bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Median Effective Dose of Ciprofol Combined With Sufentanil for Inhibiting the Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Placement Reaction in Elderly Patients
Authors: Xiong Haojing , Xu Hechen , Yang Yang , Hu Bailong , Jiang Ke , Zou Xiaohua
Published: April 2024

Objective

Ciprofol is a new sedative anesthetic drug that can be used for gastrointestinal endoscopy and induction of general anesthesia, but the appropriate dosage for use in elderly patients has not been determined. Sufentanil is a commonly used opioid in clinical practice, and this study was designed to induce anesthesia in elderly patients using sufentanil in combination with ciprofol. However, the optimal dosage of ciprofol when it is co-administered with sufentanil has not yet been established. This study was designed to find the median effective dose (ED50) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of ciprofol for intravenous anesthesia when combined with sufentanil.

Methods

We studied 57 patients who were scheduled to undergo a diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. According to age, it was divided into two groups: 65∼74 years old (group A) and over 75 years old (group B). Using the modified Dixon sequence test method, intravenous bolus of 0.1 μg/kg sufentanil was given 3 min before ciprofol is administered, the initial dose of ciprofol was 0.4 mg/kg, the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was placed after reaching the depth of sedation, and vital signs and adverse events were recorded at each perioperative time point (T0-T7).

Results

In the group A, when combined with 0.1 μg/kg sufentanil, the ED50 of ciprofol to inhibiting responses to insertion of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was 0.23 mg/kg, and the 95% CI was 0.09∼0.30 mg/kg; in the group B, the ED50 was 0.18 mg/kg, and the 95% CI was 0.13∼0.22 mg/kg.

Conclusion

The ED50 of ciprofol in combination with sufentanil (0.1 μg/kg) for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in elderly patients: 0.23 mg/kg in group A and 0.18 mg/kg in group B.
Safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke of large-vessel occlusion beyond the time window based on imaging evaluation
Authors: Chen Shi-Dun , Yang Cheng-Bao , Wang Yong-Xiang , Yin Yue-Han , Gao Bu-Lang , Chen Chun-Guang
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Endovascular treatment (EVT) of acute ischemic stroke caused by large-vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) over 24 h of onset remains controversial. This study was to explore the safety and efficacy of EVT for patients with AIS-LVO between 24 and 72 h of symptom onset after rigorous imaging evaluation.

Methods

Patients with AIS-LVO treated with EVT were retrospectively enrolled and divided into two groups according to the time from symptom onset to groin puncture: 64 in the over-time group (>24 h) and 257 in the within-time group (≤24 h). Outcomes included 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, functional independence (defined as mRS 0–2), successful cerebral reperfusion, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and 3-month mortality.

Results

Patients in the over-time group had no significant differences in the functional independence (40.6% vs 42.5%, odds ratio or OR 0.91, 95% confidence interval or CI 0.52–1.60, p = 0.753), successful reperfusion (96.7% vs 95.8%, OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.36–1.59, p = 0.467), sICH (8.3% vs 6.7%, OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.42–3.38, p = 0.735), 3-month mortality (13.3% vs 10.8%, OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.51–2.70, p = 0.716) compared with patients in the within-time group. After matching adjustment, the results did not change significantly.

Conclusions

The safety and effectiveness of EVT treatment for selected AIS-LVO patients with symptom onset of 24–72 h are not inferior to those treated within 6–24 h of onset, especially in a short term based on the pre-treatment advanced neuroimaging computed tomography perfusion even though further investigations are necessary to prove this finding.
From “Listen and Repeat” to “Listen and Revise”: How to Transcribe Interviews Offline Quickly and for Free Using Voice Recognition Software
Authors: Battaglia Fabio
Published: April 2024

Transcribing interviews is one of the most time-consuming and alienating tasks in qualitative research. Some have tried to bypass the problem by hiring external transcribers, which however can be very expensive. Whether due to the time and energy or the financial investment that transcribing requires, researchers therefore often self-impose a limit on the number of interviews that they conduct or even refuse to conduct interviews altogether. To prevent this and help reduce transcription fatigue, some scholars have developed the so-called “listen and repeat” technique. This involves speaking into a microphone what one hears through their headset while a voice recognition software transcribes word by word what it hears. However, this technique has many limitations and still requires a considerable amount of time and effort to be put by the researcher. This article introduces an alternative transcription technique which helps overcome these problems thanks to recent advancements of Artificial Intelligence in the field of voice recognition. Although the drawbacks and unintended consequences of Artificial Intelligence are often highlighted, this article explores its use for interview transcription showing that it can improve drastically the work and life of qualitative researchers. More specifically, this article introduces a transcription technique which allows to generate transcripts fully offline (avoiding in so doing the security concerns that the rising number of cloud-based transcription platforms often raise), rapidly and at little to no cost which one only needs to revise whilst listening to interview recordings, which is why I call this the “listen and revise” technique.
Renal artery occlusion in a young woman – a tale of mysterious thrombosis
Authors: Farley Ned , Faraj Joseph , Fernando Malindu , Singh Tejas , Powell Aaron , Kumar Senthil
Published: April 2024

Background

Renal artery thrombosis is rare and limited reports exist in the young population. The most common aetiology is thromboembolic disease or abdominal trauma in this population and isolated occurrences are extremely rare. We present the case of an 18-year-old woman with spontaneous unilateral renal artery thrombosis and infarction for whom reperfusion was achieved through endovascular intervention. The aetiology of her thrombosis remains unclear and is under investigation with differential diagnoses being fibromuscular dysplasia, large and medium vessel vasculitis, and thromboembolic causes.

Objective

To demonstrate the value in attempting salvage of an ischaemic kidney in a young patient with an unexplained spontaneous renal thrombosis.

Method

JM is an 18-year-old woman who presented to a large regional tertiary hospital with 3 days of right flank pain. She had no infective symptoms and no urinary or bowel changes before admission. She was not pregnant, and her only medication was the oral contraceptive pill commenced 3 months prior. A CT angiogram demonstrated right renal artery thrombosis with renal infarction. The kidney was deemed potentially salvageable, and ultrasound defined adequate vessel calibre to access for thrombectomy in the context of a negative coagulopathy screen.

Results

The patient underwent thrombolysis, thrombectomy and balloon angioplasty. Intraoperatively, a thin segment of distal stenosis was identified, and angiogram reperfusion was achieved with subsequent improvement in renal function.

Conclusion

Renal artery thrombosis in young people is extremely rare and presents a diagnostic and management challenge requiring input from multiple teams including nephrology, rheumatology, paediatrics and vascular surgery. Systemic coagulopathy and vasculitis are differentials against anatomical aetiologies such as fibromuscular dysplasia. Our case adds to the limited literature regarding this in the young population. Renal artery thrombosis with occlusion in young people is very rare and is most often associated with a systemic coagulopathic disorder, such as antiphospholipid syndrome or structural pathology of the renal vasculature such as fibromuscular dysplasia. The work-up of a young female presenting with renal artery thrombosis without any previous medical history screens for a wide range of pathological processes.
Mechanisms of the social control of children and young people: From ‘stop and search’ to ‘stop and engage’ in Police Scotland
Authors: Clayton Estelle
Published: April 2024

Since the implementation of stop and search reform in Scotland, the volume of this tactic has decreased and proportionality has increased. However, little has been published that has detailed the design, communication and implementation of stop and search reform in Scotland. This article traces the policy intentions of this reform programme and demonstrates that these aligned with central tenets of procedural justice theory. This article then examines ethnographic data regarding the dissemination and implementation of reform into police practice between 2016 and 2018, which demonstrates that the procedural justice intentions of reform to improve the policing of Scotland’s children and young people were not reproduced in practice. Instead, reform paved the way for the emergence of a new and unscrutinised practice that came to be known as ‘stop and engage’ that has enabled the continued antagonistic and over-policing of young people in the post-reform environment.
How to follow up patients with brachial plexus birth palsy in the long term: a survey of expert opinion
Authors: de Joode Stijn G. C. J. , Schotanus Martijn G. M. , van Rhijn Lodewijk W. , Samijo Steven K. , Aly A , Amin S , Atalar A , Aydin A , Bahm J , Battiston B , Beressa H , Bhatia A , Casanas J , Celaj A , Concha R , Concha E , Cronin K , Cuadros M , Dailiana Z , Ferraresi S , Ferreira R , Fouad B , Gazarian A , Garcia A , Garg R , Kawabata H , Lin A , Mahmoud M , Nascimento A , Nelissen R , Nordmark P , Nouri S , Ozkan T , Price A , Russo S , Samijo S , Suleiman F , Valenti P , Zlotolow D
Published: April 2024

There is no generally accepted diagnostic, treatment and follow-up algorithm for brachial plexus birth palsy in the current literature. This study evaluates the opinion of experts in the field of brachial plexus birth palsy surgery, to provide a follow-up guideline. A total of 35 experts attending an international meeting with a mean of 21.5 years (SD 10.1) of experience in the field filled out a questionnaire to evaluate the following: (1) the surgeons’ background; (2) clinical follow-up; (3) radiological follow-up; and (4) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains. A mean of 40 new brachial plexus birth palsy patients were seen per year by each expert, of which 36% needed surgery. In total, 27 experts scheduled a regular follow-up every year and the majority (83%) believed that standardized long-term clinical follow-up is necessary. However, standardized radiological follow-up is not necessary. Only 13 of 34 participants used patient-reported outcome measures to investigate ICF domains.

Level of evidence: V
Pembrolizumab-induced nephrotoxicity in a patient with breast cancer
Authors: Alkassis Samer , Fitzsimmons Kasey , Hurvitz Sara
Published: April 2024

The introduction of immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment and improved outcomes of multiple types of cancer. Although breast cancer is a less immune-responsive tumor type, the incorporation of pembrolizumab into chemotherapy regimens in the neoadjuvant and first-line metastatic setting for the triple-negative disease has improved outcomes. However, the use of this type of treatment is associated with a spectrum of adverse events. Although rarely affected, kidneys can be a target for immunotherapy, leading to irreversible injury if not recognized and addressed early. A 52-year-old woman presented with clinical stage II right breast cancer diagnosed at an outside facility. Neoadjuvant docetaxel/carboplatin/pembrolizumab every 3 weeks was started. Given the partial response on MRI after the 4th cycle, treatment was switched to doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide. However, pembrolizumab was held in cycle 2 due to the rash and then resumed in cycle 3 after the resolution of symptoms. Elevated creatinine was noted 3 weeks after the last dose of pembrolizumab without improvement despite adequate fluid resuscitation. Diagnostic workup was unremarkable except for pyuria and minimal albuminuria on urinalysis. In the absence of other risk factors and the temporal relationship between pembrolizumab administration and the onset of acute kidney injury (AKI), immune-related nephrotoxicity was the underlying diagnosis. After initiation of corticosteroids, creatinine decreased back to baseline without the need for kidney biopsy. An addendum to the original pathology report from the outside facility surfaced 5 months after starting treatment, revealing that the second breast lesion had a Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test performed that was positive. Given this fact, therapy was changed to two cycles of neoadjuvant paclitaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab/pertuzumab, with approximately 8 weeks between the last pembrolizumab dose and the first dose of trastuzumab. Thereafter, she underwent a right breast mastectomy which showed residual invasive carcinoma with negative margins and lymph nodes. She completed 1 year of trastuzumab. Immune-related AKI is a rare, but potentially serious complication associated with an increase in mortality. Further research is needed in the development and early detection. There is promising research in the development of noninvasive biomarkers which has the added benefit of identifying patients who can be re-challenged with immunotherapy.
A Nutrition-Focused Approach During Continuous Glucose Monitoring Initiation in People With Type 2 Diabetes: Using a Theoretical Framework to Unite Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Food Choices
Authors: Willis Holly J. , Johnson Elizabeth , JaKa Meghan
Published: April 2024

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has transformed diabetes care, yet opportunities for further innovations still exist. Some research suggests CGM could be an ideal tool to guide food choices and other healthy lifestyle behaviors, especially for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Behavior change theories can be used to understand and describe how CGM users make food-related decisions, which could ultimately lead to the design of more tailored and effective interventions. In this commentary, we describe what it looks like to use the behavior change wheel—a theory-based intervention development framework—to design an intervention for people with T2D who will use CGM data to guide food choices aligned with evidence-based nutrition recommendations. Such frameworks may be beneficial when designing or evaluating future technology-focused behavior change interventions.
Four-year variation in pathogen distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of urosepsis: a single-center retrospective analysis
Authors: Wu Yu-yun , Li Pei , Huang Zi-ye , Liu Jian-he , Yang Bo-wei , Zhou Wen-bo , Duan Fei , Wang Guang , Li Jiong-ming
Published: April 2024

Background:

Urosepsis is a common disease in urology, which is characterized by high treatment costs and high mortality. In the treatment of sepsis, anti-infection therapy is the most important means. However, the effect of empirical anti-infection therapy is often not ideal. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor the prevalence of bacterial isolates in the blood culture of patients with urinary sepsis and their sensitivity to antibacterial drugs. This is of great significance to improve the efficacy of empirical antibiotic therapy for urosepsis.

Objective:

To elucidate the landscape of prevailing bacterial profiles and their antimicrobial susceptibilities in urosepsis cases, and to furnish robust clinical evidence to underpin the timely initiation of empirical antibiotic treatment.

Methods:

Collect the basic information and blood culture results of patients with urosepsis hospitalized from 2017 to 2020. Retrospective analysis of bacterial species and antimicrobial susceptibility in urosepsis and changes over 4 years.

Results:

Gram-negative bacteria (178 isolates, 75.11%) constituted the main pathogens causing urosepsis, followed by Gram-positive bacteria (46 isolates, 19.41%) and fungus (13 isolates, 5.48%). The sensitivity of ertapenem, meropenem, amikacin, and imipenem to Gram-negative bacteria all exceeded 85%. The sensitivity rates of levofloxacin, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin are decreasing every year ( p < 0.05). Tigecycline, vancomycin, and linezolid exhibited excellent sensitivity against Gram-positive bacteria. Among fungi, fluconazole demonstrated universal sensitivity, while itraconazole-resistant isolates have been found, and amphotericin B is still effective.

Conclusion:

Analysis of blood culture results of patients more accurately reflected the etiology of urosepsis, mainly Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. If there are no definitive blood culture results, empiric treatment of urosepsis should not include fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Cefepime, cefoxitin, and ceftazidime are the most sensitive antibiotics to Gram-negative bacteria besides carbapenem antibiotics. In addition, the current situation regarding extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing bacteria and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria resistance is extremely concerning with limited therapeutic options available. Strengthening antibiotic management practices and exploring novel antibacterial agents can help mitigate this issue.
Dyslipidemia and hypercalciuria in a patient with pantothenate kinase 2 deficiency: A novel variant and case report
Authors: Rodriguez-Perez Henry-Marcelo , Reyes-Flores Olga-Berenice , Quiñonez-Pacheco Yazmin , Centeno-Navarrete Yahir-Arturo , Gonzalez-Vazquez Cruz , Campos-Garcia Felix-Julian
Published: April 2024

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN, OMIM: 234200) results from biallelic pathogenic variants in PANK2 which encodes pantothenate kinase 2, a crucial mitochondrial enzyme involved in coenzyme A biosynthesis. Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration patients typically exhibit the distinctive “eye of the tiger” sign on brain magnetic resonance imaging in the globus pallidus, along with psychiatric symptoms, extrapyramidal movements such as parkinsonism and dystonia, eventual speech and gait impairments, and the presence of dysphagia. An 11-year-old girl, with fifth-degree consanguinity, demonstrated typical psychomotor development and growth until the age of 5, when she began experiencing psychiatric symptoms. At the age of 9, she developed hand tremors, progressing to generalized muscular dystonia. By age 10, she exhibited gait and speech impairment. Physical examination revealed extensive generalized dystonia, hand tremors, speech impairment, dysphagia, inability to walk, and heightened osteotendinous reflexes. Metabolic analysis identified dyslipidemia with partial response to statin treatment and normocalcemic hypercalciuria. Exome sequencing revealed a novel likely pathogenic variant in PANK2 (NM_001386393.1:c.526C > G) in a homozygotic state. Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration typically manifests with generalized dystonia and psychiatric symptoms. Here, we present a Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration patient with dyslipidemia and hypercalciuria as potentially previously undescribed metabolic phenotype.
How Do Information Sources Influence the Purchases of Tourism, Culture, and Entertainment? An Analysis of China Family Panel Studies Data
Authors: Chen Qiao , Mao Yan , Morrison Alastair M.
Published: April 2024

Information sources affect people’s tourism, culture, and entertainment buying. It is therefore important to study the apportionment effects by information source type and comprehensively analyze how information sources positively or negatively impact the consumption of tourism, culture, and entertainment. This research analyzed the influence of four information sources on such buying based on data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) from 2014 to 2018. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationships among variables. The findings were that: (1) information sources (Internet, broadcast, print, and word of mouth) had a significant positive impact on tourism, culture, and entertainment buying; (2) the effects of information were significantly different based on age, education level, and place of residence (urban vs. rural); and (3) information source digitalization increased the share of TCE consumption in overall household consumption through improving social interactions and convenience of transactions. The findings contribute to alleviating the information asymmetry in tourism consumption, helping tourism enterprises develop targeted marketing measures, and promoting the improvement of residents’ tourism consumption.
Language Abstraction in Negative Online Customer Reviews: The Choice of Corporate Response Strategy and Voice
Authors: Feng Wei , Yan Jinzhe
Published: April 2024

This study argues that the degree of linguistic abstraction in negative reviews can lead to varying levels of persuasiveness and that tailoring response strategies and voice according to the situation mitigates the impact of negative reviews. This study examines the impact of language abstraction in negative online reviews on potential customers’ attitudes and purchase intention, as well as the moderating effects of managerial responses, response strategies, and response voices on the persuasiveness of negative reviews. The data were collected through three studies that focused on reviews and managerial responses across both the service and functional product categories. The mediation analysis showed that, compared to abstract negative reviews, concrete negative reviews could significantly enhance potential customers’ attribution of responsibility toward service or product providers and their perception of stability and controllability of negative events, leading to a more negative perception of the company, but not lower purchase intention. Additionally, the moderation analysis showed that corporate responses could significantly reduce potential customers’ attribution of responsibility to the disputing company and improve their evaluation. Accommodative responses to concrete negative reviews and defensive responses to abstract negative reviews induced potential customers to make favorable judgments about the firm.
Bibliometric Review of Teacher Professional Identity Scholarship Over Two Decades
Authors: Yan Yiqian
Published: April 2024

This study presents a bibliometric review of teacher professional identity (TPI) research from 2004 to 2023. 4,066 SSCI-indexed papers retrieved from the Web of Science database were identified for analysis using CiteSpace. The major findings are: (1) The publications have increased significantly from 2004 to 2021, there is a slight decline in recent 2 years. (2) Top contributing country, institution, and journal are the US, University of London, Teaching and Teacher Education respectively. (3) The top productive authors are Yuan Rui, Trent John, and Nazari Mostafa respectively, the top cited authors are Beijaard D, Gee JP, and Lave J. (4) TPI research has evolved in terms of multiple theoretical lens, diversity of discipline and participants, and methodological shift. (5) Emerging trends include teacher agency, positioning theory, and English-medium instruction (EMI) policy. This study has implications for future researchers.
A Systematic Review of Big Data Driven Education Evaluation
Authors: Lin Lin , Zhou Danhua , Wang Jingying , Wang Yu
Published: April 2024

The rapid development of artificial intelligence has driven the transformation of educational evaluation into big data-driven. This study used a systematic literature review method to analyzed 44 empirical research articles on the evaluation of big data education. Firstly, it has shown an increasing trend year by year, and is mainly published in thematic journals such as educational technology, science education, and language teaching. Chinese and American researchers have made the greatest contributions in this field. Secondly, the algorithmic models for big data education evaluation research are diverse, the text modality is the most popular, the evaluation subjects are mainly college students, with fewer primary and secondary school students, and science is the discipline that most commonly applies big data education evaluation. The evaluation objectives of big data education evaluation mainly focus on five aspects: high-order thinking analysis, learning performance prediction, learning emotion recognition, teaching management decision-making, and evaluation mode optimization, and the text modality is widely used for data collection in high-order thinking analysis; regardless of the evaluation objectives, higher education students are the most widely evaluated objects; the science discipline is the main field of using big data technology to empower teaching evaluation. Thirdly, the current research topics of big data education evaluation mainly focus on online learning behavior and environmental participation evaluation, process assessment of learning motivation and emotional analysis, development and optimization of subject domain big data models, cognitive diagnosis and high-order thinking skills evaluation, and design of learning analysis frameworks based on data mining.
A Multilevel Perspective on High-Performance Work System, Mindfulness, Employee Work Well-Being, and Employee Creative Engagement
Authors: Chan Hui-Chun , Chu Kuo-Ming
Published: April 2024

As the basis of firm innovation, employee creativity engagement plays an important role in this process. According to strategic human resources management, high-performance work systems (HPWS) (organizational level) and mindfulness (individual level) trigger employee creativity in improving several work-related outcomes like work well-being and employee creativity. However, existing studies that have considered the relationships between HPWS and the underlying/boundary mechanism (organization-to-employee) are scarce. A cross-level influence of the hierarchical linear model based on 44 enterprises and 382 employees in Taiwan indicated: Based on the findings of the study, HPWS and mindfulness have significant positive effects on employee creativity. While HPWS enhanced employee creative engagement by increasing employee work well-being, at the same time, employee mindfulness could improve employee creative engagement by increasing employee work well-being. We also find strong evidence that the system is an important organizational factor that modifies work well-being and employee creative engagement relationship; furthermore, employees’ work well-being may affect mood disturbances and stress reduction in association with creative engagement and mindfulness. The findings of our study shed light on a blueprint for future research into HPWS, mindfulness, and employee creativity is presented. Taking these findings into account, we discussed them both theoretically and practically.
Domestic and Global Causes for Exchange Rate Volatility: Evidence From Turkey
Authors: Ozkaya Ata , Altun Omer
Published: April 2024

Understanding which factors influence exchange rate movements is important for understanding economic development, trade patterns, investment decisions, and for designing economic policies. In this study, we allow for monetary, domestic and global financial variables to assess the relevant importance of each of the variables to exchange rate volatility in the case of Turkey. The paper investigates the dynamics of exchange rate volatility of the Turkish lira in a complementary perspective by employing both Generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) method and Lyapunov exponents over the period from March 1, 2019 to November 11, 2021. Firstly, decomposing the impact of domestic and global financial variables, the results of the GARCH model indicate that the exchange rate volatility is affected by Volatility index (VIX) and Credit default swaps (CDS). This result suggests that the exchange rate shocks experienced are mainly caused by global factors, therefore policymakers should focus on volatility spillovers caused by global financial markets. Secondly, detected positive maximal Lyapunov exponent shows that complexity in foreign exchange markets has been increased, market expectations lead to multiple-equilibria and diverging volatility eventually will generate recurrent spikes in currency value. These complementary findings have important implications for interventions of Central banks and preventing systemic risks, as well as portfolio and risk management.

JEL Classification: C32, G14, G15.
Comparison of Regression Analysis and Mathematical Methods for Stature Estimation from the Upper Limb Measurements of the Modern South Indian Population
Authors: Patra Ambika Prasad , Singh Shashank
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to establish reliable mathematical and regression analysis (RA) methods for estimating stature using upper limb (UL) anthropometric parameters in the modern South Indian (MSI) population. This study was conducted on a sample size (117 men and 97 women) from the MSI population. Dead bodies within 3 hours of death were included in this study, as the study outcome is meant to apply to the dead and dismembered UL parts. Mathematical and linear RA methods were used to derive multiplication factors (MFs) and regression equations (REs) for the estimation of stature from UL measurements (arm length [AL], forearm length, palm length, and middle finger length [MFL]) and assess their prediction accuracy. A statistically significant correlation was found between UL measurements and stature, indicating their potential use for stature estimation. Both genders showed a statistically significant positive relationship between UL measurements and stature. Both MF and RA methods exhibited reasonable goodness of fit, albeit the RA method yielded a closer estimate of the actual stature than the former. The derived RE showed reasonable goodness of fit and precision in both genders, as evidenced by high R2 values and low standard errors. The RA and MF methods slightly over- and under-estimated the actual stature, respectively. The MFL and AL showed the strongest and weakest relationship with the stature. Both methods have practical significance though the precision is higher with RA methods. The MF method is simpler, as it is independent of statistical resources, while the RA method may be more useful in cases where there is a large amount of variation in the data. The outcome of this study has significant implications for the forensic and anthropology fields. The derived RE and MF provide a reliable framework for estimating stature from anthropometric measurements of dismembered UL remnants. This information can be valuable in forensic investigations, unidentified remains cases and archaeological studies.
Role of Successor, Government Policy, and Collaboration Synergy on Sustainability Family Business: Moderation of Gender and Firm  Age
Authors: Rahim Rida , Husni Tafdil , Desyetti Desyetti , Ryswaldi Ridho
Published: April 2024

This article aims to describe the impact of external factors (government policy and collaboration synergy) and internal factors (successor knowledge and successor willingness) on the future viability of small and medium enterprise (SME) family businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and experimentally validate the significance of firm age and gender as moderators. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze data from 170 owners or the next generation of family business SMEs. This study discovers evidence that government policy, collaborative synergy, successor knowledge, and successor willingness all significantly influence the SME family business’s viability. Meanwhile, it has been found that company age has a role in moderating the synergies between government policy and collaborative synergy with sustainability. However, gender is not proven to moderate the influence of internal factors on sustainability. The findings of this study imply that SME families must be able to form successors with the ability and knowledge to obtain business opportunities. During the COVID-19 epidemic, there must be an intense commitment to be responsible and transmit the family company to attain sustainability. In addition, the owner/next generation of family business businesses must take the initiative to take advantage of government assistance and collaborate with stakeholders.
Drivers of Toxic  Cultures and What  We Can Do About It!
Authors: Panneerselvam Sivapragasam , Balaraman Kavitha
Published: April 2024

The nature of work has undergone significant changes. In times of uncertainty, the importance of culture cannot be overstated. Any missteps in shaping organisational culture can have a profound impact on the ability of an organisation to attract and retain valuable talent in the future. The objective of this practitioner’s perspective is to identify factors that contribute to a toxic culture, distinguish a healthy culture from a toxic one and establish the business imperative for detoxifying the culture to achieve organisational success. Leaders, regardless of their intentions, create and perpetuate toxic cultures through their actions. Beyond leaders, members of the organisation, whether actively or passively, contribute to the perpetuation of toxic cultures. Addressing toxic cultures is a shared responsibility. Leaders can play a pivotal role in mitigating toxicity by taking meaningful action. To step up, leaders should define what a desirable culture is, establish healthy social norms and foster a climate of psychological safety to sustain the change. Middle managers matter too. HRM can help establish alignment and accountability at all levels.
The Empire’s Famine: Colonial Property and the Making of a Punitive Labour Regime in India 1803–1870
Authors: Deo Vishal Singh
Published: April 2024

The article examines the upper Doab or what is now referred to as West U.P. from 1803 and onwards to interrogate the role of colonial property in developing a famine labour regime in the 1860s. The article shows how colonial notions of continuity and fixity in land undermine the relationship between variegated ecologies and the multiple economies (military labour, agro-pastoralism, cattle and grain trade) that depend on it. Moreover, the idiom of ‘relief’ is deployed to punitively organise the famine distressed into work sites and on large agrarian estates. This goes unnoticed in famine historiography as the literature affirmatively views ‘relief’ and ignores the relationship between proprietorial rights and the emergent famine labour regime from the 1860s and onwards.
A novel approach to evaluating the accessibility of electric vehicle charging infrastructure via dynamic thresholding in machine learning
Authors: Zhang Bailing , Kang Jing , Feng Tao
Published: April 2024

The spatial deployment of urban public electric vehicle charging stations (PEVCSs) plays a pivotal role in the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). However, with the rapid advancements in EV technology and battery capabilities, substantial improvements in both range and charging efficiency have emerged and are expected to continue experiencing sustained growth. This situation underscores the urgent necessity of establishing dynamic metrics to reconsider the existing static charging infrastructure, aiming to ameliorate the current severe spatial imbalances and supply–demand disparities encountered in the deployment of PEVCSs. In this study, we harnessed and analyzed 84,152 sets of authentic data, fine-tuned through geospatial-aggregation technology, and ensured anonymity. Our findings bridged users’ residential and occupational patterns with their charging propensities. Comparing these with the spatial distribution of current charging stations revealed that Beijing and Shenzhen’s infrastructure aligned with the cities' economic, educational, and residential zones, epitomizing a synergy in provisioning. However, certain areas experienced either a demand–supply imbalance or an oversupply. To address these challenges, we introduced the Charging Access Reachability Index (CARI) using machine learning techniques. This dynamic metric serves as a tool for quantifying the effective coverage range of charging facilities. Its adaptive threshold holds potential as a crucial indicator enabling the dynamic transition towards more efficient and resilient charging infrastructure.
Crime Incidents and Victim Demographics: An Examination of Reporting Behaviours
Authors: Jayden Varline M.S.
Published: April 2024

The present study used data from the National Crime Victimization Survey from 1994 to 2020 to examine reporting behaviours of respondents. The study aimed to identify if the presence of a weapon, and an offender being a stranger, impacted whether a victim reports the crime to law enforcement. Demographic variables (e.g., sex, age and income) and crime incident-related variables (e.g., relationship to the offender, distance from home, violent crime and the number of crime incidents) were used to examine the effect on reporting behaviour. Two binary logit models were run and found that the presence of a weapon, the offender being a stranger, victims who are female, a closer distance to the respondent’s home, violent crime and fewer number of crime incidents in the last year were associated with higher odds of reporting. The odds of reporting a crime were over two times larger when the offender had a weapon, providing support for weapons continuing to impact reporting behaviour. An interaction effect was run and suggests that the year of victimization does not impact the relationship between weapons and reporting behaviour.
Applicability of individualized metabolic surgery score for prediction of diabetes remission after endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty
Authors: Gala Khushboo , Ghusn Wissam , Brunaldi Vitor , Vargas Eric J. , Storm Andrew C. , Acosta Andres , Dayyeh Barham K. Abu
Published: April 2024

Background:

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a safe and effective obesity treatment. The individualized metabolic score (IMS) is a validated score that uses preoperative variables predicting T2D remission (DR) in bariatric surgery.

Objectives:

We evaluated the applicability of using the IMS score to predict DR in patients after ESG.

Design/Methods:

We performed a retrospective review of patients with obesity and T2D who underwent ESG. We calculated DR, IMS score, and severity, and divided patients based on IMS category.

Results:

The cohort comprised 20 patients: 25% (5) mild, 55% (11) moderate, and 20% (4) severe IMS stages. DR was achieved in 60%, 45.5%, and 0% of patients with mild, moderate, and severe IMS scores ( p = 0.08), respectively. IMS score was significantly associated with DR ( p = 0.03), with the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic for predicting DR 0.85.

Conclusion:

These pilot data demonstrate that the IMS score appears to be useful in predicting DR after ESG.
Spectral Analysis of Injectable Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate From the International Market With Diffuse Reflectance Spectrometers: Potential Public Health Implications With Benchtop and Handheld Spectrometers
Authors: Eady Matthew , Tremelling Jeffery , Hamel Steven , Jenkins David
Published: April 2024

Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is an essential medication used as a form of family planning by millions around the world. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) has a long history as a quality assurance measure for raw ingredient verification in pharmaceutical manufacturing. There are a multitude of DMPA manufacturers in the global marketplace. Prudent supply chain management requires identification of potential suppliers that can be contacted if a current supplier is unavailable. Here, DRS data were collected with benchtop (350–2500 nm) and handheld (900–1700 nm) spectrometers for 16 brands of DMPA. Spectra from sample vials ( N = 262) are compared through principal component analysis and Mahalanobis distances. The benchtop spectrometer proved to be an efficient gauge of the similarities and differences amongst DMPA brands, with subcontracted manufacturers resulting in very similar results to the primary manufacturers. The handheld spectrometer offers advantages in portability and cost and was shown to be an effective brand discrimination tool but was less reliable in the context of identifying potentially suitable supply chain substitution options of DMPA due to several key DMPA spectral features appearing just outside of the handheld spectrometer's range. Data collected from the benchtop spectrometer was used to identify several potential supply chain substitutions, dependent on various other subsequent due-diligence activities (i.e., product documentation reviews and manufacturing site audits). These potential substitutions can be shortlisted for further auditing review prior to being identified as a potential supply chain substitution.
Modified Delphi panel consensus recommendations for management of severe aplastic anemia
Authors: Babushok Daria V. , DeZern Amy E. , de Castro Carlos M. , Rogers Zora R. , Beenhouwer David , Broder Michael S. , Fanning Suzanne R. , Gibbs Sarah N. , Hanna Rabi , Maciejewski Jaroslaw P. , Scott Bart L. , Tantravahi Srinivas K. , Wlodarski Marcin W. , Yermilov Irina , Patel Bhumika J.
Published: April 2024

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a rare hematologic condition for which there is no clear management algorithm. A panel of 11 experts on adult and pediatric aplastic anemia was assembled and, using the RAND/University of California, Los Angeles modified Delphi panel method, evaluated >600 varying patient care scenarios to develop clinical recommendations for the initial and subsequent management of patients of all ages with SAA. Here, we present the panel’s recommendations to rule out inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, on supportive care before and during first-line therapy, and on first-line (initial management) and second-line (subsequent management) therapy of acquired SAA, focusing on when transplant vs medical therapy is most appropriate. These recommendations represent the consensus of 11 experts informed by published literature and experience. They are intended only as general guidance for experienced clinicians who treat patients with SAA and are in no way intended to supersede individual physician and patient decision making. Current and future research should validate this consensus using clinical data. Once validated, we hope these expert panel recommendations will improve outcomes for patients with SAA.
Ginsenoside Rh2 shifts tumor metabolism from aerobic glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation through regulating the HIF1-α/PDK4 axis in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Liu Xiyu , Li Jingjing , Huang Qingqing , Jin Mingming , Huang Gang
Published: April 2024

Background

Ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2), a steroidal compound extracted from roots of ginseng, has been extensively studied in tumor therapy. However, its specific regulatory mechanism in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not well understood. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), a central regulator of cellular energy metabolism, is highly expressed in various malignant tumors. We investigated the impact of G-Rh2 on the malignant progression of NSCLC and how it regulated PDK4 to influence tumor aerobic glycolysis and mitochondrial function.

Method

We examined the inhibitory effect of G-Rh2 on NSCLC through I proliferation assay, migration assay and flow cytometry in vitro. Subsequently, we verified the ability of G-Rh2 to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis by constructing subcutaneous tumor and metastasis models in nude mice. Proteomics analysis was conducted to analyze the action pathways of G-Rh2. Additionally, we assessed glycolysis and mitochondrial function using seahorse, PET-CT, Western blot, and RT-qPCR.

Result

Treatment with G-Rh2 significantly inhibited tumor proliferation and migration ability both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, G-Rh2 inhibited the tumor’s aerobic glycolytic capacity, including glucose uptake and lactate production, through the HIF1-α/PDK4 pathway. Overexpression of PDK4 demonstrated that G-Rh2 targeted the inhibition of PDK4 expression, thereby restoring mitochondrial function, promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and inducing apoptosis. When combined with sodium dichloroacetate, a PDK inhibitor, it complemented the inhibitory capacity of PDKs, acting synergistically as a detoxifier.

Conclusion

G-Rh2 could target and down-regulate the expression of HIF-1α, resulting in decreased expression of glycolytic enzymes and inhibition of aerobic glycolysis in tumors. Additionally, by directly targeting mitochondrial PDK, it elevated mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and enhanced ROS accumulation, thereby promoting tumor cells to undergo normal apoptotic processes.
Interplay of arsenic exposure and cigarette smoking on oxidative DNA damage in healthy males
Authors: Nemati-Mansour Sepideh , Mosaferi Mohammad , Babaie Javad , Mohammadpoorasl Asghar , Dehghanzadeh Reza , Nikniaz Leila , Miri Mohammad
Published: April 2024

Background

Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) and cigarette smoking has been associated with adverse health effects such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease. Oxidative stress is one of the most well-known damage mechanisms for both. However, studies on the association with induced 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in Iran are scarce, with no study on the interactive effect of As exposure and smoking in the literature.

Objective

This stratified cross-sectional study aimed to assess urinary and serum 8-OHdG levels in the relation to As exposure from drinking water, smoking and their interaction effect.

Methods

This study was based on 132 healthy male subjects living in villages of Hashtroud County, Iran (2021). All participants were categorized into four groups: (i) non-As exposed, never smokers (n = 33); (ii) non-As exposed, active smokers (n = 33); (iii) As exposed, never smokers (n = 33); and (iv) As exposed, active smokers (n = 33). Data on demographic and lifestyle factors were collected, and urinary and serum levels of 8-OHdG were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The smoker's daily cigarette consumption and the duration of smoking were self-reported data.

Results

Participants consuming drinking water with an As concentration > 10 µg/L had significantly higher urinary total arsenic (U-tAs) concentrations (median 26.96, IQR 21.35–37.17) µg/g Cr compared to the reference group (median 19.33, IQR 17.29–23.26) µg/g Cr. There was a significant difference in the serum concentration of 8-OHdG between groups (i) and (iii), (iv) and also between groups (ii) and (iv). We did not find a significant interaction effect of As exposure and smoking on the both urinary and serum 8-OHdG levels (P > 0.05). Serum 8-OHdG (S-8OHdG) was associated with average daily intake of As (As-ADI) (β = 0.32; 95% CI 0.01, 0.04, P-value = 0.001) and cigarettes smoked per day (β = 0.3; 95% CI 0.00, 0.043, P-value = 0.046). While As-ADI (β = 0.16; 95% CI 0.001, 0.004, P-value = 0.01) and U-tAs (β = 0.6; 95% CI 0.006, 0.009, P-value < 0.001) were associated with increased urinary 8-OHdG (U-8OHdG), moderate physical activity (β = − 0.15; 95% CI − 0.07, − 0.008, P-value < 0.015) inversely decreased biomarker levels.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that As exposure and smoking are potential risk factors for oxidative DNA damage, and it is strongly recommended to pay more attention to the role of lifestyle factors in future studies.