bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do firms submit fewer tender bids with high inflation? An analysis of firms’ participation in public procurement in the EU
Authors: Klimavičiūtė Luka , Schito Marco , Barcevičius Egidijus
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the effect of sustained high inflation on public procurement participation in the European Union, both in terms of the average number of bids submitted and in the proportion of bids by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) out of all submitted bids.

Design/methodology/approach

Regression modelling, using contract award notices in the Tender Electronics Daily database between 2018 and 2022, at quarterly intervals.

Findings

Each inflation point increase is associated with a decline in the average number of offers received per tender by 0.43%. A more marked reduction of 8.6% in the average number of offers and a decrease in 3.4 percentage points in the SME participation rate are observed for firms operating in sectors that experienced very high levels of inflation (>20% year-on-year rate of change), compared with a situation of low inflation (0–5%).

Social implications

Claims about difficulties in delivering public contracts for the set price should be taken with a grain of salt, unless businesses operate in sectors experiencing very high inflation levels. Measures to foster competition could also reduce price pressures.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to quantitatively assess the association between high inflation and public procurement participation. Two methodological novelties are introduced: the operationalisation of sectoral-level inflation down to two-digit NACE codes, based mainly on producer prices; and a matching between two-digit NACE codes for inflation and the common procurement vocabulary codes to classify calls to bid for public contracts by economic activity.
The impact of a brief and immersive use-of-force training exercise on citizens’ attitudes toward police
Authors: Exum M. Lyn , Kuhns Joseph B. , Johnson Shelley L. , DeWitt Samuel E.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Citizens’ attitudes toward police (ATP) have declined dramatically in recent years, prompting many agencies to implement police–community relations programs designed to build back the community’s trust. Such programs are often time-intensive, requiring many hours to complete. The current study examined the impact of a brief (approximately 15 minutes) community relations intervention on citizens’ ATP and police use of force (UoF).

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 104 citizens completed three UoF training exercises (i.e., the intervention) inside a video simulator at a municipal police department. Immediately before and after the intervention, citizens’ ATP and police UoF were recorded.

Findings

Despite having relatively favorable impressions of police at baseline, many attitudes grew to be more favorable following the intervention, including perceptions of job difficulty and the belief that police are treated too harshly by the media. While global impressions of the police did not change, citizens came to believe that greater UoF levels were warranted in specific types of encounters, such as when a suspect tries to strike an officer.

Originality/value

These findings suggest that providing citizens with an opportunity to experience UoF decision-making first-hand can positively impact certain ATP and police work. Law enforcement agencies may find that such brief, immersive interventions are useful tools for improving police–community relations.
Attention mechanism‐assisted recurrent neural network for well log lithology classification
Authors: Gao Yining , Tian Miao , Grana Dario , Xu Zhaohui , Xu Huaimin
Published: October 2024

Lithology classification is a fundamental aspect of reservoir classification. Due to the limited availability of core samples, computational modelling methods for lithology classification based on indirect measurements are required. The main challenge for standard clustering methods is the complex vertical dependency of sedimentological sequences as well as the spatial coupling of well logs. Machine learning methods, such as recurrent neural networks, long short‐term memory and bidirectional long short‐term memory, can account for the spatial correlation of the measured data and the predicted model. Based on these developments, we propose a novel approach using two distinct models: a self‐attention‐assisted bidirectional long short‐term memory model and a multi‐head attention‐based bidirectional long short‐term memory model. These models consider spatial continuity and adaptively adjust the weight in each step to improve the classification using the attention mechanism. The proposed method is tested on a set of real well logs with limited training data obtained from core samples. The prediction results from the proposed models and the benchmark one are compared in terms of the accuracy of lithology classification. Additionally, the weight matrices from both attention mechanisms are visualized to elucidate the correlations between depth steps and to help analyse how these mechanisms contribute to improved prediction accuracy. The study shows that the proposed multi‐head attention‐based bidirectional long short‐term memory model improves classification, especially for thin layers.
Rail relations: Aboriginal storywork and remaking Australia’s settler‐colonial infrastructure
Authors: Blatman Naama , Taksa Lucy , Silverstein Ben , McManus Phil , Barker Lorina , Webb Angela
Published: October 2024

Australian railway histories are dominated by narratives of engineering triumphs, colonial expansion into empty land, and bringing civilisation and development through railway infrastructure. These settler‐colonial stories can be read back on themselves as histories and geographies of Aboriginal dispossession and colonial possession. Indeed, Aboriginal people, lands, waterways, and cultures have always been implicated in railway infrastructures, willingly or not. Aboriginal people’s entanglements with the New South Wales railways, to which we refer as “rail relations,” have involved dispossession, removal, employment, mobility, and travel, including the forced removal of children known as the Stolen Generations. These are relations of harm, loss, and grief but also of pride, connectivity, and survival. We argue in this paper that when Aboriginal communities engage in storying the New South Wales railways as Aboriginal they reassemble this infrastructure otherwise: not just as a tool of dispossession but also as life affirming. Indigenous storytelling can therefore overcome settler colonial erasure and the oversimplification of railway infrastructure hi/stories. Research about how Aboriginal lives have been interconnected with railways expansion and development is limited. While Aboriginal railway stories are continuously told within communities, they remain almost entirely silenced elsewhere. Overcoming the invisibility of Aboriginal rail relations is crucial as both truth‐telling of the past and to ensure more just infrastructural outcomes now and in the future.
Faricimab versus bevacizumab for neovascular age‐related macular degeneration: Cost analysis based on real‐world data from the Swedish Macula Registry
Authors: Abdalla Souad , Westborg Inger , Pulkki‐Brännström Anni‐Maria , Norberg Helena
Published: October 2024

Purpose

To analyse the impact on cost if faricimab is used as the first‐line treatment for neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD) compared to standard treatment with bevacizumab.

Methods

Retrospective registry study including real‐world data from the Swedish Macula Registry between 2017 and 2022. The observed number of injections and visits for bevacizumab during the first two years of treatment was used (n = 437 patients). Number of faricimab injections was obtained from published clinical trial data and unit costs mostly from publicly available Swedish sources. The provider cost included medication and visit cost and societal cost included additionally patient travel cost. Costs are presented in 2023 EUR.

Results

The incremental societal cost of faricimab was 277 EUR per patient compared to bevacizumab in the base case. Medication cost was higher (1516 EUR) while visit cost (−1183 EUR) and patient travel cost (−56 EUR) were lower due to longer injection intervals. Faricimab was of similar cost as bevacizumab for patients residing far from the clinic. The faricimab injection interval and the number of bevacizumab injections were major drivers of uncertainty in the results.

Conclusion

Faricimab represents a cost‐effective alternative to bevacizumab for patients with nAMD in Sweden. Its extended treatment interval is particularly beneficial for patients living far from clinics, and if the real‐life faricimab injection interval extends beyond 12 weeks. Our findings emphasize faricimab's potential to free up healthcare staff to treat a larger patient population with existing clinic resources.
Anti‐metastatic Effects of Bee Venom and Melittin in Breast Cancer Cells by Upregulation of BRMS1 and DRG1 Genes
Authors: Sivri Nur Sena , Tetikoğlu Sinan , Kolayli Sevgi , Farooqi Ammad Ahmad , Çelik Uzuner Selcen
Published: October 2024

Apitherapy has started to gain tremendous recognition because of extraordinary pharmacological importance of honeybee‐related ingredients and their derivatives. There has been a renewed interest in the bee venom–based therapies. Interdisciplinary researchers are studying the chemistry and translational value of venom for effective cancer treatment. Bee venom and its major component, melittin, are cytotoxic in cancer cells. In this study, MTT and scratch assays were performed for analysis of melittin‐mediated antimetastatic effects. QPCR was used for expression profiling of metastasis‐related genes. Three anti‐metastatic genes (BRMS1, DRG1, and KAI1/CD82) were studied for the first time after bee venom and melittin treatment in MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells compared with normal breast cells, and two prometastatic genes (EGFR and WNT7B) were also examined. KAI1/CD82 and BRMS1 are the negative regulators of EGFR. WNT7B is a negative regulator of KAI1/CD82. Selective cytotoxicity of bee venom and melittin was found to be higher as compared to cisplatin. Melittin induced an increase in the expression of BRMS1 and DRG1, whereas bee venom upregulated DRG1 and KAI1/CD82 expression in breast cancer. WNT7B was downregulated in bee venom–treated breast cancer cells. Results suggested that bee venom/melittin exerted antimetastatic effects primarily through upregulation of BRMS1, DRG1, and KAI1/CD82, and downregulation of WNT7B.
The Association Between Cognitive Function and Oral Health in Home Dwellers and Nursing Home Residents: The HUNT Study
Authors: Asante Ernest Obeng , Eldholm Rannveig Sakshaug , Kolberg Marit , Skjellegrind Håvard Kjesbu , Selbæk Geir , Mai Xiao‐Mei , Chen Yue , Sun Yi‐Qian
Published: October 2024

Objectives

To evaluate the relationships of cognitive function and care dependency with oral health in a Norwegian older adult population.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included 2623 participants aged 70 and older from the fourth wave of the Trøndelag health study (HUNT4 70+) and the city of Trondheim (Trondheim 70+). Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) were diagnosed by clinical experts according to the DSM‐5 framework. Care dependency referred to nursing home residency. Oral health was assessed by using the Revised Oral Assessment Guide—Jönköping (ROAG‐J). Individuals were considered as ‘having oral problem’ if the score was two or three in at least one of the nine ROAG‐J items. Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

The prevalence of having oral problems was 19% higher in participants with NCDs than those with normal cognitive function after adjusting for potential confounders (PR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.09–1.29). Further analysis showed a higher prevalence of having oral problems for home dwellers with NCDs (PR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.13–1.33) and nursing home residents (PR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.20–1.45) compared to home dwellers with normal cognitive function.

Conclusions

NCDs were associated with an increased prevalence of oral problems in this Norwegian older adult population. The study suggests the need for increasing oral care for home dwellers with NCDs and nursing home residents.
Do CEO Connections to the Chinese Politburo Pay Off and How?
Authors: Alonso Marta , Gupta Aditi , Simon‐Yarza Beatriz
Published: October 2024

Research Question/Issue

This study investigates the effect of connections to the Politburo, the top 25 members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), on CEO compensation, pay‐for‐performance sensitivity, and turnover decisions using a comprehensive dataset of 3764 Chinese listed firms from 2007 to 2019.

Research Findings/Insights

Our findings reveal that CEOs of privately owned listed firms who have connections to the Politburo via shared educational backgrounds receive significantly higher compensation (up to 20% more). However, such connections do not significantly affect CEO compensation in state‐owned enterprises (SOEs). CEOs who have connections to the Politburo also exhibit lower turnover rates, and their compensation is less sensitive to performance outcomes. Our measure of connections excludes reverse causality, as we leverage an exogenous shock—the promotion to the Politburo of an individual with whom the CEO is already connected—to investigate the gain associated with a political connection in the absence of CEO turnover in private firms. This event allows us to observe that CEO pay increases significantly in such cases. We also find that elite connections serve as a mechanism for resource allocation, as politically connected CEOs in private firms benefit from higher subsidies and lower tax rates, and politically connected CEOs in SOEs benefit by being appointed to larger SOEs. Additionally, we find that the positive relationship between CEO pay and elite connections is even stronger when the connection is stronger but is negative when the CEO is a CCP member.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

This study enriches the literature on political connections by introducing a novel proxy for elite connections based on past educational ties to members of the political elite. It disentangles the influence of personal educational connections to the political elite from that of a more generic political membership of the CCP, offering a clearer understanding of their distinct impacts.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

Our study underscores the necessity of differentiating between private and SOEs in China due to their distinct characteristics and goals. Furthermore, it highlights the critical role of elite political connections in emerging economies such as China in resource allocation, labor market dynamics, and corporate governance.
The Impact of Board Gender and Nationality Diversity on Corporate Human Rights Performance in Different Institutional Contexts
Authors: Morán‐Muñoz Angel , Fernández‐Gago Roberto , Godos‐Díez José‐Luis
Published: October 2024

Research Question/Issue

The duty of businesses to observe human rights (HR) is garnering great interest among corporations, researchers, and policymakers. However, little is known yet about the organizational drivers that make firms pursue higher levels of corporate human rights performance (CHRP). In an attempt to fill this gap, we present the first global study on the influence that board gender and nationality diversity have on CHRP.

Research Findings/Insights

We evaluate panel data of 548 companies worldwide from 2012 to 2021 by using the two‐step system generalized method of moments (GMM) and a moderation analysis. Our results show that board gender diversity has a positive effect on CHRP, but this impact is weaker in institutional settings where patriarchal stances prevail. We also find that board nationality diversity affects CHRP positively only in firms from countries with a network‐oriented approach toward corporate governance.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

These findings help to further differentiate CHRP drivers from generic sustainability antecedents and uncover the relevance of adopting an institutional lens when delving into the rationale of CHRP. In this regard, we make a call for future analyses in this field to acknowledge national gender equality levels and societies' corporate governance orientation as potential boundary conditions.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

Our results may guide companies on how to reduce corporate risks associated with HR violations by incorporating women and foreigners on their boards. They may also encourage businesses and policymakers to boost gender equality both on corporate boards and within societal values as both these aspects may be key for safeguarding HR internationally.
Best management practices for bee conservation in forest openings
Authors: Cunningham‐Minnick Michael J. , Milam Joan , Fassler Aliza , King David I.
Published: October 2024

Native bees are an ecologically diverse group of pollinators in global decline due at least in part to invasive species, pesticides, and habitat loss. Although guidelines exist for land managers to restore pollinator habitat, these “best management practices” (BMPs) include other pollinator taxa that may have different requirements than bees, do not give particular attention to rare bee species, or describe practices that are impractical for land managers. Using co‐production science, our team of land managers and researchers sampled bee communities in 100 wildlife openings on six National Forests (NF) within the Great Lakes Basin of the United States during 2017–2019. We found that bee communities responded to site factors and management practices, including prescribed fire, mechanical methods (e.g., felling, brushhogging, mowing), herbicides, and pollinator plantings. Bee abundance, diversity, and rarity were strongly related to soil properties, landscape context, and the plant community, including small‐statured woody species, which collectively informed our BMPs. For instance, mechanical treatments were most beneficial for openings with clayey or organic soils while prescribed fire was most effective in openings with well‐drained soils. Our BMPs highlight effects of treatment combinations, including negative effects on rare species when herbicides were combined with plantings and positive effects on abundance and rare species when prescribed fire was combined with mechanical treatments. Since our BMPs were generated in collaboration with land managers, they better conform to their needs and constraints, contributing to more effective native bee conservation.
Associations of parenting styles with substance use in the offspring—A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Pinquart Martin , Lauk Jana
Published: October 2024

Issues

Parenting styles have been suggested to predict the use of psychoactive substances in the offspring, although the size of associations might vary between cultures. The present meta‐analysis tested whether parenting styles show concurrent and longitudinal associations with substance use and whether this association is moderated by study characteristics.

Approach

A systematic search in electronic data bases resulted in 184 studies that were included in multi‐level meta‐analysis.

Key Findings

An authoritative parenting style correlated with lower substance use (r =−0.12, confidence interval [CI] −0.14 to −0.10) while the reverse was found for neglectful (r = 0.10, CI 0.08 to 0.13), permissive (r = 0.04, CI 0.01 to 0.07) and authoritarian parenting (r = 0.03, CI 0.00 to 0.05). Analysis of cross‐lagged effects found only an effect of authoritative parenting on decline of substance use (r = −0.06, CI −0.12 to −0.00). The size of associations varied, in part, by levels of horizontal and vertical collectivism or individualism, assessment of three versus four parenting styles, type of substance, and use of same versus different informants for assessing parenting and substance use.

Implications

Parenting styles show small to very small associations with substance use.

Conclusions

Although parents are recommended to behave in an authoritative manner, we should have only modest expectations about the effects of parenting styles on substance use in the offspring.
Identifying influential individuals and predicting future demand of chronic kidney disease patients
Authors: Nenova Zlatana D. , Bartelt Valerie L.
Published: October 2024

To ensure high service quality, managers need to personalize treatment options and meet their customer demands. Our research is motivated by the need to better anticipate and prepare for that. We develop a generalizable framework that is the first to address two healthcare risk management goals: (1) identifying high risk and stable‐demand customers and (2) predicting the medium‐term demand for services of stable‐demand customers. We also design a model‐agnostic method for variable evaluation. It can rank predictors based on their global impact, and highlight their effect on a model's local accuracy. In this research, we leverage a large electronic medical records' data set, which comprised of 48,344 chronic kidney disease patients treated across geographically diverse Veterans Affairs regions. Our framework indicates that although only 1.3% of the examined individuals are high‐risk patients, it can correctly identify 35% of them and highlight an additional 8.9% as having important demand implications. Identifying high‐risk individuals can be used in (1) monitoring prioritization, (2) patients' motivation, and (3) patients' stabilization. Furthermore, our model accurately predicts the monthly need for care of stable‐demand individuals up to 3 years into the future and outperforms popular statistical and data mining models. This information is especially critical for hospital management in identifying future hiring needs.
Temporal Evolution Pathway and Forecasting of Non‐Fossil Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission Under China's Carbon Peak Target: A Markov Switching AR and RNN Approach
Authors: Liu Bei , Qiu Zhaoxuan , Peng Jiachao , Hu Yaoyin
Published: October 2024

To fulfil the commitments of the Paris Agreement, China will strive to achieve carbon peak (CP) by 2030. It is necessary to identify the evolution characteristics of China's carbon emissions and provide a scientific path prediction for the formulation of reasonable emission reduction policies and measures. This study summarises and predicts the pathway of China's carbon peak (CP) using carbon emission intensity (CEI) and the percentage of non‐fossil energy consumption (NEC) as indicators, and combining MSIH(3)‐AR(2) model and recurrent neural network. The results show that: (1) China's CEI experiences a ‘low decline regime’ (LDR), a ‘medium decline regime’ (MDR) and a ‘high decline regime’ (HDR), while the share of NEC goes through a ‘low fluctuation regime’ (LFR), a ‘medium growth regime’ (MGR) and a ‘high growth regime’ (HGR). (2) For CEI, the switching probability from MDR to the HDR is 74.88%, illustrating a substantial improvement. For NEC, the switching probability from MGR to HGR is 28.92%, but the probability of returning to MGR is 61.76%, indicating an adjustment. (3) By 2030, CEI will reach 0.9896 tons/100 million CNY, decreased by 66.35% compared with 2005. While the percentage of NEC will rise to 26.61%. Based on these, policy suggestions such as strengthening the top‐level design, upgrading energy mix and accelerating green technological changes are proposed to break the bottlenecks of reaching CP and further zero carbon goal. This study is expected to provide theoretical support and empirical evidence for the achievement CP in China, and to provide empirical references for promoting the ‘dual carbon’ process in other countries.
Spatiotemporal topology of religious spread in a multi‐religious metropolis: A historical religious profile of Taipei City in Taiwan from 1660 to 2020
Authors: Chan Chun‐Hsiang , Chi Wei‐Hsian , Kuo Fei‐Ying , Chen Yi‐Yun
Published: October 2024

Religious identities play an important role in shaping migrants' experiences. Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of religions enhances our knowledge of both religious expansion and religious cultures. This paper aims to leverage spatiotemporal analysis to characterise the topology of the spread of multiple religions in the Taipei metropolitan area from 1660 to 2020, including Folk Taoism (853 temples/altars, 55.39%), Christianity (306 churches, 19.87%) and Buddhism (332 temples, 21.56%). Three major factors affecting religious distribution are considered: the year of establishment of religious units (churches, temples or altars), the reclamation year of religious locations, and the economic index of religious sites. The results show that Folk Taoism and Buddhism have a long history of development in early reclamation regions with a hopping expansion pattern. However, Christianity expanded later in the later reclaimed and early reclaimed areas. The Christian religious units have highly concentrated spatial patterns and are located in the higher‐income districts, centralised in the core regions of the Taipei metropolis. Modern forms of highly institutionalised religion, such as Buddhism and Christianity, are more prevalent in the relatively higher‐income, later‐cultivated areas, which provide richer social resources for development. Folk Taoism, as a traditional religion, is maintained and developed by local communities. This macroscopic analysis helps to (1) identify the exact chronology of different growth waves and explain them in a historical context, and (2) elucidate the spatial distribution differences between institutionalised religions and folk religion. Our research shows the evolution of religious landscapes from an undeveloped city to a developed city, offering valuable insights for geographical and religious studies, and enhancing understanding of diffused and institutionalised religious expansion.
Reflecting on micro‐ethics to center the voices of Aboriginal peoples experiencing homelessness
Authors: Brown Alice V. , Vieira Emma , Oakley Jackie , Bagshaw Dorothy , Egan Patrick , Southalan Louise , Andrews Lindey , Jones Jocelyn , Morrison Daniel , Wilson Mandy
Published: October 2024

This article shares the micro‐ethical lessons from those researching alongside Aboriginal people experiencing homelessness and Aboriginal Elders in Perth, Western Australia. The article is written from the perspective of the first and second author who are two non‐Aboriginal researchers being mentored in Aboriginal culture. From this positioning, it offers reflections and practical insights into researching “in the right spirit” with Aboriginal communities. More specifically, it shares lessons in negotiating community roles within community‐driven research, the importance in forming relationship with Aboriginal culture as antidote to research fatigue, practical ways to work with Aboriginal communities when they have a history of being exploited in research, navigating fair and ethical payment for involvement, and ways to clearly communicate research with them. It also shares the cultural importance and benefits of working closely with Aboriginal Elders when engaging in research with Aboriginal communities, including their ability to better negotiate project scope with community, and the value in making sense of the research findings alongside them.
Plaque psoriasis with renal dysfunction successfully treated with ixekizumab
Authors: Zhu Xinyu , Pan Xiaoyuan , Dong Zhengbang
Published: October 2024

Psoriasis is an immune‐mediated chronic inflammatory skin disease and chronic kidney disease is one of the common comorbidities of psoriasis. Ixekizumab, a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody, has been approved for the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis in recent years. However, ixekizumab has not been studied in a population of patients with renal insufficiency. We report two cases of plaque psoriasis patients with renal dysfunction successfully treated with ixekizumab without dose reduction，which experience no side effects and does not cause further kidney injury.
Characteristics of men and women with medically diagnosed cluster headache in a national integrated healthcare system: A Veterans Health Administration cohort study
Authors: Seng Elizabeth K. , Burish Mark J. , Fenton Brenda T. , Schindler Emmanuelle A. D. , Zhou Bin , Phadke Manali A. , Skanderson Melissa , Best Rachel , Lipton Richard B. , Sico Jason J.
Published: October 2024

Objective

Describe the epidemiology of cluster headache (CH) using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Electronic Health Record (EHR) data.

Background

Epidemiologic studies of CH at the population level are difficult because it has a prevalence of ~0.1%. Hospital system‐wide studies are an attractive alternative as they have large numbers of patients and broader populations than headache or neurology clinic‐based studies. The VHA is an ideal hospital‐based system in which to study CH because it is nationwide, predominantly male, has a strong focus on mood disorders and suicidality, and has accessible individual medical records. Here, we report the first headache study based on an ongoing longitudinal cohort of patients with CH using VHA EHR data.

Methods

The VHA EHR data were accessed from Fiscal Year 2008 to 2019. Patients with CH consisted of all patients with at least one outpatient visit containing a CH diagnosis code from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)‐9 or ‐10. We extracted data on demographic features, incidence, and prevalence, as well as pain and psychiatric comorbidities.

Results

Of the 1,524,960 distinct patients who presented for headache treatment in the VHA between Fiscal Year 2008–2019, 24,131 had at least one visit with a CH diagnosis. The 1‐year period prevalence of a CH diagnosis in the VHA ranges from 0.08% to 0.10% for women and 0.10% to 0.18% for men. A larger proportion of women versus men received a diagnosis of unspecified CH (59.6% [1412/2368] vs. 53.6% [11,663/21,763], p < 0.001). Most patients with CH had both comorbid headache and non‐headache pain diagnoses. Headache not‐otherwise‐specified was the most common comorbid headache disorder at 70.0% (16,885/24,131) and was more common in women (76.1%, 1801/2368) compared to men (69.3%, 15,084/21,763). Other common comorbidities included migraine, depression, tobacco use, and obstructive sleep apnea. Rates of suicidal ideation or attempt were almost 50% higher in women (5‐year proportion 9.4%, 222/2368) with CH compared to men (6.6%, 1433/21,763).

Conclusions

To our knowledge this is the largest hospital system study of CH to date and reinforces several previous studies. Pain, mental health, and sleep disorders comorbidities are particularly prevalent in this group and were often more common in women compared to men with CH. Future work should examine gender and race stratified prevalence estimates within the VHA and other healthcare systems.
HOW SHOULD HISTORIANS EMPATHIZE?
Authors: MARINO TAYNNA M.
Published: October 2024

Reflecting on the ethical and unethical ways of empathizing is a necessary task for historians interested in the ethics of history. Research on empathy often classifies its various parts into affective, cognitive, and prosocial dimensions. However, in historical scholarship, the cognitive‐intellectual dimension of empathy is overemphasized to the detriment of its affective and prosocial dimensions, whose roles in determining the ways historians should practice history are often disregarded. In this article, I will discuss the relations between empathy and ethics and how historians should empathize. Doing so, I argue that empathy's ethical potential for historical scholarship needs to be de‐intellectualized by historical scholarship, a task that requires a complementary and supplementary approach to empathy that is in dialogue with moral philosophy, psychology, neurosciences, and animal studies. Only by recognizing empathy as a socially developed evolutionary capacity shared among humans and other species can historians fully develop its possibilities as a tool to guide human morality and ethical decision‐making. Finally, I will claim that empathy as an ethical imperative for an ethics of care and vulnerability should guide historians' ethics toward more responsive and responsible ways of relating with others across time, space, cultures, generations, species, and so on.
‘We are fragile, but we are strong’: A qualitative study of perspectives, experiences and priority outcomes for people living with HIV and frailty
Authors: Clair‐Sullivan Natalie St , Vera Jaime H. , Maddocks Matthew , Harding Richard , Levett Thomas , Roberts Jonathan , Adler Zoe , Bremner Stephen , Pargeter Gary , Bristowe Katherine
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Advances in antiretroviral therapy have meant that the focus of HIV care has shifted to chronic disease management. The HIV population is ageing, and the prevalence of frailty is increasing. This study aimed to explore the perspectives and experiences of the impact of living with HIV and frailty and priority outcomes in relation to wellbeing and ageing.

Methods

In‐depth qualitative interviews were undertaken with older people living with HIV who screened positive for frailty using the FRAIL scale. Participants were recruited from a UK outpatient HIV clinic. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

In total, 24 people living with HIV were interviewed. Frailty was described as not being able to do the things you could and living with limitations that impacted physical, psychological and social wellbeing. Being identified as frail was not always surprising, but acceptance of this diagnosis required an understanding of what frailty means and what they can do to address it. For people living with HIV, the word ‘frail’ was largely acceptable when its clinical meaning was explained. However, participants questioned whether a different term is needed if this is a new ‘HIV‐associated frailty’. Priority outcomes were slowing the progression of frailty, retaining independence and being treated holistically.

Conclusion

When talking about frailty with people living with HIV, professionals need to balance honesty and sensitivity and provide clear information about the meaning and impact for the person. Holistic management plans must recognize the physical and psycho‐social impact of frailty and prioritize slowing its progression and reducing its impact on independence.
Environmental impact of pressurised metered dose inhalers versus dry powder and soft mist inhalers at a tertiary Melbourne hospital
Authors: Cushnahan Aiden , Leaver Benjamin , Dunne Ben , Allman Jacqui , Rees Megan
Published: October 2024

The carbon footprint of devices to deliver inhaled respiratory medications has come into focus as climate change has been identified as a worldwide emergency. Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) contain hydrofluorocarbons that have significant global warming potential compared to dry powder inhalers (DPIs) and soft mist inhalers (SMIs), which do not use a propellant gas. A 12‐month pharmacy inpatient dispensing audit demonstrated that inpatient MDI use significantly outweighed that of DPIs and SMIs and accounted for approximately 99% of inhaler‐related greenhouse gas emissions at our hospital.
Concept Analysis: The Occupational Experiences of Long‐Term Care Nurses—Navigating Fragmented Transitions
Authors: Bartlett Christine D. , Monagle Janet
Published: October 2024

Aim

Transitions are broadly defined as movements from one place, stage, or subject to another. However, transitions which are broken and incomplete are referred to fragmented transitions. The aims of this concept analysis were to analyze the navigation of fragmented occupational transitions among long‐term care nurses and to develop a working conceptual definition of fragmented occupational transitions to inform diverse stakeholders.

Design

Concept analysis.

Data Sources

Google Scholar, PubMed, and the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases were accessed. Identified sources were interprofessional scholarly literature published between January 1, 2018, and January 1, 2024, and seminal references.

Method

Walker and Avant's eight‐stage concept analysis method.

Results

Occupational transitions in long‐term care are fragmented leading to grievous challenges across multiple aspects of nurses' lives. An analysis of the literature using a Transitions Theory lens reveals that their thoughts, feelings and ethical decisions are influenced over time by these transitions. Cardinal attributes include: (1) Fragmentation, (2) Ill‐timing, (3) Disruption, (4) Liminality, (5) Ambiguity, (6) Ambivalence and (7) Facilitators/Inhibitors. Antecedents stem from external sources and facility‐led initiatives. Consequences encompass product and process outcomes. Product outcomes include physical and psychological conditions, and process outcomes encompass resilience, flexibility, connection, coping, creativity, and communication.

Conclusion

This concept analysis advances the science for understanding nurses' occupational transitional experiences in long‐term care. It will assist in risk assessment and instrument development ultimately improving the quality of long‐term care.

Implications

Fragmented occupational transitions in long‐term care are multifaceted and complex phenomena that require distinct responses from government, healthcare leaders, and scholars to improve the plight of long‐term care nurses and stakeholders.

Patient or Public Contribution

Dr. A. I. Meleis contributed to this article by sharing her vast insight into transitions.
Need for Human Interaction and Acknowledging Communication—An Interview Study With Patients With Aphasia Following Stroke
Authors: Loft Mia Ingerslev , Mathiesen Lone Lundbak , Jensen Frederik Gybel
Published: October 2024

Aim

To explore stroke patients' experiences of the communicative practice during their hospitalisation and describe strategies and supporting communication techniques applied by patients and nursing staff from the patient's perspective.

Design

A qualitative descriptive study was undertaken.

Methods

A qualitative approach was chosen; through a purposeful sample strategy, 13 semi‐structed interviews with 12 patients who had aphasia following stroke, and one patient had dysarthria. The interviews were video‐recorded and partially transcribed. Data were analysed according to Graneheim and Lundman's content analysis. Interview data were collected in 2022.

Results

The analysis generated one overarching theme; Being acknowledged as an equal human being as it appeared to be a pervasive and underlying trait across the four categories; Waking up to a new communicative reality, A task‐oriented communicative agenda, Misunderstandings as a communicative dead end and Establishing a communication‐friendly environment: peace, patience and supporting techniques, describing the immediate and descriptive level. The patients did not seem to encounter a systematic approach to communication. They perceived the health care staff's communication as primarily task and purpose‐oriented, lacking deeper conversations, which seemed to leave several with unmet emotional and psychological needs. Emotional, relational and existential aspects seemed interwoven in communication.

Conclusion

These findings contribute by illuminating an important patient perspective and ultimately, raising the point that from the perspective of patients the nursing staff's communication was primarily task and purpose oriented, and they lacked deeper conversations. Hence also raises the point that the use of supportive communication strategies alone will allow nursing staff to meet the existential needs of patients with aphasia. Supported communication needs to address compassionate and acknowledging aspects of communication.

No Patient or Public Contribution in this paper.
A Scoping Review of Outcomes Measured and Involvement of People With Intellectual Disabilities in Active Support Research
Authors: Aspling Jenny , Svärd Veronica , Humphreys Lincoln , Bigby Christine , Tideman Magnus
Published: October 2024

Background

Active Support is a staff practice that aims to increase engagement of people with intellectual disabilities. This study seeks to: (1) identify the outcomes of staff using Active Support and how these are measured; (2) identify how the views of people with intellectual disabilities have been included in Active Support research.

Method

A scoping review was conducted of peer‐reviewed articles about Active Support published between 2009 and 2023.

Results

Sixteen articles were identified. Outcomes included engagement, the quality of staff support, choice and challenging behaviour. Structured observations were the most frequently used measurement method. Only two studies explored people with intellectual disabilities' perspectives about Active Support.

Conclusions

Consistent use of similar measures is a strength of Active Support research. Including perspectives of people with intellectual disabilities may provide insight into dimensions of support not been measured and assist in further developing these measures and Active Support practice.
Differential molecular characterization of human papillomavirus‐associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and its prognostic value
Authors: Wang Huanhuan , Zhang Qihe , Zheng Zhuangzhuang , Xin Ying , Jiang Xin
Published: October 2024

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a causative factor in the occurrence and progression of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). In recent years, clinical studies have found that HPV‐positive OPSCC patients may present a better prognosis than HPV‐negative patients, yet the underlying causes are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relevance of HPV infection and the prognosis of OPSCC. On this basis, we aimed to establish a prediction model to accurately predict the prognosis and guide clinical practice. We analysed the records of 233 patients with OPSCC. Cox regression was applied to identify factors associated with survival. Moreover, variables with significant discrepancies were integrated into a nomogram model to predict prognosis. The results showed that HPV was an independent prognostic factor for OS and PFS. Immunoglobulin Heavy Constant Mu (IGHM) mRNA was significantly upregulated in patients with HPV‐positive OPSCC. Crucially, IGHM expression was associated with better prognosis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis both confirmed that the prognostic model exhibits good performance. In summary, HPV infection were independent prognostic factors for OPSCC. IGHM may be the key contributors to the prognostic differences in HPV‐associated OPSCC. This nomogram model was able to accurately predict the prognosis of patients.
Yap1 alleviates sepsis associated encephalopathy by inhibiting hippocampus ferroptosis via maintaining mitochondrial dynamic homeostasis
Authors: Yang Xin , Duan Haifeng , Li Sirui , Zhang Jing , Dong Liang , Ding Jingli , Li Xinyi
Published: October 2024

Sepsis‐associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a serious neurological complication accompanied by acute and long‐term cognitive dysfunction. Ferroptosis is a newly discovered type of cell death that is produced by iron‐dependent lipid peroxidation. As a key transcriptional coactivator in the Hippo signalling pathway, Yes‐associated protein 1 (YAP1) could target ferroptosis‐related genes. This study was aimed to determine whether Yap1 protects against SAE and inhibits ferroptosis via maintaining mitochondrial dynamic homeostasis. Caecal ligation puncture (CLP) was used to establish the SAE model, and LPS was applied in hippocampal cells to mimic the inflammatory model in vitro. The results showed that Yap1 conditional knockout in hippocampal caused lower survival in SAE mice and cognitive dysfunction, as proved by Morri's water maze (MWM) task, tail suspension test (TST), open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze test (EPMT). After Yap1 knockout, the production of ROS, MDA and Fe2+ and proinflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus were increased, indicating that Yap1 deficiency exacerbates CLP‐induced brain injury and hippocampus ferroptosis. Meanwhile, GPX4, SLC7A11, ferritin (FTH1) and GSH levels were decreased in the Yap1 knockout group. In vitro, Yap1 overexpression mitigated LPS‐induced hippocampal cell ferroptosis and improved mitochondrial function by inhibiting mitochondrial fission, as evidenced by lower mitochondrial ROS, cell viability, Fe2+ and the expression of Fis1 and Drp1. Further, the present study suggested that Yap1 could inhibit ferritinophagy‐mediated ferroptosis in the hippocampus via inhibiting mitochondrial fission, thus reducing cognitive dysfunction in SAE mice.
Efficacy of controlled‐release dinoprostone vaginal insert for elective induction of labor before due date
Authors: Tamai Junko , Ikenoue Satoru , Akita Keisuke , Fukuma Yuka , Tanaka Yuya , Hasegawa Keita , Otani Toshimitsu , Kasuga Yoshifumi , Tanaka Mamoru
Published: October 2024

Aim

The induction of labor before due date has recently been proved to reduce the rate of cesarean sections and is not associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes as compared to expectant management. Controlled‐release dinoprostone (PGE2) vaginal insert has recently been approved for use in Japan. However, evidence regarding its efficacy in cervical ripening and labor induction before due date remains limited. We aimed to compare the efficacy of PGE2 vaginal inserts and mechanical dilation for labor induction before due date.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 206 mothers at 37, 38, and 39 weeks' gestation delivered at our institution between January 2021 and October 2022. Perinatal outcomes, including the success rate of vaginal delivery, were compared between the PGE2 (n = 46) and metreurynter/laminaria tent (non‐PGE2) (n = 160) groups. The success rate of vaginal delivery was defined as the proportion of women who delivered vaginally within 48 h of initiating oxytocin augmentation.

Results

The success rate of vaginal delivery was significantly higher in the PGE2 group (37/49, 80.4%) than in the non‐PGE2 group (106/177, 66.2%). Emergency cesarean section related to non‐reassuring fetal status was performed with none in the PGE2 group and with eight (5.0%) in the non‐PGE2 group.

Conclusions

The rate of vaginal delivery was significantly higher in the PGE2 group for elective labor induction between 37 and 39 weeks. The PGE2 vaginal insert could increase the success rate of vaginal delivery for elective induction of labor at 39 weeks.