bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soft tissue response to different abutment materials: A controlled and randomized human study using an experimental model
Authors: Enkling Norbert , Marder Michael , Bayer Stefan , Götz Werner , Stoilov Milan , Kraus Dominik
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Aim of this study was to compare the soft tissue response to implant abutments made of titanium, zirconia, zirconia veneered with feldspar ceramics and PEEK by various clinical, histological, microbiological, and molecular biological markers in an experimental model.

Materials and Methods

A total of 40 experimental one‐piece healing abutments of four different materials were mounted on bone level implants in 20 volunteering patients (split‐mouth design). After a three‐month period of open healing, clinical parameters at the abutments were assessed and adjacent mucosa was sampled for inflammatory cytokine mRNA concentrations and histological analysis by a novel method. In addition, PISF samples were obtained for the analysis of periodonto‐pathogenic bacteria counts and active MMP‐8 levels. Marginal bone level change was measured by intra oral radiographs.

Results

Abutments of the different materials did not exhibit significant differences regarding clinical parameters, pathogenic bacteria counts or pro‐inflammatory cytokine concentrations. Likewise, no significant differences were detected regarding soft tissue morphology or bone level change. Compared to titanium abutments, significantly less mononuclear inflammatory cells were detected in the mucosa at abutments made of zirconia veneered with feldspar ceramics.

Conclusions

All examined abutment materials exhibited a similar soft tissue response compared to titanium and histological data did not reveal early signs of elevated inflammation caused by PEEK‐ and feldspar‐veneered zirconia abutments. Due to the short observation period and the small sample size, a final conclusion on the long‐term suitability of those abutment materials cannot be drawn. However, based on the presented data, we consider further studies on that subject as appropriate.
Epidemiologie von Hautkrankheiten in Deutschland: systematische Literaturanalyse des aktuellen Forschungsstands – Teil 2: nichtinfektiöse Hauterkrankungen
Authors: Hansen Inga , Augustin Matthias , Schäfer Ines , Mohr Nicole
Published: April 2022

Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war die systematische Erfassung aller bisher publizierten bevölkerungsbezogenen epidemiologischen Daten zu Hauterkrankungen in Deutschland.

Der vorliegende Teil 2 der Publikationsserie thematisiert die nichtinfektiösen Hauterkrankungen. Die Ergebnisse zu den Tumorerkrankungen der Haut (Teil 1) sowie zu den infektiösen Hauterkrankungen (Teil 3) bilden die weiteren Teile dieser Publikationsreihe.

Es wurde eine systematische Literaturrecherche mit PubMed/MEDLINE für den Zeitraum der letzten 15 Jahre durchgeführt. Mit dem Ziel, alle dermatologischen Erkrankungen einzuschließen, wurde eine Diagnoseliste auf Basis des ICD‐11‐Katalogs erstellt. Diese Liste umfasste 1347 Hautkrankheiten und bildete die Basis für die Recherche.

Die Literaturrecherche ergab 4650 Treffer, von denen 72 in die Synthese eingeschlossen wurden. Darunter waren 37 Publikationen zu nichtinfektiösen Hauterkrankungen. Hierunter waren die Psoriasis und das atopische Ekzem am häufigsten vertreten. Die höchste Lebenszeitprävalenz fand sich zur Akne.

Diese Arbeit ist die erste systematische Literaturrecherche, die zum Ziel hatte, alle verfügbaren epidemiologischen Daten zu Hautkrankheiten in Deutschland zu berichten. Hierbei zeigte sich, dass zu vielen nichtinfektiösen Erkrankungen bisher keine repräsentativen Daten vorliegen. Unter den eingeschlossenen Arbeiten fand sich eine hohe Heterogenität hinsichtlich der Methodik. Dennoch ist der Nutzen dieser epidemiologischen Daten vielseitig und kann als Referenz verschiedenster epidemiologischer Fragestellungen dienen.
Novel echocardiographic score to predict duct‐dependency after percutaneous relief of critical pulmonary valve stenosis/atresia
Authors: Giordano Mario , Santoro Giuseppe , Gaio Gianpiero , Cappelli Bigazzi Maurizio , Esposito Raffaella , Marzullo Raffaella , Di Masi Antonio , Palladino Maria Teresa , Russo Maria Giovanna
Published: April 2022

Objectives

This study aimed to identify clinical, hemodynamic, or echocardiographic predictive features of persistent duct‐dependency of pulmonary circulation (PDDPC) after effective percutaneous relief of pulmonary atresia with the intact ventricular septum (PA‐IVS) or critical pulmonary stenosis (CPS).

Methods

From 2010 to 2021, 55 neonates with PA‐IVS or CPS underwent percutaneous right ventricle (RV) decompression at our Institution. After successfully relief of critical obstruction, 27 patients (group I) showed PDDPC, whereas RV was able to support the pulmonary circulation in the remaining 28 patients (group II). Clinical, hemodynamic, and echocardiographic features of these two groups were compared.

Results

No significant difference in clinical and hemodynamic data was found between the groups, although the group I had a lower oxygen saturation at hospital admission. However, tricuspid valve (TV) diameter <8.8 mm, TV z‐score ←2.12, tricuspid/mitral valve annular ratio <.78, pulmonary valve diameter <6.7 mm, pulmonary valve z‐score ←1.17, end‐diastolic RV area <1.35 cm2, end‐systolic right atrium area >2.45 cm2, percentage amount of interatrial right‐to‐left shunt >69.5%, moderate/severe tricuspid regurgitation, RV systolic pressure >42.5 mmHg, tricuspid E/E′ ratio >6.6 showed each significant predictive value of PDDPC. These parameters were used to build a composite echocardiographic score (PDDPC‐score), assigning one point each above the respective cut‐off value. A score ≥4.00 showed high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (86%) in predicting PDDPC.

Conclusion

Clinical and hemodynamic features fail to predict the short‐term fate of the pulmonary circulation after successful treatment of PA‐IVS/CPS. However, a simple, composite echocardiographic score is useful to predict PDDPC and could be crucial in the management of this frail subset of patients.
Reduced genetic diversity of freshwater amphipods in rivers with increased levels of anthropogenic organic micropollutants
Authors: Švara Vid , Michalski Stefan G. , Krauss Martin , Schulze Tobias , Geuchen Stephan , Brack Werner , Luckenbach Till
Published: April 2022

Anthropogenic chemicals in freshwater environments contribute majorly to ecosystem degradation and biodiversity decline. In particular anthropogenic organic micropollutants (AOM), a diverse group of compounds, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals, can significantly impact freshwater organisms. AOM were found to impact genetic diversity of freshwater species; however, to which degree AOM cause changes in population genetic structure and allelic richness of freshwater macroinvertebrates remains poorly understood. Here, the impact of AOM on genetic diversity of the common amphipod Gammarus pulex (Linnaeus, 1758) (clade E) was investigated on a regional scale. The site‐specific AOM levels and their toxic potentials were determined in water and G. pulex tissue sample extracts for 34 sites along six rivers in central Germany impacted by wastewater effluents and agricultural run‐off. Population genetic parameters were determined for G. pulex from the sampling sites by genotyping 16 microsatellite loci. Genetic differentiation among G. pulex from the studied rivers was found to be associated with geographic distance between sites and to differences in site‐specific concentrations of AOM. The genetic diversity parameters of G. pulex were found to be related to the site‐specific AOM levels. Allelic richness was significantly negatively correlated with levels of AOM in G. pulex tissue (p < 0.003) and was reduced by up to 22% at sites with increased levels of AOM, despite a positive relationship of allelic richness and the presence of waste‐water effluent. In addition, the inbreeding coefficient of G. pulex from sites with toxic AOM levels was up to 2.5 times higher than that of G. pulex from more pristine sites. These results indicate that AOM levels commonly found in European rivers significantly contribute to changes in the genetic diversity of an ecologically relevant indicator species.
Impact of the 2018 Japan Floods on prescriptions for migraine: A longitudinal analysis using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims
Authors: Okazaki Yuji , Yoshida Shuhei , Kashima Saori , Koike Soichi , Matsumoto Masatoshi
Published: April 2022

Objective

To determine the impact of the 2018 Japan Floods, one of the largest water disasters in Japan, on the number of prescriptions for triptans and ergotamine (acute treatment).

Background

Natural disasters frequently occur worldwide and may cause psychological stress–related diseases. Acute migraine attacks can be triggered by psychological stress. Disaster victims are likely to experience tremendous psychological stress; however, the relationship between natural disasters and migraine attacks is not well investigated.

Methods

A retrospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims in the hardest‐hit areas of the disaster 1 year before and after the disaster. We included people between the ages of 15 and 64 years. Those who had a victim code that was certificated by a local government were assigned to the victim group, and others to the nonvictim group. For those who were not prescribed acute treatment before the disaster (i.e., group without previous acute treatment), the cumulative incidence of new prescriptions for acute treatment at 12 months of follow‐up was calculated and compared between victims and nonvictims with survival analysis.

Results

Of 3,475,515 people aged 15 to 64 years enrolled in the study, 16,103 (0.46%) were assigned to the victim group. In the group without previous acute treatment, 111 (0.70%) of 15,933 victims and 14,626 (0.43%) of 3,431,423 nonvictims were newly prescribed acute treatment after the disaster, and new prescriptions for acute treatment were significantly more likely to occur in victims than in nonvictims (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.39–2.02).

Conclusions

The 2018 Japan Floods increased the number of prescriptions for acute migraine medications among victims, suggesting that acute migraine attacks occurred more frequently after a natural disaster.
Zircon U–Pb ages of the Higo plutonic complex: Implication for migration of Cretaceous igneous activity in Kyushu, southwest Japan
Authors: Tsutsumi Yukiyasu
Published: April 2022

Zircon U–Pb weighted mean ages of seven samples from the Higo plutonic complex (HPC) in Kyushu were determined as follows; Shiraishino granodiorite: 109.3 ± 0.9 Ma and 109.0 ± 1.1 Ma; Kugushima granodiorite: 109.1 ± 1.1 Ma; Miyanohara tonalite: 107.7 ± 1.3 Ma and 108.3 ± 0.9 Ma; Manzaka tonalite: 108.0 ± 0.9 Ma; Joyama tonalite: 112.7 ± 1.2 Ma. The plutonism of batholithic granitoids in the HPC occurred in 109–108 Ma, and granitic intrusions occurred in 113 Ma. The previously reported zircon U–Pb ages range from 107 to 98 Ma in northern Kyushu and concentrate around about 106 Ma in the Chikuhi area in the northern part of central Kyushu. The previously published age data and newly obtained data in this study demonstrate that Cretaceous igneous activity in Kyushu migrated northward from 114 to 98 Ma, accompanied by widespread igneous activity throughout central and northern Kyushu at 106–105 Ma. The HPC situated in the southernmost part of central Kyushu was the origin of this northward migration.
Land‐use change differentially affects endemic, forest and open‐land butterflies in Madagascar
Authors: Wurz Annemarie , Grass Ingo , Lees David C. , Rakotomalala Anjaharinony A. N. A. , Sáfián Szabolcs , Martin Dominic Andreas , Osen Kristina , Loos Jacqueline , Benasoavina Evrard , Alexis Theudy , Tscharntke Teja
Published: April 2022

The conversion of tropical forests into agriculture reduces biodiversity dramatically. However, species might differ in their responses, depending on their habitat specialisation and geographic origin. In this study, we assess how butterfly assemblages differ between old‐growth forests, forest fragments, forest‐derived vanilla agroforests, fallow‐derived vanilla agroforests, woody fallows, herbaceous fallows, and rice paddies in Madagascar.

We recorded 88 butterfly species, of which 65 species are endemic to Madagascar. Land‐use types with woody vegetation sustained many endemic (mean: 6.8 species) and forest butterfly species (mean: 4.8 species). Rice paddies and herbaceous fallows were richer in open‐land species (mean: 7.6 species) and poorer in forest species (mean: 1.7 species) compared to other land‐use types. Compared to herbaceous fallows, fallow‐derived vanilla agroforests hosted more endemic (+164%) and forest (+239%) species. Richness of open‐land species in forest‐derived vanilla agroforests was six times higher than in forest fragments.

Overall, 27% of species occurred exclusively in one land‐use type and 19% of all species when old‐growth forests were excluded. We found the highest number of exclusive species in forest‐derived vanilla agroforests.

We conclude that all studied land‐use types contribute to butterfly conservation in our study region. Especially the woody vegetation in forest fragments, vanilla agroforests, and woody fallows supports a high butterfly diversity and is pivotal for maintaining a broad diversity of forest butterflies in the agricultural matrix. Our study highlights the importance of preserving the diversity of small‐scale land‐use types, including agroforestry, forests and fallow land in this tropical biodiversity hotspot.
Comparative transcriptome and proteome reveal synergistic functions of differentially expressed genes and proteins implicated in an over‐dominant silkworm heterosis of increased silk yield
Authors: Xiao Rui , Yuan Yi , Xia Hengchuan , Ge Qi , Chen Liang , Zhu Feifei , Xu Jia , Wang Xueqi , Fan Yixuan , Wang Qiang , Yang Yanhua , Chen Keping
Published: April 2022

We previously observed an over‐dominant silkworm heterosis of increased yield in a cross of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhydrosis virus‐resistant strain NB with a susceptible strain 306. In the present study, we found that heterosis also exists in crosses of NB with other susceptible strains, indicating it is a more general phenomenon. We performed comparative transcriptome and proteome and identified 1624 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 298 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in silk glands between parents and F1 hybrids, of which 24 DEGs/DEPs showed consistent expression at mRNA and protein levels revealed by Venn joint analysis. Their expressions are completely non‐additive, mainly transgressive and under low‐parent, suggesting recombination of parental genomes may be the major genetic mechanism for the heterosis. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that they may function in generally similar but distinctive aspects of metabolisms and processes with signal transduction and translation being most affected. Notably, they may not only up‐regulate biosynthesis and transport of silk proteins but also down‐regulate other unrelated processes, synergistically and globally remodelling the silk gland to increase yield and cause the heterosis. Our findings contribute insights into the understanding of silkworm heterosis and silk gland development and provide targets for transgenic manipulation to further increase the silk yield.
Effect of water deficit on morphoagronomic traits of black common bean genotypes (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with contrasting drought tolerance
Authors: de Oliveira Neto Sebastião Soares , Pereira Francisca Franciana Sousa , Zoz Tiago , Oliveira Carlos Eduardo da Silva , Moda Cirino Vânia
Published: April 2022

Brazil is the world's largest producer of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Drought stress harms the morphological and agronomic traits of beans. This study evaluates the reaction to water deficit in five genotypes of black beans. The experiment was conducted in the IDR‐IAPAR‐EMATER in Londrina‐PR, Brazil. A split‐plot design was used, with three replications. The genotypes were included in the subplots and the treatments with or without water deficit in the plots. Water deficit was induced on the pre‐flowering stage and maintained for 20 days in the plots submitted to drought stress. For the growth analysis, plants were collected at 35, 54 and 70 days after emergence. At the stage of physiological ripeness, several morphological and yield traits were evaluated. The genotypes IPR Uirapuru and BRS Esplendor can be considered tolerant and used as a tolerant source to water deficit in common bean germplasm banks. The line LP 08‐90 has morphological and agronomic adaptations efficient to overcome water deficit's effects, presenting a higher grain yield in both crop conditions, which indicates the success of black beans breeding to deal with water deficit.
Nurses’ strategies for overcoming barriers to fundamental nursing care in patients with COVID‐19 caused by infection with the SARS‐COV‐2 virus: Results from the ‘COVID‐NURSE’ survey
Authors: Sugg Holly V. R. , Richards David A. , Russell Anne‐Marie , Burnett Sarah , Cockcroft Emma J. , Thompson Coon Jo , Cruickshank Susanne , Doris Faye E. , Hunt Harriet A. , Iles‐Smith Heather , Kent Merryn , Logan Philippa A. , Morgan Leila M. , Morley Naomi , Rafferty Anne Marie , Shepherd Maggie H. , Singh Sally J. , Tooze Susannah J. , Whear Rebecca
Published: April 2022

Aims

To identify strategies used by registered nurses and non‐registered nursing care staff in overcoming barriers when providing fundamental nursing care for non‐invasively ventilated inpatients with COVID‐19.

Design

Online survey with open‐ended questions to collect qualitative data.

Methods

In August 2020, we asked UK‐based nursing staff to describe any strategies they employed to overcome barriers to delivering care in 15 fundamental nursing care categories when providing care to non‐invasively ventilated patients with COVID‐19. We analysed data using Framework Analysis.

Results

A total of 1062 nurses consented to participate in our survey. We derived four themes. 1) Communication behaviours included adapting verbal and non‐verbal communication with patients, using information technology to enable patients’ significant others to communicate with staff and patients, and establishing clear information‐sharing methods with other staff. 2) Organizing care required clustering interventions, carefully managing supplies, encouraging patient self‐care and using ‘runners’ and interdisciplinary input. 3) Addressing patients’ well‐being and values required spending time with patients, acting in loco familiae, providing access to psychological and spiritual support, obtaining information about patients’ wishes early on and providing privacy and comforting/meaningful items. 4) Management and leadership behaviours included training, timely provision of pandemic information, psychological support, team huddles and facilitating regular breaks.

Conclusions

Our respondents identified multiple strategies in four main areas of clinical practice. Management and leadership are crucial to both fundamental care delivery and the well‐being of nurses during pandemics. Grouping strategies into these areas of action may assist nurses and leaders to prepare for pandemic nursing.

Impact

As these strategies are unlikely to be exclusive to the COVID‐19 pandemic, their global dissemination may improve patient experience and help nurses deliver fundamental care when planning pandemic nursing. However, their effectiveness is unknown. Therefore, we are currently evaluating these strategies in a cluster randomized controlled trial.
Exploring the impact of logistics and supply chain management scholarship: Why pursue practical relevance and are we successful?
Authors: Hawkins Timothy G. , Gravier Michael J. , Theodore Farris Martin , Niranjan Suman , Ekezie Uchenna
Published: April 2022

This study explores the level of relevance of logistics and supply chain management research and probes underlying motives prompting scholars to value and pursue managerial (vs. purely academic) contributions. At its core, the concerns over rigor and relevance of higher education comprise a crisis of trust and credibility that appeared decades ago and continues to provoke concern from the field's thought leaders. While exploratory in nature, the results suggest both practitioners and academics agree at differing levels that logistics and supply chain management research is relevant, but pressure to chase indices and rankings has influenced behavior of academics. Consequently, the academic peer‐reviewed process no longer seems to focus on managerial implications. The article begins with theories pertinent to human motivation, namely, self‐determination theory (SDT), and employs qualitative interviews of academics to help develop surveys of both academics and logistics and supply chain management practitioners. It then presents the methodologies of quantitative data collection and analysis—combined with interviews of deans and editors—to explore the research questions to offer discussion, implications, future research directions, and conclusions.
Detecting Differential Item Functioning Using Posterior Predictive Model Checking: A Comparison of Discrepancy Statistics
Authors: Joo Seang‐Hwane , Lee Philseok
Published: April 2022

This study proposes a new Bayesian differential item functioning (DIF) detection method using posterior predictive model checking (PPMC). Item fit measures including infit, outfit, observed score distribution (OSD), and Q1 were considered as discrepancy statistics for the PPMC DIF methods. The performance of the PPMC DIF method was evaluated via a Monte Carlo simulation manipulating sample size, DIF size, DIF type, DIF percentage, and subpopulation trait distribution. Parametric DIF methods, such as Lord's chi‐square and Raju's area approaches, were also included in the simulation design in order to compare the performance of the proposed PPMC DIF methods to those previously existing. Based on Type I error and power analysis, we found that PPMC DIF methods showed better‐controlled Type I error rates than the existing methods and comparable power to detect uniform DIF. The implications and recommendations for applied researchers are discussed.
Values in mental and medical disorder concepts: Their presence is not the point, being aware of them is
Authors: Telles Correia Diogo
Published: April 2022

Background

Both in medicine and in psychiatry, it's essential to find a general definition for medical and mental disorders. For this we have to analyze the concepts behind these definitions. In this article, we intend to review the proximity between the concepts of mental and medical disorders regarding the presence of values, and to propose a way to deal with the different kinds of values that might be present.

Methods

The method used in this paper was a conceptual review/analysis.

Results

Regarding the concept of medical disorder, it has resorted to different sub‐concepts such as dysfunction and harm (distress disability). The concept of dysfunction, apparently being less value‐laden, has been prioritized in relation to the harm component although several authors have already proved that implicitly and explicitly this concept is value laden. In medical‐surgical disorder it is very unlikely to find any diagnostic information that includes moral values. In this type of disorder, the values in question are universally non‐moral: pain, disability, distress (or risk for these) and risk of death. On the other hand, in several mental disorders, moral values have often been included in their diagnostic criteria.

Conclusion

It is concluded that values are present in the main concepts that have been used to define medical or mental disorder. What is essential is to understand what is descriptive and what is value and to try to avoid moral values in this context.
Cross‐protective efficacy of a live‐attenuated Edwardsiella ictaluri vaccine against heterologous Edwardsiella piscicida isolates in channel and channel × blue catfish hybrids
Authors: López‐Porras Adrián , Griffin Matt J. , Ware Cynthia , Richardson Bradley M. , Greenway Terrence E. , Graham Rosser Thomas , Aarattuthodiyi Suja , Wise David J.
Published: April 2022

Edwardsiella piscicida is a growing problem for catfish aquaculture in the southeastern United States, particularly in channel (Ictalurus punctatus) x blue (I. furcatus) catfish hybrids. Research has shown E. piscicida isolates recovered from farmed catfish in Mississippi form at least five discrete phyletic groups, with no apparent differences in virulence in channel and hybrid catfish. Laboratory trials have shown a live‐attenuated E. ictaluri vaccine (340X2) cross‐protects against at least one E. piscicida isolate (S11–285) in channel and hybrid catfish, although it is unknown if this protection exists for other E. piscicida variants. To this end, channel and hybrid catfish were immunized by immersion with E. ictaluri 340X2. Thirty days later, fish were challenged by intracoelomic injection with representative E. piscicida variants from each phyletic group. Relative percent survival (RPS) for hybrids ranged from 54.7% to 77.8%, while RPS in channels ranged from 80.5% to 100%. A second study investigated whether channel and hybrid catfish exposed to heterologous E. piscicida isolates were similarly protected against wild‐type E. ictaluri. Fish were exposed by bath immersion to representative E. piscicida isolates from each phyletic group. Thirty days post‐immunization, fish were challenged by immersion with wild‐type E. ictaluri isolate S97–773. Regardless of variant, previous exposure to heterologous E. piscicida isolates significantly improved survival following E. ictaluri challenge. These findings suggest the presence of shared and conserved antigens among E. piscicida and E. ictaluri that could be exploited by application of polyvalent or cross‐protective vaccines.
Development of a recombinase polymerase amplification assay for viral haemorrhagic septicemia virus
Authors: Tamer Cuneyt , Benkaroun Jessica , Kurucay Hanne Nur , Albayrak Harun , Weidmann Manfred
Published: April 2022

Viral diseases of fish cause significant economic losses in the aquaculture industry. Viral haemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is one of the most important viral diseases that affects more than 80 fish species. Detection of the disease, especially in the field, is critical to managing disease prevention and control programmes. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is an isothermal method with a very short amplification period and a single incubation temperature ranging from 37 to 42°C, which is a good alternative to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This study aimed to develop an RPA assay as sensitive as a real‐time RT‐PCR to detect VHSV. For this purpose, primers and probes are designed for the same targeted region of gG of VHSV. The ssRNA standards were prepared to find the detection limits of the assay. Detection limits were found ten‐fold differences between real‐time RT‐PCR and real‐time RT‐RPA. While the detection limit of the RT‐PCR was found as 95.5 viral RNA molecules/reaction in 95% probit value, the detection limit of RT‐RPA was found as 943.75 viral RNA molecules/reaction in 95% probit value using ssRNA standards. These results show that RPA is a suitable test for VHSV Ie detection.
Swap It on WhatsApp: The Moral Economy of Informal Online Exchange Networks in Contemporary Cuba
Authors: Köhn Steffen , Siré Nestor
Published: April 2022

The inhabitants of Cuba's capital, Havana, are using semipublic group chats on messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram to access food, hygiene products, medication, and other basic necessities during times of scarcity. This has been especially prevalent during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Such chat groups created digital spaces in which locals swap scarce goods and share vital information about the availability of products in the government‐run shops, creative entrepreneurs offer online delivery services, and black‐market vendors sell commodities that are in short supply. We examine the conflicting value systems that shape the interactions on these messaging apps, where solidarity and sharing as well as market‐mediated exchanges come to coexist and must be negotiated on an everyday basis. The article is accompanied by a series of “screen walks”–that is, short mobile phone videos, in which research participants explain the dynamics of the groups they participate in.
The corticotroph cells from early development to tumorigenesis
Authors: Drouin Jacques
Published: April 2022

During development, highly specialized differentiated cells, such as pituitary secretory cells, acquire their identity and properties through a series of specification events exerted by transcription factors to implement a unique gene expression program and epigenomic state. The investigation of these developmental processes informs us on the unique features of a cell lineage, both to explain these features and also to outline where these processes may fail and cause disease. This review summarizes present knowledge on the developmental origin of pituitary corticotroph and melanotroph cells and on the underlying molecular mechanisms. At the onset, comparison of gene expression programs active in pituitary progenitors compared to those active in differentiated corticotrophs or melanotrophs indicated dramatic differences in the control of, for example, the cell cycle. Tpit is the transcription factor that determines terminal differentiation of pro‐opiomelanocortin (POMC) lineages, both corticotrophs and melanotrophs, and its action involves this switch in cell cycle control in parallel with activation of cell‐specific gene expression. There is thus far more to making a corticotroph cell than just activating transcription of the POMC gene. Indeed, Tpit also controls implementation of mechanisms for enhanced protein translation capacity and development of extensive secretory organelles. The corticotroph cell identity also includes mechanisms responsible for homotypic cell–cell interactions between corticotrophs and for privileged heterotypic cell interactions with pituitary cells of other lineages. The review also summarizes current knowledge on how a pioneer transcription factor, Pax7, remodels the epigenome such that the same determination transcription factor, Tpit, will implement the melanotroph program of gene expression. Finally, this canvas of regulatory mechanisms implementing POMC lineage identities constitutes the background to understand alterations that characterize corticotroph adenomas of Cushing's disease patients. The integration of all these data into a unified scheme will likely yield a scheme to globally understand pathogenic mechanisms in Cushing's disease.
Quantifying the ossification and fusion of the calcaneal apophysis using computed tomography
Authors: Blythe Connor S. , Reynolds Mikaela S. , Gregory Laura S.
Published: April 2022

Knowledge of the anatomical development of the calcaneal apophysis is essential in clinical assessment and management of both paediatric and sub‐adult patients presenting with heel pain. Despite this, the current understanding of calcaneal apophyseal development is constrained by the limitations of the imaging modalities used to examine the apophysis, with no current literature reporting the development of the medial and lateral processes. This study aimed to overcome these limitations by investigating the ossification and fusion of the calcaneal apophysis using three‐dimensional computed tomography analysis, and statistically predicting the apophyseal developmental stage in contemporary Australian children. The development and fusion status of the apophysis was scored using a novel 11‐stage scoring system on 568 multi‐slice computed tomography scans (295 females; 274 males) and 266 lateral radiographic scans (119 females; 147 males) from the Queensland Children's Hospital. Multinomial logistic regression along with classification tables and predictive probabilities were then utilised to assess developmental stage likelihood from known age and sex. The apophysis commenced ossification at a mean age of 5.2 years for females and 7.2 years for males, and then elongated to form the apophyseal cap around 10 years for females and 12.4 years for males. Fusion of the apophysis commenced at a mean age of 11.18 years for females and 13.3 years for males, with the earliest age of complete fusion observed at 10 years for females and 14 years for males. The results demonstrate significant sexual dimorphism in ossification and fusion with females developing and fusing significantly earlier. Furthermore, the use of computed tomography in this study allowed for the first time evaluation of the ossification and fusion of the medial and lateral processes of the calcaneus. The medial process formed at a mean age of 9.5 years for females and 10.9 years for males while the lateral process formed at around 9.8 years for females and 11.7 years for males. The medial process demonstrated slower rates of fusion compared to the lateral process. The present study provides Queensland specific standards for assessing the calcaneal apophyseal developmental stage as well as novel predictive regression models for apophyseal stage estimation using known age and sex to aid in the diagnosis of heel pain conditions such as apophysitis or screen for developmental delays in children and subadults.
Prenatal glucocorticoid administration enhances bilirubin metabolic capacity and increases Ugt1a and Abcc2 gene expression via glucocorticoid receptor and PXR in rat fetal liver
Authors: Kobayashi Tsukasa , Takeba Yuko , Ohta Yuki , Ootaki Masanori , Kida Keisuke , Watanabe Minoru , Iiri Taroh , Matsumoto Naoki
Published: April 2022

Aim

Jaundice is especially common in premature infant born before 35 weeks. Because the premature infant liver is not fully developed at birth it may be incomplete the bilirubin metabolism. The purpose was to evaluate the metabolism and the excretion of bilirubin in the premature infant rat liver following prenatal glucocorticoid (GC) administration.

Methods

Dexamethasone (DEX) was administered subcutaneously to pregnant Wistar rats for two consecutive days on gestational days 17 and 19. The fetus were delivered by cesarean section in gestational days 19 and 21. The mRNA levels and protein levels of bilirubin‐metabolic enzymes and transporters in the fetal liver tissues were analyzed using RT‐PCR immunohistochemistry staining and ELISA, respectively. We evaluated that the effect of bilirubin‐metabolic enzymes in the primary fetal rat hepatocytes treated with DEX after pretreated with glucocorticoid receptor (GR, Nr3c1) and Pxr (Nr1i2) siRNA.

Results

Ugt1a1 and Bsep (Abcb11) mRNA levels were significantly increased in the fetuses by prenatal GC administration. The mRNA levels of nuclear transcription factors Nr1i2, Car (Nr1i3), and Rxrα (Nr2b1) were also significantly increased in the fetuses by prenatal GC administration. In addition, DEX increased Nr1i2, Ugt1a1, and Abcc2 (Mrp2) mRNA levels in the primary fetal hepatocytes. The Nr3c1 or Nr1i2 siRNA‐mediated knockdown suppressed the increases of Ugt1a1, and Abcc2 mRNA levels induced by DEX, indicating that DEX are mediated by GC receptor and PXR in primary fetal hepatocytes.

Conclusions

These results suggest that prenatal GC administration increases bilirubin‐metabolic ability, in the premature liver, which may prevent jaundice in neonates.
Surgical management of vascular tumors and malformations of the head and neck in adults
Authors: Giese Rachel A. , Valero Cristina , Shah Jatin P.
Published: April 2022

Vascular tumors and malformations present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to many physicians. Because these lesions are rare, few surgeons have enough experience with them other than those practicing in tertiary vascular anomaly treatment centers. Some patients may have been misdiagnosed or mistreated during childhood and present in adult age with either recurrence or with an untreated lesion. Ideally, a multidisciplinary treatment team should be involved to discuss management with the patient including specialists in surgery, interventional radiology, pathology, hematology, genetics, and dermatology. As our understanding of the pathogenesis of these lesions grows, novel therapies are being employed which may decrease the need for surgery. Nevertheless, some lesions need definitive treatment with surgery. Improving understanding of the surgical management of vascular anomalies will improve cosmetic and functional outcomes for patients.
Association between post‐traumatic stress symptoms and functional health among internally displaced people in Myanmar
Authors: Kim Go‐Un , Jung Eunyoung , Shim Mi‐So , Kim Gwang Suk
Published: April 2022

Accessible Summary

What is known on the subject?

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Myanmar have been exposed to conflict and violence for a long time and experience physical, psychological and social problems.

Post‐traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are more prevalent among IDPs than among general populations and refugees, and limited research is available on this topic among IDPs in Myanmar.

What the paper adds to existing knowledge?

More than one‐third of the IDPs in our sample from Myanmar camps had a high PTSS score. More than two‐thirds experienced traumatic events and left home after age 18.

The overall functional health of IDPs was poor, and the presence or absence of PTSS led to differences in the factors associated with functional health in each group.

Resilience and PTSS were associated with the functional health of IDPs in Myanmar. Further, functional health was positively correlated with levels of resilience among those relatively low in PTSS.

What are the implications for practice?

Mental health nurses need to assess IDPs’ health status and PTSS by first performing health screening at camps in Myanmar. Subsequently, tailored interventions can be provided according to individual health conditions and PTSS severity.

IDPs in Myanmar need psychological first aid to cope with the ongoing conflict and violence, and further mental health nurse training is necessary to implement this aid and tailored interventions for PTSS.

Introduction

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are individuals forced to leave their homes and move within their country. Post‐traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are prevalent in this population.

Aim

To investigate trauma symptoms and functional health of IDPs in Myanmar and identify the factors associated with their functional health according to the presence/absence of PTSS.

Method

This cross‐sectional study included 201 IDPs who completed a questionnaire on functional health, PTSS, resilience, social support and hope. The analysis included descriptive statistics, t‐tests, Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression with interaction analyses.

Results

Over one‐third of the participants had PTSS, with low functional health scores. The greater the resilience, the better the functional health. The higher participants’ PTSS, the poorer their functional health. There was a significant interaction between resilience and PTSS.

Discussion

Tailored resilience‐building programs, as well as health policies and services, are needed to enhance IDPs’ functional health and help them overcome PTSS.

Implications for practice

Psychological first aid should be provided to minimize PTSS experienced in situations of ongoing conflict and violence. Mental health nurses should be trained to assess IDPs’ health status and tailor interventions accordingly.
Gingival crevicular fluid lipocalin‐2 and semaphorin3A in stage III periodontitis: Non‐surgical periodontal treatment effects
Authors: Ceylan Merve , Erbak Yilmaz Huriye , Narin Figen , Tatakis Dimitris N. , Saglam Mehmet
Published: April 2022

Background and Objective

Identification of biomarkers to assess individual risk and monitor periodontal health status is important. Research on lipocalin‐2 (LCN2) and semaphorin3A (Sema3A) is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) LCN2, Sema3A, and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) levels in periodontally healthy (H), gingivitis (G), and periodontitis (P) patients, and their changes following non‐surgical periodontal therapy.

Methods

Sixty systemically healthy and non‐smoker participants, diagnosed as periodontally healthy, gingivitis, and stage III grade C periodontitis, were recruited (n = 20/group). Clinical periodontal parameters were recorded and GCF samples were obtained at baseline from all groups; for group P, these were repeated one and three months following non‐surgical periodontal treatment. GCF LCN2, Sema3A, and TNF‐α levels were evaluated with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

GCF LCN2, Sema3A, and TNF‐α total amounts were significantly higher in disease groups than group H (p < .001). Between P and G groups, only TNF‐α levels were significantly different (p < .001). Non‐surgical periodontal therapy resulted in significant improvement of all clinical parameters and significant decreases of GCF LCN2 and TNF‐α levels, at both time points, compared with baseline (p < .001). Sema3A levels remained unchanged following treatment (p > .05). LCN2 and TNF‐α levels were significantly positively correlated with clinical parameters. LCN2 (AUC [area under the curve] = 0.94) and TNF‐α (AUC = 0.98) levels were similarly accurate in differentiating between periodontal disease (whether G or P) and healthy controls.

Conclusions

LCN2 and TNF‐α levels in GCF are correlated with clinical parameters and could prove useful as non‐invasive screening tools for periodontitis.
Perceiving agency
Authors: Westfall Mason
Published: April 2022

When we look around us, some things look “alive,” others do not. What is it to “look alive”—to perceive animacy? Empirical work supports the view that animacy is genuinely perceptual. We should construe perception of animacy as perception of agents and behavior. This proposal explains how static and dynamic animacy cues relate, and explains how animacy perception relates to social cognition more broadly. Animacy perception draws attention to objects that are apt to be well‐understood folk psychologically, enabling us to marshal our folk psychological resources efficiently.
Acoustic energy and cardiac electrophysiology: Ultrasonic cardiac pacing and novel shockwave ablation catheters
Authors: Allam Chadi
Published: April 2022

Sonic shockwaves (SSW) can cause cardiac pacing. This observation first came to notice with the early urologic lithotripters and later with the cumulative use of shockwaves to treat calcified coronary lesions. There have been multiple observations of cardiac pacing and tachyarrhythmias occurring during SSW delivery using the Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy system. The underlying mechanism of cardiac cell depolarization by SSW is still under debate. At the end of the last decade, we are witnessing this technology in electrophysiology with the WiSE‐CRT system that uses sonic waves to synchronize the ventricles and novel shockwave ablation catheters that can treat tachyarrhythmia foci with minor collateral damage.
Neither frozen–thawed seminal plasma nor commercial transforming growth factor‐β1 infused intra‐utero before insemination improved fertility and prolificacy in sows
Authors: Parrilla Inmaculada , Rodriguez‐Martinez Heriberto , Cuello Cristina , Gil María Antonia , Martinez Emilio A.
Published: April 2022

Seminal plasma (SP) affects reproduction, inducing cell and molecular changes in the female genital tract. A main active component in SP is the modulatory transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), particularly its TGF‐β1 isoform, which affects the synthesis of other cytokines as granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor, relevant for embryo development and pregnancy. This study evaluated the effect of pooled frozen–thawed SP and commercial TGF‐β1 infused during oestrus in sows post‐cervically inseminated with liquid extended semen, containing ~4 ml of residual SP, on their fertility and prolificacy. For this, 250 sows in their post‐weaning oestrus were used. Sows were randomly assigned to one of the following groups to be post‐cervically treated 30 min before insemination: (i) SP group: infused with 40 ml of SP (N = 57); ii) Group TFGß1: infused with 40 ml of BTS extender containing 3 ng/ml of porcine TGF‐β1 (N = 64); iii) BTS group: infused with 40 ml of BTS extender (N = 60); and iv) Control Group: sows catheterized but not infused prior to AI (N = 69). Farrowing rates (range: 86.7% to 91.3%) and numbers of live‐born piglets (range: range: 12.8 ± 2.9 to 13.4 ± 3.1) were not affected by any treatment compared with Controls, indicating that neither pre‐infusions of SP nor TGF‐ß1 30 min before AI influenced subsequent fertility and prolificacy.
Megafauna restoration as a legal obligation: International biodiversity law and the rehabilitation of large mammals in Europe
Authors: Trouwborst Arie , Svenning Jens‐Christian
Published: April 2022

Restoring functional ecosystems in Europe inter alia requires restoring large mammal (megafauna) diversity and densities to levels well above the current downgraded state, which results from a human‐driven wave of megafauna extinctions and extirpations in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Combining law and natural science, we address the question to what degrees international legal instruments support or require such megafauna rewilding efforts. We provide an overview of Europe's current megafauna plus those species that would likely have been present without human interference. We categorize these species and restoration scenarios in ways that make sense from a legal perspective and identify and interpret relevant legal instruments. Our analysis indicates that Article 8(f) of the Convention on Biological Diversity requires restoring the diversity and densities of Europe's megafauna as far as possible—which is indeed quite far. Depending on the circumstances, megafauna rewilding measures can also be required or supported by various other legal instruments at global, pan‐European, European Union and other levels.
Revisiting the myth of stative progressives in world Englishes
Authors: Rautionaho Paula
Published: April 2022

Outer Circle varieties are commonly characterized as having wider use of the stative progressive; however, studies making this claim often fail to account for regional differences in verb‐phrase density. The present study remedies the methodological problem by focusing on the progressive vs. non‐progressive alternation, subjecting the data to a series of statistical analyses. The results indicate that we need to refine the term ‘wider use’ – it is critical that it is understood in the semantic sense of referring to extension to non‐delimited contexts, as the sense ‘more frequent use of stative progressives in Outer Circle varieties’ is not confirmed. Rather, the frequency data, the attraction patterns, and the alternation patterns all indicate that Indian English (IndE) differs from the other varieties investigated, including the other Outer Circle varieties, Singaporean (SgE), and Hong Kong (HKE).
TRANSFORMATIVE CREATURES: THEOLOGY, GENDER DIVERSITY, AND HUMAN IDENTITY
Authors: Cornwall Susannah
Published: April 2022

Gender transition may be figured as part of a broader creaturely process of being partners in our own becoming. Gender transition is explored through the lenses of transformation (including comparisons with theosis and with religious conversion) and neurodiversity. Humans are transformative creatures; trans and gender‐variant people, like others, have the power to curate their own identities and are on a journey toward perfection. Our nature as humans, including our sexed and gendered nature, is not over‐and‐done‐with. In this sense, our active building and shaping of our identities and body‐stories is not a rejection of a divine blueprint for human existence, nor an exercise of illegitimate human hubris, but rather a licit creaturely form of generativity.