bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute intermittent hypoxia enhances volitional elbow strength, and modulates spatial distribution of muscle activation patterns in persons with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury
Authors: Afsharipour Babak , Pearcey Gregory EP , Rymer W Zev , Sandhu Milap S
Published: August 2022

Background

Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) is an emerging technique for facilitating neural plasticity in individuals with major neurological deficits. In people with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), a single sequence of AIH enhances motor function such as hand grip strength and ankle plantarflexion torque, but the underlying mechanisms are not yet clear.

Objective

To examine how AIH-induced changes in magnitude and spatial distribution of electromyography (EMG) activity over the surface of the biceps and triceps brachii muscles contributes to improved strength.

Methods

Seven individuals with iSCI visited the laboratory on two occasions, at least a week apart, and received either AIH or Sham AIH intervention in a randomized order. AIH consisted of 15 brief (∼60s) periods of low oxygen (fraction of inspired O2 = 0.09) alternating with 60s of normoxia, whereas Sham AIH consisted of repeated exposures to normoxic gas mixtures. Muscle activity of biceps and triceps brachii was recorded with high-density surface EMG during maximal elbow flexion and extension contractions. We used these EMG recordings to generate spatial maps which distinguished active muscle regions prior to and 60 minutes after AIH or Sham AIH.

Results

After an AIH sequence, elbow flexion and extension forces increased by 91.7 ± 33.5% and 51.7 ± 21.9% from baseline, respectively, whereas there was no difference after Sham AIH exposure. Changes in strength were associated with an altered spatial distribution of EMG activity and increased root mean squared EMG amplitude in both biceps and triceps brachii muscles.

Conclusions

These data suggest that altered motor unit activation profiles may underlie improved volitional strength after a single dose of AIH and warrant further investigation using single motor unit analysis techniques to further elucidate mechanisms of AIH-induced plasticity.
Phenotype-by-phenome-wide association study of treatment resistant depression
Authors: Coombes Brandon J , Sanchez Ruiz Jorge A , Fennessy Brian , Pazdernik Vanessa , Adekkanattu Prakash , Nunez Nicolas A , Lepow Lauren , Ryu Euijung , Talati Ardesheer , Jenkins Greg D , Pendegraft Richard , Wickramaratne Priya , Mann J John , Olfson Mark , Weissman Myrna M , Pathak Jyotishman , Charney Alexander W , Biernacka Joanna M
Published: August 2022

Objective

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD), defined as inadequate response to at least one or at least two antidepressant (AD) trials, is common in major depressive disorder (MDD). In this study, electronic health records (EHR) were used to identify clinical associations with TRD.

Methods

Using two biobanks, phenomes of patients with at least one MDD-related diagnostic code and one AD prescription (N=17,049) were generated using aggregated diagnostic codes (phecodes) from EHRs. Phenotype-by-phenome-wide association analyses were performed for two binary definitions of TRD, based on either one or more, or two or more, AD switches after at least 30 days but within 14 weeks, and a quantitative measure defined as the number of unique ADs prescribed for at least 30 days.

Results

Of the 17,049 patients with MDD, 1624 (9.5%) had at least one switch, 422 (2.5%) had at least two switches, and the number of unique antidepressant prescriptions ranged from one to twelve. After accounting for multiple testing, 142, 18, and 7 phecodes were significantly associated with the quantitative definition and the two binary definitions (≥1 AD switch or ≥2 AD switches), respectively. All three outcomes were significantly associated with known TRD risk factors including anxiety disorders, insomnia, and suicidal ideation. The quantitative measure was uniquely associated with other conditions including irritable bowel syndrome and decreased white blood cell count.

Conclusions

In addition to identifying known clinical associations, the quantitative measure of treatment resistance uncovered new factors potentially associated with TRD. This measure may also facilitate discovery of genetic correlates of TRD in future analyses.
Automated Expert-level Scleral Spur Detection and Quantitative Biometric Analysis on the ANTERION Anterior Segment OCT System
Authors: Bolo Kyle , Apolo Galo , Pardeshi Anmol A. , Chiang Michael , Burkemper Bruce , Xie Xiaobin , Huang Alex S. , Simonovsky Martin , Xu Benjamin Y.
Published: August 2022

Aim

To perform an independent validation of deep learning (DL) algorithms for automated scleral spur detection and measurement of scleral spur-based biometric parameters in anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) images.

Methods

Patients receiving routine eye care underwent AS-OCT imaging using the ANTERION OCT system (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). Scleral spur locations were marked by three human graders (Reference, Expert, and Novice) and predicted using DL algorithms developed by Heidelberg Engineering that prioritize a false positive rate <4% (FPR4) or true positive rate >95% (TPR95). Performance of human graders and DL algorithms were evaluated based on agreement of scleral spur locations and biometric measurements with the Reference Grader.

Results

1,308 AS-OCT images were obtained from 117 participants. Median differences in scleral spur locations from reference locations were significantly smaller (p<0.001) for the FPR4 (52.6±48.6μm) and TPR95 (55.5±50.6μm) algorithms compared to the Expert (61.1±65.7μm) and Novice (79.4±74.9μm) Graders. Inter-grader reproducibility of biometric measurements was excellent overall for all four (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] range 0.918-0.997). Inter-grader reproducibility of the Expert Grader [0.567-0.965] and DL algorithms [0.746-0.979] exceeded that of the Novice Grader [0.146-0.929] for images with narrow angles, defined as angle opening distance 500μm from the scleral spur (AOD500) <150μm.

Conclusions

DL algorithms on the ANTERION approximate expert-level measurement of scleral spur-based biometric parameters in an independent patient population. These algorithms could enhance clinical utility of AS-OCT imaging, especially for evaluating patients with angle closure and performing intraocular lens (IOL) calculations.

KEY MESSAGES

What is already known on this topic

Deep learning (DL) algorithms can detect scleral spur locations in AS-OCT images with expert-level performance; however, there is sparse information about the accuracy of AS-OCT measurements associated with these predicted scleral spur locations.

What this study adds

DL algorithms on the ANTERION OCT system (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) approximate expert-level detection of the scleral spur and measurement of anterior segment biometric parameters in a real-world clinical cohort. Performance of the algorithms generally exceeds that of a novice grader.

How this study might affect research, practice or policy

The automation of scleral spur detection and quantitative biometric analysis overcomes the time-and expertise-dependent nature of AS-OCT imaging in the clinical setting. This technology provides clinicians with convenient access to data that could enhance care of patients with angle closure disease or patients receiving intraocular lens implantation.
Graph Neural Networks for Z-DNA prediction in Genomes
Authors: Voytetskiy Artem , Herbert Alan , Poptsova Maria
Published: August 2022

Deep learning methods have been successfully applied to the tasks of predicting functional genomic elements such as histone marks, transcriptions factor binding sites, non-B DNA structures, and regulatory variants. Initially convolutional neural networks (CNN) and recurrent neural networks (RNN) or hybrid CNN-RNN models appeared to be the methods of choice for genomic studies. With the advance of machine learning algorithms other deep learning architectures started to outperform CNN and RNN in various applications. Thus, graph neural network (GNN) applications improved the prediction of drug effects, disease associations, protein-protein interactions, protein structures and their functions. The performance of GNN is yet to be fully explored in genomics. Earlier we developed DeepZ approach in which deep learning model is trained on information both from sequence and omics data. Initially this approach was implemented with CNN and RNN but is not limited to these classes of neural networks. In this study we implemented the DeepZ approach by substituting RNN with GNN. We tested three different GNN architectures – Graph Convolutional Network (GCN), Graph Attention Network (GAT) and inductive representation learning network GraphSAGE. The GNN models outperformed current state-of the art RNN model from initial DeepZ realization. Graph SAGE showed the best performance for the small training set of human Z-DNA ChIP-seq data while Graph Convolutional Network was superior for specific curaxin-induced mouse Z-DNA data that was recently reported. Our results show the potential of GNN applications for the task of predicting genomic functional elements based on DNA sequence and omics data.

Availability and implementation

The code is freely available at https://github.com/MrARVO/GraphZ.
Mood variability during adolescent development and its relation to sleep and brain development
Authors: Toenders Yara J. , van der Cruijsen Renske , Runze Jana , van de Groep Suzanne , Wierenga Lara , Crone Eveline A.
Published: August 2022

Mood swings, or mood variability, are associated with negative mental health outcomes. Since adolescence is a time when mood disorder onset peaks, mood variability during this time is of significant interest. Understanding biological factors that might be associated with mood variability, such as sleep and structural brain development, could elucidate the mechanisms underlying mood and anxiety disorders. Data from the longitudinal Leiden Self-Concept study (N=171) over 5 yearly timepoints was used to study the association between sleep, brain structure, and mood variability in healthy adolescents aged 11-21 at baseline in this pre-registered study. Sleep was measured both objectively, using actigraphy, as well as subjectively, using a daily diary self-report. Negative mood variability was defined as day-to-day negative mood swings over a period of 5 days after an MRI scan. It was found that negative mood variability peaked in mid-adolescence in females while it linearly increased in males, and average negative mood showed a similar pattern. Sleep duration (subjective and objective) generally decreased throughout adolescence, with a larger decrease in males. Mood variability was not associated with sleep, but average negative mood was associated with lower self-reported energy. In addition, higher thickness in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) compared to same-age peers, suggesting a delayed thinning process, was associated with higher negative mood variability in early and mid-adolescence. Together, this study provides an insight into the development of mood variability and its association with brain structure.
Life-course social disparities in body mass index trajectories across adulthood: cohort study evidence from China Health and Nutrition Survey
Authors: Dang Yusong , Rong Peixi , Duan Xinyu , Yan Mingxin , Zhao Yaling , Mi Baibing , Zhou Jing , Chen Yulong , Wang Duolao , Pei Leilei
Published: August 2022

Background

The social disparities in obesity may originate in early life and adult social class. There are various developmental trajectories of overweight/obesity in adulthood. It is unclear how the intergenerational mobility of socioeconomic status influences adult overweight/obesity in China.

Methods

We used longitudinal data from ten waves of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) between 1989 and 2015 for our analysis. The group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify BMI trajectories in adulthood. Multinomial logistic regression was adopted to assess the associations between SES and adult BMI trajectories.

Results

Among a total of 3,138 participants, three latent clusters, including normal-stable BMI (51.4%), progressive overweight group (39.8%), and progressive obesity group (8.8%), were identified. High father’s occupational position, high participants’ occupation position and educational attainment, respectively, were associated with greater obesity risk. Compared to a stable low life course SES trajectory, a stable high life course SES trajectory was associated with a 2.35-fold risk of obesity, and upward and downward social mobility trajectories increased the risk for overweight/obesity. Individuals in the highest relative to the lowest life course cumulative socioeconomic score group had around twice risk of obesity.

Conclusions

The results emphasize the role of the high SES in early life and life-course SES accumulation, in the obesity intervention in China.

Funding

All the work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 72174167, 81602928) and Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi (2021JM-031).
Hedgehog Activity Gradient in Combination with Transcription Network Confers Multiple Hypothalamic Identities
Authors: Yamamoto Maho , Chen Agnes Ong Lee , Shinozuka Takuma , Shirai Manabu , Sasai Noriaki
Published: August 2022

During development, the hypothalamus emerges from the ventral diencephalon of the neural tube and is regionalised into several distinct functional domains. Each domain is characterised by different combinations of transcription factors, the expression of which is regulated by signalling molecules and downstream transcriptional networks. Transcription factors, including Nkx2.1, Nkx2.2, Pax6 and Rx, are expressed in the presumptive hypothalamus and its surrounding regions from an early developmental stage and play critical roles in the development of these areas. However, the regulation of transcription factor expression and the details of the transcriptional network among them have not been fully elucidated.

As early hypothalamus development takes place in the ventral region of the forebrain where Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) is expressed, we focused on the relationship between Shh and its downstream transcription factors and investigated the transcriptional regulation along the dorsal-ventral axis. Using a reporter mouse line, in vitro neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells and gene overexpression in chick embryos, we found that Pax6, Nkx2.1 and Nkx2.2 are regulated epistatically by different Shh signal intensities. Nkx2.1 and Nkx2.2 mutually repress each other; however, they induce each other in a non-cell-autonomous manner. Moreover, Rx resides upstream of all these transcription factors and determines the location of the hypothalamic region along the dorsal-ventral and anterior-posterior regulations. Finally, we found that the Shh signal demarcates the diencephalic region from the retinal area. Our findings suggest that Shh signalling, and its downstream transcription network, are required for hypothalamic regionalisation and establishment of diencephalic cell fate.
Structural remodeling of Coxiella burnetii during its biphasic developmental cycle revealed by cryo-electron tomography
Authors: Kaplan Mohammed , Shepherd Doulin C. , Vankadari Naveen , Kim Ki Woo , Larson Charles L. , Dutka Przemysław , Beare Paul A. , Krzymowski Edward , Heinzen Robert A. , Jensen Grant J. , Ghosal Debnath
Published: August 2022

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate zoonotic bacterium that targets macrophages to cause a disease known as Q fever. It has a biphasic developmental lifecycle where the extracellular and metabolically inactive small cell variant (SCV) transforms, under host acidic environment, into the vegetative large cell variant (LCV). However, the details about the morphological and structural changes that accompany this biphasic cycle are still lacking. Here, we used cryo-electron tomography to image the different cell variants of C. burnetii grown either under axenic conditions in different pH or purified directly from host cells revealing the major developmental, morphological and structural transitions. We show that SCVs are characterized by equidistant stacks of inner membrane that presumably allow a smooth transition to LCV, a transition coupled with the expression of the Dot/Icm type IVB secretion system (T4BSS). A class of T4BSS particles were associated with extracellular densities including a tubular structure possibly involved in host interaction or effector delivery. Also, SCVs and cells in the transition state contained spherical multilayered membrane structures of different sizes and locations suggesting that they are not related to a sporulation process as once assumed.
Sixteen years of innovation in youth mental healthcare in Australia: Outcomes for young people attending headspace centre services
Authors: Rickwood Debra , McEachran Juliet , Saw Anna , Telford Nic , Trethowan Jason , McGorry Patrick
Published: August 2022

Australia’s headspace initiative is world-leading in nation-wide youth mental healthcare reform for young people aged 12 to 25 years, now with 16 years of implementation. This paper examines changes in the key outcomes of psychological distress, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life for young people accessing headspace centres across Australia for mental health problems. The design was a single-arm, observational study using routinely collected data from headspace clients commencing an episode of care between 1 April 2019 and 30 March 2020, and at 90-day follow-up. All 108 of the fully established headspace centres across Australia were included, with 58,233 young people aged 12-25 years first accessing headspace centres for mental health problems during the data collection period. Main outcome measures were self-reported psychological distress and quality of life, and clinician-reported social and occupational functioning. Most headspace mental health clients presented with depression and anxiety issues (75.21%). There were 35.27% with a diagnosis: 21.74% diagnosed with anxiety, 18.51% with depression, and 8.60% were sub-syndromal. Cognitive behavioural therapy was the most common treatment. There were significant improvements in all outcome scores over time (P<0.001). From presentation to last service rating, over one-third of young people had significant improvements in psychological distress and a similar proportion in psychosocial functioning; just under half improved in self-reported quality of life. Significant improvement on any of the three outcomes was shown for 70.96% of headspace mental health clients. After 16 years of headspace implementation, positive outcomes are being achieved, particularly when multi-dimensional outcomes are considered. A suite of outcomes that capture meaningful change for young people’s quality of life, distress and functioning, is critical for early intervention, primary care settings with diverse client presentations, like the headspace youth mental healthcare initiative.
Prevalence of carbapenem-resistant and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in a teaching hospital in Ghana
Authors: Sampah James , Owusu-Frimpong Isaac , Aboagye Frank T. , Owusu-Ofori Alex
Published: August 2022

Background

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production among Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae is an increasing global challenge because of the high morbidity and mortality associated with their infections, especially in developing countries where there may not be many antibiotic treatment options. Despite these challenges, there are few studies in Ghana that have described the burden of CRE. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolated from patients at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) in the Central region of Ghana.

Methodology/Principal findings

Enterobacteriaceae isolates were collected from April to July 2019 at the bacteriology unit of CCTH using a consecutive sampling method. Isolates were identified by standard microbiological techniques and confirmed using API 20E. Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method was used to determine the antibiogram of isolates. Isolates were also subjected to ESBL testing using the single-disc combination method. Carbapenem resistant isolates were identified by the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and then subjected to genetic confirmation using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the 230 isolates comprising E. coli (40.9%), Citrobacter spp. (32.6%), K. pneumoniae (9.1%), P. mirabilis (6.1%), P. vulgaris (5.2%), Enterobacter spp (3.5%)., K. oxytoca (2.2%), and Serratia marcenses (0.4%). Majority of the isolates were from urine 162(70.4%) and wound samples. The isolates showed high resistance to ampicillin 171 (74.3%) and cefuroxime 134(58.3%). The prevalence of MDR was 35.2% (81) with E. coli 40(42.6%) being the majority that exhibited MDR. Out of the 230 isolates, 113(49.1%) were ESBL producers with E. coli 54(57.5%) accounting for the majority while Serratia marcenses was the least. Out of the 13 (5.7%) CRE isolates which showed resistance towards carbapenem in the disc diffusion method, 11 expressed the blaNDM-1 gene whilst all isolates which showed resistant CRE expressed the blaOXA-48 gene.

Conclusion

The prevalence of carbapenem resistance and ESBL- producing Enterobacteriaceae pathogens among patients at the CCTH, Cape coast of Ghana is high, and effective infection prevention and control measures should be implemented at the hospital to prevent the rapid spread of these dangerous organisms.
Combined loss of obscurin and obscurin-like 1 in murine hearts results in diastolic dysfunction, altered metabolism and deregulated mitophagy
Authors: Fujita Kyohei , Desmond Patrick , Blondelle Jordan , Soták Matúš , Rajan Meenu Rohini , Clark Madison , Esteve Eric , Chan Yunghang , Gu Yusu , Marrocco Valeria , Dalton Nancy D. , Ghassemian Majid , Do Aryanne , Klos Matthew , Peterson Kirk L. , Sheikh Farah , Cho Yoshitake , Börgeson Emma , Lange Stephan
Published: August 2022

Muscle proteins of the obscurin protein family play important roles in sarcomere organization, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and T-tubule architecture and function. However, their precise molecular functions and redundancies between protein family members as well as their involvement in cardiac diseases remain to be fully understood.

To investigate the functional roles of obscurin and its close homologue obscurin-like 1 (Obsl1) in the heart, we generated and analyzed knockout mice for obscurin, Obsl1, as well as obscurin/Obsl1 double-knockouts (dKO). We show that dKO mice are viable but show postnatal deficits in cardiac muscle SR and mitochondrial architecture and function at the microscopic, biochemical and cellular level. Altered SR structure resulted in perturbed calcium cycling, while mitochondrial ultrastructure deficits were linked to decreased levels of Chchd3, a Micos complex protein. Hearts of dKO mice also show increased expression of Atg4d, a novel Obsl1 interacting protein, resulting in abnormal mitophagy and increased unfolded protein response. At the physiological level, loss of obscurin and Obsl1 resulted in a profound delay of cardiac relaxation, associated with metabolic signs of heart failure.

Taken together, our data suggest that obscurin and Obsl1 play crucial roles in cardiac SR structure, calcium cycling, mitochondrial function, turnover and metabolism.
Exploring how social ties affect lurking behaviour in Microblog: from a role stress and social identity perspective
Authors: Zhang Yiwen , Sun Yongqiang , Lei Wuping , Wang Nan
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The primary objective of this research is to explore the underlying mechanisms of social ties influencing lurking behaviour in Microblog by combing role theory and social identity theory.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey of 312 Microblog users in China was conducted to test the proposed research model and hypotheses. The partial least squares (PLS) approach was used to analyse the data.

Findings

The results show that social ties affect lurking behaviour on Microblog in two ways, directly and indirectly through role stress. Social ties have a negative direct impact on lurking behaviour. Based on the multiple mediation analysis, social ties positively affect lurking through role overload and negatively affect lurking via role ambiguity. Perceived heterogeneity strengthens the positive effects of social ties on role overload and conflict, and weakens the negative impact of social ties on role ambiguity. Social identification weakens the positive relationship between social ties and role overload and strengthens the negative relationship between social ties and role ambiguity.

Originality/value

This study extends the literature on the social interaction reasons behind lurking behaviour in Microblog by revealing the effects of social ties in Microblog. The theoretical mechanisms of social ties on lurking behaviour in Microblog are unveiled by discovering the direct effect of social ties, the mediating effects of multidimensional role stress, and the moderating effects of different kinds of social identity.
Person-environment fit, organizational commitment and retirement intentions: a serial mediation model
Authors: Lahlouh Khaled , Oumessaoud Aïcha , Abdelmotaleb Moustafa
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of person–environment (P–E) fit, specifically person–organization (P–O) fit, on retirement intentions through a serial mediation mechanism mobilizing person–job (P–J) fit and affective organizational commitment as mediators.

Design/methodology/approach

The relationships were examined using the Hayes (2013) serial mediation model. A time-lag approach was adopted, with data collected from managers aged 50 and over working in the French banking sector (N = 204).

Findings

The empirical results show that the P–O fit is both directly and indirectly related to retirement intentions through P–J fit and affective organizational commitment. Nevertheless, the study’s findings show the explanatory power of the authors’ antecedents to predict the two types of retirement considered in this study.

Originality/value

By considering retirement in its plurality this study extends prior research models by examining the mechanisms through which P–O fit influences different retirement intentions.
ESG controversies and the cost of equity capital of European listed companies: the moderating effects of ESG performance and market securities regulation
Authors: La Rosa Fabio , Bernini Francesca
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effect of environmental, social and governance (ESG) controversies on the cost of equity (COE) capital, exploring the moderating role of both positive ESG performance and market securities regulation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a sample of 2,599 time observations related to European listed companies for which the authors examine a set of 30 negative ESG scores across the three pillars in terms of controversies, compliance and other negative issues. This study uses the average of seven implied COE estimates.

Findings

The results show that negative ESG performance, particularly environmental controversies, increases the COE, although this impact is mitigated when associated with company efforts to improve environmental performance. Besides, environmental controversies are likely to increase the COE in countries where the market regulation is stronger, as a consequence of higher investors’ expectations towards the scrutiny role of more efficient markets against companies’ controversies.

Practical implications

Companies should take care seriously of environmental issues such as biodiversity, product impact and resource impact, because investors do react accordingly. As despite no direct effects of positive ESG performance are observed in terms of COE reduction, the mitigating role on the ESG controversies–COE relationship makes ESG practices still significant for European investors.

Social implications

The effects of ESG performance on company financial performance should be investigated under the assumption that bad events weight more than positive ESG performance.

Originality/value

Because no prior studies have specifically assessed the effect of the European listed companies’ ESG controversies on their COE, this paper delivers insights into the relationship between positive and negative ESG performance and their effects on capital market financing.
Learning by supplying to climb the value chain: suppliers’ transition from B-to-B to B-to-C
Authors: Irfan Irfan , Au Alan Kai Ming , Khurshid Faisal , Chan Felix T.S.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Drawing on organizational learning and dynamic capabilities literature, this study aims to explore how suppliers from traditional emerging economies (STEE) can acquire, assimilate and use new knowledge essential for the development of production and marketing capabilities. These capabilities then facilitate suppliers in climbing the value chain from B-to-B to B-to-C.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a longitudinal and multiple case study design to examine the practices of suppliers operating in a traditional emerging economy setting. This study selected Pakistan textile industry as an empirical setting, which is a predominantly supplier market for global buyers. Data sources entail semi-structured interviews with top executives and senior-level managers in four case firms and secondary data obtained from diverse sources.

Findings

The study identified transitionary phases of capabilities development that are facilitated by boundary-spanning knowledge acquisition and transformation in a dynamic manner. These capabilities are essential for a supplier’s entry into downstream international markets (i.e. launching its own products/brands in the end consumers’ market).

Practical implications

The findings could help managers in STEEs to understand the strategic importance of supply chain ties in their learning and capabilities development. It also provides strategic insights on what, how and why involved parties do engage over an extended period of time. Moreover, the findings of this study could help other firms to know and adopt the right type of technology(s) and systems that can help them reduce the technological gap in producing and marketing market-winning products.

Originality/value

This study advances the recent academic discussion that focusses on learning by supplying and the value-chain movement of suppliers (i.e. B-to-C) from their B-to-B engagements. The findings identified the vital and beneficial role of long-term relationships with global value chain partners in learning and capabilities development that led to value creation in the traditional emerging economy.
Mapping the ecological resilience of Atlantic postglacial heathlands
Authors: Løvschal Mette , Damgaard Christian F.
Published: August 2022

Anthropogenic heathlands are semi‐natural ecosystems with a unique cultural and biodiversity value, considered worthy of preservation across most of the world. Their rate of loss, however, is alarming. Currently, we know little about the heathlands' actual span of resilience affordances and their association with abiotic and anthropogenic factors, including how much additional intervention they need to persist. Consequently, we are missing out on vital knowledge for conservation, management and the historical persistence of heathlands.

This paper develops a method to assess the ecological resilience affordances of Atlantic postglacial heaths in the absence of human management. We use 12 existing cases of heathland succession to establish a four‐step resilience grade for each site, which we regress onto a series of explaining factors and use it in predicting heath resilience across postglacial Atlantic Northern Europe.

We find that temperature, humidity, elevation and sandiness have a positive correlation with high heathland resilience. Our predictive mapping shows an uneven distribution of ecological heath resilience across Atlantic Northern Europe within an area of 1,000 × 1,200 km of 5 × 5 km resolution.

Historic heathland distributions far exceed areas that afford high heath resilience, suggesting that heath distribution and persistence depend on both abiotic and anthropogenic factors.

Policy implications: The map predicting the ecological resilience of Atlantic postglacial heaths can be used by managers working towards heath preservation and restoration to prioritize conservation efforts and to plan management practices across Atlantic Northern Europe. Together with the predictive model, it provides an important initial screening tool to assess heathland resilience in the absence of management as well as the impact of atmospheric nitrogen. The results are equally relevant for scholars who are interested in humans' role in increasing and decreasing ecosystem resilience. Our predictive method can be applied in other regions across the world by adding regionally specific variables.
Gender and climate change adaptation: A case of Ethiopian farmers
Authors: Aryal Jeetendra Prakash , Sapkota Tek Bahadur , Rahut Dil Bahadur , Gartaula Hom Nath , Stirling Clare
Published: August 2022

The adverse impacts of climate change, in many cases, aggravate existing gender inequalities and hinder developing countries from achieving the targets set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is, therefore, crucial to understand whether there exists a gender gap in climate change adaptation and investigate the factors explaining the gap to reduce the vulnerability of the farming households to surging climatic risks. Using data from 2279 farm households in Ethiopia and applying a multivariate probit model and exogenous switching treatment effect regression method, this study examines the existing gender gap in climate change adaptations among farmers in Ethiopia and factors contributing to this relationship. The results show a significant gender gap in climate change adaptation in farming households due to the differences in both observable and unobservable characteristics of male‐ and female‐headed households. It indicates that reducing the gap can enhance climate change adaptation by female‐headed households by almost 19%. Women's workload in household chores significantly reduces their likelihood to adopt climate change adaptation measures. Therefore, unless policies proposed target institutional factors, including social and cultural barriers, traditional gender norms and division of labor, and other intrinsic behavioral issues, addressing only observed characteristics may not fully address the gender gap. To bring about transformational changes in the existing gender norms and social attitudes, long‐term gender‐informed policies are essential, along with short‐term projects, to address the gender gap in climate change adaptation through the provision of equitable opportunities for all.
Review article: Roles of activities of daily living and frailty assessments for residents of residential aged care services in emergency department transfers: A scoping review
Authors: Smyth James , Umapathysivam Kandiah , Hendrix Ivanka , Grantham Hugh , Arendts Glenn , Visvanathan Renuka
Published: August 2022

Residents from residential aged care services (RACS) (i.e. nursing homes) many of whom are frail or disabled, are frequently transferred to ED for treatment of acute episodes of illness or injury. This review scoped the research related to the ways in which frailty or activities of daily living (ADL) measures are used for clinical purposes, either prior to the transfer of patients to ED or in ED themselves. A search for original studies up to June 2021 that included participants aged 65 years or over was conducted across four databases. Abstracts were first reviewed, leading to full text screening and article selection. Thirty‐four studies were included in the scoping review. Most of the ADL and frailty assessments were conducted in residential aged care settings. In seven studies, ADL or frailty assessments in the aged care setting contributed to reduced transfer rates to ED. No results were found that associated the assessment of ADL or frailty with decisions related to treatment in the ED. A single ED study involved specialist emergency nursing in an ED as an intervention which included frailty assessment and led to decreased hospitalisation. This scoping review confirms an opportunity for further research into the ways frailty and ADL assessments are used for decision making in relation to the transfer of frail older people to ED, including how these assessments influence their treatment.
Evaluation of irrigant extrusion following the use of different root canal irrigation techniques: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Azizi Mazreah Siavash , Shirvani Armin , Azizi Mazreah Homa , Dianat Omid
Published: August 2022

This systematic review investigates whether different irrigation techniques have different effects on irrigant extrusion from mature tooth apices. Articles published between January 2000 and January 2022 were searched in six electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane) using appropriate keywords. Overall, 2265 articles were screened by their titles and abstracts. Fifty‐six full‐text articles were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Of them, 17 in vitro studies were included in the systematic review and meta‐analysis. The meta‐analysis was conducted using the random‐effects inverse variance method. The results showed that the negative pressure technique caused a lesser amount (p = 0.00) and frequency (p = 0.00) of extrusion than the open‐ended needle irrigation. Sonic and ultrasonic activation caused less amount of extrusion than both open‐ended (p = 0.00 or p = 0.01) and closed‐ended needle (p = 0.00) irrigation.
A model to predict difficult airway alerts after videolaryngoscopy in adults with anticipated difficult airways – the VIDIAC score
Authors: Kohse E. K. , Siebert H. K. , Sasu P. B. , Loock K. , Dohrmann T. , Breitfeld P. , Barclay‐Steuart A. , Stark M. , Sehner S. , Zöllner C. , Petzoldt M.
Published: August 2022

A model to classify the difficulty of videolaryngoscopic tracheal intubation has yet to be established. The videolaryngoscopic intubation and difficult airway classification (VIDIAC) study aimed to develop one based on variables associated with difficult videolaryngoscopic tracheal intubation. We studied 374 videolaryngoscopic tracheal intubations in 320 adults scheduled for ear, nose and throat or oral and maxillofacial surgery, for whom airway management was expected to be difficult. The primary outcome was whether an anaesthetist issued a ‘difficult airway alert’ after videolaryngoscopy. An alert was issued after 183 (49%) intubations. Random forest and lasso regression analysis selected six intubation‐related variables associated with issuing an alert: impaired epiglottic movement; increased lifting force; direct epiglottic lifting; vocal cords clearly visible; vocal cords not visible; and enlarged arytenoids. Internal validation was performed by a 10‐fold cross‐validation, repeated 20 times. The mean (SD or 95%CI) area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.92 (0.05) for the cross validated coefficient model and 0.92 (0.89–0.95) for a simplified unitary score (VIDIAC score with component values of −1 or 1 only). The calibration belt for the coefficient model was consistent with observed alert probabilities, from 0% to 100%, while the unitary VIDIAC score overestimated probabilities < 20% and underestimated probabilities > 70%. Discrimination of the VIDIAC score for patients more or less likely to be issued an alert was better than discrimination by the Cormack–Lehane classification, with mean (95%CI) areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.92 (0.89–0.95) vs. 0.75 (0.70–0.80), respectively, p < 0.001. Our model and score can be used to calculate the probabilities of difficult airway alerts after videolaryngoscopy.
Salted Identities: Biocultural Heritage for a Rehumanized Ocean Management in South Africa
Authors: Boswell Rosabelle
Published: August 2022

In this article, I discuss coastal and oceanic biocultural heritage and its relevance to a transformed perception of the ocean and coast in South Africa. An anthropology of biocultural heritage at the coast reveals the multidimensional nature of personhoods—specifically transspecies, trans‐material forms of personhood—and the rich dialogical engagement of “humans” with nature and marine species. Through sensory ethnography on coastal biocultural heritage in South Africa’s Northern Cape, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape provinces, I challenge anthropocentric strategies for ocean management and assert the need to consider sensory/embodied relations with the sea and the sentience of other species in the marine space. By presenting on and discussing coastal biocultural heritage, I hope to advance discussions on identity in Africa as well as marine epistemologies for a rehumanized ocean management in South Africa and the world.
Types of intrapartum hypoxia in the newborn at term with metabolic acidemia: A retrospective study
Authors: Descourvieres Léa , Ghesquiere Louise , Drumez Elodie , Martin Claire , Sauvage Audrey , Subtil Damien , Houfflin‐Debarge Véronique , Garabedian Charles
Published: August 2022

Introduction

In the most recent recommendations of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), a chapter was dedicated to the physiological approach and to the description of fetal mechanisms developed to respond to hypoxia. Our objective was to classify the type of hypoxia in the case of metabolic acidemia and to describe the order of appearance of fetal heart rate abnormalities in cases of gradually evolving hypoxia.

Material and methods

132 neonates born between 2018 and 2020 with acidemia were included. We excluded preterm birth, fetuses with congenital anomaly and twin pregnancies. Intrapartum cardiotocography traces were assigned to one of these four types of labor hypoxia: acute, subacute, gradually evolving and chronic hypoxia. For gradually evolving hypoxia, fetal heart rate abnormalities were described according to the FIGO classification.

Results

36 cardiotocography traces (27.3%) were classified as acute hypoxia, 14 (10.6%) as subacute hypoxia, and 3 (3.2%) as chronic hypoxia; gradually evolving hypoxia occurred in 62 cases (47%). In 77.4% of cases of gradually evolving hypoxia, deceleration was the first anomaly to appear, with loss of variability and bradycardia appearing later. Increased fetal heart rate was observed immediately after late deceleration in 46.8% of cases and was followed by a loss of variability or saltatory rhythm in 37.1% of cases.

Conclusions

In cases of metabolic acidemia at term, the most frequent situation observed was gradually evolving hypoxia, with an initial occurrence of decelerations. The sequence of fetal heart rate modifications was variable.
Profiling chromosomal‐level variations in gastric malignancies
Authors: Negoto Tetsuya , Jo Minji , Nakayama Izuma , Morioka Motohiro , Takeuchi Kengo , Kawachi Hiroshi , Hirota Toru
Published: August 2022

Aneuploidy arises from persistent chromosome segregation errors, or chromosomal instability. Although it has long been known as a hallmark of cancer cells, reduced cellular fitness upon induced ploidy alterations hinders the understanding of how aneuploidy relates to cancer development in the body. In this study, we used FISH analysis targeting centromeres to indicate ploidy changes, and quantitatively evaluated the ploidy statuses of gastric tumors derived from a total of 214 patients, ranging from early to advanced disease. We found that cancer cells reveal a marked elevation of aneuploid population, increasingly in cases diagnosed in advanced stages. The expansion of the aneuploid population is well associated with p53 deficiency, consistent with its essential role in genome maintenance. Comparisons among multiple locations within the tumor, or between the primary and metastatic tumors, indicated that cancer cells mostly retain their ploidy alterations throughout primary tumors, but metastatic tumors may consist of cells with either increased or decreased levels of aneuploidy. We also found that a notable proportion of polyploid cells are often already present in chronic gastritis epithelia. These observations underscore that chromosome‐level variations are widespread in gastric cancers, shaping their genetic heterogeneity and malignant properties.
Screening for behavioural problems in children aged 3 to 5 years
Authors: Del Rio Rodriguez Betty , Dongarwar Deepa , Salihu Hamisu M.
Published: August 2022

Objective

We aim to investigate the association between undergoing behavioural screening and having a diagnosis of behavioural problems and to explore factors associated with receiving treatment with counselling versus medication in children 3 to 5 years old.

Methods

This cross‐sectional data analysis consisted of children 3–5 years old from the US National Study of Children's Health, 2017–2018. Pearson's χ2 test was used to assess the association between formal and informal screening and having a behavioural problem. Prevalence of behavioural screening, behavioural problems, and covariates were calculated. Survey binomial logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between formal and informal screening and treatment with counselling versus medication in children with behavioural problems.

Results

A total of 7837 children 3–5 years old were included in the analysis. Combined formal and informal screening for behavioural problems was 18.1%, 12.3% of children had informal screening only, and 10.8% had formal screening, as reported by parents. Five percent of children had a diagnosis of behavioural problem, for which 6.8% had formal screening only, 16.5% had informal screening only, and 58% had both. Children who had both types of screening were about 10 times as likely to have behavioural problems, and about 4 times as likely if they only had informal screening. Children with behavioural problems who had both types of screening were about 5 times as likely to be treated with medication.

Conclusion

Formal behavioural screening was low in children 3 to 5 years old but, when done in conjunction with informal screening such as addressing parental concerns, was associated with a diagnosis of behavioural problems and receipt of treatment with medication.
Retinoid-induced skeletal hyperostosis in disorders of keratinization
Authors: Doolan Brent J. , Paolino Alexandra , Greenblatt Danielle T. , Mellerio Jemima E.
Published: August 2022

For disorders of keratinization, topical treatment alone may be ineffective, and systemic retinoid therapy may be indicated. Treatment with systemic retinoids (acitretin, isotretinoin and alitretinoin) has been shown to be effective in reducing disease severity; however, potentially rare adverse effects (AEs) may occur, including hyperostotic skeletal changes. The true prevalence of this AE in adult patients administered life-long therapy is unknown. We identified 3 of 127 (2.4%) patients (with ichthyosis or Darier disease) who had been prescribed isotretinoin with or without acitretin, and who developed radiological signs and clinical symptoms of hyperostosis and ligamentous ossification. This clinical review highlights the significance of retinoid-induced skeletal hyperostosis in patients prescribed long-term, high-dose retinoid therapy for disorders of keratinization. Patients commencing systemic retinoid therapy, particularly women of childbearing age, should be counselled about this important and potentially serious AE, especially if long-term treatment is indicated.