bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep Proteome Profiling of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
Authors: Boel Felix , Akimov Vyacheslav , Teuchler Mathias , Terkelsen Mike Krogh , Wernberg Charlotte Wilhelmina , Larsen Frederik Tibert , Hallenborg Philip , Lauridsen Mette Munk , Krag Aleksander , Mandrup Susanne , Ravnskjær Kim , Blagoev Blagoy
Published: May 2024

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects roughly 1 in 3 adults and is a leading cause of liver transplants and liver related mortality. A deeper understanding of disease pathogenesis is essential to assist in developing blood-based biomarkers. Here, we use data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry to assess disease-state associated protein profiles in human liver, blood plasma, and white adipose tissue (WAT). In liver, we find that MASLD is associated with an increased abundance of proteins involved in immune response and extracellular matrix (ECM) and a decrease in proteins involved in metabolism. Cell type deconvolution of the proteome indicate liver endothelial and hepatic stellate cells as main source of the ECM rearrangements, and hepatocytes as the major contributor to the changes in liver metabolism. In the blood, profiles of several MASLD-associated proteins that correlate with their expression in WAT rather than liver yet could serve as suitable liver disease predictors in a multi-protein panel marker. Moreover, our proteomics-based logistic regression models consistently outperform existing methods for predicting MASLD and liver fibrosis from human blood samples.
What makes consumers buy from the informal rather than formal retail market? A consumption value perspective
Authors: Sarker Moniruzzaman , Munerah Siti , Yinyi Angie Teh , Kasem Nafisa , Hoque Imranul
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to understand consumption values buying from informal retail markets (i.e., street vendor retailing). It also explores why consumers prefer daily necessary goods from the informal compared to the formal retail market (such as supermarkets, retail chain outlets and e-commerce).

Design/methodology/approach

Employing the qualitative research approach, this study collected data from nine respondents in two areas in Malaysia. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using the thematic analysis technique. Only representative verbatim codes were presented under five themes of consumption value theory.

Findings

Consumers are triggered by the convenience, ease, and exclusive products (conditional value), friendly and known relationship with informal sellers, as well as the availability of some particular food items (emotional value) and lower price and freshness of groceries (functional value) while buying from informal compared to formal retail vendor.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides knowledge implications to the consumption value theory. Functional, emotional, and conditional values are the dominant components of purchase behaviour in informal compared to formal retail channels. Social values are common, whereas epistemic value is more substantial in formal retailing.

Practical implications

Findings are helpful for informal retail businesses to understand consumers' buying behaviour. Informal retail owners should ensure that commodities are fresh, highly affordable and available in the local communities. Building a friendly relationship with consumers would be a key to the success of this retail sector.

Social implications

Authorities should support informal sellers to set up mobile retail stores in residential areas. This effort would offer greater convenience to both parties in informal businesses and ensure informal sellers' financial and social well-being.

Originality/value

Despite the widespread acceptance of buying goods from informal retail vendors, research on consumption value in informal retailing is largely overlooked. Previous research primarily deals with formal market phenomena due to their size and economic contribution. Consequently, current literature lacks an understanding of why consumers prefer to buy from informal retail vendors for their daily groceries when the formal retail channel could fulfil similar needs. Using a qualitative research design, this research uncovers consumers' buying motives from informal compared to formal vendors.
Housing search activity and quantiles-based predictability of housing price movements in the USA
Authors: Gupta Rangan , Moodley Damien
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Recent evidence from a linear econometric framework infers that housing search activity, captured from Google Trends data, can predict housing returns for the USA at a national and regional (metropolitan statistical area [MSA]) level. Based on search theory, the authors, however, postulate that search activity can also predict housing returns volatility. This study aims to explore the possibility of using online search activity to predict both housing returns and volatility.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a k-th order non-parametric causality-in-quantiles test allows us to test for predictability in a robust manner over the entire conditional distribution of both housing price returns and its volatility (i.e. squared returns) by controlling for nonlinearity and structural breaks that exist in the data.

Findings

The analysis over the monthly period of 2004:01 to 2021:01 produces results indicating that while housing search activity continues to predict aggregate US house price returns, barring the extreme ends of the conditional distribution, volatility is relatively strongly predicted over the entire quantile range considered. The results carry over to an alternative (the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity-based) metric of volatility, higher (weekly)-frequency data (over January 2018–March 2021) and to over 84% of the 77 MSAs considered.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study regarding predictability of overall and regional US housing price returns and volatility using search activity, based on a non-parametric higher-order causality-in-quantiles framework, which is insightful to investors, policymakers and academics.
Longitudinal perceptions of gamified loyalty programs (GLPs): a mix of slot machines and entertainment toys
Authors: Lopes José Varela , Casais Beatriz
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper seeks to understand users' perceptions of their experiences in mobile applications (apps) with gamified loyalty programs (GLPs) that use rewards as the primary engagement vehicle. The research focuses particularly on the motivations to further interact with GLPs and the motivational changes occurring after successive interactions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted weekly open qualitative interviews over a month (four rounds of interviews) with five Portuguese active users of the mobile app Yorn Shake It, from Vodafone, which is a relevant case study to illustrate GLPs in mobile apps.

Findings

Participants' motivations to interact with the mentioned GLP are shaped by the reward incentive and users' perceptions of the gamified interactive experience. Motivational changes occur regardless of the presence of external contingencies and depend on contextual changes or perceived results of the gamified experience. This means that rewards also satisfy intrinsic needs, but users may remain connected to the system as long as fun experiences are provided without exhausting perceptions. Also, motivation may turn to reward contingencies when the challenge becomes boring.

Originality

This is the first qualitative study explaining the perceptions of gamified experiences after continued participation, extending knowledge about the importance of a fair balance between the value and achievement of rewards and the entertainment of the challenge provided after continued exposure. The findings provide insights to GLP marketing managers and developers to better engage target audiences according to their needs and past experience, creating levels of challenges and fair rewards to maintain motivation and prevent abandonment after continued exposure.
An integrated model combining BERT and tree-augmented naive Bayes for analyzing risk factors of construction accident
Authors: Liu Shupeng , Shen Jianhong , Zhang Jing
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Learning from past construction accident reports is critical to reducing their occurrence. Digital technology provides feasibility for extracting risk factors from unstructured reports, but there are few related studies, and there is a limitation that textual contextual information cannot be considered during extraction, which tends to miss some important factors. Meanwhile, further analysis, assessment and control for the extracted factors are lacking. This paper aims to explore an integrated model that combines the advantages of multiple digital technologies to effectively solve the above problems.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1000 construction accident reports from Chinese government websites were used as the dataset of this paper. After text pre-processing, the risk factors related to accident causes were extracted using KeyBERT, and the accident texts were encoded into structured data. Tree-augmented naive (TAN) Bayes was used to learn the data and construct a visualized risk analysis network for construction accidents.

Findings

The use of KeyBERT successfully considered the textual contextual information, prompting the extracted risk factors to be more complete. The integrated TAN successfully further explored construction risk factors from multiple perspectives, including the identification of key risk factors, the coupling analysis of risk factors and the troubleshooting method of accident risk source. The area under curve (AUC) value of the model reaches up to 0.938 after 10-fold cross-validation, indicating good performance.

Originality/value

This paper presents a new machine-assisted integrated model for accident report mining and risk factor analysis, and the research findings can provide theoretical and practical support for accident safety management.
Beware the puppeteers: the role of geopolitics in the bargaining dynamics between a Russian politically connected MNC and the country of Montenegro
Authors: Ermolaeva Liubov , Panibratov Andrei , Dikova Desislava
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to use the obsolescing bargaining power (OBP) Model (Vernon, 1977, 1998) to analyze the case of United Company Rusal, a Russian politically connected multinational companies (MNCs) that was one of the world’s largest aluminum companies between 2005 and 2014, having acquired and, ultimately, sold the Montenegrin aluminum smelter company Kombinat aluminijuma Podgorica.The authors did so with the aim of answering the following question: How do geopolitics affect the bargaining balance of power between a Russian MNC and a host country?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used the discourse analysis methodology to identify the key players in the bargaining process and illustrate the evolving bargaining process.

Findings

The authors demonstrated that, over time, the shift in power from the Russian MNC to the host government had not merely been the result of the increase in committed MNC assets in the host country but, rather, of a geopolitical chess game involving the Russian Government, North Atlantic treaty organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU). By extending the OBP model with geopolitics, the authors found that a political agenda can influence the outcome of a bargaining process.

Originality/value

The authors extended the OBP model to illustrate the complex interaction between an emerging market MNC and an emerging host country government, indirectly influenced by two supranational organizations – the EU and NATO.
The impact of COVID‐19 stay‐at‐home orders on domestic violence assaults: A study of New South Wales
Authors: Graceffo Jake
Published: May 2024

Introduction of stay‐at‐home orders during the COVID 19 pandemic led to immediate disruption of individuals' daily routines with confinement to their households and changes in risk factors of domestic violence. Utilising data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), I estimate the causal impact of stay‐at‐home orders on domestic violence assaults in New South Wales. Since adoption dates for these restrictions varied across LGAs, I implement a staggered difference‐in‐difference (DiD) specification. I find a 21% decline in daily domestic violence assault incidents during stay‐at‐home order periods compared to pre‐restriction incidence levels. These results are robust under weekly frequency and extrapolated fixed effects models. I further utilise google search term data as a proxy of consistent reporting rates and unemployment data to identify household power dynamics. Analysis of both data sets support estimates of declines in domestic violence during stay‐at‐home order periods.
Retaining Australian Nurses: An Analysis of Nurses' Wages and Exit Rates
Authors: Sharma Geena
Published: May 2024

This study examines factors influencing Australian nurses' decisions to quit their jobs, the pathways they take after quitting, and estimates the average wage change associated with a nurse changing professions. Using data from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey and panel data estimation methods, we find that a nurse's pre‐exit hourly wage is significantly associated with their exit decision when controlling for relevant exogenous factors. We also find that most nurses who change professions stay in the healthcare sector, which is characterised by significant increases in hourly wages and occupational prestige and suggests that these nurses change jobs for better opportunities. We conclude that while nurses' exit decisions are not associated with a loss of human capital in healthcare, higher wages would have to be paid if the policy objective is to increase nurse retention.
The effect and timing sensitivity of parenting style on cognitive and non‐cognitive skills
Authors: Lie Benaya
Published: May 2024

I exploit data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children and linked administrative data to study the effect of various parenting styles on a child's academic achievement and development of non‐cognitive skills at age 14. My results suggest the authoritative parenting style, characterised as disciplined but warm parenting, to be optimal for test scores, prosocial behaviour, and ability to focus. For test scores, I find a greater effect if this parenting style was applied 4 years prior rather than more recently. Conversely for non‐cognitive skills, I find a greater effect from contemporaneous parenting. The implication of my results is to encourage authoritative parenting from an early age but also highlight its continued importance in the present.
‘Stick to the status quo’? A conjoint experiment with German adolescents on democratic designs
Authors: SCHWAIGER VANESSA , BÄCHTIGER ANDRÉ
Published: May 2024

While representing the next generation of democratic citizens, research on process preferences of adolescents is in its infancy. To analyse what institutional designs adolescents favour, we conducted a conjoint experiment with a unique, representative sample of 1,970 German pupils between the age of 14–17. We find that adolescents in general are ‘status quo’– democrats, preferring a parliament (representing the central institution of the existing representative system) to alternative institutions, namely citizen forums and an assertive leader. However, support for the status quo comes with several qualifications, namely expert input, slow and considerate political processes and a final referendum. Furthermore, we find differences between subgroups, whereby dissatisfied adolescents are more open to citizen forums and an assertive leader than satisfied adolescents. By contrast, more sophisticated adolescents have stronger preferences for the parliament as the main institution. Overall, our results suggest that a major overhaul of the democratic infrastructure does not seem to be a priority for the next generation of citizens, although there is some desire for innovation, namely the ‘blending’ of representative institutions with more citizen participation.
Morphological changes and color development during cookie baking—Kinetic, heat, and mass transfer considerations
Authors: Chen Chang , Espinal‐Ruiz Mauricio , Francavilla Alyssa , Joye Iris J. , Corradini Maria G.
Published: May 2024

Color and shape are important quality attributes in baked goods, particularly cookies. Composition and processing conditions determine and influence color development and morphological changes in these baked goods. The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the evolution of color and shape during baking to determine useful correlations that can be implemented during the assessment and modeling of the baking process. Cookies (AACC‐I standard protocol 10‐53.01) were baked at 185, 205, and 225°C. Moisture content, water activity, surface temperature, characteristic dimensions (radius and thickness), and color indexes (lightness, redness, blueness, and browning index [BI]) were monitored at different locations on the cookie surface and baking times. Relationships among the tested conditions were explored using correlation analysis. The cookies’ dimensions and color indexes were strongly correlated with changes in moisture content over time, and those relationships were characterized using empirical models. The temperature dependence of the kinetic parameters of the changes in lightness and BI was also described and deemed independent of the location on the cookie surface. This study provides insights into the influence of heat and mass transfer on the physical and physicochemical changes of cookies during baking. The kinetic and secondary models developed in this study can serve as important components for establishing a comprehensive approach for coupling heat transfer, mass transfer, and reaction kinetics to estimate and optimize cookie‐baking processes.

Practical Application

The findings from this study provide valuable information for better understanding the morphological changes and color developments during the cookie‐baking process. The quantitative data and models generated in this study will allow identifying baking conditions for better quality development.
Do Social Interaction Mechanisms Affect University Reputation? Evidence from the UK Higher Education Sector
Authors: Abdelbadie Rasha Ashraf , Braakmann Nils , Salama Aly
Published: May 2024

We investigate the influence of skilful utilization of social interaction dynamics on creating reputations for UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) during public funding cuts and scrutiny. The paper employs a content analysis method and follows an empirical design with a unique sample of 148 UK HEIs. To gauge reputation, we rely on participatory data from the Guardian newspaper's 2014–15 environmental and ethical performance ratings for the People & Planet University League. Multiple regression analysis is applied to address the research hypotheses. The results indicate that open, accountable, and transparent sensemaking in sustainable development (SD) practices over the years is the predominant dynamic for enhancing HEIs’ reputation. This paper underscores the need to consider the institutional logics perspective as a theoretical foundation for a comprehensive understanding of the link between sustainability disclosure and an institution's reputation, image, and public goodwill within the higher education (HE) context. HEIs’ leadership should invest in SD and its associated disclosure practices. Policy‐makers and accounting regulators should establish consistent and comparable reporting requirements for sustainable performance within the HE sector. This paper is the first to empirically examine the direct impacts of HEIs’ compliance with sustainability duties on organizational performance.
Attitudes toward uterus transplantation. An option for motherhood?
Authors: Rius Mariona , Camacho Marta , Tomás Nerea , Díaz‐Feijoo Berta , Castelo‐Branco Camil , Borras Aina , Tort Jaume , Carmona Francisco
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Uterus transplantation is a novel surgical procedure that allows women with absolute uterine factor infertility to carry a pregnancy and give birth. While previous studies have explored the attitudes of women with absolute uterine factor infertility toward uterus transplantation, none have surveyed and compare their views with other groups of interest (Morris syndrome women, relatives of Morris syndrome and Rokitansky syndrome women, infertile women and women of childbearing age) in the same sociocultural setting. The objective of this study was to evaluate attitudes and insights regarding uterus transplantation among women with Rokitansky syndrome and other groups of interest.

Material and Methods

We designed a cross‐sectional study including five groups of women: women with Rokitansky syndrome, women with Morris syndrome, relatives of women with Morris and Rokitansky syndrome, infertile women, and childbearing‐age women. We conducted an online survey through the REDCap platform. The link was distributed by mail, telephone and in hospital outpatient visits. Baseline demographic information was assessed and information regarding motherhood preferences, attitude toward uterus transplantation, preferred uterus graft and perception of risk of the procedure was collected.

Results

We obtained a total of 200 responses, with a mean participant age of 34.5 years (±9.8). Overall, 17.5% (n = 35) were women with Rokitansky syndrome, 5.5% (n = 11) Morris syndrome women, 21.5% (n = 43) infertile women, 26.5% (n = 53) relatives of Morris and Rokitansky syndrome women and 29% (n = 58) childbearing‐age women. 71.5% of women with Rokitansky syndrome would undergo uterus transplantations ahead of adoption and surrogacy with no statistically significant differences found between groups. Overall, more than one‐half (58%) would prefer deceased over living donor.

Conclusions

The results of this survey indicate that uterus transplantation is desired by most women who would benefit from the procedure, including those with either Morris syndrome or absolute uterine factor infertility. This was also the preferred option for motherhood if absolute uterine factor infertility was diagnosed among surveyed infertility patients or women of childbearing age with no known reproductive difficulties. Overall, most respondents indicated a deceased donor was preferable to a living donor and that patients may not be sufficiently aware of potential risks of uterus transplantation, highlighting the importance of adequate counseling by medical providers.
Daily social comparisons among women in midlife with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease: A within‐person test of the identification/contrast model
Authors: Baga Kiri , Salvatore Gabrielle M. , Bercovitz Iris , Mogle Jacqueline A. , Arigo Danielle
Published: May 2024

Women age 40–60 are disproportionately affected by health problems that increase their risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD; e.g. hypertension). Social comparisons (i.e. self‐evaluations relative to others) are known to influence health in this and other groups, but their nature and consequences in daily life are poorly understood. We conducted an ecological momentary assessment study over 10 days (5x/day) with 75 women ages 40–60 who had ≥1 CVD risk conditions (MAge = 51.6 years, MBMI = 34.0 kg/m2). Using a mix of frequentist and Bayesian analytic approaches, we examined characteristics of women's naturally occurring comparisons and tested predictions from the Identification/Contrast Model within‐person (e.g. identifying with an upward target results in positive affect, whereas contrasting results in negative affect). Comparisons occurred at 21% of moments, with considerable within‐person variability in response. In line with predictions from the Identification/Contrast Model, women were more likely to experience positive affect after upward identification or downward contrast and more likely to experience negative affect after upward contrast or downward identification, though observed nuances warrant additional consideration. Overall, findings support the Identification/Contrast Model to describe women's comparison experiences as they occur in daily life. Future work should determine pathways between the immediate consequences of comparisons and longer‐term health outcomes.
Incremental value of myocardial global longitudinal strain in predicting major adverse cardiac events among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Zhuang Haiming , Yang Kai , Zhao Shihua , Wu Jinlin , Xu Nan , Zhang Li , Qi Xiaoling , Zhang Mo , Song Lei , Pang Kunjing
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Endocardial global longitudinal strain (endo‐GLS) measured with echocardiography (echo) has been demonstrated to be associated with myocardial fibrosis (MF) and is a prognostic predictor in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE‐CMR) imaging showed that MF is primarily located in the myocardial layer of the extremely hypertrophic septal or ventricular wall. We hypothesized that GLS of the myocardial layer (myo‐GLS) is more strongly correlated with the extent of LGE (%LGE) and is a more powerful prognostic factor than endo‐GLS.

Methods

A total of 177 inpatients (54.0 [IQR: 43.0, 64.0] years, female 37.3%) with HCM were retrospectively included from May 2019 to April 2021. Among them, 162 patients underwent echocardiographic examination and contrast‐enhanced CMR within 7 days. Myo‐GLS and %LGE were blindly assessed in a core laboratory. All the patients were followed after they were discharged.

Results

During a mean follow‐up of 33.77 [IQR 30.05, 35.40] months, 14 participants (7.91%) experienced major adverse cardiac events (MACE). The MACE (+) group showed lower absolute endo‐GLS and myo‐GLS than the MACE (‐) group. Myo‐GLS was more associated with %LGE (r = ‐.68, P < .001) than endo‐GLS (r = ‐.64, P < .001). Cox multivariable analysis indicated that absolute myo‐GLS was independently associated with MACE (adjusted hazard ratio = .75, P < .05). Myo‐GLS was better than endo‐GLS at detecting MACE (+) patients (‐8.64%, AUC .939 vs. ‐ 16.375%, AUC .898, P < .05).

Conclusions

Myo‐GLS is a stronger predictor of MACE than endo‐GLS in patients with HCM and is highly correlated with %LGE.
The emergence of double entry bookkeeping
Authors: Sangster Alan
Published: May 2024

Double entry account books of medieval Italian merchants and bankers have been extensively used as primary sources by historians of several disciplines interested in business, trade, commodities, markets, sources, prices, interest rates, exchange rates, tariffs, taxes, wages, rents, agents, networks, and many other related topics. The reason for the emergence of such a detailed bookkeeping method is unknown. This paper presents a critical analysis of entries in a ledger of Florentine moneychanger‐bankers from 1211. Comparison with later examples confirms that this ledger portrays a method of bookkeeping embracing double entries that transformed into entity‐wide double entry bookkeeping by the end of the thirteenth century. Following consideration of the socio‐political, economic, legal, and commercial environment of the period and place in which it was used in 1211, the origin of this bookkeeping method is attributed to northern Italian moneychanger‐bankers in the twelfth century. Their bookkeeping method addressed the evidential demands of multiple legal systems relating to use of credit necessitated by a lack of sufficient quality coinage in circulation to support the growing and expanding regional markets of northern Italy.
Prediction of nitrogen, active carbon, and organic carbon‐to‐clay ratio in agricultural soils by in‐situ spectroscopy
Authors: Metzger Konrad , Bragazza Luca
Published: May 2024

Visible and near‐infrared (vis–NIR) spectroscopy is a promising technology for the analysis of different soil quality parameters. In this study, we used in‐situ vis–NIR spectroscopy in association with partial least squares regression to predict the total and the mineral (nitrate + ammonium) nitrogen content, the permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), as well as the ratio of soil organic carbon‐to‐clay content in different agricultural soils in Switzerland. These parameters can indeed be used as indicators of soil quality in response to agronomic practices. To this goal, a total number of 134 soil samples were used for carbon‐, total nitrogen‐ and clay‐related parameters, whereas 69 soil samples were used for the mineral nitrogen‐related parameters. We found that the partial least squares regression model can successfully predict the total nitrogen and the POXC content as well as the ratio of soil organic carbon‐to‐clay content (ratio of performance to interquartile range, RPIQ > 2.62, R2 > 0.73, Lin's concordance correlation coefficient > 0.83). As concerns the mineral nitrogen, it was not possible to successfully predict this parameter by vis–NIR spectroscopy. By demonstrating the possibility to reliably predict POXC content and the soil organic carbon‐to‐clay ratio, we show that vis–NIR can be also used to analyse soil parameters associated with both the quality of organic carbon and the structural quality of agricultural soils.
Leveraging YOLOv5s with optimization‐based effective anomaly detection in pedestrian walkways
Authors: Shaik Allabaksh , Basha Shaik Mahaboob
Published: May 2024

Currently, video surveillance is generally used to safeguard safety in public places like railway stations, traffic signals, malls, and so on. Video anomaly recognition and localization are the main components of the intelligent video surveillance method. Video anomaly recognition refers to the procedure of spatiotemporal localization of the abnormal design existing in the video. A main task in video surveillance is the classification of anomalies that occur in it like thefts, crimes, and so forth. Also, anomaly recognition in pedestrian walkways has enlarged major attention among the computer vision (CV) groups to improve pedestrian protection. The current developments in Deep Learning (DL) methods have great attention to dissimilar procedures like image classification, object recognition, and so forth. This study designs an Optimal Deep Learning for Effective Anomaly Detection in Pedestrian Walkways (ODL‐EADPW) model. The ODL‐EADPW technique employs a fine‐tuned DL model for the identification of pedestrians and anomalies in the walkways. In the ODL‐EADPW technique, the image pre‐processing is primarily involved in two stages median filtering (MF) based noise removal and adaptive histogram equalization (AHE)‐based contrast enhancement. For anomaly detection in pedestrian walkways, the ODL‐EADPW technique uses the YOLOv5s model with EfficientRep as a backbone network. To enhance the detection results of the ODL‐EADPW technique, a stochastic gradient descent (SGD) optimizer was employed to perfect the hyperparameters of the EfficientRep model. The performance evaluation of the ODL‐EADPW methodology is implemented on the UCSD Anomaly detection dataset. An extensive comparison study stated that the ODL‐EADPW technique gains effectual detection results over other DL models in terms of different measures.
Secondhand consumption: A systematic literature review and future research agenda
Authors: Gilal Faheem Gul , Shaikh Abdul Rehman , Yang Zhiyong , Gilal Rukhsana Gul , Gilal Naeem Gul
Published: May 2024

Secondhand purchasing, once associated primarily with financially marginalized individuals driven by economic necessity, has now emerged as a popular choice even among affluent consumers with sustainability concerns. This significant shift in consumer behavior underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive review that consolidates the fragmented literature on secondhand consumption, integrating its theoretical foundations and intellectual structure. In response to this imperative, our research, utilizing a theory‐context‐characteristics‐methodology framework, fills this critical gap and sets a pioneering precedent as the first systematic literature review on this topic. Through a content analysis of 105 publications from 59 journals spanning over three decades, our findings unveil more than 70 influential factors shaping secondhand purchases and consumptions. Moreover, our research illuminates noteworthy trends in theories, contextual considerations, consumer traits, and methodological approaches, offering a holistic view of the past, present, and future thematic developments in secondhand consumption research. Scholars will find these insights invaluable for positioning their future studies. Furthermore, we outline compelling directions for future research, proposing a deeper exploration of consumer values, social influences, advertising appeals, religiosity, and green consumerism to unlock novel avenues for understanding and strengthening consumer motivations for secondhand products. By shedding light on this vibrant and evolving field, our research not only fills a critical void but also paves the way for meaningful contributions to the expanding realm of secondhand consumption.
Determination of relative dose of ionizing radiation in the thyroid gland using a panoramic device with different protocols
Authors: Vanni Jéssica Silvestre , Thomazi Eduardo , Zorzi Janete Eunice , Perottoni Cláudio Antônio , Gamba Thiago Oliveira
Published: May 2024

Background

The use of panoramic radiography (PR) is a complementary examination to aid in the diagnosis of cases in paediatric dentistry. The lack of specific protocols for these devices, however, can result in high doses of radiation, affecting critical organs such as the thyroid.

Aim

To evaluate the discrepancies in ionizing radiation received by the thyroid during PR examinations using anthropomorphic paediatric simulators built from computed tomography images.

Design

Two anthropomorphic paediatric phantoms were printed and used, representing children aged 6 and 11 years, with an opening in the thyroid region for the insertion of dosimetric radiographic films. The simulators were subjected to different pre‐existing protocols in the PR devices. The radiographic films were processed and analysed using a luxmeter.

Results

The radiation dose to the thyroid was higher in the 6‐year‐old phantom than in the 11‐year‐old phantom, for given exposure factors. In addition, there was an increase in dose in children's protocols compared with small adult protocols.

Conclusion

Therefore, companies that develop PR equipment must develop child protocols for separate age groups that will consequently reduce the radiation dose in children, especially in their critical organs.
Deep burn surgery of the whole dorsum of the hand: Composite skin grafting over acellular dermal matrix versus thick split‐thickness skin grafting
Authors: Ling Xiang‐Wei , Jiang Xiaoqiong , Guo Hai‐Lei , Zhang Ting‐Ting
Published: May 2024

Preservation and restoration of hand function after burn injuries are challenging yet imperative. This study aimed to assess the curative effect of a composite skin graft over an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) and a thick split‐thickness skin graft (STSG) for treating deep burns on the hand. Patients who met the inclusion criteria at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between September 2011 and January 2020 were retrospectively identified from the operative register. We investigated patient characteristics, time from operation to the start of active motion exercise, take rates of skin graft 7 days post‐surgery, donor site recovery, complications and days to complete healing. Patients were followed up for 12 months to evaluate scar quality using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and hand function through total active motion (TAM) and the Jebsen–Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT). A total of 38 patients (52 hands) who received thin STSG on top of the ADM or thick STSG were included. The location of the donor sites was significantly different between Group A (thick STSG) and Group B (thin STSG + ADM) (p = 0.03). There were no statistical differences in age, gender, underlying disease, cause of burn, burn area, dominant hand, patients with two hands operated on and time from burn to surgery between the two groups (p > 0.05). The time from operation to the start of active motion exercise, take rates of skin graft 7 days post‐surgery and days to complete healing were not significantly different between Group A and Group B (p > 0.05). The rate of donor sites requiring skin grafting was lower in Group B than in Group A (22.2% vs. 100%, p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in complications between the groups (p = 0.12). Moreover, 12 months postoperatively, the pliability subscore in the VSS was significantly lower in Group A than in Group B (p = 0.01). However, there were no statistically significant differences in vascularity (p = 0.42), pigmentation (p = 0.31) and height subscores (p = 0.13). The TAM and JTHFT results revealed no statistically significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.22 and 0.06, respectively). The ADM combined with thin STSG is a valuable approach for treating deep and extensive hand burns with low donor site morbidity. It has a good appearance and function in patients with hand burns, especially in patients with limited donor sites.
NR1D1‐transactivated lncRNA NUTM2A‐AS1 promotes chemoresistance and immune evasion in neuroblastoma via inhibiting B7‐H3 degradation
Authors: Xiang Tian , Li Yejing , Liu Gao , Li Xianyun
Published: May 2024

Neuroblastoma (NB), a common solid tumour in young children originating from the sympathetic nervous system during embryonic development, poses challenges despite therapeutic advances like high‐dose chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Some survivors still grapple with severe side effects and drug resistance. The role of lncRNA NUTM2A‐AS1 has been explored in various cancers, but its function in drug‐resistant NB progression is unclear. Our study found that NUTM2A‐AS1 expression in cisplatin‐resistant NB cells increased in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Knockdown of NUTM2A‐AS1 significantly improved NB cell sensitivity to cisplatin and inhibited metastatic abilities. Additionally, we identified B7‐H3, an immune checkpoint‐related protein, as a NUTM2A‐AS1‐associated protein in NB cells. NUTM2A‐AS1 was shown to inhibit the protein degradation of B7‐H3. Moreover, NUTM2A‐AS1 modulated immune evasion in cisplatin‐resistant NB cells through B7‐H3. Furthermore, NUTM2A‐AS1 expression in cisplatin‐resistant NB cells was transactivated by NR1D1. In summary, our results unveil the molecular or biological relationship within the NR1D1/NUTM2A‐AS1/B7‐H3 axis in NB cells under cisplatin treatment, providing an intriguing avenue for fundamental research into cisplatin‐resistant NB.
Identification of biomarkers for abdominal aortic aneurysm in Behçet's disease via mendelian randomization and integrated bioinformatics analyses
Authors: Liu Chunjiang , Wu Huadong , Li Kuan , Chi Yongxing , Wu Zhaoying , Xing Chungen
Published: May 2024

Behçet's disease (BD) is a complex autoimmune disorder impacting several organ systems. Although the involvement of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in BD is rare, it can be associated with severe consequences. In the present study, we identified diagnostic biomarkers in patients with BD having AAA. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was initially used to explore the potential causal association between BD and AAA. The Limma package, WGCNA, PPI and machine learning algorithms were employed to identify potential diagnostic genes. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) for the nomogram was constructed to ascertain the diagnostic value of AAA in patients with BD. Finally, immune cell infiltration analyses and single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) were conducted. The MR analysis indicated a suggestive association between BD and the risk of AAA (odds ratio [OR]: 1.0384, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0081–1.0696, p = 0.0126). Three hub genes (CD247, CD2 and CCR7) were identified using the integrated bioinformatics analyses, which were subsequently utilised to construct a nomogram (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.982, 95% CI: 0.944–1.000). Finally, the immune cell infiltration assay revealed that dysregulation immune cells were positively correlated with the three hub genes. Our MR analyses revealed a higher susceptibility of patients with BD to AAA. We used a systematic approach to identify three potential hub genes (CD247, CD2 and CCR7) and developed a nomogram to assist in the diagnosis of AAA among patients with BD. In addition, immune cell infiltration analysis indicated the dysregulation in immune cell proportions.
Responder analysis using clinically meaningful thresholds: Post hoc analyses from randomized dupilumab clinical trials in patients with prurigo nodularis
Authors: Kwatra Shawn G. , Yosipovitch Gil , Ständer Sonja , Guillemin Isabelle , Msihid Jérôme , Bansal Ashish , Makhija Melanie , Wiggins Simmi , Zahn Joseph , Thomas Ryan B. , Bahloul Donia
Published: May 2024

Background

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is an intensely pruritic disease characterized by itchy nodules on the trunk/extremities; it is often accompanied by skin pain and sleep disruption with negative impacts on the quality of life (QoL). The patient‐reported outcome (PRO) instruments, Worst Itch‐Numeric Rating Scale (WI‐NRS), Skin Pain‐NRS, Sleep‐NRS and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) have been psychometrically validated and the clinically meaningful within‐patient improvement thresholds (responder definition) have been established through data pooled from the two Phase‐3 trials (PRIME, NCT04183335 and PRIME2, NCT04202679) of dupilumab in adults with PN uncontrolled on topical therapies.

Objectives

To estimate the proportion of dupilumab‐treated patients (vs. placebo) achieving clinically meaningful improvement in itch, skin pain, sleep and QoL, either alone or in combination, from the data pooled from PRIME and PRIME2 trials.

Methods

The patient‐level data pooled from the two Phase‐3 trials (N = 311) were used for this post hoc analysis. Thresholds of clinically meaningful within‐patient improvement in PRO instrument scores from baseline at Week 24 used for defining responders were 4 (WI‐NRS and Skin Pain‐NRS), 2 (Sleep‐NRS) and 9 points (DLQI). The proportion of dupilumab‐treated patients, versus placebo, achieving the thresholds, and the time taken to achieve the thresholds were evaluated for the individual and combination of PROs.

Results

Responder rates were significantly higher with dupilumab, versus placebo at Week 24 for WI‐NRS (58.8% vs. 19.0%, p < 0.0001), Skin Pain‐NRS (49.7% vs. 20.9%, p < 0.0001), Sleep‐NRS (42.5% vs. 23.4%, p < 0.0001) and DLQI (64.7% vs. 22.8%, p < 0.0001). Proportion of patients achieving simultaneous improvement in symptoms and QoL (24.8% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in dupilumab‐treated patients versus placebo. The time needed for achieving clinically meaningful improvement in symptoms were significantly lower in dupilumab‐treated patients, versus placebo.

Conclusions

Significantly greater proportion of dupilumab‐treated patients with PN, versus placebo, demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in PRO measures of symptoms and QoL.
Stability of the Epstein–Zin problem
Authors: Monoyios Michael , Mostovyi Oleksii
Published: May 2024

We investigate the stability of the Epstein–Zin problem with respect to small distortions in the dynamics of the traded securities. We work in incomplete market model settings, where our parametrization of perturbations allows for joint distortions in returns and volatility of the risky assets and the interest rate. Considering empirically the most relevant specifications of risk aversion and elasticity of intertemporal substitution, we provide a condition that guarantees the convexity of the domain of the underlying problem and results in the existence and uniqueness of a solution to it. Then, we prove the convergence of the optimal consumption streams, the associated wealth processes, the indirect utility processes, and the value functions in the limit when the model perturbations vanish.
Endoscopy‐assisted dacryocystorhinostomy in a dog
Authors: Thompson Jalal , Delisser Peter J. , Sullivan Louise , Liddle Vicki
Published: May 2024

Objective

To describe the use of an endoscope to assist in performing minimally invasive dacryocystorhinostomy in a dog to successfully manage a nasolacrimal duct cyst (dacryocyst).

Animal Studied

A 4‐year‐old female spayed American Staffordshire Terrier with chronic epiphora and swelling ventromedial to the nasal canthus of the right eye and reverse sneezing.

Procedures

Computed tomography revealed a fluid‐filled cystic lesion of the right nasolacrimal duct with extensive nasal extension and secondary obstructive frontal sinusitis. Aspiration of serosanguinous fluid with no growth of microbial organisms and histopathology confirmed the cystic nature of the structure. A 2.7 mm, 30 deg, 11 cm foreward‐oblique endoscope with arthroscopic cannula was passed through a mucosal stab incision in the dorsal buccal recess into the cyst to allow for exploration. A separate instrument portal was placed in the center of the cyst through the skin which allowed for transcutaneous dacryocystorhinostomy with a meniscal probe to be performed. No clear communication was evident caudodorsally into the frontal sinus on endoscope examination. A small frontal sinus trephination was performed and lavage flowed easily into the cystic cavity and out of the nostril.

Results

Follow‐up at 10 days and 17 months postoperatively showed complete resolution of clinical signs with an excellent cosmetic outcome.

Conclusion

Endoscopy‐assisted dacryocystorhinostomy demonstrated an effective minimally invasive technique to treat a functionally obstructive dacryocyst of the right nasolacrimal duct in a dog.
El destino criollo de la Medusa: vista en perspectiva de El parque de Adolfo Couve
Authors: Toro Franco Felipe T
Published: May 2024

Este artículo lee la falta de un ojo en el rostro de Cleopatra Lebas, la protagonista de El parque de Adolfo Couve, a partir de la crisis de la perspectiva lineal monocular y de su identificación con el destino de la cabeza de la Medusa en manos de Perseo. Por nombre y apellido, esta Medusa condensa el fin de un antiguo régimen de las imágenes basado en la perspectiva lineal monocular, pero, al mismo tiempo, sugiere la supervivencia de su mirada después de ser decapitada: mientras que “Cleopatra” sería emblema de un retorno a la bidimensionalidad “egipcia” ante el advenimiento de la fotografía, “Lebas” remitiría al traslado del ingeniero francés Jean-Baptiste Lebas del obelisco de Luxor de Egipto a París para ser emplazado en la Plaza de la Concordia y cubrir el lugar de la guillotina. El costado criollo de mi argumento propone que en Couve la mirada de la Medusa y la piedra del obelisco terminarán migrando y anudándose en la piedra litográfica que evoca el nombre de “Cleopatra Lebas”, hija de otro Jean-Baptiste Lebas