bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differences in phenotypic variance between old and young congeneric species on a small island
Authors: Péron Guillaume , Vollot Benjamin
Published: December 2023

Aim

Insular environments theoretically promote within‐species phenotypic variance, in part but not only because insular species enjoy a lower number of trophic interactions than their mainland counterparts. However, environmental factors apparently confound empirical comparisons between insular and mainland systems. To address this issue, we studied sympatric, congeneric species from the same small island, but that stemmed from separate colonization events. We predicted that the time since the species had colonized the island would correlate positively with the within‐species variance in morphometrics.

Location

Lifu island, New Caledonia, South Pacific.

Taxa

Zosterops inornatus, Z. minutus, Z. lateralis (Passeriformes).

Methods

We measured seven morphological traits and used principal component analysis to compute axes of variation.

Results

The within‐species variance in bill size and in feet/tail ratio corrected for body size increased with the estimated time since the species had been on the island. A similar but non‐significant trend existed for body size and bill width.

Main Conclusions

The morphometrics of the three species of Zosterops birds from Lifu supported the hypothesis that insular environments promote within‐species phenotypic variance, and cast a new light on the role of competition in the erosion of phenotypic variance.
Eligibility and efficacy of a CPC‐ and CHX‐based antiviral mouthwash for the elimination of SARS‐CoV‐2 from the saliva: A randomized, double‐blind, controlled clinical trial
Authors: Brunello Giulia , Wolf Viktoria , Kerberger Robert , Bernhard Michael , Lübke Nadine , Becker Jürgen , Schwarz‐Herzke Beryl , Timm Jörg , Becker Kathrin
Published: December 2023

Aim

This study aimed at investigating the efficacy of a 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride–0.05% chlorhexidine (CPC–CHX) mouthwash in reducing viral load in the saliva as compared with sterile water.

Materials and Methods

Forty SARS‐CoV‐2 positive patients were asked to dispense 4 mL of saliva. Half the patients rinsed for 60 s with 15 mL CPC–CHX, and the remaining patients rinsed with sterile water (control). Four millilitres of saliva were collected after 15, 30 and 60 min after rinsing. Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleocapsid protein were performed. For ELISA, the intact (representing the active virus) to total virus load (I/T) was calculated.

Results

SARS‐CoV‐2 copy numbers/mL from RT‐qPCR tended to decrease in the control group, whereas in the CPC–CHX group, an increase was observed after T30. However, mixed linear model analysis revealed no statistical differences between groups (p = .124), time points (p = .616) and vaccinated or non‐vaccinated patients (p = .953). Similarly, no impact of group (p = .880), time points (p = .306) and vaccination (p = .711) was observed for I/T ratio values.

Conclusions

Within the limitation of this study, there was no evidence that the intervention reduced salivary SARS‐CoV‐2 viral load during the course of 60 min. Therefore, commonly used pre‐procedural rinsing might not be clinically relevant.
Occurrence of Z‐ and E‐strain Ostrinia nubilalis in Sweden shortly after first detection of the Z‐strain
Authors: Anderbrant Olle , Marques Joana F. , Aldén Louise , Svensson Glenn P.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a major pest insect in maize. New cultivars and climate change have allowed range expansion of the crop northwards in Europe, and a similar range expansion of associated pests has been predicted. ECB exists as two distinct pheromone strains using different blends of (E)‐11‐tetradecenyl acetate and (Z)‐11‐tetradecenyl acetate for sexual communication; in addition, the Z‐strain feeds almost exclusively on maize. In Sweden, the maize cropping area has increased tenfold during the last two decades, increasing the potential for spread of the Z‐strain, which was recorded for the first time in the country in 2010.

Aim of the study/methods

In this study, we performed trapping experiments with strain‐specific lures in maize fields in southern Sweden during 2013–2022 to monitor the presence and relative abundance of the two ECB strains and evaluate the potential increase of the Z‐strain. Trapping was also performed at least 5 km away from maize fields. Molecular markers were used to verify the strain identity of trapped males and larvae that fed on maize.

Results

Catch data revealed that both pheromone strains were present in the major maize cultivation areas of Sweden, as predicted by recent modelling studies. Our data indicate that the flight period of ECB in southern Sweden lasts from the middle of June to late August, with peak flight in July. Catches of both strains were low at all trapping sites and throughout the study period and decreased further during the years following the dry summer of 2018. No Z‐strain males were trapped far away from maize fields.

Conclusion

Based on our results, and the low levels of ECB‐related damage observed in local maize fields, the Z‐strain is currently not imposing a threat to Swedish maize growers.
The impact of dental midline angulation towards the facial flow curve on the esthetics of an asymmetric face: Perspective of laypeople and orthodontists
Authors: Ntovas Panagiotis , Karkazi Frantzeska , Ozbilen Elvan‐Onem , Lysy Juraj , Gogolas Nikolaos , Yilmaz Hanife‐Nuray , Papazoglou Efstratios , Coachman Christian
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The objective of the present article was to evaluate the ımpact of dental midline angulation in asymmetrical faces.

Materials and Methods

A full‐portrait image was used to create a set of digitally modified images with a different degree of facial asymmetry, towards the right and the left side of the face respectively. Half of the images were designed with an equivalent angulation of the dental midline in respect to the curve of the lower third of the face and half of them without. Through a web survey, 250 laypeople and 250 orthodontists were asked to assess the attractiveness of each image separately.

Results

As the asymmetry of the face was increased, facial attractiveness was further decreased both for laypersons and orthodontists. For each one of the modified images, when the dental midline was following the curve that was formed from the inclination of the simulated asymmetry of the face, the smile attractiveness scores were significantly higher compared to a straight dental midline.

Conclusion

Facial asymmetries derived from the inclination of the nose, the chin and the commissural line of the lips can significantly affect the smile attractiveness. An orientation of the dental midline towards the facial asymmetry in order to follow the facial curve, can be beneficial for the smile attractiveness compared to a perpendicular to the face dental midline. During the design of a smile, clinicians have to take into consideration deviations in facial midline, in order their restorations to be in harmony with the rest of the face.

Clinical Significance

During the design of a smile, clinicians have to take into consideration deviations in the facial midline, in order their restorations to be in harmony with the rest of the face.
Optical properties of dental zirconia, bovine dentin, and enamel‐dentin structures
Authors: Pecho Oscar E. , Benetti Paula , Ruiz‐López Javier , Furini Giordana P. , Tejada‐Casado Maria , Pérez María M.
Published: December 2023

Objective

To evaluate the optical properties and the relative translucency parameter of Ceramill ZI White (3Y‐TZP) and Ceramill Zolid FX White (5Y‐PSZ) zirconia ceramic systems and compare them with those of the bovine dentin and enamel/dentin structures.

Materials and Methods

3Y‐TZP and 5Y‐PSZ zirconia ceramic systems were evaluated. A 0.5‐mm‐thick 3Y‐TZP (3Y‐NC.5), 0.5‐mm‐thick (5Y‐NC.5), and 1.4‐mm‐thick (5Y‐C.14) were used. A 0.5‐mm‐thick dentin specimens and 1.4‐mm‐thick enamel/dentin specimens (n = 5) were obtained from anterior bovine maxillary teeth. Scattering, absorption, transmittance, and albedo coefficient were calculated using Kubelka–Munk's model. Data were statistically analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests (p < 0.001), and goodness‐of‐fit coefficient (GFC). Relative translucency parameter differences were evaluated using translucency thresholds.

Results

Reflectance, scattering, absorption, and transmittance properties were wavelength dependent. Good matches (GFC ≥ 0.999) in spectral reflectance were observed between 0.5‐mm‐thick dentin and 1.4‐mm‐thick enamel/dentin, and 3Y‐NC.5 and 5Y‐NC.5. Scattering was the main optical extinction process during light interaction with zirconia and dental structures, as indicated by albedo coefficient. Translucency differences were acceptable only for 3Y‐NC.5 and the dentin structure, and 5Y‐C.14 and the enamel/dentin structure.

Conclusions

Optical properties of 3Y‐TZP and 5Y‐PSZ dental zirconia differed from each other and from bovine dental structures. Nevertheless, 3Y‐TZP showed similar relative translucency parameter to bovine dentin.

Clinical Significance

To achieve the best esthetic results in restorative dentistry, it is crucial for clinicians to know about the optical properties of 3Y‐TZP and 5Y‐PSZ and to be able to compare these properties with those of dental structures.
Artificial intelligence for discrimination of Crohn's disease and gastrointestinal tuberculosis: A systematic review
Authors: Sachan Anurag , Kakadiya Rinkalben , Mishra Shubhra , Kumar‐M Praveen , Jena Anuraag , Gupta Pankaj , Sebastian Shaji , Deepak Parakkal , Sharma Vishal
Published: December 2023

Background and Aim

Discrimination of gastrointestinal tuberculosis (GITB) and Crohn's disease (CD) is difficult. Use of artificial intelligence (AI)‐based technologies may help in discriminating these two entities.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review on the use of AI for discrimination of GITB and CD. Electronic databases (PubMed and Embase) were searched on June 6, 2022, to identify relevant studies. We included any study reporting the use of clinical, endoscopic, and radiological information (textual or images) to discriminate GITB and CD using any AI technique. Quality of studies was assessed with MI‐CLAIM checklist.

Results

Out of 27 identified results, a total of 9 studies were included. All studies used retrospective databases. There were five studies of only endoscopy‐based AI, one of radiology‐based AI, and three of multiparameter‐based AI. The AI models performed fairly well with high accuracy ranging from 69.6–100%. Text‐based convolutional neural network was used in three studies and Classification and regression tree analysis used in two studies. Interestingly, irrespective of the AI method used, the performance of discriminating GITB and CD did not match in discriminating from other diseases (in studies where a third disease was also considered).

Conclusion

The use of AI in differentiating GITB and CD seem to have acceptable accuracy but there were no direct comparisons with traditional multiparameter models. The use of multiple parameter‐based AI models have the potential for further exploration in search of an ideal tool and improve on the accuracy of traditional models.
Aversion to Student Debt? Evidence from Low‐Wage Workers
Authors: GOPALAN RADHAKRISHNAN , HAMILTON BARTON H. , SABAT JORGE , SOVICH DAVID
Published: December 2023

We combine state minimum wage changes with individual‐level income and credit data to estimate the effect of wage gains on the debt of low‐wage workers. In the three years following a $0.88 minimum wage increase, low‐wage workers experience a $2,712 income increase and a $856 decrease in debt. The entire decline in debt comes from less student loan borrowing among enrolled college students. Credit constraints, buffer‐stock behavior, and other rational channels cannot explain the reduction in student debt. Our results are consistent with students perceiving a utility cost of borrowing student debt arising from mental accounting.
How to speak to the masses, part I: Hồ Chí Minh's instructions to cadres and the dynamics of register formation in 20th century Vietnam
Authors: Sidnell Jack
Published: December 2023

The question of how to understand the relation between language and action lies at the heart of both philosophical pragmatics and linguistic anthropology. This same question, although framed in a very different way, also emerged as a basic concern for communist revolutionaries in Vietnam in the mid 1940s and, I contend, continues to exercise the imagination of party members and others up until the present day. Drawing inspiration from Asif Agha's definition of a (semiotic) register as a “cultural model of action,” in this essay, I consider the ways in which Hồ Chí Minh along with other high‐ranking party members sought to reform Vietnamese through a project of register formation, and thereby to transform the language into an effective instrument of mass mobilization. I suggest that this project centrally involved reconceptualizing the relationship between language and action and was pursued by, on the one hand, identifying and proscribing ways of speaking in which the connection with action was seen to be broken such that speech amounted to “mere words” and, on the other, by promoting a way of speaking in which, as the frequently used Vietnamese expression has it, “speaking goes hand‐in‐hand with doing” (nói đi đôi với làm).
Advancing safety in turbulent times: Development and validation of a pandemic safety climate scale
Authors: Huang Yueng‐hsiang , He Yimin , Lee Jin , Lytle Bailey , Courtney Theodore K.
Published: December 2023

This study introduces the concept of pandemic safety climate (SC), employees' perceptions of an organization's policies, procedures and practices aiming to deal with the COVID‐19 pandemic. Based on the theory of planned behaviour, we expected that the pandemic SC would be the base of employees' subjective norms, attitudes and perceived control in dealing with the COVID‐19 pandemic‐related challenges. We hypothesized that pandemic SC would be associated with a series of attitudinal and behavioural criteria that aim to prevent the spread of COVID‐19 as well as promote other health and well‐being outcomes. Using both prospective and cross‐sectional datasets, we developed and validated a measure of pandemic SC which consisted of two scales. Organization pandemic SC refers to the employees' perceptions of the strategies and efforts at the organization level and consists of four dimensions: management commitment and proactivity, workplace flexibility and capacity, equipment and sanitization for COVID‐19 prevention and COVID‐19‐related communication and training programmes. Group pandemic SC refers to the employees' perceptions of the intermediate support and care from supervisors and consists of three dimensions: supervisor commitment and proactivity, safety monitoring and COVID‐19‐related supervisory communication. Construct validity and criterion‐related validity were supported. Theoretical and practical implications of the newly developed pandemic SC scales are discussed.
Employer‐oriented flexible work in health care: A diary study on the resulting cognitive demands and their relationship with work–home outcomes
Authors: Baumgartner Vera C. , Prem Roman , Uhlig Lars , Korunka Christian , Kubicek Bettina
Published: December 2023

This study investigates how cognitive demands resulting from employer‐oriented flexibility (i.e. to coordinate with others, to structure work tasks and to organize work and private obligations) relate to work–home outcomes among health care professionals. To understand the underlying psychological mechanisms of the relationship between cognitive demands resulting from employer‐oriented flexibility and work–home outcomes, we combined the challenge–hindrance approach with role theory. We hypothesized a positive relationship between cognitive demands resulting from employer‐oriented flexibility and work–home conflict via cognitive effort (strain process) and between cognitive demands resulting from employer‐oriented flexibility and work–home enrichment via learning to self‐organize (learning process). Eighty‐eight health care professionals working in eldercare homes participated in a diary study and provided 407 day‐level datasets. They completed questionnaires twice a day over 5 working days. Our analyses show that the relationships between daily cognitive demands resulting from employer‐oriented flexibility and work–home outcomes depend on strain and learning processes. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that cognitive demands resulting from employer‐oriented flexibility, although ambivalently related to work–home outcomes on the person level, trigger distinct strain and learning processes on the day level: daily coordinating with colleagues and daily structuring work tasks were related to work–home conflict via cognitive effort, whereas daily organizing work and family obligations was associated with work–home enrichment via learning to self‐organize.
Does negative performance feedback always lead to negative responses? The role of trust in the leader
Authors: Ni Dan , Zheng Xiaoming
Published: December 2023

This study draws from cognitive appraisal theory to examine when and how negative performance feedback could prevent employees from engaging in interpersonal counterproductive workplace behaviour towards the leader. We test the hypotheses using a three‐wave survey and a scenario‐based experiment with Chinese and Western samples, respectively. Our results indicate that negative performance feedback has a negative effect on perceived feedback quality when employees have a lower (vs. higher) level of trust in the leader. In addition, perceived feedback quality is negatively related to employee hostility towards leader and, in turn, interpersonal counterproductive workplace behaviour towards the leader. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Reducing seclusion and restraint in an acute adolescent psychiatric ward: A feasibility study
Authors: Lee‐Aube Angel , Vakili Alexandra , Padhi Ashwini , Joseph Sumithira , Norcott Julie , Yap Keong
Published: December 2023

Accessible Summary

What is known on the subject

Restraining and secluding health consumers for safety reasons continue to be used in psychiatric inpatient facilities even though they have no therapeutic value and have negative effects on consumers, families and staff.

Six Core Strategies (6CS) for reducing seclusion and restraint have been developed to address this problem but there are very few effectiveness studies in inpatient adolescent psychiatric facilities.

What the paper adds to existing knowledge

We used a mixed methods approach to evaluate the implementation of 6CS in an adolescent psychiatric facility. The implementation was successful. It eliminated the use of seclusion, substantially reduced the use of restraints and significantly reduced staff absenteeism.

Using thematic analysis on feedback surveys, we identified five dominant themes that described consumers' and carers' experiences during their stay at the facility: communication, service delivery, flexibility, consistency and internal feeling states.

What are the implications for practice

This study provides support for the feasibility of a comprehensive and broad‐based intervention program such as 6CS to reduce seclusion and restraint practices in inpatient mental health facilities.

This study also demonstrates the value of using surveys to gather consumer and carer feedback and improve outcomes for service users.

Introduction

Seclusion and restraint practices are routinely used in psychiatric facilities but are controversial for ethical, legal and safety reasons, and can cause significant harm to consumers, staff and organisations. Six Core Strategies (6CS) for reducing seclusion and restraint were developed to address this problem but very few studies have examined their effectiveness in adolescent settings.

Aim/Question

To evaluate the implementation of 6CS in an adolescent inpatient psychiatric facility.

Method

We retrieved archival data from an acute adolescent psychiatric ward that implemented the 6CS. Using a mixed methods approach, we evaluated outcomes on the use of seclusion and restraint, nursing staff sick leave and feedback surveys.

Results

Findings showed an elimination of seclusion, and a significant reduction in restraint use and staff absenteeism in the 12 months after project implementation. Thematic analysis of feedback survey responses identified communication, service delivery, flexibility, consistency and internal feeling states as dominant themes in consumers' and carers' experience on the unit.

Discussion

The 6CS is feasible and may be effective in reducing seclusion and restraint, which in turn may have a positive impact on staff wellbeing.

Implications for Practice

Implementation of the 6CS with executive support, combined with staff and programmatic changes at a local level is recommended.
The quick and the fed: Geographical variation in embryonic development and offspring size in a wide‐spread lizard
Authors: Pezaro Nadav , Doody Jeremiah Sean , Thompson Michael B.
Published: December 2023

Broad geographical distributions that include marked climatic variation may expose populations to distinct selective pressures. Local adaptation to differences in developmental conditions may lead to divergence in embryonic and hatchling traits for populations of oviparous reptiles. Among‐population differences in hatchling size and the duration of development are often observed in lizards with wide and climatically diverse distributions. Variation in hatchling phenotypes can arise from variation in maternal allocation, developmental plasticity or selection acting on embryonic traits. We studied variation in hatchlings of the Australian water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii), comparing traits related to growth and patterns of developmental plasticity. We recorded marked differences in hatchling sizes among populations from different climate types, which did not result from differences in maternal investment or from a plastic response to incubation temperatures. Embryos from southern, temperate populations exhibited shorter incubation times when incubated at cold temperatures but utilized less yolk during development and hatched smaller, with more residual yolk, regardless of incubation treatment. We suggest that these findings represent the first example of among‐population variation in patterns of embryonic resource allocation and a novel mechanism mediating offspring size in reptiles. We further suggest that variation in embryonic resource allocation in I. lesueurii, together with evolutionary changes in reaction norms for developmental rate, evolved as adaptations to seasonal length and conditions associated with a tropical‐temperate gradient.
An input trade model with Keynesian unemployment: Bridging a gap between trade theory and international Input–Output analysis
Authors: Sato Hideo
Published: December 2023

This study presents a trade model with (1) intermediate inputs, (2) link commodities, and (3) Keynesian unemployment. The model has linear input coefficients, stable commodity prices, and short‐run adjustment of the quantity supplied on the occasion of demand changes, making it compatible with international input–output tables and analysis. Given production techniques, labor endowments, upper limits of unemployment rates, markup rates, and final demand in each country, this model specifies feasible trade patterns and determines commodity prices, wage rates, gross outputs, employment/unemployment rates, national income, income distribution, and trade volumes/values for each pattern. Starting with a two‐country, three‐commodity case, this model expands to a multi‐country, multi‐commodity case.
The climate and health crisis: Heeding our responsibility in medical education research
Authors: Teherani Arianne , Basu Gaurab
Published: December 2023

The authors issue a call to action to the medical education research community, encouraging each of us to lean into the important role we play in addressing the climate and health crisis.
A deep marked graph process model for citywide traffic congestion forecasting
Authors: Zhang Tong , Wang Jianlong , Wang Tong , Pang Yiwei , Wang Peixiao , Wang Wangshu
Published: December 2023

Forecasting citywide traffic congestion on large road networks has long been a nontrivial research problem due to the challenge of modeling complex evolution patterns of congestion in highly stochastic traffic environments. Arguing that purely data‐driven methods may not perform well for congestion forecasting, we propose a deep marked graph process model for predicting the congestion indices and the occurrence time of traffic congestion events for complex signalized road networks. Traffic congestion is considered as a nonrigorous spatiotemporal extreme event. We extend the traditional point process model by integrating a specially designed spatiotemporal graph convolutional network. This hybrid strategy takes advantage of the simple form of the point process model as well as the ability of graph neural networks to emulate the evolution of congestion. Experiments on real‐world congestion data sets show that the proposed method outperforms state‐of‐the‐art baseline methods, yielding satisfactory prediction results on a large signalized road network with superior computational efficiency.
On the role of time‐of‐use electricity price in charge scheduling for electric bus fleets
Authors: Zhang Le , Wang Yadong , Gu Weihua , Han Yu , Chung Edward , Qu Xiaobo
Published: December 2023

As electric buses become increasingly popular, it is imperative to optimize the schedules of electric buses with explicit consideration of their charging requirements. Unfortunately, existing studies failed to properly model the impacts of essential operating factors, including the time‐of‐use (TOU) electricity price, partial charging, and limited chargers. Our paper proposes a mixed‐integer nonlinear program to minimize the total operating cost of an electric bus fleet for fulfilling a group of timetabled trips, considering the above realistic features simultaneously. To effectively solve the problem of global optimality, we convert this model to an equivalent set partitioning model and develop a specialized branch‐and‐price approach subsequently. Our approach's computational efficiency is verified via extensive numerical experiments. The model is applied to a real‐world case study in Nanjing, China. Results show that incorporating the TOU electricity price into the electric bus scheduling problem can produce a sizeable cost saving of up to 22%. Managerial insights unveiled by the numerical results are discussed. These insights inform the practitioners of how the operations of electric buses can be both cost‐effective and grid‐friendly.
Translation of an existing implantable cardiac monitoring device for measurement of gastric electrical slow‐wave activity
Authors: Dowrick Jarrah M. , Jungbauer Nikolas Lisa , Offutt Sarah J. , Tremain Peter , Erickson Jonathan C. , Angeli‐Gordon Timothy R.
Published: December 2023

Background

Despite evidence that slow‐wave dysrhythmia in the stomach is associated with clinical conditions such as gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia, there is still no widely available device for long‐term monitoring of gastric electrical signals. Actionable biomarkers of gastrointestinal health are critically needed, and an implantable slow‐wave monitoring device could aid in the establishment of causal relationships between symptoms and gastric electrophysiology. Recent developments in the area of wireless implantable gastric monitors demonstrate potential, but additional work and validation are required before this potential can be realized.

Methods

We hypothesized that translating an existing implantable cardiac monitoring device, the Reveal LINQ™ (Medtronic), would present a more immediate solution. Following ethical approval and laparotomy in anesthetized pigs (n = 7), a Reveal LINQ was placed on the serosal surface of the stomach, immediately adjacent to a validated flexible‐printed‐circuit (FPC) electrical mapping array. Data were recorded for periods of 7.5 min, and the resultant signal characteristics from the FPC array and Reveal LINQ were compared.

Key Results

The Reveal LINQ device recorded slow waves in 6/7 subjects with a comparable period (p = 0.69), signal‐to‐noise ratio (p = 0.58), and downstroke width (p = 0.98) to the FPC, but with reduced amplitude (p = 0.024). Qualitatively, the Reveal LINQ slow‐wave signal lacked the prolonged repolarization phase present in the FPC signals.

Conclusions & Inferences

These findings suggest that existing cardiac monitors may offer an efficient solution for the long‐term monitoring of slow waves. Translation toward implantation now awaits.
ZmWAK02 encoding an RD‐WAK protein confers maize resistance against gray leaf spot
Authors: Dai Zhikang , Pi Qianyu , Liu Yutong , Hu Long , Li Bingchen , Zhang Bao , Wang Yanbo , Jiang Min , Qi Xin , Li Wenqiang , Gui Songtao , Llaca Victor , Fengler Kevin , Thatcher Shawn , Li Ziwei , Liu Xiangguo , Fan Xingming , Lai Zhibing
Published: December 2023

Gray leaf spot (GLS) caused by Cercospora zeina or C. zeae‐maydis is a major maize disease throughout the world. Although more than 100 QTLs resistant against GLS have been identified, very few of them have been cloned.

Here, we identified a major resistance QTL against GLS, qRglsSB, explaining 58.42% phenotypic variation in SB12×SA101 BC1F1 population. By fine‐mapping, it was narrowed down into a 928 kb region. By using transgenic lines, mutants and complementation lines, it was confirmed that the ZmWAK02 gene, encoding an RD wall‐associated kinase, is the responsible gene in qRglsSB resistant against GLS.

The introgression of the ZmWAK02 gene into hybrid lines significantly improves their grain yield in the presence of GLS pressure and does not reduce their grain yield in the absence of GLS.

In summary, we cloned a gene, ZmWAK02, conferring large effect of GLS resistance and confirmed its great value in maize breeding.
Solidarity and collective issues in remote crowd work: A mixed methods study of the Amazon Mechanical Turk online forum
Authors: Hertwig Markus , Holz Manuel , Lorig Philipp
Published: December 2023

The article deals with collective issues and emerging forms of solidarity in remote crowd work. Using the example of the Amazon Mechanical Turk platform, we analyse communication in one of the oldest online labour forums (OLF) with a mixed‐methods‐approach (web scraping, topic modelling and qualitative content analysis) over a 10‐year period. We identify six broader themes of collective relevance whose importance varies over time. The results indicate that elements of solidarity emerge as crowd workers communicate about deprivations, develop collective orientations, and invoke injustice frames. However, there are no indications of more profound collective activities, which may be due to different types of crowd workers, some of whom have conflicting orientations. We develop assumptions about restrictions of OLF in facilitating collective action and tasks for organisers. The research contributes to a better understanding of mobilisation issues in remote platform labour.
Alveolar bone remodelling and stability of mandibular incisors in adult patients after orthodontic treatment with premolar extractions: A prospective follow‐up study
Authors: Qin Qianyi , Guo Runzhi , Li Linwei , Zhu Kaixi , Su Xinyu , Zhang Liwen , Li Weiran
Published: December 2023

Objective

To evaluate alveolar bone remodelling and stability of mandibular incisors in adult orthodontic extraction patients.

Materials and Methods

Cone‐beam computed tomography images of 25 adult patients undergoing extraction were collected before orthodontic treatment (T1), after orthodontic treatment (T2), and after at least 1 year of retention (T3). The labial and lingual alveolar bone heights (ABH), thickness (ABT), and tooth movement of the mandibular incisors were measured during the retraction (T2–T1) and retention (T3–T2) periods. According to the tooth movement during the retention period, the mandibular incisors were further divided into stable and unstable groups, and the correlation between L1‐BMe and stability was evaluated.

Results

The labial and lingual ABHs significantly increased after orthodontic treatment and decreased during the retention period. The lingual ABH was 7.36 ± 2.27 mm at T2 and 5.37 ± 1.98 mm at T3, indicating a great bone remodelling capacity. The labial ABT exhibited a significant increase during orthodontic treatment and a slight decrease during the retention period, while the lingual ABT showed an opposite trend. During the retention period, the root apex moved labially into the alveolar bone housing. L1‐BMe significantly increased during orthodontic treatment and decreased during the retention period. Compared to the stable group, lingual ABH and L1‐BMe at T2 was significantly higher, and lingual ABT was smaller in the unstable group.

Conclusion

Post‐treatment lingual alveolar bone defects of the mandibular incisors could recover to some extent during the retention period. There was a negative correlation between post‐treatment L1‐BMe and mandibular incisor stability.
Feasibility and potential effectiveness of the IdentifEYE training programmes to address mental health problems in adults with vision impairment
Authors: van Munster Edine P. J. , van Nispen Ruth M. A. , Hoogland Jeroen , van der Aa Hilde P. A.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Two training programmes about depression and anxiety in adults with vision impairment were developed to support eye care practitioners (ECPs) and low vision service (LVS) workers in identifying and discussing mental health problems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the training programmes' potential effectiveness and feasibility.

Methods

The training programmes were offered to ECPs (n = 9) and LVS workers (n = 17). All participants completed surveys pre‐, mid‐ and post‐training, and at a 4 week follow‐up about the training programmes' content, effectiveness, feasibility and implementation. The Kirkpatrick model was used as a theoretical framework; linear mixed models were used to determine the potential effectiveness, and outcomes were explored during three focus group meetings.

Results

Expectations were met in the majority of the participants (84.6%). Post‐training, both ECPs and LVS workers reported increased confidence (β = 3.67, confidence interval (CI): 0.53–6.80; β = 4.35, CI: 1.57 to 7.14, respectively) and less barriers (β = −3.67, CI: −6.45 to −0.89; β = −1.82, CI: −4.56 to 0.91). Mental health problems were more likely addressed in both the groups (ECP β = 2.22, CI: −0.17 to 4.62; LVS β = 4.18, CI: 2.67 to 5.68), but these effects did not last in ECPs (β = −3.22, CI: −7.37 to 0.92). Variations of these learning effects between individual participants were found within both the groups, and LVS workers indicated a need to focus on their own profession. Participants provided information on how to improve the training programmes' feasibility, effectiveness and implementation.

Conclusion

The training programmes seemed feasible and potentially effective. Transfer of the lessons learned into daily practice could be enhanced by, for example, specifying the training programmes for healthcare providers with the same profession, introducing microlearning and incorporating mental health management into organisation policies.
Anesthesia and intensive care unit care in pediatric kidney transplantation: An international survey
Authors: Voet Marieke , Lemson Joris , Cornelissen Marlies , Malagon Ignacio
Published: December 2023

Background

Despite the high perioperative risk profile, international guidelines for anesthesia and intensive care unit (ICU) care in pediatric kidney transplantation do not exist. Optimizing hemodynamics can be challenging in these patients, while scientific data to guide decisions in hemodynamic monitoring, hemodynamic targets, and perioperative fluid management are lacking. The limited annual number of pediatric kidney transplantations, even in reference centers, necessitates the urge for international collaboration to share knowledge and develop research and guidelines. The aim of this study was to collect data on current perioperative anesthesia and ICU care practices in pediatric kidney transplantation.

Methods

An international survey with an anonymized link was sent from a validated electronic data capture system (Castor). Inclusion criteria were: medical doctor in anesthesia, (ICU), or pediatric nephrology working in a pediatric kidney transplantation specialized center; and signed informed consent. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results

Thirty‐three records were analyzed. Responders were anesthesiologists (58%), pediatric nephrologists (30%), and pediatric intensivists (12%), representing 13 countries worldwide. About half of the centers (48%) performed more than 10 pediatric kidney transplantations a year.

Perioperative hemodynamic support was guided by intra‐arterial blood pressure (88%), central venous pressure (CVP; 88%), and cardiac output (CO; 39%). The most variation was seen in the hemodynamic targets CVP and CO, fluid administration, and inotrope/vasopressor use. The protocolized use of furosemide (46%) and mannitol (61%) also varied between centers. Postoperative care for the youngest recipients occurred in the pediatric intensive care unit at all centers.

Conclusion

The results of this survey reveal a large variation in anesthesia and ICU care in pediatric kidney transplantation centers worldwide, particularly in CVP and CO targets, hemodynamic therapy, and the use of furosemide and mannitol. These data identify areas for further research and can be a starting point for international research collaboration and guideline development.
Awareness of sun exposure risks and photoprotection for preventing pigmentary disorders in Asian populations: Survey results from three Asian countries and expert panel recommendations
Authors: Goh Chee Leok , Kang Hee Young , Morita Akimichi , Zhang Chengfeng , Wu Yan , Prakoeswa Cita Rosita Sigit , Sau Nguyen Huu , Kerob Delphine , Flament Frederic , Wei Liu
Published: December 2023

Background

In this article, we review and discuss the photoprotection behavior of Asians based on the literature, along with a subanalysis of an original online survey, and make recommendations to optimize photoprotection for Asian populations to prevent photoaging and pigmentary disorders.

Methods

An international panel of eight dermatologists from Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam) met to discuss sunscreen photoprotection for Asian patients. Additionally, a subanalysis of an online survey by 3000 respondents from three Asian countries (China, Indonesia, and Japan) investigated general public awareness and attitudes to sun exposure.

Results

A pre‐meeting survey of the eight experts from Asia showed key concerns of Asian patients consulting dermatologists are pigmentary disorders, especially actinic/senile lentigo, post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, vitiligo, and Hori's nevus. The survey subanalysis of participants from China, Indonesia, and Japan with predominantly Fitzpatrick skin types (FST) II to IV revealed that they are particularly concerned about sun exposure causing photoaging and pigmentary disorders. Most of the respondents indicated they have limited knowledge on sunlight radiation and appropriate sunscreen protection factors. Only 22%, 13%, and 3% for China, Indonesia, and Japan, respectively, systematically use multiple protective measures (using sunscreen, avoiding midday sun, staying in the shade, wearing a hat, protective clothing, and sunglasses) when exposed to the sun.

Conclusions

Further education is needed for Asian populations on the importance of comprehensive daily photoprotection, including broad‐spectrum sunscreen, with high UVA and visible light protection, to reduce and prevent photoaging and pigmentary disorders.
High resilience of campos rupestres plants to the interaction of drought and fire
Authors: da Silva K. C. , Brum M. , Oliveira R. S. , Barbosa B. V. , Negrão‐Rodrigues V. , Teodoro G. S.
Published: December 2023

The concurrent impacts of multiple disturbances have the potential to modify ecosystem functioning by diminishing recovery capacity and resilience. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain how plant species from tropical communities respond to the cumulative effects of drought and fire. In this study, we evaluated the responses of six plant species from campos rupestres subjected to a mild drought followed by fire and tested if plants subjected to simulated drought show reductions in carbon uptake and depletion of non‐structural carbohydrate (NSC) reserves, thus constraining their resprouting.

We monitored monthly variations in leaf gas exchange and aboveground biomass over 18 months. Subsequently, an accidental fire occurred in the study area, leading us to collect samples of belowground structures for NSC analyses on the day of the burn.

There were no differences in the frequency of resprouting between the above two conditions. Additionally, gas exchange in most species either remained stable or increased after the fire. Drought had no adverse effects on NSC reserves in the belowground structures and may have contributed to species resprouting after fire. The impact of drought pre‐conditions on post‐fire aboveground biomass was generally minor for most species, except Vellozia nivea, which displayed roughly a 5% reduction in biomass following the drought.

Our findings highlight the remarkable resilience of campos rupestres species, even after enduring 18 months of reduced water availability and an unintended fire event. These species demonstrated the capacity to maintain their physiological functions and resprouting capacities after a fire event, underscoring their strong recovery potential.
Education's impact on primary care dentists’ confidence in treating patients with special health care needs
Authors: Bonvallet Commentz Sofia , Mansilla Montenegro Julio , Bezanilla Fernandez Florencia , Arancibia Flores Ivania , Araya Salazar Javiera , Astudillo Gutierrez Daniela
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Special care dentistry (SCD) is still developing in Chile. This study aimed to clarify whether primary care dentists are treating patients with special health care needs (SHCN), to know if they have had previous education on SCD (on an undergraduate or postgraduate level), whether their training level impacts their confidence when treating patients with SHCN, and to assess their opinion on SCD as a relevant topic in undergraduate education.

Methods

A survey was answered by 149 primary care dentists working for the National Health Service of the Valparaiso region in Chile, including information on their daily clinical practice, undergraduate, and postgraduate training in SCD, and their opinions on them.

Results

Most interviewees would like to complement their training and believed that SCD should be formally incorporated into undergraduate programs. There was a significant association between confidence in treating patients with SHCN and the rating of their undergraduate training, and between confidence and the number of hours of continuous development courses.

Conclusion

Most primary care dentists treat patients with SHCN regularly. Therefore, including training in the undergraduate curriculum and afterward becomes necessary to increase their confidence when facing this challenging group of patients.
Stewardship and everyday governance: Managing materialities in a south‐eastern village community, Estonia
Authors: Kasemets Kadri
Published: December 2023

This article examines landscape stewardship from the perspective of landscape biography and focuses on different outcomes on how individual and collective stewardship connected to local place attachment and historic understandings are leveraged as local knowledge in sustaining locally important landscapes. The analysis is based on semi‐structured interviews with local people and active residents in three neighbouring villages of south‐eastern Estonia. Particular attention is paid to their place attachment and self‐actualisation in landscape materialities, such as housing, village centre, water bodies and village borders. To bring the diverse types of knowledge connected to landscape stewardship to the forefront, the study suggests careful differentiation between neo‐endogenous community governance and place‐based wisdom of local stakeholders. This differentiation indicates that stewardship should be identified as a micro‐policy term that is oriented towards a collective platform of the information exchange for local capacity building. This would lead to multiple and resilient place‐based know‐how related to territories, political networks and associated land use discourses.
Competition policy and firm productivity: Quasi‐experimental evidence from China
Authors: Chen Yihao , Ding Siying , Liu Yongzheng , Ye Guangliang
Published: December 2023

China enacted the Anti‐Monopoly Law in 2008. This law is deemed a milestone of competition policy to improve market efficiency in the country. This paper builds a theoretical model and applies a difference‐in‐differences method using a firm‐level dataset of the 1998–2015 period to examine the impact of this law on firm productivity. We show that the enactment of this law significantly increased the total factor productivity (TFP) of the firms. The results are shown to be robust across alternative definitions of the treatment variable and alternative measures of productivity. Finally, we show that the productivity effect of this law tends to be stronger among state‐owned enterprises than private/foreign firms and large firms than small firms.
Vision outcomes in dogs with primary glaucoma surgically treated with lensectomy and endolaser cyclophotocoagulation after an Ahmed valve gonioimplantation failure
Authors: Turicea Bactelius , Munevar Christian L. , Edwards Sydney G. , Linton Lana L.
Published: December 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate vision outcomes of dogs with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) that underwent Ahmed valve gonioimplantation (AVG) followed by lensectomy and endolaser cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) with or without bleb resection after AVG failure.

Procedure

Medical records from 2008 to April 2022 were reviewed. All patients selected had an AVG performed first. Following valve failure, lensectomy–ECP was performed in addition to bleb resection as indicated. Additional ECP and AVG replacement surgeries were performed as deemed medically necessary. Main outcomes evaluated included vision preservation, average IOP reduction, and the number of glaucoma medications (both oral and topical) at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months.

Results

Fourteen eyes from 13 patients were included in the study. Females were predominant (n = 9) compared with males (n = 4). Mean age at initial glaucoma diagnosis was 6.82 years. Following AVG and lensectomy–ECP, vision was preserved in 93%, 84%, 60%, and 48% of eyes at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years respectively. Following lensectomy–ECP, there was a significant reduction in mean IOP of 9.64 mmHg (p = .015) and 9.71 mmHg (p = .016) at 2 and 6 months, respectively. There was a reduction in mean IOP of 2.45, 7.25, and 12.25 mmHg at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively, which was not statistically significant. There was a significant decrease in the number of glaucoma medications at all evaluated time points except 24 months.

Conclusions

Combined AVG and lensectomy–ECP is successful in maintaining vision long term as well as decreasing IOP, and the number of glaucoma medications administered.