bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consumer coping with Covid-19: an exploratory study of clothing consumption shifts and the effect of consumer resilience
Authors: Liu Chuanlan , Xia Sibei , Lang Chunmin
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to discover clothing consumption shifts and explore the effect of consumer resilience in changing clothing consumption patterns or establishing new clothing consumption routines after experiencing disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-phase multi-method approach was employed. The first phase of qualitative inquiry was conducted to identify clothing consumption shifts using a content mining approach on a text data sample of 17,195 tweets posted from 1 January to 30 September 2020. The second phase of the quantitative study was conducted to explore consumer resilience's effect on clothing consumption shifts based on a collected national sample of 418 respondents through an online survey.

Findings

This study identified clothing consumption changes including value shifts, style shifts and spending shifts. It was also found that resilient consumers care about a company's ethical practices and value the quality instead of the number of items in their wardrobe. Consumers spend more time wearing comfortable clothing and are used to the working-from-home lifestyle.

Originality/value

This study explored approaches to making use of social media data for a better understanding of consumers' clothing behaviour. Also, this study attempted to explore and understand clothing consumption practices during and post the Covid-19 global pandemic, focusing on identifying shifts that might last longer for fashion businesses to explore growth opportunities.
Flourishing digital technology in professional services firms: multidisciplinary perspectives in India
Authors: Panda Ansumalini , Pasumarti Srinivas Subbarao , Hiremath Suvarna
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the role of digitalization on the key characteristics of professional service firms (PSFs) that are part of the service sector and inherently oriented with intense knowledge, capital and professionalized workforces.xD; xA.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative, exploratory and inductive research methodology based on in-depth interviews with 49 entrepreneurs/professionals of PSFs focusing on the role of digitalization including capital intensity, knowledge intensity and professionalized workforce.

Findings

The result reflected that digitalization facilitates at lower levels of knowledge intensity, whereas it increases the capital intensity for most of the firms and decreases the professionalization of the workforce among PSFs.

Originality/value

The study provides empirical validations where digitalization has changed the distinctive characteristics of PSFs, which promotes new practices, allows for variation and transforms their competitive contexts. In light of these findings, the authors illuminated the application of digitalization on the Indian law firms, retail, education, healthcare and manufacturing industry.
Contributions of eudaimonic well-being to mental health practice
Authors: Ryff Carol D.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to examine synergies between a eudaimonic model of psychological well-being (Ryff, 1989) and mental health practice. The model grew out of clinical, developmental, existential and humanistic perspectives that emphasized psychological strengths and capacities, in contrast to the focus on emotional distress and dysfunction in clinical psychology.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual foundations of the eudaimonic approach are described, along with the six components positive functioning that are used to measure well-being. These qualities may be important in facilitating the recovery experiences, which are of interest in Mental Health and Social Inclusion.

Findings

Four categories of empirical evidence about eudaimonia are reviewed: how it changes with aging, how it matters for health, what are its biological and neurological underpinnings and whether it can be promoted. Major contemporary forces against eudaimonia are also considered, including ever-widening inequality, the enduring pandemic and world-wide strife. In contrast, encounters with the arts and nature are put forth as forces for eudaimonia. The relevance of these ideas for mental health research and practice is considered.

Practical implications

Enormous suffering defines our contemporary world. Such realities call for greater attention to factors that undermine as well as nurture the realization of human potential, the core of eudaimonic well-being.

Originality/value

Mental health is often defined as the absence of mental illness. The novelty of the eudaimonic approach is to define mental health as the presence of well-being, assessed with different components of positive functioning.
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic: the human-plus-AI evolution and its risks
Authors: Leavy Brian
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This is a thought-leader interview with psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic on his insights into the implications for our humanity of the AI age.

Design/methodology/approach

A thought-leader interview

Findings

The interview highlights six maladaptive human tendencies that are at risk of being amplified in the age of AI and what we can do to mitigate them

Originality/value

The interview examines the latest thinking on the topic.
Sentimental tourism to a lost land: age and roots diversification
Authors: Tomczewska-Popowycz Natalia , Huang Wei-Jue
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the phenomenon of sentimental tourism in Central-Eastern Europe, which is travels to places related to people’s past or their country’s past for sentimental reasons with reference to disruptive historical events (e.g. border changes and lost territories), and identify different segments within sentimental tourists.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted with 400 Polish sentimental tourists to compare their attitudes and behaviour when visiting a “lost” land by age and family roots. Independent samples t-tests and analysis of variance were conducted to compare the views of sentimental tourists by Borderland origin. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify the underlying dimensions of destination performance. Cluster analysis was conducted to classify tourists into segments based on their perception of destination performance.

Findings

This study analysed the attitude and behaviour of sentimental tourists by age and family roots. Some significant differences were revealed in the purpose of trip, interest in heritage attractions and perception of destination performance across different groups. The study also identifies key factors of destination performance: accessibility, sentiment and infrastructure and security. Based on factor and cluster analyses, Polish sentimental tourists were divided into three types of connections: personally attached older sentimental tourists, cognitively attached younger sentimental tourists and tourists with general interests.

Originality/value

Different from roots tourism, sentimental tourism is unique in including tourists without personal roots but feels sentimental towards the destination based on the shared heritage of lost territories. This study shows how sentimental tourists attach to a lost land that used to belong to their country and how different perceptions of the destination have roots and non-roots tourists. Sentimental tourism in Central Europe provides a new perspective to consider the relationship between tourists and heritage places as well as tourist segmentation.
Bridging the gap: Optimising connectivity solutions for an arboreal gliding mammal
Authors: Lee Rachel S. K. , Mendes Calebe P. , Liang Stacey S. Q. , Yang Vera W. X. , Eng Delaney K. L. , Ong Wei Bin , Chua Yen Kheng , Byrnes Greg , Lim Norman T.‐L.
Published: February 2023

Connectivity modelling tools are important for developing mitigation strategies to alleviate negative impacts on animal movement caused by road networks. Arboreal gliding mammals are especially vulnerable to road widening as they are unable to cross gaps beyond their gliding capacity. However, there are limitations of conventional raster‐based modelling techniques when applied on this group.

We developed and applied a new model that quantifies the changes in connectivity for an arboreal gliding species, the Sunda colugo, in Singapore using information on species‐specific glide performance through a vector‐based approach. We also incorporated a genetic algorithm to determine optimal locations for sets of glide poles that could be installed to improve connectivity.

Expectedly, connectivity was heavily impacted by the road widening works, with a 93.3% decrease in the total number of feasible glide paths connecting roadside trees.

Nine glide poles installed during the construction phase of the project were initially uninformed by the connectivity model and they provided 26 additional connections only. Comparatively, the top nine pole locations identified through the genetic algorithm provided 247 additional connections, almost 10 times more than the amount supplied by the initial nine glide pole locations determined through qualitative methods.

The multi‐objective capacity of the genetic algorithm also reduced large connectivity gaps post‐development, with simulated glide poles increasing the percentage of pixels covered with connectivity from 16.1% to 27.7%.

Synthesis and applications. Our model fills a knowledge gap in connectivity modelling for arboreal gliding mammals whose movements are affected by varying habitat alterations. We demonstrated that locations of mitigation structures greatly influence the success of mitigation efforts and the locations can be optimised by incorporating the glide performance of the species into the genetic algorithm. Given limited conservation resources, this approach would benefit managers in formulating cost‐effective efforts for arboreal gliding mammals.
Afforestation and abandonment of semi‐natural grasslands lead to biodiversity loss and a decline in ecosystem services and functions
Authors: Prangel Elisabeth , Kasari‐Toussaint Liis , Neuenkamp Lena , Noreika Norbertas , Karise Reet , Marja Riho , Ingerpuu Nele , Kupper Tiiu , Keerberg Liis , Oja Ede , Meriste Mart , Tiitsaar Anu , Ivask Mari , Helm Aveliina
Published: February 2023

During the past century, semi‐natural grasslands, once widespread throughout Europe, have largely been converted into intensively managed agricultural areas, abandoned or afforested. These large‐scale land‐use changes have already resulted in considerable biodiversity loss but can also lead to decline in ecosystem service provision and ecosystem multifunctionality.

We assessed the impact of afforestation and abandonment of semi‐natural grasslands on the supply of ecosystem services in Western Estonia. We compared a wide array of services provided by open grasslands, abandoned grasslands and afforested grasslands. Additionally, we analysed the impact of land‐use change and species richness on ecosystem multifunctionality.

Significant declines in the supply of pollination services, natural pest regulation, forage production, soil quality, wild food and cultural appreciation of landscape were detected as a result of overgrowing or afforestation.

There was significant positive relationship between species richness and ecosystem multifunctionality, that is, more biodiverse grasslands were able to support more services at higher capacity.

Results show that both grassland degradation due to abandonment, as well as grassland afforestation, have significant negative impacts on biodiversity, on the supply of multiple important ecosystem services and on the ecosystem multifunctionality.

Synthesis and applications. Temperate semi‐natural grasslands have high biodiversity and capacity to deliver multiple important ecosystem services simultaneously. Conservation and restoration of grassland habitats must be considered as an important part of sustainable landscape planning.
A failing anthropology of colonial failure: following a driver's uniform found at Amani research station, Tanzania
Authors: Geissler P. Wenzel
Published: February 2023

The remains of Amani, a century‐old scientific laboratory in Tanzania, are quintessential modern relics. When anthropologists turn to such infrastructures of, originally colonial, knowledge‐making, their own implication with the object of their study – and with its epistemological and political‐economic origins and order – becomes part of the ethnographic pursuit. This entanglement between researcher and research material should challenge familiar realist modes of ethnographic writing ‘about’ such places that elude the anthropologists’ own, compromised position within them. Matters are complicated further when the studied knowledge‐making sites already are broken, having failed their purpose – as in the case of the vestiges of an abandoned colonial institution. In this essay, I wonder how such ruins of knowledge‐making might transform the knowledge made by anthropologists working within them. Instead of just adding ‘reflexive’ confessions to realist accounts, could writing take part in the defeat that the scientific station's remains seem to embody – writing not ‘after/beyond’ but ‘going along with’ failure? Drawing on non‐representational ethnography, and poet‐anthropologist Hubert Fichte's embrace of epistemic defeat as anticolonial method, I trace my engagements with just one fragment of the scientific station – a driver's uniform. In doing so, I experiment with an object ethnography that ‘fails’ to detach author and object, or settle the question of failure, and instead foregrounds performativity, ambiguity, and mirth as starting points for an ethnography of, and in, our modern ruins.
The use of accounting information in the tax base in the Pillar 2 global minimum tax: a discussion of the rules, potential problems, and possible alternatives
Authors: Hanlon Michelle
Published: February 2023

In this paper, I provide a high‐level, non‐technical review of how accounting information is used in Pillar 2 and what this means for the tax base. In addition, I discuss potential problems of using accounting data explicitly in a minimum tax and then, specifically, as the starting point for the computation of the income measures in Pillar 2. I then discuss several alternative solutions that may be simpler – or at least no more complex – and, importantly, pose fewer problems in terms of the quality of financial accounting information and the information available to capital markets.
The EU's COVID‐19 policy response and the restructuring of global value chains
Authors: Curran Louise , Eckhardt Jappe
Published: February 2023

The COVID pandemic highlighted the interdependence which the expansion of global value chains (GVCs) has fostered across the world economy. Perceived fragilities in the supply of key products led to a growing global debate about the wisdom of high levels of reliance on overseas sources, with several commentators suggesting that the pandemic will foster ‘de‐globalisation’. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the economic disruption which accompanied it, have only served to strengthen concerns about interdependence, especially in Europe. In this paper, we draw on analysis of EU policy responses and GVC governance theory to inform the question of whether it is likely that there will be a major reduction in the geographical reach of GVCs due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. We argue that, although changes in certain GVCs are likely to be fostered (and reinforced) by the response to the pandemic, it does not make widespread ‘de‐globalisation’ inevitable. Some GVCs will likely reduce in geographic scope, becoming more regional or national, especially in industries which are considered ‘strategic’. However, pressures to de‐globalise and their practical impacts will vary significantly across countries and industrial sectors, depending not only on public policy responses, but on variations in the governance of GVCs themselves.
Seasonal, weekly and other cyclical patterns in deaths due to drug poisoning in England and Wales
Authors: Lewer Dan , Brothers Thomas D. , Gasparrini Antonio , Strang John
Published: February 2023

Background and aim

The rate of drug poisoning (or overdose) deaths in England and Wales has risen annually since 2010. We aimed to measure seasonal and other cyclical changes in these deaths within years.

Methods

We used the daily count of deaths due to drug poisoning in England and Wales between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2018 to investigate variation by season, weekday, week‐of‐month and public holiday. We used Poisson regression to estimate the count of deaths per day for each of these variables and peak‐to‐low ratios. We also stratified the analysis by time period and whether an opioid was mentioned on the death certificate.

Results

78 583 deaths occurred between 1993 and 2018, increasing from 5.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.24–5.77) per day in 1993 to 13.18 (95% CI = 12.66–13.72) per day in 2018. The rate peaked in Spring and was 1.07 (95% CI = 1.04–1.09) times higher in April than in October. This seasonal pattern emerged in the past decade and was only present for opioid‐related deaths. The rate at New Year was 1.28 (95% CI = 1.17–1.41) times higher than on non‐holidays; and this peak was only present for deaths that were not related to opioids. The rate was higher on Saturday than on other weekdays. We did not find evidence that the number of deaths varied by week‐of‐month.

Conclusions

Deaths due to drug poisoning in England and Wales are seasonal and peak in Spring and briefly at New Year. This suggests a role of external triggers. These seasonal variations are small compared with long‐term increases in drug‐related deaths.
Inbreeding depression and durability in the North American Thoroughbred horse
Authors: Hill Emmeline W. , McGivney Beatrice A. , MacHugh David E.
Published: February 2023

The proportion of the genome containing runs of homozygosity (ROH) affects production traits in livestock populations. In European and Australasian Thoroughbreds inbreeding, quantified using ROH (FROH), is associated with the probability of ever racing. Here, we measured FROH using 333 K SNP genotypes from 768 Thoroughbred horses born in North America to evaluate the effect of inbreeding on racing traits in that region. Among North American horses, FROH was not associated (p = 0.518) with the probability of ever racing but was significantly associated with the number of race starts (p = 0.002). Among raced horses, those with a 10% higher FROH than the mean inbreeding coefficient were predicted to have 3.5 fewer race starts compared to horses with a mean inbreeding coefficient. Considering the trend of increasing inbreeding and a decline in the average number of race starts per runner in North America, mitigating inbreeding in the population could positively influence racing durability.
The effect of exercise training level on arterial stiffness after clinically significant weight loss
Authors: Swift Damon L. , McGee Joshua E. , Grammer Emily E. , Huff Anna C. , Clunan Marie C. , Hursey Nicole , Brown Taylor T. , Osborne Briceida G. , Houmard Joseph A. , Carels Robert A. , Pories Walter J. , Matarese Laura E.
Published: February 2023

Arterial stiffness is improved by weight loss. However, no data exist on the impact of aerobic exercise levels on arterial stiffness during weight maintenance. Adults who were  overweight or with obesity (N = 39) participated in a 10‐week weight loss program. Participants who achieved ≥7% weight loss were randomized to aerobic training at the minimum physical activity guidelines (PA‐REC, 550 MET min/week) or weight maintenance guidelines (WM‐REC, 970 MET min/week) for 18 additional weeks. Arterial stiffness (carotid‐to‐femoral pulse wave velocity [cfPWV], augmentation index normalized for 75 beats/min [AIX75]) and blood pressure [aortic and brachial]) were assessed at baseline, the end of the weight loss phase (week 10), and follow‐up (week 28). There was a reduction in cfPWV in participants who met the weight loss goal (−0.34 m/s, p = .02) and approached significance for the entire sample (p = .051). Similarly, there were reductions in AIX75, brachial blood pressure, and aortic blood pressure (p < .05) in the full sample. In the weight maintenance phase, no differences were observed between the PA‐REC and the WM‐REC groups for change in arterial stiffness or blood pressure (p > .05). However, changes in cfPWV were independently associated with changes in LDL (r2: 0.45, p = .004) and exercise intensity (r2: 0.17, p = .033). Aerobic exercise level at the minimum physical activity guidelines or weight maintenance guidelines does not affect the change in PWV or the change in cfPWV after clinically significant weight loss. However, interventions which limit increases in LDL cholesterol and promote high‐intensity aerobic exercise may prevent increases in stiffness during weight maintenance.
Interaction of buspirone and its major metabolites with human organic cation transporters
Authors: Jinakote Metee , Jutabha Promsuk , Anzai Naohiko , Ontawong Atcharaporn , Soodvilai Sunhapas , Inchai Jakkapong , Vaddhanaphuti Chutima S.
Published: February 2023

Buspirone, a cationic drug, is an anxiolytic and antidepressant drug. However, whether buspirone and its metabolites are interacted with organic cationic transporter remains uncertain. In this study, we examined the interaction of buspirone and its major metabolites 1‐(2‐pyrimidinyl)piperazine (1‐PP) and 6‐hydroxybuspirone (6′‐OH‐Bu) with hOCTs using human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), human colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco‐2) cells, and S2 cells expressing OCT1 (S2hOCT1), 2 (S2hOCT2), or 3 (S2hOCT3). Coadministration of buspirone and fluorescent 4‐(4‐(dimethylamino)styryl)‐N‐methylpyridinium (ASP+) was examined using HepG2 cells, and [3H]‐1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium (MPP+) transport was assessed in S2 cell overexpressing hOCTs. The results showed that ASP+ transport was suppressed by buspirone with an IC50 of 26.3 ± 2.9 μM without any cytotoxic effects in HepG2 expressing hOCTs cells. Consistently, buspirone strongly inhibited [3H]‐MPP+ uptake by S2hOCT1, S2hOCT2, and S2hOCT3 cells with an IC50s of 89.0 ± 1.3 μM, 43.7 ± 7.5 μM, and 20.4 ± 1.0 μM, respectively. Nonetheless, 6′‐OH‐Bu and 1‐PP caused weak or no inhibition on ASP+ and [3H]‐MPP+ transport. These findings suggest the potential interaction of buspirone with organic cation drugs that are handled by hOCT3. However, further clinical relevance is needed to support these findings for preventing drug–drug interaction in patients who take prescribed drugs together with buspirone.
COLLINGWOOD'S WHALE, CHAKRABARTY'S CONUNDRUM, AND BRAUDEL'S BORROWED TIME
Authors: Palmié Stephan
Published: February 2023

As R. G. Collingwood noted toward the end of his life, the physiologically limited “time‐phase” of human observational capacity cannot but deliver a fundamentally anthropocentric and temporally myopic conception of the world as eventful, destructive, and devoid of larger, perhaps cyclical, regularities. Developing at around the same time, Fernand Braudel's project of a history of the longue durée of human interactions with the environment aimed to subvert the short time‐phase of a history accessible to immediate human experience. Although Collingwood and Braudel aimed at a conceptual merger of natural history and human history, neither of them could have foreseen what Dipesh Chakrabarty has described as their collapse into each other, which was effected by humanity's transformation into a geophysical force that produced massive, likely irreversible, and certainly long‐lasting climate change. Looking at two very different examples of a rapidly growing body of literature on an extractivist orientation as a key factor in anthropogenic ecological transformations on both local and planetary scales, this review essay suggests that an “intra‐active” (in Karen Barad's sense) view of human‐environmental relationality might help us conceptualize forms of temporality that are capable of superseding Collingwood's anthropocentric “time‐phase.”
Evaluation of the performance of a novel HIV‐1 viral load assay for HIV quantification in China
Authors: Deng Xizi , Li Liya , Cai Xiaoli , Lin Yaqing , Lan Yun
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Our objective was to assess the HIV‐1 quantification performance of the Livzon HIV‐1 viral load (VL) assay and the Roche Cobas HIV‐1 assay to evaluate an HIV‐1 VL testing reagent for application in China.

Method

We compared the Livzon and Roche Cobas HIV‐1 VL assays using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid plasma samples collected between May 2021 and November 2021 from patients with HIV‐1 and healthy controls. We used Cohen's κ coefficient to measure agreement of qualitative values and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) values and the coefficient of determination (R2) to determine the linear relationship between the two assays. We performed a Bland–Altman analysis to assess VL quantification agreement.

Results

In total, 11 plasma samples from patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) and nine samples from healthy controls were undetectable on both assays. Overall agreement was seen in 419 of 500 specimens (91.40%), with a κ value of 0.59. Pearson's correlation coefficient between the two assays was 0.970. Using the Bland–Altman method, 95.14% (352/370) of paired VLs fell within the 95% confidence limits of agreement (−0.51 to 0.95 log10 copies/mL). Higher VLs had a better correlation and a smaller mean difference between the two assays. Pearson's correlation coefficient for the samples of subtype CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC, and CRF55_01B was 0.950, 0.935, and 0.952, respectively.

Conclusion

The Livzon HIV‐1 VL assay exhibits good precision and linearity and a high correlation with the Roche Cobas HIV‐1 assay. The Livzon HIV‐1 VL assay has salient advantages in terms of the lyophilized powder reagent, which gives the assay greater stability and sensitivity and can be readily used in low‐resource areas.
The invisible work of transfer centre nurses: A qualitative study of strategies to overcome communication challenges
Authors: Saucke Megan C. , Alagoz Esra , Arroyo Natalia , Gutierrez‐Meza Diana E. , Fernandes‐Taylor Sara , Ingraham Angela M.
Published: February 2023

Aims

To explore the role of transfer centre nurses and how they facilitate communication between referring and accepting providers during calls about interhospital transfers, including their strategies to overcome communication challenges.

Design

A qualitative interview study.

Methods

We conducted semi‐structured interviews with 17 transfer centre nurses at one tertiary medical centre from March to August 2019, asking participants to describe their work. We performed content analysis, applying codes based on the Relational Coordination Framework and generating emergent codes, then organized codes in higher‐order concepts. We followed the COREQ checklist.

Results

Transfer centre nurses employed multiple strategies to mitigate communication challenges. When referring providers had misconceptions about the transfer centre nurse's role and the accepting hospital's processes, the nurses informed referring providers why sharing information with them was necessary. If providers expressed frustrations or lacked understanding about their counterpart's caseload, the nurses managed providers' emotions by letting them “vent,” explaining the other provider's situational context and describing the hospital's capabilities. Some nurses also mediated conflict and sought to break the tension if providers debated about the best course of action. When providers struggled to share complete and accurate information, the nurses hunted down details and ‘filled in the blanks’.

Conclusion

Transfer centre nurses perform invisible work throughout the lifespan of interhospital transfers. Nurses' expert knowledge of the transfer process and hospitals' capabilities can enhance provider communication. Meanwhile, providers' lack of knowledge of the nurse's role can impede respectful and efficient transfer conversations. Interventions to support and optimize the transfer centre nurses' critical work are needed.

Impact

This study describes how transfer centre nurses facilitate communication and overcome challenges during calls about interhospital transfers. An intervention that supports this critical work has the potential to benefit nurses, providers and patients by ensuring accurate and complete information exchange in an effective, efficient manner that respects all parties.

Patient or public contribution

This study was designed to capture the perspectives and experiences of transfer centre nurses themselves through interviews. Therefore, it was not conducted using input or suggestions from the public or the patient population served by the organization.
Can radiomic features extracted from intra‐oral radiographs predict physiological bone remodelling around dental implants? A hypothesis‐generating study
Authors: Troiano Giuseppe , Fanelli Francesco , Rapani Antonio , Zotti Matteo , Lombardi Teresa , Zhurakivska Khrystyna , Stacchi Claudio
Published: February 2023

Aim

The rate of physiological bone remodelling (PBR) occurring after implant placement has been associated with the later onset of progressive bone loss and peri‐implantitis, leading to medium‐ and long‐term implant therapy failure. It is still questionable, however, whether PBR is associated with specific bone characteristics. The aim of this study was to assess whether radiomic analysis could reveal not readily appreciable bone features useful for the prediction of PBR.

Materials and Methods

Radiomic features were extracted from the radiographs taken at implant placement (T0) using LifeX software. Because of the multi‐centre design of the source study, ComBat harmonization was applied to the cohort. Different machine‐learning models were trained on selected radiomic features to develop and internally validate algorithms capable of predicting high PBR. In addition, results of the algorithm were included in a multivariate analysis with other clinical variables (tissue thickness and depth of implant position) to test their independent correlation with PBR.

Results

Specific radiomic features extracted at T0 are associated with higher PBR around tissue‐level implants after 3 months of unsubmerged healing (T1). In addition, taking advantage of machine‐learning methods, a naive Bayes model was trained using radiomic features selected by fast correlation‐based filter (FCBF), which showed the best performance in the prediction of PBR (AUC = 0.751, sensitivity = 66.0%, specificity = 68.4%, positive predictive value = 73.3%, negative predictive value = 60.5%). In addition, results of the whole model were included in a multivariate analysis with tissue thickness and depth of implant position, which were still found to be independently associated with PBR (p‐value < .01).

Conclusion

The combination of radiomics and machine‐learning methods seems to be a promising approach for the early prediction of PBR. Such an innovative approach could be also used for the study of not readily disclosed bone characteristics, thus helping to explain not fully understood clinical phenomena. Although promising, the performance of the radiomic model should be improved in terms of specificity and sensitivity by further studies in this field.
Comparative effectiveness and safety of topical methimazole 5% monotherapy versus combination of Q‐Switched Nd: YAG Laser and topical methimazole 5% in patients with refractory melasma
Authors: Beyzaee Amir Mohammad , Goldust Mohamad , Rokni Ghasem Rahmatpour , Patil Anant , Mostaghiman Reza , Golpour Masoud
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Melasma is an acquired pigmentary disorder which currently has no definitive treatment. Although topical drugs containing hydroquinone are the basis of treatments, they are usually associated with recurrence. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of monotherapy with topical methimazole 5% versus combination of Q‐Switched Nd: YAG Laser and topical methimazole 5% in patients with refractory melasma.

Methods

A total of 27 women with refractory melasma were included. We applied topical methimazole 5% (once a day) with three passes of QSNd: YAG laser (Wavelength: 1064 nm, pulse energy: 750 mJ, fluence: 1.50  J/cm2, spot size: 4 × 4 mm, hand piece: fractional, JEISYS company) for six sessions on the right half of the face, and topical methimazole 5% (once a day) on the left half of the face, for each patient. The treatment course was 12 weeks. Evaluation of effectiveness was done with the Physician Global Assessment (PGA), Patient Global Assessment (PtGA), Physician satisfaction (PS), Patients satisfaction (PtS), and mMASI score.

Results

PGA, PtGA, and PtS were not significantly different between the two groups at any time (p > 0.05). PS in the laser plus methimazole group was significantly better than methimazole group at 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks (p < 0.05). The rate of PGA improvement in the combination group was significantly better than the monotherapy over time (p < 0.001). The changes of mMASI score between the two groups did not significantly differ at any time (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the adverse events between the two groups.

Conclusion

Combination therapy with topical methimazole 5% and QSNY laser can be considered as an effective way to treat refractory melasma.
Squalene epoxidase facilitates cervical cancer progression by modulating tumor protein p53 signaling pathway
Authors: Guo Minhui , Qiao Yan , Lu Yong , Zhu Li , Zheng Lingzhi
Published: February 2023

Background

The mortality of cervical cancer (CC) is quite high and advanced CC is hard to cure. Accordingly, to find the mechanism of CC progression at molecular level is imminent.

Methods

The mRNA expression data were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas database, and squalene epoxidase (SQLE) level in the tumor and adjuvant tissues of CC was analyzed. The pathway enrichment analysis of target mRNAs was performed based on the GSEA database. The cancerous tissues and para‐cancerous tissues of CC patients were collected for immunohistochemistry. SQLE and p53 mRNA expression was ensured by qRT‐polymerase chain reaction. SQLE and p53 protein levels were determined by western blot. Cell functional assays focused on evaluating the malignant behaviors of cancer cells in each treatment group. Nude mouse xenograft models were constructed for tumorigenicity analysis.

Results

Bioinformatics analysis revealed that SQLE expression was high in CC tissues, which was linked to the poor prognosis. SQLE could affect the p53 signaling pathway. Cell functional assays demonstrated that SQLE expression was promoted in CC cell lines, and overexpressing SQLE facilitated the malignant phenotypes of CC cells, whereas silencing SQLE suppressed CC progression in vitro and in vivo. Besides, the repressed p53 signaling pathway could reverse the effect caused by silenced SQLE.

Conclusion

SQLE could promote CC progression by modulating the p53 signaling pathway.
You're stressing me out! Effect of interspecific competition from red deer on roe deer physiological stress response
Authors: Franchini M. , Peric T. , Frangini L. , Prandi A. , Comin A. , Rota M. , Filacorda S.
Published: February 2023

Cortisol is the main glucocorticoid hormone commonly measured to assess adrenocortical activity in vertebrates in response to potential stressors. Competition and habitat quality may act as chronic stressors leading to an increase in cortisol accumulation. Moreover, chronic cortisol concentrations may seriously hamper the reproductive potential, health status and body condition of a species. Using hair collected from the rump of 88 adult roadkill roe deer Capreolus capreolus in the north‐eastern Italy, we aimed to assess the effect of both ungulate competitor population densities and habitat suitability on the long‐term physiological stress response of roe deer, using hair cortisol as a reference parameter. Our findings revealed that roe deer showed higher cortisol concentrations in response to higher red deer Cervus elaphus population density, most likely as a consequence of direct interspecific competition. No significant cortisol changes were however recorded in response to both wild boar Sus scrofa and roe deer population densities, probably as a result of reduced competition because of abundant feeding resources, different species population densities and spatial/temporal avoidance among species. Moreover, the absence of a significant effect as far as habitat suitability is concerned, suggest that roe deer are well adapted to live even in poor quality habitats most likely as long as they are close to better quality habitats which provide access to food resources and refuge sites. Our results highlight the importance of hair cortisol as a suitable parameter to assess physiological chronic stress response towards different environmental/ecological conditions.
The roots of reading for pleasure: Recollections of reading and current habits
Authors: Zare Manzar , Kozak Stephanie , Rodrigues Monyka L. , Martin‐Chang Sandra
Published: February 2023

Children's early literacy experiences are critical, yet it remains unclear whether memories of early reading instruction continue to be associated with reading habits into adulthood. We examined the association between recollections of reading experiences and present‐day reading habits in an adult population. University students responded in writing to three open‐ended prompts asking about their memories of reading during early childhood, elementary school and high school. They also completed two questionnaires inquiring about reading enjoyment and frequency in elementary school and high school. For the concurrent measures of reading, participants described their current reading habits in an open‐ended prompt and completed an author recognition test. Results showed positive links between favourable memories of reading during elementary and high school years and present‐day reading habits. Conversely, unfavourable memories during high school were associated with unenthusiastic present‐day reading habits. We found that reading instruction in school forms long‐lasting memories, and these memories are linked in meaningful ways with print exposure during adulthood.
Parent body histories recorded in Rumuruti chondrite sulfides: Implications for the onset of oxidized, sulfur‐rich core formation
Authors: Crossley Samuel D. , Ash Richard D. , Sunshine Jessica M. , Corrigan Catherine M. , McCoy Timothy J.
Published: February 2023

Models of planetary core formation beginning with melting of Fe,Ni metal and troilite are not readily applicable to oxidized and sulfur‐rich chondrites containing only trace quantities of metal. Cores formed in these bodies must be dominated by sulfides. Siderophile trace elements used to model metallic core formation could be used to model oxidized, sulfide‐dominated core formation and identify related meteorites if their trace element systematics can be quantified. Insufficient information exists regarding the behavior of these core‐forming elements among sulfides during metamorphism prior to anatexis. Major, minor, and trace element concentrations of sulfides are reported in this study for petrologic type 3–6 R chondrite materials. Sulfide‐dominated core‐forming components in such oxidized chondrites (ƒO2 ≥ iron‐wüstite) follow metamorphic evolutionary pathways that are distinct from reduced, metal‐bearing counterparts. Most siderophile trace elements partition into pentlandite at approximately 10× chondritic abundances, but Pt, W, Mo, Ga, and Ge are depleted by 1–2 orders of magnitude relative to siderophile elements with similar volatilities. The distribution of siderophile elements is further altered during hydrothermal alteration as pyrrhotite oxidizes to form magnetite. Oxidized, sulfide‐dominated core formation differs from metallic core formation models both physically and geochemically. Incongruent melting of pentlandite at 865°C generates melts capable of migrating along solid silicate grains, which can segregate to form a Ni,S‐rich core at lower temperatures compared to reduced differentiated parent bodies and with distinct siderophile interelement proportions.
Application of drone‐captured thermal imagery in aiding in the recovery of meteorites within a snow‐covered strewn field
Authors: Hill Patrick J. A. , Tunney Libby D. , Herd Christopher D. K.
Published: February 2023

The rapid recovery of meteorites mitigates the exposure of astromaterials to the terrestrial environment and subsequent contamination. Modern fireball observatories have enabled the more accurate triangulation of fireball trajectories, which has aided in the location of strewn fields, in the case of meteorite‐producing events. Despite this advancement, most meteorite searches still use manual searching to locate any meteorite falls, which is often labor‐intensive and has a slow coverage rate (km2 day−1). Recent work has begun exploring the application of drone technology to the recovery of meteorites; however, most of this work has focused on falls in arid environments. Our study examines the utilization of drones with thermal imaging technology to aid in the recovery of meteorites that have fallen on a snow‐covered field. We created a simulated strewn field that included meteorite specimens as well as Earth rocks with similar properties (“meteowrongs”). Thermal imagery was utilized to determine whether the thermal contrast between meteorites and snow could aid in the identification of meteorites. We found that the thermal contrast was significant enough that meteorites were readily identifiable within thermal images; however, it was not significant enough to distinguish between the meteorites and the meteowrongs. The utilization of thermal imagery in conjunction with visible imagery has the potential to aid in the rapid recovery of meteorites in snow‐covered landscapes.
An autopsy case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with massive iron deposition in juxtacortical lesions
Authors: Okamoto Kosuke , Takeda Akitoshi , Hatsuta Hiroyuki , Sano Terunori , Takao Masaki , Ohsawa Masahiko , Miki Yukio , Nakamichi Kazuo , Itoh Yoshiaki
Published: February 2023

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe demyelinating disease caused by JC virus infection of oligodendrocytes. Little has been reported on iron deposits in patients with PML. Herein, we report a case of PML with massive iron deposition in the juxtacortical regions attaching white matter lesions in a 71‐year‐old woman who developed bilateral visual disturbance and progressive aphasia after 16 months of rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone treatment for follicular lymphoma. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed white matter lesions in the left parietal and other lobes with massive iron deposition in the juxtacortical lesions. A PCR test for JC virus was positive, confirming the diagnosis of PML. Despite treatment with mefloquine and mirtazapine, the patient died six months later. At autopsy, demyelination was found dominantly in the left parietal lobe. Moreover, hemosiderin‐laden macrophages and reactive astrocytes containing ferritin were abundant in the juxtacortical regions adjacent to the white matter lesions. This is a previously unreported case of PML after lymphoma, in which iron deposition was confirmed both radiologically and pathologically.
High amplitude propagated contractions with Glycerin versus Bisacodyl: A within‐subject comparison in children undergoing colonic manometry
Authors: Mansi Sherief , Bahia Gracielle , Patel Dhiren , Dorfman Lev , El‐Chammas Khalil , Fei Lin , Liu Chunyan , Santucci Neha R. , Graham Kahleb , Kaul Ajay
Published: February 2023

Background

The presence of high amplitude propagated contractions (HAPCs) measured by colonic manometry (CM) reflect an intact neuromuscular function of the colon. Bisacodyl and Glycerin are colonic stimulants that induce HAPCs and are used for the treatment of constipation. HAPCs characteristics with each drug have not been compared before. We aimed to compare the HAPC characteristics with Bisacodyl and Glycerin in children undergoing CM for constipation.

Methods

This is a prospective single‐center cross‐over study of children aged 2–18 years undergoing CM. All patients received both Glycerin and Bisacodyl during CM. They were randomized to group A with Bisacodyl first (n = 22) and group B with Glycerin first (n = 23), with 1.5 hours in between each dose. Differences in patient and HAPC characteristics between groups were summarized using descriptive statistics and compared using Chi‐square test or Wilcoxon rank sum test as appropriate.

Key Results

A total of 45 patients were included. HAPCs post Bisacodyl had a longer duration of action (median of 40 vs 21.5 min, p < 0.0001), longer propagation (median of 70 vs 60 cm, p = 0.02), and more HAPCs (median of 10 vs 5, p < 0.0001) compared Glycerin. No differences were found in the HAPC amplitude and onset of action between both medications.
Improving access to gut‐directed hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome in the digital therapeutics' era: Are mobile applications a “smart” solution?
Authors: Hasan Syed S. , Ballou Sarah , Keefer Laurie , Vasant Dipesh H.
Published: February 2023

Gut‐directed hypnotherapy (GDH) is a highly effective brain‐gut behavioral therapy which is recommended in international guidelines for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There is increasing recognition of the value of GDH as part of integrated care alongside medical and dietary approaches. This has led to recent innovations to widen access to GDH to meet the increasing demand. Recent advances include streamlined courses of individualized GDH, group therapy, and remote delivery. In this issue of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Peters et al. retrospectively report outcomes of smartphone app‐delivered GDH in a population with self‐reported IBS. While adherence was low, those that completed smart phone‐delivered GDH‐achieved symptom benefit. This mini‐review summarizes the current evidence‐base for available modalities of GDH and discusses the current and future utility and development of mobile health applications in the digital therapeutics' era.
Climate change and river water pollution: An application to the Ganges in Kanpur
Authors: Batabyal Amitrajeet A. , Kourtit Karima , Nijkamp Peter
Published: February 2023

We provide a theoretical framework to analyze how climate change influences the Ganges and how this influence affects pollution in the river caused by tanneries in Kanpur, India. We focus on two tanneries, and that are situated on the same bank of the Ganges in Kanpur. Both produce leather and leather production requires the use of noxious chemicals. Tannery is situated upstream from tannery Tannery leather production depends on labor use but tannery leather production depends on labor use, the chemical waste generated by tannery and the natural pollution absorbing capacity of the Ganges. In this setting, we perform four tasks. First, we construct a metric that measures the climate change induced mean reduction in the natural capacity of the Ganges to absorb pollution in the time interval Second, we use this metric and determine the equilibrium production of leather by both tanneries in the benchmark case in which there is no pollution. Third, we ascertain how the benchmark equilibrium is altered when tannery accounts for the negative externality foisted upon it by tannery Finally, we study the impact on leather production and on labor use when the two tanneries merge and then discuss the policy implications stemming from our research.