bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digitization policy design and implementation in the logistics and supply chain sector during the time of Covid-19
Authors: Mishrif Ashraf , Khan Asharul
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The border closure and lockdowns due to Covid-19 pandemic resulted in partial closure of many industrial and commercial complexes, halted the performance of key strategic sectors such as logistics and supply chains, and thus disrupted the global value chains and the economy. The authors argue, however, that the pursuit of survival has driven companies to innovate and use digitization to overcome the negative consequences of the pandemic. More specifically, in this paper the authors aim to assess the success and challenges faced by companies in digitization policy design, adoption and implementation and their effects on firms’ operation, outputs and customer base during Covid-19.

Design/methodology/approach

Sixty-one samples of the companies surveyed between 10 January and 30 April 2021 were analyzed, using the Krushkal–Wallis test and Independent-Samples Mann–Whitney U test to identify the relationships between variables including operation, overall output, customer base, digitization policy, technology use and implementation costs of new technologies.

Findings

Results revealed a positive impact of digitization on the operation and overall outputs, while no effect was observed on the customer base. Analysis also showed that only 1.8% of companies were able to fully implement digitization, and that the cost of technology prevented most companies from using emerging technology or implementing their digitization policy.

Research limitations/implications

While the research has practical implications, it is not without flaws. For instance, the outcome of technology varies as per geographic area and people. The study was conducted in the Sultanate of Oman, a developing country in the Middle East region; therefore, it is difficult to generalize the outcomes suited to developed countries. The developed countries usually have a population quite used to the advanced technologies so some of the issues raised in the study might not work in the logistics and supply chain sectors of the developed countries. Such countries need separate studies.

Practical implications

The findings will have implications for both supply chain companies as well as the technology providers. The supply chain companies will invest in technology infrastructure and add technology as an important component in their business models. The technology providers will consider the costs of implementation and adoption issues of technology in the supply chain companies.

Originality/value

To the best of authors' knowledge, no work has been produced on logistics and supply chain companies considering the technological sustainability during the time of Covid-19. The study will improve understanding of the digitization policy design, adoption and implementation and their effects on logistics and supply chain companies’ performance.
Knowledge management initiatives for achieving sustainable development goal 4.7: higher education institutions’ stakeholder perspectives
Authors: Adhikari Dev Raj , Shrestha Prakash
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore knowledge management (KM) initiatives for achieving sustainable development goal (SDG) 4.7 and to investigate enablers and barriers to insert KM to prepare higher education institutions (HEIs) ready to contribute to SDGs’ performance. At the end, this paper provides a practical perspective of KM initiatives for higher education for sustainable development (HESD).

Design/methodology/approach

This is an exploratory study. It applies a descriptive-interpretative-qualitative approach. The analysis is based on the opinions collected from 170 HEIs’ stakeholders. Discussions among participants have been organized through zoom meetings, telephone interviews and focus group discussions in three phases. In the first phase, a total of 113 informants took part in the discussion on various dates. In the second phase, 10 interviews were conducted with university officials using three open-ended questions; and in the third phase, three focus group discussions were organized to interact about the effectiveness of the Masters in Business Administration in Global Leadership and Management programme and curriculum with teachers, students and the programme initiators.

Findings

From the analysis of stakeholders’ views, it appears that Nepalese HEIs have yet to move forward with integrating KM activities into their aims, structure and functions to address the government’s policy guidelines applicable to maximizing SDG’ performance. A KM cultural framework that values intellectual capital is urgently needed to fill the knowledge-doing gap for the benefit of society. HEIs appear to require multidisciplinary teaching, learning and research methods to play a civic role in society. They have to improve their rules and regulation, develop a boundary-spanning structure from a conventional structure and apply KM initiatives to support achieving SDGs’ performance. Understanding and inculcating these initiatives in the academic programmes could provide a value-adding higher education in the country.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is entirely based on the perspectives of stakeholders in higher education. So, understanding their points of view and perspectives may have resulted in vague explanations. Furthermore, because the setting of Nepal’s HEIs differs from that of developed countries, the results should only be interpreted in Nepalese contexts.

Practical implications

This paper acknowledges the gaps and complexities in Nepalese HEIs from the standpoints of HEIs’ leaders, teachers and students for the application of KM initiatives to reform HEIs, with HESD in consideration, and enhance SDGs’ performance.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the paper is the first of its kind in the context of Nepal, exploring KM initiatives for SDGs. It provides a new perspective on KM and comprehends KM initiatives in the case of Nepalese HEIs transformation into HESD for achieving SDG 4.7.
MPC-based time synchronization method for V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) communication
Authors: Chen Yong , Zhan Zhixian , Zhang Wei
Published: March 2023

Purpose

As the strategy of 5G new infrastructure is deployed and advanced, 5G-R becomes the primary technical system for future mobile communication of China’s railway. V2V communication is also an important application scenario of 5G communication systems on high-speed railways, so time synchronization between vehicles is critical for train control systems to be real-time and safe. How to improve the time synchronization performance in V2V communication is crucial to ensure the operational safety and efficiency of high-speed railways.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposed a time synchronization method based on model predictive control (MPC) for V2V communication. Firstly, a synchronous clock for V2V communication was modeled based on the fifth generation mobile communication-railway (5G-R) system. Secondly, an observation equation was introduced according to the phase and frequency offsets between synchronous clocks of two adjacent vehicles to construct an MPC-based space model of clock states of the adjacent vehicles. Finally, the optimal clock offset was solved through multistep prediction, rolling optimization and other control methods, and time synchronization in different V2V communication scenarios based on the 5G-R system was realized through negative feedback correction.

Findings

The results of simulation tests conducted with and without a repeater, respectively, show that the proposed method can realize time synchronization of V2V communication in both scenarios. Compared with other methods, the proposed method has faster convergence speed and higher synchronization precision regardless of whether there is a repeater or not.

Originality/value

This paper proposed an MPC-based time synchronization method for V2V communication under 5G-R. Through the construction of MPC controllers for clocks of adjacent vehicles, time synchronization was realized for V2V communication under 5G-R by using control means such as multistep prediction, rolling optimization, and feedback correction. In view of the problems of low synchronization precision and slow convergence speed caused by packet loss with existing synchronization methods, the observer equation was introduced to estimate the clock state of the adjacent vehicles in case of packet loss, which reduces the impact of clock error caused by packet loss in the synchronization process and improves the synchronization precision of V2V communication. The research results provide some theoretical references for V2V synchronous wireless communication under 5G-R technology.
Experimental designs for testing the interactive effects of temperature and light in ecology: The problem of periodicity
Authors: Buonaiuto Daniel M. , Donahue Megan J. , Wolkovich E. M.
Published: March 2023

Temperature and light cues interact to control many biological processes. Experiments give researchers the ability to manipulate these environmental cues independently and can be designed to robustly quantify their individual and interactive effects on any particular biological activity. Such experiments have produced important insights into the environmental controls on numerous biological processes in both plant and animal taxa across terrestrial and aquatic environments. Testing the interactive effects of multiple environmental cues, however, requires experimental treatments to be fully independent; any unmeasured experimental covariation among treatments can result in incorrect conclusions.

Using a database of controlled environment experiments on the spring phenology of woody plants as a case study, we highlight how a common experimental set‐up, designed to parse the interactive effects of temperature and photoperiod on time to budburst, introduces a latent experimental covariation of these treatments by coupling photo‐ and thermoperiodicity. Using data simulations, algebraic corrections and a comparative analysis of published experiments, we demonstrate how this unmeasured experimental covariation biases statistical inference regarding the relative contribution of light and temperature cues to phenological variation.

We identify this experimental covariation in more than 40% of published phenology studies that manipulate photoperiod. Our analyses demonstrate that the coupling of thermo‐ and photoperiodicity results in the overestimation of the effect of photoperiod, the underestimation of forcing effects, and misleading conclusions about their interactions on phenology. This may, in part, explain why the significance of photoperiod cues for spring phenology is currently debated in the literature.

Accurate forecasting of how varying environmental conditions will impact the dynamics of biological events requires accurately quantifying cue responses. To this end, we present several options for statistical corrections and alternative experimental designs that can provide more robust estimates of the relative effects of temperature and photoperiod on phenology and many other biological processes controlled by temperature and light.

Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.
Topologically associating domains in the POLLED region are the same for Angus‐ and Brahman‐specific Hi‐C reads from F1 hybrid fetal tissue
Authors: Aldersey J. E. , Liu N. , Tearle R. , Low W. Y. , Breen J. , Williams J. L. , Bottema C. D. K.
Published: March 2023

Horns, a form of headgear carried by Bovidae, have ethical and economic implications for ruminant production species such as cattle and goats. Hornless (polled) individuals are preferred. In cattle, four genetic variants (Celtic, Friesian, Mongolian and Guarani) are associated with the polled phenotype, which are clustered in a 300‐kb region on chromosome 1. As the variants are intergenic, the functional effect is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if the POLLED variants affect chromatin structure or disrupt enhancers using publicly available data. Topologically associating domains (TADs) were analyzed using Angus‐ and Brahman‐specific Hi‐C reads from lung tissue of an Angus (Celtic allele) cross Brahman (horned) fetus. Predicted bovine enhancers and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing peaks for histone modifications associated with enhancers (H3K27ac and H3K4me1) were mapped to the POLLED region. TADs analyzed from Angus‐ and Brahman‐specific Hi‐C reads were the same, therefore, the Celtic variant does not appear to affect this level of chromatin structure. The Celtic variant is located in a different TAD from the Friesian, Mongolian, and Guarani variants. Predicted enhancers and histone modifications overlapped with the Guarani and Friesian variants but not the Celtic or Mongolian variants. This study provides insight into the mechanisms of the POLLED variants for disrupting horn development. These results should be validated using data produced from the horn bud region of horned and polled bovine fetuses.
Prediction of methane emissions from fattening cattle using the methane‐to‐carbon dioxide ratio
Authors: Oikawa Kohei , Suzuki Tomoyuki , Kamiya Yuko , Higuchi Mikito , Yamada Tomoya , Kamiya Mitsuru , Terada Fuminori
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to develop a prediction equation for methane (CH4) emissions from fattening cattle based on the CH4/carbon dioxide (CO2) ratio and validate the predictive ability of the developed equation. The prediction equation was developed using the CH4/CO2 ratio combined with oxygen consumption and respiratory quotient estimations that were theoretically calculated from the relation between gas emissions and energy metabolism. To validate the prediction equation, gas measurements in the headboxes were conducted using eight Japanese Black steers. The predictive ability of the developed equation was compared with that of two previously reported equations. As a result, the developed and reported equations had significant (P < 0.01) linear relationships between the observed and predicted CH4 emissions. Notably, only the developed equation had a significant (P < 0.01) linear relationship between the observed and predicted CH4 emissions when expressed per unit of dry matter intake. The results suggest that the developed prediction equation has a higher predictive ability than previously reported equations, particularly in evaluating the efficiency of CH4 emissions. Although further validation is required, the equation developed in this study can be a valuable tool for on‐farm estimations of individual CH4 emissions from fattening cattle.
Use of a commercial indoor positioning system for monitoring resting time and moving distance in group‐housed dairy calves
Authors: Ueda Koichiro , Ishii Takakyuki , Nakai Yukako , Odaka Kunio
Published: March 2023

To assess the usefulness of a commercially available indoor positioning system for monitoring the resting time and moving distance in group‐housed dairy calves as indicators of their health status, five dairy calves were housed in a free barn, and their coordinate was recorded. The mean displacement (cm/s) within a minute showed a double‐mixture distribution. Actual observations revealed that the minutes in the first distribution with shorter displacement were mostly the time that the calves spent lying. To predict the daily lying time and moving distance, a mixed distribution was divided at a threshold value. The mean sensitivity (the proportion of total minutes predicted correctly as lying, in total minutes observed lying) was more than 92%. The daily fluctuation in lying time correlated well with the actual lying time (r = 0.758, p < 0.01). The range of fluctuations was 740–1308 min/day and 724–1269 m/day for daily lying time and moving distance, respectively. The rectal temperature was correlated with daily lying time (r = 0.441, p < 0.001) and distance moved (r = 0.483, p < 0.001). The indoor positioning system can be a useful tool for early illness detection in calves before the onset of symptoms in group‐housing systems.
Improving English language skills through learning Mathematic contents: From the expertise reversal effect perspective
Authors: Jiang Dayu , Chen Ouhao , Han Yiyi , Kalyuga Slava
Published: March 2023

Background

Previous research in the field of content and language integrated learning (CLIL) has not yet comprehensively investigated the interaction between learners' expertise and the instructional effectiveness.

Aims

Taking cognitive load theory as the theoretical framework, a study was conducted to investigate the expertise reversal effect on learning English and mathematics simultaneously: whether an integrated approach (i.e. learning both English and mathematics simultaneously) could facilitate the acquisition of mathematic skills and English linguistic skills as a foreign language more effectively and efficiently than a separated learning approach (i.e. learning Mathematics and English separately).

Materials

The materials for the integrated learning approach were in English‐only, and the materials for the separated learning approach were in English‐and‐Chinese. Both sets of materials were given as reading content for teaching mathematic skills and English as a foreign language.

Methods

The study adopted a 2 (language expertise: low vs. high) × 2 (instruction: integrated vs. separated) between‐subject factorial design with instructional approaches and learners' expertise in English as independent variables, the learning performance in Mathematics and English with the cognitive load ratings as the dependent variables. Sixty‐five Year‐10 students with lower expertise in English and 56 Year‐2 college students with higher expertise in English in China were recruited and allocated to two instructional conditions respectively.

Results

An expertise reversal effect was confirmed: the English and mathematics integrated learning approach was more effective for higher expertise learners while the English and mathematics separated learning condition was more beneficial for lower expertise learners.
New training method for endoscopic submucosal dissection: Teaching with efficient treatment using a tip‐deliverable high‐frequency knife and an endoscopic pump
Authors: Ishikawa Tsubasa , Tashima Tomoaki , Ryozawa Shomei
Published: March 2023

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Effect of renal insufficiency on the short‐ and long‐term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer: Propensity score‐matched analysis
Authors: Kim Tae‐Se , Min Byung‐Hoon , Baek Sun‐Young , Kim Kyunga , Min Yang Won , Lee Hyuk , Rhee Poong‐Lyul , Kim Jae J. , Lee Jun Haeng
Published: March 2023

Objectives

It is unclear whether renal insufficiency (RI) itself is a risk factor for adverse outcomes after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of gastric ESD in patients with and without RI using propensity score‐matching analysis.

Methods

In all, 4775 patients with 4775 early gastric cancer lesions undergoing ESD were analyzed. 1:1 propensity score‐matching was performed between patients with and without RI using 12 variables. After matching, logistic regression and survival analyses were performed for short‐ and long‐term outcomes of ESD, respectively.

Results

The matching yielded 188 pairs of patients with and without RI. In both univariable and multivariable analyses, the presence of RI was not significantly associated with postprocedural bleeding (unadjusted odds ratio 1.81, 95% confidence interval 0.74–4.42; adjusted odds ratio 1.86, 95% confidence interval 0.74–4.65, respectively). When RI patients were subclassified into patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 30–59 mL/min/1.73 m2 and eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, no significant differences in bleeding rates were found compared to their matched controls in both groups. Perforation, en bloc resection, en bloc and R0 resection, and curative resection rates of RI patients were 2.1%, 98.4%, 91.0%, and 78.2%, respectively, which were comparable to those of non‐RI patients. During a median follow‐up of 119 months, there was no difference in gastric cancer‐specific survival between patients with and without RI (P = 0.143).

Conclusion

The outcomes of ESD were comparable in patients with and without RI. Decreased renal function itself may not be a reason to keep patients with RI from receiving gastric ESD.
Landholding in the Loire valley and the late Carolingian economy (c.840–c.1000)
Authors: Ó Súilleabháin Niall
Published: March 2023

This article builds on recent work on the Carolingian economy by giving an overview of landholding patterns and associated economic activity in the Loire valley in the ninth and tenth centuries. It demonstrates that only individuals and institutions with access to patronage from the royal fisc possessed large, unified estates; the majority of land was held as small, fragmented farmsteads. Moreover, these small parcels of land changed hands on a regular basis through grants and leases, allowing investment, agricultural development, and social and material returns for their owners. The article suggests that these small‐scale property transactions were the basis for growth and dynamism in the late Carolingian economy.
Verbal rewards and public managers’ autonomous motivation
Authors: Siverbo Sven
Published: March 2023

The aim of this paper is to examine how verbal rewards (praise) from superior public managers influence subordinate public managers’ work motivation coming from experiencing work tasks as important, exciting, interesting, and fun, so‐called autonomous motivation. We use self‐determination theory (SDT) to theorize that depending on how they are provided, verbal rewards can enhance or undermine autonomous motivation. This is because different verbal reward practices have different effects on subordinate public managers’ basic psychological needs, which in turn influences their autonomous motivation. Based on a cross‐sectional survey completed by 331 public managers in four Swedish local government organizations, we find that verbal rewards that are performance‐contingent and provided frequently undermine public managers’ autonomous motivation. Verbal rewards enhance autonomous motivation when they are based on skills and results. Our study contributes to the public management literature discussing the applicability of rewards in public sector organizations where autonomous motivation is crucial for performance. It contributes to practice by suggesting that superior managers who provide skills/result‐based verbal rewards are more likely to enhance than undermine the autonomous motivation of subordinates. In support of SDT, the overall conclusion is that the impact of verbal rewards on public managers’ autonomous motivation is contingent on how verbal rewards are provided by superiors. However, our results should be interpreted with some caution due to the circumstance that cross‐sectional survey research can only ensure associations between constructs and not causality.
CD30 expression is frequently decreased in relapsed classic Hodgkin lymphoma after anti‐CD30 CAR T‐cell therapy
Authors: Marques‐Piubelli Mario L. , Kim Do Hwan , Medeiros L. Jeffrey , Lu Wei , Khan Khaja , Gomez‐Bolanos Lorena Isabel , Rodriguez Saxon , Parra Edwin R. , Ok Chi Young , Aradhya Akanksha , Solis Luisa M , Nieto Yago L. , Steiner Raphael , Ahmed Sairah , Vega Francisco
Published: March 2023

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T‐cells anti‐CD30 is an innovative therapeutic option that has been used to treat cases of refractory/relapsed (R/R) classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL). Limited data are available regarding the CD30 expression status of patients who relapsed after this therapy. This is the first study to show decreased CD30 expression in R/R CHL in patients (n = 5) who underwent CAR T‐cell therapy in our institution between 2018 and 2022. Although conventional immunohistochemical assays showed decreased CD30 expression in neoplastic cells in all cases (8/8) the tyramide amplification assay and RNAScope in situ hybridisation detected CD30 expression at different levels in 100% (n = 8/8) and 75% (n = 3/4), respectively. Hence, our findings document that certain levels of CD30 expression are retained by the neoplastic cells. This is not only of biological interest but also diagnostically important, as detection of CD30 is an essential factor in establishing a diagnosis of CHL.
Promoting the associational power of workers in globalized production networks: A missed opportunity
Authors: SÉHIER Clément
Published: March 2023

The author discusses the capacity of labour NGOs to strengthen the associational power of Chinese workers in globalized production networks by using their leverage to pressure multinationals into launching programmes to elect workers’ committees in factories. Based on an empirical survey conducted between 2012 and 2019 in southern China, he shows that such programmes helped to raise workers’ awareness of collective action and strengthen their agency, but that they ground to a halt in the face of the structural inequality of the production system, the lack of institutional protection for elected representatives and a hardening regime.
Viral co‐infection with human respiratory syncytial virus in suspected acute and severe respiratory tract infections during COVID‐19 pandemic in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2020–2021
Authors: Moumbeket Yifomnjou Moïse Henri , Monamele Gwladys Chavely , Njankouo‐Ripa Mohamadou , Fatawou Modiyinji Abdou , Ngoupo Paul Alain , Boyomo Onana , Njouom Richard
Published: March 2023

Background

Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs) are one one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among people of all ages worldwide, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). The purpose of this study was to determine epidemiological characteristics of respiratory viruses in acute respiratory infection (ARI) patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Methods

Patients were monitored for respiratory symptoms as part of the surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and other respiratory viral infections. Patients of all ages with respiratory symptoms less than 5 days were considered. Sociodemographic and clinical data as well as nasopharyngeal samples was collected from patients. Nasopharyngeal samples were tested for SARS‐CoV‐2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction methods. Virus distribution and demographic data were analyzed with R version 2.15.1.

Results

From July 2020 to October 2021, 1120 patients were included. The overall viral detection rate was 32.5%, including 9.5% for RSV, 12.6% for influenza virus and 12.8% for SARS‐CoV‐2. Co‐infections were detected in 6.9% of positive cases. While RSV and influenza virus showed seasonal trends, SARS‐CoV‐2 was detected throughout the study period.

Conclusion

We found that during COVID‐19 pandemic, respiratory viruses play an important role in etiology of influenza‐like illness in Cameroon, and this observation was true for patients of all ages.
The lactation skill gaps of multidisciplinary paediatric healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom
Authors: Hookway Lyndsey , Brown Amy
Published: March 2023

Background

Breastfeeding is an important public health priority and may be particularly beneficial for medically complex infants and children. However, childhood illness and disability are associated with increased challenges and lower breastfeeding rates. The Baby Friendly Initiative has been shown to increase initiation of breastfeeding and improve health professional skills although as yet the standards have not been adopted in paediatrics. Previous studies have found breastfeeding knowledge gaps among paediatric nurses, and a recent systematic review highlighted insufficient lactation support, discouragement by healthcare professionals and lack of resources. The aim of this survey of UK paediatric professionals was to establish their self‐defined confidence and skills supporting breastfeeding.

Methods

An online survey was developed to explore associations between level of training and staff confidence and perceived skill, to establish whether there is evidence that more training and/or higher breastfeeding training credentials improve skill. In total, 409 professionals, including paediatric doctors at all grades, paediatric nurses and allied health professionals, were included in the analysis.

Results

This study identified specific skill gaps among professionals. Many healthcare professionals felt that different skills and specific training are required to support medically complex children. Several professionals noted that existing breastfeeding training focuses on establishing breastfeeding in healthy newborns rather than sick children in paediatrics. Participants were asked about 13 clinical competencies, and an aggregate skill score was calculated. Multiple univariate analysis of variance found that more extensive training and higher credentials are correlated with higher skill scores (p ≤ 0.001), whereas type of professional was not.

Conclusions

Despite this being a relatively motivated sample of healthcare professionals, the findings of this study suggest that breastfeeding skills are patchy and inconsistent, and particularly lacking when it comes to more complex clinical scenarios. This is significant, because it may mean that children who have more significant illness or medical complexity are disproportionately affected by gaps in knowledge and skill. Medically complex children encounter many barriers to optimal feeding − including absence of designated paediatric lactation staff, resources and support − and may have challenges such as low tone, higher calorie need and transitioning to the breast after ventilation or enteral feeding. Current skill gaps indicate that existing training would be insufficient, and bespoke paediatric breastfeeding training based on identified clinical challenges is thus justified.
Nutritional status of children affected by X‐linked adrenoleukodystrophy
Authors: Moroni Isabella , De Amicis Ramona , Ardissone Anna , Ravella Simone , Bertoli Simona
Published: March 2023

Background

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare X‐linked metabolic disorder that causes the accumulation of very‐long‐chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) (C26:0) and the subsequent variety of clinical and neurological symptoms. Little is known about nutritional status and dietary habits of children affected by ALD, and so the present study aimed to assess nutritional status and food intake in children with ALD, also exploring the relationship between food intake and the consumption of disease‐specific dietary supplements to reduce blood C26:0 concentrations and increase monounsaturated fatty acids (C26:1).

Methods

All patients underwent a clinical and neurological evaluation and a comprehensive nutritional assessment. The association of VLCFA concentrations with dietary lipids was assessed.

Results

Nine boys (11.49 ± 3.61 years) were enrolled in a cross‐sectional study. All patients were normal weight, with normal resting energy expenditure. Only six of nine patients followed the low‐fat diet and dietary supplements. An inverse association was found between the food intake of polyunsaturated lipids and C26:0; conversely, the C26:0 was positively associated with the dietary saturated lipids. When consumed, dietary supplement consumption correlated positively with C26:1 (ρ = 0.917, p = 0.029) and no correlation was found with C26:0 (ρ = 0.410, p = 0,493).

Conclusions

No children were found to be malnourished or overweight or obese; however, half of the children reported excessive body fat, probably as a result of the pharmacotherapies. A low‐fat diet could be adjuvant in the management of the accumulation of VLCFAs, but poor dietary compliance to disease‐specific nutritional guidelines appears to be a major problem of this condition and underlines the need for a structured and personalised nutritional management in ALD disease.
Is COVID Revealing a Virus in CMBS 2.0?
Authors: GRIFFIN JOHN M. , PRIEST ALEX
Published: March 2023

Commercial loan valuations crucially depend on accurate loan income, but underwritten income on commercial mortgage‐backed securities (CMBS) loans is commonly overstated relative to actual property income. Consistent with these differences being originator‐specific, income overstatement in CMBS 2.0 deals varies widely and persistently across originators, is priced by originators, is related across property types within an originator, is predictable ex ante, and is accompanied by inflation of past financials. Risk retention and associated regulation had no discernible effect on income overstatement. Originator income overstatement is highly predictive of pre‐ and COVID‐period loan distress. Overall, recent market stresses reveal large systemic differences in underwriting standards across originators.
Association between adolescents' socioeconomic status and working memory updating functioning: Role of parental educational involvement
Authors: Zhao Xin , Cao Wenjing , Maes Joseph H. R.
Published: March 2023

Family socioeconomic status (SES) is positively associated with executive functioning. This study tested whether parental educational involvement mediates this association. Two hundred and sixty, 12‐15‐year‐old adolescents completed working memory updating (WMU) and general intelligence tasks, and questionnaires on SES and parental educational involvement. SES and WMU ability were positively associated; there was no difference between the fathers and mothers for three types of educational involvement. The mothers’ behavioural involvement positively mediated the SES‐WM updating association, whereas a negative mediation was observed for the mothers’ intellectual involvement. The fathers’ educational involvement did not play a significant mediating role. These results might inform interventions targeting educational involvement for enhancing the cognitive development of children from low SES families.
Unemployment benefit eligibility requirements and perceived time pressure
Authors: Gerards Ruud , Welters Riccardo
Published: March 2023

Objectives

An emerging body of literature links stressors or obstacles (e.g., compliance to an unemployment benefit eligibility requirement) to poor job search quality, questioning the effectiveness of such requirements in helping the unemployed to find employment. We investigate whether compliance to an unemployment benefit eligibility requirement affects an unemployed person's perception of time pressure, which theory relates to job search quality and which itself is hard to gauge.

Methods

We conduct a propensity‐score matching analysis, using data on the Australian “mutual obligations” program, matching otherwise similar unemployed persons with and without an unemployment benefit eligibility requirement.

Results

Controlling for a wide range of confounders, we find a statistically significant positive effect of an unemployment benefit eligibility requirement on the affected person's perception of time pressure as theory predicts.

Conclusions

Others have hypothesized that poor labor market outcomes for those subjected to a “mutual obligations” requirement are a result of the requirement's adverse effect on job search quality. Our finding that compliance to unemployment benefit eligibility requirements increases an unemployed person's perceptions of time pressure aligns with that hypothesis.
Associations between ABO non‐identical platelet transfusions and patient outcomes—A multicenter retrospective analysis
Authors: Bougie Daniel W. , Reese Sarah E. , Birch Rebecca J. , Bookwalter Deborah B. , Mitchell Patrick K. , Roh David , Kreuziger Lisa Baumann , Cable Ritchard G. , Goel Ruchika , Gottschall Jerome , Hauser Ronald George , Hendrickson Jeanne E. , Hod Eldad A. , Josephson Cassandra D. , Kahn Stacie , Kleinman Steven H. , Mast Alan E. , Ness Paul M. , Roubinian Nareg H. , Sloan Steven ,   for the NHLBI Recipient Epidemiology and Donor Evaluation Study‐IV‐Pediatric (REDS‐IV‐P)
Published: March 2023

Background

Due to platelet availability limitations, platelet units ABO mismatched to recipients are often transfused. However, since platelets express ABO antigens and are collected in plasma which may contain ABO isohemagglutinins, it remains controversial as to whether ABO non‐identical platelet transfusions could potentially pose harm and/or have reduced efficacy.

Study Design and Methods

The large 4‐year publicly available Recipient Epidemiology and Donor Evaluation Study‐III (REDS‐III) database was used to investigate patient outcomes associated with ABO non‐identical platelet transfusions. Outcomes included mortality, sepsis, and subsequent platelet transfusion requirements.

Results

Following adjustment for possible confounding factors, no statistically significant association between ABO non‐identical platelet transfusion and increased risk of mortality was observed in the overall cohort of 21,176 recipients. However, when analyzed by diagnostic category and recipient ABO group, associations with increased mortality for major mismatched transfusions were noted in two of eight subpopulations. Hematology/Oncology blood group A and B recipients (but not group O) showed a Hazard Ratio (HR) of 1.29 (95%CI: 1.03–1.62) and intracerebral hemorrhage group O recipients (but not groups A and B) showed a HR of 1.75 (95%CI: 1.10–2.80). Major mismatched transfusions were associated with increased odds of receiving additional platelet transfusion each post‐transfusion day (through day 5) regardless of the recipient blood group.

Discussion

We suggest that prospective studies are needed to determine if specific patient populations would benefit from receiving ABO identical platelet units. Our findings indicate that ABO‐identical platelet products minimize patient exposure to additional platelet doses.
Effectiveness of auricular acupoint therapy targeting menstrual pain for primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Cao Mengyao , Ye Fen , Xie Wenxuan , Yan Xinyi , Ho Mu‐Hsing , Cheung Denise Shuk Ting , Lee Jung Jae
Published: March 2023

Background

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a global public health concern affecting women's health and quality of life, leading to productivity loss and increased medical expenses. As a non‐pharmacological intervention, auricular acupoint therapy (AAT) has been increasingly applied to treat PD, but the overall effectiveness remains unclear.

Aims

The aim of this review was to synthesize the effects of AAT targeting menstrual pain among females with PD.

Methods

Eight databases (PubMed, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Data) and three registries (ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN Registry and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry) were searched to identify existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to 21 August 2022. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted the data, and appraised the methodological quality and the evidence strength using the Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) and the GRADE approach.

Results

A total of 793 participants from 11 RCTs were included. Despite substantial heterogeneity, AAT was more effective in reducing menstrual pain and related symptoms than placebo and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). No significant subgroup differences were found between study locations as well as invasiveness, duration, type, acupoints number, ear selection and provider of AAT. Only minor adverse effects of AAT were reported.

Linking Evidence to Action

AAT can help women with PD, particularly those who are refrained from pharmaceuticals. Primary healthcare professionals, including nurses, can be well‐equipped to provide evidence‐based and effective AAT for people with PD. AAT can be used in a broader global clinical community. To provide an optimal effect and have wider usability, a unified practice standard is required, which would necessitate further adaptation of clinical care of people with PD. AAT effectively decreased menstrual pain and other accompanying symptoms of PD. More research is needed to identify effective AAT features and explore optimal therapy regimes for PD.
COMPLEX IDENTITY: GENES TO GOD
Authors: Love Carolyn J.
Published: March 2023

Unraveling the complex notion of “self” and “other” necessitates a layered approach that explores biology, namely genetics; philosophy, namely event phenomenology; and culture, namely religion. This essay examines (1) the latest paradigm shift occurring in the genetic sciences due to the increased knowledge of epigenetic effects on gene expression and how our DNA functions in concert with the cellular apparatus, the body, and the environment; (2) the incorporation of relationality into a philosophical understanding of self; and (3) finally, what religion adds to this exploration of self. Thus, providing a glimpse at how these different approaches to identity help us understand the “self.”
A pnh-Adaptive Refinement Procedure for Numerical Optimal Control Problems
Authors: Bartali Lorenzo , Gabiccini Marco , Guiggiani Massimo
Published: March 2023

This paper presents an automatic procedure to enhance the accuracy of the numerical solution of an optimal control problem (OCP) discretized via direct collocation at Gauss–Legendre points. First, a numerical solution is obtained by solving a nonlinear program (NLP). Then, the method evaluates its accuracy and adaptively changes both the degree of the approximating polynomial within each mesh interval and the number of mesh intervals until a prescribed accuracy is met. The number of mesh intervals is increased for all state vector components alike, in a classical fashion. Instead, improving on state-of-the-art procedures, the degrees of the polynomials approximating the different components of the state vector are allowed to assume, in each finite element, distinct values. This explains the pnh definition, where n is the state dimension. With respect to the approaches found in the literature, where the degree is always raised to the highest order for all the state components, our methods allow a sensible reduction of the overall number of variables of the resulting NLP, with a corresponding reduction of the computational burden. Numerical tests on three OCP problems highlight that, under the same maximum allowable error, by independently selecting the degree of the polynomial for each state, our method effectively picks lower degrees for some of the states, thus reducing the overall number of variables in the NLP. Accordingly, various advantages are brought about, the most remarkable being: (i) an increased computational efficiency for the final enhanced mesh with solution accuracy still within the prescribed tolerance, (ii) a reduced risk of being trapped by local minima due to the reduced NLP size, and (iii) a gain of the robustness of the convergence process due to the better-behaved solution landscapes.
Assessment of the Impeller/Volute Relationship of Centrifugal Fans From an Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustic Perspective
Authors: Biedermann Till M. , Moutamassik Y. , Kameier F.
Published: March 2023

Heavy-duty centrifugal fans require high reliability and first-class performance. Besides, extreme conditions and harsh environments are often encountered, such as in the papermaking process, in steel or cement plants or the chemical and petrochemical industry. Therefore, the design of high-performance heavy-duty industrial fans requires robust yet efficient solutions. The previous work indicates a high aerodynamic and aeroacoustic sensitivity concerning the specific position of the volute cutoff (tongue). This effect will be further investigated, not by directly changing the orientation of the cutoff, but by varying the position of the impeller relative to a fixed volute casing. The initial evaluation is done through a numerical study of three influencing parameters, which allow the aerodynamic dependencies to be modeled using low-layer artificial networks. Subsequently, extensive experimental studies were carried out to validate the aerodynamic dependencies and also to incorporate information on the aeroacoustic performance. The obtained results show that the operating point represents the key factor in determining the optimal positioning, with qualitatively comparable dependencies found for both tested fans. From an aeroacoustic point of view, the determined optimal configuration does not necessarily coincide with the observed aerodynamic desires, so careful analysis and a reasonable compromise are required, motivating for a multi-objective optimization process.
Flexor hallucis brevis’ trigger point and dry needling treatment: a myofascial pain syndrome perspective on big toe pain
Authors: Temel Mustafa Hüseyin , Özyiğit Elif
Published: March 2023

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Right atrial thrombosis and lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Jiang Fenglin , Han Caijun
Published: March 2023

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Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Corneal Inflammation: Role in Microbial Keratitis?
Authors: Ayilam Ramachandran Rajalakshmy , Lemoff Andrew , Robertson Danielle M.
Published: March 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
keratitis occurs following trauma, in immunocompromised patients, and in otherwise healthy contact lens wearers. Characterized by a light-blocking infiltrate,
P. aeruginosa
keratitis is the most serious complication associated with contact lens wear and, in severe cases, can lead to vision loss.
Top-Down Genomic Surveillance Approach To Investigate the Genomic Epidemiology and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Enterococcus faecium Detected in Cancer Patients in Arkansas
Authors: Udaondo Zulema , Abram Kaleb , Kothari Atul , Jun Se-Ran
Published: March 2023

Enterococcus faecium
is a member of the gastrointestinal microbiota. Although its virulence is low in healthy, immunocompetent individuals,
E. faecium
has become the third leading cause of health care-associated infections in the United States.
Supplemental Material: Explanations of seismic data acquisition, processing, and interpretation. Time-thickness map and seismic cross-sections of Lower Cretaceous Mississippi Salt Basin. Methodology of salt tectonics physical models, landscape, and stratigraphic numerical models. Table with input parameters for landscape and stratigraphic numerical model. Figure illustrating uplift and subsidence rates of the sink domain. Explanations for animations.
Authors: Zhang Jinyu , al. et
Published: March 2023

 Explanations of seismic data acquisition, processing, and interpretation. Time-thickness map and seismic cross-sections of Lower Cretaceous Mississippi Salt Basin. Methodology of salt tectonics physical models, landscape, and stratigraphic numerical models. Table with input parameters for landscape and stratigraphic numerical model. Figure illustrating uplift and subsidence rates of the sink domain. Explanations for animations. 