bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
(157) IMPROVEMENT OF TRANSDERMAL BOTANIC COSMETICS ON WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL FUNCTION: AN OBSERVATIONAL COHORT STUDY ON IROSE® (INTIMATE GEL)
Authors: Liao Chi Hwa , Chung Peng Chen , Chou Yin Jou
Published: June 2024

Objectives

To describe the utilization characteristics of patients prescribed Irose®.

Methods

The study design employed an open-label, single-arm, prospective cohort study approach. From September 2017 to September 2023, we enrolled 142 women who met the following criteria: hypomenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, premature menopause under the age of 45, severe vulva itchiness, low vaginal lubrication, low sexual desire, and recurrent vaginitis for at least 3 months. Exclusion criteria included pelvic endometriosis, pregnancy, lactation, and any history of cancer. Women applied the intimate gel (0.3g) over the vulva once a day after bathing. Online questionnaires were sent to general practitioners after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 months, and beyond, following the date of the first prescription. The main outcome measures included menstruation regularity and amount, vaginal lubrication, sexual desire, frequency of vulva itchiness, and vaginitis. One-sample t-tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

The mean age at diagnosis was 38.0 years (range: 16-64 years). Women with hypomenorrhea or oligomenorrhea reported significant moderate improvement after 5 months (all P < 0.01). Women with distressed low sexual desire reported a significant moderate increase at 5 months (P < 0.05). Vaginal lubrication showed a significant moderate increase at 4-6 months (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, and P < 0.001). Women with severe vulva itchiness reported a significant moderate improvement at 4 months (P < 0.05). Women with recurrent vaginitis experienced a significant mild increase at 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05). Mild adverse events were reported in 3.3% of cases, including mild vulva irritation and folliculitis. 96.1% of women expressed satisfaction with the treatment.

Conclusions

The intimate gel, Irose®, exhibited anti-itchy and anti-infection characteristics and moderate improvements in the reproductive and sexual function of women.

Conflicts of Interest

Work supported by industry: No. The corresponding author, Yin Jou Chou, was the developer of the Irose® intimate gel. All authors reported no potential conflicts of interest.
(283) THE IMPACT OF INDUCED PAIN/DISGUST EXPECTANCIES ON SEXUAL AROUSAL
Authors: Lakhsassi Lara , Borg Dr Charmaine , Freytag Pauline L , Walk Kim , de Jong Prof Peter J
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Current models propose that heightened pain expectancies and inhibited sexual arousal are key components in the maintenance of sexual pain in Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD). Disgust expectancies might also contribute to the persistence of (sexual) pain via its counteracting impact on sexual arousal. To improve our understanding of the factors involved in the persistence of (sexual) pain, we designed a differential conditioning procedure to test if acquired pain/disgust expectancies indeed inhibit the sexually arousing properties of the CS+ (a porn clip).

Methods

The study consists of two parallel differential conditioning paradigms with the US being either a painful or a disgusting stimulus to which participants will be randomly assigned. In both cases, participants will be presented with a series of two different though similar conditional erotic film stimuli (CS+, CS-). Before the test stage, participants will be instructed that the CS+ will be followed by the US in some trials, while the CS- will never be followed by the US. In reality, the US will not actually be presented at all during the experiment; this is just a manipulation to create a US-expectancy for the CS+. The sample will consist of 72 (36 per in the disgust group and 36 in the pain group) predominantly heterosexual women ages 18+.

Results

We do not yet have results available at this moment.

Conclusions

The results may have important implications; if the expectation of experiencing pain or disgust does in fact reduce subjective sexual arousal, this would provide a better understanding of the role that expectancy plays in sexual dysfunction in women. In turn, this would point to enhancing sexual arousal and reducing negative expectancies as critical targets for treatment of GPPPD.

Conflicts of Interest

N/A.
COATi: Statistical Pairwise Alignment of Protein-Coding Sequences
Authors: García Mesa Juan José , Zhu Ziqi , Cartwright Reed A
Published: June 2024

Sequence alignment is an essential method in bioinformatics and the basis of many analyses, including phylogenetic inference, ancestral sequence reconstruction, and gene annotation. Sequencing artifacts and errors made during genome assembly, such as abiological frameshifts and incorrect early stop codons, can impact downstream analyses leading to erroneous conclusions in comparative and functional genomic studies. More significantly, while indels can occur both within and between codons in natural sequences, most amino-acid- and codon-based aligners assume that indels only occur between codons. This mismatch between biology and alignment algorithms produces suboptimal alignments and errors in downstream analyses. To address these issues, we present COATi, a statistical, codon-aware pairwise aligner that supports complex insertion–deletion models and can handle artifacts present in genomic data. COATi allows users to reduce the amount of discarded data while generating more accurate sequence alignments. COATi can infer indels both within and between codons, leading to improved sequence alignments. We applied COATi to a dataset containing orthologous protein-coding sequences from humans and gorillas and conclude that 41% of indels occurred between codons, agreeing with previous work in other species. We also applied COATi to semiempirical benchmark alignments and find that it outperforms several popular alignment programs on several measures of alignment quality and accuracy.
Staphylococcal aconitase expression during iron deficiency is controlled by an sRNA-driven feedforward loop and moonlighting activity
Authors: Barrault Maxime , Chabelskaya Svetlana , Coronel-Tellez Rodrigo H , Toffano-Nioche Claire , Jacquet Eric , Bouloc Philippe
Published: June 2024

Pathogenic bacteria employ complex systems to cope with metal ion shortage conditions and propagate in the host. IsrR is a regulatory RNA (sRNA) whose activity is decisive for optimum Staphylococcus aureus fitness upon iron starvation and for full virulence. IsrR down-regulates several genes encoding iron-containing enzymes to spare iron for essential processes. Here, we report that IsrR regulates the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle by controlling aconitase (CitB), an iron-sulfur cluster-containing enzyme, and its transcriptional regulator, CcpE. This IsrR-dependent dual-regulatory mechanism provides an RNA-driven feedforward loop, underscoring the tight control required to prevent aconitase expression. Beyond its canonical enzymatic role, aconitase becomes an RNA-binding protein with regulatory activity in iron-deprived conditions, a feature that is conserved in S. aureus. Aconitase not only negatively regulates its own expression, but also impacts the enzymes involved in both its substrate supply and product utilization. This moonlighting activity concurrently upregulates pyruvate carboxylase expression, allowing it to compensate for the TCA cycle deficiency associated with iron scarcity. These results highlight the cascade of complex posttranscriptional regulations controlling S. aureus central metabolism in response to iron deficiency.
Transcription factors BZR1 and PAP1 cooperate to promote anthocyanin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis shoots
Authors: Lee Se-Hwa , Kim So-Hee , Park Tae-Ki , Kim Young-Pil , Lee Jin-Won , Kim Tae-Wuk
Published: June 2024

Anthocyanins play critical roles in protecting plant tissues against diverse stresses. The complicated regulatory networks induced by various environmental factors modulate the homeostatic level of anthocyanins. Here, we show that anthocyanin accumulation is induced by brassinosteroids (BRs) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) shoots and shed light on the underlying regulatory mechanism. We observed that anthocyanin levels are altered considerably in BR-related mutants, and BRs induce anthocyanin accumulation by upregulating the expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes. Our genetic analysis indicated that BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT 1 (BZR1) and PRODUCTION OF ANTHOCYANIN PIGMENT 1 (PAP1) are essential for BR-induced anthocyanin accumulation. The BR-responsive transcription factor BZR1 directly binds to the PAP1 promoter, regulating its expression. In addition, we found that intense anthocyanin accumulation caused by the pap1-D-dominant mutation is significantly reduced in BR mutants, implying that BR activity is required for PAP1 function after PAP1 transcription. Moreover, we demonstrated that BZR1 physically interacts with PAP1 to cooperatively regulate the expression of PAP1-target genes, such as TRANSPARENT TESTA 8, DIHYDROFLAVONOL 4-REDUCTASE, and LEUKOANTHOCYANIDIN DIOXYGENASE. Our findings indicate that BZR1 functions as an integral component of the PAP1-containing transcription factor complex, contributing to increased anthocyanin biosynthesis. Notably, we also show that functional interaction of BZR1 with PAP1 is required for anthocyanin accumulation induced by low nitrogen stress. Taken together, our results demonstrate that BR-regulated BZR1 promotes anthocyanin biosynthesis through cooperative interaction with PAP1 of the MBW complex.
The emerging challenge of FLiRT variants: KP.1.1 and KP.2 in the global pandemic landscape
Authors: Kumar P , Jayan J , Sharma R K , Gaidhane A M , Zahiruddin Q S , Rustagi S , Satapathy P
Published: June 2024

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has undergone substantial evolution, leading to emergence of new FLiRT variants characterized by specific spike mutations—F to L at position 456 and R to T at position 346—enhancing their transmissibility and immune evasion capabilities. Particularly, KP.2 shows a significant increase in cases in the USA, indicating a potential shift in the pandemic landscape due to its greater ability to evade vaccine-induced immunity and its higher effective reproduction number compared to JN.1. This evolving scenario underscores the need for continuous monitoring and adaptive response strategies to address the challenges posed by these new variants. This abstract examines the emergence of FLiRT variants KP.2 and KP1.1, descendants of the Omicron JN.1 variant, as they draw global attention amidst the ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic.
Effect of using the Simple Erosion Narrowing Score or Sharp/van der Heijde score on the power of rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials to detect differences in radiographic progression
Authors: den Broeder Nathan , Bolhuis Thomas E , van Herwaarden Noortje , Bergstra Sytske Anne , Bouman Chantal A M , van den Hoogen Frank H J , Verhoef Lise M , den Broeder Alfons A , van der Maas Aatke
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The Simple Erosion Narrowing Score (SENS) is a simplification of the Sharp/van der Heijde score (SHS). Previous studies found SENS and SHS to have very similar measurement properties, but suggest that SENS has a lower discriminative ability that may result in reduced power. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the effect of using SENS rather than SHS on the power to show between-group differences in radiographic progression.

Methods

Using data from two clinical trials in RA (DRESS and BeSt), SENS was derived from the SHS. Criterion validity of the SENS in relation to the SHS was assessed by calculating the Spearman correlation. The power of both scores to show a difference between groups was compared using bootstrapping to generate 10 000 replications of each study. Then, the number of replications with a significant difference in progression (using analysis of covariance adjusted for baseline scores) were compared.

Results

Correlations between SENS and SHS were all >0.9, indicating high criterion validity of SENS compared with SHS as a reference standard. There was one exception—the DRESS study showed a somewhat lower correlation for the change score at 18 months (0.787). The loss in power of SENS over SHS was limited to at most 19% (BeSt year 5). In addition, the difference in power between SENS and SHS is smaller at higher levels of power.

Conclusion

SENS appears to be a reasonable alternative to SHS, with only a limited loss of power to show between-group differences in radiographic progression.
Liechtenstein: Rights of beneficiaries of a Private Foundation—A legal comparison between Liechtenstein, the DIFC and Wyoming
Authors: Jandrasits David Karl
Published: June 2024

This article examines some of the most important similarities and differences between the foundation laws in Liechtenstein, the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) and Wyoming. The focus of this article lies on the rights of beneficiaries of private foundations and its aim is to provide the reader with an overview and comparison of the various categories of beneficiaries as well as of their legal positions and rights. Based on the principles developed by case law and doctrine in Liechtenstein, this article addresses possible issues related to beneficiary rights in the relatively new foundation laws of the DIFC and Wyoming.
Integrating Survey and Geospatial Data for Geographical Targeting of the Poor and Vulnerable: Evidence from Malawi
Authors: Gualavisi Melany , Newhouse David
Published: June 2024

To address the challenge of identifying the poorest villages in developing countries, this study introduces a cost-effective strategy that leverages a combination of household consumption surveys, geospatial data, and a partial registry. The study simulates a partial registry, containing data from 450 villages across 10 impoverished districts of Malawi, and contains proxy poverty indicators. These indicators are used to impute estimates of household per capita consumption, which in turn are used to train a prediction model using publicly available geospatial data. This method is evaluated against an imputed reference of village welfare, derived from the 2016 household survey. The partial registry approach is benchmarked against three alternatives: proxy means test scores, the Meta Relative Wealth Index, and predictions from household surveys with geospatial indicators. Results show the partial registry model's rank correlation with actual welfare measures at 0.75, outperforming the other methods significantly, which ranged from −0.02 to 0.2. These findings hold under various robustness checks, including the addition of Gaussian noise, indicating that collecting household-level proxy poverty data in low-income areas can significantly improve the performance of machine learning models that integrate survey and satellite imagery data for village-level geographic targeting.
Impact of lifestyle and dietary modifications for endometriosis development and symptom management
Authors: Lalla Amber Trujillo , Onyebuchi Christina , Jorgensen Elisa , Clark Nisse
Published: June 2024

Purpose of review

Management of endometriosis is often complex and poorly studied. Patients with endometriosis have interest in how their lifestyle may affect their diagnosis. Self-management and lifestyle changes are often used as adjunct therapy, but best practices are not concrete in treatment guidelines.

Recent findings

Lifestyle impact on endometriosis and possible self-management treatment therapies are reviewed. Overall, there is a need for future studies in all topics. Data suggest a link between endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), particularly persistent EDCs, and endometriosis. More work is needed to isolate and quantify exposures and explore their connection to endometriosis in order to provide guidance for clinical practice recommendations. There is insufficient evidence to support a superior diet for management of endometriosis; however, the Mediterranean diet may have the most benefit without nutrition concerns. Exercise may be another tool to improve endometriosis symptoms, but once again data are limited and best type and frequency is not well studied. Best evidence supports body-mind practices such as yoga, although new evidence suggests benefit from a holistic combination of several types of exercises.

Overall, data on lifestyle effects and associated therapies are limited. Future high-quality studies are needed to guide practice.
Simultaneous Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty and Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty for Corneal Endothelial Failure With Stromal Scarring
Authors: Kara Necip
Published: June 2024

We present an alternative surgical procedure including simultaneous deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in a case with endothelial failure and stromal scarring. A 62-year-old woman presented with vision loss caused by pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. While waiting for a corneal transplant, the patient developed infectious keratitis, which was treated with medication. Although the keratitis healed, it left a scar. To improve the patient's vision, a corneal transplant surgery that included simultaneous DALK and DMEK was performed. Postoperatively, the corneal graft was clear, and the Descemet membrane was well attached. However, there was an interface haze because of residual stromal tissue. The patient's best-corrected visual acuity improved from hand motion to 0.2 (decimal). This combined procedure allows for lamellar keratoplasty in cases with coexistence of corneal endothelial and stromal involvement.
Developmental Monitoring in Special Supplemental Nutrition Programs for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Increases Referrals to Social Supports
Authors: Barlow Kate , Ghiringhelli Kara , Sullivan Kelsey , Daly Ava
Published: June 2024

To examine the impact of developmental monitoring on child referrals, a retrospective data review, comparing seven pilot programs with seven matched controls in Special Supplemental Nutrition Programs for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) was completed. Pilot programs were trained on developmental monitoring and how to refer families to their local Early Intervention (EI) program, Special Education, or Family TIES (Together in Enhancing Support), services when there is a developmental concern. The “Learn the Signs. Act Early” developmental monitoring program was implemented, and the outcomes included the number of referrals made over a 6-month period. The results indicated a statistically significant difference (p = <.001) in referrals made preimplementation compared to postimplementation with a large effect size (d = 0.96) for pilot programs. Additionally, when analyzing between-groups there were significantly more referrals (p = .001) made at the pilot programs compared to the control programs, again with a large effect size (d = 2.10). This study shows that the implementation of developmental monitoring within WIC programs was effective in increasing referrals to intervention services designed to support families with early identification of developmental delay.
Efficacy of Baclofen as Add-on Therapy for Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Dong Hongyi , Luo Ying , Liu Diangang , Du Xing , Du Haijun
Published: June 2024

Objectives:

As a GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen has demonstrated efficacy in alleviating symptoms of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (r-GERD). This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of baclofen as an add-on therapy for this condition.

Method:

We conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for studies published up until October 2023. Subsequently, we performed a meta-analysis encompassing all eligible trials.

Results:

From 719 records, 10 studies were included, most of these studies were moderate risk. The findings demonstrated that the addition of baclofen as a supplementary treatment effectively improves symptoms (GERD Q score) in r-GERD (standardized mean difference=−0.78, 95% CI: −1.06 to −0.51, I
2=0%). The addition of this treatment also resulted in a decrease in the frequency of nonacidic reflux episodes (standardized mean difference=−0.93, 95% CI: −1.49 to −0.37, I
2=63%) and an improvement in DeMeester scores (standardized mean difference=−0.82, 95% CI: −1.61 to −0.04, I
2=81%) among patients with r-GERD when compared with the use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs alone. However, no significant disparity was observed in terms of reducing acid reflux episodes (standardized mean difference=−0.12, 95% CI: −0.49 to 0.19, I
2=0%) and proximal reflux (standardized mean difference=−0.47, 95% CI: −1.08 to 0.14, I
2=60%).

Conclusion:

Baclofen as an add-on treatment can effectively improve the symptoms of patients with r-GERD and reduce the incidence of nonacidic reflux and improve DeMeester score. However, long-term use of baclofen leads to an increased incidence of side effects and is not effective in reducing the occurrence of acid reflux.
Ice-inhabiting species of Bdelloidea Rotifera reveal a pre-Quaternary ancestry in the Arctic cryosphere
Authors: Shain Daniel H. , Rogozhina Irina , Fontaneto Diego , Nesje Atle , Saglam Naim , Bartlett Jesamine , Zawierucha Krzysztof , Kielland Øystein Nordeide , Dunshea Glenn , Arnason Einar , Rosvold Jørgen
Published: June 2024

Historical climate data indicate that the Earth has passed through multiple geological periods with much warmer-than-present climates, including epochs of the Miocene (23–5.3 mya BP) with temperatures 3–4°C above present, and more recent interglacial stages of the Quaternary, for example, Marine Isotope Stage 11c (approx. 425–395 ka BP) and Middle Holocene thermal maximum (7.5–4.2 ka BP), during which continental glaciers may have melted entirely. Such warm periods would have severe consequences for ice-obligate fauna in terms of their distribution, biodiversity and population structure. To determine the impacts of these climatic events in the Nordic cryosphere, we surveyed ice habitats throughout mainland Norway and Svalbard ranging from maritime glaciers to continental ice patches (i.e. non-flowing, inland ice subjected to deep freezing overwinter), finding particularly widespread populations of ice-inhabiting bdelloid rotifers. Combined mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequencing identified approx. 16 undescribed, species-level rotifer lineages that revealed an ancestry predating the Quaternary (> 2.58 mya). These rotifers also displayed robust freeze/thaw tolerance in laboratory experiments. Collectively, these data suggest that extensive ice refugia, comparable with stable ice patches across the contemporary Norwegian landscape, persisted in the cryosphere over geological time, and may have facilitated the long-term survival of ice-obligate Metazoa before and throughout the Quaternary.
The Genetic History of the South Caucasus from the Bronze to the Early Middle Ages: 5000 years of genetic continuity despite high mobility
Authors: Skourtanioti Eirini , Jia Xiaowen , Tavartkiladze Nino , Bitadze Liana , Shengelia Ramaz , Tushabramishvili Nikoloz , Neumann Gunnar U. , Bianco Raffaela Angelina , Mötsch Angela , Prüfer Kay , Lamnidis Thiseas C. , Traverso Luca , Sagona Claudia , Papac Luka , Haak Wolfgang , Reich David , Ellingvåg Sturla , Stockhammer Philipp W. , Krause Johannes , Ringbauer Harald
Published: June 2024

Archaeological and archaeogenetic studies have highlighted the pivotal role of the Caucasus region throughout prehistory, serving as a central hub for cultural, technological, and linguistic innovations. However, despite its dynamic history, the critical area between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus mountain ranges, mainly corresponding to modern-day Georgia, has received limited attention. Here, we generated an ancient DNA time transect consisting of 219 individuals with genome-wide data from 47 sites in this region, supplemented by 97 new radiocarbon dates. Spanning from the Early Bronze Age 5000 years ago to the so-called ‘Migration Period’ that followed the fall of the Western Roman Empire, we document a largely persisting local gene pool that continuously assimilated migrants from Anatolia/Levant and the populations of the adjacent Eurasian steppe. More specifically, we observe these admixture events as early as the Middle Bronze Age. Starting with Late Antiquity (late first century AD), we also detect an increasing number of individuals with more southern ancestry, more frequently associated with urban centers – landmarks of the early Christianization in eastern Georgia. Finally, in the Early Medieval Period starting 400 AD, we observe genetic outlier individuals with ancestry from the Central Eurasian steppe, with artificial cranial deformations (ACD) in several cases. At the same time, we reveal that many individuals with ACD descended from native South Caucasus groups, indicating that the local population likely adopted this cultural practice.
Tailoring the self-blinking of sulfonamide rhodamine for long-term protein-localizing super-resolution imaging
Authors: Zhang Xue , Zheng Ying , Yang Lujia , Ye Zhiwei , Xiao Yi
Published: June 2024

Life continually changes its protein arrangements, yet the molecular ultradetails are covered by the short-lived deficiency of fluorophore blinking for super-resolution imaging. Herein, we proposed a crowding strategy to conserve the self-blinking events for prolonging the imaging time. We engineered sulfonamide rhodamines through atom-radii expansion (O-C-Si), rationally reversing xanthene intersection and creating stacking to enhance ring-opening energetical barriers. Our stacked rhodamines demonstrated decreased recruiting rates and extended survival lifetimes at single-molecule level, validating the decreased self-blinking kinetics from stacking strategy. Accordingly, our silicon-substituted rhodamine enabled persistent molecular localization imaging of various sub-organelle proteins to state-of-art time (0.5 h) in living cells, with versatile capabilities for three-dimensional and dual-color imaging. We envision our crowding strategy sets a new stage for prolongating super-resolution imaging through structural engineering.
Sequential emergence and contraction of epithelial subtypes in the prenatal human choroid plexus revealed by a stem cell model
Authors: Masters Haley , Wang Shuxiong , Tu Christina , Nguyen Quy , Sha Yutong , Karikomi Matthew K. , Fung Pamela Shi Ru , Tran Benjamin , Martel Cristina , Kwang Nellie , Neel Michael , Jaime Olga G. , Espericueta Victoria , Johnson Brett A. , Kessenbrock Kai , Nie Qing , Monuki Edwin S.
Published: June 2024

Despite the major roles of choroid plexus epithelial cells (CPECs) in brain homeostasis and repair, their developmental lineage and diversity remain undefined. In simplified differentiations from human pluripotent stem cells, derived CPECs (dCPECs) displayed canonical properties and dynamic multiciliated phenotypes that interacted with Aβ uptake. Single dCPEC transcriptomes over time correlated well with human organoid and fetal CPECs, while pseudotemporal and cell cycle analyses highlighted the direct CPEC origin from neuroepithelial cells. In addition, time series analyses defined metabolic (type 1) and ciliogenic dCPECs (type 2) at early timepoints, followed by type 1 diversification into anabolic-secretory (type 1a) and catabolic-absorptive subtypes (type 1b) as type 2 cells contracted. These temporal patterns were then confirmed in independent derivations and mapped to prenatal stages using human tissues. In addition to defining the prenatal lineage of human CPECs, these findings suggest new dynamic models of ChP support for the developing human brain.
Online Epileptic Seizure Detection in Long-term iEEG Recordings Using Mixed-signal Neuromorphic Circuits
Authors: Gallou Olympia , Bartels Jim , Ghosh Saptarshi , Schindler Kaspar , Sarnthein Johannes , Indiveri Giacomo
Published: June 2024

Seizure detection stands as a critical aspect of epilepsy management, which requires continuous monitoring to improve patient care. However, existing monitoring systems face challenges in providing reliable, long-term, portable solutions due to the computational expense and power demands of continuous processing and data transmission. Edge computing offers a viable solution by enabling efficient processing locally, close to the sensors and without having to transmit the sensory signals to remote computing platforms. In this work, we present a mixed-signal hardware implementation of a biologically realistic Spiking Neural Network (SNN) for always-on monitoring with on-line seizure detection. We validated the hardware system with wideband Electroencephalography (EEG) signal recordings with over 122 continuous hours of data, without pre-filtering. The network was tested with a cohort of 5 patients and a total number of 22 seizures including generalized and focal onsets. Our system effectively captures spatiotemporal features based on synchronized multichannel intracranial EEG activity, achieving 100% sensitivity across all patients and near zero false alarms. Remarkably, inference across patients required only calibrating the parameters of the network’s output layer on a single recorded seizure from the patient.
Lepton-neutron interaction and
S
-wave low-energy parameters
Authors: Carbonell Jaume , Frederico Tobias
Published: June 2024

A lepton-neutron potential in configuration space is obtained. It is based on the Coulomb plus hyperfine interaction Hamiltonian integrated over the neutron charge and magnetic densities. Different parametrizations of the neutron electromagnetic form factors are compared. It is given in the operator form with central, spin-spin, tensor, and spin-orbit terms. The potentials for lowest partial wave states are presented. We compute the lepton-neutron low-energy parameters for the S waves, estimate the zero-energy cross sections for higher angular momentum states, and point out a possible divergence in the partial wave summation due to the spin-orbit potential.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Graduate students’ e-book awareness and usage at a public research university in the USA
Authors: Brush Denise A. , Kipnis Daniel G.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to understand the level of graduate students’ awareness and usage of e-books purchased by the authors’ university library since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors created a Qualtrics survey with 13 questions that was sent to the university’s graduate student email list. The survey was sent in the fall of 2023 and was open for one month. The list had 3,318 subscribers; 113 complete responses were received, for a response rate of 3.4%.

Findings

The results found that doctoral students (80%) are more aware than master’s students (64%) of e-book availability through the library, and usage rates are higher for doctoral students (78%) compared to master’s students (52%). In addition, the frequency of e-book usage since COVID-19 has changed, with more than half of respondents using e-books more often. The majority of respondents who use e-books do so because they are required as a textbook. While international students use their laptop or smartphone for reading e-books, domestic students prefer laptops. Student comments at the end of the survey revealed ways for libraries to help improve e-book awareness.

Research limitations/implications

The authors’ goal to have a response rate of 5%–10% was not achieved; the authors therefore did not use any statistics to measure the significance of the results. The survey did not ask whether students started their degree programs prior to 2020, but their start year could have influenced responses.

Originality/value

The present study looks at the current level of usage and awareness of specific populations (graduate students, online students and international students) regarding e-books. This study focuses on student perspectives regarding what devices they use to access e-books and how their usage differs across academic disciplines.
Unlocking digital transformation in Industry 4.0: exploring organizational readiness, innovation and firm performance in Vietnam
Authors: Vo Huan Tuong , Nguyen Phuong Van , Nguyen Sam Thi Ngoc , Vrontis Demetris , Bianco Rosario
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Amidst the Industry 4.0 landscape, organizations are increasingly harnessing cutting-edge technologies and embracing digital change to fuel innovation. However, the full potential of innovation cannot be realized without organizational readiness. This study explores how various dimensions of organizational readiness and innovation influence digital change and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered via a survey of 303 managers from both state-owned and private-owned enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and analyzed utilizing partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS–SEM).

Findings

Organizational readiness positively influences both digital change and innovation. Additionally, innovation positively impacts digital change and mediates the relationship between organizational readiness and digital change. Furthermore, both innovation and digital change positively affect firm performance, whereas the control variable of ownership type has no significant correlation with firm performance. Finally, digital change mediates the relationship between innovation and firm performance.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the digital innovation literature by empirically testing the influence of organizational readiness on digital change and innovation within the context of Vietnam. By investigating whether innovation and digital change enhance firm performance, this study also addresses inconsistencies in the literature.
Financial resources and renewable energy nexus: a holistic perspective
Authors: Shabbir Malik Shahzad , Cheong Calvin W.H.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the association among financial resources, renewable energy, environmental degradation and technological innovation in BRICS economies.

Design/methodology/approach

To estimate the long-run impacts between these variables, the AMG method of estimation, which incorporates cross-sectional reliance and slope homogeneity, is adopted in this research.

Findings

According to the empirical findings, the long-run coefficients of environmental degradation and technological innovation show a statistically significant and negative impact on renewable sources of energy. Furthermore, a 1% increase in environmental degradation reduces 0.32% of renewable sources of energy in BRICS economies. Whereas only the coefficient of GDP shows a positive and statistically significant impact on renewable sources of energy, which demonstrates that a 1% increase in economic growth causes a 0.02% incline in renewable sources of energy. Therefore, strong policy recommendations are provided to encourage green energy utilization in these economies.

Originality/value

The majority of the participating nations have inexpensive labor and an abundance of resources from nature, which strengthens their appeal. Given that population growth is still quite conservative, this presents a chance for GDP per capita to expand significantly.
Double jeopardy: the effects of retrial knowledge on juror decisions
Authors: Munro James , Motson Fred , Turner Jim , Frumkin Lara A. , Curley Lee John
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Since the passage of the Double Jeopardy (Scotland) Act 2011, mirroring changes in other jurisdictions, a person who has been acquitted in Scotland can, under certain circumstances, be retried for that offence. Jurors could have knowledge of the previous acquittal verdict (whether not guilty or not proven) through media sources, potentially biasing the new jury in their decision-making. The purpose of this study is to detemine the influence of knowing a trial is a retrial, on conviction rates.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study invited 253 participants to give a verdict to a mock murder trial after either receiving pretrial information about the original verdict or no information about the case being a retrial.

Findings

Significantly more acquittal verdicts were given when the participants were told that it was a retrial, compared to the control condition, irrespective of whether the prior verdict was not guilty or not proven.

Originality/value

Findings are discussed in light of jurors’ knowledge of legal concepts and acquittal verdicts and the increasing exposure of the general Scottish public to the not-proven verdict due to increased media coverage.
Boundary work: a conceptual frame for workplace ethnographies in collaborative settings
Authors: Fehsenfeld Michael , Mejsner Sofie Buch , Maindal Helle Terkildsen , Burau Viola
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Interprofessional collaboration and coordination are critical to developing solutions to complex problems, and many workplaces engage in coordination and collaboration across organizational boundaries. This development changes work conditions and workplaces for many people. The ethnographic study of workplaces needs to re-configure the toolbox to adjust to such changes. The purpose of this study was to explore how the ethnographic study of dispersed workplaces can benefit from the analytical concept of boundary work.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-sited ethnographic study was conducted in two health promotion programs, introducing new collaborative relations across sectors and professions. The concept of boundary work was applied as the conceptual frame and introduced the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) as a boundary object.

Findings

Professional boundaries are key to understanding interorganizational and interprofessional collaborations. The ethnographic study of complex, multi-sited settings using boundary work as a conceptual framework can enrich workplace ethnographies by demonstrating how professions position themselves through framing. Such framing strategies are used to construct, defend or contest boundaries. Boundary objects may potentially bridge devices connecting people across boundaries.

Originality/value

The traditional ethnographic notion of “following” an object or a subject is difficult in a workplace environment dispersed across multiple sites and involving many different actors. This suggests that workplace ethnographies studying interorganizational workplaces would benefit from a shift in focus from place-based or group-based ethnography to a field-level ethnography of relations using boundary work as an analytical frame.
Understanding digital social responsibility's impact on purchase intention: insights from consumer engagement, brand loyalty and Generation Y consumers
Authors: Amankona David , Yi Kaigang , Kampamba Chikwanda
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The study specifically seeks to comprehend the impact of online corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives on consumer behaviour, with a focus on Generation Y consumers. It also aims to examine how, particularly within Ghanaian manufacturing firms, the views of Generation Y consumers regarding digital social responsibility (DSR), and how it moderates the relationship between brand loyalty and purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study takes a quantitative approach, using information gathered via a survey questionnaire from 611 Generation Y consumers in Ghana. Examining the connections between DSR, customer engagement, brand loyalty and purchase intention is the main goal of the investigation. Structural equation modelling (SEM) methods are used in the study to examine the data gathered and verify the proposed linkages.

Findings

The study reveals a strong positive relationship between corporate social responsibility (DSR) and purchase intention, mediated by consumer engagement and brand loyalty. However, it does not suggest Generation Y's attitudes towards DSR moderating this relationship. The study underscores the importance of DSR for Ghanaian manufacturing businesses.

Originality/value

By studying the relatively unexplored idea of DSR and its effects on consumer behaviour in developing nations – especially in the context of Ghanaian manufacturing enterprises – this study adds to the body of current work. This study sheds light on the ways in which DSR affects Generation Y customers' intentions to buy by examining the mediating roles of brand loyalty and consumer engagement.
Annual flower strips increase biodiversity even if planting is delayed
Authors: Westbrook Anna S. , Morris Scott H. , Stup Rebecca S. , Xia Rosa H. , Coffey Ryleigh E. , DiTommaso Antonio
Published: June 2024

Flower strips are an effective way to enhance agroecosystem biodiversity and ecosystem services. Most flower strips are composed of perennial species. Despite their ecological benefits, perennial flower strips are not widely adopted. Barriers to adoption include the long‐term commitment required and concerns about weeds. This study explores whether annual flower strips might be feasible for more farmers. We conducted an on‐farm experiment on five commercial farms in New York, USA. On each farm, we established four treatments. At maize planting time, we seeded an early‐established planting (EP) treatment with a commercial mix of annual flowers. An early‐established control (EC) was set up at the same time with no seeding. Four weeks later, we prepared a new seedbed for late‐established planting (LP) and late‐established control (LC) treatments. We observed significant effects of planting on plant species richness and Shannon diversity (F‐test, p < .001). Planted treatments were more diverse than control treatments. However, there was no effect of establishment time on diversity. Both planting (F‐test, p = .004) and establishment time (F‐test, p = .04) affected the number of dicot species at the flowering stage, which was highest in the EP treatment. This flowering species richness was positively associated with spider abundance in sweep‐net samples. Overall, our results demonstrate that annual flower strip establishment is possible even under weedy conditions. In addition, they show that a delay in planting date does not eliminate the benefits of this practice. This information could help farmers make informed, site‐specific decisions about whether flower strips are a good fit for their farms.
Navigating the challenges of policy evaluation
Authors: Jacob Steve
Published: June 2024

Policy evaluation is a well‐established management practice in many countries worldwide. Evaluation as we know it dates back to the 1970s. Throughout its rich history, evaluation has fulfilled a growing number of purposes with a focus on rationality and accountability. This article describes the major challenges facing evaluators and public administration researchers interested in the practice. We then formulate a research agenda, based on interdisciplinary research, to inform future work and guide the future of evaluation.
Zuclopenthixol decanoate toxicity in an 8‐month‐old colt causing extrapyramidal neurological signs
Authors: Addis Alice , Savage Victoria
Published: June 2024

Zuclopenthixol decanoate is a dopamine antagonist licensed for human use to manage schizophrenia and paranoid psychosis. It is in the same drug class (thioxanthene) as fluphenazine decanoate, a drug whose use in horses is reported anecdotally for providing long‐acting sedation. This case study describes severe extrapyramidal signs seen in a Thoroughbred colt after zuclopenthixol decanoate administration. The colt was presented to a referral hospital for an unusual manifestation of colic signs. On admission, the colt began to show clear extrapyramidal neurological signs. The initial suspicion was of fluphenazine decanoate toxicity, which in the limited published literature is treated with intravenous formulations of diphenhydramine hydrochloride and benztropine mesylate. At the time of writing both were unavailable in the United Kingdom without an import license. The closest alternative option, oral diphenhydramine was administered alongside intravenous atropine and pergolide. Improvements in the colt's demeanour and neurological status was noted within 24 h. The colt was hospitalised for a total of 26 days and at time of discharge was clinically normal. Follow‐up communication 3 months after discharge confirmed that the colt had remained neurologically normal. Crucially, toxicology testing submitted to Cornell University was negative for common toxins, including fluphenazine decanoate. Specific secondary testing was performed after suspicion the administration of zuclopenthixol decanoate was raised, which was positive for this compound. Routine drug testing would, therefore, not identify the use of this behaviour modifying drug. Clinical data regarding the use of zuclopenthixol in animals is limited to its use in the translocation of wildlife to relieve stress and aid acclimatisation. To our knowledge, there is no available literature describing the administration of zuclopenthixol decanoate in equine patients.
Nottingham prognostic x (NPx): a risk stratification tool in ER‐positive HER2‐negative breast cancer: a validation study
Authors: Lashen Ayat G , Toss Michael , Miligy Islam , Rewcastle Emma , Kiraz Umay , Janssen Emiel A M , Green Andrew R , Quinn Cecily , Ellis Ian , Rakha Emad A.
Published: June 2024

Aims

In this study, we validate the use of Nottingham Prognostic x (NPx), consisting of tumour size, tumour grade, progesterone receptor (PR) and Ki67 in luminal BC.

Materials and methods

Two large cohorts of luminal early‐stage BC (n = 2864) were included. PR and Ki67 expression were assessed using full‐face resection samples using immunohistochemistry. NPx was calculated and correlated with clinical variables and outcome, together with Oncotype DX recurrence score (RS), that is frequently used as a risk stratifier in luminal BC.

Results

In the whole cohort, 38% of patients were classified as high risk using NPx which showed significant association with parameters characteristics of aggressive tumour behaviour and shorter survival (P < 0.0001). NPx classified the moderate Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) risk group (n = 1812) into two distinct prognostic subgroups. Of the 82% low‐risk group, only 3.8% developed events. Contrasting this, 14% of the high‐risk patients developed events during follow‐up. A strong association was observed between NPx and Oncotype Dx RS (P < 0.0001), where 66% of patients with intermediate risk RS who had subsequent distant metastases also had a high‐risk NPx.

Conclusion

NPx is a reliable prognostic index in patients with luminal early‐stage BC, and in selected patients may be used to guide adjuvant chemotherapy recommendations.
Age and urban–rural disparities in cutaneous melanoma mortality rates in the United States during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Hu Ting , Ma Zhimiao , Guo Yuxin , Qiu Sikai , Lv Fan , Liu Ying , Ng Wee Han , Zu Jian , Yeo Yee Hui , Ji Fanpu , Lee Ernest Y. , Li Zhengxiao
Published: June 2024

Most recent studies on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and cutaneous melanoma (CM) focused more on delayed diagnosis or advanced presentation. We aimed to ascertain mortality trends of CM between 2012 and 2022, focusing on the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In this serial population‐based study, the National Vital Statistics System dataset was queried for mortality data. Excess CM‐related mortality rates were estimated by calculating the difference between observed and projected mortality rates during the pandemic. Totally there were 108,853 CM‐associated deaths in 2012–2022. CM‐associated mortality saw a declining trend from 2012 to 2019 overall. However, it increased sharply in 2020 (ASMR 3.73 per 100,000 persons, 5.95% excess mortality), and remained high in 2021 and 2022, with the ASMRs of 3.82 and 3.81, corresponding to 11.17% and 13.20% excess mortality, respectively. The nonmetro areas had the most pronounced rise in mortality with 12.20% excess death in 2020, 15.33% in 2021 and 20.52% in 2022, corresponding to a 4–6 times excess mortality risk compared to large metro areas during the pandemic. The elderly had the most pronounced rise in mortality, but the mortality in the younger population was reduced.