Time Of Entry Research Articles

540 Increasing Discharges Prior to 11am in Patients with Burn Injuries

Abstract Introduction This study describes a quality improvement project to increase the number of patient discharges prior to 11am in a high-volume Burn Center. A limited supply of staffed inpatient beds creates capacity constraints and can adversely affect patient flow. Discharging patients earlier has been shown to promote throughput, improving length of stay (LOS), patient satisfaction, and decrease costs. Burn patients face unique barriers to discharge compared to other inpatient groups. Methods This initiative utilized the Four Disciplines of Execution (4DX) framework, which focuses on identifying key drivers to achieve a specific, time-delimited quality improvement goal. Our primary target was increasing the number of discharges prior to 11am to 30% over the span of 6 months. Lead measures included (a) designation of a “priority discharge” patient, (b) discharge order entry prior to 0930, and (c) discharge prescriptions filled by the pharmacy the night before discharge. Baseline data was gathered from June 1st until Dec 11th 2022 and compared to the intervention period December 12th, 2022 through May 31st, 2023. Results Discharges prior to 11am increased from 11.8% to 27.1% over the course of the study. Median discharge time improved by 72 minutes. Discharge order entry time improved by 121 minutes. Potential special-cause variation was identified in January 2023. Conclusions Discharges prior to 11am were significantly increased after implementing a multidisciplinary approach between nursing, providers, case management and social work. Applicability of Research to Practice The techniques we used to increase early discharges should be easily transferable to other Burn Centers, with positive impact on LOS and amount of time patients spend boarding in the ED.

StreetSavvy: Automated Parking Management System with License Plate Recognition and Pricing

The Parking Charge Calculator represents a meticulously designed system aimed at accurately determining the parking charges for vehicles within a parking facility. This innovative solution leverages Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology in conjunction with a robust database system to streamline the process of identifying vehicles and computing corresponding parking fees. Within the confines of a parking lot, the unique identification of vehicles is facilitated through the extraction of information from license plates. When a vehicle enters the parking lot, the Parking Charge Calculator initiates the retrieval of the license plate number through the ANPR technology. This automated recognition system efficiently captures and records the alphanumeric sequence on the license plate, laying the foundation for subsequent charge calculations. The fundamental mechanism employed by the Parking Charge Calculator involves the multiplication of hourly parking charges by the temporal duration of a vehicle's stay. As the vehicle enters the parking lot, the system records the entry time. Upon the vehicle's departure, the departure time is similarly recorded. The time difference between these two instances becomes a critical parameter in the calculation process. Hourly parking charges, predetermined and configured within the system, serve as the unit of measurement for the calculation. The Parking Charge Calculator multiplies these charges by the elapsed time, providing a precise and automated method for determining the parking fee for a given vehicle. This approach not only ensures accuracy in charge computation but also eliminates the need for manual intervention, promoting efficiency and reducing potential errors. The integration of ANPR technology and a sophisticated database system not only expedites the identification process but also contributes to the overall reliability and security of the Parking Charge Calculator. By automating the parking charge calculation based on vehicle entry and exit times, this system offers a seamless and transparent method for both parking lot operators and vehicle owners, enhancing the overall parking experience and fostering a more technologically advanced approach to parking Management

Does a Free Trade Agreement’s Impact on the Export of Halal Food to OIC Countries Matter? Evidence from Indonesia

Research Originality: The second-largest organisation after the UN, with a population of 24.4% worldwide, makes OIC countries a potential market. This paper contributes to the existing literature on trade within them by focusing on crucial aspects of the trade agreement's impact on the halal food industry.Research Objectives: This study examines the influence of a free trade agreement (FTA) on Indonesian halal food exports.Research Methods: Using panel data from 23 countries spanning the period from 2003 to 2019, the paper employs the gravity model to assess the impact of the FTA and other variables on Indonesian halal food exports to OIC countries.Empirical Results: The findings indicate that Indonesian food exports to OIC countries with FTAs experience a notable 68% increase compared to those without such agreements. The study reveals GDP, population size, trade openness, and exchange rate positively affect food exports to OIC countries. However, trading partners' distance and entry time exhibit a negative correlation.Implications: This research holds significance for the Indonesian government as it provides valuable insights for considering the acceleration of trade agreement ratification with OIC countries. JEL Classification: F13, F47, C68How to Cite:Muchtar, M., Hafid, A., Rodoni, A., Amalia, E., & Hosen, M. N. (2024). Does a Free Trade Agreement’s Impact on the Export of Halal Food to OIC Countries Matter? Evidence from Indonesia. Etikonomi, 23(1), 147 – 166. https://doi.org/10.15408/etk.v23i1.32951.

Assessment of Registered Clinical Trial Designs: Comparison of L-Arginine and/or L-Citrulline Interventions for Hypertension.

L-Arginine (Arg) is an essential amino acid and a precursor for the synthesis of vascular nitric oxide, while L-Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid substrate for increasing L-arginine. Both L-arginine and L-Citrulline in translational studies may acutely lower the blood pressure. Current meta-analysis for L-arginine or L-Citrulline interventions in blood pressure have identified significant heterogeneity. Clinical trial evidence for L-arginine or L-Citrulline in chronic blood pressure reduction in the general population requires an examination of trial designs, as not all translational studies may have influenced vascular reactivity. Our aims are to explore whether L-arginine and L-citrulline intervention trials in chronic blood pressure consider standardized end points relevant to the general adult populations. A step-wise search on clinicaltrials.gov, the U.S. Library of Medicine registry for clinical trials, was performed including the following keyword search parameters: "completed" "L-Citrulline" "L-arginine" trial", and "adults", involving "blood pressure" reduction as a primary end point in adult humans. Of the forty-four completed trials, only five were included for analysis. Following the careful evaluation of trial design, we observed heterogeneity across participant inclusion criteria (population sample size, age range, sex), interventional design (dosages, duration), and primary outcomes, measured with respect to changes in diastolic or systolic blood pressure. In conclusion, there is a lack of robust trial design evidence to suggest that L-arginine or L-Citrulline, based on current RCTs in the general population, have an overall positive effect on vascular endothelial reactivity and a beneficial chronic blood pressure-lowering effect. Indeed, conclusions drawn from human meta-analysis studies have been heterogenous between studies, which may be attributed to study design heterogeneity, including differences in sample population, age, and blood pressure at the time of entry. Inconsistencies in the study design poses a challenge for systematic reviews and meta-analysis to accurately assess the effect size and impact of L-arginine or L-citrulline on both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Sports participation after craniosynostosis repair: the critical role of post-operative guidance in parental decision-making.

Despite previous research supporting patient safety in sports after craniosynostosis surgery, parental anxiety remains high. This study sought to evaluate the role of healthcare providers in guiding patients and families through the decision-making process. Parents of children with repaired craniosynostosis were asked to assess sports involvement and parental decision-making in children ages 6 and older. Questions were framed primarily on 5-point Likert scales. Sport categorizations were made in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Chi-squared, linear regression, and Pearson correlation tests were used to analyze associations between the questions. Forty-three complete parental responses were recorded. Mean ages at surgery and time of sports entry were 7.93 ± 4.73months and 4.76 ± 2.14years, respectively. Eighty-two percent of patients participated in a contact sport. Discussions with the primary surgeon were more impactful on parental decisions about sports participation than those with other healthcare providers (4.04 ± 1.20 vs. 2.69 ± 1.32). Furthermore, children whose parents consulted with the primary surgeon began participating in sports at a younger age (4.0 ± 1.0 vs. 5.8 ± 2.7years, p = 0.034). The mean comfort level with contact sports (2.8 ± 1.4) was lower than that with limited-contact (3.8 ± 1.1, p = 0.0001) or non-contact (4.4 ± 1.3, p < 0.0001) sports. This study underscores the critical role that healthcare professionals, primarily surgeons, have in guiding families through the decision-making process regarding their children's participation in contact sports.

Modeling Sales of Multigeneration Technology Products in the Presence of Frequent Repeat Purchases: A Fractional Calculus-Based Approach

Frequently releasing a new product generation has become a common practice to sustain sales over time, thus accurately forecasting the sales trajectory of each product generation plays a vital role in the short-, medium-, and long-term planning of a firm. Classic multigeneration diffusion models do not incorporate within-generation repeat purchases, making them unusable for product lines with high rates of such purchases. Concentrating on technology products, we develop a multigeneration sales model to fill this void. We demonstrate that the new model can be used for predictive and prescriptive analytics. Our empirical results show that the new model estimates and forecasts sales more accurately than a state-of-the-art benchmark model that does not account for within-generation repeat purchases, underscoring the importance of incorporating repeat purchases. Furthermore, we use two different versions of our model to examine market entry timing under two main strategies, that is, (i) a phase-out transition strategy in which firms continue to sell the old generation after the release of the new generation, and (ii) a total transition strategy in which firms discontinue the old generation after the introduction of the new generation. Our results indicate that the repeat purchases rate determines whether it is optimal to expedite or delay the new product launch, underscoring the importance of incorporating repeat purchases in market entry strategies.

Ticketing and Crowd Management System for Attraction Facilities: An Aquarium Case Study

In tourist facilities, managing ticket sales can reduce congestion imbalances. This study reports on the results of a pilot experiment conducted at Kaiyukan in Osaka, one of the largest aquariums in Japan. The experiment utilized pre-sale ticket data for controlling admission time intervals, smoothing the number of admissions through dynamic pricing, and predicting visitor numbers. The study reviewed the effectiveness of each of these approaches to alleviate congestion inside Kaiyukan. We then report on a method to predict the number of visitors from the pre-sale conditions of Kaiyukan admission tickets. It was found that setting entry times to 15-minute intervals was most operationally advantageous for the Kaiyukan. Moreover, the behavioral effects induced by variable pricing were more effective when prices were changed based on time slots rather than on a daily basis. Compared to the Holt–Winters’ method, we were able to maintain stable prediction accuracy even during consecutive holidays and long school vacation seasons.

Multi-Vehicle Collaborative Trajectory Planning for Emergency Vehicle Priority at Autonomous Intersections

Emergency vehicle (EV) prioritization plays an important role in improving rescue efficiency and saving lives and property. Most existing studies have been confined to either investigating signal prioritization for EVs at intersections or focusing on clearing emergency lanes on road segments, with limited consideration for an integrated approach that combines both methods. In this study, we have developed a bi-level trajectory planning model aimed at optimizing the trajectories of EVs at intersections and road segments located within the communication range, using vehicle-to-everything technology. The upper-level model is designed to plan the entry times, speeds, and internal trajectories of vehicles within the intersection while avoiding any conflicts that may arise during their movements. In particular, to address the dimensionality of the proposed large-scale optimization problems, we introduce the equidistant discretization method to discretize the entry speeds of vehicles into a finite set of selectable values. The lower-level model focuses on optimizing the longitudinal and lateral trajectories on roadways to ensure that vehicles arrive at the stop line punctually and promptly. Both the upper- and lower-level models are formulated as mixed-integer linear programming models. The A Mathematical Programming Language and the Gurobi solver are employed for optimization. The case study demonstrates that the proposed model effectively optimizes vehicle trajectories at intersections and road segments, leading to a significant reduction in delays for EVs.

Oropharyngeal Microbiome Analysis in Patients with Varying SARS-CoV-2 Infection Severity: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Patients with COVID-19 infection have distinct oropharyngeal microbiota composition and diversity metrics according to disease severity. However, these findings are not consistent across the literature. We conducted a multicenter, prospective study in patients with COVID-19 requiring outpatient versus inpatient management to explore the microbial abundance of taxa at the phylum, family, genus, and species level, and we utilized alpha and beta diversity indices to further describe our findings. We collected oropharyngeal washing specimens at the time of study entry, which coincided with the COVID-19 diagnosis, to conduct all analyses. We included 43 patients in the study, of whom 16 were managed as outpatients and 27 required hospitalization. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Saccharibacteria TM7, Fusobacteria, and Spirochaetes were the most abundant phyla among patients, while 61 different families were detected, of which the Streptococcaceae and Staphylococcaceae families were the most predominant. A total of 132 microbial genera were detected, with Streptococcus being the predominant genus in outpatients, in contrast to hospitalized patients, in whom the Staphylococcus genus was predominant. LeFSe analysis identified 57 microbial species in the oropharyngeal washings of study participants that could discriminate the severity of symptoms of COVID-19 infections. Alpha diversity analysis did not reveal a difference in the abundance of bacterial species between the groups, but beta diversity analysis established distinct microbial communities between inpatients and outpatients. Our study provides information on the complex association between the oropharyngeal microbiota and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although our study cannot establish causation, knowledge of specific taxonomic changes with increasing SARS-CoV-2 infection severity can provide us with novel clues for the prognostic classification of COVID-19 patients.

Experimental Study of Persons with Disability, Wheelchairs, and Car Interaction

Driving a car independently significantly enhances the quality of life, particularly for individuals with mobility disabilities. Wheelchair users face several challenges when loading and unloading their wheelchairs into and from vehicles, hindering their personal transportation independently. The influence of wheelchair design on the wheelchair and car compatibility for self-loading and unloading hasn't been fully explored in the scientific literature; therefore, this study investigates the impact of various design features found in modern wheelchairs on their suitability for disabled drivers. Four types of wheelchairs were compared in this study; two participants with paraplegia, one male and one female, participated in the tests. Video recordings captured the procedures for getting in and out of the vehicle. Subsequent results analysis involved breaking down these procedures into steps and comparing them. The study demonstrated that times of independent entry into a car and loading of a wheelchair ranged from 48 to 74 seconds, while exiting the vehicle and loading a wheelchair phase took between 56 and 86 seconds. A key takeaway from this research is that dividing the wheelchair frame, the largest and heaviest component, into two parts facilitates loading and unloading processes. However, this may slightly increase the duration of these activities. Detaching the seat aids more individuals with limited upper body strength.

Impact of COVID-19 on patients undergoing scheduled procedures for chronic venous disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered the medical landscape. Various strategies have been employed to preserve hospital beds, personal protective equipment, and other resources to accommodate the surges of COVID-19 positive patients, hospital overcapacities, and staffing shortages. This has had a dramatic effect on vascular surgical practice. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical delays and adverse outcomes for patients with chronic venous disease scheduled to undergo elective operations. The Vascular Surgery COVID-19 Collaborative (VASCC) was founded in March 2020 to evaluate the outcomes of patients with vascular disease whose operations were delayed. Modules were developed by vascular surgeon working groups and tested before implementation. A data analysis of outcomes of patients with chronic venous disease whose surgeries were postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 through February 2021 was performed for this study. A total of 150 patients from 12 institutions in the United States were included in the study. Indications for venous intervention were: 85.3% varicose veins, 10.7% varicose veins with venous ulceration, and 4.0% lipodermatosclerosis. One hundred two surgeries had successfully been completed at the time of data entry. The average length of the delay was 91 days, with a median of 78days. Delays for venous ulceration procedures ranged from 38 to 208 days. No patients required an emergent intervention due to their venous disease, and no patients experienced major adverse events following their delayed surgeries. Interventions may be safely delayed for patients with venous disease requiring elective surgical intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. This finding supports the American College of Surgeons' recommendations for the management of elective vascular surgical procedures. Office-based labs may be safe locations for continued treatment when resources are limited. Although the interventions can be safely postponed, the negative impact on quality of life warrants further investigation.

Abstract 4565: Reckless mitotic entry as a chemosensitization approach for alkylating agents

Abstract The cell cycle is tightly regulated by checkpoints, playing a vital role in controlling its progression and timing. Cancer cells exploit the G2/M checkpoint, which serves as a resistance mechanism against genotoxic anti-cancer treatments, allowing for DNA repair prior to cell division. Therefore, manipulating cell cycle timing has emerged as a potential strategy to augment the effectiveness of DNA damage-based therapies such as alkylating agents and radiation. In this study, we conducted a forward genome scale CRISPR/Cas9 chemogenomic screening with repeated exposure to the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ) to investigate the mechanisms underlying tumor cell survival under genotoxic stress. Our findings revealed that canonical DNA repair pathways, including ATM/Fanconi and mismatch repair, determine cell fate under genotoxic stress. Notably, we identified the critical role of the membrane-associated tyrosine- and threonine-specific cdc2-inhibitory kinase, known as Myt1 (encoded by PKMYT1), in ensuring cell survival. Analysis on patient cohort demonstrated that PKMYT1 is not only highly presented in malignancy, but also predisposes an unfavorable disease outcome. Genetic depletion of PKMYT1 led to overwhelming TMZ-induced cytotoxicity in cancer cells. Isobologram analysis demonstrated potent drug synergy between TMZ and other clinically used alkylating agents, such as carmustine, busulfan, and dacarbazine, when combined with a novel Myt1 kinase inhibitor, RP-6306. Mechanistically, inhibiting Myt1 forced G2/M-arrested cells into an unscheduled transition to the mitotic phase without complete resolution of DNA damage, as indicated by a substantial increase in γH2AX-positive cells in mitosis. Moreover, RP-6306 dramatically altered cell cycle timing, reducing the threshold time for mitotic entry. This forced entry into mitosis, along with persistent DNA damage, resulted in severe mitotic abnormalities, including unaligned and partially condensed chromosomes, lagging chromosomes, chromosome bridges, and multipolar spindles. Ultimately, these aberrations led to mitotic exit with substantial apoptosis. Importantly, preclinical animal studies demonstrated that the combination regimen involving TMZ and RP-6306 prolonged the overall survival of glioma-bearing mice. Collectively, our findings highlight the potential of targeting cell cycle timing through Myt1 inhibition as an effective strategy to enhance the efficacy of current standard cancer therapies, potentially leading to improved disease outcomes. Citation Format: Fengchao Lang, James A. Cornwell, Karambir Kaur, Mirit I. Aladjem, Michael Aregger, Steven D. Cappell, Chunzhang Yang. Reckless mitotic entry as a chemosensitization approach for alkylating agents [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 4565.

Biological treatment in elderly and young patients with ankylosing spondylitis: TURKBIO real-life data results.

This study aims to investigate the effect of age on disease activity and biological treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). A total of 811 AS patients registered in the TURKBIO registry database between 2011 and 2019 were categorized according to their age at the time of entry into the registry and assigned to one of two groups: young patients, defined as <60 years of age (n=610), and those aged ≥60 years (n=201) were recorded as elderly patients. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics, along with disease activity markers and other follow-up parameters, as well as current and prior treatments, were electronically recorded during each visit using open-source software. The mean age of the elderly patients was 67±5.8 years, while the mean age of the younger patients was 49.2±10.9 years. Male predominance was lower in the older AS group compared to the younger AS group (p=0.002). During follow-up period, 397 patients (comprising 318 young and 79 elderly individuals) had a history of using at least one biological disease-modifying agent (bDMARD). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of DMARD and bDMARD-use distributions. First tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) retention rates were found to be similar in both groups over 10 years of follow-up. Adverse events were found to be similar in young (19.9%) and elderly (26.8%) AS patients. Research in the TURKBIO cohort reveals that both older and younger patients with AS exhibited similar disease activity levels with comparable treatment approaches. Moreover, the results of TNFi treatments in elderly patients were the same as those observed in younger patients, with no notable increase in safety concerns.

Optimal allocation strategies in platform trials with continuous endpoints.

Platform trials are randomized clinical trials that allow simultaneous comparison of multiple interventions, usually against a common control. Arms to test experimental interventions may enter and leave the platform over time. This implies that the number of experimental intervention arms in the trial may change as the trial progresses. Determining optimal allocation rates to allocate patients to the treatment and control arms in platform trials is challenging because the optimal allocation depends on the number of arms in the platform and the latter typically varies over time. In addition, the optimal allocation depends on the analysis strategy used and the optimality criteria considered. In this article, we derive optimal treatment allocation rates for platform trials with shared controls, assuming that a stratified estimation and a testing procedure based on a regression model are used to adjust for time trends. We consider both, analysis using concurrent controls only as well as analysis methods using concurrent and non-concurrent controls and assume that the total sample size is fixed. The objective function to be minimized is the maximum of the variances of the effect estimators. We show that the optimal solution depends on the entry time of the arms in the trial and, in general, does not correspond to the square root of allocation rule used in classical multi-arm trials. We illustrate the optimal allocation and evaluate the power and type 1 error rate compared to trials using one-to-one and square root of allocations by means of a case study.

History Dependence in Drug Demand: Identification and Implications for Entry Incentives

Abstract I use temporal discontinuities in choice sets to identify history dependence in drug demand, finding large and long-term effects. Quasi-randomly assigning a patient to a drug today increases the probability she is taking the same drug four years later by 54 percentage points. History dependence is stronger in patients taking multiple medications and weaker in drugs that are significantly more effective than substitutes. It is also weaker in generics and line extensions, driven by switching from the reference branded drug. I use a pair-specific switching-cost model to capture these patterns and provide suggestive evidence that they affect manufacturers’ entry timing incentives.

(002) Evaluation of Efficacy of Sexual Novelty as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy to Treat Hypoactive Sexual Desire Dysfunction in Women in Monogamous Heterosexual Relationships Attributing Reduced Sexual Desire to Sexual Boredom: A Prospective Randomized Study

Abstract Introduction Hypoactive Sexual Desire Dysfunction (HSDD) in women is of multifactorial etiology with the best possible response on identifying modifiable factors and addressing them. With sexual boredom being one such factor in women with HSDD in a monogamous heterosexual relationship, the factors that improve boredom are expected to improve sexual desire in these women. Objective To evaluate sexual novelty as a therapeutic strategy to treat HSDD in women in monogamous heterosexual relationships using a prospective randomized study design. Methods The study was initiated following institutional review board approval. The participants, who expressed sexual boredom during our initial survey on sexual boredom in women in monogamous heterosexual relationships, female outpatients (in monogamous heterosexual relationships) with non-sexual complaints, and female partners of male patients with non-sexual complaints who agreed to participate in the study voluntarily were included. The exclusion was based on an evaluation of the participants by qualified medical specialists who diagnosed sexual, psychological, medical as well as gynecological conditions affecting sexual desire. Included participants attributing reduced sexual desire to sexual boredom on initial screening with Decreased Sexual Desire Screener (DSDS) were administered the Sexual Boredom Scale (SBS), to record the degree of sexual boredom in these women at the time of entry into the study. The participants were divided into two groups based on the computer-generated random numbers. The participants in group A received psychotherapy (included behavior therapy and/or cognitive behavior therapy and/or mindfulness) alone and group B received psychotherapy and a sexual novelty package (included any novelty related to sexuality other than trying a new sexual partner) as their planned intervention for a period of 6 months. The participants in both groups were administered the Elements of Desire Questionnaire (EDQ) at the beginning and at the end of the study to assess their sexual desire status. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for categorical variables, namely, age, period of monogamy, SBS score, and EDQ scores. The linear and multiple regression analysis was done to assess the effect of the age of the participant, and period of monogamy on boredom, and to know any influence of age, period of monogamy, and boredom level on the degree of improvement in sexual desire following treatment. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The study was conducted from January 2019 to May 2023 with a sample size of 398. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups as far as the age (36.5±10.8 years Vs 36.4±10.7 years), period of monogamy (10.9±7.7 years Vs 11.7.9±8.5 years), SBS score (71.8±30.8 Vs 73.1±43.9), and baseline EDQ score (1.5±0.6 Vs 1.4±0.6) were concerned. However, post-intervention, the sexual novelty group showed better improvement in EDQ score, which was statistically significant. The lower age of the participant and a longer period of monogamy were seen to impact sexual desire adversely on the multiple regression model. Conclusions Sexual novelty as a novel therapeutic strategy was successful in treating our study participants attributing reduced sexual desire to sexual boredom while being in a monogamous heterosexual relationship. Disclosure No.

MACHINE LEARNING AND BLOCKCHAIN-BASED REAL-TIME FACIAL RECOGNITION ATTENDANCE SYSTEM

In a vast majority of fields, the use of facial recognition for authentication is expanding. In this information age, authentication has become vital, and the need for faster and more secure methods of user authentication has been on the rise. The introduction of image processing technologies such as OpenCV has increased society’s reliance on face recognition. Using blockchain, information could be stored in blocks throughout the blockchain network. Blockchain is an extremely secure means for storing and protecting data from intruders. It is a highly disruptive technology that has the ability to alter every plane of society. This paper intends to implement opensource computer vision (OpenCV) to construct a facial detection model that will be employed in a blockchain-secured Attendance Monitoring System. It will not only automate the attendance procedure but also give the system unassailable security. This system will take a live video feed from a camera using OpenCV and identify the faces of students and record their attendance along with the entry time. The data will be kept in a distributed way over the blockchain network that will be accessible to everyone, but data cannot be manipulated.

Abstract A006: Reckless mitotic entry as a novel chemosensitization approach for alkylating agents

Abstract The cell cycle is tightly regulated by checkpoints, playing a vital role in controlling its progression and timing. Cancer cells exploit the G2/M checkpoint, which serves as a resistance mechanism against genotoxic anti-cancer treatments, allowing for DNA repair prior to cell division. Therefore, manipulating cell cycle timing has emerged as a potential strategy to augment the effectiveness of DNA damage-based therapies such as alkylating agents and radiation. In this study, we conducted a forward genome wide CRISPR/Cas9 screening with repeated exposure to the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ) to investigate the mechanisms underlying tumor cell survival under genotoxic stress. Our findings revealed that canonical DNA repair pathways, including ATM/Fanconi and mismatch repair, determine cell fate under genotoxic stress. Notably, we identified the critical role of the membrane-associated tyrosine- and threonine-specific cdc2-inhibitory kinase, known as Myt1 (encoded by PKMYT1), in ensuring cell survival. Depletion of PKMYT1 led to overwhelming TMZ-induced cytotoxicity in cancer cells. Isobologram analysis demonstrated potent drug synergy between TMZ and other clinically used alkylating agents, such as carmustine, busulfan, and dacarbazine, when combined with a novel Myt1 kinase inhibitor, RP-6306. Mechanistically, inhibiting Myt1 forced G2/M-arrested cells into an unscheduled transition to the mitotic phase without complete resolution of DNA damage, as indicated by a substantial increase in γH2AX-positive cells in mitosis. Moreover, RP-6306 dramatically altered cell cycle timing, reducing the threshold time for mitotic entry. This forced entry into mitosis, along with persistent DNA damage, resulted in severe mitotic abnormalities, including unaligned and partially condensed chromosomes, lagging chromosomes, chromosome bridges, and multipolar spindles. Ultimately, these aberrations led to mitotic exit with substantial apoptosis. Importantly, preclinical animal studies demonstrated that the combination regimen involving TMZ and RP-6306 prolonged the overall survival of glioma-bearing mice. Collectively, our findings highlight the potential of targeting cell cycle timing through Myt1 inhibition as a novel strategy to enhance the efficacy of current standard cancer therapies, potentially leading to improved disease outcomes. Citation Format: Fengchao Lang, James Cornwell, Karambir Kaur, Omar Elmogazy, Wei Zhang, Meili Zhang, Hua Song, Zhonghe Sun, Xiaolin Wu, Mirit I. Aladjem, Michael Aregger, Steven Cappell, Chunzhang Yang. Reckless mitotic entry as a novel chemosensitization approach for alkylating agents [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Brain Cancer; 2023 Oct 19-22; Minneapolis, Minnesota. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(5 Suppl_1):Abstract nr A006.

Does the second mouse get the cheese in the trap? Evidence from industry-level acquisition waves in China

ABSTRACT This paper studies the relationship between acquirers’ entry timing and acquisition performance in industry-level acquisition waves in China. Based on a sample of the acquisition events of Chinese A-share listed companies in acquisition waves between 2009 and 2018, we found an inverted U-shaped relationship between entry timing and acquisition performance, suggesting that early-follower advantages exist in industry-level acquisition waves of emerging market countries. We also found that environmental uncertainty weakened this relationship while social capital strengthened it. This study provides a new theoretical framework and empirical evidence for early-follower advantages in the acquisition waves of emerging market countries and has implications for how companies manage their acquisitions.

On the home-visiting dragons: a year-round observation of dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) entering an urban residence

Wildlife intrusion into human settlement and residency has long been viewed as a disturbance rather than regarded from other perspectives, such as wildlife welfare or conservation. Insects were part of that wildlife that were considered as pests or nuisances whenever their existence intersected with human livelihood. In this study, we documented a year-round (August 2019 to August 2020) observation of dragonflies intruding into a residence in the densely populated urban area in Padang City, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The study used the descriptive method, where the data was recorded from any occasion an individual or more dragonflies entered the house. The observation recorded the date and time of entry, species identification, and sex which was later analyzed. During the observation, we recorded 41 individuals entering the residence. They were classified into two damselfly species (Zygoptera) and ten valid dragonfly species (Anisoptera). Orthetrum sabina, Tholymis tillarga and Gynacantha dorhni became the most recorded species with 8, 7, and 7 total individuals, respectively. With 12 individuals recorded in a month, February 2020 was the most dragonfly-intruded period, much higher than the intrusion rate of 2.8 individuals per month. Dragonflies were observed entering the residence at midday (10 individuals), afternoon (12 individuals), evening (11 individuals) or night (8 individuals); this might suggest that night lighting might be what caused them to get into the residence. Both sexes were equal (18 females, 20 males, and three unsexed). The availability of tiny prey insects within the settlement area is another causative factor in this phenomenon. This intrusion should be alarming that the urbanization processes need to be reconsidered to be more ecological-friendly.