bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovative leadership and sustainable performance: a moderation study through personality traits
Authors: Aman-Ullah Attia , Aziz Azelin , Mehmood Waqas , Vafin Aidar , Hassan Mohammad
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The present study aims to investigate the relationship between innovative leadership and sustainable performance in the education sector. The present study also tested the moderation role of personality traits agreeableness, extraversion, emotional stability, conscientiousness and openness in the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the present study were collected from 209 university teachers. The employed sampling technique was convenience, and the sample size was calculated through the Kerjis–Morgan method. Furthermore, a survey method using a questionnaire was used in this study. For the data analysis, SPSS and SmartPLS were used.

Findings

The present study found that innovative leadership has a significantly positive relationship with sustainable performance. Results also confirmed the moderating effects of personality traits such as agreeableness, extraversion, emotional stability, conscientiousness and openness.

Originality/value

The relationship between innovative leadership and sustainable performance for the first time in the education sector’s context. Secondly, this study contributed to the moderating role of personality traits such as agreeableness, extraversion, emotional stability, conscientiousness and openness between innovative leadership and sustainable performance, which was a yet-to-explored phenomenon. The study model was tested through the combination of the big five-factor model and the theory of planned behaviour, which is another novelty of the study.
The role of trust and perceived risk on Muslim behavior in buying halal-certified food
Authors: Usman Hardius , Projo Nucke Widowati Kusumo , Chairy Chairy , Haque Marissa Grace
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study to examine the factors that encourage/inhibit Muslim behavior in buying halal-certified food (HCF), based on two theories, the knowledge-attitude-behavior model and the attitude-behavior-context model; and study the impact of trust and perceived risk on Muslim behavior in buying HCF, and their role in moderating the relationship between halal awareness and religious commitment with Muslim behavior in buying HCF.

Design/methodology/approach

The research population target is Muslims aged 18 years or older who reside in Greater Jakarta and have purchased certified halal food at least once in the past month. The survey method is a self-administered survey using a purposive sampling technique. The online survey has been successful in getting 283 Muslim respondents. In analyzing the causal relationship and hypothesis testing, this research uses the partial least square – structural equation model.

Findings

This study reveals several results: attitude, halal awareness, religious commitment, trust and perceived risk have a significant influence on the frequency of Muslims buying HCF. Attitude mediates the impact of halal awareness, religious commitment and trust on the frequency of Muslims buying HCF; perceived risk and trust moderate the relationship between religious commitment and the frequency of Muslims buying HCF.

Originality/value

Research on halal food is still limited, including in Indonesia. Meanwhile, the study explores the actual behavior of consumers, particularly in a certified halal food context, which is still rare in the existing literature. At the same time, the intention-behavior gap can lead to wrong decisions. Furthermore, this study also studies how Muslims feel when they consume foods that are not certified as halal. Research like this has an immense opportunity to be developed because not many have been developed.
Effects of artisanal gold mining and routes towards sustainable development for a low‐profile mining community in Ghana
Authors: Mensah Justice , Amoah John Oti , Nketsiah‐Essoun Andrew
Published: March 2024

The objective of the study is to examine the effects of artisanal and small‐scale gold mining (ASGM) and routes towards sustainable development (SD) for a low‐profile mining community in Ghana. The study drew on the literature on mining, sustainable development, and the Natural Resource Curse (NRC) theory. Data were gathered using semi‐structured interviews and focus group discussions with 203 participants selected through the purposive and snowball sampling methods. The data were analysed using the thematic approach. The findings indicate that although ASGM supported livelihoods through employment and income generation, it had numerous negative effects that weakened the ‘pillars’ of SD, namely social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Among others, the study reveals conflicts, drop‐out and absenteeism among students and pupils, drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, child labour, and violence in the host community. Economically, ASGM affected agricultural production and food security following the destruction of farms and farmlands, while labour and capital were moved from farming to mining. Environmentally, air and water bodies were polluted, flora and fauna destroyed, and productive lands degraded. In short, the SD costs were perceived to be greater than the benefits, lending credence to the NRC theory. Several of these adverse effects were due to the fact that the activities were neither formalized nor regulated. Besides, the operations were characterized by inappropriate technology and lack of geological data, leading to unsustainable mining practices resulting in anti‐development outcomes. By way of routes towards sustainability, it is recommended that the operations be formalized under the existing Community Mining Scheme and regulated to ensure responsible, accountable, and sustainable mining. The Scheme should be strengthened in order to drive positive impact‐making mining operations by means of introducing a sustainability‐oriented licensing regime, sustainable mining technologies, access to land and geological data, stakeholder participation, capacity building on sustainable mining literacy, and eco‐friendly mine closure strategies.
Paraganglioma of the thyroid gland: A case report and literature review
Authors: Lee Yeuk‐Nam , Tsang Yi‐Po , Yuen Ka‐Wan Karen , Choi Chi‐Yee
Published: March 2024

Paraganglioma of the thyroid gland is a rare disease entity, with only a handful of cases documented in the literature. We report on a middle‐aged man with thyroid paraganglioma that presented as an incidental finding on the computed tomography scan of the thorax. Preoperative fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was suggestive of a neuroendocrine tumour. Hemithyroidectomy was performed and histological findings were most compatible with paraganglioma arising from the thyroid gland. The diagnosis of primary thyroid paraganglioma is rarely established by FNAC preoperatively due to architectural similarities with other thyroid tumours; the most important clinical technique for differentiating thyroid paraganglioma from other histology is immunohistochemistry. According to the literature, the first‐line treatment for primary thyroid paraganglioma is surgical resection. The prognosis following surgical resection is generally good.
Percutaneous microwave ablation of T1a renal cell carcinomas: A 10‐year single‐center retrospective review
Authors: McCloskey Cassie , Jacques Angela , McCloskey Dylan , Tibballs Jonathan
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Partial nephrectomy is currently the preferred treatment option for T1a renal cell carcinomas (RCC), with nephron‐sparing techniques, including microwave ablation, becoming more common in select patients. Primary aims are to document outcomes of microwave ablation for T1a RCCs in an Australian tertiary centre to add to the evidence for its safety and efficacy.

Methods

The prospectively maintained Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Interventional Radiology database was retrospectively searched for all Renal Microwave ablations completed between June 2012 and February 2022. This database and a combination of hospital programmes including Agfa Impax PACS, Bossnet digital medical record and iSoft Clinical Manager were used to extract the relevant data which was anonymized and entered into an Excel spreadsheet for analysis.

Results

Forty‐eight patients underwent microwave ablation for 50 tumours. Of these, there were two local and two distant recurrences. A fifth patient had metastases on presentation. Higher local recurrence rates were associated with larger tumour size (P = 0.043). Tumour proximity to the collecting system <4 mm was associated with higher rates of complications (P = 0.020). RENAL scores did not show statistically significant correlation with complications (P = 0.092) or local or distant recurrence. Notably, the study follow‐up time was longer than many comparative studies (mean = 2796, ~7.66 years censoring for death and mean = 832 days, ~2.28 years not censoring for death).

Conclusion

Consistent with the literature, this study further demonstrates that microwave ablation is a safe and efficacious option for treatment of T1a RCC.
Hypofractionated radiation therapy combined with androgen deprivation therapy for high‐risk localized prostate cancer
Authors: Lee Tae Hoon , Pyo Hongryull , Yoo Gyu Sang , Jeon Seong Soo , Seo Seong Il , Jeong Byong Chang , Jeon Hwang Gyun , Sung Hyun Hwan , Kang Minyong , Song Wan , Chung Jae Hoon , Bae Bong Kyung , Park Won
Published: March 2024

Introduction

This study aimed to analyse the treatment outcomes of moderately hypofractionated radiation therapy (RT) combined with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and the prognostic implications of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) kinetics in high‐risk localized prostate cancer.

Methods

The medical records of 140 patients who underwent definitive RT (70 Gy in 28 fractions) combined with ADT were retrospectively reviewed. ADT consists of a gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist and an anti‐androgen. Clinical outcomes included the biochemical failure rate (BFR), clinical failure rate (CFR), overall survival (OS) and prostate cancer–specific survival (PCSS). The BFR and CFR were stratified by the PSA nadir and the time to the PSA nadir, respectively. Acute and late genitourinary and gastrointestinal adverse events were also recorded.

Results

The 5‐year BFR, CFR, OS and PCSS rates were 9.8%, 4.5%, 90.2% and 98.7%, respectively. Ninety‐five (67.9%) patients achieved a PSA nadir of 0.01 ng/mL. Patients with a PSA nadir >0.01 ng/mL had a significantly higher BFR and CFR (BFR, P = 0.001; CFR, P = 0.027), even after adjusting for other prognostic factors [per 0.1 ng/mL; BFR, hazard ratio (HR) 4.440, P < 0.001; CFR, HR 4.338, P = 0.001]. However, the time to the PSA nadir and pre‐RT PSA were not significantly associated with the BFR and CFR. Six patients (4.3%) reported grade 3 late adverse events, mostly haematuria and haematochezia.

Conclusion

Definitive RT with moderate hypofractionation combined with long‐term ADT showed good efficacy for high‐risk localized prostate cancer. The lowest PSA nadir was significantly associated with a low recurrence rate, indicating the importance of PSA follow‐up.
Managing vestibular schwannomas with radiosurgery and radiotherapy: AGREE II appraisal of clinical practice guidelines
Authors: Lakshmipathy Deepak , Winter Eric , Fritz Christian , Harris Jacob , Gentile Michelle , Moreira Alvaro , Rajasekaran Karthik
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Vestibular schwannomas (VSs) are rare, benign intracranial tumours that have prompted clinical practice guideline (CPG) creation given their complex management. Our aim was to utilize the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument to assess if such CPGs on the management of VSs with radiosurgery and radiotherapy are of acceptable quality.

Methods

Relevant CPGs were identified following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) protocols. Experienced reviewers then extracted general CPG properties and rated their quality via the AGREE II instrument. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were quantified to assess interrater reliability.

Results

Nine CPGs on the management of VSs with radiosurgery and radiotherapy were identified. All CPGs were created in the past six years and developed recommendations based on literature review and expert consensus. One guideline was deemed as high quality with seven others being moderate and one being low in quality. The clarity of the presentation domain had the highest mean scaled domain score of 96.0%. The domains of stakeholder involvement and applicability had the lowest means of 49.2% and 47.2%, respectively. ICCs were either good or excellent across all domains.

Conclusion

Current CPGs on the management of VSs with radiosurgery and radiotherapy are of acceptable quality but would greatly benefit from improvements in applicability, stakeholder involvement, editorial independence and rigour of development. We recommend CPG authors reference the European Association of Neuro‐Oncology (EANO) guideline as a developmental framework with the Congress of Neurological Surgeons/American Association of Neurological Surgeons (CNS/AANS) CPG being a valid alternative.
Habitat fragmentation increases genetic distance between fruit bat subpopulations
Authors: Ibouroi Mohamed Thani , Arnal Véronique , Montgelard Claudine , Besnard Aurélien
Published: March 2024

Livingstone's fruit bat (Pteropus livingstonii) is among the most threatened bats worldwide. As the species is an important pollinator and seed disperser of Comoros plants with a crucial role in forest regeneration, it is critical to understand how human‐induced habitat disturbance impacts genetic structure at fine spatial scales in order to define conservation strategies. In this study, we assessed the level of genetic structure between eight colonies of the species and found that this was strong genetic structures between roosts that can be explained by isolation due both to distance and habitat fragmentation. Mitigation measures should aim to restore population connectivity.
Citizens as a democratic safeguard? The sequence of sanctioning elite attacks on democracy
Authors: Jacob Marc S.
Published: March 2024

In many elections worldwide, citizens support politicians who have undermined democracy while in office. Why? For citizens to safeguard democratic institutions, they must not only disapprove of a politician's undemocratic conduct but also be willing to retract support from her at the next election. This article examines under which conditions citizen evaluations of undemocratic elite conduct become consequential for behavioral actions and whether specific segments of the electorate, such as politically educated, liberal, antimajoritarian, and moderate partisans, react more forcefully to such elite violations. Evidence from a survey experiment in Poland, closely following the sequence of presidential elections, reveals that citizens firmly dislike attacks on core electoral institutions, irrespective of whether they are committed by incumbent or oppositional copartisans. However, neither the electorate's nor any segment's dissent translates into revised vote choices. The study has implications for why undemocratic elite behavior often remains unpunished and citizens rarely avert democratic backsliding.
Making fair comparisons in political theory
Authors: Ingham Sean , Wiens David
Published: March 2024

Normative political theorists frequently compare hypothetical scenarios for the purpose of identifying reasons to prefer one kind of institution to alternatives. We examine three types of “unfair” comparisons and the reasoning errors associated with each. A theorist makes an obscure comparison when one (or more) of the alternatives under consideration is underspecified; a theorist makes a mismatched comparison when they fail to hold fixed the relevant contextual factors while comparing alternatives; and a theorist makes an irrelevant comparison when they compare alternatives assuming contextual factors that differ in important respects from those they “should” assume given their theoretical aims. We then introduce the notion of a modeling mindset and show how this mindset can help theorists detect and avoid the three types of error. We conclude with a reconstruction of Cohen's camping trip thought experiment to illustrate the approach.
“Punching is a sickness”
Authors: Hopkinson Leo
Published: March 2024

Men who box professionally in Accra recognize that bouts are physically harmful and that they involve violently subordinating one another. Yet they also share a sense that bouts can be spaces of mutual becoming and affirmation. To navigate the tension between harm and affirmation, boxers and coaches couch their work between the ropes in idioms of care and mutual support. These idioms reflect their understanding that their lives and futures are mutually dependent and intertwined. Yet conflicting accounts of what constitutes appropriate care in the ring arise when boxing's violence is framed in relation to different imagined futures, and when mutual benefit is imagined to occur in the more or less distant future. In the boxing ring and beyond, divergent forms of temporal work animate the unsettled and ambiguous nature of care.
Association between postpartum depression and postpartum hemorrhage: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sheng Bo , Jiang Guoguo , Ni Juan
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a growing mental health concern worldwide and has detrimental effects on the social and cognitive health of both mothers and infants. This review was performed to assess the risk of PPD in women with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and to identify potential moderators.

Material and methods

The review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database on June 17, 2023 (registration number: CRD42023432955). Two researchers independently performed a literature search of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for articles published before May 25, 2023, with no filters and no language or location restrictions. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The primary outcome was the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of PPD in women with vs. without PPH. We performed sensitivity analyses and meta‐regression analyses to resolve heterogeneity. Meta‐regression analyses included the effects of age, maternal smoking, marital status, preterm labor, maternal education level, preeclampsia, anemia during pregnancy, and cesarean section.

Results

In total, seven studies involving 540 558 participants met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta‐analysis. Women with PPH were at increased risk of PPD compared with women without PPH (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.03–1.16), and heterogeneity was low (I2 = 23%; τ2 = 0.0007; p = 0.25). Moreover, the results of the sensitivity analyses showed that the I2 value decreased from 23% to 0% after excluding one particular study, which may have been a source of heterogeneity. In the meta‐regression analyses, the OR of PPD was greatly affected by maternal smoking (OR −0.26; 95% CI −0.30 to −0.22; p < 0.001). However, we did not observe any effects for maternal age, marital status, preterm labor, maternal education level, preeclampsia, anemia during pregnancy, or cesarean section.

Conclusions

Women with PPH must be closely monitored because they have a higher risk of PPD than women without PPH. Early recognition and management of these patients will improve treatment outcomes, maternal health, and newborn development.
Maternal height, and ethnicity and birth weight: A retrospective cohort study of uncomplicated term vaginal deliveries in Malaysia
Authors: Teoh Zhen Hean , Mariapun Jeevitha , Ko Valerie Su Yin , Dominic Nisha Angela , Jeganathan Ravichandran , Karalasingam Shamala Devi , Thirunavuk Arasoo Valliammai Jayanthi
Published: March 2024

Background

Small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) are designations given to neonates based solely on birthweight, with no distinction made for maternal height. However, there is a possibility that maternal height is significantly correlated with neonatal birthweight, and if so, SGA and LGA cutoffs specific to maternal height may be a more precise and useful tool for clinicians.

To explore this possibility, we analyzed the association between maternal height and ethnicity and neonate birthweight in women with low‐risk, 37‐ to 40‐week gestation, singleton pregnancies who gave birth vaginally between 2010 and 2017 (n = 354,488). For this retrospective cohort study, we used electronic obstetric records obtained from the National Obstetrics Registry in Malaysia.

Methods

National Obstetric Registry (NOR) data were used to calculate the 10th and 90th birthweight percentiles for each maternal height group by gestational age and neonatal sex. Multiple linear regression models, adjusted for maternal age, weight, parity, gestational age, and neonatal sex, were used to examine the association between neonate birthweight and maternal ethnicity and height. The following main outcome measures were assessed: small for gestational age (<10th percentile), large for gestational age (>90th percentile), and birthweight.

Results

The median height was 155 cm (IQR, 152–159), with mothers of Chinese descent being the tallest (median (IQR): 158 cm (154–162)) and mothers of Orang Asli (Indigenous) descent the shortest (median (IQR): 151 cm (147–155)). The median birthweight was 3000 g (IQR, 2740–3250), with mothers of Malay and Chinese ethnicity and Others having, on average, the heaviest babies, followed by other Bumiputeras (indigenous) mothers, mothers of Indian ethnicity, and lastly, mothers of Orang Asli ethnicity. For infants, maternal age, height, weight, parity, male sex, and gestational age were positively associated with birthweight. Maternal height had a positive association with neonate birthweight (B = 7.08, 95% CI: 6.85–7.31). For ethnicity, compared with neonates of Malay ethnicity, neonates of Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli, and other Bumiputera ethnicities had lower birthweights.

Conclusion

Birthweight increases with maternal height among Malaysians of all ethnicities. SGA and LGA cutoffs specific to maternal height may be useful to guide pregnancy management.
Debate: Involuntary treatment – not whether, but when and what else is needed
Authors: McClellan Jon
Published: March 2024

Involuntary treatment is a complex dialectic balancing self‐autonomy and the individual's right to consent to treatment with society's duty to protect those suffering from severe mental illness who are at risk of causing harm to themselves or others. When necessary, involuntary treatment should provide evidence‐based and medically justified care, with sufficient oversight and due process to protect the rights of patients. Clinically, the issue is not whether involuntary treatment should ever be used, but rather what other services are needed to enhance the quality of care within comprehensive community systems of care, thus limiting or preventing the need for involuntary interventions while also improving the outcomes of individuals affected by severe mental illness.
TRIM21 is critical in regulating hepatocellular carcinoma growth and response to therapy by altering the MST1/YAP pathway
Authors: Shu Bo , Zhou Yingxia , Lei Guoqiong , Peng Yu , Ding Cong , Li Zhuan , He Chao
Published: March 2024

Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer‐related death globally. Despite efforts being made in last two decades in cancer diagnosis and treatment, the 5‐year survival rate of liver cancer remains extremely low. TRIM21 participates in cancer metabolism, glycolysis, immunity, chemosensitivity and metastasis by targeting various substrates for ubiquitination. TRIM21 serves as a prognosis marker for human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the mechanism by which TRIM21 regulates HCC tumorigenesis and progression remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrated that TRIM21 protein levels were elevated in human HCC. Elevated TRIM21 expression was associated with HCC progression and poor survival. Knockdown of TRIM21 in HCC cell lines significantly impaired cell growth and metastasis and enhanced sorafenib‐induced toxicity. Mechanistically, we found that knockdown of TRIM21 resulted in cytosolic translocation and inactivation of YAP. At the molecular level, we further identified that TRIM21 interacted and induced ubiquitination of MST1, which resulted in MST1 degradation and YAP activation. Knockdown of MST1 or overexpression of YAP reversed TRIM21 knockdown‐induced impairment of HCC growth and chemosensitivity. Taken together, the current study demonstrates a novel mechanism that regulates the Hippo pathway and reveals TRM21 as a critical factor that promotes growth and chemoresistance in human HCC.
SerumITIH5as a novel diagnostic biomarker in cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Chen Meiru , Ma Jinghan , Xie Xiaoli , Su Miao , Zhao Dongqiang
Published: March 2024

Cholangiocarcinoma often remains undetected until advanced stages due to the lack of reliable diagnostic markers. Our goal was to identify a unique secretory protein for cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis and differentiation from other malignancies, benign hepatobiliary diseases, and chronic liver conditions. We conducted bulk RNA‐seq analysis to identify genes specifically upregulated in cholangiocarcinoma but not in most other cancers, benign hepatobiliary diseases, and chronic liver diseases focusing on exocrine protein‐encoding genes. Single‐cell RNA sequencing examined subcellular distribution. Immunohistochemistry and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays assessed tissue and serum expression. Diagnostic performance was evaluated via receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Inter‐alpha‐trypsin inhibitor heavy chain family member five (ITIH5), a gene encoding an extracellular protein, is notably upregulated in cholangiocarcinoma. This elevation is not observed in most other cancer types, benign hepatobiliary diseases, or chronic liver disorders. It is specifically expressed by malignant cholangiocytes. ITIH5 expression in cholangiocarcinoma tissues exceeded that in nontumorous bile duct, hepatocellular carcinoma, and nontumorous hepatic tissues. Serum ITIH5 levels were elevated in cholangiocarcinoma compared with controls (hepatocellular carcinoma, benign diseases, chronic hepatitis B, and healthy individuals). ITIH5 yielded areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) from 0.839 to 0.851 distinguishing cholangiocarcinoma from controls. Combining ITIH5 with carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 (CA19‐9) enhanced CA19‐9's diagnostic effectiveness. In conclusion, serum ITIH5 may serve as a novel noninvasive cholangiocarcinoma diagnostic marker.
Analysis of preservatives and fragrances in topical medical devices: The need for more stringent regulation
Authors: Stras Ania , Grassmann Aleksandra , Van Campenhout Peter , Deconinck Eric , Vanhaecke Tamara , Desmedt Bart
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Medical devices (MDs) have a long history of use, and come with regulatory frameworks to ensure user safety. Although topically applied MDs in the form of gels and creams might be used on damaged skin, their composition is often similar to that of cosmetic products applicable to intact skin, especially in terms of preservatives and fragrances. However, unlike cosmetics, these products are not subject to compound‐specific restrictions when used in MDs.

Objective

This study aimed to identify and quantify preservatives and fragrances in topically applied MDs and assess their safety towards the Cosmetic Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.

Method

Sixty‐nine MDs available on the EU market were subjected to previously validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) methods to identify and quantify occurring preservatives and fragrances.

Results

Findings revealed that 32% of the examined MDs did not provide comprehensive ingredient lists, leaving users uninformed about potential risks associated with product use. Furthermore, 30% of these MDs would not meet safety standards for cosmetic products and, most significantly, 13% of the analysed samples contained ingredients that are prohibited in leave‐on cosmetics.

Conclusion

Results highlight the pressing demand for more stringent requirements regarding the labelling and composition of MDs to enhance patient safety. Improved regulation and transparency can mitigate potential risks associated with the use of topically applied MDs.
Lexical Alignment is Pervasive Across Contexts in Non‐WEIRD Adult–Child Interactions
Authors: Chieng Adriana Chee Jing , Wynn Camille J. , Wong Tze Peng , Barrett Tyson S , Borrie Stephanie A.
Published: March 2024

Lexical alignment, a communication phenomenon where conversational partners adapt their word choices to become more similar, plays an important role in the development of language and social communication skills. While this has been studied extensively in the conversations of preschool‐aged children and their parents in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) communities, research in other pediatric populations is sparse. This study makes significant expansions on the existing literature by focusing on alignment in naturalistic conversations of school‐aged children from a non‐WEIRD population across multiple conversational tasks and with different types of adult partners. Typically developing children aged 5 to 8 years (n = 45) engaged in four semi‐structured conversations that differed by task (problem‐solving vs. play‐based) and by partner (parent vs. university student), resulting in a corpus of 180 conversations. Lexical alignment scores were calculated and compared to sham conversations, representing alignment occurring at the level of chance. Both children and adults coordinated their conversational utterances by re‐using or aligning each other's word choices. This alignment behavior persisted across conversational tasks and partners, although the degree of alignment was moderated by the conversational context. These findings suggest that lexical alignment is a robust phenomenon in conversations between school‐age children and adults. Furthermore, this study extends lexical alignment findings to a non‐WEIRD culture, suggesting that alignment may be a coordination strategy employed by adults and children across diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
In vitro PK/PD modeling of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non‐small cell lung cancer cell lines
Authors: Wanika Linda , Evans Neil D. , Johnson Martin , Tomkinson Helen , Chappell Michael J.
Published: March 2024

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are routinely prescribed for the treatment of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As with all medications, patients can experience adverse events due to TKIs. Unfortunately, the relationship between many TKIs and the occurrence of certain adverse events remains unclear. There are limited in vivo studies which focus on TKIs and their effects on different regulation pathways. Many in vitro studies, however, that investigate the effects of TKIs observe additional changes, such as changes in gene activations or protein expressions. These studies could potentially help to gain greater understanding of the mechanisms for TKI induced adverse events. However, in order to utilize these pathways in a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) framework, an in vitro PK/PD model needs to be developed, in order to characterize the effects of TKIs in NSCLC cell lines. Through the use of ordinary differential equations, cell viability data and nonlinear mixed effects modeling, an in vitro TKI PK/PD model was developed with estimated PK and PD parameter values for the TKIs alectinib, crizotinib, erlotinib, and gefitinib. The relative standard errors for the population parameters are all less than 25%. The inclusion of random effects enabled the model to predict individual parameter values which provided a closer fit to the observed response. It is hoped that this model can be extended to include in vitro data of certain pathways that may potentially be linked with adverse events and provide a better understanding of TKI‐induced adverse events.
Plasma sCD146 is a potential biomarker for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Jia Xinyu , Jiang Jingxian , Yang Chen , Zhang Sujuan , Wu Jingjing , Ma Qiyun , Wang Zhengxia , Chen Zhongqi , Zhang Mingshun , Huang Mao , Ji Ningfei
Published: March 2024

This study examined the levels of soluble CD146 (sCD146) in plasma samples from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and assessed the relationship between sCD146 and the severity of COPD. A total of 97 COPD patients were recruited from 20 medical centers in Jiangsu, China, including 13 stable subjects and 84 exacerbated subjects. The plasma sCD146 level in exacerbated subjects (28.77 ± 10.80 ng/mL) was significantly lower than that in stable subjects (38.84 ± 15.00 ng/mL). In the high sCD146 group, the proportion of subjects with modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scores of 0–1 was higher, the proportion of subjects with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage 4 was lower, and the proportion of subjects with ≥1 hospitalizations in the past year was lower. The plasma sCD146 level was negatively correlated with the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score (r = −0.2664, p = 0.0087). Logistic regression analysis showed that sCD146 was an independent risk factor for acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis suggested that sCD146 combined with sex, age, pulmonary function, and acute exacerbations in the past year had clinical value for the accurate identification of AECOPD, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.908 (95% CI: 0.810–1.000, p < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between plasma sCD146 and S100A9 (r = −0.3939, p < 0.001).
Genetic predisposition and high exposure to colistin in the early treatment period as independent risk factors for colistin‐induced nephrotoxicity
Authors: Mathew Sumith K. , Chapla Aaron , Venkatesan Padmanaban , Eriyat Vishnu , Aruldhas Blessed Winston , Prabha Ratna , Neely Michael N. , Rao Shoma V. , Kandasamy Subramani , Mathew Binu Susan
Published: March 2024

Colistin is known to cause nephrotoxicity due to its extensive reabsorption and accumulation in renal tubules. In vitro studies have identified the functional role of colistin transporters such as OCTN2, PEPT2, megalin, and P‐glycoprotein. However, the role of these transporter gene variants in colistin‐induced nephrotoxicity has not been studied. Utilizing targeted next‐generation sequencing, we screened for genetic polymorphisms covering the colistin transporters (SLC15A1, SLC15A2, SLC22A5, LRP2, and ABCB1) in 42 critically ill patients who received colistimethate sodium. The genetic variants rs2257212 ((NM_021082.4):c.1048C>G) and rs13397109 ((NM_004525.3):C.7626C > T) were identified as being associated with an increased incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) on Day 7. Colistin area under the curve (AUC) was predicted using a previously published pharmacokinetic model of colistin. Using logistic regression analysis, the predicted 24‐h AUC of colistin was identified as an important contributor for increased odds of AKI on Day 7. Among 42 patients, 4 (9.5%) were identified as having high predisposition to colistin‐induced AKI based on the presence of predisposing genetic variants. Determination of the presence of the abovementioned genetic variants and early therapeutic drug monitoring may reduce or prevent colistin‐induced nephrotoxicity and facilitate dose optimization of colistimethate sodium.
Foreign Ownership and International Trade Performance in China
Authors: Li Zhiyuan , Lin Yichun , Xu Mingyao
Published: March 2024

We investigate the causal relationship between foreign ownership and international trade performance by comparing foreign‐acquired firms with similar domestic‐acquired firms in China with regard to changes in their post‐acquisition international trade performance. Our findings indicate that foreign ownership significantly enhanced the probability of both exporting and importing, and strongly increased trade value. Foreign ownership took effect from the year of the acquisition and persisted for at least 2 years. It stimulated both processing trade and ordinary trade, and expanded products and trading partners. Post‐acquisition trade performance also exhibited heterogeneity based on the different pre‐acquisition and post‐acquisition ownership. As for the underlying mechanisms, we show that firms experienced significant output expansion, increased export dependence, and eased financial constraints after foreign acquisition.
Whose Aid is Beneficial to Firms' Exports? Evidence from a Post‐disaster Aid Experiment in China
Authors: Li Tan , Liu Qing , Xu Lihe
Published: March 2024

Post‐disaster aid is widely regarded as important in helping local recovery and development. This paper examines the effectiveness of post‐disaster aid on exports, which are a driving factor of economic development. It reports a natural experiment in China – the case of post‐disaster aid following the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 – to examine how donors' experiences affected the exports of manufacturing firms in disaster‐stricken counties. The export experience of the donor was important. Aid coming from donors with more export experience was more beneficial to the exports of firms in recipient counties than aid from less experienced donors. “Learning from the donor” is a potential channel through which this effect occurred. That is, firms in recipient counties learned from donors' export experience by exporting more products similar to those of donors, exporting more to the destination countries of donors, and participating in the donors' supply‐chain networks by exporting more of the donors' exports. Such “learning from the donor” effects show that knowledge spillover can occur between spatially distant parties, which complements the literature.
Efficacy of topiramate in reducing second‐generation antipsychotic‐associated weight gain among children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Costa Gabriel P. A. , Moraes Vitor R. Y. , Assunção Beatriz R. , Burns Nora , Laique Sobia , Sengupta Shreya , Anand Akhil , Nunes Julio C.
Published: March 2024

Aims

To conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis with the aim of synthesizing existing data on the efficacy and safety of topiramate as an adjunctive treatment for reducing second‐generation antipsychotic (SGA)‐associated weight gain in children aged 4–18 years.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, PsychNet and Web of Science from time of their inception up to 12 February 2024, including randomized controlled trials that compared SGA treatment with and without topiramate co‐administration in children. The primary outcomes were changes in body weight and body mass index (BMI). Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics.

Results

This systematic review included five randomized trials, totalling 139 participants (43.9% female; mean [SD] age 11.9 [3.5] years). Four of these trials were included in the meta‐analysis, comprising 116 subjects. We found that topiramate was significantly effective both in reducing SGA‐associated weight gain, with a mean difference of −2.80 kg (95% confidence interval [CI] −5.28 to −0.31; p = 0.037, I2 = 86.7%) and a standardized mean difference (SMD) of −1.33 (95% CI −2.14 to −0.51; p = 0.014, I2 = 31.7%), and in reducing BMI change compared to placebo (SMD −1.90, 95% CI −3.09 to −0.70; p = 0.02, I2 = 0%). Sedation risk was lower with topiramate than with placebo (odds ratio 0.19, 95% CI 0.11–0.32; p < 0.01, I2 = 0%). No significant differences were found in dropouts, any other side effects, and metabolic parameters, such as triglycerides, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein, high‐density lipoprotein, and glucose. None of the included studies reported assessments on cognitive side effects.

Conclusion

This meta‐analysis suggests that topiramate is an effective and safe option for mitigating SGA‐associated weight gain in children.
Didactic strategies for the education of computational thinking from a gender perspective: A systematic review
Authors: Torres‐Torres Yucnary‐Daitiana , Román‐González Marcos , Perez‐Gonzalez Juan‐Carlos
Published: March 2024

Computational Thinking (CT) is crucial for the advancement of the STEM field, where there continues to be a lack of female representation. Teaching and learning (T/L) of CT should incorporate didactic strategies that aim to eliminate gender biases and integrate girls/women into this context. In response to the question, “What didactic strategies have been implemented in the T/L of CT in primary and secondary education?”. A systematic review was conducted following a PRISMA protocol specifically designed for this review. The study analysed Didactic Strategies (DS) and examined whether they incorporated the so‐called “minimum actions” (MA) proposed in this article as a strategy to integrate females into CT. The findings revealed a limited number of studies that implemented these actions. In conclusion, there is an urgent need to continue developing DS that incorporate these MA to effectively integrate girls and women into CT, allowing them to play a central role in its advancement and development.
SIMS Iron Isotope Measurements of the Balmat Pyrite Reference Material: A Non‐Unique δ56Fe Signature
Authors: Pasquier Virgil , Rego Eric S. , Dupeyron Juliette , Bouvier Anne‐Sophie , Bovay Thomas , Robyr Martin , Marin‐Carbonne Johanna
Published: March 2024

In situ iron isotope ratios (δ56Fe) in sulfide measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) can provide valuable information on several of Earth's surface processes. SIMS relies on the use of a matrix‐matched reference material to correct for instrumental mass fractionation. To date Balmat pyrite has been widely used as a reference material, on the assumption of its homogeneous δ56Fe composition. However, several studies have reported divergent bulk δ56Fe values, which may jeopardise its use. Here, we combined bulk solution MC‐ICP‐MS and in situ SIMS δ56Fe measurements on two Balmat batches: the Balmat‐Original published in Whitehouse and Fedo (2007) and Balmat‐UNIL. Despite similar compositions, this study demonstrates the existence of two isotopically distinct Balmat populations. With respect to Balmat‐Original (δ56Fe = ‐0.39 ± 0.05‰, 2s), Balmat‐UNIL is isotopically 'lighter' with a bulk solution MC‐ICP‐MS composition of ‐1.46 ± 0.024‰. Additionally, Balmat‐UNIL has two subpopulations: the first is characterised by δ56Fe values of ‐1.46 ± 0.25‰, whereas the second agrees with the original Balmat batch. In each Balmat‐UNIL subpopulation, the intra‐grain and inter‐grain variabilities are sufficient to use Balmat as a reference material for δ56Fe isotope measurements by SIMS. This study revealed at least two end‐member compositions of Balmat pyrite and calls for a careful batch‐specific determination of bulk δ56Fe.
Migraine, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and calcitonin gene‐related peptide antibodies
Authors: Krikova Irina , Digre Kathleen B. , Katz Bradley J. , Seay Meagan D. , Warner Judith E.A.
Published: March 2024

Plain language summary

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition of high pressure in the spinal fluid that is common in young women who are overweight or obese. Headache happens in most individuals with IIH and can continue after the early phase of IIH has resolved. We studied the use of a newer type of medication developed for migraine called calcitonin gene‐related peptide antibodies and we found that these medications can be helpful for patients who have had IIH, although studies with more patients will be helpful.
Gastric‐type glandular lesions of the female genital tract excluding the cervix: emerging pathological entities
Authors: Wong Richard W‐C , Talia Karen L , McCluggage W Glenn
Published: March 2024

In the last two decades or so, a spectrum of benign, premalignant and malignant cervical glandular lesions exhibiting gastric differentiation has been described, with gastric‐type adenocarcinoma representing the most common human papillomavirus (HPV)‐independent cervical adenocarcinoma. More recently, limited literature has reported a variety of gastric‐type glandular lesions at other sites within the female genital tract and, as in the cervix (the most common site for these lesions), a spectrum of benign, premalignant and malignant lesions has been proposed. We provide an update and review of the emerging spectrum of gastric‐type glandular lesions at female genital tract sites other than the cervix. In the endometrium, putative gastric‐type glandular lesions include mucinous metaplasia of gastric‐type, atypical mucinous proliferation of gastric‐type and gastric‐type adenocarcinoma. Similarly in the vagina, gastric‐type adenosis, atypical adenosis and adenocarcinoma have been described. There have also been occasional reports of gastric‐type lesions involving the ovary and fallopian tube. We provide guidance on how to recognise gastric‐type lesions morphologically and immunophenotypically and stress that sometimes these lesions occur at more than one site within the female genital tract (synchronous/multifocal gastric‐type lesions of the female genital tract), sometimes in association with Peutz–Jeghers syndrome.
An artificial intelligence‐powered PD‐L1 combined positive score (CPS) analyser in urothelial carcinoma alleviating interobserver and intersite variability
Authors: Lee Kyu Sang , Choi Euno , Cho Soo Ick , Park Seonwook , Ryu Jeongun , Puche Aaron Valero , Ma Minuk , Park Jongchan , Jung Wonkyung , Ro Juneyoung , Kim Sukjun , Park Gahee , Song Sanghoon , Ock Chan‐Young , Choe Gheeyoung , Park Jeong Hwan
Published: March 2024

Aims

Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) have shown promising clinical outcomes in urothelial carcinoma (UC). The combined positive score (CPS) quantifies PD‐L1 22C3 expression in UC, but it can vary between pathologists due to the consideration of both immune and tumour cell positivity.

Methods and Results

An artificial intelligence (AI)‐powered PD‐L1 CPS analyser was developed using 1,275,907 cells and 6175.42 mm2 of tissue annotated by pathologists, extracted from 400 PD‐L1 22C3‐stained whole slide images of UC. We validated the AI model on 543 UC PD‐L1 22C3 cases collected from three institutions. There were 446 cases (82.1%) where the CPS results (CPS ≥10 or <10) were in complete agreement between three pathologists, and 486 cases (89.5%) where the AI‐powered CPS results matched the consensus of two or more pathologists. In the pathologist's assessment of the CPS, statistically significant differences were noted depending on the source hospital (P = 0.003). Three pathologists reevaluated discrepancy cases with AI‐powered CPS results. After using the AI as a guide and revising, the complete agreement increased to 93.9%. The AI model contributed to improving the concordance between pathologists across various factors including hospital, specimen type, pathologic T stage, histologic subtypes, and dominant PD‐L1‐positive cell type. In the revised results, the evaluation discordance among slides from different hospitals was mitigated.

Conclusion

This study suggests that AI models can help pathologists to reduce discrepancies between pathologists in quantifying immunohistochemistry including PD‐L1 22C3 CPS, especially when evaluating data from different institutions, such as in a telepathology setting.