bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Infarct Morphology and Patterns on Cognitive Outcomes After Endovascular Thrombectomy
Authors: Ospel Johanna Maria , Rinkel Leon , Ganesh Aravind , Demchuk Andrew , Joshi Manish , Poppe Alexandre , McTaggart Ryan , Nogueira Raul , Menon Bijoy , Tymianski Michael , Hill Michael Douglas , Goyal Mayank
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND:

To assess the association of qualitative and quantitative infarct characteristics and 3 cognitive outcome tests, namely the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) for mild cognitive impairment, the Boston Naming Test for visual confrontation naming, and the Sunnybrook Neglect Assessment Procedure for neglect, in large vessel occlusion stroke.

METHODS:

Secondary observational cohort study using data from the randomized-controlled ESCAPE-NA1 trial (Safety and Efficacy of Nerinetide in Subjects Undergoing Endovascular Thrombectomy for Stroke), in which patients with large vessel occlusion undergoing endovascular treatment were randomized to receive either intravenous Nerinetide or placebo. MOCA, Sunnybrook Neglect Assessment Procedure, and 15-item Boston Naming Test were obtained at 90 days. Total infarct volume, gray matter, and white matter infarct volumes were manually measured on 24-hour follow-up imaging. Infarcts were also visually classified as either involving the gray matter only or both the gray and white matter and scattered versus territorial. Associations of infarct variables and cognitive outcomes were analyzed using multivariable ordinal or binary logistic regression models.

RESULTS:

Of 1105 patients enrolled in ESCAPE-NA1, 1026 patients with visible infarcts on 24-hour follow-up imaging were included. MOCA and Sunnybrook Neglect Assessment Procedure were available for 706 (68.8%) patients and the 15-item Boston Naming Test was available for 682 (66.5%) patients. Total infarct volume was associated with worse MOCA scores (adjusted common odds ratio per 10 mL increase, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.04–1.06]). After adjusting for baseline variables and total infarct volume, mixed gray and white matter involvement (versus gray matter-only adjusted common odds ratio, 1.92 [95% CI, 1.37–2.69]), white matter infarct volume (adjusted common odds ratio per 10 mL increase 1.36 [95% CI, 1.18–1.58]) and territorial (versus scattered) infarct pattern (adjusted common odds ratio, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.15–2.38]) were associated with worse MOCA scores. Results for Sunnybrook Neglect Assessment Procedure and 15-item Boston Naming Test were similar, except for the territorial infarct pattern, which did not reach statistical significance in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Besides total infarct volume, infarcts that involve the white matter and that show a territorial distribution were associated with worse cognitive outcomes, even after adjusting for total infarct volume.
Zuidervaart and Dooyeweerd: A Critical Retrieval?
Authors: Geertsema Henk G.
Published: March 2024

In this review essay, I discuss how Lambert Zuidervaart relates to the philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd in two of his books. He himself calls his work in this regard a critical retrieval. To answer the question as to how far this characterization is justified, we will look at Zuidervaart’s discussion of the religious antithesis and the transcendental critique, his idea of macrostructures and societal evil, and his view of truth and knowledge.
Two new species of Stenus Latreille, 1797, from Timor-Leste (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Steninae)
Authors: SHAW JOSH JENKINS , REID CHRIS A. M.
Published: March 2024

Two new species of Stenus Latreille, 1797 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Steninae) are described from Timor-Leste. Nine species of Stenus are now known to occur in Timor-Leste: S. ferreirai Puthz, 1966; S. hatobuilico Jenkins Shaw & Reid sp. nov.; S. melanarius annamita Fauvel, 1895; S. piliferus timoricola Puthz, 1966; S. ramelau Jenkins Shaw & Reid sp. nov.; S. rorellus cursorius L. Benick, 1921; S. tenebricus tenebricus Puthz, 1966; S. timorensis Puthz, 1966; S. timoricus Puthz, 1966. Appropriate species-group classification of the two new species is discussed. They are brachypterous and montane, restricted to elevations above 2000 m in the Ramelau Massif. A key is provided for identification of Timorese Stenus species and new records of the described species noted.
Two new Incisitermes (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) species from the Caribbean Basin, genetic relationships with other regional Incisitermes, and synonymy of Incisitermes tabogae with I. schwarzi
Authors: SCHEFFRAHN RUDOLF H. , AUSTIN JAMES W. , SZALANSKI ALLEN L.
Published: March 2024

Two new species of Incisitermes are described from the soldier and imago caste: Incisitermes lisae sp. nov. (Yucatan Region) and Incisitermes mariae sp. nov. (Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago). Incisitermes tabogae (Snyder, 1924) is reduced to a junior synonymy of Incisitermes schwarzi (Banks, 1920), known from Florida, the West Indies, and the Caribbean basin mainland. The phylogenetic relationships of these three species are compared with other Incisitermes of the region.
Facilely Fabricated Porous Polymer Microfiber Tube Toward Continuous Oil-Water Separating
Authors: Shi Jiulong , Peng Fei , Chen Rongrui , Shan Tingting , Guo Juan , Gao Chaojun , Zheng Guoqiang
Published: March 2024

Serious ocean oil spills have led to shocking ecological disasters and environmental crises over the past few decades. However, owing to their intermittent mode, the present oil/water separation and collection processes generally suffer from time-consuming, complicated and expensive
steps. Therefore, it is urgent to propose a facile way to consecutively separate and collect oil from oil-water mix in a one-step way. Herein, via coextrusion molding, the porous polymer (high desity polyethylene (HDPE)) microfiber tube (PPMT) was facilely fabricated. It shows high porosity
(76.2±4.1%), excellent oleophilicity (OCA of 0ž) and good hydrophobicity (WCA of 135ž), resulting in decent absorption capacity of various organic pollutants (in the range of 170–350 wt.%). More interestingly, it is able to consecutively separate and collect oil
from following oil-water mix and avoids secondary operation (such as extra desorption), successfully achieving efficient one-step method for oil-water separating & collecting (with a separation efficiency of 97.4%±4.7% at the average flux of 0.28 ml/s). This work proposes a novel
concept for preparing porous polymer tube composed of microfibrils via a low-cost, facile and effcient method, offering an innovative way to construct the functional structure following the idea of polymer “structuring” processing.
Cyber scares and prophylactic policies: Crossnational evidence on the effect of cyberattacks on public support for surveillance
Authors: Arsenault Amelia C , Kreps Sarah E , Snider Keren LG , Canetti Daphna
Published: March 2024

While conventional terrorism has long been associated with enhanced support for surveillance, scholars have not determined whether variation in the type and outcome of terror attacks, including those emanating from cyberspace, influences public support for these policies. Further, existing studies typically examine public opinion in a single country, thereby failing to investigate cross-national trends in support for surveillance. In this article, we outline a theoretical relationship between cyberattacks and support for surveillance measures and then, through survey experiments conducted in the United States, United Kingdom, and Israel, explore whether variation in both the type (conventional or cyberterrorism) and outcome (non-lethal or lethal outcomes) of attacks influences support for a range of surveillance tactics. We find that while participants do not base their support for surveillance on attack type or outcome and do not differentiate between surveillance tactics when formulating their preferences, there are considerable cross-national differences in support. Participants from Israel generally responded more favorably to all forms of surveillance, independent of experimental treatment, with British respondents demonstrating high levels of support for CCTV cameras. American respondents, however, were generally less supportive of surveillance measures across treatments, with the differences being most notable in their relative reluctance to support the use of CCTV cameras. These findings have important implications not only for the sustainability of national policies but also for international collaboration to manage emerging risks.
Pedestrian evacuation dynamics considering terrorist attack on-site control action differences between police and security guards
Authors: Zheng Ying , Ji Langchao , Xu Zhengxiang , Chen Yanyan , Li Xingang
Published: March 2024

In recent years, terrorist attacks all over the world caused many civilian casualties seriously. Under the knife and axe terrorist attack, there are usually four groups of event-related persons, that is, pedestrians, terrorists, police, and safety guards in the scene. The behavior of them is different, but they are rarely considered together in existing litterateurs, especially the police and safety guards. In this paper, we propose the FFPS (extended floor-field model combined with on-site control actions of police and safety guards) model to study pedestrian evacuation dynamics considering terrorist attack on-site control action differences between police and security guards. The FFPS model consists of three aspects. First, pedestrian evacuation dynamics in terrorist attack environment is modeled. Second, the behavior of terrorists, police and safety guards is studied. Third, the differences of on-site control actions between police and safety guards are studied. We set up the scenario for simulation. The influence of terrorists’ number and location, police and security guards’ different actions, police entering time, police shooting distance, police and safety guards’ spatial position, and police control strategy on evacuation dynamics are analyzed in detail. Those results provide valuable insights to quickly control terrorists, and sharply reduce casualties in terrorist attack environment.
Empowering smart cities with digital twins of buildings: Applications and implementation considerations of data-driven energy modelling in building management
Authors: Elnour Mariam , Ahmad Ahmad M. , Abdelkarim Shimaa , Fadli Fodil , Naji Khalid
Published: March 2024

Smart buildings and cities are rapidly emerging as solutions to address the challenges of efficiency, urbanisation, and sustainability in the sector. The study proposes deploying data-driven digital twins for smart buildings by utilising the available building’s technology and IT infrastructure to complement and augment existing functions. The digital twin will consist of a core data-driven energy model and a 2D visual representation of the building’s systems, with the potential for future evolution into a 3D model. This study aims to present a preliminary investigation into the idea of data-driven digital twins in building management towards enhancing the operations of smart buildings and empowering the concept of smart cities. It is demonstrated on a building on the campus of Qatar University. With an emphasis on the air conditioning systems of the building, considering their substantial contribution to overall energy consumption, the study maintains an open approach to also encompass other energy systems within the buildings, and presents a comparative evaluation between simulation-based and data-driven modelling on the case study, as well as an exploration of various machine learning algorithms that can be used. Furthermore, exploring essential smart applications of the building’s data-driven digital twin.

Practical Application

The study provides a comprehensive exploration of the practical aspects of deploying data-driven digital twins for smart buildings, addressing challenges related to data collection, model development, integration with building infrastructure, and potential limitations. The paper aims to advance the field of facility management and promote smart and sustainable practices in building operations. By contributing to the existing knowledge in facility services and management, our study offers practical guidance towards optimising building performance, reducing energy consumption, and fostering sustainable urban development.
Discrimination and sense of purpose: Taking an intergenerational lens
Authors: Wolk Megan W. , Bogdan Ryan , Oltmanns Thomas F. , Hill Patrick L.
Published: March 2024

Given the developmental benefits associated with higher sense of purpose, past work has aimed to understand how experiences of adversity relate to sense of purpose. With a specific focus on experiences of adversity that may impact individuals from marginalized groups, past work has found that discrimination is related to lower sense of purpose in life, but that these effects are weaker for Black adults relative to White adults. The current research aims to extend past work by examining how and for whom discrimination is related to sense of purpose in life. Moreover, the current work also aimed to understand the extent to which sense of purpose spans across generations and whether there are generational differences in the relationship between discrimination and sense of purpose. Using data from the St. Louis Personality and Aging Network study, 822 parents (G1 participants) and 654 children (G2 participants) completed measures for sense of purpose, major experiences of discrimination, and personality traits. Results found mixed evidence for a relationship between discrimination and sense of purpose, with little evidence for consistent moderators. In addition, while the current work found no evidence of intergenerational associations for sense of purpose, results showed that discrimination was positively associated across generations, suggesting a potential for an intergenerational cycle of marginalization.
Short text classification using semantically enriched topic model
Authors: Uddin Farid , Chen Yibo , Zhang Zuping , Huang Xin
Published: March 2024

Modelling short text is challenging due to the small number of word co-occurrence and insufficient semantic information that affects downstream Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks, for example, text classification. Gathering information from external sources is expensive and may increase noise. For efficient short text classification without depending on external knowledge sources, we propose Expressive Short text Classification (EStC). EStC consists of a novel document context-aware semantically enriched topic model called the Short text Topic Model (StTM) that captures words, topics and documents semantics in a joint learning framework. In StTM, the probability of predicting a context word involves the topic distribution of word embeddings and the document vector as the global context, which obtains by weighted averaging of word embeddings on the fly simultaneously with the topic distribution of words without requiring an additional inference method for the document embedding. EStC represents documents in an expressive (number of topics × number of word embedding features) embedding space and uses a linear support vector machine (SVM) classifier for their classification. Experimental results demonstrate that EStC outperforms many state-of-the-art language models in short text classification using several publicly available short text data sets.
Heuvelmans the Heretic and Hidden Animals
Authors: Foxon Floe
Published: March 2024

Cryptozoology seeks to study ‘hidden animals’ by separating ‘metaphors and similes’ from possible underlying insight. Variously described as a science, pseudoscience, or fringe field, cryptozoology may be viewed under the lenses of both heterodox science and orthodox science. Cryptozoology is heterodox in its unconventional methods and strategy; its ‘fuzzy’ data in the form of circumstantial and testimonial evidence; and its mostly amateur investigators. Cryptozoology also borrows from orthodox science, and in recent years may have influenced orthodox science: traditional ecological knowledge, pioneered in cryptozoology, is beginning to enter ‘mainstream’ scientific research, and these data have facilitated recent zoological (re)discoveries. Some contemporary cryptozoological studies have also applied more orthodox and rigorous statistical methodology. Controversial photographic taxonomy has been applied in both crypto- and conventional zoology, and cryptozoology has been investigated by qualified scientists at reputable institutions and in reputable academic journals. Cryptozoological methods, when applied more scrupulously, may have some unrealised scientific potential.
Neurodevelopmental problems in adulthood following severe early deprivation: A qualitative analysis of clinical needs and service user experiences
Authors: Edwards Christopher , Kennedy Mark , Knights Nicky , Kovshoff Hanna , Kreppner Jana , Maughan Barbara , Sonuga-Barke Edmund
Published: March 2024

Severe, prolonged early deprivation is associated with later neurodevelopmental difficulties. Despite elevated levels of contact with service providers, these problems often persist into adult life and are associated with impairment in adulthood (e.g., unemployment, higher rates of depression and anxiety symptoms and poorer subjective wellbeing). Here, we aimed to explore the ongoing service needs and experiences of adoptees and their parents from the English and Romanian Adoptees (ERA) study, in those with a history of early deprivation and neurodevelopmental problems. Our descriptive thematic analysis highlighted difficulties with independent living, particularly financial management and problems with decision-making. Where specific forms of support had been accessed (e.g., medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) they were often helpful, although there was some ambivalence towards taking medication due to side effects. However, the neurodevelopmental problems were not well understood and were often overlooked by service providers. There is a need for greater awareness among frontline service providers of the neurodevelopmental impact of early adversity. Participants also identified that their support needs were largely unmet and that their parents were having to fill this gap. Similarities and differences between the experiences highlighted here and those identified with idiopathic neurodevelopmental disorders are discussed, as are several recommendations for educational improvements for service providers.
Supporting older youth in care: The role of caregivers
Authors: Cullen Greggory
Published: March 2024

Adolescents living in care are vulnerable to a range of negative outcomes. Although the mental health and substance use problems of foster youth are widely documented, significantly less research examines the influence of caregivers on these two dimensions of health and wellbeing. Given the importance of caregivers to the development of adolescents in child welfare, the present study investigates the relationship between caregiver characteristics, caregiver attachment and placement type on mental health and substance use. The sample consists of 1,093 young people taken from the 2016 Ontario Looking After Children project who are between 16 and 17 years of age. Findings suggest that caregiver attachment, caregiver gender and the caregiver’s school expectations are all significantly associated with mental health and substance use among this population. Results will inform child welfare professionals about a number of risk-predictive factors of mental health and substance use problems among a sample of young people preparing to transition to adulthood. These findings will help service providers design policies and intervention strategies to improve the future outcomes of youth involved in child welfare.
Cinematic Rendering of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours: Opportunities for Clinical Implementation: Part 2: Preoperative Planning and Evaluation of Metastatic Disease
Authors: Ahmed Taha M. , Fishman Elliot K. , Chu Linda C.
Published: March 2024

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNETs) are a rare subset of pancreatic tumours that have historically comprised up to 3% of all clinically detected pancreatic tumours. In recent decades, however, advancements in imaging have led to an increased incidental detection rate of PNETs and imaging has played an increasingly central role in the initial diagnostics and surgical planning of these tumours. Cinematic rendering (CR) is a 3D post-processing technique that generates highly photorealistic images through more realistically modelling the path of photons through the imaged volume. This allows for more comprehensive visualization, description, and interpretation of anatomical structures. In this 2-part review article, we present the first description of the various CR appearances of PNETs in the reported literature while providing commentary on the unique clinical opportunities afforded by the adjunctive utilization of CR in the workup of these rare tumours. This second instalment focuses on the applications of CR in optimizing preoperative planning of PNETs.
Transforming the Performance Management System at Sapient
Authors: Gupta Pooja , Sethi Madhvi
Published: March 2024

In 2013, Alan Herrick, the CEO of Sapient, raised concerns with his HR leadership regarding the effectiveness of the existing performance management system (PMS). He tasked Kameshwari Rao, Vice President of People Strategy at Sapient India, with evaluating the current performance appraisal system, which relied on bell curving and forced ranking. Leading a core team, Rao explored alternative systems to replace the current one, eliminating the use of the bell curve.

The team’s findings led to the proposal of a new approach named ‘enabling your potential’ (EYP), focusing on regular conversations throughout the year rather than a singular year-end effort for gathering and disseminating performance information. The EYP approach emphasized coaching and feedback. The case outlines the dilemma faced by Rao when confronted with feedback from various organizational stakeholders regarding the proposed EYP PMS. Rao must decide whether to persist with the bell curve system or adopt the proposed EYP approach.
Analysing the Potential of Neighbourhoods in Sustainable Development: A Systematic Review of Interventions
Authors: Yeolekar-Kadam Bageshree , Chandiramani Jyoti
Published: March 2024

Between 1950 and 2018, the global urban population spiralled four-fold from about 0.8 billion accounting for just 30% of the total world population to 4.2 billion in 2018 with a 55.3% share in the world population. At present, it is estimated that 57.4% of the total global population is urban and is projected to cross 60% by 2030. Given the growth and scale of urbanization, this brings forth irreversible challenges, limiting land and water resources at its disposal. This makes it difficult to meet the increasing demand for affordable housing and viable infrastructure besides other challenges. In this context, the local-level planning and development approaches that have been experimented with globally are studied to understand the potential of neighbourhoods in sustainable development. The authors conducted a systematic literature review based on the SCOPUS database to identify relevant scholarly literature. The study identified the most significant associations within various domains based on phased iterations with the VOSviewer analyser tool to gain confirmatory results. The study has explored planning interventions at the neighbourhood level that would assist in sustainable development. The article concludes that there is a lot of scope for stakeholders to channel their efforts innovatively for leveraging the potential of neighbourhoods in sustainable development.
When Covid-19 Disrupted University Teaching: The University Fought Back
Authors: Coy Kimberly
Published: March 2024

The Covid-19 pandemic caused the California State University system to shift completely to online learning in March 2020. Before the end of the spring 2020 semester the CSU system announced that Fall 2020, and then Spring 2021 courses would be delivered online. During the summer of 2020 online training courses are available to all Faculty and instructors to prepare for online delivery. The courses were developed by curriculum designers and delivered by volunteer faculty with both expertise and comfort in online instruction. At one of the schools in the CSU system 800 instructors signed up to take the course. The purpose of this paper is to understand how faculty implemented teaching practices online after participating in the training provided by the participant university in the summer of 2020. Using the Universal Design for Learning framework for analysis; survey results, teaching strategies, and recommendations are included.
Intertemporal Price Competition in the Two-Sided Market: Reexamining the Seesaw Principle for Startup Platforms
Authors: Dou Yifan , Zhang Xiaoyang , Wu D.J.
Published: March 2024

Pricing represents a crucial element in the platform business model search, particularly for startups that face the “cold-start” problem in launching a two-sided marketplace. In a static setting, the literature recommends the “seesaw principle” (i.e., charging a relatively low price, even subsidizing, on the one side and a high price on the other) as the solution. However, little is known about whether the seesaw principle still works in a dynamic setting and how it is influenced by intertemporal factors such as retention capabilities and early period financial pressure. This paper develops a game-theoretic model to examine optimal pricing strategies in a multiperiod setting. We first show that, in the symmetric scenario, the adjustment to the seesaw principle (i.e., the difference between the single- and multiperiod price gaps) increases with the platforms’ retention rate. This insight holds true in the asymmetric case where a startup platform faces greater early period financial pressure than an established competitor. Interestingly, the startup platform should charge a higher price to the less profitable side to differentiate itself and avoid a price war. We also explore the robustness of these insights by considering an endogenous, price-sensitive retention rate.
Spouses of First Responders: Support for Living With Posttraumatic Stress
Authors: Geiger Jennifer D.
Published: March 2024

Emergency first responders (police, fire, paramedic, dispatch) engage in work that includes multiple traumas, sometimes leading to posttraumatic stress. Due to work spillover at home, spouses are susceptible to vicarious and secondary trauma. While there are debriefings for traumatic calls for first responders, no such thing exists for the spouses who are the first to provide support at home. There is a lack of availability of resources supporting first responder spouses, particularly those whose first responders are diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder. Stepping into this gap is a unique 6-day residential treatment program provided in a secluded location in Northern California, where a small number of clients engage in a program directed by peers who have been through the program themselves, culturally competent clinicians, and chaplains. The therapeutic milieu is supported by psychoeducation, group processing, nutritious meals, daily activity, and an optional daily chapel program. Based on a dissertation, and using Gass’ wheel of change as a framework, this article shares the results of a qualitative study of eight participants' experiences of the program gleaned from in-depth interviews, a review of program agendas, and self-assessment scores pre- and postprogram. Inductive analysis resulted in common themes including a reduction in isolation, anxiety, and depression symptoms, normalization of experiences, and community. Like the insider-researcher author, individuals finding that they have “lost themselves” in the role of first responder spouse identify this residential treatment experience as a “back to myself” program. Further research on program effectiveness via program evaluation is recommended.
Innovation in hospital pharmacy: Modeling the installation of automated dispensing systems based on an oncology hospital experience transfer
Authors: El Baraka Soumaya , Cherif Chefchaouni Ali , Bourdaime Aya , Lahlou Oumaima , El Alaoui Yassir , Rahali Younes
Published: March 2024

Objective

This study explores automated dispensing systems (ADS) implementation in hospitals, focusing on experience transfer between the National Institute of Oncology of Rabat (NIO) and the specialties hospital of Rabat (SHR) to develop a transferable ADS installation and management model.

Method

A retrospective implementation and experience data analysis of 3 years ADS implementation at NIO and a prospective planification for SHR new implementation on 6 months were employed. Data collection included pharmacist team reports, personnel interviews, direct observations, and information system data exports. The study focused on identifying challenges a plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle.

Results

The analysis revealed overestimation in ADS needs at NIO about 42%, leading to: Resource exhaustion; Challenges in timeline installation staff training and management, Disruptions in data integration and Incident Reports. These issues underscored the importance of a phased, well-planned implementation process.

Discussion

The study highlighted the crucial role of many comprehensive strategies. In accordance with the results of several studies, this work demonstrates the benefits of ADS in reducing medication errors and enhancing resource management, while also pointing out the necessity for accurate system sizing, effective integration with hospital information systems, and comprehensive staff training.

Conclusion

The experience transfer between NIO and SHR provides a valuable model for ADS implementation in hospital pharmacies, proposing optimizations on: Implementation process; Timelines and mapping; Risk management and incident reports; Staff training, sensibilization and change control.
Fiscal Enforcement and Elections in the Context of High Corruption
Authors: Imami Drini , Pugh Geoffrey , Lami Endrit
Published: March 2024

The effect of electoral competition on corruption, rent-seeking and informality remains poorly understood, especially in the context of post-communist economies. In a context where there is little moral value attached to law abidance, businesses or households that engage in informal activities might perceive a tolerant government as “magnanimous” and might be persuaded to support it in upcoming elections. In this paper, we investigate the case of Albania, a post-communist transition economy, characterized by high levels of corruption. The objective of this paper is to obtain insight into fiscal enforcement during elections, hence to further our understanding of the relationship between corruption, clientelism, informality and elections in the context of a transition/post-communist country. To this end, we report complementary quantitative and qualitative analysis suggesting that the incumbent deliberately lowers monitoring of enforcement vigilance before elections (e.g., through lower/fewer fines) and yielding insights into how such behaviour effects come about.
Shift Work Sleep Disorder and Mental Health: An Integrative Review of Neurobiological, Sociological, and Psychological Perspectives With Public Policy Implications
Authors: Fink Anne M.
Published: March 2024

Shift workers support critical 24-hr operations; their health can be impaired by disrupted circadian rhythms and dysfunctional sleep. Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) is a prevalent condition with significant psychological consequences. Nurse leaders have not yet implemented effective policies to prevent SWSD and optimize shift workers’ mental health. The purpose of this integrative review was to examine research about SWSD within the context of neurobiological, sociological, and psychological perspectives that can inform policy changes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Policy Analytic Framework was used to determine the priority recommendations. A search of three databases provided 19 research articles about SWSD and mental health, which illustrated how SWSD is common around the world in many occupations. Backward-rotating schedules and quick returns were risk factors for SWSD. In addition, SWSD was associated with circadian languidity, sleep reactivity, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Collectively, the studies lacked objective measures of sleep and circadian rhythms, which has hindered the ability to devise interventions that will target the neurobiological causes of SWSD. The research also lacked attention to important sociological factors, such as workers’ pay and benefits. Using these findings, nurse leaders can contribute to public policy reforms that increase funding for more rigorous SWSD research. Lawmakers should be advised by nurse leaders to enforce new regulations that provide incentives for employers to create healthier workplaces, such as prohibiting the overuse of schedules that make employees vulnerable to SWSD and providing funds for interventions to prevent SWSD and support mental health.
Continuous Saliva Packing Resulting in Feeding Tube Dependence: In-Home Behaviour-Analytic Treatment
Authors: Taylor Tessa , Roglić Nikolas F.
Published: March 2024

Saliva packing can be one of the most severe life-threatening and challenging behaviours to treat. A 9-year-old male with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability had 100% nasogastric (NG) feeding tube dependence and significant adaptive behaviour regression (in speaking, using the toilet and his hands, school attendance, sleep). He participated in an intensive behaviour-analytic paediatric feeding treatment programme. Saliva packing, as an automatically-maintained undifferentiated behaviour that persisted in all waking contexts despite high engagement in activities, warranted an additional outside of meal approach. He began swallowing, met 100% of his 21 goals, gained weight, and eliminated tube dependence. He reached a variety of 94 across all food groups, drinks, and supplements. Caregivers were trained and reported high social validity, and gains generalised and maintained in 1-month follow-up. This is the first case to our awareness in Australia of an in-home solely behaviour-analytic intervention to eliminate tube dependence, and it was conducted without hunger provocation, weight loss, or limited nutritional variety.
A retrospective audit of general practitioner’s referrals to Guys and St Thomas’ specialist menopause clinic between 2021 and 2022
Authors: Tedajo Tsambou Jocelyne , Bruce Deborah , Holloway Debra , Rymer Janice
Published: March 2024

Purpose: We performed a retrospective audit of General Practitioners’ (GPs) referrals to the specialist Menopause Clinic at Guys and St Thomas’s (GSTT) between 2021 and 2022. We aim to establish the indication for the referrals and whether they were compliant with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Guidance NICE.

Background: GSTT is a teaching hospital in central London that educates gynaecologists in training as well as (GP) for specialist certification in Menopause. The menopause clinic receives approximately 580 GP referrals per month from South East London practices. The current waiting time for an initial appointment is up to 1 year. This delay reflects an increase in demand for menopause care and a deficit in service provision in many areas of the UK.

NICE has recommended that GPs refer complicated cases to menopause specialists, with 11 specific criteria.

Study Sample and Data Collection: We randomly selected 50 patients referred to the GSTT clinic by a GP between 2021 and 2022. Patient data were collected, including patient demographics, date of referral, indication for referral, date of consultation, waiting time, past medical history, investigations, and treatment instigated during the appointment.

Results: The majority of referrals to the GSTT menopause Specialist clinic met the NICE guidelines (76%). One-sixth of the referrals could have been prevented or managed through alternative routes. Finally, although this is a small study, some patient unmet needs (PUNS) and GPs’ educational needs have been identified.
The Intersections Between Sexual Orientation, Latine Ethnicity, Social Determinants of Health, and Lifetime Suicide Attempts in a Sample Being Assessed for Entry to Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Authors: Modeste-James Akeem , Fitzgerald Therese , Stewart Emily , De Jesus Diliana , Canuto Melisa , Guzman Micaurys , Mateo Jessica , D’lppolito Melinda , Lundgren Lena
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

Few studies have examined the relationship between the intersections of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) sexual orientation, Latine ethnicity, and lifetime suicide attempts in Latine individuals with substance use disorder. This study examines this intersection and controls for social determinants of health, mental health disorder symptoms, and substance use disorder symptoms in a sample of Latine adults entering treatment for co-occurring disorders.

Method:

Bivariate statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze assessment data (n = 360) from a bilingual/bicultural integrated behavioral health system serving Latine communities in Massachusetts to examine the relationship between sexual orientation, Latine ethnicity, and history of lifetime suicide attempts. We controlled for social determinants of health, mental health disorders, and substance use disorder (SUD) factors significantly associated with lifetime suicide attempts at the bivariate level.

Results:

Over 27% of the sample and 35% of Puerto Ricans (PR) reported lifetime suicide attempts. The logistic regression identified that PR clients were 78% more likely to have attempted suicide in a lifetime compared to non-PR clients. Clients identifying as LGB were 3.2 times more likely to report having attempted suicide in their lifetime compared to heterosexual clients. Unemployed clients were 2.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide in their lifetime compared to employed clients.

Conclusion:

Findings identify high rates of lifetime suicide attempts among LGBs and PRs entering SUD treatment. Targeted outreach and treatment efforts designed to address intersectionality for this underserved population are needed.
Unscheduled changes in pre-clinical stroke model housing contributes to variance in physiological and behavioural data outcomes: A post hoc analysis
Authors: McFall Aisling , Graham Delyth , Nicklin Stuart A. , Work Lorraine M.
Published: March 2024

Ischaemic stroke presents a significant problem worldwide with no neuroprotective drugs available. Many of the failures in the search for neuroprotectants are attributed to failure to translate from pre-clinical models to humans, which has been combatted with rigorous pre-clinical stroke research guidelines. Here, we present post hoc analysis of a pre-clinical stroke trial, conducted using intraluminal filament transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat, whereby unscheduled changes were implemented in the animal housing facility. These changes severely impacted body weight post-stroke resulting in a change from the typical body weight of 90.6% of pre-surgery weight post-stroke, to on average 80.5% of pre-surgery weight post-stroke. The changes also appeared to impact post-stroke blood pressure, with an increase from 215.4 to 240.3 mmHg between housing groups, and functional outcome post-stroke, with a 38% increased latency to contact in the sticky label test. These data highlight the importance of tightly controlled housing conditions when using physiological or behavioural measurements as a primary outcome.
DGARM/C10orf76/ARMH3 for Ceramide Transfer Zone at the Endoplasmic Reticulum–Distal Golgi Contacts
Authors: Mizuike Aya , Hanada Kentaro
Published: March 2024

Phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate (PtdIns(4)P) is one of the key membrane components which mark the membrane contact sites. In the mammalian Golgi complex, PtdIns(4)P is produced at various subregions via specific mechanisms for each site. Particularly, PtdIns(4)P pools generated at the distal Golgi regions are pivotal for the determination of membrane contacts between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi, at which inter-organelle lipid transport takes place. In this short review, we will focus on C10orf76 (or ARMH3), which we propose to rename as DGARM after a distal Golgi armadillo repeat protein, for its function in generating a PtdIns(4)P pool crucial for ER-to-distal Golgi ceramide transport. We further discuss from the viewpoint of the evolutionary conservation of DGARM.
Transcriptomic and physiological analyses of Trichoderma citrinoviride HT-1 assisted phytoremediation of Cd contaminated water by Phragmites australis
Authors: Chen DaWei , Wang YiHan , Li Ni , Huang YaLi , Mao YiFan , Liu XiaoJun , Du YaRong , Sun Kun
Published: March 2024

Plant growth promoting microbe assisted phytoremediation is considered a more effective approach to rehabilitation than the single use of plants, but underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we combined transcriptomic and physiological methods to explore the mechanism of plant growth promoting microbe Trichoderma citrinoviride HT-1 assisted phytoremediation of Cd contaminated water by Phragmites australis. The results show that the strain HT-1 significantly promoted P. australis growth, increased the photosynthetic rate, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. The chlorophyll content and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were increased by 83.78%, 23.17%, 47.60%, 97.14% and 12.23% on average, and decreased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) by 31.10%. At the same time, strain HT-1 improved the absorption and transport of Cd in P. australis, and the removal rate of Cd was increased by 7.56% on average. Transcriptome analysis showed that strain HT-1 induced significant up-regulated the expression of genes related to oxidative phosphorylation and ribosome pathways, and these upregulated genes promoted P. australis remediation efficiency and resistance to Cd stress. Our results provide a mechanistic understanding of plant growth promoting microbe assisted phytoremediation under Cd stress.
Neuroscience of taste: unlocking the human taste code
Authors: Hellekant Göran
Published: March 2024

Since antiquity human taste has been divided into 4–5 taste qualities. We realized in the early 1970s that taste qualities vary between species and that the sense of taste in species closer to humans such as primates should show a higher fidelity to human taste qualities than non-primates (Brouwer et al. in J Physiol 337:240, 1983). Here we present summary results of behavioral and single taste fiber recordings from the distant South American marmoset, through the Old World rhesus monkey to chimpanzee, the phylogenetically closest species to humans. Our data show that in these species taste is transmitted in labelled-lines to the CNS, so that when receptors on taste bud cells are stimulated, the cell sends action potentials through single taste nerve fibers to the CNS where they create taste, whose quality depends on the cortical area stimulated. In human, the taste qualites include, but are perhaps not limited to sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami. Stimulation of cortical taste areas combined with inputs from internal organs, olfaction, vision, memory etc. leads to a choice to accept or reject intake of a compound. The labelled-line organization of taste is another example of Müller’s law of specific nerve energy, joining other somatic senses such as vision (Sperry in J Neurophysiol 8:15–28, 1945), olfaction (Ngai et al. in Cell 72:657–666, 1993), touch, temperature and pain to mention a few.
Transcriptome sequencing and expression analysis in peanut reveal the potential mechanism response to Ralstonia solanacearum infection
Authors: Wang Xiao , Qi Feiyan , Sun Ziqi , Liu Hongfei , Wu Yue , Wu Xiaohui , Xu Jing , Liu Hua , Qin Li , Wang Zhenyu , Sang Suling , Dong Wenzhao , Huang Bingyan , Zheng Zheng , Zhang Xinyou
Published: March 2024

Background

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum severely affects peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yields. The breeding of resistant cultivars is an efficient means of controlling plant diseases. Therefore, identification of resistance genes effective against bacterial wilt is a matter of urgency. The lack of a reference genome for a resistant genotype severely hinders the process of identification of resistance genes in peanut. In addition, limited information is available on disease resistance-related pathways in peanut.

Results

Full-length transcriptome data were used to generate wilt-resistant and -susceptible transcript pools. In total, 253,869 transcripts were retained to form a reference transcriptome for RNA-sequencing data analysis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed the plant-pathogen interaction pathway to be the main resistance-related pathway for peanut to prevent bacterial invasion and calcium plays an important role in this pathway. Glutathione metabolism was enriched in wilt-susceptible genotypes, which would promote glutathione synthesis in the early stages of pathogen invasion. Based on our previous quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping results, the genes arahy.V6I7WA and arahy.MXY2PU, which encode nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat receptor proteins, were indicated to be associated with resistance to bacterial wilt.

Conclusions

This study identified several pathways associated with resistance to bacterial wilt and identified candidate genes for bacterial wilt resistance in a major QTL region. These findings lay a foundation for investigation of the mechanism of resistance to bacterial wilt in peanut.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis sepsis with multiple intermuscular abscesses and respiratory failure as the main manifestations: a case report
Authors: Tang Yingzi , Zhu Ying , You Zhonglan
Published: March 2024

Background

Tuberculous sepsis is uncommon in individuals without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and some patients may not exhibit clinical signs and symptoms of suspected sepsis upon admission, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Case presentation

This report present the case of a 60-year-old female patient who presented with erythema, edema, and pain in her right upper limb accompanied by fever and chills. Further evaluation revealed multiple intermuscular abscesses caused by suspected gram-positive bacteria. Despite receiving anti-infection treatment, the patient rapidly progressed to septic shock and respiratory failure. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) analysis of blood samples detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex groups (11 reads). Additionally, mNGS analysis of fluid obtained from puncture of the abscess in the right upper extremity also suggested Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex groups (221 981 reads). Consequently, the patient was diagnosed with tuberculous sepsis resulting from hematogenous dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Following the administration of anti-tuberculosis treatment, a gradual recovery was observed during the subsequent follow-up period.

Conclusion

It is noteworthy that atypical hematogenous disseminated tuberculosis can be prone to misdiagnosis or oversight, potentially leading to septic shock. This case illustrates the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis sepsis. Advanced diagnostic techniques such as mNGS can aid clinicians in the early identification of pathogens for definitive diagnosis.