bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A tribocorrosion investigation of SLM fabricated ti6al4v nanocomposites by laser rescanning and GO mixing
Authors: Lu Peipei , Wu Meiping , Liu Xin , Miao Xiaojin , Duan Weipeng
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Ti6Al4V is a widely used metal for biomedical application due to its excellent corrosion resistance, biocompatibility and mechanical strength. However, a coupling reaction of friction and corrosion is the critical reason for the failure of implants during the long-term service in human body, shortening the life expectancy and clinical efficacy of prosthesis. Hence, this study aims to find a feasible approach to modify the service performances of Ti6Al4V.

Design/methodology/approach

Selective laser melting (SLM), as one of the emerging metal-based additive manufacturing (AM) technologies is capable for fabricating patient-specific personalized customization of artificial prosthesis joints, owing to its high adaptability for complex structures. This study is concerned with the tribocorrosion behavior of SLM fabricated Ti6Al4V substrate enhanced by laser rescanning and graphene oxide (GO) mixing. The tribocorrosion tests were performed on a ball-on-plate configuration under the medium of simulated body fluid (SBF). Moreover, the surface morphologies, microstructures, microhardness and contact angle tests were used to further reveal the in-situ strengthening mechanism of GO/Ti6Al4V nanocomposites.

Findings

The results suggest that the strengthening method of GO mixing and laser rescanning shows its capability to enhance the wear resistance of Ti6Al4V by improving surface morphologies and promoting the generation of hard phases. The wear volume of R-GO/Ti6Al4V is 5.1 × 10−2 mm3, which is 25.0% lower than that of pure SLM-produced Ti6Al4V. Moreover, a wear-accelerated corrosion of the Ti6Al4V occurs in SBF medium, leading to a drop in the open circuit potential (OCP), but R-GO/Ti6Al4V has the lowest tendency to corrosion. Compared to that of pure Ti6Al4V, the microhardness and contact angle of R-GO/Ti6Al4V were increased by 32.89% and 32.60%, respectively.

Originality/value

Previous investigations related to SLM of Ti6Al4V have focused on improving its density, friction and mechanical performances by process optimization or mixing reinforcement phase. The authors innovatively found that the combination of laser rescanning and GO mixing can synergistically enhance the tribocorrosion properties of titanium alloy, which is a feasible way to prolong the service lives of medical implants.
Functional applications of 4D printing: a review
Authors: Mohol Shubham Shankar , Sharma Varun
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Additive manufacturing has rapidly developed in terms of technology and its application in various types of industries. With this rapid development, there has been significant research in the area of materials. This has led to the invention of Smart Materials (SMs). The 4D printing is basically 3D printing of these SMs. This paper aims to focus on novel materials and their useful application in various industries using the technology of 4D printing.

Design/methodology/approach

Research studies in 4D printing have increased since the time when this idea was first introduced in the year 2013. The present research study will deeply focus on the introduction to 4D printing, types of SMs and its application based on the various types of stimulus. The application of each type of SM has been explained along with its functioning with respect to the stimulus.

Findings

SMs have multiple functional applications pertaining to appropriate industries. The 4D printed parts have a distinctive capability to change its shape and self-assembly to carry out a specific function according to the requirement. Afterward, the fabricated part can recover to its 3D printed “memorized” shape once it is triggered by the stimulus.

Originality/value

The present study highlights the various capabilities of SMs, which is used as a raw material in 4D printing.

Graphical abstract
Impact of materialism on purchase intention of sustainable luxury goods: An empirical study in India
Authors: Kaur Jaspreet , Parida Ratri , Ghosh Sanjukta , Lavuri Rambabu
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of the three dimensions of materialism, namely, possessiveness, envy and non-generosity along with attitude on the purchase intention of sustainable luxury products.

Design/methodology/approach

The research study contains a descriptive approach to research with a quantitative analysis done with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis with 229 respondents.

Findings

The findings of the results contribute to research by extending the model of the theory of planned behavior with the material dimensions as an add-on.

Research limitations/implications

The same could have been extended to all major metro cities of Indian where luxury brands are present in malls.

Practical implications

This shows that the consumer with a high level of materialism trait would be a very prospective segment for sustainable luxury brands.

Originality/value

The study shows that the three dimensions of materialism do impact the purchase intention of sustainable luxury producers and these findings will be crucial for devising consumer behavior-based strategies for sustainable luxury brands.
Measuring redenomination risks in the Euro area – evidence from survey data
Authors: Klose Jens
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce a new indicator to measure redenomination risks in Euro area countries. The measure is based on survey data. The influence of this indicator in determining sovereign bond yield spreads is estimated.

Design/methodology/approach

An autoregressive distributed lag approach is used to estimate the effects of redenomination risks on sovereign bond yields. Additional control variables are added.

Findings

The results for 10 European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) countries in the period June 2012 to May 2019 show that the risk of depreciation is almost abandoned for most Euro area countries, i.e. the former crisis countries Ireland and Portugal. If anything an appreciation may occur for some countries once they leave the EMU. The only countries facing depreciation problems once leaving the monetary union are Italy and to some extent Spain.

Originality/value

With this new indicator, the literature on sovereign bond determination and i.e. on redenomination risks is expanded by an additional approach. Moreover, this study is one of few also looking at the period after the most severe tensions of the sovereign debt crisis in the Euro area in 2012.
Data-driven quality improvement approach to reducing waste in manufacturing
Authors: Clancy Rose , O'Sullivan Dominic , Bruton Ken
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Data-driven quality management systems, brought about by the implementation of digitisation and digital technologies, is an integral part of improving supply chain management performance. The purpose of this study is to determine a methodology to aid the implementation of digital technologies and digitisation of the supply chain to enable data-driven quality management and the reduction of waste from manufacturing processes.

Design/methodology/approach

Methodologies from both the quality management and data science disciplines were implemented together to test their effectiveness in digitalising a manufacturing process to improve supply chain management performance. The hybrid digitisation approach to process improvement (HyDAPI) methodology was developed using findings from the industrial use case.

Findings

Upon assessment of the existing methodologies, Six Sigma and CRISP-DM were found to be the most suitable process improvement and data mining methodologies, respectively. The case study revealed gaps in the implementation of both the Six Sigma and CRISP-DM methodologies in relation to digitisation of the manufacturing process.

Practical implications

Valuable practical learnings borne out of the implementation of these methodologies were used to develop the HyDAPI methodology. This methodology offers a pragmatic step by step approach for industrial practitioners to digitally transform their traditional manufacturing processes to enable data-driven quality management and improved supply chain management performance.

Originality/value

This study proposes the HyDAPI methodology that utilises key elements of the Six Sigma DMAIC and the CRISP-DM methodologies along with additions proposed by the author, to aid with the digitisation of manufacturing processes leading to data-driven quality management of operations within the supply chain.
Delving into the soft side of TQM: an analysis of the implications of employee involvement on management practices
Authors: Cavallone Mauro , Palumbo Rocco
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Soft total quality management (STQM) is a requisite for the successful implementation of hard total quality management interventions. However, there is limited empirical evidence on the implications of adopting soft total quality management practices. Inter alia, little is known about the consequences of employee involvement in addressing organizational and management challenges. To fill this gap, the article investigates the effects of employees' involvement on their commitment to organizational excellence.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary data were collected from the European Company Survey (ECS). A large sample of 15,958 European companies was involved in the analysis. A parallel mediation model was devised to investigate the effects of employee involvement on commitment to organizational excellence. Training and motivation were contemplated as mediating variables to investigate the indirect implications of employee involvement on commitment to organizational excellence.

Findings

Employee involvement contributed marginally towards establishing an increased individual commitment to organizational excellence. Training and motivation played a relevant and statistically significant mediating role, boosting the implications of involvement on commitment to organizational excellence.

Practical implications

Employee involvement is critical for establishing an organizational climate conducive to organizational excellence. However, its implications should be contextualized in light of the mediating role of training and motivation. On the one hand, training is expected to increase employees' participation in the enhancement of organizational excellence. On the other hand, motivation fosters employee engagement in the improvement of organizational dynamics.

Originality/value

The article investigates the implications of employee involvement on commitment to organizational excellence in a large sample of European companies, emphasizing that soft TQM interventions should be implemented according to a systemic perspective in order to pave the way for a viable commitment to organizational excellence.
Cancer and contaminated food: Toxic uncertainties in western Kenya
Authors: Prince Ruth J.
Published: August 2021

During fieldwork on cancer in Kisumu, western Kenya, the author slowly began, like those around her, to ask questions about its location and its temporalities, its beginnings and endings, its boundaries and entanglements with toxicants. In this article, the author describes the landscapes of exposure that people in western Kenya associate with an increasingly visible cancer epidemic, including concerns based on partial and tentative knowledge about the toxicity of foods. Starting from conversations about cancer, home, food and toxicity, she moves towards livelihoods, economies and ecologies, and the food and agricultural systems in which these exposures and uncertainties are embedded.
Research advancements in optical imaging and spectroscopic techniques for nondestructive detection of mold infection and mycotoxins in cereal grains and nuts
Authors: Mishra Gayatri , Panda Brajesh Kumar , Ramirez Wilmer Ariza , Jung Hyewon , Singh Chandra B , Lee Sang‐Heon , Lee Ivan
Published: August 2021

Cereal grains and nuts are represented as the economic backbone of many developed and developing countries. Kernels of cereal grains and nuts are prone to mold infection under high relative humidity and suitable temperature conditions in the field as well as storage conditions. Health risks caused by molds and their molecular metabolite mycotoxins are, therefore, important topics to investigate. Strict regulations have been developed by international trade regulatory bodies for the detection of mold growth and mycotoxin contamination across the food chain starting from the harvest to storage and consumption. Molds and aflatoxins are not evenly distributed over the bulk of grains, thus appropriate sampling for detection and quantification is crucial. Existing reference methods for mold and mycotoxin detection are destructive in nature as well as involve skilled labor and hazardous chemicals. Also, these methods cannot be used for inline sorting of the infected kernels. Thus, analytical methods have been extensively researched to develop the one that is more practical to be used in commercial detection and sorting processes. Among various analytical techniques, optical imaging and spectroscopic techniques are attracting growers’ attention for their potential of nondestructive and rapid inline identification and quantification of molds and mycotoxins in various food products. This review summarizes the recent application of rapid and nondestructive optical imaging and spectroscopic techniques, including digital color imaging, X‐ray imaging, near‐infrared spectroscopy, fluorescent, multispectral, and hyperspectral imaging. Advance chemometric techniques to identify very low‐level mold growth and mycotoxin contamination are also discussed. Benefits, limitations, and challenges of deploying these techniques in practice are also presented in this paper.
Impact of cold plasma on the biomolecules and organoleptic properties of foods: A review
Authors: Warne George R. , Williams Philip M. , Pho Hue Quoc , Tran Nam Nghiep , Hessel Volker , Fisk Ian D.
Published: August 2021

Cold plasma is formed by the nonthermal ionization of gas into free electrons, ions, reactive atomic and molecular species, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This cold plasma can be used to alter the surface of solid and liquid foods, and it offers multiple advantages over traditional thermal treatments, such as no thermal damage and increased output variation (due to the various input parameters gas, power, plasma type, etc.). Cold plasma appears to have limited impact on the sensory and color properties, at lower power and treatment times, but there has been a statistically significant reduction in pH for most of the cold plasma treatments reviewed (p < 0.05). Carbohydrates (cross linking and glycosylation), lipids (oxidation), and proteins (secondary structure) are more significantly impacted due to cold plasma at higher intensities and longer treatment times. Although cold plasma treatments and food matrices can vary considerably, this review has identified the literary evidence of some of the influences and impacts of the vast array of cold plasma treatment parameters on the biomolecular and organoleptic properties of these foods. Due to the rapidly evolving nature of the field, we have also identified that authors prioritize the presentation of different information when publishing from different research areas. Therefore, we have proposed a number of key physical and chemical cold plasma parameters that should be considered for inclusion in all future publications in the field.
A comparison of cell‐based and cell‐cultured as appropriate common or usual names to label products made from the cells of fish
Authors: Hallman William K. , Hallman William K.
Published: August 2021

Using an online experiment with a nationally representative sample of 1200 adult American consumers, two “common or usual names,” “Cell‐Based Seafood” and “Cell‐Cultured Seafood,” were assessed using five criteria. Displayed on packages of frozen Atlantic Salmon, both “Cell‐Based” (60.1%) and “Cell‐Cultured” (58.9%) enabled participants to differentiate the novel products from “Farm‐Raised” and “Wild‐Caught” fish and 74% also recognized that those allergic to fish should not consume the product. Thus, both names met key regulatory criteria. Both names were seen as appropriate terms for describing the process for creating the product, meeting the criteria for transparency. There were no significant differences in the perceived safety, naturalness, taste, or nutritiousness of the products bearing the two names. However, participants’ overall impressions associated with “Cell‐Based” were rated as more positive than those associated with “Cell‐Cultured” (P < 0.001, η2 = 0.010), as were their initial thoughts, images, and feelings (P < 0.001, η2 = 0.008). The participants were also slightly more interested in tasting (P < 0.05, η2 = 0.004) and in purchasing (P < 0.01, η2 = 0.006) “Cell‐Based” than “Cell‐Cultured” seafood. After learning the meaning of the terms, participants’ overall impressions of “Cell‐Based” remained higher than “Cell‐Cultured” (P < 0.05, η2 = 0.003) and they remained slightly more interested in tasting (P < 0.05, η2 = 0.004) and in purchasing (P < 0.05, η2 = 0.005) “Cell‐Based” than “Cell‐Cultured” seafood. Therefore, “Cell‐Based Seafood” should be adopted as the best common or usual name for seafood made from the cells of fish.

Practical Application

Widespread adoption and consistent use of a single “common or usual name” for “Cell‐Based” seafood, meat, poultry, and other products by the food industry, regulators, journalists, marketers, environmental, consumer, and animal rights advocates, and other key stakeholders would help shape public perceptions and understanding of this rapidly advancing technology and its products. This study confirms that “Cell‐Based Seafood” is the best performing term to label seafood products made from the cells of fish. It meets relevant FDA regulatory requirements and slightly outperforms “Cell‐Cultured Seafood” with regard to positive consumer perceptions, interest in tasting, and likelihood of purchasing these novel products.
Experimental Coupling of TOPMODEL with the National Water Model: Effects of Coupling Interface Complexity on Model Performance
Authors: Kim Dong‐Hyun (Donny) , Naliaka Amina , Zhu Zhipeng , Ogden Fred L. , McMillan Hilary K.
Published: August 2021

The study had two objectives; (1) Substitute National Water Model’s (NWM) runoff calculation with a conceptual hydrologic model (TOPography‐based hydrological MODEL [TOPMODEL]) to simplify the model structure and resolve potential drawbacks of applying NWM in headwater catchments. (2) Investigate how varying the coupling interface (location of coupling, type of fluxes used, modification of sub‐models) affects model behavior of when one‐way coupling the NWM’s land surface model (LSM; Noah‐Multi Parameterization) with TOPMODEL using six different scenarios. The one‐way coupled model outperformed NWM and noncoupled TOPMODEL. The coupling option limiting reliance on LSM’s surface and subsurface water fluxes by constraining them within the TOPMODEL structure was the most successful. Performance declined when coupling configurations relied more on LSM calculated fluxes to override TOPMODEL internal processes. Varying the coupling interface brought unexpected changes in TOPMODEL’s parameter sensitivity and water budget even while the statistical score remained similar. The coupling interface represents a source of structural uncertainty that could be identified through conventional evaluation of performance, uncertainty, and sensitivity due to the simple structure of our one‐way coupling design. The study shows that the benefits of combining the strengths of land surface and conceptual hydrological models, while recognizing that structural uncertainty from coupling design needs to be acknowledged.
Association between dynamic dose increases of buprenorphine for treatment of opioid use disorder and risk of relapse
Authors: Rudolph Kara E. , Shulman Matisyahu , Fishman Marc , Díaz Iván , Rotrosen John , Nunes Edward V.
Published: August 2021

Background and Aims

Dynamic, adaptive pharmacologic treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) has been previously recommended over static dosing to prevent relapse, and is aligned with personalized medicine. However, there has been no quantitative evidence demonstrating its advantage. Our objective was to estimate the extent to which a hypothetical intervention that increased buprenorphine dose in response to opioid use would affect risk of relapse over 24 weeks of follow‐up.

Design

A secondary analysis of the buprenorphine arm of an open‐label randomized controlled 24‐week comparative effectiveness trial, 2014–17.

Setting

Eight community addiction treatment programs in the United States.

Participants

English‐speaking adults with DSM‐5 OUD, recruited during inpatient admission (n = 270). Participants were mainly white (65%) and male (72%).

Intervention(s)

Participants were treated with daily sublingual buprenorphine–naloxone (BUP–NX), with dose based on clinical indication, determined by the provider. We examined a hypothetical intervention of increasing dose in response to opioid use.

Measurements

Outcome was relapse to regular opioid use during the 24 weeks of outpatient treatment, assessed in a survival framework. We estimated the relapse‐free survival curves of participants under a hypothetical (i.e. counterfactual) intervention in which their BUP–NX dosage would be increased following their own subject‐specific opioid use during the first 12 weeks of treatment versus a hypothetical intervention in which dose would remain constant.

Findings

We estimated that increasing BUP–NX dose in response to recent opioid use would lower risk of relapse by 19.17 percentage points [95% confidence interval (CI) = −32.17, −6.18) (additive risk)] and 32% (0.68, 95% CI = 0.49, 0.86) (relative risk). The number‐needed‐to‐treat with this intervention to prevent a single relapse is 6.

Conclusions

In people with opioid use disorder, a hypothetical intervention that increases sublingual buprenorphine–naloxone dose in response to opioid use during the first 12 weeks of treatment appears to reduce risk of relapse over 24 weeks, compared with holding the dose constant after week 2.
Simulated validation of intron‐less transgene detection using DELLY for gene‐doping control in horse sports
Authors: Tozaki T. , Ohnuma A. , Kikuchi M. , Ishige T. , Kakoi H. , Hirota K. , Kusano K. , Nagata S.
Published: August 2021

Gene doping is prohibited in horseracing. In a previous study, we developed a method for non‐targeted transgene detection using DELLY, which is based on split‐read (SR) and paired‐end (PE) algorithms to detect structural variants, on WGS data. In this study, we validated the detection sensitivity of DELLY using artificially generated sequence data of 12 target genes. With DELLY, at least one intron was detected as a deletion in eight targeted genes using the 150 bp PE read WGS data, whereas all targeted genes were detected by DELLY using the 100 bp PE read data. The detection sensitivity was higher in 100 bp PE reads than in 150 bp PE reads, despite a lower total sequence coverage, probably because of mismatch tolerance between the mapped reads and reference genome. In addition, it was observed that the average intron size detected by SR alone was 293 bp and that that detected by both SR and PE was 8924 bp. Thus, we showed that transgenes with various intron–exon structures could be detected using DELLY, suggesting its application in gene‐doping control in horses.
Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling in pregnancy: Model reproducibility and external validation
Authors: Silva Larissa L. , Silvola Rebecca M. , Haas David M. , Quinney Sara K.
Published: August 2021

Aims

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models have been previously developed for betamethasone and buprenorphine for pregnant women. The goal of this work was to replicate and reassess these models using data from recently completed studies.

Methods

Betamethasone and buprenorphine PBPK models were developed in Simcyp V19 based on prior publications using V17 and V15. Ability to replicate models was verified by comparing predictions in V19 to those previously published. Once replication was verified, models were reassessed by comparing predictions to observed data from additional studies in pregnant women. Model performance was based upon visual inspection of concentration vs. time profiles, and comparison of pharmacokinetic parameters. Models were deemed reproducible if parameter estimates were within 10% of previously reported values. External validations were considered acceptable if the predicted area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) and peak plasma concentration fell within 2‐fold of the observed.

Results

The betamethasone model was successfully replicated using Simcyp V19, with ratios of reported (V17) to reproduced (V19) peak plasma concentration of 0.98–1.04 and AUC of 0.95–1.07. The model‐predicted AUC ratios ranged from 0.98–1.79 compared to external data. The previously published buprenorphine PBPK model was not reproducible, as we predicted intravenous clearance of 70% that reported previously (both in Simcyp V15).

Conclusion

While high interstudy variability was observed in the newly available clinical data, the PBPK model sufficiently predicted changes in betamethasone exposure across gestation. Model reproducibility and reassessment with external data are important for the advancement of the discipline. PBPK modelling publications should contain sufficient detail and clarity to enable reproducibility.
Proteomic analysis and microRNA expression profiling of plasma‐derived exosomes in primary immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Sun Yunqi , Hou Yu , Meng Guiyue , Han Panpan , Zhao Yajing , Wang Haoyi , Xu Miao , Wang Yawen , Qiu Jihua , Peng Jun , Shao Linlin , Sun Lu , Hou Ming
Published: August 2021

Exosomes are released into extracellular fluids and have emerged as vital biological mediators in autoimmune diseases. Plasma‐derived exosomes have been reported to take part in the pathogenesis of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), but the protein and miRNA cargoes have not been entirely elucidated. Via proteomic analysis and RNA sequencing on plasma‐derived exosomes from ITP patients and healthy controls, we found one upregulated exosomal protein (apolipoprotein E, ApoE), six downregulated exosomal miRNAs (miR‐584‐5p, miR‐4433a‐5p, miR‐4433b‐3p, miR‐6842‐3p, miR‐130b‐5p and miR‐222‐3p), and 10 upregulated exosomal miRNAs (miR‐29a‐3p, miR‐142‐5p, miR‐16‐2‐3p, miR‐29b‐3p, miR‐501‐3p, miR‐144‐5p, miR‐192‐5p, miR‐182‐5p, miR‐363‐3p and miR‐96‐5p) in ITP patients. The elevated exosomal protein candidate ApoE in the ITP cohort was further validated using western blot. Via quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction assays, three differentially expressed miRNAs (miR‐584‐5p, miR‐142‐5p and miR‐29b‐3p) were identified. This study provides direct evidence for a restricted signature of exosomal protein and miRNAs which distinguishes ITP from healthy controls. The results require further validation in larger independent ITP cohorts, which will provide insights into the potential pathophysiological significance of circulating exosomes in ITP.
Testing the content for a targeted age‐relevant intervention to promote cervical screening uptake in women aged 50–64 years
Authors: Marlow Laura A. V. , Nemec Martin , Vlaev Ivo , Waller Jo
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Low uptake of cervical screening in women in their 50s and 60s leaves them at elevated risk of cancer in older age. An age‐targeted intervention could be an effective way to motivate older women to attend cervical screening. Our primary objective was to test the impact of different candidate messages on cervical screening intention strength.

Design

A cross‐sectional online survey with randomized exposure to different candidate messages.

Methods

Women aged 50–64 years who were not intending to be screened when next invited were recruited through an online panel. Those meeting the inclusion criteria (n = 825) were randomized to one of three groups: (1) control group, (2) intervention group 1, (3) intervention group 2. Each intervention group saw three candidate messages. These included a descriptive social norms message, a diagram illustrating the likelihood of each possible screening outcome, a response efficacy message, a risk reduction message and an acknowledgement of the potential for screening discomfort. We tested age‐targeted versions (vs. generic) of some messages. The primary outcome was screening intention strength.

Results

After adjusting for baseline intention, social norms (p = .425), outcome expectancy (p = .367), risk reduction (p = .090), response efficacy (p = .136) and discomfort acknowledgement messages (p = .181) had no effect on intention strength. Age‐targeted messages did not result in greater intention than generic ones.

Conclusions

There was no evidence that a single message used to convey social norms, outcome expectancy, risk reduction or response efficacy had an impact on intention strength for older women who did not plan to be screened in future.
In the physical to digital transition with friends—A story of performing inclusive research together no matter what life throws at you
Authors: Cook Lilly , Rothstein Pedro , Emeh Lizzie , Frumiento Pino , Kennedy Donald , McNicholas David , Orjiekwe Ifeoma , Overton Michaela , Snead Mark , Steward Robyn , Sutton Jenny M. , Bradshaw Melissa , Jeffreys Evie , Charteris Sue , Ewans Sarah , Williams Mark , Grierson Mick , Chapko Dorota
Published: August 2021

Accessible summary

We are members of an arts organisation who support the creative talents of people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

We have been working on a research project at “The Hub” at Wellcome Collection in a team consisting of academic and nonacademic professionals with diverse abilities.

Because of coronavirus, we all had to stay home to stay safe. To carry on with our research project, we participated in 28 creative research meetings on Zoom.

In this paper and accompanying video, we will tell you how we did it. We will also tell you how we felt about moving away from “The Hub” and trying to do research remotely from home.

We hope our project has shown that people with learning disabilities can transition well to working online when there is trust and mutual respect.

Background

As part of “The Hub” project at Wellcome Collection, a team of eight co‐researchers with learning disabilities along academics created an online survey to challenge public understanding of learning disabilities. Using creative and arts‐based methods, co‐researchers remotely co‐analysed the survey results amid COVID‐19 lockdown challenges. Here, we explore our unexpected “transition” journey from the physical “Hub” to the digital space.

Methods

We organised 20 sessions at The Hub and used audio/video/photo recordings to capture key moments. With the lockdown, we ensured that every co‐researcher had access to and support for digital technologies. Throughout 2020, we organised 28 Zoom meetings involving all co‐researchers. In June, Lilly (a multi‐media journalist and she lives by the motto striving for equal opportunities for people with disabilities and fairness throughout) and Sue (an independent Leadership Coach and Mentor) conducted Zoom interviews with the co‐research team to reflect on our transition journey. In this creative video‐form submission accompanied by an accessible report, Lilly puts together a story of how we transitioned and felt throughout this process.

Findings

We identify that trust and the social bonds established at The Hub are the key components of our transition to the digital environment. There is the tension between longing for in‐person contact and trying to make the most out of the situation to maintain these relationships. At the heart of this is the motivation to “change the world” and strive for social justice. Having time and opportunity to improve, and co‐researchers’ steady growth in confidence are equally important.

Conclusions

The determination for maintaining friendships among co‐researchers and the motivation to “change the world” overcome COVID‐19‐related challenges in continuing co‐research.
Transcription factor POU4F2 promotes colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion through hedgehog‐mediated epithelial‐mesenchymal transition
Authors: Guo Kaibo , Wang Peipei , Zhang Leyin , Zhou Yiwen , Dai Xinyang , Yan Yici , Chen Yuxuan , Wasan Harpreet S. , Yu Jieru , Ruan Shanming , Sun Leitao
Published: July 2021

As a POU homeodomain transcription factor, POU4F2 has been implicated in regulating tumorigenic processes in various cancers. However, the role of POU4F2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. Here, we revealed that POU4F2 functions as a tumor promotor in CRC. Bioinformatics analysis in specimens from CRC patients and expression analysis in CRC cell lines showed that POU4F2 was upregulated at the mRNA and protein levels in CRC. Depletion of POU4F2 suppressed the metastatic phenotypes of CRC cells, including cell migration, invasion, and the expression of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. Moreover, depletion of POU4F2 decreased the number of lung metastatic nodes in nude mice. Mechanistically, POU4F2 positively regulated the Hedgehog signaling pathway, as inferred from the downregulation of the expression of sonic Hedgehog homolog, patched 1, Smoothened, and GLI family zinc finger 1 in vitro and vivo following silencing of POU4F2. Furthermore, the SMO agonist SAG reversed the effects of POU4F2 knockdown in CRC. Functionally, POU4F2 contributed to the Hedgehog signaling‐regulated activation of the EMT process and promotion of CRC cell migration and invasion. Collectively, these findings elucidated the role of POU4F2 as a tumor promotor in CRC through the regulation of Hedgehog signaling‐mediated EMT and suggested that POU4F2 suppression might be a promising therapeutic target in inhibiting CRC metastasis.
Visual Analysis of Large‐Scale Protein‐Ligand Interaction Data
Authors: Schatz Karsten , Franco‐Moreno Juan José , Schäfer Marco , Rose Alexander S. , Ferrario Valerio , Pleiss Jürgen , Vázquez Pere‐Pau , Ertl Thomas , Krone Michael
Published: August 2021

When studying protein‐ligand interactions, many different factors can influence the behaviour of the protein as well as the ligands. Molecular visualisation tools typically concentrate on the movement of single ligand molecules; however, viewing only one molecule can merely provide a hint of the overall behaviour of the system. To tackle this issue, we do not focus on the visualisation of the local actions of individual ligand molecules but on the influence of a protein and their overall movement. Since the simulations required to study these problems can have millions of time steps, our presented system decouples visualisation and data preprocessing: our preprocessing pipeline aggregates the movement of ligand molecules relative to a receptor protein. For data analysis, we present a web‐based visualisation application that combines multiple linked 2D and 3D views that display the previously calculated data The central view, a novel enhanced sequence diagram that shows the calculated values, is linked to a traditional surface visualisation of the protein. This results in an interactive visualisation that is independent of the size of the underlying data, since the memory footprint of the aggregated data for visualisation is constant and very low, even if the raw input consisted of several terabytes.
Dialectical behaviour therapy skills training for individuals with substance use disorder: A systematic review
Authors: Warner Niamh , Murphy Mike
Published: August 2021

Issues

Dialectical behaviour therapy skills training (DBT‐ST) is currently being implemented as a standalone intervention for substance use disorders (SUD), despite limited empirical evidence to support its efficacy in this context. This review aimed to investigate the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of DBT‐ST for SUD.

Approach

English language journal articles which focused on quantitative evaluations of DBT‐ST for SUD were identified by systematically searching five databases; Medline, Psychinfo, Pubmed, The Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature. Relevant grey literature was also identified using Google Scholar. The titles, abstracts and full‐text of retrieved articles were independently screened by both authors. The nine retained articles were read in‐depth and quality assessed by both authors. Data were synthesised narratively.

Key Findings

Interventions described as DBT‐ST for SUD were implemented and adapted differently across studies. Despite these inconsistencies, DBT‐ST was generally found to be acceptable and feasible for people with SUD. Findings offered preliminary support for DBT‐ST for substance use reduction and emotion regulation enhancement for this cohort. Findings must be considered in light of the quality of studies which ranged from weak to strong.

Implications

Positive outcomes indicate that more rigorous studies, including large randomised controlled trials comparing DBT‐ST to other evidence‐based interventions for SUDs, are warranted.

Conclusions

Despite offering preliminary support for DBT‐ST for SUD, the lack of controls, small samples and inconsistent adaptations of DBT‐ST across studies, limits capacity to draw causal conclusions or make specific recommendations.
Species and spatial variation in the effects of sea ice on Arctic seabird populations
Authors: Descamps Sébastien , Ramírez Francisco
Published: August 2021

Aim

The Arctic is warming rapidly, and sea ice is disappearing. This is expected to have profound effects on Arctic wildlife. However, empirical evidence that this decline in sea ice is associated with a decline in Arctic wildlife populations is lacking.

Location

Svalbard Archipelago.

Methods

Using long‐term time series data (1988–2018) from two fjords in West Spitsbergen (Svalbard), we tested whether or not sea ice concentration was associated with the population size of two of the most common Arctic seabirds, the Brünnich's guillemot (Uria lomvia) and black‐legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla).

Results

We found that the size of guillemot and kittiwake colonies has declined on Svalbard from the mid‐1990s onwards, though the shapes of these trajectories were not linear and kittiwake colony size has stabilized or even increased in recent years. sea ice concentration in West Spitsbergen also declined during the study period. Independent of these long‐term trends, sea ice concentration was positively and significantly associated with seabird colony size with a 2‐year lag, though variations in sea ice explained only a small proportion of the changes in colony size. One likely mechanism linking sea ice and seabird population size involves changes in the food chain, with poor sea ice conditions in a given year leading to low food availability 2 years later. This would affect breeding probability and hence colony size for kittiwakes and guillemots. This relationship between sea ice and colony size was the same in both fjords for guillemots. In the case of kittiwakes, it was not apparent in the fjord where productive glacier fronts, intensely used by kittiwakes to forage, may have buffered the effects of changes in sea ice.

Main conclusions

Our study provides evidence that the ongoing decline in Arctic sea ice plays a role in Arctic seabird population trajectories. However, sea ice disappearance on the breeding grounds was likely not the main driver of changes in seabird populations.
Effects of 1‐year treatment with canagliflozin on body composition and total body water in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Matsuba Ikuro , Takihata Masahiro , Takai Masahiko , Maeda Hajime , Kubota Akira , Iemitsu Kotaro , Umezawa Shinichi , Obana Mitsuo , Kaneshiro Mizuki , Kawata Takehiro , Takuma Tetsuo , Takeda Hiroshi , Machimura Hideo , Mokubo Atsuko , Motomiya Tetsuya , Asakura Taro , Kikuchi Taisuke , Matsuzawa Yoko , Ito Shogo , Miyakawa Masaaki , Terauchi Yasuo , Kanamori Akira
Published: August 2021

Aim

To characterize the long‐term changes in body composition associated with sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.

Materials and Methods

In this multicentre, single‐arm, open‐label study, 107 patients with type 2 diabetes were treated with canagliflozin 100 mg, as add‐on therapy, for 12 months. Body composition was measured with a body composition analyser (T‐SCAN PLUS) using the impedance method to prospectively analyse changes in body components, including percentage of body fat, body fat mass, total body water, muscle mass and mineral mass. Estimated plasma volume (PV) was calculated using the Kaplan formula.

Results

Body weight showed a significant decrease from 1 month to 12 months of treatment with canagliflozin, with a higher rate of decrease in body fat in body composition. A significant decrease in mineral mass was also observed, but its rate was low. Following treatment with canagliflozin, changes in total body water did not affect intracellular water, and a significant decrease in extracellular water, including plasma components, was observed early and was sustained up to 12 months. Protein mass, a component of muscle mass, was not affected, with only a slight decrease in water volume observed.

Conclusions

Canagliflozin decreased extracellular fluid and PV in addition to decreasing fat in the body via calorie loss resulting from urinary glucose excretion. This study suggested that SGLT2 inhibitors might reduce body weight by regulating fat mass or water distribution in the body and might have cardiac and renal protective effects by resetting the homeostasis of fluid balance.
Semaglutide single‐dose pen‐injector: Post hoc analysis of summative usability testing for weight management
Authors: Klonoff David C. , Bassock Stephanie , Engels Ella , Frederiksen Marie , Marber Matthew , Qvist Marianne , Sparre Thomas , Snitker Søren
Published: August 2021

Subcutaneous semaglutide, at a 2.4 mg once‐weekly maintenance dose, is approved in the United States for weight management in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher, or with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or higher and at least one obesity‐related co‐morbidity. To investigate the usability of the semaglutide pen‐injector in individuals who met these criteria, we report post hoc analysis of the summative (human factors validation) usability testing and safety analysis involving patients with type 2 diabetes (an obesity‐related co‐morbidity) with the same pen‐injector, limited to the 26 out of 30 patients with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or higher (11 pen‐injector–naïve, 15 pen‐injector–experienced) and 15 non‐pharmacist healthcare professionals (HCPs). Participants performed two simulated injections into an injection pad. No potentially serious use errors occurred. Mean subjective ease‐of‐use rating on a seven‐point scale, where 1 = difficult and 7 = easy, was 6.9 for the second injection in all three groups. These results suggest that the semaglutide pen‐injector is easy to use and not associated with serious use errors when used by pen‐injector–naïve or pen‐injector–experienced patients meeting the requirement for weight management with semaglutide treatment, and by non‐pharmacist HCPs.
Brook trout movement, survival and spawning redd sites in a central Wisconsin headwater stream vulnerable to low streamflow
Authors: Schleppenbach Benjamin T. , Mohr Zachary P. , Raabe Joshua K.
Published: August 2021

Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis populations inhabiting groundwater‐fed, headwater streams are sensitive to biotic and abiotic changes caused by anthropogenic actions in their native range but can be very resilient in their introduced range. Brook trout have maintained a self‐sustaining population in the Little Plover River, Wisconsin, despite fish kills during extreme low flows between 2005 and 2009 caused by groundwater pumping and limited precipitation. Increased understanding of brook trout sensitivity and resilience in headwater streams can aid restoration, conservation and eradication efforts. Therefore, we evaluated their movements, survival and spawning behaviours in the Little Plover River using a PIT antenna array (July 2016–July 2019) and spawning redd surveys (2017–2018) paired with estimated groundwater inputs. Tagged individuals often exhibited localised, nocturnal movements for most of the year. However, movements increased and shifted to a diurnal pattern with decreased photoperiod and water temperature beginning during spawning and continuing throughout winter (November–February). Spawning movements primarily (90%) occurred in the upstream direction, with consistent patterns of short (rkm <0.9, 64.8.9–70.7%), moderate (rkm =0.9 – 3.5, 20.0–30.2%) and long (rkm ≥4.5, 4.5–6.2%) distance movements across the three spawning periods. Monthly survival estimates ranged from 72.1 to 98.9% throughout the study (mean =91.5%) and were consistently lowest during winter and spring. Redd surveys indicated spawning peaked in mid‐November and redds were more concentrated in upstream reaches and in areas with higher estimated groundwater inflows in 2017 but not in 2018 when surface flows were higher. Our results increase understanding of brook trout daily and seasonal movements, monthly and seasonal survival, and spawning behaviours including relative to groundwater and surface flows in headwater streams, further informing management, conservation, and eradication efforts.
Rereading Kant on immortality and the highest good
Authors: Morgan Michael R.
Published: August 2021

Kant's argument for belief in the immortality of the soul appears tenuous. The standard interpretation suggests that immortality is necessary because agents need an endless time in order to become holy (i.e., incapable of deviation from the moral law). Yet Kant elsewhere argues that sensible beings cannot be holy. This interpretation thus cannot make sense of Kant's insistence that agents become holy, supposing instead that this is an error on Kant's part. Against this reading, I argue that progress toward holiness is simply a definition of virtue, and that Kant's reference to it does not contradict itself by implying that sensible beings must become holy at some point in time. Drawing on Kant's account of the Gesinnung in the Religion, I then proceed to offer a novel reading as to why immortality is needed to secure the complete conformity of a disposition with the moral law.