bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrical energy estimation of 3D printing jobs for industrial internet of things (IIoT) applications
Authors: Sunny Basil C. , Benedict Shajulin , M.P. Rajan
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to develop an architecture for 3D printers in an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) controlled automated manufacturing environment. An algorithm is proposed to estimate the electrical energy consumption of 3D printing jobs, which is used, 3D Printing, Sustainable Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Electrical Energy Estimation, IIoT to schedule printing jobs on optimal electrical tariff rates.

Design/methodology/approach

An IIoT-enabled architecture with connected pools of 3D printers and an Electrical Energy Estimation System (EEES) are used to estimate the electrical energy requirement of 3D printing jobs. EEES applied the combination of Maximum Likelihood Estimation and a dynamic programming–based algorithm for estimating the electrical energy consumption of 3D printing jobs.

Findings

The proposed algorithm decently estimates the electrical energy required for 3D printing and able to obtain optimal accuracy measures. Experiment results show that the electrical energy usage pattern can be reconstructed with the EEES. It is observed that EEES architecture reduces the peak power demand by scheduling the manufacturing process on low electrical tariff rates.

Practical implications

Proposed algorithm is validated with limited number of experiments.

Originality/value

IIoT with 3D printers in large numbers is the future technology for the automated manufacturing process where controlling, monitoring and analyzing such mass numbers becomes a challenging task. This paper fulfills the need of an architecture for industries to effectively use 3D printers as the main manufacturing tool with the help of IoT. The electrical estimation algorithm helps to schedule manufacturing processes with right electrical tariff.
Signs in the linguistic landscape as markers of an ethnic group’s identity and ownership
Authors: Coluzzi Paolo
Published: June 2023

Whereas the geography of a certain area is certainly linked in many ways to the ethnic group occupying it (or who used to occupy it), the link between the land and the language/s spoken (or that used to be spoken) can only become visible through the linguistic landscape, which not only asserts identity and ownership but can also help to reinforce prestige and vitality of the languages employed. The problem is that if the local heritage language is a minority or regional one, only in few cases can it be used to affirm the identity and ownership of its speakers. There are two sine qua non conditions for the local language to appear in the linguistic landscape: 1) The language must have gone beyond the 'threshold of literacy', i.e. it must have developed as a written language, with its own orthography and literature; 2) The language must be allowed to be used in the linguistic landscape and/or enjoy a degree of official recognition. This article presents five case studies on the presence of local minority/regional languages in the linguistic landscape based on the author’s research: two in Italy (Udine and Milan) and two in Southeast Asia (Kuala Lumpur and Bandar Seri Begawan, the capitals of Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam respectively). The very interesting situation in Macao will also be touched on, where the colonial language, Portuguese, has been given prominence in the linguistic landscape in spite of the fact that only a tiny percentage of the population can speak it. In this case, Portuguese is portrayed as a kind of heritage language (as well as an international language) that does not need to be mastered as its main function is symbolic, i.e. to help Macao retain its special status as a Special Administration Region of China.
A comparative study on motivation in foreign language learning in Brunei and Malaysian Universities
Authors: Pg Redzuan Farhana Amirah
Published: June 2023

Universiti Brunei Darussalam has been fostering the study of foreign languages in Brunei to expand their undergraduates’ accessibility in the job market and overall give them equal opportunities to have a quality foreign language learning experience. This paper is a critical analysis of past studies by Ainol and Isarji’s (2009) on foreign language learners at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), and Farhana’s (2019) study on Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s (UBD) foreign language learners’ motivation. A focused investigation at how different motivation types, namely intrinsic, extrinsic, instrumental, and integrative, affect foreign language learners at the university level in Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia. A pattern observed in Brunei and Malaysian universities is that intrinsic motivation is the foundation of foreign language learning. Bruneian undergraduates are learning out of interest, and their Malaysian counterparts are learning because they enjoy the experience. While the university's language policy determines the number of students learning a foreign language each semester, the outcome is still highly dependent on the student's motivation to learn the foreign language.
The Grateful migrants: Indians and Bangladeshis in Singapore in times of COVID-19
Authors: Chattoraj Diotima
Published: June 2023

Singapore has had a dramatic spike in coronavirus infections in early 2020, with thousands of new cases linked to clusters in migrant workers (MWs) dormitories. To control the spread, the Government attempted to isolate the dormitories, test workers and move symptomatic patients into quarantine facilities. But those measures have left thousands of them trapped in their dormitories, living in cramped conditions that make social distancing near impossible. This paper investigates how COVID-19 has impacted the lives of these workers in varied ways and highlights the migrant workers' belief if Singapore’s effort has been enough for them during the COVID-19 pandemic? The focus is mainly on the low-skilled workers from India and Bangladesh, who are prone to be affected in various ways by COVID-19. My collected data show that migrant workers are grateful to the Singapore state for the support extended during COVID-19. I used the concept of subcultures to explain the condition of the workers in the state of Singapore. Because they expect so little social protection from the state, they are genuinely grateful for its support during the pandemic.
Safe Drinking Water Crisis, Technological Alternatives and Constraints in Bangladesh
Authors: Kathy Arju Afrin , Alam Mohammed Norul
Published: June 2023

Groundwater resources are the primary source of meeting the water demand in Bangladesh. In rural areas, hand-pumped tube wells have been the primary source of drinking water. Though studies claim that Bangladesh has the potential to achieve universal safe drinking water supply coverage, the presence of excessive arsenic in the shallow groundwater sources, and the encroachment of salinity in the coastal aquifers in coastal regions (Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barisal, Barguna etc.) hind the path. The concerned authorities of government and other non-government organizations assist the coastal people with alternative technologies like Desalination Plant, Arsenic-Iron Removal Plant, Pond Sand Filtration (PSF), Managed Aquifer Recharge, Rainwater Harvesting System, Installation of Shallow, and Deep Tube Wells. But based on case studies and surveys, this article shows how these existing technologies fail to ensure water safety within the coastal areas. The Singaporean water management policy is an example, this article advocates for necessary government intervention to ensure safe drinking water in coastal areas.
Gema Dari Menara (1968): Amar Ma’ruf Nahi Mungkar as Islamic Da’wahism in Bruneian Film
Authors: Noorashid Najib , Mohamad Nur Raihan , Trisnawati Ririn Kurnia
Published: June 2023

Gema Dari Menara (1968) was intended as a mode of da’wah (the propagation of Islamic teachings) in response to the situation faced by the local community in Brunei at that time. Following its status as a medium of disseminating the Islamic values, the film embodies Islamic teachings that guide Bruneian Muslims to fully embrace Islam. This current study aims to unravel the meaning of the Islamic value of Amar Ma’ruf Nahi Mungkar (enjoining good and forbidding wrong) that is strongly depicted in the film and perceived as the enlightening Islamic value from the film. Therefore, this study examines the extent of the manifestation of Amar Ma’ruf Nahi Mungkar in the film. It is found that the portrayal of da’wahism using Amar Ma’ruf Nahi Mungkar is imbued in education, social interaction, clothing, and one’s upbringing which is the most influential factor. By applying the Islamic requisites, the scenario and sentiments in the film also encourage the audience to ponder upon the cause and effect of the characters’ actions and deeds.
Screen Industry Snap-Shot: A Study of the Bruneian Screen Industry amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Fischer Alex , Liu Yong
Published: June 2023

This is the first data-driven pilot study that is focused on the micro-scaled but burgeoning Bruneian screen industry. The scope of the study includes employment modes, frequency of productions, payment codes of practice and exhibition platforms, based on the data collected by both online surveys and semi-structured, face-to-face interviews between January to June 2021. The aim of this paper is to investigate the possible creation of a temporarily closed system of interaction between the local screen industry and other Bruneian businesses. It is hypothesised that the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent action taken by the Bruneian Government to restrict international travel and border crossings resulted in a new and rare interchange of production-based activity. The study targets a wide variety of parties, from industry professionals, e.g., production house managers, senior producers, freelancers, and the so-called gig-lancers, to governmental policymakers, i.e., representatives from Authority Info-communications Technology Industry (AITI) in Brunei.
COVID-19 in South and South East Asia
Authors: Ferdous Jannatul
Published: June 2023

COVID-19 has been a major challenge to global governance, highlighting the necessity for stepping up innovative governance. Beginning in 2020, governments have been trying to adjust in dealing with the massive challenges of COVID-19, implying that attention has been diverted from attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to handling the pandemic. COVID-19 poses a genuine threat to economic progress, food safety, health, and educational parity in developing countries. The article examines the pandemic's impact on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through a comparative lens of Bangladesh and the Philippines.
Diskriminasi Kaum Di Negara Brunei Darussalam Dalam Situasi Pandemik Gelombang Kedua COVID-19
Authors: Asnola Wafiqah , Zulkiflee Zulfadzlee
Published: June 2023

Isu diskriminasi antara kaum telah tular di media sosial berikutan isu pemberian vaksin secara jumpa terus yang mula dibukakan di Pusat Vaksinasi Stadium Tertutup pada hari Jumaat, 24 September 2021. Jumlah orang ramai yang ingin mengambil vaksin telah melebihi jangkaan sehingga menyebabkan keadaan menjadi tidak terkawal dan berlakunya pelanggaran Prosedur Pengendalian Standard (SOP). Kajian ini dijalankan untuk membincangkan isu diskriminasi kaum yang berlaku semasa gelombang kedua pandemik COVID-19. Penelitian menggunakan metode kualitatif secara deskriptif. Data yang diperolehi daripada komen-komen dalam halaman Brunei Dot Com, dan Facebook ini seterusnya dianalisis menggunakan model tiga dimensi Fairclough (1992). Hasil kajian mendapati kesemua komen telah menunjukkan sikap diskriminasi dalam kalangan masyarakat Brunei secara sedar ataupun tidak. Isu diskriminasi ini bukan sahaja dapat dilihat dari sudut representasi linguistik, tetapi juga penghasilan dan pewahanaan wacana berkaitan pada halaman Brunei Dot Com, dan Facebook. Kajian ini juga menunjukkan bahawa wacana bukan saja mampu dibentuk masyarakat tetapi juga membentuknya.

The issue of racial discrimination concerning the commencement of walk-in vaccination at the Indoor Stadium Vaccination Centre on Friday, 24 September 2021 was widely addressed in the social media. Chaos ensued as an influx of people attended the centre and violated the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). This paper examines the issue of racial discrimination during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Brunei. As a qualitative-descriptive study, data obtained from Brunei Dot Com, and Facebook page, were analysed using Fairclough's (1992) three-dimensional approach. Findings have shown presence of discriminatory attitudes among the local community displayed as deliberately or unintentionally. This is manifested in its linguistic representations, discourse production and consumption in the selected Brunei Dot Com and Facebook pages. This study indicates that a discourse is not only capable of shaping but is also shaped by the community.
Structural Analysis of Environmental Management of the Serasa Industrial Park
Authors: Hussin Dk. Siti Baizurah Binti Pg Hj
Published: June 2023

Modernisation is characterized by industrial development. The Serasa Industrial Park (SIP) is an industrial estate in Serasa sub-district, close to the Brunei Darussalam's only deep-water port. Given the link between industrial development and environmental degradation, as well as the general lack of environmental monitoring in Brunei, the paper questions whether environmental management (EM) is adequate to protect the area from further industrialisation. The purpose of this paper is to answer this question using SIP as a proxy because it is a well-established industrial site that should be more amenable to EM. This study involves two surveys of 20 firms and an interview with the environmental agency to gain a better understanding on the national policy and strategy. The paper found that, while the current state of EM is structurally weak, it is adequate for the SIP under current conditions. To protect the environment and increase industrialisation in the area, EM structures must be incorporated into existing regulatory frameworks.
Responses of Bangladesh and Myanmar to the Ukraine Crisis: A Comparative Analysis from a Neo-Classical Realist Perspective
Authors: Mahmud Kawsar Uddin , Jabin Nasrin
Published: June 2023

The Ukraine crisis, which began with Russia's military intervention, has violently jolted the modern world. The egregious Russian invasion of Ukraine, on the other hand, has arguably altered the trajectory of the world order. This whiff of war does not exclude any state because all states in the world system are economically, politically, and socially interconnected and dependent on one another. Bangladesh is also feeling the effects of the Ukraine crisis. The crisis has highlighted some challenging aspects of Bangladesh's foreign policy, testing the robustness and independence of its decision-making process regarding United Nations resolutions. Myanmar, like Bangladesh, has appeared befuddled in its response to the crisis. This paper examines how Bangladesh and Myanmar's foreign policy anticipated an unwanted labyrinth by the crisis, which made its moral credibility critical to some extent. Furthermore, the paper discusses how these two countries’ foreign policy trajectories became entangled at a difficult crossroads. We used secondary data sources backed up by scholarly works on Bangladesh and Myanmar foreign policy, relevant books, recent reports, and writings on the subject for this article. This paper also sheds light on Bangladesh's U-Turn in supporting and speaking out in support of the UN resolution on Ukraine's humanitarian crisis.
Secondary preservice teachers' critical reflecting practices: examining perceptions of confidence using a two-part reflection
Authors: Smith Jess , Shelton Ryann N. , Scholten Nate , McCall Madelon
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this single case study is to examine secondary-certificate-seeking preservice teachers' (PST) perceptions of their teaching practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This single case study used student responses to a two-part reflection assignment to examine what it revealed about PST self-efficacy.

Findings

The findings revealed: (1) PSTs were generally more confident when reflecting in a second reflection assignment, (2) there were points of tension between confidence and unease, (3) there were instances of PSTs with mixed confidence and (4) some PSTs crafted plans for their future teaching. The authors further discuss these findings by exploring how PSTs reflected on their teaching experiences, and the authors reflected on the role of teacher educators in modeling this reflective practice for PSTs.

Originality/value

This study has important implications for teacher preparation programs and teacher educators, particularly those who work with PSTs in clinical experiences.
Mixotrophic microbes create carbon tipping points under warming
Authors: Wieczynski Daniel J. , Moeller Holly V. , Gibert Jean P.
Published: June 2023

Mixotrophs are ubiquitous and integral to microbial food webs, but their impacts on the dynamics and functioning of broader ecosystems are largely unresolved.

Here, we show that mixotrophy produces a unique type of food web module that exhibits unusual ecological dynamics, with surprising consequences for carbon flux under warming. We develop a generalizable model of a mixotrophic food web module that incorporates dynamic switching between phototrophy and phagotrophy to assess ecological dynamics and total system CO2 flux.

We find that warming switches mixotrophic systems between alternative stable carbon states—including a phototrophy‐dominant carbon sink state, a phagotrophy‐dominant carbon source state and cycling between these two. Moreover, warming always shifts this mixotrophic system from a carbon sink state to a carbon source state, but a coordinated increase in nutrients can erase early warning signals of this transition and expand hysteresis.

This suggests that mixotrophs can generate critical carbon tipping points under warming that will be more abrupt and less reversible when combined with increased nutrient levels, having widespread implications for ecosystem functioning in the face of rapid global change.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Grounding trait‐based root functional ecology
Authors: Fort Florian
Published: June 2023

A growing need exists to consider effects of biodiversity dynamics on the functioning of natural and anthropised ecosystems. This requires including the concepts of functional ecology, especially comparative trait‐based ecology, in a broad range of theoretical and applied studies. In parallel, the importance of the below‐ground compartment is increasingly recognised, which has exponentially increased the number of studies that consider root functional traits, despite limited understanding of their meaning. This perspective article (i) describes the origins of the trait‐based ecology framework, (ii) highlights current limitations of root‐system studies and (iii) recommends ways to address these limitations.

In recent years, studies claimed that above‐ground functional ecology had theoretical foundations without adequate empirical support. Root functional ecology has experienced the same problems and, for several reasons, its foundations seem even more unstable. Firstly, roots are difficult to collect, and it is difficult to precisely define components of the root system that have homogenous functions. Secondly, root systems are complex organs and have a diversity of functions, such as taking up nutrients and water, storing resources and anchoring plants. Thirdly, the theoretical background used in root functional ecology approaches is based on that of above‐ground ecology, specifically leaf functional ecology.

In the past several decades, root ecology benefitted from following the footsteps of above‐ground trait‐based functional ecology, which highlighted the existence of a variety of trait spectra that were partially related to species' ecology or their interaction with symbiotic microorganisms. However, root functional ecology is currently at a crossroads and must move beyond this above‐ground path and rediscover the origins of root ecology and include new traits based on root architecture and anatomy. Doing so requires developing innovative approaches that are more specific to the below‐ground compartment to improve understanding of plant roots and include them in large‐scale studies.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
A novel approach for water reservoir mapping using controlled source audio‐frequency magnetotelluric in Xingning area, Hunan Province, China
Authors: Kouadio Kouao Laurent , Liu Rong , Malory Albert Okrah , Liu Wenxiang , Liu Chunming
Published: June 2023

Controlled source audio‐frequency magnetotelluric is frequently used in association with other geophysical methods, especially in complex geological areas to highlight geological structures such as water reservoir rock. Although it gives satisfactory results, combining several methods requires time and expense. In addition, despite this combination, several drilling locations proposed after geophysical investigations were inaccurate, resulting in many unsuccessful drillings. The latter occurs due to the difficulty to emphasize the fracture zones properly. To work around this problem, we proposed a novel approach called pseudostratigraphic to reduce the repercussion of unsuccessful drilled boreholes and to demarcate the water reservoir rock. The technique consists to discretize the resistivity of the inverted OCCAM2D model based on the true layer resistivities collected from the borehole log data (observed layers). The discrete resistivity model is known as the new resistivity model. It is used to generate the pseudostratigraphic log at each station by pseudo‐demarcating the thicknesses of the observed layers with a low margin of error. Moreover, the combination of multiple new resistivity models from different survey lines creates a three‐dimensional pseudostratigraphic map useful to emphasize the water reservoir rock. The pseudostratigraphic implementation is carried out in the Xingning area as a real‐world case study. The results show that the intersection of the main fault (F1) and the conductive zones (≤100 Ω m) indicates the potential water reservoir rock. Its thickness is estimated around 150–600 with an error equal to ± 7°m. Based on the three‐dimensional pseudostratigraphic map, the water found in the fracture zone located under the reservoir rock is considered much hotter due to the intense geothermal activity along F1, thereby making it a better place for hot water exploitation. Finally, the pseudostratigraphic technique could be an innovative and cheap strategy to find groundwater reservoirs in complex geological areas.
The interacting influences of competition, composition and diversity determine successional community change
Authors: Cadotte Marc William
Published: June 2023

Community change is one of the few constants in nature, and the balance of mechanisms influencing this change is central for understanding the structure and functioning of communities and ecosystems. Newly established communities undergo succession and can change in diversity and composition as local environmental change, interspecific interactions and immigration play out over time. Understanding the influence of initial conditions and priority effects (long‐term consequences of the initial community composition and species identity) on community change is critically important for both evaluating ecological theory and predicting restoration outcomes.

Here I evaluate how initial experimental conditions in 2012, like initial sown species richness, phylogenetic diversity and early biomass production, along with priority effects caused by the identity of sown species, influence subsequent herbaceous plant community composition and the number of colonizing species after 9 years of uninterrupted natural colonization.

I found that sown phylogenetic diversity (measured as mean pairwise distance) indirectly affected the number of colonizing species by increasing biomass production early on and plots with more biomass in 2012 were colonized by fewer species. Individual species influenced the number of colonizing species with taller species reducing the number of colonists and some shorter species subject to a greater number of colonists.

Synthesis. Taken together, these results indicate that initial composition influences the number of colonizing species via community‐wide competition. These findings suggest that restoration outcomes can be greatly influenced by decisions about sown species composition and early management practices.
Contrasted root trait responses between saplings of an arbuscular and an ectomycorrhizal tree species in open field compared to forest conditions
Authors: Parasquive V. , Brisson J. , Guilbeault‐Mayers X. , Laliberté E. , Chagnon P. L.
Published: June 2023

Plant nutrient acquisition strategies range along a spectrum from autonomous foraging to investment in cooperative foraging through mycorrhizal associations. However, in temperate ecosystems, many plant species encounter contrasted levels of symbiont availability in open fields versus closed forests. Little is known about how fungal partner availability may be associated with intraspecific variation in other root foraging traits in natural settings.

Here, we addressed this issue by sampling saplings from two tree species: the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) Acer rubrum and the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) Quercus rubra from open fields (AM dominated) and adjacent forest plots (ECM dominated). For each species and environment, we measured morphological, architectural and symbiotic root traits.

For the open field, Quercus had greater specific root length (SRL) while Acer had higher AM colonization and root diameter. In the closed forest, the opposite pattern was observed, namely Quercus had higher ECM colonization and Acer greater SRL.

Both species showed evidence of a shift towards autonomous root foraging in the habitat with low expected symbiont abundance (open field for Quercus and forest for Acer). Although the confounding effects of site abiotic properties could not be strictly controlled in this study, these results suggest that plants might adjust root foraging traits according to local habitat conditions.

Synthesis: Our results shed new light on the intraspecific variation in plant position along the so‐called ‘collaboration gradient’, and suggest that mycorrhizal symbiont availability, along with other factors such as competition and site properties, may contribute to this variation.
Ethnographic responsibility: Can the bureaucratization of research ethics be ethical?
Authors: Herzfeld Michael
Published: June 2023

Globally, ethics reviews exhibit four significant flaws: (1) they transpose institutional fears of liability onto individual researchers; (2) they presuppose a universal ethical standard; (3) they create conflicts among formal requirements, academic freedom and respect for local ethics; and (4) they deny agency to informants. The author has nearly a half‐century of research experience in a Cretan mountain community that was often at odds with officialdom. This exemplifies the kind of research and social engagement now increasingly unfeasible because rigid ethical review procedures ignore local values. Anthropologists are subject to more restrictive rules than journalists, despite the discipline’s greater attention to local values, practices (including language) and concerns. The article ends with a call for global action to protect anthropology’s commitment to respecting cultural diversity, especially as it appears in the form of local (and sometimes labile) ethics.
Organizational Nostalgia: The Construct, the Scale and its Implications for Organizational Functioning
Authors: Leunissen Joost M. , van Dijke Marius , Wildschut Tim , Sedikides Constantine
Published: June 2023

Organizational nostalgia – a sentimental longing for past events in, and aspects of, one's organizational life – is a commonly experienced but poorly understood emotion. Qualitative research has explored how it helps employees cope with threat. Here, we examine its motivational properties. Building on the job demands–resources model, we hypothesized that organizational nostalgia – assessed with a newly developed and validated scale – predicts (in‐role and extra‐role) job performance, creativity and support for organizational change. Study 1 showcased the development of the Organizational Nostalgia Scale. We proceeded to hypothesize that work engagement, via need satisfaction, mediates the above‐mentioned positive relations, and tested these hypotheses in three additional studies. In Study 2, a multi‐source design with leader–follower dyads, leader organizational nostalgia was associated with increased leader organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB), as rated by followers. In Study 3, a lagged correlational design with employees, organizational nostalgia positively predicted OCB via work engagement. Finally, in Study 4, a lagged correlational design, organizational nostalgia predicted increased in‐role performance, creativity and support for organizational change. These associations were serially mediated by need satisfaction and work engagement. We conclude that organizational nostalgia has motivational implications. Our research affords a theoretical framework for the emotion and the means (i.e. a scale) to study it.
Metabolomic evidence of independent biotransformation pathways for terpenes in two specialist mammalian herbivores (genus Neotoma)
Authors: SCHRAMM Katharina , SKOPEC Michele , DEARING Denise
Published: June 2023

Herbivory is common in mammals, yet our understanding of detoxification processes used by mammals to biotransform plant secondary compounds (PSCs) is limited. Specialist herbivores are thought to have evolved detoxification mechanisms that rely more heavily on energetically cheap Phase I biotransformation reactions to process high levels of PSCs in their diets. We explored this hypothesis by comparing the urinary metabolite patterns of two specialist herbivores (genus Neotoma). Neotoma stephensi is an obligate specialist on one‐seeded juniper (Juniperus monosperma). Neotoma lepida is a generalist forager across its range, yet populations in the Great Basin specialize on Utah juniper (J. osteosperma). While both juniper species have high levels of terpenes, the terpene profiles and quantities differ between the two. Individuals from both woodrat species were fed diets of each juniper in a cross‐over design. Urine, collected over a 24‐h period, was extracted and analyzed in an untargeted metabolomics approach using both GC‐MS and HPLC‐MS/MS. The obligate specialist N. stephensi excreted a unique pattern of Phase I metabolites when fed its native juniper, while N. lepida excreted a unique pattern of Phase II metabolites when fed its native juniper. Both woodrat species utilized the Phase II metabolic pathway of glucuronidation more heavily when consuming the more chemically diverse J. osteosperma, and N. stephensi utilized less glucuronidation than N. lepida when consuming J. monosperma. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that obligate specialists may have evolved unique and efficient biotransformation mechanisms for dealing with PSCs in their diet.
Hepatic interleukin 32 attenuates liver injury through repression of necroptosis in cholestasis
Authors: Mao Xiu Ru , Zhang Xiao Xun , Xu Zi Qian , Zhao Nan , Fu Lei , Peng Shi Fang , Chai Jin
Published: June 2023

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the association between interleukin (IL)‐32 and necroptosis in cholestatic liver injury.

Methods

Levels of necroptosis‐related markers in cholestatic and control patients, including the receptor‐interacting serine–threonine kinase 3 (RIPK3), receptor‐interacting serine–threonine kinase 1 (RIPK1), and mixed lineage kinase domain‐like (MLKL) were measured. Animal experiments in C57BL/6J and transgenic mice with IL32β/γ overexpression were also conducted to confirm the effect of IL‐32 on necroptosis in cholestasis, which was induced by α‐naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) and 1% lithocholic acid (LCA). PLC/PRF/5‐ASBT and primary mouse hepatocytes were utilized for the investigation of the regulation and mechanism of IL‐32 in cholestasis.

Results

In the liver tissues of cholestatic patients, the mRNA and protein expressions of RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL were increased and associated with IL‐32 expression. In addition, expressions of these indicators in the liver of 1% LCA‐ and ANIT‐induced mouse models were significantly increased, while they were markedly decreased in hIL32βLTg and hIL32γLTg mice. After bile acid stimulation, IL‐32 and phosphorylated Akt (p‐Akt) expressions significantly elevated in a dose‐dependent manner. After treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, IL‐32 inhibited MLKL expression in primary mouse hepatocytes.

Conclusion

IL‐32 is negatively associated with necroptosis in cholestatic patients. Moreover, IL‐32 is induced by p‐Akt and effectively attenuates necroptosis in ANIT‐ or 1% LCA‐induced cholestasis.
Treatment of pediatric behavioral health patients with intravenous and intramuscular chemical restraints: Results from a nationwide sample of emergency departments
Authors: Tang Andrew S. , Shieh Meng‐Shiou , Pekow Penelope S. , Prentiss Kimball A. , Lindenauer Peter K. , Westafer Lauren M.
Published: June 2023

Background

Behavioral health crises in pediatric emergency department (ED) patients are increasingly common. Chemical restraints can be utilized for patients who present imminent danger to self or others. We sought to describe the use of intravenous (IV)/intramuscular (IM) chemical restraints for pediatric behavioral health ED patients across a nationwide sample of hospitals and describe factors associated with restraint use.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of patients ages 8–17 treated at 822 EDs contributing data to the Premier Healthcare Database between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020, with a behavioral health discharge diagnosis. The primary outcome was the use of IV/IM chemical restraint medication. We developed a hierarchical model to examine patient and hospital‐level factors associated with treatment with IV/IM chemical restraint medications.

Results

Of 630,384 cases, 4.8% received IV/IM chemical restraint. Patient factors associated with higher odds of chemical restraint were older age (ages 13–17 years [adjusted odds ratio {AOR} 1.53, 95% confidence interval {CI} 1.48–1.58]), anxiety disorders (AOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.64–1.74), disruptive disorders (AOR 1.61, 95% CI 1.53–1.69), suicide/self‐injury (AOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.26–1.34), substance use (AOR 1.24, 95% CI 1.20–1.28), and bipolar disorder (AOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.17–1.30). Participants with complex comorbidities were more likely to receive chemical restraint (AOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.26–1.39). After patient and hospital factors were adjusted for, the median OR indicating the influence of the individual hospital on the odds of chemical restraint was 1.43 (95% CI 1.40–1.47).

Conclusions

We found that age and certain behavioral health diagnoses were associated with receipt of IV/IM chemical restraint during pediatric behavioral health ED visits. Additionally, whether a patient was treated with chemical restraints was strongly influenced by the hospital to which they presented for treatment.
Distinct dynamic behavioural response to social exclusion in male patients with a history of alcohol dependence
Authors: Chen Ke , Wüstenberg Torsten , Stiglbauer Victoria , El‐Ahmad Linda , Rosenthal Annika , Pelz Patricia , Gold Stefan M. , Heinz Andreas , Sebold Miriam
Published: June 2023

Social exclusion contributes to alcohol consumption, whereas the development of alcohol dependence (AD) can in turn lead to the social exclusion of people with AD. Previous research observed altered neural responses to experimentally induced social exclusion (i.e., Cyberball game) in patients with AD. In addition, inflammation has been associated with both social behaviours and AD. Our study aimed to investigate the dynamic behavioural response and the inflammatory effects of social exclusion in male patients with a history of AD. To this end, we analysed dynamic changes in ball tossing during a partial exclusion Cyberball game and the cytokine interleukin (IL)‐1b in saliva in 31 male patients who had a history of AD and 29 gender‐matched healthy controls without AD. Participants were included in the first 2 min of the Cyberball game and then excluded by one of the two co‐players in the proceeding 5 min. Saliva was collected three times: one before and two after the Cyberball game. Across groups, participants passed the ball more often to the excluder during the partial exclusion period. Analysis using piece‐wise linear mixed models showed that patients rapidly increased ball tosses to the excluder upon exclusion, which lasted to the late response phase, whereas the early behavioural response to exclusion took longer for controls. There was no significant change of salivary IL‐1b level to exclusion in either patients or controls. The results indicate a distinct dynamic behavioural response to social exclusion in male patients with a history of AD.
Safety and feasibility of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy during interval cytoreductive surgery in patients with advanced high‐grade serous ovarian, fallopian tube, peritoneal cancer in an Australian context
Authors: Samoylovich Arthur , Jennings Bronwyn , Shannon Catherine , Coward Jermaine I. , Lourie Rohan , Riordan John , Lai Nai An , van Driel Willemien J. , Cabraal Nimithri , Jagasia Nisha , Chetty Naven , Naidu Sanjeev , Perrin Lewis C. , Barry Sinead C.
Published: June 2023

Aims

To assess the safety and feasibility of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) during cytoreduction surgery (CRS) in advanced high‐grade serous ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer within an Australian context.

Methods

Data were collected from 25 consecutive patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC from December 2018 to July 2022 at the Peritoneal Malignancy Service at the Mater Hospital Brisbane, Australia. Data collected included demographics, clinical variables, surgical procedures and complications and intra‐operative and post‐operative indexes of morbidity.

Results

Twenty‐five women who underwent CRS and HIPEC from December 2018 to July 2022 were included in analysis. Findings indicate that CRS with HIPEC is associated with low morbidity.

Conclusion

While judicious patient selection is imperative, HIPEC during CRS was well tolerated by all patients and morbidity was comparable to results from the previously reported OVHIPEC‐1 trial. HIPEC appears to be a safe and feasible addition to CRS for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer in Australian practice.
Therapeutic drug monitoring in India: A strength, weakness, opportunity and threats analysis
Authors: Pattanaik Smita , Gota Vikram , Tripathi Santanu Kumar , Kshirsagar Nilima A.
Published: June 2023

Over the last three to four decades, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) has shaped itself as therapeutic drug management, an integral component of precision medicine. The practice of TDM is not extensive in India, despite being one of the fastest‐growing economies in the world. It is currently limited to a few academic medical centres and teaching hospitals. Apart from the immunosuppressive drugs, several other therapeutic areas, such as anticancer, antifungal, antibiotic and antitubercular, have demonstrated great potential to improve patient outcomes in Indian settings. Factors such as the higher prevalence of nutritional deficiencies, tropical diseases, widespread use of alternative medicines, unalike pharmacogenomics and sparse population‐specific data available on therapeutic ranges of several drugs make the population of this subcontinent unique regarding the relevance of TDM. Despite the impact of TDM in clinical science and its widespread application, TDM has failed to receive the attention it deserves in India. This review intends to bring out a strength, weakness, opportunity and threats (SWOT) analysis for TDM in India so that appropriate steps for fostering the growth of TDM could be envisioned. The need of the hour is the creation of a cooperative group including all the stakeholders, such as TDM professionals, clinicians and the government and devising a National Action Plan to strengthen TDM. Nodal TDM centres should be established, and pilot programmes should be rolled out to identify the thrust areas for TDM in the country, capacity building and creating awareness to integrate TDM into mainstream clinical medicine.
Comparing the outcomes of open, laparoscopic and robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy: a network meta‐analysis
Authors: Calpin Gavin G. , Ryan Fintan R. , McHugh Fiachra T. , McGuire Barry B.
Published: June 2023

Objective

To perform a systematic review and network meta‐analysis (NMA) to determine the advantages and disadvantages of open (OPN), laparoscopic (LPN), and robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) with particular attention to intraoperative, immediate postoperative, as well as longer‐term functional and oncological outcomes.

Methods

A systematic review was performed as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses‐NMA guidelines. Binary data were compared using odds ratios (ORs). Mean differences (MDs) were used for continuous variables. ORs and MDs were extracted from the articles to compare the efficacy of the various surgical approaches. Statistical validity is guaranteed when the 95% credible interval does not include 1.

Results

In total, there were 31 studies included in the NMA with a combined 7869 patients. Of these, 33.7% (2651/7869) underwent OPN, 20.8% (1636/7869) LPN, and 45.5% (3582/7689) RAPN. There was no difference for either LPN or RAPN as compared to OPN in ischaemia time, intraoperative complications, positive surgical margins, operative time or trifecta rate. The estimated blood loss (EBL), postoperative complications and length of stay were all significantly reduced in RAPN when compared with OPN. The outcomes of RAPN and LPN were largely similar except the significantly reduced EBL in RAPN.

Conclusion

This systematic review and NMA suggests that RAPN is the preferable operative approach for patients undergoing surgery for lower‐staged RCC.
A randomized controlled trial investigating rectus sheath catheters following radical cystectomy
Authors: Chedgy Edmund C. P. , Tang Raymond , Struss Werner J. , Lowe Genevieve , Sawka Andrew , Vaghadia Himat , Froehlich Kevin , Black Peter C. , Gleave Martin E. , So Alan I.
Published: June 2023

Objective

To evaluate whether rectus sheath catheter (RSC) insertion may be an alternative to thoracic epidural (TE).

Patients and Methods

In a non‐blinded, single‐centre, non‐inferiority study, patients undergoing open radical cystectomy were randomized 1:1 to receive either a TE or surgically placed RSC. The primary endpoint was cumulative opiate use (median oral morphine equivalent [OME]) in the first 72 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included visual analogue scale pain scores, measures of postoperative recovery including mobility and time to regular diet, and complications.

Results

Ninety‐seven patients were randomized (51 TE, 46 RSC). The median OME was 103 (77.5–132.5) mg in the TE arm and 161.75 (117.5–187.5) mg in the RSC arm. A Mann–Whitney U‐test confirmed non‐inferiority of RSC to TE at a threshold of 15 mg OME (P = 0.002). When comparing pain scores for the first three postoperative days, an early difference was observed that favoured the TE group during post‐anaesthesia care unit stay, which was lost after postoperative day 1. Patient satisfaction with analgesia on the third postoperative day was similar in the two arms (P = 0.47). There were no statistically significant differences between arms with respect to the other secondary outcomes.

Conclusions

The outcomes from this prospective randomized trial demonstrated non‐inferiority of RSC insertion compared to TE with respect to 72‐h opiate use. Patient satisfaction with pain control on postoperative day 3 was the same for each group.
Clinical and radiographic results of crestal vs. subcrestal placement of implants in posterior areas: A split‐mouth randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Sun Yue , Yang Jieting , Chen Kaidi , Li Zhipeng , Chen Zhuofan , Huang Baoxin
Published: June 2023

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the peri‐implant soft tissue and marginal bone loss (MBL) around implants with platform‐switching and internal conical connection placed at crestal and subcrestal levels in posterior areas.

Materials and methods

Nineteen partially edentulous patients with at least two adjacent missing teeth in posterior areas unilaterally or bilaterally were included. Forty‐two implants were placed randomly at the crestal or subcrestal (1 mm) level in a split‐mouth design. Implant‐supported fixed dental prostheses with screw retention were delivered after 4 months of healing. Clinical and radiological measurements were performed at implant placement (T0), restoration delivery (T1), and 1‐year follow‐up after loading (T2). MBL was calculated as the change in distance from the implant‐abutment interface to the first radiographically visible bone‐implant contact. A repeated‐measures mixed ANOVA followed by a paired Student's t‐test with the Bonferroni correction was used for statistical analysis. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Eighteen patients with thirty‐eight implants completed the study at T2. The MBL was lower in the subcrestal group than in the crestal group (0.04 ± 0.08 vs. 0.17 ± 0.17 mm, p = 0.004). The peri‐implant probing depth (PD) was 2.31 ± 0.48 mm in the subcrestal group and 1.92 ± 0.43 mm in the crestal group; this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.002). Intragroup comparison showed no significant differences in MBL, or PD around the crestal group and subcrestal group from T1 to T2.

Conclusion

After 1 year of functional loading, subcrestal placement of implants with platform‐switching and internal conical connection showed lower MBL and was associated with greater PD and peri‐implant soft tissue height than implants placed at the crestal level.