bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
APC/C prevents non-canonical order of cyclin/CDK activity to maintain CDK4/6 inhibitor-induced arrest
Authors: Mouery Brandon L , Baker Eliyambuya M , Mills Christine A , Herring Laura E , Fleifel Dalia , Cook Jeanette Gowen
Published: November 2023

Regulated cell cycle progression ensures homeostasis and prevents cancer. In proliferating cells, premature S phase entry is avoided by the E3 ubiquitin ligase APC/C (anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome), although the APC/C substrates whose degradation restrains G1-S progression are not fully known. The APC/C is also active in arrested cells that exited the cell cycle, but it is not clear if APC/C maintains all types of arrest. Here by expressing the APC/C inhibitor, EMI1, we show that APC/C activity is essential to prevent S phase entry in cells arrested by pharmacological CDK4/6 inhibition (Palbociclib). Thus, active protein degradation is required for arrest alongside repressed cell cycle gene expression. The mechanism of rapid and robust arrest bypass from inhibiting APC/C involves cyclin-dependent kinases acting in an atypical order to inactivate RB-mediated E2F repression. Inactivating APC/C first causes mitotic cyclin B accumulation which then promotes cyclin A expression. We propose that cyclin A is the key substrate for maintaining arrest because APC/C-resistant cyclin A, but not cyclin B, is sufficient to induce S phase entry. Cells bypassing arrest from CDK4/6 inhibition initiate DNA replication with severely reduced origin licensing. The simultaneous accumulation of S phase licensing inhibitors, such as cyclin A and geminin, with G1 licensing activators disrupts the normal order of G1-S progression. As a result, DNA synthesis and cell proliferation are profoundly impaired. Our findings predict that cancers with elevated EMI1 expression will tend to escape CDK4/6 inhibition into a premature, underlicensed S phase and suffer enhanced genome instability.

Significance

Appropriate stable cell cycle arrest is critical to prevent cancer. However, it is not well-understood how cells maintain arrest. It is known that arrest requires repressing proliferation-stimulating genes, but the role of targeted protein degradation is unclear. This work demonstrates that continuous degradation of cyclin A through the action of the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is required to maintain arrest induced by a cancer drug that blocks cell cycle kinase enzymes. APC/C activity is required to prevent cell cycle re-entry. Impaired APC/C activity causes arrest bypass, inefficient DNA replication, and ultimately long-term proliferation defects. These results suggest that the activity level of the APC/C in tumors may profoundly influence the response to drugs that target cell cycle kinases.
Improved joint X-ray and neutron refinement procedure in Phenix
Authors: Liebschner Dorothee , Afonine Pavel V. , Poon Billy K. , Moriarty Nigel W. , Adams Paul D.
Published: November 2023

Neutron diffraction is one of the three crystallographic techniques (X-ray, neutron and electron diffraction) used to determine the atomic structures of molecules. Its particular strengths derive from the fact that H (and D) atoms are strong neutron scatterers, meaning that their positions, and thus protonation states, can be derived from crystallographic maps. However, because of technical limitations and experimental obstacles, the quality of neutron diffraction data is typically much poorer (completeness, resolution and signal to noise) than that of X-ray diffraction data for the same sample. Further, refinement is more complex as it usually requires additional parameters to describe the H (and D) atoms. The increase in the number of parameters may be mitigated by using the `riding hydrogen' refinement strategy, in which the positions of H atoms without a rotational degree of freedom are inferred from their neighboring heavy atoms. However, this does not address the issues related to poor data quality. Therefore, neutron structure determination often relies on the presence of an X-ray data set for joint X-ray and neutron (XN) refinement. In this approach, the X-ray data serve to compensate for the deficiencies of the neutron diffraction data by refining one model simultaneously against the X-ray and neutron data sets. To be applicable, it is assumed that both data sets are highly isomorphous, and preferably collected from the same crystals and at the same temperature. However, the approach has a number of limitations that are discussed in this work by comparing four separately re-refined neutron models. To address the limitations, a new method for joint XN refinement is introduced that optimizes two different models against the different data sets. This approach is tested using neutron models and data deposited in the Protein Data Bank. The efficacy of refining models with H atoms as riding or as individual atoms is also investigated.
Detecting skewed pricing in tenders for public-sector projects
Authors: Hyari Khaled Hesham , Thneibat Mujahed
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Skewed pricing is a typical tactic used by tenderers in unit price projects to gain additional advantages at the expense of the owner or other competing tenderers. This paper aims to describe the development of a model for detecting skewed pricing in competitive tendering for unit price contracts.

Design/methodology/approach

The model evaluates how much the offered unit rates for work items deviate from the reasonable rate identified from the item’s submitted unit rates. Item rate deviations are integrated into a total deviation score for each submitted tender based on the relative weight of the work item to the total project amount. The model allows for assigning higher weights to work items that are more prone to skewed pricing, such as those that are performed early and those that are expected to experience quantity fluctuations.

Findings

The paper presents a detection model that uses only the submitted prices of the competing tenderers to perform the needed calculations, which reduces subjectivity in identifying skewed tenders. Two examples are given to demonstrate how the model may be used to detect skewed tenders.

Originality/value

The model supports tendering officials in the challenging task of identifying skewed tenders, which is required by rules and regulations governing public procurement. The model’s ease of use is expected to make it more widely used as a decision-support tool during the tender evaluation stage of real-world projects.
Advancing “no natural disasters” with care: risks and strategies to address disasters as political phenomena in conflict zones
Authors: Mena Rodrigo
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The notion that disasters are not natural is longstanding, leading to a growing number of campaigns aimed at countering the use of the term “natural disaster.” Whilst these efforts are crucial, critical perspectives regarding the potential risks associated with this process are lacking, particularly in places affected by violent conflict. This paper aims to present a critical analysis of these efforts, highlighting the need to approach them with care.

Design/methodology/approach

The author draws upon insights and discussions accumulated over a decade of research into the relationship between disasters and conflict. The article includes a critical literature review on the disaster–conflict relationship and literature specifically addressing the idea that disasters are not natural. The analysis of field notes led to a second literature review covering topics such as (de) politicisation, instrumentalisation, disaster diplomacy, ethics, humanitarian principles, disaster risk reduction, peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity.

Findings

This analysis underscores the importance of advocating that disasters are not natural, especially in conflict-affected areas. However, an uncritical approach could lead to unintended consequences, such as exacerbating social conflicts or obstructing disaster-related actions. The article also presents alternatives to advance the understanding that disasters are not natural whilst mitigating risks, such as embracing a “do-no-harm” approach or conflict-sensitive analyses.

Originality/value

The author offers an innovative critical approach to advancing the understanding that disasters are not natural but socio-political. This perspective is advocated, especially in conflict-affected contexts, to address the root causes of both disasters and conflicts. The author also invites their peers and practitioners to prioritise reflective scholarship and practices, aiming to prevent the unintentional exacerbation of suffering whilst working towards its reduction.
An approach for the estimation of lateral track irregularity using axle-box acceleration
Authors: Xu Xiaodi , Sun Shanchao , Fei Yang , Niu Liubin , Tian Xinyu , Ke Zaitian , Dai Peng , Liang Zhiming
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This article aims to predict the rapid track geometry change in the short term with a higher detection frequency, and realize the monitoring and maintenance of the railway state.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the ABA data needs to be filtered to remove the DC component to reduce the drift due to integration. Secondly, the quadratic integration in frequency domain for concern components of the vertical and lateral ABA needs to be done. Thirdly, the displacement in lateral of the wheelset to rail needs to be calculated. Then the track alignment irregularity needs to be calculated by the integration of lateral ABA and the lateral displacement of the wheelset to rail.

Findings

By comparing with a commercial track geometry measurement system, the high-speed railway application results in different conditions, after removal of the influence of LDWR, identified that the proposed method can produce a satisfactory result.

Originality/value

This article helps realize detection of track irregularity on operating vehicle, reduce equipment production, installation and maintenance costs and improve detection density.
Biorthogonal flatlet multiwavelet collocation method for solving the singular nonlinear system with initial and boundary conditions
Authors: Mohseni Maryam , Rostamy Davood
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The numerical methods are of great importance for approximating the solutions of a system of nonlinear singular ordinary differential equations. In this paper, the authors present the biorthogonal flatlet multiwavelet collocation method (BFMCM) as a numerical scheme for a class of system of Lane–Emden equations with initial or boundary or four-point boundary conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is involved in combining the biorthogonal flatlet multiwavelet (BFM) with the collocation method. The authors investigate the properties and procedure of the BFMCM for first time on this class of equations. By using the BFM and the collocation points, the method is constructed and it transforms the nonlinear differential equations problem into a system of nonlinear algebraic equations. The unknown coefficients of the assuming solution are determined by solving the obtained system. Additionally, convergence analysis and numerical stability of the suggested method are provided.

Findings

According to the attained results, the proposed BFMCM has more accurate results in comparison with results of other methods. The maximum absolute errors are calculated by using the BFMCM for comparison purposes provided.

Originality/value

The key desirable properties of BFMCM are its efficiency, simple applicability and minimizes errors. Therefore, the proposed method can be used to solve nonlinear problems or problems with singular points.
The impact of multidisciplinary program requirements on student attitudes toward sustainability and education for sustainability
Authors: Pennell Natasha , Sabau Gabriela
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the role of multidisciplinary course requirements in shaping student attitudes toward sustainability and education for sustainable development. Previous research indicates that students conceptualize sustainability based on their academic discipline; thus, this research investigates whether there is a difference in student attitudes toward sustainability at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, where students are encouraged to cross the borders of their academic disciplines.

Design/methodology/approach

This research reports on the findings from a mixed-methods study to assess the impact of program requirements on student attitudes toward sustainability and education for sustainable development at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland. In phase one, an anonymous survey was administered to students regarding their perceptions and attitudes toward sustainability and education for sustainable development. The survey yielded 100 usable responses. Phase 2 consisted of a series of 10 semi-structured expert interviews with key faculty and staff at Grenfell Campus and a representative from the City of Corner Brook, which gave further insights regarding sustainability programming and campus culture.

Findings

Contrary to previous research, the results of this research indicate that the School of Study does not have a statistically significant impact on student attitudes toward sustainability. This may be attributed to Grenfell Campus’s Breadth of Knowledge requirement within the School of Arts and Social Science and the School of Science and the Environment, which requires that students take elective courses from a broad range of subject matter to develop their holistic awareness of social, cultural, scientific and political issues.

Practical implications

The results of this research indicate that students who are exposed to broad multidisciplinary requirements may be more likely to have positive attitudes toward sustainability than students who focus on a single discipline.

Originality/value

A limited number of studies investigate the impact of core program requirements on student attitudes toward sustainability. This paper promotes an effective way of raising sustainability-literate young people/citizens in a Canadian higher education context.
Exploring new product development team problem-solving creativity in the base of the pyramid B2B firms
Authors: Getnet Hailu , O’Cass Aron , Siahtiri Vida , Ahmadi Hormoz
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the role of team problem-solving creativity in new product development (NPD) in the bottom-of-the-pyramid (BoP) in business-to-business firms. This study synthesizes perspectives from NPD, creativity and leadership to examine how work-related factors such as NPD managers’ role ambiguity and individual-related factors such as CEO’s ambidextrous leadership style interact to determine team problem-solving creativity and its effect on new product performance (NPP).

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses are tested using data from a multi-informant survey of 274 middle-level managers within 137 local BoP manufacturing firms in a sub-Saharan African country.

Findings

The results show that an NPD team’s ability to solve problems creatively determines NPP in BoP markets. The findings also show that NPD managers’ role ambiguity has a negative effect on team problem-solving creativity. However, a CEO’s ambidextrous leadership neutralizes the negative impact of role ambiguity on problem-solving creativity.

Originality/value

This study combines three distinct streams of literature, including NPD, creativity and leadership, to explore the antecedents and outcomes of problem-solving creativity. Drawing on creativity and leadership theories, this study reports that the success of creative idea exchanges depends heavily on a supportive environment for NPD team members and minimizing the NPD manager’s role ambiguity.
Customer value creation and Moroccan hotels' performance: a multi-party and multi-phase vision
Authors: Nejjari Ridouan , Slaoui Samira
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study examines the impact of customer value creation on hotel performance. Customer value is seen as a multi-phase and multi-party process that combines hotel and tourist perspectives while also integrating the participation of frontline employees. The study also investigates financial performance (FP) and customer-based performance (CBP).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from Morocco through multiple-informant design surveys to explore three perspectives related to three actors involved in the process, that is, the managers, the employees and the tourists. The hypotheses were tested with SmartPLS4.

Findings

The findings reveal that customer value positively and significantly impacts not only the FP of hotels but also the CBP. The results highlight a sequential relationship in which each actor drives the subsequent phase to definitively enhance the hotel's performance. The results further show significant mediation effects in the customer value sequence. Moreover, the results show a significant and positive effect of CBP on FP.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretical and managerial implications of the research are discussed and future important researches are drawn from the study limitations.

Practical implications

Managers must be aware that frontline employees and guests are crucial for creating customer value, which enables to improve their performance. The results highlight that hotels should motivate and involve frontline employees in value propositions (VP) development. Furthermore, the guests are the final arbiters of value who drive hotels' performance. Moreover, for additional FP, managers are required both to deliver superior value and create loyal customers.

Originality/value

This study mostly confirms previous findings and highlights a sequential relationship among three phases involving three actors of customer value. However, it reveals more reasonable and robust results in the mediation effect of the value offering (VO) between the VP and the perceived value-in-use (PVI). This study is also the first to provide evidence on the mediation effect of the PVI between the VO and the CBP.
Voice-activated personal assistants and privacy concerns: a Twitter analysis
Authors: Alzate Miriam , Arce Urriza Marta , Cortiñas Monica
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aims to understand the extent of privacy concerns regarding voice-activated personal assistants (VAPAs) on Twitter. It investigates three key areas: (1) the effect of privacy-related press coverage on public sentiment and discussion volume; (2) the comparative negativity of privacy-focused conversations versus general conversations; and (3) the specific privacy-related topics that arise most frequently and their impact on sentiment and discussion volume.

Design/methodology/approach

A dataset of 441,427 tweets mentioning Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021 were collected. Privacy-related press coverage has also been monitored. Sentiment analysis was conducted using the dictionary-based software LIWC and VADER, whereas text mining packages in R were used to identify privacy-related issues.

Findings

Negative privacy-related news significantly increases both negativity and volume in Twitter conversations, whereas positive news only boosts volume. Privacy-related tweets were notably more negative than general tweets. Specific keywords were found to either increase or decrease the sentiment and discussion volume. Additionally, a temporal evolution in sentiment, with general attitudes toward VAPAs becoming more positive, but privacy-specific discussions becoming more negative was observed.

Originality/value

This research augments the existing online privacy literature by employing text mining methodologies to gauge consumer sentiments regarding privacy concerns linked to VAPAs, a topic currently underexplored. Furthermore, this research uniquely integrates established theories from privacy calculus and social contract theory to deepen our analysis.
Establishing outcome‐driven vital signs ranges for children in the prehospital setting
Authors: Ramgopal Sriram , Horvat Christopher M. , Macy Michelle L. , Cash Rebecca E. , Sepanski Robert J. , Martin‐Gill Christian
Published: November 2023

Background

Vital signs are frequently used in pediatric prehospital assessments and guide protocol utilization. Common pediatric vital sign classification criteria identify >80% of children in the prehospital setting as having abnormal vital signs, though few receive lifesaving interventions (LSIs). We sought to identify data‐driven thresholds for abnormal vital signs by evaluating their association with prehospital LSIs.

Methods

We evaluated prehospital care records for children (<18 years) transported to the hospital during 2022 from a large, national repository of emergency medical services (EMS) patient encounters. Predictors of interest were heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and pulse oximetry. HR, RR, and SBP were converted to Z‐scores using age‐based distributional models. Our outcome was potential LSIs, defined as performance of selected respiratory procedures, resuscitative interventions, or medication administrations. Using cut point analysis, we identified higher specificity (maximal specificity with a minimum of 25% sensitivity) and higher sensitivity (maximal sensitivity with a minimum of 25% specificity) ranges for each vital sign and evaluated measures of diagnostic accuracy.

Results

We included 987,515 children (median age 10 years, IQR 2–15 years). An LSI occurred in 4.3% (2.1% with respiratory procedures, 1.2% with resuscitative interventions, and 2.0% with medication administration). HR, RR, and SBP demonstrated a U‐shaped association with LSIs. Specificities ranged from 84.1% to 93.7% for higher specificity criteria, with RR demonstrating the best performance (sensitivity 84.6%, specificity 27.0%). Sensitivities ranged from 62.3% to 84.4% for higher sensitivity criteria.

Conclusions

Cut points for pediatric vital signs were associated with LSIs. Specific age‐adjusted ranges can identify children at higher and lower risk for receipt of LSI. These ranges may be combined with other objective measures to improve the assessment of children in the prehospital setting, assist in optimizing protocol utilization, improve transport decision making, and guide destination selection.
Development and validation of Join Clinical Trial Questionnaire (JoinCT)
Authors: Tan Shirin Hui , King Teck Long , Tan Shirley Siang Ning , Lai Wei Hong , Bujang Mohamad Adam , Voon Pei Jye
Published: November 2023

Aim

Participant recruitment has always been a major challenge in clinical trials. This study aimed to develop and validate the Join Clinical Trial Questionnaire (JoinCT), exploring the willingness to join a clinical trial and associated factors in patients.

Methods

This questionnaire development study involved four phases: (i) exploring and understanding the subject matter, (ii) questionnaire development, (iii) content validity testing, and lastly, (iv) field‐testing of the questionnaire. For the field‐testing phase, a cross‐sectional self‐administered survey of JoinCT was conducted among cancer patients with various socio‐demographic backgrounds and medical conditions. Besides content validity, Cronbach's alpha was used to evaluate the internal consistency of domains, and confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the model fit of the JoinCT framework.

Results

A total of 389 respondents participated in the survey. Based on the results obtained from a field data collection phase, JoinCT consisted of four independent variables domains, namely “knowledge”, “perception of benefits”, “perception of risks”, and “confidence”. The only dependent variable was the willingness to participate in a clinical trial. The minimum Cronbach's alpha was 0.937, and the model fit for the overall framework of JoinCT is also excellent with Comparative Fit Index (> 0.90), root mean square error approximation (< 0.08), and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (< 0.08).

Conclusions

The Join Clinical Trial Questionnaire (JoinCT) was successfully validated with excellent reliability and validity, and a good model fit. The main factors that contribute to willingness to participate in clinical trials are knowledge, perception of benefits, perception of risks, and confidence.
Methotrexate therapy for adult and paediatric moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis: A PRISMA‐compliant meta‐analysis of data from daily practice
Authors: Wang Qiaohong , Chen Liheng
Published: November 2023

Of the 15 eligible studies identified via electronic searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL in November 2022 for methotrexate therapy of moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis, 12 were non‐randomized controlled trial (non‐RCT) studies with data from 437 patients (235 adults and 202 children). The response rates for short‐term therapy were 77% [95% CI 55‐99] (four studies; adults) – comparable to 81% [54‐100] of RCTs (two studies; adults) (p = 0.63) – and 61% [43‐79] (two studies; children), and for medium/long‐term therapy were 88.9% [74.3‐100.0] (four studies; adults) and 77.7% [61.5–94.0] (three studies; children). Children had a markedly lower rate of treatment discontinuation due to side effects [2.0% (five studies; children) vs. 14.9% (six studies; adults)], but were more likely to experience gastrointestinal disorders {relative risk (RR) 2.0 [1.44‐2.71]}, fatigue (RR 2.3 [1.35‐3.72]), headache (RR 2.8 [1.23‐5.61]), and infections (RR 2.9 [2.18‐3.58]). Other adverse events (children vs. adults) included hepatic disorders (32/176 vs. 35/305) and blood and lymphatic system/bone marrow disorders (25/148 vs. 19/184). Four serious adverse events were reported (children). Evidence from daily practice was limited by bias in the selection of participants in the study.
Attitudes and values towards decisions at the margin of viability among expectant mothers at risk for preterm birth
Authors: Arnold Christine , Inthorn Julia , Roth Benjamin , Matheisl Daniel , Tippmann Susanne , Mildenberger Eva , Kidszun André
Published: November 2023

Aim

To explore how expectant mothers at risk for preterm birth would like to be involved in decision‐making at the margin of viability and what they would base their decisions on.

Methods

This cross‐sectional observational study included a mixed‐methods post‐hoc analysis alongside a previously reported randomised clinical trial. Expectant mothers between 280/7 and 366/7 weeks' gestation who were hospitalised for risk of preterm birth responded to written case vignettes of an impending preterm birth at the margin of viability. Participants responded to closed and open‐ended questions that were theoretically coded for attitudes and values towards shared decision‐making.

Results

Sixty‐four expectant mothers were included in the analysis, 36 provided written perspectives. Decision‐making was perceived as an enormous burden and a potential source of guilt and regret. Weighing personal values in terms of ‘fighting for the baby’ and ‘quality of life’ were used to inform the decision‐making process. Explicitly stating that any decision is a good decision, empowerment through co‐constructing shared decisions rather than simply presenting choices, sharing the clinicians' personal views, and honest, and empathetic counselling were perceived as supportive.

Conclusion

Mothers at risk for preterm birth provided specific insights into their decision‐making patterns that may be helpful to clinicians.
Sperm retrieval rate and patient factors in azoospermia factor c microdeletion azoospermia: a systematic review
Authors: Jiao Zhong‐Yu , Li Mao‐Ran , Zhuo Lin , Fang Yang‐Yi , Pan Jia‐Yuan , Hong Kai
Published: November 2023

Objective

To reveal the overall sperm retrieval rate (SRR) and range in patients with azoospermia factor c (AZFc) microdeletion azoospermia by microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) and discuss the differences of preoperative patient factors among studies with various SRRs.

Patients and Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Embase until February 2023. All studies reporting SRRs by mTESE and required parameters of patients with AZFc microdeletions were included. The primary outcome was the SRR and, if available, the pregnancy rate (PR) and live‐birth rate (LBR) after intracytoplasmic sperm injection were also investigated as secondary outcomes.

Results

Eventually 11 cohort studies were included in this review. A total number of 441 patients underwent mTESE and in 275 of them sperm was obtained, reaching an overall SRR of 62.4%. The SRRs among studies had a wide range from 25.0% to 85.7%. The studies reporting higher SRRs generally had older mean ages, and higher follicle‐stimulating hormone and testosterone levels. Only four studies provided practical data on pregnancies and live‐born children of patients with AZFc microdeletions, so the overall PR and LBR were unavailable.

Conclusions

The overall SRR of patients with AZFc microdeletion azoospermia was 62.4%. The effect of patient factors in SR needs further evidence in future work.
Magnetic resonance imaging targeted biopsy in biopsy‐naïve patients and the risk of overtreatment in prostate cancer: a grading issue
Authors: Jabbour Teddy , Peltier Alexandre , Rocq Laureen , Sirtaine Nicolas , Lefebvre Yolène , Bourgeno Henri , Baudewyns Arthur , Roumeguère Thierry , Diamand Romain
Published: November 2023

Objective

To evaluate the impact of applying the 2014 and 2019 International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) recommendations on grade group distribution and concordance with radical prostatectomy (RP).

Materials and Methods

Overall, 655 biopsy‐naïve patients diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) targeted and systematic biopsies for Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score ≥3 lesions were identified from a prospectively maintained database from 2016 and 2022. Clinically significant prostate cancer was detected in 249 patients, of whom 69 underwent RP. Wilcoxon signed rank and McNemar's tests were used to compare the ISUP grade group distribution and concordance with RP after applying the 2014 (i.e., highest grade) and 2019 (i.e., global grade) ISUP recommendations, respectively.

Results

Compared to the 2014 ISUP recommendations, the 2019 ISUP recommendations were associated with a significant decrease in ISUP Grade Group 4 (range of difference from −13% to −5%) and an increase in ISUP Grade Group 2 (range of difference from +6% to +11%) in MRI targeted biopsy only, MRI targeted with perilesional biopsies, and MRI targeted with systematic biopsies (all P < 0.01). In patients who underwent RP, a significant decrease in downgrading was observed with all biopsy strategies (range of difference from −19% to −12%; P ≤ 0.008), along with an increase in concordance with RP specimen (range of difference from +12% to +13%; P ≤ 0.02). The use of the 2019 ISUP recommendation was associated with RP specimen a lower treatment burden.

Conclusions

The use of the 2019 ISUP recommendations mitigates the grade migration induced by MRI targeted biopsy and improves the concordance with the final RP specimen.
What is the value of biotic seed dispersal in post‐fire forest regeneration?
Authors: Benedicto‐Royuela José , Costa José Miguel , Heleno Ruben , Silva Joaquim S. , Freitas Helena , Lopes Pedro , Mendes Sara Beatriz , Timóteo Sérgio
Published: November 2023

World forests face many threats, including wildfires, with tremendous ecological, social, and economic implications. Mediterranean ecosystems have evolved in the presence of fire, but changes to fire regimes associated with other global changes pose new challenges to postfire community regeneration. Forest regeneration largely depends on plant adaptations to survive wildfires or on the recolonization of burnt areas through seed dispersal. However, the value of the service provided by wild animals to postfire forest regeneration remains unevaluated. Here, we estimate the economic value of the biotic seed dispersal service in postfire restoration in Portugal. We combine budgeted costs of governmental Emergency Stabilisation Reports with network analysis that estimates the dependency of the Portuguese flora on biotic seed dispersal and on alternative fire regeneration strategies. Replacing the services provided by seed dispersers during postfire regeneration of Portuguese forests would cost 23,061,621€/year, highlighting the need for integrative policies that promote resilient forests.
An evaluation of the license to save lives program to promote organ, eye, and tissue donation among teenagers
Authors: Quick Brian L. , Morrow Ethan , Bigman Cabral A. , Reynolds‐Tylus Tobias , Williamson Lillie D.
Published: November 2023

As the number of designated organ donors continues to lag behind the number of waiting list patients, teenagers remain a promising demographic of potential organ donors. The current study enlisted Michigan and Ohio driver education students to participate in an online digital learning intervention, License to Save Lives (LTSL). Students were randomly assigned to either an interactive or noninteractive LTSL intervention. Across both states, the pretest‐posttest design revealed greater knowledge among students following exposure to either the interactive or noninteractive LTSL program. No attitudinal or behavioral differences emerged between the interactive and noninteractive conditions. Michigan (39.82%) and Ohio (58.10%) students registered to be organ donors at a respectable rate. The results are discussed with an emphasis on feasibility and sustainability as well as the promise for digital games to promote organ donation knowledge, attitude, and registration among teenagers.
Preparation of wear‐resistant ceramic coating by dynamically controlling the resistance during MAO
Authors: Wang Jing , Xu Guangshen , Jia Endong , Zhao Ziyue , Wang Zezhen , Lu Hailin
Published: November 2023

Micro arc oxidation (MAO) is a surface treatment technology that typically involves immersing the valve metal in an electrolyte to generate a ceramic coating for improved surface characteristics. This paper proposes a novel MAO g48 the need for electrolyte immersion. The MAO power supply's positive electrode is connected to the valve metal as the anode, while the negative electrode is connected to a stainless‐steel wire in the electrolyte circulation system. The distance between the cathode and anode is dynamically adjusted using a mechanical arm. Through advanced techniques like X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, successful ceramic coatings comprising α‐Al2O3 and γ‐Al2O3 phases on aluminum substrates were achieved. Tribological experiments demonstrated that coatings prepared with a cathode‐anode distance of 1.0 cm exhibited a scratch width of approximately 286.160 μm, while a distance of 3.0 cm resulted in approximately 1736.80 μm. This highlights the significant impact of the cathode‐anode distance on the wear resistance of the plasma electrolytic oxidation ceramic coating, with optimal performance observed at 1.0 cm. Utilizing a robotic arm to control the cathode movement enables effective surface treatment of large workpieces and targeted regions, addressing practical challenges in MAO applications.
Die ersten Beutefanghandlungen junger Blaufelchen (Coregonus wartmanni Bloch) und Hechte (Esox lucius L.)1
Authors: Braum Erich
Published: November 2023

1. Blaufeichenlarven schwimmen gleich nach dem Schlüpfen mit Schlängelbewegungen. Hechtlarven sind während der Dottersackperiode nahezu unbeweglich und hängen am Substrat.

2. Nach Aufzehren des Dottersacks fangen Blaufelchen und Hechte zum erstenmal Beute, vorwiegend Copepoden.

3. Hechte füllen ihre Schwimmblasen vor der ersten Nahrungsaufnahme; Blaufelchen haben zu dieser Zeit noch keine funktionsfähige Schwimmblase.

4. Der erste Beutefang wird mit Hilfe von Filmaufnahmen analysiert. Die Bewegungs‐ und Orientierungshandlungen, bestehend aus binokularem Fixieren, Anschwimmen und Zustoßen mit Schnappen sind angeboren und setzen gleichzeitig ein.

5. Hechte beachten die Bewegung der Beute quer zu ihrer Visierlinie und wählen danach ihre Ausgangsstellung vor dem Zustoßen, das selbst nicht mehr korrigiert werden kann. Der Kopf weicht zwangsläufig beim Vorschnellen nach einer Seite ab, die durch die vom Hecht gewählte Ausgangsstellung bestimmt ist und immer mit der Bewegungsrichtung der Beute übereinstimmt. Das Verhalten ist angeboren.

6. Bei Blaufelchen und Hechten steigt der Erfolgsprozentsatz beim Schnappen mit zunehmender Erfahrung.

1. Larvae of Coregonus begin swimming immediately after hatching by undulations of the body. Larvae of pike adhering to a substrate spend time of yolk‐sac absorption nearly immovable.

2. After yolk‐sac absorption Coregonus and pike catch prey for the first time, larvae especially Copepoda.

3. Pikes fill their swimbladder before first feeding while Coregonus larvae have no swimbladder at this time.

4. The first prey capture was analysed by films. It consists of innate components such as binocular fixation of prey objects, approaching, pushing forward and snapping.

5. Pikes notice movement of the prey transverse to the longitudinal of their own body. Their posture before pushing forward depends on the movement direction of prey objects. While pushing forward the pikes' head deviates obligatory to one side determined by the choosed starting‐posture. The deviation is identical with the movement direction of the prey. The reactions of the fish are innate.

6. Caused by acquisition of skill Coregonus and pike snap with increasing success.
Aspects of Aggressive Behaviour in Polecats
Authors: Poole Trevor B.
Published: November 2023

Das Verhalten von Iltissen und Frettchen in einer 16‐m2‐Arena gegen Artgenossen wird beschrieben.

Außerhalb der Fortpflanzungszeit werden Fremde belästigt (hier „ritual aggression” genannt), aber nicht besiegt.

Während der Fortpflanzungszeit (März bis Juli) kämpfen ♂♂ mit Fremden: sie ergreifen den Eindringling im Nacken, halten ihn fest, versuchen ihn zu schütteln und schleppen ihn umher. Der Gepackte rollt sich über den Boden, bis der andre loslassen muß, und versucht, seinerseits ebenso zuzupacken.

Ein unterlegener Iltis droht abwehrend mit gekrümmtem Rücken und hochgehaltenem Kopf, öffnet das Maul und weist dem Gegner unter Pfauchen oder Kreischen die Zähne. Der Sieger dreht den Kopf zur Seite und geht breitseits vor.

♀♀ sind weniger angriffslustig als ♂♂; sie kämpfen gelegentlich, aber kurz und ohne den Gegner zu unterwerfen. „Ritual aggression” zeigen sie nur gegen fremde ♀♀.

Begegnungen zwischen ♂ und ♀♀ in der Paarungszeit sind beschrieben. Ist das ♀ bereit, so kommt es zur Kopula; sonst versucht das ♂ zu kopulieren, das ♀ aber dreht sich auf den Rücken und schnappt sanft nach Genick und Schnauze des ♂. Läßt sich das ♂ nicht abweisen, so kann es zum Kampf kommen: das ♂ schleppt das ♀ am Genick umher und schüttelt es, das ♀ droht, quiekt und schnappt nach dem ♂. Das ♀ wird nicht besiegt. Auch das ♂ kann einen Kampf beginnen, vor allem, wenn es paarungsbereit ist und das ♂ nicht mitmacht. Das ♀ geht dann in Abwehrstellung und droht.

Im Januar–März werden die Hoden der Iltis‐♂♂ größer und diese angriffslustiger: sie beißen öfter einen Partner ins Genick und halten ihn länger fest. Aber auch in heftigen Kämpfen wird der Gegner nicht unterworfen. Es kommt zu Pseudokopulationen mit ihm, wahrscheinlich ausgelöst durch seine Bewegungslosigkeit.

Im Iltiskampf fehlt das Drohen vor einem Angriff, entsprechend fehlt jedes Vorspiel vor dem Aufreiten und den Kopulationsversuchen.

Die Beziehungen zwischen Angriffs‐, Sexual‐ und Spielverhalten sind erortert.
The Behaviour of Red Kangaroos (Megaleia rufa) on Hot Summer Days
Authors: Russell Eleanor M. , Harrop C. J. F.
Published: November 2023

To investigate the functional significance of the behaviour of large mammals in hot, arid conditions, field observations were made of the behaviour of red kangaroos. The behaviour of individual animals was recorded in detail during hot summer days and measurements of the prevailing temperature and radiation environment were made. Changes in the postures adopted by animals during the day are described in relation to environmental conditions; and the occurrence of certain postures and behaviours at periods of greatest heat stress is reported.
Züchterische Modellversuche mit Drosophila virilis: zur Erzeugung bestimmter neuer homozygoter Kombinationen aus den Erbanlagen zweier verschiedener homozygoter Elternformen
Authors: Lauprecht E. , Zimmermann W.
Published: November 2023

In der eingangs erwähnten Arbeit von DÖRING und LAUPRECHT waren die maximal erreichbaren Häufigkeiten bestimmter Neukombinationen der Erbanlagen von zwei verschiedenen Elterntypen berechnet. Außerdem wurde von ihnen abgeleitet, auf welchem Wege lediglich durch das Zuchtverfahren die gesuchten Neukombinationen am schnellsten und mit der geringsten Anzahl von Individuen erhalten werden. Die vorliegende Untersuchung hatte die Aufgabe, im Tierversuch mit Drosophila virilis diese theoretischen Voraussagen an einigen Beispielen zu prüfen, weil in der praktischen Züchtung erfahrungsgemäß nicht von vornherein immer mit dem genauen Eintreffen der theoretischen Voraussagen zu rechnen ist. Zu diesem Zweck wurden 10 240 Paare zur Zucht angesetzt, von denen 224 515 Nachkommen untersucht wurden. Dabei ergab sich eine verhältnismäßig gute Übereinstimmung zwischen Beobachtung und Erwartung. Drosophila virilis hat sich infolge ihrer schnellen Generationsfolge, ihrer großen Nachkommenanzahl, ihres geringen Raumbedarfes, ihrer einfachen Haltung und Ernährung sowie ihrer Unabhängigkeit von Jahreszeit und Witterung für diesen Zweck in einem großrahmig angelegten Modellversuch sehr bewährt. Dadurch hat sich dieses Tier als ein wertvolles Objekt für die Durchführung grundlegender züchterischer Untersuchungen und bestimmter Modellversuche erwiesen.
Project Selection in an Organizational Context
Authors: PEARSON A. W.
Published: November 2023

Abstract— Project selection is not a process which occurs at a particular instance in time and to which any single technique or even combination of techniques can be applied. It is an ongoing operation which requires inputs from the idea generation and creativity area and which raises questions about long‐term planning and corporate strategy. This paper therefore considers the problem from an organizational point of view and draws upon a variety of research findings which help us to understand how the process might be improved and how some of the more formalized procedures which have been suggested in the literature can be of assistance.
The effect of mobile assisted teaching on nursing students' learning ventrogluteal injection application: The case of Turkey
Authors: Biyik Bayram Şule , Özener Gamze , Çakıcı Nilay , Eren Handan , Aydogan Sinan , Öztürk Deniz , Gülnar Emel , Çalışkan Nurcan
Published: November 2023

Background

There are deficiencies in ensuring the permanence of some theoretical information taught in nursing education and transferring it to practice environment. Mobile‐assisted teaching can be useful to eliminate deficiencies. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of mobile‐assisted teaching on nursing students' learning ventrogluteal injection.

Methodology

The study was conducted in Turkey between February and June 2022. This study is a single group pre‐posttest intervention. The study sample consisted of 354 students studying in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades in Turkey. After the students completed the Introductory Characteristics Form and Ventrogluteal Region Information Suggestion Form in the pre‐test, the researchers sent a ventrogluteal injection animation video to their mobile phones. The students who watched the video completed the Ventrogluteal Region Information Suggestion Form and Mobile Education Activity Form in the final test.

Results and Conclusion

There was a statistically significant difference between the pre‐posttest score medians of the students (p < 0.001). While the preference of the students for the ventrogluteal region in intramuscular injection was 28.5% before mobile learning, it increased to 51.1% after the training. In this study, after the training given through mobile learning, the knowledge level of the students about ventrogluteal injection and their preferences for ventrogluteal injection increased. In line with these results, mobile‐assisted education should be used in nursing education.
Bacteria reduction and quality improvement of 3D printed fresh carrots by inner design and moderate microwave treatment
Authors: Zhu Yuanyuan , Fan Dongcui , Bhandari Bhesh , Phuhongsung Pattarapon , Yu Dongxing , Zhang Min
Published: November 2023

Bacteria reduction and quality change of 3D printed carrots with different infill percentages (%) were studied after being treated with microwave (MW) at three power levels (120, 230, and 390 W). The color, appearance, texture (hardness, chewiness, and gumminess), and total polyphenol contents (TPCs) were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that infill levels had no effect on bacterial population reduction but significantly affected the appearance of the samples after MW treatment. The total number of colonies (TNCs) were decreased by 0.27–0.68 (120 W, 60 s), 2.24–2.48 (230 W, 60 s), and 4.27–4.54 (390 W, 60 s) log CFU/g under the three MW treatments, respectively. 390 W MW treated achieved a very significant effect on inoculated Escherichia coli, with a death rate of 81.13%. MW treatment enhanced the hardness, chewiness, and TPC of the printed carrots as well as improved sticky mouthfeel without adversely affecting the visual color. The bacterial reduction effect of MW 390 W treatment for 60 s was relatively better. 60% infill sample was the best for the purpose of avoiding surface shrinkage and deformation of low infill samples and surface puffing of high infill samples.

Practical applications

In this study, fresh vegetables were used for printing and MW sterilization was combined into 3D printing, so as to ensure the microbial safety of 3D printed products and provide technical basis for the sterilization treatment of meat, seafood, and other printed foods susceptible to microbial contamination.
Experimental and simulation studies on blanching and its impact on the drying rate of carrot
Authors: Joshi Ashutosh , Pratihar Anil Kumar
Published: November 2023

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study on the blanching and drying of carrots. Blanching of carrot slices has been performed at four temperature–time combinations. The effect of separating the core and cortex and blanching temperature on the drying rate of carrots has been studied. The blanching process increases the drying rate of carrots. The drying constant for slice, cortex, and core, respectively, has been found to be 22.84%, 24.90%, and 36.94% higher for the samples blanched at 95°C for 5 min, when compared to the unblanched samples. The drying rate also increases with the increase in blanching temperature. The drying constant increases by 37.64% and 109.18% in the case of cortex and core respectively, when compared to the slice. Temperature histories obtained through finite element analysis using ANSYS Fluent software were duly validated with the experiment.

Practical applications

The effect of separating the core and cortex and blanching temperature on the drying rate of carrots has been studied in this paper. The blanching process increases the drying rate of carrots. The drying rate also increases with the increase in blanching temperature. Blanching further also helps to improve the drying constant. The separation of the cortex and core from the slice also aids in reducing drying time and increasing the drying constant. Thus, it has been concluded that the novel concept of separating the slice into core and cortex combined with blanching resulted in a very significant increase in drying rate which will result in a great saving of time and power input in the drying process.
Connections and older adults
Authors: Christmas Colleen
Published: November 2023

This editorial comments on the article by Neumann et al. in this issue.