bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soil mesofauna drives litter decomposition under combined nitrogen and phosphorus additions in a Brazilian woodland savanna
Authors: Pompermaier Vinicius Tirelli , Campani Alex Rosa , Dourado Ellen , Coletta Luciana Della , Bustamante Mercedes Maria da Cunha , Nardoto Gabriela Bielefeld
Published: July 2021

Nutrient enrichment and the subsequent chemical changes in dystrophic savanna soils may alter plant richness and nutrient use efficiency, thereby affecting leaf litter chemistry and decomposition. However, the role of soil mesofauna in litter decomposition in savanna ecosystems under nutrient enrichment is not well understood. In soils from a long‐term fertilisation experiment, we evaluated the decay of leaf litter incubated in fine‐ and coarse‐mesh bags over a year to assess the role of soil mesofauna in litter decomposition in the central Brazilian savannas. Experimental plots were established in a woodland savanna and consisted of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), N plus P and lime additions and untreated control (three replicates of each). We evaluated the effect of fertilisation and liming on litter decomposition rates (total, mesofauna‐mediated and microbe‐mediated) and their relationship with the initial litter quality (N, C, lignin, cellulose and polyphenol content). Litter decomposition rates were significantly higher in coarse‐mesh bags in the N plus P treatment compared with the control, which was explained by mesofauna‐mediated decomposition but not by the initial litter quality. Litter mass losses in fine‐mesh bags were significantly higher in the initial months of the experiment in the N treatment and in the intermediate months in the N plus P treatment compared with the control. This result could be explained by the initial litter N content, although it has not reflected in significantly higher microbe‐mediated decomposition rates. The litter mass losses in coarse‐mesh bags in the N plus P treatment were significantly higher only in the final months, indicating that microorganisms and mesofauna differentially affect decomposition over time. Our findings suggest that combined N and P addition could alter soil organic matter dynamics in Brazilian savannas by increasing soil mesofauna‐mediated litter decomposition rates.
The Honey Gatherer
Authors: Wood John Colman
Published: July 2021

The story, of course, is about a honey gatherer. But it’s also about the uncertainties and ambiguities of fieldwork. I’ve often written about Gabra nomads, far to the north of where “The Honey Gatherer” takes place. Many years ago, before I went north, I lived and worked as a volunteer teacher near Bungoma, in western Kenya, where this story takes place. Those experiences turned me from my early career in journalism to anthropology. Throughout my life, I’ve befriended beekeepers and honey gatherers. The story is part of a larger project on identity and place.
Melatonin protects cochlear hair cells from nicotine‐induced injury through inhibiting apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Zhou Xinjia , Gao Yuan , Hu Yue , Ma Xiulan
Published: July 2021

Hearing loss positively links with cigarette smoking. However, the involved mechanism and treatment strategies are largely unrevealed. This study aimed to investigate the damaging effect of nicotine on cochlear hair cells, reveal the underlying mechanism and evaluate the therapeutic effect of melatonin on nicotine‐induced injury. The results showed that nicotine induced cytotoxicity of House Ear Institute‐Organ of Corti 1 (HEI‐OC1) cochlear hair cells in a dose‐dependent manner (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 μM). Functional investigations showed that nicotine (10 μM) stimulation dramatically promoted apoptosis, inflammatory response, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in HEI‐OC1 cells. Moreover, melatonin treatment dose‐dependently alleviated the nicotine‐induced cytotoxicity in HEI‐OC1 cells (0, 10 25, 50 and 100 μM). Further investigation showed that melatonin (100 μM) effectively attenuated the nicotine‐induced apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in HEI‐OC1 cells. Collectively, we demonstrated that nicotine induced apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress of cochlear hair cells in an in vitro cell model. Melatonin showed protective effect on these aspects, suggesting that melatonin may be a potential agent for treating smoking‐induced hearing loss.
Rethinking the right to health: Ableism and the binary between individual and collective rights
Authors: Zimmer Amie Leigh
Published: July 2021

While universal healthcare provisions are the global norm rather than the exception, the United States exists in the latter category. The paradox remains that while the right to health is both increasingly implemented and recognized on a global scale, the United States seems to run farther away from the arguments and global examples that might pave its way. I suggest that an understanding of the imposition of healthcare as “coercive,” and hence as an impingement on individual agency, activates its criticism as an inhibition of freedom that in turn motivates the libertarianism at the heart of the dominant, market‐based approach to health insurance provisions. At least one of the underlying assumptions of this view is that universal healthcare would impose or impinge on individual rights, and that such an impingement is a violation of autonomy. In this article, I aim to challenge this assumption by suggesting that the pitting of individual health rights against collective burdens stems in part from a related assumption of general health or welfare on the part of the collective: that disability and debility alike are anomalies or anomalous to the general health of the population. In other words, it will be my contention that individual health rights are only at odds with “collective rights” when the collective is perceived to be able‐bodied.
Cutaneous reactions after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: a cross-sectional Spanish nationwide study of 405 cases
Authors: Català A. , Muñoz-Santos C. , Galván-Casas C. , Roncero Riesco M. , Revilla Nebreda D. , Solá-Truyols A. , Giavedoni P. , Llamas-Velasco M. , González-Cruz C. , Cubiró X. , Ruíz-Villaverde R. , Gómez-Armayones S. , Gil Mateo M.P. , Pesqué D. , Marcantonio O. , Fernández-Nieto D. , Romaní J. , Iglesias Pena N. , Carnero Gonzalez L. , Tercedor-Sanchez J. , Carretero G. , Masat-Ticó T. , Rodríguez-Jiménez P. , Gimenez-Arnau A.M. , Utrera-Busquets M. , Vargas Laguna E. , Angulo Menéndez A.G. , San Juan Lasser E. , Iglesias-Sancho M. , Alonso Naranjo L. , Hiltun I. , Cutillas Marco E. , Polimon Olabarrieta I. , Marinero Escobedo S. , García-Navarro X. , Calderón Gutiérrez M.J. , Baeza-Hernández G. , Bou Camps L. , Toledo-Pastrana T. , Guilabert A.
Published: July 2021

Background

Cutaneous reactions after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines are poorly characterized.

Objective

To describe and classify cutaneous reactions after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Methods

A nationwide Spanish cross-sectional study was conducted. We included patients with cutaneous reactions within 21 days of any dose of the approved vaccines at the time of the study. After a face-to-face visit with a dermatologist, information on cutaneous reactions was collected via an online professional survey and clinical photographs were sent by email. Investigators searched for consensus on clinical patterns and classification.

Results

From 16 February to 15 May 2021, we collected 405 reactions after vaccination with the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech; 40·2%), mRNA-1273 (Moderna; 36·3%) and AZD1222 (AstraZeneca; 23·5%) vaccines. Mean patient age was 50·7 years and 80·2% were female. Cutaneous reactions were classified as injection site (‘COVID arm’, 32·1%), urticaria (14·6%), morbilliform (8·9%), papulovesicular (6·4%), pityriasis rosea-like (4·9%) and purpuric (4%) reactions. Varicella zoster and herpes simplex virus reactivations accounted for 13·8% of reactions. The COVID arm was almost exclusive to women (95·4%). The most reported reactions in each vaccine group were COVID arm (mRNA-1273, Moderna, 61·9%), varicella zoster virus reactivation (BNT162b2, Pfizer-BioNTech, 17·2%) and urticaria (AZD1222, AstraZeneca, 21·1%). Most reactions to the mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccine were described in women (90·5%). Eighty reactions (21%) were classified as severe/very severe and 81% required treatment.

Conclusions

Cutaneous reactions after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are heterogeneous. Most are mild-to-moderate and self-limiting, although severe/very severe reactions are reported. Knowledge of these reactions during mass vaccination may help healthcare professionals and reassure patients.
Do different cognitive domains mediate the association between moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity and adolescents’ off‐task behaviour in the classroom?
Authors: Ludyga Sebastian , Gerber Markus , Brand Serge , Möhring Wenke , Pühse Uwe
Published: July 2021

Background

Accumulating evidence suggests that adolescents’ moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with less off‐task behaviour in the classroom. However, the contribution of cognitive functions to this relation still remains unclear. Executive function and aspects of social cognition, which appear to be correlated with MVPA, have been found to determine academic behaviours.

Aim

This study examines the direct association between MVPA and off‐task behaviour as well as mediations by different cognitive domains.

Sample

Forty‐six‐male and 67‐female adolescents aged 13.0 ± 1.3 years were recruited from local schools.

Methods

Participants recalled their MVPA. Using video cameras, their classroom behaviours were recorded and a 6‐min period was rated for off‐task behaviour. Additionally, participants completed a modified Flanker task, which assessed both inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, a Sternberg paradigm, which assessed working memory, and an Emotion Recognition task.

Results

Path‐analyses revealed that higher MVPA was associated with less off‐task behaviour. Inhibitory control accounted for a partial mediation of this association. The mediating role of inhibitory control was most pronounced for the relation between MVPA and off‐task behaviours related to noise.

Conclusion

These findings provide a first indication that curricular and extracurricular physical activities targeting specific improvements in inhibitory control may promise transfer effects to classroom behaviours.
Do age stereotype‐based interventions affect health‐related outcomes in older adults? A systematic review and future directions
Authors: Knight Rachel L. , Chalabaev Aïna , McNarry Melitta A. , Mackintosh Kelly A. , Hudson Joanne
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Developing interventions that target population‐specific motivational barriers to promote health behaviours is crucial, especially for older adults who are confronted with negative age stereotypes. This systematic review evaluates randomized and non‐randomized field studies that tested the effects of age stereotype‐based interventions on health outcomes in adults aged 50 years and over.

Methods

MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection and PsychINFO were searched to identify articles published up until May 2019. Data were extracted from all articles independently and assessed for risk‐of‐bias using Cochrane Collaboration tools.

Results

Ten articles met the inclusion criteria. Health‐related outcome measures were identified across three domains: physical, psychological/psychosocial well‐being, and quality of life/subjective health, with age stereotypes reported as an additional outcome. Intervention structure varied substantially between studies regarding content, duration, frequency, and length of follow‐up.

Conclusions

Most studies showed that age stereotype‐based interventions significantly improved physical function or physical activity as well as self‐perceptions of ageing. However, more rigorous studies are needed. Indeed, given the detrimental health effects of age stereotypes, the potential for impact of interventions designed to challenge them is important. Future research should explore the implications of intervening on different stereotype mechanisms, whether intervention effects are comparable across health domains, and whether age stereotype‐based interventions are more effective than non‐age‐specific interventions. PROSPERO Registration CRD42018094006.
Intraoperative Ultrasonographic Assessment of Vocal Cord motion under sedation, following paediatric thyroidectomy in the Era of COVID‐19: A double‐blinded preliminary study
Authors: Zavdy Ofir , Schwarz Michael , Gilony Dror , Bachar Gideon , Gilat Hanna , Hod Roy
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP) is a known complication of thyroid surgery, due to iatrogenic recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, with reported rates of 2%–5% in children. The gold standard for assessing vocal cord function in flexible nasendoscopy (FNE) examination, which is considered high‐risk for contraction of the COVID‐19 virus. Intraoperative ultrasonographic assessment (IUA) of vocal cord function is a non‐invasive and relatively simple procedure performed in a supine position, performed during spontaneous breathing, following reversed anaesthesia, while the patient is still sedated.

Objectives

To evaluate the validity of IUA modality in children undergoing thyroidectomy and to compare it to the standard FNE.

Design

A prospective double‐blind study covering 24 months (March 2019–March 2021). Twenty thyroid lobectomies were performed, during 15 surgeries. Vocal cord function was assessed three times: Pre‐operatively by FNE, intraoperative (IUA) following extubation, and a second FNE on the first post‐operative day.

Settings

A tertiary paediatric hospital.

Results

The overall accuracy of IUA results in our study was 92%. IUA sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 100%, 89%, 33% and 100%, respectively. Patient's age demonstrated borderline significance (p = .08). The resident's experience was associated with a better correlation between IUA and FNE results (p < .05).

Conclusions

IUA of vocal cord motion has a high accuracy rate for detection of iatrogenic vocal cord paralysis, similar to FNE. It is easily learned by residents, well‐tolerated by children, and it provides a safe and valid alternative modality while ensuring the safety of the medical staff in treating patients, especially in times of COVID‐19 pandemic.
The impact of COVID‐19 on obesity services across Europe: A physician survey
Authors: Nather Katrin , Bolger Fiachra , DiModica Laurie , Fletcher‐Louis Mary , Salvador Javier , Pattou François , Panton Ulrik Haagen , Cancino Ana‐Paula
Published: July 2021

Obesity is a risk factor for severe complications from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). During the COVID‐19 pandemic in Spring 2020, many clinics and obesity centers across Europe were required to close. This study aimed to determine the impact of COVID‐19 on the provision of obesity services across 10 European countries via a survey of physicians (n = 102) specializing in treating persons with obesity (PwO). In total, 62–95 out of 102 physicians reported that COVID‐19 affected obesity‐related services, with cancellations/suspensions ranging from 50% to 100% across the 10 countries. Approximately 75% of cancellations/suspensions were provider‐ rather than patient‐initiated. A median increase of 20%–25% in waiting times was reported for most services across the countries. When services resume, 87 out of 100 physicians consider factors influencing down‐stream patient outcomes as the most relevant factors for prioritizing interventional treatment. Responses showed that 65 out of 102 and 36 out of 102 physicians believed it (highly) likely that a change in treatment guidance will occur to prioritize earlier interventional treatment for the management of PwO, by either using bariatric surgery or pharmacotherapy, respectively. Results from this study provide important learnings, such as opportunities for, and discrepancies in, the provision of alternative care in light of services cancellations or delays, which may be important for the future management of obesity, especially during future waves of COVID‐19 or other infectious pandemics.
Survival of Erwinia psidii in epiphytic, soil and eucalyptus leaf debris conditions
Authors: Lanna‐Filho Roberto , Bieler Fabiane Laís , Borges Junior Norton
Published: July 2021

Erwinia psidii is an airborne bacterium that is the causal agent of eucalyptus bacterial blight in Brazil. However, there are no studies on the survival of the bacterial pathogen under epiphytic, soil and eucalyptus leaf debris conditions. We investigated the survival of E. psidii on the phylloplane and in leaf debris from two eucalyptus genotypes, and within eucalyptus forest soil. A rifampicin‐resistant mutant (CR01R) was obtained from the wild type by the gradient plate method and chosen for the study because it showed the same morphological, growth, pathogenic and aggressive properties as the parental strain. On the phylloplane of Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus globulus and E. saligna, the plant–pathogenic bacterium was recovered for up to 40 and 60 days, respectively. Under non‐sterile eucalyptus forest soil, E. psidii survived for 15 days post–soil infestation. In leaf debris from the eucalyptus genotypes, the bacterial pathogen was detected for up to 90 days in debris placed on the soil surface. However, under non‐sterile soil, 5 or 15 cm deep, the bacterium was detected for up to 45 and 60 days in leaf debris from E. saligna and E. urophylla × E. globulus, respectively. In this study, we showed that E. psidii can survive as an epiphyte or saprophyte in diseased leaves on the soil. However, the pathogen was a poor survivor in natural eucalyptus forest soil. The pathogen's survival period in leaf debris buried in the soil was drastically reduced. This information shows that the phylloplane or leaf debris is putative reservoirs for the bacterium and may serve as a primary inoculum source.
Lessons from an aborted controlled trial on the impact of befriending in an early intervention in psychosis population
Authors: Hansen Lars , Bayford Emma , Wood Rachael , Proctor Kyt , Jansen Rebecca , Newman‐Taylor Katherine
Published: July 2021

Aim

The current study aimed to explore the effects of organized befriending for an Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) population.

Methods

Participants were randomly assigned to control or intervention groups. Those in the befriending arm were paired based on a shared interests questionnaire. Qualitative and quantitative methods were planned to assess experience and impact of the intervention across clinical and recovery outcomes. We aimed to recruit 60 participants, however only 16 participants completed the trial.

Results

The study was unsuccessful due to issues with recruitment and retention of participants. We gathered feedback from those who withdrew, to understand this better.

Conclusions

We offer our observations to other clinicians who may be considering similar research. A more assertive researcher‐led approach over the first few meetings between matched pairs is likely to have been more effective in retaining participants' engagement in the study.
Barriers, facilitators and interventions to support help‐seeking amongst young people living in families impacted by parental mental illness: A systematized review
Authors: Davies Grace , P. Deane Frank , Williams Virginia , Giles Chris
Published: July 2021

Aim

Children living in families impacted by parental mental illness are at increased risk of adverse mental and physical health outcomes compared with children living in families unaffected by mental illness. Considered to be a hard‐to reach group, it is likely that there are unique barriers for these young people in seeking help for their difficulties. This systematized review synthesizes what is currently known about help‐seeking barriers, facilitators and interventions for young people affected by parental mental illness.

Methods

Three databases were searched, yielding 2556 results and three studies were identified through other sources. Studies were screened on title and abstract review and were excluded if they were published before 2005 or if they did not include the perspectives of young people. At a second stage, full‐text articles were screened based on the inclusion criteria. Eleven studies were included for data extraction and quality appraisal.

Results

Qualitative and quantitative data synthesis revealed three significant barriers (i) stigma, (ii) family communication and (iii) lack of belonging and shared experience, three key facilitators (i) individual characteristics, (ii) group identification and (iii) anonymity and three primary components of therapeutic interventions (i) psychoeducation, (ii) connection with peers and (iii) accessibility.

Conclusions

It was found that stigma towards mental illness is highly salient amongst young people impacted by parental mental illness and has unique effects on their patterns of help‐seeking. Help‐seeking research amongst this group is still emerging, with a need for greater clarity in operationalisation of help‐seeking constructs and more robust methodological designs.
Design of a secured telehealth system based on multiple biosignals diagnosis and classification for IoT application
Authors: Hamil Hocine , Zidelmal Zahia , Azzaz Mohamed Salah , Sakhi Samir , Kaibou Redouane , Djilali Salem , Ould Abdeslam Djaffar
Published: July 2021

The aim of this article is to design a new telehealth system with secured wireless transmission and classification of multiple biosignals using e‐Health sensors platform and Xbee modules with Arduino Uno and Raspberry Pi as acquisition and processing units, respectively. The collected data, such as temperature, airflow, position, Galvanic skin response and oxygen in the blood can be evaluated in order to monitor patient health state using threshold detection. The prediction of the cardiac state based on automatic identification of arrhythmias is validated by the classification of ElectroCardioGram (ECG) signals using Artificial Intelligence (AI) by exploiting TensorFlow and Keras tools. Different AI algorithms and a combination with different Machine Learning (ML) basing to transfer learning approach are tested. These algorithms include Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), K‐Nearest Neighbour (KNN) and Random Forest (RF). At first, ANN and CNN are used to classify ECG‐scalogram images using softmax, then the used CNN model (VGG16) is employed to extract features and pass them to other traditional classifiers (SVM, KNN and RF) allowing to evaluate and select the best classifier, such that the ECG signal can be classified into four categories namely Normal Sinus Rhythm (NSR), Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and other cardiac arrhythmia (ARR). The proposed method has been evaluated using real recorded signals and four PhysioNet databases. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) has been designed with C# under Visual Studio IDE allowing to display the results using personal computer (PC) or a network linked phone, which makes it possible to transfer the diagnosis with the prediction results to a remote clinic control room as Internet of Things (IoT) system application. The best classification accuracy of 99.56% is attained, confirming that the designed system allows a good trade‐off between low cost and performances in addition, it is easy to use with quick access to multiple biosignals. It has improved vital characteristics monitoring and diagnosis services quality under a robust secured wireless transmission using lightweight chaos‐based algorithm, thus preventing loss of life during critical health situations.
A Gulf in lockdown: How an enforced ban on recreational vessels increased dolphin and fish communication ranges
Authors: Pine Matthew K. , Wilson Louise , Jeffs Andrew G. , McWhinnie Lauren , Juanes Francis , Scuderi Alessia , Radford Craig A.
Published: July 2021

From midnight of 26 March 2020, New Zealand became one of the first countries to enter a strict lockdown to combat the spread of COVID‐19. The lockdown banned all non‐essential services and travel both on land and sea. Overnight, the country's busiest coastal waterway, the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, became devoid of almost all recreational and non‐essential commercial vessels. An almost instant change in the marine soundscape ensued, with ambient sound levels in busy channels dropping nearly threefold the first 12 h. This sudden drop led fish and dolphins to experience an immediate increase in their communication ranges by up to an estimated 65%. Very low vessel activity during the lockdown (indicated by the presence of vessel noise over the day) revealed new insights into cumulative noise effects from vessels on auditory masking. For example, at sites nearer Auckland City, communication ranges increased approximately 18 m (22%) or 50 m (11%) for every 10% decrease in vessel activity for fish and dolphins, respectively. However, further from the city and in deeper water, these communication ranges were increased by approximately 13 m (31%) or 510 m (20%). These new data demonstrate how noise from small vessels can impact underwater soundscapes and how marine animals will have to adapt to ever‐growing noise pollution.
Plasma cell biology: Foundations for targeted therapeutic development in transplantation
Authors: Rossi Amy P. , Alloway Rita R. , Hildeman David , Woodle E. Steve
Published: July 2021

Solid organ transplantation is a life‐saving procedure for patients with end‐stage organ disease. Over the past 70 years, tremendous progress has been made in solid organ transplantation, particularly in T‐cell‐targeted immunosuppression and organ allocation systems. However, humoral alloimmune responses remain a major challenge to progress. Patients with preexisting antibodies to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) are at significant disadvantages in regard to receiving a well‐matched organ, moreover, those who develop anti‐HLA antibodies after transplantation face a significant foreshortening of renal allograft survival. Historical therapies to desensitize patients prior to transplantation or to treat posttransplant AMR have had limited effectiveness, likely because they do not significantly reduce antibody levels, as plasma cells, the source of antibody production, remain largely unaffected. Herein, we will discuss the significance of plasma cells in transplantation, aspects of their biology as potential therapeutic targets, clinical challenges in developing strategies to target plasma cells in transplantation, and lastly, novel approaches that have potential to advance the field.
Power dynamics in software platform ecosystems
Authors: Hurni Thomas , Huber Thomas L. , Dibbern Jens
Published: July 2021

In software platform ecosystems, the technological and structural peculiarities vest the platform owner with an extremely powerful position that puts any complementor at the mercy of the platform owner's actions. Paradoxically, it is the self‐determination and proactivity of the complementors that determine the ecosystem's success through their surprising outside innovations. This study addresses this power paradox by unpacking the power dynamics between platform owners and complementors. Based on an exploratory multiple‐case study of six platform partnerships, we find that power in platform ecosystems unfolds as a reciprocal process of three interlocking cycles, in which both the platform owner and the complementors take an active role. The modus operandi of power in platform ecosystems is a “central power cycle” in which the complementors repeatedly evaluate whether to accept or reject the platform owner's domination power. Thriving partnerships sustain this central power cycle over time, which requires that the platform owner and the complementors dynamically adapt their wielding of power to the changing needs of the partnership (partnership adaptation cycle) or the ecosystem (ecosystem redefinition cycle). For the platform owner, this entails the occasional use of manipulation to favour a particular partnership or redefining the ecosystem's framework and sporadically wielding coercion in favour of the broader ecosystem. For the complementor, this entails over‐subjectification to entice the platform owner to wield its power in favour of their partnership. Our findings have important implications for platform ecosystem and power theory, as well as managerial practice.
Locating resistance to healthcare information technology: A Bourdieusian analysis of doctors' symbolic capital conservation
Authors: Kumar Mayank , Singh Jang Bahadur , Chandwani Rajesh , Gupta Agam
Published: July 2021

This research examines the socially significant issue of doctors' resistance to healthcare information technology (HIT) from the radical power perspective. It adopts Bourdieu's social practice theory to examine the interaction of HIT with the reproduction of doctors' historically rooted social standing through the doctor‐patient‐interaction (D‐P‐I) practice. Findings from our ethnographic enquiry at a large corporate healthcare organisation in India link doctors' historically rooted social standing to the symbolic recognition of their embodied emotional capital existing in tandem with their habitus. The symbolic recognition of emotional capital provided a better valorisation of clinical capital and allowed the accumulation of other forms of capital—institutionalised capital, social capital and economic capital—that formed doctors' capital structure and contributed to their social status. Doctors produced emotional capital by putting their habitus into practice and, in the process, reproduced its symbolic status and their social status linked to it. HIT challenged doctors to put their habitus into practice, thereby creating a perception of threat to emotional capital. Doctors' HIT resistance was a conservation strategy to reproduce their historically rooted higher social status. Findings from this study contribute to the literature on Power and IT resistance.
Electric field‐assisted solid‐state reaction of BaCO3‐TiO2 system
Authors: Zhu Yan , Ma Baisheng , Wang Kewei , Sun Zhenzhong , Ren Ke , Wang Yiguang
Published: July 2021

We report phase transition process during the solid‐state reaction of BaCO3‐TiO2 system under the assistance of electric field. Experiments were conducted at a constant heating rate with preset field strength and current limit. Solid‐state reaction was completed upon reactive flash sintering taking place at ~1002℃ under 200 V/cm. Hexagonal BaTiO3 phase, which rarely occurs at such temperatures, was obtained after flash sintering at a current density of 23.5 mA/mm2. It is speculated that oxygen deficiency during flash sintering triggered cubic‐to‐hexagonal transition of BaTiO3. Furthermore, X‐ray diffraction results show that solid‐state reaction takes place prior to flash sintering. Electric field could accelerate the reaction but did not alter the sequence of phase evolution.
Distracted institutions, information asymmetry and stock price stability
Authors: Flugum Ryan , Orlova Svetlana , Prevost Andrew , Sun Li
Published: July 2021

We study the interplay between stock price stability and the information environment following periods of institutional distraction. Using a large panel dataset over the years 1982–2016, we find that the level of ownership by distracted institutions significantly explains crash risk independent of additional determinants identified in prior research. Distraction has a pronounced effect on crash risk among firms that are subject to greater information opacity. Furthermore, we identify a causal impact of institutional distraction on the quality of the information environment that persists over the year following the distraction period. This heightened information asymmetry impedes investors’ ability to process information, leading investors to overreact to bad news.
Genomic data reveal the biogeographical and demographic history of Ammospiza sparrows in northeast tidal marshes
Authors: Walsh Jennifer , Kovach Adrienne I. , Benham Phred M. , Clucas Gemma V. , Winder Virginia L. , Lovette Irby J.
Published: July 2021

Aim

Shaped by climate change and sea‐level rise, tidal salt marshes represent ephemeral systems that are home to only a few species. The dynamic ecological histories of these habitats, however, render it challenging to reconstruct the complete biogeographical histories of their endemic taxa. To better understand the evolutionary history of tidal marsh endemic sparrows, we employ genomic data to evaluate the timing and direction of tidal marsh colonization events and leverage these data to test a series of models describing the biogeographical history of our study taxa.

Location

North America.

Taxon

Ammospiza Sparrows.

Methods

We sampled 54 individuals from the Ammospiza clade from freshwater and saltwater habitats. We sequenced whole genomes and generated a dataset containing 21 million SNPs. Detailed phylogenomic analyses were conducted to identify relationships between tidal marsh and freshwater species. These phylogenies were then used to date divergence times and reconstruct the biogeographical history of the clade as well as identify historic signals of introgression.

Results

Phylogenies based on several million SNPs supported well‐resolved clades that correspond to all previous species designations. Demographic modelling within A. nelsoni provided further resolution into the subspecies topology. Phylogenetic and biogeographical reconstructions support a series of saltwater to freshwater colonization events, with some endemic taxa exhibiting associations with tidal marsh habitat over longer evolutionary time‐scales and some habitat transitions occurring as recently as 5,000 years ago.

Main Conclusions

Biogeographical and phylogenomic reconstructions support an original freshwater origin of the Ammospiza sparrows currently inhabiting tidal marshes in North America. We also found strong evidence for a saltwater to freshwater transition in A. n. subvirgatus as opposed to the long hypothesized freshwater origin of this group. We conclude that the increased resolution from genomic data paired with an integrative framework of phylogenomic, demographic and biogeographical reconstructions is important for resolving evolutionary histories in complex and ephemeral environments.
Smart mechanisms and their influence on geometry learning of elementary school students in authentic contexts
Authors: Hwang Wu‐Yuin , Hoang Anh , Lin Ya‐Hsuan
Published: July 2021

With facilitation of advanced technologies, design and application of smart become promising research issues in education. Although it is potential for students to learn geometric in authentic contexts, there were still lack of studies addressing smart learning issue in authentic context for geometry. This study aim to propose an app, called SmartUG, to support students smartly to consolidate geometry understanding and learning through enriching experience of exploring and applying related geometry surrounding. There were four smart mechanisms proposed in SmartUG (direction guidance, learning progress, object recognition and answer feedback) to guide students' measuring and applying geometry smartly and meaningfully in authentic contexts. A total of 83 fifth‐grade students participated in this experiment and were divided into three groups, an experimental group that learned with smart mechanisms, a control group that learned without smart mechanisms and a traditional control group that learning with traditional teaching approach. Basically, experimental group outperformed control group and traditional teaching group in term of geometry ability and estimation ability, which means students benefited from proposed SmartUG. Moreover, students showed positive attitude and high intention to use toward SmartUG. Students should be provided more chances to learn geometry smartly in authentic contexts with SmartUG. It is potential to future studies to implement more smart mechanisms to support students learning in authentic contexts. Moreover, the learning system can get smarter and smarter when the learning system gets more and more input data from students' use.
Age at menarche and risk of hypertension in Chinese adult women: Results from a large representative nationwide population
Authors: Chen Lu , Zhang Linfeng , Chen Zuo , Wang Xin , Zheng Congyi , Kang Yuting , Zhou Haoqi , Wang Zengwu , Gao Runlin
Published: July 2021

This study explored the association between age at menarche and the risk of hypertension in Chinese women. A total of 234 867 women aged ≥18 years from the China Hypertension Survey were included in this study. Participants were required to complete a standard questionnaire. Blood pressure and physical examination of the participants were performed by trained medical staff. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between age at menarche and other individual characteristics. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios for hypertension by age in years at menarche. The average age at menarche in Chinese women was 14.8 years. Women who were older at menarche were more likely to have a higher body mass index, larger waist circumference, smoke, and have a primary education (p < .05). After adjustments, odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for hypertension across age at menarche groups were 0.912 (0.877–0.948), 0.927 (0.893–0.963), 1.00 (reference), 1.061 (1.020–1.102), and 1.129 (1.090–1.169) for those aged ≤13, 14, 15 (reference), 16, and ≥17 years at menarche, respectively. Each 1‐year delay in menarche was associated with a 6.2% increase in the prevalence of hypertension (odds ratio, 1.062; 95% confidence interval, 1.053–1.071). The positive association between age at menarche and hypertension was evident among age at recruitment groups, BMI categories, and education levels. This association was stronger in urban women and postmenopausal women. Our findings suggest that late menarche is related to a higher risk of hypertension among Chinese adult women, and this association appeared similar among different subgroups.
Oxytocin: A citation network analysis of 10 000 papers
Authors: Leng Gareth , Leng Rhodri I.
Published: July 2021

Our understanding of the oxytocin system has been built over the last 70 years by the work of hundreds of scientists, reported in thousands of papers. Here, we construct a map to that literature, using citation network analysis in conjunction with bibliometrics. The map identifies ten major ‘clusters’ of papers on oxytocin that differ in their particular research focus and that densely cite papers from the same cluster. We identify highly cited papers within each cluster and in each decade, not because citations are a good indicator of quality, but as a guide to recognising what questions were of wide interest at particular times. The clusters differ in their temporal profiles and bibliometric features; here, we attempt to understand the origins of these differences.
Human papillomavirus genotyping predicts residual/recurrent disease after local treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia better than viral DNA testing
Authors: Kawano Kouichiro , Tsuda Naotake , Nasu Hiroki , Tasaki Shingo , Park Jongmyung , Tasaki Kazuto , Terada Atsumu , Nishio Shin , Ushijima Kimio
Published: July 2021

Aim

Type‐specific persistent infection (TSPI) of human papillomavirus (HPV) is reportedly associated with a high risk of residual/recurrent disease after local treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). This study aimed to evaluate whether HPV genotyping is more accurate in detecting residual/recurrent disease than HPV DNA testing and identify which HPV genotype can predict a high risk of residual/recurrent disease.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patient outcomes and results of HPV DNA testing and genotyping at 6–12 months after local treatment for CIN2/3 for 439 women. We investigated residual/recurrent disease occurrence according to the TSPI and new infections. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively) of the two testing methods for predicting residual/recurrent diseases were also evaluated.

Results

Eighty‐five (19.4%) patients were positive for HPV DNA testing after treatment, of which 74 (87.1%) had TSPI. Residual/recurrent disease was identified in 34 (7.7%) patients, of which 30 were positive for HPV DNA testing and had TSPI of HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 52, and 58 (six HPV genotypes). The sensitivity and NPV of HPV DNA testing and TSPI were equal at 88.2% and 98.9%, respectively. The specificity and PPV of TSPI were higher than those of HPV DNA testing (89.1% vs. 86.4%, 40.5% vs. 35.2%, respectively). Furthermore, the TSPI of the six HPV genotypes further improved specificity (90.6%) and PPV (44.1%) with the same sensitivity and NPV.

Conclusion

HPV genotyping is more useful than HPV DNA testing for determining TSPI, especially of the six HPV genotypes.
Does time change the anxiety and depression scores for pregnant women on Covid‐19 pandemic?
Authors: Geren Ayşe , Birge Özer , Bakır Mehmet Sait , Sakıncı Mehmet , Sanhal Cem Yaşar
Published: July 2021

Objective

Post‐traumatic stress disorder, the tip form of stress disorder, is considered as delayed onset if the symptoms occur at least 6 months after the main effect. The aim of our study was to evaluate the severity of anxiety and depression in pregnant women during the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic, in addition to investigating the demographic and economic aspects affecting maternal anxiety and depression scores, 6 months after the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

Our study was a cross‐sectional descriptive study. Pregnant women who had presented to the Akdeniz University, Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, Pregnancy Outpatient Clinic, and Kepez State Hospital, Pregnancy Outpatient Clinic between September 2020 and October 2020 were included in the study. The Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to evaluate the state of anxiety, and the Beck Depression Inventory‐II (BDI‐II) was used to assess the state of depression. Patients who had encountered any obstetric and/or fetal abnormality that could cause anxiety and depression during pregnancy follow‐up and pregnant women previously diagnosed with a psychiatric disease were not included in the study.

Results

A total of 322 pregnant women who agreed to participate in the study and fulfilled the study criteria within the afore‐mentioned timeframe were included in the study and the relevant forms were filled out. The mean age of the pregnant women was found to be 29 ± 5.64 years, the mean number of gravida was 1.84 ± 0.86, and the mean gestational age was 29.06 ± 9.80 weeks. The mean score of the state anxiety scale was 41.7 ± 5.56 and the mean trait anxiety score was 47.68 ± 5.85. The mean state–trait anxiety score was determined as 42.5 in primigravid women and as 41.1 in multigravid women. The State–trait anxiety score was statistically significantly higher in primigravid women compared to multigravid women (p = 0.027). The mean state–trait anxiety score did not demonstrate a significant difference according to the occupational status, having a chronic disease, educational level, and the income level. The mean trait anxiety score did not differ statistically and significantly according to the occupational status, having a chronic disease, being primigravid, educational status, and the income level. According to BDI‐II, 69.3% of pregnant women were evaluated to have minimal depression, 12.4% as mild depression, 12.4% as moderate depression, and 5.9% as severe depression.

Conclusion

Although more than 6 months have passed since the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, pregnant women still have increased anxiety and depression scores. In addition, it should be kept in mind that pregnant women are at risk in terms of post‐traumatic stress disorder during the antenatal and the postnatal periods, and it should be considered that psychological and social support should be provided.
Comparison of the efficacy of letrozole stair‐step protocol with clomiphene citrate stair‐step protocol in the management of clomiphene citrate‐resistant polycystic ovary syndrome patients
Authors: Sakar Mehmet Nafi , Oğlak Süleyman Cemil
Published: July 2021

Purpose

We sought to compare the efficacy of the letrozole (LTZ) stair‐step protocol with clomiphene citrate (CC) stair‐step protocol in the management of 150 mg dose of CC‐resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients.

Methods

We retrospectively compared a total of 61 patients diagnosed as being resistant to the traditional CC protocol who were subsequently managed using the LTZ stair‐step protocol with CC‐resistant 56 patients who were treated with CC stair‐step protocol. The number of follicles ≥18 mm, endometrial thickness, time to ovulation, clinical pregnancy rates, multiple pregnancy rates, spontaneous abortion rates, live birth rates, and systemic side effects in patients were evaluated.

Results

The mean time to ovulation was significantly shorter in the LTZ stair‐step group than the CC stair‐step group (17.3 ± 7.7 and 22.4 ± 8.1 days, respectively, p < 0.001). The ovulation rate was significantly higher in patients treated with LTZ stair‐step protocol than those treated with the CC stair‐step protocol (83.6% and 64.2%, respectively, p = 0.007). The clinical pregnancy rate was higher in the LTZ stair‐step than the CC stair‐step group (32.7% and 17.8%, respectively, p = 0.015). LTZ stair‐step group had a significantly higher live birth rate than that of the CC stair‐step group (27.8% and 14.2%, respectively, p = 0.012).

Conclusion

The LTZ stair‐step protocol revealed higher ovulation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates with a shorter time to achieve ovulation than the CC stair‐step protocol. Increment of the dose in the same cycle in both protocols did not cause any additional severe side effects.
Assessing the Effect of School‐Based Health Centers on Achievement of National Performance Measures
Authors: Hussaini Khaleel S. , Offutt‐Powell Tabatha , James Gloria , Koumans Emilia H.
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUND

We assess the impact of School‐Based Health Centers (SBHCs) on National Performance Measures (NPMs) related to health care access and utilization among Medicaid‐insured youth in Delaware.

METHODS

Our retrospective analysis of Delaware's SBHC program data linked with Medicaid claims during 2014‐2016 for 13 to 18‐year‐olds assessed achievement of NPMs and use of mental health services using propensity scores. We estimated crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) for SBHC‐enrolled compared with non‐enrolled youth.

RESULTS

Students enrolled in SBHCs had more health care visits (M = 8.7; 95% CI: 7.9‐9.5) compared with non‐SBHC‐enrolled youth (M = 4.5; 95% CI: 4.3‐4.7). Compared with non‐SBHC, those enrolled in SBHCs were more likely to receive: well‐child visits (APR = 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1‐1.3); annual risk assessment (APR = 11.0; 95% CI: 6.9‐17.5); BMI screening (APR = 5.6; 95% CI: 3.3‐9.4); nutrition counseling (APR = 4.1; 95% CI: 2.8‐6.0); physical activity counseling (APR = 6.3; 95% CI: 4.2‐9.4); STIs and chlamydia screening (APR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3‐2.8); mental health visits (APR = 2.6; 95% CI: 2.2‐3.1).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that among Medicaid‐insured youth, those enrolled in SBHCs vs not enrolled in SBHCs had greater health care utilization as evident from NPMs and mental health services.