bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bempedoic acid: a new player for statin-intolerant patients and beyond
Authors: Giordano Salvatore , Spaccarotella Carmen Anna Maria , Esposito Giovanni , Indolfi Ciro
Published: December 2023

Purpose of review

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cause atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Statins represent the cornerstone for preventing cardiovascular events in patients with elevated LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, however, they are associated with frequent musculoskeletal adverse effects, which lead to drug discontinuation or limit their use to low (and less effective) doses. Bempedoic acid (BA) is a newly approved, safe, cholesterol-lowering agent that inhibits ATP-citrate lyase, an enzyme upstream to 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase, the target of statins. Unlike statins, BA is not associated with musculoskeletal side effects, representing a promising drug for statin-intolerant patients. This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the efficacy, safety, and impact on clinical outcomes of BA, to review current indications for its use, and to highlight the ongoing clinical trials that will help deepen our knowledge of this promising compound.

Recent findings

BA improves clinical outcomes in statin-intolerant patients. Multiple ongoing studies are evaluating whether BA can be employed in other clinical settings.

BA safely and effectively reduces the levels of multiple atherogenic markers and can be employed to reach LDL-C targets independently from statin tolerance.
Pancreatic cystic neoplasms: a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and management
Authors: Parray Amir M. , Singh Anoop , Chaudhari Vikram , Supe Avinash
Published: December 2023

Pancreatic cystic neoplasms present a complex diagnostic scenario encompassing low- and high-grade malignancies. Their prevalence varies widely, notably increasing with age, reaching 75% in individuals older than 80 years. Accurate diagnosis is crucial, as errors occur in approximately one-third of resected cysts discovered incidentally. Various imaging modalities such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopic techniques are available to address this challenge. However, risk stratification remains problematic, with guideline inconsistencies and diagnostic accuracy varying according to cyst type. This review proposed a stepwise management approach, considering patient factors, imaging results, and specific features. This patient-centered model offers a structured framework for optimizing the care of individuals with pancreatic cystic neoplasms.
Immunotherapy for mucosal melanoma
Authors: Du Yu , Bai Xue , Si Lu
Published: December 2023

Mucosal melanoma (MM) is extremely rare in Caucasians, whereas it is the second predominant melanoma subtype in Asian and other non-Caucasian populations. Distinct from cutaneous melanoma in terms of epidemiology, biology, and molecular characteristics, MM is characterized by more aggressive biological behavior, lower mutational burden, more chromosomal structure variants, and poorer prognosis. Because of the rarity of MM, its biological features are not fully understood, and potential novel therapies are less well depicted. Whereas immunotherapy has shown encouraging efficacy for cutaneous melanoma, its efficacy in MM is unclear due to limited sample sizes in clinical trials. Thus, in this review, we describe the epidemiological, clinical, and molecular features of MM and summarize the efficacies of different immunotherapies for MM, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines, oncolytic virus therapy, adoptive T-cell therapy, and various combination therapies.
Utilizing bioinformatics for integrated analysis of multiple genes in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of metastatic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma
Authors: Zhang Chun-Lei , Wang Rui , Li Fo-Rong , Chang De-Hui
Published: December 2023

Objective

The aim of the study was to investigate effective diagnostic molecular markers and the specific mechanisms of metastatic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs).

Methods

Data were collected from GEO datasets GSE67066 and GSE60458. The R software and various packages were utilized for the analysis of differentially expressed genes, Gene Ontology analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve assessment, logistic model construction, and correlation analysis. The NetworkAnalyst tool was used to analyze gene-miRNA interactions and signaling networks. In addition, the TIMER database was used to estimate the immune scores.

Results

A total of 203 and 499 differentially expressed genes were identified in GSE67066 and GSE60458, respectively. These genes are implicated in cytokine and cytokine receptor interactions, extracellular matrix–receptor interactions, and platelet activation signaling pathways. Notably, MAMLD1, UST, MATN2, LPL, TWIST1, SFRP4, FRMD6, RBM24, PRIMA1, LYPD1, KCND2, CAMK2N1, SPOCK3, and ALPK3 were identified as the key genes. Among them, MATN2 and TWIST1 were found to be coexpressed with epithelial-mesenchymal transition–linked markers, whereas KCND2 and LPL exhibited associations with immune checkpoint expression and immune cell infiltration. Eight miRNAs were identified as potential regulators of key gene expression, and it was noted that TWIST1 might be regulated by SUZ12. Notably, the area under the curve of the 4-gene model for distinguishing between malignant and benign groups was calculated to be 0.918.

Conclusions

The combined gene and mRNA expression model enhances the diagnostic accuracy of assessing PPGL metastatic potential. These findings suggest that multiple genes may play a role in the metastasis of PPGLs through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and may influence the immune microenvironment.
A Teenage Boy With a Radiation-Induced High-Grade Astrocytoma
Authors: Louis-Gray Kathleen , Khanna Sangeeta , Camelo-Piragua Sandra , Capizzano Aristides A. , Trobe Jonathan D. , Robertson Patricia L. , Foroozan Rod , Mohila Carrie A.
Published: December 2023

A 12-year-old boy developed acute headache and vomiting. MRI brain showed a partially cystic suprasellar mass. He underwent cyst fenestration, but the cyst regrew, so he underwent transcranial subtotal resection of the mass. The pathologic diagnosis was adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. Residual tumor was treated with proton beam radiation therapy, and panhypopituitarism was treated with hormone replacement therapy, including growth hormone. Serial brain MRI scans over several years showed no evidence of tumor recurrence. But at four years after radiation, surveillance MRI showed a new focus of nonenhancing FLAIR hyperintensity in the left basal ganglia attributed to gliosis caused by radiotherapy. Seven months later, he developed progressive right hemiparesis, expressive aphasia, and blurred vision, prompting reevaluation. MRI brain showed new enhancing and T2/FLAIR hyperintense lesions in the midbrain, basal ganglia, thalamus, anterior temporal lobe, and optic tract. The abnormal regions showed low diffusivity and relatively high regional blood flow. Stereotactic biopsy disclosed a WHO Grade 4 astrocytoma, likely radiation-induced. A germline ataxia telangiectasia mutation was found in the tumor tissue. The risk of radiation-induced pediatric brain malignancies is low but may have been increased by the mutation.
Tissue-Specific Dose Equivalents of Secondary Mesons and Leptons during Galactic Cosmic Ray Exposures for Mars Exploration
Authors: Pak Sungmin , Cucinotta Francis A.
Published: December 2023

During a human mission to Mars, astronauts would be continuously exposed to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) consisting of high energy protons and heavier ions coming from outside our solar system. Due to their high energy, GCR ions can penetrate spacecraft and space habitat structures, directly reaching human organs. Additionally, they generate secondary particles when interacting with shielding materials and human tissues. Baryon secondaries have been the focus of many previous studies, while meson and lepton secondaries have been considered to a much lesser extent. In this work, we focus on assessing the tissue-specific dose equivalents and the effective dose of secondary mesons and leptons for the interplanetary cruise phase and the surface phase on Mars. We also provide the energy distribution of the secondary pions in each human organ since they are dominant compared to other mesons and leptons. For this calculation, the PHITS3.27 Monte Carlo simulation toolkit is used to compute the energy spectra of particles in organs in a realistic human phantom. Based on the simulation data, the dose equivalent has been estimated with radiation quality factors in ICRP Publication 60 and in the latest NASA Space Cancer Risk model (NSCR-2022). The effective dose is then assessed with the tissue weighting factors in ICRP Publication 103 and in the NSCR model, separately. The results indicate that the contribution of secondary mesons and leptons to the total effective dose is 6.173%, 9.239%, and 11.553% with the NSCR model in interplanetary space behind 5, 20, and 50 g/cm2aluminum shielding, respectively with similar values using the ICRP model. The outcomes of this work lead to an improved understanding of the potential health risks induced by secondary particles for exploration missions to Mars and other destinations.
ProtPipe: A Multifunctional Data Analysis Pipeline for Proteomics and Peptidomics
Authors: Li Ziyi , Weller Cory A. , Shah Syed , Johnson Nicholas , Hao Ying , Roberts Jessica , Bereda Colleen , Klaisner Sydney , Machado Pedro , Fratta Pietro , Petrucelli Leonard , Prudencio Mercedes , Oskarsson Björn , Staff Nathan P. , Dickson Dennis W. , Cookson Mark R. , Ward Michael E. , Singleton Andrew B. , Nalls Mike A. , Qi Yue A.
Published: December 2023

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a technique widely employed for the identification and characterization of proteins, personalized medicine, systems biology and biomedical applications. By combining MS with different proteomics approaches such as immunopurification MS, immunopeptidomics, and total protein proteomics, researchers can gain insights into protein-protein interactions, immune responses, cellular processes, and disease mechanisms. The application of MS-based proteomics in these areas continues to advance our understanding of protein function, cellular signaling, and complex biological systems. Data analysis for mass spectrometry is a critical process that includes identifying and quantifying proteins and peptides and exploring biological functions for these proteins in downstream analysis. To address the complexities associated with MS data analysis, we developed ProtPipe to streamline and automate the processing and analysis of high-throughput proteomics and peptidomics datasets. The pipeline facilitates data quality control, sample filtering, and normalization, ensuring robust and reliable downstream analysis. ProtPipe provides downstream analysis including identifying differential abundance proteins and peptides, pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction analysis, and MHC1-peptide binding affinity. ProtPipe generates annotated tables and diagnostic visualizations from statistical postprocessing and computation of fold-changes across pairwise conditions, predefined in an experimental design. ProtPipe is well-documented open-source software and is available athttps://github.com/NIH-CARD/ProtPipe, accompanied by a web interface.
Protein language model-guided engineering of an anti-CRISPR protein for precise genome editing in human cells
Authors: Marsiglia Julia , Vaalavirta Kia , Knight Estefany , Nakamura Muneaki , Cong Le , Hughes Nicholas W.
Published: December 2023

Promiscuous editing by CRISPR/Cas systems within the human genome is a major challenge that must be addressed prior to applying these systems therapeutically. In bacteria, CRISPR/Cas systems have evolved in a co-evolutionary arms race with infectious phage viruses that contain inhibitory anti-CRISPR proteins within their genomes. Here, we harness the outcome of this co-evolutionary arms race to engineer an AcrIIA4 anti-CRISPR protein to increase the precision of CRISPR/Cas-based genome targeting. We developed an approach that specifically leveraged (1) protein language models, (2) deep mutational scanning, and (3) highly parallel DNA repair measurements within human cells. In a single experiment, ∼10,000 AcrIIA4 variants were tested to identify lead AcrIIA4 variants that eliminated detectable off-target editing events while retaining on-target activity. The candidates were further tested in a focused round of screening that included a high-fidelity version of Cas9 as a benchmark. Finally, arrayed experiments using Cas9 delivered as ribonucleoprotein were conducted that demonstrated an increase in gene editing precision across two independent genomic loci and a reduction in the frequency of translocation events between an on-target and off-target site. Thus, language-model-guided high-throughput screening is an effective way to efficiently engineer AcrIIA4 to increase gene editing precision, which could be used to improve the fidelity of gene editing-based therapeutics and to reduce genotoxicity.
Design of a Computational Intelligence System for Detection of Multiple Sclerosis with Visual Evoked Potentials
Authors: Mohsenpourian Moussa , Suratgar Amir Abolfazl , Talebi Heidar Ali , Arzani Mahsa , Moghadasi Abdorreza Naser , Moghaddam Fariba , Malakouti Seyed Matin , Menhaj Mohammad Bagher
Published: December 2023

In this study, a new approach for modification of membership functions of a fuzzy inference system (FIS) is demonstrated, in order to serve as a pattern recognition tool for classification of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) from healthy controls (HC) using their visually evoked potential (VEP) recordings. The new approach utilizes Krill Herd (KH) optimization algorithm to modify parameters associated with membership functions of both inputs and outputs of an initial Sugeno-type FIS, while making sure that the error corresponding to training of the network is minimized.

This novel pattern recognition system is applied for classification of VEP signals in 11 MS patients and 11 HC’s. A feature extraction routine was performed on the VEP signals, and later substantial features were selected in an optimized feature subset selection scheme employing Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithms. This alone provided further information regarding clinical value of many previously unused VEP features as an aide for making the diagnosis. The newly designed computational intelligence system is shown to outperform popular classifiers (e.g., multilayer perceptron, support-vector machine, etc.) and was able to distinguish MS patients from HC’s with an overall accuracy of 90%.
Neurexins control the strength and precise timing of glycinergic inhibition in the auditory brainstem
Authors: Jiang He-Hai , Xu Ruoxuan , Nie Xiupeng , Su Zhenghui , Xu Xiaoshan , Pang Ruiqi , Zhou Yi , Luo Fujun
Published: December 2023

Neurexins play diverse functions as presynaptic organizers in various glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses. However, it remains unknown whether and how neurexins are involved in shaping functional properties of the glycinergic synapses, which mediate prominent inhibition in the brainstem and spinal cord. To address these issues, we examined the role of neurexins in a model glycinergic synapse between the principal neuron in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) and the principal neuron in the lateral superior olive (LSO) in the auditory brainstem. Combining RNAscope with stereotactic injection of AAV-Cre in the MNTB of neurexin1/2/3 conditional triple knockout mice, we showed that MNTB neurons highly express all isoforms of neurexins although their expression levels vary remarkably. Selective ablation of all neurexins in MNTB neurons not only reduced the amplitude but also altered the kinetics of the glycinergic synaptic transmission at LSO neurons. The synaptic dysfunctions primarily resulted from an impaired Ca2+sensitivity of release and a loosened coupling between voltage-gated Ca2+channels and synaptic vesicles. Together, our current findings demonstrate that neurexins are essential in controlling the strength and temporal precision of the glycinergic synapse, which therefore corroborates the role of neurexins as key presynaptic organizers in all major types of fast chemical synapses.
PI4KIIIβ inhibition reduces rhinovirus associated cell shedding and ciliary dysfunction
Authors: Velkova Simona A. , Petris Alina M. , Lee Dani D.H. , Cardinale Daniela , Moulding Dale , Williamson Richard A. , Beinke Soren , Grace Ken , Hessel Edith M , Belyaev Nikolai N. , Hoegg Tanja , Steiner Michael , Hurst John R , Smyth Rosalind L. , Smith Claire M. , Freestone Primrose , O’Callaghan Christopher
Published: December 2023

Background

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience respiratory exacerbations, many of which are associated with rhinoviruses. Current treatment strategies do not target the pathogenic rhinovirus trigger.

Research question

What is the immediate effect of rhinovirus on the ciliated respiratory epithelium and can viral replication and epithelial toxicity be reduced by targeted PI4KIIIβ inhibition.

Methods

Short (24h) and longer (7 days) rhinovirus infection were explored in primary ciliated airway epithelial cultures from multiple healthy and COPD patients using high-speed video microscopy, viral titration assays and immunofluorescence studies. Ciliated epithelial cultures were pre-treated with a PI4KIIIβ (GSK’533) blocker prior to infection to assess efficacy against rhinovirus. Cytokine and chemokine production were assessed by multiplex immunoassays.

Results

Within hours of infection rhinovirus co-localised with ciliated cells causing extensive apoptosis-associated shedding of predominantly ciliated cells within 24 hours. Viral replication that peaked at day 1 and cleared by day 7, was associated with dramatic loss of ciliated cells confirmed by reduced ciliary activity and ciliary DNAI2 protein expression. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of remaining cilia was significantly reduced by day 7 in cultures from COPD. Infection was partly dependent on PI4KIIIβ with the GSK’533 blocker reducing viral replication while preserving ciliary activity. High levels of pro-inflammatory mediators were secreted by infected cells.

Conclusion

Decreased ciliation due to rhinovirus infection is likely to impair mucociliary clearance in healthy individuals and COPD patients, contributing to the pathophysiology of COPD exacerbations. PI4KIIIβ inhibition blocks viral replication, helping to preserve ciliary activity.

Take home message

Rhinovirus replication in the healthy and COPD respiratory epithelium is mediated by PI4KIIIβ and intracellular PI4P platform formation. Inhibition of PI4KIIIβ reduced viral replication and ciliated cell loss.
Crystal structure of AlFe0.95
Authors: Liu Yibo , Liu Huizi , Fan Changzeng , Bin Wen , Zhang Lifeng
Published: December 2023

Three B2-type intermetallic AlFe1 – δ phases (0.18 < δ < 0.05) in the Al–Fe binary system were synthesized by smelting and high temperature sintering methods. The exact crystal structure for δ = 0.05 was refined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The amount of vacancy defects at the Fe atom sites was obtained by refining the corresponding site occupancy factor, converging to the chemical formula AlFe0.95, with a structure identical to that of ideal AlFe models inferred from powder X-ray or neutron diffraction patterns.
Investigation of the wear behavior of FeNi36 alloy cut by WEDM method under different loads
Authors: Ceritbinmez Ferhat , Kanca Yusuf , Tuna Ahmet , Kanca Erdoğan
Published: December 2023

Purpose

FeNi36 (Invar-36) alloy is widely used in the fabrication of molding tools in aerospace industries but there remains a need to improve its wear and friction performance due to its relatively low hardness. The formation of a heat affected zone (HAZ) on the surface of Invar-36 cut by wire electric discharge machining (WEDM) is promising to enhance its tribological properties. This study aims to investigate the tribological performance of WEDM-treated Invar-36 via a ball-on-disk tribometer in dry-sliding conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The untreated and WEDM-treated Invar-36 surfaces were reciprocated against an alumina ball at a sliding velocity of 40 mm/s, a stroke length of 10 mm and a sliding duration of 125 min under loads of 5, 10 and 20 N. The worn surfaces were characterized using a 2D profilometry and a scanning electron microscope equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy.

Findings

The results showed that the WEDM-treated surface had a superior friction coefficient and wear resistance in comparison to the untreated surface, due to the grown HAZ. There was found to be a 9.3%–11.4% decrease in the friction coefficient and a 47%–57% reduction in the wear volume after the WEDM treatment. Both the untreated and WEDM-treated Invar-36 surfaces found abrasion and plastic deformation as the dominant wear mechanisms.

Originality/value

Previous works have not focused on the tribological performance of the WEDM-treated Invar-36 extensively used for molding tools in aerospace industries. Our findings provide compelling evidence that the WEDM treatment improved the wear and friction performance of Invar-36 alloy because of the grown HAZ.
A prelude to statistics in Wasserstein metric spaces
Authors: Le Chon Van , Pham Uyen Hoang
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This paper aims mainly at introducing applied statisticians and econometricians to the current research methodology with non-Euclidean data sets. Specifically, it provides the basis and rationale for statistics in Wasserstein space, where the metric on probability measures is taken as a Wasserstein metric arising from optimal transport theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors spell out the basis and rationale for using Wasserstein metrics on the data space of (random) probability measures.

Findings

In elaborating the new statistical analysis of non-Euclidean data sets, the paper illustrates the generalization of traditional aspects of statistical inference following Frechet's program.

Originality/value

Besides the elaboration of research methodology for a new data analysis, the paper discusses the applications of Wasserstein metrics to the robustness of financial risk measures.
Ambidextrous cultural values in the management of organisational ambidexterity
Authors: Lloria M. Begoña , Burbano Leydy
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This paper first analyses the direct effect of quality management practices (QMPs) on organisational ambidexterity (OA). It then analyses the mediating influence of the values of ambidextrous culture (AC). A novel theoretical model is tested in a quantitative study of the organic agri-food sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative methods and an online survey were used to collect and analyse 239 valid questionnaire responses. The data analysis method was partial least squares (PLS).

Findings

There is a relationship between QMPs and OA. AC partially mediates this link, strengthening the direct relationship between the two variables.

Originality/value

The proposed model is novel and creates opportunities for new lines of research. The concept of QMPs is considered in all its dimensions (processes, people, customers and suppliers). The study reaffirms the importance of the novel concept of AC in the literature. In this study, OA is defined in terms of the balanced processes of exploitation and exploration. The choice of sector is another original feature of the study.
Exploring the determinants of purchase intention of organic consumers for organic food items: an exploratory study in India
Authors: Garg Shubham , Narwal Karam Pal , Kumar Sanjeev
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The ongoing transition in the attitude of consumers toward health and environment has a direct implication on the organic food industries, making it necessary to examine the drivers of the purchase intention of organic food items, specifically in developing economies like India. Therefore, this study tries to frame and validate the instrumental scale by collecting data from 574 organic food item consumers to examine the determinants of purchase intention among consumers in India.

Design/methodology/approach

This study has employed advanced statistical tools i.e. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Harmon’s single factor test and other statistical measures using SPSS and AMOS 23, for framing and validating the instrumental scale for this study.

Findings

The results of EFA explain 67.714% variance of total research variable variance with six major constructs. Moreover, the result of the CFA confirms the six factors and the proposed instrumental scale. The finding explicates that health consciousness, ecological trustworthiness and functional value are the major drivers of the purchase intention of organic food items.

Practical implications

This study has major policy implications for organic producers, processor and marketers for understanding the complex phenomenon of organic consumer behavior. The result explains that marketers and producers should adopt ad hoc marketing strategies that aim to promote the organic food items as healthy and safe.

Originality/value

There is hardly any study that has proposed and validated an instrumental scale with these factors collectively in India for studying the purchase intention of organic food consumers in India.
Should luxury brands display their logos prominently? Implications for brand authenticity, coolness and behavioral intentions
Authors: Shukla Paurav , Cakici N. Meltem , Khalifa Dina
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Extant research captures the signaling and attitudinal effects of luxury brand prominence strategy; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms that drive this effect. This study aims to uncover brand authenticity and brand coolness as parallel mediators driving the effects of brand prominence on luxury purchase intentions and explores the moderating role of consumers’ self-brand connection.

Design/methodology/approach

The research consisted of three experiments. Study 1 (n = 121) explored the direct effects of brand prominence among Chinese consumers. Using a sample of Turkish consumers (n = 115), Study 2, measured the mediation effects of brand authenticity and brand coolness. Study 3 (n = 211) examined how self-brand connection moderated the mediation effects among British customers.

Findings

A luxury brand prominence strategy leads to negative perceptions of coolness and authenticity and, in turn, reduces purchase intentions. The negative effect of brand prominence is even more pronounced among consumers with high self-brand connection.

Research limitations/implications

The study elaborates on how brand prominence informs consumers’ perceptions of authenticity and coolness. In examining the role of self-brand connection, the study reveals a theoretically and managerially relevant boundary condition of this focal effect.

Practical implications

The research highlights how luxury brands can use differing brand prominence strategies. This research informs brand managers on how to enhance brand authenticity and coolness while managing self-brand connection.

Originality/value

The study extends the luxury branding literature by explaining the brand prominence effect through the parallel mediators of brand authenticity and brand coolness. In contrast to extant research, the findings show that the negative effect of brand prominence is particularly strong among consumers with high self-brand connection.
Healthy prison cultures: factors influencing male prisoners’ engagement in exercise and subsequent healthy behaviours
Authors: Hammond Hannah , Meek Rosie , Glorney Emily
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors which influence male prisoners’ motivation for, and engagement in, exercise and subsequent healthy behaviours.

Design/methodology/approach

The first authors conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with male prisoners inside an English medium-security male prison. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, themes were identified using thematic analysis and a critical realist perspective applied to understand objective processes behind prisoners’ experiences and shared meanings of exercise and engaging in healthy behaviours in prison.

Findings

Emerging themes indicate that in the context of healthy behaviours male prisoners aspired to a masculine ideal that was characterised by a culture of either adaptive behaviours, or maladaptive behaviours. The former fostered an adaptive exercise culture which promoted psychological well-being through an autonomy-supportive environment, consequently internalising motivation and minimising perceived barriers to engaging in healthy behaviours. Conversely, a culture of maladaptive behaviours fostered a maladaptive exercise culture which led to negative psychological well-being, underpinned by external forms of motivation which emphasised barriers to engaging in healthy behaviours.

Practical implications

Findings emphasise the need for prisons to promote an internal perceived locus of control for male prisoners when engaging in healthy behaviours.

Originality/value

The authors adopt a rare interdisciplinary approach combining a psychological theory of motivation and criminological perspectives of prison culture to understand how best to minimise the impact of prisons as an institution on the psychological well-being of male prisoners.
Prison food and the carceral experience: a systematic review
Authors: Johnson Claire , Gagnon Samuel , Goguen Pierre , LeBlanc Caroline P.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to focus on studies that qualitatively explore prison food experience. The goal is to elaborate a framework to better understand how prison food shapes the worldwide carceral experience.

Design/methodology/approach

This systematic literature review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. It consists of four phases: identifying the studies, screening the studies, evaluating the eligibility of screened studies and inclusion of studies. After the four phases, ten studies (nine qualitative studies and one with mixed methods) were included in the review.

Findings

There is a consensus among the researchers in the reviewed literature that prison food shapes the carceral experience. More specifically, four themes that encompass the experience of people with prison food emerged from the reviewed literature: food appreciation (taste of the prison food and perceived nutritional value), food logistics (preparation, distribution and consumption), food variety (institutional menu and commissary store) and food relationships (symbol of caring or power or punishment).

Originality/value

The literature reviewed demonstrated that when incarcerated individuals have a negative view of prison food, the carceral experience is negatively impacted. This systematic review identified four dimensions that encompass the food experience within the prison environment, providing a framework for navigating this subject.
Social influence processes within MMORPG guilds: a mixed-methods approach of nomological network analysis
Authors: Wang Kai , Tai Chi-Feng , Hu Han-fen
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Focusing on the social influence processes in the context of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), this study aims to investigate the nomological network of social influence factors, a topic seldom explicitly articulated in the literature in this unique context.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a mixed-methods approach to develop and test a context-specific model of social influence processes in MMORPGs. First, the authors conducted qualitative interviews with MMORPG players to identify the drivers shaping players' perceptions of social influences. Second, the authors formulated and tested a research model with quantitative data collected from 450 respondents of an online survey.

Findings

Through the qualitative study, the authors identify leader enthusiasm, social support and social presence as the critical drivers of social influence factors. The result of the quantitative study validates the influences of the critical drivers and demonstrates the impact of social influences on MMORPG players' we-intention to continue playing games.

Originality/value

This research extends the social influence theory by identifying contextualized drivers that shape MMORPG players' perception of social influences determining their we-intention to continue playing games. MMORPG service providers can draw on these drivers to leverage social influences to increase players' we-intention of continuance.
Deep learning applications in investment portfolio management: a systematic literature review
Authors: Novykov Volodymyr , Bilson Christopher , Gepp Adrian , Harris Geoff , Vanstone Bruce James
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Machine learning (ML), and deep learning in particular, is gaining traction across a myriad of real-life applications. Portfolio management is no exception. This paper provides a systematic literature review of deep learning applications for portfolio management. The findings are likely to be valuable for industry practitioners and researchers alike, experimenting with novel portfolio management approaches and furthering investment management practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This review follows the guidance and methodology of Linnenluecke et al. (2020), Massaro et al. (2016) and Fisch and Block (2018) to first identify relevant literature based on an appropriately developed search phrase, filter the resultant set of publications and present descriptive and analytical findings of the research itself and its metadata.

Findings

The authors find a strong dominance of reinforcement learning algorithms applied to the field, given their through-time portfolio management capabilities. Other well-known deep learning models, such as convolutional neural network (CNN) and recurrent neural network (RNN) and its derivatives, have shown to be well-suited for time-series forecasting. Most recently, the number of papers published in the field has been increasing, potentially driven by computational advances, hardware accessibility and data availability. The review shows several promising applications and identifies future research opportunities, including better balance on the risk-reward spectrum, novel ways to reduce data dimensionality and pre-process the inputs, stronger focus on direct weights generation, novel deep learning architectures and consistent data choices.

Originality/value

Several systematic reviews have been conducted with a broader focus of ML applications in finance. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first review to focus on deep learning architectures and their applications in the investment portfolio management problem. The review also presents a novel universal taxonomy of models used.
The research on the application of self-propagating interconnection technology in silicon optical transceiver module for aerospace
Authors: Chu Fei , Chen Hongzhuan , Zhou Zheng , Feng Changlei , Zhang Tao
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the bonding of the photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip with the heat sink using the AlNi self-propagating soldering method.

Design/methodology/approach

Compared to industrial optical modules, optical modules for aerospace applications require better reliability and stability, which is hard to achieve via the dispensing adhesive process that is used for traditional industrial optical modules. In this paper, 25 µm SAC305 solder foils and the AlNi nanofoil heat source were used to bond the back of the PIC chip with the heat sink. The temperature field and temperature history were analyzed by the finite element analysis (FEA) method. The junction-to-case thermal resistance is 0.0353°C/W and reduced by 85% compared with the UV hybrid epoxy joint.

Findings

The self-propagating reaction ends within 2.82 ms. The maximum temperature in the PIC operating area during the process is 368.5°C. The maximum heating and cooling rates of the solder were 1.39 × 107°C/s and −5.15 × 106°C/s, respectively. The microstructure of SAC305 under self-propagating reaction heating is more refined than the microstructure of SAC305 under reflow. The porosity of the heat sink-SAC305-PIC chip self-propagating joint is only 4.7%. Several metastable phases appear as AuSn3.4 and AgSn3.

Originality/value

A new bonding technology was used to form the bonding between the PIC chip with the heat sink for the aerospace optical module. The reliability and thermal resistance of the joint are better than that of the UV hybrid epoxy joint.
Wales and Autism: the impact of philanthropy matched by ambition
Authors: Morgan Hugh
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to place on record the impact made on government policy and research by Autism Cymru, a small charity that existed in Wales between 2001 and 2014. The success of Autism Cymru resulted directly from philanthropic funding, applied with strategic vision and genuine ambition.

Design/methodology/approach

A retrospective, chronological viewpoint highlighting the creative process, drawing upon records held by the charity.

Findings

Autism Cymru initiated the concept and played a crucial role in steering the development of government policy for autism in Wales between 2001 and 2011. The charity also drove forward the initiative, which led to the establishment of the Wales Autism Research Centre at Cardiff University in 2010. This paper demonstrates that with astute philanthropic support, small learning disability/autism charities can elicit structural and sustainable change at the national level, leading to wide-ranging benefits for the communities they represent.

Originality/value

The strategic approach taken over 20 years ago in Wales by Autism Cymru, which led to the Welsh Government’s ASD Strategic Action Plan for Wales (Welsh Government, 2011), set in place a national policy model, which was then followed by The Scottish Strategy for Autism and the Northern Ireland Autism Strategy (Department of Health, 2013>; Scottish Government, 2011). The insightful and tenacious method used by Autism Cymru remains relevant today, demonstrating that any small charity supported by shrewd philanthropic funding can punch well above its weight by taking a planned, ambitious and strategic approach to policy, research and practice.
Commentary on “Wales and Autism: the impact of philanthropy matched with ambition”
Authors: Storey Catherine
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This paper is a commentary that aims to address themes arising from the article by Morgan titled “Wales and Autism: The Impact of Philanthropy Matched with Ambition”.

Design/methodology/approach

This opinion piece considers the broader impact of stakeholder engagement in the field of autism, including how the dissemination of evidence-based support could be made more accessible for autistic people, their families and carers and philanthropists.

Findings

This paper highlights the link between stakeholder engagement and meaningful change in policy and practice in the field of autism. It highlights the need for philanthropists to invest in evidence-based support but highlights the difficulty in identifying and accessing such support. This piece supports the use of evidence and gap maps (EGMs) to increase the accessibility of autism research and evidence.

Originality/value

While stakeholder engagement is encouragingly rising in this field, most of the evidence is held in academic journals, which are behind paywalls and, therefore, inaccessible to many autistic people, their families, carers and associated professionals. Displaying evidence using EGMs provides an accessible way for autistic people and those who support them to identify possible avenues of support quickly and allows philanthropists to direct research funding to areas of high priority.
Clinical outcomes of obese and nonobese patients with atrial fibrillation according to associated metabolic abnormalities: A report from the COOL‐AF registry
Authors: Krittayaphong Rungroj , Boonyapiphat Thanita , Winijkul Arjbordin , Lip Gregory Y. H.
Published: December 2023

Background

The primary objective was to determine the influence of obesity and associated metabolic status on clinical outcomes of Asian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

This study was based on a prospective multicenter of patients with nonvalvular AF. Patients were classified as obese and nonobese and being metabolic unhealthy was defined as having at least one of the three cardiovascular risk factors including dyslipidemia, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus. Outcomes were a primary composite outcome of all‐cause death, ischemic stroke/systemic embolism (SSE), acute myocardial infarction (MI), and heart failure (HF), as well as the individual end points.

Results

There were a total of 3141 enrolled patients (mean age 67.4 ± 11.1 years; 41.0% female), of whom 1566 (49.9%) were obese and 2564 (81.6%) were metabolic unhealthy. During a mean follow‐up of 32.2 ± 8.3 months, the incidence rate of the composite outcome, all‐cause death, SSE, MI, and HF were 7.21 (6.63–7.82), 3.86 (3.45–4.30), 1.48 (1.23–1.77), 0.47 (0.33–0.64), and 2.84 (2.48–3.23) per 100 person‐years, respectively. Metabolic unhealthy nonobese subjects were at higher risk of the composite outcomes than metabolic unhealthy obese subjects with hazard ratio (HR) 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17–1.66, p < .001. Metabolic unhealthy obese subjects tend to have an increased risk of the composite outcomes compared to those metabolic healthy obese (HR 1.36, 95% CI 0.91–2.02, p = .133). Metabolic healthy obese subjects were not associated with increased risk.

Conclusions

Metabolic unhealthy obese subjects were associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes in AF patients, whereas metabolically healthy obesity was not associated with an increased risk.

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Thermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Crocetti Laura , Scalise Paola , Bozzi Elena , Candita Gianvito , Cioni Roberto
Published: December 2023

Percutaneous treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by means of thermal ablation (TA) has been introduced in clinical guidelines as a potentially curative treatment for the early stages of the disease since the early 2000s. Due to its safety profile and cost‐effectiveness, TA can be offered as a first‐line treatment for patients with HCC smaller than 3 cm. Thermal ablative techniques are in fact widely available at many centres worldwide and include radiofrequency (RF) and microwave (MW) ablation, with the latter increasingly applied in clinical practice in the last decade. Pre‐clinical studies highlighted, as potential advantages of MW‐based ablation, the ability to achieve higher temperatures (>100°C) and larger ablation zones in shorter times, with less susceptibility to blood flow‐induced heat sink effects. Despite these advantages, there is no evidence of superior overall survival in patients treated with MW as compared to those treated with RF ablation. Local control has been proven to be superior to MW ablation with a similar complication rate. It is expected that further improvement of TA results in the treatment of HCC will result from the refinement of guidance and monitoring tools and the careful assessment of ablation margins. Thermal ablative treatments may also be performed on nodules larger than 3 cm by applying multiple devices or combining percutaneous and intra‐arterial approaches. The role of novel immunotherapy regimens in combination with ablation is also currently under evaluation in clinical trials, with several potential benefits. In this review, indications, technical principles, results, and future prospects of TA for the treatment of HCC will be examined.
Shedding light on the dark side of humor: The short‐lived spillover effect of daily salesperson workplace humor usage on work–family conflict
Authors: Lei Shaohui , Peng Leiqing , Wang Suyuan
Published: December 2023

Salesperson humor usage (SPHU) is often linked with positive outcomes, but little is known about its potential negative effects on salespeople. This study uses ego depletion theory to investigate the negative spillover effect of daily SPHU on work–family conflict via experience sampling method, using data from 109 salespeople over 10 workdays. Results show that daily SPHU is positively associated with daily work–family conflict through increased daily ego depletion. Moreover, the study examines daily supervisor developmental feedback as a context‐relevant moderator that can alleviate the relationship between daily SPHU and ego depletion. By detailing the mediating and moderating mechanisms of daily SPHU spill‐over in a sales interaction context, this study not only supports the perspective of ego depletion in understanding the dark sides of daily SPHU but also offers insights for organizations to inhibit its negative effects.
Developing an international concept‐based curriculum for pharmacology education: The promise of core concepts and concept inventories
Authors: Guilding Clare , Kelly‐Laubscher Roisin , Netere Adeladlew , Babey Anna‐Marie , Restini Carolina , Cunningham Margaret , Kelly John P. , Koenig Jennifer , Karpa Kelly , Hawes Martin , Tucker Steven J. , Angelo Thomas A. , White Paul J.
Published: December 2023

Over recent years, studies have shown that science and health profession graduates demonstrate gaps in their fundamental pharmacology knowledge and ability to apply pharmacology concepts in practice. This article reviews the current challenges faced by pharmacology educators, including the exponential growth in discipline knowledge and competition for curricular time. We then argue that pharmacology education should focus on essential concepts that enable students to develop beyond ‘know’ towards ‘know how to’. A concept‐based approach will help educators prioritize and benchmark their pharmacology curriculum, facilitate integration of pharmacology with other disciplines in the curriculum, create alignment between universities and improve application of pharmacology knowledge to professional contexts such as safe prescribing practices. To achieve this, core concepts first need to be identified and unpacked, and methods for teaching and assessment using concept inventories developed. The International Society for Basic and Clinical Pharmacology Education Section (IUPHAR‐Ed) Core Concepts of Pharmacology (CCP) initiative involves over 300 educators from the global pharmacology community. CCP has identified and defined the core concepts of pharmacology, together with key underpinning sub‐concepts. To realize these benefits, pharmacology educators must develop methods to teach and assess core concepts. Work to develop concept inventories is ongoing, including identifying student misconceptions of the core concepts and creating a bank of multiple‐choice questions to assess student understanding. Future work aims to develop and validate materials and methods to help educators embed core concepts within curricula. Potential strategies that educators can use to overcome factors that inhibit adoption of core concepts are presented.