bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolomics as a Candidate for Endometriosis Biomarker: A Systematic Review
Authors: Meidyana Shafira , Fedora Katherine
Published: March 2024

Background: To date, diagnosis is still a challenge in managing endometriosis. There is a need to develop a less invasive yet accurate approach, such as a biomarker, to help diagnose endometriosis earlier and more precisely. Metabolomics, the study of metabolites, are thought to provide a more accurate relation to phenotype compared to other omics technology and may help develop endometriosis biomarkers. This review aims to systematically summarize evidence regarding the use of metabolomics studies in the diagnosis of endometriosis.

Methods: This review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Including studies on endometriosis and metabolomics in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library to May 2022. Inclusion: Women of reproductive age, laparoscopically diagnosed — exclusion criteria: no full-text, languages other than English, and animal studies. Papers were screened and extracted using Covidence, appraised using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), by two independent reviewers.

Results: A total of 33 studies are included in this review, and 24 showed positive results regarding the metabolites identified and their association with endometriosis. Twenty-four studies reported good area under curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity scores in diagnosing endometriosis using a prediction model from the attained metabolites. However, the summary of these scores is not feasible due to the lack of standardization in reporting metabolomics studies. Both serum and endometriotic lesion microenvironments, such as peritoneal fluid, endometrioma, follicular fluid, and tissue lesions, give essential information on which metabolites are altered in endometriosis. Phosphatidylcholine (PC), acylcarnitines (AC), and sphingomyelins (SM) are these studies’ most frequent significant metabolites, but their levels vary. Although all studies had an overall good appraisal score, regarding confounders included, the variation in their methods of analysis and prediction model approach should be interpreted with caution. These predictions are also mostly done without using two different data groups for test and validation.

Conclusions: Metabolomics studies may become an alternative for a less invasive approach to diagnosing endometriosis. This review revealed how encouraging results from metabolomics studies are. However, the need for more standardization in the study report and preliminary design for making a prediction model is still in the way of fully trusting metabolomics studies to account for endometriosis diagnostic biomarkers.

Registration: PROSPERO CRD42022334916
Adipose transplantation improves metabolism and atherosclerosis but not perivascular adipose tissue abnormality or vascular dysfunction in lipodystrophic Seipin/Apoe null mice
Authors: Meng Zhe , Liu Chuangxing , Xu Mengke , Tao Yongqiang , Li Haiyu , Wang Xijia , Liao Jiawei , Wang Mengyu
Published: March 2024

Adipose transplantation (AT) reverses multiply metabolic derangements in lipodystrophy, but whether it could improve lipodystrophy-related cardiovascular consequences is unknown. Here, using Seipin/Apoe double knockout mice as a lipodystrophy disease model, we showed that AT partially restored adipose functionality, which translated into significantly reduced atherosclerosis. However, AT was incapable of reversing perivascular adipose abnormality or vascular dysfunction. The current study provides preliminary experimental evidence on the therapeutic potential of AT on lipodystrophy-related metabolic cardiovascular diseases.
Intracellular Zn2+ promotes extracellular matrix remodeling in dexamethasone-treated trabecular meshwork
Authors: Liu Canying , Tang Jiahui , Chen Yuze , Zhang Qi , Lin Jicheng , Wu Siting , Han Jiaxu , Liu Zhe , Wu Caiqing , Zhuo Yehong , Li Yiqing
Published: March 2024

Our study explores zinc’s pivotal role in mitigating extracellular matrix dysregulation in the trabecular meshwork and glucocorticoid-induced ocular hypertension. We found that in human trabecular meshwork cells treated with dexamethasone, intracellular Zn2+ significantly decreased, accompanied by impaired extracellular Zn2+ uptake. Zinc supplementation rescues visual function by modulating extracellular matrix proteins and lowering intraocular pressure, offering a direction for further exploration in glaucoma management.
Optimization of mouse kidney digestion protocols for single-cell applications
Authors: Robertson Jake N. , Diep Henry , Pinto Alexander R. , Sobey Christopher G. , Drummond Grant R. , Vinh Antony , Jelinic Maria
Published: March 2024

This study is the first to evaluate published single-cell suspension preparation protocols and their ability to produce high-quality cellular yields from the mouse kidney. Three single-cell digestion protocols were compared and each produced significant differences in kidney cellular heterogeneity. These findings highlight the importance of the digestion protocol when using single-cell technologies. This study may help future single-cell science research by guiding researchers to choose protocols that enrich certain cell types of interest.
Investigating the Presence of Falsified and Poor-Quality Fixed-Dose Combination Artemether-Lumefantrine Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms in Kumasi, Ghana
Authors: Nyarko Simon , Ofori-Kwakye Kwabena , Johnson Raphael , Kuntworbe Noble , Yar Denis Dekugmen
Published: March 2024

Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is a highly effective and commonly used Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) for treating uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, including drug-resistant strains. However, ineffective regulatory systems in resource-limited settings can lead to the infiltration of poor-quality and counterfeit antimalarial medicines into the pharmaceutical supply chain, causing treatment failures, prolonged illness, and disease progression. The objective of the study was to assess the quality of selected brands of fixed-dose combination (FDC) AL tablets and suspensions marketed in Kumasi, Ghana. A total of fourteen brands of FDC AL medicines, comprising eight tablets and six suspensions were purchased from various retail pharmacy outlets in Kumasi, Ghana. All samples were subjected to thorough visual inspection as a quick means of checking quality through meticulous observation of the packaging or dosage form. The quality parameters of the tablets were determined using uniformity of weight, hardness, friability, and disintegration tests. Suspensions were assessed based on pH and compared with the British Pharmacopeia (BP) standard. The samples were then analyzed for drug content (assay) using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). All the tablet samples conformed to BP specification limits for uniformity of weight (deviation of less than ± 5%), hardness (4.0–10 kg/mm2), friability (<1%), and disintegration time (<15 minutes). The active pharmaceutical ingredients’ quantitative assay demonstrated that all the tablets met the BP specifications (90–110%). The results of the pH studies showed that out of the six brands of suspension investigated, five (83.3%) were compliant with the official specification for pH, while one (16.7%) failed the requirement. Unlike the tablet brands, drug content analysis of the six suspensions showed that two (33.3%) were substandard. The artemether and lumefantrine contents in these failed suspensions were variable (artemether: 81.31%–116.76%; lumefantrine: 80.35%–99.71%). The study results indicate that most of the tested products met the required quality standards, demonstrating satisfactory drug content and other quality specifications. The presence of substandard drugs underscores the necessity for robust pharmacovigilance and surveillance systems to eliminate counterfeit and substandard drugs from the Ghanaian market.
Intrusion Detection Model for Wireless Sensor Networks Based on FedAvg and XGBoost Algorithm
Authors: Wu Hongjiao
Published: March 2024

For the characteristics of channel instability in wireless sensor networks, this paper proposes an intrusion detection algorithm based on FedAvg (federated averaging) and XGBoost (extreme gradient boosting) wireless sensor networks using fog computing architecture. First, the network edge is extended by introducing fog computing nodes to reduce the communication delay. It reduces the transmission bandwidth and privacy leakage risk while improving the accuracy of jointly learned global and local models. Then, the histogram-based approximation calculation method is improved to adapt to the unbalanced data characteristics of wireless sensor networks. Finally, by introducing TOP-K gradient selection, the number of model parameter uploads is minimized, and the efficiency of model parameter interaction is improved. The experimental results show that this algorithm has superior detection performance and low energy consumption. It is also compared with other algorithms to demonstrate the high detection rate and low computational complexity of this algorithm.
Figure S5 from Spectral Flow Cytometry Methods and Pipelines for Comprehensive Immunoprofiling of Human Peripheral Blood and Bone Marrow
Authors: Spasic Milos , Ogayo Esther R. , Parsons Adrienne M. , Mittendorf Elizabeth A. , van Galen Peter , McAllister Sandra S.
Published: March 2024

Figure S5. NK cell Marker Expression. Density plots of NK cell functional marker expression by subtype. Columns depict NK cell subtype (all NK, Mature NK, Early NK, and Terminal NK cells), and rows show individual markers. The first row shows the gating strategy used to identify each NK cell subtype from the total NK cells parent population. Gates indicate positive populations, with the percentage of the parental population displayed in each panel.
FIGURE 5 from Spectral Flow Cytometry Methods and Pipelines for Comprehensive Immunoprofiling of Human Peripheral Blood and Bone Marrow
Authors: Spasic Milos , Ogayo Esther R. , Parsons Adrienne M. , Mittendorf Elizabeth A. , van Galen Peter , McAllister Sandra S.
Published: March 2024

Dimensionality reduction to detect differences between PBMC donors. A–D, UMAP coordinates generated from concatenated data of live, non-red blood cell singlets and 85,000 lymphocytes (A), 100,000 CD45+ cells (B), 90,000 lymphocytes (C) or 5,000 monocytes (D) from each donor (n = 3). Plots on the left indicate clustering of cells in two-dimensional space; plots on the right show canonically gated major cell populations overlaid onto each UMAP. E–H, UMAP for each of 3 individual donors. T/B panel UMAPs (A and E); M/N/D panel total CD45+ cells UMAPs (B and F); M/N/D panel lymphocytes UMAPs (C and G); M/N/D panel monocytes UMAPs (D and H). Arrows (in E, F, G, and H) indicate examples of cell populations that differ in abundance between donor samples.
FIGURE 4 from Spectral Flow Cytometry Methods and Pipelines for Comprehensive Immunoprofiling of Human Peripheral Blood and Bone Marrow
Authors: Spasic Milos , Ogayo Esther R. , Parsons Adrienne M. , Mittendorf Elizabeth A. , van Galen Peter , McAllister Sandra S.
Published: March 2024

Cell relationships and marker complexity. A, PBMC cell relationship schematic. B, BMC cell relationship schematic. Solid lines in A and B reflect canonically gated cell populations, while dashed lines represent intermediate gating steps. C–E, Clustered heatmaps displaying relative expression of different markers across defined cell types depicted in A and B. Columns represents the expression of each marker while rows indicate the defined cell types. The marker mean fluorescence intensity is displayed on a scale from white (lowest) to green (highest).
FIGURE 4 from Identification of Nonfunctional Alternatively Spliced Isoforms of STING in Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Boda Akash R. , Liu Arthur J. , Castro-Pando Susana , Whitfield Benjamin T. , Molldrem Jeffrey J. , Al-Atrash Gheath , Di Francesco Maria Emilia , Jones Philip , Ager Casey R. , Curran Michael A.
Published: March 2024

Novel STING alleles fail to respond to STING agonists. HEK-Blue-ISG-KO-STING cells were reconstituted with indicated novel STING variants (n = 2; A) or STING variants plus WT STING by retroviral transduction (B), then were exposed to 100 µg/mL indicated CDN for 24 hours (n = 2). IRF3/9 activity was measured by SEAP assay. IFNα positive control indicates presence and functionality of the IRF3/9 SEAP reporter in these cells. Statistical significance in B was calculated using repeated measures one-way ANOVA test. ns, not significant; *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ****, P < 0.0001. C, STING knockout 293 T cells were transduced to express human WT STING with an HA or 6xHIS tag, the STING-I3R isoform with a 6xHIS tag, or the STING-Ex4D isoform with a 6xHIS tag. Cell lysates were Western blotted with anti-6xHIS antibody (Invitrogen) followed by anti-mouse HRP (Cell Signaling Technology). Anti-human β-actin staining is shown as a loading control (Abcam).
A collaborative professional development and its impact on teachers' ability to foster higher order thinking
Authors: Cojorn Kanyarat , Sonsupap Kanyarat
Published: March 2024

The objective of this research is to examine teachers' competence in designing activities after engaging in professional development activities aimed at enhancing teaching design in order to develop students' thinking abilities that are contextually appropriate. The participants consist of 5 elementary school science teachers from schools. The research employed semi-structured interviews and classroom observation as research instruments. The findings reveal that teachers engaged in self-development through observation and learning from their peers within the community of practice (CoP). They receive advice and feedback from fellow teachers and apply these insights to improve their activities. Consequently, teachers are able to continuously refine and develop their teaching approaches to align with students' contexts. This approach facilitate diversification in thinking and learning management, as well as collaborative teamwork to enhance teaching methods. As a result, engaging and interesting thinking development activities are incorporated into student learning, along with the creation of a seamless learning-promoting environment. Collaborative teamwork in instructional design and problem-solving further afford teachers the opportunity for additional self-learning and personal development. This collaborative approach also contributes to fostering cognitive diversity and relieved the need for individual teachers to undertake all tasks independently.
Perceptual Awareness in Human Infants: What is the Evidence?
Authors: Dehaene-Lambertz Ghislaine
Published: March 2024

Perceptual awareness in infants during the first year of life is understudied, despite the philosophical, scientific, and clinical importance of understanding how and when consciousness emerges during human brain development. Although parents are undoubtedly convinced that their infant is conscious, the lack of adequate experimental paradigms to address this question in preverbal infants has been a hindrance to research on this topic. However, recent behavioral and brain imaging studies have shown that infants are engaged in complex learning from an early age and that their brains are more structured than traditionally thought. I will present a rapid overview of these results, which might provide indirect evidence of early perceptual awareness and then describe how a more systematic approach to this question could stand within the framework of global workspace theory, which identifies specific signatures of conscious perception in adults. Relying on these brain signatures as a benchmark for conscious perception, we can deduce that it exists in the second half of the first year, whereas the evidence before the age of 5 months is less solid, mainly because of the paucity of studies. The question of conscious perception before term remains open, with the possibility of short periods of conscious perception, which would facilitate early learning. Advances in brain imaging and growing interest in this subject should enable us to gain a better understanding of this important issue in the years to come.
Polysporangiate anthers described in Eugenia (Myrtaceae) with notes on evolutionary patterns
Authors: GIARETTA AUGUSTO , SOUZA MARIA ANÁLIA D. , AMORIM BRUNO S. , SANO PAULO T. , LUCAS EVE
Published: March 2024

Shifts towards compartmentalisation resulting in multilocular anthers have been described in some families of Myrtales but to date, not in Myrtaceae. In these other families sporogeneous tissue is partitioned by transverse or longitudinal septa, fitting the definition of the ‘polysporangiate anther’. Polysporangiate anther in Eugenia, a Neotropical genus of Myrtaceae is here discussed, with a detailed description of their morphology and in the context of known phylogenetic relationships within Eugenia. Anthers of Eugenia joseramosii, E. kerianthera and E. petaloidea were examined using scanning electron microscopy; E. multilocellata and E. quilombola were imaged with light microscope. Molecular sequences of five regions were used to place these species in a representative phylogenetic framework for character reconstruction analysis. Analysed anthers share dithecal organization in which each anther theca is divided in dorsal and ventral rows of sporangia. Polysporangiate anthers in Eugenia appear to have evolved independently on at least two occasions in Eugenia sect. Umbellatae. Eugenia flowers with polysporangiate anthers fit a generalist pollination pattern but Eugenia petaloidea demonstrates some unusual features that may be linked to pollination by vibration. Anthers in Eugenia is a rare condition with low systematic value. Resources should be invested to survey Myrtaceae for more species with polysporangiate anthers, to improve understanding of their evolutionary relevance and to record pollinators and modes of pollination.
Sclerococcum glaucomarioides: a new geographical record from China
Authors: MENG QING-FENG , THIYAGARAJA VINODHINI , ERTZ DAMIEN , WORTHY FIONA RUTH , SAICHANA NATSARAN , FU SHAO-BIN
Published: March 2024

The lichenicolous species Sclerococcum glaucomarioides growing on the lichen Ochrolechia akagiensis is newly reported from China. This study provides an illustration and morphological description for this species, complemented by phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU and mtSSU sequence data. The taxon is characterized by adpressed to sessile apothecia that are round to angular with black disc, hymenium with brownish color, 25–40 μm high, broadly cylindrical to subclavate 8-spored asci, 20–30 × 10–15 μm, with euamyloid apical cap and brown ascospores with 2–3 transverse septa.
Early Experiences With Bundled Payments for Care Improvement for Major Bowel Surgery
Authors: Sibia Udai S. , Klune John R. , Saiolghalam Said , Bilchik Anton
Published: March 2024

Background

Bundled Payment (BP) models are becoming more common in surgery. We share our early experiences with Bundled Payments for Care Improvement for major bowel surgery.

Methods

Patients undergoing major bowel surgery between January and October 2021 were identified using Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) codes. Major drivers of cost in a BP model are reported and compared to the Fee-For-Service (FFS) payment model.

Results

A total of 202 cases (173 FFS vs 29 BP) were analyzed. The mean BP cost per Clinical Episode was $28,340. Eleven patients (38%) in the BP model had costs greater than the Target Price. The drivers of cost in the BP model were 59% acute care facility, 17% physician services, 9% post-acute care facilities, 8% other, and 7% readmissions. Clinical Episode of care costs varied considerably by MS-DRG case complexity. Robotic surgery increased costs by 35% (mean increase $3724, P < .01). The 90-day readmission rate was 17% for a mean cost of $11,332 per readmission. Three patients (10%) were discharged to a skilled nursing facility at an average cost of $11,009, while fifteen patients (52%) received home health services at a mean cost of $2947. Acute care facility costs were similar in the BP vs FFS groups (mean difference $1333, P = .22).

Conclusions

Patients undergoing major bowel surgery are a heterogeneous population. Physicians are ideally positioned to deliver high-value, patient-centered care and are crucial to the success of a BP model. The post-acute care setting is a key component of improving efficiency and quality of care.
Factors Associated With Respiratory Failure After Open Ventral Hernia Repair: An Evaluation of the NSQIP Database
Authors: Lorenz William R. , Holland Alexis M. , Mead Brittany S. , Scarola Gregory T. , Augenstein Vedra A. , Heniford B. Todd
Published: March 2024

An analysis of ACS-NSQIP open ventral hernia repair (OVHR) data (2017-2019) was performed. Respiratory failure (RF) occurred in 643 patients (1%) and not in 63,213 (99%) (nRF). Respiratory failure patients were older (63.7 vs 57 years, P < .001) and more comorbid: insulin-dependent diabetes (14.7% vs 5.8%, P < .001), COPD (19.4% vs 5.2%, P < .001), BMI (36.0 vs 32.8, P < .001), and current tobacco use (24.9% vs 17.6%, P < .001). Respiratory failure patients had greater ASA scores (ASA 3: 63.3% vs 47.8%, P < .001), bowel resection (8.2% vs 1.3%, P < .001), component separation (20.1% vs 9.0%, P < .001), operative times (178.4 vs 98.8 minutes, P < .001), complications (deep wound infections 3.6% vs 1.0%, organ space infections 13.2% vs 1.0%, wound dehiscence 3.1% vs 0.6%, acute renal failure 11.7% vs 0.1%), and hospital stay (13.7 vs 2.3 days), with fewer home discharges (44.3% vs 96.4%) (all P < .001). Respiratory failure patients had higher mortality compared to nRF (20.2% vs 0.1%, P < .001). Respiratory failure after OVHR is rare but correlates closely with significant wound, systemic, and social complications. Preoperative management of risk factors would be appropriate in high-risk patients.
Delayed Diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer Presenting as Acute Mastitis in a Patient One Month Postpartum
Authors: Seth Ananya , Slama Eliza M.
Published: March 2024

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare yet aggressive form of invasive ductal carcinoma, with a poor prognosis and decreased 5-year survival rates. Characteristic findings for IBC include rapid onset of breast edema, peau d’orange appearance, and involvement of the breast skin. Additionally, diagnosis is confirmed with a skin punch biopsy. With such nonspecific features, IBC can be mistaken for benign etiologies, causing delays in diagnosis and treatment. This patient is a 44-year-old woman presenting with left breast swelling while concurrently breastfeeding. Following antibiotic treatment but no symptom resolution, the patient was referred out for further follow-up. Despite multiple imaging studies, suggesting benign findings, clinical suspicion prompted continued evaluation and finally diagnosis of triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer with distant metastases. Further awareness of the presentation of IBC and its mimicking of other disease processes such as mastitis is paramount to earlier detection and improved outcomes in future patients.
Improving Reading Skills and Achievement Motivation of Nigerian Primary School Students Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Authors: Onuorah Adaorah R. , Aneke Anthonia Olunwa , Eseadi Chiedu
Published: March 2024

Studies have shown that reading difficulties and low achievement motivation have a negative impact on the learning outcomes of students. This research investigated the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in improving the reading skills and achievement motivation of 70 primary school students in Southeast Nigeria. The experimental group received CBT treatment. The control group received normal classroom instruction. Data were analyzed using a 2 × 3 mixed design. The results showed that CBT improved students’ reading skills and achievement motivation. Thus, CBT can be used in the treatment of reading difficulties and low achievement motivation among primary school students.
The Impact of Relational Depth on Subjective Well-being in Close Relationships in the Community
Authors: Di Malta Gina , Bond Julian , Raymond-Barker Brett , Moller Naomi , Cooper Mick
Published: March 2024

Relational depth (RD)—moments of profound connection and engagement between two people—is a humanistic–existential construct, showing preliminary association with psychological growth in psychotherapy. This research investigates the impact of RD, alongside relationship satisfaction and emotional intimacy, on subjective well-being in close relationships in the community. Psychometric properties of latent variables were assessed in a stratified online sample of 497 participants in the United Kingdom (47.1% male, 52.1% female, 1% other; mean age 45.7 [ SD = 15.9]; 86.5% white, 7.8% Asian, 3.2% Black, 1.4% mixed and 1% other), followed by lagged regressions, and moderation analyses to assess the role of RD on Personal Well-being Score (PWS). Data were collected at two further time points at 3-month intervals on a stratified subset of participants ( n = 297 and n = 267). RD emerged as a significant predictor of subjective well-being in close relationships in the community and was moderated by emotional intimacy and relationship satisfaction. This study provides the first robust evidence of the relevance and impact of the humanistic–existential construct of RD on well-being beyond a psychotherapy context. This points to the value of practices that can facilitate RD experiences in the community.
Gender-Based Violence in Eco-Martyr Assassinations: A Qualitative Study With Descriptive Statistics
Authors: Bargdill Richard , Roberson Shannon , Lankford Alan
Published: March 2024

Climate change has resulted in a variety of worldwide humanitarian crises, but little attention has been given to the assassinations of environmental defenders. Eco-martyrs are people who have been murdered specifically due to their environmental conservation efforts. This study explores the different levels of gender-based violence used in the assassinations of eco-martyrs. A qualitative approach was used to analyze publicly reported narratives of these assassinations. The project was sparked by anecdotal observations by researchers who noticed that female leaders appeared to have more gruesome deaths than their male counterparts. This study attempted to verify those observations by determining if there was any scientific evidence to support that observation. Two categories of violence emerged from the analysis: impersonal and personal violence. Impersonal violence included largely professional-style handgun “hits” with quick departures by the killers from the scene. Personal violence encompassed any tactic in which the killer made physical contact with the victim’s body. Men and women did experience different forms of personal violence. Men were more likely to be beaten to death while women were more likely to be dismembered and mutilated. Sexual violence was a tactic exclusively used on women in this sample. Women were also threatened with violence, prior to their assassination, more often than male eco-martyrs. Gratuitous violence was defined as violence intended specifically to cause pain prior to death or to be so gruesome as to intimidate others. This type of violence occurred equally in both genders—approximately in a quarter of the cases.
Towards a new progressive labour culture? Industry-oriented channels, bitter and precarious structure of feeling and worker solidarity in China
Authors: Yang Zhou
Published: March 2024

This article explores the progressive potential of commercial industry-oriented channels (IoCs), an emerging form of media produced by and addressed to workers of specific industries, on China’s digital platforms. Juxtaposing textual analysis with worker-audience interviews and participant observation, I found that despite the collusion of state surveillance and platform governance, IoCs prove instrumental in fostering resistive labour subjects and collectives among ordinary workers. This is due to IoCs’ genre convention and discourses, but more importantly, to worker-audience’s bitter and precarious structure of feeling that mediates their collective reception processes. The findings complicate our understanding of the potential of media/cultural production for labour resistance, highlighting the role of worker-audience in the circuit of progressive labour culture and the potential of commercial media in fostering radical class subjects. Drawing on the analysis, I further advance a model of worker media as double articulation, to open up more hermeneutic and action space for cultural labour activism.
Always on par? How small- and medium-sized enterprises manage coopetition strategies to innovate with large firms
Authors: Gernsheimer Oliver , Gast Johanna , Kanbach Dominik K.
Published: March 2024

This article explores how entrepreneurial small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) manage coopetition strategies to innovate with large firms. While coopetition offers opportunities for innovation and growth, asymmetries between SMEs and large firms can provoke unilateral actions, opportunistic tactics, and knowledge theft which can undermine SME innovation power and jeopardise coopetition success. Based on a qualitative multiple-case study of 25 coopetitive innovation projects, each involving an SME and a large firm, we find that SMEs manage these risks by pursuing a synergistic mix of three distinct coopetition strategies: (1) Co-distribution, (2) Technology licensing, and (3) R&D co-development. In each strategy, SMEs navigate different coopetition intensities by dynamically combining the principles of separation, integration, co-management and co-ownership to achieve specific innovation outcomes. Our findings suggest that SMEs shift between cooperation- and competition-dominant strategies and employ a mix of management principles to offset asymmetrical risks and maximise their innovation benefits from coopetition with large firms.
The Anterior Saphenous Vein. Part 2. Anatomic considerations in normal and refluxing patients. Endorsed by the American Vein and Lymphatic Society, the American Venous Forum and the International Union of Phlebology
Authors: Caggiati Alberto , Labropoulos Nicos , Boyle Edward M , Drgastin Rachel , Gasparis Antonios , Doganci Suat , Meissner Mark
Published: March 2024

Background

The term Anterior Accessory of the Great Saphenous Vein suggest this is a branch tributary vein despite this vessel’s anatomic features of a truncal vein. A multisocietal group suggested to designate this the Anterior Saphenous Vein (ASV). This study was aimed to evaluate its ultrasound anatomy in normal and varicose limbs.

Methods

The clinical anatomy of the ASV was evaluated by narrative review of the literature. Additionally, the course of the ASV was evaluated in 62 limbs with no evidence of venous disease and 62 limbs with varicosities.

Results

The ASV length, patterns of origin and termination are reported in both normal and patients with varicose veins. Discussion of the patterns is supported by the narrative review of the literature.

Conclusions

The ASV must be considered a truncal vein and its treatment modalities should be the same that for the great and small saphenous veins rather than a tributary vein.
Exploring dimensions of metadata quality assessment: A scoping review
Authors: Kumar Vinit , Chandrappa  , Harinarayana NS
Published: March 2024

Assessing metadata is of paramount importance for several critical reasons. Metadata plays a pivotal role in various aspects, including data retrieval and search, data organization, interoperability, data preservation, and the overall user experience. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify the most commonly measured dimensions of metadata quality in existing studies on metadata quality assessment. The study also investigates the types of data sources and countries contributing most to the literature on metadata quality assessment and the types of documents used to communicate their findings. The methodology involves the application of PRISMA model for qualitatively evaluating 55 studies on metadata quality assessment. The co-occurrence analysis is made on the title and abstract of selected articles using VOSviewer 1.6.18 version, visualization software. The review found that completeness, accuracy, consistency, accessibility, conformance, provenance, and timeliness are commonly used dimensions in metadata quality assessment. However, there is no consensus on their exact definition and measurement, indicating a need for further investigation into less commonly assessed quality dimensions. Digital repositories and open government data are the most commonly studied data sources, with the United States being the leading contributor and journal articles being the most commonly used document type. The cluster analysis based on co-occurrence of terms in title and abstract found three research areas, “Metadata Quality Assessment,” “Metadata Quality Dimensions,” and “Metadata Quality Applications, Frameworks, and Approaches” as prominent areas of research. The originality of the study lies in its methodology that involves rigorous screening of articles on metadata quality. It is a first attempt to qualitatively synthesize literature on metadata quality. The article emphasizes the importance of metadata quality research and the need to improve the flexibility of metadata quality assessment tools to facilitate better metadata quality assurance measures.
Do organisation career support programs draw on career guidance practices? A reading of career support programs for students and families of refugee and new migrant backgrounds
Authors: Tham Melissa , Knight Elizabeth
Published: March 2024

Accessing high-quality career development to support successful transitions into post-compulsory education and employment can be a challenge for newly arrived students of refugee and migrant backgrounds. In Australia, not-for-profit organisations provide career guidance to students within schools that enrol refugee and migrant families. Through programs, not-for-profit organisations can provide mentoring, support and other career services. This research explores the marketing materials of organisation-provided career guidance programs based in Australian secondary schools. A close textual reading of how the programs engage with the discipline and practices of career guidance reveal a deficit framing of students and their families, with limited focus on promoting agency across programs. In light of the increasing resettlement of refugees and migrants in Australia, these findings highlight a need to balance social justice principles with greater engagement with the discipline of career education when enacting career interventions with vulnerable groups.
Balancing Relevancy and Rigor: Exploring the Impact of Scholarly Books on Knowledge Formation in Business Research
Authors: Clark Leigh A. , Clark W. Randy , Raffo Deana M. , Williams Ralph I.
Published: March 2024

Scholars are charged with knowledge advancement by conducting relevant research. Academic researchers rely on the peer-review journal system to evaluate the quality and relevancy of their work. Despite its value, the current review system is flawed and sometimes results in fragmented knowledge formation. Some scholars, including Kouzes and Posner (K&P), publish research in books more accessible to practitioners. The impact of foregoing the traditional journal publication process on current knowledge is unclear. To explore this question, we used leadership scholarship as a case study and examined how K&P's leader credibility conceptualization, primarily shared in practitioner-focused books, was integrated into peer-review literature knowledge. More specifically, we compared K&P's definition with the conceptual definition which emerged from a comprehensive review of leader credibility definitions contained in peer-reviewed literature. We discuss the advantages of different pathways to relevancy and identify ways to achieve better collective knowledge by using these different pathways.
Validation of the Self-Report Version of the German Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior Scale (SWAN-DE-SB)
Authors: Blume Friederike , Buhr Lilly , Kühnhausen Jan , Köpke Rieke , Weber Lydia A. , Fallgatter Andreas J. , Ethofer Thomas , Gawrilow Caterina
Published: March 2024

Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience impairing levels of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity, while individuals without ADHD experience these symptoms to a lesser extent. Yet, ADHD self-report scales so far hardly captured continuous distributions across the general population. In addition, they focused on weaknesses and ignored strengths. To address these shortcomings, we present here the Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD and Normal-Behavior Scale Self-Report (SWAN-DE-SB). The normal distribution of the data collected and the scale’s internal consistency, and factorial and convergent validity were assessed using data from a general population sample. Its clinical utility was evaluated by comparing scores from a clinical sample and a sample of individuals without ADHD and by calculating optimal cut-off values for specificity and sensitivity. The SWAN-DE-SB demonstrated normal distribution of the data collected, high internal consistency, and factorial and convergent validity. It reliably discriminated individuals with and without ADHD, with high specificity and sensitivity. It should therefore be considered a psychometrically convincing measure to assess strengths and weaknesses of ADHD symptoms and normal behavior in clinical and general population samples.
Eco-gentrification in a Welfare State: How Sustainable City Development Gradually Reduces Social Equity
Authors: Leino Helena , Wallin Antti , Laine Markus
Published: March 2024

In Nordic welfare states, progressive planning and housing policies have prevented the most severe forms of gentrification-led displacement. In this paper, we argue that eco-gentrification as a phenomenon is entering the Nordic countries. We illustrate this with a case study of the fast-growing, medium-sized Finnish city of Tampere, where the transformation of a former welfare city into a “sustainable city” is creating unintended gentrification. In the analysis, we identify three inner-city neighborhoods facing eco-gentrification where an increasing drive for urban densification has replaced the welfare state ethos of social equality. We name the types of eco-gentrification as retrofitting, remaking, and preserving. In the concluding part, we elaborate on the serious and multifaceted challenges of keeping welfare state ideals alive in times of green growth urbanism.
The PEERCARE peer led programme for college students: A qualitative evaluation of a “chill-out” harm reduction space
Authors: Blanzat Coline , Phan Olivier , Hamonniere Tristan , Bonnaire Céline
Published: March 2024

Aims: Harmful patterns of alcohol consumption, such as binge drinking, are prevalent among the student population at universities. Despite the risks of this behaviour, few secondary prevention programmes have been created to meet the specific needs of this population. The PEERCARE programme is a peer-based prevention programme that seeks harm reduction for alcohol overuse in party environments, among other goals. To do so, a “chill-out” space is created by peer educators in party environments to limit the risks associated with alcohol overuse. This study sought to examine peer educators’ experience with a chill-out space to identify their specific actions, difficulties and needs, and to consider possibilities for improvement. Methods: Nine engineering students from one French grandes écoles campus trained as peer educators (six men and three women; mean age 21 years) participated. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. Results: The thematic analysis showed that the peer educators were highly engaged with this programme in response to alcohol overuse on their campus. The chill-out space was lauded for its non-judgemental and non-moralising nature. In addition, the numerous risk reduction activities that were enacted confirmed the benefits of these spaces during parties. The peer educators’ experience was positive, and acting as managers of the chill-out space seemed to answer to a sense of competence recognitiontion. Conclusion: This study confirms the relevance of utilising chill-out spaces during parties and provides preliminary data on the deployment and management of peer-led chill-out space approaches. Expanding the implementation of such spaces to more educational institutions is recommended.
Caring for elderly substance users: Challenges, dilemmas and recommendations
Authors: Bjerge Bagga , Bach Jonas Strandholdt , Sørensen Johanne Korsdal
Published: March 2024

Aim: To investigate the challenges and barriers in Danish care professionals’ work in relation to elderly citizens who use substances. Method: The study draws on data from a “going along” study of care professionals’ encounters with citizens as well as interviews with professionals. This was conducted in two smaller, rural municipalities in Denmark. Findings: Providing adequate care for elderly citizens who use substances can be highly challenging. This is due to a multitude of factors, especially (1) the complexity of their health conditions, (2) contradictory logics of care (autonomy vs. healthy living), (3) citizens often unpredictable behaviours, (4) lack of cooperation between welfare systems and, not least, (5) lack of knowledge and education among healthcare professionals. Conclusions: There is a need for more specialised procedures locally, the appointment of local “experts”, better cooperation between sectors and easier accessible training and information on the group on a national level.
The backrooms and liminal spaces: Explorations of a digital urban legend
Authors: Wiggins Bradley Earl
Published: March 2024

Urban legends form an important part of socio-cultural narratives of shared fears and anxieties, and their presence online has developed similarly. This contribution explores the online urban legend the backrooms and examines its narrative construction offering possible reasons for the popularity and participatory aspect of the backrooms. Appearing on 4chan in May 2019, the backrooms represent an endless liminality. A diegetic analysis of 16 videos produced by Kane Parsons provides a sequential deconstruction of narrative elements within the backrooms, particularly the elements that exist within the fictional world of the narrative. A concurrent semiotic analysis examines the backrooms videos seen as an interrelated narrative. Narrative construction in the backrooms necessitates liminality alongside notions like video games, nostalgia, postmodern thought, and the vaporwave art/music aesthetic to reveal the backrooms as a digital chronotope. Findings reveal a clearer understanding of liminal spaces in the backrooms and relate how games and play address the narrative construction of the backrooms.
Multiscale fluctuation-based symbolic dynamic entropy: a novel entropy method for fault diagnosis of rotating machinery
Authors: Shen Ao , Li Yongbo , Noman Khandaker , Wang Dong , Peng Zhike , Feng Ke
Published: March 2024

Health monitoring has garnered significant and increasing attention from the research community and industrial practices thanks to its critical role in ensuring the safe operation of machinery and maintenance schedule. With regard to this, this paper introduces a novel diagnostic approach called fluctuation-based symbolic dynamic entropy (FSDE), which can enhance noise immunity and computational efficiency by utilizing fluctuation-based entropy algorithm and symbolic dynamic filtering. Moreover, the noise immunity and computational efficiency of FSDE, permutation entropy, fuzzy entropy, and sample entropy are compared by simulation signals. The simulation results show that FSDE has a more robust anti-noise performance and higher computational efficiency than the other three entropy methods. In order to extract fault features more thoroughly, multiscale analysis is applied to the entropy method, and multiscale FSDE (MFSDE) is proposed. MFSDE divides the measurement data into several scale series by coarse-grained technology, and then, FSDE is used to process each scale series separately. A series of experiments verify the effectiveness of MFSDE in fault feature extraction of fault diagnosis. Furthermore, the experimental results substantiate that MFSDE outperforms the other three currently used entropy-based approaches in terms of accuracy in classifying different health conditions of transmission systems.
Physicians, know thy patient
Authors: Ng Isaac KS
Published: March 2024

Person-centered care is presently the standard healthcare model, which emphases shared clinical decision-making, patient autonomy and empowerment. However, many aspects of the modern-day clinical practice such as the increased reliance on medical technologies, artificial intelligence, and teleconsultation have significantly altered the quality of patient-physician communications. Moreover, many countries are facing an aging population with longer life expectancies but increasingly complex medical comorbidities, which, coupled with medical subspecialization and competing health systems, often lead to fragmentation of clinical care. In this article, I discuss what it truly means for a clinician to know a patient, which is, in fact, a highly intricate skill that is necessary to meet the high bar of person-centered care. I suggest that this can be achieved through the implementation of a holistic biopsychosocial model of clinical consultation at the physician level and fostering coordinated and continuity of care at the health systems level.
Remote Viewership of International Sporting Events and Crime: Evidence From Jamaica
Authors: Stewart Aubrey M. , Wright Nicholas A.
Published: March 2024

This article examines the effect of televised international sporting events (e.g., FIFA World Cup or Summer Olympics) on crime in Jamaica. We use a fixed effects model that compares, within each police division, the level of crime that occurs during these international sporting events to the rate of crime on similar days when these events are not occurring. We found that on days when the FIFA World Cup matches are held, there is a reduction in the number of murders (23.3%), shootings (20%), break-ins (19.4%), and robberies (11.7%), relative to the average number of each incident. We found no evidence of crime displacement, as these crimes also reduced during nonmatch periods during the FIFA World Cup. On the other hand, our results suggest that the international events that are less popular in Jamaica (the World Athletics Championship, the Summer Olympics, and the Winter Olympics) had a minimal impact on crime.
Exit Strategy: Balancing the Risks and Rewards of Antiseizure Medication Withdrawal
Authors: Galovic Marian , Ferreira-Atuesta Carolina , Jehi Lara E. , Braun Kees P. J. , Terman Samuel W.
Published: March 2024

The majority of people with epilepsy achieves long-term seizure-freedom and may consider withdrawal of their anti-seizure medications (ASMs). Withdrawal of ASMs can yield substantial benefits but may be associated with potential risks. This review critically examines the existing literature on ASM withdrawal, emphasizing evidence-based recommendations, where available. Our focus encompasses deprescribing strategies for individuals who have attained seizure freedom through medical treatment, those who have undergone successful epilepsy surgery, and individuals initiated on ASMs following acute symptomatic seizures. We explore state-of-the-art prognostic models in these scenarios that could guide the decision-making process. The review underscores the importance of a collaborative shared-decision approach between patients, caregivers, and physicians. We describe the subjective and objective factors influencing these decisions and illustrate how trade-offs may be effectively managed in practice.