bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bis(N,N-diethyl-4-methyl-4-piperazine-1-carboxamide) tetrakis(isothiocyanato-κN)cobalt(II), a model compound for the blue color developed in the Scott test
Authors: Oliver Allen G. , Lockwood Tracy-Lynn E. , Zinna Jessica , Lieberman Marya
Published: February 2023

The complex, bis(N,N-diethyl-4-methyl-4-piperazine-1-carboxamide) tetrakis(isothiocyanato-κN)cobalt(II) (N,N-diethyl-4-methyl-4-piperazine-1-carboxamide = diethylcarbamazine), (C10H22N3O)2[Co(NCS)4], is presented. This complex is a blue precipitate, insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents, that is formed from the reaction of diethylcarbamazine citrate, a protonated tertiary amine, with cobalt(II) and thiocyanate. This reaction, in the form of the Scott test, is a common presumptive test for cocaine hydrochloride. The known cobalt compound, [K2Co(NCS)4]·3H2O, has a deep-blue coloration due to the tetrahedral [Co(NCS)4]2− that is also present in the ion pair with bulky amines, and is similar to the color of other tetrahedral cobalt(II) complex ions, such as [CoCl4]2−. The structure is consistent with a previous proposal that a hydrophobic ion pair formed between [Co(NCS)4]2− and two protonated molecules of cocaine is responsible for the blue hydrophobic products formed by cocaine in the Scott test.
Co-created employer brands: the interplay of strategy and identity
Authors: Näppä Anna
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The study aims to explore strategic employer brand management by combining experiences of multiple organizations. In particular, the purpose is to identify what strategic management processes managers consider relevant to employer brand management for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

This study took an inductive approach, observing a practitioner project in Sweden. The data were gathered during four full-day workshops, where 14 SMEs from different industries were chosen to participate and to actively work their employer brand(ing) activities.

Findings

The results show that organizations have difficulty understanding and comparing employer branding practices, and thus, evaluating their own brand. The major themes show that organizations have two focus points for their employer branding work: building strategic structures (processes) on one hand, and a collective identity that aligns with the brand values, on the other. However, organizations differ in these dimensions, affecting what needs to be done to become successful.

Originality/value

This contributes to the limited knowledge about employer branding, human resources development (HRD) and SMEs. In addition, most of the previous studies have neglected to take into account the differences between organizations, approaching employer branding as a universal process. This paper summarizes different positions for employer brands that affect strategy: the unmanaged, the non-strategic, the impersonal and finally, the co-created. Co-creation can be facilitated with the help of constructive and collaborative HRD. Then, it can be turned into a dynamic capability that builds competitive advantage.
Event tourist experience value: multi-item scale development and validation
Authors: Zhan Fenping , Wang Chunlei , Luo Wenwei , Luo Jiayi
Published: February 2023

Purpose

No study to date has addressed the construct of event tourist experience value and there is no well-accepted value measurement method. This study aims to examine the underlying dimensions of event tourist experience value from a holistic perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The research process consists of two steps. First, the dimensions of event tourist experience value are investigated by using grounded theory and content analysis of travel blogs. The second step is to explore and verify the scale of event tourist experience value.

Findings

The items show that event tourist experience value can be comprehensively understood from three dimensions: functional value (functional factors); hedonic value (relaxation, escape, restoration and interaction); and symbolic value (social prestige, belonging and self-transcendence).

Practical implications

The findings are useful indicators explaining events attendance, and can help event organizers and destination managers to better understand the needs of tourists and design event experiences in a more sophisticated way.

Originality/value

This work integrates a series of varied events to suggest a holistic view of event tourist experience value, which provides a theoretical basis for other scholars to compare and monitor findings in this field.
Quantile-based spillover connectedness among stochastic volatilities of ESG equities, Islamic and conventional stocks with implications for portfolio management
Authors: Ghaemi Asl Mahdi , Khalfaoui Rabeh , Tavakkoli Hamid Reza , Ben Jabeur Sami
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between stock markets, environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and Shariah-compliant in an integrated framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ the multivariate factor stochastic volatility (mvFSV) framework to extract the volatility of the different sectoral indices. Based on this evidence, the authors employ the quantile vector autoregressive (QVAR) approach to examine the dynamic spillover connectedness among the aforementioned indices.

Findings

The study emphasizes the following major findings: (1) significant time-varying spillover connectedness across quantiles, (2) bidirectional and asymmetric spillover effect among the ESG index and the other sectoral indices, (3) the strength of spillover connectedness is time-varying across quantiles, (4) based on the perspective of portfolio optimization, ESG market is a significant strong forecasting contributor to conventional and Shariah-compliant markets, (5) overall, the findings point out serious quantile pass-through effect among ESG index and the other sectoral indices during the COVID-19 health crisis.

Originality/value

This study extends the previous literature in the following ways. First, to the best of the researchers’ knowledge, none of the existing studies have investigated the relationship between stock markets, ESG factors and Shariah-compliant in an integrated framework. Second, this study extends the previous scholarships by applying the mvFSV. Third, the authors propose a new rolling version to estimate dynamic spillovers, namely the rolling-window quantile VAR method. This approach provides a great advantage in computing the dynamics of return and variance spillover between variables in terms not only of the overall factor but also of the net (pairwise) aspect.
Prevalence of and risk factors for HCV among incarcerated people at Great Tehran Prison: a cross-sectional study
Authors: SeyedAlinaghi SeyedAhmad , Farhoudi Behnam , Shahmohamadi Elnaz , Rasoolinejad Mehrnaz , Hasannezhad Maliheh , Rashidi Mohammad Rasool , Dadras Omid , Moradi Ali , Parmoon Zohal , Ebrahimi Hooman , Asadollahi-Amin Ali
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Hepatitis C is one of the major health issues in both developed and developing countries. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is more common in prisoners than in the general population. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV and its associated risk factors in Iranian male prisoners in Tehran.

Design/methodology/approach

In this cross-sectional study, the authors investigated the frequency and risk factors of hepatitis C infection among male prisoners in the Great Tehran Prison. Information on risk factors including the length of imprisonment, previous history of imprisonment, history of drug injection, history of tattooing, history of piercing, history of high-risk sex and family history of hepatitis C were extracted from patients’ records. To evaluate HCV status, blood samples were collected and tested.

Findings

In this study, 179 participants were included. Nine participants (5.0%, 95% CI, 2.3-9.3) were positive for hepatitis C. HCV infection was not significantly associated with age, marital status, education, previous history of imprisonment, length of imprisonment, piercing and high-risk sex; however, there was a significant association between a history of tattooing and a history of injecting drug use and Hepatitis C.

Originality/value

The prevalence of hepatitis C among male prisoners in Great Tehran Prison was 5% in this study, similar to recent studies on prisoners in Tehran. A history of drug injections as well as tattooing were the most important risk factors for hepatitis C in male prisoners.
For what purpose? Swedish superintendents' perspectives of professional development for principals
Authors: Liljenberg Mette , Ärlestig Helene , Nordholm Daniel
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to expand knowledge on Swedish principals' professional development (PD) from the perspectives of superintendents. In particular, the article analyzes how superintendents understand and organize PD for principals.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data are derived from a strategic sample of ten (n = 10) superintendents. Transcribed interviews were analyzed in two steps. The first step was carried out inductively to identify prominent aspects of PD for principals. In the second step, the detected themes and categories were analyzed more deductively through the theoretical lens of learning in organizations.

Findings

The analysis revealed that the purpose of PD for principals and the principal leadership that must be nurtured from the perspective of superintendents spans a scale, from knowing what is already required to critically examining and exploring the unknown. In addition, the understanding of learning stretches from an individual enterprise to a collective activity. However, noteworthy differences between the superintendents were detected and organized into three ideal types.

Research limitations/implications

Despite a profound research design and a careful selection of superintendents, the sample sets some limits because of the plurality within the decentralized Swedish school system.

Practical implications

The results can support strategies from superintendents, principals and educational authorities to build infrastructures that foster PD at different levels of school systems.

Originality/value

This article offers a novel perspective by analyzing principals' PD from the perspectives of superintendents.
Naming product colors with an individual’s identity and product evaluation: self-referencing as a mediator
Authors: Ku Hsuan-Hsuan , Chen Yingting
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Marketers often select unique color names for products to heighten shopper interest. The purpose of this study is to use self-referencing as the foundation for assessing how a product color name that involves the self impacts product evaluation. This paper also investigates the salient element that might moderate consumers’ responses, in particular for product categories where color serves mainly as decoration and is of secondary importance.

Design/methodology/approach

Two between-subjects experiments examined how self-referencing mediates the influence of generic versus identity color names on product evaluation (Study 1) and also tested whether the effect of naming product colors in identity terms is limited to the scenario where cognitive load is low rather than high (Study 2).

Findings

The results of this study show that identity color names are more persuasive than generic color names. Self-referencing mediates the results, and the favorable effect of identity color names is diminished in the case of high cognitive load. Such evidence suggests that consumers might face impediments for self-referenced processing when factors exhaust their cognitive resources. The decreased elaboration results in less favorable evaluation.

Originality/value

This research enriches knowledge of how an element as modest as a creative product color name influences consumer evaluation, with suggestions for approaches to color naming.
Shale distribution effects on the joint elastic–electrical properties in reservoir sandstone
Authors: Aladwani Najeeb S. , North Laurence J. , Falcon‐Suarez Ismael Himar , Best Angus I.
Published: February 2023

We investigated the effect of shale distribution on the joint elastic wave and electrical properties of shaly reservoir sandstones using a dataset of laboratory measurements on 75 brine‐saturated (35 g/L salinity) rock samples (63 samples from the literature, 12 newly measured samples). All the data were collected using the ultrasonic (700 kHz) pulse‐echo measurement technique for P‐ and S‐wave velocities (Vp, Vs), attenuations (Qp−1, Qs−1), and a four‐electrode method for resistivity under elevated hydrostatic confining pressures between 10 and 50 MPa (pore fluid pressure 5 MPa). The distribution of volumetric shale content was classified by comparing the calculated dry P‐wave modulus to the modified Upper Hashin–Shtrikman bound for quartz and air mixtures, assuming pore‐filling shale. This scheme in particular allowed us to distinguish between pore‐filling and load‐bearing shale distributions according to idealized definitions, which provides new insight into the joint ultrasonic properties and resistivity behaviour for shaly sandstones. In resistivity–velocity space, the resistivity of load‐bearing shale increases with increasing velocity which form a more distinct trend with steeper gradient compared to those for partial pore‐filling shale and clean sandstones. Moreover, the pore‐filling shale trend straddles the clean sandstone trend and meets the load‐bearing shale trend between 100 and 150 apparent formation factors. In resistivity–attenuation space, the highest attenuations exist when the volumetric shale content is close to the frame porosity (for Qp−1 in particular), at the transition between pore‐filling and load‐bearing shales. The results will inform the development of improved rock physics models to aid reservoir characterization from geophysical remote sensing, particularly for joint seismic and controlled source electromagnetic surveys.
Database of Japanese semi‐natural grassland flora
Authors: Noda Akira , Ohta Yoko , Yokota Hiroko , Inoue Masahito , Shirakawa Katsunobu , Masui Taiki , Takahashi Yoshitaka , Nishihiro Jun
Published: February 2023

The biodiversity of temperate grasslands can change considerably as a result of social and climate change. We have compiled information from published studies and created a database of Japanese semi‐natural grassland flora, which contains databases of flora of each grassland, grassland locations, and management methods. This database is useful as a basis for the analysis of changes in the flora of Japanese grasslands as well as for future monitoring. The detailed Metadata for this abstract published in the Data Article section of the journal are available in MetaCat in JaLTER at http://db.cger.nies.go.jp/JaLTER/metacat/metacat/ERDP-2023-01.1/jalter-en.
Tolerating Particularity: German Pietism and Jews' Conversion in the Late Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
Authors: Avraham Doron
Published: February 2023

Historical discussions about German Pietism's posture toward Jews underlined Pietists' attempts at their conversion as the dominant feature of their relationship. Contesting orthodoxy, Pietists favored a lenient attitude toward Jews, arguing that their change of heart might hasten salvation. However, revisiting Pietists' texts, I argue that from the late seventeenth century on, these awakened Protestants acknowledged the improbability of conversion. By the new meaning they gave to religious adherence, Pietists believed that mere baptism would not turn Jews into Christians. In fact, as they developed closer acquaintance with Jews, they came to realize that their efforts at mission would not succeed. More than any other confessional strand, Pietists conceptualized Jews not merely as those who denied Christ as the messiah. They also came to see the Jews as a people whose belief in God crossed beyond religious devotion into a unique, inalterable culture, and who therefore should be constructively tolerated.
A balance‐sheet approach to fiscal sustainability
Authors: Levy Yeyati Eduardo , Sturzenegger Federico
Published: February 2023

This paper proposes an alternative methodology to assess fiscal sustainability. Our balance‐sheet approach (BSA) relies on estimating separately all of a government's assets and liabilities as opposed to focusing only on the burden of explicit liabilities. In our approach, assets are primarily the present discounted value of taxes, and liabilities include explicit liabilities but also the present discounted value of expenditures. Using the value of assets and liabilities, we compute the government's balance sheet, and therefore net worth. We then evaluate the response of net worth to growth, commodity prices or real exchange rate shocks. By computing a value for the government's net worth, our methodology allows an assessment of fiscal sustainability that is less reliant on the analyst's assumptions than traditional debt sustainability analysis (DSA).
Historical ecology and current abundance of the translocated Chilla or Grey fox Lycalopex griseus on the large Tierra del Fuego Island shared by Argentina and Chile
Authors: Zurita Carlos , Soto Nicolás , Jaksic Fabian M.
Published: February 2023

In 1951, a batch of 24 young animals of both sexes of Chilla or Grey fox Lycalopex griseus from continental Magallanes region, Chile – and perhaps also from adjacent continental Argentina – were released at Onaisin (65 km ESE Porvenir town, 53°18′S) on Tierra del Fuego Island in southernmost South America, to control a European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) irruption that was considered detrimental to sheep (Ovis aries) ranching. Up to now, no attention has been paid to the temporal course of that introduction. Here we provide a historical account of the presence of foxes on the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago, starting with Charles Darwin account of 1839 until present. We also review the regulatory framework concerning hunting of those foxes and tally their culling for export of pelts. Finally, we provide estimates of the abundance of Chilla foxes on Tierra del Fuego Island for the period 1999–2007 and for 2021, and highlight their current spread. These translocated foxes have become an abundant and functional part of both steppe and forest ecosystems on the Fuegian archipelago, even though they are killed by hunters, without spatial, temporal, or numerical limits. We conclude that interesting scientific opportunities are being missed regarding the population genetics of a species that may have left founding effects and genetic bottlenecks in Tierra del Fuego, and perhaps some peculiar continental markers among the island population. We also raise the question whether this introduced native species may be deemed invasive, calling for research to determine its impact in its new environment.
Computer vision system using deep learning to predict rib and loin yield in the fish Colossoma macropomum
Authors: Ariede Raquel B. , Lemos Celma G. , Batista Fabrício M. , Oliveira Rubens R. , Agudelo John F. G. , Borges Carolina H. S. , Iope Rogério L. , Almeida Fernanda L. O. , Brega José R. F. , Hashimoto Diogo T.
Published: February 2023

Computer vision system (CVSs) are effective tools that enable large‐scale phenotyping with a low‐cost and non‐invasive method, which avoids animal stress. Economically important traits, such as rib and loin yield, are difficult to measure; therefore, the use of CVS is crucial to accurately predict several measures to allow their inclusion in breeding goals by indirect predictors. Therefore, this study aimed (1) to validate CVS by a deep learning approach and to automatically predict morphometric measurements in tambaqui and (2) to estimate genetic parameters for growth traits and body yield. Data from 365 individuals belonging to 11 full‐sib families were evaluated. Seven growth traits were measured. After biometrics, each fish was processed in the following body regions: head, rib, loin, R + L (rib + loin). For deep learning image segmentation, we adopted a method based on the instance segmentation of the Mask R‐CNN (Region‐based Convolutional Neural Networks) model. Pearson's correlation values between measurements predicted manually and automatically by the CVS were high and positive. Regarding the classification performance, visible differences were detected in only about 3% of the images. Heritability estimates for growth and body yield traits ranged from low to high. The genetic correlations between the percentage of body parts and morphometric characteristics were favorable and highly correlated, except for percentage head, whose correlations were unfavorable. In conclusion, the CVS validated in this image dataset proved to be resilient and can be used for large‐scale phenotyping in tambaqui. The weight of the rib and loin are traits under moderate genetic control and should respond to selection. In addition, standard length and pelvis length can be used as an efficient and indirect selection criterion for body yield in this tambaqui population.
Accuracy of implant placement with a combined use of static and dynamic computer‐assisted implant surgery in single tooth space: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yotpibulwong Thanida , Arunjaroensuk Sirida , Kaboosaya Boosana , Sinpitaksakul Phonkit , Arksornnukit Mansuang , Mattheos Nikos , Pimkhaokham Atiphan
Published: February 2023

Objective

To compare implant accuracy of combined static and dynamic (SD) computer‐assisted implant surgery (CAIS) with static (S), dynamic (D) CAIS, and freehand surgery (FH) for single implant placement.

Materials and Methods

One hundred and twenty patients were randomized into four groups. Implants were placed using both stereolithographic surgical guide and dynamic navigation in the SD group, stereolithographic surgical guide in S group, dynamic navigation in D group, and conventional freehand in FH group. Analysis of deviation between planned and final implant position, as well as K means analysis was conducted for implant deviation at platform, apex, and angle (primary outcomes) and directional distribution at platform and apex (secondary outcome).

Results

Significant differences were found among the four groups (p < .001): The 3D deviation at the platform (mm) of SD, S, D, and FH groups was 0.62 ± 0.50, 1.06 ± 0.67, 1.02 ± 0.45, and 1.48 ± 0.68, respectively, at apex (mm) was 0.75 ± 0.57, 1.40 ± 0.71, 1.28 ± 0.50, and 2.18 ± 0.95, respectively, and angle (degrees) was 1.24 ± 1.41, 3.18 ± 2.04, 3.28 ± 1.57, and 7.50 ± 4.06, respectively. Deviation at the platform of FH group was significantly more toward mesial (p = .026) and coronal (p = .014) direction, while at the apex, toward distal (p = .004) and lingual (p = .002) than SD group.

Conclusion

The use of combined static and dynamic CAIS provided significantly higher accuracy than the two alone and freehand surgery for single implant placement.
Changes in cardiac function in Navy divers during four days of successive dives in very cold diving conditions
Authors: Lundell Richard , Järvinen Vesa , Mäkitalo Harri , Parkkola Kai , Wuorimaa Tomi
Published: February 2023

Introduction and Methods

There is limited knowledge of cumulative effect of repetitive cold‐water diving on cardiac function. Single cold dives cause some known cardiological risks, such as malign arrhythmia, due to a concurrent activation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic nervous system. A previous study from warmer water dives has shown that successive dives cause a decrease in vagal tone and a less responsive cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in cardiac function with 2D echocardiography during 4 days of diving in near‐freezing water.

Results

Left ventricle systolic function measures did not show any uniform changes. E/A ratio seemed to decrease successively with the number of dives. The diastolic tissue velocity of relaxing basal septum (e′) showed a decreasing trend as well. Diastolic blood pressure seemed to increase from predive (mean: 83 RR mmHg) to postdive values (mean: 87 RR mmHg) (p=NS). Heart rate decreased significantly from predive (mean: 71 bpm, range: 56–103) to postdive values (mean: 60 bpm, range: 37–88) (p < 0.03).

Discussion and Conclusions

The study was conducted in very cold condition and with limited number of divers. Results of this preliminary study suggested a decreasing trend in left ventricular diastolic function in successive cold dives. Cumulative changes in cardiac function may cause health risks that need to be considered during cold water diving operations.
A mechanistic PK/PD model to enable dose selection of the potent anti‐tryptase antibody (MTPS9579A) in patients with moderate‐to‐severe asthma
Authors: Rymut Sharon M. , Henderson Lindsay M. , Poon Victor , Staton Tracy L. , Cai Fang , Sukumaran Siddharth , Rhee Horace , Owen Ryan , Ramanujan Saroja , Yoshida Kenta
Published: February 2023

Tryptase, a protease implicated in asthma pathology, is secreted from mast cells upon activation during an inflammatory allergic response. MTPS9579A is a novel monoclonal antibody that inhibits tryptase activity by irreversibly dissociating the active tetramer into inactive monomers. This study assessed the relationship between MTPS9579A concentrations in healthy subjects and tryptase levels in serum and nasal mucosal lining fluid from healthy subjects and patients with moderate‐to‐severe asthma. These data were used to develop a mechanistic pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model that quantitatively inter‐relates MTPS9579A exposure and inhibition of active tryptase in the airway of patients with asthma. From initial estimates of airway tryptase levels and drug partitioning, the PK/PD model predicted almost complete neutralization of active tryptase in the airway of patients with asthma with MTPS9579A doses of 900 mg and greater, administered intravenously (i.v.) once every 4 weeks (q4w). Suppression of active tryptase during an asthma exacerbation event was also evaluated using the model by simulating the administration of MTPS9579A during a 100‐fold increase in tryptase secretion in the local tissue. The PK/PD model predicted that 1800 mg MTPS9579A i.v. q4w results in 95.7% suppression of active tryptase at the steady‐state trough concentration. Understanding how the exposure‐response relationship of MTPS9579A in healthy subjects translates to patients with asthma is critical for future clinical studies assessing tryptase inhibition in the airway of patients with moderate‐to‐severe asthma.
Therapeutic termination of pregnancy: New challenges in the decision‐making process
Authors: Zareba Kornelia , Al Awar Shamsa
Published: February 2023

This letter to the editor is on the Invited Review by Graf et al. on pages 900–907 of this issue.
Systematic review: Individual‐level factors and social determinants of health impacting sleep health in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Yoo Linda , Tsai Chi‐Shan , Heitkemper Margaret , Kamp Kendra
Published: February 2023

Aim

To examine the individual‐level factors and social determinants of health (SDOH) linked to sleep health among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Design

Systematic review without meta‐analysis.

Data Sources

Four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL and PsycINFO) were searched in February 2022.

Review Methods

Databases were searched with keywords related to IBD and sleep. The review was conducted per the PRISMA protocol. The checklist for analytical cross‐sectional studies published by the Joanna Briggs Institute was used for quality appraisal. Factors were organized by individual, social and societal levels according to the social–ecological model of sleep health.

Results

In the review, 45 studies were identified and synthesized. All studies examined individual‐level factors with sleep, with age being the most common factor studied. Only nine studies considered a social determinant of health which included marital status, number of children, education level, annual income, employment status, work tenure, type of employment, area of residence, minority status/ethnicity and COVID‐19. However, the source of information for the social determinant of health was not clearly defined for more than half of these studies.

Conclusion

Although IBD sleep research has explored individual‐level factors (i.e. age) that impact sleep health, there is a lack of information on the SDOH that can contribute to sleep health.

Impact

This review provides insight into the different factors that have been examined in IBD sleep research. By determining the SDOH that impact sleep, nursing research can inform sustainable and tailored interventions that focus on changing behaviour and improving sleep of individuals of varying backgrounds and life experiences. There is a continued need for nurses in practice and research to explore the SDOH that influence health outcomes and the daily lives of those with IBD.
Toxicity assessment and anti‐Vibrio activity of essential oils: Potential for application in shrimp aquaculture
Authors: Zheng Xiaoting , Bossier Peter
Published: February 2023

This present paper aimed to review the past 4 years (2019–2022), the inhibition of Vibrio spp. (including Vibrio's causing AHPND) by EOs, as well as the potential toxicity of the EOs towards crustaceans, with an emphasis on Artemia spp. In the present review, 27 EOs from terrestrial plants are reported regarding their anti‐Vibrio activity. Among these 27 studies, Salvia officinalis and Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceae family) were found to be the most numerous. Among the Vibrio spp., V. parahaemolyticus (non‐AHPND strain) was mostly researched. There are in total 68 publications about the toxicity of EOs in Artemia spp. Based on the four categories of toxicity towards Artemia (strongly toxic: LC50 < 100 μg/ml, moderately toxic: LC50:100–500 μg/ml, weakly toxic: LC50: 500–1000 μg/ml, and non‐toxic: LC50 > 1000 μg/ml), strong toxicity activity was found in 37 EOs, moderate toxicity in 15 EOs, weak activity for three EO plants and 13 non‐toxic extracts. In fact, LC50 values as low as 10.25 and 11.48 μg/ml were described in Artemisia vulgaris and Euryale ferox, respectively, showing these two plant EOs are strongly toxic to Artemia. Overall, and despite being generally considered “eco‐friendly and natural” products and safer than antibiotics, some of the EOs are toxic to target organisms. Thus, to establish an ecologically safe application of EOs in shrimp aquaculture, the correct use of these plant EOs (in terms of concentrations and duration) in aquaculture should be considered.
Non-Contact MEMS-Sensor Array Inspection of Composites and Metallic Parts Using Lamb Waves
Authors: Volker A.W.F. , Vrolijk J.W. , Merks-Swolfs E.J.W. , van der Burg D.W. , van der Heiden M.S. , Martina Q.E.V.N.
Published: February 2023

Composite materials are becoming more popular in the aerospace industry, because of their physical properties. In quality assurance and in-service inspection, there is a need for fast, non-contact, high-quality, non-destructive inspection techniques. The most common approach is to perform the inspection using water-coupled high-frequency transducers. Full wavefield techniques are promising to replace the conventional inspection approach. However, these are currently performed by a laser vibrometer setup, which has drawbacks. As an alternative, a low-cost micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor array and dedicated processing scheme are presented enabling fast inspection of large samples. This inspection approach uses a piezoelectric actuator to excite the composite or metallic part with Lamb waves. An array of MEMS sensors records the energy that radiates into the surrounding air. A dedicated processing scheme will translate the measured wavefield into a thickness map of the inspected part. For composite parts, the material’s anisotropy needs to be taken into account for accurate thickness mapping. In principle, all relevant defects show up as local thickness reductions. The results in this paper are obtained with a MEMS-sensor array of 128 elements capable of detecting ultrasound up to 250 kHz at a typical stand-off distance of 100 mm. Defects up to 6 mm in diameter could be detected in thick panels, and defects as small as 2.5 mm could be detected in thin panels. A full-size fuselage experiment shows that the method is also suited for fast inspection of large inspection areas.
Maternal mRNA covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy and delta or omicron infection or hospital admission in infants: test negative design study
Authors: Jorgensen Sarah C J , Hernandez Alejandro , Fell Deshayne B , Austin Peter C , D’Souza Rohan , Guttmann Astrid , Brown Kevin A , Buchan Sarah A , Gubbay Jonathan B , Nasreen Sharifa , Schwartz Kevin L , Tadrous Mina , Wilson Kumanan , Kwong Jeffrey C
Published: February 2023

Objective

To estimate the effectiveness of maternal mRNA covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy against delta and omicron severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and hospital admission in infants.

Design

Test negative design study.

Setting

Community and hospital testing in Ontario, Canada.

Participants

Infants younger than six months of age, born between 7 May 2021 and 31 March 2022, who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 between 7 May 2021 and 5 September 2022.

Intervention

Maternal mRNA covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy.

Main outcome measures

Laboratory confirmed delta or omicron infection or hospital admission of the infant. Multivariable logistic regression estimated vaccine effectiveness, with adjustments for clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with vaccination and infection.

Results

8809 infants met eligibility criteria, including 99 delta cases (4365 controls) and 1501 omicron cases (4847 controls). Infant vaccine effectiveness from two maternal doses was 95% (95% confidence interval 88% to 98%) against delta infection and 97% (73% to 100%) against infant hospital admission due to delta and 45% (37% to 53%) against omicron infection and 53% (39% to 64%) against hospital admission due to omicron. Vaccine effectiveness for three doses was 73% (61% to 80%) against omicron infection and 80% (64% to 89%) against hospital admission due to omicron. Vaccine effectiveness for two doses against infant omicron infection was highest with the second dose in the third trimester (53% (42% to 62%)) compared with the first (47% (31% to 59%)) or second (37% (24% to 47%)) trimesters. Vaccine effectiveness for two doses against infant omicron infection decreased from 57% (44% to 66%) between birth and eight weeks to 40% (21% to 54%) after 16 weeks of age.

Conclusions

Maternal covid-19 vaccination with a second dose during pregnancy was highly effective against delta and moderately effective against omicron infection and hospital admission in infants during the first six months of life. A third vaccine dose bolstered protection against omicron. Effectiveness for two doses was highest with maternal vaccination in the third trimester, and effectiveness decreased in infants beyond eight weeks of age.
Multimorbidity of cardiometabolic diseases: a cross-sectional study of patterns, clusters and associated risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Otieno Peter , Asiki Gershim , Wekesah Frederick , Wilunda Calistus , Sanya Richard E , Wami Welcome , Agyemang Charles
Published: February 2023

Objective

To determine the patterns of cardiometabolic multimorbidity and associated risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Design

We used data from the WHO STEPwise approach to non-communicable disease risk factor surveillance cross-sectional surveys conducted between 2014 and 2017.

Participants

The participants comprised 39, 658 respondents aged 15–69 years randomly selected from nine SSA countries using a multistage stratified sampling design.

Primary outcome measure

Using latent class analysis and agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithms, we analysed the clustering of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) including high blood sugar, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as heart attack, angina and stroke. Clusters of lifestyle risk factors: harmful salt intake, physical inactivity, obesity, tobacco and alcohol use were also computed. Prevalence ratios (PR) from modified Poisson regression were used to assess the association of cardiometabolic multimorbidity with sociodemographic and lifestyle risk factors.

Results

Two distinct classes of CMDs were identified: relatively healthy group with minimal CMDs (95.2%) and cardiometabolic multimorbidity class comprising participants with high blood sugar, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension and CVDs (4.8%). The clusters of lifestyle risk factors included alcohol, tobacco and harmful salt consumption (27.0%), and physical inactivity and obesity (5.8%). The cardiometabolic multimorbidity cluster exhibited unique sociodemographic and lifestyle risk profiles. Being female (PR=1.7, 95% CI (1.5 to 2.0), middle-aged (35–54 years) (3.9 (95% CI 3.2 to 4.8)), compared with age 15–34 years, employed (1.2 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.4)), having tertiary education (2.5 (95% CI 2.0 to 3.3)), vs no formal education and clustering of physical inactivity and obesity (2.4 (95% CI 2.0 to 2.8)) were associated with a higher likelihood of cardiometabolic multimorbidity.

Conclusion

Our findings show that cardiometabolic multimorbidity and lifestyle risk factors cluster in distinct patterns with a disproportionate burden among women, middle-aged, persons in high socioeconomic positions, and those with sedentary lifestyles and obesity. These results provide insights for health systems response in SSA to focus on these clusters as potential targets for integrated care.
Facilitators and barriers to conducting an efficient, competent and high-quality oncological multidisciplinary team meeting
Authors: Walraven Janneke E W , Verhoeven Rob H A , Meulen Renske van der , Hoeven Jacobus J M van der , Lemmens Valery E P P , Hesselink Gijs , Desar Ingrid M E
Published: February 2023

Background

Optimal oncological care nowadays requires discussing every patient in a multidisciplinary team meeting (MDTM). The number of patients to be discussed is rising rapidly due to the increasing incidence and prevalence of cancer and the emergence of new multidisciplinary treatment options. This puts MDTMs under considerable time pressure. The aim of this study is therefore to identify the facilitators and barriers with regard to performing an efficient, competent and high-quality MDTM.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted with Dutch medical specialists and residents participating in oncological MDTMs. Purposive sampling was used to maximise variation in participants’ professional and demographic characteristics (eg, sex, medical specialist vs resident, specialty, type and location of affiliated hospital). Interview data were systematically analysed according to the principles of thematic content analysis.

Results

Sixteen medical specialists and 19 residents were interviewed. All interviewees agreed that attending and preparing MDTMs is time-consuming and indicated the need for optimal execution in order to ensure that MDTMs remain feasible in the near future. Four themes emerged that are relevant to achieving an optimal MDTM: (1) organisational aspects; (2) participants’ responsibilities and requirements; (3) competences, behaviour and team dynamics and (4) meeting content. Good organisation, a sound structure and functioning information and communication technology facilitate high-quality MDTMs. Multidisciplinary collaboration and adequate communication are essential competences for participants; a lack thereof and the existence of a hierarchy are hindering factors.

Conclusion

Conducting an efficient, competent and high-quality oncological MDTM is facilitated and hindered by many factors. Being aware of these factors provides opportunities for optimising MDTMs, which are under pressure due to the increase in the number of patients to discuss.
Is neurogenic inflammation involved in tendinopathy? A systematic review
Authors: Wasker Shimon Vinay Zedeck , Challoumas Dimitris , Weng Wai , Murrell George A C , Millar Neal L
Published: February 2023

Neurogenic pain and inflammation have been hypothesised to play an important role in tendinopathy. This systematic review aimed to present and assess the evidence on neurogenic inflammation in tendinopathy. A systematic search was conducted through multiple databases to identify human case–control studies assessing neurogenic inflammation through the upregulation of relevant cells, receptors, markers and mediators. A newly devised tool was used for the methodological quality assessment of studies. Results were pooled based on the cell/receptor/marker/mediator assessed. A total of 31 case–control studies were eligible for inclusion. The tendinopathic tissue was obtained from Achilles (n=11), patellar (n=8), extensor carpi radialis brevis (n=4), rotator cuff (n=4), distal biceps (n=3) and gluteal (n=1) tendons. Through pooling the results of included studies based on the marker of neurogenic inflammation assessed, we identified possible upregulation of protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptors, glutamate, glutamate receptors (mGLUT), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and adrenoreceptors in tendinopathic tissue versus control. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was not found to be upregulated, and the evidence was conflicting for several other markers. These findings show the involvement of the glutaminergic and sympathetic nervous systems and the upregulation of nerve ingrowth markers supporting the concept that neurogenic inflammation plays a role in tendinopathy.
IL15 modification enables CAR T cells to act as a dual targeting agent against tumor cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells in GBM
Authors: Zannikou Markella , Duffy Joseph T , Levine Rebecca N , Seblani Maggie , Liu Qianli , Presser Aaron , Arrieta Victor A , Chen Christopher J , Sonabend Adam M , Horbinski Craig M , Lee-Chang Catalina , Miska Jason , Lesniak Maciej S , Gottschalk Stephen , Balyasnikova Irina V
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) is a major barrier to the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) in glioblastoma (GBM). Transgenic expression of IL15 is one attractive strategy to modulate the TME. However, at present, it is unclear if IL15 could be used to directly target myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a major cellular component of the GBM TME. Here, we explored if MDSC express IL15Rα and the feasibility of exploiting its expression as an immunotherapeutic target.

Methods

RNA-seq, RT-qPCR, and flow cytometry were used to determine IL15Rα expression in paired peripheral and tumor-infiltrating immune cells of GBM patients and two syngeneic murine GBM models. We generated murine T cells expressing IL13Rα2-CARs and secretory IL15 (CAR.IL15s) or IL13Rα2-CARs in which IL15 was fused to the CAR to serve as an IL15Rα-targeting moiety (CAR.IL15f), and characterized their effector function in vitro and in syngeneic IL13Rα2+glioma models.

Results

IL15Rα was preferentially expressed in myeloid, B, and dendritic cells in patients’ and syngeneic GBMs. In vitro, CAR.IL15s and CAR.IL15f T cells depleted MDSC and decreased their secretion of immunosuppressive molecules with CAR.IL15f T cells being more efficacious. Similarly, CAR.IL15f T cells significantly improved the survival of mice in two GBM models. TME analysis showed that treatment with CAR.IL15f T cells resulted in higher frequencies of CD8+T cells, NK, and B cells, but a decrease in CD11b+cells in tumors compared with therapy with CAR T cells.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that MDSC of the glioma TME express IL15Ra and that these cells can be targeted with secretory IL15 or an IL15Rα-targeting moiety incorporated into the CAR. Thus, IL15-modified CAR T cells act as a dual targeting agent against tumor cells and MDSC in GBM, warranting their future evaluation in early-phase clinical studies.
Risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in patients with sarcoidosis: a Danish nationwide nested case–control study
Authors: Eroglu Talip E , Folke Fredrik , Coronel Ruben , Torp-Pedersen Christian , Gislason Gunnar Hilmar
Published: February 2023

Objective

Sarcoidosis is over-represented among victims of cardiac arrest. We aimed to establish whether sarcoidosis is associated with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in the general population.

Methods

We conducted a nested case–control study in a nationwide cohort of individuals between 1 June 2001 and 31 December 2015 in Denmark. OHCA cases from presumed cardiac causes were matched 1:10 by sex and age on OHCA date with non-OHCA controls from the general population. The association between sarcoidosis and OHCA was assessed using Cox regression by calculating HR and 95% CIs. Models were adjusted for cardiovascular disease. Finally, stratified analyses were performed according to sex, heart failure and ischaemic heart disease.

Results

We identified 35 195 OHCA cases and 351 950 matched controls without OHCA (median age 72 years and 66.8% male). Patients with sarcoidosis had higher rate of OHCA compared with the general population after adjustments for common OHCA risk factors (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.92). This increased OHCA rate occurred in women (HR 2.11, 95% CI 1.42 to 3.12) but not in men (HR 1.27, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.72; p value interaction=0.033), and was larger in patients with than without heart failure (HRheart failure: 2.59, 95% CI 1.42 to 4.73; HRno heart failure: 1.33, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.74; p value interaction: 0.007). The HR associated with sarcoidosis did not vary by the presence of ischaemic heart disease.

Conclusion

Patients with sarcoidosis have a higher OHCA rate than the general population. This increased OHCA rate occurred in women but not in men, and was larger in patients with than without heart failure.
A remark on the distributional Jacobian
Authors: Mironescu Petru
Published: February 2023

We investigate the existence of the distributional Jacobian for maps [Formula: see text]. In 2D, we present necessary and sufficient existence assumptions. In dimensions 3 and higher, we exhibit sufficient existence conditions weaker than the standard ones.
One-pot reaction derived multicolor nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots for LED applications
Authors: Cao Jing , Hu Yu , Xu Hu , Yu Jun , Wang Yuhong
Published: February 2023

Multicolor nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs) were prepared via one-pot method and purified by column chromatography to obtain three NGQDs with different emission colors, i.e. blue emission (B-NGQDs), cyan emission (C-NGQDs), and yellow emission (Y-NGQDs). The multicolor NGQDs were combined with InGaN chip to fabricate light-emitting diode (LED) that emitted blue, cyan, and yellow light, respectively. Moreover, reducing the amount of Y-NGQDs used could construct a white LED (WLED) with color coordinate of (0.324, 0.334).
On the Cost of Near-Perfect Wear Leveling in Flash-Based SSDs
Authors: Van Houdt Benny
Published: February 2023

Wear leveling (WL) techniques in flash-based SSDs aim at distributing the erase cycles as uniformly as possible across the memory blocks within the SSD to extend its life span. The downside of any WL technique is that it causes additional internal write operations, thereby increasing the so-called write amplification (WA) factor, which equals the ratio between the total number of writes performed and the number of writes requested by the host system.

In this article, we address the question whether near-perfect WL is possible at low costs in terms of the WA factor. We answer this question affirmatively by presenting a simple randomized algorithm that combines WL with garbage collection. This algorithm guarantees that the wear is nearly perfectly balanced at all times while causing a low increase in the WA. This is demonstrated mathematically using a mean field model in case of uniform random writes and using trace-driven simulation experiments for general workloads.