bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An autoethnographic reflection on accounting rituals in a turbulent environment
Authors: Dar Mohit , Cordery Carolyn , De Loo Ivo , Manochin Melina
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the lived experiences of a professional accountant, exploring how he navigated the complexity of change in specific accounting processes in the UK housing association (HA). Using an autoethnographic approach, the authors seek to relate individual and collective insights into the changing of social housing organisational processes.

Design/methodology/approach

This autoethnographic account draws on participant and participant-observer reflections, as well as several materials maintained by the professional accountant, from a turbulent period in UK social housing. These data are analysed abductively, where the HA was perceived to be a constellation of ritual activities that underpinned a working community.

Findings

The professional accountant, who is one of the authors, sought to transform HA’s finance function to be “World-class”. Among others, allegedly outdated accounting processes in the HA seemed to require radical change to enable quicker yet more financially substantiated decision-making. Office rituals facilitated the associated accounting process changes by drawing on camaraderie and team/family bonding, which became amenable to new (accounting) rituals. However, the change process was complex and may well have undermined the existing camaraderie in the finance team. The paper reflects on this, with the professional accountant looking back on his actions within the HA after he had left the HA and had entered academia.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the potential of autoethnographic reflections in accounting research when accounting is seen as ritualised activity. Hence, abductively, the reflection is theorised through the notion of “ritual” and its antecedent, “liminality”. This autoethnographic narrative may serve as an aid for others who may also face turbulent periods which require navigating change, while they experience personal struggles relating to this change.
A dual‐porosity model incorporating uniaxial stress effect and its application in wave velocity estimation with well‐logging data
Authors: Li Jiayun , Zong Zhaoyun , Chen Fubin
Published: September 2024

The elastic properties and wave propagation of porous rocks are sensitive to the stress variation. The existing theories mainly focus on the impacts of effective stress, confining and pore pressures. The physics of uniaxial stress effect on rock elasticity and wave propagation is seldom well studied, although the uniaxial stress case is frequently encountered in several scenarios, such as the laboratory loading and the subsurface tectonic deformation. Therefore, we propose a new dual‐porosity model to describe the effect of uniaxial effective stress on elastic properties of dry porous rocks, based on the Palmer equation and Shapiro dual‐porosity model. The Gurevich squirt‐flow model is then incorporated to model the dispersion and attenuation of wave velocities of fluid‐saturated porous rocks. Modelling results show that the increase of uniaxial effective stress inflates the P‐ and S‐wave velocities along the stress direction until the velocities asymptotically reach their maximum values within the elastic limit. However, the relevant wave dispersion and attenuation gradually decline with the elevating stress possibly due to the gradual closure of cracks. The effect of viscosity, fluid modulus and crack aspect ratio on wave dispersion is investigated in detail as well. By comparing our model to the published laboratory ultrasonic measurements, we confirm the validity of our model. Furthermore, our dual‐porosity model is used to establish a rock‐physics approach to estimate the wave velocities with the well‐logging data. The well‐logging examples show the reasonable agreement between the predicted results and real data, illustrating the feasibility of our approach.
Vulnerability segmentation is vital to hydraulic strategy of tropical–subtropical woody plants
Authors: Huang Dong‐Liu , Zhang Feng , Qie Ya‐Dong , Wang Yong‐Qiang , Wan Chun‐Yan , Yu Jun‐Rui , Zhang Jun , Gan Jing‐Xi , Zhu Shi‐Dan
Published: September 2024

The vulnerability segmentation hypothesis proposes that the hydraulic function of expensive stems can be protected by sacrificing cheap leaves, which has been proven to be a key strategy to survive drought for woody species from arid regions. Climate change has caused increasing severe droughts in relatively humid tropical‐subtropical forests. However, whether vulnerability segmentation (measured as the differences in embolism resistance between stem and leaf; P50leaf–stem) plays a role in the hydraulic strategy of tropical‐subtropical woody plants remains unclear.

We investigated 12 key hydraulically related traits of stems and leaves (i.e. cavitation resistance, water potential, safety margin, vulnerability segmentation, leaf‐sapwood area ratio and water use efficiency) and mortality rates for 130 dominant woody species from six forest types with a range of aridity index in tropical–subtropical China. Our main objectives were to: (1) build a stem‐leaf hydraulic framework and capture the key hydraulic traits, (2) compare the hydraulic strategies of different forest types and functional groups and (3) elucidate the influence of environmental factors and hydraulic traits on mortality rate.

Trait network analysis revealed close relationships among stem and leaf hydraulic traits, where cavitation resistance, turgor loss point and P50leaf–stem were the key traits. In general, a larger P50leaf–stem was associated with lower minimum water potential, leaf hydraulic safety margin and leaf‐sapwood area ratio but higher wood density, stem hydraulic safety margin and water use efficiency. Tropical forest (high aridity) had higher leaf embolism resistance, P50leaf–stem, wood density and water use efficiency than subtropical forest (low aridity), while shrubs showed higher leaf embolism resistance and more negative turgor loss point than trees. However, stem‐leaf hydraulic strategy did not differ significantly between evergreens and deciduous. Both aridity index and hydraulic traits affect species mortality. Particularly, P50leaf–stem was a good predictor of drought‐induced mortality in tropical forests.

Synthesis. Our results recommend that vulnerability segmentation should be incorporated into the hydraulic strategy of tropical–subtropical woody plants to explore their drought response to future climate change.
Prisoners in the emergency department: Lessons from a recent inquest
Authors: Kelly Anne‐Maree
Published: September 2024

The recent coronial finding in Victoria into the death of Joshua (Josh) Kerr highlights some of the challenges of treating patients who are in custody and under the supervision of custodial staff (prison officers or police) in the ED. Issues include ED clinicians' duty of care, roles and responsibilities of ED staff and custodial staff and the need for processes that facilitate collaboration and communication between ED clinicians and custodial staff.
Organizational predictors of employability and the moderating impact of boundaryless career attitude: A multi‐wave study among Italian employees
Authors: Lo Presti Alessandro , Van der Heijden Beatrice , De Rosa Assunta
Published: September 2024

Drawing on the Resource‐Based View (RBV) of the firm and the Human Resource Architecture (HRA) model, this study aimed to overcome the agency perspective in scholarly work on employability, and to extend prior research by considering the role of organizational resources and career attitudes for its development. In particular, we examined the mediating role of perceived organizational support for competency development (POSCD) on the association between (perceived) employability culture and self‐perceived employability, also considering boundaryless career attitude (BCA) as a moderator. We sampled 422 Italian employees across two‐time points over a period of four months, and we analyzed results by means of multi‐group structural equation modeling. We found that POSCD fully mediated the association between (perceived) employability culture and self‐perceived employability. As for moderation effects, the association from POSCD to employability was positive only at lower BCA values, impacting on the mediated effect of employability culture. Our findings contribute to the RBV of the firm by highlighting the importance of aligning the organizational culture with concrete actions (i.e., POSCD) to enhance employability. Moreover, by highlighting the moderating role of BCA, we contribute to the HRA model by suggesting that organizations should also take into account employees' differences as regards their career attitudes. As for the employability literature, we stressed the predictive role of contextual factors (e.g., POSCD) hence counterpoising the predominant agency perspective. Our study offers implications for HR practices, advocating tailored competency development that considers individual career attitudes and emphasizes the importance of developing an organizational culture that supports employee involvement and growth, hence suggesting that both horizontal and vertical integrations are needed for delivering beneficial HR bundles.
Development and acceptability of a decision‐aid for food allergy oral immunotherapy in children
Authors: Anagnostou Aikaterini , Abrams Elissa M. , Carver Melanie , Chan Edmond S. , Eftekhari Sanaz , Greiwe Justin , Jaffee Hannah , Lieberman Jay A. , Mack Douglas P. , Mustafa S. Shahzad , Shaker Marcus S. , Stukus David , Wang Julie , Greenhawt Matthew
Published: September 2024

Background

Limited decision‐support tools are available to help shared decision‐making (SDM) regarding food oral immunotherapy (OIT) initiation. No current tool covers all foods, forms, and pediatric ages for which OIT is offered.

Methods

In compliance with International Patient Decision Aid Standards criteria, this pediatric decision‐aid comparing OIT versus avoidance was developed in three stages. Nested qualitative data assessing OIT decisional needs were supplemented with evidence‐synthesis from the OIT literature to create the prototype decision‐aid content. This underwent iterative development with food allergy experts and patient advocacy stakeholders until unanimous consensus was reached regarding content, bias, readability, and utility in making a choice. Lastly, the tool underwent validated assessment of decisional acceptability, decisional conflict, and decisional self‐efficacy.

Results

The decision‐aid underwent 5 iterations, resulting in a 4‐page written aid (Flesch–Kincaid reading level 6.1) explaining therapy choices, risks and benefits, providing self‐rating for attribute importance for the options and self‐assessment regarding how adequate the information was in decision‐making. A total of n = 135 caregivers of food‐allergic children assessed the decision‐aid, noting good acceptability, high decisional self‐efficacy (mean score 85.9/100) and low decisional conflict (mean score 20.9/100). Information content was rated adequate and sufficient, the therapy choices wording balanced, and presented without bias for a “best choice.” Lower decisional conflict was associated with caregiver‐reported anaphylaxis.

Conclusions

This first pediatric OIT decision‐aid, agnostic to product, allergen, and age has good acceptability, limited bias, and is associated with low decisional conflict and high decisional self‐efficacy. It supports SDM in navigating the decision to start OIT or continue allergen avoidance.
Association of early post‐transplant hyperglycaemia and diabetes mellitus on outcomes following heart transplantation
Authors: Muir Christopher A. , Kuang William , Muthiah Kavitha , Greenfield Jerry R. , Raven Lisa M.
Published: September 2024

Aims

Early post‐transplant hyperglycaemia (EPTH) and post‐transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) are common following solid organ transplantation and may be associated with adverse outcomes. We studied the prevalence of EPTH and cumulative 5‐year prevalence of PTDM in a modern cohort of heart transplant recipients who were free from diabetes at baseline as well as the association of EPTH, PTDM and pre‐transplant T2DM with adverse transplant‐related outcomes.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of heart transplant recipients followed for 5 years at a single centre in Sydney, Australia.

Results

A total of 141 patients were included, of whom 25 had pre‐existing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 116 were free from diabetes at baseline. In patients without pre‐existing T2DM, 88 of 116 (76%) experienced EPTH, which was associated with higher rates of acute rejection and hospitalizations, and lower 5‐year survival. PTDM developed in 45 of 116 (39%) patients, all of whom had experienced EPTH. Both PTDM and pre‐existing T2DM were associated with increased rates of graft rejection and hospitalization, and greater than three‐fold increased likelihood of death compared to patients that remained free from diabetes.

Conclusion

EPTH and PTDM are highly prevalent following cardiac transplantation. EPTH develops within days of transplant and is strongly associated with progression to PTDM. Pre‐existing T2DM, PTDM and EPTH are associated with greater hospitalization, increased episodes of rejection and worse 5‐year survival compared to patients who remained free from diabetes during follow‐up.
Political regime and income (re)distribution—Panel data analysis in 126 countries
Authors: Parsons Brandon , Naghshpour Shahdad
Published: September 2024

The study analyzes the relationship between the political regime and income (re)distribution. The unbalanced panel has 126 countries from 1988 to 2021, which is subdivided by Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) membership. In non‐OECD countries, the study finds that more democratic regimes and movements toward democracy on the political regime spectrum are associated with (1) increases in the market Gini coefficient, (2) increases in the net Gini coefficient, and (3) less absolute income redistribution. This suggests that democratic transitions may lead to greater income inequality, and these transitions do not necessarily correspond with more aggressive redistributive policies. In OECD countries, the political regime has an insignificant relationship with Gini coefficients and absolute income redistribution. The findings are robust to two political regime measures, namely, Polity5 and International Country Risk Guide, and multiple econometric models (e.g., Ordinary Least Squares, Fixed Effects, Generalized Least Squares, and Generalized Method of Moments). The study also explores the role of regime longevity, government stability, and institutional strength on income (re)distribution. Although the results are mixed, many models find that government stability and institutional strength are often associated with a decrease in Gini coefficients.
Optimizing healthcare data quality with optimal features driven mutual entropy gain
Authors: Singh Sushil Kumar , Chauhan Shailendrasinh , Alsafrani Abdulrahman , Islam Muhammad , Sherazi Hammad I. , Ullah Inam
Published: September 2024

In the dynamic domain of healthcare data management, safeguarding sensitive information while ensuring data efficiency is always of the highest priority. Healthcare data are frequently mishandled, posing significant risks. This research offers a new network that assesses the quality of visual data using robust features‐driven Mutual Entropy Gain (MEG). The proposed network addresses a critical gap in healthcare data management, significantly enhancing patient data security and operational efficiency in medical institutions. Our method begins with a thorough empirical investigation to find the optimal intermediate features for network input. We incorporate both distance entropy and probability entropy adopted and normalized in MEG, resulting in a comprehensive healthcare data quality evaluation. The results show that the network can distinguish between high‐quality and low‐quality data based on information content. Furthermore, our assessment reveals a large performance discrepancy between high and low‐quality data, even with variable datasets. Notably, using only half of the data achieves commendable accuracy when compared with using the complete dataset, demonstrating possible efficiency gains. This breakthrough has far‐reaching implications for healthcare providers, potentially reducing data storage costs, accelerating data processing times, and minimizing the risk of data breaches. In essence, our proposed network enhances efficiency and security in healthcare data and adapts to the evolving landscape of convergence ICT, paving the way for more robust, cost‐effective, and secure healthcare information systems that can significantly improve patient care and operational outcomes.
Crystal structure of Alzheimer's disease phospholipase D3 provides a molecular basis for understanding its normal and pathological functions
Authors: Ishii Kenta , Hermans Stefan J. , Georgopoulou Maria Eleni , Nero Tracy L. , Hancock Nancy C. , Crespi Gabriela A. N. , Gorman Michael A. , Gooi Jonathan H. , Parker Michael W.
Published: September 2024

Human 5′‐3′ exonuclease PLD3, a member of the phospholipase D family of enzymes, has been validated as a therapeutic target for treating Alzheimer's disease. Here, we have determined the crystal structure of the luminal domain of the enzyme at 2.3 Å resolution, revealing a bilobal structure with a catalytic site located between the lobes. We then compared the structure with published crystal structures of other human PLD family members which revealed that a number of catalytic and lipid recognition residues, previously shown to be key for phospholipase activity, are not conserved or, are absent. This led us to test whether the enzyme is actually a phospholipase. We could not measure any phospholipase activity but the enzyme shows robust nuclease activity. Finally, we have mapped key single nucleotide polymorphisms onto the structure which reveals plausible reasons as to why they have an impact on Alzheimer's disease.
Teachers' perceptions and implementations of global Englishes and Frenches in language classrooms
Authors: Chavoshan Ida , Kaloustian Talar , Wells Brett David
Published: September 2024

An important first step to globalizing and decentralizing foreign language education is to clarify current language teachers' perceptions of language varieties and how these perceptions influence their pedagogy. The present study looked at English and French language classrooms in K‐12 and university settings in the United States to compare attitudes around varieties of two dominant global languages with colonial legacies through an anonymous questionnaire completed by 36 language teachers. The study aimed to understand to what extent English and French language teachers drew on the linguistic diversity of the respective languages and if there was a connection between received ideas and attitudes around varieties and approaches taken in language classrooms. Findings suggest that language teachers were influenced by their own language learning histories, leading to a misalignment between teaching beliefs and pedagogical practices. Additionally, language teachers were subject to curricular constraints that influenced their teaching practices around language varieties. Implications for teacher education are discussed.
Long‐term risk of mortality and loss to follow‐up in children and adolescents on antiretroviral therapy in Asia
Authors: Nimkar Smita , Kinikar Aarti , Mave Vidya , Khol Vohith , Du Quy Tuan , Nguyen Lam , Ounchanum Pradthana , Nguyen Dinh Qui , Puthanakit Thanyawee , Kosalaraks Pope , Chokephaibulkit Kulkanya , Sudjaritruk Tavitiya , Muktiarti Dina , Kumarasamy Nagalingeswaran , Yusoff Nik Khairulddin Nik , Mohamed Thahira , Wati Dewi , Alam Anggraini , Fong Siew , Nallusamy Revathy , Suwanlerk Tulathip , Sohn Annette , Kariminia Azar ,   the TREAT Asia Pediatric HIV Observational Database of IeDEA Asia‐Pacific
Published: September 2024

Objective

We described mortality and loss to follow‐up (LTFU) in children and adolescents who were under care for more than 5 years following initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods

Patients were followed from 5 years after ART until the earlier of their 25th birthday, last visit, death, or LTFU. We used Cox regression to assess predictors of mortality and competing risk regression to assess factors associated with LTFU.

Results

In total, 4488 children and adolescents initiating ART between 1997 and 2016 were included in the analysis, with a median follow‐up time of 5.2 years. Of these, 107 (2.2%) died and 271 (6.0%) were LTFU. Mortality rate was 4.35 and LTFU rate 11.01 per 1000 person‐years. Increased mortality was associated with AIDS diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24–2.37), current CD4 count <350 cells/mm3 compared with ≥500 (highest aHR 13.85; 95% CI 6.91–27.76 for CD4 <200), viral load ≥10 000 copies/mL compared with <400 (aHR 3.28; 95% CI 1.90–5.63), and exposure to more than one ART regimen (aHR 1.51; 95% CI 1.14–2.00). Factors associated with LTFU were male sex (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio [asHR] 1.29; 95% CI 1.04–1.59), current viral load >1000 copies/mL compared with <400 (highest asHR 2.36; 95% CI 1.19–4.70 for viral load 1000–9999), and ART start after year 2005 compared with ≤2005 (highest asHR 5.96; 95% CI 1.98–17.91 for 2010–2016).

Conclusion

For children and adolescents surviving 5 years on ART, both current CD4 and viral load remained strong indicators that help to keep track of their treatment outcomes. More effort should be made to monitor patients who switch treatments.
Treatment of Cluster Headache: Clinical Trials, Design and Results
Authors: Ekbom K
Published: September 2024

The spontaneous capricious course of cluster headache may give rise to some problems when treatment is being evaluated. This is one of several explanations for there being so few well-designed, randomized, double-blind clinical trials in cluster headache. The standard treatment of acute attacks of cluster headache is inhalation of 100% oxygen. In the prophylaxis of episodic cluster headache, ergotamine, verapamil, lithium, serotonin inhibitors and steroids are used. In chronic cluster, lithium is the drug of choice, but verapamil may also be tried. Recently, hyperbaric oxygen has been shown to immediately abort acute attacks, and it seems that it may also be useful in the prophylactic treatment. The introduction of the novel 5HT1 agonist sumatriptan as a symptomatic relief of cluster attacks represents further significant progress. Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trials have shown sumatriptan 6 mg sc to be a rapid, effective and well-tolerated acute treatment for cluster headache attacks. Within 15 min of treatment, 74% of attacks on sumatriptan responded compared to 26% of placebo-treated attacks. Functional disability was also significantly improved. Increasing the dose to 12 mg did not offer significantly greater relief compared to sumatriptan 6 mg, but was associated with an increased incidence of adverse events. Interim analysis of 3 months of data from a recent multinational open trial comprising 138 patients having treated 6353 attacks with subcutaneous sumatriptan 6 mg revealed a headache relief in 96% of attacks treated. There was no evidence of an increased incidence of adverse events with frequent use of sumatriptan. No tachyphylaxis was seen over the 3 months, suggesting that sumatriptan is effective and well tolerated also in long-term acute treatment for cluster headache.
Long-term cost-benefit assessment of anti-migraine drugs
Authors: Steiner Tj
Published: September 2024

Migraine, being disabling and common, is a costly illness. The bearers of the cost are a broader band of society than the sufferers from the disease, and the elements of the cost are not only monetary. Treatment of migraine has the potential for reducing this cost but carries a cost of its own. In the balance between these, those who pay are not necessarily the same as those who gain. Various forms of analysis are employed in relating illness costs at individual and societal levels with those of measures intended to contain them. Questions that arise are whether costs are saved overall by treatment, and which of different treatment options give greater savings. In the absence of much data, there is heavy dependence on assumptions in attempts to answer these questions. A full analysis should take into account the extent to which the availability of new and very effective treatments might alter demand and clinical practice, and also the impacts of ineffective use and inappropriate use of treatments.
Advancements in immobilization of cesium and strontium radionuclides in cementitious wasteforms—A review
Authors: Jain Shubham , Onuaguluchi Obinna , Banthia Nemkumar , Troczynski Tom
Published: September 2024

The safe and secure encapsulation or immobilization of nuclear waste, particularly low to intermediate‐level waste (accounting for ∼97% of the total volume of nuclear waste), has been a significant concern. Consequently, numerous studies have been conducted on various materials such as ordinary Portland cement‐based, bitumen, and ceramics for the purpose of waste encapsulation/immobilization. However, these studies generally offer a broad overview of materials performance without focusing on specific radioisotopes of concern. Cesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr) are important radioactive nuclides to consider for encapsulation, but the existing studies on immobilizing these elements are fragmented and lack a comprehensive understanding. This critical review article offers a thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis to uncover the primary trends/knowledge gaps within the field. It comprehensively delves into waste classifications/management and leaching assessments, followed by an exploration of the immobilization performance and durability issues of various traditional and advanced cementitious materials including low‐temperature chemically bonded ceramics such as alkali‐activated matrices and Mg‒K phosphates for the immobilization of Cs and Sr. Furthermore, the review article provides fresh insights and perspectives, including recommendations for improvements, novel technologies, and future trends in this domain.
Enhancing upconversion luminescence intensity of BiTa7O19:Er3+/Yb3+/Mo4+ by doping Sc3+ or Sb
Authors: Li Lei , Cao Yongze , Li Guojian , Yan Xianglan , Wang Xuekai , Zhang Xizhen , Chen Baojiu
Published: September 2024

Based on the previous optimal concentration of Er3+/Yb3+/Mo4+ co‐doped BiTa7O19 (BTO) samples, Sc3+ or Sb is planned to be doped into BTO:Er3+/Yb3+/Mo4+ for further improving the upconversion luminescence (UCL) intensity under 980‐nm laser excitation. A series of BTO:Er3+/Yb3+/Mo4+/Sc3+ and BTO:Er3+/Yb3+/Mo4+/Sb samples are prepared by high‐temperature solid‐phase sintering method. The microstructure and UCL properties are investigated by X‐ray diffraction, Raman, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), diffuse reflection, and luminescence spectrum. The green UCL intensity of BTO:Er3+/Yb3+/Mo4+/Sb is little better than that of BTO:Er3+/Yb3+/Mo4+/Sc3+, which reaches 2.40 times than that of β‐NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+. XPS results show that Sc is 3+, Mo is 4+, and Sb is 3+ and 5+. Raman spectra show that BTO:Er3+/Yb3+/Mo4+/Sb has lower phonon energy and more disorder than BTO:Er3+/Yb3+/Mo4+/Sc3+. The maximum relative temperature sensitivity is got as 0.01012 K−1 at 303 K based on luminescence intensity ratio technology. BTO:Er3+/Yb3+/Mo4+/Sb has outstanding pure green UCL intensity, which can be applied to luminescence display and temperature sensing.
The positive F wave in lead V1 of typical atrial flutter is caused by activation of the right atrial appendage: Insight from mapping during entrainment from the right atrial appendage
Authors: Yamashita Shu , Mizukami Akira , Ono Maki , Hiroki Jiro , Miyakuni Shota , Arashiro Takumi , Ueshima Daisuke , Matsumura Akihiko , Miyazaki Shinsuke , Sasano Tetsuo
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Typical atrial flutter (AFL) is a macroreentrant tachycardia in which intracardiac conduction rotates counterclockwise around the tricuspid annulus. Typical AFL has specific electrocardiographic characteristics, including a negative sawtooth‐like wave in the inferior lead and a positive F wave in lead V1. This study aimed to analyze the origin of the positive F wave in lead V1, which has not been completely understood.

Methods

This study enrolled 10 patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation for a typical AFL. Electroanatomical mapping was performed both during typical AFL and entrainment from the right atrial appendage (RAA). The 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and three‐dimensional (3D) electroanatomical maps were analyzed.

Results

The positive F wave in lead V1 changed during entrainment from the RAA in all the cases. The 3D map during entrainment from the RAA revealed an area of antidromic capture around the RAA, which collided with the orthodromic wave in the anterior right atrium. This area of antidromic capture around the RAA was the only difference from the 3D electroanatomical map of AFL and is considered the cause of the change in the F wave in lead V1 during entrainment.

Conclusion

The analysis of the differences in the 12‐lead ECG and 3D maps between tachycardia and entrainment from the RAA clearly demonstrated that activation around the RAA is responsible for the generation of the positive F wave in lead V1 of typical AFL.
Decoding functional impact of epigenetic regulator mutations on ligand–receptor interaction perturbations for evaluation of cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Shi Aiai , Lin Chaohuan , Lyu Jie
Published: September 2024

Cellular crosstalk mediated by ligand–receptor interactions largely complicates the tumour ecosystem, resulting in heterogeneous tumour microenvironments that affect immune response and clinical benefits from immunotherapy. Epigenetic mechanisms are pivotal to expression changes of immune‐related genes and can modulate the anti‐tumour immune response. However, the functional consequences of disrupted epigenetic regulators (ERs) on ligand–receptor interactions in the tumour microenvironment remain largely unexplored. Here, we proposed mutations of ERs in perturbed interactions (MERIN), a molecular network‐based approach that incorporates multi‐omics data, to infer the potential consequences of ER mutations on ligand–receptor interaction perturbations. Leveraging cancer genomic profiles and molecular interaction data, we comprehensively decoded the functional consequences of ER mutations on dysregulated ligand–receptor interactions across 33 cancers. The dysregulated ligand–receptor genes were indeed enriched in cancer and immune‐related function. We demonstrated the potential significance of PD1–PDL1 interaction‐related ER mutations in stratifying cancer patients from multiple independent data cohorts. The ER mutation group showed distinct immunological characterizations and prognoses. Furthermore, we highlighted that the ER mutations could potentially predict clinical outcomes of immunotherapy. Our computational and clinical assessment underscore the utility of MERIN for elucidating the functional relevance of ER mutations in cancer immune response, potentially aiding patients' stratification for immunotherapy.
Systematic review/meta‐analysis on the role of CB1R regulation in sleep‐wake cycle in rats
Authors: Xue Jianjun , Xu Ziqing , Zhang Jie , Hou Huaijing , Ge Long , Yang Kehu
Published: September 2024

Objective

A systematic review/meta‐analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of cannabinoid type‐1 receptor (CB1R) regulation on the sleep‐wake cycle of rats and to provide new ideas and evidence‐based basis for clinical research on the treatment of sleep disorders.

Methods

We searched Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Chinese Biomedicine Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, and VIP databases for relevant papers, about the effects of CB1R agonists/antagonists on sleep‐wake cycle in rats, from inception to November 2023. Two reviewers performed study screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using the SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. Meta‐analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Heterogeneity test was performed on the included studies (Test standard α = 0.1). I2 value was used to evaluate the heterogeneity. Forest plot was drawn, and p ≤ 0.05 indicates statistically significant difference.

Results

A total of 16 trials involving 484 experimental rats were included. The methodological quality evaluation results showed that the overall quality of the included studies was low. The results of the meta‐analysis showed that single administration of CB1R agonists could shorten the wakefulness (W) time in the first 6 h (h) (standardized mean difference (SMD) = –2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) (–3.83, –1.22), p = 0.0002) and 24 h (SMD = –0.84, 95% CI (–1.31, –0.36), p = 0.0005) after administration, prolong nonrapid eye movement sleep (NREM) time (SMD = 1.75, 95% CI (0.54, 2.95), p = 0.005) and rapid eye movement sleep (REM) time (SMD = 1.76, 95% CI (0.26, 3.26), p = 0.02), and increase REM frequency after administration (SMD = 1.67, 95% CI (0.98, 2.35), p < 0.00001), these results were all statistically different. There were no significant differences in sleep latency and average duration of REM. Single administration of CB1R antagonists prolonged the first 6 h W time after administration (SMD = 1.36, 95%CI (0.29, 2.43), p = 0.01), shortened the first 6 h NREM time (SMD = –1.73, 95% CI (–2.88, –0.57), p = 0.003) and REM time (SMD = –2.07, 95% CI (–3.17, –0.96), p = 0.0003) after administration, and increased the frequency of W after administration (SMD = 3.57, 95% CI (1.42, 5.72), p = 0.001). There was no statistical difference in the average duration of W. REM time and REM frequency increased after continuous CB1R agonist withdrawal.

Conclusions

According to the existing evidence, CB1R played a pivotal role in regulating the sleep‐wake cycle in rats. CB1R agonists tended to reduce W time, increase NREM and REM sleep times, boost REM frequency, and promote sleep. Conversely, CB1R antagonists could increase the duration and frequency of W, shorten NREM and REM sleep times, and promote W.
Managerial myopia and corporate financialization: Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Liu Cheng , Ma Yaoying , Yang Chunhong
Published: September 2024

While managerial characteristics significantly impact corporate strategies, the role of managerial myopia in corporate financialization remains underexplored. Using data from a sample of 20,881 firm‐year observations of Chinese firms from 2007 to 2019, we examine how managerial myopia influences corporate financialization. We find that managerial myopia promotes corporate financialization. The results are robust to various measures of financialization, alternative specifications, and considerations of endogeneity. Further analysis reveals that external supervision, indicated by analyst attention and institutional investor shareholdings, mitigates the positive effect of managerial myopia on corporate financialization. By contrast, corporate pressures, such as default risk and competitive pressure, amplify the tendency toward financialization.
Differential performance of aqueous‐ and ethylic‐Lugol's iodine stain to visualize anatomy in μCT‐scanned vertebrates
Authors: Crowell Hayley L. , Nagesan Ramon S. , Davis Rabosky Alison R. , Kolmann Matthew A.
Published: September 2024

Museum specimens are an increasingly important tool for studying global biodiversity. With the advent of diffusible iodine‐based contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (diceCT), researchers can now visualize an organism's internal soft tissue anatomy without the need for physical dissection or other highly destructive sampling methods. However, there are many considerations when deciding which method of staining to use for diceCT to produce the best gray‐scale contrast for facilitating downstream anatomical analyses. The general lack of direct comparisons among staining methodologies can make it difficult for researchers to determine which approaches are most appropriate for their study. Here, we compare the performance of ethylic‐Lugol's iodine solution with aqueous‐Lugol's staining solution across several vertebrate orders to assess differential imaging outcomes. We found that ethylic‐Lugol's is better for visualizing muscle attachment to bone but provides overall lower contrast between soft tissue types. Comparatively, aqueous‐based Lugol's provides high‐contrast imaging among soft tissue types, although bone is more difficult to discern. We conclude that the choice of staining methodology largely depends on the type of anatomical data the researcher wishes to collect, and we provide a decision‐based framework for assessing which staining methodology (ethylic or aqueous) is most appropriate for desired imaging results.
Pharmacies Counselling of Patients in the Era of Antifungal Resistance
Authors: Alcoat Catja , Christensen Elisabeth M. M. , Jemec Gregor B. E. , Skov Kenneth , Saunte Ditte M. L.
Published: September 2024

Background

Tinea pedis is one of the most prevalent superficial fungal infections. Initial antifungal treatment is often acquired over‐the‐counter (OTC) without previous consultation with a physician.

Objective

Lately, increasing antifungal terbinafine resistance has been documented in Denmark and globally and it is therefore of interest to assess how Danish pharmacies advise customers with tinea pedis.

Methods

One hundred Danish pharmacies were randomly selected and an employee interviewed from each. A structured question guide was followed, with the possibility to add further comments.

Results

Interviews of 94 pharmacies were conducted. Six pharmacies never replied. Terbinafine as standard dose or cutaneous solution terbinafine one time application (Lamisil Once (R)) were recommended by 99% of the pharmacy employees as first‐line treatment. The customer was advised to seek medical attention when tinea pedis was recurring (93%), or when treatment duration was > 2 weeks (77%). The majority (88%) of the pharmacy employees had no knowledge about antifungal resistance.

Conclusion

Only few pharmacy employees were aware of the current problem of antifungal resistance and the majority advised costumers to initiate treatment using OTC topical terbinafine. The problem of emerging antifungal resistance requires attention in order to provide customers with tinea pedis effective treatment and prevent further societal spread of resistance to antifungals.
Sit venia verbo: A case for dermacriticism
Authors: Hron Irina
Published: September 2024

This article introduces the term “skinnedness” as a complementary notion to what we commonly refer to as skin. The term allows for a fundamental conceptual discussion that brings together human skin, animal skin, and other types of organic or artificial skin, such as fruit skin or the soft outer layer of a doll. The dermacritical approach developed here explores the unique affordances of skin and skin‐like phenomena, including their “graphordance,” that is, the implicit invitation to write on them. Through a thorough discussion of works by Oskar Kokoschka, Hermine Moos, Lester Gaba, and Herta Müller, this paper offers a philosophically and historically informed perspective on the skinnedness of skin, integrating its symptomatic, semantic, and aesthetic dimensions from a comparative literary perspective.
The Immune Priming in Aquaculture Invertebrates: Inspiration From Cellular Perspective and Future Investigation
Authors: Wang Weilin , Wang Lingling , Song Linsheng
Published: September 2024

Aquatic invertebrates account for more than 33.4% of global aquaculture production and are important aquaculture animals worldwide. Although the frequent outbreaks of diseases and the lack of disease prevention strategies have greatly hindered further development of the invertebrate aquaculture industry. Immune priming is a phenomenon that invertebrates mount a faster and stronger secondary response than that of the primary response when encountered with a given microbe. It has been demonstrated to be present in a wide range of aquaculture species and would provide a fresh idea for disease prevention. As the main executors of immune defense in invertebrates, the circulating hemocytes are short‐lived, and the solution for the paradox of keeping a long‐lasting immune protection might lie in the formation of long‐lived memory cells in immune priming. As a reference for the access of memory cell formation processes in aquaculture invertebrates, the cellular kinetics including expansion, contraction, and memory formation of lymphocytes in the adaptive immunity of vertebrates are discussed. Then the features of hemocytes in aquaculture invertebrates, and their kinetic changes of cell number and immune capacity during immune priming are summarized for the knowledge of a stronger secondary immune response. The regulatory roles of epigenetic modification and metabolic reprogramming in immune priming and their possible functions in memory cell formation and identification are proposed to be preferentially investigated for further clarifying the mechanism of immune priming, which might provide a novel entrance for understanding the mechanisms of immune priming and developing disease prevention strategy in aquaculture invertebrates.
Drafting an image of success: the Russian patronage of émigré Elisabeth Louise Vigée Lebrun
Authors: Wilson Erin
Published: September 2024

Painted as a stipulation of her honorary admission into Russia's Imperial Academy of Arts, Elisabeth Louise Vigée Lebrun's (1755–1842) Self‐Portrait of 1800 is notable for having been produced at the culmination of a decade spent in exile. It depicts a strong, triumphant woman at the height of her career. Despite substantial research into other areas of her life, Vigée Lebrun's time spent as an émigré has been little studied. Fleeing France at the onset of the Revolution in 1789, she travelled extensively throughout Europe. Although her early years abroad, from 1789 to 1795, are marked by a sense of constant relocation, her later years in Russia are notable for her prodigious output and her stable existence in Saint Petersburg. This article seeks to highlight the importance of Vigée Lebrun's time at the court of Catherine the Great and her son Paul I in relation to her broader émigré experience. It illuminates how exile in Russia, far from condemning Vigée Lebrun to obscurity, fostered her career in ways that other countries had not.
Money, methods, and morals: What are development economists up to?
Authors: Hoeffler Anke , Khera Reetika
Published: September 2024

In the highly competitive field of publishing in economics journals, methods often become fads sometimes to the detriment of framing meaningful research agendas and of research ethics. In recent times, empirical work based on primary data collection has gained traction. Randomized controlled trials entail not just primary data collection but also interventions involving human subjects. Field research involving data collection is also expensive, raising a number of concerns. In this special symposium we explore questions of research agendas and research ethics, and argue fo rthe acceptance of broader methodological approaches, greater inclusion in the publication process and for a reflection at the disciplinary level of practices related to field research.
Alveolar bone healing patterns in chronic kidney failure and kidney transplant recipients: A pixel intensity and fractal analyses
Authors: Lins Paula J. B. , Andrade Natalia S. , Caliento Rubens , Sarmento Dmitry J. S. , Zambrana Jéssica R. M. , Costa Claudio , Gallotini Marina
Published: September 2024

Aims

To assess and compare radiographically the alveolar bone after tooth extractions in individuals with chronic kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis (CKFh), those submitted to kidney transplantation (KT), and those without kidney disease (CG) by using fractal analysis (FA) and pixel intensity (PI).

Methods and results

Periapical radiographs of 48 CKFh individuals (87 extracted teeth), 12 KT individuals (26 extracted teeth and 29 control individuals [76 extracted teeth] were analyzed at 7 and 60 days after tooth extraction. Fractal dimension (FD) and PI were assessed to evaluate the alveolar trabecular bone structural complexity and mineral content. The difference in FD values between the 7th and 60th postoperative days in KT individuals (0.03 ± 0.08) was significantly lower compared to those of CKFh individuals (0.09 ± 0.10) and controls (0.15 ± 0.06). As for the difference in PI values, KT (4.55 ± 10.24) and CKFh groups (9.88 ± 15.90) showed significantly lower values compared to those of the control group (17.93 ± 11.86) in the same period. These results indicate a lower gain in the trabecular bone complexity and bone density in the alveolus of KT individuals compared to the other groups.

Conclusions

Overall mineral content and thickness of the bone in the plane of the x‐ray beam were lower in KT and CKFh individuals compared to controls, reflecting the need for careful consideration in recommending rehabilitation with dental implants for these patients. Particular attention should be given to the potential challenges in oral rehabilitation of KT patients.
Soil carbon sequestration cannot be enhanced efficiently under all‐straw return in cool semiarid regions: Evidences from a long‐term experiment in a crop rotation system
Authors: Yin Jiade , Ren Xuling , Hou Huizhi , Ma Mingsheng , Fang Yanjie , Liu Yanlan , Lei Kangning
Published: September 2024

Crop straw return is one of the most important measures to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) content in farmland systems. However, the effects of crop straw return amount on SOC sequestration (SCS) in long‐term crop rotation system is unclear, especially in typically cool and dry regions. A field experiment was conducted from 2015 to 2020 in a wheat‐maize‐potato rotation system including four straw treatments: without straw incorporation (CK), 1/3 straw incorporation (LS), 2/3 straw incorporation (MS), and all‐straw incorporation (HS), respectively. After 6 years of cropping, SCS in 0–30‐cm soil layer of CK, LS, MS, and HS increased by 3.6, 7.0, 7.8, and 9.9 Mg ha−1, compared with the beginning of the experiment, respectively. In particular, SCS in 20–30‐cm soil layer of CK was obviously increased by 2.7 Mg ha−1. When compared with CK, straw incorporation increased total dry matter, total evapotranspiration, SCS, and water productivity by 29.3%, 3.4%, 28.8%, and 25.2% on average, respectively, but decreased pure carbon accumulation and water use efficiency of carbon sequestration. Although the carbon input and SCS showed a linear positive correlation with evapotranspiration, the carbon input efficiency was negatively correlated with pure carbon accumulation in HS and MS. When compared with LS, the carbon input efficiency decreased by 64.1% in HS, restricting SCS. These results indicated that 1/3 straw incorporation could increase SCS efficiency as well as decrease carbon loss in the–crop system, making it more suitable for application in cool semiarid region, and revealed that excessively straw returning to the field could not improve SCS efficiency.