bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Impact of Androgen Receptor–Suppressing miR-146b Expression in Papillary Thyroid Cancer Aggressiveness
Authors: Chou Chen-Kai , Chi Shun-Yu , Hung Yi-Yung , Yang Yi-Chien , Fu Hung-Chun , Wang Jia-He , Chen Chueh-Chen , Kang Hong-Yo
Published: May 2023

Context

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid malignancy. Dysregulated expression of miR-146b and androgen receptor (AR) has been shown to play critical roles in tumorigenesis in PTC. However, the mechanistic and clinical association between AR and miR-146b is not fully understood.

Objective

The purpose was to investigate miR-146b as the potential AR target miRNA and its involvement in advanced tumor characteristics of PTC.

Methods

Expression of AR and miR-146b were assessed in frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples from PTC and adjacent normal thyroid specimens by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and their correlation was examined. Human thyroid cancer cell lines BCPAP and TPC-1 were used to evaluate the effect of AR on miR-146b signaling. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed to determine whether AR binds to the miR-146b promoter region.

Results

Pearson correlation analysis confirmed significant inverse correlation between miR-146b and AR expression. Overexpressing AR BCPAP and TPC-1 cells showed relatively lower miR-146b expression. ChIP assay revealed that AR might bind to the androgen receptor element located on the promoter region of miRNA-146b gene, and overexpression of AR suppresses miR-146b-mediated tumor aggressiveness. The low AR/high miR-146b PTC patient group was associated with advanced tumor characteristics, including higher tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and worse treatment response.

Conclusion

To sum up, miR-146b is a molecular target of AR transcriptional repression; therefore, AR suppresses miR-146b expression to reduce PTC tumor aggressiveness.
The Role of the Patient Partnership in Designing Research on Neuropsychiatric Issues in Hypoparathyroidism
Authors: Rubin Mishaela R
Published: May 2023

Hypoparathyroidism is a rare endocrine disease that is associated with hypocalcemia and insufficient parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Neuropsychiatric complaints are common in hypoparathyroidism. Yet there is a large knowledge gap in our understanding of cognitive dysfunction in hypoparathyroidism and partnering with patients is essential for filling this hole. Input from hypoparathyroid patients is needed to define objective, performance-based cognitive impairments. Creating patient advisory boards that provide input for planning clinical trials would enable patient perspectives to be shared. This would ensure that meaningful, standardized neuropsychological instruments that prioritize patients’ cognitive concerns are selected. Patient partnership is also needed to understand the wide inter-individual variability of cognitive symptoms in hypoparathyroidism, as well as mechanisms aside from calcium shifts that might explain cognitive symptoms, such as low PTH itself, alterations in brain structure, or other hypoparathyroidism-associated comorbidities. With new PTH replacement therapies on the horizon, patient input about studying how these therapies impact, and maybe even reverse, cognitive impairment will also be critical. Ultimately, the inclusion of patient partners in hypoparathyroidism research will advance the design of neuropsychiatric studies and generate key input for understanding how to reduce the burden of this disease.
Accuracy of Depth Electrodes is Not Time-Dependent in Robot-Assisted Stereoelectroencephalography in a Pediatric Population
Authors: Williams Ari , Ordaz Josue D. , Budnick Hailey , Desai Virendra R. , Tailor BMBCH Jignesh , Raskin Jeffrey S.
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Robot-assisted stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) is steadily supplanting traditional frameless and frame-based modalities for minimally invasive depth electrode placement in epilepsy workup. Accuracy rates similar to gold-standard frame-based techniques have been achieved, with improved operative efficiency. Limitations in cranial fixation and placement of trajectories in pediatric patients are believed to contribute to a time-dependent accumulation of stereotactic error. Thus, we aim to study the impact of time as a marker of cumulative stereotactic error during robotic sEEG.

METHODS:

All patients between October 2018 and June 2022 who underwent robotic sEEG were included. Radial errors at entry and target points as well as depth and Euclidean distance errors were collected for each electrode, excluding those with errors over 10 mm. Target point errors were standardized by planned trajectory length. ANOVA and error rates over time were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 9.

RESULTS:

Forty-four patients met inclusion criteria for a total of 539 trajectories. Number of electrodes placed ranged from 6 to 22. Average root mean squared error was 0.45 ± 0.12 mm. Average entry, target, depth, and Euclidean distance errors were 1.12 ± 0.41 mm, 1.46 ± 0.44 mm, −1.06 ± 1.43 mm, and 3.01 ± 0.71 mm, respectively. There was no significant increased error with each sequential electrode placed (entry error P-value = .54, target error P-value = .13, depth error P-value = .22, Euclidean distance P-value = .27).

CONCLUSION:

No decremental accuracy over time was observed. This may be secondary to our workflow which prioritizes oblique and longer trajectories first and then into less error-prone trajectories. Further study on the effect of level of training may reveal a novel difference in error rates.
Machine Learning in Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain
Authors: Hariharan Varun , Harland Tessa A. , Young Christopher , Sagar Amit , Gomez Maria Merlano , Pilitsis Julie G.
Published: May 2023

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment for chronic neuropathic pain. The success of SCS is dependent on candidate selection, response to trialing, and programming optimization. Owing to the subjective nature of these variables, machine learning (ML) offers a powerful tool to augment these processes. Here we explore what work has been done using data analytics and applications of ML in SCS. In addition, we discuss aspects of SCS which have narrowly been influenced by ML and propose the need for further exploration. ML has demonstrated a potential to complement SCS to an extent ranging from assistance with candidate selection to replacing invasive and costly aspects of the surgery. The clinical application of ML in SCS shows promise for improving patient outcomes, reducing costs of treatment, limiting invasiveness, and resulting in a better quality of life for the patient.
Unlocked Potential: Work-from-Home Job Postings in 20 OECD Countries
Authors: Adrjan Pawel , Ciminelli Gabriele , Judes Alexandre , Koelle Michael , Schwellnus Cyrille , Sinclair Tara
Published: May 2023

Starting from over 1.2 billion job postings, we construct and make publicly available a novel dataset on postings advertising work from home (WFH) in 20 countries and 55 occupational categories from January 2019 to September 2022. We document three stylized facts. First, in the average country, WFH surged during the pandemic but declined only marginally as the pandemic receded. Second, across countries, increases in WFH were more pronounced where mobility restrictions were more severe. Third, across occupations, the shift toward WFH was concentrated in occupations where WFH was technically and organizationally feasible even before the pandemic.
How Work from Home Changes Housing Demand: Evidence from Online Search
Authors: Guglielminetti Elisa , Loberto Michele , Zevi Giordano , Zizza Roberta
Published: May 2023

We quantify the impact of work from home (WFH) on housing demand by leveraging a unique dataset of online housing sales advertisements in Italy and considering intensity in the adoption of WFH. By exploiting both the time series and the geographical variation in WFH adoption after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we estimate that intensive WFH is the main driver of a significant recomposition of housing demand toward larger, single-family properties with outdoor spaces. This suggests that hybrid working arrangements involving a sizable amount of home-office work may have long-lasting consequences on housing markets and the organization of cities.
Reparations for Victims: Lessons from Colombia
Authors: Guarin Arlen , Londoño-Vélez Juliana , Posso Christian
Published: May 2023

Reparations recognize and address the harm that victims suffered during war, conflict, or authoritarianism, and some experts argue that the compensation can also help victims to rebuild life projects. Using linked administrative microdata, we study the world's largest reparations program, currently being implemented in Colombia. First, we provide descriptive evidence on Colombia's conflict victims. Then, we shed light on how reparations' various aims have shaped the program's design and implementation features and on who has received compensation. Last, we discuss the practical challenges and tensions in balancing the various goals of reparations programs under tight fiscal constraints and limited state capacity.
Refugee Entrepreneurship: The Case of Venezuelans in Colombia
Authors: Bahar Dany , Cowgill Bo , Guzman Jorge
Published: May 2023

This paper analyzes the entire business registry of Colombia during 2015-2022, a period when Colombia received two million Venezuelan immigrants and refugees. We present two main findings. First, firms owned by foreigners, most of them Venezuelans, tend to be 10 to 20 percent more capitalized when founded as compared to firms owned by locals within the same industry, geographic location, and year of registration. Second, while more intensive in capital, these firms owned by foreigners are just as likely to survive the first two and three years as firms owned by locals are. We discuss the implications for these findings.
The Macroeconomic Consequences of International Financial Sanctions
Authors: Bianchi Javier , Sosa-Padilla Cesar
Published: May 2023

Financial sanctions have emerged as powerful weapons in the current geopolitical landscape. In this paper, we use a graphical framework to trace their macroeconomic implications, highlighting lessons for the status of the US dollar as a reserve currency, sovereign debt crises, and the fragmentation of capital flows.
Sectoral Shocks and the Role of Market Integration: The Case of Natural Gas
Authors: Albrizio Silvia , Bluedorn John , Koch Christoffer , Pescatori Andrea , Stuermer Martin
Published: May 2023

We quantify how market integration affects the economic propagation of sectoral supply shocks at the example of a Russian gas shutoff to the European Union. An open-economy, multisector general equilibrium model suggests that the adverse output impact on the European Union shrinks fourfold if integration with the global liquified natural gas (LNG) market is considered. On the flip side, other LNG importers also see adverse output effects. Due to nonlinearities, the combined total economic damage is less than half with integration, compared to the counterfactual case without. Governments should foster further integration to make economies more resilient to supply shocks.
Heterogeneity in Attitude Responses: Evidence from Bostock v. Clayton County
Authors: Deal Cameron
Published: May 2023

Traditional models of policy formation emphasize how political attitudes and actions affect policy outcomes. However, the converse may occur–policies are often a signal to constituents about the priorities and positions of both political actors and the government more broadly. I use the Supreme Court's decision in Bostock v. Clayton County to find broadbased improvements in attitudes toward LGBT people. Additionally, I find that my effect is almost entirely driven by men. These findings support a legitimization model of attitude effects. However, the distinct effects by gender suggest that gendered determinants of attitudes toward LGBT people may differ significantly.
Perceptions of Gender Diversity in Occupations
Authors: Flory Jeffrey , Leibbrandt Andreas , Shurchkov Olga , Stoddard Olga , Taylor Alva
Published: May 2023

We design a survey experiment to investigate the effect of intervention with diversity on preferences for diverse outcomes. First, subjects report their perceptions of the archetypical occupations boss, professor, nurse, and clerk, rating boss/professor as higher status than nurse/clerk. Importantly, while respondents expect overrepresentation of women among nurses and clerks, they expect a relatively equal gender distribution among bosses and professors. We then randomize participants to view either diverse or nondiverse images for each occupation. Diversifying the image sets significantly increases the likelihood of underrepresented individuals being selected in both domains, but correctness of preexisting beliefs only matters in female-typed domains.
Labor Supply Shocks and Capital Accumulation: The Short- and Long-Run Effects of the Refugee Crisis in Europe
Authors: Caliendo Lorenzo , Opromolla Luca David , Parro Fernando , Sforza Alessandro
Published: May 2023

European countries experienced a large increase in labor supply due to the influx of Ukrainian refugees after the 2022 Russia invasion of Ukraine. We study its dynamic effects in a spatial model with forward-looking households of different skills, trade, and endogenous capital accumulation. We find that real GDP increases in Europe in the long term, with large distributional effects across countries and skill groups. In the short run, an increase in the supply of labor strains the use of capital structures that takes time to build. Over time, countries that build capital structures increase output, resulting in potential long-run benefits.
Consumer Control and Privacy Policies
Authors: Ali S. Nageeb , Lewis Greg , Vasserman Shoshana
Published: May 2023

Firms use consumer data to price discriminate. In response, policymakers have pushed for consumers to have control over their data so that they choose what to share and with whom. We model consumer control and its effect on markets through the lens of voluntary disclosure: the consumer has characteristics that they can verifiably disclose to the market. The market in turn draws inferences in equilibrium. Using this framework, we identify when consumers benefit from price discrimination in monopolistic and competitive markets. We also show that this framework can resolve the privacy paradox and potentially offers new limits for price discrimination.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Workers' Expectations and Preferences for Remote Work
Authors: Chen Yuting , Cortes Patricia , Kosar Gizem , Pan Jessica , Zafar Basit
Published: May 2023

We study how COVID-19 affected the prevalence, expectations, and attitudes toward remote work using specially designed surveys. The incidence of remote work remains higher than prepandemic levels, and both men and women expect this to persist postpandemic. Workers also report increased preference for remote work as a result of the pandemic. These changes are strongly correlated with individuals' exposure to the pandemic-induced work-from-home shock, indicating that experience with remote work during the pandemic likely shaped expectations and preferences toward WFH. The magnitude of the effects on preferences and expectations are similar across gender, marital status, and presence of children.
Using Grouped Data to Estimate Revenue Heterogeneity in Online Advertising Auctions
Authors: Breitmar Nils A. , Harding Matthew , Lamarche Carlos
Published: May 2023

This paper estimates the heterogeneous impact of advertising networks from the perspective of a publisher who has access to limited information provided by the advertising platform in the form of grouped data over different auctions and users. The models account for the high-dimensional nature of the data and allow for time-varying interactive effects. We estimate models for different countries, and the measured heterogeneity may reflect factors such as local competition or cost effectiveness.
Mergers and Acquisitions under Common Ownership
Authors: Antón Miguel , Ederer Florian , Giné Mireia , Pellegrino Bruno
Published: May 2023

We provide new facts about the cross section and evolution of mergers and acquisitions for US public firms. Using a general equilibrium model with a hedonic demand system and data on institutional ownership, we document that mergers are increasingly concentrated among firm pairs with a high degree of product market interaction and a moderate to high degree of common ownership. We estimate how much mergers have raised aggregate corporate profits and reduced consumer surplus and quantify how the anticompetitive effects of mergers are affected by common ownership and shareholder value maximization motives.
A Model of Demand for Health and Caregiving Incorporating Marriage Markets
Authors: Grossbard Shoshana , Hakak Lorena
Published: May 2023

According to the Grossman model, the demand for health-related goods or services varies with the costs of their substitutes produced in the household. This paper contributes to the literature on the demand for health-related products and home care by also considering substitution between goods produced at home by oneself and those produced by one's spouse or partner. It is argued that marriage market variation such as variation in individual traits of partners/spouses or in sex ratios and changes in laws about marriage or divorce may affect demand for health-related goods and home care by relatives.
Is All Caregiving Created Equal? A Comparison of Caregiving to Children and Adults
Authors: Mommaerts Corina , Truskinovsky Yulya
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we compare patterns of family care provided to children and to adults, and discuss what these patterns suggest about how individuals make decisions over, and ultimately value, such care. We show that patterns of informal adult care do not resemble patterns of informal childcare along three important dimensions: caregiver age, caregiver education, and the response of caregiving to macroeconomic conditions. The finding that childcare and adult care are economically distinct suggest that policies, like paid family leave, that support caregivers should more carefully consider these differences.
Bank Loan Monitoring, Distance, and Delegation
Authors: Heitz Amanda Rae , Martin Christopher , Ufier Alexander
Published: May 2023

Using a proprietary transaction-level database of nearly 30,000 multiple-draw construction loans and their on-site inspection reports, we empirically examine the relationship between geographic distance and bank information acquisition over the course of the loans (i.e., monitoring). We find that projects farther from the nearest bank branch are more intensely monitored by bank-contracted, third-party inspectors (delegated monitors) and that projects farther from these inspectors receive less intense monitoring, potentially because inspectors face distance-related frictions. These results are consistent with the prediction that distance increases informational frictions but also suggest that banks may offset these frictions by delegating monitoring to closer inspectors.
Control of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations
Authors: Appel Ian , Grennan Jillian
Published: May 2023

Blockchain technology has facilitated the emergence of a new type of organizational form, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). In contrast to corporations and other types of business organizations, DAOs do not have managers or directors with formal decision rights. Instead, the members of DAOs collectively make decisions by voting on proposals. The governance process is encoded and executed via smart contracts, negating the need for centralized leadership. We examine the control of DAOs by analyzing 10,639 proposals across 151 DAOs. We find that rather than democratizing decision-making, a small number of entities, often three or fewer, exert control over most decisions.
Stereotypes about Successful Entrepreneurs
Authors: Lyonnet Victor , Stern Léa
Published: May 2023

What comes to mind when thinking about a successful entrepreneur? Belief formation models suggest that what comes to mind is an oversimplified picture of the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs–that is, stereotypes about successful entrepreneurs. Using French administrative data on 48,767 new firms, we show that some characteristics are stereotypical of success and have distributions that can generate miscalibrated beliefs. To illustrate how stereotypical thinking can lead to biased assessments, we report the discrepancies between the implied fraction of successful entrepreneurs under Bayesian versus stereotypical thinking for several stereotypes. We discuss the consequences of stereotyping for venture capital allocation.
Do Health Disparities Narrow with Pollution Disparities? Trends from California
Authors: Hernandez-Cortes Danae , Meng Kyle C.
Published: May 2023

Pollution concentrations (PM2.5) in the United States have fallen in recent decades. Despite these improvements, disparities in concentrations between racial/ethnic groups persist. We combine administrative data on the universe of emergency room (ER) admissions across California with satellite information on PM2.5 concentrations and compare recent trends in racial/ethnic disparities for PM2.5 and asthma rates. We find that PM2.5 concentrations fell for the average Black, Hispanic, and White individual. Similarly, disparities in PM2.5 concentrations fell between Black and White individuals and between Hispanic and White individuals. However, racial disparities in asthma rates, as measured by asthma-related ER visits per resident, have increased overall and broadly across the income distribution.
Bibliometric analysis of the top 100 cited articles in breast radiology
Authors: Ko Tsz Ki , Tan Denise Jia Yun
Published: May 2023

Objective:

Bibliometrics analysis is a widely used approach that enables influential research within specific fields to be identified To identify the 100 most-cited articles in breast radiology and analyse the trend in breast imaging research.

Methods and materials:

A systematic search was conducted using the Thomson Rheuters Web of Science database. The results were ranked according to citation count and screened to create a single database. Data including first author, year of publication, journal, country of origin, primary institution, number of citations and average number of citations per year were extracted, as well as the impact factor and the 5-year impact factor of journals publishing the articles.

Results:

The systematic search yielded a total of 114,426 articles, after filters were applied to include papers that were available in English only. Citations for the 100 most-cited articles ranged from 515 to 3660. Half of the articles on the list were published between 2001 and 2010. Radiology has the most number of publications (n = 17), followed by JAMA-Journal of The American Medical Association (n = 9). CA-A Cancer Journal For Clinicians had the highest impact factor of 286.13. Mammogram (n = 49) was the most commonly studied modality, followed by Magnetic Resonance (n = 26). The most common topic of publication was diagnosis (n = 83).

Conclusion:

This research serves as a guide to the most influential articles on the topic of breast radiology.
Role of gene therapy in treatment of cancer with craniofacial regeneration—current molecular strategies, future perspectives, and challenges: a narrative review
Authors: Singh Himanshu
Published: May 2023

Gene therapy involves the introduction of foreign genetic material into host tissue to alter the expression of genetic products. Gene therapy represents an opportunity to alter the course of various diseases. Hence, genetic products utilizing safe and reliable vectors with improved biotechnology will play a critical role in the treatment of various diseases in the future. This review summarizes various important vectors for gene therapy along with modern techniques for potential craniofacial regeneration using gene therapy. This review also explains current molecular approaches for the management and treatment of cancer using gene therapy. The existing literature was searched to find studies related to gene therapy and its role in craniofacial regeneration and cancer treatment. Various databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for English language articles using the keywords “gene therapy,” “gene therapy in present scenario,” “gene therapy in cancer,” “gene therapy and vector,” “gene therapy in diseases,” and “gene therapy and molecular strategies.”
Signature of rebellion: how SOC theory helps to detect signs of protest mobilization on the web
Authors: Zhukov D.
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this study is to detect signs of political mobilization in social networks during the period of intensification of internal political struggle (including street actions of the opposition) at the beginning of 2021 in Russia. This study suggests a new quantitative indicator to reveal online communities (networks) characterized by strong user engagement and high level of political mobilization. VK-communities were mapped and analyzed in order to demonstrate the capability of this tool and determine levels of mobilization. The hypothesis of the study was that mobilized communities are able to turn virtual grievances into street protests. The object of study is a set (cluster) of related protest VK-communities (groups/hubs) through which messages from the most influential information donors are brought to public notice on the Internet. The proposed indicator for the calculation of mobilization level is based on the theory of self-organized criticality (SOC). The theory of SOC was initially created to describe a broad class of natural science phenomena, yet it has recently made its way into humanities and social sciences. Timeline of work: from January 10 to April 30, 2021. It was found that some groups (about 10%) in the considered cluster had a high mobilization index during this period. Many of the mobilized groups were very influential: they were both large-scale information donors and highly specialized protest communities. The practical significance of this study lies in improving the methods of monitoring network activity to identify groups that can influence the behavior of their members (both online and on the streets). This study also has theoretical significance related to the accumulation of knowledge about SOC effects in social systems.
Resurfacing the defect from wide excision of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor based on a thoracodorsal artery perforator free flap: a case report
Authors: An Jung Kwon , Kim Youn Hwan
Published: May 2023

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare, aggressive soft tissue sarcomas with a high rate of recurrence and metastasis. Limb salvage surgery with free flap reconstruction is a viable option for selected patients with MPNSTs, but careful consideration should be given to the risk of recurrence. This case report describes a 26-year-old male patient with a recurrent, aggressive, high-grade MPNST who underwent limb salvage surgery with thoracodorsal artery perforator free flap reconstruction. Despite the surgical intervention, local recurrence of the MPNST was detected, and below-knee amputation was ultimately recommended. This case highlights the importance of early, definitive treatment decision-making in cases of aggressive, high-grade MPNSTs. Close postoperative monitoring and early detection of recurrence are crucial for achieving optimal outcomes in patients with MPNSTs undergoing limb salvage surgery with free flap reconstruction.
Sellin’ in the Rain: Weather, Climate, and Retail Sales
Authors: Roth Tran Brigitte
Published: May 2023

I apply a novel machine-learning based “weather index” method to daily store-level sales data for a national apparel and sporting goods brand to examine short-run responses to weather and long-run adaptation to climate. I find that even when considering potentially offsetting shifts of sales between outdoor and indoor stores, to the firm’s website, or over time, weather has significant persistent effects on sales. This suggests that weather may increase sales volatility as more severe weather shocks become more frequent under climate change. Consistent with adaptation to climate, I find that sensitivity of sales to weather decreases with historical experience for precipitation, snow, and cold weather events, but—surprisingly—not for extreme heat events. This suggests that adaptation may moderate some but not all the adverse impacts of climate change on sales. Retailers can respond by adjusting their staffing, inventory, promotion events, compensation, and financial reporting.

This paper was accepted by Rajesh Chandy, Special Section of Management Science on Business and Climate Change.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Science Foundation [Grant 0903551].

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4799 .
Children's care: family centred but child focused
Authors: Purssell Edward , Sagoo Rohit
Published: May 2023

Family-centred care is a widely used but loosely defined model of care often used in children's nursing. Although this allows for flexibility in its application, it also means that nurses can have very different ideas about its meaning. Recent decisions about the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination programme for children under the age of 16 years in the UK and other countries have further confused this, as it has brought into question the relative position of children and their families in the decision-making process. Over time, the legislative and social positions of children have changed. Children are increasingly seen as being separate but related to their family, with an emphasis on their own human, legal, and ethical rights, including allowing children to choose the type of support they require for their care to reduce any undue stress. This article puts these into a current and contextual framework to better help nurses understand the historical as well as the contemporary reasons for the status of family-centred care today.
Comprehensive evaluation of a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma education webinar
Authors: Lavender Verna , Duarte Joao , Lusted Claire
Published: May 2023

Background:

Effective and timely referral, treatment and care of people with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) depend on clinical staff possessing highly specialised knowledge and skills. Because of the fragmented nature of the CTCL workforce, specialist education was delivered via a webinar.

Aim:

The study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the webinar and test the validity of using an evaluation model for a one-off education event.

Methods:

The webinar was evaluated using Moore et al's conceptual model for evaluation of education. Data were collected using polling questions and post-webinar questionnaires and analysed using descriptive summaries and content analysis.

Findings:

Respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the webinar was an effective way to learn, enjoyable, relevant to their role and interesting. Learners also reported improvements in awareness, knowledge and understanding of CTCL, its referral and treatment.

Conclusion:

Evaluating one-off education events using a conceptual model of evaluation for continuous medical education is recommended, with some adaptations to overcome limitations.
Patients' experience of teleconsultations in the UK
Authors: Francheska Bayiha K , Lee Rachel , Oni Georgette , Wilson Emma
Published: May 2023

Background:

Teleconsultations were introduced for cancer surgery follow-up to ease pressure on hospital services and facilitate patients' access to those services. There is limited evidence on patients' perceptions of this swift shift in service provision.

Aims:

The purpose of this qualitative systematic review was to explore patient experiences of teleconsultations within NHS cancer surgery follow-up services to better understand patient perceptions, satisfaction and acceptability of teleconsultations within cancer services.

Methods:

Medline, Embase, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched up to 1 July 2022. Qualitative studies were synthesised using the Braun and Clarke framework.

Findings:

There were three overarching themes: accessibility; patient experience; and consultation.

Conclusion:

Teleconsultations were widely accepted among cancer surgical patients. However, there were reports of a lack of rapport building and emotional support because of the absence of visual cues and patient camaraderie.
From securing whiteness to securing publics? Marginalized communities and differential stakeholdership in domestic security in the UK
Authors: Breen Damian
Published: May 2023

This article develops some conceptual questions about publics and stakeholdership in security which were originally raised in a previous article published by this author. Themes around how racialization has factored into stakeholdership in security for British Muslims are developed here as the foundation for asking questions about publics and their differential relationality to the priorities of security manifested in public-political discourse. Principally the article asks questions about the interests of publics vulnerable to the impacts of knife crime, and also about why protecting these publics has been comparatively under-invested in contrast to Prevent and domestic counter-terror. In drawing this comparison, the article advocates for a reconceptualization of public policy to prioritize securing publics against vulnerability to extreme violence in ways which would provide more equitable stakeholdership in security.
Re-evaluating Turkey’s global relationships and its shift toward the South-East Asian region
Authors: Roy-Mukherjee Shampa , Udeogu Ejike
Published: May 2023

Turkey is strategically positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and is considered an important geopolitical actor in the global arena. Since Turkey embraced neoliberal economic policies in the 1980s, it has emerged as one of the leading emerging economies with major trade links with the US, Russia, EU, and Asia. Turkey has been a longstanding member of the NATO alliance and signed the European Customs Union Agreement in 1995. With the advent of Asia as the global economic powerhouse, Turkey’s foreign and economic policy horizons today extend to the Asia-Pacific Region. Turkey plays a key role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative and with the launching of the Asia Anew Initiative in late 2019, Ankara has redoubled efforts to forge closer ties with the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and with ASEAN itself. This paper will explore and evaluate Turkey’s foreign policy over the last two decades and the shift from the principle of Strategic Depth to that of Strategic Autonomy. The article will also review Turkey’s current change in international orientation and its international re-orientation toward Asia.
War as a counter-extremism strategy
Authors: Skerritt Leon
Published: May 2023

When Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, there was global outrage, condemnation, and calls for a stop to the attack. Over six months have passed and there does not seem to be an end to the conflict in sight. Of the many reasons the Russian state has given as the impetus for armed conflict, is the countering of neo-Nazi extremism, radicalization, and political violence. In this commentary piece, it will be contended that military intervention is not an effective strategy to combat extremism and that examples from the history of the dissenting west, particularly from the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, can provide support for this contention. This commentary will neither condone nor condemn either belligerent party to this conflict but appraise the strategies of deploying the military to combat extremists.
The not-so-innocuous question
Authors: Chevolleau Sarah L.
Published: May 2023

The not so innocuous question of “where are you really from?” is a racial microaggression, grounded on faux ignorance and innocence, placing the white aggressor in the place of victim, when challenged. Microaggression is not only found at Buckingham Palace receptions, but is everywhere: job interviews, bus stops, pubs and staff rooms. What it contains is a belief that people of the global majority “owe” white people, who see themselves as “native” to the UK, despite the undeniable historical facts surrounding how most of the African and Caribbean diaspora that live in the UK have ended up on this island: as a direct result of the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism. Cornering a black woman in an overwhelmingly white space and cross-examining her about her heritage – a heritage rooted in displacement, discrimination and violence – that the white British benefit from, is denying, deflecting and defending racism.
Thermal effect analysis on cuboid Pr:YLF crystals pumped by blue laser diodes
Authors: Wang Ping , Yuan Qinyun , Xia Ran , Xu Shengbo , Xiao Yu , Tang Xiahui
Published: May 2023

Using blue laser diodes (LDs) to pump Pr:YLF crystals can directly realize visible-band laser output. Compared with the traditional frequency doubling and LD direct output method, it has the advantages of simple design, compact structure, and high beam quality. For solid-state lasers, pump-induced thermal effects of gain media are the principal limiting factors for the desired high-power output. In this paper, internal temperature space model distribution of a rectangular cross-section Pr:YLF crystal is established. On this basis, the temperature distribution, thermal stress distribution, and thermal focal length variation of single-end pumped and double-end pumped laser crystals are analyzed. The results are verified by COMSOL simulations and experimental measurements. To our knowledge, this analysis is the first to examine the thermal effect of a rectangular cross-section Pr:YLF crystal, analyzing the limit power that the crystal can withstand, which paves the way for better performances of visible lasers with stable and high-power output.
Pre-production estimates for the choice of strategy and algorithm for monochromatic monitoring of the production of optical coatings
Authors: Tikhonravov A. , Lagutina A. , Lagutin Iu. , Yagola A.
Published: May 2023

The paper proposes an approach for the pre-production selection of the most promising combination of a monochromatic monitoring strategy and a monitoring algorithm used for predicting termination of layer deposition. The approach is based on the previously introduced estimate of the strength of the expected error self-compensation effect and the new estimate, to the best of our knowledge, of the strength of the cumulative effect of thickness error growth presented in this paper. The application of the proposed approach is demonstrated using computational manufacturing experiments with various types of optical coating designs.
Off-axis point spread function reconstruction for single conjugate adaptive optics
Authors: Wagner Roland , Niebsch Jenny , Ramlau Ronny
Published: May 2023

Modern giant segmented mirror telescopes (GSMTs) such as the Extremely Large Telescope, which is currently under construction, depend heavily on adaptive optics (AO) systems to correct for atmospheric distortions. However, a residual blur always remains in the astronomical images corrected by single conjugate AO (SCAO) systems due to fitting and bandwidth errors, which can mathematically be described by a convolution of the true image with a point spread function (PSF). Due to the nature of the turbulent atmosphere and its correction, the PSF is spatially varying, which is known as an anisoplanatic effect. The PSF serves, e.g., as a quality measure for science images and therefore needs to be known as accurately as possible. In this paper, we present an algorithm for PSF reconstruction from pupil-plane data in directions apart from the guide star direction in an SCAO system. Our algorithm is adapted to the needs of GSMTs focused on estimating the contribution of the anisoplanatic and generalized fitting error to the PSF. Results obtained in an end-to-end simulation tool show a qualitatively good reconstruction of the PSF compared to the PSF calculated directly from the simulated incoming wavefront as well as stable performance with respect to imprecise knowledge of atmospheric parameters.
Highly efficient NbTiN nanostrip single-photon detectors using dielectric multilayer cavities for a 2-µm wavelength band
Authors: China Fumihiro , Yabuno Masahiro , Mima Satoru , Miyajima Shigeyuki , Terai Hirotaka , Miki Shigehito
Published: May 2023

We report superconducting nanostrip single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) with dielectric multilayer cavities (DMCs) for a 2-µm wavelength. We designed a DMC composed of periodic SiO2/Si bilayers. Simulation results of finite element analysis showed that the optical absorptance of the NbTiN nanostrips on the DMC exceeded 95% at 2 µm. We fabricated SNSPDs with an active area of 30 µm × 30 µm, which was sufficiently large to couple with a single-mode fiber of 2 µm. The fabricated SNSPDs were evaluated using a sorption-based cryocooler at a controlled temperature. We carefully verified the sensitivity of the power meter and calibrated the optical attenuators to accurately measure the system detection efficiency (SDE) at 2 µm. When the SNSPD was connected to an optical system via a spliced optical fiber, a high SDE of 84.1% was observed at 0.76 K. We also estimated the measurement uncertainty of the SDE as ±5.08% by considering all possible uncertainties in the SDE measurements.
Deep background-mismodeling-learned reconstruction for high-accuracy fluorescence diffuse optical tomography
Authors: Jiang Yuxuan , Liu Kaixian , Li Wensong , Luo Qingming , Deng Yong
Published: May 2023

We present a deep background-mismodeling-learned reconstruction framework for high-accuracy fluorescence diffuse optical tomography (FDOT). A learnable regularizer incorporating background mismodeling is formulated in the form of certain mathematical constraints. The regularizer is then learned to obtain the background mismodeling automatically using a physics-informed deep network implicitly. Here, a deep-unrolled FIST-Net for optimizing L1-FDOT is specially designed to obtain fewer learning parameters. Experiments show that the accuracy of FDOT is significantly improved via implicitly learning the background mismodeling, which proves the validity of the deep background-mismodeling-learned reconstruction. The proposed framework can also be used as a general method to improve a class of image modalities based on linear inverse problems with unknown background modeling errors.
Racial disparities in nephrectomy and mortality among patients with renal cell carcinoma: Findings from SEER
Authors: Ikuemonisan Joshua , Aremu Taiwo Opeyemi , Oyejinmi Isaac , Ajala Christopher , Anikpezie Nnabuchi , Akinso Oyindamola , Mtengwa Mutsa , David Adeyemo , Olokede Olugbenga , Adejoro Oluwakayode
Published: May 2023

Purpose

To assess racial differences in the receipt of nephrectomy in patients diagnosed RCC in the US.

Materials and methods

2005 to 2015 data from the SEER database was analyzed and 70,059 patients with RCC were identified. We compared demographic and tumor characteristics between black patients and white patients. We applied logistic regression to assess the association between race and the odds of the receipt of nephrectomy. We also applied Cox proportional hazards model to assess the impact of race on cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and all-cause mortality (ACM) in patients diagnosed with RCC in the US.

Results

Black patients had 18% lower odds of receiving nephrectomy compared to white patients (p < 0.0001). The odds of the receipt of nephrectomy also reduced with age at diagnosis. In addition, patients with T3 stage had the greatest odds of receiving nephrectomy when compared to T1 (p < 0.0001). There was no difference in the risk of cancer-specific mortality between black patients and white patients; black patients had 27% greater odds of all-cause mortality than white patients (p < 0.0001). Patients who did not receive nephrectomy had a 42% and 35% higher risk of CSM and ACM respectively, when compared to patients who received nephrectomy.

Conclusions

Black patients diagnosed with RCC in the US have a greater ACM risk and are less likely than white patients to receive nephrectomy. Systemic changes are needed to eliminate racial disparity in the treatment and outcomes of RCC in the US.
Exploring networks of care in implementing midwife-led birthing centres in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review
Authors: Turkmani Sabera , Nove Andrea , Bazirete Oliva , Hughes Kirsty , Pairman Sally , Callander Emily , Scarf Vanessa , Forrester Mandy , Mandke Shree , Homer Caroline S. E.
Published: May 2023

The evidence for the benefits of midwifery has grown over the past two decades and midwife-led birthing centres have been established in many countries. Midwife-led care can only make a sustained and large-scale contribution to improved maternal and newborn health outcomes if it is an integral part of the health care system but there are challenges to the establishment and operation of midwife-led birthing centres. A network of care (NOC) is a way of understanding the connections within a catchment area or region to ensure that service provision is effective and efficient. This review aims to evaluate whether a NOC framework—in light of the literature about midwife-led birthing centres—can be used to map the challenges, barriers and enablers with a focus on low-to-middle income countries. We searched nine academic databases and located 40 relevant studies published between January 2012 and February 2022. Information about the enablers and challenges to midwife-led birthing centres was mapped and analysed against a NOC framework. The analysis was based on the four domains of the NOC: 1) agreement and enabling environment, 2) operational standards, 3) quality, efficiency, and responsibility, 4) learning and adaptation, which together are thought to reflect the characteristics of an effective NOC.Of the 40 studies, half (n = 20) were from Brazil and South Africa. The others covered an additional 10 countries. The analysis showed that midwife-led birthing centres can provide high-quality care when the following NOC elements are in place: a positive policy environment, purposeful arrangements which ensure services are responsive to users’ needs, an effective referral system to enable collaboration across different levels of health service and a competent workforce committed to a midwifery philosophy of care. Challenges to an effective NOC include lack of supportive policies, leadership, inter-facility and interprofessional collaboration and insufficient financing. The NOC framework can be a useful approach to identify the key areas of collaboration required for effective consultation and referral, to address the specific local needs of women and their families and identify areas for improvement in health services. The NOC framework could be used in the design and implementation of new midwife-led birthing centres.