bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing marine resilience in temperate coastal systems requires the implementation of multiple management strategies
Authors: Sanabria-Fernandez Jose A. , Lazzari Natali
Published: January 2024

Resilience is a critical property in the current Anthropocene era responsible for keeping temperate coastal systems healthy and preventing their collapse. The cumulative effect of unsustainable practices, however, leads to pollution, physical impacts, or overfishing, which threaten the resilience of these coastal systems. This situation, coupled with a lack of studies on resilience in temperate coastal systems, hampers management toward building more resilient systems. To contribute to this knowledge gap, we assessed the resilience of temperate coastal systems in five marine ecoregions, taking into account three dimensions: biological, environmental, and anthropogenic. Our study identified sixteen top resilient areas to be conserved and thirteen bottom resilient areas with the potential for improved management of anthropogenic factors. In a simulated management scenario within bottom resilient areas, our findings demonstrate that although the management potential of anthropogenic factors varies significantly from 76% for anthropogenic pollution to 27.4% for proximity to the nearest city, the strict management of these factors can enhance resilience by up to 27.97%. Therefore, this research not only contributes to advancing our understanding of resilience in temperate coastal areas but also provides valuable insights into the strategic management of temperate coastal systems, offering a promising pathway towards their sustainability.
ArborSim: Articulated, branching, OpenSim routing for constructing models of multi-jointed appendages with complex muscle-tendon architecture
Authors: Fu Xun , Withers Jack , Miyamae Juri A. , Moore Talia Y.
Published: January 2024

Computational models of musculoskeletal systems are essential tools for understanding how muscles, tendons, bones, and actuation signals generate motion. In particular, the OpenSim family of models has facilitated a wide range of studies on diverse human motions, clinical studies of gait, and even non-human locomotion. However, biological structures with many joints, such as fingers, necks, tails, and spines, have been a longstanding challenge to the OpenSim modeling community, especially because these structures comprise numerous bones and are frequently actuated by extrinsic muscles that span multiple joints—often more than three—and act through a complex network of branching tendons. Existing model building software, typically optimized for limb structures, makes it difficult to build OpenSim models that accurately reflect these intricacies. Here, we introduceArborSim, customized software that efficiently creates musculoskeletal models of highly jointed structures and can build branched muscle-tendon architectures. We usedArborSimto construct toy models of articulated structures to determine which morphological features make a structure most sensitive to branching. By comparing the joint kinematics of models constructed with branched and parallel muscle-tendon units, we found that the number of tendon branches and the number of joints between branches are most sensitive to branching modeling method—notably, the differences between these models showed no predictable pattern with increased complexity. As the proportion of muscle increased, the kinematic differences between branched and parallel models units also increased. Our findings suggest that stress and strain interactions between distal tendon branches and proximal tendon and muscle greatly affect the overall kinematics of a musculoskeletal system. By incorporating complex muscle-tendon branching into OpenSim models usingArborSim, we can gain deeper insight into the interactions between the axial and appendicular skeleton, model the evolution and function of diverse animal tails, and understand the mechanics of more complex motions and tasks.
Examining the relationships between psychological distress and financial hardship and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent cost-of-living crisis in the United Kingdom
Authors: Wels Jacques , Hamarat Natasia
Published: January 2024

Background

The study tests whether financial hardship and uncertainty have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and the early stage of the subsequent cost-of-living crisis and whether these might explain increased psychological distress among the UK population.

Methods

We derive two cohorts from Understanding Society, a study representative of the UK population. Cohort 1 (C1) starts in 2016 and includes a 3-year follow-up until 2019. Cohort 2 (C2) starts in 2019 and ends in 2022. We provide descriptive statistics on financial hardship and uncertainty and apply parallel Latent Growth Modelling (LGM) on each cohort to explain variations in psychological distress (GHQ-36) based on baseline and follow-up financial trajectories. The sample is adjusted using cross-sectional weights and inverse probability weights for attrition.

Results

Financial hardship rates do not differ across cohorts but a marginal increase of 10 percent in financial uncertainty is observed in 2022 for C2. No significant difference in associations is observed across cohorts in the LGM with constant financial hardship increasing the GHQ-36 slope by 0.89 (95%CI=0.76;1.02) and 0.89 (95%CI=0.73;1.05) units in C1 and C2 and constant financial uncertainty increasing it respectively by 0.95 (95%CI=0.74;1.17) and 1.04 (95%CI=0.82;1.25). Baseline hardship and uncertainty increase the intercept by 2.39 (95%CI=2.11;2.67) and 1.74 (195%CI=1.38;2.10) in C1 and 2.97 (95%CI=2.65;3.29) and 2.12 (95%CI=1.75;2.49) in C2.

Discussion

The uncertainty caused by the 2022 cost-of-living crisis might have contributed to increase psychological distress within the UK population. Stronger detrimental effects might be expected if financial hardship were to increase.
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Head and Neck Cancer in Patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus receiving SGLT2I, DPP4I or GLP1a: A population-based cohort study
Authors: Li Lifang , Chou Oscar Hou In , Mak Kar Kei , Yang Yifan , Chung Cheuk To , Li Guoliang , Chan Catherine , Wong Wing Tak , Liu Tong , Cheung Bernard Man Yung , Tse Gary , Zhou Jiandong
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains endemic in Asian regions, which risk factors were distinct from other head and neck (H&N) cancers. Anti-diabetic drugs has been proposed to reduce the risk of NPC. The associations between sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2I) versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4I) and the risks of NPC and H&N cancer amongst type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients remains unknown.

Method

This was a retrospective population-based cohort study including T2DM patients treated with either SGLT2I or DPP4I between 1stJanuary 2015 and 31stDecember 2019 in Hong Kong. The primary outcome was new-onset NPC and other H&N cancer. The secondary outcome was cancer-related mortality. Propensity score matching (1:1 ratio) was performed using the nearest neighbour search. Multivariable Cox regression was applied to identify significant predictors.

Results

This cohort included 75,884 patients with T2DM, amongst whom 28,778 patients were on SGLT2I and 47,106 patients were on DPP4I. After matching (57556 patients), 106 patients developed NPC (0.18%), and 50 patients developed H&N cancer (0.08%). Compared to DPP4I, SGLT2I was associated with significantly lower risks of NPC (Hazard ratio [HR]: 0.41; 95% Confidence interval [CI]: 0.21-0.81) but not H&N cancer (HR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.26-3.92) after adjustments. The result remained significant regardless of demographics and obesity. The association remained consistent in different risk models, matching approaches, and the sensitivity analysis.

Conclusion

This study provides real-world evidence that SGLT2I was associated with lower risks of NPC, but not H&N cancer compared to DPP4I after adjustments amongst T2DM patients.
IL6 mediated cFLIP downregulation increases the migratory and invasive potential of triple negative breast cancer cell
Authors: Sinha Samraj , Roy Rajdeep , Barman Nilesh , Sarkar Purandar , Saha Abhik , Biswas Nabendu
Published: January 2024

c-FLIP (cellular FLICE-Like Inhibitor of Apoptotic protein) which belongs to the negative regulators of the death receptor pathway, control apoptosis in a number of cancers. literatures suggest that its overexpression facilitate cancer progression and also helps in the drug resistance. However, there is a very few data available to show how it control metastasis. Moreover, how cFLIP is regulated during the progression of cancer into advanced stage and its mechanism of action on tumor cell migration and invasion is yet to be known. Our TCGA data analysis has shown that cFLIP is downregulated in many cancers, including breast cancer, especially at the later stages. when, we analysed and compared early-stage breast carcinoma cell line MCF7 (luminal) and advanced stage triple negative cell line MDAMB-231, which is highly metastatic, we found a negative correlation between cFLIP expression and metastasis. Our results indicated that Il6, one of the most prominent cytokines inside tumor microenvironment, activated p38 and the later helped in cFLIP downregulation in MDA-MB-231 cell line. Moreover, we have found that cFLIP negatively regulated autophagy and this autophagy downregulation resulted in decrease in metastasis. Thus, we have shown, for the first time, a complete interconnecting pathway in which IL6 mediated p38 activation directly influences metastasis by regulating autophagy via cFLIP downregulation.
Methyl substitutedβ–lactam framework based antibiotics andβ-lactamase inhibitors: Proof of concept by computations
Authors: Thakkur Vaishali , Das Chandan Kumar , Verma Shivani , Saha Suman , Nair Nisanth N.
Published: January 2024

Increasing the life-time of the acyl-enzyme complex formed between an inhibitor or drug molecule and theβ-lactamase through chemical modifications of existing drug molecules is an important strategy towards developing inhibitors. In this direction, our group proposed a methyl-substitutedβ-lactam framework for the design of inhibitors forβ-lactamases (J. Phys. Chem. B.2018, 122, 4299). This unconventional design was guided by the transition state structure of the deacylation reaction of the acyl-enzyme complex. Here, we present a proof of principle study of this concept through detailed molecular simulations and free energy calculations. In particular, we improve the antimicrobial activity of the first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic, cephalothin, through C6-methylation. The proposed molecule, (6R,7R)-3-(acetyloxymethyl)-6-methyl-8-oxo-7-[(2-thiophen-2-ylacetyl)amino]-5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylate) slows down the deacylation of the acyl-enzyme complex 109-fold with no apparent effect on its binding to class-Cβ-lactamase and formation of the acyl-enzyme intermediate. The design strategy presented in this work can be further extended to allβ–lactam antibiotics, like monobactams, carbapenems, cephalosporins, and penicillins.
A novel human pluripotent stem cell-based gene activation system identifies IGFBP2 as a mediator in the production of hematopoietic progenitors in vitro
Authors: Petazzi Paolo , Ventura Telma , Luongo Francesca Paola , McClafferty Heather , May Alisha , Taylor Helen Alice , Shipston Micheal J , Romanò Nicola , Forrester Lesley M. , Menéndez Pablo , Fidanza Antonella
Published: January 2024

A major challenge in the stem cell biology field is the ability to produce fully functional cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that are a valuable resource for cell therapy, drug screening and disease modelling. Here we developed a novel inducible CRISPR-mediated activation strategy (iCRISPRa) to drive the expression of multiple endogenous transcription factors important forin vitrocell fate and differentiation of iPSCs to haematopoietic progenitor cells. This work has identified a key role for IGFBP2 in the development of hematopoietic progenitors. We first identified nine candidate transcription factors that we predicted to be involved in blood cell emergence during development, then generated tagged gRNAs directed to the transcriptional start site of these transcription factors that could also be detected during scRNAseq. iCRISPRa activation of these endogenous transcription factors resulted in a significant expansion of arterial-fated endothelial cells expressing high levels of IGFBP2 and our analysis indicated that IGFBP2 is involved in the remodeling of metabolic activity duringin vitroendothelial to hematopoietic transition. As well as providing fundamental new insights into the mechanisms of haematopoietic cell fate and differentiation, the broader applicability of iCRISPRa provides a valuable tool for studying dynamic processes controlling developmental events and for recapitulating abnormal phenotypes characterised by ectopic activation of specific endogenous gene expression in a wide range of systems.
Transposon-mediated genic rearrangements underlie variation in small RNA pathways
Authors: Zhang Gaotian , Félix Marie-Anne , Andersen Erik C.
Published: January 2024

Transposable elements (TEs) are parasitic DNA sequences that insert into the host genome and can cause alterations in host gene structure and expression. Host organisms cope with the often detrimental consequences caused by recent transposition and develop mechanisms that repress TE activities. In the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans, a small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway dependent on the helicase ERI-6/7 primarily silences long terminal repeat retrotransposons and recent genes of likely viral origin. By studying gene expression variation among wildC. elegansstrains, we discovered that structural variants and transposon remnants at theeri-6/7locus alter its expression incisand underlie atrans-acting expression quantitative trait locus affecting non-conserved genes and pseudogenes. Multiple insertions of thePolintonDNA transposon (also known asMavericks) reshuffled theeri-6/7locus in different configurations, separating theeri-6anderi-7exons and causing the inversion oferi-6as seen in the reference N2 genome. In the inverted configuration, gene function was previously shown to be repaired by unusualtrans-splicing mediated by direct repeats flanking the inversion. We show that these direct repeats originated from terminal inverted repeats specific toC. elegans Polintons. Thistrans-splicing event occurs infrequently compared tocis-splicing to novel downstream exons, thus affecting the production of ERI-6/7. DiversePolinton-induced structural variations display regulatory effects within the locus and on targets of ERI-6/7-dependent siRNA pathways. Our findings highlight the role of host-transposon interactions in driving rapid host genome diversification among natural populations and shed light on evolutionary novelty in genes and splicing mechanisms.
Allyship in the university setting: supporting women's success
Authors: Silver Elisabeth R. , Bilotta Isabel , Stewart Dillon , Argueta-Rivera Jazmin , Spitzmueller Christiane , Brown Hayley , King Eden , Hebl Mikki
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The lack of progress toward equity in the U.S. is evident across many spheres of society, academia notwithstanding. Women academicians, in particular, face many barriers that prevent them from advancing–including a continued unsupportive climate, competing work and family demands, and interpersonal discrimination. This paper reflects on a collaborative research effort in the United States to enhance allyship for women in academia.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors partnered with a major university to hold ally training for department chairs during a university-wide department chair meeting. The authors developed a methodology for creating and implementing training content using a focus-group-based training needs analysis and a diversity science grounded approach to allyship training. The authors followed this up with surveys to assess impact.

Findings

Participants indicated that they learned from the training, but participation in follow-up data collection was limited, hampering the ability to conduct rigorous quantitative analyses around intervention impact.

Research limitations/implications

Although the sample size may have been too limited to detect effects, the current study provides an approach that furthers the way in which researchers and practitioners can better assess the impact of allyship to women academicians.

Practical implications

Published research on allies is very limited. The current research examines allies in the context of helping women in academia.

Originality/value

Despite widespread recognition of the importance of first-line supervisors in support of diversity, limited intervention designs are available. The authors add to the extant literature on diversity interventions, while highlighting barriers to rigorous intervention evaluation.
Creating a positive behavior intention using an online learning platform technology: the mediating role of perceived online learning enjoyment
Authors: Azman Ong Mohd Hanafi , Ibrahim Nur Syafikah
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Since there is lack of studies in determine factors that affecting enjoyment sentiment when using online learning system, this study aims to explore the antecedents of perceived online learning enjoyment by using extended technology acceptance model (TAM) and its effect on behavioral intentions (BIN) among higher education institutions students.

Design/methodology/approach

The research framework was empirically evaluated using a cross-sectional research design and the data was collected from 715 undergraduate students from public higher education institutions in Malaysia using an online survey method. A structural equation modeling using partial least square method was used to examine the hypothesized model.

Findings

The results of partial least squares structural equation modeling indicated that the main predictive variables of TAM along with the extended variables were significantly influence the perceived online learning enjoyment. Meanwhile, the analysis also identified that perceived online learning enjoyment can significantly generate positive BIN for using online learning platforms as well as it also plays as a significant mediator role.

Practical implications

This study has significant implications for higher education institutions that wish to develop online learning environment for their students by providing answers to higher education institutions on how to successfully use the learning management system to assist students' learning performance from the aspect of online learning enjoyment sentiment.

Originality/value

This study is remarkable because it is the first attempt to explore the effect of these five predictors on students' learning enjoyment toward online learning platforms and subsequently on BIN to use this learning platforms, especially in the context of Malaysian higher education system. It is also unique in the way to extend the use of TAM predictive variables with others variables to produce more informative results about the study. Hence, this study also has a new contribution in the literature in the domain of digital learning.
Effects and optimization of bionic texture parameters on the tribological behavior of line contacts under starved lubrication conditions
Authors: Zhang Longchang , Chen Qi , Yin Yanguo , Song Hui , Tang Jun
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Gears are prone to instantaneous failure when operating under extreme conditions, affecting the machinery’s service life. With numerous types of gear meshing and complex operating conditions, this study focuses on the gear–rack mechanism. This study aims to analyze the effects and optimization of biomimetic texture parameters on the line contact tribological behavior of gear–rack mechanisms under starvation lubrication conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Inspired by the microstructure of shark skin surface, a diamond-shaped biomimetic texture was designed to improve the tribological performance of gear–rack mechanism under starved lubrication conditions. The line contact meshing process of gear–rack mechanisms under lubrication-deficient conditions was simulated by using a block-on-ring test. Using the response surface method, this paper analyzed the effects of bionic texture parameters (width, depth and spacing) on the tribological performance (friction coefficient and wear amount) of tested samples under line contact and starved lubrication conditions.

Findings

The experimental results show an optimal proportional relationship between the texture parameters, which made the tribological performance of the tested samples the best. The texture parameters were optimized by using the main objective function method, and the preferred combination of parameters was a width of 69 µm, depth of 24 µm and spacing of 1,162 µm.

Originality/value

The research results have practical guiding significance for designing line contact motion pairs surface texture and provide a theoretical basis for optimizing line contact motion pairs tribological performance under extreme working conditions.
Supplier selection among manufacturing companies based on their MSME partners’ supply chain finance adoption capability using BWM and VIKOR
Authors: Alora Aswin , Gupta Himanshu
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritise supply chain finance (SCF) adoption enablers and develop a novel comprehensive framework to select supplier firms based on their SCF adoption capability.

Design/methodology/approach

The study deploys a three-phase method to identify and prioritise SCF adoption enablers, followed by developing a model to select suppliers according to their SCF adoption capability. An extensive literature review, followed by a Delphi approach-based expert interview, has been used to finalise the enablers. Using the Best Worst Method and the VIsekriterijumsko KOmpromisno Rangiranje technique, a supplier selection model has been developed in the context of a case company.

Findings

The financial health and technological advancement variables received the top priority, followed by collaborative efficiency, whereas the human resources and organisational variables received the slightest significance. A supplier selection framework has also been developed by using the adoption capability of these factors by the supplier partners. In this study’s model, Supplier 4 exhibited better SCF adoption capability and received the top priority.

Research limitations/implications

Manufacturing supply chains in a developing country are the scope of the current study. Extensive future studies are required to derive a global consensus.

Practical implications

The proposed framework of this study can be used to select supplier firms based on their SCF adoption capability. Policymakers can emphasise the most critical enablers of SCF adoption to assist small supplier firms to be a part of the advanced global supply chains.

Originality/value

The current study established a novel comprehensive framework for supplier selection based on the Supply Chain Finance adoption capability of MSME supplier firms.
Identifying key elements for evaluating organizations' complex adaptive leadership readiness (CAL-R framework): paving the way for a measurement tool development
Authors: Gavalas Antonis
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Traditional management models are no longer viable in this complex era, with fast-pacing markets and various emergent properties affecting organizational success. The present study acknowledges the need for developing a coherent framework that leaders may use to evaluate their organizational adaptive ability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses theoretical analysis.

Findings

This paper proposes the CAL-R framework, which identifies key characteristics of complex adaptive systems (CAS). These actionable elements, manifested in respective behaviors, will increase organizational adaptability. Adaptability is then suggested to be the mediating factor between complex adaptive leadership practice and organizational performance.

Research limitations/implications

The suggested actionable elements are developed based on a theoretical, non-measurable approach; however, the need for statistical rigorousness is also acknowledged. Further research and a quantitative approach are also suggested for the development of a sound measurement scale.

Practical implications

Applying effective complex adaptive leadership will potentially provide organizations with a competitive advantage by making them more innovative, able to transform and adapt to environmental needs and changes and eventually meet their goals and reach their vision. Leaders may use the identified actionable elements as benchmarks against which they can evaluate their organizations' complex adaptive leadership readiness (CAL-R).

Originality/value

The CAL-R framework may be used by leaders in order to evaluate their organization’s current adaptive maturity level (ability) and identify the elements they need to focus on more and develop in order to become more adaptive and competitive.
Strain identity of Bordetella pertussis isolates from household members based on whole‐genome sequencing
Authors: Kamachi Kazunari , Koide Kentaro , Otsuka Nao , Goto Masataka , Kenri Tsuyoshi
Published: January 2024

We evaluated the genetic diversity of Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of pertussis, within households by whole‐genome sequencing. In pairwise comparisons of 23 isolates collected from 11 households, single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis revealed extremely low SNP diversity (≤1 SNP) between isolate pairs: no SNPs were detected in 10 households and one SNP was obtained in the remaining household. This SNP was uncommon for B. pertussis and resulted in a nonsynonymous substitution (Ala303Thr) in nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase. We demonstrated that the same strain is transmitted between household members and that B. pertussis is genomically stable during household transmission.
Structural Aspects of Synchronistic Moments in Psychotherapy—Findings of an Empirical Study of Synchronicities in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis1
Authors: Reefschläger Gunnar Immo
Published: January 2024

Synchronicity describes a meaningful coincidence of events, which is familiar to us from treatments of our patients, but unfortunately has not yet been empirically substantiated. Adding to previous findings that point out beneficial aspects of synchronicity (Marlo, 2022; Lagutina, 2021; Connolly, 2015), in this paper I will show through a series of five synchronistic moments which happened in the context of therapy and analysis and which have been documented empirically, how synchronicities occur and can be used therapeutically. In my research I found several situational factors that can be considered structural aspects of synchronistic moments. Furthermore, I will show that synchronistic phenomena can have a positive influence if certain relational and transference‐countertransference referential aspects are considered by the therapist and analyst. The concept of synchronicity brings the possibility of a further therapeutical instrument for the patient‐analyst‐dyad.
‘I had to Educate Myself’: A thematic analysis of online stillbirth stories to improve obstetric care
Authors: Geusens Femke , Bogaerts Annick , Skalkidou Alkistis
Published: January 2024

Objective

To examine which met and unmet needs are discussed in stillbirth stories shared on YouTube with the aim to improve obstetric care.

Design

Inductive thematic analysis of 19 English‐language stillbirth stories uploaded to YouTube.

Setting

Online setting, YouTube video content.

Sample

Women who experienced stillbirth and shared a video on YouTube talking about their experience.

Methods

We conducted a thorough textual reading of the transcripts following Braun and Clarke's guidelines for thematic analysis.

Main outcome measures

Codes were developed and grouped into themes.

Results

Although some women actively used their birth videos to call out shortcomings in their care, most others used their platform for other purposes such as destigmatisation, awareness and support, and rather unintentionally provided insight into their met and unmet needs. When analysing their birth stories, three major themes emerged: choice and decision‐making, education and information, and behaviour of healthcare providers.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the value of birth stories in research. We identified three major opportunities for improvement of obstetric care: being provided with options and being able to make choices in the decision‐making process are clearly valued, but there are some caveats: women and other childbearing individuals need timely and continuous information, and more attention is needed for emotional intelligence training of healthcare providers.
The choice
Authors: Weissman Charles
Published: January 2024

Linked article: This is a mini commentary on Sein et al, pp. 961‐968 in this issue. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471‐0528.17732.
Inclusion classes in Greek education: Political and social articulations. An interpretive phenomenological analysis
Authors: Panagiotis Giavrimis
Published: January 2024

Inclusion classes (IC) are one of Greece's most crucial educational inclusion policies. This paper explores the institution of inclusion classes as a supportive educational framework for students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) for their inclusion in the mainstream education system through teachers' conceptualisations. In this research, interpretive phenomenological analysis was used. Nine teachers of inclusive education in primary schools were involved in the study. The results showed that teachers had approached inclusion classes as closed structures with specific clinical criteria for selecting students with SEND and facing institutional barriers. At the same time, participants stressed through their discourse that the attitudes of school community members depend on the characteristics of students with SEND, which sometimes leads to their stigmatisation and categorisation and raises issues of educational and social exclusion. An implication of existing policies is the necessity to incorporate fully inclusive education principles and establish a learning framework of functional emancipatory pedagogical practices.
Neck‐restraint bans, law enforcement officer unions, and police killings
Authors: Beck Brenden , Antonelli Joseph , LaScala‐Gruenewald Angela
Published: January 2024

Research Summary

Following high‐profile police killings, many U.S. cities banned officers from using chokeholds and other neck restraints. The evidence for such bans, however, is limited. To test whether use‐of‐force policies prohibiting neck restraints are related to fewer police killings, we use three modeling approaches to analyze 2183 U.S. cities between 2009 and 2021. Police killings were lower in places that adopted neck‐restraint bans and the bans were associated with less crime and fewer assaults on officers, net of controls. Because officer labor unions can affect use‐of‐force policies and the frequency of police killings, we also analyzed them, finding unionization increased the likelihood a city had a neck‐restraint ban and had a null or negative association with police killings.

Policy Implications

Adopting a neck‐restraint ban is likely an effective way to reduce deaths due to police use of force with minimal collateral consequences. The bans operate through a diffuse discouragement of many types of lethal force or as a part of an array of use‐of‐force policies. Their direct relationship to asphyxiation deaths remains unclear. Officer unionization is unlikely to change the frequency of police killings, except through its association with stricter use‐of‐force policies.
Impact of prolonged storage on quality assessment properties and constituents of honey: A systematic review
Authors: Manickavasagam Ganapaty , Saaid Mardiana , Lim Vuanghao
Published: January 2024

This systematic review paper aims to discuss the trend in quality assessment properties and constituents of honey at different storage conditions and confer the possible whys and wherefores associated with the significant changes. Initially, a literature search was conducted through Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Scopus databases. In total, 43 manuscripts published between 2001 and 2023 that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were chosen for the review. As an outcome of this review, prolonged honey storage could deteriorate sensory, nutritional, and antioxidant properties and promote fermentation, granulation, microbial growth, carcinogenicity, organotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity. This systematic review also recognized that diastase activity, invertase activity, 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural content, proline content, sugar content, amino acids, and vitamins could be used as indicators to distinguish fresh and stored honey based on the significant test (p‐value) in the reported studies. However, all the reported studies used the simplest approach (one‐way ANOVA) to identify the significant differences in the analyzed parameter during the storage period and none of them reported an approach to identify the most influential parameter at different storage conditions. In conclusion, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (supervised multivariate statistical tool) has to be employed in future studies to find the most influential parameter and could be used to potent chemical markers to distinguish fresh and stored honey because this analysis is incorporated with S‐plot, variable importance of projection, and one‐way ANOVA, which can produce the most accurate and precise results rather solely depending on one‐way ANOVA.
Incidence and risk factors of peri‐operative stroke in major non‐cardiovascular, non‐neurologic surgery—A retrospective register‐based cohort study
Authors: Falck‐Jones Ryan , Bell Max , Hallqvist Linn
Published: January 2024

Background

Peri‐operative stroke is a rare but serious surgical complication. Both overt and covert stroke, occurring in approximately 0.1% and 7% of cases, respectively, are associated with significant long‐term effects and increased morbidity.

Methods

Retrospective register data for patients >18 years old, presenting for major non‐cardiovascular, non‐neurosurgical and non‐ambulatory surgical procedures at 23 hospitals in Sweden between 2007 and 2014 was collected and linked with various quality registers. The primary outcome was stroke within 30 days from surgery. Using multivariable logistic regression, significant independent risk factors influencing the primary outcome were identified and their adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. Mortality was assessed, along with the composite score of days alive and at home within 30 days after surgery (DAH 30).

Results

In total, 318,017 patients were included, with 687 (0.22%) suffering a stroke within 30 days of surgery. The strongest significant risk factors included: increasing ASA‐class (OR [95% confidence interval, CI]: 2.23 [1.53–3.36], 3.91 [2.68–5.93] and 7.82 [5.03–12.5] for ASA 2, 3 and 4, respectively) and age (OR [95% CI]: 4.47 [2.21–10.3], 9.9 [5.15–22.1], 16.3 [8.48–36.5] and 21 [10.6–48.1], for age 45–59, 60–74, 75–89 and >90, respectively), along with non‐elective procedures, male gender and a history of cerebrovascular disease (OR [95%]: 2.72 [2.25–3.27]). Mortality was increased and DAH 30 was reduced in patients suffering a stroke.

Conclusions

Increasing ASA‐class and age was clearly associated with an increased risk of peri‐operative stroke, which in turn was associated with increased mortality and poorer outcome. Detailed pre‐operative risk stratification and individualised peri‐operative management could potentially improve patient‐centred outcomes and, in turn, have positive implications for public health.
Underestimating the underdog: Camera trap observations of full‐contact combat between quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) and black rats (Rattus rattus)
Authors: Gagnon Marthe Monique , Bateman Philip W.
Published: January 2024

Urban environments offer a variety of habitats to Australian wildlife by providing shelter and food which is otherwise restricted in remnant small bushlands scattered throughout suburbs. The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) is a native Western Australian small marsupial that has adapted successfully to life in urban gardens where it competes for food with the black rat (Rattus rattus), omnipresent in urban developments. We report here, for the first time, camera trap evidence of black rats actively attacking quendas in an urban backyard. These observations have implications for the preservation of quenda populations in urban gardens and remnant bushlands, supporting the need for black rat management as black rats could compromise the success of re‐introductions or jeopardize the survival of small quenda populations in urban remnant bushlands.
Estimating perennial crop supply response: A methodology literature review
Authors: Siegle Jonathon , Astill Gregory , Plakias Zoë , Tregeagle Daniel
Published: January 2024

Perennial crops are important both economically and as a component of a healthy and nutritious diet (e.g., many fruits and nuts). However, the study of perennial crop production and farmer response to output price changes (i.e., supply response) is complex thanks to the dynamic nature of investment and decision making in these industries. The body of literature relevant to perennial crop supply response is also small relative to that of annual commodity crops. In this article, we contribute the first literature review on perennial crop supply response modeling in more than 30 years. We catalog advancements in estimating perennial crop supply response and discuss the application of these methods and trade‐offs economists should be aware of when using them. In addition, we highlight future modeling developments that may be valuable to the field, with the hope this research will encourage additional economic research on this interesting and important topic and in turn provide new insights for perennial crop producers and policymakers.
Diagnostic efficacy of combining diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging with serum Mucin 1, Mucin 13, and Mucin 16 in distinguishing borderline from malignant epithelial ovarian tumors
Authors: Wen Xiao‐Ting , Qiu Hai‐Feng , Ying Ling‐Ling , Huang Min , Xiao Yun‐Zhou , Fan Chen‐Chen
Published: January 2024

Aims

To enhance ovarian tumor diagnosis beyond conventional methods, this study explored combining diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI‐MRI) and serum biomarkers (Mucin 1 [MUC1], MUC13, and MUC16) for distinguishing borderline from malignant epithelial ovarian tumors.

Methods

A total of 126 patients, including 71 diagnosed with borderline (BEOTs) and 55 with malignant epithelial ovarian tumors (MEOTs), underwent preoperative DWI‐MRI. Region of interest (ROI) was manually drawn along the solid component's boundary of the largest tumor, focusing on areas with potentially the lowest apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). For entirely cystic tumors, a free‐form ROI enclosed the maximum number of septa while targeting the lowest ADC. Serum biomarkers were determined using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Basic morphological traits proved inadequate for malignancy diagnosis, warranting this investigation. BEOTs had an ADC mean of (1.670 ± 0.250) × 103 mm2/s, while MEOTs had a lower ADC mean of (1.332 ± 0.481) × 103 mm2/s, with a sensitivity of 63.6% and specificity of 90.1%. Median MUC1 (167.0 U/mL vs. 87.3 U/mL), MUC13 (12.44 ng/mL vs. 7.77 ng/mL), and MUC16 (180.6 U/mL vs. 36.1 U/mL) levels were higher in MEOTs patients. The biomarker performance was: MUC1, sensitivity 50.9%, specificity 100%; MUC13, sensitivity 56.4%, specificity 78.9%; MUC16, sensitivity 83.64%, specificity 100%. Combining serum biomarkers and ADC mean resulted in a sensitivity of 96.4% and specificity of 100%.

Conclusion

The integration of DWI‐MRI with serum biomarkers (MUC1, MUC13, and MUC16) achieves exceptional diagnostic accuracy, offering a powerful tool for the precise differentiation between borderline and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors.
Response to COVID‐19 vaccination in patients on cancer therapy: Analysis in a SARS‐CoV‐2‐naïve population
Authors: Cavic George , Almonte Andrew A. , Hicks Sarah M. , Neeman Teresa , Wang Jo‐Wai , Brew Sue , Choi Philip Y. , Cockburn Ian , Gardiner Elizabeth E. , Yip Desmond , Fahrer Aude M. , Kanjanapan Yada
Published: January 2024

Background

Cancer patients have increased morbidity and mortality from COVID‐19, but may respond poorly to vaccination. The Evaluation of COVID‐19 Vaccination Efficacy and Rare Events in Solid Tumors (EVEREST) study, comparing seropositivity between cancer patients and healthy controls in a low SARS‐CoV‐2 community‐transmission setting, allows determination of vaccine response with minimal interference from infection.

Methods

Solid tumor patients from The Canberra Hospital, Canberra, Australia, and healthy controls who received COVID‐19 vaccination between March 2021 and January 2022 were included. Blood samples were collected at baseline, pre‐second vaccine dose and at 1, 3 (primary endpoint), and 6 months post‐second dose. SARS‐CoV‐2 anti‐spike‐RBD (S‐RBD) and anti‐nucleocapsid IgG antibodies were measured.

Results

Ninety‐six solid tumor patients and 20 healthy controls were enrolled, with median age 62 years, and 60% were female. Participants received either AZD1222 (65%) or BNT162b2 (35%) COVID‐19 vaccines. Seropositivity 3 months post vaccination was 87% (76/87) in patients and 100% (20/20) in controls (p = .12). Seropositivity was observed in 84% of patients on chemotherapy, 80% on immunotherapy, and 96% on targeted therapy (differences not satistically significant). Seropositivity in cancer patients increased from 40% (6/15) after first dose, to 95% (35/37) 1 month after second dose, then dropped to 87% (76/87) 3 months after second dose.

Conclusion

Most patients and all controls became seropositive after two vaccine doses. Antibody concentrations and seropositivity showed a decrease between 1 and 3 months post vaccination, highlighting need for booster vaccinations. SARS‐CoV‐2 infection amplifies S‐RBD antibody responses; however, cannot be adequately identified using nucleocapsid serology. This underlines the value of our COVID‐naïve population in studying vaccine immunogenicity.
Sexual and reproductive health services in New Zealand primary care settings: A mixed‐methods survey
Authors: McGinn Orna , Wise Michelle
Published: January 2024

Background

New Zealand's recently released Women's Health Strategy aims to provide accessible, equitable care which prioritises prevention, early intervention and areas of unmet need. An example of such care is the management of common sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues by appropriately trained primary care practitioners in the community.

Aims

The aim was to identify primary care SRH program initiatives currently operating in New Zealand, how they are accessed and funded, whether they have been co‐designed using mātauranga (knowledge) Māori principles and whether any have undergone formal evaluation.

Methods

A mixed‐methods electronic anonymous survey of primary care practitioners and secondary care obstetrics and gynaecology clinical directors was distributed in April 2023. Qualitative analysis of free text answers was undertaken.

Results

Few funded SRH services are available in community settings in New Zealand. Access and eligibility criteria to those which exist varies by region. A lack of co‐design and governance was reported, along with difficulties in access to skills training and specialist advice.

Conclusions

The current SRH landscape in New Zealand appears fragmented and lacks an overarching strategic focus. To achieve the aims of the Women's Health Strategy, a suite of core community‐based SRH programs should be developed and formally evaluated, focusing on equitable access, integration and specific outcomes. These should be co‐designed using mātaurangi Māori principles.
Cardiac arrest in obstetric patients receiving anaesthetic care: results from the 7th National Audit Project of the Royal College of Anaesthetists
Authors: Lucas D. N. , Kursumovic E. , Cook T. M. , Kane A. D. , Armstrong R. A. , Plaat F. , Soar J.
Published: January 2024

The 7th National Audit Project (NAP7) of the Royal College of Anaesthetists studied peri‐operative cardiac arrest. Additional inclusion criteria for obstetric anaesthesia were: cardiac arrest associated with neuraxial block performed by an anaesthetist outside the operating theatre (labour epidural analgesia); and cardiac arrest associated with remifentanil patient‐controlled analgesia. There were 28 cases of cardiac arrest in obstetric patients, representing 3% of all cardiac arrests reported to NAP7, giving an incidence of 7.9 per 100,000 (95%CI 5.4–11.4 per 100,000). Obstetric patients were approximately four times less likely to have a cardiac arrest during anaesthesia care than patients having non‐obstetric surgery. The single leading cause of peri‐operative cardiac arrest in obstetric patients was haemorrhage, with underestimated severity and inadequate early resuscitation being contributory factors. When taken together, anaesthetic causes, high neuraxial block and bradyarrhythmia associated with spinal anaesthesia were the leading causes overall. Two patients had a cardiac arrest related to labour neuraxial analgesia. There were no cardiac arrests related to failed airway management or remifentanil patient‐controlled analgesia.
Anaesthetic efficacy and postinduction hypotension with remimazolam compared with propofol: a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Fechner J. , El‐Boghdadly K. , Spahn D. R. , Motsch J. , Struys M. M. R. F. , Duranteau O. , Ganter M. T. , Richter T. , Hollmann M. W. , Rossaint R. , Bercker S. , Rex S. , Drexler B. , Schippers F. , Morley A. , Ihmsen H. , Kochs E. ,   the Surgery Under Remimazolam ‐ Total IntraVenous Anaesthesia (SURE‐TIVA) Trial Group
Published: January 2024

Remimazolam, a short‐acting benzodiazepine, may be used for induction and maintenance of total intravenous anaesthesia, but its role in the management of patients with multiple comorbidities remains unclear. In this phase 3 randomised controlled trial, we compared the anaesthetic efficacy and the incidence of postinduction hypotension during total intravenous anaesthesia with remimazolam vs. propofol. A total of 365 patients (ASA physical status 3 or 4) scheduled for elective surgery were assigned randomly to receive total intravenous anaesthesia with remimazolam (n = 270) or propofol (n = 95). Primary outcome was anaesthetic effect, quantified as the percentage of time with Narcotrend® Index values ≤ 60, during surgery (skin incision to last skin suture), with a non‐inferiority margin of ‐10%. Secondary outcome was the incidence of postinduction hypotensive events. Mean (SD) percentage of time with Narcotrend Index values ≤ 60 during surgery across all patients receiving remimazolam (93% (20.7)) was non‐inferior to propofol (99% (4.2)), mean difference (97.5%CI) ‐6.28% (‐8.89–infinite); p = 0.003. Mean (SD) number of postinduction hypotension events was 62 (38.1) and 71 (41.1) for patients allocated to the remimazolam and propofol groups, respectively; p = 0.015. Noradrenaline administration events (requirement for a bolus and/or infusion) were also lower in patients allocated to remimazolam compared with propofol (14 (13.5) vs. 20 (14.6), respectively; p < 0.001). In conclusion, in patients who were ASA physical status 3 or 4, the anaesthetic effect of remimazolam was non‐inferior to propofol.