bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does market structure mediate relationship between merger and acquisition and performance of Islamic and conventional banks?
Authors: Ullah Nazim
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Merger and acquisition (M&A) plays an important role in developing the financial sector. The purpose of the paper is to analyze and evaluate the effects of M&As on the outcome of Islamic and conventional banks. Furthermore, examines the mediating role of market structure between M&A and bank outcome.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses POLS, panel data techniques and structural equation modeling to analyze a set of samples for 24 banks consisting of 10 Islamic banks and 14 conventional banks involved in M&A from 2004Q1 to 2020Q4 from 6 countries.

Findings

Generally, M&A improves the post-M&A performance of Islamic banks and conventional banks. However, there is size issue. Bank size positively affects Islamic bank performance while conventional does not. Furthermore, market structure mediates the relationship between M&A and the operational performance of Islamic and conventional banks. Implying that after M&A, the market becomes concentrated while it reduces competition.

Research limitations/implications

Number of banks are limited due to unavailability of data for pre and post-M&A. Future researches can be carried out to study the cross-border M&A along with the regulation between Islamic banks in GCC and Asia Pacific countries.

Practical implications

Improving operational performance plays a significant role. To enhance the performance of Islamic banking industry, M&A between small Islamic banks could be beneficial depending on the market structure.

Originality/value

The mediation role of market structure in between M&A and performance for Islamic and conventional banks is the main contribution of the study.
Workplace mistreatments by the management toward employees and its behavioral consequences
Authors: Burhan Qurat-ul-Ain
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of organizational mistreatments, such as workplace bullying and ostracism, on task performance. Additionally, it explores the mediating role of cyber loafing and the moderating role of negative reciprocity beliefs.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting a positivism research philosophy and a deductive approach, this study focuses on the petroleum sector-related organizations where enterprise resource planning requires active Internet use, potentially leading to cyber loafing. Data were collected from employees using purposive sampling techniques, resulting in a sample size of 248. The data analysis was conducted using AMOS and SPSS software.

Findings

The results indicate that cyber loafing fully mediates the relationship between workplace bullying and ostracism on task performance. Additionally, negative reciprocity beliefs significantly moderate the relationship between workplace bullying, ostracism and cyber loafing.

Originality/value

This study presents a moderated-mediation model of organizational mistreatments and task performance, elucidating the mechanisms through the mediating role of cyber loafing and the moderating role of negative reciprocity beliefs.
Changes in food behaviours during the first COVID‐19 pandemic lockdown in Australia
Authors: Palu Aliyah , Crowther Juliette , Hart Ashleigh Chanel , Santos Joseph Alvin , Rosewarne Emalie , Pettigrew Simone , Hoek Annet C. , Trieu Kathy , Webster Jacqui
Published: December 2024

Aim

The objective of this study was to explore changes in Australian consumer food behaviours during COVID‐19 public health restrictions (lockdown), to provide insights into how this unforeseen crisis event affected dietary behaviour patterns.

Methods

An online cross‐sectional survey was conducted in September 2020 with a nationally representative sample of the Australian adult population. Participants were asked to complete questions about (1) meal planning and food purchasing and (2) barriers to cooking, before and during a national‐wide COVID‐19 lockdown in early 2020. A survey‐adjusted logistic regression analysis was used to identify food behaviour changes resulting from the lockdown.

Results

A total of 4022 respondents completed the survey. Overall, food behaviour changes were found to be small and mostly positive. Eight of the 14 meal planning and purchasing related behaviours improved. This included more frequent meal planning and more time to be able to cook. However, not all changes were healthier, with more respondents reporting that they cooked meals at home using healthy ingredients less frequently during the lockdown.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that people are willing and able to make some positive changes when they have time but that more work needs to be done to ensure that the improvements in food literacy result in healthier meals. Further consideration also needs to be given to how we can embed and amplify these positive changes into everyday habits now that public health restrictions have lifted and Australia is in post‐lockdown reality.
Origin and Emplacement of the Cambrian Yanglong Ophiolite in the North Qilian Suture
Authors: FU Changlei , XUE Wanwen , PAN Tong , YAN Zhen , GUO Xianqing , AITCHISON Jonathan C. , XIAO Wenjiao , WANG Bingzhang , LI Wufu
Published: December 2024

Fragments of Proto‐Tethyan oceanic lithosphere are well‐preserved along the southern belt of the North Qilian suture, and the origin and emplacement of these ophiolites have become subjects of intense debate. In this study, we integrate field observations, mineralogical and geochemical analyses, zircon U‐Pb dating, and isotopic data to investigate the Yanglong ophiolite. The Yanglong ophiolitic rocks are found as tectonic slices resting on the Neoproterozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks. These rocks are composed of Cambrian serpentinized peridotite, gabbro, dolerite, and rodingite. The spinels in the serpentinized peridotites have variable Cr# values (21, 38–46, and 59–61) and display affinity to those in abyssal and forearc peridotites. The dolerites show slight enrichment in Th and have elevated (La/Sm)N ratios (1.19–2.01), indicating a subduction‐related geochemical affinity. The Yanglong ophiolitic rocks have positive zircon ɛHf(t) values (+10.3–+18.4) and whole‐rock ɛND(t) values (+5.3–+6.7) indicating derivation from partial melting of a depleted mantle source. These results, together with the regional geology, collectively suggest that the Yanglong ophiolite was generated in a forearc setting during the Early Cambrian northward intra‐oceanic subduction. It was emplaced onto the Central Qilian Block during the subsequent arc‐continent collision, no later than the Early Ordovician.
Performing Accountability During a Crisis: Insights from the Italian Government's Response to the First Wave of the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Columbano Claudio , Pianezzi Daniela , Steccolini Ileana
Published: December 2024

This paper analyses the form that government accountability takes during a crisis. Based on 52 press conferences, declarations, and speeches made by Italian central government officials in the early months of the COVID‐19 pandemic, the paper shows that accountability was enacted, in practice, through Goffmanian performances, in three separate ways. First, performances aimed at defining the crisis, first as a situation under control, and later as an emergency. Second, performances served to allocate responsibility for ending the crisis, first to the government and then to the citizenry. Finally, performances allowed the establishment of a hierarchy of the values that would justify the crisis response policies—preserving access to healthcare as opposed to safeguarding other economic, individual, and societal interests. Variations in the elements of performances gave rise to three shifting configurations of accountability—paternalistic, political, and communal—that followed the evolution of the crisis. Collectively, the findings deepen our understanding of the role that accountability has in the justification of the crisis response policies.
Role of PI3K/AKT/MAOA in glucocorticoid‐induced oxidative stress and associated premature senescence of the trabecular meshwork
Authors: Zhang Pengyu , Zhang Nan , Hu Yixin , Deng Xizhi , Zhu Min , Lai Cheng , Zeng Wen , Ke Min
Published: December 2024

The oxidative stress‐induced premature senescence of trabecular meshwork (TM) represents a pivotal risk factor for the development of glucocorticoid‐induced glaucoma (GIG). This study aimed to elucidate the pathogenesis of TM senescence in GIG. MethodsIntraocular pressure (IOP), transmission electron microscopy and senescence‐associated protein expression in TM were evaluated in GIG mice. Protein expression of phosphoinositide‐3‐kinase regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1) and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), phosphorylation of AKT were quantified. ROS and mitochondrial superoxide levels were measured to evaluate cellular oxidative stress. Cell cycle analysis, β‐galactosidase staining, senescence‐associated protein expression were employed to assess the aging status of primary human trabecular meshwork cells (pHTMs). ResultsmRNA‐seq and KEGG analysis indicating PI3K/AKT pathway as a key regulator in TM of GIG. PI3K inhibitor significantly prevented IOP elevation and abnormal mitochondrial morphology of TM in the GIG mouse model. PI3K inhibitor or selective silencing of PIK3R1 alleviated dexamethasone (DEX)‐induced oxidative stress, also mitochondrial dysfunction, inhibiting MAOA expression in pHTMs. The same phenomenon was observed in the GIG models with inhibition of MAOA. Further KEGG analysis indicates that cellular senescence is the key factor in the pathogenesis of GIG. TM senescence was observed in both GIG mouse and cell models. Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/MAOA pathway significantly alleviated DEX‐induced premature cellular senescence of TM in GIG models. Glucocorticoids activated the PI3K/AKT/MAOA pathway, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and premature aging in TM, elevating IOP. This mechanism could be associated with the onset and progression of GIG, providing a potential approach for its treatment.
Judicial independence and earnings management
Authors: Jiang Ellen Jin , Jia Xiao
Published: December 2024

We investigate the crucial relationship between judicial independence and corporate earnings management, utilising China's staggered judicial delocalisation reform. We establish a causal and negative relationship between the judicial independence of local courts and corporate earnings management. Channel analyses demonstrate that judicial independence limits local government officials' capacity to interfere in corporate decisions and increases the ex post legal risks for information distortion. This effect is particularly pronounced among non‐state‐owned enterprises and in regions with stronger institutional frameworks. These findings highlight the indispensable role of judicial independence in fortifying the rule of law and reducing corporate information distortion.
Clinical outcomes of the implementation of acute care surgery system in South Korea: a multi‐centre, retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yi Gun‐Hee , Hong Suk‐Kyung , Jun Yang‐Hee , Yoo Sungyeon , Bae Jung‐Min , Yoo Keesang , Jung Yun Tae , Kim EunYoung , Lee Narae , Ko Min Jung , Shin Hogyun , Lee Hak‐Jae
Published: December 2024

Background

In emergency general surgery (EGS), rapid judgement and prompt emergency surgery play a significant role in determining the patient's prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate whether implementing the acute care surgery (ACS) system in Korea has improved the clinical outcomes of patients.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at three tertiary hospitals in Korea. The study included patients aged 18–99 years who required EGS due to acute abdomen or abdominal trauma. A window period of 4 months was set after the implementation of the ACS system, and the clinical outcomes before and after the implementation were compared.

Results

A total of 2146 patients were enrolled in the study, with 1008 in the pre‐ACS group and 1138 in the post‐ACS group. After propensity score matching, 901 patients were selected in the pre‐ACS group and 906 patients were selected in the post‐ACS group. The time from emergency room admission to operating room transfer was reduced in the post‐ACS group, with a mean of 452.2 ± 347.0 min compared to 522.1 ± 416.5 min in the pre ACS group (P = 0.001). Moreover, the complication rates were reduced in the post‐ACS group (38.3% vs. 31.3%, P = 0.006).

Conclusions

The implementation of the ACS system can lead to faster surgical decision‐making and the prompt execution of emergency surgery for patients, thereby reducing postoperative complications.
Evaluating the time to surgery for low severity trauma patients within a trauma quality improvement program
Authors: Christey Grant , Soysa Ishani , Smith Alastair
Published: December 2024

Backgrounds

There is potential for inequity in quality improvement and prevention initiatives of low severity trauma burden may not be considered proportionately in the context of their impacts on healthcare providers or the community. This study defines and tests a small preliminary set of common, low‐severity injuries requiring non‐urgent, operative interventions in a health region of NZ.

Methods

The regional trauma registry was reviewed to develop a short list of potential diagnostic groups to be used in testing the time from admission to surgery and selection criteria were applied to find appropriate injuries. The volume of presentations over a 10‐year period were analysed.

Results

A total of 3213 events with a single injury included in the five selected diagnostic groups met the study selection criteria. The most common (32.4%) diagnostic group was the simple forearm fracture. The supracondylar fracture was the most common (65.9%) group for the 0–14 year olds. The median time delay from arrival to first operative intervention was longest in the tibial fracture group at 45.4 h, and was shortest in the supracondylar fracture group at 10.0 h. Volumes varied between diagnostic groups from an average of 22 per‐year for mandibular fractures to an average of 104 per‐year for forearm fractures.

Conclusions

The results show that the variations in process applied to different diagnostic groups are measurable and can be observed over time. This provides a platform for further work on the quality indicators and benchmarking for delivery of care to patients with low severity trauma.
Food cravings are associated with increased self‐regulation, even in the face of strong instigation habits: A longitudinal study of the transition to plant‐based eating
Authors: Saunders Blair , Milyavskaya Marina , More Kimberly R. , Anderson Jo
Published: December 2024

Frequently engaging in a positive health behaviour, like following a vegetarian or vegan (veg*n) diet, can bring benefits to both the individual and society. We investigated the roles of two psychological determinants of behaviour—instigation habits and self‐regulation strategy use—in a cohort of individuals who were newly transitioning to a veg*n diet. In a longitudinal study over 6 months (7 waves including baseline), 222 individuals transitioning to a veg*n diet reported their monthly habit strength, craving frequency, self‐regulation strategies and animal product consumption. Our results supported the benefits of having a healthy habit, as stronger habits predicted fewer cravings and lower consumption of animal products, in line with the person's target diet. However, in contrast to some theoretical accounts, having a strong instigation habit did not reduce the use of self‐regulation strategies; people with strong habits used multiple strategies to maintain their diet, especially when they experienced frequent diet‐inconsistent cravings. These findings challenge the idea that habits eliminate the need for self‐regulation, and suggest that habits do not fully circumvent motivational challenges in the pursuit of complex health behaviours. Our results are consistent with recent suggestions that automatic and intentional processes act simultaneously during the enactment of complex health behaviours.
The Two Faces of Angiopoietin‐Like Protein 2 in Cancer
Authors: Horiguchi Haruki , Kadomatsu Tsuyoshi , Oike Yuichi
Published: December 2024

The tumor microenvironment is composed of tumor cells and various stromal cell types, such as immune cells, fibroblasts, and vascular cells. Signaling interactions between tumor and stromal cells orchestrate the tumor microenvironment's contribution to tumor progression. Angiopoietin‐like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) is a secreted glycoprotein homologous to angiopoietins. Previous studies indicate that tumor cell‐derived ANGPTL2 serves as a tumor promoter. However, recent studies suggest that tumor stroma‐derived ANGPTL2 shows tumor‐suppressive activity by enhancing anti‐tumor immune responses, supporting a dual function for ANGPTL2 in cancer pathology. Such complexity can complicate development of effective therapeutic strategies targeting ANGPTL2. In this Review, we focus on ANGPTL2 activity in the tumor microenvironment and its function in anti‐cancer immunity.
Capture Probability of Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus armatus) in Baited Traps and Implications for Trap Survey Design
Authors: Becker Alistair , Johnson Daniel D. , Pederson Hugh , Taylor Matthew D.
Published: December 2024

Fishery independent surveys provide valuable data for fisheries assessments that predominantly rely on trends in catch per unit effort (CPUE). Many crustacean fisheries are harvested using traps, so this gear is often used for fishery independent surveys. The areal sampling unit for baited traps is normally poorly understood, so surveys can be biased if sampling areas overlap. The blue swimmer crab (Portunus armatus) is an important commercial and recreational species distributed around the warm temperate and tropical coast of Australia, and stock management typically relies on catch data supplemented by independent surveys. Acoustic telemetry was used to track fine‐scale movements of 37 crabs in response to deployment of baited‐traps and to estimate probability of capture relative to distance from the trap. Traps attracted crabs from an initial distance up to 70 m, with most movements towards traps after dark. Capture probability increased with decreasing initial distance from a deployed trap. Despite this, the probability of capture was < 50% for crabs positioned adjacent to a deployed trap, which could lead to a mismatch between catch and crab abundance if the proportion of catchable crabs varied with abundance. Our findings reinforced that nocturnal sampling was more appropriate for the species, and we recommend that traps be no closer than 140 m apart. Our findings also demonstrated the utility of fine‐scale acoustic telemetry for informing survey designs and may serve as a template for other trap surveys and fisheries.
Prevalence Estimation of Dysfibrinogenemia Using the Clauss‐CWA Approach
Authors: Suzuki Atsuo , Suzuki Nobuaki , Okamoto Shuichi , Tamura Shogo , Kanematsu Takeshi , Kikuchi Ryosuke , Kojima Tetsuhito , Matsushita Tadashi
Published: December 2024

Introduction

The actual prevalence of the qualitative fibrinogen abnormalities dysfibrinogenemia and hypodysfibrinogenemia is unknown. The major reasons are that patients with dysfibrinogenemia are frequently asymptomatic, and a recommended screening test, the Clauss fibrinogen assay, cannot completely distinguish qualitative from quantitative abnormalities. We previously established a high‐throughput screening test (Clauss‐CWA) to identify dysfibrinogenemia with high specificity and sensitivity by the Clauss fibrinogen assay alone.

Aim and Methods

This was a single‐center, observational study to estimate the prevalence of dysfibrinogenemia using Clauss‐CWA technology. A total of 25 471 patients in Nagoya University Hospital were screened to identify patients with suspected dysfibrinogenemia. The suspected patients were investigated by further confirmatory analyses, such as antigenic fibrinogen determination, reptilase time, fibrin polymerization analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.

Results and Conclusions

Of the 25 471 enrolled patients, five with suspected dysfibrinogenemia were identified. Unfortunately, one patient was not confirmed due to a lack of plasma samples. The ratio of functional to antigenic fibrinogen was decreased, and the reptilase time was prolonged in the four patients. Interestingly, two of them showed normal functional fibrinogen levels due to acute inflammatory responses. Fibrin polymerization was impaired, and structural abnormalities were found in the fibrinogen from the patients. In some cases, functional fibrinogen levels may not be effective for identifying functional fibrinogen abnormalities. Further nationwide studies are needed to more precisely understand the epidemiology of dysfibrinogenemia.
Influence of nurses’ narrative competence on communication ability with angry patients: The mediating effect of reflection
Authors: Zhao Ya‐Ning , Wang Xiao‐Kai , Zhang Qiu‐Jun , Li Hong‐Feng , Guo Si‐Yan , Yang Shao‐Ping , Zhang Yu‐Ye , Ke Dan‐Dan
Published: December 2024

Aim

To examine if reflection mediates the relationship between narrative competence and nurses’ communication ability with angry patients.

Background

Workplace violence is a significant hazard in clinical settings and leads to deleterious effects on health workers. Anger is a key contributing factor to aggressive behavior, and effectively managing patients’ anger can help mitigate the risk of workplace violence. Narrative competence and reflection are important factors that enhance communication ability. Therefore, this study aims to explore the mediating role of reflection in the influence of narrative competence on nurses’ ability to communicate with angry patients.

Methods

Data were collected in China, where 647 nurses completed assessments on narrative competence, reflection, and communication ability with angry patients. Structural equation modeling was used to test the study's hypothesis.

Results

The relationship between narrative ability and communication with angry patients is mediated by reflection, and it is statistically significant at the alpha = 0.05 level.

Conclusions

Nurses’ narrative ability has a crucial influence on their communication ability when interacting with angry patients, whereby narrative competence directly affects reflection and indirectly influences communication ability. This study offers a new narrative perspective to reduce nurse–patient conflicts and alleviate hospital violence.

Implications for nursing and nursing policy

By integrating narrative techniques into healthcare education, nursing managers can prioritize the development of nurses’ narrative competence and reflective abilities. This will not only improve the nurse–patient relationship and reduce conflicts but will also foster a positive healthcare environment, contributing to the overall development of the healthcare industry and the enhancement of human health.
Diversity and social capital within the workplace: Evidence from Britain
Authors: Breda Thomas , Manning Alan
Published: December 2024

This article uses the British Workplace Employee Relations Survey to investigate the links between gender or ethnic diversity and workers' level of trust in managers or the extent of identity with the values and objectives of the firm – dimensions of what we might call social capital within the workplace. These are both factors that one might expect to make firms more cooperative and, hence, productive. Controlling for plants workforce composition, we find an opposite effect of females and ethnic minorities: a higher female share in the plant is associated with higher trust and identity for both men and women (men much more than women), while a higher minority share is associated with lower trust and identity.
Designing a sports orienteering contest: physical versus cognitive skills in rogaining
Authors: Van Bulck David , Pääkkönen Joonas , Jacquet Benjamin , Goossens Dries
Published: December 2024

Rogaining is an orienteering running sport where participants need to decide what control points to visit and in which order. The objective is to collect the largest possible score associated with the visited controls, without violating the time limit. While extensive literature exists on the orienteering problem from a participants' point of view, there is limited understanding of how to design a rogaining contest where physical abilities do not dominate over cognitive skills in influencing the race outcome. To create these contests, we propose a heuristic bilevel optimization approach where at the upper level organizers assign scores to candidate control points, while at the lower level participants solve the classic orienteering problem. The simulation of the selected courses by the participants results in a provisional ranking that allows to evaluate the score assignment as determined by the organizer at the upper level. We apply our methodology to the 2023 World Rogaining Championships, demonstrating the necessity of thoughtful score allocation to ensure a balanced emphasis on both skills.
Working More to Pay the Mortgage: Household Debt, Interest Rates, and Family Labor Supply
Authors: Zator Michał
Published: December 2024

I show that households work and earn more (less) when their floating‐rate mortgage payments quasi‐exogenously increase (decrease). The response is sizable and asymmetric: on average, households adjust their income by 35% of the change in their mortgage payment, but the response is significantly stronger following an increase in payments. While men in dual‐earner, childless households respond the most on average, the asymmetry is most pronounced for women and young workers, who respond particularly strongly to payment increases. The asymmetry of the labor supply elasticity may help explain the wide range of elasticities found in previous research.
3D‐printed denture base resins: Glazing as an alternative to improve surface, mechanical, and microbiological properties
Authors: Carneiro Pereira Ana Larisse , dos Santos Silva João Pedro , Grangeiro Manassés Tercio Vieira , de Medeiros Annie Karoline Bezerra , Bottino Marcos Antonio , Barão Valentim A. R. , da Fonte Porto Carreiro Adriana
Published: December 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of glazing denture base resins (heat‐polymerized and 3D‐printed) on surface, mechanical, and microbiological properties.

Materials and Methods

Discs (10 × 3 mm) and bars (64 × 10 × 3.3 ± 0.2 mm) were manufactured using heat‐polymerized denture base resin (CT) and 3D‐printed denture base resin (Yller [YL], Prizma [PZ] and PrintaX [PX]). These were divided into two groups: unglazed and glazed. Surface roughness (Ra), wettability (contact angle), brightness (GU), and topography (via scanning electron microscopy) were assessed, along with microbiological analysis of dual‐species biofilms (Streptococcus mitis and Candida albicans) and Knoop microhardness on discs (n = 10). Flexural strength testing was conducted separately on bars (n = 20). Half of the specimens subjected to surface and mechanical characterizations were thermocycled (10,000 cycles). Mann–Whitney test (p < 0.05) and simple and multiple linear regression analysis (p < 0.20) were employed to evaluate the impact of glazing on denture base resins.

Results

The application of glaze reduced roughness by 0.33 µm and water contact angle by 8.47º, while increasing brightness by 21.30 units (p < 0.001) for 3D‐printed resins compared to CT. After thermal cycling, roughness and wettability increased, while brightness decreased (p < 0.05). The glaze also increased hardness, with no adverse effects from thermal cycling (p < 0.001), and enhanced flexural strength for PZ compared to CT (p < 0.001). Additionally, C. albicans colonization decreased by 7.79 log CFU/mL in mixed biofilms for 3D‐printed resins compared to CT (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The application of glaze resulted in smoother, brighter, and harder surfaces for the 3D‐printed resins, while also reducing biofilm colonization.
Bridging Innovation Distances: High‐Speed Rail and Patent Agency Utilization in China
Authors: Wu Xiaokang , Yu Jinping
Published: December 2024

Innovation intermediaries are instrumental in enhancing the efficacy of the innovation process, yet their accessibility tends to be geographically restricted, particularly in underdeveloped regions. This study examines whether the development of transportation infrastructure can alleviate these spatial frictions, promoting cross‐regional utilization of intermediary services and subsequently improving innovation outcomes. Leveraging a unique database on patent agency utilization for all invention patents in China from 2003 to 2019, and employing high‐speed rail (HSR) as a natural experiment, we estimate a staggered difference‐in‐difference model at the city‐pair level. Our findings suggest that reductions in transportation costs lead to a substantial increase in cross‐city PAU after HSR connection, especially in sectors with higher technology sophistication requiring more face‐to‐face interactions between inventors and agents. This research uncovers a novel mechanism through which HSR influences innovation and provides policy implications for optimizing innovation intermediaries through infrastructure development.
Solitary fibrous tumor of the central nervous system with epithelioid neuroendocrine “Transdedifferentiation”: A case report and review of the literatures
Authors: Bokhari Shazia , Hwang Michael J , Zhang X. Robert , Bhattacharjee Meenakshi B. , Takei Hidehiro
Published: December 2024

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) of the central nervous system (CNS) are rare mesenchymal tumors characterized by a fusion of the NGFI‐A‐binding protein 2 (NAB2) gene and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) gene, immunohistochemically resulting in nuclear expression of STAT6 – an immunohistochemical hallmark essential for diagnosis, as outlined in the fifth edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumors. Dedifferentiation, where low‐grade tumors transform into high‐grade forms, has been observed in SFTs, with documented cases involving sarcomatous or rarely epithelial transformations. We report the first case of a CNS SFT exhibiting “transdedifferentiation” into epithelioid neuroendocrine differentiation. A 36‐year‐old woman presented with worsening frontal headaches and vision deterioration due to an 8.2‐cm frontal tumor with skull erosion. Histologically, the tumor consisted of predominantly high‐grade undifferentiated epithelioid round cells that expressed STAT6, along with multifocal synaptophysin and chromogranin A positivity, and occasional cytokeratin and claudin‐4 reactivity, resembling large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. A minor bland spindle cell component with STAT 6 immunoreactivity was also noted. This case highlights the rare occurrence of neuroendocrine “transdedifferentiation” in CNS SFTs. This case highlights the importance of recognizing dedifferentiation in CSF SFTs, which often correlates with aggressive tumor behavior and poor prognosis. Given the rarity of neuroendocrine “transdedifferentiation,” this case adds valuable insight into the diverse dedifferentiation patterns seen in CNS SFTs, emphasizing the need for accurate diagnosis to guide appropriate treatment strategies.
Prognostic Factors in Head and Neck Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 3052 Patients in Brazil
Authors: Mores Ana Letícia , Bonfim‐Alves Carolina Guimarães , López Rossana Verónica Mendoza , Rodrigues‐Oliveira Leticia , Palmier Natália Rangel , Mariz Bruno Augusto Linhares Almeida , Migliorati Cesar Augusto , Kowalski Luiz Paulo , Santos‐Silva Alan Roger , Brandão Thaís Bianca , Prado‐Ribeiro Ana Carolina
Published: December 2024

Objective

Evaluate the sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle characteristics at head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnosis and their impact on overall survival (OS) across different anatomical sites.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective cohort study (2011–2021) at Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, involving 3052 HNSCC patients. Survival analyses utilized the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals, incorporating significant variables from univariate analysis.

Results

The five‐year OS for all HNSCC sites (n = 3052) was 31.4%, with specific rates of 37.0% for laryngeal cancer (n = 935), 35.8% for oral cancer (n = 762), 26.6% for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) (n = 1189), and 14.8% for hypopharyngeal cancer (n = 166). HPV‐positive OPC had a higher five‐year OS (59.3%; n = 127) compared to HPV‐negative (35.4%; n = 226). Multivariable analysis identified older age (≥ 70 years) and advanced TNM stage (IV) as adverse prognostic factors for oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx sites. Male gender was associated with poorer prognosis in the oral cavity, while alcohol consumption was linked to worse outcomes in oropharynx and larynx sites.

Conclusion

HNSCC OS remains low at a public cancer center in São Paulo. Older age, advanced tumor stage, and alcohol consumption are independent adverse prognostic factors, particularly in oropharynx and larynx sites.
Integrated Analysis of Oral Microbiome and Metabolome in T2DM Patients With Varying Glycemic Status
Authors: Diao Jing , Zhang Yanling , Zhang Xiaoli , Jia Shuyuan , Lei Yajuan , Ma Bowen , Li Xiaodong , Zheng Shuguo , Yuan Chao
Published: December 2024

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the subgingival and salivary microbiome and metabolome in diabetic periodontitis patients with varying glycemic levels.

Methods

Forty‐two diabetic periodontitis patients were sampled of saliva, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), and blood, and categorized into three groups based on systemic glycemic status. The microbiome was assessed using full‐length 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was performed for metabolome analysis.

Results

The similarity in the structure and function of the flora in saliva and GCF was evident under good blood glucose control. Conversely, inadequate blood glucose control demonstrated a more distinct separation from saliva flora. Both salivary and GCF microorganisms exhibited greater periodontal pathogenicity, with salivary metabolites showing stronger associations with inflammation when Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) > 6.5%. Some periodontal pathogens, such as Veillonella atypica, showed significantly positive correlations with proinflammatory metabolites, including lactic acid and putrescine, etc. Salivary microbes demonstrated more sensitive responses than GCF to changes in blood glucose levels among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Conclusion

Under active blood glucose control, it indicates lower periodontal pathogenicity and inflammatory correlation in the oral microecology of T2DM patients. Saliva appears to offer superior diagnostic and monitoring value compared to GCF in the context of systemic disease surveillance.
The Influence of Zero‐Profile Implant Selection on the Outcomes of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Authors: Wang Xing‐Jin , He Jun‐Bo , Wu Ting‐Kui , Wang Bei‐Yu , Rong Xin , Gong Quan , Liu Hao
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has been widely used in the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease (CDDD). Previous studies have demonstrated that the size of implants in ACDF determines radiological and clinical outcomes. However, the principles of choosing an appropriate implant size in ACDF remain controversial. The study aimed to elucidate the influence of the cage size of Zero‐profile implant system and offer proposals on the selection of implant size during ACDF.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed 109 patients who underwent single‐level ACDF from March 2011 to April 2020 with the Zero‐profile implant system. The patients were categorized into two groups based on the preoperative mean height of adjacent segments (Hm). Clinical outcomes included the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores (JOA), Neck Disability Index (NDI) and visual analog scale (VAS). In addition, radiographical analysis encompassed cervical lordosis (CL), functional spinal unit (FSU) angle, range of motion (ROM) of the total cervical spine and the FSU, anterior and posterior FSU height, C1–C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), C2–C7 SVA, the center of gravity of the head (CGH)‐C7 SVA as well as T1 slope (T1S) measurements. Besides, bone fusion rates, anterior bone loss, subsidence, and adjacent segment degeneration were also recorded.

Results

Overall, 37 patients in Group A had an implant size ≥ Hm while 72 patients in Group B had an implant size < Hm. The preoperative general data and radiological parameters were comparable between the groups. At the last follow‐up, both groups had satisfactory clinical outcomes. As for radiological outcomes, the anterior and posterior FSU heights were significantly higher in Group A compared to Group B (p < 0.05) after ACDF. Besides, both groups corrected and maintained the CL and FSU. However, the average C1–C7 SVA and C2–C7 SVA at the last follow‐up were significantly higher in the Group B than in the Group A (C1–C7 SVA: 27.42 ± 9.23 mm vs. 31.76 ± 10.68 mm, p = 0.038; C2–C7 SVA: 14.65 ± 7.27 mm vs. 19.64 ± 8.68, p = 0.003). Additionally, the fusion rates were significantly higher in Group A at the first two follow‐up visits.

Conclusion

Our study showed that an appropriate size of Zero‐profile implant system is crucial to achieving favorable clinical and radiological outcomes after performing ACDF. Implants with a larger height but not oversize could maintain the cervical sagittal balance and FSU height and achieve early bone fusion. Therefore, a larger height might be a better choice for achieving a satisfactory long‐term prognosis if Zero‐profile implants of adjacent size both fit the disc space properly.
Managing Adverse Skin Reactions Associated With Central Line Dressings in Children: A Survey of Dermatologists
Authors: Mulinda Carly , Garzon Maria C. , Morel Kimberly D. , Levin Laura E. , Collins Clara , Quinn Peggy , Saiman Lisa , Lauren Christine T.
Published: December 2024

Central line dressings (CLDs) may be associated with adverse skin reactions in hospitalized children. Currently, standardized protocols to guide the management of cutaneous CLD reactions are unavailable at our children's hospital and in the pediatric literature. We surveyed dermatologists at multiple institutions who routinely perform pediatric consults to assess their management practices and/or the use of standardized protocols for addressing adverse cutaneous reactions to CLDs. All (n = 35) respondents reported receiving CLD‐related consults, often involving interdisciplinary teams, yet most (66%) did not have standardized management protocols. When available, reported protocols for the management of CLD‐associated skin reactions differed, including variable inclusion of chlorhexidine gluconate within polyurethane dressings and the use of patch testing for allergies or irritant reactions to applied products. Our findings support the need to further clarify patient and agent‐specific factors predisposing to CLD‐associated skin reactions and to develop and validate a multicenter protocol to optimize the management of CLD‐associated skin reactions.
Let's hope we're not living in a simulation
Authors: Schwitzgebel Eric
Published: December 2024

In Reality+, David Chalmers suggests that it wouldn't be too bad if we lived in a computer simulation. I argue on the contrary that if we live in a simulation, we ought to attach a significant conditional credence to its being a small or brief simulation. Our existence and the existence of many of the people and things we care about would then unfortunately depend on contingencies difficult to assess and beyond our control. Furthermore, all the badness of the world would appear to reflect the gods’ intentional cruelty or callous disregard. A large, stable rock is a more dependable and less axiologically troubling fundamental ground for reality.
Electrochemotherapy with bleomycin for bilateral ocular squamous cell carcinoma in a horse
Authors: Larsen Majbritt M. E. , Eriksson Anna , Impellizeri Joseph A.
Published: December 2024

Objective

To describe the procedure and outcome of electrochemotherapy (ECT) with bleomycin as a first‐line treatment for bilateral ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) in the eye of a horse.

Animal Studied

A client‐owned 5‐year‐old Haflinger gelding with limbal‐conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma.

Procedures

During general and local anesthesia, injection of bleomycin in the ocular tumor was followed by electroporation, applied with a 15 mm needle electrode, needles held parallel to the ocular surface.

Results

Treatment with ECT resulted in therapeutic electric pulses and complete tumor response with no recurrence during follow‐up. Tumor toxicity as a result of treatment was mild, with no adverse effect to normal tissue.

Conclusions

In this case of bilateral ocular tumors, staged ECT with bleomycin was shown to be a safe and effective treatment with complete tumor remission and no recurrence during the observation period. The result suggests ECT as a possible treatment in ocular tumors, with further research recommended.
Enhancing stroke risk stratification in atrial fibrillation through non‐Newtonian blood modelling and Gaussian process emulation
Authors: Melidoro Paolo , Sultan Abdel Rahman Amr , Qureshi Ahmed , Yacoub Magdi H. , Elkhodary Khalil L. , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Montarello Natalie , Lahoti Nishant , Rajani Ronak , Klis Magdalena , Williams Steven E. , Aslanidi Oleg , De Vecchi Adelaide
Published: December 2024

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart arrhythmia, linked to a five‐fold increase in stroke risk. The left atrial appendage (LAA), prone to blood stasis, is a common thrombus formation site in AF patients. The LAA can be classified into four morphologies: broccoli, cactus, chicken wing and windsock. Stroke risk prediction in AF typically relies on demographic characteristics and comorbidities, often overlooking blood flow dynamics. We developed patient‐specific non‐Newtonian models of blood flow, dependent on fibrinogen and haematocrit, to predict changes in LAA viscosity, aiming to predict stroke in AF patients. We conducted 480 computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using the non‐Newtonian model across the four LAA morphologies for four virtual patient cohorts: AF + Covid‐19, AF + pathological fibrinogen, AF + normal fibrinogen, and healthy controls. Gaussian process emulators (GPEs) were trained on this in silico cohort to predict average LAA viscosity at near‐zero computational cost. GPEs demonstrated high accuracy in AF cohorts but lower accuracy when the chicken wing GPE was applied to other morphologies. Global sensitivity analysis showed fibrinogen significantly influenced blood viscosity in all AF cohorts. The chicken wing morphology exhibited the highest viscosity, while the AF + Covid‐19 cohort had the highest viscosity. Our non‐Newtonian model in CFD simulations confirmed fibrinogen's substantial impact on blood viscosity at low shear rates in the LAA, suggesting that combining blood values and geometric parameters of the LAA into GPE training could enhance stroke risk stratification accuracy.

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Key points

Fibrinogen has a significant effect on blood viscosity in the left atrial appendage (LAA) at low shear rates.

Gaussian process emulators (GPEs) can predict the viscosity of blood in the LAA at near‐zero computational cost.

Out of all LAA morphologies, the chicken wing morphology exhibited the highest average blood viscosity.

High average blood viscosity in the LAA of atrial fibrilation + Covid‐19 patients was observed due to high fibrinogen levels in this cohort.

Combining blood values and geometric parameters of the LAA into GPE training could enhance stroke risk stratification accuracy.
Control mechanism of the back insulated-gate in vacuum nano-electronics
Authors: Bian Qingyu , Chen Ping , Liang Feng , Zhang Rui , Zhao Degang , Xue Chunlai
Published: December 2024

Recently, with the advancement of micronanoscale manufacturing technologies, vacuum electronic devices, which are immune to harsh environments (e.g., high temperatures, severe radiation), have once again entered researchers’ horizons. There have been a lot of reports focused on the impacts of emitter materials and overall consideration of structures on device performances. However, there is less discussion on the influence of the gate with different configuration geometries, even which is an extremely important component in the designed device structure, playing a switching role. In this paper, we discuss the effects of the back insulated-gate structure with different configuration geometries on emission and collection currents. The results show that the emitter emits more electrons when the gate width is larger (i.e., the coupling effect between the gate and the emitter is better), which, in turn, is able to help the collector receive more electrons. The gate has a greater influence than the collector on the local electric field near the emitter, explaining that the gate plays a switching role in such vacuum channel transistors. Moreover, we find that increased gate voltage causes the emitted electron beam to be more dispersed. Different collector voltages lead to different trends in the collection efficiency curve. The effects of widths (in the direction perpendicular to current flow) of the collector and the emitter on the emission and collection currents are also discussed. These studies provide theoretical bases for the future device designing.
Castration-resistant prostate cancer is resensitized to androgen deprivation by autophagy-dependent apoptosis induced by blocking SKP2
Authors: Celada Sherly I. , Li Guoliang , Celada Lindsay J. , Kanagasabai Thanigaivelan , Lu Wenfu , Brown LaKendria K. , Mark Zaniya A. , Izban Michael G. , Ballard Billy R. , Zhou Xinchun , Adunyah Samuel E. , Matusik Robert J. , Wang Xiaofei , Chen Zhenbang
Published: December 2024

Resistance to androgen receptor (AR)–targeted therapies for prostate cancer (PCa) is characteristic of an aggressive subtype called castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and is often associated with tumor relapse. Both relapse and poor prognosis in patients with CRPC are associated with increased abundance of the E3 ubiquitin ligase SKP2. Therefore, we investigated the therapeutic potential of combined inhibition of AR and SKP2 for CRPC. We found that combined targeting of AR and SKP2 with small-molecule inhibitors decreased proliferation in two CRPC cell lines in culture and in xenografts in humanized mice. Furthermore, combined therapy in mice markedly decreased the growth of
Pten/Trp53
double-knockout tumors, a particularly invasive model of CRPC, whereas disruption of either AR or SKP2 alone only modestly suppressed their growth. Mechanistically, the inhibition of SKP2 in CRPC cells induced autophagy-dependent apoptosis and promoted luminal-associated phenotypes, which promoted responsiveness to AR-targeted therapy. These effects were further enhanced by coinhibition of AR and were not induced by the AR inhibitor alone. Our findings indicate that targeting both AR and SKP2 signaling pathways is necessary to treat CRPC.