bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Provision of professional interpreters and Heart School attendance for foreign-born compared with native-born myocardial infarction patients in Sweden
Authors: Zwackman Sammy , Leosdottir Margret , Hagström Emil , Jernberg Tomas , Karlsson Jan-Erik , Lawesson Sofia Sederholm , Michelsen Halldora Ögmundsdottir , Ravn-Fischer Annica , Wallert John , Alfredsson Joakim
Published: September 2023

Background and aims

Interactive patient education, referred to as Heart School (HS), is an important part of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after myocardial infarction (MI), which has been associated with improved outcomes. Little is known about HS attendance among foreign-born patients. The aims were to assess; 1) HS attendance in foreign-born versus native-born patients, 2) the association between the provision of professional interpreters and HS attendance, and 3) secondary prevention goal attainment after MI based on HS attendance.

Methods

The provision of professional interpreters during post-MI follow-up was assessed by a questionnaire sent to all 78 Swedish CR sites. Patient-specific data was retrieved from the SWEDEHEART registry. The association between provision of professional interpreters and HS attendance was estimated with logistic regression models. HS attendance and attainment of secondary prevention goals by country of birth were investigated.

Results

In total, 8377 patients <75 years (78% male) were included. Foreign-born (19.8%) had higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and were less likely to attend HS (33.7 vs 51.3%, p<0.001), adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.59 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52-0.68), compared with native-born patients. CR centers providing professional interpreters had higher HS attendance among foreign-born (adjusted OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.20-2.01) but not among native-born patients. Attending HS was similarly associated with improved secondary prevention goal attainment in both groups.

Conclusion

Despite similar positive association between HS attendance and attainment of secondary prevention goals, foreign-born patients attended HS less often. With provision of professional interpreters HS attendance appears to increase in foreign-born patients.
Circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and co-infection withPlasmodium falciparumin Equatorial Guinea
Authors: López-Farfán Diana , Ncogo Policarpo , Oki Consuelo , Riloha Matilde , Ondo Valero , Cano-Jiménez Pablo , Martínez-Martínez Francisco José , Comas Iñaki , Irigoyen Nerea , Berzosa Pedro , Llanes Agustín Benito , Gómez-Díaz Elena
Published: September 2023

The impact of COVID-19 in Africa has been a big concern since the beginning of the pandemic. However, low incidence of COVID-19 case severity and mortality has been reported in many African countries, although data are highly heterogeneous and, in some regions, like Sub-Saharan Africa, very scarce. Many of these regions are also the cradle of endemic infectious diseases like malaria. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, the diversity and origin of circulating variants as well as the frequency of co-infections with malaria in Equatorial Guinea. For this purpose, we conducted antigen diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2, and microscopy examinations for malaria of 1,556 volunteers at six health centres in Bioko and Bata from June to October 2021. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were also taken for molecular detection of SARS-COV-2 by RT-qPCR and whole genome viral sequencing. We report 3.0% of SARS-CoV-2 and 24.4% of malaria prevalence over the sampling in Equatorial Guinea. SARS-CoV-2 cases were found at a similar frequency in all age groups, whereas the age groups most frequently affected by malaria were children (36.8% [95% CI 30.9-42.7]) and teenagers (34.7% [95% CI 29.5-39.9]). We found six cases of confirmed co-infection of malaria and SARS-CoV-2 distributed among all age groups, representing a 0.4% frequency of co-infection in the whole sampled population. Interestingly, the majority of malaria and SARS-CoV-2 co-infections were mild. We obtained the genome sequences of 43 SARS-CoV-2 isolates, most of which belong to the lineage Delta (AY.43) and that according to our pandemic-scale phylogenies were introduced from Europe in multiple occasions (7 transmission groups and 17 unique introductions). This study is relevant in providing first-time estimates of the actual prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in this malaria-endemic country, with the identification of circulating variants, their origin, and the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 and malaria co-infection.
Ether phospholipids modulate somatosensory responses by tuning multiple receptor functions inDrosophila
Authors: Suito Takuto , Nagao Kohjiro , Deng Xiangmei , Ganser Christian , Uchihashi Takayuki , Tsutsumi Motosuke , Nemoto Tomomi , Hara Yuji , Tominaga Makoto , Sokabe Takaaki
Published: September 2023

Transient receptor potential (TRP) and PIEZO channels are known receptors for physical stimuli such as temperature and mechanical touch in sensory nerves. Since these receptors are localized in the plasma membrane, the regulation of sensory receptor activity by plasma membrane lipids has recently attracted attention. In this study, we focused on ether phospholipids (ePLs), which are abundant in neurons, and analyzed their role in somatosensation usingDrosophilaas a model. Reduced warmth avoidance was observed with ePL synthesizing gene knockout or knockdown in warmth-sensitive TRPA1-expressing neurons. The temperature threshold forDrosophilaTRPA1 channels significantly decreased in presence of ePLs. In addition, we found that ePLs modulate the mechanosensory behavior and activation properties of the mechanosensitive channel PIEZO. Finally, we revealed that ePLs affect physicochemical properties of the plasma membrane, such as membrane tension and lipid order, in culture cells. Our study identified ePLs as crucial regulators of multiple somatosensation modalities inDrosophila. Effects due to alteration of cellular membrane properties and activity modulation of sensory receptors.
Linear Mixed Model of Virus Disinfection by Chlorine to Harmonize Data Collected Across Broad Environmental Conditions
Authors: Chaplin Mira , Henderson James , Leung Kaming , Szczuka Aleksandra , Hansen Brianna , Rockey Nicole C. , Wigginton Krista
Published: September 2023

Despite the critical importance of virus disinfection by chlorine, we lack a fundamental understanding of the relative susceptibility of different viruses to chlorine and robust quantitative relationships between virus disinfection rate constants and environmental parameters. We conducted a rapid systematic review of virus inactivation by free chlorine and used the resulting data set to develop a linear mixed model that estimates chlorine inactivation rate constants for viruses based on experimental conditions. Over 550 data points were collected in our systematic review, representing 82 viruses over a broad range of environmental conditions. The harmonized inactivation rate constants under reference conditions (pH = 7.53, T = 20 °C, [Cl-] < 50 mM) spanned 4 orders of magnitude, ranging from 0.0196 to 1150 L mg-1min-1and uncovered important trends between viruses. Whereas common surrogate bacteriophage MS2 does not serve as a conservative chlorine disinfection surrogate for many human viruses, CVB5 was one of the most resistant viruses in the dataset. The model quantifies the role of pH, temperature, and chloride levels across viruses, and an online tool allows users to predict rate constants for viruses and conditions of interest. Results from the model highlighted potential shortcomings in current USEPA disinfection guidelines.

Synopsis

Viruses must be adequately removed by disinfection processes to protect public health. We review data on virus inactivation of chlorine to determine what concentrations of chlorine are required to remove viruses and whether current regulations are adequately protective.
Dual lineage origins of neocortical astrocytes
Authors: Zhou Jiafeng , Vitali Ilaria , Roig-Puiggros Sergi , Javed Awais , Jabaudon Denis , Mayer Christian , Bocchi Riccardo
Published: September 2023

Astrocytes represent one of the most abundant cell types in the central nervous system, and play an essential role in nearly all aspects of brain functions1. Recent studies have challenged the notion that cortical astrocytes are a uniform population, and have highlighted their diverse characteristics at the morphological, molecular, and functional levels2-5. However, how this diversity originates and establishes during cortical development, remains largely unknown. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified five distinct astrocyte subtypes displaying unique spatial patterns in the mouse neocortex, and discovered essential regulators for their formation. Furthermore, we used TrackerSeq6, a method that integrates heritable DNA barcodes into the genome of electroporated progenitors, to track clonally related astrocytes, and identified two distinct lineages that give rise to the five astrocyte subtypes. The first lineage derives from Emx1+multipotent progenitors that first generate neurons and then switch to produce cortical astrocytes. The second lineage stems from a fate-restricted progenitor population that exclusively gives rise to a specific subset of cortical astrocytes, marked by Olig2. The knockout of this gene in cortical progenitors is sufficient to promote a fate switch between the two lineages. These findings offer novel insights into the cellular mechanisms underlying astrocyte diversity, highlighting the presence of multiple progenitor subtypes, responsible for generating distinct subtypes of astrocytes.
Less cortical complexity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex is associated with a greater preference for risky and immediate rewards
Authors: Bergström Fredrik , Lerman Caryn , Kable Joseph W.
Published: September 2023

In our everyday lives, we are often faced with situations in which we have to make choices that involve risky or delayed rewards. However, the extent to which we are willing to accept larger risky (over smaller certain) or larger delayed (over smaller immediate) rewards vary across individuals. Here we investigated the relationship between cortical surface complexity in medial prefrontal cortex and individual differences in risky and intertemporal preferences. We found that lower cortical complexity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) was associated with a greater preference for risky and immediate rewards. In addition to these common structural associations in mPFC, we also found associations between lower cortical complexity and a greater preference for immediate rewards that extended into left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and right vmPFC. Taken together, the shared association suggests that lower cortical complexity in vmPFC may be a structural marker for individual differences in impulsive behavior.
Mouse models for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma are affected by the cre-driver used to promote KRASG12Dactivation
Authors: Mousavi Fatemeh , Thompson Joyce , Lau Justine , Renollet Nur , Martin Mickenzie B. , McGue Jake , Frankel Timothy , Shooshtari Parisa , Pin Christopher L. , Bednar Filip
Published: September 2023

The fundamental biology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has been greatly impacted by the characterization of genetically modified mouse models that allow temporal and spatial activation of oncogenic KRAS (KRASG12D). The most commonly used model involves targeted insertion of acrerecombinase into thePtf1agene. However, this approach disrupts thePtf1agene, resulting in haploinsufficiency that likely affects sensitivity to oncogenic KRAS (KRASG12D). The goal of this study was to determine ifPtf1ahaploinsufficiency affected the acinar cell response toKRASG12Dbefore and after induction of pancreatic injury. We performed morphological and molecular analysis of three mouse lines that express a tamoxifen-induciblecrerecombinase to activateKRASG12Din acinar cells of the pancreas. The cre-recombinase was targeted to the acinar-specific transcription factor genes,Ptf1aandMist1/Bhlha15, or expressed within a BAC-derivedElastasetransgene. Up to two months after tamoxifen induction ofKRASG12D, morphological changes were negligible. However, induction of pancreatic injury by cerulein resulted in stark differences in tissue morphology between lines within seven days, which were maintained for at least five weeks after injury.Ptf1acreERTpancreata showed widespread PanIN lesions and fibrosis, while theMist1creERTandEla-creERTmodels showed reduced amounts of pre-neoplastic lesions. RNA-seq analysis prior to inducing injury suggestedPtf1acreERTandMist1creERTlines have unique profiles of gene expression that predict a differential response to injury. Multiplex analysis of pancreatic tissue confirmed different inflammatory responses between the lines. These findings suggest understanding the mechanisms underlying the differential response toKRASG12Dwill help in further defining the intrinsic KRAS-driven mechanisms of neoplasia initiation.
Cross-species conservation in the regulation of parvalbumin by perineuronal nets
Authors: Wang Angela S. , Wan Xinghaoyun , Storch Daria-Salina , Cornez Gilles , Balthazart Jacques , Cisneros-Franco J. Miguel , de Villers-Sidani Etienne , Sakata Jon T.
Published: September 2023

Parvalbumin (PV) neurons play an integral role in regulating neural dynamics and plasticity. Therefore, understanding the factors that regulate PV expression is important for revealing modulators of brain function. While the contribution of PV neurons to neural processes has been studied in mammals, relatively little is known about PV function in non-mammalian species, and discerning similarities in the regulation of PV across species can provide insight into evolutionary conservation in the role of PV neurons. Here we investigated factors that affect the abundance of PV in PV neurons in sensory and motor circuits of songbirds and rodents. In particular, we examined the degree to which perineuronal nets (PNNs), extracellular matrices that preferentially surround PV neurons, modulate PV abundance as well as how the relationship between PV and PNN expression differs across brain areas and species and changes over development. We generally found that cortical PV neurons that are surrounded by PNNs (PV+PNN neurons) are more enriched with PV than PV neurons without PNNs (PV-PNN neurons) across both rodents and songbirds. Interestingly, the relationship between PV and PNN expression in the vocal portion of the basal ganglia of songbirds (Area X) differed from that in other areas, with PV+PNN neurons having lower PV expression compared to PV-PNN neurons. These relationships remained consistent across development in vocal motor circuits of the songbird brain. Finally, we discovered a causal contribution of PNNs to PV expression in songbirds because degradation of PNNs led to a diminution of PV expression in PV neurons. These findings in reveal a conserved relationship between PV and PNN expression in sensory and motor cortices and across songbirds and rodents and suggest that PV neurons could modulate plasticity and neural dynamics in similar ways across songbirds and rodents.
Monocrystalline diamond detector for online monitoring during synchrotron microbeam radiotherapy
Authors: di Franco Francesca , Rosuel Nicolas , Gallin-Martel Laurent , Gallin-Martel Marie-Laure , Ghafooryan-Sangchooli Mostafa , Keshmiri Sarvenaz , Motte Jean-François , Muraz Jean-François , Pellicioli Paolo , Ruat Marie , Serduc Raphael , Verry Camille , Dauvergne Denis , Adam Jean-François
Published: September 2023

Microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) is a radiotherapy technique combining spatial fractionation of the dose distribution on a micrometric scale, X-rays in the 50–500 keV range and dose rates up to 16 × 103 Gy s−1. Nowadays, in vivo dosimetry remains a challenge due to the ultra-high radiation fluxes involved and the need for high-spatial-resolution detectors. The aim here was to develop a striped diamond portal detector enabling online microbeam monitoring during synchrotron MRT treatments. The detector, a 550 µm bulk monocrystalline diamond, is an eight-strip device, of height 3 mm, width 178 µm and with 60 µm spaced strips, surrounded by a guard ring. An eight-channel ASIC circuit for charge integration and digitization has been designed and tested. Characterization tests were performed at the ID17 biomedical beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). The detector measured direct and attenuated microbeams as well as interbeam fluxes with a precision level of 1%. Tests on phantoms (RW3 and anthropomorphic head phantoms) were performed and compared with simulations. Synchrotron radiation measurements were performed on an RW3 phantom for strips facing a microbeam and for strips facing an interbeam area. A 2% difference between experiments and simulations was found. In more complex geometries, a preliminary study showed that the absolute differences between simulated and recorded transmitted beams were within 2%. Obtained results showed the feasibility of performing MRT portal monitoring using a microstriped diamond detector. Online dosimetric measurements are currently ongoing during clinical veterinary trials at ESRF, and the next 153-strip detector prototype, covering the entire irradiation field, is being finalized at our institution.
Vertical take-off and hover to cruise transition for a hybrid UAV using model predictive controller and MPC allocation
Authors: Mohammadi Navid , Tayefi Morteza , Zhu Man
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Dual-thrust hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology offers a highly robust and efficient system that incorporates the take-off and landing capabilities of rotary-wing aircraft with the endurance capacities of fixed-wing aircraft. The purpose of this study is to model and control a hybrid UAV in three distinct flight modes: rotary-wing, fixed-wing and over-actuated model.

Design/methodology/approach

Model predictive control (MPC) along with linear models are applied to design controllers for the rotary-wing or vertical take-off and transition to the fixed-wing flight. The MPC algorithm is implemented with two approaches, first in its usual form and then in a new form with the help of tracking error variables as state variables.

Findings

Because the tracking error variables are more compatible with the cost function used in MPC, the results improve significantly. This is especially important for a safe and stable transition from rotary-wing to fixed-wing flight, which should be done quickly. The authors also propose a control allocation strategy with MPC algorithm to exploit the thrust and control inputs of both rotary-wing and fixed-wing systems for the transition phase. As the control system is over-actuated, the proposed algorithm distributes the control signal among the actuators better than the MPC alone. The numerical results show that the flight trajectory is also improved.

Originality/value

The research background is reviewed in the introduction section. The other sections are originally developed in this paper to the best of the authors’ knowledge.
The mediating role of perceived enjoyment and attitude consistency in omni-channel retailing
Authors: Gao Mengjia , Huang Lin
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study considers perceived enjoyment and attitude consistency as internal states of consumers in an omni-channel environment. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of perceived enjoyment and attitude consistency to reveal how omni-channel environment factors of interaction fluency, convenience, price advantage and personalization contribute to omni-channel shopping intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Consumers who had shopped at Uniqlo's online and offline stores were surveyed through an online questionnaire, and 566 data were collected for analysis through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The results find that interaction fluency, price advantage and personalization positively affect perceived enjoyment, interaction fluency and convenience positively affect attitude consistency and perceived enjoyment and attitude consistency in turn facilitate omni-channel shopping intention. The mediating role of perceived enjoyment and attitude consistency was confirmed.

Originality/value

The original finding of this study is that factors such as interaction fluency, convenience, price advantage and personalization in omni-channel retailing require momentary and continuous affective states of consumers to facilitate omni-channel shopping intention, respectively. Therefore, this study considers the necessity of capturing different affective states of consumers in omni-channel shopping.
Digital marketing innovation and firm performance: the role of decision-making comprehensiveness in dynamic environments
Authors: Erhan Trihadi Pudiawan , van Doorn Sebastiaan , Japutra Arnold , Ekaputra Irwan Adi
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study integrates insights from upper echelon (UE) theory and the attention-based view (ABV) to analyze how digital marketing innovation might enhance organizational performance in a pandemic context by addressing top management team (TMT) decision-making comprehensiveness and environmental dynamism.

Design/methodology/approach

This research utilizes a dataset collected through a questionnaire survey of 143 Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX)-listed firms operating during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Hierarchical regression analyses were used to assess the overall hypothesis.

Findings

The authors discover that innovation in digital marketing has a beneficial effect on firm performance in a pandemic setting. The authors further find that decision comprehensiveness moderates the relationship between digital marketing innovation and firm performance with accentuated benefits in stable environments.

Originality/value

This study broadens the understanding of contextual factors that influence the performance benefits of digital marketing innovation and sheds light on the role of TMT decision comprehensiveness in enhancing the impact of digital marketing innovation on firm performance. In addition, the authors developed and tested a new digital marketing innovation measure.
Intellectual capital components and entrepreneurial orientation: the mediating role of absorptive capacity
Authors: Yaseen Saad G. , El Qirem Ihab , Nussair Manal , Sa'd Hanadi
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of intellectual capital (IC) components and absorptive capacity (ACAP) on entrepreneurial orientation (EO). Furthermore, it attempts to investigate the mediating role of ACAP between intellectual components and EO.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a self-administered survey to sample the Jordanian pharmaceutical industry, the research measurement scale was adapted from previous studies, and data were collected from 24 pharmaceutical companies. The proposed conceptual model and associated hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The empirical findings indicate that relational capital (RC) and structural capital (SC) have a significant impact on EO and account for 72.2% of this aspect. However, it is somewhat unexpected to find that human capital does not have a significant direct impact on EO. ACAP positively mediates the relationships between RC and SC and EO. Finally, this study has several theoretical and practical implications with regard to the business literature and management practices.

Originality/value

This research bridges gaps in the literature and highlights the importance of ACAP in knowledge-based industries. The assessment and estimation of how knowledge ACAP is associated with entrepreneurship orientation has not been previously provided. From a practical perspective, the findings of this research can be used by firms in the pharmaceutical industry to enhance ACAP and better exploit their IC, leading to a more proactive and innovative entrepreneurship orientation. This, in turn, can lead to the development a new products and services. Furthermore, by examining the mediating role of ACAP between intellectual capacity components and EO in the pharmaceutical industry, the research contributes to the growing body of literature on entrepreneurship orientation in developing countries.
Smartphone Apps and Contract Terms: The Uber Case
Authors: Pathak Akhileshwar
Published: September 2023

The digital medium has created new ways of contracting through web pages and smartphone apps. The websites and apps put numerous terms of contract. In some cases, the user is required to click on them, and other times, the user may or may not even notice the terms. Are the terms put by the sites and apps binding? The case explores the theme with the Uber Case, a judgement of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, on the application of the terms in the Uber app.
Exploring mega-construction project success in China's vaunted Belt and Road Initiative: the role of paternalistic leadership, team members' voice and team resilience
Authors: Yunpeng Gong , Zaman Umer
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The traditional Chinese culture has always emphasized the authority of leaders and their “top-down” influence over subordinates tangled with “bottom-up” management. Paternalistic leadership can both nurture and restrict growth in mega-construction projects, due to the unique consequences (i.e. positive vs negative implications) for project teams. Hence, the present study aimed to explore the impact of paternalistic leadership (PL), team members’ voice (TMV) and team resilience (TR) on the mega-construction project success (MPS) in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Design/methodology/approach

A surveyed-based sample of project professionals (N = 563) directly linked with the BRI was employed for statistical estimations with partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

Paternalistic leadership styles, including authoritarian leadership (AL), moral leadership (ML) and benevolent leadership (BL), significantly influence the mega-construction project success in BRI. The findings empirically validated that both BL and ML increase the likelihood of mega-construction project success. However, AL could impose a threat through its underlying negative influence. In addition, leaders with benevolence and morality have a positive influence on TMV and TR, while leaders with authoritarianism signal a negative impact. Furthermore, both TMV and TR significantly and positively mediate the relationships between AL-MPS (Model-1), BL-MPS (Model-2) and ML-MPS (Model-3), respectively.

Originality/value

The present study is a groundbreaking endeavor that fills a crucial research gap by investigating mega-construction project success in the BRI through paternalistic leadership, project team members' voice and team resilience in a multi-mediation model. These novel findings offer valuable strategic insights for managing mega-construction projects in countries with paternalistic solid cultural foundations, enabling project managers to navigate cultural nuances and optimize megaproject outcomes.
“If there is no garbage, we do not exist”. A photovoice research on cleaners doing dirty work
Authors: Özdemir Seyhan , Sarı Betül , Demirel Ebru , Sever Melih
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This photovoice study aims to explore how cleaners experience dirty and invisible work in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is twofold. The authors first used the photovoice technique, which is one of the visual data collection techniques, to elaborate on the phenomena. The data were obtained with the participation of seven people (four women and three men) from building cleaners working at two public universities in Turkey. Three photographs were requested from each participant and selected nine photographs were described and analyzed among the collected 21 photographs. In addition to photovoice research, five interviews gave insight into the cleaners’ experiences in the second stage of the study.

Findings

This research revealed that participating cleaners experienced invisible dirty work and they felt undervalued, despised, treated as “second class/low-level people” and stigmatized.

Practical implications

This study recommends that university administrations defend the rights and dignity of cleaners at work, provide services to support their inclusion and increase staff awareness.

Originality/value

This study sheds light into an understudied area which is the building cleaners’ invisible and dirty work experiences and how that impacts their lives via a photovoice research.
Using educational technologies (Padlet) for student engagement – reflection from the Australian classroom
Authors: Hossain Md Moazzem
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Educational technologies such as Padlet have begun to transform the way teachers teach, students learn, and teachers and students interact. However, relatively little emphasis has been given to explore collaborative learning (CL) using educational technologies such as Padlet as a means of student engagement. Thus, the purpose of this reflective article is to gain insight into the use of educational technologies Padlet in the tutorial workshop in accounting program at an Australian university.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a qualitative podcast research approach with a specific focus on the author's personal reflection over the course of a semester in an Australian university classroom.

Findings

The findings of this article (based on the author's own reflection from the classroom) show that a digitally innovative useful tool Padlet works on a variety of different devices and does not require student's technical know-how to use it. The findings further suggest that Padlet technology as a great equaliser has helped students' engagement in classroom activities.

Research limitations/implications

Despite some noticeable limitations, this paper suggests that using Padlet in classroom engagement activities has provided a smoothing space for CL. The findings of this reflective article would be an interest to students, academics, curriculum designers and educational technology experts.

Originality/value

This study provides interesting insights into how Padlet contributes to the student's engagement.
Predicting electronic personal health record (e-PHR) acceptance: evidence from emerging market
Authors: Khor Xin Yun , Teoh Ai Ping , Vafaei-Zadeh Ali , Md Hanifah Haniruzila
Published: September 2023

Purpose

With the function to store individual’s data input, personal health record (PHR) enhanced the accessibility to personal health information. This study aims to assess the factors that impact the intention of Malaysian internet users to use PHR and create a modified technology acceptance model (TAM) for eHealth.

Design/methodology/approach

Multivariate statistical analysis was performed on a total of 216 responses using the partial least square technique based on the cross-sectional survey among Malaysian internet users.

Findings

Behavioral intention was positively associated to PHR. Subjective norm significantly influenced both attitude and intention to use, whereas trust and perceived usefulness significantly influenced attitude. There was no significant positive impact in the relationships between compatibility and perceived ease of use and intention to use; nevertheless, they positively influenced perceived usefulness. Attitude exhibited mediating influence between trust, perceived usefulness and subjective norm and intention to use. Nonetheless, perceived risk did not affect behavioral intention. Thus, PHR acceptance was well-justified by the modified TAM in evaluating eHealth acceptance.

Practical implications

The eHealth vendors can enhance their marketing and development strategies on related products.

Originality/value

Literatures and empirical evidence on eHealth are still scarce, especially in emerging markets. The role of attitude may not be well-researched in health-care context, therefore was included in this study’s modified TAM. Critical determinants, namely, trust and risk, were added to the model.
Managerial approaches and sociotechnical implications of the adoption of consumer-facing in-store technology in organizational processes: the case of fashion retail
Authors: Bonetti Francesca , Perry Patsy , Warnaby Gary
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Fashion retailers have increasingly adopted consumer-facing in-store technology (CFIT) to enhance the customer experience/service provision. This paper aims to explore managerial experiences and sociotechnical implications of introducing these technologies into organizational working processes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on interpretive analysis of semi-structured interviews with 74 senior fashion retail industry practitioners, technology providers and consultants to understand managerial perspectives on technological innovation issues.

Findings

Endogenous and exogenous factors act as drivers or barriers to CFIT adoption and are influenced by strategic and tactical motives. Key issues that retail managers encounter include challenges in aligning technology implementation with retailer brand image to manage risk and reputation, with additional complexity arising from different internal and/or external actors involved, as well as required levels of change in organizational structure.

Originality/value

This study contributes an empirically derived framework identifying reasons for – and the drivers/barriers influencing – fashion retailers' CFIT adoption, classifying three broad approaches to CFIT adoption: embedded, transformative and opportunistic.
The politics of nationalism and white racism in the UK
Authors: Flemmen Magne , Savage Mike
Published: September 2023

This paper considers the contemporary significance of white racism and its association with nationalist sentiment amongst a cohort late middle aged white Britons, using survey responses and qualitative interviews from the 1958 National Child Development Study. We have shown that although overt racism is very limited, a substantial minority of white Britons display ambivalent feelings which have the potential to be mobilised in racist directions. We argue against the view that disadvantaged white working class respondents are especially xenophobic, and show that racist views are not strongly associated with social position. In exploring the clustering of different nationalist and racist sentiments amongst economic and cultural elites, and comparing these with ‘disenfranchised’ respondents with little economic and cultural capital, we show that it is actually the elite who are most likely to articulate ‘imperial racism’. By contrast, the ‘disenfranchised’ articulate a kind of anti‐establishment nationalism which is not strongly racist. We also show that the elite are strongly internally divided, with a substantial number of the cultural elite being strongly anti‐racist and committed to multi‐culturalism, so generating strong internal factionalism between elite positions. Our paper therefore underscores how intensifying inequalities have facilitated the volatility and variability of nationalist and racist sentiment.
The multidimensional politics of inequality: taking stock of identity politics in the U.S. Presidential election of 2016
Authors: McCall Leslie , Orloff Ann Shola
Published: September 2023

Many Democrats hoped that a particular kind of identity politics – women's – would help Hillary Clinton win the White House. In the aftermath of the election, some commentators bemoaned the fact that a majority of white women had voted for Trump, and called it a kind of betrayal, underlining their expectation that women would naturally, on the basis of their gender identity, support a woman with women‐friendly politics. Indeed, this kind of thinking about identity politics has been widespread with reference to a number of demographic groups. Meanwhile, identity politics is lamented from the right and left by those who favour a greater emphasis on class‐based inequalities, or a greater national identity, some of whom blame identity politics for spawning or justifying a backlash of right‐leaning populism in the US. We argue for a turn to a more robust definition of identity as multidimensional and politically mediated for understanding political alignments over the past several decades. The multidimensionality of inequality – intersectionality or complex inequality – is widely accepted in the study of gender and race across the social science disciplines but has yet to be as successfully integrated into studies of electoral politics. Thinking about women's positioning in systems of complex inequality, and how the political parties have or have not articulated the concerns of different groups of women, helps us to understand the 2016 election, as well as past and potentially future political developments.
Hyperprogressive disease in lung metastases without target lesion progression after durvalumab consolidation therapy: A case report
Authors: Masuda Kosuke , Nagai Yoshiaki , Amari Hikari , Tahara Hiroki , Maeda Yuki , Shiihara Jun , Ohta Hiromitsu , Hiruta Masahiro , Yamaguchi Yasuhiro
Published: September 2023

Hyperprogressive disease (HPD) is a novel progressive pattern that occurs after immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) administration. Here, a 74‐year‐old woman who had undergone right lower lobectomy for lung cancer received curative chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation therapy with durvalumab for metastatic recurrence confined to the mediastinal lymph nodes. Three weeks later, multiple randomly distributed nodular shadows appeared on chest CT, and thoracoscopic lung biopsy led to the diagnosis of multiple pulmonary metastases. HPD may be suspected when multiple metastases appear in new organs early after the administration of ICIs. This phenomenon may occur not only with ICI monotherapy but also with the administration of ICIs after chemoradiotherapy. Therefore, patients who have received radiation therapy should also be given similar attention early after the administration of ICIs.
16S rRNA gene sequencing and machine learning reveal correlation between drug abuse and human host gut microbiota
Authors: Liu Yunting , Zhang Pei , Sheng Hongmei , Xu Ding , Li Daixi , An Lizhe
Published: September 2023

Over the past few years, there has been increasing evidence highlighting the strong connection between gut microbiota and overall well‐being of the host. This has led to a renewed emphasis on studying and addressing substance use disorder from the perspective of brain‐gut axis. Previous studies have suggested that alcohol, food, and cigarette addictions are strongly linked to gut microbiota and faecal microbiota transplantation or the use of probiotics achieved significant efficacy. Unfortunately, little is known about the relationship between drug abuse and gut microbiota. This paper aims to reveal the potential correlation between gut microbiota and drug abuse and to develop an accurate identification model for drug‐related faeces samples by machine learning. Faecal samples were collected from 476 participants from three regions in China (Shanghai, Yunnan, and Shandong). Their gut microbiota information was obtained using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and a substance use disorder identification model was developed by machine learning. Analysis revealed a lower diversity and a more homogeneous gut microbiota community structure among participants with substance use disorder. Bacteroides, Prevotella_9, Faecalibacterium, and Blautia were identified as important biomarkers associated with substance use disorder. The function prediction analysis revealed that the citrate and reductive citrate cycles were significantly upregulated in the substance use disorder group, while the shikimate pathway was downregulated. In addition, the machine learning model could distinguish faecal samples between substance users and nonsubstance users with an AUC = 0.9, indicating its potential use in predicting and screening individuals with substance use disorder within the community in the future.
Assessing obstetric outcomes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis comparing fresh, artificial, and natural thaw embryo transfer cycles
Authors: Field Amy , Rozen Genia , Gan Joscelyn , Polyakov Alex
Published: September 2023

Background

The increasing utilisation of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) has prompted significant interest in determining the optimal endometrial environment to increase pregnancy rates and minimise the obstetric complications associated with various embryo transfer strategies.

Aims

To determine which cycle is associated with increased obstetric complications: fresh embryo transfer (FreshET), natural thaw (NatThawET) or artificial thaw (ArtThawET). Outcomes of interest included: hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), gestational diabetes (GD), pre‐term birth (PTB), post‐partum haemorrhage (PPH) and large for gestational age (LGA).

Materials and Methods

A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and PUBMED was conducted from 1947 to May 17, 2022. Two independent reviewers carried out the screening, and data extraction for the following comparisons: ArtThawET vs NatThawET, ArtThawET vs FreshET, and NatThawET vs FreshET. Meta‐analysis was conducted using a fixed‐effect Mantel–Haenszel model. The quality of the studies was assessed using GRADEpro.

Results

A total of 23 studies were included in this review. ArtThawET was associated with a significantly increased odds of HDP (odds ratio (OR) 1.76, confidence interval (CI) 1.66–1.86), PTB (OR 1.18, CI 1.13–1.23), PPH (OR 2.61, CI 2.3–2.97) and LGA (OR 1.11, CI 1.07–1.15), compared to NatThawET. ArtThawET was also associated with increased odds of HDP (OR 2.13, CI 1.89–2.4), PPH (OR 3.52, CI 3.06–4.04) and LGA (OR 2.12, CI 1.77–2.56), compared to FreshET. Furthermore, NatThawET demonstrated increased odds of HDP (OR 1.20, CI 1.11–1.29), PPH (OR 1.25, CI 1.14–1.38) and LGA (OR 1.85, CI 1.66–2.07) compared to FreshET.

Conclusion

When clinically feasible, ArtThawET should be avoided as a first‐line option for IVF to reduce the risk of obstetric complications. An adequately powered, multicentre randomised controlled trial is necessary to confirm these findings and investigate the underlying pathophysiology.
Food‐induced immediate response of the esophagus in pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis
Authors: Koken Gizem , Ertoy Karagol Hacer Ilbilge , Polat Terece Sinem , Cavdar Zeynep , Cetin Kenan , Egritas Gurkan Odul , Sari Sinan , Dalgic Buket , Bakirtas Arzu
Published: September 2023

Background

Food‐induced immediate response of the esophagus (FIRE) is a new phenomenon that has been described in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) patients. It is suspected when unpleasant symptoms occur suddenly on contact of the triggering food with the esophageal surface and recur with repeated exposures. It can often be mistaken for pollen‐food allergy syndrome (PFAS) and solid food dysphagia. Data on FIRE is limited to one survey study and case reports, and there are no screening studies conducted on either adults or children with EoE. In this study, we aimed to screen children aged ≥7 years old with EoE for FIRE.

Methods

Demographic data were collected from medical records. A questionnaire about FIRE was applied to all participants. Skin prick tests were done on suspected patients to identify the triggering foods. FIRE is defined as suitable clinical symptoms with suspected food allergen exposure.

Results

A total of 78 patients (74.4% male, median age: 13.5 years) were included. Unpleasant and recurrent symptoms distinct from dysphagia with specific foods were reported in 16.7% of the patients, all of whom had concomitant allergic rhinitis (AR). The symptoms described by almost all patients were oropharyngeal itching and tingling (PFAS: 15.3%) excluding only one patient reporting retrosternal narrowing and pressure after specific food consumption (FIRE: 1.2%).

Conclusions

Although definitive conclusions regarding the true prevalence of FIRE cannot be made, it does not seem to be common as PFAS. However, it deserves questioning particularly in the presence of concurrent AR and/or PFAS in children with EoE.
Reproductive outcomes after laparoscopic resection of symptomatic niches in uterine cesarean scars: Long‐term follow‐up on the prospective LAPNICHE study
Authors: Vissers Jolijn , Hehenkamp Wouter J. K. , Brölmann Hans A. M. , Lambalk Cornelis B. , Huirne Judith A. F.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

After incomplete healing of the uterine cesarean section scar, a niche can be observed; 24% of the women develop large niches with a residual myometrial thickness <3 mm. In these cases a laparoscopic resection is possible. The effect of this new treatment on fertility outcome is not known yet. This paper describes reproductive outcomes 2 years after a laparoscopic niche resection and compares women with or without secondary infertility at baseline.

Material and methods

A prospective cohort study was performed, with consecutive inclusion of women between 2011 and 2019. Women with a niche in the uterine cesarean scar, with a residual myometrial thickness of <3 mm and with a desire to become pregnant, were scheduled to undergo a laparoscopic niche resection because of one or more of the following problems (1) postmenstrual spotting; (2) midcycle intrauterine fluid accumulation diagnosed during the fertility workup or (3) difficulties with a previous embryo transfer and preferring a surgical therapy. The study is registered in the ISRCTN register (ref. no. ISRCTN02271575) on April 23, 2013.

Results

There were 133 (62%) women included with a desire to become pregnant, 88 with secondary infertility. In all, 83 had an ongoing pregnancy at the 2‐year follow‐up. The ongoing pregnancy rate in patients with previous fertility problems was 60.2% compared with 66.7% in patients without infertility (odds ratio [OR] 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32–1.7). The OR for live births was 0.57 (95% CI 0.02–1.2). Overall, 8.3% of the pregnancies resulted in miscarriages by the 2‐year follow‐up.

Conclusions

The reproductive outcomes in women with and without previous fertility problems undergoing resection of a large niche are very promising and quite comparable in both groups. These results suggest, but do not prove, a beneficial effect of this therapy for these indications. The results support the design of future randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effect of niche resection vs expectant management to assess its additional value in women with or without fertility problems who desire pregnancy.
Short course of intravenous antibiotics in the treatment of uncomplicated proven neonatal bacterial sepsis: A systematic review
Authors: Aljarbou Alanoud , Cuello Carlos , Leslie Ana Teresa Figueiredo Stochero
Published: September 2023

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy and harms of a short (7–10 days) compared with a standard (10–14 days) duration of antibiotics in culture‐proven neonatal sepsis for reducing all‐cause mortality, treatment failure and duration of hospitalisation.

Methods

Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched for randomised trials.

Results

We included five studies, all conducted in India (447 infants with a gestational age greater than 32 weeks). Except for one study, all studies were at high risk of bias. All‐cause mortality was reported in three studies with only one death reported in the standard duration regimen arm (243 patients, very low certainty). A meta‐analysis showed no evidence of the effect on treatment failure (RR of 1.47 [95% CI 0.48–4.50], 440 patients, five studies, very low certainty) of short‐term antibiotics. Short‐term antibiotic regimen shortened the duration of hospitalisation by 4 days (mean difference of −4.04 days [95% CI −5.47 to −2.61]; 4 studies; 371 patients; very low certainty).

Conclusion

Among studies focused on infants born with a gestational age greater than 32 weeks, short‐term administration of antibiotics may shorten the duration of hospitalisation, but the evidence is very uncertain. The evidence on other predefined outcomes is very uncertain to draw definite conclusions.