bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An overview of the history, current strategies, and potential future treatment approaches in erectile dysfunction: a comprehensive review
Authors: Langarizadeh Mohammad Amin , Salary Amirhossein , Tavakoli Marziye Ranjbar , Nejad Behnam Ghorbani , Fadaei Shirin , Jahani Zahra , Forootanfar Hamid
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common urologic problems in men worldwide, with an approximately high incidence rate, significantly affecting patients’ quality of life and their sexual partners.

Objectives

Due to the association of this disorder with essential diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, its prevention and treatment are vital for overall human physiologic and psychological health. Along with reviewing the history of treatment and current methods, we seek new approaches to curb this issue in the future.

Methods

In this review, investigations were based on the focus of each section’s content or conducted on an ad hoc basis. Searches were performed in Scopus and PubMed.

Results

In recent years, many treatments for ED have been reported besides oral administration of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors such as sildenafil and tadalafil (approved by the Food and Drug Administration). Common oral medications, intracavernous injections, herbal therapies (eg, herbal phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors), and topical/transdermal medications are routine ED treatment approaches. Moreover, some novel medications are innovative candidates for completing ED’s treatment protocols: stem cell injection, low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy, platelet-rich plasma injection, gene therapy, amniotic fluid matrices, rho-kinase inhibitors, melanocortin receptor antagonists, maxi-K channel activators (ie, large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels), guanylate cyclase activators, and nitric oxide donors.

Conclusion

Due to the importance of this complicated problem in men’s society, a faster course of treatment trends toward new methods is needed to increase efficiency. Combining the mentioned treatments and attentively examining their efficacy through programmed clinical trials can be a big step toward solving this global problem.
The Economic Impact of Living Cell Tissue Products in Treating Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Venous Leg Ulcers in Patients with Commercial Insurance: A Retrospective Matched-Cohort Study
Authors: Barbul Adrian , Gelly Helen , Obradovic Kayla , Landsman Adam
Published: April 2023

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies demonstrated that costs paid on behalf of Medicare recipients for diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers treated with cellular and/or tissue-based products (CTPs) varied in part based on the CTP chosen. This study extends previous work to determine how costs vary when paid by commercial insurance carriers.

METHODS

A retrospective matched-cohort intent-to-treat design was used to analyze commercial insurance claims data between January 2010 and June 2018. Study participants were matched using Charlson Comorbidity Index, age, sex, type of wound, and geographic location within the US. Patients treated with a bilayered living cell construct (BLCC), dermal skin substitute (DSS), or cryopreserved human skin (CHSA) were included.

RESULTS

Wound-related costs and number of CTP applications were significantly lower for CHSA relative to BLCC and DSS at all time intervals (60, 90, and 180 days and 1 year after first application of the CTP). Further, CHSA was associated with significantly fewer amputations at 1 year relative to DSS (14.9% vs 19.7%, P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a statistically significant reduction in cost of treating diabetic foot ulcers (BLCC, DSS, CHSA) and venous leg ulcers (BLCC, CHSA) with CHSA as compared with the other CTPs. These findings are attributed to fewer applications, lower wound care costs, and comparable or reduced incidence of amputation. These commercial insurance data are consistent with prior studies that examined Medicare expenditures.
Dermatoscopic and Dermatopathologic Features of a 3-Year-Old Buried Polypropylene Suture
Authors: Özcan Yunus , Gamsizkan Mehmet
Published: April 2023

Cutaneous foreign bodies are a well-known cause of delayed wound healing and complications such as abscesses, fistula formation, and secondary infections. Polypropylene sutures are widely utilized in cutaneous surgery because they easily travel through tissues while eliciting minimal tissue reactions. Despite these advantages, retained polypropylene sutures can cause complications. The authors report a case of a retained polypropylene suture that remained buried after a total excision 3 years prior. It started to cause cutaneous symptoms when the patient began exercising 1 week prior to presentation. The authors also examine the dermatoscopic and dermatopathologic features and other complications related to retained polypropylene sutures that have been reported in the literature.
Finerenone Added to Treatment Guidelines for Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Aschenbrenner Diane S.
Published: April 2023

The use of finerenone is now included in the 2022 revision to standard treatment guidelines for patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Finerenone is a costly addition to standard treatment. Patients may need to receive prescription preauthorization from their insurer.
Compassionate, evidence-based care for patients with HIV/AIDS at the end of life
Authors: Riley Kiernan , Lucey Megan , Kowalchik Kaléi , Adams Lucy , DeSanto Logan , Robinson Charles C. , Faybisovich Natalie , Milton Marisa , Evans Michael M.
Published: April 2023

Nurses can help patients experiencing HIV/AIDS feel more comfortable and respected, allowing them to receive higher-quality care during the end of life.
Nonfatal Overdoses Among Pregnant Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder
Authors: Charles Jasmin E. , Baylis Jacob , Smid Marcela C. , Cochran Gerald
Published: April 2023

Little is understood about overdose history among pregnant individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). We performed a cross-sectional secondary analysis of data from the OPTI-Mom 2.0 (Optimizing Pregnancy and Treatment Interventions for Moms 2.0) study (NCT03833245), a multi-site randomized controlled trial of patient navigation and usual care. We summarized participant demographics, overdose history, and substances involved in most recent overdose. Of the 102 participants with severe OUD included, 64.7% (95% CI 54.8–73.4%) had a reported a history of an overdose event and 41.2% (95% CI 31–52%) reported at least one overdose within the past year. In the most recent overdose, 81.8% (95% CI 70.4–89.5%) reported using opioids and 30.3% (95% CI 20.3–42.6%) reported using sedatives. These findings suggest need for heightened awareness of overdose-reduction and harm-reduction strategies in this population.
Oral Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Antagonists for the Treatment of Uterine Leiomyomas
Authors: Neblett Michael F. , Stewart Elizabeth A.
Published: April 2023

Uterine leiomyomas are common hormone-responsive neoplasms that frequently cause heavy menstrual bleeding, anemia, pelvic pressure, pain, and adverse reproductive outcomes. In this overview, the efficacy and safety of oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists, co-administered with menopausal replacement-level steroid hormones or used at doses to avoid complete hypothalamic suppression, are reviewed for the management of uterine leiomyomas. Oral GnRH antagonists provide rapid suppression of sex steroids and avoid the initial steroidal flare and resultant temporary worsening of symptoms typically seen with parenteral GnRH agonists. Oral GnRH antagonists are effective in reducing leiomyoma-associated heavy menstrual bleeding, with high rates of amenorrhea and improved anemia and leiomyoma-associated pain, and providing modest reduction in uterine volume when used in combination with menopausal replacement-level steroid hormones. This add-back therapy can reduce hypogonadal side effects, including hot flushes and bone mineral density loss, close to levels seen with placebo therapy. Currently, both elagolix 300 mg twice daily with once-daily estradiol (1 mg) and norethindrone (0.5 mg) and relugolix 40 mg once daily with estradiol (1 mg) and norethindrone (0.5 mg) combination therapy are approved for leiomyoma treatment by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Linzagolix is under investigation in the United States but approved at two does with and without steroid hormones in the European Union. The efficacy of these agents appears to be robust over a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, demonstrating that worse disease parameters at baseline do not appear to inhibit efficacy. Across clinical trials, participants largely reflected the population of individuals affected by uterine leiomyomas.
Outcomes of Geriatric Periprosthetic Distal Femur Fractures: Comparison of Fixation Versus Reconstruction
Authors: Joseph Noah M. , Zuke William , Sharpe Megan , Bacharach Abigail , Punjabi Nihal , Zhao Chenya , Sattar Abdus , Emara Ahmed K. , Piuzzi Nicolas S. , Ochenjele George , Patterson Brendan M. , Vallier Heather A.
Published: April 2023

Objective:

Comparing outcomes of periprosthetic distal femur fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) versus distal femoral replacement (DFR).

Setting:

Three major academic hospitals within one metropolitan area.

Design:

Retrospective.

Patients/Participants:

Three hundred seventy patients >64 years old with periprosthetic distal femur fractures were identified and 115 were included (65 ORIF vs. 50 DFR).

Intervention:

ORIF with locked plating versus DFR.

Main Outcome Measurement:

One-year mortality, ambulatory status at 1 year, reoperations, and hospital readmissions.

Results:

No differences were observed between ORIF and DFR cohorts regarding demographics or medical history, including Charleston Comorbidity Index. DFR was associated with longer hospital stay (6.09 days ORIF vs. 9.08 days DFR, P < 0.001) and more frequent blood transfusion (12.3% ORIF vs. 44.0% DFR, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis using propensity score matching (PSM) demonstrated no statistically significant difference in reoperation, hospital readmission, ambulatory status at 1 year, or 1-year mortality between the 2 cohorts. Finally, applying Bayesian model averaging using PSM to identify risk factors for 1-year mortality demonstrated that increasing age, length of index hospital stay, and 90-day hospital readmission were significantly associated with 1-year mortality, regardless of type of surgical treatment.

Conclusion:

Rehospitalization, reoperation, ambulatory status, and 1-year mortality are no different between ORIF and DFR in the treatment of geriatric periprosthetic distal femur fractures when PSM is applied to mitigate selection bias. Further study is warranted to elucidate functional outcomes, long-term sequelae, and costs of care related to these treatment options to better guide treatment planning.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Plasticity between type 2 innate lymphoid cell subsets and amphiregulin expression regulates epithelial repair in biliary atresia
Authors: Russi Abigail E. , Shivakumar Pranavkumar , Luo Zhenhua , Bezerra Jorge A.
Published: April 2023

Background and Aims:

Although a dysregulated type 1 immune response is integral to the pathogenesis of biliary atresia, studies in both humans and mice have uncovered a type 2 response, primarily driven by type 2 innate lymphoid cells. In nonhepatic tissues, natural type 2 innate lymphoid cell (nILC2s) regulate epithelial proliferation and tissue repair, whereas inflammatory ILC2s (iIlC2s) drive tissue inflammation and injury. The aim of this study is to determine the mechanisms used by type 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2) subpopulations to regulate biliary epithelial response to an injury.

Approach and Results:

Using Spearman correlation analysis, nILC2 transcripts, but not those of iILC2s, are positively associated with cholangiocyte abundance in biliary atresia patients at the time of diagnosis. nILC2s are identified in the mouse liver through flow cytometry. They undergo expansion and increase amphiregulin production after IL-33 administration. This drives epithelial proliferation dependent on the IL-13/IL-4Rα/STAT6 pathway as determined by decreased nILC2s and reduced epithelial proliferation in knockout strains. The addition of IL-2 promotes inter-lineage plasticity towards a nILC2 phenotype. In experimental biliary atresia induced by rotavirus, this pathway promotes epithelial repair and tissue regeneration. The genetic loss or molecular inhibition of any part of this circuit switches nILC2s to inflammatory type 2 innate lymphoid cell-like, resulting in decreased amphiregulin production, decreased epithelial proliferation, and the full phenotype of experimental biliary atresia.

Conclusions:

These findings identify a key function of the IL-13/IL-4Rα/STAT6 pathway in ILC2 plasticity and an alternate circuit driven by IL-2 to promote nILC2 stability and amphiregulin expression. This pathway induces epithelial homeostasis and repair in experimental biliary atresia.
Adjunctive virtual reality pain relief after traumatic injury: a proof-of-concept within-person randomized trial
Authors: Morris Nicholas A. , Wang Yang , Felix Ryan B. , Rao Aniruddha , Arnold Shannon , Khalid Mazhar , Armahizer Michael J. , Murthi Sarah B. , Colloca Luana
Published: April 2023

In this study, we hypothesized that immersive virtual reality (VR) environments may reduce pain in patients with acute traumatic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries. We performed a randomized within-subject study in patients hospitalized with acute traumatic injuries, including traumatic brain injury with moderate pain (numeric pain score ≥3 of 10). We compared 3 conditions: (1) an immersive VR environment (VR Blu), (2) a content control with the identical environment delivered through nonimmersive tablet computer (Tablet Blu), and (3) a second control composed of donning VR headgear without content to control for placebo effects and sensory deprivation (VR Blank). We enrolled 60 patients, and 48 patients completed all 3 conditions. Objective and subjective data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Controlling for demographics, baseline pain, and injury severity, we found differences by conditions in relieving pain (F2,75.43 = 3.32, P = 0.042). VR Blu pain reduction was greater than Tablet Blu (−0.92 vs −0.16, P = 0.043), but VR Blu pain reduction was similar to VR Blank (−0.92 vs −1.24, P = 0.241). VR Blu was perceived as most effective by patients for pain reduction (F2,66.84 = 16.28, P < 0.001), and changes in measures of parasympathetic activity including heart rate variability (F2,55.511 = 7.87, P < 0.001) and pupillary maximum constriction velocity (F2,61.41 = 3.50, 1-tailed P = 0.038) echoed these effects. There were no effects on opioid usage. These findings outlined a potential clinical benefit for mollifying pain related to traumatic injuries.
Pediatric Cardiac Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Lin Yi-Chen , Liu Hsi-Che , Hou Jen-Yin , Shih Bing-Fu , Yeh Ting-Chi
Published: April 2023

Cardiac lymphoma is rare in children. Treatment typically includes chemotherapy, combination of radiotherapy, or surgery. We report a case of stage IV precursorBlymphoblastic lymphoma with secondary involvement of the heart in an 11-year-old girl who was treated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia-based chemotherapy. Also, we review the literature on this uncommon malignancy.
Dissecting the genotypic features of a fluoroquinolone-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa ST316 sublineage causing ear infections in Shanghai, China
Authors: Sun Zhewei , Yang Feifei , Ji Jian , Cao Wenjun , Liu Chunhong , Ding Baixing , Xu Xiaogang
Published: April 2023

Limited information is available regarding the genomic characteristics of

P. aeruginosa

causing ear infections. Our aim is to characterize the genotypic features of an emerging ST316 sublineage causing aural infections in Shanghai. A total of 199 ear swab isolates were subjected to whole genome sequencing (WGS). Complete genomes for two isolates were resolved. We showed this recently emerged sublineage exhibited high-level resistance to fluoroquinolones (FQs) primarily by accumulation of known mutations in quinolone resistance determining regions (QRDRs). Loss-of-function mutations in mexR and mexCD were frequently detected. Mutations in fusA1 (P166S) and parE (S492F) were resident in this sublinage about 2 years after its emergence. Recombination events might be a key driver of genomic diversity in this sublineage. Convergent evolution events on Multidrug-resistant (MDR) determinants were also observed. We generated predictive machine models and identified biomarkers of resistance to gentamicin, fosfomycin, and cefoperazone-sulbactam in this sublineage. This sublineage tended to be less virulent by loss of a series virulence genes represented by ppkA, rhlI, and iron uptake- and antimicrobial activity-related genes. Specific mutations were detected in pilU and lpxB genes that related to surface structures. Moreover, this sublineage differed from non-ST316 isolates in several ways, including virulence genes related to cell surface structure. Our analysis suggested acquisition of a roughly 390 kbp MDR plasmid carrying qnrVC1 might play an important role in the success of this sublinage. Clonal expansion of this sublineage exhibiting enhanced adaptation to cause ear infections is concerning, which requires urgent control measures to be implemented.
Sex and time-of-day differences in kidney oxygen consumption
Authors: Dutta Pritha , Layton Anita T.
Published: April 2023

Renal hemodynamics, renal transporter expression levels, and urine excretion all exhibit circadian variations. Disturbance of these diurnal patterns is associated with hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Renal hemodynamics determines oxygen delivery, whereas renal transport and metabolism determines oxygen consumption. The balance between oxygen delivery and consumption then yields renal oxygenation. We hypothesized that kidney oxygenation also demonstrates 24-h periodicity. Another notable modulator of kidney function is sex, which has impacts on renal hemodynamics and transport function that are regulated by as well as independent of the circadian clock. The goal of this study was to investigate the diurnal and sexual variations in renal oxygen consumption and oxygenation. For this purpose, we developed computational models of rat kidney function that represent sexual dimorphism and circadian variation in renal hemodynamics and transporter activities. Model simulations predicted substantial differences in tubular Na+transport and oxygen consumption among different nephron segments. We also simulated the effect of loop diuretics, which are used in the treatment of renal hypoxia, on the outer medullary oxygen tension. Our model predicted a significantly higher effect of loop diuretics on renal oxygenation in female rats compared to male rats. In addition, loop diuretics were more effective when administered during the active phase.
Pharmacological characterization of FC-12738: A Novel Retro-Inverso Pentapeptide for Treating Neuroinflammation
Authors: Ellison Siobhan
Published: April 2023

FC-12738, a retro-inverso pentapeptide developed by Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Inc., is currently under investigation for treating neuroinflammation associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties of FC-12738, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and drug-drug interactions. Pharmacokinetics were assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats and beagle dogs following intravenous and subcutaneous administration. Our findings suggest that FC-12738 demonstrates many favorable pharmacokinetic properties, although further optimization may be required to improve CNS penetrance.
OVERVIEW OF ETHICS COMMITTEE REGISTRATION AND RE-REGISTRATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH IN INDIA
Authors: Kamath Yash , Shetty Yashashri , Kulkarni Ankita
Published: April 2023

The Government of India requires all ethics committees (EC) to register themselves with the Department of Health Research (DHR) and the study aimed to analyze the same. Since post-graduation mandates research – necessitating the presence of EC in the institution – we aimed to analyze the status of registrations along with the presence of ECs in National Medical Council(NMC) and Dental Council of India(DCI)-permitted colleges and also to study zone-wise differences in the same. We also studied the impact of COVID-19 on the registration process. The status of ECs was obtained from the DHR website. ECs information was extracted [location, date & type of Approval]. The search terms “College” and “Hospital” were used to locate Institutional ECs (IEC). A list of Medical and Dental colleges was obtained from the NMC and DCI Websites with their location information. Of 931 IECs, 103(11.06%) had final, 728(78.2%) had provisional approval while 100(10.74%) ECs registration had expired. The median delay to file for provisional approval was 857 (IQR=407) days. The expired ECs functioning without registration for 90 (IQR=131) days. 440 of 931 (47.3%) ECs got registered during the COVID-19 period. The IEC to Medical Colleges ratio shows a significant zone-wise difference (Kruskal-Wallis, p=0.019) with the Northern Zone having the highest mean ratio of 0.90(SD=0.63). It is vital to improve DHR compliance and the EC/College Ratio for appropriate ethical governance and improve international acceptance of Indian Research.
Machine learning detection of SARS-CoV-2 high-risk variants
Authors: Li Lun , Li Cuiping , Li Na , Zou Dong , Zhao Wenming , Xue Yongbiao , Zhang Zhang , Bao Yiming , Song Shuhui
Published: April 2023

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has evolved many high-risk variants, resulting in repeated COVID-19 waves of pandemic during the past years. Therefore, accurate early-warning of high-risk variants is vital for epidemic prevention and control. Here we construct a machine learning model to predict high-risk variants of SARS-CoV-2 by LightGBM algorithm based on several important haplotype network features. As demonstrated on a series of different retrospective testing datasets, our model achieves accurate prediction of all variants of concern (VOC) and most variants of interest (AUC=0.96). Prediction based on the latest sequences shows that the newly emerging lineage BA.5 has the highest risk score and spreads rapidly to become a major epidemic lineage in multiple countries, suggesting that BA.5 bears great potential to be a VOC. In sum, our machine learning model is capable to early predict high-risk variants soon after their emergence, thus greatly improving public health preparedness against the evolving virus.
Atlas drug-eluting coronary stents inhibits neointimal hyperplasia in sheep modeling
Authors: Dinc Rasit , Yerebakan Halit
Published: April 2023

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Many patients with CAD require mechanical revascularization. However, restenosis after minimally invasive intervention is a major problem for these patients. Fortunately, due to the controlled drug delivery properties of drug-eluting stents (DES), this problem seems to be significantly overcome. In this study, the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of Atlas sirolimus-eluting coronary stents coated with PLGA were evaluated.

Materials and Methods

This study was carried out in 20 non-atherosclerotic female sheep, divided into four groups that included 4 study and 1 control randomly assigned to each group. The animals in the study groups were stented with Atlas Drug-eluting coronary stents and the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties were evaluated.

Results

A statistically important effectivity of sirolimus on the vascular endothelium was shown. With time, the decrease in sirolimus in blood samples was statistically significant. In the others, no clinically significant side effects were observed.

Conclusions

The results in this study showed a significant reduction in neointimal hyperplasia after experimental implantation of Atlas drug-eluting stents coated with PLGA polymer. Pharmacokinetic studies also showed that the stent did not release significant left sirolimus after 28 days.
A rapid review of the effectiveness, efficiency, and acceptability of surgical hubs in supporting planned care activity
Authors: Okolie Chukwudi , Everitt Jordan , Wale Alesha , Morgan Helen , Ayres Toby , Shaw Hannah , Lewis Ruth , Cooper Alison , Edwards Adrian
Published: April 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated disruptions to elective care services in the UK, leading to longer waits for treatment and a growing elective surgery backlog. There have been growing calls for the creation of surgical hubs to help reduce this backlog. Surgical hubs aim to increase surgical capacity by providing quicker access to procedures, as well as facilitate infection control by segregating patients and staff from emergency care. This rapid review aimed to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and acceptability of surgical hubs in supporting planned care activity, to inform the implementation of these hubs in Wales.

The review identified evidence available up until January 2023. Twelve primary studies were included, eight of which used comparative methods. Most of the studies were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic and described surgical hubs designed mainly to mitigate the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Outcome measures reported included clinical, performance, economic, and patient reported outcomes across a variety of different surgical disciplines. Most of the studies did not describe surgical hubs based on their structure, i.e., standalone, integrated, or ring-fenced hubs.

The evidence relating to the impact of surgical hubs on clinical outcomes appeared to be heterogenous and limited. Included studies did not appear to control for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on outcomes. Evidence of the impact of surgical hubs on performance outcomes such as efficiency, utilisation/usage, volume of surgeries/treatments, performance, cancellations, and time from diagnosis to treatment is limited. Evidence relating to the economic impact of surgical hubs is also limited, however there is evidence to suggest that total average costs are lower in surgical hubs when compared to general hospitals. Evidence relating to the impact of surgical hubs on patient reported outcomes is limited but indicates there may be a positive effect on patient satisfaction and compliance.

Considerable variation in the types of surgical hubs reviewed, surgical disciplines, along with the small number of comparative studies, as well as methodological limitations across included studies, could limit the applicability of these findings.
Learning radar cross section of an intermeshing-rotor helicopter with blade pitch
Authors: Zhou Zeyang , Huang Jun
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to study the radar cross-section (RCS) of an intermeshing rotor with blade pitch.

Design/methodology/approach

The variation of rotor blade pitch is designed into three modes: fixed mode, linear mode and smooth mode. The dynamic process of two crossed rotors is simulated, where the instantaneous RCS is calculated by physical optics and physical theory of diffraction.

Findings

Increasing the pitch angle in the fixed mode can reduce the average RCS of rotor at the given head azimuth. The RCS curve of helicopter in linear mode and smooth mode will have a large peak in the side direction at the given moment. Although the blade pitch in smooth mode is generally larger than that in fixed mode, the smooth mode is conducive to reducing the peak and mean value of helicopter RCS at the given heading azimuth.

Originality/value

The calculation method for analyzing RCS of intermeshing rotor with variable blade pitch is established.
The intricate web: network and rhizome metaphors in hypertext and the web and the epistemic challenge of fake news
Authors: Tredinnick Luke
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This article analyses the structure of hypertext and the world wide web through the contrasting metaphors of the network and the rhizome and applies that analysis to the epistemic challenge presented by fake news.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a critical and theoretical study of the development of concepts in information science. It outlines the limitations of the network metaphor and analyses the ways in which it has influenced both the development and critical understanding of the World Wide Web and its wider social and cultural consequences. The paper develops an alternative description of the ontological structure of the Web in terms of interrupted and dissipated energy flows.

Findings

The paper argues that the Web is better described as a dynamic reorganization of the socio-cultural system that has no determinate boundaries and which is constituted properly in the spaces between technologies and the spaces between persons.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to and extends research into the rhizomic nature of hypertext and the Word Wide Web and in understanding the role of metaphor in descriptions of hypertext and the web.
A model of collusion formation and measurement in the open ascending bid auctions in the agricultural markets
Authors: Das Dipankar
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper gives a model of collusion formation and a method of measuring the degree of it among the traders/bidders in the agricultural commodity markets in India. The important assumption is that the bidding is repetitive with a set of common bidders. The theory has been derived based on the behavior of the wholesale market of agricultural commodities in India. The paper is based on full information in the collusion formation. The paper first derives the theoretical structure of the bidders' behavior and thereafter derives a measure of collusion formation with the help of real-life data.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used the standard theory of optimization and the theory of auction and probability statistics.

Findings

This is a complete information model of cartel formation. The bidding is repetitive and continues forever in discrete time. Hence bidders behavior is observable. Using the proposed method, if the APMC measures for each market and publishes on a periodic basis, say weekly basis, then it will be easier to break the collusion in the market where relative collision is present. For example, if a farmer has three options to sell in three different markets, then the published data would help them to select the market where the degree of collusion is relatively lower. Moreover, the undesirable loss can be avoided based on the right choice of market. As a result, transaction costs will be optima.

Originality/value

The paper first derives the theoretical structure of the bidders' behavior and thereafter derives a measure of collusion formation with the help of real-life data.
Innovative technology services: the human side of knowledge
Authors: Curto da Costa Daniele de Lourdes , Gomes Giancarlo , Borini Felipe Mendes , Alegre Joaquin
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Among the existing literature, transformational leadership (TL), organizational culture (OC) and work–life balance (WLB) act as determinants of service innovation (SI). Specifically, the authors combine TL, OC and WLB into a model that clarifies these variables' influence on SI, particularly technological knowledge-intensive business services (T-KIBS).

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey of 282 respondents from T-KIBS in Santa Catarina (Brazil) was conducted. The study used structural equation modeling (SEM) to test hypothesized relationships between the variables.

Findings

The results suggest a strong alignment of culture, leadership and WLB in T-KIBS. Therefore, it is shown that when the culture is strong and focused on SI, supporting the practices of employees, the transformative leaders can contribute with the same direction of actions supporting both WLB and SI. Likewise, the WLB is underpinned by cultures offering their employees support, well-being, creativity and innovation incentives.

Originality/value

The relationship between WLB and innovation is still emerging in research, not clearly defined in literature. Therefore, this study brings new and more in-depth information about these dimensions and their interrelations that influence SI. In addition, this conceptual framework has implications for practitioners not previously contemplated by the mainstream literature on KIBS.
A conceptual appraisal towards the contextualization of product and process innovation in clothing manufacturing
Authors: Ndwiga Duncan Kariuki , Ciera Lucy Wanjiru , Mokabi Geoffrey Ngugi
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to address the aspects of product and process innovation strategies and their determining factors to understand their characteristics in clothing manufacturing and contribution for a successful and competitive clothing industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This general review is based on literature data of previous studies on innovation that transcend and cover the aspects of innovation applicable in the clothing industry. Although the scope of discussion is theoretically broad, it focusses on the context of innovation strategies in clothing manufacturing and the determinant factors indicating the acquisition and implementation of product and process-related innovation activities, simultaneously exploring and linking their implications for adopting, managing and integrating enterprise activities to the values of desired innovation novel models.

Findings

Based on theoretical background and pragmatic generalizations, product and process innovation strategies in clothing manufacturing firms tend to incline more towards computer-integrated technologies and concepts meant to promote product development, process optimization and organizational integration. Industry, technological and R&D factors tend to significantly determine innovation capability of a clothing firm.

Originality/value

This review generates integrated conceptual frameworks for product and process innovation strategies applicable in clothing firms and their determinant factors as prelude to empirical validation.
Influence of parents' education and home literacy environment on reading interest of deaf children
Authors: Wang Qianqian , Ma Minjie , Huang Yan , Wang Xichen , Wang Tingzhao
Published: April 2023

Background

Reading interest plays an important role in predicting and regulating the literacy development of deaf children, but the family factors influencing their reading interest have not been previously explored. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of parents' education and home literacy environment (HLE) on reading interest of deaf children.

Method

One hundred and thirty‐two deaf children from Grades 1 to 6 aged 8–15 from China participated in our study. The parents of these children completed our survey of parents' education, HLE and children's reading interest. These variables were then processed and analysed by correlation, regression analyses and structural equation modelling.

Results

HLE played a complete intermediary role in the regression relationship between parents' education and reading interest of deaf children, and this effect had no significant difference between genders.

Conclusions

Parents' education has a positive and predictive effect on reading interest of deaf children, while creating a high‐quality HLE may improve this effect.
Social media and COVID‐19 vaccination hesitancy during pregnancy: a mixed methods analysis
Authors: Golder S. , McRobbie‐Johnson A. C. E. , Klein A. , Polite F. G. , Gonzalez Hernandez G.
Published: April 2023

Objective

To evaluate the reasons for COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy during pregnancy.

Design

We used regular expressions to identify publicly available social media posts from pregnant people expressing at least one reason for their decision not to accept COVID‐19 vaccine.

Setting

Two social media platforms – WhatToExpect and Twitter.

Sample

A total of 945 pregnant people in WhatToExpect (1017 posts) and 345 pregnant people in Twitter (435 tweets).

Methods

Two annotators manually coded posts according to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) working group's 3Cs vaccine hesitancy model (confidence, complacency and convenience barriers). Within each 3Cs we created subthemes that emerged from the data.

Main Outcome Measures

Subthemes were derived according to the people's posting own words.

Results

Safety concerns were most common and largely linked to the perceived speed at which the vaccine was created and the lack of data about its safety in pregnancy. This led to a preference to wait until after the baby was born or to take other precautions instead. Complacency surrounded a belief that they are young and healthy or already had COVID‐19. Misinformation led to false safety and efficacy allegations, or even conspiracy theories, and fed into creating confidence and complacency barriers. Convenience barriers (such as availability) were uncommon.

Conclusion

The information in this study can be used to highlight the questions, fears and hesitations pregnant people have about the COVID‐19 vaccine. Highlighting these hesitations can help public health campaigns and improve communication between healthcare professionals and patients.
Progestogen maintenance therapy for prolongation of pregnancy after an episode of preterm labour: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Breuking Sofie H. , De Ruigh Annemijn A. , Hermans Frederik J. R. , Schuit Ewoud , Combs C. Andrew , de Tejada Begoña Martinez , Oudijk Martijn A. , Mol Ben W. , Pajkrt Eva
Published: April 2023

Background

Evidence for progestogen maintenance therapy after an episode of preterm labour (PTL) is contradictory.

Objectives

To assess effectiveness of progestogen maintenance therapy after an episode of PTL.

Search Strategy

An electronic search in Central Cochrane, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline and clinical trial databases was performed.

Selection Criteria

Randomised controlled trials (RCT) investigating women between 16+0and 37+0 weeks of gestation with an episode of PTL who were treated with progestogen maintenance therapy compared with a control group.

Data Collection and Analysis

Systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted. The primary outcome was latency time in days. Secondary neonatal and maternal outcomes are consistent with the core outcome set for preterm birth studies. Studies were extensively assessed for data trustworthiness (integrity) and risk of bias.

Main Results

Thirteen RCT (1722 women) were included. Progestogen maintenance therapy demonstrated a longer latency time of 4.32 days compared with controls (mean difference [MD] 4.32, 95% CI 0.40–8.24) and neonates were born with a higher birthweight (MD 124.25 g, 95% CI 8.99–239.51). No differences were found for other perinatal outcomes. However, when analysing studies with low risk of bias only (five RCT, 591 women), a significantly longer latency time could not be shown (MD 2.44 days; 95% CI −4.55 to 9.42).

Conclusions

Progestogen maintenance therapy after PTL might have a modest effect on prolongation of latency time. When analysing low risk of bias studies only, this effect was not demonstrated. Validation through further research, preferably by an individual patient data meta‐analysis is highly recommended.
Busy day effect on adverse obstetric outcomes using a nationwide ecosystem approach: Cross‐sectional register study of 601 247 hospital deliveries
Authors: Vilkko Riitta , Räisänen Sari , Gissler Mika , Stefanovic Vedran , Kalliala Ilkka , Heinonen Seppo
Published: April 2023

Objective

To study the busy day effect on selected neonatal adverse outcomes in different sized delivery hospitals and in the entire nationwide obstetric ecosystem.

Design

A cross‐sectional register study.

Setting

The lowest and highest 10% of the daily delivery volume distribution were defined as quiet and busy days, respectively. The days between (80%) were defined as optimal delivery volume days. The differences in the incidence of selected adverse neonatal outcome measures were analysed between busy versus optimal days and quiet versus optimal days at the hospital category and for the entire obstetric ecosystem level.

Population

A total of 601 247 singleton hospital deliveries between 2006 and 2016, occurred in non‐tertiary (C1–C4, stratified by size) and tertiary level (C5) delivery hospitals.

Methods

Analyses were performed by the methods of the regression analyses with crude and adjusted odds ratios including 99% CI.

Main outcome measures

Birth asphyxia.

Results

At the ecosystem level, adjusted odds ratio for birth asphyxia was 0.81 (99% CI 0.76–0.87) on busy versus optimal days. Breakdown to hospital categories show that adjusted odds ratios for asphyxia on busy versus optimal days in non‐tertiary hospitals (C3, C4) were 0.25 (99% CI 0.16–0.41) and 0.17 (99% CI 0.13–0.22), respectively, and in tertiary hospitals was 1.20 (99% CI 1.10–1.32).

Conclusions

Busy day effect as a stress test caused no extra cases of neonatal adverse outcomes at the ecosystem level. However, in non‐tertiary hospitals busy days were associated with a lower and in tertiary hospitals a higher incidence of neonatal adverse outcomes.
Stories beat experts: A survey experiment on political persuasiveness
Authors: BARBET BERTA , DE MORAGAS ANTONI‐ITALO , VIDAL GUILLEM
Published: April 2023

Are personal stories more effective in shaping opinion than experts’ endorsements? This study investigates the persuasiveness of personal stories and expert endorsements in shaping public opinion on education spending and pollution reduction policies. Using a survey experiment in Spain, we found that personal stories consistently increased support for both policies, with a particularly strong effect on citizens with populist attitudes or voters of populist parties. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the success of populist parties and the influence of personal stories on public opinion.
GTSE1 promotes the growth of NSCLC by regulating microtubule‐associated proteins through the ERK/MAPK pathway
Authors: Wang Chuanlin , Wen Meiyan , Xu Jiali , Gao Pengning , Liu Shanling , Liu Jiayu , Chen Ying , Zhou Lan
Published: April 2023

The role of G2 and S phase‐expressed‐1 (GTSE1), a microtubule‐localized protein, in non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unknown. We explored its role in NSCLC growth. GTSE1 was detected in NSCLC tissues and cell lines using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The clinical significance of GTSE1 levels was evaluated. Biological and apoptotic effects of GTSE1 were evaluated using transwell, cell‐scratch, and MTT assays, and flow cytometry and western blotting, respectively. Its association with cellular microtubules was shown by western blotting and immunofluorescence. GTSE1 expression was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. GTSE1 levels correlated with lymph node metastasis. Higher GTSE1 mRNA expression correlated with shorter progression‐free survival. GTSE1‐knockdown decreased proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and migration of NSCLC cells, and inhibited tau and stathmin‐1 microtubule‐associated protein expression, via the extracellular‐regulated protein kinase/mitogen‐activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) signaling pathway, and microtubule disruption. GTSE1 may promote NSCLC growth by regulating tau and stathmin‐1 through the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway.
How many sites? Methods to assist design decisions when collecting multivariate data in ecology
Authors: Maslen Ben , Popovic Gordana , Lim Michelle , Marzinelli Ezequiel , Warton David
Published: April 2023

Sample size estimation through power analysis is a fundamental tool in planning an ecological study, yet there are currently no well‐established procedures for when multivariate abundances are to be collected. A power analysis procedure would need to address three challenges: designing a parsimonious simulation model that captures key community data properties; measuring effect size in a realistic yet interpretable fashion; and ensuring computational feasibility when simulation is used both for power estimation and significance testing.

Here, we propose a power analysis procedure that addresses these three challenges by: using for simulation a Gaussian copula model with factor analytical structure, fitted to pilot data; assuming a common effect size across all taxa, but applied in different directions according to expert opinion (to “increaser”, “decreaser” or “no effect” taxa); using a critical value approach to estimate power, which reduces computation time by a factor of 500 (if we would otherwise use 999 resamples to estimate each p‐value) with minor loss of accuracy.

The procedure is demonstrated on pilot data from fish assemblages in a restoration study, where it was found that the planned study design would only be capable of detecting relatively large effects (change in abundance by a factor of 1.7 or more).

The methods outlined in this paper are available in accompanying R software (the ecopower package), which allows researchers with pilot data to answer a wide range of design questions to assist them in planning their studies.
Explainable neural networks for trait‐based multispecies distribution modelling—A case study with butterflies and moths
Authors: Bourhis Yoann , Bell James R. , Shortall Chris R. , Kunin William E. , Milne Alice E.
Published: April 2023

Species response traits mediate environmental effects on species distribution. Traits are used in joint and multispecies distribution models (JSDMs and MSDMs) to enable community‐wide shared parameters that characterise niche filtering along environmental gradients. Multispecies machine learning SDMs, however, do not use traits as their inclusion requires an additional taxonomic dimension that is incompatible with their usual tabular inputs. This has confined trait mediation in SDMs to hierarchical Bayesian models. Here we provide a novel artificial neural network (ANN) architecture that solves this dimensionality problem.

Our ANN includes species traits (via a time distributed layer) and is therefore able to identify not only species‐specific responses to the environment, but also shared responses across the community that are mediated by species traits. Model performance evaluated at the species level not only quantifies the reliability of species predictions, but also their departure from an average response dictated by traits only.

We apply our model to two unique long‐term spatio‐temporal of butterfly and moth datasets collected across the United Kingdom between 1990 and 2019. In addition to species traits, predictors include numerous metrics derived from weather, land‐cover and topology data. For butterflies and moths we show convincing model performance for classifying species occupancy. We use SHAP (Shapley Additive exPlanations) to explain the ANN and show how trait‐mediated and species‐specific responses can be approximated, hence yielding ecological insights on the key drivers of species distribution. We highlight a range of drivers of change that determine occupancy, including wind, temperature as well as habitat type.

We demonstrate that a trait‐based approach can be encoded as an ANN by using a time distributed layer. This brings ANNs unmatched predictive capabilities to the field of MSDMs, at the same time of lifting their reputed drawback of poor explainability.