bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling of factors influencing organizational readiness for change in start-ups during the COVID-19 emergency
Authors: Sreenivasan Aswathy , Suresh M.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to “identify”, “analyze” and “construct” a framework to quantify the relationships between several determinants of organizational preparedness for change in the start-ups during the COVID-19 emergencies.

Design/methodology/approach

Total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) is used to find characteristics that assist in analyzing the readiness or preparedness level before initiating a change deployment process in start-ups. A cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis is performed to determine the driving and dependent elements of change in start-ups.

Findings

From literature research and an expert interview, this study selected ten variables of change preparedness to explore inner interconnections and comprehend the inner connections factors. The findings depict that clarity of mission and goals, reward system, technological advancement and motivational readiness have been considered the most important readiness factor for deploying organizational change in start-ups during the COVID-19 emergencies.

Practical implications

This research will aid the management and researchers gain a better understanding of the factors that influence change preparedness. Constant observation of current changes in the start-ups and the external environment will aid in improving the quality of products or services provided by the start-ups during the COVID-19. The start-ups can use these criteria linked to change readiness. The priority of each element is determined using MICMAC analysis and ranking using the TISM technique, which assists start-ups in ordering the enablers from highest to lowest priority.

Originality/value

There is no research regarding factors influencing organizational readiness for change in start-ups during the COVID-19 emergencies. This research gap is filled by analyzing aspects linked to organizational readiness for change in start-ups. This gap inspired the present study, which uses the “Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM)” technique to uncover change determinants and investigate hierarchical interconnections among factors influencing organizational readiness to change in start-ups during the COVID-19 emergencies.
Impact energy absorption and fracture mechanism of FFF made fiberglass reinforced polymer composites
Authors: Prajapati Ashish R. , Dave Harshit K. , Raval Harit K.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The fiber reinforced polymer composites are becoming more critical because of their exceptional mechanical properties and lightweight structures. Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is a three-dimensional (3D) printing technique that can manufacture composite structures. However, the effect of impact performance on the structural integrity of FFF made composites compared to the pre-preg composites is a primary concern for the practical usage of 3D printed parts. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the effect of different processing parameters on the impact performance of 3D printed composites.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper investigates the impact of build orientation, fiber stacking sequence and fiber angle on the impact properties. Two build orientations, three fiber stacking sequences and two different fiber angles have been selected for this study. Charpy impact testing is carried out to investigate the impact energy absorption of the parts. Onyx as a matrix material and two different types of fibers, that is, fiberglass and high strength high temperature (HSHT) fiberglass as reinforcements, are used for the fabrication.

Findings

Results indicate that build orientation and fiber angle largely affect the impact performance of composite parts. The composite part built with XYZ orientation, 0º/90º fiber angle and B type fiber stacking sequence resulted into maximum impact energy. However, comparing both types of fiber reinforcement, HSHT fiberglass resulted in higher impact energy than regular fiberglass.

Originality/value

This study evaluates the damage modes during the impact testing of the 3D printed composite parts. The impact energy absorbed by the composite samples during the impact testing is measured to compare the effect of different processing conditions. The investigation of different types of fiberglass reinforced with Onyx material is very limited for the FFF-based process. The results also provide a database to select the different parameters to obtain the required impact properties.
Knowledge diffusion–application association during the COVID-19 pandemic: investigating the role of technology intervention
Authors: Lathabhavan Remya , V. Moovendhan
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Knowledge management during the pandemic has been a challenging task due to the sudden intervention of technology in the organisational environment and the unexpected shift to the work-from-home culture. This study aims to investigate the role of technology intervention in the relationship between knowledge diffusion and knowledge application.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted and data were collected from 541 employees who were working from home during the pandemic in India.

Findings

This study found significant relationships between knowledge diffusion and technology intervention. This study also observed the mediating role of technology intervention in the relationship between knowledge diffusion and knowledge application.

Originality/value

Tis study stands with other pioneering studies that have explored the role of technology intervention in the knowledge diffusion–application relationship using the job demand-resource model.
Detergent exposure induces epithelial barrier dysfunction and eosinophilic inflammation in the esophagus
Authors: Doyle Alfred D. , Masuda Mia Y. , Pyon Grace C. , Luo Huijun , Putikova Arina , LeSuer William E. , Flashner Samuel , Rank Matthew A. , Nakagawa Hiroshi , Kita Hirohito , Wright Benjamin L.
Published: July 2022

Background

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic allergic disease associated with type 2 inflammation and epithelial barrier dysfunction. The etiology is unknown, however, genetic heritability studies suggest environmental factors play a key role in pathogenesis. Detergents, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), are common ingredients in household products such as dish soap and toothpaste. We hypothesized detergent exposure decreases epithelial barrier function and induces esophageal inflammation.

Methods

Immortalized esophageal epithelial cells (EPC2) were cultured in air‐liquid interface (ALI) and exposed to SDS. Barrier function/activity was assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), FITC‐dextran flux, and RT‐PCR. Additionally, SDS‐treated mouse esophageal organoids were evaluated for morphology. To investigate the effects of SDS in vivo, mice were treated with 0.5% SDS in drinking water for 14 days. Esophagi were assessed by gross morphology, histopathology, protein expression, and bulk RNA sequencing.

Results

When EPC2 cells were exposed to SDS (5 μg/ml) for 96 h, TEER decreased (p = 0.03), and FITC‐dextran flux increased (p = 0.0002). mRNA expression of IL‐33 increased 4.5‐fold (p = 0.02) at 6 h and DSG1 decreased (p < 0.0001) by 72 h. Disrupted epithelial integrity was noted in SDS‐treated esophageal organoids. When mice were exposed to SDS, they showed increased esophageal width, chemokine, and metalloprotease levels. Mice treated with SDS also showed increased IL‐33 protein expression, basal zone hyperplasia, CD4+ cell infiltration, and esophageal eosinophilia. RNA sequencing revealed upregulation of immune response pathway genes.

Conclusion

Exposure to SDS decreases esophageal barrier integrity, stimulates IL‐33 production, and promotes epithelial hyperplasia and tissue eosinophilia. Detergents may be a key environmental trigger in EoE pathogenesis.
“It seemed like my fault for wanting to become a mother …”—Experiences and perceptions related to motherhood in women with severe mental illness
Authors: Banerjee Debanjan , Arasappa Rashmi , Chandra Prabha S. , Desai Geetha
Published: July 2022

Background

Women with mental illness experience unique challenges during their motherhood. However, little is known about their own perceptions and unmet needs in the process of childbearing. A qualitative study design with a social constructivist paradigm was used to explore lived experiences of mothers with severe mental illness (SMI) during the childbearing period.

Methods

Semi‐structured in‐depth interviews were conducted with 30 mothers recruited through purposive sampling. This was followed by inductive thematic analysis. Rigor was established through triangulation and respondent validation. This paper focuses on the perceptions during the pre‐conception and pregnancy period.

Results

Emergent categories (themes) were thoughts/feelings about childbearing (ambivalence about being a mother/having a baby, fantasies about childbearing/rearing, guilt about pregnancy), the impact of mental illness (stigma, effect of symptoms on their self‐care including healthcare, concerns about effect of medications on fetus), unmet needs (lack of emotional support, unanswered doubts about effects of illness on pregnancy, child and motherhood, wanting to be considered as “potential mothers”), and caregivers' reactions (discrimination, anger/abuse, selective support). The centrality of motherhood and balancing the “dual role” of a patient and mother were the overarching categories after analysis.

Conclusion

Mothers with SMI prize motherhood but navigate through it with various adverse experiences. The results of this study, grounded in their voices, provide critical insights for service and policy provisions in perinatal psychiatry.
Optimal Multiple Testing and Design in Clinical Trials
Authors: Heller Ruth , Krieger Abba , Rosset Saharon
Published: July 2022

A central goal in designing clinical trials is to find the test that maximizes power (or equivalently minimizes required sample size) for finding a false null hypothesis subject to the constraint of type I error. When there is more than one test, such as in clinical trials with multiple endpoints, the issues of optimal design and optimal procedures become more complex. In this paper, we address the question of how such optimal tests should be defined and how they can be found. We review different notions of power and how they relate to study goals, and also consider the requirements of type I error control and the nature of the procedures. This leads us to an explicit optimization problem with objective and constraints that describe its specific desiderata. We present a complete solution for deriving optimal procedures for two hypotheses, which have desired monotonicity properties, and are computationally simple. For some of the optimization formulations this yields optimal procedures that are identical to existing procedures, such as Hommel's procedure or the procedure of Bittman et al. (2009), while for other cases it yields completely novel and more powerful procedures than existing ones. We demonstrate the nature of our novel procedures and their improved power extensively in a simulation and on the APEX study (Cohen et al., 2016).
Time from diagnosis to treatment is associated with survival in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia: An analysis of 55 985 patients from the National Cancer Database
Authors: Alsouqi Aseel , Rothenberger Scott D. , Boyiadzis Michael , Lontos Konstantinos
Published: July 2022

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is conventionally thought of as a medical emergency. However, several studies on the association of time from diagnosis to treatment with survival did not have concordant results. Here we analyse 55 985 AML patients from the National Cancer Database, and we show that in patients less than 60 years old a five‐day delay in chemotherapy initiation leads to worse long‐term survival. The difference is small [hazard ratio (HR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.09 in multivariate analysis] but statistically significant. This study raises the issue of power to detect small differences in retrospective studies.
The effect of changes in public sector bargaining laws on teacher union membership
Authors: Han Eunice S.
Published: July 2022

This study uses a simple model of demand for and supply of union services to analyse the effect of public sector bargaining laws on teacher unionization. Relying on a nationally representative dataset covering 2001–2018, I exploit natural experiments that occurred in several US states to identify the effect of legal and institutional changes weakening collective bargaining rights of teachers on their union membership rate. Based on both difference‐in‐difference estimation and synthetic control method, I find that the new legislation significantly reduces teachers’ union membership and that the impact of the anti‐union bills on unionization evolves, growing in magnitude, over time. I also find that the magnitudes of the impacts are greater for female, younger and minority teachers.
Behavioural and electrophysiological analyses of written word processing in spoken and literary Arabic: New insights into the diglossia question
Authors: Andria Samer , Madi‐Tarabya Bahaa , Khateb Asaid
Published: July 2022

Diglossia in Arabic describes the existence and the use of two varieties of the same language: spoken Arabic (SA) and literary Arabic (LA). SA, the dialect first spoken by Arabic native speakers, is used in non‐formal situations for everyday conversations, and varies from one region to another in the Arabic world. LA, acquired later in life when the children learn to read and write at school, is used for formal purposes such as media, speeches in public and religious sermons. Previous research showed that, in the auditory modality, SA words are processed faster than LA ones. In the visual modality, written LA words are processed faster than SA ones, the latter comparing with low‐frequency words. This study analysed event‐related potentials (ERPs) during the processing of high‐frequency (LAHF), LA low‐frequency (LALF) and SA high‐frequency words (SAHF) in a visual lexical decision task. Faster reaction times were observed for LAHF, followed by SAHF and then by LALF. ERPs showed a modulation of the early components starting from the P100 component and of the late P600 component, supposedly related to memory processes. These findings, indicating that processing written SAHF words was largely comparable with processing of LALF, are discussed in the context of Arabic diglossia.
Vertical SOC distribution and aromatic carbon in centuries old charcoal‐rich Technosols
Authors: Bonhage Alexander , Raab Thomas , Schneider Anna , Fischer Thomas , Ramezany Shaghayegh , Ouimet William , Raab Alexandra , Hirsch Florian
Published: July 2022

Charcoal‐rich Technosols on century‐old relict charcoal hearths (RCHs) are the subject of ongoing research regarding potential legacy effects that result from historic charcoal production and subsequent charcoal amendments on forest soil properties and forest ecosystems today. RCHs consist mostly of Auh horizons that are substantially enriched in soil organic carbon (SOC), of which the largest part seems to be of pyrogenic origin (PyC). However, the reported range of SOC and PyC contents in RCH soil also suggests that they are enriched in nonpyrogenic SOC. RCH soils are discussed as potential benchmarks for the long‐term influence of biochar amendment and the post‐wildfire influences on soil properties. In this study, we utilised a large soil sample dataset (n = 1245) from 52 RCH sites in north‐western Connecticut, USA, to quantify SOC contents by total element analysis. The contents of condensed highly aromatic carbon as a proxy for black carbon (BC) were predicted by using a modified benzene polycarboxylated acid (BPCA) marker method in combination with diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy‐based partial least square regression (r2 = 0.89). A high vertical spatial sampling resolution allowed the identification of soil organic matter (SOM) enrichment and translocation processes. The results show an average 75% and 1862% increase in TOC and BPCA‐derived carbon, respectively, for technogenic Auh horizons compared to reference soils. In addition to an increase in aromatic properties, increased carboxylic properties of the RCH SOC suggest self‐humification effects of degrading charcoal and thereby the continuing formation of leachable aromatic carbon compounds, which could have effects on pedogenic processes in buried soils. Indeed, we show BPCA‐derived carbon concentrations in intermediate technogenic Cu horizons and buried top/subsoils that suggest vertical translocation of highly aromatic carbon originating in RCH Auh horizons. Topmost Auh horizons showed a gradual decrease in total organic carbon (TOC) contents with increasing depth, suggesting accumulation of recent, non‐pyrogenic SOM. Lower aliphatic absorptions in RCH soil spectra suggest different SOM turnover dynamics compared to reference soils. Furthermore, studied RCH soils featured additional TOC enrichment, which cannot be fully explained now.

Highlights

BC to TOC ratio and high resolution vertical SOC distribution in 52 RCH sites were studied.

RCH soils non‐BC pool was potentially different to reference soils.

RCH soils feature TOC accumulation in the topmost horizon.

There is BC translocation into buried soils on RCH sites.
Men's experiences of receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis after opportunistic screening—A qualitative descriptive secondary analysis
Authors: Gellerstedt Linda , Langius‐Eklöf Ann , Kelmendi Nazmije , Sundberg Kay , Craftman Åsa G.
Published: July 2022

Background

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men and could occur without symptoms. Screening has been debated but remains controversial and, in most countries, organized population‐based screening does not exist. The aim of this study was to describe men's experiences of receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis after opportunistic screening.

Methods

This study is a secondary analysis from interviews with 17 men (aged 56–80 years) who had undergone curative treatment for prostate cancer. Data were collected in an urban region of Sweden through interviews conducted face to face or by telephone. An inductive content analysis was used with Consolidated criteria for Reporting Qualitative research as a reporting checklist.

Results

Two main categories were identified. Screening is a lifesaver enclosed by ethical dilemmas reflects how men considered screening as a lifesaving test. Testing was surrounded by injustice and an eagerness to encourage other men to undergo screening. Facing challenges during diagnosis reflects the men's experiences of being in an unknown field yet expected to engage in decision‐making concerning appropriate treatment. Receiving the diagnosis rendered mixed emotions about having a cancer disease, that the treatment could cause lifelong symptom distress and the men described being hesitant to talk about their diagnosis.

Conclusions

The findings highlight men's opinions about screening and that the lack of routine screening represents injustice. The men considered this as an ethical question of lifesaving justice, while stakeholders may argue that screening could lead to unnecessary suffering and overtreatment. Men do not always talk openly about their diagnosis, linked to the fact that it concerns intimate areas. It is important to balance the information in relation to shared decision‐making regarding treatment. Health care professionals have an ethical responsibility to support and coach the patient in their decision.

Patient or Public Contribution

This study was based on interviews with men who had experienced a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Fabrication of soybean protein‐based meat with two‐phases
Authors: Zhan Zerun , Zhou Yinglin , Cai Xingzhe , Liu Hongsheng , Chen Ling , Yu Long
Published: July 2022

Plant protein‐based meats have attracted great attention and their market is expanding rapidly. So far, most the plant protein‐based meats in the market are single phase, thus their textures are somewhat different from real meats that contains multiphases including muscle (fibre) and fat (soft). In this work, soybean protein‐based meats with two‐phases (fibre and fat texture) were firstly developed. A unique fabrication processing including freeze‐dry and second coagulation was designed and developed. The fibre fragment was prepared firstly by freeze drying bean curd (tofu); then it was immersed into fully absorbed soybean suspension containing a coagulant at lower temperature. Secondly, the fragment containing the soybean suspension was heated to 80 °C for second coagulation and then pressed to remove moisture. The mechanical properties of the final products depend on both the protein fragment and soybean hydrogel that were added.
USP12 positively regulates M‐MDSC function to inhibit antitumour immunity through deubiquitinating and stabilizing p65
Authors: Zhan Xiaoxia , He Qiuying , Sheng Junli , Jiang Xiaobing , Lin Letao , Huang Yulan , He Shitong , Chen Yitian , Li Laisheng , Zeng Zhijie , Hu Shengfeng , Wang Peng , Zhang Yanling
Published: July 2022

The relative abundance of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) compared to cytotoxic T cells determines the outcomes of diseases and the efficacy of immunotherapy. Ubiquitin‐specific peptidase 12 (USP12), a member of the USP family of deubiquitinases, targets multiple signalling pathways and regulates diverse biological processes, including cell proliferation and survival. It is well known that ubiquitylation is an important mechanism for regulating the immune response. However, it is unclear whether USP12 regulates tumour growth by influencing MDSCs. In the present study, we reported that USP12 deficiency decreased infiltration and impaired the suppressor function of monocytic (M)‐MDSCs, resulting in increased CD8+ T‐cell response and decelerated tumour growth. USP12‐knockout M‐MDSCs were less potent in inhibiting the proliferation of CD8+ T cells and their ability to secrete IFN‐γ. Furthermore, USP12 deficiency inhibited the suppressor function of M‐MDSCs by downregulating the negative regulatory molecules inducible nitric oxide synthase and PD‐L1, through deubiquitinating and stabilizing p65. Our results suggest that USP12 is a positive regulator of M‐MDSCs and may serve as a potential target for antitumor therapy.
Facilitating systemic eco‐innovation to pave the way for a circular economy: A qualitative‐empirical study on barriers and drivers in the European polyurethane industry
Authors: Schultz Felix Carl , Reinhardt Robert Jaroslav
Published: July 2022

Scholars, politicians, and practitioners have recently advocated that eco‐innovation (EI) is critical to achieve the circular economy (CE) vision. While much of the available body of knowledge on EI has predominantly focused on “eco‐efficient” incremental technological innovation, a successful CE transition requires systemic “eco‐effective” CE innovation. Yet, little is known about what barriers and drivers are stimulating systemic CE innovation in different sectors and regions. This research aims to deliver an identification of major CE barriers and drivers that impede or facilitate systemic “eco‐effective” CE innovation in the European polyurethane plastics industry. A hybrid research approach is applied using an original combination of the inductive GABEK method (“GAnzheitliche BEwältigung von Komplexität”—holistic processing of complexity) with deductive consideration of existing theories. Novel findings indicate that barriers to CE innovation largely materialize on individual firm and intra‐industrial levels, while drivers to CE innovation primarily manifest beyond immediate industrial boundaries (inter‐/cross‐industrial). The key contribution lies on revealing the necessity to reframe the focus from mere individual “optimization”, which has been primarily discussed in the contemporary EI literature, to a collective (horizontal) “coordination” challenge across industries to enable a functional CE innovation. In addition, five strategic deliberations are proposed to facilitate and further advance the management of systemic CE innovation activities.
Pathways of personality and learning risk for addictive behaviors: A systematic review of mediational research on the acquired preparedness model
Authors: Halvorson Max A. , Lengua Liliana J. , Smith Gregory T. , King Kevin M.
Published: July 2022

Objective

The Acquired Preparedness (AP) model proposes that impulsive personality traits predispose some individuals to learn certain behavior‐outcome associations (expectancies), and that these expectancies in turn influence the escalation of risky behaviors. This theory has been applied to the development of behaviors such as drinking, drug use, gambling, and disordered eating. In the current study, we aimed to summarize empirical tests of this model over the 20 years since it was proposed.

Method

We used a descriptive approach to summarize tests of mediation across 50 studies involving n = 21,715 total participants.

Results

We observed a consistent effect of personality on expectancies (median effect size = .22), of expectancies on behavior (.24), and a small mediated effect (.05) of personality on behavior via expectancies. Impulsive traits that involve positive or negative affect showed the most consistent support for AP, as did positive expectancies. Most studies testing AP focused on alcohol, but research on other behaviors also showed support for AP.

Conclusions

The literature appears to support a small mediated effect consistent with the AP model. Future research should continue to clarify which AP pathways are most influential in explaining risky behaviors, and supplement correlational research with experimental and quasi‐experimental designs.
A new framework for advancing in drug‐induced liver injury research. The Prospective European DILI Registry
Authors: Björnsson Einar S. , Stephens Camilla , Atallah Edmond , Robles‐Diaz Mercedes , Alvarez‐Alvarez Ismael , Gerbes Alexander , Weber Sabine , Stirnimann Guido , Kullak‐Ublick Gerd , Cortez‐Pinto Helena , Grove Jane I. , Lucena M. Isabel , Andrade Raul J. , Aithal Guruprasad P.
Published: July 2022

Background & Aims

No multi‐national prospective study of drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) has originated in Europe. The design of a prospective European DILI registry, clinical features and short‐term outcomes of the cases and controls is reported.

Methods

Patients with suspected DILI were prospectively enrolled in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal and Iceland, 2016–2021. DILI cases or non‐DILI acute liver injury controls following causality assessment were enrolled.

Results

Of 446 adjudicated patients, 246 DILI patients and 100 had acute liver injury due to other aetiologies, mostly autoimmune hepatitis (n = 42) and viral hepatitis (n = 34). DILI patients (mean age 56 years), 57% women, 60% with jaundice and 3.6% had pre‐existing liver disease. DILI cases and non‐DILI acute liver injury controls had similar demographics, clinical features and outcomes. A single agent was implicated in 199 (81%) DILI cases. Amoxicillin‐clavulanate, flucloxacillin, atorvastatin, nivolumab/ipilimumab, infliximab and nitrofurantoin were the most commonly implicated drugs. Multiple conventional medications were implicated in 37 (15%) and 18 cases were caused by herbal and dietary supplements. The most common single causative drug classes were antibacterials (40%) and antineoplastic/immunomodulating agents (27%). Overall, 13 (5.3%) had drug‐induced autoimmune‐like hepatitis due to nitrofurantoin, methyldopa, infliximab, methylprednisolone and minocycline. Only six (2.4%) DILI patients died (50% had liver‐related death), and another six received liver transplantation.

Conclusions

In this first multi‐national European prospective DILI Registry study, antibacterials were the most commonly implicated medications, whereas antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents accounted for higher proportion of DILI than previously described. This European initiative provides an important opportunity to advance the study on DILI.
Faith and traditions
Authors: Buchak Lara
Published: July 2022

One phenomenon arising in epistemic life is allegiance to, and break from, a tradition. This phenomenon has three central features. First, individuals who adhere to a tradition seem to respond dogmatically to evidence against their tradition. Second, individuals from different traditions appear to see the same evidence differently. And third, conversion from one tradition to another appears to be different in kind from ordinary belief shift. This paper uses recent work on the nature and rationality of faith to show that these features can all emerge from individuals acting rationally—in particular, from individuals rationally having faith in the core assumptions of their traditions. One upshot is that we don't need to employ the idea of incommensurability to explain these features.
Personality traits modulate the neural responses to handwriting processing
Authors: Yang Yang , Li Junjun , Zhang Jun , Zhou Ke , Kao Henry S. R. , Bi Hong‐Yan , Xu Min
Published: July 2022

Handwriting is a vital skill for everyday human activities. It has a wealth of information about writers’ characteristics and can hint toward underlying neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, autism, dyslexia, and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many previous studies have reported a link between personality and individual differences in handwriting, but the evidence for the relationship tends to be anecdotal in nature. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we examined whether the association between personality traits and handwriting was instantiated at the neural level. Results showed that the personality trait of conscientiousness modulated brain activation in the left premotor cortex and right inferior/middle frontal gyrus, which may reflect the impact of personality on orthography‐to‐grapheme transformation and executive control involved in handwriting. Such correlations were not observed in symbol‐drawing or word‐reading tasks, suggesting the specificity of the link between conscientiousness and handwriting in these regions. Moreover, using a connectome‐based predictive modeling approach, we found that individuals’ conscientiousness scores could be predicted based on handwriting‐related functional brain networks, suggesting that the influence of personality on handwriting may occur within a broader network. Our findings provide neural evidence for the link between personality and handwriting processing, extending our understanding of the nature of individual differences in handwriting.
Same‐Sex Marriage Legalization and Sexually Transmitted Infections Across Europe*
Authors: Nikolaou Dimitrios
Published: July 2022

I examine how same‐sex marriage laws affect sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates, using country‐level panel data from Europe. Dynamic difference‐in‐differences models show that same‐sex marriage laws decrease the spread of shorter‐term (syphilis, gonorrhoea) and longer‐term infections (HIV, AIDS) among the general population. These effects are persistent over time and are much stronger than other same‐sex relationship recognition policies. Further investigation reveals significant heterogeneity; same‐sex marriage laws lead to sizeable decreases in all STIs among the most at‐risk population for an infection, men who have sex with men, with additional positive externalities on the health capital of heterosexual men and women.
Incidence, risk factors, outcomes, and clinical management of BK viremia in the modern era of kidney transplantation
Authors: Qeska Denis , Wong Rebecca Bic Kay , Famure Olusegun , Li Yanhong , Pang Hilary , Liang Xin Yun , Zhu Mary Parker , Husain Shahid , Kim Sang Joseph
Published: July 2022

BK viremia is endemic among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Incidence, risk factors, outcomes, and clinical
management of detectable versus high BK viremia have not been considered previously in KTR in the modern era. This observational study examined KTR transplanted between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2016. Any BK viral load in the serum constituted detectable BK viremia and ≥103 copies/ml constituted high viremia. Among 1193 KTRs, the cumulative probability of developing detectable and high BK viremia within 2 years posttransplant were 27.8% and 19.6%, respectively. Significant risk factors for detectable BK viremia included recipient age (HR 1.02 [95% CI: 1.01, 1.03]) and donor age (HR 1.01 [95% CI: 1.00, 1.02]). Recipient age also predicted high BK viremia (HR 1.02 [95% CI: 1.01, 1.03]), whereas White race (HR 0.70 [95% CI: 0.52, 0.95]), nondepleting induction therapy (HR 0.61 [95% CI: 0.42, 0.89]), and delayed graft function (HR 0.61 [95% CI: 0.42, 0.88]) were protective. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rates were 4.28 ml/min/1.72 m2 (95% CI: 2.71, 5.84) lower with detectable BK viremia. Although low viral load was usually not acted upon at first presentation, antiproliferative dose reductions were the most common initial management. BK viremia remains a common early complication in a modern cohort of KTRs. These findings highlight the benefit of early BKV monitoring in addition to intensive clinical management. Clinical responses beyond first positive BK viremia tests, and their implications for graft outcomes, merit further investigation.

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Nanosecond protonic programmable resistors for analog deep learning
Authors: Onen Murat , Emond Nicolas , Wang Baoming , Zhang Difei , Ross Frances M. , Li Ju , Yildiz Bilge , del Alamo Jesús A.
Published: July 2022

Nanoscale ionic programmable resistors for analog deep learning are 1000 times smaller than biological cells, but it is not yet clear how much faster they can be relative to neurons and synapses. Scaling analyses of ionic transport and charge-transfer reaction rates point to operation in the nonlinear regime, where extreme electric fields are present within the solid electrolyte and its interfaces. In this work, we generated silicon-compatible nanoscale protonic programmable resistors with highly desirable characteristics under extreme electric fields. This operation regime enabled controlled shuttling and intercalation of protons in nanoseconds at room temperature in an energy-efficient manner. The devices showed symmetric, linear, and reversible modulation characteristics with many conductance states covering a 20× dynamic range. Thus, the space-time-energy performance of the all–solid-state artificial synapses can greatly exceed that of their biological counterparts.
Seeing inside a body in motion
Authors: Tan Philip , Lu Nanshu
Published: July 2022

Adhesive ultrasound patches can provide medical imaging for patients on the go
Did pollination exist before plants?
Authors: Ollerton Jeff , Ren Zong-Xin
Published: July 2022

Research shows that seaweeds depend on crustaceans for fertilization
NSF grant decisions reflect systemic racism, study argues
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: July 2022

Success rates for white scientists far exceed the NSF average, whereas Black and Asian researchers do worse
The most unusual birds are also the most at risk
Authors: Pennisi Elizabeth
Published: July 2022

Two studies predict homogenization of the avian world as climate change and other human impacts continue
Analysis of
Streptomyces
Volatilomes Using Global Molecular Networking Reveals the Presence of Metabolites with Diverse Biological Activities
Authors: Liu Jingyu , Clarke Jody-Ann , McCann Sean , Hillier N. Kirk , Tahlan Kapil
Published: July 2022

This study represents the first detailed analysis of
Streptomyces
volatilomes using MSHub/GNPS, which in combination with a routinely used conventional method led to many annotations. More VOCs could be annotated using MSHub/GNPS as compared to the conventional method, many of which have known antimicrobial, anticancer, and insect behavior-modulating activities.
Cystic fibrosis associated with Wernicke’s encephalopathy in an older adult
Authors: Vijayavel Nirmal , Koh Sung Woo , Goodman Elizabeth Leigh
Published: July 2022

Here we report the first case of an association between cystic fibrosis and Wernicke’s encephalopathy. The patient had a history of cystic fibrosis diagnosed in her early 60s associated with pancreatitis and chronic lung disease. She presented with a traumatic hip fracture requiring operative repair. On examination, she was found to have bilateral nystagmus. MRI revealed enhancement of the mammillary bodies. Laboratory results were notable for thiamine deficiency, which in context of the radiographic and physical examination findings, confirmed a diagnosis of Wernicke’s encephalopathy. The cause of her low thiamine was thought to be poor dietary intake, weight loss and malabsorption associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in the setting of a history of recurrent pancreatitis. The patient had complete resolution of her symptoms with the initiation of thiamine supplementation and pancreatic enzymes. Although classically associated with fat soluble vitamin deficiencies, there are increasing reports of water-soluble vitamin deficiencies associated with cystic fibrosis.
Measuring multimorbidity in research: Delphi consensus study
Authors: Ho Iris S S , Azcoaga-Lorenzo Amaya , Akbari Ashley , Davies Jim , Khunti Kamlesh , Kadam Umesh T , Lyons Ronan A , McCowan Colin , Mercer Stewart W , Nirantharakumar Krishnarajah , Staniszewska Sophie , Guthrie Bruce
Published: July 2022

Objective

To develop international consensus on the definition and measurement of multimorbidity in research.

Design

Delphi consensus study.

Setting

International consensus; data collected in three online rounds from participants between 30 November 2020 and 18 May 2021.

Participants

Professionals interested in multimorbidity and people with long term conditions were recruited to professional and public panels.

Results

150 professional and 25 public participants completed the first survey round. Response rates for rounds 2/3 were 83%/92% for professionals and 88%/93% in the public panel, respectively. Across both panels, the consensus was that multimorbidity should be defined as two or more long term conditions. Complex multimorbidity was perceived to be a useful concept, but the panels were unable to agree on how to define it. Both panels agreed that conditions should be included in a multimorbidity measure if they were one or more of the following: currently active; permanent in their effects; requiring current treatment, care, or therapy; requiring surveillance; or relapsing-remitting conditions requiring ongoing care. Consensus was reached for 24 conditions to always include in multimorbidity measures, and 35 conditions to usually include unless a good reason not to existed. Simple counts were preferred for estimating prevalence and examining clustering or trajectories, and weighted measures were preferred for risk adjustment and outcome prediction.

Conclusions

Previous multimorbidity research is limited by inconsistent definitions and approaches to measuring multimorbidity. This Delphi study identifies professional and public panel consensus guidance to facilitate consistency of definition and measurement, and to improve study comparability and reproducibility.
Serum IgG levels to Epstein-Barr and measles viruses in patients with multiple sclerosis during natalizumab and interferon beta treatment
Authors: Persson Berg Linn , Eriksson Marcus , Longhi Sonia , Kockum Ingrid , Warnke Clemens , Thomsson Elisabeth , Bäckström Malin , Olsson Tomas , Fogdell-Hahn Anna , Bergström Tomas
Published: July 2022

Background

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) demonstrate higher seroprevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and increased anti-EBV IgG levels in serum compared with healthy controls. Intrathecal antibody production to measles virus (MeV) is a common finding in patients with MS.

Objective

To measure serum IgG reactivity to EBV glycoprotein 350 (gp350) and MeV nucleocapsid protein (NCORE) in patients with MS and healthy controls and to determine if reactivity changed in patients during interferon beta (IFNβ) and/or natalizumab (NAT) treatment. A secondary aim was to determine the seroprevalence of EBV in patients and controls.

Methods

Patients with MS (n=728) were included from the Swedish pharmacovigilance study for NAT. Paired serum samples from 714 patients drawn before and during NAT treatment and paired samples from 170 patients during prior IFNβ treatment were analysed. In total, 156 patients were included in both groups. Samples from 144 matched blood donors served as controls. Indirect ELISA was applied using recombinant EBVgp350 and MeV NCOREas antigens. EBVgp350 IgG seronegative samples were also analysed using EBV nuclear antigen 1 and viral capsid antigen (VCA).

Results

Patients with MS showed higher serum levels of anti-EBVgp350 and anti-MeV NCOREIgG compared with controls. During NAT treatment, the levels of anti-EBVgp350 and anti-MeV NCOREIgG declined, compared with the relatively stable levels noted during prior IFNβ treatment. Ten patients failed to demonstrate anti-EBVgp350 IgG but did show detectable anti-VCA IgG, indicating EBV seropositivity. In contrast, 10/144 controls were EBV seronegative.

Conclusions

Treatment with NAT, which is considered a selective immunosuppressive agent with a compartmentalised effect on the central nervous system, appeared to be associated with a moderate decrease in circulating IgG levels to EBVgp350 and MeV NCORE. All patients with MS were EBV IgG seropositive, supporting the potential role of EBV in the pathogenesis of MS.
Evaluation of the safety, tolerability and plasma vitamin D response to long-term use of patented transdermal vitamin D patches in healthy adults: a randomised parallel pilot study
Authors: Jefferson Angie , Borges Clarice
Published: July 2022

Background

Vitamin D delivered transdermally may suppress hyperactivity in nociceptor pain receptors and alter pain intensity, offering a useful addition to localised pain management in varying clinical settings. Currently, little is known about long-term usage of continuous-release vitamin D patches.

Method

We conducted a randomised parallel pilot trial to evaluate safety and tolerability of daily application of patented (US8821921B2) transdermal vitamin D patches over 8 weeks and assess time-level profile of serum vitamin D. Compliance, tolerance and sun exposure were monitored daily, serum 25(OH)D measured 2-weekly and dietary intake and safety markers 4-weekly.

Results

Thirty healthy adults were randomised to two treatment groups: big patch and small patch. mean age was 36 years (20–68 years) with a 63% female to 37% male split. Patches differed in size but contained identical ingredients including 30 000 IU cholecalciferol. Physical and blood safety markers remained stable, within normal clinical parameters, and with no clinically meaningful changes throughout. Five big patch participants experienced skin irritation, which was mild and occasional for three, but continuous for two leading to patch withdrawal. There were no skin reactions in small patch group. average, serum 25(OH)D levels increased by +14 nmol/L (SD 11.63, range, −4 to 40 nmol/L) between baseline and week 8, with no significant differences between patch sizes. There was a shift in overall vitamin D status between baseline and week 8 (23% deficient (<30 nmol/L) decreasing to 0%, and normal (>50 nmol/L) increasing from 37% to 70% at week 8).

Conclusion

Based on these results, long-term (8 weeks) application of patented transdermal vitamin D patches was found to be safe. There may be minor skin tolerance issues with big patches for some, which appears to relate to patch size. Larger trials are warranted to explore the increase in vitamin D levels beyond 8 weeks.

Trial registration number

NCT04851990.
Improving heart failure care and guideline-directed medical therapy through proactive remote patient monitoring-home telehealth and pharmacy integration
Authors: Lynch Kimberly A , Ganz David A , Saliba Debra , Chang Donald S , de Peralta Shelly S
Published: July 2022

To address ambulatory care sensitive hospitalisations in heart failure (HF), we implemented a quality improvement initiative to reduce admissions and improve guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) prescription, through proactive integration of remote patient monitoring-home telehealth (RPM-HT) and pharmacist consultations. Each enrolled patient (n=38) was assigned an RPM-HT registered nurse (RN), cardiology licensed independent provider (provider), and, if referred, a clinical pharmacy specialist (pharmacist). The RN called patients weekly and for changes detected by RPM-HT, while the pharmacist worked to optimise GDMT. The RN and pharmacist communicated clinical status changes to the provider for expedited management. Process measures were the percentage of outbound RN weekly calls missed per enrolled patient; the weekly percentage of provider interventions missed; and the number of initiative-driven diuretic changes. Outcome measures included eligible GDMT medications prescribed, optimisation of those medications, and the pre–post difference in emergency department (ED) visits/hospitalisations. After a 4-week run-in period, RN weekly calls missed per enrolled patient decreased from a mean of 21.4% (weeks 5–15) to 10.2% (weeks 16–23). Weekly missed provider interventions decreased from a mean of 15.1% (weeks 1–15) to 3.4% (weeks 16–23), with special cause variation detected. The initiative resulted in 43 diuretic changes in 21 patients. Among 34 active patients, 65 ED visits (0.16 per person-month) occurred in 12 months pre intervention compared with 8 ED visits (0.04 per person-month) for 6 intervention months (p<0.001). Among 16 patients referred to pharmacist, the per cent of eligible GDMT medications prescribed increased by 17.1% (p<0.001); the number of patients receiving all eligible medications increased from 3 to 11 (p=0.008). Similarly, the per cent optimisation of GDMT doses increased by 25.3% (p<0.001), with the number of patients maximally optimised on GDMT increasing from 1 to 6 (p=0.06). We concluded that a cardiology, RPM-HT RN and pharmacist team improved prescription of GDMT and may have reduced HF admissions.