bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of moxibustion for ulcerative colitis: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Yanzhen , Zhou Wen , Chen Wenxiao , Deng Bailing , You Jianyu
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a global chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and the poor efficacy of currently available pharmacological regimens makes the management of UC a great challenge. Moxibustion has shown great potential in the management of UC. However, its effectiveness and safety are still controversial. The purpose of this study is to synthesise the latest evidence regarding the clinical efficacy and safety of moxibustion for UC.

Methods and analysis

The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and SinoMed databases will be searched from inception to July 2023, to identify all randomised controlled trials with moxibustion for UC. The primary outcome will be clinical efficacy, as measured by validated scales. The serum inflammatory factor, colonoscopy results, quality of life, recurrence rate and adverse events will be the secondary outcomes. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool will be used to assess the methodological quality of each included trial. All data extraction will be carried out independently by two investigators. RevMan V.5.4 software will be used for data analysis and Cochran’s Q statistic and I2test will be used to assess heterogeneity between studies. In addition, we will perform subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses and publication bias if the available data are sufficient. The strength of evidence will be graded using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required for this review. Our findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023425481.
Inequities and trends of polio immunisation among children aged 12–23 months in Ethiopia: a multilevel analysis of Ethiopian demographic and health survey
Authors: Fekadu Hailu , Mekonnen Wubegzier , Adugna Aynalem , Kloos Helmut , HaileMariam Damen
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Despite Ethiopia’s policy intention to provide recommended vaccination services to underprivileged populations, inequity in polio immunisation persists.

Objective

This study examined inequity and trends in polio immunisation and determinant factors among children aged 12–23 months in Ethiopia between 2000 and 2019.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from 2000, 2005, 2011, 2016 and 2019 Ethiopian demographic and health surveys were analysed with the updated version of the WHO’s Health Equity Assessment Toolkit software. Six standard equity measures: equity gaps, equity ratios, population attributable risk, population attributable fraction, slope index of inequality and relative index of inequality were used. Datasets were analysed and disaggregated by the five equality stratifiers: economic status, education, place of residence, sex of the child and regions. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to identify determinant factors.

Results

Polio immunisation coverage was increased from 34.5% (2000) to 60.0% (2019). The wealth index-related inequity, in coverage of polio immunisation between quintiles 5 and 1, was 20 percentage points for most surveys. The population attributable risk and population attributable fraction measure in 2011 indicate that the national polio immunisation coverage in that year could have been improved by nearly 36 and 81 percentage points, respectively, if absolute and relative wealth-driven inequity, respectively, had been avoided. The absolute difference between Addis Ababa and Afar Region was 74 percentage points in 2000 and 60 percentage points in 2019. In multilevel analysis result, individual-level factors like wealth index, maternal education antenatal care and place of delivery showed statistical significance.

Conclusion

Although polio immunisation coverage gradually increased over time, in the 20-year survey periods, still 40% of children remained unvaccinated. Inequities in coverage by wealth, educational status, urban–rural residence and administrative regions persisted. Increasing service coverage and improving equitable access to immunisations services may narrow the existing inequity gaps.
Roles of health system leadership under emergency in drought-affected districts in northeast Uganda: a mixed-method study
Authors: Njuguna Charles , Tola Habteyes , Maina Benson Ngugi , Magambo Kwikiriza Nicholas , Namukose Samalie , Kamau Sarah , Woldemariam Yonas Tegegn
Published: March 2024

Objective

Health system leadership plays a critical role in sustaining healthcare delivery during emergencies. Thus, we aimed to assess the contribution of health system leadership in sustaining healthcare delivery under emergency conditions based on adaptive leadership theoretical framework.

Design

We employed a concurrent mixed-methods study approach to assess health system leadership roles during emergency. This involved a quantitative survey administered to 150 health facilities managers/service focal persons selected via multistage sampling method from 15 districts, and qualitative interviews with 48 key informants who purposively selected.

Participants

We interviewed health facility managers, services focal persons, district health officers and residential district commissioners. We also reviewed weekly emergency situation reports and other relevant documents related to the emergency response. We used structured questionnaire, observation checklist and semistructured questionnaire to collect data. We employed descriptive statistics to analyse quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data.

Main outcome

Health system leadership contributions in sustaining healthcare delivery during emergencies.

Results

Health system leadership was effective in leading emergency response and ensuring the continuity of health service during emergencies. Community engagement, partners coordination and intersectoral collaboration were effectively used in the emergency response and ensuring continuity of healthcare delivery. Deployment of experienced personnel and essential medical and non-medical supplies played a critical role in the continuity of health service. Availability of incidence management teams across health system significantly contributed to health system leadership. Participation of village health teams in community engagement and information communication helped in the success of health system leadership under emergency.

Conclusion

Adaptive health system leadership played a crucial role in managing health services delivery under emergency conditions. Effective partnership coordination and collaboration across sectors, frequent information communication, building local actor capacity and implementing scheduled supportive supervisions emerged as key strategies for sustaining health services during emergencies.
Systematic review of individual-level, community-level, and healthcare system-level factors contributing to socioeconomic differences in healthcare utilisation in OECD countries with universal health coverage
Authors: Meulman Iris , Uiters Ellen , Cloin Mariëlle , Polder Johan , Stadhouders Niek
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Countries with universal health coverage (UHC) strive for equal access for equal needs without users getting into financial distress. However, differences in healthcare utilisation (HCU) between socioeconomic groups have been reported in countries with UHC. This systematic review provides an overview individual-level, community-level, and system-level factors contributing to socioeconomic status-related differences in HCU (SES differences in HCU).

Design

Systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The review protocol was published in advance.

Data sources

Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Econlit, and PsycInfo were searched on 9 March 2021 and 9 November 2022.

Eligibility criteria

Studies that quantified the contribution of one or more factors to SES difference in HCU in OECD countries with UHC.

Data extraction and synthesis

Studies were screened for eligibility by two independent reviewers. Data were extracted using a predeveloped data-extraction form. Risk of bias (ROB) was assessed using a tailored version of Hoy’s ROB-tool. Findings were categorised according to level and a framework describing the pathway of HCU.

Results

Of the 7172 articles screened, 314 were included in the review. 64% of the studies adjusted for differences in health needs between socioeconomic groups. The contribution of sex (53%), age (48%), financial situation (25%), and education (22%) to SES differences in HCU were studied most frequently. For most factors, mixed results were found regarding the direction of the contribution to SES differences in HCU.

Conclusions

SES differences in HCU extensively correlated to factors besides health needs, suggesting that equal access for equal needs is not consistently accomplished. The contribution of factors seemed highly context dependent as no unequivocal patterns were found of how they contributed to SES differences in HCU. Most studies examined the contribution of individual-level factors to SES differences in HCU, leaving the influence of healthcare system-level characteristics relatively unexplored.
Approaches for the treatment of perforated peptic ulcers: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials – study protocol
Authors: Wadewitz Elisabeth , Friedrichs Juliane , Grilli Maurizio , Vey Johannes , Zimmermann Samuel , Kleeff Joerg , Ronellenfitsch Ulrich , Klose Johannes , Rebelo Artur
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Perforated peptic ulcers are a life-threatening complication associated with high morbidity and mortality. Several treatment approaches are available. The aim of this network meta-analysis (NMA) is to compare surgical and alternative approaches for the treatment of perforated peptic ulcers regarding mortality and other patient-relevant outcomes.

Methods and analysis

A systematic literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov trial registry and ICTRP will be conducted with predefined search terms.

To address the question of the most effective treatment approach, an NMA will be performed for each of the outcomes mentioned above. A closed network of interventions is expected. The standardised mean difference with its 95% CI will be used as the effect measure for the continuous outcomes, and the ORs with 95% CI will be calculated for the binary outcomes.

Ethics and dissemination

In accordance with the nature of the data used in this meta-analysis, which involves aggregate information from previously published studies ethical approval is deemed unnecessary. Results will be disseminated directly to decision-makers (eg, surgeons, gastroenterologists) through publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentation at conferences.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023482932.
Evaluating the impact of movement tracking feedback on engagement with home exercise programmes of children with cerebral palsy using a new therapy app: a protocol for a mixed-methods single-case experimental design with alternating treatments
Authors: Petrevska Marina , Wright F Virginia , Khan Ajmal , Munce Sarah , Fehlings Darcy , Biddiss Elaine
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are prescribed home exercise programmes (HEPs) to increase the frequency of movement practice, yet adherence to HEPs can be low. This paper outlines the protocol for a single-case experimental design (SCED) with alternating treatments, using a new home therapy exercise application, Bootle Boot Camp (BBCamp), offered with and without movement tracking feedback. This study will explore the impact of feedback on engagement, movement quality, lower limb function and family experiences to help understand how technology-supported HEPs should be translated and the added value, if any, of movement tracking technology.

Methods and analysis

In this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study using a SCED, 16 children with CP (aged 6–12 years, Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I–II) will set lower limb goals and be prescribed an individualised HEP by their physiotherapist to complete using BBCamp on their home television equipped with a three-dimensional camera-computer system. Children will complete four weekly exercise sessions over 6 weeks. Children will be randomised to 1 of 16 alternating treatment schedules where BBCamp will provide or withhold feedback during the first 4 weeks. The version of BBCamp that results in the most therapeutic benefit will be continued for 2 final weeks. Goals will be re-evaluated and families interviewed. The primary outcome is adherence (proportion of prescribed exercise repetitions attempted) as a measure of behavioural engagement. Secondary outcomes are affective and cognitive engagement (smiley face ratings), exercise fidelity, lower limb function, goal achievement and participant experiences. SCED data will be analysed using visual and statistical methods. Quantitative and qualitative data will be integrated using joint displays.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Boards at Bloorview Research Institute and the University of Toronto. Results will be distributed through peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT05998239; pre-results.
Crowdsourcing a diagnosis? Exploring the accuracy of the size and type of group diagnosis: an experimental study
Authors: Sherbino Jonathan , Sibbald Matt , Norman Geoffrey , LoGiudice Andrew , Keuhl Amy , Lee Mark , Monteiro Sandra
Published: March 2024

Background

The consultation process, where a clinician seeks an opinion from another clinician, is foundational in medicine. However, the effectiveness of group diagnosis has not been studied.

Objective

To compare individual diagnosis to group diagnosis on two dimensions: group size (n=3 or 6) and group process (interactive or artificial groups).

Methodology

Thirty-six internal or emergency medicine residents participated in the study. Initially, each resident worked through four written cases on their own, providing a primary diagnosis and a differential diagnosis. Next, participants formed into groups of three. Using a videoconferencing platform, they worked through four additional cases, collectively providing a single primary diagnosis and differential diagnosis. The process was repeated using a group of six with four new cases. Cases were all counterbalanced. Retrospectively, nominal (ie, artificial) groups were formed by aggregating individual participant data into subgroups of three and six and analytically computing scores. Presence of the correct diagnosis as primary diagnosis or included in the differential diagnosis, as well as the number of diagnoses mentioned, was calculated for all conditions. Means were compared using analysis of variance.

Results

For both authentic and nominal groups, the diagnostic accuracy of group diagnosis was superior to individual for both the primary diagnosis and differential diagnosis. However, there was no improvement in diagnostic accuracy when comparing a group of three to a group of six. Interactive and nominal groups were equivalent; however, this may be an artefact of the method used to combine data.

Conclusions

Group diagnosis improves diagnostic accuracy. However, a larger group is not necessarily superior to a smaller group. In this study, interactive group discussion does not result in improved diagnostic accuracy.
Effects of early respacing on physico-mechanical properties of naturally regenerated Picea sitchensis in Great Britain
Authors: Price Andrew , McLean J. Paul , Stokes Victoria , Cameron Andrew D.
Published: March 2024

Natural regeneration can reduce costs compared with replanting. However, its use requires knowledge about how either active or passive management will affect the balance between quality and quantity in the timber supply. This study aimed to quantify the effects of respacing on volume recovery and wood properties. Two British forest experiments using Picea sitchensis with various respacing distances and an un-respaced control were assessed 21–22 years after the treatments were applied. Tree dimensions were measured and used to quantify slenderness, merchantable volume, and sawlog volume. Wood properties were assessed on a sub-sample using mechanical testing. Generalised linear mixed models were used to examine differences between treatments and sites. Respacing decreased slenderness and increased relative sawlog volume and branch size. Wider respacing reduced wood strength and the widest respacing reduced wood stiffness. Respacing did not affect wood density. However, at the relatively low productivity sites considered here, respacing to 2.1 m represented the best compromise for current markets. In summary, not respacing improved some wood properties but reduced tree stability and the proportion and volume of sawlogs, which will negatively affect forest value.
Black hole in discrete gravity
Authors: Chamseddine Ali H. , Malaeb Ola , Najem Sara
Published: March 2024

We study the metric corresponding to a three-dimensional coset space SO(4)/SO(3) in the lattice setting. With the use of three integers $$n_1, n_2$$

n
1

,

n
2

, and $$n_3$$

n
3

, and a length scale, $$l_{\mu }$$

l
μ

, the continuous metric is transformed into a discrete space. The numerical outcomes are compared with the continuous ones. The singularity of the black hole is explored and different domains are studied.
Human mobility prediction with causal and spatial-constrained multi-task network
Authors: Huang Zongyuan , Xu Shengyuan , Wang Menghan , Wu Hansi , Xu Yanyan , Jin Yaohui
Published: March 2024

Modeling human mobility helps to understand how people are accessing resources and physically contacting with each other in cities, and thus contributes to various applications such as urban planning, epidemic control, and location-based advertisement. Next location prediction is one decisive task in individual human mobility modeling and is usually viewed as sequence modeling, solved with Markov or RNN-based methods. However, the existing models paid little attention to the logic of individual travel decisions and the reproducibility of the collective behavior of population. To this end, we propose a Causal and Spatial-constrained Long and Short-term Learner (CSLSL) for next location prediction. CSLSL utilizes a causal structure based on multi-task learning to explicitly model the “when→what→where”, a.k.a. “time→activity→location” decision logic. We next propose a spatial-constrained loss function as an auxiliary task, to ensure the consistency between the predicted and actual spatial distribution of travelers’ destinations. Moreover, CSLSL adopts modules named Long and Short-term Capturer (LSC) to learn the transition regularities across different time spans. Extensive experiments on three real-world datasets show promising performance improvements of CSLSL over baselines and confirm the effectiveness of introducing the causality and consistency constraints. The implementation is available at https://github.com/urbanmobility/CSLSL.
Precise certification of a qubit space
Authors: Białecki Tomasz , Rybotycki Tomasz , Batle Josep , Tworzydło Jakub , Bednorz Adam
Published: March 2024

We demonstrate an implementation of the precise test of dimension on the qubit, using the public IBM quantum computer, using the determinant dimension witness. The accuracy is below 10−3 comparing to maximal possible value of the witness in higher dimension. The test involving minimal independent sets of preparation and measurement operations (gates) is applied both for specific configurations and parametric ones. The test is robust against nonidealities such as incoherent leakage and erroneous gate execution. Two of the IBM devices failed the test by more than 5 standard deviations, which has no simple explanation.
Material and Antibacterial Properties of Spinel-Structure Ca-Doped ZnCo2O4 Thin Films
Authors: Hwang Kao-Pin , Lin Hung-Chih , Kaneko Satoru , Su Yu-Zhan , Yu Ruei-Sung
Published: March 2024

In the preparation of Zn(Co1−xCax)2O4 thin films with doping content ratio Cax = 0.00–0.20, analysis shows that no impurity phase is formed in spinel-structure thin films, while doping calcium reduces the grain size of the thin films and the planarization of the surface microstructure. Increasing the doping content ratio of calcium will reduce the ability of the film to absorb blue and ultraviolet light, and reduce the characteristic absorption of ZnCo2O4. The energy gap of Zn(Co1−xCax)2O4 film increases from 2.46 eV at Cax = 0.00 to 2.51 eV at Cax = 0.15. Moreover, doping Ca+2 to replace Co+3 increases the conductivity and carrier concentration, for which the optimal doping ratio is Cax = 0.07. The film resistivity decreases from 270.5 Ω-cm (undoped) to 15.4 Ω-cm (Cax = 0.07) and the carrier concentration increases from 2.54 × 1015 (undoped) to 6.25 × 1017 cm−3 (Cax = 0.07). Under ultraviolet light irradiation and in an environment without any light source, the film exhibits anti–E. coli resistance as high as 99.94% and 99.99%. Thus, P-type Zn(Co1−xCax)2O4 films can be used for antibacterial and electronic components.
Biphasic regulation of miR-17∼92 transcription during hypoxia: roles of HIF1 and p53 hyperphosphorylation at ser15
Authors: Sun Miranda R. , Gonzalez Susana , Huang Jason B. , Zhou Qiyuan , Cherukuri Arjun , Adavadkar Rohan , Yan Hong-Li , Sun Shu-Han , Zhou Guofei , Raj J. Usha , Chen Tianji
Published: March 2024

We showed that the biphasic transcriptional regulation of miR-17∼92 during hypoxia is controlled by two distinct mechanisms: during short-term hypoxia exposure, induction of HIF1 and E2F1 upregulates miR-17∼92. Longer hypoxia exposure induces hyperphosphorylation of p53 at ser15, which leads to its binding to miR-17∼92 promoter and inhibition of its expression. Our findings provide novel insights into the spatiotemporal regulation of miR-17∼92 that may play a role in the development of human lung diseases including pulmonary hypertension (PH).
Rings in Which Every Element Is a Sum of a Nilpotent and Three 7-Potents
Authors: Wang Yanyuan , Yang Xinsong
Published: March 2024

In this article, we define and discuss strongly S3,7 nil-clean rings: every element in a ring is the sum of a nilpotent and three 7-potents that commute with each other. We use the properties of nilpotent and 7-potent to conduct in-depth research and a large number of calculations and obtain a nilpotent formula for the constant a. Furthermore, we prove that a ring R is a strongly S3,7 nil-clean ring if and only if R=R1⊕R2⊕R3⊕R4⊕R5⊕R6, where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are strongly S3,7 nil-clean rings with 2∈NilR1, 3∈NilR2, 5∈NilR3, 7∈NilR4, 13∈NilR5, and 19∈NilR6. The equivalent conditions of strongly S3,7 nil-clean rings in some cases are discussed.
Gut Microbiota: Potential Therapeutic Target for Sickle Cell Disease Pain and Complications
Authors: Agbalalah Tarimoboere , Bur Doofan , Nwonu Ezinne JaneFrances , Rowaiye Adekunle Babajide
Published: March 2024

Aim. Sickle cell disease has witnessed a 41.4% surge from 2000 to 2021, significantly affecting morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in children from regions with elevated under-5 mortality rates. Gut microbiota dysbiosis is increasingly recognised in SCD, exacerbating complications, particularly chronic pain, marked by significant alterations of proinflammatory bacteria abundance. This review explores the therapeutic potential of Akkermansia muciniphila and Roseburia spp. in alleviating SCD-related complications, emphasising their roles in maintaining gut barrier integrity, reducing inflammation, and modulating immune responses. Method. A literature search up to November 2023 using PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases explored SCD pathophysiology, gut microbiota composition, Akkermansia muciniphila and Roseburia spp. abundance, pain and gut dysbiosis in SCD, and butyrate therapy. Result. A. muciniphila and Roseburia spp. supplementation shows promise in alleviating chronic pain by addressing gut dysbiosis, offering new avenues for sustainable SCD management. This approach holds the potential for reducing reliance on reactive treatments and improving overall quality of life. This research underscores the pivotal role of the gut microbiome in SCD, advocating for personalised treatment approaches. Conclusion. Further exploration and clinical trials are needed to harness the full potential of these gut bacteria for individuals affected by this challenging condition.
Efficacy and Predictive Factors of Oral Spironolactone Treatment in Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy
Authors: Gao Sheng , Zhang Yun , Zhang Meixia
Published: March 2024

Purpose. To evaluate the efficacy of spironolactone in the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and identify imaging characteristics that can predict the benefit of spironolactone treatment. Methods. Patients with chronic CSC were treated with spironolactone (20 mg/tid) and followed for 6 months. The primary outcome measure was complete resolution of the subretinal fluid (SRF), and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the SRF area, the central macular thickness (CMT), the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and the density of the choriocapillaris vessel and adverse events were secondary outcome measures. Patients who presented complete resolution of SRF were included in the responder group and the other patients who had moderate or no resolution were included in the nonresponder group. Imaging characteristic comparisons between the responder and nonresponder groups were performed with regression analyses to identify factors that are predictive of a good response to treatment. Results. Forty-two eyes of 42 patients with a mean age of 46.06 ± 6.66 years were included. A total of 57.1% of the patients achieved a complete resolution of SRF. The mean SRF area, CMT, and SFCT decreased significantly (all P<0.05) throughout the follow-up period and BCVA improved slightly (P>0.05). The vascular density of the choriocapillaris of the fellow eyes did not vary significantly during treatment. Logistic regression analysis revealed that SFCT (P=0.002) and the intact ellipsoid zone (P=0.001) were correlated with disease resolution. A relatively higher baseline SFCT was a predictive factor associated with a good response to treatment according to multivariate analysis. Conclusions. This study suggested that oral spironolactone could be an effective and safe therapy for chronic CSC patients. Eyes with a higher baseline SFCT and intact ellipsoid zone could have a good response. These parameters are an important prognostic marker.
Origins of Second Malignancies in Children and Mutational Footprint of Chemotherapy in Normal Tissues
Authors: Sánchez-Guixé Mònica , Muiños Ferran , Pinheiro-Santin Morena , González-Huici Víctor , Rodriguez-Hernandez Carlos J. , Avgustinova Alexandra , Lavarino Cinzia , González-Pérez Abel , Mora Jaume , López-Bigas Núria
Published: March 2024

Pediatric cancers are rare diseases, and children without known germline predisposing conditions who develop a second malignancy during developmental ages are extremely rare. We present four such clinical cases and, through whole-genome and error-correcting ultra-deep duplex sequencing of tumor and normal samples, we explored the origin of the second malignancy in four children, uncovering different routes of development. The exposure to cytotoxic therapies was linked to the emergence of a secondary acute myeloid leukemia. A common somatic mutation acquired early during embryonic development was the driver of two solid malignancies in another child. In two cases, the two tumors developed from completely independent clones diverging during embryogenesis. Importantly, we demonstrate that platinum-based therapies contributed at least one order of magnitude more mutations per day of exposure than aging to normal tissues in these children.

Significance:

Using whole-genome and error-correcting ultra-deep duplex sequencing, we uncover different origins for second neoplasms in four children. We also uncover the presence of platinum-related mutations across 10 normal tissues of exposed individuals, highlighting the impact that the use of cytotoxic therapies may have on cancer survivors.

See related commentary by Pacyna and Nangalia, p. 900.

This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 897
Supplementary Figure S2 from Activity of the Ubiquitin-activating Enzyme Inhibitor TAK-243 in Adrenocortical Carcinoma Cell Lines, Patient-derived Organoids, and Murine Xenografts
Authors: Arakawa Yasuhiro , Jo Ukhyun , Kumar Suresh , Sun Nai-Yun , Elloumi Fathi , Thomas Anish , Roper Nitin , Varghese Diana Grace , Takebe Naoko , Zhang Xiaohu , Ceribelli Michele , Holland David O. , Beck Erin , Itkin Zina , McKnight Crystal , Wilson Kelli M. , Travers Jameson , Klumpp-Thomas Carleen , Thomas Craig J. , Hoang Chuong D. , Hernandez Jonathan M. , Del Rivero Jaydira , Pommier Yves
Published: March 2024

Additive effect of TAK-243 on drugs commonly used to treat ACC.
Dementia Screening in Rural Kenya: The Prevalence and Impact of Screening Positive for Dementia
Authors: Musyimi Christine W. , Ndetei David M. , Muyela Levi A. , Masila Joe , Farina Nicolas
Published: March 2024

Introduction: In Kenya, there is a lack of data on the number of people with dementia. In this article, we aim to estimate the number of community-dwelling older adults (aged 60 years and above) that are potentially living with dementia in rural Kenya. Methods: Recruitment of older adults occurred through adopting a convenience approach based on the catchment areas served by ten trained community health workers. Screening was conducted using the Brief Community Screening Instrument for Dementia (CSI-D), in which prevalence ratios were reported. Regression analyses were run to understand the association between screening outcome and wellbeing, social isolation, and employment status (adjusted for age, sex, literacy, geography, and social status). Results: Of the 3,546 older adults who were screened for dementia, 652 screened positive (PR = 0.18, 95% CIs: 0.17–0.20). Back estimating screen positives based on established sensitivity and specificity of the tool against a gold standard (clinical diagnosis), yielded a prevalence of 9.4% (0.09, 95% CIs: 0.08–0.11). Screening positive for dementia was associated with poorer quality of life (B = −0.17, p < 0.001) and loneliness (B = 0.28, p < 0.001). Conclusion: There are potentially 258,000 older adults living with dementia in Kenya, who likely have poorer outcomes. We need to encourage a timely diagnosis and develop better ways to support people living with dementia in Kenya and other resource-limited settings.
Severe Hyperglycemia with Teprotumumab for Treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease
Authors: Cottom Savannah , Barrientez Brayden , Melson Andrew
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Thyroid eye disease (TED) is a rare condition involving autoimmune-mediated inflammation of the orbit and periocular structures, which can result in many debilitating symptoms. Teprotumumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, is gaining popularity for the treatment of TED. In fact, owing to its efficacy and side effect profile, some recommend that it be considered as a first-line therapy for patients with TED. While teprotumumab is often chosen due to its efficacy and relatively favorable side effect profile compared to other treatments, there is a known risk of hyperglycemia with this mechanism of action, which is well described through clinical trials in the oncology literature. Though all cases in the clinical trial study of teprotumumab were mild, there is growing evidence that its effect on blood sugar can be more profound. Case Presentation: We present a case of a well-controlled, recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic placed on teprotumumab for treatment of TED who developed life-threatening hyperglycemia. The case report provides evidence of hyperglycemic risk, as it highlights a patient’s significant increase in hemoglobin A1C to 15.4 in addition to elevated serum glucose of 954 mg/dL while receiving teprotumumab. Conclusion: This case of severe hyperglycemia accentuates the need for more diligent, if not universal, glucose monitoring during teprotumumab treatment.
OpenCitations Meta
Authors: Massari Arcangelo , Mariani Fabio , Heibi Ivan , Peroni Silvio , Shotton David
Published: March 2024

OpenCitations Meta is a new database for open bibliographic metadata of scholarly publications involved in the citations indexed by the OpenCitations infrastructure, adhering to Open Science principles and published under a CC0 license to promote maximum reuse. It presently incorporates bibliographic metadata for publications recorded in Crossref, DataCite, and PubMed, making it the largest bibliographic metadata source using Semantic Web technologies. It assigns new globally persistent identifiers (PIDs), known as OpenCitations Meta Identifiers (OMIDs) to all bibliographic resources, enabling it both to disambiguate publications described using different external PIDS (e.g., a DOI in Crossref and a PMID in PubMed) and to handle citations involving publications lacking external PIDs. By hosting bibliographic metadata internally, OpenCitations Meta eliminates its former reliance on API calls to external resources and thus enhances performance in response to user queries. Its automated data curation, following the OpenCitations Data Model, includes deduplication, error correction, metadata enrichment, and full provenance tracking, ensuring transparency and traceability of data and bolstering confidence in data integrity, a feature unparalleled in other bibliographic databases. Its commitment to Semantic Web standards ensures superior interoperability compared to other machine-readable formats, with availability via a SPARQL endpoint, REST APIs, and data dumps.
New combinations and taxonomic notes in Cereinae (Cactoideae, Cactaceae) of Brazil
Authors: KÖHLER MATIAS
Published: March 2024

N/A
The Belgrade Metro as a Space of Unfinished Modernisation and Literary Reflections of Its History
Authors: Kosieradzka Angelika
Published: March 2024

The concept of a Belgrade metro has been present in Serbian urban planning since the interwar period. Despite numerous projects, long discussions, and even the creation of a small part of the necessary infrastructure, the underground rapid transport system remains a solution that has never been implemented. The subject of this article is the metro viewed as a project permanently suspended at the conceptual stage, constantly in a transitional phase, a project whose constitutive feature is “being in progress”. As a result of the endless temporariness of alternative transport solutions, in Serbian culture the metro functions as a symbol of the incompleteness and dysfunctionality of local reality. This phenomenon is confirmed by Filip Vujošević’s drama Halflife, analysed in the article. It is set in the space of the underground station Vukov Monument (Vukov spomenik), designed as a main point of the future metro, but still serving today as a temporary solution and a substitute.
Public Demonstrations in Bulgaria and the Faces of Bulgarian Activism Today: A Case Study of the 2022 Lukov March and a Counter-Demonstration Organised by Feminist Mobilisations
Authors: Kierwiak Zuzanna Nina , Markiewicz Eliza
Published: March 2024

This article is a case study of the 2022 Lukov March and a counter-demonstration to this march. The Lukov March is an annual event organised in Sofia by the far-right Bulgarian National Union, and the so-called Anti-Lukov March is a counter-demonstration organised by, among others, the group called Feminist Mobilisations. The article is based on two years of research conducted while working on a co-authored master’s thesis, involving netnography, participant observation and narrative interviews with women who identify with feminist or far-right activism. The study aims to analyse both events and both groups in the context of performative activist actions in the urban space of Sofia, with a particular focus on the issue of the performative body and performance in social space. In our work, we use the method of critical discourse analysis and anthropological methods.
The Young Bunch: Youth Minimum Wages and Labor Market Outcomes
Authors: van Bezooijen Emiel , van den Berge Wiljan , Salomons Anna
Published: March 2024

The authors estimate the effects of an increase in the youth minimum wage in the Netherlands on low-paid workers’ employment and earnings, using a difference-in-differences approach with detailed administrative data. Findings show that the increase does not have a negative effect on the number of jobs or hours worked, hence raising overall earnings for affected workers. Further, the minimum wage increase has substantial spillover effects, accounting for close to 70% of the average wage increase experienced by workers. While employment grows in fixed-term and temporary help agency contracts, the authors do not find evidence of declines in employment in other types of work arrangements, nor of labor-labor substitution. Labor market outcomes evolve most favorably for full-time incumbent workers who are not enrolled in education and are thus less likely to be transient occupants of minimum wage jobs.
Bereavement During and Not During the Pandemic in Terms of Complicated Grief and Social Support
Authors: Akmese Ibrahim , Foreman Tamarine , Brooks Gordon
Published: March 2024

Mandated measures to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus (e.g., social distancing and travel restrictions) led to isolation and reshaped the dying process as well as grief rituals for loved ones of deceased individuals due to COVID-19 and other causes of death. The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference between those who lost a loved one during and not during the global pandemic in terms of complicated grief and perceived social support. A cross-sectional quantitative approach was employed, surveying 580 individuals, all of whom had experienced the loss of a loved one. Our findings suggest that bereavement during the COVID-19 era uniquely intensified the Complicated Grief experience. However, the perceived social support did not vary based on the timing of the bereavement. The strengths, limitations, and future research directions are further explored.
Conceptualising aesthetic power in the digitally-mediated city
Authors: Degen Monica , Rose Gillian
Published: March 2024

Aesthetics, generally understood as an intensified emphasis on the sensorial look and feel of urban environments, has become an important perspective through which urban scholarship is examining the economic, social, political and cultural processes of urban regeneration projects across the globe. Much of this aestheticising work is now mediated by many kinds of digital technologies. The entanglement of digital technologies with the sensorial feel of urban redevelopments manifests in many different ways in different urban locations; it is deeply reshaping the embodied experiencing of urban life; and it enacts specific power relations. It is the focus of this paper. Drawing on the work of Lefebvre and Jansson, this article develops the notion of ‘textured’ space in order to offer an analytic vocabulary that can describe distinctive configurations of urban experience at the intersection of specific urban environments, bodily sensations, and digital devices. Analysing embodied sensory politics is important because various aspects of bodily sensoria are central to human experiences of, and relations between, both self and other. Hence bodies are enrolled differentially into different expressions of these new urban aesthetics: while some are seduced, others are made invisible or repelled, or are ambivalently entangled in digitally mediated aesthetic atmospheres. The article offers some examples of the power relations inherent in the textured aesthetics of three of the most significant, and interrelated, processes of contemporary, digitally mediated urban change: efforts to be seen as a ‘world-class city’ and to facilitate gentrification and tourism.
Realizing Participation Rights of Minority Youth in Conflicted Societies: The Case of Councils Integrating Jewish and Palestinian-Arab Youth in Israel
Authors: Nir Tal , Perry-Hazan Lotem
Published: March 2024

This study explored the intersection of participation rights, politics, and culture in youth councils operating in a polarized socio-political climate. It drew on the case of youth councils integrating Jewish and Palestinian-Arab youth in Israel. Based on interviews with youth council members, adult leaders, and Ministry of Education officials, the findings portray the interrelated political, lingual, and cultural barriers hindering the participation of Palestinian-Arab youth. These barriers were embedded in top-down activities, practices, and structures, unintendedly importing unequal power relations into the councils. We argue that realizing participation rights in youth councils operating in diverse and conflicted societies requires adapting the councils to their participants, their locality, and the circumstances. These adaptations should acknowledge that youth participation is a multidimensional concept whose implementation is contextual, rely on a willingness to relinquish the common one-size-fits-all model of youth councils and aim to create participation spaces that challenge inequalities and social friction.
Do Ethnic Minority Audit Partners Face Discrimination? Evidence From the Australian Audit Market
Authors: Cameran Mara , Campa Domenico , Gabbioneta Claudia , Pettinicchio Angela
Published: March 2024

The professional literature has provided evidence of discrimination against ethnic minority professionals in a number of research contexts, including law, architecture, construction, and health care. However, research on ethnicity-based discrimination in the accounting profession has been sparser and has generally relied on ethnic minorities’ perceptions of discrimination rather than actual discrimination. In this study, we complement and extend this research by investigating whether ethnic minority audit partners are associated with lower audit fees than nonethnic minority audit partners. We also consider whether the association between ethnicity and audit fees depends on the status of the audit firm in which audit partners work. We find that ethnic minority audit partners are associated with lower audit fees and that this holds true only when they work in lower-status audit firms. Supplementary analyses carried out on our data suggest that discrimination is more likely to be performed by audit clients than by audit firms as we do not find evidence that audit firms systematically and selectively allocate ethnic minority audit partners to clients with specific characteristics (e.g., potentially less lucrative clients). Our study contributes to the literature on ethnicity-based discrimination in the accounting profession, to the literature on professional stereotypes, and to the audit pricing literature.

JEL Classification: C33, J71, M42.
The Minimum Viable Product (MVP): Theory and Practice
Authors: Stevenson Regan , Burnell Devin , Fisher Greg
Published: March 2024

Building and deploying a minimum viable product (MVP) is often considered a necessary step in the venture development process. Although MVPs are ubiquitous in practice, foundational scholarly work on MVPs is virtually nonexistent. We leverage and build upon the lean start-up literature and the scientific approach to entrepreneurship to develop theory related to the dimensionality, forms, risks, and trade-offs of MVPs. We first define and identify the conceptual boundaries of MVPs and explain the relationship between MVP dimensionality and MVP development decisions. We then specify how MVP risks emerge and how these risks relate to the trade-off decisions that entrepreneurs must grapple with when building and deploying MVPs. We conclude by presenting future research opportunities on this important but previously overlooked phenomenological artifact.
The role of mothers’ child-based self-worth in their parenting practices
Authors: Kyeong Yena , Cheung Cecilia
Published: March 2024

This study examined mothers’ tendency to base their self-esteem on their children’s accomplishments (i.e., child-based worth) and its potential implications for their parenting practices. Child-based worth was assessed in three domains of development: virtue, academic competence, and physical appearance. Participants were 302 mothers (age range: 21–69) of early to middle adolescents (age range: 10–17; 59% girls) in the United States. Mothers completed a survey about their child-based self-worth and use of autonomy-supportive and controlling practices. Results showed that mothers of adolescents tended to base their self-worth on children’s academic competence to a greater extent, compared to virtue and physical appearance. Child-based worth in virtue and physical appearance were associated with heightened psychological control, after adjusting for covariates. In addition, mothers who based their self-worth on their children’s physical appearance tended to show dampened autonomy support. Findings suggest that the implications of mothers’ child-based worth for their parenting practices may vary depending on the domain of children’s development.
Early Post-Transplant Adaptation Experience in Young and Middle-Aged People With Kidney Transplant in China: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Hu Na , Yang Zhen , Wang Aiping
Published: March 2024

Background:

Successful adaptation to post-transplantation life in patients who have undergone kidney transplants is crucial. The psychosocial needs of people with kidney transplants are closely related to the health of the transplanted kidney. If transplant recipients cannot adapt to the effects of the transplant, their physical and mental health will be seriously impaired.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to explore the early post-transplant adaptation experience of young and middle-aged persons with kidney transplants in China based on the Roy adaptation model.

Methods:

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Fifteen young and middle-aged persons with kidney transplant were recruited from a tertiary hospital in China between September 2022 and March 2023 through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.

Results:

This study identified 4 themes: (1) “two-sided” changes in physiological functioning, (2) “dawn and darkness” (conflicting perceived emotions about the future), (3) role functioning adaptation conflict and impairment, and (4) social isolation and the challenges of coping.

Conclusions:

This study found that early post-transplant adaptation in young and middle-aged people with kidney transplant included both positive and negative experiences, and these findings can provide new insights into research related to successful post-operative adaptation.