bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving digital work experience: an experimental investigation of IT identity and organization support
Authors: Fan Shea X. , Duan Sophia Xiaoxia , Deng Hepu
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Improving digital work experience is critical for the job performance of individuals and the competitiveness of organizations due to their increasing use. This paper investigates how organization support affects the digital work experience of individuals differently depending on their levels of information technology (IT) identity.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon the IT identity literature and the conservation of resources (COR) theory, a conceptual model is developed, tested and validated using the data collected in Australia through an experimental design in which IT identity is manipulated.

Findings

This study reveals a nuanced impact of organization support on shaping digital work experience. Specifically, it finds that technical support is more effective in improving the digital work experience of individuals with a high level of IT identity, whereas well-being support is more effective in enhancing the digital work experience of individuals with a low level of IT identity.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the IT identity literature by introducing a novel experimental design to manipulate IT identity in the digital work context. It also contributes to the digital work literature by introducing a resource perspective for identifying well-being support, technical support and IT identity as the key resources in shaping digital work experience and calling for attention to IT identity as a boundary condition on the effectiveness of organization support. The findings can help organizations formulate better strategies and policies to improve digital work experience by providing tailored support to individuals with different levels of IT identity.
Roldós y Compañía, the oldest operating advertising agency in the world
Authors: Serra Folch Carolina , Castellano Cristina Martorell
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to review the history of Roldós y Compañía, one of the oldest advertising agencies in the world and the oldest currently operating. This research aims to highlight the importance of this agency and its founder, Rafael Roldós Viñolas – the first documented advertising agent in Spain to this day – in shaping the emerging Spanish advertising industry at the end of the 19th century.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used in this paper is based on a review of period and contemporary literature, as well as on newspaper sources and documents from the private archive of Roldós, S.A.

Findings

In its early years, the agency’s participation in two of the most significant events for the modernization of the city of Barcelona, the Universal Exhibition of 1888 and the International Exhibition of 1929; as well as the ideation and implementation of several urban projects with the aim of finding new formulas and advertising media are factors that make it one of the most important in the country. In 1929, the alliance Roldós-Tiroleses, S.A. de Publicidad, the first great merger of advertising agencies in Spain, which lasted three years, was led. The outbreak of the Civil War and the subsequent post-war period marked a few years of business irregularities and advertising silences that gave instability to its activity. During the last third of the 20th century, the agency was immersed in the generalized advertising euphoria around the world. With the arrival of North American agencies in Barcelona and the consequent business movements, Roldós, S.A. specializes in the processing of advertisements and media planning. The 21st century began with important changes in the media planning sector, and the agency was forced to restructure its services and organizational structure. In 2022, it celebrates 150 years of uninterrupted activity, recognized by the country’s business sector.

Practical implications

This research aims to internationalize the history of the Roldós y Compañía agency, so that it can be studied together with other names of Anglo-Saxon advertising pioneers who were contemporaries of Rafael Roldós.

Originality/value

Scientific research on the history of advertising agencies, especially in Spain, is scarce, so this paper aims to help fill this gap.
Audit committee characteristics and firm performance: a cross-country meta-analysis
Authors: Altin Meltem
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of audit committee characteristics on firm performance. In particular, the authors employ the random-effects variant of the Hunter–Schmidt meta-analyze procedure to analyze the effects of key audit committee attributes, namely audit committee independence, audit committee expertise, audit committee size, audit committee meeting along with big four impact on firm performance. The authors hope to gain a better understanding of the function of audit committees in enhancing firm performance and to uncover potential discrepancies in prior findings due to varying economic levels or performance metrics.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the Hunter–Schmidt method to conduct a meta-analysis of 39 previous studies published between 2012 and 2022 to investigate the relationship between audit committee characteristics and firm performance.

Findings

The results indicate that audit committee independence, expertise, size and affiliation with the big four have a significant and positive effect on firm performance, while audit committee meetings have a non-significant effect. Furthermore, findings suggest that companies should carefully consider the contextual factors that may impact the effectiveness of their corporate governance structures, such as economic level, when designing and implementing governance mechanisms.

Originality/value

This study is significant as it is the first to combine and analyze previous research on this topic and highlights the importance of certain audit committee characteristics in enhancing financial reporting quality and corporate governance.
The relationship between dietary polyamine levels, metabolic risk parameters and anthropometric measurements in postmenopausal women
Authors: Tari Selcuk Kevser , Atan Ramazan Mert , Arslan Sedat , Dal Nursel , Sahin Kezban
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between dietary polyamine levels, metabolic risk parameters and anthropometric measurements in postmenopausal women.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 562 45–64-year-old postmenopausal women who presented to a Family Health Center. To collect the data, the Descriptive Information Form and Food Frequency Questionnaire were used. In the data analysis, numbers, percentages, mean, standard deviation and multiple linear regression analysis were used.

Findings

The multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that dietary putrescine intake was negatively associated with systolic blood pressure (ß = −0.179, p < 0.001), dietary spermidine intake was positively associated with waist circumference (WC) (ß = 0.142, p = 0.013), systolic blood pressure (ß = 0.188, p = 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (ß = 0.218, p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (ß = 0.169, p = 0.003) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) (ß = 0.156, p = 0.006), and dietary spermine intake was negatively associated with WC (ß = −0.158, p = 0.003), systolic blood pressure (ß = −0.195, p < 0.001), BMI (ß = −0.107, p = 0.042) and WHtR (ß = −0.138, p = 0.009).

Research limitations/implications

Owing to the study’s cross-sectional nature, the lack of succession in the cause–effect relationship, the use of self-report Food Frequency Questionnaire to determine dietary polyamine intake and the inability to analyze seasonal differences are among the limitations of the study.

Originality/value

In this study, an association was determined between dietary polyamines, metabolic risk parameters and anthropometric measurements. The findings suggest that dietary polyamines in human health should be further investigated owing to the increasing metabolic risk parameters.
Geometric analysis of early Ottoman tombs within the context of conservation studies
Authors: Niğdeli Zeynep Fatma , Gençer Funda , Yüksek İzzet
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to provide a dataset about geometrical constructions of early Ottoman tombs for conservation studies. Thus, a proposal for the restitution phase of the damaged tombs aims to develop.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is composed of four phases. First, the representative plan and section drawings of early Ottoman Tombs were redrawn; second, a geometrical analysis was made, a proposal table was prepared for the restitution of the damaged tombs; and last, this table was applied to tomb examples and restitution drawings are verified with the original situation of the tombs.

Findings

Early Ottoman tombs may be interpreted through geometric shapes, including the square, circle, triangle, octagon, arsin grid and quadrature systems. The arsin grid system provides information about the position of the domes and the height of the drums and windows. Quadrature establishes the highest point of domes and entrances. The proposal table, developed from the obtained results, facilitated the identification of the original elements, including the dome, drum, window and portal. This information is crucial for conducting further studies on restitution.

Originality/value

The abundance and dispersed nature of tomb structures compared to other architectural designs pose challenges in their scholarly examination. The early Ottoman tombs, which experienced an increase in numbers following the Conquest of Istanbul, serve as the initial expressions and embodiments of novel architectural endeavors. Thus, the determination of design ideas of the early Ottoman tombs sheds light on Ottoman architectural practice, which has remained largely unknown and guided the conservation studies of the tombs that have lost their integrity and originality.
An investigation into the mechanisms that influence laser sintered polyamide-12 top surfaces
Authors: Tarver James , Nar Kieran , Majewski Candice
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the extent to which the mechanisms of polymer melt viscous flow and finish layer powder particle adhesion influence the top surface topographies of laser sintered polyamide (PA12) components.

Design/methodology/approach

Laser sintered specimens were manufactured at varying laser parameters in accordance with a full factorial design of experiments. Focus variation microscopy was used to ascertain insight into their top surface heights and peak/valley distributions. Subsequently, regression expressions were generated to model the former with respect to applied laser parameters. Auxiliary experimental analysis was also performed to validate the proposed mechanisms and statistical models.

Findings

Within the parameter range tested, this work found the root mean square (Sq) and skewness (Ssk) roughness responses of laser sintered PA12 top surfaces to be inversely related to one another, and both also principally influenced by beam spacing. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that using optimised laser parameters (to promote polymer melt dispersion) and building without finish layers (to avert subsequent powder particle adhesion) reduced the mean Sq roughness of resultant topographies by 30.8% and 47.9% relative to standard laser sintered PA12 top surfaces, respectively.

Practical implications

The scope to which laser sintered PA12 top surfaces can be modified was highlighted.

Originality/value

This research demonstrated the impact the mechanisms of polymer melt viscous flow and finish layer powder particle adhesion have on laser sintered PA12 top surfaces.
Teaching sociology in a divided society
Authors: Chiu Wing Kai Stephen , Hui Lai Hang Dennis
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to offer authors’ humble yet unique experiences about developing an undergraduate sociology programme in an increasingly divided city.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors reflect upon the development of a new sociology programme in Hong Kong in which a wide spectrum of expectations from different stakeholders, together with their own sense of mission towards sociology education, have set a very challenging stage.

Findings

Developing an undergraduate sociology programme has never been easy, and there is no self-complacence as far as developing a programme that is of both academic and social values.

Originality/value

This paper offers a first-hand account of how sociology educators have developed a new sociology programme in a unique social context.
Tree diversity and mycorrhizal type co‐determine multitrophic ecosystem functions
Authors: Yi Huimin , Eisenhauer Nico , Austen Jan Christoph , Rebollo Roberto , Ray Tama , Bönisch Elisabeth , von Oheimb Goddert , Fichtner Andreas , Schuldt Andreas , Patoine Guillaume , Ferlian Olga
Published: January 2024

The relationship between biodiversity and multitrophic ecosystem functions (BEF) remains poorly studied in forests. There have been inconsistent reports regarding the significance of tree diversity effects on ecosystem functions, which may be better understood by considering critical biotic interactions of trees.

This study investigates the role of tree‐mycorrhizal associations that may shape forest BEF relationships across multiple ecosystem functions. We used a field experiment (MyDiv) that comprises 10 deciduous tree species associated with either arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi to create gradients in species richness (1, 2, 4 species) and different mycorrhizal communities (only AM‐species [AM fungi associated tree species] or EcM‐species [EcM fungi associated tree species], or a combination of both). We investigated the effects of tree species richness and mycorrhizal types on crucial multitrophic ecosystem functions (foliage damage, predation [using artificial caterpillars] and soil fauna feeding activity [~0–10 cm]) and assessed how these effects were mediated by stand characteristics.

Overall, we found that tree species richness and mycorrhizal types strongly affected multitrophic ecosystem functions. Compared to monocultures, 4‐species mixtures with both mycorrhizal types experienced significantly lower foliage damage. The mixtures of EcM‐species supported significantly higher predation (i.e. a greater proportion of artificial caterpillars being attacked), and this effect strengthened with tree species richness. The effects of tree species richness on soil fauna feeding activity were negative across all mycorrhizal types in the lower soil layer. Moreover, we showed that tree diversity effects were mediated by above‐ground tree biomass, vertical structural complexity and leaf quality, with the dominating mechanisms largely depending on the mycorrhizal types.

Synthesis. Tree species richness affected multitrophic ecosystem functioning by (1) directly decreasing the proportion of foliage damage in the communities with both mycorrhizal types, where AM‐species benefited from mixing with EcM‐species, and (2) increasing predation rates via changes in the vertical structural complexity in mixtures of EcM‐species. Our results highlight the importance of considering mycorrhizal types for managing well‐functioning mixed‐species forests and contribute to broadening the mechanistic understanding of the context‐dependent BEF relationships in forests.
THE MULTIPLE ENACTMENTS OF CONTAMINATION: Rethinking the Remediation and Redevelopment of Military‐Industrial Brownfields in the Tel Aviv Region
Authors: Ansenberg Uri , Marom Nathan
Published: January 2024

The remediation and redevelopment of industrially contaminated land are complex challenges for urban regions worldwide. Yet the literature on urban brownfields mostly addresses this as a technical problem through dichotomic and anthropocentric terms, contrasting the passive and negative role of the contamination as a toxic entity in the ground with the active and positive roles assigned to human actors such as planners, developers and communities. This article contests this prevalent view by tracing in detail debates concerning the remediation of three highly contaminated military‐industrial brownfield sites in the Tel Aviv metropolitan region. Drawing on notions of ontological multiplicity and enactment from science and technology studies and on qualitative analysis of a vast database of planning protocols and court hearings alongside interviews with key stakeholders, we uncover how contamination is enacted in multiple ways as mobile/immobile, unified/fragmented, remediable/irremediable. Furthermore, following one of our field's inherent controversies—whether to fully map the contamination prior to planning the sites—the article highlights the attempts to regulate this multiplicity and replace it with a single coherent contamination. By acknowledging the multiple enactments of contamination, our approach offers a more nuanced understanding that could help stakeholders rethink the remediation and redevelopment of urban brownfields beyond simplistic technical solutions or neoliberal policy imperatives.
Assessing the potential of ICT to increase land and labour productivity in agriculture: Global and regional perspectives
Authors: Rajkhowa Pallavi , Baumüller Heike
Published: January 2024

Increasing agricultural productivity in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) is an important channel for reducing poverty and food insecurity. Information and communication technologies (ICT) have the potential to boost agricultural productivity by lowering transaction costs and enhancing access to information. Even though there are several micro‐level studies analysing the effects of ICT on agricultural productivity, there is scant research addressing the role of ICT in agricultural productivity at the global and regional levels. Using data from 86 countries for the period 2000 to 2019 and utilising a fixed effect panel regression with a feasible generalised least square approach, we find that globally there is a positive and significant association between ICT uptake and both land and labour productivity in agriculture. In each case, however, the magnitude of the effect is much smaller than other important determinants, such as human capital, access to inputs or environmental factors. At the regional level, the relationship between ICT uptake and land productivity is not significant in Africa and Asia, while we find a significant effect on labour productivity. This finding indicates that while ICT can provide valuable information and tools for land management, the effect on land productivity might be less immediate in these regions. Finally, we revisit the question of whether ICT expansion increases agricultural productivity gaps between high‐income nations and LMICs. In contrast to previous research, this study does not find significant differences in the effects of ICT on land and labour productivity between higher‐income and lower‐income countries.
From bytes to bites: Advancing the food industry with three‐dimensional food printing
Authors: Hamilton Allyson N. , Mirmahdi Razieh S. , Ubeyitogullari Ali , Romana Chetanjot K. , Baum Jamie I. , Gibson Kristen E.
Published: January 2024

The rapid advancement of three‐dimensional (3D) printing (i.e., a type of additive manufacturing) technology has brought about significant advances in various industries, including the food industry. Among its many potential benefits, 3D food printing offers a promising solution to deliver products meeting the unique nutritional needs of diverse populations while also promoting sustainability within the food system. However, this is an emerging field, and there are several aspects to consider when planning for use of 3D food printing for large‐scale food production. This comprehensive review explores the importance of food safety when using 3D printing to produce food products, including pathogens of concern, machine hygiene, and cleanability, as well as the role of macronutrients and storage conditions in microbial risks. Furthermore, postprocessing factors such as packaging, transportation, and dispensing of 3D‐printed foods are discussed. Finally, this review delves into barriers of implementation of 3D food printers and presents both the limitations and opportunities of 3D food printing technology.
The difference and variation of gut bacterial community and host physiology can support adaptation during and after overwintering in frog population
Authors: PARK Jun‐Kyu , DO Yuno
Published: January 2024

The hibernation of amphibians can offer a unique window into overwintering adaptation processes and host–gut microbiota interactions through changes in metabolic availability and homeostasis. We attempted to identify differences in the physiology and gut microbiome during and after hibernation in Japanese wrinkled frogs (Glandirana rugosa), an aquatic overwintering amphibian. After hibernation, the high alpha and beta diversity of the gut bacterial community appears to reflect the more diverse and complex environmental conditions. During winter, Proteobacteria dominated the majority of the gut bacterial community, likely due to high oxygen saturation. After hibernation, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes increased, which are supportive of host metabolism by gut microbiota. Corticosterone also showed high values and variances after hibernation, presumably allowing the population to remain adaptable across a broad range of environmental gradients. Innate immunity was high after hibernation but exhibited low variation among populations, which supports the idea of a prioritized investment in immunity after hibernation. Blood biochemistry suggests that aquatic overwintering frogs have a mechanism to adapt through overhydration and regulate homeostasis through water excretion associated with the kidney and urine after hibernation. Frog populations exhibit variations and adaptability in gut microbiota and physiology during and after hibernation: Through this, they may demonstrate an adaptive response that regulates metabolic availability in preparation for unpredictable environmental changes. We also propose that the maintenance of Proteobacteria during hibernation can support the colonization of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes after hibernation, underscoring the need to study the complex effects of gut microbiota across multiple life stages.
Multiplexing PCR allows the identification of within‐species genetic diversity in ancient eDNA
Authors: Lammers Y. , Taberlet P. , Coissac E. , Elliott L. D. , Merkel M. F. , Pitelkova I. ,   PhyloAlps Consortium,   PhyloNorway Consortium, Alsos I. G.
Published: January 2024

Sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) has rarely been used to obtain population‐level data due to either a lack of taxonomic resolution for the molecular method used, limitations in the reference material or inefficient methods. Here, we present the potential of multiplexing different PCR primers to retrieve population‐level genetic data from sedaDNA samples. Vaccinium uliginosum (Ericaceae) is a widespread species with a circumpolar distribution and three lineages in present‐day populations. We searched 18 plastid genomes for intraspecific variable regions and developed 61 primer sets to target these. Initial multiplex PCR testing resulted in a final set of 38 primer sets. These primer sets were used to analyse 20 lake sedaDNA samples (11,200 cal. yr BP to present) from five different localities in northern Norway, the Alps and the Polar Urals. All known V. uliginosum lineages in these regions and all primer sets could be recovered from the sedaDNA data. For each sample on average 28.1 primer sets, representing 34.15 sequence variants, were recovered. All sediment samples were dominated by a single lineage, except three Alpine samples which had co‐occurrence of two different lineages. Furthermore, lineage turnover was observed in the Alps and northern Norway, suggesting that present‐day phylogeographical studies may overlook past genetic patterns. Multiplexing primer is a promising tool for generating population‐level genetic information from sedaDNA. The relatively simple method, combined with high sensitivity, provides a scalable method which will allow researchers to track populations through time and space using environmental DNA.
ontophylo: Reconstructing the evolutionary dynamics of phenomes using new ontology‐informed phylogenetic methods
Authors: Porto Diego S. , Uyeda Josef , Mikó István , Tarasov Sergei
Published: January 2024

Reconstructing ancestral states for discrete characters is essential for understanding trait evolution in organisms. However, most existing methods are limited to individual characters and often overlook the hierarchical and interactive nature of traits. Recent advances in phylogenetics now offer the possibility of integrating knowledge from anatomy ontologies to reconstruct multiple discrete character histories. Nonetheless, practical applications that fully harness the potential of these new approaches are still lacking.

This paper introduces ontophylo, an R package that extends the PARAMO pipeline to address these limitations. Ontophylo enables the reconstruction of phenotypic entities composed of amalgamated characters, such as anatomical regions or entire phenomes. It offers three new applications: (1) reconstruction of evolutionary rates of amalgamated characters using phylogenetic non‐homogeneous Poisson process (pNHPP) that allows modelling rate variation across tree branches and time; (2) reconstruction of morphospace dynamics; and (3) visualization of evolutionary rates on vector images of organisms. Ontophylo incorporates ontological knowledge to facilitate these applications.

Benchmarking confirms the accuracy of pNHPP in estimating character rates under different evolutionary scenarios, and example applications demonstrate the utility of ontophylo in studying morphological evolution in Hymenoptera using simulated data.

Ontophylo can be easily integrated with other ontology‐oriented and general‐purpose R packages and offers new opportunities to examine morphological evolution on a phenomic scale using new and legacy data.
Automated‐detection of risky alcohol use prior to surgery using natural language processing
Authors: Vydiswaran V. G. Vinod , Strayhorn Asher , Weber Katherine , Stevens Haley , Mellinger Jessica , Winder G. Scott , Fernandez Anne C.
Published: January 2024

Background

Preoperative risky alcohol use is one of the most common surgical risk factors. Accurate and early identification of risky alcohol use could enhance surgical safety. Artificial Intelligence‐based approaches, such as natural language processing (NLP), provide an innovative method to identify alcohol‐related risks from patients' electronic health records (EHR) before surgery.

Methods

Clinical notes (n = 53,629) from pre‐operative patients in a tertiary care facility were analyzed for evidence of risky alcohol use and alcohol use disorder. One hundred of these records were reviewed by experts and labeled for comparison. A rule‐based NLP model was built, and we assessed the clinical notes for the entire population. Additionally, we assessed each record for the presence or absence of alcohol‐related International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnosis codes as an additional comparator.

Results

NLP correctly identified 87% of the human‐labeled patients classified with risky alcohol use. In contrast, diagnosis codes alone correctly identified only 29% of these patients. In terms of specificity, NLP correctly identified 84% of the non‐risky cohort, while diagnosis codes correctly identified 90% of this cohort. In the analysis of the full dataset, the NLP‐based approach identified three times more patients with risky alcohol use than ICD codes.

Conclusions

NLP, an artificial intelligence‐based approach, efficiently and accurately identifies alcohol‐related risk in patients' EHRs. This approach could supplement other alcohol screening tools to identify patients in need of intervention, treatment, and/or postoperative withdrawal prophylaxis. Alcohol‐related ICD diagnosis had limited utility relative to NLP, which extracts richer information within clinical notes to classify patients.
Corporate investors and the housing affordability crisis: Having wall street as your landlord
Authors: Camp Yeakey Carol
Published: January 2024

Given the importance of housing affordability to one's social class standing, one's ability to afford decent, secure housing is not only important on an individual level, but impacts intergenerational im/mobility as well. The purpose of this research is threefold. First, it examines the recent trend in bulk housing purchases by corporate investors who turn those purchases into single family rental properties. In so doing,  it discusses the implications for the population in general, but for marginalized population in perticular, that is, persons of color and those inthe lower socioeconomic strata of society. Second, this research examines a closely related housing phenomenon, condominium deconversion, where corporate investors purchase privately owned condominiums in bulk who turn them into rental units. Third, summary analysis and suggestions for future research as well as legislative and policy proposals to offset housing affordability conclude this research.
Prickle1‐driven basement membrane deposition of the iPSC‐derived embryoid bodies is separable from the establishment of apicobasal polarity
Authors: Guo Dianlei , Liu Sikai , Zhang Jiao , Gu Xinyu , Shi Lei , Su Yingchun , Xu Shujuan , Ju Rong , Wei Yanhong , Liu Chunqiao
Published: January 2024

Basement membrane (BM) component deposition is closely linked to the establishment of cell polarity. Previously, we showed that Prickle1 is crucial for BM deposition and cell polarity events in tear duct elongation. To gain a deeper understanding of the intimate relationship between BM formation and cell polarity, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)‐derived embryoid bodies (EBs) with a basement membrane separating the visceral endoderm (VE) and inner EB cell mass. We found that Prickle1 was highly expressed in VE of the normal EBs, and the Prickle1 mutant EBs displayed severely impaired BM. Notably, the formation of the basement membrane appeared to rely on the proper microtubule network of the VE cells, which was disrupted in the Prickle1 mutant EBs. Moreover, disruption of vesicle trafficking in the VE hindered BM secretion. Furthermore, reintroducing Prickle1 in the mutant EBs completely rescued BM formation but not the apicobasal cell polarity of the VE. Our data, in conjunction with studies by others, highlight the conserved role of Prickle1 in directing the secretion of BM components of the VE cells during embryonic germ layer differentiation, even in the absence of established general polarity machinery. Our study introduces a novel system based on iPSCs‐derived EBs for investigating cellular and molecular events associated with cell polarity.
Osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral joint in 24 horses: Evaluation of radiography, ultrasonography, intra‐articular anaesthesia, treatment and outcome
Authors: Sauer Fay J. , Hellige Maren , Beineke Andreas , Geburek Florian
Published: January 2024

Background

Few case reports describe equine coxofemoral joint osteoarthritis (CFJOA).

Objectives

To evaluate diagnostic findings and outcome of horses with CFJOA and to provide a score facilitating radiographic assessment.

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Methods

History, clinical signs, ultrasonographic, radiographic and intra‐articular anaesthesia findings, treatments, outcome, and necropsy results of horses with CFJOA presented between 2002 and 2023 were collated. Radiographic findings were categorised to develop a radiographic score which was applied by two masked examiners. Intra‐ and inter‐observer reliability was determined using weighted Cohen's kappa (Cκ) and the correlation between radiographic and ultrasound findings via Spearman correlation coefficient.

Results

The study included 24 horses (median age 14 years). Most of them (20/24) were chronically lame. Frequent clinical signs included unilateral gluteal muscle atrophy (18/21), lengthening of the stride of the affected limb (13/19) and locomotion on three tracks (13/20). Both imaging modalities enabled evaluation of periarticular osteophytes (correlation coefficient r = 0.64; p = 0.003). Additionally, radiography allowed detection of irregular joint spaces, subchondral bone opacity changes and femoral head flattening/tapering. Inter‐observer (Cκ = 0.846) and intra‐observer (Cκ = 0.853 and Cκ = 0.842) agreement was excellent. If treated, mostly intra‐articular corticosteroids were administered (16/18). Nine horses were euthanised immediately or during follow‐up examination. Post‐mortem, the Ligamentum capitis ossis femoris was commonly found ruptured. All surviving horses remained lame.

Main limitations

Retrospective analysis of clinical records and subjective outcome assessment based on owner follow‐up with potential recall bias. Due to overall disease severity, associations between different grades of clinical findings, radiographic abnormalities and outcome could not be evaluated.

Conclusions

Typical clinical signs may indicate CFJOA. Standardised evaluation of ventrodorsal radiographs allows a comprehensive diagnosis. Postmortem findings suggest joint instability as a possible causative factor that may contribute to the poor prognosis and resistance to medical therapy of the disorder.
Effect of telephone‐assisted smoking cessation programme on the self‐efficacy, recurrence in patients with bladder cancer: A study protocol
Authors: Özdemir İrem Nur , Kılınç İşleyen Eda , Danacıoğlu Yavuz Onur
Published: January 2024

The aim of this study protocol is to examine the effect of telephone‐assisted smoking cessation programme based on the information motivation behavioural skills model on the self‐efficacy, smoking behaviour, tumour recurrence and progression in patients diagnosed with non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer. A single‐center, single‐blind, parallel‐group, randomized control trial. The intervention group will receive telephone‐assisted smoking cessation programme, while no intervention will be applied to the control group. Face‐to‐face smoking cessation training will be provided for the information component of the programme, motivational interview will be conducted via WhatsApp for its motivation component. Motivational interviews will be undertaken in total of six sessions organized at two‐week intervals. The patients' chronic disease management self‐efficacy, smoking behaviour will be evaluated at the third, sixth, 12th months. Tumour recurrence, progression will be followed up by cystoscopy at the third, 12th months. This is a randomized controlled study protocol, results are not available at the time of the submission. All results will be reported on the completion of this study. This study protocol, will involve the implementation of comprehensive smoking cessation programme that is much needed for the target population around the world. It is expected that the use of this programme will increase the self‐efficacy of smokers with bladder cancer, decrease their smoking behaviour and amount of smoking, eliminate tumour recurrence. Smoking is the most important, modifiable risk factor for bladder cancer. In this study, it is expected that the implementation of telephone‐assisted smoking cessation programme based on the information–motivation–behavioural skills model will increase self‐efficacy in cancer management and decrease smoking behaviour, tumour recurrence in patients diagnosed with bladder cancer. In the literature, there is no smoking cessation programme based on this model intended for patients diagnosed with bladder cancer.
The rich heterogeneous dial‐a‐ride problem with trip time prediction
Authors: Portell Laura , Ramalhinho Helena
Published: January 2024

The dial‐a‐ride problem (DARP) involves designing vehicle routes to fulfill the door‐to‐door transportation requests of users where the goal is to minimize costs while satisfying transportation requests. In this paper, we introduce the rich heterogeneous DARP, which extends the generalized heterogeneous DARP to consider a fleet of buses and taxis, multiple depots, time windows at pickup and delivery locations, maximum ride and waiting times, and the possibility of an accompanying person. Our approach is based on a real service in Barcelona, and we also consider the variation in trip duration based on the time of day and day of the week. A predictive model is developed using machine learning techniques to estimate trip durations accurately. We apply our proposal to the daily door‐to‐door transportation of people with reduced mobility in Barcelona and demonstrate its superiority in terms of costs and quality of service by using the Gurobi optimizer. Additionally, we provide an analysis of the consequences of varying certain features on the costs and quality of service.
Remote area nurses' experiences of workplace safety in very remote primary health clinics: A qualitative study
Authors: Wright Laura K. , Jatrana Santosh , Lindsay David
Published: January 2024

Aim

To explore Remote Area Nurses' experiences of the implementation of workplace health and safety policies and risk mitigation strategies in Australian very remote primary health clinics.

Design

This qualitative study used online semi‐structured interviews, with participants purposively sampled to maximize variation in work location and service type. Data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. Coding was carried out inductively, with NVivo 12 aiding data management.

Setting

The interviews were conducted from 24 Februrary 2021 to 06 March 2021 with Remote Area Nurses from very remote primary health clinics in Australia.

Participants

Fifteen Remote Area Nurses participated in the study.

Results

Thematic analysis revealed varied approaches to workplace safety among the different health services and regions. While the spread of ‘never alone’ policies in many clinics addressed one of the significant risks faced by Remote Area Nurses, gaps remained even for hazards specifically highlighted in existing work health and safety legislation. Meaningful collaboration with staff and the community, local orientation, preparation for the role and providing quality care were protective factors for staff safety. Understaffing, unsafe infrastructure and inadequate equipment were common concerns among Remote Area Nurses.

Conclusion

Health services need to prioritize workplace safety and take a continuous quality improvement approach to its implementation. This will include ensuring safety strategies are appropriate for the local context, improving infrastructure maintenance, and establishing sustainable second responder systems such as a pool of drivers with local knowledge.

Implications for the Profession

Poor personal safety contributes to burnout and high turnover of staff. Nurses' insights into the barriers and enablers of current workplace safety strategies will aid policymakers and employers in future improvements.

Reporting Method

COREQ reporting guidelines were followed.

PIPE Statement

A panel of six Remote Area Nurses collaborated in the development of this project.
The parent perspective on paediatric delirium and an associated care bundle: A qualitative study
Authors: Stenkjaer Rikke Louise , Egerod Ingrid , Moszkowicz Mala , Collet Marie Oxenbøll , Weis Janne , Ista Erwin , Greisen Gorm , Herling Suzanne Forsyth
Published: January 2024

Aims

To explore how parents experienced their child with delirium and how parents viewed our delirium management bundle.

Design

We conducted a qualitative exploratory descriptive study using semi‐structured individual or dyad interviews.

Methods

Twelve semi‐structured interviews with 16 parents of 12 critically ill children diagnosed with delirium in a paediatric intensive care unit were conducted from October 2022 to January 2023 and analysed through a reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings

We generated five themes: (1) knowing that something is very wrong, (2) observing manifest changes in the child, (3) experiencing fear of long‐term consequences, (4) adding insight to the bundle, and (5) family engagement.

Conclusion

The parents in our study were able to observe subtle and manifest changes in their child with delirium. This caused fear of lasting impact. The parents regarded most of the interventions in the delirium management bundle as relevant but needed individualization in the application. The parents requested more information regarding delirium and a higher level of parent engagement in the care of their child during delirium.

Impact

This paper contributes to understanding how parents might experience delirium in their critically ill child, how our delirium management bundle was received by the parents, and their suggestions for improvement. Our study deals with critically ill children with delirium, their parents, and staff working to prevent and manage paediatric delirium (PD) in the paediatric intensive care unit.

Reporting Method

The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research guidelines were used to ensure the transparency of our reporting.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution to the research design.

What does this Paper Contribute to the Wider Global Community?

‐ It increases awareness of the parent's perspective on PD in critically ill children.

‐ It shows how PD might affect parents, causing negative emotions such as distress, frustration, and fear of permanent damage.

‐ It shows that the parents in our study, in addition to the care bundle, requested more information on delirium and more involvement in the care of their delirious child.
Mapping potential pathways from polygenic liability through brain structure to psychological problems across the transition to adolescence
Authors: Lahey Benjamin B. , Durham E. Leighton , Brislin Sarah J. , Barr Peter B. , Dick Danielle M. , Moore Tyler M. , Pierce Brandon L. , Tong Lin , Reimann Gabrielle E. , Jeong Hee Jung , Dupont Randolph M. , Kaczkurkin Antonia N.
Published: January 2024

Background

We used a polygenic score for externalizing behavior (extPGS) and structural MRI to examine potential pathways from genetic liability to conduct problems via the brain across the adolescent transition.

Methods

Three annual assessments of child conduct problems, attention‐deficit/hyperactivity problems, and internalizing problems were conducted across across 9–13 years of age among 4,475 children of European ancestry in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM Study (ABCD Study®).

Results

The extPGS predicted conduct problems in each wave (R2 = 2.0%–2.9%). Bifactor models revealed that the extPRS predicted variance specific to conduct problems (R2 = 1.7%–2.1%), but also variance that conduct problems shared with other measured problems (R2 = .8%–1.4%). Longitudinally, extPGS predicted levels of specific conduct problems (R2 = 2.0%), but not their slope of change across age. The extPGS was associated with total gray matter volume (TGMV; R2 = .4%) and lower TGMV predicted both specific conduct problems (R2 = 1.7%–2.1%) and the variance common to all problems in each wave (R2 = 1.6%–3.1%). A modest proportion of the polygenic liability specific to conduct problems in each wave was statistically mediated by TGMV.

Conclusions

Across the adolescent transition, the extPGS predicted both variance specific to conduct problems and variance shared by all measured problems. The extPGS also was associated with TGMV, which robustly predicted conduct problems. Statistical mediation analyses suggested the hypothesis that polygenic variation influences individual differences in brain development that are related to the likelihood of conduct problems during the adolescent transition, justifying new research to test this causal hypothesis.
Allergic phenotype identified on allergen testing is associated with proton pump inhibitor nonresponse in eosinophilic esophagitis
Authors: Muftah Mayssan , Hartnett Davis A. , Flanagan Ryan , Redd Walker D. , Jenkins Andrew , Goldin Alison H. , Hsu Blatman Karen , Chan Walter W.
Published: January 2024

Background and Aim

Food/environmental allergens have been associated with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE); however, the correlation between allergy profiles and disease responsiveness to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy remains unclear. We aimed to assess the association between food/environmental allergies identified on allergen testing and histologic response to PPI in patients with treatment‐naive EoE.

Methods

Adults with newly diagnosed EoE who underwent formal testing for food/environmental allergies at a tertiary center were included. All patients underwent twice‐daily PPI for 8 weeks with subsequent repeat endoscopy and biopsy to assess histologic response. Patients with <15 eosinophils/hpf on post‐PPI mucosal biopsies were classified as responders (PPI‐r‐EoE), while those with ≥15 eosinophils/hpf were nonresponders (PPI‐nr‐EoE).

Results

Sixty‐one patients met inclusion criteria (21 PPI‐r‐EoE vs 40 PPI‐nr‐EoE). Demographic, clinical, and endoscopic finding variables were similar between groups. Positive food allergen test was more prevalent among PPI‐nr‐EoE patients (82.5% vs 42.9%, P = 0.003). On multivariable analysis, positive food allergen testing remained an independent predictor for PPI nonresponse (aOR 0.15, CI: 0.04–0.58, P = 0.0006). Positive environmental allergen testing was highly prevalent, with no significant differences between groups (77.5% vs 95.2%, P = 0.14). However, higher number of positive environmental allergens (23.3% [≥5 allergens] vs 73.3% [<5 allergens], P = 0.003) and specific aeroallergens correlated with PPI‐nr‐EoE.

Conclusion

Positive food allergy testing and increased environmental allergens predicted lower likelihood of histologic response to PPI in EoE. Our findings support an allergic phenotype of EoE that may less likely respond to PPI therapy. Formal allergen testing may play a role in therapy selection and tailored management in EoE.
Upper gastrointestinal involvement of Behçet's disease in Japan: endoscopic findings and clinical features
Authors: Murakami Keita , Arai Junya , Ihara Sozaburo , Tsuchida Yumi , Shoda Hirofumi , Tsuboi Mayo , Kurokawa Ken , Shiomi Chihiro , Suzuki Nobumi , Hayakawa Yoku , Fujio Keishi , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro
Published: January 2024

Aim

Behçet's disease (BD) can involve any gastrointestinal (GI) tract site. We analyzed the characteristics, risk factors, and treatment responses to upper GI (UGI) involvement in patients with BD.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study analyzed UGI findings in 101 patients with BD who underwent endoscopy between April 2005 and December 2022 at the University of Tokyo Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of UGI findings. Patient backgrounds, clinical symptoms, colonoscopy (CS) findings, and blood test findings were compared between the groups.

Results

In total, 18.8% (19/101) of the patients had UGI lesions. The prevalence rates in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum were 6.9%, 6.9%, and 8.9%, respectively. Of these 19 patients, BD treatment were intensified in 10 (52.6%) patients after esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), and all showed improvement in symptoms or endoscopic findings. In the multivariate analysis, symptoms (OR: 37.1, P < 0.001), CRP > 1 mg/dL (OR: 11.0, P = 0.01), and CS findings (OR: 5.16, P = 0.04) were independent predictors of UGI involvement in BD patients. The prediction model for UGI involvement using these three factors was highly accurate, with an AUC of 0.899 on the ROC curve. In the subgroup analysis of intestinal BD, symptoms (OR: 12.8, P = 0.01) and ESR > 20 mm/h (OR: 11.5, P = 0.007) were independent predictors.

Conclusions

EGD should be conducted in BD patients with high CRP, GI symptoms, and lower GI involvement, which leads to better management of BD in terms of improving symptoms and endoscopic findings.