bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Markers of cardiac dysfunction associated with inflammation in a cohort of patients with acute decompensation of cirrhosis
Authors: Voiosu Andrei M. , Daha Ioana C. , Drăgan Victor , Birligea Mihaela , Vîjan Ancuța , Bălănescu Paul , Benguș Andreea , Voiosu Theodor A. , Mateescu Radu B. , Băicuș Cristian R.
Published: November 2023

Background and aims

Inflammation underpinning acute decompensation (AD) of liver disease is an important driver for the development of acute-on-chronic liver failure or death. We aimed to investigate associations between inflammatory biomarkers and impaired cardiac function in patients admitted for AD of cirrhosis.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of a well-characterized prospective cohort of patients with AD of liver disease admitted to a tertiary referral center. All patients had echocardiographic assessment of cardiac function and serum samples at admission. We reclassified patients according to the CLIF-C AD score, measured inflammatory (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-ɑ, CD206) and cardiac-specific (NT-proBNP, troponin T) biomarkers and tested for associations with echocardiographic parameters of cardiac function. We explored the impact on outcome of these factors in multivariate analysis.

Results

We included 70 patients (58 ± 10 years, 28 women), with a mean CLIF-C AD score of 47 ± 7. Thirty-nine patients (56%) fulfilled the echocardiographic criteria for cardiac dysfunction. We found associations between parameters of diastolic dysfunction and serum concentrations of IL-6 and CD206. Echocardiographic parameters of cardiac function were not associated with markers of liver dysfunction such as the CLIF-C AD score. In multivariate analysis higher MELD, higher NT-proBNP, and IL-8 concentrations as well as the absence of echocardiographic criteria for cardiac dysfunction significantly associated with death during follow-up.

Conclusion

We found evidence in favor of a clinically relevant link between serum biomarkers of inflammation (IL-6, CD206) and echocardiographic signals of cardiac dysfunction in patients with acutely decompensated cirrhosis.
Concurrence of inflammatory bowel disease with multiple sclerosis or Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Sonnenberg Amnon , Duong Hao T. , McCarty Daniel J. , El-Serag Hashem B.
Published: November 2023

Background and aims

Epidemiologic evidence suggests that Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and multiple sclerosis (MS) share a common set of risk factors with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). It was hypothesized that such shared risk factors would lead to clustering of the 4 diagnoses in the same patients.

Methods

All patients with HL, MS, CD, or UC were identified in the veterans population from 2016–2020 and the Medicare population from 1986 to 1989. In a case-control study, the observed concurrences amongst these 4 diagnoses were compared with their expected frequencies in the overall veterans or Medicare population during the same time period by calculating odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

The study included 6 million veterans and 35 million Medicare patients. In the veterans population, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was significantly associated with a concurrent diagnosis of HL (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15–1.71) and MS (1.34, 1.19–1.50). In the Medicare population, IBD was also significantly associated with HL (1.84, 1.07–3.17) and MS (2.31, 1.59–3.35). Similar trends were observed in CD or UC when analyzed separately in both datasets. In the veterans population, adjustment for the potentially confounding influence of ethnicity, sex, and age left all OR values largely unaffected and statistically significant.

Conclusion

The concurrence of IBD with HL or MS could reflect on a common pathway in the etiology or pathogenesis of these 4 diseases.
Efficacy and safety comparison between Lenvatinib and Sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world study
Authors: Hua Xuefeng , Yin Ziwei , Liang Jin , Chen Wenbin , Gong Hui
Published: November 2023

Objective

Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Lenvatinib compared with Sorafenib for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients under real-world setting.

Methods

We retrieved relevant literature through the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases from 1 January 2000 to 25 June 2022. The differences in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) as well as treatment adverse related events were evaluated between HCC patients treated with Lenvatinib and Sorafenib using fixed or random-effects models. The MINORS evaluation questionnaire was used to assess the quality of the included literature.

Results

This meta-analysis included a total of 9 single-arm studies and 6 comparative studies. In the meta-analysis, Lenvatinib showed significantly longer median OS than Sorafenib (P < 0.01, MD = 1.20, 95% CI [0.92–1.48]), as well as median PFS (P < 0.01, OR = 2.68, 95% CI [1.59–3.76]), and higher ORR(P < 0.01, OR = 5.36, 95% CI [3.42–8.40]), DCR(P < 0.01, OR = 2.17, 95% CI [1.64–2.86]). The occurrence of Hypertension was higher in Lenvatinib than in Sorafenib treatment (P < 0.01, MD = 5.27, 95% CI [2.38–11.66]), and there was no significant difference in Hand-foot syndrome between Lenvatinib and Sorafenib.

Conclusion

We found that treatment with Lenvatinib in HCC patients resulted in better OS, PFS, and higher ORR and DCR compared to Sorafenib. However, safety data indicated that Lenvatinib did not exhibit a significant advantage.
Health System Perspective on Cost for Delivering a Decision Aid for Prostate Cancer Using Time-driven Activity-based Costing
Authors: Ho David R. , Kaplan Robert , Bergman Jonathan , Penson David F. , Waterman Benjamin , Williams Kristen C. , Villatoro Jefersson , Kwan Lorna , Saigal Christopher S.
Published: November 2023

Background:

Previsit decision aids (DAs) have promising outcomes in improving decisional quality, however, the cost to deploy a DA is not well defined, presenting a possible barrier to health system adoption.

Objectives:

We aimed to define the cost from a health system perspective of delivery of a DA.

Research Design:

Observational cohort.

Patients and Methods:

We interviewed or observed relevant personnel at 3 institutions with implemented DA distribution programs targeting men with prostate cancer. We then created process maps for DA delivery based on interview data. Cost determination was performed utilizing time-driven activity-based costing. Clinic visit length was measured on a subset of patients. Decisional quality measures were collected after the clinic visit.

Results:

Total process time (minutes) for DA delivery was 10.14 (UCLA), 68 (Olive View-UCLA), and 25 (Vanderbilt). Total average costs (USD) per patient were $38.32 (UCLA), $59.96 (Olive View-UCLA), and $42.38 (Vanderbilt), respectively. Labor costs were the largest contributors to the cost of DA delivery. Variance analyses confirmed the cost efficiency of electronic health record (EHR) integration. We noted a shortening of clinic visit length when the DA was used, with high levels of decision quality.

Conclusions:

Time-driven activity-based costing is an effective approach to determining true inclusive costs of service delivery while also elucidating opportunities for cost containment. The absolute cost of delivering a DA to men with prostate cancer in various settings is much lower than the system costs of the treatments they consider. EHR integration streamlines DA delivery efficiency and results in substantial cost savings.
Costs to Implement a Pediatric Weight Management Program Across 3 Distinct Contexts
Authors: Smith Natalie Riva , Simione Meg , Farrar-Muir Haley , Granadeno Jazmin , Moreland Jennifer W. , Wallace Jessica , Frost Holly M. , Young Jackie , Craddock Cassie , Sease Kerry , Hambidge Simon J. , Taveras Elsie M. , Levy Douglas E.
Published: November 2023

Background:

The Connect for Health program is an evidence-based program that aligns with national recommendations for pediatric weight management and includes clinical decision support, educational handouts, and community resources. As implementation costs are a major driver of program adoption and maintenance decisions, we assessed the costs to implement the Connect for Health program across 3 health systems that primarily serve low-income communities with a high prevalence of childhood obesity.

Methods:

We used time-driven activity-based costing methods. Each health system (site) developed a process map and a detailed report of all implementation actions taken, aligned with major implementation requirements (eg, electronic health record integration) or strategies (eg, providing clinician training). For each action, sites identified the personnel involved and estimated the time they spent, allowing us to estimate the total costs of implementation and breakdown costs by major implementation activities.

Results:

Process maps indicated that the program integrated easily into well-child visits. Overall implementation costs ranged from $77,103 (Prisma Health) to $84,954 (Denver Health) to $142,721 (Massachusetts General Hospital). Across implementation activities, setting up the technological aspects of the program was a major driver of costs. Other cost drivers included training, engaging stakeholders, and audit and feedback activities, though there was variability across systems based on organizational context and implementation choices.

Conclusions:

Our work highlights the major cost drivers of implementing the Connect for Health program. Accounting for context-specific considerations when assessing the costs of implementation is crucial, especially to facilitate accurate projections of implementation costs in future settings.
Abnormal functional connectivity strength in age-related macular degeneration patients: a fMRI study
Authors: Cai Yue-Hong , Huang Xin
Published: November 2023

Objective

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a serious blinding eye disease. Previous neuroimaging studies reported that AMD were accompanied by abnormalities of the brain. However, whether AMD patients were associated with functional connectivity strength (FCS) or not remains unknown. In our study, the purpose of the study was to assess FCS changes in AMD patients.

Methods

In our study, 20 AMD patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs), matched closely by sex, age, and educational level were underwent MRI scanning. FCS method and seed-based functional connectivity (FC) method were applied to investigate the functional network changes between two groups. Moreover, support vector machine (SVM) method was applied to assess the FCS maps as a feature to classification of AMD diseases.

Results

Our study reported that AMD patients showed decreased FCS values in the bilateral calcarine, left supplementary motor area, left superior parietal lobule and left paracentral lobule (ParaL) relative to the HC group. Meanwhile, our study found that the AMD patients showed abnormal FC within visual network, sensorimotor network and default mode network. Moreover, the SVM method showed that FCS maps as machine learning features shows good classification efficiency (area under curve = 0.82) in the study.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that AMD patients showed abnormal FCS with the visual network, sensorimotor network and default mode network, which might reflect the impaired vision, cognition and motor function in AMD patients. In addition, FCS indicator can be used as an effective biological marker to assist the clinical diagnosis of AMD.
Monitoring the battleground: exploring antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors in wound bacterial isolates
Authors: Awuor Silas Onyango , Omwenga Eric O. , Mariita Richard M. , Musila Jonathan M. , Musyoki Stanslaus
Published: November 2023

Antibiotic resistance poses a grave global public health threat, exacerbated by widespread and often inappropriate antibiotic usage. Vigilant surveillance of antibiotic utilization and emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is essential. Of particular concern in the era of AMR is the persistent issue of chronic wound infections. To address this, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of wound isolates from chronic wounds at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kenya, to identify relevant bacteria and assess their drug resistance patterns.Wound samples were collected and processed using standard microbiological methods. Bacterial isolates were identified and assessed for their susceptibility to a panel of antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. A total of 103 bacterial isolates were obtained from the wound samples, with a higher prevalence in male patients (59%).

Staphylococcus aureus

(20.7 %) emerged as the most predominant pathogen, followed by

Klebsiella

spp. (14.8 %),

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

spp. (14.8 %) and

Escherichia coli

(4.4 %) in wound samples. High levels of antibiotic resistance were observed among the isolates, with the highest resistance rates reported for cotrimoxazole (48.1 %), clindamycin (25.9 %) and erythromycin (25.9 %). Furthermore, among the isolates, 75 % produced haemolysin and protease, while 50 % produced lipase and phospholipase, factors that enhance virulence and survival. The findings of this study highlight the alarmingly high prevalence of antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens isolated from chronic wounds in Kenya. This poses a major challenge to the effective management of chronic wound infections. There is an urgent need to implement effective antimicrobial stewardship programs and develop new antibiotics to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
Mutation bias and adaptation in bacteria
Authors: Horton James S. , Taylor Tiffany B.
Published: November 2023

Genetic mutation, which provides the raw material for evolutionary adaptation, is largely a stochastic force. However, there is ample evidence showing that mutations can also exhibit strong biases, with some mutation types and certain genomic positions mutating more often than others. It is becoming increasingly clear that mutational bias can play a role in determining adaptive outcomes in bacteria in both the laboratory and the clinic. As such, understanding the causes and consequences of mutation bias can help microbiologists to anticipate and predict adaptive outcomes. In this review, we provide an overview of the mechanisms and features of the bacterial genome that cause mutational biases to occur. We then describe the environmental triggers that drive these mechanisms to be more potent and outline the adaptive scenarios where mutation bias can synergize with natural selection to define evolutionary outcomes. We conclude by describing how understanding mutagenic genomic features can help microbiologists predict areas sensitive to mutational bias, and finish by outlining future work that will help us achieve more accurate evolutionary forecasts.
The neuronal homeobox transcription factor HMX3 is a crucial vulnerability factor in MECOM-negative KMT2A::MLLT3 acute myelomonocytic leukemia
Authors: Arza-Apalategi Saioa , Heuts Branco M. H. , Bergevoet Saskia M. , Meering Roos , Gilissen Daan , Jansen Pascal W. T. C. , Krippner-Heidenreich Anja , Valk Peter J. M. , Vermeulen Michiel , Heidenreich Olaf , Haferlach Torsten , Jansen Joop H. , Martens Joost H. A. , van der Reijden Bert A.
Published: November 2023

The KMT2A::MLLT3 fusion protein causes acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by activating the oncogenic transcription factor MECOM. However,MECOMexpression occurs in only half of the KMT2A::MLLT3 cases. By integrating gene expression and enhancer activity data from patient cells, we identified neuronal homeobox transcription factorHMX3as cell fate determining factor inMECOM-negative KMT2A::MLLT3 AML.HMX3expression associated with younger age and KMT2A-rearranged leukemia in large AML cohorts (p<0.002).HMX3was not expressed in other major genetic risk groups and healthy blood cells. Transcriptomic analyses revealed thatHMX3drives cancer-associatedE2F,MYCand cell cycle gene programs. EctopicHMX3expression completely inhibited monocytic but not granulocytic colony formation of healthy CD34+adult cells. Silencing ofHMX3in KMT2A::MLLT3 AML cell lines and patient cells resulted in cell cycle arrest, monocytic differentiation, and apoptosis. Thus, HMX3 is a leukemia-specific vulnerability that enhances proliferation and blocks differentiation of MECOM-negative KMT2A::MLLT3 leukemia.
A family of bacterial actin homologues forms a 3-stranded tubular structure
Authors: Bergeron Julien R.C. , Lale-Farjat Shamar L. M. , Lewicka Hanna M. , Parry Chloe , Kollman Justin M.
Published: November 2023

The cytoskeleton plays a critical role in the organization and movement of cells. In Eukaryotes, actin filaments polymerize into a highly conserved double-stranded linear filamentous structure in the presence of ATP, and disassemble upon ATP hydrolysis. Bacteria also possess actin-like proteins, that drive fundamental cellular function, including cell division, shape maintenance, and DNA segregation. Like eukaryotic actin, bacterial actins assemble upon ATP binding. Longitudinal interactions between bacterial actin protomers along each strand are conserved with eukaryotic actin, but variation in interactions between strands gives rise to striking diversity of filament architectures. Here, we report a family of bacterial actins of unknown function, conserved amongst theVerrucomicrobiotaphylum, which assembles into a unique tubular structure in the presence of ATP. A cryo-EM structure of the filaments reveals that it consists of three strands, unlike other described bacterial actin structures. This architecture provides new insights into the organization of actin-like filaments, and has implications for understanding the diversity and evolution of the bacterial cytoskeleton.
Resting State Network alterations during Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Kandemir Ahmet Levent , Schnitzler Alfons , Florin Esther
Published: November 2023

Background

Current treatment strategies for Parkinson’s disease (PD) include medication and deep brain stimulation (DBS). While these treatment options are effective, their exact mechanisms remain elusive.

Objectives

We aim at identifying alterations in whole-brain electrophysiological resting state networks (RSNs) due to DBS and medication with the objective to gain insights into neural correlates of DBS and medication.

Methods

We recorded 18 PD patients with DBS at rest in the magnetoencephalogram (MEG) in 4 conditions: medication off - stimulation off, medication off - stimulation on, medication on - stimulation off, and medication on - stimulation on. We derived RSNs and determined 4 consistent networks across conditions: visual, frontal auditory, and SMN (sensorimotor network).

Result

In the SMN, medication had a suppressing effect on functional connectivity. Surprisingly, we could not find a significant change due to DBS. Both medication and stimulation increased functional connectivity in the frontal network. In the auditory network, stimulation decreased functional connectivity while medication both decreased and increased functional connectivity in some parts of the network. Finally, medication and stimulation had opposing effects on the visual network: medication suppressed while DBS increased functional connectivity.

Conclusion

Overall, our findings reveal that DBS and medication have differential effects on various RSNs, which is relevant for understanding not only their complementary treatment effects but also the side effects.
IDENTIFICATION OF MODIFIER GENE VARIANTS OVERREPRESENTED IN FAMILIAL HYPOMAGNESEMIA WITH HYPERCALCIURIA AND NEPHROCALCINOSIS PATIENTS WITH A MORE AGGRESSIVE RENAL PHENOTYPE
Authors: Vall-Palomar M , Morata J , Duran M , Torchia J , Tonda R , Ferrer M , Sánchez A , Cantero-Recasens G , Ariceta G , Meseguer A , Martinez C
Published: November 2023

Inter- and intra-familial phenotypic variability is a common observation in genetic diseases. In this study we have gathered a highly unique patient cohort suffering from an ultra-rare renal disease, familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis, with a deep clinical and genetic characterization. In this cohort, we have previously reported a high phenotypic variability between patients harbouring exactly the same mutation in homozygosis (70% of patients), even between siblings. Patients were stratified at the extremes according to their estimated glomerular filtration rate annual decline and subjected to whole exome sequencing aiming to find candidate phenotype modifier genes. The analysis pipeline applied has allowed us to find, for the first time, 17 putative modifier gene variants associated with a more aggressive renal phenotype. Our results led to a panel of genetic variants in novel candidate modifier genes which will be useful to stratify patients according to their risk of developing renal failure earlier in life and, therefore, direct them to more appropriate and personalized therapeutic options.
Investigating the Interaction Between EEG and fNIRS: A Multimodal Network Analysis of Brain Connectivity
Authors: Blanco Rosmary , Koba Cemal , Crimi Alessandro
Published: November 2023

The brain is a complex system with functional and structural networks. Different neuroimaging methods have their strengths and limitations, depending on the signals they measure. Combining techniques like electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) techniques has gained interest, but understanding how the information derived from these modalities is related remains an exciting open question. Successful integration of these modalities requires a sophisticated mathematical framework that goes beyond simple comparative analyses. The multilayer network model has emerged as a promising approach. This study is an extended version of the conference paper “Resting State Brain Connectivity Analysis from EEG and FNIRS Signals” [5]. In this study, we explored the brain network properties obtained from EEG and fNIRS data using graph analysis. Additionally, we adopted the multilayer network model to evaluate the benefits of combining multiple modalities compared to using a single modality. A small-world network structure was observed in the rest, right motor imagery, and left motor imagery tasks in both modalities. We found that EEG captures faster changes in neural activity, thus providing a more precise estimation of the timing of information transfer between brain regions in RS. fNIRS provides insights into the slower hemodynamic responses associated with longer-lasting and sustained neural processes in cognitive tasks. The multilayer approach outperformed unimodal analyses, offering a richer understanding of brain function. Complementarity between EEG and fNIRS was observed, particularly during tasks, as well as a certain level of redundancy and complementarity between the multimodal and the unimodal approach, which is dependent on the modality and on the specific brain state. Overall, the results highlight differences in how EEG and fNIRS capture brain network topology in RS and tasks and emphasize the value of integrating multiple modalities for a comprehensive view of brain connectivity and function.
Were the higher educational institutions (HEIs) in Oman ready to face pedagogical challenges during COVID-19?
Authors: Alexopoulos Charalampos , Al-Tamimi Tariq Ali Said , Saxena Stuti
Published: November 2023

Purpose

When the repercussions of COVID-19 were being absorbed by the world, the higher educational institutions (HEIs) were conceiving of strategies to run educational institutions on remote basis too, including the challenges linked with the teaching–learning as well as the management and other departmental needs. Leaning itself on the teaching–learning tectonic shifts amid the COVID-19 climes, the study reviews the status of “readiness” of the HEIs in Oman while bearing this in mind that the usage of information and communications technology (ICT) for distance learning and conventional learning has been considered as one of the parameters to judge the “quality” of the HEIs in Oman.

Design/methodology/approach

Documentary analysis alongside an in-depth reading of the quality audit reports sourced from the Oman Academic Accreditation Authority, which are publicly accessible are being referred for driving home the arguments in the study.

Findings

The study concludes that despite the case being in favor of distance learning from early on, the same doesn’t get reflected in the conclusions derived in the research conducted for assessing the teaching–learning mechanisms during the COVID-19 period. Therefore, the HEIs’ “readiness” in terms of ensuring the smooth transitioning to the remote learning pedagogical arrangements for meeting the challenges of the COVID-19 wasn’t efficacious.

Research limitations/implications

The present study may be followed up with an understanding as to how the HEIs of Oman need to incorporate the perspectives of all the concerned stakeholders for the refurbishment of the teaching–learning process, especially in times of contingencies.

Practical implications

Apart from the policy-makers, the management of the HEIs of Oman needs to appreciate the need to be proactive and appreciative of the inclusion of ICT tools and techniques in the mainstream pedagogical settings.

Originality/value

Notwithstanding the emphasis upon the preparedness and readiness for tackling the challenges posed by the COVID-19 for the HEIs in Oman, no study has attempted to delve into the issue succinctly—the present study fills this gap.
Memory-dependent derivative grey Bernoulli model and its application in electricity generation forecast
Authors: Zhang Yonghong , Li Shouwei , Li Jingwei , Tang Xiaoyu
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a novel grey Bernoulli model with memory characteristics, which is designed to dynamically choose the optimal memory kernel function and the length of memory dependence period, ultimately enhancing the model's predictive accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper enhances the traditional grey Bernoulli model by introducing memory-dependent derivatives, resulting in a novel memory-dependent derivative grey model. Additionally, fractional-order accumulation is employed for preprocessing the original data. The length of the memory dependence period for memory-dependent derivatives is determined through grey correlation analysis. Furthermore, the whale optimization algorithm is utilized to optimize the cumulative order, power index and memory kernel function index of the model, enabling adaptability to diverse scenarios.

Findings

The selection of appropriate memory kernel functions and memory dependency lengths will improve model prediction performance. The model can adaptively select the memory kernel function and memory dependence length, and the performance of the model is better than other comparison models.

Research limitations/implications

The model presented in this article has some limitations. The grey model is itself suitable for small sample data, and memory-dependent derivatives mainly consider the memory effect on a fixed length. Therefore, this model is mainly applicable to data prediction with short-term memory effect and has certain limitations on time series of long-term memory.

Practical implications

In practical systems, memory effects typically exhibit a decaying pattern, which is effectively characterized by the memory kernel function. The model in this study skillfully determines the appropriate kernel functions and memory dependency lengths to capture these memory effects, enhancing its alignment with real-world scenarios.

Originality/value

Based on the memory-dependent derivative method, a memory-dependent derivative grey Bernoulli model that more accurately reflects the actual memory effect is constructed and applied to power generation forecasting in China, South Korea and India.
Investigating students' perception about LMS-based online examination practices
Authors: Shard  , Kumar Devesh , Koul Sapna
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aims to gain insights into how students perceive online examination practices and evaluation, as well as identify the key factors that impact their intentions toward online exams.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical study conducted in India utilized an online survey method between May 24 and June 14, 2022. The data were collected from 712 undergraduate and postgraduate students through a Google Docs questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), regression and reliability analysis were conducted to analyze the data.

Findings

There are many studies related to the adoption of online learning. However, there are limited studies that explore the adoption and acceptance of online examinations and evaluations. This paper intends to fill this gap and tries to highlight important factors influencing online examination usage by the students. Five important factors emerged in the study include “pedagogy, validity, reliability,” “practicality,” “security,” “facilitating condition” and “intention,” The study concludes that taking tests online is preferred for several reasons, including the perceived increased dependability of grades and the decreased cost, time and effort associated with taking exams.

Research limitations/implications

This research explores students' perceptions of learning management systems (LMS)-based online exams and provides insights for students to better prepare and adapt. It assists policymakers in developing fair assessment policies and improving LMS platforms. The study contributes to the theoretical understanding of e-learning and calls for further research to enhance the effectiveness of online exams. It identifies gaps in existing literature and recommends larger sample sizes, broader representation, longitudinal data collection and conversational methods for future research.

Originality/value

This study shows increasing research on e-learning and online examinations, mostly using quantitative methods. The important variables for understanding students' perceptions of online exams are “pedagogy, validity, reliability,” “practicality,” “security,” “facilitating condition” and “intention.” Concerns raised include validity, fairness and security. Electronic exams are more suitable for formative evaluation, and validity, reliability, security and adaptability are key pillars for successful online testing.
Incidence of sustainability in university performance: evidence of stakeholders’ perceptions at Colombian private higher education institutions
Authors: Hernandez-Diaz Paula M. , Polanco Jorge-Andrés , Osuna-Ramírez Sergio Andrés , Jaillier-Castrillón Erika , Molina-Velasquez Tatiana , Escobar-Sierra Manuela
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to find the incidence of university sustainability, as sustainability practices, in university performance at private universities.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative research using structural equation modelling. Data collection and analysis followed sustainability and performance scales from previous research. The scales were validated by surveying students, teachers and administrative staff of five private universities in Medellin, Colombia. The responses (i.e. 5,344 useful answers) were collected between April 2019 and December 2020 and analysed using the Smart partial least square (PLS) software and the PLS calculation methodology.

Findings

The results confirmed the reliability and validity of the sustainability and performance university measurement models and validated the dimensions proposed to determine sustainability and performance holistically in private universities. The results confirmed that universities implementing sustainability holistically in their system positively impact their performance as higher education institutions. The university sustainability is forecasting the University Performance in about 60% of the universities analysed, with a considerable contribution from sustainability in outreach and strategic management.

Research limitations/implications

This study was cross-sectional and empirically validated the model of sustainability and performance at five private universities in a single period and territory. A broader validation from longitudinal studies considering other universities in Colombia and Latin America is suggested to understand local and regional trends better.

Practical implications

Results provided a model for better understanding the incidence of sustainability in performance holistically at private universities in developing countries such as Colombia. In addition, the proposed dimensions and model could help regional decision-making on higher education.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of the first attempts relating a structural equation model and inter-university research on the incidence of sustainability in private university performance. This work contributes to a local consensus on sustainability and performance models at private universities. Furthermore, from this research emerged a joint policy framework for incorporating sustainability holistically and regionally as an effective strategy for universities and their commitment to sustainable development.
Defining the identity-image gap: an analysis of a collective wine brand
Authors: Spiga Antonio , Cardebat Jean-Marie
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The brand identity–image gap is a well-known marketing field. However, very little academic work has been done within the wine industry regarding collective brands. With the aim of filling this gap, this paper analyzes and describes the relationship between identity and the image of Bordeaux wines. It is intended as a collective wine brand.

Design/methodology/approach

From a positivist–functionalist perspective, a 45-question survey has been administered online to N = 53 internal brand operators (winery owners or managers) and to N = 655 external consumers (mainly focusing on 18–25 year-old segment). Nonprobabilistic sampling techniques have been used. Questions were structured within a semantic opposition.

Findings

Data analysis has shown that the nine-dimension model (physical, personality, culture, self-image, reflection, relationship, positioning, vision and heritage) is capable of collecting a richer and more pertinent set of information concerning the brand identity; statistically significant gaps have been found in 25 out of 45 items; counterintuitively, the consumers have a very different opinion about the brand compared with existing ideas. Direct implications are that internal brand operators may suffer from imposter syndrome; information asymmetry may play a central role in brand perception; and the brand lacks symbolic and inspirational functions.

Originality/value

Providing an original model to analyze and evaluate the brand identity–image gap, specifically adapted for collective wine brands, this work contributes to the literature by increasing the knowledge about brand identity issues.
The impact of partner perfectionism on audit quality: the mediating role of professional skepticism in the Egyptian context
Authors: Balboula Mohamed Zaki , Elfar Eman Elsayed
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between audit partner perfectionism traits and audit quality in Egypt, emphasizing the mediating role of professional skepticism.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-methods approach was used, combining a questionnaire and scenario-based questions for audit partners with secondary data from audited financial statements. The relationships between study variables were tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Results denote a significant indirect effect between partner perfectionism traits and audit quality through their professional skepticism. Perfectionism has a significant positive impact on partner professional skepticism, and skepticism influences audit quality.

Practical implications

This study offers opportunities to enhance financial reporting quality, allowing investors to confidently allocate financial market resources. Audit firms can consider the personality traits of auditors in the selection process, team formation and designing training programs. Regulators can use these findings to consider the role of personality traits and attitudes in audit quality when developing regulations and quality assurance systems in Egypt.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no studies have examined the effect of partners’ perfectionism traits on professional skepticism and audit quality, especially in Egypt. By examining audit partners, who shape the tone at the top and are accountable for reputation, this study adds a novel dimension to understanding the impact of their qualities on audit outcomes. Moreover, combining survey and secondary data allows us to link these qualities with audit quality, objectively testing our hypotheses.
Additively manufactured rectangular waveguides for the electromagnetic characterization of materials using the transmission/reflection line method
Authors: Smith Connor Shane , Julius Alanna , Arbeeny Christian , Stevens John Davenport
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Radio frequency (RF) technology relies on the electromagnetic properties of the materials used, which includes their complex permittivities and loss tangents. To measure these properties, techniques for material characterization such as the transmission/reflection method are used in conjunction with conversion techniques to calculate these values from scattering parameters. Unfortunately, these techniques rely on relatively expensive rectangular waveguide adaptors and components, especially if testing over large frequency ranges. This paper aims to overcome this challenge by developing a more affordable test equipment solution based on additively manufactured waveguide sections.

Design/methodology/approach

To evaluate the effectiveness of using additively manufactured waveguides to perform electromagnetic characterization with the transmission/reflection method, samples of PLA Tough with varying infill percentages and samples made from several Formlabs photopolymer resins are fabricated and analyzed.

Findings

Results show that the method yielded permittivity and loss tangent values for the measured materials that generally agree with those found in the literature, supporting its credibility.

Originality/value

The accessibility of this measurement technique will ideally allow for more electromagnetic material characterization to occur and expand the possible use of additive manufacturing in future RF designs. This work also provides characterization of several Formlabs photopolymer resins, which have not been widely analyzed in the current literature.
A multi‐study analysis of gut microbiome data from the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) emphasises the impact of depuration on biological interpretation
Authors: Griffin Tyler W. , Darsan Mya A. , Collins Hannah I. , Holohan Bridget A. , Pierce Melissa L. , Ward J. Evan
Published: November 2023

The blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) is a suspension feeder which has been used in gut‐microbiome surveys. Although raw 16S sequence data are often publicly available, unifying secondary analyses are lacking. The present work analysed raw data from seven projects conducted by one group over 7 years. Although each project had different motivations, experimental designs and conclusions, all selected samples were from the guts of M. edulis collected from a single location in Long Island Sound. The goal of this analysis was to determine which independent factors (e.g., collection date, depuration status) were responsible for governing composition and diversity in the gut microbiomes. Results indicated that whether mussels had undergone depuration, defined here as voidance of faeces in a controlled, no‐food period, was the primary factor that governed gut microbiome composition. Gut microbiomes from non‐depurated mussels were mixtures of resident and transient communities and were influenced by temporal factors. Resident communities from depurated mussels were influenced by the final food source and length of time host mussels were held under laboratory conditions. These findings reinforce the paradigm that gut microbiota are divided into resident and transient components and suggest that depuration status should be taken into consideration when designing and interpreting future experiments.
Vaginal micronised progesterone for the prevention of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Melo Pedro , Devall Adam , Shennan Andrew H. , Vatish Manu , Becker Christian M. , Granne Ingrid , Papageorghiou Aris T. , Mol Ben W. , Coomarasamy Arri
Published: November 2023

Background

Treatment with vaginal progesterone reduces the risk of miscarriage and preterm birth in selected high‐risk women. The hypothesis that vaginal progesterone can reduce the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is unexplored.

Objectives

To summarise the evidence on the effectiveness of vaginal progesterone to reduce the risk of HDP.

Search strategy

We searched Embase (OVID), MEDLINE (OVID), PubMed, CENTRAL and clinicaltrials.gov from inception until 20 June 2023.

Selection criteria

We included placebo‐controlled randomised trials (RCTs) of vaginal progesterone for the prevention or treatment of any pregnancy complications.

Data collection and analysis

We extracted absolute event numbers for HDP and pre‐eclampsia in women receiving vaginal progesterone or placebo, and meta‐analysed the data with a random effects model. We appraised the certainty of the evidence using GRADE methodology.

Main results

The quantitative synthesis included 11 RCTs, of which three initiated vaginal progesterone in the first trimester, and eight in the second or third trimesters. Vaginal progesterone started in the first trimester of pregnancy lowered the risk of any HDP (risk ratio [RR] 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53–0.93, 2 RCTs, n = 4431 women, I2 = 0%; moderate‐certainty evidence) and pre‐eclampsia (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.41–0.92, 3 RCTs, n = 5267 women, I2 = 0%; moderate‐certainty evidence) when compared with placebo. Vaginal progesterone started in the second or third trimesters was not associated with a reduction in HDP (RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.67–2.12, 3 RCTs, n = 1602 women, I2 = 9%; low‐certainty evidence) or pre‐eclampsia (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.71–1.31, 5 RCTs, n = 4274 women, I2 = 0%; low‐certainty evidence).

Conclusions

Our systematic review found first‐trimester initiated vaginal micronised progesterone may reduce the risk of HDP and pre‐eclampsia.
The antifungal substance from Bacillus velezensis B‐3 improved the malt quality against premature yeast flocculation induced by Fusarium graminearum infection
Authors: Xie Ying , Zhang Ming , Wu Dianhui , Cai Guolin , Lu Jian
Published: November 2023

Malt produced from barley contaminated with Fusarium graminearum can cause premature yeast flocculation (PYF) in beer fermentation, which ultimately affects the production efficiency and flavor quality of beer. In this study, a strain of Bacillus velezensis B‐3 that was isolated from soil displayed strong antifungal activity against F. graminearum. The antifungal substances were extracted and separated by ammonium sulfate fractional precipitation and semipreparative high‐performance liquid chromatography to obtain fraction VI with the strongest antifungal activity. Ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight‐mass spectrometry was used to identify that the fraction contained lipopeptides such as iturin A, surfactant B, and surfactant C. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the fraction was 0.2 mg/mL, and confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that the morphology of F. graminearum hyphae was obviously abnormal, with most of them were dead. Antifungal fraction VI could inhibit the growth of F. graminearum and avoid the production of PYF factor during malting but did not affect other qualities of malt. Therefore, the development of antimicrobial agents against Fusarium provides an effective potential strategy to control the production of PYF factors for malt‐manufacturing enterprises.

Practical Application

Antifungal fraction VI could inhibit the growth of F. graminearum and the formation of DON during malting but did not affect other qualities of malt. The levels of soluble nitrogen, free amino nitrogen, and color experienced a substantial reduction compared to the malt infected by F. graminearum. The PYF phenomenon was significantly improved, the number of suspended yeast cells and the degree of fermentation were increased, and the level of residual extract in the wort was low, close to that of control malt.
Optimization of ultrasound‐assisted extraction of sorghum phenolics and effect on the stability of 3‐deoxyanthocyanins
Authors: Santos Paula Cristina Silva , Teixeira Bárbara Avancini , Queiroz Valéria Aparecida Vieira , Vidigal Márcia Cristina Teixeira Ribeiro , Stringheta Paulo César , de Barros Frederico Augusto Ribeiro
Published: November 2023

Sorghum 3‐deoxyanthocyanins (3‐DXAs) have greater stability when compared to other anthocyanins. However, the efficiency in extracting these phenolic compounds from cereals, using conventional methods, is low, because most of them are bound to the cell wall. Thus, the aim of this study was to optimize the ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE) of anthocyanins and total phenolics from sorghum flour, and evaluate the stability of the 3‐DXAs. Two frequencies (25 and 45 kHz) were applied in a Central Composite Rotational design to investigate the effect of the variables time (5–75 min) and temperature (30–65°C) using the UAE, with amplitude of the ultrasonic power set at 400 W. In addition, the stability of the 3‐DXAs present in the extracts was evaluated. It was possible to successfully optimize the extraction of total anthocyanins (both frequencies) and phenolics (at 45 kHz), and then to obtain equations, to predict their concentrations, with high R2. The efficiency of UAE was observed, increasing the yield of total anthocyanins, phenolics, and antioxidant capacity at the frequencies of 25 and 45 kHz by 30% and 27%, 10% and 5%, and 30% and 15%, respectively. The apigeninidin was the major 3‐DXA found in the extracts, and the luteolinidin was the most stable over storage time. Overall, there was no difference in the 3‐DXAs stability obtained by the UAE compared to the conventional method. Thus, ultrasound is an alternative to obtaining sorghum extracts rich in 3‐DXAs and other phenolic compounds.

Practical Application

The health benefits of sorghum 3‐deoxyanthocyanins coupled with the growing interest of the food industry in producing healthier food products have motivated this study, because it is important to find ways to optimize 3‐deoxyanthocyanins extraction. We have demonstrated that ultrasound‐assisted extraction was efficient in extracting high amounts of 3‐deoxyanthocyanins and other phenolics from sorghum flour. Moreover, some 3‐deoxyanthocyanins have shown to be more stable than others after extraction. Thus, the ultrasound has great potential to produce sorghum phenolic extracts rich in 3‐deoxyanthocyanins, which can be used as natural colorants and functional ingredients in foods.