bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discrete somatotopic representation and neural response properties in hummingbird and zebra finch forebrain nuclei
Authors: Gaede Andrea H. , Wu Pei-Hsuan , Leitch Duncan B.
Published: October 2023

Somatosensation allows animals to perceive the external world through touch, providing critical information about physical contact, temperature, pain, and body position. Somatosensory pathways, particularly those related to the rodent vibrissae, have been well-studied in mammals, illuminating principles of cortical organization and sensory processing1,2. However, comparative studies across diverse vertebrate species are imperative to understand how somatosensory systems are shaped by evolutionary pressures and specialized ecological needs.

Birds provide an excellent model for studying the evolution of somatosensation, as they exhibit remarkable diversity in body plans, sensory capabilities, and behavior. Prior work in pigeons3-6, parrots7, and finches8have identified general tactile-responsive regions within the avian telencephalon. Yet how somatosensory maps and response properties vary across key avian groups remains unclear. Here, we aimed to elucidate somatotopic organization and neural coding in the telencephalon of Anna’s hummingbirds (Calypte anna) and zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).

Usingin vivoextracellular electrophysiological techniques, we recorded single and multi-unit activity in telencephalic regions of anesthetized hummingbirds and finches. We stimulated the beak, face, trunk, wings, and hindlimbs with controlled tactile stimuli and mapped somatosensory receptive fields. We found distinct representations of body regions distributed across multiple somatosensory zones, with surprising differences in relative areas devoted to key body surfaces, potentially as related to behavioral significance.

Highlights

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Somatosensation provides birds with critical information for behaviors necessary to survival including foraging and flight.

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In vivoextracellular physiological recordings were used to monitor tactile responses in contralateral forebrain nuclei corresponding to the feather deflection in hummingbirds and finches including to air puff stimuli.

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Both hummingbirds and finches show distinct separation of body and head receptive field representation in different nuclei.

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A continuous somatotopic arrangement can be found in both the rostral Wulst (corresponding to the wings and body) and in nucleus basorostralis (corresponding to the head and beak), with particularly enlarged representations of the wing leading edge and the foot.
PDZD8 promotes autophagy at ER-Lysosome contact sites to regulate synaptogenesis
Authors: Thakur Rajan S. , O’Connor-Giles Kate M.
Published: October 2023

Building synaptic connections, which are often far from the soma, requires coordinating a host of cellular activities from transcription to protein turnover, placing a high demand on intracellular communication. Membrane contact sites (MCSs) formed between cellular organelles have emerged as key signaling hubs for coordinating an array of cellular activities. We have found that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) MCS tethering protein PDZD8 is required for activity-dependent synaptogenesis. PDZD8 is sufficient to drive ectopic synaptic bouton formation through an autophagy-dependent mechanism and required for basal synapse formation when autophagy biogenesis is limited. PDZD8 functions at ER-late endosome/lysosome (LEL) MCSs to promote lysosome maturation and accelerate autophagic flux. Mutational analysis of PDZD8’s SMP domain further suggests a role for lipid transfer at ER-LEL MCSs. We propose that PDZD8-dependent lipid transfer from ER to LELs promotes lysosome maturation to increase autophagic flux during periods of high demand, including activity-dependent synapse formation.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Sustainable technology development during intellectual property rights commercialisation by university startups
Authors: Shahidan Noor Hidayah , Abdul Latiff Ahmad Shaharudin , Abdul Wahab Sazali
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpse of this study is to examine sustainable technology development (STD) during the “Valley of Death” phase encountered by university startups undertaking intellectual property rights (IPR) commercialisation.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive literature review was conducted after searching for relevant documents across multiple databases. Semi-structured interviews with university startup founders were also conducted as part of a qualitative case study.

Findings

This study resulted in two significant findings. First, the Valley of Death has been redefined in the specific context of IPR commercialisation by university startups. Second, the sustainable technology development framework (STDF) has been conceptualised to enhance the success rate of IPR commercialisation by university startups. The authors also identified three essential components of STD in the context of university startups: market development, technical efficiency and business sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

This exploratory research involved a thorough literature analysis. Given that only one qualitative case study was conducted, data saturation was not achieved. Further empirical research is needed to validate the conceptualised STDF.

Practical implications

The validated STDF will be a useful tool for enhancing the success of IPR commercialisation by university startups.

Originality/value

While others have focused on innovating business models, this study focused on an underexplored area: the sustainability of technology development during the commercialisation of IPR by university startups during the Valley of Death phase.
Role of behavioural abstraction (vs concrete) levels in accepting health technologies
Authors: Taneja Bharat , Bharti Kumkum
Published: October 2023

Purpose

While attempting to persuade surgeons to accept their health technology, sales representatives for medical devices face daily challenges in the operating room. Surgeons exhibit cognitive complexity (abstractness vs. concreteness) when accepting any form of health technology. Surgeons choose technologies on behalf of their patients, taking patient priorities and expectations into account. Prior research has focused on cognitive complexity in the context of health technology adoption, but the issue of technology acceptance has not been addressed. The purpose of this study to use the construal level (CL) theory to determine the role of behavioural abstraction levels in the acceptance of surgical health technology.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of 556 min of seminar-based data and semi-directive interviews, the surgeons’ experiences regarding the acceptance of health technology were analysed. A non-directive observational method was used to permit the spontaneous emergence of CL dimensions in a natural environment. A categorization model was used for data coding, and MAXQDA, in addition to traditional multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis, was used to generate results with joint displays.

Findings

Effort expectancy, learning curve, performance risk, habit, patient clinical condition, clinical outcome expectancy, technology setting and social influence were construed at a low construal level (LCL). On the other hand, patient paying capacity, technology cost, price value, financial risk and patient performance expectation were construed at a high construal level (HCL). The study also reveals duality-based factors which showed proximity to HCL but intersected at LCL, and vice versa. Duality-based factors such as effort expectancy, surgical technique, trust and perceived risk intersected at HCL, whereas performance expectancy, relative advantage, time expectancy, perceived value, physical risk and peer group influence intersected at LCL.

Originality/value

This is one of the early studies that presented the impact of behavioural abstraction on behavioural intention to accept health technology for surgeries.
Identity is a matter of place: intersectional identities of Romanian women migrant entrepreneurs on the Eastern-Western European route
Authors: Chitac Iuliana M.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Romanian women migrant entrepreneurs (RWMEs) are amongst the largest EU migrant communities in the UK and make significant socioeconomic contributions to both their host and origin nations, but academic research and policy discussions have ignored them. Intersectionality raises complex contextual issues that require comprehensive examination and inclusive policies and programmes. This study is aimed at exploring how Romanian women migrant entrepreneurs experience their transnational intersectional journeys of belonging, as they create, negotiate and enact their intersectional identities of the country of origin, gender and being entrepreneurs in the UK and Romania.

Design/methodology/approach

This Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) draws on draws upon Crenshaw's (1991) intersectional and Social Identity theories (Tajfel and Turner, 1979) to investigate how nine interviewed RWMEs have experienced their transnational journeys of acculturative belonging in the UK and Romania.

Findings

The study findings show how RWMEs undo and negotiate their intersecting identities to adhere to socio-cultural standards in both their host and native nations. In the UK, they feel empowered as women entrepreneurs, but in patriarchal Romania, their entrepreneurial identity is revoked, contradicting the prescribed socio-cultural roles.

Research limitations/implications

This study responds to the call regarding inequalities in entrepreneurship opportunities (Vershinina et al., 2022). By focussing on the understudied community of RWMEs and exploring new intersectional and transnational contextual insights, it contributes to the literature and practice of migrant entrepreneurship. These empirical findings are essential for the development of evidence-based, disaggregated entrepreneurship programmes and policies.

Originality/value

This study responds to the call regarding inequalities in entrepreneurship opportunities (Vershinina et al., 2022). By focussing on the understudied community of RWMEs and exploring new intersectional and transnational contextual insights, it contributes to the literature and practice of migrant entrepreneurship. These empirical findings are essential for the development of evidence-based, disaggregated entrepreneurship programmes and policies.
Senior citizens' intrinsic and extrinsic work motivation
Authors: Anxo Dominique , Ericson Thomas
Published: October 2023

Purpose

It is important to understand why some workers prolong their working life even though they are entitled to statutory pension benefits. This paper aims to investigate whether senior workers are motivated by external factors such as pay and social expectations (extrinsic motivation) or are primarily motivated by internal factors such as job satisfaction (intrinsic motivation). This is a central question for policymakers and social partners when it comes to the design of public pension systems and work organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a combined longitudinal administrative data and an own-designed postal survey to ask individuals aged 65–76 years to describe their work motivation. Based on the answers, this study constructs an index of autonomous motivation (AM) where a value of zero implies only extrinsic motivation and a value of one implies only intrinsic motivation. The values between zero and one thus imply various grades of AM, where higher values signal motivation that is more autonomous and hence a higher degree of intrinsic work motivation.

Findings

The results of the statistical analysis show that the extent of intrinsic motivation is higher among senior workers who retired aged 65 years or older compared to those who retired at 65 years or younger. In addition, this study found that the degree of intrinsic work motivation among senior workers decreases when they face economic and financial constraints. It also found that intrinsic motivation is more prevalent among high-skilled workers.

Research limitations/implications

This study shows that individuals who continue to work after 65 are mostly motivated by the satisfaction they derive from their job. Job satisfaction is strongly related to skill level, job quality, job content and job autonomy. Results indicate that job quality and commitment to work are essential elements for motivating seniors to postpone retirement.

Originality/value

This study contributes to this literature by applying a multidisciplinary approach from organisational psychology and labour economics that considers the potential importance of intrinsic motivation to work after standard retirement age. The authors think that this approach enhances the understanding of the mechanisms behind the lengthening of working life. Finally, this study suggests a simple, but efficient way of empirically measuring the extent of intrinsic motivation among workers.
“Strategic, dual sense of place” among middle-aged migrants in the diaspora
Authors: Bhanye Johannes
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Compared to younger and older generation migrants, middle-aged migrants in the diaspora seem to be more conflicted regarding their belonging. This paper aims to explore how middle-aged migrants in the diaspora define themselves in space and time.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on ethnographic fieldwork done among Malawian migrants (herein referred to as Lydiatians) settled at Lydiate informal settlement in peri-urban Zimbabwe.

Findings

The paper reveals that, while younger migrants have a “radical transnational stance”, and older migrants regard their place of settlement as their final home, middle-aged migrants prefer to maintain a “strategic dual sense of place” regarding their place of settlement in the diaspora. These middle-aged migrants can be entrepreneurs considering their current settlement as a strategic place for petty commodity trading or those who find informal settlements to provide needed opportunities for cheap housing as the migrants pursue work in the nearby towns.

Practical implications

The paper offers a deeper understanding of how middle-aged migrants navigate their sense of place and contribute to host nations by functioning as key resources, dynamizing local economies through entrepreneurial activities and labour provision for various industries. The implications of this research should encourage states to positively interact with migrants, leveraging their potential for societal and economic development.

Originality/value

The finding that migrants in the diaspora have a dual, strategic view of their settlements is fascinating, if not new. Before this, scholars presented migrants as transnational figures, successively moving to a better place, which finally becomes home. However, the data presented in this paper suggests that this characterization associating migrants with maintaining a “stable, sedentary, bounded and fixed perception of home” is oversimplified. This is because migrants can sometimes continue to cherish the idea of informal settlements in the diaspora as home, just as the migrants also entertain the nearby established towns as useful places in their life.
Methodological approach for an Atlas of architectural design in built heritage: contributions of the School of Porto
Authors: Ferreira Teresa Cunha , Ordóñez-Castañón David , Fernandes Póvoas Rui
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This research seeks to provide methodological bases for the identification, documentation and critical reflection of good practices of architectural design in built heritage. These are applied explicitly to the School of Porto architects, which express a high sense of pedagogy and community practice in this field. The methodological approach defines the selection criteria for a georeferenced inventory and the procedures for in-depth analysis of adaptive reuse strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The works included in the inventory were selected according to geographical, chronological, typological, qualitative and quantitative criteria. The cases chosen for in-depth analysis have been studied along four thematic axes to dissect all the intervention processes (previous state, design/construction and final state). This approach is supported by a cross-analysis of different sources (oral, written, graphic) and using drawing as a fundamental research tool.

Findings

The research has collected and disseminated up to 150 works by 44 architects, providing a comprehensive portrait of heritage intervention by the School of Porto over the past decades. The selection of 22 buildings for in-depth documentation reveals a particular sensibility toward the cultural values through a case-by-case approach based in deep knowledge of the preexisting context and the introduction of contemporary additions in continuity and harmonious relation with the environmental and sociocultural context.

Originality/value

This work provides a novel methodology suitable for further extension and adaptation to other case studies, as a first contribution to a more comprehensive “Atlas of Architectural Design in Built Heritage” with European case studies. The research aims to introduce new and deeper perspectives on reference works that may constitute pedagogy for the future practice of architects within contextual, inclusive and sustainable approaches.
Communicating a sense of safety: the public experience of Swedish Police Instagram communication
Authors: Sjöberg Jens , Cassinger Cecilia , Rampazzo Gambarato Renira
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The research aim of this article is to generate novel insights into how public sector organizations (PSOs) strategically communicate with the public about critical issues on social media. To this end, the study explores the public's experiences of the Swedish Police's sense of safety communication on Instagram in the third largest city in Sweden, where the lack of a sense of public safety is a main societal challenge.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was designed as a case study employing photo-elicitation interviews as a method to collect the empirical material. A phenomenography approach was used to analyze public experiences of the Swedish Police's Instagram communication in Malmö, Sweden.

Findings

Findings show that the police's strategic communication of safety on Instagram is experienced along the dimensions of a sense of protection, a sense of proximity and a sense of ambiguity. Taken together, these dimensions broaden and develop the knowledge of what communicating a sense of safety in the public sphere entails.

Originality/value

This study adds to previous research on strategic communication in public sector organizations by demonstrating what strategic communication accomplishes at the receiving end outside of the organization.
An Islamic cultural analysis of managerial decision-making
Authors: Al Qur’an Marwan N.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review and analyze assumptions and the appropriateness of the most dominant strategic decision-making theories within the Islamic cultural context as an attempt to develop an Islamic decision-making framework.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopted the integrative literature review approach as a research method (Torraco, 2005). This method allows the researcher to evaluate and syndicate the relevant literature to, critically, review and expand on the theoretical foundation of the topic and, hence, develop new theoretical perspectives and views.

Findings

Based on the critical review of the decision-making theories from an Islamic perspective, Islamic culture confirms the behavioural decision theory as the most appropriate approach to make strategic decisions in organizations. In addition, the study reveals that mutual consultation and consultative decision-making (Shura), based on knowledge and Islamic ethics, is the principal Islamic approach to strategic decision-making.

Practical implications

The developed Islamic decision-making framework will, significantly, assist management practitioners, managers and policy makers in both private and governmental organizations to improve their decision-making skills through adopting the Shura approach in decision-making.

Originality/value

The paper expands the boundaries of knowledge in managerial decision-making through developing an Islamic decision-making framework. This theoretical framework brings new insights and open new opportunities of thinking on Islamic decision-making among business scholars and represents fundamental grounds for future research in cross-cultural management in the area of managerial decision-making from an Islamic perspective, which is rare among scholars of management.
“You reap what you sow”: unraveling the determinants of knowledge hoarding behavior using a three-wave study
Authors: Shukla Mudit , Tyagi Divya , Mishra Sushanta Kumar
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Based on the conservation of resources theory, this study aims to investigate if the fear of career harm influences employees’ knowledge-hoarding behavior. The study further examines felt violation as the predictor of employees’ fear of career harm. The study also explores leader-member exchange as a boundary factor influencing the effect of felt violation on employees’ fear of career harm.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected in three waves from 402 professionals working in the information technology industry in Bengaluru, popularly known as the Silicon Valley of India.

Findings

The findings indicate fear of career harm as a critical predictor of employees’ knowledge-hoarding behavior. Moreover, felt violation indirectly impacts knowledge-hoarding behavior by enhancing employees’ fear of career harm. The adverse effect of felt violation was found to be stronger for employees with poor-quality relationships with their leaders.

Practical implications

The study carries important managerial implications as it uncovers the antecedents of knowledge hoarding. First, the human resource department can devise specific guidelines to ensure that the employees are treated the way they were promised. They can also organize training opportunities and mentoring so that the employees’ performance and growth do not get hampered, even if there is a violation. Moreover, such cases should be addressed in an adequate and expedited manner. More significantly, leaders can compensate for the failure of organizational-level levers by developing quality relationships with their subordinates.

Originality/value

The study advances the existing literature on knowledge hoarding by establishing a novel antecedent. Furthermore, it identifies how the employee-leader relationship’s quality can mitigate the adverse effect of felt violation.
Media literacy: students’ ability to respond to fake news on Instagram
Authors: Agissa Adellia , Mutia Fitri
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The spread of fake news on Instagram is still a problem that needs to be solved. Teenagers are a generation that is vulnerable to fake news, for example, high school students. Students need media literacy to help them protect against fake news. The media literacy skills possessed by students influence the behavior of spreading fake news that they do. This study aims to examine the effect of student media literacy on the behavior of spreading fake news on Instagram among students at public high schools in Surabaya.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used an online survey to100 students at five public high school in Surabaya to get the data on their ability to respond to the fake news on social media Instagram.

Findings

It was found that there is a media literacy that has a significant effect on the behavior of spreading fake news on Instagram. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that media literacy influences the behavior of spreading fake news on Instagram, and other factors influence the rest. There are seven media literacy skills, and the high category are grouping, deduction, synthesis and abstraction abilities. Meanwhile, the abilities included in the medium category are analysis and evaluation abilities.

Originality/value

This paper will provide insight of the media literacy levels on teenagers in metropolitan city. This result can be used as guide to add the media literacy subject at high schools and can be used to strengthen the media literacy skills among teenagers.
Street re-design for the adoption of autonomous vehicles: case of the city of Doha, Qatar
Authors: Hasan Mahnoor , Fadli Fodil
Published: October 2023

Purpose

There is lack of knowledge about how the existing streets need to be redesigned and the infrastructural changes that need to be made to adopt autonomous vehicles. The purpose of this study is to investigate the infrastructure requirements of autonomous vehicles in terms of (1) lane widths, (2) parking spaces, (3) drop-off zones and (4) other facilities, followed by analyzing them and suggesting changes in the existing urban design of Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD).

Design/methodology/approach

Mixed method of combining both qualitative (secondary research of analyzing the existing data about the urban design guidelines for an autonomous future, observations of the existing infrastructure) and quantitative methods (on-site measurements of pedestrian walkways and road lane widths) is used.

Findings

The outcome of the research consists of a series of major infrastructural changes with regard to lane widths, parking spaces, pick-up and drop-off zones and other facilities needed for the deployment of autonomous vehicles.

Practical implications

The results imply that Qatar can benefit by adopting the proposed urban design suggestions for the implementation of autonomous vehicles on the streets of MDD in particular, and smart cities of Qatar and the region in general.

Social implications

The proposed changes can work as a reference and serve as a possible setting for addressing Autonomous Vehicle preparations in emerging cities.

Originality/value

The proposed urban design changes can be adapted for an autonomous future in emerging cities.
A critical review of the antecedents of enabling communities
Authors: Harrison Tom
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Adopting a sense of critical enquiry when examining historical sources, it is possible to gain a richer and broader sense of present practice. The aim of this study is to emphasise the importance of historical research to present practice in teasing out the different elements at work and how they developed. A core assumption is that our consciousness depends on our interactions with others.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is part of ongoing research into the historical background of the practice of discerning compassion. The methods used include archival research and the reading of primary and secondary literature.

Findings

In particular, it becomes clear that this way of working is always going to be problematic for political authorities as it promotes the questioning of accepted beliefs. This study emphasises that the core concepts underlying enabling community practice reach deep into the past and involve events not usually associated with the traditional histories of the approach. In particular, exploring outside of the traditional mental hospital background reveals a greater involvement of women than previously demonstrated. There are processes that have deep historical roots, the culture of enquiry, the benefits of mutual support and the understanding that people flourish better interacting with each other in a supportive and trusting environment rather than through coercion and instruction.

Research limitations/implications

As with all historical research, this paper is limited by the resources available to examine particular events.

Practical implications

Recognition of the importance of historical enquiry as relevant to present-day practice.

Social implications

Historical enquiry helps to acknowledge the importance of social events in shaping our present understanding. As W.H. Rivers argues, we have to understand what happened in the past before comprehending why present sociological events occur.

Originality/value

This paper is a unique enquiry into the early historical antecedents of enabling community practice. It is intended to stimulate more research into the field and to stimulate debate about the relevance of particular aspects of practice. It refers to sources that are not usually part of such discussions and, by implication, suggests that there is more to be explored. It is not an exhaustive account and is to be supplemented by another paper on leadership.
Field experiments have enhanced our understanding of drought impacts on terrestrial ecosystems—But where do we go from here?
Authors: Knapp Alan K. , Condon Kathleen V. , Folks Christine C. , Sturchio Matthew A. , Griffin‐Nolan Robert J. , Kannenberg Steven A. , Gill Amy S. , Hajek Olivia L. , Siggers J. Alexander , Smith Melinda D.
Published: October 2023

We review results from field experiments that simulate drought, an ecologically impactful global change threat that is predicted to increase in magnitude, extent, duration and frequency. Our goal is to address, from primarily an ecosystem perspective, the questions ‘What have we learned from drought experiments?’ and ‘Where do we go from here?’.

Drought experiments are among the most numerous climate change manipulations and have been deployed across a wide range of biomes, although most are conducted in short‐statured, water‐limited ecosystems. Collectively, these experiments have enabled ecologists to quantify the negative responses to drought that occur for most aspects of ecosystem structure and function. Multiple meta‐analyses of responses have also enabled comparisons of relative effect sizes of drought across hundreds of sites, particularly for carbon cycle metrics. Overall, drought experiments have provided strong evidence that ecosystem sensitivity to drought increases with aridity, but that plant traits associated with aridity are not necessarily predictive of drought resistance. There is also intriguing evidence that as drought magnitude or duration increases to extreme levels, plant strategies may shift from drought tolerance to drought escape/avoidance.

We highlight three areas where more drought experiments are needed to advance our understanding. First, because drought is intensifying in multiple ways, experiments are needed that address alterations in drought magnitude versus duration, timing and/or frequency (individually and interactively). Second, drivers of drought may be shifting—from precipitation deficits to rising atmospheric demand for water—and disentangling how ecosystems respond to changes in hydrological ‘supply versus demand’ is critical for understanding drought impacts in the future. Finally, more attention should be focussed on post‐drought recovery periods since legacies of drought can affect ecosystem functioning much longer than the drought itself.

We conclude with a call for a fundamental shift in the focus of drought experiments from those designed primarily as ‘response experiments’, quantifying the magnitude of change in ecosystem structure and function, to more ‘mechanistic experiments’—those that explicitly manipulate ecological processes or attributes thought to underpin drought responses.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
A novel automatic source point deviating method based on dynamic programming
Authors: Long Li , Zhang Chunxia , Wang Hongtao , Zhang Jiangshe , Wang Yan , Zhu Xujiang , Zhao Huibing , Xu Yinpo , Wu Long
Published: October 2023

Seismic geometry design is the first step for the seismic prospecting, which would substantially influence the quality of acquired seismic data. Earlier researchers have focused more on tuning systemic parameters and offsetting source points. However, due to the complex geographical factors, the real layout is often different from the pre‐plan design, which is designed by experts in advance. In this paper, we aim to address the source point deviating problem when the pre‐plan design is unsuitable for geographical conditions. Although there exist many research works in this aspect, few of them have been applied in practice and the offset of source points in the field still mainly relies on manual work. In this paper, we propose a method based on dynamic programming to deviate source points automatically while maintaining the smoothness of source lines and taking the uniformity of fold distribution into account. To verify the effectiveness of our method, we also compare the uniformity of offset and azimuth after automatically deviating source points with the pre‐plan design. Experimental results show that our proposed method achieves better uniformity and keeps more smooth source lines which are conducive to the construction. Moreover, on the data set collected in a mountainous area, we observe that our method slightly suppresses the acquisition footprints.
The suitability of using domestic pigs (Sus spp.) as human proxies in the geophysical detection of clandestine graves
Authors: Berezowski Victoria , Moffat Ian , Seckiner Dilan , Crebert Isabella , Ellis Justin , Mallett Xanthé
Published: October 2023

Research in many forensic science fields commonly uses domestic pigs (Sus spp.) as proxies for human remains, due to their physiological and anatomical similarities, as well as being more readily available. Unfortunately, previous research, especially that which compares the decompositional process, has shown that pigs are not appropriate proxies for humans. To date, there has not been any published research that specifically addresses whether domestic pigs are adequate human proxies for the geophysical detection of clandestine graves. As such, the aim of this paper was to compare the geophysical responses of pig cadavers and human donor graves, in order to determine if pigs can indeed be used as adequate human proxies. To accomplish this, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) responses on single and multiple pig cadaver graves were compared to single and multiple human donor graves, all of which are in known locations within the same geological environment. The results showed that under field conditions, both GPR and ERT were successful at observing human and pig burials, with no obvious differences between the detected geophysical responses. The results also showed that there were no differences in the geophysical responses of those who were clothed and unclothed. The similarity of the responses may reflect that the geophysical techniques can detect graves despite what their contents are. The study implications suggest that experimental studies in other soil and climate conditions can be easily replicated, benefiting law enforcement with missing persons cases.
Frailty in the prediction of delirium in the intensive care unit: A secondary analysis of the Deli study
Authors: Frost Steven A. , Brennan Kathleen , Sanchez David , Lynch Joan , Hedges Sonja , Hou Yu Chin , El Sayfe Masar , Shunker Sharon‐Ann , Bogdanovski Tony , Hunt Leanne , Alexandrou Evan , Rolls Kaye , Chroinin Danielle Ni , Aneman Anders
Published: October 2023

Background

Delirium is an acute disorder of attention and cognition with an incidence of up to 70% in the adult intensive care setting. Due to the association with significantly increased morbidity and mortality, it is important to identify who is at the greatest risk of an acute episode of delirium while being cared for in the intensive care. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of the cumulative deficit frailty index and clinical frailty scale to predict an acute episode of delirium among adults admitted to the intensive care.

Methods

This study is a secondary analysis of the Deli intervention study, a hybrid stepped‐wedge cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of a nurse‐led intervention to reduce the incidence and duration of delirium among adults admitted to the four adult intensive care units in the south‐west of Sydney, Australia. Important predictors of delirium were identified using a bootstrap approach and the absolute risks, based on the cumulative deficit frailty index and the clinical frailty scale are presented.

Results

During the 10‐mth data collection period (May 2019 and February 2020) 2566 patients were included in the study. Both the cumulative deficit frailty index and the clinical frailty scale on admission, plus age, sex, and APACHE III (AP III) score were able to discriminate between patients who did and did not experience an acute episode of delirium while in the intensive care, with AUC of 0.701 and 0.703 (moderate discriminatory ability), respectively. The addition of a frailty index to a prediction model based on age, sex, and APACHE III score, resulted in net reclassified of risk. Nomograms to individualize the absolute risk of delirium using these predictors are also presented.

Conclusion

We have been able to show that both the cumulative deficits frailty index and clinical frailty scale predict an acute episode of delirium among adults admitted to intensive care.
Acceptability of using the Raising Awareness Tool for Endometriosis (RATE) in general practice: a mixed methods pilot study
Authors: Frayne Jacqueline , Milroy Talila , Rook Charlotte , Simonis Magdalena , Lam Alan
Published: October 2023

Aims

The Raising Awareness Tool for Endometriosis (RATE) was developed to facilitate discussions with health providers regarding endometriosis‐associated symptoms. We aim to evaluate the acceptability of the RATE by general practitioners (GP), including determining the prevalence of symptoms of women presenting to general practice and immediate management of symptoms.

Methods

A mixed‐methods study was undertaken using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data in Western Australian General Practices from 2021 to 2022. A purposive sample of 12 GPs were included, who recruited women (18–50 years) on attendance for consultation over a one‐ to two‐week period, followed by qualitative interviews exploring GPs’ experiences with the tool. The quantitative and qualitative components were integrated during analysis of results.

Results

A total of 111 women completed the RATE (mean: 33, standard deviation: 8.6 years) prior to routine consultation. The tool was considered to be acceptable for use in general practice and aided discussions on symptoms and management. Overall, 68.5% of patients experienced pelvic pain or discomfort, with 22.4% rating that this interfered with quality of life. Of those with pelvic pain, 75% had associated chronic pain conditions, and 42.1% reported allodynia. The chronic pain questions provoked GP uncertainty. After symptoms were identified, GPs arranged individualised investigations and follow‐up.

Conclusions

The RATE was considered to be acceptable for use in the general practice setting. It identified symptoms and initiated discussions on possible diagnosis as well as management of endometriosis. Further GP education on identifying those women at most risk of developing chronic pain syndromes is needed.
Time trends in human papillomavirus prevalence and genotype distribution in vulvar carcinoma in Norway
Authors: Meltzer‐Gunnes Christin Julia , Lie Agnes Kathrine , Jonassen Christine Genevieve Monceyron , Rangberg Anbjørg , Nystrand Camilla Furlund , Småstuen Milada Cvancarova , Vistad Ingvild
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Approximately 25%–43% of all vulvar carcinomas are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). In many countries, vulvar carcinoma incidence rates are increasing, possibly due to greater HPV exposure. However, studies exploring changes in HPV prevalence and genotype distribution in vulvar carcinoma over time are scarce. Our aim was to evaluate time trends in HPV prevalence and genotype distribution in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma in an unselected, nationwide sample of Norwegian women. Further, we explored clinical and histopathological aspects in relation to HPV status and investigated whether HPV status was associated with survival.

Material and methods

All vulvar squamous cell carcinoma cases from 1970–1975 and 2000–2005 were extracted from the Cancer Registry of Norway and corresponding tissue blocks were retrieved. After detailed histology review, HPV testing was conducted using real‐time TaqMan PCR. Overall survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to estimate hazard ratios adjusted for age at diagnosis, stage and diagnostic period.

Results

Histological review was performed on 352 vulvar squamous cell carcinoma cases. We were able to obtain valid HPV analysis results for 282 cases, Overall, 29.8% (95% CI 24.5%–35.5%) of cases were high‐risk HPV (hrHPV)‐positive. When comparing the two periods, we found that the percentage of hrHPV‐positive tumors increased significantly from 23% (95% CI 16.0%–31.4%) in 1970–1975 to 35.3% (95% CI 27.8%–43.3%) in 2000–2005 (P = 0.025). The predominant genotypes were HPV 16 (73%), HPV 33 (21%), and HPV 18 (6%), with similar distributions in both periods. In the more recent cohort, several additional genotypes were detected: HPV 6, 11, 39, 45, 52, 58 and 66 were found in smaller percentages, ranging from 1.8% to 3.6%. In univariate analysis, patients with HPV‐positive tumors showed improved overall survival compared with patients with HPV‐negative tumors (hazard ratio [HR] 0.65, 95% CI 0.48–0.86).

Conclusions

The prevalence of HPV in vulvar squamous cell carcinomas in Norway was significantly higher in 2000–2005 than in 1970–1975. The three predominant genotypes were HPV 16, 33 and 18 in both time periods. However, several other HPV genotypes have emerged over the last decades. HPV‐positivity was associated with better overall survival.
90 versus 60 min of early skin‐to‐skin contact on exclusive breastfeeding rate in healthy infants' ≥35 weeks: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Raj Kumawat Shalini , Vyas Himanshu , Mohan Remiya , Sasidharan Rohit , Yadav Bharti , Gupta Neeraj
Published: October 2023

Aim

To compare the effect of 90 versus 60 min of early skin‐to‐skin contact (SSC) among vaginally born healthy infants ≥35 weeks of gestation on their exclusive breastfeeding rates and breastfeeding behaviour.

Methods

This parallel‐group, open‐label, randomised controlled trial enrolled healthy term and late preterm infants born vaginally. Infants in the intervention group received early SSC for 90 min compared to 60 min in the control group. The primary outcome was the proportion of infants on exclusive breastfeeding at 60 ± 12 h.

Results

One hundred ninety‐eight mother–infant dyads were randomised (99 in each group). The infants in the 90‐min SSC group were more likely to be exclusively breastfed at 60 ± 12 h as compared to the 60‐min SSC group (RR, 95% CI‐1.44, [1.15–1.79], p < 0.01). The modified infant breastfeeding assessment tool score at 60 ± 12 h was significantly higher in the 90‐min SSC group (median [IQR]‐9, [8, 10] versus 8 [7, 10], p = 0.03]. The proportion of infants on exclusive breastfeeding at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age was also significantly higher in the 90‐min SSC group (RR, 95% CI‐1.39 [1.11–1.74], 1.36 [1.08–1.07], and 1.38 [1.08–1.75], respectively).

Conclusion

Increasing the duration of early SSC showed a dose–response benefit on exclusive breastfeeding rates and breastfeeding behaviour.

Trial registration

CTRI/2018/09/015632, registered on 06/09/2018.
Impact of the extent of lymph node dissection on survival outcomes in clinically lymph node‐positive bladder cancer
Authors: von Deimling Markus , Furrer Marc , Mertens Laura S. , Mari Andrea , van Ginkel Noor , Bacchiani Mara , Maas Moritz , Pichler Renate , Li Roger , Moschini Marco , Bianchi Alberto , Vetterlein Malte W. , Lonati Chiara , Crocetto Felice , Taylor Jacob , Tully Karl H. , Afferi Luca , Soria Francesco , del Giudice Francesco , Longoni Mattia , Laukhtina Ekaterina , Antonelli Alessandro , Rink Michael , Fisch Margit , Lotan Yair , Spiess Philippe E. , Black Peter C. , Kiss Bernhard , Pradere Benjamin , Shariat Shahrokh F. ,   CLIPOLY Study Group Collaborators
Published: October 2023

Objective

To determine the oncological impact of extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) vs standard PLND (sPLND) during radical cystectomy (RC) in clinically lymph node‐positive (cN+) bladder cancer (BCa).

Patients and Methods

In this retrospective, multicentre study we included 969 patients who underwent RC with sPLND (internal/external iliac and obturator lymph nodes) or ePLND (sPLND plus common iliac and presacral nodes) with or without platin‐based peri‐operative chemotherapy for cTany N1‐3 M0 BCa between 1991 and 2022. We assessed the impact of ePLND on recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and the distribution of recurrences (locoregional and distant recurrences). The secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS). We performed propensity‐score matching using covariates associated with the extent of PLND in univariable logistic regression analysis. The association of the extent of PLND with RFS and OS was investigated using Cox regression models.

Results

Of 969 cN+ patients, 510 were 1:1 matched on propensity scores. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) time to recurrence was 8 (4–16) months, and median (IQR) follow‐up of alive patients was 30 (13–51) months. Disease recurrence was observed in 104 patients in the ePLND and 107 in the sPLND group. Of these, 136 (27%), 47 (9.2%) and 19 patients (3.7%) experienced distant, locoregional, or both distant and locoregional disease recurrence, respectively. When stratified by the extent of PLND, we did not find a difference in recurrence patterns (P > 0.05). ePLND improved neither RFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70–1.19; P = 0.5) nor OS (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.60–1.01; P = 0.06) compared to sPLND. Stratification by induction chemotherapy did not change outcomes.

Conclusion

Performing an ePLND at the time of RC in cN+ patients improved neither RFS nor OS compared to sPLND, regardless of induction chemotherapy status. Pretreatment risk stratification is paramount to identify ideal candidates for RC with ePLND as part of a multimodal treatment approach.