bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Myoprotective whole foods, muscle health and sarcopenia in older adults
Authors: Granic Antoneta , Cooper Rachel , Robinson Sian M. , Sayer Avan A
Published: February 2024

Purpose of review

Sarcopenia increases in prevalence at older ages and may be exacerbated by poor diet. Whole foods rich in specific nutrients may be myoprotective and mitigate the risk of sarcopenia. Here we review recent evidence published from observational and intervention studies regarding myoprotective foods and explore their benefit for the prevention and/or treatment of sarcopenia in older adults.

Recent findings

We found limited new evidence for the role of whole foods in sarcopenia and sarcopenia components (muscle mass, strength, physical performance). There was some evidence for higher consumption of protein-rich foods (milk and dairy) being beneficial for muscle strength in observational and intervention studies. Higher consumption of antioxidant-rich foods (fruit and vegetables) was associated with better physical performance and lower odds of sarcopenia in observational studies. Evidence for other protein- and antioxidant-rich foods were inconsistent or lacking. There remains a clear need for intervention studies designed to identify the role of whole foods for the treatment of sarcopenia.

Although evidence for myoprotective roles of dairy, fruit and vegetables is emerging from observational studies, higher level evidence from intervention studies is needed for these foods to be recommended in diets of older adults to prevent and/or treat sarcopenia.
Tryptophan metabolism and kynurenine metabolites in cancer: systemic nutritional and metabolic implications
Authors: Molfino Alessio , Imbimbo Giovanni , Gallicchio Carmen , Muscaritoli Maurizio
Published: February 2024

Purpose of review

To describe the role of Tryptophan (Trp) metabolism and Kynurenine (Kyn) metabolites in nutritional and metabolic changes in cancer.

Recent findings

Trp is in part utilized for protein and neurotransmitters biosynthesis, but more than 95% is implicated in Kyn pathways. In this molecular cascade, metabolites are produced with distinct biological activities regulating the immune response and neurotransmission with potential implications in malnutrition/cachexia during cancer. Immune dysfunction is a phenomenon occurring during cancer and malnutrition. Kyn metabolites regulate lymphocytes activity and recent data in animals showed that the inhibition of i

ndoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) via 1-methyl-tryptophan determines partial amelioration of inflammation, but no positive effects on the preservation of muscularity were observed. Kynurenines seem to contribute to muscle catabolism via NAD+ biosynthesis and ROS generation. Trp metabolism via the serotonin biosynthesis is involved in appetite control in cancer. Moreover, kynurenines have a role in determining fatigue in conditions associated with inflammation.

Trp metabolism has implications in immune and energy balance in cancer. The modulation of Trp and kynurenines have impact on central nervous system mechanisms, including appetite, fatigue, and muscle wasting/cachexia. Research focusing on these clinical implications will open new scenario for therapeutic interventions aimed at counteracting nutritional derangements in cancer.
Luteal Phase Defects and Progesterone Supplementation
Authors: Collins Lucas C. , Gatta Luke A. , Dotters-Katz Sarah K. , Kuller Jeffrey A. , Schust Danny J.
Published: February 2024

Importance

Luteal phase defects (LPDs), or an insufficiency of progesterone production during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, have been identified as a potential cause of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), but its exact contribution to RPL is not well-defined. In addition, the role of exogenous progesterone supplementation during pregnancy remains controversial.

Objective

The goal of this review is to provide an updated, evidence-based summary of LPD, including prevalence and potential pathophysiologic mechanisms, and to explore the current controversies regarding progesterone supplementation for management and treatment of RPL.

Evidence Acquisition

A literature review identified relevant research using a PubMed search, Cochrane summaries, review articles, textbook chapters, databases, and society guidelines.

Results

Endogenous progesterone plays a crucial role in the first trimester of pregnancy, and therefore, insufficiency may contribute to RPL. However, the precise relationship between LPD and RPL remains unclear. Luteal phase defect is primarily a clinical diagnosis based on a luteal phase less than 10 days. Although there may be a possibility of incorporating a combined clinical and biochemical approach in defining LPD, the current lack of validated diagnostic criteria creates a challenge for its routine incorporation in the workup of infertility. Moreover, no treatment modality has demonstrated efficacy in improving fertility outcomes for LPD patients, including progesterone supplementation, whose inconsistent data do not sufficiently support its routine use, despite its minimal risk. It is imperative that women diagnosed with LPD should be worked up for other potential conditions that may contribute to a shortened luteal phase. Future work needs to focus on identifying a reproducible diagnostic test for LPD to guide treatment.

Conclusions and Relevance

Currently, the perceived relationship between LPD and RPL is challenged by conflicting data. Therefore, patients with an abnormal luteal phase should undergo a thorough workup to address any other potential etiologies. Although supplemental progesterone is commonly utilized for treatment of LPD and RPL, inconsistent supporting data call for exogenous hormone therapy to be only used in a research setting or after a thorough discussion of its shortcomings.

Target Audience

Obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, the learner will be better able to explain the various definitions, diagnostic criteria, and potential pathophysiologic mechanisms of LPD; discuss the current controversies surrounding the role of LPD within RPL; and delineate the current studies and recommendations for treatment, specifically the use of progesterone supplementation.
Reconstruction of Full-Thickness Eyelid Defects Following Tumor Resection: The Bucket Handle Modification
Authors: Gur Zvi , Men Clara , Ozzello Daniel J. , Liu Catherine Y. , Kikkawa Don O. , Korn Bobby S.
Published: February 2024

Purpose:

To describe a modified approach for full-thickness lower eyelid defect reconstruction.

Methods:

This is a retrospective review of 5 patients with large full-thickness lower eyelid defects after tumor resection requiring reconstruction. For these lower eyelid defects, a lateral-based or superior-based tarsoconjunctival pedicle flap from the upper eyelid was used to rebuild the posterior lamella. In all cases, the anterior lamella was supplied from an adjacent myocutaneous flap in a bucket handle configuration. Data collection included tumor type and location, size of eyelid defect, presence of canalicular involvement, postoperative eyelid position, patient satisfaction, and complication rates.

Results:

Five eyelids of 5 patients underwent Mohs micrographic excision of basal cell carcinoma followed by reconstruction with a bucket handle flap. Age range was 68 to 96 years old (mean of 81 y). Five patients presented with lower eyelid involvement. The defect size ranged from 80% to 100% of the eyelid. Three patients had canalicular involvement and required bicanalicular nasolacrimal stent placement. After reconstruction, all patients showed good eyelid apposition to the globe with excellent esthetic outcome. No revision procedures were done. Average follow-up time was 13 months (range of 8 to 21 mo)

Conclusion:

The bucket handle flap for full-thickness eyelid reconstruction is a simple technique that allows for preservation of all anatomical layers of the anterior lamella. This technique shows promising functional and esthetic outcomes.
The Effect of Perioperative Dexamethasone on Postoperative Complications After Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Chen Haoda , Wang Ying , Jiang Kuirong , Xu Zhiwei , Jiang Yu , Wu Zhichong , Lu Xiaojian , Wang Chao , Weng Yuanchi , Wang Weishen , Ding Rui , Zheng Shifan , Li Yilong , Fu Xu , Shi Guodong , Wang Jiancheng , Chen Hao , Peng Chenghong , Deng Xiaxing , Qiu Yudong , Luo Yan , Sun Bei , Shen Baiyong
Published: February 2024

Objective:

To evaluate the effect of perioperative dexamethasone on postoperative complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background:

The glucocorticoid dexamethasone has been shown to improve postoperative outcomes in surgical patients, but its effects on postoperative complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy are unclear.

Methods:

This multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted in four Chinese high-volume pancreatic centers. Adults undergoing elective pancreaticoduodenectomy were randomized to receive either 0.2 mg/kg dexamethasone or a saline placebo as an intravenous bolus within 5 minutes after anesthesia induction. The primary outcome was the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) score within 30 days after the operation, analyzed using the modified intention-to-treat principle.

Results:

Among 428 patients for eligibility, 300 participants were randomized and 265 were included in the modified intention-to-treat analyses. One hundred thirty-four patients received dexamethasone and 131 patients received a placebo. The mean (SD) CCI score was 14.0 (17.5) in the dexamethasone group and 17.9 (20.3) in the placebo group (mean difference: −3.8; 95% CI: −8.4 to 0.7; P = 0.100). The incidence of major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III; 12.7% vs 16.0%, risk ratio: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.44 to 1.43; P = 0.439) and postoperative pancreatic fistula (25.4% vs 31.3%, risk ratio: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.55 to 1.19; P = 0.286) were not significantly different between the two groups. In the stratum of participants with a main pancreatic duct ≤3 mm (n = 202), the CCI score was significantly lower in the dexamethasone group (mean difference: −6.4; 95% CI: −11.2 to −1.6; P = 0.009).

Conclusions:

Perioperative dexamethasone did not significantly reduce postoperative complications within 30 days after pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Self-trapping of vortex crystals via competing nonlinearities
Authors: Paredes Angel , Michinel Humberto
Published: February 2024

We investigate the existence of self-trapped nonlinear waves with multiple phase singularities. Working with the cubic-quintic nonlinear Schrödinger equation, we focus on configurations with an antivortex surrounded by a triangular arrangement of vortices within a hosting soliton. We find stationary patterns that can be interpreted as stable self-trapped vortex crystals, constituting the first example of a configuration of this sort with space-independent potentials. Their stability is linked to their norm, transitioning from unstable to stable as their size increases, with an intermediate region where the structure is marginally unstable, undergoing a remarkable and puzzling self-reconstruction during its evolution.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Synthesis and crystal structure of a silver(I) 6-methylmercaptopurine riboside complex
Authors: Al-Mahamad Lamia L. G. , Clegg William
Published: February 2024

Silver nitrate reacts with 6-methylmercaptopurine riboside (6-MMPR) in aqueous solution containing methanol and dimethyl sulfoxide at room temperature to give a colourless crystalline complex, namely, bis(6-methylmercaptopurine riboside-κN
7)(nitrato-κ2
O,O′)silver(I) 2.32-hydrate, [Ag(NO3)(C11H14N4O4S)2]·2.32H2O. The crystal structure, determined from synchrotron diffraction data, shows a central AgI ion on a crystallographic twofold rotation axis, coordinated in an almost linear fashion by two 6-MMPR ligands via atom N7 (purine numbering), with the nitrate counter-ion loosely coordinated as a bidentate ligand, forming a discrete molecular complex as an approximate dihydrate. The complex and water molecules are connected in a three-dimensional network by hydrogen bonding.
The comparison of RBV-based competitiveness of Hungarian family-owned and non-family-owned SMEs
Authors: Varga Anna Róza , Sipos Norbert , Rideg Andras , Lukovszki Lívia
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the differences between Hungarian family-owned businesses (FOBs) and non-family-owned businesses (NFOBs) concerning the elements of SME competitiveness and financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The research covers the Hungarian data set of the Global Competitiveness Project (GCP, www.sme-gcp.org) of 738 (data collection between 2018 and 2020) non-listed SMEs, of which 328 were FOBs. The study uses the comprehensive, multidimensional competitiveness measurement of the GCP built on the resource-based view (RBV) and the configuration theory. Financial performance was captured with two composite indicators: short-term and long-term financial performance (LTFP). The comparative analysis between FOBs and NFOBs was conducted using binary logistic regression.

Findings

The results show that FOBs are more prone to focusing on local niche markets with higher longevity and LTFP than NFOBs. However, FOBs have lower innovation intensity and less organised administrative procedures. The most contradicting finding is that the FOBs’ higher LTFP is accompanied by significantly lower competitiveness than in the case of NFOBs.

Originality/value

This study goes beyond other GCP studies by including composite financial performance measures among the variables examined. The combination of performance-causing (resources and capabilities) and performance-representing (financial performance) variables provides a better understanding of the non-listed SMEs in terms of family ownership. The results help academia to enrich the RBV-competitiveness, the non-listed SME management and finance literature, and policymakers to design business development and support schemes. They also show future entrepreneurs the impact of family ownership on entrepreneurial success.
Relationship between pesticide research output and GDP: a socio-economic analysis
Authors: Murugappan Sivagami , Ramalingam Jeyshankar
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The focus of this study was to evaluate the relationship between research publications in the pesticide field, a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and GDP per capita. The study aims to analyze pesticide use in association with a country’s population and research publications. The purpose of this study is to uncover the country’s contribution to pesticide research and assess the financial resources allocated to it as a percentage of their GDP by exploring these factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The Web of Science database was used to retrieve data for the period of 2001–2020. The use of scientometric indicators allowed for the analysis of the collaborative patterns and active performance of countries in pesticide research. Socio-economic analysis was used to determine the contribution of countries toward pesticide research.

Findings

This study demonstrated a strong association (0.952%) between a country’s GDP and its research publications in the field of pesticide research. Countries, such as Denmark, Belgium and Australia, have benefited from global collaboration, which has enhanced their research efforts. Despite ranking lower in pesticide utilization, India focused on pesticide research, as indicated by its high publication/GDP per capita ratio (0.26).

Originality/value

Research on pesticides directly impacts agricultural practices, which, in turn, influence the economic production of the agricultural sector. Changes in pesticide usage can have inference for crop yields, food price and, eventually, the GDP. Comparative analysis can assist in evaluating the efficiency of regulatory policies in balancing ecological concerns with economic interests. Changes in regulations may impact both pesticide usage and economic outcomes.
Storm in a teacup: implications of mobile phone literacy on sustainable smallholder agri-food supply chains in developing economies
Authors: Fernando W. Madushan , Perera H. Niles , Ratnayake R.M. Chandima , Thibbotuwawa Amila
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study explores digital transformation in the tea supply chain within developing economies, with a focus on smallholder tea producers in Sri Lanka. Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Among the tea producers, smallholder tea producers account for a substantial portion of total tea production in several countries. Mobile phones play a significant role in providing smallholder producers with access to crucial agricultural information, markets and financial services.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a deductive approach, analysing mobile phone ownership, literacy, experience and perception among smallholder tea producers. The chi-squared test of independence and hierarchical clustering methods were used to test the hypotheses and address the research questions.

Findings

The study identifies four clusters of smallholder tea producers as Basic Tech Adopters, Digital Laggards, Skeptical Feature Phone Users and Tech-savvy Adopters based on their characteristics towards mobile-based technologies. Approximately 75% of the surveyed sample, which included both tech-savvy and basic-tech adopters, showed a positive attitude toward adopting mobile-based agricultural technologies.

Practical implications

The study suggests developing targeted strategies and policies to enhance the productivity of the smallholder tea production process in developing economies. The study highlights the importance of awareness, access, affordability and availability when implementing digital services for businesses at the base of the pyramid, such as tea smallholdings in developing economies.

Originality/value

The present study aims to address the lack of data-driven empirical studies on the use of mobile phones in smallholder settings. The findings of this study enable the enhancement of entrepreneurship within the tea production supply chain, especially, within stakeholders who deliver digital transformation support services.
Sustainable HRM the next hotspot for management research? A study using topic modelling
Authors: Singh Shefali , Awasthi Kanchan , Patra Pradipta , Srivastava Jaya , Trivedi Shrawan Kumar
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Sustainable human resource management (SuHRM), which aims to achieve positive environmental, social and economic outcomes at the same time, has gained prominence across industries. However, the challenges of implementing SuHRM across industries are largely under-studied. The purpose of this study is to identify the grey areas in the field of SuHRM by using an unsupervised learning algorithm on the abstracts of 607 papers published in prominent journals from 1995 to 2023. Most of the articles have been published post-2018.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis of the data (abstracts of the selected articles) has been done using topic modelling via latent Dirichlet algorithm (LDA).

Findings

The output from topic modelling-LDA reveals nine primary focus areas of SuHRM research – the link between SuHRM and employee well-being; job satisfaction; challenges of implementing SuHRM; exploring new horizons in SuHRM; reaping the benefits of using SuHRM as a strategic tool; green HRM practices; link between SuHRM and organisational performance; link between corporate social responsible and HRM.

Research limitations/implications

The insights gained from this study along with the discussions on each topic will be extremely beneficial for researchers, academicians, journal editors and practitioners to channelise their research focus. No other study has used a smart algorithm to identify the research clusters of SuHRM.

Originality/value

By utilizing topic modeling techniques, the study offers a novel approach to analyzing and understanding trends and patterns in HRM research related to sustainability. The significance of the paper would be in its potential to shed light on emerging areas of interest and provide valuable implications for future research and practice in Sustainable HRM.
The persuasion of performative technologies: constructing calculating selves in universities
Authors: Funck Elin K. , Kallio Kirsi-Mari , Kallio Tomi J.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the process by which performative technologies (PTs), in this case accreditation work in a business school, take form and how humans engage in making up such practices. It studies how academics come to accept and even identify with the quantitative representations of themselves in a translation process.

Design/methodology/approach

The research involved a longitudinal, self-ethnographic case study that followed the accreditation process of one Nordic business school from 2015 to 2021.

Findings

The findings show how the PT pushed for different engagements in various phases of the translation process. Early in the translation process, the PT promoted engagement because of self-realization and the ability for academics to proactively influence the prospective competitive milieu. However, as academic qualities became fabricated into numbers, the PT was able to request compliance, but also to induce self-reflection and self-discipline by forcing academics to compare themselves to set qualities and measures.

Originality/value

The paper advances the field by linking five phases of the translation process, problematization, fabrication, materialization, commensuration and stabilization, to a discussion of why academics come to accept and identify with the quantitative representations of themselves. The results highlight that the materialization phase appears to be the critical point at which calculative practices become persuasive and start influencing academics’ thoughts and actions.
Estimation of an attribute value peer-to-peer accommodation platform using a choice experiment: focus on Airbnb
Authors: Jung Jiwoo , Lee Won Seok , Moon Joonho
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify individuals’ preferences for the information attributes of Airbnb, a representative peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation platform. In the sharing economy, platforms are considered to be the principal intermediaries in supply and demand, and these platforms have distinctly different attributes from traditional accommodation reservation systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study used a choice experiment, which is a method for systematically identifying attributes’ preferences in the form of marginal willingness-to-pay (MWTP). Amazon Mechanical Turk, a crowdsourcing marketplace, was used for data collection, and 243 respondents ultimately participated in the survey.

Findings

Results showed that respondents’ choices were positively affected by the number of pictures of an accommodation, host experience, cancellation policy and local information but negatively affected by cost. Regarding MWTPs, host experience had the highest value (US$84.25), followed by cancellation policy (US$40), photos (US$26.67) and local information (US$10.92).

Originality/value

These study results could provide strategic guidance for guiding the development of P2P accommodation platforms by providing a prioritized list of preferred attributes for Airbnb.
Executive team risk appetite, financial development and re-innovation strategy after enterprise innovation failure: evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Yang , Zhou Wentao , Pan Xiaoyao
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This article empirically tests the impact of risk appetite of the executive team on the re-innovation strategy after technological innovation failure using a panel regression model from the perspective of regional financial development level of enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

By means of time series global principal component analysis and panel regression model method, the study validated and analyzed the impact of risk appetite of the executive team on the re-innovation strategy after enterprise technological innovation failure.

Findings

The research found that the higher the risk appetite of executive team, the more inclined the enterprise is to choose the “focusing on quantity, ignoring quality” re-innovation strategy after technological innovation failure. The better the financial development level of the region where the enterprise is located, the better it can effectively reduce the re-innovation strategy of “focusing on quantity, ignoring quality” of the enterprise due to the high risk appetite of the executive team.

Originality/value

The findings of this study are helpful in improving the financial development level of the region where the enterprise is located. It can help the executive team of the enterprise to more objectively choose the innovation strategy after technological innovation failure, and reduce the phenomenon that the executive team of the enterprise only pays attention to the quantity of re-innovation and underestimates the quality of re-innovation after technological innovation failure due to its high risk appetite.
The association of Healthy Eating Index and its components with levels of fasting blood sugar and lipid profile in normoglycemic and hyperglycemic individuals
Authors: Moradiani Mohammad , Movahedi Ariyo , Djazayery Abolghassem
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims to assess the association of Healthy Eating Index (HEI) with levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS) and lipid profile in normoglycemic and elevated FBS patients.

Design/methodology/approach

This case-control study was conducted on 144 participants, namely, 72 normoglycemic subjects (FBS < 100 mg/dl) and 72 high-glycemic patients (FBS ≥ 100 mg/dl) aged 20–60 years of age, who were selected from the nutrition and diet clinics in Tehran city. The dietary intake was collected by using a validated food frequency questionnaire to determine the HEI score.

Findings

The mean±SD age and body mass index of participants were 47.1 ± 12.7 years and 29.6 ± 6.0 kg/m2, respectively. The median (interquartile range) of HEI scores in the normoglycemic group and the high-glycemia group were 19.34 (15.24–24.31) and 16.53 (13.35–24.07), respectively. In the overall population, the findings of the multi-variable linear regression model indicated a positive association between the HEI score and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (ß = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.05–0.64, P = 0.01). However, there is no significant association between HEI and HDL-C in normoglycemic (ß = 0.19; 95%CI: −0.31, 0.69, P = 0.45) and hyperglycemic subjects (ß = 0.28; 95%CI: −0.10–0.66, P = 0.15). Furthermore, the association of HEI with levels of FBS, triglycerides (TGs) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was not significant in any of the analyzed groups, including the total population, normoglycemic individuals and hyperglycemic subjects.

Originality/value

This study was the first study to assess the role of HEI and its components with levels of FBS and lipid profile in normoglycemic and hyperglycemic individuals in Iran. The findings suggested that higher adherence to HEI may be associated with an increase in the HDL-C level. However, HEI could not predict FBS, TGs and LDL-C levels in the adult population.
Fabrication of cathode composite Co3O4/CC and study on electrochemical properties of zinc cobalt battery
Authors: Tan Wenhai , Zhang Yichen , Song Yuhao , Ma Yanbo , Zhao Chao , Zhang Youfeng
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Aqueous zinc-ion battery has broad application prospects in smart grid energy storage, power tools and other fields. Co3O4 is one of the ideal cathode materials for water zinc-ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacity, simple synthesis, low cost and environmental friendliness. Many studies were concentrated on the synthesis, design and doping of cathodes, but the effect of process parameters on morphology and performance was rarely reported.

Design/methodology/approach

Herein, Co3O4 cathode material based on carbon cloth (Co3O4/CC) was prepared by different temperatures hydrothermal synthesis method. The temperatures of hydrothermal reaction are 100°C, 120°C, 130°C and 140°C, respectively. The influence of temperatures on the microstructures of the cathodes and electrochemical performance of zinc ion batteries were investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry curve, electrochemical charging and discharging behavior and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy test.

Findings

The results show that the Co3O4/CC material synthesized at 120°C has good performance. Co3O4/CC nanowire has a uniform distribution, regular surface and small size on carbon cloth. The zinc-ion battery has excellent rate performance and low reaction resistance. In the voltage range of 0.01–2.2 V, when the current density is 1 A/g, the specific capacity of the battery is 108.2 mAh/g for the first discharge and the specific capacity of the battery is 142.6 mAh/g after 60 charge and discharge cycles.

Originality/value

The study aims to investigate the effect of process parameters on the performance of zinc-ion batteries systematically and optimized applicable reaction temperature.
Optimization and modelling of WCEDM process parameters for GZR-AA7475 HMMC using GRA and Taguchi approach
Authors: Singuru Madhavarao , V.V.S. Kesava Rao , Chekuri Rama Bhadri Raju
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the optimal process parameters of the wire-cut electrical discharge machining (WCEDM) for the machining of the GZR-AA7475 hybrid metal matrix composite (HMMC). HMMCs are prepared with 2 Wt.% graphite and 4 Wt.% zirconium dioxide reinforced with aluminium alloy 7475 (GZR-AA7475) composite by using the stir casting method. The objective is to enhance the mechanical properties of the material while preserving its unique features. WCEDM with a 0.18 mm molybdenum wire electrode is used for machining the composite.

Design/methodology/approach

To conduct experimental studies, a Taguchi L27 orthogonal array was adopted. Input variables such as peak current (Ip), pulse-on-time (TON) and flushing pressure (PF) were used. The effect of process parameters on the output responses, such as material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness rate (SRR) and wire wear ratio (WWR), were investigated. The grey relational analysis (GRA) is used to obtain the optimal combination of the process parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also used to identify the significant process parameters affecting the output responses.

Findings

Results from the current study concluded that the optimal condition for grey relational grade is obtained at TON = 105 µs, Ip = 100 A and PF = 90 kg/cm2. Peak current is the most prominent parameter influencing the MRR, whereas SRR and WRR are highly influenced by flushing pressure.

Originality/value

Identifying the optimal process parameters in WCEDM for machining of GZR-AA7475 HMMC. ANOVA and GRA are used to obtain the optimal combination of the process parameters.
Deaf and hard‐of‐hearing EFL learners' perception of learning English: A narrative inquiry
Authors: Rezvani Reza , Ghanbar Hessameddin , PourhematKhanshir Yasamin
Published: February 2024

There is limited research on deaf and hard‐of‐hearing (D/HH) learners' learning English as a foreign language. It is even more scant in contexts such as Iran where D/HH learners are least visible and represented. This narrative inquiry aimed to explore Iranian D/HH English as a foreign language (EFL) learners' lived experience in learning English. The data were collected through semi‐structured interviews with 10 undergraduate students of English. The data were thematically analysed, yielding five themes: (1) learning English and its relevance to personal goals and aspirations; (2) perceived language‐related difficulties; (3) awareness of the differences in their language learning experience as D/HH learners; (4) significance of visual communication for D/HH learners of English; and (5) the role and support of technology. These themes provided a multidimensional understanding of these learners' perception of their foreign language learning trajectory. The results of this study have implications for various stakeholders in the context of special needs language education.
TOXIC FORMATIONS: Race, Place and the Politics of Pollution on the Banks of the Ganga
Authors: Ponnaganti Amani
Published: February 2024

Pollution in the environment emerges as a legal and technical object on the one hand, and as a repository of social and cultural beliefs on the other. What happens when we trouble the idea that these belong to different domains and think about seemingly divergent meanings of pollution together? In this article, I draw from anti‐caste and anti‐racist work to explore this question. Extending critical urban scholarship on environmental politics, I attend to formations of caste and religion alongside judicial and political discourse on preventing pollution to the river Ganga in North India. In our present moment, on the banks of the sacred river, extremist leaders mobilize regulations to target minoritized Muslim and Dalit communities in Kanpur's leather industry. I argue that the roots of these actions lie in an environmental petition from the mid‐1980s which transformed urban environmental governance in North India, as the court decoupled questions of environmental protection from economic and social justice. I suggest that the analytic of regional racial formations helps us grapple with uneven socio‐spatial landscapes in postcolonial cities and sharpens our understanding of environmental injustices by moving beyond fixed categories of difference.
Exploring the learning experiences of neurodivergent college students inSTEMcourses
Authors: Wang Karen D. , McCool Jake , Wieman Carl
Published: February 2024

Neurodivergent students exhibit an inclination towards Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, yet their learning experiences in STEM courses remain underexamined. Utilizing an online survey of neurodivergent (n = 60) and neurotypical (n = 83) US college students, this study identified various factors influencing their self‐perceived learning experiences, including interest in the course content, instruction quality and performance outcomes. Compared to their neurotypical peers, neurodivergent students attributed negative experiences in STEM courses less frequently to performance‐related factors and more often to a mismatch between their interests and the course content. Both groups also articulated a variety of strengths and challenges encountered in their STEM studies. Neurodivergent students were more likely to report having interest and passion for STEM and less likely to report having peer support and effective study skills and habits as their primary strength for studying STEM. Conversely, while neurotypical students cited difficult content as their central challenge, neurodivergent students more commonly faced challenges with focus and attention. Despite the study's limited sample size, it revealed emerging patterns that emphasize the importance of developing inclusive teaching methods and specific support mechanisms to cater to the unique strengths and challenges of neurodivergent students in higher education.
Connectivity conservation planning through deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Equihua Julián , Beckmann Michael , Seppelt Ralf
Published: February 2024

The United Nations has declared 2021–2030 the decade on ecosystem restoration with the aim of preventing, stopping and reversing the degradation of the ecosystems of the world, often caused by the fragmentation of natural landscapes. Human activities separate and surround habitats, making them too small to sustain viable animal populations or too far apart to enable foraging and gene flow. Despite the need for strategies to solve fragmentation, it remains unclear how to efficiently reconnect nature. In this paper, we illustrate the potential of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to tackle the spatial optimisation aspect of connectivity conservation planning.

The propensity of spatial optimisation problems to explode in complexity depending on the number of input variables and their states is and will continue to be one of its most serious obstacles. DRL is an emerging class of methods focused on training deep neural networks to solve decision‐making tasks and has been used to learn good heuristics for complex optimisation problems. While the potential of DRL to optimise conservation decisions seems huge, only few examples of its application exist.

We applied DRL to two real‐world raster datasets in a connectivity planning setting, targeting graph‐based connectivity indices for optimisation. We show that DRL converges to the known optimums in a small example where the objective is the overall improvement of the Integral Index of Connectivity and the only constraint is the budget. We also show that DRL approximates high‐quality solutions on a large example with additional cost and spatial configuration constraints where the more complex Probability of Connectivity Index is targeted. To the best of our knowledge, there is no software that can target this index for optimisation on raster data of this size.

DRL can be used to approximate good solutions in complex spatial optimisation problems even when the conservation feature is non‐linear like graph‐based indices. Furthermore, our methodology decouples the optimisation process and the index calculation, so it can potentially target any other conservation feature implemented in current or future software.
Unwinding NFTs in the shadow of IP law
Authors: Wang Runhua , Lee Jyh‐An , Liu Jingwen
Published: February 2024

Amid the surge of intellectual property (IP) disputes surrounding non‐fungible tokens (NFTs), some scholars have advocated for the application of personal property or sales law to regulate NFT minting and transactions, contending that IP laws unduly hinder the development of the NFT market. This Article counters these proposals and argues that the existing IP system stands as the most suitable regulatory framework for governing the evolving NFT market. Compared to personal property or sales law, IP laws can more effectively address challenges such as tragedies of the commons and anticommons in the NFT market. NFT communities have also developed their own norms and licensing agreements upon existing IP laws to regulate shared resources. Moreover, the IP regimes, with both static and dynamic institutional designs, can effectively balance various policy concerns, such as innovation, fair competition, and consumer protection, which alternative proposals struggle to provide.
Epidermal barrier impairment predisposes for excessive growth of the allergy‐associated yeast Malassezia on murine skin
Authors: Ruchti Fiorella , Zwicky Pascale , Becher Burkhard , Dubrac Sandrine , LeibundGut‐Landmann Salomé
Published: February 2024

Background

The skin barrier is vital for protection against environmental threats including insults caused by skin‐resident microbes. Dysregulation of this barrier is a hallmark of atopic dermatitis (AD) and ichthyosis, with variable consequences for host immune control of colonizing commensals and opportunistic pathogens. While Malassezia is the most abundant commensal fungus of the skin, little is known about the host control of this fungus in inflammatory skin diseases.

Methods

In this experimental study, MC903‐treated mice were colonized with Malassezia spp. to assess the host–fungal interactions in atopic dermatitis. Additional murine models of AD and ichthyosis, including tape stripping, K5‐Nrf2 overexpression and flaky tail mice, were employed to confirm and expand the findings. Skin fungal counts were enumerated. High parameter flow cytometry was used to characterize the antifungal response in the AD‐like skin. Structural and functional alterations in the skin barrier were determined by histology and transcriptomics of bulk skin. Finally, differential expression of metabolic genes in Malassezia in atopic and control skin was quantified.

Results

Malassezia grows excessively in AD‐like skin. Fungal overgrowth could, however, not be explained by the altered immune status of the atopic skin. Instead, we found that by upregulating key metabolic genes in the altered cutaneous niche, Malassezia acquired enhanced fitness to efficiently colonise the impaired skin barrier.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that structural and metabolic changes in the dysfunctional epidermal barrier environment provide increased accessibility and an altered lipid profile, to which the lipid‐dependent yeast adapts for enhanced nutrient assimilation. Our findings reveal fundamental insights into the implication of the mycobiota in the pathogenesis of common skin barrier disorders.
Differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia long‐term follow up and prognostic factors: An analysis of a large historical cohort
Authors: Gallio Niccolò , Preti Mario , Jones Ronald W. , Borella Fulvio , Woelber Linn , Bertero Luca , Urru Sara , Micheletti Leonardo , Zamagni Federica , Bevilacqua Federica , Tondo Pierluigi , Pollano Benedetta , Cassoni Paola , Benedetto Chiara
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (dVIN) is a high‐risk preinvasive vulvar lesion and precursor of human papillomavirus‐independent vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). Due to its rarity, literature data on its malignant potential are scant. The aim of the study is to assess the risk of developing VSCC in patients surgically treated for dVIN not associated with VSCC (solitary dVIN) and the risk of VSCC recurrence in patients treated for dVIN associated with VSCC (dVIN‐VSCC) at first diagnosis.

Material and methods

A historical cohort study was performed in a northern Italy referral center for vulvar neoplasms. All consecutive women surgically treated for histologically confirmed dVIN from 1994 to 2021 were collected. Primary outcome was cancer risk or recurrent cancer risk, secondary outcomes were risk factors associated with VSCC development or recurrence. Kaplan–Meier method and log‐rank test were used to estimate cancer risk or recurrent cancer risk differences and uni‐ and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify risk factors associated with VSCC development in solitary dVIN and recurrence of dVIN‐VSCC.

Results

Seventy‐six patients with dVIN at preoperative biopsy were included: at excisional specimens 44 were solitary dVIN and 32 were dVIN‐VSCC. The absolute risk of VSCC development after solitary dVIN treatment was 43.2% with median time to to VSCC diagnosis of 25.4 months (range 3.5–128.0 months). VSCC recurrence absolute risk in treated dVIN‐VSCC patients was 31.3% with median time to VSCC recurrence of 52.9 months (range 6.5–94.8 months). At uni‐ and multivariate regression analyses, only compliant topical ultrapotent corticosteroid treatment after solitary dVIN excision showed an ability to prevent VSCC development. No protective effect by corticosteroid treatment was shown for VSCC recurrence in dVIN‐VSCC patients. Smoking was associated with higher cancer recurrence risk in dVIN‐VSCC patients on both uni‐ and multivariate regression analyses.

Conclusions

Patients with dVIN have a high risk of developing both primary and recurring VSCC. Early recognition, long‐term follow up, and compliant ultrapotent topical corticosteroid treatment are recommended.
A critical take on procreative justice
Authors: Räsänen Joona , Bengtson Andreas , Cossette‐Lefebvre Hugo , Lippert‐Rasmussen Kasper
Published: February 2024

Herjeet Kaur Marway recently proposed the Principle of Procreative Justice, which says that reproducers have a strong moral obligation to avoid completing race and colour injustices through their selection choices. In this article, we analyze this principle and argue, appealing to a series of counterexamples, that some of the implications of Marway's Principle of Procreative Justice are difficult to accept. This casts doubt on whether the principle should be adopted. Also, we show that there are some more principled worries regarding Marway's idea of a strong pro tanto duty not to complete injustices through one's procreative choices. Nonetheless, we believe Marway's arguments point in the right general direction regarding duties and structural injustice. Thus, in the final part, we suggest a positive proposal on how it would be possible to respond to the cases we raise. More specifically, we explore the suggestion that agents have a pro tanto duty to participate in eliminating structural injustice. Importantly, this duty can be satisfied, not only in procreation choices but in multiple ways.
Design, recruitment and baseline characteristics of the LENS trial
Authors:   The LENS Collaborative Group
Published: February 2024

Background

Findings from cardiovascular outcome trials suggest that treatment with fenofibrate may reduce the progression of diabetic retinopathy. However, no dedicated large‐scale randomised trials have yet investigated this hypothesis.

Methods

LENS is a streamlined randomised double‐masked placebo‐controlled trial, based in Scotland, assessing whether treatment with fenofibrate (145 mg tablet daily or, in the context of impaired renal function, on alternate days) in people with early retinopathy reduces progression to referable diabetic retinopathy (defined in NHS Scotland's Diabetic Eye Screening grading scheme as referable background or proliferative retinopathy, or referable maculopathy in either eye) or treatment with retinal laser, intravitreal injections or vitrectomy. Adults with diabetes mellitus and non‐referable retinopathy (mild background retinopathy in both eyes or observable background retinopathy in one/both eyes at the most recent NHS retinal screening assessment; or observable maculopathy in one/both eyes in the previous 3 years) were eligible. Potential participants were identified from routinely collected healthcare data and followed up using regular contact from the research team and linkage to national electronic morbidity, mortality, biochemistry and retinal screening records. Study treatment was mailed to participants.

Results

Between 18 September 2018 and 27 July 2021, 1151 participants were randomised. Their mean age was 61 (SD 12) years, 312 (27%) were female and 305 (26%) had type 1 diabetes. 96% had bilateral mild background retinopathy and 10% had observable maculopathy.

Conclusions

LENS will provide a robust evaluation of the efficacy of treating people at risk of progression of diabetic retinopathy with fenofibrate. Results are anticipated in mid‐2024.

Trial Registrations

NCT03439345; ISRCTN15073006; EuDRACT 2016–002656‐24.