bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revisiting the question of liquidity: are sukuk less liquid than conventional bonds?
Authors: Almaskati Nawaf
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to provide one of the first empirical examinations of the liquidity conditions in the international sukuk market. It also provides evidence on how those differences have changed over time.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses propensity score matching in combination with two price-based liquidity measures, bid-ask and high-low spreads, to compare the liquidity conditions of international sukuk issuances with similar international conventional bonds.

Findings

The results confirm that sukuk issuances are significantly less liquid than their conventional equivalents. The results also show that this difference in liquidity is more prominent in the case of corporate issuances. Finally, the analysis shows a general decline in these liquidity differences over time as the sukuk market matures and as more investors and issuers enter the market.

Originality/value

The study addresses the gap in the literature regarding the absence of an empirical examination of the liquidity conditions in the international sukuk market. The findings of this study also suggest that prior empirical findings regarding the diversification benefits offered by sukuk are likely to be driven by the lack of liquidity in the sukuk market rather than underlying economic factors.
The impact of mergers and acquisitions on shareholders' value: an empirical study of pharmaceutical companies
Authors: Gigante Gimede , Cerri Andrea , Leone Giuseppe
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This research investigates the effect of mergers and acquisition (M&A) transactions in the pharmaceutical sector. The study assesses the short-term value creation or destruction for shareholders of pharmaceutical companies involved in M&A activities on the acquiring side.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis is carried out by applying the event study methodology in order to define the cumulative abnormal return for each transaction observed. Then, the correlations between abnormal returns and economic metrics are determined building a multiple regression model. These metrics refers to the acquirer, target or to the deal itself.

Findings

Evidence show a short-term value creation for shareholders of pharmaceutical companies involved in M&A transactions on the acquiring side. On the one hand, the analysis suggests a negative correlation between the value creation and the acquiring firm's level of indebtedness. On the other hand, the value creation is positively correlated with target's metrics such as Return on Equity (ROE), Return on Assets (ROA) and Research and Development (R&D) intensity. Value creation is also tied to deal-specific characteristics regarding the cash used in the transaction and the comparative extent of the deal.

Practical implications

This analysis allows to predict returns around an announcement day considering the described indicators of value creation or destruction. M&As play a key role in the strategy implementation as reaction to exogenous shocks and endogenous needs.

Originality/value

This study enriches the literature of corporate finance applied to the pharmaceutical sector. Indeed, this industry is gaining increasing relevance in the M&A panorama. Thus, the related dynamics need to be assessed considering the uniqueness of the pharmaceutical sector in terms of regulation, stakeholders and social impact.
Exploring the development of Islamic fintech ecosystem in Indonesia: a text analytics
Authors: Hudaefi Fahmi Ali , Hassan M. Kabir , Abduh Muhamad
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims at two objectives, i.e. first, to identify the core elements of the Islamic fintech ecosystem, and second, to use the identified core elements to analyse the development of such an ecosystem in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

This work combines data analytics of text mining with qualitative analysis of human intelligence in two steps. First, knowledge discovery of the Islamic fintech ecosystem’s core elements using a sample of eight academic articles totalling 102 pages and 75,082 words. Second, using the identified core elements from step one to explore such ecosystem development in Indonesia. This stage employs a sample of 11 documents totalling 371 pages and 143,032 words from cyberspace.

Findings

The core elements of the Islamic fintech ecosystem identified are financial customers, fintech startups, government, technology developers, traditional financial institutions and fatwa (Islamic legal opinion). Furthermore, the development of the Islamic fintech ecosystem in Indonesia is examined under these identified core elements, providing critical insights into the Islamic fintech ecosystem currently established in the country's industry.

Research limitations/implications

This study primarily used semi-structured data from cyberspace. Traditional approaches to qualitative data collection, e.g. focused group discussions and interviews, may be beneficial for future studies in addressing the Islamic fintech ecosystem issues.

Practical implications

Academia worldwide may benefit from this work in incorporating knowledge of Islamic fintech ecosystem’s core elements into Islamic finance literature. Specifically, fintech stakeholders in Indonesia may be advantaged to understand how far the Islamic fintech ecosystem has grown in the country.

Social implications

The rise of unethical fintech peer-to-peer lending shows social problems in Indonesia’s fintech industry. The finding derives social implications that elucidate the current state of the country’s Islamic fintech ecosystem.

Originality/value

Using a kind of big data (i.e. semi-structured text data) from cyberspace and applying steps of text mining combined with qualitative analysis, may contribute to the creation of novelties for qualitative research on financial issues.
Intergenerational live‐in student programmes for meaningful engagement: Creating cohesive and supportive collectives in aged‐care facilities
Authors: Lai Tsz Wang Rohan , Raubenheimer Jacques , du Toit Sanetta Henrietta Johanna
Published: January 2023

Background and objectives

Older adults in residential aged‐care facilities (RACFs) experience segregation from society and face limited opportunities to meaningfully engage on a social and/or occupational level due to various structural and systemic challenges. An occupational therapy‐coordinated intergenerational live‐in student programme (ILiSP) with allied health students was successfully pioneered across Sydney (Australia) to facilitate ongoing intergenerational contact. We explored how ongoing intergenerational contact influenced meaningful engagement of older adults in RACFs by investigating routinely collected clinical data and exploring stakeholders' perspectives.

Research design and methods

We employed a concurrent nested mixed‐methods design. Residents' attendance in weekly organisational activities and students' monthly volunteer hour reports were analysed to produce statistics for demonstrating the changes in residents' activity attendance alongside ongoing intergenerational contact. Qualitative data from discussions directed by the nominal group technique (NGT) with staff, management and students, individual interviews with relatives and residents, and narrative clinical documentation were thematically analysed.

Results

The Wilcoxon signed‐rank test indicated that residents' activity attendance increased during intergenerational contact. Qualitative data yielded three main themes—interdependence, meaningful engagement, and kinship—all associated with intergenerational contact as part of established ongoing relationships. The NGT highlighted consensus on on‐site living for maintaining a cohesive and supportive collective.

Conclusion

Despite structural and systemic challenges within RACFs that dissuade community integration, ILiSP created opportunities for students to connect/reconnect residents to new/established networks and to support residents to maintain or re‐engage with previous lifestyle preferences. Therefore, ongoing intergenerational contact fostered a cohesive collective in support of the social and occupational needs of residents, which should be capitalised on by policymakers (e.g., the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program) and interested organisations.
Equal opportunities but unequal mentoring? The perceptions of mentoring by Black and minority ethnic academics in the UK university sector
Authors: Harris Lloyd C. , Ogbonna Emmanuel
Published: January 2023

Official statistics on the labour market position of Black and minority ethnic (BME) groups in academic institutions reveal that there are disparities in both their representation and in their promotion to higher levels. However, while the importance of mentoring has been acknowledged, few studies have explored the role of this importance organizational intervention in understanding the adverse employment outcomes of BME academics. This article documents, explores, and analyses the perceptions, reflections, and interpretations that BME academics attribute to their understanding of the role of mentoring in their career journeys, interactions, and experiences. The findings suggest that BME academics experienced widespread dissatisfaction of mentoring which many attributed to the unfavourable context in which university interventions such as mentoring is implemented as well as the inauthenticity of white mentors in their interactions with BME academics. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings for researchers and practitioners.
Improving shikonin solubility and stability by encapsulation in natural surfactant‐coated shikonin nanoparticles
Authors: He Jie , Xie Youfa , Zhong Junzhen , Chen Wenrong , Fang Suqiong , Chen Xing , Peng Shengfeng , Liu Wei , Liu Chengmei
Published: January 2023

It is significant to develop a colloidal delivery system to improve the water solubility, stability, and bioavailability of shikonin, which is a hydrophobic plant polyphenol with a variety of physiological activities. In this study, three kinds of natural surfactants (saponin, sophorolipid, and rhamnolipid) were used to prepare shikonin nanoparticles by the pH‐driven method. The physicochemical and structural properties of the shikonin nanoparticles were characterized, including particle size, zeta potential, and morphology. The encapsulation efficiencies of shikonin nanoparticles coated with saponin and sophorolipid were 97.6% and 97.3%, respectively, which were much higher than that of rhamnolipid‐coated shikonin nanoparticles (19.0%). Shikonin nanoparticles coated with saponin and sophorolipid showed good resistance to heat and light and maintained long‐term stability during storage. Moreover, shikonin nanoparticles coated with saponin and sophorolipid improved their in vitro‐bioavailability.

Practical Application

These article results are of great importance for improving the stability and bioavailability of shikonin in functional foods, dietary supplements, or pharmaceutical preparations. Moreover, this study provided theoretical and practical guides for further research of shikonin nanoparticles and may promote the development of natural colloidal delivery systems.
Predicting accounting fraud using imbalanced ensemble learning classifiers – evidence from China
Authors: Rahman Md Jahidur , Zhu Hongtao
Published: January 2023

The current research aims to launch effective accounting fraud detection models using imbalanced ensemble learning algorithms for China A‐Share listed firms. Based on a sample of 33,544 Chinese firm‐year instances from 1998 to 2017, this research respectively established one logistic regression and four ensemble learning classifiers (AdaBoost, XGBoost, CUSBoost, and RUSBoost) by 12 financial ratios and 28 raw financial data. Additionally, we divided the sample into the train and test observations to evaluate the classifiers' out‐of‐sample performance. In detail, we applied two metrics, namely, Area under the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve (AUC) and Area under the Precision‐Recall curve (AUPR), to evaluate classifiers' discriminability. In the supplement test, this study put forward an algebraic fused model on the basis of the four ensemble learning classifiers and introduced the sliding window technique. The empirical results showed that the ensemble learning classifiers can detect accounting fraud for the imbalanced China A‐listed firms far more effectively than the logistic regression model. Moreover, imbalanced ensemble learning classifiers (CUSBoost and RUSBoost) effectively performed better than the common ensemble learning models (AdaBoost and XGBoost) in average. The algebraic fused model in the supplement test also obtained the highest average AUC and AUPR among all the employed algorithms. Our results offer firm support for the potential role of Machine Learning (ML)‐based Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches in reliably predicting accounting fraud with high accuracy. Similarly, for the Chinese settings, our ML‐based AI offers utmost advantage in forecasting accounting fraud. Finally, this paper fills the research gap on the applications of imbalanced ensemble learning in accounting fraud detection for Chinese listed firms.
Impact of land use patterns on bee communities in the north of Côte d'Ivoire (West Africa)
Authors: Coulibaly Drissa , Tuo Yalamoussa , Kone Mouhamadou , Soro Kinafoho Christiane , Koua Kouakou Hervé
Published: January 2023

Natural and protected area degradation constitutes a threat to bee communities and could decrease crop yield by reducing bee pollination effectiveness. For West Africa, changes in bee communities across disturbance gradients from savannah to agricultural land are mainly unknown. Our study aimed to assess the impact of land use patterns on bee communities in the department of Korhogo. We chose three sites of varying disturbance intensity (low, medium and high disturbance). Bees were caught using pan traps. Abundance, richness, evenness and community structure of bees were assessed. During 6 months of sampling, 3176 bee specimens belonging to three families (Apidae, Halictidae and Megachilidae) were caught, comprising 18 species and 15 genera. Species richness of Halictidae and abundance of Apidae were highest (F = 93.86; p = 0.0051). The station with low disturbance was more diversified (H′ = 2.75). Bee average abundance was higher in sites with medium disturbance. Our findings are relevant to biodiversity conservation. They show that bee diversity is high where the disturbance level is still low.
Osteoporosis in men with hypogonadism because of ApoA‐I Leu75Pro amyloidosis under long‐term testosterone therapy
Authors: Facondo Paolo , Delbarba Andrea , Pezzaioli Letizia Chiara , Ferlin Alberto , Cappelli Carlo
Published: January 2023

Background

Apo A‐I Leu75Pro amyloidosis is a rare systemic hereditary disease, whose hallmark and earliest involvement is testicular impairment, characterized by hypogonadism and macrorchidism; renal and hepatic involvement are the other characteristics.

Objective

To evaluate for the first time the prevalence of osteopenia, osteoporosis and vertebral fractures (VFs) in men with this form of amyloidosis affected by hypogonadism and under long‐term testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

Materials and methods

Retrospective study on 50 men >50 years (median age 64.5) with dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), hormonal, and biochemical data available at least 3 years after the start of TRT. Serum gonadal hormones and bone markers, lumbar and femoral DXA‐scan with morphometric assay for evaluation of VFs were assessed.

Results

At 7.5 years from start of TRT, lumbar and/or femoral osteopenia and osteoporosis were found in 54% and 10% of patients, respectively. Of the men who had the morphometric assay performed, five of 34 (14.7%) had VFs. Compared to patients with normal bone mineral density, men with osteopenia and osteoporosis were older, had lower body mass index, higher sex hormone binding globulin and showed more frequently renal involvement. Multiorgan involvement, without different TRT dosage, was associated with lower testosterone levels.

Discussion and conclusion

Men with hypogonadism because of Apo A‐I Leu75Pro amyloidosis under long‐term TRT had a high burden of low bone mass (64%) and VFs (almost 15%). Osteopenia‐osteoporosis was more frequently observed in older patients with multi‐organ disease, which might contribute to impair bone health beyond hypogonadism.
Yield effects of agricultural cooperative membership in developing countries: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Ma Wanglin , Hong Sanghyun , Reed W. Robert , Duan Jianhua , Luu Phong
Published: January 2023

This study uses a meta‐analysis to synthesize the effects of agricultural cooperative membership on the yield of crops and livestock. It collects 158 estimated yield effects from 42 studies, covering 19 developing countries. Our analysis finds evidence that there exists positive publication bias in the empirical literature, confirming that researchers and journals have a preference to publish articles that report positive and significant results. After correcting for publication bias, we find that cooperative membership has a small‐sized and insignificant effect on the yield. The meta‐regression analysis reveals that variation in the reported yield effects can be largely explained by the study attributes such as the sample type (full sample vs. subsample), membership ratio, econometric approaches (instrumental‐variable based parametric approach, non‐parametric approach or ordinary least square regression), effect size types (average treatment effects on the treated, average treatment effects, or coefficient), agro‐product type (grain or others), and climate zones (tropical or non‐tropical).
Birth includes us: Development of a community‐led survey to capture experiences of pregnancy care among LGBTQ2S+ families
Authors: Altman Molly R. , Cragg Kase , van Winkle Teresa , Julian Zoë , Obedin‐Maliver Juno , Tarasoff Lesley A. , Eagen‐Torkko Meghan K. , Ferrell Brittany L. , Rubashkin Nicholas A. , Lusero Indra , Vedam Saraswathi
Published: January 2023

Background

Limited research captures the intersectional and nuanced experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two‐spirit, and other sexual and gender‐minoritized (LGBTQ2S+) people when accessing perinatal care services, including care for pregnancy, birth, abortion, and/or pregnancy loss.

Methods

We describe the participatory research methods used to develop the Birth Includes Us survey, an online survey study to capture experiences of respectful perinatal care for LGBTQ2S+ individuals. From 2019 to 2021, our research team in collaboration with a multi‐stakeholder Community Steering Council identified, adapted, and/or designed survey items which were reviewed and then content validated by community members with lived experience.

Results

The final survey instrument spans the perinatal care experience, from preconception to early parenthood, and includes items to capture experiences of care across different pregnancy roles (eg, pregnant person, partner/co‐parent, intended parent using surrogacy) and pregnancy outcomes (eg, live birth, stillbirth, miscarriage, and abortion). Three validated measures of respectful perinatal care are included, as well as measures to assess experiences of racism, discrimination, and bias across intersections of identity.

Discussion and Conclusions

By centering diverse perspectives in the review process, the Birth Includes Us instrument is the first survey to assess the range of experiences within LGBTQ2S+ communities. This instrument is ready for implementation in studies that seek to examine geographic and identity‐based perinatal health outcomes and care experiences among LGBTQ2S+ people.
Dose reductions in patients with Waldenström macroglobulinaemia treated with ibrutinib
Authors: Sarosiek Shayna , Gustine Joshua N. , Flynn Catherine A. , Leventoff Carly , Little Megan , White Timothy , Meid Kirsten , Treon Steven P. , Castillo Jorge J.
Published: January 2023

Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM) is characterized by the presence of a MYD88L265P mutation. This mutation promotes growth and survival of malignant cells through Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) activation. Ibrutinib was the first BTK inhibitor approved for WM. Intolerance to ibrutinib frequently leads to dose reductions, though the impact of reducing ibrutinib dosing has not been systematically studied. We performed a retrospective study to determine the frequency and impact of reducing ibrutinib dosing in WM patients. With a median treatment time of 64 months, 96 (27%) of 353 WM patients required a dose reduction due to adverse events such as musculoskeletal symptoms, cardiac events, dermatologic symptoms, cytopenias, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The median time to initial dose reduction was 9.3 months (range, 0.5–74). Dose reductions were more common in those 65 years of age or older versus under 65 [hazard ratio (HR) 2.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.55–3.90; p < 0.001], and in females versus males (HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.41–3.28, p < 0.001). Most patients (65%) had improvement or resolution of adverse effects after initial dose reduction. With a median follow‐up of three years from dose reduction, hematologic response sustained or deepened in 79% of patients. These data suggest that dose reduction of ibrutinib is a reasonable treatment approach for patients with intolerable side effects.
The Japanese clinical guidelines 2022 for myasthenia gravis and Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome
Authors: Murai Hiroyuki , Utsugisawa Kimiaki , Motomura Masakatsu , Imai Tomihiro , Uzawa Akiyuki , Suzuki Shigeaki
Published: January 2023

The revised Japanese clinical guidelines for myasthenia gravis (MG) and Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) were published in 2022. The notable points in these guidelines (GLs) are as follows: (i) these are the first Japanese GLs to include a description of LEMS; (ii) diagnostic criteria of MG are revised to lessen the incidence of false negative patients; (iii) MG is divided into six clinical subtypes; (iv) a high‐dose oral steroid regimen with escalation and de‐escalation schedule is not recommended by the GLs; (v) the GLs promote the early fast‐acting treatment strategy initially proposed in the previous GLs; (vi) refractory MG is defined; (vii) the use of molecular targeted drugs is included; (viii) diagnostic criteria of LEMS are proposed; and (ix) treatment algorithms for both MG and LEMS are presented. These new GLs are expected to improve the patients' quality of life and will serve to bridge the present era with the molecular targeted treatment eras.
Automated detection of glottic laryngeal carcinoma in laryngoscopic images from a multicentre database using a convolutional neural network
Authors: Yan Peikai , Li Shaohua , Zhou Zhou , Liu Qian , Wu Jiahui , Ren Qingyi , Chen Qiuhuan , Chen Zhipeng , Chen Ze , Chen Shaohua , Scholp Austin , Jiang Jack J. , Kang Jing , Ge Pingjiang
Published: January 2023

Objective

Little is known about the efficacy of using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify laryngeal carcinoma from images of vocal lesions taken in different hospitals with multiple laryngoscope systems. This multicentre study aimed to establish an AI system and provide a reliable auxiliary tool to screen for laryngeal carcinoma.

Study design

Multicentre case–control study.

Setting

Six tertiary care centres.

Participants

Laryngoscopy images were collected from 2179 patients with vocal fold lesions.

Outcome measures

An automatic detection system of laryngeal carcinoma was established and used to distinguish malignant and benign vocal lesions in 2179 laryngoscopy images acquired from 6 hospitals with 5 types of laryngoscopy systems. Pathological examination was the gold standard for identifying malignant and benign vocal lesions.

Results

Out of 89 cases in the malignant group, the classifier was able to correctly identify laryngeal carcinoma in 66 patients (74.16%, sensitivity). Out of 640 cases in the benign group, the classifier was able to accurately assess the laryngeal lesion in 503 cases (78.59%, specificity). Furthermore, the region‐based convolutional neural network (R‐CNN) classifier achieved an overall accuracy of 78.05%, with a 95.63% negative predictive value and a 32.51% positive predictive value for the testing data set.

Conclusion

This automatic diagnostic system has the potential to assist clinical laryngeal carcinoma diagnosis which may improve and standardise the diagnostic capacity of laryngologists using different laryngoscopes.
Weight regain and mental health outcomes following behavioural weight management programmes: A systematic review with meta‐analyses
Authors: Theodoulou Annika , Hartmann‐Boyce Jamie , Gorenberg Jordan , Oke Jason L. , Butler Ailsa R. , Bastounis Anastasios , Jebb Susan A. , Aveyard Paul
Published: January 2023

Behavioural weight management programmes (BWMPs) lead to weight loss but subsequent weight regain may harm mental health outcomes. We searched for randomised trials of BWMPs in adults with overweight/obesity with follow‐up ≥12 months from baseline that measured weight change both at and after programme‐end. We included only studies reporting mental health at or after programme‐end. We meta‐analysed changes in various mental health outcomes using a random‐effects model by nature of the comparator group and by time since programme end. Subgroup analysis explored heterogeneity. We used mixed models and meta‐regression to analyse the association between change in weight and change in depression and/or anxiety over time, with higher scores indicating greater depression and/or anxiety. We included 47 studies. When comparing BWMPs (diet and/or exercise) to control, most estimates included the possibility of no difference, but pooled estimates for psychological wellbeing, self‐esteem and mental‐health composite scores at programme‐end, anxiety at 1–6 months, and depression at 7–12 months after programme‐end suggested improvements in intervention arms relative to control, with 95% CIs excluding no difference. Pooled estimates found no evidence that BWMPs harmed mental health at programme end or beyond. Mental health composite scores at programme‐end favoured diet and exercise interventions over diet alone, with 95% CIs excluding no difference. All other measures and timepoints included the possibility of no difference or could not be meta‐analysed due to high heterogeneity or a paucity of data. Mixed models and meta‐regression of the association between change in depression and/or anxiety scores over time, and change in weight, were inconclusive. Despite weight regain after BWMPs, our meta‐analyses found no evidence of mental health harm and some evidence that BWMPs may improve some dimensions of mental health at and after programme‐end.
Perceived Group Identity Alters Task‐Unrelated Thought and Attentional Divergence During Conversations
Authors: Colby Alexander , Wong Aaron , Allen Laura , Kun Andrew , Mills Caitlin
Published: January 2023

Task‐unrelated thought (TUT) occurs frequently in our daily lives and across a range of tasks, but we know little about how this phenomenon arises during and influences the way we communicate. Conversations also provide a novel opportunity to assess the alignment (or divergence) in TUT during dyadic interactions. We conducted a study to determine: (a) the frequency of TUT during conversation as well as how partners align/diverge in their rates of TUT, (b) the subjective and behavioral correlates of TUT and TUT divergence during conversation, and (c) if perceived social group identity impacts TUT and TUT divergence during conversation. We used a minimal groups induction procedure to assign participants (N = 126) to either an ingroup, outgroup, or control condition. We then asked them to converse with one another via a computer‐mediated text chat application for 10 min while self‐reporting TUTs. On average, participants reported TUT about once every 2 min; however, this rate was lower for participants in the ingroup condition, compared to the control condition. Conversational pairs in the ingroup condition were also aligned more in their rates of TUT compared to the outgroup condition. Finally, we discuss subjective and behavioral correlates of TUT and TUT divergence in conversations, such as valence, turn‐taking ratios, and topic shifts.
Current status and perspectives for endoscopic diagnosis of superficial nonampullary duodenal epithelial tumors
Authors: Toya Yosuke , Endo Masaki , Sugai Tamotsu , Matsumoto Takayuki
Published: January 2023

In recent years, there have been significant advances in the endoscopic resection (ER) procedures of superficial nonampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs). A preoperative endoscopic diagnosis is thus deemed necessary in determining the indication for subsequent ER. For the histologic and endoscopic diagnosis of SNADETs, understanding the mucin phenotype is inevitable. Recently, two diagnostic algorithms for the differential diagnosis of SNADETs from nonneoplastic lesions under magnifying endoscopy with narrow‐band imaging have been proposed. In addition, various endoscopic approaches have been proposed to differentiate low‐ and high‐grade adenomas/carcinomas, including white light endoscopy, magnifying image‐enhanced endoscopy, and endocytoscopy. These methods, however, have not been standardized with respect to the classification of their findings and the validation of their diagnostic accuracy. Moreover, there are still concerns with respect to the histologic criteria required to establish a SNADETs diagnosis. Standardization in the histologic and endoscopic diagnosis of SNADETs is needed.
Species and functional diversity of direct‐seeded vegetation declines over 25 years
Authors: Atkinson Joe , Simpson‐Young Charlotte , Fifield Graham , Schneemann Barton , Bonser Stephen P. , Moles Angela T.
Published: January 2023

The re‐establishment of native vegetation on disturbed land has been adopted widely as a form of ecological restoration in the past few decades. It is often suggested that establishing native plantings will lead to increasing biodiversity at restoration sites over time. However, this prediction has not been tested over long periods. Now that some pioneering projects and monitoring programs have become older, it is possible to quantify the long‐term benefits of native vegetation plantings. We asked how the plant diversity and function of 12 biodiverse native vegetation plantings has changed over approximately 30 years. We found that sites declined in measures of functional and species diversity over time. Shorter‐statured woody species were not as common at older sites. Surprisingly, sites initially seeded with a greater richness of species did not have higher standing richness at any later census period. While all sites produced net native biodiversity benefits relative to the exotic pastures they replaced, ongoing management and monitoring will be needed to ensure they continue to do so. Understanding the relationship between ageing native vegetation plantings and other components of the ecosystem (e.g., mammals, birds, invertebrates, soil, microorganisms) is a priority. Our results suggest that recruitment barriers in ex‐agricultural ecosystems are high and that the biodiversity benefits provided by shorter‐lived species will only be transient without ongoing management of these systems. Research confronting these recruitment barriers is a priority, and managers (and funders) of these kinds of restoration projects may need to be prepared for ongoing management of sites to promote lost components if they are desired as continual features of these ecosystems.
The epidemiology of epilepsy in older adults: A narrative review by theILAETask Force on Epilepsy in the Elderly
Authors: Beghi Ettore , Giussani Giorgia , Costa Cinzia , DiFrancesco Jacopo C. , Dhakar Monica , Leppik Ilo , Kwan Patrick , Akamatsu Naoki , Cretin Benjamin , O'Dwyer Rebecca , Kraemer Guenter , Piccenna Loretta , Faught Edward ,   the ILAE Task Force on Epilepsy in the Elderly (2017–2021)
Published: January 2023

In an aging world, it is important to know the burden of epilepsy affecting populations of older persons. We performed a selective review of epidemiological studies that we considered to be most informative, trying to include data from all parts of the world. We emphasized primary reports rather than review articles. We reviewed studies reporting the incidence and prevalence of epilepsy that focused on an older population as well as studies that included a wider age range if older persons were tabulated as a subgroup. There is strong evidence that persons older than approximately 60 years incur an increasing risk of both acute symptomatic seizures and epilepsy. In wealthier countries, the incidence of epilepsy increases sharply after age 60 or 65 years. This phenomenon was not always observed among reports from populations with lower socioeconomic status. This discrepancy may reflect differences in etiologies, methods of ascertainment, or distribution of ages; this is an area for more research. We identified other areas for which there are inadequate data. Incidence data are scarcer than prevalence data and are missing for large areas of the world. Prevalence is lower than would be expected from cumulative incidence, possibly because of remissions, excess mortality, or misdiagnosis of acute symptomatic seizures as epilepsy. Segmentation by age, frailty, and comorbidities is desirable, because “epilepsy in the elderly” is otherwise too broad a concept. Data are needed on rates of status epilepticus and drug‐resistant epilepsy using the newer definitions. Many more data are needed from low‐income populations and from developing countries. Greater awareness of the high rates of seizures among older adults should lead to more focused diagnostic efforts for individuals. Accurate data on epilepsy among older adults should drive proper allocation of treatments for individuals and resources for societies.
Botryomycosis‐like discospondylitis of the thoracic spine in a Friesian horse with severe bilateral pelvic limb ataxia and paresis
Authors: Vandekerckhove Louis , Raes Els , De Jonge Bert , Neuckermans Zoé , Vanderperren Katrien
Published: January 2023

Botryomycosis is an uncommon chronic bacterial pyogranulomatous infection of cutaneous and, rarely of visceral origin, that can rarely invade the osseous tissues. An 8‐year‐old Friesian gelding was presented with severe bilateral hindlimb ataxia and paresis of 2‐weeks' duration. Radiographic examination revealed a large osteolytic lesion at the T10‐T11 intervertebral disc space. Post‐mortem examination revealed discospondylitis with abscess formation and histological presence of pyogranulomatous inflammation with coccoform bacteria rimmed by Splendore‐Hoeppli material. Staphylococcus aureus was identified by bacteriological examination. This case report describes the clinical presentation, imaging features and post‐mortem findings of a Friesian gelding presenting with severe bilateral hindlimb ataxia and paresis caused by compression and degeneration of the spinal cord due to a botryomycosis‐like thoracic discospondylitis. Botryomycosis‐like infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of focal expansile bone lesions demonstrating diffuse osteolysis, sclerosis and interrupted bone margins.
Pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability of cannabidiol in horses after intravenous and oral administration with oil and micellar formulations
Authors: Sánchez de Medina Antonia , Serrano‐Rodríguez Juan Manuel , Díez de Castro Elisa , García‐Valverde María Teresa , Saitua Aritz , Becero Mireia , Muñoz Ana , Ferreiro‐Vera Carlos , Sánchez de Medina Verónica
Published: January 2023

Background

Intravenous pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability of cannabidiol (CBD) with different formulations have not been investigated in horses and may represent a starting point for clinical studies.

Objectives

To describe pharmacokinetics after intravenous and oral administrations with oil and micellar formulations and simulate different treatments.

Study design

Single intravenous experiment and two‐way randomised oral experiments, Latin‐square design.

Methods

Eight healthy horses received intravenous CBD at 1.00 mg/kg dose, oral CBD in sesame oil and in micellar formulation, both at 10.00 mg/kg. Concentrations were measured using LC–MS/MS and fitted by nonlinear mixed effect modelling. Parameters obtained were used to simulate single and multiple treatments at steady state.

Results

Intravenous and oral concentrations were simultaneously fitted using a three‐compartment model. Final estimates indicate that CBD has a volume of distribution of 36 L/kg associated with a systemic clearance of 1.46 L/h/kg and half‐lives ranged between 24 and 34 h. Oral bioavailability was close to 14% for both oral administrations. Simulated dose regimen of CBD every 12 and 24 h predicted similar percentages to reach effective plasma concentration with both oral formulation at 10.00 mg/kg.

Main limitations

A small horse population was used (8 horses per trial).

Conclusions and clinical importance

Oral bioavailability was low at the doses studied but fell within the range described for horse and other species. CBD had a high steady‐state volume of distribution, a high clearance and long half‐lives. No adverse reactions were detected at any dose or route. The micellar formulation showed a faster absorption and higher concentration peak, while the oil formulation presented lower levels, but more maintained over time. Simulations predicted that both could be useful in multiple oral dose treatments. These results indicated that CBD could be of interest, but further studies are needed to evaluate its clinical use in horses.
Ultrafine‐grained β‐Sialon fabricated by two‐stage sintering and study on diffusion toughening of Ti–22Al–25Nb
Authors: Xi Chenyang , Cui Tianlun , Guo Haoshan , Liang Kangbo , Zhang Chunxiang , Luo Junting
Published: January 2023

The ultrafine‐grained β‐Sialon ceramics were fabricated by spark plasma sintering at different temperatures with inorganic Al2O3–Y2O3 and Ti–22Al–25Nb intermetallic powder as composite additives. The research showed that β‐Sialon ceramics achieve two‐stage sintering densification. Al2O3–Y2O3 inorganic additives promoted the synthesis and densification of β‐Sialon ceramics at 1125–1215°C. Ti–22Al–25Nb intermetallic powder diffused Ti and Nb elements at 1240–1425°C, thereby improving the fracture toughness of β‐Sialon ceramics. The maximum fracture toughness (∼9.69 MPa m1/2) under 19.6 N was obtained for β‐Sialon ceramics sintered at 1600°C.
Fabrication and electrochemical evaluation of polyhedral PANI‐coated Co3O4 electrode for supercapacitor application
Authors: Misnon Izan Izwan , Manickavasakam Karnan , Nordin Norhayati , Jose Rajan
Published: January 2023

In this work, conducting polymer modification on metal oxide surfaces was targeted to improve the composite conductivity and stability for electrochemical energy storage applications. Polyhedral cobalt oxide (Co3O4) was prepared using a molten salt combustion method and coated with polyaniline (PANI). The composite (PANI‐CoM) was characterized using XRD, TGA, FTIR, FESEM, TEM, and BET. From cyclic voltammetry analysis in 6 M KOH, PANI‐CoM shows a high CS (985 F/g) compared to bare Co3O4 (278 F/g), indicating that PANI coating has improved pseudocapacitive charge storability of the electrode. The electrolyte diffusion on the internal active surfaces has increased from 11% to 31%, contributed by the reduction of internal resistance by 29%. Activated carbon and ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) were used to manufacture two sets of asymmetrical supercapacitor devices, and PANI‐CoM/OMC functioned the best performance with an ED of 22 Wh/kg at a PD of 400 W/kg.
Effects of different stirrer modes on the physicochemical properties of vegetables during cooking
Authors: Ning Meng , Zhang Fan , Deng Qian , Chen Yang , Chen Jie , Wang Zhaojun
Published: January 2023

The coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) pandemic caused dietary changes. Humans reduced social activities to prevent the spread of COVID‐19, which led to increasing demand for machines to help cook. This work studies the effect of different stirrer modes on the texture of celery, asparagus, green peppers, and spinach during the cooking process and the functional loss of components in vegetables by measuring the changes in vitamin C, total polyphenols, and total flavonoids. The results showed that colour changes and loss of nutrients in each vegetable varied under different stirrer modes. Stirring was found to be the best mode for cooking all four vegetables. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the a* value and functional components during the cooking process, which means that the colour difference and nutritional loss of vegetables can be modulated together. This study provides theoretical guidance for developing the stirring unit in a cooking machine.
Inside the phagosome: A bacterial perspective
Authors: Hampton Mark B. , Dickerhof Nina
Published: January 2023

The neutrophil phagosome is one of the most hostile environments that bacteria must face and overcome if they are to succeed as pathogens. Targeting bacterial defense mechanisms should lead to new therapies that assist neutrophils to kill pathogens, but this has not yet come to fruition. One of the limiting factors in this effort has been our incomplete knowledge of the complex biochemistry that occurs within the rapidly changing environment of the phagosome. The same compartmentalization that protects host tissue also limits our ability to measure events within the phagosome. In this review, we highlight the limitations in our knowledge, and how the contribution of bacteria to the phagosomal environment is often ignored. There appears to be significant heterogeneity among phagosomes, and it is important to determine whether survivors have more efficient defenses or whether they are ingested into less threatening environments than other bacteria. As part of these efforts, we discuss how monitoring or recovering bacteria from phagosomes can provide insight into the conditions they have faced. We also encourage the use of unbiased screening approaches to identify bacterial genes that are essential for survival inside neutrophil phagosomes.
Surfing on the waves of the human γδ T cell ontogenic sea
Authors: Sanchez Sanchez Guillem , Tafesse Yohannes , Papadopoulou Maria , Vermijlen David
Published: January 2023

While γδ T cells are present virtually in all vertebrates, there is a remarkable lack of conservation of the TRG and TRD loci underlying the generation of the γδ T cell receptor (TCR), which is associated with the generation of species‐specific γδ T cells. A prominent example is the human phosphoantigen‐reactive Vγ9Vδ2 T cell subset that is absent in mice. Murine γδ thymocyte cells were among the first immune cells identified to follow a wave‐based layered development during embryonic and early life, and since this initial observation, in‐depth insight has been obtained in their thymic ontogeny. By contrast, less is known about the development of human γδ T cells, especially regarding the generation of γδ thymocyte waves. Here, after providing an overview of thymic γδ wave generation in several vertebrate classes, we review the evidence for γδ waves in the human fetal thymus, where single‐cell technologies have allowed the breakdown of human γδ thymocytes into functional waves with important TCR associations. Finally, we discuss the possible mechanisms contributing to the generation of waves of γδ thymocytes and their possible significance in the periphery.
Different degrees of skill obsolescence across hard and soft skills and the role of lifelong learning for labor market outcomes
Authors: Schultheiss Tobias , Backes‐Gellner Uschi
Published: January 2023

This paper examines the role of lifelong learning in counteracting skill depreciation and obsolescence. We differentiate between occupations with more hard skills versus more soft skills and draw on representative job advertisement data that contain machine‐learning categorized skill requirements and cover the Swiss job market in great detail across occupations (from 1950 to 2019). We examine lifelong learning effects for “harder” versus “softer” occupations, thereby analyzing the role of training in counteracting skill depreciation in occupations that are differently affected by skill depreciation. Our results reveal novel empirical patterns regarding the benefits of lifelong learning, which are consistent with theoretical explanations based on structurally different skill depreciation rates: In harder occupations, with large shares of fast‐depreciating hard skills, the role of lifelong learning is primarily as a hedge against unemployment risks rather than a boost to wages. By contrast, in softer occupations, in which workers build on more value‐stable soft‐skill foundations, the role of lifelong learning instead lies mostly in acting as a boost for upward career mobility and leads to larger wage gains.
A 3D oxalate‐bridged [CuIIFeII] coordination polymer as molecular precursor for CuFe2O4 spinel—photocatalytic features
Authors: Molčanov Lidija , Androš Dubraja Lidija , Vrankić Martina , Jurić Marijana
Published: January 2023

A 3D heterometallic oxalate‐bridged coordination polymer [CuIIFeII2(H2O)(terpy)(C2O4)3]n (terpy = 2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine) (1) was investigated both as photocatalyst for the organic dye removal and as a single‐source precursor for the preparation of the copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanocrystals by thermal processing. The dual functionality of 1 was supported by the degradation of aqueous solutions of rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) solutions under visible (Vis) and ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, powder X‐ray diffraction data collection at room temperature, and the optical and scanning electron microscopy analyses. A close inspection of the X‐ray diffraction patterns unveiled qualitative and quantitative information on the phase composition obtained after the single‐source molecular precursor route to spinel oxide. By optimizing the temperature levels and setting the controlled heating rate at 6 h of holding time, the phase composition of thermal processing of 1 was evaluated—thermal treatment of 1 at 950°C for 6 h and a heating/cooling rate of 10°C min−1 resulted in the formation of solely tetragonal spinel phase of CuFe2O4, whereas the formation of both tetragonal and cubic CuFe2O4 phases was observed at 950°C by the heating rate of 30°C min−1. To obtain the high‐temperature cubic CuFe2O4 oxide, compound 1 was heated and then quenched at 925°C, which led to the formation of the cubic spinel ferrite as the main crystalline oxide phase. Moreover, the photocatalytic properties of the t‐CuFe2O4 spinel were investigated under the same conditions as for 1. The optical bandgap energies were estimated from UV–Vis absorption spectra for both metal oxide and precursor powder.