bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
C-reactive protein-based tuberculosis triage testing: a multi-country diagnostic accuracy study
Authors: Derendinger Brigitta , Mochizuki Tessa K. , Marcelo Danaida , Shankar Deepa , Mangeni Wilson , Nguyen Hanh , Yerikaya Seda , Worodria William , Yu Charles , Nguyen Nhung Viet , Christopher Devasahayam Jesudas , Theron Grant , Phillips Patrick P.J. , Nahid Payam , Denkinger Claudia M. , Cattamanchi Adithya , Yoon Christina
Published: April 2024

Rationale

C-reactive protein (CRP)-based tuberculosis (TB) screening is recommended for people with HIV (PWH). However, its performance among people without HIV and in diverse settings is unknown.

Objectives

In a multi-country study, we aimed to determine whether CRP meets the minimum accuracy targets (sensitivity ≥90%, specificity ≥70%) for an effective TB triage test.

Methods/Measurements

Consecutive outpatient adults with cough ≥2 weeks from five TB endemic countries in Africa and Asia had baseline blood collected for point-of-care CRP testing and HIV and diabetes screening. Sputum samples were collected for Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert) testing and culture. CRP sensitivity and specificity (5 mg/L cut-point) was determined in reference to sputum test results and compared by country, sex, and HIV and diabetes status. Variables affecting CRP performance were identified using a multivariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) regression model.

Results

Among 2904 participants, of whom 613 (21%) had microbiologically-confirmed TB, CRP sensitivity was 84% (95% CI: 81-87%) and specificity was 61% (95% CI: 59-63%). CRP accuracy varied geographically, with higher sensitivity in African countries (≥91%) than Asian countries (64-82%). Sensitivity was higher among men than women (87% vs. 79%, difference +8%, 95% CI: 1-15%) and specificity was higher among people without HIV than PWH (64% vs. 45%, difference +19%, 95% CI: 13-25%). ROC regression identified country and measures of TB disease severity as predictors of CRP performance.

Conclusions

Overall, CRP did not achieve the minimum accuracy targets and its performance varied by setting and in some sub-groups, likely reflecting population differences in mycobacterial load.
Leveraging a Large Language Model to Assess Quality-of-Care: Monitoring ADHD Medication Side Effects
Authors: Bannett Yair , Gunturkun Fatma , Pillai Malvika , Herrmann Jessica E. , Luo Ingrid , Huffman Lynne C. , Feldman Heidi M.
Published: April 2024

Objective: To assess the accuracy of a large language model (LLM) in measuring clinician adherence to practice guidelines for monitoring side effects after prescribing medications for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: Retrospective population-based cohort study of electronic health records. Cohort included children aged 6-11 years with ADHD diagnosis and ≥2 ADHD medication encounters (stimulants or non-stimulants prescribed) between 2015-2022 in a community-based primary healthcare network (n=1247). To identify documentation of side effects inquiry, we trained, tested, and deployed an open-source LLM (LLaMA) on all clinical notes from ADHD-related encounters (ADHD diagnosis or ADHD medication prescription), including in-clinic/telehealth and telephone encounters (n=15,593 notes). Model performance was assessed using holdout and deployment test sets, compared to manual chart review. Results: The LLaMA model achieved excellent performance in classifying notes that contain side effects inquiry (sensitivity= 87.2%, specificity=86.3/90.3%, area under curve (AUC)=0.93/0.92 on holdout/deployment test sets). Analyses revealed no model bias in relation to patient age, sex, or insurance. Mean age (SD) at first prescription was 8.8 (1.6) years; patient characteristics were similar across patients with and without documented side effects inquiry. Rates of documented side effects inquiry were lower in telephone encounters than in-clinic/telehealth encounters (51.9% vs. 73.0%, p<0.01). Side effects inquiry was documented in 61% of encounters following stimulant prescriptions and 48% of encounters following non-stimulant prescriptions (p<0.01). Conclusions: Deploying an LLM on a variable set of clinical notes, including telephone notes, offered scalable measurement of quality-of-care and uncovered opportunities to improve psychopharmacological medication management in primary care.
Matched phase sweep method for the optimization of bunching factor in dual rf systems of high-intensity hadron synchrotrons
Authors: Liu H. Y. , Yuan Y. S. , Xu S. Y. , Huang L. S. , Lu X. H. , Wang S.
Published: April 2024

The scheme of multiturn painting beam injection in a dual harmonic rf system is widely employed in high-intensity proton or heavy ion synchrotrons to alleviate space charge effects. With a momentum offset of the injected beams, a large bunching factor can be achieved at the end of multiturn painting injection process. However, the momentum offset can increase the instantaneous beam peak current during the first 1/4 synchrotron period, causing a reduced bunching factor during the beam injection process. To address this issue, a matched phase sweep method is developed. By matching the synchrotron oscillation frequency and beam injection period, an optimal curve for phase sweeping can be directly obtained. The effectiveness of the method has been checked via simulations and machine study, which are in good agreement. The matched phase sweep method is employed for the increase of the beam power in the upcoming upgrade project of the China Spallation Neutron Source and can also be generally applied for the operation in the presence of dual harmonic rf system in high-intensity hadron synchrotrons.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Chaperone-mediated MHC-I peptide exchange in antigen presentation
Authors: Jiang Jiansheng , Natarajan Kannan , Margulies David H.
Published: April 2024

This work focuses on molecules that are encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and that bind self-, foreign- or tumor-derived peptides and display these at the cell surface for recognition by receptors on T lymphocytes (T cell receptors, TCR) and natural killer (NK) cells. The past few decades have accumulated a vast knowledge base of the structures of MHC molecules and the complexes of MHC/TCR with specificity for many different peptides. In recent years, the structures of MHC-I molecules complexed with chaperones that assist in peptide loading have been revealed by X-ray crystallography and cryogenic electron microscopy. These structures have been further studied using mutagenesis, molecular dynamics and NMR approaches. This review summarizes the current structures and dynamic principles that govern peptide exchange as these relate to the process of antigen presentation.
Culinary tourism: exploring cultural diplomacy through gastronomy festivals in Turkey and Italy
Authors: Gündüz Cemil , Rezaei Mojtaba , Quaglia Roberto , Pironti Marco
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The primary objective of this research is to draw a comparative analysis between Turkey and Italy in terms of how festival events function as catalysts for the endorsement of regional culinary delicacies. The study endeavours to elucidate the role of these festivals in fortifying the regional gastronomic landscape of both nations.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting a comprehensive comparative methodology, this study meticulously scrutinises the gastronomy festivals spanning diverse geographical locales in both Turkey and Italy. Consideration is given to the standout food and beverage items spotlighted at these events and the venues where they are hosted. The research design takes into account the extensive cultural and geographical spectrum that characterises Turkey and Italy. The primary research method comprises web content analysis techniques. This method involves analysing textual data from online sources pertaining to gastronomy festival events in both countries. Web content analysis is instrumental in evaluating how such festivals are deployed in promoting indigenous gastronomic products and exploring the intricate dynamics between brand identity and brand image.

Findings

The research outcomes underscore the pivotal role that festival events play in elevating regional gastronomic products' profile in Turkey and Italy. It highlights the top 10 festivals and the most popular local culinary items on digital platforms. Additionally, the study offers a side-by-side comparison of the most celebrated gastronomic products in Turkey versus those that receive prominence in Italy.

Originality/value

This study enriches academic understanding by dissecting the nuances of how festivals contribute to the promotion of local gastronomic treasures. By juxtaposing Turkey and Italy, this research provides valuable insights into the influence of festivals on regional culinary promotion across diverse cultural milieus. This study makes substantial contributions to the fields of gastronomy, tourism, and brand promotion.
Noble Chemical Agency – managing working capital in troubling times
Authors: Dash Ashutosh , Pramani Rahul
Published: April 2024

Learning outcomes

The primary objectives of the case study are to get the participants exposed to the issues of working capital which even profitable companies face on a day-to-day basis; give the participants an understanding of how to balance the, at times, conflicting objectives of increasing profits and sales through favorable credit terms; and expose them to the impact of increase in inventory levels and average collection period on margins in a period of slow growth. They will also learn about the concept of factoring and its uses.

Case overview/synopsis

The case study is about a group of companies engaged in education, steel fabrication and oil businesses owned by a single proprietor. The company was based in Fatehnagar which was part of Hyderabad district in the state of Telangana, India, and the case study traces the origins of the group from 1960s to 2021. The group was invested the surplus cash flows from the oil business to initiate and expand other businesses during this period. The economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic had hit the company, particularly its oldest business – Noble Chemical Agency. The oil business was facing issues related to its growth and profitability, and the uncertainty around COVID-19-related restrictions had only augmented the fears of the management. The case study looks at issues and the dilemma which the owner of the company faced. The case study highlights various issues related to working capital management, especially related to receivables management and inventory levels faced by businesses during the slow-growth phase. It demonstrates how working capital management issues, if not resolved in time, can lead to insolvency of even a successful company with a sound business model.

Complexity academic level

The case study is meant for teaching in postgraduate management programs (Master of Business Administration and Postgraduate Diploma in Management) in the following courses: corporate finance/financial management course in the first year (the case study should be taught towards the end of the course); and management accounting courses in first year (the case study should be positioned in the middle of these courses). The case study can also be used to highlight issues related to working capital and small business management in a Management Development Programme (MDP) course for “Finance fundamentals for non-finance executives”.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 1: Accounting and finance.
Learning generatively to facilitate marketing innovation of international joint ventures in emerging markets
Authors: Do Truong Quang , Tho Nguyen Dinh , Le Nguyen-Hau
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate a mediation model in which generative learning positively affects marketing innovation and both organizational control and relationship openness mediate the relationship between learning intent and generative learning of international joint ventures (IJVs) in emerging markets. We also decipher the degree of necessity of these factors for generative learning and of generative learning for marketing innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 181 marketing managers of IJVs in Vietnam, an emerging market, was surveyed to collect data. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test the net effect, and necessary condition analysis (NCA) was used to decipher the degree of necessity.

Findings

The PLS-SEM results demonstrate that the effect of learning intent on generative learning is fully mediated by organizational control and relationship openness, which in turn leads to marketing innovation. The NCA findings reveal that all three factors, namely learning intent, organizational control and relationship openness, serve as necessary conditions for generative learning. However, generative learning does not play the role of a necessary condition for marketing innovation.

Practical implications

The study findings suggest that IJVs in emerging markets should pay attention not only to the net effects of those factors but also to their degrees of necessity for generative learning in order to achieve marketing innovation.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature by confirming the mediating roles of organizational control and relationship openness in the relationship between learning intent and generative learning. Furthermore, it is among the first to decipher the degrees of necessity of these factors for generative learning and of generative learning for the marketing innovation of IJVs in emerging markets.
The dynamics of the financial inclusion index for developing countries: lessons learned
Authors: Ayayi Ayi Gavriel , Dout Hamitande
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to calculate the financial inclusion index and analyze its dynamics in developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the two-stage principal component analysis (PCA) method and consider financial technology innovations to improve the accuracy of the financial inclusion index.

Findings

The authors found a downward trend in the financial inclusion index in most developing countries over the study period. The authors also found that a high financial inclusion index is linked to high scores in the Doing Business and high business climate regulation ranking. In addition, the authors observed that the rates of low financial inclusion in developing countries are due to low utilization of and unequal access to financial services.

Practical implications

The analysis suggests that policymakers in developing countries could invest in digital infrastructure to extend access to financial services in remote areas. They could also encourage financial innovation, particularly in financial technologies, by adopting flexible regulatory frameworks. Promoting the financial inclusion of marginalized groups through targeted initiatives tailored to their needs is another solution. They could also encourage the use of financial services by raising awareness and educating populations through training programs. Finally, to improve the business climate, governments could simplify administrative procedures and promote transparency and legal stability.

Originality/value

Unlike previous studies, the use of the two-stage PCA method and the consideration of financial technology (Fintech) innovations such as mobile money in the determinants of the financial inclusion index improve the accuracy of the index.
Interconnectedness of European insurers and cat shocks contagion effects
Authors: Srbinoski Bojan , Poposki Klime , Bogdanovski Vasko
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the evolution of interconnectedness of European insurers among themselves, as well as with other non-financial firms, for the period 2000–2021 and to analyze the stock return movements around the costliest catastrophic events (hurricanes) in the past two decades.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper follows the “simple” approach of Patro et al.(2013) and examines the daily stock return correlations of the largest 30 insurers and the largest 30 non-financial firms headquartered in Europe. In addition, the study uses event study methodology to examine stock return movements around the costliest hurricanes.

Findings

We find that the European insurance sector has become highly interconnected during the past two decades; however, its increasing connectedness with non-financial firms is limited to a few firms. In addition, we find weak evidence of the destabilizing effects of catastrophic events on European insurers and non-financial firms; however, the potential for cat risk contagion effects exists as the insurance industry becomes heavily interconnected.

Originality/value

The extant literature is largely concerned with the contribution of the insurance sector to the systemic risk of the financial sector. We focus on a specific region (Europe) and analyze the evolution of interconnectedness of the largest insurers within the insurance sector as well as with the largest non-financial firms encapsulating important crisis periods. In addition, we relate to the literature that examines the market reactions around catastrophic events to test the relevance of traditional insurance activities in instigating potential contagion shocks.
Can the text features of regulatory inquiry letters predict companies’ financial restatements? Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Chao , Cao Zenghao , Li Zhimin , Zhu Weidong , Wu Yong
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Since the implementation of the regulatory inquiry system, research on its impact on information disclosure in the capital market has been increasing. This article focuses on a specific area of study using Chinese annual report inquiry letters as the basis. From a text mining perspective, we explore whether the textual information contained in these inquiry letters can help predict financial restatement behavior of the inquired companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Python was used to process the data, nonparametric tests were conducted for hypothesis testing and indicator selection, and six machine learning models were employed to predict financial restatements.

Findings

Some text feature indicators in the models that exhibit significant differences are useful for predicting financial restatements, particularly the proportion of formal positive words and stopwords, readability, total word count and certain textual topics. Securities regulatory authorities are increasingly focusing on the accounting and financial aspects of companies' annual reports.

Research limitations/implications

This study explores the textual information in annual report inquiry letters, which can provide insights for other scholars into research methods and content. Besides, it can assist with decision making for participants in the capital market.

Originality/value

We use information technology to study the textual information in annual report inquiry letters and apply it to forecast financial restatements, which enriches the research in the field of regulatory inquiries.
Research on the trajectory planning and global optimization strategy of cold spraying technique for complex products coating preparation
Authors: Yang Xu , Yue Xin , Cai Zhenhua , Zhong Shengshi
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to present a set of processes for obtaining the global spraying trajectory of a cold spraying robot on a complex surface.

Design/methodology/approach

The complex workpiece surfaces in the project are first divided by triangular meshing. Then, the geodesic curve method is applied for local path planning. Finally, the subsurface trajectory combination optimization problem is modeled as a GTSP problem and solved by the ant colony algorithm, where the evaluation scores and the uniform design method are used to determine the optimal parameter combination of the algorithm. A global optimized spraying trajectory is thus obtained.

Findings

The simulation results show that the proposed processes can achieve the shortest global spraying trajectory. Moreover, the cold spraying experiment on the IRB4600 six-joint robot verifies that the spraying trajectory obtained by the processes can ensure a uniform coating thickness.

Originality/value

The proposed processes address the issue of different parameter combinations, leading to different results when using the ant colony algorithm. The two methods for obtaining the optimal parameter combinations can solve this problem quickly and effectively, and guarantee that the processes obtain the optimal global spraying trajectory.
Path planning for robot search task using belief criteria decision-making
Authors: Zhao Long , Liu Xiaoye , Li Linxiang , Guo Run , Chen Yang
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to realize efficient, fast and safe robot search task, the belief criteria decision-making approach is proposed to solve the object search task with an uncertain location.

Design/methodology/approach

The study formulates the robot search task as a partially observable Markov decision process, uses the semantic information to evaluate the belief state and designs the belief criteria decision-making approach. A cost function considering a trade-off among belief state, path length and movement effort is modelled to select the next best location in path planning.

Findings

The semantic information is successfully modelled and propagated, which can represent the belief of finding object. The belief criteria decision-making (BCDM) approach is evaluated in both Gazebo simulation platform and physical experiments. Compared to greedy, uniform and random methods, the performance index of path length and execution time is superior by BCDM approach.

Originality/value

The prior knowledge of robot working environment, especially semantic information, can be used for path planning to achieve efficient task execution in path length and execution time. The modelling and updating of environment information can lead a promising research topic to realize a more intelligent decision-making method for object search task.
Performance analysis of a blockchain enabled domestic power consumption monitoring and forecasting system
Authors: Fowdur Tulsi Pawan , Sanghan Ashven
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a blockchain-based data capture and transmission system that will collect real-time power consumption data from a household electrical appliance and transfer it securely to a local server for energy analytics such as forecasting.

Design/methodology/approach

The data capture system is composed of two current transformer (CT) sensors connected to two different electrical appliances. The CT sensors send the power readings to two Arduino microcontrollers which in turn connect to a Raspberry-Pi for aggregating the data. Blockchain is then enabled onto the Raspberry-Pi through a Java API so that the data are transmitted securely to a server. The server provides real-time visualization of the data as well as prediction using the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) and long short term memory (LSTM) algorithms.

Findings

The results for the blockchain analysis demonstrate that when the data readings are transmitted in smaller blocks, the security is much greater as compared with blocks of larger size. To assess the accuracy of the prediction algorithms data were collected for a 20 min interval to train the model and the algorithms were evaluated using the sliding window approach. The mean average percentage error (MAPE) was used to assess the accuracy of the algorithms and a MAPE of 1.62% and 1.99% was obtained for the LSTM and MLP algorithms, respectively.

Originality/value

A detailed performance analysis of the blockchain-based transmission model using time complexity, throughput and latency as well as energy forecasting has been performed.
Participant diversity in ACER: 2010–2022
Authors: Kissel Heather A. , Lee Ga Hee , McFarland Sara , Berger Dexton , Enneking Elizabeth , Dunham Jenna , Brumback Ty
Published: April 2024

Background

Increasing diversity has become a priority for all fields working with human subjects due to historic exclusions and misrepresentations of participants with minoritized identities. To create a more representative and generalizable science of alcohol use, the Research Society on Alcohol (RSA) and its official journal, Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research (ACER), have increasingly incorporated diversity and inclusion into their posted values and programming.

Methods

We analyzed the content of articles published in ACER from 2010 through 2022 (6 years before and after the formation of RSA's Diversity Committee) to assess the reporting of participants' demographic information and whether there has been increased inclusion of diverse samples in alcohol research over time. Our team screened 3292 abstracts for data extraction; studies were included if they were primary analyses of data collected from human subjects (n = 1043).

Results

Reporting of all demographic variables increased over time, with significant increases in reporting for race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status (SES), income, and educational attainment. Demographic variables were also increasingly used in analyses. However, representation of research outside the United States diminished significantly over time.

Conclusions

We provide recommended journal article reporting standards for ACER to continue the positive progress in reporting demographics in alcohol research and facilitate meta‐analyses examining demographic modulation and the impact of social determinants of health.
Effects of intraoperative low‐dose esketamine on postoperative pain after vestibular schwannoma resection: A prospective randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Chen Kaizheng , Xie Yaming , Chi Songyuan , Chen Dandan , Ran Guo , Shen Xia
Published: April 2024

Aims

Esketamine may reduce acute postoperative pain in several settings. However, the effects of low‐dose esketamine on postoperative pain after vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection with propofol/remifentanil total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) are unclear. The aim of this study is to observe the effects of intraoperative low‐dose esketamine on postoperative pain after vestibular schwannoma resection.

Methods

This single‐centre, randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind trial included 90 adults undergoing VS resection via the retrosigmoid approach with TIVA. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups: esketamine or control (n = 45 in each group). Patients received low‐dose esketamine (0.2 mg/kg) or a similar volume of normal saline after dural closure. The primary outcome was the pain score during movement (gentle head movement) at 24 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included recovery time, bispectral index (BIS) values and haemodynamic profiles during the first 30 min after esketamine administration, and adverse effects.

Results

Low‐dose esketamine did not reduce pain scores at rest (P > .05) or with movement (P > .05) within the first 24 h after surgery. Esketamine moderately increased BIS values for at least 30 min after administration (P < .0001) but did not affect heart rate (P = .992) or mean arterial blood pressure (P = .994). Esketamine prolonged extubation time (P = .042, 95% confidence interval: 0.08 to 4.42) and decreased the effect‐site concentration of remifentanil at extubation (P = .001, 95% confidence interval: −0.53 to −0.15) but did not affect the time to resumption of spatial orientation. Postoperative nausea and vomiting rates did not differ between groups, and no hallucinations or excessive sedation was observed.

Conclusion

Intraoperative low‐dose esketamine did not significantly reduce acute pain after VS resection with propofol/remifentanil TIVA. However, BIS values increased for at least 30 min after esketamine administration.
Tobacco aquaporin NtAQP1 and human aquaporin hAQP1 contribute to single cell photosynthesis in Synechococcus
Authors: Joseph Franziska M. , Kaldenhoff Ralf
Published: April 2024

Background Information

Aquaporins are H2O‐permeable membrane protein pores. However, some aquaporins are also permeable to other substances such as CO2. In higher plants, overexpression of such aquaporins has already led to an enhanced photosynthetic performance due to improved CO2 mesophyll conductance. In this work, we investigated the effects of such aquaporins on unicellular photosynthetically active organisms, specifically cyanobacteria.

Results

Overexpression of aquaporins NtAQP1 or hAQP1 that might have a function to improve CO2 membrane permeability lead to increased photosynthesis rates in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 as concluded by the rate of evolved O2. A shift in the Plastoquinone pool state of the cells supports our findings. Water permeable aquaporins without CO2 permeability, such as NtPIP2;1, do not have this effect.

Conclusions and Significance

We conclude that also in single cell organisms like cyanobacteria, membrane CO2 conductivity could be rate limiting and CO2‐porins reduce the respective membrane resistance. We could show that besides the tobacco aquaporin NtAQP1 also the human hAQP1 most likely functions as CO2 diffusion facilitator in the photosynthesis assay.
The Impulse Particle‐In‐Cell Method
Authors: Sancho Sergio , Tang Jingwei , Batty Christopher , Azevedo Vinicius C.
Published: April 2024

An ongoing challenge in fluid animation is the faithful preservation of vortical details, which impacts the visual depiction of flows. We propose the Impulse Particle‐In‐Cell (IPIC) method, a novel extension of the popular Affine Particle‐In‐Cell (APIC) method that makes use of the impulse gauge formulation of the fluid equations. Our approach performs a coupled advection‐stretching during particle‐based advection to better preserve circulation and vortical details. The associated algorithmic changes are simple and straightforward to implement, and our results demonstrate that the proposed method is able to achieve more energetic and visually appealing smoke and liquid flows than APIC.
ShellNeRF: Learning a Controllable High‐resolution Model of the Eye and Periocular Region
Authors: Li G. , Sarkar K. , Meka A. , Buehler M. , Mueller F. , Gotardo P. , Hilliges O. , Beeler T.
Published: April 2024

Eye gaze and expressions are crucial non‐verbal signals in face‐to‐face communication. Visual effects and telepresence demand significant improvements in personalized tracking, animation, and synthesis of the eye region to achieve true immersion. Morphable face models, in combination with coordinate‐based neural volumetric representations, show promise in solving the difficult problem of reconstructing intricate geometry (eyelashes) and synthesizing photorealistic appearance variations (wrinkles and specularities) of eye performances. We propose a novel hybrid representation ‐ ShellNeRF ‐ that builds a discretized volume around a 3DMM face mesh using concentric surfaces to model the deformable ‘periocular’ region. We define a canonical space using the UV layout of the shells that constrains the space of dense correspondence search. Combined with an explicit eyeball mesh for modeling corneal light‐transport, our model allows for animatable photorealistic 3D synthesis of the whole eye region. Using multi‐view video input, we demonstrate significant improvements over state‐of‐the‐art in expression re‐enactment and transfer for high‐resolution close‐up views of the eye region.
A service evaluation of more than 1 million self‐funding adults attending a community weight management programme
Authors: Toon Josef , Bennett Sarah‐Elizabeth , Lavin Jacquie , Pallister Carolyn , Avery Amanda
Published: April 2024

Scaled interventions are required to address levels of overweight and obesity and reduce health inequalities. Little data is available on the effectiveness of community weight management programmes for participants self‐selecting to attend across different socio‐economic backgrounds. This analysis investigates 3, 6, and 12‐month outcomes of adults joining a real‐life community weight management programme. Weight, attendance and Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) data from all fee‐paying adults joining Slimming World in 2016 were collated. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to determine predictors of weight loss. Mean BMI of 1 094 676 adults (7.6% male) was 33.0 ± 6.4 kg/m2. Mean % weight change at 3, 6, and 12 months was −5.0% ± 3.6%, −5.9% ± 5.2%, and −6.0% ± 5.8%. Those attending 75% sessions achieved greater weight loss with mean weight losses at 3, 6, and 12‐months of 7.7% ± 3.3%, 11.3% ± 5.2%, and 14.1% ± 7.5%, respectively. Effect sizes from comparison of weight change between deprivation deciles were negligible, with similar outcomes in the most and least deprived deciles at 12‐months (−5.7% ± 5.9% vs. −6.2% ± 5.9%). This service evaluation of more than 1 million adults attending a community weight management programme found they were able to achieve and/or maintain an average 6% weight loss at 12 months, with high attenders achieving >14% loss. Men and those with higher levels of deprivation were accessing the support and achieving significant weight losses. Slimming World as a real‐life, scalable weight management programme is well placed to help adults manage their weight and address health inequalities.
Raising the Roof: Situating Verbs in Symbolic and Embodied Language Processing
Authors: Hollander John , Olney Andrew
Published: April 2024

Recent investigations on how people derive meaning from language have focused on task‐dependent shifts between two cognitive systems. The symbolic (amodal) system represents meaning as the statistical relationships between words. The embodied (modal) system represents meaning through neurocognitive simulation of perceptual or sensorimotor systems associated with a word's referent. A primary finding of literature in this field is that the embodied system is only dominant when a task necessitates it, but in certain paradigms, this has only been demonstrated using nouns and adjectives. The purpose of this paper is to study whether similar effects hold with verbs. Experiment 1 evaluated a novel task in which participants rated a selection of verbs on their implied vertical movement. Ratings correlated well with distributional semantic models, establishing convergent validity, though some variance was unexplained by language statistics alone. Experiment 2 replicated previous noun‐based location‐cue congruency experimental paradigms with verbs and showed that the ratings obtained in Experiment 1 predicted reaction times more strongly than language statistics. Experiment 3 modified the location‐cue paradigm by adding movement to create an animated, temporally decoupled, movement‐verb judgment task designed to examine the relative influence of symbolic and embodied processing for verbs. Results were generally consistent with linguistic shortcut hypotheses of symbolic‐embodied integrated language processing; location‐cue congruence elicited processing facilitation in some conditions, and perceptual information accounted for reaction times and accuracy better than language statistics alone. These studies demonstrate novel ways in which embodied and linguistic information can be examined while using verbs as stimuli.
Pupils Dilate More to Harder Vocabulary Words than Easier Ones
Authors: Gangopadhyay Ishanti , Fulford Daniel , Corriveau Kathleen , Mow Jessica , Li Pearl Han , Arunachalam Sudha
Published: April 2024

Understanding cognitive effort expended during assessments is essential to improving efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility within these assessments. Pupil dilation is commonly used as a psychophysiological measure of cognitive effort, yet research on its relationship with effort expended specifically during language processing is limited. The present study adds to and expands on this literature by investigating the relationships among pupil dilation, trial difficulty, and accuracy during a vocabulary test. Participants (n = 63, Mage = 19.25) completed a subset of trials from the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test while seated at an eye‐tracker monitor. During each trial, four colored images were presented on the monitor while a word was presented via audio recording. Participants verbally indicated which image they thought represented the target word. Words were categorized into Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulty. Pupil dilation during the Medium and Hard trials was significantly greater than during the Easy trials, though the Medium and Hard trials did not significantly differ from each other. Pupil dilation in comparison to trial accuracy presented a more complex pattern, with comparisons between accurate and inaccurate trials differing depending on the timing of the stimulus presentation. These results present further evidence that pupil dilation increases with cognitive effort associated with vocabulary tests, providing insights that could help refine vocabulary assessments and other related tests of language processing.
A qualitative study of using nicotine products for smoking cessation after discharge from residential drug and alcohol treatment in Australia
Authors: Trigg Joshua , Rich Jane , Williams Edwina , Baker Amanda , Bauld Linda , Borland Ron , Bullen Chris , Daglish Mark , Dunlop Adrian , Gartner Coral , Jacka David , Lubman Dan , Manning Victoria , McCrohan Rose , Segan Cathy , Walker Natalie , Bonevski Billie
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Tobacco smoking is highly prevalent among alcohol and other drugs (AOD) service clients and, despite interest in quitting, abstinence is rarely sustained. Nicotine products may assist after discharge from residential treatment services, but little is known about client receptivity to them. This study examined AOD withdrawal service clients' experiences of two types of nicotine products for smoking cessation post‐discharge, combination nicotine replacement therapy (cNRT) and nicotine vaping products (NVP).

Methods

We held semi‐structured telephone interviews with 31 Australian AOD service clients in a clinical trial of a 12‐week smoking cessation intervention using Quitline support plus cNRT or NVP delivered post‐discharge from a smoke‐free residential service. We asked about health and social factors, nicotine cravings, Quitline experience, and barriers and facilitators to cNRT or NVP, then thematically analysed data.

Results

cNRT and NVP were described by participants as feasible and acceptable for smoking cessation. For most participants, cost limited cNRT access post study, as did difficulty navigating NVP prescription access. Quitline support was valued, but not consistently used, with participants noting low assistance with NVP‐facilitated cessation. Participants considered both cessation methods acceptable and socially supported, and sought information on decreasing nicotine use via NVP.

Discussion and Conclusions

AOD service clients highly valued receiving cNRT or NVP with behavioural support for smoking reduction or abstinence. Both interventions were acceptable to service clients. Findings suggest a potential need to examine both whether NVP use should be permitted in this context, and guidance on the individual suitability of cNRT or NVP.
Differentiating non‐epileptic seizures from epileptic seizures in Glut1 deficiency syndrome
Authors: Ito Yasushi , Nakatsukasa Hidetsugu , Toyoma Yuriko , Nagata Satoru , Oguni Hirokazu
Published: April 2024

Aim

To investigate the clinical characteristics of non‐epileptic seizures due to transient brain dysfunction caused by energy deficiency after prolonged fasting or exercise in individuals with glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome (Glut1DS), and then elucidate further the seizure features to distinguish non‐epileptic seizures from epileptic seizures.

Method

This retrospective case–control study included 57 non‐epileptic seizures and 23 epileptic seizures (control group) in 14 individuals (11 males, three females; aged 5–44 years, median = 20 years) with Glut1DS, all with a heterozygous pathogenic SLC2A1 mutation.

Results

Non‐epileptic seizures were classified as paroxysmal altered consciousness (n = 8), movement disorders (n = 35) (eye‐head movements, ataxia, spasticity, weakness, involuntary movement), dysaesthesia (n = 8), and vomiting (n = 6) at the peak ages at onset of 5 to 10 years. Ketogenic diet therapy was effective in 33 of 43 (77%) non‐epileptic seizures. Providing supplementary food before high‐impact exercise or during attacks prevented or mitigated non‐epileptic seizures in some individuals. Glut1DS‐associated non‐epileptic seizures are fundamentally situation‐related seizures with specific provoking and ameliorating factors. Non‐epileptic seizures can be distinguished from epileptic seizures by the absence of complete consciousness loss and rapid postictal recovery despite prolonged seizures.

Interpretation

Non‐epileptic seizures are not well recognized but require different therapeutic approaches compared to epileptic seizures. Awareness of the differentiation of non‐epileptic seizures from epileptic seizures is essential when performing preventive or therapeutic decision‐making for acute exacerbation seizures.

What this paper adds

Non‐epileptic seizures are invariably situation‐related seizures.

Non‐epileptic seizures were classified as altered consciousness, movement disorders, dysaesthesia, and vomiting.

Non‐epileptic seizures were characterized by the absence of complete consciousness loss and were accompanied by rapid recovery.

Non‐epileptic seizures can occur simultaneously or consecutively with another.

Supplementary food can be effective in preventing the development of sustained exercise‐induced movement disorders.
It's not about the money: New evidence on U.S. reconstruction aid in Italy, 1947–68
Authors: Martinez Marco
Published: April 2024

This paper studies the economic impact of foreign aid on Italian firms. In particular, I study the different effects of three main forms of aid: Export–Import Bank loans, Marshall Plan European Recovery Program (ERP) ‘dollars’ loans and the Marshall Plan ERP ‘lire’ loans. In all programmes, the United States sent technologically advanced machinery to allow for a modernization of the technology of Italian firms, but the conditions of such loans differed. This paper tests how crucial such different features have been for the effectiveness of firm reconstruction aid. By creating a new dataset on recipient firms and linking it to a large comprehensive firm‐level dataset (Imita.db), I compare the effects on the performance of firms. I find that the Export–Import Bank loan raised the long‐run profitability of firms, but that firms which received more flexible forms of Marshall Plan aid (‘ERP‐lire’) raised their performance much more than Export–Import Bank recipients. Recipients who only received funds provided with long delays (‘ERP‐dollars’) did not benefit from them. This evidence suggests that rather than receiving foreign aid per se, the most crucial features of reconstruction aid in Italy have been obtaining the requested goods on time and adjusting requests to receive the most needed productive goods.
Continuing professional development in general dentistry—experiences of an online flipped classroom
Authors: Stenberg Emelie , Milosavljevic Aleksandar , Götrick Bengt , Lundegren Nina
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Continuing professional development is a lifelong learning process. One pedagogical approach that can be used is active learning. Flipped classroom is a method that has been shown to improve deeper conceptual understanding. In an online setting, the method saves travel, time, and costs. To our knowledge, flipped classroom is rarely used in continuing professional education. This study in general dentistry explored experiences of an online flipped classroom course in continuing professional development.

Materials and Methods

Fifteen dental hygienists, clinically active in general dental care, were interviewed. They were recruited from an online course on the latest classification system for periodontal diseases. The course had been conducted using an active learning and flipped classroom model. The interviews were semi‐structured. Data were extracted using qualitative content analysis.

Results

The experiences of the dental hygienists could be summarized in three themes: Stimulation of knowledge gain through self‐paced studies, The ease of virtual networking among colleagues, and Fostering of direct practical application through collaboration.

Conclusion

New and emerging communication technology seems to open new possibilities for continuing professional development in general dentistry. Study participants felt that, in an online environment, mixing asynchronous and synchronous communication in a flipped classroom model facilitated learning in continuing professional development. Online active learning seems to work well in continuous professional development in general dentistry. After the course, the participating dental hygienists stated that they were able to use their new knowledge clinically and felt confident doing so.
Evaluation of moisture‐induced damage on the fatigue life of asphalt mixtures using failure tests of asphalt binders, interfaces, and mixtures
Authors: Silva Lucas Sassaki Vieira da , Bastos Juceline Batista dos Santos , Lucas Júnior Jorge Luiz Oliveira , Babadopulos Lucas Feitosa de Albuquerque Lima , Soares Jorge Barbosa
Published: April 2024

Fatigue cracking, a major distress in asphalt pavements, is worsened by traffic and climate conditions such as moisture effects on constituents and interfacial properties. However, investigation on fatigue's evolution in different scales under moisture effect is still scarce in the open literature. This work aims to assess moisture‐induced damage effects on asphaltic materials focusing on the failure of asphalt binders, the aggregate‐binder interface, and mixture. The methodology included tests under dry and wet conditions: linear amplitude sweep (LAS); asphalt bond strength (ABS) in different temperatures and pull rates for interfaces; indirect tensile strength (ITS), and tension‐compression fatigue on asphalt mixtures. Key findings were: (i) moisture damage presents growing effects from binders to mixtures; (ii) LAS test results were not sensitive to moisture; (iii) ABS tests require proper field temperatures for accuracy; (iv) ITS ratio provide reliable conditioned fatigue expectations; and (v) fatigue testing without conditioning to hydrodynamic effects or real moisture susceptibility might overestimate service‐life.