bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Women's involvement in decision-making and receiving husbands’ support for their reproductive healthcare: a cross-sectional study in Lalitpur, Nepal
Authors: Pokharel Alpha , Pokharel Samidha Dhungel
Published: May 2022

Background

Sociocultural factors remain an important determinant for women's involvement with decision making and getting husbands’ support for their reproductive healthcare. Therefore this study was conducted to examine sociodemographic factors associated with women's involvement in decision making and getting husbands’ support for their reproductive healthcare.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Lalitpur, Nepal. A total of 600 respondents were selected from 15 immunization clinics. Participants were women ≥18 y of age who came to the child's immunization clinic. The association between sociodemographic variables and women's involvement in decision making and getting husbands’ support for their reproductive healthcare was analysed through multivariate logistic regression models.

Results

While women's involvement in decision making was greater for childcare, it was less in the area related to financial matters. In contrast, husbands supported more in the area related to finances than for childcare and accompanying to health facilities. The significant determinants for women's involvement in decision making and getting husbands’ support were the woman's caste, education level, employment status, household income, age group and number of children. Madhesi/Muslim/other women were less likely (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.31 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.12 to 0.73]) to decide the number of babies and birth spacing. These women were also less likely (AOR 0.18 [95% CI 0.02 to 0.86]) to be accompanied by their husbands to the family planning (FP) clinic. Janajati, Dalit and Madhesi/Muslim/other women were less likely to receive their husbands’ support for birth preparedness. Women who were <20 y of age and had a single child were less likely to get involved in decision making and getting their husbands’ support for FP services.

Conclusions

The findings call for reproductive health programs that encourage women's involvement in decision making and receiving husbands’ support in women's reproductive healthcare. When designing such a program in the FP area, the woman's caste, age and parity should be given special consideration. Also, caste should be considered when designing such a program related to birth preparedness.
Dissecting the heterogeneity of exhausted T cells at the molecular level
Authors: Kagoya Yuki
Published: May 2022

Our understanding of mechanisms underlying T-cell exhaustion has been refined by analysis of exhausted T cells at the molecular level. The development and functions of exhausted T cells are regulated by a number of transcription factors, epigenetic factors and metabolic enzymes. In addition, recent work to dissect exhausted T cells at the single-cell level has enabled us to discover a precursor exhausted T-cell subset equipped with long-term survival capacity. Starting from the analysis of mouse models, the existence of precursor exhausted T cells has also been documented in human T cells in the context of chronic virus infections or tumors. Clinical data suggest that evaluating the quality of exhausted T cells on the basis of their differentiation status may be helpful to predict the therapeutic response to inhibition of programmed death 1 (PD1). Moreover, beyond immune-checkpoint blockade, novel therapeutic approaches to re-invigorate exhausted T cells have been explored based on molecular insights into T-cell exhaustion. Here I will discuss key molecular profiles associated with the development, maintenance and differentiation of exhausted T cells and how these findings can be applicable in the field of cancer immunotherapy.
A Review of Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Alforaih Noura , Whittall-Garcia Laura , Touma Zahi
Published: May 2022

Background

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most common severe organ manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). LN is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in SLE patients, as up to 20% of patients progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The clinical manifestations of LN are variable, ranging from asymptomatic proteinuria to a myriad of manifestations associated with nephritic and nephrotic syndromes and ESRD. It is therefore important to screen all SLE patients for LN.

Content

Urinalysis is a useful screening test in LN. Quantification of proteinuria can be performed with either a urine protein-to-creatinine ratio or 24-h urine sample collection for protein. Renal biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis of LN. Traditional serum biomarkers used to monitor SLE and LN disease activity and flares include anti–double-stranded DNA antibodies and complement components 3 and 4. Other nonconventional biomarkers found to correlate with LN include anti-C1q and surrogate markers of type 1 interferon regulatory genes (INF gene signature). Potential urinary biomarkers for LN include monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, tumor necrosis factor-like inducer of apoptosis, and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1.

Although studies have shown promising results for the use of alternative biomarkers, these require validation in prospective studies to support their use. Renal remission rates in patients receiving standard of care therapy for induction and maintenance treatment of LN remain low. This has prompted further research in newer therapeutic targets in LN ,which have shown promising results.
Hospital’s adoption of multiple methods of obtaining outside information and use of that information
Authors: Everson Jordan , Patel Vaishali
Published: May 2022

Objective

Hospitals have multiple methods available to engage in health information exchange (HIE); however, it is not well understood whether these methods are complements or substitutes. We sought to characterize patterns of adoption of HIE methods and examine the association between these methods and increased availability and use of patient information.

Materials and Methods

Cross-sectional analysis of 3208 nonfederal acute care hospitals in the 2019 American Hospital Association Information Technology Supplement.

Results

The median hospital obtained outside information through 4 methods. Hospitals that obtained data through a regional HIE organization were 2.2 times more likely to also obtain data via Direct using a health information service provider (HISP) than hospitals that did not (P < .001). Hospitals in a single electronic health record (EHR) vendor network were no more or less likely to participate in a HISP or HIE. Six of 7 methods were associated with greater information availability. Only 4 of 7 methods (portals, interfaces, single vendor networks and multi-vendor networks but not access to outside EHR, regional exchange or Direct using a HISP) were associated with more frequent use of information, and single vendor networks were most strongly associated with more frequent use (odds ratio = 4.7, P < .001).

Discussion

Adoption of some methods was correlated, indicating complementary use. Few methods were negatively correlated, indicating limited competition. Although information availability was common, low correlation with use indicated that challenges related to integration may be slowing use of information.

Conclusion

Complementarities between methods, and the role of integration in supporting information use, indicate the potential value of efforts aimed at ensuring exchange methods work well together, such as the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement.
Salvage endoscopic resection for cT1N0M0 local recurrence after chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: endoscopic submucosal dissection versus endoscopic mucosal resection
Authors: Nakajo Keiichiro , Yoda Yusuke , Yamashita Hiroki , Takashima Kenji , Murano Tatsuro , Kadota Tomohiro , Shinmura Kensuke , Ikematsu Hiroaki , Akimoto Tetsuo , Yano Tomonori
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Salvage endoscopic resection is recommended when the local recurrence at primary site after chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is localized and superficial. This retrospective study aimed to comparatively analyse the short-term outcomes and local control of salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection versus salvage endoscopic mucosal resection for local recurrence after chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy.

Methods

A total of 96 patients who underwent initial salvage endoscopic resection for cT1N0M0 local recurrence after chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma between December 1998 and August 2019 patients were assigned to either the salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection (40 patients; 40 lesions) or salvage endoscopic mucosal resection (56 patients; 56 lesions) group. We evaluated the en bloc and R0 resection rates, severe adverse events and local failure rate after salvage endoscopic resection. Multivariate analysis was conducted to identify risk factors of local failure after salvage endoscopic resection.

Results

The en bloc resection rate was significantly higher in the salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection group than in the salvage endoscopic mucosal resection group (95% versus 63%; P < 0.001). There were no differences in R0 resection rate between the two groups (73% versus 52%, P = 0.057). One patient (3%) in the salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection group had perforation. The 3-year cumulative local failure rate of salvage endoscopic mucosal resection was significantly higher than that of salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection (27% versus 5%, P = 0.032). In multivariate analysis, salvage endoscopic mucosal resection (hazard ratio: 2.7, P = 0.044) was the only independent risk factor of local failure after salvage endoscopic resection.

Conclusions

Salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection is the effective treatment for local recurrence based on the short-term outcomes and local efficacy.
The ranging, habitat selection, and foraging ecology of an endangered small desert mammal, the sandhill dunnartSminthopsis psammophila
Authors: Riley Joanna , Heterick Brian , Zeale Matt R K , Turpin Jeff M , Jayatilaka Brynne , Jones Gareth
Published: May 2022

The conservation of threatened species often requires an examination of home range, foraging preferences, and diet. We used radio tracking, global positioning system data loggers, and fecal pellet analyses to study the nocturnal ecology of an endangered desert mammal, the sandhill dunnart, Sminthopsis psammophila. Twenty-four individuals were tracked between 2015 and 2018. The mean home range area of S. psammophila was 70 ha (100% minimum convex polygon). Reproductive males had a mean home range of 148 ha, whereas the ranges of all other groups were comparatively smaller. Sminthopsis psammophila preferred dense, long unburned foraging habitats. There was no effect of weather (excluding extreme cold/rain) on nocturnal ranging behavior. Ants comprised a significant proportion of the diet of S. psammophila and S. hirtipes, whereas S. dolichura consumed a broader range of prey. By integrating foraging and dietary analyses, we provide new insights to improve the conservation management of one of Australia’s least studied but most threatened marsupials.
A Methodological Framework for Analyzing the Appearance and Duration of Media Effects
Authors: Thomas Fabian
Published: May 2022

Media effects have been studied for decades. However, it is still unclear how to assess the dynamic nature of media effects methodologically and analytically. Building on recent research on media effects and developments in statistical modeling, I present a methodological framework to provide a detailed analysis of media effect dynamics. To do so, I describe general patterns for the appearance and the duration of media effects and present statistical approaches to analyze them. Using artificial data, I illustrate how these statistical approaches can be applied to longitudinal data and show how they behave across different data scenarios. Further, extensions, limitations, and the theoretical contribution of the framework to the field of media effects research are discussed. In sum, the presented framework can be used to test various communication theories and can be combined with many research designs in order to identify patterns in the appearance and duration of media effects.
Oscillatory reconnection and waves driven by merging magnetic flux ropes in solar flares
Authors: Stewart J , Browning P K , Gordovskyy M
Published: May 2022

Oscillatory reconnection is a process that has been suggested to underlie several solar and stellar phenomena, and is likely to play an important role in transient events such as flares. Quasi-periodic pulsations in flare emissions may be a manifestation of oscillatory reconnection, but the underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. In this paper, we present 2D magnetohydrodynamic simulations of two current-carrying magnetic flux ropes with an out-of-plane magnetic field undergoing oscillatory reconnection in which the two flux ropes merge into a single flux rope. We find that oscillatory reconnection can occur intrinsically without an external oscillatory driver during flux rope coalescence, which may occur both during large-scale coronal loop interactions and the merging of plasmoids in fragmented current sheets. Furthermore, we demonstrate that radially propagating non-linear waves are produced in the aftermath of flux rope coalescence, due to the post-reconnection oscillations of the merged flux rope. The behaviour of these waves is found to be almost independent of the initial out-of-plane magnetic field. It is estimated that the waves emitted through merging coronal loops and merging plasmoids in loop-top current sheets would have a typical phase speed of 90 and 900 km s−1, respectively. It is possible that the properties of the waves emitted during flux rope coalescence could be used as a diagnostic tool to determine physical parameters within a coalescing region.
Opaganib in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pneumonia: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2a Trial
Authors: Winthrop Kevin L , Skolnick Alan W , Rafiq Adnan M , Beegle Scott H , Suszanski Julian , Koehne Guenther , Barnett-Griness Ofra , Bibliowicz Aida , Fathi Reza , Anderson Patricia , Raday Gilead , Eagle Gina , Ben-Yair Vered Katz , Minkowitz Harold S , Levitt Mark L , Gordon Michael S
Published: May 2022

Background

Opaganib, an oral sphingosine kinase-2 inhibitor with antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, was shown to inhibit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 replication in vitro. We thus considered that opaganib could be beneficial for moderate to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. The objective of the study was to evaluate the safety of opaganib and its effect on supplemental oxygen requirements and time to hospital discharge in COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalized patients requiring supplemental oxygen.

Methods

This Phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted between July and December 2020 in 8 sites in the United States. Forty-two enrolled patients received opaganib (n = 23) or placebo (n = 19) added to standard of care for up to 14 days and were followed up for 28 days after their last dose of opaganib/placebo.

Results

There were no safety concerns arising in this study. The incidence of ≥Grade 3 treatment-emergent adverse events was 17.4% and 33.3% in the opaganib and placebo groups, respectively. Three deaths occurred in each group. A numerical advantage for opaganib over placebo was observed in in this nonpowered study reflected by total supplemental oxygen requirement from baseline to Day 14, the requirement for supplemental oxygen for at least 24 hours by Day 14, and hospital discharge.

Conclusions

In this proof-of-concept study, hypoxic, hospitalized patients receiving oral opaganib had a similar safety profile to placebo-treated patients, with preliminary evidence of benefit for opaganib as measured by supplementary oxygen requirement and earlier hospital discharge. These findings support further evaluation of opaganib in this population.
Bank Stress Testing: Public Interest or Regulatory Capture?
Authors: Schneider Thomas , Strahan Philip E , Yang Jun
Published: May 2022

We test whether measures of influence on regulators affect stress-test outcomes. The large trading banks—those most plausibly Too Big to Fail—face the toughest tests. Supervisory stress tests have a greater effect on large trading banks’ portfolios; the large banks respond by making more conservative (initial) capital plans; and, despite their more conservative capital plans, the large banks still fail their tests more frequently than other banks. In contrast, while we find little evidence that political or regulatory connections affect the quantitative element of the stress tests, these connected banks do face less scrutiny under its qualitative dimension.
Foliar water uptake as a source of hydrogen and oxygen in plant biomass
Authors: Kagawa Akira
Published: May 2022

Introductory biology lessons around the world typically teach that plants absorb water through their roots, but, unfortunately, absorption of water through leaves and subsequent transport and use of this water for biomass formation remains a field limited mostly to specialists. Recent studies have identified foliar water uptake as a significant net water source for terrestrial plants. The growing interest in the development of a new model that includes both foliar water uptake (in liquid form) and root water uptake to explain hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios in leaf water and tree rings demands a method for distinguishing between these two water sources. Therefore, in this study, I have devised a new labelling method that utilizes two different water sources, one enriched in deuterium (HDO + D2O; δD = 7.0 × 10 4‰, δ18O = 4.1‰) and one enriched in oxygen-18 (H218O; δD = −85‰, δ18O = 1.1 × 104‰), to simultaneously label both foliar-absorbed and root-absorbed water and quantify their relative contributions to plant biomass. Using this new method, I here present evidence that, in the case of well-watered Cryptomeria japonica D. Don, hydrogen and oxygen incorporated into new leaf cellulose in the rainy season derives mostly from foliar-absorbed water (69% from foliar-absorbed water and 31% from root-absorbed water), while that of new root cellulose derives mostly from root-absorbed water (20% from foliar-absorbed water and 80% from root-absorbed water), and new branch xylem is somewhere in between (55% from foliar-absorbed water and 45% from root-absorbed water). The dual-labelling method first implemented in this study enables separate and simultaneous labelling of foliar-absorbed and root-absorbed water and offers a new tool to study the uptake, transport and assimilation processes of these waters in terrestrial plants.
The new phylogenetic relationships in Veneridae (Bivalvia: Venerida)
Authors: Liu Yumeng , Ma Peizhen , Zhang Zhen , Li Cui , Chen Ya , Wang Yunan , Wang Haiyan
Published: May 2022

The phylogeny of Veneridae has always been controversial. An inappropriate choice of morphological characteristics and loss of critical molecular information will inevitably lead to conflicts between morphological and molecular evolutionary inferences. Phylogenetic relationships in Veneridae, based on both multigene fragments and mitogenomes, were studied, including the redefinition of controversial taxa based on morphological characteristics. Our results support the monophyly of the subfamilies Chioninae, Gemminae, Gouldiinae, Petricolinae and Sunettinae. Callistinae and Pitarinae are considered as valid. The genus Placamen is placed in Dosiniinae, Periglypta in Venerinae, Pelecyora in Pitarinae and Lioconcha and Hyphantosoma in Gouldiinae. Anomalodiscus squamosus is assigned to Timoclea, whereas Marcia hiantina and Marcia japonica are placed in Tapes. In addition, Claudiconcha japonica is removed from Petricolinae, and Gafrarium tumidum is considered valid. Finally, we propose to divide Veneridae into two families: Veneridae s.s. and Meretricidae, constituted by four and 11 subfamilies, respectively. Our study verifies that multigene fragments and mitochondrial genomes are of vital importance in phylogenetic relationships within Veneridae.
Intervertebral Disk Health Following Vertebral Body Tethering for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Jackson Taylor J. , Milbrandt Todd A. , Mathew Smitha E. , Heilman Jeremiah A. , Larson A. Noelle
Published: May 2022

Background:

Interest in vertebral body tethering (VBT) as an alternative to posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) continues to grow. The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess intervertebral disk health on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1 year following VBT in AIS patients.

Methods:

AIS patients were enrolled in a prospective surgeon-sponsored Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) Study and underwent MRI at 1-year following VBT. All spanned disks and the untethered disks immediately adjacent to the upper instrumented vertebra and lowest instrumented vertebra levels were evaluated according to Pfirrmann grading criteria. Associations between patient factors and preoperative and postoperative disk health and patient-reported outcomes were evaluated.

Results:

Twenty-two patients were enrolled with a postoperative MRI (25 curves, 188 disks), and 7 patients (7 curves) had both preoperative and postoperative MRIs (67 disks). The mean age was 12.7 years. Most were Risser 0 (65%) and either Sanders Skeletal Maturity Score 3 (35%) or 4 (53%). In the 7 patients with preoperative and postoperative MRI, the mean Pfirrmann grade of the disks spanned by the tether was 1.88 preoperatively and 2.31 postoperatively (P=0.0075). No statistically significant differences in preoperative versus postoperative Pfirrmann grade were identified in the disks adjacent to the upper or lower instrumented vertebrae. No association was found between patient-reported outcomes and Pfirrmann grade.

Conclusion:

At 1 year postoperatively, increased degenerative changes in disks spanned by the tether was identifiable on MRI without evidence of adjacent segment disk disease. These changes were not associated with patient-reported outcomes.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
Upregulation of LncRNA71132 in the spinal cord regulates hypersensitivity in a rat model of bone cancer pain
Authors: Ni Huadong , Xu Miao , Kuang Jiao , Xu Chengfei , He Qiuli , Luo Ge , Fu Jie , Zhu Jianjun , Ni Chaobo , Zhao Baoxia , Xu Longsheng , Zhou Qinghe , Yao Ming
Published: May 2022

Bone cancer pain (BCP) is a pervasive clinical symptom which impairs the quality life. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are enriched in the central nervous system and play indispensable roles in numerous biological processes, while its regulatory function in nociceptive information processing remains elusive. Here, we reported that functional modulatory role of ENSRNOT00000071132 (lncRNA71132) in the BCP process and sponging with miR-143 and its downstream GPR85-dependent signaling cascade. Spinal lncRNA71132 was remarkably increased in the rat model of bone cancer pain. The knockdown of spinal lncRNA71132 reverted BCP behaviors and spinal c-Fos neuronal sensitization. Overexpression of spinal lncRNA71132 in naive rat generated pain behaviors, which were accompanied by increased spinal c-Fos neuronal sensitization. Furthermore, it was found that lncRNA71132 participates in the modulation of BCP by inversely regulating the processing of miR-143-5p. In addition, an increase in expression of spinal lncRNA71132 resulted in the decrease in expression of miR-143 under the BCP state. Finally, it was found that miR-143-5p regulates pain behaviors by targeting GPR85. Overexpression of miR-143-5p in the spinal cord reverted the nociceptive behaviors triggered by BCP, accompanied by a decrease in expression of spinal GPR85 protein, but no influence on expression of gpr85 mRNA. The findings of this study indicate that lncRNA71132 works as a miRNA sponge in miR-143-5p–mediated posttranscriptional modulation of GPR85 expression in BCP. Therefore, epigenetic interventions against lncRNA71132 may potentially work as novel treatment avenues in treating nociceptive hypersensitivity triggered by bone cancer.
Medical Complexity Mediates Healthcare Resource Use in the Socially Vulnerable
Authors: Hanlon Alexandra L. , Pauly Mark V. , Huang Liming , Lozano Alicia J. , Hirschman Karen B. , McCauley Kathleen , Press Matthew , Naylor Mary D.
Published: May 2022

Goal:

The objective of this retrospective, observational study was to assess the mediating effect of medical complexity on the relationship between social vulnerability and four acute care resource use outcomes—number of hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, observation stays, and total visits. Such information may help healthcare managers better anticipate the effects of interventions targeted to the socially vulnerable in their patient population.

Methods:

Electronic health records of 147,496 adults served by 27 primary care practices in one large health system from 2015 to 2017 were used. Descriptive statistics were applied to characterize patients and the primary care practices included in the study. Causal mediation analyses using a modified Baron and Kenny approach were performed.

Principal Findings:

Causal mediation analyses demonstrated that increased social vulnerability was associated with increased medical complexity (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.57) and increased numbers of hospitalizations (IRR = 1.63), ED visits (IRR = 2.14), observation stays (IRR = 1.94), and total visits (IRR = 2.04). Effects remained significant, though attenuated, after adjusting for medical complexity (mediator), demographics, and medications (hospitalizations IRR = 1.44, ED visits IRR = 2.02, observation stays IRR = 1.74, total visits IRR = 1.86). Social vulnerability, given medical complexity, explained between 8% (ED visits) and 26% (hospitalizations) of the variation in outcomes.

Practical Applications:

These findings reinforce the need to modify interventions for medically complex adults to address their social needs and, consequently, reduce costly health services. Health systems seeking to reduce costly care can use these results to estimate savings in the treatment of patients with high social vulnerability—before they get chronic conditions and later as they seek care.
Patient demographics and clinical characteristics influence opioid and nonopioid pain management prescriptions of primary care NPs, PAs, and physicians
Authors: Nikpour Jacqueline , Broome Marion , Silva Susan , Allen Kelli D.
Published: May 2022

Background:

Evidence exists on racial and gender disparities in chronic pain management among veterans. Most literature has described physicians' disparate opioid prescribing patterns, although it is unknown if prescribing disparities exist among nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) or among prescription of nonopioid analgesic strategies.

Purpose:

To identify patient characteristics associated with opioid and nonopioid prescriptions among Veterans Affairs (VA) chronic pain patients by primary care physicians, NPs, and PAs.

Methodology:

We used data from the VA's Survey of Health care Experience of Patients and Corporate Data Warehouse from October 2015 to September 2016. Outcomes included opioid and nonopioid analgesic prescriptions. Patient characteristics included race/ethnicity, gender, education level, age, and clinical characteristics (comorbidities, self-reported health, and self-reported mental health). Logistic regression was performed to test for associations of patient characteristics with outcomes.

Results:

Patients who were White, male, age 41–64 years, and with no postsecondary education had higher odds of receiving an opioid prescription (all p-values ≤ .01), whereas patients who were Black, female, and <65 years old had higher odds of a nonopioid prescription (all p-values < .01). Having 5+ comorbidities and fair/poor self-reported health increased the odds of opioid and nonopioid prescriptions (all p-values < .01).

Conclusions:

Disparities in race, gender, and educational level significantly affect how primary care NPs, PAs, and physicians manage chronic pain.

Implications:

NPs and other primary care providers should pursue training opportunities to identify and mitigate potential biases that may affect their practice. Future research should take an intersectional lens in examining the source of chronic pain disparities.
A Rare Widespread Cutaneous Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Manifested on 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Wang Lijuan , Zhang Yin , Wu Hubing
Published: May 2022

Widespread cutaneous involvement of Langerhans cell histiocytosis is rare. Here, we report the case of a patient with cutaneous Langerhans cell histiocytosis, which showed a large number of small high 18F-FDG–avid foci all over the body skin on PET/CT, accompanied with involved lymph nodes in bilateral axillas.
‘
Shout hurrah!
’ New thoughts on the origin and meaning of the bat species name
Ia io
, created in 1902 by Oldfield Thomas FRS
Authors: Griffiths Thomas A.
Published: May 2022

In 1902, British naturalist Oldfield Thomas discovered a new species of bat in a collection of specimens sent to him from China. He named the new species
Ia io
, thereby creating a species name that is four letters in length—the shortest possible name allowed under the rules for naming a new species. In the time since, biologists have wondered why he chose this unusual name and what the name might mean in translation. The most widespread theory on the short name is that he was challenged by an American colleague to deliberately create the shortest species name possible. The question of what the name might mean in translation is more problematic. ‘Ia’ has been thought by most taxonomists to be a meaningless word, but ‘io’ has been suggested to refer to a mythological Greek priestess named Io. Herein, I show that the species name
Ia io
translates into ‘Shout hurrah!’ and demonstrate that the events in Oldfield Thomas's early professional life gave him an excellent reason for choosing this unusual species name in 1902.
Miocene fossils from the southeastern Pacific shed light on the last radiation of marine crocodylians
Authors: Salas-Gismondi Rodolfo , Ochoa Diana , Jouve Stephane , Romero Pedro E. , Cardich Jorge , Perez Alexander , DeVries Thomas , Baby Patrice , Urbina Mario , Carré Matthieu
Published: May 2022

The evolution of crocodylians as sea dwellers remains obscure because living representatives are basically freshwater inhabitants and fossil evidence lacks crucial aspects about crocodylian occupation of marine ecosystems. New fossils from marine deposits of Peru reveal that crocodylians were habitual coastal residents of the southeastern Pacific (SEP) for approximately 14 million years within the Miocene (
ca
19 to 5 Ma), an epoch including the highest global peak of marine crocodylian diversity. The assemblage of the SEP comprised two long and slender-snouted (longirostrine) taxa of the Gavialidae: the giant
Piscogavialis
and a new early diverging species,
Sacacosuchus cordovai
. Although living gavialids (
Gavialis
and
Tomistoma
) are freshwater forms, this remarkable fossil record and a suite of evolutionary morphological analyses reveal that the whole evolution of marine crocodylians pertained to the gavialids and their stem relatives (Gavialoidea). This adaptive radiation produced two longirostrine ecomorphs with dissimilar trophic roles in seawaters and involved multiple transmarine dispersals to South America and most landmasses. Marine gavialoids were shallow sea dwellers, and their Cenozoic diversification was influenced by the availability of coastal habitats. Soon after the richness peak of the Miocene, gavialoid crocodylians disappeared from the sea, probably as part of the marine megafauna extinction of the Pliocene.
Visinity: Visual Spatial Neighborhood Analysis for Multiplexed Tissue Imaging Data
Authors: Warchol Simon , Krueger Robert , Nirmal Ajit Johnson , Gaglia Giorgio , Jessup Jared , Ritch Cecily C. , Hoffer John , Muhlich Jeremy , Burger Megan L. , Jacks Tyler , Santagata Sandro , Sorger Peter K. , Pfister Hanspeter
Published: May 2022

New highly-multiplexed imaging technologies have enabled the study of tissues in unprecedented detail. These methods are increasingly being applied to understand how cancer cells and immune response change during tumor development, progression, and metastasis, as well as following treatment. Yet, existing analysis approaches focus on investigating small tissue samples on a per-cell basis, not taking into account the spatial proximity of cells, which indicates cell-cell interaction and specific biological processes in the larger cancer microenvironment. We present Visinity, a scalable visual analytics system to analyze cell interaction patterns across cohorts of whole-slide multiplexed tissue images. Our approach is based on a fast regional neighborhood computation, leveraging unsupervised learning to quantify, compare, and group cells by their surrounding cellular neighborhood. These neighborhoods can be visually analyzed in an exploratory and confirmatory workflow. Users can explore spatial patterns present across tissues through a scalable image viewer and coordinated views highlighting the neighborhood composition and spatial arrangements of cells. To verify or refine existing hypotheses, users can query for specific patterns to determine their presence and statistical significance. Findings can be interactively annotated, ranked, and compared in the form of small multiples. In two case studies with biomedical experts, we demonstrate that Visinity can identify common biological processes within a human tonsil and uncover novel white-blood cell networks and immune-tumor interactions.
Low-frequency lattice vibrations from atomic displacement parameters of α-FOX-7, a high energy density material
Authors: Aree Thammarat , McMonagle Charles J. , Michalchuk Adam A. L. , Chernyshov Dmitry
Published: May 2022

Highly anharmonic thermal vibrations may serve as a source of structural instabilities resulting in phase transitions, chemical reactions and even the mechanical disintegration of a material. Ab initio calculations model thermal motion within a harmonic or sometimes quasi-harmonic approximation and must be complimented by experimental data on temperature-dependent vibrational frequencies. Here multi-temperature atomic displacement parameters (ADPs), derived from a single-crystal synchrotron diffraction experiment, are used to characterize low-frequency lattice vibrations in the α-FOX-7 layered structure. It is shown that despite the limited quality of the data, the extracted frequencies are reasonably close to those derived from inelastic scattering, Raman measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Vibrational anharmonicity is parameterized by the Grüneisen parameters, which are found to be very different for in-layer and out-of-layer vibrations.
A novel design of N-bit approximate comparator for image processing applications
Authors: Kattekola Naresh , Majumdar Shubhankar
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to implement a novel design of approximate comparator which can be suitable for image processing applications.

Design/methodology/approach

Here, the N-bit approximate comparator is implemented by taking reference of N as 2-, 4- and 8-bit. The design analyses the fractional change in error to bit in several bit formats. The final implementation of approximate comparator design application compares the structural similarity index, colour test and extraction of an image to the results.

Findings

The novel approximate comparator was designed using 2-, 4- and 8-bit to explore N-bit comparator expressions. The implementation, computations, evaluation of errors, applications and the design constraints were executed using Python and Synopsys, respectively. The computations, evaluation of errors, applications and the design constraints were executed using Python and Synopsys, respectively.

Originality/value

This paper presents the N-bit accurate and approximate comparator which is novel over the existing design of comparators.
Bringing culture into the picture: cross-cultural differences in online customer reviews
Authors: Kim Jong Min , Lee Eunkyung , Yoon Yeosun
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Prior literature on online customer reviews (OCRs) suggests that individuals are socially influenced by information shared by others. Given that the online environment brings together users from different cultures, understanding how users differ in their processing and generation of OCRs across cultures is imperative. Specifically, this paper explores how cross-cultural differences influence OCR generation when there are inconsistencies between recent and overall review ratings.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ an empirical study and an experimental approach to test the predictions. For the empirical study (Study 1), the authors collected and analyzed actual review data from an online hotel review platform, Booking.com. This was followed by an experimental study (Study 2) in which the authors manipulated the thinking style represented by each cultural orientation to further explain how and why cross-cultural differences exist.

Findings

The results show that compared with the review ratings of users from collectivist cultures, those of users from individualistic cultures are more likely to follow recent review ratings. Based on the experimental study, the authors further find that such cross-cultural differences in OCR generation are driven by differences in thinking style.

Originality/value

This research extends the literature by demonstrating the cross-cultural differences in individuals' herding tendencies in OCR generation. The authors also add to the literature by showing in which direction OCR herding occurs when there is a discrepancy between overall and recent review ratings. From a managerial perspective, the findings provide guidelines for online platforms serving the global market on predicting customers' OCR generation and constructing appropriate response strategies.
Basic income: a 50-state economic impact analysis
Authors: Jolley G. Jason
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to estimate the economic impact of a basic income for each state in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on existing pilot studies of basic income in the USA, this paper presumes a $500 per month basic income for individuals earning less than $25,000 in annual income. Using impact analysis for planning (IMPLAN) input–output modeling software, estimated increase in gross state product and employment are provided on a state-by-state basis.

Findings

A $6,000 annual basic income ($500 per month) to adult persons earning less than $25,000 annually results in an increase in gross state product (e.g. gross “regional” product in IMPLAN terminology) ranging from 0.7% (District of Columbia) to 5.7% (Florida). Likewise, this increase in household spending will create demand for employment across these states, resulting in an increase in employment from 0.9% (District of Columbia) to 5.8% (Florida).

Originality/value

To date, to the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first state-by-state analysis of the economic impact of a basic income provision to lower-income individuals.
Investigating webrooming behavior: a case of Indian luxury consumers
Authors: Shankar Amit , Jain Sheetal
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the current study is to examine why luxury consumers webroom. The study further examines the intervening effects of social norms, age, and gender.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional data from 374 Indian luxury consumers was collected using questionnaire surveys. Confirmatory factor analysis, covariance-based structural equation modeling and PROCESS macro were used to analyze the data.

Findings

Findings suggest that perceived usefulness of searching online, sales-staff assistance, socialization, and need for touch have significant positive effect on attitude toward webrooming. The moderation effect findings suggest that subjective norm significantly moderates the association between attitude toward webrooming and webrooming intention.

Practical implications

Practically, the findings are likely to aid luxury marketers in designing effective channel strategies to maximize their reach via both offline and online channel.

Originality/value

This study provides several contributions to the luxury marketing and retailing literature by examining luxury consumers' webrooming intention.
The grey and dark facets of online activities: a study of consumer perceptions
Authors: Handa Meenakshi , Ahuja Parul
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The internet has provided a gamut of benefits to consumers. The digital world, however, also provides space for various illegal or unethical consumer activities. Consumers may not always be fully aware of the unethical or illegal nature of some of the online activities that they engage in. This study aims to examine the questionable side of online consumer behaviour in an emerging market where internet penetration and smart phone accessibility is rapidly expanding. Using a third-person technique, this study attempts to empirically capture the perceptions of Indian adults regarding the prevalence of various questionable online activities such as unauthorized downloading of digital content, spreading fake news/misinformation and fraudulent returns and to understand the extent to which these respondents believe that such actions are acceptable or illegal and unethical.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 212 consumers. Non-probability convenience and snowball sampling was used for the purpose.

Findings

Unauthorized watching or downloading of online content is reported to be the most prevalent among the various types of questionable behaviours examined. However, it is behaviours such as fraudulent returns and spreading misinformation through online channels which are considered to be the most unethical or illegal. Certain behaviours which may be deemed to be unethical and illegal nevertheless are seen as acceptable. Significant differences between demographics in the case of several of the unethical activities are reported.

Research limitations/implications

This study examines the grey and dark side of online behaviours among consumers in an emerging market and points to the need for action on several fronts to increase consumer awareness and sensitivity about the unethical or illegal nature of some of their online activities and the implications for multiple stakeholders. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations directed at consumers, marketers and policymakers are discussed.

Originality/value

Although the benefits of online communication channels have been extensively studied, their ability to facilitate certain unethical and even illegal activities is an under-researched area. The inclination to engage in these types of questionable behaviours may have been exacerbated by the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study highlights the importance of research on various grey consumer activities in the digital space and paves the way for further investigations by identifying online actions which are considered as most prevalent and/or unethical and illegal.
A scenario-based collaborative problem for a relief supply chain during post-disaster under uncertain parameters: a real case study in Dorud
Authors: Bakhshi Alireza , Aghsami Amir , Rabbani Masoud
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Unfortunately, the occurrence of natural disasters is inevitable all over the world. Hence, this paper aims to analyze a scenario-based collaborative problem in a relief supply chain (RSC), where nongovernmental organizations can participate in relief activities with governmental organizations. This study focuses on location-allocation, inventory management and distribution planning under uncertain demand, budget, transportation and holding costs where government and private distribution centers receive relief items from suppliers then send them to affected areas. The performance of the proposed model is surveyed in a real case study in Dorud.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a nonlinear mixed-integer programming model that seeks to maximize the coverage of demand points and minimize operating costs and traveled distance. The linear programming-metric technique and grasshopper optimization algorithm are applied to survey the model's applicability and efficiency.

Findings

This study compares noncollaborative and collaborative cases in terms of the number of applied distribution centers and RSC's goals, then demonstrates that the collaborative model not only improves the coverage of demand points but also minimizes cost and traveled distance. In fact, the presented approach helps governments efficiently surmount problems created after a disaster, notwithstanding existing uncertainties, by determining a strategic plan for collaboration with nongovernmental organizations for relief activities.

Originality/value

Relief strategies considered in previous research have not been sufficiently examined from the perspective of collaboration of governmental and nongovernmental organizations and provided an approach to develop the coverage of affected areas and reducing costs and traveled distance despite various uncertainties. Hence, the authors aim to manage RSCs better by offering a mathematical model whose performance has been proved in a real case study.
Exploring the frontiers in reality-enhanced service communication: from augmented and virtual reality to neuro-enhanced reality
Authors: Hilken Tim , Chylinski Mathew , de Ruyter Ko , Heller Jonas , Keeling Debbie Isobel
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The authors explore neuro-enhanced reality (NeR) as a novel approach for enhancing service communication between customers, frontline employees, and service organizations that extends beyond current state-of-the-art approaches based on augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first take stock of research on reality-enhanced service communication with AR and VR, then complement these insights with emerging neuroscientific research to conceptualize how NeR enables innovative forms of service communication. On this basis, the authors develop a research agenda to guide the future study and managerial exploitation of NeR.

Findings

AR and VR already offer unique affordances for digital-to-physical communication, but these can be extended with NeR. Specifically, NeR supports neuro-to-digital and digital-to-neuro communication based on neuroimaging (e.g. controlling digital content through thought) and neurostimulation (e.g. eliciting brain responses based on digital content). This provides a basis for outlining possible applications of NeR across service settings.

Originality/value

The authors advance knowledge on reality-enhanced service communication with AR and VR, whilst also demonstrating how neuroscientific research can be extended from understanding brain activity to generating novel service interactions.