bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managerial tone and investors' hedging activities: Evidence from credit default swaps
Authors: Liang Peng , Hu Nan , Liu Ling , Zhang Ting
Published: March 2023

This study examines investors' hedging behaviours in the credit default swap (CDS) market in response to the managerial tone of the Management Discussion and Analysis section in 10‐K/Q flings. Utilising CDS positions data derived from the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, we first document that managerial tone is negatively associated with CDS positions. We further find that such an effect is stronger for investors with less reliable alternative information channels and for firms with greater default probability. Our inferences persist when using the abnormal tone from a two‐stage analysis, when using change model regression, and when filtering out other potential confounding impacts. The results of this study advance the understanding of how the linguistic tone presented by management affects CDS market investors' hedging decision making through the use of public accounting information in financial disclosures.
Early intervention in post‐traumatic stress disorder without exposure to trauma memories using internet‐delivered cognitive therapy: A pilot case series
Authors: Thew Graham R. , Wild Jennifer , Ehlers Anke
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Trauma‐focussed psychological interventions are the treatments of choice for post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As many clinical services receive high demand for PTSD interventions, strategies to improve treatment efficiency are needed. Some people seek help in the early phase post‐trauma, including as soon as the first few months. It is unclear whether all components of trauma‐focussed CBT are needed in this initial stage. Providing brief intervention in this early phase without work on trauma memories may be feasible and effective. This service evaluation study describes a case series of five participants experiencing PTSD following recent traumas.

Methods

Participants completed a shortened 6‐week form of Internet‐delivered Cognitive Therapy for PTSD (iCT‐PTSD), which used fewer treatment modules and focussed primarily on psychoeducation about PTSD, and two key treatment components, ‘reclaiming your life’ and trigger discrimination. Unlike the full course of iCT‐PTSD, this format did not include working directly with trauma memories.

Results

The intervention was associated with large reductions in symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety at the 6‐week timepoint, which were maintained at 3‐month follow‐up. Scores on the composite PTSD measure showed an average reduction of 91% between baseline and end of follow‐up. One client required an extension to the weekly phase of treatment and received further treatment modules. All were discharged after follow‐up and did not require further treatment.

Conclusions

The findings provide preliminary evidence that this briefer format of iCT‐PTSD was of benefit for those seeking support following recent traumas. Further examination in a larger controlled study is required.
Empowerment evaluation: Key methodology aspects from participatory research and intervention with Roma girls
Authors: Francés‐García Francisco , La Parra‐Casado Daniel , Sanchís‐Ramón María José , Camacho María Félix Rodríguez , Gil‐González Diana
Published: March 2023

Empowerment evaluation (EE) is an especially useful tool that enables people to be involved in both individual and group transformation processes, in particular in contexts characterized by social inequality. By using a participatory approach, this methodological article analyses an Empowerment Evaluation experience within the European RoMoMatteR project. This project, which focuses on the notion of reproductive justice, has involved a group of Roma girls from Alicante (Spain), in a context characterized by discrimination based on ethnicity, gender and age, as well as by structural determinants such as social exclusion. The main research objective has been to analyse the relevance of the methodology designed to assess how project participants have developed a sense of autonomy and the acquisition of socio‐cultural resources as assets for their future life choices. Therefore, the study design has followed the model proposed by Fetterman for Empowerment Evaluation: establishing a mission to be assessed, participatory diagnosis of the current status and finally planning for the future to start the desired change. Fetterman's model was adapted by designing and organizing participatory workshops with the girls involved in the project. The results confirm the relevance of the methodological proposal of the workshops to engage aspects of empowerment. The findings also allow to detect the empowerment of the Roma girls especially in two areas of the project: reaching the proposed objectives and the methodology used to register significant information. In the first case, the results show that Roma girls' establish a critical perspective on the idea of reproductive justice, and related to this, the activation of proactive behaviours linked to the acquisition of socio‐cultural resources in the development of visions of their personal futures. In the second case, the Roma girls have also shown empowerment in decision‐making on technical aspects, methodological design and taking action aimed at the collective construction of useful information in the project.
Effects of memantine on mania‐like phenotypes exhibited by Drosophila Shaker mutants
Authors: Mocci Ignazia , Casu Maria Antonietta , Sogos Valeria , Liscia Anna , Angius Rossella , Cadeddu Francesca , Fanti Maura , Muroni Patrizia , Talani Giuseppe , Diana Andrea , Collu Maria , Setzu Maria Dolores
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Increased glutamate levels and electrolytic fluctuations have been observed in acutely manic patients. Despite some efficacy of the non‐competitive NMDA receptor antagonist memantine (Mem), such as antidepressant‐like and mood‐stabilizer drugs in clinical studies, its specific mechanisms of action are still uncertain. The present study aims to better characterize the Drosophila melanogaster fly Shaker mutants (SH), as a translational model of manic episodes within bipolar disorder in humans, and to investigate the potential anti‐manic properties of Mem.

Methods and Results

Our findings showed typical behavioral abnormalities in SH, which mirrored with the overexpression of NMDAR‐NR1 protein subunit, matched well to glutamate up‐regulation. Such molecular features were associated to a significant reduction of SH brain volume in comparison to Wild Type strain flies (WT). Here we report on the ability of Mem treatment to ameliorate behavioral aberrations of SH (similar to that of Lithium), and its ability to reduce NMDAR‐NR1 over‐expression.

Conclusions

Our results show the involvement of the glutamatergic system in the SH, given the interaction between the Shaker channel and the NMDA receptor, suggesting this model as a promising tool for studying the neurobiology of bipolar disorders. Moreover, our results show Mem as a potential disease‐modifying therapy, providing insight on new mechanisms of action.
Dynamic changes in the central autonomic network of patients with anorexia nervosa
Authors: de la Cruz Feliberto , Schumann Andy , Suttkus Stefanie , Helbing Nadin , Bär Karl‐Jürgen
Published: March 2023

Autonomic cardiac dysfunction is a common complication in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Despite its high prevalence, physicians often overlook this clinical condition, and little research has been dedicated so far. To probe the functional role of the neurocircuitry underpinning the poorly understood autonomic cardiac dysfunction, we examined dynamic functional differences in the central autonomic network (CAN) between 21 acute AN individuals and 24 age, sex and heart rate‐matched healthy controls (HC). We assessed functional connectivity (FC) changes in CAN using seeds in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, left and right anterior insular cortex, left and right amygdala and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. The overall FC between the six investigated seeds is reduced in AN individuals compared to HC, although no changes were observed for single connections. Moreover, AN exhibited higher complexity in the FC time series of such CAN regions. Contrary to HC, we found that the degree of complexity between FC and heart rate (HR) series did not correlate in AN, suggesting a shift from central to peripheral control of the heart in AN individuals. Using dynamic FC analysis, we showed that the CAN transits across five functional states with no preference for any. Strikingly, at the state of weakest connectivity, the entropy significantly diverges between healthy and AN individuals, reaching its minimum and maximum values, respectively. Overall, our findings provide evidence that core regions of the CAN engaged in cardiac regulation are functionally affected in acute AN.
Age invariant face recognition using discriminative tensor subspace learning with fuzzy based classification
Authors: Mittal Sonia , Patel Mukesh
Published: March 2023

Aging is a complex process that affects both the shape and texture of a face. In the aging domain, various methods have been proposed for age estimation or simulation of the face based on an image at a given age. Face recognition methods that are designed for automatic face recognition are still a challenging issue. We present a novel age invariant face recognition method using tensor subspace learning with fuzzy synthetic classification. Local Binary Pattern (LBP) processed face images are used to learn the tensor sub‐space, which converts high dimensional feature space to age‐invariants while retaining key elements of the local geometrical structure of the face. Tensor sub‐space is better in terms of sub‐space learning and feature extraction than Principal Component Analysis (PCA)/Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) that been used in many techniques in the literature. Tensor Normalized Face images are generated which exhibit maximum inter‐class distances and minimum intra‐class distances. Further local patches are used for synthesizing global Fuzzy membership scores to classify the test face images. Experiments performed on standard face‐aging datasets, namely FG‐NET, AGEDB, and MORPH‐Album‐II, and received accuracy of 99.15%, 99.20%, and 99.8%, respectively. Experimental results outperform the current state‐of‐the‐art techniques, and results show the promise of the proposed system for personal identification despite the aging process. It also proved that the local descriptor gives better performance over the global descriptor like PCA for the aging process. The method also demonstrated improved performance as compared with compute‐intensive methods that required training on deep networks.
Species‐specific acclimatization capacity of key traits explains global vertical distribution of seagrass species
Authors: Minguito‐Frutos Mario , Boada Jordi , Pagès Jordi F. , Marco‐Méndez Candela , Arthur Rohan , Adams Matthew P. , Alcoverro Teresa
Published: March 2023

Aim

The global vertical depth distribution of seagrass species remains poorly understood. Locally, the abundance and distribution of seagrasses is determined by light penetration, but at global levels each seagrass species has very distinct maximum distributional depth ranges, indicating that plant‐associated traits must also influence their specific depth ranges. Seagrass‐specific attributes, such as plant size or architecture, growth or reproductive strategy and their physiological and/or morphological acclimatization potential, have been suggested to be responsible for this variety of vertical distributions. We investigate here whether these species‐specific traits drive differences in the global maximum vertical distribution of seagrasses.

Location

Global.

Time period

Publications between 1982 and 2020.

Major taxa studied

Seagrasses (order Alismatales).

Methods

We tested whether the species‐specific maximum vertical distribution of seagrasses can be predicted by (1) their rhizome diameter (a proxy for plant size); (2) their functional resilience (growth/reproductive strategy); or (3) their acclimatization capacity. For the last aspect, we used a systematic review followed by meta‐analytical approaches to select key seagrass traits that could potentially acclimatize to extreme light ranges across different seagrasses.

Results

We found that vertical distribution is best explained by the species‐specific acclimatization capacity of various seagrass traits, including saturation irradiance (physiological trait), leaves per shoot (morphological trait) and above‐ground biomass (structural trait). In contrast, our results indicate no predictive power of seagrass size or growth/reproductive strategy on the vertical distribution of seagrasses.

Main conclusions

Across the globe, the ability of seagrass species to thrive at a wide range of depths is strongly linked to the species‐specific acclimatization capacity of key traits at different organizational levels.
Larger diurnal temperature range undermined later autumn leaf senescence with warming in Europe
Authors: Wang Jian , Liu Desheng
Published: March 2023

Aim

Climate change regulates autumn leaf senescence date (LSD), exhibiting a strong phenological control of plant carbon uptake. Unlike the delaying effect of daily mean temperature (Tmean) on LSD, the impact of warming asymmetry in daytime and nighttime, as evidenced by variations of the diurnal temperature range (DTR), remains elusive. The objectives of this study were to investigate physiological and ecological impacts of DTR on LSD using long‐term in situ observations and to predict the future trends of LSD under warming.

Location

Europe.

Time period

1950–2015.

Major taxa studied

Plant phenology.

Methods

We used partial correlation analysis, multiple linear regression and ridge regression to explore the impacts of DTR on LSD. To quantify the importance of potential drivers of LSD, we trained random forest models and applied the SHapley Additive exPlanations method to isolate the marginal contributions of each predictor on LSD. For LSD modelling and projection, we first evaluated two temperature‐driven LSD models [i.e., cooling‐degree‐day (CDD, without DTR effect) and day–night‐temperature CDD (DNCDD, with DTR effect)], then applied them to predict future LSDs.

Results

We found that observational increases in Tmean and DTR had contrasting effects on LSD. Increased Tmean delayed the LSD, whereas larger DTR overall had an advancing effect. Considering the DTR effect, the Tmean sensitivity of LSD was 14% lower than presently estimated (2.4 vs. 2.8 days °C−1). Warming asymmetry‐related drought stress and plant functional traits (i.e., plant isohydricity and water‐use efficiency) potentially explained the advancing effect of DTR on LSD. We found that current projections of future LSD are overestimated because the DTR effect is discounted, suggesting the need for an adequate understanding of how plant phenology responds to warming asymmetry.

Main conclusions

Our findings highlight the importance of DTR in controlling LSD variations with an advancing‐dominant effect and call for the improvement of phenology modelling incorporating the DTR effect. Given that DTR showed a globally narrowing trend over the last several decades, more efforts are needed to understand the potential ecological impacts of warming asymmetry and vegetation response to climate change.
Staff perceptions of the effectiveness of managerial communication during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Doleman Gemma , Coventry Linda , Towell‐Barnard Amanda , Ghosh Manonita , Gent Lucy , Saunders Rosemary , O'Connell Beverly
Published: March 2023

Aims

This work aims to explore staff perceptions of (1) the effectiveness of organizational communication during the COVID‐19 pandemic and (2) the impact of organizational communication on staff well‐being and ability to progress their work and patient care.

Background

Effective coordination and communication are essential in a pandemic management response. However, the effectiveness of communication strategies used during the COVID‐19 pandemic is not well understood.

Design

An exploratory cross‐sectional research design was used. A 33‐item survey tool was created for the study.

Methods

The study was conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital in Western Australia. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants from nursing, medical, allied health services, administrative and clerical, and personal support services (N = 325). Data were collected between December 2020 and May 2021.

Results

Overall, all occupational groups found working during the COVID‐19 pandemic stressful, and all groups wanted accessible and accurate communication from management and new policies, procedures, and protocols for future outbreaks.

Conclusions

The use of occupational group‐relevant strategies and COVID‐19 protocols, as well as the on‐going use of email, face‐to‐face meetings with debrief sessions, are needed to improve communication and support staff to fulfil their roles.
Fitting Moral Admiration: Achievements and Character
Authors: Fruh Kyle
Published: March 2023

I develop three arguments in support of my contention that we should favor achievements over agents as objects of fitting moral admiration. The first argument impugns the epistemic standing with which characterological admiration is standardly issued. The second argument alleges that there is likely to be a difference between widely held folk concepts of character and traits, on the one hand, and an empirically supported view of the reality of those things, on the other. The final argument concerns one way in which characterological admiration renders some aspects of our practices of admiring subject to undesirable revision. In each case I use an analogy to athletic admiration to show how achievement admiration avoids the problems of characterological admiration. I then suggest an alternative role for characterological considerations in fitting admiration, as a loose constraint on what is appropriate to admire rather than as an object of admiration. The upshot of the article is theoretical, inasmuch as it develops a tension between the conditions governing fitting admiration and an empirically informed view of character. But there is also practical upshot, especially in the context of public practices of admiring, as when we build statues of heroes or name buildings after them.
Affected family members social support experiences when assisting an individual with substance use disorder
Authors: Kane Eileen Marie , Snethen Julia A. , Gwon Seok Hyun , Oh Hyun‐Kyoung
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Social support is a factor in the health and well‐being of all populations (WHO, 2018). Having a loved one with substance use disorder (SUD) negatively affects family members. Affected Family Members (AFM) providing support for individual with substance use disorder (ISUD) are at risk of losing their social support network. Losing social support negatively influences AFMs health and well‐being.

Design

As part of a larger mixed methods study, the researchers used qualitative inquiry to explore the experiences and perceptions of social support of the AFM of an ISUD.

Methods

The thematic framework of social support was applied to this qualitative study to identify the conceptual determinants of the perceptions and experiences of the AFM and the development of emergent themes. Participants completed an anonymous electronic survey that included Open‐ended questions. A total of 101 participants completed the open‐ended questions with 1088 narrative responses received. The utilization of an audit trail, reflexive journal, and in‐depth thematic analysis conducted by the researchers has ensured the rigor of the study.

Results

Three themes emerged from the AFMs perspective: (1) We are all alone, and we have to fend for ourselves, (2) No one understands what we are going through and (3) People cannot relate and recoil from us.

Conclusion

Identification of the specific needs of the AFM was crucial, and the first step in designing programs in future research to provide social support for ensuring the health and well‐being of the AFM.

Clinical Relevance

Nurses need to provide family‐centred care to ISUD, including their AFMs, in order for the ISUD to continue to receive support to facilitate their recovery. This research highlights ways in which the nurse caring for the ISUD can provide supportive interventions for the AFMs.
Trajectory of maternal depression and parasomnias
Authors: Guttier Marília C. , Halal Camila S. , Matijasevich Alicia , Del‐Ponte Bianca , Tovo‐Rodrigues Luciana , Barros Fernando , Bassani Diego G. , Santos Iná S.
Published: March 2023

Maternal depressive symptoms are associated with poorer sleep quality in their children. Although parasomnias can occur at any age, this group of sleep disorders is more common in children. The aim of this study was to assess whether maternal depression trajectories predict parasomnias at the age of 11 years. Data were from a Birth Cohort of 4231 individuals followed in the city of Pelotas, Brazil. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 12, 24, and 48 months, and 6 and 11 years postpartum. Maternal depression trajectories were calculated using a group‐based modelling approach. Information on any parasomnias (confused arousals, sleepwalking, night terrors, and nightmares) was provided by the mother. Five trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms were identified: chronic‐low (34.9%), chronic‐moderate (41.4%), increasing (10.3%), decreasing (8.9%), and chronic‐high (4.4%). The prevalence of any parasomnia at the age of 11 years was 16.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.6%–18.1%). Confusional arousal was the most prevalent type of parasomnia (14.5%) and varied from 8.7% to 14.7%, 22.9%, 20.3%, and 27.5% among children of mothers at chronic‐low, moderate‐low, increasing, decreasing, and chronic‐high trajectories, respectively (p < 0.001). Compared to children from mothers in the chronic‐low trajectory, the adjusted prevalence ratio for any parasomnia was 1.58 (95% CI 1.29–1.94), 2.34 (95% CI 1.83–2.98), 2.15 (95% CI 1.65–2.81), and 3.07 (95% CI 2.31–4.07) among those from mothers in the moderate‐low, increasing, decreasing, and chronic‐high trajectory groups, respectively (p < 0.001). In conclusion, parasomnias were more prevalent among children of mothers with chronic symptoms of depression.
Essential Factors in the Stabilization of US Military Base Politics in Okinawa: An Application of Q Methodology*
Authors: Hiyane Ryota , Piao Long
Published: March 2023

As US‐China competition intensifies in East Asia, the USA and Japan are strengthening military bases and training in and around Okinawa. As a result, the Okinawan people worry that Okinawa might again become a battlefield as in World War II. Opposition to military bases is increasing, as is discussion of the dispute over US military bases in host countries. Earlier research suggests that the stability of base politics in Okinawa was achieved because of Japanese compensation politics and Okinawa's unique history and environment. However, some factors and methodological aspects of the issue have been neglected, which this study explores. This study applies the Q methodology in an examination of the survey we conducted with scholars studying the US military base in Okinawa and local government officials to identify the multiple essential factors of stabilizing US base politics in Okinawa: real politics for financial compensation, historical traces and real difficulties, Tokyo's strategic games with multilevel local governments, and Asia‐Pacific security and Okinawa's responsibility. Our findings offer new theoretical insights into the studies on base politics.
Dr. Loretta C. Ford: A pioneer in healthcare
Authors: Peters Cathy J.
Published: March 2023

Dr Loretta C. Ford is a true pioneer. Her work in public health launched the nurse practitioner movement. Together with Dr Henry Silver in 1965, Dr Ford co‐founded the first expanded or advanced role to educate nurses to: assess, diagnose and treat common pediatric problems in primary care. Since then, there has been an increase in the number of specialty programs and an acknowledged global need for advanced practice nurses. She transformed our understanding of health and illness, the education of nurses, and the practice of humane patient care.
Comparison of Low‐Density Lipoprotein Oxidation by Hydrophilic O(3P)‐Precursors and Lipid‐O(3P)‐Precursor Conjugates
Authors: Maness Peter F. , Cone Grant W. , Ford David A. , McCulla Ryan D.
Published: March 2023

Lipid oxidation by reactive oxygen species (ROS) provide several different oxidation products that have been implicated in inflammatory responses. Ground state atomic oxygen [O(3P)] is produced by the photodeoxygenation of certain heterocyclic oxides and has a reactivity that is unique from other ROS. Due to the reactive nature of O(3P), the site of O(3P)‐generation is expected to influence the products in heterogenous solutions or environments. In this work, the oxidation of low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) by lipids with covalently bound O(3P)‐photoprecursors was compared to more hydrophilic O(3P)‐photoprecursors. Lipid oxidation products were quantified after Bligh‐Dyer extraction and pentafluorobenzyl bromide (PFB) derivatization by GC–MS. Unlike the more hydrophilic O(3P)‐photoprecursors, the oxidation of LDL during the irradiation of lipid‐(O3P)‐photoprecursor conjugates showed little quenching by the addition of the O(3P)‐scavenging sodium allyl sulfonate. This indicated that lipophilic O(3P)‐photoprecursors are expected to generate lipid oxidation products where other more hydrophilic O(3P)‐photoprecursors could be quenched by other reactive groups present in solution or the environment.
Securing containerized supply chain through public and private partnership
Authors: Nikoofal Mohammad Ebrahim , Pourakbar Morteza , Gumus Mehmet
Published: March 2023

Global trade is seafaring commerce; 90% of traded goods are carried by maritime transport, which has become vulnerable to security risks. This has led governments to initiate security programs serving tens of thousands of members worldwide. This paper studies the government's incentive design and the interaction between Customs inspection capacity and the incentives offered in security programs. Using the theory of incentives, we investigate the value of a partnership in improving the security of containerized supply chain. We developed a sequential game featuring the government, firms, and an adversary. The government selects the inspection capacity and incentives to foster the partnership, namely, an operational benefit in the form of a reduced inspection rate, and a security benefit obtained through reductions in the risks of adversarial infiltration. Firms subsequently decide on a collaboration level, followed by a strategic adversary's decision to infiltrate. Using the adversary's best response, we show that, in equilibrium, the government ranks all the firms and induces collaboration with only a subset of them. We demonstrate that, in equilibrium, while security incentives may benefit all participants, tailored operational incentives should be offered strictly to foster collaboration. The required condition to implement the inspection‐free lane for members is also characterized. Our results also inform practice to help security policymakers understand the underlying interaction between Customs inspection capacity and incentive design in forging collaboration with private firms. In particular, as firms opting for collaboration experience lower inspection rates, this further reduces overall congestion, which, in turn, creates a positive externality for nonmember firms. Therefore, having an excess inspection capacity may result in shorter wait times that could dissuade firms from collaborating.
Fire reduces Russian olive seed germination and seedling survival with increasing fuel load
Authors: Muscha Jennifer M. , Vermeire Lance T. , Angerer Jay P.
Published: March 2023

Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive) is an invasive tree common within riparian areas in the western United States. Control methods can be expensive and regular monitoring is necessary to control stump and root sprouts, and newly established seedlings. Studies have assessed scarification and cold treatment effects on germination and establishment of Russian olive seeds. However, fire effects on seeds and newly emerged seedlings have not been documented. Russian olive seeds were subjected to fire at three fuel loads (1,500, 3,000, and 4,500 kg/ha) and a non‐burned control. With no fire, 40% of seeds germinated and fire at any of the three fuel loads reduced germination. Germination was reduced to one‐fifth of the non‐burned level with fire at the 1,500 kg/ha fuel load and did not differ from 0% at the 4,500 kg/ha−1 fuel load. The probability of at least one seed germinating from 50‐seed lots decreased as all measures of temperature and time–temperature increased. Fire killed all but one of the 250 seedlings tested, indicating Russian olive seedlings at 10 weeks old or younger were highly susceptible to fire‐induced mortality. However, some seedlings did not die immediately following fire and produced new axillary buds. Although all but one seedling died, bud production after fire was interpreted as an indicator of potential resistance to fire. Our results indicate that fire does not enhance Russian olive seed germination and is deleterious to seed viability. Fire could potentially kill most Russian olive seedlings that are less than 1 year old.
Medical emergencies and farm productivity in Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Picone Gabriel , Kimou Assi José Carlos , Kanga Désiré
Published: March 2023

The lack of health insurance for smallholder farmers in most sub‐Saharan African countries hurts the families and can also negatively affect agriculture production, exports, and tax revenues. This paper analyzes the linkage between medical emergencies and agriculture exports and the corresponding tax revenues for smallholder farmers in Côte d'Ivoire. It uses two complementary datasets: the 2016 Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) smallholder survey and the 2015 Côte d'Ivoire living standard survey. The paper finds that a medical emergency is negatively and significantly associated with a decrease in the likelihood that a smallholder farmer cultivates cocoa of 3.9 percentage points, driving them into poverty and reducing productivity at the lower quantiles. The paper then estimates that medical emergencies can be correlated with the decline in cocoa exports of $853 million and in tax revenues of $125 million, representing 0.2% of the Ivorian gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017.
Negative association between non‐suicidal self‐injury in adolescents and default mode network activation during the distraction blocks of a rumination task
Authors: Westlund Schreiner Mindy , Roberts Henrietta , Dillahunt Alina K. , Farstead Brian , Feldman Daniel , Thomas Leah , Jacobs Rachel H. , Bessette Katie L. , Welsh Robert C. , Watkins Edward R. , Langenecker Scott A. , Crowell Sheila E.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Rumination, or repetitive and habitual negative thinking, is associated with psychopathology and related behaviors in adolescents, including non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI). Despite the link between self‐reported rumination and NSSI, there is limited understanding of how rumination is represented at the neurobiological level among youth with NSSI.

Method

We collected neuroimaging and rumination data from 39 adolescents with current or past NSSI and remitted major depression. Participants completed a rumination induction fMRI task, consisting of both rumination and distraction blocks. We examined brain activation associated with total lifetime NSSI in the context of the rumination versus distraction contrast.

Results

Lifetime NSSI was associated with a greater discrepancy in activation during rumination relative to distraction conditions in clusters including the precuneus, posterior cingulate, superior, and middle frontal gyrus, and cerebellum.

Conclusion

Difficulties associated with rumination in adolescents with NSSI may be related to requiring greater cognitive effort to distract from ruminative content in addition to increased attention in the context of ruminative content. Increasing knowledge of neurobiological circuits and nodes associated with rumination and their relationship with NSSI may enable us to better tailor interventions that can facilitate lasting well‐being and neurobiological change.
Experimental Study of Turbulence Response in a Slowly Accelerating Turbulent Channel Flow
Authors: Oluwadare Benjamin Segun , He Shuisheng
Published: March 2023

An investigation of flow acceleration from initial statistically steady turbulent flow to final statistically steady turbulent flow is conducted experimentally using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and constant temperature anemometry (CTA). The turbulence response is investigated as the acceleration periods and acceleration rates are varied in a controlled fashion. This work expands the research by Mathur et al. (2018, “Temporal Acceleration of a Turbulent Channel Flow,” J. Fluid Mech., 835, pp. 471–490.) studying slower and longer transient flows. It also complements the numerical studies of a step increase in the flowrate of (He and Seddighi, 2013, “Turbulence in Transient Channel Flow,” J. Fluid Mech., 715, pp. 60–102. and He and Seddighi, 2015, “Transition of Transient Channel Flow After a Change in Reynolds Number,” J. Fluid Mech., 764, pp. 395–427.). The results obtained from the current investigations are qualitatively similar to those obtained previously. Consistent with previous studies, the response of turbulence in the current slow transient flow is again characterized by a laminar-turbulent transition. The initial increase of the flow development among the cases investigated can be categorized as faster, medium, and slower responses. Modifications are made to the equivalent Reynolds number and the initial turbulence intensity proposed earlier in order to account for the slow accelerating flow rates and the continuous change of the bulk velocities of the cases investigated. It has been shown that the critical equivalent Reynolds number based on these modifications and the initial turbulence intensity are well correlated for all cases investigated and a power-law relation is established.
Thermodynamic Evaluation of Electro-Osmotic Peristaltic Pumping for Shear-Thinning Fluid Flow
Authors: Noreen S. , Zahra M.
Published: March 2023

The design and operation of lab-on-a-chip systems that are based on electrical circuits require fluids that are propelled by thermo-electrokinetic forces. On-chip operations including the generation of heat along microchannels and the control of liquid flow are all relevant in the traditional sense. The influence of heat on pseudoplastic fluid flow is demonstrated in this work using electro-osmotic (EOF) peristaltic pumping. The fundamental heat-transport equations that govern microchannel applications are developed from theoretical considerations. Explicit equations are presented for pressure gradient, stream functions, heat transfer coefficient, and temperature distribution when long wavelength and low Reynolds numbers are taken into account. Analytical solutions employ a regular perturbation approach. Then, mathematica software is used to solve the resulting equation. Physical quantities are analyzed using a variety of parameters. The results are visibly presented for each parameter at the end.
Genome Sequence of Mycobacteriophage Bassalto
Authors: Barekzi Nazir , Wilkins Meagan N. , Williams Aumon L. , Moore Afiya J. , Duckett Zachary R. , Tindall Danielle M. , Eaddy Donnetta R. , Johnson Mary B. , Bass Malcolm , Mageeney Catherine M.
Published: March 2023

Bassalto is a newly isolated phage of
Mycobacterium smegmatis
mc
2
155 from the campus grounds of Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA. Bassalto belongs to the cluster B and subcluster B3 mycobacteriophages, based on the nucleotide composition and comparison to known mycobacteriophages.
More is Different: Metabolic Modeling of Diverse Microbial Communities
Authors: Diener Christian , Gibbons Sean M.
Published: March 2023

Microbial consortia drive essential processes, ranging from nitrogen fixation in soils to providing metabolic breakdown products to animal hosts. However, it is challenging to translate the composition of microbial consortia into their emergent functional capacities.
Comparison of Reverse Transcription (RT)-Quantitative PCR and RT-Droplet Digital PCR for Detection of Genomic and Subgenomic SARS-CoV-2 RNA
Authors: Morón-López Sara , Riveira-Muñoz Eva , Urrea Victor , Gutiérrez-Chamorro Lucia , Ávila-Nieto Carlos , Noguera-Julian Marc , Carrillo Jorge , Mitjà Oriol , Mateu Lourdes , Massanella Marta , Ballana Ester , Martinez-Picado Javier
Published: March 2023

We developed one-step reverse transcription (RT)-droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) protocols to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA and compared them to the gold-standard RT-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) method. RT-ddPCR was more sensitive than RT-qPCR in the low-viral-load range, while both techniques were equivalent in the mid- and high-viral-load ranges.
Health-seeking behaviour of Ethiopian caregivers when infants are unwell: a descriptive qualitative study
Authors: Kiross Girmay , Chojenta Catherine , Barker Daniel , Loxton Deborah
Published: March 2023

Objectives

To explore the health-seeking behaviour of Ethiopian caregivers when infants are unwell.

Design

A qualitative descriptive approach was employed using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Data were collected using semistructured interview guides.

Setting

The study was conducted in East Gojjam zone, Amhara region, northwest Ethiopia.

Participants

Participants were selected using a maximum variation purposive sampling technique across the different study groups: caregivers, community members and healthcare providers. A total of 35 respondents, 27 individuals in the focus group discussions and 8 individuals in the in-depth interviews participated in the study.

Method

In this study, a qualitative descriptive approach was employed to explore the health-seeking behaviour of caregivers. The data were collected from July to September 2019 and conventional content analysis was applied.

Results

The decision to take a sick child to healthcare facilities is part of a complex care-seeking process that involves many people. Some of the critical steps in the process are caregivers recognising that the child is ill, recognising the severity of the illness and deciding to take the child to a health institution based on the recognised symptoms and illness. In Ethiopia, a significant proportion of caregivers do not seek healthcare for childhood illness, and most caregivers do not know where and when to seek care for their child. This study points out that the health-seeking behaviour of caregivers can be influenced by different contextual factors such as caregivers’ disease understanding, access to health services and family pressures to seek care.

Conclusions

Healthcare-seeking practice plays an important role in reducing the impact of childhood illnesses and mortality. In Ethiopia, home-based treatment practice and traditional healing methods are widely accepted. Therefore, contextual understanding of the caregivers’ health-seeking is important to design contextual healthcare interventions in the study area.
Trends in healthcare utilisation of patients with migraine in South Korea: a retrospective observational study using Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service National Patient Sample data from 2010 to 2018
Authors: Lee Sookyung , Yeo Jiyoon , Lee Sook-Hyun , Lee Yoon Jae , Lee Sangkwan , Ha In-Hyuk
Published: March 2023

Objective

This study used 2010–2018 Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service National Patient Sample data to analyse the distribution and healthcare utilisation of patients with migraine in South Korea.

Design

Retrospective, observational study using serial cross-sectional data.

Participants

Patients with primary diagnosis of G43, a Korean Standard Classification of Diseases-10 code for migraine, were included in the analysis. The exclusion criteria were missing code information; code for dental, health centre or psychiatry; institution type specified as nursing hospital, psychiatric hospital, dental hospital, midwifery centre or health centre; blank entries for total cost or days of care. 453 246 records of patients and 117 157 patients corresponding to those records were identified.

Outcome measures

Primary outcome measures were medical service utilisation status, treatment methods and drug use status associated with migraine.

Results

Cases and patients of migraine increased from 48 846 and 19 468 (2010) to 52 729 and 20 802 (2018), respectively, increases of 7.95% and 6.85%, respectively, compared with 2010. Total cost of care increased from $921 857.88 (2010) to $1 711 219.60 (2018). The most common age range of patients was 45–54 years, with 2.69 times more female than male patients. In Western medicine hospitals, subcutaneous or intramuscular injection therapy was used frequently, while in Korean medicine hospitals, acupuncture therapy was used. Among Western medicine outpatients, more than 50% of the therapeutics prescribed for acute migraine were simple analgesics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The number of prescriptions for the prevention of episodic migraine increased from 13 600 cases (2010) to 20 546 cases (2018), representing the steepest increase in drug utilisation.

Conclusions

Treatments frequently used in Western and Korean medicine hospitals and their frequency of use and costs were identified. The findings of this study can be used as a basis for relevant health policy decisions.
Recording type 2 diabetes mellitus in a standardised central Saudi database: a retrospective validation study
Authors: Althunian Turki Abdulaziz , Alrasheed Meshael M , Alnofal Fatemah A , Tafish Rawan T , Mira Mahmood A , Alroba Raseel A , Kirdas Mohammed W , Alshammari Thamir M
Published: March 2023

Objectives

This study was conducted to assess the validity of recording (and the original diagnostic practice) of type 2 diabetes mellitus at a hospital whose records were integrated to a centralised database (the standardised common data model (CDM) of the Saudi National Pharmacoepidemiologic Database (NPED)).

Design

A retrospective single-centre validation study.

Settings

Data of the study participants were extracted from the CDM of the NPED (only records of one tertiary care hospital were integrated at the time of the study) between 1 January 2013 and 1 July 2018.

Participants

A random sample of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (≥18 years old and with a code of type 2 diabetes mellitus) matched with a control group (patients without diabetes) based on age and sex.

Outcome measures

The standardised coding of type 2 diabetes in the CDM was validated by comparing the presence of diabetes in the CDM versus the original electronic records at the hospital, the recording in paper-based medical records, and the physician re-assessment of diabetes in the included cases and controls, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were estimated for each pairwise comparison using RStudio V.1.4.1103.

Results

A total of 437 random sample of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was identified and matched with 437 controls. Only 190 of 437 (43.0%) had paper-based medical records. All estimates were above 90% except for sensitivity and specificity of CDM versus paper-based records (54%; 95% CI 47% to 61% and 68%; 95% CI 62% to 73%, respectively).

Conclusions

This study provided an assessment to the extent of which only type 2 diabetes mellitus code can be used to identify patients with this disease at a Saudi centralised database. A future multi-centre study would help adding more emphasis to the study findings.
Clinical–functional characteristics and risk of exacerbation and mortality among more symptomatic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Song Qing , Lin Ling , Cheng Wei , Li Xue-Shan , Zeng Yu-Qin , Liu Cong , Deng Min-Hua , Liu Dan , Yu Zhi-Ping , Li Xin , Ma Li-Bing , Chen Yan , Cai Shan , Chen Ping
Published: March 2023

Objectives

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2017 classified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients into more and less symptomatic groups. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics, risk of future exacerbation and mortality among patients in more symptomatic group.

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Data were obtained from patients enrolled in a database setup by Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University.

Participants

1729 stable COPD patients listed from September 2017 to December 2019 in the database. The patients were classified into more and less symptomatic groups based on GOLD 2017 report.

Outcomes

All patients were followed up for 18 months. We collected baseline data and recorded the number of exacerbations and mortality during follow-up.

Results

The more symptomatic patients were older, had higher Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) scores, more severe airflow limitation and higher number of exacerbations and hospitalizations in the past year (P< 0.05). Logistic regression showed that having more symptoms correlated with the CCQ scores and exacerbations in the past year (P< 0.05). After patients were followed up, there were higher numbers of exacerbations, hospitalizations and mortality rates in more symptomatic patients (P< 0.05). The multivariate model showed that age more than 65 years (OR = 2.047, 95% CI = 1.020-4.107) and COPD assessment test scores more than 30 (OR = 2.609, 95% CI = 1.339-5.085) were independent risk factors for mortality, whereas current smoker (OR = 1.565, 95% CI = 1.052-2.328), modified Medical Research Council scores (OR = 1.274, 95% CI = 1.073-1.512) and exacerbations in the past year (OR = 1.061, 95% CI = 1.013-1.112) were independent risk factors for exacerbation in more symptomatic patients (P< 0.05).

Conclusions

More symptomatic COPD patients have worse outcomes. In addition, several independent risk factors for exacerbation and mortality were identified. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of these risk factors and take them into account during interventions.