bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High plant-based diet and physical activity in women during menopausal transition
Authors: Lombardo Mauro , Rizzo Gianluca , Feraco Alessandra , Perrone Marco Alfonso , Bellia Chiara , Lauro Davide , Caprio Massimiliano , Bellia Alfonso , Padua Elvira
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The menopausal transition (MT) is a period when there may be an increase in visceral fat mass and a worsening of cardiometabolic risk factors. Few studies have evaluated the efficacy of plant-based low-calorie diets on groups of women at different stages of MT. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a high plant-to-animal protein ratio diet in women of similar age but with different fertility statuses.

Design/methodology/approach

Subjects were divided into three groups according to their fertility status at the baseline: “premenopausal” (n = 11), “perimenopause” (n = 14) and “postmenopause” (n = 18). Body composition (BC) was measured at the beginning and after eight months of treatment. Individualised lifestyle treatment included a strong component of plant-based foods.

Findings

Forty-three overweight or obese Caucasian women (age 52.3 ± 4.5 years, body mass index 30.6 ± 5.4 kg/m2, fat mass 33.1 ± 9.3 kg data presented as means ± SD) were included in the study. Mean physical activity was 8.4 ± 7.6 metabolic equivalent of tasks/week. Subjects had an improvement in BC (fat mass −5.6 ± 4.0 kg, p < 0.001 protein −0.3 ± 0.5 kg, p < 0.001), HDL-C and systolic blood pressure values. Waist circumference and hip circumference decreased by 4.1 ± 3.1 cm and −6.0 ± 4.3 cm, respectively. Weight loss resulted in a significant improvement in some blood lipid values, such as total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Adherence to a high plant protein diet helps adult women with different fertility statuses to improve BC and reduce cardiovascular risk factors. Long-term studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.

Originality/value

In pre-peri- and post-menopausal adult women, a diet high in plant proteins improves body composition and reduces cardiovascular risk factors.
Multi-sensor fusion for underwater robot self-localization using PC/BC-DIM neural network
Authors: Ali Umair , Muhammad Wasif , Irshad Muhammad Jehanzed , Manzoor Sajjad
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Self-localization of an underwater robot using global positioning sensor and other radio positioning systems is not possible, as an alternative onboard sensor-based self-location estimation provides another possible solution. However, the dynamic and unstructured nature of the sea environment and highly noise effected sensory information makes the underwater robot self-localization a challenging research topic. The state-of-art multi-sensor fusion algorithms are deficient in dealing of multi-sensor data, e.g. Kalman filter cannot deal with non-Gaussian noise, while parametric filter such as Monte Carlo localization has high computational cost. An optimal fusion policy with low computational cost is an important research question for underwater robot localization.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors proposed a novel predictive coding-biased competition/divisive input modulation (PC/BC-DIM) neural network-based multi-sensor fusion approach, which has the capability to fuse and approximate noisy sensory information in an optimal way.

Findings

Results of low mean localization error (i.e. 1.2704 m) and computation cost (i.e. 2.2 ms) show that the proposed method performs better than existing previous techniques in such dynamic and unstructured environments.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work provides a novel multisensory fusion approach to overcome the existing problems of non-Gaussian noise removal, higher self-localization estimation accuracy and reduced computational cost.
The relationship between managerial entrenchment, social responsibility, and firm’s risk-taking and shareholders’ activity
Authors: Salehi Mahdi , Alkhyyoon Hussein
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to assess the relationship between managerial entrenchment, social responsibility and risk-taking of the firm and shareholders’ activity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is carried out based on the disclosed information of listed firms on Tehran and Iraq Stock Exchanges during 2011–2017 from a sample of 121 firms on the Iranian side and 37 firms on the Iraqi side. The hypothesis testing is performed using panel estimators of the adjusted regression models.

Findings

The obtained results from hypothesis testing show that there is a significant relationship between managerial entrenchment, social responsibility disclosure, social responsibility growth of the firm and risk-taking and shareholders’ activity in the Iranian Stock Exchange firms. Moreover, in the case of Iraqi firms, a significant relationship is observed between managerial entrenchment, social responsibility disclosure, social responsibility growth of the firm but the relationship between firm risk-taking and shareholders’ activity was not evident.

Originality/value

The current study is almost is the first study conducted on two Islamic countries and the outcomes of the study may help other Muslim countries on the subject of the study.
Divergent contributions of living roots to turnover of different soil organic carbon pools and their links to plant traits
Authors: Huang Junsheng , Liu Weixing , Pan Shengnan , Wang Zhe , Yang Sen , Jia Zhou , Wang Zhenhua , Deng Meifeng , Yang Lu , Liu Chao , Chang Pengfei , Liu Lingli
Published: October 2021

Rhizodeposits and root litter contribute critically to soil organic carbon (SOC) formation and decomposition. This root‐induced SOC turnover shows great interspecific variations. Bulk SOC consists of diverse functional pools differing in formation and stabilization. Yet, it remains unclear which plant traits regulate the effects of living roots on the turnover of different SOC pools across species.

By performing 13CO2 continuous labelling of six grassland species for a growing season in a climate‐controlled chamber, we quantified the contributions of living roots to the dynamics of the fast‐cycling particulate organic C and the slow‐cycling mineral‐associated organic C, and explored their relations to plant traits.

The results showed that new root‐derived SOC varied more than threefold among the six species. The variation in new root‐derived SOC was best explained by the ratio of shoot to root biomass. Plant species with higher shoot:root ratio formed more new root‐derived SOC. Most of the root‐derived C (72%) was incorporated into the particulate organic C pool. All species caused positive rhizosphere priming effects (RPE), which varied sevenfold across species. Among plant traits, specific root length was the best predictor of interspecific variations in the RPE, with greater RPE associated with higher specific root length. Most of the RPE (70%) occurred in the mineral‐associated organic C pool. Our results also showed that most plant species caused more old SOC decomposition via the RPE than new SOC formation, leading to net SOC losses, especially for the mineral‐associated organic C pool.

Overall, we provide novel insights into the effects of plant traits on root‐induced turnover of particulate and mineral‐associated organic C. Our findings should be valuable for understanding how specific plant traits regulate SOC accumulation and stabilization.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Dog in the matrix: Envisioning countrywide connectivity conservation for an endangered carnivore
Authors: Rodrigues Ryan G. , Srivathsa Arjun , Vasudev Divya
Published: October 2021

Elevated rates of anthropogenic impacts on land‐use regimes have pushed terrestrial megafauna to the brink of extinction. Consequently, it is critical to adopt conservation approaches that safeguard individual populations while retaining connectivity among these populations. Conserving spatially structured populations of imperiled species at large scales is often complex; and the past decades have therefore seen a rise in spatial conservation prioritization exercises aimed at shaping landscape‐scale conservation programmes.

We present a framework for informing nationwide connectivity conservation, linking ecological and administrative scales, to maximize relevance for management. We assessed connectivity of the endangered dhole Cuon alpinus among 155 potential source populations across India using a data‐driven approach combined with graph and circuit theory. We used clustering algorithms to identify ecologically meaningful conservation landscapes; within each landscape, we identified priority source populations based on their connectedness and quantified pixel‐specific habitat accessibility. We superimposed administrative boundaries on our findings to provide conservation recommendations at this management‐relevant scale.

We first mapped potential dhole movement across India. Dhole populations fell within three primary clusters—Western and Eastern Ghats (WEG), Central Indian Landscape (CIL) and North‐East India (NEI)—of which NEI had the highest forest cover, most diffuse connectivity and lowest human density, while WEG had the highest protected area coverage and overall connectedness. Within each conservation landscape, we evaluated the relative importance of Protected Areas and accessibility to high‐quality patches. Parts of the Eastern Ghats had low habitat accessibility, yet high potential for dhole landscape connectivity. In 114 identified administrative units of priority for habitat restoration, we highlight those with low accessibility, that is, areas where restoration needs to be spatially targeted for maximum benefits.

Synthesis and applications. We make recommendations for spatially informed habitat restoration to enhance dhole connectivity in India, highlighting the importance of improving matrix permeability where dhole movement is currently restricted. More broadly, the framework we present is useful across species and management contexts, as it combines spatial and administrative scales to make ecologically informed assessments of high relevance to management. Synergistically integrating species ecology, threats and administrative considerations in connectivity conservation plans can enhance success of species conservation programmes.
Community‐level responses of African carnivores to prescribed burning
Authors: Gigliotti Laura C. , Curveira‐Santos Gonçalo , Slotow Rob , Sholto‐Douglas Craig , Swanepoel Lourens H. , Jachowski David S.
Published: October 2021

Fires are common in many ecosystems world‐wide, and are frequently used as a management tool. Although the responses of herbivores to fire have been well‐studied, the responses of carnivores to fire remain unclear. In particular, post‐fire habitat changes, and the associated changes in prey availability, might affect the coexistence or competition of carnivore species within the larger carnivore community, but few studies have focused on how fires influence multiple carnivore species simultaneously.

Using South African carnivores as our focal community, we explored relative changes in carnivore intensity of use in post‐fire landscapes associated with hypothesized changes in prey availability and top‐down suppression.

We monitored carnivore intensity of use in relation to prescribed burning using camera traps, with a Before‐After‐Control‐Impact study design. We analysed the camera trap data using community N‐mixture models to understand how individual species, as well as the carnivore guild as a whole, respond to burning.

Changes in carnivore intensity of use in response to prescribed burns were not uniform; however, no species decreased the intensity of use of post‐fire landscapes. The apex predator, the lionPanthera leo, increased the use of prey‐rich burnt areas, but other large carnivore species exhibited neutral responses to fire despite the associated prey increase. Responses of medium‐ and small‐sized carnivores were species specific, and included both neutral and positive responses. Positive responses to fire by lions and herbivores were short‐lived, and did not persist a year after burning occurred.

Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate that fire does not promote carnivore coexistence by creating conditions for all carnivores to increase the use of burned areas, but that it also likely does not result in spatial avoidance of subordinate predators. Instead, fires might cause a suppression of opportunities for subordinate large carnivores because they need to avoid the apex predator, rather than take advantage of short‐term increased hunting opportunities in recently burned areas. Our results highlight the complexity of understanding species‐specific and community‐level responses of carnivores to fire, and overlooked the ecological effects of its use as a management tool.
Nepal's hydropower development: Predicament and dilemma in policy‐making
Authors: Zou Xiaolong , Pradhan Sheela , Mukhia Anmol
Published: October 2021

Nepal, the world's second most water‐rich country, nevertheless struggles to provide sufficient domestic electricity. Despite Nepal's potential to become the hydropower source for South Asia, it still relies heavily on importing electricity from India. This paper investigates why Nepal's hydropower capacity is inadequately utilized from both domestic and international perspectives and finds that domestic factors such as geo‐climate features, weak infrastructure, political instability, and institutional deficiencies significantly hinder Nepal's hydropower development. From an international perspective, Nepal's geopolitical bonds and energy dependency with India and the regional power‐sharing configuration have significantly influenced its hydropower policy‐making. Furthermore, this paper proposes how Nepal could sustainably develop its hydropower for self‐sufficiency by establishing better policy instruments, attracting foreign investments, and upgrading its electricity infrastructure.
Crime under lockdown: The impact of COVID‐19 on citizen security in the city of Buenos Aires
Authors: Perez‐Vincent Santiago M. , Schargrodsky Ernesto , García Mejía Mauricio
Published: October 2021

Research Summary

This paper studies the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown on criminal activity in the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Following quarantine restrictions, we find a large, significant, robust, and immediate decline in property crime reported to official agencies, police arrests, and crime reported in victimization surveys. We observe no significant change in homicides, and a significant increase in arrests for “resistance to authorities”. The decrease in criminal activity was greater in business and transportation areas, but still large in commercial and residential areas (including informal settlements). After the sharp and immediate fall, crime recovered but, by the end of 2020, it had not reached its initial levels. The arrest data additionally shows a reduction in the distance from the detainee's address to the crime location, and a fall in the number of detainees from outside the City of Buenos Aires. Crime became more local as mobility was restricted.

Policy Implications

We find no evidence that the reduction in the number of detainees from outside the City of Buenos Aires led to a displacement of crimeto suburban areas. This result aligns with the hypothesis that focalized place‐based interventions have the potential to reduce overall crime rates. Moreover, the increase in arrests for "resistance to authorities" at the checkpoints set up during the lockdown shows that the enforcement of mobility restrictions can cause frictions between citizens and police, negatively affecting police's legitimacy. We also find that the increased government presence for the provision of health and social services in informal settlements during the pandemic led, as a positive externality, to an additional decrease in crime.
Prevalence of food insecurity in community‐dwelling people living with severe mental illness
Authors: Tripodi Elise , Jarman Rebecca , Morell Rachel , Teasdale Scott B.
Published: October 2021

Aim

The present study aimed to measure the prevalence and severity of food insecurity in people with a severe mental illness, defined as schizophrenia and related psychoses, and bipolar disorder; and explore relationships between food insecurity status, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study recruited community‐dwelling people with severe mental illness receiving clozapine and/or a long‐acting injectable antipsychotic medication within three mental health services in Sydney, Australia. Participants completed the 18‐item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Sociodemographic and medical information was obtained from participants' medical records. Independent samples t‐test and chi‐square analyses were used to test for between group differences based on food insecurity status. Binary logistic regression analyses adjusting for age and gender were used to determine the odds ratio.

Results

One‐hundred and eighty‐eight people completed the assessment: 63% were male, mean age was 49.2 ± 12.4 years, and the majority (85%) had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Food insecurity was detected in 31% of participants. Of those who were food insecure, 12% were classified as severe, 13% as moderate and 7% as mild. Tobacco smoking was higher in food insecure people compared to food secure people (odds ratio = 3.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 7.1, p = 0.01). Food insecurity status was not associated with demographic, diagnostic or other clinical data.

Conclusions

Food insecurity is highly prevalent among community‐dwelling people with severe mental illness receiving clozapine and/or long‐acting injectable antipsychotic medication. Food security screening should be considered as routine care for this population group.
Prevalence, correlates, and consequences of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a clinical sample of adults with tramadol use in Egypt
Authors: Bassiony Medhat M. , Salah El‐Deen Ghada M. , Ameen Noha , Mahdy Rehab S.
Published: October 2021

Background and Objectives

Many studies investigated the association between attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) but none focused on the association between ADHD and nonmedical prescription opioids such as tramadol. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence, correlates, and consequences of co‐occurrence of ADHD and tramadol use among adults.

Methods

This study included 122 Egyptian adults with opioid use disorders attributed to tramadol (N = 122). Participants were recruited from the psychiatric outpatient clinic and inpatient unit of Zagazig University Hospital, Egypt. ADHD and SUDs were assessed by using the Adult ADHD Self‐Report Scale (ASRS—v 1.1) and SCID‐I criteria of DSM‐5, respectively. All participants were screened for drugs by urinalysis.

Results

Forty percent of the participants used tramadol alone, whereas the remaining used it with other substances, such as alcohol (51.6%) and cannabis (48.4%). Thirty‐eight cases (31%) had adult ADHD and most of them had inattentive or mixed types. Adults with tramadol use and ADHD were more likely to have a younger age of onset of tramadol use, use a higher dose of tramadol, and use it for a longer duration than those with tramadol use without ADHD.

Conclusions and Discussion

ADHD in adults with tramadol use is common and is associated with early‐onset, high dose, and long duration of tramadol use.

Scientific Significance

This is the first study to investigate the co‐occurrence of ADHD and tramadol misuse among adults.
Management of submacular massive haemorrhage in age‐related macular degeneration: comparison between subretinal transplant of human amniotic membrane and subretinal injection of tissue plasminogen activator
Authors: Caporossi Tomaso , Bacherini Daniela , Governatori Lorenzo , Oliverio Leandro , Di Leo Laura , Tartaro Ruggero , Rizzo Stanislao
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Macular neovascularization (MNV) can complicate age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) and lead to severe visual acuity reduction. Massive submacular haemorrhage (SMH) is a sight‐threatening complication of MNV and a challenge in the management of complications related to MNV in AMD since the effects of anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor treatment alone are insufficient. Here, we evaluate the different postoperative outcomes of patients affected by MNV complicated by SMH that underwent subretinal implant of human amniotic membrane (hAM) or subretinal injection of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).

Methods

This is a retrospective, consecutive, comparative, non‐randomized interventional study. We included 44 eyes of 44 patients affected by AMD complicated by MNV and SMH. Twenty‐two eyes underwent a pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), SMH and neovascular membrane removal, with a subretinal implant of hAM and silicone oil, and 22 eyes underwent PPV, subretinal injection of tPA, and 20% sulphur hexafluoride. The primary study outcome was visual acuity improvement. Secondary outcomes were postoperative complications, and MNV recurrence and optical coherence tomography (OCT)‐Angiography parameters correlated with best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Results

Mean preoperative BCVA was 1.9 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) in the amniotic membrane‐group and 2 logMAR in the tPA‐group. The mean final BCVA values were 1.25 and 1.4 logMAR, respectively, with a statistically significant difference. Optical coherence tomography (OCT)‐Angiography scan was be used to evaluate the retinal vascularization in the treated eye.

Conclusion

Both techniques report similar VA improvements and postoperative complications. However, transplantation of hAM seems to have a significant benefit in inhibiting MNV recurrence.
Spectra in low‐rank localized layers (SpeLLL) for interpretable time–frequency analysis
Authors: Tuft Marie , Hall Martica H. , Krafty Robert T.
Published: October 2021

The time‐varying frequency characteristics of many biomedical time series contain important scientific information. However, the high‐dimensional nature of the time‐varying power spectrum as a surface in time and frequency limits its direct use by applied researchers and clinicians for elucidating complex mechanisms. In this article, we introduce a new approach to time–frequency analysis that decomposes the time‐varying power spectrum in to orthogonal rank‐one layers in time and frequency to provide a parsimonious representation that illustrates relationships between power at different times and frequencies. The approach can be used in fully nonparametric analyses or in semiparametric analyses that account for exogenous information and time‐varying covariates. An estimation procedure is formulated within a penalized reduced‐rank regression framework that provides estimates of layers that are interpretable as power localized within time blocks and frequency bands. Empirical properties of the procedure are illustrated in simulation studies and its practical use is demonstrated through an analysis of heart rate variability during sleep.
Adult mental health service engagement with patients who are parents: Evidence from 15 English mental health trusts
Authors: Dunn Abby , Startup Helen , Cartwright‐Hatton Sam
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Ascertaining whether mental health service users have children is a clinical requirement in UK health services, and acknowledgement of a patient’s parenting role is necessary to enable engagement with their parenting experience and to facilitate support, both of which are associated with improved outcomes for the parent–child dyad. The current study sought to investigate the practice of mental health practitioners working in UK adult mental health services with regard to the following: Ascertaining whether patients have children; engagement with the parenting role of patients; engagement with the construct of ‘think patient as parent’.

Methods

Self‐report online/paper survey of 1105 multi‐disciplinary adult mental health practitioners working in 15 mental health trusts in England.

Results

A quarter of adult mental health practitioners did not routinely ascertain whether patients had dependent children. Less than half of practitioners engaged with the parenting experience or the potential impact of parental mental health on children.

Conclusions

The parenting role of patients is not routinely captured by large numbers of practitioners working in adult mental health settings. This is despite it being a mandatory requirement and an integral component of the systematic care of the adult, and preventative care for the offspring. Failure to engage with patients who are parents is a missed opportunity with profound downstream public health implications. The practice deficits identified in this study should be viewed in terms of broader structural failures to address the intergenerational transmission of poor mental health.

Practitioner points

Some parents who have mental health difficulties may struggle to provide appropriate and effective care to their children. The parenting role can also exacerbate mental health difficulties.

Identification of dependent children is a mandatory component of adult mental health clinical practice and is necessary to understand a parent’s support needs.

A quarter of adult mental health practitioners are failing to do so. A missed opportunity to engage with the support needs of the parent–child dyad.
Illness representations and psychological outcomes in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Authors: Arrato Nicole A. , Valentine Thomas R. , Byrd John C. , Jones Jeffrey A. , Maddocks Kami J. , Woyach Jennifer A. , Andersen Barbara L.
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a lifelong cancer with subtle symptoms. Treatment is not curative and often involves repeated relapses and retreatments. Illness perceptions – cognitive and emotional representations of illness stimuli – were studied in CLL patients to: 1) identify illness perception ‘profiles’ prior to treatment; and 2) test whether profile membership predicts psychological responses 12 months later as treatment continued.

Design

CLL patients (N = 259), randomized to one of four cancer treatment trials testing targeted therapy, were assessed before starting treatment and at 12 months.

Methods

The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) assessed perceived consequences, timeline, personal/treatment control, identity, comprehension, concern, and emotions toward CLL. Psychological outcomes were depressive symptoms (PHQ‐9/BDI‐II), negative mood (POMS), and cancer stress (IES‐R). Latent profile analysis (LPA) determined number of profiles and differential BIPQ items for each profile. Multilevel models tested profiles as predictors of 12‐month psychological outcomes.

Results

LPA selected the three‐profile model, with profiles revealing Low (n = 150; 57.9%), Moderate (n = 21; 8.1%), and High‐impact (n = 88; 34.0%) illness representations. Profiles were defined by differences in consequences, identity, concern, and emotions. Profile membership predicted all psychological outcomes (ps<.038). Low‐impact profile patients endorsed minimal psychological symptoms; High‐impact profile patients reported substantial symptoms.

Conclusions

Results of the first CLL illness representation study provide directions for future clinical efforts. By identifying differences among patients’ perceptions of CLL consequences, symptom burden, concerns, and emotional responses, an at‐risk patient group might receive tailored psychological treatment. Treatments may address negative perceptions, to reduce psychological risk associated with chronic cancer.
A deep learning‐based model for prediction of hemorrhagic transformation after stroke
Authors: Jiang Liang , Zhou Leilei , Yong Wei , Cui Jinluan , Geng Wen , Chen Huiyou , Zou Jianjun , Chen Yang , Yin Xindao , Chen Yu‐Chen
Published: October 2021

Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is one of the most serious complications after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate deep‐learning (DL) models based on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to automatically predict HT in AIS patients. Multiparametric MRI and clinical data of AIS patients with EVT from two centers (data set 1 for training and testing: n = 338; data set 2 for validating: n = 54) were used in the DL models. The acute infarction area of diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) and hypoperfusion of perfusion‐weighted imaging (PWI) was labeled manually. Two forms of data sets (volume of interest [VOI] data sets and slice data sets) were analyzed, respectively. The models based on single parameter and multiparameter models were developed and validated to predict HT in AIS patients after EVT. Performance was evaluated by area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy (ACC), sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value. The results showed that the performance of single parameter model based on MTT (VOI data set: AUC = 0.933, ACC = 0.843; slice data set: AUC = 0.945, ACC = 0.833) and TTP (VOI data set: AUC = 0.916, ACC = 0.873; slice data set: AUC = 0.889, ACC = 0.818) were better than the other single parameter model. The multiparameter model based on DWI & MTT & TTP & Clinical (DMTC) had the best performance for predicting HT (VOI data set: AUC = 0.948, ACC = 0.892; slice data set: AUC = 0.932, ACC = 0.873). The DMTC model in the external validation set achieved similar performance with the testing set (VOI data set: AUC = 0.939, ACC = 0.884; slice data set: AUC = 0.927, ACC = 0.871) (p > 0.05). The proposed clinical, DWI, and PWI multiparameter DL model has great potential for assisting the periprocedural management in the early prediction HT of the AIS patients with EVT.
Safety and efficacy of depatuxizumab mafodotin in Japanese patients with malignant glioma: A nonrandomized, phase 1/2 trial
Authors: Narita Yoshitaka , Muragaki Yoshihiro , Kagawa Naoki , Asai Katsunori , Nagane Motoo , Matsuda Masahide , Ueki Keisuke , Kuroda Junichiro , Date Isao , Kobayashi Hiroyuki , Kumabe Toshihiro , Beppu Takaaki , Kanamori Masayuki , Kasai Shota , Nishimura Yasuko , Xiong Hao , Ocampo Christopher , Yamada Masakazu , Mishima Kazuhiko
Published: October 2021

INTELLANCE‐J was a phase 1/2 study of a potent antibody‐drug conjugate targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), depatuxizumab mafodotin (Depatux‐M), as a second‐ or first‐line therapy, alone or combined with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in 53 Japanese patients with World Health Organization (WHO) grade III/IV glioma. In second‐line arms, patients with EGFR‐amplified recurrent WHO grade III/IV glioma received Depatux‐M plus chemotherapy (temozolomide) or Depatux‐M alone regardless of EGFR status. In first‐line arms, patients with newly diagnosed WHO grade III/IV glioma received Depatux‐M plus chemoradiotherapy. The study was halted following lack of survival benefit with first‐line Depatux‐M in the global trial INTELLANCE‐1. The primary endpoint was 6‐month progression‐free survival (PFS) in patients with EGFR‐amplified tumors receiving second‐line Depatux‐M plus chemotherapy. Common nonocular treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) with both second‐line and first‐line Depatux‐M included lymphopenia (42%, 33%, respectively), thrombocytopenia (39%, 47%), alanine aminotransferase increase (29%, 47%), and aspartate aminotransferase increase (24%, 60%); incidence of grade ≥3 TEAEs was 66% and 53%, respectively. Ocular side effects (OSEs) occurred in 93% of patients receiving second‐line Depatux‐M plus chemotherapy and all patients receiving second‐line Depatux‐M alone or first‐line Depatux‐M plus chemoradiotherapy. Most OSEs were manageable with dose modifications and concomitant medications. The 6‐month PFS estimate was 25.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.4‒42.6), and median PFS was 2.1 months (95% CI 1.9‒3.9) with second‐line Depatux‐M plus chemotherapy in the EGFR‐amplified subgroup. This study showed acceptable safety profile of Depatux‐M alone or plus chemotherapy/chemoradiotherapy in Japanese patients with WHO grade III/IV glioma. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02590263).
Can we predict mucosal remission in ulcerative colitis more precisely with a redefined cutoff level of C‐reactive protein?
Authors: Bakkaloglu Oguz Kagan , Eskazan Tugce , Celik Sinem , Kurt Enes Ali , Hatemi Ibrahim , Erzin Yusuf , Celik Aykut Ferhat
Published: October 2021

Aim

Most patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) with active mucosal disease have a lower C‐reactive protein (CRP) level than the classic accepted cutoff level (≤5 mg/l). We aimed to predict the mucosal remission in UC with an optimal cutoff level of CRP when mucosal activity and extensiveness of UC were both considered.

Method

In this retrospective study, we evaluated CRP values and their relation to mucosal extension and UC activity in 331 colonoscopic examinations performed between December 2016 and March 2019. Endoscopic activity and disease extension were assessed using Mayo scores and the Montreal classification.

Results

The Mayo 2 and 3 groups’ CRP values were significantly higher when compared with Mayo 0–1 between values of E1 and both E2 and E3 with an increasing trend. The standard CRP cutoff level ≤5 mg/l only yielded 55% specificity in predicting mucosal remission. In the ROC analysis, a CRP cutoff level ≤2.9 mg/l predicted an overall mucosal remission (Mayo 0–1) with 77% sensitivity and 80% specificity, and ≤1.9 mg/l predicted Mayo‐0 with 70% sensitivity and specificity. In the clinical remission subgroup, the overall CRP cutoff level was even lower, at ≤1.58 mg/l.

Conclusion

An overall CRP cutoff level ≤2.9 mg/l predicts mucosal remission in UC better than the standard cutoff ≤5 mg/l. Mucosal remission in stable clinical remission may present with an even lower CRP level. An increasing trend in the CRP level from E1 through E3 even in mucosal remission suggests that both histological inflammation and extensiveness may have some influence on a CRP‐based prediction of endoscopic remission.
Evaluating the evidence of culling a native species for conservation benefits
Authors: Melton Courtney B. , Reside April E. , Simmonds Jeremy S. , Mcdonald Paul G. , Major Richard E. , Crates Ross , Catterall Carla P. , Clarke Michael F. , Grey Merilyn J. , Davitt Galen , Ingwersen Dean , Robinson Doug , Maron Martine
Published: October 2021

Controlling problem species for conservation can be fraught, particularly when native species are subject to lethal control. The noisy miner (Manorina melanocephala), has been the target of numerous lethal control efforts. Outcomes of these noisy miner removals have varied substantially, so identifying the circumstances under which they are effective is essential for ethical and effective management. We compiled data for all identified noisy miner removals (n = 45), including both permit‐based and unofficial removals. We investigated whether methodological and ecological factors explained the effectiveness of removals in reducing noisy miner density or increasing woodland bird richness and abundance. The only predictor of any measure of success was time between first and final culls which was positively related to reduction in noisy miner density. Surprisingly, despite removals mainly failing to reduce noisy miner density to below a threshold above which noisy miners impact smaller birds, woodland birds usually still increased. Disrupted social structure as noisy miners recolonized may have led to less effective aggressive exclusion of small birds. Further removals may not need to reduce noisy miner density to below this threshold to benefit woodland birds, but consistent monitoring and reporting would support better evaluation of effectiveness and correlates of success.
Nature and treatment outcomes of bleeding post‐bulbar duodenal ulcers
Authors: Matsuhashi Tamotsu , Fukuda Sho , Abe Yasuhiko , Mikami Tatsuya , Tatsuta Tetsuya , Hikichi Takuto , Nakamura Jun , Onozato Yusuke , Hatta Waku , Masamune Atsushi , Ohyauchi Motoki , Ito Hirotaka , Hanabata Norihiro , Araki Yasumitsu , Yanagita Takumi , Imamura Hidemichi , Tsuji Tsuyotoshi , Sugawara Kae , Horikawa Youhei , Ohara Shuichi , Kondo Yutaka , Dohmen Takahiro , Iijima Katsunori
Published: October 2021

Background

Although post‐bulbar duodenal ulcers (PBDUs) could become a source of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, the whole picture of the disease is unknown. We compared the characteristic features and treatment outcomes after endoscopic hemostasis between PBDUs and bulbar duodenal ulcers (BDUs).

Methods

Data on duodenal ulcers with evidence of endoscopically‐active bleeding were extracted from the data that were retrospectively collected from 12 institutes in Japan between 2011 and 2018. Rebleeding and in‐hospital mortality were compared between patients with PBDUs and those with BDUs by logistic regression analyses.

Results

Among 468 consecutive patients with bleeding duodenal ulcers, 96 (20.5%) had endoscopically‐confirmed PBDUs. PBDUs were more frequently observed in patients with a poor general condition in comparison to BDUs. The rates of rebleeding and in‐hospital mortality in patients with PBDUs were approximately three times higher than those in patients with BDUs (PBDU vs. BDU: 29.2% vs. 10.2% [P < 0.0001] and 14.6% vs. 5.1% [P = 0.0029], respectively). Although the high in‐hospital mortality in PBDUs could be explained, to a lesser extent, by the likelihood of rebleeding, and, to a greater extent, by the patients' poor general condition, the presence of a PBDU itself was largely responsible for the high rebleeding rates in PBDUs.

Conclusion

This is the first study focusing on the nature and treatment outcomes of bleeding PBDUs. PBDUs were associated with much higher rebleeding and mortality rates in comparison to BDUs, and the likelihood of rebleeding may be derived from their unique anatomic location.
Treatment of nevus of Ota with 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser: A retrospective study
Authors: Yang Hedan , Guo Lifang , Jia Gaorong , Gong Xiangdong , Wu Qiuju , Zeng Rong , Zhang Mengli , Ding Hui , Fang Fumin , Zheng Huiying , Liu Xing , Ge Yiping , Yang Yin , Lin Tong
Published: October 2021

Nevus of Ota has been successfully treated by lasers. Currently, 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG lasers have become available for the treatment of pigmented disorders. However, there are few studies concerning the application of 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser in nevus of Ota. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of nevus of Ota. We conducted a retrospective analysis of Chinese patients with nevus of Ota who had been treated with a 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser. Those who had any other laser treatment during the period of picosecond laser treatment were excluded. Via a visual analog scale for percentage of pigmentary clearance in standard photographs, the treatment efficacy was assessed by three blinded physician evaluators. A total of 16 subjects were included in this retrospective study. The average age at the beginning of treatment was 16.87 years old (range of 4 months to 59 years), and all patients were of Fitzpatrick skin type IV. Total treatment ranged from 1 to 5 sessions. A 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser with a mean fluence of 1.8–4.3 J/cm2 was used at 3–12 month intervals. The mean efficacy score for all 16 patients was 2.56 after one session, and the mean efficacy score of 13 patients who completed two sessions and nine patients who completed three sessions were 3.15 and 3.51, respectively. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation after treatment was only observed in 1 (1/16, 6.25%) patient. The 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser is an effective and safe approach for treating nevus of Ota.
The effect of education on unemployment duration
Authors: Altindag Duha T. , Dursun Bahadіr , Filiz Elif S.
Published: October 2021

Exploiting the variation in education induced by a reform that compelled individuals to obtain additional schooling in Turkey, and using administrative unemployment insurance (UI) records, we show that high‐educated unemployed workers, compared to their low‐educated counterparts, use unemployment benefits longer, and they are less likely to find employment before their benefit periods expire. This suggests education increases one's selectiveness over jobs. We also show benefit generosity impacts the high‐ versus low‐educated differentially. Extended benefits increase low‐educated workers' probability of finding employment more than the high‐educated. Our findings highlight the importance of considering worker attributes when designing the UI system.
Marriage and immigration enforcement: The impact of Secure Communities on immigrant women
Authors: Bansak Cynthia , Pearlman Sarah
Published: October 2021

We investigate if increased deportations under the Secure Communities (SC) program impacted the marriage patterns of immigrant women in the United States. We focus on country of origin‐MSA deportation rates, arguing this is appropriate given the dominance of endogamous marriage among immigrants and large heterogeneity in removal rates. We find that rising deportations increased marriage rates and endogamous marriage, decreased exogamous marriage to immigrants from other countries, and had no impact on marriage to native‐born men. This is striking because SC likely reduced same ethnicity partners in marriage markets. We find some evidence that increased network effects may explain these results.
Data‐driven identification in SVARs—When and how can statistical characteristics be used to unravel causal relationships?
Authors: Herwartz Helmut , Lange Alexander , Maxand Simone
Published: October 2021

Structural vector autoregressive analysis aims to trace the contemporaneous linkages among multiple economic time series back to underlying orthogonal structural shocks. Traditionally, researchers rely on economically motivated restrictions to identify these shocks. However, in the presence of heteroskedasticity or non‐Gaussian independent components, only these statistical properties allow a locally unique identification. In this paper, we compare alternative statistical identification procedures under distinct covariance changes and distributional frameworks. We find that statistical identification schemes are robust under distinct data structures to some extent and support researchers in detecting shocks that feature an economic underpinning. The detection of independent components appears most flexible.
Understanding the economic activity generated by recreational fishing in South Africa provides insights on the role of recreational fisheries for social development
Authors: Potts Warren M. , Saayman Melville , Saayman Andrea , Mann Bruce Q. , Van der Merwe Peet , Britz Peter , Bova Christopher S.
Published: October 2021

While the economic activity associated with recreational fishing is well assessed in the developed world, substantially less is known in developing countries. South Africa is a unique microcosm for applying economic evaluation frameworks as its dualist economy shares characteristics of both the developed and developing world. Understanding participation levels and the role of dualism in economic activity linked to recreational fisheries is a crucial step towards leveraging the sector for economic development. A total of 1320 face‐to‐face and online questionnaires were used to estimate annual economic spend by recreational fishers, and the economic activity associated with this spend was modelled using Social Accounting Matrix analysis. Recreational fishing participation estimates totalled 1,327,633, which contributed ZAR 32.6 billion (US$2.2 billion) per year to economic activity and sustained 94,070 full‐time jobs. However, less than 10% of the economic activity benefitted lower income households, suggesting that the “first” and “second” economies of this dualist economy are disconnected. This is likely similar in other developing nations with international tourism‐driven recreational fisheries. To reduce this disconnect, changes in tourism policies to focus on local development, the identification of recreational fisheries tourism hotspots and the development of local education, skills and appropriate infrastructure through public–private partnerships will be necessary.
Soil multitrophic network complexity enhances the link between biodiversity and multifunctionality in agricultural systems
Authors: Jiao Shuo , Lu Yahai , Wei Gehong
Published: October 2021

Belowground biodiversity supports multiple ecosystem functions and services that humans rely on. However, there is a dearth of studies exploring the determinants of the biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) relationships, particularly in intensely managed agricultural ecosystems. Here, we reported significant and positive relationships between soil biodiversity of multiple organism groups and multiple ecosystem functions in 228 agricultural fields, relating to crop yield, nutrient provisioning, element cycling, and pathogen control. The relationships were influenced by the types of organisms that soil phylotypes with larger sizes or at higher trophic levels, for example, invertebrates or protist predators, appeared to exhibit weaker or no BEF relationships when compared to those with smaller sizes or at lower trophic levels, for example, archaea, bacteria, fungi, and protist phototrophs. Particularly, we highlighted the role of soil network complexity, reflected by co‐occurrence patterns among multitrophic‐level organisms, in enhancing the link between soil biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Our results represent a significant advance in forecasting the impacts of belowground multitrophic organisms on ecosystem functions in agricultural systems, and suggest that soil multitrophic network complexity should be considered a key factor in enhancing ecosystem productivity and sustainability under land‐use intensification.
Interactive effects of growth stage and nitrogen fertilization on herbage characteristics and nutritive value of Paspalum atratum
Authors: Hughes Martin , Mlambo Victor , Lallo Cicero
Published: October 2021

Paspalum atratum is a tropical grass with potential to contribute to forage availability in areas dominated by waterlogged acidic soils. However, little is known of the interactive effect of N fertilization and stage of harvest on its nutritive value. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the interactive effects of N fertilization and harvesting stage on herbage characteristics and nutritive value of P. atratum (Cv. Ubon) and to determine the optimum N fertilization rate at each stage of regrowth. P. atratum seedlings were planted in 18,631‐cm3 plastic pots containing growth media amended with 0, 25, 50, and 75 kg N/ha. Forage was harvested after 6‐ and 12‐weeks regrowth. Nitrogen fertilizer had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on herbage yield, sward height, crude protein yield, crude protein concentration, and 12‐ and 24‐h in vitro ruminal organic matter digestibility (IVOMD). P. atratum fertilized with 50 kg N/ha produced the highest dry matter yield (1,133 kg DM/ha) at 12‐week regrowth. Crude protein (CP) was highest (133 g/kg DM) in 6‐week regrowth forage that received 50 kg N/ha. IVOMD at 12 and 24 h of incubation was highest in 6‐week regrowth forage amended with 0 and 50 kg N/ha, respectively. Herbage characteristics and nutritive value of P. atratum showed a quadratic response to N fertilization at both regrowth stages. Response surface optimization indicated that N fertilizer application rates of 56.0 and 52.3 kg N/ha maximized P. atratum herbage yield, CP content, and 12‐h IVOMD at 6‐ and 12‐week regrowth, respectively. It was, therefore, concluded that the herbage yield and nutritive value of 6‐ and 12‐week regrowth P. atratum is optimized with N fertilizer rates of 56.0 and 52.3 kg N/ha, respectively.