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Contribution of female inventors to technological collaboration between high-tech firms and university in close proximity: Effect of innovative firm’s characteristics
No full textUnderstanding the patterns of innovative technological collaboration between universities and clusters of high-tech firms, along with the involvement of female inventors, is crucial for both regional and national development. Here, we explore the technological collaboration between Silicon Fen (SF) firms and University of Cambridge (UoC) as a cluster of high-tech businesses and a main research university located in close proximity, respectively, focusing on the involvement of female inventors, based on the evaluation of join patent ownership, and examination of technological collaboration strength (TCS), with respect to the characteristics of firms such as age, size and sector. A quantitative bibliometric approach is utilised to analyse more than 93,000 patents generated by UoC and SF firms. According to the results obtained, smaller and older businesses exhibit greater collaboration bonds with the university, accommodating a greater proportion of collaborative female inventors. Pharma/Biotech sector of Silicon Fen has a greatest value of TCS (1.6 × 10–2), and accommodates the greatest ratio of female inventors (20.8 %). Our findings suggest the need to encourage younger and larger businesses, and those beyond the Pharma/Biotech sector to involve more female inventors in their technological collaboration with university, given that university policies can have a positive impact in addressing the gender gap in technology and innovation. Theoretical and managerial implications of the results are discussed.</p
Identification and Discrimination of Petrol Sources by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Machine Learning in Fire Debris Analysis
No full textPetrol is considered the most common fire accelerant. However, the identification and classification of petrol sources through the years has proven to be a challenging field in the investigation of fire debris analysis. This research explored the possibility of identifying petrol sources by high-field NMR methods accompanied by ML (machine learning). The automated identification and classification of petrol brands were achieved for first time based on the ML classification model developed in this research. A hierarchical classification model was constructed using local classifiers to categorize neat or weathered petrol into its sources.</p
Auto-weighted multi-view deep non-negative matrix factorization with multi-kernel learning
No full textDeep matrix factorization (DMF) has the capability to discover hierarchical structures within raw data by factorizing matrices layer by layer, allowing it to utilize latent information for superior clustering performance. However, DMF-based approaches face limitations when dealing with complex and nonlinear raw data. To address this issue, Auto-weighted Multi-view Deep Nonnegative Matrix Factorization with Multi-kernel Learning (MvMKDNMF) is proposed by incorporating multi-kernel learning into deep nonnegative matrix factorization. Specifically, samples are mapped into the kernel space which is a convex combination of several predefined kernels, free from selecting kernels manually. Furthermore, to preserve the local manifold structure of samples, a graph regularization is embedded in each view and the weights are assigned adaptively to different views. An alternate iteration algorithm is designed to solve the proposed model, and the convergence and computational complexity are also analyzed. Comparative experiments are conducted across nine multi-view datasets against seven state-of-the-art clustering methods showing the superior performances of the proposed MvMKDNMF.</p
Unravelling the complexities of biotic homogenization and heterogenization
No full textBiotic homogenization is a process whereby species assemblages become more similar through time. The standard way of identifying the process of biotic homogenization is to look for decreases in spatial beta–diversity. However, using a single assemblage-level metric to assess homogenization can mask important changes in the occupancy patterns of individual species.Here, we analysed changes in the spatial beta–diversity patterns (i.e. biotic heterogenization or homogenization) of British bird assemblages within 30 km × 30 km regions between two periods (1988–1991 and 2008–2011). We partitioned the change in spatial beta–diversity into extirpation and colonization-resultant change (i.e. change in spatial beta–diversity within each region resulting from both extirpation and colonization). We used measures of abiotic change in combination with Bayesian modelling to disentangle the drivers of biotic heterogenization and homogenization.We detected both heterogenization and homogenization across the two time periods and three measures of diversity (taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional). In addition, both extirpation and colonization contributed to the observed changes, with heterogenization mainly driven by extirpation and homogenization by colonization. These assemblage-level changes were primarily due to shifting occupancy patterns of generalist species.Compared to habitat generalists, habitat specialists had significantly (i) higher average contributions to colonization-resultant change (indicating heterogenization within a region due to colonization) and (ii) lower average contributions to extirpation-resultant change (indicating homogenization from extirpation). Generalists showed the opposite pattern.Increased extirpation-resultant homogenization within regions was associated with increased urban land cover and decreased habitat diversity, precipitation, and temperature. Changes in extirpation-resultant heterogenization and colonization-resultant heterogenization were associated with differences in elevation between regions and changes in temperature and land cover.Many of the ‘winners’ (i.e. species that increased in occupancy) were species that had benefitted from conservation action (e.g. buzzard (Buteo buteo)). The ‘losers’ (i.e. those that decreased in occupancy) consisted primarily of previously common species, such as cuckoo (Cuculus canorus).Our results show that focusing purely on changes in spatial beta–diversity over time may obscure important information about how changes in the occupancy patterns of individual species contribute to homogenization and heterogenization.</p
Effects and safety of transcranial direct current stimulation on multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review of randomized clinical trials
No full textTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which delivers a direct current to the brain, emerged as a non-invasive potential therapeutic in treating a range of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. However, a comprehensive quantitative evidence synthesis on the effects of tDCS on a broad range of mental illnesses is lacking. Here, we systematically assess the certainty of the effects and safety of tDCS on several health outcomes using an umbrella review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The methodological quality of each included original meta-analysis was assessed by the A Measurement Tool for Assessing Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR2), and the certainty of the evidence for each effect was evaluated with Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). We followed an a priori protocol (PROSPERO CRD42023458700). We identified 15 meta-analyses of RCTs (AMSTAR 2; high 3, moderate 3, and low 9) that included 282 original articles, covering 22 unique health endpoints across 22 countries and six continents. From meta-analyses of RCTs supported by very low to high certainty of evidence, it was found that tDCS improved symptoms related to post-stroke, including post-stroke depression scale score (equivalent standardized mean difference [eSMD], 1.61 [95% confidence level, 0.72–2.50]; GRADE=moderate), activities of daily living independence (7.04 [3.41–10.67]; GRADE=high), motor recovery of upper and lower extremity (upper extremity: 0.15 [0.06–0.24], GRADE=high; lower extremity: 0.10 [0.03–0.16], GRADE=high), swallowing performance (GRADE=low), and spasticity (GRADE=moderate). In addition, tDCS had treatment effects on symptoms of several neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (0.81 [0.44–1.18]; GRADE=high), pain in fibromyalgia (GRADE=low), disease of consciousness (GRADE=low), insight score (GRADE=moderate) and working memory (0.34 [0.01-0.67]; GRADE=high) in schizophrenia, migraine-related pain (−1.52 [−2.91 to −0.13]; GRADE=high), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (reduction in overall symptom severity: 0.24 [0.04–0.45], GRADE=low; reduction in inattention: 0.56 [0.02–1.11], GRADE=low; reduction in impulsivity: 0.28 [0.04–0.51], GRADE=low), depression (GRADE=low), cerebellar ataxia (GRADE=low), and pain (GRADE=very low). Importantly, tDCS induced an increased number of reported cases of treatment-emergent mania or hypomania (0.88 [0.62–1.13]; GRADE=moderate). We found varied levels of evidence for the effects of tDCS with multiple neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, from very low to high certainty of evidence. tDCS was effective for people with stroke, obsessive-compulsive disorder, fibromyalgia, disease of consciousness, schizophrenia, migraine, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, cerebellar ataxia, and pain. Therefore, these findings suggest the benefit of tDCS for several neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders; however, further studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanism and optimize its therapeutic potential.</p
The future of work: artificial intelligence, ruthless managers, psychopathic outcomes
No full textArtificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly extending into many areas of human life including the workplace. Its ability to function at a far greater speed and scale than individual human decision makers, offers dramatic cost and time savings and the execution of data analysis on a scale that would be otherwise unthinkable. By the same token, the consequences of badly designed, malevolently used or faulty systems are similarly amplified. This article builds on the observation that AI systems do not develop or operate in isolation but in the context of complex social, technical and organisational systems and that they can amplify what we term ‘psychopathic organisational praxis’ – uncaring and potentially cruel practices. We argue that AI supports psychopathic praxis both by becoming a means of amplifying individual human psychopathic practices and by encouraging psychopathic praxis through their influence within the broader social and organisational systems of which they are a part. We argue that the rapid uptake of AI systems will likely act as an accelerant to existing psychopathic organisational praxis. Through the lens of corporate psychopathy theory this paper investigates two major cases where this has happened – the UK Post Office scandal and the “Robodebt” scandal in Australia.</p
Treatments for Delayed Ejaculation: A Narrative Review
No full textDelayed ejaculation has a prevalence of approximately 1–3%. The condition may be alarming for individuals and potentially complicates conception. As far as the authors are aware the literature on non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments for delayed ejaculation has not been collated or summarised. This narrative review of the academic literature aims to address this knowledge gap.Delayed ejaculation, also called retarded ejaculation, inhibited ejaculation, inadequate ejaculation, idiopathic anejaculation, primary impotentia ejaculationis or psychogenic anejaculation, is an ejaculatory dysfunction with a prevalence of 1–3%,1 and has multiple definitions. For example, Munjack and Kanno, first defined delayed ejaculation as ‘the persistent difficulty or inability to ejaculate despite the presence of adequate sexual desire, erection, and stimulation’.2 A more recent definition is provided by the American Psychiatric Association, which describes delayed ejaculation as a condition that requires one of two symptoms: marked delay in frequency or absence of ejaculation on 75–100% of occasions that persists for at least six months and causes personal distress.3It is important to emphasise that despite this definition, in a recent study, Rowland et al. found that distress did not emerge as a significant factor when delayed ejaculation disorder was present as a symptom.4 However, delayed ejaculation is also likely to be concerning to patients and their partners and can sometimes frustrate a couple's attempt to conceive. Delayed ejaculation is also polyaetiological, and can be classified as lifelong, acquired and/or situational.5Treatments for delayed ejaculation vary, sometimes according to the potential cause. For example, some medications may cause delayed ejaculation, so modifying these causal medications may be an option for some patients. Psychotherapy may also address any psychological issues that may cause delayed ejaculation in some patients. However, to date, no attempt has been made to collate and evaluate the academic literature on treatments for delayed ejaculation. Such a review is of utmost importance to guide clinical practice and patients. Given this background the aim of this review is to assess the treatment options for delayed ejaculation and their effectiveness.</p
Weight consistency and cluster diversity based concept factorization for multi-view clustering
No full textIn the era of information explosion, clustering analysis of multi-view data plays a crucial role in revealing the intrinsic structures of data. Despite the advancements in existing multi-view clustering methods for processing complex data, they often overlook the weight differences among various views and the diversity between clusters. To address the issues, the paper introduces a novel multi-view clustering approach termed weight consistency and cluster diversity based concept factorization for multi-view clustering (MVCF-WD). Specifically, the proposed method automatically learns the weights of the views, and incorporates a cluster diversity term to enhance the discriminability of clusters. Furthermore, to solve the formulated optimization model, an iterative optimization algorithm based on multiplication rules is developed and the convergence is analyzed. Extensive experiments conducted across seven datasets compared with ten state-of-the-art clustering algorithms demonstrate the superior clustering performance of the proposed method.</p
Trastuzumab deruxtecan with nivolumab in HER2-expressing metastatic breast or urothelial cancer: analysis of the phase Ib DS8201-A-U105 study
No full textPurpose: This multicenter phase Ib study investigated trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) plus nivolumab in patients with HER2-expressing metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC). Patients and Methods: Part 1 determined the recommended dose for expansion of T-DXd plus nivolumab. Part 2 evaluated efficacy and safety; the primary endpoint was confirmed objective response rate by independent central review. Results: In part 1, seven patients with mBC were enrolled and received T-DXd 3.2 mg/kg (four patients) or 5.4 mg/kg (three patients) plus nivolumab. The recommended dose for expansion for T-DXd was 5.4 mg/kg plus nivolumab 360 mg intravenously every 3 weeks. In part 2, 32 patients with HER2-positive mBC (cohort 1; inclusive of three administered 5.4 mg/kg in part 1), 16 with HER2-low mBC (cohort 2), 30 with HER2-high mUC (cohort 3), and four with HER2-low mUC (cohort 4) were enrolled. At data cutoff (July 22, 2021), the confirmed objective response rates (95% confidence interval) for cohorts 1 to 4 were 65.6% (46.8%−81.4%), 50.0% (24.7%−75.3%), 36.7% (19.9%−56.1%), and not assessed due to small sample size, respectively. The median treatment duration (range) with T-DXd in cohorts 1 to 4 was 8.9 (1–23) months, 6.9 (1–21) months, 3.9 (1–21) months, and not assessed, respectively; the most common treatment-emergent adverse event was nausea (55.2%, 62.5%, 73.3%, and 75.0%, respectively). Adjudicated drug-related interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis rates (cohorts 1–3) were 20.7%, 0%, and 20.0%, respectively (one grade 5 each, cohorts 1 and 3). Conclusions: T-DXd plus nivolumab demonstrated promising antitumor activity in HER2-expressing mBC or mUC and safety consistent with the known profile of T-DXd. Interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis is an important risk and requires careful monitoring and prompt intervention.</p
A tale of two times: an exploration of healthcare utilization patterns before and during COVID-19 in Iran
No full textBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted global healthcare utilization patterns. This study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on utilization rate of healthcare services in Iran. Method: In this quasi-experimental study, data on the utilization rates of laboratory services, sonography exams, CT scans, MRIs, and EKGs was collected from the Social Security Organization (SSO)’s insurance information system. This data, covering 47 months prior to the pandemic and 25 months during it, was analyzed to assess the pandemic’s impact on healthcare utilization among insured individuals in Iran. The data was categorized into direct, indirect, and total sectors, and an Interrupted Time Series Analysis (ITSA) model was employed for data analysis, examining both total and sector-specific utilization rates. Findings: : The study for single group indicated that in the total sector, Utilization rate per 1000 insured significantly decreased by 25.25 for laboratory services, decreased by 3.99 for sonography, decreased by 1.08 for MRIs and decreased by 1.01 for EKGs, but increased by 2.28 for CT scans in the first pandemic month. Over following months, monthly utilization trends per 1000 insured increased significantly- laboratory services + 1.08, sonography + 0.11, CT scans + 0.12, MRIs + 0.06, and EKGs + 0.05. Pre-pandemic, monthly utilization per 1000 insured was 62.68 labs, 14.47 sonography, 0.72 CT scans, 2.06 MRIs, with all significantly higher in the indirect over direct sector except EKGs which were 2.08 higher in the direct sector. In the first pandemic month, there were significant between-sector differences per 1000 of -4.4 for sonography, + 1.89 CT scans, -1.01 MRIs and + 1.29 EKGs. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in healthcare service utilization, particularly in total and direct sectors, while CT scans remained unaffected. To address these challenges and meet patient needs, Iran’s health system should adopt alternative delivery methods like telemedicine.</p
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