bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arcus Experience: Bridging the Data Science Gap for Nurse Researchers
Authors: Flood Eloise L. , Schweig Lorene , Froh Elizabeth B. , Frankenberger Warren D. , Lebet Ruth M. , Chen-Lim Mei-Lin , Payton K. Joy , McCabe Margaret A.
Published: May 2024

Background

For years, nurse researchers have been called upon to engage with “big data” in the electronic health record (EHR) by leading studies focusing on nurse-centric patient outcomes and providing clinical analysis of potential outcome indicators. However, the current gap in nurses’ data science education and training pose a significant barrier.

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the viability of conducting nurse-led, big-data research projects within a custom-designed computational lab and examine the support required by a team of researchers with little to no big-data experience.

Methods

Four nurse-led research teams developed a research question reliant on existing EHR data. Each team was given its own virtual computational lab populated with raw data. A data science education team provided instruction in coding languages—primarily structured query language and R—and data science techniques to organize and analyze the data.

Results

Three research teams have completed studies, resulting in one manuscript currently undergoing peer-review and two manuscripts in progress. The final team is performing data analysis. Four barriers and four facilitators to big-data projects were identified.

Discussion

As the data-science learning curve is steep, organizations need to help bridge the gap between what is currently taught in doctoral nursing programs and what is required of clinical nurse researchers to successfully engage in big-data methods. Additionally, clinical nurse researchers require protected research time and a data science infrastructure that supports novice efforts with education, mentorship, and computational lab resources.
Reproductive Carrier Screening Results With Maternal Health Implications During Pregnancy
Authors: Souter Vivienne , Prigmore Brittany , Becraft Emily , Repass Elizabeth , Smart Trevor , Sanapareddy Nina , Schweitzer Melissa , Ortiz J. Bryce , Wang Yang , Benn Peter
Published: May 2024

(Abstracted from Obstet Gynecol 2023;142:1208–1216

Mutations in a single gene (monogenetic) are significant contributors to neonatal and childhood morbidity and mortality. The incidence of these disorders in North America is ≥3.6 per 1000 births.
Medical Management of Ovarian Endometriomas
Authors: Eberle Alexa , Nguyen Dong Bach , Smith Jessica Papillon , Mansour Fady W. , Krishnamurthy Srinivasan , Zakhari Andrew
Published: May 2024

(Abstracted from Obstet Gynecol 2024;143:53–66

Up to 1 in 10 women of reproductive age is affected by endometriosis, a condition that is characterized by endometrial-like tissue manifesting in the pelvis or abdomen external to the uterus. Approximately two-thirds of patients with endometriosis will experience endometriomas or cysts on the ovaries that are visible on ultrasonography; these cysts are correlated with higher pain levels and damage to healthy ovarian tissue.
Gestational Weight Change in a Diverse Pregnancy Cohort and Mortality Over 50 Years: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Hinkle Stefanie N. , Mumford Sunni L. , Grantz Katherine L. , Mendola Pauline , Mills James L. , Yeung Edwina H. , Pollack Anna Z. , Grandi Sonia M. , Sundaram Rajeshwari , Qiao Yan , Schisterman Enrique F. , Zhang Cuilin
Published: May 2024

(Abstracted from Lancet 2023;402:1857–1865

Weight gain during pregnancy that exceeds the recommendations updated by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) in 2009 has been associated with greater postpartum weight retention. One systematic review of 9 studies found an association between excessive weight gain during pregnancy and postpartum weight retention of 3.06 kg at 3 years and 4.72 kg at 15 years.
A retrospective multidimensional comparison of microprocessor and mechanical knee users: Analysis of quality of life and satisfaction with the prosthesis
Authors: Cutti Andrea G , Morosato Federico , Gentile Cosimo , Teti Gregorio , Lettieri Emanuele , Gruppioni Emanuele
Published: May 2024

Background:

Despite the demonstrated greater efficacy of microprocessor knees (MPK) over mechanical knees (MK), the latter is still widely used by persons with transfemoral amputation. Besides motivations related to local insurance policies, quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction with the prosthesis play a key role in user preference.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to compare QoL and satisfaction in a large sample of MPK and MK users and to assess how these outcomes are explained by clinical and demographic characteristics.

Study Design:

Retrospective study.

Methods:

The study was conducted on 75 MPK and 60 MK users. Quality of life was assessed using the EuroQoL Five Dimensions and the EuroQoL Visual Analog Scale questionnaires. Satisfaction was assessed with the Satisfaction with Prosthesis questionnaire. All 3 instruments were self-administered. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted thereafter.

Results:

The difference in satisfaction between MPK and MK users was not statistically significant. Significant differences were observed instead for QoL. From the univariate regression analysis, 6 factors were significant predictors of QoL and satisfaction. On multivariate analysis, the number of significant factors was reduced to 3, namely knee type, age at the first prosthesis, and experience with prosthesis. Type of knee and age at the first prosthesis significantly predicted QoL scores, explaining 12% of EuroQoL Five Dimensions and 25% of EuroQoL Visual Analog Scale variances. Age at the first prosthesis and experience with prosthesis predicted Satisfaction with Prosthesis scores in the multivariate model, explaining 25% of the variance.

Conclusions:

MPK affects QoL but not satisfaction, which is positively driven by patients’ experience with prosthesis and negatively affected by the age at the time of the first prosthesis.
Surgical Management of Postoperative Nipple Necrosis After Inverted Nipple Correction
Authors: Qi Fazhi , Zhang Feng , Zhang Yong , Torres-Guzman Ricardo , Chaker Sara C. , Lineaweaver William , Liu Jiaqi
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The inverted nipple is a condition that affects approximately 10% of women and can have negative cosmetic and psychological implications. Surgical correction is a common approach to address this concern; however, this method can lead to complications, such as nipple necrosis. As comprehensive guidelines are currently lacking for postoperative nipple necrosis management, this study reports our experience in the management of postoperative nipple necrosis following initial attempt at surgical management.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted and included female patients who experienced postoperative nipple necrosis after inverted nipple correction between 2018 and 2021. Cases of recurrent nipple retraction following partial necrosis and cases of complete nipple necrosis were evaluated. Recurrent nipple retraction was managed using various inverted nipple correction techniques, while complete necrosis required a modified C-V flap for nipple reconstruction.

Results

A total of 25 patients with a total of 42 affected nipples were included. Thirteen cases (26 nipples) experienced recurrent nipple retraction following partial necrosis, while 12 cases (16 nipples) exhibited complete necrosis. No significant predictive variables for these complications were found. Notably, all patients achieved successful healing following single-stage surgical repair. At 6 months postoperation, the treated nipples exhibited satisfactory healing and appearance and an absence of infection or papillary necrosis. Seven reconstructed nipples showed a mean loss of projection (2.7 ± 0.98) compared with only 2 nipples in the inverted nipple correction group.

Conclusions

Distinguishing between recurrent nipple retraction after partial necrosis and complete nipple necrosis is crucial and should be taken into consideration when managing patients following inverted nipple correction.
Comparison of Skeletal Stability after Le Fort I Osteotomy With Bone Fixation Using Biodegradable and Titanium Systems: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Shido Rena , Ohba Seigo , Moriuchi Emi , Yasuda Gou , Hara Masahito , Narahara Shun , Ogata Kinuko , Yoshida Noriaki , Yamada Tomohiro
Published: May 2024

The titanium osteosynthesis system used for fixing bone segments after maxillary osteotomy provides reliable outcomes owing to its biocompatibility and adequate strength. In addition, several studies have evaluated the skeletal stability after maxillary osteotomy with fixation using a biodegradable system. However, the indications for applying a biodegradable system after maxillary osteotomy remain controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the long-term skeletal stability of bone segments after maxillary osteotomy with bone fixation using biodegradable and titanium osteosynthesis systems and to assess the usefulness of a biodegradable osteosynthesis system. Patients who underwent Le Fort I osteotomy of the maxilla to correct jaw deformities between April 2008 and March 2021 were included in this study. A total of 45 patients were included, with 28 in the biodegradable osteosynthesis system group and 17 in the titanium group. Cephalometric and computed tomography analyses were performed to evaluate the skeletal stability of the bone segments after maxillary osteotomy with bone fixation using biodegradable or titanium osteosynthesis systems. The maxillary segment was repositioned anteriorly with a clockwise rotation. Skeletal stability was similar between the biodegradable and titanium osteosynthesis systems. Segmental changes occurred mainly in the first 6 months after surgery, and the segment was completely stable between 6 and 12 months after surgery. This study revealed no significant differences in skeletal stability after maxillary osteotomy between the biodegradable and titanium osteosynthesis systems. However, the findings in this study should be interpreted with caution owing to the small sample size and small amount of maxillary-segment movement.
Out-of-Pocket Costs Among Commercially Insured Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity
Authors: Edwards Michael A. , Wall-Wieler Elizabeth , Liu Yuki , Zheng Feibi , Coviello Andrea
Published: May 2024

Objective:

To determine out-of-pocket (OOP) costs 2 years after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or initiating Ozempic for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity.

Background:

Individuals with obesity and T2D have a variety of treatment options. The risks and benefits of these treatment options are becoming more well-documented; however, the real-world patient costs of these options are not known.

Methods:

Adults with body mass index of 35 kg/m2 or higher and T2D who had an SG or used Ozempic were identified in the employer-based retrospective claims database Merative (previously Truven IBM Marketscan) from 2017 to 2021. SG cohort was defined as having an SG (without filling a prescription for Ozempic), and the Ozempic cohort was defined as continuously filling a prescription for Ozempic for at least 2 years (and not having any bariatric surgery). Individuals in each cohort were 1:1 propensity matched on demographics, obesity-related comorbidities, and baseline OOP costs. in the year before treatment. OOP costs were compared in the 2 years after treatment using paired t tests.

Results:

A total of 302 SGs were matched to 302 Ozempic patients (mean age: 50, mean baseline body mass index: 40, 41% males). OOP health care costs were similar for the SG ($2267) and Ozempic ($2131) cohorts 1 year after the index date (difference = $136, P = 0.19). OOP health care costs were significantly lower in the SG cohort ($1155 vs $2,084, P < 0.01) 2 years after the index date.

Conclusions:

Within 2 years of starting treatment, OOP health care costs were significantly lower among individuals who had a SG versus those treated with Ozempic.
Acute drug induced parkinsonian akinesia is associated with reduced rate and increased regularity of neuronal activity in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus of unanesthetized rats
Authors: Lu Xiaodong , Wickens Jeffery R. , Hyland Brian I.
Published: May 2024

The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus of the brainstem is important for a wide range of functions, including sensorimotor integration and regulation of locomotion and discrete forelimb movements. Evidence suggests it is structurally disordered as part of the neuropathology of the movement disorder Parkinson’s disease. To assess whether neuronal activity is also affected in parkinsonian model animals we used single neuron recordings in free moving rats to determine the effects of acute drug-induced parkinsonism on the firing rate of the neurons. Acute parkinsonian akinesia was associated with reduction in resting firing rate and increased firing regularity, consistent with reduced excitability in this state.
In Parkinson’s disease, affective and chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms are associated with neuronal damage markers
Authors: Al-Hakeim Hussein Kadhem , Khudhair Hayder Naji , Ranaei-Siadat Sayed-Omid , Fatemi Fataneh , Mirzajani Fateme , Niu Mengqi , Maes Michael
Published: May 2024

Background

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is frequently accompanied by mood and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptoms. It is unknown whether immune activation and insulin resistance (IR) or brain injuries impacts the severity of affective and CFS symptoms due to PD.

Aims

To examine whether immune, IR, and/or brain injury biomarkers determine affective and CFS symptoms due to PD.

Methods

Using a case (70 PD patients) control (60 healthy controls) study design, we assessed affective and CFS symptoms, measured the peripheral immune-inflammatory response system (IRS) using interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, zinc, and calcium levels, the Homeostasis Model Assessment 2 insulin resistance (HOMA2IR) index, and serum brain injury markers including S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), phosphorylated tau217 (pTau217), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).

Results

PD patients showed increased affective and CFS scores, IRS activation, HOMA2IR, NSE, GFAP, pTau217, and S100B levels as compared to controls. A large part (52.5%) of the variance in the mood+CFS score was explained by the regression on NSE, S100B, HOMA2IR index, interleukin-10 (IL-10) (all positively) and calcium (inversely). The HOMA2IR and IRS indices were significantly associated with all 4 brain injury biomarkers. A large part of the variance in the latter markers (37.0%) was explained by the cumulative effects of the IRS and HOMA2IR indices.

Discussion

RS activation and IR in patients with PD contribute to damage to glial cell projections and type III intermediate filament, which in turn contribute to affective and CFS symptoms.
Spatially tuneable multi-omics sequencing using light-driven combinatorial barcoding of molecules in tissues
Authors: Battistoni Giorgia , Torres-Garcia Sito , Sia Chee Ying , Corriero Silvia , Boquetale Carla , Williams Elena , Alini Martina , Hemmer Nicole ,   IMAXT consortium, Balasubramanian Shankar , Nicholson Benjamin Czech , Hannon Gregory J. , Bressan Dario
Published: May 2024

Mapping the molecular identities and functions of cells within their spatial context is key to understanding the complex interplay within and between tissue neighbourhoods. A wide range of methods have recently enabled spatial profiling of cellular anatomical contexts, some offering single-cell resolution. These use different barcoding schemes to encode either the location or the identity of target molecules. However, all these technologies face a trade-off between spatial resolution, depth of profiling, and scalability. Here, we presentBarcoding byActivatedLinkage of Indexes (BALI), a method that uses light to write combinatorial spatial molecular barcodes directly onto target molecules in situ, enabling multi-omic profiling by next generation sequencing. A unique feature of BALI is that the user can define the number, size, and shape, and resolution of the spatial locations to be interrogated, with the potential to profile millions of distinct regions with subcellular precision. As a proof of concept, we used BALI to capture the transcriptome, chromatin accessibility, or both simultaneously, from distinct areas of the mouse brain in single tissue sections, demonstrating strong concordance with publicly available datasets. BALI therefore combines high spatial resolution, high throughput, histological compatibility, and workflow accessibility to enable powerful spatial multi-omic profiling.
MEM-based pangenome indexing fork-mer queries
Authors: Hwang Stephen , Brown Nathaniel K. , Ahmed Omar Y. , Jenike Katharine M. , Kovaka Sam , Schatz Michael C. , Langmead Ben
Published: May 2024

Pangenomes are growing in number and size, thanks to the prevalence of high-quality long-read assemblies. However, current methods for studying sequence composition and conservation within pangenomes have limitations. Methods based on graph pangenomes require a computationally expensive multiple-alignment step, which can leave out some variation. Indexes based onk-mers and de Bruijn graphs are limited to answering questions at a specific substring lengthk. We present Maximal Exact Match Ordered (MEMO), a pangenome indexing method based on maximal exact matches (MEMs) between sequences. A single MEMO index can handle arbitrary-length queries over pangenomic windows. MEMO enables both queries that testk-mer presence/absence (membership queries) and that count the number of genomes containingk-mers in a window (conservation queries). MEMO’s index for a pangenome of 89 human autosomal haplotypes fits in 2.04 GB, 8.8×smaller than a comparable KMC3 index and 11.4×smaller than a PanKmer index. MEMO indexes can be made smaller by sacrificing some counting resolution, with our decile-resolution HPRC index reaching 0.67 GB. MEMO can conduct a conservation query for 31-mers over the human leukocyte antigen locus in 13.89 seconds, 2.5x faster than other approaches. MEMO’s small index size, lack ofk-mer length dependence, and efficient queries make it a flexible tool for studying and visualizing substring conservation in pangenomes.
Determinants of infant formula feeding in Debre Berhan city: A community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Zekarias Fitsum , Gashu Alemtsehaye , Damtew Agmasie , Amera Michael , Mulugeta Besufikad , Hailemeskel Solomon
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Exclusively breastfed infants experience more rapid growth in the first 6 months than other infants. This is because exclusive breastfeeding offers infants a food source (breast milk) that is packed with essential nutrients, immune-boosting elements, and other biologically active compounds crucial for optimal growth and development. However, owing to the increasingly expanding market for breast milk substitutes, the duration of breastfeeding is declining worldwide.

Objective

To assess the determinants of infant formula feeding among mothers of infants aged 0-6 months in Debre Berhan city, 2023

Methods and Materials

Between the 10thand 20thof May 2023, a total of 656 mothers were selected by employing a multistage sampling technique. The data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, and the results are presented using frequencies, percentages, and graphs. In addition, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were employed to identify predictors of infant formula feeding. According to the multivariable logistic regression models, variables with a p value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant predictors of infant formula feeding, and the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was used to indicate the degree of association between the predictor variables and infant formula feeding.

Results

According to our study, 39.7% of the mothers in Debre Berhan city practiced infant formula feeding. In addition, mothers who were aged 25-34 years [AOR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.26–5.70] or 35-45 years [AOR = 4.74, 95% CI: 1.86–12.1], primipara [AOR = 4.48, 95% CI: 2.69–7.45], had received antenatal care (ANC) [AOR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.74–5.06], had delivered through the caesarian section (C/S) [AOR = 4.28, 95% CI: 2.12–8.65], not aware of the risks of infant formula feeding [AOR = 7.26, 95% CI: 4.09–12.85], or who had initiated breastfeeding after an hour of birth [AOR = 5.27, 95% CI: 3.14–8.85] were more likely to feed their babies infant formula.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest a high prevalence of infant formula feeding in Debre Berhan city, and the majority of the factors that lead to infant formula feeding are modifiable if proper interventions are implemented.
A safe insect-based Chikungunya fever vaccine affords rapid and durable protection in cynomolgus macaques
Authors: Adam Awadalkareem , Woolsey Courtney , Lu Hannah , Plante Kenneth , Wallace Shannon M. , Rodriguez Leslie , Shinde Divya P. , Cui Yingjun , Franz Alexander W.E. , Thangamani Saravanan , Comer Jason E. , Weaver Scott C. , Wang Tian
Published: May 2024

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which induces chikungunya fever and chronic arthralgia, is an emerging public health concern. Safe and efficient vaccination strategies are needed to prevent or mitigate virus-associated acute and chronic morbidities for preparation of future outbreaks. Eilat (EILV)/CHIKV, a chimeric alphavirus which contains the structural proteins of CHIKV and the non-structural proteins of EILV, does not replicate in vertebrate cells. The chimeric virus was previously reported to induce protective adaptive immunity in mice. Here, we assessed the capacity of the virus to induce quick and durable protection in cynomolgus macaques. EILV/CHIKV protected macaques from wild-type (WT) CHIKV infection one year after a single dose vaccination. Transcriptome andin vitrofunctional analyses reveal that the chimeric virus triggered toll-like receptor signaling and T cell, memory B cell and antibody responses in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, EILV/CHIKV preferentially induced more durable, robust, and broader repertoire of CHIKV-specific T cell responses, compared to a live attenuated CHIKV 181/25 vaccine strain. The insect-based chimeric virus did not cause skin hypersensitivity reactions in guinea pigs sensitized to mosquito bites. Furthermore, EILV/CHIKV induced strong neutralization antibodies and protected cynomolgus macaques from WT CHIKV infection within six days post vaccination. Transcriptome analysis also suggest that the chimeric virus induction of multiple innate immune pathways, including Toll-like receptor signaling, type I IFN and IL-12 signaling, antigen presenting cell activation, and NK receptor signaling. Our findings suggest that EILV/CHIKV is a safe, highly efficacious vaccine, and provides both rapid and long-lasting protection in cynomolgus macaques.
BioInformatics Agent (BIA): Unleashing the Power of Large Language Models to Reshape Bioinformatics Workflow
Authors: Xin Qi , Kong Quyu , Ji Hongyi , Shen Yue , Liu Yuqi , Sun Yan , Zhang Zhilin , Li Zhaorong , Xia Xunlong , Deng Bing , Bai Yinqi
Published: May 2024

Bioinformatics plays a crucial role in understanding biological phenomena, yet the exponential growth of biological data and rapid technological advancements have heightened the barriers to in-depth exploration of this domain. Thereby, we proposeBio-InformaticsAgent (BIA), an intelligent agent leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) technology, to facilitate autonomous bioinformatic analysis through natural language. The primary functionalities ofBIAencompass extraction and processing of raw data and metadata, querying both locally deployed and public databases for information. It further undertakes the formulation of workflow designs, generates executable code, and delivers comprehensive reports. Focused on the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, this paper demonstratesBIA’s remarkable proficiency in information processing and analysis, as well as executing sophisticated tasks and interactions. Additionally, we analyzed failed executions from the agent and demonstrate prospective enhancement strategies including selfrefinement and domain adaptation. The future outlook includes expandingBIA’s practical implementations across multi-omics data, to alleviating the workload burden for the bioinformatics community and empowering more profound investigations into the mysteries of life sciences.BIAis available at:https://github.com/biagent-dev/biagent.
QCD equation of state at nonzero baryon density in an external magnetic field
Authors: Astrakhantsev N. , Braguta V. V. , Kotov A. Yu. , Roenko A. A.
Published: May 2024

This paper is devoted to the study of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) equation of state in external magnetic field and nonzero baryon density. Our study is carried out by means of lattice simulation with 2+1 dynamical staggered quarks at the physical masses. The simulation is conducted at imaginary baryon chemical potential what allowed us to overcome the sign problem. We expand the pressure in the baryon imaginary chemical potential and study three leading nonzero coefficients in this expansion. These coefficients were calculated for the following values of magnetic field: eB=0.3, 0.6, 1.2  GeV2 with the lattice sizes 8×323, 10×403, 12×483. Using these data we take continuum limit for the coefficients. Our results indicate considerable enhancement of the expansion coefficients by the magnetic field.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution with Arbitrarily Small Nonlocality
Authors: Wooltorton Lewis , Brown Peter , Colbeck Roger
Published: May 2024

Device-independent quantum key distribution allows two users to set up shared cryptographic key without the need to trust the quantum devices used. Doing so requires nonlocal correlations between the users. However, in Farkas [] it was shown that for known protocols nonlocality is not always sufficient, leading to the question of whether there is a fundamental lower bound on the minimum amount of nonlocality needed for any device-independent quantum key distribution implementation. Here, we show that no such bound exists, giving schemes that achieve key with correlations arbitrarily close to the local set. Furthermore, some of our constructions achieve the maximum of 1 bit of key per pair of entangled qubits. We achieve this by studying a family of Bell inequalities that constitute all self-tests of the maximally entangled state with a single linear Bell expression. Within this family there exist nonlocal correlations with the property that one pair of inputs yield outputs arbitrarily close to perfect key. Such correlations exist for a range of Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt values, including those arbitrarily close to the classical bound. Finally, we show the existence of quantum correlations that can generate both perfect key and perfect randomness simultaneously, while also displaying arbitrarily small Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt violation. This opens up the possibility of a new class of cryptographic protocol.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
New Directions for Axionlike Particle Searches Combining Nuclear Reactors and Haloscopes
Authors: Arias-Aragón Fernando , Brdar Vedran , Quevillon Jérémie
Published: May 2024

In this Letter, we propose reactoscope, a novel experimental setup for axionlike particle (ALP) searches. Nuclear reactors produce a copious number of photons, a fraction of which could convert into ALPs via Primakoff process in the reactor core. The generated flux of ALPs leaves the nuclear power plant and its passage through a region with a strong magnetic field results in the efficient conversion to photons that can be detected. Such magnetic field is the key component of axion haloscope experiments. Adjacent nuclear reactor and axion haloscope experiments exist in Grenoble, France. There, the Institut Laue-Langevin research reactor is situated only ∼700  m from GrAHal, the axion haloscope platform designed to offer several volume and magnetic field (up to 43 T) configurations. We derive sensitivity projections for photophilic ALP searches with the institute and GrAHal, and also scrutinize analogous realizations, such as the one comprising the Axion Solar Telescope experiment at CERN and the Bugey nuclear power plant. The results that we obtain complement and extend the reach of existing laboratory experiments, e.g., the light-shining-through-walls experiment. While the derived sensitivities are not competitive when compared to the astrophysical limits, our analysis is free from the assumptions associated with those limits.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Cognitive board diversity and profitability – evidence from Islamic banks in Southeast Asia
Authors: Mukhibad Hasan , Setiawan Doddy , Aryani Y. Anni , Falikhatun Falikhatun
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Literature on the board diversity of Islamic banks (IB) found limited knowledge of the “deep-level” attribute. This study aims to explain the impact of the board diversity attributes (education levels, educational backgrounds and the interactions between these two attributes of diversity) on profitability.

Design/methodology/approach

The research sample is 37 fully flagged IBs from five Southeast Asian countries, covering nine years (2010–2019). Data were analyzed using the two-step system generalized moment (2SYS-GMM) method.

Findings

We found that the cognitive conflict between the board of directors (BOD) and the Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB), which has heterogeneity in its education level and educational background, positively affects profitability. These results reinforce the resources dependence theory (RDT) approach that having boards with heterogeneous characteristics is beneficial for IB.

Practical implications

The findings of this study would offer useful information for Islamic banking authorities to revise or formulate rules and guidelines and make a greater effort to implement corporate governance (CG) reform measures by determining educational level and background as a requirement to become a member of a BOD or an SSB.

Originality/value

This paper contributes in three ways: (1) we use the “deep-level” diversity attributes of the BOD and the SSB, (2) it focuses on cognitive conflict in boards by presenting the expertise diversity of the BOD and SSB and (3) we interact with the level of education to evaluate the effect of a cognitive conflict.
The effects of board compensation on the voluntary establishment of an internal audit function
Authors: Rönkkö Jaakko , Paananen Mikko , Lahikainen Aleksi
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study examines the effects of board members’ compensation on the voluntary establishment of an internal audit function in publicly listed firms. While previous studies have identified some individual determinants related to the voluntary establishment of an internal audit function, the existing evidence on how board members’ compensation affects voluntary use of internal audit is, at best, ambiguous, scarce and incoherent.

Design/methodology/approach

Board compensation is a central incentive instrument in the classic principal–agent relationship between the owners and board members. The theme is empirically examined by using data compiled from Finnish publicly listed companies for the period 2015 to 2018. Since the dependent variable of the study is a binary variable, the logistic regression method was chosen as the statistical method of the study.

Findings

Our results unequivocally show that generous compensation of the board members increases the likelihood of establishing an internal audit function. Thus, we conclude that good corporate governance can be improved through generous compensation of board members.

Originality/value

Identifying the determinants of internal audit is vital to better understand the mechanisms that facilitate firms' improvement of internal control and risk management in terms of voluntarily adopting an internal audit function, and the implementation of good governance in general. Although numerous determinants of internal audit have been identified in previous studies, this study showed that one of the key determinants has so far been overlooked; namely, the remuneration of board members.
Organizational mission statement components: a comparative study between Indian and Singaporean mission statements in the healthcare sector via Python analysis
Authors: Zairbani Abdulkader , Senthil Kumar J.P.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to compare the mission statements of Indian and Singaporean firms in the healthcare sector, and define the main components of Indian and Singaporean mission statements.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based on a network analytic approach and content analysis. The research was performed on 200 companies (100 Indian companies and 100 Singaporean companies). For each company, we searched for a mission statement published in the company website. Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (NMF) in Python programming language was utilized to obtain the differences in the components of mission statements between Indian and Singaporean firms.

Findings

The study results indicate a similarity and variation between Indian and Singaporean mission statements. Both countries are more concerned about patients, service, community, quality, and healthcare in their mission statements, but Indian mission statements emphasize quality, affordable price, and technology more than Singaporean firms. In contrast, Singaporean mission statements tend to highlight innovation and company value. This research will assist strategic managers in identifying the mission statement components and choosing the right strategy for the organization.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature and ethos theory by identifying and distinguishing the paramount differences between the Indian and Singaporean mission statement components in the healthcare sector.
Explore the relationship between childcare gap policies and children’s social quality: a comparative analysis of European countries
Authors: Yu Wai Kam , Chau Ruby Chui Man , Yu Clement , Ho Grace
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This article focuses on children’s social quality. Social quality can be understood as the extent to which people can engage in the social, economic, and cultural lives of their communities, under conditions that strengthen their well-being and potential. This article has two purposes. The first is to develop a league table ranking 23 countries’ children’s social quality based on comparative data. The second is to examine the correlation between these countries' commitment to promoting children’s social quality and reducing the child care gap, where childcare is insufficiently covered by child care leave or Early Childhood Education and Care.

Design/methodology/approach

We analyse the findings obtained from the children’s social quality league table and the child care gap league table for the 23 countries.

Findings

The findings reveal mixed relationships between the children’s social quality league table and the child care gap league table. These findings indicate that we cannot assume that countries prioritizing the reduction of the child care gap automatically possess the capacity or willingness to promote other aspects of children’s welfare. They also highlight the significance of encouraging countries to enhance their children’s social quality as a way to promote children’s welfare rather than solely reducing the child care gap.

Originality/value

Children’s social quality is a new research area. To explore it, this article makes an innovative attempt by exploring the connection between social quality, children’s welfare, and the child care gap. The league table of children’s social quality this article developed is the first of its kind.
My online self identifies with you, but my offline self skips you: the duality of online and offline personalities in identification with the endorser
Authors: Jeon Yongwoog Andrew
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The current study examines a novel model that examines how the online and offline or general personality of the same person predicts social identification with the endorser in a message and their subsequent online behaviors (e.g. ad-skipping) on social media, both differentially and simultaneously.

Design/methodology/approach

Real-time ad-skipping behaviors were tracked and analyzed across three online experiments.

Findings

The results supported the model explicating the dual and simultaneous influence of offline and online personalities on ad-skipping behaviors. Specifically, in response to a skippable video ad, online and offline personalities respectively increase and decrease viewers’ identification with the endorser. Consequently, the higher or lower the identification, the lower or higher the rate of ad-skipping behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

The current study will benefit from a larger set of real-world data (i.e. big data) to enhance the generalizability of the findings, supporting the model.

Practical implications

With the growing prevalence of the gap between online and offline self-identities driven by social media usage, this paper suggests that the ad message needs to address the dual influence of both online and offline identities on ad-skipping behaviors.

Originality/value

The current study tests a novel model that shows that the online and offline personalities of the same person concurrently influence one’s behavior on the Internet, rather than separately.
Mitigating perceived overload of communication visibility: the role of ESM policies
Authors: Sun Yuan , Fang Shuyue , Jeyaraj Anand , Zhu Mengyi
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore how communication visibility affects employees’ work engagement from the negative perspective of employees’ perceived overload in the context of enterprise social media (ESM) and the role of ESM policies in the relationship between communication visibility and perceived overload.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines how communication visibility (i.e. message transparency and network translucence) affects employees’ perceived overload (i.e. information overload and social overload), which in turn affects employees’ work engagement, and how ESM policies moderate the relationship between communication visibility and perceived overload. Partial least squares (PLS) analysis was conducted on data gathered from 224 ESM users in workplaces.

Findings

Communication visibility has significant positive impacts on perceived overload, perceived overload has significant negative impacts on work engagement and ESM policies negatively moderate the relationships between communication visibility and perceived overload, except for the relationship between message transparency and social overload.

Practical implications

The findings provide new insights for organizational managers to formulate ESM policies to mitigate perceived overload and guidance for ESM developers to improve ESM functions to alleviate perceived overload.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence to explain the role of communication visibility and perceived overload in employees’ work engagement, which contributes to the existing literature on the negative impacts of communication visibility.
The effect of non-audit fees on interest payments classification shifting: does internal governance and firm financial well-being matter?
Authors: Hessian Mohamed , Zalata Alaa Mansour , Hussainey Khaled
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study examines the effect of non-audit fees (NAF) provisions on interest payments classification shifting. In addition, we investigate to what extent the NAF economic bonding and interest payments classification shifting is contingent on internal governance and firm financial well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed probit regression using a sample of UK non-financial firms indexed in FT UK (500) over the period from 2009 to 2017.

Findings

We find evidence that the economic bonding of NAF between external auditors and their clients is more likely to encourage managers in UK firms to manipulate operating cash flows through interest payment classification shifting. In addition, and interestingly, our results evince that classification-shifting may be the less costly and soft choice of managers in firms with strong governance and charging higher NAF. Furthermore, we show that financially distressed firms associated with their auditors in purchasing non-audit services are more prone to attempting to manipulate and engage in interest payments classification-shifting. Our result did not provide a significant effect of external auditor tenure on the interest payments classification shifting.

Research limitations/implications

Our findings are subject to the following limitations: First, this study uses a composite index to measure the quality of internal corporate governance. It focuses only on the board of directors, but this index does not reflect other internal governance mechanisms. Second, this study is subject to limited study time due to the implementation of key IFRS standards (IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and IFRS 15 Revenue from Contract with Customers) from 2018–2019.

Practical implications

This study was motivated by the UK’s Financial Reporting Council regulators' pressure on the Big 4 audit firms to move more audit time into main auditing activities, reduce cross-selling to audit clients and separate their audit practices by 2024. Overall, we provide new evidence that directs a close spotlight on the threats of NAF that are potentially useful to regulators, shareholders and investors.

Originality/value

It is motivated by the UK’s Financial Reporting Council regulators' pressure on the Big 4 to move more audit firm time into main auditing activities, reduce cross-selling to audit clients and separate their audit practices by 2024. Overall, we provide new evidence that directs a close spotlight on the threats of NAS that are potentially useful to regulators, shareholders and investors.
Revisiting the relationship between state governance, employment, water quality and agricultural productivity in N-11 countries
Authors: Thai Thi Hong Minh
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The agriculture sector is crucial for all economies, especially the developing ones. However, agricultural production is influenced by government intervention, which outshines the significant role of good governance indicators in agricultural productivity. In addition to this, the major climate changes also posed various challenges and led to water shortages and yield losses. Thus affecting agricultural production. In this paper, we address the issue by determining the association between state governance and agricultural productivity in N-11 countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel data have been collected from 2000 to 2021 through the Governance Indicator, World Development Indicator and World Bank databases. For data analysis, the researcher has utilized the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) estimations.

Findings

Through ARDL estimations, it is suggested that corruption (CC), employment in agriculture (EAG), political stability and violence absence (PS), rule of law (RL), regulatory equality (RQ) and water quality (WQ) significantly impact agricultural productivity (AGP) in the long run. In the short run, the impact of RL on AGP has been significant.

Research limitations/implications

This study follows the method of data collection from secondary sources, which hinders the effectiveness of this study as, on the basis of the respective data, the potential of the researcher to get specific answers to research questions has been affected. Also, this study examines the context of N-11 countries from 2000 to 2021, which exerts a geographical limitation. While exploring the association between state governance and agricultural productivity, this study neglects the internal aspects of implementing state policies in firms.

Originality/value

On practical grounds, the significant association demonstrated by this study encourages agricultural firms to keenly consider state policies to gain sustainable agricultural development. Moreover, this study encourages agricultural firms to efficiently follow governance policies for efficient productivity. The outcomes of the study have shown that agricultural employment and governance infrastructure can efficiently enhance agricultural productivity. Besides, as per the results, water quality also positively impacts agricultural productivity; thus, relevant steps can be taken by the agricultural sector to improve the quality of water.
Competition law enforcement and digital platforms non-price competition
Authors: Golovanova Svetlana , Pontual Ribeiro Eduardo
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Explore the effects of competition policy on an important competitive dimension of digital platforms, namely quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The deterrence effect of competition policy should induce firms to compete on merits, with lower prices and higher quality for consumers. Deterrence, or the inducement not to infringe competition law, may depend on the harshness of penalties and/or the likelihood of conviction. We use competition policy indicators that are associated with these deterrence dimensions, allowing for non-linearities and interactions of the indicators. We use a unique data survey of digital gig platform users, that covers at least two dozen platforms and more than 50 countries. Quality is measured using multidimensional indicators of the level of satisfaction of platform users with different platform services. We control for platform user and country characteristics, including other regulatory indicators such as labor laws, to recover different effects.

Findings

Results suggest that competition policy is relevant for differences in product quality across platforms and countries. Important non-linearities are uncovered, where substantive rules of competition policy interact with competition authority power. The effects depend on either level of the indicators, suggesting that deterrence effects depend upon a combination of both law in the books and competition policy practice.

Practical implications

The estimates suggest a need to balance both dimension of deterrence, namely, strictness and effectiveness to expand the effects of competition policy on competition.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that explores the effect of competition policy on non-price or non-margin competition dimension. It is the first to study the effect on a sample of digital platforms. It contributes to the literature of deterrence effects of competition policy.
Alarmins in cutaneous malignant melanoma: An updated overview of emerging evidence on their pathogenetic, diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic role
Authors: Papa Vincenzo , Li Pomi Federica , Borgia Francesco , Vaccaro Mario , Pioggia Giovanni , Gangemi Sebastiano
Published: May 2024

Malignant cutaneous melanoma is the leading cause of death for skin cancer to date, with globally increasing incidence rates. In this epidemiological scenario, international scientific research is exerting efforts to identify new clinical strategies aimed at the prognostic amelioration of the disease. Very promising and groundbreaking in this context is the scientific interest related to alarmins and their pioneering utility in the setting of the pathogenetic understanding, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy for malignant cutaneous melanoma. However, the scientific investigations on this matter should not overlook their still well‐presented dual and contradictory role. The aim of our critical analysis is to provide an up‐to‐date overview of the emerging evidence concerning the dichotomous role of alarmins in the aforementioned clinical settings. Our literature revision was based on the extensive body of both preclinical and clinical findings published on the PubMed database over the past 5 years. In addition to this, we offer a special focus on potentially revolutionary new therapeutic frontiers, which, on the strength of their earliest successes in other clinical areas, could inaugurate a new era of personalized and precision medicine in the field of dermato‐oncology.