bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Public health awareness: knowledge, attitude and behaviors of the public on health risks during COVID-19 pandemic in sultanate of Oman
Authors: Abdel Fattah Fadi Abdel Muniem , Dahleez Khalid Abed , Mohamed Abdul Hakim H.M. , Okour Mohammad Khaleel , AL Alawi Abrar Mohammed Mubarak
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study aims to measure the level of public awareness about the threat of the emerging coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic among the Omani population. It also aims to investigate the mediating effect of the Omanis’ attitudes and behaviors with underlying conditions of COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data via an online survey of Omani citizens and residents from various geographic areas in Oman, 305 responses were received. SPSS and partial least square-structural equation modeling were used for data analysis.

Findings

The study revealed that public awareness regarding the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly influenced by people’s perceived risk, information source and health-related knowledge. Further, preventive behavior during the disease spread has a significant direct and indirect impact on their awareness. However, an insignificant mediation effect of public attitude was found between the source of information and public awareness.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited by the scarcity of related literature in the Omani context. It is recommended that future research complete an in-depth study of public awareness regarding COVID-19, using other constructs and/or other data collection techniques.

Practical implications

This research will provide governmental health authorities and policymakers with a guideline to establish more efficient pandemic containment strategies to control public behavior toward the COVID-19 pandemic and curb viral prevalence.

Social implications

This research will help in improving prevention measures against COVID-19 are recommended to be more educated through a more effective mechanism to raise public attitude regarding pandemic prevalence positively.

Originality/value

The originality of this research can be drawn from key findings that indicate that people overall gained knowledge about how to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and the accuracy of information significantly impacts public awareness.
Do vulnerability mitigation strategies influence firm performance: the mediating role of supply chain risk
Authors: Ali Zulqurnain , Gongbing Bi , Mehreen Aqsa
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Currently, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are facing different types of risk, and mitigating these risks is the primary concern for the emerging firms. This study intends to investigate “do vulnerability mitigation strategies (VMSs) predict firm performance (FP)”? Moreover, it explores the mediation mechanism of supply chain risk (SCR) in the association between VMSs and FP.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a survey method, the authors recruited 355 textile SME entrepreneurs and tested their proposed model and hypotheses in AMOS.

Findings

The findings depict that all VMSs significantly minimize SCR, which subsequently enhances FP. Moreover, he atudy also identifies supply chain finance (SCF), a new VMS in the context of textile SMEs.

Practical implications

The findings help SME officials to minimize SCR through proper implementation of VMSs in the firm's daily operations. SCF is strongly recommended to SMEs because it optimizes working capital and minimizes the risk of default.

Social implications

This research supports SMEs to overcome vulnerabilities using VMSs and provide sustainable employment to individuals in the society.

Originality/value

This study reviews four VMSs and how these strategies simultaneously mitigate SCR and enhance SME performance in the emerging market context, which was skipped in the literature of supply chain management. Moreover, the study identifies SCF as a significant risk mitigation strategy for SMEs.
A knowledge organization framework for influencing tourism-centered place-making
Authors: Ghosh Shiv Shakti , Chatterjee Sunil Kumar
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study demonstrates the synthesis of a knowledge organization framework from tourist reviews and an ontological model with its implementation in graph database, which is based on this framework. The aim is to influence place-making outcomes at tourist destinations.

Design/methodology/approach

The faceted classification approach has been used for generating and validating the framework based on online reviews about urban tourism parks. The framework was used to develop an ontology using Protégé ontology editor that was implemented using GraphDB.

Findings

Three fundamental facet categories, namely Component, Aspect and Outcome, each consisting of several sub-facets, were synthesized from the analyses of the reviews. Besides helping in constructing the ontology, the analysis also helped in calculating an importance-score for the reviews that helped in ranked information retrieval.

Research limitations/implications

The analyses of the reviews were done manually and may carry human bias. But it is robust as it is based on a canonical faceted methodology.

Practical implications

It is envisaged that this study will help tourist destination planners in decision-making by easing the utilization of tourist generated reviews by the knowledge management systems they use. Opinions of tourists will be induced in destination planning thereby helping in the production of quality “places.”

Originality/value

The presented faceted framework aims to specifically aid knowledge organization pertaining to online reviews related to tourist destinations. The focus is on organizing knowledge to facilitate tourism development for better place-making outcomes, which is an important area of research though it has little contributions.
Fraudulent financial reporting motivations in emerging markets
Authors: Sallal Farqad , Bagherpour Velashani Mohammad Ali , Saei Mohammad Javad
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study comparatively motivations for committing fraud in financial statements in two emerging markets including Iran and Iraq.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is a descriptive survey and statistical population consists of independent auditors. The field survey and questionnaire were used for data collection.

Findings

Findings can raise auditors’ awareness of management fraud motivations. It can help regulators and authorities in both countries as well as other emerging markets for establishing suitable rules and regulation.

Originality/value

This paper’s contribution was in identifying and comparing management’s motivations to commit financial reporting fraud in two emerging markets including Iraq and Iran.
The relevance of compliance audit on companies’ compliance with disclosure guidelines of financial statements
Authors: Thottoli Mohammed Muneerali
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper examines the relevance of compliance audit on companies’ compliance with disclosure guidelines of financial statements with special reference to the case of companies registered in the Muscat Securities Market (MSM), Oman.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a direct measure of compliance prescribed and published in the annual report of Capital Market Authority (CMA) and its executive regulation from period 2011 to 2019.

Findings

The finding shows that there is a positive association with audit on companies’ compliance with disclosure guidelines of financial statements that enrich companies to ensures adherence to regulatory guidelines of Oman.

Practical implications

The key limitation of the study is that it depends on a transparency indicator from a secondary source. Further, this might encourage companies to appoint qualified compliance officer which will be a value addition for best practice of corporate governance (CG) of the organizations.

Originality/value

The evidence recommends that audit on companies’ compliance with disclosure guidelines of financial statements is a significant factor that helps the company to enhance its financial performance and provides assurance to the government that the company follows applicable rules and regulations. It also recommends that the appointment of designated compliance officer assures adherence to companies’ regulatory guidelines of Oman. Besides, conducting research in audit on companies’ compliance with disclosure guidelines of financial statements brings novelty in the literature in emerging countries. As per best knowledge of the researchers, there has been no empirical study (within the literature) observed, which inspires much encouragement to do this study.
Improvements to healthcare waste management at regional referral hospitals in Tanzania using the KAIZEN approach
Authors: Ishijima Hisahiro , Miyamoto Noriyuki , Masaule Fares , John Raynold
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to see how the 5S-KAIZEN-TQM approach can contribute to improve the management of healthcare waste (HCW) in the regional level public hospitals in Tanzania.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed an explanatory case study framework and focused on improvement of HCW management by assessing the information obtained through the direct observation and systematic interviewing during the consultation visits and external hospital performance assessment (EHPA) and the self-administrated questionnaires as sources of evidence.

Findings

Based on the observations, 100% adoption of the 5S approach was observed in 25 of 28 regional referral hospitals (RRHs). At these RRHs, segregation of HCW management has been improved by applying color codes and symbols for establishing self-explanatory system on proper segregation. In addition, seven out of 28 RRHs applied the KAIZEN process and reduced occurrences of improper waste segregation.

Research limitations/implications

This study has the following limitations in terms of the information. The data were collected through the direct observation. Moreover, areas for the implementation of the KAIZEN vary from hospital to hospital, and only 25% of RRHs completed the KAIZEN processes for improvement of HCW management. Caveats are, therefore, needed in extrapolating the study results to other settings. Despite these caveats, the findings will provide important insights for implementing the 5S-KAIZEN approach in Tanzania and other African countries for improvement of HCW management.

Originality/value

This is an original study to provide evidence about the usefulness of the 5S-KAIZEN-TQM approach for improving HCW management in a low-income country in Africa.
Evaluation of microhardness and wear properties of Al 6063 composite reinforced with yttrium oxide using stir casting process
Authors: Butola Ravi , Yuvaraj N. , Singh Ravi Pratap , Tyagi Lakshay , Khan Faim
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the changes in mechanical and wear performance of aluminium alloy when yttrium oxide particles are incorporated. The microstructures are studied to analyse the change in the grain structures. Worn surfaces are observed via scanning electron microscope to study the wear mechanism in detail.

Design/methodology/approach

Stir casting is used to incorporate varying composition of yttrium particles, having an average particle size of 25 micrometer, in aluminium alloy 6063 matrix. Wear testing is carried out by DUCOM manufactured high temperature rotatory tribometer, and an indentation test is used for analysing the microhardness of the fabricated samples.

Findings

Microhardness of the material is increased with the increasing content of particulate addition. With the increasing content of reinforcement, more refined grains are produced. The load is transferred from the matrix to more rigid yttrium oxide particles. These factors contributed to escalated microhardness of the reinforced samples. Particulate addition enhanced the wear performance of the material; this might be attributed to increased microhardness and formation of an oxide layer.

Originality/value

Aluminium composites are finding wide applications in various industries, and there is always a requirement of material with enhanced tribological properties. Yttrium oxide particles exhibit improved mechanical properties, and their interaction with the aluminium matrix has not been studied much in the past. So, in this work, yttrium oxide incorporated aluminium matrix is studied.
Image recognition of COVID-19 using DarkCovidNet architecture based on convolutional neural network
Authors: Kumar Pankaj , Bajpai Bhavna , Gupta Deepak Omprakash , Jain Dinesh C. , Vimal S.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study/paper To focus on finding COVID-19 with the help of DarkCovidNet architecture on patient images.

Design/methodology/approach

We used machine learning techniques with convolutional neural network.

Findings

Detecting COVID-19 symptoms from patient CT scan images.

Originality/value

This paper contains a new architecture for detecting COVID-19 symptoms from patient computed tomography scan images.
Pediatric psoriasis induced by HLA‐B46‐Cw1 haplotype: A retrospective study of psoriasis onset after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Terui Hitoshi , Yamasaki Kenshi , Hagiwara‐Takita Akiko , Shimada‐Omori Ryoko , Tsuchiyama Kenichiro , Saito‐Nanjo Yuka , Rikiishi Takeshi , Sasahara Yoji , Aiba Setsuya
Published: May 2021

Genome‐wide association studies have identified more than 60 susceptibility loci for psoriasis, highlighting the role of genetics in psoriasis development. Although the HLA region is suggested as the most prominent susceptibility locus, the role of the HLA haplotype in the development of psoriasis is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate how HLA haplotype changes affect the onset of psoriasis and which HLA haplotypes are associated with the development of psoriasis. A longitudinal, retrospective case series study of children was conducted at Tohoku University Hospital in Japan, between November 1981 and October 2020. We evaluated a total of 378 pediatric patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the Department of Pediatrics. The background of these patients and their HLA haplotypes before and after transplantation was assessed. Among the 378 cases, aged 0–22 years old (median age 6) identified, 117 cases received autologous transplantation, 260 cases received allogeneic transplantation, and one case received syngeneic transplantation. Only two cases developed de novo psoriasis, and these cases had acquired HLA‐B46‐Cw1 after allogeneic transplantation. Others who had HLA‐B46‐Cw1 before and after allogeneic transplantation did not develop psoriasis. Our findings suggest that the HLA‐B46 and HLA‐Cw1 combination contributes to the development of psoriasis in this Asian population.
The Welfare State Upholders: Protests Against Cuts in Sickness Benefits in Sweden 2006–2019
Authors: Bertz Wågström Magda , Larsson Taghizadeh Jonas
Published: May 2021

The power resource approach (PRA) claims that the labour movement continues to be the most prominent defender of the welfare state. The new politics thesis (NPT), on the other hand, claims that the welfare state has created new interest groups in the form of welfare clients who have taken over as the most prominent welfare state upholders. In an attempt to empirically evaluate these claims, we present a study of the extent to which clients and the labour movement have been involved in protests against cutbacks in the Swedish sickness benefit from 2006 to 2019. The article contributes to the welfare state literature by studying a most likely case for PRA‐style interest group mobilization both in terms of country (Sweden) and policy area (sickness insurance). It also tests the claim from PRA scholars that client interests are uncommon in these contexts. Our results show that protest engagement among client groups is greater than the engagement among the labour movement when looking at protests directed specifically against cuts in the sickness benefit programme. However, when broader protests against cutbacks in several transfer programmes are taken into account, the number of protests initiated by clients and by the labour movement is comparable. Overall, our results suggest that both the PRA and the NPT are needed to explain current developments in social democratic welfare states like Sweden.
Evidence informed practice for autism, special educational needs and disability in schools: expanding the scope of the research learning community model of professional development
Authors: Mintz Joseph , Seleznyov Sarah , Peacey Nick , Brown Chris , White Sarah
Published: May 2021

Research learning communities (RLCs) are an increasingly popular form of collaborative professional development that takes participants into deep engagement with research evidence and empowers them to become researchers themselves. This study describes the use of the RLC model to make research about autism and school system change accessible to teachers in primary schools. An interdisciplinary team of specialists guided teams made up of a school leader and a class teacher through structured engagement with recent, high quality research. Participants devised and trialled evidence‐informed interventions that supported pupils with autism and facilitated the improvement of whole school policy and practice on special education and disability (SEND). The RLC allowed them space to share their experiences with other teachers in a process of mutual reflection and learning. Evaluation showed that participants gained confidence in leading change and made effective use of research to develop SEND school policy and practice.
Autism education in Greece at the beginning of the 21st century: reviewing the literature
Authors: Kossyvaki Lila
Published: May 2021

This paper considers recent evidence on autism education in Greece in order to shed light on current developments and attitudes. Given the increase in relevant research in the country, a scoping review to identify topics that have been explored so far and propose areas for future research and implications for practice is timely and necessary. Peer‐reviewed papers published between 2000 and 2019 were identified via electronic databases and their main themes were analysed. Themes related to autistic individual (i.e. the voice of autistic individuals and intervention studies), the family around them (i.e. the role of family and stigma), the role of teachers (i.e. teacher training and teacher stress levels) and the wider society (i.e. parent‐teacher collaboration, the medical/deficit model of disability and inclusion) emerged from the review. The above themes are discussed in the light of the cultural characteristics of Greece and the recent economic crisis the country underwent as well as similar findings from other European countries.
Sudden death due to cardiac contusion: Forensic implications in a rare pediatric case
Authors: Gentile Guendalina , Tambuzzi Stefano , Giovanetti Giulio , Zoja Riccardo
Published: May 2021

Blunt chest trauma (BCT) often results in blunt cardiac injuries of little clinical concern, but cases of severe heart damage with high mortality rates have also been described. In particular, BCT should never be underestimated, especially when it is located in the anterior thoracic region. Among traffic accidents, motorcyclists are the most vulnerable and at the greatest risk. We report the case of a 14‐year‐old boy who experienced BCT following a motorcycle accident. He was evaluated at the hospital and was found to be in good medical condition, without bruises or rib fractures. Electrocardiography revealed a left bundle branch block. The patient was kept overnight for observation and was discharged the following morning in a good health condition. However, five days later, the patient suddenly died. Autopsy revealed a cardiac contusion associated with a full‐thickness myocardial rupture and massive hemopericardium. Histologically, hemorrhagic infiltration foci, fibrin deposits, neutrophilic granulocytes, and well‐defined areas of necrosis were detected in the context of recent fibrosis. Coronary thrombosis was not observed. The cause of death was identified as cardiac contusion that caused myocardial necrosis and, ultimately, cardiac rupture. Because the boy suffered a recent BCT and was assessed at the hospital, issues of medical malpractice were raised. This case demonstrates the potential lethality of blunt chest trauma in pediatric patients and demonstrates the importance of not underestimating such events, even in the absence of clinically identified chest injuries.
Employees perceptions of non‐monetary recognition practice and turnover: Does recognition source alignment and contrast matter?
Authors: Chênevert Denis , Hill Kevin , Kilroy Steven
Published: May 2021

Nonmonetary recognition originates from various sources (distal and proximal) and research has yet to examine the interplay among them. Results of a 2‐year time‐lagged study (N = 221), employing polynomial regression and response surface analysis, revealed that when distal organisational nonmonetary recognition is aligned with recognition from proximal sources, employees had lower turnover intentions and, indirectly, were less likely to quit 2 years later. For the most part, these relationships do not differ significantly based on the level at which alignment of distal and proximal recognition occurs. In terms of contrasts, when distal recognition exceeds the level of proximal recognition from the supervisor, turnover intentions are higher. For other proximal sources (co‐workers, physicians and patients), turnover intentions were higher irrespective of the type of contrast. This study adds to the strategic HRM literature by showing that contrasts between distal and proximal recognition undermine HR practice perception and employees' organisational attachment.
Improvements in radiation therapy services in Myanmar: 2012–2020
Authors: Opie Craig , Shwe Kaung Myat
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Myanmar is a Low‐Middle Income Country (LMIC) in South‐East Asia. Over the last decade, reforms to the health system have included significant improvements in the delivery of radiation therapy services in both government and private‐for‐profit sectors.

Methods

This review uses limited cancer registry data, observations from in‐person visits, and data from key informants in Myanmar radiation therapy centres, to report on developments in radiation therapy services in recent years.

Results

Rising national cancer incidence estimates presented in this article are supplemented with annual cancer case and radiation therapy course completion statistics from three hospital / regional contexts. Strategies which enabled the increased delivery of radiation therapy services are described. Data regarding the geographic locations of radiation therapy centres, their equipment and software inventories, is tabulated. The impact on clinical practice standards through upgraded equipment and software used for treatment planning and delivery is discussed. Clinical staffing at each centre is catalogued, role descriptions are given, and increases in staff numbers in recent years are documented. The present clinical and academic education challenges for radiation therapy staff and the importance of these issues for technical practice advancements are discussed.

Conclusion

Myanmar’s successes and continued challenges in radiation therapy service delivery are emulated in other LMIC’s. Strategic planning for new and existing radiation therapy centres, further staff increases and improved academic and clinical learning for radiation therapy staff should assist in meeting these challenges. Further international engagement could also enhance these processes.
Primary ciliated muconodular papillary tumor: A rare pulmonary disease and literature review of 65 cases
Authors: Wang Yanye , Wang Dan , Wang Jun , Zhao Shikang , Ren Dian , Chen Gang , Wang Qiuhui , Xu Dongbo , Xu Song
Published: May 2021

A ciliated muconodular papillary tumor (CMPT) or bronchiolar adenoma (BA) is a rather rare and unique type of lung tumor characterized by tripartite cellular components with a papillary‐predominant structure including ciliated columnar cells, mucinous cells, and basal cells. Here, we present the case of a 64‐year‐old woman who was diagnosed with CMPT in our center. In addition to reporting the clinicopathological characteristics of this case, we also conducted whole exome sequencing (WES) to explore the underlying mechanism. According to current evidence, CMPTs tends to be benign or of low grade malignancy. However, this requires further validation.
Recent UK Central Government Accounting Reforms: Claimed Benefits and Experienced Outcomes
Authors: Stewart Elaine , Connolly Ciaran
Published: May 2021

Focusing on the four most recent and highly publicized accounting reforms in UK central government, and utilizing discourse analysis of official publications, together with semi‐structured interviews, this paper examines the basis on which these four reforms were introduced, the extent to which they are considered appropriate, and the reasons for the persistence of new public management (NPM)‐inspired accounting reforms in UK central government. The findings indicate that each was promoted in a similar manner despite limited post‐implementation evidence that the supposed benefits of preceding reforms had not been realized to the extent originally suggested. Given NPM's continued acceptance, these findings have international significance.
5‐HT6R null mutatrion induces synaptic and cognitive defects
Authors: Sun Zehui , Wang Bingjie , Chen Chen , Li Chenjian , Zhang Yan
Published: May 2021

Serotonin 6 receptor (5‐HT6R) is a promising target for a variety of human diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia. However, the detailed mechanism underlying 5‐HT6R activity in the central nervous system (CNS) is not fully understood. In the present study, 5‐HT6R null mutant (5‐HT6R−/−) mice were found to exhibit cognitive deficiencies and abnormal anxiety levels. 5‐HT6R is considered to be specifically localized on the primary cilia. We found that the loss of 5‐HT6R affected the Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway in the primary cilia. 5‐HT6R−/− mice showed remarkable alterations in neuronal morphology, including dendrite complexity and axon initial segment morphology. Neurons lacking 5‐HT6R exhibited increased neuronal excitability. Our findings highlight the complexity of 5‐HT6R functions in the primary ciliary and neuronal physiology, supporting the theory that this receptor modulates neuronal morphology and transmission, and contributes to cognitive deficits in a variety of human diseases, such as AD, schizophrenia, and ciliopathies.
Persistent dependent behaviour is accompanied by dynamic switching between the ventral and dorsal striatal connections in internet gaming disorder
Authors: Wang Min , Zheng Hui , Zhou Weiran , Jiang Qing , Dong Guang‐Heng
Published: May 2021

Cross‐sectional studies have suggested that functional heterogeneity within the striatum in individuals with addictive behaviours may involve the transition from ventral to dorsal partitions; however, due to limitations of the cross‐sectional design, whether the contribution of this transition to addiction was confused by individual differences remains unclear, especially for internet gaming disorder (IGD). Longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 22 IGD subjects and 18 healthy controls were collected at baseline and more than 6 months later. We examined the connectivity features of subregions within the striatum between these two scans. Based on the results, we further performed dynamic causal modelling to explore the directional effect between regions and used these key features for data classification in machine learning to test the replicability of the results. Compared with controls, IGD subjects exhibited decreased functional connectivity between the left dorsal striatum (putamen) and the left insula, whereas connectivity between the right ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens [Nacc]) and the left insula was relatively stable over time. An inhibitory effective connectivity from the left putamen to the right Nacc was found in IGD subjects during the follow‐up scan. Using the above features, the classification accuracy of the training model developed with the follow‐up was better than that of the model based on the initial scan. Persistent IGD status was accompanied by a switch in the locus of control within the striatum, which provided new insights into association between IGD and drug addiction.
Plant functional traits explain species abundance patterns and strategies shifts among saplings and adult trees in Araucaria forests
Authors: Klipel Joice , Bergamin Rodrigo Scarton , Seger Guilherme Dubal Dos Santos , Carlucci Marcos Bergmann , Müller Sandra Cristina
Published: May 2021

Species‐rich communities are composed of several locally rare and a few abundant species. A trait‐based approach can derive general explanations for such species abundance distribution. However, for tree species in forests, the intraspecific variation of traits associated with the ontogeny and understory/canopy conditions must be considered. Here, we quantified intraspecific variation of leaf traits across saplings and adults in trees and tested if leaf and/or regenerative traits mediate the species abundance distribution of saplings and adults, and if saplings abundance also determines the abundance of adults in tree communities of Araucaria forests in Southern Brazil. We found intraspecific variation for specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC), but not for leaf area (LA). Adults have higher LDMC and lower SLA than saplings, suggesting a shift in investment strategies. Species abundant in saplings were associated with larger LA, whereas abundant species in the adults had lower SLA and LA and a larger number of seeds per fruit. The abundance of saplings also contributed to explaining the abundance of species as adults. Saplings experience low light availability in the understory, larger leaves are essential to maximising light capture. On the other hand, adult trees face high irradiation, windy and frost exposure conditions; species with lower SLA reach higher abundance. Regenerative traits were only relevant for the model of adults. Species abundance distribution in forests is related to functional traits, but the relationship is distinct for saplings and adults as leaf traits vary according to the ontogenetic stage and/or the environmental conditions imposed to individuals. In addition, we suggest the assembly of trees in the upper forest stratum is not only mediated by abiotic and biotic filters that favour some leaf and regenerative attributes, but also by lasting effects of variables that filtered out individuals in former development stages.
Uterus transplantation and pregnancy induction: Approved protocol at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Authors: Georgevsky Dana , Li Ying , Pather Selvan , Tejada‐Berges Trevor , Robinson David , Laurence Jerome , Campbell Neil , Wyburn Kate , Liyanagama Keith , Narayan Rajit , Lutz Tracey , Chan Agnes , Heaney Sally‐Ann , Kitzing Yu Xuan , Anderson Lyndal , Testa Giuliano , Johannesson Liza , Marren Anthony
Published: May 2021

Absolute uterine factor infertility (AUFI) is defined as the absence of a uterus or the presence of a non‐functional uterus. Before the first live birth from a uterus transplant in 2014, the only fertility options for women with AUFI were surrogacy and adoption. In November 2019, our team was granted approval for the first uterus transplant trial in Australia using known living donors. Our program is based on that of our overseas collaborators in Dallas, Texas; this team will also be proctoring us for our first two cases.
The effect of peri‐operative dexmedetomidine on the incidence of postoperative delirium in cardiac and non‐cardiac surgical patients: a randomised, double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: van Norden J. , Spies C. D. , Borchers F. , Mertens M. , Kurth J. , Heidgen J. , Pohrt A. , Mueller A.
Published: May 2021

Delirium occurs commonly following major non‐cardiac and cardiac surgery and is associated with: postoperative mortality; postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction; increased length of hospital stay; and major postoperative complications and morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of peri‐operative administration of dexmedetomidine on the incidence of postoperative delirium in non‐cardiac and cardiac surgical patients. In this randomised, double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial we included 63 patients aged ≥ 60 years undergoing major open abdominal surgery or coronary artery bypass graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative delirium, as screened for with the Confusion Assessment Method. Delirium assessment was performed twice daily until postoperative day 5, at the time of discharge from hospital or until postoperative day 14. We found that dexmedetomidine was associated with a reduced incidence of postoperative delirium within the first 5 postoperative days, 43.8% vs. 17.9%, p = 0.038. Severity of delirium, screened with the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist, was comparable in both groups, with a mean maximum score of 1.54 vs. 1.68, p = 0.767. No patients in the dexmedetomidine group died while five (15.6%) patients in the placebo group died, p = 0.029. For patients aged ≥ 60 years undergoing major cardiac or non‐cardiac surgery, we conclude that the peri‐operative administration of dexmedetomidine is associated with a lower incidence of postoperative delirium.
Infill asymptotics for adaptive kernel estimators of spatial intensity
Authors: van Lieshout M.N.M.
Published: May 2021

We apply the Abramson principle to define adaptive kernel estimators for the intensity function of a spatial point process. We derive asymptotic expansions for the bias and variance under the regime thatnindependent copies of a simple point process in Euclidean space are superposed. The method is illustrated by means of a simple example and applied to tornado data.
Depth and outliers for samples of sets and random sets distributions
Authors: Cascos Ignacio , Li Qiyu , Molchanov Ilya
Published: May 2021

We suggest several constructions suitable to define the depth of set‐valued observations with respect to a sample of convex sets or with respect to the distribution of a random closed convex set. With the concept of a depth, it is possible to determine if a given convex set should be regarded an outlier with respect to a sample of convex closed sets. Some of our constructions are motivated by the known concepts of half‐space depth and band depth for function‐valued data. A novel construction derives the depth from a family of non‐linear expectations of random sets. Furthermore, we address the role of positions of sets for evaluation of their depth. Two case studies concern interval regression for Greek wine data and detection of outliers in a sample of particles.
Exploring vaccination practices of midwives in British Columbia
Authors: Bettinger Julie A. , Rubincam Clara , Greyson Devon , Weissinger Sandra , Naus Monika
Published: May 2021

Background

Registered midwives in British Columbia (BC) are primary health care practitioners for healthy people throughout pregnancy and for approximately 6 weeks postpartum. BC registered midwives are authorized to prescribe and administer certain vaccines to adults under their care during the perinatal period and hepatitis B vaccine to high‐risk newborns. However, little has been documented about their recommendations for, and administration of, prenatal and infant vaccinations. This study surveyed midwives currently practicing in British Columbia to understand their vaccination practices.

Methods

An online survey was administered to the members of the Midwives Association of BC in spring 2018. Outcome measures were the proportion of midwives who discussed, recommended, and administered the following vaccines: influenza, varicella, rubella, and infant hepatitis B. The proportion of midwives who discussed and recommended infant vaccines was measured. Barriers to discussion, recommendation, and administration of vaccines were captured.

Results

Sixty‐three percent of 108 respondents administered vaccines to their clients. Hepatitis B and rubella were the most frequent vaccines administered. Logistical concerns were the greatest barrier to vaccine administration. This was followed by the perception that vaccine administration is not within the scope of practice of midwives, especially for influenza vaccine. Midwives who administered vaccines were significantly more likely to discuss and recommend vaccines to their clients and their infants.

Conclusions

The majority of BC midwives discuss, recommend, and administer vaccines to their clients. Our survey highlighted key areas to address to strengthen midwifery capacity to discuss, recommend, and provide prenatal and infant vaccines.
Staying on target: A systematic literature review on learner‐facing learning analytics dashboards
Authors: Valle Natercia , Antonenko Pavlo , Dawson Kara , Huggins‐Manley Anne Corinne
Published: May 2021

The advances in technology to capture and process unprecedented amounts of educational data has boosted the interest in Learning Analytics Dashboard (LAD) applications as a way to provide meaningful visual information to administrators, parents, teachers and learners. Despite the frequent argument that LADs are useful to support target users and their goals to monitor and act upon the information provided, little is known about LADs’ theoretical underpinnings and the alignment (or lack thereof) between LADs intended outcomes and the measures used to evaluate their implementation. However, this knowledge is necessary to illuminate more efficient approaches in the development and implementation of LAD tools. Guided by the self‐regulated learning perspective and using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) framework, this systematic literature review addressed this gap by examining whether and how learner‐facing LAD’s target outcomes align with the domain measures used to evaluate their implementations. Out of the 1297 papers retrieved from 15 databases, 28 were included in the final quantitative and qualitative analysis. Results suggested an intriguing lack of alignment between LADs’ intended outcomes (mostly cognitive domain) and their evaluation (mostly affective measures). Based on these results and on the premise that LADs are designed to support learners, a critical recommendation from this study is that LADs’ target outcomes should guide the selection of measures used to evaluate the efficacy of these tools. This alignment is critical to enable the construction of more robust guidelines to inform future endeavours in the field.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

There has been an increased interest and investment in learning analytics dashboards to support learners as end‐users.

Learner‐facing learning analytics dashboards are designed with different purposes, functionalities and types of data in an attempt to influence learners’ behaviour, achievement and skills.

What this paper adds

This paper reports trends and opportunities regarding the design of learner‐facing learning analytics dashboards, contexts of implementation, as well as types and features of learner‐facing learning analytics dashboard studies.

The paper discusses how affect and motivation have been largely overlooked as target outcomes in learner‐facing learning analytics dashboards.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Based on the evidence gathered through the review, this paper makes recommendations for theory (eg, inclusion of motivation as an important target outcome).

The paper makes recommendations related to the design, implementation and evaluation of learning analytics dashboards.

The paper also highlights the need for further integration between learner‐facing learning analytics dashboards and open learner models.
Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia: overactivated WNT/β‐catenin signalling by parallel RNA sequencing and dysfunctional phenotypes
Authors: Xu Ruohao , Huang Xin , Li Chao , Deng Chengxin , Li Minming , Wu Ping , Geng Suxia , Lai Peilong , Lu Zesheng , Weng Jianyu , Du Xin
Published: May 2021

Sophisticated cross‐talk between bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM MSCs) and haematopoietic/leukaemic stem cells in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloid leukaemia have been emphasized in previous reports. However, mesenchymal elements in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) were poorly investigated. By utilizing a parallel RNA‐sequencing method, we investigated the transcriptional profile and functional defects of primary BM MSCs from patients with CMML for the first time. Within a 24‐patient cohort, transcriptional and functional analysis reveals a prominent enrichment of WNT/β‐catenin signalling and multiple biology processes. Deregulated expression of WNT/β‐catnin factors CTNNB1, CMYC, LEF1, and FRZB is associated with impaired proliferation, senescence phenotype, and abnormal secretion in CMML MSCs. The impaired ability to support healthy CD34+ haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) correlates with activation of WNT/β‐catenin signalling in CMML MSCs. Furthermore, we observed an association between WNT/β‐catenin factors and treatment response to hypomethylating agents (HMAs) in a cohort of patients with MDS/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Taken together, our study provides evidence for transcriptional and functional abnormalities in CMML MSCs, and suggests potential prognostic value of evaluating WNT/β‐catenin signalling in patients with CMML.
Treatment patterns and outcomes of unfit and elderly patients with Mantle cell lymphoma unfit for standard immunochemotherapy: A UK and Ireland analysis
Authors: Rampotas Alexandros , Wilson Matthew R. , Lomas Oliver , Denny Nicholas , Leary Heather , Ferguson Graeme , McKay Pamela , Ebsworth Tim , Miller Jonathan , Shah Nimish , Martinez‐Calle Nicolas , Bishton Mark , Everden Angharad , Tucker David , El‐Hassad Ezzat , Hennessy Brian , Doherty Dearbhla , Prideaux Steve , Faryal Rehman , Hayat Amjad , Keohane Clodagh , Marr Helen , Gibb Adam , Pocock Rachael , Lambert Jonathan , Lacey Rachel , Elmusharaf Nagah , Clifford Ruth , Eyre Toby A.
Published: May 2021

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) presenting in elderly, unfit patients represents a clinical challenge. Front‐line ‘attenuated’ or low‐intensity immunochemotherapy is often employed, although outcomes are relatively unexplored. We report outcomes of attenuated immunochemotherapy in 95 patients with MCL across 19 centres in the UK and Ireland considered unfit for full‐dose rituximab‐bendamustine or rituximab‐cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone (R‐CHOP). Regimens examined were rituximab‐cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone (R‐CVP) (n = 19), dose‐attenuated R‐CHOP (n = 22), dose attenuated rituximab‐bendamustine (n = 24) and rituximab‐chlorambucil (n = 30). The primary outcome was progression‐free survival (PFS). The secondary outcomes included overall response, overall survival (OS) and toxicity. The median (range) age was 79 (58–89) years and 50% were aged ≥80 years. The median (range) Cumulative Illness Rating Scale‐Geriatric score was 6 (0–24). The median PFS for all patients was 15 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 8·7–21·2) and median OS was 31·4 months (95% CI 19·7–43·2). By multivariable analysis (MVA), the only clinical factor associated with an inferior PFS was blastoid morphology [hazard ratio (HR) 2·90, P = 0·01). Notably, higher treatment intensity (R‐CHOP/R‐bendamustine composite) provided an independently superior PFS compared with R‐CVP/R‐chlorambucil (MVA HR 0·49, P = 0·02). Factors associated with inferior OS by MVA were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (HR 2·14, P = 0·04), blastoid morphology (HR 4·08, P = 0·001) and progression of disease at <24 months status (HR 5·68, P < 0·001). Overall, survival after front‐line dose‐attenuated immunochemotherapy is unsatisfactory. Clinical trials investigating novel agents such as Bruton tyrosine kinase and B‐cell lymphoma 2 inhibitors in this specific clinical setting are warranted.
Therapeutic strategies to fight COVID‐19: Which is the status artis?
Authors: Scavone Cristina , Mascolo Annamaria , Rafaniello Concetta , Sportiello Liberata , Trama Ugo , Zoccoli Alice , Bernardi Francesca Futura , Racagni Giorgio , Berrino Liberato , Castaldo Giuseppe , Coscioni Enrico , Rossi Francesco , Capuano Annalisa
Published: May 2021

COVID‐19 is a complex disease, and many difficulties are faced today especially in the proper choice of pharmacological treatments. The role of antiviral agents for COVID‐19 is still being investigated and evidence for immunomodulatory and anti‐inflammatory drugs is quite conflicting, whereas the use of corticosteroids is supported by robust evidence. The use of heparins in hospitalized critically ill patients is preferred over other anticoagulants. There are conflicting data on the use of convalescent plasma and vitamin D. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), many vaccines are in Phase III clinical trials, and some of them have already received marketing approval in European countries and in the United States. In conclusion, drug repurposing has represented the main approach recently used in the treatment of patients with COVID‐19. At this moment, analysis of efficacy and safety data of drugs and vaccines used in real‐life context is strongly needed.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on The second wave: are we any closer to efficacious pharmacotherapy for COVID 19? (BJP 75th Anniversary). To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.10/issuetoc
Estimating Garment Patterns from Static Scan Data
Authors: Bang Seungbae , Korosteleva Maria , Lee Sung‐Hee
Published: May 2021

The acquisition of highly detailed static 3D scan data for people in clothing is becoming widely available. Since 3D scan data is given as a single mesh without semantic separation, in order to animate the data, it is necessary to model shape and deformation behaviour of individual body and garment parts. This paper presents a new method for generating simulation‐ready garment models from 3D static scan data of clothed humans. A key contribution of our method is a novel approach to segmenting garments by finding optimal boundaries between the skin and garment. Our boundary‐based garment segmentation method allows for stable and smooth separation of garments by using an implicit representation of the boundary and its optimization strategy. In addition, we present a novel framework to construct a 2D pattern from the segmented garment and place it around the body for a draping simulation. The effectiveness of our method is validated by generating garment patterns for a number of scan data.