bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post‐fatigue ability to activate muscle is compromised across a wide range of torques during acute hypoxic exposure
Authors: McKeown Daniel J. , McNeil Chris J. , Simmonds Michael J. , Kavanagh Justin J.
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this study was to assess how severe acute hypoxia alters the neural mechanisms of muscle activation across a wide range of torque output in a fatigued muscle. Torque and electromyography responses to transcranial and motor nerve stimulation were collected from 10 participants (27 years ± 5 years, 1 female) following repeated performance of a sustained maximal voluntary contraction that reduced torque to 60% of the pre‐fatigue peak torque. Contractions were performed after 2 h of hypoxic exposure and during a sham intervention. For hypoxia, peripheral blood oxygen saturation was titrated to 80% over a 15‐min period and remained at 80% for 2 h. Maximal voluntary torque, electromyography root mean square, voluntary activation and corticospinal excitability (motor evoked potential area) and inhibition (silent period duration) were then assessed at 100%, 90%, 80%, 70%, 50% and 25% of the target force corresponding to the fatigued maximal voluntary contraction. No hypoxia‐related effects were identified for voluntary activation elicited during motor nerve stimulation. However, during measurements elicited at the level of the motor cortex, voluntary activation was reduced at each torque output considered (P = .002, ηp2 = .829). Hypoxia did not impact the correlative linear relationship between cortical voluntary activation and contraction intensity or the correlative curvilinear relationship between motor nerve voluntary activation and contraction intensity. No other hypoxia‐related effects were identified for other neuromuscular variables. Acute severe hypoxia significantly impairs the ability of the motor cortex to voluntarily activate fatigued muscle across a wide range of torque output.
Action planning modulates the representation of object features in human fronto‐parietal and occipital cortex
Authors: Velji‐Ibrahim Jena , Crawford J. Douglas , Cattaneo Luigi , Monaco Simona
Published: July 2022

The visual cortex has been extensively studied to investigate its role in object recognition but to a lesser degree to determine how action planning influences the representation of objects' features. We used functional MRI and pattern classification methods to determine if during action planning, object features (orientation and location) could be decoded in an action‐dependent way. Sixteen human participants used their right dominant hand to perform movements (Align or Open reach) towards one of two 3D‐real oriented objects that were simultaneously presented and placed on either side of a fixation cross. While both movements required aiming towards target location, Align but not Open reach movements required participants to precisely adjust hand orientation. Therefore, we hypothesized that if the representation of object features is modulated by the upcoming action, pre‐movement activity pattern would allow more accurate dissociation between object features in Align than Open reach tasks. We found such dissociation in the anterior and posterior parietal cortex, as well as in the dorsal premotor cortex, suggesting that visuomotor processing is modulated by the upcoming task. The early visual cortex showed significant decoding accuracy for the dissociation between object features in the Align but not Open reach task. However, there was no significant difference between the decoding accuracy in the two tasks. These results demonstrate that movement‐specific preparatory signals modulate object representation in the frontal and parietal cortex, and to a lesser extent in the early visual cortex, likely through feedback functional connections.
Distinct stress‐related changes in intrinsic amygdala connectivity predict subsequent positive and negative memory performance
Authors: Ford Jaclyn H. , Kim Sara Y. , Kark Sarah M. , Daley Ryan T. , Payne Jessica D. , Kensinger Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2022

Experiencing stress before an event can influence how that event is later remembered. In the current study, we examine how individual differences in one's physiological response to a stressor are related to changes to underlying brain states and memory performance. Specifically, we examined how changes in intrinsic amygdala connectivity relate to positive and negative memory performance as a function of stress response, defined as a change in cortisol. Twenty‐five participants underwent a social stressor before an incidental emotional memory encoding task. Cortisol samples were obtained before and after the stressor to measure individual differences in stress response. Three resting state scans (pre‐stressor, post‐stressor/pre‐encoding and post‐encoding) were conducted to evaluate pre‐ to post‐stressor and pre‐ to post‐encoding changes to intrinsic amygdala connectivity. Analyses examined relations between greater cortisol changes and connectivity changes. Greater cortisol increases were associated with a greater decrease in prefrontal‐amygdala connectivity following the stressor and a reversal in the relation between prefrontal‐amygdala connectivity and negative vs. positive memory performance. Greater cortisol increases were also associated with a greater increase in amygdala connectivity with a number of posterior sensory regions following encoding. Consistent with prior findings in non‐stressed individuals, pre‐ to post‐encoding increases in amygdala‐posterior connectivity were associated with greater negative relative to positive memory performance, although this was specific to lateral rather than medial posterior regions and to participants with the greatest cortisol changes. These findings suggest that stress response is associated with changes in intrinsic connectivity that have downstream effects on the valence of remembered emotional content.
Effect of soil thickness on rainfall infiltration and runoff generation from karst hillslopes during rainstorms
Authors: Zhang Jun , Chen Hongsong , Fu Zhiyong , Luo Zidong , Wang Fa , Wang Kelin
Published: July 2022

Knowledge of water movement from the hillslope critical zone is important for water management. However, the runoff process resulting from extreme rainfall events remains unclear due to rare field‐based natural monitoring data. We investigated rainwater infiltration and runoff generation processes in two plots with deep and relatively shallow soil thicknesses (66 vs. 35 cm depth on average, respectively) on karst hillslopes. Rainwater, soil water and lateral discharge runoff in the soil‐epikarst system were monitored using hydrometric and 18O isotope methods in September 2020, which was the wettest month on record at the study s, including three normal rainfalls (29.6 mm in 8.5 h, 25 mm in 8.5 h, and 27.4 in 3.5 h) and three extreme rainstorms (335 mm in 11.5 h, 77.8 mm in 9 h, and 129.2 mm in 5 h). Soil moisture and water table responded rapidly (<30 min) during the extreme rainfall. However, the soil‐epikarst interface exhibited the strongest stability (coefficient variation [CV] < 8.18%) and collected more pre‐event water, reflected by the isotopic signature of the soil water. Accordingly, low permeability at the soil‐epikarst interface played an important role in buffering rainwater infiltration. Controlled by infiltration‐excess and saturation‐excess runoff mechanisms, the contribution of surface runoff to total discharge was less than 3% during normal rainfall events, which was significantly less than that during extreme rainfall events (13%–60%). This was supported by the evolution of δ18O values of surface runoff that were similar to rainwater and more 18O‐depleted than that of subsurface runoff. Higher rainfall intensity which exceeded soil permeability during extreme rainstorms further increased the possibility of exceeding infiltration‐saturation processes. For the deep soil plot (DSP), surface runoff (>44%) dominated the extreme rainfall process; while for the shallow‐soil plot (SSP), surface runoff (60%) dominated only during the maximum rainfall events. Moreover, the surface runoff contribution to total runoff in DSP was greater than that in SSP. Surface runoff from slopes with thicker soil layers is an important part of karst watershed flood processes in extreme rainfall events, which should be considered carefully for water resource management.

Highlights

Hydrometric and isotope methods are used to assess extreme hydrological processes.

The surface runoff of extreme rainfalls is much higher than that of normal rainfall.

The infiltration‐excess mechanism dominates the surface runoff of extreme rainfall.

Slopes with thicker soil layers are more vulnerable to flooding in the karst region.
Incidence of Guillain–Barré syndrome following SARS‐CoV‐2 immunization: Analysis of a nationwide registry of recipients of 81 million doses of seven vaccines
Authors: García‐Grimshaw Miguel , Galnares‐Olalde Javier Andrés , Bello‐Chavolla Omar Yaxmehen , Michel‐Chávez Anaclara , Cadena‐Fernández Arturo , Briseño‐Godínez María Eugenia , Antonio‐Villa Neftali Eduardo , Núñez Isaac , Gutiérrez‐Romero Alonso , Hernández‐Vanegas Laura , del Mar Saniger‐Alba María , Carrillo‐Mezo Roger , Ceballos‐Liceaga Santa Elizabeth , Carbajal‐Sandoval Guillermo , Flores‐Silva Fernando Daniel , Díaz‐Ortega José Luis , Cortes‐Alcalá Ricardo , Pérez‐Padilla José Rogelio , López‐Gatell Hugo , Chiquete Erwin , Reyes‐Terán Gustavo , Arauz Antonio , Valdés‐Ferrer Sergio Iván
Published: July 2022

Background and purpose

Information on Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) as an adverse event following immunization (AEFI) against SARS‐CoV‐2 remains scarce. We aimed to report GBS incidence as an AEFI among adult (≥18 years) recipients of 81,842,426 doses of seven anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines between December 24, 2020, and October 29, 2021, in Mexico.

Methods

Cases were retrospectively collected through passive epidemiological surveillance. The overall observed incidence was calculated according to the total number of administered doses. Vaccines were analyzed individually and by vector as mRNA‐based (mRNA‐1273 and BNT162b2), adenovirus‐vectored (ChAdOx1 nCov‐19, rAd26‐rAd5, Ad5‐nCoV, and Ad26.COV2‐S), and inactivated whole‐virion‐vectored (CoronaVac) vaccines.

Results

We identified 97 patients (52 males [53.6%]; median [interquartile range] age 44 [33–60] years), for an overall observed incidence of 1.19/1,000,000 doses (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97–1.45), with incidence higher among Ad26.COV2‐S (3.86/1,000,000 doses, 95% CI 1.50–9.93) and BNT162b2 recipients (1.92/1,00,000 doses, 95% CI 1.36–2.71). The interval (interquartile range) from vaccination to GBS symptom onset was 10 (3–17) days. Preceding diarrhea was reported in 21 patients (21.6%) and mild COVID‐19 in four more (4.1%). Only 18 patients were tested for Campylobacter jejuni (positive in 16 [88.9%]). Electrophysiological examinations were performed in 76 patients (78.4%; axonal in 46 [60.5%] and demyelinating in 25 [32.8%]); variants were similar across the platforms. On admission, 91.8% had a GBS disability score ≥3. Seventy‐five patients (77.3%) received intravenous immunoglobulin, received seven plasma exchange (7.2%), and 15 (15.5%) were treated conservatively. Ten patients (10.3%) died, and 79.1% of survivors were unable to walk independently.

Conclusions

Guillain–Barré syndrome was an extremely infrequent AEFI against SARS‐CoV‐2. The protection provided by these vaccines outweighs the risk of developing GBS.
Risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, hospitalization, and death for COVID‐19 in people with Parkinson disease or parkinsonism over a 15‐month period: A cohort study
Authors: Zenesini Corrado , Vignatelli Luca , Belotti Laura Maria Beatrice , Baccari Flavia , Calandra‐Buonaura Giovanna , Cortelli Pietro , Descovich Carlo , Giannini Giulia , Guaraldi Pietro , Guarino Maria , Loddo Giuseppe , Pantieri Roberta , Perlangeli Vincenza , Scaglione Cesa , Stivanello Elisa , Trombetti Susanna , D'Alessandro Roberto , Baldin Elisa , Nonino Francesco ,   ParkLink Bologna group
Published: July 2022

Background and purpose

The patterns of long‐term risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, hospitalization for COVID‐19, and related death are uncertain in people with Parkinson disease (PD) or parkinsonism (PS). The aim of the study was to quantify these risks compared to a control population cohort, during the period March 2020–May 2021, in Bologna, Northern Italy.

Methods

ParkLink Bologna cohort (759 PD, 192 PS) and controls (9226) anonymously matched (ratio = 1:10) for sex, age, district, and comorbidity were included. Data were analysed in the whole period and in the two different pandemic waves (March–May 2020 and October 2020–May 2021).

Results

Adjusted hazard ratio of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04–1.7) in PD and 1.9 (95% CI = 1.3–2.8) in PS compared to the controls. The trend was detected in both the pandemic waves. Adjusted hazard ratio of hospitalization for COVID‐19 was 1.1 (95% CI = 0.8–1.7) in PD and 1.8 (95% CI = 0.97–3.1) in PS. A higher risk of hospital admission was detected in PS only in the first wave. The 30‐day mortality risk after hospitalization was higher (p = 0.048) in PS (58%) than in PD (19%) and controls (26%).

Conclusions

Compared with controls, after adjustment for key covariates, people with PD and PS showed a higher risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection throughout the first 15 months of the pandemic. COVID‐19 hospitalization risk was increased only in people with PS and only during the first wave. This group of patients was burdened by a very high risk of death after infection and hospitalization.
Wearable OPM‐MEG: A changing landscape for epilepsy
Authors: Pedersen Mangor , Abbott David F. , Jackson Graeme D.
Published: July 2022

Magnetoencephalography with optically pumped magnometers (OPM‐MEG) is an emerging and novel, cost‐effective wearable system that can simultaneously record neuronal activity with high temporal resolution ("when" neuronal activity occurs) and spatial resolution ("where" neuronal activity occurs). This paper will first outline recent methodological advances in OPM‐MEG compared to conventional superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID)‐MEG before discussing how OPM‐MEG can become a valuable and noninvasive clinical support tool in epilepsy surgery evaluation. Although OPM‐MEG and SQUID‐MEG share similar data features, OPM‐MEG is a wearable design that fits children and adults, and it is also robust to head motion within a magnetically shielded room. This means that OPM‐MEG can potentially extend the application of MEG into the neurobiology of severe childhood epilepsies with intellectual disabilities (e.g., epileptic encephalopathies) without sedation. It is worth noting that most OPM‐MEG sensors are heated, which may become an issue with large OPM sensor arrays (OPM‐MEG currently has fewer sensors than SQUID‐MEG). Future implementation of triaxial sensors may alleviate the need for large OPM sensor arrays. OPM‐MEG designs allowing both awake and sleep recording are essential for potential long‐term epilepsy monitoring.
Covid‐19 cases prediction using SARIMAX Model by tuning hyperparameter through grid search cross‐validation approach
Authors: Sah Sweeti , Surendiran Balasubramanian , Dhanalakshmi Ramasamy , Yamin Mohammed
Published: July 2022

SARS‐Coronavirus was first detected in December 2019, later named COVID‐19, and declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). As prediction models assist policymakers in making decisions based on expected outcomes. Existing models were only used to anticipate a smaller range of data resulting in irrelevant predictions. Our research focuses on predicting COVID‐19 confirmed, recovered, and deceased Indian cases for 20 days ahead. Tuning of hyperparameters is performed with a grid search cross‐validation approach. The dataset is collected from the Kaggle. Our forecast indicates that the count of confirmed and deceased cases is higher whereas, recovered cases prediction shows a decreasing trend. The R2 Score achieved is 0.5112 and root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) is 1251 using optimized SARIMAX. Finally, Monte Carlo simulation has also been performed to justify the prediction accuracy as compared to other models such as linear, polynomial, prophet, and SARIMAX without grid search cross validation.
Ferulic acid mitigates diabetic cardiomyopathy via modulation of metabolic abnormalities in cardiac tissues of diabetic rats
Authors: Salau Veronica F. , Erukainure Ochuko L. , Olofinsan Kolawole A. , Msomi Nontokozo Z. , Ijomone Olayemi K. , Islam Md. Shahidul
Published: July 2022

Cardiovascular abnormalities have been reported as a major contributor of diabetic mortality. The protective effect of ferulic acid on diabetic cardiomyopathy in fructose‐streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetes (T2D) rat model was elucidated in this study. Type 2 diabetic rats were treated by oral administration of low (150 mg/kg b.w) and high (300 mg/kg b.w) doses of ferulic acid. Metformin was used as the antidiabetic drug. Rats were humanely euthanized after 5 weeks of treatment, and their blood and hearts were collected. Induction of T2D depleted the levels of reduced glutathione, glycogen, and HDL‐cholesterol and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ENTPDase, and 5′nucleotidase. It simultaneously triggered increase in the levels of malondialdehyde, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL‐cholesterol, creatinine kinase‐MB as well as activities of acetylcholinesterase, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), ATPase, glucose‐6‐phopsphatase, fructose‐1,6‐bisphophatase, glycogen phosphorylase, and lipase. T2D induction further revealed an obvious degeneration of cardiac muscle morphology. However, treatment with ferulic acid markedly reversed the levels and activities of these biomarkers with concomitant improvement in myocardium structural morphology, which had favorable comparison with the standard drug, metformin. Additionally, T2D induction led to the depletion of 40%, 75%, and 33% of fatty acids, fatty esters, and steroids, respectively, with concomitant generation of eicosenoic acid, gamolenic acid, and vitamin E. Ferulic acid treatment restored eicosanoic acid, 2‐hydroxyethyl ester, with concomitant generation of 6‐octadecenoic acid, (Z)‐, cis‐11‐eicosenoic acid, tridecanedioic acid, octadecanoic acid, 2‐hydroxyethyl ester, ethyl 3‐hydroxytridecanoate, dipalmitin, cholesterol isocaproate, cholest‐5‐ene, 3‐(1‐oxobuthoxy)‐, cholesta‐3,5‐diene. These results suggest the cardioprotective potential of ferulic acid against diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Effect of short‐term acute moderate‐intensity resistance exercise on blood glucose in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and sarcopenia
Authors: Zhao Dan , Shi Wenli , Bi Lina , Qi Yanyan , Hu Su , Li Chang , Zhang Yan , Zheng Xin
Published: July 2022

Aim

To investigate the effects of short‐term acute moderate‐intensity resistance exercise on blood glucose in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and sarcopenia using ambulatory glucose monitoring technology.

Methods

This is a prospective intervention of an own‐controlled before‐and‐after cohort study. A total of 24 older type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who met the enrollment criteria were selected, including 12 cases in the sarcopenia and 12 in the non‐sarcopenia groups. First, they wore ambulatory glucose monitoring devices (Medtronic, Ipro2) and retained baseline data. Then they wore Ipro2 again and carried out two sessions of resistance exercise on alternate days. Blood glucose level, blood glucose fluctuation, and time in target range on the contrast and exercise days were compared and analyzed in both groups.

Results

The area under the curve of glucose level across 24 h and the mean blood glucose post exercise decreased (P < 0.05) in the sarcopenia group. On the exercise day, the coefficient of variation of glucose, the largest amplitude of glycemic excursions, amplitude of postprandial glucose excursions and low blood glucose index decreased, whereas the time in target range increased (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Short‐term acute moderate‐intensity resistance exercise is an effective and safe exercise modality, which can reduce blood glucose levels, blood glucose fluctuations and the risk of hypoglycemia, as well as improve the time in target range for older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and sarcopenia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 653–659.
Digital transformation and value chains: Introduction
Authors: Butollo Florian , Gereffi Gary , Yang Chun , Krzywdzinski Martin
Published: July 2022

New digital technologies based on the internet of things and artificial intelligence play centre stage in contemporary discussions about the prospects for economic development and the future of work. This article summarizes theoretical and empirical contributions on how these technologies affect global value chains (GVCs). We argue that the leading paradigms that analyse global production – the GVC framework and the related global production networks (GPNs) approach – are in need of some ‘technological uprading’ themselves. The GVC/GPN approaches acknowledge that technology is constitutive for the emergence of geographically fragmented production, but rarely address directly how technological change affects interfirm relations. The authors provide a framework that acknowledges the key role of technology while situating digital tools and systems in their social embeddedness, that is the role of human agency and institutions in shaping their development and impact. A research agenda is outlined focusing on three topics: the varieties of digitalization approaches in different world regions, the role of data as a specific form of intangible resource and the role of platform business models for industrial ecosystems. These topics are addressed in the special issue of Global Networks on ‘Digitalization and Value Chains’ introduced by this contribution.
Ageing, migration infrastructure and multi‐generational care dynamics in transnational families
Authors: Tu Mengwei
Published: July 2022

The analysis of transnational family relations from an intergenerational to a multi‐generational perspective highlights the significant role migration infrastructure plays in transnational family care arrangements at different family life stages. Changing migration policies and local‐bound welfare systems in the host and home countries tend to fixate the role of care‐receiver and provider against fluid transnational family care dynamics as the life course of the family unfolds. This paper focuses on Chinese transnational one‐child families in which the initial separation between parents and their only‐child was motivated by the child's overseas education, and followed by the adult child's employment and family formation in the UK. My findings illustrate how reified definitions of the family and familial roles structure mobile individuals’ access to family rights in a transnational context. They warn of the danger of entrenched injustice embedded in the definitional classification of family migrants.
You people: Membership categorization and situated interactional othering in BigBank
Authors: Fox Stephen , Ramanath Amie , Swan Elaine
Published: July 2022

This paper offers an ethnomethodological membership categorization analysis (MCA) of an episode of argumentative talk in a bank, between a recent Indian migrant and her white British area manager. MCA examines how members use categorizations in the course of their everyday practical activities including workplace meetings. Our analysis shows how the “interactional trouble” between an employee and manager leads to the manager racially Othering the employee by invoking attributes resonant with what researchers call coloniality. Although theories of everyday racism and microaggression focus on everyday interactions, attention is not usually given to the moment‐by‐moment, turn‐by‐turn interactions and racial categorizations. In contrast, the MCA of our case study enables us to explicate the complexities of racializing and re‐colonizing work in specific organizational encounters. Racist interactions in organizations are complex, contestable, and draw on various shared categories, resources, and knowledges deployed to achieve situated institutional aims. In our in‐depth, close analysis of a relatively short interaction, we are able to reveal the institutional, gendered, racial, and colonial categories, and institutional and colonial devices that were made relevant; enabling us to explicate how racism works in the organizational every day. Studies of racist interactions stress there are specificities to the categories mobilized in organizational settings for example, parents, neighbors, race, and ethnicity and therefore the forms of racism produced. Our article contributes to studies of everyday racism in the workplace by showing the specific categories and devices―such as English, Indian, English Economy―mobilized turn‐by‐turn which led to a racially minoritized member of staff being interactionally Othered by the white manager in ways which not only does interpersonal harm but leads to her exclusion and dehumanization. We show how ethnomethodology and MCA are very useful, but somewhat neglected approaches, for learning about racism, coloniality, and gender in mundane, everyday workplace interactions.
Equal pay behind the “Glass Door”? The gender gap in upper management in a male‐dominated industry
Authors: Kräft Charlotte
Published: July 2022

The present paper explores the two components of the glass ceiling effect: promotion barriers for women to the executive sphere and a gender‐based differential in executive pay. The research setting is the British oil industry, which constitutes a male‐dominated sector. Analyzing both components separately, the results suggest that females are promoted more frequently to the executive ranks while they experience a pay bias compared to men. Thus, the analysis reveals that the glass ceiling is cracking in this gender‐imbalanced industry. Yet, pay discrimination still exists. However, within the narrow corridor of executives, the present study suggests that gender pay discrimination diminishes the higher one who climbs up the executive ladder. The latter finding raises the cynical question: How far up the hierarchy ladder does a woman need to climb to overcome gender‐based pay discrimination?
Combined ultrasound and magnetic resonance elastography predict hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatitis C virus eradication
Authors: Kumada Takashi , Toyoda Hidenori , Yasuda Satoshi , Ogawa Sadanobu , Gotoh Tatsuya , Tada Toshifumi , Ito Takanori , Sumida Yoshio , Tanaka Junko
Published: July 2022

Aim

Elastography is an established, noninvasive method for measuring liver stiffness using to 2‐D shear‐wave elastography (2D‐SWE) or magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of combined measurement using 2D‐SWE and MRE to stratify the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who achieved hepatitis C virus eradication.

Methods

Five hundred and twenty‐five patients who underwent 2D‐SWE and MRE before antiviral therapy and who achieved eradication were enrolled. The optimal 2D‐SWE and MRE cutoff values were determined using time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for predicting HCC development. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and a Cox proportional hazards model were used to adjust the cumulative incidence rate of HCC development for potential imbalances.

Results

Time‐dependent ROC analysis showed that the optimal cut‐off values of 2D‐SWE and MRE for predicting HCC development were 11.7 and 4.5 kPa, respectively. The IPTW‐adjusted cumulative incidence rate of HCC development in patients with both an 2D‐SWE value ≥ 11.7 kPa and an MRE value ≥ 4.5 kPa had a higher hazard ratio (28.080; 95% confidence interval, 5.527–132.600; p < 0.001) than those with either an 2D‐SWE value < 11.7 kPa or an MRE value < 4.5 kPa.

Conclusions

The combined measurement of 2D‐SWE and MRE was very effective for identifying patients at high risk of HCC development. US‐based elastography should be performed first, and if the 2D‐SWE value is high, MRE should then be carried out to confirm the degree of liver stiffness.
Banks' voluntary disclosure in the audit committee reports, cost of equity and the mediating role of financial analysts
Authors: Sahyoun Najib , Magnan Michel
Published: July 2022

Voluntary disclosure in the audit committee report is expected to provide additional information about the activities undertaken to protect investors. The Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) ultimate aim in initially promulgating audit committee disclosure requirements was to reduce firms' cost of equity. However, prior research finds that voluntary disclosure in the audit committee report is akin to impression management. In 2015, the SEC issued a concept release encouraging audit committees to provide additional voluntary disclosures in their reports beyond mandatory requirements. In that context, this paper analyses the effect of the audit committee voluntary disclosure on the cost of equity, with financial analysts playing a mediating role. The sample comprises the top US bank holding companies from 2006 to 2015. We manually code the voluntary disclosure in audit committee reports using a scoring grid. Results show that audit committee voluntary disclosure increases the cost of equity. In addition, the association between voluntary disclosure and the cost of equity is mediated by financial analysts. Hence, we infer that the impression management undertone of voluntary disclosures affects financial analysts' coverage and forecasting properties, which in turn lead to an increase in the cost of equity. The paper's empirical evidence highlights the effects of impression management disclosure by analysing corporate governance voluntary disclosures, cost of equity and financial analysts and brings the issue to the attention of banking regulators, SEC and investors.
The role of intangible attributes of luxury brands for signalling status: A systematic literature review
Authors: Fuentes Humberto , Vera‐Martinez Jorge , Kolbe Diana
Published: July 2022

Previously, signalling status had been primarily studied from the conspicuousness of luxury brands, including high prices and prominent designs. However, less attention has been directed toward other elements of brands that could be strategically managed in order to enable consumers signalling status. This study synthesizes the literature using a framework based on four intangible attributes of luxury brands: user profile, purchase usage, personality and values and heritage. The topics studied under each of the four intangible attributes were analysed using a systematic approach. Based on the interconnectedness of the topics studied, this review proposes that the intangible attributes used as a framework may have a synergistic interaction, in contrast with the current perspective that considers them as independently and equally relevant for consumers signalling status. It also reports the psychological function of these intangible attributes and supports the notion that consumers use luxury brands either to routinely affirm their status within a group or to enhance that status. This review contributes to the literature on luxury and signalling by considering luxury consumption as a social process. A functional perspective on the intangible attributes of luxury brands provides the basis for some insightful directions to advance this field of research.
Linkages between soil, crop, livestock, and human selenium status in Sub‐Saharan Africa: a scoping review
Authors: Mutonhodza Beaula , Joy Edward J. M. , Bailey Elizabeth H. , Lark Murray R. , Kangara Muneta G. M. , Broadley Martin R. , Matsungo Tonderayi M. , Chopera Prosper
Published: July 2022

Selenium (Se) is essential for human health, however, data on population Se status and agriculture‐nutrition‐health linkages are limited in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). The scoping review aims to identify linkages between Se in soils/crops, dietary Se intakes, and livestock and human Se status in SSA. Online databases, organisational websites and grey literature were used to identify articles. Articles were screened at title, abstract and full text levels using eligibility criteria. The search yielded 166 articles from which 112 were excluded during abstract screening and 54 full text articles were assessed for eligibility. The scoping review included 34 primary studies published between 1984 and 2021. The studies covered Se concentrations in soils (n = 7), crops (n = 9), animal tissues (n = 2), livestock (n = 3), and human Se status (n = 15). The evidence showed that soil/crop Se concentrations affected Se concentration in dietary sources, dietary Se intake and biomarkers of Se status. Soil types are a primary driver of human Se status and crop Se concentration correlates positively with biomarkers of Se dietary status. Although data sets of Se concentrations exist across the food system in SSA, there is limited evidence on linkages across the agriculture‐nutrition nexus. Extensive research on Se linkages across the food chain is warranted.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill patients with one, two and three doses of vaccination against COVID‐19 in Australia
Authors: Otto Madeleine , Burrell Aidan J. C. , Neto Ary S. , Alliegro Patricia V. , Trapani Tony , Cheng Allen , Udy Andrew A. ,   the SPRINT‐SARI Australia Investigators
Published: July 2022

Background

Vaccination has been shown to be highly effective in preventing death and severe disease from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. Currently, few studies have directly compared vaccinated and unvaccinated patients with severe COVID‐19 in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Aims

To compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of vaccine recipients and unvaccinated patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection admitted to the ICU in a nationwide setting.

Methods

Data were extracted from the Short PeRiod IncideNce sTudy of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Australia, in 57 ICU during Delta and Omicron predominant periods of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The primary outcome was inhospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay and ICU mortality.

Results

 There were 2970 patients admitted to ICU across participating sites from 26 June 2021 to 8 February 2022; 1134 (38.2%) patients were vaccine recipients, and 1836 (61.8%) patients were unvaccinated. Vaccine recipients were older, more comorbid and less likely to require organ support. Unadjusted inhospital mortality was greater in the vaccinated cohort. After adjusting for age, gender and comorbid status, no statistically significant association between inhospital or ICU mortality, and vaccination status, was apparent.

Conclusion

We found COVID‐19 infection can cause severe disease and death in vaccine recipients, though comorbid status and older age were significant contributors to mortality. Organ support requirements and the number of deaths were highest in the unvaccinated cohort.
Preparing children's nurses for working with children and adolescents who self‐harm: Evaluating the ‘our care through our eyes’ e‐learning training package
Authors: Singh‐Weldon Jasmine , Tsianakas Vicki , Murrells Trevor , Grealish Annmarie
Published: July 2022

Rates of self‐harm among children and adolescents have risen significantly over the past decade and clinical guidelines place children's nurses at the heart of their care. This article reports on the evaluation of ‘Our Care Through Our Eyes’, an online self‐harm learning programme for children's nurses. A self‐selected, convenience sample of registered children's nurses (n = 42) completed scales pre‐ and postlearning programme that captured their attitudes, beliefs, empathy, anxiety, and confidence. Mean change scores were assessed, and qualitative comments captured postintervention were thematically summarized. There were small improvements in participants' attitudes, empathy and confidence were reported. Anxiety scores increased in a small number of items. Qualitative comments confirmed the value of the online learning programme for improving children's nurses' knowledge and understanding of self‐harm among CYP. Our findings demonstrate that children's nurses agree on the importance of mental health training in self harm, and this could be a catalyst for renewal of both pre‐ and postregistration education including support structures within the National Health Service. This study is the first to explore the feasibility of evaluating ‘Our Care Through Our Eyes’ delivered using e‐leaning and could be used to inform further investigations.
Enhancing low‐temperature energy harvesting by lead‐free ferroelectric Ba(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3
Authors: Ngo Nguyen Chi Trung , Sugiyama Hironari , Sodige Buddhika Amila Kumara , Wiff Juan Paulo , Yamanaka Satoru , Kim Yoonho , Suzuki Tsuneo , Baba Masaaki , Takeda Masatoshi , Yamada Noboru , Niihara Koichi , Nakayama Tadachika
Published: July 2022

The energy‐harvesting ability of the lead‐free ferroelectric Ba(Zr,Ti)O3 was investigated and greatly enhanced using the Kim novel electrothermodynamic cycle for low‐temperature application. Ba(Zr,Ti)O3 was synthesized with a Zr:Ti ratio of 10:90 (BZT10) by hot‐press sintering, which exhibited a mix relaxor‐ferroelectric behavior. For power generation using the Kim cycle with low and high temperatures of TL = 25°C, TH = 120°C, the most optimized temperature pattern occurred for a heating time of 12.5 s and a cooling time of 22.5 s. Under these conditions, the electric field increased during the novel isodisplacement process, and the displacement variation in the isoelectric step reached the highest value and maximized the BZT10 cycle loop area. Applying these conditions while lowering TL to 20°C, an energy density ND = 504 mJ/cm3 was achieved. This value is the highest obtained energy density in a practical test for lead‐free ferroelectric bulk material in the BaTiO3 family.
Transformative learning experience among nursing students with patients acting as teachers: Mixed methods, non‐randomized, single‐arm study
Authors: Feijoo‐Cid Maria , García‐Sierra Rosa , García García Rubén , Ponce Luz Helena , Fernández‐Cano Maria Isabel , Portell Mariona
Published: July 2022

Aim

To examine the effects of expert HIV patients acting as teachers to Spanish nursing students both on their HIV‐related knowledge, attitudes and practices and on their approach to the care model as well as to explore their learning experience.

Design

Non‐randomized, single‐arm study with quantitative before and after measurements and qualitative data.

Methods

The intervention consisted of five 90‐min workshops led by two women living with HIV. Thirty‐four nursing students participated, and quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from February to June 2018. We used the Patient‐Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS) and the KAP questionnaire on HIV/AIDS to collect quantitative data.

Results

Statistically significant differences were found in the global score for care orientation and its two dimensions, caring and sharing. About the changes resulting from the workshops, the quantitative results—more patient‐centred care perception and better attitudes towards people living with HIV—match the qualitative findings in all the aspects studied, except in sharing.

Conclusion

Incorporating expert patients as teachers in the nursing bachelor's degree resulted in more patient‐centred care and improved knowledge, attitudes and practices. The workshops conducted by qualified expert patients showed transformative learning power, as the participants improved professional and personal aspects.
Establishing and leading a cross‐institutional partnership to integrate fundamentals of care into clinical practice, nursing education and research
Authors: Grønkjær Mette , Voldbjerg Siri Lygum , Jørgensen Lone , Kusk Kathrine Hoffmann , Laugesen Britt
Published: July 2022

Aim

The aim was to describe and discuss the process of establishing and leading a cross‐institutional partnership to regain focus on and reconceptualize fundamental nursing care in clinical practice, nursing education and research in one region in Denmark.

Design

A discursive paper. The case study method is used as an adapted frame for describing and discussing the establishment and strategic decisions of a cross‐institutional partnership.

Data sources

This discursive paper draws on the authors' experiences with establishing a cross‐institutional partnership and related literature.

Implications for nursing

The paper addresses the challenges surrounding fundamental care. Establishing cross‐institutional partnerships can contribute to a reconceptualization of fundamental care and initiate discussions on what nursing care is and requires. The paper provides an example of how a cross‐institutional partnership can be established and describes and discusses the opportunities and challenges in doing so.

Conclusion

A key step in the process of establishing a partnership is to actively involve key stakeholders and stimulate their commitment to investing time and resources in the partnership. This requires commitment, clear strategic direction and leadership. Another key step is engaging and informing executive management leaders, and continuously nurture their interest.

Impact

The paper aims to inform clinicians, educators, nursing leaders, researchers and policy makers on how to organize a formal partnership structured around a strategic research, development and implementation programme where the focal point of the collaboration is improving nursing care by integrating the conceptual FoC framework.

No patient or public contribution

Patients, service users, caregivers or members of the public were not involved in this study as it is a discursive paper based on the authors' experiences and relevant literature.
Examination of the effect of the perceived stress in the coronavirus‐19 pandemic on marital adjustment, sexual life and intimate partner violence
Authors: Aydin Ruveyde , Aktaş Songül , Kaloğlu Binici Dilek
Published: July 2022

Aims

The aim of the study was to explore the effects of perceived stress during the pandemic on marital adjustment, sexual life and intimate partner violence.

Design

A cross‐sectional design was employed in this study.

Methods

The data were collected with an online survey between October and December 2020 from 901 participants in Turkey. Participants completed the Descriptive Information Form, the Marital Adjustment Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale. Multivariate analysis of variance and moderation analysis were used in the analysis of the data.

Results

The pre‐pandemic marital adjustment scores of the participants significantly decreased during the pandemic. The marital adjustment and sexual life of those with high perceived stress levels were found to be negatively affected, and they were exposed to violence during the pandemic. In the moderation analysis, a non‐standardized coefficient of the marital adjustment variable in the model turned out to be significant, and the perceived stress decreased as marital adjustment increased. The marital adjustment was low, and the stress level was high in individuals exposed to violence. Besides, perceived stress was found to be effective in being exposed to intimate partner violence.

Conclusion

The stress perceived by individuals during the COVID‐19 pandemic negatively affected their marital adjustment and sexual life. Besides, perceived stress was found to be effective in being exposed to intimate partner violence, and marital adjustment decreased during the pandemic compared to the pre‐pandemic period.

Impact

During the pandemic period, health care providers should routinely screen the psychosocial health of individuals. Continuous, accessible, free psychosocial support services should be available in order to increase the psychosocial health and marital adjustment of people with high‐stress levels and prevent exposure to violence.

Patient or Public Contribution

The conduct of this study is based on an online survey with participants living in the same house with their spouses during the pandemic.
A systematic review of patient‐reported dignity and dignified care during acute hospital admission
Authors: Fuseini Abdul‐Ganiyu , Ley Lenore , Rawson Helen , Redley Bernice , Kerr Debra
Published: July 2022

Aims

To synthesize quantitative evidence on levels of dignity during acute hospital admission and identify barriers and facilitators to patients' dignity or dignified care from the perspective of hospitalized patients. The secondary aim was to examine the relationship between dignity and demographic, clinical and psychological characteristics of patients.

Design

A systematic review based on the protocol of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses guideline for reporting systematic reviews.

Data Sources

Five electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, AgeLine) were searched in February 2021, followed by backward‐forward searching using Web of Science and Scopus databases.

Review Methods

Potentially eligible articles were scrutinized by two reviewers. Articles that met the eligibility criteria were appraised for quality using the Critical Appraisal Tool for Cross‐Sectional Studies. Two reviewers extracted data for the review and resolved differences by consensus.

Results

Out of 3052 potentially eligible studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria. Levels of dignity for hospitalized patients vary widely across geographic locations. Patients' dignity is upheld when healthcare professionals communicate effectively, maintain their privacy, and provide dignity therapy. Patients' perceptions of dignity were, in some studies, reported to be associated with demographic (e.g. age, marital status, gender, employment, educational status), clinical (e.g. hospitalization, functional impairment, physical symptoms) and psychological (e.g. depression, anxiety, demoralization, coping mechanisms) variables whilst other studies did not observe such associations.

Conclusion

Patients in acute care settings experience mild to a severe loss of dignity across different geographic locations. Patients' dignity is influenced by several demographic, clinical and psychological characteristics of patients.

Impact

The findings of the review support impetus for improvement in dignified care for hospitalized patients, addressing factors that facilitate or impede patients' dignity. Measures aimed at alleviating suffering, fostering functional independence and addressing patients' psychosocial needs can be used to promote dignity.