bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spin–orbit torque induced magnetization switching in the W/CoFeB/Zr/MgO multilayers with high thermal stability
Authors: Guo Q. X. , Zheng Z. C. , Wang L. H. , Wang K. , Wang X. M. , Cheng S. , He W. , Yu G. H. , Lee H.-W. , Guo Y. Q. , Teng J. , Zhu T.
Published: November 2023

We demonstrate the spin–orbit torque (SOT) induced perpendicular magnetization switching in an annealed W/CoFeB/Zr/MgO multilayer with high thermal stability. It is found that the thermal stability factor can reach 79 after annealing at 540 °C. With an increase in the annealing temperature, the absolute damping-like efficiency almost keeps a high constant value (about 0.3). The tungsten in the W/CoFeB/Zr/MgO multilayer could convert from the high resistive β-W to a mediate resistive amorphous-like structure. Therefore, the absolute spin Hall conductance increases from 765 of β-W to 1420 (ℏ/e)(Ω cm)−1 of the amorphous-like tungsten. These results pave a realistic way for the practical application of tungsten in the SOT-based spintronics devices with high thermal stability and SOT efficiency.
High temperature effects in hypersonic double-wedge flow simulations
Authors: Thirunavukkarasu Prakash , Ghosh Shankar
Published: November 2023

Numerical simulations of inviscid hypersonic flow over a double-wedge geometry are conducted. High temperature effects are studied using a local thermodynamic equilibrium based model for air. A finite volume based flow solver is developed by combining a weighted essentially non-oscillatory scheme with an approximate Riemann solver. An iterative method to compute shock polars under local thermodynamic equilibrium conditions is suggested. Numerical simulations are conducted to study the effects of changes in geometry, upstream temperature, and upstream velocity. A range for the second wedge angle is identified for which the solution becomes oscillatory. An explanation for this oscillatory nature of the solution is suggested. Existence of a hysteresis phenomenon is also identified. A change in the nature of interaction is observed with changes in upstream temperature and upstream velocity. Local thermodynamic equilibrium based results are compared to those obtained using a calorically perfect gas model for air. Significant differences are observed. Effects of viscosity on the flow field are also studied.
Enhanced photoresponse of the CdS microwire photodetectors based on indium ion implantation
Authors: Zhao Xiaoyu , Wang Xuefeng , Guo Shuai , Wu Mengxuan , Quan Sufeng , Ma Zheng
Published: November 2023

One-dimensional nano/microstructures have garnered significant attention as the fundamental building blocks for the high-performance integrated systems. Among them, CdS microwires, due to their intriguing optoelectronic properties, hold great promise as candidates for the next generation of high-performance photodetectors. In this study, CdS microwires with wurtzite structure are synthesized using a common chemical vapor deposition method. Optical characterizations revealed that the synthesized microwires exhibited a distinct near band edge emission peak at 515 nm and a broad defect-related emission peak at approximately 650 nm. It is well-known that the intrinsic defects and impurities can significantly degrade the photoresponse properties of the CdS microwire-based photodetectors. To address this issue and enhance the device’s photoresponse performance, indium (In) ion implantation is employed to heal the intrinsic defects. Compared to the pristine CdS microwires, the CdS microwire-based photodetectors with In ion implantation demonstrated a remarkable improvement in photoresponse properties. Specifically, they exhibited a higher responsivity of 390 mA W−1 and external quantum efficiency of 119% (a 94.6-fold increase). The specific detectivity also increased to 3.82 × 107 Jones (a 13-fold increase), while the decay time improved to 652 ms (compared to 3.82 s for pristine devices). Overall, our findings highlight the effectiveness of ion implantation as a strategy to enhance the performance of CdS microwires-based photodetectors. This advancement renders them potentially applicable in integrated photonic, electronic and photoelectric systems.
Recombination dynamics and pronounced re-absorption effect in ZnO single crystals under two-photon excitation
Authors: Lu K C , Zhao Y N , Zheng C C , Ning J Q , Li B K , Wang J N , Xu S J
Published: November 2023

Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements were conducted on ZnO single crystals using two-photon (2P) excitation at low temperatures ranging from 25 to 260 K. The decay constants of various emission peaks are determined and compared between one-photon and two-photon excitations using a recently modified localized-state ensemble model. The analysis is focused on the redshift of the phonon-assisted free exciton transition energy with increasing temperature. A significantly longer radiative recombination lifetime of approximately 840 ps is observed under 2P excitation. The extended lifetime of excitons during 2P excitation is achieved through the interplay of multiple mechanisms. Photon-recycling, enabled by high absorption coefficients and total internal reflection, facilitates re-absorption and new carrier generation. Phonon scattering lowers photon energy, allowing their escape from the crystal, while exciton–polariton interactions delay photon travel, collectively contributing to the extension of exciton lifetimes. The re-absorption effect and elongated carrier lifetime observed from our work could be beneficial for applications of ZnO materials in 2P imaging, particularly of biological samples.
Impact of multi-domain effect on the effective carrier mobility of ferroelectric field-effect transistor
Authors: Liu FenNing , Zhang YueYuan , Peng Yue , Xiao WenWu , Han GenQuan , Liu Yan , Hao Yue
Published: November 2023

HfO2-based ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FeFETs) are a promising candidate for multilevel memory manipulation and brain-like computing due to the multi-domain properties of the HfO2 FE films based polycrystalline structure. Although there have been many reports on the working mechanism of the HfO2-based FeFET and improving its reliability, the impact of multi-domain effect on the effective carrier mobility (μ
channel) has not been carried out yet. The effective μ
channel determines the level of readout current and affects the accuracy of the precision of peripheral circuit. In this work, FeFETs with HfZrO
x
FE gate dielectric were fabricated, and the effect of write (or erase) pulses with linear gradient variation on the effective μ
channel was studied. For the multiple downward polarization under write pulses, the μ
channel degrades as the domains gradually switch to downward. This is mainly due to the enhancement of the scattering effect induced by the positive charges (e.g. oxygen vacancies

V
O

2
+

) trapping and the increase of channel carrier density. For the erase pulses, the μ
channel increases as the domains gradually reverse to upward, which is mainly due to the reduction of the scattering effect induced by the detrapping of positive charges and the decrease of channel carrier density. In addition, the modulation effect of multilevel polarization states on μ
channel is verified by numerical simulation. This effect provides a new idea and solution for the development of low power HfO2-based FeFETs in neuromorphic computing.
Flower-shaped Ni(OH)2 decorated with biomass-derived carbon TPB-1 for asymmetric supercapacitors
Authors: Yan Xiangtao , Wu Shang , Sun Xin , Yang Jincai , Wang Jiajia , Tian Shuo , Wang Yanbin , Chen Chen , Yin Fenping , Zhang Ping , Yang Quanlu
Published: November 2023

In recent years, notable headway has been made in augmenting supercapacitor functioning through employment of pioneering components, exceptional nanostructures and additional investigation of electrolytes. Nonetheless, achieving superior performance with straightforward techniques remains a significant hurdle. In order to surmount this, an experimental three-dimensional nanospherical pore structure (TPB-20@Ni(OH)2) was designed and prepared. TPB-1 was obtained through carbonisation and activation. TPB-20@Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles were synthesized using TPB-1 as the carbon source and nickel chloride hexahydrate as the nickel source. Furthermore, the TPB-20@Ni(OH)2//AC supercapacitor displayed an impressive energy density of 22.1 Wh kg−1. The TPB-20@Ni(OH)2 composites exhibited a specific capacity of 978 F−1, which is noteworthy. The exceptional output exhibited by the TPB-20@Ni(OH)2 composite derives from its innovative structure, presenting an extensive specific surface area of 237.4 m2 g−1 and porosity of roughly 4.0 nm. Following 20 000 cycles (at a current density of 1 A g−1), asymmetric supercapacitors assembled from TPB-20@Ni(OH)2//AC retained 80.0% of its initial specific electrostatic capacity, indicating superior electrochemical stability and high electrochemical reversibility.
Low temperature passivation of silicon surfaces for enhanced performance of Schottky-barrier MOSFET
Authors: Molina-Reyes Joel , Cuellar-Juarez Adriana Mercedes
Published: November 2023

By using a simple device architecture along with a simple process design and a low thermal-budget of a maximum of 100 °C for passivating metal/semiconductor interfaces, a Schottky barrier MOSFET device with a low subthreshold slope of 70 mV dec−1 could be developed. This device is enabled after passivation of the metal/silicon interface (found at the source/drain regions) with ultra-thin SiO
x
films, followed by the e-beam evaporation of high- quality aluminum and by using atomic-layer deposition for HfO2 as a gate oxide. All of these fabrication steps were designed in a sequential process so that a gate-last recipe could minimize the defect density at the aluminum/silicon and HfO2/silicon interfaces, thus preserving the Schottky barrier height and ultimately, the outstanding performance of the transistor. This device is fully integrated into silicon after standard CMOS-compatible processing, so that it could be easily adopted into front-end-of-line or even in back-end-of-line stages of an integrated circuit, where low thermal budget is required and where its functionality could be increased by developing additional and fast logic.
Multifunctional CoFe2O4/ZnO nanocomposites: probing magnetic and photocatalytic properties
Authors: Sonia  , Kumar Parmod , Kumar Ashok
Published: November 2023

Developing nanocomposites as efficient photocatalysts for eliminating hazardous contaminants is essential because of growing severity of water pollution. In this study, we have analysed the morphological, structural, magnetic, and optical properties of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4), and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposites synthesized via hydrothermal approach and used for removal of rose bengal (RB) dye from contaminated water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of synthesized nanocomposite revealed two distinct phases that matched with CoFe2O4 and ZnO. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra enlightened Co–O, Fe–O, and O–Zn–O binding peaks in synthesized nanocomposites. The band gap of nanocomposite, as determined by UV diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), varies from 1.53 to 3.29 eV. The wide band gap semiconductor (ZnO) is believed to be responsible for this transformation by introducing new sub-bandgap energy levels. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has shown the roles of various ions. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed spherical morphology of synthesized samples. The highest magnetism of pure CoFe2O4 was 34.6 emu g−1, making it the most magnetic among all the synthesized materials. Furthermore, CoFe2O4/ZnO (1:4) nanocomposite exhibited the highest degradation of RB dye. The recombination of electron-hole pairs is inhibited by interfacial charge transfer provided by CoFe2O4 and ZnO. The results showed that CoFeZn14 nanocomposite is a promising candidate for wastewater treatment. CoFeZn14 demonstrated remarkable stability, showcasing its ability to be reused up to four times without compromising its efficiency.
Sex- and age-specific associations between abdominal fat and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Chen Hongli , Liu Yuexing , Liu Dan , Liang Yebei , Zhu Zhijun , Dong Keqing , Li Huating , Bao Yuqian , Wu Jiarui , Hou Xuhong , Jia Weiping
Published: November 2023

Obesity is closely related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although sex differences in body fat distribution have been well demonstrated, little is known about the sex-specific associations between adipose tissue and the development of NAFLD. Using community-based cohort data, we evaluated the associations between magnetic resonance imaging quantified areas of abdominal adipose tissue, including visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and incident NAFLD in 2830 participants (1205 males and 1625 females) aged 55–70 years. During a 4.6-year median follow-up, the cumulative incidence rates of NAFLD increased with areas of VAT and SAT both in males and in females. Further analyses showed that the above-mentioned positive associations were stronger in males than in females, especially in participants under 60 years old. In contrast, these sex differences disappeared in those over 60 years old. Furthermore, the risk of developing NAFLD increased non-linearly with increasing fat area in a sex-specific pattern. Additionally, sex-specific potential mediators, such as insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and adipokines, may exist in the associations between adipose tissue and NAFLD. This study showed that the associations between abdominal fat and the risk of NAFLD were stratified by sex and age, highlighting the potential need for sex- and age-specific management of NAFLD.
Transposon-aided capture (TRACA) of plasmids from the human gut
Authors: Chen Dan , Yin Yeshi , Hu Yunfei , Cao Linyan , Zhao Changhui , Li Baiyuan
Published: November 2023

The gut microbiota consists of a vast and diverse assemblage of microorganisms that play a pivotal role in maintaining host health. Nevertheless, a significant portion of the human gut microbiota remains uncultivated. Plasmids, a type of MGE, assume a critical function in the biological evolution and adaptation of bacteria to varying environments. To investigate the plasmids present within the gut microbiota community, we used the transposon-aided capture method (TRACA) to explore plasmids derived from the gut microbiota. In this study, fecal samples were collected from two healthy human volunteers and subsequently subjected to the TRACA method for plasmid isolation. Then, the complete sequence of the plasmids was obtained using the genome walking method, and sequence identity was also analyzed. A total of 15 plasmids were isolated. At last, 13 plasmids were successfully sequenced, of which 12 plasmids were highly identical to the plasmids in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database and were all small plasmids. Furthermore, a putative novel plasmid, named pMRPHD, was isolated, which had mobilized elements (oriT and oriV) and a potential type II restriction–modification (R–M) system encoded by DNA cytosine methyltransferase and type II restriction enzyme (Ban I), whose specific functions and applications warrant further exploration.
Bias and Variance in Multiparty Election Polls
Authors: Selb Peter , Chen Sina , Körtner John , Bosch Philipp
Published: November 2023

Recent polling failures highlight that election polls are prone to biases that the margin of error customarily reported with polls does not capture. However, such systematic errors are difficult to assess against the background noise of sampling variance. Shirani-Mehr et al. (2018) developed a hierarchical Bayesian model to disentangle random and systematic errors in poll estimates of two-party vote shares at the election level. The method can inform realistic assessments of poll accuracy. We adapt the model to multiparty elections and improve its temporal flexibility. We then estimate bias and variance in 5,240 German national election polls, 1994–2021. Our analysis suggests that the average absolute election-day bias per party was about 1.5 percentage points, ranging from 0.9 for the Greens to 3.2 for the Christian Democrats. The estimated variance is, on average, about twice as large as that implied by usual margins of error. We find little evidence of house or mode effects. Common biases indicate industry effects due to similar methodological problems. The Supplementary Material provides additional results for 1,751 regional election polls.
The Use of Cerebral Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Authors: Polise Olivia , Newberry Desi
Published: November 2023

Background:

Cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy (cNIRS) is a noninvasive technology used to trend cerebral perfusion at the bedside. cNIRS has potential as a valuable tool in the evaluation of infants with suspected hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Trending cerebral perfusion with cNIRS can provide information regarding cerebral metabolism as HIE is evolving, which may offer insight into the extent of brain injury.

Purpose:

The purpose of this systematic review is to investigate the use of cNIRS as a neurocritical tool in the management of neonatal HIE by evaluating its ability to detect acute neurological compromise, including acute brain injury and seizure activity, as well as its potential to identify infants at high risk for long-term neurodevelopmental impairment.

Methods:

A literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases to review articles investigating cNIRS technology in the acute management of HIE.

Results:

Eight studies were identified and included in this systematic review. Correlations were observed between cNIRS trends and neurological outcomes as later detected by MRI. cNIRS has potential as a bedside neuromonitoring tool in the management of HIE to detect infants at high risk for brain injury.

Implications for Practice:

Existing research supports the value of trending cNIRS in HIE management. Documented normal cNIRS values for both term and preterm infants in the first few days of life is approximately 60% to 80%. A steadily increasing cNIRS reading above an infant's baseline and a value of more than 90% should prompt further evaluation and concern for significant neurological injury.
Program Signaling in Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Applications
Authors: Banks Erika , Winkel Abigail F. , Morgan Helen K. , Connolly AnnaMarie , Hammoud Maya M. , George Karen E.
Published: November 2023

The objectives of this study were to evaluate how obstetrics and gynecology residency program directors used applicant signaling and to understand how two tiers of signals influenced interviews, ranking, and matching into programs. A multimethod, deductive-sequential design was employed using a national survey of residency program directors and a convenience sampling of programs to study how obstetrics and gynecology program directors used program signals in the 2022–2023 residency-application cycle. A total of 80.5% (236/293) of program directors receiving the survey provided information about signaling, and 20 programs provided application outcome data for applicants who signaled them. The majority of program directors (86.9%) opted into signaling, 43.4% used signals as part of their initial screening, and 33.1% used it as a tiebreaker after reviewing applications, with 45.4% feeling it improved their ability to conduct a holistic review and 41.5% inviting applicants they may not have invited previously. Among programs providing applicant data, the influence of signals on the chances of an applicant being interviewed varied, but an overall strong positive effect of signaling was observed across the sample. The mean rank was 42 for gold signals, 45 for silver, and 38 for no signal (F(3)=5.97, P<.001). Signaling was widely used by programs and was an effective tool to allow applicants to communicate real interest in a program. Signaling was associated with an increased likelihood of an applicant’s being interviewed but did not influence an applicant’s position on the rank list.
Nondual Antiplatelet Therapy Versus Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Before Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Mengdi , Peng Wenxing , Yin Shiqi , Zhao Yiru , Lin Yang
Published: November 2023

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an interventional procedure performed in patients with severe aortic stenosis and often required perioperative antiplatelet therapy. Most previous studies have focused on antiplatelet therapy following TAVR. However, few studies have investigated the prognostic effect of preoperative antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing TAVR. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of nondual antiplatelet therapy (non-DAPT) and DAPT before TAVR. We performed a systematic search of Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science until February 2023. Studies were eligible if they compared non-DAPT (single antiplatelet therapy or no antiplatelet therapy) with DAPT in patients before TAVR. A total of 5 studies, including 2329 patients, met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Preoperative non-DAPT significantly decreased minor bleeding events compared with preoperative DAPT [odds ratio 0.58; 95% confidence interval: 0.44–0.76]. There were no significant differences in the incidence of other bleeding events, transfusions, stroke, myocardial infarction, or all-cause death. Preoperative single antiplatelet therapy significantly decreased the incidence of major bleeding compared with DAPT (odds ratio 0.14; 95% confidence interval: 0.04–0.48). Preoperative non-DAPT significantly reduced minor bleeding events in patients undergoing TAVR, without increasing the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction.
Effects of Age, Sex, and Postconcussive Symptoms on Domain-Specific Quality of Life a Year After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Chen Sy-Jou , Li Shan-Jen , Hong Hsiu-Mei , Hwang Hei-Fen , Lin Mau-Roung
Published: November 2023

Objective:

To identify the factors influencing longitudinal changes in patients' scores across 6 domains of the Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI) instrument 1 year after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Design:

This was a longitudinal cohort study.

Participants and Setting:

Eligible patients with a new diagnosis of mTBI were recruited from the outpatient clinics of the neurosurgery departments of 3 teaching hospitals in Taipei City, Taiwan. In total, 672 patients participated in the baseline assessment. Postinjury follow-up was conducted at 6 and 12 months.

Main Outcome Measure:

Six domains of the 37-item QOLIBRI: Cognition, Self, Daily Life and Autonomy, Social Relationships, Emotions, and Physical Problems.

Results:

Linear mixed-effects analyses revealed that, among patients younger than 60 years, the scores of the Cognition, Self, Daily Life and Autonomy, and Social Relationships domains significantly increased 6 months after injury; furthermore, their scores of the Cognition, Self, and Daily Life and Autonomy significantly increased 12 months after injury. By contrast, among patients 60 years and older, the scores of these domains reduced from baseline to 6 and 12 months. No significant sex-based difference was observed in the changes in scores of any QOLIBRI domain. At 6 and 12 months post-injury, the scores of the Cognition, Emotions, and Physical Problems domains were significantly higher for patients with postconcussive symptoms than for those without these symptoms.

Conclusions:

Although multiple characteristics of patients significantly affected their baseline scores on the 6 domains of the QOLIBRI, only age and postconcussive symptoms were significantly associated with longitudinal changes in their scores 6 and 12 months after mTBI.
Management of Bivalirudin Dosing and Replacement Fluid During Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Children on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Chomat Michael R. , Swanson Kerry , Barton Kevin , Douds Matthew , Said Ahmed S.
Published: November 2023

The use of bivalirudin as the primary anticoagulant for children supported on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is growing. Ideal management of bivalirudin dosing during therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) on ECMO is unknown. We performed a single-center retrospective study of ECMO patients anticoagulated with bivalirudin who underwent TPE from January 2019 to December 2021. Therapeutic plasma exchange sessions were analyzed individually by bivalirudin dosing strategy (no change [NC] versus increased dose [dose change {DC} bivalirudin group]) and replacement fluid (all fresh–frozen plasma [FFP] versus all albumin or FFP and albumin [FFP/Albumin]). Primary outcomes included bleeding, coagulopathy, and circuit thrombosis within 24 hours of TPE. Secondary outcomes included change in bivalirudin dose and coagulation parameters following TPE. There were 60 unique TPE sessions. Bivalirudin dosing or replacement fluid strategies were not associated with bleeding, coagulopathy, or thrombosis post-TPE. All albumin or fresh frozen plasma and albumin combinations (FFP/Albumin) group had longer post-TPE thromboelastography (TEG) reaction time, clot time, and more acute angle. The FFP/Albumin group had increased post-TPE international normalization ratio (INR) and partial thrombin time (PTT). Therapeutic plasma exchange for children on ECMO and bivalirudin anticoagulation is feasible; however, optimal dosing during TPE requires further investigation. Replacement fluid with FFP/Albumin is associated with more coagulopathic laboratory parameters. Patients may benefit from all FFP fluid replacement strategy. Further investigation is needed to prove generalizability.
Automated Eye Tracking Enables Saccade Performance Evaluation of Patients with Concussion History
Authors: Song Ailin , Gabriel Rami , Mohiuddin Omar , Whitaker Diane , Wisely C. Ellis , Kim Terry
Published: November 2023

SIGNIFICANCE

Automated eye tracking could be used to evaluate saccade performance of patients with concussion history, providing quantitative insights about the degree of oculomotor impairment and potential vision rehabilitation strategies for this patient population.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the saccade performance of patients with concussion history based on automated eye-tracking test results.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of patients with concussion history, primarily from sports participation, who underwent oculomotor testing based on an eye-tracking technology at the Duke Eye Center vision rehabilitation clinic between June 30, 2017, and January 10, 2022. Patients' saccade test results were reviewed, including saccade fixation and saccade speed/accuracy ratio. The outcomes were compared with age-matched normative population data derived from healthy individuals. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with saccade performance among patients with concussion history.

RESULTS:

On hundred fifteen patients with concussion history were included in the study. Patients with concussion, on average, had fewer fixations on self-paced horizontal and vertical saccade tests and lower horizontal and vertical saccade speed/accuracy ratios compared with normative ranges. Among patients with concussion history, multiple linear regression analyses showed that older age was associated with fewer fixations on horizontal and vertical saccade tests, whereas male sex was associated with more fixations on horizontal and vertical saccade tests (all P < .01). In addition, older age was associated with lower horizontal saccade speed/accuracy ratio, after adjusting for sex, number of concussion(s), and time from most recent concussion to oculomotor testing (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with concussion history had lower saccade performance based on eye tracking compared with healthy individuals. We additionally identified risk factors for lower saccade performance among patients with concussion history. These findings support the use of saccade test results as biomarkers for concussion and have implications for post-concussion rehabilitation strategies.
Vascular neuro-otology: vestibular transient ischemic attacks and chronic dizziness in the elderly
Authors: Bronstein Adolfo M. , Kattah Jorge
Published: November 2023

Purpose of review

To explore the differential diagnosis of posterior fossa transient ischemic attacks (TIA) associated with vertigo and/or imbalance.

To review the contribution of cerebral small vessel (SVD) disease to balance dysfunction and dizziness in the elderly.

Main findings

TIAs involving vestibular structures that mediate the vestibulo-ocular and vestibulospinal reflexes remain a diagnostic challenge because they overlap with causes of benign episodic vertigo. Here, we summarize the results of multidisciplinary specialty efforts to improve timely recognition and intervention of peripheral and central vestibular ischemia. More papers confirm that SVD is a major cause of gait disability, falls and cognitive disorder in the elderly. Recent work shows that early stages of SVD may also be responsible for dizziness in the elderly. The predominant location of the white matter changes, in the frontal deep white matter and genu of the corpus callosum, explains the association between cognitive and balance dysfunction in SVD related symptoms.

The evaluation of patients with intermittent vascular vertigo represent a major diagnostic challenge, recent reviews explore the ideal design approach for a multidisciplinary study to increase early recognition and intervention. Hemispheric white matter microvascular ischemia has been the subject of research progress - advanced stages are known to cause gait disorder and dementia but early stages are associated with “idiopathic” dizziness in the elderly.
Aging of the vestibular system and its relationship to dementia
Authors: Smith Paul F.
Published: November 2023

Purpose of review

Since October 2022, substantial new information has been published on age-related effects on the vestibular system. Since much of this evidence relates to the risk of dementia, the purpose of this review will be to provide an overview of this new information and critically evaluate it.

Recent findings

This review will address studies published since October 2022 regarding age-related effects on the vestibular system and their relationship to cognition and dementia. There has been a particular increase in the last year in the number of studies relating aging of the vestibular system to Alzheimer's disease (AD), further supporting the view that vestibular dysfunction is associated with an increased risk of dementia.

The conclusion of these recent studies is that, consistent with previous studies, vestibular function declines with age, and that this age-related decline is associated with cognitive impairment and an increased risk of dementia. Efforts are being made to consider these implications for cognition in the treatment of vestibular disorders.
Tyrosine transfer RNA levels and modifications during blood-feeding and vitellogenesis in the mosquito,Aedes aegypti
Authors: Kelley Melissa , Holmes Christopher J. , Herbert Cassandra , Rayhan Asif , Joves Judd , Uhran Melissa , Frigard Ronja , Singh Khwahish , Limbach Patrick A. , Addepalli Balasubrahmanyam , Benoit Joshua B.
Published: November 2023

Mosquitoes such asAedes aegyptimust consume a blood meal for the nutrients necessary for egg production. Several transcriptome and proteome changes occur post blood meal that likely corresponds with codon usage alterations. Transfer RNA (tRNA) is the adapter molecule that reads messenger RNA (mRNA) codons to add the appropriate amino acid during protein synthesis. Chemical modifications to tRNA enhance codons’ decoding, improving the accuracy and efficiency of protein synthesis. Here, we examined tRNA modifications and transcripts associated with the blood meal and subsequent periods of vitellogenesis inA. aegypti. More specifically, we assessed tRNA transcript abundance and modification levels in the fat body at critical times post blood-feeding. Based on a combination of alternative codon usage and identification of particular modifications, we identified that increased transcription of tyrosine tRNAs is likely critical during the synthesis of egg yolk proteins in the fat body following a blood meal. Altogether, changes in both the abundance and modification of tRNA are essential factors in the process of vitellogenin production after blood-feeding in mosquitoes.
Identifying images in the biology literature that are problematic for people with a color-vision deficiency
Authors: Stevens Harlan P. , Winegar Carly V. , Oakley Arwen F. , Piccolo Stephen R.
Published: November 2023

To help maximize the impact of scientific journal articles, authors must ensure that article figures are accessible to people with color-vision deficiencies (CVDs), which affect up to 8% of males and 0.5% of females. We evaluated images published in biology-and medicine-oriented research articles between 2012 and 2022. Most included at least one color contrast that could be problematic for people with deuteranopia (“deuteranopes”), the most common form of CVD. However, spatial distances and within-image labels frequently mitigated potential problems. Initially, we reviewed 4,964 images fromeLife, comparing each against a simulated version that approximated how it might appear to deuteranopes. We identified 636 (12.8%) images that we determined would be difficult for deuteranopes to interpret. Our findings suggest that the frequency of this problem has decreased over time and that articles from cell-oriented disciplines were most often problematic. We used machine learning to automate the identification of problematic images. For hold-out test sets fromeLife(n = 879) and PubMed Central (n = 1,191), a convolutional neural network classified the images with areas under the precision-recall curve of 0.75 and 0.38, respectively. We created a Web application (https://bioapps.byu.edu/colorblind_image_tester); users can upload images, view simulated versions, and obtain predictions. Our findings shed new light on the frequency and nature of scientific images that may be problematic for deuteranopes and motivate additional efforts to increase accessibility.
Chateau de Montana: Applying Data Analytics to Simulate Room Price of a Repositioned Hotel
Authors: Das Prashant
Published: November 2023

Nicolas Dupont, the owner of Chateau de Montana, a struggling (and old) boutique hotel in Crans-Montana Ski Resort, Switzerland, wished to renovate and reposition his family-owned hotel to target higher room rates. Dupont commissioned Olga Mitireva and Yulia Belopilskaya as consultants to assess the proposition. The consultants had to extract cues for the room rate of the repositioned hotel from comparable hotels. However, the room rates varied significantly across similar hotels due to their differing characteristics and locations. It was a cognitive challenge to read the patterns from a few comparable hotels. They collected the data of 200 hotels from similar locations and simulated room prices using hedonic regression models.
It's a Residence; It's a Hotel: It is ResiTel!
Authors: Das Prashant , Gupta Ashish
Published: November 2023

Midway through construction, a hotel developer realised that costs had risen too much to be feasible for equity capital. They repositioned the asset as a ResiTel wherein each suite would be sold as a condominium unit to retail buyers. This called for setting up two separate entities: one (PropCo) for asset management and the other (LeaseCo) for operating the hotel. Unit owners would earn a regular share of hotel income. The lenders protected additional sale-risk by more conservative loan terms. The developer must analyse the feasibility of the repositioned asset.
World-class good governance ethics: a key solution to tackle criminal acts in Malaysian public-listed companies
Authors: Wan Husain Wan Ahmad Fauzi , Mustapha Mohamad Reeduan , Fernando Yudi , Zailani Siti Aisyah Ahmad
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a world-class good governance ethics framework that leads to better corporate performance. ethics among managers, executives and members of the board of directors working in public-listed companies brings grave concern because of the increasing number of criminal acts reported by the Security Commission of Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study introduces a world-class good governance ethics framework for curbing criminal acts in public-listed companies in Malaysia. This study used a mixed method to gather data, and the methods used are appropriate for answering the research questions based on the World-Class Good Governance Ethics framework.

Findings

The finding of this study reveals high expectations for a corporate organization to improve individual and team performance while undertaking their corporate responsibilities, and a matter of choice, to adopt world-class good governance ethics in their policies and practices.

Practical implications

This study could be a reference for corporate management to regulate policies monitoring management's and employees' conduct at the workplace. This study's theoretical and practical significance would guide the stakeholders in corporate management to regulate governance policies based on the right ethical values and promote personalities with high integrity in management conduct.

Originality/value

This study promotes a world-class good governance ethics framework in curbing criminal acts for better corporate performance. This new framework is formulated based on the concept of a caliph and other essential elements envisaged by the Quranic verses.
“Contagious” brands: Are they safe from coronavirus?
Authors: Bigne Enrique , Simonetti Aline , Shih Diana Y.W.
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how brand love and brand loyalty for three brands evolved during critical moments of the 2020 pandemic, and how they performed in the long run up to 2022.

Design/methodology/approach

An online longitudinal study, including a survey and Twitter data for three brands: Corona Extra, with a direct semantic association with the word coronavirus; Virus Vodka, with an indirect association; Modelo Especial, with no association with the virus name but from the same company as Corona Extra.

Findings

Despite external data indicating a harmful association between Corona Extra and coronavirus, this study's findings revealed that the brand maintained its brand love in the long run and increased brand loyalty during the critical moments of the pandemic. This study's data suggest that brand love and brand loyalty may be the underlying reasons for the increase in Corona Extra's brand equity during the pandemic.

Originality/value

The COVID-19 pandemic created a highly stressful situation for consumers and brands. Some brands' names had unfortunate semantic similarities with the virus terminology, which became an additional stressor during that time. This study harnessed the opportunity to investigate brand love and brand loyalty during the pandemic at four points in 2020 and one in 2022. The authors also examined relevant Twitter data during 2020.
A framework for post‐processing bird tracks from automated tracking radar systems
Authors: van Erp Jens A. , van Loon Emiel E. , De Groeve Johannes , Bradarić Maja , Shamoun‐Baranes Judy
Published: November 2023

Radar is an effective tool for continuous monitoring and quantification of aerial bird movement and used to study migration and local flight behaviour. However, systems with automated tracking algorithms do not provide the level of processing sufficient to guarantee reliable data. Therefore, post‐processing such radar data is required but often non‐trivial, especially in challenging environments such as open sea.

We present a post‐processing framework that implements knowledge of the radar system and bird biology to filter the data and retrieve reliable, high‐quality tracking data. The framework is split into three modules, each with a specific aim: (I) sub‐setting based on prior knowledge of the radar system and bird flight, (II) improving bird track quality and (III) detecting and removing spatio‐temporal sections of data that have a clear bias for false observations. The effectiveness of the framework is demonstrated with a case study comparing track densities inside and outside an offshore wind farm, and by applying the workflow to a dataset of visually validated radar tracks.

Application of Module I resulted in a dataset of 520.894 bird tracks (19.5% of total data) within a 10.4 km2 area. Additionally, 18.734 tracks were corrected for geometric errors in Module II, and Module III identified 236 of 719 observation hours and an area of 1.55 km2 as unreliable for spatio‐temporal analysis. No difference in track densities was found between the area inside and outside the wind farm when using the post‐processed data, whereas using the unprocessed bird tracks, lower track densities were observed outside the wind farm. Of the visually validated radar tracks, the framework removed 85% of false positive bird tracks, while retaining 80% of true positive bird tracks.

The framework provides a logical workflow to increase the reliability and quality of a bird radar dataset while being adaptable to the radar system and its surroundings. This is a first step towards standardising the post‐processing methodology for automated bird radar systems, which can facilitate comparative analyses of bird movement in space and time and improve the quality of ecological impact assessments.
The same or different? How optimal distinctiveness in corporate social responsibility affects organizational resilience during COVID‐19
Authors: Yang Caini , Wang Jianling , David Lemuel Kenneth
Published: November 2023

This study explores how firms build organizational resilience (OR) through constructing their corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices. Based on the optimal distinctiveness theory, we propose that a firm may be able to simultaneously conform in scope and differentiate in emphasis in its CSR practices to meet the institutional and strategic needs of CSR, thus building OR. Using data collected from 574 Chinese listed firms during the unique setting of the COVID‐19 pandemic, we provide evidence that CSR scope conformity enhances organizational stability, whereas CSR emphasis differentiation enhances organizational flexibility during a transboundary pandemic period. Furthermore, firm competitive position strengthens the positive relationship between CSR scope conformity and organizational stability. Market concentration strengthens the positive relationship between CSR emphasis differentiation and organizational flexibility. This study contributes to the CSR and organizational resilience literature by highlighting the influence of CSR optimal distinctiveness on OR.
Measuring greenwashing: A systematic methodological literature review
Authors: Bernini Francesca , Giuliani Marco , La Rosa Fabio
Published: November 2023

Greenwashing (GW) is a complex, dynamic, interdisciplinary, multidimensional, and multifaceted phenomenon. There are more theoretical than empirical studies on GW because of several difficulties in collecting accurate data and obtaining objective GW measures. After disentangling the multifaceted GW phenomenon by describing its main dimensions, this study provides a systematic methodological literature review on empirical research papers published from 1990 to 2022 in journals of Business, Management, and Accounting to understand how empirical researchers are operationalizing GW and how our methodological choices affect our understanding of this phenomenon. Our results show that the actual GW operationalization is challenging and that scholars are highly uncertain about how such operationalization should be designed and implemented to provide an effective GW measurement instrument. Further, a growing number of studies investigate hypothetical GW cases adopting perception‐based measures, while limited research explores real GW cases.
Oral sugar test responses to ertugliflozin in ten horses with insulin dysregulation
Authors: Sundra Tania , Rossi Gabriele , Kelty Erin , Lester Guy , Rendle David
Published: November 2023

Background

Preliminary evidence indicates that ertugliflozin benefits horses and ponies (hereafter collectively referred to as horses) with hyperinsulinaemia and hyperinsulinaemia‐associated laminitis. The effects of ertugliflozin on the results of the oral sugar test used widely in the assessment of insulin dysregulation (ID), have not been reported.

Objectives

To report the effects of ertugliflozin on responses to the oral sugar test (OST) in horses with ID.

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Methods

Clinical records were reviewed to identify horses with ID that had an OST (0.45 mL/kg Karo‐Light PO) performed before and after 4 days of treatment with 0.05 mg/kg ertugliflozin PO s.i.d. Pre‐ and post‐treatment insulin concentrations were compared using Wilcoxon sign‐ranked tests.

Results

Ten horses with ID met the inclusion criteria. Significant reductions in plasma insulin concentration were identified at all time points after 4 days of treatment with ertugliflozin relative to pre‐treatment values. At T0 (prior to oral sugar), median insulin concentration reduced from 22.4 μu/mL (IQR: 6.5, 39) pre‐treatment to 4.8 μu/mL (IQR: 3.7, 9.2) at day 4 (p = 0.004). At T60 (60 min after oral sugar), median insulin concentration was 165 μu/mL (IQR: 61.2, 222) pre‐treatment and 78.1 μu/mL (IQR: 30.5, 137) at day 4 (p = 0.004). At T90 (90 min after oral sugar), median insulin concentration was 170 μu/mL (IQR: 88.6, 269) pre‐treatment and 84.7 μu/mL (IQR: 28.7, 122) at day 4 (p = 0.002). Serum triglyceride concentration increased from a median of 0.4 mmol/L (IQR: 0.2, 0.8) pre‐treatment to 0.9 mmol/L (IQR: 0.6, 2) at day 4 of ertugliflozin treatment (p = 0.006).

Main limitations

A small heterogenous group of horses and ponies, some with PPID, were used in the absence of a control group.

Conclusions

Four daily doses of ertugliflozin at 0.05 mg/kg was associated with lowering of insulin concentrations at baseline and in response to an OST in horses with ID; however, insulin levels did not return to normal in all horses. Increases in triglyceride concentrations were also observed.