bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thought experiments: No argument here—We need more of them
Authors: Gardner William L.
Published: December 2022

Thought experiments are defined by Aguinis et al. as “judgments about what would happen if an imagined scenario were real.” They demonstrated through a multidisciplinary literature review that thought experiments have been used productively to generate and test theory in a wide variety of fields, including psychology, economics, medicine, sociology, marketing, and finance. Despite their utility, they concluded that thought experiments are vastly underutilized within the field of organizational behavior (OB). They go on to present a taxonomy of four basic types based on a theory's stage of development (early vs. late) and a study's theoretical objective (confirmation vs. disconfirmation). To help OB scholars effectively apply thought experiments, they provided a decision‐tree for evaluating the potential utility of a thought experiment and which of the four types would be most appropriate. Next, they advanced a set of best‐practice recommendations and showed how they could be applied within the domain of workplace allyship. Rather than contesting these points in this “counterpoint” article, I seek to reinforce them, as I have no argument against the notion that thought experiments are powerful methodological tools for advancing and testing theory that are underutilized by OB scholars. Nonetheless, I contend that given their definition of thought experiments, more OB works have employed them than surfaced from their review, and I provide three examples that their search terms missed. Finally, to bolster their overarching points, I explore how the theory generated in these three conceptual articles could have been strengthened through more extensive applications of their best‐practice recommendations.
Intraseasonal‐to‐seasonal evolution of soil moisture‐based droughts and floods in observation‐based datasets and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 models
Authors: Wei Jiangfeng , Su Weitao , Song Yuanyuan , Sun Shanlei , Zhou Botao , Chen Haishan
Published: December 2022

Droughts and floods are extreme events that have tremendous socioeconomic impact. Many studies have investigated their possible variations under the effects of climate changes, while their intraseasonal‐to‐seasonal characteristics have received less attention. Based on observation‐constrained monthly soil moisture (SM) datasets since 1980, we analysed the spatiotemporal characteristics of global SM at the intraseasonal‐to‐seasonal time scales and the associated influencing factors. The results were then used to evaluate the performance of simulations by Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models. It is found that the frequencies of extreme wet events are slightly higher than those of extreme dry events, but their spatial distributions are similar and are both affected by precipitation variability. Extreme events tend to have longer durations than nonextreme events, and their global mean durations are 4–5 months. Globally, dry events persist longer than wet events. Maximum SM anomalies are strongly affected by earlier precipitation and this effect is stronger in a transitional climate. The onset and peak times of SM anomalies in a year occur most frequently near the peak time of precipitation rather than that of SM. Approximately half of CMIP6 models overestimate the durations of both dry and wet events and approximately one third of models only underestimate wet events durations. Different versions of the same model produce similar event durations. The findings of this study enhance understanding of the intraseasonal‐to‐seasonal variabilities of global droughts and floods and could provide guidance for future study of land–atmosphere interactions and prediction of extreme events.
Who are the founders of venture capital‐backed initial public offering companies in the United States?
Authors: Zhu Jinjing
Published: December 2022

Prior research acknowledged the importance of founders in affecting firm strategy and performance, but large empirical analyses of profiles of entrepreneurial founders are scant, in part because of the difficulty in collecting founder data. This study represents the first effort to study entrepreneurial founders across half a century. Using a hand‐collected unique and comprehensive dataset, this research sheds light on the demographic, educational, and career characteristics of founders for the venture capital (VC)‐backed initial public offering (IPO) companies during 1960–2015. The research has useful implications for researchers and practitioners. By understanding who the founders are and where they come from, this article scratches the surface of founder characteristics and firm performance from which further work could build on and provides useful information for founders who are likely to seek VC‐funding and IPO to build realistic expectations, VC firms who are interested in investing in potentially rewarding and promising new ventures to select good targets, and governments that struggle to promote entrepreneurial efforts and enhance economic development, in general, to come up with appropriate policies.
A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of research on COVID‐19 in strategy journals
Authors: Guyottot Olivier , Le Fur Eric
Published: December 2022

This article presents a literature review and a bibliometric analysis of academic research on COVID‐19 in strategy journals. The research topic is highly relevant considering the importance and the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on companies' strategies worldwide and the fact that this pandemic has represented at the same time danger and opportunity for companies. The study comprises a review of 241 articles published in peer‐reviewed journals from 2020 to the first quarter of 2022. Bibliometric and science mapping methods apply indicators identifying the most prominent journals, authors, countries, institutions, and topics. This approach allows a literature review highlighting the importance of five clusters on the COVID‐19 impact on strategy journals: entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation, leadership, and resilience. They are strongly interrelated, and this study shows there are still many areas for further research within and outside these clusters. COVID‐19 context offers perfect conditions to test theories and implement new research projects considering the high risk for other events of this type in the future.
Effect of 3D printing conditions and post‐printing fermentation on pearl millet fortified idli
Authors: Raja Vijayakumar , Moses Jeyan Arthur , Anandharamakrishnan Chinnaswamy
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND

Three‐dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging technology with numerous applications in the development of novel foods to meet personalized and special dietary needs. Using 3D printing, foods with modified textures and consistency can be prepared conveniently. In this work, an indigenous rice–black gram batter was fortified with pearl millet flour and 3D printed in the in‐house developed extrusion‐based food printer, Controlled Additive‐manufacturing Robotic Kit (CARK™). The impact of material supply composition was investigated along with optimization of different printing parameters and an in‐depth analysis of post‐printing fermentation kinetics was undertaken. The shape changes in the 3D printed constructs during fermentation were analyzed using a pixel‐count‐based image‐processing technique that correlates with the change in surface area.

RESULTS

The addition of millet flour resulted in accelerated fermentation. At 20% w/w level, better printability with higher precision and layer definition was obtained at 800 mm min−1 of printing speed, 360 rpm extrusion motor speed, and 1.22 mm nozzle diameter with an extrusion rate of 15.57 mm3 s−1. The constructs of pearl millet flour (PMF) fortified idli batter have shown good structural stability and creep recovery. Fermentation‐assisted shape change was found to be significantly influenced by infill levels. Both raw and steamed constructs with 40% infill showed around 37% lower hardness than 100% infill constructs due to a porous inner structure with reduced expansion in the surface area/volume during fermentation.

CONCLUSION

The results of the study provide insights into the scope of printing fermented foods through the food‐to‐food fortification approach and textural modification of foods using 3D printing by varying the infill levels. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Ecofriendly appraisal of stability‐indicating high‐performance chromatographic assay of canagliflozin and metformin with their toxic impurities; in silico toxicity prediction
Authors: Emam Raghda A. , Emam Aml A.
Published: December 2022

Canagliflozin is an oral hypoglycemic drug recently formulated in combination with a biguanide, metformin hydrochloride, for improving its hypoglycemic action. Canagliflozin has one reported major degradation product, also metformin hydrochloride has one reported major degradation product, cyanoguanidine, and has a potential toxic impurity, melamine, that is reported to cause crystalluria that causes chronic kidney inflammation and nephrolithiasis leading to a renal failure. As per International Conference of Harmonization guidelines; a drug degradation product is classified as a type of drug impurities. Toxicity profiles of canagliflozin and metformin major degradation products were studied where in silico data disclosed toxicity too; the development of a specific chromatographic thin layer chromatographic assay was a must for quantification of such toxic related components along with the drugs in laboratory‐prepared mixtures as a superior study. The proposed method was validated as per the International Conference of Harmonization and applied for the assay of Vokanamet tablets. The separation was achieved using acetone:ethyl acetate:acetic acid (8:2:0.2, by volume) as scanning eluted bands at 205 nm. For minimal environmental impact; greenness profile appraisal of the proposed assay was performed by three greenness assessment approaches; analytical Eco‐Scale, Green Analytical Procedure Index, and Greenness metric approaches.
Impact of endolymphatic hydrops on DPOAE in subjects with normal to mild hearing loss
Authors: Inagaki Kei , Yoshida Tadao , Kobayashi Masumi , Sugimoto Satofumi , Fukunaga Yukari , Hara Daisuke , Naganawa Shinji , Sone Michihiko
Published: December 2022

Objective

The increased endolymph volume affects a shift in the organ of Corti and basilar membrane in ears with endolymphatic hydrops (EH), which might affect distortion‐product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) by altering the operating point of the outer hair cells. We investigated how changes in DPOAE are related to the distribution site of EH.

Study Design

Prospective study.

Methods

Among 403 patients with hearing or vestibular symptoms who underwent contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of EH and subsequent DPOAE testing, subjects whose hearing levels on pure tone audiometry were ≤35 dB at all frequencies were included in this study. In patients with EH on MRI, the presence and amplitude of DPOAE were evaluated between groups with hearing levels of ≤25 dB at all frequencies versus hearing levels of >25 dB at one or more frequencies.

Results

There were no differences in the distribution of EH between groups. The amplitude of DPOAE had no clear correlation with the presence of EH. However, in both groups, there was a significantly higher probability of the presence of a DPOAE response from 1001 to 6006 Hz in cases with EH in the cochlea.

Conclusion

Among patients whose hearing levels were ≤35 dB at all frequencies, better responses on DPOAE testing were found in subjects with EH in the cochlea. Alteration of DPOAEs in the early stages of hearing impairment could indicate morphological changes in the inner ear with altered basilar membrane compliance due to EH.

Level of Evidence

4
High ebullitive, millennial‐aged greenhouse gas emissions from thermokarst expansion of peatland lakes in boreal western Canada
Authors: Kuhn McKenzie A. , Schmidt Megan , Heffernan Liam , Stührenberg Jördis , Knorr Klaus‐Holger , Estop‐Aragonés Cristian , Broder Tanja , Gonzalez Moguel Regina , Douglas Peter M. J. , Olefeldt David
Published: December 2022

Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from small peatland lakes may be highly sensitive to climate warming and thermokarst expansion caused by permafrost thaw. We studied effects of thermokarst expansion on ebullitive CH4 and CO2 fluxes and diffusive CH4 fluxes from a peatland thaw lake in boreal western Canada. Ebullitive CH4 fluxes from the thaw edge (236 ± 61 mg CH4 m−2 d−1) were double and quadruple that of the stable lake edge and center, respectively. Modeled diffusive CH4 fluxes did not differ between the thawing and stable edges (~ 50 mg CH4 m−2 d−1) but were double that of the center. Radiocarbon (14C) analysis of CH4 and CO2 bubbles from the thaw edge was older (~ 1211 and 1420 14C yr BP) than from the stable edge and the center (modern to ~ 102 and 50 14C yr BP, respectively). Incubations indicated that deep, old peat sediment was more labile along the thaw edge than in the center. While our study suggested increase CH4 emissions partly derived from millennial‐aged carbon along the thaw edge, accounting for these emissions only increased the estimated total lake CH4 emissions by ~ 10%, which is a much smaller contribution than measured from thermokarst lakes in yedoma regions. Our study suggests that it is important to account for landscape history and lake types when studying the processes that govern the sensitivity of lake greenhouse gas emissions to climate change.
Molecular Property Prediction with Photonic Chip‐Based Machine Learning
Authors: Zhang Hui , Lau Jonathan Wei Zhong , Wan Lingxiao , Shi Liang , Shi Yuzhi , Cai Hong , Luo Xianshu , Lo Guo‐Qiang , Lee Chee‐Kong , Kwek Leong Chuan , Liu Ai Qun
Published: December 2022

Machine learning methods have revolutionized the discovery process of new molecules and materials. However, the intensive training process of neural networks for molecules with ever‐increasing complexity has resulted in exponential growth in computation cost, leading to long simulation time and high energy consumption. Photonic chip technology offers an alternative platform for implementing neural networks with faster data processing and lower energy usage compared to digital computers. Photonics technology is naturally capable of implementing complex‐valued neural networks at no additional hardware cost. Here, the capability of photonic neural networks for predicting the quantum mechanical properties of molecules is demonstrated. To the best of knowledge, this work is the first to harness photonic technology for machine learning applications in computational chemistry and molecular sciences, such as drug discovery and materials design. It is further shown that multiple properties can be learned simultaneously in a photonic chip via a multi‐task regression learning algorithm, which is also the first of its kind as well, as most previous works focus on implementing a network in the classification task.
Severi varieties on blow‐ups of the symmetric square of an elliptic curve
Authors: Ciliberto Ciro , Dedieu Thomas , Galati Concettina , Knutsen Andreas Leopold
Published: December 2022

We prove that certain Severi varieties of nodal curves of positive genus on general blow‐ups of the twofold symmetric product of a general elliptic curve are nonempty and smooth of the expected dimension. This result, besides its intrinsic value, is an important preliminary step for the proof of nonemptiness of Severi varieties on general Enriques surfaces.
ARASsort: A new sorting based multiple attribute decision‐making algorithm
Authors: Gül Sait
Published: December 2022

Multiple attribute decision‐making (MADM) tools can effectively support the decision analysts in selecting the best alternative among many, ranking the alternatives in decreasing or increasing order of preference, or allocating the alternatives into pre‐defined ordered classes/categories. Even though the literature provides the analyst with precious sorting‐based MADM tools such as PROMSORT, UTADIS, AHPSort, TOPSISsort, and so forth, the majority of the methods can be found complex and hard to be understood by the researchers and practitioners who are not familiar with the mathematical notions and computations of MADM (distance calculation, threshold and preference function determination, and so on). To provide a simpler but powerful MADM tool aiming at sorting the alternatives into classes, this study proposes a sorting‐based additive ratio assessment algorithm which is called ARASsort. For limiting (interval‐based) and central (reference‐based) profiles describing the categories, we have developed two algorithms: ARASsort‐lp and ARASsort‐cp, respectively. Their applicability was shown in two examples: green supplier evaluation and economic freedom evaluation of countries. The validity of algorithms was presented by demonstrating the class assignment similarities between the results obtained by ARASsort, VIKORsort, and TOPSISsort. The findings show that ARASsort works well because it shows a higher level of class assignment similarities with the other methods.
Report of A Family with Adult‐Onset Leukoencephalopathy with Axonal Spheroids and Pigmented Glia (ALSP) Without Mutations in CSF1R, AARS1 or AARS2
Authors: Dulski Jarosław , Koga Shunsuke , Dickson Dennis W. , Wszolek Zbigniew K.
Published: December 2022

Background

Adult‐onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder with characteristic clinicopathological features. Identification of pathogenic mutations in CSF1R, AARS1, and AARS2 genes led to increased recognition and diagnosis of the ALSP.

Objectives

This paper presents the first family with typical clinical, radiological, and pathological features of ALSP, yet negative for CSF1R, AARS1, and AARS2 mutations.

Methods

The index case was a 30‐year‐old male who presented with gait difficulty, followed by cognitive decline and incontinence.

Results

Neurological examination evidenced progressive dementia, dysarthria, spasticity, parkinsonism, and severe gait disturbances. Brain MRI showed confluent white matter abnormalities with scattered foci of restricted diffusion, and atrophy of the corpus callosum. He was suspected of ALSP; however, the extensive genetic work‐up did not find pathogenic mutation. He died at 33 years, and brain autopsy was performed. He had myelin staining pallor and axonal swellings, spheroids, and pigmented glia in affected white matter. His father developed similar symptoms in his early 40s and died at 46 years. Neuropathological examination also confirmed ALSP diagnosis. We found two similar cases in the literature with typical ALSP features but negative for CSF1R mutation; however, none were tested for AARS1 and AARS2 mutations.

Conclusions

We draw attention to a new entity within the ALSP disease spectrum that needs further investigation. As the disease‐modifying therapy is already available for ALSP‐CSF1R, there is a strong need to identify the genetic cause of patients such as these in the ALSP spectrum, enabling research toward implementing effective treatment.
Type 2 Diabetes and Parkinson's Disease: A Focused Review of Current Concepts
Authors: Cullinane Patrick W. , de Pablo Fernandez Eduardo , König Annekatrin , Outeiro Tiago Fleming , Jaunmuktane Zane , Warner Thomas T.
Published: December 2022

Highly reproducible epidemiological evidence shows that type 2 diabetes (T2D) increases the risk and rate of progression of Parkinson's disease (PD), and crucially, the repurposing of certain antidiabetic medications for the treatment of PD has shown early promise in clinical trials, suggesting that the effects of T2D on PD pathogenesis may be modifiable. The high prevalence of T2D means that a significant proportion of patients with PD may benefit from personalized antidiabetic treatment approaches that also confer neuroprotective benefits. Therefore, there is an immediate need to better understand the mechanistic relation between these conditions and the specific molecular pathways affected by T2D in the brain. Although there is considerable evidence that processes such as insulin signaling, mitochondrial function, autophagy, and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of both PD and T2D, the primary aim of this review is to highlight the evidence showing that T2D‐associated dysregulation of these pathways occurs not only in the periphery but also in the brain and how this may facilitate neurodegeneration in PD. We also discuss the challenges involved in disentangling the complex relationship between T2D, insulin resistance, and PD, as well as important questions for further research. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Benchmark accuracy of predicted NMR observables for quadrupolar 14N and 17O nuclei in molecular crystals
Authors: Hartman Joshua D. , Spock Lilian E. , Harper James K.
Published: December 2022

Nuclear quadrupole resonances for
and 17O nuclei are exquisitely sensitive to interactions with surrounding atoms. As a result, nitrogen and oxygen solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) provides a powerful tool for investigating structure and dynamics in complex systems. First‐principles calculations are increasingly used to facilitate spectral assignment and to evaluate and adjust crystal structures. Recent work combining the strengths of planewave density functional theory (DFT) calculations with a single molecule correction obtained using a higher level of theory has proven successful in improving the accuracy of predicted chemical shielding (CS) tensors and 17O quadrupolar coupling constants (
). Here we extend this work by examining the accuracy of predicted 14N and 17O electric field gradient (EFG) tensor components obtained using alternative planewave‐corrections involving cluster and two‐body fragment‐based calculations. We benchmark the accuracy of CS and EFG tensor predictions for both nitrogen and oxygen using planewave, two‐body fragment, and enhanced planewave‐corrected techniques. Combining planewave and two‐body fragment calculations reduces the error in predicted 17O
values by 35% relative to traditional planewave calculations. These enhanced planewave‐correction methods improve the accuracy of 17O and 14N EFG tensor components by 15% relative to planewave DFT but yield minimal improvement relative to a simple molecular correction. However, in structural environments involving either high symmetry or strong intermolecular interactions, enhanced planewave‐corrected methods provide a distinct advantage.
The perceptions of individuals with musculoskeletal disorders towards prognosis: An exploratory qualitative study
Authors: Mullen Nicholas , Ashby Samantha , Haskins Robin , Osmotherly Peter
Published: December 2022

Question(s)

How do individuals living with musculoskeletal disorders perceive the concept of prognosis?

Design

Exploratory phenomenological study.

Participants

Individuals aged 18 years or older currently experiencing a musculoskeletal disorder.

Data analysis

Single semi‐structured one‐on‐one interviews were conducted. Data was analysed using inductive coding and thematic analysis.

Results

Five themes were identified. First, participants defined prognosis as the likely outcome associated with their diagnosis. Their prognosis was often associated with outcomes related to pain, tissue health, and function. Second, participants perceived pain as having a negative impact on their prognosis by limiting their function and having a psychological impact. Third, participants held biomedical views in that tissue health was perceived as a cause for their pain and that tissue healing was essential for pain cessation. It was also difficult for participants to distinguish between pain related to tissue damage, and pain that was not. Fourth, participants use their ability to complete leisure and functional activities to determine the success of their recovery. Finally, participants perceived receiving individual prognoses for pain, tissue health, and function that may be simultaneously occurring as both important and beneficial.

Conclusion

Overall, participants viewed receiving prognostic information as important and beneficial. When constructing their views on prognosis participants perceived that pain, tissue health, and functional ability could all impact upon prognosis, whilst having a prognosis of their own. Physiotherapists should consider conceptualising and discussing prognosis in terms of pain, tissue health, and function when managing musculoskeletal disorders.
OnabotulinumtoxinA discontinuation in patients with prior nerve stimulation
Authors: Woodburn Katherine , Hoang Elizabeth , Quan Karen , Pennycuff Jon , Richter Lee A.
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics of patients who discontinue onabotulinumtoxinA treatment for overactive bladder (OAB) and to determine the impact of prior sacroneuromodulation or peripheral nerve stimulation on the discontinuation rates of onabotulinumtoxinA.

Materials and Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of women with at least two onabotulinumtoxinA (BTX‐A) treatments for OAB with a Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive surgeon at a referral center between January 2014 and July 2019. Patients were excluded if they underwent BTX‐A treatment in the operating room or utilized clean intermittent catheterization at baseline. Women who continued injections throughout the study period were compared to those who did not. Discontinuation was defined as stopping BTX‐A during the study period. Treatment failure was defined as a documented failure in the chart and/or moving to other OAB treatments. Loss to follow‐up was defined as no follow‐up greater than 12 months after the last injection. Discontinuation‐free and failure‐free survival were estimated by Kaplan–Meier analysis.

Results

A total of 214 women met the inclusion criteria with a mean age of 62.9 ± 14 years. Fifty percent were Black. Eighty‐six (40.2%) discontinued onabotulinumtoxinA treatment during the study period. There were no demographic differences between patients who discontinued BTX‐A and those who continued with the following exceptions: patients who discontinued had higher rates of prior pelvic reconstructive surgery (19.8% vs. 10.2%, p = 0.04) and were more likely to have the concurrent diagnosis of painful bladder syndrome (9.3% vs. 2.3%, p = 0.03). Patients diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI) after ≥50% of treatments were more likely to discontinue (27.9% vs. 14.1%, p = 0.01). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, patients with recurrent UTIs after treatment were significantly more likely to discontinue than those who do not (odds ratio: 2.61, [1.17, 5.82]). Of the cohort, 54 (25%) patients had previously undergone nerve stimulation. A total of 27.8% of patients with prior nerve stimulation discontinued BTX‐A compared to 44.4% of those without prior third line treatment (p = 0.03). Patients with prior nerve stimulation had a higher discontinuation‐free survival rate (p = 0.013) but there was no difference in failure‐free survival.

Conclusions

Patients who have recurrent UTIs after onabotulinumtoxinA injections are 2.6 times more likely to discontinue treatment than those who do not have infections. Patients with prior exposure to nerve stimulation have a significantly lower onabotulinumtoxinA discontinuation rate, but there is no difference in failure rates.
The effect of discharge training developed based on nursing interventions classification (NIC) on surgical recovery in oncology patients: Randomized controlled trial ‐ A pilot study1
Authors: Arslan Ezgi , Gezer Nurdan
Published: December 2022

Aim

To investigate the effect of discharge training on surgical recovery in oncology patients.

Design

A two‐arm parallel‐group randomized controlled trial (RCT) registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04862104) and reporting according to the CONSORT checklist.

Methods

The study was conducted with 78 patients who had undergone cancer surgery in a university hospital. The intervention group took discharge training; the control group received routine care. The surgical recovery was measured before discharge and 2, 4 and 8 weeks after the discharge.

Results

There was a higher surgical recovery score in the intervention group compared with the usual care group at the second, fourth and eighth week after discharge. This study is expected to support discharge training as enhancing recovery in oncology surgical patients.

Conclusion

This pilot study shows that discharge training developed based on the Nursing Intervention Classification can be used in clinics to enhance the surgical recovery of patients.
Statistical protocol for analyzing 3D muscle attachment sites based on the “Validated Entheses‐based Reconstruction of Activity” (VERA) approach
Authors: Karakostis Fotios Alexandros
Published: December 2022

In anthropological sciences, the areas of the bones where muscles or ligaments attach (“entheses” or “muscle attachments”) are routinely used for reconstructing habitual physical activity based on skeletal remains. However, several previous studies have argued against this practice, considering the low measuring repeatability of most traditional evaluation techniques and the former lack of supportive experimental evidence for an actual effect of physical activity on entheseal morphology. In 2016, I proposed a repeatable virtual approach for reconstructing habitual physical activity using entheseal morphology, which has been validated based on several experimental studies on laboratory animal species and human skeletons with uniquely detailed and longitudinal occupational documentation. This method, which was later named the “Validated Entheses‐based Reconstruction of Activity” (VERA) method, relies on a precise protocol for virtually delineating and quantifying entheseal areas on three‐dimensional bone models. The obtained area measurements are then subjected to size adjustment and multivariate statistical analyses, which have been experimentally shown to reveal group correlations among entheses that reflect habitual coordination among muscle groups. This paper presents the first critical review of all the various statistical approaches previously employed for analyzing entheses using VERA (so far), providing the first coherent step‐by‐step protocol for the complete univariate and multivariate analysis of entheseal three‐dimensional data. These include the introduction of a new, simple, and fast plotting technique for the initial screening of group entheseal patterns prior to multivariate analysis (i.e., the “VERA Bar‐Chart”), followed by the calculation of the “group entheseal patterning index” (hereafter GEPI%).
A novel ZIC3 mutation in a Chinese family with heterotaxy and multiple types of congenital heart defect
Authors: Wang Yu , Dai Xiaohui , Liu Hanmin , Peng Jin , Chen Jiao
Published: December 2022

Aims

A couple was referred for prenatal counseling at gestational age 21 weeks for revealed situs inversus with levocardia (HP:0,031,592), atrial situs inversus (HP:0,011,538), congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA, HP:0,011,540) with ventricular septal defect (HP:0,001,629) and right aortic arch (HP:0,012,020). The couple had multiple prior pregnancies with complex congenital heart defects (CHDs, HP:0,001,627) in male fetuses. Testing was initiated to identify any fetal abnormality. The genetic cause of the observed prenatal defects was investigated.

Materials and Methods

Whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed on DNA extracted from parental blood samples and skeletal muscle tissue of the aborted fetuses.

Results

A pathogenic hemizygous missense variant in ZIC3 (NM_003413.4: c.895 T > C) associated with X‐linked heterotaxy‐1 (HTX1) and multiple types of congenital heart defect‐1 (CHTD1) (OMIM #306955) was identified, which was inherited from the mother.

Conclusion

ZIC3 encodes a highly conserved zinc‐finger protein that is highly correlated with CHDs. The present study of a Han Chinese family with CHDs expands the mutation spectrum of ZIC3 and provides further evidence that ZIC3 plays important roles in CHDs.
Experimental investigation on porosity and flexural strength of polymer parts fabricated by fused deposition modeling
Authors: Kumar Shailendra , Teraiya Soham , Potdar Yogesh
Published: December 2022

Nowadays, polymer parts are fabricated by fused deposition modeling (FDM) techniques of additive manufacturing for biomedical, sports, and automotive applications. But, functional use of these parts in high‐strength applications is limited due to anisotropic nature of the FDM process. Various researchers have proved that those process variables of FDM affect the mechanical properties of polymer parts. The present paper describes an experimental investigation of porosity and flexural strength of thermoplastic polymer (poly‐lactic acid) parts fabricated by FDM. Influence of three process variables namely nozzle temperature, print speed, and raster width on porosity and flexural strength of parts is studied. Experiments are planned using a central composite design. Specimens are first weighed for density measurements and then tested using three‐point flexural loading on a tensometer. It is found that all three process variables have a significant effect on porosity and flexural strength. Print speed is the most influential parameter for porosity, while raster width is the most significant parameter for flexural strength. Further, regressive models are developed to predict the responses. Also, microstructure of fractured specimens is studied using a scanning electron microscope. Optimization of process variables is performed to minimize porosity and maximize flexural strength using the desirability function approach.
Is ketamine infusion effective and safe as an adjuvant of sedation in the PICU? Results from the Ketamine Infusion Sedation Study (KISS)
Authors: Tessari Anna , Sperotto Francesca , Pece Federico , Pettenuzzo Giulia , Porcellato Nicola , Poletto Elisa , Mondardini Maria Cristina , Pettenazzo Andrea , Daverio Marco , Amigoni Angela
Published: December 2022

Study Objective

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ketamine in ensuring comfort and sparing conventional drugs when used as an adjuvant for analgesia and sedation in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) as a continuous infusion (≥12 h).

Design

Observational prospective study.

Setting

Tertiary‐care‐center PICU.

Patients

All consecutive patients <18 years who received ketamine for ≥12 h between January 2019 and July 2021.

Interventions

ketamine infusion for ≥12 h.

Measurements and Main Results

Seventy‐seven patients (median age 16 months, Interquartile Range (IQR) 7–43) were enrolled. Twenty‐six percent of patients (n = 20) were paralyzed, while 74% (n = 57) were not. The median infusion duration was 90 h (IQR 39–193), with doses between 15 (IQR 15–20) and 30 μg/kg/min (IQR 20–50). At 24 h of ketamine infusion, values of COMFORT‐B‐Scale (CBS) were significantly lower compared with values pre‐ketamine (p < 0.001). Simultaneously, doses/kg/h of opioids and benzodiazepines significantly decreased at 24 h (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively), while doses/kg/h of propofol (p = 0.500) and dexmedetomidine (p = 0.072) did not significantly change. Seventy‐four percent of non‐paralyzed patients (42/57) had a decrease in CBS ≥2 points with no increase of concomitant analgosedation drugs. Among paralyzed patients (n = 20), 13 (65%) had no increase of concomitant analgosedation within 24 h after ketamine initiation. Overall, 55/77 (71%) of patients responded to ketamine. The mean and maximum ketamine infusion dosages were significantly higher in the non‐responders (p = 0.021 and 0.028, respectively). Eleven patients had adverse events potentially related to ketamine (hypersalivation, systemic hypertension, dystonia/dyskinesia, tachycardia, and agitation) and six patients required intervention (dose reduction, suspension, or pharmacologic therapy). None of the patients developed delirium during ketamine infusion.

Conclusions

Ketamine used as a continuous infusion in the PICU might represent a valid strategy to ensure comfort and spare opioids and benzodiazepines in difficult‐to‐sedate PICU patients. Adverse events are minor and easily reversible. Future study will be needed to investigate long‐term outcomes.
Amoxicillin and penicillin G dosing in pediatric community‐acquired pneumococcal pneumonia in the era of conjugate pneumococcal vaccines
Authors: Huynh Dustin , Tung Norint , Dam Quang , Tran Tri , Hulten Kristina G. , Harrison Christopher J. , Kaplan Sheldon L. , Nguyen Allison , Do Tyler H. , Setty Amartya , Le Jennifer
Published: December 2022

Background

Parenteral penicillin G (PENG) and oral amoxicillin (AMOX) are recommended as treatment for pediatric community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP). With recent epidemiologic penicillin susceptibility data for Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most common etiology of CAP, the objective of this study was to evaluate optimal dosing regimens of PENG and AMOX based on population pharmacokinetics linked to current susceptibility data.

Methods

Using NONMEM v7.3, Monte Carlo simulations (N = 10,000) were conducted for AMOX 15 mg/kg/dose PO every 8 h (standard‐dose), AMOX 45 mg/kg/dose PO every 12 h (high‐dose), and PENG 62,500 units/kg/day IV every 6 h using six virtual subjects with ages spanning 3 months to 15 years old. The probability of target attainment (PTA) was determined for both serum and epithelial lining fluid (ELF) to achieve free drug concentrations above the minimum inhibitory concentration (%fT>MIC) across the population of pneumococci for 30%–50% of the dosing interval.

Results

In 2018, all 21 (100%) pneumococcal isolates were susceptible to both PENG and AMOX based on Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI; MIC at 2 mg/L) breakpoints, and 15 of 21 (71%) were susceptible based on EUCAST (MIC at 0.5 mg/L) breakpoints. As compared to CLSI, EUCAST breakpoints consistently achieved higher PTA for all antibiotic regimens. At 50% fT>MIC in the serum at the susceptible MICs, standard‐dose AMOX achieved >4% PTA (CLSI) and >86% PTA (EUCAST); high‐dose AMOX achieved >73% PTA (CLSI) and >99% PTA (EUCAST); and PENG achieved 0% PTA (using CLSI) and 100% PTA (using EUCAST). Standard‐dose AMOX, high‐dose AMOX, and PENG achieved >71%, >93%, and 100% PTA, respectively, in the serum at 30%–50% fT>MIC when each patient was stochastically linked to an MIC based on the frequency distribution of national susceptibility data. The PTA was consistently lower in ELF as compared with serum for all regimens.

Conclusion

Based on the recent rates of resistance, antibiotic doses evaluated provide appropriate exposure for pediatric CAP based on the serum and ELF data associated with predicted clinical and microbiologic success for pneumococcus. High‐dose AMOX may still be required to treat pediatric CAP, especially if using CLSI breakpoints. Ongoing surveillance for resistance is essential.
The effect of Fingolimod on patients with moderate to severe COVID‐19
Authors: Teymouri Soheil , Pourbayram Kaleybar Siamak , Hejazian Seyyed Sina , Hejazian Seyyedeh Mina , Ansarin Khalil , Ardalan Mohammadreza , Zununi Vahed Sepideh
Published: December 2022

Hyper‐inflammation, cytokine storm, and recruitment of immune cells lead to uncontrollable endothelial cell damage in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P) signaling is needed for endothelial integrity and its decreased serum level is a predictor of clinical severity in COVID‐19. In this clinical trial, the effect of Fingolimod, an agonist of S1P, was evaluated on patients with COVID‐19. Forty patients with moderate to severe COVID‐19 were enrolled and divided into two groups including (1) the control group (n = 21) receiving the national standard regimen for COVID‐19 patients and (2) the intervention group (n = 19) that prescribed daily Fingolimod (0.5 mg) for 3 days besides receiving the standard national regimen for COVID‐19. The hospitalization period, re‐admission rate, intensive care unit (ICU) administration, need for mechanical ventilation, and mortality rate were assessed as primary outcomes in both groups. The results showed that re‐admission was significantly decreased in COVID‐19 patients who received Fingolimod compared to the controls (p = .04). In addition, the hemoglobin levels of the COVID‐19 patients in the intervention group were increased compared to the controls (p = .018). However, no significant differences were found regarding the intubation or mortality rate between the groups (p > .05). Fingolimod could significantly reduce the re‐admission rate after hospitalization with COVID‐19. Fingolimod may not enhance patients' outcomes with moderate COVID‐19. It is necessary to examine these findings in a larger cohort of patients with severe to critical COVID‐19.
Time‐Efficient Object Recognition in Quantum Ghost Imaging
Authors: Moodley Chané , Ruget Alice , Leach Jonathan , Forbes Andrew
Published: December 2022

Acquiring information at the fastest possible rate is often desirable, particularly in quantum ghost imaging which suffers from slow reconstruction speeds. Many computationally intense deep‐learning methods have been implemented in an effort to speed up image acquisition times by retrieving image information. Often over‐looked, machine learning methods can offer the same, if not better, speed up in image acquisition time by an object recognition process. Four machine learning algorithms are implemented and trained on a uniquely generated, noised, and blurred dataset of numerical digits 1 through 9. Of the tested recognition algorithms, logistic regression shows a 10× speed up in image acquisition time with a 99% prediction accuracy. Additionally, this reduction in acquisition time is achieved without any image denoising or enhancement prior to recognition, thereby reducing training and implementation time, as well as the computational intensity of the approach. This method can be implemented in real‐time, requiring only 1/10th of the measurements needed for a general solution, making it ideal for quantum imaging and recognition of light sensitive structure.
Dendritic Plasmonic CuPt Alloys for Closed‐Loop Multimode Cancer Therapy with Remarkably Enhanced Efficacy
Authors: Chang Mengyu , Wang Man , Liu Yuhui , Liu Min , Kheraif Abdulaziz A. Al , Ma Ping'an , Zhao Yanli , Lin Jun
Published: December 2022

The outcome of laser‐triggered plasmons‐induced phototherapy, including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), is significantly limited by the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and the upregulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in response to heat stress. Mitochondria, the biological battery of cells, can serve as an important breakthrough to overcome these obstacles. Herein, dendritic triangular pyramidal plasmonic CuPt alloys loaded with heat‐sensitive NO donor N, N′‐di‐sec‐butyl‐N, N′‐dinitroso‐1,4‐phenylenediamine (BNN) is developed. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, plasmonic CuPt can generate superoxide anion free radicals (·O2−) and heat simultaneously. The heat generated can then trigger the release of NO gas, which not only enables gas therapy but also damages the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Impaired mitochondrial respiration leads to reduced oxygen consumption and insufficient intracellular ATP supply, which effectively alleviates tumor hypoxia and undermines the synthesis of HSPs, in turn boosting plasmonic CuPt‐based PDT and mild PTT. Additionally, the generated NO and ·O2− can react to form more cytotoxic peroxynitrite (ONOO−). This work describes a plasmonic CuPt@BNN (CPB) triggered closed‐loop NO gas, free radicals, and mild photothermal therapy strategy that is highly effective at reciprocally promoting antitumor outcomes.
Strong Magnetic Field Annealing for Improved Phthalocyanine Organic Thin‐Film Transistors
Authors: Comeau Zachary J. , Cranston Rosemary R. , Lamontagne Halynne R. , Shuhendler Adam J. , Lessard Benoît H.
Published: December 2022

Thin‐film microstructure, morphology, and polymorphism can be controlled and optimized to improve the performance of carbon‐based electronics. Thermal or solvent vapor annealing are common post‐deposition processing techniques; however, it can be difficult to control or destructive to the active layer or substrates. Here, the use of a static, strong magnetic field (SMF) as a non‐destructive process for the improvement of phthalocyanine (Pc) thin‐film microstructure, increasing organic thin‐film transistor (OTFTs) mobility by twofold, is demonstrated. Grazing incident wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (GIWAXS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) elucidate the effect of SMF on both para‐ and diamagnetic Pc thin‐films when subjected to a magnetic field. A SMF is found to increase the concentration of oxygen‐induced radical species within the Pc thin‐film, lending a paramagnetic character to ordinarily diamagnetic metal‐free Pc and resulting in magnetic field induced changes to its thin‐film microstructures. In a nitrogen environment, without competing degradation effects of molecular oxygen, SMF processing is found to favorably improve charge transport characteristics and increase OTFT mobility. Thus, post‐deposition thin‐film annealing with a magnetic field is presented as an alternative and promising technique for future thin‐film engineering applications.
Russian‐Doll‐Like Porous Carbon as Anode Materials for High‐Performance Potassium‐Ion Hybrid Capacitors
Authors: Liu Yujing , Liu Qi , Liu Xiaohui , Zhao Chengyao , Su Ruizhi , Luo Xinwei , Liu Zhongqiu , Ying Anguo
Published: December 2022

Pore‐structure design with the sophisticated and pragmatic nanostructures still remains a great challenge. In this work, porous carbon with Russian‐doll‐like pores rather than traditional single modal is fabricated via a boiling carbonization approach, accompanied by K+‐pre‐intercalation. The most important internal factor is that alkali can penetrate into the stereoscopic space of layered Malonic acid dihydrazide and the confinement effect leads to the in‐depth development of different dimensional pore structures. The oxygenated and nitrogenated surface guarantees the K+ intercalation behavior. Benefiting from their open framework and enlarged interlayer spacing, K+‐pre‐intercalated porous carbon with Russian‐doll‐like pores (denoted as KPCRPs) as anode material exhibits promising potassium storage performance. The assembled KPCRP//activated carbon potassium‐ion hybrid supercapacitor in 30 m CH3COOK displays a high energy density of 157.29 Wh kg−1, an ultrahigh power output of 14 kW kg−1, and a long cycling life (99.58% capacity retention after 10000 cycles), highlighting the superiority of Russian‐doll‐like pore structure. This work sheds light on the designing of 3D pores structure, especially for multimodal pore architectures.