bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ambulatory Neuromuscular Scoliosis Patients Have Superior Perioperative Results Than Nonambulatory Neuromuscular Scoliosis Patients and Can Approach Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Outcomes After Posterior Spinal Fusion
Authors: Sarwahi Vishal , Atlas Aaron , Galina Jesse , Hasan Sayyida , Dimauro Jon-Paul , Katyal Chhavi , Djukic Aleksandra , Thornhill Beverly , Lo Yungtai , Amaral Terry D. , Moguilevich Marina
Published: August 2021

Study Design.

Retrospective cohort study.

Objective.

This study aims to identify differences in perioperative outcomes between ambulatory patients with neuromuscular scoliosis (ANMS) and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) following spinal fusion.

Summary of Background Data.

NMS patients have severe curves with more comorbidities and procedural complexity. These patients require extensive fusion levels, increased blood loss, and suffer increased periop complications. However, NMS patients have a variable severity spectrum, including ambulation status.

Methods.

Chart and radiographic review of NMS and AIS patients undergoing PSF from 2005 to 2018. NNMS included NMS patients who were completely dependent (GMFCS IV-V). ANMS consisted of community ambulators without significant reliance on wheeled assistive devices (GMFCS I-III). Subanalysis matched by age, sex, levels fused and preoperative Cobb angle was conducted as well. Wilcoxon Rank-Sum, Kruskal-Wallis, χ
2, and Fisher exact tests were performed.

Results.

There were 120 patients in the NNMS group, 54 in ANMS and 158 in the AIS group. EBL was significantly lower for ANMS and AIS patients (P < 0.001). Complications within 30 days were similar between ANMS and AIS (P = 1.0), but significantly higher for NNMS (P < 0.001). Two (1.3%) AIS patients, (1.7%) nonambulatory NMS patients, and one (1.9%) ANMS patient required revision surgery (P = 1.0). However, all NMS patients had increased fusion levels, fixation points, and surgery time (P < 0.05). NNMS had significantly longer ICU (P < 0.001), hospital stay (P < 0.001), intraoperative transfusions (P < 0.001), and fewer patients extubated in the OR (P < 0.001) than ANMS and AIS patients. In the subanalysis, ANMS had similar radiographic measurements, EBL, transfusion, surgery time, extubation rate, and complication rate (P > 0.05) to AIS.

Conclusion.

Our data show radiographic outcomes, infections, revisions, and overall complications for ANMS were similar to the AIS population. This suggests that NMS patients who ambulate primarily without assistance can expect surgical outcomes comparable to AIS patients with further room for improvement in length of ICU and hospital stay.

Level of Evidence: 4
Mother-to-child transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: review of classification systems and systematic reviews
Authors: Ansari Kehkashan , Kew Tania , Allotey John , Thangaratinam Shakila
Published: August 2021

Purpose of review

To review the various classification systems for mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of SARS-CoV-2 and collate existing evidence on systematic reviews of MTCT of SARS-CoV-2.

Recent findings

To-date, there are three classification systems for MTCT of SARS-CoV-2, including the WHO classification developed by expert consensus, based on in-utero, intrapartum and postnatal exposure of the babies to the virus. The systems variously classify babies tested for suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection as confirmed, probable, possible, indeterminate and unlikely for MTCT. To-date, 68 systematic reviews have been published between December 2019 and March 2021 on SARS-CoV-2 MTCT. Most of the reviews included cases series and case reports in their pooling of data, and often used SARS-CoV-2 infection and test positivity interchangeably.

Several classification systems are available to assist in determining the timing of SARS-CoV-2 infection in new-borns. Existing reviews of MTCT are of poor quality and report variable rates of SARS-CoV-2 positivity. A high-quality systematic review is needed on the extent of confirmed vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2, risk factors for MTCT of SARS-CoV-2, the prevalence and persistence of viral particles or immunological response in reported biological samples. Primary studies should categorize MTCT using classifications, such as WHO classification system that considers the strength of the timing of classification and persistence of positivity, taking into account the sterility of the collected samples.
Prosthetic Replacement of Ocular Surface Ecosystem Scleral Lens: Benefits of an In-Clinic Therapeutic Approach for Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defect
Authors: Paul Sona , Natarajan Radhika , Iqbal Asif
Published: August 2021

This case report details the efficacy of in-clinic customized scleral lens trial with self-preserved antibiotic eye drop in the liquid reservoir, in promoting fast healing of persistent corneal epithelial defect (PED). A 57-year-old man with a PED following injury, not responding to conventional treatment, underwent an in-clinic therapeutic trial of prosthetic replacement of ocular surface ecosystem device, to promote epithelial healing. After device wear with antibiotic eye drop in the liquid reservoir for 8 hrs during the day on five consecutive days and pressure patching at night with antibiotic eye ointment, there was complete resolution of the PED. Prosthetic replacement of ocular surface ecosystem scleral lenses are an effective treatment modality for PED. In-clinic daytime lens wear with night time pressure patching is a cost-effective option. Expert supervision avoids patient learning curve issues. Corneal re-epithelization happens because of the moisture and protection of the fragile healing epithelium afforded by these high DK lenses.
Massive Orbital Infiltration and Trigeminal Enlargement in Churg-Strauss Syndrome Associated With IgG4 Plasma Cell Positivity
Authors: Zanon Zotin Maria Clara , Cunha Barbara S. A. , Chahud Fernando , Cruz Antonio Augusto Velasco e
Published: August 2021

The association of C-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) vasculitis and IgG4 positivity is a new condition not well described in clinical terms. The authors examined a 28-year-old man with a previous diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, formerly known as Churg-Strauss disease, who presented with bilateral orbital inflammation. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse orbital infiltration and enlargement of the major divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Biopsy of the orbital contents showed necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis and a high number of IgG4-positive plasma cells (IgG4/IgG = 60%).
Randomized Cross-over Trial of Endobronchial Ultrasound Transbronchial Needle Aspiration With or Without Suction in Suspected Malignant Lymphadenopathy
Authors: Chami Hassan A. , Abu Khouzam Rani , Makki Maha , Kahwaji Sandra , Hochaimi Nour , Tamim Hani , Shabb Nina S.
Published: August 2021

Rationale:

The benefit from applying suction during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is unclear.

Background:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of applying suction during EBUS-TBNA of lymph nodes (LN) on the diagnostic yield and specimen quality of EBUS-TBNA smears and cellblocks.

Methods:

We conducted a randomized blinded cross-over trial comparing the diagnostic yield and quality of EBUS-TBNA samples obtained with suction (S+) and without suction (S−) from suspected malignant mediastinal LN. Each LN was aspirated 4 times in a randomly assigned alternating order: S+/S−/S+/S− or S−/S+/S−/S+, resulting in 2 matched S+/S− smears pairs and 1 matched S+/S− cellblocks pairs. Specimen were assessed by a blinded cytopathologist. The primary outcome was the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA smears and cellblocks. Secondary analyses accounted for LN size (≤2 vs. >2 cm) and station (mediastinal vs. hilar).

Results:

Of 234 EBUS-TBNA smears and 114 cellblocks were obtained from 59 LN. The concordance of S+ and S− cellblocks diagnostic yield was low (43.8%; 95% confidence interval: 30.7-57.6) with a significantly higher diagnostic yield among S+ compared with S− cellblocks (56.1% vs. 10.5%, respectively, P<0.001), regardless of LN station and size. However, S+ and S− smears were moderately concordant (66.7%; 95% confidence interval: 57.4-75.1) with no overall difference in their respective diagnostic yield. Numerically higher diagnostic yield among S+ smears in LN≤2 cm or hilar LN was not statistically significant. Results were similar for specimen adequacy, sensitivity and diagnosis of malignancy.

Conclusion:

Applying suction during EBUS-TBNA of suspected malignant LN enhanced the diagnostic yield of cellblocks regardless of mediastinal LN station or size, but not of smears.
Fertility and Pregnancy Outcomes After Conservative Management of Adenocarcinoma In Situ of the Cervix
Authors: Bell Sarah G. , Peng Katie , Kobernik Emily K. , Miller Madison E. , Lieberman Richard , Saunders Natalie A. , Welch Kathryn C. , Campbell Elizabeth J.
Published: August 2021

Objective

The aim of the study was to evaluate the pregnancy outcomes of women who underwent conservative management of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS).

Materials and Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with AIS at a single tertiary institution between January 1, 1991, and December 31, 2019. We collected demographic data, AIS-specific information, and fertility outcomes and performed bivariate analyses to compare demographic characteristics and AIS-specific information between patients with and without hysterectomy after diagnosis. Patients with conservative management who achieved pregnancy were described.

Results

Among 87 patients with AIS, 38 (44%) underwent a hysterectomy within 6 months of diagnosis and 49 (56%) underwent conservative management. Six of 19 patients (32%) had residual AIS despite undergoing definitive management after an excisional procedure with negative margins and negative endocervical curettage (ECC). Nine of 19 patients (47%) had residual AIS after an excisional procedure with positive margins and/or a positive ECC. Patients who opted for conservative management were younger (median = 31.6 [interquartile range = 27.4–34.9] vs 38.5 y [32.3–44.8 y], p < .001) and nulligravid. Among patients with conservative management, there were 15 pregnancies and 14 live births (29%). Seven were preterm, although 2 were for medical indications.

Conclusions

Residual AIS in patients with negative margins and ECC leading to definitive hysterectomy (32%) and the rate of preterm birth (36%) were higher than previous reports and nationally reported rates. However, only 1 patient had a preterm birth before 34 weeks. These findings reflect important information for counseling patients who elect for conservative management of AIS.
Thrombogenicity markers for early diagnosis and prognosis in COVID-19: a change from the current paradigm?
Authors: Gurbel Paul A. , Bliden Kevin P. , Levy Jerrold H. , Walia Naval , Rapista Nicole , Cho Alastair , Jerjian Christophe , Tantry Udaya S.
Published: August 2021

Standard biomarkers have been widely used for COVID-19 diagnosis and prognosis. We hypothesize that thrombogenicity metrics measured by thromboelastography will provide better diagnostic and prognostic utility versus standard biomarkers in COVID-19 positive patients. In this observational prospective study, we included 119 hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients and 15 COVID-19 negative patients. On admission, we measured standard biomarkers and thrombogenicity using a novel thromboelastography assay (TEG-6s). In-hospital all-cause death and thrombotic occurrences (thromboembolism, myocardial infarction and stroke) were recorded. Most COVID-19 patients were African--Americans (68%). COVID-19 patients versus COVID-19 negative patients had higher platelet-fibrin clot strength (P-FCS), fibrin clot strength (FCS) and functional fibrinogen level (FLEV) (P ≤ 0.003 for all). The presence of high TEG-6 s metrics better discriminated COVID-19 positive from negative patients. COVID-19 positive patients with sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score at least 3 had higher P-FCS, FCS and FLEV than patients with scores less than 3 (P ≤ 0.001 for all comparisons). By multivariate analysis, the in-hospital composite endpoint occurrence of death and thrombotic events was independently associated with SOFA score more than 3 [odds ratio (OR) = 2.9, P = 0.03], diabetes (OR = 3.3, P = 0.02) and FCS > 40 mm (OR = 3.4, P = 0.02).

This largest observational study suggested the early diagnostic and prognostic utility of thromboelastography to identify COVID-19 and should be considered hypothesis generating. Our results also support the recent FDA guidance regarding the importance of measurement of whole blood viscoelastic properties in COVID-19 patients. Our findings are consistent with the observation of higher hospitalization rates and poorer outcomes for African--Americans with COVID-19.
Oxytocin Regulates the Expression of Selected Colostrum‐derived microRNAs
Authors: Gutman‐Ido Einat , Reif Shimon , Musseri Mirit , Schabes Talia , Golan‐Gerstl Regina
Published: August 2021

Objective:

The highly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in milk are known as beneficial miRNAs, such as mir148a‐3p, which is related to immune system development and disease prevention. There is a need to study their expression and secretion regulatory mechanism in breast milk. We hypothesize that oxytocin can be involved in the regulation of expression and secretion of milk‐derived miRNAs.

Methods:

Initially, oxytocin's effect on miRNA expression in human mammary cells was analyzed. Secondly, the expression of selected miRNAs in mothers’ colostrum treated or not with oxytocin before, during, or after labor was compared. MiRNA expression was analyzed by quantitative real‐time PCR.

Results:

The expression of miR‐148a was significantly upregulated, and miR‐320 downregulated in oxytocin‐treated mammary cells as well as their secreted extracellular vesicles to the media, compared with untreated cells. MiR‐148a was found to be upregulated, and miR‐320 was downregulated in the human colostrum of exogenous oxytocin‐treated mothers. Moreover, miR‐320 was highly expressed compared with miR‐148a in the colostrum of mothers that did not receive exogenous oxytocin. In contrast, in the milk of mothers who received exogenous oxytocin, the expression of miRNA‐148‐3p was highly expressed compared with miR‐320.

Conclusions:

This study shows that oxytocin modulates the expression of main milk‐derived miRNAs. Our findings provide a novel insight into oxytocin's role in milk composition by regulating miRNA expression. Our results implicate that oxytocin increases miRNA expression in mammary epithelial cells and human milk, affecting human milk composition and may contribute to further infant health.
Nurse Led Clinics; a Novel Model of Care for Compensated Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Ramachandran Jeyamani , Lawn Sharon , Tang Matilda Swee Sun , Pati Anuradha , Wigg Luisa , Wundke Rachel , McCormick Rosemary , Muller Kate , Kaambwa Billingsley , Woodman Richard , Wigg Alan
Published: August 2021

A nurse-led cirrhosis clinic model for management of stable, compensated cirrhotic patients is practised in our unit since 2013, wherein these patients are reviewed every six months by specialist nurses in community clinics under remote supervision of hepatologists. We evaluated the experiences of patients and healthcare providers involved in the model to understand the acceptability, strengths, and limitations of the model and obtain suggestions to improve. A qualitative design using in-depth interviews was employed, followed by thematic analysis of eight patients, one attending physician both nurse and hospital clinics, four hepatologists, and three experienced specialist nurses running the nurse-led cirrhosis clinic. Patients expressed satisfaction and a good understanding of the nurse-led cirrhosis clinic, preferring it to hospital clinics for better accessibility and the unique nurse–patient relationship. Upskilling and provision of professional care in a holistic manner were appreciated by specialist nurses. The hepatologists expressed confidence and satisfaction, although they acknowledged the difference between the medical training of specialist nurses and hepatologists. The greater availability of hospital clinic time for sick patients was welcomed. Increased specialist nurse staffing, regular forums to promote specialist nurse learning, and formalization of the referral process were suggested. No adverse experiences were reported by patients or staff. The nurse-led cirrhosis clinic model for compensated liver cirrhosis was well received by patients, hepatologists, and specialist nurses. Wider implementation of the model could be considered after further investigations in other settings.
Palleronia sediminis sp. nov. and Flavivirga algicola sp. nov., two marine bacteria isolated from offshore areas near Weihai
Authors: Sun Xun-Ke , Zhang Ya-Ning , Jia Yu-Yao , Zhong Yan-Lin , Chen Guan-Jun , Du Zong-Jun
Published: August 2021

Two bacterial strains, designated SS33T and Y03T, were isolated from marine sediment and marine red alga collected on the coast of Weihai, PR China. Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain SS33T was found to be closely related to

Primorskyibacter marinus

PX7T,

Pelagivirga dicentrarchi

YLY04T,

Palleronia marisminoris

DSM 26347T and

Maribius pontilimi

GH1-23T with 94.8, 94.6, 94.5 and 94.5 % sequence similarity; strain Y03T was found to be closest to

Flavivirga aquimarina

EC2D5T,

Flavivirga eckloniae

ECD14T and

Flavivirga amylovorans

JC2681T with 96.4, 96.1 and 96.0 % sequence similarity. Strain SS33T grew at 4–37 °C (optimum, 33 °C), at pH 6.0–9.5 (optimum, pH 7.5–8.0) and in the presence of 0–10 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3.0 %). Chemotaxonomic analysis of strain SS33T showed that the predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major fatty acids (>10.0 %) included C18 : 1
 ω7c and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids included phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified glycolipid, one unidentified polar lipid and two unidentified aminolipids. Strain Y03T grew at 15–40 °C (optimum, 28 °C), at pH 6.5–8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0.5–9.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.0%). Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that the predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6. The major fatty acids (>10.0 %) included iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid and four unidentified polar lipids. Based on the polyphasic data, strain SS33T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Palleronia

, for which the name Palleronia sediminis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain SS33T (=KCTC 62986T=MCCC 1H00387T). Strain Y03T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Flavivirga

, for which the name Flavivirga algicola sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain Y03T (=KCTC 72001T=MCCC 1H00386T).
Hematopoietic-SLC37A2 deficiency accelerates atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice
Authors: Zhao Qingxia , Wang Zhan , Meyers Allison K. , Madenspacher Jennifer , Zabalawi Manal , Boudyguina Elena , Hsu Fang-Chi , McCall Charles M. , Furdui Cristina M. , Parks John S. , Fessler Michael B. , Zhu Xuewei
Published: August 2021

Macrophages play a central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Our previous study demonstrated that solute carrier family 37 member 2 (SLC37A2), an endoplasmic reticulum-anchored phosphate-linked glucose-6-phosphate transporter, negatively regulates macrophage Toll-like receptor activation by fine-tuning glycolytic reprogramming in vitro. Whether macrophage SLC37A2 impacts in vivo macrophage inflammation and atherosclerosis under hyperlipidemic conditions is unknown. We generated hematopoietic cell-specific SLC37A2 knockout and control mice in C57Bl/6 Ldlr-/- mice by bone marrow transplantation. Hematopoietic-specific SLC37A2 deletion in Ldlr-/- mice increased plasma lipid concentrations 12-16 wks of Western diet induction, attenuated macrophage anti-inflammatory responses, and resulted in more atherosclerosis compared to Ldlr-/- mice transplanted with wild type bone marrow. Aortic root intimal area was inversely correlated with plasma IL-10 levels, but not total cholesterol concentrations, suggesting inflammation but not plasma cholesterol was responsible for increased atherosclerosis in bone marrow SLC37A2-deficient mice. Our in vitro study demonstrated that SLC37A2 deficiency impaired IL-4-induced macrophage activation, independently of glycolysis or mitochondrial respiration. Importantly, SLC37A2 deficiency impaired apoptotic cell-induced glycolysis, subsequently attenuating IL-10 production. Our study suggests that SLC37A2 expression is required to support alternative macrophage activation in vitro and in vivo. In vivo disruption of hematopoietic SLC37A2 accelerates atherosclerosis under hyperlipidemic pro-atherogenic conditions.
Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: bidirectional relationship and mediating effect of customer loyalty: investigation in Sweden
Authors: Hichri Abir , Ltifi Moez
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The study is based on a hybrid model composed of accounting and business data and is amongst the first to test the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance on the financial performance of the company, as well as the impact of financial performance on CSR performance. The bidirectional logic chosen by the study is rarely adopted in the global context and has never been tested in the Swedish context. Moreover, the purpose of this paper is to test the mediating effect of customer loyalty on the company’s CSR performance-financial performance relationship to assess this effect over the long term. This design has been neglected in previous studies.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from a sample of 110 Swedish companies during the period 2009–2019. This study collects the data from the Thomson Reuters Eikon database. A multiple regression analysis was performed to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results confirmed the bidirectional relationship between CSR performance and company financial performance. This means that CSR performance positively influences the company’s financial performance. Similarly, financial performance positively influences the company’s CSR performance. Moreover, customer loyalty has a positive and significant mediating effect on the company’s CSR performance-financial performance relationship.

Originality/value

This study adds several inputs. The first contribution of the research is to test a hybrid model composed of accounting and commercial data. This model is amongst the first to test the impact of CSR performance on the financial performance of the company and the impact of financial performance on CSR performance. The second contribution is the bidirectional logic chosen by the study which is rarely adopted in the global context and has never been tested in the Swedish context. The third contribution is to test the mediating effect of customer loyalty on the company’s CSR performance-financial performance relationship to assess this effect over the long term. This design has been neglected in previous studies. The fourth contribution is the choice of the field of investigation for the reliability of the data used and the generalisation of the results obtained.
Conserving knowledge heritage: opportunities and challenges in conceptualizing cultural heritage information system (CHIS) in the Indian context
Authors: T.K. Gireesh Kumar , R. Raman Nair
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the scope, issues and challenges in conceptualizing a comprehensive cultural heritage information system (CHIS) in the Indian context and examines the feasibility of designing such a system with the support of advanced conservation strategies and technological aids.

Design/methodology/approach

As the conservation efforts and its sustenance requires the support of a knowledge base cum digital archiving tool, comprehensions on the availability and usage of different software tools are indispensable. Assessing the availability of controlled vocabularies, ontology frameworks, metadata standards, classification schemes and architectural designs, language compatibility for implementing cultural heritage system is inevitable for developing CHIS. The present study examines the availability of such schemes and systems and emphasis the need for developing a reliable information system.

Findings

A comprehensive system at the country level to efficiently document, manage and update the knowledge on cultural heritage is required. CHIS created can be engaged in visualizing the cultural heritages of the country and can act as an interactive multimedia documentation system. The virtual recreation of cultural heritage in a holistic manner can also ensure its long-term sustainability.

Originality/value

The digital archive of different expressions will be a rich source of data for research, administration and development. The archive developed should cover the cultural heritage depicted in the form of published documents, images, audios and videos, documents and visuals on performing arts, buildings, sculptures, ecosystem, monuments, utensils, etc. and the history and knowledge pertaining to them and any other property belonging to the heritage.
Duality and stability of MHD Darcy–Forchheimer porous medium flow of rotating nanofluid on a linear shrinking/stretching sheet: Buongiorno model
Authors: Raza Jawad , Dero Sumera , Lund Liaquat Ali , Omar Zurni
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of study is to examine the dual nature of the branches for the problem of Darcy–Forchheimer porous medium flow of rotating nanofluid on a linearly stretching/shrinking surface under the field of magnetic influence. The dual nature of the branches confronts the uniqueness and existence theorem, moreover, mathematically it is a great achievement. For engineering purposes, this study applied a linear stability test on the multiple branches to determine which solution is physically reliable (stable).

Design/methodology/approach

Nanofluid model has been developed with the help of Buongiorno model. The partial differential equations in space coordinates for the law of conservation of mass, momentum and energy have been transformed into ordinary differential equations by introducing the similarity variables. Two numerical techniques, namely, the shooting method in Maple software and the three-stage Lobatto IIIA method in Matlab software, have been used to find multiple branches and to accomplish stability analysis, respectively.

Findings

The parametric investigation has been executed to find the multiple branches and explore the effects on skin friction, Sherwood number, Nusselt number, concentration and temperature profiles. The findings exhibited the presence of dual branches only in the case of a shrinking sheet.

Originality/value

The originality of work is a determination of multiple branches and the performance of the stability analysis of the branches. It has also been confirmed that such a study has not yet been considered in the previous literature.
Design and implementation of pervasive DA based FIR filter and feeder register based multiplier for software definedradio networks
Authors: Kumar B.N. Mohan , Rangaraju H.G.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Digital signal processing (DSP) applications such as finite impulse response (FIR) filter, infinite impulse response and wavelet transformation functions are mainly constructed using multipliers and adders. The performance of any digital applications is dependent on larger size multipliers, area and power dissipation. To optimize power and area, an efficient zero product and feeder register-based multiplier (ZP and FRBM) is proposed. Another challenging task in multipliers is summation of partial products (PP), results in more delay. To address this issue, the modified parallel prefix adder (PPA) is incorporated in multiplier design. In this work, different methods are studied and analyzed for designing FIR filter, optimized with respect to area, power dissipation, speed, throughput, latency and hardware utilization.

Design/methodology/approach

The distributed arithmetic (DA)-based reconfigurable FIR design is found to be suitable filter for software-defined radio (SDR) applications. The performance of adder and multipliers in DA-FIR filter restricts the area and power dissipation due to their complexity in terms of generation of sum and carry bits. The hardware implementation time of an adder can be reduced by using PPA which is based on Ling equation. The MDA-RFIR filter is designed for higher filter length (N), i.e. N = 64 with 64 taps and this design is developed using Verilog hardware description language (HDL) and implemented on field-programmable gate array. The design is validated for SDR channel equalizer; both RFIR and SDR are integrated as single system and implemented on Artix-7 development board of part name XC7A100tCSG324.

Findings

The MDA-RFIR for N = 64 is optimized about 33% in terms of area-delay, power-speed product and energy efficiency. The theoretical and practical comparisons have been done, and the practically obtained results are compared with existing DA-RFIR designs in terms of throughput, latency, area-delay, power-speed product and energy efficiency are better about 3.5 times, 31, 45 and 29%, respectively.

Originality/value

The MDA-RFIR for N = 64 is optimized about 33% in terms of area-delay, power-speed product and energy efficiency.
CEO duality, earnings quality and board independence
Authors: Alves Sandra
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study draws on agency, theory to evaluate the relationship between chief executive officer (CEO) duality and earnings quality, proxied by discretionary accruals. Additionally, this study aims to examine whether board independence moderates the relationship between CEO duality and earnings quality.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a fixed-effects regression model to examine the effect of CEO duality on earnings quality and to test whether board independence moderates that relationship for a sample of non-financial listed Portuguese firms-year from 2002 to 2016.

Findings

Consistent with agency theory, this study suggests that CEO duality decreases earnings quality. Further, the results also suggest that the earnings quality reduction associated with CEO duality is attenuated when the board of directors has a higher proportion of independent directors.

Practical implications

The findings based on this study provide useful information to investors and regulators in evaluating the impact of CEO duality on earnings quality and the effect of board independence on the role of CEO duality, especially under concentrated ownership.

Originality/value

To the knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the role of board independence on the association between CEO duality and earnings quality. In addition, this paper is the first empirical study to investigate the direct and indirect effect of CEO duality on earnings quality in Portugal.
Dynamic prediction of traffic incident duration on urban expressways: a deep learning approach based on LSTM and MLP
Authors: Zhu Weiwei , Wu Jinglin , Fu Ting , Wang Junhua , Zhang Jie , Shangguan Qiangqiang
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Efficient traffic incident management is needed to alleviate the negative impact of traffic incidents. Accurate and reliable estimation of traffic incident duration is of great importance for traffic incident management. Previous studies have proposed models for traffic incident duration prediction; however, most of these studies focus on the total duration and could not update prediction results in real-time. From a traveler’s perspective, the relevant factor is the residual duration of the impact of the traffic incident. Besides, few (if any) studies have used dynamic traffic flow parameters in the prediction models. This paper aims to propose a framework to fill these gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a framework based on the multi-layer perception (MLP) and long short-term memory (LSTM) model. The proposed methodology integrates traffic incident-related factors and real-time traffic flow parameters to predict the residual traffic incident duration. To validate the effectiveness of the framework, traffic incident data and traffic flow data from Shanghai Zhonghuan Expressway are used for modeling training and testing.

Findings

Results show that the model with 30-min time window and taking both traffic volume and speed as inputs performed best. The area under the curve values exceed 0.85 and the prediction accuracies exceed 0.75. These indicators demonstrated that the model is appropriate for this study context. The model provides new insights into traffic incident duration prediction.

Research limitations/implications

The incident samples applied by this study might not be enough and the variables are not abundant. The number of injuries and casualties, more detailed description of the incident location and other variables are expected to be used to characterize the traffic incident comprehensively. The framework needs to be further validated through a sufficiently large number of variables and locations.

Practical implications

The framework can help reduce the impacts of incidents on the safety of efficiency of road traffic once implemented in intelligent transport system and traffic management systems in future practical applications.

Originality/value

This study uses two artificial neural network methods, MLP and LSTM, to establish a framework aiming at providing accurate and time-efficient information on traffic incident duration in the future for transportation operators and travelers. This study will contribute to the deployment of emergency management and urban traffic navigation planning.
Commentary on: a comparison of dementia assessment service provision across three English county intellectual disability services
Authors: Dodd Karen
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the issue of types of assessment offered by services for people with learning disabilities from the research study “A Comparison of Dementia Assessment Services for People with Intellectual Disabilities”.

Design/methodology/approach

The commentary is based on a review of the associated literature.

Findings

Assessment for possible dementia is a complex activity. The gold standard is to ensure that the assessment process is comprehensive including both direct assessments with the person and gathering information from key informants. The issues in not adopting this methodology are considered, as are issues in what services and assessments are called.

Originality/value

The commentary considers the studies presented from a practitioner perspective.
Identification and prioritization of critical success factors of knowledge management implementation using a novel hybrid group decision-making model
Authors: Ghasemi Behzad , Valmohammadi Changiz
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify and prioritize the critical success factors (CSFs) of knowledge management (KM) implementation through a novel hybrid model, namely, Fuzzy Delphi method (FDM), interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and revised Simos, which is one of group decision-making (GDM) approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The CSFs of KM implementation were identified through a systematic literature review. FDM was adopted to determine the CSFs in the Iranian oil industry. Then, a novel hybrid model consisting of ISM and revised Simos techniques were used to classify and prioritize the CSFs.

Findings

The obtained results suggest that there are 13 CSFs of KM implementation. The result of ISM shows that the CSFs of KM implementation were classified into five levels. The result of revised Simos reveals that the “human resources management” obtained the highest priority and “leadership commitment and support” and “intellectual capital” ranked second and third, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

As this research was performed in the Iranian oil industry, caution should be taken regarding the generalizability of the obtained results.

Practical implications

The top managers of the surveyed companies could get acquainted with CSFs of KM implementation in their organization and use a GDM technique that has various advantages to solve the relevant problems.

Originality/value

This paper provides a twofold contribution to expand KM and GDM literature and to the best knowledge of the authors, it is a novel hybrid GDM model of its kind.
The impact of mobile shadow IT usage on knowledge protection: an exploratory study
Authors: Abbas Mohammed , Alghail Adnan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The mobile shadow information technology (IT) phenomenon is both completely misunderstood and negatively explored by those participating inside the organizational ecosystem. It represents all internet-based software, any other solutions for communications or employees’ sharing without any formal authorization or approval from the IT department. Such behavior can lead to a security breach of the organization’s data privacy, as these risks could disseminate it without the organization fully knowing. Recent research identifies that shadow IT is rarely covered from the knowledge sharing and knowledge protection (KP) perspective. This paper aims to provide an insight on how mobile shadow IT as a phenomenon could impact KP of an organization as a whole.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an exploratory study based on a qualitative approach. The authors conducted interviews with 11 IT users to answer the main research question. The interview guidelines were divided into three parts: types of mobile shadow IT and occurrence; KP nature in the workplace; and mobile shadow IT impact on KP.

Findings

The research findings identified that most interviewees use mobile shadow IT without any notice or permission from their IT departments. This sharing also negatively impacts the KP in the organization. The most common mobile shadow IT applications are the clouded type like Dropbox, Google Drive and WhatsApp. Interviewees are using mobile shadow IT mainly because organizations do not provide suitable tools to communicate efficiently. The authors concluded that mobile shadow IT harms KP with no security and privacy on what is being shared because this process is unmonitored by the organization.

Practical implications

For adequate knowledge and data protection, IT departments need to take more actions and efforts. This study can help IT decision-makers cope with the technology changes while understanding mobile shadow IT impacts. This study also offers insight regarding types of applications that can be used as an alternative tool for employees rather than using unauthorized applications. This research shows that medium-sized organizations are free to use these applications, which can cause damage to organizations.

Originality/value

This research is arguably among the first to explore the interviewees’ perspectives on how mobile shadow IT impacts KP. This paper also provides theoretical and practical insights by identifying the three primary constructs and how mobile shadow IT usage can affect KP.
Effects of preheating and drying methods on pyridoxine, phenolic compounds, ginkgolic acids, and antioxidant capacity of Ginkgo biloba nuts
Authors: Amoussa Abdou Madjid Olatounde , Zhang Lixia , Lagnika Camel , Riaz Asad , Zhang Liuquan , Liu Xianjin , Beta Trust
Published: August 2021

Although ginkgo nuts are very nutritious and loaded with numerous bioactive compounds, the nuts contain significant levels of unwanted compounds (ginkolic acids) which are toxic to consumption. To reduce or eliminate these toxic compounds without impacting the nutritional value and the bioactivity of the final product, an appropriate processing technology is needed. Thus, the effect of preheating (90 and 120°C) prior to drying (freeze drying: FD, hot air drying: HAD, and HAD in tandem with FD: HAD‐FD) was evaluated on ginkgolic acids, pyridoxine analogues, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant properties of ginkgo nuts. Our results pointed out a significant decrease (below 50%) of ginkgolic acids in ginkgo nuts samples processed at 90°C compared to the control. The major compounds found after treatments were respectively, kaempferol (36.66‐354.38 µg/g), quercetin (9.04‐183.71 µg/g), and caffeic acid (19.66‐106.88 µg/g). Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that preheating at 90°C prior to HAD‐FD would be a proper and reasonable approach for preserving the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of ginkgo nuts (EC50 ranged from 2.25 to 4.60 mg/mL) while significantly reducing their content in toxic compounds.
Information asymmetry, trade, and drilling: evidence from an oil lease lottery
Authors: Brehm Paul A. , Lewis Eric
Published: August 2021

We exploit a government oil lease lottery that randomly assigned leases to individuals and firms. We examine how initial misallocation affected trade, drilling, and production outcomes. When parcels are far from existing production, leases won by individuals have similar drilling and production outcomes as those won by firms. However, for parcels close to existing production, we find that leases are about 50% less likely to be drilled when they are won by firms. We find evidence that information asymmetries drive these results.
Anti‐Fascist Action and the Transversal Territorialities of Militant Anti‐Fascism in 1990s Britain
Authors: Ince Anthony
Published: August 2021

This paper explores the significance of unorthodox territorial activisms through the study of Anti‐Fascist Action (AFA), a militant anti‐fascist organisation in the United Kingdom and Ireland that operated at its height between 1989 and 1996. In the literature on activist territorialities, little has been written on practices that confront other non‐state territorialities. Likewise, despite a small but growing geographical literature on far right populism, anti‐fascism is under‐researched. Through archival materials and interviews with former activists, I argue that geographers can understand AFA’s militant anti‐fascism as transversal, following Félix Guattari’s theorisation of the term. AFA operated beyond state‐centric modes of territoriality, creating malleable pathways between different operational logics, cross‐cutting state and non‐state forms. Thinking transversally about territory helps to disembed epistemic and ontological framings from dominant statist logics and assumptions, opening up new ways of understanding how movements operate territorially. The paper concludes with reflections for contemporary antifascisms.
Association between opioid‐related deaths and persistent opioid prescribing in primary care in England: A nested case‐control study
Authors: Chen Teng‐Chou , Knaggs Roger David , Chen Li‐Chia
Published: August 2021

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the association between opioid‐related deaths and persistent opioid utilisation in the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods

This nested case‐control study used the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, linking the Office for National Statistics death registration. Adult opioid users with recorded opioid‐related death between 2000 and 2015 were included and matched to four opioid users (controls) based on a disease risk score. Persistent opioid utilisation (opioid prescriptions ≥3 quarters/year and oral morphine equivalent dose ≥4500 mg/year) and psychotropic prescriptions were identified annually during the three patient‐years before the date of opioid‐related death. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess the association between persistent opioid utilisation and opioid‐related death, and the results were reported as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

Results

Of the 902 149 opioid users, 230 opioid‐related deaths (cases) and 920 controls were identified. Persistent opioid utilisation was significantly associated with an increased risk of opioid‐related deaths (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2, 2.9) when persistent opioid utilisation was defined by both annual dose and number of quarters. Concurrent prescription of opioids and tricyclic antidepressants (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2, 3.5) or higher dose of benzodiazepine (aOR 6.5, 95% CI 4.0, 10.4) or gabapentinoids (aOR 6.2, 95% CI 2.9, 13.5) were associated with opioid‐related death.

Conclusion

Persistent opioid prescribing and concurrent prescribing of psychotropics were associated with a higher risk of opioid‐related death and should be avoided in clinical practice. An evidence‐based indicator to monitor the safety of prescribed opioids during opioid deprescribing is needed.
Outcomes after radioiodine ablation in patients with thyroid cancer: Long‐term follow‐up of a Chinese randomized clinicaltrial
Authors: Dong Ping , Qu Yuan , Yang Liu , Xiao Liu , Huang Rui , Li Lin
Published: August 2021

Objective

Two large randomized trials of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) reported recently (HiLo and ESTIMABL1) found that the recurrence rate among patients who underwent 1.1 GBq radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation was not higher than that of patients who underwent 3.7 GBq radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation. However, no similar studies have been conducted in China. We aimed to report clinical outcomes in Chinese patients with low/intermediate risk of recurrence DTC after long‐term follow‐up, and evaluate the risk factors that influence the presence or absence of incomplete response at the final follow‐up.

Design

A long‐term follow‐up of a Chinese randomized clinical trial (October 2014 and February 2021) was conducted.

Patients

A total of 506 DTC patients at low/intermediate risk of recurrence who were randomized into two groups to receive 1.1 (n = 251) or 3.7 GBq (n = 255) RAI ablation following thyroid hormone withdrawal were followed on levothyroxine treatment for a median of 4.5 years (range: 1.6−6.3).

Measurements

Suppressed serum thyroglobulin (Tg) and anti‐thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels were determined, and neck ultrasonography was performed.

Results

At the final follow‐up, 499 (98.6%) patients showed an excellent response. The other seven patients (two patients underwent 1.1 GBq and five patients underwent 3.7 GBq RAI ablation, respectively) showed either structural incomplete response (lymph node metastasis, n = 1), biochemical incomplete response (increased serum Tg ≥ 1 ng/ml, or increased positive TgAb levels, n = 5), or indeterminate response (stable positive TgAb levels, n = 1). The risk of incomplete response at the final follow‐up was significantly increased in patients with stimulated serum Tg ≥ 10 ng/ml at ablation (p = .003) and in patients with unsuccessful ablation (p = .008).

Conclusion

Our findings indicated that there was no difference in the long‐term outcomes with RAI ablation using either 1.1 or 3.7 GBq in patients with low/intermediate risk of recurrence DTC, and 1.1 GBq RAI might be suitable for patients who are recommended for ablation.
Interpretation of reproductive hormones before, during and after the pubertal transition—Identifying health and disordered puberty
Authors: Howard Sasha R.
Published: August 2021

Puberty is a process of transition from childhood to adult reproductive capacity, governed by the reactivation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis after a long period of dormancy in mid‐childhood. As such, the reproductive hormones are in a state of flux during the adolescent years, and interpretation of both the onset of healthy, concordant puberty and the differentiation of precocious, delayed or disordered puberty, can be challenging. This review is focused on the description of the endocrine axes in healthy puberty and the markers of disorders of puberty that can aid diagnosis and management for patients with these conditions. It will cover the hypothalamic, pituitary and gonadal hormone systems, the dynamic changes that occur during puberty, conditions leading to precocious, delayed or absent puberty and other syndromes with disordered puberty, and the biochemical diagnosis of these different disorders of puberty.