bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Potent and Selective CDKL5/GSK3 Chemical Probe is Neuroprotective
Authors: Ong Han Wee , Liang Yi , Richardson William , Lowry Emily R. , Wells Carrow I. , Chen Xiangrong , Silvestre Margaux , Dempster Kelvin , Silvaroli Josie A. , Smith Jeffery L. , Wichterle Hynek , Pabla Navjot S. , Ultanir Sila K. , Bullock Alex N. , Drewry David H. , Axtman Alison D.
Published: February 2023

Despite mediating several essential processes in the brain, including during development, cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) remains a poorly characterized human protein kinase. Accordingly, its substrates, functions, and regulatory mechanisms have not been fully described. We realized that availability of a potent and selective small molecule probe targeting CDKL5 could enable illumination of its roles in normal development as well as in diseases where it has become aberrant due to mutation. We prepared analogs of AT-7519, a known inhibitor of several cyclin dependent and cyclin-dependent kinase-like kinases that has been advanced into Phase II clinical trials. We identified analog2as a highly potent and cell-active chemical probe for CDKL5/GSK3 (glycogen synthase kinase 3). Evaluation of its kinome-wide selectivity confirmed that analog2demonstrates excellent selectivity and only retains GSK3α/β affinity. As confirmation that our chemical probe is a high-quality tool to use in directed biological studies, we demonstrated inhibition of downstream CDKL5 and GSK3α/β signaling and solved a co-crystal structure of analog2bound to CDKL5. A structurally similar analog (4) proved to lack CDKL5 affinity and maintain potent and selective inhibition of GSK3α/β. Finally, we used our chemical probe pair (2and4) to demonstrate that inhibition of CDKL5 and/or GSK3α/β promotes the survival of human motor neurons exposed to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We have demonstrated a neuroprotective phenotype elicited by our chemical probe pair and exemplified the utility of our compounds to characterize the role of CDKL5/GSK3 in neurons and beyond.
Combining Borrmann and weak-beam diffraction images to study defects in a high-quality CdTe(Zn) crystal
Authors: Journot T. , Brellier D. , Ballet P. , Tran Thi Caliste T. N. , Gout E. , Collonge D. , Baruchel J.
Published: February 2023

In this work, synchrotron radiation rocking curve imaging (RCI) is used to visualize and characterize dislocations and second-phase defects in a highly perfect and absorbing CdTe(Zn) crystal. This technique requires recording a series of Bragg diffracted images along the rocking curve to produce maps of the `local' integrated intensity, full width at half-maximum and peak position. The diffraction conditions of the reported experiment are such that anomalous transmission (Borrmann effect) is a crucial ingredient for the formation of the image of the defects. The images recorded and maps produced allow the investigation of a series of topics that, to the authors' knowledge, have not been previously studied. The first of these topics is the variation of the position and width of the Borrmann image of a defect when sitting on the peak and on the flanks of the diffraction curve. The second topic is the way Borrmann images show up on the usual RCI maps. The final topic is the combination of Borrmann and weak-beam images to infer the depth of the defect within the crystal.
Health vulnerability and health poverty of rice farmers: evidence from Hubei province in China
Authors: Li Wenjing , Zhang Lu , Yue Meng , Ruiz-Menjivar Jorge , Zhang Junbiao
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to measure farmers' health poverty, (2) to examine the effect of health vulnerability on health poverty and (3) to identify countermeasures that may alleviate health poverty in rural China.

Design/methodology/approach

This study built a health poverty measurement model based on the multi-dimensional poverty framework to evaluate farmers' health vulnerability. Further, this paper used an econometric model to assess the impact of health vulnerability on health poverty. The sample for this study comprised 1,115 rice farmers from Hubei province, China.

Findings

The medical affordability poverty ratio was 17.95%, where farmers in the low-income group faced severe medical affordability poverty (27.46%). Results from the multi-dimensional analysis showed that, the health poverty ratios were 17.95 and 30.50%, respectively. Our results indicated that climate change vulnerabilities, living habits, medical facilities and medical accessibility were positively related to health poverty, whereas the regular physical examinations reduced mental health poverty.

Research limitations/implications

Based on this study's findings, we proposed that: (1) to address illness-induced poverty among members of the agricultural community, national and provincial strategies and programs grounded on a multi-dimensional health poverty framework ought to be formulated and implemented, (2) mechanisms of health knowledge exchange may facilitate the improvement of farmers' health status, (3) robust and comprehensive metrics should be employed to understand and improve farmers' ability to absorb and mitigate the negative health impacts and (4) the improvement in both quality and quantity for medical facilities and medical affordability in the rural areas should be key priorities in governmental-wide initiatives.

Originality/value

Existing studies for alleviating poverty caused by disease mainly focus on medical service support to those economic vulnerabilities after a disease happens. However, few studies have focused on the root causes of poverty caused by disease, particularly from the preventive perspective of health vulnerability. To fill this gap, this study, therefore, proposes the health poverty index and analyzes the impact of health vulnerability on health poverty.
Transforming construction health and safety management during COVID-19 pandemic using innovative technologies: PLS-SEM approach
Authors: Kum Yi Tong , Yap Jeffrey Boon Hui , Lew Yoke-Lian , Lee Wah Peng
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate technology-based health and safety (H&S) management to control the spread of disease on construction sites using a partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review is conducted to develop a conceptual framework. The variables identified from the literature review are included in a cross-sectional survey which gathered a total of 203 valid feedback. The variables for challenges are grouped under their relevant construct using exploratory factor analysis. Then, a hypothesized model is developed for PLS-SEM analysis using Smart PLS software. Later, the outcome of the model is further validated by nine construction experts using a semi-structured questionnaire survey.

Findings

The results rationalized the relationships between the COVID-19 H&S measures, challenges in implementing COVID-19 H&S measures on construction sites and the innovative technologies in transforming construction H&S management during the COVID-19 pandemic. The possible challenges that obstruct the implementation of H&S measures are highlighted. The potential technologies which can significantly transform H&S management by reducing the impact of challenges are presented.

Practical implications

The findings benefited the industry practitioners who are suffering disruption in construction operations due to the pneumonic plague.

Originality/value

By developing a conceptual model, this study reveals the contribution of technology-based H&S management for construction projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, which remains under-studied, especially in the context of the developing world.
Scoping review: understanding the barriers and drivers of risk management in local governments
Authors: Bourgeois Eve , Baril Pierre-Luc , Normandin Julie-Maude , Therrien Marie-Christine
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to provide scholars with a deep understanding of the field through the identification of strengths and weaknesses in the literature and support decision-makers in the development of new practices in local risk management based on scientific data. The specific question in this review asks: what are the drivers and barriers to local risk management?

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides an overview of the scientific literature produce over the past 20 years of the divers and barriers to local risk management. This paper presents a scoping review of peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2019 inclusively in the fields of public policy and public administration.

Findings

This paper makes three main observations regarding the state of the literature. First, this paper finds that scholars mainly focus on single risk and certain regions of the world. Second, there is multiple approached used by the literature to study risk management at the local level. Third, little attention is given to the political context in which local risk management takes place.

Originality/value

This paper is a complete literature review of more than 500 peer-reviewed articles published in academic journals regarding risk prevention policies over the past two decades. This paper analyzed the main findings of the current literature to provide a general view of the scholarship and improve the collective understanding of risk management at the local level by providing future research avenues.
The role of community leaders in the eradication of alms begging in Nima, Ghana
Authors: Salifu Adam , Abdul-Karim Abass Umar
Published: February 2023

Purpose

While the causes and effects of begging are well known, solutions on how to eradicate begging are still elusive in many parts of the developing world. The purpose of this study is to examine the different ways through which community leaders at the local level can contribute to the eradication of begging in one of Ghana’s most densely populated suburbs in the city of Accra.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was undertaken using the qualitative approach, and primary data was collected through interviews, participants observation and focus group discussions with beggars, community leaders and officials of non-governmental organisations at Nima, a suburb of Accra.

Findings

Begging in the suburb of Nima is increasingly becoming a business venture. It is no more an activity that is the preserve of only the weak, the poor, the elderly, the physically challenged, the needy and the marginalised in society. This paper argues that the eradication of begging requires multiple approaches and that community-based leaders must play a central role. This paper identified the provision of alternative sources of livelihood, the naming, shaming and condemnation of unjustified begging in the community, strict boarder control, returning foreign beggars to their home countries, the formulation and enforcement of community anti-begging by-laws and regular sensitisation programs on begging as crucial in reducing or eliminating begging.

Research limitations/implications

While focusing on one Muslim-dominated suburb in Accra ensures a detailed discussion of strategies of eliminating begging from a cultural and religious perspective, the findings of this study may not be applicable to non-Islamic settings and communities where cultural or religious leadership structures do not exist.

Practical implications

This study has demonstrated that the eradication of begging in society cannot have one-size-fit all solution. This paper shows that in societies where cultural and religious leadership structures exist, they must play important roles in the design and implementation of strategies that seek to reduce or eliminate religious begging in society. This implies that formal government agencies and their associated laws alone will not be enough to eradicate or reduce begging under such contexts.

Originality/value

Measures to eradicate begging have often ignored the role of community leaders. This paper contributes to our understanding on this by specifically examining the phenomenon of begging at the micro level and exploring the different ways community leaders can contribute to the eradication of begging in society.
An improved method for film thickness measurement of cylindrical roller bearings based on a straight-beam probe
Authors: Li Meng , Liu Li Yuan , Zhou Rui , Yang Jun , Qu Qiong , Song Haitao
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Considering the industrial site environment and installation requirements, the straight-beam ultrasound probe with easy installation and good coupling agent adaptability is adopted to replace the traditional water immersion focusing probe for film thickness measurement in cylindrical roller bearings. The straight-beam probe has a large echo receiving range, which will result in measurement regions overlapping and bring about large measurement errors. In this paper, an improved measurement method for film thickness of cylindrical roller bearing with the straight-beam probe is developed.

Design/methodology/approach

An improved method is proposed to enhance the spatial resolution of the straight-beam probe. By introducing a correction coefficient based on the percentage of the effective measurement area, the method improves the measuring accuracy successfully.

Findings

The experimental results demonstrate that the lubricant-film thickness can be measured to reasonable accuracy by this method and have a better agreement with the theoretical film thickness solutions.

Originality/value

This paper used analytical method and model that is helpful for the improvement of the spatial resolution, which has great influence on the measuring accuracy, is mainly determined by the echo reflection area size of the ultrasound transducer.
IFRS 9 implementation indicating asset opacities: even though predicting earnings’ forecasts and value relevance in Asia-Pacific countries
Authors: Utami Evy Rahman , Sumiyana Sumiyana , Barokah Zuni , Mustakini Jogiyanto Hartono
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the opacity of bank assets because of the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 9 implementation. It highlights that the Asian-Pacific countries’ banking industries are experiencing economic volatility. In other words, it examines information asymmetries because of the standards requiring a mechanistic treatment. Thus, this focuses on the tragedy of the commons (ToTC) caused by the implementation of the standard.

Design/methodology/approach

This research selects a sample of banking firms in the Asia-Pacific region from 2010 to 2021. Furthermore, it examines the impacts of IFRS 9’s implementation on earnings forecasts and share-return conveyances. This research first uses the OLS regression for examining the bank assets’ opacities, which may affect future earnings and information conveyancing. Second, it arranges these opacities, earnings and stock returns with the 2-SLS regression to find the staging associations because of hierarchical relevances.

Findings

This study finds that bank assets’ opacity is caused by a standard’s implementation, which is a ToTC, and this study signifies its first occurrence. Simultaneously, it recognises an information asymmetry because of the implemented procedural calculation mandated by the standard. Furthermore, these opacities affect future earnings and information conveyancing that inherited information asymmetries, which have affected them as the second ToTC. Finally, current and future earnings as a consequent impact of asset opacity are recursively associated with stock return conveyancing as the third ToTC.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates hierarchical information about bank asset opacities, starting by recognising and measuring them in financial statements. Then, these recognised and measured asset opacities are associated with current and future earnings, ending on the ordinarily and staged influencing of stock return conveyancing. Moreover, it reveals hierarchical information in the direct-ordinarily and staged associations among bank asset opacities, earnings and return conveyances. Thus, these associations are valid and occur because of the mandates of the standard’s measurement.
Knowledge management in SMEs: a follow-up literature review
Authors: Durst Susanne , Edvardsson Ingi Runar , Foli Samuel
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to structure existing research on knowledge management (KM) in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to offer a comprehensive overview of research strands and topics in KM in SMEs to determine their evolution over time.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper, which is considered a follow-up literature review, is based on a systematic literature review that covers 180 scientific papers that were published since the review paper by Durst and Edvardsson in 2012 that covered 36 papers.

Findings

The findings of this review and those of the aforementioned review are brought together in the form of an overview that structures research on KM in SMEs based on themes that, in turn, allow the derivation of promising research directions and research questions aimed at structuring future research on KM in SMEs.

Originality/value

By combining the findings of this review with the findings from the review published in this journal in 2012, this paper offers, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the most comprehensive literature review on KM in SMEs produced to date.
I feel the need – the need for speed! Unreasonable tasks, work pace, psychological detachment and emotional exhaustion
Authors: Mihelič Katarina Katja , Zupan Nada , Merkuž Ajda
Published: February 2023

Purpose

At the dawn of a new decade, as ever more corporations are pursuing sustainable working conditions and advocating employee well-being, employees are increasingly tending to feel fatigued and drained by their work, which compromises their performance. Drawing on the job demands–resources model and social acceleration debate, the authors test a moderated mediation model. Specifically, the authors hypothesise that unreasonable tasks raise perceptions of emotional exhaustion when the pace of work is increased and investigate the moderating role of psychological detachment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a sample of 245 employees from Europe, all knowledge workers, to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Apart from unreasonable tasks being directly related with emotional exhaustion, this relationship was mediated by the perceived work pace. In addition, the authors establish psychological detachment as a relevant moderator for the mediating effect.

Practical implications

Managers and HR practitioners are equipped with a better understanding of the effects of an increasing speed of work, the conditions leading to it and the individual and organizational resources that may help to create healthy and meaningful job positions, which facilitate employee efficiency.

Originality/value

Our study expands the literature on contemporary stressors and adds to what is known about the ‘dark side’ of job demands that affect the organizational bottom-line, as well as the resource-based mechanism that can buffer the negative effects.
Did you find this review helpful?
Authors: Azimi Shabnam , Andonova Yana
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper provides a framework of the indicators of the quality of text in online reviews and their influence on the perceived helpfulness of reviews. First, the authors assess the effects of concreteness, readability and credibility on review helpfulness. The authors then test whether these effects change, based on review valence and readers' personality traits (specifically, extraversion and neuroticism).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted an online experiment in the context of hotel reviews and tested our model using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE).

Findings

The authors' findings indicate that consumers consider all three quality features – concreteness, readability and credibility when evaluating negative reviews. However, they assess positive reviews based only on how credible they seem to be. Consumers with the personality traits of neuroticism and extraversion value different review characteristics and this difference is dependent on review valence.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine the interactions between review valence and reader personality on review helpfulness. The authors' findings make important contributions to the literature on information diagnosticity and offer managerial implications related to customizing the presentation order of reviews based on their expected helpfulness for individuals with extraverted and neurotic personalities.
Effect of second wave COVID 19 pandemic on anxiety level of senior citizens: a case study
Authors: Behera Ajay Kumar
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect on distress of senior citizen’s anxiety levels in quarantine during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. This is a descriptive study, in which data were collected using the online survey method, a sociodemographic form, a semi-structured data form for second wave COVID-19, the anxiety-level scale and the distress scale.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected during the period when a curfew was imposed for the senior citizen. Data were analyzed using a structural equation model. According to the structural equation model, anxiety was determined as a predictor of distress.

Findings

The anxiety levels of the senior citizen who were 60–69 years old, female, single; had inadequate knowledge about the pandemic; and had not encountered a similar pandemic before considered that family bonding was affected negatively, so they became alone and reported that they became bored, exhausted and distressed during the pandemic, which increased their distress levels. Anxiety affects distress in the senior citizens.

Practical implications

One of the policy implications of this study is that governments should provide behavioral support to citizens during a pandemic. For example, short-term home-based psychological interventions should be developed to reduce the negative effects of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health.

Originality/value

The anxiety levels increased distress levels for those senior citizens who considered their information about the second wave of COVID-19 insufficient; had hyper-emotionality; longed for their families; and felt tense, overwhelmed and lonely during the pandemic. In addition, factors such as constraints of flexibilities, prevention of socialization and decreased physical movements also affect distress in senior citizens.
Deep learning for noise attenuation from the ocean bottom node 4C data
Authors: Wang Shaowen , Tan Jun , Song Peng , He Bingshou , Wang Qianqian , Du Guoning
Published: February 2023

The source vessel noise is a very common noise type in offshore seismic surveys. The state‐of‐art deep learning‐based methods provide an end‐to‐end framework for seismic data denoising. The denoising performance of a pretrained network is, however, highly dependent on the completeness of the training set. When training a denoising network with only field data, especially for attenuating erratic noise, it is hard to obtain a noise‐free data as the training target for the network. Transfer learning, by combining the synthetic and field data, is an alternative solution for improving the generalization capabilities of the network, although being able to model such erratic noise represents also a challenge. Although the denoising results by traditional methods are not accurate enough for creating a complete training set, the features in residual noise by subtracting the denoised data from noisy data are enough for the network to learn. Considering the aforementioned factors, we develop a deep learning‐based workflow for the attenuation of the erratic source vessel noise from ocean bottom node 4C data. Instead of using denoising results directly, we use the conventional methods to extract noise and add them to the high signal‐to‐ratio region of the field data. The created noisy dataset is different from the original noisy data in noise regions; thus, the pretrained network can also be used for predicting the same original data. The denoising results of synthetic and field data all show that even the network is trained on a noisy labelled dataset, we still can obtain high signal‐to‐noise ratio denoising result. Besides, when compare with the results by filtering‐based methods, our proposed method can attenuate the vessel noise more effectively and preserve the near offsets reflections.
Identification, measurement, and evaluation of blood concentrations of insulin glargine and insulin lispro by UPLC–MS–MS in a dead body suspected of insulin overdose
Authors: Nagasawa Sayaka , Yamaguchi Rutsuko , Chiba Fumiko , Torimitsu Suguru , Iwase Hirotaro
Published: February 2023

Insulin preparations, which are drug treatments for diabetes, cause fatal hypoglycemia when an overdose is administered. Cases of homicide and suicide using these preparations have been reported and are of great forensic interest. However, there are few reports assessing the postmortem concentration of insulin preparations, and it is often difficult to determine the cause of death. In the present study, we report a case of a suspected insulin glargine and insulin lispro overdose for suicide. A woman in her 30s had a history of mental illness and diabetes. The day before her death, she reported to her boyfriend that she had taken large doses of insulin preparations and prescription drugs. An autopsy revealed no fatal injuries or lesions. Drug screening tests revealed several prescription drugs, none of which showed toxic concentrations. Analysis using LC–MS/MS detected insulin glargine in the peripheral and cardiac blood at 429 μU/mL and 1362 μU/mL, respectively, whereas insulin lispro was detected in both the peripheral and cardiac blood at levels below the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ; <50 μU/mL). The cause of death was considered likely to be hypoglycemia caused by an overdose of insulin glargine. Insulin glargine is rapidly metabolized after subcutaneous administration and is rarely detected in the blood when used at therapeutic doses. There are no other reports on the quantification of insulin glargine parent compounds in postmortem samples, and this case provides important data on postmortem blood concentrations of insulin glargine intoxication.
Colchicine enhances β adrenoceptor‐mediated vasodilation in men with essential hypertension
Authors: Ehlers Thomas S. , van der Horst Jennifer , Møller Sophie , Piil Peter K. , Gliemann Lasse , Aalkjær Christian , Jepps Thomas A. , Hellsten Ylva
Published: February 2023

Aims

The aim of this study is to examine whether colchicine improves β adrenoceptor‐mediated vasodilation in humans by conducting a double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled intervention study. Colchicine treatment has known beneficial effects on cardiovascular health and reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Studies in isolated rodent arteries have shown that colchicine can enhance β adrenoceptor‐mediated vasodilation, but this has not been determined in humans.

Methods

Middle‐aged men with essential hypertension were randomly assigned firstly to acute treatment with either 0.5 mg colchicine (n = 19) or placebo (n = 12). They were subsequently re‐randomized for 3 weeks of treatment with either colchicine 0.5 mg twice daily (n = 16) or placebo (n = 15) followed by a washout period of 48–72 h. The vasodilator responses to isoprenaline, acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were determined as well as arterial pressure, arterial compliance and plasma inflammatory markers.

Results

Acute colchicine treatment increased isoprenaline (by 38% for the highest dose) as well as sodium nitroprusside (by 29% main effect) ‐induced vasodilation but had no effect on the response to acetylcholine. The 3‐week colchicine treatment followed by a washout period did not induce an accumulated or sustained effect on the β adrenoceptor response, and there was no effect on arterial pressure, arterial compliance or the level of measured inflammatory markers.

Conclusion

Colchicine acutely enhances β adrenoceptor‐ and nitric oxide‐mediated changes in vascular conductance in humans, supporting that the mechanism previously demonstrated in rodents, translates to humans. The results provide novel translational evidence for a transient enhancing effect of colchicine on β adrenoceptor‐mediated vasodilation in humans with essential hypertension.

Condensed abstract

Preclinical studies in isolated rodent arteries have shown that colchicine can enhance β adrenoceptor‐mediated vasodilation. Here we show that this effect of colchicine can be translated to humans. Acute colchicine treatment was found to increase both isoprenaline‐ and sodium nitroprusside‐induced vasodilation. The study provides the first translational evidence for a transient β adrenoceptor‐mediated vasodilatory effect of colchicine in humans. The finding of an acute effect suggests that it may be clinically important to maintain an adequate bioavailability of colchicine.
Fault growth and orthogonal shortening in transtensional supradetachment basins: Insights from the ‘Old Red’ of western Norway
Authors: Osmundsen P. T. , Svendby A. K. , Braathen A. , Bakke B. , Andersen T. B.
Published: February 2023

For basins that evolve adjacent to large‐magnitude normal faults, tectonic controls on sedimentation involve isostatic back rotation of an exhuming footwall and, commonly, the evolution of kilometre‐scale extension‐parallel folds. Based on observations from classic localities in western Norway, we propose a three‐stage evolution scenario for transtensional supradetachment basins where the basins become progressively re‐arranged because of core complex exhumation and subsequent orthogonal shortening. Extension‐parallel transverse synclines initially form due to a normal displacement gradient, but when displacements accumulate beyond a certain magnitude, the hanging wall increasingly responds to core complex exhumation and the original depocentre, formed close to the original area of maximum displacement, will become inverted and dismembered above the core complex. Two new synclinal depocentres will develop along the flanks. Because these synclines form by extensional fault growth rather than by shortening, they will be associated with widening of the basin and onlap onto basement at high angles to the maximum elongation trend with overall grain‐size decrease and retrogradational stacking patterns. Further, because these synclines grow away from the evolving core complex, sedimentary units will become asymmetrically distributed inside each syncline in such a way that the oldest deposits in the syncline will be preserved on the flank most proximal to the core complex. In transtensional environments, a third evolutionary stage may involve constrictional strain where extension‐parallel folds and reverse faults produced by orthogonal shortening enhance or interact with other structures. Ultimately, initial extensional sub‐basins may become warped across extension‐parallel folds. Hanging wall deformation will be manifested in shifting accommodation patterns, with depocentres that generally migrate in the direction of the detachment fault. Accommodation patterns initially related to megafault growth may conceptually evolve into depocentres controlled by orthogonal shortening.
Activated CTLA‐4‐independent immunosuppression of Treg cells disturbs CTLA‐4 blockade‐mediated antitumor immunity
Authors: Watanabe Tomofumi , Ishino Takamasa , Ueda Youki , Nagasaki Joji , Sadahira Takuya , Dansako Hiromichi , Araki Motoo , Togashi Yosuke
Published: February 2023

Combination therapy with anti‐cytotoxic T lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 (CTLA‐4) and anti‐programmed death‐1 (PD‐1) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has dramatically improved the prognosis of patients with multiple types of cancer, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, more than half of RCC patients fail to respond to this therapy. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are a subset of highly immunosuppressive CD4+ T cells that promote the immune escape of tumors by suppressing effector T cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) through various mechanisms. CTLA‐4 is constitutively expressed in Treg cells and is regarded as a key molecule for Treg‐cell‐mediated immunosuppressive functions, suppressing antigen‐presenting cells by binding to CD80/CD86. Reducing Treg cells in the TME with an anti‐CTLA‐4 mAb with antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity is considered an essential mechanism to achieve tumor regression. In contrast, we demonstrated that CTLA‐4 blockade without ADCC activity enhanced CD28 costimulatory signaling pathways in Treg cells and promoted Treg‐cell proliferation in mouse models. CTLA‐4 blockade also augmented CTLA‐4‐independent immunosuppressive functions, including cytokine production, leading to insufficient antitumor effects. Similar results were also observed in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes from patients with RCC. Our findings highlight the importance of Treg‐cell depletion to achieve tumor regression in response to CTLA‐4 blockade therapies.
Examining the effect of parent participation in an adult weight management program on changes in children's weight
Authors: Pham Stephanie B. , Skelton Joseph A. , Pratt Keeley , Lewis Kristina Henderson , Brown Callie L.
Published: February 2023

Children of parents participating in weight management programs (WMPs) are more likely to adopt their parents' weight control practices. Little is known about the weight outcomes of children who have a parent participating in a WMP. This study aimed to assess this relationship. Children 2–17 years of age with a parent who participated in a WMP were included in the study. Multilevel linear mixed‐effects regression models were used, stratified by child weight status at the time of parental WMP participation (healthy weight, overweight/obesity) to determine change in children's BMIz from before to after parents WMP participation, including covariates of parent BMI and parental feeding practices. Parents (N = 77) were mostly white (76%) and female (84%). Children (N = 114) had a mean age of 10.5 ± 4.6; 47% had overweight or obesity. Children with overweight or obesity prior to their parent's WMP had a decrease in BMIz (−0.68) after the WMP while children with a healthy weight had no significant change. Children with overweight or obesity had a decrease in BMIz from before to after parent's participation in a WMP. Further research is needed to understand changes in family eating practices that occur during and after parent WMP participation.
Gapless Electrocardiogram‐Monitoring in stroke at high risk of atrial fibrillation
Authors: Burger Achim Leo , Roesler Cornelia , Ebner Johanna , Sommer Peter , Mutzenbach Sebastian , Winkler Walther‐Benedikt , Weidinger Franz , Ristl Robin , Pezawas Thomas , Greisenegger Stefan
Published: February 2023

Background and purpose

Previous studies investigating prolonged electrocardiogram (ECG)‐monitoring after ischemic stroke had significant gaps between the index event and the beginning of long‐term monitoring. Atrial fibrillation (AF) detection might be higher if prolonged cardiac rhythm documentation is performed with a gapless approach without any interruption of monitoring time.

Methods

This investigator‐initiated, prospective study included patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack at three study centers. Participants received gapless ECG‐monitoring via telemetry during stroke‐unit admission until implantation of an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) within the first days after the index event. Patients acted as their own controls and also received standard 24–72‐h Holter ECG.

Results

A total of 110 patients were included, of whom 86 (78.2%) had an embolic stroke of unknown source, 14 (12.7%) had small‐vessel disease, and 10 (9.1%) had large‐artery disease. AF was newly diagnosed in 17 (15.5%) patients via ICM monitoring, compared to one (0.9%) patient via Holter ECG during 6 months of follow‐up (p < 0.001). The detection rate of AF within the first 30 days was 10.0%, which accounted for 64% of all new AF diagnoses. The median duration of the detected episodes was 1.7 (interquartile range = 0.2–4.7) h. All patients with new onset AF were treated with oral anticoagulation.

Conclusions

Gapless ECG‐monitoring is an effective strategy to significantly increase the detection rate of AF after ischemic stroke. This finding supports the use of long‐term ECG‐monitoring with a gapless approach without any interruption in monitoring time as the gold standard for clinical practice.
A reprieve from academia's chilly climate and misogyny: The power of feminist, women‐centered faculty writing program
Authors: Sharp Elizabeth A. , Messuri Kristin
Published: February 2023

The pervasiveness of sexism and misogyny and their harmful effects in academic contexts is well established, with scholars labeling women faculty's experiences of marginalization, devaluation, and exclusion as the “chilly climate” of the academy. Despite decades of intervention and research, the question remains: How can the chilly climate be mitigated? In the present focused ethnography, we examined a feminist, women‐centered faculty writing program at a US university that offered relief from the frigid temperatures by fostering a sanctioned space for women faculty to set aside their care work and to experience psychological safety, which, in turn, encouraged them to feel positive emotions regarding their writing and research. In addition to being impactful, the writing program is a feasible and easily adaptable intervention.
In situ synthesis of PcBN composites from Sialon–TiN–TiB2 binder and cBN under high temperature and pressure
Authors: Hu Xixi , Zhong Shenglin , Geng Jing , Mo Peicheng , Li Jiuyang , Wang Peixun , Yang Luyu , Wu Yi
Published: February 2023

Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PcBN) composites were synthesized in situ with TiB2, TiN, and Sialon as binders under ultrahigh temperature (1550°C) and high pressure (5.5 GPa). X‐ray diffractometry, universal testing machine, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the effect of Sialon content (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% by mass of binder) on the phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of PcBN composites. The results show that the main phases in the system are lamellar TiN, needle‐rodlike TiB2, and irregular long‐rodlike Sialon. Some TiB2 grows along the (1 0 −1 0) face, and Sialon grows along the (0 0 0 1) face. The density and mechanical properties of the sintered product are significantly improved due to the formation of Sialon. When the content of Sialon is 60%, the binder is uniformly distributed, the cBN interface is well bonded, and the density is the highest. At this time, the strength reaches the maximum 34.57 GPa, the fracture toughness is 6.82 MPa m1/2, and the flexural strength reaches the maximum 870.79 MPa. On the whole, cBN composites have excellent prospects for future applications in cutting inserts due to their excellent mechanical properties.
Systematic studies on improving structural properties of myofibrillar proteins and pork quality based on electrical stimulation
Authors: Ye Xiang , Ye Chun , Zhou Ying , Liu Yuanyuan , Wan Jing , Liu Linggao , Lu Kuan , Bi Shenghui , Jie Guohua , Zhu Qiujin
Published: February 2023

Electrical stimulation (ES) is a green food processing technique in the meat industry. We explored the effect of different current (0.5 A, 1 A, the 90 s) ES treatments on the structural properties of the myofibrillar fibronectin (MP) and meat quality of pork tenderloin during storage at 4 °C. The results showed that ES enhanced the tenderness and redness of pork tenderloin by up to 41.36% and 27.33%, respectively, (P < 0.05) during storage but reduced the water holding capacity of the meat. Additionally, ES increases the solubility and sulfhydryl content of MP at the same storage time points, reducing the oxidation and thus making the structural properties of MP more stable, and the 1 A effect is more significant (P < 0.05). Furthermore, ES disrupts the protein secondary structure and also enhances the surface hydrophobicity and UV absorption capacity of MP. Overall, the relationship between the quality changes of ES‐treated pork tenderloin and the structural properties of the protein was initially described, providing a theoretical basis for the application of ES in the deep processing of pork.
The effects of high‐pressure treatment on starch pasting, retrogradation, thermal, crystalline, rheological and digestive properties – A review
Authors: Chen Zhiguang , Yao Yun , Pu Huayin , Huang Junrong , Zhong Haixia
Published: February 2023

In this paper, the effects of pressure on starch properties were summarised and discussed. Firstly, high pressure can decrease the relative crystallinity of starch. After a 600 MPa treatment for 10–30 min, the relative crystallinity is reduced by about 37.1% on average. Meanwhile, high pressure can transform the A‐type or C‐type crystal into B‐type crystal. The destruction of high‐pressure treatment to starch crystalline structure is mainly achieved by disturbing the regular arrangement of double‐helixes, instead of directly destroying the double‐helix structure. Secondly, high pressure showed different effect trends on pasting and thermal properties of different starches. In most cases, the enthalpy of starch would become 0 after a 600 MPa treatment for 10–30 min. Thirdly, high pressure can increase retrogradation rate by 1.12–1.81 times. Fourthly, high‐pressure treatment increases the G′, G′′, apparent viscosity and yield stress of starch gel, and has different effect trends on flow behaviour index and consistency coefficient of different starches. Fifthly, high pressure can increase the RS content, up to 466.7%. This paper can provide reference for the application of high‐pressure technology in starch processing and modification.
Deep‐frying oil intake and risk of intestinal barrier dysfunction: a systematic review and meta‐analyses
Authors: Li Xue , Liu Yan‐jun , Liu Yuan‐fa , Xu Yong‐jiang
Published: February 2023

Deep‐frying oil intake is considered to destroy body health. In this review, a meta‐analysis was performed to assess the effects of deep‐frying oil intake on the risk of intestinal barrier dysfunction. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central updated till April 2022 (CRD42022326306). A total of nine studies were included. The pooled results revealed that deep‐frying oil intake significantly exaggerated crypt damage of colon [weighted mean difference (WMD) = 4.55; 95% CI: 2.87, 6.24, P < 0.05], increased proinflammatory cytokine expression in plasma and colon tissue, and enhanced intestinal permeability [lipopolysaccharides content (WMD: 10.11 μg mL−1, 95% CI: 7.44, 12.79 μg mL−1, P < 0.05)]. Moreover, deep‐frying oil intake could change the gut microbiota and decrease the content of microbiota‐derived short‐chain fatty acids. In conclusion, our findings provide insights into the effect of deep‐frying oil intake on the intestinal barrier dysfunction.
The effect of transitions intervention to ensure patient safety and satisfaction when transferred from hospital to home health care—A systematic review
Authors: Oksholm Trine , Gissum Karen Rosnes , Hunskår Irene , Augestad Mirjam Tonheim , Kyte Kristin , Stensletten Kari , Drageset Sigrunn , Aarstad Anne Kari Hersvik , Ellingsen Sidsel
Published: February 2023

Aim

The aim of this systematic review is to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of transition interventions to safeguard patient safety and satisfaction during patients' transition from hospital to home health care.

Design

Systematic review.

Data Sources

MEDLINE, Ovid Nursing Database, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, Clinical Trials and SveMed+ was systematic searched in January 2019 and September 2020 to identify peer‐reviewed papers. No language, geographical or publication date restrictions.

Review Methods

Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions was used. Data analysis focused on aggregated data and a descriptive synthesis. Risk of bias was rated using Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool.

Results

In total, 10,524 references were identified in the literature search, twenty‐six articles were included. The interventions were divided into three main groups: (i). systematic patient education pre‐discharge; (ii). establishment of contact with the local healthcare services pre‐discharge and (iii). follow‐up initiated by nurses from the hospital at home post‐discharge. The studies either used one intervention or combined two or three interventions. We considered the intervention to improve patient safety or satisfaction when they reported statistically significant results. Only four interventions increased both patient safety and satisfaction, seven interventions increased patient safety and thirteen increased patient satisfaction. Interventions that appear to be quite similar, with the same duration, measured different effects on patients' satisfaction and safety. Interventions that ensured patient safety did not necessarily facilitate patient satisfaction and vice versa.

Conclusion

Interventions can improve patient safety and satisfaction during transfer. However, interventions that improve patient safety or satisfaction do not always match.

Impact

This review suggests that transition interventions can improve patients' safety and satisfaction. However, to compare the impact of future interventions is it important to use standardized measurement tools of satisfaction. There is a need to try out tailored interventions, where interventions are customized to the needs of each patient.
The effect of COVID‐19 on workplace violence in California's hospitals: An interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Odes Rachel , Lee Soo‐Jeong , Hong OiSaeng , Jun Jin
Published: February 2023

Aim

This study used California's unique Workplace Violent Incident Reporting System (WVIRS) to describe changes in workplace violence (WV) exposure for hospital‐based healthcare workers during the pandemic.

Design

Interrupted time series analysis.

Methods

We compared the linear trends in weekly WV incidents reported during the period before the COVID‐19 pandemic (7/1/2017–3/20/2020) to the period following California's shutdown (3/21/2020–6/30/2021). We created mixed effects models for incidents reported in emergency departments (EDs) and in other hospital units. We used hospital volume data from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information.

Results

A total of 418 hospitals reported 37,561 incidents during the study period. For EDs, the number of reported incidents remained essentially constant, despite a 26% drop in outpatient visits between the first and second quarters of 2020. For other hospital units, weekly incidents initially dropped—parallel to a 13% decrease in inpatient days between the first and second quarters of 2020—but then continued parallel to the trend seen in the pre‐COVID period.

Conclusion

WV persists steadily in California's hospitals. Despite major reductions in patient volume due to COVID‐19, weekly reported ED incidents remained essentially unchanged.

Impact

Surveys and media reported that WV increased during the pandemic, but it has been difficult to measure these changes using a large‐scale database. The absolute number of WV incidents did not increase during the pandemic; however, the trend in reported incidents remained constant in the context of dramatic decreases in patient volume. New federal WV prevention legislation is being considered in the U.S. California's experience of implementation should be considered to improve WV reporting and prevention.

Public Contribution

There was no public contribution to this study. The goal of this analysis was to summarize findings from administrative data. The findings presented can inform future discussion of public policy and action.