bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pediatric intranasal lobular capillary hemangioma: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Alotaibi Jood K , Alotayf Osama Ali , Almahdi Mohammed Jihad , Halwani Mohammed
Published: April 2024

Lobular capillary hemangioma is a benign lesion commonly affecting the head and neck region. However, in children, it is commonly seen in the buccal mucosa, gingiva, and the tongue, but its presence in the nasal cavity is less frequent. The most common symptoms of nasal hemangiomas are epistaxis and nasal obstruction. However, we present a case of a thirteen-year-old male having intranasal lobular capillary hemangioma with a 2-day history of left-sided epistaxis. The diagnosis is confirmed by histological examination, and the treatment is done by endonasal endoscopic excision of the hemangioma with cauterization of the feeding vessel has performed to remove the lesion completely. Moreover, the diagnosis of lobular capillary hemangioma must always be kept in mind when discussing the differential diagnosis of a bleeding mass within the nasal cavity, even though it is a rare condition and surgical excision is still the preferred first-line treatment.
Congenital mesocolic hernia—a case report
Authors: Allert Tom , Schellerer Vera
Published: April 2024

Internal hernias are defined as protrusions of viscera through congenital or acquired aperture within the peritoneal cavity without an exit from the abdomen. The entity is broadly diversified with a wide variety of forms and severity of symptoms. A 10-day-old, full-term infant with poor feeding, bilious vomiting, and faecal retention for 3 days presented at our hospital. In the abdominal ultrasound, a whirl-pool sign was detected and laparotomy indicated. Intraoperatively, a malrotation of the small bowel with herniation of the jejunum into a mesocolic hernia was detected.
SPICE: the connection between cosmic reionization and stellar feedback in the first galaxies
Authors: Bhagwat Aniket , Costa Tiago , Ciardi Benedetta , Pakmor Rüdiger , Garaldi Enrico
Published: April 2024

We present SPICE, a new suite of radiation-hydrodynamic, cosmological simulations targeting the epoch of reionization. The goal of these simulations is to systematically probe a variety of stellar feedback models, including ‘bursty’ and ‘smooth’ forms of supernova energy injection, as well as poorly explored physical scenarios such as hypernova explosions and radiation pressure on dust. We show that even subtle differences in the behaviour of supernova feedback drive profound differences in reionization histories, with burstier forms of feedback causing earlier reionization. However, we also find that some global galaxy properties, such as the dust-attenuated luminosity functions and star formation main sequence, remain degenerate between models. In particular, we show that stellar feedback and its strength determine the morphological mix of galaxies emerging by $z \, = \, 5$ and that the reionization history is inextricably connected to intrinsic properties such as galaxy kinematics and morphology. While star-forming, massive discs are prevalent if supernova feedback is ‘smooth’, ‘bursty’ feedback preferentially generates dispersion-dominated systems. Different modes of feedback produce different strengths of outflows, altering the interstellar/circumgalactic medium in different ways, and in turn strongly affecting the escape of Lyman continuum (LyC) photons. We establish a correlation between galaxy morphology and LyC escape fraction, revealing that dispersion-dominated systems have escape fractions 10–50 times higher than their rotation-dominated counterparts at all redshifts. At the same intrinsic luminosity, dispersion-dominated systems should thus preferentially generate large H ii regions as compared to their rotation-dominated counterparts. Since dispersion-dominated systems are more prevalent if stellar feedback is more explosive, reionization occurs earlier in our simulation with burstier feedback. We argue that statistical samples of post-reionization galaxy morphologies (using both stellar and gaseous components) probed with telescopes such as JWST, ALMA, and MUSE can constrain stellar feedback at z > 5 and models of cosmic reionization.
Estimating Probability Weighting Functions through Option Pricing Bounds
Authors: Chen Tzu-Ying , Lin Yo-Lan , Tzeng Larry Y
Published: April 2024

This paper proposes a novel approach to estimating the probability weighting function (PWF) of investors in the option market. We match observed option prices to the option pricing bounds under stochastic dominance rules. Using 1-month S&P 500 index option data, we find that investors could subjectively employ an inverse S-shaped probability weighting function, which increases the weights on extreme returns and asymmetrically assigns greater weights to extremely low returns than to extremely high returns. Our findings suggest that the inverse S-shaped nature of the PWFs is robust across various estimation specifications, such as adopting an alternative methodology to construct the return distribution, and employing option data with different times to maturity. (JEL G12)
Assessing Metschnikowia pulcherrima as a potential probiotic yeast for animal feed
Authors: Al-Nijir Montazar , Henk Daniel A , Bedford Michael R , Chuck Christopher J
Published: April 2024

In response to escalating antimicrobial resistance fuelled by their extensive use in livestock farming, this study explores alternative strategies in animal health management. We investigated the probiotic potential of Metschnikowia pulcherrima strains 4 × 3, DH5, ICS1, and QRI1 for their suitability in poultry environments. Our research demonstrated that previously discovered antimicrobial M. pulcherrima strains exhibit promising probiotic behaviours, including biofilm production, auto-aggregation, cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), adhesion to Caco-2 cells, antioxidant capacity, and resilience to gastric stresses. Notable findings include DH5 exhibiting the highest biofilm formation, 4 × 3 and DH5 showing rapid auto-aggregation, 4 × 3 and ICS1 displaying high CSH, and all strains demonstrating considerable adherence to Caco-2 cells. 4 × 3 also exhibited exceptional bile tolerance, while ICS1 showed robust survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. These traits suggest M. pulcherrima’s capacity to colonize the poultry gastrointestinal tract, promote animal health, and support more sustainable livestock practices as a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics.
Salt marsh soil organic carbon is regulated by drivers of microbial activity
Authors: Erb Hailey , Keiser Ashley , DeAngelis Kristen M
Published: April 2024

Soil organic carbon is the foundation for soil health and a livable climate. Organic carbon is concentrated in coastal wetland soils, but dynamics that govern carbon persistence in coastal ecosystems remain incompletely understood. Whether microbial activity results in a gain or loss of carbon depends on environmental conditions that regulate microbial community attributes. We sought to identify which drivers of microbial activity have the greatest impact on organic carbon content in salt marsh soils. To address this question, we used the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses) statement to compile data on soil and ecosystem characteristics from 50 studies of over 60 salt marshes located around the world. We conducted a meta-analysis with structural equation modeling, including mediation and moderation analyses, to identify environmental drivers of salt marsh soil organic carbon content. High salinity, pH, nitrogen, and phosphorus were associated with increased microbial biomass carbon and soil organic carbon. Correlations between microbial biomass and organic carbon were strengthened by soil salinity and nitrogen, and weakened by soil water content. These results suggest that environmental conditions that control microbial growth and activity have potential to preserve or degrade organic carbon in salt marsh soils.
Successful Treatment of Metastatic Primary Cutaneous Adnexal Carcinoma With a PD-1 Inhibitor
Authors: Patel Janmesh D. , Pozorski Vincent J. , Tavberidze Nika , Buehler Darya G. , Huang Wei , Bennett Daniel D. , Ma Vincent T.
Published: April 2024

Standard of care treatment for metastatic cutaneous adnexal carcinomas is not well established. In this case report, we highlight the successful use of anti–programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) therapy in treating a patient with low tumor mutation burden, microsatellite stable, high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) gene expression, metastatic primary cutaneous adnexal carcinoma with significant radiographic, and circulating tumor DNA response with durable benefit. Immune checkpoint inhibitors hold promise as a future treatment option in rare instances of metastatic disease from primary skin adnexal carcinoma. Further studies are needed to identify better immune checkpoint inhibitor predictive biomarkers for rare, advanced-stage non-melanoma skin cancers.
Nationwide Incidence and Trends in Central Retinal Arterial Occlusion Management: A 5000-Patient Analysis
Authors: Subah Galadu , Xu Patricia , Zeller Sabrina , Nolan Bridget , Lui Aiden , Fortunato Michael , Feldstein Eric , Kafina Martin , Elefant Daniel , Chong Ji , Gandhi Chirag , Al-Mufti Fawaz
Published: April 2024

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a rare and visually debilitating vascular condition characterized by sudden and severe vision loss. CRAO is a compelling target for intravenous alteplase (tPA) and endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (MT) due to pathophysiological similarities with acute ischemic stroke; however, the utility of these interventions in CRAO remains dubious due to limited sample sizes and potential risks. To assess usage and outcomes of tPA and MT in CRAO, we queried the National Inpatient Sample database using International Classification of Disease, Ninth and Tenth edition for patients with CRAO and acute ischemic stroke between 2010 and 2019. Our cohort of 5009 CRAO patients were younger with higher rates of obesity, hypertension, long-term anticoagulant use, and tobacco use compared to acute ischemic stroke patients. CRAO patients had lower rates of tPA administration (3.41% vs 6.21%) and endovascular MT (0.38% vs 1.31%) but fewer complications, including deep vein thrombosis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, acute kidney injury, and acute myocardial infarction (all P < 0.01). CRAO patients had lower rates of poor functional outcome (31.74% vs 58.1%) and in-hospital mortality (1.2% vs 5.64%), but higher rates of profound blindness (9.24% vs 0.58%). A multivariate regression showed no relationship between tPA and MT and profound blindness, although the limited sample size of patients receiving interventions may have contributed to this apparent insignificance. Further investigation of larger patient cohorts and alternative treatment modalities could provide valuable insights for revascularization therapies in CRAO to optimize visual restoration and clinical outcomes.
Pregnancy-Associated Venous Thromboembolism
Authors: Seyam Omar , Frishman William H. , Aronow Wilbert S.
Published: April 2024

One of the leading causes of maternal death in the United States is venous thromboembolism (VTE), which is influenced by acquired, genetic, and environmental factors. Pregnancy-associated physiological changes that exhibit the characteristics of Virchow’s triad: reduced fibrinolysis, increased coagulation factors, trauma, and venous stasis all raise the risk of VTE. Furthermore, multiple gestations, advanced maternal age, cesarean delivery, and obesity are all pregnancy-associated risk factors that also increase the risk of VTE. Management of VTE during pregnancy can be challenging due to the risks and benefits of anticoagulant therapy and potential hazard for both the fetus and the mother. In this review, we discuss the prevalence, pathogenesis, predisposing factors, and therapeutic options such as systemic thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, and catheter-directed thrombolysis.
Role of Personalized Medicine in Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease (MINOCA): An Updated Review
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Nirander Fnu , Raza Hasnain , Rani Sonia , Raj Pirthvi , Adnan Fnu , Malik Jahanzeb
Published: April 2024

Cardiovascular diseases, notably myocardial infarction (MI), contribute significantly to global mortality. While traditional MIs are often associated with notable coronary artery blockages, a subgroup experiences MI without such blockages, termed myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). Current diagnostic methods, like invasive coronary angiograms, are inadequate in diagnosing MINOCA due to the absence of visible vessel blockages. Personalized medicine endeavors to introduce novel diagnostic tools for early identification and tailored management of MINOCA. Unlike percutaneous coronary intervention, which lacks efficacy in MINOCA, personalized medical management aligned with the specific underlying pathophysiological cause is essential. Treatments may include statins, agents modulating the renin-angiotensin system, and antiplatelet therapies if linked to plaque disruption. At the same time, calcium channel blockers may be pivotal if coronary artery spasm is the primary cause. Research is ongoing to refine tailored therapies and discover new biomarkers, highlighting the crucial need for individualized approaches in managing MINOCA.
ACUTE MACULAR NEURORETINOPATHY FOLLOWING MODERNA mRNA COVID-19 VACCINATION
Authors: Marcus William B. , Goldberg Roger A.
Published: April 2024

Purpose:

The authors report a case of acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) following and then exacerbated by mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccination.

Methods:

Report of a case.

Results:

A 79-year-old White man presented with a central scotoma in the right eye 2 weeks following administration of his second mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence and color photography, fluorescein, indocynanine green, and clinical findings were consistent with a diagnosis of AMN. Anatomy and symptoms worsened 8 months later, approximately 2 weeks after the third mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Improvement in symptoms and findings occurred without therapy 15 months postpresentation.

Conclusion:

This post-COVID vaccine AMN case is reported following an mRNA vaccine. The chronological relationship to both vaccines, exacerbation after the third vaccine, and occurrence in an older man without the recognized risk factors of non–vaccine-related AMN are compelling for possible causality. Depending on the patient's health and the state of the COVID-19 pandemic with regard to public health, should AMN occur soon after COVID vaccination, clinicians may consider foregoing additional vaccination/boosters or switching to an alternate COVID vaccine vector.
Ruixingdingia sedimenti gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel taxon within the family Paracoccaceae isolated from sediment of Qiantang River
Authors: Xu Lu , Wang Kexin , Ruan Luyao , Chen E , Yang Songqi , Qiu Jiguo , Jiang Jiandong , He Jian , Shen Qirong
Published: April 2024

A Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated LG-4T, was isolated from sediment of Qiantang River in Zhejiang Province, PR China. Cells were strictly aerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile and short-rod-shaped (1.0–1.2 µm long and 0.7–0.8 µm wide). Growth occurred at 15–42 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 5.0–9.0 (pH 7.0) and at 0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5 % NaCl). Strain LG-4T showed 95.75–96.90 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to various type strains of the genera Tabrizicola, Pseudotabrizicola, Phaeovulum, Rhodobacter and Wagnerdoeblera of the family Paracoccaceae, and the most closely related strain was Tabrizicola soli ZQBWT (96.90 % similarity). The phylogenomic tree showed that strain LG-4T clustered in the family Paracoccaceae and was positioned outside of the clade composed of the genera Wagnerdoeblera and Falsigemmobacter. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain LG-4T and the related type strains were in the range of 74.19–77.56 % and 16.70–25.80 %, respectively. The average amino acid identity (AAI) values between strain LG-4T and related type strains of the family Paracoccaceae were 60.94–69.73 %, which are below the genus boundary (70 %). The evolutionary distance (ED) values between LG-4T and the related genera of the family Paracoccaceae were 0.21–0.34, which are within the recommended standard (≥0.21–0.23) for defining a novel genus in the family Paracoccaceae. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C18 : 0 and C16 : 0, the isoprenoid quinone was Q-10, and the major polar lipids were phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, aminolipid and two unknown polar lipids. The genome size was 4.7 Mb with 68.6 mol% G+C content. On the basis of distinct phylogenetic relationships, low AAI values and high ED values, and differential phenotypic, physiological and biochemical characteristics, strain LG-4T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Paracoccaceae, for which the name Ruixingdingia sedimenti gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LG-4T (=MCCC 1K08849T=KCTC 8136T)
Development of a noninvasive olfactory stimulation fMRI system in marmosets
Authors: Yurimoto Terumi , Seki Fumiko , Yamada Akihiro , Okajima Junnosuke , Yambe Tomoyuki , Takewa Yoshiaki , Kamioka Michiko , Inoue Takashi , Inoue Yusuke , Sasaki Erika
Published: April 2024

Olfactory dysfunction is associated with aging and the earliest stages of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases; it is thought to be an early biomarker of cognitive decline. In marmosets, a small non-human primate model used in brain research, olfactory pathway activity during olfactory stimulation has not been well studied because of the difficulty in clearly switching olfactory stimuli inside a narrow MRI. Here, we developed an olfactory-stimulated fMRI system using a small-aperture MRI machine.

The olfactory presentation system consisted of two tubes, one for supply and one for suction of olfactory stimulants and a balloon valve. A balloon valve installed in the air supply tube controlled the presentation of the olfactory stimulant, which enabled sharp olfactory stimulation within MRI, such as 30 seconds of stimulation repeated five times at five-minute intervals. The olfactory stimulation system was validated in vivo and in a simulated system. fMRI analysis showed a rapid increase in signal values within 30 s of olfactory stimulation in eight regions related to the sense of smell. As these regions include those associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, olfactory stimulation fMRI may be useful in clarifying the relationship between olfactory dysfunction and dementia in non-human primates.
Progressive multi-stage extrapolation of predictable motion in human visual cortex
Authors: Turner William , Sexton Charlie , Johnson Philippa A. , Wilson Ella , Hogendoorn Hinze
Published: April 2024

Neural processing of sensory information takes time. Consequently, to estimate the current state of the world, the brain must rely on predictive processes – for example, extrapolating the motion of a ball to determine its probable present position. Some evidence implicates early (pre-cortical) processing in extrapolation, but it remains unclear whether extrapolation continues during later-stage (cortical) processing, where further delays accumulate. Moreover, the majority of such evidence relies on invasive neurophysiological techniques in animals, with accurate characterisation of extrapolation effects in the human brain currently lacking. Here, we address these issues by demonstrating how precise probabilistic maps can be constructed from human EEG recordings. Participants (N = 18, 2 Sessions) viewed a stimulus moving along a circular trajectory while EEG was recorded. Using LDA classification, we extracted maps of stimulus location over time and found evidence of a widespread temporal shift occurring across distinct processing stages. This accelerated emergence of position representations indicates extrapolation occurring at multiple stages of processing, with representations across the hierarchy being progressively shifted closer to real-time. We further show evidence of representational overshoot during early-stage processing following unexpected changes to an object’s trajectory, and demonstrate that the observed dynamics can emerge without supervision in a simulated neural network via spike-timing-dependent plasticity.
Comparison of Wild-Type and High-risk PNPLA3 variants in a Human Biomimetic Liver Microphysiology System for Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease Precision Therapy
Authors: Xia Mengying , Varmazyad Mahboubeh , Pla-Palacín Iris , Gavlock Dillon C. , DeBiasio Richard , LaRocca Gregory , Reese Celeste , Florentino Rodrigo , Faccioli Lanuza A.P. , Brown Jacquelyn A. , Vernetti Lawrence A. , Schurdak Mark , Stern Andrew M. , Gough Albert , Behari Jaideep , Soto-Gutierrez Alejandro , Taylor D. Lansing , Miedel Mark T.
Published: April 2024

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a worldwide health epidemic with a global occurrence of approximately 30%. The pathogenesis of MASLD is a complex, multisystem disorder driven by multiple factors including genetics, lifestyle, and the environment. Patient heterogeneity presents challenges for developing MASLD therapeutics, creation of patient cohorts for clinical trials and optimization of therapeutic strategies for specific patient cohorts. Implementing pre-clinical experimental models for drug development creates a significant challenge as simplein vitrosystems and animal models do not fully recapitulate critical steps in the pathogenesis and the complexity of MASLD progression. To address this, we implemented a precision medicine strategy that couples the use of our liver acinus microphysiology system (LAMPS) constructed with patient-derived primary cells. We investigated the MASLD-associated genetic variant PNPLA3 rs738409 (I148M variant) in primary hepatocytes, as it is associated with MASLD progression. We constructed LAMPS with genotyped wild type and variant PNPLA3 hepatocytes together with key non-parenchymal cells and quantified the reproducibility of the model. We altered media components to mimic blood chemistries, including insulin, glucose, free fatty acids, and immune activating molecules to reflect normal fasting (NF), early metabolic syndrome (EMS) and late metabolic syndrome (LMS) conditions. Finally, we investigated the response to treatment with resmetirom, an approved drug for metabolic syndrome-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), the progressive form of MASLD. This study using primary cells serves as a benchmark for studies using “patient biomimetic twins” constructed with patient iPSC-derived liver cells using a panel of reproducible metrics. We observed increased steatosis, immune activation, stellate cell activation and secretion of pro-fibrotic markers in the PNPLA3 GG variant compared to wild type CC LAMPS, consistent with the clinical characterization of this variant. We also observed greater resmetirom efficacy in PNPLA3 wild type CC LAMPS compared to the GG variant in multiple MASLD metrics including steatosis, stellate cell activation and the secretion of pro-fibrotic markers. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the capability of the LAMPS platform for the development of MASLD precision therapeutics, enrichment of patient cohorts for clinical trials, and optimization of therapeutic strategies for patient subgroups with different clinical traits and disease stages.
Development of a Versatile System to Facilitate Targeted Knockout/Elimination Using CRISPR/Cas9 for Highly Duplicated Gene Families inArabidopsisSexual Reproduction
Authors: Takeuchi Hidenori , Nagahara Shiori
Published: April 2024

CRISPR/Cas9-based targeted gene editing is a fundamental technique for studying gene functions in various organisms. In plants, the introduction of a T-DNA construct harboring Cas9 nuclease and single guide RNA (sgRNA) sequences induces sequence-specific DNA double-strand breaks, inducing the loss of gene function.Arabidopsis thalianais a model for CRISPR/Cas9 system development and gene function studies; the introduction ofCas9under the egg or zygote promoter and multiple sgRNA modules generates heritable or non-mosaic mutants for multiple targets in the T1 generation ofA. thaliana. Recent reports reflect use of several CRISPR/Cas9 vectors in generating single– and higher-order mutants; however, the development of a reliable, cost-effective, and high-throughput CRISPR/Cas9 platform is necessary for targeting highly duplicated gene families. In this study, we have developed a simple and user-friendly construction system for the CRISPR/Cas9 vector series with improved gene editing efficiency by simply inserting a single intron intoCas9, and effectively demonstrated the simultaneous knockout of multiple genes involved inA. thalianasexual reproduction. An unbiased PCR-mediated mutant identification in the T1 generation revealed that our CRISPR/Cas9 system can support a > 70 kb deletion of > 30 tandemly duplicated synergid-specific genes and simultaneous knockout of five redundant genes essential for double fertilization. We performed a one-shot knockout of seven homologous pollen tube receptor-like kinase genes and identified their specific and overlapping roles in pollen tube growth and guidance. Our system can potentially facilitate further research in experimental plant biology to search for genetically unidentified components using reverse genetic candidate approaches.
Imaging the large-scale and cellular response to focal traumatic brain injury in mouse neocortex
Authors: Bibineyshvili Yelena , Vajtay Thomas J. , Salsabilian Shiva , Fliss Nicholas , Suvarnakar Aastha , Fang Jennifer , Teng Shavonne , Alder Janet , Najafizadeh Laleh , Margolis David J.
Published: April 2024

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects neural function at the local injury site and also at distant, connected brain areas. However, the real-time neural dynamics in response to injury and subsequent effects on sensory processing and behavior are not fully resolved, especially across a range of spatial scales. We usedin vivocalcium imaging in awake, head-restrained male and female mice to measure large-scale and cellular resolution neuronal activation, respectively, in response to a mild/moderate TBI induced by focal controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury of the motor cortex (M1). Widefield imaging revealed an immediate CCI-induced activation at the injury site, followed by a massive slow wave of calcium signal activation that traveled across the majority of the dorsal cortex within approximately 30 s. Correspondingly, two-photon calcium imaging in primary somatosensory cortex (S1) found strong activation of neuropil and neuronal populations during the CCI-induced traveling wave. A depression of calcium signals followed the wave, during which we observed atypical activity of a sparse population of S1 neurons. Longitudinal imaging in the hours and days after CCI revealed increases in the area of whisker-evoked sensory maps at early time points, in parallel to decreases in cortical functional connectivity and behavioral measures. Neural and behavioral changes mostly recovered over hours to days in our M1-TBI model, with a more lasting decrease in the number of active S1 neurons. Our results in unanesthetized mice describe novel spatial and temporal neural adaptations that occur at cortical sites remote to a focal brain injury.
MVA-BN Vaccine Effectiveness: A Systematic Review of Real-World Evidence in Outbreak Settings
Authors: Mason Lauren M.K. , Betancur Estefania , Riera-Montes Margarita , Lienert Florian , Scheele Suzanne
Published: April 2024

Background

Mpox is a disease endemic to Central and West Africa. It caused outbreaks in non-endemic countries, mainly in 2022. The endemic Democratic Republic of Congo is currently experiencing its largest outbreak yet. The vaccine Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) is approved for active immunization against mpox and smallpox. Since the outbreak in 2022, real-world studies have assessed MVA-BN’s vaccine effectiveness (VE) against mpox, and this systematic literature review aims to summarize the most current evidence.

Methods

Medline (via PubMed), Embase, and LILACS were searched, as well as grey literature sources and publications’ bibliographies to identify observational studies published between 1/Jan/2022 and 28/Feb/2024 that estimate the VE of MVA-BN against symptomatic mpox or provide risk measures that allow calculation of these VE estimates. Data were presented descriptively in tables and text; the methodological quality of included records was assessed using an informal qualitative approach.

Results

The literature search identified a total of 16 records that fit the inclusion criteria. The studies took place in high-income countries and were heterogenous in design, setting, and definition of at-risk populations. MVA-BN VE estimates against symptomatic mpox infection ≥14 days post-vaccination were assessed. Where the study population was exclusively or primarily those receiving pre-exposure prophylactic vaccination, the adjusted VE estimates ranged from 35% to 86% (n=8 studies) for one dose and from 66% to 90% (n=5) for two doses. Where only post-exposure prophylactic vaccination was assessed, adjusted VE estimates were reported for one dose only at 78% and 89% (n=2). Additionally, MVA-BN reduced the risk of mpox-related hospitalization in one study and the severity of mpox clinical manifestations in two studies.

Conclusions

Despite heterogeneity in study design, setting, and at-risk populations, the reported VE estimates against symptomatic mpox infection for one or two doses of MVA-BN support deployment of MVA-BN for mpox outbreak control.
Implementation of contact line motion based on the phase-field lattice Boltzmann method
Authors: Ju Long , Guo Zhaoli , Yan Bicheng , Sun Shuyu
Published: April 2024

This paper proposes a strategy to implement the free-energy-based wetting boundary condition within the phase-field lattice Boltzmann method. The greatest advantage of the proposed method is that the implementation of contact line motion can be significantly simplified while still maintaining good accuracy. For this purpose, the liquid-solid free energy is treated as a part of the chemical potential instead of the boundary condition, thus avoiding complicated interpolations with irregular geometries. Several numerical testing cases, including droplet spreading processes on the idea flat, inclined, and curved boundaries, are conducted, and the results demonstrate that the proposed method has good ability and satisfactory accuracy to simulate contact line motions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Crystal structure of (E)-N-(4-bromophenyl)-2-cyano-3-[3-(2-methylpropyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]prop-2-enamide
Authors: Abu-Zaied Mamdouh A. , Mohamed-Ezzat Reham A. , Elgemeie Galal H. , Jones Peter G.
Published: April 2024

The structure of the title compound, C23H21BrN4O, contains two independent molecules connected by hydrogen bonds of the type Namide—H...N[triple-bond]C to form a dimer. The configuration at the exocyclic C=C double bond is E. The molecules are roughly planar except for the isopropyl groups. There are minor differences in the orientations of these groups and the phenyl rings at N1. The dimers are further linked by ‘weak’ hydrogen bonds, two each of the types Hphenyl...O=C (H...O = 2.50, 2.51 Å) and Hphenyl...Br (H...Br = 2.89, 2.91 Å), to form ribbons parallel to the b and c axes, respectively. The studied crystal was a non-merohedral twin.
mer-Bis(quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde 4-ethylthiosemicarbazonato)nickel(II) methanol 0.33-solvate 0.67-hydrate
Authors: Awang Adam Raudhatul Nadhirah , Keasberry Natasha Ann , Sheikh Abdul Hamid Malai Haniti
Published: April 2024

In the title compound, [Ni(C13H13N4S)2]·0.33CH3OH·0.67H2O, the NiII atom is coordinated by two tridentate quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde 4-ethylthiosemicarbazonate ligands in a distorted octahedral shape. At 100 K, the crystal symmetry is monoclinic (space group P21/n). A mixture of water and methanol crystallizes with the title complex, and one of the ethyl groups in the coordinating ligands is disordered over two positions, with an occupancy ratio of 58:42. There is intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the solvent molecules and the amine and thiolate groups in the ligands. No other significant interactions are present in the crystal packing.
Food wastage and consumerism in circular economy: a review and research directions
Authors: Agarwal Anuja , Srivastava Shefali , Gupta Ashish , Singh Gurmeet
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Considering food waste as a global problem resulting from the wastage of valuable resources that could fulfil the requirements of malnourished people, the current research focusses on understanding consumerism’s impact on this phenomenon. Additionally, the circular economy (CE) approach can be critical in reducing food waste and promoting sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was conducted using bibliometrics and network analysis. The study reviewed 326 articles within 10 years, from 2013 to 2023.

Findings

The findings reveal four prominent factors – behavioural, environmental, socioeconomic and technological – in managing food waste (FW). Reducing FW at a holistic level can benefit individuals and the environment in several ways.

Research limitations/implications

Consumers are encouraged to be more responsible for their food consumption by reducing food waste, as it affects societies and businesses both economically and environmentally. This can help promote a responsible consumption culture that values quality over quantity and encourages people to make more informed choices about what they eat and how they dispose of it post-consumption. All stakeholders, including firms, the government and consumers, must examine the motives behind inculcating pro-environmental behaviour.

Originality/value

Addressing consumerism and the ability to decrease FW behaviour are complex issues that require a multidimensional approach. This study seeks to fill the gap in understanding consumerism and the capacity to reduce FW using the CE approach and understand the research gaps and future research trends.
The role of employee ambidexterity on employee agility: a moderation analysis with employee organizational tenure
Authors: Panda Sukanya
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to investigate how employee ambidexterity (studied as passive and active ambidexterity; EPA and EAA) impacts employee agility (in terms of proactivity, resilience and adaptability) along with the moderating influences of employee organizational tenure (EOT).

Design/methodology/approach

A simple random sampling technique is used to collect primary responses from bank managers working in various public, private and regional rural banks in India. The analysis is performed using AMOS (Version-25), a covariance-based structural equation modeling approach.

Findings

The two-folded findings include first, the EAA–agility relationship is stronger than the EPA–agility linkage. Second, EOT negatively influences the EAA–EPA–agility relationships.

Originality/value

Although the performance impact of ambidexterity is well documented in the literature there is a dearth of empirical investigation on its agility impact. Since most of the extant researchers have studied ambidexterity and agility from an organizational context, this research highlights the less-studied ambidexterity-agility connection from an employee perspective. Further, EOT is mostly studied as a control variable, while this research investigates as a moderator influencing the ambidexterity–agility linkage in the context of emerging economies such as India.
Exploring the ascendancy of social capital in entrepreneurial behavior: new insights from mix model perspective in digital healthcare
Authors: Anwar Azfar , Zafar Abaid Ullah , Papa Armando , Pham Thi Thu Thuy , Apostolidis Chrysostomos
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Digital healthcare manages to grab considerable attention from people and practitioners to avoid severity and provide quick access to healthcare. Entrepreneurs also adopt the digital healthcare segment as an opportunity; nevertheless, their intentions to participate and encourage innovation in this growing sector are unexplored. Drawing upon the social capital theory and health belief model, the study examines the factors that drive entrepreneurship. A novel model is proposed to comprehend entrepreneurial intentions and behavior entrenched in social capital and other encouraging and dissuading perceptive elements with the moderation of trust in digitalization and entrepreneurial efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The cross-sectional method is used to collect data through a questionnaire from experienced respondents in China. The valid data comprises 280 respondents, analyzed by partial least square structural equation modeling.

Findings

Social capital significantly influences monetary attitude, and perceived risk and holds an inconsequential association with perceived usefulness, whereas monetary attitude and perceived usefulness meaningfully explain entrepreneurial activities. Perceived risk has a trivial impact on entrepreneurial intention. Entrepreneurial efficacy and trust in digitalization significantly explain entrepreneurial behavior and moderate the positive relationship between intention and behavior.

Originality/value

The present research proposes a novel research model in the context of entrepreneurship rooted in a digitalized world and offering new correlates. It provides valuable insights by exploring entrepreneurial motivation and deterring factors to get involved in startup activities entrenched in social capital, providing guidelines for policymakers and practitioners to promote entrepreneurship.
Measuring South African novice teacher resilience in coping with teaching challenges: a Rasch model framework
Authors: Moen Melanie , Pham Hai Thi Thanh , Samsudin Mohd Ali , Chun Tiew Chia
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study was to measure the level of challenges faced by novice teachers in South Africa. Findings suggest a need for professional development courses to upskill teachers with effective pedagogies that can incorporate the social and emotional components into teaching and learning.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied a descriptive research methodology by administering a questionnaire to 143 novice teachers. The data analysis technique was the Rasch model.

Findings

The findings indicated high item and person reliability, with a good item fit and polarity values that are compatible with the Rasch model. The three major challenges identified are uninvolved parents, discipline problems and a lack of guidance and counselling. These challenges can be related to social and emotional learning (SEL) components.

Research limitations/implications

The study used quantitative methods and discovered the challenges that novice teachers face. If the research uses a combination of qualitative methods, it will be possible to better identify the specific causes of the above three challenges of novice teachers.

Practical implications

Due to the complex nature of South African society, many novice teachers are overwhelmed by the challenges they face when entering the profession. These challenges are often embedded in societal risk factors, which complicate the transition from student teacher to novice teacher. The major challenges identified in this study can be related to SEL components, as the challenges are closely linked to the psychological and social backgrounds of the students. Teachers in this study indicated that they found it difficult to deal with these challenges at the beginning of their careers.

Social implications

By identifying the challenges facing new teachers in South Africa, they will be better prepared for their work in schools. Therefore, they will improve the above situation to continue developing professionally.

Originality/value

The findings indicated high item and person reliability, with a good item fit and polarity values that are compatible with the Rasch model. Teachers in this study indicated that they found it difficult to deal with these challenges in the beginning of their careers. Professional development courses are suggested to help teachers deal with issues such as discipline, uninvolved parents and guidance and counselling effectively. Higher education programmes should also include these topics in their curricula for student teachers. A greater emphasis on training teachers in their pastoral roles is suggested.
Intelligent construction technology based information sharing network for prefabricated building supply chain: a social network analysis approach
Authors: Zhu Rui , Li Lihong
Published: April 2024

Purpose

In the context of Industry 4.0, intelligent construction technologies (ICT) represented by information technology and networking will undoubtedly provide new impetus to the development of the prefabricated building supply chain (PBSC), but they will also bring various potential risks. So far, there is a large lack of research on the comprehensive consideration of the risks associated with the intelligent transformation of PBSC based on the information sharing perspective, and the critical risks and interactions are still unclear, making it difficult to identify efficient risk mitigation strategies. Therefore, this paper aims to reveal the interactions between stakeholders and clarify the critical risk nodes and interactions in information sharing of PBSC (IS-PBSC), and propose targeted risk mitigation strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, this paper creatively delineates the risks and critical stakeholders of IS-PBSC. Secondly, Data is collected through questionnaires to understand the degree of risks impact. Thirdly, with the help of NetMiner 4 software, social network analysis is conducted and IS-PBSC risk network is established to reveal critical risk nodes and interactions. Finally, further targeted discussion of critical risk nodes, the effectiveness and reasonableness of the risk mitigation strategies are proposed and verified through NetMiner 4 software simulation.

Findings

The results show that the critical risks cover the entire process of information sharing, with the lack of information management norms and other information assurance-related risks accounting for the largest proportion. In addition, the government dominates in risk control, followed by other stakeholders. The implementation of risk mitigation strategies is effective, with the overall network density reduced by 41.15% and network cohesion reduced by 24%.

Research limitations/implications

In the context of Industry 4.0, ICT represented by information technology and networking will undoubtedly provide new impetus to the development of the PBSC, but they will also bring various potential risks. So far, there is a large lack of research on the comprehensive consideration of the risks associated with the intelligent transformation of PBSC based on the information sharing perspective, and the critical risks and interactions are still unclear, making it difficult to identify efficient risk mitigation strategies.

Originality/value

Based on the results of risk network visualization analysis, this paper proposes an ICT-based IS-PBSC mechanism that promotes the development of the integration of ICT and PBSC while safeguarding the benefits of various stakeholders.
Where are services regarding sexual minorities and psychological therapies post-COVID in 2024? A mixed-method systematised review
Authors: Broadway-Horner Matt
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Since COVID-19, many services have burgeoned within the UK, but what about sexual minorities? Since the last review, there are appropriate therapies, but there is often inadequate research. The purpose of this mixed-method review synthesis looking into the efficacy of psychological therapies for sexual minorities. Seven studies were found in total.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method review synthesis, three studies looking into the efficacy of psychological therapies for sexual minorities and four studies addressing the experiences of sexual minorities partaking in psychological therapies were identified.

Findings

These included three quantitative and four qualitative studies. The minority stress hypothesis is used to formulate problems, but challenges remain to confidentiality and privacy in this context. Therapists still operate within the heteronormative framework, discounting intersectionality in therapy conversations.

Research limitations/implications

Most studies have had low retention rates since 2021. It shows that minority stress needs to be accounted for at the ethics committee and research delivery levels.

Practical implications

Applying a heteronormative framework to sexual minorities is not working. An alternative progress world view is needed.

Social implications

Health-care clinicians strive for equitable care. Unfortunately, using an equitable health service scale adapted from Levesque et al. (2013), the rating is 3 out of 6. More work is needed to improve services.

Originality/value

Some services are reporting much improvement post-pandemic. Sadly, this is not the case for sexual minorities. Individual and systemic barriers remain.
Forecasting the probability of successful deployment of internet of things and cloud computing in the building sector through consistent fuzzy preference relations method
Authors: Solanki Arpit , Sarkar Debasis
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to identify significant factors, analyse them using the consistent fuzzy preference relations (CFPR) method and forecast the probability of successful deployment of the internet of things (IoT) and cloud computing (CC) in Gujarat, India’s building sector.

Design/methodology/approach

From the previous studies, 25 significant factors were identified, and a questionnaire survey with personal interviews obtained 120 responses from building experts in Gujarat, India. The questionnaire survey data’s validity, reliability and descriptive statistics were also assessed. Building experts’ opinions are inputted into the CFPR method, and priority weights and ratings for probable outcomes are obtained to forecast success and failure.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that the most important factors are affordable system and ease of use and battery life and size of sensors, whereas less important ones include poor collaboration between IoT and cloud developer community and building sector and suitable location. The forecasting values demonstrate that the factor suitable location has a high probability of success; however, factors such as loss of jobs and data governance have a high probability of failure. Based on the forecasted values, the probability of success (0.6420) is almost twice that of failure (0.3580). It shows that deploying IoT and CC in the building sector of Gujarat, India, is very much feasible.

Originality/value

Previous studies analysed IoT and CC factors using different multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods to merely prioritise ranking in the building sector, but forecasting success/failure makes this study unique. This research is generally applicable, and its findings may be utilised for decision-making and deployment of IoT and CC in the building sector anywhere globally.