bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Do Stimulants Do to the Brain and Behavior?
Authors: Glasner Suzette
Published: December 2024

This chapter covers how stimulants affect the
brain and behavior. It introduces a group of drugs known as psychomotor stimulants
including cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants which have their
respective addictive qualities. The second decade of the 21st century gave way to rising
rates of stimulant use and addiction, and the concerning trends in cocaine and
methamphetamine use are very closely linked with the opioid epidemic. The chapter also
mentions the notion of cutting stimulants with other drugs or substances to dilute the
stimulant. It discusses the health risks of stimulant use before presenting the
treatments for stimulant use disorders, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and
contingency management.
What Medications Are Effective for Addiction?
Authors: Glasner Suzette
Published: December 2024

This chapter looks into medications that are
effective for addiction. It clarifies that not everyone benefits from taking medication
to mitigate substance use disorder, but many factors are considered when deciding on the
right treatment. Medications can be used to help someone reduce or stop their use of
alcohol or drugs while simultaneously treating withdrawal symptoms. The chapter presents
scientific evidence for the use of behavioral treatment with or without medication for
addictions to different substances. It also discusses how healthcare providers decide
what medicines to prescribe for addiction, which involves off-label prescriptions and
medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Purification and Characterization of Pancreatic Carboxypeptidase A1 (CBPA1) of bovine (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries) for Potential Application as Halal Enzymes.
Authors: Reshidan Nur Hidayah binti , Jonet Mohd Anuar bin , Zainal Ariffin Zaidah binti , Abd Hamid Umi Marshida binti
Published: December 2024

Background:

Carboxypeptidase A1 (CBPA1) is a well-known protease pancreatic enzyme family member. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of the carbonyl-terminal residue from peptide or ester substrates by cleavage of the peptide or ester bond. Objective: This study aimed to purify and characterize CBPA1 from bovine (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries) fresh pancreatic tissue.

Methods:

Bovine and sheep pancreas were collected freshly from Abattoir Complex, Department of Veterinary Services, Shah Alam. The fats were removed by trimming grossly visible fat and by extraction using organic solvents. The CBPA1 was further purified by anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Protein identification was performed via LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry). The proteolytic activity was measured using protease assay.

Results:

Successful purification of CBPA1 from bovine and sheep was visualized as single protein bands on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel, which LC-MS/MS confirmed as CBPA1 with the molecular mass of 47.05kDa and 46.87kDa for bovine (Accession number – P00730) and sheep (Accession number – W5P5N4), respectively. The proteolytic enzyme activity was confirmed with protease assay whereby bovine CBPA1 showed higher protease activity than sheep.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, bovine and sheep CBPA1 were successfully purified from fresh pancreatic tissue and may have the potential for further applications as the proteolytic activity recorded was comparable to that of the porcine protease.
Effect of Sleep Duration and Concussion History on Neurocognitive Testing Symptoms for Post-injury States
Authors: Ezzat Bahie , Hrabarchuk Eugene , Lemonick Michael , Rentzeperis Frederika , Kalagara Roshini , Ali Muhammad , Carr Matthew T. , Schupper Alexander J. , Qureshi Hanya M. , Ratna Sujay , Brown Cole , Dara Gabriel , Gometz Alex , Lovell Mark , Choudhri Tanvir F.
Published: December 2024

Objective:

Evaluate the influence of sleep duration and concussion history on postconcussion symptoms in adolescent athletes.

Design:

Observational retrospective study using the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing and Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS). Multivariable linear regression assessed sleep hours against 22 PCSS symptoms, controlling for demographic and health variables.

Setting:

Urban concussion centers in Colorado and Florida, 2009 to 2019.

Participants:

11 564 student-athletes aged 12 to 22, categorized by concussion history.

Interventions:

Analysis of sleep duration and concussion history in relation to neurocognitive and psychiatric symptom severity.

Main Outcome Measures:

Primary outcomes included neurocognitive, psychiatric, and total symptom scores. Secondary outcomes were specific PCSS symptoms.

Results:

Among 5349 student-athletes, 2671 (49.9%) had no prior concussions and 2678 (50.1%) had 1 or more. For those without prior concussions, sleep was negatively associated with age (β = −0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.22 to −0.13, P < 0.0001), vomiting (β = −0.22, 95% CI, −0.38 to −0.05, P = 0.012), and difficulty concentrating (β = −0.11, 95% CI, −0.19 to −0.35, P = 0.005). In athletes with a history of concussion, less sleep correlated with decreased age (β = −0.11, 95% CI, −0.14 to −0.07, P < 0.0001), headache (β = −0.065, 95% CI, −0.12 to −0.01, P = 0.031), irritability (β = −0.08, 95% CI, −0.15 to −0.01, P = 0.021), and difficulty concentrating (β = −0.08, 95% CI, −0.15 to −0.01, P = 0.031) but increased sensitivity to light (β = 0.10, 95% CI, 0.001–0.137, P = 0.048), numbness/tingling (β = 0.15, 95% CI, 0.04–0.26, P = 0.008), and feeling slowed down (β = 0.13, 95% CI, 0.05–0.21, P = 0.001).

Conclusion:

Sleep duration and concussion history are associated with variations in postconcussion symptom severity among adolescent athletes. This data underscore the need for individualized management strategies based on sleep patterns and concussion history.
Assessment of adherence to American Diabetes Association guidelines and evaluation of social determinants of health and interventions in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a nurse practitioner–owned clinic
Authors: Murumba Rachel G. , Naman Rachel O. , Tuohy Christine A. , White Patricia A. , Wright Wendy
Published: December 2024

Background:

This was an ongoing quality-improvement (QI) project that aimed to assess the quality of nurse practitioner (NP)–driven diabetes care based on the 2023 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care (SOC) at a NP-owned primary care practice. In addition, a more recent focus was the assessment of and intervention on social determinants of health (SDOH). Nationally, 47.4% of people with diabetes mellitus (DM) have an HbA1C of >7.0%. Adherence to ADA SOC for DM management minimizes the risk of diabetes-associated complications.

Local problem:

At a NP-owned clinic, within one year, the average A1Cs improved in all patients except those with positive SDOH despite receiving similar care. SDOH predicts DM prevalence and severity of progression, yet screening is not consistently performed or documented.

Methods:

An ongoing retrospective chart review since 2013 has assessed adherence to ADA SOC among adult patients with type 2 DM at an NP-owned practice. Multiple Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles have resulted in new recommendations that have promoted adherence to diabetes metrics and improvement in overall mean A1C.

Interventions:

The current PDSA cycle emphasizes the creation and implementation of evidence-based interventions to assist NPs in addressing social needs at a NP-owned practice.

Results:

Recent data collection has included frequency of SDOH screening, identifying social needs, gaps in SDOH documentation, and has found overall higher A1Cs in patients with positive screens.

Conclusions:

Project intervention of social workers collaboration with NPs resulted in improvement in addressing social needs in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Cochlear Implantation With Sporadic Inner Ear Schwannomas: Outcomes in 106 Patients From an International Multi-Institutional Study
Authors: Marinelli John P. , Rahne Torsten , Dornhoffer James R. , Lohse Christine M. , Cottrell Justin , Thomas Roland J. , Thompson Nicholas J. , Brown Kevin D. , Lucas Jacob C. , Babu Seilesh C. , Lindquist Nathan R. , Perkins Elizabeth L. , Tan Donald , Lane John I. , Hunter Jacob B. , Harvey Erin , Deep Nicholas L. , Cerasiello Samantha Y. , Kircher Matthew L. , Espahbodi Mana , Tooker Evan L. , West Niels Cramer , Caye-Thomasen Per , Carlson Matthew L. , Plontke Stefan K.
Published: December 2024

Objective

To evaluate cochlear implant speech perception among patients with sporadic inner ear schwannoma who underwent ipsilateral implantation.

Study Design

Retrospective multi-institutional cohort study.

Setting

Eleven tertiary academic medical centers across Germany, Denmark, and the United States.

Patients

One hundred six patients with sporadic inner ear schwannoma who received an ipsilateral cochlear implant from 2011 to 2022.

Interventions

Ipsilateral cochlear implantation with observation, stereotactic radiosurgery, or microsurgery for tumor management.

Main Outcome Measures

Monosyllabic speech perception testing scores and rates of open-set speech perception.

Results

Among 106 patients studied, 101 (95%) achieved open-set speech perception with a median of 24 months (interquartile range [IQR] 12–42 mo) of audiometric follow-up. Median ipsilateral monosyllabic speech perception testing achieved was 72% (IQR 54–85%), and median ipsilateral AzBio in quiet was 75% (IQR 46–90%). Most (91 of 106 [86%]) underwent microsurgery for tumor control, with cochlear implantation performed simultaneously in 98% (89 of 91) of these patients. The ability to achieve gross total resection significantly differed by tumor complexity, with 97% of low-complexity tumors, 100% of intermediate complexity, and 0% of high-complexity tumors undergoing gross total resection (p < 0.001). However, among patients managed with microsurgery, there was not a statistically significant difference in post-cochlear implantation monosyllabic speech perception scores across complexity groupings, with median scores of 75 and 70% for patients with tumors of low or intermediate complexity and those with tumors of high complexity, respectively (p = 0.5). Eight of 102 patients (8%) assessed experienced deterioration in cochlear implant performance over time. Among the subset of 39 patients with available MRI to review, the region of surveillance interest could be visualized postoperatively on MRI in all cases.

Conclusions

Open-set speech perception is achieved in most patients with inner ear schwannoma undergoing ipsilateral cochlear implantation. Although cochlear implantation in high-complexity inner ear schwannomas is only possible with incomplete tumor resection, long-term open-set speech perception outcomes are similar to lower-complexity tumors.
Long-Term Outcomes of Stenting for Pulsatile Tinnitus Caused by Cerebral Venous Sinus Stenosis
Authors: Su Hui , Huo Yunyun , Li Baomin , Lv Bin , Zhang Rongju , Du Zhihua , Liu Xinfeng , Wang Jun , Chen Xing , Cao Xiangyu
Published: December 2024

Objective

To investigate the long-term outcomes of stenting for isolated pulsatile tinnitus (PT) caused by cerebral venous sinus stenosis.

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital.

Patients

Patients diagnosed to have isolated PT secondary to cerebral venous sinus stenosis at our institution between December 2009 and March 2023.

Intervention

Cerebral venous sinus stenting.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Morphological features of the cerebral venous sinus, endovascular technique, and clinical outcomes.

Results

The study included 80 patients with a mean age of 39.4 ± 9.6 years and an average body mass index of 23.9 kg/m. The mean age at symptom onset was 35.1 ± 8.7 years. Seventy-five of the patients (93.8%) were women. PT was the primary symptom. All patients reported feeling anxious because PT had severely affected their day-to-day lives. The PT was right-sided in 52 cases (65%). All procedures were technically successful. The mean trans-stenotic pressure gradient decreased from 4.3 ± 3.3 mm Hg before stenting to 0.4 ± 0.9 mm Hg after stent placement. Twenty-one patients (26.3%) experienced poststenting headache. The mean follow-up duration was 80.5 ± 46.3 months, with 26 patients followed for over 120 months. PT resolved in all cases after stenting, and there were no recurrences. Follow-up radiographic examination of 23 patients (28.8%) at a mean of 71.2 ± 43.1 months identified only one case of restenosis.

Conclusions

Long-term follow-up of these patients confirmed the efficacy and safety of stenting for isolated venous sinus stenosis–related PT.
Chilling Choices: Heart Transplant Outcomes Using SherpaPak With Long Ischemic Time Versus Traditional Ice Storage With Short Ischemic Time
Authors: Farhoud Hassan , Shah Zubair , Dalia Tarun , Silvestry Scott , Shah Hirak , Meyer Dan , DʼAlessandro David , Vidic Andrija
Published: December 2024

We performed a retrospective review comparing outcomes between traditional ice storage (ICE) with short ischemic times (<3 hours) to SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System (SCTS) with long ischemic times (>4 hours) using data from the GUARDIAN registry, a retrospective observational trial. To minimize baseline differences, propensity-matched (PSM) cohorts for site and era were performed. SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System travel distance was almost 10-fold greater than ICE (82 miles ICE vs. 765 miles SCTS). There was no significant difference in primary graft dysfunction (PGD) (20.8% vs. 18.2%, p = 0.58), length of stay (LOS) (24.7 vs. 24.8, p = 0.98), posttransplant mechanical circulatory support (MCS) (25.1% vs. 20.3%, p = 0.34), and 30 day survival (100% vs. 98.6%, p = 0.20). SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System showed statistically significant reduction in 24 hour inotrope scores (17.6 vs. 13.6, p = 0.007) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction (31.1% vs. 15.7%, p = 0.002). Propensity-matched cohorts showed statistically similar rates of MCS utilization and PGD, but SCTS trended toward less RV dysfunction (26.0% vs. 16.2%, p = 0.11) and lower inotrope scores (16.5 vs. 12.9, p = 0.06) despite almost double the ischemic time. In conclusion, donor heart preservation with SCTS continues to be effective in prolonged ischemic times without sacrificing postheart transplantation clinical outcomes. This may aid in expanding donor organ geography.
Fatal Tension Gastrothorax
Authors: Johnstone Michael Andrew , Hoggard Sam , Dixon Joanna
Published: December 2024

Tension gastrothorax is a rare and potentially fatal complication of a diaphragmatic hernia, in which a massively dilated, intrathoracic stomach compresses the lungs and mediastinum, causing cardiorespiratory compromise, in a mechanism akin to tension pneumothorax. Although it is very rare, tension gastrothorax has been reported in the literature; however, such reports are almost exclusively restricted to its clinical presentation and treatment in emergency departments. To the best of our knowledge, no adult autopsy case reports of tension gastrothorax have been reported in the literature. We present 2 adult autopsy case reports in which we believe the cause of death was tension gastrothorax, followed by a discussion of what a tension gastrothorax is and its potential etiology, and finally, we discuss the difficulties of making the diagnosis at autopsy, including how postmortem computed tomography imaging can be hugely beneficial as it was in one of our cases.
Indications for the Use of TMJ Prostheses in South America
Authors: Olate Sergio , Ravelo Víctor , Huentequeo Claudio , Alister Juan Pablo , Parra Marcelo
Published: December 2024

Since the 1960s, various surgical procedures have been developed to treat the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease, including stock or customized prostheses for severe TMJ diseases. Understanding the appropriate indications and timing for joint replacement is crucial for evaluating the prognosis of the treatment. This study sought to identify the indications for joint replacement surgery in three countries in Latin America and to determine characteristics associated with its surgical planning. The study was conducted by interviewing surgeons who performed surgery on patients using customized TMJ prostheses between 2022 and 2024 and who had surgical planning under the same protocol. Only preoperative information related to the indication and complementary procedures related to the customized prosthesis was used, comprising 133 subjects, 41 male subjects (30.82%) and 92 female subjects (69.17%), with significant differences. Degenerative TMJ disease presented the highest indication for replacement with 47 (35.33%) cases, followed by malformations with 26 (19.54%), ankylosis with 22 (16.54%), TMJ deformity by trauma sequelae with 20 (15.03%) and replacement by another joint prosthesis 18 (13.53%). We found a significant correlation between indications and the use of orthognathic surgery in some diseases (P<0.001). In 72.34% of subjects with degenerative disease, orthognathic surgery with bilateral prosthesis was indicated. In subjects with facial malformation, orthognathic surgery with unilateral prosthesis was indicated in 76.92%. We can conclude that female subjects are more common than male subjects in the treatment with TMJ replacement. TMJ prostheses presented the highest indication in degenerative TMJ disease, and they were significantly related to orthognathic surgery.
Outcomes of Palliative Hemipelvectomy in Comprehensive Cancer Center Patients with Metastatic Cancer: Retrospective Study
Authors: Rosen Roni , Gulati Amitabh , Bartsch Christan , Santos Erin P , Nash Garrett , Omer Dana , Aysola Varun , Curry Michael , Vaynrub Max
Published: December 2024

Background:

Hemipelvectomy is a complex surgery that is usually performed with curative intent. It is rarely performed for palliation in patients with advanced cancer, and its efficacy in achieving palliation is unknown.

Study Design:

Retrospective review of 10 patients with stage IV cancer who underwent palliative hemipelvectomy at a comprehensive cancer center.

Results:

Median age of the cohort was 60 years; 7 patients were male. Five patients had prior radiotherapy to the pelvic bone. Hemipelvectomies involved 1–2 Enneking-Dunham pelvic zones in 6 patients and 3–4 zones in 4 patients. Six patients had Clavien-Dindo complications of grade 3 or higher. Median overall survival was 6.6 months. Surgical complications resulted in death in 3 patients. At their 3-month follow-up, 5 of 8 living patients had increased narcotic requirements, and 4 of 7 with data had reduced pain (one of whom was using high-dose intravenous narcotics). No patients experienced functional improvement, and at 6 months 4 of the 5 who had been ambulatory preoperatively were less mobile. Outcomes tended to be better among patients whose resections were less extensive or limited to zone III (anterior pelvis).

Conclusions:

Palliative-intent hemipelvectomy provided palliation in a minority of patients, did not improve function, and had high morbidity and mortality. Patients with small anterior pelvic tumors may benefit from palliative hemipelvectomy; for others, less invasive approaches should be considered whenever feasible.
Social interactions do not affect mycoplasma infection in griffon vultures
Authors: D'Bastiani Elvira , Anglister Nili , Lysnyansky Inna , Mikula Inna , Acácio Marta , Vaadia Gideon , Gahm Kaija , Spiegel Orr , Pinter-Wollman Noa
Published: December 2024

Uncovering the ways in which pathogens spread has important implications for population health and management. Pathogen transmission is influenced by various factors, including patterns of social interactions and shared use of space. We aim to understand how the social behaviour of griffon vultures (
Gyps fulvus
), a species of conservation interest, influences the presence or absence of mycoplasma, a group of bacteria known to cause respiratory diseases in birds. We investigated how direct and indirect social interactions of griffon vultures in the wild, in different social situations, impacted the mycoplasma infection status. We inferred interactions from high-resolution global positioning system (GPS) tracking data. Specifically, we assessed how social behaviour affects infection status when vultures share feeding and roosting locations, either at the same time (direct interactions) or subsequently, when space use is asynchronous (indirect interactions). We did not detect a significant effect of any social situation and type of interaction on infection status. However, we observed a high population prevalence of mycoplasma, suggesting that other factors might be more important than social interactions in determining the transmission of this bacteria in the Israeli vulture population. Uncovering the mechanisms that underlie infection status in wildlife is crucial for maintaining viable populations, designing containment management actions and gaining insights into the ecological mechanisms that drive infectious disease dynamics.
Photon-resolved Floquet theory. I. Full counting statistics of the driving field in Floquet systems
Authors: Engelhardt Georg , Luo JunYan , Bastidas Victor M. , Platero Gloria
Published: December 2024

Floquet theory and other established semiclassical approaches are widely used methods to predict the state of externally driven quantum systems, yet they do not allow the prediction of the state of the photonic driving field. To overcome this shortcoming, the photon-resolved Floquet theory (PRFT) was developed recently [], which deploys concepts from full-counting statistics to predict the statistics of the photon flux between several coherent driving modes. In this paper, we study in detail the scaling properties of the PRFT in the semi-classical regime. We find that there is an ambiguity in the definition of the moment-generating function, such that different versions of this function produce the same photonic probability distribution in the semiclassical limit, and generate the same leading-order terms of the moments and cumulants. Using this ambiguity, we establish a simple expression for the Kraus operators, which describe the decoherence dynamics of the driven quantum system appearing as a consequence of the light-matter interaction. The PRFT will pave the way for improved quantum sensing methods, e.g., for spectroscopic quantum sensing protocols, reflectometry in semiconductor nanostructures, and other applications, where the detailed knowledge of the photonic probability distribution is necessary.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Self-consistent thermodynamical treatment for quark matter in a quasiparticle model at finite temperature
Authors: Pal Suman , Chaudhuri Gargi
Published: December 2024

In this work, we have studied the medium effects in strange quark matter in the framework of a grand-canonical ensemble using the phenomenological quasiparticle model. This model is studied with proper self-consistent thermodynamical treatment by incorporating chemical-potential-dependent quark mass. We have also included the vector interaction in a self-consistent way. The main aim of this work is to explore the proper thermodynamic treatment in addressing the medium effects at both zero and finite temperatures. In the case of the finite temperature, we explore the study of self-consistent thermodynamics in the isothermal as well as the isentropic processes. The effect of finite temperature and lepton fraction have been studied on the equation of state, speed of sound, and particle fraction. The M−R and M−Λ diagrams are found to be consistent with the observational constraints.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Quantumness of relic gravitons
Authors: Giovannini Massimo
Published: December 2024

Since the relic gravitons are produced in entangled states of opposite (comoving) three-momenta, their distributions and their averaged multiplicities must determine the maximal frequency of the spectrum above which the created pairs are exponentially suppressed. The absolute upper bound on the maximal frequency derived in this manner coincides with the THz domain and does not rely on the details of the cosmological scenario. The THz limit also translates into a constraint of the order of 10−33 on the minimal chirp amplitudes that should be effectively reached by all classes of hypothetical detectors aiming at the direct scrutiny of a signal in the frequency domain that encompasses the MHz and the GHz bands. The obtained high-frequency limit is deeply rooted in the quantumness of the produced gravitons whose multiparticle final sates are macroscopic but always nonclassical. Since the unitary evolution preserves their coherence, the quantumness of the gravitons can be associated with an entanglement entropy that is related with the loss of the complete information on the underlying quantum field. It turns out that the reduction of the density matrix in different bases leads to the same von Neumann entropy whose integral over all the modes of the spectrum is dominated by the maximal frequency. Thanks to the THz bound the total integrated entropy of the gravitons can be comparable with the cosmic microwave background entropy but not larger. Besides the well-known cosmological implications, we then suggest that a potential detection of gravitons between the MHz and the THz may therefore represent direct evidence of macroscopic quantum states associated with the gravitational field.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Search for Fractionally Charged Particles with CUORE
Authors: Adams D. Q. , Alduino C. , Alfonso K. , Avignone F. T. , Azzolini O. , Bari G. , Bellini F. , Benato G. , Beretta M. , Biassoni M. , Branca A. , Brofferio C. , Bucci C. , Camilleri J. , Caminata A. , Campani A. , Cao J. , Capelli S. , Capelli C. , Cappelli L. , Cardani L. , Carniti P. , Casali N. , Celi E. , Chiesa D. , Clemenza M. , Copello S. , Cremonesi O. , Creswick R. J. , D’Addabbo A. , Dafinei I. , Del Corso F. , Dell’Oro S. , Di Domizio S. , Di Lorenzo S. , Dixon T. , Dompè V. , Fang D. Q. , Fantini G. , Faverzani M. , Ferri E. , Ferroni F. , Fiorini E. , Franceschi M. A. , Freedman S. J. , Fu S. H. , Fujikawa B. K. , Ghislandi S. , Giachero A. , Girola M. , Gironi L. , Giuliani A. , Gorla P. , Gotti C. , Guillaumon P. V. , Gutierrez T. D. , Han K. , Hansen E. V. , Heeger K. M. , Helis D. L. , Huang H. Z. , Keppel G. , Kolomensky Yu. G. , Kowalski R. , Liu R. , Ma L. , Ma Y. G. , Marini L. , Maruyama R. H. , Mayer D. , Mei Y. , Moore M. N. , Napolitano T. , Nastasi M. , Nones C. , Norman E. B. , Nucciotti A. , Nutini I. , O’Donnell T. , Olmi M. , Oregui B. T. , Ouellet J. L. , Pagan S. , Pagliarone C. E. , Pagnanini L. , Pallavicini M. , Pattavina L. , Pavan M. , Pessina G. , Pettinacci V. , Pira C. , Pirro S. , Pottebaum E. G. , Pozzi S. , Previtali E. , Puiu A. , Quitadamo S. , Ressa A. , Rosenfeld C. , Schmidt B. , Sharma V. , Singh V. , Sisti M. , Speller D. , Stark P. , Surukuchi P. T. , Taffarello L. , Tomei C. , Torres A. , Torres J. A. , Vetter K. J. , Vignati M. , Wagaarachchi S. L. , Welliver B. , Wilson J. , Wilson K. , Winslow L. A. , Zimmermann S. , Zucchelli S. ,   CUORE Collaboration
Published: December 2024

The Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events (CUORE) is a detector array comprised by 988 5  cm×5  cm×5  cm TeO2 crystals held below 20 mK, primarily searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay in Te130. Unprecedented in size among cryogenic calorimetric experiments, CUORE provides a promising setting for the study of exotic throughgoing particles. Using the first tonne year of CUORE’s exposure, we perform a search for hypothesized (FCPs), which are well-motivated by various standard model extensions and would have suppressed interactions with matter. Across the searched range of charges e/24−e/2 no excess of FCP candidate tracks is observed over background, setting leading limits on the underground FCP flux with charges e/24−e/5 at 90% confidence level. Using the low background environment and segmented geometry of CUORE, we establish the sensitivity of tonne-scale subkelvin detectors to diverse signatures of new physics.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Inter- and intra-team differences in professional sport fans’ environmental attitudes
Authors: Kellison Timothy , McCullough Brian P. , Cianfrone Beth A. , Pelcher Jamee A.
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Sport has emerged as a powerful platform for promoting environmental awareness and action. Major collegiate and professional teams have implemented sustainability strategies, although some have hesitated to promote them out of concern for political polarization and fan alienation. This study aimed to examine differences in environmental attitudes among fans of two professional sport organizations competing in the same venue but in different sports.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected from 2,652 season ticket holders of the two organizations. The survey included measures of environmental awareness, perceived behavioral control, ascriptions of responsibility, awareness of team initiatives and green team fandom. Participants’ environmentalist status (active, passive or non-environmentalist) was also assessed. Analysis of variance was used to examine differences in environmental attitudes based on sport affiliation and environmentalist status.

Findings

Significant but small differences in environmental awareness and awareness of team initiatives based on sport affiliation were found. However, environmentalist status had a significant effect on environmental awareness, perceived behavioral control, ascriptions of responsibility and green team fandom, with active environmentalists scoring highest, followed by passive environmentalists and non-environmentalists. Surprisingly, fans’ environmentalist status did not significantly impact their awareness of team sustainability initiatives. Non-environmentalists, a substantial portion of the sample, did not express particularly negative attitudes toward sustainability.

Originality/value

This study extends previous research by examining fan attitudes toward environmental sustainability. It challenges the assumption that promoting sustainability initiatives may alienate fans, particularly non-environmentalists, and highlights the potential for sport organizations to leverage their unifying power to promote environmental action among diverse fanbases.
Navigating innovation in the age of AI: how generative AI and innovation influence organizational performance in the manufacturing sector
Authors: Khan Salman , Mehmood Shafaqat , Khan Safeer Ullah
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is one of the most diffused AI technologies, capable of generating manifold forms of content, including music, text, images and synthetic data. The purpose of this study is to analyze the determinants that affect GenAI acceptance and its outcomes on both the explorative and exploitative forms of innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a conceptual framework based on the technology-organization-environment (TOE) paradigm. Through Smart-PLS analysis, it examines empirical data retrieved from an online survey where 302 manufacturing companies took part.

Findings

It is found that GenAI has the potential to facilitate both exploratory and exploitative innovation, particularly via the moderating effect of environmental dynamism. Hence the adoption of GenAI has potential to improve organizational performance.

Originality/value

The study is the first empirical project to investigate factors that influence manufacturing firms' adoption of GenAI. As the first project to have integrated the TOE paradigm when examining the impact of environmental dynamism on exploratory and exploitative innovation, the study emphasizes the double innovation potential of GenAI in organizational performance improvement.
Megatrends in science and technology parks and areas of innovation: co-citation clustering
Authors: Mohammadi Navid , Karimi Asef , Meidute-Kavaliauskiene Ieva , Aghazadeh Hashem
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Science and technology parks (STPs) and areas of innovation (AOIs), among the entrepreneurial ecosystem’s main actors, significantly contribute to economic development derived from technology development and commercialization worldwide. In light of this, the study aims to identify the megatrends in this domain, using bibliometric analysis and co-citation clustering.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, all the relevant documents on the Web of Science, as a citation database, were retrieved and analyzed. The study findings helped provide detailed information about the lead authors, the most influential countries, highly cited institutions and the top-used keywords in this field. Besides, the trend of using the given keywords over time and the megatrends in this line were established.

Findings

Upon clustering the articles, 11 clusters were identified, including 6 dense clusters, STPs, technology business incubators (TBIs), university STPs, university–industry collaboration, innovation and startup services and triple/quadruple helix, which were then completely analyzed to develop a big picture for future research.

Originality/value

Using bibliometric coupling and co-citation clustering in the field of science and technology parks and areas of innovation for making a big picture for directing future research.
The impact of visualization tools on the crowdfunding performance of social ventures
Authors: Yang Xiaoming , Ge Jianxin , Masilamani Vijaya Baskar , Yu Zhihao
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of visualization tools on the financing ratio of crowdfunding platforms projects of social enterprises, and to sort out personal quality signals and project quality signals based on signaling theory. This paper also divides the emotions and feelings brought by the visualization tools into persuasive and informative styles, showing the functions of different tools on the crowdfunding performance of social ventures.

Design/methodology/approach

Linear regression and binary regression are applied to analyze data on social entrepreneurship projects from two internationally authoritative crowdfunding platforms, Kickstarter and Indiegogo.

Findings

In social entrepreneurship projects, the number of emotionally persuasive images has a significant positive impact on the financing ratio. Among them, the financing target has a negative regulatory effect.

Research limitations/implications

The study has not fully explored how different visual aspects (such as color and composition) impact investor perceptions. Future research should address these variables for a more accurate understanding of how visualization affects financing performance.

Practical implications

This paper summarizes the factors that affect the crowdfunding ratio and provides a visualization tool from an innovative perspective. The application provides reference value for all types of crowdfunding projects on the crowdfunding platforms.

Social implications

Social entrepreneurs should use the crowdfunding model to raise funds and deepen their understanding of crowdfunding investors, so that more people can participate in social entrepreneurship and thereby generate greater social value.

Originality/value

This paper provides a new perspective for the classification of visualization tools. This paper divides the emotions and feelings brought by the visualization tools to the information recipients, and classifies them into persuasive and informative styles, showing the functions of different tools.
A Care Bundle Aiming to Reduce the Risk of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury: A Survey of Women's Experiences
Authors: Jurczuk Magdalena , Phillips Lizzie , Bidwell Posy , Martinez Dorian , Silverton Louise , Sevdalis Nick , van der Meulen Jan , Gurol‐Urganci Ipek , Thakar Ranee
Published: December 2024

Objective

To study experiences of women who gave birth in maternity units that have implemented a ‘care bundle’ quality improvement initiative to reduce obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) and associated morbidity.

Design

Postnatal electronic questionnaire.

Setting

Twenty‐nine maternity units across England, Scotland and Wales.

Population

Women with live vaginal births.

Methods

Descriptive statistics for quantitative results. Analysis of free‐text responses informed by framework method.

Main Outcome Measures

Experience with components of the care bundle: information provision, manual perineal protection (MPP) and post‐birth rectal examination.

Results

In this study, 1208 women completed the survey: 684 (56.6%) said they received antenatal information about perineal health, 377 (31.2%) recalled MPP, and 664 (55.0%) recalled rectal examination. Of the 684 women who said they received antenatal information, 595 (87.0%) agreed that the information was easy to understand, and 423 (61.8%) agreed that it helped them to make their own choices to reduce their OASI risk. One hundred and fifty‐four (22.5%) agreed that the information made them fearful about giving birth vaginally. Of the 377 women who recalled MPP, 203 (53.9%) felt it provided them with support, and another 97 (25.7%) did not mind the sensation. Of the 664 women who recalled rectal examination, 281 (42.3%) did not mind the exam, and another 335 (50.5%) felt it was uncomfortable but understood its importance. Free‐text responses aligned with quantitative results.

Conclusions

Many women did not recall MPP or rectal examination. The reported experiences for those who recalled these components do not support concerns that the OASI care bundle has negative effects on women's experiences.
Belief in a just world for the self and others, Karma, system justification and well‐being during COVID‐19 pandemic: Evidence from 15 Asian nations
Authors: Chobthamkit Phatthanakit , Sutton Robbie M. , English Alexander Scott , Wongvorachan Tarid , Datu Jesus Alfonso Daep , Chung Kai Li , Tan Chee‐Seng , Imada Hirotaka , Ozkan Zafer , Ashraf Farzana , Cayubit Ryan Francis O. , Chaleeraktrakoon Trawin , Cheng Cecilia , Chien Chin‐Lung , Ching Boby Ho‐Hong , Fatima Iram , Jiang Ding‐Yu , Kamble Shanmukh V. , Khan Aqeel , Lee Hyejoo J. , Lesmana Cokorda Bagus Jaya , Malik Najma Iqbal , Marappan Deviga a/p , Min May Cho , Moon Chanki , Oruc Eylem , Ozsoy Emrah , Park Joonha , Reyes Marc Eric S. , Sato Kosuke , Suryani Luh Ketut , Tengco‐Pacquing Ma. Criselda , Tipandjan Arun , Tong Kwok Kit , Tran Cong Van , Tran Nam Thanh , Wang Hsin‐Yi , Yeung Victoria Wai Lan , Yusoff Ahmad Mustqim
Published: December 2024

The World Health Organization (World Health Organization, 2020) announced the COVID‐19 outbreak as a pandemic. Globally, this situation affects people in various domains including mental health. Existing theories and research findings suggest justice beliefs are associated with mental health and may help to cope with adverse life circumstances. Participants (N = 3694) in 15 Asian nations completed measures of belief in a just world (BJW), Karma, system justification, well‐being indices and COVID‐19 impact. The results show that BJW for the self and system justification positively predicted well‐being while BJW for others provided reverse associations. Furthermore, Karma predicted both higher life satisfaction and depression. However, COVID‐19 impact did not moderate the relationships between justice beliefs and well‐being. The results provide various psychological functions but do not consistently indicate the buffering role of justice beliefs during COVID‐19 pandemic.
New strategy using laparoscopic hepatectomy for an intrahepatic portal‐hepatic venous shunt with hyperammonemia (with video)
Authors: Yasuda Jungo , Shiozaki Hironori , Futagawa Yasuro , Okamoto Tomoyoshi , Ikegami Toru
Published: December 2024

Intrahepatic portal and hepatic venous shunts have been reported in children (Takama et al. Surg Case Rep 2020;6(1):73) but are very rare in adults (Papamichail et al. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2016;15(3):329–333). Treatment is indicated in cases of portal hypertension or hyperammonemia. We evaluated and reported the usefulness, safety, and effectiveness of laparoscopic liver resection for this case. After performing intraoperative ultrasonography, the hilar plate was manipulated to identify the target Glissonean branch of segment 5 (G5). Bulldog forceps were then used for test clamping, which was identified by negative staining, Segment 5 was dissected and hepatic parenchymal resection was performed. The hepatic veins running within the ischemic area were dissected, and hepatic parenchymal resection, including intrahepatic portal and hepatic venous shunts, was performed. The operation time was 257 min, and she was discharged on the 8th postoperative day, with no complications. Serum ammonia levels decreased rapidly postoperatively. Laparoscopic liver resection may be effective for intrahepatic portal and hepatic venous shunts.
On not wanting to know: Some thoughts on Kazuo Ishiguro's novel Never Let Me Go
Authors: Wieland Christina
Published: December 2024

Kazuo Ishiguro's dystopian novel Never Let Me Go takes place, as the author tells us in ‘England, the late 1990s’ and follows the lives of a group of clones who had been created with the sole purpose of harvesting their organs for transplant. The novel is steeped in an atmosphere of illusion and self‐deception while remaining deeply rooted in human emotions. I argue that to some extent it represents all of us, our illusions and self‐deceptions. At another level, however, I argue that the novel is a sharp critique of a culture of narcissism and self‐interest where human beings are treated as commodities, while creating the illusion that they are special and that ‘they never had it so good’, a saying from another time when self‐deception was equally promoted. The paper concentrates on one aspect of this multilayered novel—the misrepresentation of reality and the human wish not to know about painful truths, but instead to create an illusory world. It examines this aspect of the novel in terms of the current neoliberal framework, and the culture of illusion that it promotes by ignoring the violence that underlies it. In particular, it examines how this pervasive aspect of contemporary culture affects the ability of the individual to ask questions and to pursue the truth, what Bion called ‘K.’
International licensing and quality‐enhancing technology spillover in a product cycle model
Authors: Yu Po‐yang , Beladi Hamid , Chu Hsun , Lai Ching‐chong
Published: December 2024

This paper examines the effects of an international quality‐enhancing technology spillover on the international industry distribution and innovation in a dynamic North‐South model. When a Southern firm receives a technology transfer from the North through international licensing, the technology spills over to other Southern firms by enhancing the quality of their products. We find that a stronger spillover effect depresses both Northern innovative R&D and Southern adaptive R&D, and thus is welfare‐impairing both for the advanced country and recipient country. The results cast doubt on the common view that regards the technology spillover as a positive externality.
Predicting fine‐scale distributions and emergent spatiotemporal patterns from temporally dynamic step selection simulations
Authors: Forrest Scott W. , Pagendam Dan , Bode Michael , Drovandi Christopher , Potts Jonathan R. , Perry Justin , Vanderduys Eric , Hoskins Andrew J.
Published: December 2024

Understanding and predicting animal movement is fundamental to ecology and conservation management. Models that estimate and then predict animal movement and habitat selection parameters underpin diverse conservation applications, from mitigating invasive species spread to enhancing landscape connectivity. However, many predictive models overlook fine‐scale temporal dynamics within their predictions, despite animals often displaying fine‐scale behavioural variability that might significantly alter their movement, habitat selection and distribution over time. Incorporating fine‐scale temporal dynamics, such as circadian rhythms, within predictive models might reduce the averaging out of such behaviours, thereby enhancing our ability to make predictions in both the short and long term. We tested whether the inclusion of fine‐scale temporal dynamics improved both fine‐scale (hourly) and long‐term (seasonal) spatial predictions for a significant invasive species of northern Australia, the water buffalo Bubalus bubalis. Water buffalo require intensive management actions over vast, remote areas and display distinct circadian rhythms linked to habitat use. To inform management operations we generated hourly and dry season prediction maps by simulating trajectories from static and temporally dynamic step selection functions (SSFs) that were fitted to the GPS data of 13 water buffalo. We found that simulations generated from temporally dynamic models replicated the buffalo crepuscular movement patterns and dynamic habitat selection, resulting in more informative and accurate hourly predictions. Additionally, when the simulations were aggregated into long‐term predictions, the dynamic models were more accurate and better able to highlight areas of concentrated habitat use that might indicate high‐risk areas for environmental damage. Our findings emphasise the importance of incorporating fine‐scale temporal dynamics in predictive models for species with clear dynamic behavioural patterns. By integrating temporally dynamic processes into animal movement trajectories, we demonstrate an approach that can enhance conservation management strategies and deepen our understanding of ecological and behavioural patterns across multiple timescales.

Keywords: circadian, fine‐scale dynamics, harmonics, landscape‐scale distributions, simulated trajectories, temporal dynamics
A Sequential Multiaxial Cycle Counting Algorithm Based on the Modified Wang–Brown Method
Authors: Zhang Shiyue , Wu Hao
Published: December 2024

Rainflow algorithm is an essential and reasonable method for multiaxial fatigue damage calculation in nonproportional (NP) load histories. The modified Wang–Brown (MWB) method is proposed by Meggiolaro and Castro, which corrects the problem of neglecting the most damaging event in the Wang–Brown method. An example in the paper explains the specific process of MWB multiaxial rainflow counting. Additionally, a modified pseudocode is presented to efficiently implement loading counting, ensuring it follows the same sequence as the original load histories. Based on the count results and fatigue damage accumulation rule, a new multiaxial life prediction method is proposed. The efficiency of the proposed method is validated by reasonable correlations with the experimental data from 316L steel tubular specimens subjected to various multiaxial fatigue loadings.