bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of business group affiliation on CO2 emissions: evidence from Chile
Authors: Pinto-Gutiérrez Cristian
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between business group affiliation and CO2 emissions in Chile, providing insights into the pollution externalities associated with business group structures and their implications for environmental performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A hand-matched sample of industrial facilities and subsidiaries of listed firms in Chile was utilized to analyze the CO2 emissions of business group-affiliated firms compared to stand-alone firms. Fixed-effect regression analysis and propensity score matching were employed to examine the differences in emissions levels.

Findings

The results suggest that firms affiliated with business groups have higher CO2 emissions in comparison to similar stand-alone firms. This suggests that business group structures may weaken the pressures for emission reduction and maintenance of public legitimacy among affiliated firms.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study are subject to certain limitations, such as the use of a specific dataset from Chile and the inability to explore certain factors due to data constraints. For instance, we were unable to examine the separation between control and cash-flow rights as well as the influence of manager characteristics on pollution levels. Future research should address these limitations and expand the analysis to other emerging market countries to further investigate the impact of lax or ineffective environmental regulations on pollution outcomes.

Practical implications

The research findings have practical implications for investors and policymakers. Investors interested in environmentally sustainable investments should consider the higher pollution levels associated with business group-affiliated firms. Policymakers can use these findings to design more effective regulations and incentives to encourage emission reduction efforts within business group structures.

Social implications

The study’s results emphasize the need for a comprehensive understanding of the environmental implications of business group affiliation. By recognizing the potential for higher emissions in business group structures, stakeholders can advocate for sustainable practices, encourage transparency and promote responsible environmental management within corporate entities.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on corporate governance, climate risks and pollution externalities by providing an empirical evidence on the relationship between business group affiliation and CO2 emissions. It highlights the importance of considering the influence of corporate structures on environmental performance, particularly in the context of emerging market economies.
Sports ambassadors and destination image: a fuzzy set analysis
Authors: Vila-López Natalia , Küster-Boluda Inés , Aragonés-Jericó Cristina , Sarabia-Sánchez Francisco
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to identify different combinations of causal conditions (celebrity attributes) that explain our outcome: destination image. More specifically, three main research questions guide our work: (1) Which attributes should an outstanding sportsperson have to enhance the image of his/her country as a destination image? (2) Are these the same for different product categories? (3) Do tourists and residents differ?

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, the fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) was used with a sample of 187 participants (105 tourists and 82 residents).

Findings

Results show that some attributes of a sports celebrity are more critical than others in enhancing destination image. Those attributes of sports celebrities appearing in the intermediate and parsimonious analysis should be prioritized. This is the case of trustworthiness. Second, experience is a peripheral requirement (only appeared in the intermediate analysis). Third, attractiveness is unnecessary and an even and undesired attribute in many solutions. Fourth, when comparing tourists and residents, both groups value the role of football players, while residents also appreciate the role of marathon runners. Tennis players are the less relevant sports celebrities to build Spain’s destination image.

Originality/value

First, a new statistical analysis in the marketing discipline, QCA, has been used. The use of qualitative approaches to investigate destination images has been scarce. Second, the study of the role of sports celebrity endorsement on brand–place attachment has yet to be investigated. Third, studies about the role of residents in the image of a tourism destination/city are scarce. Tourists and residents must be investigated because they can benefit from sports celebrities' activities.
Challenges and benefits for small and medium enterprises in the transformation to smart manufacturing: a systematic literature review and framework
Authors: Krishnan Ramesh
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Smart manufacturing is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry by shifting the focus from traditional manufacturing to a more intelligent, interconnected and responsive system. Despite being the backbone of the economy and despite the government’s efforts in supporting and encouraging the transformation to smart manufacturing, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been struggling to transform their operations. This study aims to identify the challenges for SMEs’ transformation and the benefits they can get from this transformation, following a systematic review of existing literature.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of existing literature has been performed to identify the peer-reviewed journal articles that focus on smart manufacturing for SMEs. First, a comprehensive list of keywords relevant to the review questions are identified. Second, Scopus and Web of Science databases were then used to search for articles, applying filters for English language and peer-reviewed status. Third, after manually assessing abstracts for relevance, 175 articles are considered for further review and analysis.

Findings

The benefits and challenges of SMEs’ transformation to smart manufacturing are identified. The identified challenges are categorized using the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) framework. Further, to address the identified challenges and initiate the SME’s transition toward smart manufacturing, a framework has been proposed that shows how SMEs can start their transition with minimum investment and existing resources.

Originality/value

Several studies have concentrated on understanding how smart manufacturing enhances sustainability, productivity and preventive maintenance. However, there is a lack of studies comprehensively analyzing the challenges for smart manufacturing adoption for SMEs. The originality of this study lies in identifying the challenges and benefits of smart manufacturing transformation and proposing a framework as a roadmap for SMEs' smart manufacturing adoption.
The significance and challenges of turnover and retention of millennial professionals
Authors: Minzlaff Kathrine Anne , Palmer Stephen , Fillery-Travis Annette
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the current state of the millennial literature, highlighting the significance and challenges of millennial professionals, their reported high turnover and the various recommendations designed to engage and retain them.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated review approach was applied to synthesise contemporary peer-reviewed articles, supplemented by legacy and grey literature and relevant book chapters, to comprehensively explore and construct a cohesive overview of the current research on the millennial workforce.

Findings

Within the wealth of available information, examining the various studies on millennial turnover reveals diverse theories, evidence and opportunities for advancement, underscoring the necessity for more robust empirical studies. The investigation identified three overarching retention strategy themes: (1) intergenerational conflict management, (2) workplace adaptations and (3) solutions rooted in a protean career orientation. In alignment with protean career concepts, coaching shows promise as an underexplored option.

Practical implications

This article holds practical significance by offering researchers a comprehensive and cohesive overview of the millennial literature. Additionally, it gives organisations a novel perspective on the crucial role coaching can play in engaging and retaining millennial employees.

Originality/value

The increased focus on retaining millennial workers in recent decades has spurred a proliferation of articles and books on this subject. However, this body of research remains fragmented, lacking an overview that provides a clear picture of its current state. This review aims to bridge this gap.
Do heuristics affect Brazilian investors’ decision-making process?
Authors: Souza Virgílio Vasconcelos , Souza Lucas Lopes Ferreira , Oliveira Oderlene , Souza Elnivan Moreira de , Costa Juliana Silva
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to analyze the influence of heuristics on Brazilian investors' behavior in the decision-making process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply the partial least squares structural equation modeling methodology. This sample is composed of 220 investors.

Findings

The heuristics of overconfidence and anchoring positively influence investors' decision-making, while loss aversion negatively influences it. The herd effect exhibits no influence. The results also support the idea that decision-making positively influences investors' performance. Investors feel secure in their attitudes regarding financial decision-making, even if their decisions are not always rational as they are affected by biases.

Originality/value

This article explains the influence of heuristics on investors' decision-making and performance in the Brazilian context during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A thematic analysis of contemporary tourism education
Authors: Yağmur Karalım Pınar
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study examines two crucial aspects of employability in the tourism industry, with a particular emphasis on contemporary advancements. The first aspect pertains to the emerging demands in the employability sector of the tourism industry, driven by technological advancements. Given the evident nature of this emerging trend, it is imperative to possess a robust infrastructure and comprehensive knowledge. The second aspect is to evaluate the level of education that industry employees receive in relation to the tourism sector in order to ensure sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a thematic literature review to evaluate the significance of tourism education on employability and the necessity of adopting technology.

Findings

The findings deviate from the extensive literature search showed that Higher Education Institutions should prioritise ensuring that the new generation’s technological capabilities align with the traditional curricula in their respective fields, given the widespread use of personal computers and smartphones. Ultimately, students are increasingly expecting that technology will significantly impact their educational experiences and modes of communication for their future careers.

Practical implications

It is widely acknowledged that the most efficient approach to fostering learning is to exert authority over the learning setting, and educators should generate learning prospects for students rather than merely transmitting information and facts.

Originality/value

This review assesses two key aspects of employability in the tourism industry, focussing on recent technological advancements and the necessary skills for students' future careers.
Clinicopathological characteristics of patients with primary tracheal tumors: Analysis of eighty‐nine cases
Authors: Piórek Aleksandra , Płużański Adam , Teterycz Paweł , Tabor Sylwia , Winiarczyk Kinga , Knetki‐Wróblewska Magdalena , Kowalski Dariusz M. , Krzakowski Maciej
Published: March 2024

Background

Primary tracheal tumors are very rare and the literature on this subject is limited. The most common histological type of primary tracheal tumors is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Limited knowledge exists regarding the behavior and outcomes of different histological types of tracheal cancers. The present study aimed to address this gap by assessing the significance of the histological type of primary tracheal tumors based on our own data and to review the literature.

Methods

We carried out a retrospective analysis of 89 patients with primary tracheal tumors treated at the Maria Sklodowska‐Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, Poland, between 2000 and 2016. The study assessed patient demographics, tumor characteristics and treatment, with a focus on SCC, ACC, and other histological types. Different histological types were compared in terms of overall survival, disease‐free survival, and progression‐free survival.

Results

SCC was the most frequently diagnosed histological type (56.2%), followed by ACC (21.3%). Patients with SCC were typically older (78% over 60 years), predominantly male (66%), and associated with smoking. In contrast, the ACC had a more balanced gender distribution and did not correlate with smoking. ACC displayed a significantly better prognosis, with a median overall survival of 129.4 months, compared with 9.0 months for SCC.

Conclusion

Histological type plays a crucial role in the prognosis of primary tracheal tumors. ACC demonstrated a more favorable outcome compared with SCC.
Statistical inference methods for n‐dimensional hypervolumes: Applications to niches and functional diversity
Authors: Chen Daniel , Laini Alex , Blonder Benjamin Wong
Published: March 2024

The size and shape of niche spaces or trait spaces are often analysed using hypervolumes estimated from data. The hypervolume R package has previously supported such analyses via descriptive but not inferential statistics. This gap has limited the use of hypothesis testing and confidence intervals when comparing or analysing hypervolumes.

We introduce a new version of this R package that provides nonparametric methods for resampling, building confidence intervals and testing hypotheses. These new methods can be used to reduce the bias and variance of analyses, and well as provide statistical significance for hypervolume analysis.

We illustrate usage on real datasets for the climate niche of tree species and the functional diversity of penguin species. We analyse the size and overlap of the respective niche or trait spaces.

These statistical inference methods improve the interpretability and robustness of hypervolume analyses.
The cellular bases of mobility from the Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA)
Authors: Cummings Steven R. , Coen Paul M. , Ferrucci Luigi
Published: March 2024

Findings from the Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA) in this issue of Aging Cell show that several biological pathways in skeletal muscle cells play an important role in determining mobility in older adults. These are based on assays in skeletal muscle biopsies obtained from participants, aged 70 years and older in SOMMA tested for association with assessments related to mobility, including muscle mass, strength, power, cardiopulmonary fitness, and 400 m walking speed. The papers show that, using mass spectrometry, oxidative modifications of proteins essential to myocellular function are associated with poorer mobility. Using RNA‐seq to quantify gene expression, lower levels of expression of antioxidant enzymes located in mitochondria, autophagy, patterns of expression of genes involved in autophagy, and higher levels of RNA transcripts that increase with denervation were associated with poorer performance on tests of mobility. These results extend previous research from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging and recent studies from SOMMA showing the importance of mitochondrial energetics in mobility. Together, these findings are painting a picture of how fundamental cellular processes influence the loss of mobility with aging. They may also be a window on aging in other cells, tissues, and systems. The data collected in SOMMA are publicly available and SOMMA welcomes collaborations with scientists who are interested in research about human aging.
Friendly boards and capital allocation efficiency
Authors: Bhandari Avishek , Bhuyan Md Nazmul Hasan , Subedi Meena
Published: March 2024

This study examines the effect of friendly boards on capital allocation efficiency. We provide evidence that firms with friendly boards have a positive and statistically significant effect on capital allocation inefficiency. We find our results robust to different measures of friendly boards and capital allocation inefficiency, alternative model specifications, omitted variable bias, self‐selection bias and other endogeneity concerns. We also show that the positive association between friendly boards and capital allocation inefficiency is lower in firms with high external corporate governance quality but higher in firms with high financial constraints. The findings imply that poor board monitoring and high agency conflicts in firms with friendly boards lead to high capital allocation inefficiency.
Building tribes: How administrative units shaped ethnic groups in Africa
Authors: Müller‐Crepon Carl
Published: March 2024

Ethnic identities around the world are deeply intertwined with modern statehood, yet the extent to which territorial governance has shaped ethnic groups is empirically unknown. I argue that governments at the national and subnational levels have incentives to bias governance in favor of large groups. The resulting disadvantages for ethnic minorities motivate their assimilation and emigration. Both gradually align ethnic groups with administrative borders. I examine the result of this process at subnational administrative borders across sub‐Saharan Africa and use credibly exogenous, straight borders for causal identification. I find substantive increases in the local population share of administrative units' predominant ethnic group at units' borders. Powerful traditional authorities and size advantages of predominant groups increase this effect. Data on minority assimilation and migration show that both drive the shaping of ethnic groups along administrative borders. These results highlight important effects of the territorial organization of modern governance on ethnic groups.
What is “heard” at a pipeline hearing?: The gerrymandering of aurality in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Veeraraghavan Lee
Published: March 2024

This article explores how sound technologies are deployed by government agencies to produce legitimacy in the struggle over oil pipelines in British Columbia, Canada. Activists seeking to stop the Northern Gateway and Trans Mountain pipelines have mobilized noise and silence as tactics of protest and refusal. For example, one thousand demonstrators make a cacophony outside a Vancouver hotel in protest of the Northern Gateway pipeline. Communications technology, though, is deployed here by the state to compress and control. In one of the hotel's small, impregnable conference rooms, public hearings over the pipeline are taking place—only the public is not allowed inside: the proceedings are being livestreamed to a hotel two kilometers away. On unceded Coast Salish territory, the legitimacy of pipeline hearings is also contested because the continued existence of Indigenous legal orders represents a challenge to the pipelines in question. Technological mediation makes it possible to satisfy one requirement of legitimacy: democratically granted representative power. The challenge to the legal system highlighted by the continued existence of the Indigenous, though, is managed through audile techniques deployed as anthropotechnologies. The implications for a politics of sound must be considered in light of sound's mediation, which is never politically neutral.
Beyond “make” or “buy”: Evaluating value‐for‐money in public service delivery
Authors: Shiva Mehdi , FitzGerald Clare , Carter Eleanor , Airoldi Mara
Published: March 2024

Outsourcing of public services is under heightened scrutiny. Public managers are asked to conduct thorough “make or buy” assessments to help assure deliverability, affordability, and value for money of public services. The naivety of this request dramatically overlooks the subtlety and challenge faced by public managers. In this paper we connect a range of differently configured contractual agreements to underlying components of “value for money”, namely, the pursuit of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. We set out a framework consisting of conceptual models and the corresponding decision tree to allow comparison across alternative sourcing strategies, considering both the associated transaction costs and transaction benefits. We also use simulation methods to capture uncertainty while establishing the practicality of the framework. This study advocates for moving beyond the polarized ‘make or buy’ debate with more instrumental considerations of “how to buy” from the perspective of the public manager.
Love on the rocks: Unraveling effects of remote employees' work–family conflict on couples' divorce intentions
Authors: Wan Min (Maggie) , Carlson Dawn S. , Kacmar K. Michele , Perry Sara Jansen , Thompson Merideth J.
Published: March 2024

This research examines the detrimental impact of remote employees' work‐to‐family conflict (WFC) on divorce intentions for both the remote employee and spouse. Building upon the spillover‐crossover framework and relative deprivation theory, we examine the paths of spillover to the remote employee's divorce intentions, crossover influences of a remote employee's WFC on divorce intentions through the spouse (i.e., relative deprivation, resentment toward the employee's remote work, and relationship tension), and crossback of the remote employee's WFC through the spouse and back to their own divorce intentions. Surveying 311 remote employees and their spouses at two‐time points, we find that remote employee WFC predicts divorce intentions for the remote employee through the spillover path. Further, the remote employee WFC crosses over to the spouse through two different paths to impact spouse divorce intentions. Taken together, our research extends the existing WFC literature and broadens our understanding of the spillover and crossover effects through which remote employees' WFC could undermine both partners' perceptions of the marital relationship.
Children in ethnically diverse classrooms and those with cross‐ethnic friendships excel at understanding others' minds
Authors: Devine Rory T. , Grumley Traynor Imogen , Ronchi Luca , Lecce Serena
Published: March 2024

This study examined the link between classroom ethnic diversity, cross‐ethnic friendships, and children's theory of mind. In total, 730 children in the United Kingdom (54.7% girls, 51.5% White) aged 8 to 13 years completed measures of theory of mind in 2019/2020. Controlling for verbal ability, executive function, peer social preference, and teacher‐reported demographic characteristics, greater classroom ethnic diversity provided opportunities for cross‐ethnic friendships, and children with cross‐ethnic friendships performed better than peers without cross‐ethnic friendships on theory of mind. These results extend accounts of intergroup contact by using direct assessments of children's theory of mind and advance social accounts of theory of mind by demonstrating how experiences outside the family are linked with theory of mind.
CYP1B1 affects the integrity of the blood–brain barrier and oxidative stress in the striatum: An investigation of manganese‐induced neurotoxicity
Authors: Wu Juan , Li Yueran , Tian Shuwei , Na Shufang , Wei Hongyan , Wu Yafei , Yang Yafei , Shen Zixia , Ding Jiayue , Bao Shenglan , Liu Siqi , Li Lingyun , Feng Rongling , Zhu Yong , He Chunyan , Yue Jiang
Published: March 2024

Aims

Excessive influx of manganese (Mn) into the brain across the blood–brain barrier induces neurodegeneration. CYP1B1 is involved in the metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) that affects vascular homeostasis. We aimed to investigate the effect of brain CYP1B1 on Mn‐induced neurotoxicity.

Method

Brain Mn concentrations and α‐synuclein accumulation were measured in wild‐type and CYP1B1 knockout mice treated with MnCl2 (30 mg/kg) and biotin (0.2 g/kg) for 21 continuous days. Tight junctions and oxidative stress were analyzed in hCMEC/D3 and SH‐SY5Y cells after the treatment with MnCl2 (200 μM) and CYP1B1‐derived AA metabolites (HETEs and EETs).

Results

Mn exposure inhibited brain CYP1B1, and CYP1B1 deficiency increased brain Mn concentrations and accelerated α‐synuclein deposition in the striatum. CYP1B1 deficiency disrupted the integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and increased the ratio of 3, 4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) to dopamine in the striatum. HETEs attenuated Mn‐induced inhibition of tight junctions by activating PPARγ in endothelial cells. Additionally, EETs attenuated Mn‐induced up‐regulation of the KLF/MAO‐B axis and down‐regulation of NRF2 in neuronal cells. Biotin up‐regulated brain CYP1B1 and reduced Mn‐induced neurotoxicity in mice.

Conclusions

Brain CYP1B1 plays a critical role in both cerebrovascular and dopamine homeostasis, which might serve as a novel therapeutic target for the prevention of Mn‐induced neurotoxicity.
Fat mass and obesity associated protein inhibits neuronal ferroptosis via the FYN/Drp1 axis and alleviate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury
Authors: Zhang Yi , Gong Xin
Published: March 2024

Objectives

FTO is known to be involved in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, its related specific mechanisms during this condition warrant further investigations. This study aimed at exploring the impacts of FTO and the FYN/DRP1 axis on mitochondrial fission, oxidative stress (OS), and ferroptosis in cerebral I/R injury and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

The cerebral I/R models were established in mice via the temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (tMCAO/R) and hypoxia/reoxygenation models were induced in mouse hippocampal neurons via oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). After the gain‐ and loss‐of‐function assays, related gene expression was detected, along with the examination of mitochondrial fission, OS‐ and ferroptosis‐related marker levels, neuronal degeneration and cerebral infarction, and cell viability and apoptosis. The binding of FTO to FYN, m6A modification levels of FYN, and the interaction between FYN and Drp1 were evaluated.

Results

FTO was downregulated and FYN was upregulated in tMCAO/R mouse models and OGD/R cell models. FTO overexpression inhibited mitochondrial fission, OS, and ferroptosis to suppress cerebral I/R injury in mice, which was reversed by further overexpressing FYN. FTO overexpression also suppressed mitochondrial fission and ferroptosis to increase cell survival and inhibit cell apoptosis in OGD/R cell models, which was aggravated by additionally inhibiting DRP1. FTO overexpression inhibited FYN expression via the m6A modification to inactive Drp1 signaling, thus reducing mitochondrial fission and ferroptosis and enhancing cell viability in cells.

Conclusions

FTO overexpression suppressed FYN expression through m6A modification, thereby subduing Drp1 activity and relieving cerebral I/R injury.
Acetyl‐11‐keto‐beta‐boswellic acid modulates macrophage polarization and Schwann cell migration to accelerate spinal cord injury repair in rats
Authors: Wang Yao , Xiong Zongliang , Qiao Yuncong , Zhang Qiyuan , Zhou Guanghu , Zhou Chong , Ma Xianglin , Jiang Xiaowen , Yu Wenhui
Published: March 2024

Background

Inhibiting secondary inflammatory damage caused by glial cells and creating a stable microenvironment is one of the main strategies to investigate drugs for the treatment of spinal cord injury. Acetyl‐11‐keto‐beta‐boswellic acid (AKBA) is the active component of the natural drug boswellia, which has anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects and offers a possible therapeutic option for spinal cord injury.

Methods

In this study, a spinal cord injury model was established by crushing spinal cord, respectively, to detect the M1 macrophage inflammatory markers: iNOS, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and the M2 macrophage markers CD206, ARG‐1, IL‐10, and the detection of antioxidant enzymes and MDA. In vitro, macrophages were cultured to verify the main mechanism of the macrophage switch from Nrf2/HO‐1 to M2 type by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and other techniques. Macrophage and Schwann cell co‐culture validated the migration mechanism of Schwann cells promoted by AKBA.

Results

AKBA significantly enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activities of CAT, GSH‐Px, T‐AOC, and SOD, reduced MDA content, and reduced oxidative damage caused by spinal cord injury via the Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathway; AKBA mediates Nrf2/HO‐1/IL‐10, converts macrophages from M1 to M2 type, reduces inflammation, and promotes Schwann cell migration, thereby accelerating the repair of spinal cord injury in rats.

Conclusions

Our work demonstrates that AKBA can attenuate oxidative stress as well as the secondary inflammatory injury caused by macrophages after SCI, promote Schwann cell migration to the injury site, and thus accelerate the repair of the injured spinal cord.
Enhancing polyamide fabric performance through green reduction of graphene oxide for superior ultraviolet protection and electrical conductivity
Authors: Demirel Gültekin Nergis , Usta İsmail , Yalçin Bahattin
Published: March 2024

In this study, a polyamide warp‐knitted fabric was treated with a graphene oxide (GO) aqueous dispersion using a laboratory‐type Jigger dyeing machine. Subsequently, the GO underwent a chemical reduction process, employing rosehip extract powder as a nature‐based reducing agent. The effect of reduction time (12 and 24 h) was investigated. The study involved an examination of the surface morphology, colour coordinates, and colour difference of both the GO coated and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) coated fabrics. Additionally, the colour fastness against rubbing was assessed. Furthermore, electrical resistivity measurements were conducted on the GO‐coated polyamide‐6,6 fabric both before and after the reduction process. The ultraviolet (UV) transmittance and ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of both GO‐coated and reduced fabrics were determined. The study also explored the effect of the washing process on colour properties, electrical resistivity, and UPF. Notably, the lowest electrical surface resistivity and the highest UPF rating were obtained as 1.20 × 102 kΩ/sq and 50+ after the reduction process. Additionally, after the washing process, the electrical surface resistivity increased, while the UPF rating remained 50+, indicating excellent UV protection.
Colonial history or decolonization? Shedding light on “the possibilities of strengthening museum communication” in Denmark
Authors: Baark Josefine
Published: March 2024

This article analyses the structure and results of a report published in April 2022 by the Danish Ministry of Culture on the feasibility of “shedding light on the possibilities of strengthening museum communication of Denmark's colonial history.” This article seeks to expose the underlying assumptions accompanying the term “colonial history” in the report. It suggests that “decolonization” and “decoloniality” would be more appropriate frameworks for museum development, as evidenced by current scholarship as well as curatorial trends elsewhere in Europe. Ultimately, it imagines how differently a report focusing on how Danish museums might embrace the process of decoloniality would look.
No evidence linking sleep traits with white blood cell counts: Multivariable‐adjusted and Mendelian randomization analyses
Authors: Noordam Raymond , Ao Linjun , Stroo Jasmijn F. , Willems van Dijk Ko , van Heemst Diana
Published: March 2024

Background

Disturbances in habitual sleep have been associated with multiple age‐associated diseases. However, the biological mechanisms underpinning these associations remain largely unclear. We assessed the possible involvement of the circulating immune system by determining the associations between sleep traits and white blood cell counts using multivariable‐adjusted linear regression and Mendelian randomization.

Methods

Cross‐sectional multivariable‐adjusted linear regression analyses were done using participants within the normal range of total white blood cell counts (>4.5 × 109 and <11.0 × 109/μL) from UK Biobank. For the sleep traits, we examined (short and long) sleep duration, chronotype, insomnia symptoms and daytime dozing. Two‐sample Mendelian randomization analyses were done using instruments for sleep traits derived from European‐ancestry participants from UK Biobank (over 410,000 participants) and using SNP‐outcome data derived from European‐ancestry participants from the Blood Cell Consortium (N = 563,946) to which no data from UK Biobank contributed.

Results

Using data from 357,656 participants (mean [standard deviation] age: 56.5 [8.1] years, and 44.4% men), we did not find evidence that disturbances in any of the studied sleep traits were associated with differences in blood cell counts (total, lymphocytes, neutrophiles, eosinophiles and basophiles). Also, we did not find associations between disturbances in any of the studied sleep traits and white blood cell counts using Mendelian Randomization.

Conclusion

Based on the results from two different methodologies, disturbances in habitual sleep are unlikely to cause changes in blood cell counts and thereby differences in blood cell counts are unlikely to be underlying the observed sleep‐disease associations.
Social learning about climate risks
Authors: Xu Yilan , Box‐Couillard Sébastien
Published: March 2024

With a social network adjacency matrix constructed from the Facebook Social Connectedness Index (SCI), this paper examines whether social learning facilitates climate risk perception updates to inform climate adaptation. We find that Hurricanes Harvey and Irma‐induced regional flooding increased flood insurance policies nationwide to the extent of each county's social network proximity to the flooded areas, with a corresponding update in climate risk perception. Social learning resulted in an additional 250,000 policies in flooded counties and 81,000 policies in unflooded counties over 3 years. We find evidence of the salience effect but no support for adverse selection or over‐insurance.
Ethical Diversity, The Common Good, and The Courage of Dialogue
Authors: Mulryan Seamus
Published: March 2024

In this article, Seamus Mulryan contends that dialogue about questions that matter to a body politic require the ethical virtue of courage, which is distinct from the virtue of intellectual humility, and this is of central importance in the education of members of a pluralist society. Mulryan begins with Robert Kunzman's theory of Ethical Dialogue and departs from it through Hans‐Georg Gadamer's theory of hermeneutic experience and Charles Taylor's claims about the inextricable relationship between self‐intelligibility and moral spaces. Finally, Mulryan illustrates the promises and perils of courageous dialogue as an educative activity by way of Plato's Meno, Protagoras, and Gorgias.
Stop Talking about Echo Chambers and Filter Bubbles
Authors: Coady David
Published: March 2024

It is widely believed that we are facing a problem, even a crisis, caused by so‐called “echo chambers” and “filter bubbles.” Here, David Coady argues that this belief is mistaken. There is no such problem, and we should refrain from using these neologisms altogether. They serve no useful purpose, since there is nothing we can say with them that we cannot say equally well or better without them. Furthermore, they cause a variety of harms, including, ironically, a tendency to narrow public debate within predetermined limits.
How widespread use of generative AI for images and video can affect the environment and the science of ecology
Authors: Rillig Matthias C. , Mansour India , Hempel Stefan , Bi Mohan , König‐Ries Birgitta , Kasirzadeh Atoosa
Published: March 2024

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) models will have broad impacts on society including the scientific enterprise; ecology and environmental science will be no exception. Here, we discuss the potential opportunities and risks of advanced generative AI for visual material (images and video) for the science of ecology and the environment itself. There are clearly opportunities for positive impacts, related to improved communication, for example; we also see possibilities for ecological research to benefit from generative AI (e.g., image gap filling, biodiversity surveys, and improved citizen science). However, there are also risks, threatening to undermine the credibility of our science, mostly related to actions of bad actors, for example in terms of spreading fake information or committing fraud. Risks need to be mitigated at the level of government regulatory measures, but we also highlight what can be done right now, including discussing issues with the next generation of ecologists and transforming towards radically open science workflows.
Second‐line immunotherapy in new onset refractory status epilepticus
Authors: Hanin Aurélie , Muscal Eyal , Hirsch Lawrence J.
Published: March 2024

Several pieces of evidence suggest immune dysregulation could trigger the onset and modulate sequelae of new onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE), including its subtype with prior fever known as febrile infection‐related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES). Consensus‐driven recommendations have been established to guide the initiation of first‐ and second‐line immunotherapies in these patients. Here, we review the literature to date on second‐line immunotherapy for NORSE/FIRES, presenting results from 28 case reports and series describing the use of anakinra, tocilizumab, or intrathecal dexamethasone in 75 patients with NORSE. Among them, 52 patients were managed with anakinra, 21 with tocilizumab, and eight with intrathecal dexamethasone. Most had elevated serum or cerebrospinal fluid cytokine levels at treatment initiation. Treatments were predominantly initiated during the acute phase of the disease (92%) and resulted, within the first 2 weeks, in seizure control for up to 73% of patients with anakinra, 70% with tocilizumab, and 50% with intrathecal dexamethasone. Cytokine levels decreased after treatment for most patients. Anakinra and intrathecal dexamethasone were mainly initiated in children with FIRES, whereas tocilizumab was more frequently prescribed for adults, with or without a prior febrile infection. There was no clear correlation between the response to treatment and the time to initiate the treatment. Most patients experienced long‐term disability and drug‐resistant post‐NORSE epilepsy. Initiation of second‐line immunotherapies during status epilepticus (SE) had no clear effect on the emergence of post‐NORSE epilepsy or long‐term functional outcomes. In a small number of cases, the initiation of anakinra or tocilizumab several years after SE onset resulted in a reduction of seizure frequency for 67% of patients. These data highlight the potential utility of anakinra, tocilizumab, and intrathecal dexamethasone in patients with NORSE. There continues to be interest in the utilization of early cytokine measurements to guide treatment selection and response. Prospective studies are necessary to understand the role of early immunomodulation and its associations with epilepsy and functional outcomes.
Elevated expression of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in the skin and the serum of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: Skin as a possible source of IL‐6 through Toll‐like receptor ligands and SAA
Authors: Kawakami Yoshio , Kajita Ai , Hasui Ken‐Ichi , Matsuda Yoshihiro , Iwatsuki Keiji , Morizane Shin
Published: March 2024

The effect of persistent skin inflammation on extracutaneous organs and blood is not well studied. Patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), a severe form of the inherited blistering skin disorder, have widespread and persistent skin ulcers, and they develop various complications including anaemia, hyperglobulinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia and secondary amyloidosis. These complications are associated with the bioactivities of IL‐6, and the development of secondary amyloidosis requires the persistent elevation of serum amyloid A (SAA) level. We found that patients with RDEB had significantly higher serum levels of IL‐6 and SAA compared to healthy volunteers and patients with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis. Both IL‐6 and SAA were highly expressed in epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts of the skin ulcer lesions. Keratinocytes and fibroblasts surrounding the ulcer lesions are continuously exposed to Toll‐like receptor (TLR) ligands, pathogen‐associated and damage‐associated molecular pattern molecules. In vitro, TLR ligands induced IL‐6 expression via NF‐κB in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) and dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). SAA further induced the expression of IL‐6 via TLR1/2 and NF‐κB in NHEKs and NHDFs. The limitation of this study is that NHEKs and NHDFs were not derived from RDEB patients. These observations suggest that TLR‐mediated persistent skin inflammation might increase the risk of IL‐6‐related systemic complications, including RDEB.
Long‐term tropospheric ozone pollution disrupts plant‐microbe‐soil interactions in the agroecosystem
Authors: Zhang Kaile , Zentella Rodolfo , Burkey Kent O. , Liao Hui‐Ling , Tisdale Ripley H.
Published: March 2024

Tropospheric ozone (O3) threatens agroecosystems, yet its long‐term effects on intricate plant‐microbe‐soil interactions remain overlooked. This study employed two soybean genotypes of contrasting O3‐sensitivity grown in field plots exposed elevated O3 (eO3) and evaluated cause‐effect relationships with their associated soil microbiomes and soil quality. Results revealed long‐term eO3 effects on belowground soil microbiomes and soil health surpass damage visible on plants. Elevated O3 significantly disrupted belowground bacteria‐fungi interactions, reduced fungal diversity, and altered fungal community assembly by impacting soybean physiological properties. Particularly, eO3 impacts on plant performance were significantly associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, undermining their contribution to plants, whereas eO3 increased fungal saprotroph proliferation, accelerating soil organic matter decomposition and soil carbon pool depletion. Free‐living diazotrophs exhibited remarkable acclimation under eO3, improving plant performance by enhancing nitrogen fixation. However, overarching detrimental consequences of eO3 negated this benefit. Overall, this study demonstrated long‐term eO3 profoundly governed negative impacts on plant‐soil‐microbiota interactions, pointing to a potential crisis for agroecosystems. These findings highlight urgent needs to develop adaptive strategies to navigate future eO3 scenarios.
Low pulse pressure and high serum complement C1q are risk factors for hemodialysis headache: A case–control study
Authors: Gan Quan , Zhang Lily , Fang Yuting , Yang Liu , Shi Ming , Xiao Zheman
Published: March 2024

Background and Objective

Hemodialysis headache (HDH) is a common complication of dialysis that negatively affects the patient's quality of life. The etiology and triggering factors of HDH are not fully understood. This study aims to assess the prevalence and characteristics of HDH among patients undergoing hemodialysis across multiple centers in China. Furthermore, we conducted a case–control study at one hospital to identify risk factors associated with HDH.

Methods

The study consisted of two phases including a cross‐sectional observational study and a case–control study. Participants underwent neurological examinations and interviews. Demographic and medical information were collected from both medical records and patient files. Serum creatinine, uric acid, urea, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), plasma osmolarity, glucose, C1q, and a variety of electrolytes including potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus were measured before and after dialysis. Blood pressure variables including systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure (PP), and heart rate were monitored hourly. Serum levels of inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐4, IL‐6, and IL‐10 were quantified using a double‐antibody sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

The prevalence of HDH was 37.7% (183/485). HDH was characterized by a bilateral tightening headache of moderate intensity and duration of <2 h, occurring in different locations. The case–control study included 50 patients with HDH and 84 control patients, pre‐dialysis PP was found to be lower in the HDH group than in the control group (mean ± standard deviation 51.5 ± 18.2 vs. 67.9 ± 14.9, p = 0.027). Furthermore, the pre‐dialysis serum complement C1q level was significantly higher for the HDH group than the control group (median and interquartile range 201.5 [179.0–231.5] vs. 189.0 [168.9–209.0], p = 0.021). Pre‐dialysis PP was associated with 5.1% decreased odds of HDH (odds ratio [OR] = 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93–0.99, p = 0.026), body weight was associated with a 5.4% decreased risk of HDH (OR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91–0.99, p = 0.013), and pre‐dialysis C1q levels increased the odds of HDH by 1.9% (OR = 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01–1.03, p = 0.005).

Conclusion

Low PP, low body weight, and high blood complement C1q may be potential risk factors associated with HDH.
High expression of autotaxin is associated with poor recurrence‐free survival in cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Li Xuefeng , Koyama Yukinori , Taura Kojiro , Nishio Takahiro , Yoh Tomoaki , Nishino Hiroto , Uemoto Yusuke , Kimura Yusuke , Nakamura Daichi , Nam Nguyen Hai , Sato Motohiko , Seo Satoru , Iwaisako Keiko , Hatano Etsuro
Published: March 2024

Background and Aim

Autotaxin (ATX) is an extracellular lysophospholipase D that catalyzes the hydrolysis of lysophosphatidylcholine into lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Recent accumulating evidence indicates the biological roles of ATX in malignant tumors. However, the expression and clinical implications of ATX in human cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) remain elusive.

Methods

In this study, the expression of ATX in 97 human CCA tissues was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Serum ATX levels were determined in CCA patients (n = 26) and healthy subjects (n = 8). Autotaxin expression in cell types within the tumor microenvironment was characterized by immunofluorescence staining.

Results

High ATX expression in CCA tissue was significantly associated with a higher frequency of lymph node metastasis (p = 0.050). High ATX expression was correlated with shorter overall survival (p = 0.032) and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) (p = 0.001) than low ATX expression. In multivariate Cox analysis, high ATX expression (p = 0.019) was an independent factor for shorter RFS. Compared with low ATX expression, high ATX expression was significantly associated with higher Ki‐67‐positive cell counts (p < 0.001). Serum ATX levels were significantly higher in male CCA patients than in healthy male subjects (p = 0.030). In the tumor microenvironment of CCA, ATX protein was predominantly expressed in tumor cells, cancer‐associated fibroblasts, plasma cells, and biliary epithelial cells.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the clinical evidence and independent prognostic value of ATX in human CCA.