bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of manufacturing firms’ Research and Development investments: evidence from Kenya
Authors: Shibia Adan Guyo
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study investigates effects of firm-level, sector-level and business environment factors on manufacturing firms’ Research and Development (R&D) investment decisions in Kenya.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel Probit regression model is employed to analyse effects of the explanatory variables on manufacturing firms R&D investment decisions.

Findings

Access to external finance, lower informal sector competition, exports market participation, larger firm size and firms in high technology subsectors increase probabilities of undertaking R&D investment decisions.

Research limitations/implications

The findings underscore the need to consider institutional framework, aimed at easing business environment constraints related to access to finance, export promotion and competition from informal sector enterprises. Future research should consider cross-country analysis within the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) region to understand implications of institutional contexts that prove to be a challenge to address in a study based within a single country.

Practical implications

Policymakers need to consider addressing business environment constraints that impede R&D investments by private sector enterprises in developing countries. Formal private sector firms should design R&D investment strategies and lobby for policy interventions targeted at business environment constraints.

Originality/value

This study considers effects of variables underexplored in existing literature, notably competition from informal sector firms, R&D-intensity technological classification and an objective measure of access to finance. The study also utilises a panel survey data, which was underexplored in prior studies within SSA economies.
Influences of creativity and resource availability in the intelligent career framework: empirical investigation of Nigerian entrepreneurs
Authors: Salisu Isyaku , Abdullah Aminullah Abdurrasheed , Mashi Munir Shehu , Alam Md. Mahmudul , Hashim Norashidah
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of creativity and resource availability on career competencies (CC) and career success (CS) of entrepreneurs in Nigeria using the intelligent career framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was obtained using answers to questionnaires given to 348 successful entrepreneurs. The data was analysed using non-parametric software (Smart-PLS).

Findings

The results indicate that entrepreneurs who possess “know-why”, “know-how” and “know-whom” can access the required resources and are doing well in their careers. It is suggested that these competencies were significantly related to entrepreneurial CS. Resource availability moderates the relationship of knowing-how, knowing-why competencies and CS, whilst creativity moderates only the link between knowing-whom and entrepreneurial CS.

Research limitations/implications

The results help us to comprehend better the nature of successful entrepreneurial careers and the prominent role of tripartite competencies in achieving a successful career. Also emphasised here is the prominence of a more holistic perspective of these components based on a mix of social, motivational and human capital.

Practical implications

These findings hinted that entrepreneurs should pay uniform consideration in fostering each CC. There are implications for career advisers, practitioners and entrepreneurship programmes.

Originality/value

To the authors’ best knowledge, this is first-of-its-kind research that used primary source data in understanding CC – “knowing-how, knowing-whom and knowing-why” – with entrepreneurs’ CS in Nigeria.
Who to show the ad to? Behavioral targeting in Internet advertising
Authors: Xiong Wei , Xiong Ziyi , Tian Tina
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The performance of behavioral targeting (BT) mainly relies on the effectiveness of user classification since advertisers always want to target their advertisements to the most relevant users. In this paper, the authors frame the BT as a user classification problem and describe a machine learning–based approach for solving it.

Design/methodology/approach

To perform such a study, two major research questions are investigated: the first question is how to represent a user’s online behavior. A good representation strategy should be able to effectively classify users based on their online activities. The second question is how different representation strategies affect the targeting performance. The authors propose three user behavior representation methods and compare them empirically using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) as a performance measure.

Findings

The experimental results indicate that ad campaign effectiveness can be significantly improved by combining user search queries, clicked URLs and clicked ads as a user profile. In addition, the authors also explore the temporal aspect of user behavior history by investigating the effect of history length on targeting performance. The authors note that an improvement of approximately 6.5% in AUC is achieved when user history is extended from 1 day to 14 days, which is substantial in targeting performance.

Originality/value

This paper confirms the effectiveness of BT on user classification and provides a validation of BT for Internet advertising.
The role of public relations in shaping service ecosystems for social change
Authors: Fehrer Julia A. , Baker Jonathan J. , Carroll Craig E.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Wicked problems require holistic and systemic thinking that accommodates interdisciplinary solutions and cross-sectoral collaborations between private and public sectors. This paper explores how public relations (PR) – as a boundary-spanning function at the nexus of corporate and political discourse – can support societies to tackle wicked problems.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper synthesizes literature on PR with a service ecosystem perspective. The authors use the service ecosystem design framework to structure the PR literature and develop a model of service ecosystem shaping for social change, which highlights the important role that PR can play in shaping processes.

Findings

The authors explicate how PR can (1) facilitate value cocreation processes between broad sets of stakeholders that drive positive social change, (2) shape institutional arrangements in general and public discourse in particular, (3) provide a platform for recursive feedback loops of reflexivity and (re)formation that enables discourse to ripple through nested service ecosystems and (4) guide collective shaping efforts by bringing stakeholder concerns and beliefs into the open, which provides a foundation for collective sense-making of wicked problems and their solutions.

Originality/value

This paper explains the complexity of shaping service ecosystems for positive social change. Specifically, it highlights how solving wicked problems and driving social change requires reconfiguration of the institutional arrangements that guide various nested service ecosystems. The authors discuss in detail how PR can contribute to the shaping of service ecosystems for social change and present a future research agenda for both service and PR scholars to consider.
Analysis of the critical success factors of mobile animation games based on a consistent fuzzy preference relationship
Authors: Zhang Rong , Chang Yu-Teng
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to explore the critical success factors of mobile animation games, by exploring the game itself, information systems, game motivation and promotional activities, as well as conducting research and analysis on mobile animation game players.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used the Analysis Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and the consistent fuzzy preference relationship for data analysis. In this study, collect 1,286 valid questionnaires through online questionnaire surveys. And comparing the two games “Legend Showdown” and “Tower of Gods and Demons”, players believe that the more successful mobile animation game is “Legend Showdown”.

Findings

Through experimental design, and the consistent fuzzy preference relationship for data analysis. The results found that the critical factors considered by the player in relation to the mobile animation game were firstly the information system, followed by promotional activities, game motivation and finally the game itself.

Research limitations/implications

Because this research does not involve the concept of fuzzy theory at all, it is easy to produce subjective, uncertain and ambiguity issues when comparing pairwise. We recommended that follow-up researchers can use fuzzy semantic preference relations to solve this problem.

Originality/value

This study proposed a new approach that takes the critical factors for the mobile animation game. According to the research results, the critical success factor of mobile animation games is the information system, as it could provide a reference direction for game manufacturers when designing or formulating marketing strategies in the future.
On the influence of mismatch-induced stresses on the I–V characteristics of p–n junctions manufactured in a heterostructure
Authors: Pankratov Evgeny L.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

In this paper, we consider p–n-junctions, manufactured by diffusion or ion implantation in a heterostructures. We analyzed influence of existing in heterostructure mismatch induced stresses on the current-voltage characteristics of the p–n-junctions. We also introduce an analytical approach for analysis of mass and heat transfer in heterostructures with account changes of their parameters on time, as well as their nonlinearity and mismatch induced stresses. In this paper we introduce an analytical approach for prognosis of the considered processes.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, we consider p–n-junctions, manufactured by diffusion or ion implantation in a heterostructures. We analyzed influence of existing in heterostructure missmatch induced stresses on the current-voltage characteristics of the p–n-junctions. We also introduce an analytical approach for analysis of mass and heat transfer in heterostructures with account changes of their parameters on time, as well as their nonlinearity and missmatch induced stresses. In this paper we introduce an analytical approach for prognosis of the considered processes.

Findings

In this paper, we consider p–n-junctions, manufactured by diffusion or ion implantation in a heterostructures. We analyzed influence of existing in heterostructure missmatch induced stresses on the current-voltage characteristics of the p–n-junctions. We also introduce an analytical approach for analysis of mass and heat transfer in heterostructures with account changes of their parameters on time, as well as their nonlinearity and missmatch induced stresses. In this paper we introduce an analytical approach for prognosis of the considered processes.

Originality/value

This paper is original.
A study of the capabilities and limitations of local governments in providing community services in Nepal
Authors: Acharya Keshav K. , Scott John
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Corruption and dishonesty in the political and bureaucratic realms have impeded the ability of local governments to provide services and social justice in Nepali society. In light of this, the purpose of this research is to answer the key research question: what are the possibilities and limitations of local government in implementing constitutionally guaranteed rights in order to transform local communities?

Design/methodology/approach

This study gathered qualitative data from 14 local governments in seven provinces. A total of 56 in-depth interviews were held with elected representatives, political parties, and government officials at both the national and local levels. Both open-ended and open-structured questionnaires were employed for the interviews.

Findings

The results indicate that capacity is a major constraint for local governments, which should be addressed to achieve successful local governance, inclusive citizen engagement, and strong technical, administrative and fiscal capabilities. Lack of local autonomy, political conflict and social class differences, external engagement, and conservative hierarchic government bureaucracy are major hurdles to growing capacity.

Originality/value

This paper analyses the capacity of newly restructured local governments through qualitative approach. It attempts to understand to what extent the Nepali local governments are capable in delivering the services at the local level as closest unit of the citizens.
Negotiating interdisciplinary practice under the COVID-19 crisis: opportunities and challenges for tourism research
Authors: Liu Xinyi , Wen Jun , Kozak Metin , Jiang Yangyang , Li Zhiyong
Published: March 2022

Purpose

COVID-19 is currently the most serious crisis facing the world, and scholars in the medical and social sciences are working to save lives and mitigate the societal effects of the pandemic. This global public health emergency requires interdisciplinary work to provide comprehensive insight into a rapidly changing situation. However, attempts to integrate the medical and social sciences have met several barriers. This paper aims to identify feasible research opportunities for interdisciplinary studies across tourism and public health regarding COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a critical review of the literature and generates corresponding conceptual and theoretical frameworks to provide an in-depth discussion.

Findings

Tourism-related issues of destination management policies and capital are addressed from an interdisciplinary perspective. The conclusions encourage interdisciplinary research into global health problems, which will promote tourism’s renaissance and sustainable development while enhancing social welfare.

Practical implications

This study focuses on integrating tourism and public health to offer stakeholders recommendations regarding destination management and tourism industry recovery amid COVID-19.

Originality/value

This paper represents a frontier study, critically uncovering a host of innovative interdisciplinary research directions and tourism-focused collaboration opportunities related to COVID-19.
Angiogenic factors for planning fetal surveillance in fetal growth restriction and small‐for‐gestational‐age fetuses: A prospective observational study
Authors: Bonacina Erika , Mendoza Manel , Farràs Alba , Garcia‐Manau Pablo , Serrano Berta , Hurtado Ivan , Ferrer‐Oliveras Raquel , Illan Lidia , Armengol‐Alsina Mireia , Carreras Elena
Published: March 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the added value of the soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio for adjusting the periodicity of ultrasound examinations in early‐onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) and small for gestational age (SGA).

Design

A prospective, observational study.

Setting

Tertiary referral hospital.

Population

One hundred and thirty‐four single pregnancies with ultrasonographic estimated fetal weight (EFW) below the 10th centile between 20+0 and 31+6 weeks of gestation with antegrade umbilical artery flow.

Methods

The time from Doppler and sFlt‐1/PlGF assessment to delivery was recorded and classified into four ranges: <1, <2, <3 and <4 weeks.

Main outcome measures

Sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of sFlt‐1/PlGF values to predict the time to delivery.

Results

In the SGA cohort, the NPV calculated for an sFlt‐1/PlGF cut‐off value of 38 was 100% for delivery before 3 weeks, and 98% for delivery before 4 weeks after diagnosis (95% CI 0.89–1.00). In the FGR cohort, the NPV calculated for an sFlt‐1/PlGF cut‐off value of 38 was 100% for delivery before 2 weeks after diagnosis (95% CI 0.92–1.00). By contrast, more than 50% of cases with an sFlt‐1/PlGF value of >85 required an elective delivery before 1 week.

Conclusions

sFlt‐1/PlGF values in early‐onset SGA and FGR are predictive of the time to delivery and could be used for planning fetal surveillance, by reducing the frequency of ultrasound in cases with sFlt‐1/PlGF < 38 and by providing closer follow‐up in cases with sFlt‐1/PlGF >85.

Tweetable abstract

sFlt‐1/PlGF values in early‐onset SGA/FGR could be used in addition to Doppler for planning fetal surveillance.
The study on artificial intelligence (AI) colonoscopy in affecting the rate of polyp detection in colonoscopy: A single centre retrospective study
Authors: Wong Yuen Ting , Tai Tze Fung , Wong Ka Fai , Leung Siu Kee , Lam Shuk Man , Wong Shun Yi , Lo Yik Yu , Yan Kit Man , Tam Shuk Kwan , Wong Man Fan , Chan Hing Lung
Published: March 2022

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate if the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Colonoscopy CLN (ENDO‐AID) could increase the polyp detection rate (PDR).

Methods and Materials

A single center retrospective study was performed in Tin Shui Wai Hospital. PDR in CLN from 11/2020 to 03/2021 after the application of ENDO‐AID (AI group) was compared to the cases from 12/2019 to 11/2020 before the application of the practice (non‐AI group). Procedures were performed by a single endoscopist with experience in performing > 3,000 CLN. Variables, such as patients' demographic data, indications, incidence of PDR, Boston Bowel Preparation Scale BBPS, withdrawal time, post CLN complication rate between the 2 groups, were compared. Categorical and continuous variables were analyzed by using the Chi‐Square test (Fisher exact test if appropriate) and Mann‐Whitney test respectively. Results were considered to be significant if p‐value < 0.05.

Results

Total 234 patients were recruited. 115 patients (49.1%) were in the non‐AI group while 119 patients (50.9%) were in the AI group. The mean age of the non‐AI was higher than the AI group (65.3 vs 59.2, p< 0.001*), otherwise, there was no significant difference in sex (p = 0.05), percentage of smokers (20.8% vs 27.7%, p = 0.22), past medical history of IBD (0 vs 0, p = 1.0), family history of colorectal cancer (9 vs 9, p = 0.94), indications for CLN (e.g. follow up CLN for polyp/ cancer, per‐rectal bleeding, altered bowel habit etc. p > 0.05), BBPS (7.88 vs 8.04, p = 0.217), withdrawal time (7.65 min vs 7.48 min, p = 0.935), completion rate (95.6% vs 98.3%, p = 0.27) and complication rate (0% in both groups,p=1.0) between groups. In the contrary, PDR was significantly higher in the AI group than the non‐AI group (64.7% vs 46.0%, p = 0.003*). Besides, adenoma detection rate was also found significantly higher in the AI group than the non‐AI group (52.9% vs 37.4%, p = 0.017*).

Conclusions

AI CLN can improve the PDR.
Induction chemotherapy followed by radical chemoradiotherapy for patients with stage IV non‐metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: 11‐Year Experience in a tertiary centre
Authors: Choi Wesley Yuen Lum , Lai Jessica Wing Yu , Yu Ellen Lok Man , Choy Yiu Hei , Lam Ying Na , Wong Raymond Ka Yan , Cheng Ashley Chi Kin
Published: March 2022

Introduction

T4 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with close proximity to critical organs at risk (OARs) is usually underdosed during radiotherapy in order to respect radiation constraints. N3 disease has high risk of distant metastasis. Induction chemotherapy (IC) provides advantages of sparing of OARs during subsequent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and early eradication of micrometastasis. However, factors predicting successes of IC in this patient group are not well‐studied.

Methods

104 T4 or N3 NPC patients were retrospectively reviewed during 2007–2018. They were planned for IC followed by CCRT using intensity‐modulated radiotherapy.

Results

In the whole group, five‐year failure‐free survival (FFS), locoregional failure‐free survival (LRFS), distant failure‐free survival (DFFS) and overall survival (OS) were 40.9%, 45.7%, 46.9% and 53.6% respectively. Isolated marginal failure rate was 5% (4/80) among patients with primary tumours located close to critical OARs. Pre‐IC gross tumour volume primary (GTVp) total volume > 110 cm3 correlated with worse five‐year LRFS (OR 6.37, P = 0.008), DFFS (OR 8.89, P = 0.003) and OS (OR 50.12, P < 0.001). In the T4 subgroup, IC improved D100% GTVp from 61.39 Gy to 64.71 Gy (P < 0.001) and V100% GTVp from 98.78% to 99.28% (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated improved dosimetric parameters and low isolated marginal failure rate. It supported the use of IC and CCRT for tumours located close to critical OARs. Further research is warranted to compare predictive roles of pre‐ and post‐IC tumour volumes. For high‐risk patients being defined by pre‐IC volume or other prognostic models, treatment escalation should be considered.
Epidermolysis Bullosa: A case study in Cyprus and the nursing care plan
Authors: Asimakopoulou Evanthia , Andreou Aspasia , Patelarou Athina , Patelarou Evridiki , Sopjani Idriz , Argyriadis Alexandros
Published: March 2022

Purpose

To present a case study with Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) in Cyprus and to determine the nursing care plan, explaining the nursing interventions and showing the importance of nursing care of patients with EB.

Methods

Literature review on EB and semi‐structured interviews commenced through a direct discussion with open‐ended questions to the research subject as well as to a close relative describing his feelings, experiences, and concerns about the disease.

Findings

Thematic analysis approach was used to identify and analyze patterns in the data. Then, data were synthesized using the standardized nursing terminology of NANDA‐I and the Nursing Interventions Classification. The accuracy of the diagnoses and the appropriateness of the nursing interventions were supported by the positive health outcomes of the patient.

Conclusions

Nurses should apply evidence‐based practice interventions for EB wound care, pain management, nutrition, psychological and social support to these patients.

Implications for nursing practice

Although EB is classified in the category of rare diseases, the presentation of a case study in Cyprus and the nursing care plan contribute further bibliographically to the holistic and at the same time individualized nursing practice.
Dummy and effects coding variables in discrete choice analysis
Authors: Hu Wuyang , Sun Shan , Penn Jerrod , Qing Ping
Published: March 2022

Discrete choice models typically incorporate product/service attributes, many of which are categorical. Researchers code these attributes in one of two ways: dummy coding and effects coding. Whereas previous studies favor effects coding citing that it resolves confounding between attributes, our analysis demonstrates that such confounding does not exist in either method, even when a choice model contains alternative specific constants. Furthermore, we show that because of the lack of understanding of the equivalence between the two coding methods, a sizeable number of previously published articles have misinterpreted effects coded results. The misinterpretation generates conflicting preference ordering and renders t‐statistics, marginal willingness to pay, as well as consumer surplus/compensating variation estimates invalid. We show that severe misinterpretation occurs for any categorical attribute that contains more than two discrete levels. The frequency of two‐level attributes used in discrete choice analyses may have led some past studies to overlook this error. Given its equivalence and lower likelihood of misinterpretation, we recommend dummy coding.
Five‐year audit of adherence to an anaesthesia pre‐induction checklist
Authors: Fuchs A. , Frick S. , Huber M. , Riva T. , Theiler L. , Kleine‐Brueggeney M. , Pedersen T. H. , Berger‐Estilita J. , Greif R.
Published: March 2022

Although patient safety related to airway management has improved substantially over the last few decades, life‐threatening events still occur. Technical skills, clinical expertise and human factors contribute to successful airway management. Checklists aim to improve safety by providing a structured approach to equipment, personnel and decision‐making. This audit investigates adherence to our institution's airway checklist from 1 June 2016 to 31 May 2021. Inclusion criteria were procedures requiring airway management and we excluded all procedures performed solely under regional anaesthesia, sedation without airway management or paediatric and cardiovascular surgery. The primary outcome was the proportion of wholly performed pre‐induction checklists. Secondary outcomes were the pattern of adherence over the 5 years well as details of airway management, including: airway management difficulties; time and location of induction; anaesthesia teams in operating theatres (including teams for different surgical specialities); non‐operating theatre and emergency procedures; type of anaesthesia (general or combined); and urgency of the procedure. In total, 95,946 procedures were included. In 57.3%, anaesthesia pre‐induction checklists were completed. Over the 5 years after implementation, adherence improved from 48.3% to 66.7% (p < 0.001). Anticipated and unanticipated airway management difficulties (e.g. facemask ventilation, supraglottic airway device or intubation) defined by the handling anaesthetist were encountered in 4.2% of all procedures. Completion of the checklist differed depending on the time of day (61.3% during the day vs. 35.0% during the night, p < 0.001). Completion also differed depending on location (66.8% in operating theatres vs. 41.0% for non‐operating theatre anaesthesia, p < 0.001) and urgency of procedure (65.4% in non‐emergencies vs. 35.4% in emergencies, p < 0.001). A mixed‐effect model indicated that urgency of procedure is a strong predictor for adherence, with emergency cases having lower adherence (OR 0.58, 95%CI 0.49–0.68, p < 0.001). In conclusion, over 5 years, a significant increase in adherence to an anaesthesia pre‐induction checklist was found, and areas for further improvement (e.g. emergencies, non‐operating room procedures, night‐time procedures) were identified.
Practical extended use of antimicrobial silver (PExUS)
Authors: May Andrew , Kopecki Zlatko , Carney Bernard , Cowin Allison
Published: March 2022

Background

Antimicrobial silver has had a role in wound antisepsis throughout history and, with the rise in acquired antibiotic resistance, silver dressings are once again commonly used. Issues with silver dressings include the important environmental consideration of nanoparticle manufacture, and the significant financial cost of these products. One solution to these problems may be to adopt an opened‐but‐unused model of wound care whereby dressing materials are used in piecemeal fashion and excess stored in between dressing changes. Due to a lack of literature on the topic, this project was designed with the aim of testing the antimicrobial efficacy of available silver dressings during storage after opening.

Methods

Four commonly used silver dressings were tested for antimicrobial activity using a zone of inhibition assay against clinically important pathogens. The assay was performed on opening of dressings and repeated over 3 months in storage at 4, 25 or 37°C. Analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA. Swab cultures were taken at each simulated dressing change to detect microbial contamination of the dressings during storage.

Results

There was no effect of time or storage temperature on the zone of inhibition over the 12 week test period. No swabs taken returned culture consistent with microbial contamination of stored dressings.

Conclusion

Opened silver dressings maintain antimicrobial activity for at least 12 weeks in storage and are resistant to contamination. An opened‐but‐unused model for wound care is likely to improve cost‐effectiveness while preserving effectiveness and safety.
Content development of the Child Community Health Inclusion Index: An evaluation tool for measuring inclusion of children with disabilities in the community
Authors: Yoo Paul Yejong , Majnemer Annette , Bolduc Laury‐Anne , Chen Karen , Lamb Erin , Panjwani Tanisha , Wilton Robert , Ahmed Sara , Shikako Keiko
Published: March 2022

Background

Addressing barriers in the environment can contribute to health and quality of life for children with disabilities and their families. The Community Health Inclusion Index (CHII) is a measurement tool developed in the United States to identify environmental barriers and facilitators to community health inclusion. The CHII adopts an adult viewpoint and aspects crucial for children may have been omitted.

Aims

This study aimed to develop a comprehensive list of items that are relevant for the community inclusion of children with disabilities in the Canadian context.

Methods

The relevance and priority of items generated from a review of existing guidelines and best practice recommendations for community inclusion were rated as a dichotomous response and discussed by an expert panel in relevant fields related to children with disabilities.

Results

A total of 189 items from 12 instruments and best practice guidelines were identified. Expert consensus contributed to a relevant and comprehensive list of items. Expert suggestions were considered to refine and reduce the item list.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of a child version of a community inclusion tool, as the needs of children with disabilities differ from those of adults. It can help communities improve inclusion of children with disabilities and inform health promotion initiatives for this population.
Image Representation on Curved Optimal Triangulation
Authors: Xiao Yanyang , Cao Juan , Chen Zhonggui
Published: March 2022

Image triangulation aims to generate an optimal partition with triangular elements to represent the given image. One bottleneck in ensuring approximation quality between the original image and a piecewise approximation over the triangulation is the inaccurate alignment of straight edges to the curved features. In this paper, we propose a novel variational method called curved optimal triangulation, where not all edges are straight segments, but may also be quadratic Bézier curves. The energy function is defined as the total approximation error determined by vertex locations, connectivity and bending of edges. The gradient formulas of this function are derived explicitly in closed form to optimize the energy function efficiently. We test our method on several models to demonstrate its efficacy and ability in preserving features. We also explore its applications in the automatic generation of stylization and Lowpoly images. With the same number of vertices, our curved optimal triangulation method generates more accurate and visually pleasing results compared with previous methods that only use straight segments.
Predicting plant species distributions using climate‐based model ensembles with corresponding measures of congruence and uncertainty
Authors: Stewart Stephen B. , Fedrigo Melissa , Kasel Sabine , Roxburgh Stephen H. , Choden Kunzang , Tenzin Karma , Allen Kathryn , Nitschke Craig R.
Published: March 2022

Aim

The increasing availability of regional and global climate data presents an opportunity to build better ecological models; however, it is not always clear which climate dataset is most appropriate. The aim of this study was to better understand the impacts that alternative climate datasets have on the modelled distribution of plant species, and to develop systematic approaches to enhancing their use in species distribution models (SDMs).

Location

Victoria, southeast Australia and the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan.

Methods

We compared the statistical performance of SDMs for 38 plant species in Victoria and 12 plant species in Bhutan with multiple algorithms using globally and regionally calibrated climate datasets. Individual models were compared against one another and as SDM ensembles to explore the potential for alternative predictions to improve statistical performance. We develop two new spatially continuous metrics that support the interpretation of ensemble predictions by characterizing the per‐pixel congruence and variability of contributing models.

Results

There was no clear consensus on which climate dataset performed best across all species in either study region. On average, multi‐model ensembles (across the same species with different climate data) increased AUC/TSS/Kappa/OA by up to 0.02/0.03/0.03/0.02 in Victoria and 0.06/0.11/0.11/0.05 in Bhutan. Ensembles performed better than most single models in both Victoria (AUC = 85%; TSS = 68%) and Bhutan (AUC = 86%; TSS = 69%). SDM ensembles using models fitted with alternative algorithms and/or climate datasets each provided a significant improvement over single model runs.

Main conclusions

Our results demonstrate that SDM ensembles, built using alternative models of the same climate variables, can quantify model congruence and identify regions of the highest uncertainty while mitigating the risk of erroneous predictions. Algorithm selection is known to be a large source of error for SDMs, and our results demonstrate that climate dataset selection can be a comparably significant source of uncertainty.
Hemostasis using purse‐string reefing with endoscopic clip and endoloop for a huge hematoma after cold snare polypectomy
Authors: Negishi Ryoju , Muramoto Takashi , Ohata Ken
Published: March 2022

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Major bleeding in patients with pulmonary embolism presenting with syncope
Authors: Maestre Ana , Escribano José Carlos , Lobo José Luis , Jara‐Palomares Luis , Jiménez David , Bikdeli Behnood , Armestar Fernando , Bura‐Riviere Alessandra , Lorenzo Alicia , Monreal Manuel ,   the RIETE Investigators
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Syncope has been shown to be a risk factor of bleeding in patients receiving thrombolytic therapy for acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Whether syncope predicts bleeding in a broader population of patients with PE remains unknown.

Methods

We used the RIETE registry data to assess whether initial presentation with syncope could predict bleeding in PE patients receiving anticoagulant therapy, and to explore the association between presence of syncope and timing and site of major bleeding events.

Results

Among 45,765 patients with acute PE from March 2001 to January 2021, 6760 (14.8%) had syncope. Patients with syncope were older and more likely to have hypotension, tachycardia, hypoxaemia or elevated troponin levels than those without syncope. They also were more likely to receive thrombolytics. During the first 90 days, 1097 patients (2.4%) suffered major bleeding (gastrointestinal 335, hematoma 271 and intracranial 163) and 3611 died (158 had fatal bleeding). Patients with syncope had a higher rate of major bleeding (odds ratio [OR]: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.41–1.89) and a nonsignificantly higher rate of fatal bleeding (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 0.99–2.17) than those without syncope. Multivariable analysis confirmed that patients with syncope were at increased risk for major bleeding (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.15–1.55). On sensitivity analysis, the increased risk for major bleeding was confirmed in patients initially receiving anticoagulant therapy without thrombolytics at 7 days (aHR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.13–1.91) and 90 days (aHR: 1.33; 95%CI: 1.13–1.56).

Discussion

Syncope is a predictor of major bleeding events in patients with PE, even among those receiving anticoagulation monotherapy.
Symptoms resulting from the feeding of true bugs on growing hazelnuts
Authors: Hamidi Rachid , Calvy Mélina , Valentie Emma , Driss Laetitia , Guignet Jonas , Thomas Maud , Tavella Luciana
Published: March 2022

Palomena prasina (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and Gonocerus acuteangulatus (Goeze) (Hemiptera: Coreidae) are new pests in French hazel orchards (Corylus avellana L., Corylaceae). Knowing the symptoms in growing hazelnuts resulting from pests feeding on them is important for risk assessment and risk management. Insects were isolated in net sleeves on hazelnuts of the Pauetet cultivar at various phenological stages for 1 week, and symptoms resulting from the insects’ feeding were observed at harvest. From pre‐shell expansion to kernel expansion and from kernel expansion to kernel maturation, feeding mainly results in blank nuts and necrotic spots, respectively. The feeding of adult insects, as well as third‐ and fourth‐instars, resulted in blank nuts. When adults and fifth‐instars fed on the kernel, necrotic spots resulted. The stylet penetration potential of adult insects and late‐instars is higher, allowing them to reach the kernel and cause abortion or necrotic spotting. Blank nuts are the main damage observed, and their intensity is highly related to changes in both hazelnut and bug phenology. Therefore, symptoms should be discussed in light of the cultivar and bug occurrence in the field. This study contributes to the development of decision tools for integrated pest management of true bug pests that feed on hazelnuts.
Competition for water and species coexistence in phenologically structured annual plant communities
Authors: Levine Jacob I. , Levine Jonathan M. , Gibbs Theo , Pacala Stephen W.
Published: March 2022

Both competition for water and phenological variation are important determinants of plant community structure, but ecologists lack a synthetic theory for how they affect coexistence outcomes. We developed an analytically tractable model of water competition for Mediterranean annual communities and demonstrated that variation in phenology alone can maintain high diversity in spatially homogenous assemblages of water‐limited plants. We modelled a system where all water arrives early in the season and species vary in their ability to grow under drying conditions. As a consequence, species differ in growing season length and compete by shortening the growing season of their competitors. This model replicates and offers mechanistic explanations for patterns observed in empirical studies of how phenology influences coexistence among Mediterranean annuals. Additionally, we found that a decreasing, concave‐up trade‐off between growth rate and access to water can maintain high diversity under simple but realistic assumptions. High diversity is possible because: (1) later plants escape competition after their earlier season competitors have gone to seed and (2) early‐season species are more than compensated for their shortened growing season by a growth rate advantage. Together, these mechanisms provide an explanation for how phenologically variable annual plant species might coexist when competing only for water.
Elucidating historical fisheries’ networks in the Iberian Peninsula using stable isotopes
Authors: Llorente‐Rodríguez Laura , Craig Oliver E. , Colonese André Carlo , von Tersch Matthew , Roselló‐Izquierdo Eufrasia , González Gómez de Agüero Eduardo , Fernández‐Rodríguez Carlos , Quirós‐Castillo Juan Antonio , López‐Arias Begoña , Marlasca‐Martín Ricard , Nottingham James , Morales Muñiz Arturo
Published: March 2022

Processed fish is known to have been systematically traded in Europe since the Early Middle Ages to meet increasing demand of incipient markets and religious precepts, yet specific details regarding the supply of different fish in Southern Europe is often missing. Here, we address this gap through an integrated approach involving bone metrics and stable isotopic analysis of archaeological European hake (Merluccius merluccius, Merluccidae) from the Iberian Peninsula. The results offer new insights regarding historical fisheries production systems, including the regions exploited and commercial routes, whilst also revealing biological differences between archaeological and present‐day hake populations in the North‐east Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. This research highlights the fruitful result of combining ichthyoarchaeological and historical data for tracking down the origin and development of historical fisheries in south‐western Europe and their bearing on modern fisheries.
Histone deacetylase 7: a signalling hub controlling development, inflammation, metabolism and disease
Authors: Wang Yizhuo , Abrol Rishika , Mak Jeffrey Y. W. , Das Gupta Kaustav , Ramnath Divya , Karunakaran Denuja , Fairlie David P. , Sweet Matthew J.
Published: March 2022

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) catalyse removal of acetyl groups from lysine residues on both histone and non‐histone proteins to control numerous cellular processes. Of the 11 zinc‐dependent classical HDACs, HDAC4, 5, 7 and 9 are class IIa HDAC enzymes that regulate cellular and developmental processes through both enzymatic and non‐enzymatic mechanisms. Over the last two decades, HDAC7 has been associated with key roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Molecular, cellular, in vivo and disease association studies have revealed that HDAC7 acts through multiple mechanisms to control biological processes in immune cells, osteoclasts, muscle, the endothelium and epithelium. This HDAC protein regulates gene expression, cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cell survival and consequently controls development, angiogenesis, immune functions, inflammation and metabolism. This review focuses on the cell biology of HDAC7, including the regulation of its cellular localisation and molecular mechanisms of action, as well as its associative and causal links with cancer and inflammatory, metabolic and fibrotic diseases. We also review the development status of small molecule inhibitors targeting HDAC7 and their potential for intervention in different disease contexts.
Skin permeability, a dismissed necessity for anti‐wrinkle peptide performance
Authors: Mortazavi Seyedeh Maryam , Moghimi Hamid Reza
Published: March 2022

Background

The skin offers various benefits and potential for peptide delivery if its barrier performance can be reduced temporarily and reversibly. As peptides possess high molecular weight, hydrophilic nature (in most cases), and ionizable groups in the structure, their skin delivery is highly challenging. Apart from this, they are susceptible to the proteolytic enzymes in the skin. Anti‐wrinkle peptides, like other peptides, suffer from insufficient skin permeability, while most of them must penetrate deep in the skin to present their efficacy. Although the cellular studies indicate the effectiveness of such peptides, without the ability to permeate the skin sufficiently, this efficacy is useless. Poor skin permeability of anti‐wrinkle peptides has led to ongoing research for finding feasible and noninvasive enhancement methods that would be desirable for consumers of cosmetic products.

Method

In this paper, the possibility of skin permeation of anti‐wrinkle peptides as well as the chemical, physical, and encapsulation approaches that have been employed to date to increase permeability of these difficult molecules are thoroughly reviewed.

Results

Most anti‐wrinkle peptides are not appropriate candidates for skin permeation and the use of enhancement methods is essential to increase their permeability. To do so, only some permeability enhancement approaches have been applied so far, including chemical modification with hydrophobic moieties or cell penetrating peptides, metal complexation, chemical permeation enhancers, iontophoresis, microneedles, and encapsulation in nanocarriers. The results of studies published on the skin permeability of anti‐wrinkle peptides carnosine, GHK, PKEK, GEKG, GQPR, and KTTKS indicate that the skin permeability of these peptides can be successfully increased.

Conclusion

Although the skin permeability of most anti‐wrinkle peptides is not high enough and most anti‐wrinkle peptides might not reach their targets in the skin at right concentrations, their permeability can be increased to therapeutic concentrations using various enhancement approaches.
Viral co‐infections are associated with increased rates of hospitalization in those with influenza
Authors: Shannon Kerry L. , Osula Valerie O. , Shaw‐Saliba Kathryn , Hardick Justin , McBryde Breana , Dugas Andrea , Hsieh Yu‐Hsiang , Hansoti Bhakti , Rothman Richard E. ,   Emergency Department National Influenza Network Investigators
Published: March 2022

Background

Influenza causes significant morbidity and mortality in the United States. Among patients infected with influenza, the presence of bacterial co‐infection is associated with worse clinical outcomes; less is known regarding the clinical importance of viral co‐infections. The objective of this study was to determine rates of viral co‐infections in emergency department (ED) patients with confirmed influenza and association of co‐infection with disease severity.

Methods

Secondary analysis of a biorepository and clinical database from a parent study where rapid influenza testing was implemented in four U.S. academic EDs, during the 2014–2015 influenza season. Patients were systematically tested for influenza virus using a validated clinical decision guideline. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records; nasopharyngeal specimens from influenza‐positive patients were tested for viral co‐infections (ePlex, Genmark Diagnostics). Patterns of viral co‐infections were evaluated using chi‐square analysis. The association of viral co‐infection with hospital admission was assessed using univariate and multivariate regression.

Results

The overall influenza A/B positivity rate was 18.1% (1071/5919). Of the 999 samples with ePlex results, the prevalence of viral co‐infections was 7.9% (79/999). The most common viral co‐infection was rhinovirus/enterovirus (RhV/EV), at 3.9% (39/999). The odds of hospital admission (OR 2.33, 95% CI: 1.01–5.34) increased significantly for those with viral co‐infections (other than RhV/EV) versus those with influenza A infection only.

Conclusion

Presence of viral co‐infection (other than RhV/EV) in ED influenza A/B positive patients was independently associated with increased risk of hospital admission. Further research is needed to determine clinical utility of ED multiplex testing.
Four cases of abdominal expander implantation in adult chronic osteomyelitis of lower extremity with soft tissue defect and literature review
Authors: Zhang Xinling , Chen Yujie , Wang Guanhuier , Ding Pengbing , Yang Xin , Zhao Zhenmin
Published: March 2022

In this study, we intend to explore the clinical efficacy of abdominal expander implantation combined with flap technique in adult chronic osteomyelitis of lower limb with soft tissue defects, and to provide the basis for the promotion of the technique in clinical practice. Four patients diagnosed with chronic osteomyelitis of lower extremity with soft tissue defect were enrolled in this prospective study. Evaluation indicators included state of flap survival, state of abdominal incision, surrounding of abdominal wound scar, satisfaction of the patient, state of flap survival half a year after surgery, whether the 3D prosthesis is successfully implanted and limb movement. Four patients had complete flap survival, two of whom had a small amount of skin graft survival disorder in the vascular pedicle area, which improved after 1 month of dressing change. The expander had an average expansion time of 31.5 days, an average water injection of 525 mL, and an average skin volume taken of 159 cm2. No incision exudation, incision dehiscence, subcutaneous exudate and other complications occurred. The mean Vancouver Scar Scale score at 3 months after surgery was 3.5 (range from 3 to 6) points. Four patients showed good flap survival at six‐month follow‐up. 3D printed prosthesis were all successfully implanted. The treatment of adult chronic osteomyelitis of lower extremities with lower abdominal implantable expander combined with flap technique can effectively increase the skin harvesting area, reduce the suture tension of abdominal skin harvesting area and the scar hyperplasia of abdominal skin harvesting area.