bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations of community knowledge, perceptions, and practices related to zoonotic disease with sociodemographic factors in and around Chiro Town, Eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abrahim Abdulaziz , Bekele Bantayehu , Tahir Muhidin , Ahmed Sali , Ahmedin Lencho
Published: June 2024

Background

Zoonoses are infectious diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans. Studying the knowledge, perceptions and practices of communities related to zoonoses and the associated risk factors is crucial for effective control and prevention. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and practices of respondents on zoonoses and the associated risk factors in and around Chiro town, Ethiopia. Zoonotic diseases, such as rabies, anthrax, bovine tuberculosis, and brucellosis, pose a direct threat to health and livelihoods in the communities where they occur. These diseases emerge due to a combination of human-animal interactions, migration, and contact with wildlife and their respective parasites and vectors. Hence, recognizing residents’ perceptions, knowledge, and practices is crucial for effectively minimizing risks.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to July 2021 in and around Chiro town using a pretested close-ended questionnaire. A total of 350 respondents were selected using simple random sampling methods. The questionnaire included information on the sociodemographic status of the respondents and questions concerning the knowledge, perceptions, and practices of the participants regarding the selected zoonotic diseases. The associations of knowledge, perceptions, and practices related to zoonoses with zoonotic risk factors were analysed using chi-square tests.

Results

The study revealed that 82.9% of the respondents had knowledge of bovine tuberculosis, followed by knowledge of rabies (80%), knowledge of anthrax (45.1%), and knowledge of brucellosis (24.3%). Males had greater knowledge of bovine tuberculosis (84.8%), followed by rabies (79.8%) and anthrax (48.6%), while females had greater knowledge of brucellosis (23.6%). The most cited source of information was radio (68%). Most respondents mentioned the outbreaks of rabies (62.5%), bovine tuberculosis (53.2%), anthrax (35.6%), and brucellosis (15.7%). Respondents with higher educational levels and urban residents had more knowledge of zoonoses. More than 75% of respondents had a good perception of the transmission of zoonotic disease from animals, and the practice of consuming raw milk or raw/undercooked meat and sharing the same house with animals was high.

Conclusion

The majority of respondents reported that they had knowledge of bovine tuberculosis and rabies, but lower knowledge and perceptions were reported for anthrax and brucellosis. These findings illustrate the need for collaboration among animal, human and environmental health offices in one health approach to prevent and control zoonotic disease.
Identification and molecular mapping of resistance genes for adult-plant resistance to stripe rust in spring wheat germplasm line PI660076
Authors: Ren Runsheng , Zhou Jianian , Wang Yuqi , Wang Lirong , Zheng Xiaochen , Li Xin , Yang Suizhuang , Zhou Xinli , Zhang Pingping
Published: June 2024

Wheat is one of the major food crops worldwide. Stripe rust can cause a great loss of wheat yield, especially when the disease is prevalent. Chemical control not only causes the loss of resistance to stripe rust but also has a serious impact on the human body and environment. Therefore, the most economical measure to control wheat stripe rust is to cultivate resistant varieties. Rapid variation of stripe rust races often leads to rapid "loss" of resistance to stripe rust disease; therefore, breeders and researchers have to continuously explore new stripe rust resistance genes to provide new resistance sources for the rapid variation of stripe rust races. Previous studies have confirmed that PI660076, a spring wheat line, showed stripe rust resistance under natural conditions at the adult stage, which has great value in breeding programs. In this study, a recombinant inbred lines (RIL) population was constructed by crossing the wheat line PI660076 with the stripe rust-susceptible line AvS. Genotyping of the population was performed using a wheat 15 K SNP array. Three QTLs were identified using phenotypic data over four years across three environments. The resistance type of each QTL was determined by inoculating the RIL lines with single and homozygous QTL during the seedling and adult stages under controlled conditions. The all-stage resistance (ASR) QTL, QYr076.jaas-2A (flanked by SNP marker AX-11048464 and Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) marker KASP_4940) explained 7.13–16.58% and 6.95–7.25% of infection type (IT) and disease severity (DS), respectively. The adult-plant resistance (APR) resistance QTL, QYr076.jaas-4D.1 (flanked by KASP marker KASP_0795 and SNP marker AX-111567243,) explained 6.85–12.70% and 7.94–17.26% of IT and DS, respectively. The APR resistance QTL, QYr076.jaas-4D.2 flanked by KASP markers KASP_9130 and KASP_6535, explained 7.97–39.19% and 8.77–20.55% of the phenotypic variation in IT and DS, respectively. All the three QTLs are likely to be new. The obtained results lay a foundation for further utilization of the stripe rust-resistant line PI660076, as well as for fine mapping and molecular marker-assisted selection breeding.

Graphical Abstract
Tricyclic microwave-assisted synthesis of gold nanoparticles for biomedical applications: combatting multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungus
Authors: Al Azzam Sarah , Ullah Zabih , Azmi Sarfuddin , Islam Mozaffarul , Ahmad Ishtiaque , Hussain Mohd Kamil
Published: June 2024

Background

Rising global mortality due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens necessitates novel antibacterial and antifungal agents. This study focuses on synthesizing gold nanoparticles (GNPs) via tricyclic microwave irradiation (TMI) to combat Multi-Drug-Resistant Bacteria and Fungus. The demand for sustainable synthesis methods has led to the exploration of TMI for GNP production.

Results

Characterization demonstrates consistent, uniform, and dispersed GNPs with trigonal and hexagonal shapes. GNPs sized 20–55 nm exhibit superior antibacterial and antifungal activity, particularly against drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. Notably, GNPs display consistent efficacy against drug-resistant fungus and demonstrate potential for broad-spectrum antimicrobial applications.

Conclusion

TMI-synthesized GNPs, characterized by their favorable physical properties and size-dependent efficacy, show promise as effective agents against drug-resistant pathogens. Their ability to combat Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and drug-resistant fungus positions them as valuable tools in biomedical sciences. By addressing the urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents, TMI-synthesized GNPs offer a sustainable solution to the escalating global health challenge of antibiotic resistance.
Effect of Switching the Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist Clemastine to Cetirizine in Paclitaxel Premedication Regimens: The H1-Switch Study
Authors: Malmberg Ruben , van Doorn Leni , Cox Juul M. , Daloul Alaa , Ettafahi Halima , Oomen-de Hoop Esther , Zietse Michiel , Bos Monique E.M.M. , Koch Birgit C.P. , van Leeuwen Roelof W.F.
Published: June 2024

PURPOSE

Premedication, including a histamine-1 receptor (H1) antagonist, is recommended to all patients treated with paclitaxel chemotherapy to reduce the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs). However, the scientific basis for this premedication is not robust, which provides opportunities for optimization. Substitution of intravenously administered first-generation H1 antagonist for orally administered second-generation H1 antagonist could reduce side effects, and improve efficiency and sustainability. This study investigates the efficacy and safety of substituting intravenous clemastine for oral cetirizine as prophylaxis for paclitaxel-induced HSRs.

METHODS

This single-center, prospective, noninferiority study compares a historic cohort receiving a premedication regimen with intravenous clemastine to a prospective cohort receiving oral cetirizine. Primary end point of the study is HSR grade ≥3. The difference in incidence was calculated together with the 90% CI. We determined that the two-sided 90% CI of HSR grade ≥3 incidence in the oral cetirizine cohort should not be more than 4% higher (ie, the noninferiority margin) compared with the intravenous clemastine cohort.

RESULTS

Two hundred and twelve patients were included in the oral cetirizine cohort (June 2022 and May 2023) and 183 in the intravenous clemastine cohort. HSR grade ≥3 incidence was 1.6% (n = 3) in the intravenous clemastine cohort and 0.5% (n = 1) in the oral cetirizine cohort, resulting in a difference of –1.2% (90% CI, –3.4 to 1.1).

CONCLUSION

Premedication containing oral cetirizine is as safe as premedication containing intravenous clemastine in preventing paclitaxel-induced HSR grade ≥3. These findings could contribute to optimization of care for patients and improve efficiency and sustainability.
Implementation of and Systems-Level Barriers to Guideline-Driven Germline Genetic Evaluation in the Care of Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Banaszak Lauren G. , Cabral Paloma L. , Smith-Simmer Kelcy , Hassan Ayesha , Brunner Matthew , Fallon Michael , Shoger Kyle , Lovrien Lauren , Golner Danielle , Zurbriggen Luke , Mattison Ryan , Gahvari Zhubin , Hall Aric , Nadiminti Kalyan , Reinig Erica , Churpek Jane E.
Published: June 2024

PURPOSE

Knowledge of an inherited predisposition to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and AML has important clinical implications for treatment decisions, surveillance, and care of at-risk relatives. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recently incorporated recommendations for germline genetic evaluation of patients with MDS/AML on the basis of personal and family history features, but the practicality of implementing these recommendations has not been studied.

METHODS

A hereditary hematology quality improvement (QI) committee was formed to implement these guidelines in a prospective cohort of patients diagnosed with MDS/AML. Referral for germline genetic testing was recommended for patients meeting NCCN guideline criteria. Referral patterns and genetic evaluation outcomes were compared with a historical cohort of patients with MDS/AML. Barriers to evaluation were identified.

RESULTS

Of the 90 patients with MDS/AML evaluated by the QI committee, 59 (66%) met criteria for germline evaluation. Implementation of the QI committee led to more referrals for germline evaluation in accordance with NCCN guidelines (31% v 14%, P = .03). However, the majority of those meeting criteria were never referred due to high medical acuity or being deceased or in hospice at the time of QI committee recommendations. Despite this, two (17%) of the 12 patients undergoing genetic testing were diagnosed with a hereditary myeloid malignancy syndrome.

CONCLUSION

Current NCCN guidelines resulted in two thirds of patients with MDS/AML meeting criteria for germline evaluation. A hereditary hematology-focused QI committee aided initial implementation and modestly improved NCCN guideline adherence. However, the high morbidity and mortality and prolonged inpatient stays associated with MDS/AML challenged traditional outpatient genetic counseling models. Further improvements in guideline adherence require innovating new models of genetic counseling and testing for this patient population.
Efficacy and Safety of Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Patients With Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
Authors: Bottosso Michele , Verret Benjamin , Caron Olivier , Hamzaoui Nadim , Pasmant Eric , Danlos Francois-Xavier , Boudou-Rouquette Pascaline , Srikaran Arunya , Blons Hélène , Guarneri Valentina , Loi Sherene , André Fabrice , Tlemsani Camille
Published: June 2024

A case series evaluating efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint blockade in Li-Fraumeni syndrome
RASopathies – what they reveal about RAS/MAPK signaling in skeletal muscle development
Authors: Rauen Katherine A. , Tidyman William E.
Published: June 2024

RASopathies are rare developmental genetic syndromes caused by germline pathogenic variants in genes that encode components of the RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway. Although the incidence of each RASopathy syndrome is rare, collectively, they represent one of the largest groups of multiple congenital anomaly syndromes and have severe developmental consequences. Here, we review our understanding of how RAS/MAPK dysregulation in RASopathies impacts skeletal muscle development and the importance of RAS/MAPK pathway regulation for embryonic myogenesis. We also discuss the complex interactions of this pathway with other intracellular signaling pathways in the regulation of skeletal muscle development and growth, and the opportunities that RASopathy animal models provide for exploring the use of pathway inhibitors, typically used for cancer treatment, to correct the unique skeletal myopathy caused by the dysregulation of this pathway.
Women’s access to health care for non-communicable diseases in South Africa: A scoping review.
Authors: Gizamba Jacob , Davies Jess , Africa Chad , Choo-Kang Candice , Goedecke Julia , Madlala Hlengiwe , Lambert Estelle , Rae Dale , Myer Landon , Luke Amy , Dugas Lara R.
Published: June 2024

Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, hypertension (HPT), and type II diabetes (T2D) are of increasing concern in South Africa (SA), with women being more at risk. Authors conducted a scoping review to identify and map the evidence available about the barriers of access to obesity, HPT, and T2D care among women in SA. Methods Arksey and O'Malley's framework for scoping review was used. The search of the literature was completed in the Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases between April and May 2022. Only studies conducted among women in SA were eligible for inclusion. Identified barriers were mapped onto Levesque’s framework of access to health care to determine which points along the chain of accessing NCD health care among women are mostly impacted. Results Seven articles were included in the review: qualitative (n=2), quantitative (n=2), mixed methods (n=2), and grey literature (n=1). The included studies reported barriers of access to HPT and T2D care only, and no study reported barriers to obesity care. Supply-side barriers included lack of knowledge about available services, physician heavy workloads, medicine stock-outs, limited availability of testing equipment, travelling long distances, long waiting times, and delayed referral. Demand-side barriers included women having low self-awareness of NCD status, concerns about confidentiality, perceived discrimination, and poverty. Conclusions The study highlighted barriers related to the availability and accessibility dimension of access to health care, indicating that care for HPT and T2D is often inaccessible, with women often unable to reach health facilities or service providers. There is a pressing need for further research on access to healthcare for obesity, T2D, and HPT for women in South Africa, particularly among women who bear a disproportionately high burden of these conditions.
The effect of balanced energy-protein supplementation provided to lactating women on maternal and infant outcomes: study protocol for a prospectively planned individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis
Authors: Ciulei Mihaela , Zhou Shouhao , Gallagher Kelly , Taneja Sunita , Bhandari Nita , Kolsteren Patrick , Muhammad Ameer , Tielsch James , Argaw Alemayehu , Chowdhury Ranadip , Christian Parul , Dailey-Chwalibóg Trenton , de Kok Brenda , Erchick Daniel , Jehan Fyezah , Katz Joanne , Khatry Subarna , Lachat Carl , Lama Tsering , Nisar Muhammad , Shafiq Yasir , Upadhyay Ravi , Gernand Alison ,   Maternal BEP Studies Harmonization Initiative
Published: June 2024

Abstract* Background The high prevalence of infant stunting and maternal undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries poses a significant public health threat. The World Health Organization recommends balanced energy-protein (BEP) supplementation to pregnant women from populations with a high prevalence of underweight (prepregnancy BMI <18.5 kg/m2), leaving a notable gap in guidance for lactating women. Therefore, we established the Maternal BEP Studies Harmonization Initiative (BEP Initiative) to investigate the impact of BEP supplementation given to pregnant and/or lactating women on maternal and infant outcomes by synthesizing data from multiple clinical trials. This is a study protocol for our prospective individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis on BEP lactation trials. Methods Data from four randomized controlled trials that include mother-infant dyads in India (n=816), Pakistan (n=957), Burkina Faso (n=800), and Nepal (n=726) will be pooled and analysed. Women were randomized to BEP (one trial had a third arm with maternal BEP plus infants receiving azithromycin) or control groups at baseline (during the first week) and received the intervention through six months postpartum. A one-stage IPD meta-analysis will be done using mixed-effects linear and log-binomial regression models to account for between-trial heterogeneity. The primary outcome of infant length-for-age z scores (LAZ) and secondary outcomes of maternal and infant indicators of nutritional status, all at six months of age, will be examined. Also, we will assess baseline characteristics as covariates and effect modifiers for the BEP to outcome relationship. Discussion This prospective IPD meta-analysis uses a one-stage IPD meta-analysis, which allows for higher statistical power to examine outcomes, more flexibility in defining variables, and can examine effect modifiers, which could inform which individuals or populations may benefit more from BEP given during lactation.
Anti-cancer drugs versus supportive care for advanced biliary tract cancers: a systematic review
Authors: Requeijo Carolina , Bracchiglione Javier , Meza Nicolás , Ribera Paula , Güell Ernest , Bonfill Cosp Xavier ,   Appropriateness of Systemic Oncological Treatments for Advanced Cancer (ASTAC) Research Group
Published: June 2024

Introduction Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) have low survival rates in advanced stages. Anticancer drugs (ACDs) are usually recommended, but may be associated with important toxicity and lower quality of life (QoL). Best supportive care (BSC) could represent a valid alternative of treatment. We aim to synthesise evidence regarding the effects of ACDs versus BSC in patients with advanced BTCs. Methods We conducted a systematic review including randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any type of ACD versus BSC, placebo or no active treatment. We searched in five databases. Two reviewers performed selection, risk of bias and data extraction processes. We conducted random-effects meta-analyses and assessed certainty of evidence using GRADE. Results We included eight RCTs. Biological/targeted therapies may result in little to no difference in overall survival (OS) (Mean difference (MD): 1.66 months higher; 95%CI, -0.65 to 3.96; low certainty) and toxicity (Relative risk (RR): 1.38; 95%CI, 0.99 to 1.93; low certainty), with uncertain effects on QoL. Evidence is very uncertain about the effects of chemotherapy on OS (MD: 3.28 months higher; 95%CI, 0.16 to 6.39; very low certainty), and may increase toxicity (RR: 1.33; 95%CI, 1.03 to 1.72; low certainty). We identified insufficient evidence for other prespecified outcomes. Conclusions Compared to BSC, ACDs have poor OS benefit and higher toxicity. Due to overall very low certainty of evidence, the effects of ACDs on critical outcomes are still unclear. Our findings should be used to better inform decision-making processes and future research.
War in Ukraine and the Sense of Security of Polish Citizens
Authors: Kancik-Kołtun Ewelina
Published: June 2024

The aim of this paper is to analyze the impact of the war in Ukraine on different sectors of Poland’s security and the sense of security of Polish citizens. To allow a broader discussion on the issue, the article starts with a definition of security and how this notion can be divided into different types. This is followed by a brief overview of Poland’s relations with Russia and an analysis of the main security sectors endangered by Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, i.e., energy, food, and cybersecurity in Poland. Finally, the author examines how secure Polish citizens feel and analyzes the results of social surveys carried out in Poland by the Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS).
Being a Guest in Your Own Home: Political Situation of South Tyrol and Its Inhabitants in the Years 1918–1945
Authors: Kaszuba Paweł
Published: June 2024

The end of the Great War led to the annexation of German-speaking South Tyrol to Italy. Italian efforts to culturally subordinate its German-speaking inhabitants clashed with their sense of strong regional patriotism. As a result, the population of South Tyrol was subjected to a strong and multidimensional Italianization, especially during the period of Italian fascism and the times immediately before it. Tyroleans had to bear a huge burden on the road to autonomy, still feeling like guests and not hosts in their local homeland. However, even in the reborn democratic state of Italy after World War II, the problems did not go away. The difficult history of interwar years turned out to be the first stage of the struggle for the right to self-determination of the regional community in South Tyrol.
Role of Social Media Manipulation in Promoting Democratic Decay: The Case of Poland
Authors: Kozłowski Artur Roland
Published: June 2024

Recently, the scope of freedom in political systems has been undergoing considerable erosion. This phenomenon also refers to contemporary democratic systems, including those of long-standing and well-established traditions as well as to those that are often referred to as young transforming democracies. The study is focused on the erosion of democracy observed in the CEE countries based on Visegrad Group (V4) states, with particular consideration of Poland. A relationship between populism and very rapid development of social media is also emphasized, along with its dysfunctional features that are applied to form filter bubbles and social polarisation. The Author points out a correlation that favours restrictions imposed on the freedom of the political system in Poland and the development of right-wing populism with a negative aspect of the functioning of social media.
Henk Bodewitz, Vedic Cosmology and Ethics: Selected Studies (Gonda Indological Studies, Vol. 19). Ed. Henk Bodewitz, Dory H. Heilijgers, Jan E. M. Houben and Karel van Kooij. pp. 480. Boston: Brill 2019.—Reviewed by Mattia Capotosto and Alessia Manca (University of Cagliari, Italy)
Authors: Capotosto Mattia , Manca Alessia
Published: June 2024

No abstract is avaliable for this article.
Tendencia Editorial UR Número 36
Authors: Miranda Emilia , Vargas Mesa John Leonardo , Velasco Montante Astrid
Published: June 2024

En ese boletín, se ha tomado la decisión de invitar a algunos investigadores, editores y personas destacadas en el mundo del libro para que nos cuenten, desde sus experiencias, cómo entienden la edición académico a través de la inteligencia artificial. Con el boletín buscamos mostrar diversas perspectivas y aristas, ver al libro como un ente vivo que tiene diferentes dinámicas que lo configuran como un objeto con múltiples cargas históricas, de conocimiento, propósitos, políticas, estéticas.
Ranking Decomposition for the Discrete Ordered Median Problem
Authors: Cherkesly Marilène , Contardo Claudio , Gruson Matthieu
Published: June 2024

Given a set [Formula: see text] of size n, a nonnegative, integer-valued distance matrix D of dimensions [Formula: see text], an integer [Formula: see text] and an integer-valued weight vector [Formula: see text], the discrete ordered median problem (DOMP) consists of selecting a subset [Formula: see text] of exactly p points from [Formula: see text] (also referred to as the centers) so as to: 1) assign each point in [Formula: see text] to its closest center in [Formula: see text]; 2) rank the resulting distances (between every point and its center) from smallest to largest in a sorted vector that we denote [Formula: see text]; 3) minimize the scalar product [Formula: see text]. The DOMP generalizes several classical location problems such as the p-center, the p-median and the obnoxious median problem. We introduce an exact branch-and-bound algorithm to solve the DOMP. This branch-and-bound decouples the ranking attribute of the problem to form a series of simpler subproblems which are solved using innovative binary search methods. We consider several acceleration techniques such as warm-starts, primal heuristics, variable fixing, and symmetry breaking. We perform a thorough computational analysis and show that the proposed method is competitive against several MIP models from the scientific literature. We also comment on the limitations of our method and propose avenues of future research.

History: Accepted by Andrea Lodi, Area Editor for Design & Analysis of Algorithms—Discrete.

Funding: This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [Grants 2017-06106, 2020-06311, and 2021-03327].

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2023.0059 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2023.0059 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .
The Effect of Popularity Cues and Peer Endorsements on Assertive Social Media Ads
Authors: Agarwal Ashish , Lee Shun-Yang , Whinston Andrew B.
Published: June 2024

Social media platforms, like Facebook, often display assertive call-to-action (CTA) ads that encourage direct purchases or app installs. These ads can show popularity cues (e.g., number of “likes”) and peer endorsements (e.g., friends who “liked” the ad). Although such signals can positively influence user engagement for informational ads, our research reveals they can backfire for assertive CTA ads. Through field tests on Facebook and incentive-compatible experiments, we find that popularity cues do not improve and that peer endorsements actually harm click performance on assertive CTA ads. The negative effect of peer endorsements is amplified when they come from dissimilar friends. Underlying this effect is users’ persuasion knowledge getting activated; they view these signals as manipulative advertising tactics for the assertive CTAs, resulting in psychological reactance. However, the detrimental impact is mitigated when peer endorsements come from friends with similar preferences. For advertisers, our findings suggest discounting popularity and peer endorsement metrics when evaluating assertive CTA ad performance. Platforms, like Facebook, should also consider making these signals optional for such ads. Overall, exercising discretion with these social proof signals for assertive purchase/install messaging can improve advertising outcomes.
Impact of the General Data Protection Regulation on the Global Mobile App Market: Digital Trade Implications of Data Protection and Privacy Regulations
Authors: Li Ziru , Lee Gunwoong , Raghu T. S. , Shi Zhan (Michael)
Published: June 2024

Although regional data protection and privacy regimes are often cited as major barriers to crossborder digital trade, mitigating consumer privacy concerns through regulations can potentially increase the demand for foreign digital products or services. This study delves into this by assessing the impact of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the global mobile app market. Contrary to the belief that such regulations hinder digital trade, our data show a notable post-GDPR increase in top foreign apps in European Union countries, suggesting that the GDPR may alleviate privacy concerns and encourage the adoption of foreign digital products. This finding is crucial for policymakers dealing with data and privacy issues as it indicates the potential of these regulations to balance economic growth with privacy and security protection. The study suggests that data and privacy regulations can address data concerns without significantly harming digital trade. Additionally, it uncovers an opportunity for multinational companies. Although compliance costs are higher, clear privacy regulations could lessen consumer domestic bias, opening doors to international markets. Therefore, evaluating privacy regulations’ impact on global markets means considering both their benefits for demand and their costs for suppliers.
Creating a framework for an integrated novel ultrasound clinic for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Authors: Armstrong Paul R , Shé Éidín Ní
Published: June 2024

This article aimed to identify common themes of successful initiatives in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease that have contributed to improved patient-reported outcomes. The purpose of this was to devise a framework of change and implementation for a novel pilot clinic using transient elastography, a type of liver ultrasound. The clinic was designed to link hospital and community care, in line with Ireland's Sláintecare policy. The authors conducted a systematic review of the literature to find relevant publications assessing patient-reported outcomes in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. A total of 16 papers were identified, with analysis demonstrating four common themes: characteristics of a positive experience; personalised care; interaction with healthcare providers; and service delivery. Findings of the review and meta-synthesis of qualitative research projects were used to create a blueprint for a pilot transient elastography clinic pathway. This innovation emphasises the importance of integrated care from community to hospital and could have a key role in the future of healthcare in Ireland.
Influence of polarity management training on nurse managers’ creative behaviour and motivation
Authors: Aly Nagah Abd El-Fattah Mohamed , El-Shanawany Safaa M , Ghanem Maha , Lotfy Wael M
Published: June 2024

Background/Aims

Nurses will likely encounter a wide variety of situations that can be considered polarities. This study aimed to examine the impact of a polarity management training programme on nurse managers' skills and knowledge of polarity management, and their creative behaviours and intrinsic motivation.

Methods

A quasi-experimental study using an interrupted time series design with one-group pre and post test was performed. A total of 60 nurse managers participated. Polarity tools (knowledge and skills) and self-report questionnaires of creative behaviour and motivation were applied in collecting data throughout the training programme.

Results

Respondents' knowledge and skills of polarity management were better following the training programme, with higher levels of creativity and motivation throughout the post and follow-up programme. This was evidenced by correlation and linear regression tests between nurse managers' knowledge and skills and their creativity and motivation.

Conclusions

This programme can benefit not only nurse managers, but also nursing staff, patients and organisations. This may ultimately improve outcomes for patients, staff and organisations.
Change on the horizon?
Authors: Clough Isobel
Published: June 2024

With the UK general election set for Thursday 4 July, the editor considers the political nature of healthcare governance and how this can affect short- and long-term change in the NHS.
Edgework and Excess: Jimi Hendrix, the Phenomenology of Fuzz, and the Rehearsal of Black Liberation
Authors: Brooks John
Published: June 2024

Abstract: This essay shows how Jimi Hendrix’s experiments with fuzz anticipated notyet-audible sonic worlds and evinced Blackness in sound. Focusing on the American guitarist’s debut album, Are You Experienced (1967), I describe fuzz as an entryway into the politico-theatrical scene of Black sociality. My analysis pivots on two axes: edgework and excess. I argue that Hendrix’s pursuit of new sonic territory, as well as the mathematical-electrical engineering that brought such sounds into being, can be read as an aesthetic practice of edgework, but also that the resulting music—which early reviewers described as “hellish,” “freaky,” “unimaginable,” and “manic”—acts as a sign of fuzz’s unruly excess. Across my analysis, I am in conversation with Matthew Morrison’s theory of “Blacksound,” which shows how US popular music attempts to essentialize and delimit Black performativity. If Hendrix’s fuzz tone is audible as an enactment of fugitivity born from a tradition of radical Black aesthetics, I argue, then its unruly and anarchistic ethos refutes racial essentialism, insisting on agency, beauty, and life in the face of social death. Through this intervention, I develop a theory of “rehearsal” as a future-oriented Black performance sensibility that creates the conditions in which living otherwise becomes imaginable and achievable.
Le Marxisme noir et les antinomies du capitalisme racial
Authors: Singh Nikhil Pal
Published: June 2024

Abstract: This article, originally published in English as a chapter in Colleen Lye and Chris Nealon's 2022 edited collection After Marx: Literature, Theory, and Value in the Twenty-First Century , charts a course through the tensions inherent to "racial capitalism" as a historically developing concept. Drawing Cedric Robinson into dialogue with the more Marx-friendly work of Stuart Hall, Singh revisits both figures' positions on the articulation of race and class. It is published as an accompaniment to Selim Nadi and Sophie Coudray's landmark translation of Marxisme noir , in hopes of encouraging further such efforts in the ongoing study of racial capitalism on both sides of the Atlantic.
Future Rhizomes: Alternatives to Racial Capitalism?
Authors: Stamm Gina
Published: June 2024

Abstract: Several theorists of racial capitalists have claimed that the mechanism enabling and maintaining this system is the fracturing and isolation of a population. Two recent science fiction novels, L'Invention des corps and Tè mawon , literalize the philosophical concept of the rhizome as developed by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari and Édouard Glissant, respectively, to ask if the connections it produces can counteract a racial capitalist system. The two books experiment with the kinds of connections and relationships created, who and what can be connected, and how they are organized, in order to establish the utility of the rhizome and its limits.
Amity, Commerce, and Compromise: Americans, Indians, and the Evolution of Trade on Zanzibar and across the Western Indian Ocean, 1825–1861
Authors: Morrison Joshua S. C.
Published: June 2024

Abstract: During the early nineteenth century, the Omani outpost of Zanzibar emerged as a leading marketplace in the Western Indian Ocean. The island's economic expansion depended heavily on a community of well-connected Indian merchants. The port's rising fortunes also attracted traders from farther afield. By 1826, American merchants had reached the island. Although Americans had decades of experience in the region, they struggled to turn a profit on Zanzibar. Over time, American traders realized that commercial success depended on a strong relationship with the island's Indian community. By the 1840s, the American consul, Richard Waters, and Zanzibar's custom master, Jairam Shivji, had formed a lucrative arrangement exchanging commodities. Waters, Shivji, and their peers developed a commercial framework that melded key precepts of Indian Ocean trade with their Atlantic equivalents. Aided by bilingual commodity contracts, trade between the United States and Zanzibar flourished. In time, the island served as a crucial springboard for American ventures to India. With the help of Parsi firms, Waters and his successors incorporated Bombay into their trade routes. In turn, the city's economic expansion reshaped trade in East Africa. By the American Civil War, commercial intelligence and British credit from Bombay contributed to Americans' success on Zanzibar.
The Puzzle of Rescue and Survival: The Wartime Exodus of Jewish Refugees from Lithuania and their Japanese Savior Redux
Authors: Kowner Rotem
Published: June 2024

Abstract: One of the most remarkable rescue stories of the Holocaust is the 1940–1941 exodus to East Asia of a few thousand Jewish refugees stranded in Lithuania. The key figure associated with this affair is the Japanese diplomat Sugihara Chiune, who issued transit visas to these refugees, paving the way for their departure. Recognized 44 years later with Yad Vashem's title of the Righteous Among the Nations, Sugihara has become revered figure both in Japan and internationally. However, a careful examination of the prevalent narrative surrounding the refugees, their Japanese benefactor, and their wartime survival, reveals a story that is not only overly simplistic but also contains factual inaccuracies. Formulated around fifty years post-event, this account has primarily spotlighted Sugihara's supposedly life-saving deeds, while overlooking numerous other elements and factors that were instrumental in the refugees' survival. Drawing from a wide range of recently discovered archival sources and a critical examination of existing testimonies, this article presents a new and comprehensive retelling of this historic episode. It aims to provide a more nuanced and accurate understanding of the events and the diverse forces that contributed to the rescue and survival of the refugees.
Casimir repulsion with biased semiconductors
Authors: Spreng Benjamin , Shelden Calum , Gong Tao , Munday Jeremy N.
Published: June 2024

Quantum and thermal fluctuations are fundamental to a plethora of phenomena within quantum optics, including the Casimir effect that acts between closely separated surfaces typically found in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) devices. Particularly promising for engineering and harnessing these forces are systems out of thermal equilibrium. Recently, semiconductors with external bias have been proposed to study the nonequilibrium Casimir force. Here, we explore systems involving moderately biased semiconductors that exhibit strong repulsive Casimir forces, and we determine the effects of bias voltage, semiconductor bandgap energy, and separation for experimentally accessible configurations. Modes emitted from the semiconductors exert a repulsive force on a near surface that overcomes the attractive equilibrium Casimir force contribution at submicron distances. For the geometry of two parallel planes, those modes undergo Fabry–Pérot interference resulting in an oscillatory force behavior as a function of separation. Utilizing the proximity-force approximation, we predict that the repulsive force exerted on a gold sphere is well within the accuracy of typical Casimir force experiments. Our work opens up new possibilities for controlling forces at the nanometer and micrometer scale with applications in sensing and actuation in nanotechnology.
Squeezing-enhanced quantum sensing with quadratic optomechanics
Authors: Zhang Sheng-Dian , Wang Jie , Zhang Qian , Jiao Ya-Feng , Zuo Yun-Lan , Özdemir Şahin K. , Qiu Cheng-Wei , Nori Franco , Jing Hui
Published: June 2024

Cavity optomechanical (COM) sensors, enhanced by quantum squeezing or entanglement, have become powerful tools for measuring ultra-weak forces with high precision and sensitivity. However, these sensors usually rely on linear COM couplings, a fundamental limitation when measurements of the mechanical energy are desired. Very recently, a giant enhancement of the signal-to-noise ratio was predicted in a quadratic COM system. Here we show that the performance of such a system can be further improved surpassing the standard quantum limit by using quantum squeezed light. Our approach is compatible with available engineering techniques of advanced COM sensors and provides new opportunities for using COM sensors in tests of fundamental laws of physics and quantum metrology applications.
Corporate Influencing im Business-To-Business-Vertrieb
Authors: Nestler Lisa , Hoffmann Clara
Published: June 2024

Business-To-Business (B2B)-Vertrieb wird zunehmend digitalisiert und diese Digitalisierung hat einen starken Einfluss auf die Art und Weise, wie Kund:innen und Verkäufer:innen in Geschäftsbeziehungen interagieren, kommunizieren und Werte schaffen. Im Zuge der Digitalisierung hat die Nutzung des beruflichen sozialen Netzwerks LinkedIn im B2B-Vertrieb zugenommen und ein neues Phänomen, sogenannte Corporate-Influencer:innen, ist vermehrt bei LinkedIn zu beobachten. Die Literatur hat sich bislang hauptsächlich auf das Verhalten von Vertriebsmitarbeitenden in sozialen Medien, Leistungsergebnisse und Auswirkungen auf Kundenbeziehungen konzentriert. Es ist jedoch wenig bekannt über die Ziele, die mit Corporate Influencing verfolgt werden, ihre tatsächlichen Aktivitäten auf LinkedIn in dieser Rolle sowie Chancen und Herausforderungen, die sich durch Corporate Influencing ergeben. Ein Grounded-Theory-Ansatz wird verfolgt, um dieses Phänomen zu untersuchen. Basierend auf 31 Interviews mit Expert:innen aus verschiedenen B2B-Branchen, werden persönliche und unternehmensbezogene Ziele, spezifische Corporate-Influencer-Aktivitäten, sowie damit einhergehende Chancen und Herausforderungen von Corporate Influencing identifiziert.
Modeling dynamics of acute HIV infection incorporating density-dependent cell death and multiplicity of infection
Authors: Mainou Ellie , Ribeiro Ruy M. , Conway Jessica M.
Published: June 2024

Understanding the dynamics of acute HIV infection can offer valuable insights into the early stages of viral behavior, potentially helping uncover various aspects of HIV pathogenesis. The standard viral dynamics model explains HIV viral dynamics during acute infection reasonably well. However, the model makes simplifying assumptions, neglecting some aspects of HIV infection. For instance, in the standard model, target cells are infected by a single HIV virion. Yet, cellular multiplicity of infection (MOI) may have considerable effects in pathogenesis and viral evolution. Further, when using the standard model, we take constant infected cell death rates, simplifying the dynamic immune responses. Here, we use four models—1) the standard viral dynamics model, 2) an alternate model incorporating cellular MOI, 3) a model assuming density-dependent death rate of infected cells and 4) a model combining (2) and (3)—to investigate acute infection dynamics in 43 people living with HIV very early after HIV exposure. We find that all models qualitatively describe the data, but none of the tested models is by itself the best to capture different kinds of heterogeneity. Instead, different models describe differing features of the dynamics more accurately. For example, while the standard viral dynamics model may be the most parsimonious across study participants by the corrected Akaike Information Criterion (AICc), we find that viral peaks are better explained by a model allowing for cellular MOI, using a linear regression analysis as analyzed by R2. These results suggest that heterogeneity in within-host viral dynamics cannot be captured by a single model. Depending on the specific aspect of interest, a corresponding model should be employed.
Mechanistic computational modeling of monospecific and bispecific antibodies targeting interleukin-6/8 receptors
Authors: Ray Christina M. P. , Yang Huilin , Spangler Jamie B. , Mac Gabhann Feilim
Published: June 2024

The spread of cancer from organ to organ (metastasis) is responsible for the vast majority of cancer deaths; however, most current anti-cancer drugs are designed to arrest or reverse tumor growth without directly addressing disease spread. It was recently discovered that tumor cell-secreted interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) synergize to enhance cancer metastasis in a cell-density dependent manner, and blockade of the IL-6 and IL-8 receptors (IL-6R and IL-8R) with a novel bispecific antibody, BS1, significantly reduced metastatic burden in multiple preclinical mouse models of cancer. Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), which combine two different antigen-binding sites into one molecule, are a promising modality for drug development due to their enhanced avidity and dual targeting effects. However, while BsAbs have tremendous therapeutic potential, elucidating the mechanisms underlying their binding and inhibition will be critical for maximizing the efficacy of new BsAb treatments. Here, we describe a quantitative, computational model of the BS1 BsAb, exhibiting how modeling multivalent binding provides key insights into antibody affinity and avidity effects and can guide therapeutic design. We present detailed simulations of the monovalent and bivalent binding interactions between different antibody constructs and the IL-6 and IL-8 receptors to establish how antibody properties and system conditions impact the formation of binary (antibody-receptor) and ternary (receptor-antibody-receptor) complexes. Model results demonstrate how the balance of these complex types drives receptor inhibition, providing important and generalizable predictions for effective therapeutic design.
Automating detection of diagnostic error of infectious diseases using machine learning
Authors: Peterson Kelly S. , Chapman Alec B. , Widanagamaachchi Wathsala , Sutton Jesse , Ochoa Brennan , Jones Barbara E. , Stevens Vanessa , Classen David C. , Jones Makoto M.
Published: June 2024

Diagnostic error, a cause of substantial morbidity and mortality, is largely discovered and evaluated through self-report and manual review, which is costly and not suitable to real-time intervention. Opportunities exist to leverage electronic health record data for automated detection of potential misdiagnosis, executed at scale and generalized across diseases. We propose a novel automated approach to identifying diagnostic divergence considering both diagnosis and risk of mortality. Our objective was to identify cases of emergency department infectious disease misdiagnoses by measuring the deviation between predicted diagnosis and documented diagnosis, weighted by mortality. Two machine learning models were trained for prediction of infectious disease and mortality using the first 24h of data. Charts were manually reviewed by clinicians to determine whether there could have been a more correct or timely diagnosis. The proposed approach was validated against manual reviews and compared using the Spearman rank correlation. We analyzed 6.5 million ED visits and over 700 million associated clinical features from over one hundred emergency departments. The testing set performances of the infectious disease (Macro F1 = 86.7, AUROC 90.6 to 94.7) and mortality model (Macro F1 = 97.6, AUROC 89.1 to 89.1) were in expected ranges. Human reviews and the proposed automated metric demonstrated positive correlations ranging from 0.231 to 0.358. The proposed approach for diagnostic deviation shows promise as a potential tool for clinicians to find diagnostic errors. Given the vast number of clinical features used in this analysis, further improvements likely need to either take greater account of data structure (what occurs before when) or involve natural language processing. Further work is needed to explain the potential reasons for divergence and to refine and validate the approach for implementation in real-world settings.