bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A weighted constraint satisfaction approach to human goal-directed decision making
Authors: Li Yuxuan , McClelland James L.
Published: October 2021

When we plan for long-range goals, proximal information cannot be exploited in a blindly myopic way, as relevant future information must also be considered. But when a subgoal must be resolved first, irrelevant future information should not interfere with the processing of more proximal, subgoal-relevant information. We explore the idea that decision making in both situations relies on the flexible modulation of the degree to which different pieces of information under consideration are weighted, rather than explicitly decomposing a problem into smaller parts and solving each part independently. We asked participants to find the shortest goal-reaching paths in mazes and modeled their initial path choices as a noisy, weighted information integration process. In a base task where choosing the optimal initial path required weighting starting-point and goal-proximal factors equally, participants did take both constraints into account, with participants who made more accurate choices tending to exhibit more balanced weighting. The base task was then embedded as an initial subtask in a larger maze, where the same two factors constrained the optimal path to a subgoal, and the final goal position was irrelevant to the initial path choice. In this more complex task, participants’ choices reflected predominant consideration of the subgoal-relevant constraints, but also some influence of the initially-irrelevant final goal. More accurate participants placed much less weight on the optimality-irrelevant goal and again tended to weight the two initially-relevant constraints more equally. These findings suggest that humans may rely on a graded, task-sensitive weighting of multiple constraints to generate approximately optimal decision outcomes in both hierarchical and non-hierarchical goal-directed tasks.

Author Summary

Different problems require the consideration of different information sources, including often useful long-range, future information that may impact our immediate decisions. However, when future information is irrelevant to a key subgoal, it can be desirable to focus on achieving the subgoal first. We suggest that humans rely on appropriately weighting relevant information over irrelevant information to generate decision outcomes in both types of situations. We conducted behavioral experiments and fitted models of decision processes to understand to what extent people considered various task factors in choosing the initial path in different mazes, both when a simple maze occurred alone or was embedded as an initial part in a larger maze. Our results show that people approximate the optimal decision outcomes in both tasks by modulating the weighting of different factors during planning, and that people who made more accurate initial path choices modulated these weightings more successfully than those who made less accurate choices.
A Novel Propidium Monoazide-Based PCR Assay Can Measure Viable Uropathogenic E. coli in Vitro and in Vivo
Authors: Lee Albert S , Lamanna Olivia K , Ishida Kenji , Hill Elaise , Hsieh Michael H.
Published: October 2021

Background

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an important means by which to study the urine microbiome and is emerging as possible alternative to urine cultures to identify pathogens that cause urinary tract infection (UTI). However, PCR is limited by its inability to differentiate DNA originating from viable, metabolically active versus non-viable, inactive bacteria. This drawback has led to concerns that urobiome studies and PCR-based diagnosis of UTI are confounded by the presence of relic DNA from non-viable bacteria in urine. Propidium monoazide (PMA) dye can penetrate cells with compromised cell membranes and covalently bind to DNA, rendering it inaccessible to amplification by PCR. Although PMA has been shown to differentiate between non-viable and viable bacteria in various settings, its effectiveness in urine has not been previously studied. We sought to investigate the ability of PMA to differentiate between viable and non-viable bacteria in urine.

Methods

Varying amounts of viable or non-viable uropathogenic E. coli (UTI89) or buffer control were titrated with mouse urine. The samples were centrifuged to collect urine sediment or not centrifuged. Urine samples were incubated with PMA and DNA cross-linked using blue LED light. DNA was isolated and uidA gene-specific PCR was performed. For in vivo studies, mice were inoculated with UTI89, followed by ciprofloxacin treatment or no treatment. After the completion of ciprofloxacin treatment, an aliquot of urine was plated on non-selective LB agar and another aliquot was treated with PMA and subjected to uidA-specific PCR.

Results

PMA’s efficiency in excluding DNA signal from non-viable bacteria was significantly higher in bacterial samples in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, dCT=13.69) versus bacterial samples in unspun urine (dCT=1.58). This discrepancy was diminished by spinning down urine-based bacterial samples to collect sediment and resuspending it in PBS prior to PMA treatment. In 3 of 5 replicate groups of UTI89-infected mice, no bacteria grew in culture; however, there was PCR amplification of E. coli after PMA treatment in 2 of those 3 groups.

Conclusion

We have successfully developed PMA-based PCR methods for amplifying DNA from live bacteria in urine. Our results suggest that non-PMA bound DNA from live bacteria can be present in urine, even after antibiotic treatment.

This indicates that viable but non-culturable E. coli can be present following treatment of UTI, and may explain why some patients have persistent symptoms but negative urine cultures following UTI treatment.
Mitochondrial active Ras2 protein promotes apoptosis and regulated cell death in a cAMP/PKA pathway-dependent manner in budding yeast
Authors: Bonomelli Barbara , Martegani Enzo , Colombo Sonia
Published: October 2021

In previous papers, using the eGFP-RBD3 probe, which binds Ras-GTP with high affinity, we showed that activated Ras proteins are localized to the plasma membrane and in the nucleus in wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells growing exponentially on glucose, while an aberrant accumulation of activated Ras in mitochondria correlates to mitochondrial dysfunction, accumulation of ROS and an increase of apoptosis. In this paper, we show that lack of TPS1, which is known to trigger apoptosis in S. cerevisiae, induces localization of active Ras proteins in mitochondria, confirming the above-mentioned correlation. Next, by characterizing the ras1Δ and ras2Δ mutants concerning localization of active Ras proteins and propensity to undergo cell death, we show that active Ras2 proteins, which accumulate in the mitochondria following addition of acetic acid, a well-known pro-apoptotic stimulus, might be the GTPases involved in regulated cell death, while active Ras1 proteins, constitutively localized in mitochondria, might be involved in a pro-survival molecular machinery. Finally, by characterizing the gpa2Δ and cyr1Δ mutants concerning the propensity to undergo cell death, we show that active mitochondrial Ras proteins promote apoptosis through the cAMP/PKA pathway.
Kdm6b confers Tfdp1 with the competence to activate p53 signalling in regulating palatogenesis
Authors: Guo Tingwei , Han Xia , He Jinzhi , Feng Jifan , Jing Junjun , Janečková Eva , Lei Jie , Ho Thach-Vu , Xu Jian , Chai Yang
Published: October 2021

Epigenetic regulation plays extensive roles in diseases and development. Disruption of epigenetic regulation not only increases the risk of cancer, but can also cause various developmental defects. However, it is still unclear how epigenetic regulators coordinate with tissue-specific regulatory factors during morphogenesis of specific organs. Using palatogenesis as a model, we reveal the functional significance of Kdm6b, a H3K27me3 demethylase, in regulating embryonic development. Our study shows that Kdm6b plays an essential role in neural crest development, and loss of Kdm6b disturbs p53 pathway-mediated activity, leading to complete cleft palate along with cell proliferation and differentiation defects. Furthermore, activity of H3K27me3 on the promoter of p53 is precisely controlled by Kdm6b, and Ezh2 in regulating p53 expression in cranial neural crest cells. More importantly, Kdm6b renders chromatin accessible to the transcription factor Tfdp1, which binds to the promoter of p53 along with Kdm6b to specifically activate p53 expression during palatogenesis. Collectively our results highlight the important role of the epigenetic regulator Kdm6b and how it cooperates with Tfdp1 to achieve its functional specificity in regulating p53 expression, and further provide mechanistic insights into the epigenetic regulatory network during organogenesis.
Can SMEs in the food industry expect competitive advantages from proactive CSR when CSR trade-offs exist?
Authors: Kim Yeonsoo , Bhalla Nandini
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The study aims to examine the effects of proactive vs passive environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the context of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), factoring in the moderating effects of price and the mediating effects of company–consumer identification(C-C identification) on consumer responses.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment with general consumer samples was conducted. A randomized 2 (CSR levels: proactive CSR vs passive CSR) × 2 (price as a CSR trade-off: higher price vs lower price) full factorial design was used.

Findings

The study findings revealed that proactive environmental CSR not only engendered more positive C-C identification but also resulted in more favorable consumer attitudes, stronger supportive communication intent and purchase intent. In addition, when a company demonstrates proactive CSR, consumers' C-C identification is generally positive irrespective of price differences, and in turn, more positive reactions follow. When a company takes a passive approach and offers lower prices, respondents showed significantly less positive C-C identification, and less favorable responses. This indicates that passive environmental CSR programs can potentially backfire, especially when combined with lower prices. This study also shows the important mediating impact of C-C identification on consumer responses.

Originality/value

This study is one of the few to explore consumer perceptions of and reactions toward the food industry's environmental CSR programs by degree of CSR involvement and price differences in the context of SMEs. This study's findings provide useful information to SME managers and public relations practitioners who work closely with SMEs, allowing them to make informed strategic decisions, especially when they evaluate the extent of their company's commitment to environmentally proactive CSR practices and its communication to consumers.
Towards a meaningful innovation paradigm: conceptual framework and practice of leading world-class enterprise
Authors: Wang Luyao , Qu Guannan , Chen Jin
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to conceptualize the paradigm of meaningful innovation (MI) by exploring the theoretical basis, identifying its core concepts and key processes, and supporting it with evidence from leading world-class enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a systemic literature review on the evolution of innovation paradigms, this study builds a conceptual framework to explicate the core concepts and process of MI. Moreover, a horizontal embedded case study of GREE electric appliances is conducted to further enrich, refine and support the proposed framework.

Findings

The main finding of this study is that MI could be regarded as a process of integrating innovation elements (resources, capabilities, systems, etc.) with internal and external innovation meaning to obtain outcomes with both economic value and social significance. As a “long-termism” paradigm with meaning identification and conversion as its core, MI is driven by the collaboration of “deductive mechanism” and “reflective mechanism.”

Originality/value

Based on the previous studies concerning innovation paradigms on the internal and external meaning, this paper proposes an integrated framework of MI. In this framework, enterprises can consider internal and external meanings through deductive and reflective mechanisms, to better coordinate resources, capabilities, institutions, markets and other factors to achieve higher innovation performance.
Factors affecting the international competitiveness of polish economy system in 2004-2019
Authors: Rojek Konrad
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to present the issue of the international systemic competitiveness of the Polish economy. The essence of this concept was shown, as well as the measures and methods of analysis used. The aim of the research was to identify the factors that had the greatest impact on the formation of the international systemic competitiveness of the Polish economy.

Design/methodology/approach

An econometric model was constructed to explain the shaping of the value of the dependent variable (gross domestic product [GDP] per capita) in the years 2004–2019. For this purpose, explanatory variables were used selected from among the measures of the international systemic competitiveness of the Polish economy. The developed econometric model was verified to check its practical usefulness. This process was performed using the Gretl program. The research also used the Pentagon Model of Macroeconomic Stabilization, which was used to examine the general economic development of Poland because of which it is possible to conclude about the international systemic competitiveness of the economy.

Findings

In the analyzed period (2004–2019), the international systemic competitiveness of the Polish economy was to the greatest extent conditioned by such factors as government integrity, tax burdens and investment freedom. It is significant that the integrity of the government had a negative impact on the value of GDP per capita.

Practical implications

The results of the conducted research may be particularly useful for the institutional sphere. They indicate systemic factors that had the greatest impact on the prosperity of Polish society in the analyzed period. This enables the weakest elements of the policy to be identified and improved. Proper applications and appropriate corrective actions will have a positive economic effect.

Originality/value

So far, it has not been possible to develop/indicate a uniform and generally accepted measure and method of analyzing international systemic competitiveness. Therefore, all attempts to assess and measure systemic competitiveness have a high research value. The vast majority of studies on the international competitiveness of the economy focus only on assessing its level (growth, decline and comparison with other countries). When building an econometric model (based on the 2004–2019 time series), the author also checks the impact of its individual components, not only its level. On this basis, it can be deduced, which factors influenced the competitiveness in a given period to a greater extent, positively or negatively.
Cybersecurity capabilities for critical infrastructure resilience
Authors: Malatji Masike , Marnewick Annlizé L. , Von Solms Suné
Published: October 2021

Purpose

For many innovative organisations, Industry 4.0 paves the way for significant operational efficiencies, quality of goods and services and cost reductions. One of the ways to realise these benefits is to embark on digital transformation initiatives that may be summed up as the intelligent interconnectivity of people, processes, data and cyber-connected things. Sadly, this interconnectivity between the enterprise information technology (IT) and industrial control systems (ICS) environment introduces new attack surfaces for critical infrastructure (CI) operators. As a result of the ICS cybersecurity risk introduced by the interconnectivity between the enterprise IT and ICS networks, the purpose of this study is to identify the cybersecurity capabilities that CI operators must have to attain good cybersecurity resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

A scoping literature review of best practice international CI protection frameworks, standards and guidelines were conducted. Similar cybersecurity practices from these frameworks, standards and guidelines were grouped together under a corresponding National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity framework (CF) practice. Practices that could not be categorised under any of the existing NIST CF practices were considered new insights, and therefore, additions.

Findings

A CI cybersecurity capability framework comprising 29 capability domains (cybersecurity focus areas) was developed as an adaptation of the NIST CF with an added dimension. This added dimension emphasises cloud computing and internet of things (IoT) security. Each of the 29 cybersecurity capability domains is executed through various capabilities (cybersecurity processes and procedures). The study found that each cybersecurity capability can further be operationalised by a set of cybersecurity controls derived from various frameworks, standards and guidelines, such as COBIT®, CIS®, ISA/IEC 62443, ISO/IEC 27002 and NIST Special Publication 800-53.

Practical implications

CI sectors are immediately able to adopt the CI cybersecurity capability framework to evaluate their levels of resilience against cyber-attacks, given new attack surfaces introduced by the interconnectivity of cyber-connected things between the enterprise and ICS levels.

Originality/value

The authors present an added dimension to the NIST framework for CI cyber protection. In addition to emphasising cryptography, IoT and cloud computing security aspects, this added dimension highlights the need for an integrated approach to CI cybersecurity resilience instead of a piecemeal approach.
Lean practices toward a balanced sustainability in higher education institutions: a Brazilian experience
Authors: Klein Leander Luiz , De Guimarães Julio Cesar Ferro , Severo Eliana Andréa , Dorion Eric Charles Henri , Schirmer Feltrin Thiago
Published: October 2021

Purpose

As few studies have explored the causal relationship between both the triple bottom line (TBL) of sustainability and the lean practices in higher education institutions (HEIs), the purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationships between lean practices and sustainable practices in Brazilian HEIs.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted with 454 public and private HEIs workers in Brazil. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations modeling were used for data analysis.

Findings

The results support the hypotheses of the study that HEI lean practices are positively related to environmental, economic and social practices in HEIs.

Practical implications

HEI managers must evaluate the use of lean practices in the organizational processes, to identify their weaknesses and to improve the aspects that influence a balanced TBL of sustainability practices.

Social implications

The findings highlight the importance of leadership as a support for the workers, as a continuous improvement practice on a daily basis and a focus on the student as a basic principle of HEI success.

Originality/value

This article provides new measurement and structural models to analyze Lean thinking practices as the predictors of sustainability practices. The work could assist any HEI in prioritizing its strategies and actions and to contribute to excellence in decision-making. This study could contribute as a source of empirical data for transferability in other contexts for HEIs.
Key performance indicators for a sustainable recovery strategy in health-care supply chains: COVID-19 pandemic perspective
Authors: Rahman Towfique , Moktadir Md. Abdul , Paul Sanjoy Kumar
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Supply chains’ (SCs’) sustainability practices and recovery strategies are attaining popularity in academia and industries to improve the resilience of the SCs and to manage large-scale disruptions. The global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 has raised the question of the sustainability of essential health-care products’ SCs of Bangladesh. It is an essential avenue for making the life of people safe and secure. Despite its importance, most of the health-care SCs in Bangladesh are struggling to meet the demand of its nation due to capacity shortage, technological backwardness of the manufacturers, delivery capacity shortages and less advanced forecasting capabilities. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the key performance indicators (KPIs) of a sustainable recovery strategy in the context of health-care SCs considering the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a dynamic method named graph theory and matrix approach to evaluate the most critical KPIs of a sustainable recovery strategy in the context of Bangladeshi health-care SCs.

Findings

The result revealed that dynamic forecasting and planning with a smooth delivery and distribution support system, production capacity diversification and having alternative or multiple suppliers during extraordinary disruptions may aid in the sustainability of the health-care SCs in Bangladesh.

Originality/value

This study is unique as no previous study has identified and examined the sustainable recovery strategy perspective KPIs considering the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of Bangladeshi health-care SCs. This study will also add value by guiding decision-makers of the health-care SCs of Bangladesh to adopt strategies toward the sustainability of SCs.
The sustainability reporting-firm performance nexus: evidence from a threshold model
Authors: Bansal Manish , Samad Taab Ahmad , Bashir Hajam Abid
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to provide a convincing argument behind the mixed findings on the association between sustainability reporting and firm performance by investigating the possibility of a non-linear relationship through a threshold model.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used (Hansen’s 1999) threshold framework to investigate the relationship between firm performance and sustainability reporting using a sample of 210 Bombay Stock Exchange-listed firms spanning over 10 years from March 2010 to March 2019. This framework helps to test the threshold effect’s presence, estimate the threshold value and check the authenticity of the estimated threshold value.

Findings

Sustainability reporting has a differential threshold impact on the different indicators of firm performance. On the one hand, the authors’ results illustrate that the firms’ operating performance is positively impacted if and only if the sustainability reporting crosses a certain threshold. On the other hand, sustainability reporting positively impacts firms’ market performance only up to a cut-off point.

Practical implications

Managers should strive to balance sustainability reporting to reap its desired benefits on firm performance.

Originality/value

This study explores the possible non-linearity in the association between firm performance and sustainability reporting and explains the relationship’s inconclusive results. Further, this study explores the field in the novel emerging economy with unique institutional settings that mandate spending on sustainability activities.
Shear resistance of sandwich panel connection at elevated temperature
Authors: Cábová Kamila , Garifullin Marsel , Shoushtarian Mofrad Ashkan , Wald František , Mela Kristo , Ciupack Yvonne
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Sandwich construction has developed and has become an integral part of lightweight construction. In the recent projects, it has been shown that by using sandwich panels as stabilizing members, a considerable amount of savings of steel can be achieved for structural members at ambient temperature. These stabilizing effects may also help to achieve similar savings in case of fire.

Design/methodology/approach

The response of a sandwich single panel as well as the behaviour of the whole structure at ambient temperature and in case of fire is influenced by joints between the sandwich panels and the sub-structure. The fastenings used to fix the sandwich panels to a sub-structure may be loaded by shear forces caused by self-weight, live loads or diaphragm action. Therefore, an experimental investigation was conducted to investigate the shear behaviour of sandwich panel joints in fire.

Findings

This paper summarized briefly the experimental results, numerical simulations and analytical models on the shear behaviour of sandwich panel joints at ambient and elevated temperatures.

Research limitations/implications

The work is limited to studied types of screws and sandwich panels which are generally used in current sandwich construction.

Practical implications

These stabilizing effects in sandwich construction help to achieve savings in case of fire.

Social implications

Sandwich construction has developed and has become an integral part of lightweight construction. In the recent projects, it has been shown that by using sandwich panels as stabilizing members, a considerable amount of savings of steel can be achieved for structural members at ambient temperature. These stabilizing effects help to achieve similar savings in case of fire.

Originality/value

This paper summarized briefly the experimental results, numerical simulations and analytical models on the shear behaviour of sandwich panel joints at ambient and elevated temperatures, which were not published yet.
Workplace fun and informal learning: the mediating role of motivation to learn, learning opportunities and management support
Authors: Taheri Morteza , Motealleh Sharareh , Younesi Jalil
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Past research shows that workplace fun has a positive effect on informal learning, however, the role of individual and organizational mediating variables in this relation has not been studied much. This study aims to examine the role of management support, motivation to learn and learning opportunity in the relationship between workplace fun and informal learning.

Design/methodology/approach

In this multivariate correlation study, data were collected through questionnaires. In total, 200 employees of the petrochemical industry participated. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The main finding suggests that motivation to learn contributes to informal learning. Fun in the workplace has a positive and significant indirect effect on informal learning by providing a variety of opportunities to learn; the management support in the final model also mediates the relationship between workplace fun and opportunities to learn.

Practical implications

The results indicate the benefits of creating and maintaining fun in the workplace to improve informal learning. The authors will be better able to advise by providing abundant resources for formal training such as time, learning climate and financial resources, workplace fun can be used as a practical strategy to promote informal learning where the workplace is fun, innovation, creativity and performance improvement occur. Managers should make arrangements to spontaneously motivate employees to learn informally and provide fun and varied opportunities for informal learning.

Originality/value

In this study, the multiple correlations and the effect of motivation variables, learning opportunity and management support in the relationship between workplace fun and informal learning were studied. Examining how these relationships are and identifying the moderator of this relationship because of individual and environmental differences requires further studies.
Sustainability reporting and approaches to materiality: tensions and potential resolutions
Authors: Jørgensen Sveinung , Mjøs Aksel , Pedersen Lars Jacob Tynes
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The concept of materiality is becoming increasingly important for sustainability performance measurement and reporting. It is widely agreed upon that materiality matters, in the sense that companies should identify, prioritize and disclose information on sustainability issues that are considered material. There is, however, a tension at the heart of this consensus, owing to parallel approaches to materiality being used in practice. This paper aims to shed light on how and why the parallel uses of the materiality concept may cause confusion and how this tension could be resolved.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes as point of departure the tension between two approaches to materiality: based on the Global Reporting Initiative definition, which emphasizes sustainability issues that are important to stakeholders and that have significant impacts and based on the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board definition, which emphasizes sustainability issues that are financially material, i.e. likely to influence the financial performance of the company. This paper discusses the nature and consequences of the tensions between how the two definitions of materiality in sustainability reporting are used in practice, with a particular emphasis on users of information in financial markets. This paper provides empirical insight on these users’ perspectives through a survey (n = 30) and qualitative interviews (n = 6) of financial market professionals.

Findings

This study reveals tensions between different approaches to materiality in practice and how this may lead users of sustainability reports to draw unjustified conclusions on the basis of materiality assessments. Specifically, this paper demonstrates the perceived shortcomings in information availability and information quality from the perspectives of different stakeholders in financial markets with different information needs.

Practical implications

The users of sustainability reporting information require clarity in the communication of materiality in non-financial reports. This paper addresses how such clarity can be pursued.

Social implications

Clarity about materiality in non-financial reporting is important both for investors that pursue financial return on green investments and for society at large, which relies on information about real sustainability impacts.

Originality/value

This paper furthers the understanding of how different materiality concepts may be problematic and how recent and ongoing developments may mitigate the risks of conflating uses of the concept.
Dismantling the scaffolding of institutional racism and institutionalising anti‐racism
Authors: Patel Nimisha
Published: October 2021

This paper addresses the challenge to organisations seeking to address institutional racism. It is argued that racism is systemic in its historical roots, anchored in racialising discourses, bolstered and fused by the ideology of Whiteness. It describes an approach to organisational consultancy, where the consultant can facilitate change in organisations by adopting an anti‐racism stance and approach which disrupts Whiteness and engages the organisation in anti‐racism praxis, towards dismantling institutionalised racism. Ways in which this process can be facilitated are outlined, as part of the change process towards institutionalising anti‐racism praxis.

Practitioner points

What is already known about this topic

Racism is historically scaffolded by Whiteness, and it is institutionalised in every aspect of organisations, including in policies, structures and practices.

Whiteness is reproduced, including in the theories, models and practices of systemic psychotherapy, our training institutions and services.

Scrutinising and disrupting Whiteness in systems in which we work, and in organisations we consult to, is essential to anti‐racism praxis.
A Playbook for Implementing Medicaid Expansion: Louisiana's Experience
Authors: BOLES WILL , KENNEDY RUTH , SIEWERT EMMA , ROWLAND DIANE , LYONS BARBARA , GEE REBEKAH E.
Published: October 2021

Policy Points

Twelve states have yet to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Louisiana offers a model of steps that states and counties can take to rapidly enroll eligible persons while balancing eligibility integrity and doing so within a limited administrative budget.

In a post‐COVID‐19 health care landscape, Medicaid expansion can improve and protect population health and boost state economies, even amid budget shortfalls.

Even though Louisiana compares well with other states in eligibility and enrollment efforts, future expansions may integrate other social support programs into their implementation strategies.
The impact of headstarting on the survival and naiveté of an endangered terrestrial mammal after return to the wild
Authors: Ross A. K. , Lawes J. C. , Letnic M.
Published: October 2021

Complete separation of endangered prey from introduced predators improves prey survival at the cost of reduced predator recognition and antipredator behaviours, termed ‘prey naiveté’. Headstarting is a conservation strategy that has been used to improve the survival of juveniles for numerous species, whereby prey is separated from predators only in their vulnerable early life stage before release to the wild. However, by isolating prey from predators headstarting could compromise prey individuals’ antipredator behaviour. Here, we evaluate the effects that headstarting has on the survival, dispersal, body condition and flight initiation distance (FID) of a terrestrial mammal, the bridled nailtail wallaby Onychogalea fraenata. Young bridled nailtail wallabies were isolated from predators in a 9.2 ha predator‐free fenced exclosure and were released into the wild once their body mass exceeded 3 kg. There was no difference in dispersal, body condition or survival of headstarted wallabies compared to wild‐raised wallabies. FID of headstarted wallabies assessed using night‐vision goggles was lower than wild‐raised wallabies in the week following release, but converged with that of wild‐raised wallabies within 4 weeks post‐release. Our results show that headstarting can be an effective conservation strategy for terrestrial mammals whose early life stages are vulnerable to introduced predators.
Dose–response relationships of accelerometer‐measured sedentary behaviour and physical activity with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Tsunoda Kenji , Kitano Naruki , Kai Yuko , Jindo Takashi , Uchida Ken , Arao Takashi
Published: October 2021

Background

Although a few studies have confirmed the association of accelerometer‐measured sedentary behaviour (SB) and physical activity (PA) with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), PA intensity and co‐dependent daily time‐use of movement behaviours are yet to be studied.

Aims

To cross‐sectionally examine the dose–response relationship between accelerometer‐measured SB or PA and NAFLD using cubic spline analysis and the interdependence of movement behaviours over 24 hours with compositional data analysis.

Methods

Data were obtained between May 2017 and February 2020 from 1914 people who were not heavy alcohol drinkers using health check‐ups at the Meiji Yasuda Shinjuku Medical Center, Tokyo. SB, light‐intensity PA (LPA) and moderate‐ to vigorous‐intensity PA (MVPA) were evaluated using a triaxial accelerometer. Fatty liver was diagnosed by ultrasonography.

Results

A multivariable‐adjusted logistic model showed an inverse association between MVPA and NAFLD (odds ratio [OR] per 600 metabolic equivalents [MET]‐min/week = 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76‐0.96). MVPA showed rapidly decreasing odds of NAFLD to approximately 1800 MET‐min/week in cubic spline analysis and then a moderate decline. Although SB was significantly associated with NAFLD in a body mass index (BMI)‐unadjusted model, it was not significant in a BMI‐adjusted model. In the compositional isotemporal substitution, reallocating 60 min/day of SB to MVPA decreased the odds of NAFLD by 22% (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.65‐0.93), whereas reallocating 60 min/day of MVPA to SB increased it by 69% (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.12‐2.38).

Conclusions

The inverse dose–response association between MVPA and NAFLD confirms increased MVPA as a target for the prevention of NAFLD.
Welcoming new life under lockdown: Exploring the experiences of first‐time mothers who gave birth during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Gray Anna , Barnett Julie
Published: October 2021

Objectives

This study aimed to explore how first‐time mothers in the UK experienced new parenthood during the coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic.

Design

This study used a cross‐sectional exploratory, qualitative interview design.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with ten first‐time mothers who had given birth since COVID‐19 was declared as a pandemic. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Result

Experiences of new, first‐time mothers during the COVID‐19 pandemic were organized around two themes. First, new mothers felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility for their baby which was heightened by the pandemic. The challenge of meeting this responsibility was heightened in the context of societal expectations to do the ‘right’ thing and uncertainty and distrust around official guidance about COVID‐19. Secondly, the expected transition into motherhood was altered by the pandemic. Disruption to the birthing experience, an inability to connect with close friends and family, and limited healthcare support was perceived to be detrimental. However, altered social expectations and the increased presence of the partner were perceived as positives.

Conclusion

Many of the common challenges experienced by new, first‐time mothers have been amplified by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Public policy and scientific research must target this group in order to protect this population from the negative impact of the remaining COVID‐19 pandemic and any future pandemics.
Risk stratification of indeterminate thyroid nodules using ultrasound and machine learning algorithms
Authors: Gild Matti Lauren , Chan Mico , Gajera Jay , Lurie Brett , Gandomkar Ziba , Clifton‐Bligh Roderick J.
Published: October 2021

Background

Indeterminate thyroid nodules (Bethesda III) are challenging to characterize without diagnostic surgery. Auxiliary strategies including molecular analysis, machine learning models, and ultrasound grading with Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI‐RADS) can help to triage accordingly, but further refinement is needed to prevent unnecessary surgeries and increase positive predictive values.

Design

Retrospective review of 88 patients with Bethesda III nodules who had diagnostic surgery with final pathological diagnosis.

Measurements

Each nodule was retrospectively scored through TI‐RADS. Two deep learning models were tested, one previously developed and trained on another data set, mainly containing determinate cases and then validated on our data set while the other one trained and tested on our data set (indeterminate cases).

Results

The mean TI‐RADS score was 3 for benign and 4 for malignant nodules (p = .0022). Radiological high risk (TI‐RADS 4,5) and low risk (TI‐RADS 2,3) categories were established. The PPV for the high radiological risk category in those with >10 mm nodules was 85% (CI: 70%–93%). The NPV for low radiological risk in patients >60 years (mean age was 100% (CI: 83%–100%). The area under the curve (AUC) value of our novel classifier was 0.75 (CI: 0.62–0.84) and differed significantly from the chance‐level (p < .00001).

Conclusions

Novel radiomic and radiologic strategies can be employed to assist with preoperative diagnosis of indeterminate thyroid nodules.
A novel equilibrium optimizer based on levy flight and iterative cosine operator for engineering optimization problems
Authors: Minocha Sachin , Singh Birmohan
Published: October 2021

Equilibrium optimizer (EO) is a novel optimization algorithm with high exploration and exploitation capabilities. The capabilities of EO are impacted by the generation rate, exponential term, and equilibrium pool, wherein the initial two depend on the turnover rate. The performance of the EO on different optimization functions can be improved by updating these factors. This paper designs a modified equilibrium optimizer (MEO) by incorporating three changes in the EO: (i) replacement of the equilibrium pool with an iterative cosine operator (ICO) that gradually reduces diversification to intensification as the iterations progress; (ii) implementation of levy flight to update the concentration of particle that improves exploration capabilities; and (iii) the random vector with uniform distribution of turnover rate is replaced by heavy‐tailed non‐uniform levy distribution to improve exploration capability of the algorithm. Here, the other parameters on which MEO depends are selected by performing the sensitivity analysis. The capabilities of MEO have been analysed by comparing it with 19 algorithms, including the EO algorithm, 12 state‐of‐art algorithms, and 6 hybrid/improved algorithms on 62 functions, that is, 23 benchmark functions, 10 CEC‐06‐2019, 29 CEC‐2017 functions. The non‐parametric Friedman test and Kruskal–Wallis test validate that MEO outperforms the other algorithms due to its balanced exploration and exploitation abilities. MEO robustness has been validated by the diversity analysis along with the scalability test. MEO is also evaluated on five practical engineering problems to showcase its significance.
Parasite load of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua in the Baltic Sea assessed by the liver category method, and associations with infection density and critical condition
Authors: Ryberg Marie Plambech , Huwer Bastian , Nielsen Anders , Dierking Jan , Buchmann Kurt , Sokolova Maria , Krumme Uwe , Behrens Jane W.
Published: October 2021

During the 2010s, Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L. in the eastern Baltic Sea experienced increasing infection loads of the parasitic nematode Contracaecum osculatum (Rudolphi) in their livers. Starting in 2021, a mandatory part of the routine sampling protocol on Baltic monitoring surveys is to assign a liver category to individual cod livers, based on the number of nematodes visible on the liver surface, to follow spatiotemporal changes in nematode infection loads. The validity of the liver category method has never been evaluated. Based on data from 642 cod livers, the method was verified and found to be a good predictor of the total number of nematodes. Moreover, the probability of cod being in a critical condition increased with the parasite load. In addition to their direct applicability to Baltic cod, the present findings may inspire others working with disease in fish stocks to include parasite monitoring.
In vitro inhibition of a multispecies oral cavity biofilm by Syzygium aromaticum essential oil
Authors: Guimarães Silva Vasconcelos Priscilla , Medeiros de Almeida Maia Carolina , Mendes de Vasconcelos Victor , Paolla Raimundo e Silva Joanda , Fechine Tavares Josean , Vieira Pereira Jozinete , Wanderley Cavalcanti Yuri , Maria Melo de Brito Costa Edja
Published: October 2021

Objective

To evaluate the anti‐fungal activity of Syzygium aromaticum essential oil and its inhibition of a multispecies biofilm in patients with oral candidiasis.

Background

Inhibiting biofilm formation on the denture surface is an important practice for preventing denture stomatitis.

Materials and Methods

The anti‐fungal activity against Candida albicans and non‐albicans Candida species was evaluated through the microdilution method to define Minimal Inhibitory (MIC) and Fungicidal (MFC) Concentrations. Time‐kill assay assessed growth kinetics of C. albicans based on pre‐determined time points (0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours). A multi‐species biofilm was formed using human saliva from patients with oral candidiasis and anti‐biofilm activity determined by Colony Forming Units per milliliter (CFU/mL) count, fluorescence microscopy with calcofluor white to observe yeast presence and structure, and metabolic activity by XTT (2,3‐Bis‐(2Methoxy‐4‐Nitro‐5‐Sulfophenyl)‐2H‐Tetrazolium‐5‐carboxanilide) reduction assay.

Results

The essential oil showed an anti‐fungal activity against all Candida species (MIC 500‐1000 µg/mL, MFC 1000‐2000 µg/mL), and the time‐kill assay showed that 2000 µg/mL (from 2 hours onward) and 1000 µg/mL (from 4 hours onward) concentrations had substantially lower yeast growth than the negative control. In the biofilm analysis, the essential oil had a lower CFU/mL count and a biofilm metabolic activity (91.4%) than seen with its negative control, and in both analyses, the essential oil was not significantly different from the positive control (chlorhexidine). Morphological analysis showed amorphous and fragmented cellular structures after treatment with the essential oil.

Conclusion

Syzygium aromaticum essential oil had anti‐fungal activities, reduced the Candida growth kinetics substantially and inhibited the multi‐species biofilm formation.
Diagnostic reasoning is associated with lower physician satisfaction with patient communication
Authors: Schweitzer Daniel R. , Ting Joseph , von Hippel William
Published: October 2021

Background

Prior research suggests that the quality of communication between doctors and patients influences the quality of medical care and adherence to treatment regimens, but little is known about factors that contribute to successful interactions between doctors and patients.

Aim

To examine the quality of communication across the different medical specialties.

Methods

A survey questionnaire was undertaken at a large metropolitan‐based hospital in Brisbane, Australia. In this initial study we surveyed 67 doctors across various specialties on a range of social cognition and personality measures. We then rated each of the specialties on the degree to which they rely on both procedures and diagnostics, as well as the extent to which they involve patient communication.

Results

A regression analysis using spss 26.0 was undertaken to ascertain if doctor's satisfaction with their communication was related to these three aspects of the various specialties. Results revealed that communication satisfaction was negatively related to the degree to which the specialty relies on diagnostics. No relationship emerged between reliance on procedures and communication satisfaction. Last, communication frequency was positively related to communication satisfaction.

Conclusions

We propose two possible accounts for this finding regarding diagnostics: (i) the cognitive demands of diagnosis disrupt communication; and/or (ii) diagnoses are interpreted by patients as opinions with which they are sometimes motivated to disagree. Further research is needed to replicate these findings and establish the underlying mechanism.