bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Divergent population responses following salamander mass mortalities and declines driven by the emerging pathogen
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans
Authors: Erens Jesse , Preissler Kathleen , Speybroeck Jeroen , Beukema Wouter , Spitzen-van der Sluijs Annemarieke , Stark Tariq , Laudelout Arnaud , Kinet Thierry , Schmidt Benedikt R. , Martel An , Steinfartz Sebastian , Pasmans Frank
Published: September 2023

Understanding wildlife responses to novel threats is vital in counteracting biodiversity loss. The emerging pathogen
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans
(
Bsal
) causes dramatic declines in European salamander populations, and is considered an imminent threat to global amphibian biodiversity. However, real-life disease outcomes remain largely uncharacterized. We performed a multidisciplinary assessment of the longer-term impacts of
Bsal
on highly susceptible fire salamander (
Salamandra salamandra
) populations, by comparing four of the earliest known outbreak sites to uninfected sites. Based on large-scale monitoring efforts, we found population persistence in strongly reduced abundances to over a decade after
Bsal
invasion, but also the extinction of an initially small-sized population. In turn, we found that host responses varied, and
Bsal
detection remained low, within surviving populations. Demographic analyses indicated an ongoing scarcity of large reproductive adults with potential for recruitment failure, while spatial comparisons indicated a population remnant persisting within aberrant habitat. Additionally, we detected no early signs of severe genetic deterioration, yet nor of increased host resistance. Beyond offering additional context to
Bsal
-driven salamander declines, results highlight how the impacts of emerging hypervirulent pathogens can be unpredictable and vary across different levels of biological complexity, and how limited pathogen detectability after population declines may complicate surveillance efforts.
Determining the impact of vaccination on SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR cycle threshold values and infectious viral titers
Authors: Peterson Katherine L , Snyder Julia P , Despres Hannah W , Schmidt Madaline M , Eckstrom Korin M , Unger Allison L , Carmolli Marya P , Sevigny Joseph L , Shirley David J , Dragon Julie A , Thomas W. Kelley , Bruce Emily A , Crothers Jessica W
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT
Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, efforts to better understand SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding and transmission in both unvaccinated and vaccinated populations remain critical to informing public health policies and vaccine development. The utility of using RT-PCR cycle threshold values (CT values) as a proxy for infectious viral titers from individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 is yet to be fully understood. This retrospective observational cohort study compares quantitative infectious viral titers derived from a focus-forming viral titer assay with SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR CT values in both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals infected with the Delta strain.
Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR with a CT value < 27 collected from June 26th to October 17th of 2021 at the University of Vermont Medical Center Clinical Laboratory for which vaccination records were available were included. Partially vaccinated and individuals < 18 years of age were excluded. Infectious viral titers were determined using a micro-focus forming assay under BSL-3 containment.
Results: 119 specimens from 22 unvaccinated and 97 vaccinated individuals met all inclusion criteria and had sufficient residual volume to undergo viral titering. A negative correlation between RT-PCR CT values and viral titers was observed in both unvaccinated and vaccinated groups. No difference in mean CT value or viral titer was detected between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Viral titers did not change as a function of time since vaccination.
Conclusions: Our results add to the growing body of knowledge regarding the correlation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels and levels of infectious virus. At similar CT values, vaccination does not appear to impact an individual’s potential infectivity when infected with the Delta variant.
Microbacterium plantarum sp. nov. and Microbacterium thalli sp. nov., two endophytic metal-resistant bacteria isolated from Sphaeralcea angustifolia (Cav.) G. Don and Prosopis laevigata (Humb. et Bonpl. ex Willd) M.C. Johnston
Authors: Arroyo-Herrera Ivan , Román-Ponce Brenda , Bustamante-Brito Rafael , Guevara-Luna Joseph , Larios-Serrato Violeta , Carro Lorena , Mariano Igual Jose , Geiger Otto , Sánchez-Reyes Ayixon , Estrada-de los Santos Paulina , Wang En Tao , Vásquez-Murrieta María Soledad
Published: September 2023

Four Gram-positive, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-negative, rod-shaped, motile endophytic bacterial strains, designated NM3R9T, NE1TT3, NE2TL11 and NE2HP2T, were isolated from the inner tissues (leaf and stem) of Sphaeralcea angustifolia and roots of Prosopis laevigata. They were characterized using a polyphasic approach, which revealed that they represent two novel

Microbacterium

species. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the species closest to NE2HP2T was

Microbacterium arborescens

DSM 20754T (99.6 %) and that closest to NM3R9T, NE2TL11 and NE2TT3 was

Microbacterium oleivorans

NBRC 103075T (97.4 %). The whole-genome average nucleotide identity value between strain NM3R9T and

Microbacterium imperiale

DSM 20530T was 90.91 %, and that between strain NE2HP2T and M. arborecens DSM 20754T was 91.03 %. Digital DNA–DNA hybridization showed values of less than 70 % with the type strains of related species. The polar lipids present in both strains included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, glycolipids and unidentified lipids, whereas the major fatty acids included anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0. Whole-cell sugars included mannose, rhamnose and galactose. Strains NM3R9T and NE2HP2T showed physiological characteristics different from those present in closely related

Microbacterium

species. According to the taxonomic analysis, both strains belong to two novel species. The name Microbacterium plantarum sp. nov. is proposed for strain NE2HP2T (=LMG 30875T=CCBAU 101117T) and Microbacterium thalli sp. nov. for strains NM3R9T (=LMG 30873T=CCBAU 101116T), NE1TT3 (=CCBAU 101114) and NE2TL11 (=CCBAU 101115).
Hoeflea algicola sp. nov. and Hoeflea ulvae sp. nov., isolated from phycosphere of marine algae
Authors: Baek Ju Hye , Kristyanto Sylvia , Kim Jeong Min , Han Dong Min , Quan Zhe-Xue , Jeon Che Ok
Published: September 2023

Two Gram-negative, moderately halophilic, and motile rod bacteria, strains G2-23T and J2-29T, showing catalase- and oxidase-positive activities were isolated from species of the marine algae Chondrus and Ulva, respectively. Both strains optimally grew at 30 °C, pH 7.0 and 2% (w/v) NaCl. Both strains contained ubiquinone-10 as the sole isoprenoid quinone. Strain G2-23T contained summed feature 8 (C18 : 1
ω7c and/or C18 : 1
ω6c), C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1
ω7c/ω6c) as major cellular fatty acids, and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidyl-N-monomethylethanolamine (PME), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), diphosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified phospholipid (PL) as major polar lipids. Strain J2-29T contained summed feature 8, C18 : 1
ω7c 11-methyl and C16 : 0 as major cellular fatty acids and PE, PME, PG and PL as major polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains G2-23T and J2-29T were 59.5 and 62.2 mol%, respectively. Both strains shared 97.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, 79.8 % average nucleotide identity (ANI) and 22.8 % digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values, indicating that they represent different species. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses by 16S rRNA gene and genome sequences, respectively, revealed that strains G2-23T and J2-29T formed different phylogenic lineages within the genus

Hoeflea

. ANI and dDDH values between strains G2-23T and J2-29T and other

Hoeflea

type strains were less than 79.0 and 22.1% and 80.5 and 23.3 %, respectively, suggesting that they represent novel species of the genus

Hoeflea

. In summary, based on their phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular properties, strains G2-23T and J2-29T represent two different novel species of the genus

Hoeflea

, for which the names Hoeflea algicola sp. nov. (G2-23T=KACC 22714T=JCM 35548T) and Hoeflea ulvae sp. nov. (J2-29T=KACC 22715T=JCM 35549T), respectively, are proposed.
Methylacidiphilum kamchatkense gen. nov., sp. nov., an extremely acidophilic and moderately thermophilic methanotroph belonging to the phylum Verrucomicrobiota
Authors: Ratnadevi Chandini Murarilal , Erikstad Helge-André , Kruse Thomas , Birkeland Nils-Kåre
Published: September 2023

The thermo-acidophilic aerobic methanotrophic

Verrucomicrobia

bacterium, designated strain Kam1T was isolated from an acidic geothermal mud spring in Kamchatka, Russia. Kam1T is Gram-stain-negative, with non-motile cells and non-spore-forming rods, and a diameter of 0.45–0.65 µm and length of 0.8–1.0 µm. Its growth is optimal at the temperature of 55 °C (range, 37–60 °C) and pH of 2.5 (range, pH 1–6), and its maximal growth rate is ~0.11 h−1 (doubling time ~6.3 h). Its cell wall contains peptidoglycan with meso-diaminopimelic acid. In addition to growing on methane and methanol, strain Kam1T grows on acetone and 2-propanol. Phylogenetically, it forms a distinct group together with other

Methylacidiphilum

strains and with the candidate genus Methylacidimicrobium as a sister group. These findings support the classification of the strain Kam1T as a representative of a novel species and genus of the phylum

Verrucomicrobiota

. For this strain, we propose the name

Methylacidiphilum kamchatkense

sp. nov. as the type species within

Methylacidiphilum

gen. nov. Strain Kam1T (JCM 30608T=KCTC 4682T) is the type strain.
Landscape of blood group antigens and alleles in the Indian population from whole genome sequences
Authors: Rophina Mercy , Bhoyar Rahul C , Imran Mohamed , Senthivel Vigneshwar , Divakar Mohit Kumar , Mishra Anushree , Jolly Bani , Sivasubbu Sridhar , Scaria Vinod
Published: September 2023

Blood group antigens are genetically inherited macromolecular structures which form the underlying factor for inter individual variations in human blood. Currently there exists over 390 human blood group antigens corresponding to 44 blood group systems and 2 erythroid specific transcription factors. Distribution of these blood group antigens have been found to differ significantly among various ethnic populations. To date, there is a lack of comprehensive research that offers extensive blood group profiles for the Indian population. Whole genome sequence data (hg38) of 1029 self-declared healthy Indian individuals generated as a part of the pilot phase IndiGen programme were used for the analysis. Variants spanning the genes of 44 blood group systems and two transcription factors KLF1, GATA1 were fetched and annotated for their functional consequences. Our study reports a total of 40712 blood group related variants of which 695 were identified as non-synonymous variants in the coding region. Of the total non-synonymous variants, 105 were found to have a known blood phenotype. A total of 24 variants belonging to 12 blood groups were predicted to be deleterious by more than three computational tools. Our study was also able to identify a few rare blood phenotypes including Au(a-b+), Js(a+b+), Di(a+b-), In(a+b-) and KANNO-. This study is the first to use genomic data to understand the blood group antigen profiles of the Indian population, and it also systematically compares these profiles with those of other global populations.

Key points

Accurate characterization of the genomic landscape of known and rare blood group alleles and antigens in the Indian population using the whole genome sequencing data of 1029 self-declared healthy individuals

Understanding the distinct similarities and differences in blood group genotypes and phenotypes across diverse global populations through systematic comparison of genomic datasets.

Graphical abstract
Improved assessment ofSchistosomacommunity infection through data resampling methodology
Authors: Gurarie David , Mondal Anirban , Ndeffo-Mbah Martial L
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The conventional diagnostic forSchistosoma mansoniinfection is stool microscopy with Kato-Katz technique to detect eggs. Its outcomes are highly variable on day-to-day basis, and may lead to biased estimates of community infection used to inform public health programs. Our goal is to develop a resampling methodology that leverages data from a large-scale randomized trial to accurately predict community infection.

Methods

We developed a resampling methodology that provides unbiased community estimates of prevalence, intensity and other statistics forS. mansoniinfection when a community survey is conducted using single Kato-Katz stool microscopy per host. It leverages a large-scale dataset, collected in the SCORE project, and allows linking single-stool community screening to its putative multi-day ‘true statistics’.

Results

SCORE data analysis reveals limited sensitivity of Kato-Katz stool microscopy, and systematic bias of single-day community testing vs. multi-day testing; for prevalence estimate, it can fall up to 50% below true value. The proposed SCORE-cluster methodology reduces systematic bias and brings estimated prevalence values within 5-10% of the true value. This holds for a broad swath of transmission settings, including SCORE communities, and other datasets.

Discussion

Our SCORE-cluster methodology can markedly improve theS. mansoniprevalence estimate in settings using stool microscopy.
Specialized Bacteroidetes dominate the Arctic Ocean during marine spring blooms
Authors: Redondo-Río Álvaro , Mundy Christopher J. , Tamames Javier , Pedrós-Alió Carlos
Published: September 2023

A metagenomic time series from Arctic seawater was obtained from the Canadian region of Dease Strait, to analyse the changes in bacterioplankton caused by the phytoplankton bloom that recurrently occurs in summer. This dataset documents the growth of bacterial clades specialised in the metabolism of plysaccharides, such as Bacteroidetes, along with the phytoplackton. These specialised taxa quickly displaced the microbial clades that dominate nutrient-poor waters during early spring, such as Archaea, Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria. At the functional level, phyla Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetes and Verrucomicrobia showed higher contents of polysaccharide-degradation functions. Glycoside hydrolases revealed that the Bacteroidetes community shifted towards species with higher polysaccharide-degrading capabilities, targeting algal polysaccharides in summer. Regarding transporters, Bacteroidetes dominated SusC-TonB transporters and had an exclusive family of glycoside-binding proteins (SusD). These proteins were used to identify polysaccharide-utilisation loci that clustered transporters and polysaccharide-active enzymes, showing a higher level of specialisation towards polysaccharide use. Put together, all these genomic features point to the genetic adaptations that promote the dominance of Bacteroidetes during phytoplankton blooms.
Serum VCAM-1 reduction by phytosomal curcumin formulation in rats on a high-fat diet
Authors: Abdul Razzak Rima , Al Kafaji Ghada , Khan Mohammad Nadir , Marwani Amar Muhsin , Naguib Yahya M.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the effect of consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) rich with total saturated fats on adiposity and serum levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), a biomarker of endothelial inflammation/dysfunction. Another aim is to evaluate whether supplementation of a phytosomal formulation of curcumin would reduce adiposity measures and sVCAM-1 levels in HFD rats.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted on 17 male rats which were allocated to one of three feeding regimen groups: normal diet (ND); HFD, or HFD with dietary phytosomal curcumin (HFD-C). Anthropometric measures were recorded weekly up to 20 weeks of feeding intervention, at the end of which, sVCAM-1 levels were also compared with one-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc analysis.

Findings

The HFD group had the greatest values for raw anthropometric data, and there was a group difference in anthropometric measures, however there was no significant difference between HFD and HFD-C for any measure. The gain at 20 weeks from initial values did reveal significant differences in weight and abdominal circumference between HFD and HFD-C groups. There were significant group differences in sVCAM-1 levels, with only HFD-C displaying significant lower levels than HFD group.

Originality/value

This is the first study that shows the capacity of a phytosomal formulation of curcumin in reducing adiposity and sVCAM-1 levels during daily intake of saturated fats above the recommended level. The results are promising in that this formulation can protect against endothelial inflammation/dysfunction, and can be used as complimentary therapy to suppress dyslipidemia/obesity-related cardiovascular complications.
Internal control mechanisms and financial performance of Ghanaian banks: the moderating role of corporate governance
Authors: Oppong Clement , Atchulo Abukari Salifu , Dargaud Fofack Achille , Afonope Daniel Elorm
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the moderating impact of corporate governance on the relationship between internal control mechanisms and financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a structured questionnaire to collect data from 250 top managers of rural banks in the capital of Ghana. Cronbach alpha value and Fornell-Larcker tests were performed to assess the reliability and validity of the data used. The study adopted a partial least square structural equation model (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The results show that internal control and corporate governance both have a direct positive and significant impact on financial performance. Furthermore, the interaction of internal control and corporate governance also has a positive and significant impact on financial performance, thus confirming the moderating role of corporate governance in the relationship between internal control mechanisms and financial performance.

Practical implications

This implies that organizations need to strengthen their corporate governance procedures to increase the efficiency of their internal control systems, which would ultimately lead to an improvement in their financial performance.

Originality/value

The present study innovates by assessing the moderating role of corporate governance in the nexus between internal control mechanisms and financial performance. This moderating effect assessment implies that corporate governance may not only affect the technical implementation of the internal control structures but will subsequently make an impact on the overall performance of the organization.
Are we talking about the same thing? The case for stronger connections between graduate and worker employability research
Authors: Akkermans Jos , Donald William E. , Jackson Denise , Forrier Anneleen
Published: September 2023

Purpose and approach

This article presents the case for creating stronger connections between research on graduate and worker employability. We offer a narrative review of commonalities and differences between these research streams and offer thoughts and suggestions for further integration and mutual learning.

Findings

We outline some of the main theories and concepts in the graduate and worker employability domains. Furthermore, we analyze how these show considerable overlap, though they have barely connected with each other yet. We also formulate an agenda for future research that would spur stronger connections between the fields. Finally, we turn to our fellow authors, reviewers, and editors to encourage a more open approach to each other's work that would enable more cross-fertilization of knowledge.

Implications

We hope our narrative review, critical analysis and future research suggestions will lead to more collaborations and mutual learning among employability researchers in the educational, career and psychology areas.
Instructional leadership in school middle leaders
Authors: Shaked Haim
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Instructional leadership is a school leadership approach that emphasizes improving teaching and learning. This study explores how school middle leaders – teachers holding leadership positions in schools, who are responsible for a particular area or discipline of the school's curriculum – fulfill their instructional leadership role.

Design/methodology/approach

The participants in this qualitative study were 24 middle leaders (subject coordinators) in elementary schools in Israel. Data collection was based on semi-structured interviews, and data analysis included three stages: sorting, coding and categorizing.

Findings

The current study points to three main characteristics of instructional leadership in school middle leaders: leading by expertise; leading by collaboration; and leading by example.

Originality/value

At present, there is only scant literature on instructional leadership in school middle leaders. This study suggests that principals and middle leaders, who work closely with each other to provide instructional leadership in their schools, do so in different ways.
Predicting the future financial performance of Islamic banks: a sentiment analysis approach
Authors: Iqbal Javid , Sohail Muhammad Khalid , Malik Muhammad Kamran
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aims to predict the financial performance of Islamic banks with sentiments of management from the textual information in annual reports.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses data from 33 Islamic banks in six Islamic countries from 2006 to 2020. The authors estimate the model using the system GMM because it helps dealing with endogeneity problem, which are inherent in panel data.

Findings

The findings of the study reveal that there is a strong relationship between the sentiment expressed by management in annual reports and the current (future) financial performance of Islamic banks. The higher the positive sentiments of management, the better financial performance. In addition, the study also suggests that negative sentiments using term frequency-inverse document frequency is linked to a decrease in banks’ financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

The study does not present the Islamic view on sentiment analysis in the context of Islamic scriptures due to the unavailability of a relevant dictionary.

Practical implications

The findings of the study suggest that developing accurate models with the help of textual information for performance prediction of Islamic banks help shareholders, regulators and policymakers avoid devastating events. Using textual information may also help reduce the information asymmetry between the management and shareholders, which may lead to more efficient bank supervision. The study can also help investors evaluate their prospective investments in the Islamic bank.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind that uses management sentiments for performance prediction of the Islamic banking sector. It may add a valuable contribution to the existing literature.
Impact of opening-up on industrial upgrading in global value chain: a difference-in-differences estimation for Shanghai pilot free trade zone
Authors: Shahid Rabia , Shahid Humera , Shijie Li , Mahmood Faiq , Yifan Ning
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Using the Shanghai pilot free trade zone (SPFTZ) as the testing ground for further reform and opening up,the links between global value chain (GVC) and pilot free trade zone (PFTZ) programs are mutually reinforcing. GVC creates opportunities for companies to use PFTZ to reduce their costs and increase their competitiveness, while PFTZ can facilitate the movement of goods within GVC and promote the development of GVC by attracting foreign investment. Overall, in SPFTZ, the industrial structure is promoted due to trade and investment facilitation, innovation promotion, and comprehensive service platform inside SPFTZ.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examined industrial upgrading in GVC (IUGVC) using five indicators under three quantitative dimensions: product, process, and skill upgrading. Difference-in-Differences (DID) model is employed for the impact assessment of SPFTZ. Parallel trend analysis and Granger causality analysis are performed to check the reliability of DID outcome. Finally, robustness test using exogenous control variables are carried out.

Findings

A positive impact of SPFTZ is found on IUGVC, which is due to promoting effect of SPFTZ on foreign direct investment and technological innovation. Based on the study's findings, policy recommendations are given, such as providing business support to enterprises operating inside a PFTZ.

Originality/value

From a GVC perspective, the impact of theSPFTZ establishment on IUGVC cannot be ignored, and is so far missing in the literature.
Practice development amidst a pandemic: a pilot programme to develop leadership in infection prevention and control professionals
Authors: Jain Susan , Dempsey Kathy , Wilcox Stephanie , Bradd Patricia , Travaglia Joanne , Debono Deborah , Justin Linda , Hor Su-yin
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the design and evaluation of a pilot leadership development programme for infection prevention and control (IPAC) professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme’s aim was to improve IPAC knowledge and capacity in the health-care system by developing the leadership skills and capacities of novice and advanced Infection Control Professionals (ICPs), to respond flexibly, and competently, in their expanding and ever-changing roles.

Design/methodology/approach

The leadership programme was piloted with seven nurses, who were part of a clinical nursing team in New South Wales, Australia, over a 12-month period between 2021 and 2022. The programme was designed using a leadership development framework underpinned by transformational leadership theory, practice development approaches and collaborative and experiential learning. These principles were applied during programme design, with components adapted to learners’ interests and regular opportunities provided for collaboration in active learning and critical reflection on workplace experiences.

Findings

The authors’ evaluation suggests that the programme was feasible, acceptable and considered to be effective by this cohort. Moreover, participants valued the opportunities to engage in active and experience-based learning with peers, and with the support of senior and experienced ICPs. The action learning sets were well-received and allowed participants to critically reflect on and learn from one another’s experiences. The mentoring programme allowed them to apply their developing leadership skills to real workplace challenges that they face.

Research limitations/implications

Despite a small sample size, the authors’ results provide empirical evidence about the effectiveness of using a practice development approach for strengthening ICP leadership capacity. The success of this pilot study has paved the way for a bigger second cohort of participants in the programme, for which further evaluation will be conducted.

Practical implications

The success of this leadership programme reflects both the need for leadership development in the IPAC professions and the applicability of this approach, with appropriate facilitation, for other professions and organizations.

Originality/value

ICP leadership programmes have not been previously reported in the literature. This pilot study builds on the growing interest in IPAC leadership to foster health system responsiveness and change.
Predicting firms’ resilience to economic crisis using artificial intelligence for optimizing economic stimulus programs
Authors: Kyriakou Niki , Loukis Euripidis N. , Maragoudakis Manolis
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aims to develop a methodology for predicting the resilience of individual firms to economic crisis, using historical government data to optimize one of the most important and costly interventions that governments undertake, the huge economic stimulus programs that governments implement for mitigating the consequences of economic crises, by making them more focused on the less resilient and more vulnerable firms to the crisis, which have the highest need for government assistance and support.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors are leveraging existing firm-level data for economic crisis periods from government agencies having competencies/responsibilities in the domain of economy, such as Ministries of Finance and Statistical Authorities, to construct prediction models of the resilience of individual firms to the economic crisis based on firms’ characteristics (such as human resources, technology, strategies, processes and structure), using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques from the area of machine learning (ML).

Findings

The methodology has been applied using data from the Greek Ministry of Finance and Statistical Authority about 363 firms for the Greek economic crisis period 2009–2014 and has provided a satisfactory prediction of a measure of the resilience of individual firms to an economic crisis.

Research limitations/implications

The authors’ study opens up new research directions concerning the exploitation of AI/ML in government for a critical government activity/intervention of high importance that mobilizes/spends huge financial resources. The main limitation is that the abovementioned first application of the proposed methodology has been based on a rather small data set from a single national context (Greece), so it is necessary to proceed to further application of this methodology using larger data sets and different national contexts.

Practical implications

The proposed methodology enables government agencies responsible for the implementation of such economic stimulus programs to proceed to radical transformations of them by predicting the resilience to economic crisis of the firms applying for government assistance and then directing/focusing the scarce available financial resources to/on the ones predicted to be more vulnerable, increasing substantially the effectiveness of these programs and the economic/social value they generate.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first application of AI/ML in government that leverages existing data for economic crisis periods to optimize and increase the effectiveness of the largest and most important and costly economic intervention that governments repeatedly have to make: the economic stimulus programs for mitigating the consequences of economic crises.
Association between weight loss and death in patients with malignant melanoma: A retrospective study of 28 cases
Authors: Tanaka Arisa , Miyazawa Hajime , Yanagi Teruki , Maeda Takuya , Kitamura Shinya , Ujiie Hideyuki
Published: September 2023

Malignant melanoma (MM) is often associated with a poor prognosis due to metastasis and cancer death. The monitoring of prognostic factors is of vital importance, and among these factors, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) should be closely observed during the disease course. Important factors for predicting the survival of MM patients include tumor thickness, ulceration, the number of lymph node metastases, metastatic lesions, and the sites of metastasis. Weight loss is not generally included in the prognostic factors of MM, but it is monitored in other cancers, such as lung cancer and gastrointestinal cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between weight loss and MM prognosis. Using data from MM patients who had been treated at our institution, we assessed the prognoses of two groups: weight loss of at least 5% body weight or weight loss not exceeding 5% body weight within a 12‐month period. As a result, a higher mortality rate was found for the former group. Furthermore, the loss of at least 5% of body weight within a month was found to almost always adversely affect the patient's prognosis. The present study indicates that there may be an association between MM prognosis and weight loss of at least 5% within a year, and body weight could potentially serve as an informative factor for MM survival.
Woodland expansion in the presence of deer: 30 years of evidence from the Cairngorms Connect landscape restoration partnership
Authors: Gullett Philippa R. , Leslie Colin , Mason Richard , Ratcliffe Phil , Sargent Ian , Beck Adele , Cameron Tom , Cowie Neil R. , Hetherington David , MacDonell Thomas , Moat Tom , Moore Peter , Teuten Emma , Hancock Mark H.
Published: September 2023

Restoring native woodlands to areas where they have been lost is a key element for tackling the nature and climate crises. Natural regeneration offers the potential to achieve this cheaply and at scale, but browsing ungulates like deer can inhibit this or alter the pattern of regeneration. This issue is particularly pronounced in the Scottish Highlands, a heavily deforested region with high deer numbers.

We describe the work of the 60,000 ha landscape restoration partnership, Cairngorms Connect, in speeding up natural woodland expansion. We use 30 years of regeneration monitoring to show a consistent, large‐scale expansion of native woodland, largely through natural regeneration alongside deer culling, without the use of fences. This was achieved across the partnership, despite differing management histories and land‐managing organisations (comprising two statutory agencies, one private landowner and one non‐governmental organisation).

During peak periods of woodland expansion, the area of new woodland (i.e. exceeding 100 trees per hectare) increased by 1.2%, 1.7%, 2.7% and 6.0% annually in the four landholdings' regeneration zones, equating to a total of approximately 164 ha annually of new woodland.

Natural regeneration is however patchy and hard to predict. Higher levels of management intervention may be needed to increase species that are rarer, more palatable or further from seed sources; we recommend long‐term field trials to inform this, such as those underway in Cairngorms Connect. Further research should develop techniques for remote sensing of woodland expansion, verified against field data and combined with the development of process‐based models to enable us to predict the outcomes of different management scenarios.

Synthesis and applications. We show that collaborative deer management across multiple adjoining landholdings can achieve rapid landscape‐scale native woodland expansion with minimal need for planting or fencing. Our results show the power of monitoring regeneration directly, to inform deer management for an area. We demonstrate that by uniting over a shared vision, organisations with differing management approaches and histories can build understanding alongside landscape‐scale ecological restoration.
URBAN ECOLOGICAL FUTURES: Five Eco‐Community Strategies for more Sustainable and Equitable Cities
Authors: Pickerill Jenny , Chitewere Tendai , Cornea Natasha , Lockyer Joshua , Macrorie Rachel , Blažek Jan Malý , Nelson Anitra
Published: September 2023

Cities are critical sites for understanding, and potentially ameliorating, the effects of global ecological change, the climate emergency and natural resource depletion. Contemporary cities are sociomaterially connected through global markets, trade and transportation, placing ever‐increasing demands on the natural environment and generating dangerous pollutants and emissions. Current approaches to address these environmental crises are dominated by neoliberal forms of ‘green’ urban development, carbon accounting and techno‐economic solutions, which extend corporate control over cities and tend to entrench inequality. A more strategic approach for enabling ecologically sustainable and equitable urban futures is urgently needed. We present five strategies for urban ecological futures in the global North, derived from qualitative and ethnographic empirical research with international eco‐communities, which open up discussions about how to tackle this challenge by acknowledging the role and potential of: (1) non‐extractive community economies; (2) democratic processes of co‐operative action; (3) social approaches to resource management; (4) participatory collaborative governance; and (5) urban heterogeneity and social justice. We explore the relational, contested and contextual processes through which these approaches could become embedded in urban policy and planning, thereby offering the strategic capacity required to move towards truly sustainable cities.
Patient decision aids in mainstreaming genetic testing for women with ovarian cancer: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Sobocan Monika , Chandrasekaran Dhivya , Sideris Michail , Blyuss Oleg , Fierheller Caitlin , Kalra Ashwin , Sia Jacqueline , Miller Rowan E. , Mills‐Baldock Tina , Crusz Shanthini M. , Sun Li , Evans Olivia , Robbani Sadiyah , Jenkins Lucy A. , Ahmed Munaza , Kumar Ajith , Quigley Mary , Lockley Michelle , Faruqi Asma , Casey Laura , Brockbank Elly , Phadnis Saurabh , Trevisan Giorgia , Singh Naveena , Legood Rosa , Manchanda Ranjit
Published: September 2023

Objective

To evaluate patient preference for short (gist) or detailed/extensive decision aids (DA) for genetic testing at ovarian cancer (OC) diagnosis.

Design

Cohort study set within recruitment to the Systematic Genetic Testing for Personalised Ovarian Cancer Therapy (SIGNPOST) study (ISRCTN: 16988857).

Setting

North‐East London Cancer Network (NELCN) population.

Population/Sample

Women with high‐grade non‐mucinous epithelial OC.

Methods

A more detailed DA was developed using patient and stakeholder input following the principles/methodology of IPDAS (International Patients Decision Aids Standards). Unselected patients attending oncology clinics evaluated both a pre‐existing short and a new long DA version and then underwent mainstreaming genetic testing by a cancer clinician. Appropriate inferential descriptive and regression analyses were undertaken.

Main outcome measures

Satisfaction, readability, understanding, emotional well‐being and preference for long/short DA.

Results

The mean age of patients was 66 years (interquartile range 11), and 85% were White British ethnicity. Of the participants, 74% found DAs helpful/useful in decision‐making. Women reported higher levels of satisfaction (86% versus 58%, p < 0.001), right amount of information provided (76.79% versus49.12%, p < 0.001) and improved understanding (p < 0.001) with the long DA compared with the short DA. There was no statistically significant difference in emotional outcomes (feeling worried/concerned/reassured/upset) between ‘short’ and ‘long’ DA; 74% of patients preferred the long DA and 24% the short DA. Patients undergoing treatment (correlation coefficient (coef) = 0.603; 95% CI 0.165–1.041, p = 0.007), those with recurrence (coef = 0.493; 95% CI 0.065–0.92, p = 0.024) and older women (coef = 0.042; 95% CI 0.017–0.066, p = 0.001) preferred the short DA. Ethnicity did not affect outcomes or overall preference for long/short DA.

Conclusions

A longer DA in OC patients has higher satisfaction without increasing emotional distress. Older women and those undergoing treatment/recurrence prefer less extensive information, whereas those in remission preferred a longer DA.
Analysis of female strangulation homicides in King County, Washington, from 1978 to 2022
Authors: Harruff Richard C. , Johnston Robert , Lubin Micheline , Perera U. L. M. S.
Published: September 2023

Asphyxia due to strangulation is an uncommon but important modality of homicide that tends to disproportionately involve female victims. The present study was designed to investigate the circumstances, motivations, and injuries associated with strangulation homicides of females and to measure trends in incidence over time. Electronic records of the King County Medical Examiner's Office in Seattle, Washington, were used to compile a data set of all homicides in King County from 1995 through 2022. A second data set of female homicides due to strangulation was constructed with additional records prior to 1995, supplemented with data abstracted from autopsy reports, and linked to the Washington Attorney General's Office Homicide Investigation Tracking System database. This comprehensive data set was used to analyze demographics, circumstances, motives, and injuries of female strangulation homicides from 1978 through 2016. The results found that, from 1995 through 2022, females accounted for 22.8% of 2394 homicides but 80.3% of strangulation homicides. The average annual rate of all strangulation homicides decreased until 2020. Mean ages of female decedents were 27.7 years in homicides associated with sexual assault, 36.8 years with domestic violence, and 63.9 years with robbery. Lethal assaults most often occurred in private homes, and perpetrators were usually well known to the victim. Injuries included petechiae in 83%; ligature marks in 20%; fingernail marks in 1.4%; hyoid fractures in 23%; and thyroid cartilage fractures in 31%. Fractures were more common in manual strangulation and in decedents of ages over 40 years.
Electrical impedance spectroscopy detects skin barrier dysfunction in childhood atopic dermatitis
Authors: Sasaki Mari , Sundberg Mathilda , Frei Remo , Ferstl Ruth , Heye Kristina N. , Willems Erik P. , Akdis Cezmi A. , Lauener Roger ,   CK‐CARE Study Group, Roduit Caroline
Published: September 2023

Background

Skin barrier dysfunction is associated with the development of atopic dermatitis (AD), however methods to assess skin barrier function are limited. We investigated the use of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to detect skin barrier dysfunction in children with AD of the CARE (Childhood AlleRgy, nutrition, and Environment) cohort.

Methods

EIS measurements taken at multiple time points from 4 months to 3‐year‐old children, who developed AD (n = 66) and those who did not (n = 49) were investigated. Using only the EIS measurement and the AD status, we developed a machine learning algorithm that produces a score (EIS/AD score) which reflects the probability that a given measurement is from a child with active AD. We investigated the diagnostic ability of this score and its association with clinical characteristics and age.

Results

Based on the EIS/AD score, the EIS algorithm was able to clearly discriminate between healthy skin and clinically unaffected skin of children with active AD (area under the curve 0.92, 95% CI 0.85–0.99). It was also able to detect a difference between healthy skin and AD skin when the child did not have active AD. There was no clear association between the EIS/AD score and the severity of AD or sensitisation to the tested allergens. The performance of the algorithm was not affected by age.

Conclusions

This study shows that EIS can detect skin barrier dysfunction and differentiate skin of children with AD from healthy skin and suggests that EIS may have the ability to predict future AD development.
At home in my enemy's house: Israeli activists negotiating ethical values through ritualized Palestinian hospitality
Authors: Mautner Ori
Published: September 2023

Engaged Dharma Israel (EDI) activists resist their state's occupation of West Bank Palestinians by offering them solidarity and support. Whereas most Israelis consider such Palestinians’ houses unsafe, EDI participants “feel at home” when acting as polite guests there, experiencing the hospitality of their politically subordinate counterparts as poignant. Such activists value intimacy—crossing boundaries between self and other on both personal and national levels—which they substantially realize during their visits. However, they also seek to promote Israelis’ and Palestinians’ mutual autonomy, or nonintervention in each other's personal and communal affairs, an often‐competing value that the visits likewise help effectuate. These capacities of hospitality result from its ritualized nature—namely, its tendency to follow conventional scripts that do not require certain inner states (e.g., sincerity). Hospitality can therefore be usefully approached as a ritualized arena that enables people to promote multiple values, or culturally valorized ideals, including ones frequently found in tension. This ability of hospitality to work out and negotiate participants’ plural ethical commitments is embedded in the power dynamics and political inequalities that normally characterize hospitality events.
Peyronie's disease response to intralesional collagenase clostridium histolyticum therapy is independent of baseline testosterone
Authors: Schneider Douglas , O'Leary Mitchell , Amini Eliad , Miller Jake , Hassas Nick , Nguyen Jeanie , Hammad Muhammed A. Moukhtar , Barham David , Yafi Faysal A.
Published: September 2023

Background

Testosterone plays an important role in collagen metabolism, transforming growth factor‐β1 expression, and wound healing, which are all critical factors in pathogenesis of Peyronie's disease. Some clinical studies have suggested an association between Peyronie's disease and hypogonadism.

Objective

We sought to investigate whether baseline total testosterone levels influence response to intralesional collagenase clostridium histolyticum in Peyronie's disease.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients receiving collagenase clostridium histolyticum injections with available total testosterone levels within 1 year of initial injection was conducted at a single institution. Baseline demographics, hypogonadal status, total testosterone, number of collagenase clostridium histolyticum cycles, and pre‐ and post‐treatment degrees of curvature were collected. Hypogonadism was defined as total testosterone <300 ng/dL.

Results and discussion

Thirty‐six men were included with mean age of 58.2 years (SD 10.4) and mean body mass index 26.8 (SD 3.2). The mean total testosterone was 459.2 ng/dL (SD 144.0), and four (11.1%) were hypogonadal. Mean pre‐treatment curvature was 47.6°, and mean post‐treatment curvature was 27.8°, with mean improvement of 19.9° (40.1%). Hypogonadal status was not significantly associated with more severe curvature, 46.4° among hypogonadal men as to 57.5° among eugonadal men (p = 0.32). On linear regression analysis, total testosterone did not significantly predict improvement in degrees (β = –0.02; R2 = 0.06; p = 0.14) or percent (β = 0.0; R2 = 0.05; p = 0.18). Improvement in neither degrees nor percent differed significantly by hypogonadal status (p = 0.41 and 0.82, respectively). The cycle number did significantly predict greater improvement in curvature on both univariate and multivariate analyses (β = 5.7; R2 = 0.34; p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Neither total testosterone nor hypogonadism is associated with a degree of improvement after collagenase clostridium histolyticum treatment.