bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of goodwill impairment disclosure: the role of audit quality and analysts following
Authors: Ranga Abhishek , Pathak Rajesh
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The authors investigate the effect of audit quality and analysts' coverage on firms' compliance concerning goodwill impairment testing and disclosure requirements with the Indian Accounting Standard (Ind AS) over the period of 2017–2020.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct univariate analysis and employ pooled ordinary least square (POLS) and Fama–MacBeth (FMB) regression techniques for empirical testing.

Findings

The authors report a substantially higher disclosure score (DS) for firms with superior audit quality and for firms with incidence of analysts' coverage. Moreover, the authors show a positive impact of audit quality on the firm's degree of disclosure. This signifies better compliance by the clients of Big-4 audit firms in the enforcement of standard's mandates. Besides, the results on analysts' coverage indicate that the increasing number of analysts discipline managers in terms of appropriate compliance with disclosure requirements, hence favours the monitoring effect hypothesis for Indian firms. The results are robust to the alternate measures of key regressors, set of firm controls and alternate estimation technique.

Originality/value

The study adds to the knowledge concerning the economic consequences of mandatory disclosures and is possibly the first to investigate compliance related to goodwill impairment disclosure regime under the new Ind AS.
Multifunctional electromagnetic interference shielding composite fabrics with simultaneous high-efficiency photothermal conversion and Joule heating performance
Authors: Yuhang Zhao , Yu Zhicai , He Hualing , Ke Huizhen
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to fabricate a multifunctional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composite fabric with simultaneous high-efficiency photothermal conversion and Joule heating performances.

Design/methodology/approach

A multifunctional polypyrrole (PPy) hydrogel/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/cotton EMI shielding composite fabric (hereafter denoted as PHMC) was prepared by loading MWCNT onto tannin-treated cotton fabric, followed by in situ crosslinking-polymerization to synthesize three-dimensional (3D) conductive networked PPy hydrogel on the surface of MWCNT-coated cotton fabric.

Findings

Benefiting from the unique interconnected 3D networked conductive structure of PPy hydrogel, the obtained PHMC exhibited a high EMI-shielding effectiveness vale of 48 dB (the absorbing electromagnetic wave accounted for 84%) within a large frequency range (8.2–12.4 GHz). Moreover, the temperature of the laminated fabric reached 54°C within 900 s under 15 V, and it required more than 100 s to return to room temperature (28.7°C). When the light intensity was adjusted to 150 mW/cm2, the PHMC temperature was about 38.2°C after lighting for 900 s, indicating high-efficiency electro-photothermal effect function.

Originality/value

This paper provides a novel strategy for designing a type of multifunctional EMI shielding composite fabric with great promise for wearable smart garments, EMI shielding and personal heating applications.
Environment-friendly cornstarch and tannin-based wood adhesives for interior particleboard production as an alternative to formaldehyde-based wood adhesives
Authors: Oktay Salise , Kızılcan Nilgün , Bengü Başak
Published: August 2022

Purpose

In industrial applications, formaldehyde-based wood adhesives have been used extensively because of their low costs and high reactivity. However, their real-world applications are hindered by some main bottlenecks, especially the formaldehyde emission and usage of nonrenewable raw materials. The purpose of this study is the development of sustainable and formaldehyde-free wood adhesive formulation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, starch and tannin-based wood adhesive were synthesized. Chemical structures and thermal properties of the prepared bio-based resin formulations were elucidated by using Fourier transform infrared and differential scanning calorimetry analysis, respectively. Laboratory scale particleboard production was carried out to determine the performance of the developed resin formulations. Obtained results were evaluated in dry medium (P2) according to European norms EN 312 (2010). Furthermore, the board formaldehyde content was determined by using the perforator method according to the European Norm EN 12460-5.

Findings

The results show that the improved starch and tannin-based wood adhesives were successful in their adhesive capacity, and the formaldehyde content of the final product was obtained as low as 0.75 mg/100 g. This paper highlights that the presented adhesive formulations could be a potential eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to the formaldehyde-based wood adhesives for interior particleboard production.

Research limitations/implications

Starch-based resins in the liquid form needed to be continuously mixed throughout their shelf life to prevent the starch from settling because it was not possible to dissolve the precipitated starch again after a while. For this reason, starch was given to the chips in powder form while preparing the particleboard.

Practical implications

In conclusion, this study shows that the developed bio-based resin formulations have a high potential to be used for producing interior-grade particleboards instead of commercial formaldehyde-based wood adhesives because the obtained results generally satisfied the interior grade particleboard requirements according to European norms EN 312, P2 class (2010). In addition, it was determined that the produced boards had significantly low formaldehyde content. The low formaldehyde content of the final boards was not because of the resin but because of the natural structure of the wood raw material, press parameters and environmental factors.

Social implications

The developed bio-based resin system made it possible to obtain boards with significantly low formaldehyde content compared to commercial resins.

Originality/value

The developed bio-based resin formulation made it possible to produce laboratory-scale board prototypes at lower press factors and board densities compared to their counterparts.
Performance evaluation of satellite-based rainfall estimates for hydrological modeling over Bilate river basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Ibrahim Awel Haji , Molla Dagnachew Daniel , Lohani Tarun Kumar
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to address a highly heterogeneous rift margin environment and exhibit considerable spatiotemporal hydro-climatic variations. In spite of limited, random and inaccurate data retrieved from rainfall gauging stations, the recent advancement of satellite rainfall estimate (SRE) has provided promising alternatives over such remote areas. The aim of this research is to take advantage of the technologies through performance evaluation of the SREs against ground-based-gauge rainfall data sets by incorporating its applicability in calibrating hydrological models.

Design/methodology/approach

Selected multi satellite-based rainfall estimates were primarily compared statistically with rain gauge observations using a point-to-pixel approach at different time scales (daily and seasonal). The continuous and categorical indices are used to evaluate the performance of SRE. The simple scaling time-variant bias correction method was further applied to remove the systematic error in satellite rainfall estimates before being used as input for a semi-distributed hydrologic engineering center's hydraulic modeling system (HEC-HMS). Runoff calibration and validation were conducted for consecutive periods ranging from 1999–2010 to 2011–2015, respectively.

Findings

The spatial patterns retrieved from climate hazards group infrared precipitation with stations (CHIRPS), multi-source weighted-ensemble precipitation (MSWEP) and tropical rainfall measuring mission (TRMM) rainfall estimates are more or less comparably underestimate the ground-based gauge observation at daily and seasonal scales. In comparison to the others, MSWEP has the best probability of detection followed by TRMM at all observation stations whereas CHIRPS performs the least in the study area. Accordingly, the relative calibration performance of the hydrological model (HEC-HMS) using ground-based gauge observation (Nash and Sutcliffe efficiency criteria [NSE] = 0.71; R2 = 0.72) is better as compared to MSWEP (NSE = 0.69; R2 = 0.7), TRMM (NSE = 0.67, R2 = 0.68) and CHIRPS (NSE = 0.58 and R2 = 0.62).

Practical implications

Calibration of hydrological model using the satellite rainfall estimate products have promising results. The results also suggest that products can be a potential alternative source of data sparse complex rift margin having heterogeneous characteristics for various water resource related applications in the study area.

Originality/value

This research is an original work that focuses on all three satellite rainfall estimates forced simulations displaying substantially improved performance after bias correction and recalibration.
Female reproduction and viral infection in a long‐lived mammal
Authors: Negrey Jacob D. , Emery Thompson Melissa , Dunn Christopher D. , Otali Emily , Wrangham Richard W. , Mitani John C. , Machanda Zarin P. , Muller Martin N. , Langergraber Kevin E. , Goldberg Tony L.
Published: August 2022

For energetically limited organisms, life‐history theory predicts trade‐offs between reproductive effort and somatic maintenance. This is especially true of female mammals, for whom reproduction presents multifarious energetic and physiological demands.

Here, we examine longitudinal changes in the gut virome (viral community) with respect to reproductive status in wild mature female chimpanzees Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii from two communities, Kanyawara and Ngogo, in Kibale National Park, Uganda.

We used metagenomic methods to characterize viromes of individual chimpanzees while they were cycling, pregnant and lactating.

Females from Kanyawara, whose territory abuts the park's boundary, had higher viral richness and loads (relative quantity of viral sequences) than females from Ngogo, whose territory is more energetically rich and located farther from large human settlements. Viral richness (total number of distinct viruses per sample) was higher when females were lactating than when cycling or pregnant. In pregnant females, viral richness increased with estimated day of gestation. Richness did not vary with age, in contrast to prior research showing increased viral abundance in older males from these same communities.

Our results provide evidence of short‐term physiological trade‐offs between reproduction and infection, which are often hypothesized to constrain health in long‐lived species.
Variation in movement strategies: Capital versus income migration
Authors: Evans Simon R. , Bearhop Stuart
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Animal migrations represent the regular movements of trillions of individuals. The scale of these movements has inspired human intrigue for millennia and has been intensively studied by biologists.

This research has highlighted the diversity of migratory strategies seen across and within migratory taxa: while some migrants temporarily express phenotypes dedicated to travel, others show little or no phenotypic flexibility in association with migration. However, a vocabulary for describing these contrasting solutions to the performance trade‐offs inherent to the highly dynamic lifestyle of migrants (and strategies intermediate between these two extremes) is currently missing.

We propose a taxon‐independent organising framework based on energetics, distinguishing between migrants that forage as they travel (income migrants) and those that fuel migration using energy acquired before departure (capital migrants).

Not only does our capital:income continuum of migratory energetics account for the variable extent of phenotypic flexibility within and across migrant populations, but it also aligns with theoreticians' treatment of migration and clarifies how migration impacts other phases of the life cycle. As such, it provides a unifying scale and common vacabulary for comparing the migratory strategies of divergent taxa.
Distinguishing Between Direct and Indirect Discrimination
Authors: Campbell Colin , Smith Dale
Published: August 2022

This article critiques two commonly discussed ways of understanding the distinction between direct and indirect discrimination. On the first, direct discrimination is intentional, whereas indirect discrimination is unintentional. On the second, direct discrimination applies where the discriminator (D) singles out the complainant (C) for differential treatment on the basis that C possesses a protected characteristic. By contrast, indirect discrimination applies where D acts on a provision or criterion that is neutral on its face (ie makes no reference to a protected characteristic). The article then offers an alternative understanding of the distinction, whereby direct discrimination occurs where D treats C adversely, and regards C's possession of a protected characteristic as a factor in favour of according that treatment. By contrast, indirect discrimination occurs where D instead acts in a way that disproportionately disadvantages members of a group, to which C belongs, distinguished by the members’ possession of a protected characteristic.
Theorising the impact of macroturbulence on work and HRM: COVID‐19 and the abrupt shift to enforced homeworking
Authors: Hughes Emma , Donnelly Rory
Published: August 2022

This paper is among the first to fuse Social Exchange Theory (SET) with Boundary Theory (BT) to expand the knowledge of HR scholars and practitioners on the repercussions of macroturbulence for the management and experience of work. In‐depth interviews were conducted with 102 academics from UK universities to examine the nexus between COVID‐19 and changes to work at meso and micro levels. The findings extend SET and BT by elucidating how complex internal and external social exchange relationships interact more intensely and provoke tensions with a wider array of work‐life boundaries during a profound global crisis. Based on these findings, we advance a new analytical framework which provides a deeper and more integrated theorisation of the interrelationship between macroturbulence and changing work‐life boundaries. Moreover, we identify implications for practice, which have widespread and ongoing significance given that different types of macro‐level change will continue to disrupt working lives.
High‐resolution Doppler ultrasound in systemic sclerosis: Analysis of digital arteries and nailfold microvasculature using 18‐5 MHz and 33‐9 MHz probes
Authors: Picasso Riccardo , Bica Pietro , Pistoia Federico , Zaottini Federico , Sanguinetti Sara , Bovis Francesca , Ponzano Marta , Pizzorni Carmen , Paolino Sabrina , Sulli Alberto , Gotelli Emanuele , Martinoli Carlo , Cutolo Maurizio
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Newly developed Doppler techniques enable the sampling of slow vascular flows and the extrapolation of spectral parameters in distal arterioles. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of spectral analysis performed by means of ultra‐high frequency ultrasound (US) in the evaluation of the peripheral vascular bed of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

Methods

Both hands of 33 patients affected by diffuse cutaneous SSc and 34 volunteers were evaluated with a US machine equipped with 33‐9 MHz and 18‐5 MHz transducers. Proximal resistive index and the peak systolic velocity (pRI and pPSV, respectively), were calculated at the level of the second interdigital artery. The distal resistive index (dRI) was calculated at the level of a nailfold arteriole of the third finger. All SSc patients had been previously divided into 4 subgroups according to their nailfold videocapillaroscopic (NVC) patterns following accepted criteria.

Results

SSc patients showed a significantly slower systolic velocity at the level of the second interdigital artery (pPSV [SD] = 8.38 [3] cm/s vs pPSV [SD] = 11.14 [4.5] cm/s; P = .005) and a higher dRI (dRI [SD] = 0.65 (0.14) vs dRI [SD] = 0.57 [0.11); P = .0115). No differences were found between the pRI values measured in the SSc patients and those of the controls (pRI [SD] = 0.76 [0.11] vs pRI [SD] = 0.73 [0.12]; P = .359]. The subgroup analysis did not show any significant difference when pPSV, pRI and dRI were compared among NVC morphological patterns.

Conclusion

High‐resolution Doppler analysis of digital distal arterioles may disclose subtle abnormalities in the downstream microvasculature of SSc patients that could be missed when the examination is performed at a more proximal level and/or using lower Doppler frequencies.
plantTracker: An R package to translate maps of plant occurrence into demographic data
Authors: Stears Alice E. , Adler Peter B. , Albeke Shannon E. , Atkins David H. , Studyvin Jared , Laughlin Daniel C.
Published: August 2022

Long‐term demographic data are rare yet invaluable for conservation, management, and basic research on the underlying mechanisms of population and community dynamics. Historical and contemporary mapped datasets of plant location and basal area present a relatively untapped source of demographic records that, in some cases, span over 20 years of sequential data collection. However, these maps do not uniquely mark individual plants, making the process of collecting growth, survival, and recruitment data difficult.

Recent efforts to translate historical maps of plant occurrence into shapefiles make it possible to use computer algorithms to track individuals through time and determine individual growth and survival. We summarize the plantTracker R package, which contains user‐friendly functions to extract neighbourhood density, growth, and survival data from repeatedly‐sampled maps of plant location and basal area. These functions can be used with data derived from quadrat maps, aerial photography, and remote sensing, and while designed for use with perennial plants, can be applied to any repeatedly mapped sessile organism.

This package contains two primary functions: trackSpp(), which tracks individuals through time and assigns demographic data, as well as getNeighbors(), which calculates both within and between‐species neighbourhood occupancy around each mapped individual. plantTracker also contains functions to estimate plot‐level recruitment, calculate plot‐level population growth rate, and create quadrat maps.

We tested the accuracy of the trackSpp() function on two spatial demographic datasets. The function was nearly perfect at assigning individual identities and survival status when tested on maps of tree basal area and perennial forb point locations. In both cases, the function correctly assigned survival and recruitment with 99% accuracy. These accurate and precise functions will expand the amount of data available to investigate demographic processes, which are fundamental drivers of population, community, and ecosystem processes.
Comparison of patient characteristics and long‐term mortality between transferred and non‐transferred COVID‐19 patients in Dutch intensive care units: A national cohort study
Authors: Wortel Safira A. , Bakhshi‐Raiez Ferishta , Termorshuizen Fabian , de Lange Dylan W. , Dongelmans Dave A. , de Keizer Nicolette F. ,   the Dutch COVID‐19 Research Consortium
Published: August 2022

Background

COVID‐19 patients were often transferred to other intensive care units (ICUs) to prevent that ICUs would reach their maximum capacity. However, transferring ICU patients is not free of risk. We aim to compare the characteristics and outcomes of transferred versus non‐transferred COVID‐19 ICU patients in the Netherlands.

Methods

We included adult COVID‐19 patients admitted to Dutch ICUs between March 1, 2020 and July 1, 2021. We compared the patient characteristics and outcomes of non‐transferred and transferred patients and used a Directed Acyclic Graph to identify potential confounders in the relationship between transfer and mortality. We used these confounders in a Cox regression model with left truncation at the day of transfer to analyze the effect of transfers on mortality during the 180 days after ICU admission.

Results

We included 10,209 patients: 7395 non‐transferred and 2814 (27.6%) transferred patients. In both groups, the median age was 64 years. Transferred patients were mostly ventilated at ICU admission (83.7% vs. 56.2%) and included a larger proportion of low‐risk patients (70.3% vs. 66.5% with mortality risk <30%). After adjusting for age, APACHE IV mortality probability, BMI, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive medication use, the hazard of mortality during the first 180 days was similar for transferred patients compared to non‐transferred patients (HR [95% CI] = 0.99 [0.91–1.08]).

Conclusions

Transferred COVID‐19 patients are more often mechanically ventilated and are less severely ill compared to non‐transferred patients. Furthermore, transferring critically ill COVID‐19 patients in the Netherlands is not associated with mortality during the first 180 days after ICU admission.
Nitric oxide‐soluble guanylyl cyclase pathway as a contributor to age‐related memory impairment in Drosophila
Authors: Tonoki Ayako , Nagai Saki , Yu Zhihua , Yue Tong , Lyu Sizhe , Hou Xue , Onuki Kotomi , Yabana Kaho , Takahashi Hiroki , Itoh Motoyuki
Published: August 2022

Age‐related changes in the transcriptome lead to memory impairment. Several genes have been identified to cause age‐dependent memory impairment (AMI) by changes in their expression, but genetic screens to identify genes critical for AMI have not been performed. The fruit fly is a useful model for studying AMI due to its short lifespan and the availability of consistent techniques and environments to assess its memory ability. We generated a list of candidate genes that act as AMI regulators by performing a comprehensive analysis of RNAsequencing data from young and aged fly heads and genome‐wide RNAi screening data to identify memory‐regulating genes. A candidate screen using temporal and panneuronal RNAi expression was performed to identify genes critical for AMI. We identified the guanylyl cyclase β‐subunit at 100B (gycβ) gene, which encodes a subunit of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), the only intracellular nitric oxide (NO) receptor in fruit flies, as a negative regulator of AMI. RNAi knockdown of gycβ in neurons and NO synthase (NOS) in glia or neurons enhanced the performance of intermediate‐term memory (ITM) without apparent effects on memory acquisition. We also showed that pharmacological inhibition of sGC and NOS enhanced ITM in aged individuals, suggesting the possibility that age‐related enhancement of the NO‐sGC pathway causes memory impairment.
Tobacco/nicotine use among individuals using cannabis for therapeutic purposes
Authors: Steinberg Marc L. , Rosen Rachel L. , Billingsley Benjamin , Shah Drashya , Bender Michele , Shargo Kyra , Aamir Affan , Bridgeman Mary Barna
Published: August 2022

Background and Objectives

While the relationship between recreational cannabis and nicotine use is well established, little is known about nicotine use among users of cannabis for therapeutic purposes (CTP).

Methods

Patients attending a medical marijuana dispensary (N = 697; 75.3% White; 60.0% male) completed a survey examining nicotine use, motivation to quit cigarette smoking, routes of administration of nicotine and cannabis, and CTP qualifying conditions.

Results

More than one‐third (39.3%) of participants reported current nicotine use. Compared to exclusive cigarette smokers, e‐cigarette users and non‐users of nicotine were approximately four times more likely to vape, rather than to smoke, cannabis. Furthermore, 46.8% of cigarette smokers reported plans to quit smoking in the next 6 months (but not in the next month) and an additional 31.6% planned to quit in the next month. Having a psychiatric condition was associated with nicotine use and higher motivation to quit smoking.

Discussion and Conclusions

Users of CTP are more likely to use nicotine products than the general population and the route of administration of nicotine products is related to the route of administration of CTP. If aerosolized CTP is a less harmful route of administration than smoked CTP, dispensary staff should be aware of this relationship and take this into account when recommending a noncombustible route.

Scientific Significance

This study further characterizes nicotine use behaviors and motivation to quit smoking among users of CTP and may be among the first to examine nicotine use among patients of a medical marijuana dispensary.
Impact of volute design features on hemodynamic performance and hemocompatibility of centrifugal blood pumps used in ECMO
Authors: Li Yuan , Wang Hongyu , Xi Yifeng , Sun Anqiang , Deng Xiaoyan , Chen Zengsheng , Fan Yubo
Published: August 2022

Background

The centrifugal blood pump volute has a significant impact on its hemodynamic performance hemocompatibility. Previous studies about the effect of volute design features on the performance of blood pumps are relatively few.

Methods

In the present study, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was utilized to evaluate the impact of volute design factors, including spiral start position, volute tongue radius, inlet height, size, shape and diffuser pipe angle on the hemolysis index and thrombogenic potential of the centrifugal blood pump.

Results

Correlation analysis shows that flow losses affect the hemocompatibility of the blood pump by influencing shear stress and residence time. The closer the spiral start position of the volute, the better the hydraulic performance and hemocompatibility of the blood pump. Too large or too small volute inlet heights can worsen hydraulic performance and hemolysis, and higher volute inlet height can increase the thrombogenic potential. Small volute sizes exacerbate hemolysis and large volute sizes increase the thrombogenic risk, but volute size does not affect hydraulic performance. When the diffuser pipe is tangent to the base circle of the volute, the best hydraulic performance and hemolysis performance of the blood pump is achieved, but the thrombogenic potential is increased. The trapezoid volute has poor hydraulic performance and hemocompatibility. The round volute has the best hydraulic and hemolysis performance, but the thrombogenic potential is higher than that of the rectangle volute.

Conclusion

This study found that the hemolysis index shows a significant correlation with spiral start position, volute size, and diffuser pipe angle. Thrombogenic potential exhibits a good correlation with all the studied volute design features. The flow losses affect the hemocompatibility of the blood pump by influencing shear stress and residence time. The finding of this study can be used to guide the optimization of blood pump for improving the hemodynamic performance and hemocompatibility.
Coronary microembolization sheep model by adjusting the number of microspheres based on coronary blood flow
Authors: Tanaka Shun , Nishinaka Tomohiro , Umeki Akihide , Fujii Masahiko , Imaoka Shusuke , Kobayashi Futoshi , Inatomi Ayako , Katagiri Nobumasa , Tsukiya Tomonori , Mizuno Toshihide , Ono Minoru
Published: August 2022

Background

A heart failure (HF) model using coronary microembolization in large animals is indispensable for medical research. However, the heterogeneity of myocardial response to microembolization is a limitation. We hypothesized that adjusting the number of injected microspheres according to coronary blood flow could stabilize the severity of HF. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of microsphere injection based on the left coronary artery blood flow in an animal model.

Methods

Microembolization was induced by injecting different numbers of microspheres (polystyrene, diameter: 90 μm) into the left descending coronary artery of the two groups of sheep (400 and 600 times coronary blood flow [ml/min]). Hemodynamic parameters, the pressure–volume loop of the left ventricle, and echocardiography findings were examined at 0.5, 1.5, 3.5, and 6.5 h after microembolization.

Results

End‐diastolic pressure and normalized heart rate increased over time, and were significantly higher in 600 × coronary blood flow group than those in 400 × coronary blood flow group (p = 0.04 and p < 0.01, respectively). The maximum rate of left‐ventricular pressure rise and normalized stroke volume decreased over time, and were significantly lower in 600 × coronary blood flow group than those in 400 × coronary blood flow group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). The number of microspheres per coronary blood flow was significantly correlated with the decrease in stroke volume and the maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise in 6.5 h (r = 0.74, p = 0.01 and r = 0.71, p = 0.02, respectively).

Conclusions

Adjusting the number of injected microspheres based on the coronary blood flow enabled the creation of HF models with different degrees of severity.
A High-Dimensional Mediation Model for a Neuroimaging Mediator: Integrating Clinical, Neuroimaging, and Neurocognitive Data to Mitigate Late Effects in Pediatric Cancer
Authors: Wang Jade Xiaoqing , Li Yimei , Reddick Wilburn E. , Conklin Heather M. , Glass John O. , Onar-Thomas Arzu , Gajjar Amar , Cheng Cheng , Lu Zhao-Hua
Published: August 2022

Pediatric cancer treatment, especially for brain tumors, can have profound and complicated late effects. With the survival rates increasing because of improved detection and treatment, a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of current treatments on neurocognitive function and brain structure is critically needed. A frontline medulloblastoma clinical trial (SJMB03) has collected data, including treatment, clinical, neuroimaging, and cognitive variables. Advanced methods for modeling and integrating these data are critically needed to understand the mediation pathway from the treatment through brain structure to neurocognitive outcomes. We propose an integrative Bayesian mediation analysis approach to model jointly a treatment exposure, a high-dimensional structural neuroimaging mediator, and a neurocognitive outcome and to uncover the mediation pathway. The high-dimensional imaging-related coefficients are modeled via a binary Ising–Gaussian Markov random field prior (BI-GMRF), addressing the sparsity, spatial dependency, and smoothness and increasing the power to detect brain regions with mediation effects. Numerical simulations demonstrate the estimation accuracy, power, and robustness. For the SJMB03 study, the BI-GMRF method has identified white matter microstructure that is damaged by cancer-directed treatment and impacts late neurocognitive outcomes. The results provide guidance on improving treatment planning to minimize long-term cognitive sequela for pediatric brain tumor patients.
Pain measurement in painful skin conditions and rheumatoid arthritis randomized controlled trials: a scoping review to inform pain measurement in hidradenitis suppurativa
Authors: Hasan Samar B. , Gendra Riham , James JaBreia , Morris Delyth , Orenstein Lauren A.V. , Ingram John R.
Published: August 2022

Background

Pain is the most common and bothersome symptom experienced by people with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and has been prioritized as an outcome domain by the HIdradenitis SuppuraTiva cORe outcomes set International Collaboration (HISTORIC).

Objectives

To perform a scoping review of pain measurement in randomized control trials (RCTs) of painful skin conditions (PSCs) and use of the pain numerical rating scale (NRS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) in rheumatoid arthritis RCTs, to inform the efforts of HISTORIC to reach consensus on how to measure pain intensity in HS trials.

Methods

A search was conducted on several publication databases. Inclusion criteria were RCTs with a minimum of 10 participants that measured pain intensity.

Results

Pain NRS and VAS were used in 68% of PSC trials. Respectively, 77% and 87% of PSC and rheumatoid arthritis RCTs did not specify the recall window. The commonest recall window in PSCs when specified was 24 h. In total, 33% of PSC trials assessed maximum pain intensity and 3% average pain intensity, while 87% of rheumatoid arthritis trials did not provide details. Pain data were reported as mean difference by 76% of PSC trials and 75% of rheumatoid arthritis trials. Respectively, 10% and 11% of PSC and rheumatoid arthritis studies reported pain as the percentage of patients reaching a desirable state and only 1% and 2% reported number needed to treat.

Conclusions

While pain NRS and VAS are standard methods to measure pain intensity in PSCs, key details such as the recall window are often omitted and there is no consensus on how to report pain NRS data.

What is already known about this topic?  Pain is the most burdensome symptom experienced by patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and has been prioritized as an outcome domain by the HIdradenitis SuppuraTiva cORe outcomes set International Collaboration (HISTORIC).

What does this study add?  Our review shows substantial variation in how pain numerical rating scale (NRS) and visual analogue scale are utilized in clinical trials. This variation restricts meta-analysis of pain intensity results.There is a need for consensus regarding the recall window for pain NRS and maximum vs. average pain, and whether current pain should be measured.
Clinicopathological characteristics and long‐term outcomes of plasmablastic lymphoma in British Columbia
Authors: Jessa Rehan , Chien Nicole , Villa Diego , Freeman Ciara L. , Slack Graham W. , Savage Kerry J. , Scott David W. , Sehn Laurie H. , Song Kevin W. , Gerrie Alina S.
Published: August 2022

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is an aggressive and rare subtype of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma with no standard‐of‐care therapy. We reviewed all patients diagnosed with histologically confirmed PBL in British Columbia, Canada between 1997 and 2019. Overall, 42 patients were identified, including 15 (36%) positive for HIV and nine (21%) on chronic immunosuppression. Curative‐intent treatment consisting primarily of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone was administered to 31 patients, of which 74% achieved response, however 61% relapsed after a median of 7.5 months. At a median follow‐up of eight years for the whole cohort, five‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 18% [95% confidence interval (CI): 6%, 30%] and 22% (95% CI: 8%, 36%) with median eight and 15 months respectively. There were no differences in relapse rate (p = 0.962), PFS (p = 0.228) or OS (p = 0.340) according to immune status. For those treated with curative intent, five‐year PFS and OS were 24% (95% CI: 8%, 40%) and 31% (95% CI: 13%, 49%) with median 18 and 27 months respectively. In this population‐based cohort of PBL patients spanning 20 years, survival outcomes were poor. Ultimately, further research is needed to develop more effective treatment strategies and to improve survival for patients.
Trophic allometry in a predator that carries corpses of its prey
Authors: Victor Nicole Riatto , Costa‐Pereira Raul
Published: August 2022

Ant‐snatching assassin bugs carry a 'backpack’ of ant corpses as an antipredator strategy. From photographs, we quantified the relative size and number of ants in these backpacks. We found a trade‐off between size and number of carried ants, suggesting that trophic allometry has implications beyond energy acquisition, potentially affecting camouflage.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material
Benzimidazole‐based protein kinase inhibitors: Current perspectives in targeted cancer therapy
Authors: Ali Alaa M. , Tawfik Samar S. , Mostafa Amany S. , Massoud Mohammed A. M.
Published: August 2022

Targeted therapy has emerged to be the cornerstone of advanced cancer treatment, allowing for more selectivity and avoiding the common drug toxicity and resistance. Identification of potential targets having vital role in growth and survival of cancer cells got much easier with the aid of the recent advances in high throughput screening approaches. Various protein kinases came into focus as valuable targets in cancer therapy. Meanwhile, benzimidazole‐based scaffolds have gained significant attention as promising protein kinase inhibitors with high potency and varied selectivity. Great diversity of these scaffolds has inspired the medicinal chemists to inspect the effect of structural changes upon inhibitory activity on the molecular level through modeling studies. The present review gathers all the considerable attempts to develop benzimidazole‐based compounds; designed as protein kinase inhibitors with anticancer activity since 2015; that target aurora kinase, CDK, CK2, EGFR, FGFR, and VEGFR‐2; to allow further development and progression regarding benzimidazoles.
NRAS p.Q61R/K allele load is correlated to different phenotypes of congenital melanocytic naevi
Authors: Zhao Xiong , Dai Yefeng , Zhang Lulu , Liu Yuxin , Chen Hongyu , Yue Xiaojie , Yu Lan
Published: August 2022

Background

Congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) are known to be associated with mosaic NRAS or BRAF variants. However, the exact correlations of the allele load of mosaic variants in CMN with phenotypic characteristics have not been determined.

Aim

To determine the correlation of variants allele load and different phenotypes of CMN.

Methods

A panel of genes in the Ras/Raf/MAPK signalling pathway was selected for sequencing in 110 patients with CMN. Correlations between variant allele load and clinical phenotypes, including anatomical localization, projected adult size of the lesion, satellites, subcutaneous nodules, surface rugosity, colour variation and hypertrichosis, were analysed.

Results

In addition to the predominant NRAS p.Q61R/K (61.8%) and BRAF p.V600E variants (10%) in patients, we also detected additional variants of NRAS (p.G13R and p.M72fs), BRAF (p.D22N) and MAP2K1 (p.I107fs, p.F209fs, p.Q354H and p.G91_L92insHDQARRLVGDLEHHKPSG). Furthermore, a higher allele load of NRAS p.Q61R/K was found in the trunk and limbs of CMN. It was also found in CMN with larger size, higher colour variation and more significant hypertrichosis, surface rugosity and asymmetry.

Conclusion

We discovered more genetic variants of NRAS, BRAF and MAP2K1 and established a correlation between the allele load of NRAS p.Q61R/K and various phenotypes in CMN. The findings of this study potentially facilitate a more accurate and comprehensive classification of CMN in addition to the phenotypic or pathological characteristics used in clinical practice.
Secukinumab significantly reduces inflammation but only mildly improves scaling in four cases of autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis
Authors: Subramani Dharshini , Sardana Gitika , Kothari Rohit , Gupta Aayush
Published: August 2022

Using the psoriasis regimen, administration of secukinumab 150 mg led to a significant reduction in inflammation and some reduction in scaling in four paediatric cases of autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis.
Safety and efficacy of different tirofiban administration routes on acute ischemic stroke patients with successful recanalization: A propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Guo Wenting , Xu Jiali , Ma Linqing , Ma Jin , Li Sijie , Ren Changhong , Wu Longfei , Wu Chuanjie , Li Chuanhui , Chen Jian , Duan Jiangang , Ma Qingfeng , Song Haiqing , Zhao Wenbo , Ji Xunming
Published: August 2022

Objective

This study aimed to explore the effect of different administration routes of a low dose of tirofiban on acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with successful recanalization after endovascular treatment (EVT).

Methods

This is a cohort study that retrospectively analyzed data of patients with AIS who underwent EVT and achieved successful recanalization from a prospective registry. Eligible patients were divided into three groups according to their use of tirofiban. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance baseline bias. Safety outcomes included any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and symptomatic ICH (sICH). Efficacy outcomes included arterial reocclusion, in‐hospital mortality, 3‐month mortality, and 3‐month functional outcomes.

Results

We included 821 patients with 306 in the no tirofiban group, 202 in the IA + IV tirofiban group, and 313 in the IV tirofiban group. After PSM, each group included 101 patients with balanced baseline characteristics. There was no difference between the IV tirofiban group and the no tirofiban group in terms of safety and efficacy outcomes (all p > 0.05). Compared with no tirofiban, IA + IV tirofiban group did not increase ICH (30.7% vs. 37.6%, p > 0.05) and sICH (6.9% vs. 17.8%, p > 0.05) whereas reduced 3‐month mortality (14.3% vs. 28.7%, p < 0.05) and improved 3‐month modified Rankin Scale (median 3 vs. 4, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

A low dose of tirofiban, regardless of their administration routes, was safe for AIS patients who achieved successful recanalization with EVT, whereas only IA + IV tirofiban improved clinical outcomes.
Downregulated ferroptosis‐related gene SQLE facilitates temozolomide chemoresistance, and invasion and affects immune regulation in glioblastoma
Authors: Yao Lei , Li Juanni , Zhang Xiaofang , Zhou Lei , Hu Kuan
Published: August 2022

Chemoresistance in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a common reason hindering the success of treatment. Recently, ferroptosis has been reported to be associated with chemoresistance in different types of cancer, while the role of ferroptosis‐related genes in GBM have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to demonstrate the roles and mechanism of ferroptosis‐related genes in chemoresistance and metastasis of GBM. First, two candidate genes, squalene epoxidase (SQLE) and FANCD2, were identified to be associated with ferroptosis‐related chemoresistance in GBM from three temozolomide (TMZ) therapeutic datasets and one ferroptosis‐related gene dataset. Then, comprehensive bio‐informatics data from different databases testified that SQLE was significantly downregulated both in GBM tissue and cells and displayed a better prognosis in GBM. Clinical data identified lower expression of SQLE was significantly associated with WHO grade and 1p/19q codeletion. Moreover, through in vitro experiments, SQLE was confirmed to suppress ERK‐mediated TMZ chemoresistance and metastasis of GBM cells. The KEGG analysis of SQLE‐associated co‐expressed genes indicated SQLE was potentially involved in the cell cycle. Furthermore, SQLE was found to have the most significant correlations with tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes and immunomodulators. These findings highlighted that SQLE could be a potential target and a biomarker for therapy and prognosis of patients with GBM.
A proof of concept using the Ussing chamber methodology to study pediatric intestinal drug transport and age‐dependent differences in absorption
Authors: Streekstra Eva J. , Kiss Márton , van den Heuvel Jeroen , Nicolaï Johan , van den Broek Petra , Botden Sanne M. B. I. , Stommel Martijn W. J. , van Rijssel Lara , Ungell Anna‐Lena , van de Steeg Evita , Russel Frans G. M. , de Wildt Saskia N.
Published: August 2022

Little is known about the impact of age on the processes governing human intestinal drug absorption. The Ussing chamber is a system to study drug transport across tissue barriers, but it has not been used to study drug absorption processes in children. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of the Ussing chamber methodology to assess pediatric intestinal drug absorption. Furthermore, differences between intestinal drug transport processes of children and adults were explored as well as the possible impact of age. Fresh terminal ileal leftover tissues from both children and adults were collected during surgery and prepared for Ussing chamber experiments. Paracellular (enalaprilat), transcellular (propranolol), and carrier‐mediated drug transport by MDR1 (talinolol) and BCRP (rosuvastatin) were determined with the Ussing chamber methodology. We calculated apparent permeability coefficients and efflux ratios and explored their relationship with postnatal age. The success rate for the Ussing chamber experiments, as determined by electrophysiological measurements, was similar between children (58%, N = 15, median age: 44 weeks; range 8 weeks to 17 years) and adults (67%, N = 13). Mean serosal to mucosal transport of talinolol by MDR1 and rosuvastatin by BCRP was higher in adult than in pediatric tissues (p = 0.0005 and p = 0.0091). In contrast, within our pediatric cohort, there was no clear correlation for efflux transport across different ages. In conclusion, the Ussing chamber is a suitable model to explore pediatric intestinal drug absorption and can be used to further elucidate ontogeny of individual intestinal pharmacokinetic processes like drug metabolism and transport.
Hearing about a story character's negative emotional reaction to having been dishonest causes young children to cheat less
Authors: Zhao Li , Li Yingying , Sun Wenjin , Zheng Yi , Harris Paul L.
Published: August 2022

There is extensive research on the development of cheating in early childhood but research on how to reduce it is rare. The present preregistered study examined whether telling young children about a story character's emotional reactions towards cheating could significantly reduce their tendency to cheat (N = 400; 199 boys; Age: 3–6 years). Results showed that telling older kindergarten children about the story character's negative emotional reaction towards rule violation significantly reduced cheating, but telling them about the positive emotional reaction towards rule adherence did not. These results show that children as young as age 5 are able to use information about another child's emotional reaction to guide their own moral behavior. In particular, highlighting another child's negative emotional reaction towards a moral transgression may be an effective way to reduce cheating in early childhood. This finding, along with earlier cheating reduction findings, suggests that although cheating is common in early childhood, simple methods can reduce its occurrence.
Teaching binary logistic regression modeling in an introductory business analytics course
Authors: Hoang Viet‐Ngu , Watson Justin
Published: August 2022

There is an increasing demand to introduce Introductory Business Analytics (IBA) courses into undergraduate business education. Many real‐world business contexts require predictive analytics to understand the determinants of a dichotomous outcome; hence, IBA courses should include binary logistic regression analysis. This article provides our reflective discussions on the design of learning activities and assessments to assist business students in learning binary logistic regression in an IBA course. Data on student engagement and learning outcomes are used to shed light on the impacts of teaching logistic regression on student learning and experience. Notably, students opt to focus their assessment work more on logistic regression than on multiple regression analysis, showing the potential attraction of students toward binary logistic regression analysis. We also observed several challenges, mainly related to the use of Excel, that require special attention from instructors.
The settlers’ fortunes: Comparing tax censuses in the Cape Colony and early American republic
Authors: Fourie Johan , Garmon Frank
Published: August 2022

Europeans at the end of the eighteenth century had settled across the globe, from North and South America to Australia to the southern tip of Africa. While theories of institutional persistence explain the ‘reversal of fortunes’ between settled and unsettled regions, few studies consider the large differences in early living standards between settler societies. This paper uses newly transcribed household‐level tax censuses from the Dutch and British Cape Colony and the United States shortly after independence to show comparative levels of income and wealth over four decades both between the two regions and within them. Cape farmers were, on average, more affluent than their American counterparts. While crop output and livestock were more unequally distributed at the Cape, ownership of enslaved people in America was more unequal. There was little indication of an imminent reversal of fortunes.