bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of artificial intelligence on retinal disease management: Vision Academy retinal expert consensus
Authors: Danese Carla , Kale Aditya U. , Aslam Tariq , Lanzetta Paolo , Barratt Jane , Chou Yu-Bai , Eldem Bora , Eter Nicole , Gale Richard , Korobelnik Jean-François , Kozak Igor , Li Xiaorong , Li Xiaoxin , Loewenstein Anat , Ruamviboonsuk Paisan , Sakamoto Taiji , Ting Daniel S.W. , van Wijngaarden Peter , Waldstein Sebastian M. , Wong David , Wu Lihteh , Zapata Miguel A. , Zarranz-Ventura Javier
Published: June 2023

Purpose of review

The aim of this review is to define the “state-of-the-art” in artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled devices that support the management of retinal conditions and to provide Vision Academy recommendations on the topic.

Recent findings

Most of the AI models described in the literature have not been approved for disease management purposes by regulatory authorities. These new technologies are promising as they may be able to provide personalized treatments as well as a personalized risk score for various retinal diseases. However, several issues still need to be addressed, such as the lack of a common regulatory pathway and a lack of clarity regarding the applicability of AI-enabled medical devices in different populations.

It is likely that current clinical practice will need to change following the application of AI-enabled medical devices. These devices are likely to have an impact on the management of retinal disease. However, a consensus needs to be reached to ensure they are safe and effective for the overall population.
Targeted Telephone-Based Outreach Reconnects Glaucoma Patients With Subspecialty Care
Authors: Sharma Arjun , Roh Shiyoung , Ramsey David J.
Published: June 2023

Précis:

A personalized telephone-based intervention is a cost-effective method to return overdue patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG) to subspecialty care. Patients who accepted care overwhelmingly preferred in-person appointments with their provider instead of hybrid visits with telehealth.

Purpose:

To evaluate the effectiveness of a telephone-based outreach strategy to reconnect OAG patients with subspeciality care.

Patients and Methods:

Established patients with OAG who were seen before March 1, 2021, but had not returned for care in the following year were contacted via a telephone-based intervention. Patients lost to follow-up (LTF) were offered the option of an in-person visit or a hybrid telehealth visit, which combined in-office testing of vision, intraocular pressure, and optic nerve imaging with a virtual consultation with their glaucoma specialist on a separate date.

Results:

Of 2727 patients with OAG, 351 (13%) had not returned for recommended care. Outbound calls reached 176 of those patients (50%). Nearly half of all patients contacted readily accepted care, with 71 scheduling in-person appointments (93%) and 5 selecting hybrid visits (6.6%). Medication refills were requested by 17 of those 76 patients, representing nearly a third of the 56 patients who were treated with topical glaucoma medications. Assessment of the program 90 days later found that 40 patients had returned for care, 100 patients had transferred or declined further care, and 40 patients were identified as deceased, lowering the LTF rate to 6.4%, with 15 patients still scheduled for future visits. On the basis of an average call duration of 2.8±2.0 minutes, the added cost of returning a patient with OAG to care by the program was $28.11.

Conclusions:

Providing targeted outreach by telephone is an effective and cost-efficient strategy to reconnect OAG patients LTF with subspecialty care.
Evidence of neuroinflammation in fibromyalgia syndrome: a [18F]DPA-714 positron emission tomography study
Authors: Mueller Christina , Fang Yu-Hua D. , Jones Chloe , McConathy Jonathan E. , Raman Fabio , Lapi Suzanne E. , Younger Jarred W.
Published: June 2023

This observational study aimed to determine whether individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) exhibit higher levels of neuroinflammation than healthy controls (HCs), as measured with positron emission tomography using [18F]DPA-714, a second-generation radioligand for the translocator protein (TSPO). Fifteen women with FM and 10 HCs underwent neuroimaging. Distribution volume (VT) was calculated for in 28 regions of interest (ROIs) using Logan graphical analysis and compared between groups using multiple linear regressions. Group (FM vs HC) was the main predictor of interest and TSPO binding status (high- vs mixed-affinity) was added as a covariate. The FM group had higher VT in the right postcentral gyrus (b = 0.477, P = 0.033), right occipital gray matter (GM; b = 0.438, P = 0.039), and the right temporal GM (b = 0.466, P = 0.042). The FM group also had lower VT than HCs in the left isthmus of the cingulate gyrus (b = −0.553, P = 0.014). In the subgroup of high-affinity binders, the FM group had higher VT in the bilateral precuneus, postcentral gyrus, parietal GM, occipital GM, and supramarginal gyrus. Group differences in the right parietal GM were associated with decreased quality of life, higher pain severity and interference, and cognitive problems. In support of our hypothesis, we found increased radioligand binding (VT) in the FM group compared with HCs in several brain regions regardless of participants' TSPO binding status. The ROIs overlapped with prior reports of increased TSPO binding in FM. Overall, increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that FM involves microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in the brain.
Effects of vestibular rehabilitation therapy versus virtual reality on balance, dizziness, and gait in patients with subacute stroke: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sana Vishal , Ghous Misbah , Kashif Muhammad , Albalwi Abdulaziz , Muneer Rashida , Zia Mahnoor
Published: June 2023

Background:

Stroke is a neurological disorder with a vascular cause, such as cerebral infarction or hemorrhage, and causes dizziness, balance, and gait impairments in patients. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) involves a variety of exercises that can improve balance, gait, and gaze stability in stroke patients by affecting the vestibular system and improving dynamic balance. By providing a virtual environment, the use of virtual reality (VR) can aid stroke patients in improving their balance and gait.

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the comparative effects of vestibular rehabilitation with virtual reality on dizziness, balance, and gait in patients with subacute stroke.

Methods:

The randomized clinical trial involved 34 subacute stroke patients randomly assigned to 2 groups; 1 received VRT and the other VR treatment. To assess mobility and balance, the Time Up and Go test was used, the Dynamic Gait Index was used to assess the gait, and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory was used to determine the level of dizziness symptoms. Each group received 24 sessions of allocated treatment, 3 sessions every week for 8 weeks. Using SPSS 20, both groups pretest and posttest readings were analyzed and compared.

Results:

Between the VR and VRT groups, balance (P−.01) and gait (P−.01) were significantly improved in the VR group, while dizziness was significantly improved in the VRT group with P < .001. On within-group comparison, both groups showed significant improvements in balance, gait, and dizziness with P < .001.

Conclusion:

Both vestibular rehabilitation therapy and VR improved dizziness, balance, and gait in subacute stroke patients. However, VR was more effective in improving balance and gait among patients with subacute strokes.
Increasing Equity and Inclusion in Nutrition Services for Older Adults
Authors: Sahyoun Nadine R.
Published: June 2023

The latest version of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program (OAANP) enacted in 2020 targets those most at risk of nutritional deficiencies, social isolation, and institutionalization. Racial, ethnic, cultural, and sexual minority populations are at high risk for all 3, and yet, these populations are underrepresented in the OAANP. To reach people at risk in neighborhoods with high racial and ethnic diversity, outreach, targeting, and retention are essential. This article synthesizes information obtained through peer-reviewed and gray literature, telephone interviews of nutrition leads/directors of 9 state units on aging, and online review of state plans to present approaches and best practices in increasing equity and inclusion in the OAANP and in other similar programs.
ALK-positive Large B-Cell Lymphoma With Multiple Epithelial Antigen Expression and PABPC1::ALK Fusion
Authors: Fu Jian Jeff , Seth Anjali , Ali Nadia , Chandar Ashwin , Bains Ashish
Published: June 2023

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) is a very rare type of LBCL with an aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis. This diagnosis can be challenging given the varied morphology (immunoblastic, plasmablastic, or anaplastic), frequent lack of B-cell antigens, and especially in cases with expression of epithelial antigens. Here, we report a case of ALK-positive LBCL with unusual expression of 4 epithelial-associated markers (AE1/AE3, CK8/18, EMA, and GATA3) and novel poly(A) binding protein cytoplasmic 1 (PABPC1)::ALK fusion which has not been previously reported in this entity. This case also emphasizes the use of comprehensive immunophenotyping that includes multiple lineage-specific antibodies when faced with a malignancy without a clear differentiation to avoid misdiagnosis. This case only achieved partial response to combination chemotherapy, radiation, and ALK inhibitor regimens, and furthers our understanding of this uncommon lymphoma.
The Repeatability and Reproducibility of a New Minimally Invasive Method for Orbital Pressure Measurement
Authors: Jiang Xue , Dong Li , Wang Minghui , Wang Mingyang , Li Dongmei
Published: June 2023

Background:

Evaluation of orbital pressure is crucial for monitoring various orbital disorders. However, there is currently no reliable technique to accurately measure direct orbital pressure (DOP). This study aimed to establish a new method for the DOP as well as to verify its repeatability and reproducibility in rabbits.

Methods:

The study included 30 normal eyes from fifteen 3-month-old New Zealand white rabbits. After administering inhalation anesthesia, intraocular pressure (IOP) was determined by tonometry (Tonopen). For DOP manometry, a TSD104 pressure transducer was inserted between the disposable injection needle and the syringe, and the output results were displayed on a computer. Two observers independently participated in the experiment to verify its repeatability and reproducibility.

Results:

The mean IOP of rabbits was significantly higher than the DOP in normal rabbits (11.67 ± 1.08 mm Hg versus 4.91 ± 0.86 mm Hg, P < 0.001). No significant interocular difference was detected for both IOP and DOP (P > 0.05). A high correlation was found for intraobserver measurements of both IOP (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.87, P < 0.001) and DOP (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.89, P < 0.001). A high agreement was also presented for the interobserver reproducibility for the measurements of IOP [Pearson correlation coefficient (R) = 0.86, P < 0.001] and DOP (R = 0.87, P < 0.001). Direct orbital pressure was positively correlated with IOP in both observers (R1 = 0.66, R2 = 0.62, P < 0.001). The Bland-Altman plots revealed that 5.0% (3/60) of the IOP and DOP measurement points were outside of the 95% limits of agreement, respectively.

Conclusions:

The TSD104 pressure transducer-based manometry may serve as a reliable device for the measurement of DOP, providing real-time measuring results with acceptable reproducibility and repeatability.
Hymenobacter canadensis sp. nov., isolated from freshwater of the pond in Cambridge Bay, Canada
Authors: Kim Woohyun , Jang Seonghan , Chae Namyi , Kim Mincheol , Yeh Jung-Yong , Kim Sanghee , Lee Yung Mi
Published: June 2023

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, reddish-coloured, rod-shaped and non-motile strain PAMC 29467T, was isolated from freshwater of the pond in Cambridge Bay, Canada. Strain PAMC 29467T was closely related to

Hymenobacter yonginensis

(98.1 % 16S rRNA gene similarity). Genomic relatedness analyses showed that strain PAMC 29467T is distinguishable from

H. yonginensis

based on average nucleotide identity (91.3 %) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values (39.3 %). The major fatty acids (>10 %) of strain PAMC 29467T were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1
 ω7c and/or C16 : 1
 ω6c), C15 : 0 iso, C16 : 1
 ω5c and summed feature 4 (C17 : 1 iso l and/or anteiso B). The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7. The genomic DNA G+C content was 61.5 mol%. Strain PAMC 29467T was separated from the type species in the genus

Hymenobacter

by its distinct phylogenetic position and some physiological characteristics. As a result, a novel species is proposed, with the name Hymenobacter canadensis sp. nov. (type strain, PAMC 29467T=KCTC 92787T=JCM 35843T).
A brand-new clustering method and analysis system designed for revealing the truth of the high-dimension large data deciphered the complex composition structure of human brain endothelial cells from single-cell RNA sequence data
Authors: Wei Boyong
Published: June 2023

The clustering method is the key to high dimensional large data analysis, especially for single-cell NGS data in biological science and biomedicine sectors. Those data require a hierarchical clustering method to unveil important biological features including differentiation patterns, stem cell identifications, cell sub-type discovery, and so on. Traditional hierarchical clustering has several issues to be applied to large high-dimension data. There are a few new approaches invented recently trying to fill in the blank. However, these approaches were either based on low-dimension or down-sampled data after dimension reduction (Anibal et al., 2022) from methods like PCA or consumed an enormous amount of computing resources to get a massive number of layer levels with highly limited interpretable information. In order to create a practically available solution, I invented an entirely new hierarchical clustering method called the BW method which can be directly applied to high-dimension large data without a requirement for dimension reduction or massive computing resources. I applied BW clustering to six single-cell RNA sequence sample data. BW clustering brought deep insight into these sample data including sub-type, differentiation branch, cell state changes (development, aging process), and gene expression instability. BW-generated layers were very concise. For almost nineteen thousand cells, BW clustering only yielded 9 layers. An analysis system was created based on the BW clustering method which can unprecedentedly display the true form of high dimensional data space. The resource BW required is also very low as all the work done in this paper used a 16GB memory laptop only, making it easily accessible to researchers with limited computing resources. Overall, the BW clustering method represents a major advancement in high-dimensional large data analysis for biological and biomedical applications.
Using visualization technologies to drive individual and collective action
Authors: Jackson Andrew
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Digital visualization tools are most often used to help people and teams understand high volumes of complex data via dashboards, infographics and other forms of visual maps. This article describes how some organizations are starting to use visualization platforms to allow team members to articulate and share their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, etc., and thereby make better, more insightful decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Viewpoint based on the experience and expert opinion of the writers.

Findings

Three examples are shared of how visualization technologies are being used in leadership development, gender diversity and patient care.

Originality/value

The authors offer examples of pioneering organizations who are going beyond the “digital whiteboard” and finding ways of cocreating powerful imagery and visualizations, capturing the data which is hard to get at. Building narratives and sense-making from the deeper thoughts and difficult to express feelings of team members.
How does responsible leadership enhance work engagement? The roles of knowledge sharing and helping initiative behavior
Authors: Ali Hafiz Fawad , Chaudhary Arooba , Islam Talat
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the association between responsible leadership and work engagement through the mediation of knowledge sharing. Further, the study explored the boundary condition of helping initiative behavior (HIB) between responsible leadership and knowledge-sharing (KS) behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering work engagement as a global challenge, the data for this study was collected from 386 employees working in various organizations on convenience basis. Specifically, the data was collected in two waves through a questionnaire-based survey method and structural equation modeling was used for hypotheses testing.

Findings

The results reveal that responsible leadership directly and indirectly (through knowledge sharing) affects work engagement. In addition, HIB strengthens the association between responsible leadership and knowledge sharing.

Research limitations/implications

The study collected data from a developing country. However, the findings suggest management should implement such practices that enable leaders to be more responsible. Such leaders create a learning environment that enhances knowledge sharing and promotes work engagement.

Originality/value

Based on social exchange, this study explored the mediating role of KS behavior between responsible leadership and work engagement and the conditional role of HIB between responsible leadership and KS behavior.
Housing affordability in the capital cities of three Northwestern China provinces
Authors: Duan Mingchen , Duan Yi
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Previous studies on housing affordability in China were concentrated in China’s coastal and central regions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate housing affordability of urban residents in Northwest China. Moreover, this paper attempts to understand the consistency and influencing factors of various indicators on the evaluation of housing affordability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses multiyear data on house sales, residents’ incomes and living expenses from 2011 to 2022. House price-to-income ratio, housing affordability index and residual income approach were calculated by using these data and used as the measure of housing affordability.

Findings

The results show that there are obvious differences in the housing affordability among the Xi’an, Lanzhou and Yinchuan during 2011–2022, and the housing affordability of residents in cities with small population and economic scale is better. The ability of most urban residents to afford suitable housing is still poor, and the ability to afford small-sized housing is better. Most families with below-middle income have poor housing affordability. It is also observed that although various indicators had similarities in the evaluation of residents’ housing affordability, the comprehensive evaluation results of multiple indicators were more reliable.

Social implications

The research results provide a basis for the decision-making of the government’s urban housing policy and improvement of residents’ housing conditions.

Originality/value

The results have a clear understanding of the housing affordability of urban residents in Northwest China. The study found that the geographical location and topography of the city is also a factor affecting the housing affordability.
How social activities affect corporate credit behavior? – the mediating role of network centrality
Authors: Chen Xin , Li Wenli
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Social information is crucial to credit ratings and can improve the accuracy of the traditional credit assessment model. Drawing on the resource-based view (RBV) and social capital theory (SCT), this research explores the relationships between corporate social activities, network centrality and corporate credit behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used social network analysis (SNA) and regression analysis to analyze the data collected from 14,544 enterprises on the Alibaba platform.

Findings

The results indicate that among the four types of social activities, the number of corporate questions and posts shows a positive relationship with credit behavior; while the number of corporate comments has negative relationship with credit behavior. Further, degree and betweenness centralities mediate the relationship between the number of corporate questions, posts and comments with credit behavior.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on non-financial factors (soft information) by exploring the social behavioral factors related to corporate credit. In addition, this study offers a new theoretical lens and reasonable explanations for investigating the relationship between corporate social activities, network centrality and credit behavior from the perspective of the resource-based view, while most studies are predictive and methodological. Moreover, this study provides new insights for platforms to evaluate enterprise credit and for managers to improve credit behavior.
Guest Editorial: Investigating the effect of the physical context on customer experience
Authors: Bruce Helen L. , Krolikowska Ewa , Rooney Tara
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This editorial introduces a special issue of the Journal of Services Marketing, dedicated to papers discussing the effect of the physical context on customer experience. This study aims to identify diverse areas of extant knowledge, upon which researchers might draw when investigating the effect of the physical context on customer experience, to inform future research agendas.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on available literature, the authors argue that, as prior studies in diverse scholarly fields have explored the physical context, these bodies of knowledge may offer theories and constructs that meaningfully inform explorations of the effect of the physical context on customer experience.

Findings

The authors identify five marketing subdisciplines and six nonmarketing disciplines, each offering theories, constructs and perspectives which researchers might draw upon in future studies of the effects of the physical context on customer experience.

Originality/value

The authors develop a novel map which depicts the field of study of the effects of the physical context on customer experience, which scholars might use to inform future research design. In addition, the authors suggest several directions for future research.
Commentary on “Why am I still in hospital? Evaluation of delayed discharges from two learning disability assessment and treatment units in England”
Authors: Shankar Rohit
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This commentary explores the challenges and themes enumerated by the associated article “Why am I still in hospital? Evaluation of delayed discharges from two learning disability assessment and treatment units in England”. This commentary broadens and outlines the research’s background, premise and potential impact. This paper aims to critically examine the evidence on this subject.

Design/methodology/approach

This commentary considers the attitudes to inpatient care for people with learning disabilities in the past decade and outlines a possible compact for the future.

Findings

Contrary to popular and emotive beliefs that using specialist inpatient psychiatric settings for people with learning disabilities is universally a poor practice, there are defined occasions when such settings are needed and imperative in the clinical pathway. If people with learning disabilities can access inpatient settings at the right time for the right reason, psychiatric outcomes could be improved. Timely discharge is imperative and currently lacking due to a lack of suitable engagement mechanisms between inpatient settings and the community. Thus, evidence-based outcome tools are essential to facilitate appropriate discharge.

Originality/value

There is an ongoing debate on the value and utility of specialist inpatient psychiatric units for people with learning disabilities. This commentary provides a balanced, evidence-based insight into this discussion.
Employees’ self-esteem in psychological contract: workplace ostracism and counterproductive behavior
Authors: Liu Min , Liu Xin , Muskat Birgit , Leung Xi Yu , Liu Shanshi
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Counterproductive work behavior (CWB) has grown into a significant problem in the tourism industry, for both individual employees and organizations. Employees who feel ostracized in their workplace often engage in negative and disruptive behaviors. The purpose of this study is to explore the psychological mechanism between workplace ostracism and CWB among tourism employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on psychological contract theory and social cognitive theory, the study proposed a research framework to explain tourism employees’ counterproductive behavior. Data were collected from 228 hotel employees at two time points in Huangshan, China. Hierarchical regression and SPSS-PROCESS Macro were used to test all the hypotheses.

Findings

Findings show that workplace ostracism significantly increases employee CWB, mediated by psychological contract violation. Workplace ostracism increases perceptions of psychological contract violation when employee self-esteem is higher. The mediating effect of psychological contract violation is also moderated by self-esteem.

Originality/value

Using the framework of psychological contract theory and social cognitive theory, the authors advance the organizational behavior literature in the tourism field. The authors contextualize the uniqueness of Chinese workplace behavior and highlight the need to understand “losing face (mianzi) view” in workplace relationships. This research contributes to better understanding the dark side of tourism workplace behavior by examining the effects of psychological contract violation and employee’s self-esteem on workplace ostracism and CWB.
Brazilian approaches to crisis and risk in the context of communication: A field in search of legitimation
Authors: Nunes Ana K. , de Oliveira Rosangela F.
Published: June 2023

Although apparently obvious, the statement that risk and crisis are inherent themes in the activities of organisations, celebrities, and public figures, is increasingly necessary in a theoretical‐scientific context. Specially given that much is discussed about these issues, but insufficient knowledge is generated to account for an increasingly complex social and organisational scenario. In the field of communication sciences, and particularly in the context of organisational communication studies, there is a need to expand systemic, multidisciplinary, and proactive approaches, and such demand reveals a theoretical field in the process of legitimation. In this context, the present study presents an overview of Brazilian approaches to the themes of crisis and risk from the perspective of communication. This paper seeks to contribute to theoretical‐practical discussions and propositions in the context of risk and crisis within the scientific community, while also raise awareness towards the need for professional improvement in these themes within market practices.
Individual and combined effects of α‐amylase, xylanase, and cellulase on the breadmaking and nutritional properties of steamed bun enriched in wheat bran
Authors: Liu Wenjun , Brennan Margaret , Brennan Charles , You Linfeng , Wu Li
Published: June 2023

The present study investigates the effects of α‐amylase (6 and 10 ppm), xylanase (70 and 120 ppm), and cellulase (35 and 60 ppm) on the physicochemical characteristics and nutritional quality of Chinese steamed bun (CSB) incorporated with 15% wheat bran (WB). Compared to the single enzyme, the combined enzymes improved the specific volume of CSB up to the highest value (2.50 mL/g) and decreased the hardness to the minimum value (299.61 g) when the concentration was 6, 120, 35 ppm. Additionally, the combined enzymes (6, 120, and 35 ppm) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the total dietary fiber from 14.65% to 13.10% and hence increased the area under the reducing sugar release curve during in vitro digestion from 302.12 to 357.26 mg/g. Consequently, enzymes combination can significantly improve the quality of WB CSB, whereas reduce the nutritional value of WB CSB.
Which Combination of Trade Provisions Promotes Trade in Value‐Added? An Application of Machine Learning to Cross‐Country Data
Authors: Sharma Sharadendu , Mundhada Yadnesh P. , Arora Rahul
Published: June 2023

Over time, the trade agreements are witnessing a substantial change in their provisions by encompassing provisions beyond their conventional trade domain, such as labour market regulations, environmental regulations and competition policies. Theoretically, studies argued the role of signing an agreement with deep provisions to promote trade in value‐added, but empirical verification in favour of a few is rarely available. The present study attempts to identify this set of provisions included in deep trade agreements (DTAs) that positively impact the bilateral trade in value added. Using the traditional gravity model framework and its estimation through modern econometric and machine learning tools, the study shows that incorporating provisions relating to establishing and preserving economic rights in trade agreements promotes trade in value‐added among member countries. Notably, the study found the combination of three main policy areas: technical barriers to trade, competition policy and labour market regulations. Both econometric and machine learning methods confirm the significant impact of these three provisions. Understanding the significance of specific provisions holds relevance in the current scenario where major trading economies are calibrating trade agreements. From the policy perspective, disentangling a set of provisions might be relevant for designing and negotiating trade agreements.
Western pine beetle voltinism in a changing California climate
Authors: Bentz Barbara J. , Cluck Daniel R. , Bulaon Beverly M. , Smith Sheri L.
Published: June 2023

Recent hot droughts in California resulted in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) mortality attributed to drought and western pine beetle (WPB, Dendroctonus brevicomis). While drought alone can cause tree death, direct warming effects on WPB are a contributing factor. Research on WPB generation timing (voltinism), however, is lacking.

We monitored WPB tree attacks and adult emergence timing at two California sites and developed a degree‐day model from field‐observed data. Historical, contemporary, and future temperatures for several California sites were used with the model to examine trends in WPB voltinism.

Field data showed a single summer and an overwinter generation at a northern California site. As summer temperatures increased beyond 1900–1980 averages, the predicted number of full and partial WPB generations by 2021 had increased from ~2 annual (one summer and one overwinter) generations historically to ~2.3 at two northern California sites and from ~2.3 to ~3.2 at two warmer California sites.

Historical and contemporary data suggest winter warming was not sufficient for an additional generation overwinter. Instead, increases in generations were driven by summer and fall temperatures.

Unconstrained increases in the number of future annual generations will be limited by complex, but not well understood, WPB thermal adaptations. Increased knowledge of temperature‐driven WPB population growth will improve forest vegetation models aimed at predicting ponderosa pine mortality in a changing climate.
Efficacy of a hybrid technique of simultaneous videolaryngoscopy with flexible bronchoscopy in children with difficult direct laryngoscopy in the Pediatric Difficult Intubation Registry
Authors: Stein M. L. , Park R. S. , Kiss E. E. , Adams H. D. , Burjek N. E. , Peyton J. , Szmuk P. , Staffa S. J. , Fiadjoe J. E. , Kovatsis P. G. , Olomu P. N. ,   for the PeDI Collaborative Investigators
Published: June 2023

Children with difficult tracheal intubation are at increased risk of severe complications, including hypoxaemia and cardiac arrest. Increasing experience with the simultaneous use of videolaryngoscopy and flexible bronchoscopy (hybrid) in adults led us to hypothesise that this hybrid technique could be used safely and effectively in children under general anaesthesia. We reviewed observational data from the international Pediatric Difficult Intubation Registry from 2017 to 2021 to assess the safety and efficacy of hybrid tracheal intubation approaches in paediatric patients. In total, 140 patients who underwent 180 attempts at tracheal intubation with the hybrid technique were propensity score‐matched 4:1 with 560 patients who underwent 800 attempts with a flexible bronchoscope. In the hybrid group, first attempt success was 70% (98/140) compared with 63% (352/560) in the flexible bronchoscope group (odds ratio (95%CI) 1.4 (0.9–2.1), p = 0.1). Eventual success rates in the matched groups were 90% (126/140) for hybrid vs. 89% (499/560) for flexible bronchoscope (1.1 (0.6–2.1), p = 0.8). Complication rates were similar in both groups (15% (28 complications in 182 attempts) hybrid; 13% (102 complications in 800 attempts) flexible bronchoscope, p = 0.3). The hybrid technique was more likely than flexible bronchoscopy to be used as a rescue technique following the failure of another technique (39% (55/140) vs. 25% (138/560), 2.1 (1.4–3.2) p < 0.001). While technically challenging, the hybrid technique has success rates similar to other advanced airway techniques, few complications and may be considered an alternative technique when developing an airway plan for paediatric patients whose tracheas are difficult to intubate under general anaesthesia.
Perinatal psychotropic dispensing: A descriptive population‐based study in New Zealand
Authors: Broughton Lucy Charlotte , Hughes‐Medlicott Natalie , Zeng Jiaxu , Smith Alesha
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Decisions about using psychotropics during pregnancy are complex as risks of untreated illness are balanced against risks of fetal exposure to medication. The objective was to describe perinatal psychotropic dispensing patterns in New Zealand.

Methods

Nationwide data from the New Zealand National Maternity Collection between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017 identified 399 715 pregnancies. These were linked with dispensing records to determine the proportion of pregnancies during which at least 1 psychotropic was dispensed. Proportions were calculated separately for each class, year, pregnancy period, and across maternal characteristics. The pattern of dispensing (including discontinuations) was also determined for the 25 841 women who were dispensed at least 1 psychotropic drug prior to pregnancy.

Results

From the 399 715 pregnancies in the study cohort, 6.6% were dispensed at least 1 psychotropic during pregnancy. Antidepressants (5.1%) were the most dispensed, followed by hypnotics (1.2%), anxiolytics (0.7%), and antipsychotics (0.7%). From the 25 841 pregnancies during which a psychotropic was dispensed pre‐pregnancy, 91% and 90% discontinued hypnotics and anxiolytics respectively, prior to or during pregnancy. This was followed by lithium (71%), antipsychotics (66%), and antidepressants (66%).

Discussion

Dispensing of psychotropics during pregnancy occurs in approximately 6.6% of pregnancies in New Zealand. Two‐thirds of women (66%) on antidepressants or antipsychotics discontinue dispensing before or during pregnancy. This may have implications for maternal mental health, suggesting there is a need to investigate how healthcare providers and women are making decisions about psychotropic use during pregnancy.
The useful technique of laparoscopic segmental ureterectomy with ureteral reimplantation for distal upper tract urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Koterazawa Shigeki , Somiya Shinya , Ito Katsuhiro , Haitani Takao , Higash Yoshihito , Yamada Hitoshi , Kanno Toru
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Segmental ureterectomy (SU) has been proven effective in cases of distal upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Nonetheless, SU has been performed infrequently in the real world, and there is no consensus on the preferred surgical technique in laparoscopic surgery. We describe our first experience of laparoscopic segmental ureterectomy (LSU) with psoas hitch ureteral reimplantation.

Materials and surgical technique

LSU starts using a fan‐shaped, five‐port, transperitoneal approach. First, the cancerous ureter segment is clipped to avoid tumor seeding, and then the diseased segment is dissected. Second, the psoas hitch is performed by fixing the external part of the ipsilateral dome of the bladder to the psoas muscle and its tendon. Third, at the top of the bladder, an incision is made in the muscle layer and mucosa. The ureter is then spatulated. A guide wire is used to place a retrograde ureteral double J stent. Finally, the anastomosis of the bladder and ureter mucosa is performed by interrupted suturing of both ends, followed by continuous suturing, and the muscular layer of the bladder is closed in a double layer. We performed LSU for distal UTUC in 10 patients. There was no decrease in renal function before or after surgery. During follow‐up, three patients experienced a recurrence of urothelial carcinoma in the bladder and one patient had a local recurrence.

Discussion

LSU is a safe and feasible procedure in our experience, and it can be recommended for selected cases of distal UTUC with optimal perioperative, renal functional, and oncologic outcomes.
Flexible Joint Modeling of Mean and Dispersion for the Directional Tuning of Neuronal Spike Counts
Authors: Alonso-Pena María , Gijbels Irène , Crujeiras Rosa M.
Published: June 2023

The study of how the number of spikes in a middle temporal visual area (MT/V5) neuron is tuned to the direction of a visual stimulus has attracted considerable attention over the years, but recent studies suggest that the variability of the number of spikes might also be influenced by the directional stimulus. This entails that Poisson regression models are not adequate for this type of data, as the observations usually present over/underdispersion (or both) with respect to the Poisson distribution. This paper makes use of the double exponential family and presents a flexible model to estimate, jointly, the mean and dispersion functions, accounting for the effect of a circular covariate. The empirical performance of the proposal is explored via simulations and an application to a neurological data set is shown.
Prior and Posterior Checking of Implicit Causal Assumptions
Authors: Linero Antonio R.
Published: June 2023

Causal inference practitioners have increasingly adopted machine learning techniques with the aim of producing principled uncertainty quantification for causal effects while minimizing the risk of model misspecification. Bayesian nonparametric approaches have attracted attention as well, both for their flexibility and their promise of providing natural uncertainty quantification. Priors on high-dimensional or nonparametric spaces, however, can often unintentionally encode prior information that is at odds with substantive knowledge in causal inference—specifically, the regularization required for high-dimensional Bayesian models to work can indirectly imply that the magnitude of the confounding is negligible. In this paper, we explain this problem and provide tools for (i) verifying that the prior distribution does not encode an inductive bias away from confounded models and (ii) verifying that the posterior distribution contains sufficient information to overcome this issue if it exists. We provide a proof-of-concept on simulated data from a high-dimensional probit-ridge regression model, and illustrate on a Bayesian nonparametric decision tree ensemble applied to a large medical expenditure survey.
Truth, Moral Rightness, and Justification: A Habermasian Perspective on Decolonizing the University
Authors: Leiviskä Anniina
Published: June 2023

In this paper, Anniina Leiviskä examines the moral, political, and epistemic claims of the social justice movement known as “decolonizing the university” from the perspective of Jürgen Habermas's distinction between objective and normative validity and the respective notions of truth and moral rightness. Leiviskä challenges the view, held by some representatives of decolonization, that the normative and epistemic claims of the movement are inseparable from each other and suggests that evaluating the justification of the movement requires holding these claims at least analytically distinguishable. She argues that while the moral and political claims of “decolonizing the university” find strong justification through Habermas's discourse morality, its epistemic claims, especially the rejection of shared standards of knowledge, might have epistemically problematic consequences. Accordingly, Leiviskä suggests here that the epistemic justification of decolonization is conditional on the acceptance of shared epistemic standards — the pragmatic truth concept and the criterion of impartiality — which she develops in the paper on the basis of Habermas's pragmatic theory of truth and rational discourse as a model of justification. Finally, she proposes that the implications of these criteria for practices of higher education and the curriculum should be determined through an open and unconstrained discussion by the members of an inclusive university community.
A Probabilistic Filtering Approach to Non‐Effortful Responding
Authors: Ulitzsch Esther , Domingue Benjamin W. , Kapoor Radhika , Kanopka Klint , Rios Joseph A.
Published: June 2023

Common response‐time‐based approaches for non‐effortful response behavior (NRB) in educational achievement tests filter responses that are associated with response times below some threshold. These approaches are, however, limited in that they require a binary decision on whether a response is classified as stemming from NRB; thus ignoring potential classification uncertainty in resulting parameter estimates. We developed a response‐time‐based probabilistic filtering procedure that overcomes this limitation. The procedure is rooted in the principles of multiple imputation. Instead of creating multiple plausible replacements of missing data, however, multiple data sets are created that represent plausible filtered response data. We propose two different approaches to filtering models, originating in different research traditions and conceptualizations of response‐time‐based identification of NRB. The first approach uses Gaussian mixture modeling to identify a response time subcomponent stemming from NRB. Plausible filtered data sets are created based on examinees' posterior probabilities of belonging to the NRB subcomponent. The second approach defines a plausible range of response time thresholds and creates plausible filtered data sets by drawing multiple response time thresholds from the defined range. We illustrate the workings of the proposed procedure as well as differences between the proposed filtering models based on both simulated data and empirical data from PISA 2018.
La relation entre le chômage et la croissance économique en Amérique latine: estimation de la loi d'Okun dans les pays de la région
Authors: PORRAS‐ARENA M. Sylvina , MARTÍN‐ROMÁN Ángel L.
Published: June 2023

Les auteurs s'interrogent sur la validité de la loi d'Okun en Amérique latine. En s'appuyant sur plusieurs modèles économétriques, ils montrent que, dans la région, les fluctuations de l'activité économique influent moins sur les taux de chômage que dans les économies plus avancées, et que la relation chômage/production varie selon le pays. Cependant, même quand la relation d'Okun est faible ou inexistante, les variations cycliques nuisent à la qualité de l'emploi. Ces observations plaident pour l'adoption de mesures de lutte contre le chômage non plus générales mais ciblées sur des branches spécifiques, ainsi que pour une action en faveur de la qualité de l'emploi.
Household transmission investigation: Design, reporting and critical appraisal
Authors: Price David J. , Spirkoska Violeta , Marcato Adrian J. , Meagher Niamh , Fielding James E. , Karahalios Amalia , Bergeri Isabel , Lewis Hannah , Valenciano Marta , Pebody Richard , McVernon Jodie , Villanueva‐Cabezas Juan‐Pablo
Published: June 2023

Background

Household transmission investigations (HHTIs) contribute timely epidemiologic knowledge in response to emerging pathogens. HHTIs conducted in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020‐21 reported variable methodological approaches, producing epidemiological estimates that vary in meaning, precision and accuracy. Because specific tools to assist with the optimal design and critical appraisal of HHTIs are not available, the aggregation and pooling of inferences from HHTIs to inform policy and interventions may be challenging.

Methods

In this manuscript, we discuss key aspects of the HHTI design, provide recommendations for the reporting of these studies and propose an appraisal tool that contributes to the optimal design and critical appraisal of HHTIs.

Results

The appraisal tool consists of 12 questions that explore 10 aspects of HHTIs and can be answered ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘unclear’. We provide an example of the use of this tool in the context of a systematic review that aimed to quantify the household secondary attack rate from HHTIs.

Conclusion

We seek to fill a gap in the epidemiologic literature and contribute to standardised HHTI approaches across settings to achieve richer and more informative datasets.
Enhancement of energy storage performance in lead‐free relaxor ferroelectric ceramics via band structure engineering
Authors: Zhang Ying , Zhang Ganrong , Li Ang , Zhang Jia‐Han , Zheng Yingqiu , Luo Guoqiang , Tu Rong , Zhang Jian , Shen Qiang , Zhang Lianmeng
Published: June 2023

Dielectric capacitors with excellent energy storage performance (ESP) are in great demand in the power electronics industry due to their high power density. For the dielectric materials, the dielectric breakdown strength (BDS) is the key factor to improve ESP, which is the focus and bottleneck of current research, especially in the relaxor ferroelectric (RFE) materials with already low residual polarization (Pr). Here, we stimulate the ESP of the BaTiO3 (BT)‐based RFE ceramics by band structure engineering. The Ta element is selected to enhance the band gap of doped ceramics, occupying Ti‐site in supercell of BT and optimizing the bonds length of Ti‐O bond to increase the energy band of Ti 3d states. In this way, the band gap of the doped ceramics is efficiently enhanced from 1.8 eV to 2.22 eV resulting in the large BDS. Prospectively, combined with the advantage of fine grain size, the highest recoverable energy storage density (Wrec) of 2.85 J/cm3 is obtained at 350 kV/cm and the ultra‐high energy efficiency (η) of 95.26% is found at 200 kV/cm. Our work reveals the relationship between elements doping in B‐site and band structure, being expected to benefit for designing energy storage materials.