bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment satisfaction in chronic urticaria during guideline‐based therapy
Authors: Rönsch Henriette , Berndt Katja , Bauer Andrea 
Published: May 2021

SummaryBackground and objectivesPatients with chronic urticaria are often unsatisfied with their treatment. We aimed to assess patient satisfaction, chronic urticaria control, treatment goals, self‐treatment competence, knowledge, and factors influencing treatment satisfaction.Patients and methodsEighty‐seven adult patients with chronic urticaria who were previously insufficiently treated with oral antihistamines received guideline‐based care for six months and completed questionnaires.ResultsThis study included patients with chronic spontaneous (80 %) and/or inducible urticaria (CIndU, 32 %). Significant median improvements were observed with the urticaria control test (UCT, from 7 to 11), the urticaria activity score for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (from 19 to 10), and treatment satisfaction (from 5.2 to 8.4). Six significant, independent factors of treatment satisfaction after six months of treatment were identified (negative: male sex, CIndU, sleep disturbances; positive: UCT, baseline treatment satisfaction, perceived competence of the study physician). Adequate urticaria control (UCT ≥ 12) was achieved in 19 % of patients with CIndU and 61 % of patients without CIndU.ConclusionsIn patients with chronic urticaria who were previously insufficiently treated with antihistamines, six months of guideline‐based therapy significantly improved disease control and treatment satisfaction. Adequate control requires several consultations for many patients and is considerably more difficult to achieve for CIndU.
Transgender and cisgender children's essentialist beliefs about sex and gender identity
Authors: Gülgöz Selin , Alonso Daniel J. , Olson Kristina R. , Gelman Susan A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractChildren essentialize gender from a young age, viewing it as inborn, biologically based, unchanging, and predictive of preferences and behaviors. Children's gender essentialism appears to be so pervasive that it is found within conservative and liberal communities, and among transgender and cisgender children. However, it remains unclear what aspect of gender the children participating in past studies essentialized. Such studies used labels such as “girl” or “boy” without clarifying how children (or researchers) interpreted them. Are they indicators of the target's biological categorization at birth (sex), the target's sense of their own gender (gender identity), or some third possible interpretation? This distinction becomes particularly relevant when transgender children are concerned, as their sex assigned at birth and gender identity are not aligned. In the present two studies, we discovered that 6‐ to 11‐year‐old transgender children, their cisgender siblings, and unrelated cisgender children, all essentialized both sex and gender identity. Moreover, transgender and cisgender children did not differ in their essentialism of sex (i.e., whether body parts would remain stable over time). Importantly, however, transgender children were less likely than unrelated cisgender children to essentialize when hearing an ambiguous gender/sex label (“girl” or “boy”). Finally, the two studies showed mixed findings on whether the participant groups differed in reasoning about the stability of a gender‐nonconforming target's gender identity. These findings illustrate that a child's identity can relate to their conceptual development, as well as the importance of diversifying samples to enhance our understanding of social cognitive development.
Self‐employment preferences among university graduates in Ghana: Does gender make a difference?
Authors: Ajayi Kehinde F. , Anyidoho Nana Akua 
Published: May 2021

SummaryMotivationYouth employment has become an urgent policy issue in Africa. Half of the population is under 25 years old on a continent in which job creation lags behind economic growth. Consequently, policy‐makers have increasingly proposed self‐employment as a solution to the challenge of youth unemployment.PurposeThis study examines self‐employment preferences among university graduates in Ghana. We address two related questions: (1) Are there gender differences in young people’s willingness to pursue self‐employment; and (2) what are the predictors of preference for self‐employment in male and female graduates?Methods and approachOur analysis draws on a sample of 1,180 university graduates interviewed during their compulsory year of national service, which follows graduation. We analyse gender and other sub‐group differences using t‐tests for statistical significance of differences in means. We then estimate multinomial logit regressions to analyse what factors predict employment preferences.FindingsWe find substantial gender differences in preferences for self‐employment. Despite women having higher rates of self‐employment in the economy, the female graduates in our sample are significantly less likely to prefer self‐employment than men—12% of women and 16% of men report that their desired type of work would be self‐employment. Moreover, while marital status and childbearing are the strongest predictors of self‐employment preferences for women, self‐employment experience and financial background are the strongest predictors for men.Policy implicationsThis study suggests that gender differences in labour market outcomes are partly a function of differential preferences rooted in unequal constraints. Bridging these gendered inequalities will require policy interventions that both impact the preferences women form prior to entering the labour market and address their gender‐specific concerns about family responsibilities.
Infective endocarditis and outcomes of mitral valve replacement
Authors: Anttila Vesa , Malmberg Markus , Gunn Jarmo , Rautava Päivi , Kytö Ville 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundWe investigated the long‐term outcomes of mitral valve replacement (MVR) in native mitral valve infective endocarditis (IE).MethodsMulticentre, population‐based cohort register study consisted of 1233 consecutive adult patients treated with first‐time MVR in Finland. Mitral valve IE was diagnosed in 170 of these patients. Propensity score matching resulted in 134 pairs with balanced baseline characteristics. The median follow‐up was 6.1 years.ResultsPre‐operative native mitral valve IE was associated with an increased hazard of 10‐year mortality (38.8% vs 30.5%; HR 2.13; CI 1.17‐3.85; P = .013) after MVR. Occurrence of major bleeding was higher in IE patients (26.0%) vs non‐IE patients (23.4%) during the 10‐year follow‐up (HR 2.80; CI 1.01‐7.77; P = .048). Hospital admission duration after MVR was longer in IE patients (median 28 vs 11 days; P < .0001). Cumulative ischaemic stroke rate was similar between patient groups (12.1% in IE vs 15.1% in non‐IE; P = .493). Re‐sternotomy was performed in 13.4% of IE patients and 9.0% of non‐IE patients (P = .261).ConclusionsPatients with native mitral valve IE have a higher risk of death and major bleeding after MVR than matched patients without IE. Results highlight the importance of complication prevention in these patients.
Effect of splinting times on the healing of intra‐alveolar root fractures in 512 permanent teeth in humans: A Scandinavian multicenter study
Authors: Isaksson Helén , Koch Göran , Bakland Leif K. , Andreasen Jens Ove 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackground/AimLong‐term splinting of teeth with intra‐alveolar root fractures has been considered important for the deposition of hard tissue between the root fragments. The aim of this study was to compare the healing outcomes in teeth with intra‐alveolar root fractures relative to splinting times in three dental centers in Scandinavia, using historical data.Materials and methodsA total of 512 maxillary and mandibular incisors from three dental trauma centers were included in the study. Two of the centers used long‐term splinting protocols of two to three months while the other center used a short‐term splinting protocol of one month or less. Three outcomes were evaluated: (1) Healing with hard tissue (dentin and/or cementum). (2) Healing with connective tissue (periodontal ligament) interposition with or without bone between the fragments. (3) Non‐healing due to the coronal pulp being necrotic and infected with granulation tissue interposed between the fragments.ResultsThe mean splinting times were 18, 81, and 110 days in the three centers. Long‐term splinting resulted in hard tissue healing more frequently than short‐term splinting. Short‐term splinting resulted in more connective tissue/bony healing than long‐term splinting, while there was no difference in the frequency of non‐healing between long‐term and short‐term splinting protocols.ConclusionsWhile the results suggest that long‐term splinting favors hard tissue deposition, one cannot, however, conclude that long‐term splinting definitely favors hard tissue healing since the treatment protocols were not randomized among the three centers. More clinical studies on the role of splinting time need to be done.
Tolerance of an aphid species towards dietary sucrose‐to‐amino acid ratios and recovery from suboptimal nutrition
Authors: Gruhn Johanna , Karolak Saskia , Schweiger Rabea 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAphids feed on the phloem sap of their host plants. The chemical composition of this sap differs between plant species and is modulated by environmental factors. To understand why Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is able to infest various plant taxa, we investigated how aphids of this species respond to various sucrose‐to‐amino acid ratios of their diet. Moreover, we studied whether they are able to recover from periods with suboptimal nutrition. Preference and performance bioassays were performed using artificial diets with sucrose‐to‐amino acid ratios of 2.4:1 (optimal ‘control’ diet), 4.8:1 (‘high sucrose’), 1.2:1 (‘high amino acids’), or 1:0 (‘no amino acids’). Also, the capacity to recover from periods on suboptimal diet (i.e., the ‘no amino acids’ diet) was assessed. In four‐choice assays, both nymphs and adults of M. persicae were rarely found on the ‘no amino acids’ diet and they were similarly distributed on the other diets. As long as amino acids were available, the sucrose‐to‐amino acid ratio had only minor effects on aphid development and reproduction. On the suboptimal diet, nymphs survived, but with almost no weight gain over time. After transfer to the ‘control’ diet, they gained weight and reproduced with only low fitness deficits compared to aphids kept on the ‘control’ diet for the whole time. The capacity to survive under suboptimal nutrition and recover from it was dependent on the length of the period on the suboptimal diet. The ability to cope with different dietary sucrose‐to‐amino acid ratios and to withstand suboptimal nutrition for several days may contribute to the broad host plant spectrum of M. persicae and may explain why this species is a serious pest in agricultural systems.
On the suitability of Aedes vexans to Wolbachia‐based control strategies
Authors: Moretti Riccardo , Marini Francesca , Lampazzi Elena , Calvitti Maurizio 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAedes vexans (Meigen) (Diptera: Culicidae) is a common mosquito species with worldwide distribution and it is a potential vector of various pathogens such as West Nile, Rift Valley, and Zika viruses, and Dirofilaria nematodes. Also due to its abundance, Ae. vexans could be a key species in determining new outbreaks of these important pathogens outside their present geographical range. Herein, we report on studies carried out in the laboratory to ascertain the suitability of the species for control strategies based on the exploitation of the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia, known to induce reproductive incompatibility and/or virus resistance in the hosts. Aedes vexans showed low propensity to mate in narrow places, low male survival, and reduced hatchability of the eggs collected on artificial devices. Embryonic and adult transinfection with various Wolbachia strains were attempted. Whereas the first approach was barely tolerated by Ae. vexans eggs, transinfected progeny was obtained by adult microinjection using wAlbA and wAlbB Wolbachia but both strains were not efficiently transmitted vertically, leading to the loss of the infection by three generations. The present study highlights the low suitability of Ae. vexans to the infection by this bacterium and to the mass‐rearing conditions generally required for Wolbachia‐based control strategies.
Ontogenic development of the digestive enzymes and chemical composition of Hermetia illucens larvae of different ages
Authors: Intayung Dhinna , Chundang Pipatpong , Srikachar Sunyanee , Kovitvadhi Attawit 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe production of the black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), has potential to promote sustainable food production, and is environmentally friendly through organic waste upcycling. The objective of this study was to determine the digestive enzyme activities and chemical composition of BSF larvae of 6, 12, and 18 days old at various substrate pH and temperature conditions during ontogenic development. Cellulase and chymotrypsin‐like protease (C) activities declined slightly with age, whereas a sharp increase in lipase activity was found with age. High levels of amylase, trypsin‐like protease (T), trehalase, and T/C ratio were present in 12‐day‐old BSF, with a gradual decrease in 18‐day‐old BSF. The highest crude protein and lipid levels were observed at 6 and 18 days of age, respectively. In conclusion, the activities of the various types of enzymes illustrate the polyphagous nature of BSF. Most of the digestive enzymes had high activity at an early age and then dropped at the end of the larval stage; however, the opposite trend was observed in lipase activity, with a high level of fat accumulation in the last stage of larval development.
Urbanisation drivers and underlying mechanisms of terrestrial insect diversity loss in cities
Authors: Fenoglio María Silvina , Calviño Ana , González Ezequiel , Salvo Adriana , Videla Martin 
Published: May 2021

1. Urbanisation is one of the main land‐use changes behind global insect collapse. Despite that previous studies have described the negative effects of urbanisation on insect communities, so far there is no synthesis that considers multiple urban drivers, their combined effects, and the role of species traits altogether.2. Here we developed an integrative framework of the underlying mechanisms behind terrestrial insect species loss in cities by exploring five leading drivers: impervious surfaces, habitat fragmentation, urban heat island, pollution, and exotic plants. For each driver, we identified the main direct and indirect (mediated through species interactions or changes in resources) effects on insect populations and communities, emphasising the role of species traits as moderators of such effects.3. Body size, mobility, and oviposition/nesting requirements were the traits that frequently defined insect vulnerability to urban drivers. Urban heat island and pollution deserve further research from a community‐level approach. Direct effects of drivers dominated the literature, while most indirect paths were mediated by changes in resources rather than species interactions.4. In conclusion, our review showed the challenges of recognising particular effects and mechanisms for each urban driver and their combined effects. By doing so, we intended to encourage researchers to address some of the gaps we noticed in order to fully understand how urbanisation is affecting insect communities. Finally, we outlined the main recent urban planning strategies and future challenges in order to successfully conserve urban insect biodiversity.
Attention reduces the burstiness of V1 neurons involved in attended target enhancement
Authors: Huang Dan , Xiong Xingzhong , Chen Yao 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAttention‐dependent reduction in the tendency for neurons to fire bursts (burstiness) is widely observed in the visual cortex. However, the underlying mechanism and the functional role of this phenomenon remain unclear. We recorded well‐isolated single‐unit activities in primary visual cortex (V1) from two primates (Macaca mulatta) while they performed a detection task engaging spatial attention with two levels of difficulty (hard/easy). We found that attention modulated burstiness of V1 neurons in a cell‐type specific manner. For neurons whose net response enhanced with the increase of task difficulty (difficulty‐enhanced neuron), representing their involvement in boosting the signal of the attended stimulus, attention led to a reduction in burstiness during hard task but not during easy task. In contrast, regardless of the level of task difficulty, attention‐dependent reduction in burstiness was not observed in neurons that showed a net suppression in firing rate with the increase of task difficulty (difficulty‐suppressed neuron), indicating their commitment in filtering out the interference of distractor. This differentiation in the effects of attentional modulation on burstiness among the cells with distinct functional roles in attention suggests that the reduction in burstiness by attention is linked to target enhancement and is not associated with distractor suppression.
The ecological causes and consequences of hard and soft selection
Authors: Bell Donovan A. , Kovach Ryan P. , Robinson Zachary L. , Whiteley Andrew R. , Reed Thomas E. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractInteractions between natural selection and population dynamics are central to both evolutionary‐ecology and biological responses to anthropogenic change. Natural selection is often thought to incur a demographic cost that, at least temporarily, reduces population growth. However, hard and soft selection clarify that the influence of natural selection on population dynamics depends on ecological context. Under hard selection, an individual's fitness is independent of the population's phenotypic composition, and substantial population declines can occur when phenotypes are mismatched with the environment. In contrast, under soft selection, an individual's fitness is influenced by its phenotype relative to other interacting conspecifics. Soft selection generally influences which, but not how many, individuals survive and reproduce, resulting in little effect on population growth. Despite these important differences, the distinction between hard and soft selection is rarely considered in ecology. Here, we review and synthesize literature on hard and soft selection, explore their ecological causes and implications and highlight their conservation relevance to climate change, inbreeding depression, outbreeding depression and harvest. Overall, these concepts emphasise that natural selection and evolution may often have negligible or counterintuitive effects on population growth—underappreciated outcomes that have major implications in a rapidly changing world.
Restless legs syndrome and perceived olfactory and taste dysfunction: A community‐based study
Authors: Zhuang Sheng , Yuan Xiaodong , Ma Chaoran , Yang Na , Liu Chun‐Feng , Na Muzi , Winkelman John W. , Wu Shouling , Gao Xiang 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackground and purposeRestless legs syndrome (RLS) has been suggested as a prodromal symptom of Parkinson disease (PD). Olfactory or taste dysfunction can also occur preceding PD diagnosis. However, whether RLS is associated with chemosensory dysfunction remains unknown. We thus aim to investigate the association between RLS and perceived olfactory and taste dysfunction.MethodsWe performed a cross‐sectional analysis including 90,337 Chinese adults free of neurodegenerative diseases in the Kailuan study in 2016. Presence of RLS was defined using revised RLS diagnostic criteria or the Cambridge‐Hopkins questionnaire for RLS. Perceived olfactory and taste dysfunction was collected via a questionnaire. The association between RLS and perceived olfactory and taste dysfunction was assessed using logistic regression model, adjusting for potential cofounders such as age, sex, and medical history.ResultsRLS was associated with high odds of having perceived olfactory and/or taste dysfunction (adjusted odds ratio = 5.92, 95% confidence interval = 3.11–11.3). The significant association persisted when using the Cambridge‐Hopkins questionnaire (adjusted odds ratio = 5.55, 95% confidence interval = 2.37–13.0) or when excluding participants with major chronic diseases.ConclusionsRLS was associated with increased odds of perceived olfactory and taste dysfunction.
Status epilepticus with prominent motor symptoms clusters into distinct electroclinical phenotypes
Authors: Lattanzi Simona , Giovannini Giada , Brigo Francesco , Orlandi Niccolò , Trinka Eugen , Meletti Stefano 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackground and purposeStatus epilepticus (SE) is a heterogeneous condition and considerable variability exists in its etiology, semiology, electroencephalographic correlates, and response to treatment. The aim of the present study was to explore whether distinct phenotypes may be identified within SE with prominent motor symptoms.MethodsConsecutive episodes of SE with prominent motor symptoms in patients aged ≥14 years were included. Etiology of SE was defined as symptomatic (acute, remote, progressive) or unknown. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were searched for lateralized periodic discharges (LPDs), generalized sharply and/or triphasic periodic potentials (GPDs), and spontaneous burst suppression (BS). According to treatment response, SE was classified into responsive, refractory and super‐refractory. Average linkage hierarchical cluster analysis was performed with Pearson's correlation as a similarity measure.ResultsA total of 240 episodes of SE were identified. Three major clusters were found. The first cluster linked focal motor SE evolving into non‐convulsive SE (NCSE), presence of LPDs/GPDs on EEG, unknown etiology and treatment refractoriness. The second cluster linked convulsive and myoclonic SE evolving into NCSE, presence of spontaneous BS on EEG, progressive symptomatic etiology and super‐refractoriness. The third cluster linked convulsive and myoclonic SE not evolving into other semiologies, absence of LPDs/GPDs/spontaneous BS on EEG, acute symptomatic etiology and treatment responsiveness.ConclusionsDistinct electroclinical phenotypes characterized by different response to pharmacological intervention can be identified within the heterogeneity of SE with prominent motor phenomena.