bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Director independence and its influence on corporate social responsibility decisions and performance
Authors: Islam Ranjita , Ali Muhammad , French Erica
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to provide an understanding of how directors perceive the relationship between board independence and corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance which has remained under-researched.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews of 19 directors from 14 organisations operating in Australia. Data were analysed following the six-phase process of thematic analysis.

Findings

The findings indicate that independent directors contribute to board CSR decisions in two major ways: they bring an outsider view to the board, and they monitor managers in taking decisions that consider the interests of the broader stakeholder groups.

Research limitations/implications

The in-depth analysis of director independence and CSR highlights the structural and behavioural aspects of director independence and CSR playing out in board rooms. Propositions are offered which can be tested to advance the research in this arena.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that efforts are required at organisational policy level to ensure the effectiveness of director independence for CSR.

Originality/value

This study provides insights into the “black box” of boardroom dynamics highlighting important contextual factors influencing director independence and CSR decisions previously under-explored.
Bacterial inoculation ofQuercus pyrenaicatrees alters co‐occurrence patterns but not the composition of the rhizosphere bacteriome in wild conditions
Authors: Lasa Ana V. , Fernández‐González Antonio J. , Villadas Pablo J. , Cobo‐Díaz José F. , Fernández‐López M.
Published: April 2023

Quercus pyrenaicais a woody species of high landscape value, however, its forests show an advanced state of degradation in the Iberian Peninsula. Afforestation typically has low success, thus, it is necessary to improve the fitness of oaks plantlets to be transplanted, for instance, by inoculating beneficial microorganisms. In adding microorganisms to ecosystems, there must be balanced efficacy with potential effects on native microbial communities. We addressed changes in diversity, richness, composition and co‐occurrence networks of prokaryotic communities in the rhizosphere of inoculated and control trees outplanted to three different sites located in the Sierra Nevada National and Natural Park (Spain). After 18 months in wild conditions, we did not detect changes due to the inoculation in the richness, diversity and structure in none of the sites. However, we observed an increase in the complexity of the co‐occurrence networks in two experimental areas. Modularization of the networks changed as a result of the inoculation, although the sense of the change depended on the site. Although it was impossible to unravel the effect of bacterial inoculation, our results highlighted that inoculation alters the association of rhizosphere bacteria without entailing other changes, so networks should be analysed prior to inoculating the plantlets.
PRECeDe Pilot: Prevention of neonatal respiratory distress with antenatal corticosteroids before elective caesarean section in women with diabetes – a feasibility randomised trial
Authors: Said Joanne M. , Karahalios Amalia , Yates Christopher J. , Kevat Devaang A. , Pszczola Rosalynn , Lynch Lee‐Anne , Korevaar Elizabeth , Atallah Klea , Vasilevski Vidanka , Sweet Linda , Doyle Lex W.
Published: April 2023

Objective

The PRECeDe Pilot Trial was designed to determine the feasibility of undertaking a multicentre, randomised controlled trial (RCT) to assess the efficacy of antenatal corticosteroids administration within 7 days before elective caesarean section (CS) in women with pre‐gestational diabetes (PGDM) or gestational diabetes (GDM).

Design

Triple blind, parallel group, placebo‐controlled, pilot RCT.

Setting

Single‐centre tertiary maternity hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Population

Pregnant women with PGDM (type 1 or type 2 diabetes) or GDM booked for a planned CS scheduled between 35+0 and 38+6 weeks of gestation.

Methods

Eligible participants were randomised to receive two injections of either betamethasone 11.4 mg or normal saline placebo, 24 hours apart within 7 days before CS scheduled between 35+0 and 38+6 weeks of gestation.

Main Outcome Measure

The proportion of eligible women who consented and were randomised.

Trial Registration

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619001475134.

Results

Of 537 women eligible, 182 were approached and 47 (26%) were recruited. Of these, 22 were allocated to the betamethasone group and 25 were allocated to the placebo group. There were no serious adverse events related to participation.

Conclusion

It is feasible to undertake a triple‐blind, placebo‐controlled RCT investigating the efficacy of antenatal corticosteroids in preventing respiratory morbidity in infants of women with PGDM or GDM who are undergoing an elective CS between 35+0 and 38+6 weeks.
Transboundary river governance and climate vulnerability: Community perspectives in Nepal’s Koshi river basin
Authors: Maharjan Kiran
Published: April 2023

Frequent floods in the Koshi River have left the Nepalese vulnerable to erosion and recurring inundation—especially those living on the floodplains. The situation is worsening because water flow in the river is highly uncertain, affected by rainfall in the mountains and by climate change, and influenced by the Koshi barrage, which is governed by the Koshi River Agreement, a bilateral river agreement with India. This study addresses how Koshi River governance contributes to the vulnerability of riverine communities in Nepal by drawing upon ideas about vulnerability and vulnerability mapping. A household survey and interviews were conducted in 2015 for a comparative study of people living on two river islands located upstream and downstream of the barrage. Findings remain relevant because of persistent governance challenges and growing climate change effects, escalating islanders’ vulnerability to recurrent floods. The islanders’ vulnerability was produced locally and also shaped by historical, social, economic, political, geographical, and ecological processes occurring at multiple scales. That insight highlights the need to study the broader political economy of hazard production to understand vulnerability in the context of governance.
ImprovingICESat‐2‐based boreal forest height estimation by a multivariate sample quality control approach
Authors: Zhang Tianqi , Liu Desheng
Published: April 2023

Boreal forest heights are associated with global carbon stocks and energy budgets. The launch of the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) onboard the NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat‐2) enables canopy vertical structure measurement at a global scale. However, with a photon‐counting laser system, ICESat‐2 contains high uncertainties in the estimated canopy heights, requiring appropriate quality control before being applied to canopy height modelling.

We adopted a multivariate quality control approach (i.e. the Cook's distance) to improve the quality of ICESat‐2 samples. The controlled ICESat‐2 data were then input as the response variable for predicting boreal forest heights based on spatially continuous satellite data and machine learning (ML) regression models. The examined ML regressors include artificial neural networks (ANN), gradient boosting machine (GBM), random forest (RF) and support vector regression (SVR).

The proposed quality control effectively removes low‐quality ICESat‐2 samples and enhances the correlations between ICESat‐2 and airborne laser scanning (ALS) observations. Moreover, the controlled ICESat‐2 samples help achieve a trade‐off between sample quality and quantity for all ML regressors, generating close canopy heights to ALS‐derived counterparts. Overall, RF and GBM make better canopy height predictions than ANN and SVR. Of all explanatory variables, the normalized difference vegetation index calculated based on the first red edge band of Sentinel‐2 (NDVIredEdge1) is considered the most important.

The proposed quality control on ICESat‐2 sample selection and canopy height model (CHM) development workflow will greatly benefit forest structure investigations in the Arctic community.
A proposed framework for the implementation of head and neck cancer treatment at a new cancer center from a radiation oncology perspective
Authors: Chen Hon Ming N , Anzela Anzela , Hetherington Ebony , Buddle Nicole , Vignarajah Dinesh , Hogan David , Fowler Allan , Forstner Dion , Chua Benjamin , Gowda Raghu , Min Myo
Published: April 2023

Background

Establishing a new head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment center requires multidisciplinary team management and expertise. To our knowledge, there are no clear recommendations or guidelines in the literature for the commencement of HNC radiation therapy (RT) at a new cancer center. We propose a novel framework outlining the necessary components required to set‐up a new radiation therapy HNC treatment.

Methods

We reviewed the infrastructure and methodology in the commencement of HNC radiation therapy in our cancer care center and invited several external, experienced metropolitan head and neck radiation oncologists to develop a novel consensus guideline that may be used by new RT centers to treat HNC. Recommendations were presented to our internal and external staff specialists using a survey questionnaire with ratings utilized to determine consensus using pre‐defined thresholds as per the American Society of Clinical Oncology Guidelines Methodology Manual.

Conclusion

This consensus recommendation aims to improve RT utilization whilst advocating for optimal patient outcomes by presenting a framework for new radiation therapy centers ready to step up and manage the treatment of head and neck cancer patients. We propose these evidence‐based consensus guidelines endorsed by external HNC radiation oncologists.
Impact of a prenatal screening program on the Down syndrome phenotype: An interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Steffensen Ellen Hollands , Pedersen Lars Henning , Lou Stina , Vogel Ida ,   The Danish Cytogenetic Central Registry Study Group
Published: April 2023

Introduction

We hypothesized that children with Down syndrome who were born after the implementation of first‐trimester combined screening for trisomy 13, 18, and 21 and a second‐trimester ultrasound scan in Denmark would show a milder syndrome phenotype. We investigated the birth biometry, prevalence of congenital malformations, and early childhood morbidity of children with Down syndrome before and after implementation of this screening program.

Material and methods

A nationwide register‐based study of all live born singletons with Down syndrome in Denmark from 1995 to 2018. In interrupted time series analyses, we studied the temporal developments in birth biometry, prevalence of congenital malformations, and early childhood morbidity related to the implementation of a national prenatal screening program.

Results

We included 602 singletons with Down syndrome born before and 308 after implementation of the screening program. Z‐scores of birthweight and head circumference increased over time before screening, but this temporal development changed after implementation by −0.05 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.11 to 0.01) and −0.05 (95% CI −0.12 to 0.02), respectively. Just after implementation, the prevalence of non‐severe congenital heart disease decreased (relative change in odds 0.48 [95% CI: 0.24–0.94]). For severe congenital heart disease, atrioventricular septal defect, and non‐heart malformations, this change was 1.16 (95% CI: 0.56–2.41), 0.95 (95% CI: 0.43–2.03), and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.33–2.76), respectively. For all malformations, pre‐existing temporal developments did not change following implementation of screening. The implementation was associated with higher odds of admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (relative change 1.98 [95% CI: 0.76–5.26]) and an increased risk of hearing impairment (risk difference 3.4% [95% CI: −0.4% to 7.1%]). In contrast, the implementation was not associated with the incidence of hospital admissions by 2 years of age or with the probability of a thyroid disorder.

Conclusions

After implementation of a national prenatal screening program, we did not observe a milder Down syndrome phenotype apart from an apparent reduction in the proportion of children with non‐severe congenital heart disease; this result is, however, limited by small numbers.
Twins vs singletons—Long‐term health outcomes
Authors: Wainstock Tamar , Yoles Israel , Sergienko Ruslan , Sheiner Eyal
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Multiple gestations are a risk factor for most pregnancy complications. The current study aimed to study whether offspring born after twin pregnancies are at increased risk for long‐term health complications.

Material and methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a large medical center, including all offspring born between the years 1991–2021, which were followed‐up until 18 years of age. Hospital‐based diagnoses of the offspring were categorized into main groups of morbidities: cardiac, respiratory, infectious, neurological, malignancy, and metabolic. Incidence of hospitalization with diagnoses from each main group was compared between twins and singletons, as well as time to first hospitalization. Cox proportional hazard models were used to study the association between twins vs singletons and hospitalizations by grouped morbidities, while adjusting for maternal age, ethnicity and gender, besides maternal recurrence in the cohort.

Results

A total of 369 478 offspring were included in the analysis; of these 11 986 (3.2%) were twins and 357 492 (96.8%) were singletons. Twins were more likely to be delivered preterm (odds ratio = 17.65, 95% CI: 16.74–18.60), by cesarean delivery and following infertility treatments. Incidence of hospitalizations with all morbidity groups was slightly, some significantly, higher among twins, including cardiac: 1.9% vs 1.5%, respiratory; 8.4% vs 7.1%, neurological: 7.7% vs 7.4%, infectious: 26.0% vs 24.1%, and malignancies: 0.7% vs 0.4%. The risk remained higher in the multivariable analyses (adjusted hazard ratios ranging between 1.09–1.75). When stratifying by gestational age at delivery, the risk for most morbidities was lower among twins vs singletons born in similar gestational ages.

Conclusions

Twins as compared to singletons are at increased risk for most morbidities due to their risk of being born earlier.
Bi-Level Structured Functional Analysis for Genome-Wide Association Studies
Authors: Wu Mengyun , Wang Fan , Ge Yeheng , Ma Shuangge , Li Yang
Published: April 2023

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have led to great successes in identifying genotype–phenotype associations for complex human diseases. In such studies, the high dimensionality of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) often makes analysis difficult. Functional analysis, which interprets SNPs densely distributed in a chromosomal region as a continuous process rather than discrete observations, has emerged as a promising avenue for overcoming the high dimensionality challenges. However, the majority of the existing functional studies continue to be individual SNP based and are unable to sufficiently account for the intricate underpinning structures of SNP data. SNPs are often found in groups (e.g., genes or pathways) and have a natural group structure. Additionally, these SNP groups can be highly correlated with coordinated biological functions and interact in a network. Motivated by these unique characteristics of SNP data, we develop a novel bi-level structured functional analysis method and investigate disease-associated genetic variants at the SNP level and SNP group level simultaneously. The penalization technique is adopted for bi-level selection and also to accommodate the group-level network structure. Both the estimation and selection consistency properties are rigorously established. The superiority of the proposed method over alternatives is shown through extensive simulation studies. A type 2 diabetes SNP data application yields some biologically intriguing results.
Functional dentition and edentulism associated with mortality: A cohort study of older adults in Southern Brazil
Authors: Araujo Cinthia Fonseca , Schuch Helena Silveira , Cademartori Mariana Gonzalez , Bielemann Renata Moraes , Bertoldi Andréa Dâmaso , Tomasi Elaine , Gonzalez Maria Cristina , Demarco Flávio Fernando
Published: April 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the lack of a functional dentition and edentulism with mortality in a cohort of older adults in a Southern Brazilian city.

Materials and Methods

This is a longitudinal study carried out with community‐dwelling older adults (≥60 years old) from Pelotas, Brazil, using data from the baseline (2014) and the first follow‐up (2017). Main exposures were functional dentition (20+ teeth present) and edentulism (absence of all teeth), derived from self‐reported number of teeth. All‐causes mortality was evaluated according to the city's Epidemiological Surveillance Department. Potential confounders were age, sex, socioeconomic position, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and body mass index (BMI). To test the association between functional dentition and edentulism with mortality, Poisson regression models with robust variance were used, to estimate Relative Risks and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

A total of 1289 older adults had information on all variables of interest and comprise the analytical sample (from 1451 at baseline). When analysing the presence of functional dentition, only 222 individuals (17.2%) had 20 or more teeth in their mouth, while 490 older adults were edentulous (38.0%). Crude analysis showed an association between tooth loss indicators and mortality. Models adjusted for sociodemographic variables and health conditions and behaviours revelled no association between the exposures and mortality.

Conclusions

With the findings of this study, we did not identify an association between edentulism and functional dentition with mortality, after considering important shared risk factors.
Performance of indirect technique in peri‐implant soft tissue contour duplication in the anterior maxilla: A clinical pilot study
Authors: Ling Zhaoting , Jin Jiali , Wang Siyuan , Shen Xiaoting , He Fuming
Published: April 2023

Objective

To evaluate the performance of the indirect technique in peri‐implant soft tissue contour duplication after the delivery procedure in the anterior maxilla.

Materials and Methods

Patients with single implant‐supported fixed restorations in the anterior maxilla were recruited. For the impression procedure, an intraoral scan was acquired by both the direct and the indirect techniques. For the delivery procedure, implants were randomly allocated into one of the two groups according to the approaches of digital impression preceding definite crown fabrication (A—direct technique; B—indirect technique) and were scanned again after the definite crown delivery. The stereolithography files were superimposed to analyze changes in peri‐implant soft tissue contour after the delivery procedure. The main outcomes were dimensional deviations of peri‐implant mucosa, and the secondary outcome was differences in the pink esthetic score (PES).

Results

A total of 20 implants that underwent the complete workflow were included. After the delivery procedure, significant deviations in palatal tissue thickness between the provisional and definite crowns were observed in Group A but these were absent in Group B. Additionally, deviations in labial thickness (0.27 ± 0.12 mm vs. 0.08 ± 0.09 mm) and palatal thickness (0.17 ± 0.15 mm vs. 0.03 ± 0.08 mm), and labial volume of soft tissue (1.87 ± 0.94 mm3 vs. 0.75 ± 0.74 mm3) in Group A were significantly higher than those in Group B. No significant differences in PES were found.

Conclusion

The indirect technique of scanning the provisional crown can more accurately duplicate the peri‐implant soft tissue contour than the direct technique, resulting in a smaller deviation of the soft tissue in the delivery procedure.
Microhabitat conditions remedy heat stress effects on insect activity
Authors: Terlau Jördis F. , Brose Ulrich , Eisenhauer Nico , Amyntas Angelos , Boy Thomas , Dyer Alexander , Gebler Alban , Hof Christian , Liu Tao , Scherber Christoph , Schlägel Ulrike E. , Schmidt Anja , Hirt Myriam R.
Published: April 2023

Anthropogenic global warming has major implications for mobile terrestrial insects, including long‐term effects from constant warming, for example, on species distribution patterns, and short‐term effects from heat extremes that induce immediate physiological responses. To cope with heat extremes, they either have to reduce their activity or move to preferable microhabitats. The availability of favorable microhabitat conditions is strongly promoted by the spatial heterogeneity of habitats, which is often reduced by anthropogenic land transformation. Thus, it is decisive to understand the combined effects of these global change drivers on insect activity. Here, we assessed the movement activity of six insect species (from three orders) in response to heat stress using a unique tracking approach via radio frequency identification. We tracked 465 individuals at the iDiv Ecotron across a temperature gradient up to 38.7°C. In addition, we varied microhabitat conditions by adding leaf litter from four different tree species to the experimental units, either spatially separated or well mixed. Our results show opposing effects of heat extremes on insect activity depending on the microhabitat conditions. The insect community significantly decreased its activity in the mixed litter scenario, while we found a strong positive effect on activity in the separated litter scenario. We hypothesize that the simultaneous availability of thermal refugia as well as resources provided by the mixed litter scenario allows animals to reduce their activity and save energy in response to heat stress. Contrary, the spatial separation of beneficial microclimatic conditions and resources forces animals to increase their activity to fulfill their energetic needs. Thus, our study highlights the importance of habitat heterogeneity on smaller scales, because it may buffer the consequences of extreme temperatures of insect performance and survival under global change.
Associations between appetite, physical activity and sedentary behaviour from hip‐ and wrist‐worn accelerometers in community‐dwelling older adults
Authors: Tsai Li‐Tang , Boyle Eleanor , Buhl Sussi F , Kock Gry , Brønd Jan C , Visser Marjolein , Mendonça Nuno , Shiroma Eric J , Caserotti Paolo
Published: April 2023

Aim

The objective of the current study was to examine whether physical activity and sedentary behavior were associated with appetite among community‐dwelling older adults.

Methods

Cross‐sectional analysis was performed on three cohort studies: the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA); the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study (HABC Study) and the I'm Still Standing Study (ISS Study); (n = 1173, n = 162, n = 125; age range: 57–99, 85–95, 80–100 years; women: 51%, 56%, 61%, respectively). Physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured using hip‐worn (LASA and HABC) and wrist‐worn (ISS) accelerometers. Appetite was self‐reported. Logistic regression models were fitted by accelerometer placement to explore the association between good appetite and various physical activity metrics (total activity, sedentary behavior, and time spent in different intensities of physical activity).

Results

Among cohorts using hip‐worn accelerometers, those having total activity within the highest tertile had more than double the odds of having good appetite compared with those within the lowest tertile (odds ratio [OR] 2.16 (1.15–4.06)). Each additional percent of daily sedentary behavior decreased the odds for having good appetite by 3% (OR 0.97 (0.95–0.996)), while each additional percent of daily light‐intensity physical activity increased the odds for having good appetite by 4% (OR 1.02 (1.01–1.06)). No association was found between either physical activity or sedentary behavior and appetite for measurements with the wrist‐worn accelerometers.

Conclusions

Among community‐dwelling older adults, the associations between appetite, accelerometer‐assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior differ by accelerometer placement location. This study highlights the importance of careful interpretation of accelerometer data from different body locations and concurrent health outcomes. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 411–417.
‘It is still coming from the centre and coming out’: The material conditions adding to over‐bureaucratised patient and public involvement for commissioning health and care in England
Authors: Hatfield Debbie , Aranda Kay , Ferns Gordon , Flaherty Breda , Hart Angie
Published: April 2023

Objective

To understand how materiality affects patient and public involvement (PPI) for commissioning and leading health and care services in the English National Health Service (NHS) context.

Context

From April 2013 groups of general practitioners (GPs) became members of NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to assess needs and procure core health services for and with local communities. Since July 2022, integrated care systems (ICSs) have subsumed this responsibility. NHS reorganisations have been driven by the promise of more effective and efficient health care and have led to a long history of PPI on economic, political, and moral grounds. Few studies researching PPI in clinical commissioning exist and fewer still have explored a more agentic understanding of materiality and its impact on PPI.

Study Design

A focused ethnography was used to examine PPI for clinical commissioning within two CCG case study sites in England. Three CCG Governing Body lay representatives, nine GP commissioners and seven service user representatives took part in focus groups and/or were interviewed. Fifteen nonparticipant observations were also carried out at CCG meetings and the associated materiality was examined.

Findings

The materiality of activities involved in clinical commissioning influences and shapes the nature of PPI. These forms of materiality may dilute and subvert meaningful engagement and involvement that relies on trust, leadership, learning, and partnership working.

Conclusion

System leaders in ICSs should consider the significance of materiality in centrally driven processes involved in PPI commissioning to reduce barriers and ensure meaningful partnerships within local communities.

Patient and Public Contribution

The study design ensured PPI throughout the research process in keeping with contemporary research practice guidance. The project steering committee included service users with current or recent PPI clinical commissioning experience outside of the study sites. There was PPI involvement in the original study proposal and its development including the bid for doctoral funds on which this study is based. All were involved in assessing the rigour of the data collection, interpretation of the findings and ensuring the project remained true to the aims of the study. Two members have also participated in presentation of the study findings.
Alternative proteins as fish meal substitution in diets for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides): a mini review
Authors: Cheng Yan , Wu You Jun , Zhu Chen Bin , Zhou Xian Ke , Yang Shun , Fei Hui
Published: April 2023

Aquaculture has been challenged to explore alternative proteins to develop efficient feed formulations that foster a sustainable future growth. Largemouth bass (LMB) are economically important cultured fish with a high demand for protein. One of the traditional ingredients used to develop protein diets is fish meal (FM). With the aquaculture industry expanding, the FM price climbs with broadening the imbalance between the supply and requirement. Hence, there is a requisite to explore novel alternative proteins sources. In this review, we summarised recent knowledge about the alternative sources of proteins with potential to partially or fully substitute FM in LMB feed and the shortcomings of present alternative proteins. We also highlight the challenges faced for LMB feed in the substitution of FM with alternative proteins, which need more in‐depth investigations in the future.
Influence of rare sugar syrup on quality attributes and acceptability of bread
Authors: Sawettanun Saranta , Inukai Ryusei , Yoshihara Akihide , Ogawa Masahiro
Published: April 2023

Rare sugar syrup (RSS) prepared by alkaline isomerisation of high‐fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contains rare sugars as well as D‐glucose (Glc) and D‐fructose (Fru) and has antiobesity and antidiabetic effects. RSS was used in making bread, and the quality of the final bread product was compared with bread with added sucrose (Suc). 20°Bx RSS‐ and 20°Bx HFCS‐added breads had lower loaf height and volume, moisture content and water activity compared with 20°Bx Suc‐added bread and had higher hardness and gumminess of bread crumb. In contrast, adding 2°Bx RSS did not affect the physical and texture characteristics of the bread. GC–MS analysis of the RSS‐added bread showed that acetol, 3,5‐dihydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐4H‐pyran‐4‐one, 5‐methylfurfural and acetic acid were the main volatiles, and the amounts were higher than in the Suc‐ and HFCS‐added breads. The addition of 20°Bx RSS resulted in the lowest liking scores for the bread texture, hardness and elasticity. The RSS‐added bread, with a lower evaluation than the 20°Bx Suc‐added bread, was acceptable in overall preference as the 20°Bx HFCS‐added bread. Moreover, after processing, the 20°Bx RSS‐bread retained 86% of the rare sugar D‐allulose with its health functions, so it could be beneficial to consumer health compared with HFCS and Suc.
A commentary on Perlstein et al. (2023): the past and future of treating youth with limited prosocial emotions
Authors: Frick Paul J.
Published: April 2023

Perlstein, Fair, Hong, and Waller (Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2023) meta‐analysis provides a critically important summary of the research on the treatment of children and adolescents with elevated callous–unemotional (CU) traits, 10 years after they were added to diagnostic criteria in the “with Limited Prosocial Emotions” specifier for conduct disorder. Their meta‐analysis provides clear and convincing evidence that many treatments that reduce conduct problems in youth are also effective for children with elevated CU traits. However, their findings also indicate that CU traits are a severity indicator, in that youth high on these traits start treatment with more severe behavior problems and, despite improving with treatment, often leave treatment with more severe behavior problems. Such findings provide a clear focus for future research to adapt existing treatments to be more effective for youth with elevated CU traits. Further, the findings from the meta‐analysis suggested that while treatments overall were not effective in reducing callous–unemotional traits, high‐quality parenting interventions show promise for improving this outcome.
Women's experiences of breastfeeding after a cesarean section: A meta‐synthesis
Authors: Ulfa Yunefit , Maruyama Naoko , Igarashi Yumiko , Horiuchi Shigeko
Published: April 2023

Aim

The World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund recommend the early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour postpartum for successful exclusive breastfeeding. However, cesarean section is a risk factor for unsuccessful early initiation of breastfeeding. Herein, we aim to explore women's experiences of breastfeeding after a cesarean section.

Methods

We used the Joanna Briggs Institute framework in this meta‐synthesis. We searched articles published from 1990 to 2022 on PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane library, PsycInfo, and EMBASE to identify qualitative studies on women's experiences of breastfeeding after a cesarean section. We used the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for qualitative studies to assess the quality of the included studies.

Results

Seven qualitative studies from five countries met the inclusion criteria, representing the views of 194 women who underwent cesarean sections. Six new categories were integrated into the women's experiences of breastfeeding after a cesarean section as follows: (i) Perceived values of breastfeeding, (ii) Emotional vulnerability in breastfeeding, (iii) Physical difficulties in breastfeeding, (iv) Inconvenient conditions in breastfeeding, (v) Inadequate resources for breastfeeding, and (vi) Support systems to enable breastfeeding.

Conclusions

We provide evidence showing that knowledge of the specific breastfeeding mechanism and provision of the most appropriate postsurgical care by healthcare providers just after a cesarean section can reduce the barriers to post‐cesarean breastfeeding. Moreover, effective hospital policies and family support can result in the initiation of positive breastfeeding outcomes. Future studies that consider the cultural aspects of breastfeeding practice may generate additional insights into providing optimal postpartum care.
Hypercholesterolemia induced by spontaneous oligogenic mutations in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Authors: Takenaka Akiko , Suzuki Juri , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Hibino Kumiko , Kamanaka Yoshiro , Nakamura Shin , Mitsunaga Fusako , Kawamoto Yoshi , Morimoto Mayumi , Aisu Seitaro , Natsume Takayoshi
Published: April 2023

Background

A rhesus macaque with the fourth highest plasma cholesterol (CH) levels of 501 breeding macaques was identified 22 years ago. Seven offspring with gene mutations causing hypercholesterolemia were obtained.

Methods

Activity of low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), plasma CH levels and mRNA expression levels of LDLR were measured after administration of 0.1% (0.27 mg/kcal) or 0.3% CH.

Results

Activity of p. (Cys82Tyr) of LDLR was 71% and 42% in the heterozygotes and a homozygote, respectively. The mRNA expression level of LDLR in the p. (Val241Ile) of membrane‐bound transcription factor protease, site 2 (MBTPS2, S2P protein) was 0.83 times lower than normal levels. LDLR mRNA levels were increased for up to 4 weeks by administration of 0.3% CH before suddenly decreasing to 80% of the baseline levels after 6 weeks.

Conclusion

Oligogenic mutations of p. (Cys82Tyr) in LDLR and p. (Val241Ile) in MBTPS2 (S2P) caused hypercholesterolemia exceeding cardiovascular risk levels under a 0.1% CH diet.
Family's experience of memory making in adult intensive care and its use in early bereavement: A descriptive qualitative study
Authors: Riegel Melissa , Buckley Thomas , Randall Sue
Published: April 2023

Aim and objectives

To explore the family's experience being offered memory making during end‐of‐life care in the adult intensive care unit and its use in early bereavement.

Background

Family members of individuals who develop a critical illness requiring emergency hospitalisation are unlikely to be prepared for a possible death. This places them at increased risk of poorer bereavement experiences. One potential intervention is memory making, which is an act that provides tangible objects such as a handprint, footprint, lock of hair, or teddy bear, that allows connections with and provides meaningful memories about a person. Families in the adult acute population reportedly have positive reactions regarding the objects, but it is unknown the object’s effects on early bereavement experiences.

Design

Descriptive qualitative study utilising inductive reflexive thematic analysis. Reporting adheres to the COREQ checklist.

Methods

Between May 2019‐December 2020, a purposeful, convenience sample of 21 participants from a tertiary referral, adult intensive care unit in Australia were recruited to explore their experiences being offered memory making during end‐of‐life care and the objects use in early bereavement. Interviews were conducted using a semi‐structured format and occurred at the participants' location of choice.

Results

Data analysis generated three themes: guidance during end of life by healthcare professionals that recognises the autonomy of the family; object used as a trigger to access memories; and storage and preservation of the object as an indication of its sentimental value and use in early bereavement

Conclusion

Memory making objects such as handprints, locks of hair, or teddy bears received in the adult intensive care unit were valued and utilised during early bereavement by most recipients.

Relevance to clinical practice

Findings inform practice evidence gaps regarding the family's experiences of memory making received as a bereavement intervention in the adult acute population.

Patient or public contribution

Participants contributed through sharing their first‐hand experiences of receiving memory making in the adult intensive care unit.
Bedside nurses' antimicrobial stewardship practice scope and competencies in acute hospital settings: A scoping review
Authors: Zhao Wenting , Guo Wei , Sun Pei , Yang Yuanhui , Ning Yan , Liu Ru , Xu Yufei , Li Shuhua , Shang Linping
Published: April 2023

Aim

To identify and map bedside nurses' practice scope and competencies regarding antimicrobial stewardship in acute hospital settings, and develop a competency framework for them.

Background

Antimicrobial stewardship requires multidisciplinary engagement including nursing. However, bedside nurses' antimicrobial stewardship practice scope and competencies in acute hospital settings remain unclear.

Design

Scoping review.

Methods

Using a five‐stage framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines.

Results

A total of 1422 records were retrieved, and 41 studies were included. In addition to the six practices recommended, this review summarized bedside nurses' contributions to five additional fields as well. Correspondingly, the competencies required by bedside nurses were summarized into eight domains: specialized knowledge, safety medication administration, leadership, education, diagnostic stewardship, infection prevention and control, professional development and professional quality.

Conclusion

Nurses' practice scope overlaps greatly with routine nursing practice in antimicrobial stewardship, confirming the evidence that nurses are ideal partners in antimicrobial stewardship. This review developed a competency framework at both basic and advanced levels. Among them, professional knowledge is the foundation, while professional quality motivates nurses to participate. In addition to competency assessment, it can also be used for training and human resource deployment based on seniority or professional level. This could bridge the knowledge gap and improve the engagement of nurses in heavy workload situations.

Relevance to clinical practice

This practice scope will provide opportunities for nurses to engage in antimicrobial stewardship. Moreover, nursing competencies identified in this field could facilitate the development of competency‐based education interventions, talent assessments, training and recruitment programs.

Data resources

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINHAL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, ProQuest and Scopus were searched from inception to November 2022, with an updated search in March 2023.

Impact

This scoping review provides evidence for best nursing practice scope and competency in antimicrobial stewardship in hospitals. However, it is also in line with the commitment of all nurses in the global community to combat antimicrobial resistance, which has become a global threat. An antimicrobial stewardship competency framework for bedside nurses was developed at both the basic and advanced levels. It would facilitate talent assessment, training, recruitment and human resource management by guiding the development of competency‐based education interventions.

Patient or Public Contribution

No Patient or Public Contribution.
The Role of Executive Functions in Fluent Reading: Lessons from Reading Acquisition and Remediation
Authors: Horowitz‐Kraus Tzipi
Published: April 2023

This review paper aims to define the involvement of Executive Functions (EF) in reading fluency in typically developing children and those with reading difficulties (RD)/dyslexia using neuroimaging and cognitive measurements. The data presented in this review demonstrate how training reading fluency with EF principles improved reading fluency and associated neural circuits. The possible mechanism for this fluency improvement points to the utilization of EF during reading remediation and its relation to the synchronization between the auditory and visual modalities in RD. Overall, the studies reviewed in the current paper suggest that reading fluency is achieved through a better synchronization of EF‐brain regions with sensory networks, which are linked to decreased neural noise. These results support embedding EF principles in reading training and point to the need to include the fluency component in the Simple View of Reading model and open up possible opportunities to improve reading in children.
The role of Wnt, ARL4C, and Sema3A in developmental process and disease pathogenesis
Authors: Fujii Shinsuke , Kiyoshima Tamotsu
Published: April 2023

Various types of tumors, including malignant and benign ones, occur in the oral cavity. These arise from the mucosal epithelium, odontogenic epithelium, and salivary gland. To date, few major driver events in oral tumors have been identified. Accordingly, molecular targets in anti‐tumor therapy for oral tumors are lacking. We focused on elucidating the function of aberrantly activated signal transduction related to oral tumor formation, especially in oral squamous cell carcinoma, ameloblastoma, and adenoid cystic carcinoma, which are raised as common oral tumors. Wnt/β‐catenin‐dependent pathway is involved in the developmental process, organ homeostasis and disease pathogenesis through regulating various cellular functions by enhancing transcriptional activity. Recently, we identified ADP‐ribosylation factor (ARF)‐like 4c (ARL4C) and Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A), the expression of which is regulated by Wnt/β‐catenin‐dependent pathway, and characterized their functions in the developmental process and tumor formation. This review highlights the recent advances in understanding the roles of Wnt/β‐catenin‐dependent pathway, ARL4C and Sema3A, as determined by pathological and experimental studies.
Trade liberalization, wilful credit defaults and bank bribery in a credit‐constrained economy
Authors: Mahata Sushobhan , Khan Rohan Kanti , Nag Ranjanendra Narayan , Sen Sharmi
Published: April 2023

The rising incidence of credit defaults may cause credit crunch. This affects the ability of firms to finance working capital and also fixed capital formation. Naturally, this is a major macroeconomic shock. This paper is an attempt to address the microeconomic foundation of such macroeconomic shock. We provide a theoretical framework to explain the economic rationale behind ‘wilful corporate defaults’ and ‘financial corruption’ in the specific context of trade liberalization. First, we model the behavioural aspects of wilful corporate defaulters and bank officials to determine the bank bribe rate as an outcome of the Nash bargaining process in a two‐stage sequential move game. Based on the results of the partial equilibrium framework, we examine aspects of trade liberalization in an otherwise 2 × 2 general equilibrium framework. We also compare the efficacy of punishment strategies to economic incentives to deter credit defaults and banking sector corruption. Methodologically, our analytical model integrates finance capital distinctly from physical capital in Jonesian general equilibrium framework. Interestingly, our findings indicate that there exists a trade‐off at equilibrium between curbing credit defaults and bribery. We also find that not all punishment strategies are equally effective at deterring credit defaults if general equilibrium interlinkage effects are carefully dealt with.
Exploring the relationships between perceived neighborhood boundaries and street network orientation
Authors: Tang Vicente , Painho Marco
Published: April 2023

The neighborhood is a core unit of analysis in urban research, planning, and policy‐making. However, perceptual and historical processes oftentimes result in neighborhoods that are not tied to sub‐urban jurisdictions. For instance, historic neighborhoods might lack official spatial definitions, hampering neighborhood‐based tasks in local offices. In this case, urban practitioners can benefit from readily available spatial proxies, such as the local street network. In this study, we conducted an exploratory analysis that combines neighborhood mapping and street network modeling. By retrieving participants' sketched boundaries and quantifying spatial orientations of sketched polygons and local network patterns, we were able to measure and compare the relationships between the urban fabric and the perceived extents of two historic neighborhoods in Lisbon, Portugal. The results provided insights for enhancing existing definitions of non‐official neighborhoods, outlining new urban districts as well as for discussions about the role of the urban form in shaping people's perceptions.
Surrogate Modeling for Creep Strain-Based Fatigue Prediction of a Ball Grid Array Component
Authors: Tauscher Markus , Merk Tobias , Adsule Aniket , Linnemann Andreas , Wilde Jürgen
Published: April 2023

In the past years, the finite element analysis (FEA) has proven to be a suitable way for fatigue prediction of electronic equipment based on the physics-of-failure-approach. For this, inelastic strain parameters like creep strain or creep energy density are evaluated in crack susceptible regions of solder joints. Due to the nonlinearity of the creep behavior, which is the basis for these simulations, the computational effort can be significant. This mostly leads to a component-focused approach. Global influences on components like local stiffness variations due to adjacent components, copper traces, or fixations of the printed circuit board (PCB) are often ignored. To make creep-based fatigue predictions suitable for complex printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA), a method for reducing computational effort needs to be established. For this matter, a machine learning-based approach for solder joints has been developed.  First, the process for data generation and model training has been established. Thereafter, several methods for input parameter reduction are discussed. Finally, a model is being trained based on the generated simulation data.