bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract 893: Studying the impact of CNVs on expression at single-cell resolution in HGSOC using autoencoders
Authors: Falco Matias Marin , Närhi Teemu , Erkan Erdogan Pekcan , Hynninen Johanna , Vähärautio Anna
Published: March 2024

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies. Lack of common targetable oncogenic mutations has complicated the development of directed therapies to combat emerging resistance. This malignancy is mainly characterized by the mutation of gene TP53, which promotes genome instability for the emergence of extensive copy number variations (CNVs). However its impact on gene expression at the single-cell level is not well understood. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of CNVs on transcriptomic signatures by taking advantage of variational autoencoders (VAE) ability for dimensionality reduction, unsupervised learning and feature extraction. The use of VAEs is becoming more popular for the analysis of scRNAseq data, and scVI is one of the most versatile VAE applications performing wide variety of tasks. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from 90 longitudinal samples of 64 HGSOC patients and inferred CNVs in each cell using inferCNV, an established computational pipeline. Then, we modified scVI algorithm to allow the VAE to reconstruct CNVs from a latent space originated from gene expression profiles and viceversa. Our models were capable of reconstructing CNV profiles accurately from expression data and also remove batch effect. From these models we could observe how, after the integration of genomic information, the latent clusters produced from the transcriptomic space were influenced by the amplifications or deletions of certain genomic regions. Moreover, some of these clusters were characterized by the alteration of important oncogenes in HGSOC, such as KRAS and CCNE1, and allowed us to focus on the transcriptomic consequences of their amplifications. With the results from the approach presented here, we gained a more comprehensive picture of the impact of genomic alterations on HGSOC. As future work, we plan to validate of this results on external cohorts and link the identified signatures to clinically relevant features such as prognosis or chemotherapy response.

Citation Format: Matias Marin Falco, Teemu Närhi, Erdogan Pekcan Erkan, Johanna Hynninen, Anna Vähärautio. Studying the impact of CNVs on expression at single-cell resolution in HGSOC using autoencoders [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 893.
Abstract 906: Large-scale surface protein abundance prediction from single-cell transcriptomes with a zero-shot model and its applications to cancer research
Authors: Chen Ruoqiao , Chen Bin , Zhou Jiayu
Published: March 2024

We develop SPIDER, a zero-shot model which can predict the abundance for a large scale (>2,000) of surface proteins from single-cell transcriptomes in various contexts. This is to overcome the challenges in current single-cell protein abundance quantification tools (e.g., flow cytometry, CITE-seq) and computational models (e.g., totalVI, Seurat, cTPnet), where routinely only <300 surface proteins can be quantified or predicted. Comprehensive benchmarking on four external validation sets shows that the prediction accuracy of SPIDER outperforms other state-of-the-art methods including Seurat, totalVI, and cTPnet, with a prediction accuracy elevated as much as 42.5% in new contexts. We further conduct case studies in cancers by applying SPIDER to predict the abundance of >2,500 surface proteins on scRNA-seq datasets of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal cancer liver metastasis (RCRLM), where the predicted surface protein abundance data is analyzed to demonstrate the broad downstream applications of SPIDER including facilitating cell type annotation, disease biomarker/target identification, and cell-cell interaction (CCI) inference. For instance, in these datasets we find that SPIDER can reveal (novel) disease biomarkers that are overlooked by solely observing transcript expression, such as CD44/PIK3IP1 in hepatocytes/γδ2 T cells as a positive/negative HCC biomarker, demonstrating the capability of SPIDER to compensate for the limitations in the RNA modality. In conclusion, we propose the SPIDER model which can provide valuable information on the abundance of a large scale of surfaceomes in single cells, and can be further used to gain new insights into cancers via promoting cell type annotation, disease biomarker/target identification, and CCI inference.

Citation Format: Ruoqiao Chen, Bin Chen, Jiayu Zhou. Large-scale surface protein abundance prediction from single-cell transcriptomes with a zero-shot model and its applications to cancer research [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 906.
Abstract 947: A nanodroplet cell processing platform for identifying synergistic drug combinations for neuroblastoma treatment in TH-MYCN transgenic mice
Authors: Liao Yen-Tzu , Yu Zhi-Kai , Kuo Ching-Te , Hsu Wen-Ming , Huang Yi-Xun , Lee Hsinyu
Published: March 2024

Neuroblastoma is the most common pediatric extracranial solid tumor and contributes to more than 15% of child mortality. It is characterized by extreme heterogeneity and high-risk tumors often resulting in poor prognosis. Currently, chemotherapy is a prevailing standard treatment for neuroblastoma. However, it is plagued by multiple challenges such as drug resistance and debilitating side effects. Synergistic drug combination is proposed as an innovative approach to potentially improve clinical outcomes of single-agent chemotherapy. We propose a novel approach to screen for effective chemo-synergistic drug combinations using Bioinspired nanodroplet processing (BioNDP) screening platform. This platform overcomes the limitations of conventional drug screening approaches, including the requirement for large cell numbers and the low translation rate from bench to bedside. In this study, we utilize TH-MYCN transgenic mice, a well-known genetically engineered mouse model of neuroblastoma that recapitulates critical genetic and clinical aspects of high-risk MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. With its genetically homogeneous background and spontaneous tumor development, TH-MYCN mice offer a valuable comparison to traditional xenograft mouse models. We have also developed an optimal procedure of primary murine tumor isolation using both negative and positive selection approaches. The purity of the isolated cells was verified with GD2 expression, one of well-known marker of neuroblastoma. In addition, we have successfully identified an effective drug combination of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine, using primary neuroblastoma tumor samples derived from TH-MYCN transgenic mice as a target. The in vitro synergistic effect of primary mouse tumor cell cytotoxicity was confirmed by using luminescent cell viability assay. Further in vivo experiments have demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of this selected drug combination in suppressing tumor growth and improving survival rate in all TH-MYCN transgenic mice treated. To sum up, we aim to establish a future patient-centric paradigm by which minimal primary cell samples from a personalized biopsy of patients may undergo drug screening, leading to the identification of a tailored drug combination. The BioNDP platform we developed may become a pivotal resource for personalized therapy to ensure a faster and more efficient treatment strategy for patients.

Citation Format: Yen-Tzu Liao, Zhi-Kai Yu, Ching-Te Kuo, Wen-Ming Hsu, Yi-Xun Huang, Hsinyu Lee. A nanodroplet cell processing platform for identifying synergistic drug combinations for neuroblastoma treatment in TH-MYCN transgenic mice [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 947.
Abstract 994: Single analyte profiling of the mutational, immune and microbiome landscape in african american colon cancer patients
Authors: Gurjao Carino , Chan Edmond , Lee Michael J. , Hangai Sho , Rabadan Raul , Korem Tal , Hibshoosh Hanina , Izar Benjamin
Published: March 2024

Colorectal cancer (CRC) disproportionately affects African American (AA) patients who experience a higher incidence and mortality than any other demographic groups in the United States. Yet molecular profiling in this population is scarce. Here, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) of 342 immediately snap-frozen tissues comprising AA CRC and matched, distant normal colon and identified distinct genomic drivers, DNA signatures, and, surprisingly, mosaic pathogenic mutations that are not present in the patient-matched CRC. We inferred T cell infiltration and tissue-resident microbiome (TR-M) directly from WES, enabling integrative analyses. Compared to normal colon, T cell infiltration is strongly decreased in tumours with microsatellite stability (MSS), while microsatellite unstable (MSI) and Polymerase Epsilon (POLE) mutant tumours had similar levels, suggesting immune evasion in MSS rather than increased T cell infiltration in MSI/POLE-mutants. Analyses of matched normal and tumour tissues revealed the evolving TR-M at unprecedented granularity and identified distinct niches of interactions with genomic and tumour-microenvironmental features. Together, this study represents the largest comprehensive genomic analysis of CRC in AA and provides a framework for performing a multi-layered analysis from a single analyte, thus, affording a cost-effective approach to expedite medical discoveries in underrepresented ancestries.

Citation Format: Carino Gurjao, Edmond Chan, Michael J. Lee, Sho Hangai, Raul Rabadan, Tal Korem, Hanina Hibshoosh, Benjamin Izar. Single analyte profiling of the mutational, immune and microbiome landscape in african american colon cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 994.
Abstract 999: Clinical trial matchmaking: Connecting sites to sponsors
Authors: Griffin Lyndsey , Shivakumar Latha , Boehmer Leigh , Dodson Savannah , Plotkin Elana , Pal Sumanta , Benson Al B.
Published: March 2024

Background: Oncology programs may encounter many challenges engaging in clinical trials. The Association of Community Cancer Center’s (ACCC) Community Oncology Research Institute (ACORI) conducted a survey to gather insights on barriers to clinical trial provision and implementation, patient recruitment, and identifying resources to support cancer programs.

Methods: A survey of 29 questions was administered via Qualtrics. The survey focused on research-naïve sites (i.e., sites with little to no clinical research experience). Survey recipients were identified from ACCC’s membership database, and the survey was open from May 5 to October 10, 2023. One survey response was captured per program.

Results: Of the 350 respondents, most were physicians, investigators, or oncology fellows (20%), directors/administrators (16%), patient navigators (12%), and APPs (12%). Responding programs were categorized as a comprehensive community cancer program (28%), community practice (26%), or academic medical center (21%). Eighty percent of respondents indicated their program currently conducts clinical research. The most common challenges included: patient recruitment (40%), limited staffing (36%), limited clinician time (32%), and lack of training in research administration and conduct (25%). The top 3 resources desired were communication about clinical research opportunities (65%), connections to clinical trial sponsors (49%), and clinical research coordinator training (41%).

Conclusions: Survey results showed a clear need for improved communication regarding clinical research opportunities, connections to clinical trial sponsors, and education around clinical trial implementation. Data from this survey will be used to match sites with trial sponsors, especially sites that serve patients with cancer from under resourced geographic, socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic groups. Future efforts will seek to engage clinical trial sponsors in improving trial engagement and feasibility, workforce support, training, and clinical mentorship.

Citation Format: Lyndsey Griffin, Latha Shivakumar, Leigh Boehmer, Savannah Dodson, Elana Plotkin, Sumanta Pal, Al B. Benson. Clinical trial matchmaking: Connecting sites to sponsors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 999.
An IRF2-Expressing Oncolytic Virus Changes the Susceptibility of Tumor Cells to Antitumor T Cells and Promotes Tumor Clearance
Authors: Shao Lulu , Srivastava Rashmi , Delgoffe Greg M. , Thorne Stephen H. , Sarkar Saumendra N.
Published: March 2024

IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) can promote antitumor immunity. However, we have shown previously that in the tumor cell, IRF1 can promote tumor growth, and IRF1-deficient tumor cells exhibit severely restricted tumor growth in several syngeneic mouse tumor models. Here, we investigate the potential of functionally modulating IRF1 to reduce tumor progression and prolong survival. Using inducible IRF1 expression, we established that it is possible to regulate IRF1 expression to modulate tumor progression in established B16-F10 tumors. Expression of IRF2, which is a functional antagonist of IRF1, downregulated IFNγ-induced expression of inhibitory ligands, upregulated MHC-related molecules, and slowed tumor growth and extended survival. We characterized the functional domain(s) of IRF2 needed for this antitumor activity, showing that a full-length IRF2 was required for its antitumor functions. Finally, using an oncolytic vaccinia virus as a delivery platform, we showed that IRF2-expressing vaccinia virus suppressed tumor progression and prolonged survival in multiple tumor models. These results suggest the potency of targeting IRF1 and using IRF2 to modulate immunotherapy.
Parenchyma-Preserving Hepatectomy in Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma: A Chance for Critical Patients?
Authors: Bröring Tobias S. , Wagner Kim C. , von Hahn Thomas , Oldhafer Karl J.
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is associated with high rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Extended liver resection (EXT) increases R0 resection rate and survival; however, patients with high perioperative risk are not suitable for extended resection. This study aimed to compare overall survival and surgical morbidity in patients with extended liver resection and parenchyma-preserving hepatectomy (PPH). Methods: Between January 2010 and November 2020, 113 consecutive patients with pCCA underwent surgery at our institution. Eighty-two patients were resected in curative intent. Sixty-four patients received extended liver resection, and 18 patients PPH. Outcomes of resections were evaluated. Results: There was no significant difference in overall survival in patients with PPH compared to extended liver resection (log-rank p = 0.286). Patients with PPH experienced lower rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality. There was no case of in-house mortality in PPH-resected patients compared to 10 cases (16%) in patients that received EXT (p = 0.073). Conclusion: PPH shows similar overall survival with lower rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Our findings support the role of a PPH, in selected patients with pCCA, that are not suitable for extended resection due to increased perioperative risk.
The Role of Neurohospitalism in a Specialized Cardiovascular Hospital
Authors: Serôdio Miguel , Magriço Marta , Sobral-Pinho André , Ventura Rita , Serrazina Filipa , Cabral Gonçalo , Meira Bruna , Fernandes Marco , Salavisa Manuel , Saraiva Marlene , Marto João Pedro , Sá Francisca , Calado Sofia , Viana-Baptista Miguel
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery are among the specialties that most commonly require neurology inpatient consultations. We aimed to study the neurology referrals by the cardiovascular-specialized hospital included in our tertiary hospital center. Methods: Retrospective study of consecutive patients referred for neurology inpatient consultation between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022. We analyzed referrals, patients’ characteristics, and the approach taken. A detailed subanalysis was performed for patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Results: 143 patients were observed (mean age 67.3 years, 46 [32.2%] females). Most frequent referral reasons were suspected AIS deficits (39.2%), altered mental status (19.6%), suspected seizures (13.3%), and neuroprognostication (11.9%). Mean referral-to-consult time was 2.7 days, and 117 (81.8%) consults were in-person. Additional investigation, treatment changes, and outpatient clinic referral were proposed, respectively, in 79.7%, 60.1%, and 19.6% of patients. Most common diagnoses were AIS (45.5%), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (18.9%), and delirium (7.0%). Regarding patients with AIS (n = 62), most common stroke causes were post-cardiac procedure (44.6%), infective endocarditis (18.5%), aortic dissection (10.8%), acute myocardial infarction (10.8%), and anticoagulant withdrawal in patients with atrial fibrillation (6.2%). Thirty-four AIS patients were diagnosed less than 24 h since last seen well, of which four (6.2%) were treated (three with thrombolysis and one with mechanical thrombectomy). Conclusion: AIS is the most common reason for referral in our cardiovascular hospital. Our results highlight the importance of the availability of a neurologist/neurohospitalist with stroke expertise for consultation of inpatients admitted in a specialized cardiovascular hospital.
Memorias de archivos
Authors: Díaz Ramiro , La Ferla Jorge
Published: March 2024

La expansión al campo de las imágenes técnicas extiende la problemática del acervo al tópico de su materialidad y conservación, a los usos creativos y a la interpretación crítica de las denominadas artes mediáticas en la denominada era de la información y su inserción como parte del arte contemporáneo. El origen e historia del archivo a lo largo del tiempo y su valor de memoria cultural ha venido variando su significado según la historia de los medios de comuniciación.
Defining Who You Are by Whom You Serve? Strategies for Prosocial–Professional Identity Integration with Clients
Authors: Ramarajan Lakshmi , Yen Julie
Published: March 2024

Many professionals want to both achieve professional success and contribute to society. Yet, in some professional contexts, these aims are in tension because serving elite clients is considered the pinnacle of professional success, but professionals themselves may view serving this clientele as antithetical to making a societal contribution. Drawing on interviews with 84 architects and designers who self-identify as people seeking to contribute to society—that is, who hold a prosocial identity—we develop theory about how professionals navigate tensions between their prosocial and professional identities and with what consequences for their work with clients. We identified four strategies that professionals used to ease these tensions, all of which gave the prosocially oriented professionals a sense of identity integration. However, these strategies differently shaped professionals’ approach to power relations with the client, depending on the client’s status and the types of knowledge and skills each professional viewed as central to their work. Professionals with marginalized social identities, such as women and ethnic/racial minorities, were more likely than others to embrace working with low-status clients and to use broader definitions of the knowledge and skills required for their work. Our findings contribute to scholarship on professional identity construction and prosocial work.
Disparities in Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma Initial Presentation Between a Public Safety Net Hospital and Tertiary Academic Medical Center at the Same Zip Code 2010 to 2020
Authors: Cutri Raffaello M. , Lin Joshua , Wilson Melissa L. , Doherty Joni K. , Pan Dorothy W.
Published: March 2024

Introduction:

Treatment of vestibular schwannoma (VS) has been extensively studied, but a gap in knowledge exists demonstrating how racial and socioeconomic status influence VS presentation. Our institution has a unique setting with a public safety net hospital (PSNH) and tertiary academic medical center (TAMC) in the same zip code, which we study to evaluate initial VS presentation disparities in patient populations presenting to these hospital settings.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review was performed of all adult patients (n = 531) presenting 2010 to 2020 for initial VS evaluation at TAMC (n = 462) and PSNH (n = 69). Ethnicity, insurance, maximum tumor size, audiometry, initial treatment recommendation, treatment received, and follow up were recorded and statistical analysis performed to determine differences.

Results:

Average age at diagnosis (51.7 ± 13.6 TAMC vs 52.3 ± 12.4 PSNH) and gender (58.4% TAMC vs 52.2% PSNH female) were similar. Patients’ insurance (TAMC 75.9% privately insured vs PSNH 82% Medicaid) and racial/ethnic profiles (TAMC 67.7% White and 10.0% Hispanic/Latinx, vs PSNH 4.8% White but 59.7% Hispanic/Latinx) were significantly different. Tumor size was larger at PSNH (20.2 ± 13.3 mm) than TAMC (16.6 ± 10.0 mm). Hearing was more impaired at PSNH than TAMC (mean pure tone average 58.3 dB vs 43.9 dB, word recognition scores 52.3% vs 68.2%, respectively). Initial treatment recommendations and treatment received may include more than 1 modality. TAMC patients were offered 66.7% surgery, 31.2% observation, and 5.2% radiation, while PSNH patients offered 50.7% observation, 49.3% surgery, and 8.7% radiation. TAMC patients received 62.9% surgery, 32.5% observation, and 5.3% radiation, while PSNH patients received 36.2% surgery, 59.4% observation, and 14.5% radiation. Follow up and treatment at the same facility was not significantly different between hospitals.

Conclusions:

Hearing was worse and tumor size larger in patients presenting to PSNH. Despite worse hearing status and larger tumor size, the majority of PSNH patients were initially offered observation, compared to TAMC where most patients were initially offered surgery.
Global Sustainability Frontrunners: Lessons from the Nordics
Authors: Strand Robert
Published: March 2024

This article explores Nordic countries’ and companies’ sustainability practices. It explores how nations like Denmark, Finland, and Sweden and companies such as Novo Nordisk and Ørsted achieve top sustainability rankings through their distinctive approach to stakeholder cooperation. It discusses the historical and cultural context that has shaped the Nordic approach, emphasizing the importance of long-term vision, stakeholder engagement, and cooperative strategies. It provides insights into how these practices contribute to achieving sustainable development goals and offers valuable lessons for global businesses seeking to integrate sustainable practices into their operations.
Serum Uric Acid Levels among Chinese Children: Reference Values and Association With Overweight/Obesity
Authors: Ye Wenjing , Zhou Xinhe , Xu Yanping , Zheng Chao , Liu Peining
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to investigate the reference values for serum uric acid (SUA) levels and their association with overweight/obese in children. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 8522 participants, including 6227 normal weight children, aged 2 to 18 years in China. Among normal children, SUA levels increased with age, showing significant sex differences in children over 10 years. Age-specific and sex-specific 95% reference intervals for SUA levels were established. Furthermore, we observed that the percentage of overweight/obesity significantly increased as SUA quartiles rose. Elevated SUA levels were associated with a high odds ratio (OR) for overweight/obesity (OR = 4.45, 95% confidence interval = 3.33, 5.93). We propose that the 97.5th percentile is a suitable value for defining elevated SUA levels, and there is a positive correlation between SUA levels and the presence of overweight or obesity.
Gendered trait prioritization and motivations for crop varietal choice among smallholder farmers: The case of sweetpotato in Uganda
Authors: Juma Okello Julius , Namirimu Josephine , Kizito Andrew Muganga , Ssekiboobo Agnes Mary Nanziri
Published: March 2024

To improve productivity, several improved high-yielding sweetpotato varieties have been developed and released by breeders. However, most farmers still grow low-yielding landraces known also as farmers’ varieties. Farmers choose varieties to grow based on their preference for the attributes (traits) embodied in those varieties. Past studies have examined drivers of trait preference using neoclassical economic theory. This study departs from previous ones by applying principles from economic psychology to assess preference for, and prioritization, of sweetpotato traits among male and female sweetpotato farmers. Data used was data collected using focus group discussions and laddering, an in-depth personal interview process, and analysed using descriptive and means-end chain analyses. The study identifies mental constructs associated with farmers’ trait preference and prioritization, namely: the characteristics farmers mentally associate with the prioritized traits, the benefits those traits confer, and the life goals (i.e. values) they enable farmers to attain. Focus group discussions revealed that, among agronomic traits, high root yield is the most preferred/prioritized trait across gender categories and was followed by stress tolerance and underground root storage longevity. The most preferred quality traits across gender groups are root size and mealiness. Women, however, prioritized early maturity over men. The means-end-chain analysis identified several mental constructs farmers mentally associated with trait prioritization. They are increased sales, more income, food security, savings, and investment. These benefits are linked to various life goals (values) farmers aspire for namely, respect, security, achievement, and happiness. These findings imply that farmers’ choice of sweetpotato varieties to grow is driven by the agronomic and quality traits the varieties embody. The findings further imply that psychosocial factors underpin trait preference and prioritization by farmers.
Examining Behavioral Variations in Disadvantaged Adolescents: A Cross-Racial Study of African, Latinx, and Asian American Adolescents
Authors: Kim Caleb , Hong Rana
Published: March 2024

This study explored racial differences in internalizing and externalizing problems among minority adolescents in impoverished urban communities. The study centered on a sample of 211 participants who were engaged in the 2018 Building Resilience Against Violence Engagement (BRAVE) programs. Their internalizing and externalizing problems were assessed using Youth Self-Report (YSR). The results of a one-way between-subjects Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) uncovered substantial racial disparities, with African American adolescents reporting a higher prevalence of externalizing problems compared to Asian adolescents. Additionally, Latinx adolescents exhibited the highest prevalence of delinquency rate at the p < .05 level. These findings underscore the strong connection between racial groups and youth problems, emphasizing the importance of considering racial factors in the context of service provision for minority adolescents.
Research on training evaluation of new engineering talents in China local colleges under the background of regional economy
Authors: Shi Yaoguang , Liu Bin
Published: March 2024

Under the regional economic background, local colleges have a crucial role in evaluating and researching the training of new engineering talents. With the continuous development of technology and the improvement of economic strength, training new engineering talents has become an important mission for local higher education institutions. This study aims to explore the evaluation methods and strategies for training new engineering talents in local colleges within the regional economic context. It proposes an evaluation system that selects and assesses indicators from five aspects: basic conditions, teaching process, practical proficiency, cultivation level of innovation ability, and cultivation effect. The results were obtained through a combination of the analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model and take two majors of A college as an example to evaluate and analyze the training effect of new engineering talents. Furthermore, this article presents valuable recommendations and countermeasures to enhance the training of new engineering talents in local colleges.
The penetration of robotic technology, task content routinisation and job satisfaction: Evidence from China
Authors: Du Yuhong , Shahiri Hazrul , Wei Xiahai
Published: March 2024

Faced with a surge in labour costs, companies are strongly incentivised by local governments’ aggressive promotion to embrace robotic technology, triggering intense media debates. This, in turn, inevitably shapes workers’ attitudes towards their current jobs and brings uncertainty about their future workplace. This study investigates the connection between robotisation, routinisation and job satisfaction in China’s labour market. The results show that there is an observed positive relationship between an individual’s job satisfaction and exposure to robots in the local labour market, which may be related to the overwhelming benefits of these new technologies about certain work dimensions. However, fear of automation is not groundless. Our findings show that job satisfaction decreased with an increase in the routinisation of task content, particularly in areas that are increasingly exposed to robot adoption. This supports the routine-biased technological change hypothesis, which connects technology-induced unemployment with job routinisation.

JEL Classification: J28, O33
Contact with and Perceptions of Campus Police Among College Students at a Small-Town University
Authors: Finkeldey Jessica G. , Dennison Christopher R. , Reyes Nicholas Tucker , DiRusso Abigayle , Brown Mercedes
Published: March 2024

Although research has documented an association between sociodemographic and behavioral factors and contact with local police, it remains unclear whether such relationships exist among college students who experience contact with university police. It is also unknown how such factors relate to students’ perceptions of campus police. Given the contentious nature of law enforcement in the U.S. and the racialized climate in higher education, it is imperative to understand how college students’ interactions with and perceptions of campus police fall in relation to the broader narrative of policing. Analyzing data from a current sample of approximately 400 undergraduate students enrolled at a small, public university in the Northeast United States, this study examines the sociodemographic and behavioral correlates of students’ contact with and perceptions of university police. Results suggest there are minimal differences between students with and without a history of police-initiated contact in terms of sociodemographic background. Nevertheless, despite this distribution of contact with campus police, self-identified sexual minorities, racial and ethnic minorities, as well as politically liberal students were among those to possess more negative views of campus police. We discuss these findings as a potential by-product of the broader rhetoric surrounding police-community relationships and racism in higher education.
Relatives’ Unmet Needs in the Last Year of Life of Patients With Advanced Cancer: Results of a Dutch Prospective, Longitudinal Study (eQuiPe)
Authors: Ham Laurien , Fransen Heidi P. , de Graeff Alexander , Hendriks Mathijs P. , de Jong Wouter K. , Kloover Jeroen , Kuip Evelien , Mandigers Caroline , Sommeijer Dirkje , van de Poll Lonneke , Raijmakers Natasja , van Zuylen Lia
Published: March 2024

Objective(s): Unmet needs of relatives of patients with advanced cancer not only reduce their own health-related quality of life, but may also negatively affect patients’ health outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess changes in relatives’ unmet needs of patients with advanced cancer in the last year of life and to identify differences in unmet needs by gender and type of relationship. Methods: Relatives of patients with advanced cancer in the Netherlands were included in a prospective, longitudinal, observational study. Relatives’ unmet needs were measured every 3 months with an adapted version of the Problems and Needs in Palliative Care (PNPC) questionnaire Caregiver form (44 items, 12 domains). Questionnaires completed in the patients’ last year of life were analyzed. Change of unmet needs in the last year, and differences in unmet needs by gender and type of relationship were analyzed. Results: A total of 409 relatives were included with a median of 4 unmet needs in the patient's last year. Unmet needs were most prevalent at all time points during the last year in the domains “caring for the patient” (highest need = 35%) and “psychological issues” (highest need = 40%). The number of unmet needs of relatives did not change significantly during the last year of life ( P=.807). There were no significant differences in the number of unmet needs between male and female partners and between partners and other relatives. Conclusion: The most unmet needs for relatives were in the domains “caring for the patient” and “psychological issues.” Professional support should focus on these items. Within these domains, it seems especially important that relatives get more knowledge and support about what scenarios to expect and how to deal with them.
How do we measure the commodity flows of the Sound Toll records
Authors: Kaukiainen Yrjö
Published: March 2024

Werner Scheltjens has estimated the commodity flows through the Sound by converting the original measures of the Sound Toll records into metric tons. The note discusses the merits and problems of this approach. It points out that weight units are not the best parameters from the viewpoint of shipping since the weight of the goods is poorly related to the actual requirement of shipping space.
Leading Resilient, Purpose-Oriented Networks Through Change
Authors: Cooper Katherine R. , Wang Rong , Harris Jack L. , Miles Joshua Paul , Shumate Michelle
Published: March 2024

Background: Conveners are crucial in coordinating interorganizational partnerships, particularly purpose-oriented networks. However, their roles may shift from initially recruiting organizational partners to overseeing and sustaining a network through periods of change. Extensive research has focused extensively on these early stages of the interorganizational venture, but less scholarship has focused on how conveners respond to critical changes over time and the implications of convener actions in sustaining resilient networks.

Purpose: This research explores the convener’s role in purpose-oriented network formation and change management and offers implications for creating resilient purpose-oriented networks.

Research Design: The study conducts qualitative analysis of interviews conducted with cross-sector, purpose-oriented networks at two points in time to explore how conveners organize networks and respond to change.

Study Sample: This study draws on two waves of interview data collected from the conveners of 26 cross-sector collaborative networks focused on education reform in the United States.

Data Collection and/or Analysis: Interviews with conveners of 26 networks were analyzed through attribute and provisional coding to study the network’s composition and activity, perceptions of the problem and reasons for network. A second round of interviews was later collected and analyzed to explore what changes emerged after a network’s initial convening and how conveners responded to those changes through provisional and magnitude coding.

Results: Findings reveal different magnitudes of change experienced by the networks (e.g., incremental, radical, and in-between) that influenced convener responses to those changes. Additionally, networks were found to have two founding orientations: problem- and solution-oriented. Networks founded with a problem orientation were more resilient than those founded with a solution orientation, partly because of the repertoire of activities in which their conveners engaged.

Conclusions: Conveners play a critical role both in founding purpose-oriented networks and in leading them through change. This study suggests the concept of founding orientations to explore the different frames purpose-oriented networks may adopt and offer insights as to how those orientations influence network reactions to change. Findings pertaining to founding orientation, network change, and convener response offer theoretical and practical implications for building resilient networks.
Designing and simulation of a grid-connected solar plant in Mathura city region employing PVsyst
Authors: Kesharvani Sujeet , Nanda Ipseeta , Qasem Altayeb , Sarathe Sakshi , Verma Vinita , Dwivedi Gaurav
Published: March 2024

Existing electricity generation methods are ecologically unsustainable due to the industrial revolution's massive population growth and digitalization. The photovoltaic (PV) simulation tool is crucial for forecasting the solar system's energy output. The objective of this research is to simulate the feasibility of establishing a PV system isolated with batteries in Mathura, India, where the research is taking place to measure solar radiation and examine the technical and economic components of the PV system for generating domestic electrical energy requirements. The program has been implemented by PVsyst software. The amount of electricity that is added to the grid is 100.95 MWh. In the intended location, the Si-poly (polycrystalline silicon) PV system's typical performance ratio is 72.35%. From March to October, the most electrical energy was generated. The temperature of the solar field, which was 7.69%, was the primary cause of the losses observed in the research.
Optimization of laser-texturing process parameters of Ti6Al4V alloys using metaheuristic algorithms
Authors: Ürgün Satılmış , Yiğit Halil , Fidan Sinan , Sınmazçelik Tamer , Canel Timur
Published: March 2024

Manufacturing microscale textures can reduce friction and wear compared with smooth surfaces. In laser surface texturing, the resulting texture geometry is directly affected by laser parameters such as laser power, scanning speed and overlap rate. Therefore, finding the optimal parameter settings to improve the process performance is crucial. One of the biggest challenges encountered during the optimization stage is accurately determining the functional relationship between surface quality and process parameters. Another significant problem is solving the nonlinear equation system. This study aims to investigate the effect of laser-textured surfaces on the tribological behavior of titanium Ti6Al4V. Optimization of laser texture process parameters using metaheuristic algorithms is a hot topic. The first contribution of this study is the modeling of the contact angle, kurtosis and skewness quality parameters of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy based on the polynomial curve fitting method as a function of laser power, laser speed and overlap rate. Another significant contribution is to optimize the proposed nonlinear regression models using metaheuristic approaches such as genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, whale optimization algorithm, gray wolf optimization, equilibrium optimizer, teaching-learning-based optimization, student psychology-based optimization (SPBO), slime mould algorithm and social network search. The reason for using many metaheuristics is to test the effectiveness of different metaheuristic methods in solving this problem. Analysis of variance was performed to evaluate experimental data and compare the success of optimization methods. The results revealed that the proposed metaheuristic methods can be applied to the related problem. It has been observed that the methods give identical results. Among these methods, the SPBO method provided the best performance in the optimization of all laser output parameters.
Global research trends in research data management: A bibliometrics approach
Authors: Lee Jae Yun , Syn Sue Yeon , Kim Soojung
Published: March 2024

With an increasing interest in RDM services in libraries and information organizations, research on RDM has evolved dramatically in recent years. This study aims to investigate how RDM research evolves globally and to provide an understanding of how RDM research differs by countries. Through bibliometrics approaches, this study analyzes a large set of RDM research publications to provide a comprehensive landscape of the RDM research field. The findings from the examination of 403 articles extracted from the Web of Science database successfully demonstrate the global trends of RDM research, showing how RDM research has spread from North American and European countries to Asian and African countries. The analysis of RDM research topics from the three top publishing countries—Germany, USA and the UK—reveals that different countries focus on different topics and that research topics change along with other factors, such as the adoption of a standard. The bibliometrics analysis on the topic trends show that there were five major research topics which are identified as the fundamentals and practices of library services, and the research data sharing topics. There was a clear distinction of the interests in RDM research until 2018 and after 2019. The findings show that the distinction was impacted by the new appearance of the FAIR Guiding Principles in 2016. The findings of the study successfully identify major trends in RDM research topics and different trends by countries based on their interests and circumstances. From these findings, researchers and library professionals in RDM services can gain a good understanding of current interests in RDM services and identify needs from these research trends to improve their services.
Unravelling the Impact of Executive Confidence on Firm Profitability
Authors: Saini Diksha , Singh Balwinder
Published: March 2024

The focus of this research is on the Upper Echelon Theory, asserting that CEO&’s cognitive attributes exert a major effect on organizational outcomes. The present study adds to the behavioural finance and strategic management literature by investigating the association between Chief Executive Officer&’s (CEO) confidence and firm profitability in the Indian context. A sample of S&P BSE 100 Indian firms for five financial years has been used to examine the aforementioned relationship, using panel regression analysis. The findings reveal that CEO overconfidence favourably impacts the company&’s profitability as overconfident CEOs enjoy the early mover advantage in the market through quick and innovative decisions and gain competitive strength by overinvesting in good but risky projects. These findings contribute novel insights to the existing literature by exploring the most prevalent managerial behavioural bias and its impact on corporate profitability in the Indian context. The analysis may assist the policymakers responsible for framing recruitment and compensation policies and developing an optimum monitoring system to capitalize on the cognitive traits of top executives in India.
Delay in Referral to Specialty Care in Patients with Spondyloarthropathy and Psoriatic Arthritis in India: IRA Database Report
Authors: Chandrashekara S  , Shenoy Padmanabha , Kumar Uma , Pandya Sapan , Ghosh Alakendu , Khare Apurva , Dudam Rajkiran , Danda Debashish , Goswami Rudra Prosad
Published: March 2024

Aim:

The present study is intended to evaluate the factors influencing the diagnostic and rheumatology care referral delay in patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in India.

Materials and methods:

The independent prospective, multicentre, observational study collected data from 8 centres across India through the database created by the Indian Rheumatology Association (IRA). Modified Prasad scale was used for socio-economic classification based on the patient’s income. The data of PsA and SpA were analysed separately, and the causes were compared using t-test for continuous variables and chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables.

Results:

The mean referral delay noted for PsA and SpA subjects were 16.3±34.35 and 17.48±33.59 (IQR 24 and 34) months, respectively. Majority of the PsA patients and about 65% of SpA subjects reported a lack of awareness of the rheumatology specialty as the major reason for the delay. Another major reason was management by other specialists instead of rheumatologists (65% and 74% respectively). Approximately 8% of patients in both disease groups had no faith in modern care due to perceived elevated risk of adverse effects. SpA patients with improved socio-economic status had a higher proportion of subjects seeking specialty care. A direct association was noted between professional skill and early access to specialty care for both PsA and SpA patients.

Conclusion:

The lack of awareness of rheumatology as a specialty and patients being managed by other specialties are the two major reasons for delayed referral of SpA and PsA. Additionally, a patient’s economic and skill level can influence their ability to access specialty care.
The Vertical Birthing Positions and Their Perinatal Outcomes in Hilly Tribal Home Birth Settings: A Qualitative Observational Study
Authors: V Srividhya Samakya , Pati Sanghamitra , Acharya Subhendu Kumar
Published: March 2024

This study aims to document the cultural significance of vertical birthing positions and knowledge of easing complicated deliveries among the Porja hilly tribal group, Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. With the purposive sampling method, 31 postpartum mothers were selected on the inclusion criteria of having been given childbirth in the last six months. The socio-demographic profile of the respondents was presented to understand the socio-cultural living conditions. The qualitative data collection involved 31 face-to-face in-depth interviews with postpartum women and two focus group discussions involving six to eight traditional birth attendants (TBAs) on the cultural efficacy of upright positions. Handwritten transcripts of the interviews and conversations were transcribed and coded into themes and categories. Qualitative themes reveal that the pregnant women with anaemia and morbidity conditions had been exposed to maternal distress and foetal distress (breathing problems and loss of consciousness) but had managed by adopting immediate alternative vertical birthing positions with the suggestion of TBAs. The findings suggest that vertical birth positions are age-old childbirth customs which have been adopted as as a priority option by labouring women, especially in socio-economically disadvantaged societies where medical facilities are unavailable.