bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Pilot Study Toward Development of the Digital Literacy, Usability, and Acceptability of Technology Instrument for Healthcare
Authors: Groom Lisa L. , Feldthouse Dawn , Robertiello Gina , Fletcher Jason , Squires Allison
Published: June 2024

Electronic health record proficiency is critical for health professionals to deliver and document patient care. There is scarce research on this topic within undergraduate nursing student populations. The purpose of this study is to describe the psychometric evaluation of the Digital Literacy, Usability, and Acceptability of Technology Instrument for Healthcare. A cross-sectional pilot study for psychometric evaluation of the instrument was conducted using data collected through an emailed survey. Exploratory factor analysis, inter-item and adjusted item-total correlations, and Cronbach's α calculated subscale reliability. A total of 297 nursing students completed the survey. A seven-factor structure best fit the data: technology use—engagement, technology use—confidence, technology use—history, electronic health record—ease of use, electronic health record—comparability, and electronic health record—burden. Cronbach's α indicated good to very good internal consistency (α = .68 to .89). The instrument effectively measured digital literacy, acceptance, and usability of an electronic health record and may be implemented with good to very good reliability across varied healthcare simulation and training experiences.
Construction of an Early Risk Prediction Model for Type 2 Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Based on Random Forest
Authors: Wei Zhengang , Wang Xiaohua , Lu Liqin , Li Su , Long Wenyan , Zhang Lin , Shen Shaolin
Published: June 2024

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a major cause of disability and death in the later stages of diabetes. A retrospective chart review was performed using a hospital-based electronic medical record database to identify 1020 patients who met the criteria. The objective of this study was to explore and analyze the early risk factors for peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes, even in the absence of specific clinical symptoms or signs. Finally, the random forest algorithm was used to rank the influencing factors and construct a predictive model, and then the model performance was evaluated. Logistic regression analysis revealed that vitamin D plays a crucial protective role in preventing diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The top three risk factors with significant contributions to the model in the random forest algorithm eigenvalue ranking were glycosylated hemoglobin, disease duration, and vitamin D. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model ware 0.90. The accuracy, precision, specificity, and sensitivity were 0.85, 0.83, 0.92, and 0.71, respectively. The predictive model, which is based on the random forest algorithm, is intended to support clinical decision-making by healthcare professionals and help them target timely interventions to key factors in early diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Recruitment and Retention Issues in a Technology-Based Intervention Among Korean American Midlife Women With Depressive Symptoms
Authors: Im Eun-Ok , Chee Wonshik , Kim Seo Yun , Dunbar Sandra , Miller Andrew H. , Paul Sudeshna , Lee Moonju , Jung Wooho
Published: June 2024

The number of health technology-based intervention studies has grown significantly. However, issues in the recruitment and retention for such studies, especially of Asian Americans, have rarely been discussed. The purpose of this paper was to discuss issues in the recruitment and retention of a specific group of Asian Americans—Korean American midlife women with depressive symptoms—into a technology-based intervention study using computers and mobile devices with a measurement device and to provide directions for future participant recruitment and retention in technology-based intervention studies. The written memos of research team members and the written records of research team meetings were analyzed using a content analysis. The issues in the recruitment and retention process included (1) low recruitment and retention rates; (2) the perceived long intervention period; (3) strict inclusion/exclusion criteria; (4) concerns related to the use of a measurement device; and (5) the perceived adequacy of monetary incentives. Based on the issues identified in the study, several suggestions are made for future recruitment and retention of racial/ethnic minorities in technology-based intervention studies (eg, appropriate intervention period, innovative and creative motivation strategies, acceptable measurement scales and devices, and adequate monetary reimbursement).
Combined DSAEK With Cataract Surgery in a Patient With Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy and Keratoconus After Corneal Crosslinking
Authors: Vakalopoulos Dionysios G. , Diakonis Vasilios F. , Lalou Lida , Katsimpras Marios , Kymionis George D.
Published: June 2024

Purpose:

To report a combined Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) with cataract surgery in a case of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) and keratoconus after corneal crosslinking combined with photorefractive keratectomy.

Methods:

We report a case of a 56-year-old woman with a history of subclinical keratoconus who underwent corneal crosslinking (CXL) plus 7 years ago. At presentation, the patient complained of blurry vision, which was more prominent in the morning over the past few years, and frequent changes of spectacle prescription ever since the initial treatment with CXL plus. Post-CXL plus corneal tomographies revealed progressive corneal flattening of 6.20 diopters (D) and 6.50 D in the right (OD) and left (OS) eye, respectively, in terms of mean keratometry values over a period of 7 years, which resulted in significant hyperopia. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) at presentation was 20/50 in the OD and 20/200 in the OS. Slit-lamp examination revealed guttae (diagnosis of FECD) with associated posterior corneal edema and advanced nuclear sclerotic cataracts in both eyes. Combined DSAEK with cataract surgery was performed on the left eye.

Results:

One year after the combined procedure, CDVA improved to 20/25, with the correction of (−0.25, −4.25 × 25). Slit-lamp examination revealed a clear cornea without evidence of corneal edema or scarring. Corneal tomography indicated discontinuation of the corneal flattening in the left eye while the fellow eye continued to flatten.

Conclusions:

Combined DSAEK with cataract surgery provides an effective surgical option for patients with FECD after CXL plus procedures for keratoconus, offering fast visual rehabilitation and functional visual outcomes.
Effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines as First Booster Doses in England: An Observational Study in OpenSAFELY-TPP
Authors: Horne Elsie M. F. , Hulme William J. , Parker Edward P. K. , Keogh Ruth H. , Williamson Elizabeth J. , Walker Venexia M. , Palmer Tom M. , Denholm Rachel , Knight Rochelle , Curtis Helen J. , Walker Alex J. , Andrews Colm D. , Mehrkar Amir , Morley Jessica , MacKenna Brian , Bacon Sebastian C. J. , Goldacre Ben , Hernán Miguel A. , Sterne Jonathan A. C. ,   and the OpenSAFELY collaborative
Published: June 2024

Background:

The UK delivered its first “booster” COVID-19 vaccine doses in September 2021, initially to individuals at high risk of severe disease, then to all adults. The BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was used initially, then also Moderna mRNA-1273.

Methods:

With the approval of the National Health Service England, we used routine clinical data to estimate the effectiveness of boosting with BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 compared with no boosting in eligible adults who had received two primary course vaccine doses. We matched each booster recipient with an unboosted control on factors relating to booster priority status and prior COVID-19 immunization. We adjusted for additional factors in Cox models, estimating hazard ratios up to 182 days (6 months) following booster dose. We estimated hazard ratios overall and within the following periods: 1–14, 15–42, 43–69, 70–97, 98–126, 127–152, and 155–182 days. Outcomes included a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, COVID-19 hospitalization, COVID-19 death, non-COVID-19 death, and fracture.

Results:

We matched 8,198,643 booster recipients with unboosted controls. Adjusted hazard ratios over 6-month follow-up were: positive SARS-CoV-2 test 0.75 (0.74, 0.75); COVID-19 hospitalization 0.30 (0.29, 0.31); COVID-19 death 0.11 (0.10, 0.14); non-COVID-19 death 0.22 (0.21, 0.23); and fracture 0.77 (0.75, 0.78). Estimated effectiveness of booster vaccines against severe COVID-19-related outcomes peaked during the first 3 months following the booster dose. By 6 months, the cumulative incidence of positive SARS-CoV-2 test was higher in boosted than unboosted individuals.

Conclusions:

We estimate that COVID-19 booster vaccination, compared with no booster vaccination, provided substantial protection against COVID-19 hospitalization and COVID-19 death but only limited protection against positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Lower rates of fracture in boosted than unboosted individuals may suggest unmeasured confounding. Observational studies should report estimated vaccine effectiveness against nontarget and negative control outcomes.
Cutoff values of motor and cognitive measures for predicting and discriminating levels of activities of daily living after stroke: a scoping review
Authors: Fujita Takaaki , Kasahara Ryuichi , Tsuchiya Kenji , Iokawa Kazuaki
Published: June 2024

The various assessments performed by rehabilitation professionals not only indicate the patient’s current functional status but can also help determine the future status (prediction) or the ability to perform untested tasks (discrimination). In particular, the cutoff values are the simplest predictive and discriminative tool that can be widely used in clinical practice. The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the current literature on cutoff values of motor and cognitive function for predicting or discriminating levels of activities of daily living after stroke. A literature search was conducted using the PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus databases. The creation of the search criteria, primary screening of titles and abstract, and secondary screening by full-text review were performed by two rehabilitation professionals. A total of 54 articles were included. The summary of the cutoff values for prediction based on longitudinal studies revealed that an NIHSS score ≤8 and mRMI score ≥19 at acute hospitalization can predict good functional independence and walking independence, respectively, indicating reliable cutoff values. Cutoff values for predicting specific ADLs, such as toilet use or dressing, were not reported, which was a potential research gap identified in this review. Alternatively, the summary of the cutoff values for discrimination based on cross-sectional studies revealed that 288–367.5 m on the 6-min walk test and 25.5–27.6 points on the FMA-LL can discriminate community and noncommunity walkers. Considering the difference between prediction and discrimination, the reliable predicted cutoff values revealed in this review are useful for planning an intervention based on early prediction. Conversely, cutoff values for discrimination can estimate different performances with simpler test, or use as target values during rehabilitation.
Simple Pulmonary Eosinophilia Mimicking Lung Metastases on 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Yang Lan , Dong Ziqian , Wei Lingge , Chen Feilong , Xie Peng
Published: June 2024

A 72-year-old man with pancreatic tail cancer underwent distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy 1 year ago. Routine postoperative follow-up CT detected multiple pulmonary nodules. 18F-FDG PET/CT showed multiple FDG-avid nodules in the bilateral lungs, which highly suggested the possibility of lung metastases of pancreatic cancer. Finally, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and pathology confirmed the diagnosis of simple pulmonary eosinophilia.
Cavernous Sinus Metastasis From Laryngeal Cancer Identified by 18F-FDG PET/MR
Authors: Cui Futao , Su Minggang , Tian Rong , Li Qianrui
Published: June 2024

Cavernous sinus metastasis from head and neck cancers is rare. We report FDG PET/MRI findings of cavernous sinus metastases from laryngeal cancer in a 56-year-old woman. The images revealed isointense lesions in the bilateral cavernous sinus on T2-weighted MR, with slight enhancement, and intense FDG uptake. The lesions were confirmed as metastases to the cavernous sinus.
Contraction-Induced H Reflexes of the Upper and Lower Limbs in Healthy Adults
Authors: Winkel Antony , Cook Mark , Roberts Leslie
Published: June 2024

Purpose:

Contraction-induced H reflexes are a late neurophysiologic response elicited with submaximal nerve stimulation during isometric muscle contraction. Mediated by spinal pathways, like other H reflexes, their use has remained somewhat limited despite a long history of development dating back to the original description by Hoffman. There is a paucity of data on normal reference ranges, which this article aims to add to.

Methods:

Contraction-induced H reflexes were elicited from the first dorsal interosseous, flexor carpi radialis, and tibialis anterior bilaterally in 100 healthy volunteers. Reference values, including side-to-side variation, were calculated. Pearson test and multiple regression were used to evaluate the relationship of H-reflex latency to height, age, and sex of participants.

Results:

The mean onset latencies of 28.00, 17.44, and 31.10 ms were seen for first dorsal interosseous, flexor carpi radialis, and tibialis anterior muscles, respectively. The calculated allowable side-to-side latency difference in individual participants was 3 to 4 ms. A correlation to participant height was seen.

Conclusions:

This work provides normal reference values of contraction-induced H reflexes to three muscles, including allowable side-to-side variation. The latter suggests that bilateral testing evaluating for asymmetry within an individual is likely to be optimally sensitive. The relationship to height is also confirmed.
Thermodynamics of spin-1/2 fermions on coarse temporal lattices using automated algebra
Authors: Morrell K. J. , Czejdo A. J. , Carter N. , Drut J. E.
Published: June 2024

Recent advances in automated algebra for dilute Fermi gases in the virial expansion, where coarse temporal lattices were found advantageous, motivate the study of more general computational schemes that could be applied to arbitrary densities, beyond the dilute limit where the virial expansion is physically reasonable. We propose here such an approach by developing what we call the Quantum Thermodynamics Computational Engine (QTCE). In QTCE, the imaginary-time direction is discretized and the interaction is accounted for via a quantum cumulant expansion, where the coefficients are expressed in terms of non-interacting expectation values. The aim of QTCE is to enable the systematic resolution of interaction effects at fixed temporal discretization, as in lattice Monte Carlo calculations, but here in an algebraic rather than numerical fashion. Using this approach, in combination with numerical integration techniques (both known and alternative ones proposed here), we explore the thermodynamics of spin-1/2 fermions across spatial dimensions, focusing on the unitary limit. We find that, remarkably, extremely coarse temporal lattices, when suitably renormalized using known results from the virial expansion, yield stable partial sums for QTCE’s cumulant expansion that are qualitatively and quantitatively correct in wide regions (when compared with known experimental results).

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The liminal position of Nuclear Physics: from hadrons to neutron stars’.
Nuclear structure opportunities with GeV radioactive beams at FAIR
Authors: Aumann T. , Bertulani C. A. , Duer M. , Galatyuk T. , Obertelli A. , Panin V. , Rodríguez-Sánchez J. L. , Roth R. , Stroth J.
Published: June 2024

The Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) is in its final construction stage next to the campus of the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung Helmholtzzentrum for heavy-ion research in Darmstadt, Germany. Once it starts its operation, it will be the main nuclear physics research facility in many basic sciences and their applications in Europe for the coming decades. Owing to the ability of the new fragment separator, Super-FRagment Separator, to produce high-intensity radioactive ion beams in the energy range up to about 2 GeV/nucleon, these can be used in various nuclear reactions. This opens a unique opportunity for various nuclear structure studies across a range of fields and scales: from low-energy physics via the investigation of multi-neutron systems and halos to high-density nuclear matter and the equation of state, following heavy-ion collisions, fission and study of short-range correlations in nuclei and hypernuclei. The newly developed reactions with relativistic radioactive beams (R
3
B) set up at FAIR would be the most suitable and versatile for such studies. An overview of highlighted physics cases foreseen at R
3
B is given, along with possible future opportunities, at FAIR.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The liminal position of Nuclear Physics: from hadrons to neutron stars’.
A laboratory study on fault slip caused by fluid injection directly versus indirectly into a fault: implications for induced seismicity in EGSs
Authors: Zhang Supeng , Ji Yinlin , Hofmann Hannes , Li Shouding , Rybacki Erik , Zimmermann Günter , Zang Arno
Published: June 2024

Enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) developed by hydraulic stimulation are promising for exploiting petrothermal heat by improving fluid pathways in low-permeable geothermal reservoir rocks. However, fluid injection into the subsurface can potentially cause large seismic events by reactivating pre-existing faults, which is a significant barrier to EGSs. The management of injection-induced seismicity is, therefore, essential for the success of EGSs. During the hydraulic stimulation of an EGS, fluid can be injected into a fault zone or into the rock matrix containing pre-existing faults adjacent to the injection well. The differences in hydromechanical responses between fluid injection into and adjacent to a fault have not been investigated in detail. Here, we performed triaxial fluid injection experiments involving injecting fluid directly and indirectly into a fault in granite rock samples to analyse the distinct hydromechanical responses and estimate the injection-induced seismicity in both cases. Our results suggest that in addition to directly injecting fluid into a critically stressed fault, injecting into nearly intact granite adjacent to the fault could also cause injection-induced seismic hazards owing to the high fluid pressure required to create new fractures in the granite matrix. It is, therefore, important to carefully identify pre-existing faults within tight reservoirs to avoid injecting fluid adjacent to them. Additionally, once prior unknown faults are delineated during hydraulic stimulation, appropriate shut-in strategies should be implemented immediately to mitigate seismic risks.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Induced seismicity in coupled subsurface systems’.
Sealing faults and fluid-induced seismicity
Authors: Esmaeilzadeh Zahra , Eaton David W. , Hosseini Navid , Zeinabady Danial
Published: June 2024

Sealing faults are nearly impermeable barriers that can form boundaries between subsurface pore-pressure domains. In hydrocarbon systems, sealing faults commonly form part of a structural trap; they are thus important elements for future storage of CO
2
and other gases in depleted reservoirs. The Triassic Montney Formation in western Canada hosts low-permeability gas reservoirs containing sealing faults that have previously been assumed to compartmentalize pressure domains. In this study, we show that the distribution of induced seismicity associated with hydraulic fracturing (HF) exhibits a statistically significant spatial correlation with zones of high lateral gradient in pore pressure. These high-gradient zones are interpreted as sealing fault systems. The largest induced seismicity sequence, including a 4.5 M
L
mainshock on 30 November 2018, occurred during HF treatments in two horizontal wells, between which there is an exceptionally large contrast (~10 MPa) in measured pore pressure. Numerical simulation of a simplified model of a hydraulic fracture intersecting a nearby vertical fault, followed by fault rupture using rate-and-state friction rheology, generates results that are in good agreement with observed strike-slip faulting near one of the HF wells. Our study demonstrates that sealing faults exhibit previously unrecognized behaviour that may be important for understanding induced seismicity risk.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Induced seismicity in coupled subsurface systems’.
Second-order optimization strategies for neural network quantum states
Authors: Drissi M. , Keeble J. W. T , Rozalén Sarmiento J. , Rios A.
Published: June 2024

The Variational Monte Carlo (VMC) method has recently seen important advances through the use of neural network quantum states. While more and more sophisticated ansatze have been designed to tackle a wide variety of quantum many-body problems, modest progress has been made on the associated optimization algorithms. In this work, we revisit the Kronecker-Factored Approximate Curvature (KFAC), an optimizer that has been used extensively in a variety of simulations. We suggest improvements in the scaling and the direction of this optimizer and find that they substantially increase its performance at a negligible additional cost. We also reformulate the VMC approach in a game theory framework, to propose a novel optimizer based on decision geometry. We find that on a practical test case for continuous systems, this new optimizer consistently outperforms any of the KFAC improvements in terms of stability, accuracy and speed of convergence. Beyond VMC, the versatility of this approach suggests that decision geometry could provide a solid foundation for accelerating a broad class of machine learning algorithms.

This article is part of the theme issue 'The liminal position of Nuclear Physics: from hadrons to neutron stars'.
The interplay between abiotic and biotic factors in dispersal decisions in metacommunities
Authors: Thierry Mélanie , Cote Julien , Bestion Elvire , Legrand Delphine , Clobert Jean , Jacob Staffan
Published: June 2024

Suitable conditions for species to survive and reproduce constitute their ecological niche, which is built by abiotic conditions and interactions with conspecifics and heterospecifics. Organisms should ideally assess and use information about all these environmental dimensions to adjust their dispersal decisions depending on their own internal conditions. Dispersal plasticity is often considered through its dependence on abiotic conditions or conspecific density and, to a lesser extent, with reference to the effects of interactions with heterospecifics, potentially leading to misinterpretation of dispersal drivers. Here, we first review the evidence for the effects of and the potential interplays between abiotic factors, biotic interactions with conspecifics and heterospecifics and phenotype on dispersal decisions. We then present an experimental test of these potential interplays, investigating the effects of density and interactions with conspecifics and heterospecifics on temperature-dependent dispersal in microcosms of
Tetrahymena
ciliates. We found significant differences in dispersal rates depending on the temperature, density and presence of another strain or species. However, the presence and density of conspecifics and heterospecifics had no effects on the thermal-dependency of dispersal. We discuss the causes and consequences of the (lack of) interplay between the different environmental dimensions and the phenotype for metacommunity assembly and dynamics.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Diversity-dependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics’.
The macro-eco-evolutionary interplay between dispersal, competition and landscape structure in generating biodiversity
Authors: Hagen O. , Viana D. S. , Wiegand T. , Chase J. M. , Onstein R. E.
Published: June 2024

Theory links dispersal and diversity, predicting the highest diversity at intermediate dispersal levels. However, the modulation of this relationship by macro-eco-evolutionary mechanisms and competition within a landscape is still elusive. We examine the interplay between dispersal, competition and landscape structure in shaping biodiversity over 5 million years in a dynamic archipelago landscape. We model allopatric speciation, temperature niche, dispersal, competition, trait evolution and trade-offs between competitive and dispersal traits. Depending on dispersal abilities and their interaction with landscape structure, our archipelago exhibits two ‘connectivity regimes’, that foster speciation events among the same group of islands. Peaks of diversity (i.e. alpha, gamma and phylogenetic), occurred at intermediate dispersal; while competition shifted diversity peaks towards higher dispersal values for each connectivity regime. This shift demonstrates how competition can boost allopatric speciation events through the evolution of thermal specialists, ultimately limiting geographical ranges. Even in a simple landscape, multiple intermediate dispersal diversity relationships emerged, all shaped similarly and according to dispersal and competition strength. Our findings remain valid as dispersal- and competitive-related traits evolve and trade-off; potentially leaving identifiable biodiversity signatures, particularly when trade-offs are imposed. Overall, we scrutinize the convoluted relationships between dispersal, species interactions and landscape structure on macro-eco-evolutionary processes, with lasting imprints on biodiversity.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Diversity-dependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics’.
Development of recombinant proteins for vaccine candidates against serotypes O and A of Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus in Bangladesh
Authors: Akter Salma , Rahman M. Shaminur , Islam M. Rafiul , Akther Masuda , Anjume Humaira , Marjia Mafruha , Rahaman Md. Mizanur , Hossain M. Anwar , Sultana Munawar
Published: June 2024

Frequent vaccine failure leading to recurrent outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in livestock populations necessitates the development of a customizable vaccine platform comprising potential antigenic determinants of circulating lineages of FMD viruses. Artificially designed, chimaeric protein-based recombinant vaccines are novel approaches to combat the phylogenetically diverse FMD Virus (FMDV) strains. Among seven recognized serotypes, only serotypes O and A are dominantly circulating in Bangladesh and neighbouring countries of Asia, where transboundary transmission, recurrent outbreaks and emergence of novel lineages of FMDV are highly prevalent. The objective of this study was to develop multi-epitope recombinant proteins, procuring immunogenicity against circulating diverse genotypes of FMDV serotypes O and A. Two chimaeric proteins, named B1 (41.0 kDa) and B3 (39.3 kDa), have been designed to incorporate potential B-cell and T-cell epitopes selected from multiple FMDV strains, including previously reported and newly emerged sub-lineages. After expression, characterization and immunization of guinea pigs with a considerable antigen load of B1 and B3 followed by serological assays revealed the significant protective immunogenicity, developed from the higher (100 µg) doses of both antigens, against most of the currently prevalent serotype O and A strains of FMDV. The efficient expression, antigenic stability, and multivalent immunogenic potency of the chimaeric proteins strongly indicate their credibility as novel vaccine candidates for existing serotypes O and A of FMDV in Bangladesh and surrounding territories.
Leveraging pleiotropy identifies common-variant associations with selective IgA deficiency
Authors: Willis Thomas W. , Gkrania-Klotsas Effrossyni , Wareham Nicholas J. , McKinney Eoin F. , Lyons Paul A. , Smith Kenneth G.C. , Wallace Chris
Published: June 2024

Selective IgA deficiency (SIgAD) is the most common inborn error of immunity (IEI). Unlike many IEIs, evidence of a role for highly penetrant rare variants in SIgAD is lacking. Known SIgAD-associated variants are common in the general population, but previous studies have had limited power to identify common-variant associations due to their small sample size. We sought to overcome this problem first through meta-analysis of two existing GWAS. This identified four novel common-variant associations and we found also that SIgAD-associated variants were enriched in genes known to harbour variants causal for Mendelian IEIs. SIgAD showed evidence of shared genetic architecture with serum IgA and a number of immune-mediated diseases. To further enhance power, we leveraged this pleiotropy through the conditional false discovery rate procedure, conditioning our SIgAD meta-analysis on large GWAS of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, and our own meta-analysis of serum IgA. This identified an additional 17 variants associated with SIgAD. Our results increase the number of known SIgAD-associated variants outside the MHC to 26 and strengthen the evidence for a polygenic, common-variant aetiology for SIgAD, highlighting both T- and B-cell biology in the development of this disease. Our approach to genetic variant discovery is relevant to the study of other rare diseases and we hypothesise genes newly associated with SIgAD might be explored for as-yet elusive rare-variant associations with SIgAD or IEIs more generally.
Energy as a source of preservice teachers’ conceptions about radioactivity
Authors: Prokop Axel-Thilo , Nawrodt Ronny
Published: June 2024

Although researchers have extensively studied student conceptions of radioactivity, the conceptions held by preservice teachers on this subject are largely absent from the literature. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of problem-centered interviews with preservice teachers (N=13) to establish which conceptions are held by preservice teachers and to examine these conceptions’ structure in coordination classes. As has already been observed in students, some preservice teachers inadequately differentiate between radioactive matter and ionizing radiation and between fission and decay. We also observed that preservice teachers tend to describe the activation of materials due to ionizing radiation despite having previously denied an activation, thus showing that the conception of activation of materials can reemerge in particular framings. Within the interviews conducted, the concept of energy emerged as a central coordination class regarding radioactivity. This coordination class appeared across contexts and proved fruitful in explaining preservice teachers’ conceptions about radioactivity. We will use the results from this study to develop a teaching-learning laboratory for preservice teachers in which they can actively study high school students’ conceptions while reflecting on their own. In this way, these findings will contribute to improving the structure of nuclear physics courses at the university.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
L
-gap surface resonance at Pt(111): Influence of atomic structure,
d
bands, and spin-orbit interaction
Authors: Schöttke Fabian , Krüger Peter , Hammer Lutz , Kißlinger Tilman , Schneider M. Alexander , Donath Markus
Published: June 2024

Pt(111) hosts a surface resonance with peculiar properties concerning energy vs momentum dispersion and spin texture. At variance with the free-electron-like behavior of the L-gap Shockley-type surface states on the fcc(111) surfaces of Au, Ag, and Cu, it splits into several branches with distinct spin polarization around the center of the surface Brillouin zone Γ¯. Theoretical predictions based on density-functional theory vary depending on the particular functionals used. To clarify this issue, we investigate the atomic structure of Pt(111) by low-energy electron diffraction and the unoccupied electronic structure by spin- and angle-resolved inverse photoemission. The experimental results are backed by theoretical studies using different functionals, which show that the characteristics of the surface band depend critically on the lattice constant. From the analysis of the energy-dependent low-energy electron diffraction intensities, we derive structural parameters of the Pt(111) surface relaxation with high accuracy. In addition, we give an unambiguous definition of the nonequivalent mirror-plane directions Γ¯M¯ and Γ¯M¯′ at fcc(111) surfaces, which is consistent with band-structure calculations and inverse-photoemission data. Concerning the surface resonance at the bottom of the L gap, we identified a delicate interplay of several contributions. Lattice constant, hybridization with d bands, and the influence of spin-orbit interaction are critical ingredients for understanding the peculiar energy dispersion and spin character of the unoccupied surface resonance.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Phonon-photon conversion as mechanism for cooling and coherence transfer
Authors: Ferreri Alessandro , Bruschi David Edward , Wilhelm Frank K. , Nori Franco , Macrì Vincenzo
Published: June 2024

The dynamical Casimir effect is the physical phenomenon where the mechanical energy of a movable wall of a cavity confining a quantum field can be converted into quanta of the field itself. This effect has been recognized as one of the most astonishing predictions of quantum field theory. At the quantum scale, the energy conversion can also occur incoherently, namely, without a physical motion of the wall. By means of quantum thermodynamics, we show that this phenomenon can be employed as a tool to cool down the wall when there is a nonvanishing temperature gradient between the wall and the cavity. At the same time, the mechanism responsible for the heat transfer enables sharing the coherence from one cavity mode, driven by a laser, to the wall, thereby forcing its coherent oscillation. Finally, we show how to employ one laser drive to cool the entire system, including the case when it is composed of other subsystems.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Improved composable key rates for CV-QKD
Authors: Pirandola Stefano , Papanastasiou Panagiotis
Published: June 2024

Modern security proofs of quantum key distribution (QKD) must take finite-size effects and composable aspects into consideration. This is also the case for continuous-variable (CV) protocols, which are based on the transmission and detection of bosonic coherent states. In this paper, we refine and advance the previous theory in this area providing a more rigorous formulation for the composable key rate of a generic CV-QKD protocol. Thanks to these theoretical refinements, our general formulas allow us to prove more optimistic key rates with respect to previous literature.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Arbitrary quantum circuits on a fully integrated two-qubit computation register for a trapped-ion quantum processor
Authors: Pulido-Mateo N. , Mendpara H. , Duwe M. , Dubielzig T. , Zarantonello G. , Krinner L. , Ospelkaus C.
Published: June 2024

We report on the implementation of arbitrary circuits on a universal two-qubit register that can act as the computational module in a trapped-ion quantum computer based on the quantum charge-coupled device architecture. A universal set of quantum gates is implemented on a two-ion Coulomb crystal of Be+9 ions using only chip-integrated microwave addressing. Individual-ion addressing is implemented using microwave micromotion sideband transitions; we obtain upper limits on addressing crosstalk in the register. Arbitrary two-qubit operations are characterized using the cycle benchmarking protocol.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Torture and blessing: the impostor phenomenon among Spanish female executives
Authors: Domínguez-Soto Cristina , Labajo Victoria , Labrador-Fernández Jesús
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This research explores the impostor phenomenon (IP) within the context of gender and leadership, aiming to transform impostor feelings into catalysts for leadership empowerment and positive career outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing grounded theory, this study conducts in-depth interviews with 34 female Spanish senior executives to analyze their experiences with IP.

Findings

The research reveals that top executive women are not only affected by IP but can also harness it to foster personal and professional growth. It identifies key strategies – such as self-reflection, effective communication and cultivating positive habits – that enable women to transform IP into a lever for enhancing their careers. This approach leads to a proposed virtuous cycle model that empowers women to overcome the negative impacts of IP and advance their leadership capabilities.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on gender and leadership by offering insights into the gendered nuances of IP. By framing IP as a potential catalyst for growth rather than a barrier, the study provides practical tools for human resource (HR) departments to promote gender diversity at senior levels. It also advocates for HR practices to dismantle internal barriers to women’s career progression and address conscious and unconscious gender biases.
Are we measuring the SDGs progress right? Evidence and insights from a review of India’s SDG index
Authors: Gupta Rajesh , Anand Arjun
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to review the computational framework of SDGs in India, so that a mid-course correction can be contemplated.

Design/methodology/approach

This study deploys, inter alia, econometric analysis to probe the robustness of indicators of SDG India Index 3.0. Methodologically, the study intensively probes the robustness of SDG India index and extensively refers to the global SDG indexes for cross-checking.

Findings

Though the three editions of SDGI index mark significant efforts taken towards measuring the progress of SDGs in India, the paradigm suffers from the problem of too many indicators chasing only few targets, quantitative and qualitative issues with indicators, vintage pollution, partial coverage of targets and robustness issues.

Research limitations/implications

This study has the limitation that it could not check the robustness of SDG scores with different weights assigned to indicators and future researchers can take up that interesting assignment.

Practical implications

Since measuring the SDG progress through SDG index is a global endeavour, the findings of this study are important for almost all countries of the world, as it is still not too late to do mid-course correction because it is not the measurement that matters at the end of the day, rather it is the outcome of sustainable development that every country cares about.

Social implications

The obfuscation of layers of SDG index in crafty, glossy and power-point-presentation-oriented SDG reports should get the reality check through such review of the computational framework of SDGs.

Originality/value

This is the first study that unpacks the layers of SDG index computation in general and comprehensively reviews the Indian SDG indexing method in particular.
Sustainability and sustainable development values in creative practices among design undergraduates of Russia and Malaysia
Authors: Balakrishnan Balamuralithara , Fedorova Natalia , Ugap Catherina
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study is to gauge the consideration toward sustainability and sustainable development in the creative process or activities in design practices among the design undergraduates of University A, Russia, and University B, Malaysia. The beliefs, attitudes and intentions toward all the dimensions of sustainability – environmental, social and economic – were assessed and compared between both institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was administrated to 127 design undergraduates from University A, Russia, and 135 design undergraduates from University B, Malaysia, to assess their beliefs, attitudes and intentions toward sustainability and sustainability development in their creative practices.

Findings

The outputs of this investigation suggested that the courses related to education for sustainable development that preached in design programs at University A, Russia, have developed appropriate beliefs, attitudes and intentions toward sustainability and sustainable development in creative process or activities among the learners on environmental and social sustainability issues. The subject on sustainable development offered in design programs at University B, Malaysia, has mold positive beliefs, attitudes and intentions on the environmental sustainability issues in creative practices among the design undergraduates. The outcomes of this study shed some light on the effectiveness of the courses related to education for sustainable development of both institutions in building the appropriate mindset in the creative process during design activities.

Originality/value

This study on the consideration of sustainability and sustainable development in creative practices is novel and the outputs of this study can carve the path for an effective education for sustainable development courses in the design programs, specifically in the context of building the appropriate beliefs, attitudes and intentions toward sustainability and sustainable development in creative practices among the future designers.
A study of strategic factors affecting post-cross-border acquisition technological innovation performance of the acquiring firms using m-TISM and MICMAC
Authors: Bansal Jayant Kumar , Sengar Neeraj , Ansari Ali Zafar , Kashiramka Smita , Chaudhry Harish
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to identify the strategic factors and their effects on the post-cross-border acquisitions (CBA) technological innovation performance of the acquiring firms. It develops a hierarchical model to examine the interrelationship between identified strategic factors such as strategic flexibility, strategic ambidexterity, environmental dynamism, etc.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses modified total interpretive structural modeling qualitative methodology (m-TISM) to develop a hierarchical model and conducts a Matrice d’impacts croisés multiplication appliquée á un classment (MICMAC) analysis to show the interrelationship between strategic factors affects the acquirer’s post-CBA technological innovation performance. It determines the autonomous, dependent, linkage and independent strategic factors. It further uses comparative case analysis to empirically examine the strategic factors in real-time CBA situations.

Findings

This study shows the m-TISM-based hierarchical model highlighting the interrelation, level of autonomy, dependence and linkage among strategic factors affecting the acquirer’s post-CBA technological innovation performance. It suggests that strategic factors such as environmental dynamism, R&D competence, innovation capability and technological capability are largely autonomous and have significant driving power, whereas strategic ambidexterity and strategic flexibility are the connecting factors. post-M&A integration is the governing factor for technological innovation performance in CBA.

Research limitations/implications

The strategists and practitioners could evaluate the key strategic factors having significant driving power for strategy formulation and implementing efficient policies. By implementing the m-TISM model acquiring a firm’s post-CBA performance can be enhanced. Future researchers might utilize quantitative methods like regression and structural equation modeling in the CBA context.

Originality/value

This study uses a novel m-TISM and MICMAC approach to identify the driving and dependent factors affecting post-CBA technological innovation performance. It further provides a detailed theoretical and conceptual understanding relating to the philosophy and establishes an interrelation amongst these under-researched strategic factors in CBA.
What are the key drivers of Fraud reporting in Takaful insurance? Evidence from count data models
Authors: Hemrit Wael , Belgacem Ines
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims at investigating the effect of corporate governance attributes on the Fraud disclosure of Takaful insurance companies in Saudi Arabia from 2014 to 2022.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a self-constructed disclosure index to quantify the level of fraud information using content analysis. The count regression (Poisson and negative binomial) models in panel data modeling are used to check the interdependence relationship between the Fraud disclosure and the corporate governance structure of 26 Takaful insurers.

Findings

The findings confirm the negative effect of ownership structure and the board size on the Fraud disclosure. However, the high proportion of independent board members, the audit board committee and the size of the risk board committee positively affect the extent of Fraud disclosure. Finally, this study provide evidence that large size of Shariah board is associated with a lower level of voluntary Fraud disclosure.

Research limitations/implications

Both economics-based theories and social exchange theory provide a better basis upon which to understand mechanisms by which board of directors in Takaful insurance provides external stakeholders with valuable information about corporate fraud.

Practical implications

It seems important to equip audit and Shariah board committee with the tools to give them an operational content that focus systematically on the “tone at the top” in investigating fraud, including disclosure and discipline.

Originality/value

Corporate governance is rapidly changing in Saudi Arabia and it is unclear whether adopting a corporate governance practices in financial institutions is appropriate for Islamic insurance companies.
The impact of emotional vs rational message framing on social media users' detection and sharing of misinformation: an experimental study
Authors: Miri Arman , Karimi-Shahanjarin Akram , Afshari Maryam , Tapak Leili , Bashirian Saeed
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of message framing (emotional vs rational) on social media users' ability to accurately detect information and their intention to share messages about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an experimental design approach, the authors recruited 600 adult participants via a crowdsourcing platform. Participants were randomly assigned to receive emotional or rational messages and their ability to accurately detect information and intention to share messages were assessed.

Findings

The results showed a significant multivariate effect of message framing on both the detection of accurate information and intention to share (p < 0.001). Participants who received emotional messages demonstrated better performance in the detection and sharing task than those who received rational messages. Gender and age also had significant main effects on the outcomes, with women performing better than men and younger participants performing better than older participants in detecting the accuracy of information. The interaction effects of the independent variables were not statistically significant (p = 0.098).

Originality/value

The findings highlight the importance of considering emotional factors in combating the spread of messages about the COVID-19 vaccine on social media. Practitioners responsible for social media content should strengthen the content review mechanism, with an emphasis on screening content with high emotional arousal.