bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning for an uncertain future: artificial intelligence a challenge for Pakistani education system in the era of digital transformation
Authors: Khurshid Saba , Khurshid Shumaila , Toor Hafsa Khalil
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The rapid advancement of AI in education brings both significant challenges and opportunities. In Pakistan, where the educational system is facing numerous issues, AI integration has raised significant concerns. Therefore, this study aims to explore the challenges AI poses to the Pakistani education system in the era of digital transformation.

Design/methodology/approach

A focus group was conducted with 13 participants, including educators and heads of departments from universities located in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Thematic analysis was used to generate themes from the data.

Findings

The study findings indicated that AI integration in education can provide personalized and adaptive learning and teaching experiences by bridging the educational divide through easy access to quality education. Participants also highlighted the anxieties related to the digital divide as a great challenge for Pakistan. The integration of AI and automation in education is also raising concerns about job displacement for educators.

Originality/value

It highlighted that the integration of AI into the educational system can also bring both challenges and opportunities. To tackle these issues, potential strategies such as professional development and training programs to develop AI literacy among educators need to be introduced.
Commentary on “The benefits of precision teaching for educational psychologists”
Authors: Owen Kaydee
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This commentary aims to reflect on the paper by Kubina et al. (2024).

Design/methodology/approach

It offers an overview of the existing evidence base for precision teaching to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and some of the wider considerations around training for educational psychologists. 

Findings

Precision teaching approaches can yield positive outcomes when delivered to high levels of fidelity.

Originality/value

This paper advocates for training opportunities for educational psychologists so that they can use precision teaching strategies with their learners and work effectively with teachers.
Intra‐ and Postoperative Complications in 4565 vNOTES Hysterectomies: International Registry Cohort Study
Authors: Stuart Andrea , Wagenius Johanna , Badiglian‐Filho Levon , Schnabel Jens , Montealegre Alvaro , Ehrström Sophia , Hartmann Michael , Vercammen Jona , Huber Daniela , Lingström Anna , Baekelandt Jan
Published: November 2024

Objective

To present the rates of intra‐ and postoperative complications and conversions in a large cohort of unselected vNOTES hysterectomies, performed by surgeons with different levels of expertise.

Design

International register‐based cohort study.

Setting

Hysterectomies in the iNOTESs registry, 2015 to January 2024, performed by 201 surgeons from multiple countries.

Population

4565 patients undergoing vNOTES hysterectomy.

Methods

Descriptive data are presented in frequencies (n) and percent (%).

Main Outcome Measure

Intra‐ and postoperative complications. Conversions.

Results

Intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were 3.2% (n = 144) and 2.5% (n = 115), respectively. Conversions occurred in 1.6% (n = 72), of which 10 (0.2%) to laparotomy, and 82% of the conversions occurred within the first 50 cases of the surgeon's learning curve. The most common intraoperative complication was cystotomy, occurring in 1.3%, and almost half were performed by inexperienced surgeons. Other intraoperative organ injuries occurred in 20 cases (0.44%). Postoperatively, the most common complications were haemorrhage (n = 28), vault complications (n = 26) including 11 infected vault hematomas, cystitis (n = 18) and non‐specific infections (n = 14). The vNOTES hysterectomies were performed by 201 surgeons, of which 9.5% had performed more than 50 vNOTES cases, representing 70% of the registered cases in the registry. The remaining 30% of the hysterectomies mainly represent learning curve data from 90% of the included surgeons. The complication rate decreased with increasing surgical experience.

Conclusions

The largest study population of vNOTES hysterectomies is presented, including both learning curve data and data from experienced surgeons, with acceptable rates of intra‐ and postoperative complications. No implication was found of vNOTES being inferior to other minimally invasive methods.
Probe Capture Enrichment Sequencing of amoA Genes Improves the Detection of Diverse Ammonia‐Oxidising Archaeal and Bacterial Populations
Authors: Hiraoka Satoshi , Ijichi Minoru , Takeshima Hirohiko , Kumagai Yohei , Yang Ching‐Chia , Makabe‐Kobayashi Yoko , Fukuda Hideki , Yoshizawa Susumu , Iwasaki Wataru , Kogure Kazuhiro , Shiozaki Takuhei
Published: November 2024

The ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) gene has been used to investigate the phylogenetic diversity, spatial distribution and activity of ammonia‐oxidising archaeal (AOA) and bacterial (AOB), which contribute significantly to the nitrogen cycle in various ecosystems. Amplicon sequencing of amoA is a widely used method; however, it produces inaccurate results owing to the lack of a ‘universal’ primer set. Moreover, currently available primer sets suffer from amplification biases, which can lead to severe misinterpretation. Although shotgun metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses are alternative approaches without amplification bias, the low abundance of target genes in heterogeneous environmental DNA restricts a comprehensive analysis to a realisable sequencing depth. In this study, we developed a probe set and bioinformatics workflow for amoA enrichment sequencing using a hybridisation capture technique. Using metagenomic mock community samples, our approach effectively enriched amoA genes with low compositional changes, outperforming amplification and meta‐omics sequencing analyses. Following the analysis of metatranscriptomic marine samples, we predicted 80 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) assigned to either AOA or AOB, of which 30 OTUs were unidentified using simple metatranscriptomic or amoA gene amplicon sequencing. Mapped read ratios to all the detected OTUs were significantly higher for the capture samples (50.4 ± 27.2%) than for non‐capture samples (0.05 ± 0.02%), demonstrating the high enrichment efficiency of the method. The analysis also revealed the spatial diversity of AOA ecotypes with high sensitivity and phylogenetic resolution, which are difficult to examine using conventional approaches.
A small‐molecule screen identifies novel aging modulators by targeting 5‐HT/DA signaling pathway
Authors: Ye Shi‐Wei , Song Shuang‐Di , Liu Xi‐Juan , Luo Yun , Cai Shi‐Qing
Published: November 2024

The risk of many human diseases including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders rises significantly in the elderly. With the increase in the aging population, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the biology of healthy aging and develop interventions that slow down the aging process or prevent age‐related diseases. In this study, by a high‐throughput screen in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), we identified 11 small molecules that promote healthy aging. Among them, Carbamazepine (a voltage‐gated channels inhibitor) and Calmagite (a calcium and magnesium indicator) enhanced serotonin (5‐HT) and dopamine (DA) levels, extended lifespan, and preserved several important behaviors in aging C. elegans. These behaviors include slowing responses to food, pharyngeal pumping, locomotion, and male mating. Interestingly, we further found that administration of Carbamazepine or Calmagite alleviated hyperexcitability of aging male diagonal muscles and improved behavioral performance by ameliorating Ca2+ homeostasis. Mechanistically, administration of Carbamazepine or Calmagite induced nuclear translocation of the transcription factor DAF‐16 and thus up‐regulated its downstream genes numr‐1/−2, which are known to promote resistance to metal‐induced stresses and longevity. Taken together, our study offers a way for the discovery of drugs that promote healthy aging, and provides potential interventions for preventing behavioral deterioration in the elderly.
Muscle fibroblasts and stem cells stimulate motor neurons in an age and exercise‐dependent manner
Authors: Soendenbroe Casper , Schjerling Peter , Bechshøft Cecilie J. L. , Svensson Rene B. , Schaeffer Laurent , Kjaer Michael , Chazaud Bénédicte , Jacquier Arnaud , Mackey Abigail L.
Published: November 2024

Exercise preserves neuromuscular function in aging through unknown mechanisms. Skeletal muscle fibroblasts (FIB) and stem cells (MuSC) are abundant in skeletal muscle and reside close to neuromuscular junctions, but their relative roles in motor neuron maintenance remain undescribed. Using direct cocultures of embryonic rat motor neurons with either human MuSC or FIB, RNA sequencing revealed profound differential regulation of the motor neuron transcriptome, with FIB generally favoring neuron growth and cell migration and MuSC favoring production of ribosomes and translational machinery. Conditioned medium from FIB was superior to MuSC in preserving motor neurons and increasing their maturity. Lastly, we established the importance of donor age and exercise status and found an age‐related distortion of motor neuron and muscle cell interaction that was fully mitigated by lifelong physical activity. In conclusion, we show that human muscle FIB and MuSC synergistically stimulate the growth and viability of motor neurons, which is further amplified by regular exercise.
Comparison of Epidemiology, Demography, Treatment (Surgery and Radiotherapy), and Survival Between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Non‐Indigenous Women With Cervical Cancer in NSW, Australia in 2009–2018
Authors: Jacob Susannah , Gabriel Gabriel , Yap Mei Ling , Vinod Shalini , Griffiths Kalinda , Sheehan David , Anderson Susan , Delaney Geoff
Published: November 2024

Background

Health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia are significantly worse than in the non‐Indigenous population.

Aim

To evaluate demographic factors and treatment (surgery and radiotherapy) rates for cervical cancer and to compare these between the Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal populations to identify any differences in outcomes or modifiable treatment differences between the populations.

Methods

Retrospective cohort analysis of all patients in the state of New South Wales, Australia, diagnosed with cervical cancer between 2009 and 2018 using linked registry, treatment, and death data.

Results

The crude incidence rate for cervical cancer in Aboriginal women in NSW (17.29/100,000) was more than double the rate among non‐Aboriginal women (6.77/100,000). Aboriginal women were diagnosed with cervical cancer, including metastatic disease, at a younger age. There was no significant difference in presentation stage, surgery or radiotherapy treatment rates, or overall survival at 5 years between the two populations.

Conclusion

Although access to cancer care looks similar as an aggregate in Aboriginal versus non‐Aboriginal populations, there were disparities with reduced access to care (patients who did not receive either radiotherapy or surgery) among Aboriginal patients who were socioeconomically disadvantaged or residing in remote areas. The lower age of cancer diagnosis among Aboriginal women may have effects on survivorship, including negative effects on fertility, loss of income, and other personal, social, and economic consequences. Efforts to improve access to care, including screening, diagnosis, and treatment, should be targeted toward younger Aboriginal women and those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged or those residing in remote areas.
EP300‐interacting inhibitor of differentiation 3 is required for spermatogenesis in mice
Authors: Zhang Ping , Zhang Longsheng , Yu Li , Zhou Xinli , Chen Xu , Zhou Yuchuan , Wang Ningling , Zhu Hui
Published: November 2024

Background

Mammalian spermatogenesis is a highly complex process of cell proliferation, meiosis, and differentiation. A series of genes are expressed in an orderly and precise manner to ensure spermatogenesis, with chromatin undergoing intricate changes throughout. EP300‐interacting inhibitor of differentiation 3 (Eid3) is a testis‐enriched gene, but its role in male reproduction remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the role of EID3 in male spermatogenesis and explore the potential underlying mechanism.

Materials and Methods

We generated Eid3 knockout mouse model using the CRISPR‐Cas9 system. We measured the expression of EID3 in mouse tissues and testicular cell populations by qRT‐PCR and western blot. Histological analysis, including hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS) staining, together with computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA), were performed to evaluate the effect of EID3 on spermatogenesis in mice. Light and ultrastructural microscopy were used to evaluate the morphology and structure of the Eid3−/− spermatozoa. We used western blot and immunofluorescence to further analyze the function of EID3 in spermiogenesis.

Results

Eid3−/− mouse showed a significant decrease in sperm count, motility, and morphology. Loss of EID3 impaired the normal meiotic process and induced apoptosis of abnormally developing spermatocytes, ultimately resulting in the decrease of sperm cell number. Additionally, EID3 deficiency led to a decrease in histone acetylation levels in spermatids, impaired histone‐to‐protamine transition and chromatin condensation process, and ultimately resulted in abnormal sperm morphology.

Discussion and Conclusions

This study confirms for the first time that EID3 is crucial for meiosis and chromatin condensation during spermatogenesis, and EID3 deficiency leads to a significant decrease in sperm parameters. Given the high expression paradigm of Eid3 in human testis, EID3 likely plays a role in human reproduction. Future research could provide a new target for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
Effect of couplet care on early parent–infant closeness among preterm infants
Authors: Itoshima Ryo , Korhonen Kalle , Axelin Anna , Ahlqvist‐Björkroth Sari , Hovi Anna , Lehtonen Liisa
Published: November 2024

Aim

To evaluate the effect of couplet care on parent–infant closeness among preterm infants.

Methods

A comparison study in a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before and after the introduction of couplet care, including stabilising infants in the delivery unit for early skin‐to‐skin contact, providing mothers' postpartum care in the infant's room and providing the father's bed in the infant's room. The study included parents of preterm infants born below 35 weeks.

Results

Parents of 40 and 66 infants were included before and after couplet care was introduced, respectively. In the linear regression model, the first skin‐to‐skin contact happened significantly earlier after the introduction than before: mean 4.0 vs. 24.0 h after birth and mean difference −18.5 (95% confidence interval −34.8 to −2.1). A larger proportion of infants received their first skin‐to‐skin contact within 2 h after birth after the introduction than before (45.5% vs. 8.6%; odds ratio 13.8 [3.6–62.8]). At least one parent was present in the infant's NICU room longer after the introduction than before (mean 21.2 vs. 10.8 h per day; mean difference 10.8 [9.1–12.4]).

Conclusion

Couplet care significantly increased parent–infant closeness during the first weeks of life.
Characteristics and outcome of 73 dogs with iron EDTA molluscicide ingestion in Melbourne, Australia (2013–2019)
Authors: Lauinger CA , Wright L , Smart L
Published: November 2024

Introduction

The objective of this study was to describe the clinical features, treatments and outcomes of dogs with iron ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) molluscicide ingestion. We aimed to identify potential predictors of serum iron concentration >54 μmol/L; a cut‐off recommended for initiating treatment of human iron toxicosis.

Methods

Medical records across four veterinary hospitals (2013–2019) for dogs with known or suspected iron EDTA molluscicide ingestion were reviewed for signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological data, treatment regimens and outcomes. Clinical signs of dogs with serum iron concentrations either below or above a cut‐off of 54 μmol/L were compared using Fisher's exact test. Association between serum iron and urine discolouration was tested using logistic regression.

Results

Seventy‐three dogs were included. The most frequent characteristic was abnormal faeces (n = 47, 64%) as determined by rectal examination, with more dogs that had serum iron >54 μmol/L showing this clinical sign (24/35), compared to dogs with serum iron <54 μmol/L (4/13) (P = 0.025). Clinicopathologic abnormalities included increased base excess (n = 20/49, 20%), hyperglycaemia (n = 13/57, 23%) and hyperlactataemia (n = 12/57, 21%). Fifty‐four dogs received deferoxamine chelation (74%), during which 25/42 (60%) dogs had discoloured urine despite all dogs having subsequent iron concentrations <54 μmol/L. Admission serum iron concentration was associated with urine discolouration during hospitalisation (odds ratio 1.046, 95% confidence interval 1.008–1.107, P = 0.011). Sixty‐nine dogs (95%) survived to discharge, with 10 dogs (14%) transferred to another veterinarian.

Conclusions

Iron EDTA molluscicide ingestion caused predominantly gastrointestinal clinical signs, and abnormal faeces, as well as urine discolouration during chelation therapy, which may indicate an elevation of serum iron concentration on presentation. Outcome was excellent.
A case report of Penicillium chorioretinitis in a Border Collie dog
Authors: Wood J , Walsh A , King M , Dutton A
Published: November 2024

Systemic fungal pathogens typically gain entry through a single portal and disseminate to affect multiple body systems. Infections caused by fungal Penicillium species are rare in dogs, and these cases have a poor prognosis. An unknown Penicillium species was isolated from the right eye of a middle‐aged Border Collie without evidence of systemic disease. Due to financial limitations, an extensive diagnostic evaluation could not be performed. Histopathology alone failed to identify the specific causative agent; however, fungal culture on aqueous humor provided the definitive diagnosis. This case highlights the advantage of collecting ocular fluids after enucleation to diagnose atypical fungal infections.
Discriminability around polytomous knowledge structures and polytomous functions
Authors: Ge Xun
Published: November 2024

The discriminability in polytomous KST was introduced by Stefanutti et al. (Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 2020, 94, 102306). As the interesting topic in polytomous KST, this paper discusses the discriminability around granular polytomous knowledge spaces, polytomous knowledge structures, polytomous surmising functions and polytomous skill functions. More precisely, this paper gives some equivalences between the discriminability of polytomous surmising functions (resp. polytomous skill functions) and the discriminability of granular polytomous knowledge spaces (resp. polytomous knowledge structures). Such findings open the field to a systematic generalization of the discriminability in KST to the polytomous case.
Diagnosis and typing of leukemia using a single peripheral blood cell through deep learning
Authors: Yan Geng , Mingyang Gao , Wei Shi , Hongping Liang , Liyuan Qin , Ailan Liu , Xiaomei Kong , Huilan Zhao , Juanjuan Zhao , Yan Qiang
Published: November 2024

Leukemia is highly heterogeneous, meaning that different types of leukemia require different treatments and have different prognoses. Current clinical diagnostic and typing tests are complex and time‐consuming. In particular, all of these tests rely on bone marrow aspiration, which is invasive and leads to poor patient compliance, exacerbating treatment delays. Morphological analysis of peripheral blood cells (PBC) is still primarily used to distinguish between benign and malignant hematologic disorders, but it remains a challenge to diagnose and type these diseases solely by direct observation of peripheral blood(PB) smears by human experts. In this study, we apply a segmentation‐based enhanced residual network that uses progressive multigranularity training with jigsaw patches. It is trained on a self‐built annotated dataset of 21,208 images from 237 patients, including five types of benign white blood cells(WBCs) and eight types of leukemic cells. The network is not only able to discriminate between benign and malignant cells, but also to typify leukemia using a single peripheral blood cell. The network effectively differentiated acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) from other types of acute myeloid leukemia (non‐APL), achieving a precision rate of 89.34%, a recall rate of 97.37%, and an F1 score of 93.18% for APL. In contrast, for non‐APL cases, the model achieved a precision rate of 92.86%, but a recall rate of 74.63% and an F1 score of 82.75%. In addition, the model discriminates acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) with the Ph chromosome from those without. This approach could improve patient compliance and enable faster and more accurate typing of leukemias for early diagnosis and treatment to improve survival.
Women's property rights equality and entrepreneurial activity
Authors: O’Reilly Colin , Sheehan Kathleen M.
Published: November 2024

Entrepreneurship is shaped by institutions. However, past research has largely assumed that everyone has equal property rights even though women often operate under a different property rights structure and have fewer legal rights than men. We fill a gap in the literature by examining how the property rights of women impacts female entrepreneurship in a panel countries using data on property rights from the Economic Freedom of the World dataset and data on entrepreneurship from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. We find that better protection of property rights for women is associated with more the female entrepreneurship relative to male entrepreneurship.
Enhancing coloration performance and colour fastness of nano‐pigment ink‐jet‐printed blended fabrics through cationic and water‐repellent surface modification
Authors: Zhu Chenlu , Zhang Zhichang , Wang Ni , Ding Yi
Published: November 2024

The coloration performance and colour fastness properties, crucial for industrial textile printing, depend on the spreading and fixation behaviour of ink‐jet droplets on porous fabrics. Current nano‐pigment‐based ink‐jet applications provide unstable results for these properties, especially for synthetic and blended fabrics. This study focuses on cellulose‐based blended fabrics as substrates to modify the wetting properties of fabrics through cationic and water‐repellent treatments, to improve the coloration performance and colour fastness systematically. The study conducted analytical experiments to analyse the surface element composition, ion potential and surface morphology of the fabrics. Differences in printing colour and pattern performance were attributed to the behaviour of ink droplet spreading on the fabric surface and inside the fabric, including wetting time, colourant distribution, and ring shape. The results indicate that ink droplet spreading on fabrics significantly influences printing pattern sharpness, including edge clarity and colour intensity, which can be improved through surface modification, including cationic and water repellent treatment. The use of blended fabrics treated with 1% cationic modifier and 0.05% fluorine‐containing water repellent resulted in effective suppression of droplet formation and significant enhancement of colour performance and fastness. Furthermore, as the ink droplet volume decreased from 5 to 1 μL, the coffee ring effect on the fabric treated with the water repellent agent gradually diminished, leading to improved printing sharpness during the printing process.
Differential effect of grassland mowing on arthropod taxa
Authors: Künast Robert , Weisser Wolfgang W. , Seibold Sebastian , Mayr David , Siegmüller Nils , Schneider Iris , Westenrieder Martin , Blüthgen Nico , Staab Michael , Meyer Sebastian T. , Achury Rafael
Published: November 2024

Arthropods face a global decline attributed to habitat loss, climate change, pesticide use, and an intensification of land‐use practices such as mowing. Studies on the effects of mowing on arthropod abundance showed conflicting results potentially due to multiple factors, including study design, grassland management, sampling method, and arthropod taxon studied.

We conducted four studies in different grasslands, including intensively and extensively used agricultural and urban grasslands, utilising sweep netting, suction sampling, and pitfall traps. We compared the mowing responses of arthropod taxa between those studies at three different taxonomic resolutions (first‐level overall arthropods, second‐level orders, and third‐level families and suborders).

First, we discovered that mowing had a negative effect on overall arthropod abundance in all our studies (first level). Second, our four studies found that seven second‐ and third‐level taxa showed only negative, four only positive, and four mixed positive and negative responses. Third, regarding taxonomic resolution, no third‐level taxon reacted differently to mowing compared to the second‐level taxon it belongs to.

Our results indicate that for some taxa, mowing has a consistent negative (e.g. Diptera) or positive effects (e.g. Coleoptera). We suggest those groups have uniform phenological traits that make them especially vulnerable to mowing. For taxa showing mixed responses, we expect that study‐dependent factors such as region, sampling method, and grassland management affect their response to mowing.
Safety and Efficacy of Teclistamab in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory AL Amyloidosis
Authors: Stalker Margaret , Garfall Alfred , Cohen Adam , Vogl Dan T. , Djulbegovic Mia , Susanibar‐Adaniya Sandra , Stadtmauer Edward , Megherea Oxana , Waxman Adam J.
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Teclistamab has demonstrated deep responses in patients with multiple myeloma in the MajesTEC‐1 study. However, the safety and efficacy of teclistamab in patients with AL amyloidosis are unknown.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed patients with biopsy‐proven relapsed/refractory AL amyloidosis who were treated with teclistamab from December 2022 to February 2024 at the University of Pennsylvania. The data cutoff was 2/29/24. Adverse events (AE) were extracted from the electronic medical record. Patients were assessed for hematologic and organ response per consensus guidelines.

Results

Eight patients were included in this case series: median age 63 (range 59–67), 75% female, 88% White. All eight patients achieved at least very good partial response (VGPR) and had normalization of free light chains (FLC), and six (75%) patients achieved undetectable FLC levels. Of the six patients with immunofixation completed, all six (100%) achieved hematologic complete response (hCR). The median time to hematologic VGPR and hCR was 13 days (range 12–18 days) and 88 days (range 32–150 days), respectively. The median duration of follow‐up was 8.5 months (range 1–14 months). Of the five patients with cardiac involvement, four (80%) achieved a cardiac response. Of the seven patients with renal involvement, two patients already achieved renal response prior to teclistamab, and of the remaining five, three (60%) achieved renal response. Six patients (75%) developed low‐grade cytokine release syndrome (CRS). No patients developed ICANS. Neutropenia and AKI both occurred in 25% of patients, respectively.

Conclusions

In this series of patients, teclistamab showed outstanding depth of response and was well‐tolerated. Teclistamab shows promise in treating patients with relapsed AL amyloidosis.
Easily mobilized metals and acidity in acid sulfate soils across the Swedish coastal plains
Authors: Nyman Alexandra , Boman Anton , Johnson Anders , Dopson Mark , Åström Mats E.
Published: November 2024

Acid sulfate soils are found globally and have significant environmental impact as a source for metals and acidity to surrounding streams that can cause, for example, large‐scale fish kills. In the face of changing climate and its effect on groundwater fluctuations, the environmental risk associated with these soils needs to be thoroughly investigated. This study examined the water‐soluble concentrations of multiple elements from the oxidized, transition and reduced zones of acid sulfate soil profiles situated on the Swedish coastal plains. By comparing untreated (naturally oxidized in field) and incubated samples from these zones, we gain insight into the current and near‐future mobilization and leaching of acidity and metals that occur in these soils. The results showed that concentrations of Al, Cd, Co, Mn, Ni, S and Zn mobilized from incubated samples were about an order of magnitude higher than from the untreated samples. Notably, the concentrations of mobilized Co, Mn and Ni were higher than released by 1 M HCl at the same sites, highlighting the particularly high mobility of these metals from in situ oxidation of acid sulfate soils. Conversely, Fe and Cu showed lower than expected water‐soluble concentrations and were also low compared to the 1 M HCl‐extractable element concentrations, likely due to rapid re‐mobilization of secondary Fe minerals. Arsenic, Cr and Pb showed overall low water‐soluble concentrations in both the incubated and untreated samples, consistent with these elements not being abundantly leached from acid sulfate soils. This observation was further supported by the retention of these metals in secondary Fe‐mineral phases such as jarosite and schwertmannite as reported in previous studies. A strong correlation between acidity and near‐total S indicated that S can serve as an indicator for the acidification risks associated with acid sulfate soil oxidation. Overall, the findings demonstrated that even a small lowering of the groundwater table can lead to significant mobilization of metals and acidity. This highlights the increased risks of environmental degradation in the face of climate change and intensified drainage operations and, thus, the need for proper management to reduce the risks.
Venture Capital and Vulnerability: Navigating Natural Disasters and Investment Resilience
Authors: Huang Chen , Zhang Aoran , Zhang Mengyu , Zhao Yunfei
Published: November 2024

This study examines the impact of natural disasters on venture capital (VC) investment decisions. Using 47 catastrophic natural disasters occurred in the United States from 1990 to 2019, our empirical analysis reveals a significant reduction in VC investments in disaster zones. Additionally, natural disasters negatively influence VC exit strategies, reducing the likelihood and extending the time to successful exits via IPOs. However, we find that green VCs are more likely to invest in disaster‐affected areas, indicating potential resilience through green technological innovation. Our findings emphasize sustainability and disaster mitigation, and offer valuable insights for policymakers and investors amidst rising climate uncertainties.
The Role of Employability Development Opportunities in Closing the Social Gap in the Finance Sector: A Case Study of a Post‐1992 UK Business School
Authors: Ayton Julie , Belcher Daniel , Hristov Gerasim , Snijders Sylvia
Published: November 2024

Amid growing concerns about social mobility in Britain's higher education system, our study delves into universities' role in addressing the social gap within the financial and professional services sectors. The social reproduction theory underscores how upper‐class students often benefit from greater exposure to dominant cultural and educational practices, providing them with a competitive advantage in navigating the higher education landscape. To combat these challenges, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) have invested heavily in Employability Development Opportunities (EDOs). Drawing on primary data from finance and accounting students and employability officers at one of these HEIs, our research aims to investigate which EDOs are perceived as most relevant for students to succeed in the financial and professional services industry. First, we confirm that both work experience and real‐life activities are most valuable and unavoidable, prompting business schools to include compulsory exposure to the finance industry as part of the curriculum. Second, we find that career development activities are useful as a starting point but not enough for students to secure an internship. Finally, while previous literature shows that extra‐curricular activities do not significantly impact student employability, we argue that some of these activities, for example, the Finance Society, are as valuable as real‐world exposure. Indeed, the Finance Society was found to be the most helpful source of information, advice and networking for finance students.
Estimating hair density with XGBoost
Authors: Wang Yi‐Fan , Hsu Mei‐Hua , Wang Max Yue‐Feng , Lin Jun‐Wei
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Hair density estimation is crucial in dermatology and trichology; however, manual counting is time‐consuming and error‐prone. Although automated approaches have been developed using image processing, neural networks, and deep learning, creating a robust and widely applicable method remains challenging. This study explored the use of XGBoost to estimate hair density with the aim of developing a more accurate and versatile approach.

Methods

The study utilized 895 scalp images to extract features and developed an XGBoost model for hair density estimation using 745 images to train the model and testing its performance on 150 images to evaluate the accuracy, error rate, and scatter plot.

Results

The XGBoost model outperformed previous methods, achieving 89.5% accuracy on the training set and 95.3% accuracy on the test set. This surpassed the results of Kim et al. (52.4%), Urban et al. (79.6%), and Sacha et al. (88.2%) for the test set.

Conclusion

The XGBoost algorithm proved to be effective for automated hair density estimation, achieving an accuracy of 95.3% on the test set. This approach, which focusses on scalp coverage and erosion features, can streamline and improve the objectivity of clinical hair analysis.
Sex Differences in Health‐Related Quality of Life in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer—A Prospective Study
Authors: Bohm Niklas , Karlsson Charlott , Finizia Caterina , Andersson Jessica Skoogh , Almståhl Annica
Published: November 2024

Objective

To analyse sex differences in health‐related quality of life (HRQL) before, during and up to 3 months posttreatment of head and neck cancer, and to examine the importance of salivary secretion rate for HRQL posttreatment.

Methods

Patients were recruited before starting curative oncologic treatment. Clinical examinations were performed including determination of the stimulated salivary secretion rate. HRQL (EORTC C30 and HN35) was reported at baseline, weeks 2, 4 and 6 during treatment and 3 months after treatment.

Results

A total of 56 men and 19 women were included. During treatment, men reported more problems with pain and sexuality, a higher use of painkillers and need for nutritional support during oncologic treatment, while women reported more problems with weight loss and dry mouth. At 3 months posttreatment, women reported more problems and symptoms than men with the highest scores noted for dry mouth, weight loss and sticky saliva. Patients with hyposalivation (≤ 0.7 mL/min) posttreatment reported more problems and symptoms compared with those with a secretion rate of > 0.7 mL/min, especially regarding dry mouth, sticky saliva and social eating (p < 0.001 for all three).

Conclusion

Problems and symptoms during and postoncologic treatment seem to differ between women and men, which must be taken into consideration by healthcare and dental professionals. Patients with hyposalivation posttreatment have more problems and symptoms and are therefore in greater need of supportive care.
Endodontic access cavity training using artificial teeth and Simodont® dental trainer: A comparison of student performance and acceptance
Authors: Slaczka Damian M. , Shah Rishma , Liu Chuning , Zou Fei , Karunanayake Glen A.
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Competency in endodontic access cavity preparation requires key motor skills, good conceptual understanding, along with an appreciation of 3‐dimensional pulp chamber anatomy. These are traditionally learned using natural or artificial teeth (AT) mounted within a phantom head (PH). Simodont® (Nissin Dental Products INC, JPN) is a haptic virtual reality simulator (HVRS) and offers an alternative to AT for training.

Aims

This study aimed to (1) evaluate the evolution in the performance of learners trained to prepare access cavities incorporating Simodont (test group) against learners trained on AT mounted within PH (control group), (2) determine learner acceptability of HVRS.

Methodology

Forty dental students, with no prior endodontic training, were given instruction and video demonstration of access cavity preparation using a mandibular left 1st molar AT (LL6). Thereafter, they prepared an access cavity on PH mounted AT LL6. This provided a baseline record of performance. Participants were randomly assigned to the test or control groups. The test group (n = 22) trained using Simodont: preparing a virtual tooth LL6 for a period of 60 minutes with instructor feedback. The control group (n = 18) trained using AT LL6 on a PH for 60 minutes with instructor feedback. Subsequently, learners from both groups prepared an access cavity on an AT LL6 in a PH. This provided a re‐evaluation record. Two calibrated examiners graded the teeth from the baseline and re‐evaluation using rubric criteria; assigning scores with a grading range from 0 to 17. The examiners were blinded to which group the teeth belonged. Change in performance was determined by calculating the difference in assessment grade from baseline to re‐evaluation. Scores which improved by 3 or more units were labelled improvers, all other scores were described as non‐improvers.

Results

Within the test group, the numbers of improvers were 5 (23%) versus 7 (39%) in the control group The difference failed to indicate statistical significance (p = .315). The Cohen kappa values for intra and inter‐examiner agreement were 1.00 and 0.73 respectively.

Conclusion

The evolution of skills in learners trained using Simodont is comparable to those trained using AT. It is, therefore, reasonable to use Simodont, which was acceptable to learners, as an adjunct to AT for endodontic access cavity training.
Workload and intention to leave among nurses in Turkey: The mediating roles of organizational identification and work satisfaction
Authors: Seki Esma Aslan , Özlük Bilgen
Published: November 2024

Aim

This study establishes the mediating roles of job satisfaction and organizational identification on the relationship between nurses’ workload and their intention to leave.

Background

The shortage of nurses is a prevalent global concern. International studies have shown that many variables are associated with nurses’ intention to leave. There is a shortage of literature on some of these variables, which this study is designed to address.

Methods

This study employs a descriptive, exploratory, and correlational design. It was conducted with 373 nurses from seven different hospitals in Turkey. The Workload Scale, the Minnesota Work Satisfaction Scale, the Organizational Identification Scale, and the Intention to Leave Scale were applied in the study.

Results

The structural equation model shows that the workload of nurses has a negative effect on work satisfaction (β = −0.74; p < 0.001) and organizational identification (β = −0.24; p < 0.001) and a positive impact on intention to leave (β = 0.30; p < 0.001). In addition, work satisfaction (β = −0.32; p < 0.001) and organizational identification (β = −0.24; p < 0.001 were found to affect the intention to leave negatively intention to leave. After the bootstrapping process, the indirect effect was found to be significant.

Discussion/conclusions

The research findings indicate that work satisfaction and organizational identification mediate the correlation between nurses’ workload and their intention to leave. The findings highlight the need for precautions by revealing the risks of nursing shortages anticipated both today and in the future.

Implications for nursing policy

In the global nursing crisis, healthcare managers and policymakers must develop strategies to protect the nursing workforce. Policymakers should make sustainable decisions by conducting national self‐assessments on the impact of workload, job satisfaction, and organizational identification on intention to leave to retain nurses.
Moral Distress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Experienced by Nurses Caring for Critically Ill Neonates: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Sakai Misako , Tanaka Koji , Nagata Kyoko , Ichinoyama Ryuji
Published: November 2024

Aims

To elucidate the meaning of moral distress in nurses caring for critically ill neonates.

Design

Qualitative study using Husserl's descriptive phenomenology.

Methods

Between April and December 2022, unstructured interviews were conducted with 11 nurses with at least 3 years of neonatal intensive care unit experience in Japan. They were asked to recall experiences of moral distress and to speak freely about their thoughts and feelings at the time. The analysis followed Colaizzi's seven‐step method.

Results

Three themes (‘organisational constraints’, ‘regret’ and ‘unshared experiences’) and seven subtheme clusters were extracted from the nurses' narratives of moral distress, which was the basis of trauma. Subtheme clusters included ‘wavering beliefs’, ‘guilt associated with the death of a child’, ‘powerlessness at being unable to help one's family’ and ‘mismatch with the perceptions and feelings of the family’.

Conclusion

Nurses experience various morally distressing events, but these are processed only as personal problems and give rise to feelings of self‐negation. Therefore, trauma can develop as a result of experiences related to decision‐making and the child's best interests. There is a need to improve nurses' moral resilience and ensure their psychological safety to alleviate moral distress.

Implications for the Profession

This study clarifies nurses' roles within the neonatal intensive care unit, potentially helping them to handle life‐and‐death issues and cope with feelings of moral distress.

Impact

This study elucidated the meanings of powerlessness underlying the moral distress experienced by neonatal intensive care unit nurses. These results will contribute to releasing suppressed feelings and thoughts and alleviating unavoidable moral distress in this setting.

Reporting Method

This study was performed in accordance with the COREQ guidelines.

Patient or Public Contribution

Nurses with experience in neonatal intensive care unit nursing participated as interviewees. They also verified the credibility of survey results and ensured analytical rigour.
Exploring the Current Applications and Effectiveness of ChatGPT in Nursing: An Integrative Review
Authors: Luo Yuan , Miao Yiqun , Zhao Yuhan , Li Jiawei , Wu Ying
Published: November 2024

Aims

To systematically review the current application status of ChatGPT in nursing and explore its application effects.

Design

An integrative review.

Methods

Following inclusion and exclusion criteria, two researchers summarised the selected literature and conducted a quality appraisal, followed by narrative synthesis.

Data Sources

PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus were searched from January 2022 to June 2024.

Results

A total of 31 papers met the inclusion criteria. Fifteen empirical studies were rated as grade 5, while five were rated as grade 4. The references of a minireview were not recently published and lacked ChatGPT‐related articles, and a systematic review was of low quality. The review focused on three main topics: (1) The subsidiary role of ChatGPT in nursing; (2) Comparison of different models' effectiveness and (3) Existing challenges.

Conclusions

While adopting new technologies such as ChatGPT, it is important to maintain a balanced perspective on both its benefits and limitations. Nursing professionals must actively address these deficiencies and explore solutions to improve ChatGPT's utility in the field.

Implications to the Profession and Patient Care

This review synthesised evidence on ChatGPT's application and highlighted existing challenges in nursing. Nursing researchers, educators and practitioners can further validate these findings to explore its potential in various aspects of nursing practice.

Impact

For researchers, ChatGPT can enhance language quality and summarise findings effectively, but adherence to research standards is crucial. For educators, ChatGPT can serve as an effective information source for students, though caution should be taken to avoid overreliance. For practitioners, ChatGPT can offer useful suggestions for clinical practice, but these should be critically evaluated and not followed blindly, as issues of inaccuracy must be addressed.

Reporting Method

This review adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
Is glucose‐induced hypersecretion of glicentin after the revision surgery using Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass related to improved glycemic control due to insulin hypersecretion in a type 2 diabetes patient without diabetes remission after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy?
Authors: Yamamoto Yukako , Sekine Osamu , Ito‐Kobayashi Jun , Nishida Ayane , Togawa Takeshi , Ozamoto Yuki , Oe Yasumitsu , Hagiwara Akeo , Kobayashi Masaki , Kitamura Tadahiro , Iwanishi Masanori , Shimatsu Akira , Kashiwagi Atsunori
Published: November 2024

We report case details of a morbidly obese patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who became a failure of diabetes remission after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). He had a marked improvement of hyperglycemia after the revision surgery using Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB), where passage failure of a solid food intake at the gastric angle portion disappeared after the revision surgery. Interestingly, he showed improvements of insulin and a marked glicentin secretions with minor changes in glucagon related peptide 1 (GLP‐1) and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) secretions in the oral glucose tolerance test OGTT after the RYGB surgery compared with post‐LSG. Although a marked increase in glucose‐induced glicentin secretion after RYGB surgery with increased insulin secretion, further studies are needed to confirm if the increased glicentin secretion after RYGB surgery is linked to stimulation of insulin secretion.
Market versus policy responses to novel occupational risks
Authors: Cramer Robert J. , Gentry Elissa Philip , Viscusi W. Kip
Published: November 2024

The unprecedented occupational risks posed by the COVID‐19 pandemic prompted employers to boost wages and federal authorities to propose hazard pay policies. This article estimates a market‐based compensating differential for workers facing elevated risks through contact with the public using CPS employment data for 2019–2020 and occupational characteristic data from the US Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network. The estimated premium for exposure was roughly $820 overall and $1000 for essential workers. These premiums fall short of those proposed—but not enacted—by the federal government and are more commensurate with estimates of the value of a statistical life than were the federal proposals.