bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the influencing factors of impact resistance of shear thickening fluids filled foam
Authors: Nan Xue , Huang Xuan Chao , Huang Mengyao , Wang Xuefan , Zhu Youping , Li Yayun , Shen Shifei , Fu Ming
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The present study assesses the impact resistance of the shear thickening fluids-filled (STFs-filled) foam through drop-hammer impact tests.

Design/methodology/approach

The maximum residual impact load and specific impact energy absorption rate of STF-filled foam are studied with varying thickness (4–14 mm), densities (0.35–0.6 g/cm3) and hardness (40–50 Rockwell Hardness C Scale (HRC)) under different ambient temperatures (−20−20 °C) and impact energies (25–75 J).

Findings

The following conclusions are obtained from this study: (1) the higher the impact energy, the greater the maximum residual impact force and energy absorption efficiency of the material; (2) the impact resistance of STF-filled foam can be improved with the decrease of ambient temperature, achieving the highest energy absorption rate at −10?. (3) STF-filled foam substrate has the highest impact resistance, the lowest maximum residual impact force and the highest energy absorption coefficient when the density is 0.35  g/cm3, the hardness is 45HC and the thickness is 10 mm.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to analyze the impact of both environmental factors and material properties on the impact resistance of STF-filled foam. The results show that the decrease in temperature and the increase in hardness can enhance the impact resistance of STF-filled foam.
The dilemma of employee productivity measures and managerialism practices: an empirical exploration in financial institutions
Authors: Olekanma Obafemi , Harrison Christian , Oyewunmi Adebukola E. , Adedeji Oluwatomi
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This empirical study aims to explore how actors in specific human resource practices (HRPs) such as line managers (LMs) impact employee productivity measures in the context of financial institutions (FI) banks.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-country study adopted a qualitative methodology. It employed semi-structured interviews to collect data from purposefully selected 12 business facing directors (BFDs) working in the top 10 banks in Nigeria and the UK. The data collected were analysed with the help of the trans-positional cognition approach (TPCA) phenomenological method.

Findings

The findings of a TPCA analytical process imply that in the UK and Nigeria’s FIs, the BFDs line managers’ human resources practices (LMHRPs) resulted in a highly regulated workplace, knowledge gap, service operations challenges and subjective quantitatively driven key performance indicators, considered service productivity paradoxical elements. Although the practices in the UK and Nigerian FIs had similar labels, their aggregates were underpinned by different contextual issues.

Practical implications

To support LMs in better understanding and managing FIs BFDs productivity measures and outcomes, we propose the Managerial Employee Productivity Operational Definition framework as part of their toolkit. This study will be helpful for banking sectors, their regulators, policymakers, other FIs’ industry stakeholders and future researchers in the field.

Originality/value

Within the context of the UK and Nigeria’s FIs, this study is the first attempt to understand how LMHRPs impact BFDs productivity in this manner. It confirms that LMHRPs result in service productivity paradoxical elements with perceived or lost productivity implications.
Sustainable accounting quality and its impact on financial success aligned with SDGs
Authors: Mishra Poornima , Sharma Ashish , Rabbani Mustafa Raza , Khan Asif , Kumar Sunil
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Financial and nonfinancial disclosures (sustainable accounting) are crucial in the annual financial reports of many firms. This study aims to explore the dynamic relationship between sustainability disclosure quality (SDQ) and financial performance (FP) within mandatory disclosure frameworks. SDQ is evaluated across six dimensions, encompassing both the quality and quantity of disclosures, aiming to understand their reciprocal influence.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the generalized method of moments (GMM), this research analyzes data from 2013 to 2019, focusing on 99 listed Indian firms within the S&P Bombay stock exchange (BSE) 500 index. The study uses rigorous measurement criteria to assess SDQ and uses statistical methods to unveil the causal link between SDQ and FP.

Findings

The results show a positive causal connection between SDQ and FP, where organizations with good FP make relatively higher disclosures across FP proxies than their counterparts. Additionally, the study investigates the impact of research and development (R&D) expenditure and dividend payments (DIVD) on SDQ. Notably, lower R&D spending is associated with higher quality SDs, and companies with superior SDQ exhibit increased DIVD.

Practical implications

The findings advocate for strengthened regulatory compliance, incentivized sustainable practices and heightened reporting standards for a transparent business environment and achieving the relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Originality/value

This research contributes original insights by uncovering the intricate relationship between SDQ and FP, shedding light on the impact of R&D expenditure and DIVD on SDQ. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the interplay between FP and sustainability reporting within the context of mandatory disclosure frameworks.
Spirituality in organizational leaders – Ways to Inner, Ways to Wisdom
Authors: Azevedo Andreia Magalhães , Gonçalves Carlos Manuel , Costa Patrício
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Work is central to human life. It requires high mental and emotional involvement from organizational leaders, whose decisions have far-reaching impacts. Currently, industrial and technological societies struggle with growing problems of trust in leadership, mental health, feelings of emptiness and the search for relevant meaning, which highlights the importance of attending to spirituality at work. This study aims to fill two main gaps: the need for empirical research on spirituality in organizational leaders, and access to the meanings and experiences of leaders themselves.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative data from 25 Portuguese organizational leaders were collected through in-depth interviews. We followed a phenomenological approach to reveal participants' own meanings and experiences of spirituality. Content analysis was performed to identify emergent categories and a framework of spirituality development.

Findings

The results suggest the participant’s plural views and spirituality practices, which generate common achievements – Ways to Inner. Relations of leaders’ spirituality with their development and integration at work are also evidenced – Ways to Wisdom. A spirituality development framework is presented with aspects revealed in leaders’ ways, from deepening individual issues to the orientation for existential impacts.

Originality/value

This study proposes a framework of spirituality development based on empirical data, with the potential for adaptation to various professional contexts. Spirituality is approached as a human dimension in leaders, as whole beings and a decisive dimension of present organizational change towards a holistic work paradigm.
Incivility and engagement: the role of emotional exhaustion and psychological capital in service organizations
Authors: Tetteh Stephen
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Based on the conservation of resource theory and the affective events theory, the study aims to explore the role of workplace incivility in predicting work engagement through emotional exhaustion and how psychological capital moderates this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the questionnaire survey with a sample of 278 restaurant employees in Ghana and through process macro analysis, the hypotheses were tested.

Findings

The results depict the mediating role of emotional exhaustion on the workplace incivility–engagement relationship. Also, the level of an individual’s psychological capital buffers the impact of workplace incivility on engagement through emotional exhaustion. When psychological capital is high, the negative effect of workplace incivility on work engagement through emotional exhaustion weakens.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that organizations, particularly those in developing economies in Africa, can derive immense benefit from giving psychological capital training to employees to help buffer the effects of incivility on engagement through emotional exhaustion.

Originality/value

With a focus on a developing economy in Africa, to the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is novel in exploring the mediating and moderating mechanisms of the incivility–engagement relationship.
The grammar of a hunger strike: nonviolence and biopolitics in Manipur, India
Authors: Saha Roy Sayantan
Published: April 2024

What are the potentialities and limits of nonviolence as a method of resistance against modern biopolitics? This article offers an ethnographic account of Irom Sharmila's sixteen‐year‐long hunger strike against the continued state of emergency in the Indian state of Manipur. It interrogates how she envisioned the protest, the objectives that she set, and how her protest came to an end. This article demonstrates that her protest was not about a will to death, as it has often been described, but instead was based on a radical distribution of responsibility among the people suffering under the regime of violence. Her nonviolent protest as a Gandhian practice was directed particularly at the entailments of violence. In challenging the state but refusing to emulate it, she became an exemplar. She became the one who could not be killed even by the state with exceptional powers. Finally, by contrasting her protest with Manipuri nationalism, this article shows how the ethics of nonviolence offers a unique vision for peace and liberation.
The effect of an extended‐hours ED clinical pharmacy service on admission medication prescribing errors
Authors: Maleki Sam , Gu Galahad , Buntine Paul , Zamani Mazdak , Zhu Violet , Chan Kayin , Martin Catherine , Goulopoulos Anne
Published: April 2024

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a 7‐day extended‐hours clinical pharmacy service in the ED on medication prescribing errors upon hospital admission and time to medication reconciliation.

Methods

In this retrospective observational study, high‐needs patients reviewed by ED pharmacists were compared against those not reviewed, to determine if the service was associated with reduction in admission medication errors. The primary outcome was the rate of medication errors. Errors were independently rated by two senior clinicians using a risk‐probability matrix. Secondary outcomes included service's impact on time to best possible medication history (BPMH) and medication reconciliation.

Results

There were 242 patients who met the inclusion criteria: 105 intervention vs 137 control. In the intervention arm, 74 patients had at least 1 medication error compared with 113 in the control arm (total errors 206 vs 407). The error rate per 10 medications (interquartile range) was 1.4 (0, 2.9) in the intervention arm compared with 2.7 (1.2, 4.3) in the control arm (risk ratio 0.66 [95% confidence interval: 0.56–0.78]; P < 0.001). There were 33 moderate‐risk and no high‐risk errors (intervention), compared with 84 moderate‐risk and 3 high‐risk errors (control). Percent agreement was 98.98% (weighted kappa: 0.62). Time to BPMH and medication reconciliation were reduced from 40.5 and 45.0 h to 7.8 and 40.0 h, respectively.

Conclusions

The 7‐day extended‐hours ED clinical pharmacy service was associated with a reduction in medication prescribing errors in high‐needs patients and improved time to BPMH and medication reconciliation.
Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from kimchi regulates inflammation by increasing interleukin‐10 secretion by antigen‐presenting cells, leading to diminishing of STAT5 phosphorylation in Th2 cells
Authors: Hyung Kyeong Eun , Yoo Hyui Kyeong , Ham Ju Eon , Choi Jee Yeon , Lee Sanggyu , Park So‐Young , Hwang Kwang Woo
Published: April 2024

The relationship between allergic inflammation and gut microbiota has been elucidated, and the effect of probiotics on immune disorders has been studied as well. Identifying the role of probiotics in individual diseases and immune responses and selecting and applying specific microorganisms based on these findings can be an effective strategy for using probiotics. Herein, lactobacilli isolated from kimchi were investigated in depth, focusing on their immune regulatory effects and the mechanisms involved. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) effectively diminished the increased secretion of T helper 2 cytokines, such as IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13, from ovalbumin (OVA)‐sensitized mouse splenocytes. The gene expression of GATA3, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐9, and IL‐13 was confirmed to be regulated by LAB. LAB also suppressed IL‐2 production and STAT5 phosphorylation. An IL‐10‐neutralizing antibody attenuated these effects, indicating that LAB‐induced upregulation of IL‐10 in antigen‐presenting cells was responsible at least partially for the increased IL‐2 production and STAT5 phosphorylation in CD4+ T cells. In conclusion, the current study identified one immunomodulatory mechanism that allows LAB to regulate allergic immune reactions and the potential of LAB from kimchi to modulate various immune reactions.
Audio podcast and procedural video use in anaesthesiology and intensive care: A nationwide survey of Swedish anaesthetists
Authors: Bjurström Martin F. , Borgquist Ola , Kander Thomas , Lundén Robin , Fagerlund Malin J. , Lipcsey Miklós , Sturesson Louise W.
Published: April 2024

Background

Digital modalities which enable asynchronous learning, such as audio podcasts and videos demonstrating procedures, may benefit acquisition and retention of knowledge and clinical skills. The main objective of this nationwide cross‐sectional survey study was to evaluate key aspects and factors related to usage of audio podcasts and procedural videos in anaesthesiology and intensive care.

Methods

A 20‐item multiple‐choice‐question online survey was created through a consensus process including pilot testing among residents and consultants. Data were collected over a 3‐month period, September–November 2023.

Results

The survey was completed by 466 anaesthetists. More than a third reported using procedural videos ≥1 time per week, whereas fewer than one in four participants used audio podcasts at least once per week. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that working at a university hospital, male sex, and younger age were independently associated with podcast use ≥1 time per week, with the highest odds ratio (OR) for younger age (<40 years vs. ≥40 years old; OR 5.86 (95% confidence interval 3.55–9.67), p < .001). Younger age was also significantly associated with higher frequency of video use (OR 1.71 (1.13–2.58), p = .011), while working predominantly in intensive care was associated with a lower frequency of video use. Podcasts were often used during commuting (42.3%), household work (30.7%), and exercise (24.9%), indicating a role in multi‐tasking. Approximately half of respondents expressed that audio podcast‐based learning has a moderate to very large positive impact on acquisition of theoretical knowledge, as well as practical skills. A vast majority, 85.2%, reported that procedural videos have a moderate to very large impact on development of clinical skills.

Conclusion

Audio podcasts and procedural videos are appreciated tools with potential to supplement more traditional didactic techniques in anaesthesiology and intensive care. Procedural video use is common, with perceived large effects on development of clinical skills. Further data are needed to fully understand learning outcomes, quality of peer‐review processes, and potential sex‐differences.
Decentralized credit scoring: Black box 3.0
Authors: Packin Nizan Geslevich , Lev‐Aretz Yafit
Published: April 2024

Much like traditional credit scoring, decentralized credit scoring calculates a borrower's creditworthiness, but the fully automated process is executed on the blockchain by Decentralized Finance (DeFi) platforms. Originally, DeFi emerged as an alternative to the centralized traditional finance (TradFi) system; however, decentralized credit scoring combines DeFi data and traditional data that include a wide range of information sources, from traditional credit reports to social media information. Despite their fairness‐oriented narrative, an examination of the business models of the protocols and entities operating in this space reveals that these hybrid scores are subject to the same algorithmic distortions that have been observed in traditional and alternative credit scoring models. Moreover, decentralized credit scores present their own distinctive set of fairness issues. Particularly, both upgrade to smart contracts and their reliance on external algorithms, known as oracles, which feed outside data, introduce heightened potential for error and bias in the credit scoring process. These “black box 3.0” issues can result in opaque automation of biased processes and perpetuate social injustices, requiring regulatory intervention to strengthen the linkage points between DeFi and TradFi and better protect consumers from the black box 3.0 consequences of decentralized credit scores.
Provider–patient relationships and trauma among pregnant patients with opioid‐use disorder
Authors: Doernberg Molly , Gilstad‐Hayden Kathryn , Yonkers Kimberly A. , Forray Ariadna
Published: April 2024

Background and objectives

The provider–patient relationship is integral to medical practice and health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable patient populations. This study compared the provider–patient relationship among pregnant patients with opioid‐use disorder (OUD), who did or did not have a history of moderate to severe trauma.

Methods

This was an exploratory data analysis of 119 patients enrolled in the Support Models for Addiction Related Treatment trial. Probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was determined by a score ≥ 31 on the PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. The provider–patient relationship was assessed at 26 ± 4 weeks of pregnancy using the Kim Alliance Scale (KAS). Multivariable regression was used to examine the association of KAS with probable PTSD among pregnant people with OUD.

Results

The mean KAS score for pregnant participants without probable PTSD (N = 88) was 61.4 (SD ± 2.8) and for pregnant participants with probable PTSD (N = 31) was 59.6 (SD ± 3.7). Results demonstrated significant differences in KAS scores between those with and without probable PTSD after adjusting for demographic variables. Adjusted mean total KAS scores and scores on Empowerment and Communication subscales were significantly lower among those with probable PTSD compared to those without (p = .04 and 0.02, respectively) but did not differ significantly on Collaboration and Integration subscales.

Conclusions and scientific significance

Analyses show an association between probable PTSD and provider–patient relationship among pregnant patients with OUD, with those with probable PTSD having a worse alliance with obstetric providers. This novel finding helps characterize the provider–patient relationship among a uniquely vulnerable population and can inform efforts to integrate trauma‐informed practices into prenatal care.
Infrastructure of Vulnerability, or, How the Fraser Valley Flooded Twice
Authors: Gandolfo‐Lucia Nicholas
Published: April 2024

In November and December of 2021, the Fraser Valley in southwest British Columbia suffered extreme flooding due to an atmospheric river. Although the event was attributed to climate change, I suggest that the recent floods must be understood through the historical geography of flood control infrastructure in the valley, particularly dikes. In this article, I trace the development of these infrastructures from the beginning of colonisation to the completion of the first state‐managed diking system in the early 20th century. I argue that at the same time as dikes secured land for settler farmers, they exposed Indigenous peoples to new hazards—ironically including floods—and multiplied the damage of future flood events. Building on geographic literature demonstrating the participation of dike infrastructure in racialised capital accumulation and settler colonialism, I highlight the way that dikes have abetted these projects through the uneven spatial production of vulnerability.
Efficacy and safety of combined UV‐light corneal crosslinking and fine‐needle diathermy to regress pathological murine corneal (lymph)angiogenesis in vivo
Authors: Hou Yanhong , Zhang Wei , Le Viet Nhat Hung , Deng Shuya , Hadrian Karina , Mestanoglu Mert , Musial Gwen , Bock Felix , Cursiefen Claus
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To compare safety and efficacy of isolated and combined UV‐light corneal crosslinking (CXL) and fine‐needle diathermy (FND) to regress pathological corneal vessels in vivo.

Methods

Mice with inflamed and pathologically vascularized corneas received CXL or FND as monotherapy or a combination of both treatments. Corneal pathological blood and lymphatic vessels, immune cells and the morphology of anterior segment structures were evaluated.

Results

All three approaches were able to regress blood and lymphatic vessels in mice. A comparative analysis of the three methods revealed that the FND monotherapy and the CXL + FND combination were significantly more effective than the CXL monotherapy, one and 2 weeks after therapy and especially in regressing lymphatic vessels. Furthermore, the combination therapy induced significantly less immune cell recruitment compared to the monotherapies. All three methods were safe to use in regards of corneal integrity.

Conclusions

A combination of FND and CXL led to regression of pathological corneal lymphatic and blood vessels and reduced the infiltration of immune cells into inflamed murine corneas. This approach offers a new effective, safe and clinically usable strategy to treat eyes with mature pathological blood vessels and even more so for lymphatic vessels, for example prior to high‐risk corneal transplantation.
Preclinical testing of CT1113, a novel USP28 inhibitor, for the treatment of T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Xu Jieyu , Peng Jin , Sun Shu , Wang Donghai , Yuan Wei , Yang Xueying , Shi Ting , Wang Rong , Liu Hudan , Zhang Pumin , Zhu Hong‐Hu
Published: April 2024

T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T‐ALL) is a highly aggressive and heterogeneous lymphoid malignancy with poor prognosis in adult patients. Aberrant activation of the NOTCH1 signalling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of over 60% of T‐ALL cases. Ubiquitin‐specific protease 28 (USP28) is a deubiquitinase known to regulate the stability of NOTCH1. Here, we report that genetic depletion of USP28 or using CT1113, a potent small molecule targeting USP28, can strongly destabilize NOTCH1 and inhibit the growth of T‐ALL cells. Moreover, we show that USP28 also regulates the stability of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1), which has been reported to mediate increased lipogenesis in tumour cells. As the most critical transcription factor involved in regulating lipogenesis, SREBP1 plays an important role in the metabolism of T‐ALL. Therefore, USP28 may be a potential therapeutic target, and CT1113 may be a promising novel drug for T‐ALL with or without mutant NOTCH1.
‘So the child feels loved’: Mothers with learning disabilities' experiences of attachment and emotional relationships with their children
Authors: Hevesi Rowan , Theodore Kate
Published: April 2024

Background

Mothers with learning disabilities are at higher risk of child removal and mental health difficulties and may face more barriers to developing attachment relationships with their children. Mothers with learning disabilities' voices are still underrepresented in research, with less known about those who are actively parenting their children. This study aimed to explore mothers' perceptions of developing emotional relationships with their children.

Methods

Mothers with learning disabilities who were actively parenting were recruited via advocacy groups across the United Kingdom. Semi‐structured interviews with 10 mothers who self‐identified as having learning disabilities were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Three key themes were generated: (1) Understanding and Facilitating Attachment Relationships, (2) Barriers to the Attachment Relationship and (3) Bidirectional Nature of Relationships: Child Needs Mother, Mother Needs Child. Overarching experiences of powerlessness, autonomy and resilience were prominent across mothers' experiences.

Conclusions

Mothers acknowledged the importance of close emotional relationships with their children. Subthemes highlighted that mothers recognised the importance of behaviours that mirrored attachment theory, including reciprocity and proximity seeking. Mother–child relationships faced varying challenges including separation and conflict between the mother's and the child's needs. Findings indicate the need to support mothers through a trauma‐informed attachment perspective, especially in the context of maternal mental health needs and where children may also have additional needs.
Sedimentary Record of the middle Cretaceous uplift across the Gangdese magmatic arc system in Southern Tibet
Authors: Hao Mingang , Malkowski Matthew A. , Zhu Dicheng , Dai Jingen , Wang Chengshan
Published: April 2024

Sedimentary basins adjacent to subduction‐related continental arcs provide important archives for deciphering the intricate history of convergent plate margins. The east‐west trending Gangdese magmatic arc was one of the most predominant topographic features located at the southern margin of Tibet before the arrival of the Indian plate. However, the detailed Cretaceous growth and evolution across the arc system remains ambiguous. Stratigraphy of the adjacent Xigaze forearc basin provides a well‐preserved and well‐exposed record of the tectonic and magmatic evolution of the arc throughout the Cretaceous period. We report new stratigraphic, sedimentological, geochronological, and provenance analyses of the Quarry Ridge sandstone in the Xigaze forearc basin along with compiled zircon U‐Pb ages (n = 9674) and Lu‐Hf isotopic signatures (n = 3389) from the Gangdese arc, the Xigaze forearc basin, and the Linzhou retroarc foreland basin to reconstruct the Early to middle Cretaceous magmatism and uplift of the Gangdese arc and concurrent sedimentary responses within both basins. Exhumation of the arc initiates at around 113 Ma suggested by arc detritus first arriving in both basins. Another episode of inferred uplift occurs at around 108 Ma, which resulted in coarse‐grained sedimentation in adjacent basins, preventing Central Lhasa detritus from reaching the Xigaze forearc basin further south and a facies and provenance change within the Linzhou basin. Finally, a third episode at around 101 Ma is reflected by deposition of the progradational Quarry Ridge clastic succession and marks the initiation of a substantial coarse‐grained depositional stage in the Xigaze forearc basin. Our study emphasizes the connection between coarse‐grained deposition in the forearc basin and arc magmatism and uplift. This study also provides an orogen‐scale assessment of the history of arc magmatism, uplift, and sedimentation across the Gangdese magmatic arc system, which supports interpretations that Tibet was already characterized by complex and substantial topographic relief during the Cretaceous before the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates.
MEN1 deficiency stabilizes PD‐L1 and promotes tumor immune evasion of lung cancer
Authors: Zhang Cuncun , Sun Ningning , Fei Qingze , Peng Linlin , Wei Chengyu , Liu Xiangyu , Miao Sainan , Chai Mengqi , Wang Fang , Wang Di , Hong Jingfang , Huang Shenghai , Zhang Shihao , Qiu Huan
Published: April 2024

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 1 gene (MEN1), which is known to be a tumor suppressor gene in lung tissues, encodes a 610 amino acid protein menin. Previous research has proven that MEN1 deficiency promotes the malignant progression of lung cancer. However, the biological role of this gene in the immune microenvironment of lung cancer remains unclear. In this study, we found that programmed cell death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) is upregulated in lung‐specific KrasG12D mutation‐induced lung adenocarcinoma in mice, after Men1 deficiency. Simultaneously, CD8+ and CD3+ T cells are depleted, and their cytotoxic effects are suppressed. In vitro, PD‐L1 is inhibited by the overexpression of menin. Mechanistically, we found that MEN1 inactivation promotes the deubiquitinating activity of COP9 signalosome subunit 5 (CSN5) and subsequently increases the level of PD‐L1.
Recombinant hirudin suppresses angiogenesis of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma through regulation of the PAR‐1‐VEGF
Authors: Zhao Jingjing , Li Zihui , Zhang Haixi , Qin Tao , Zhao Juan , Pei Qiang
Published: April 2024

Hirudin is one of the specific inhibitors of thrombin, which has been confirmed to have strong bioactivities, including inhibiting tumors. However, the function and mechanism of hirudin and protease‐activated receptor 1 (PAR‐1) in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have not been clear. Detecting the expression PAR‐1 in DLBCL tissues and cells by RT‐qPCR and IHC. Transfected sh‐NC, sh‐PAR‐1, or pcDNA3.1‐PAR‐1 in DLBCL cells or processed DLBCL cells through added thrombin, Vorapaxar, Recombinant hirudin (RH), or Na2S2O4 and co‐culture with EA.hy926. And built DLBCL mice observed tumor growth. Detecting the expression of related genes by RT‐qPCR, Western blot, IHC, and immunofluorescence, measured the cellular hypoxia with Hypoxyprobe‐1 Kit, and estimated the cell inflammatory factors, proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis by ELISA, CCK‐8, flow cytometry, wound‐healing and Transwell. Co‐immunoprecipitation and pull‐down measurement were used to verify the relationship. PAR‐1 was highly expressed in DLBCL tissues and cells, especially in SUDHL2. Na2S2O4 induced SUDHL2 hypoxia, and PAR‐1 did not influence thrombin‐activated hypoxia. PAR‐1 could promote SUDHL2 proliferation, migration, and invasion, and it was unrelated to cellular hypoxia. PAR‐1 promoted proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of EA.hy926 or SUDHL2 through up‐regulation vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). RH inhibited tumor growth, cell proliferation, and migration, promoted apoptosis of DLBCL, and inhibited angiogenesis by down‐regulating PAR‐1‐VEGF. RH inhibits proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of DLBCL cells by down‐regulating PAR‐1‐VEGF.
Neural Garment Dynamics via Manifold‐Aware Transformers
Authors: Li Peizhuo , Wang Tuanfeng Y. , Kesdogan Timur Levent , Ceylan Duygu , Sorkine‐Hornung Olga
Published: April 2024

Data driven and learning based solutions for modeling dynamic garments have significantly advanced, especially in the context of digital humans. However, existing approaches often focus on modeling garments with respect to a fixed parametric human body model and are limited to garment geometries that were seen during training. In this work, we take a different approach and model the dynamics of a garment by exploiting its local interactions with the underlying human body. Specifically, as the body moves, we detect local garment‐body collisions, which drive the deformation of the garment. At the core of our approach is a mesh‐agnostic garment representation and a manifold‐aware transformer network design, which together enable our method to generalize to unseen garment and body geometries. We evaluate our approach on a wide variety of garment types and motion sequences and provide competitive qualitative and quantitative results with respect to the state of the art.
Computational Smocking through Fabric‐Thread Interaction
Authors: Zhou Ningfeng , Ren Jing , Sorkine‐Hornung Olga
Published: April 2024

We formalize Italian smocking, an intricate embroidery technique that gathers flat fabric into pleats along meandering lines of stitches, resulting in pleats that fold and gather where the stitching veers. In contrast to English smocking, characterized by colorful stitches decorating uniformly shaped pleats, and Canadian smocking, which uses localized knots to form voluminous pleats, Italian smocking permits the fabric to move freely along the stitched threads following curved paths, resulting in complex and unpredictable pleats with highly diverse, irregular structures, achieved simply by pulling on the threads. We introduce a novel method for digital previewing of Italian smocking results, given the thread stitching path as input. Our method uses a coarse‐grained mass‐spring system to simulate the interaction between the threads and the fabric. This configuration guides the fine‐level fabric deformation through an adaptation of the state‐of‐the‐art simulator, C‐IPC [LKJ21]. Our method models the general problem of fabric‐thread interaction and can be readily adapted to preview Canadian smocking as well. We compare our results to baseline approaches and physical fabrications to demonstrate the accuracy of our method.
A Survey on Cage‐based Deformation of 3D Models
Authors: Ströter D. , Thiery J. M. , Hormann K. , Chen J. , Chang Q. , Besler S. , Mueller‐Roemer J. S. , Boubekeur T. , Stork A. , Fellner D. W.
Published: April 2024

Interactive deformation via control handles is essential in computer graphics for the modeling of 3D geometry. Deformation control structures include lattices for free‐form deformation and skeletons for character articulation, but this report focuses on cage‐based deformation. Cages for deformation control are coarse polygonal meshes that encase the to‐be‐deformed geometry, enabling high‐resolution deformation. Cage‐based deformation enables users to quickly manipulate 3D geometry by deforming the cage. Due to their utility, cage‐based deformation techniques increasingly appear in many geometry modeling applications. For this reason, the computer graphics community has invested a great deal of effort in the past decade and beyond into improving automatic cage generation and cage‐based deformation. Recent advances have significantly extended the practical capabilities of cage‐based deformation methods. As a result, there is a large body of research on cage‐based deformation. In this report, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in cage‐based deformation of 3D geometry. We discuss current methods in terms of deformation quality, practicality, and precomputation demands. In addition, we highlight potential future research directions that overcome current issues and extend the set of practical applications. In conjunction with this survey, we publish an application to unify the most relevant deformation methods. Our report is intended for computer graphics researchers, developers of interactive geometry modeling applications, and 3D modeling and character animation artists.
Virtual Instrument Performances (VIP): A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Kyriakou T. , de la Campa Crespo M. Álvarez , Panayiotou A. , Chrysanthou Y. , Charalambous P. , Aristidou A.
Published: April 2024

Driven by recent advancements in Extended Reality (XR), the hype around the Metaverse, and real‐time computer graphics, the transformation of the performing arts, particularly in digitizing and visualizing musical experiences, is an ever‐evolving landscape. This transformation offers significant potential in promoting inclusivity, fostering creativity, and enabling live performances in diverse settings. However, despite its immense potential, the field of Virtual Instrument Performances (VIP) has remained relatively unexplored due to numerous challenges. These challenges arise from the complex and multi‐modal nature of musical instrument performances, the need for high precision motion capture under occlusions including the intricate interactions between a musician's body and fingers with instruments, the precise synchronization and seamless integration of various sensory modalities, accommodating variations in musicians' playing styles, facial expressions, and addressing instrument‐specific nuances. This comprehensive survey delves into the intersection of technology, innovation, and artistic expression in the domain of virtual instrument performances. It explores musical performance multi‐modal databases and investigates a wide range of data acquisition methods, encompassing diverse motion capture techniques, facial expression recording, and various approaches for capturing audio and MIDI data (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). The survey also explores Music Information Retrieval (MIR) tasks, with a particular emphasis on the Musical Performance Analysis (MPA) field, and offers an overview of various works in the realm of Musical Instrument Performance Synthesis (MIPS), encompassing recent advancements in generative models. The ultimate aim of this survey is to unveil the technological limitations, initiate a dialogue about the current challenges, and propose promising avenues for future research at the intersection of technology and the arts.
The effectiveness of government incentives for outward investment: The case of China's Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: Xu Hangtian , Yang Fuqiang , Zheng Wenzhuo
Published: April 2024

Chinese government introduced a package of incentives to encourage enterprise internationalization under the 2013 Belt and Road Initiative. There is regional variation of this policy incentive, based on which, we examine its impact on listed firms' outward investment. The results evident resource misallocation in firms in specific industries which received incentives; instead of utilizing them for overseas investment, the beneficiary firms were directed toward increasing domestic investment. Contrarily, firms in industries that were not incentivized (restricted industries whose domestic development is not encouraged) were inclined to engage in overseas investment. We provide possible explanations.
Implications of intestinal microecology and immune function alterations for immunotherapy outcomes in advanced unresectable lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: He Shuang , Tian Jin , Zang Jianhua , Long Lin , Liu Peng , Zhang Yexi , Xiao Jun
Published: April 2024

Objective

This investigation aims to explore alterations in intestinal microecology and immune function among patients with advanced, unresectable lung adenocarcinoma undergoing different outcomes from immunotherapy.

Methods

A cohort of 30 patients diagnosed with advanced unresectable lung adenocarcinoma received sintilimab immunotherapy as a monotherapy. Post four treatment cycles, efficacy was assessed, leading to the segregation of patients into two distinct cohorts: those responsive to treatment and those nonresponsive. Analysis involved observing variations in the abundance, distribution, and composition of fecal intestinal microorganisms pretreatment and posttreatment via 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results

In this study involving 30 advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients, significant observations were made regarding the impact of immunotherapy on immune function and the gut microbiome composition. Patients were divided into treatment and control groups, revealing that immunotherapy led to a significant increase in CD4+ T cells and a decrease in CD8+ T cells among the treatment‐responsive individuals, indicating an enhanced immune response. Furthermore, an in‐depth analysis of the gut microbiome showed an increase in diversity and abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibacterium and Subdoligranulum in the treatment group. These findings highlight the dual effect of immunotherapy on modulating immune function and altering gut microbiome diversity, suggesting its potential therapeutic benefits in improving the health status of patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion

The structuring of gut flora plays a pivotal role in augmenting the efficacy of anti‐tumor immunotherapy, underscoring the interplay between intestinal microecology and immune response in cancer treatment outcomes.
Diagnostic outcomes of radial endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy guided by manual navigation in the evaluation of peripheral pulmonary lesions: An observational study
Authors: Yuan Mingli , Hu Yi , Wang Liangchao , Yin Wen , Xiao Yang
Published: April 2024

Background and Aims

Manual navigation (MN), drawing a bronchoscopic road map simply by looking at the consecutive computed tomography (CT), is feasible and economical. However, scant data about the use of MN in radial endobronchial ultrasound (r‐EBUS) bronchoscopy have been documented till now. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of r‐EBUS bronchoscopy guided by MN for diagnosing peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) and to determine clinical factors affecting the diagnostic yield.

Methods

We performed a retrospective, cohort study of consecutive patients with PPLs who underwent r‐EBUS bronchoscopic biopsy via guidance of MN from May 2020 to June 2021 in our Respiratory Endoscopic Division. The overall diagnostic yield of MN‐guided r‐EBUS, the factors affecting the yield, and the diagnostic performance for malignancy were evaluated.

Results

A total of 102 patients (103 lesions) were evaluated. The overall diagnostic yield of MN‐guided r‐EBUS was 82.0%, and it ranged from 79.6% to 82.5%, assuming the undermined cases were all positive cases (79.6%) or negatives (82.5%). The sensitivity of MN‐guided r‐EBUS for malignancy was 71.4%, ranging from 68.2% to 71.4%, the specificity was 100%, the positive predictive value was 100%, and the negative predictive value was 67.3%, ranging from 63.8% to 69.0%. The multivariate logistic regression showed that “bronchus sign on CT” was the only predictor of the overall diagnostic yield (odds ratio = 11.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.9–70.9, P = 0.009).

Conclusions

MN‐guided r‐EBUS is feasible in diagnosing PPLs, especially for lesions with bronchus sign on CT.
Psychological assessment of patients on the heart transplant waiting list: A single center experience
Authors: De Santis Simona , Ladisa Valeria , Giovannico Lorenzo , Fischetti Giuseppe , Parigino Domenico , Savino Luca , Silva Aline Maria , Di Bari Nicola , Taurisano Paolo , De Caro Maria Fara , Bottio Tomaso
Published: April 2024

Objective

To analyze the data of the psychological assessment, focusing attention on the quality of life and the psychological status of patients who are listed for heart transplant.

Methods

All heart failure patients listed for heart transplant at the Cardiac Surgery Unit of Bari University, Italy, were evaluated from September to November 2023, by administering the Symptom Checklist‐90‐R (SCL‐90‐R) and the Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF‐36).

Results

Overall, 27 patients were studied. Mean age was 60 years, 88% were males. One third of the patients showed a clinically significant overall mental distress. The symptoms leading to domains such as somatization (55.55%), anxiety (40.74%) and depression (33.33%) were frequently observed. The majority of the population studied (96.30%) showed low levels of perceived physical health status, while 59,62% of them presented levels of perceived physical health status below normal ranges.

Conclusions

Heart transplant candidates show elements of overall mental distress and low quality of life related to physical health status.
Atypical glandular cells and predictive features of malignancy in Pap smears: A retrospective monocentric study
Authors: Cianfrini Federica , d'Amati Antonio , Arciuolo Damiano , Travaglino Antonio , D'Alessandris Nicoletta , Scaglione Giulia , Valente Michele , Urtueta Belen Padial , Addante Francesca , Narducci Nadine , Angelico Giuseppe , Piermattei Alessia , Mulè Antonino , Santoro Angela , Rossi Esther Diana , Zannoni Gian Franco
Published: April 2024

Objective

The introduction of cytological screening with the Papanicolau smear significantly reduced cervical cancer mortality. However, Pap smear examination can be challenging, being based on the observer ability to decode different cytological and architectural features. This study aims to evaluate the malignancy rate of AGC (atypical glandular cells) category, investigating the relationships between cytological and histological diagnosis.

Methods

Eighty‐nine patients, diagnosed as AGC at cytological evaluation and followed up with biopsy or surgical procedure at Policlinico Gemelli Hospital, Rome, Italy, were included in the study. The cytopathological architectural (feathering, rosette formation, overlapping, loss of polarity, papillary formation, three‐dimensional formation) and nuclear (N/C ratio, nuclear enlargement and hyperchromasia, mitoses, nuclei irregularity, evident nucleoli) features of AGC were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed to assess cyto‐histological correlation and determine the relevance of architectural and nuclear features in the diagnosis of malignancy.

Results

Of the 89 AGC patients, 48 cases (53.93%) were diagnosed as AGC‐NOS and 41 (46.07%) were diagnosed as AGC‐FN, according to the Bethesda classification system. The follow‐up biopsies or surgical resections revealed malignancy in 46 patients (51.69%). The rates of malignancy for AGC‐NOS and AGC‐FN were 35.41% and 70.73% respectively. Furthermore, analysing cytopathological features, we found that both architectural and nuclear criteria were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Only overlapping, nuclear irregularity and increased N/C ratio were not found to be statistically significant for detecting malignancy.

Conclusions

Cytological diagnosis of glandular lesions remains a valid tool, when appropriate clinical correlation and expert evaluation are available.
Evaluating the impact of historical climate and early human groups in the Araucaria Forest of eastern South America
Authors: Vasconcellos Mariana M. , Varela Sara , Reginato Marcelo , Gehara Marcelo , Carnaval Ana C. , Michelangeli Fabián A.
Published: April 2024

It has been hypothesized that the Araucaria Forest in southern Brazil underwent expansions in the past, driven either by human groups or by climate fluctuations of the Holocene and Pleistocene. Fossil pollen records of the Paraná pine Araucaria angustifolia, a dominant tree in that forest, provide some insights into when those may have occurred. Still, the timing of those expansions has never been estimated. To infer past range shifts and shed light on their main drivers, we employed next‐generation DNA sequencing (ddRADseq), machine learning, and a comprehensive database of fossil pollen records into a study of historical demographic inference and paleo‐distribution modeling of the Paraná pine. We found that A. angustifolia comprises two populations expanding at different times: one in the Mantiqueira mountain chain, the other in the southern Brazilian plateau. The southern population began to expand during the Last Glacial Period ~ 70 kya, long before human arrival in South America. Still, genetic analyses support that humans later impacted this population, resulting in lower genetic diversity, higher inbreeding, and high levels of gene flow over large distances with a weak pattern of isolation‐by‐distance. It is possible this resulted from human influence on seed dispersal and germination on the southern Brazilian plateau. The Mantiqueira population, in contrast, expanded only recently (~ 3 kya). This timing coincides with Holocene climatic changes and human settlements established further south, although, to date, there is little archeological evidence of human impact in the Mantiqueira. In addition, multitemporal species distribution models built from a combination of present‐day and pollen records infer a range expansion of the Araucaria Forest during glacial times until the cold humid HS1 event (~ 16 kya), when the forest was most widespread, with no evidence of glacial refugia. The combination of genomic and spatial analyses suggests that both human and climatic controls played a role in the dynamics of the Araucaria Forest.