bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The h-current controls cortical recurrent network activity through modulation of dendrosomatic communication
Authors: Shu Yousheng , Hasenstaub Andrea , McCormick David A.
Published: July 2023

A fundamental feature of the cerebral cortex is the ability to rapidly turn on and off maintained activity within ensembles of neurons through recurrent excitation balanced by inhibition. Here we demonstrate that reduction of the h-current, which is especially prominent in pyramidal cell dendrites, strongly increases the ability of local cortical networks to generate maintained recurrent activity. Reduction of the h-current resulted in hyperpolarization and increase in input resistance of both the somata and apical dendrites of layer 5 pyramidal cells, while strongly increasing the dendrosomatic transfer of low (<20 Hz) frequencies, causing an increased responsiveness to dynamic clamp-induced recurrent network-like activity injected into the dendrites and substantially increasing the duration of spontaneous Up states. We propose that modulation of the h-current may strongly control the ability of cortical networks to generate recurrent persistent activity and the formation and dissolution of neuronal ensembles.
Design differences explain variation in results between randomized trials and their non-randomized emulations
Authors: Heyard Rachel , Held Leonhard , Schneeweiss Sebastian , Wang Shirley V
Published: July 2023

Objectives

While randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered a standard for evidence on the efficacy of medical treatments, non-randomized real-world evidence (RWE) studies using data from health insurance claims or electronic health records can provide important complementary evidence. The use of RWE to inform decision-making has been questioned because of concerns regarding confounding in non-randomized studies and the use of secondary data. RCT-DUPLICATE was a demonstration project that emulated the design of 32 RCTs with non-randomized RWE studies. We sought to explore how emulation differences relate to variation in results between the RCT-RWE study pairs.

Methods

We include all RCT-RWE study pairs from RCT-DUPLICATE where the measure of effect was a hazard ratio and use exploratory meta-regression methods to explain differences and variation in the effect sizes between the results from the RCT and the RWE study. The considered explanatory variables are related to design and population differences.

Results

Most of the observed variation in effect estimates between RCT-RWE study pairs in this sample could be explained by three emulation differences in the meta-regression model: (i) in-hospital start of treatment (not observed in claims data), (ii) discontinuation of certain baseline therapies at randomization (not part of clinical practice), (iii) delayed onset of drug effects (missed by short medication persistence in clinical practice).

Conclusions

This analysis suggests that a substantial proportion of the observed variation between results from RCTs and RWE studies can be attributed to design emulation differences.

What is already known on this topic

Real-world evidence (RWE) studies can complement randomized controlled trials (RCT) by providing insights on the effectiveness of a medical treatment in clinical practice. Concerns about confounding have limited the use of RWE studies in clinical practice and policy decisions.

What this study adds

A large share of the observed variation in results between RCT-RWE study pairs could be explained by design emulation differences.
Genome skimming with nanopore sequencing precisely determines global and transposon DNA methylation in vertebrates
Authors: Faulk Christopher
Published: July 2023

Genome skimming is defined as low-pass sequencing below 0.05× coverage and is typically used for mitochondrial genome recovery and species identification. Long-read nanopore sequencers enable simultaneous reading of both DNA sequence and methylation and can multiplex samples for low-cost genome skimming. Here I present nanopore sequencing as a highly precise platform for global DNA methylation and transposon assessment. At coverage of just 0.001×, or 30 Mb of reads, accuracy is sub-1%. Biological and technical replicates validate high precision. Skimming 40 vertebrate species reveals conserved patterns of global methylation consistent with whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and an average mapping rate >97%. Genome size directly correlates to global DNA methylation, explaining 39% of its variance. Accurate SINE and LINE transposon methylation in both the mouse and primates can be obtained with just 0.0001× coverage, or 3 Mb of reads. Sample multiplexing, field portability, and the low price of this instrument combine to make genome skimming for DNA methylation an accessible method for epigenetic assessment from ecology to epidemiology and for low-resource groups.
A direct experimental comparison of single-crystal CVD diamond and silicon carbide X-ray beam position monitors
Authors: Houghton C. , Bloomer C. , Bobb L.
Published: July 2023

Single-crystal chemical vapour deposition (CVD) diamond detectors are an established transmissive synchrotron beamline diagnostic instrument used for beam position and beam intensity monitoring. A recently commercialized alternative is silicon carbide (4H-SiC) devices. These have the potential to provide the same diagnostic information as commercially available single-crystal CVD diamond X-ray beam position monitors, but with a much larger transmissive aperture. At Diamond Light Source an experimental comparison of the performance of single-crystal CVD diamond and 4H-SiC X-ray beam position monitors has been carried out. A quantitative comparison of their performance is presented in this paper. The single-crystal diamond and 4H-SiC beam position monitors were installed in-line along the synchrotron X-ray beam path enabling synchronous measurements at kilohertz rates of the beam motion from both devices. The results of several tests of the two position monitors' performance are presented: comparing signal uniformity across the surface of the detectors, comparing kHz intensity measurements, and comparing kHz beam position measurements from the detectors. Each test is performed with a range of applied external bias voltages. A discussion of the benefits and limitations of 4H-SiC and single-crystal CVD diamond detectors is included.
The evaluation of target markets for hazelnut exports with the classification approach of potential market alternatives
Authors: Baki Rahmi
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The aim of the proposed classification approach of potential market alternatives (CAPMA) is to provide exporting countries with a framework for identifying potential market opportunities for their products or services.

Design/methodology/approach

In today's global market conditions, with competition increasing daily, companies, businesses and states must seek new markets at the national and international level. Target market selection is a strategic process that directly affects the success of an organization and can lead to important results in the short and long term. The process requires systematic research and digitization of data to analyse target markets.

Findings

The study tested the proposed approach by analysing Turkey's potential markets for hazelnut exports and identifying new target markets. A significant part of Turkey's hazelnut exporting is confined to the European geography of Turkey, the leading country in hazelnut production and export. Twenty potential markets were evaluated on the basis of 11 criteria, and feasible alternatives were categorized into four classes. The study revealed that the USA, India, the United Kingdom and Japan were in the category of markets with the greatest potential for increasing exports (Dimension 1).

Originality/value

This study has developed a novel approach that allows the comparison of the current market situation with potential market outcomes and creates an accurate classification of target markets.
Sectoral risk contagion and quantile network connectedness on Chinese stock sectors after the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Gao Yang , Zheng Wanqi , Wang Yaojun
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the risk spillover effects among different sectors of the Chinese stock market after the outbreak of COVID-19 from both Internet sentiment and price fluctuations.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop four indicators used for risk contagion analysis, including Internet investors and news sentiments constructed by the FinBERT model, together with realized and jump volatilities yielded by high-frequency data. The authors also apply the time-varying parameter vector autoregressive (TVP-VAR) model-based and the tail-based connectedness framework to investigate the interdependence of tail risk during catastrophic events.

Findings

The empirical analysis provides meaningful results related to the COVID-19 pandemic, stock market conditions and tail behavior. The results show that after the outbreak of COVID-19, the connectivity between risk spillovers in China's stock market has grown, indicating the increased instability of the connected system and enhanced connectivity in the tail. The changes in network structure during COVID-19 pandemic are not only reflected by the increased spillover connectivity but also by the closer relationships between some industries. The authors also found that major public events could significantly impact total connectedness. In addition, spillovers and network structures vary with market conditions and tend to exhibit a highly connected network structure during extreme market status.

Originality/value

The results confirm the connectivity between sentiments and volatilities spillovers in China's stock market, especially in the tails. The conclusion further expands the practical application and theoretical framework of behavioral finance and also lays a theoretical basis for investors to focus on the practical application of volatility prediction and risk management across stock sectors.
FinTech and firm’s cash holdings: evidence from China
Authors: Ullah Irfan , Zeb Aurang
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to empirically explore the nexus between FinTech and a firm’s cash holdings.

Design/methodology/approach

A panel data regression analysis is conducted on a sample of A-listed firms registered on the Shenzhen and Shanghai Stock Exchanges from 2011 to 2019. To address simultaneity issues in the study, the authors use various endogeneity tests, including lag of independent variables, generalized method of moments and two-stage least squares estimation.

Findings

Results reveal that FinTech has a significantly negative effect on a firm’s cash holdings, suggesting that FinTech development improves cash management by alleviating agency costs and reducing financial constraints. The findings remain consistent across different FinTech measures and alternative cash holding proxies, demonstrating that FinTech serves as a corporate governance mechanism.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that FinTech disciplines corporate managers and alleviates agency problems regarding cash holdings.

Originality/value

This study suggests that FinTech determines a firm’s cash holdings.
“Our festival, Their festival”: the local perceptions of festival sustainability in Zanzibar festival portfolio
Authors: Jani Dev
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore local residents' perceptions of sustainability of different festivals making festival portfolio in Zanzibar.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used multiqualitative methods and comparative case analysis that made use of in-depth interviews, observation and focus group discussion as the data collection techniques. Thematic content analysis was used to describe festivals from residents' point of views.

Findings

The results indicate residents to perceive two broader types of festivals: Ours and Theirs that have different impacts on sustainability of the festivals.

Research limitations/implications

The ours and theirs dichotomy of festivals from residents' perspectives extends the conceptualization of festivals. In line with the event portfolio framework, the emerged types of festival aid event planners with understanding and managing the events with the aim of making the festival and the destinations sustainable.

Originality/value

The bifurcated perception of festival ownership provides a complimentary theoretical lens that can be applied to explain the festival workings and management that emphasize the need for places to have festival portfolio catering for different segments.
Knowledge management for supply chain resilience in pharmaceutical industry: evidence from the Middle East region
Authors: Zighan Saad , Dwaikat Nidal Yousef , Alkalha Ziad , Abualqumboz Moheeb
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study investigates the role of supply chain knowledge management in enhancing pharmaceutical supply chain resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focusses on the Middle East region, where semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 38 professionals from the pharmaceutical supply chain to collect empirical data.

Findings

The study reveals that supply chain knowledge management is a crucial value-adding practice that improves pharmaceutical supply chain resilience. Effective supply chain knowledge management enables organisations to develop agility, change, adaptability, problem-solving, response and innovation capabilities that support supply chain resilience. However, challenges related to supply chain management practices, people, processes and technology hinder the effective promotion of supply chain knowledge.

Practical implications

This study reminds managers that knowledge management is critical for building resilience in supply chains.

Social implications

The study highlights the importance of a resilient pharmaceutical supply chain for organisations and society. The study advocates that effective supply chain knowledge management can help ensure a sustained supply of high-quality pharmaceutical products and services during crises.

Originality/value

The study offers novel insights by examining pharmaceutical supply chain resilience from a knowledge management perspective and highlighting the potential of knowledge capabilities to enable supply chains to recover from crises and adapt to the new normal. This study also highlights the key strategic considerations for managing knowledge effectively throughout the supply chain.
Learning for success: understanding crowdfunding relaunch performance after initial failures
Authors: Liu Xiaochen , Xu Yukuan , Ye Qiang , Jin Yu
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Fierce competition in the crowdfunding market has resulted in high failure rates. Owing to their dedication and efforts, many founders have relaunched failed campaigns as a second attempt. Despite the need for a better understanding, the success of campaign relaunches has not been well-researched. To fill this research gap, this study first theorizes how founders’ learning may enhance their competencies and influence investors’ attribution of entrepreneurial failure. The study then empirically documents the extent and conditions under which such learning efforts impact campaign relaunch performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines 5,798 Kickstarter-relaunched campaigns. The founders’ learning efforts are empirically captured by key changes in campaign design that deviate from past business practices. Word movers’ distances and perceptual hashing algorithms (pHash) are used separately to measure differences in campaign textual descriptions and pictorial designs.

Findings

Differences in textual descriptions and pictorial designs during campaign failure–relaunch are positively associated with campaign relaunch success. The impacts are further amplified when the previous failures are more severe.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to examine the success of a campaign relaunch after an initial failure. This study contributes to a better understanding of founders’ learning in crowdfunding contexts and provides insights into the strategies founders can adopt to reap performance benefits.
Visioning strategy through the “Johari window”: discovering critical “unknowns” in a rapidly evolving context
Authors: Welch James
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to examine the interaction of strategy formulation with the intelligence variation of the Johari window. Formulating firm strategy with an understanding of these four knowledge-awareness areas can help a company understand their own strengths and weakness in relation to the dynamics of the industry in which they operate while also developing a greater awareness and understanding of their competition, environmental considerations, and future implications. Through this interaction, a firm can identify factors impacting the organization's future success and can develop a comprehensive strategic plan that adapts to changes and uncertainties in the environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Extant literature and available tools are explored to develop a usable framework in conducting an extensive SWOT analysis as related to the four knowledge-awareness areas, known knowns, known unknowns, unknown knowns, and unknown unknowns.

Findings

It is crucial for businesses to acknowledge the significance of integrating all four categories of knowledge-awareness, known knowns, known unknowns, unknown knowns, and unknown unknowns, into their strategic formulation, as this can facilitate the development of adaptable and effective strategic plans that consider the constantly evolving business landscape. This approach can equip organizations with the necessary tools to thrive over the long term, even with unforeseen obstacles and uncertainties. It is imperative that businesses do not overlook the importance of considering all four categories during analysis to enable them to achieve strategic planning that is both effective and adaptable.

Originality/value

Focusing only on the knowns that are already identified, while disregarding the unknowns that have not been discovered, can lead to blind spots and oversights that can be detrimental to the organization's growth and sustainability. By being aware of all four categories of knowledge, an organization can adapt to changes and uncertainties in the business environment, and make informed decisions based on a fuller picture of the situation.
Turkish gen Z players’ in-game purchase intention: does gender difference matter?
Authors: Akin Mahmut Selami
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to illuminate Turkish gen Z players’ intention to make in-game purchases based on stimulus–organism–response (SOR) model and uncover the distinctive role of gender.

Design/methodology/approach

Six hundred and ninety-six young players were included in the research who are aged 12 to 29 in Istanbul, Türkiye. Measurement validity was checked via principal component and confirmatory factor analysis. Structural model testing, mediation and multigroup analysis were conducted to test relationships among latent constructs.

Findings

The study revealed enjoyment, perceived attractiveness and economic value were positively associated with gamer satisfaction, though connectedness was not. In addition, gamer satisfaction positively affected loyalty and loyalty predicted in-game purchase intention. On the other hand, the magnitude of enjoyment-gamer satisfaction path was greater in female players than in males. However, the effect sizes of perceived attractiveness and economic value on gamer satisfaction were larger in males than in females.

Research limitations/implications

The research focuses on freemium game context, the sample of Istanbul province in Turkey, and gen Z (12 to 29) players constituting the limitations.

Practical implications

Mobile game producers should consider that enjoyment is more substantial for female players to increase in-game revenue. Hence, perceived attractiveness and economic value may be improved for male players. They could also balance the gaming experience by providing social connectivity and isolation.

Originality/value

It is the initial attempt to unveil Turkish young mobile players’ behavioral tendency toward paid in-game extensions. On the other hand, gender difference is a salient matter unnoticed by other investigations that the strength of stimulus varies from players’ gender discovered by the research.
ohun: An R package for diagnosing and optimizing automatic sound event detection
Authors: Araya‐Salas Marcelo , Smith‐Vidaurre Grace , Chaverri Gloriana , Brenes Juan C. , Chirino Fabiola , Elizondo‐Calvo Jorge , Rico‐Guevara Alejandro
Published: July 2023

Animal acoustic signals are widely used in diverse research areas due to the relative ease with which sounds can be registered across a wide range of taxonomic groups and research settings. However, bioacoustics research can quickly generate large data sets, which might prove challenging to analyse promptly. Although many tools are available for the automated detection of sounds, choosing the right approach can be difficult and only a few tools provide a framework for evaluating detection performance.

Here, we present ohun, an R package intended to facilitate automated sound event detection. ohun provides functions to diagnose and optimize detection routines, compare performance among different detection approaches and evaluate the accuracy in inferring the temporal location of events.

The package uses reference annotations containing the time position of target sounds in a training data set to evaluate detection routine performance using common signal detection theory indices. This can be done both with routine outputs imported from other software and detections run within the package. The package also provides functions to organize acoustic data sets in a format amenable to detection analyses. In addition, ohun includes energy‐based and template‐based detection methods, two commonly used automatic approaches in bioacoustics research.

We show how ohun can be used to automatically detect vocal signals with case studies of adult male zebra finch Taenopygia gutata songs and Spix's disc‐winged bat Thyroptera tricolor ultrasonic social calls. We also include examples of how to evaluate the detection performance of ohun and external software. Finally, we provide some general suggestions to improve detection performance.
Herbaceous vegetation changes along a bush encroachment intensity gradient in a montane area
Authors: Stephen Retselisitsoe J. , Chatanga Peter , Seleteng‐Kose Lerato , Mapeshoane Botle , Marake Makoala V.
Published: July 2023

Although bush encroachment in rangelands is a widely reported phenomenon, particularly in the arid and semi‐arid regions of southern Africa, the knowledge of the impact of bush encroachment in montane rangelands is inadequate to support the sustainable management of these important ecosystems. This study assessed how herbaceous vegetation changes along a bush encroachment intensity gradient in the montane rangelands of Sehlabathebe in the Qacha's Nek District of Lesotho. Fifty 16 m2 vegetation plots were randomly selected on a bush‐encroached rangeland area. In each plot, bush species data, including canopy cover, richness, density and height, were recorded. The Braun‐Blanquet method was used to assess herbaceous vegetation. The data were analysed using regression analysis, correlation analysis and ordination. Forb and graminoids attributes (Shannon‐Wiener diversity, species richness, evenness and percentage cover) together with bush attributes (height, density, diversity, evenness, richness and cover %) were subjected to regression and ordination. Results revealed that bush cover was negatively correlated with both forb and graminoids vegetation cover. While forb species richness, evenness and Shannon‐Wiener diversity increased with an increase in bush encroachment intensity, graminoid species abundance and diversity decreased. Overall, bush encroachment negatively impacted the structure and composition of graminoids. This implies that bush encroachment compromises the condition of montane rangelands because graminoids contribute to grazable forage more than forbs in these montane ecosystems.
Fucking up, fixing up, and standing up (to the colonial project of gender and sexuality)
Authors: O'Sullivan Sandy
Published: July 2023

As a Wiradjuri person living on stolen Kabi Kabi Land, I begin this article by framing Yindyamarra Winhanganha as an ethos of my life, and therefore of the research I conduct. Yindyamarra Winhanganha is a complex Wiradjuri philosophy of designing a world that is made better through our actions. It forms the starting point of my relationality and centers my aspirations as a researcher. Wiradjuri is my Aboriginal language group and community, located in the colonial state of New South Wales, Australia, which constitutes a landmass larger than Portugal. In the Wiradjuri lands, there is a colonially disrupted archaeological record of occupation dating back at least 60,000 years. Relationality and connectedness underpin the conduct of my research, and—as is appropriate according to Yindyamarra—I reflect on how this approach has allowed growth, recalibration, and ethical conduct. If this article seems to only peripherally touch on anthropology, you can thank me later.
Ethnography after anthropology
Authors: Parreñas Juno Salazar
Published: July 2023

For many today, extraction is a damning feature of all ethnography. Yet anthropologically minded ethnographers should not think of themselves as multinational mining corporations. The self‐estimation of any ethnographer, especially an anthropologically minded ethnographer, should be much lower and smaller, as low and small as tiny moles that make new connections by digging channels in the dark. Moles might not be the perfect analogy. They do, however, demonstrate to anthropologically minded ethnographers two important characteristics: they are fuzzy, and they spend an enormous amount of time digging. Ethnographers should be like moles, maintaining a sensitivity to where they tread and where they might dig, feeling compelled to dig deeper instead of staying on the open surface, and being open to a synesthesia of fuzziness.
The effect of placement and management of intrathecal catheters following accidental dural puncture on the incidence of postdural puncture headache and severity: a retrospective real‐world study
Authors: Binyamin Y. , Azem Karam , Heesen M. , Gruzman I. , Frenkel A. , Fein S. , Eidelman L. A. , Garren A. , Frank D. , Orbach‐Zinger S.
Published: July 2023

Accidental dural puncture during an attempt to establish labour epidural analgesia can result in postdural puncture headache and long‐term debilitating conditions. Epidural blood patch, the gold standard treatment for this headache, is invasive and not always successful. Inserting an intrathecal catheter after accidental dural puncture may prevent postdural puncture headache. We evaluated the effect of intrathecal catheter insertion on the incidence of postdural puncture headache and the need for epidural blood patch and whether duration of intrathecal catheterisation or injection of intrathecal saline affected outcome. Our retrospective study was conducted at two tertiary, university‐affiliated medical centres between 2017 and 2022 and included 92,651 epidurals and 550 cases of accidental dural puncture (0.59%); 219 parturients (39.8%) received an intrathecal catheter and 331 (60.2%) a resited epidural. Use of an intrathecal catheter versus resiting the epidural did not decrease the odds of postdural puncture headache, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) (95%CI) 0.91 (0.81–1.01), but was associated with a lower need for epidural blood patch (aOR (95%CI) 0.82 (0.73–0.91), p < 0.001). We found no benefit in leaving in the intrathecal catheter for 24 h postpartum (postdural puncture headache, aOR (95%CI) 1.01 (1.00–1.02), p = 0.015; epidural blood patch, aOR (95%CI) 1.00 (0.99–1.01), p = 0.40). We found an added benefit of injecting intrathecal saline as it decreased the incidence of postdural puncture headache (aOR (95%CI) 0.85 (0.73–0.99), p = 0.04) and the need for epidural blood patch (aOR (95%CI) 0.75 (0.64–0.87), p < 0.001). Our study confirms the benefits of intrathecal catheterisation and provides guidance on how to best manage an intrathecal catheter.
Direct‐to‐participant investigational medicinal product supply in clinical trials in Europe: Exploring the experiences of sponsors, site staff and couriers
Authors: de Jong Amos J. , Santa‐Ana‐Tellez Yared , Zuidgeest Mira G. P. , Grupstra Renske J. , Jami Fatemeh , de Boer Anthonius , Gardarsdottir Helga ,   the Trials@Home Consortium
Published: July 2023

Aims

Insights into the current practice of direct‐to‐participant (DtP) supply of investigational medicinal product (IMP) in the context of clinical trials conducted in Europe are needed, as regulations are unharmonized. This study is set out to explore how DtP IMP supply has been employed in Europe and what the advantages and disadvantages and barriers and facilitators of its implementation are.

Methods

We conducted semi‐structured interviews with representatives from sponsor companies, courier services and site study staff involved in the IMP dispensing and delivery process in Europe. Interviews were conducted between May and November 2021, and data were analysed following thematic analysis.

Results

Sixteen respondents participated in one of the 12 interviews. Respondents had experience with different models of DtP IMP supply including shipment from the investigative site, a central pharmacy (a depot under the control of a pharmacist) and a local pharmacy—aiming to reduce trial participation burden. The respondents indicated that investigative site‐to‐participant shipment is not affected by regulatory barriers, but could burden site staff. Shipment from central locations was considered most efficient, but possible regulatory barriers related to maintaining participants' privacy and investigator oversight were identified. The respondents indicated that the involvement of local pharmacies to dispense IMP can be considered when the IMP is authorized.

Conclusions

Several DtP IMP supply models are implemented in clinical trials conducted in Europe. In this study, three main DtP IMP models were identified, which can be referenced when describing these approaches for regulatory approval.
Intratumor Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes the progression of pancreatic cancer via the CXCL1‐CXCR2 axis
Authors: Hayashi Masataka , Ikenaga Naoki , Nakata Kohei , Luo Haizhen , Zhong PingShan , Date Satomi , Oyama Koki , Higashijima Nobuhiro , Kubo Akihiro , Iwamoto Chika , Torata Nobuhiro , Abe Toshiya , Yamada Yutaka , Ohuchida Kenoki , Oda Yoshinao , Nakamura Masafumi
Published: July 2023

Intratumor bacteria modify the tumor immune microenvironment and influence outcomes of various tumors. Periodontal pathogen Fusobacterium nucleatum has been detected in pancreatic cancer tissues and is associated with poor prognosis. However, it remains unclear how F. nucleatum affects pancreatic cancer. Here, we compared clinical features with F. nucleatum colonization in pancreatic cancer tissues. F. nucleatum was detected in 15.5% (13/84) of pancreatic cancer patients. The tumor size was significantly larger in the F. nucleatum‐positive group than in the negative group. To clarify the biological effect of intratumor F. nucleatum on pancreatic cancer progression, we performed migration/invasion assays and cytokine array analysis of cancer cells cocultured with F. nucleatum. F. nucleatum promoted CXCL1 secretion from pancreatic cancer cells, leading to cancer progression through autocrine signaling. Intratumor F. nucleatum suppressed tumor‐infiltrating CD8+ T cells by recruiting myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) to the tumor in an F. nucleatum‐injected subcutaneous pancreatic cancer mouse model, resulting in tumor progression. Furthermore, tumor growth accelerated by F. nucleatum was suppressed by MDSC depletion or cytokine inhibitors. Intratumor F. nucleatum promoted pancreatic cancer progression through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms of the CXCL1‐CXCR2 axis. Blockade of the CXCL1‐CXCR2 axis may be a novel therapeutic approach for patients with intratumor F. nucleatum‐positive pancreatic cancer.
Prevalence and risk factors for hand eczema among professional hospital cleaners in Denmark: A cross‐sectional questionnaire‐based study
Authors: Sedeh Farnam Barati , Michaelsdóttir Thórunn Elísabet , Christiensen Karl Bang , Mortensen Ole Steen , Jemec Gregor Borut Ernst , Ibler Kristina Sophie
Published: July 2023

Background

Professional cleaners are commonly affected by hand eczema (HE) due to wet work and exposure to cleaning products in the work environment.

Objective

To investigate (1) the prevalence of HE in a group of professional hospital cleaners, (2) the association of HE with various comorbidities and self‐reported signs/symptoms of skin lesions and (3) the association of HE with various occupational and personal risk factors in the same population.

Methods

A cross‐sectional questionnaire‐based study including all cleaners working in three hospitals in Denmark. The questionnaire was composed of 35 questions. Prevalence is reported using proportions with 95% confidence intervals and compared using difference of proportions and Fisher's exact test.

Results

A total of 122 out of 180 cleaners (response rate = 68%) participated in this study. The self‐reported lifetime prevalence of HE among the cleaners was 30.3%, while the 1‐year prevalence was 18.9%. HE was significantly associated with a history of atopic diseases. There was a significant correlation between having HE, and self‐reported redness and itch of the hands in the last 12 months, as well as the use of hydrochloric acid ≥4 days/week during the last 12 months. Logistic regression analysis found HE significantly associated with washing hands ≥20 times during a working day and a history of atopic dermatitis.

Conclusion

Cleaners are at an elevated risk of developing HE. More focus on education/information regarding the prevention and treatment of HE is necessary for the cleaning profession. Self‐reported redness and itching of the hands may be a useful prediction of HE in cleaners.
Have Industrial Robots Improved Pollution Reduction? A Theoretical Approach and Empirical Analysis
Authors: Zhu Huzhou , Sang Bin , Zhang Chunyuan , Guo Lin
Published: July 2023

To investigate whether industrial robots have improved the ecological environment, this study integrated the adoption of robot technology and pollution abatement into Melitz's heterogeneous firm model. This showed that using robots in production can lower firms' pollution intensity by increasing their abatement investments, and this reduction effect is greater for higher polluting firms and those subject to weaker local environmental regulations. These theoretical expectations were then confirmed through a series of empirical investigations based on Bartik instrument regressions, with multiple robustness checks as well as heterogeneity and mechanism analyses. This paper adds to the literature on the relationships between automation technologies and green transformation. It shows that in the pursuit of economic growth and environmental protection, it is necessary for policymakers to shift from pollution control to technical support for traditional manufacturing firms.
Parental attachment and childhood trauma in adolescents engaged in non‐suicidal self‐injury
Authors: Bahali Kayhan , Durcan Gizem , Topal Melike , Önal Bedia Sultan , Bilgiç Ayhan , Tanıdır Canan , Aytemiz Tuğçe , Yazgan Yankı
Published: July 2023

Aim

In this study, it was aimed to compare parental attachment and childhood traumas in adolescents with NSSI with healthy peers.

Methods

Fifty adolescents aged 14–18 years with lifetime NSSI and 56 healthy peers were included in the study. Inventory of Statements About Self‐injury (ISAS), The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and Child Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ‐28) scales were used.

Results

Eighty‐two percentage of the NSSI group and 70% of the control group were girls. The mean age was 15.6 ± 1.1 years in the NSSI group and 15.3 ± 0.9 years in the control group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age and gender. The NSSI group had more negative scores than the control group in terms of childhood traumas and attachment characteristics to both mother and father. The analyses showed that mother PBI care/control and sexual abuse score had a relationship with both ISAS Autonomic Functions and ISAS Social Functions scores.

Conclusions

These results suggest that secure attachment with the mother may be protective for both the autonomic and social functions of the NSSI. Therefore, interventions for dysfunctional parental attachment may prevent the development of NSSI.
Increasing challenges to trial recruitment and conduct over time
Authors: Kerr Wesley T. , Reddy Advith S. , Seo Sung Hyun , Kok Neo , Stacey William C. , Stern John M. , Pennell Page B. , French Jacqueline A.
Published: July 2023

Objective

This study was undertaken to evaluate how the challenges in the recruitment and retention of participants in clinical trials for focal onset epilepsy have changed over time.

Methods

In this systematic analysis of randomized clinical trials of adjunct antiseizure medications for medication‐resistant focal onset epilepsy, we evaluated how the numbers of participants, sites, and countries have changed since the first such trial in 1990. We also evaluated the proportion of participants who completed each trial phase and their reasons for early trial exit. We analyzed these trends using mixed effects generalized linear models accounting for the influence of the number of trial sites and trial‐specific variability.

Results

The number of participants per site has steadily decreased over decades, with recent trials recruiting fewer than five participants per site (reduction by .16 participants/site/year, p < .0001). Fewer participants also progressed from recruitment to randomization over time (odds ratio = .94/year, p = .014). Concurrently, there has been an increase in the placebo response over time (increase in median percent reduction of .4%/year, p = .02; odds ratio of increase in 50% responder rate of 1.03/year, p = .02), which was not directly associated with the number of sites per trial (p > .20).

Significance

This historical analysis highlights the increasing challenges with participant recruitment and retention, as well as increasing placebo response. It serves as a call to action to change clinical trial design to address these challenges.
Colic due to dorsally located perirectal abscesses: A retrospective case series of six horses
Authors: Weber Lisa Annabel , Verhaar Nicole , Feige Karsten
Published: July 2023

Perirectal abscesses have only rarely been reported in horses. This case series describes the clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of six horses with this condition. The equids affected were geldings or stallions of various breeds and aged from 4 months to 21 years (median age 10 months). Typical clinical signs included colic with tachycardia, tenesmus, dyschezia and abdominal distension. The diagnosis was obtained by transrectal palpation and ultrasonographic examination in five of six horses and by median laparotomy in one horse. All abscesses were located dorsally to the rectum. Rectal impaction and large colon tympany were common secondary findings. Microbiologic examination of abscess content revealedStreptococcus equisubspecieszooepidemicusin all horses. Abscesses were treated by a combination of medical and surgical approaches. One horse had to be euthanised due to complete obstruction of the pelvis by the abscess. In the other horses (5/6), the disorder was associated with an excellent prognosis. In terms of the total population of horses presenting with colic in the investigated period, the prevalence of cases with perirectal abscesses was 0.4%. Although uncommon, described cases indicate that perirectal abscesses should be considered as differential diagnosis for young and mature horses with colic signs.
Intelligent path planning algorithm of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle based on vision under ocean current
Authors: Wang Yibo , Xi Meng , Weng Yubo
Published: July 2023

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) is an important tool for intelligent ocean applications, which can be applied to detect underwater environment and search target. Path planning is the key technology to realize AUV intelligence, which has important research significance. Aiming at the dynamic path planning problem, the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) was first applied to the AUV three‐dimensional (3D) dynamic path planning, and a Gate Recurrent Unit Proximal Policy Optimization with Local Vision (GPPO‐LV) model based on local vision is proposed. The 3D ocean current environment is constructed based on the ROMS simulation data. The local vision matrix is constructed based on underwater images, and the features of local vision are extracted using convolutional neural network. Furthermore, Gate Recurrent Unit (GRU) network is used to mine the hidden information between observation states. Finally, the Actor network for strategy output and the Critical network for action value evaluation are constructed, and strategies are optimized in the process of interaction with the environment. The experiment shows that under various unknown environments, AUV can carry out real‐time path planning under real ocean current data, and has good obstacle avoidance ability.
A marine protected area network does not confer community structure resilience to a marine heatwave across coastal ecosystems
Authors: Smith Joshua G. , Free Christopher M. , Lopazanski Cori , Brun Julien , Anderson Clarissa R. , Carr Mark H. , Claudet Joachim , Dugan Jenifer E. , Eurich Jacob G. , Francis Tessa B. , Hamilton Scott L. , Mouillot David , Raimondi Peter T. , Starr Richard M. , Ziegler Shelby L. , Nickols Kerry J. , Caselle Jennifer E.
Published: July 2023

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have gained attention as a conservation tool for enhancing ecosystem resilience to climate change. However, empirical evidence explicitly linking MPAs to enhanced ecological resilience is limited and mixed. To better understand whether MPAs can buffer climate impacts, we tested the resistance and recovery of marine communities to the 2014–2016 Northeast Pacific heatwave in the largest scientifically designed MPA network in the world off the coast of California, United States. The network consists of 124 MPAs (48 no‐take state marine reserves, and 76 partial‐take or special regulation conservation areas) implemented at different times, with full implementation completed in 2012. We compared fish, benthic invertebrate, and macroalgal community structure inside and outside of 13 no‐take MPAs across rocky intertidal, kelp forest, shallow reef, and deep reef nearshore habitats in California's Central Coast region from 2007 to 2020. We also explored whether MPA features, including age, size, depth, proportion rock, historic fishing pressure, habitat diversity and richness, connectivity, and fish biomass response ratios (proxy for ecological performance), conferred climate resilience for kelp forest and rocky intertidal habitats spanning 28 MPAs across the full network. Ecological communities dramatically shifted due to the marine heatwave across all four nearshore habitats, and MPAs did not facilitate habitat‐wide resistance or recovery. Only in protected rocky intertidal habitats did community structure significantly resist marine heatwave impacts. Community shifts were associated with a pronounced decline in the relative proportion of cold water species and an increase in warm water species. MPA features did not explain resistance or recovery to the marine heatwave. Collectively, our findings suggest that MPAs have limited ability to mitigate the impacts of marine heatwaves on community structure. Given that mechanisms of resilience to climate perturbations are complex, there is a clear need to expand assessments of ecosystem‐wide consequences resulting from acute climate‐driven perturbations, and the potential role of regulatory protection in mitigating community structure changes.
Risk factors for stress urinary incontinence recurrence after midurethral sling revision
Authors: Six Jeanne‐Claire , Pinsard Marion , Guerin Sonia , Gasmi Anis , Coiffic Jerry , Richard Claire , Haudebert Camille , Nyangoh Timoh Krystel , Hascoet Juliette , Peyronnet Benoit
Published: July 2023

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to report the rate of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) recurrence after sling revision, and to determine predictive factors of SUI recurrence.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a single academic center between 2005 and 2022, of patients who underwent sling revision. Four surgical techniques were used for sling revision (loosening, section, partial, and total excision). The primary endpoint was recurrence of SUI at 3 months postoperatively, and the other outcome of interest was the rate of subsequent anti‐incontinence surgical procedure.

Results

Sixty‐nine patients were included for analysis. SUI recurred in 46.4% of patients. Fifteen patients underwent a subsequent anti‐incontinence procedure (21.8%). The time to revision was significantly longer in the group with recurrent SUI (median: 84.5 vs. 44.8 months; p = 0.004). The recurrence rate differed significantly depending on the revision technique: 7.7% after sling loosening, 22.2% after sling section, 60% after partial excision, and 66.7% after complete sling removal (p = 0.001). The risk of SUI recurrence was lower for those whose indication of reoperation was voiding dysfunction (27.3% vs. 66.7%; p = 0.002), and was higher for those who underwent a trans‐obturator tap rather than a tension‐free vaginal tape revision (68.4% vs. 35.7%; p = 0.02). In multivariate analysis, only the revision technique remained significantly associated with the risk of recurrence of SUI (complete excision vs. section: odds ratio = 4.66; p = 0.04).

Conclusion

The risk of SUI recurrence may differ widely according to the techniques used, and it seems that the less extensive the surgical procedure is, the lower the risk is.
Selling exclusively or widely? Optimal strategic responses under online platform power asymmetry and competition
Authors: K. Li Kunpeng , Y. Li Yang , Gharehgozli Amir
Published: July 2023

We study an e‐commerce marketplace consisting of a third‐party seller, a dominant platform, and a competing platform. The seller pays referral fees to sell on the platforms. The dominant platform has a larger consumer base and offers an exclusive program. We formulate a game theoretic model to study strategic responses for all parties involved. The research questions are: How would the seller optimally choose between the two selling options: “go exclusive” with the dominant platform or “go wide” with both the dominant and the competing platforms? How would the dominant platform optimally adjust the referral fee in the exclusive program? How would the competing platform optimally discount the referral fee to compete with the dominant platform? We find that it is optimal for the seller to sell exclusively on the dominant platform if the referral fee adjustment in the exclusive program is lower than a threshold value. For the dominant platform, we identify the optimal value of the referral fee adjustment so that the seller can be enticed to choose the selling strategy that benefits the dominant platform as well. For the competing platform, we prove that there exists an optimal value of the referral fee discount. We also identify the market conditions that it is optimal for the competing platform to discount the referral fee or to set the referral fee the same as the dominant platform. We contribute to the e‐commerce literature by studying exclusive selling and platform competition while incorporating base demand asymmetry and referral fee asymmetry.