bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Matrix viscoelasticity controls epithelial cell mechanobiology through dimensionality
Authors: Ciccone Giuseppe , Oliva Mariana Azevedo Gonzalez , Versaevel Marie , Cantini Marco , Vassalli Massimo , Salmeron-Sanchez Manuel , Gabriele Sylvain
Published: March 2024

In recent years, matrix viscoelasticity has emerged as a potent regulator of fundamental cellular processes and has been implicated in promoting cancer progression. Alongside viscoelasticity, additional ECM cues have been shown to influence migration decision-making of cancer cells, and spatial confinement is now considered as a potential regulator of metastasis. However, our understanding of these complex processes predominantly relies on purely elastic hydrogels, and the exact relationship between matrix viscoelasticity and spatial confinement in driving epithelial cell mechanotransduction and migration during cancer progression remains unclear. Here, we systematically investigated the interplay between matrix stiffness, viscoelasticity and spatial confinement by engineering soft (∼0.3 kPa) and stiff (∼3 kPa) polyacrylamide hydrogels with varying degrees of viscous dissipation, mirroring the mechanical properties of healthy and tumoral conditions in breast tissue. We observed that viscoelasticity modulates cell spreading, focal adhesions and YAP nuclear import in opposite directions on soft and stiff substrates. Strikingly, viscoelasticity enhances migration speed and persistence on soft substrates, while impeding them on stiff substrates via actin retrograde flow regulation. Combining soft micropatterning with viscoelastic hydrogels, we also show that spatial confinement restricts cell migration on soft matrices regardless of matrix viscoelasticity and promotes migration on stiff matrices in a viscoelasticity-dependent fashion. Our findings establish substrate viscoelasticity as a key regulator of epithelial cell functions and unravel the role of the matrix dimensionality in this process.

Significance

While matrix elasticity has received significant attention, recent findings underscore the importance of its natural dissipative properties and spatial confinement in regulating cellular processes and tumour invasiveness. However, the intricate interplay between viscoelasticity and spatial confinement in orchestrating epithelial cell behaviour during cancer progression remains elusive. Using micropatterned viscoelastic hydrogels to replicate the mechanical properties encountered during breast tumour progression, we unveil that viscoelasticity modulates cell behaviour and mechanotransduction signals differently on soft and stiff substrates. Increased viscoelasticity enhances migration speed and persistence on soft substrates while impeding them on stiff substrates via actin retrograde flow regulation. Furthermore, spatial confinement restricts cell migration on soft matrices regardless of viscoelasticity, while promoting migration on stiff matrices in a viscoelasticity-dependent manner.
An ethologically relevant paradigm to assess visual contrast sensitivity in rodents
Authors: Calanni Juan S. , Aranda Marcos L. , Dieguez Hernán H. , Dorfman Damian , Schmidt Tiffany M. , Rosenstein Ruth E.
Published: March 2024

In the animal kingdom, threat information is perceived mainly through vision. The subcortical visual pathway plays a critical role in the rapid processing of visual information-induced fear, and triggers a response. Looming-evoked behavior in rodents, mimicking response to aerial predators, allowed identify the neural circuitry underlying instinctive defensive behaviors; however, the influence of disk/background contrast on the looming-induced behavioral response has not been examined, either in rats or mice. We studied the influence of the dark disk/gray background contrast in the type of rat and mouse defensive behavior in the looming arena, and we showed that rat and mouse response as a function of disk/background contrast adjusted to a sigmoid-like relationship. Both sex and age biased the contrast-dependent response, which was dampened in rats submitted to retinal unilateral or bilateral ischemia. Moreover, using genetically manipulated mice, we showed that the three type of photoresponsive retinal cells (i.e., cones, rods, and intrinsically photoresponsive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs)), participate in the contrast-dependent response, following this hierarchy: cones ˃> rods ˃>>ipRGCs. The cone and rod involvement was confirmed using a mouse model of unilateral non-exudative age-related macular degeneration, which only damages canonical photoreceptors and significantly decreased the contrast sensitivity in the looming arena.
MORTALITY-ASSOCIATED SARS-COV-2 GENOMIC VARIANTS FROM PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED FOR SEVERE PNEUMONIA IN AGUASCALIENTES, MEXICO FROM 2020 TO 2023
Authors: Gomez Brian Muñoz , Gamboa Miriam Sarahi Lozano , Ceapa Corina Diana , Marmolejo Anastacio Palacios
Published: March 2024

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused a global health crisis, resulting in a significant loss of human lives. It is essential to report disease and mutation associations to provide ideas for public health interventions and preventive measures.

Methods

In this study, to determine the association between genomic variants and the severity of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2, a sequencing analysis of 150 patient samples with confirmed COVID-19 was conducted. These samples were collected between 2021 and 2023 and isolated in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Results

The patient cohort had males and females ranging from 0 to 91 years old. Males accounted for 66% of the population analyzed. The Delta variant was the most prevalent lineage associated with deaths in 2021-2022, while the B.1.1.529 lineages emerged in mid-2022. Currently, the XBB lineage is the most commonly identified in Mexico. New mutations L95M and L46M in ORF 8 and ORF 9 were discovered in 30% and 20% of the sequences and are uniquely present in the studied population. These mutations are positively associated with patient death.

Conclusions

This study provides valuable data to aid in understanding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in specific populations and explores the severity of the disease and mutation correlations.
Temporal attention amplifies stimulus information in fronto-cingulate cortex at an intermediate processing stage
Authors: Zhu Jiating , Tian Karen J. , Carrasco Marisa , Denison Rachel N.
Published: March 2024

The human brain faces significant constraints in its ability to process every item in a sequence of stimuli. Voluntary temporal attention can selectively prioritize a task-relevant item over its temporal competitors to alleviate these constraints. However, it remains unclear when and where in the brain selective temporal attention modulates the visual representation of a prioritized item. Here, we manipulated temporal attention to successive stimuli in a two-target temporal cueing task, while controlling for temporal expectation with fully predictable stimulus timing. We used MEG and time-resolved decoding to track the spatiotemporal evolution of stimulus representations in human observers. We found that temporal attention enhanced the representation of the first target around 250 milliseconds after target onset, in a contiguous region spanning left frontal cortex and cingulate cortex. The results indicate that voluntary temporal attention recruits cortical regions beyond the ventral stream at an intermediate processing stage to amplify the representation of a target stimulus. This routing of stimulus information to anterior brain regions may provide protection from interference in visual cortex by a subsequent stimulus. Thus, voluntary temporal attention may have distinctive neural mechanisms to support specific demands of the sequential processing of stimuli.

Significance statement

When viewing a rapid sequence of visual input, the brain cannot fully process every item. Humans can attend to an item they know will be important to enhance its processing. However, how the brain selects one moment over others is little understood. We found that attending to visual information at a precise moment in time enhances visual representations around 250 ms after an item appears. Unexpectedly, this enhancement occurred not in the visual cortex, but in the left fronto-cingulate cortex. The involvement of frontal rather than posterior cortical regions in representing visual stimuli has not typically been observed for spatial or feature-based attention, suggesting that temporal attention may have specialized neural mechanisms to handle the distinctive demands of sequential processing.
Research on vibration characteristics of rocket engine flow pipeline
Authors: Yong Su , Wu-Qi Gong
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Abnormal vibrations often occur in the liquid oxygen kerosene transmission pipelines of rocket engines, which seriously threaten their safety. Improper handling can result in failed rocket launches and significant economic losses. Therefore, this paper aims to examine vibrations in transmission pipelines.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a three-dimensional high-pressure pipeline model composed of corrugated pipes, multi-section bent pipes, and other auxiliary structures was established. The fluid–solid coupling method was used to analyse vibration characteristics of the pipeline under various external excitations. The simulation results were visualised using MATLAB, and their validity was verified via a thermal test.

Findings

In this study, the vibration mechanism of a complex high-pressure pipeline was examined via a visualisation method. The results showed that the low-frequency vibration of the pipe was caused by fluid self-excited pressure pulsation, whereas the vibration of the engine system caused a high-frequency vibration of the pipeline. The excitation of external pressure pulses did not significantly affect the vibrations of the pipelines. The visualisation results indicated that the severe vibration position of the pipeline thermal test is mainly concentrated between the inlet and outlet and between the two bellows.

Practical implications

The results of this study aid in understanding the causes of abnormal vibrations in rocket engine pipelines.

Originality/value

The causes of different vibration frequencies in the complex pipelines of rocket engines and the propagation characteristics of external vibration excitation were obtained.
Sustainability and accounting education in the Greek context
Authors: Nerantzidis Michail
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Sustainable development (SD) is becoming an important area of research in accounting education. This paper examines if postgraduate accounting students in the Greek context present different awareness of SD issues and if this is related to their Master’s orientation. Moreover, it compares the results with other similar studies.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire was designed based on Ebaid (2022) and Aleixo et al. (2021), and distributed to two different Master’s orientation programs. Then, descriptive statistics and contingency table analysis were performed to illustrate the main differences regarding the students’ responses.

Findings

The results indicate that the examined postgraduate students recognize the importance of SD for their future careers and require more knowledge about this issue. Moreover, it is presented that most of the postgraduate students adhere to the core sustainability principles (i.e. recycle, reuse and reduce), while only the students of environmental, social and governance (ESG) Master are significantly and actively engaged in social and environmental activities. Collectively, the results show that postgraduate students in Greece are more familiar with the term SD compared to participants in other similar studies in different contexts.

Practical implications

Planners and decision-makers in higher education institutions could benefit from the findings to reconsider accounting education by introducing new courses and/or Master’s programs to promote knowledge and action for SD.

Originality/value

This is the first study, as far as we know, that examines the issue of sustainability and accounting education on postgraduate students.
What lies beneath: using student reflections to study the entrepreneurial mindset in entrepreneurship education
Authors: Larsen Inge Birkbak , Neergaard Helle
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This research presents and evaluates a method for assessing the entrepreneurial mindset (EM) of students in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The research considers EM a multi-variable psychological construct, which can be broken down into several conceptual sub-categories. Using data from a master course in entrepreneurship, the authors show how these categories can be applied to analyze students’ written reflections to identify linguistic markers of EM.

Findings

The research reports three main findings: analyzing student reflections is an appropriate method to explore the state and development of students’ EM; the theoretically-derived EM categories can be nuanced and extended with insight from contextualized empirical insights; and student reflections reveal counter-EM categories that represent challenges in the educator’s endeavor to foster students’ EM.

Research limitations/implications

The commitment of resources to researching EM requires the dedication of efforts to develop methods for assessing the state and development of students’ EM. The framework can be applied to enhance the theoretical rigor and methodological transparency of studies of EM in entrepreneurship education.

Practical implications

The framework can be of value to educators who currently struggle to assess if and how their educational design fosters EM attributes.

Originality/value

This inquiry contributes to the critical research discussion about how to operationalize EM in entrepreneurship education studies. The operationalization of a psychological concept such as EM is highly important because a research focus cannot be maintained on something that cannot be studied in a meaningful way.
A moderated-mediation model of training transfer from leadership intervention
Authors: Yaqub Yasmin , Dutta Tanusree , Dhir Swati
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Grounding on the goal-setting theory and flow theory, this study explored the mechanism underlying the association between transfer design (TD); identical elements and training transfer (TT). Specifically, the authors explored a moderated mediation process of trainer performance and motivation to improve work through learning (MTIWL) that has received less consideration in the TT literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using the retro-perspective survey method. The first survey was administered offline (t1: the day when leadership intervention was completed. Subsequently, trainees were requested to participate in an online survey (t2: 12–14 weeks later). In all, 355 executives participated.

Findings

The results of structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses suggested that trainees’ MTIWL mediational impact between leadership intervention triggers (transfer design and identical elements), and TT was supported. In addition, the indirect impact of these variables on TT was found to be significant when the trainer had high performance than when it was low. This confirmed the trainer’s performance as a potential moderator in the TT process.

Practical implications

This study is limited to the exploration of leadership intervention variables on TT. The findings have implications for leadership professionals and scholars who use leadership intervention and motivation metrics to predict TT.

Originality/value

This study offers a moderated mediation mechanism for enhancing TT through leadership intervention triggers. The proposed conceptual model included MTIWL as mediator and trainer performance during leadership intervention as moderator.
The educational value of artificial intelligence in higher education: a 10-year systematic literature review
Authors: Marengo Agostino , Pagano Alessandro , Pange Jenny , Soomro Kamal Ahmed
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to consolidate empirical studies between 2013 and 2022 to investigate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. It aims to examine published research characteristics and provide insights into the promises and challenges of AI integration in academia.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was conducted, encompassing 44 empirical studies published as peer-reviewed journal papers. The review focused on identifying trends, categorizing research types and analysing the evidence-based applications of AI in higher education.

Findings

The review indicates a recent surge in publications concerning AI in higher education. However, a significant proportion of these publications primarily propose theoretical and conceptual AI interventions. Areas with empirical evidence supporting AI applications in academia are delineated.

Research limitations/implications

The prevalence of theoretical proposals may limit generalizability. Further research is encouraged to validate and expand upon the identified empirical applications of AI in higher education.

Practical implications

This review outlines imperative implications for future research and the implementation of evidence-based AI interventions in higher education, facilitating informed decision-making for academia and stakeholders.

Originality/value

This paper contributes a comprehensive synthesis of empirical studies, highlighting the evolving landscape of AI integration in higher education and emphasizing the need for evidence-based approaches.
Digital literacy skills of students of Sacred Heart College, Chalakudy: an empirical study
Authors: Sunny Stephy K. , Ramasamy K.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The study aimed to assess the digital literacy skills of the students of Sacred Heart College, Chalakudy, to know whether they possess the digital literacy skills to perform well in the digital environment. The study also analyzed how digital literacy skills were affected by various factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used stratified random sampling technique, and data were collected through a self-assessment survey using an online questionnaire designed based on DigComp 2.1: The Digital Competence Framework by the European Commission.

Findings

The results indicated that the college students needed training on digital literacy skills, as the majority students had only moderate to low digital literacy skills. It was proven that exposure to technology and the Internet will not necessarily yield skills to perform well in the digital environment. Also, digital literacy skills were not affected by various factors like age, level of study, etc.

Practical implications

The study helped to identify the digital literacy deficiencies in the students of Sacred Heart College, and it can serve as a valuable model for conducting similar investigations in diverse educational institutions. Conducting such studies offers institutions valuable insights, enabling them to create and implement personalized digital literacy training programs that can enhance students' abilities to navigate the digital landscape with proficiency and effectiveness. The study results can be insightful for educators, policymakers and the Kerala Government to reassess the current approaches and design an effective curriculum for integrating technology in education.

Originality/value

Although there are several studies that evaluated college students’ digital literacy in India and other countries, there are very few studies in the context of Kerala. Therefore, this study is distinctive and will serve as an example for all such studies in the future.
Managing under austerity: a qualitative study of management–union relations during attempts to cut labour costs in three South African public hospitals
Authors: Fana Thanduxolo Elford , Goudge Jane
Published: March 2024

Purpose

In this paper, the authors examine the strategies used to reduce labour costs in three public hospitals in South Africa, which were effective and why. In the democratic era, after the revelations of large-scale corruption, the authors ask whether their case studies provide lessons for how public service institutions might re-make themselves, under circumstances of austerity.

Design/methodology/approach

A comparative qualitative case study approach, collecting data using a combination of interviews with managers, focus group discussions and interviews with shop stewards and staff was used.

Findings

Management in two hospitals relied on their financial power, divisions between unions and employees' loyalty. They lacked the insight to manage different actors, and their efforts to outsource services and draw on the Extended Public Works Program failed. They failed to support staff when working beyond their scope of practice, reducing employees' willingness to take on extra responsibilities. In the remaining hospital, while previous management had been removed due to protests by the unions, the new CEO provided stability and union–management relations were collaborative. Her legitimate power enabled unions and management to agree on appropriate cost cutting strategies.

Originality/value

Finding an appropriate balance between the new reality of reduced financial resources and the needs of staff and patients, requires competent unions and management, transparency and trust to develop legitimate power; managing in an authoritarian manner, without legitimate power, reduces organisational capacity. Ensuring a fair and orderly process to replace ineffective management is key, while South Africa grows cohorts of competent managers and builds managerial experience.
HRM practices, organizational learning and organizational performance: evidence from the big four financial services in France
Authors: Alkhalaf Taher , Badewi Amgad
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the mediation effect of organizational learning on the link between human resource management (HRM) practices and organizational performance in some Big4 financial services companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative methodology was chosen for this research, using resource theory and knowledge-based approach to explain the relationship between latent variables. A sample of 403 HR employees and managers of the companies under study in France was selected in 2022. Structural equations modeling was used based on the Spss-Amos program to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results revealed that organizational learning played a mediating role between HRM practices (hiring, training, motivation and decision-making) and organizational performance and that learning enabled the performance of workers to improve and achieve competitive advantages in this field.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was based on four international companies working in the field of financial services and consulting and providing their services within France, which may affect the generalisability of the results and limit them to the studied sector.

Practical implications

The contribution of the study is to improve the awareness of administrators, decision makers and company employees of the importance of organizational learning for companies, and to stimulate motivation to learn and exchange knowledge in a constructive way that enhances organizational performance. Working on organizational culture change through HRM-practices-based learning as an effective mechanism for organizational performance improvement is one implication. These practises influence cadres' attitudes toward their work, which improves their performance.

Social implications

Working on organizational culture change through HRM-practices-based learning as an effective mechanism for organizational performance improvement is one implication. These practises influence cadres' attitudes toward their work, which improves their performance.

Originality/value

This study seeks to provide cadres and executives with an in-depth analysis of HRM and organizational learning, which, through its integration of these attributes, can contribute to the earning of knowledge-based competitive advantage and achieve superior and sustainable performance.
Nuances of Sales–Service Ambidexterity across Varied Sales Job Types
Authors: Temerak Mohamed Sobhy , Micevski Milena , Kadić‐Maglajlić Selma , Latinovic Zoran
Published: March 2024

An ambidextrous approach to selling, in which salespeople are concurrently responsible for both selling to and servicing the customer, has become the norm in today's selling organizations. To date, the literature points to a ‘the more, the better’ mentality when it comes to the servicing part of sales–service ambidexterity. However, little is known about the value of servicing across sales jobs with varying demands for selling effort. To address this gap, the authors first propose a more generalizable sales job typology that is based on the amount of effort salespeople are required to invest in selling, that is, sales provision effort (SPe). Second, in two subsequent studies, they show that the value of servicing depends on the type of sales job performed. Interestingly, servicing is less valued among customers in sales encounters with low levels of SPe, while salespeople in such jobs find high demands for servicing to be a welcoming challenge. For managers, this implies the need to find a balance between challenging their salespeople and ensuring effective direction of sales resources towards improvement of customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Breads formulated with avocado pulp powder as a fat substitute: Quality parameters and in vitro inhibition activities
Authors: Santos Newton Carlos , Almeida Raphael Lucas Jacinto , de Andrade Eduardo Wagner Vasconcelos , Gomes Josivanda Palmeira , de Medeiros Maria de Fátima Dantas , Pedrini Márcia Regina da Silva
Published: March 2024

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the influence of increasing contents (5%–25%) of avocado pulp powder (APP) produced by foam‐mat drying (FMD) as a substitute for hydrogenated vegetable fat in bread on its nutritional composition, physical properties, α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, and lipase inhibition, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, color, structure, and x‐ray diffraction patterns. The increase in the APP content decreased the values of lipids, carbohydrates, energy, firmness, and specific volume of breads. The inhibition of lipase activity showed a pronounced increase, while the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were significantly elevated. The color parameters a* and b* were higher in the breads with added APP. The crystalline structure transitioned from type A to type V with 15% APP incorporation. Taken together, these results suggest that APP has potential to act as a healthier substitute for saturated fats in breads, paving the way to develop creative and innovative solutions for the functionalization of bakery food products.
Established advanced practice roles in radiation therapy: A scoping review
Authors: Lawlor Sarah , Leech Michelle
Published: March 2024

Advanced practitioners are healthcare professionals that are highly skilled with a particular area of expertise. These roles have been successfully implemented in many healthcare settings, improving efficiency of the service, as well as enhancing the standard of care received by patients. Although advanced practice roles have been implemented in some radiation therapy departments, their implementation have yet to be facilitated in the majority of countries. The purpose of this review is to scope the literature available regarding established advanced practice roles in radiation therapy. The PRISMA strategy for the identification of relevant literature was adhered to. Two data bases, EMBASE and PubMed, were searched using combinations of the key words ‘Advanced’, ‘Practice’, ‘APRT’, ‘Radiation’, ‘Therapy’ and ‘Radiotherapy’. Exclusion criteria were applied, and citation lists were also screened for additional relevant sources, including grey literature sources. A total of 35 relevant sources were identified that discussed advanced practice radiation therapy roles in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Canada, Australia and the USA. Means of role establishment and scope of practice were defined, and a number of advantages and challenges for advanced practice radiation therapist roles were identified. There are many benefits of implementing advanced practice roles in radiation therapy departments. Though the implementation of these roles can be challenging, the existing evidence indicates that it would be beneficial for the patient, the radiation therapist and the department as a whole. A more systematic approach, including reporting of quantitative outcomes may assist in the more widespread implementation of these roles.
Thirty‐day mortality after palliative radiotherapy in advanced cancer patients: Optimizing end‐of‐life care in Asia
Authors: Kim Mi Sun , Cha Hyejung , You Sei Hwan , Kim Sunghyun
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Evidence‐based guidelines recommend hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy (PRT); nonetheless, many patients receive prolonged course of PRT. To identify patients with limited benefits from PRT in end‐of‐life care, we evaluated the pattern of PRT at an Asian institution and factors associated with 30‐day mortality after PRT (30dM).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 228 patients who died after PRT in Yonsei Wonju Severance Christian hospital between October 2014 and March 2022. The associations between clinical factors and survival were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards method. Survival was analysed using the existing models to evaluate their performance in our cohort.

Results

The median PRT duration was 13 (IQR, 7–15) days. Only 11.4% of the patients were treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy. One‐third of the patients (32.9%) could not complete PRT and 39 (17.1%) died during PRT. The 30dM was 31.6%. The median time from PRT to death was 17 (IQR, 11–23) days for the patients who died within 30 days. The number of involved organs (≤2 vs. >2; P < 0.001), albumin level (<3.3 vs. ≥3.3; P = 0.016), admission during PRT (P < 0.001), admission 3 months before PRT (P = 0.036) and ICU care during PRT (P < 0.001) were prognostic factors. A comparison of survival based on the existing models yielded unsatisfactory results in our cohort.

Conclusion

Almost one‐third of the patients received PRT in the last 30 days of life. The use of hypofractionation for PRT was low in this Asian population. Further research is necessary to develop a predictive model of early mortality, allowing tailored end‐of‐life care for Asian patients.
How Management Accountants Purposefully Create Cash Flow Forecasts in Capital Budgeting: A Field Study of Product Development Decisions*
Authors: Wouters Marc , Stadtherr Frank
Published: March 2024

In capital budgeting, management accountants may have their own agendas when they are creating cash flow forecasts and recommending particular capital investments. What are the mechanisms management accountants can use to influence cash flow forecasts in capital budgeting? This field study investigates how management accountants prepared cash flow forecasts for product development investment decisions at a car company. We describe in detail two instances of the technical design of new cars, the preparation of cash flow forecasts, and decisions on capital investment projects. When management accountants monetarily quantify various kinds of inputs, they not only make pragmatic choices as part of their normal work of dealing with complexity and uncertainty, but they also purposefully intervene in various ways to make their cash flow forecast support a particular capital investment. These interventions can be differentiated in terms of their nature (qualitative or quantitative) and timing (initiating or counteracting). This field study contributes a conceptualization and empirical evidence on accounting tactics in the context of capital budgeting.
A preconception cohort study of sugar‐sweetened beverage consumption and semen quality
Authors: Joseph Marlon D. , Koenig Martha R. , Kuriyama Andrea S. , Wang Tanran R. , Wesselink Amelia K. , Eisenberg Michael L. , Sommer Greg J. , Rothman Kenneth J. , Stuver Sherri O. , Wise Lauren A. , Hatch Elizabeth E.
Published: March 2024

Background

Dietary factors, including high sugar intake, may have adverse effects on male reproduction. Studies of the association between sugar‐sweetened beverage (SSB) intake and semen quality have reported inconsistent results.

Objective

We estimated the effects of SSB consumption on semen quality in a North American preconception cohort study.

Methods

We analyzed baseline data from 690 males (n = 1,247 samples) participating in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO) during 2015–2022. Participants aged ≥21 years completed a baseline questionnaire on which they reported information about intake of SSBs, including sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks, and fruit juices. After enrollment, we invited U.S. participants to a semen testing substudy, in which they collected and analyzed two samples using an at‐home semen testing kit. We used linear regression models to estimate adjusted percent differences (%D) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations of SSB intake with semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count (TSC), motility, and total motile sperm count (TMSC). We used modified Poisson regression models to estimate adjusted risk ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs for the association of SSB intake with World Health Organization semen parameter cut points.

Results

Relative to non‐consumers of SSBs, those who consumed ≥7 SSBs/week had lower semen volume (%D = −6, 95% CI: −13, 0), sperm concentration (%D = −22, 95% CI: −38, 0), TSC (%D = −22, 95% CI: −38, −2), motility (%D = −4, 95% CI: −10, 2), and TMSC (%D = −25, 95% CI: −43, −2). High SSB consumers also had greater risks of low sperm concentration (≤16 million/mL; RR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.11, 3.21), low TSC (≤39 million; RR = 1.75, 95% CI: 0.92, 3.33), low motility (≤42%; RR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.87, 1.75) and low TMSC (≤21 million; RR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.12, 3.38). Associations were stronger among participants with body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2.

Conclusion

Greater SSB consumption was associated with reduced semen quality in a North American preconception cohort.
NovoSorb® biodegradable temporising matrix (BTM) in the reconstruction of cutaneous malignancies in a major cancer centre: a case series
Authors: Devine Maxim , Edmondson Mark , Gearing Peter , Concannon Elizabeth , Findlay Michael , Zinn Richard , Webb Angela
Published: March 2024

Background

Non‐graftable or composite defect reconstruction represents a major challenge to the reconstructive surgeon, with many wounds requiring local flap or free microvascular tissue transfer approaches. The recent advent of synthetic skin substitutes such as Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix (BTM) have revolutionized the management of complex defects including those caused by burns, trauma and infection, with low‐morbidity and low‐complexity surgery. However, limited data exist supporting their use in cancer reconstruction in Australia.

Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing cancer resection and reconstruction with BTM between February 2021 and February 2023 in our institution. Reported outcomes included matrix integration, infection, and return to theatre.

Results

Twelve patients underwent reconstruction of primary or secondary defects following cancer resection during this period. Eight patients were male, four female, mean age at surgery was 70 years. Pathology resected included squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma of the head and neck, sarcoma resection of the lower limb, and osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the scalp. T‐stage of primary tumours ranged from T2 to T4 and one in‐transit metastasis of melanoma. Four patients were treated with radiotherapy, two of whom received postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) and two who received neoadjuvant radiotherapy, three additional patients had an intervention to a previously irradiated wound bed for recurrence or ORN. Overall matrix integration was 83% (10/12), with a 50% integration rate (2/4) observed in the post‐radiotherapy group, requiring return to theatre for alternative reconstructive approaches.

Conclusion

We report our experience with a synthetic dermal matrix (BTM) in cancer reconstruction, the largest cohort of this type in the Australian literature. BTM represents an exciting reconstructive tool for the cancer reconstructive surgeon, with a high rate of success and low morbidity.
Impact of revised International Staging System 2 risk stratification on outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma receiving autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Alzahrani Kamal , Pasvolsky Oren , Wang Zhongya , Milton Denái R. , Tanner Mark R. , Bashir Qaiser , Srour Samer , Saini Neeraj , Lin Paul , Ramdial Jeremy , Nieto Yago , Lee Hans C. , Patel Krina K. , Manasanch Elisabet E. , Kebriaei Partow , Thomas Sheeba K. , Weber Donna M. , Orlowski Robert Z. , Shpall Elizabeth J. , Champlin Richard , Qazilbash Muzaffar H.
Published: March 2024

The second revision of the International Staging System (R2‐ISS) is a simple tool to risk‐stratify newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients. Here, we completed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the utility of R2‐ISS in NDMM patients who underwent up‐front autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto‐HCT). A total of 1291 patients were included, with a median age of 62 years (range 29–83). The distribution of R2‐ISS stages was: 123 (10%) stage I, 471 (36%) stage II, 566 (44%) stage III and 131 (10%) stage IV. With a median follow‐up of 42.2 months (range 0.3–181.0), the median PFS was 73.0, 65.2, 44.0 and 24.8 months, (p < 0.001) and the median OS was 130.8, 128.5, 94.2 and 61.4 months (p < 0.001) for patients with R2‐ISS stages I, II, III and IV respectively. On multivariable analysis (MVA) for PFS, using R2‐ISS stage I as reference, R2‐ISS stages III (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.55 [1.05–2.29]; p = 0.028) and IV (2.04 [1.24–3.36]; p = 0.005) were associated with significantly inferior PFS. In the MVA of OS, using R2‐ISS stage I as reference, only R2‐ISS stage IV was associated with significantly inferior OS (2.43 [1.18–5.01]; p = 0.017). Overall, we found that R2‐ISS is a reliable prognostic tool for NDMM patients undergoing up‐front auto‐HCT.
Embodied practice in a disembodied time: How the COVID‐19 pandemic shaped direct work with children and young people
Authors: Ellis Heather , Critchley Ariane
Published: March 2024

The COVID‐19 pandemic and related restrictions imposed in the UK had a significant impact on social work practice with children and young people. As has been widely reported, practitioners were deprived of multisensory information in their assessments and of opportunities to connect with children. In this article, we consider data from Scotland, created through interviews with practitioners during May 2021, a time of tentative optimism between periods of widespread lockdown. The Scottish policy context offers particular tensions and contrasts through which to understand how practice was impacted by physical distancing measures. Just prior to the beginning of pandemic restrictions, in February 2020, the report of Scotland's Independent Care Review, The Promise, was published and emphasized the importance of love, nurture, and care for children. The Promise encouraged professionals to ‘bring their whole selves to work’ and to relate to families in ways that are natural, and not constrained by ideas of professionalism. The following month, the country was in a national lockdown with strict restrictions on the contact workers could have with families. Drawing on data from practitioners working in this context, we aim to explore how social workers reconceptualized direct work with children during this period.
Regeneration of alveolar bone defects in the experimental pig model: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Shanbhag Siddharth , Kampleitner Carina , Sanz‐Esporrin Javier , Lie Stein‐Atle , Gruber Reinhard , Mustafa Kamal , Sanz Mariano
Published: March 2024

Objective

Pigs are emerging as a preferred experimental in vivo model for bone regeneration. The study objective was to answer the focused PEO question: in the pig model (P), what is the capacity of experimental alveolar bone defects (E) for spontaneous regeneration in terms of new bone formation (O)?

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, electronic databases were searched for studies reporting experimental bone defects or extraction socket healing in the maxillae or mandibles of pigs. The main inclusion criteria were the presence of a control group of untreated defects/sockets and the assessment of regeneration via 3D tomography [radiographic defect fill (RDF)] or 2D histomorphometry [new bone formation (NBF)]. Random effects meta‐analyses were performed for the outcomes RDF and NBF.

Results

Overall, 45 studies were included reporting on alveolar bone defects or extraction sockets, most frequently in the mandibles of minipigs. Based on morphology, defects were broadly classified as ‘box‐defects’ (BD) or ‘cylinder‐defects’ (CD) with a wide range of healing times (10 days to 52 weeks). Meta‐analyses revealed pooled estimates (with 95% confidence intervals) of 50% RDF (36.87%–63.15%) and 43.74% NBF (30.47%–57%) in BD, and 44% RDF (16.48%–71.61%) and 39.67% NBF (31.53%–47.81%) in CD, which were similar to estimates of socket‐healing [48.74% RDF (40.35%–57.13%) and 38.73% NBF (28.57%–48.89%)]. Heterogeneity in the meta‐analysis was high (I2 > 90%).

Conclusion

A substantial body of literature revealed a high capacity for spontaneous regeneration in experimental alveolar bone defects of (mini)pigs, which should be considered in future studies of bone regeneration in this animal model.
Effect of mordants on colour variation in alpaca fibre dyed with dye extracted from the tankar stem (Berberis boliviana L.)
Authors: Lozano Franklin , Tapía‐Pacci Sofia , Ccopa Ruth , Quispe‐Quispe Arturo , Salazar‐López Juan C.
Published: March 2024

The objective of the research was to evaluate the effect of mordants on colour variation, textile characteristics, colour fastness, and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) bands in alpaca fibre dyed with tankar stem extract. The white alpaca fibre was obtained from the company Inka Tops S.A. The mordants used were: alum (KAl(SO4)2·12H2O) at 20% and iron(II) sulphate (FeSO4) at 3%. Prior to dyeing, a pre‐mordanting process was carried out (86°C for 30 min), and dyeing was performed through thermal treatment at 70 and 86°C (30 and 60 min). The CIELab [L*, a*, b*, chroma (C*) and hue (h°)] coordinates and reflectance were evaluated using a spectrometer; textile characteristics were assessed with OFDA (optical fibre diameter analyser) 2000; chemical bands were analysed with an FTIR‐attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectrophotometer, and colour fastness (light, washing, and rubbing) was evaluated using international American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) standards. The results showed that luminosity (L*) significantly decreased after dyeing and pre‐mordanting with KAl(SO4)2·12H2O (81.47) and FeSO4 (70.47). Additionally, the b* value and C* value significantly increased at higher temperature and longer dyeing time, resulting in slightly different shades and hues in each treatment. The coefficient of variation (CV) and curvature index (CU) presented significant differences, with CU increasing at 86°C/60 min with FeSO4. Colour fastness to washing and rubbing showed acceptable values on the greyscale. In conclusion, the mordants used had a significant effect on colour variation, textile characteristics, colour fastness, and FTIR spectrum. The most intense shades were observed in fibres pre‐mordanted with FeSO4 (dull yellow‐green) and in dyeing without mordant (yellow).
Early outcomes associated with de novo once‐daily extended‐release versus twice‐daily immediate‐release tacrolimus in a predominantly African American kidney transplant population: A single‐center observational study
Authors: Romine Margaret M. , Leeser David B. , Kennamer Karen , Nguyen Catherine , Jones Heather , McLawhorn Kristel , Kendrick Scott , Irish William
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to compare early outcomes of de novo LCPT (once‐daily extended‐release tacrolimus) to IR TAC (twice‐daily immediate‐release tacrolimus) in a predominantly African American (AA) adult kidney transplant population.

Methods

This is a single center, retrospective cohort study. Patients were divided into two cohorts: IR TAC (administered between January 1, 2017, and January 31, 2019) and LCPT (administered between February 1, 2019, and May 31, 2020). Primary endpoints were changes in tacrolimus trough levels (ng/mL) and estimated glomerular filtration rate up to 12 months post‐transplantation. Clinical endpoints included graft survival, delayed graft function, biopsy‐proven rejection, CMV viremia, and BK. A propensity score weighted generalized linear mixed effects model was used for analysis.

Results

The rate of change in tacrolimus levels was significantly higher in the LCPT cohort compared to the IR TAC cohort at 14 days post‐discharge (.2455 ng/mL per day vs. .1073 ng/mL, respectively; p < .001). Subsequently, the LCPT cohort had a slightly higher rate of decline (–.015 ng/mL per day vs. –.010 ng/mL with IR TAC; p = .0894) up to 12 months post‐discharge. Although eGFR was similar between the two cohorts at 12 months post‐transplant, the rate of increase was slower in the LCPT cohort (.1371 mL/min per day vs. .1852 mL/min per day, p = .0314). No significant differences were found in graft survival, DGF, BPAR, CMV, or BK infection.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that despite higher early trough levels with immediate post‐transplant LCPT use, clinical outcomes are comparable to IR TAC at one‐year post‐transplant. Notably, LCPT use does not increase the incidence of DGF and that this formulation of CNI can be used as first line therapy post‐transplant.
Becoming the change we want to see: Aspirations and initial progress with diversity, equity, access, and inclusion practices to create welcoming environments and center community in informal science institutions
Authors: Peterman Karen , Chesnut Lynn , Gathings M. J. , Martin Keshia , Maier Allison Black , Evia Jane Robertson , Ayala Chávez Regina , Harris Maren , Busch K. C. , Stover Darrell , Larson Lincoln R. , Stevenson Kathryn , Yelton Charles
Published: March 2024

This study focuses on the diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI) practices of informal science institutions (ISI) that are part of a statewide grants program. Data were collected to understand how ISIs interpret and implement DEAI in thought and action in their efforts to create more welcoming spaces for members of communities that are often underrepresented or marginalized in informal learning spaces. Modeled after the Cultural Competence Learning Institute's (CCLI) Framework, survey data were collected to understand DEAI practices being used to create welcoming environments. Interview data were collected 2 years later to understand how ISIs collaborate with others to center communities in their work. Results indicated that while DEAI was considered a high priority, strategies were limited. A positive relationship was found between the number of strategies used and perceived success. ISIs' stories of collaboration focused most often on transactional relationships with organizational partners. Those working with communities directly collaborated in needs‐based or reciprocal ways. Results are interpreted in relation to the CCLI Framework's potential to provide benchmarks for both individual institutions and groups like our statewide grants program to use as comparison points for their own DEAI practice.