bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Structured Review of Research‐Informed Instructional Strategies to Support CPA Enabling Competencies in Future Accountants*
Authors: Siddiqui Sanobar
Published: March 2024

CPA enabling competencies underpin the human skills and professional values that all future accountants should possess. Nevertheless, to date, the discourse is limited within the scholarship of teaching and learning on how to best inculcate these competencies in future accountants. This study attempts to spark such a discourse by conducting a structured literature review (SLR) of the research‐informed instructional strategies to foster CPA enabling competencies, skills, and values in future accountants, and outlines future research opportunities. The findings indicate that the CPA competency “acting ethically and demonstrating professional values” can be engrained in future accountants using business cases and targeted courses/lessons in accounting classrooms. “Leading” is best taught through targeted courses/lessons. “Collaboration” can be gained through team‐based learning (group work) and software. “Managing self and others” can be engrained through a strategic course setup. “Adding value” can be achieved by experiential learning. “Solving problems” can be facilitated through in‐class activities that specifically target critical thinking skills. Finally, “communication” is facilitated with writing tasks and software. The top five research‐informed teaching tools that advance CPA enabling competencies are collegial tools (i.e., group work, peer review, and writing prompts), software, business cases, experiential tools, and targeted courses/lessons. In the future, an in‐depth SLR should be conducted on each of the five research‐informed teaching tools for their integration within accounting classrooms.
Is One Head Better Than Two? Dual Leadership and Firm Performance During the COVID‐19 Crisis
Authors: Haque Md Reiazul , Rahman Md Lutfur , Mamun Mohammed Abdullah Al
Published: March 2024

We provide novel evidence on the value of combined CEO and board chair positions (CEO duality) for firms during the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020. Based on 4,840 firm‐quarter observations from 1,210 unique firms in the US, we show that CEO duality firms outperformed non‐duality firms by a 0.58% margin in quarterly return on assets in 2020, which is equivalent to an incremental annual net profit of US$164 million. A difference‐in‐difference estimation confirms that the benefit of CEO duality is observed only in the COVID‐19 crisis period. Our main finding is robust to potential endogeneity concerns and alternative performance measures. Additional analyses show that the positive impact of CEO duality stems from the mechanisms of operating cost savings and working capital optimization during the crisis. Our finding underscores the benefit of CEO duality when economic uncertainty is high and a speedy decision is important.
Genetic and pharmacological modulation of lamin A farnesylation determines its function and turnover
Authors: Foo Mattheus Xing Rong , Ong Peh Fern , Yap Zi Xuan , Maric Martina , Bong Christopher Jue Shi , Dröge Peter , Burke Brian , Dreesen Oliver
Published: March 2024

Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a severe premature ageing disorder caused by a 50 amino acid truncated (Δ50AA) and permanently farnesylated lamin A (LA) mutant called progerin. On a cellular level, progerin expression leads to heterochromatin loss, impaired nucleocytoplasmic transport, telomeric DNA damage and a permanent growth arrest called cellular senescence. Although the genetic basis for HGPS has been elucidated 20 years ago, the question whether the Δ50AA or the permanent farnesylation causes cellular defects has not been addressed. Moreover, we currently lack mechanistic insight into how the only FDA‐approved progeria drug Lonafarnib, a farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI), ameliorates HGPS phenotypes. By expressing a variety of LA mutants using a doxycycline‐inducible system, and in conjunction with FTI, we demonstrate that the permanent farnesylation, and not the Δ50AA, is solely responsible for progerin‐induced cellular defects, as well as its rapid accumulation and slow clearance. Importantly, FTI does not affect clearance of progerin post‐farnesylation and we demonstrate that early, but not late FTI treatment prevents HGPS phenotypes. Collectively, our study unravels the precise contributions of progerin's permanent farnesylation to its turnover and HGPS cellular phenotypes, and how FTI treatment ameliorates these. These findings are applicable to other diseases associated with permanently farnesylated proteins, such as adult‐onset autosomal dominant leukodystrophy.
Conditioned morphine tolerance promotes neurogenesis, dendritic remodelling and pro‐plasticity molecules in the adult rat hippocampus
Authors: Nejad Ghazaleh Ghamkhari , Mottarlini Francesca , Tavassoli Zohreh , Caffino Lucia , Fumagalli Fabio , Homberg Judith R. , Fathollahi Yaghoub
Published: March 2024

Structural neuroplasticity of the hippocampus in the form of neurogenesis and dendritic remodelling underlying morphine tolerance is still less known. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to assess whether unconditioned‐ and conditioned‐morphine tolerance can trigger structural neuroplasticity in the dorsal and ventral parts of the adult male rat hippocampus. Evaluation of the levels of neurogenesis markers (Ki67 and DCX) by immunohistochemistry shows that conditioned morphine tolerance is sufficient to increase the baseline topographic level of hippocampal neurogenesis in adult rats. Dendritic spine visualization by Golgi staining shows that the behavioural testing paradigms themselves are sufficient to trigger the hippocampus subregion‐specific changes in the dendritic remodelling along the apical dendrites of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons and dentate granule cells in adult rats. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction of Bdnf, Trkb, Rac‐1 and RhoA mRNA levels as pro‐plasticity molecules, shows that the conditioned morphine tolerance is effective in changing Bdnf and RhoA mRNA levels in the ventral hippocampus of adult rats. In summary, we demonstrate that the acquisition of morphine tolerance promotes adult neurogenesis, dendritic remodelling and pro‐plasticity molecules such as Bdnf/Trkb in the rat hippocampus. Indeed, the structural neuroplasticity of the hippocampus may underlie the newly formed aberrant memory and could provide the initial basis for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of morphine‐tolerance plasticity in the hippocampus.
A community‐based modified sport program for rural community‐dwelling older adults: A pilot study
Authors: Romein Jake , Hutchins Gabrielle , Ottrey Ella , Talpey Scott , Bishop Jaclyn
Published: March 2024

Introduction

With Australiaʼs ageing population, especially in rural regions, promoting physical activity among older adults is crucial.

Objective

To identify factors influencing participation of older adults (60 years or over) from a rural community in a modified sport program and assess satisfaction with a pilot modified sport program informed by these findings.

Design

Insights and ideas from two focus groups exploring community perspectives on a modified sport program informed the development of a six‐week pilot modified sport program delivered with the local fitness centre. Post‐program surveys assessed participant satisfaction, willingness to continue, and likelihood of recommending the program to others.

Findings

Nine participants attended the focus groups, highlighting increased social connection, health management, and healthy ageing as key motivators. Joint and health concerns, cost, and time constraints emerged as main barriers. Preferences for the program included weekly sessions, alternating sports, indoor venues, and supporting modifications, but maintaining traditional rules.

Thirteen participants participated in the pilot modified sport program. There was strong program attendance (86%). All participants (13/13) rated their satisfaction as very satisfied. They were highly likely to recommend the program to others (8.5/10) and were interested in continuing modified sport after the pilot (7.7/10).

Discussion

This study demonstrates for the first time that modified sport is of interest to older people in the rural setting, and that delivering such a program is feasible in a small community. Rural communities implementing modified sport should consider the availability of suitable facilities and equipment, access to an engaging facilitator and participant cost.

Conclusion

Through a strong connection between the health service and community fitness centre, a modified sport program was developed and implemented, well‐attended and enjoyed by participants in a rural community.
The situation of the interface
Authors: Cooper Timothy P. A.
Published: March 2024

A master copy is an artifact whose quality or value carries over to the copies it engenders. In the United Arab Emirates, home to a marketplace trade in Pashto‐language film and music, master copy also refers to the context of the artifact's accessibility; it describes a print made from a medium—such as a celluloid film, an audiocassette, or a vinyl record—considered to hold the earliest or highest‐quality recording. Situated at a narrowing analog‐to‐digital bottleneck, a master copy is not an original but an interface between the social circumstances afforded by storage and communication media. Thus, as distinct from the formats that manifest content or preserve data, bottlenecks and interfaces ought to be studied on their own terms, as is shown in ethnographic research on master copies that travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and beyond, throughout the Pashtun diaspora.
“We are a nuclear community”: The Ethical, Political Economic, and Social Relations of Canadian Nuclear Waste Siting
Authors: Bell Marissa
Published: March 2024

Nuclear waste poses unique challenges that transcend everyday temporalities and shape socio‐political and economic relations across temporal, spatial, and epistemic dimensions. This paper draws from ethnographic research in Canada, to understand how the political economy, power relations, and ethical landscapes of a specific “nuclear community” inform perception and engagement with a “community‐driven” process to permanently store high‐level radioactive waste. The local nuclear industry has effectively fostered deep political economic and cultural ties to the community, resulting in a sense of nuclear pride within an exclusive and cohesive nuclear community in Bruce County. This paper examines what it means to be a nuclear community, the ways in which people identify with being a nuclear community, and how this identification shapes the ethical landscapes that inform how local communities in the Bruce region engage with the nuclear waste siting process.
Surrogate optimisation strategies for intraocular lens formula constant optimisation
Authors: Langenbucher Achim , Wendelstein Jascha , Cayless Alan , Hoffmann Peter , Szentmáry Nóra
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To investigate surrogate optimisation (SO) as a modern, purely data‐driven, nonlinear adaptive iterative strategy for lens formula constant optimisation in intraocular lens power calculation.

Methods

A SO algorithm was implemented for optimising the root mean squared formula prediction error (rmsPE, defined as predicted refraction minus achieved refraction) for the SRKT, Hoffer Q, Holladay, Haigis and Castrop formulae in a dataset of N = 888 cataractous eyes with implantation of the Hoya Vivinex hydrophobic acrylic aspheric lens. A Gaussian Process estimator was used as the model, and the SO was initialised with equidistant datapoints within box constraints, and the number of iterations restricted to either 200 (SRKT, Hoffer Q, Holladay) or 700 (Haigis, Castrop). The performance of the algorithm was compared to the classical gradient‐based Levenberg‐Marquardt algorithm.

Results

The SO algorithm showed stable convergence after fewer than 50/150 iterations (SRKT, HofferQ, Holladay, Haigis, Castrop). The rmsPE was reduced systematically to 0.4407/0.4288/0.4265/0.3711/0.3449 dioptres. The final constants were A = 119.2709, pACD = 5.7359, SF = 1.9688, −a0 = 0.5914/a1 = 0.3570/a2 = 0.1970, C = 0.3171/H = 0.2053/R = 0.0947 for the SRKT, Hoffer Q, Holladay, Haigis and Castrop formula and matched the respective constants optimised in previous studies.

Conclusion

The SO proves to be a powerful adaptive nonlinear iteration algorithm for formula constant optimisation, even in formulae with one or more constants. It acts independently of a gradient and is in general able to search within a (box) constrained parameter space for the best solution, even where there are multiple local minima of the target function.
The ethics of voluntary ethics standards
Authors: von Kriegstein Hasko , MacDonald Chris
Published: March 2024

Many nongovernmental forms of business regulation aim at reducing ethical violations in commerce. We argue that such nongovernmental ethics standards, while often laudable, raise their own ethical challenges. In particular, when such standards place burdens upon vulnerable market participants (often, though not always, SMEs), they do so without the backing of traditional legitimate political authority. We argue that this constitutes a structural analogy to wars of humanitarian intervention. Moreover, we show that, while some harms imposed by such standards are desirable, others are best thought of as a form of collateral damage. We thus look at the well‐developed literature on just war theory for inspiration and find that the principles of jus ad bellum and jus in bello contain many insights that can be fruitfully adapted to the case of nongovernmental standard‐setting. Consequently, we propose the Ius ad Normam—a set of principles that should guide would‐be standard‐setters in assessing whether imposing those burdens is ethically justifiable in particular cases. We also discuss how powerful multinational businesses often act simultaneously as standard‐takers and standard‐setters and explore the normative implications of this dual role.
Habitat differences in seed‐dispersing vertebrates indicate dispersal limitation in tropical bracken‐dominated deforested areas
Authors: Gallegos Silvia C. , Mayta Cesar , Villegas Mariana , Ayala Guido M. , Naoki Kazuya , Rechberger Josef , Rojas Valeria , Viscarra María E. , Bernal‐Hoverud Nuria , Espejo Mauricio , Hensen Isabell
Published: March 2024

Shifting agriculture and anthropogenic fires are among the main causes of deforestation in the tropics. After fire and land abandonment, vast deforested areas are commonly dominated by the bracken fern Pteridium for long periods. Although forest regeneration in bracken‐dominated areas is mainly hindered by dispersal limitation, little is known about the role of seed‐disperser communities in slow forest succession. Our objective was to unravel the differences in the properties of the seed‐disperser communities between forests and bracken‐dominated areas to assess their role in dispersal limitation to foster ecological restoration. We compared species richness, diversity, abundance, and composition of seed‐dispersing birds, bats, and medium and large terrestrial mammals between both habitats in a montane forest of Bolivia. The species richness and diversity were similar for bats and higher for birds in bracken‐dominated areas than in the forest, but species composition was different between both habitats and groups. Although species composition was similar between both habitats for terrestrial mammals, the abundance was higher in the forest than in bracken‐dominated areas. Differences in species composition of seed‐dispersing birds and bats could be one of the main causes of dispersal limitation in forest regeneration in tropical bracken‐dominated areas. The few shared species between both habitats could explain the low seed rain of animal‐dispersed forest tree species in bracken‐dominated areas and the consequent hindered forest regeneration. Future studies relevant to natural forest regeneration should focus on analyzing the effects of animal‐attractants such as perches, artificial bat‐roosts, and seedling transplants on disperser communities, seed dispersal effectiveness, and forest regeneration.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Importance of cultural context in the study of children's executive functions: Advances in Latin America research
Authors: Gago‐Galvagno Lucas G. , Miller Stephanie E. , Mancini Natalia A. , Simaes Ailin C. , Elgier Angel M. , Azzollini Susana C.
Published: March 2024

Although executive functions (EFs) have been identified as a cornerstone of cognitive development, knowledge of this fundamental ability in children is based primarily on research with North American and Western European samples of middle to high socioeconomic status (SES). In this article, we highlight advances in research on developmental EFs from Latin American regions, an understudied area that provides a unique context important to understanding EFs. Our narrative review suggests the potential for both universality (e.g., increasing cohesion and longitudinal stability among EFs' task performance, general positive associations with age, and other social and cognitive abilities) and cultural specificity in EF development (i.e., contributions of SES, educational environments, parenting styles, and cultural values). It is important to consider the development of EFs outside of typically examined samples—and specifically within Latin American countries—to understand more thoroughly these abilities and to generate interventions that consider cultural context.
Protocol liver biopsy predicts graft survival after liver transplantation
Authors: Liukkonen Ville H. , Nordin Arno J. , Färkkilä Martti A. , Mirtti Tuomas K. , Arola Johanna T. , Åberg Fredrik O.
Published: March 2024

Background

The use of protocol liver biopsy to monitor liver allograft status remains controversial. There is limited data from modern transplantation populations that includes protocol biopsies to evaluate its value in predicting clinical outcomes.

Methods

All protocol liver biopsies were identified from 875 patients who underwent liver transplantation at Helsinki University Hospital between 2000 and 2019. Each histologic component was analyzed for its ability to predict long‐term outcomes, especially graft survival. We determined the frequency of significant biopsy findings based on the Banff working group definition. Liver function tests (LFTs) and clinical markers were evaluated for their ability to predict significant biopsy findings.

Results

In total, 867 protocol liver biopsies were analyzed. Significant findings were identified in 20.1% of the biopsies. In the first protocol biopsy, steatohepatitis (hazard ratio [HR] 3.504, p = .03) and moderate or severe congestion (HR 3.338, p = .04) predicted graft loss. The presence of cholangitis (HR 2.563, p = .04), necrosis (HR 7.635, p < .001), mild congestion (HR 4.291, p = .009), and significant biopsy finding (HR 2.540, p = .02) predicted inferior death‐censored graft survival. While the degree of elevation of LFTs was positively associated with significant biopsy findings, the discrimination was poor (AUC .572–.622). Combined LFTs and clinical risk factors remained suboptimal for discriminating significant biopsy findings (AUC .696).

Conclusions

Our findings support the use of protocol liver biopsies after liver transplantation since they frequently revealed changes associated with long‐term outcomes, even when LFTs were normal.
Intransitivity in plant–soil feedbacks is rare but is associated with multispecies coexistence
Authors: Pajares‐Murgó Mariona , Garrido José L. , Perea Antonio J. , López‐García Álvaro , Bastida Jesús M. , Prieto‐Rubio Jorge , Lendínez Sandra , Azcón‐Aguilar Concepción , Alcántara Julio M.
Published: March 2024

Although plant–soil feedback (PSF) is being recognized as an important driver of plant recruitment, our understanding of its role in species coexistence in natural communities remains limited by the scarcity of experimental studies on multispecies assemblages. Here, we experimentally estimated PSFs affecting seedling recruitment in 10 co‐occurring Mediterranean woody species. We estimated weak but significant species‐specific feedback. Pairwise PSFs impose similarly strong fitness differences and stabilizing‐destabilizing forces, most often impeding species coexistence. Moreover, a model of community dynamics driven exclusively by PSFs suggests that few species would coexist stably, the largest assemblage with no more than six species. Thus, PSFs alone do not suffice to explain coexistence in the studied community. A topological analysis of all subcommunities in the interaction network shows that full intransitivity (with all species involved in an intransitive loop) would be rare but it would lead to species coexistence through either stable or cyclic dynamics.
Motor seizures confer overall survival benefit in who grade 2 glioma
Authors: Fairclough Sam , Chumas Paul , Goodden John , Maguire Melissa , Mathew Ryan K.
Published: March 2024

Objective

The prevalence of epilepsy in World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2 glioma is high, with seizures being the presenting symptom in 60%–90%. We explore the epidemiology of seizures in this patient population in a regional neurosurgical center.

Methods

Electronic health records of patients with histologically‐proven WHO grade 2 glioma (n = 228) were reviewed between 1997 and 2021, with data collected including patient demographics, epilepsy prevalence, and seizure semiology. The influence of seizure type on overall survival was calculated using a Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

Overall, 197 of 228 patients (86.4%) were diagnosed with epilepsy—either at presentation or during the course of their disease. Male patients were more likely than female patients to be diagnosed with epilepsy (91.1% vs 77.1%, p = .003) and, in those with epilepsy, more likely to experience at least one focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizure (69.4% vs 54.1%, p = .05). Patients with left‐sided tumors were twice as likely to have experienced a focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizure (p = .02, odds ratio [OR] = .47). Predominantly experiencing seizures with motor activity appeared to confer better overall survival, with a 65% decrease in the risk of death 10 years post diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] = .35, p = .02). This is despite accounting for previously described prognostic markers including tumor histology/genetics, time from diagnosis to surgery, and the extent of tumor resection.

Significance

Motor seizure activity is a frequent feature in WHO grade 2 glioma and appears to confer a survival benefit regardless of histology or surgical factors. Seizures due to dominant hemisphere tumors may be more likely to propagate and cause bilateral tonic–clonic activity.
Evaluating harvest incentives for suppressing a socially‐valued, but ecologically‐detrimental, invasive fish predator
Authors: Hansen Adam G. , Lepak Jesse M. , Gardunio Eric I. , Eyre Tory
Published: March 2024

The legacy of intentional freshwater fish introductions across the western United States has fostered social tensions over the control of nonnative species in some contexts. Overcoming tensions and implementing effective control programs is important for mitigating impacts to native species. We modeled the efficacy of incentivized harvest for controlling nuisance smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) using empirical responses measured during fishing tournaments on two reservoirs that are sources of nonnative predators to critical habitat of native species. Simulations demonstrated that anglers could suppress adult smallmouth bass by 90%–99% in under 30 years, but were contingent on program participation and density dependence in harvest efficiency (i.e., catchability) and population demographics. Catchability differed between systems and varied temporally within the same system, thereby suggesting tournament structure could be adapted to increase harvest rates. Incentivized harvest should not be dismissed as a viable control strategy alone or in tandem with other methods in small lentic systems.
Bioclimatic influence on water chemistry and dissolved organic matter in shallow temperate lakes of Andean Patagonia: A gradient approach
Authors: Mansilla Ferro Carolina , Garcia Patricia E. , Reissig Mariana , Diéguez María C.
Published: March 2024

We addressed the influence of bioclimatic variables (precipitation, temperature and vegetation) on physicochemical properties, carbon (C) and nutrients dynamics in shallow temperate lakes in the northern Patagonian Andes.

Four shallow lakes (mean depth < 15 m) located along the Andean Patagonian bioclimatic gradient, and characterised by a west‐to‐east decrease in precipitation, increase in temperature and changes in vegetation type, were studied during wet and dry periods. Physicochemical variables, total nitrogen and phosphorus (TN and TP) and particulate and dissolved organic matter (POM and DOM) were analysed. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of environmental variables on lake water chemistry and to identify the main factors associated with spatial and temporal differences in lake DOM pools.

Spatial and seasonal decreases in precipitation and warming were reflected in reduced hydrological connectivity of the lakes. The reduced connectivity resulted in increased conductivity, pH, alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and TN concentrations. Such conditions favoured the loss of lake DOM aromaticity, humic content and molecular weight/size, and increased the degradation signals and the biologically produced DOM fraction.

Lakes responded uniformly to changes in climate variables along the Andean Patagonian gradient. Differences among lakes in water chemistry and DOM composition, were associated at the gradient scale with variation in precipitation, temperature and catchment vegetation, which may provide insights into C and water chemistry trajectories under forecasted climate trends.

Our results suggest that drought and warming trends could result in less hydrological connectivity, shrinking terrestrial DOM fluxes to lakes while concomitantly increasing internal degradation processes.
How cosmopolitan capital shapes the valuation of international credentials: A comparative analysis across cities in China and the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Delval Anne‐Sophie
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the career paths of 33 graduates from Swiss Hospitality Management schools in China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), exploring the nuances of international credential valuation. It identifies two key factors influencing access to management positions: (1) the degree of internationalization in major cities, which impacts the significance of international versus local skills and (2) individual cosmopolitan capital's role in shaping local career opportunities. The paper introduces a post‐colonial conceptualization of cosmopolitan capital, encompassing institutionalized, embodied and objectified forms, challenging Western‐centric views. By doing so, it reveals how mechanisms of racialization influence the assessment of international qualifications. In Hong Kong and Shanghai, returning Chinese are prospering in corporate head offices by mobilizing both local/national and international capital, challenging the white privilege of Western managers in this sector. Meanwhile, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the competition is for a pool of ‘international talent’, even though being perceived as ‘Arab’ or ‘white’ seems to improve career prospects.
Force‐sensing treadmill gait analysis system can detect gait abnormalities in haemophilia patients without arthropathy
Authors: Mawarikado Yuya , Sakata Asuka , Inagaki Yusuke , Harada Suguru , Tatsumi Kohei , Matsumoto Naoki , Ogiwara Kenichi , Yada Koji , Yoshimura Yasushi , Kido Akira , Tanaka Yasuhito , Shima Midori , Nogami Keiji
Published: March 2024

Background

Joint damage in patients with haemophilia (PwH) is commonly assessed by imaging, but few reports have described how structural changes in joints, for example, haemophilic arthropathy (HA)—affect gait ability.

Objectives

We evaluated gait function among PwH with HA, PwH without HA, and people without haemophilia (non‐PwH) using a Zebris FDM‐T treadmill (FDM‐T), an easy‐to‐use gait assessment instrument with a force sensor matrix.

Methods

The following gait parameters were collected: centre of pressure trajectory intersection (COPi) anterior/posterior variability, COPi lateral variability, COPi anterior/posterior symmetry, COPi lateral symmetry, single‐limb support line (SLSL) length, and SLSL variability. Participants walked at their typical gait speed. The physical function of the PwH was assessed by the Hemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS). Parameters were compared among the three groups.

Results

Twelve PwH with HA, 28 PwH without HA, and 12 non‐PwH were enrolled. Gait speed significantly differed between groups (non‐PwH, 3.1 ± 0.7; PwH without HA, 2.0 ± 0.7; PwH with HA; 1.5 ± 0.4). The COPi anterior/posterior variability, COPi lateral variability, SLSL length, and SLSL variability were greater in the PwH groups than in the non‐PwH group. The COPi lateral symmetry differed between PwH with HA and the other groups. The HJHS was not correlated with gait parameters among PwH with HA.

Conclusions

Gait parameters and speed were abnormal in both PwH with HA and PwH without HA. The FDM‐T can be used to identify early stages of physical dysfunction that cannot be detected by conventional functional assessments such as the HJHS.
Traveling salesman problem with drone and bicycle: multimodal last‐mile e‐mobility
Authors: Babaee Tirkolaee Erfan , Cakmak Emre , Karadayi‐Usta Saliha
Published: March 2024

Recently, the multimodal last‐mile e‐mobility concept has been at the center of attention for cleaner, greener, and more accessible urban deliveries. As part of sustainable transportation systems, multimodal e‐mobility is proper for a variety of logistics operations as well as medical applications. This work tries to address a novel application of multimodal e‐mobility through introducing and modeling the traveling salesman problem with drone and bicycle (TSP‐D‐B). Therefore, a novel mixed integer linear programming model is developed to formulate the problem wherein the total traveling time is minimized. As part of the last‐mile delivery, a fleet of three vehicles including a truck, a drone, and a bicycle is taken into account to serve the customers in a single visit. The truck is considered as the main vehicle, while the drone and bicycle can be preferred in case of emergencies such as traffic or route failures. In order to assess the complexity, validity and applicability of the offered model, a dataset including 64 different benchmarks is generated, and according to the findings, the model is able to efficiently solve the benchmarks for up to 50 customers in 685 s maximum. A comparison is also made between TSP‐D‐B, the classic version of the TSP and the TSP‐D, which reveals that TSP‐D‐B provides appropriate service time savings in all benchmarks. Finally, another comparative analysis is made using several instances adapted from the literature. It is revealed that TSP‐D‐B leads to significant time savings in most instances.
Identification of circRNA‐disease associations via multi‐model fusion and ensemble learning
Authors: Yang Jing , Lei Xiujuan , Zhang Fa
Published: March 2024

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a common non‐coding RNA and plays an important role in the diagnosis and therapy of human diseases, circRNA‐disease associations prediction based on computational methods can provide a new way for better clinical diagnosis. In this article, we proposed a novel method for circRNA‐disease associations prediction based on ensemble learning, named ELCDA. First, the association heterogeneous network was constructed via collecting multiple information of circRNAs and diseases, and multiple similarity measures are adopted here, then, we use metapath, matrix factorization and GraphSAGE‐based models to extract features of nodes from different views, the final comprehensive features of circRNAs and diseases via ensemble learning, finally, a soft voting ensemble strategy is used to integrate the predicted results of all classifier. The performance of ELCDA is evaluated by fivefold cross‐validation and compare with other state‐of‐the‐art methods, the experimental results show that ELCDA is outperformance than others. Furthermore, three common diseases are used as case studies, which also demonstrate that ELCDA is an effective method for predicting circRNA‐disease associations.
Hedan tablet ameliorated non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis by moderating NF‐κB and lipid metabolism‐related pathways via regulating hepatic metabolites
Authors: Guo Liying , Lei Jinyan , Li Peng , Wang Yuming , Wang Jing , Song Taotao , Zhu Bo , Jia Jianwei , Miao Jing , Cui Huantian
Published: March 2024

Non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe form of fatty liver disease. If not treated, it can lead to liver damage, cirrhosis and even liver cancer. However, advances in treatment have remained relatively slow, and there is thus an urgent need to develop appropriate treatments. Hedan tablet (HDP) is used to treat metabolic syndrome. However, scientific understanding of the therapeutic effect of HDP on NASH remains limited. We used HDP to treat a methionine/choline‐deficient diet‐induced model of NASH in rats to elucidate the therapeutic effects of HDP on liver injury. In addition, we used untargeted metabolomics to investigate the effects of HDP on metabolites in liver of NASH rats, and further validated its effects on inflammation and lipid metabolism following screening for potential target pathways. HDP had considerable therapeutic, anti‐oxidant, and anti‐inflammatory effects on NASH. HDP could also alter the hepatic metabolites changed by NASH. Moreover, HDP considerable moderated NF‐κB and lipid metabolism‐related pathways. The present study found that HDP had remarkable therapeutic effects in NASH rats. The therapeutic efficacy of HDP in NASH mainly associated with regulation of NF‐κB and lipid metabolism‐related pathways via arachidonic acid metabolism, glycine‐serine‐threonine metabolism, as well as steroid hormone biosynthesis.
Competitive endogenous RNA networks: Decoding the role of long non‐coding RNAs and circular RNAs in colorectal cancer chemoresistance
Authors: Khalafizadeh Ali , Hashemizadegan Seyedeh Donya , Shokri Fatemeh , Bakhshinejad Babak , Jabbari Keyvan , Motavaf Mahsa , Babashah Sadegh
Published: March 2024

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is recognized as one of the most common gastrointestinal malignancies across the globe. Despite significant progress in designing novel treatments for CRC, there is a pressing need for more effective therapeutic approaches. Unfortunately, many patients undergoing chemotherapy develop drug resistance, posing a significant challenge for cancer treatment. Non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been found to play crucial roles in CRC development and its response to chemotherapy. However, there are still gaps in our understanding of interactions among various ncRNAs, such as long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). These ncRNAs can act as either oncogenes or tumour suppressors, affecting numerous biological functions in different cancers including CRC. A class of ncRNA molecules known as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) has emerged as a key player in various cellular processes. These molecules form networks through lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA and circRNA/miRNA/mRNA interactions. In CRC, dysregulation of ceRNA networks has been observed across various cellular processes, including proliferation, apoptosis and angiogenesis. These dysregulations are believed to play a significant role in the progression of CRC and, in certain instances, may contribute to the development of chemoresistance. Enriching our knowledge of these dysregulations holds promise for advancing the field of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for CRC. In this review, we discuss lncRNA‐ and circRNA‐associated ceRNA networks implicated in the emergence and advancement of drug resistance in colorectal carcinogenesis.
Identification and characterization of extrachromosomal circular DNA in large‐artery atherosclerotic stroke
Authors: Chen Kejie , Chi Yanqi , Cheng Hang , Yang Min , Tan Quandan , Hao Junli , Lin Yapeng , Mao Fengkai , He Song , Yang Jie
Published: March 2024

Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) is a new biomarker and regulator of diseases. However, the role of eccDNAs in large‐artery atherosclerotic (LAA) stroke remains unclear. Through high‐throughput circle‐sequencing technique, the length distribution, genomic characteristic and motifs feature of plasma eccDNA from healthy controls (CON) and patients with LAA stroke were analysed. Then, the potential functions of the annotated eccDNAs were investigated using GO and KEGG pathway analyses. EccDNAs mapped to the reference genome showed SHN3 and BCL6 were LAA stroke unique transcription factors. The genes of differentially expressed eccDNAs between LAA stroke patients and CON were mainly involved in axon/dendrite/neuron projection development and maintenance of cellular structure via Wnt, Rap1 and MAPK pathways. Moreover, LAA stroke unique eccDNA genes played a role in regulation of coagulation and fibrinolysis, and there were five LAA stroke unique eccDNAs (Chr2:12724406‐12724784, Chr4:1867120‐186272046, Chr4:186271494‐186271696, Chr7:116560296‐116560685 and Chr11:57611780‐5761192). Additionally, POLR2C and AURKA carried by ecDNAs (eccDNA size >100 kb) of LAA stroke patients were significantly associated with development of LAA stroke. Our data firstly revealed the characteristics of eccDNA in LAA stroke and the functions of LAA stroke unique eccDNAs and eccDNA genes, suggesting eccDNA is a novel biomarker and mechanism of LAA stroke.
Distal‐to‐proximal etiologically relevant variables associated with the general (p) and specific factors of psychopathology
Authors: Ormel Jonah , Vos Melissa , Laceulle Odilia M. , Vrijen Charlotte , van der Laan Camiel M. , Nolte Ilja M. , Hartman Catharina A.
Published: March 2024

Background

The general factor of psychopathology, often denoted as p, captures the common variance among a broad range of psychiatric symptoms. Specific factors are co‐modeled based on subsets of closely related symptoms. This paper investigated the extent to which wide‐ranging genetic, personal, and environmental etiologically relevant variables are associated with p and specific psychopathology factors.

Methods

Using data from four waves (ages 11–19) of TRAILS, we modeled a bifactor model of p and four specific factors [internalizing, externalizing, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)]. Next, we examined the associations of 19 etiologically relevant variables with these psychology factors using path models that organized the variables according to the distal‐to‐proximal risk principle.

Results

Collectively, the etiologically relevant factors, including temperament traits, accounted for 55% of p's variance, 46% in ADHD, 35% in externalizing, 19% in internalizing, and 7% in ASD. The low 7% is due to insufficient unique variance in ASD indicators that load more strongly on p. Excluding temperament, variables accounted for 29% variance in p, 9% ADHD, 14% EXT, 7% INT, and 4% ASD. Most etiologically relevant factors were generic, predicting p. In addition, we identified effects on specific factors in addition to effects on p (e.g., parental SES, executive functioning); only effects on specific factors (e.g., parental rejection); opposite effects on different factors [e.g., diurnal cortisol (high INT but low EXT, p); developmental delay (high ASD and p but low EXT)]. Frustration, family functioning, parental psychopathology, executive functioning, and fearfulness had strong effects on p.

Conclusions

(1) Strong generic effects on p suggest that etiologically relevant factors and psychopathology tend to cluster in persons. (2) While many factors predict p, additional as well as opposite effects on specific factors indicate the relevance of specific psychopathology factors in understanding mental disorder. (3) High frustration, neurodevelopmental problems, and a disadvantaged family environment primarily characterize p.
Racial and ethnic differences in disease course Medicare expenditures for beneficiaries with dementia
Authors: Olchanski Natalia , Zhu Yingying , Liang Lichen , Cohen Joshua T. , Faul Jessica D. , Fillit Howard M. , Freund Karen M. , Lin Pei‐Jung
Published: March 2024

Background

Research on racial and ethnic disparities in costs of care during the course of dementia is sparse. We analyzed Medicare expenditures for beneficiaries with dementia to identify when during the course of care costs are the highest and whether they differ by race and ethnicity.

Methods

We analyzed data from the 2000–2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) linked with corresponding Medicare claims to estimate total Medicare expenditures for four phases: (1) the year before a dementia diagnosis, (2) the first year following a dementia diagnosis, (3) ongoing care for dementia after the first year, and (4) the last year of life. We estimated each patient's phase‐specific and disease course Medicare expenditures by using a race‐specific survival model and monthly expenditures adjusted for patient characteristics. We investigated healthcare utilization by service type across races/ethnicities and phases of care.

Results

Adjusted mean total Medicare expenditures for non‐Hispanic (NH) Black ($165,730) and Hispanic beneficiaries with dementia ($160,442) exceeded corresponding expenditures for NH Whites ($136,326). In the year preceding and immediately following initial dementia diagnosis, mean Medicare expenditures for NH Blacks ($26,337 and $20,429) exceeded expenditures for Hispanics and NH Whites ($21,399–23,176 and 17,182–18,244). The last year of life was responsible for the greatest cost contribution: $51,294 (NH Blacks), $47,469 (Hispanics), and $39,499 (NH Whites). These differences were driven by greater use of high‐cost services (e.g., emergency department, inpatient and intensive care), especially during the last year of life.

Conclusions

NH Black and Hispanic beneficiaries with dementia had higher disease course Medicare expenditures than NH Whites. Expenditures were highest for NH Black beneficiaries in every phase of care. Further research should address mechanisms of such disparities and identify methods to improve communication, shared decision‐making, and access to appropriate services for all populations.
Do dental anxiety and satisfaction with dental professionals modify the association between affordability and dental service use? A population‐based longitudinal study of Australian adults
Authors: Shahid Mishel , Tadakamadla Santosh Kumar , Kroon Jeroen , Peres Marco A.
Published: March 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the association between affordability in terms of difficulty paying dental bills in Australian dollars and dental service use in the presence of sociodemographic confounders, and to assess the role of dental anxiety and satisfaction with dental professionals as mediators. The second aim was to investigate how dental anxiety and satisfaction with dental professionals modify the association between affordability and use of dental services in Australian adults.

Methods

Longitudinal data from the Australian National Study of Adult Oral Health (2004–06 and 2017–18) was used. Poisson regression and path analysis were conducted to determine the association between affordability and frequency of use of dental services. Effect measure modification (EMM) analysis was performed by stratification of dental anxiety and satisfaction with dental professionals.

Results

The study included 1698 Australian adults and identified that the prevalence of low frequency of dental visits was 20% more for those who had difficulty paying dental bills. Adults with dental anxiety (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.14) and those who were dissatisfied with dental professionals (PR = 1.17) had a higher prevalence of low frequency of dental visits in the presence of difficulty paying dental bills. This indicated that dental anxiety and dissatisfaction with dental professionals were effect modifiers on this pathway.

Conclusions

Adults who experience dental anxiety and dissatisfaction with dental professionals are more likely to avoid dental visits when faced with difficulty paying dental bills. However, it is important to note that these associations do not necessarily imply a causal relationship.
Aspergillus nodules: Natural history and the effect of antifungals
Authors: Kosmidis Chris , Achira Mahmoud , Yong Jeremy , Harris Chris , Bazaz Rohit
Published: March 2024

Background

Aspergillus nodules are classified as a subset of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. The optimal management approach is not known as their natural evolution following biopsy, the rate of progression to chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis (CCPA) and the effect of antifungal treatment have not been described.

Objectives

To describe the clinical course of patients diagnosed with Aspergillus nodules and the effect of antifungal treatment.

Patients/Methods

We present a series of 23 patients with histologically confirmed Aspergillus nodules and describe serial imaging, antifungal treatment and progression to other diagnoses.

Results

Thirteen patients were diagnosed after a CT‐guided biopsy and 10 after surgical resection. Among those who had CT‐guided biopsy, 8 did not receive antifungal treatment; the nodule was stable or smaller in all cases on subsequent CT scan after a mean of 15.5 months. However, one patient developed squamous cell carcinoma after 16 months and another developed CCPA after 7 months. Among the 5 patients who received antifungals for at least 4 weeks, the nodule was smaller in 1 and stable in 4. One patient developed CCPA 3 years after the biopsy. No patient who had a surgical resection subsequently had a CCPA diagnosis.

Conclusion

Most Aspergillus nodules remained stable or improved following biopsy, irrespective of the effect of antifungals. However, CCPA can develop occasionally in patients with Aspergillus nodules and ongoing radiological follow‐up may be warranted when the nodule is not resected.
Finding meaning in complex care nursing in a hospital setting
Authors: Borghmans Felice , Laletas Stella , Fernandes Venesser , Newnham Harvey
Published: March 2024

This study explores the experiences of nurses that provide ‘complex’, generalist healthcare in hospital settings. Complex care is described as care for patients experiencing acute issues additional to multimorbidity, ageing or psychosocial complexity. Nurses are the largest professional group of frontline healthcare workers and patients experiencing chronic conditions are overrepresented in acute care settings. Research exploring nurses’ experiences of hospital‐based complex care is limited, however. This study aims to add to what is known currently. Four ‘complex care’ nurses undertook in‐depth semistructured interviews and their narratives were analysed using the conceptual framework of complex adaptive phenomenology. Two overarching themes constituting the ‘essence’ of complex care nursing were identified: Contextual factors and attribute/value‐based elements. Creating meaningful patient outcomes and feeling part of a team were experienced as fulfilling, whereas time constraints, institutional settings and systemic barriers to comprehensive caregiving diminished the experience of providing complex care. Overall, work meaning presented as a dynamic phenomenon, shaped by personal and professional values, local settings and systemic factors. It is recommended that more expansive research be undertaken to explore the experience of complex care for nurses. Such knowledge can contribute to initiatives that draw a skilled, effective and engaged hospital‐based complex care nursing workforce.