bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of Slovak consumer lifestyle on purchasing behaviour in the consumption of organic food
Authors: Jánská Michaela , Žambochová Marta , Kita Pavol
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Health is an essential issue in the motivation to eat organic food. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship if people who have a positive view of a healthy lifestyle (want to live healthy) have an influence on the tendency to buy organic food.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis of secondary data dealing with the issue was supplemented by primary data. In order to meet the main aim, a preliminary objective was set which was to determine the influence of socio-demographic factors on the recommended lifestyle. Specifically, the largest statistically significant difference in influence on healthy lifestyle was gender, followed by education and age. The survey was conducted in the period of January–May 2019 on a sample of 1,373 respondents from Slovakia.

Findings

The data was evaluated by means of selected specific statistical methods (Kruskal–Wallis test, Man-Whitney test and Decision tree methodology). The results of the research verified that the lifestyle of Slovak consumers has an influence on the consumption of organic products and that people who practise healthy eating buy organic food more often. Our research has shown that lifestyle is increasingly influencing consumer purchasing behaviour.

Originality/value

The results showed that today's healthy lifestyle increases the demand for healthy food among potential consumers. Furthermore, the presented results of our research in Slovakia could establish some basis for conducting similar research in other European countries.
The effect of organic growth and acquisitions on performance of retailing networks in an alternating external operating environment
Authors: Aggelopoulos Eleftherios , Lampropoulos Ioannis
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of acquisition and organic growth on the operating efficiency and total factor productivity change of retailing networks.

Design/methodology/approach

The assessment uses low-frequency data of newly opened stores and acquired stores of a large supermarket (S/M) network in Athens, for a period (financial year 2014) where the network began to refocus on its organic growth after a two-year period of deep recession (financial years 2012–2013). To evaluate the performance effects of both strategies, the authors employ the innovative benchmarking tool of bootstrap data envelopment analysis (DEA) for measuring operational efficiency and the Malmquist productivity index DEA approach for measuring productivity change over time.

Findings

The short-run evidence indicates that compared to organic growth, acquisitions lead to lower operating efficiency. However, this difference gradually converges over time as acquired stores show a higher rate of productivity compared to newly opened stores. The authors interpret this as a result of the smooth integration of the acquired chain store into the organizational structure of the existing store network given their significant similarities in terms of products and customers.

Practical implications

The authors inform managers of store chains that during the process of organic growth, a general improvement in efficiency takes place while in the case of acquisitions, the required post-acquisition streamlining actions cause a short delay on the realization of efficiency gains. Therefore, managers should not take it for granted that acquisitions cause a long-term decrease in efficiency.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature on growth strategies and retailing performance in general, by offering new evidence regarding the comparative effect of the horizontal growth modes on the efficiency of store chains.
Horizontal logistics collaboration success factors: expectations versus reality
Authors: Badraoui Ismail , van der Lans Ivo A.M.C. , Boulaksil Youssef , van der Vorst Jack G.A.J.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to compare the expectations of non-collaborating professionals and the actual opinions of collaborating professionals regarding success factors of horizontal logistics collaboration (HLC) and investigates the reasons behind the observed differences.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a mixed-method approach. First, a survey is conducted to collect data from two samples representing collaborating and non-collaborating industry professionals. Second, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is used to compare the measurement models from the two samples and identify their similarities and differences. Third, a Delphi study is conducted to identify factors limiting collaborative behavior.

Findings

The results show that collaborating professionals exhibit lower levels of joint relationship efforts and trust than expected. This is primarily due to inadequate information sharing, poor collaboration formalization and the absence of a clear costs and benefits allocation mechanism.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that, in HLC, managers should give high importance to facilitating timely and complete information exchange, putting in place an acceptable costs/benefits allocation mechanism, formalizing the collaboration and prioritizing integrity over competency when selecting partners.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that shows the existence of differences between industry professionals' pre-collaboration expectations and the actual experiences in HLC. This is also the first study that points to the exact HLC enablers that fail in practice and the barriers responsible for it.
Improving cybersecurity skill development through visual programming
Authors: Glas Magdalena , Vielberth Manfred , Reittinger Tobias , Böhm Fabian , Pernul Günther
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Cybersecurity training plays a decisive role in overcoming the global shortage of cybersecurity experts and the risks this shortage poses to organizations' assets. Seeking to make the training of those experts as efficacious and efficient as possible, this study investigates the potential of visual programming languages (VPLs) for training in cyber ranges. For this matter, the VPL Blockly was integrated into an existing cyber range training to facilitate learning a code-based cybersecurity task, namely, creating code-based correlation rules for a security information and event management (SIEM) system.

Design/methodology/approach

To evaluate the VPL’s effect on the cyber range training, the authors conducted a user study as a randomized controlled trial with 30 participants. In this study, the authors compared skill development of participants creating SIEM rules using Blockly (experimental group) with participants using a textual programming approach (control group) to create the rules.

Findings

This study indicates that using a VPL in a cybersecurity training can improve the participants' perceived learning experience compared to the control group while providing equally good learning outcomes.

Originality/value

The originality of this work lies in studying the effect of using a VPL to learn a code-based cybersecurity task. Investigating this effect in comparison with the conventional textual syntax through a randomized controlled trial has not been investigated yet.
Exploring the socio-economic attributes of financial inclusion in India: a decomposition analysis
Authors: Sethy Susanta Kumar , Mir Tariq Ahmad , Gopinathan R. , Joshi D. P. Priyadarshi
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper examines India's socio-economic attributes and different financial dimensions of financial inclusion (FI).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a principal component analysis (PCA) to build indexes related to financial dimensions. It applies the logistics regression model and the Fairlie decomposition method to determine India's socio-economic and financial characteristics of FI.

Findings

Based on the logistic regression, socio-economic factors like age, gender, marital status, level of education and religion have an impact on FI. The use of financial institutions has positively contributed to the probability of FI, while the low proximity of financial service providers retards the process of FI. Fairlie decomposition concludes regional disparity and gender disparity in FI; however, the rural–urban gap in FI is not captured by the variables included in the study. The main reasons for the discrepancy are lack of education, financial literacy, the proximity of financial service providers and lack of financial institutions.

Originality/value

This paper makes two important contributions: first, it presents a micro-level analysis of FI across the socio-demographic strata of India, and second, it demonstrates the regional, rural–urban and gender disparity in FI in India.
Health information behavior and related factors among Estonians aged ≥ 50 years during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Paimre Marianne , Virkus Sirje , Osula Kairi
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of the article is to introduce the outcomes of a study analyzing the relationships between willingness to use technology for health purposes, health information behavior (HIB), health behavior (HB) choices, readiness for COVID-19 vaccination, socioeconomic indicators and self-reported health among older adults aged = 50 years living in Estonia.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 501 people aged = 50 in Estonia in 2020, a month after the end of lockdown.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that the more recurrent the need for HI was (rho = 0.11, p < 0.05) and the more regularly one searched for it (rho = 0.14, p < 0.01), the more willing a person was to get vaccinated. Also, interest in digital applications corresponded to vaccination readiness (rho = 0.25, p < 0.001). However, this relationship did not emerge in the case of other HBs such as healthy eating and exercise. Differences in HIB should be taken into account when developing effective means of health communication designed especially for crisis situations.

Originality/value

Estonia is known as one of the digital front runners in the world. However, social welfare and the well-being of disadvantaged groups among the population (e.g. older people) have not yet caught up with the more developed Western countries. Thus, learning more about the health-related information behavior of older adults, e.g. the kind of health information they are seeking and using in Estonia, allows policymakers, health information providers and libraries in Estonia to plan and carry out more effective interventions and help them to improve the existing systems so as to furnish older adults with relevant information.
Which complexity? A review of typologies and a framework proposal for characterizing complexity-based approaches
Authors: Sigahi Tiago F.A.C. , Sznelwar Laerte Idal
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to map and analyze existing complexity typologies and (2) to develop a framework for characterizing complexity-based approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted in three stages: (1) initial identification of typologies related to complexity following a structured procedure based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol; (2) backward and forward review to identify additional relevant typologies and (3) content analysis of the selected typologies, categorization and framework development.

Findings

Based on 17 selected typologies, a comprehensive overview of complexity studies is provided. Each typology is described considering key concepts, contributions and convergences and differences between them. The epistemological, theoretical and methodological diversity of complexity studies was explored, allowing the identification of the main schools of thought and authors. A framework for characterizing complexity-based approaches was proposed including the following perspectives: ontology of complexity, epistemology of complexity, purpose and object of interest, methodology and methods and theoretical pillars.

Originality/value

This study examines the main typologies of complexity from an integrated and multidisciplinary perspective and, based on that, proposes a novel framework to understanding and characterizing complexity-based approaches.
The relationships among workplace role modeling, learning goal orientation and proactive behavior
Authors: Matsuo Makoto
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Although learning goal orientation (LGO) has shown to promote learning and performance in employees, only a limited number of studies have explored its situational antecedents. The main purpose of the present research was to examine the effects of role modeling on employee LGO and proactive behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-wave survey was conducted to collect data from medical employees (n = 478) at an acute hospital in Japan.

Findings

The results of structural equation modeling showed that role model proactive behavior promoted employee LGO, mediated through perceived role model LGO; and that perceived role model LGO enhanced employee proactive behavior, mediated through employee LGO.

Research limitations/implications

As the sample was limited to employees in a nursing department at a Japanese hospital, the characteristics of the national culture and occupation may have potentially affected the results.

Practical implications

Proactive employees can act as role models to enhance the level of employees' LGO and proactive behavior in organizations. It is imperative to develop employee role modeling to enhance LGO and proactive behavior.

Originality/value

This study may be the first to identify the influence of role modeling as an antecedent of LGO. The role model may provide employees with job resources to develop their LGO and proactive behaviors.
Survival rates of systemic interventions for psoriasis in the Western Japan Psoriasis Registry: A multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Yanase Tetsuji , Tsuruta Noriko , Yamaguchi Kazuki , Ohata Chika , Ohyama Bungo , Katayama Eri , Sugita Kazunari , Kuwashiro Maki , Hashimoto Aki , Yonekura Kentaro , Higashi Yuko , Murota Hiroyuki , Koike Yuta , Matsuzaka Yuki , Kikuchi Satoko , Hatano Yutaka , Saito Kanami , Takahashi Kenzo , Miyagi Takuya , Kaneko Sakae , Ota Masataka , Harada Kayo , Morizane Shin , Ikeda Kenta , Furue Masutaka , Nakahara Takeshi , Okazaki Fusako , Sasaki Natsuko , Okada Etsuko , Yoshida Yuichi , Ito Kotaro , Imafuku Shinichi
Published: February 2023

Psoriasis affects approximately 0.3% of the Japanese population. Recently, various effective systemic drugs have become available, and the continuation of a given treatment has become critical because of the chronic nature of psoriasis. Factors affecting drug survival (the time until treatment discontinuation) in psoriasis treatment include efficacy, safety, ease of use, and patient preference. In the present study, the authors retrospectively surveyed a multifacility patient registry to determine the real‐world evidence of the survival rate of systemic interventions for psoriasis treatment. Patients with psoriasis who visited 20 facilities in the Western Japan area between January 2019 and May 2020 and gave written consent were registered as study participants, and their medical history of systemic interventions for psoriasis (starting from 2010) was retrospectively collected and analyzed. The drugs investigated were adalimumab, infliximab, ustekinumab, secukinumab, ixekizumab, brodalumab, guselkumab, risankizumab, cyclosporine, and apremilast. When drugs were discontinued, the reasons were also recorded. A total of 1003 patients with psoriasis including 268 with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were enrolled. In biologics, more recently released drugs such as interleukin 17 inhibitors showed a numerically higher survival rate in the overall (post‐2010) analysis. However, in the subset of patients who began treatment after 2017, the difference in the survival rate among the drugs was smaller. The reasons for discontinuing drugs varied, but a loss of efficacy against dermatological or joint symptoms were relatively frequently seen with some biologics and cyclosporine. The stratification of drug survival rates based on patient characteristics such as bio‐naive or experienced, normal weight or obese, and with or without PsA, revealed that bio‐experienced, obese, and PsA groups had poorer survival rates for most drugs. No notable safety issues were identified in this study. Overall, the present study revealed that the biologics show differences in their tendency to develop a loss of efficacy, and the factors that negatively impact the survival rate of biologics include the previous use of biologics, obesity, and PsA.
Promising whole‐cell vaccines against cryptococcosis
Authors: Ueno Keigo , Tsuge Soichiro , Shimizu Kiminori , Miyazaki Yoshitsugu
Published: February 2023

Cryptococcosis is a mycosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii species complexes. Although this infection is potentially lethal, no prophylactic vaccine is yet commercially available, and the immune memory that enables prevention is still under investigation. These pathogens have a capsule layer for immune evasion and a sophisticated mechanism to advance the infection, and it is expected that these characteristics will make it difficult to develop prophylactic vaccines and to decipher the protective immunity. The current vaccine studies are focused on subunit, mRNA, DNA, and viral vector vaccines, with whole‐cell vaccines also proving successful against cryptococcal infections. Cryptococcal whole‐cell vaccines have been composed of highly immunostimulating strains with low‐pathogenicity that are modified by genetic recombination technology. Examples include the whole‐cell vaccines H99γ, sgl1∆, fbp1∆, znf2oe, cda1/2/3∆, cap59∆, and cap60∆. Some of these whole‐cell vaccines were found to be highly effective in prolonging life and suppressing the fungal burden after an infection challenge in mice, and to be cross‐reactive to C. neoformans, C. gattii, and other fungal pathogens. Furthermore, for some vaccines, the protective effect can be retained even in an immunocompromised host depleted of CD4+ T cells. These findings have provided new insights into protective immunity that should aid in vaccine development. In this review, we highlight the upsides and downsides of whole‐cell vaccines against cryptococcosis.
An ecologist’s introduction to continuous‐time multi‐state models for capture–recapture data
Authors: Rushing Clark S.
Published: February 2023

Recent technological advances have led to a rapid increase in the collection of capture–recapture data in continuous time. Unlike traditional capture–recapture data, the detection times from these technologies are themselves random variables and analysis of these data, therefore, requires models that properly account for stochasticity in both state transitions and detection times.

Despite the ubiquity of continuously collected capture–recapture data, the mathematical concepts needed to fit continuous‐time models remain unfamiliar to many ecologists. In this paper, I provide an introduction to continuous‐time models, with a focus on multi‐state capture–recapture data.

After reviewing the basic structure of these models, I describe several variations, including constant parameters, temporal variation in state transition rates and autocorrelation in detections. To aid comprehension, each model is accompanied by code to simulate data and fit the model in Stan.

Although the models presented in this guide are only a small subset of the variations that are possible to suit the needs of specific datasets or questions, the concepts and code will hopefully serve as a foundation for future analyses, allowing ecologists to develop new and creative approaches to continuous‐time modelling.
‘Exploring the perspectives of young adults with developmental disabilities about sexuality and sexual health education’
Authors: Coulter Daina , Lynch Claire , Joosten Annette V.
Published: February 2023

Background

Sexuality is important in everyday lives; it contributes to a sense of self. Everyone has a right to access sexual experiences, form relationships, and obtain sexual health education. There is limited literature from the perspective of people with developmental disabilities about their sexuality and particularly how, or if, societal attitudes influence their sexuality and their opinions about sexual health education. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of young adults with developmental disabilities about their sexuality, their perceptions about how their sexuality was viewed by the community, and about the sexual education that is required and how it should be delivered.

Method

A qualitative interpretative phenomenological approach using a purposive sample was used to explore the perspectives of young adults, aged between 18 and 32 years old with developmental disabilities, to explore their perspectives on their sexuality, societal attitudes, and access to sexual health education. Seven semi‐structured interviews were conducted and analysed using an interpretative phenomenological approach.

Results

Five main themes were developed from the data: (1) sexuality is multidimensional and important, (2) the challenges and fear of expressing sexuality, (3) societal views need to change, (4) close support enables sexuality, and (5) sexual health education needs to be individualised.

Conclusion

Participants suggested that sexuality was important to them, and they had the same expectations about sexuality and relationships as many young adults. However, their autonomy and self‐determination to set sexuality goals were constrained by societal attitudes. Supportive family and friends enabled opportunities, but they believed the knowledge and attitudes about disability, and about disability and sexuality, of community members, service providers, funders, and educators needed to change to enable increased opportunity to express their sexuality. Participants reported a need for individualised sexual health education provided by professionals with expertise.
Reducing complexity and compliance costs: a simplification safe harbour for the global minimum tax
Authors: Schanz Deborah
Published: February 2023

I present a simplification safe harbour based on tax administrative guidance for Pillar Two, the global minimum tax, developed together with Cedric Döllefeld, Joachim Englisch, Simon Harst and Felix Siegel. It aims at reducing unnecessary compliance costs by avoiding effective tax rate (ETR) calculations if a minimum tax of 15 per cent has already been paid. The simplification safe harbour consists of a two‐level test to determine if a full GloBE ETR calculation is required from a multinational enterprise (MNE) or if a simplified ETR calculation or no calculation at all is sufficient. The test consists of a country‐level test and – only if necessary – an MNE‐level test. The country‐level test assesses a country's tax system. It seeks to determine whether the national tax system's nominal tax rates are (too) low and whether significant deviations between a country's tax base and the GloBE income exist. The second level, the MNE‐level test, is only carried out if the country‐level test has identified potential ‘red flags’. Even if this second test is required, the simplification safe harbour offers a significant reduction in compliance costs. This reduction is achieved by relying on national tax data, which are readily available in firms, instead of highly adjusted accounting data.
Economic sanctions and labour rights abuses in target countries
Authors: PERRY KATE , PEKSEN DURSUN
Published: February 2023

Though much research has focused on major political and humanitarian consequences of economic sanctions, little is known about how economic sanctions affect economic rights and freedoms in target countries. Often, sanctions work is divided into two main theoretical camps: direct economic effects and indirect human rights effects. These two bodies of work have significantly expanded our cumulative knowledge around economic coercion, but scholars in each camp primarily speak past one another while rarely drawing together the interrelated threads of direct and indirect sanctions effects. We challenge this common division by examining the extent to which economic sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United States or the United Nations affect labour rights practices. We posit that sanctions, as a direct shock to target economies, will prompt more labour rights violations at the workplace, such as arbitrary firings and the use of child or forced labour. We maintain that sanctions also undermine labour conditions via adverse indirect effects on human rights, civil society and bureaucratic capacity. Results from a time‐series cross‐national analysis lend strong support for the proposition that sanctions are significantly and directly related to worsened labour rights conditions. We further show that sanctions also indirectly contribute to labour rights violations through negative effects on human rights conditions and reduced bureaucratic capacity in target countries. Overall, our study deepens our understanding of the complicated outcomes of sanctions on individuals in target states and illustrates the need for further exploration into the interwoven effects of this popular policy tool.
Estimating predation rates from molecular gut content analysis
Authors: Andow David A. , Paula Débora Pires
Published: February 2023

Several methods have been published to estimate per capita predation rates from molecular gut content analysis relying on intuitive understanding of predation, but none have been formally derived. We provide a theoretical framework for estimating predation rates to identify an accurate method and lay bare its assumptions. Per capita predation can be estimated by multiplying the prey decay rate and the prey quantity in the predators. This assumes that variation in per capita predation rate is approximately normally distributed, prey decay occurs exponentially, and predation is in steady state. We described several ways to estimate steady state predation, including using only qualitative presence‐absence data to estimate the decay rate and in addition, we provided a method for estimating per capita predation rate when predation is not in steady state. We used previously published data on aphid consumption by a ladybird beetle in a feeding trial to calculate the predation rate and compare published methods with this theoretically derived method. The estimated predation rate (3.29 ± 0.27 aphids/h) using our derived method was not significantly different from the actual predation rate, 3.11 aphids/h. In contrast, previously published methods were less accurate, underestimating the predation rate (0.33 ± 0.02 to 1.66 ± 0.8 aphids/h) or overestimating it (3.64 ± 0.30 aphids/h). In summary, we provide methods to estimate predation rates even when variation in predation rates is not exactly normally distributed and not in steady state and demonstrate that the prey decay rate, and not the prey detection period, is required.
Economic Value Added in performance measurement: A simulation approach and empirical evidence
Authors: Chen Yuanzhan , Jin Zhuo , Qin Bo
Published: February 2023

With increasing criticism on measuring executive performance based primarily on Total Shareholder Return (TSR), some academics and practitioners have revived discussions on using Economic Value Added (EVA) as an alternative. But if EVA failed to gain traction over the past two decades, is there any new evidence for it or different approaches to better implement it in corporate settings? In this study, we start by confirming EVA‐related metrics' significant positive relationships with long‐term TSR in the Australian market. Our empirical findings also address EVA's major drawback – too much complexity arising from accounting adjustments. Our results suggest that accounting adjustments are generally not necessary, and efforts should be re‐directed to designing direct and intuitive plan mechanisms. In addition, we develop a pseudo environment to illustrate EVA's managerial benefits and potential to cultivate sustainable growth. To study this influence, we leverage capital‐based simulation techniques and mimic executive decision making under different performance measurement conditions, which was typically only discussed in a qualitative or theoretical sense. We find that EVA‐related metrics naturally induce long‐term, strategic and sustainable decision making without limiting executives to overly focus on short‐term profitability. This simulation approach not only provides quantitative evidence, but also gives practitioners in different market environments an expandable and scalable pseudo framework to test the effect of different incentive plans and inform performance target setting, a useful but often overlooked feature in, for instance, the Australian market, where data is relatively scarce.
Rent control according to Seinfeld
Authors: Sanders Shane , Luccasen Andrew , Alakshendra Abhinav
Published: February 2023

More than 30 years after its premiere, Seinfeld continues its run as a seminally popular television show. On October 1, 2021, five‐year streaming rights to the show were purchased by Netflix for $500 million. Set in New York City, where rent control laws have a long history, several episodes of the show consider the trials of apartment living, including shortages, tastes for discrimination by sellers, bribery, search costs, and quality degradation. Seinfeld also illustrates the informal process through which rent‐controlled apartments are advertised (e.g., less advertising under rent control shortage). This paper argues that popular media can be used as an effective pedagogical tool in learning. This paper analyzes four episodes of Seinfeld to help students identify and differentiate the very real costs of rent control. The paper also guides students to appreciate the difficulty in crafting a policy that is free of unintended consequences.
Letter: improved alanine aminotransferase level in patients with chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis and low viral load treated with nucleotide/nucleoside analogues
Authors: Jang Tyng‐Yuan
Published: February 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Wang et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17272 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17367
Longitudinal associations between a health risk factor and juvenile justice placement among persistent juvenile offenders
Authors: Wareham Jennifer , Dembo Richard , Schmeidler James
Published: February 2023

Health criminology explores the connection between crime and health factors. Less is understood about longitudinal health risks and adolescents entering the juvenile justice system. This study used a sample ofn= 388 males involved in the juvenile justice system to examined longitudinal associations of a latent health risk factor, comprised of depression, marijuana use, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with post‐juvenile assessment center (JAC) intake placement. Results using Bayesian estimation indicated the health risk factor was relatively stable over three time points of JAC entry and associated with present and, indirectly, future justice system placement. Youths who were Hispanic, Black, older, or living with a family member struggling with alcohol use had higher health risk. These findings underscore the need for juvenile justice system services that address health risks among persistent juvenile offenders, with consideration of cultural and family dynamics.
Comparison of 2,5‐dimethyl‐4‐hydroxy‐3(2H)‐furanone, a volatile odor compound generated by the Maillard reaction, in cooked meat of various animal species and parts
Authors: Yokoyama Issei , Ohata Motoko , Komiya Yusuke , Nagasao Jun , Arihara Keizo
Published: February 2023

2,5‐Dimethyl‐4‐hydroxy‐3(2H)‐furanone (DMHF), a compound having a sweet caramel‐like odor, is one of the major compounds generated by the Maillard reaction. DMHF could affect the palatability of cooked and processed foods such as meat, while its inhalation induces several physiological functions. However, basic findings of DMHF generation in meat remain unclear. In this study, we compared the amount of DMHF in cooked meat of various animal meat (Japanese black cattle beef, Australian beef, pork, and chicken) and parts (round, loin, thigh, and breast). Meat samples were heated at 230°C, and then the amount of DMHF was measured using the solvent extraction methods. Moreover, the substrates (total free amino acid and glucose) used for the Maillard reaction were also measured to elucidate the relation between DMHF generation and nutrients in meat. DMHF was detected in all cooked meat samples, suggesting that DMHF is generated in meat regardless of animal species and parts. A significant positive correlation was observed between the DMHF generation and glucose content in the round and thigh parts. Our results suggest that DMHF generation during meat cooking would be regulated by the glucose content.
Haematopoietic cell transplantation for children with acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia without Down syndrome
Authors: Hama Asahito , Taga Takashi , Tomizawa Daisuke , Muramatsu Hideki , Hasegawa Daiichiro , Adachi Souichi , Yoshida Nao , Noguchi Maiko , Sato Maho , Okada Keiko , Koh Katsuyoshi , Mitsui Tetsuo , Takahashi Yoshiyuki , Miyamura Takako , Hashii Yoshiko , Kato Koji , Atsuta Yoshiko , Okamoto Yasuhiro
Published: February 2023

Patients with acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia of Down syndrome (DS‐AMKL) have an excellent survival rate; however, patients with non‐DS‐AMKL experience poor outcomes. Therefore, this study retrospectively analysed 203 children with non‐DS‐AMKL who underwent their first haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) from 1986 to 2015 using a nationwide Japanese HCT registry data to assess HCT outcomes for non‐DS‐AMKL. The 5‐year overall survival (OS) and event‐free survival (EFS) rates were 43% and 38% respectively. The 5‐year OS rate was significantly higher for patients who underwent HCT in the first complete remission (CR1, 72%) than for those in the second CR (CR2, 23%) and non‐CR (16%) (p < 0.001), and for those from a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐matched (52%) than for those from an HLA‐mismatched donor (27%) (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis for OS revealed that HCT in CR2 and non‐CR was a significant risk factor (hazard ratio, 5.86; 95% confidence interval, 3.56–9.53; p < 0.001). The 3‐year EFS in patients who received HCT in CR1 using reduced‐intensity conditioning (RIC, 35%) was significantly lower than in those using myeloablative conditioning (busulfan‐based, 71%; total body irradiation‐based, 58%) (p < 0.001). Risk stratification in patients with non‐DS‐AMKL should be established to determine HCT indication in CR1.
MED27 plays a tumor‐promoting role in breast cancer progression by targeting KLF4
Authors: Wang Ruozhu , Yu Wendan , Zhu Tianhua , Lin Fei , Hua Chunyu , Ru Liyuan , Guo Ping , Wan Xinyu , Xue Guoqing , Guo Ziyue , Han Shilong , Lv Kuan , Zhang Guohui , Ge Hanxiao , Guo Wei , Xu Lingzhi , Deng Wuguo
Published: February 2023

The mediator complex usually cooperates with transcription factors to be involved in RNA polymerase II‐mediated gene transcription. As one component of this complex, MED27 has been reported in our previous studies to promote thyroid cancer and melanoma progression. However, the precise function of MED27 in breast cancer development remains poorly understood. Here, we found that MED27 was more highly expressed in breast cancer samples than in normal tissues, especially in triple‐negative breast cancer, and its expression level was elevated with the increase in pathological stage. MED27 knockdown in triple‐negative breast cancer cells inhibited cancer cell metastasis and stemness maintenance, which was accompanied by downregulation of the expression of EMT‐ and stem traits‐associated proteins, and vice versa in non‐triple‐negative breast cancer. Furthermore, MED27 knockdown sensitized breast cancer cells to epirubicin treatment by inducing cellular apoptosis and reducing tumorsphere‐forming ability. Based on RNA‐seq, we identified KLF4 as the possible downstream target of MED27. KLF4 overexpression reversed the MED27 silencing‐mediated arrest of cellular metastasis and stemness maintenance capacity in breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, MED27 transcriptionally regulated KLF4 by binding to its promoter region at positions −156 to +177. Collectively, our study not only demonstrated the tumor‐promoting role of MED27 in breast cancer progression by transcriptionally targeting KLF4, but also suggested the possibility of developing the MED27/KLF4 signaling axis as a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer.
Patterns of coparenting and young children's social–emotional adjustment in low‐income families
Authors: Schoppe‐Sullivan Sarah J. , Wang Jingyi , Yang Junyeong , Kim Minjung , Zhang Yiran , Yoon Susan H.
Published: February 2023

This study identified coparenting patterns using data collected across 2007–2010 from low‐income couples (N = 2915; 26.90% non‐Hispanic White; 9.41% non‐Hispanic Black; 34.24% Hispanic, 29.27% other or mixed race) with young children (M = 3.65 years; SD = 1.31 years; 48% girls) and examined relations with children's social–emotional adjustment. Latent profile analysis revealed four coparenting patterns: mutual high‐quality (43.4%), moderate‐quality, mothers less positive (31.8%), moderate‐quality, fathers less positive (15.9%), and low‐quality, mothers less positive (8.9%). When parents' perspectives on coparenting were positive and congruent, children fared best. Children also fared well when coparenting quality was moderate, and mothers were less positive than fathers. When coparenting quality was moderate and fathers were less positive than mothers, children showed the poorest adjustment.
Does statin use affect amyloid beta deposition and brain metabolism?
Authors: Nabizadeh Fardin , Valizadeh Parya , Balabandian Mohammad ,   Alzheimer’s disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)
Published: February 2023

Background

There are contradictory findings regarding the effect of statin drugs on amyloid β (Aβ) deposition as one of the main hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), along with tau pathology. We aimed to longitudinally investigate the therapeutic and preventive role of statin drugs by examining the brain Aβ deposition and metabolism rate in AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy controls (HC).

Methods

The data of 828 subjects including 178 HC, 492 MCI, and 158 AD individuals were obtained from ADNI. The baseline and longitudinal [18F] AV45 and 18‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET standard uptake value ratio (SUVR) measures were investigated among statin users and non‐users.

Results

Our results showed that there is no significant difference in baseline Aβ deposition and metabolism rate between statin users and non‐users among HC, MCI, and AD subjects. While there was no significant effect of statin on metabolism rate, there was a significant difference in Aβ deposition change after 4 years (from baseline) between statin users and non‐users within HC subjects (p = 0.011). The change of Aβ deposition at 4 years from baseline was −2.0 ± 6.3% for statin users and 1.4 ± 4.7% for non‐users. There was no significant association between statin duration use with baseline and longitudinal Aβ deposition and metabolism rate. However, statin dosage was significantly associated with Aβ deposition in 2 years (r = −0.412, p = 0.021) in the HC group. Moreover, our analysis showed a significant correlation between total statin exposure (duration×dosage) and Aβ deposition in 2 years visit (r = −0.198, p = 0.037) in HC subjects. Furthermore, we investigated the longitudinal changes within each group of statin users and non‐users separately in linear mixed models. Our findings showed that there are no significant changes in AV45 and FDG SUVR among both groups.

Conclusion

The present longitudinal analysis revealed that using statins might be beneficial in slowing down or stabilizing the Aβ deposition due to aging in subjects without cognitive impairment. However, once the clinical symptoms of cognitive impairment appear, statins fail to slow down Aβ deposition. Overall, our findings revealed that statin users might have slower Aβ aggregation than non‐users.
Four challenges to an effective national nature assessment
Authors: Carroll Carlos , Noss Reed F. , Dreiss Lindsay M. , Hamilton Healy , Stein Bruce A.
Published: February 2023

Comprehensive biodiversity assessments play an essential role in strengthening global and national conservation strategies. The recently announced first U.S. National Nature Assessment (NNA) provides an unparalleled opportunity to comprehensively review status and trends of biodiversity at all levels. This broad context can help in the coordination of actions to conserve individual species and ecosystems. The scientific assessments that informed the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at the 2022 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) conference of parties provide models for synthesizing information on trends at multiple levels of biodiversity, including decline in abundance and distribution of species, loss of populations and genetic diversity, and degradation and loss of ecosystems and their services. The assessments then relate these trends to data on drivers of biodiversity loss and pathways to their mitigation. The U.S. NNA can augment such global analyses and avoid the pitfalls encountered by previous U.S. efforts by ensuring policy‐relevant design, data accessibility, and inclusivity in process and product and by incorporating spatial data relevant to national and subnational audiences. Although the United States is not formally a CBD party, an effective NNA should take full advantage of the global context by including indicators adopted at the 2022 meeting and incorporating an independent review mechanism that supports periodic stocktaking and ratcheting up of ambition in response to identified shortfalls in stemming biodiversity loss. The challenges to design of an effective U.S. assessment are relevant globally as nations develop assessments and reporting to support the new global biodiversity framework's targets. By considering and incorporating the diverse ways in which society values and benefits from nature, such assessments can help bridge the gap between research and conservation practice and communicate the extent of the biodiversity crisis to the public, fostering broad‐based support for transformative change in humanity's relationship to the natural world.
PK/PD analysis of trazodone and gabapentin in neuropathic pain rodent models: Translational PK‐PD modeling from nonclinical to clinical development
Authors: Oggianu Laura , Garrone Beatrice , Fiorentini Francesco , Del Bene Francesca , Rosignoli Maria Teresa , Di Giorgio Francesco Paolo , Kaminski Rafal Marian
Published: February 2023

A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model was developed to describe the time course of writhings after intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid in mice. The model was applied to investigate the antinociceptive effect of trazodone and gabapentin alone and in combination. Writhings time course was described by a transit compartment model with the delay due to the transit of the acetic acid being represented by a chain of intermediate compartments. In the drug‐treated animals, the number of writhings decreases according to a k2 factor linking drug concentration and antinociceptive effect. Compounds' potency parameters were 10.9 and 0.0459 L/μmoles/min for trazodone and gabapentin, respectively, indicating a much higher in vivo potency of trazodone in the PD writhing test. The PK/PD parameters were used to simulate the expected writhing counts in mice at combined doses without efficacy alone, assuming pharmacological additivity. Simulation results indicated that, at low dose combinations, experimental data were mostly below the simulated writhings median, suggesting possible synergic effect. Such hypothesis was tested by adding the γ parameter in the PK/PD model to represent the deviation from the assumption of no‐interaction, leading to a reduction of the objective function compared to the additive model. On this basis, several simulations were performed to identify possible starting dose combinations of trazodone and gabapentin in humans, by selecting doses yielding systemic exposures close to those being synergic in the mouse. Simulations indicated that doses of 50–100 mg trazodone could enhance gabapentin antinociceptive effect in humans, supporting the development of a low dose combination for optimal analgesia treatment.
Are Christian politics possible? A Kierkegaardian perspective
Authors: Ahmedov* Igor
Published: February 2023

This paper provides a rereading of Søren Kierkegaard's attack upon Christendom in light of his theory of spheres of existence to examine whether Christian politics are possible after Kierkegaard. Talking of Christian politics makes sense only in the esthetic and the religious spheres of existence. However, Kierkegaard argues that politics worthy of the title Christian are impossible. Either such politics are simply Christendom far removed from New Testament Christianity, or Christian politics are faced with the paradox of existing before God and cannot proceed.
Type 1 diabetes incidence in Scotland between 2006 and 2019
Authors: Thomson India , Anderson Niall , Bath Louise , Kiff Sarah , Patterson Chris , Philip Sam , Waugh Norman , Wild Sarah H. ,   the Scottish Study Group for the Care of Diabetes in the Young and the Scottish Diabetes Research Network Epidemiology Group
Published: February 2023

Aims

To describe type 1 diabetes incidence in Scotland between 2006 and 2019.

Methods

Repeated annual cross‐sectional studies of type 1 diabetes incidence were conducted. Incident cases were identified from the Scottish Care Information—Diabetes Collaboration (SCI‐DC), a population‐based register of people with diagnosed diabetes derived from primary and secondary care data. Mid‐year population estimates for Scotland were used as the denominator to calculate annual incidence with stratification by age and sex. Joinpoint regression was used to investigate whether incidence changed during the study period. Age and sex‐specific type 1 diabetes incidence over the whole time period was estimated by quintile of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), an area‐based measure, in which Q1 and Q5 denote the most and least deprived fifths of the population, respectively, with quasi‐Poisson regression used to compare incidence for Q5 compared to Q1.

Results

The median (IQR) age of the study population of 14,564 individuals with incident type 1 diabetes was 24.1 (12.3–42.4) years, 56% were men, 23% were in Q1 and 16% were in Q5. Incidence of T1DM was higher in men than women overall (at around 22 and 17 per 100,000, respectively) and in under 15 year olds (approximately 40 per 100,000 in both sexes) than other age groups and was similar across the study period in all strata. There was an inverse association between socio‐economic status and type 1 diabetes incidence for 15–29, 30–49 and 50+ year olds [incidence rate ratio (IRR) for Q5 compared to Q1; IRR (95% CI) 0.52 (0.47–0.58), 0.68 (0.61–0.76) and 0.53(0.46–0.61), respectively] but not for under 15 year olds [1.02 (0.92–1.12)].

Conclusion

Incidence of type 1 diabetes varies by age, sex and socio‐economic status and has remained approximately stable from 2006 to 2019 in Scotland.