bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Single-center Exploration of Attitudes to Deceased Organ Donation Over Time Among Healthcare Staff in Intensive Care
Authors: Heeley Benjamin , Hodierne Laurence , Johnson Ian , Gardiner Dale
Published: November 2023

Background.

Changes to deceased organ donation in the United Kingdom, including establishment of the specialist nurse for organ donation (SNOD) role, have resulted in increased numbers of donations. Have increasing numbers of donations altered attitudes among intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare professionals (ICU staff) to organ donation over time?

Methods.

A written survey of ICU staff at Nottingham University Hospitals National Health Service Trust was conducted across 2 wk in 2015, 2018, and 2020 (pre–COVID-19). Participants were asked to submit descriptors (words/phrases) they associated with 3 aspects of donation: donation after brain death (DBD), donation after circulatory death (DCD), and SNOD role. Three independent and blinded assessors categorized the descriptors as positive or negative in favorability. Thematic analysis was used to identify trends within each group of descriptors.

Results.

Across the 3 surveys, 281 responses were returned, containing a total of 2095 descriptors. Positive descriptors were found in 65% of DBD responses, 46% of DCD responses, and 92% of SNOD role. Over time, there was some evidence of increased polarization of opinion for DCD and to a smaller degree DBD. Attitude toward the SNOD role remained consistently highly favorable over time. Thematic analysis was correlated with the assessor favorability ratings to identify specific factors for positive or negative attitudes; this demonstrated the themes that were the most common causes of positive or negative attributions for each aspect of organ donation.

Conclusions.

ICU staff were found to be highly favorably positive toward the SNOD role, positive toward DBD, and negative toward DCD. Although we found broadly positive perceptions of the benefits of deceased organ donation, negative attitudes toward DCD centered on timescale and complexity of the donation process. Measurement of staff attitudes to organ donation may allow targeted interventions that support staff and improve patient and family care through the organ donation process.
Skewed performance distributions as evidence of motor constraint in sports and animal displays
Authors: Logue David M. , Bonnell Tyler R.
Published: November 2023

Animal displays (i.e. movement-based signals) often involve extreme behaviours that seem to push signallers to the limits of their abilities. If motor constraints limit display performance, signal evolution will be constrained, and displays can function as honest signals of quality. Existing approaches for measuring constraint, however, require multiple kinds of behavioural data. A method that requires only one kind could open up new research directions. We propose a conceptual model of performance under constraint, which predicts that the distribution of constrained performance will skew away from the constraint. We tested this prediction with sports data, because we know
a priori
that athletic performance is constrained and that athletes attempt to maximize performance. Performance consistently skewed in the predicted direction in a variety of sports. We then used statistical models based on the skew normal distribution to estimate the constraints on athletes and displaying animals while controlling for potential confounds and clustered data. We concluded that motor constraints tend to generate skewed behaviour and that skew normal models are useful tools to estimate constraints from a single axis of behavioural data. This study expands the toolkit for identifying, characterizing, and comparing performance constraints for applications in animal behaviour, physiology and sports.
Proteomic differences in seminal fluid of social insects whose sperm differ in heat tolerance
Authors: Martinet Baptiste , Przybyla Kimberly , Decroo Corentin , Wattiez Ruddy , Aron Serge
Published: November 2023

In the coming years, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and intensity of heatwaves. In many organisms, heat stress provokes physiological perturbations and can lead to decreased male fertility. Bumblebees are endo-heterothermic but display interspecific differences in thermotolerance that could have conservation implications. For the species of concern
Bombus magnus
, exposure to high temperatures can severely reduce sperm quality and, consequently, reproductive success. Such is not the case for
B. terrestris
, a ubiquitous species. To decipher the mechanisms at play, we characterized the seminal fluid proteomes of the two species. We quantified 1121 proteins, of which 522 were differentially expressed between
B. terrestris
and
B. magnus
. Several proteins with protective functions, such as proteases, antioxidant proteins and various heat-shock proteins, were present at higher levels in
B. terrestris
than in
B. magnus
under both control and heat-stress conditions
.
The same was true for proteins involved in cellular homeostasis, immunity, lipid/sugar metabolism and thermotolerance. Furthermore, proteins involved in the capture and elimination of reactive oxygen species also occurred at much high levels in
B. terrestris
. Overall, these results clearly indicate differences in the seminal proteome of the more thermotolerant
B. terrestris
versus
B. magnus
. The differences may contribute to explaining interspecific differences in sperm survival.
Isolation, characterization and screening of actinomycetes associated with fijian ant–plant symbioses
Authors: Diarra Umar , Osborne-Naikatini Tamara
Published: November 2023

In the search for novel therapeutics to combat the ongoing antimicrobial resistance crisis, scientists are turning to underexplored environments. Defensive mutualisms between hymenopteran insects and actinomycetes represent important reservoirs for bioactive compounds. In this study, we examined the association between actinomycetes and Squamellaria ant-plants spanning three different ant and plant species combinations (Squamellaria imberbis-Philidris nagasau, Squamellaria tenuiflora- Technomyrmex vitiensis, and Squamellaria tenuiflora-Tetramorium insolens). Eight Squamellaria plants were sampled including four containing T. vitiensis, three containing P. nagasau, and a single plant containing T. insolens. A total of 47 actinomycetes were obtained from the sampled material, with 5, 16, and 26 isolates originating from cuticle, tissue, and nest samples, respectively. Cross-streaking tests showed that 12 out of 47 isolates inhibited bacterial pathogens. The most frequently inhibited pathogens in the cross-streaking tests were

S. aureus

and

E. coli

while

S. enterica

was the least inhibited. Among the three primary screening media used, ISP2 agar was the most suitable for secondary metabolism as more isolates exhibited antibacterial activity when grown on the medium. TFS2010 and TFS2003, which matched to

Streptomyces gramineus

(>99% similarity), were the most bioactive isolates in cross-streaking tests. TFS2010 displayed the strong antibacterial on Nutrient agar, Mueller Hinton agar, and ISP2 agar while TFS2003 only exhibited strong antibacterial activity on Nutrient agar. Furthermore, a difference in potency of extracts based on batch culture medium was noted in TFS2010. DNA was extracted from 19 isolates and followed by 16SrRNA gene sequencing. Analysis of sequence data revealed the presence of six genera, including

Amycolatopsis

,

Asanoa

,

Jiangella

,

Nocardia

,

Nocardiopsis

, and

Streptomyces

, with the latter being the most abundant taxon. Among these, three isolates (PNS3002, PNS3005, and TFS3001) are likely to represent new species while one (TFS2015) is likely to be a member of a novel genus. Our work represents the first attempt to study actinomycetes from Squamellaria-ant mutualisms.
NeuroBooster Array: A Genome-Wide Genotyping Platform to Study Neurological Disorders Across Diverse Populations
Authors: Bandres-Ciga Sara , Faghri Faraz , Majounie Elisa , Koretsky Mathew J , Kim Jeffrey , Levine Kristin S , Leonard Hampton , Makarious Mary B , Iwaki Hirotaka , Crea Peter Wild , Hernandez Dena G , Arepalli Sampath , Billingsley Kimberley , Lohmann Katja , Klein Christine , Lubbe Steven J , Jabbari Edwin , Saffie-Awad Paula , Narendra Derek , Reyes-Palomares Armando , Quinn John P , Schulte Claudia , Morris Huw R , Traynor Bryan J. , Scholz Sonja W. , Houlden Henry , Hardy John , Dumanis Sonya , Riley Ekemini , Blauwendraat Cornelis , Singleton Andrew , Nalls Mike , Jeff Janina , Vitale Dan
Published: November 2023

Genome-wide genotyping platforms have the capacity to capture genetic variation across different populations, but there have been disparities in the representation of population-dependent genetic diversity. The motivation for pursuing this endeavor was to create a comprehensive genome-wide array capable of encompassing a wide range of neuro-specific content for the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) and the Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (CARD). CARD aims to increase diversity in genetic studies, using this array as a tool to foster inclusivity. GP2 is the first supported resource project of the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) initiative that aims to support a collaborative global effort aimed at significantly accelerating the discovery of genetic factors contributing to Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonism by generating genome-wide data for over 200,000 individuals in a multi-ancestry context. Here, we present the Illumina NeuroBooster array (NBA), a novel, high-throughput and cost-effective custom-designed content platform to screen for genetic variation in neurological disorders across diverse populations. The NBA contains a backbone of 1,914,934 variants (Infinium Global Diversity Array) complemented with custom content of 95,273 variants implicated in over 70 neurological conditions or traits with potential neurological complications. Furthermore, the platform includes over 10,000 tagging variants to facilitate imputation and analyses of neurodegenerative disease-related GWAS loci across diverse populations. The NBA can identify low frequency variants and accurately impute over 15 million common variants from the latest release of the TOPMed Imputation Server as of August 2023 (reference of over 300 million variants and 90,000 participants). We envisage this valuable tool will standardize genetic studies in neurological disorders across different ancestral groups, allowing researchers to perform genetic research inclusively and at a global scale.
The causal relationship between Graves’ disease and type 2 diabetes: Evidence from Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Akbarzadeh Mahdi , Heidari-Foroozan Mahsa , Talebi Samaneh , Habibi Danial , Tehrani Fateh Sahand , Neshati Farideh , Valizadeh Majid , Ghanooni Amir Hossein , Alavi Majd Hamid , Riahi Parisa , Azizi Fereidoun , Hedayati Mehdi , Daneshpour Maryam Sadat
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Numerous observational investigations have hinted at a possible link between Graves’ disease (GD) and the susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes (T2D). The primary objective of this study was to explore the potential underlying causal connection between GD and T2D through the application of bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Materials and Methods

MR analysis was conducted with summary-level data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for GD and T2D. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for GD were extracted from 458,620 (1,678 cases and 456,942 controls) Europeans in the NBC Human Database, and the summary-level data of T2D (180,834 cases and 1,159,055 controls) were extracted from the DIAGRAM consortium.

The primary analysis method was the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. Heterogeneity and pleiotropy were considered to assess the causal relationship between GD and T2D. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure the robustness of the findings.

Results

The initial analysis found no significant causal relationship between GD and an increased risk of T2D (OR = 1.019, 95% CI (0.997,1.042); SE = 0.01, P= 0.373). However, after sensitivity analyses and removal of outlier SNPs, a significant causal relationship was found (ORIVW= 1.017, 95% CI (1.002,1.033), P= 0.03, Cochran’s Q= 7.8, p-value = 0.932, I2= 0.0%).

Conclusions

The study indicates a causal link between GD and an elevated T2D risk, underscoring the need for blood sugar monitoring and specialized care for GD patients. Further research into GD-T2D mechanisms is essential for preventive strategies and interventions.
Chromosome 1p deletion in colorectal cancer and lower grade glioma: possible relationship with the enteric nervous system
Authors: Lehrer Steven , Rheinstein Peter H.
Published: November 2023

Background

Enteric neurons and enteric glial cells are a part of the enteric nervous system, which is sometimes referred to as the “second brain” of the body. This complex network of neurons controls various functions of the gastrointestinal tract, including motility, secretion, and blood flow. Research has shown that there is a connection between enteric neurons and the development of colorectal cancer, although the exact mechanisms are still being studied.

Methods

Because of the potential influence of chromosome mutations that may be common to both gliomas and colorectal cancer, we used the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to examine these mutations.

Results

166 of 506 lower grade gliomas had the 1p 19q co-deletion. 150 of 616 colorectal cancers had a 1p deletion but no 19q deletion.

Conclusion

Colorectal cancer cells adhere to and migrate along the neurons of the enteric nervous system. Therefore, cancer cells might be expected to pick up mutations from neurons and enteric glial cells during recombination events. We hypothesize that the chromosome 1p deletion in colorectal cancer above is not a chance event and instead was acquired from adjacent enteric glial cells. Chromosome 1p co-deletion may confer better survival in patients with lower grade glioma in part because of loss of the MycBP oncogene, which is important in glioma development. Enteric glia might have the chromosome 1p deletion but lack the chromosome 19q deletion of CNS gliomas, making them much less vulnerable to malignant transformation than CNS gliomas. Indeed, evidence exists for a tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 19q associated with human astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and mixed gliomas.
Signatures of Cysteine Oxidation on Muscle Structural and Contractile Proteins Are Associated with Physical Performance and Muscle Function in Older Adults: Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA)
Authors: Day Nicholas J. , Kelly Shane S. , Lui Li-Yung , Mansfield Tyler A. , Gaffrey Matthew J. , Trejo Jesse B. , Sagendorf Tyler J. , Attah Kwame , Moore Ronald J. , Douglas Collin M. , Newman Anne B. , Kritchevsky Stephen B. , Kramer Philip A. , Marcinek David J. , Coen Paul M. , Goodpaster Bret H. , Hepple Russell T. , Cawthon Peggy M. , Petyuk Vladislav A. , Esser Karyn A. , Qian Wei-Jun , Cummings Steven R.
Published: November 2023

Oxidative stress is considered a contributor to declining muscle function and mobility during aging; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly described. We hypothesized that greater levels of cysteine (Cys) oxidation on muscle proteins are associated with decreased measures of mobility. Herein, we applied a novel redox proteomics approach to measure reversible protein Cys oxidation in vastus lateralis muscle biopsies collected from 56 subjects in the Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA), a community-based cohort study of individuals aged 70 years and older. We tested whether levels of Cys oxidation on key muscle proteins involved in muscle structure and contraction were associated with muscle function (leg power and strength), walking speed, and fitness (VO2peak on cardiopulmonary exercise testing) using linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and body weight. Higher oxidation levels of select nebulin Cys sites were associated with lower VO2peak, while greater oxidation of myomesin-1, myomesin-2, and nebulin Cys sites was associated with slower walking speed. Higher oxidation of Cys sites in key proteins such as myomesin-2, alpha-actinin-2, and skeletal muscle alpha-actin were associated with lower leg power and strength. We also observed an unexpected correlation (r = 0.48) between a higher oxidation level of 8 Cys sites in alpha-actinin-3 and stronger leg power. Despite this observation, the results generally support the hypothesis that Cys oxidation of muscle proteins impair muscle power and strength, walking speed, and cardiopulmonary fitness with aging.
Investigating Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Cattle Using Metagenomics
Authors: Omar Kauthar M. , Kitundu George L. , Jimoh Adijat O. , Namikelwa Dorcus N. , Lisso Felix M. , Babajide Abiola A. , Olufemi Seun E. , Awe Olaitan I.
Published: November 2023

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem in African cattle production systems, posing a threat to human and animal health and the associated economic value chain. However, there is a poor understanding of the resistomes in small-holder cattle breeds in East African countries. This study aims to examine the distribution of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARGs) in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda cattle using a metagenomics approach.

We used the SqueezeMeta-Abricate (assembly-based) pipeline to detect ARGs and benchmarked this approach using the Centifuge-AMRplusplus (read-based) pipeline to evaluate its efficiency. Our findings reveal a significant number of ARGs of critical medical and economic importance in all three countries, including resistance to drugs of last resort such as carbapenems, suggesting the presence of highly virulent and antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens (ESKAPE) circulating in East Africa.

Shared ARGs such as aph(6)-id (aminoglycoside phosphotransferase), tet (tetracycline resistance gene), sul2 (sulfonamide resistance gene) and cfxA_gen (betalactamase gene) were detected. Assembly-based methods revealed fewer ARGs compared to read-based methods, indicating the sensitivity and specificity of read-based methods in resistome characterization.

Our findings call for further surveillance to estimate the intensity of the antibiotic resistance problem and wider resistome classification. Effective management of livestock and antibiotic consumption is crucial in minimizing antimicrobial resistance and maximizing productivity, making these findings relevant to stakeholders, agriculturists, and veterinarians in East Africa and Africa at large.
Specific and comprehensive genetic targeting reveals brain-wide distribution and synaptic input patterns of GABAergic axo-axonic interneurons
Authors: Raudales Ricardo , Kim Gukhan , Kelly Sean M. , Hatfield Joshua , Guan Wuqiang , Zhao Shengli , Paul Anirban , Qian Yongjun , Li Bo , Huang Z. Josh
Published: November 2023

Axo-axonic cells (AACs), also called chandelier cells (ChCs) in the cerebral cortex, are the most distinctive type of GABAergic interneurons described in the neocortex, hippocampus, and basolateral amygdala (BLA). AACs selectively innervate glutamatergic projection neurons (PNs) at their axon initial segment (AIS), thus may exert decisive control over PN spiking and regulate PN functional ensembles. However, the brain-wide distribution, synaptic connectivity, and circuit function of AACs remains poorly understood, largely due to the lack of specific and reliable experimental tools. Here, we have established an intersectional genetic strategy that achieves specific and comprehensive targeting of AACs throughout the mouse brain based on their lineage (Nkx2.1) and molecular (Unc5b,Pthlh) markers. We discovered that AACs are deployed across essentially all the pallium-derived brain structures, including not only the dorsal pallium-derived neocortex and medial pallium-derived hippocampal formation, but also the lateral pallium-derived claustrum-insular complex, and the ventral pallium-derived extended amygdaloid complex and olfactory centers. AACs are also abundant in anterior olfactory nucleus, taenia tecta and lateral septum. AACs show characteristic variations in density across neocortical areas and layers and across subregions of the hippocampal formation. Neocortical AACs comprise multiple laminar subtypes with distinct dendritic and axonal arborization patterns. Retrograde monosynaptic tracing from AACs across neocortical, hippocampal and BLA regions reveal shared as well as distinct patterns of synaptic input. Specific and comprehensive targeting of AACs facilitates the study of their developmental genetic program and circuit function across brain structures, providing a ground truth platform for understanding the conservation and variation of a bona fide cell type across brain regions and species.
MSGene: Derivation and validation of a multistate model for lifetime risk of coronary artery disease using genetic risk and the electronic health record
Authors: Urbut Sarah M. , Yeung Ming Wai , Khurshid Shaan , Jemma Cho So Mi , Schuermans Art , German Jakob , Taraszka Kodi , Fahed Akl C. , Ellinor Patrick , Trinquart Ludovic , Parmigiani Giovanni , Gusev Alexander , Natarajan Pradeep
Published: November 2023

Currently, coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death among adults worldwide. Accurate risk stratification can support optimal lifetime prevention. We designed a novel and general multistate model (MSGene) to estimate age-specific transitions across 10 cardiometabolic states, dependent on clinical covariates and a CAD polygenic risk score. MSGene supports decision making about CAD prevention related to any of these states. We analyzed longitudinal data from 480,638 UK Biobank participants and compared predicted lifetime risk with the 30-year Framingham risk score. MSGene improved discrimination (C-index 0.71 vs 0.66), age of high-risk detection (C-index 0.73 vs 0.52), and overall prediction (RMSE 1.1% vs 10.9%), with external validation. We also used MSGene to refine estimates of lifetime absolute risk reduction from statin initiation. Our findings underscore the potential public health value of our novel multistate model for accurate lifetime CAD risk estimation using clinical factors and increasingly available genetics.
WITHDRAWN: Genome-wide risk prediction of primary open-angle glaucoma across multiple ancestries
Authors: Gharahkhani Puya , He Weixiong , Han Xikun , Ong Jue Sheng , Rentería Miguel E , Wiggs Janey L , Khawaja Anthony P , Trzaskowski Maciej , Mackey David A. , Craig Jamie E. , Hewitt Alex W. ,   IGGC International Glaucoma Genetics Consortium, MacGregor Stuart , Wu Yeda
Published: November 2023

Withdrawal statement

This manuscript has been withdrawn by medRxiv following a formal request by the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Research Integrity Office owing to lack of author consent.
Responsible leadership toward garnering legitimacy from stakeholders in India: an institutional perspective
Authors: Sargam Sadhna , Pandey Ashish
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Understanding societal expectations of a leader's responsibility and context-specific challenges in less-researched emerging economies has become imperative for foreign Multinational enterprises (MNEs) to survive in these contexts while developing globally responsible leaders. Identification of institutionally sanctioned characteristics, competencies and strategies that assist leaders in dealing with such challenges while achieving shared value has wider implications for academics, practitioners and the literature on responsible leadership (RL), which is the purpose of this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted in-depth interviews of 28 senior indigenous leaders in 3 Indian Multinational corporations (MNCs) in construction sector, following a grounded theory approach.

Findings

The authors identified three vital institutionally driven challenges and four individual-level societal-driven factors, subsequently influencing leaders' strategic decisions and choices to deal with such challenges beyond passive conformance. Contrary to the previous findings, this study also briefly discusses that a mere ethical climate is insufficient; organizations must develop a holistic values climate that works as contextual factors to influence RL.

Originality/value

Contrary to the previous findings suggesting Indian leaders' conformance to constraining forces to RL, by adopting a multilevel approach, the authors identify the context-specific strategic behaviors that responsible leaders adopt in dealing with such forces responsibly. Thus, it is the first multilevel inductive approach conducted in a non-Western context, offering a discrete understanding of RL while addressing some of the inconsistencies in the literature and contributing to cross-cultural leadership research. Also, findings highlight the factors of RL that are more emic and etic for generalization.
Mobile work, individual aspirations and job satisfaction in Europe
Authors: Curzi Ylenia , Pistoresi Barbara , Coppeta Gaetano Francesco
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This article responds to the call for more research on mobile work by exploring how the aspirations of these workers relate to job satisfaction through adaptation to the job characteristics they experience.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on aspiration theory and the literature on mobile work, the paper examines how mobile workers form aspirations and how this is related to their perception of job satisfaction. The empirical analysis uses a two-tier stochastic frontier analysis and the 2015 European Working Conditions Survey dataset.

Findings

Mobile workers formulate higher aspirations than the working conditions they experience and report lower levels of job satisfaction than other types of workers. They revise their aspirations downwards when they experience autonomy, discretion, performance-related pay schemes, relation-oriented leadership while they increase their aspirations when they experience work intensification and discrimination.

Originality/value

This paper provides new insights into the work perceptions of mobile workers and enriches existing research by highlighting the importance of the study of individual aspirations to advance understanding of the complex dynamics of mobile work.
Influence of elevated temperature on buckling capacity of mild steel-based cold-formed steel column sections– experimental investigation and finite element modelling
Authors: Sabu Sam Varun , Adarsh M.S. , Lyngdoh Garry Robson , Marak Garry Wegara K. , Anand N. , Al-Jabri Khalifa , Andrushia Diana
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The capability of steel columns to support their design loads is highly affected by the time of exposure and temperature magnitude, which causes deterioration of mechanical properties of steel under fire conditions. It is known that structural steel loses strength and stiffness as temperature increases, particularly above 400 °C. The duration of time in which steel is exposed to high temperatures also has an impact on how much strength it loses. The time-dependent response of steel is critical when estimating load carrying capacity of steel columns exposed to fire. Thus, investigating the structural response of cold-formed steel (CFS) columns is gaining more interest due to the nature of such structural elements.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, experiments were conducted on two CFS configurations: back-to-back (B-B) channel and toe-to-toe (T-T) channel sections. All CFS column specimens were exposed to different temperatures following the standard fire curve and cooled by air or water. A total of 14 tests were conducted to evaluate the capacity of the CFS sections. The axial resistance and yield deformation were noted for both section types at elevated temperatures. The CFS column sections were modelled to simulate the section's behaviour under various temperature exposures using the general-purpose finite element (FE) program ABAQUS. The results from FE modelling agreed well with the experimental results. Ultimate load of experiment and finite element model (FEM) are compared with each other. The difference in percentage and ratio between both are presented.

Findings

The results showed that B-B configuration showed better performance for all the investigated parameters than T-T sections. A noticeable loss in the ultimate strength of 34.5 and 65.6% was observed at 90 min (986℃) for B-B specimens cooled using air and water, respectively. However, the reduction was 29.9 and 46% in the T-T configuration, respectively.

Originality/value

This research paper focusses on assessing the buckling strength of heated CFS sections to analyse the mode of failure of CFS sections with B-B and T-T design configurations under the effect of elevated temperature.
A novel cascaded transformer coupled multilevel inverter with reduced number of switches for high power applications
Authors: Behera Rashmi Rekha , Dash Ashish Ranjan , Panda Anup Kumar
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design a cascaded Multilevel inverter with reduce number of switches for high power applications. This paper came up with an innovative three-phase multilevel inverter (MLI) topology, which is a cascaded structure based on classical three-legged voltage source inverter (VSI) bridges as an individual module. The prominent advantage of this topology is that it requires only one direct current (DC) link system. The main characteristic of it is that a higher number of voltage levels can be achieved with considerably a smaller number of semiconductor switches, which improves the reliability, power quality, cost and size of the system significantly.

Design/methodology/approach

The individual modules are cascaded through three-phase transformers to provide higher voltage at the output with the higher number of voltage levels. In this work, the phase-shifted pulse width modulation technique is implemented to verify the result.

Findings

The proposed topology is compared with three-phase cascaded H-bridge MLI (CHB-MLI) and a modified CHB-MLI topology and found better in many aspects. The proposed MLI can produce a higher number of voltage levels with fewer semiconductor switches and associated triggering circuitry. As the device count in the proposed MLI is less compared to other MLI discussed, it tends to have less switching and conduction loss which increases the efficiency and reliability. As the number of level increases, the voltage profile and the total harmonic distortion of the proposed MLI improves.

Originality/value

This is a transformer-based modular cascaded MLI, which is based on classical VSI bridges. Here in this topology, a single module provides all three phases. So, a single string of cascaded modules is enough for three-phase multilevel voltage generation.
Death after endoscopic prostate surgery in Australia and New Zealand: a review of clinical management issues
Authors: Galiabovitch Elena , Lim Kylie Yen‐Yi , McCahy Philip
Published: November 2023

Background

Endoscopic prostate surgery is an established treatment for male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and is recognized to have low mortality rates. We aimed to describe factors that may have contributed to death following endoscopic prostate surgery using data from the Australia and New Zealand Audits of Surgical Mortality (ANZASM).

Methods

All urological related deaths reported to ANZASM from January 1 2012 to December 31 2019 were reviewed. Deaths related to endoscopic prostate resection (transurethral resection of prostate – TURP, laser procedures) were included. Peer reviewers identified up to three clinical management issues (CMIs), and these were analysed. CMIs were classified in order of least to most concerning: area of consideration, area of concern and adverse events.

Results

Of 1127 total urological deaths, 77 deaths were related to endoscopic prostate surgery (7.0%). Most procedures were monopolar TURP. The mean age of patients was 80.9 years (range 57.0–96.2). Leading causes of death were cardiovascular events 23/77 (29.9%) and respiratory failure 14/77 (18.2%). Assessors identified 39 CMIs in 26/77 (33.8%) patients. Twenty‐three were areas of consideration, nine were areas of concern and seven identified adverse events. The most common CMIs were regarding post‐operative care (14/39) and the decision to operate (13/39).

Conclusion

Most deaths did not elicit concerns from the ANZASM peer assessors. However, the main concerns identified were surrounding decision making and rationale for operating. This highlights the importance of clear counselling and documentation during the treatment decision process.
Gilteritinib‐based combination therapy in adult relapsed/refractory FLT3‐mutated acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Chen Nianci , Pan Jiajia , Zhou Yile , Mao Liping , Lou Yinjun , Qian Jiejing , Xu Gaixiang , Wei Juying , Zhou De , Shou Lihong , Huang Li , Yan Minchao , Zeng Hui , Fan Cuihua , Wu Gongqiang , Feng Weiying , Tong Hongyan , Jin Jie , Wang Huafeng
Published: November 2023

Gilteritinib, a potent FMS‐like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor, was approved for relapsed/refractory (R/R) FLT3‐mutated acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients but still showed limited efficacy. Here, we retrospectively analysed the efficacy and safety of different gilteritinib‐based combination therapies (gilteritinib plus hypomethylating agent and venetoclax, G + HMA + VEN; gilteritinib plus HMA, G + HMA; gilteritinib plus venetoclax, G + VEN) in 33 R/R FLT3‐mutated AML patients. The composite complete response (CRc) and modified CRc (mCRc) rates were 66.7% (12/18) and 88.9% (16/18) in patients received G + HMA + VEN, which was higher compared with that in G + HMA (CRc: 18.2%, 2/11; mCRc: 45.5%, 5/11) or G + VEN (CRc: 50.0%, 2/4; mCRc: 50.0%, 2/4). The median overall survival (OS) for G + HMA + VEN, G + HMA and G + VEN treatment was not reached, 160.0 days and 231.0 days. The median duration of remission (DOR) for G + HMA + VEN, G + HMA and G + VEN treatment was not reached, 82.0 days and 77.0 days. Four patients in the G + HMA + VEN group received alloHSCT after remission exhibited prolonged median DOR. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were cytopenia, febrile neutropenia and pulmonary infection; there were no differences among the three groups. In conclusion, our data demonstrated promising response of G + HMA + VEN combination therapy in R/R FLT3‐mutated AML, and it may be considered an effective therapy bridge to transplantation.
Skin sensitization data for methyl esters of sulphonic acids—Corrections to published databases required
Authors: Roberts David W.
Published: November 2023

Background

Several methyl esters of sulphonic acids are listed in murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) databases, with dose–response data and EC3 values. However, some of these entries are questionable—in one case the chemical tested is not the chemical named in the databases and in others the EC3 value has been derived by extrapolation from data that do not meet the applicability criteria for the approved extrapolation method.

Objectives

To consider how LLNA data came to be attributed to the wrong chemical and to address the inappropriate extrapolated EC3 values.

Methods

Dose–response data for methyl hexadec‐3‐enesulphonate (wrongly named as methyl hexadec‐1‐enesulphonate), two other methyl sulphonates and hexadec‐1‐ene‐1,3‐sultone are re‐evaluated using the single dose probit extrapolation method (SDPEM). The different reaction chemistry profiles of methyl hexadec‐3‐enesulphonate and methyl hexadec‐1‐enesulphonate are discussed.

Results

Extrapolated EC3 values for hexadec‐1‐ene‐1,3‐sultone are the same by both methods but for the methyl sulphonates the differences are substantial.

Conclusions

Current databases should be corrected and further analysed to identify other cases where EC3 values are likely to be unreliable due to inappropriate estimation by extrapolation.
Plastic film mulching maintains soil organic carbon by increasing fungal necromass carbon under manure application
Authors: Liu Xu , Bol Roland , Ge Zhuang , Ma Nan , Li Tingyu , Liu Yaocen , Li Shuangyi , An Tingting , Wang Jingkuan
Published: November 2023

Microbial necromass carbon (MNC) is a major contributor to soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. Fertilization combined with plastic film mulching, as an intensive agricultural practice to increase crop yields, affects soil microbial growth and metabolism. Nevertheless, how fertilization combined with mulching affects SOC sequestration by mediating MNC dynamics remains elusive. Here, the mulching and no‐mulching sub‐treatments were set under three fertilization treatments (no fertilization, NF; inorganic fertilization, IF; manure, MF), and a 900‐day field incubation experiment using polyvinyl chloride containers was conducted in the buffer zone of NF treatment. We investigated the effects of fertilization combined with mulching on MNC composition (including fungal necromass carbon, FNC; and bacterial necromass carbon, BNC) and qualified their contributions to SOC sequestration. The MF treatment with/without mulching significantly increased the contents of MNC, FNC, BNC, and SOC by 97%–122%, 81%–94%, 152%–210%, and 60%–70% compared with the NF treatment without mulching over 900 days, respectively. The MNC content had a strongly positive correlation with particulate organic carbon and microbial biomass C (p < 0.01). During the incubation stage, the proportion of MNC in SOC was higher in the IF (37%–42%) and MF (40%–44%) treatments with/without mulching than that in the NF treatment with/without mulching (31%–35%). On day 900, mulching significantly decreased the MNC content by 8.7% and 7.8%, and decreased the proportion of MNC in SOC by 5.1% and 5.8% under the NF and IF treatments, respectively. In contrast, mulching did not significantly affect the MNC and SOC contents, but significantly increased the FNC content by 4.8% under the MF treatment on day 900. Mulching significantly decreased the proportion of BNC in SOC regardless of fertilization, and increased the proportion of FNC in SOC under the MF treatment on day 900. Overall, our findings suggest that mulching under manure application maintains SOC sequestration by promoting FNC retention.
Oxygen isotope ratios of phosphates in the soil‐plant system: Limitations and future developments
Authors: von Sperber Christian , Pistocchi Chiara , Weiler Markus , Tamburini Federica
Published: November 2023

The oxygen isotope ratio of phosphates is a powerful tool to study phosphorus in the soil‐plant system. In the past two decades, the scientific community has made substantial progress in characterizing biogeochemical processes that lead to an alteration of oxygen isotope ratios in phosphates and in evaluating oxygen isotope ratios of phosphates in plants and soils under various environmental conditions around the globe. However, there are still uncertainties with respect to their interpretation in environmental systems. These uncertainties include the comprehensive analysis of isotope endmembers, artifacts during the chemical extractions and the phosphate purification protocols, overlapping isotope values from various processes and sources, gaps of knowledge about isotope effects of metabolic pathways, and the possibly erroneous assumption that insights from experiments under controlled laboratory conditions can be directly translated into the complex soil‐plant system. This paper provides a critical discussion of these uncertainties addressing recommendations and needs for future research and gives an outlook on recent technological advances, such as triple oxygen isotope analysis or the use of high‐resolution mass spectrometry. We conclude by suggesting that a concerted and systematic effort by scientists from a wide range of disciplines will be necessary to remove the uncertainties in the interpretation of oxygen isotope ratios in phosphates as an environmental tracer.
Incidence and risk factors for complications associated with equine general anaesthesia for elective magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Morgan Jessica M. , Aceto Helen , Manzi Timothy , Davidson Elizabeth J.
Published: November 2023

Background

Complications are a practical consideration for elective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies performed under general anaesthesia but relatively little is known about their distribution and risk factors.

Objectives

To describe the incidence of complications associated with MRI performed under general anaesthesia at a large referral facility and evaluate potential risk factors for these complications.

Study design

Retrospective case–control study.

Methods

Patient information and details of the MRI procedure were collected retrospectively from medical records of all horses that had undergone an MRI under general anaesthesia at the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, between September 2005 and April 2012. Complications and categorical variables were examined by chi‐squared or Fisher's exact tests as appropriate. A mixed‐effects logistic regression approach was used to evaluate associations between explanatory variables and the outcome variable (complications or pyrexia). A univariable screen was used to select variables (likelihood ratio test p < 0.2) for inclusion in the multivariable analysis. Statistical significance was inferred when p ≤ 0.05.

Results

Complications were noted after MRI in 51 (17.4%) of 293 events eligible for inclusion. Complications included pyrexia (n = 35), pneumonia (n = 14), colic (n = 10), facial/nerve paralysis (n = 6), diarrhoea (n = 4), and other (n = 3). The odds of developing a post‐anaesthetic complication were significantly decreased in horses that received peri‐anaesthetic antimicrobials (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.14–0.63, p = 0.002). Increased age (OR 0.87, 95% CI, 0.76–0.99, p = 0.03) and peri‐anaesthetic antimicrobial administration (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08–0.65, p = 0.005) were associated with a decreased odds of developing pyrexia.

Main limitations

Single centre retrospective design.

Conclusions

Potential complications including pyrexia, pneumonia and colic should be recognised when pursuing MRI under general anaesthesia. The administration of peri‐anaesthetic antimicrobials decreased the odds of a complication and warrants consideration, particularly in horses that might be classified as high risk.
Chronic kidney disease and value‐based care: Lessons from innovation, iteration, and ideation in primary care
Authors: Berman Matthew E. , Lowentritt Joshua E.
Published: November 2023

Value‐based primary care has reduced health care costs, improved the quality of rendered care, and enhanced the patient experience. Value‐based care emphasizes prevention, outreach, follow‐up, patient engagement, and comprehensive, whole‐person health. Primary care Accountable Care Organizations have leveraged technology‐enabled workflows, practice transformation, and cutting‐edge data and analytics to achieve success. These efforts are increasingly aided by predictive modeling used in the context of patient identification and prioritization algorithms. Value‐based kidney care programs can glean salient takeaways from successful value‐based primary care methods and models. The kidney care community is experiencing unprecedented transformation as novel payer programs and financial models burgeon. The authors contend these efforts can be accelerated by the adoption of techniques honed in value‐based primary care. To optimize value‐based kidney care, though, nephrology thought leaders must transcend the archetype of value‐based primary care. To do so, the nephrology community must: (1) impel behavioral change among fee‐for‐service adherents; (2) harness emerging policy, guidelines, and quality measures; (3) adopt innovative tools, technologies, and therapies. In aggregating lessons from value‐based primary care—and leveraging novel methodologies and approaches—the kidney care community will be better equipped to achieve the quadruple aim for kidney care.
The evasive responses of learners of Chinese as a foreign language in daily interaction: A speech act point of view
Authors: Liu Shiyu
Published: November 2023

In this paper, I explore the interactional phenomenon of evasion by using Edmondson and House's (1981) typology, which divides speech act categories into ‘Substantive’ and ‘Ritual’ speech acts. First, I examined which speech acts are used by native Chinese speakers and learners of Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) to realise evasive interactional responses in the Chinese linguaculture. Second, I compared the ways in which native speakers of Chinese and CFL learners realise evasions. Data were collected from 20 CFL learners and 20 native Chinese speakers, who completed a Discourse Completion Test featuring conflict scenarios such as a choice between lying and hurting someone's feelings. The results showed that the most frequented speech in evasive responses are Opine and Tell. Native Chinese speakers tend to use internal modification in the form of downgraders and honorifics, while CFL learners tend to use external mitigators.
Nurses' mental workload and public health emergency response capacity in COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: He Hong , Wang Jialin , Yuan Zhongqing , Teng Mei , Wang Shuping
Published: November 2023

Aims

The aim of this study was to assess the level of mental workload of Chinese nurses through a latent profile analysis and to explore its relationship with public health emergency response capacity.

Design

A cross‐sectional design with a convenience sample.

Methods

A convenience sample of nurses from five tertiary hospitals in Chengdu between May and December 2022. Demographic, work‐related information, Nurse's version of NASA's Task Load Index Scale and Nurse's Public Health Emergency Response Capacity Scale were used in this study.

Results

The mean scores for mental workload and emergency response capacity for nurses were (57.19 ± 15.67) and (3.58 ± 0.77) respectively. We found that the mental workload of nurses fell into three potential categories. In addition, there were differences in psychological training and supply of epidemic prevention materials in the department among nurses with different mental workload subtypes. There was a moderate negative correlation between nurses' mental workload and public health emergency response capacity.

Conclusion

Our results show that there is still a strong mental workload on a proportion of nurses, and enhanced psychological training and material supply support are beneficial in relieving nurses' mental workload. The better the nurses' capacity to cope with public health emergencies, the lower their mental workload.

Impact

Nursing managers should pay ongoing attention to the mental workload status of nurses in the latter stages of a pandemic and individual differences in nurses' mental workload. In addition, nursing managers should be aware of the impact of public health emergency response capacity on nurses' mental workload. They can intervene in nurses mental workload from a new perspective.

Patient or Public Contribution

560 registered nurses participated in this study.