bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delineating histomorphological signatures of iCMS subtypes in colorectal cancer using multiplexed fluorescence-in-situ hybridization.
Authors: Joanito Ignasius , Bo Li , Yeo Grace Hui Ting , Lakshmanan Vairavan , Laurensia Yurike , Tan Iain BeeHaut , Prabhakar Shyam
Published: June 2024

e15603

Background: Our recent single-cell transcriptomic data indicate that colorectal cancer (CRC) can be classified into two major epithelial subtypes: iCMS2 and iCMS31. iCMS3 CRC includes MSI-H and one-third of MSS tumors. The latter are enriched in KRAS, PIK3CA, and BRAF mutations. The iCMS2 subtype often exhibits chromosome instability, including copy number changes in specific chromosome regions. These genomic alterations may be associated with distinct histomorphological features, which can be assessed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Methods: To test this hypothesis, we acquired and analyzed multiplexed Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (mFISH) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining data from 84 samples from 32 patients. For the mFISH data, we targeted 464 genes, encompassing major cell lineage markers and genes differentially expressed between iCMS2 and iCMS3 patient subtypes. Images were acquired over 31 hybridization rounds. Following the acquisition of the mFISH data, the same tissue section was stained with anti-EPCAM, anti-CD45 and anti-Vimentin antibodies to delineate cell boundaries and distinguish between the major cell lineages. Subsequently, all crypts were segmented based on their EPCAM and VIM stains, and parameters such as crypt size (number of pixels), crypt depth (distance to the nearest VIM signal), and fractal dimension were calculated for each crypt. The output of crypt segmentation was then integrated with mFISH RNA data to elucidate cell type proportions and gene expression profiles across and within individual segmented crypts. Results: Here, we found that iCMS2 crypts, in contrast to iCMS3 crypts, are significantly larger, deeper, and have higher fractal dimension. Additionally, our mFISH data demonstrated that iCMS2 tumors contain a higher proportion of undifferentiated (stem-like) cells, while iCMS3 tumors have a higher proportion of goblet (terminally differentiated) cells. The presence of larger and deeper crypts in iCMS2 may suggest a distinct cell state. Indeed, we identified specific genes whose expression was correlated with crypt depth. Conclusions: Our preliminary results suggest that these two iCMS subtypes exhibit distinct histomorphological features, which can be employed as practical and cost-effective companion diagnostics to assist in the pathological discrimination of these subtypes. References: 1Joanito, I., Wirapati, P., Zhao, N. et al. Single-cell and bulk transcriptome sequencing identifies two epithelial tumor cell states and refines the consensus molecular classification of colorectal cancer. Nat Genet 54, 963–975 (2022).
Short course versus long course neoadjuvant radiation for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC): National Cancer Database (NCDB) analysis of the years 2004-2020.
Authors: Sharma Gaurav , Ray Gannon James , Mulekar Madhuri S , Lund Alexander , Huddleston Adam , Aref Amr M. , Abdalla Ahmed
Published: June 2024

e15606

Background: The two preoperative radiation approaches for LARC are long-course chemoradiotherapy (LC-CRT) and short-course radiation (SC-RT). While previous research suggested similar efficacy, the five-year follow-up of the RAPIDO trial revealed a significant increase in local recurrence rates with SC-RT. We aim to assess the outcomes and utilization patterns of both approaches in the United States of America (USA) using data NCDB. Methods: NCDB data for stage 2B, 2C, and 3 rectal cancer patients were obtained. SC-RT was defined as a total of 25 Gy in 5 fractions, and LC-CRT was defined as 45-60 Gy given over 5 to 6 weeks (with chemotherapy). Data was analyzed using JMP Pro V16. Results were considered significant at α = 0.05. Categorical data were compared using Fisher's or Chi-square test. Numerical data were compared using t-test or ANOVA. Post hoc analysis was conducted using Tukey's HSD. Survival rates were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method. Logistic regression was used to study outcomes' dependence on different factors. Firth adjusted maximum likelihood method was used to model likelihood of unstable outcomes due to biased estimates. Results: Out of the total 39,527 patients, 38,365 (97.06%) received LC-CRT, whereas only 1,162 (2.94%) received SC-RT. Only about 5% of patients received total radiation above 50.4 Gy. SC-RT was significantly more common among Hispanic patients (p = 0.0001), those with lower median income ( < $30,000) (p = 0.01), individuals with more comorbidities (p < 0.0001), and those treated at academic facilities (p < 0.0001). In comparison to SC-RT, LC-CRT demonstrated lower 30 and 90-day mortality after surgery, a higher pathological complete response (pCR) rate, and improved overall survival (OS) (Table). Upon subgroup analysis by stage, significant OS improvement with LC-CRT compared to SC-RT for stage 3 (p = 0.02), whereas no difference in OS was found in stage 2B, C. Detailed analysis will be presented. Conclusions: SC-RT is used by less than 3% of US patients and mainly in academic centers. LC-CRT is more effective, improving pCR and OS. Favorable outcomes with LC-CRT may be due to poor baseline performance status in SC-RT group. Prospective trials are needed to validate these findings. [Table: see text]
Mortality and equitability of radiation treatment in locally advanced rectal cancer: A review from a national cohort.
Authors: Zweigle Joshua Walter , Hebishy Ahmed , Valasapalli Srijan , Mohamed Rana , Muzaffar Mahvish , Burke Aidan Michael
Published: June 2024

e15608

Background: The treatment paradigm for locally advanced rectal cancer has evolved significantly over the last two decades regarding the timing (neoadjuvant vs. adjuvant) and even the necessity of radiation (RT) or surgery in the curative approach. While these paradigm shifts were evolving, the overall survival (OS) of patients with and without RT and the inclusion of minority populations in these shifts has not previously been well described. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using the NCI SEER database. Survival was calculated with IBM SPSS software using the Kaplan-Meier method and hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using the Cox-regression model with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Patients treated between 2000 – 2020 were included with the cause of death separating OS from cancer-specific survival (CSS). The 5-year survival after 2015 was unreliable and excluded. Patients were separated by whether they had received RT and by the timing of RT (neoadjuvant vs. adjuvant). Additionally, the patients were separated into ‘Non-Hispanic White’ (NHW) and ‘Other’. They were analyzed using a Chi-squared algorithm for an association between race and origin and receipt of RT. This same analysis was done on patients separated by race identified as ‘Black’ or ‘Not Black.’ These Chi-squared analyses were calculated for patients diagnosed before and after January 1, 2016. Results: Of those diagnosed with stage II or III rectal cancer from 2000-2015 who received chemotherapy and surgical intervention with known survival times, the receipt of RT, specifically neoadjuvant RT, improved OS and CSS. There was no evidence that NHW patients received RT at different rates from others. However, they did receive adjuvant RT at higher rates from 2000-2015 and neoadjuvant RT from 2016-2020. For Black patients, from 2000-2015 there was a trend towards lower rates of RT utilization and from 2016-2020 they were less likely to receive RT. Black race did not have a significant association with the timing of RT. Conclusions: Stage II and III rectal cancer patients diagnosed from 2000-2015 who received chemotherapy, surgery, and RT, specifically, neoadjuvant RT had improved OS and CSS. Black patients were less likely to receive RT and, as the standard of care was changing towards total neoadjuvant RT after 2015, NHW patients were more likely than others to be treated with this regimen. [Table: see text]
Exceptional Response to Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in a Patient With Recurrent Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Expression
Authors: Kong Ben L. , Stommel Jayne M. , Keck Jamie M. , Kilburn David , Streblow Aaron , Egger Julian , Creason Allison L. , Suciu Christopher G. , Guimaraes Alexander R. , Corless Christopher L. , Mills Gordon B. , Pejovic Tanja B.
Published: June 2024

Case report of a HER2-expressed ovarian clear cell carcinoma with exceptional response to trastuzumab deruxtecan.
MEK Inhibition in a Pilocytic Astrocytoma With a Rare KRAS Q61R Mutation in a Young Adult Patient: A Case Report
Authors: Roberto Katrina , Keith Julia , Levine Adrian , Pirouzmand Farhad , Soliman Hany , Lim-Fat Mary Jane
Published: June 2024

This case illustrates the utility and impact of molecular testing and molecular tumor board discussion in the management of AYA patients with brain tumors.
Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation for the Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Case Report
Authors: Yang Ajax , Yousef Tariq A. , Aggarwal Nitish , Chapman Kenneth B.
Published: June 2024

This case report presents the successful use of dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS) in a 30-year-old female patient with Crohn’s disease. Despite extensive treatments, the patient experienced chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, cramping, fatigue, and other debilitating symptoms. After a successful DRGS trial with leads placed on the right T6 and T10, she was implanted with a permanent system. At 18 months she continues to experience significant improvement in symptoms, including reduced abdominal pain, decreased defecation frequency, better stool consistency, less pain with eating and bowel evacuation, and enhanced quality of life.
Presidential Address: A Sense of Place and Belonging in the American Dialect Society
Authors: Remlinger Kathryn A.
Published: June 2024

After the 2023 annual meeting of the American Dialect Society (ADS) in Denver, an ad hoc committee was formed to draft a resolution to amend article 2 of the society’s constitution. The proposed amendment clarifies the ADS’s mission and dispels the notion that the society is preoccupied with the English language. Using her recent work on the relationship among Finnish American identity, place-making, and language use, the author demonstrates how linguistic and methodological diversity are central to ADS, its mission, and its membership. The goal of her presentation at the society’s 2024 annual meeting in New York, presented here, is threefold: (1) to reify the need to update and clarify the society’s mission, (2) to demonstrate how language use and associated social meanings shape both identity and place, and (3) to exemplify that discursive practices function ideologically to define a place and affect belonging, whether that belonging is to an ethnic group, place, or learned society.
Tonality and Racism
Authors: Yust Jason
Published: June 2024

Tonality is one of the most important concepts in music theory, determining how music theorists organize music institutionally (in curricula, conferences, etc.) and conceptually. For François-Joseph Fétis, who first popularized the term in the nineteenth century, it was a central component of his biologically racist, white-supremacist music theory. This essay argues that the term as it is used today perpetuates this racism by associating a mix of musical features and human perceptual capacities with a Eurocentric historical classification, and by maintaining a teleological evolution narrative based on the European classical music tradition. It argues, furthermore, that scholarship can do away with the terms tonality and tonal music and would profit from instead using more specific terminology for musical features like tonics, major and minor keys, scale degrees, consonance, and functional harmony.
Mediation, Stream of Consciousness, and the Faulknerian Voice: As I Lay Dying to The Town
Authors: DiLeonardi Sean
Published: June 2024

In what sense are literary techniques historically contingent? This essay considers how William Faulkner’s mode of stream of consciousness developed from As I Lay Dying (1930) to The Town (1957). It questions how the same formal presentation of stream of consciousness achieves opposed aesthetic effects: across three decades, character difference becomes sameness, individuality turns to collectivity, and as midcentury readers lamented, the distinctiveness of the Faulknerian voice disappears. The first half of this study identifies a shift in Faulkner’s stream-of-consciousness novels from obscuring to displaying signs of technological mediation, while the second half aligns this trend with an editorial process that foregrounded the role of the typewriter. Tracing these ideas to an analogous theory of the unconscious by psychologist William James, who gave currency to the phrase “stream of consciousness,” this essay argues that the Faulknerian voice—and perhaps literary techniques writ large—depends on processes of mediation irreducible to, yet constitutive of, literary form.
The Case for Neurosurgical Intervention in Cancer Neuroscience
Authors: Bernstock Joshua D. , Gerstl Jakob V. E. , Chen Jason A. , Johnston Benjamin R. , Nonnenbroich Leo F. , Spanehl Lennard , Gessler Florian A. , Valdes Pablo A. , Lu Yi , Srinivasan Shriya S. , Smith Timothy R. , Peruzzi Pierpaolo , Rolston John D. , Stone Scellig , Chiocca E. Antonio
Published: June 2024

The emerging field of cancer neuroscience reshapes our understanding of the intricate relationship between the nervous system and cancer biology; this new paradigm is likely to fundamentally change and advance neuro-oncological care. The profound interplay between cancers and the nervous system is reciprocal: Cancer growth can be induced and regulated by the nervous system; conversely, tumors can themselves alter the nervous system. Such crosstalk between cancer cells and the nervous system is evident in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. Recent advances have uncovered numerous direct neuron-cancer interactions at glioma-neuronal synapses, paracrine mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment, and indirect neuroimmune interactions. Neurosurgeons have historically played a central role in neuro-oncological care, and as the field of cancer neuroscience is becoming increasingly established, the role of neurosurgical intervention is becoming clearer. Examples include peripheral denervation procedures, delineation of neuron-glioma networks, development of neuroprostheses, neuromodulatory procedures, and advanced local delivery systems. The present review seeks to highlight key cancer neuroscience mechanisms with neurosurgical implications and outline the future role of neurosurgical intervention in cancer neuroscience.
Conducting Online Fitness Assessments in Exercise Oncology
Authors: Daun Julia T. , Wagoner Chad W. , Dreger Julianna , Williamson Tanya , Danyluk Jessica , Capozzi Lauren C. , Culos-Reed S. Nicole
Published: June 2024

Apply It!

By reading this article, health and fitness professionals will gain knowledge in:

• How to conduct safe online fitness assessments.

• How to tailor online fitness assessment protocols based on population needs.

• Technology considerations for more inclusive and efficient implementation of online fitness assessments.
Ultrastructural changes of hemocapillaries of the lungs in the late development of experimental acute pancreatitis
Authors: Zaiats Liubomyr , Pasichnyk Olga , Zukow Walery
Published: June 2024

Background. Today, acute pancreatitis is a common form of acute abdomen in the clinic, the incidence of which has been increasing in recent years. The aim of the work was to study the dynamics of ultrastructural changes of the hemocapillaries of the alveolar wall of the lungs in the late stages of experimental acute pancreatitis. Material and methods. The experiments were carried out on 54 white Wistar male rats weighing 180–220 g. The animals were divided into three groups: first — intact, second — control, third — experimental with a model of acute pancreatitis, which was reproduced by intraperitoneal administration of a 20% solution of L-arginine at a total dose of 5 g/kg at one-hour interval. The control group of animals was intraperitoneally injected with an equivalent dose of isotonic sodium chloride solution. All research were performed under sodium thiopental anesthesia at the rate of 60 mg/kg body weight. Lung tissue for electron microscopic examination was collected from the lower lobe of the left lung at 3–5 and 7 days. Pieces of lung tissue measuring 1×1×1 mm were fixed in a 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution, followed by additional fixation in a 1% osmium tetroxide solution. After dehydration, the material was poured into Epon-Araldite. Sections with a thickness of 20–50 nm obtained on “Tesla BS-490” ultramicrotome were studied in a PEM-125K electron microscope. Results. The ultrastructural analysis showed that already 3 days after the study, dystrophic-destructive changes, as well as adhesion and aggregation of leukocytes, were detected in the endothelial cells. As the study period increased (5–7 days), the intensity of changes in the hemocapillaries of the alveolar wall increased significantly. In the lumen erythrocyte sludge, thromboleukocyte adhesion and aggregation are determined in hemocapillaries. Conclusion. Acute experimental pancreatitis is accompanied by marked changes in the ultrastructural structure of hemocapillaries of the alveolar wall. The nature and severity of structural changes in the hemocapillaries of the alveolar wall depends on the duration of the course of arginine-induced acute pancreatitis.
Searching for the Holy Grail among ear drops
Authors: Kiełbasa Justyna , Bil Katarzyna , Kowalczyk Agata , Zozula Natalia , Latała Aleksandra , Ślesicka Iga , Rykucka Aleksandra , Wąs Marcin , Przestrzelska Magda , Tomczewska Zuzanna
Published: June 2024

Introduction and aim of the study: Ear wax plays many roles in maintaining ear health, such as cleansing, shielding, and lubricating the external auditory canal. Sometimes, when earwax obstruction occurs, for example as a result of improper hygiene procedures (such as using cotton swabs), it can cause a number of disorders ranging from discomfort to even loss of hearing. In such cases, various methods can be used to remove the cerumen impaction. One of these and also the most commonly used, involves the usage of ear drops, which can contain different active substances (water-based compounds, oil-based compounds, a combination of oil and water-based compounds, and non-water, non-oil solutions). The aim of our study is to present current state of knowledge about effectiveness of various types of ear drops in wax cleaning.
Material and methods: Our review is based on the analysis of materials collected in Pubmed”, „Google Scholar” and other scientific articles using keywords: „earwax”, cerumen impaction”, „cerumenolytics”, „ear drops”, „cerumen”, „earwax solvents”, „wax solvents”.
Conclusions: Despite numerous studies, the Holy Grail has not been found among ear drops. The majority conducted studies did not show that any of the cerumenolitics were superior to the others in a statistically significant way. The only result that was statistically significant was the one showing a higher effectiveness of 2.5% sodium bicarbonate compared to docusate sodium. Further research is needed.
Latest clinical research
Authors: Greener Mark
Published: June 2024

The latest studies of interest to primary care clinicians, rounded up by Mark Greener
Labour intermediation in care provision: diversified employment conditions and conflicting care temporalities
Authors: Amorosi Lucia
Published: June 2024

The ongoing process of care marketisation is also impacting the Italian familistic welfare state, as evidenced by the increasing presence of private employment agencies in home-based care. This process is having different consequences, from workers’ segmentation to the multiplication of employment and working conditions. Time is essential in care work, and private agencies are provoking a real conceptual shift towards the idea of time as a subjective dimension of the employment relationship. When dealing with time regulation, the emphasis on autonomy and self-organisation faces the concrete limits established by a highly time-consuming activity like care work.
The Anglo-Catholic Apocalyptic Milieu and T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land
Authors: Crace Benjamin D.
Published: June 2024

Abstract: This article seeks to clarify which apocalyptic elements of the World War I era persist into The Waste Land . It begins with a thick historical contextualization. Then, it looks at contemporaneous media that characterizes the Anglo-Catholic apocalyptic milieu. Next, it examines an adjacent literary parallel: a forgotten play called Armageddon . Finally, I approach the poem itself, teasing out the elements of the Anglo-Catholic milieu and analyzing how Eliot imports and subverts their meaning. I conclude that the Anglo-Catholic apocalyptic helps form the contextual contrast from which the poem’s meanings can be multiplied and reappraised.
A Matter of Course: Student Attendance Under New Graduation Requirements of the Texas Foundation High School Program
Authors: Lansford Teresa , Kirksey J. Jacob
Published: June 2024

Abstract: In 2013, the state of Texas passed House Bill 5 (HB 5) which established high school course pathways tailored to student interests by labor market area via the Foundation High School Program (FHSP). The pathway options for students include STEM, Arts and Humanities, Business and Industry, Public Service, and Multidisciplinary. While the intent of the new requirements was to improve college and career readiness, the personalization of learning paths tailored to student interests poses the possibility of also increasing engagement resulting in improved attendance. This study uses statewide longitudinal data as well as data from a small, urban Texas school district to examine student attendance pre and post the FHSP. Findings show that regardless of whether a student is in the top 99% of attenders or the bottom 10%, once they start on the STEM endorsement pathway, they experience higher levels of attendance than those in other pathways. Analyses from the Texas school district suggest that positive attendance was driven via STEM-CTE courses, which had the lowest attendance rates prior to the FHSP to the highest attendance rates following the FHSP. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Chronic Absenteeism in the School-Prison Nexus
Authors: Mahowald James Bear , Lenhoff Sarah Winchell , Edwards Erica B. , Singer Jeremy
Published: June 2024

Abstract: Since the incorporation of student chronic absenteeism rates into state school accountability systems after the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act , schools have adopted new practices to improve student attendance and decrease chronic absenteeism. Some of these practices borrow features from behavior management systems such as tiering students, differentiating support and consequences, and taking disciplinary action. This qualitative case study examines how attendance management practices are designed and implemented in a large urban school district and explores the empirical and conceptual relationship between student behavior and attendance management within the “school-prison nexus.” We use interviews with parents, high school students, and staff charged with reducing chronic absenteeism to demonstrate how managing students’ attendance through intervention plans, student monitoring, and threats of legal action have implicit and explicit parallels to the management of student behavior in schools and could be considered a potential mechanism through which the school-prison nexus functions. We conclude with implications for schools and districts as they seek ways to reduce chronic absenteeism without contributing to the over-surveillance and punishment of high school youth.
Absence Unexcused: Using Administrative Data to Explore Patterns and Predictors of Habitual Truancy in Pennsylvania
Authors: Weathers Ericka S. , Muñoz Ismael G. , Loeb David
Published: June 2024

Abstract: While existing literature documents disparities in and implications of absenteeism and truant behavior, less is known about truancy as defined in state laws. Habitual truancy, which can trigger external punitive responses, is particularly underexplored. The current study utilizes administrative data from the universe of Pennsylvania schools to examine longitudinal trends and school-level characteristics associated with habitual truancy between the 2010–11 and 2017–18 school years. Our findings indicate an increasing pattern of overall habitual truancy rates between 2010–11 (9%) and 2017–18 (13%). Habitual truancy rates are highest among Black and Hispanic students and in middle and high school grades. OLS regressions show that habitual truancy is positively associated with the share of students in a school who are Black and who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and higher exclusionary discipline and school police presence; and negatively associated with magnet schools. Our findings have implications for understanding patterns and predictors of habitual truancy and provide some insight into who might be subjected to punitive responses to habitual truancy in accordance with state policies.
Long-Term English Learners with Learning Disabilities: Is Dual Identification Associated with High School Absenteeism?
Authors: Freeman Jennifer A.
Published: June 2024

Abstract: Long-term English Learners (LTELs) are the largest population of English learners (ELs) in secondary grades. In California, approximately 30 percent of these students are dual- identified, meaning they are identified as having a disability and being an EL, with a historical overrepresentation in the learning disability (LD) category. Despite the growing size of this population, little is known about the academic outcomes of LTELs with LDs in high school contexts, and this group remains unexplored in the absenteeism literature. Using student-level longitudinal data from four large school districts in California, this study explores absenteeism patterns among EL-classified students and students with LDs in high school. We further investigate whether these patterns vary for LTELs and former EL students (RFEPs) with LDs. The findings indicate that LTELs and RFEPs demonstrate lower absenteeism rates than non-EL students across grade levels. However, when comparing absenteeism specifically among dual- identified students, LTELs with LDs experience significantly higher rates of school absences in later high school grades than RFEPs with LDs.
The First Insight into Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroup Prediction for a Population Originating from Medieval Bosnia
Authors: Kalajdzic Abdurahim , Pojskic Naris , Ahmic Adisa , Miralem Merima , Lasic Lejla , Dzehverovic Mirela , Jusic Belma , Pilav Amela , Pojskic Lejla , Bujak Edin , Corbo Tarik , Hadziselimovic Rifat
Published: June 2024

Population genetic studies have shown that the Bosnian-Herzegovinian (B&H) population is a part of
the European gene pool, but there has been limited information on the genetic structure of ancient
B&H populations. This study aimed to determine the frequency and distribution of mitochondrial
DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups for a medieval Bosnian population. Thirty-four samples, excavated from
medieval necropolises located within the borders of medieval Bosnia, were analyzed. Sequencing of
the mtDNA hypervariable segment 1 (HVS1) region and RFLP analysis were performed for haplogroup
determination. All 32 samples were identified as haplogroup H, with subhaplogroups H2a and H5 in
30 and 2 samples, respectively. The frequency of the H haplogroup was significantly different between
the studied samples and previous studies of contemporary B&H populations, where the H haplogroup
frequency was approximately half that of the ancient population studied here. A significant difference
in H haplogroup frequency compared with other medieval populations outside of Bosnia was also
observed: the ancient B&H population is most similar to ancient Italians. These results provide insight
into the mitochondrial landscape of populations that inhabited the territory of present-day Bosnia and
Herzegovina in the Middle Ages. Our study reveals that inhabitants of medieval Bosnia carried genetic
lineages that exist today in B&H populations, suggesting continuity of mtDNA haplogroups over a long
period of time, regardless of various historical demographic events that shaped the genetic structure of
the modern B&H population.
Financial Determinants of Hotel Bankruptcy in Greece: A Multi-Period Logit Estimation
Authors: Romanopoulos Athanasios , Metaxas Theodore
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to research the financial determinants of bankruptcies for firms belonging exclusively to the economic activity 'hotels and similar accommodation'. The study adopts the stance, that estimations and models focused on specific sectors can be a more precise assessment of firm failure in contrast to generic models that sample firms from broader sectors. The dataset covers the years 2010-2020 and uses available financial and bankruptcy information from two credible data sources for over 5,500 hotels which includes 13 bankruptcy events. A multi-period logistic regression model with clustered robust standard errors is applied, a very competent econometric methodology not applied before in hotel failure studies in this exact form. This type of setting is considered a close-to-reality econometric experiment examining the whole economic activity. A stepwise procedure led to three influential financial ratios with the main results revealing that the likelihood of hotel bankruptcy is positively related to leverage and size in terms of the natural logarithm of total assets and negatively related to EBITDA to total liabilities. By extending the bankruptcy horizon further by one and two years, information content appears fairly robust and all variables retain their sign, as leverage remains stable across all horizons, EBITDA to liabilities remain significant for the one additional period, while sizes' statistical significance becomes intermittent. Comparisons are performed also in terms of sensitivity and variable relevance with two earlier Greek studies for the whole economy and the hotel sector, and in both cases sensitivity is reduced and some variables are rendered not relevant. Implications stemming from the empirical results, suggest that leverage is the most influential factor increasing the probability of bankruptcy, so liabilities should be continuously controlled. Size in terms of asset acquisition should be mitigated too, as the 'too big to fail' principle seems not to hold. Also, a balance of liabilities coverage is recommended. The comparisons in terms of sensitivity, variable relevance and the opposite sign for size implies that bankruptcy modeling per economic activity is more appropriate, stressing the need for an ad hoc variable selection that includes size also, as a predefined set of variables may not always be the most optimal set.
How Missing Markets of Managerial Talent Can Lead to Generalist Careers
Authors: Chattopadhyay Shinjinee , Won Shinjae
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: In this paper, we document how the thinness of the labor market leads to managers in smaller towns becoming more generalist in their careers. Drawing upon the literature on the economics of agglomeration we propose that high quality managerial talent and a wider range of jobs will be more concentrated in larger cities relative to smaller towns, thereby creating relatively thinner markets for managerial talent in smaller towns. Due to this spatial sorting of talent, compared to firms in larger cities, firms located in smaller towns will have limited access to a pool of high-ability, high-fit candidates and will be more likely to recruit individuals that do not have relevant job experience in the area of interest (low fit) despite having high ability. They will thus require a change in functional areas of these individuals. From the workers' perspective, due to a lower concentration of jobs in smaller towns workers will have a narrower range of jobs to choose from than in larger cities. Many workers will be less likely to match with jobs that perfectly align with their prior experience. To remain employed, such workers will need to functionally diversify. Using the quasi-random assignment feature in the context of Indian Administrative Services (IAS), we disentangle inherent quality differences between individuals from their locational preferences, which enables us to move closer to a causal inference on the influence of geography on the likelihood of change in functional area and becoming a generalist. By examining the career trajectories of 4,244 officers from IAS, we find support for our argument. The key contributions of this paper are to provide novel evidence on how labor market differences arising from locations is an antecedent to functional diversification, and to provide evidence on explanatory mechanisms. Our finding that the careers of individuals are also likely to differ by geography adds to the literature on human capital development, and agglomeration economies, which has documented other ways that labor markets differ by geography such as productivity, innovation, wages, and industry concentration. Last, our paper has policy implications as it implies that opportunities for career progression, such as being able to change functional areas, could act as a demand side factor that triggers mobility to smaller towns for individuals with high general human capital.
Do Non-Family CEOs Decrease Stock Price Crash Risk in Chinese Family Firms?
Authors: Sun Wei , Bai Yinzhuan , Fan Weiguo (Patrick)
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: Employing non-family CEOs in Chinese family firms has become a universal phenomenon. The existing research mainly focuses on the direct effect of non-family CEOs on corporate operation, but ignores the capital market influence despite stock price crash has a more serious damage for family firms due to their reputation concern. To fill this research gap, this paper shed light on the important but ignored capital market effect of non-family members by exploring the role of non-family CEOs on stock price crash risk. Based on 12,561 firm-year observations of listed family firms in China from 2004 to 2020, this study estimates using correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, entropy balancing matching, treatment effect model and granger causality test. The results show that family firms with non-family CEOs are negatively related with future stock price crash risk in Chinese family firms, and this relationship tends to be stronger when CEOs have more power. Further, to explore the effect mechanism, we isolate the formation of stock price crash risk into two stages: bad news generation and bad news disclosure, and find that non-family CEOs reduce bad news generation but have no impact on bad news disclosure. Additionally, non-family CEOs decrease stock price crash risk when governance mechanisms in family firms are weaker, industry environments are poorer and macroeconomic conditions are more positive. This study highlights the negative effect of non-family CEOs on stock price crash risk in Chinese family firms, firstly clarifies the effect mechanism based on the two stages of stock price crash formation and finds that CEO power strengthens the role of non-family CEOs in lowering stock price crash risk in family firms, which differs from previous studies. Finding of this study also have important implications for the managers and investors of family firms. Family firms are expected to increase the introduction of non-family members and strengthen supervision to formalize governance structure. Meanwhile, investors should also consider the ability and experience of top management teams in family firms.
Pathways to Religious Pluralism in College: A Critical Analysis of Identity, Campus Contexts, and Engagement
Authors: Rockenbach Alyssa N. , Mayhew Matthew J.
Published: June 2024

Abstract: This study, based on the Interfaith Diversity Experiences and Attitudes Longitudinal Survey (IDEALS), examined pathways to pluralism orientation among more than 5,700 students who attended 118 U.S. colleges and universities between 2015 and 2019. Grounded in Critical Religious Pluralism Theory (CRPT), the analysis elevated the role of identities and contexts in pluralism progression, maintenance, and decline, illuminating the importance of climate, culture, support, and interfaith engagement in college students' pluralism development. Implications are discussed to guide educators committed to advancing justice, equity, and social change in higher education and beyond.
Higher Education Research: Geographies Beyond the Front Yard
Authors: Martínez-Alemán Ana M.
Published: June 2024

Abstract: As higher education researchers, we bear a responsibility to tend to the current state of our research and to the outlook for its future in light of its various purposes, the politics that inform these purposes, and the practices they expose. In the ASHE 2023 Presidential Address, Dr. Ana M. Martínez-Alemán asks us to reflect on and consider—as poets would—the stories our research tells and the possibilities that our current research tapers. How do we tend to the established geographies of our research—the roses in the "front yard"—and investigate "rough and untended" research unknowns?
What are the quantum commutation relations for the total angular momentum of light? tutorial
Authors: Das Pronoy , Yang Li-Ping , Jacob Zubin
Published: June 2024

The total angular momentum of light has received attention for its application in a variety of phenomena such as optical communication, optical forces, and sensing. However, the quantum behavior including the commutation relations has been relatively less explored. Here, we derive the correct commutation relation for the total angular momentum of light using both relativistic and non-relativistic approaches. An important outcome of our work is the proof that the widely assumed quantum commutation relation for the total observable angular momentum of light is fundamentally incorrect. Our work will motivate experiments and lead to new insights on the quantum behavior of the angular momentum of light.
RMS error analysis of spatial uniformity and energy stability of the laser beam in second harmonic generation
Authors: Lee Geonhui , Jo Hanjin , Hwang Seungjin , Lee Sungyoon , Yu Tae Jun
Published: June 2024

The coupling of the energy stability and spatial uniformity of the laser beam before and after second harmonic generation (SHG) was analyzed. SHG experiments were performed using a Nd:YAG nanosecond laser and LBO crystals, and images, pulse shapes, and energies were measured. The relationship between energy stability and spatial uniformity uses a formula derived from the previous study to analyze changes in energy stability and spatial uniformity of the input beam and converted beam. In addition, the measured input beam shape and energy are compared with the results of applying the SHG converting equation considering pump depletion. Both methods were similar to the experimental results when corrected by empirical factors. Through SHG, it was confirmed that there is an optimal point of energy stability and spatial uniformity of the laser beam near the critical power.
Design of a low-profile bi-directional radiated Fabry-Perot cavity antenna with independent forward and backward radiation based on metasurface technique
Authors: Sima Boyu , Xu Yibang , Wang Xiang , Li Huangyan , Cheng Guoxiao , Wu Linxiao , Kang Wei , Wu Wen
Published: June 2024

This paper introduces a novel Fabry-Perot cavity (FPC) antenna design based on metasurface technique to achieve bi-directional radiation with independent forward and backward beam control capability and a low-profile configuration. Two pieces of partially reflective metasurface (PRMS) based on receiver-transmitter architecture with independent control of transmission and reflection phases are designed to serve as the upper and lower layers of the FPC antenna, respectively. By manipulating the transmission phase distribution of the two pieces of PRMS, designable independent multi-beam bi-directional radiation patterns can be achieved. For validation, two FPC antennas based on the proposed configuration are designed with different bi-directional radiation patterns. Proved by simulated results, Antenna 1 can achieve forward dual-beam and backward single-beam radiation simultaneously with a return loss of less than -10 dB at 10.4 GHz. The two beams of forward radiation point in the -45° and 35° directions, respectively, with gains of 7.42 dBi and 7.70 dBi. The gain of the single beam of backward radiation is 10.82 dBi. Antenna 2 can achieve a four-beam radiation pattern with both forward and backward dual beams. The beam directions of the four beams are -153°, -44°, 37°, and 146°, respectively. The gains in each direction are 5.45 dBi, 6.63 dBi, 5.97 dBi, and 5.22 dBi, respectively. The overall profile is 23.72 mm (0.81 λ) for both antennas. The prototype of Antenna 1 is fabricated and measured. The results are in good agreement with the simulated counterparts, which demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed design methodology.
Optical degradation correction of manufacturing-perturbed glass-plastic hybrid lens systems via a joint hardware-software optimization framework
Authors: Zhou Jingwen , Chen Bingkun , Yan Jiapu , Ren Zheng , Zhang Wenguan , Feng Huajun , Chen Yueting , Bian Meijuan
Published: June 2024

Glass-plastic hybrid lens systems are increasingly critical in various optical applications due to their unique advantages and growing demands. Due to limitations in manufacturing processes and costs, the yield rate of glass-plastic hybrid lens systems in mass production struggles to match that of mature all-plastic ones. In this work, we propose a pioneering joint hardware-software optimization framework designed for correcting optical degradation in manufacturing-perturbed glass-plastic hybrid lens systems. Our framework begins with the establishment of a differentiable imaging simulation system that is capable of simulating various manufacturing errors. This system facilitates the preliminary estimation of manufacturing deviations across individual lenses without precise measurements. Subsequently, from the perspective of the hardware assembly process, we integrate active alignment of the glass aspherical lens to mitigate degradation caused by these deviations. Moreover, we introduce a novel and lightweight degradation correction network as post-processing software to address residual optical degradation without fine-tuning for each manufacturing-perturbed lens system, significantly reducing deployment costs for mobile devices. Extensive experiments validate the efficacy of our joint hardware-software optimization framework, showing substantial improvements in imaging quality and enhanced yield rates in mass production. Overall, our framework establishes a new paradigm for optical degradation correction in glass-plastic hybrid lens systems by synergizing the front-end lens assembly process with the back-end degradation correction method. This new paradigm represents an inaugural effort within the optical engineering domain.
Performance improvement of reflective phosphor film via adjusting the thickness realizing bright and efficient laser lighting
Authors: Yuan Shaoda , Chen Xinrong , Jiang Zhi , Zhai Yueli , Xu Jian , Zhao Dan , Pang Shiqing , Ru Qi , Zhang Le , Xu Peng , Du Baoli , Dam-Hansen Carsten , Jensen Ole Bjarlin
Published: June 2024

Phosphor-in-glass-film (PiG-F) has been extensively investigated, showing great potential for use in laser lighting technique. Thickness is apparently a key parameter for PiG-F, affecting the heat dissipation, absorption, and reabsorption, thus determining the luminous efficacy and luminescence saturation threshold (LST). Conventional studies suggest that thinner films often have lower thermal load than that of the thicker ones. Unexpectedly, we found that the Lu3Al5O12:Ce (LuAG:Ce)-based PiG-F with a moderate thickness (78 μm) yielded the optimal LST of 31.9 W (14.2 W·mm−2, rather than 28.0 W (12.3 W·mm−2) for the thinnest one (56 μm). This unexpected result was further verified by thermal simulations. With the high saturation threshold together with a high luminous efficacy (∼296 lm·W−1), an ultrahigh luminous flux of 7178 lm with a luminous exitance of 2930 lm·mm−2 was thus attained. We believe the new, to the best of our knowledge, findings in this study will substantially impact the design principles of phosphors for laser lighting.
Ultrahigh Q surface lattice resonance supported by a U-shaped resonant ring nanoarray
Authors: Xu Hang , Zhao Chen , Cui Songchan , Sun Boyan , Gao Hua
Published: June 2024

We achieved an ultrahigh Q surface lattice resonance (SLR) using a conventional U-shaped split ring resonator (U-SRR) array. Numerical results confirmed by semi-analytical analysis show that with the transmission resonance amplitude up to 0.8, the Q-factor of the SLR can still surpass 104. The physical mechanisms of the ultrahigh Q-factor were also investigated. Besides the radiation suppression provided by conventional SLR, the unique geometry of the U-SRR can further offer dual radiation suppression mechanisms: reduction of the dipole moment and excitation of the in-plane quadrupole. We expect that the proposed ultrahigh Q SLR platform will be explored for more flexible and advanced nanoscale devices.
Theoretical study on Stokes laser power in multi-path stimulated Raman scattering
Authors: Hu Yunlei , Cai Xianglong
Published: June 2024

This paper revises the theoretical analysis results of R. L. Byer and Chunzhi Jin on the variation of laser power in the multiple path stimulated Raman scattering process, and more accurately expresses the power loss of the pump laser due to Raman conversion during each optical path transmission process. In addition, considering the different reflectivities of the Raman cavity mirror to the pump laser and the Stokes laser, a new multi-path stimulated Raman laser power expression is derived.
Eikonal phase retrieval: Unleashing the fourth generation sources potential for enhanced propagation-based tomography on biological samples
Authors: MIRONE Alessandrp , BRUNET Joseph , Admans Leandre , Boistel Renaud , Sowinski Morgane , Berruyer Camille , Payno Henri , Boller Elodie , Paleo Pierre , Walsh Claire , Lee Peter , Tafforeau Paul
Published: June 2024

The evolution of synchrotrons towards higher brilliance beams has increased the possible sample-to-detector propagation distances for which the source confusion circle does not lead to geometrical blurring. This makes it possible to push near-field propagation driven phase contrast enhancement to the limit, revealing low contrast features which would otherwise remain hidden under an excessive noise. Until today this possibility was hindered, in many objects of scientific interest, by the simultaneous presence of strong phase gradient regions and low contrast features. The strong gradients, when enhanced with the now possible long propagation distances, induce such strong phase effects that the linearisation assumptions of current state-of-the-art single-distance phase retrieval filters are broken, and the resulting image quality is jeopardized. Here, we introduce a new iterative phase-retrieval algorithm and compare it with the Paganin phase-retrieval algorithm, in both the monochromatic and polychromatic cases, obtaining superior image quality.
In the polychromatic case the comparison was done with an extrapolated Paganin algorithm obtained by reintroducing, into our phase retrieval algorithm, the linearization approximations underlying the Paganin forward model. Our work provides an innovative algorithm which efficiently performs the phase retrieval task over the entire near-field range, producing images of exceptional quality for mixed attenuation objects.