bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrical trace analysis of superconducting nanowire photon-number-resolving detectors
Authors: Schapeler Timon , Lamberty Niklas , Hummel Thomas , Schlue Fabian , Stefszky Michael , Brecht Benjamin , Silberhorn Christine , Bartley Tim J.
Published: July 2024

We apply principal component analysis (PCA) to a set of electrical output signals from a commercially available superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) to investigate their photon-number-resolving capability. We find that the rising edge as well as the amplitude of the electrical signal have the most dependence on photon number. Accurately measuring the rising edge while simultaneously measuring the voltage of the pulse amplitude maximizes the photon-number resolution of SNSPDs. Using an optimal basis of principal components, we show unambiguous discrimination between one- and two-photon events, as well as partial resolution up to five photons. This expands the use case of SNSPDs to photon-counting experiments, without the need of detector multiplexing architectures.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Measurements of low-energy nuclear recoil quenching factors for Na and I recoils in the NaI(Tl) scintillator
Authors: Lee S. H. , Joo H. W. , Kim H. J. , Kim K. W. , Kim S. K. , Kim Y. D. , Ko Y. J. , Lee H. S. , Lee J. Y. , Park H. S. , Yoon Y. S.
Published: July 2024

Elastic scattering off nuclei in target detectors, involving interactions with dark matter and coherent elastic neutrino nuclear recoil (CEνNS), results in the deposition of low energy within the nuclei, dissipating rapidly through a combination of heat and ionization. The primary energy loss mechanism for nuclear recoil is heat, leading to consistently smaller measurable scintillation signals compared to electron recoils of the same energy. The nuclear recoil quenching factor (QF), representing the ratio of scintillation light yield produced by nuclear recoil to that of electron recoil at the same energy, is a critical parameter for understanding dark matter and neutrino interactions with nuclei. The low energy QF of NaI(Tl) crystals, commonly employed in dark matter searches and CEνNS measurements, is of substantial importance. Previous low energy QF measurements were constrained by contamination from photomultiplier tube (PMT)-induced noise, resulting in an observed light yield of approximately 15 photoelectrons per keVee (kilo-electron-volt electron-equivalent energy) and nuclear recoil energy above 5 keVnr (kilo-electron-volt nuclear recoil energy). Through enhanced crystal encapsulation, an increased light yield of around 26 photoelectrons per keVee is achieved. This improvement enables the measurement of the nuclear recoil QF for sodium nuclei at an energy of 3.8±0.6keVnr with a QF of 11.2±1.7%. Furthermore, a re-evaluation of previously reported QF results is conducted, incorporating enhancements in low energy events based on waveform simulation. The outcomes are generally consistent with various recent QF measurements for sodium and iodine.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Quantum gravity signatures in gravitational wave detectors placed inside a harmonic trap potential
Authors: Sen Soham , Gangopadhyay Sunandan , Bhattacharyya Sukanta
Published: July 2024

In this work, we consider a general gravitational wave detector of gravitational waves interacting with an incoming gravitational wave carrying plus polarization only placed inside a harmonic trap. This model can be well acquainted with the description of a resonant detector of gravitational waves as well. The well-known detector-gravitational wave interaction scenario uses the method of a semiclassical approach where the detector is treated quantum mechanically but the gravitational wave is considered at a classical level. In our analysis, we use a discrete mode decomposition of the gravitational wave perturbation which results in a Hamiltonian involving the position and momentum operators corresponding to the gravitational wave and the harmonic oscillator. We have then calculated the transition probability for the harmonic oscillator-gravitational wave tensor product state for going from an initial state to some unknown final state. Using the energy flux relation of the gravitational waves, we observe that if we consider the total energy as a combination of the number of gravitons in the initial state of the detector then the transition probability for the resonant absorption case scenario takes the analytical form which is exactly similar to the semiclassical absorption case. In the case of the emission scenario, we observe a spontaneous emission of a single graviton which was completely absent in the semiclassical analog of this model. This therefore gives a direct signature of linearized quantum gravity.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Microstructure equilibration with consideration of elastic and interfacial interactions via quantum annealing with application to the solid electrolyte LLZO
Authors: Sandt Roland , Le Bouar Yann , Spatschek Robert
Published: July 2024

We present a detailed derivation of the elastic energy of a homogeneous, isotropic linear elastic medium consisting of different coherent martensite variants or phases and its mapping to an Ising model, as required for an efficient quantum annealing determination of the equilibrium microstructure. The approach is demonstrated for a sample with a large number of grains with a tetragonal eigenstrain. Furthermore, we illustrate how the elastic effects may lead to the formation of ion conducting channels in the doped solid electrolyte Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO). Apart from bulk elastic and chemical effect we demonstrate how to include interfacial effects into the quantum annealing approach and emphasize the importance of high precision elastic calculations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Numerical simulations of a stochastic dynamics leading to cascades and loss of regularity: Applications to fluid turbulence and generation of fractional Gaussian fields
Authors: Beck Geoffrey , Bréhier Charles-Edouard , Chevillard Laurent , Grande Ricardo , Ruffenach Wandrille
Published: July 2024

Motivated by the modeling of the spatial structure of the velocity field of three-dimensional turbulent flows, and the phenomenology of cascade phenomena, a linear dynamics was recently proposed that can generate high velocity gradients from a smooth-in-space forcing term. It is based on a linear partial differential equation stirred by an additive random forcing term that is δ-correlated in time. The underlying proposed deterministic mechanism corresponds to a transport in Fourier space that aims to transfer energy injected at large scales towards small scales. The key role of the random forcing is to realize these transfers in a statistically homogeneous way. Whereas at finite times and positive viscosity the solutions are smooth, a loss of regularity is observed for the statistically stationary state in the inviscid limit. We present here simulations, based on finite volume methods in the Fourier domain and a splitting method in time, which are more accurate than the pseudospectral simulations. We show that our algorithm is able to reproduce accurately the expected local and statistical structure of the predicted solutions. We conduct numerical simulations in one, two, and three spatial dimensions, and we display the solutions both in physical and Fourier space. We additionally display key statistical quantities such as second-order structure functions and power spectral densities at various viscosities.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Predicting concentration changes via discrete receptor sampling
Authors: Tjalma Age J. , Wolde Pieter Rein ten
Published: July 2024

To successfully navigate chemical gradients, microorganisms need to predict how the ligand concentration changes in space. Due to their limited size, they do not take a spatial derivative over their body length but rather a temporal derivative, comparing the current signal with that in the recent past over the so-called adaptation time. This strategy is pervasive in biology, but it remains unclear what determines the accuracy of such measurements. Using a generalized version of the previously established sampling framework, we investigate how resource limitations and the statistics of the input signal set the optimal design of a well-characterized network that measures temporal concentration changes: the chemotaxis network. Our results show how an optimal adaptation time arises from the trade-off between the sampling error, caused by the stochastic nature of the network, and the dynamical error, caused by uninformative fluctuations in the input. A larger resource availability reduces the sampling error, which allows for a smaller adaptation time, thereby simultaneously decreasing the dynamical error. Similarly, we find that the optimal adaptation time scales inversely with the gradient steepness, because steeper gradients lift the signal above the noise and reduce the sampling error. These findings shed light on the principles that govern the optimal design of the chemotaxis network specifically, and any system measuring temporal changes more broadly.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Quantum Tensor-Product Decomposition from Choi-State Tomography
Authors: Mansuroglu Refik , Adil Arsalan , Hartmann Michael J. , Holmes Zoë , Sornborger Andrew T.
Published: July 2024

The Schmidt decomposition is the go-to tool for measuring bipartite entanglement of pure quantum states. Similarly, it is possible to study the entangling features of a quantum operation using its operator-Schmidt or tensor-product decomposition. While quantum technological implementations of the former are thoroughly studied, entangling properties on the operator level are harder to extract in the quantum computational framework because of the exponential nature of sample complexity. Here, we present an algorithm for unbalanced partitions into a small subsystem and a large one (the environment) to compute the tensor-product decomposition of a unitary the effect of which on the small subsystem is captured in classical memory, while the effect on the environment is accessible as a quantum resource. This quantum algorithm may be used to make predictions about operator nonlocality and effective open quantum dynamics on a subsystem, as well as for finding low-rank approximations and low-depth compilations of quantum circuit unitaries. We demonstrate the method and its applications on a time-evolution unitary of an isotropic Heisenberg model in two dimensions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Crystal structure of the cytotoxic macrocyclic trichothecene Isororidin A
Authors: Asmaey Mostafa A. , Kalofolias Dimitris A. , Charavgi Maria-Despoina , Abdel-Rahim Ismail R. , Chrysina Evangelia D. , Abatis Dennis
Published: July 2024

The highly cytotoxic macrocyclic trichothecene Isororidin A (C29H40O9) was isolated from the fungus Myrothesium verrucaria endophytic on the wild medicinal plant `Datura' (Datura stramonium L.) and was characterized by one- (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR spectroscopy. The three-dimensional structure of Isororidin A has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography at 0.81 Å resolution from crystals grown in the orthorhombic space group P212121, with one molecule per asymmetric unit. Isororidin A is the epimer of previously described (by X-ray crystallography) Roridin A at position C-13′ of the macrocyclic ring.
Managing business during global economic crisis: the case of Global Gadget Limited, Bangladesh
Authors: Basher Mohammad Atiqul , Dipto Shahadat Hossain , Rahman Mizanur
Published: July 2024

Learning outcomes

The primary objective of this case was to grant the students an exposure to the students regarding how to manage a retail business during an economic crisis. In this case, all three of the aforementioned objectives as the students were given opportunity to dissect the business process through business model canvas, find out the key success factors and more importantly, were encouraged towards cost cutting behaviour by presenting the real-life dilemmas that were faced by an actual entrepreneur. Furthermore, the students were shown the importance of stakeholder management through this case, as support is very much needed for the retailers from macro-economic and micro-economic level.

Case overview/synopsis

This case study is the story of Global Gadget Limited, a premium retailer of cell phones and other relevant devises, which is located in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The story is revolving around the challenge that Mr Shahadat Hossain Dipto, the owner of Global Gadget is facing over the past two years. Dipto mainly runs his business by selling budget phones from brands like Oppo, Xiaomi, Samsung and Vivo to the middle class and lower middle-class people of Bangladesh, who are very much cost conscious. To persuade these customers to buy his phones, he offers discounts, free gifts, equated monthly instalment services (a monthly instalment plan for the customers who cannot afford to pay the full amount when buying the phone) and sometimes even lottery. In the process, if he can sell more phones, these brands reward him with attractive commissions and all the necessary supports that help him run the business with marginal profit. However, due to the Russia–Ukraine war, he is now in crisis as the resulting economic crisis is causing a price increase on these phones, while drying out his customer’s pockets. This case study is designed to teach the students the importance of product segmentation, inventory management, cost management and relationship management to the students and future entrepreneur, so that they can understand, what does it take for an entrepreneur to survive an economic crisis.

Complexity academic level

This case study is aimed at undergraduate, masters’ students in business schools and Master of Business Administration students or short course executives and for the students of entrepreneurship education programme.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS3: Entrepreneurship.
Moderating role of gender diversity in the relationship between intellectual capital efficiency and corporate performance
Authors: Tiwari Ranjit , Arora Akshita
Published: July 2024

Purpose

In today’s knowledge-based economy, companies are hugely driven by intangible resources such as intellectual capital. However, whether corporate governance of a company drives intellectual capital is less explored in emerging economies. We examine the impact of intellectual capital efficiency on firm performance for Indian firms, considering the moderating role of board gender diversity.

Design/methodology/approach

We have created a framework for panel data analysis and conducted estimation using the dynamic panel data model to control for endogeneity and heteroskedasticity issues. We use alternate performance and gender diversity measures for our sample of top 500 listed companies for a period of six years, that is 2015–2020.

Findings

The results demonstrate a significant positive association between intellectual capital and performance. However, moderating impact of gender diversity on the relationship between intellectual capital and performance is not significant.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that IC plays a crucial role in a company’s performance, which may boost economic growth. Further, the findings reveal that despite the mandatory quota for women on boards in Indian companies, their impact on IC is subliminal. It may be because the critical mass is yet to be achieved, which should be considered by policy-makers while framing policies in this area.

Originality/value

Our study is one of the foremost studies to consider the impact of mandatory gender quotas while examining the association between tangible and intangible firm performance. It makes an incremental contribution to literature to enrich our understanding on the influence of gender diversity on intellectual capital-performance linkages.
Exploring virtual facilitation of co-development
Authors: Clottes Heikkilä Heli , Kurki Anna-Leena
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate facilitator’s tools and actions in promoting interaction in virtual co-development.

Design/methodology/approach

In virtual environments, facilitation plays a crucial role. However, research does not provide many examples of tools and practices of virtual facilitation of co-development. To collect data, two virtual co-development processes were conducted. The data consisted of discussions during virtual workshops and was analyzed using both theory- and data-driven content analysis.

Findings

The discussions during the virtual co-development processes related on the topic and script of co-development and the use of digital technology. In co-development, both the facilitators and the participants take responsibility on the topic and the progression of the session. The facilitator needs to balance between offering the participants tools, supporting interaction and leaving empty space for the participants’ initiatives to enhance their agency.

Originality/value

The study underlines the importance of the script and tools in virtual facilitation as well as flexibility in the execution of co-development processes.
Intuiting or rationalising self-other agreement in leadership?
Authors: Curtis Guy J. , Douglas Heather E.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Congruent self-other agreement in leadership evaluations is associated with positive outcomes such as work unit performance. In contrast, poor self-other agreement in leadership evaluations is associated with negative outcomes such as leaders making ineffective job-relevant decisions. This study examined whether the extent of leaders’ preference for intuitive and rational thinking predicted self-other agreement in leadership evaluations.

Design/methodology/approach

Self-ratings and follower ratings of transformational leadership were analysed for 160 dyad pairs of leaders and followers (n = 320). Leaders self-rated their preference for rational and intuitive thinking. Response surface analysis was used to model the relationship between self-other agreement and leaders’ thinking styles.

Findings

As ratings of transformational leadership increased in both leaders and followers, we observed higher scores on preferences for both rational and intuitive thinking. Leaders’ preference for intuitive thinking showed a curvilinear relationship with self-other agreement, such that more intuitive thinking was related to higher leader–follower congruence in ratings of transformational leadership. We further uncovered that higher leader preferences for rational thinking were related to increased leader–follower disagreement in transformational leadership ratings.

Originality/value

Research has focused more on the outcomes than antecedents of self-other agreement in leadership. Thinking styles have undergone limited examination as antecedents of self-other agreement in leadership evaluations. Thinking styles are semi-malleable traits that can be used for the selection of leadership potential and developed to improve leadership performance. The current research suggests that relationships between thinking styles and self-other agreement on leadership effectiveness are more complicated than first thought.
Cholesterol-lowering effect of Pediococcus strains isolated from mother’s milk in mice
Authors: Abdi Milad , Ghanavati Roya , Lohrasbi Vahid , Talebi Malihe
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The Pediococcus strains belong to the group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This study aims to isolate and identify the Pediococcus spp. from mother’s milk, and investigate their tolerance to low pH and bile salts, antibacterial activity, attachment to HT-29 cells and effect on cholesterol-lowering and digestive enzymes in mice.

Design/methodology/approach

Pediococcus species were isolated from mother’s milk, then tested for tolerance to acid and bile salts, their antibacterial effect and attachment to HT-29 cell line. In mice experiment, the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and digestive enzymes such as amylase and lipase in serum of mice were measured after administration of 108 CFU/mL bacterial suspension.

Findings

A total of 24 Pediococcus spp. including 16 isolates of Pediococcus pentosaceus and 8 isolates of Pediococcus acidilactici were isolated. Fifteen isolates (62.5%) were able to survive in low pH and bile salt concentration. Ten isolates (41.6%) exhibited the most powerful inhibitory effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. A total of four Pediococcus isolates (16.67%) showed strong attachment to HT-29 cells. In contrast to HDL-C and amylase, the serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were reduced and lipase was elevated significantly following administration of mother milk-derived Pediococcus isolates.

Originality/value

The Pediococcus isolates demonstrated good probiotic properties in particular cholesterol-lowering ability in mice. Thus, after more studies they can be considered as probiotic strain(s).
Integration of digital technologies in anti-corruption initiatives in Botswana: lessons from Georgia, Ukraine and South Africa
Authors: Omotoye Abiodun Marumo , Holtzhausen Natasja
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the potential role of digitalization in reshaping Botswana's assets and liabilities declaration system. Digitalization presents opportunities to not only improve efficiencies in how services are delivered and citizens are engaged but also to integrate innovative ways to combat wicked problems such as illicit enrichment and conflicts of interest in the public service.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative paper adopts an exploratory research design to investigate how digital technologies can be used to enhance anti-corruption reforms in a developing country context. Primary data, focusing on the shortcomings and successes of Botswana’s asset declaration system, were collected from interviews with key policy actors in Botswana’s anti-corruption landscape, whereas secondary data were drawn from documents such as official reports, news and social media reports and available literature on the topics of digitalization and anti-corruption reforms. A comparative case study approach is used, highlighting successes and challenges in the use of electronic disclosure systems in Georgia, Ukraine and South Africa.

Findings

The analysis provides insights into the potential benefits and challenges associated with the integration of digital technologies in the asset and liability declaration process. The integration of digital technologies in the anti-corruption efforts of Georgia, Ukraine and South Africa has contributed to the development of robust electronic declaration systems. However, political resistance, costs, technical capacity and verification processes are identified as some of the core challenges confronting agencies tasked with implementing asset declaration systems.

Research limitations/implications

The political and socio-economic contexts in the country case studies presented are distinct, as are the challenges posed by corruption. Although Botswana can gain insights from the implementation experiences of Georgia, Ukraine and South Africa, policymakers and implementers need to take into account these subtleties and their potential influence on the success or failure of a similar system. The research has implications for policy and practice by proposing an alternative approach to the implementation of Botswana’s asset declaration system. This will be of interest to policymakers, anti-corruption activists and scholars.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, prior research has not studied the relationship between digitalization and anti-corruption reforms in Botswana. This paper contributes to the dearth of knowledge regarding the role of digitalization as a driver of anti-corruption reforms. The paper informs policy decisions related to the implementation of digital transformation initiatives in line with Botswana’s anti-corruption and digital transformation agendas.
Assessment of communicative competence in adult patients with minimum response in intensive care units: A scoping review
Authors: Pinto Ana , Lima Mariely , Simões João Lindo
Published: July 2024

Background

Few formal instruments exist to assess the communicative competence of patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). This can limit interventions by health professionals.

Aims

To map the categories and instruments for assessing the communicative competence of adult patients with minimal response in ICUs.

Methods & Procedures

A scoping review was carried out following the Joanna Briggs Institute protocol between February and March 2022 and using the MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Scielo, Business Source Complete (via EBSCOhost), Academic Search Complete (via EBSCOhost) and Web of Science databases, in Portuguese, English and Spanish.

Main Contribution

Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The different communication and pain assessment protocols covered awareness, cognition, sensory capacity, motor capacity, language, speech and literacy.

Conclusions & Implications

The present review offers a starting point for the construction of a formal assessment instrument to enable clinicians to implement an augmentative or alternative communication system (AACS) for the voluntary, independent and active participation of patients.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

What is already known on the subject

Patients in ICUs are subject to various forms of treatment and continuous and intensive monitoring, compromising their capacity to communicate and actively participate (e.g., sharing symptoms and making decisions). Although there is some awareness of their disadvantage in such a regard, few protocols of assessment of communicative competence have been adapted to patients with a minimum response.

What this paper adds to the existing knowledge

The present review highlights different protocols for the assessment of communication and pain. They include the following categories: awareness, sensory capacity, auditory and visual acuity, positioning and motor capacity, language, speech, and literacy. The review offers a starting point for the construction of a formal assessment instrument encompassing the aforementioned categories, along with duly validated guidelines for its application.

What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?

Our formal assessment instrument takes into account the need to adapt to different patient profiles. It is hoped that it will provide speech therapists and other health professionals with the information required to implement an AACS in which patients participate actively.
The barriers to and facilitators of academic and social success for deafblind children and young people: A scoping review
Authors: Manford Claire , Rajasingam Saima , Allen Peter M. , Beukes Eldre
Published: July 2024

Deafblind children and young people often perform poorly in education and social settings. The extent of this attainment gap is unknown. Following the Joanna Briggs protocol, a scoping review was conducted with the aim of establishing the barriers to and facilitators of academic and social success for this cohort. A database search was conducted seeking peer‐reviewed studies relating to deafblind children and young people, in academic and social settings, from any country, published in English, between 1989 and 2022. The review included 38 articles with a range of methodological approaches. The main barriers to success were limited opportunities and options to communicate, a lack of awareness of deafblindness within schools and the wider community, and limited opportunities and adaptations to the curriculum, resources and the environment. The facilitators included improving access to communication and resources, increased awareness, and collaboration between families and professionals. Additional research is needed in this field, particularly to investigate the impact of modern technology to aid access and communication for deafblind children and young people.
Modifying the Health Star Rating nutrient profiling algorithm to account for ultra‐processing
Authors: Barrett Eden M. , Pettigrew Simone , Neal Bruce , Rayner Mike , Coyle Daisy H. , Jones Alexandra , Maganja Damian , Gaines Allison , Mozaffarian Dariush , Taylor Fraser , Ghammachi Nadine , Wu Jason H. Y.
Published: July 2024

Aim

To modify the Australian and New Zealand Health Star Rating to account for ultra‐processing and compare the alignment of the modified ratings with NOVA classifications and the current Australian Dietary Guidelines classifications of core (recommended foods) and discretionary (foods to limit).

Methods

Data was cross‐sectionally analysed for 25 486 products. Four approaches were compared to the original Health Star Rating: (1) five ‘negative’ points added to ultra‐processed products (modification 1; inclusion approach); (2) ultra‐processed products restricted to a maximum of 3.0 Health Stars (modification 2; capping approach); (3 and 4) same approach used for modifications 1 and 2 but only applied to products that already exceeded 10 ‘negative’ points from existing Health Star Rating attributes (modifications 3 and 4, respectively; hybrid approaches). Alignment occurred when products (i) received <3.5 Health Stars and were NOVA group 4 (for NOVA comparison) or discretionary (for Dietary Guidelines comparison), or (ii) received ≥3.5 Health Stars and were NOVA groups 1–3 or core.

Results

All Health Star Rating modifications resulted in greater alignment with NOVA (ranging from 69% to 88%) compared to the original Health Star Rating (66%). None of the modifications resulted in greater alignment to the Dietary Guidelines classifications overall (69% to 76%, compared with 77% for the original Health Star Rating), but alignment varied considerably by food category.

Conclusions

If ultra‐processing were incorporated into the Australian and New Zealand Health Star Rating, consideration of ultra‐processing within the broader dietary guidance framework would be essential to ensure coherent dietary messaging to Australians.
Trajectories of craving in the course of pharmacotherapy trials for methamphetamine use disorder
Authors: Mojtabai Ramin , Susukida Ryoko , Farokhnia Mehdi , Nguyen Trang Quynh , Dunn Kelly E. , Amin‐Esmaeili Masoumeh
Published: July 2024

Aims

The aim of this study was to measure trajectories of craving for methamphetamine during the course of pharmacotherapy trials for methamphetamine use disorder.

Design, setting and participants

Craving trajectories were identified using Group‐Based Trajectory Modeling. The association of craving trajectories with drug use trajectories was examined using a dual trajectory model. Association of craving trajectories with other health and social outcomes was also examined. The study used pooled data from five randomized controlled pharmacotherapy trials for methamphetamine use disorder. A total of 866 adults with methamphetamine use disorder participated in randomized controlled pharmacotherapy trials.

Measurement

Craving was assessed weekly using the Brief Substance Craving Scale. Drug use was assessed using urine toxicology. Alcohol‐ and drug‐related problems, as well as psychiatric, medical, legal, employment and relationship problems, were measured using the Addiction Severity Index.

Findings

A three‐trajectory model with high, medium and low craving trajectories was selected as the most parsimonious model. Craving trajectories were associated with methamphetamine use trajectories in the course of trial; 88.4% of those in the high craving trajectory group had a consistently high frequency of methamphetamine use compared with 18.7% of those in the low craving group. High craving was also associated with less improvement in most other outcomes and higher rate of dropout from treatment. In turn, low craving was associated with a rapidly decreasing frequency of methamphetamine use, greater improvement in most other outcomes and a lower rate of dropout. Participants on modafinil daily and ondansetron 1 mg twice daily were less likely to be in the high craving group compared with those on placebo.

Conclusions

Trajectories of methamphetamine craving in the course of clinical trials for methamphetamine use disorder appear to be both highly variable and strongly associated with greater frequency of drug use, other drug‐related outcomes and dropout from trials. Two medications, modafinil daily and ondansetron at a dose of 1 mg two times daily, appear to be associated with greater reduction in craving in the course of treatment compared with placebo. A decrease in methamphetamine craving shows promise as an early indicator of recovery from methamphetamine use disorder.
Disposable e‐cigarette use: Factors, frequency and cigarette smoking among United States high school students
Authors: Azagba Sunday , Ebling Todd , Korkmaz Alperen
Published: July 2024

Background and Aims

Disposable e‐cigarette use has increased among United States (US) high school students in recent years. However, there is limited research on the profile of these users, how often they use these products, and whether they displace cigarette smoking. This study aimed to measure how disposable e‐cigarette use among US youth varies according to demographic characteristics and whether there is any association between e‐cigarette use and reduced use of traditional cigarettes.

Design

We used cross‐sectional data from the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey and conducted a multinomial logistic regression to examine factors associated with the types of e‐cigarette devices used in the prior 30 days, adjusting for sex, sexual identity, grade level and race/ethnicity. We also used a finite mixture model to account for unobserved differences among users and identify e‐cigarette use patterns in different subgroups of users.

Setting

United States.

Participants

High school students in grades 9–12 (n = 14 389).

Measurements

Survey participants self‐reported the type of e‐cigarette device used, the frequency of e‐cigarettes used and cigarettes smoked over the past 30 days.

Findings

Disposable e‐cigarettes were the most popular e‐cigarette type. Sex, sexual orientation, grade level and race/ethnicity were associated with disposable e‐cigarette use. The odds of disposable e‐cigarette use were lower in male students than in female students (odds ratio [OR] = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.64–0.96]), and higher in students who identified as gay or lesbian (OR = 1.70, 95% CI = [1.11–2.61]) or bisexual (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = [1.16–1.99]) than in heterosexual students. The odds of disposable use were higher among students in higher grades (10th, 11th and 12th) than in 9th graders (OR = 1.71, 2.24 and 2.52, respectively). Disposable e‐cigarette users had a lower frequency of traditional cigarette use than other e‐cigarette users, both in the low‐frequency class (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.33, 95% CI = [0.12–0.92]) and the high‐frequency class (IRR = 0.27, 95% CI = [0.08–0.92]).

Conclusions

Disposable e‐cigarette use appears to be higher among United States high school students who are female, older and/or identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual. Disposable e‐cigarettes appear to be associated with reduced traditional cigarette use.
Recent Developments in Indian Central Banking: Flying through Turbulence but Aided by Some Tailwinds
Authors: Ray Partha , Mohan Rakesh
Published: July 2024

This paper, an extension of our earlier work, presents a narrative of select broad aspects of Indian central banking during the pandemic and thereafter. As elsewhere, Indian monetary policy during the pandemic was characterized by substantial monetary expansion both in terms of rate cuts as well as asset purchase programs. The inflation targeting regime of Indian monetary policy was put to severe stress following the spurt in inflation after the pandemic. Besides, there have been two positive developments in Indian central banking. First, there has been significant improvement in the balance sheets of the Indian banking sector, following the institution of an effective corporate bankruptcy regime, write‐offs of earlier stressed assets, and recapitalization of public sector banks by the government. Second, India has made substantial progress in terms of adopting various facets of its digital financial infrastructure, where public initiatives were accompanied by private sector innovations. The digitalization of payments increased in both quantum and value and has touched the lives of the public through the ease of making daily payments, including the smallest of transactions.
The Sri Lankan Economy: From Optimism to Debt Trap
Authors: Athukorala Prema‐chandra
Published: July 2024

This paper provides an interpretative survey of the economic policy and performance of the Sri Lankan economy during the postindependence era, with a focus on the sources of the country's vulnerability to the unprecedented sovereign debt crisis in the wake of the COVID‐19 pandemic and prospects beyond the crisis. The prime focus of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program that Sri Lanka signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in March 2023 is on economic stabilization through fiscal consolidation. The analysis of this present paper infers that recovery from the crisis and placing the economy on a self‐sustained growth path requires combining the standard IMF approach to macroeconomic stabilization with coherent structural adjustment reforms to redress the long‐standing anti‐tradable bias in the incentive structure that was the root cause of the vulnerability to the crisis.
Are short term outcomes superior following total knee arthroplasty when infra‐patellar fat pad is resected? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Walker Hugo , Rao Arya , Tsimiklis James , Smitham Peter
Published: July 2024

Background

Data suggests the infra‐patellar fat pad (IPFP) is resected in the majority of total knee arthroplasty cases. Current literature suggests there may be scope for increasing preservations rates. A systematic review and meta‐analysis of available literature was performed to assess if resection of IPFP resulted in superior patient outcomes.

Methods

Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Embase and CINAHL were systematically searched in February 2024 for articles of relevance and meta‐analysis conducted. A standardized mean difference and confidence interval of 95% was calculated. An odds ratio was calculated for all included datasets. Heterogeneity was assessed for using the I2 statistic.

Results

Thirteen studies were included within this review. IPFP resection shortened the patella tendon at 6 months post‐operatively (OR, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.02–0.12, P = 0.006). Results favoured preservation at 12 months post‐operatively (OR, 0.02; 95% CI, −0.02 to 0.06, P = 0.32). Oxford Knee Society (OKS) results statistically favoured preservation at 6 months (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 0.74–2.39, P = 0.0002). Findings at 12 months favoured resection (OR, −0.49; 95% CI, −5.39, 4.41, P = 0.84). Resection increased anterior knee pain at 6–12 months post‐operatively (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.12–1.89, P = 0.005). Combined subgroup analysis of flexion favoured resection (OR, −2.15; 95% CI, −6.52 to 2.22, P = 0.34).

Conclusion

OKS and patella tendon length results favoured preservation at 6 months however did not reach minimal clinically important difference. Combined subgroup analysis of flexion did not yield a statistically significant result. Rates of anterior knee pain at 6–12 months favoured preservation.
Coptisine exerts anti‐tumour effects in triple‐negative breast cancer by targeting mitochondrial complex I
Authors: Shen Yunfu , Yang You , Wang Zi , Lin Wanjun , Feng Na , Shi Meina , Liu Jiachen , Ma Wenzhe
Published: July 2024

Background and Purpose

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a poor prognosis due to limited therapeutic options. Recent studies have shown that TNBC is highly dependent on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of coptisine, a novel compound that inhibits the complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), as a treatment for TNBC.

Experimental Approach

In this study, mitochondrial metabolism in TNBC was analysed by bioinformatics. In vitro and in vivo experiments (in mice) were conducted to evaluate the potential of coptisine as an ETC complex I‐targeting therapeutic agent and to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying coptisine‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction. The therapeutic effect of coptisine was assessed in TNBC cells and xenograft mouse model.

Key Results

We demonstrated that mitochondrial ETC I was responsible for this metabolic vulnerability in TNBC. Furthermore, a naturally occurring compound, coptisine, exhibited specific inhibitory activity against this complex I. Treatment with coptisine significantly inhibited mitochondrial functions, reprogrammed cellular metabolism, induced apoptosis and ultimately inhibited the proliferation of TNBC cells. Additionally, coptisine administration induced prominent growth inhibition that was dependent on the presence of a functional complex I in xenograft mouse models.

Conclusion and Implications

Altogether, these findings suggest the promising potential of coptisine as a potent ETC complex I inhibitor to target the metabolic vulnerability of TNBC.
Heterogeneous stiffness of the bone marrow microenvironment regulates the fate decision of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells
Authors: Shi Guolin , Chang Zhuo , Zhang Pan , Zou Xiaohang , Zheng Xinmin , Liu Xiru , Yan Jinxiao , Xu Huiyun , Tian Zhenhao , Zhang Nu , Cui Ning , Sun Leming , Xu Guangkui , Yang Hui
Published: July 2024

The bone marrow (BM) niches are the complex microenvironments that surround cells, providing various external stimuli to regulate a range of haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) behaviours. Recently, it has been proposed that the fate decision of HSCs is often correlated with significantly altered biophysical signals of BM niches. To thoroughly elucidate the effect of mechanical microenvironments on cell fates, we constructed 2D and 3D cell culture hydrogels using polyacrylamide to replicate the mechanical properties of heterogeneous sub‐niches, including the inherent rigidity of marrow adipose tissue (2 kPa), perivascular tissue (8 kPa) and endosteum region (35 kPa) in BM. Our observations suggest that HSCs can respond to the mechanical heterogeneity of the BM microenvironment, exhibiting diversity in cell mechanics, haematopoietic pool maintenance and differentiated lineages. Hydrogels with higher stiffness promote the preservation of long‐term repopulating HSCs (LT‐HSCs), while those with lower stiffness support multi‐potent progenitors (MPPs) viability in vitro. Furthermore, we established a comprehensive transcriptional profile of haematopoietic subpopulations to reflect the multipotency of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) that are modulated by niche‐like stiffness. Our findings demonstrate that HSPCs exhibit completely distinct downstream differentiated preferences within hydrogel systems of varying stiffness. This highlights the crucial role of tissue‐specific mechanical properties in HSC lineage decisions, which may provide innovative solutions to clinical challenges.
CT and MRI Findings of Renal Angiomyolipoma With Lung Metastasis: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: He Zhiqiang , Wu Jing , Fu Xiao ming , Li Xiao ran , Xu Hai , Chen Yu‐Chen
Published: July 2024

Renal angiomyolipoma has two histological variants: classical and epithelioid. Epithelioid angiomyolipoma is considered as a potential malignant tumor, often leading to recurrence and metastasis, with rapid progression in most of the cases. The lung is one of the most commonly reported sites of metastasis, and pulmonary metastasis of renal angiomyolipoma is usually diagnostic by computed tomography (CT) scans. Here, we report for the first time renal angiomyolipoma with lung metastasis by combining CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
A rare form of metastatic breast carcinoma mimicking lymphangioma circumscriptum
Authors: Pario Zacaria Jr. B. , Abad‐Casintahan Ma Flordeliz , Wee Jonnie Rose Louise R. , See Melissa Rinne V. , Cadacio Karen Andrea D.
Published: July 2024

Cutaneous metastasis is rare but may indicate an advanced internal malignancy or a recurrence of a previously treated one and is usually associated with a poor prognosis. They may also pose a diagnostic problem as the clinical manifestations are variable and non‐specific, which could mimic other benign conditions. We report a case of a 48‐year‐old female who presented with a 4‐year history of erythematous papules and vesicles on the trunk mimicking lymphangioma circumscriptum. Skin biopsy and immunohistochemistry were consistent with cutaneous metastasis from breast carcinoma. Cutaneous metastasis presents in a variety of patterns. A high index of suspicion and a low threshold for skin biopsy are paramount to the early diagnosis and treatment. A histopathologic evaluation will help identify the origin of the cutaneous metastasis and can significantly affect the outcome of the treatment.
Efficacy of Aspirin for primary prevention among adults with high‐risk type 2 diabetes in the ACCORD trial
Authors: Kazibwe Richard , Singleton Matthew , Bancks Michael P. , Namutebi Juliana , Hammoud Aziz , Shapiro Michael , Yeboah Joseph
Published: July 2024

Aim

To assess the efficacy of aspirin use for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with incident atherosclerotic CVD and mortality in high‐risk type 2 diabetes.

Methods

In this post hoc analysis, we included participants in the ACCORD trial without CVD at baseline. The association between aspirin use and the primary outcome (a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke or cardiovascular [CV] death) and all‐cause mortality was evaluated using Cox proportional hazard analysis adjusting for demographics, CV risk factors and comorbidities.

Results

Eligible participants (n = 6330) were aged 62.8 ± 5.9 years at baseline, 43.8% of the participants were female, and 3026 (47.8%) used aspirin. Over a median (interquartile range) follow‐up of 4.9 (4.1–5.7) years, the number (%) of primary outcome and all‐cause mortality events in those who used aspirin (vs. those who did not), was 196 (6.5) versus 229 (6.9) and 146 (4.8) versus 147 (4.5), respectively. The adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) associated with aspirin use for the primary outcome and all‐cause mortality were 0.94 (0.77–1.14) and 1.08 (0.85–1.36), respectively.

Conclusion

In high‐risk individuals with type 2 diabetes, the use of aspirin for primary prevention was not associated with a decreased risk of incident CVD or all‐cause mortality.
What if? The macroeconomic and distributional effects for Germany of a stop of energy imports from Russia
Authors: Bachmann Rüdiger , Baqaee David , Bayer Christian , Kuhn Moritz , Löschel Andreas , Moll Benjamin , Peichl Andreas , Pittel Karen , Schularick Moritz
Published: July 2024

This paper discusses the economic effects of a potential cut‐off of the German economy from Russian energy imports. We use a multi‐sector open‐economy model and a simplified approach based on an aggregate production function to estimate the effects of a shock to energy inputs. We show that the effects are likely to be substantial but manageable because of substitution of energy imports and reallocation along the production chain. In the short run, a stop of Russian energy imports would lead to an output loss relative to the baseline situation, without the energy cut‐off, in the range 0.5% to 3% of GDP.