bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continuing professional development and the changing landscape of academic libraries
Authors: Moonasar Anushie
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This article highlights the dynamic and evolving nature of libraries and the role of librarians within the changing landscape. It discusses how libraries have traditionally operated and how they have been impacted by 4IR and external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a mixed methods research approach, combining an online questionnaire to derive quantitative data and interviews to provide qualitative data. The follow-up interviews provided a comprehensive understanding of how academic librarians at the DUT library use Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to adapt to the evolving environment.

Findings

This paper reports that there was consensus that CPD empowers the librarians to adapt seamlessly to the dynamic library landscape. It equips them with the knowledge and skills to stay updated on the latest trends, technologies and best practices in their field.

Practical implications

The findings carry implications for the planning and executing of ongoing CPD programmes and activities across all academic libraries.

Originality/value

This study provides an insight into the results of the importance of CPD for librarians within a developing country in southern Africa.
Rational herding: evidence from equity crowdfunding
Authors: Yi Lan , Shen Na , Xie Wen , Liu Yue
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study explores whether herd behavior exists for equity crowdfunding investors in China and whether this herding is rational.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on signaling theory and social learning theory, two hypotheses were proposed. This study employed two approaches to collect data. First, this paper analyzed 3,041 investments on an equity crowdfunding platform in China using Python programming and built a panel data model. Second, based on a unique experiment design, this study conducted several relevant herd behavior simulation experiments.

Findings

We found that investors in the Chinese equity crowdfunding market exhibit herd behavior and that this herding is rational. Project attributes play a negative role in moderating the relationship between the current investment amount and cumulative investments. Experimental results further support our findings.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the emerging literature on herding in crowdfunding by focusing on equity crowdfunding in China. We are the first to explore whether Chinese equity crowdfunding investors exhibit rational herding behavior. The study is also original in applying social learning theory to equity crowdfunding and in using both actual crowdfunding campaigns and experimental approaches to collect data. This study has valuable implications to practice.
The relationships amongst career patterns, neutrality and organizational performance: the case of local government organizations in South Konawe District, Indonesia
Authors: Kadir Abdul , Zuada La Husen , Arsyad Muhammad
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationships amongst career patterns, neutrality of the state civil apparatus, and organizational performance of the local government in South Konawe District, Southeast Sulawesi Province in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to investigate the relationships between variables through direct and indirect influence testing.

Findings

The findings reveal that career patterns influence neutrality and organizational performance. Neutrality of the state civil apparatus in politics mediates career patterns and local government organizational performance. The findings indicate that, first, promotions most significantly influence the organization’s neutrality and performance. Second, demotions have the least influence on the organization’s robustness and performance.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first to examine the relationships amongst career patterns, neutrality, and organizational performance. Recommendations are provided to improve neutrality and organizational performance, that is, the need to increase promotions and reduce demotions.
The impacts of workplace bullying, emotional exhaustion, and psychological distress on poor job performance of healthcare workers in Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ul Haq Inzamam , Huo Chunhui
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to examine the profound repercussions of workplace bullying (WB), emotional exhaustion (EE), and psychological distress (PD) on poor job performance (PJP) within the intricacies of Thailand’s healthcare sector. It also seeks to elucidate the moderating influence of COVID-19 burnout (CBO) on these variables.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper utilized a quantitative research approach. A total of 230 responses were collected from healthcare workers using convenience sampling during a significant surge of the coronavirus in March 2022. To assess the reliability and correlations between constructs, a dual-stage structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was applied.

Findings

During the global health crisis caused by COVID-19, WB and PD were found to positively predict PJP, except for EE. The presence of WB elevated EE and PD among Thai hospital staff. PD and EE partially mediated the relationship between WB and PJP. The positive moderating role of CBO among hospital employees significantly buffered the relationship between WB and EE.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies in the examination of the poor mental health of Thai healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare reforms are required to protect the mental health of Thai healthcare staff to prevent poor job performance following unprecedented circumstances.
Collaborative investor engagement with policymakers: changing the rules of the game?
Authors: Yamahaki Camila , Marchewitz Catherine
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Applying universal ownership theory and drawing on a multiplecase study design, this study aims to analyze what drives institutional investors to engage with government entities and what challenges they find in the process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors relied on document analysis and conducted 12 semi-structured interviews with representatives from asset owners, asset managers, investor associations and academia.

Findings

The authors identify a trend where investors conduct policy engagement to fulfill their fiduciary duty, improve investment risk management and create an enabling environment for sustainable investments. As for engagement challenges, investors report the longer-term horizon, a perceived limited influence toward governments, the need for capacity building for investors and governments, as well as the difficulty in accessing government representatives.

Originality/value

This research contributes to filling a gap in the literature on this new form of investor activism, as a growing number of investors engage with sovereign entities on environmental, social and governance issues.
Corporate culture, corporate governance, and independent directors: evidence from textual analysis
Authors: Chatjuthamard Pattanaporn , Jiraporn Pornsit , Kilic Merve , Uyar Ali
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Taking advantage of a unique measure of corporate culture obtained from advanced machine learning algorithms, this study aims to explore how corporate culture strength is influenced by board independence, which is one of the most crucial aspects of the board of directors. Because of their independence from the corporation, outside independent directors are more likely to be unbiased. As a result, board independence is commonly used as a proxy for board quality.

Design/methodology/approach

In addition to the standard regression analysis, the authors execute a variety of additional tests, i.e. propensity score matching, an instrumental variable analysis, Lewbel’s (2012) heteroscedastic identification and Oster’s (2019) testing for coefficient stability.

Findings

The results show that stronger board independence, measured by a higher proportion of independent directors, is significantly associated with corporate culture. In particular, a rise in board independence by one standard deviation results in an improvement in corporate culture by 32.8%.

Originality/value

Conducting empirical research on corporate culture is incredibly difficult due to the inherent difficulties in recognizing and assessing corporate culture, resulting in a lack of empirical research on corporate culture in the literature. The authors fill this important void in the literature. Exploiting a novel measure of corporate culture based on textual analysis, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to link corporate culture to corporate governance with a specific focus on board independence.
Comparison of elastic properties of tectonic coals along the face and butt cleat directions
Authors: Gong Fei , Li Bin , Kang Wujiang , Zou Guangui , Peng Suping , Zhang Zhaoji , Wang Guowei
Published: April 2024

Coalbed methane is a hot spot for gas exploration at present, and fractures are widely developed in the coals. However, despite being essential for a number of geophysical applications such as reservoir prediction and hydraulic fracturing, the influence of fractures on the elastic properties and anisotropy of coals is still poorly understood. Therefore, three groups of cylindrical coals were drilled along the face and butt cleat directions to study the effects of pressure and fracture on the elastic properties and anisotropy of tectonic coals. The velocity along the face cleat direction is less sensitive to the pressure than that along the butt cleat direction due to the difference in compliant pore and fracture content. Coals display a strong directional dependence in petrophysical and elastic properties. The permeabilities and velocities of samples along the butt cleat direction are much lower than those along the face cleat direction. The fracture densities are quantitatively characterized by the theoretical model. The values along the face cleat direction are much smaller than those along the butt cleat direction. The influence of fractures on the elastic properties and anisotropy is comprehensively studied by theoretical and laboratory methods. The mineralogy and fracture effects are important factors to the elastic anisotropy of coals, the latter can be a dominant factor to the coal elastic anisotropy. The results can contribute to the understanding of the cleat system of coalbed methane reservoir and can provide a critical rock physics basis for micro‐seismic fracture monitoring and reservoir prediction.
Microbial hitchhikers on microplastics: The exchange of aquatic microbes across distinct aquatic habitats
Authors: Vass Máté , Ramasamy Kesava Priyan , Andersson Agneta
Published: April 2024

Microplastics (MPs) have the potential to modify aquatic microbial communities and distribute microorganisms, including pathogens. This poses a potential risk to aquatic life and human health. Despite this, the fate of ‘hitchhiking’ microbes on MPs that traverse different aquatic habitats remains largely unknown. To address this, we conducted a 50‐day microcosm experiment, manipulating estuarine conditions to study the exchange of bacteria and microeukaryotes between river, sea and plastisphere using a long‐read metabarcoding approach. Our findings revealed a significant increase in bacteria on the plastisphere, including Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Hyphomonas, Brevundimonas, Aquabacterium and Thalassolituus, all of which are known for their pollutant degradation capabilities, specifically polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We also observed a strong association of plastic‐degrading fungi (i.e., Cladosporium and Plectosphaerella) and early‐diverging fungi (Cryptomycota, also known as Rozellomycota) with the plastisphere. Sea MPs were primarily colonised by fungi (70%), with a small proportion of river‐transported microbes (1%–4%). The mere presence of MPs in seawater increased the relative abundance of planktonic fungi from 2% to 25%, suggesting significant exchanges between planktonic and plastisphere communities. Using microbial source tracking, we discovered that MPs only dispersed 3.5% and 5.5% of river bacterial and microeukaryotic communities into the sea, respectively. Hence, although MPs select and facilitate the dispersal of ecologically significant microorganisms, drastic compositional changes across distinct aquatic habitats are unlikely.
Pre‐operative spine tumour embolization: Clinical outcomes and effect of embolization completeness
Authors: Omid‐Fard Nima , Salameh Jean‐Paul , McInnes Matthew DF , Fisher Charles G , Heran Manraj KS
Published: April 2024

Introduction

To assess the association between the impact of the completeness of pre‐operative spine tumour embolisation and clinical outcomes, including estimated blood loss (EBL), neurological status and complications.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of all preoperative spine tumour embolisation procedures performed over 11 years by a single operator (2007–2018) at Vancouver General Hospital on 44 consecutive patients (mean age 57; 77% males) with 46 embolisation procedures, of which surgery was done en bloc in 26 cases and intralesional in the remaining 20. A multivariable negative binomial regression model was fit to examine the association between EBL and surgery type, tumour characteristics, embolisation completeness and operative duration.

Results

Among intralesional surgeries, complete versus incomplete embolisation was associated with reduced blood loss (772 vs 1428 mL, P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in neurological outcomes or complications between groups. Highly vascular tumours correlated with greater blood loss than their less vascular counterparts, but tumour location did not have a statistically significant effect.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence in support of our hypothesis that complete as opposed to incomplete tumour embolisation correlates with reduced blood loss in intralesional surgeries. Randomised control trials with larger samples are necessary to confirm this benefit and to ascertain other potential clinical benefits.
Video game addiction is associated with early stage of inhibitory control problems: An event‐related potential study using cued Go/NoGo task
Authors: Fathi Mazyar , Pourrahimi Ali Mohammad , Poormohammad Ahmad , Sardari Sara , Rajizadeh Mohammad Amin , Mazhari Shahrzad , Pourkand Donya
Published: April 2024

Video game addiction (VGA) is associated with cognitive problems, particularly deficits in inhibitory control. The present study aimed to investigate behavioural responses and event‐related potential associated with specific response inhibition using the cued Go/NoGo task to examine the effects of VGA on brain activity related to response inhibition. Twenty‐five individuals addicted to video games (action video games) and 25 matched healthy controls participated in the study. The results showed that the VGA group had significantly more commission error in the NoGo trials and faster reaction time in the Go trials compared with the control group. The event‐related potential analyses revealed significant reductions in amplitudes of N2 cue and N2 NoGo in the VGA group. While there was no significant difference between the N2 amplitudes of the Go and NoGo trials in the VGA group, the control group had a larger N2 amplitude in the NoGo trials. These results indicate that VGA subjects have difficulties in the early stages of response inhibition, as well as some level of impairment in proactive cognitive control.
An exploration of the genetics of the mutant Huntingtin (mHtt) gene in a cohort of patients with chorea from different ethnic groups in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Muthinja Mendi J , Guelngar Carlos Othon , Fall Maouly , Jama Fatumah , Shuja Huda Aldeen , Nambafu Jamila , Massi Daniel Gams , Ojo Oluwadamilola O. , Okubadejo Njideka U. , Taiwo Funmilola Tolulope , Diop Alassane Mamadou , de Chacus Coudjou J. D. G. , Cissé Fodé Abass , Cissé Amara , Hooker Juzar , Sokhi Dilraj , Houlden Henry , Rizig Mie
Published: April 2024

Background

Africans are underrepresented in Huntington's disease (HD) research. A European ancestor was postulated to have introduced the mutant Huntingtin (mHtt) gene to the continent; however, recent work has shown the existence of a unique Htt haplotype in South‐Africa specific to indigenous Africans.

Objective

We aimed to investigate the CAG trinucleotide repeats expansion in the Htt gene in a geographically diverse cohort of patients with chorea and unaffected controls from sub‐Saharan Africa.

Methods

We evaluated 99 participants: 43 patients with chorea, 21 asymptomatic first‐degree relatives of subjects with chorea, and 35 healthy controls for the presence of the mHtt. Participants were recruited from 5 African countries. Additional data were collected from patients positive for the mHtt gene; these included demographics, the presence of psychiatric and (or) cognitive symptoms, family history, spoken languages, and ethnic origin. Additionally, their pedigrees were examined to estimate the number of people at risk of developing HD and to trace back the earliest account of the disease in each region.

Results

HD cases were identified in all countries. Overall, 53.4% of patients with chorea were carriers for the mHTT; median tract size was 45 CAG repeats. Of the asymptomatic relatives, 28.6% (6/21) were carriers for the mHTT; median tract size was 40 CAG. No homozygous carries were identified. Median CAG tract size in controls was 17 CAG repeats. Men and women were equally affected by HD. All patients with HD—bar three who were juvenile onset of <21 years—were defined as adult onset (median age of onset was 40 years). HD transmission followed an autosomal dominant pattern in 84.2% (16/19) of HD families. In familial cases, maternal transmission was higher 52.6% (10/19) than paternal transmission 36.8% (7/19). The number of asymptomatic individuals at risk of developing HD was estimated at ten times more than the symptomatic patients. HD could be traced back to the early 1900s in most African sites. HD cases spread over seven ethnic groups belonging to two distinct linguistic lineages separated from each other approximately 54–16 kya ago: Nilo‐Sahara and Niger‐Congo.

Conclusion

This is the first study examining HD in multiple sites in sub‐Saharan Africa. We demonstrated that HD is found in multiple ethnic groups residing in five sub‐Saharan African countries including the first genetically confirmed HD cases from Guinea and Kenya. The prevalence of HD in the African continent, its associated socio‐economic impact, and genetic origins need further exploration and reappraisal.
Modeling the subcutaneous pharmacokinetics of antibodies co‐administered with rHuPH20
Authors: Nolan Ryan P. , Printz Marie A.
Published: April 2024

Predicting the subcutaneous (SC) pharmacokinetics (PK) of antibodies in humans is challenging, with clinical data currently being the only reliable data source for modeling SC absorption and bioavailability. Recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20) is an enzyme that facilitates SC delivery of high‐dose, high‐volume therapeutics. Numerous monoclonal antibodies have been co‐administered SC with rHuPH20 in a clinical setting, establishing an extensive PK database. The goal of this work is to demonstrate how aggregated clinical data can be leveraged in a universal modeling framework for characterizing SC antibody PK, resulting in parameterization that can be used in predictive simulations of new antibodies. Data for 10 individual antibodies co‐administered SC with rHuPH20 were obtained from publicly available sources. PK modeling of each antibody was conducted using the same model structure, but uniquely parameterized. The model structure consisted of a two‐compartment model to capture linear kinetics, plus a target‐binding mechanism to accommodate nonlinear kinetics driven by antibody‐target complex formation and elimination. The clinical PK profiles for all antibodies were accurately described using the universal modeling framework. The SC PK parameters of absorption and bioavailability were consistent across the range of antibody and target properties evaluated. SC administration with rHuPH20 yielded a 30% increase in absorption rate on average and similar or better bioavailability. These parameter values can serve as initial conditions for model‐based PK predictions for new antibodies co‐administered SC with rHuPH20 to enable evaluation of optimal SC dose and schedule regimens prior to and during clinical development.
Learning strategies and procrastination as a function of need satisfaction and autonomous motivation: A diary study
Authors: Bakali Tahiri M. Jamal , Mouratidis And Athanasios
Published: April 2024

Within the framework of Self‐Determination Theory (SDT), basic psychological need satisfaction predicts quality of motivation which in turn predicts study efforts. Although studies focusing on interpersonal differences have repeatedly shown this sequence of relations, only a few have examined its stability at the intra‐personal level. In this diary study, we recruited 141 university students (M
age = 20.80, SD = 2.20 years) to investigate the degree of confluence among week‐to‐week need satisfaction, quality of motivation, learning strategies, and procrastination for four weeks. Multilevel structural equation modelling showed that need satisfaction covaried positively with autonomous motivation. In turn, week‐to‐week autonomous motivation predicted positively week‐to‐week critical thinking and effort regulation and negatively procrastination. These relations emerged even after controlling for gender, age, and study hours per week. Further, contextual autonomous motivation predicted higher mean levels of critical thinking and effort regulation and lower ones of procrastination. Interestingly, a cross‐level interaction supported the sensitivity hypothesis as the negative relation between need satisfaction and controlled motivation was only true among students who were high in contextual (pre‐diary assessed) controlled motivation. These findings highlight the importance of contextual motivation and the need to establish academic environments that consistently satisfy students' psychological needs, thus promoting the quality of motivation and adaptive learning strategies.
Sudden e‐learning: Exploring the role of user intention, enjoyment, and habit on university students' well‐being
Authors: Ficapal‐Cusí Pilar , Torrent‐Sellens Joan , Folgado‐Fernández José A. , Palos‐Sánchez Pedro R.
Published: April 2024

Suddenly, adjusting to a new way of learning is a major challenge for university students. The objective of this article was to study university student determinants of the well‐being in the context of the sudden transition towards e‐learning imposed by the COVID‐19 lockdown. Based on the antecedents linked to the structure of e‐learning and its influence on self‐management and ease of use, as well as using the mediating role of user intention, perceived enjoyment, and habits, a model was tested to find well‐being trajectories. Using a sample of 543 students from originally Spanish face‐to‐face universities and through a PLS‐SEM methodology, this research obtained relevant results in two main directions. First, research found that the self‐management and ease of use of e‐learning systems constitute direct antecedents of student well‐being. Furthermore, the research results confirmed two reinforcement itineraries of well‐being. The intention built an itinerary to reinforce ease of use, and perceived enjoyment added explanatory power to self‐management. However, the research also found a second explanatory and negative itinerary of sudden e‐learning student well‐being. This path of darkness is related to the adverse mediating effect exerted by the habit, understood from the perspective of technological dependence, when it interacts with perceived enjoyment. The article discusses their implications for educational strategy and policy, especially indicated for those e‐learning practices solely based on the enjoyment and immersion experience of their students.
How the fine arts create the finest students: A design thinking study
Authors: King Catherine R. P. , McCall Madelon
Published: April 2024

This study addresses the problem of insufficient emphasis on art courses in helping students develop 21st‐century skills. As globalization continues, industries increasingly interconnect, creating a necessity for 21st‐century skills. Universities are responsible for equipping the next generation of scholars with the soft skills needed to succeed, such as creativity, adaptability, innovation and collaboration. However, universities disservice students and their future employers by isolating departments and overlooking collaboration opportunities. Rather than this narrow‐minded approach to education, academia must challenge the status quo and reflect on the needs of an increasingly globalized world. This research study used a qualitative single case study methodology based on constructivist learning theory and design thinking to analyse the effect of art education courses taken by non‐art majors on students' development of 21st‐century skills. The literature examines why a lack of emphasis on the arts exists and what skills students gain through arts exposure.
Group 1 ILCs: Heterogeneity, plasticity, and transcriptional regulation
Authors: Sudan Raki , Gilfillan Susan , Colonna Marco
Published: April 2024

Group 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), comprising ILC1s and natural killer cells (NK cells), belong to a large family of developmentally related innate lymphoid cells that lack rearranged antigen‐specific receptors. NK cells and ILC1s both require the transcription factor T‐bet for lineage commitment but additionally rely on Eomes and Hobit, respectively, for their development and effector maturation programs. Both ILC1s and NK cells are essential for rapid responses against infections and mediate cancer immunity through production of effector cytokines and cytotoxicity mediators. ILC1s are enriched in tissues and hence generally considered tissue resident cells whereas NK cells are often considered circulatory. Despite being deemed different cell types, ILC1s and NK cells share many common features both phenotypically and functionally. Recent studies employing single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) technology have exposed previously unappreciated heterogeneity in group 1 ILCs and further broaden our understanding of these cells. Findings from these studies imply that ILC1s in different tissues and organs share a common signature but exhibit some unique characteristics, possibly stemming from tissue imprinting. Also, data from recent fate mapping studies employing Hobit, RORγt, and polychromic reporter mice have greatly advanced our understanding of the developmental and effector maturation programs of these cells. In this review, we aim to outline the fundamental traits of mouse group 1 ILCs and explore recent discoveries related to their developmental programs, phenotypic heterogeneity, plasticity, and transcriptional regulation.
Dental photography for children: A global survey
Authors: Alqadi Areej , O'Connell Anne C.
Published: April 2024

Background

Clinical photographs are now considered an essential element for accurate and objective dental records. Very little information exists on dental photography in children and the factors that can influence the dentist's decision to take dental photographs.

Aim

This study aimed to assess the current use, attitude and confidence of paediatric dentists using clinical dental photography of children worldwide.

Design

This was a cross‐sectional questionnaire‐based study distributed online to paediatric dentists around the globe.

Results

The survey was completed by 390 dentists. The majority of participants (82.3%, n = 321) took dental photographs of their patients, and over 74% of the participants were confident in taking dental photographs. Sixty‐nine dentists (17.7%) did not take photographs. Seventy‐four per cent (n = 240) of those who take dental photographs and 47.8% (n = 33) of those who do not take dental photographs reported an effect on the child's behaviour. The majority of participants expressed interest in receiving further training.

Conclusion

Most paediatric dentists take dental photographs of their patients and value their role in the behavioural management of the child patient. Paediatric dentists need further training in children's dental photography, including guidance on proper image recording, storage and transfer.
Predictors of low‐voltage zones in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation eligible for catheter ablation: An observational study
Authors: Nordin Astrid Paul , Jensen‐Urstad Mats , Charitakis Emmanouil , Carnlöf Carina , Drca Nikola
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The presence of low‐voltage zones (LVZs) in the left atrium (LA) is associated with the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, there is variability and conflict in the data regarding predictors of LVZs as reported in previous studies. The objective of this study was to identify predictors for the presence of LVZs in a cohort of patients with persistent AF.

Methods

The study prospectively enrolled 439 patients with persistent AF who were scheduled for ablation. Voltage map of the LA was collected using a multipolar catheter. An LVZ was defined as an area of ≥3 cm2 exhibiting a peak‐to‐peak bipolar voltage of <0.5 mV.

Results

The mean age of the cohort was 65.3 ± 8.6 years and 26.4% were female. Additionally, 25.7% had significant LVZs, most frequently located in the anterior wall of the LA. Multivariable analysis identified the following independent predictors for LVZ: advanced age (OR [odds ratio] = 1.08, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 1.03–1.13, p = .002); female sex (OR = 4.83, 95% CI = 2.66–8.76, p < .001); coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.32–7.77, p = .01) and enlarged LA diameter (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.04–1.17, p = .001). The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the final model was 0.829.

Conclusion

Approximately 25% of the patients with persistent AF had LVZs. Advanced age, female sex, CAD, and a larger LA were independent predictors for LVZs with the model demonstrating a very good AUC for the ROC curve. These findings hold the potential to be used to tailor the ablation procedure for the individual patient.
Hypertension‐specific association of cardio‐ankle vascular index with subclinical left ventricular function in a Chinese population: Danyang study
Authors: Zhang Xue , Li Yibo , Wang Xinyue , Zhou Tianna , Gao Yun , Hua Mulian , Zhang Siqi , Chen Chao , Zhao Xixuan , He Anxia , Liang Junya , Liu Ming
Published: April 2024

The association of cardio‐ankle vascular index (CAVI), with subclinical cardiac dysfunction in hypertensive patients is unclear. We aim to examine their relationship in hypertensive patients compared with that in normotensive subjects. Our study included 1887 subjects enrolled from Danyang between 2018 and 2019. CAVI was measured using VaSera VS‐1500A device. We performed conventional echocardiography to measure ejection fraction (EF) and E/A, tissue Doppler to measure mitral annular early diastolic velocities (e’), and speckle‐tracking to estimate left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS). LV mass index (76.3, 80.0, and 84.0 g/m2), and E/e’ (7.6, 8.2, and 8.8) were increased and GLS (21.1, 21.0, and 20.4%), E/A (1.2, 1.0, and 0.8) and e’ velocity (11.2, 9.4, and 8.2 cm/s) was decreased from tertiles 1–3 of CAVI on unadjusted analyses (P < .001). After adjustment for covariates, GLS, E/A, and e’ were still significantly decreased from tertiles 1–3 of CAVI (P ≤ .04). Further sensitive analyses revealed a similar association pattern for diastolic function but not systolic function. Compared with the lowest tertile, subjects with a top tertile of CAVI were at higher risk of subclinical LV systolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients (OR = 2.61; P = .005). Increased CAVI is associated with worse subclinical diastolic function. However, this relationship of CAVI to subclinical systolic function was more prominent in hypertensive patients.
Litigation with negative expected value suits: An experimental analysis
Authors: Deck Cary , Pecorino Paul , Solomon Michael
Published: April 2024

The existence of lawsuits providing plaintiffs a negative expected value (NEV) at trial has important theoretical implications for signaling models of litigation. The signaling equilibrium possible when there are no NEV suits breaks down because plaintiffs with NEV suits do not have a credible threat to proceed to trial, which undermines the ability to signal type. Using a laboratory experiment, we analyze behavior with and without the possibility of NEV suits. Absent NEV suits, behavior largely follows predicted patterns. However, the possibility of NEV suits is not found to cause the signaling equilibrium to unravel or to cause the dispute rate to increase. Plaintiffs only drop NEV lawsuits three‐fourths of the time, the rejection rate by defendants for revealing demands rises less than predicted and, contra theory, the rejection rate on demands in the semi‐pooling range remains unchanged.
Management of hyperplastic tissue response following connective tissue grafting
Authors: Pohl Snjezana , Gluckman Howard
Published: April 2024

Objective

While connective tissue graft shrinkage is a well‐documented post‐transplantation reaction, there is a literature gap concerning hyperplastic tissue response. Despite its infrequent occurrence, investigation is warranted due to its capacity to compromise esthetics, disrupt lip dynamics, and promote food retention. Moreover, efforts to mitigate hyperplastic tissue response often prove challenging, and there is a potential risk of exacerbating gingival tissue rebound.

Clinical Considerations

This report presents a potential solution to managing tissue overgrowth after connective tissue grafting in five clinical cases. The patients underwent corrective surgery involving internal excision of excessive tissue while preserving the overlying mucosa. The surgical approach was tailored to excise hyperplastic tissue with minimal trauma, aiming to optimize esthetic outcomes. Subsequent follow‐up assessments spanning 1–5 years demonstrated stable results, with no indications of relapse or recurrence of tissue overgrowth.

Conclusions

Within the limitations of this case series, surgical internal excision holds promise as a viable treatment modality for addressing post‐transplantation hyperplastic tissue response.

Clinical Significance

This case series addresses the challenge of uncontrolled tissue overgrowth following connective tissue grafting, a concern for which previous attempts have proven unsuccessful. Internal in‐toto excision emerges as a promising approach for effectively eliminating overgrown tissue, offering potential advancements in the clinical management of this complication.
Vincristine‐induced adverse events related to body weight in dogs treated for lymphoma
Authors: Sztukowski Keira E. , Yaufman Zachary , Cook Matthew R. , Aarnes Turi K. , Husbands Brian D.
Published: April 2024

Background

Traditional dosing of chemotherapy drugs based on body surface area may overdose small dogs, leading to an increased frequency of adverse events (AEs).

Hypothesis/Objectives

Evaluate the frequency of hematologic and gastrointestinal AEs in dogs with newly diagnosed lymphoma treated with vincristine weighing ≤15 kg in comparison to dogs weighing >15 kg. We hypothesized that dogs weighing ≤15 kg would experience a higher frequency of AEs.

Animals

One hundred and thirty‐eight dogs with newly diagnosed lymphoma were treated with vincristine.

Methods

A multicenter retrospective study reviewing hematologic data and medical record information. Complete blood counts were performed no more than 24 hours before vincristine administration and then between 4 and 8 days post‐administration. Data were evaluated using logistic regression or ordinal logistic regression.

Results

Thirty‐eight dogs weighing ≤15 kg and 100 dogs weighing >15 kg were included. The median vincristine dose for both groups was 0.6 mg/m2. Seventeen (12.3%) instances of neutropenia occurred with no significant difference in overall frequency or grade between groups. Thirty initially asymptomatic substage A dogs (29.4%) experienced gastrointestinal AEs. Because of the widespread use of gastrointestinal supportive care medications, statistical comparison between groups could not be performed. Seven instances of hospitalization occurred (5.0%) and the risk of hospitalization did not differ significantly between groups (P = .37).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Vincristine dosed at ≤0.6 mg/m2 does not increase the risk of hematologic AEs in dogs weighing ≤15 kg.
Oral cinacalcet administration decreases serum ionized calcium and parathyroid hormone concentrations in healthy dogs
Authors: Clark Hannah E. , Trepanier Lauren A. , Wood Michael W.
Published: April 2024

Cinacalcet is an oral calcimimetic that has potential to non‐invasively treat primary hyperparathyroidism in dogs (Canis lupis familiaris). There is minimal data assessing its efficacy in dogs. This study aimed to determine whether a single dose of cinacalcet decreases serum ionized calcium (iCa), total calcium (tCa), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations. Twelve dogs received a median dose of 0.49 mg/kg (range 0.30–0.69 mg/kg) cinacalcet per os. Venous blood samples were collected at time 0 (before cinacalcet administration), 3, 8, and 24 h following cinacalcet administration. PTH, iCa, and tCa concentrations were measured at each time point and compared to 0 hour concentrations. A significant (50%) decrease in serum PTH occurred at 3 h with a median PTH of 4.6 pmol/L (range 2.7–10.8) at baseline and 1.65 pmol/L (range 0.5–14.7) at 3 h; p = .005. A significant, but not clinically relevant, decrease in serum iCa from a median baseline of 1.340 mmol/L (range 1.32–1.41) to a 3 h median of 1.325 mmol/L (range 1.26–1.39), p = .043, was also observed. tCa concentrations were not different. This study showed that a single dose of cinacalcet leads to transient decreases in iCa and PTH concentrations in healthy dogs.
A Study on the Correlation Between Sanctions and Humanitarian Situation: Did Sanctions Lead to the Crisis in North Korea?
Authors: Moon Kyungyon , Kang Woochul , Choi Dong Ju , Yoon Seolwha
Published: April 2024

This study analyzes the correlation between the severe sanctions imposed by the international community against North Korea and its humanitarian situation. First, it was possible to assume that severe sanctions on North Korea since 2013 caused a decrease in input factors necessary for food production leading to a decrease in food production. Second, severe sanctions were an obstacle to the humanitarian agencies, and the inevitable negative images of the aid target caused donor countries to decrease their participation in the appeal. Third, as sanctions against North Korea were strengthened, China and Russia also joined in with the sanctions, but also, they served as a lifeline for North Korea by helping to increase agricultural production and resuming food aid as sanctions were prolonged. In short, it is difficult to say that sanctions on North Korea have not significantly worsened the humanitarian situation in North Korea in 2013 and even since 2017 when severe international sanctions were imposed. Instead, it seems that North Korea's humanitarian situation noted as the most severe humanitarian crisis in the past 20 years is the result of accumulated causes of a continued deterioration of economic crisis, failure of entitlement, and sanctions since 2013. However, as the change in the humanitarian situation was not significant, the sanctions were the reason for the humanitarian crisis deterioration, but they did not critically worsen the situation.
Resolving to believe: Kierkegaard's direct doxastic voluntarism
Authors: Quanbeck Z
Published: April 2024

According to a traditional interpretation of Kierkegaard, he endorses a strong form of direct doxastic voluntarism on which we can, by brute force of will, make a “leap of faith” to believe propositions that we ourselves take to be improbable and absurd. Yet most leading Kierkegaard scholars now wholly reject this reading, instead interpreting Kierkegaard as holding that the will can affect what we believe only indirectly. This paper argues that Kierkegaard does in fact endorse a restricted, sophisticated, and plausible version of direct doxastic voluntarism. On Kierkegaard's view, when we take ourselves to be in an epistemically permissive situation, we have the ability to form outright beliefs (but not credences) at will in virtue of our ability to voluntarily 1) open or close inquiry and 2) determine our attitude towards epistemic risk.
A novel frameshift mutation in RHAG leads to Rhnull phenotype in a Chinese individual
Authors: Qing Yun , Zou Hai‐Man , Liu Bu‐Jin , Cui Dan‐Li , Yang Jun‐Hong , Huang Xia
Published: April 2024

Background

We recently encountered a Rhnull phenotype proband within one family in the Chinese population. Rhnull is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the absence of the Rh antigens on the erythrocyte membrane, resulting in chronic hemolytic anemia. This study described the serological and molecular analysis of a Chinese Rhnull proband and his immediate family.

Methods

Red blood cells antigen phenotyping and antibody screening/identification were conducted. RHD, RHCE, and RHAG were analyzed using genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis.

Results

Serologic tests showed a D–C–E–c–e– phenotype in the proband associated with the suspicion of anti‐Rh29 (titer 16). Molecular analyses showed a new mutation (c.406dupA) in exon 3 of RHAG. This duplication introduced a reading frameshift (p.Thr136AsnfsTer21). The RHAG mutation was found in the homozygous state for the proband and heterozygous state for his parents.

Conclusion

We identified a novel RHAG mutation resulting in the Rhnull phenotype of the regulator type. Inheritance of the novel allele was shown by family study.
La comida como espacio de enseñanza-aprendizaje: ¿Qué aprenden los niños al comer en la escuela?
Authors: Estrada Gómez Luisa Fernanda
Published: April 2024

Objetivo. Explorar la comida en la escuela como espacio cultural de enseñanza-aprendizaje y analizar las áreas de participación que son negociadas, los roles que desempeñan los adultos y los niños, y sus cambios en el tiempo. Método. Participaron 10 niños y cinco niñas de entre cinco y seis años, y su maestra, en un colegio privado de Madrid, España. Siguiendo una aproximación etnográfica, se observó y grabó en video el momento de la comida dos veces por semana durante cinco meses. Se realizaron entrevistas a la maestra, la orientadora y la directora, y se analizó la documentación sobre la práctica de la comida. Resultados. A partir de la triangulación de la información, se identificaron 18 áreas de negociación distribuidas en cuatro momentos de la práctica: planeación, preparación del escenario, comida y recogida/limpieza. Para cada momento, se consideraron los niveles de participación de los niños y su cambio. Conclusión. Se analizó cómo esta participación y cambio de roles favorecen la apropiación de reglas culturales sobre la práctica de la comida, y abren espacios para el desarrollo y aprendizaje de habilidades cognitivo-comunicativas y emocionales que permiten a los niños ser cada vez más autónomos y autorregulados al participar de esta práctica.
A Mixed-Methods Investigation of How Digital Immersion Affects Design for Additive Manufacturing Evaluations
Authors: Mathur Jayant , Miller Scarlett R. , Simpson Timothy W. , Meisel Nicholas A.
Published: April 2024

Applications for additive manufacturing (AM) continue to increase as more industries adopt the technology within their product development processes. There is a growing demand for designers to acquire and hone their design for AM (DfAM) intuition and generate innovative solutions with AM. Resources that promote DfAM intuition, however, historically default to physical or digitally non-immersive modalities. Immersive virtual reality (VR) naturally supports 3D spatial perception and reasoning, suggesting its intuitive role in evaluating geometrically complex designs and fostering DfAM intuition. However, the effects of immersion on DfAM evaluations are not well-established in the literature. This study contributes to this gap in the literature by examining DfAM evaluations for a variety of designs across modalities using varying degrees of immersion. Specifically, it observes the effects on the outcomes of the DfAM evaluation, the effort required of evaluators, and their engagement with the designs. Findings indicate that the outcomes from DfAM evaluations in immersive and non-immersive modalities are similar without statistically observable differences in the cognitive load experienced during the evaluations. Active engagement with the designs, however, is observed to be significantly different between immersive and non-immersive modalities. By contrast, passive engagement remains similar across the modalities. These findings have interesting implications on how organizations train designers in DfAM, as well as on the role of immersive modalities in design processes. Organizations can provide DfAM resources across different levels of immersion, enabling designers to customize how they acquire DfAM intuition and solve complex engineering problems.
Accurate species classification of Arctic toothed whale echolocation clicks using one-third octave ratios
Authors: Zahn Marie J. , Ladegaard Michael , Simon Malene , Stafford Kathleen M. , Sakai Taiki , Laidre Kristin L.
Published: April 2024

Passive acoustic monitoring has been an effective tool to study cetaceans in remote regions of the Arctic. Here, we advance methods to acoustically identify the only two Arctic toothed whales, the beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) and narwhal (Monodon monoceros), using echolocation clicks. Long-term acoustic recordings collected from moorings in Northwest Greenland were analyzed. Beluga and narwhal echolocation signals were distinguishable using spectrograms where beluga clicks had most energy >30 kHz and narwhal clicks had a sharp lower frequency limit near 20 kHz. Changes in one-third octave levels (TOL) between two pairs of one-third octave bands were compared from over one million click spectra. Narwhal clicks had a steep increase between the 16 and 25 kHz TOL bands that was absent in beluga click spectra. Conversely, beluga clicks had a steep increase between the 25 and 40 kHz TOL bands that was absent in narwhal click spectra. Random Forest classification models built using the 16 to 25 kHz and 25 to 40 kHz TOL ratios accurately predicted the species identity of 100% of acoustic events. Our findings support the use of echolocation TOL ratios in future automated click classifiers for acoustic monitoring of Arctic toothed whales and potentially for other odontocete species.