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Copyright of Journal of International Business Studies is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: To develop machine learning (ML) models predicting unplanned readmission and reoperation among patients undergoing free flap reconstruction for head and neck (HN) surgery. Methods: Data were extracted from the 2012–2019 NSQIP database. eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) was used to develop ML models predicting 30‐day readmission and reoperation based on demographic and perioperative factors. Models were validated using 2019 data and evaluated. Results: Four‐hundred and sixty‐six (10.7%) of 4333 included patients were readmitted within 30 days of initial surgery. The ML model demonstrated 82% accuracy, 63% sensitivity, 85% specificity, and AUC of 0.78. Nine‐hundred and four (18.3%) of 4931 patients underwent reoperation within 30 days of index surgery. The ML model demonstrated 62% accuracy, 51% sensitivity, 64% specificity, and AUC of 0.58. Conclusion: XGBoost was used to predict 30‐day readmission and reoperation for HN free flap patients. Findings may be used to assist clinicians and patients in shared decision‐making and improve data collection in future database iterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of International Business Studies is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article explores the impact of norms and beliefs on sleep behavior and the potential for using this information to promote healthy sleep patterns. The study focuses on descriptive and injunctive norms, which involve perceptions of actual behavior and socially approved behavior, respectively. Through an online experiment, researchers found that learning about others' adherence to the injunctive norm can increase individuals' intentions to improve their sleep habits. Participants who perceived a larger gap between the injunctive norm and actual behavior were more likely to subscribe to a sleep hygiene newsletter. However, the study acknowledges limitations such as a small sample size and reliance on self-reported data, and suggests that future research should investigate how information interventions can lead to tangible changes in sleep behavior. Overall, understanding and leveraging norms and beliefs may be crucial in designing effective health interventions and campaigns. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction/Objective: The KidneyIntelX is a multiplex, bioprognostic, immunoassay consisting of 3 plasma biomarkers and clinical variables that uses machine learning to predict a patient's risk for a progressive decline in kidney function over 5 years. We report the 1-year pre- and post-test clinical impact on care management, eGFR slope, and A1C along with engagement of population health clinical pharmacists and patient coordinators to promote a program of sustainable kidney, metabolic, and cardiac health. Methods: The KidneyIntelX in vitro prognostic test was previously validated for patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) to predict kidney function decline within 5 years was introduced into the RWE study (NCT04802395) across the Health System as part of a population health chronic disease management program from [November 2020 to April 2023]. Pre- and post-test patients with a minimum of 12 months of follow-up post KidneyIntelX were assessed across all aspects of the program. Results: A total of 5348 patients with DKD had a KidneyIntelX assay. The median age was 68 years old, 52% were female, 27% self-identified as Black, and 89% had hypertension. The median baseline eGFR was 62 ml/min/1.73 m2, urine albumin-creatinine ratio was 54 mg/g, and A1C was 7.3%. The KidneyIntelX risk level was low in 49%, intermediate in 40%, and high in 11% of cases. New prescriptions for SGLT2i, GLP-1 RA, or referral to a specialist were noted in 19%, 33%, and 43% among low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients, respectively. The median A1C decreased from 8.2% pre-test to 7.5% post-test in the high-risk group (P <.001). UACR levels in the intermediate-risk patients with albuminuria were reduced by 20%, and in a subgroup treated with new scripts for SGLT2i, UACR levels were lowered by approximately 50%. The median eGFR slope improved from −7.08 ml/min/1.73 m2/year to −4.27 ml/min/1.73 m2/year in high-risk patients (P =.0003), −2.65 to −1.04 in intermediate risk, and −3.26 ml/min/1.73 m2/year to +0.45 ml/min/1.73 m2/year in patients with low-risk (P <.001). Conclusions: Deployment and risk stratification by KidneyIntelX was associated with an escalation in action taken to optimize cardio-kidney-metabolic health including medications and specialist referrals. Glycemic control and kidney function trajectories improved post-KidneyIntelX testing, with the greatest improvements observed in those scored as high-risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engaging people with lived experience of mental health system encounters in the design and actualization of continuing professional development initiatives for mental health professionals can have transformative systemic impacts. Yet, despite evidence that involving people with lived experience benefits mental health professional education, far less focus has been placed on how to engage people with lived experience in continuing professional development initiatives. Tensions persist regarding the role of lived experience perspectives in continuing professional development, as well as how to establish people with lived experience as partners, educators and leaders in a thoughtful way. We propose that meaningful and equitable partnerships with people with lived experience can be realized by engaging in critical reflexivity and by systematically challenging assumptions. This paper explores three topics: (1) the current state of engagement with people with lived experience in continuing professional development initiatives; (2) barriers to meaningful engagement and (3) recommendations for using critical reflexivity to support the involvement and leadership of people with lived experience in continuing professional development for mental health professionals. Patient or Public Involvement: This viewpoint manuscript was co‐designed and co‐written by people with diverse lived and learned experiences. Each author's professional roles involve meaningfully and equitably partnering with and centring the perspectives of those with lived experience of mental health system encounters. In addition, approximately half of the authorship team identifies as having lived experience of accessing the psychiatric system and/or supporting family members who are navigating challenges related to mental health. These lived and learned experiences informed the conception and writing of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To date, single-agent immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapy has proven to be ineffective against biomarker-unselected extrapulmonary poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (EP-PDNECs). The efficacy of CPI in combination with chemotherapy remains under investigation. Methods: Patients with advanced, progressive EP-PDNECs were enrolled in a two-part study of pembrolizumab-based therapy. In Part A, patients received pembrolizumab alone. In Part B, patients received pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy. Primary endpoint: objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints: safety, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Tumours were profiled for programmed death-ligand 1 expression, microsatellite-high/mismatch repair deficient status, mutational burden (TMB), genomic correlates. Tumour growth rate was evaluated. Results: Part A (N = 14): ORR (pembrolizumab alone) 7% (95% CI, 0.2–33.9%), median PFS 1.8 months (95% CI, 1.7–21.4), median OS 7.8 months (95% CI, 3.1–not reached); 14% of patients (N = 2) had grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). Part B (N = 22): ORR (pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy) 5% (95% CI, 0–22.8%), median PFS 2.0 months (95% CI, 1.9–3.4), median OS 4.8 months (95% CI, 4.1–8.2); 45% of patients (N = 10) had grade 3/4 TRAEs. The two patients with objective response had high-TMB tumours. Discussion: Treatment with pembrolizumab alone and pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy was ineffective in advanced, progressive EP-PDNECs. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03136055. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vorticity-streamfunction formulation for incompressible inviscid fluids is the basis for many fluid simulation methods in computer graphics, including vortex methods, streamfunction solvers, spectral methods, and Monte Carlo methods. We point out that current setups in the vorticity-streamfunction formulation are insufficient at simulating fluids on general non-simply-connected domains. This issue is critical in practice, as obstacles, periodic boundaries, and nonzero genus can all make the fluid domain multiply connected. These scenarios introduce nontrivial cohomology components to the flow in the form of harmonic fields. The dynamics of these harmonic fields have been previously overlooked. In this paper, we derive the missing equations of motion for the fluid cohomology components. We elucidate the physical laws associated with the new equations, and show their importance in reproducing physically correct behaviors of fluid flows on domains with general topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines an under-explored topic of labor precarity of Chinese feminist and LGBT NGO activism from the perspective of social reproduction. Contextualizing the intimate connection between the Chinese party-state outsourcing social service delivery to global civil society and the burgeoning of feminist and LGBT NGOs since the 1990s, it argues that the party-state relies on the social reproductive functions of these NGO while containing their political influence; at the same time, the transnational non-profit funding complex utilized these NGOs for political intervention in China. Arguing against a binary framework of civil society versus state and resistance versus oppression, this article centers the lived experiences of feminist and LGBT activist workers and highlights the contradiction and interplay of agency and conformity of these workers in the state- and market- orchestrated processes of moralization, illegalization, and professionalization, whereby they reshape, revise, or reinforce norms associated with gender, sexuality, and neoliberal standards of productivity and efficiency. Building on Marxist feminist theorization of labor, this article valorizes NGO labor as socially valued work and calls for attention to the issue of labor precarity of NGO activist workers under the backdrop of increasing state violence and market cooptation in many parts of the world, especially in the global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refined risk stratification for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP‐NETs) has the potential to improve comparisons of study populations across clinical trials and facilitate drug development. Tumor growth rate (TGR) is a radiological metric with demonstrated prognostic value in well differentiated grade 1 and 2 (G1–2) GEP‐NETs, but little is known about TGR in G3 NETs. In this retrospective study of 48 patients with advanced G1–3 GEP‐NET, we calculated baseline TGR (TGR0) from radiological images of metastases acquired prior to first‐line therapy and evaluated its association with disease characteristics and outcomes. The median pretreatment Ki67 proliferation index for G1–3 tumors combined was 5% (range = 0.1%–52%) and median TGR0 was 4.8%/month (m) (range = 0%–45.9%/m). TGR0 correlated with pretreatment Ki67 across G1–3 pooled and within G3 GEP‐NET. Patients with higher TGR0 (>11.7%/m) tumors, which were primarily G3 pancreatic NETs, exhibited decreased time to first therapy (median, 2.2 vs. 5.3 months; p =.03) and shorter overall survival (median, 4.1 years vs. not reached; p =.003). Independent of therapies given, higher TGR0 GEP‐NETs experienced a greater incidence of Ki67 increase (100 vs. 50%; p =.02) and greater magnitude of Ki67 change (median, 14.0 vs. 0.1%; p =.04) upon serial biopsy. Importantly, TGR0, but not grade, predicted for future Ki67 increase in this series. Given the heterogeneity of well differentiated GEP‐NETs, future clinical trials may benefit from stratification for TGR0, particularly in G1–2 tumors, in which TGR0 does not correlate with Ki67. TGR0 has the potential to noninvasively identify patients with previously undiagnosed grade progression and those in whom more or less frequent monitoring may be appropriate. Additional research is needed to determine the prognostic and predictive value of TGR0 in larger and more homogeneously treated cohorts, and to ascertain if post‐treatment TGR has value in previously treated patients starting a new line of therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shared decision-making (SDM) helps patients weigh risks and benefits of screening approaches. Little is known about SDM visits between patients and healthcare providers in the context of lung cancer screening. This study explored the extent that patients were informed by their provider of the benefits and harms of lung cancer screening and expressed certainty about their screening choice. We conducted a survey with 75 patients from an academic medical center in the Southeastern U.S. Survey items included knowledge of benefits and harms of screening, patients' value elicitation during SDM visits, and decisional certainty. Patient and provider characteristics were collected through electronic medical records or self-report. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and Pearson correlations between screening knowledge, value elicitation, and decisional conflict were calculated. The sample was predominately non-Hispanic White (73.3%) with no more than high school education (53.4%) and referred by their primary care provider for screening (78.7%). Patients reported that providers almost always discussed benefits of screening (81.3%), but infrequently discussed potential harms (44.0%). On average, patients had low knowledge about screening (score = 3.71 out of 8) and benefits/harms. Decisional conflict was low (score = − 3.12) and weakly related to knowledge (R= − 0.25) or value elicitation (R= − 0.27). Black patients experienced higher decisional conflict than White patients (score = − 2.21 vs − 3.44). Despite knowledge scores being generally low, study patients experienced low decisional conflict regarding their decision to undergo lung cancer screening. Additional work is needed to optimize the quality and consistency of information presented to patients considering screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that the closure of the Beijing LGBT Centre in May 2023, after 15 years of operation, marked a significant loss for the Chinese queer community. It also mentions that facing constant governmental harassment and threats, the centre had been a vital LGBTQ non-profit organization, providing services such as mental health counseling and HIV testing, advocating for LGBTQ rights, and fostering community-building activities.

Introduction and Objective: The lack of precision to identify patients with early-stage diabetic kidney disease (DKD) at near-term risk for progressive decline in kidney function results in poor disease management often leading to kidney failure requiring unplanned dialysis. The KidneyIntelX is a multiplex, bioprognostic, immunoassay consisting of 3 plasma biomarkers and clinical variables that uses machine learning to generate a risk score for progressive decline in kidney function over 5-year in adults with early-stage DKD. Our objective was to assess the impact of KidneyIntelX on management and outcomes in a Health System in the real-world evidence (RWE) study. Methods: KidneyIntelX was introduced into a large metropolitan Health System via a population health-defined approved care pathway for patients with stages 1 to 3 DKD between [November 2020 to March 2022]. Decision impact on visit frequency, medication management, specialist referral, and selected lab values was assessed. We performed an interim analysis in patients through 6-months post-test date to evaluate the impact of risk level with clinical decision-making and outcomes. Results: A total of 1686 patients were enrolled in the RWE study and underwent KidneyIntelX testing and subsequent care pathway management. The median age was 68 years, 52% were female, 26% self-identified as Black, and 94% had hypertension. The median baseline eGFR was 59 ml/minute/1.73 m2, urine albumin-creatinine ratio was 69 mg/g, and HbA1c was 7.7%. After testing, a clinical encounter in the first month occurred in 13%, 43%, and 53% of low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk patients, respectively and 46%, 61%, and 71% had at least 1 action taken within the first 6 months. High-risk patients were more likely to be placed on SGLT2 inhibitors (OR = 4.56; 95% CI 3.00-6.91 vs low-risk), and more likely to be referred to a specialist such as a nephrologist, endocrinologist, or dietician (OR = 2.49; 95% CI 1.53-4.01) compared to low-risk patients. Conclusions: The combination of KidneyIntelX, clinical guidelines and educational support resulted in changes in clinical management by clinicians. After testing, there was an increase in visit frequency, referrals for disease management, and introduction to guideline-recommended medications. These differed by risk category, indicating an impact of KidneyIntelX risk stratification on clinical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection leads to effector memory CD8+ T cell expansion and is associated with immune dysfunction in older adults. However, the molecular alterations of CMV-specific CD8+ T cells in CMV infected healthy young and middle-aged adults has not been fully characterized. Results: We compared CD8+ T cells specific for a CMV epitope (pp65495-503, NLV) and an influenza A virus (IAV) epitope (M158-66, GIL) from the same young and middle-aged healthy adults with serum positive for anti-CMV IgG. Compared to the IAV-specific CD8+ T cells, CMV-specific CD8+ T cells contained more differentiated effector memory (TEM and TEMRA) cells. Isolated CMV-specific central memory (TCM) but not naïve (TN) cells had a significant reduced activation-induced expansion in vitro compared to their IAV-specific counterparts. Furthermore, we found that CD70 expression was reduced in CMV-specific CD28+CD8+ TCM and that CD70+ TCM had better expansion in vitro than did CD70- TCM. Mechanistically, we showed that CD70 directly enhanced MAPK phosphorylation and CMV-specific CD8+ TCM cells had a reduced MAPK signaling upon activation. Lastly, we showed that age did not exacerbate reduced CD70 expression in CMV- specific CD8+ TCM cells. Conclusion: Our findings showed that CMV infection causes mild expansion of CMV-NLV-specific CD8+ T cells, reduced CD70 expression and signaling, and proliferation of CMV-NLV-specific CD8+ TCM cells in young and middle-aged healthy adults and revealed an age-independent and CMV infection-specific impact on CD8+ memory T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trastuzumab is a humanised, monoclonal antibody that interferes with the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/neu receptor and binds selectively to the HERB2 protein. It has been shown to prolong survival of patients with HER2-positive advanced uterine serous carcinoma. We report the case of a woman in her 70s with HER2-positive metastatic papillary serous endometrial adenocarcinoma, who experienced severe thrombocytopenia related to trastuzumab administration. One week after the first dose of carboplatin/paclitaxel/ trastuzumab combination chemotherapy, the patient was admitted to the hospital with vaginal bleeding, melena, petechiae and platelet counts of 0×109 /L. The patient was suspected to have a severe trastuzumab-induced thrombocytopenia. A rapid and complete recovery was observed after multiple platelet transfusions, high-dose IV corticosteroids and immunoglobulin. Among the 13 reported cases of trastuzumab-induced thrombocytopenia, this is the first case reported in the literature occurring in a patient with a gynecologic malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: A loop ileostomy may reduce the severity of acute anastomotic complications after low rectal resection, but some patients have persistent rectal anastomotic problems. No consensus exists for the management of patients with a chronic low rectal anastomosis complication and a loop ileostomy. There is need for a standard description of these anastomotic complications and to determine whether it is safe to reverse the ileostomy. This study proposes a classification of chronic rectal anastomotic complications and to report the correlation with successful restoration of rectal continuity. Methods: This was a retrospective project from a prospectively maintained database at a single colorectal unit in a large tertiary hospital in Metropolitan Melbourne. Patients with rectal anastomotic complications following rectal cancer resections between March 2012 and October 2019 were included. A classification of chronic rectal anastomotic complication was developed by reviewing the interval assessments of the rectal anastomosis. The classification categories were correlated with outcomes after stoma closure. Results: Of the 149 patients, 20 patients had an anastomotic complication identified during work up prior to loop ileostomy reversal. Eleven patients had an anastomotic stenosis and nine had an anastomotic defect. Eighteen patients were eligible for stomal closure. The majority (11/12) of patients with a Type 1 stenosis or defect had no rectal complications after stoma closure. Conclusion: The classification system helps to describe chronic rectal anastomotic abnormalities and guide management. Although these patients may be a challenge, many can undergo successful ileostomy reversal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The animation of delicate vortical structures of gas and liquids has been of great interest in computer graphics. However, common velocity-based fluid solvers can damp the vortical flow, while vorticity-based fluid solvers suffer from performance drawbacks. We propose a new velocity-based fluid solver derived from a reformulated Euler equation using covectors. Our method generates rich vortex dynamics by an advection process that respects the Kelvin circulation theorem. The numerical algorithm requires only a small local adjustment to existing advection-projection methods and can easily leverage recent advances therein. The resulting solver emulates a vortex method without the expensive conversion between vortical variables and velocities. We demonstrate that our method preserves vorticity in both vortex filament dynamics and turbulent flows significantly better than previous methods, while also improving preservation of energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofibrils play a pivotal role in spider silk and are responsible for many of the impressive properties of this unique natural material. However, little is known about the internal structure of these protein fibrils. We carry out polarized Raman and polarized Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopies on native spider silk nanofibrils and determine the concentrations of six distinct protein secondary structures, including β-sheets, and two types of helical structures, for which we also determine orientation distributions. Our advancements in peak assignments are in full agreement with the published silk vibrational spectroscopy literature. We further corroborate our findings with X-ray diffraction and magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. Based on the latter and on polypeptide Raman spectra, we assess the role of key amino acids in different secondary structures. For the recluse spider we develop a highly detailed structural model, featuring seven levels of structural hierarchy. The approaches we develop are directly applicable to other proteinaceous materials. Secondary fibril structure is a key component of the mechanical properties of protein materials like silk, yet, limited information is known about the internal structure of these protein fibrils. Here, the authors report on the use of polarised Raman and FTIR spectroscopy to study silk materials and identify six distinct secondary structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opioid overdose suppresses brainstem respiratory circuits, causes apnoea and may result in death. Epidural electrical stimulation (EES) at the cervical spinal cord facilitated motor activity in rodents and humans, and we hypothesized that EES of the cervical spinal cord could antagonize opioid‐induced respiratory depression in humans. Eighteen patients requiring surgical access to the dorsal surface of the spinal cord between C2 and C7 received EES or sham stimulation for up to 90 s at 5 or 30 Hz during complete (OFF‐State) or partial suppression (ON‐State) of respiration induced by remifentanil. During the ON‐State, 30 Hz EES at C4 and 5 Hz EES at C3/4 increased tidal volume and decreased the end‐tidal carbon dioxide level compared to pre‐stimulation control levels. EES of 5 Hz at C5 and C7 increased respiratory frequency compared to pre‐stimulation control levels. In the OFF‐State, 30 Hz cervical EES at C3/4 terminated apnoea and induced rhythmic breathing. In cadaveric tissue obtained from a brain bank, more neurons expressed both the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) and somatostatin (SST) in the cervical spinal levels responsive to EES (C3/4, C6 and C7) compared to a region non‐responsive to EES (C2). Thus, the capacity of cervical EES to oppose opioid depression of respiration may be mediated by NK1R+/SST+ neurons in the dorsal cervical spinal cord. This study provides proof of principle that cervical EES may provide a novel therapeutic approach to augment respiratory activity when the neural function of the central respiratory circuits is compromised by opioids or other pathological conditions. Key points: Epidural electrical stimulation (EES) using an implanted spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is an FDA‐approved method to manage chronic pain.We tested the hypothesis that cervical EES facilitates respiration during administration of opioids in 18 human subjects who were treated with low‐dose remifentanil that suppressed respiration (ON‐State) or high‐dose remifentanil that completely inhibited breathing (OFF‐State) during the course of cervical surgery.Dorsal cervical EES of the spinal cord augmented the respiratory tidal volume or increased the respiratory frequency, and the response to EES varied as a function of the stimulation frequency (5 or 30 Hz) and the cervical level stimulated (C2–C7).Short, continuous cervical EES restored a cyclic breathing pattern (eupnoea) in the OFF‐State, suggesting that cervical EES reversed the opioid‐induced respiratory depression.These findings add to our understanding of respiratory pattern modulation and suggest a novel mechanism to oppose the respiratory depression caused by opioids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of International Business Studies is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In urban systems, there is an interdependency between neighborhood roles and transportation patterns between neighborhoods. In this paper, we classify docking stations in bicycle-sharing networks to gain insight into the human mobility patterns of three major cities in the United States. We propose novel time-dependent stochastic block models, with degree-heterogeneous blocks and either mixed or discrete block membership, which classify nodes based on their time-dependent activity patterns. We apply these models to (1) detect the roles of bicycle-sharing stations and (2) describe the traffic within and between blocks of stations over the course of a day. Ourmodels successfully uncover work blocks, home blocks, and other blocks; they also reveal activity patterns that are specific to each city. Our work gives insights for the design and maintenance of bicycle-sharing systems, and it contributes new methodology for community detection in temporal and multilayer networks with heterogeneous degrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Summary: The media often discloses multiple firms' corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) behaviors together (i.e., multi‐violator CSI disclosures). Drawing on attribution theory, we propose that multi‐violator CSI disclosures artificially create "violator groups." Such violator groups weaken the extent to which investors attribute each violator firm's CSI behaviors to the firm itself and subsequently lessen negative market reactions toward the violator firm. Further, the temporal consistency and context diversity of the focal firm's past CSI behaviors mitigate the relationship between CSI disclosure type (i.e., multi‐violator vs. single‐violator CSI disclosures) and stock market reactions. Empirical findings based on a sample of 1,369 CSI disclosures linked to 506 S&P 1500 firms between 2010 and 2017 support our hypotheses. Managerial Summary: Some public media reports disclose multiple firms' CSI behaviors together, while others disclose only one firm's CSI behaviors at a time. These two different frames can result in very different stock market reactions. We find that while the stock market reacts negatively to media reports of firms' CSI behaviors on average, negative reactions are weaker when the media discloses multiple firms' CSI behaviors than when only one firm's CSI behaviors are disclosed. However, this difference in market reactions to multi‐violator versus single‐violator CSI disclosures is smaller for firms that have engaged in many CSI behaviors or have engaged in many different types of CSI behaviors before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objective: The lack of precision to identify patients with early-stage diabetic kidney disease (DKD) at near-term risk for progressive decline in kidney function results in poor disease management often leading to kidney failure requiring unplanned dialysis. The KidneyIntelX is a multiplex, bioprognostic, immunoassay consisting of 3 plasma biomarkers and clinical variables that uses machine learning to generate a risk score for progressive decline in kidney function over 5-year in adults with early-stage DKD. Our objective was to assess the impact of KidneyIntelX on management and outcomes in a Health System in the real-world evidence (RWE) study. Methods: KidneyIntelX was introduced into a large metropolitan Health System via a population health-defined approved care pathway for patients with stages 1 to 3 DKD between [November 2020 to March 2022]. Decision impact on visit frequency, medication management, specialist referral, and selected lab values was assessed. We performed an interim analysis in patients through 6-months post-test date to evaluate the impact of risk level with clinical decision-making and outcomes. Results: A total of 1686 patients were enrolled in the RWE study and underwent KidneyIntelX testing and subsequent care pathway management. The median age was 68 years, 52% were female, 26% self-identified as Black, and 94% had hypertension. The median baseline eGFR was 59 ml/minute/1.73 m2, urine albumincreatinine ratio was 69 mg/g, and HbA1c was 7.7%. After testing, a clinical encounter in the first month occurred in 13%, 43%, and 53% of low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk patients, respectively and 46%, 61%, and 71% had at least 1 action taken within the first 6 months. High-risk patients were more likely to be placed on SGLT2 inhibitors (OR = 4.56; 95% CI 3.00-6.91 vs low-risk), and more likely to be referred to a specialist such as a nephrologist, endocrinologist, or dietician (OR = 2.49; 95% CI 1.53-4.01) compared to low-risk patients. Conclusions: The combination of KidneyIntelX, clinical guidelines and educational support resulted in changes in clinical management by clinicians. After testing, there was an increase in visit frequency, referrals for disease management, and introduction to guideline-recommended medications. These differed by risk category, indicating an impact of KidneyIntelX risk stratification on clinical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new algorithm that solves a classical geometric problem: Find a surface of minimal area bordered by an arbitrarily prescribed boundary curve. Existing numerical methods face challenges due to the non-convexity of the problem. Using a representation of curves and surfaces via differential forms on the ambient space, we reformulate this problem as a convex optimization. This change of variables overcomes many difficulties in previous numerical attempts and allows us to find the global minimum across all possible surface topologies. The new algorithm is based on differential forms on the ambient space and does not require handling meshes. We adopt the Alternating Direction Method of Multiplier (ADMM) to find global minimal surfaces. The resulting algorithm is simple and efficient: it boils down to an alternation between a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and a pointwise shrinkage operation. We also show other applications of our solver in geometry processing such as surface reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-stroke optogenetic stimulation has been shown to enhance neurovascular coupling and functional recovery. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) has been implicated as a key regulator of the neurovascular response in acute stroke; however, its role in subacute recovery remains unclear. We investigated the expression of nNOS in stroke mice undergoing optogenetic stimulation of the contralesional lateral cerebellar nucleus (cLCN). We also examined the effects of nNOS inhibition on functional recovery using a pharmacological inhibitor targeting nNOS. Optogenetically stimulated stroke mice demonstrated significant improvement on the horizontal rotating beam task at post-stroke days 10 and 14. nNOS mRNA and protein expression was significantly and selectively decreased in the contralesional primary motor cortex (cM1) of cLCN-stimulated mice. The nNOS expression in cM1 was negatively correlated with improved recovery. nNOS inhibitor (ARL 17477)-treated stroke mice exhibited a significant functional improvement in speed at post-stroke day 10, when compared to stroke mice receiving vehicle (saline) only. Our results show that optogenetic stimulation of cLCN and systemic nNOS inhibition both produce functional benefits after stroke, and suggest that nNOS may play a maladaptive role in post-stroke recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the study of acoustic variation in speech, particularly in the context of conversations involving opinion convergence and divergence. It mentions how factors like the duration of interaction and speaker's responses to differing opinions influence speech patterns, using topics such as "Plant versus Animal Regenerative Farming," "ProLife versus Pro-Choice," and "Vegan versus Animal Foods" as examples to investigate these dynamics.

We study popular attitudes in Germany, Spain, the Philippines, and the United States toward three controversial markets— prostitution, surrogacy, and global kidney exchange (GKE). Of those markets, only prostitution is banned in the United States and the Philippines, and only prostitution is allowed in Germany and Spain. Unlike prostitution, majorities support legalization of surrogacy and GKE in all four countries. So, there is not a simple relation between public support for markets, or bans, and their legal and regulatory status. Because both markets and bans on markets require social support to work well, this sheds light on the prospects for effective regulation of controversial markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microtubules (MTs) mediate mitosis, directional signaling, and are therapeutic targets in cancer. Yet in vivo analysis of cancer cell MT behavior within the tumor microenvironment remains challenging. Here we developed an imaging pipeline using plus-end tip tracking and intravital microscopy to quantify MT dynamics in live xenograft tumor models. Among analyzed features, cancer cells in vivo displayed higher coherent orientation of MT dynamics along their cell major axes compared with 2D in vitro cultures, and distinct from 3D collagen gel cultures. This in vivo MT phenotype was reproduced in vitro when cells were co-cultured with IL4-polarized MΦ. MΦ depletion, MT disruption, targeted kinase inhibition, and altered MΦ polarization via IL10R blockade all reduced MT coherence and/or tumor cell elongation. We show that MT coherence is a defining feature for in vivo tumor cell dynamics and migration, modulated by local signaling from pro-tumor macrophages. The regulation of microtubule (MT) dynamics in cancer cells within the tumor microenvironment is less understood. Here, the authors develop an imaging platform to examine MT dynamics in live xenograft models and show that pro-tumor macrophages modulate MT coherence and alignment to promote cancer cell migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of International Business Studies is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs) are critical strongholds for the environmental services that they provide, not least for their role in climate protection. On the basis of information about the distributions of IFLs and Indigenous Peoples' lands, we examined the importance of these areas for conserving the world's remaining intact forests. We determined that at least 36% of IFLs are within Indigenous Peoples' lands, making these areas crucial to the mitigation action needed to avoid catastrophic climate change. We also provide evidence that IFL loss rates have been considerably lower on Indigenous Peoples' lands than on other lands, although these forests are still vulnerable to clearing and other threats. World governments must recognize Indigenous Peoples' rights, including land tenure rights, to ensure that Indigenous Peoples play active roles in decision‐making processes that affect IFLs on their lands. Such recognition is critical given the urgent need to reduce deforestation rates in the face of escalating climate change and global biodiversity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a Material Point Method for visual simulation of baking breads, cookies, pancakes and similar materials that consist of dough or batter (mixtures of water, flour, eggs, fat, sugar and leavening agents). We develop a novel thermomechanical model using mixture theory to resolve interactions between individual water, gas and dough species. Heat transfer with thermal expansion is used to model thermal variations in material properties. Water-based mass transfer is resolved through the porous mixture, gas represents carbon dioxide produced by leavening agents in the baking process and dough is modeled as a viscoelastoplastic solid to represent its varied and complex rheological properties. Water content in the mixture reduces during the baking process according to Fick's Law which contributes to drying and cracking of crust at the material boundary. Carbon dioxide gas produced by leavening agents during baking creates internal pressure that causes rising. The viscoelastoplastic model for the dough is temperature dependent and is used to model melting and solidification. We discretize the governing equations using a novel Material Point Method designed to track the solid phase of the mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of International Business Studies is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Emerging economy enterprises nowadays relentlessly scale the value chain in a quest to compete on the world stage in part by copying the products of others. They develop new products and services that are dramatically less expensive than their Western equivalents. In this article we discuss what these copycats are and how they have grown in their unique trajectory. We emphasize their unique capabilities and weaknesses, internal and external conditions that foster growth, and strategies and paths that transform them along a continuum from duplicative imitators to creative imitators and ultimately to novel innovators. To this end, we present the CHAIN Framework (combinative, hardship-surviving, absorptive, intelligence, and networking) capabilities to showcase the copycats' capabilities and discuss STORM conditions (social, technological, organizational, regulatory, and market) that spur their growth. Finally, we present four case studies of copycats and discuss future research on this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article explores cooperative marriage between Lalas (lesbians) and Gay Men in Urban China. Particular focus is given to how this relates to the the term Tongzhi, which has been used to describe LGBTQ people in China. The film "The Wedding Banquet," directed by Ang Lee and released in 1993 is also noted. The role gender performance plays in marriage and family in China is also examined.