bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Skinfold calipers: which instrument to use?
Authors: Cintra-Andrade Joaquim H. , Ripka Wagner L. , Heymsfield Steven B.
Published: July 2023

The considerable amount of original and generic types of skinfold calipers available is a source of systematic measurement error. This study is a brief report that critically examines the original and illustrated structural configuration of the three main types of skinfold calipers. For more than half a century, the Harpenden®, Lange® and Slim Guide® skinfolds calipers have been widely used in clinical and research settings. It is well established that the physical, mechanical and functional specificity of each type of skinfold caliper makes its interchangeable use impossible. Our report suggests that commercially available technical specifications are insufficient to judiciously choose a skinfold caliper. The area of the jaws, the coefficient of spring and the static and dynamic downward pressure of each type of skinfold caliper must be determined in the metrological laboratory and added to the technical user manual. Choosing a type of skinfold caliper for regular use, without conflict of commercial interest, requires a critical understanding of the physical, mechanical and functional characteristics that configure it. Therefore, a new downward static calibration test and the first eligibility flowchart for a skinfold caliper have been proposed. Finally, the information gathered in this report may be useful for manufacturers of anthropometric instruments and health professionals who use the skinfold technique as a tool for diagnosis and nutritional control.
Moral Science and the Milgram Paradigm
Authors: Hollander Matthew M. , Turowetz Jason
Published: July 2023

Chapter 1 begins our study of morality and Milgram by reviewing the psychology and sociology of morality. We emphasize how both fields have traditionally neglected the study of ordinary, everyday morality as a social interactional phenomenon. To bring our own interaction order approach into sharper focus, we critique three influential exemplars in what has been called “the new sociology of morality”: the well-known contributions of Ann Swidler, Stephen Vaisey, and Gabriel Abend. Next, we review the Milgram paradigm in social psychology, discussing the original experiments and the older and newer Milgram literatures. Finally, we propose that these two bodies of scholarship have important lessons to learn from each other. The sociology of morality calls attention to the social production of moral meanings, actions, situations, and identities, all of which are indispensable for understanding the Milgram experiments and which the Milgram literature has, in large part, neglected. At the same time, the Milgram experiments provide a perspicuous illustration of how moral meanings, actions, situations, and identities are products of interaction, rather than its antecedents, a point that sociologists of morality have yet to take fully onboard.
Bangladesh
Authors: Bidisha Sayema Haque , Mahmood Tanveer , Rahman Mahir A.
Published: July 2023

With structural changes in production coupled with technological progress, there have been shifts in modes of production and patterns of employment, with important consequences on the task composition of occupations. This chapter utilizes different rounds of Labour Force Survey data for Bangladesh and combined it with occupation network data for the US along with its country-specific database and analysed the role of such factors on labour market outcomes. Our analysis shows a fall in the average routine intensity of tasks with no evidence of job polarization. We find a decline in earnings inequality where the decomposition analysis shows that an earnings structure effect rather than a characteristics effect plays a key role, with the routine-task intensity of jobs and education explaining the majority of differences in earnings. Our analysis suggests that investing in education should be the highest priority, with a greater emphasis on skill-biased training programmes, particularly those involving cognitive skill.
Indonesia
Authors: Yusuf Arief Anshory , Halim Putri Riswani
Published: July 2023

This chapter analyses the labour market dynamics in Indonesia from 2001 to 2015 and explores the role of the changing nature of occupational employment in explaining the rising earnings inequality during the same period. We find evidence of a disproportionate increase in the returns to tertiary education, the increasing shares of highly skilled and elementary workers, and a sign of job polarization. The extent to which changes in inequality over time can be attributed to changes in the distributions of worker characteristics and changes in the returns to these characteristics is also quantified. The results suggest that in all the periods where the Gini of earnings is rising, the changing earnings structure—most notably returns to education, residency, and possibly routine-task intensity—contributes to the rise.
Special Pronunciation Considerations
Authors: Nedecky Jason
Published: July 2023

Idiosyncracies are to be encountered in every language; French is no exception. When it comes to singing in French, several features constitute topics particularly worthy of exploration. This chapter provides instruction on the most important of these topics. Emphatic stress (l’acccent d’insistance) involves shifting stress to a new syllable in the phonetic group in order to create a sense of urgency. This practice is widespread both in speech and in fine French singing. Another special topic is vocalic harmonization (l’harmonisation vocalique). Here, a relatively open vowel in an unstressed syllable closes to match the more closed vowel of the following, stressed syllable. This occurs in everyday French speech, but is applied much more cautiously in French vocal music. Unlike the other main singing languages, French rarely features consonant doubling (gémination consonantique). It is however possible in a few important scenarios, namely: in certain prefixes, with doubled (rolled) r in passages of heightened expressivity and in particular verb tenses, and as phrasal doubling of the same consonant in two words. An account is given for all of these cases. Several words with variable pronunciation are treated, including toujours, tous, and the infamously tricky word donc. The pronunciation of French numbers ends the chapter. Explanations and musical examples provide context.
War and Peace
Authors: Zenobi Luca
Published: July 2023

This chapter uses the preparation of major treaties, notably those of Ferrara (1428) and Lodi (1454), to uncover the range of practices through which territories were annexed and frontiers shifted, while also contributing to the recent revival of interest in the history of peace and peace-making. Building on Chapter 1, it is especially concerned with the fundamental principles applied by state deputies during negotiations and with their ramifications for the changing geography of the peninsula. Collating records from a number of both central and local archives, the chapter reveals that negotiating borders was never reliant on the drawing of an all-new line of distinction between two states. Instead, the deputies of Venice and Milan employed a plurality of spatial references to describe territorial changes, which highlights the fundamental role of local units in the making of larger polities.
Drawing the Line?
Authors: Zenobi Luca
Published: July 2023

This chapter examines how territorial orders (and borders) were visualized. It does so by focusing on regional and district cartography. Mindful of the complex picture of pre-modern territoriality drawn in the rest of the book, the chapter posits that regional and district maps represented more than just a given space; they also represented the way in which society perceived such space. While testing this hypothesis, the chapter draws on some of the acquisitions of critical cartography to consider the performative value of late medieval maps. In so doing, the chapter explores not only how late medieval maps presented the limits of Italian polities but also how territoriality itself and, more broadly, Italian society were shaped by visual representation.
Pancreatic islet cell stress induced by insulin-degrading enzyme deficiency promotes islet regeneration and protection from autoimmune diabetes
Authors: Zhu Shuaishuai , Waeckel-Énée Emmanuelle , Moser Anna , Bessard Marie-Andrée , Roger Kevin , Lipecka Joanna , Yilmaz Ayse , Bertocci Barbara , Diana Julien , Saintpierre Benjamin , Guerrera Ida Chiara , Francesconi Stefania , Mauvais François-Xavier , van Endert Peter
Published: July 2023

Appropriate tuning of protein homeostasis through mobilization of the unfolded protein response (UPR) is key to the capacity of pancreatic beta cells to cope with highly variable demand for insulin synthesis. An efficient UPR ensures a sufficient beta cell mass and secretory output but can also affect beta cell resilience to autoimmune aggression. The factors regulating protein homeostasis in the face of metabolic and immune challenges are insufficiently understood. We examined beta cell adaptation to stress in mice deficient for insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), a ubiquitous protease with high affinity for insulin and genetic association with type 2 diabetes. IDE deficiency induced a low-level UPR in both C57BL/6 and autoimmune non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, associated with rapamycin-sensitive beta cell proliferation strongly enhanced by proteotoxic stress. Moreover, in NOD mice, IDE deficiency protected from spontaneous diabetes and triggered an additional independent pathway, conditional on the presence of islet inflammation but inhibited by proteotoxic stress, highlighted by strong upregulation of regenerating islet-derived protein 2, a protein attenuating autoimmune inflammation. Our findings establish a key role of IDE in islet cell protein homeostasis, identify a link between low-level UPR and proliferation, and reveal an UPR-independent anti-inflammatory islet cell response uncovered in the absence of IDE of potential interest in autoimmune diabetes.
Migrant networks, regional development and internal migration flows in Brazil
Authors: Ribeiro Ana Carolina Borges Marques , Tai Silvio Hong Tiing
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study analyzes the role of migrant networks in the migration flows in relation to the educational level of the migrants and economic growth of the states of origin and destination in Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

Fixed effects estimator applied to microdata.

Findings

The results show migrant networks have a significant and positive impact on migration flows of the different educational levels. The economic growth in the destination state accentuates this effect, while the economic growth in the origin state has distinct impacts according to the educational level of the new migrant.

Originality/value

The authors investigate the importance of migrant networks in the internal immigration within a developing country with large internal movement of people. In Brazil, the socio-economic condition of the population varies considerably in relation to its geography, which explains the country’s large internal migration flows.
Flexi Pack Dubai – a case of strategic resonance
Authors: Laeequddin Mohammed , Dikkatwar Ramkrishna , Sahay Vinita
Published: July 2023

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of the case are as follows:

1. Students will understand the interdependency of functional areas, such as operations, marketing, human resources (HR) and finance, in a manufacturing firm.

2. Students will analyze the conventional factory to focus on factory frameworks (Skinner, 1974).

3. Students will learn to analyze (associate) a company's performance reports (key performance indicators and profit and loss reports) with operations, marketing and sales functions.

4. Students will relate the concept of strategic resonance (Brown and Fai, 2006) to functional strategies.

Case overview/synopsis

Tariq Khattabi, a mechanical engineer with an MBA, joined Flexi Pack Dubai, UAE, as a general manager on 1 April 2019. During the recruitment interview, he learned that the company was struggling to maintain its breakeven point, and his first responsibility was to develop a strategy to ensure the growth of the organization. From the initial meetings with the production, finance and senior marketing managers, he identified problems related to the plant’s operations and sales. Although Flexi Pack enjoyed a good market reputation and profits, of late, the company needed help to make it profitable. Tariq's dilemma was to develop a strategy to put the organization back on the growth path.

He wondered whether the operations and marketing problems could be solved simultaneously. He had to present his strategic approach to the board within two weeks. Through this case study, management students can understand the interdependency of functional areas, such as operations, marketing, HR and finance. Students will learn the focused factory concept and a plant within a plant. They will be able to identify and appreciate dissonance and resonance between functional strategies and the importance of aligning functional strategies. Moreover, students will learn about consumer packaging types, material and their converting processes, which are the essential aspects of the fast-moving consumer goods business.

Complexity academic level

The target audience can be an Executive Program in Operations Management, BBA and Postgraduate Diploma in Management students who have opted for Operations Management or Operations Strategy as their major/minor specialization.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
Relationship between ESG and corporate financial performance in the energy sector: empirical evidence from European companies
Authors: Makridou Georgia , Doumpos Michalis , Lemonakis Christos
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors is vital in climate change mitigation. Energy companies must incorporate ESG into their business plans, although it unquestionably affects their corporate financial performance (CFP). This paper aims to investigate the effect of ESG on energy companies’ profitability through return on assets by analysing the combined score and individual dimensions of ESG.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examined a panel data sample of 911 firm-year observations for 85 European energy-sector companies during 1995–2020. Two distinct modelling specifications were applied to explore the impact of ESG components on the CFP of EU energy companies. The financial data and ESG scores were obtained from the Thomson Reuters Eikon database in July 2021.

Findings

The empirical findings revealed that energy companies’ profitability is marginally and negatively affected by their ESG performance. Whereas independent evaluation of the ESG subcomponents indicated that environmental responsibility has a significant negative effect. In contrast, corporate social and governance responsibilities are positively but not significantly associated with the company’s CFP.

Originality/value

This study fills a research gap in the ESG–CFP literature in the European energy sector, a pioneer in sustainable development. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study’s originality lies in its analysis of ESG factors’ role in profitability by considering different EU countries and energy sectors.
Nomination committees in Australia, outcomes for influence of a powerful CEO and diversity
Authors: Elms Natalie , Kent Pamela Fae
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The authors investigate the adoption of nomination committees in Australia and identify the managerial power perspective as one explanation for firms not establishing nomination committees. A positive outcome of establishing a nomination committee from the perspective of board diversity is also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt an archival approach by collecting data for firms listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) during the period 2010 to 2018. The authors establish the prevalence of nomination committees for small medium and large Australian firms. Regression analyses are used to determine whether the power of the chief executive officer (CEO) influences the adoption of a nomination committee. The association between having nomination committee and board diversity is also analyzed using regression analyses.

Findings

Less than half of firms adopt a nomination committee. Larger firms are more likely to adopt a nomination committee than medium and smaller sized firms. Firms with less powerful CEOs are more likely to adopt a nomination committee. Adoption of a nomination committee is also associated with greater board tenure dispersion and board gender diversity in medium and smaller sized firms.

Originality/value

Evidence on nomination committees provides original research that extends previous research focusing on the audit, risk and remuneration committees and samples restricted to large firms. The nomination committee has an important role to play in the appointment of directors yet limited evidence exists of the adoption rate, explanation for non-adoption and benefits of adoption. The authors add to this evidence.
Meeting the complex health and social care needs of older adults: a response to the recent viewpoint paper on “how to handle gerontocracy”
Authors: Feather Julie
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a response to the previously published paper on “Gerontocracy”.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper views care services through the lens of safeguarding, risks and responsibility in contradistinction from the largely economic and cost relevant argument put forward in the original paper.

Findings

This paper articulates the contribution of informal carers to integrated care solutions solely from an economic perspective overlooks the wider human and social dimensions of care provision in society.

Originality/value

Engaging in the wider debate about the status, contribution of informal carers to care solutions highlights the complexity of the carers' role in society which should evoke a more holistic debate of this important topic.
Unleashing the potential of local brand equity of Hong Kong as a green–creative–smart city
Authors: Chan Chung Shing , Tsun Wan Yan
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to propose resident-based brand equity models on green, creative and smart development themes through a multi-sample telephone survey on Hong Kong residents (n = 751).

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopted a quantitative approach with a round of questionnaire-based survey carried out anonymously on adult citizens who have stayed in Hong Kong for more than one year. Telephone survey was performed by a professional survey research centre with trained interviewers between May and July 2022.

Findings

The study identifies the magnitude of these city brand equity attributes and reconfigured their composition under separate samples of Hong Kong residents. The results reveal the relatively stronger brand equity for developing Hong Kong as a smart city brand compared with green and creative branding.

Research limitations/implications

The research findings might carry a major limitation of varied interpretations and stereotypes of each city theme (green, creative and smart) by local residents. To minimize the expected bias, two core questions were added to provide respondents with information on each theme before the main survey questions. The questions’ wording was also simplified to ensure the constraint and inconsistency of layman effect.

Practical implications

The common attributes across the themes, including distinctiveness, uniqueness, confidence, positive image, liveability, long-term residence, feature familiarity and top-of-mind, indicate the most prominent aspects of brand equity formation and enhancement. Since urban sustainability does not follow a single path of strategies and infrastructure development, city brand process should also follow a selective approach, which clearly identifies a multiplicity of local interests that could create the best outcomes and the strongest brand equity for the city.

Originality/value

The factor allocation and regression analysis elucidate different configurations of the determining factors with a three-factor model for green city brand equity and two-factor models for the other ones. The findings encore some previous studies supporting the differentiation between common attributes and distinctive attributes, and the overlapping approach to unleash the strongest integration of attributes of brand equity.
Individual interest, self‐regulation, and self‐directed language learning with technology beyond the classroom
Authors: Lai Chun , Chen Qianshan , Wang Yabing , Qi Xuedan
Published: July 2023

Individual interest and self‐regulation are two pillars of self‐directed learning. Despite empirical evidence on the interaction between the two with respect to academic achievement, few studies have explored how individual interest and self‐regulation might interact and relate to self‐directed informal learning. This study surveyed 322 university students on self‐regulation and two interest constructs (interest in learning English and interest in pursuing personal interest in English), and tested how these factors related to their engagement in self‐directed use of technology for English learning beyond the classroom. Structural equation modelling analysis revealed that despite both being significant determinants, interest factors, and self‐regulation were associated differently with various types of self‐directed technological activities (instruction‐, information‐, entertainment‐ and socialization‐oriented activities). Self‐regulation was predictive of instruction‐, information‐ and socialization‐oriented activities, which have high cognitive load and require effort management for second‐language learners. Interest in English learning was consistently a significant predictor of all four types of technological activities. Interest in pursuing personal interest in English played a significant role in information‐ and entertainment‐oriented technological activities. The findings recommend greater attention to individual interest when promoting self‐directed informal learning. The findings further suggest adopting a differentiated approach to bolstering self‐directed learning for different purposes.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

Self‐regulation is important to self‐directed learning.

Subject‐matter interest and self‐regulation interplay to influence academic performance in formal learning contexts.

What this paper adds

Interest and self‐regulation interplayed to shape self‐direction in informal learning contexts.

Self‐regulation was predictive of instruction‐, information‐ and socialization‐oriented activities.

Interest factors added additional explanation power on self‐directed technological activities.

Both subject‐matter interest and the integration of personal interest with subject learning were significant determinants.

The integration of personal interest with subject learning mediated the influence of subject‐matter interest.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Educational interventions need to work simultaneously on both interest and self‐regulation to bolster self‐directed learning.

Educators need to address different factors when boosting different types of technological activities.

A relative stance needs to be taken since self‐regulation might play a less significant role in less taxing technological activities.

It is important to deliberately integrate students' personal interests into English learning and help students perceive and act on the integration.
Long‐term efficacy of venous sinus stenting in the treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Authors: Cheng Hui , Jin Haidi , Hu Yongjun , Chen Lijiang , Chen Zhicai , Zhong Genlong
Published: July 2023

Backgrounds

Previous studies have suggested that cerebral dural sinus stenosis could be a possible underlying cause of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Venous sinus stenting (VSS) has emerged as a potential alternative for treating IIH related to dural sinus stenosis. However, most of the documented studies have been conducted in Western countries. In this study, we present the results of 16 Chinese IIH patients who underwent VSS treatment in our single center.

Methods

We prospectively collected angiographic and manometric data from IIH patients who underwent angioplasty/stenting. All patients had confirmed dural sinus stenosis and had failed maximal medical therapy (MMT). Demographic, clinical, and radiological presentation, as well as long‐term follow‐up outcomes were collected retrospectively.

Results

A total of 16 patients who underwent VSS were enrolled in the present study. Demographic data revealed a mean age of 40 (range 20–55), with 69% (11/16) being female, and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.05 (range 19.18–38.04) kg/m2. All patients presented with papilledema and visual disturbances. During a median follow‐up period of 47.5 months, 93.75% (15/16) of patients reported improvement in symptoms, although only 37.5% (6/16) experienced complete resolution. Headaches, blurred vision, and amaurosis related to increased pressure improved in 100% (8/8), 81.25% (13/16), and 75% (3/4) of patients, respectively. However, one patient suffered cerebral infarction and secondary epilepsy soon after VSS, and another patient had recurrence of symptoms due to stent wall thrombosis 2 years later.

Conclusions

The significance of venous sinus stenosis in the development of IIH may be undervalued. Our study, based on a Chinese case series, affirms the long‐term safety and effectiveness of VSS in treating IIH patients with relatively lower BMI than those from Western countries.
Coalition cascades: The politics of tipping points in clean energy transitions
Authors: Meckling Jonas , Goedeking Nicholas
Published: July 2023

Policy change often involves multiple policy subsystems, as in the case of clean energy transitions. We argue that trans‐subsystem policy feedback is a central dynamic in policy change across subsystems. Policy in one subsystem creates benefits/costs and/or learning effects that mobilize actors for policy change in another subsystem, resulting in “coalition cascades” across interdependent subsystems. If coalition cascades lead to the resolution of coordination problems across subsystems, the system reaches a tipping point in policy change. Coalition cascades are thus the transmission belts of trans‐subsystem policy feedback. We illustrate our argument in the case of California's clean energy transition. We show how early renewable energy policy spilled over into the subsystems on grid policy—leading to energy storage policy—and on transport policy—resulting in electric vehicle charging policy. The article advances our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning trans‐subsystem policy change, offering a model of the politics of tipping points.
Prospect of unregulated deep-sea mining looms
Authors: Stokstad Erik
Published: July 2023

Seabed authority fails to finish rules in time, opening the door to the first mining license
The Sosva–Lozva Graben: A Devonian–Carboniferous Extensional Structure at the Rear of an Active Continental Margin on the Eastern Slope of the Northern Urals
Authors: Petrov G. A. , Maslov A. V.
Published: July 2023

Within the northern part of the Tagil paleo-island-arc structure in the Northern Urals, the Sosva–Lozva graben is identified. The graben is filled mainly with Devonian and Lower Carboniferous terrigenous and volcanic strata. The location of the graben to the west (in modern coordinates) of the supra-subduction igneous complexes and the composition of volcanic rocks, which combines the signs of igneous formations of convergent and divergent settings, suggest that this structure formed under extensional conditions at the rear of the active continental margin.
OPTIMIZING THE SPATIAL RESOLUTION OF MAMMOGRAPHY IMAGING QUALITY USING A CIRS-016A LINE PAIR GAUGE AND THE TAGUCHI METHODOLOGY
Authors: LIN YA-HUI , SHEN CHENG-MAO , TSENG YEN-LING , PAN LUNG-KWANG , PENG BING-RU
Published: July 2023

This study optimized spatial resolution of mammography imaging quality using a CIRS-016A commercial line gauge and the Taguchi methodology. The line gauge with a precise line pair from 5[Formula: see text]lp/mm to 20[Formula: see text]lp/mm was placed on top of triangular PMMA plates to simulate the female breast undergoing mammography. Five factors: target/filter, kVp, mAs, PMMA plate thickness, and compression force, were organized into 18 groups according to the Taguchi L[Formula: see text] orthogonal array. Tactically, the 18 various combinations of factors could provide similar confidence levels, as those following the full factorial combination in reality. Seven experienced radiology experts judged the 18 imaging qualities based on contrast, sharpness, and spatial resolution. Then the signal-to-noise ratio was calculated according to the “the larger, the better” ranking order. The optimal preset of mammography was verified from the unique fish bone plot and the follow-up analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The optimal combination of factors was as follows: Rh/Ag as target/filter, 32[Formula: see text]kVp, 36[Formula: see text]mAs, a 45[Formula: see text]mm thick PMMA plate, and a 13[Formula: see text]daN compression force in routine diagnosis. The concurrent resolution of 6[Formula: see text]lp/mm or about a 0.09[Formula: see text]mm minimum detectable difference (MDD) was superior to 5[Formula: see text]lp/mm of the conventional preset or combinations of factors of either highest Avg or lowest std. Compared to other studies with various facilities, this was the finest resolution among the routine X-ray, cardiac X-ray or computed tomography (CT), and computed tomography angiography (CTA).
Volumes of fibered 2-fold branched covers of 3-manifolds
Authors: Hirose Susumu , Kalfagianni Efstratia , Kin Eiko
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we prove that for any closed, connected, oriented [Formula: see text]-manifold [Formula: see text], there exists an infinite family of 2-fold branched covers of [Formula: see text] that are hyperbolic 3-manifolds and surface bundles over the circle with arbitrarily large volume.
Antibody Response to Inactive SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in a Cohort of Elderly Patients Living with Obesity
Authors: Kara Zehra , Akçin Rüveyda , Demir Ahmet Numan , Dinc Harika Oyku , Kocazeybek Bekir , Yumuk Volkan Demirhan
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Obesity and aging negatively affect the immune system and host defense mechanisms, increasing vulnerability to and worsening prognosis of infectious diseases, leading to vaccine failure. Our aim was to investigate the antibody response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike antigens and the risk factors affecting antibody levels in elderly patients living with obesity (PwO) after inactive SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) administration. Methods: One hundred twenty-three consecutive elderly patients with obesity (age ≥65 years, body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2) and 47 adults with obesity (age 18–64 years, BMI ≥30 kg/m2) admitted between August and November 2021 were enrolled. Seventy-five nonobese elderly people (age ≥65 years, BMI 18.5–29.9 kg/m2) and 105 nonobese adults (age 18–64 years, BMI 18.5–29.9 kg/m2) were recruited from subjects who visited the Vaccination Unit. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody titers were measured in patients with obesity and nonobese controls who received two doses of CoronaVac. Results: SARS-CoV-2 levels of patients with obesity were found to be significantly lower than those of nonobese elderly individuals who had non-prior infection. There was no difference in SARS-CoV-2 levels between patients with obesity and nonobese individuals with prior infection. Age and SARS-CoV-2 level were found to be highly correlated in the correlation analysis in the group of elderly individuals (r: −0.184). In multivariate regression analysis, when SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin class G (IgG) was regressed on age, sex, BMI, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension (HT), HT was found to be an independent factor of the SARS-CoV-2 level (β: −2,730). Conclusion: In the non-prior infection group, elderly patients with obesity generated significantly reduced antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen after CoronaVac vaccine compared to nonobese people. It is anticipated that the results obtained will provide invaluable information about SARS-CoV-2 vaccination strategies in this vulnerable population. Antibody titers may be measured, and booster doses should be delivered accordingly in elderly PwO for optimal protection.
Mechanical Thrombectomy Treatment More than 16 h after Last Known Well for Patients with Large Vessel Occlusion
Authors: Katano Takehiro , Suzuki Kentaro , Kimura Ryutaro , Saito Tomonari , Nishiyama Yasuhiro , Kimura Kazumi
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has been reported to be effective within 24 h after last known well (LKW) by the DAWN (DWI or CTP Assessment with Clinical Mismatch in the Triage of Wake-Up and Late Presenting Strokes Undergoing Neurointervention with Trevo) trial and within 16 h after LKW by the DEFUSE-3 (Endovascular Therapy Following Imaging Evaluation for Ischemic Stroke 3) trial. However, there have been few reports of MT more than 16 h after LKW, and the efficacy and safety of MT more than 24 h after LKW have not yet been demonstrated. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of MT more than 16 h after LKW. Methods: Using data from the Nippon Medical School Hospital MT registry from April 2011 to August 2022, consecutive patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO) and prehospital modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores of 0–3 were enrolled. Patients were classified into the following three groups: early group (LKW <6 h), middle group (LKW 6–16 h), and late group (LKW >16 h). The clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared among these three groups. Results: Among 778 patients in the MT registry, 624 were enrolled. The early group included 432 patients, the middle group included 123 patients, and the late group included 69 patients. The patients had a median age of 77 years (interquartile range, 68–83), and 359 were male (57.5%). The median prehospital mRS score was 1 (interquartile range, 1–1), median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission was 17 (interquartile range, 10–23), and median Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score was 10 (interquartile range, 8–10). Regarding safety and efficacy, the proportions of cases with successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 2b–3; 85.4% vs. 92.7% vs. 88.7%; p = 0.47), symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (6.4% vs. 5.7% vs. 7.2%; p = 0.99), mRS score ≤3 at 90 days (52.0% vs. 60.2% vs. 44.9%; p = 0.11), and mRS score of 6 at 90 days (11.3% vs. 10.6 vs. 8.7%; p = 0.37) were not significantly different between the three groups. Conclusion: Patients who received MT more than 16 h after LKW experienced the same safety and efficacy as those who received MT at 0–16 h after LKW. MT more than 16 h after LKW may be safe and effective for stroke patients with LVO.
Efficacy and Safety of Actinium-225 Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Radioligand Therapy in Metastatic Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Metanalysis
Authors: Parida Girish Kumar , Panda Raj Abhisek , Bishnoi Komal , Agrawal Kanhaiyalal
Published: July 2023

Background: Actinium-225 (Ac-225) labelled PSMA RLT has been tested recently in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), with encouraging results. Ac-225, being an alpha emitter, is expected to have higher efficacy and fewer side effects compared to the beta-emitters such as Lutetium-177. We have performed a meta-analysis to assess the therapeutic responses, survival effects, and significant side effects of Ac-225 PSMA RLT in patients with mCRPC. Methodology: Systematic literature search was carried out from five electronic databases PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library until March 2021. Eight studies were found to be eligible for this metanalysis. Results: Eight studies with 226 patients were analyzed in this metanalysis. 81% (95% CI 73–89) patients had a decline in PSA levels. 60% of the patients showed more than 50% PSA decline. Two studies assessed survival effects of radioligand naïve patients compared to patients who had received Lu-PSMA therapy previously and the pooled HR for radioligand naïve patients is 0.22. The most common toxicity reported was xerostomia in 167 patients out of 226 patients (73.9%, 95% CI 67.6–79.5%); however, most of them were confined to grade I and II levels. Other reported side effects include hematologic toxicity and nephrotoxicity. Conclusion: Ac-PSMA RLT is a safe and potentially effective treatment option for patients with mCRPC.
Risk Factors of Progression to Cognitive Frailty: Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study 2
Authors: Lee Shuen Yee , Nyunt Ma Shwe Zin , Gao Qi , Gwee Xinyi , Chua Denise Qian Ling , Yap Keng Bee , Wee Shiou Liang , Ng Tze Pin
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Cognitive frailty is associated with higher risk of dementia and adverse health outcomes. However, multidimensional factors that influence cognitive frailty transitions are not known. We aimed to investigate risk factors of incident cognitive frailty. Methods: Prospective cohort study participants were community-dwelling adults without dementia and other degenerative disorders and baseline and follow-up, including N = 1,054 participants aged ≥55 free of cognitive frailty at baseline, with complete baseline (March 6, 2009, to June 11, 2013) and follow-up data at 3–5 years later (January 16, 2013, to August 24, 2018). Incident cognitive frailty was defined by one or more criteria of the physical frailty phenotype and <26 of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. Potential risk factors assessed at baseline included demographic, socioeconomic, medical, psychological and social factors, and biochemical markers. Data were analyzed using least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO) multivariable logistic regression models. Results: A total of 51 (4.8%) participants, including 21 (3.5%) of the cognitively normal and physically robust participants, 20 (4.7%) of the prefrail/frail only, and 10 (45.4%) of cognitively impaired only, transited to cognitive frailty at follow-up. Risk factors for transition to cognitive frailty were having eye problem (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.24–5.43) and low HDL cholesterol (OR = 4.1, 95% CI 2.03–8.40), while protective factors for cognitive frailty transition were higher levels of education (OR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.10–0.74) and participation in cognitive stimulating activities (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.17–0.82). Conclusion: Multi-domain modifiable factors especially related to leisure activities predict cognitive frailty transition and may be targeted for prevention of dementia and associated adverse health outcomes.
Cardiovascular Protection by Metformin: Latest Advances in Basic and Clinical Research
Authors: Li Jason Z. , Li Y. Robert
Published: July 2023

Background: Metformin is among the most frequently prescribed antidiabetic drugs worldwide and remains the first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes due to its well-established glucose-lowering efficacy and favorable safety profile. Summary: Studies over the past decades show that metformin also exerts many other beneficial effects independent of its glucose-lowering effect both in experimental models and human subjects. Among them, the most notable is its cardiovascular protective effect. In this review, we discuss the latest cutting-edge research findings on metformin’s cardiovascular protection from both preclinical studies and randomized clinical trials. We focus on describing novel basic research discoveries reported in influential journals and discussing their implications in the context of latest clinical trial findings related to common cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, including atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia, myocardial injury, and heart failure. Key Messages: While substantial preclinical and clinical evidence suggests metformin as a potential cardiovascular protectant, large-scale randomized controlled trials are warranted to establish its clinical efficacy in treating patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure.
Intracranial Empyemas in the COVID-19 Era: A New Phenomenon? A Paediatric Case Series and Review of the Literature
Authors: Hall Benjamin J. , Duddy John C. , Apostolopoulou Katerina , David Raenette , Kurzbuch Arthur , Nadkarni Abhishek , Trichinopoly Krishna Sandhya , Cooper Ben , Gouldbourne Hayley , Hennigan Dawn , Dawes William , Ellenbogen Jonathan , Parks Christopher , Pettorini Benedetta , Sinha Ajay , Mallucci Conor
Published: July 2023

Introduction: We present the largest series of paediatric intracranial empyemas occurring after COVID-19 infection to date, and discuss the potential implications of the pandemic on this neurosurgical pathology. Methods: Patients admitted to our centre between January 2016 and December 2021 with a confirmed radiological diagnosis of intracranial empyema were retrospectively reviewed, excluding non-otorhinological source cases. Patients were grouped according to onset before or after onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 status. A literature review of all post-COVID-19 intracranial empyemas was performed. SPSS v27 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Sixteen patients were diagnosed with intracranial empyema: n = 5 prior to 2020 and n = 11 after, resulting in an average annual incidence of 0.3% prior to onset of the pandemic and 1.2% thereafter. Of those diagnosed since the pandemic, 4 (25%) were confirmed to have COVID-19 on recent PCR test. Time from COVID-19 infection until empyema diagnosis ranged from 15 days to 8 weeks. Mean age for post-COVID-19 cases was 8.5 years (range: 7–10 years) compared to 11 years in non-COVID cases (range: 3–14 years). Streptococcus intermedius was grown in all cases of post-COVID-19 empyema, and 3 of 4 (75%) post-COVID-19 cases developed cerebral sinus thromboses, compared to 3 of 12 (25%) non-COVID-19 cases. All cases were discharged home with no residual deficit. Conclusion: Our post-COVID-19 intracranial empyema series demonstrates a greater proportion of cerebral sinus thromboses than non-COVID-19 cases, potentially reflecting the thrombogenic effects of COVID-19. Incidence of intracranial empyema at our centre has increased since the start of the pandemic, causes of which require further investigation and multicentre collaboration.
A Colonial Gaze on Mecca: Networks Surrounding the First Documentary about the Hajj
Authors: Reichling Rukayyah
Published: July 2023

The first fully-fledged documentary about the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca was produced in 1928 when the Dutch filmmaker George Krugers (1890–1964) accompanied Muslim pilgrims from the Netherlands East Indies to the Arabian Peninsula. In the late 1920s, when the film project was carried out, an increasing number of Muslims from the archipelago embarked on the hajj journey, which was closely supervised and administered by Dutch colonial institutions. To uncover the “colonial gaze” engrained in the film, this article addresses the filming circumstances, the documentary’s visual content, its intended audiences, and the reception of the moving images in the Netherlands. It draws on Bruno Latour’s actor-network theory, foregrounding the social, political, and technological agents and networks that undergird Krugers’ pioneering film project about the hajj.
Rare and Complex Wares: A Study of Vessels and Sherds Decorated with Both Mīnāʾī and Lustre Techniques
Authors: McClary Richard Piran
Published: July 2023

The two most prestigious and technically challenging types of ceramic decoration used in the Islamic world during the sixth–seventh/twelfth–thirteenth centuries were mīnāʾī and lustre. By far the rarest type of mediaeval ceramic wares are the pieces featuring both types of overglaze decoration on the same vessel. This article examines the corpus of twenty-two sherds, including repaired and several previously unpublished examples. They are studied together to show the two main types of wares and their connection to other categories of mīnāʾī ware.
Intra-abdominal infection after tumor surgery: tigecycline combined with β-lactam antibiotics versus tigecycline alone
Authors: Cai Xinfeng , Yan Hongxia , Zhang Wenjun , Zhao Wei , Zhang Lei , Wang Xu , Wu Xinjing , Hao Zhiying , Guo Jinlin
Published: July 2023

Backgrounds

Tigecycline has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and has been approved for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections. However, it is debatable whether tigecycline should be used alone or in combination. This study aimed to investigate whether tigecycline plus β-lactam antibiotics (combination therapy [CT] group) are superior to tigecycline alone (monotherapy [MT] group) in non-critically ill intra-abdominal infection patients after tumor surgery.

Methods

This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study. The primary outcome was mortality during the hospital stay. Secondary outcomes were clinical success rate, microbial eradication rate, relapse rate within one week, course of treatment, and adverse effects. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to adjust the degree of infection before medication between the MT and CT groups. Univariate comparisons were performed using the chi-squared test for qualitative variables and Student’s t-test or the Mann-Whitney U-test for continuous variables, as appropriate. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between antimicrobial treatments and mortality during hospitalization. The paired samples Wilcoxon test was used to compare the parameters before and after medication.

Results

In total, 291 patients were included in the final analysis: 128 in MT group and 163 in CT group. Mortality rate was 6.25% in the MT group and 6.13% in the CT group (P = 0.97). Multivariate logistic regression model showed that carbapenem-resistant organisms (OR: 4.35, 95% CI: 2.36 ~ 61.70) and age > 65 (OR: 1.32, 95% CI:1.19 ~ 3.01) were independent risk factors for death. CT group had a shorter defervescence time (P < 0.05), with less likelihood of relapse (P < 0.05) but had a more significant effect on activated partial thromboplastin and prothrombin time.

Conclusions

Tigecycline plus β-lactam wasn’t superior to tigecycline monotherapy for the treatment of non-critically ill patients with intra-abdominal infection. But for advanced age patients with cancer, tigecycline combination therapy maybe a better choice in terms of mortality.