bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Big data in anaesthesia: a narrative, nonsystematic review
Authors: Dony Philippe , Florquin Rémi , Forget Patrice
Published: August 2023

Data generation is growing with the use of ‘anaesthesia information management systems’ (AIMS), but the appropriate use of data for scientific purposes is often wasted by a lack of integration. This narrative review aims to describe the use of routinely collected data and its potential usefulness to improve the quality of care, first by defining the six levels of integration of electronic health records as proposed by the National Health Service (NHS) illustrated by examples in anaesthesia practice. Secondly, by explaining what measures can be taken to profit from those data on the micro-system level (for the patient), the meso-system (for the department and the hospital institution) and the macro-system (for healthcare and public health). We will next describe a homemade AIMS solution and the opportunities which result from his integration on the different levels and the research prospects implied. Opportunities outside of high-income countries will also be presented. All lead to the conclusion that a core dataset for peri-operative global research may facilitate a framework for the integration of large volumes of data from electronic health records. It will allow a constant re-evaluation of our practice as anaesthesiologists to offer the best care for patients. In this regard, the training of some anaesthesiologists in data science and artificial intelligence is of paramount importance. We must also take into account the ecological footprint of data centres as these are energy-consuming. It is essential to prepare for these changes and turn the speciality of anaesthesia, collaborating with data scientists, into a more prominent role of peri-operative medicine.
Socialization, education and learning for the internet (SELFI): development and pilot of a social media skills program for autistic adults
Authors: Osuna Anthony , Tagavi Daina , Sabini Katie , Vernon Ty
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and pilot of a novel program to support autistic adults with social media use. Social media use among autistic adults has been associated with increased happiness and closer friendships. However, autistic adults are at risk of social media challenges such as cyber-victimization. To date, no programs exist that specifically support autistic adults with safe and effective social media use. The primary aim of this study was to develop and pilot test a novel social media skills program for feasibility and acceptability. A secondary aim was to explore changes in Facebook activity as a proxy for online social engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The socialization, education and learning for the internet (SELFI) program was developed by identifying relevant target skills, goals, considerations and evidence-based strategies to help autistic adults with online social communication. The developed SELFI program was then pilot tested with six autistic male young adults to explore initial feasibility (fidelity of delivery, attendance) and acceptability (attrition, enjoyment and programmatic feedback). Facebook data were collected to explore differences in the frequency of likes/reactions, comments and posts after completion of the program.

Findings

Each participant completed all procedures and attended every session. There was no attrition from the program. The average fidelity score for recorded sessions was 85.1%. Most participants endorsed agreement with program enjoyment and that it helped them maintain current relationships. Participant feedback provided valuable information regarding areas of strength and areas that needed improvement. Each participant who completed the study demonstrated increased Facebook engagement across likes/reactions, comments and posts.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include a small all-male sample, exclusion of adults with intellectual disabilities and adolescents and dependence on Facebook data. Additionally, the developed program did not incorporate feedback from relevant stakeholders, including autistic adults.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to explore support for autistic adults specifically related to social media use.
Influence of social media influencer authenticity on their followers' perceptions of credibility and their positive word-of-mouth
Authors: Wang Edward Shih-Tse , Weng Yu-Jou
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Increasing followers' positive word-of-mouth (PWOM) is a critical means through which social media influencers (SMIs) marketers can increase SMIs' follower count. Studies have reported that authenticity and credibility increase followers' PWOM and have identified the dimensions of authenticity (i.e. originality, naturalness and continuity) and credibility (i.e. attractiveness, trustworthiness and expertise). However, the mechanisms underlying the associations among these dimensions are unclear. Drawing from social exchange theory, the authors developed an integrated conceptual model and explored how the dimensions of SMI authenticity affect those of followers' perception of credibility. Moreover, the authors analyzed how followers' perception of credibility affects the followers' PWOM behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected 463 valid questionnaires from respondents that followed at least one SMI. Additionally, the authors developed a structural equation model for data analysis.

Findings

The results revealed that the subdimensions of SMI authenticity have different effects on followers' perception of credibility. An SMI's continuity positively affects followers' perceptions of the SMI's trustworthiness and expertise. The naturalness of an SMI positively affects followers' perception of the SMI's attractiveness but nonsignificantly affects followers' perception of the SMI's trustworthiness. Additionally, an SMI's originality positively affects followers' perception of the SMI's attractiveness but negatively affects followers' perception of the SMI's trustworthiness. Finally, followers' perceptions of an SMI's attractiveness, trustworthiness and expertise all positively affect followers' PWOM behavior.

Originality/value

By employing multidimensional constructs, the authors obtained results that provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of SMI authenticity on the SMI's followers' perception of followers' credibility. These results can be used by SMIs to increase SMIs followers' PWOM by determining which aspects of authenticity and credibility SMIs should develop.
A scale for measuring tourists’ technological competence
Authors: Lin Wei-Rong , Lee Shin-Shiuan , Huang Wen-Shiung
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Tourists must possess technological competence, as technology becomes increasingly ubiquitous in travel. However, few studies have investigated tourists’ technological competence (TTC). Thus, this study aims to develop a valid and reliable scale for measuring TTC.

Design/methodology/approach

In the development of the scale, the authors first reviewed the literature and consulted experts to formulate an initial set of items. The items were then reduced using exploratory factor analysis, and the measures were validated through confirmatory factor analysis. Two distinct sets of data were collected to develop and validate the TTC scale.

Findings

The final scale has 21 items and five factors: searching and booking for travel information online, using self-service systems, operating VR/AR technologies, using apps for travel and using technology at tourist destination. After analyzing the reliability, construct validity, criterion-related validity and known-group validity, the TTC scale has been established as a measurement tool with acceptable reliability and validity.

Originality/value

The authors proposed the concept of technological competence in tourists and developed a scale to measure it. In addition to filling research gaps, understanding the items relating to TTC can help promote tourism education in the digital and technological age and provide reference for those developing technological services at tourist destinations.
Intellectual capital's contribution to innovative female agri-start-ups: a multiple case study
Authors: Modaffari Giuseppe , Paoloni Niccolò , Manzo Martina
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Women-led enterprises can count on intellectual capital (IC) to implement a knowledge exchange process, improve managerial skills and provide themselves with more certain and reasonable financial resources. Recently, the literature has recognized a new paradigm of innovation, known as open innovation (OI) that emphasizes the strategic importance of relationships for knowledge development. The paper, first, aims to investigate if IC can support female agri-start-ups’ innovation process. Second, the aim is to analyse the ways in which IC supports female agri-start-ups.

Design/methodology/approach

The work uses a qualitative methodology and a multiple case study supports the paper. Data were acquired using direct semi-structured interviews. To read and interpret them, the authors resorted to the C.A.O.S. model that permits examining the direct relationships in terms of relational capital (RC) and also, observing the effect produced by the relational circuit in terms of human capital (HC) and structural capital (SC) in small and medium enterprises.

Findings

Findings reveal that RC plays a fundamental role in innovative start-up's development. The S-C and S-O links support business management and help fill the gender financial gap. This leads to improving entrepreneurial skills (HC) and promoting internal innovative solutions (SC). The S-A links can help the entrepreneur acquire more awareness of the market and compete better.

Originality/value

The research contributes to IC and gender studies, with a specific focus on RC and the innovation process. Although the literature has already investigated the role of RC in female entrepreneurship, only few previous research have conducted a qualitative analysis about the relationships established in the peculiar context of innovative agri-start-ups.
Australian public libraries during the COVID-19 crisis: operations, management and service provision
Authors: Wakeling Simon , Garner Jane , Kennan Mary Anne , Hider Philip , Jamali Hamid R. , Randell-Moon Holly Eva Katherine , Mansourian Yazdan
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this research was to investigate how Australian public libraries responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of management, planning and communication. The study also investigated operational approaches to the development and implementation of new and adapted models of service and resource delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilising a multiple qualitative case study approach, interviews were conducted with 15 Australian public library staff members at three library services – one inner-city, one regional and one remote. Inductive thematic analysis was employed to generate insights into the operations and management strategies employed during the COVID-19 crisis.

Findings

Findings suggest that public library managers performed admirably in the face of significant logistical, budgetary and regulatory challenges. Five key themes emerged to represent the ways in which public library leaders responded effectively to the crisis: resourcefulness, flexibility, presence, sensitivity and communication. Results also demonstrate the importance placed on library users’ welfare.

Originality/value

This research represents the first study to focus on the response of Australian public library managers to the significant challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify the strategies employed by library leaders to respond effectively. In doing so this research provides valuable insights into how public library managers can prepare for future crises.
The joint effects of partner rotation and allocation of audit hours on audit quality
Authors: Kang Minjung , Kim Sangil , Lee Ho-Young
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of allocation of audit hours to year-round audits and audit partners on audit quality when a new partner is appointed.

Design/methodology/approach

Using proprietary data of partners’ names and audit hours in the year-round context, the authors build a model testing input factors related to audit production and new partner assignment in 1,209 Korean listed firms during the period of 2015–2018.

Findings

The results show that in the partner rotation, the more audit hours spent, the more audit hours are allocated to the year-round audit, or more nonpartners’ audit hours are allocated to the year-round audit, the higher the audit quality. Subsample analyses show that these findings are concentrated in firms with longer audit tenure or low audit risk.

Research limitations/implications

The findings may provide regulatory authorities with practical guidelines concerning partner rotation and how to allocate audit hours to different audit stages and ranks (partner vs staff).

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study provides the first evidence of the joint effects of partner rotation and audit hour allocation on audit quality.
Assessing the relationship between officers' broad cultural attitudes and their situational perceptions of firearm danger
Authors: Somers Logan J. , Terrill William
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The focus of the current study is to assess whether officers' broad attitudinal orientations are linked with their situational perceptions of danger in various armed citizen encounters.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on survey data from 672 officers employed at a large metropolitan police department. The police culture literature is used to inform measures of occupational stress, danger, citizen distrust, views of upper management, and role orientation in relation to how officers perceive danger across a series of scenarios involving armed citizens that varied in terms of firearm placement and citizen resistance. Along with a host of control variables, a series of multivariate models are used to evaluate the degree to which these aggregated cultural views may shape officers' situational perceptions of danger.

Findings

The results indicate that a stronger endorsement of broad attitudinal orientations involving occupational danger and citizen distrust are linked with higher perceptions of danger in armed-citizen encounters, especially as the situations become more discretionary.

Originality/value

Empirical research related to police culture has typically relied upon highly aggregated assessments of how officers view their occupational and organizational work environments. However, yet to be explored is whether these broad views impact officers' assessments of specific encounters, particularly those that are dangerous in nature. The findings from this study also have the potential to inform ambiguous use of force standards that are heavily influenced by officers' situational assessments of danger.
Indian Railways: enhancing northeast connectivity with Half-Y connection
Authors: Kishore Sanjeev , Srivastava Vandana
Published: August 2023

Research methodology

The case has been developed as an illustrative case study using primary data. The data and images used for developing the case have been collected from the Alipurduar Division of Indian Railways with suitable permissions. The specific newspaper studies used in developing the case content have been referenced as footnotes on the relevant pages of the case study document.

Case overview/synopsis

Train operations in Alipurduar Division of Northeast Frontier Railway zone of Indian Railways are difficult. The division provides the vital rail link between the northeast states and the rest of India. Railway lines in the Alipurduar Division pass through several forests with a significant elephant population. As an outcome of train–elephant conflicts, train operations on one of the railway lines operate under severe speed restrictions. Moreover, the region is known for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for almost six months every year. For the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), the protagonist of the case, this implied repeated congestion, traffic disruptions, inadvertent delays and lack of time for critical maintenance of the tracks. A solution was planned several years ago for creating an alternative path to de-congest the traffic; however, it ran into a roadblock due to land acquisition issues.With all these limitations, could a solution be found and implemented? How could it be executed?The case illustrates how a simple yet innovative solution was proposed by the DRM in 2015 and implemented in 2016.With this case, students will be able to understand the innovation process that is embedded within long-term infrastructure projects. The case will help students understand how innovation can take place even in the later stages of project implementation, and how simple and creative solutions can have a long-term impact.

Complexity academic level

The case can be used in graduate and executive education courses in General Management and in Public Policy Management. It can also be used in Doctoral-Level Programmes such as those taught to scholars pursuing Fellow Programme in Management. Since the case brings out elements of problem framing and critical thinking, the case can be used for courses in strategic management. Many professionals, particularly those working in large organizations dealing with large infrastructure projects, will identify with the DRM and the challenges faced by him.
Expanding Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120's acyl‐CoA portfolio: Propionate production in mineral salt medium
Authors: Neves Dário , Meinen Daniel , Alter Tobias B. , Blank Lars M. , Ebert Birgitta E.
Published: August 2023

As one of the main precursors, acetyl‐CoA leads to the predominant production of even‐chain products. From an industrial biotechnology perspective, extending the acyl‐CoA portfolio of a cell factory is vital to producing industrial relevant odd‐chain alcohols, acids, ketones and polyketides. The bioproduction of odd‐chain molecules can be facilitated by incorporating propionyl‐CoA into the metabolic network. The shortest pathway for propionyl‐CoA production, which relies on succinyl‐CoA catabolism encoded by the sleeping beauty mutase operon, was evaluated in Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120. A single genomic copy of the sleeping beauty mutase genes scpA, argK and scpB combined with the deletion of the methylcitrate synthase PVLB_08385 was sufficient to observe propionyl‐CoA accumulation in this Pseudomonas. The chassis' capability for odd‐chain product synthesis was assessed by expressing an acyl‐CoA hydrolase, which enabled propionate synthesis. Three fed‐batch strategies during bioreactor fermentations were benchmarked for propionate production, in which a maximal propionate titre of 2.8 g L−1 was achieved. Considering that the fermentations were carried out in mineral salt medium under aerobic conditions and that a single genome copy drove propionyl‐CoA production, this result highlights the potential of Pseudomonas to produce propionyl‐CoA derived, odd‐chain products.
Monocyte‐to‐lymphocyte, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte and neutrophil‐to‐monocyte plus lymphocyte ratios in children with active tuberculosis: A multicentre study
Authors: Cursi Laura , Lancella Laura , Mariani Francesco , Martino Laura , Leccese Bianca , Di Giuseppe Martina , Venuti Francesco , Cristina Russo , Gentile Leonarda , Sali Michela , Delogu Giovanni , Valentini Piero , Buonsenso Danilo
Published: August 2023

Aim

Higher number of monocytes and neutrophils may correlate with active tuberculosis (TB) in children. However, the few paediatric studies available are limited by the small numbers of children with TB disease or infection included.

Methods

We calculated the monocyte‐to‐lymphocyte‐ratio (MLR), neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte‐ratio (NLR) and neutrophil‐to‐monocyte‐plus‐lymphocyte‐ratio (NMLR) in children with active TB, latent TB infection (LTBI), other infectious and non‐infectious conditions and healthy children evaluated in two referral centres in Rome.

Results

Overall, 649 children were included (41.8% females, mean age of 5.74 years). MLR, NLR and NMLR values were always significantly higher in patients with TB compared with the other groups (p < 0.001). Considering the entire population with the outcome of TB diagnosis, NMLR, with a cut‐off of 1.2, had a sensitivity of 63% and a specificity of 76% (AUC: 0.71 [0.64–0.78]); NLR, with a cut‐off of 1.5, had a sensitivity of 61% and a specificity of 79% (AUC: 0.72 [0.65–0.79]); MLR, considering a cut‐off of 0.2, was less sensitive (56%) but more specific (82%) with a similar AUC (0.72 [0.65–0.79]).

Conclusion

Our study provides further evidence that MLR, NLR and NMLR can serve as first level diagnostics to support the clinical suspicion of TB in children.
GPU‐Accelerated LOD Generation for Point Clouds
Authors: Schütz Markus , Kerbl Bernhard , Klaus Philip , Wimmer Michael
Published: August 2023

About: We introduce a GPU‐accelerated LOD construction process that creates a hybrid voxel‐point‐based variation of the widely used layered point cloud (LPC) structure for LOD rendering and streaming. The massive performance improvements provided by the GPU allow us to improve the quality of lower LODs via color filtering while still increasing construction speed compared to the non‐filtered, CPU‐based state of the art.

Background: LOD structures are required to render hundreds of millions to trillions of points, but constructing them takes time.

Results: LOD structures suitable for rendering and streaming are constructed at rates of about 1 billion points per second (with color filtering) to 4 billion points per second (sample‐picking/random sampling, state of the art) on an RTX 3090 – an improvement of a factor of 80 to 400 times over the CPU‐based state of the art (12 million points per second). Due to being in‐core, model sizes are limited to about 500 million points per 24GB memory.

Discussion: Our method currently focuses on maximizing in‐core construction speed on the GPU. Issues such as out‐of‐core construction of arbitrarily large data sets are not addressed, but we expect it to be suitable as a component of bottom‐up out‐of‐core LOD construction schemes.
Governance mechanisms, accounting regulation, and corporate disclosure in the aftermath of Covid‐19: Novel research questions and methodological opportunities
Authors: Bonacchi Massimiliano , Botosan Christine A. , Nanda Dhananjay , Pugliese Amedeo
Published: August 2023

Research Issue

In this commentary, we sought to highlight research opportunities in terms of how governance mechanisms, accounting regulation, and corporate disclosure were affected by Covid‐19 (C19) and shaped the economic landscape in the post‐C19 period.

Research Insights

The outbreak of the C19 triggered significant researchers' interests in the fields of business and economics for two main reasons: first, to the economic and social consequences of the crisis, and the impact of various policy interventions enacted by governments and supra‐national institutions worldwide and, second, the availability of microdata on the spread of the pandemic and vaccines, complemented economic and financial data to assess the effects of policy interventions in curtailing the crisis.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

We envision two potential avenues for further study: first, research on the impact of C19 and policy interventions in areas of interest, and, second, using the C19 disruption as a “laboratory” to unravel research questions on how various characteristics of firms, governments, and regulatory bodies affect the response to systemic crises, assuming that pre‐existing characteristics are not related to the crisis event.

Policy Implications

Relevant and rigorous research on the effects of C19 and the policy interventions is likely to be informative to governments, financial regulators, and supra‐national institutions facing future instances of systemic crisis.
In vitro induction of hair follicle signatures using human dermal papilla cells encapsulated in fibrin microgels
Authors: Quílez Cristina , Valencia Leticia , González‐Rico Jorge , Suárez‐Cabrera Leticia , Amigo‐Morán Lidia , Jorcano José Luis , Velasco Diego
Published: August 2023

Cellular spheroids have been described as an appropriate culture system to restore human follicle dermal papilla cells (hFDPc) intrinsic properties; however, they show a low and variable efficiency to promote complete hair follicle formation in in vivo experiments. In this work, a conscientious analysis revealed a 25% cell viability in the surface of the dermal papilla spheroid (DPS) for all culture conditions, questioning whether it is an appropriate culture system for hFDPc. To overcome this problem, we propose the use of human blood plasma for the generation of fibrin microgels (FM) with encapsulated hFDPc to restore its inductive signature, either in the presence or in the absence of blood platelets. FM showed a morphology and extracellular matrix composition similar to the native dermal papilla, including Versican and Collagen IV and increasing cell viability up to 85%. While both systems induce epidermal invaginations expressing hair‐specific keratins K14, K15, K71, and K75 in in vitro skin cultures, the number of generated structures increases from 17% to 49% when DPS and FM were used, respectively. These data show the potential of our experimental setting for in vitro hair follicle neogenesis with wild adult hFDPc using FM, being a crucial step in the pursuit of human hair follicle regeneration therapies.
NRF1 promotes primordial germ cell development, proliferation and survival
Authors: Wang Pengxiang , Su Jun , Wang Junpeng , Xie Yilin , Chen Wei , Zhong Jinhai , Wang Yuan
Published: August 2023

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the germline precursors that give rise to oocytes and sperm, ensuring the continuation of life. While the PGC specification is extensively studied, it remains elusive how the PGC population is sustained and expanded after they migrate to embryonic gonads before birth. This study demonstrates that NRF1, a known regulator for mitochondrial metabolism, plays critical roles in post‐migrating PGC development. We show that NRF1 protein level gradually increases in post‐migrating PGCs during embryonic development. Conditional Nrf1 knockout from embryonic germ cells leads to impaired PGC proliferation and survival. In addition, NRF1 may also actively drive PGC derivation from pluripotent stem cells. Using whole genome transcriptome profiling and ChIP‐seq analyses, we further reveal that NRF1 directly regulates key signalling molecules in PGC formation, transcription factors in proliferation and cell cycle and enzymes in mitochondrial metabolism. Overall, our findings highlight an essential requirement of NRF1 in regulating a broad transcriptional network to support post‐migrating PGC development both in vitro and in vivo.
High‐flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy for the treatment of acute respiratory failure secondary to SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia out of ICU
Authors: Castro Sonia , Pedrero Sandra , Ruiz Luis Alberto , Serrano Leyre , Zalacain Rafael , Pérez‐Fernández Silvia , Iriberri Milagros , Cabriada Valentín
Published: August 2023

Introduction and objectives

High‐flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) has been successfully used for the treatment of acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure (AHRF) secondary to SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia and being effective in reducing progression to invasive mechanical ventilation. The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of HFNC on a hospital ward for the treatment of AHRF secondary to SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia and its impact on the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and endotracheal intubation. Other objectives include identifying potential physiological parameters and/or biomarkers for predicting treatment failure and assessing the clinical course and survival.

Methods

Observational study based on data collected prospectively between March 2020 and February 2021 in a single hospital on patients diagnosed with AHRF secondary to SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia who received HFNC outside an ICU.

Results

One hundred and seventy‐one patients out of 1090 patients hospitalised for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. HFNC was set as the ceiling of treatment in 44 cases; 12 survived (27.3%). Among the other 127 patients, intubation was performed in 25.9% of cases with a mortality of 11.8%. Higher creatinine levels (OR 1.942, 95% CI 1.04; 3.732; p = 0.036) and Comorbidity‐Age‐Lymphocyte‐LDH (CALL) score (OR 1.273, 95% CI 1.033; 1.617; p = 0.033) were associated with a higher risk of intubation. High platelet count at HFNC initiation was predictive of good treatment response (OR 0.935, 95% CI 0.884; 0.983; p = 0.012).

Conclusions

HFNC outside an ICU is a treatment with high success rate in patients with AHRF secondary to SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia, including in patients in whom this therapy was deemed to be the ceiling of treatment.
The ‘licence to distrust’ and the protection of individual rights in the execution of a European Arrest Warrant: A comment
Authors: Caeiro Pedro
Published: August 2023

This comment on Ermioni Xanthopoulou's insightful article starts by revisiting the nature and role of trust in the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) procedure, considering the recent developments in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) (from Aranyosi/Căldăraru to Bivolaru/Moldovan). It is argued that trust is distinct from the presumption of respect for fundamental rights that underlies mutual recognition. The exercise of trust is now monitored by those Courts, as a means of protecting individual rights. This rehabilitates the proper meaning of trust, which can be reinforced by assurances. Prison conditions and legal changes affecting the rule of law are analysed in this light, as ‘drivers of distrust’. In sum, distrust can legitimately provide immediate protection for the individual, and the spectre of distrust causes the appreciation of trust, which in turn is beneficial for fundamental rights.
Image analysis quantification of sperm acrosome associated 3 protein expression in domesticated and free‐roaming equine ovaries
Authors: Lee Mikaela K. , Strandberg Victoria M. , Cozzi Brynley C. , Ramsey Ann M. , Evanchak Kendall A. , Kutzler Michelle A.
Published: August 2023

Background

In the United States, the carrying capacity of the land has been overwhelmed with the wild horse and burro populations. Identification of a long‐term contraception method is needed to control growing populations as current methods cannot quell these growing numbers. Sperm acrosome‐associated 3 protein (SPACA3) is a protein expressed in both male and female reproductive systems. SPACA3 may prove to be a viable contraception target in horses in immunosterilant research.

Objectives

The objective of the current study was to evaluate and compare ovarian immunoexpression of SPACA3 between domesticated and free‐roaming mares. This information may lead to the development of a SPACA3 immunosterilant to reduce free‐roaming horse and burro populations.

Study design

Non‐randomised comparative study design.

Methods

Routine immunohistochemistry was performed on ovarian sections from domesticated (n = 8) and free‐roaming mares (n = 8). At least three representative images of each follicle stage (primordial, primary, secondary, tertiary) from each ovary were digitally captured and analysed using Image J software. Expression of SPACA3 was quantified in cellular locations (granulosa or theca) specific to each follicle stage: primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary.

Results

Domesticated horses had higher SPACA3 expression compared to free‐roaming mares in granulosa cells of primordial (p = 0.0022), primary (p < 0.001), secondary (p = 0.025), and tertiary follicles (p = 0.0078). In theca cells, domesticated horses had higher SPACA3 expression in tertiary follicles (p = 0.022), but not secondary follicles (p = 0.089). The highest SPACA3 expression was observed in the granulosa cells of tertiary follicles (p = 0.022).

Main limitations

Varying background colours of representative images taken of ovaries, leading to slight technical issues in Image J software.

Conclusions

This is the first report quantifying SPACA3 immunoexpression during folliculogenesis and describing the spatial and temporal expression of SPACA3 in the equine ovary. This information may lead to the development of a SPACA3 immunosterilant to reduce free‐roaming horse and burro populations.
Geographical articulations of rurality at the rural‐urban interface
Authors: Chen Ningning
Published: August 2023

Research on the intermediate space or interface where rural and urban boundaries become blurred has been gaining momentum within geography and other intersecting fields. In contrast to the dominant focus on the growth of urbanism at the rural‐urban interface, a growing number of studies have emerged to intervene the debate from the rural side. This paper contributes to this burgeoning scholarship by reviewing recent work on geographical articulations of rurality in the face of urbanizing forces and processes operating in intermediate spaces. I firstly explore how extant representations of rurality at the rural‐urban interface are inherent with an “idyllic” vision, a “modernist” one or a combination of both, and how the interactions among multiple rural visions produce tensions and conflicts at the interface. Then, I outline the recent conceptualizations of rurality under the relational and materialist turns, which move beyond the discursive construction of the countryside and offer new theoretical insights and analytical concepts for appreciating multiple, heterogeneous, open and inclusive articulations of rural voices at the interface. Finally, I map out directions for future research to attend to the insufficiently‐addressed temporal dimensions of the rural‐urban interface, thereby moving current discussions of relational rurality forward.
Fabrication and electron emission of [Ca24Al24.08Zr3.92O64]4+(4e−) electrides
Authors: Xiao Yixin , Chen Ziyu , Zheng Haizhong , Li Guifa , Geng Yongxiang , Tang Jiasong , Zhang Xin
Published: August 2023

[Ca24Al24.08Zr3.92O64]4+(4e−) electrides are ceramic materials with low work functions that can store high‐density free electrons. So, it has great application potential in electron emission. In this paper, The mixed powders of CaO, Al2O3, ZrO2, and Al in a certain stoichiometric ratio were used as precursors, and [Ca24Al24.08Zr3.92O64]4+(4e−) blocks were fabricated through in‐situ reduction. The synthetic block samples have fewer pores, cracks, and impurities, and the blocks' relative density reaches 99.6%. At the same time, the blocks’ cages were injected with high‐density electrons during the sintering, and the electron density reached 2 × 1021 cm−3. This makes the sample realize the transition from insulation to conductor. In addition, the block's emission current and effective work function is 1.75 A/cm2 and 2.25 eV, respectively, at 1100°C. The research in this paper provides a new way for the low‐cost and industrial production of high‐quality [Ca24Al24.08Zr3.92O64]4+(4e−).
Political constitutionalism in Europe revisited
Authors: WILKINSON MICHAEL A.
Published: August 2023

This article traces the disconnect in the constitutional study of the European Union from the Maastricht era to the euro crisis. In the Maastricht era, a discourse of ‘post‐sovereignty’ came to dominate theoretical enquiry, reflecting but also distorting a number of material developments: the ‘end of history’, the retreat of critical theory into discourse analysis and systems theory, and the prioritization of law over politics. Jürgen Habermas was a key intellectual figure in driving this ideological mix at the very moment when anti‐systemic challenges began to return, both formally and informally, as exemplified in the German Constitutional Court and the French political scene. In revisiting the idea of political constitutionalism, we can foreground this constitutional disconnect and show how it contributes to the irresolution of the subsequent euro crisis conjuncture.
Uncovering the endemic circulation of rabies in Cambodia
Authors: Layan Maylis , Dacheux Laurent , Lemey Philippe , Brunker Kirstyn , Ma Laurence , Troupin Cécile , Dussart Philippe , Chevalier Véronique , Wood James L. N. , Ly Sowath , Duong Veasna , Bourhy Hervé , Dellicour Simon
Published: August 2023

In epidemiology, endemicity characterizes sustained pathogen circulation in a geographical area, which involves a circulation that is not being maintained by external introductions. Because it could potentially shape the design of public health interventions, there is an interest in fully uncovering the endemic pattern of a disease. Here, we use a phylogeographic approach to investigate the endemic signature of rabies virus (RABV) circulation in Cambodia. Cambodia is located in one of the most affected regions by rabies in the world, but RABV circulation between and within Southeast Asian countries remains understudied. Our analyses are based on a new comprehensive data set of 199 RABV genomes collected between 2014 and 2017 as well as previously published Southeast Asian RABV sequences. We show that most Cambodian sequences belong to a distinct clade that has been circulating almost exclusively in Cambodia. Our results thus point towards rabies circulation in Cambodia that does not rely on external introductions. We further characterize within‐Cambodia RABV circulation by estimating lineage dispersal metrics that appear to be similar to other settings, and by performing landscape phylogeographic analyses to investigate environmental factors impacting the dispersal dynamic of viral lineages. The latter analyses do not lead to the identification of environmental variables that would be associated with the heterogeneity of viral lineage dispersal velocities, which calls for a better understanding of local dog ecology and further investigations of the potential drivers of RABV spread in the region. Overall, our study illustrates how phylogeographic investigations can be performed to assess and characterize viral endemicity in a context of relatively limited data.
Host preference and human blood index of Phlebotomus orientalis, an exophilic sand fly vector of visceral leishmaniasis in eastern Sudan
Authors: Jibreel Tayseer , Khogali Altayeb , Jiménez Maribel , Raiyed Adeel , Dakein Osman , Alsharif Bashir , Khalid Noteila M. , Osman Omran F. , Nour Bakri Y. M. , Mohamed Gamal Hassan , Molina Ricardo , Vidal‐López Ana , Díaz‐Regañón Ramón , den Boer Margriet , Alvar Jorge , Courtenay Orin , Elnaiem Dia‐Eldin
Published: August 2023

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL, kala azar), caused by Leishmania donovani, transmitted by Phlebotomus orientalis, is a serious systemic disease that causes high morbidity and mortality rates in Sudan and other parts of East Africa and the world. Despite progress in understanding the epidemiology of the disease in East Africa, little is known about the host preference of P. orientalis in kala azar endemic villages of Sudan, which have some of the highest VL incidence rates in the world. The present study used host choice experiments and blood‐meal identification approaches to determine the host preference of P. orientalis in kala azar endemic villages in Gedarif state, eastern Sudan. In the host choice experiment, tent traps were used to compare the attractiveness of cows, donkeys, sheep and goats for host‐seeking P. orientalis. In the blood‐meal identification study, blood‐fed P. orientalis females, captured inside houses and peri‐domestic habitats, were subjected to molecular typing using cytochrome b gene (cyt b) amplification and sequence analysis. Cows and donkeys were the most attractive to blood‐seeking P. orientalis, followed by goats. Similarly, the blood‐meal analysis of P. orientalis showed that the vector preferentially feeds on cows, followed by donkeys, humans and goats. The human blood index of P. orientalis was 19.4% (42/216), indicating a high zoophilic habit of the vector, both inside and outside the houses. Although the order of host preference varied by location, it was clear that cows are the most preferred host of P. orientalis in the area. Results are discussed in relation to the role of domestic/livestock animals in VL zoopotentiation and zooprophylaxis. Inference is made on the potential impact of insecticide treatment of cows in control of the vector and the transmission of VL in Sudan and other parts of East Africa.
Electrophysiological concomitants of pupillary synchrony
Authors: Hartley Alan A. , Chitre Aditi M. , Reed Catherine L.
Published: August 2023

Pupillary synchrony or contagion is the automatic unconscious mimicry of pupil dilation in dyadic interactions. This experiment explored electrophysiological event‐related potential (ERP) concomitants of pupillary synchrony. Artificial pupils (black dots) were superimposed on either partial faces (eyes, nose, brow) or random textures. Observers were asked to judge dot size (large, medium, or small). There was clear evidence of pupillary synchrony with observer pupil dilation greater to large dots than to small or medium dots. The pupillary synchrony increased in magnitude throughout the trial and was found both with faces and with textures. When the stimuli were partial faces with artificial pupils (dots), there was ERP activity related to target dot size in the period at P250 and P3. A face specific N170 was also found. When the stimuli were random textures with dots, there was ERP activity at P1 and in the interval from 140 to 200 ms post‐stimulus onset. The use of ERP with pupillometry revealed results for faces that were consistent with a social explanation of pupillary synchrony whereas results for textures were consistent with a local luminance explanation.
Catholicism and the Welfare State in Secular France
Authors: Bolzonar Fabio
Published: August 2023

Even though the policy impact of Catholicism has increasingly been acknowledged, existing scholarship lacks a coherent view on its changing influence over time and in different political contexts. In this book, Fabio Bolzonar investigates the influence of Catholicism on developments in French social protection from World War II to the mid-2010s. He discusses the factors that have favoured or inhibited it and explores the hybridization between Catholic values and secular principles in the social engagement of Catholic actors in secular France. By doing so, this multidisciplinary study integrates current scholarship, which has given limited attention to the changing patterns of Catholic involvement in the social policy domain over a long period of time, and the renewed influence of Catholic values in secularized societies. Catholic mobilization has relocated from the political to the civil society sphere, making voluntary organizations and social movements, rather than political parties, the main channels for defending Catholic values in secular France. Rather than marginalizing Catholicism, this process has opened up new opportunities for Catholic actors and values to play a significant role in society and politics. Bolzonar identifies two divergent scenarios that define Catholic social engagement in contemporary France: either the strengthening of new forms of institutional collaboration between Catholic-inspired philanthropic organizations and public administrations in the interest of socially vulnerable citizens, or the emergence of new ideological conflicts on gender- and sexuality-related issues.
Georges Bizet. Les Pêcheurs de Perles
Authors: Bruls Willem
Published: August 2023

Les Pêcheurs de perles ofwel De parelvissers uit 1863 is een bijzonder jeugdwerk van de Franse componist Georges Bizet. Deze opera zit vol prachtige melodieën, pakkende scènes, emotionele confrontaties én het allermooiste duet voor tenor en bariton. Wat het werk extra interessant maakt, is de oriëntaalse en exotische situering, die zowel het verhaal als de muziek een bijzondere glans verlenen. De opera speelt zich af in Ceylon, het huidige Sri Lanka, waar de mooie Leïla, een priesteres in een hindoeïstische tempel van Brahma, verstrikt raakt in een onmogelijke keuze tussen plicht en liefde, en tussen twee mannen: de parelvissers Nadir en Zurga. Bizet schreef deze opera ruim tien jaar voor zijn laatste meesterwerk Carmen, maar met Les Pêcheurs de perles legde hij een belangrijk fundament voor de exotische opera’s van de tweede helft van de negentiende eeuw in Europa.
Physically Based Constitutive Modeling of Dynamic Strain Aging in C45 Steel
Authors: Hassan Arhum , Saffarini Mohammed H. , Abed Farid H. , Voyiadjis George
Published: August 2023

Dynamic strain aging (DSA) is a sudden increase in the strength of a material under certain combinations of temperatures and strain rates. Despite the phenomenon being reported in several other studies, the literature still lacks a specific constitutive model that can physically interpret its effect. Therefore, this work proposes a modification based on physical parameters to the Voyiadjis and Abed (VA) model to account for the effect of DSA in C45 steel. The resulting modified model is then coupled with an energy-based damage model to further capture the effect of material softening. Previously, in VA model, it was assumed that the total activation energy for overcoming the obstacles without external work remains the same which works well in the absence of DSA. However, during DSA, the mobile dislocations are pinned by the diffusing solute atoms. This results in an increase in the total activation free energy needed by the dislocations to overcome the obstacle. Thus, an increase in strength is observed. It is shown in the current work that utilizing the concept of increased solute concentrations at local obstacles, in conjunction with the physical description that the VA model is based upon, successfully captures the phenomenon of DSA in C45 steel. In addition, the metal experiencing softening after reaching its ultimate strength is due to the significant growth of voids and cracks within the microstructure. To capture this behavior, an energy-based damage parameter is incorporated into the proposed model. The coupled plasticity-damage model shows a good comparison with the experimental results.
Supplemental Material: Constraining the elemental stoichiometry of early marine life
Authors: Fakhraee Mojtaba , al. et
Published: August 2023

Detailed description of the model.  
Optimization with Deep Learning Classifier-Based Foliar Disease Classification in Apple Trees Using IoT Network
Authors: Sameera K. , Swarnalatha P.
Published: August 2023

The development of any country is influenced by the growth in the agriculture sector. The prevalence of pests and diseases in plants affects the productivity of any agricultural product. Early diagnosis of the disease can substantially decrease the effort and the fund required for disease management. The Internet of Things (IoT) provides a framework for offering solutions for automatic farming. This paper devises an automated detection technique for foliar disease classification in apple trees using an IoT network. Here, classification is performed using a hybrid classifier, which utilizes the Deep Residual Network (DRN) and Deep [Formula: see text] Network (DQN). A new Adaptive Tunicate Swarm Sine–Cosine Algorithm (TSSCA) is used for modifying the learning parameters as well as the weights of the proposed hybrid classifier. The TSSCA is developed by adaptively changing the navigation foraging behavior of the tunicates obtained from the Tunicate Swarm Algorithm (TSA) in accordance with the Sine–Cosine Algorithm  (SCA). The outputs obtained from the Adaptive TSSCA-based DRN and Adaptive TSSCA-based DQN are merged using cosine similarity measure for detecting the foliar disease. The Plant Pathology 2020 — FGVC7 dataset is utilized for the experimental process to determine accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and energy and we achieved the values of 98.36%, 98.58%, 96.32% and 0.413 J, respectively.