition of 33 mesopelagic ecoregions to be determined. Sequence data for seven protein‐coding regions from 175 species were used to reconstruct a phylogenetic tree of Myctophidae. Age‐overlap correlation tests were conducted using this phylogeny with outputs from ENMs (pairwise geographical overlap and pairwise ecological niche overlap, n = 136), in addition to matrices of pairwise depth overlap (n = 158) and photophore pattern dissimilarity (n = 161).

Results

Communities assembled according to nine broad climatic regions, and recently diverged species pairs possessed greater geographical and ecological niche overlap than more distantly related species, indicating that sympatric or parapatric speciation might be dominant modes of divergence. Differences in photophore patterns increased with the relative age of speciation events, suggesting that photophore patterns are largely constrained by phylogeny.

Main conclusions

Based on this evidence, we suggest that large‐scale oceanographic features structure the diversity of lanternfish communities and that speciation within this family of deep‐water fishes might not have required geographical isolation.
INT6/eIF3e represses E‐cadherin expression through HIF2α in lung carcinoma A549 cells
Authors: Gotoh‐Saito Saki , Sadato Daichi , Shibasaki Futoshi
Published: September 2022

Hypoxia‐inducible factor 2 α (HIF2α), a transcription factor playing a vital role in hypoxia, promotes cancer metastasis. We had previously reported that the cancer‐related gene integration site 6/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit e (INT6/eIF3e) negatively regulates the protein stability of HIF2α in an oxygen‐independent manner. Presently, the downstream targets for INT6/eIF3e‐regulated HIF2α are unknown. Given the roles of HIF2α and INT6/eIF3e in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) that promotes cancer metastasis, we hypothesized that INT6/eIF3e‐regulated HIF2α controls EMT. This study shows that INT6/eIF3e knockdown in lung carcinoma A549 cells led to increased expression of HIF2α protein and an EMT‐like phenotypic change. The increased HIF2α subsequently repressed the E‐cadherin gene. Mechanistically, HIF2α interacts with the twist family bHLH transcription factor 1 (TWIST1) known to regulate EMT process, and binds to the proximal promoter region of E‐cadherin, repressing it. Collectively, our work demonstrates that HIF2α, regulated by INT6/eIF3e, represses the E‐cadherin gene through TWIST1 to enhance EMT, suggesting a role of the INT6/eIF3e‐HIF2α axis in cancer metastasis.
Perspectives from recent advances of Helicobacter pylori vaccines research
Authors: Zhang Ying , Li Xiaoya , Shan Baoen , Zhang Hongtao , Zhao Lianmei
Published: September 2022

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the main factor leading to some gastric diseases. Currently, H. pylori infection is primarily treated with antibiotics. However, with the widespread application of antibiotics, H. pylori resistance to antibiotics has also gradually increased year by year. Vaccines may be an alternative solution to clear H. pylori.

Aims

By reviewing the recent progress on H. pylori vaccines, we expected it to lead to more research efforts to accelerate breakthroughs in this field.

Materials & Methods

We searched the research on H. pylori vaccine in recent years through PubMed®, and then classified and summarized these studies.

Results

The study of the pathogenic mechanism of H. pylori has led to the development of vaccines using some antigens, such as urease, catalase, and heat shock protein (Hsp). Based on these antigens, whole‐cell, subunit, nucleic acid, vector, and H. pylori exosome vaccines have been tested.

Discussion

At present, researchers have developed many types of vaccines, such as whole cell vaccines, subunit vaccines, vector vaccines, etc. However, although some of these vaccines induced protective immunity in mouse models, only a few were able to move into human trials. We propose that mRNA vaccine may play an important role in preventing or treating H. pylori infection. The current study shows that we have developed various types of vaccines based on the virulence factors of H. pylori. However, only a few vaccines have entered human clinical trials. In order to improve the efficacy of vaccines, it is necessary to enhance T‐cell immunity.

Conclusion

We should fully understand the pathogenic mechanism of H. pylori and find its core antigen as a vaccine target.
Fracture mechanics properties of fused silicas used for international space station windowpanes
Authors: Salem Jonathan
Published: September 2022

The fracture toughness and slow crack growth (SCG) parameters of a quartz‐based silica and a high‐purity fused silica were measured as part of a program to review the reliability of the International Space Station windows. The materials exhibit the same fracture toughness (.75 MPa m1/2 in N2) and very similar SCG parameters. The literature on fused silica indicates excellent agreement of fracture toughness, but a very wide range of SCG parameters, even from the same institution, with strength‐based methods usually yielding a lower power law exponent than direct crack velocity measurements. Use of the exponential function is shown to provide better agreement between test methods, with velocity curves derived from strength tests of bare fiber and polished or ground test specimens paralleling those from wide‐range, direct crack velocity observations, implying that constant stress rate tests can predict long lifetime via the exponential function. However, much variation still exists. SCG parameters for soda–lime silicate are much less sensitive to the test method than fused silica. Static load tests and stress intensity measurements resulted in a fatigue threshold of .3 MPa m1/2 for fused silica.
The antioxidative capacities of Lactobacillus and its potential mechanisms via chemical and cellular assessments
Authors: Li Meng‐Fan , Cui Hua‐Ling , Liu Sheng‐Ya , Van Bockstaele Filip , Yu Ming , Lou Wen‐Yong
Published: September 2022

For an elementary study in vitro of probiotics with aid of antioxidant property for ameliorating oxidative stress, Lactobacillus pentosus subsp. FS4722, Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. FS5062, FS5382 and FS5498 were used to evaluate their antioxidant property via chemical‐based and cellular assays. A significant dose‐dependent manner was observed in the results of DPPH, ·OH and ·O2− radical‐scavenging activity. Principal component analysis (PCA), however, showed that the total antioxidant activity of four Lactobacillus was positively associated with their ability against H2O2‐induced HepG2 cell death, which indicated Lactobacillus pentosus FS4722 (95.07 ± 5.08%) had great potential for repairing oxidative damage in HepG2 cells oxidative stress model. The potential regulatory pathway of Lactobacillus FS4722 antioxidant action is reduction of intracellular ROS levels, improvement of SOD and CAT enzymes activities along with the activation of Nrf2 signalling and upregulation of the transcription levels of antioxidant factors NQO1, GCLG, GCLM and HO‐1.
Antioxidant, antihypertensive and antidiabetic potential of peptidic fractions obtained from tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis) protein hydrolysate and identification of promising multifunctional bioactive peptides
Authors: Chirinos Rosana , Villasante‐Bravo Naysha , Aguilar‐Galvez Ana , Figueroa‐Merma Andrés , Carpentier Sebastien , Pedreschi Romina , Campos David
Published: September 2022

Tarwi is an Andean grain, belonging to the legume group and is characterised by its high protein content, exceeding that reported in soybeans being an interesting resource for obtaining bioactive peptides. The tarwi protein hydrolysate (TPH) obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis with Alcalase (60 min) followed by Neutrase (120 min) presented important multifunctional properties to cope with oxidative stress, hypertension and diabetes. After concentration and purification process the most active fraction containing the highest antioxidant, antihypertensive (inhibition of angiotensin‐converting enzyme I, ACE) and antidiabetic (inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV, DPP IV) properties were found in the low‐molecular weight peptide fraction. Thus, this last fraction was subjected to a de novo sequencing LC–MS/MS analysis yielding the identification of 25 peptides, with potential activities as ACE and DPP IV inhibitors and antioxidative according to BIOPEP database. Of these, four novel peptides: AVPFWM, YSGWLGL, AHAGFGMLY and FFSMKVM, stood out for their relatively high scores in bioactivity predicted by Peptide Ranker, additionally the structure–activity evaluation performed on them, supported the predicted antioxidant, antihypertensive and antidiabetic properties. These results demonstrated that TPH might be considered a potential source of peptides with multifunctional bioactive properties with possibilities of application in the food and nutraceutical sectors.
Comment mesurer la sécurité au travail? Par un indicateur des capacités, plutôt que par des taux de fréquence déficients
Authors: DEKKER Sidney W.A. , TOOMA Michael
Published: September 2022

Face aux limites, bien documentées, des indices de sécurité au travail habituels, axés sur la fréquence des incidents, et alors que la jurisprudence a fait valoir une obligation de diligence raisonnable de l'employeur, de nombreux chercheurs préconisent de mesurer, plutôt que les échecs, les ressources – ou capacités – qui font que tout se déroule de façon harmonieuse en temps ordinaire. Les auteurs proposent dans cet esprit un indice des capacités qui englobe six dimensions: la connaissance des enjeux de sécurité, celle des processus opérationnels, les moyens alloués, le suivi des risques, la mise en conformité et les garanties de sécurité.
Cómo hacer frente a la precariedad durante la COVID‐19: Un estudio sobre el trabajo a través de plataformas en Polonia
Authors: MUSZYŃSKI Karol , PULIGNANO Valeria , DOMECKA Markieta , MROZOWICKI Adam
Published: September 2022

Se explora cómo la pandemia de COVID‐19 ha afectado a las experiencias laborales y vitales de las y los trabajadores de plataformas de trabajo localizado y en línea en Polonia y cómo estos han respondido. Las importantes fluctuaciones de la demanda han exacerbado las distorsiones de una relación laboral asimétrica no regulada fuera de la relación laboral estándar. Se observan estrategias de adaptación de lealtad, voz y lealtad hibridadas, y salida, según la tipología de Hirschman. La elección de esas estrategias se explica según los niveles de acceso a recursos propios e institucionales, así como por las experiencias y repertorios simbólicos de las y los trabajadores.
Redes de confianza y acceso al trabajo informal en línea durante la pandemia de COVID‐19 en Indonesia
Authors: OCTAVIA Joanna
Published: September 2022

Los estudios sobre plataformas digitales de trabajo indican que internet brinda nuevas oportunidades de ingresos en el mundo en desarrollo, pero no se ha investigado el uso de los medios en línea sin intermediarios en el sector informal. Utilizando datos de la etnografía digital y entrevistas con trabajadores en Indonesia, se examina cómo los mototaxistas y los trabajadores domésticos accedieron al mercado de trabajo por medios sociales durante la pandemia de COVID‐19 cuando las plataformas no estaban autorizadas a operar. Aunque los medios sociales ampliaban las oportunidades de empleo, el éxito dependía del tamaño de las redes sociales de los trabajadores y estaba limitado por los algoritmos.
Phase evolution and pulverization mechanism of self‐pulverizing carbonatable clinkers
Authors: Lv Canyu , Liu Zhichao , Wang Fazhou , Hu Shuguang
Published: September 2022

This paper investigates the phase evolution and pulverization mechanism of a self‐pulverizing carbonatable clinker (SPCC) with a variety of raw material compositions. The particle size, mineral phases, and microstructure of SPCC, produced by sintering at 1400°C for 3 h, were systematically studied by laser particle size testing, XRD/QXRD and SEM/EDS. Results show that clinkers sintered by raw materials with low‐Ca/low‐Al (Ca/Si < 1.6; Al2O3 < 10 wt.%) or high‐Ca/medium‐Al (Ca/Si > 2.6; Al2O3 ≈ 10 wt.%) are non‐pulverized after cooling. The mineral phases of C2AS, CA, and C12A7 are considered to facilitate clinker pulverization at low γ‐C2S contents. With the increase of Al2O3 content in raw materials, SPCC is refined in particle size, accompanied by the significant decrease in the content of calcium silicates. Based on the results, guidelines for producing SPCC are proposed.
Homemade international diversification under economic policy uncertainty
Authors: Chen Jing , Fang Junxiong , Zhang Chunqiu , Zhou Yi
Published: September 2022

We examine how US mutual funds that invest domestically make portfolio adjustments by incorporating US‐listed foreign stocks (cross‐listed stocks) when faced with US market economic policy uncertainty. We document a positive association between US economic policy uncertainty and US mutual funds’ weight of cross‐listed stocks, and find that the effect is concentrated in funds that mainly invest in the US domestic market. The findings are not sensitive to the instrumental variable approach, model specification, sampling, variable definition, and controlling for macro characteristics. Funds with higher weight of cross‐listed foreign stocks when US economic policy uncertainty increases outperform other funds, indicating the rationality of such an investment strategy. A long‐short portfolio generates 3.4% annualized abnormal return in the immediate following quarter. Our study shields light not only on the international diversification benefit of US‐listed foreign stocks but also on the importance of capital market openness for domestic investors.
Endogenous Growth, Skill Obsolescence, and Output Hysteresis in a New Keynesian Model with Unemployment
Authors: LECHTHALER WOLFGANG , TESFASELASSIE MEWAEL F.
Published: September 2022

We embed skill obsolescence and endogenous growth into a New Keynesian model with search‐and‐matching frictions. The model accounts for key features of the Great Recession: the “productivity puzzle” and the “missing disinflation puzzle.” Lower aggregate demand raises long‐term unemployment and the training costs associated with skill obsolescence. Lower aggregate employment hinders learning‐by‐doing, which slows down human capital accumulation, feeding back into even fewer vacancies than justified by the demand shock alone. These feedback channels mitigate the disinflationary effect of the demand shock while amplifying its contractionary effect on output. The temporary growth slowdown translates into output hysteresis.
Couples relationship standards and satisfaction in Pakistani couples
Authors: Ayub Nadia , Iqbal Shahid , Halford W. Kim , van de Vijver Fons
Published: September 2022

Relationship standards are beliefs about what is important in a satisfying couple relationship, which vary considerably between cultures, and might mean that what couples seek from couple therapy differs across cultures. We assessed the standards of n = 49 Pakistani couples and whether those standards predicted couple satisfaction. To provide referents for the Pakistani standards, we also assessed selfreported relationship standards in n = 33 Western couples and n = 30 Chinese couples. Pakistani couples endorsed couple bond standards (e.g., expressions of love) as similarly important, and family responsibility (e.g., extended family relations) standards as more important, than Western or Chinese couples. In Pakistani couples, Couple Bond predicted couples' relationship satisfaction, but family responsibility and Religion predicted only wives' satisfaction. Modest sample sizes necessitate caution in interpreting results but suggest existing couple therapies might need modification to address the distinctive relationship standards of Pakistani couples.
The effect of patient characteristics on illness perception and sun protection behaviors in melasma
Authors: Nazli Ecem Cantürk , Avcı Ceylan , Akarsu Sevgi
Published: September 2022

Background/Aim

Melasma, a significant cosmetic problem, has been accepted by some authors as a photoaging illness in recent times. There is no published study evaluating the effects of the clinical and sociodemographic findings on illness perception and sun protection behaviors (SPBs) in patients with melasma.

Patients/Methods

Sociodemographic data, personal characteristics, and clinical features of 150 patients with melasma were recorded in this cross‐sectional study. They were analyzed for their SPBs in three groups as “never,” “rarely/sometimes,” and “often/always.” Patients completed the Melasma Quality of Life (QoL) Scale and Revised‐Illness Perception Questionnaire.

Results

Melasma patients with higher clinical severity and Qol scores, lower education level, concomitant chronic illness, and a history of previous melasma treatment thought more frequently that melasma had negative serious consequences. Majority of the patients blamed sun exposure as the cause of the melasma. However, SPBs were more frequent only in patients with higher socioeconomic and educational levels, a previous history of melasma treatment, and evaluating their disease as a chronic condition. Neither Qol nor clinical severity score had a significant effect on sun exposure causal attribution or SPBs. No significant effect of patients' perception of melasma was determined on the use of sunscreen or protective hat.

Conclusion

Being aware of the factors affecting the perception of melasma and QoL of patients might be helpful in making persistent individual recommendations for the regulation of SPBs.
The relevance of perceived work environment and work activities for personality trajectories in midlife
Authors: Stahlhofen Lena , Hartung Johanna , Schilling Oliver , Wahl Hans‐Werner , Hülür Gizem
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Work is an important developmental context in adulthood, yet little is known about how it contributes to personality trajectories in midlife. The present study examines how subjectively perceived work environment (autonomy, innovation, social integration, stress) and objectively measured work activities (activities related to information and people, physical/manual activities) are related to levels of Big Five personality traits at age 44 and to change over 20 years.

Methods

We analyzed four‐wave longitudinal data from N = 374 participants (born 1950–1952; Mage T1 = 44 years, SD = 1; 44% women) from the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development and Aging (ILSE) within the structural equation modeling framework.

Results

At baseline, subjective perceptions of work environments showed a higher number of significant associations with personality than objective work activities. Over time, small declines in neuroticism and extraversion and small increases in agreeableness and conscientiousness were observed, which were largely independent of work characteristics.

Conclusions

Our findings show slight changes in most Big Five traits from age 44 to 64, which were mostly unrelated to work characteristics. More research is needed to uncover the sources and dynamics of personality trait change in midlife and the role of work for personality trajectories.
Geographic earnings inequality by race, 1960–2016
Authors: Nutting Andrew W.
Published: September 2022

Geographic inequality and racial disharmony are considered major factors in America's political divergence. This paper calculates geographic earnings inequality from 1960 to 2016 separately by race. From 2000 to 2016, White geographic inequality was significantly higher, and Hispanic geographic inequality was significantly lower, than Black and Asian geographic inequality. White geographic inequality rose from 1980 to 2008. Black and Hispanic geographic inequality fell from 1960 to 1980. Rural controls explain substantial shares of White geographic inequality in all years. Region and rural controls account for large shares of Black geographic inequality, especially from 1960 to 1990. Post‐1990, geographic inequality changes are largely explained by changes in overall earnings inequality, but 1960–1990 changes are not. Between‐race differences in geographic inequality translate into high‐income metropolitan statistical areas having had, since 1980, significantly smaller shares of Whites among their low‐income residents.
Physical activity, sleep and affective wellbeing on the following day: An experience sampling study
Authors: Hachenberger Justin , Li Yu‐Mei , Lemola Sakari
Published: September 2022

This study aims to investigate the temporal links between physical activity, sleep and affective wellbeing in young adults. In particular, the aim was to examine whether physical activity is associated with sleep indicators in subsequent nights and, in turn, whether sleep was associated with improved affective wellbeing the next morning. Relatedly, moderation by baseline levels of depressive symptoms, sleep quality, habitual physical activity and gender was analysed. One‐hundred and forty‐seven individuals (85.7% female) aged 18–25 years old participated in an experience sampling study over 14 consecutive days. Participants received seven prompts per day, and answered questions about their physical activity and affective states. Every morning, participants also reported their sleep. Physical activity throughout the day was not related to sleep during the following night or to affective wellbeing the next morning. An exception to that pattern was that physical activity before 14:00 hours was associated with longer subsequent sleep duration. Better subjective sleep quality predicted affective wellbeing the next morning. Associations of physical activity, sleep and affective wellbeing were not moderated by baseline depressive symptoms, sleep quality or habitual physical activity. However, investigation of gender as a moderator revealed that moderate physical activity was associated with better subsequent sleep quality for males, but not for females. Overall, we found that physical activity is associated with better subsequent sleep for males, but not for females. Also, our study provides further evidence that better sleep quality is associated with the next morning's affective wellbeing.
Theatre for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties: A Winnicottian perspective
Authors: Richmond Sarah
Published: September 2022

The London‐based Oily Cart theatre company aims to produce shows that are suitable forallyoung people. This paper closely examines one of their productions,Splish Splash, which was developed for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties. The paper's central purpose is to understand the value of this type of theatrical experience for these children. It argues that Winnicott's conception of play, and his account of the conditions that enable the capacity for play to unfold, provide a persuasive theoretical framework that makes sense of Oily Cart's achievement. Winnicott's framework can integrate the views expressed (in interviews) by adults who were involved with or observed the show; arguably it is also corroborated by more recent infant research.
Reconsideration of the firing loop models for dystonia and Parkinson's disease
Authors: Yokoi Fumiaki
Published: September 2022

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a hypokinetic movement disorder with degeneration of dopaminergic and other neurons, whereas dystonia is a hyperkinetic movement disorder caused by various pathogenesis, that is, sporadic, genetic, stroke, brain injury, and other diseases, such as PD. Dopamine receptor 1 (D1R) antagonist and dopamine receptor 2 (D2R) antagonist induce dystonic symptom in monkey. Consistently, D1R antagonist and D2R antagonist decrease locomotion in mice. Moreover, D1R knock‐out (KO) mice and D2R KO mice show motor deficits. In humans, dopa‐responsive dystonia (DRD) is caused by genetically defective dopamine (DA) synthesis. DYT1 dystonia and genetic mouse models show decreased striatal D1R and D2R. Therefore, PD, pharmacological dystonia models, DRD and DYT1 dystonia, have defective DA pathways. Firing of globus pallidus internus (GPi) neurons is increased in PD and dystonia with local anesthesia. However, the ordinary firing loop model cannot explain how defective DA pathways induce dystonia. PD shows thalamic neurodegeneration, whereas PD with dystonia has relatively intact thalamic neurons. Since thalamic GABAergic interneurons are innervated by GPi GABAergic neurons, here I propose to add thalamic GABAergic interneurons between GPi GABAergic neurons and thalamic glutamatergic neurons as thalamic inverse pathway for healthy condition and dystonia, whereas thalamic ordinary pathway due to degeneration of thalamic GABAergic interneurons is suitable to PD. On the contrary, PD with dystonia has both thalamic ordinary and inverse pathways. Although precise thalamic circuits have not been elucidated, discrepancy in the ordinary firing loop model for dystonia seems to be solved by the thalamic switch from dystonia to PD.
Combining the radiomics signature and HPV status for the risk stratification of patients with OPC
Authors: Wang Ping , Wang Xuan , Zhang Miao , Li Guang , Zhao Ning , Qiao Qiao
Published: September 2022

Objective

The objective was to perform risk stratification of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) for treatment de‐escalation based on the radiomics analysis and human papillomavirus (HPV) status.

Methods

A total of 265 patients with OPC who underwent baseline contrast‐enhanced computed tomography were analyzed, and the patients were grouped into the training (n = 133) and test (n = 132) cohorts at a ratio of 1:1. Intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics features were extracted, and the radiomics signature (Rscore) was calculated using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression (LASSO) and Cox regression analyses.

Results

Twelve features were selected to establish the radiomics signature (Rscore) of intratumoral regions +10‐mm peritumoral regions, which yielded maximum AUCs of 0.835, 0.798, and 0.784 in the training, test, and validation cohorts, respectively. Patients with OPC were divided into the high‐risk group, intermediate‐risk group, and low‐risk group based on the Rscore and HPV status and had different prognoses. Patients in the low‐risk group benefit from radiotherapy alone, and patients in the intermediate‐risk group only benefitted from chemoradiotherapy.

Conclusion

The radiomics signature appears to improve the predictive performance of clinical characteristics for oropharyngeal cancer. The combined stratification of the radiomics signature and HPV status might be preferred to select patients for de‐escalated treatment.
Local anxieties and world peace: Osias Parnes' late Habsburg career in international peace1
Authors: Park Andrew Thomas
Published: September 2022

This article examines the career of Osias Parnes, a little‐known figure in the Austrian peace movement and argues that, although his plans for world peace were ultimately inconsequential, his ideas are reflective of the way in which international visions actually encapsulated local preoccupations. Born into a wealthy Jewish family in the multiethnic and multiconfessional region of Galicia in the middle of the 19th century, Parnes would devote the latter half of his life to propagating an idea for an armed arbitral tribunal and a system of kindergartens to teach children a world language. Throughout his peace career, it is his concern at the nationalist disintegration of his homeland which dominates his ostensibly international visions.