bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-scale photocatalytic proximity labeling reveals cell surface neighbors on and between cells
Authors: Lin Zhi , Schaefer Kaitlin , Lui Irene , Yao Zi , Fossati Andrea , Swaney Danielle L. , Palar Ajikarunia , Sali Andrej , Wells James A.
Published: October 2023

The cell membrane proteome is the primary biohub for cell communication, yet we are only beginning to understand the dynamic protein neighborhoods that form on the cell surface and between cells. Proximity labeling proteomics (PLP) strategies using chemically reactive probes are powerful approaches to yield snapshots of protein neighborhoods but are currently limited to one single resolution based on the probe labeling radius. Here, we describe a multi-scale PLP method with tunable resolution using a commercially available histological dye, Eosin Y, which upon visible light illumination, activates three different photo-probes with labeling radii ranging from ∼100 to 3000 Å. We applied this platform to profile neighborhoods of the oncogenic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and orthogonally validated >20 neighbors using immuno-assays and AlphaFold-Multimer prediction that generated plausible binary interaction models. We further profiled the protein neighborhoods of cell-cell synapses induced by bi-specific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)T cells at longer length scales. This integrated multi-scale PLP platform maps local and distal protein networks on cell surfaces and between cells. We believe this information will aid in the systematic construction of the cell surface interactome and reveal new opportunities for immunotherapeutics.
Co-regulator activity of Mediator of DNA Damage Checkpoint 1 (MDC1) is associated with DNA repair dysfunction and PARP inhibitor sensitivity in lobular carcinoma of the breast
Authors: Sottnik Joseph L. , Shackleford Madeleine T. , Nesiba Camryn S. , Richer Amanda L. , Swartz Jordan M. , Rowland Carmen E. , Musick Maggie , Fu Rui , Opresko Patricia L. , Mehrotra Sanjana , Hesselberth Jay R. , Diamond Jennifer R. , Sikora Matthew J.
Published: October 2023

Invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast (ILC) are typically estrogen receptor α (ER)-positive and present with biomarkers of anti-estrogen sensitive disease, yet patients with ILC face uniquely poor long-term outcomes with increased recurrence risk, suggesting endocrine response and ER function are unique in ILC. We previously found specifically in ILC cells that ER is co-regulated by the DNA repair protein Mediator of DNA Damage Checkpoint 1 (MDC1). This novel MDC1 activity, however, was associated with dysfunction in the canonical DNA repair activity of MDC1, but absent typical features of DNA repair deficiency. To understand reciprocal activities of MDC1, we profiled the MDC1 interactome and found MDC1-associated proteins in ILC cells mirror a “BRCA-like” state lacking key homologous recombination (HR) proteins, consistent with HR dysfunction but distinct from classic “BRCAness”. HR dysfunction in ILC cells was mirrored in single-cell transcriptome and DNA repair activity analyses, along with DNA repair signaling and functional data, showing dysfunctional HR induction and resolution. In parallel, ILC tumor data are consistent with a distinct form of HR dysfunction via impaired HR resolution, lacking BRCA-like genomic scarring but with elevated signatures of PARP inhibitor sensitivity. We tested whether this HR dysfunction could indeed be exploited using PARP inhibition and found that talazoparib treatment produced a durable growth suppressionin vitroand in multiple ILC xenograftsin vivo. ILC-specific ER:MDC1 activity creates a new context for ER and MDC1 function in ILC, at the cost of a DNA repair dysfunction that is therapeutically targetable.

Significance

ILC are rarely associated with biomarkers of HR deficiency, and as such patients are rarely eligible for treatment with PARP inhibitors. Our work suggests ILC present with a previously unappreciated form of HR dysfunction, linked to ILC-specific genomic activity of ER and MDC1, which imparts sensitivity to PARP inhibition.
BenzoHTag, a fluorogenic self-labeling protein developed using molecular evolution
Authors: Lampkin Bryan J. , Goldberg Benjamin J. , Kritzer Joshua A.
Published: October 2023

Self-labeling proteins are powerful tools in chemical biology as they enable the precise cellular localization of a synthetic molecule, often a fluorescent dye, with the genetic specificity of a protein fusion. HaloTag7 is the most popular self-labeling protein due to its fast labeling kinetics and the simplicity of its chloroalkane ligand. Reaction rates of HaloTag7 with different chloroalkane-containing substrates is highly variable and rates are only very fast for rhodamine-based dyes. This is a major limitation for the HaloTag system because fast labeling rates are critical for live-cell assays. Here, we report a molecular evolution system for HaloTag using yeast surface display that enables the screening of libraries up to 108variants to improve reaction rates with any substrate of interest. We applied this method to produce a HaloTag variant, BenzoHTag, which has improved performance with a fluorogenic benzothiadiazole dye. The resulting system has improved brightness and conjugation kinetics, allowing for robust, no-wash fluorescent labeling in live cells. The new BenzoHTag-benzothiadiazole system has improved performance in live-cell assays compared to the existing HaloTag7-silicon rhodamine system, including saturation of intracellular enzyme in under 100 seconds and robust labeling at dye concentrations as low as 7 nM. It was also found to be orthogonal to the silicon HaloTag7-rhodamine system, enabling multiplexed no-wash labeling in live cells. The BenzoHTag system, and the ability to optimize HaloTag for a broader collection of substrates using molecular evolution, will be very useful for the development of cell-based assays for chemical biology and drug development.
First assessment of a cost questionnaire for its agreement with administrative databases in females with stress urinary incontinence in Switzerland: a validation study
Authors: Moetteli Céline , Taeymans Jan , Koenig Irene
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Economic research in the field of pelvic floor rehabilitation is lacking in transparency of methodology and consideration of indirect costs. Service use questionnaires collect cost data with the broad approach needed for the societal perspective of health economic studies. Nevertheless, these questionnaires are seldom validated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a questionnaire to assess healthcare costs of females with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in Switzerland.

Methods

A questionnaire was developed to measure direct medical, direct non-medical and indirect costs in females with stress urinary incontinence living in the larger Bern area in Switzerland. Participants were recruited out of a prior study sample, where they had already completed the cost questionnaire. Administrative databases’ cost data were obtained for the investigation period. The agreement between the reported direct medical costs of the questionnaire with those from the providers’ billings was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficient (r), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for agreement, Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (LINCCC) and limits of agreement (LOA).

Results

Fourteen participants were eligible for this study. Agreement between the two methods presented a Pearson’srof 0.64 [95%CI 0.16 to 1.00], ICC of 0.79 [95% CI 0.33 to 0.93] and LINCCC 0.75 [95% CI 0.19 to 0.86]. LOA results showed no evidence for systematically under- or overreporting.

Conclusions

The developed questionnaire seemed to be an acceptable representative for direct medical costs in females with stress urinary incontinence in Switzerland. However, direct non-medical and indirect costs were not compared to an external criterion.
An efficient approach to nowcasting the time-varying reproduction number
Authors: Sumalinab Bryan , Gressani Oswaldo , Hens Niel , Faes Christel
Published: October 2023

Estimating the instantaneous reproduction number (ℛt) in near real-time is crucial for monitoring and responding to epidemic outbreaks on a daily basis. However, such estimates often suffer from bias due to reporting delays inherent in surveillance systems. A fast and flexible Bayesian methodology is proposed to overcome this challenge by estimatingℛtwhile taking into account reporting delays. Furthermore, the uncertainty associated with the nowcasting of cases is naturally taken into account to get a valid uncertainty estimation of the nowcasted reproduction number. The proposed methodology is evaluated through a simulation study and applied to COVID-19 incidence data in Belgium.
Assessing adherence to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence dementia assessment and diagnosis guidelines in adults with intellectual disability: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Duncan Caroline , Wilkinson Ewan , Jaydeokar Sujeet , Acton Daniel James
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the dementia assessment and diagnosis care provided to adults with intellectual disability. The authors selected recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) standards which could be evidenced in clinical notes and aimed to identify characteristics which may be associated with improved adherence to these recommendations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study population was adults with an intellectual disability who were diagnosed with dementia between January 2019 and December 2022 by a UK-based intellectual disability service. Data to demonstrate adherence to selected recommendations and demographic and clinical characteristics were extracted from electronic patient records.

Findings

The authors identified 41 individuals. A mean of six of the eight recommendations were adhered to. There was low adherence with structural imaging to support dementia subtype diagnosis (9 individuals, 22%). This may be linked with the low percentage of people diagnosed with vascular dementia (1 individual, 2%) despite a national figure of 20%. No demographic or clinical characteristics were associated with level of adherence recorded. The authors found incomplete recording of diagnostic clinical coding in electronic patient records. This may disadvantage this population, as they cannot be readily identified for post diagnostic support or resource allocation.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine adherence to these NICE guidelines in this population.
Tone complexity and analyst forecast behaviors: evidence from earnings conference calls
Authors: Kwon Kyungeun , Zhou Mi , Wang Tawei , Cheng Xu , Qiao Zhilei
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Both the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and the popular press have routinely criticized firms for the complexity of their financial disclosures. This study aims to investigate how financial analysts respond to the tone complexity of firm disclosures.

Design/methodology/approach

Using approximately 20,000 earnings conference call transcripts of S&P 1,500 firms between 2005 and 2015, the authors first calculate the abnormal negative tone, the measure of tone complexity; then use such tone measure in econometric models to examine analyst forecast behavior. The authors also test the robustness of the results under different model specifications, tone word lists and alternative tone measure calculations.

Findings

Consistent with the notion that analysts respond to the information demand from investors and incur more costs and effort to analyze firm disclosure when the tone is more complex, the authors find that higher tone complexity is positively and significantly associated with more analyst following, longer report duration, more forecast revisions, larger forecast error and larger forecast dispersion. In addition, the authors find that tone complexity has a long-term impact on analyst following but has a limited long-term impact on analyst report duration, analyst revision, forecast error and dispersion.

Originality/value

This study complements existing literature by highlighting the information role of financial analysts and by providing evidence that analysts incorporate the management tone disclosed during conference calls to adjust their forecasting behaviors. The results can be used by policymakers as evidence and support for further improving firm communication from a new dimension of disclosure tone.
Intelligent detection on construction project contract missing clauses based on deep learning and NLP
Authors: Zhou Hong , Gao Binwei , Tang Shilong , Li Bing , Wang Shuyu
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The number of construction dispute cases has maintained a high growth trend in recent years. The effective exploration and management of construction contract risk can directly promote the overall performance of the project life cycle. The miss of clauses may result in a failure to match with standard contracts. If the contract, modified by the owner, omits key clauses, potential disputes may lead to contractors paying substantial compensation. Therefore, the identification of construction project contract missing clauses has heavily relied on the manual review technique, which is inefficient and highly restricted by personnel experience. The existing intelligent means only work for the contract query and storage. It is urgent to raise the level of intelligence for contract clause management. Therefore, this paper aims to propose an intelligent method to detect construction project contract missing clauses based on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and deep learning technology.

Design/methodology/approach

A complete classification scheme of contract clauses is designed based on NLP. First, construction contract texts are pre-processed and converted from unstructured natural language into structured digital vector form. Following the initial categorization, a multi-label classification of long text construction contract clauses is designed to preliminary identify whether the clause labels are missing. After the multi-label clause missing detection, the authors implement a clause similarity algorithm by creatively integrating the image detection thought, MatchPyramid model, with BERT to identify missing substantial content in the contract clauses.

Findings

1,322 construction project contracts were tested. Results showed that the accuracy of multi-label classification could reach 93%, the accuracy of similarity matching can reach 83%, and the recall rate and F1 mean of both can reach more than 0.7. The experimental results verify the feasibility of intelligently detecting contract risk through the NLP-based method to some extent.

Originality/value

NLP is adept at recognizing textual content and has shown promising results in some contract processing applications. However, the mostly used approaches of its utilization for risk detection in construction contract clauses predominantly are rule-based, which encounter challenges when handling intricate and lengthy engineering contracts. This paper introduces an NLP technique based on deep learning which reduces manual intervention and can autonomously identify and tag types of contractual deficiencies, aligning with the evolving complexities anticipated in future construction contracts. Moreover, this method achieves the recognition of extended contract clause texts. Ultimately, this approach boasts versatility; users simply need to adjust parameters such as segmentation based on language categories to detect omissions in contract clauses of diverse languages.
Andhra Pradesh State Cooperative Bank: credit beyond convention
Authors: Singh Anshu , Wadkar Sagar Kisan
Published: October 2023

Learning outcomes

After reading and analysing the case study, the students would be able to understand the various challenges in terms of credit expansion for a rural co-operative bank, discuss the role of an apex co-operative bank within the three-tier credit structure, understand the co-operative banks’ product offerings in the agribusiness space and understand the various styles of leadership and change management models within a rural bank.

Case overview/synopsis

This case study exemplified the enabling role played by a co-operative credit institution, Andhra Pradesh State Co-Operative Bank (APCOB). It discussed the issues and challenges APCOB faced in mainstreaming an unconventional lending process through its lower tiers. Although the three-tier credit structure played a significant role in the disbursal of short-term loan to farmers, the managing director strongly felt the need to reach out to farmer institutions like farmer producers organization through suitable product offering and right processes.

Complexity academic level

This case study could serve as an introduction to rural credit co-operatives in MBA courses such as bank management, agricultural finance and rural credit and organizational behaviour. The case study could also be administered as a part of training programmes for state co-operative banks, district central co-operative banks and urban co-operative bank that are involved in planning and execution of development strategies in the area of co-operative banking and agribusiness development.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only

Subject code

CSS: 1: Accounting and Finance.
Orgatma – the 3PL challenge
Authors: Choubey Vardhan Mahesh , Joshi Prasad Vasant , Kharde Yashomandira Pravin
Published: October 2023

Learning outcomes

This case study would help students in understanding the dynamics of logistics and logistics vendor roles and contributions to overall business operations. The case study covers real-time information for applying the theoretical knowledge students gain related to the selection of logistics vendor. It would help students to understand and evaluate the dynamics of a new start-up related to cost, profits and dependency; understand and analyze the importance of third-party logistics (3PL) service providers in the supply chain; become aware of the key performance indicators (KPIs) important in the selection of logistics vendor; and develop and create measures for selecting logistics vendors on the basis of KPIs.

Case overview/synopsis

This case study was about an innovative start-up operating in the field of organic edible oils. The company catered to end consumers with its indigenous technology and processes. The innovative and healthy products were appreciated by the consumers, as was reflected in the surging demand figures. With the increasing popularity of organic products, the orders were surging. At the same time, issues such as damaged product delivery, increased cost per delivery of small packages and failure to deliver because of unserved pin codes by their logistics partners were being faced by the company. The case discusses the dilemma faced by the protagonist regarding the selection of the right 3PL partner. The case study is suitable for teaching courses in operations and logistics, supply chain management and entrepreneurship-related courses.

Complexity academic level

This case study is appropriate for postgraduate courses in entrepreneurship, operations management, logistics and supply chain management and general management.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS9: Operations and logistics.
Benefits of a short course on mental health well-being and resilience for healthcare workers in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Maiketso Maneo , Wolvaardt Jacqueline , Uys Margot , Grobler Marolien
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The study explored whether an asynchronous short online course in mental health well-being and resilience for healthcare workers (HCWs) showed improved self-reported results among participants during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated the course outcomes using the 10-item Connor and Davison's Resilience Scale, the World Health Organization's WHO-five well-being index and self-developed questions. Data were collected via online questionnaires before and after course completion.

Findings

A total of 1 301 HCWs participated. The highest proportion of participants was from South Africa (SA) (93.7%) and females (78.7%). Analysed mean pre- and post-training scores showed increased scores in all five domains: knowledge, confidence in course outcomes, behaviour, resilience and well-being. Confidence in the course outcomes was the only common significant construct for both well-being and resilience. Mindfulness activities (β = 0.12, 95%CI [0.032, 0.213], p = 0.008) and self-care behaviours (β = 0.14, 95%CI [0.035, 0.241], p = 0.009) were significant predictors of participants' well-being. Coping mechanisms for stress (β = 0.12, 95%CI [0.036, 0.21], p = 0.006) and connecting with a social support network (β = 0.085, 95%CI [0.0007, 0.17], p = 0.048) were significant predictors of participants' resilience. Those working in the private sector, those working in clinical settings and those who were female showed significant associations with well-being and resilience.

Research limitations/implications

The results are self-reported data which may be susceptible to social desirability and acquiescent effects. There are no guarantees that positive effects observed during this study are sustained over time. The study sample was selective in that it excluded those who did not consent for the use of their data and those who did not complete the course.

Originality/value

The research is noteworthy as literature shows that female HCWs tend to have worse mental health outcomes than males in the same field. Online learning can enable HCWs to conveniently access mental health education, accommodate their work commitments and explore topics that are potentially stigmatising.
Charting the course for student success: harnessing the potential of an accreditation-focused hospitality student-exit survey
Authors: Weber Melvin R. , Marshall Craig , Pons Sydney , Smith Ruth Annette
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this research is two-fold: first, the researchers will create a reliable and valid hospitality senior exit survey by conducting a Delphi panel of experts and second, the researchers will pilot-test the instrument with students from a four-year university. The data will be (a) assessed to determine the retention of knowledge by four-year students, (b) used by academicians to make changes to course material and (c) used to help with the accreditation assessment process.

Design/methodology/approach

A Delphi panel of hospitality educators was used to validate the items, and graduating hospitality students were used to calculate reliability.

Findings

By embracing the hospitality exit survey (HES), institutions can effectively evaluate and enhance their programs. With its ability to gauge students' knowledge retention, the study findings serve as a powerful tool for shaping the future of hospitality education.

Research limitations/implications

The study's findings might be somewhat limited in representing a broader range of perspectives within hospitality programs. Another limitation stems from the structure of the survey itself. The survey included numerous items requiring two inputs for each item. This format has the potential to introduce certain biases among participants.

Practical implications

In a positive statement, organizations can use this information to discover why employees stay and then continue to develop goals/strategies to ensure this process stays up to date. Academia is no different. Academia also wants to produce the best product, and since the students are to become the next set of leaders, these programs need to know what is successful and what needs to be adjusted.

Social implications

A strategic exit interview program should 1)Uncover issues relating to human resources/students; 2) understand employees'/students' perception of the work; 3) managers'/directors' leadership style and effectiveness; 4) human resource/college/departments benchmarks and 5) improve the organization.

Originality/value

This research holds significant importance as it focuses on developing the senior HES and its potential utilization within hospitality programs. The HES serves as a valuable tool for these programs to evaluate the knowledge levels of their graduating students and collect data necessary for assessment and accreditation purposes.
I am my own boss: effect of self-leadership on gig worker's work engagement and performance
Authors: Shukla Keerti , Shaheen Musarrat
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study investigates the relationship between self-leadership and the work performance of gig workers as moderated by perceived organizational support and mediated by work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Linear regression and the Process macro by Hayes were used to examine the hypothesized model, on a data set of 384 gig workers.

Findings

The outcomes indicated a positive relationship between the self-leadership strategies of the freelancers and their work performance. The association of self-leadership and work performance was moderated by perceived organizational support and partially mediated by work engagement.

Originality/value

This study responds to the need for exploration of the moderation and mediating mechanisms through which self-leadership influences how gig workers perform at work.
An explicit approach to liminality as an inclusive approach to librarian support for graduate student researchers
Authors: Goodman Xan Y. , Godbey Samantha Ann
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide readers with a deeper theoretical understanding of liminality, its utility in understanding the experiences of graduate student researchers and how being explicit about the liminal nature of the graduate student experience can be especially impactful for students from marginalized communities.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper examines liminality as an essential component of researcher identity development and how an awareness of this liminality relates to effective and inclusive librarian support of graduate student researchers. The authors explore the affective and academic implications of operating in this liminal state and how direct acknowledgment of this inbetweenness, especially within the spaces of classroom instruction and research consultations, can be leveraged as an inclusive practice. The authors ground this exploration in critical pedagogy.

Findings

Graduate student researchers often operate in an unacknowledged liminal state, which causes students to question the importance of their previous knowledge and life experiences and feel discouraged and uncertain about their potential place in academia. This is particularly damaging to students from communities that have been traditionally marginalized and excluded from higher education.

Originality/value

The authors are liaison librarians to education and health sciences at a large, minority-serving, urban research institution in the western USA and draw on their experience supporting students in disciplines that include many students returning to graduate studies after substantial professional experience. This work makes a contribution to library and information studies by focusing on the concept of liminality. The authors offer a conceptual perspective on liminality relative to librarians and their support role in the graduate student experience.
Grassland extensification enhances nest densities of ground‐nesting wild bees
Authors: Albrecht Matthias , Bossart Stefanie , Tschanz Philippe , Keller Thomas , Sutter Louis
Published: October 2023

Ground‐nesting wild bees provide essential pollination services in agroecosystems, but they are jeopardized by intensive agricultural management. To mitigate such negative impacts, agri‐environment schemes have been implemented. While the success of enhancing floral food resources is relatively well studied, the role of agri‐environmental schemes in providing suitable nesting habitat remains underexplored.

We studied the effectiveness of meadow extensification according to the Swiss agri‐environment scheme in promoting nesting of ground‐nesting bees. Using a paired design, we quantified their nests during four rounds (March–June) in pairs of nine randomly selected extensively (i.e. no fertilizer input, postponed first mowing) and nine intensively managed meadows with similar soil properties, slope, exposure and landscape context. Nest numbers and vegetation characteristics were surveyed in areas of 250 m2. Vegetation properties were also assessed in 0.5 × 0.5 m plots around nest locations and randomly selected locations without nests within each meadow to assess their role as drivers of nesting incidence (nest presence/absence) at this plot scale.

We found substantially higher nest numbers of ground‐nesting bees in extensively (mean ± SE per sampling round = 46.8 ± 14.2) compared to intensively managed meadows (0.8 ± 0.3; no nests in three of nine intensively managed meadows). Extensively managed meadows harboured nests of several dominant crop pollinator species, including aggregations of, for example, Lasioglossum malachurum contributing to high nest densities in some of them. Number of nests was negatively related to grass cover and vegetation height, which were lower in extensively compared to intensively managed meadows. Plot‐level nesting incidence increased with bare ground and moss cover, and decreased with grass cover.

Synthesis and applications. Our study shows that extensively managed meadows are better nesting habitats for ground‐nesting bees than intensively managed meadows, if reduced management intensity is associated with altered vegetation characteristics such as reduced grass cover and vegetation height, and small‐scale availability of bare ground, driving these effects. This highlights that maintaining and promoting extensive management of meadows can promote ground‐nesting wild bees, including dominant crop pollinators, not only by enhancing floral resources but also by improving nesting opportunities in agroecosystems.
Presence of alcohol and other drug use within youth mental health presentations to the emergency department: A single‐site retrospective observational study
Authors: Joyce Laura R , Crossin Rose , Jin Sangjun , Young William , Mulder Roger
Published: October 2023

Objective

Youth mental health is a growing issue, which can be worsened by alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. The present study aimed to characterise the association of AOD use in youth presenting to an ED with a mental health crisis.

Methods

A retrospective observational study of paediatric patients presenting with mental health concerns to a tertiary ED in New Zealand in 2019–2020, with an examination of use of alcohol or other drugs before presentation.

Results

There were 842 ED presentations, made up of 491 unique individuals, examined from the 2‐year period. Overdose (63.1%) was the most common reason for presentation, with 39.9% of overdoses involving prescription‐only medications, 36.7% over‐the‐counter, and 20.0% a combination. Seventy‐four (8.8%) presentations had documented use of alcohol or other drugs (excluding those taken in overdose) before arrival, with alcohol (51 presentations), followed by cannabis (19 presentations), being the most commonly recorded drugs used. Concurrent AOD use was not associated with any significant difference in triage, length of stay or admission status.

Conclusion

In New Zealand, it is not legal to sell alcohol to persons under 18 years; however, this was the most commonly identified drug impacting on youth mental health presentations. There is a known association between alcohol use and adverse mental health symptoms; therefore, efforts to decrease access to alcohol in this age group must continue, and harm reduction interventions to reduce clinically significant overdoses recommended.
Empowering patients with high myopia: The significance of education
Authors: Ravenstijn M. , Jansen R. C. , du Bois G. , Yzer S. , Klaver C. C. W.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

To investigate the status of patient education among highly myopic individuals focusing on the presence, sources, content, timing of the education and impact on patients.

Methods

Self‐reported data were collected through an online 13‐item questionnaire consisting of open and multiple‐choice questions. The questionnaire was sent to 250 highly myopic members of a patient organization in the Netherlands, of whom 128 (51%) responded.

Results

At least one acute event had occurred in 66% (84/128) of participants at the time of the questionnaire. Among all participants, 25% (32/128) had not received patient education regarding alarm symptoms for any of these events. Among those who had been informed, the ophthalmologist was the most frequent (57%, 73/128) source of information. Participants who visited the ophthalmologist annually were more frequently informed than participants without annual visits (53%, 26/49 versus 26%, 9/35, p = 0.002). Those not informed were more likely to have a more than 3 days patient delay (92%, 12/13). Doctors delay was also present; 26% (22/84) of the participants with alarm symptoms had to wait 2 or more days before the first appointment. Long‐term consequences of myopia had been discussed with 102 participants (80%, 102/128), again with the ophthalmologist as the most frequent source (59%, 76/128).

Perspectives

Many myopic individuals have not been educated about their increased risk of acute events, which can result in patient delay and serious consequences with respect to visual prognosis. These findings underscore the critical importance of integrating patient education across the entire ophthalmic care chain for myopia.
Regeneration and regengrow in multicellular animals derive from the presence of processes of organ metamorphosis and continuous growth in their life cycles
Authors: Alibardi Lorenzo
Published: October 2023

The present review formulates an evolutionary hypothesis on the distribution of regeneration in invertebrates and vertebrates. Regeneration is a basal ancestral property of animals living in aqueous environment where life was generated. The specific life cycles that evolved in each phylum indicate that only adult aquatic animals with asexual reproduction, larval stages and metamorphosis, possess broad regenerative abilities, protostomes or deuterostomes. Regeneration derives from the re‐utilization in different forms of numerous developmental gene pathways active during development and the transitional phases of larval metamorphosis. An injured adult animal, composed of differentiated tissues, cannot repeat the same sequence of gene activation of embryogenesis, resulting in a variable regeneration (most aquatic invertebrates and anamiotes). In contrast, species with a genome that is not programmed for producing larvae and intense metamorphosis, mainly terrestrial (numerous nematodes, arthropods and amniotes), cannot regenerate their organs after injury. It is hypothesized that during the evolution of terrestrial animals, they lost genes involved in regeneration so that they repair by wound healing associated with grow (regengrow) or by scarring. Future molecular knowledge on developmental pathways that evolved in regenerating competent animals will tell us whether or not organ regeneration in regenerative incompetent animals will be feasible.
Identifying biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets in uveal melanoma
Authors: Wessely Anja , Koch Elias A. T. , Vera Julio , Berking Carola , Heppt Markus V.
Published: October 2023

Uveal melanoma (UM) is an orphan cancer despite being the most common eye tumor in adults. Patients often present to skin cancer centers for treatment of metastatic disease although there are significant genetic, biological, and clinical differences from cutaneous melanoma. The treatments most commonly used for metastatic UM are tebentafusp and combined immune checkpoint blockade, both of which yield low response rates and may be accompanied by high treatment costs and significant immune‐related toxicities. Thus, it is of paramount importance to identify biomarkers and clinical profiles predictive of treatment response and to find novel therapeutic targets. The use of immune checkpoint blockade showed more favorable outcomes in patients with extrahepatic disease and normal levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase in a panel of retrospective studies, making its use more reasonable in this subgroup. To identify novel drug targets, we will analyze the expression and relevance of neural crest transcription factors in patient bio‐specimens using next‐generation nanopore sequencing. Computer algorithms and network‐based analysis will facilitate the identification of druggable targets which will subsequently be validated in patient‐derived short‐term cell cultures. This approach will help to find novel and personalized treatments for UM.
Sleep and circadian rhythms during pregnancy, social disadvantage, and alterations in brain development in neonates
Authors: Hoyniak Caroline P. , Whalen Diana J. , Luby Joan L. , Barch Deanna M. , Miller J. Philip , Zhao Peinan , Triplett Regina L. , Ju Yo‐El , Smyser Christopher D. , Warner Barbara , Rogers Cynthia E. , Herzog Erik D. , England Sarah K.
Published: October 2023

Pregnant women in poverty may be especially likely to experience sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances, which may have downstream effects on fetal neurodevelopment. However, the associations between sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances, social disadvantage during pregnancy, and neonatal brain structure remains poorly understood. The current study explored the association between maternal sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances during pregnancy and neonatal brain outcomes, examining sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances as a mediator of the effect of social disadvantage during pregnancy on infant structural brain outcomes. The study included 148 mother‐infant dyads, recruited during early pregnancy, who had both actigraphy and neuroimaging data. Mothers’ sleep was assessed throughout their pregnancy using actigraphy, and neonates underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging in the first weeks of life. Neonatal structural brain outcomes included cortical gray matter, subcortical gray matter, and white matter volumes along with a measure of the total surface area of the cortex. Neonates of mothers who experienced greater inter‐daily deviations in sleep duration had smaller total cortical gray and white matter volumes and reduced cortical surface areas. Neonates of mothers who had higher levels of circadian misalignment and later sleep timing during pregnancy showed smaller subcortical gray matter volumes. Inter‐daily deviations in sleep duration during pregnancy mediated the association between maternal social disadvantage and neonatal structural brain outcomes. Findings highlight the importance of regularity and rhythmicity in sleep schedules during pregnancy and bring to light the role of chronodisruption as a potential mechanism underlying the deleterious neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal adversity.

Research Highlights

Social disadvantage was associated with sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances during pregnancy, including later sleep schedules, increased variability in sleep duration, circadian misalignment, and a higher proportion of the sleep period spent awake.

Maternal sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances during pregnancy were associated with decreased brain volume and reduced cortical surface area in neonates.

Maternal inter‐daily deviations in sleep duration during pregnancy mediated the association between social disadvantage and neonatal brain volume and cortical surface area.
Digital denture scanning and 3D printing for residents in care homes: A feasibility study for pre‐empting denture loss
Authors: Gillway Daniel , Doshi Mili
Published: October 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of digitally scanning dentures and 3D printing replica dentures for care home residents. The study also investigated whether the process and replacement denture was acceptable to the resident.

Background

Denture loss is a significant issue for people living in care homes and impacts on nutrition, quality of life and dignity. Denture loss is underreported, and care home residents have barriers to accessing dental care. The conventional process for remaking a denture can often take approximately 2 months with multiple clinical stages, often not feasible in adults with frailty and cognitive impairment. Scanning and 3D (3 dimensional) printing are increasingly used in dentistry, this rapidly evolving technology may provide an innovative solution to denture loss.

Materials and Methods

A digital workflow was established using a handheld scanner and 3D printing technology. Care home residents wearing functional acrylic dentures were recruited. Dentures were scanned within the care home, and the scan was sent to a dental laboratory for 3D printing. The dentures were fitted at a subsequent visit, and semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with the resident. Using thematic analysis, the feasibility of this pathway was assessed, and the use of digital scanning technology was explored.

Results

Eight residents successfully had dentures scanned and replicated to a satisfactory standard. It took, on average, 10 minutes to scan a denture and 20 minutes to print the denture. All replica dentures were satisfactory to the resident. Qualitative data from semi‐structured interviews showed that study participants were satisfied with denture replacements and the process. The 3 main themes that emerged were: the significance of dentures to the individual, satisfaction with the scanning process and general low self‐esteem and fatigue.

Conclusions

This study has established a workflow for digitally storing dentures and replicating them satisfactorily. In the context of a care home setting, a scan of a denture can be used to provide a replacement denture if lost or broken. A large‐scale study could follow now that the feasibility of this pathway has been demonstrated.
Embedding of exogenous B cell epitopes on the surface of UreB structure generates a broadly reactive antibody response against Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Ji Qianyu , Ma Junfei , Wang Shuying , Liu Qing
Published: October 2023

Since Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) resistance to antibiotic regimens has increased, vaccination is becoming an increasingly important alternative therapy to control H. pylori infection. UreB, FlaA, AlpB, SabA, and HpaA proteins of H. pylori were previously proved to be used as candidate vaccine antigens. Here, we developed an engineered antigen based on a recombinant chimeric protein containing a structural scaffold from UreB and B cell epitopes from FlaA, AlpB, SabA, and HpaA. The multi‐epitope chimeric antigen, named MECU, could generate a broadly reactive antibody response including antigen‐specific antibodies and neutralising antibodies against H. pylori urease and adhesins. Moreover, therapeutic immunisation with MECU could reduce H. pylori colonisation in the stomach and protect the stomach in BALB/c mice. This study not only provides promising immunotherapy to control H. pylori infection but also offers a reference for antigen engineering against other pathogens.
Effects of magnetic domain morphology on the magnetic spectrum and high‐frequency core losses of MnZn ferrites
Authors: Wu Guohua , Yu Zhong , Guo Rongdi , Wang Zhiguang , Wang Hong , Hu Zhongqiang , Liu Ming
Published: October 2023

MnZn ferrites that exhibit low core losses at high frequencies are suitable for the integration and miniaturization of power conversion devices. To obtain low core losses at high frequencies, it is important to understand the underlying mechanism. In this work, MnZn ferrites with various grain sizes were produced by changing the sintering temperature. The relationship between domain morphology, dynamic magnetization behavior, and core losses at high frequencies was carefully investigated. As the average grain size approached the critical size of single‐domain state, the contribution of domain wall displacement to complex permeability decreased, while domain wall resonant frequency improved significantly, resulting in the suppression of residual loss at 3 MHz. As the average grain size increased, the domain morphology changed from a single‐domain state to a multidomain state, which increased the initial permeability and decreased hysteresis loss. However, the number of domain walls increased, causing a significant decrease in the domain wall resonant frequency, and resulting in a sharp increase in residual loss. These results provide valuable insights into reducing high‐frequency core losses in MnZn ferrites by domain engineering.
The well‐being of nurses working in general practice during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative study (The GenCo Study)
Authors: Anderson Helen , Scantlebury Arabella , Galdas Paul , Adamson Joy
Published: October 2023

Aim

Exploration of experiences of nurses working in general practice during the COVID‐19 pandemic to evaluate the impact on nurses' professional well‐being.

Design

An exploratory qualitative study comprised of case studies of three general practice sites in England and a nationwide interview study of nurses working in general practice and nurse leaders. The study was funded by The General Nursing Council for England and Wales Trust. University of York ethics approval (HSRGC/2021/458/I) and Health Research Authority approval was obtained (IRAS: 30353, Protocol number: R23982, Ref 21/HRA/5132, CPMS: 51834).

Methods

Forty participants took part. Case site data consisted of interviews/focus groups and national data consisted of semi‐structured interviews. Data collection took place between April and August 2022. Analysis was underpinned by West et al.'s The courage of compassion. Supporting nurses and midwives to deliver high‐quality care, The King's fund, 2020 ABC framework of nurses' core work well‐being needs.

Findings

The majority of participants experienced challenges to their professional well‐being contributed to by lack of recognition, feeling undervalued and lack of involvement in higher‐level decision‐making. Some participants displayed burnout and stress. Structural and cultural issues contributed to this and many experiences pre‐dated, but were exacerbated by, the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Conclusions

By mapping findings to the ABC framework, we highlight the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the well‐being of nurses working in general practice and contributing workplace factors. The issues identified have implications for retention and for the future of nursing in general practice. The study highlights how this professional group can be supported in the future.

Impact

The study contributes to our understanding of the experiences of nurses working in general practice during the COVID‐19 pandemic and beyond. Findings have implications for this skilled and experienced workforce, for retention of nurses in general practice, the sustainability of the profession more broadly and care quality and patient safety.

Reporting Method

Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (O'Brien et al. in Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 89(9), 1245–1251, 2014).

Patient or Public Contribution

As this was a workforce study there was no patient or public contribution.