bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Applying the Ottawa Ankle Rules in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Almeida Sara Isabel de , Rios Joana , Costa Lima Sofia , Oom Paulo
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Ankle and midfoot injuries constitute one of the most frequent reasons to visit the pediatric emergency department (ED). The aims of the study were (1) to determine the feasibility of the Ottawa Ankle Rules (OARs) in a pediatric ED and its reliability to safely manage ankle and midfoot injuries and (2) to verify the impact in reducing the number of radiographs, healthcare costs, and time spent in the ED.

Methods

The prospective study enrolled 90 patients for the control group and 94 for the case group. For the control group, the standard of practice was registered. In the case group, before beginning enrolment, an instruction of how to apply the OARs were given to all clinicians. After that, OARs were applied according to patient complaints. A follow-up call was made for both groups.

Results

The mean age of the control group was 11.9 years (standard deviation, 3.267 years), whereas in the case group was 11.3 years (standard deviation, 3.533 years). Demographic and injury characteristics were similar in both groups. A significant statistical difference was verified in the number of radiographs (P = 0.001) with a reduction of 16.7% in the case group. Patients who did not perform radiography, in the case group, spent at least 1 hour less than the ones who did. The OARs have shown a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval, 39.76–100.00) and specificity of 23.33% (95% CI, 15.06–33.43) with a negative predictive value of 100%.

Conclusions

The OARs are an important clinical instrument with a high sensitivity and negative predictive value, which allows clinicians to avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation without missing clinically relevant fractures.
Improving the Flow
Authors: Sobolewski Kristine A. , Koo Soojin , Deutsch Robert J.
Published: September 2021

Background

Emergency department (ED) overcrowding has led to longer waits for patients to be seen, treated, and released. This has been coupled with an increased number of patients who leave without ever being seen by an ED provider. Improving patient throughput and decreasing ED patient length of stay while continuing to provide high-quality care is of paramount importance. Optimization of available standing orders for fever, pain, and/or nausea and vomiting at the time of nurse triage may offer an opportunity to improve patient outcomes, decrease time to medication (TTM) administration for ill and injured patients, and decrease length of stay.

Patients and Methods

This was a retrospective cohort patient analysis for patients younger than 18 years of age presenting to the ED before (February 2019) and after (February 2020) an intensive campaign aimed at educating the triage nurses regarding the use of ED standing orders for acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and ondansetron. The investigators sought to evaluate percentage change in nurse triage-initiated (NTI) orders between the 2 time frames. Secondary outcomes evaluated TTM, documented adverse effects, percentage of inappropriate medication administrations, and correlate TTMs to ED discharge.

Results

The percentage of patients who received an NTI medication was 49% in 2019 and 58% in 2020 (P = 0.257). For NTI orders, TTM initiation decreased in the postintervention group from an average of 45 minutes down to 37.6 minutes. In the overall cohort, TTM administration in the NTI group was a mean of 41.2 minutes compared with 75.9 minutes in the provider-initiated group (P < 0.0001). Length of stay was the same for the NTI versus the provider-initiated group in overall cohort (134.4 vs 142.9, P = 0.4303). No adverse events were identified.

Conclusions

Nurse-initiated medication administration at the time of triage offers an opportunity to get patients vital treatment more quickly. Medications administrated earlier in the pediatric ED encounter have a correlation to improved throughput and higher possibility of quicker discharge from the ED. Further research is needed to fully assess the impact of continuing education on improving utilization of triage standing orders and the impact on ED throughput.
Brief Report: Supporting Access to HIV Care for Children and Youth During the COVID-19 Pandemic With Telemedicine and Rideshare
Authors: Koay Wei Li A. , Prabhakar Supriya , Neilan Anne , Meyers Joanna , Lee Nara , Rakhmanina Natella
Published: September 2021

Background:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we scaled up telemedicine and rideshare services for clinic and laboratory visits for pediatric and adolescent patients with HIV.

Setting:

HIV subspecialty program for patients aged 0–24 years at Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC.

Methods:

Using the χ2 and Wilcoxon rank sum tests, we compared demographics, visit and laboratory data, and rideshare usage among patients who scheduled telemedicine at least once (telemedicine) versus those who never scheduled telemedicine (no-telemedicine) during the pandemic (April–September 2020). We compared the number and proportion of scheduled and completed clinic visits before the pandemic (April–September 2019) with those during the pandemic.

Results:

We analyzed 178 pediatric and adolescent patients with HIV (median age 17.9 years, 89.3% Black, 48.9% male patients, 78.7% perinatally infected), of whom 70.2% and 28.6% used telemedicine and rideshare, respectively. Telemedicine patients scheduled more visits (236 vs 179, P < 0.0001) and completed a similar proportion of visits (81.8% vs 86.0%, P = 0.3805) compared with no-telemedicine patients. Laboratory testing rates (81.3% versus 98.5%, P = 0.0005) were lower in telemedicine patients compared with no-telemedicine patients. Rideshare usage (12.4% versus 26.5%, P = 0.0068) was lower in telemedicine versus no-telemedicine patients. During the pandemic, most of the patients (81.0%) had HIV RNA <200 copies/mL. The total number of completed visits and the proportion of visits completed were similar before and during the pandemic.

Conclusion:

Most of the pediatric and adolescent patients with HIV used telemedicine and maintained HIV RNA <200 copies/mL during the pandemic. Despite rideshare usage, laboratory testing rates were lower with telemedicine compared with in-person visits.
First Metatarsal Bone Metastasis From Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma on SPECT/CT
Authors: Chrabański Olgierd , Gołąb Tomasz
Published: September 2021

We report metatarsal metastasis in SPECT/CT in a 65-year-old man, 5 years after radical right nephrectomy. Tumor from first metatarsal was histopathologically proven from clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Metatarsal metastasis is very rare. Less than 0.01% of patients have metastases in the foot bone. Tumor histotype is mainly lung cancer. Metastases from renal carcinoma are often lytic with a poor osteoblastic response, there may be limited uptake of the 99mTc-MDP tracer, and all uncertain regions should be diagnosed with SPECT/CT, if it is possible.
Gender Affirming Surgery: A Comprehensive, Systematic Review of All Peer-reviewed Literature and Methods of Assessing Patient-centered Outcomes (Part 2: Genital Reconstruction)
Authors: Oles Norah , Darrach Halley , Landford Wilmina , Garza Matthew , Twose Claire , Park Chanjun S. , Tran Phuong , Schechter Loren S. , Lau Brandyn , Coon Devin
Published: September 2021

Objective:

To perform the first systematic review of all available GAS publications across all procedures to assess outcomes reported in the literature and the methods used for outcome assessment.

Summary of Background Data:

Assessment of GAS results is complex and multidimensional, involving not only complication rates but also anatomic (eg, vaginal depth), functional (eg, urinary), and psychosocial outcomes. A fully comprehensive aggregation of all prior research would offer an essential cornerstone for continued progress.

Methods:

A systematic review was performed after PRISMA guidelines to identify all outcomes measures in GAS cohorts, including patient-centered outcomes, complications, and functional outcomes. Data were aggregated to assess pooled rates of complications, satisfaction, and other outcomes.

Results:

Overall, 15,186 references were identified, 4162 papers advanced to abstract review, and 1826 underwent full-text review. After review, there were 406 GAS cohort publications, including 171 vaginoplasty, 82 phalloplasty, 16 metoidioplasty, 23 oophorectomy/vaginectomy, and 21 with multiple procedures.

Although 68.7% of genitoplasty papers addressed patient-centered outcomes, only 1.0% used metrics validated in the transgender population. Forty-three different outcome instruments were used. No instrument was used in more than 15% of published series and 38 were used in only 1 or 2 publications.

Conclusions:

Our review found high patient satisfaction for genital procedures but little concordance between study methods, with almost 90% of patient-focused outcome metrics appearing only once or twice. Standardization of outcome instruments and measurement methods through patient-inclusive, multidisciplinary consensus efforts is the essential next step for quality improvement. As GAS continues to mature, building on current foundations with the goal of improving both surgical and patient-reported outcomes is essential.
Transgastric Drainage for Esophageal Injuries: A Dynamic Strategy for a Heterogenous Patient Cohort
Authors: Boland Patrick A. , Abdelatif Asila , Gilmartin Brian , Arumugasamy Mayilone , Walsh Thomas N.
Published: September 2021

Background:

Esophageal injury is a rare but potentially lethal surgical emergency. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality because of mediastinal contamination and difficulty of access. Surgery in such septic patients exacts a heavy physiological price, mandating consideration of more conservative measures. We review our experience with transgastric drainage for esophageal perforation and high-risk anastomotic dehiscence.

Patients and Methods:

A select cohort of patients presenting with esophageal perforation, or complex anastomotic leaks, over 10 years were considered for transgastric drainage (TGD). A modified 36F chest drainage tube was inserted by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy technique, either endoscopically or at open surgery, and a negative pressure (−10 cmH2O) was applied until the leak had sealed. Endpoints include, length of stay, restoration of gastrointestinal tract continuity and mortality.

Results:

Of 14 patients treated, 10 had perforations and 4 had complex anastomotic leaks. Ten patients had drainage alone, while 4 required concomitant operative intervention. The median duration of drain insertion for those treated with TGD alone was 19.5 days. Complete restoration of gastrointestinal tract continuity was achieved in all patients. There was no procedure-related morbidity or mortality.

Conclusion:

These results show that TGD is a safe and effective management strategy. We advocate its use alone or as an adjunct to operative treatment for esophageal perforation or anastomotic leaks. This is the first report of completely endoscopic TGD for esophageal perforation.
Actinoplanes flavus sp. nov., a novel cellulase-producing actinobacterium isolated from coconut palm rhizosphere soil
Authors: Luo Xianxian , Sun Xiujun , Huang Zhenzhen , He Chuan , Zhao Junwei , Xiang Wensheng , Song Jia , Wang Xiangjing
Published: September 2021

A novel cellulase-producing actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-H7T, was isolated from coconut palm rhizosphere soil collected from Wenchang City, Hainan Province, PR China. A polyphasic taxonomic study was carried out to establish the status of this strain. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain NEAU-H7T belonged to the genus

Actinoplanes

, with highest similarity to

Actinoplanes hulinensis

NEAU-M9T (99.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The diagnostic sugars in cell hydrolysates were determined to be ribose, galactose and mannose. The major fatty acids (>10%) were C16 : 0, C18 : 1
 ω9c and C18 : 0. The predominant menaquinones were identified as MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H6). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and two phosphatidylinositol mannosides. The amino acid of the cell-wall peptidoglycan was determined to be meso-diaminopimelic acid. The DNA G+C content was 71.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain NEAU-H7T formed a stable phyletic line with

A. hulinensis

NEAU-M9T. However, whole-genome phylogeny showed strain NEAU-H7T formed a stable phyletic line with

A. hulinensis

NEAU-M9T (99.2%),

Actinoplanes campanulatus

DSM 43148T (98.6%),

Actinoplanes capillaceus

DSM 44859T (98.3%) and

Actinoplanes lobatus

DSM 43150T (97.6%). The digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) results between them were 53.6 (50.9–56.2), 54.1 (51.3–56.9), 53.1 (50.3–55.9) and 52.9 % (50.1–55.6 %), and whole-genome average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between them were 93.7, 93.6, 93.5 and 93.5 %. The low dDDH and ANI values demonstrated that strain NEAU-H7T could be distinguished from its reference strains. Moreover, genomic analysis indicated that the strain NEAU-H7T had the potential to decompose cellulose and produce bioactive compounds. On the basis of morphological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain NEAU-H7T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus

Actinoplanes

, with the name Actinoplanes flavus sp. nov. The type strain is NEAU-H7T (=CCTCC AA 2020034T=DSM 112042T).
Epidemic Models for COVID-19 during the First Wave from February to May 2020: a Methodological Review
Authors: Garin Marie , Limnios Myrto , Nicolaï Alice , Bargiotas Ioannis , Boulant Olivier , Chick Stephen E. , Dib Amir , Evgeniou Theodoros , Fekom Mathilde , Kalogeratos Argyris , Labourdette Christophe , Ovchinnikov Anton , Porcher Raphaël , Pouchol Camille , Vayatis Nicolas
Published: September 2021

We review epidemiological models for the propagation of the COVID-19 pandemic during the early months of the outbreak: from February to May 2020. The aim is to propose a methodological review that highlights the following characteristics: (i) the epidemic propagation models, (ii) the modeling of intervention strategies, (iii) the models and estimation procedures of the epidemic parameters and (iv) the characteristics of the data used. We finally selected 80 articles from open access databases based on criteria such as the theoretical background, the reproducibility, the incorporation of interventions strategies,etc. It mainly resulted to phenomenological, compartmental and individual-level models. A digital companion including an online sheet, a Kibana interface and a markdown document is proposed. Finally, this work provides an opportunity to witness how the scientific community reacted to this unique situation.
How are combinations of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep related to cognitive function in older adults? A systematic review
Authors: Mellow Maddison L , Crozier Alyson J , Dumuid Dorothea , Wade Alexandra T , Goldsworthy Mitchell R , Dorrian Jillian , Smith Ashleigh E
Published: September 2021

The relationships between cognitive function and each of physical activity, sleep and sedentary behaviour in older adults are well documented. However, these three “time use” behaviours are co-dependent parts of the 24-hour day (spending time in one leaves less time for the others), and their best balance for cognitive function in older adults is still largely unknown. This systematic review summarises the existing evidence on the associations between combinations of two or more time-use behaviours and cognitive function in older adults. Embase, Pubmed, PsycInfo, Medline and Emcare databases were searched in March 2020 and updated in May 2021, returning a total of 25,289 papers for screening. A total of 23 studies were included in the synthesis, spanning >23,000 participants (mean age 71 years). Findings support previous evidence that spending more time in physical activity and limiting sedentary behaviour is broadly associated with better cognitive outcomes in older adults. Higher proportions of moderate-vigorous physical activity in the day were most frequently associated with better cognitive function. Some evidence suggests that certain types of sedentary behaviour may be positively associated with cognitive function, such as reading or computer use. Sleep duration appears to share an inverted U-shaped relationship with cognition, as too much or too little sleep is negatively associated with cognitive function. This review highlights considerable heterogeneity in methodological and statistical approaches, and encourages a more standardised, transparent approach to capturing important daily behaviours in older adults. Investigating all three time-use behaviours together against cognitive function using suitable statistical methodology is strongly recommended to further our understanding of optimal 24-hour time-use for brain function in aging.
Liver-specific Deletion Of Small Heterodimer Partner Alters Enterohepatic Bile Acid Levels And Promotes Bile Acid-Mediated Proliferation In Male Mice
Authors: Henry Shaw Ryan Philip , Kolyvas Peter , Dang Nathanlown , Hyon Angela , Anakk Sayeepriyadarshini
Published: September 2021

Small heterodimer partner (Shp) regulates several metabolic processes, including bile acid levels, but lacks the conserved DNA binding domain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed conserved genetic evolution of Shp, Fxr, Cyp7a1 and Cyp27a1, underscoring the importance of these molecules in maintaining bile acid homeostasis. Shp, although primarily studied as a downstream target of Farnesoid X Receptor (Fxr), has a distinct hepatic role that is poorly understood. Here we report that liver-specific Shp knockout (LShpKO) mice have impaired negative feedback of Cyp7a1 and Cyp8b1 upon bile acid challenge and demonstrate that a single copy of the Shp gene is sufficient to maintain this response. LShpKO mice also exhibit elevated total bile acid pool with higher bile acid fraction in the intestine mimicking the 1% cholic acid (CA) fed control mice. Agonistic activation of Fxr (GW4064) in the LShpKO did not alter the elevated basal expression of Cyp8b1 but lowered Cyp7a1 expression. We found that deletion of Shp led to an enrichment of distinct motifs and pathways associated with circadian rhythm, amino and carboxylic acid metabolism, copper ion transport, and DNA synthesis. LShpKO livers displayed a higher basal proliferation that was exacerbated specifically with bile acid challenge but not with another liver mitogen, TCPOBOP (TC). Overall, our data indicate that hepatic SHP uniquely regulates certain proliferative and metabolic cues.
The gut microbial signature of gestational diabetes mellitus and the association with diet intervention
Authors: Wu Na , Zhou Jingwei , Mo Heng , Mu Qing , Su Huiting , Li Mei , Yu Yimeng , Liu Aiyu , Zhang Qi , Xu Jun , Yu Weidong , Liu Peng , Liu Guoli
Published: September 2021

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a high-risk pregnancy complication that is associated with metabolic disorder phenotypes, such as abnormal blood glucose and obesity. The link between microbiota and diet management contributes to metabolic homeostasis in GDM. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the structure of the gut microbiota in GDM and to explore the effect of dietary management on the microbiota structure. In this study, we analyzed the composition of the gut microbiota between 27 GDM and 30 healthy subjects at two time points using Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. The taxonomy analyses suggested that the overall bacteria clustered by diabetes status, rather than diet intervention. Of particular interest, the phylum Acidobacteria in GDM was significantly increased, and positively correlated with blood glucose levels. Moreover, Partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed that certain genera in the phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Lentisphaerae characterized the GDM gut microbiota. Correlation analysis indicated that blood glucose levels and BMI index were correlated with the relative abundance of SCFAS-producing genera. Through the comparison between the GDM and healthy samples with or without diet intervention, we discovered that the role of short-term diet management in GDM processes is associated with the change in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and some specific taxa, rather than an alternative gut microbial pattern. Our study have important implications for understanding the beneficial effects of diet intervention on the specific gut microbiota and thus possibly their metabolism in pregnant women with GDM.

Importance

Understanding the composition and dynamics of the gut microbiota in GDM women under diet intervention is important because there may be opportunities for preventive strategies. We examined the relationships between GDM gut microbiota at two times before and after the diet intervention during second trimester of pregnancy and clinical characteristics in cohort of GDM women. We found that short-term diet management in GDM processes is associated with changes in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and some specific taxa rather than an alternative gut microbial pattern. Our study highlights the importance of considering diet intervention as the rescue of microbial dysfunction of GDM disease and can serve as a strategy for early prevention in future study.
A Process-Based Model with Temperature, Water, and Lab-derived Data Improves Predictions of Daily Mosquito Density
Authors: Shutt D.P. , Goodsman D.W. , Hemez Z.J.L. , Conrad J.R. , Xu C. , Osthus D. , Russell C. , Hyman J.M. , Manore C.A.
Published: September 2021

While the number of human cases of mosquito-borne diseases has increased in North America in the last decade, accurate modeling of mosquito population density has remained a challenge. Longitudinal mosquito trap data over the many years needed for model calibration is relatively rare. In particular, capturing the relative changes in mosquito abundance across seasons is necessary for predicting the risk of disease spread as it varies from year to year. We developed a process-based mosquito population model that captures life-cycle egg, larva, pupa, adult stages, and diapause for Culex pipiens and Culex restuans mosquito populations. Mosquito development through these stages is a function of time, temperature, daylight hours, and aquatic habitat availability. The time-dependent parameters are informed by both laboratory studies and mosquito trap data from the Greater Toronto Area. The model incorporates city-wide water-body gauge and precipitation data as a proxy for aquatic habitat. This approach accounts for the nonlinear interaction of temperature and aquatic habitat variability on the mosquito life stages. We demonstrate that the full model predicts the yearly variations in mosquito populations better than a statistical model using the same data sources. This improvement in modeling mosquito abundance can help guide interventions for reducing mosquito abundance in mitigating mosquito-borne diseases like the West Nile virus.
Barcoded Bulk QTL mapping reveals highly polygenic and epistatic architecture of complex traits in yeast
Authors: Nguyen Ba Alex N. , Lawrence Katherine R. , Rego-Costa Artur , Gopalakrishnan Shreyas , Temko Daniel , Michor Franziska , Desai Michael M.
Published: September 2021

Mapping the genetic basis of complex traits is critical to uncovering the biological mechanisms that underlie disease and other phenotypes. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in humans and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in model organisms can now explain much of the observed heritability in many traits, allowing us to predict phenotype from genotype. However, constraints on power due to statistical confounders in large GWAS and smaller sample sizes in QTL studies still limit our ability to resolve numerous small-effect variants, map them to causal genes, identify pleiotropic effects across multiple traits, and infer non-additive interactions between loci (epistasis). Here, we introduce barcoded bulk quantitative trait locus (BB-QTL) mapping, which allows us to construct, genotype, and phenotype 100,000 offspring of a budding yeast cross, two orders of magnitude larger than the previous state of the art. We use this panel to map the genetic basis of eighteen complex traits, finding that the genetic architecture of these traits involves hundreds of small-effect loci densely spaced throughout the genome, many with widespread pleiotropic effects across multiple traits. Epistasis plays a central role, with thousands of interactions that provide insight into genetic networks. By dramatically increasing sample size, BB-QTL mapping demonstrates the potential of natural variants in high-powered QTL studies to reveal the highly polygenic, pleiotropic, and epistatic architecture of complex traits.

Significance statement

Understanding the genetic basis of important phenotypes is a central goal of genetics. However, the highly polygenic architectures of complex traits inferred by large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in humans stand in contrast to the results of quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping studies in model organisms. Here, we use a barcoding approach to conduct QTL mapping in budding yeast at a scale two orders of magnitude larger than the previous state of the art. The resulting increase in power reveals the polygenic nature of complex traits in yeast, and offers insight into widespread patterns of pleiotropy and epistasis. Our data and analysis methods offer opportunities for future work in systems biology, and have implications for large-scale GWAS in human populations.
The architecture and operating mechanism of a cnidarian stinging organelle
Authors: Karabulut Ahmet , McClain Melainia , Rubinstein Boris , McKinney Sean A. , Gibson Matthew C.
Published: September 2021

The stingers of jellyfish, sea anemones and other cnidarians, known as nematocysts, are remarkable cellular weapons used for both predation and defense1. Nematocysts are specialized organelles which consist of a pressurized capsule containing a coiled harpoon-like thread2. These structures are in turn built within specialized cells known as nematocytes3. When triggered4, the capsule explosively discharges, ejecting the coiled thread which punctures the target and rapidly elongates by turning inside out in a process called eversion5,6. Due to the structural complexity of the thread and the extreme speed of discharge, the precise mechanics of nematocyst firing have remained elusive7. Here, using a combination of live and super-resolution imaging, 3D electron microscopy and genetic perturbations, we define the step-by-step sequence of nematocyst operation in the model sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. This analysis reveals the complex biomechanical transformations underpinning the operating mechanism of nematocysts, one of the nature’s most exquisite biological micro-machines. Further, this study will provide insight into the form and function of related cnidarian organelles and serve as a template for the design of bioinspired microdevices.
The interactive effect of insight and cuteness in driving purchase likelihood: a lay belief of creativity
Authors: Septianto Felix , Rostiani Rokhima , Paramita Widya
Published: September 2021

Purpose

While new product introductions can potentially promote growth and benefit for brands, it remains unclear how marketers can develop effective communication strategies to increase the chance of success for new products. The present research investigates the role of cuteness in leveraging the effectiveness of a narrative emphasizing an insight versus an effort in this regard.

Design/methodology/approach

This research presents two experimental studies. Study 1 examines the moderating role of cuteness on the likelihood of purchasing a new product featuring an insight-based (vs effort-based) narrative. Study 2 extends the findings of Study 1 using different stimuli and establishes the underlying mechanism.

Findings

Results show that when a cuteness appeal is present, an insight-based (vs effort-based) narrative will lead to a higher purchase likelihood. However, these differences do not emerge when a cuteness appeal is absent (a control condition). Further, perceived brand creativeness will mediate this effect.

Originality/value

The findings of this research contribute to the literature on lay belief of creativity, cuteness, and product narrative, as well as managerial implications on how to promote new products.
Prevalence of shifted Rayleigh filter for passive surveillance in underwater
Authors: Naga Divya Guduru , Koteswara Rao Sanagapallea
Published: September 2021

Purpose

From many decades, bearings-only tracking (BOT) is the interested problem for researchers. This utilises nonlinear filtering methods for state estimation as there is only information about the target, i.e. bearing is a nonlinear measurement. The measurement bearing is tangentially related to the target state vector. There are many nonlinear filtering algorithms developed so far in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research work, the recently developed nonlinear filtering algorithm, i.e. shifted Rayleigh filter (SRF), is applied to BOT.

Findings

The SRF is tested for two-dimensional BOT against various scenarios. The simulation results emphasise that the SRF performs well when compared to the standard nonlinear filtering algorithm, unscented Kalman filter (UKF).

Originality/value

SRF utilises the nonlinearities present in the bearing measurement through the use of moment matching. The SRF is able to produce the solution in highly noisy environment, long ranges and high dimension tracking.
Todays' digital natives: an exploratory study on students' engagement and satisfaction towards virtual classes amid COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Maini Rashmi , Sehgal Sanjeewani , Agrawal Gautam
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to study the perception of school students towards online classes via virtual meeting applications and to unravel the teachers' preparedness and students' preparedness for running synchronous online classes and its impact on student's engagement and their satisfaction during the period of lockdown due to COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of focused group discussions with teachers and students of top 10 private CBSE affiliated schools (National capital Region, Delhi, India), survey instrument was constructed. Further, 489 valid responses were finally analysed through partial least square (PLS) method and structural model was tested.

Findings

All the six independent variables such as teachers' structured approach, teachers' technical readiness, teachers' self-efficacy, students' technical readiness, students' autonomy and students' self-efficacy influenced students' engagement and satisfaction towards synchronous online classes significantly. The result of the structural model also reveals that students' engagement is a significant predictor of students' satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The paper outlines the scope for future research in ascertaining more critical success factors other than satisfaction and engagement. Scope of this research suggests inclusion of not only schools but framework is also important for college and university level educational bodies. Data collection was confined to students only whereas viewpoint of teachers and parents may also be included.

Originality/value

This study devised a collaborative form of learning where both the parties learnt while making continuous interactions and also co-created value in terms of new skills. Provision of autonomy given to students can't be overlooked as an important indicator for his/her preparedness. As a result, students feel motivated to get engaged in the whole process which makes them satisfied and will be able to identify the learning outcomes equal to or greater than in physical classroom settings.
Product-service system leanness assessment model: study of a UK manufacturing company
Authors: Elnadi Moustafa , Shehab Essam
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Numerous leanness assessment models were developed for both manufacturing and service sectors. However, little research effort was made to provide an instrument that can be used to measure the leanness level of the product-service system (PSS). This paper aims to propose an index to assess the leanness of PSS in a UK manufacturing company.

Design/methodology/approach

The development of the assessment model was carried out through an iterative process. Commencing from existing literature on lean manufacturing assessment and lean service assessment, the initial model for assessing PSS leanness was developed. This initial model was refined via two consecutive phases. The first one includes semi-structured interviews with academic researchers involved in lean projects where their comments were considered. In the second phase, semi-structured interviews with several experts working in different UK manufacturing industries and involved in lean and continuous improvement projects were conducted to reach the final assessment model. After developing the model, the next step was identifying a suitable company for applying the model. The case company was selected because of its commitment to implement lean practices and its ability to participate in this study. After that, data was collected from the case company and the PSS leanness index was calculated using a multi-grade fuzzy approach. Finally, areas for further improvement were identified and the results obtained were validated.

Findings

The PSS leanness index computed for the case company indicates that the service offering process provided by the company is generally lean. Areas for further improvement were identified.

Research limitations/implications

This study focussed on a single case company and is based on the experts’ opinions; this may tend to be biased. However, future studies will be performed to multiple-case studies to enhance findings and more empirical research will be conducted to catch more insights into PSS leanness.

Practical implications

This paper provides guidelines to manufacturing companies’ managers for measuring the PSS leanness index and planning for the future. This index gives information regarding the degree of lean adoption in the service offering process and identifying the gap between the current PSS leanness level and the desired state.

Originality/value

The proposed model has been developed by the opinion of academicians and industry experts. The proposed model can provide guidelines and directions for managers for PSS leanness assessment.
Thirty years of the Journal of Derivatives and Quantitative Studies: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Kim Jun Sik , Kim Sol
Published: September 2021

This paper investigates a retrospective on the Journal of Derivatives and Quantitative Studies (JDQS) on its 30th anniversary based on bibliometric. JDQSs yearly publications, citations, impact factors, and centrality indices grew up in early 2010s, and diminished in 2020. Keyword network analysis reveals the JDQS's main keywords including behavioral finance, implied volatility, information asymmetry, price discovery, KOSPI200 futures, volatility, and KOSPI200 options. Citations of JDQS articles are mainly driven by article age, demeaned age squared, conference, nonacademic authors and language. In comparison between number of views and downloads for JDQS articles, we find that recent changes in publisher and editorial and publishing policies have increased visibility of JDQS.
Widespread Reach, not much Influence: Online News and Mass Political Attitudes and Behaviour in the UK
Authors: Newton Kenneth
Published: September 2021

In spite of the concern about the political influence of the new digital media, especially social media, a large amount of circumstantial evidence suggests that their impact on mass political attitudes and behaviour, which is the focus of this article, may be small. Online news is less widely trusted than the news consumed via the legacy media (TV, radio, newspapers and magazines) and social media are least trusted of all. Most people rely heavily on the mainstream legacy media for their news, which are also the most popular online news sources—especially the BBC and much the same news is accessed on the new and old media. The majority of people have a fairly mixed diet of politically neutral and partisan news and there is little evidence of political ‘echo chambers’—even among the small minority that rely heavily on a single, partisan source. All age groups gather their news in similar ways, including the youngest, who make heavy use of the social media. Nevertheless, in the absence of rigorous research on causal effects on mass political attitudes and behaviour, we do not know whether the impact of the new media is strong or weak. The circumstantial evidence suggests they are likely to be weak.
Women Voters Taking the Wheel?
Authors: Campbell Rosie , Shorrocks Rosalind
Published: September 2021

Political parties increasingly segment the electorate to target subgroups of voters, giving more attention to some groups at the expense of others. In the UK, there has been sporadic and often marginal attention paid to women voters. However, the gender gap may now be too large to ignore in contemporary British politics. In this article, we question why more attention has not been paid to the preferences of women voters by political parties, and demonstrate the importance of considering gender as a crucial electoral divide in Britain.
Ambiguous noses and feminine affectations: negotiating the boundaries of race and gender in CubanEspiritismo
Authors: Ghose Alysa
Published: September 2021

This article argues thatEspiritismo Cruzadopractice is comprised of fluid dynamics that disrupt notions of discrete entities. The disruption of clear‐cut lines means thatEspiritismo Cruzadois fertile ground for creative and generative ambiguity. This ambiguity disrupts the boundaries between forms of religiosity and different religious actors, and in doing so both disrupts and reinforces broader frameworks of race and gender. My examination ofEspiritismo Cruzado, a Cuban religious tradition based on communication with spirits of the dead, demonstrates how the practice's ambiguity can emerge through instances of both convergence and fractures in relationships between spirits and practitioners. Convergences and conflicts emphasize concerns regarding beauty, race, and sexuality and how spirits and practitioners are implicated in the experiences of one another. Alongside these innovations, however, practice can often end up reifying overdetermined tropes of racialized and gendered figures in the wider popular Cuban imaginary. This article highlights how the mixedness thatEspiritismo Cruzadooffers is neither a straightforwardly liberatory politics of enablement nor exclusively one of constraint but rather a complicated nexus of the two.
Interactions in statistical models: Three things to know
Authors: Duncan Richard P. , Kefford Ben J.
Published: September 2021

In ecological studies, the magnitude and direction of interactions among two continuous explanatory variables x1 and x2 are commonly evaluated by fitting a statistical model of the form , where x1x2 is an interaction term that measures departure from additivity of effects.

Here, we highlight three issues associated with evaluating interactions in statistical models of this form that appear underappreciated in the ecological literature, but which have important implications for how we fit models and correctly identify interactions.

First, the scale (additive or multiplicative) on which the outcome variable y is modelled matters. Transformations that change the scale of analysis alter the interpretation of interaction terms and can hide interactions of ecological importance. Second, spurious interactions can arise when explanatory variables are correlated and there are unmodeled nonlinear relationships, a situation likely to arise when fitting statistical models to non‐experimental data. Third, interactions can be nonlinear such that the interaction term x1x2 will not capture all interactions of ecological interest.

We illustrate how each of these issues can result in potentially misleading outcomes using examples linked to the impacts of multiple stressors on biodiversity. We provide recommendations aimed at correctly identifying interaction effects from statistical models.
Approach to the humerus and femur of the paca (Cuniculus paca, Linnaeus 1766)
Authors: Leal Leonardo Martins , Vasques Gabriela Maria Benedetti , Sasahara Tais Harumi de Castro , Vulcano Luiz Carlos , Machado Marcia Rita Fernandes , Minto Bruno Watanabe
Published: September 2021

The paca (Cuniculus paca, Linnaeus 1766) is a rodent species, typical of tropical regions. It is important that in addition to its commercial value as a protein source, it can be used as a scientific scope. The objective of this study was to describe the morphology of the thigh and the arm of the paca by anatomical and imaging methodology with radiography (X‐ray), computed tomography (CAT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the surgical approach of the bones of these regions. It was concluded that the imaging study through X‐ray, CAT scan and MRI are reliable methods for anatomical description of wild animals that have little known about their morphology. Finally, similarly to dogs, it was determined that lateral access is the best approach to the femoral diaphysis and the medial access is the best approach to the humerus diaphysis of the paca.
Letter: patients who have both sarcopenia and frailty have similar prognosis to those with either condition separately
Authors: Alexopoulos Theodoros , Vasilieva Larisa , Kontogianni Meropi D. , Mani Iliana , Alexopoulou Alexandra
Published: September 2021

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Bunchorntavakul & Reddy papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15571 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16581
Editorial: only steps away from primetime? Hepatitis B virus RNA as a routine marker to guide HBV treatment decisions—authors' reply
Authors: Xia Muye , Chi Heng , Janssen Harry L. A. , Peng Jie
Published: September 2021

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Xia et al and Wehmeyer & Schulze zur Wiesch papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16538 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16560
Review article: targeting the B cell activation system in autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Czaja Albert J.
Published: September 2021

Background

The B cell activation system, consisting of B cell activating factor and a proliferation‐inducing ligand, may have pathogenic effects in autoimmune hepatitis.

Aims

To describe the biological actions of the B cell activation system, indicate its possible role in autoimmune diseases, and evaluate its prospects as a therapeutic target in autoimmune hepatitis

Methods

English abstracts were identified in PubMed by multiple search terms. Full length articles were selected for review, and secondary and tertiary bibliographies were developed.

Results

The B cell activating factor is crucial for the maturation and survival of B cells, and it can co‐stimulate T cell activation, proliferation, and survival. It can also modulate the immune response by inducing interleukin 10 production by regulatory B cells. A proliferation‐inducing ligand modulates and diversifies the antibody response by inducing class‐switch recombination in B cells. It can also increase the proliferation, survival, and antigen activation of T cells. These immune stimulatory actions can be modulated by inducing proliferation of regulatory T cells. The B cell activation system has been implicated in diverse autoimmune diseases, and therapeutic blockade is a management strategy now being evaluated in autoimmune hepatitis.

Conclusions

The B cell activation system has profound effects on B and T cell function in autoimmune diseases. Blockade therapy is being actively evaluated in autoimmune hepatitis. Clarification of the critical pathogenic components of the B cell activation system will improve the targeting, efficacy, and safety of blockade therapy in this disease.
Sensitivity analyses informed by tests for bias in observational studies
Authors: Rosenbaum Paul R.
Published: September 2021

In an observational study, the treatment received and the outcome exhibited may be associated in the absence of an effect caused by the treatment, even after controlling for observed covariates. Two tactics are common: (i) a test for unmeasured bias may be obtained using a secondary outcome for which the effect is known and (ii) a sensitivity analysis may explore the magnitude of unmeasured bias that would need to be present to explain the observed association as something other than an effect caused by the treatment. Can such a test for unmeasured bias inform the sensitivity analysis? If the test for bias does not discover evidence of unmeasured bias, then ask: Are conclusions therefore insensitive to larger unmeasured biases? Conversely, if the test for bias does find evidence of bias, then ask: What does that imply about sensitivity to biases? This problem is formulated in a new way as a convex quadratically constrained quadratic program and solved on a large scale using interior point methods by a modern solver. That is, a convex quadratic function of N variables is minimized subject to constraints on linear and convex quadratic functions of these variables. The quadratic function that is minimized is a statistic for the primary outcome that is a function of the unknown treatment assignment probabilities. The quadratic function that constrains this minimization is a statistic for subsidiary outcome that is also a function of these same unknown treatment assignment probabilities. In effect, the first statistic is minimized over a confidence set for the unknown treatment assignment probabilities supplied by the unaffected outcome. This process avoids the mistake of interpreting the failure to reject a hypothesis as support for the truth of that hypothesis. The method is illustrated by a study of the effects of light daily alcohol consumption on high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. In this study, the method quickly optimizes a nonlinear function of variables subject to linear and quadratic constraints. In the example, strong evidence of unmeasured bias is found using the subsidiary outcome, but, perhaps surprisingly, this finding makes the primary comparison insensitive to larger biases.
Existential isolation and the struggle for belief validation
Authors: Long Anson E. , Pinel Elizabeth C. , Daily Jeff R. , Costello Abby E.
Published: September 2021

People exhibit a strong need for belief validation, which they meet by sharing reality with others. Here, we examine the hypothesis that existential isolation – feeling alone in one’s experiences – interferes with people’s ability to share reality and thus achieve validation for their beliefs. In Studies 1 and 2, participants read a scenario that presented a choice, rated the percent of their peers whom they thought would select each of the two options, and then reported their own choice and their certainty of it. Existential isolation was a significant negative predictor of expected agreement and certainty in both studies. Interpersonal isolation (i.e., loneliness) did not relate to either of these variables. Moreover, mediational analyses from Study 2 show that expected agreement mediated the relationship between existential isolation and certainty in the hypothesized manner: existential isolation predicted high levels of uncertainty because people high in existential isolation tended not to believe that others would make the same choice. In Study 3, existential isolation correlated negatively with expected agreement even after controlling for interpersonal isolation, self‐esteem, and depression. The findings attest to the epistemic implications of existential isolation and provide insight for future research.
Causation of cerebral palsy: the huge knowledge gap between populations and individuals
Authors: Ganesan Vijeya
Published: September 2021

This commentary is on the original article by Vitagliano et al. on pages 56–62 of this issue.