bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Induced B-Cell Receptor Diversity Predicts PD-1 Blockade Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Che Yonglu , Lee Jinwoo , Abou-Taleb Farah , Rieger Kerri E. , Satpathy Ansuman T. , Chang Anne Lynn S. , Chang Howard Y.
Published: December 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1 antibodies (aPD1) can be effective in treating advanced cancers. However, many patients do not respond and the mechanisms underlying these differences remain incompletely understood. In this study, we profile a cohort of patients with locally-advanced or metastatic basal cell carcinoma undergoing aPD-1 therapy using single-cell RNA sequencing, high-definition spatial transcriptomics in tumors and draining lymph nodes, and spatial immunoreceptor profiling, with long-term clinical follow-up. We find that successful responses to PD-1 inhibition are characterized by an induction of B-cell receptor (BCR) clonal diversity after treatment initiation. These induced BCR clones spatially co-localize with T-cell clones, facilitate their activation, and traffic alongside them between tumor and draining lymph nodes to enhance tumor clearance. Furthermore, we validated aPD1-induced BCR diversity as a predictor of clinical response in a larger cohort of glioblastoma, melanoma, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients, suggesting that this is a generalizable predictor of treatment response across many types of cancers. We discover that pre-treatment tumors harbor a characteristic gene expression signature that portends a higher probability of inducing BCR clonal diversity after aPD-1 therapy, and we develop a machine learning model that predicts PD-1-induced BCR clonal diversity from baseline tumor RNA sequencing. These findings underscore a dynamic role of B cell diversity during immunotherapy, highlighting its importance as a prognostic marker and a potential target for intervention in non-responders.
Secretory trafficking maintains the organelle band for spindle separation during Arabidopsis meiosis
Authors: Piskorz Ewa Weronika , Ma Yingrui , Yi Jun , Cuacos Maria , Kradolfer David , Köhler Claudia , Jiang Hua
Published: December 2024

Ploidy reduction is a critical aspect of meiosis, essential for the successful development of haploid germline cells. Notably, cellular processes during male meiosis vary between the major groups of flowering plants, with eudicots exhibiting simultaneous cytokinesis without an interkinesis phase, unlike monocots. Recent studies on the Arabidopsisjason(jas) mutant revealed that an organelle band plays a key role in spindle separation during simultaneous cytokinesis, though the mechanism is not fully understood. Here we identify a noveljassuppressor mutant,peleus(pele), which restores haploid pollen production in thejasbackground. PELE encodes a vacuole-localized protein that contributes to spindle separation by balancing the vacuolar pathway and secretory trafficking to the organelle band. JAS, PELE, and the ubiquitin-like protein UBQL coordinate the delivery of proteins and membrane components to the organelle band. Specifically, PELE and UBQL antagonistically fine-tune trafficking to the vacuole, while JAS adjusts the flow of secretory trafficking towards the organelle band. Our findings underscore the critical role of secretory trafficking in maintaining organelle band integrity and in ensuring precise spindle positioning during meiosis II. Our work provides novel insights into the regulation of the organelle band and spindle separation, enhancing our understanding of polyploidy generation in plants.
Piezoelectric microresonators for sensitive spin detection
Authors: Skoryna-Kline Cecile A. , Monroy-Ruz Jorge , Balram Krishna C.
Published: December 2024

Piezoelectric microresonators are indispensable in wireless communications, and underpin radio-frequency filtering in mobile phones. These devices are usually analyzed in the quasi(electro)static regime with the magnetic field effectively ignored. On the other hand, at gigahertz frequencies and especially in piezoelectric devices exploiting strong dimensional confinement of acoustic fields, the surface magnetic fields (B1) can be significant. This B1 field, which oscillates at gigahertz frequencies, but is confined to micrometer-scale wavelengths, provides a natural route to efficiently interface with nanoscale spin systems. We show through scaling arguments that B1∝f2 for tightly focused acoustic fields at a given operation frequency f. We demonstrate the existence of these surface magnetic fields in a proof-of-principle experiment by showing excess power absorption at the focus of a surface acoustic wave (SAW), when a polished yttrium-iron-garnet sphere is positioned in the evanescent field, and the magnon resonance is tuned across the SAW transmission. Finally, we outline the prospects for sensitive spin detection using small-mode-volume piezoelectric microresonators, including the feasibility of electrical detection of single spins at cryogenic temperatures.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Nucleon consumption and mass-energy conversion induced by dark matter
Authors: Ge Shao-Feng , Ma Xiao-Dong
Published: December 2024

We propose the nucleon consumption induced by dark matter (DM) as a new scenario to overcome the energy threshold of direct detection. It can be realized with proton (χ+p→χ+ℓ+) or neutron (χ+n→χ+ν) target. Both effective operators and concrete models are provided to illustrate the idea. Since the initial DM and nucleon velocity is only 10−3 and 1/4 of the speed of light, respectively, the cross section and hence event rate are determined by the involved particle masses and not affected by the nucleon Fermi motion. Of the two realizations, the proton consumption has richer phenomena with both charged lepton and the daughter nuclei deexcitation to allow double or even triple coincidence to significantly suppress the background. We also illustrate the projected sensitivities at DM and neutrino experiments such as PandaX-4T, DUNE, JUNO, and Hyper-K.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Horocycle regulator: Exact cutoff-independence in AdS/CFT
Authors: Agrawal Sristy , DeWolfe Oliver , Higginbotham Kenneth , Levin Joshua
Published: December 2024

While the entanglement entropy of a single subregion in quantum field theory is formally infinite and requires regularization, certain combinations of entropies are perfectly finite in the limit that the regulator is removed, the mutual information being a common example. For generic regulator schemes, such as a holographic calculation with a uniform radial cutoff, these quantities show nontrivial dependence on the regulator at finite values of the cutoff. We investigate a holographic regularization scheme defined in three-dimensional anti-de Sitter space constructed from , curves in two-dimensional hyperbolic space perpendicular to all geodesics approaching a single point on the boundary, that leads to finite information measures that are cutoff independent, even at finite values of the regulator. We describe a broad class of such information measures, and describe how the field theory dual to the horocycle regulator is inherently nonlocal.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Is lattice quantum gravity asymptotically safe? Making contact between causal dynamical triangulations and the functional renormalization group
Authors: Ambjørn J. , Gizbert-Studnicki J. , Görlich A. , Németh D.
Published: December 2024

We compare the effective action of the scale factor obtained from lattice quantum gravity [in the form of causal dynamical triangulations (CDT)] to the corresponding effective action obtained from the simplest functional renormalization group (FRG) calculation. In this way, we can identify the generic infinite four-volume limit of the lattice theory in the so-called de Sitter phase with the Gaussian fixed-point limit or the IR fixed-point limit obtained by FRG. We also show how to identify a putative UV lattice gravity fixed point. Our Monte Carlo simulations of CDT allow for the existence of such a UV fixed point, although the data precision does not yet provide a proof of its existence. The concept of a correlation length relevant for the lattice gravity fixed points is argued to be different from the concept of correlation lengths encountered in field theories in a fixed spacetime background.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Unveiling exogenous gaps enabling a cluster organization’s internationalization process
Authors: Osarenkhoe Aihie , Fjellström Daniella , Komunda Mabel Birungi
Published: December 2024

Purpose

We examined the internationalization process of business promotion organizations. We focused on the key stages and strategies and how the networks formed during this process can support their partners, particularly SMEs, in facilitating international expansion.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical lens: We combined the experiential learning-commitment interplay of the Uppsala model with a similar mechanism focused on business network relationships. A qualitative methodology: We used it to explore the question and the various forms of embeddedness within networks, offering an in-depth examination, particularly in the challenging natural settings of a cluster organization in geographic information systems (GIS).

Findings

We found that the cluster organization’s internationalization began regionally, forging connections with clusters in the Nordic and Baltic countries and Europe. Over time, the cluster recognized the importance of innovation leadership, leading to the integration of its core competencies with complementary technologies from other global geospatial technology hubs.

Research limitations/implications

The study fills research gaps by examining global linkages between regional clusters and international partners, focusing on external gaps. We explored how clusters can leverage global innovation systems and networks for matchmaking, capitalization and investment. Moreover, we addressed the need for more research on cross-cluster gaps and barriers to global market interaction. By providing insights into expanding beyond local interactions, the study enhances understanding of how clusters can increase the global reach and competitiveness of firms within them.

Originality/value

The platform established during the internationalization process was crucial, as SMEs within clusters often lack the resources, time and expertise to enter international markets alone. This platform helps SMEs overcome barriers such as size, resources and unfamiliarity with foreign markets.
Optimization design of dead time in the four-switch buck-boost LLC resonant converter
Authors: Wang Dangshu , Liu Mingyao , Zhang Ruchuan , Yang Jiahao , Wang Jing
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to solve the problem of longer dead-time in the rear bridge leg switches and lower efficiency in the Four-Switch Buck-Boost LLC Resonant Converter.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts time-domain analysis to derive the time-domain expression for optimal dead time, analyzing the conditions for achieving soft switching of the transistors. It further explores the relationship between the dead time of the bridge arm switching transistors and the input/output of the converter under different operating conditions. Specifically, the dead time of the upper bridge arm transistors increases with the converter input voltage and decreases with the output current. In contrast, the dead time of the lower bridge arm transistors is independent of the converter output current and decreases with increasing converter input voltage.

Findings

By simulating and constructing a 500 W experimental prototype, experimental results indicate that designing the dead time of the switch according to the optimal dead time proposed in this paper significantly improves efficiency when the converter operates from heavy load to full load. When the transformer takes minimum input, maximum input and intermediate bus voltage inputs respectively, its peak efficiency is increased by 0.6%, 1.7% and 1.1%, respectively, compared to the traditional four-switch Buck–Boost LLC resonant converter.

Originality/value

Experimental validation confirms the correctness of the optimal dead time design and analyzes the impact of different operating conditions of the converter on the dead time. This is of significant importance for the rational design of switch dead times and the enhancement of converter efficiency.
Librarians and paraprofessionals’ digital literacy competencies and digital programs of public libraries in Western Visayas, Philippines
Authors: Ferro Catleya Santiago , Pacardo Melgie Gabasa , Yap Joseph Marmol , Alayon Stephen Biaco
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the digital literacy (DL) competencies among librarians and paraprofessionals of public libraries in Western Visayas, Philippines. It also investigated the digital programs implemented, the factors enabling or deterring these programs, DL practices and the availed and needed continuing DL skills development.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted the proposed competence areas and competencies for the Digital Literacy Global Framework. A mixed method was used. A total of 10 librarians and 32 paraprofessionals coming from 16 public libraries in the region were surveyed. A follow-up interview was conducted with the five public libraries’ head librarians and library-in-charge.

Findings

Results showed that librarians demonstrated relatively higher levels of DL competencies in all seven areas than paraprofessionals. Librarians and paraprofessionals rated the digital content creation competencies the lowest among the seven areas. Financial constraints, slow internet connection, limited library technology spaces, lack of training and seminars, insufficient digital resources, inadequate librarian and staff and multiple library roles were expressed as limiting factors in implementing digital programs in public libraries. Partnership training is the only DL skills development program availed by the librarians and paraprofessionals. They expressed the need to have library automation and digital content creation workshops.

Originality/value

The study attempts to measure the DL skills of librarians and paraprofessionals of public libraries in Western Visayas, Philippines. Capacity building for librarians and paraprofessionals should focus on the items rated very poor to average.
Rethinking digital entrepreneurship in a digital transformation era: leveraging on brand avatars to boost brand experiences and loyal communities
Authors: Anujan Arjun , Foroudi Pantea , Palazzo Maria
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This paper delves into the transformative role of brand avatars within the digital transformation landscape, focusing on their capacity to enhance brand experiences and foster dedicated communities. Brand avatars that allow consumers to customize their appearance hold the potential to elevate various brand attributes, including trust, commitment, loyalty and overall business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper aims to gain insights into consumers’ perceptions, attitudes and experiences concerning brand avatars and their influence on brand experiences and community engagement, the study employs quantitative data collection methods, particularly surveys involving consumers.

Findings

The findings have yield both theoretical and practical implications. They will benefit digital entrepreneurs and brand managers aiming to harness the potential of personalized brand avatars in the digital innovation realm, thereby, contributing to the existing body of knowledge in the fields of brand and innovation management. This study, like any empirical endeavor, has its limitations. One significant constraint lies in the reliance on self-reported survey data, which may introduce response biases and potential overestimation of positive perceptions due to the novelty of brand avatars.

Practical implications

The research explores how personalized brand avatars, with their visually appealing representations, interactive functionalities and emotional expressions, contribute to enrich the innovation management perspective. Moreover, these avatars play a pivotal role in supporting community development, driving user engagement and facilitating the creation of user-generated content within brand communities.

Originality/value

This exploration illuminates the role played by brand avatars in shaping contemporary brand–consumer interactions and community dynamics in the digital environment.
Addressing the necessity of cybersecurity literacy: the case of ETTCS CyberTeach project
Authors: Xenakis Apostolos , Vlachos Vasileios , Roig Pedro Juan , Alcaraz Salvador
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present actions and initiatives, developed within the scope of the Empowering Teachers to Trigger Cybersecurity at Schools (ETTCS) CyberTeach Erasmus Project, to enhance cybersecurity literacy through innovative digital content and contemporary Learning Management System (LMS) platform.

Design/methodology/approach

The concept of cybersecurity literacy has become increasingly crucial in recent years, as the digitization of most human activities is being completed within the framework of the 4th Industrial Revolution. Almost all devices, vehicles and services in the near future will be interconnected to the internet and operate on advanced computing platforms. The benefits of these technological advancements are evident, as are the potential risks. To this end, organized cybercriminals, black hat hackers and state-sponsored actors may attempt, through various cyberattacks, to steal personal data, cause road accidents in connected autonomous vehicles and, in general, disrupt critical infrastructures. Cybersecurity is a growing concern when it comes to digitalization and cloudification. This way, digital assets must be conveniently protected to avoid any concern about their confidentiality, integrity and authentication. Therefore, the ability of every citizen to use the internet and smart devices wisely and securely is one of the most fundamental skills they should possess. In this work, the authors present actions and initiatives, developed within the scope of the ETTCS CyberTeach Erasmus Project, to enhance cybersecurity literacy through innovative digital content and contemporary LMS platform. A new approach to teach cybersecurity, based on innovative teaching methods, is presented to prepare future citizens and their teachers to keep up with cybersecurity issues in an efficient manner. To this end, the authors propose ways to reach cybersecurity literacy, giving use case examples and proposing the necessary digital skills.

Findings

A new approach to teach cybersecurity, based on innovative teaching methods, is presented to prepare future citizens and their teachers to keep up with cybersecurity issues in an efficient manner. To this end, the authors propose ways to reach cybersecurity literacy, giving use case examples and proposing the necessary digital skills.

Originality/value

This work demonstrates a new methodology to infuse cybersecurity awareness into teachers so that they can train and prepare their students accordingly. The authors identify the teacher as the critical link between a young generation of digital natives, who consider the internet as a utility, and the most experienced information technology security experts striving to enforce good cybersecurity practices among users.
Lesson Study - The Game: designing a game-based professional development opportunity for teachers and teacher candidates
Authors: Kager Klara , Bolli Swantje , Bucher Julian , Kalinowski Eva , Vock Miriam
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This design paper reports on the development of a board game for teachers’ initial introduction to lesson study (LS). Empirical studies suggest that teachers need to have a good understanding of the goals and steps of LS in order to see their participation in LS as worthwhile. This board game is designed to provide an interactive, motivating and informative introduction to LS.

Design/methodology/approach

Following iterative design steps to develop a game prototype, groups of teachers (N = 57) and teacher candidates (N = 49) played the game and completed surveys about their satisfaction with the game as well as the quality and the transferability of the game. The data were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. To address feedback from participants, two experts in game-based learning and LS, respectively, were asked to review the game and provide additional feedback.

Findings

The vast majority of participants rated the game as an appealing format for professional development (PD) and indicated a high level of motivation to participate in LS and collaborate with colleagues after playing the game. The findings highlight that game-based learning opportunities can provide engaging and informative formats for PD, particularly to facilitate collaboration.

Originality/value

To our knowledge, this is one of the first efforts to design and evaluate a game-based introduction to LS and one of the few studies to discuss educational games specifically designed to enhance teachers’ professional knowledge and collaboration.
Pre-service English teachers’ beliefs about implementing digital multimodal composing in a teaching practicum context
Authors: Humairoh Mega Fariziah Nur , Widiati Utami , Rabbianty Eva Nikmatul , Basthomi Yazid
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Digital multimodal composing (DMC) has received considerable attention in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. While empirical studies on DMC have been widely conducted, there is a scarcity of research specifically examining the experience of pre-service English teachers in employing DMC during their teaching practicum. They might be familiar with DMC concepts, yet their beliefs about implementing DMC-mediated language teaching in classroom settings is worth further investigation. To fill this gap, this study aims to investigate the perspectives of three pre-service English teachers on DMC-mediated language teaching during their teaching practicum program.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a case study design and was conducted in a state Islamic university in East Java Province, Indonesia. A semi-structured interview was conducted with three pre-service English teachers to collect data about the beliefs of pre-service English teachers in implementing DMC in their teaching practicum. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis.

Findings

From the analysis, the study unveils three important findings: (1) pre-service teachers' awareness of implementing DMC in English classrooms, (2) pre-service teachers' pedagogical preference for DMC projects and (3) pre-service teachers' perceived challenges in teaching through DMC.

Originality/value

The study suggests that equipping pre-service teachers with adequate pedagogical competence in DMC will enhance their capacity for technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK).
Predicting the spatio‐temporal dynamics of biological invasions: Have rapid responses in Europe limited the spread of the yellow‐legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax)?
Authors: Hassall Richard M. J. , Purse Bethan V. , Barwell Louise , Booy Olaf , Lioy Simone , Rorke Stephanie , Smith Kevin , Scalera Riccardo , Roy Helen E.
Published: December 2024

Invasive alien species can have severe impacts on biodiversity, economies, and well‐being and their long‐term management can involve massive costs. There is an increasing policy imperative to determine whether the management of biological invasions is effective, particularly at biological invasion fronts, but this can often be difficult to determine without extensive data collection. Furthermore, risk assessment frameworks are often used to guide decision‐making and management, but these can be hampered by a lack of information about the extent and dynamics of a biological invasion following an introduction within a new region. Incorporating information on the dynamics of biological invasions into these frameworks could provide useful information for decision‐makers including a baseline for evaluating ongoing management approaches.

Here, we outline a generalisable mechanistic species distribution modelling framework that is informed by patterns of spread observed in other invaded regions and can provide a relatively rapid assessment of the likely spatial and temporal dynamics of a biological invasion in the absence of interventions.

To demonstrate this approach, we consider the effectiveness of rapid eradications carried out in four European countries to prevent the spread of the yellow‐legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) following the implementation of Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on invasive alien species.

Synthesis and applications. By predicting the extent of a biological invasion in the absence of timely interventions and comparing this to the current distribution of the yellow‐legged hornet, we found that management measures implemented in these countries appear to have been effective in limiting the spread of the species in Europe. Additionally, the model framework may be useful to inform the identification of high‐risk areas for surveillance measures to be prioritised in view of rapid detection and early eradication activities.
To Answer or to Refuse? Investigating the Effect of Refusal to Answer Privacy‐Invasive Question on Applicants' Perceived Hireability
Authors: Li Wanlu , Jiang Luyuan , Chen Chen , Yao Yuewei , Qin Xin
Published: December 2024

Job applicants often find themselves stuck in a dilemma when asked about their private information during interviews. In line with the consensus of both the privacy literature and conventional wisdom, applicants tend to answer such questions as they worry about the negative effects of rejection and are motivated to enhance their employment opportunities. In this research, we challenge this belief. Drawing on person–environment fit theory, we argue that for privacy‐sensitive jobs, interviewers tend to perceive applicants as having a higher level of person–job fit if they refuse to answer privacy‐related questions. We test these propositions with three experiments among experienced interviewers from the United States (Study 1) and China (Studies 2 and 3). Across all three studies, we find that when applying for jobs with high privacy concerns, applicants are perceived to match such jobs better if they refuse to answer privacy‐invasive questions. We discuss the implications of these results for privacy in the selection process.
The effect of proportional pricing on alcohol purchasing in two online experiments
Authors: Kersbergen Inge , Copeland Amber , Pryce Robert , Meier Petra , Field Matt
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims

Buying smaller‐sized alcohol products can reduce alcohol consumption, but larger products have better value for money, which presents a barrier to switching. We tested whether proportional pricing prompts drinkers to buy smaller alcohol products and reduce alcohol purchasing.

Design, Setting and Participants

This study was an online experiment set in the United Kingdom, using hypothetical shopping tasks in which participants purchased different‐sized products presented under proportional pricing (i.e. constant price per litre throughout all sizes of the same product) or standard pricing conditions. Study 1 (comprising n = 210 participants) was a mixed experiment with pricing condition (proportional pricing, standard pricing; within‐subjects) and drink type (lager, red wine, vodka; between‐subjects) as manipulated factors. Study 2 (comprising n = 90 participants) was a within‐subjects experiment with pricing condition (proportional pricing, standard pricing) and multi‐pack type (size difference‐only, quantity‐difference only, size and quantity difference) as manipulated factors. Participants were UK adult alcohol consumers.

Measurements

We measured outcome variables, including alcohol purchasing (UK units) and proportion of alcohol purchased from smaller products.

Findings

Proportional pricing consistently increased the proportion of alcohol purchased from smaller products [study 1: B = 10.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.72–12.92; study 2: B = 11.64, 95% CI = 3.50–19.77], indicating a switch to smaller products. However, this did not consistently reduce the total amount of alcohol purchased among drink and product types: proportional pricing reduced the total units purchased from lager multi‐packs containing more rather than fewer products (B = −2.56, 95% CI = −4.82 to −0.30), but not from other types of lager multi‐packs or single lager products. Proportional pricing also reduced vodka purchasing (B = −3.30, 95% CI = −5.21 to −1.40), but the effect of proportional pricing on wine purchasing was moderated by hazardous drinking (B = −0.11, 95% CI = −0.17 to –0.05).

Conclusions

Alcohol sales policies that require proportional pricing may reduce alcohol purchasing.
Shaping Norms: Australia, G.J.L. Coles, and the Evolution of the UN Refugee Agency's Repatriation Culture
Authors: Taylor Savitri , Boyd Jodie
Published: December 2024

The emergence in the 1990s of voluntary repatriation as a significant new norm in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) practice in refugee protection is often represented as something of an inevitability. Numerous scholars have suggested that the growth at UNHCR of a “repatriation culture” throughout the 1980s was principally the result of the increasing pressures of mass influx events alongside the challenges of dwindling resources and states' demands for durable solutions to successive refugee crises. In this article, we argue that these challenges offer only a partial explanation for UNHCR's turn from the cold war “exilic bias” of the international protection regime, towards the post‐cold war prioritisation of repatriation. We suggest that states such as Australia, deeply concerned with the long‐term outcomes of refugee flows in the late 1970s and 1980s, worked in tandem with key individuals who helped to shape the normative landscape of international protection. We identify GJL Coles as one such individual and offer a close analysis of his influence on key statements concerning voluntary repatriation throughout the 1980s. By making visible the entangled contributions of Australia and Coles, we add a hitherto missing strand to the story of how the “repatriation culture” at UNHCR, and the human rights discourse that accompanied it, emerged.
Operator Experience With Robot‐Assisted Laparoscopic Rectal Resection and the Impact of Using an Extra Arm on Surgical Outcomes
Authors: Tominaga Tetsuro , Nonaka Takashi , Takamura Yuma , Oishi Kaido , Shiraishi Toshio , Hashimoto Shintaro , Noda Keisuke , Ono Rika , Hisanaga Makoto , Sawai Terumitsu , Matsumoto Keitaro
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Although robot‐assisted surgery has been rapidly gaining popularity in recent years, few reports have examined the impact of individual robotic arm movements on surgical outcomes. This study investigated the relationship between extra arm (EA) usage and experience of surgeons in robot‐assisted surgery.

Methods

A total of 176 robot‐assisted rectal resections were performed by three surgeons from 2018 to 2022. Each surgeon's first 20 cases categorized in the Early group and the 21st–40th cases in the Late group. Sixty cases in the Early group and 60 cases in the Late group were included to compare patient background, EA motion, and surgical outcomes.

Results

More anastomoses were performed closer to the anus in the Late group (p = 0.001). Console time was significantly shorter in the Late group (196 min vs. 153 min, p = 0.020). EA injuries, improper grasping, and intraoperative problems (intraoperative bleeding, misidentification of layers) were significantly less frequent in the Late group (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

As experience with robot‐assisted surgery increases, appropriate and safe use of an EA was achieved, and operative time and intraoperative problems were reduced.
Case series report: Equine coronavirus in Australia
Authors: Horner S , Agne GF , Byrne DP , Bain ME , Lynch BM , Gow WR , Verdegaal E‐LJMM
Published: December 2024

Background

Equine Coronavirus (ECoV) can cause gastrointestinal disease and was first described in 2000 in the USA followed by several international outbreak case reports. Disease manifestation is characterised by vague clinical signs, including mild pyrexia, lethargy and anorexia. Morbidity ranges greatly from 10% to 83%. Although uncommon, ECoV may result in death secondary to disruption to the gastrointestinal barrier causing endotoxaemia and hyperammonaemic encephalopathy. Unfortunately to date, there is no vaccine available to prevent ECoV.

Case reports

Three faecal quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)‐positive ECoV cases are described that presented with mild to severe colic signs: a 2‐year‐old Miniature Pony gelding from South Australia, an 8‐year‐old Arabian Riding Pony gelding, and a 6‐year‐old Warmblood mare, both from Western Australia. The diagnosis was based on a positive faecal qPCR, which is currently the gold standard diagnostic tool. All horses in this case series survived after medical management. The Miniature Pony presented with anorexia and mild colic signs. On day 5, the pony revealed severe colic signs unresponsive to analgesia along with severe abdominal distension secondary to caecal distension requiring surgical intervention.

Conclusion

To the authors' knowledge, this case series is the first published report of ECoV cases in Australia, and it adds both to the clinical description of the disease in horses and to the differential diagnosis list of colic signs.
The changing ecologies of international students: Comparing internationalisation at a distance and internationalisation abroad
Authors: Huang Daian , Mittelmeier Jenna
Published: December 2024

This research explores and compares the learning ecologies of international students studying through internationalisation at a distance (IaD) and internationalisation abroad (IA) by investigating their experiences of first year of master's study with a UK university. We do so by using our previously proposed Revised Ecological Systems Theory as a conceptual framework, which integrates the physical/virtual and home/host dimensions into Bronfenbrenner's traditional Ecological Systems Theory. Our findings identified the co‐existence and fluid nature of the physical/virtual and home/host ecologies for both IaD and IA students. We argue that learning ecologies and their changes throughout the academic year were not fully distinct for IaD and IA students, but their experiences within them vary between these two groups. Compared with IA students, IaD students stayed in relatively stable physical environments, but they experienced challenges with developing interpersonal connections with peers and had more limited intercultural encounters with the institution's host culture. Our findings suggest the importance of considering the physical/virtual and home/host dimensions of students' learning ecologies, and we provide suggestions for both practice and future research.

Practitioner notes

What is currently known about this topic

Supported by technologies, internationalisation at a distance (IaD) is an emerging category of internationalisation of higher education, broadening students' access to higher education across borders.

Existing research has focused on students' experiences in short‐term online collaborative projects, virtual exchanges and the use of technologies, and evidence shows certain benefits of internationalisation, such as developing intercultural competence, can be achieved online.

Universities are developing and providing more programmes for international students, both online and in‐person.

What this paper adds

A comparison of the perceived learning ecologies of online and in‐person students taking degree programmes at a UK university.

Empirical evidence of the co‐existence of physical/virtual and home/host learning ecologies for both online and in‐person international students.

Addressing the importance and possibility of revising traditional Ecological Systems Theory as a framework to better fit the digital era.

Implications for practice and/or policy

The comparison between online and in‐person students can provide a more holistic understanding of the experiences of international students, identifying the specific factors impacting students' experiences for each group, and further developing a better understanding of internationalisation of higher education as a whole.

Universities should consider what is beyond the virtual world when designing IaD programmes and supporting online students, purposefully integrating more practical, collaborative and cultural‐related elements in the course design.
Intraocular lens power calculation accuracy in patients with keratoconus: Network meta‐analysis and systematic review
Authors: Reitblat Olga , Sella Ruti , Zlatkin Rita , Bahar Irit , Lerman Tsahi T.
Published: December 2024

Background

Accurate intraocular lens (IOL) calculation in eyes with keratoconus (KCN) poses significant challenges. While various formulas, including KCN‐specific ones, have been investigated, the optimal calculation method remains inconclusive.

Methods

The study was pre‐registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023483119). PubMed, Embase and CENTRAL electronic databases were systematically searched for studies comparing IOL power calculation formulas in eyes with KCN. The percentage of eyes with a prediction error (PE) within ±0.50 D and ±1.00 D, the mean PE and the mean absolute error (MAE) were compared using a random effect model in Bayesian network meta‐analysis.

Results

Nine retrospective clinical studies were included, totalling 623 eyes and 25 calculation methods. The Barrett True‐K formula for KCN with measured posterior cornea (BTK MPC) achieved the highest ranking for the percentage of PE within ±0.50 D and ±1.00 D, mean PE, and MAE, with surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) of 95%, 95%, 97% and 95%, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that for the predictability rates within ±0.50 D and ±1.00 D, the best ranking formulas were: Emmetropia Verifying Optical (EVO) (85%) and BTK MPC (78%), respectively, in mild KCN; BTK with predicted posterior cornea (PPC) (85%) and MPC (88%), respectively, in moderate KCN; and Kane KCN for both metrics in severe KCN (84% and 95%, respectively).

Conclusion

The BTK MPC formula ranked highest across various metrics, suggesting its superior accuracy for IOL calculations in KCN. The optimal formulas may differ based on KCN severity, with current evidence suggesting potential advantage of Kane KCN for severe cases.
What counts as “quality” in agrarian taste? Subjectivities, gender, and rice agroecology in northern Bangladesh
Authors: Al Mozahid Abdullah
Published: December 2024

This ethnographic study explores perceptions of the quality or goodness of rice among two agrarian communities in northern Bangladesh. In Bangladeshi rice markets, socio‐cultural perceptions of the appearance and texture of rice are seen to determine the quality and taste of rice. This paper foregrounds the invisible actors—the embodied ways of knowing and practicing of rural agrarian workers—to unravel how they perceive, appreciate, and interpret the quality of rice across gendered and classed body politics. Evidence from the practical and relational aspects of their eating habits suggests that the eater's sensory experience of quality and tastiness is grounded on how the rice grains are grown and processed. Qualification is a continuous process that awakens the eating body's active participation in the experience of cooking, eating, and metabolism. By introducing the idea of agrarian taste, this study presents a new way of understanding how rural agrarian workers preserve the complex and rhizomatic embodied knowledge on the authenticity and adulteration of the qualities of rice and brings new insight into the scholarship of food, nutrition, agriculture, and the environment.
Regional Biomes outperform broader spatial units in capturing biodiversity responses to land‐use change
Authors: Bevan Peggy A. , Ferreira Guilherme Braga , Ingram Daniel J. , Rowcliffe Marcus , Young Lucy , Freeman Robin , Jones Kate E.
Published: December 2024

Biogeographic context, such as biome type, has a critical influence on ecological resilience, as climatic and environmental conditions impact how communities respond to anthropogenic threats. For example, land‐use change causes a greater loss of biodiversity in tropical biomes compared to temperate biomes. Furthermore, the nature of threats impacting ecosystems varies geographically. Therefore, monitoring the state of biodiversity at a high spatial resolution is crucial to capture variation in threat–responses caused by biogeographical context. However such fine‐scale ecological data collection could be prohibitively resource intensive. In this study, we aim to find the spatial scale that could best capture variation in community‐level threat responses whilst keeping data collection requirements feasible. Using a database of biodiversity records with extensive global coverage, we modelled species richness and total abundance (the responses) across land‐use types (reflecting threats), considering three different spatial scales: biomes, biogeographical realms, and regional biomes (the interaction between realm and biome). We then modelled data from three highly sampled biomes to ask how responses to threat differ between regional biomes and taxonomic group. We found strong support for regional biomes in explaining variation in species richness and total abundance compared to biomes or realms alone. Our biome case studies demonstrate that there is variation in magnitude and direction of threat responses across both regional biomes and taxonomic group, although the interpretation is limited by sampling bias in the literature. All groups in tropical forest showed a consistently negative response, whilst many taxon‐regional biome groups showed no clear response to threat in temperate forest and tropical grassland. Our results provide the first empirical evidence that the taxon‐regional biome unit has potential as a reasonable spatial unit for monitoring how ecological communities respond to threats and designing effective conservation interventions to bend the curve on biodiversity loss.
Cortical complexity alterations in motor subtypes of Parkinson's disease: A surface‐based morphometry analysis of fractal dimension
Authors: Dehghan Yousef , Sarbaz Yashar
Published: December 2024

Based on motor symptoms, Parkinson's disease (PD) can be classified into tremor dominant (TD) and postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD) subtypes. Few studies have examined cortical complexity differences in PD motor subtypes. This study aimed to investigate differences in cortical complexity and grey matter volume (GMV) between TD and PIGD. We enrolled 36 TD patients, 27 PIGD patients and 66 healthy controls (HC) from the PPMI (Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative) database. Voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) and surface‐based morphometry (SBM) were utilized to assess differences in GMV, cortical thickness and cortical complexity. The structural MRI data of participants was analysed using CAT12/SPM12 (p < 0.05, FDR corrected). Additionally, correlations between clinical data and structural changes were examined (p < 0.05, Holm‐Bonferroni corrected). In comparison to both HC and TD groups, PIGD patients exhibited a significant fractal dimension (FD) decrease in many cortical regions. A significant negative correlation between age and FD was observed in the left insula for the PIGD patients and in the bilateral insula for the TD patients. However, no significant differences were found in GMV, cortical thickness or other complexity indices. Altered FD in the bilateral insula indicates that postural instability and gait disturbances may result from a failure to integrate information from various structures, whereas parkinsonian rest tremor is not associated with this integration. Also, widespread decreases in cortical FD demonstrate that FD is more sensitive than other complexity measures and can serve as a novel biomarker for identifying subtle changes in cortical morphology in the PIGD subtype.
Variability in the diagnosis and reporting of metaplastic breast carcinoma: results of an international survey
Authors: Yang Ellen , Fineberg Susan , Mohamed Anas , Brogi Edi , Wen Hannah
Published: December 2024

Aims

Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a heterogeneous group of invasive breast carcinoma with squamous, spindle cell, or mesenchymal elements. It may be monophasic or biphasic, and often coexists with invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (IBC‐NST). Currently, there are no standardized guidelines for reporting MBC, and a diagnostic threshold for the metaplastic component is not established by the WHO classification.

Methods and Results

A survey conducted from April–July 2023 gathered responses from 44 pathologists worldwide. Most respondents were academic breast pathologists, and attended weekly breast tumour boards. The criteria for diagnosing MBC were highly varied, with cutoffs ranging from any/<10% to >90% metaplastic component. Although 90% was the most common threshold used, only 25% of respondents applied it. Pathologists generally preferred diagnosing invasive carcinoma with mixed features when the metaplastic component was ≤50% and MBC when the metaplastic component >50%. Most pathologists reported both the type and percentage of metaplastic component. In all, 43% reported core biopsy and resection specimen with different approaches. Diagnostic guidelines reportedly used (if any) were highly varied.

Conclusion

The study underscores the need for standardized guidelines for MBC. Without clear and established diagnostic criteria, current data on MBC remains inconsistent and hinders further research into the clinical significance and prognostic implications of the metaplastic component.
Surgical treatment of pilomatrix carcinoma: a systematic review
Authors: Riva Hannah R. , Sohail Nehaa , Shalabi Mojahed Mohammad K. , Kelley Benjamin , Chisholm Cary , Tolkachjov Stanislav N.
Published: December 2024

Pilomatrix carcinoma (PMC), also known as pilomatrical carcinoma, is a rare, malignant tumor of the hair follicle that may arise from a benign pilomatricoma or de novo and carries a high risk of recurrence and metastasis. This study sought to investigate and compare surgical modalities for PMC, including reported outcomes and recurrence rates. In July 2024, a systematic review of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases on surgical modalities and PMC was conducted. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies were included. The search yielded 257 articles; after the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 50 articles were included: four case series and 46 case reports with a total of 101 cases. There were 17 cases treated with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) with no recurrences. There were 84 cases treated with surgical excision with an overall recurrence rate of 34.5%. The mean follow‐up time was 7.5 months for MMS and 7.6 months for surgical excision. MMS showed excellent outcomes for PMC with no recurrences compared with a recurrence rate of 34.5% for surgical excision (P < 0.0025). No recurrences or metastases were found on follow‐up reported in all 17 cases treated with MMS in the literature, compared with a recurrence rate of 34.5% for the 84 cases of surgical excision. Due to the importance of early surgical intervention and attaining true negative margins to prevent recurrence and metastasis, MMS should be considered for the treatment of PMC, especially where tissue sparing is essential.
Faecal transplantation: the good, the bad and the ugly
Authors: Sin Hiu C. L. , Haifer Craig
Published: December 2024

There continues to be significant interest from both clinicians and patients in using faecal transplantation, as the integral role of the gut microbiome is increasingly recognised in various disease conditions, both within and beyond the gut. This Clinical Perspectives article provides an overview of existing literature, factors limiting the use of faecal microbial transplantation in clinical practice and exciting new advancements on the horizon.