bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethics’ power dynamics in higher education’s self-ethnographic research
Authors: Madikizela-Madiya Nomanesi
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight levels of power in research ethics that are insufficiently addressed in self-ethnographic research literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reflexively draws from a qualitative research that was conducted in a higher education institution (HEI) in South Africa. The reflection is substantiated with literature on various aspects of the reflection. The research design was self-ethnography, conducted within a postmodernist paradigm.

Findings

The reflection exposes the hidden levels of power in the process of ethical clearance and gatekeeping of access to participants. It also suggests that different theoretical perspectives about ethics work together throughout the self-ethnographic research process.

Research limitations/implications

The research on which the paper is based was conducted in only one college of one HEI. Therefore its findings may only be contextual.

Practical implications

The exposure of the levels of power contributes to the discourses of research ethics and may caution self-ethnographic researchers about the complexities of research ethics involved in this research design.

Originality/value

Although there is plethora of literature about ethics and insider research, little has been done to bring to light the various levels of power that this paper highlights.
Walking in indeterminate spaces: possibilities for political co-existence
Authors: Phillips Louise Gwenneth
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how being led by a young child to unknown destinations without shared language offers an experience of indeterminacy that opens up (re)thinking of political co-existence.

Design/methodology/approach

The relational arts project The Walking Neighbourhood hosted by children challenges the social practice of adults chaperoning children through public streets by inviting children to curate and lead unknown adults on walks of local neighbourhoods. This paper focusses on sensory ethnographic research of one encounter of a child-curated walk when this project took place in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The experience is relayed through multilayered sensorial storytelling inter-woven with diffractive analysis informed from a post-humanist agential realist position (Barad, 2007, 2012).

Findings

Perceptions, knowings, imaginings, memories and connections are read as explanations of intra-actions in the child-led walk to produce new meaning in the phenomena of political co-existence. Emergent, embodied, sensorial listening produces new awareness and understandings of intra-acting beings in an urban space regardless of age or form.

Social implications

Application of ethical ontological epistemological practice through emergent, embodied, sensorial listening to others opens affectual ethical ways of being and knowing for justice-to-come in political co-existence.

Originality/value

The concept of child-led walks is innovative as a political act by shifting from vertical adult-child relations to horizontal relations. Post-humanist agential realism is a new and emerging theory that offers possibilities to reconceptualise co-existence with others in public spaces.
Gender stereotypes in ecological research themes: An analysis of the last 20 years of the Argentinian ecology conferences
Authors: Spirito Florencia , Meli Paula , Reyes M. Fernanda , Núñez‐Vivanco Gabriel , Beloff Zoe , De Paepe Josefina L.
Published: March 2023

Although Argentina harbours a notable increase in the academic community, achieving the highest number of researchers per capita in Latin America, the gender gap is still evident. The objective was to identify and evaluate the evolution of the main research themes in Argentinian ecology during the last 20 years to address whether social gender stereotypes were reproduced in research theme selection. We analysed four books of abstracts from the Argentinian Ecology conferences of the last 20 years and identified gender of the first author and co‐authors. Natural Language Processing approach was used to analyse gender associations with the 16 319 words appearing in the 2208 titles of abstracts. The average number of female co‐authors was always larger in female‐led abstracts although the proportion of female co‐authors/total authors increased the most in male‐led abstracts. Research themes evolved from those considered cornerstones of ecology (e.g. population‐oriented studies) to contemporary themes defined by Management and policy studies. Gender differences were present and changed with time. Currently, men work on research themes related to decision‐making, while women focus on environmental processes therefore it is urgent to create more leadership spaces for women to reduce gender inequalities.
Developmental regulators moonlighting as transposons defense factors
Authors: Tan Kun , Wilkinson Miles F.
Published: March 2023

Background

The germline perpetuates genetic information across generations. To maintain the integrity of the germline, transposable elements in the genome must be silenced, as these mobile elements would otherwise engender widespread mutations passed on to subsequent generations. There are several well‐established mechanisms that are dedicated to providing defense against transposable elements, including DNA methylation, RNA interference, and the PIWI‐interacting RNA pathway.

Objectives

Recently, several studies have provided evidence that transposon defense is not only provided by factors dedicated to this purpose but also factors with other roles, including in germline development. Many of these are transcription factors. Our objective is to summarize what is known about these “bi‐functional” transcriptional regulators.

Materials and methods

Literature search.

Results and conclusion

We summarize the evidence that six transcriptional regulators—GLIS3, MYBL1, RB1, RHOX10, SETDB1, and ZBTB16—are both developmental regulators and transposable element‐defense factors. These factors act at different stages of germ cell development, including in pro‐spermatogonia, spermatogonial stem cells, and spermatocytes. Collectively, the data suggest a model in which specific key transcriptional regulators have acquired multiple functions over evolutionary time to influence developmental decisions and safeguard transgenerational genetic information. It remains to be determined whether their developmental roles were primordial and their transposon defense roles were co‐opted, or vice versa.
Reliability of the Motor Optimality Score‐Revised: A study of infants at elevated likelihood for adverse neurological outcomes
Authors: Örtqvist Maria , Marschik Peter B. , Toldo Moreno , Zhang Dajie , Fajardo‐Martinez Viviana , Nielsen‐Saines Karin , Ådén Ulrika , Einspieler Christa
Published: March 2023

Aim

To assess the inter‐assessor reliability of the Motor Optimality Score‐Revised (MOS‐R) when used in infants at elevated likelihood for adverse neurological outcome.

Methods

MOS‐R were assessed in three groups of infants by two assessors/cohort. Infants were recruited from longitudinal projects in Sweden (infants born extremely preterm), India (infants born in low‐resource communities) and the USA (infants prenatally exposed to SARS‐CoV‐2). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and kappa (κw) were applied. ICC of MOS‐R subcategories and total scores were presented for cohorts together and separately and for age‐spans: 9–12, 13–16 and 17–25‐weeks post‐term age.

Results

252 infants were included (born extremely preterm n = 97, born in low‐resource communities n = 97, prenatally SARS‐CoV‐2 exposed n = 58). Reliability of the total MOS‐R was almost perfect (ICC: 0.98–0.99) for all cohorts, together and separately. Similar result was found for age‐spans (ICC: 0.98–0.99). Substantial to perfect reliability was shown for the MOS‐R subcategories (κw: 0.67–1.00), with postural patterns showing the lowest value 0.67.

Conclusion

The MOS‐R can be used in high‐risk populations with substantial to perfect reliability, both in regards of total/subcategory scores as well as in different age groups. However, the subcategory postural patterns as well as the clinical applicability of the MOS‐R needs further study.
Growth hormone treatment and the risk of adolescent scoliosis: A large matched cohort study
Authors: Ziv‐Baran Tomer , Modan‐Moses Dalit , Zacay Galia , Ackshota Nissim , Levy‐Shraga Yael
Published: March 2023

Aim

We aimed to evaluate the risk of developing adolescent scoliosis among recipients of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH).

Methods

This registry‐based cohort study included 1314 individuals who initiated rhGH treatment since 2013, treated during 10–18 years of age for at least 6 months. This group was matched to a comparison group of 6570 individuals not treated with rhGH. Demographic and clinical information was extracted from the electronic database. The results are presented using hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

During a median follow‐up of 4.2 years, 59 (4.5%) rhGH recipients and 141 individuals (2.1%) from the comparison group were diagnosed with adolescent scoliosis. The age at diagnosis did not differ between the groups (14.7 versus 14.3 years, p = 0.095). Patients treated with rhGH were more likely diagnosed with scoliosis (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.55–2.88, p < 0.001). Among males, the risk was about three times greater in the treated versus the comparison group (HR 3.15, 95% CI 2.12–4.68, p < 0.001), while in females the risk was not increased (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.72–2.04, p = 0.469).

Conclusions

Recombinant human growth hormone treatment was associated with an increased risk to be diagnosed with adolescent scoliosis in males. Scoliosis development should be monitored appropriately in rhGH recipients.
The ARchaeological Organic residues Literature Database (AROLD): Construction of a tool for reviewing and querying published lipid data in organic residue analysis
Authors: Prévost Camielsa , Drieu Léa , Pasqualini Antoine , Regert Martine
Published: March 2023

The first attempts to identify amorphous organic substances in archaeology date to the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The 1960s saw the development of infrared spectrometry, and then separative and mass spectrometry analyses were implemented in the 1980s. But it is only since the 1990s that extended and systematic research programmes were devoted to these substances. The number of publications has not stopped growing and is becoming exponential. To get an overview of the lipid studies in archaeology, we conceived the ARchaeological Organic residues Literature Database (AROLD) as a first structured and collaborative research tool. This paper describes the challenges of setting up such a database, details its architecture, presents the choices involved in its implementation, and discusses the possibilities of sharing and evolving this tool.
Interim Monitoring of Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trials Using Partial Information
Authors: Manschot Cole , Laber Eric , Davidian Marie
Published: March 2023

The sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) is the gold standard trial design to generate data for the evaluation of multistage treatment regimes. As with conventional (single-stage) randomized clinical trials, interim monitoring allows early stopping; however, there are few methods for principled interim analysis in SMARTs. Because SMARTs involve multiple stages of treatment, a key challenge is that not all enrolled participants will have progressed through all treatment stages at the time of an interim analysis. Wu et al. (2021) propose basing interim analyses on an estimator for the mean outcome under a given regime that uses data only from participants who have completed all treatment stages. We propose an estimator for the mean outcome under a given regime that gains efficiency by using partial information from enrolled participants regardless of their progression through treatment stages. Using the asymptotic distribution of this estimator, we derive associated Pocock and O'Brien-Fleming testing procedures for early stopping. In simulation experiments, the estimator controls type I error and achieves nominal power while reducing expected sample size relative to the method of Wu et al. (2021). We present an illustrative application of the proposed estimator based on a recent SMART evaluating behavioral pain interventions for breast cancer patients.
Emotion dysregulation and symptoms of anxiety and depression in early adolescence: Bidirectional longitudinal associations and the antecedent role of parent–child attachment
Authors: Chan Kelly M. Y. , Hong Ryan Y. , Ong Xiang Ling , Cheung Hoi Shan
Published: March 2023

Difficulties in emotion regulation have been consistently associated with various psychological difficulties, including anxiety and depression; however, less is known about the directionality of this relationship, particularly in adolescents. In addition, early parent–child attachment quality has been closely linked to the development of emotion regulation. Previous studies have proposed an overarching model in attempt to describe the developmental trajectory of anxiety and depression from early attachment, albeit with several limitations that are discussed in this paper. This study adds to this field of research by investigating the longitudinal associations between emotion dysregulation (ED) and symptoms of anxiety and depression among 534 early adolescents in Singapore over three timepoints in a school year, and the antecedent role of attachment quality on individual differences on these variables. Bidirectional influences were found between ED and anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively, between T1 and T2, but not T2 and T3, at the between‐ and within‐individual levels of analysis. Additionally, attachment anxiety and avoidance were both significantly predictive of individual differences in ED and for both psychological symptoms. The current findings provide preliminary evidence of a mutually reinforcing relationship between ED and symptoms of anxiety and depression in early adolescence, where attachment quality serves as a developmental antecedent that sets these longitudinal associations in motion.
First report of outcomes in patients with stage IIIb AL amyloidosis treated with Dara–VCD front‐line therapy
Authors: Chakraborty Rajshekhar , Rosenbaum Cara , Kaur Gurbakhash , Bhutani Divaya , Radhakrishnan Jai , Mapara Markus Y. , Maurer Mathew , Lentzsch Suzanne
Published: March 2023

Although Dara–VCD (daratumumab–bortezomib–cyclophosphamide–dexamethasone) has revolutionized the treatment of newly diagnosed Amyloid Light chain (AL) amyloidosis, patients with stage IIIb disease were excluded in the pivotal trial. We performed a multicentre retrospective cohort study to investigate the outcomes of 19 consecutive patients treated with Dara–VCD front‐line therapy who had stage IIIb AL at diagnosis. More than two thirds presented with New York Heart Association Class III/IV symptoms, and had a median of two organs involved (range, 2–4). The haematologic overall response rate was 100%, with 17/19 patients (89.5%) achieving a very good partial response (VGPR) or better. Haematologic responses were achieved rapidly, as evidenced by 63% of evaluable patients with involved serum free light chains (iFLC) < 2 mg/dl and the difference between involved and uninvolved serum free light chains (dFLC) <1 mg/dl at three months. Among 18 evaluable patients, 10 (56%) achieved a cardiac organ response and six (33%) cardiac VGPR or better. The median time to first cardiac response was 1.9 months (range, 0.4–7.3). At a median follow‐up of 12 months for surviving patients, estimated one‐year overall survival was 67.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), 43.8–84.7]. The incidence of grade 3 or higher infections was 21%, with no infection‐related mortality thus far. In summary, Dara–VCD has a promising efficacy and safety profile in stage IIIb AL, and should be studied in prospective trials.
The influence of fiscal policy uncertainty on corporate total factor productivity: Evidence from Chinese public companies
Authors: Zhang Rongwu , Luo Lan , Du Jianjun
Published: March 2023

This paper uses China's public companies to test the influence of fiscal policy uncertainty on corporate total factor productivity. The study finds that fiscal policy uncertainty has a negative impact on the total factor productivity, and the effect of conservative tax avoidance, a mediating variable between the two, is found more significant for non‐state‐owned and non‐recession‐stage enterprises. The study further finds that facing fiscal policy uncertainty, companies reduce R&D investment, which will deteriorate productivity. The overall results show that if the government maintains relatively stable fiscal policies, it will positively improve corporate total factor productivity, even in a longer period.
Understanding spillover of peer parental education: Randomization evidence and mechanisms
Authors: Chung Bobby W. , Zou Jian
Published: March 2023

The educational background of peer parents is more than a proxy for peer quality. We utilize random classroom assignments in China middle schools to study the spillover of peer parental education on the student test score. Analyzing the China Education Panel Survey, we find a causal relationship between the average college attainment of classmates' mothers and a student's test score. Besides peer quality and teacher response, we identify the change in the mother's parenting style as a mediating factor. The parental responses (time, money, and parenting style) also differ by family background, leading to heterogeneous spillover on the test score.
Working memory and sensory memory in subclinical high schizotypy: An avenue for understanding schizophrenia?
Authors: Haigh Sarah M. , Berryhill Marian E. , Kilgore‐Gomez Alexandrea , Dodd Michael
Published: March 2023

The search for robust, reliable biomarkers of schizophrenia remains a high priority in psychiatry. Biomarkers are valuable because they can reveal the underlying mechanisms of symptoms and monitor treatment progress and may predict future risk of developing schizophrenia. Despite the existence of various promising biomarkers that relate to symptoms across the schizophrenia spectrum, and despite published recommendations encouraging multivariate metrics, they are rarely investigated simultaneously within the same individuals. In those with schizophrenia, the magnitude of purported biomarkers is complicated by comorbid diagnoses, medications and other treatments. Here, we argue three points. First, we reiterate the importance of assessing multiple biomarkers simultaneously. Second, we argue that investigating biomarkers in those with schizophrenia‐related traits (schizotypy) in the general population can accelerate progress in understanding the mechanisms of schizophrenia. We focus on biomarkers of sensory and working memory in schizophrenia and their smaller effects in individuals with nonclinical schizotypy. Third, we note irregularities across research domains leading to the current situation in which there is a preponderance of data on auditory sensory memory and visual working memory, but markedly less in visual (iconic) memory and auditory working memory, particularly when focusing on schizotypy where data are either scarce or inconsistent. Together, this review highlights opportunities for researchers without access to clinical populations to address gaps in knowledge. We conclude by highlighting the theory that early sensory memory deficits contribute negatively to working memory and vice versa. This presents a mechanistic perspective where biomarkers may interact with one another and impact schizophrenia‐related symptoms.
Mechanisms driving interspecific variation in regional synchrony of trees reproduction
Authors: Bogdziewicz Michał , Journé Valentin , Hacket‐Pain Andrew , Szymkowiak Jakub
Published: March 2023

Seed production in many plants is characterized by large interannual variation, which is synchronized at subcontinental scales in some species but local in others. The reproductive synchrony affects animal migrations, trophic responses to resource pulses and the planning of management and conservation. Spatial synchrony of reproduction is typically attributed to the Moran effect, but this alone is unable to explain interspecific differences in synchrony. We show that interspecific differences in the conservation of seed production‐weather relationships combine with the Moran effect to explain variation in reproductive synchrony. Conservative timing of weather cues that trigger masting allows populations to be synchronized at distances >1000 km. Conversely, if populations respond to variable weather signals, synchrony cannot be achieved. Our study shows that species vary in the extent to which their weather cueing is spatiotemporally conserved, with important consequences, including an interspecific variation of masting vulnerability to climate change.
Effect of the revised definition of epilepsy on treatment decisions and seizure recurrence after a first epileptic seizure
Authors: Linka Louise , Magnus Benedikt , Habermehl Lena , Tsalouchidou Panagiota‐Eleni , Zahnert Felix , Möeller Leona , Krause Kristina , Knake Susanne , Menzler Katja
Published: March 2023

Background

Studies on risk factors for epilepsy and seizure recurrence after a first seizure are usually based on the old definition of epilepsy with the need for two unprovoked seizures. The current definition of epilepsy allows diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy after a first seizure if the recurrence risk is >60%. We evaluate treatment decisions, seizure recurrence and risk factors for epilepsy related to the application of the new definition of epilepsy.

Methods

Data of 629 patients with a first seizure were analyzed to investigate changes of treatment decisions and seizure recurrence after the revised definition of epilepsy. We used binary logistic regression to investigate the impact of multiple factors influencing seizure recurrence like electroencephalogram (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results and administration of antiseizure medication (ASM).

Results

The proportion of patients receiving ASM significantly increased from 70.4% to 80.5% (p = 0.015) following the new epilepsy definition, without any significant changes in the recurrence rate (40.8% vs. 45.5% after 2 years, p > 0.05). The presence of interictal epileptiform discharges (IED) in the EEG increased (OR = 1.98) and administration of ASM decreased (OR = 0.43) recurrence rates significantly.

Conclusions

The new definition of epilepsy was associated with increased application of ASM, but not with reduced recurrence rates. The study confirms the presence of IED as a strong risk factor for seizure recurrence and the protective effect of ASM. The influence of imaging findings, which have a strong impact on the new definition of epilepsy, could not be confirmed.
Leveraging expertise and optimizing clinical research: Initial success of a pediatric epilepsy surgery collaborative
Authors: Berl Madison M. , Koop Jennifer I. , Ailion Alyssa , Bearden Donald J. , Boyer Katrina , Cooper Crystal M. , Decrow Amanda M. , Duong Priscilla H. , Espe‐Pfeifer Patricia , Gabriel Marsha , Hodges Elise , Marshall David F. , McNally Kelly A. , Molnar Andrew E. , Olsen Emily K. , Ono Kim E. , Patrick Kristina E. , Paul Brianna M. , Romain Jonathan , Sepeta Leigh N. , Stilp Rebecca L. H. , Wilkening Greta N. , Zaccariello Michael , Zelko Frank , Perry M. Scott ,   the PERC Surgery Workgroup
Published: March 2023

Objective

Improve data‐driven research to inform clinical decision‐making with pediatric epilepsy surgery patients by expanding the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium Epilepsy Surgery (PERC‐Surgery) Workgroup to include neuropsychological data. This article reports on the process and initial success of this effort and characterizes the cognitive functioning of the largest multi‐site pediatric epilepsy surgery cohort in the United States.

Methods

Pediatric neuropsychologists from 18 institutions completed surveys regarding neuropsychological practice and the impact of involvement in the collaborative. Neuropsychological data were entered through an online database. Descriptive analyses examined the survey responses and cognitive functioning of the cohort. Statistical analyses examined which patients were evaluated and if composite scores differed by domain, demographics, measures used, or epilepsy characteristics.

Results

Positive impact of participation was evident by attendance, survey responses, and the neuropsychological data entry of 534 presurgical epilepsy patients. This cohort, ages 6 months to 21 years, were majority White and non‐Hispanic, and more likely to have private insurance. Mean intelligence quotient (IQ) scores were below to low average, with weaknesses in working memory and processing speed. Full‐scale IQ (FSIQ) was lowest for patients with younger age at seizure onset, daily seizures, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities.

Significance

We established a collaborative network and fundamental infrastructure to address questions outlined by the Epilepsy Research Benchmarks. There is a wide range in the age and IQ of patients considered for pediatric epilepsy surgery, yet it appears that social determinants of health impact access to care. Consistent with other national cohorts, this US cohort has a downward shift in IQ associated with seizure severity.
Video‐based real‐time assessment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder using deep neural networks
Authors: Prakash Varun Ganjigunte , Kohli Manu , Prathosh Aragulla Prasad , Juneja Monica , Gupta Manushree , Sairam Smitha , Sitaraman Sadasivan , Bangalore Anjali Sanjeev , Kommu John Vijay Sagar , Saini Lokesh , Utage Prashant Ramesh , Goyal Nishant
Published: March 2023

Human action recognition (HAR) in untrimmed videos can make insightful predictions of human behaviour. Previous work on HAR‐included models trained on spatial and temporal annotations and could classify limited actions from trimmed videos. These methods reported limitations such as (1) performance degradation due to the lack of precision temporal regions proposal and (2) poor adaptability of the models in the clinical domain because of unrelated actions of interest. We propose an innovative method that could analyse untrimmed behavioural videos to recommend actions of interest leading to diagnostic and functional assessments for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Our method entails end‐to‐end behaviour action recognition (BAR) pipeline, including child detection, temporal action localization, and actions of interest identification and classification. The model trained on the data of 400 ASD children and 125 with other developmental delays (ODD) accurately identified ASD, ODD, and Neurotypical children with 79.7%, 77.2%, and 80.8% accuracy, respectively. The model's performance on an independent benchmark Self‐Stimulatory Behaviour Dataset (SSBD) reported top‐1 accuracy of 78.57% for combined localization with action recognition, significantly higher than the earlier reported outcomes.
Fatigue life prediction of high‐speed train bearings based on the generalized linear cumulative damage theory
Authors: Li He‐Fei , Wei Jia‐Liang , Li Shao‐Hua , Liu Yong‐Qiang , Gu Xiao‐Hui , Liu Ze‐Chao , Yang Shao‐Pu
Published: March 2023

The fatigue life prediction of the bearings is a crucial and challenging issue, especially under random cyclic loadings. Although numerous methods have been proposed, the remaining useful life of bearings is still unclear. In this study, the tensile and fatigue properties of high‐speed train bearings after various operating mileages were investigated. The experimental results reveal that the microhardness, tensile strength, elongation, and fatigue strength of the bearing steel present a downward trend with increasing the operating mileage. Based on Miner's law, we proposed the generalized linear cumulative damage theory, which illustrates that fatigue damage of components per unit mileage can be linearly superimposed. Accordingly, the residual strength model was established to evaluate the fatigue life of high‐speed train bearings. It would provide a new insight for the fatigue life prediction of bearings under random loadings.
Historical and contemporary processes drive global phylogenetic structure across geographical scales: Insights from bat communities
Authors: Braga Pedro Henrique Pereira , Kembel Steven , Peres‐Neto Pedro
Published: March 2023

Aim

Patterns of evolutionary relatedness among co‐occurring species are driven by scale‐dependent contemporary and historical processes. Yet, we still lack a detailed understanding of how these drivers impact the phylogenetic structure of biological communities. Here, we focused on bats (one of the most species‐rich and vagile groups of mammals) and tested the predictions of three general biogeographical hypotheses that are particularly relevant to understanding how palaeoclimatic stability, local diversification rates and geographical scales shaped their present‐day phylogenetic community structure.

Location

World‐wide, across restrictive geographical extents: global, east–west hemispheres, biogeographical realms, tectonic plates, biomes and ecoregions.

Time period

Last Glacial Maximum (~22,000 years ago) to the present.

Major taxa studied

Bats (Chiroptera).

Methods

We estimated bat phylogenetic community structure across restrictive geographical extents and modelled it as a function of palaeoclimatic stability andin situnet diversification rates.

Results

Limiting geographical extents from larger to smaller scales greatly changed the phylogenetic structure of bat communities. The magnitude of these effects is less noticeable in the western hemisphere, where frequent among‐realm biota interchange could have been maintained through the adaptive traits of bats. Bat communities with high phylogenetic relatedness are generally more common in regions that have changed less in climate since the Last Glacial Maximum, supporting the expectation that stable climates allow for increased phylogenetic clustering. Finally, increasedin situnet diversification rates are associated with greater phylogenetic clustering in bat communities.

Main conclusions

We show that the world‐wide phylogenetic structure of bat assemblages varies as a function of geographical extents, dispersal barriers, palaeoclimatic stability andin situdiversification. The integrative framework used in our study, which can be applied to other taxonomic groups, has not only proved useful to explain the evolutionary dynamics of community assembly, but could also help to tackle questions related to scale dependence in community ecology and biogeography.
Development of Synthetic Clinopyroxene Reference Materials for In Situ Lithium Isotope Measurement by LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS
Authors: Yang Ao , Lin Jie , Liu Yongsheng , Liu Zhenyi , Lin Ran , Deng Kexin , Hu Zhaochu
Published: March 2023

The isotopic composition of lithium (Li) in clinopyroxene (Cpx), determined via in situ micro‐analysis, has been employed as a potential geochemical tool for studying various geological processes such as crust‐mantle recycling, silicate weathering and fluid‐rock interaction. To obtain precise and accurate Li isotopic compositions in Cpx by LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS, synthetic Cpx matrix‐matched reference materials (RMs) were prepared in this study. Six Cpx‐matrix RMs were prepared by mixing metallic oxides with GSP‐2 (granodiorite) or pure L‐SVEC solution and melting them into glasses (GSP‐2 + oxide; L‐SVEC + oxide). Two representative synthetic glasses, CPXA01 and CPXB01, were subjected to a series of analyses to investigate the possible qualification of the RMs for in situ Li isotope measurement by LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS, including elemental homogeneity analysis (elemental mapping analysis and spot analysis), Li isotopic homogeneity analysis and accurate Li isotopic determination. The applicability of the synthetic Cpx‐matrix RMs was highlighted by comparing the δ7Li values of three natural Cpx calibrated against the synthetic Cpx‐matrix RMs and other commonly used RMs with different matrices (NIST SRM 612, BCR‐2G, GOR128‐G, StHs6/80‐G, KL2‐G and T1‐G), respectively. Additionally, CPXB01‐05 RMs with the same matrix but different Li contents were prepared to explore the Li content mismatch effect, which is significant for accurate determination of in situ Li isotopic composition by LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS. The results of the cross‐calibration of Li isotopes in CPXA01 and CPXB01 suggested no obvious Li isotopic fractionation between the two types of glasses (GSP‐2 + oxide; L‐SVEC + oxide). Thus, the two methods of producing Cpx‐matrix RMs are suitable for preparing the matrix‐matched RMs for in situ microanalysis for Li isotopes.
Mid‐to long‐term postoperative outcomes of ankle joint fusion in patients with haemophilia: A systematic review
Authors: Anazor Fitzgerald Chukwuemeka , Uthraraj Nachappa , Southgate Crispin , Dhinsa Baljinder
Published: March 2023

Introduction and Aim

The ankle joint is the most common site for haemophilic arthropathy. The aim of this study was to review the outcomes of ankle joint fusion in patients with haemophilia A or B. The primary outcome measures were union rates, time to union, perioperative blood loss/transfusion, postoperative complications and length of hospital stay (LOS). Secondary outcome measures were hind foot functional outcome scores and the visual analogue pain scale (VAS).

Materials and Methods

A search of PubMed, Medline, Embase, Journals@Ovid and the Cochrane register was performed conforming to the PRISMA guidelines. Only human studies with a minimum follow‐up of 1‐year were included. The MINORS and ROBINS‐1 tools were used for quality appraisal.

Results

A total of 952 articles were identified and only 17 studies met the eligibility criteria after the screening. The mean age of the patients was 37.6 (SD 10.2). A total of 271 ankle fusions were performed with the open crossed‐screw fixation being the most common technique. Union rates were 71.5%–100% at 2–6 months. The pooled postoperative complication and revision rates were 13.7% and 6.5%, respectively. The range of LOS was 1.8–10.6 days. The mean preoperative American orthopedic foot and ankle society (AOFAS) ankle‐hindfoot score was 35 (SD 13.1) whereas the mean postoperative AOFAS score was 79.4 (SD 5.3). The mean preoperative VAS was 6.3 (SD 1.6) while the mean postoperative VAS score was .9 (SD .4) across 38 ankle fusions.

Conclusion

Ankle arthrodesis offers improved pain and function in haemophilic ankle arthropathy with lower revision and complication rates than that reported in the literature for total ankle replacement.
Expectation and loss when gene therapy for haemophilia is not an option: An exigency sub‐study
Authors: Fletcher Simon , Jenner Kathryn , Holland Michael , Khair Kate
Published: March 2023

Background

Qualitative studies have explored why people with haemophilia (PwH) might consider or forgo gene therapy, the impact it has had on those who have received it, and what support might be needed throughout the process. No studies have yet examined what withdrawal prior to transfection might mean for PwH and their families.

Aims

To understand the experiences of PwH and their families of withdrawal from gene therapy and to understand what support mechanisms might be required.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were conducted with people with severe haemophilia who consented to take part in a gene therapy study in the UK but either withdrew or were withdrawn before transfection.

Results

Nine PwH and a family member were invited to this sub‐study. Eight participants were recruited: six PwH (five haemophilia A and one haemophilia B) and two family members. Four participants were excluded from a study after consenting but before transfection, having failed to meet all the inclusion criteria; two withdrew after consenting but before transfection due to concerns including duration of factor expression and the time commitment involved in follow‐up. The mean age of participants was 40.5 years (range 25–63 years). Two major themes emerged during the interviews: Expectation and loss.

Conclusions

PwH have many expectations about the difference gene therapy can make to their lives. Studies show that these expectations may not be fully realised. For those who have either withdrawn or been withdrawn from gene therapy, any expectations they had may now be unachievable. The nature of these expectations and the loss expressed by the participants indicate that support needs to be provided to help them and their families manage it.
Evaluating virological outcomes in people with HIV on stable antiretroviral therapy with reduced frequency of HIV viral load monitoring during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Alagaratnam J. , Sabin C. A. , Garvey L. J. , Ramzan F. , Winston A. , Fidler S. , Mackie N. E.
Published: March 2023

Objectives

In response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, HIV outpatient attendances were restricted from March 2020, resulting in reduced frequency of HIV viral load (VL) monitoring (previously 6‐monthly) in clinically stable and virologically suppressed people living with HIV (PLWH). We investigated virological outcomes during this period of reduced monitoring and compared with the previous year, prior to the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

People living with HIV with undetectable VL (<200 HIV RNA copies /mL) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) were identified from March 2018 to February 2019. We determined VL outcomes during the pre‐COVD‐19 period (March 2019–February 2020) and the COVID‐19 period (March 2020–February 2021) when monitoring was restricted. Frequency and longest durations between VL tests in each period were evaluated, and virological sequelae in those with detectable VL were determined.

Results

Of 2677 PLWH virologically suppressed on ART (March 2018–February 2019), VLs were measured and undetectable in 2571 (96.0%) and 2003 (77.9%) in the pre‐COVID and COVID periods, respectively. Mean (SD) numbers of VL tests were 2.3 (1.08) and 1.1 (0.83) and mean longest duration between VL tests was 29.5 weeks (SD 8.25, 3.1% were ≥12 months) and 43.7 weeks (12.64, 28.4% were ≥12 months), in the pre‐COVID and COVID periods, respectively. Of 45 individuals with one or more detectable VL during the COVID‐19 period, two developed new drug resistance mutations.

Conclusion

Reduced VL monitoring was not associated with poorer virological outcomes in the majority of stable individuals receiving ART. One in 20 individuals had not returned for VL testing after ≥31 months and the risk of harm in these individuals is unknown.
Self‐revocation of nurse licences in Finland – nursing response to deteriorating workplace and patient safety: Implications for future nursing action
Authors: Cubelo Floro
Published: March 2023

Aim

To communicate trends in nurse licence revocation in Finland and examine policies and legislation that have implications for future nursing responses to workplace hazards.

Background

The causes of the shortage of nurses working in Finland are multifactorial and complex. Nurses are joining trade unions and taking industrial action in response to the devaluation of their profession and the underpayment of nurses during the pandemic. The Health Care Professions Act in Finland allows nurses to apply voluntarily to withdraw or revoke their licence using online digital tools – and many are doing so as a last resort.

Discussion

A declining nursing workforce is anticipated, with retiree trends increasing while nurse recruitment decreases over the next few decades. Nurses' remuneration and working conditions have suffered during the pandemic, and industrial actions organised by trade unions that include nurses have advocated for the policy and decision‐making process to improve, but with mixed results. The process of how legislation enables licence revocation in Finland is essential to understanding this new phenomenon.

Conclusion

Advocacy for nurses, who are disadvantaged within the current pandemic emergency response policy environment, is needed across every nursing context and every career stage. Without support, nurses confronted with precarious working conditions are more likely to draw attention to their plight by using recent legislation to revoke their nursing licences voluntarily. A revocation may be temporary or permanent. Nurses need advocates and mentors to address attrition issues around the voluntary withdrawal of licences. The situation in Finland offers trade unions and nursing associations an opportunity to validate their existence in society.

Implications for Nursing Practice

Public displays of distress about the political undervaluing of the nursing profession discourage applications to study nursing and pursue a nursing career or remain in the nursing profession. International experience tells us that when proficient nurses exit the profession, the level of patient safety and health benefits and national productivity suffer.

Implications for Nursing Policy

Finland's Nursing Act is an aspect of policy that needs exploring and the basis for amending policies to enable collective bargaining agreements to protect the rights and future of nurses. Reactive policies for recruiting foreign nurses to bolster a failed domestic nursing workforce policy have their own problems. These policy issues reflect the problems facing nurses worldwide.
Trade dependence and stock market reaction to the Russia‐Ukraine war
Authors: Tajaddini Reza , Gholipour Hassan F.
Published: March 2023

Using data from 83 countries, we show that the decline in the value of stock market indices in response to the Russia‐Ukraine war was sharper in countries that have stronger trade ties (both exports and imports) with Russia and Ukraine. We also find the relationship between trade dependency and market drop is weaker in countries with more trade openness.
K‐medoids clustering of hospital admission characteristics to classify severity of influenza virus infection
Authors: Leis Aleda M. , McSpadden Erin , Segaloff Hannah E. , Lauring Adam S. , Cheng Caroline , Petrie Joshua G. , Lamerato Lois E. , Patel Manish , Flannery Brendan , Ferdinands Jill , Karvonen‐Gutierrez Carrie A. , Monto Arnold , Martin Emily T.
Published: March 2023

Background

Patients are admitted to the hospital for respiratory illness at different stages of their disease course. It is important to appropriately analyse this heterogeneity in surveillance data to accurately measure disease severity among those hospitalized. The purpose of this study was to determine if unique baseline clusters of influenza patients exist and to examine the association between cluster membership and in‐hospital outcomes.

Methods

Patients hospitalized with influenza at two hospitals in Southeast Michigan during the 2017/2018 (n = 242) and 2018/2019 (n = 115) influenza seasons were included. Physiologic and laboratory variables were collected for the first 24 h of the hospital stay. K‐medoids clustering was used to determine groups of individuals based on these values. Multivariable linear regression or Firth's logistic regression were used to examine the association between cluster membership and clinical outcomes.

Results

Three clusters were selected for 2017/2018, mainly differentiated by blood glucose level. After adjustment, those in C171 had 5.6 times the odds of mechanical ventilator use than those in C172 (95% CI: 1.49, 21.1) and a significantly longer mean hospital length of stay than those in both C172 (mean 1.5 days longer, 95% CI: 0.2, 2.7) and C173 (mean 1.4 days longer, 95% CI: 0.3, 2.5). Similar results were seen between the two clusters selected for 2018/2019.

Conclusion

In this study of hospitalized influenza patients, we show that distinct clusters with higher disease acuity can be identified and could be targeted for evaluations of vaccine and influenza antiviral effectiveness against disease attenuation. The association of higher disease acuity with glucose level merits evaluation.
Racism, colonialism and the implications for nursing scholarship: A discussion paper
Authors: Kimani Rachel Wangari
Published: March 2023

Aim

A critical discussion of the intersections between racism and colonialism as social determinants of health and explore how these discriminatory ideologies shape nursing inquiry.

Design

Discussion paper.

Data Sources

A review of pertinent discourse on racism and colonialism in nursing from 2000 to 2022.

Implications for Nursing

The failure to address health inequity plaguing racialized and marginalized populations locally and globally affects all groups, as illustrated in the COVID‐19 pandemic. Racism and colonialism are inextricably linked, creating potent forces that influence nursing scholarship and adversely affect the health of a culturally and racially diverse society. Power differentials exist within and between countries creating structural challenges that lead to inequitable distribution of resources and othering. Nursing cannot be abstracted from the sociopolitical context in which it exists. There have been calls to address the social drivers that influence the health of the communities. More still needs to be done to support an antiracist agenda and decolonize nursing.

Conclusion

Nurses, as the largest healthcare workforce, can be critical in addressing health disparities. However, nurses have failed to eliminate racism within their ranks, and essentialism ideology has been normalized. A multidimensional approach that includes interventions aimed at nursing education, direct patient care, community health, nursing organizations and policy is needed to address problematic nursing discourse rooted in colonialism and racism ideologies. Since knowledge generated from scholarship informs nursing education, practice and policy, it is imperative to implement antiracist policies that eliminate racist assumptions and practices from nursing scholarship.

No Patient or Public Contribution

The paper is a discursive paper using pertinent nursing literature.

Impact

For nursing to attain its potential as a leader in healthcare, standards of scientific vigour should be embedded within history, culture and politics. Recommendations are provided on possible strategies to identify, confront and abolish racism and colonialism in nursing scholarship.
Do social cues in instructional videos affect attention allocation, perceived cognitive load, and learning outcomes under different visual complexity conditions?
Authors: Meier Julius , de Jong Bastian , van Montfort Dorien Preusterink , Verdonschot Anouk , van Wermeskerken Margot , van Gog Tamara
Published: March 2023

Background

There are only few guidelines on how instructional videos should be designed to optimize learning. Recently, the effects of social cues on attention allocation and learning in instructional videos have been investigated. Due to inconsistent results, it has been suggested that the visual complexity of a video influences the effect of social cues on learning.

Objectives

Therefore, this study compared the effects of social cues (i.e., gaze & gesture) in low and high visual complexity videos on attention, perceived cognitive load, and learning outcomes.

Methods

Participants (N = 71) were allocated to a social cue or no social cue condition and watched both a low and a high visual complexity video. After each video, participants completed a knowledge test.

Results and Conclusions

Results showed that participants looked faster at referenced information and had higher learning outcomes in the low visual complexity condition. Social cues did not affect any of the dependent variables, except when including prior knowledge in the analysis: In this exploratory analysis, the inclusion of gaze and gesture cues in the videos did lead to better learning outcomes.

Takeaways

Our results show that the visual complexity of instructional videos and prior knowledge are important to take into account in future research on attention and learning from instructional videos.