bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A nonlinear robot joint friction compensation method including stick and sliding characteristics
Authors: Feng Yanli , Zhang Ke , Li Haoyu , Wang Jingyu
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Due to dynamic model is the basis of realizing various robot control functions, and it determines the robot control performance to a large extent, this paper aims to improve the accuracy of dynamic model for n-Degree of Freedom (DOF) serial robot.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper exploits a combination of the link dynamical system and the friction model to create robot dynamic behaviors. A practical approach to identify the nonlinear joint friction parameters including the slip properties in sliding phase and the stick characteristics in presliding phase is presented. Afterward, an adaptive variable-step moving average method is proposed to effectively reduce the noise impact on the collected data. Furthermore, a radial basis function neural network-based friction estimator for varying loads is trained to compensate the nonlinear effects of load on friction during robot joint moving.

Findings

Experiment validations are carried out on all the joints of a 6-DOF industrial robot. The experimental results of joint torque estimation demonstrate that the proposed strategy significantly improves the accuracy of the robot dynamic model, and the prediction effect of the proposed method is better than that of existing methods.

Originality/value

The proposed method extends the robot dynamic model with friction compensation, which includes the nonlinear effects of joint stick motion, joint sliding motion and load attached to the end-effector.
Financial constraints and nonlinearity of farm size growth
Authors: Bojnec Štefan , Fertő Imre
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This article aims to investigate the financial constraints and nonlinearity of farm size growth.

Design/methodology/approach

Farm size growth is measured with land, labor and output using data from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) for Hungary and Slovenia. A dynamic panel model is applied to assess financial constraints and nonlinearity of farm size growth.

Findings

Results show that, except for land in Slovenia and output in Hungary, liquidity constraints are less important for farm size growth than endogenous factors based on farm size growth expectations and steady farm size restructuring. Smaller farms are growing faster than larger ones. The hypothesis that a higher level of subsidies would increase farm size is not supported for Hungary. When farms reach a certain size, the land area of the largest farms increases. Farm debts in Hungary are linked with land growth and in Slovenia with output growth.

Research limitations/implications

Further research on the impact of liquidity constraints and subsidies can be conducted at a disaggregate farm-type level to examine whether there is variability in the underlying interlinkages at the farm-type specialization level.

Practical implications

The implication that farm size growth is dependent on initial size and that smaller farms are growing faster than bigger ones indicates that it is not necessary to favor the fastest growing smaller farms thus supports the application of a non-discriminatory farm size policy for observing farm size structural changes.

Originality/value

The dynamic panel econometric model that incorporates cash flow as a measure of financial constraints provides insight into farm size growth in cross-country comparison in relation to potential farm liquidity constraints, farm debt and the nonlinearity of farm size, which information is of relevance to policy makers and practitioners.
Socially meaningful transparency in data-based systems: reflections and proposals from practice
Authors: Bates Jo , Kennedy Helen , Medina Perea Itzelle , Oman Susan , Pinney Lulu
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose is to present proposals to foster what we call a socially meaningful transparency practice that aims to enhance public understanding of data-based systems through the production of accounts that are relevant and useful to diverse publics, and society more broadly.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors’ proposals emerge from reflections on challenges they experienced producing written and visual accounts of specific public sector data-based systems for research purposes. Following Ananny and Crawford's call to see limits to transparency practice as “openings”, the authors put their experience into dialogue with the literature to think about how we might chart a way through the challenges. Based on these reflections, the authors outline seven proposals for fostering socially meaningful transparency.

Findings

The authors identify three transparency challenges from their practice: information asymmetry, uncertainty and resourcing. The authors also present seven proposals related to reduction of information asymmetries between organisations and non-commercial external actors, enhanced legal rights to access information, shared decision making about what gets made transparent, making visible social impacts and uncertainties of data-systems, clear and accessible communication, timing of transparency practices and adequate resourcing.

Social implications

Socially meaningful transparency aims to enhance public understanding of data-based systems. It is therefore a necessary condition not only for informed use of data-based products, but crucially for democratic engagement in the development of datafied societies.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to existing debates on meaningful transparency by arguing for a more social, rather than individual, approach to imagining how to make transparency practice more meaningful. The authors do this through their empirical reflection on our experience of doing transparency, conceptually through our notion of socially meaningful transparency, and practically through our seven proposals.
A recent review on optimisation methods applied to credit scoring models
Authors: Kamimura Elias Shohei , Pinto Anderson Rogério Faia , Nagano Marcelo Seido
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to present a literature review of the most recent optimisation methods applied to Credit Scoring Models (CSMs).

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology employed technical procedures based on bibliographic and exploratory analyses. A traditional investigation was carried out using the Scopus, ScienceDirect and Web of Science databases. The papers selection and classification took place in three steps considering only studies in English language and published in electronic journals (from 2008 to 2022). The investigation led up to the selection of 46 publications (10 presenting literature reviews and 36 proposing CSMs).

Findings

The findings showed that CSMs are usually formulated using Financial Analysis, Machine Learning, Statistical Techniques, Operational Research and Data Mining Algorithms. The main databases used by the researchers were banks and the University of California, Irvine. The analyses identified 48 methods used by CSMs, the main ones being: Logistic Regression (13%), Naive Bayes (10%) and Artificial Neural Networks (7%). The authors conclude that advances in credit score studies will require new hybrid approaches capable of integrating Big Data and Deep Learning algorithms into CSMs. These algorithms should have practical issues considered consider practical issues for improving the level of adaptation and performance demanded for the CSMs.

Practical implications

The results of this study might provide considerable practical implications for the application of CSMs. As it was aimed to demonstrate the application of optimisation methods, it is highly considerable that legal and ethical issues should be better adapted to CSMs. It is also suggested improvement of studies focused on micro and small companies for sales in instalment plans and commercial credit through the improvement or new CSMs.

Originality/value

The economic reality surrounding credit granting has made risk management a complex decision-making issue increasingly supported by CSMs. Therefore, this paper satisfies an important gap in the literature to present an analysis of recent advances in optimisation methods applied to CSMs. The main contribution of this paper consists of presenting the evolution of the state of the art and future trends in studies aimed at proposing better CSMs.
Commercial office portfolio risks during the COVID pandemic and the future beyond – a survey of stakeholders in India
Authors: Gupta Ashish , Bajaj Deepak
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper investigates the dynamic nature of risk in pre-, during- and post-COVID duration. It investigates how commercial office portfolio stakeholders in India perceived risk during the COVID pandemic, their risk response and mitigation strategies, and emerging structural changes that would impact the commercial office portfolio (COP) in the post-COVID period.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative and applied research method is adopted for the study. Through purposive sampling, commercial office portfolio stakeholders were selected and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire having two parts. In the first part, risk attributes were accessed on the Likert scale and in the second part there were open-ended questions.

Findings

The uncertainty during the COVID period increased the risk perception significantly. There was a sense of urgency to retain the tenants, preserve the headline rentals and keep the properties operational. COP managers were forthcoming to offer rent deferments, common area maintenance discounts and upgrades in the physical office in form of touchless equipment, better air filters, etc. Post-pandemic there would be extensive use of technology and data for facility management and space utilization analytics; mainstreaming of hybrid working and flexible office spaces; increased certification of buildings; adoption of ESG and sustainability norms; and better-designed buildings with a focus on EHS and wellbeing.

Practical implications

Identifying structural changes in the post-pandemic period will help the COP managers to align their portfolios to the emerging office market requirements.

Originality/value

This study helps in developing an understanding of the dynamic nature of the risk across pre-, during- and post-COVID periods. And risk responses and mitigation strategies adopted during the COVID period in an emerging market.
Do IFRS convergence affects firm performance? Picturing Indian-listed manufacturing firms
Authors: Nepal Mukesh , Deb Rajat
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The study has endeavored to assay the nexus between the converged version of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the performance of the Indian-listed manufacturing firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has randomly accessed the data of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) listed Indian manufacturing firms using the Prowess IQ database. It has covered 2014–2016 as pre-IFRS and 2017–2020 as the post-IFRS convergence period. Moreover, the study has followed a longitudinal research design with cross-sectional time-series data and has used the difference-in-difference (DiD) technique to assess the effect of the IFRS convergence on firm performance (FP).

Findings

The results have indicated that the adoption of the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) has unlikely reported better FP. It has concurred policy implications as full adoption rather than convergence could reap the benefits of the IFRS.

Originality/value

It has contributed to the existing body of knowledge by assaying the effect of the IFRS convergence on FP in developing economies like India using the DiD methodology. The study is an original piece of research and is free from plagiarism.
Modal analysis of rigid pavement resting on two-parameter soil foundation model using finite element framework
Authors: Wani Khair Ul Faisal , Nallasivam K.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to numerically model the rigid pavement resting on two-parameter soil and to examine its modal parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is carried out using a one-dimensional beam element with three rotational and three translational degrees of freedom based on the finite element method. MATLAB programming is used to perform the free vibration analysis of the rigid pavement.

Findings

Cyclic frequency and their corresponding mode shapes were determined. It has been investigated how cyclic frequency changes as a result of variations in the thickness, span length of pavement, shear modulus, modulus of subgrade, different boundary conditions and element discretization. Thickness of the pavement and span length has greater effect on the cyclic frequency. Maximum increase of 29.7% is found on increasing the thickness, whereas the cyclic frequency decreases by 63.49% on increasing span length of pavement.

Research limitations/implications

The pavement's free vibration is the sole subject of the current investigation. This study limits for the preliminary design phase of rigid pavements, where a complete three-dimensional finite element analysis is unnecessary. The current approach can be extended to future research using a different method, such as finite element grilling technique, mesh-free technique on reinforced concrete pavements or jointed concrete pavements.

Originality/value

The finite element approach adopted in this paper involves six degrees of freedom for each node. Furthermore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no prior study has done seven separate parametric investigations on the modal analysis of rigid pavement resting on two-parameter soil.
How does supervisor developmental feedback make employees sense the meaning of work?
Authors: Zhang Yuqi , Tan Chunping , Wang Na
Published: June 2023

This article used 677 questionnaires obtained by stratified sampling as a sample and used the hierarchical regression analysis method and the bootstrap method to analyze the data. Based on Self‐Determination Theory, this article integrated the Leader‐Member Exchange (LMX) situation to explore the mechanism of supervisor developmental feedback on employees' work meaningfulness. The results showed that supervisor developmental feedback aroused employees' work meaningfulness by meeting the autonomy need and relatedness need. Although competence need satisfaction could not enhance employees' work meaningfulness, its development could satisfy the relatedness need and autonomy need and thus boost work meaningfulness. High‐quality LMX enhanced the impact of supervisor developmental feedback on relatedness need satisfaction. This article explored the antecedents of employees' work meaningfulness from the perspectives of supervisor behavior and supervisor‐subordinate interaction. Our study completely presents the internal mechanism of employees' work meaningfulness from the psychological level, expands on existing research and provides practical guiding value for organizations to activate employees' work meaningfulness.
Biologic therapy is associated with malignancies among Israeli patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A population‐based study
Authors: Katony Eizenstat Ella , Hassan Fadi , Golan Cohen Avivit , Merzon Eugene , Green Ilan , Paz Ziv , Naffaa Mohammad E.
Published: June 2023

Aims

To examine whether biologic disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) are associated with increased risk of malignancy among Israeli patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

We identified RA patients meeting specified inclusion and exclusion criteria from the Leumit healthcare services database between the years 2000 and 2017. Data were collected regarding bDMARD and conventional DMARD consumption, types of malignancies, and their temporal relation to RA diagnosis. The association between baseline variables and occurrence of malignancies was examined by Cox regression.

Results

Among 4268 eligible RA patients, 688 (16.12%) were diagnosed with any malignancy. Melanoma skin cancer (MSC) was the most prevalent malignancy (148/688, 21.5%). The proportions out of all malignancies of MSC and non‐melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) were higher after than before RA diagnosis (24.7% vs 19.1%, p = .025 and 24.7% vs 13.0%, p = .021, respectively). A higher proportion of RA patients diagnosed with malignancy used bDMARDs in comparison with RA patients who were malignancy‐free (40.2% vs 17.5%, p < .001). After adjusting for demographic and clinical variables, bDMARDs were associated with an increased risk of malignancy (hazard ratio 1.42, 95% confidence interval 1.10‐1.78).

Conclusions

Biologic DMARDs are associated with increased risk of malignancy among Israeli RA patients, presumably contributed by MSC and NMSC. MSC was the most prevalent type of malignancy in this cohort and may indicate a predisposition state among Israeli RA patients.
Age‐ and sex‐dependent alterations in primary somatosensory cortex neuronal calcium network dynamics during locomotion
Authors: Case Sami L. , Lin Ruei‐Lung , Thibault Olivier
Published: June 2023

Over the past 30 years, the calcium (Ca2+) hypothesis of brain aging has provided clear evidence that hippocampal neuronal Ca2+ dysregulation is a key biomarker of aging. Age‐dependent Ca2+‐mediated changes in intrinsic excitability, synaptic plasticity, and activity have helped identify some of the mechanisms engaged in memory and cognitive decline based on work done mostly at the single‐cell level and in the slice preparation. Recently, our lab identified age‐ and Ca2+‐related neuronal network dysregulation in the cortex of the anesthetized animal. Still, investigations in the awake animal are needed to test the generalizability of the Ca2+ hypothesis of brain aging. Here, we used in vigilo two‐photon imaging in ambulating mice, to image GCaMP8f in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), during ambulation and at rest. We investigated aging‐ and sex‐related changes in neuronal networks in the C56BL/6J mouse. Following imaging, gait behavior was characterized to test for changes in locomotor stability. During ambulation, in both young adult and aged mice, an increase in network connectivity and synchronicity was noted. An age‐dependent increase in synchronicity was seen in ambulating aged males only. Additionally, females displayed increases in the number of active neurons, Ca2+ transients, and neuronal activity compared to males, particularly during ambulation. These results suggest S1 Ca2+ dynamics and network synchronicity are likely contributors of locomotor stability. We believe this work raises awareness of age‐ and sex‐dependent alterations in S1 neuronal networks, perhaps underlying the increase in falls with age.
Peer‐elicited alcohol craving in adolescents and emerging adults: Bridging the laboratory and natural environment
Authors: Meisel Samuel N. , Treloar Padovano Hayley , Pielech Melissa , Goodyear Kimberly , Miranda Robert
Published: June 2023

Background

Although peers figure prominently in developmental models of alcohol use, our understanding of the influence of peer social context in cue reactivity paradigms with adolescents and emerging adults in the human laboratory and the natural environment is limited. This study tested associations between alcohol craving among youth in the human laboratory using alcohol‐related images, with and without peers, and in the natural environment using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).

Methods

Data for this preregistered secondary analysis were collected prior to randomization in two medication trials (N = 115). Participants completed an image cue exposure paradigm at the baseline laboratory session followed by approximately 7 days of EMA.

Results

In the laboratory, model‐based mean comparisons from multilevel models (MLMs) showed that all drinking images elicited greater craving than neutral images. No differences were observed across the three image categories containing alcohol. Image category by age interactions demonstrated that, compared to older youth, younger youth displayed lower craving in response to neutral versus social drinking context with peers images and older, compared to younger, youth displayed higher craving in response to nonsocial drinking images versus social drinking contexts with peers images. In the natural environment, craving was greatest when youth were in the presence of alcohol‐using peers and alcohol‐related cues, regardless of age. Laboratory craving to alcohol images was positively associated with craving in the natural environment.

Conclusions

For youth, peers are a salient social context associated with increased craving, particularly in the natural environment. Laboratory cue reactivity to alcohol images predicted real‐world craving, further supporting the ecological validity of this paradigm in youth.
Do brief motivational interventions increase motivation for change in drinking among college students? A two‐step meta‐analysis of individual participant data
Authors: Tan Zhengqi , Tanner‐Smith Emily E. , Walters Scott T. , Tan Lin , Huh David , Zhou Zhengyang , Luningham Justin M. , Larimer Mary E. , Mun Eun‐Young
Published: June 2023

Background

Brief motivational interventions (BMIs) are one of the most effective individually focused alcohol intervention strategies for college students. Despite the central theoretical role of motivation for change in BMIs, it is unclear whether BMIs increase motivation to change drinking behavior. We conducted a two‐step meta‐analysis of individual participant data (IPD) to examine whether BMIs increase motivation for change. N = 5903;59% women, 72% White) from Project INTEGRATE. The BMIs included individually delivered motivational interviewing with personalized feedback (MI + PF), stand‐alone personalized feedback (PF), and group‐based motivational interviewing (GMI).

Methods

We included 15 trials of BMI (N = 5903;59% women, 72% White) from Project INTEGRATE. The BMIs included individually‐delivered motivational interviewing with personalized feedback (MI + PF), stand‐alone personalized feedback (PF), and group‐based motivational interviewing (GMI). Different measures and responses used in the original trials were harmonized. Effect size estimates were derived from a model that adjusted for baseline motivation and demographic variables for each trial (step 1) and subsequently combined in a random‐effects meta‐analysis (step 2).

Results

The overall intervention effect of BMIs on motivation for change was not statistically significant (standard mean difference [SMD]: 0.026, 95% CI: [−0.001, 0.053], p = 0.06, k = 19 comparisons). Of the three subtypes of BMIs, GMI, which tended to provide motivation‐targeted content, had a statistically significant intervention effect on motivation, compared with controls (SMD: 0.055, 95% CI: [0.007, 0.103], p = 0.025, k = 5). By contrast, there was no evidence that MI + PF (SMD = 0.04, 95% CI: [−0.02, 0.10], k = 6, p = 0.20) nor PF increased motivation (SMD = 0.005, 95% CI: [−0.028, 0.039], k = 8, p = 0.75), compared with controls. Post hoc meta‐regression analysis suggested that motivation sharply decreased each month within the first 3 months postintervention (b = −0.050, z = −2.80, p = 0.005 for k = 14).

Conclusions

Although BMIs provide motivational content and normative feedback and are assumed to motivate behavior change, the results do not wholly support the hypothesis that BMIs improve motivation for change. Changing motivation is difficult to assess during and following interventions, but it is still a theoretically important clinical endpoint. Further, the evidence cautiously suggests that changing motivation may be achievable, especially if motivation‐targeted content components are provided.
Una revisión sistemática de las tendencias en ciencia ecológica en el Perú megabiodiverso: Vacíos en investigación y orientaciones futuras
Authors: Sotomayor Diego A. , Caro Claudia , Morales Richar
Published: June 2023

Perú es un país megabiodiverso que está experimentando una cantidad considerable de cambios antropogénicos que ponen en riesgo sus ecosistemas. La ciencia ecológica puede aportar respuestas sobre cómo afrontar el cambio explorando nuevas formas de utilizar los ecosistemas de forma sostenible. Aquí revisamos el estado actual y las tendencias de los estudios ecológicos mediante una búsqueda en bases de datos con el objetivo de responder a las siguientes preguntas: (i) ¿quién ha estudiado los ecosistemas peruanos y qué impacto ha tenido esa investigación? (ii) ¿cuáles son las regiones políticas y ecológicas más estudiadas en el país? (iii) ¿cuáles son los taxa más estudiados? (iv) ¿cuáles son las variables más estudiadas? y (v) ¿cuáles son los temas más estudiados y su relación con los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS)? Para responder a estas preguntas, realizamos una revisión sistemática utilizando la base de datos Scopus (1974–2022) y encontramos 465 artículos de investigaciones sobre ecología en Perú. Encontramos una amplia y creciente diversidad de revistas y autores que publican investigaciones sobre los ecosistemas del Perú, con una importante participación de científicos peruanos, especialmente en los últimos 15 años. Las regiones amazónicas del país fueron las más estudiadas, siendo algunas regiones políticas y ecológicas casi no evaluadas, como Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Apurímac y Tacna y el bosque tropical del pacífico, el páramo y la sabana de palmeras, respectivamente. La mayoría de los estudios se centraron en una sola especie, principalmente animales, y en segundo lugar plantas. La composición y/o distribución de especies fue la principal variable de estudio y la conservación fue el tema principal. La Vida de ecosistemas terrestres (ODS 15) estuvo más representada que otros ODS (58,4% de los artículos), quedando varios otros casi sin estudiar. En general, encontramos que la investigación ecológica sobre los ecosistemas peruanos está sesgada a ciertas regiones, taxa y temas. Esto representa importantes oportunidades para nuevos proyectos, colaboraciones de investigación y alineamiento con las agendas globales de sostenibilidad para una producción de conocimiento más significativa, especialmente considerando el significativo incremento en los resultados de investigación visto en los últimos 15 años.
A 2‐week high‐intensity interval training intervention improves ejaculation control among men with premature ejaculation
Authors: Niu Caoyuan , Wen Guangju , Ventus Daniel , Zhang Yikang , Jern Patrick , Santtila Pekka
Published: June 2023

Background

Premature ejaculation (PE), which leads to substantial distress in men and their partners, is a common male sexual dysfunction worldwide. However, there is still a lack of effective treatments without side effects.

Objectives

We investigated the effect of high‐intensity interval training (HIIT) on PE symptoms.

Materials and methods

We recruited 92 Chinese men aged 18–36 to complete the experiment. There were 22 (13 in the control group; 9 in the HIIT group) men diagnosed with PE and 70 (41 in the control group; 29 in the HIIT group) men with normal ejaculatory function. In the HIIT group, participants completed HIIT exercises every morning for 14 days. Participants also completed surveys inquiring about demographic information, erectile function, PE symptoms, body image (including sexual body image), physical activity, and sexual desire. The heart rate was measured before and after each HIIT. In the control group, participants were instructed not to do HIIT, but other procedures were the same as in the HIIT group.

Results

Results indicated that the HIIT intervention alleviated PE symptoms in men with PE. In addition, in the HIIT group, men with PE who had a higher heart‐rate increase during the HIIT intervention reported the greatest overall decrements in PE symptoms. In men with normal ejaculatory function, HIIT did not decrease PE symptoms. In addition, increments in the heart rate during the intervention were associated with more pronounced PE symptoms post‐intervention in this group. Analyses of secondary outcome measures suggested that the HIIT intervention improved general and sexual body image satisfaction of men with PE compared to before the intervention.

Discussion and conclusion

In summary, HIIT intervention may reduce PE symptoms in men with PE. The heart‐rate increase during the intervention may be a key factor influencing the effect of the HIIT intervention on PE symptoms.
Clinical and histologic factors associated with discordance between steatosis grade derived from histology vs. MRI‐PDFF in NAFLD
Authors: Kim Beom K. , Bernstein Nicole , Huang Daniel Q. , Tamaki Nobuharu , Imajo Kento , Yoneda Masato , Sutter Nancy , Jung Jinho , Nguyen Khang , Nguyen Leyna , Le Tracy , Madamba Egbert , Richards Lisa , Valasek Mark A. , Behling Cynthia , Sirlin Claude B. , Nakajima Atsushi , Loomba Rohit
Published: June 2023

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging‐proton density fat fraction (MRI‐PDFF) is an excellent biomarker for the non‐invasive quantification of hepatic steatosis.

Aim

To examine clinical and histologic factors associated with discordance between steatosis grade determined by histology and MRI‐PDFF in patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Methods

We included 728 patients with biopsy‐proven NAFLD from UC San Diego (n = 414) and Yokohama City University (n = 314) who underwent MRI‐PDFF and liver biopsy. Patients were stratified by steatosis, and matched with MRI‐PDFF cut‐points for each steatosis grade: 0 (MRI‐PDFF < 6.4%), 1 (MRI‐PDFF: 6.4%–17.4%), 2 (MRI‐PDFF: 17.4%–22.1%), 3 (MRI‐PDFF ≥ 22.1%). Primary outcome was major discordance defined as ≥2 steatosis grade difference determined by histology and MRI‐PDFF.

Results

Mean (±SD) age and BMI were 55.3 (±13.8) years and 29.9 (±4.9) kg/m2, respectively. The distributions of histology and MRI‐PDFF‐determined steatosis were 5.5% grade 0 (n = 40), 44.8% 1 (n = 326, 44.8%), 33.9% 2 (n = 247), and 15.8% 3 (n = 115) vs. 23.5% grade 0 (n = 171), 49.7% 1 (n = 362), 12.9% 2 (n = 94), and 13.9% 3 (n = 101). Major discordance rate was 6.6% (n = 48). Most cases with major discordance had greater histology‐determined steatosis grade (n = 40, 88.3%), higher serum AST and liver stiffness, and greater likelihood of fibrosis ≥2, ballooning ≥1 and lobular inflammation ≥2 (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Histology overestimates steatosis grade compared to MRI‐PDFF. Patients with advanced NASH are likely to be upgraded on steatosis grade by histology. These data have important implications for steatosis estimation and reporting on histology in clinical practice and trials, especially in patients with stage 2 fibrosis.
The antianginal ranolazine fails to improve glycaemia in obese liver‐specific pyruvate dehydrogenase deficient male mice
Authors: Saed Christina T. , Tabatabaei Dakhili Seyed Amirhossein , Greenwell Amanda A. , Chan Jordan S. F. , Yang Kunyan , Gopal Keshav , Eaton Farah , Al Batran Rami , Ussher John R.
Published: June 2023

Aims

Recent studies have demonstrated that stimulating pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH, gene Pdha1), the rate‐limiting enzyme of glucose oxidation, can reverse obesity‐induced non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which can be achieved via treatment with the antianginal ranolazine. Accordingly, our aim was to determine whether ranolazine's ability to mitigate obesity‐induced NAFLD and hyperglycaemia requires increases in hepatic PDH activity.

Methods

We generated liver‐specific PDH‐deficient (Pdha1Liver−/−) mice, which were provided a high‐fat diet for 12 weeks to induce obesity. Pdha1Liver−/− mice and their albumin‐Cre (AlbCre) littermates were randomized to treatment with either vehicle control or ranolazine (50 mg/kg) once daily via oral gavage during the final 5 weeks, following which we assessed glucose and pyruvate tolerance.

Results

Pdha1Liver−/− mice exhibited no overt phenotypic differences (e.g. adiposity, glucose tolerance) when compared to their AlbCre littermates. Of interest, ranolazine treatment improved glucose tolerance and mildly reduced hepatic triacylglycerol content in obese AlbCre mice but not in obese Pdha1Liver−/− mice. The latter was independent of changes in hepatic mRNA expression of genes involved in regulating lipogenesis.

Conclusions

Liver‐specific PDH deficiency is insufficient to promote an NAFLD phenotype. Nonetheless, hepatic PDH activity partially contributes to how the antianginal ranolazine improves glucose tolerance and alleviates hepatic steatosis in obesity.
Dynamic time warp analysis of individual symptom trajectories in individuals with bipolar disorder
Authors: Mesbah R. , Koenders M. A. , Spijker A. T. , de Leeuw M. , van Hemert A. M. , Giltay E. J.
Published: June 2023

Background

Manic and depressive mood states in bipolar disorder (BD) may emerge from the non‐linear relations between constantly changing mood symptoms exhibited as a complex dynamic system. Dynamic Time Warp (DTW) is an algorithm that may capture symptom interactions from panel data with sparse observations over time.

Methods

The Young Mania Rating Scale and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology were repeatedly assessed in 141 individuals with BD, with on average 5.5 assessments per subject every 3–6 months. Dynamic Time Warp calculated the distance between each of the 27 × 27 pairs of standardized symptom scores. The changing profile of standardized symptom scores of BD participants was analyzed in individual subjects, yielding symptom dimensions in aggregated group‐level analyses. Using an asymmetric time‐window, symptom changes that preceded other symptom changes (i.e., Granger causality) yielded a directed network.

Results

The mean age of the BD participants was 40.1 (SD 13.5) years old, and 60% were female participants. Idiographic symptom networks were highly variable between subjects. Yet, nomothetic analyses showed five symptom dimensions: core (hypo)mania (6 items), dysphoric mania (5 items), lethargy (7 items), somatic/suicidality (6 items), and sleep (3 items). Symptoms of the “Lethargy” dimension showed the highest out‐strength, and its changes preceded those of “somatic/suicidality,” while changes in “core (hypo)mania” preceded those of “dysphoric mania.”

Conclusion

Dynamic Time Warp may help to capture meaningful BD symptom interactions from panel data with sparse observations. It may increase insight into the temporal dynamics of symptoms, as those with high out‐strength (rather than high in‐strength) could be promising targets for intervention.
Investigation of cognitive functions in children with bone tumours and lymphoma in treatment process
Authors: Önal Gözde , Davutoğlu Ceren , Şahin Sedef
Published: June 2023

Background

Neurocognitive sequelae are among the most debilitating effects of cancer observed in children. Yet we know very little about the impact on neurocognitive functioning, especially cancer types that develop outside the central nervous system. This study aimed to assess and compare the cognitive functions (CoF) of children with bone tumours and lymphoma in the treatment process.

Methods

The CoF of children with bone tumours (n = 44), lymphoma (n = 42) and their non‐cancer peers (n = 55) were assessed with Dynamic Occupational Therapy Assessment for Children. The CoF of children with cancer were compared with their non‐cancer peers. Then, children with bone tumours and lymphoma were compared in binary.

Results

One‐hundred forty‐one children aged 6–12 years with a mean age of 9.4 (SD = 1.5) were included in this study. The orientation and visuomotor construction functions of children with bone tumours and orientation, praxis and visuomotor construction functions of children with lymphoma performed worse than their non‐cancer peers (pk < 0.001). While orientation, spatial perception, visuomotor construction and thinking operations functions of children with bone tumours and lymphoma were similar (pk > 0.016), praxis functions of children with lymphoma were found to be worse than children with bone tumours (pk < 0.016).

Conclusions

Our findings show that children with bone tumours and lymphoma in the process of treatment are at risk for impairment of their CoF. The findings highlight the importance of assessing CoF in children with bone tumours and lymphoma and considering specific differences between groups. It is essential to assess CoF and develop early intervention plans in these children.
Pregnane X receptor (PXR) deficiency protects against spinal cord injury by activating NRF2/HO‐1 pathway
Authors: Xuan Li‐Na , Hu Zhen‐Xin , Jiang Zhen‐Fu , Zhang Cong , Sun Xiao‐Wan , Ming Wen‐Hua , Liu Hui‐Tao , Qiao Rong‐Fang , Shen Lin‐Jie , Liu Shao‐Bo , Wang Guan‐Yu , Wen Lin , Luan Zhi‐Lin , Yin Jian
Published: June 2023

Introduction

As a devastating neurological disease, spinal cord injury (SCI) results in severe tissue loss and neurological dysfunction. Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a ligand‐activated nuclear receptor with a major regulatory role in xenobiotic and endobiotic metabolism and recently has been implicated in the central nervous system. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of PXR in SCI.

Methods

The clip‐compressive SCI model was performed in male wild‐type C57BL/6 (PXR+/+) and PXR‐knockout (PXR−/−) mice. The N2a H2O2‐induced injury model mimicked the pathological process of SCI in vitro. Pregnenolone 16α‐carbonitrile (PCN), a mouse‐specific PXR agonist, was used to activate PXR in vivo and in vitro. The siRNA was applied to knock down the PXR expression in vitro. Transcriptome sequencing analysis was performed to discover the relevant mechanism, and the NRF2 inhibitor ML385 was used to validate the involvement of PXR in influencing the NRF2/HO‐1 pathway in the SCI process.

Results

The expression of PXR decreased after SCI and reached a minimum on the third day. In vivo, PXR knockout significantly improved the motor function of mice after SCI, meanwhile, inhibited apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress induced by SCI. On the contrary, activation of PXR by PCN negatively influenced the recovery of SCI. Mechanistically, transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that PXR activation downregulated the mRNA level of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) after SCI. We further verified that PXR deficiency activated the NRF2/HO‐1 pathway and PXR activation inhibited this pathway in vitro.

Conclusion

PXR is involved in the recovery of motor function after SCI by regulating NRF2/HO‐1 pathway.
Revisiting the meaning and the source of health‐related constructs and their applications in neurodisability
Authors: Ronen Gabriel M.
Published: June 2023

The aim of this review is to revisit the meaning of common concepts and frameworks promoted to capture subjective outcomes of patients, the content of their corresponding measurements, and the preferred sources of the information of interest. This is important because conceptualizations of ‘health’ and the subject evaluations thereof continue to evolve. Related but distinct concepts like quality of life (QoL), health‐related QoL (HRQoL), functional status, health status, and well‐being are often used indiscriminately to assess clinical impacts of interventions and to influence decisions about patient care and policymaking. The discussion addresses and illustrates the following issues: (1) the required features of effective and valid health‐related concepts; (2) understanding underlying factors that often create confusion about QoL and HRQoL; and (3) how these concepts provide insight into, and promote, health in the context of populations with neurodisability. The hope is to illustrate how a combination of a clear research question, a hypothesis, conceptualization of the required outcomes, and operational definitions of the domains and items of interest, including item mapping, can help to achieve robust methodology and valid findings beyond the required psychometric properties.

What this paper adds

The language, content, and the source of perceived health and life issues are clarified.

Using the same terms for different constructs, or different terms for the same constructs, creates confusion and hinders outcome research.

The challenges of using patient‐reported outcomes in neurodisability are addressed.
From individuals to populations: How homo‐ and heterospecific interactions influence habitat selection in a sit‐and‐wait predator
Authors: Klokočovnik Vesna , Bantan Tadeja , Devetak Dušan
Published: June 2023

Species have different requirements for the habitat in which they live, depending on various biotic and abiotic factors. For sedentary predators such as antlion larvae, both factors are essential. In this study, we examined the preferred habitat choice concerning two abiotic factors, i.e., substrate and illumination, in two pit‐building antlions, Euroleon nostras and Myrmeleon formicarius, to determine whether choice changes during con‐ or heterospecific interactions. Both species preferred medium sand grains, i.e., 230–540 μm but differed in their choice of illumination. E. nostras preferred shade, while M. formicarius chose the illuminated part of the container. However, the choice changed, especially for M. formicarius during interactions with another individual. Abiotic factors took precedence over biotic factors in the choice of E. nostras when interactions were involved. M. formicarius avoided interactions and built pits in less suitable conditions when suitable locations were already occupied. The results can be applied to the species' natural habitat and life traits. We can confirm that E. nostras is a more competitive species when it comes to providing the most suitable abiotic conditions in the habitat for pit construction.
An empirical evaluation of dynamic approaches for estimating firms’ expected cost of equity capital
Authors: Kempkes Jan A. , Suprano Francesco , Wömpener Andreas
Published: June 2023

We develop and empirically validate dynamic approaches of implied cost of equity capital (ICC), facilitating the estimation of firms’ expected cost of equity capital at any required estimation date. Using on average 246,090 monthly observations, we empirically validate conflicting approaches for dynamic ICC estimation by analyzing the inferred market risk premia and assessing correlations with common risk factors. While the adjustments suggested by Daske et al. (2006) yield important and systematic deviations in the course of the year, the dynamic residual income model of Kempkes and Wömpener (2019) is robust to the choice of the estimation period.
Exploring the performance of US international bond mutual funds
Authors: Fletcher Jonathan , Littlejohn Elizabeth , Marshall Andrew
Published: June 2023

We use a Bayesian regime switching approach to examine the performance enhancement of adding US international bond funds to a domestic bond universe pre and post the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) during January 1999 and May 2022. We find that the international bond funds provide large significant performance enhancement pre the GFC, with an increase in Certainty Equivalent Return (CER) performance of 0.595% (monthly), but none post the GFC. The performance enhancement pre GFC is driven by Large Emerging Market bond funds, which is likely fueled by a substantial drop in the Emerging Market central bank policy rates pre GFC.
Temporal validation of a risk prediction model for breast cancer‐related lymphoedema in European population: A retrospective study
Authors: Martínez‐Jaimez Patricia , Fuster Linares Pilar , Masià Jaume , Jané Pau , Monforte‐Royo Cristina
Published: June 2023

Aims

To perform temporal validation of a risk prediction model for breast cancer‐related lymphoedema in the European population.

Design

Temporal validation of a previously developed prediction model using a new retrospective cohort of women who had undergone axillary lymph node dissection between June 2018 and June 2020.

Methods

We reviewed clinical records to identify women who did and did not develop lymphoedema within 2 years of surgery and to gather data regarding the variables included in the prediction model. The model was calibrated by calculating Spearman's correlation between observed and expected cases. Its accuracy in discriminating between patients who did versus did not develop lymphoedema was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Results

The validation cohort comprised 154 women, 41 of whom developed lymphoedema within 2 years of surgery. The value of Spearman's coefficient indicated a strong correlation between observed and expected cases. Sensitivity of the model was higher than in the derivation cohort, as was the value of the AUC.

Conclusion

The model shows a good capacity to discriminate women at risk of lymphoedema and may therefore help in developing improved care pathways for individual patients.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Identifying risk factors for lymphoedema secondary to breast cancer treatment is vital given its impact on women's physical and emotional well‐being.

Impact

What problem did the study address? Risk of BCRL. What were the main findings? The prediction model has a good capacity to discriminate women at risk of lymphoedema. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? In clinical practice with women at risk of BCRL.

Reporting Method

STROBE checklist.

What Does this Paper Contribute to the Wider Global Clinical Community?

It presents a validated risk prediction model for BCRL.

No Patient or Public Contribution

There was no patient or public contribution in the conduct of this study.
Functional substrate mapping characteristics during sinus rhythm predicts critical isthmus of reentrant atrial tachycardia
Authors: Yorgun Hikmet , Çöteli Cem , Kılıç Gül Sinem , Sezenöz Burak , Dural Muhammet , Ateş Ahmet Hakan , Aytemir Kudret
Published: June 2023

Background

Atrial tachycardia (AT) is a commonly encountered rhythm disorder in patients with underlying atrial scar. The role of atrial late activation mapping during sinus rhythm to predict the critical isthmus (CI) of AT has yet to be systematically evaluated. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the functional substrate mapping (FSM) characteristics and the CI of reentrant ATs in patients with underlying atrial low‐voltage areas.

Methods

Patients with history of left AT who underwent catheter ablation with 3D mapping using high‐density mapping were enrolled. Voltage map and isochronal late activation mapping were created during sinus/paced rhythm to detect deceleration zones (DZ). Electrograms with continuous‐fragmented morphology were also tagged. After induction of AT, activation mapping was performed to detect CI of the tachycardia. Atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATa) recurrence was defined as detection of atrial fibrillation or AT (≥30 s) during the follow‐up.

Results

Among 35 patients [mean age: 62 ± 9, gender: 25 (71.5%) female] with left AT, a total of 42 reentrant ATs induced. Voltage mapping during sinus rhythm revealed low‐voltage area of 37.1 ± 23.8% of the left atrium. The mean value of bipolar voltage, EGM duration, and conduction velocity during sinus rhythm corresponding to CI of ATs were 0.18 ± 0.12 mV, 133 ± 47 ms, and 0.12 ± 0.09 m/s, respectively. Total number of DZs per chamber was 1.5 ± 0.6, which were located in the low‐voltage zone (<0.5 mV) detected by high‐density mapping. All CIs of reentry were colocalized with DZs detected during FSM. The positive predictive value of DZs to detect CI of inducible ATs is 80.4%. Freedom from ATa after the index procedure was 74.3% during a mean follow‐up of 12.2 ± 7.5 months.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated the utility of FSM during sinus rhythm to predict the CI of AT. DZs displayed continuous‐fragmented signal morphology with slow conduction which may guide to tailor ablation strategy in case of underlying atrial scar.