bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sensemaking in the construction industry: what is small-business social responsibility?
Authors: Liyanagamage Nilupulee , Fernando Mario
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Socially responsible firms are known to improve competitive advantage and create workplaces that protect employees and the society in the long-term. Yet, the transitionary and project-based nature of the construction industry makes it difficult to espouse socially responsible practices. This study aims to adopt a person-centric conceptualisation of social responsibility by drawing on processes of individual sensemaking to gain a deeper understanding of small-business social responsibility (SBSR).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 people from the construction industry in Sri Lanka to develop retrospective narratives.

Findings

The findings suggest that individuals in small-business construction firms rely on intraindividual, organisational and wider societal considerations to make sense of SBSR. What drives these interviewees to be responsible is determined not so much by profitability or reputation but by their own SBSR sensemaking process.

Originality/value

This study examines how individuals make sense of social responsibility in transitionary project-based small businesses in the construction industry.
Can we unlock deep-tech in Indian startups for long-term success?
Authors: Sreenivasan Aswathy , Suresh M.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Innovation in technology is nothing new. However, a strong surge of inventions centered on digital apps and platforms has emerged over the past decade and has come to be associated with the tech sectors. The purpose of this research is to know whether deep-tech can be unlocked in startups for their long-term success.

Design/methodology/approach

Papers and websites that included the term deep-tech startups were considered for this study.

Findings

The authors have seen no explanation why India cannot develop several global deep-tech firms in the coming five years, similar to what China did in the previous 10 years, if Indian deep-tech entrepreneurs receive solid support from domestic industry giants, supportive regulatory changes and prompt access to finance. The authors think that the epidemic has made conditions for this to pick up speed that is highly favorable.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to a few numbers of papers and websites.

Practical implications

Due to the unanticipated disruption, the pandemic caused, clever robotics and hands-free technology were urgently needed. The development of smart, self-monitoring, simple, tailored and potential on-the-go improvement solutions are the talk of the day. Deep-tech solutions have the ability to provide limitless benefits in a variety of fields to the world's 1.3 billion inhabitants.

Social implications

This research will help startups to know more about deep-tech and implement them to be the first-mover advantage in this competitive and turbulent environment.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research is based on its presentation of an organized and thorough evaluation, which defines the current state of the art with regard to deep-tech startups. Not many studies have been performed in the area of deep-tech startups. In order to create a sustainable startup, a thorough study on how deep-tech can be unlocked in startups and its opportunities, challenges and funding is presented.
Evolution law of mining-induced overburden stratum stress and fracture fields in inclined coal seam
Authors: Fan Haodong , Luo Feng , Gao Shuai , Li Meng , Lv Zhen , Sun Geng
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to clarify the evolution law of stress field and fracture field during the mining process of inclined coal seam, to prevent the occurrence of roof burst water and impact ground pressure accident during the advancing process of working face.

Design/methodology/approach

The evolution law of stress-fracture field under different mining conditions of inclined coal seam was studied by using discrete element method and similar material simulation method.

Findings

The overburden stress at the lower end of the coal seam was mainly transmitted to the deep rock mass on the left side, and the overburden stress at the upper end was mainly transmitted to the floor direction. With the increase of the inclined length of the mining coal seam, the development of the fracture zone gradually evolves from the “irregular arch” form to the “transversely developed trapezoid” form. The development range of the fracture zone was always in the internal area of the stress concentration shell.

Originality/value

An original element of this paper is based on the condition that the dip angle of coal seam is 35°, and the evolution law of overburden stress-fracture field during the excavation of coal seam with different lengths was analyzed by UDEC numerical simulation software. The coupling relationship between stress shell and fracture field was proposed, and the development range of fracture zone was determined by stress. The value of this paper is to provide technical support and practical basis for the safety production of a mine working face.
Age matters: Older Alnus viridis ssp. fruticosa are more sensitive to summer temperatures in the Alaskan Arctic
Authors: Drew Jackson W. , Bret‐Harte Marion S. , Buchwal Agata , Heslop Calvin
Published: February 2023

The Arctic is rapidly warming, and tundra vegetation community composition is changing from small, prostrate shrubs to taller, erect shrubs in some locations. Across much of the Arctic, the sensitivity of shrub secondary growth, as measured by growth ring width, to climate has changed with increased warming, but it is not fully understood how shrub age contributes to shifts in climate sensitivity.

We studied Siberian alder, Alnus viridis ssp. fruticosa, a large nitrogen‐fixing shrub that has responded to climate warming with northward range expansion over the last 50 years. We used serial sectioning of 26 individual shrubs and 94 cross‐sections to generate a 98‐year growth ring chronology, including one 142‐year‐old, Siberian alder in Northern Alaska. We tested how secondary growth sensitivity to climate has changed over the past century (1920–2017) and how shrub age affects climate sensitivity of alder growth through time.

We found that over time, alder growth as expressed by the stand chronology became more sensitive to July mean monthly air temperature. Older shrubs displayed higher sensitivity to June and July temperature than younger alders. However, during the first 30 years of growth of any shrub, temperature sensitivity did not differ among individuals. In addition, the June temperature sensitivity of growth series from individual cross‐sections depended on the age of the attached shrub.

Our results suggest that age contributes to climate sensitivity, likely through modifying internal shrub carbon budgets by changing size and reducing alder's dependence on N‐fixation over time. Older, more sensitive alder may enhance C and N‐cycling while having greater recruitment potential. Linking alder age to climate sensitivity, recruitment and total N‐inputs will enable us to better predict ecosystem carbon and nitrogen cycling in a warmer Arctic.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Uncertainty in probabilistic genotyping of low template DNA: A case study comparing STRMix™ and TrueAllele™
Authors: Thompson William C.
Published: February 2023

Two probabilistic genotyping (PG) programs, STRMix™ and TrueAllele™, were used to assess the strength of the same item of DNA evidence in a federal criminal case, with strikingly different results. For STRMix, the reported likelihood ratio in favor of the non‐contributor hypothesis was 24; for TrueAllele it ranged from 1.2 million to 16.7 million, depending on the reference population. This case report seeks to explain why the two programs produced different results and to consider what the difference tells us about the reliability and trustworthiness of these programs. It uses a locus‐by‐locus breakdown to trace the differing results to subtle differences in modeling parameters and methods, analytic thresholds, and mixture ratios, as well as TrueAllele's use of an ad hoc procedure for assigning LRs at some loci. These findings illustrate the extent to which PG analysis rests on a lattice of contestable assumptions, highlighting the importance of rigorous validation of PG programs using known‐source test samples that closely replicate the characteristics of evidentiary samples. The article also points out misleading aspects of the way STRMix and TrueAllele results are routinely presented in reports and testimony and calls for clarification of forensic reporting standards to address those problems.
Death rates following emergency department chest pain assessment
Authors: Loten Conrad , Nutt Hannah , Bull Neva
Published: February 2023

Objectives

We sought to define the rate of unexpected death from acute coronary syndrome or arrhythmia in chest pain patients directly discharged from the ED.

Methods

Retrospective audit of all chest pain patients at a tertiary ED for 7 years. Medical and post‐mortem records of the deceased were reviewed with independent cardiologist adjudication to determine outcomes. Primary outcome measure was 28‐day unexpected death secondary to acute coronary syndrome or arrhythmia.

Results

During the study period, 25 924 patients presented with chest pain, 292 (1.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99–1.01%) died within 28 days. Of these, 16 680(64%, 95% CI 63.88–64.12%) were discharged by ED, two (0.01%, 95% CI 0–0.011%) of this group died from the primary outcome.

Conclusion

Unexpected death is very uncommon after ED discharge of chest pain patients.
Radiation necrosis and therapeutic outcomes in patients treated with linear accelerator‐based hypofractionated stereotactic radiosurgery for intact intracranial metastases
Authors: Zhang Qichen , Hamilton Daniel , Conway Paul , Xie Sophia Jing , Haghighi Neda , Lasocki Arian
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Balancing disease control and treatment‐related toxicities can be challenging when treating higher‐risk brain metastases (BMs) that are larger in size or eloquent anatomical locations. Hypofractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (hfSRS) is expected to offer superior or equal efficacy with lower toxicity profile compared with single‐fraction SRS (sfSRS). We report the efficacy and toxicity profiles of hfSRS in a consecutive cohort of patients to support this predicted benefit from hfSRS for high‐risk BMs.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed 185 consecutive individual lesions from 152 patients with intact BMs treated with hfSRS between 1 July 2016 and 31 October 2019 and followed up to 30 April 2022 with serial brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The primary endpoint was the event of radiation necrosis (RN). Local control (LC) rate and distant brain failure (DBF) were reported as secondary outcomes. Kaplan–Meier method was used to report the cumulative incidence of RN and overall survival and the incidence of DBF. Potential risk factors for RN were assessed using univariable Cox regression analysis.

Results

The median follow‐up was 38.0 months, and the median survival post‐SRS was 9.5 months. The cumulative incidence rate of RN was 13.2% (95% CI: 7.0–24.7%), and 18.1% of patients with confirmed RN were symptomatic. Higher mean dose delivered to planning target volume (PTV) (HR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.05–1.42, P = 0.01), higher mean BED10 (biological equivalent dose assuming a tissue ratio of 10) (HR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04–1.2, P < 0.001), and higher mean BED2 (HR 1.02, 95% CI: 1–1.04, P = 0.04) delivered to the lesion was associated with increased risk of RN. LC rate was 86% and the cumulative incidence of DBF was 36% with a median onset of 28.4 months.

Conclusions

Our results support the predicted radiobiological benefit of the use of hfSRS in high‐risk BMs to limit treatment‐related toxicity with low risk for symptomatic RN comparable with lower risk population receiving sfSRS while achieving satisfactory local disease control.
Estimating resistance surfaces using gradient forest and allelic frequencies
Authors: Vanhove Mathieu , Launey Sophie
Published: February 2023

Understanding landscape connectivity has become a global priority for mitigating the impact of landscape fragmentation on biodiversity. Connectivity methods that use link‐based methods traditionally rely on relating pairwise genetic distance between individuals or demes to their landscape distance (e.g., geographic distance, cost distance). In this study, we present an alternative to conventional statistical approaches to refine cost surfaces by adapting the gradient forest approach to produce a resistance surface. Used in community ecology, gradient forest is an extension of random forest, and has been implemented in genomic studies to model species genetic offset under future climatic scenarios. By design, this adapted method, resGF, has the ability to handle multiple environmental predicators and is not subjected to traditional assumptions of linear models such as independence, normality and linearity. Using genetic simulations, resistance Gradient Forest (resGF) performance was compared to other published methods (maximum likelihood population effects model, random forest‐based least‐cost transect analysis and species distribution model). In univariate scenarios, resGF was able to distinguish the true surface contributing to genetic diversity among competing surfaces better than the compared methods. In multivariate scenarios, the gradient forest approach performed similarly to the other random forest‐based approach using least‐cost transect analysis but outperformed MLPE‐based methods. Additionally, two worked examples are provided using two previously published data sets. This machine learning algorithm has the potential to improve our understanding of landscape connectivity and inform long‐term biodiversity conservation strategies.
Use of prokinetic agents in hospitalised adult patients: A scoping review
Authors: Crone Vera , Møller Morten Hylander , Bækgaard Emilie Stokholm , Perner Anders , Bytzer Peter , Alhazzani Waleed , Krag Mette
Published: February 2023

Background

Gastrointestinal motility is important for adequate uptake of fluids and nutrition but is often impaired in hospitalised patients. Prokinetic agents enhance gastrointestinal motility and are prescribed for many hospitalised patients. In this scoping review, we aimed to systematically describe the body of evidence on the use of prokinetic agents in hospitalised patients. We hypothesised, that the body of evidence would be limited and derive from heterogeneous populations.

Methods

We conducted this scoping review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews statement. We searched Medline, Embase, Epistemonikos and the Cochrane Library for studies assessing the use of prokinetic agents on any indication and outcome in adult hospitalised patients. We used a modified version of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) to assess the certainty of evidence.

Results

We included 102 studies with a total of 8830 patients. Eighty‐six studies were clinical trials (84%), and 52 (60%) of these were conducted in the intensive care unit, with feeding intolerance as the main indication. In the non‐intensive care setting the indications were wider; most studies assessed use of prokinetic agents before gastroscopy to improve visualisation. The most studied prokinetic agent was metoclopramide (49% of studies) followed by erythromycin (31%). In total 147 outcomes were assessed with only 67% of the included studies assessing patient‐centred outcomes, and with gastric emptying as the most frequently reported outcome. Overall, the data provided no firm evidence on the balance between the desirable and undesirable effects of prokinetic agents.

Conclusions

In this scoping review, we found that the studies addressing prokinetic agents in hospitalised adults had considerable variations in indications, drugs and outcomes assessed, and that the certainty of evidence was judged to be low to very low.
Validating administratively derived frailty scores for use in Veterans Health Administration emergency departments
Authors: Dev Sharmistha , Gonzalez Andrew A. , Coffing Jessica , Slaven James E. , Dev Shantanu , Taylor Stan , Ballard Carrie , Hastings S. Nicole , Bravata Dawn M.
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Frailty is a clinical syndrome characterized by decreased physiologic reserve that diminishes the ability to respond to stressors such as acute illness. Veterans Health Administration (VA) emergency departments (ED) are the primary venue of care for Veterans with acute illness and represent key sites for frailty recognition. As questionnaire‐based frailty instruments can be cumbersome to implement in the ED, we examined two administratively derived frailty scores for use among VA ED patients.

Methods

This national retrospective cohort study included all VA ED visits (2017–2020). We evaluated two administratively derived scores: the Care Assessment Needs (CAN) score and the VA Frailty Index (VA‐FI). We categorized all ED visits across four frailty groups and examined associations with outcomes of 30‐day and 90‐day hospitalization and 30‐day, 90‐day, and 1‐year mortality. We used logistic regression to assess the model performance of the CAN score and the VA‐FI.

Results

The cohort included 9,213,571 ED visits. With the CAN score, 28.7% of the cohort were classified as severely frail; by VA‐FI, 13.2% were severely frail. All outcome rates increased with progressive frailty (p‐values for all comparisons < 0.001). For example, for 1‐year mortality based on the CAN score frailty was determined as: robust, 1.4%; prefrail, 3.4%; moderately frail, 7.0%; and severely frail, 20.2%. Similarly, for 90‐day hospitalization based on VA‐FI, frailty was determined as prefrail, 8.3%; mildly frail, 15.3%; moderately frail, 29.5%; and severely frail, 55.4%. The c‐statistics for CAN score models were higher than for VA‐FI models across all outcomes (e.g., 1‐year mortality, 0.721 vs. 0.659).

Conclusions

Frailty was common among VA ED patients. Increased frailty, whether measured by CAN score or VA‐FI, was strongly associated with hospitalization and mortality and both can be used in the ED to identify Veterans at high risk for adverse outcomes. Having an effective automatic score in VA EDs to identify frail Veterans may allow for better targeting of scarce resources.
Efficacy and safety assessment of traditional Chinese medicine for erectile dysfunction: A meta‐analysis and trial sequential analysis
Authors: Wu Haoran , Gao Zezheng , Dai Dan , Liu Xing , Fang Yini , Chen Xuemei , Wang Qi
Published: February 2023

Background

Several patients with erectile dysfunction do not accept or benefit from conventional therapy with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors; thus, alternative and complementary therapies are in need. Traditional Chinese medicine has been treating erectile dysfunction in China, but its clinical value is inconclusive.

Objective

To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine in treating erectile dysfunction.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials were retrieved from a comprehensive search in the literature published in the past decade from the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Internet, WanFang, and VIP. We performed a meta‐analysis of the International Index of Erectile Function 5 questionnaire scores, clinical recovery rates, and testosterone levels using Review Manager 5.4 software. The trial sequential analysis was conducted to check the results.

Results

A total of 45 trials with 5016 patients were included. Meta‐analysis results showed that traditional Chinese medicine effectively improved the International Index of Erectile Function 5 questionnaire scores (weighted mean difference = 3.78, 95% confidence interval: 3.12, 4.44; p < 0.001), clinical recovery rates (risk ratio = 1.57, 95% confidence interval: 1.38, 1.79; p < 0.001), testosterone levels (weighted mean difference = 2.42, 95% confidence interval: 1.59, 3.25; p < 0.001) compared with the controls. The single and add‐on applications of traditional Chinese medicine could improve the International Index of Erectile Function 5 questionnaire score (p < 0.001). The trial sequential analysis confirmed the robustness of the analysis of the International Index of Erectile Function 5 questionnaire scores. A significant difference in the incidence of adverse effects between the treatment and control groups was not observed (risk ratio = 0.82, 95% confidence interval: 0.65, 1.05; p = 0.12).

Conclusion

Traditional Chinese medicine can gain better responses in improving the International Index of Erectile Function 5 questionnaire scores, clinical recovery rates, and testosterone levels as an alternative and complementary treatment, with no increase in side effects. However, more standardized, long‐term, traditional Chinese medicine and integrative therapy clinical trials are needed to support the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine.
Essential data dimensions for prospective international data collection in older age bipolar disorder (OABD): Recommendations from the GAGE‐BD group
Authors: Lavin Paola , Rej Soham , Olagunju Andrew T. , Teixeira Antonio L. , Dols Annemieke , Alda Martin , Almeida Osvaldo P. , Altinbas Kursat , Balanzá‐Martínez Vicent , Barbosa Izabela G. , Blumberg Hilary P. , Briggs Farren , Calkin Cynthia , Cassidy Kristin , Forester Brent P. , Forlenza Orestes V. , Hajek Tomas , Haarman Barthomeus C. M. , Jimenez Esther , Lafer Beny , Mulsant Benoit , Oluwaniyi Stephen O. , Patrick Regan , Radua Joaquim , Schouws Sigfried , Sekhon Harmehr , Simhandl Christian , Soares Jair C. , Tsai Shang‐Ying , Vieta Eduard , Villa Luca M. , Sajatovic Martha , Eyler Lisa T.
Published: February 2023

Background

By 2030, over 50% of individuals living with bipolar disorder (BD) are expected to be aged ≥50 years. However, older age bipolar disorder (OABD) remains understudied. There are limited large‐scale prospectively collected data organized in key dimensions capable of addressing several fundamental questions about BD affecting this subgroup of patients.

Methods

We developed initial recommendations for the essential dimensions for OABD data collection, based on (1) a systematic review of measures used in OABD studies, (2) a Delphi consensus of international OABD experts, (3) experience with harmonizing OABD data in the Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder Database (GAGE‐BD, n ≥ 4500 participants), and (4) critical feedback from 34 global experts in geriatric mental health.

Results

We identified 15 key dimensions and variables within each that are relevant for the investigation of OABD: (1) demographics, (2) core symptoms of depression and (3) mania, (4) cognition screening and subjective cognitive function, (5) elements for BD diagnosis, (6) descriptors of course of illness, (7) treatment, (8) suicidality, (9) current medication, (10) psychiatric comorbidity, (11) psychotic symptoms, (12) general medical comorbidities, (13) functioning, (14) family history, and (15) other. We also recommend particular instruments for capturing some of the dimensions and variables.

Conclusion

The essential data dimensions we present should be of use to guide future international data collection in OABD and clinical practice. In the longer term, we aim to establish a prospective consortium using this core set of dimensions and associated variables to answer research questions relevant to OABD.
Role of kisspeptin in polycystic ovarian syndrome: A metabolomics study
Authors: Zhao Ting , Xiao Xiao , Li Lingchuan , Tao Xinghua , He Wenli , Zhang Qiong , Wu Xiaomei , Yuan Tao
Published: February 2023

Objective

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a pathophysiological disease affecting reproductive and metabolic indicators. Research has shown that kisspeptin might be involved in the regulation of pituitary hormone secretion and energy metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum kisspeptin levels and abnormal metabolism in PCOS.

Methods

Fifty patients with PCOS and 50 control patients were recruited for this study. Serum kisspeptin levels were measured via ELISA. High‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry metabolomics was used to study the changes in serum metabolism between the PCOS and control groups.

Results

Serum kisspeptin levels were significantly elevated in individuals with PCOS compared with those in healthy controls (p = 0.011) and positively correlated with LH, T, FFA, BA, and LEP levels (p < 0.05). Significantly dysregulated expression of several metabolites was observed in the intergroup comparisons of the high‐kisspeptin PCOS, low‐kisspeptin PCOS, and healthy control groups. These primarily consisted of lipid, amino acid, and carbohydrate metabolites, among which palmitic acid and N‐formylkynurenine levels were lower in the high‐kisspeptin group than in controls. Metabolite set enrichment analysis was also performed based on metabolites in the KEGG database. The results showed that owing to the differences in kisspeptin concentrations in individuals with PCOS, there was a significant difference in amino acid and pyruvate metabolism.

Conclusions

Kisspeptin could be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of PCOS and plays an important role in metabolic regulation in individuals with PCOS. In addition, metabolomics provides a promising method for the study of metabolic abnormalities in individuals with PCOS, which might contribute to our understanding of its mechanisms.
Self‐reported sleep quality and exercise in polycystic ovary syndrome: A secondary analysis of a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Benham Jamie L. , Booth Jane E. , Goldfield Gary , Friedenreich Christine M. , Rabi Doreen M. , Sigal Ronald J.
Published: February 2023

Objective

To examine the proportion of participants with poor sleep quality, evaluate the associations between sleep quality and anthropometric and cardiometabolic health markers, and evaluate the effect of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and continuous aerobic exercise training (CAET) on sleep quality in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design

Secondary analysis of a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Patients

Women with PCOS aged 18–40 years.

Measurements

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was measured at baseline and following a 6‐month exercise intervention. A PSQI score >5 indicates poor sleep. Linear regression was used to evaluate the associations between PSQI score and anthropometric and cardiometabolic health markers, and the effect of exercise training on these associations.

Results

Thirty‐four participants completed the PSQI at baseline, and 29 postintervention: no‐exercise control (n = 9), HIIT (n = 12) and CAET (n = 8). At baseline, 79% had poor sleep quality. Baseline PSQI score was positively correlated with body mass index, waist circumference, body weight, haemoglobin A1c and insulin resistance. Mean PSQI score changes were −0.4 (SD 1.1), −0.7 (SD 0.6) and −0.5 (SD 0.9) for control, HIIT and CAET, respectively. For HIIT participants, change in PSQI score was associated with changes in body weight (B = .27, 95% CI 0.10–0.45) and waist circumference (B = .09, 95% CI 0.02–0.17).

Conclusion

Most participants had poor sleep quality which was associated with poorer anthropometric and cardiometabolic health markers. There were no statistically significant changes in PSQI score with exercise training. With HIIT training, decreases in the sleep efficiency score were associated with reductions in body weight and waist circumference. Further studies are needed to determine the effect of exercise training on sleep quality.
Who do you think you are? Children's definitions of being a ‘child’
Authors: Bacon Kate , O'Riordan Zoe
Published: February 2023

We asked 92 children in North West England, aged 2–17, if they were children and what it meant to be a child. Our findings show that not all children think they are a ‘child’. Although different age groups defined ‘childness’ in different ways, children reproduced normative Western discourses of childhood, including ideas which subordinate them. The children in our study seemed unable to articulate their capabilities and contributions. We argue that children and adults need to co‐produce positive definitions of childness to facilitate adult acceptance of children's participation in society and continue the struggle against adultism.
Synthesis and deposition of bismuth oxychloride with a rose‐type flower shape and photoelectroactivity evaluation in the methyl orange discoloration reaction
Authors: Pelissari Marcelo Rodrigues da Silva , Pereira Camargo Luan , Pontes Fenelon Martinho Lima , Dall'Antonia Luiz Henrique
Published: February 2023

In this work, bismuth oxychloride with a rose‐type flower shape was successfully synthesised using the easy and low‐cost successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction process. The tetragonal crystalline structure with a flower‐like shape and thickness of 150‐nm nanosheets was used as electrode material in an exciting approach for the photoelectrochemical discoloration reaction of methyl orange. The structure, morphology and optical properties of the obtained bismuth oxychloride sample were evaluated through X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, diffuse reflectance ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Through photoelectrochemical characterisation measurements (linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques), the bismuth oxychloride electrode showed remarkable electroactivity under ultraviolet light irradiation. The methyl orange discoloration reaction, performed under ultraviolet light incidence and potential application of −0.5 V (vs silver/silver chloride) for 60 minutes, produced a higher degradation percentage (ca. 82%) and kobs of 29 × 10−3 min−1.
Trends in alcohol‐attributable hospitalisations and emergency department visits by age, sex, drinking group and health condition in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Smith Brendan T. , Schoer Nicole , Sherk Adam , Thielman Justin , McKnight Anthony , Hobin Erin
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Alcohol‐attributable harms are increasing in Canada. We described trends in alcohol‐attributable hospitalisations and emergency department (ED) visits by age, sex, drinking group, attribution and health condition.

Methods

Hospitalisation and ED visits for partially or wholly alcohol‐attributable health conditions by age and sex were obtained from population‐based health administrative data for individuals aged 15+ in Ontario, Canada. Population‐level alcohol exposure was estimated using per capita alcohol sales and alcohol use data. We estimated the number and rate of alcohol‐attributable hospitalisations (2008–2018) and ED visits (2008–2019) using the International Model of Alcohol Harms and Policies (InterMAHP).

Results

Over the study period, the modelled rates of alcohol‐attributable health‐care encounters were higher in males, but increased faster in females. Specifically, rates of alcohol‐attributable hospitalisations and ED visits increased by 300% (19–76 per 100,000) and 37% (774–1,064 per 100,000) in females, compared to 20% (322–386 per 100,000) and 2% (2563–2626 per 100,000) in males, respectively. Alcohol‐attributable ED visit rates were highest among individuals aged 15–34, however, increased faster among individuals aged 65+ (females: 266%; males: 44%) than 15–34 years (females:+17%; males: −16%). High‐volume drinkers had the highest rates of alcohol‐attributable health‐care encounters; yet, low‐/medium‐volume drinkers contributed substantial hospitalisations (11%) and ED visits (36%), with increasing rates of ED visits in females drinking low/medium volumes.

Discussion and Conclusions

Alcohol‐attributable health‐care encounters increased overall, and faster among females, adults aged 65+ and low‐/medium‐volume drinkers. Monitoring trends across subpopulations is imperative to inform equitable interventions to mitigate alcohol‐attributable harms.
A meta‐analysis of mental rotation in the first years of life
Authors: Enge Alexander , Kapoor Shreya , Kieslinger Anne‐Sophie , Skeide Michael A.
Published: February 2023

Mental rotation, the cognitive process of moving an object in mind to predict how it looks in a new orientation, is coupled to intelligence, learning, and educational achievement. On average, adolescent and adult males solve mental rotation tasks slightly better (i.e., faster and/or more accurate) than females. When such behavioral differences emerge during development, however, remains poorly understood. Here we analyzed effect sizes derived from 62 experiments conducted in 1705 infants aged 3–16 months. We found that male infants recognized rotated objects slightly more reliably than female infants. This difference survives correction for small degrees of publication bias. These findings indicate that gender differences in mental rotation are small and not robustly detectable in the first months of postnatal life.

Research Highlights

We analyzed effect sizes of 62 mental rotation experiments including 1705 infants.

Looking time reveals that 3–16‐months‐old infants are able to perform mental rotation.

Mental rotation is slightly more reliable in male infants compared to female infants.

Gender difference in mental rotation is robust to small degrees of publication bias.
A novel approach to produce axial echocardiographic images by three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography: A step‐by‐step guide
Authors: Abazid Rami M , Frost Andrew , Mathew Andrew , Tzemos Nikolaos
Published: February 2023

Three‐Dimensional (3‐D) echocardiography is becoming increasingly used to diagnose and describe the spatial location of valvular pathologies and atrial septal defects during transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The role of 3D‐TEE is not well established in diagnosing other congenital heart diseases like partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (PAPVD) and coronary anomalous. We propose a step by step approach to producing computed tomography‐simulated axial images from 3‐D TEE to simplify TEE interpretation and diagnosis of cardiac abnormalities.
National qualifications in Scotland: A lightning rod for public concern about equity during the pandemic
Authors: Hayward Louise , Baird Jo‐Anne , Allan Simon , Godfrey‐Faussett Thomas , Hutchinson Carolyn , MacIntosh Ellen , Randhawa Ashmita , Spencer Ernest , Wiseman‐Orr Margaret Lesley
Published: February 2023

Scotland, traditionally, has high levels of confidence in teachers. Fairness and justice are key concepts in policy and practice in Scottish education. For more than 100 years, the high‐stakes assessment system in Scotland, with the Scottish Higher qualification at its heart, has been crucial to that sense of opportunity and justice. However, in 2019–2020, public confidence in high‐stakes assessment in Scotland, as in other United Kingdom countries, was dented. In Scotland, the Covid‐19 pandemic meant that schools were closed, teachers provided online learning opportunities for pupils working at home and, for the first time in 130 years, it was not possible to run national examinations. To ensure that learners were not further disadvantaged, alternative approaches to gathering evidence for qualifications were instigated. However, these results were challenged as socially unjust and the results that had been nationally moderated were replaced by results based on locally moderated teachers' professional judgement. As Scotland looks to qualifications beyond Covid‐19, trust must be re‐built. This article reports on a participative research project that sought to understand public perceptions of standards and fairness across a range of key communities following this experience. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative data, we analyse factors which affected trust in National Qualifications under the pandemic. The evidence suggests that when considering what matters for qualifications to be trusted, technocratic solutions are likely to be rejected by stakeholders. Understanding and responding to what led to the mistrust of qualifications in Scotland will be crucial to inform its future qualifications system.
Slow‐rising and fast‐falling dopaminergic dynamics jointly adjust negative prediction error in the ventral striatum
Authors: Shikano Yu , Yagishita Sho , Tanaka Kenji F. , Takata Norio
Published: February 2023

The greater the reward expectations are, the more different the brain's physiological response will be. Although it is well‐documented that better‐than‐expected outcomes are encoded quantitatively via midbrain dopaminergic (DA) activity, it has been less addressed experimentally whether worse‐than‐expected outcomes are expressed quantitatively as well. We show that larger reward expectations upon unexpected reward omissions are associated with the preceding slower rise and following larger decrease (DA dip) in the DA concentration at the ventral striatum of mice. We set up a lever press task on a fixed ratio (FR) schedule requiring five lever presses as an effort for a food reward (FR5). The mice occasionally checked the food magazine without a reward before completing the task. The percentage of this premature magazine entry (PME) increased as the number of lever presses approached five, showing rising expectations with increasing proximity to task completion, and hence greater reward expectations. Fibre photometry of extracellular DA dynamics in the ventral striatum using a fluorescent protein (genetically encoded GPCR activation‐based DA sensor: GRABDA2m) revealed that the slow increase and fast decrease in DA levels around PMEs were correlated with the PME percentage, demonstrating a monotonic relationship between the DA dip amplitude and degree of expectations. Computational modelling of the lever press task implementing temporal difference errors and state transitions replicated the observed correlation between the PME frequency and DA dip amplitude in the FR5 task. Taken together, these findings indicate that the DA dip amplitude represents the degree of reward expectations monotonically, which may guide behavioural adjustment.
Clinical profile of patients with acute generalized pustular psoriasis with and without IL36RN mutations in multi‐ethnic Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Authors: Choon Siew Eng , Tok Peter Seah Keng , Wong Kit Wan , Lim Yee Ting , Nanu Nalini M. , Barker Jonathan N. , Capon Francesca
Published: February 2023

Generalized Pustular psoriasis (GPP), a rare and potentially life‐threatening auto‐inflammatory disease, is associated with IL36RN mutations. Here, we analyse the prevalence of IL36RN mutations in our multi‐ethnic GPP cohort and assess differences in the clinical profile of patients with (IL36RN‐positive) and without (IL36RN‐negative) mutations. IL36RN mutations were present in 17.7% of 137 GPP patients (29.7% of Chinese cases, 17.3% of Malay cases, but 0% of Indian patients). 92% of these individuals carried the c.115 + 6 T > C mutation. Male: female ratio was 1:2.3. Females predominate in both groups with no significant difference between IL36RN‐positive and IL36RN‐negative individuals. The overall mean age (±SD) at disease onset for GPP was 37.6 ± 17.2 years, but disease onset was significantly earlier in IL36RN‐positive vs IL36RN‐negative cases (mean age:30.6 ± 18.92 vs. 39.2 ± 16.49 years, p = 0.027). IL36RN‐positive patients were less likely to have associated plaque psoriasis (52.4% vs. 83.5%, p‐value = 0.002). There was no difference in the common clinical and laboratory manifestations or triggers of GPP between IL36RN‐positive and ‐negative patients, except for geographic tongue which was significantly more common in IL36RN‐positive patients (41.7% vs. 11.9%, p‐value = 0.002). Annual flare rate was significantly higher in IL36RN‐positive compared to IL36RN‐negative (mean ± SD of 1.92 ± 1.32 vs. 1.46 ± 0.90, p = 0.041) cases. However, no significant difference in the rate of hospitalization and length of hospital stay was observed between the two groups. These observations demonstrate that IL36RN disease alleles occur with varying frequencies among Asian populations and are associated with a severe, early‐onset clinical phenotype.
Deficiency of interleukin‐36 receptor antagonist (DITRA): An analysis of 58 Chinese patients in a tertiary hospital in Taiwan
Authors: Hsieh Chang‐Yu , Huang Yi‐Wei , Huang Yi‐Hsuan , Tsai Tsen‐Fang
Published: February 2023

DITRA, acronym for deficiency of interleukin‐36 receptor antagonist (IL36RN), leads to unopposed pro‐inflammatory signalling which typically manifests as pustular psoriasis. In Asian patients, c.115 + 6 T > C mutation is the most common and important single‐nucleotide variant in DITRA. We present the largest case series consisting of 58 DITRA patients carrying heterozygous or homozygous c.115 + 6 T > C mutation. The mean age of onset (±SD) was 20.74 (±20.86), and the median age of onset was 13 years old. Twelve patients (20.7%) had disease onset before the age of two. Twenty‐two patients (37.9%) had disease onset between the ages of 2–18. Main clinical phenotype was generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) with systemic symptoms (33 patients, 56.9%), followed by acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau (ACH) (16 patients, 27.6%). Nearly half of our patients (27 patients, 46.6%) ever had ACH, and only three of them are free of ACH currently, which indicates that the development of ACH is relatively persistent and irreversible. Thirty‐four patients (58.6%) had recurrent GPP and 29 patients (50%) have been admitted due to GPP flare. Compared to those with heterozygous (C/T) mutation, more patients carrying homozygous mutation (C/C) have recurrent episodes of GPP (C/T vs. C/C: 25.53 vs. 76.47%, p = 0.0367). Two patients with squamous cell carcinomas arising from the pustular psoriasis skin lesions were noted. Two patients had elevated serum IgG4 levels.
Bug severity prediction using LDA and sentiment scores: A CNN approach
Authors: Bibyan Ritu , Anand Sameer , Jaiswal Ajay , Aggarwal Anu Gupta
Published: February 2023

The crucial part of the software development cycle is software maintenance. The demands included in the software management are fault fixes and request to change or bring a new feature. If priority is not given to these demands, then it may lead to customer dissatisfaction, inefficient planning, and software failure as well. Therefore, it is important to study the severity of the bug reports to maintain the efficiency of the software. Various research has been conducted in the past to predict the severity of the paper using text mining focusing only on the content of the bug reports. The sentiment of the user while reporting a bug also plays a vital role. In this study, we will be focusing on two aspects, that is, sentiment and content to improve the prediction. We propose a prediction model based on LDA to study the content aspect and emotion analysis to study the sentiment aspect. The model is validated on the datasets collected from the Eclipse project using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The results show that the CNN model effectively utilizes the content and sentiment aspect of the data to handle the severity prediction. CNN has weight sharing feature that decreases the number of parameters used for training. It also improves generalization and overfitting is avoided The Accuracy, Precision, Recall, and F‐measure are improved when both aspects are taken into account rather than considering only content.
Seasonal variability in resilience of a coral reef fish to marine heatwaves and hypoxia
Authors: Tran Leon L. , Johansen Jacob L.
Published: February 2023

Climate change projections indicate more frequent and severe tropical marine heatwaves (MHWs) and accompanying hypoxia year‐round. However, most studies have focused on peak summer conditions under the assumption that annual maximum temperatures will induce the greatest physiological consequences. This study challenges this idea by characterizing seasonal MHWs (i.e., mean, maximum, and cumulative intensities, durations, heating rates, and mean annual occurrence) and comparing metabolic traits (i.e., standard metabolic rate (SMR), Q10 of SMR, maximum metabolic rate (MMR), aerobic scope, and critical oxygen tension (Pcrit)) of winter‐ and summer‐acclimatized convict tang (Acanthurus triostegus) to the combined effects of MHWs and hypoxia. Fish were exposed to one of six MHW treatments with seasonally varying maximum intensities (winter: 24.5, 26.5, 28.5°C; summer: 28.5, 30.5, 32.5°C), representing past and future MHWs under IPCC projections (i.e., +0, +2, +4°C). Surprisingly, MHW characteristics did not significantly differ between seasons, yet SMR was more sensitive to winter MHWs (mean Q10 = 2.92) than summer MHWs (mean Q10 = 1.81), despite higher absolute summer temperatures. Concurrently, MMR increased similarly among winter +2 and +4°C treatments (i.e., 26.5, 28.5°C) and all summer MHW treatments, suggesting a ceiling for maximal MMR increase. Aerobic scope did not significantly differ between seasons nor among MHW treatments. While mean Pcrit did not significantly vary between seasons, warming of +4°C during winter (i.e., 28.5°C) significantly increased Pcrit relative to the winter control group. Contrary to the idea of increased sensitivity to MHWs during the warmest time of year, our results reveal heightened sensitivity to the deleterious effects of winter MHWs, and that seasonal acclimatization to warmer summer conditions may bolster metabolic resilience to warming and hypoxia. Consequently, physiological sensitivity to MHWs and hypoxia may extend across larger parts of the year than previously expected, emphasizing the importance of evaluating climate change impacts during cooler seasons when essential fitness‐related traits such as reproduction occur in many species.
Supported or stressed while being assessed? How motivational climates in UK University workplaces promote or inhibit researcher well‐being
Authors: Weinstein Netta , Haddock Geoff , Chubb Jennifer , Wilsdon James , Manville Catriona
Published: February 2023

Academic culture now places high expectations on researchers to demonstrate research productivity alongside teaching, leadership and knowledge exchange. In two studies of researchers across career stages in UK higher education institutions (HEIs), we examined workplace climate within academic departments as (1) supportive of researchers' needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness, (2) publish‐or‐perish focused and (3) hyper‐competitive. In Study 1 (multiwave from 2018 to 2020), need support predicted researchers' lower turnover intention 2 years later, even when controlling for concurrent need support, and career and economic conditions. In Study 2, need support correlated with academic well‐being (lower job strain and turnover intention, greater job satisfaction) in a nationwide sample of 2951 researchers. Study 2 found that need support related to improved, and a hyper‐competitive motivational climate related to undermined, well‐being. Results were mixed for publish‐or‐perish climate. Performative demands can have deleterious effects on researcher well‐being.