bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retrieval of Intra-abdominal Fetal Scalp Electrode 4 Years After Cesarean Birth
Authors: Gao Joanna , Southern Graysan Kirk , Shockley Marie Erin
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND:

Fetal scalp electrodes are used routinely for intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring. The electrode is typically removed from the newborn's scalp immediately after vaginal delivery. However, there is no guidance on the timing of fetal scalp electrode removal in the event of an unplanned cesarean delivery.

CASE:

A 43-year-old woman with a prior cesarean delivery presented for gynecologic care with the chief symptom of chronic abdominal pain for 2 years. Imaging revealed a retained fetal scalp electrode in the abdominal cavity. The patient underwent an uncomplicated surgical extraction of the retained item, and her symptoms resolved.

CONCLUSION:

A standardized protocol to manage and account for fetal scalp electrodes during an unplanned cesarean delivery is an important patient-safety measure to prevent surgical retention of fetal scalp electrodes.
Management of a Retained Broken Suture Needle During Cerclage Placement
Authors: Wodoslawsky Sascha , Mossayebi Matthew H. , Alleyne Gregg , Al-Kouatly Huda B.
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND:

Broken suture needles with unintentional foreign body retention are an uncommon occurrence during obstetric procedures. Few reports exist in the literature of cases in pregnant patients. We report a case with the pregnancy management of a broken needle during cerclage placement that was retained in the cervix until repeat cesarean delivery.

CASE:

A 36-year-old woman, gravida 12 para 5, presented at 13 weeks of gestation for a history-indicated cerclage. The suture needle broke during the cerclage procedure, leaving a 35-mm needle fragment inside the cervical stroma between the 11 and 2 o'clock position that could not be recovered after multiple attempts. The procedure continued without needle recovery. Intraoperative pelvic X-ray was performed, demonstrating the retained fragment. No further attempts at recovery were made during the pregnancy, and a plan was made to proceed with removal at the patient’s repeat cesarean delivery. The patient presented in labor at 32 1/7 weeks of gestation and underwent an uncomplicated cesarean delivery. The retained needle was subsequently removed after manual palpation of the fragment transvaginally.

CONCLUSION:

Retained broken suture needles during obstetric procedures require careful management decisions in pregnant patients. Retention of a needle fragment until delivery may be considered if risks of removal outweigh the anticipated benefits.
Associations Among Menstrual Cycle Length, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and Vaccination
Authors: Alvergne Alexandra , Boniface Emily , Darney Blair , Shea Amanda , Weber Kirsten , Ventola Cécile , Vitzthum Virginia J. , Edelman Alison
Published: August 2023

OBJECTIVE:

To assess whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with menstrual cycle length changes and, if so, how that compares with those undergoing vaccination or no event (control).

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis in which we analyzed prospectively tracked cycle-length data from users of a period tracker application who also responded to a survey regarding COVID-19 symptoms and vaccination. We restricted our sample to users aged 16–45 years, with normal cycle lengths (24–38 days) and regular tracking behavior during the five cycles around COVID-19 symptoms or vaccination or a similar time period for those experiencing no event (control group). We calculated the within-user change in cycle length (days) from the three consecutive cycles preevent average (either vaccination, disease, or neither; cycles 1–3) to the event (cycle 4) and postevent (cycle 5) cycles. We used mixed-effects models to estimate the age- and country-adjusted difference in change in cycle length across the groups.

RESULTS:

We included 6,514 users from 110 countries representing 32,570 cycles (COVID-19 symptoms: 1,450; COVID-19 vaccination: 4,643; control: 421). The COVID-19 cohort experienced a 1.45-day adjusted increase in cycle length during cycle 4 (COVID-19) compared with their three preevent cycles (95% CI 0.86–2.04). The vaccinated group experienced a 1.14-day adjusted increase in cycle length during cycle 4 (COVID-19 vaccine) compared with their preevent average (95% CI 0.60–1.69). The control group (neither vaccine nor disease) experienced a 0.68-day decrease (95% CI −1.18 to −0.19) in a similar time period. Post hoc tests showed no significant differences in the magnitude of changes between the COVID-19 and vaccination cohorts. In both cohorts, cycle length changes disappeared in the postevent cycle.

CONCLUSION:

Experiencing COVID-19 is associated with a small change in cycle length similar to COVID-19 vaccination. These changes resolve quickly within the next cycle.
Influence of Anxiety and Depression on Opioid Use Following Lumbar Spine Fusion
Authors: Makanji Heeren , Solomito Matthew J. , Kostyun Regina , Esmende Sean
Published: August 2023

Study Design:

Retrospective database.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to understand how a mental health disorder, specifically anxiety and depression, influences a patient’s postoperative opioid needs following single-level lumbar spine fusion.

Summary of Background Data:

Patients with spine pathology commonly demonstrate symptoms of an active psychiatric disorder. Mental health significantly influences how a patient perceives pain and a patient’s opioid pain control needs after surgery.

Materials and Methods:

The Pearldiver Patient Claims Database was used to identify patients undergoing single-level posterior spine fusion within the United States between 2010 and 2020. Patients were placed into 1 of 4 groups: those with a diagnosis of depression, those with a diagnosis of anxiety, those with a diagnosis of both anxiety and depression, and a control group. χ2 tests were used to assess differences in the number of patients filling initial and additional opioid prescriptions for up to 90 days following their fusion.

Results:

The control group filled significantly more initial opioid prescriptions within the first 90 days following their spine fusion (P<0.001). However, there was no difference among the study groups in regard to the additional need for prescriptions.

Conclusion:

Patients with mental health diagnoses may present as complex patients to spine surgeons; however, this study suggests they do not require additional opioid pain control following a single-level lumbar fusion.
Assessment of Endocrine Disruptor Exposure in Hospital Professionals Using Hair and Urine Analyses: An Awareness Campaign
Authors: Robin Julien , Albouy Marion , Jourdain Bernard , Binson Guillaume , Sauvaget Alexis , Pierre-Eugène Pascale , Wu Luyao , Migeot Virginie , Dupuis Antoine , Venisse Nicolas
Published: August 2023

Background:

In 2021, French public authorities initiated the fourth National Environmental Health Plan to prevent environment-related health risks. This plan primarily focuses on the sensitization of health professionals and health care institutions. Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are environmental factors associated with several adverse health effects, such as reproductive disorders, obesity, and cancer. This study aimed to conduct an awareness campaign among professionals at a general hospital center on the risks related to EDs.

Methods:

Hospital professionals were directly involved in this study, and urine and hair samples were collected to determine bisphenol and paraben exposure levels. Analyses were performed using validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods, enabling the simultaneous determination of bisphenols and parabens. A questionnaire on lifestyle habits was distributed to assess its relationship with the exposure profiles. Nineteen professionals were recruited for the study.

Results:

Bisphenol A was detected in 95% of the urine samples, and the chlorinated derivatives of bisphenol A were between 16% and 63%. parabens showed detection frequencies between 37% and 100%, and methylparaben was quantified at an average concentration of 0.45 ± 0.46 ng/mL. In hair samples, bisphenols A, F, and S were detected at 95%–100%, chlorinated derivatives of bisphenol A were detected at 37%–68%, and parabens were detected at 100%.

Conclusions:

This awareness campaign may encourage health care institutions to adopt a policy of reducing endocrine disruptor exposure among their patients and professionals, who could be educated regarding the risks associated with EDs. Conducting a multicenter study to refine the results herein and establish a dynamic to prevent endocrine disruptor and environmental risks in health care systems would be valuable.
Endometrioid Squamous Proliferations of the Endometrium Express Alpha-Methylacyl-CoA Racemase (P504s)
Authors: Tahir Maryam , Samankan Shabnam , Huang Marilyn , Pinto Andre
Published: August 2023

Squamous morular metaplasia is closely associated with endometrioid proliferative lesions such as endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia, whereas endometrioid adenocarcinoma may also demonstrate squamous differentiation (morular or nonmorular). Alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR; P504s) is an immunohistochemistry marker expressed in many tumors, including prostate adenocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, and in a subset of gynecologic carcinomas, predominantly of clear cell histology. In small biopsy samples, the distinction between cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) involving endocervical glands from endometrioid squamous proliferations can be challenging, given their anatomic vicinity and some degree of morphologic overlap. Following the observation of AMACR positivity by immunohistochemistry within squamous morules in an index case, 35 endometrial samples containing squamous morular metaplasia (25) and nonmorular squamous metaplasia (10), and 32 cases of cervical HSIL involving endocervical glands were stained with AMACR. The endometrial cohort consisted of 2 benign anovulatory endometrium, 7 endometrial polyps, 7 endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia, 4 atypical polypoid adenomyomas, and 15 endometrioid adenocarcinomas. Positive cases were scored as diffuse (≥50%) or focal (<50%). AMACR staining was present in 96.7% of endometrial squamous lesions, including 14 (93.3%) of endometrioid carcinomas, and in all cases of endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia, endometrial polyps, atypical polypoid adenomyomas, and anovulatory endometrium with squamous morular metaplasia or nonmorular squamous metaplasia. In comparison, only 2 cases (5.8%) of cervical HSIL demonstrated positivity for AMACR. In conclusion, AMACR can reliably differentiate the cervical versus endometrial origin of squamous lesions in small biopsy specimens.
“Deciduoid” Change in Uterine Leiomyomas in Pregnancy: Aberrant Expression of Sex Cord Markers Inhibin and Calretinin
Authors: Machuca-Aguado Jesús , McCluggage W. Glenn
Published: August 2023

Leiomyomas are common hormone-responsive uterine neoplasms which can exhibit a variety of morphologic changes secondary to hormonal agents such as progestogens. They may increase in size during pregnancy as a result of hormonal stimulation but surprisingly the morphologic features of leiomyomas in pregnancy are not well described in the literature. In this report, we describe the morphologic features of a series of 29 uterine leiomyomas in pregnancy. The features include in decreasing order of frequency infarct-type necrosis, decidualization of the serosal surface, hyalinization, myxoid alteration of the stroma, edema (sometimes with cyst formation), and dystrophic calcification. We also report a feature which we term “deciduoid” change (seen in 10 of 29 leiomyomas) which takes the form of altered smooth muscle cells with an epithelioid morphology with abundant eosinophilic or clear cytoplasm. Furthermore, we show that the “deciduoid” cells commonly exhibit expression of sex cord markers inhibin and calretinin. We speculate on the pathogenesis of the “deciduoid” change which together with its “aberrant” immunophenotype may result in diagnostic problems and consideration of other neoplasms.
Moderately-differentiated Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor With a Concurrent Serous Borderline Tumor in a 16-year-old Girl
Authors: Bhardwaj Swati , Banet Natalie , Gaston Emily C.
Published: August 2023

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCT) are rare tumors of the ovary with a peak incidence in the second to third decade of life. Serous borderline tumors (SBT) are epithelial ovarian neoplasms which occur at a median age of 50 years. A co-occurrence of SLCT and SBT has not yet been reported. Here, we describe a case of a 16-year-old girl who presented with irregular menses, virilization, and an abdominopelvic mass. The mass was surgically removed and an intraoperative consultation revealed an 18.5 cm solid and cystic ovarian mass with the presence of co-existing SLCT and SBT. The diagnosis was confirmed on permanent sections after extensive sampling and immunohistochemical stains. The SLCT showed positive staining for calretinin, inhibin, CD99, and androgen receptor. MART-1 immunostain highlighted the Leydig cells. The SBT showed classic features including hierarchically branching papillae lined by stratified serous epithelium. This pediatric case is the first reported case of a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor arising in association with a serous borderline tumor.
Costal margin injuries and trans-diaphragmatic intercostal hernia: Presentation, management and outcomes according to the Sheffield classification
Authors: Byers Jonathan L. , Rao Jagan N. , Socci Laura , Hopkinson David N. , Tenconi Sara , Edwards John G.
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND

Costal margin rupture (CMR) injuries are under-diagnosed and inconsistently managed, while carrying significant symptomatic burden. We hypothesized that the Sheffield Classification system of CMR injuries would relate to injury patterns and management options.

METHODS

Data were collected prospectively between 2006 and 2023 at a major trauma center in the United Kingdom. Computed tomography scans were interrogated and injuries were categorized according to the Sheffield Classification. Clinical, radiologic, management and outcome variables were assessed.

RESULTS

Fifty-four patients were included in the study. Intercostal hernia (IH) was present in 30 patients and associated with delayed presentation (p = 0.004), expulsive mechanism of injury (i.e. such as occurs with coughing, sneezing, or retching), higher body mass index (p < 0.001), and surgical management (p = 0.02). There was a bimodal distribution of the level of the costal margin rupture, with IH Present and expulsive mechanism injuries occurring predominantly at the ninth costal cartilage, and IH Absent cases and other mechanisms at the seventh costal cartilage (p < 0.001). There were correlations between the costal cartilage being thin at the site of the CMR and the presence of IH and expulsive etiology (p < 0.001). Management was conservative in 23 and surgical in 31 cases. Extrathoracic mesh IH repairs were performed in 3, Double Layer Mesh Repairs in 8, Suture IH repairs in 5, CMR plating in 8, CMR sutures in 2, and associated Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures in 11 patients. There was one postoperative death. There were seven repeat surgical procedures in five patients.

CONCLUSION

The Sheffield Classification is associated statistically with presentation, related chest wall injury patterns, and type of definitive management. Further collaborative data collection is required to determine the optimal management strategies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.
Dementia Prevalence and Risk Factors
Authors: Roe Caitlin , Safic Ssenku , Mwaipopo Lwitiko , Dotchin Catherine L. , Klaptocz Joanna , Gray William , Joseph Marcyella , Spector Aimee , Urasa Sarah , Walker Richard W.
Published: August 2023

Objectives:

The burden of dementia is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but there are limited epidemiological data on dementia in SSA. This study investigated the prevalence and associations of dementia in older adults (less than 60 y) attending the outpatient department of Mount Meru Hospital in Tanzania.

Methods:

This one-phase cross-sectional study screened a sample using the Identification of Dementia in Elderly Africans (IDEA) cognitive screening tool. Those that screened as having possible and probable dementia were further assessed, and diagnosis of dementia was made according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Demographic and risk factor data were collected.

Results:

Within those screened, 57/1141 (5.0%) (95% CI: 3.7-6.3) had dementia. Female sex [odds ratio (OR)=2.778, 95% CI: 1.074–7.189], having never attended school (OR=6.088, 95% CI: 1.360–27.256), alcohol (U/wk) (OR=1.080, 95% CI: 1.016-1.149), uncorrected visual impairment (OR=4.260, 95% CI: 1.623-11.180), body mass index <18.5 kg/m2 (OR=6.588, 95% CI: 2.089-20.775), and stroke (OR=15.790, 95% CI: 3.48-74.475) were found to be significantly, independently associated with dementia.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of dementia in this population is similar to a recent community-based rate in Tanzania and lower than a hospital-based rate in Senegal. This is the first time the association between visual impairment and dementia has been reported in SSA. Other associations are in keeping with previous literature.
Factors Associated with Cutaneous Colonization of Mucormycetes in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Individuals
Authors: Saud Bhuvan , Chand Kajal , Amatya Neetu , Paudel Govinda , Adhikari Saroj , Shrestha Vikram
Published: August 2023

This study was conducted to assess factors associated with cutaneous colonization of Mucormycetes in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. A total of 800 swab samples from 200 participants including 100 diabetics and 100 non-diabetics were collected from four different body sites: 1) forehead, 2) nasal, 3) hand and 4) feet. Fungal isolation, identification and antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed on the isolates. Overall, 12.0% of the participants had Mucormycetes colonization while the commonest fungal isolate was Mucorspp. followed by Rhizopusspp. Diabetics showed 11 times the odds of colonization compared to the non-diabetics. Majority of the isolates were resistant to Itraconazole; however, all isolates were sensitive to Amphotericin B. A significant association was observed between profession and Mucormycetes (p-value=0.03) with significantly higher colonization in retired people compared to business people. Higher odds of colonization were demonstrated among older age, lower class status, and individuals with prolonged contact time with soil.
Quality Appraisal of Screening Guidelines for Cardiovascular disease Prevention:a scoping review
Authors: Badawy Mohammed Abd ElFattah Mohammed Darw , Naing Lin , Saeed Iman Ahmad , Tuah Nik Ani Afiqah
Published: August 2023

Objective

Each nation develops a guideline for managing and preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) based on the available literature and the evidence-based consensus in their guideline’s recommendations. The goal of this review is to appraise the quality of many guidelines recommended by several international organizations for the early detection and prevention of CVD.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review using a few guideline-specific databases using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) as the reporting guideline for this review. We used the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument to rate the methodological quality and rigorousness of the included guidelines for CVD prevention and early detection.

Results

Out of the 2,466 guidelines identified by our search, based on our eligibility criteria, we included a total of 20 distinct guidelines globally focused on screening for CVD prevention and early detection. (70%) of these guidelines were classified as "strongly recommended" while only (90%) were classified as just "recommended". The AGREE II appraisal domains with the highest median scores (percentile 25th, 75th) were “Clarity of Presentation”92% (81, 95.5), followed by Applicability88% (73, 93). The Rigour of Development and Editorial Independence were the lowest scores with a median of78% (66.5, 84) and75% (60.5, 92).

Conclusions

Using AGREE II quality appraisal tool, we provided a critical quality appraisal of several international CVD prevention guidelines and reveal opportunities to improve the CVD prevention guidelines’ quality.

What is already known in this review?

Each community develops a guideline for screening and managing CVD prevention based on the current evidence and evidence-based consensus.

AGREE II tool is an internationally standardized instrument to report the rigorousness of development, transparency, and methodological quality of the clinical practice guidelines.

What this review adds

This review provided a critical quality appraisal of several international CVD prevention guidelines.

The highest AGREE II domain median score was “Clarity of Presentation” while the least domains were “Editorial Independence” and “Rigour of Development”.

70%of these guidelines were classified as "strongly recommended".

How this review might affect research, practice, or policy

This review provided a critical quality appraisal of many CVD prevention guidelines and revealed opportunities to improve CVD prevention guidelines’ quality.
Wistar rats raised in an affectionate environment display lifesaving-like behaviors while distinguishing life from death
Authors: Mikami Kanta , Kigami Yuka , Doi Tomomi , Choudhury Mohammed E. , Nishikawa Yuki , Takahashi Rio , Wada Yasuyo , Kakine Honoka , Kawase Mayu , Hiyama Nanae , Yano Hajime , Abe Naoki , Yorozuya Toshihiro , Nishihara Tasuku , Tanaka Junya
Published: August 2023

It is generally believed that humans are the only species that values life. However, it is not well understood whether animals have a nature that values life. In this study, we attempted to determine whether male Wistar rats have this nature. Normally-reared rats did not show lifesaving-like actions towards anesthesia-induced comatose rats, although they seemed to distinguish life from death. Considering the possibility that different rearing conditions may foster a life-valuing nature, male Wistar rat pups were reared in several ways: normal rearing, loving rearing (LR; rats reared as if they were cute pets), rearing in an enriched environment, reared with gentle stroking of the back, and normal rearing of offspring of rats raised under LR conditions. When placed in an anxiety-producing environment, only LR rats escaped into the hands of the person who reared them, indicating attachment. Only the LR rats displayed lifesaving-like actions towards unknown comatose rats or drowning pups. LR rats also stopped attacks by biting ICR mice that were attacking C57BL/6 mice. Thus, rearing in an affectionate environment may foster a life-valuing nature, even in rats, suggesting that the valuing of life may be neither innate nor human-specific.
Mtor not Mt: Temporal variation in detection probability in spatial capture-recapture and occupancy models
Authors: Rahel Sollmann
Published: August 2023

State variables such as abundance and occurrence of species are central to many questions in ecology and conservation, but our ability to detect and enumerate species is imperfect and often varies across space and time. Accounting for imperfect and variable detection is important for obtaining unbiased estimates of state variables. Here, I investigate whether closed spatial capture-recapture (SCR) and single season occupancy models are robust to ignoring temporal variation in detection probability. Ignoring temporal variation allows collapsing detection data across repeated sampling occasions, speeding up computations, which can be important when analyzing large datasets with complex models. I simulated data under different scenarios of temporal and spatio-temporal variation in detection, analyzed data with the data-generating model and an alternative model ignoring temporal variation in detection, and compared estimates between these two models with respect to relative bias, coefficient of variation (CV) and relative root mean squared error (RMSE). SCR model estimates of abundance, the density-covariate coefficient β and the movement-related scale parameter of the detection function σ were robust to ignoring temporal variation in detection, with relative bias, CV and RMSE of the two models generally being within 4% of each other. An SCR case study for brown tree snakes showed identical estimates of density and σ under models accounting for or ignoring temporal variation in detection. Occupancy model estimates of the occupancy-covariate coefficient β and average occupancy were also largely robust to ignoring temporal variation in detection, and differences in occupancy predictions were mostly <<0.1. But there was a slight tendency for bias in β under the alternative model to increase when detection varied more strongly over time. Thus, when temporal variation in detection is extreme, it may be necessary to model that variation to avoid bias in parameter estimates in occupancy models. An occupancy case study for ten bird species with a more complex model structure showed considerable differences in occupancy parameter estimates under models accounting for or ignoring temporal variation in detection; but estimates and predictions from the latter were always within 95% confidence intervals of the former. There are cases where we cannot or may not want to ignore temporal variation in detection: a behavioral response to detection and certain SCR observation models do not allow collapsing data across sampling occasions; and temporal variation in detection may be informative of species phenology/behavior or for future study planning. But this study shows that it can be safely ignored under a range of conditions when analyzing SCR or occupancy data.
A simple assay for inhibitors of mycobacterial oxidative phosphorylation
Authors: Harden Serena A. , Courbon Gautier M. , Liang Yingke , Rubinstein John L.
Published: August 2023

Oxidative phosphorylation, the combined activities of the electron transport chain (ETC) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, has emerged as a valuable target for antibiotics to treat infection withMycobacterium tuberculosisand related pathogens. In oxidative phosphorylation, the ETC establishes a transmembrane electrochemical proton gradient that powers ATP synthesis. Monitoring oxidative phosphorylation with luciferase-based detection of ATP synthesis or measurement of oxygen consumption can be technically challenging and expensive. These limitations reduce the utility of these methods for characterization of mycobacterial oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors. Here we show that fluorescence-based measurement of acidification of inverted membrane vesicles (IMVs) can detect and distinguish between inhibition of the ETC, inhibition of ATP synthase, and non-specific membrane uncoupling. In this assay, IMVs fromM. smegmatisare acidified either through the activity of the ETC or ATP synthase, the latter modified genetically to allow it to serve as an ATP-driven proton pump. Acidification is monitored by fluorescence from 9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine, which accumulates and quenches in acidified IMVs. Non-specific membrane uncouplers prevent both succinate- and ATP-driven IMV acidification. In contrast, the ETC Complex III2IV2inhibitor telacebec (Q203) prevents succinate-driven acidification but not ATP-driven acidification and the ATP synthase inhibitor bedaquiline prevents ATP-driven acidification but not succinate-driven acidification. We use the assay to show that, as proposed previously, lansoprazole sulfide is an inhibitor of Complex III2IV2while thioridazine uncouples the mycobacterial membrane non-specifically. Overall, the assay is simple, low cost, and scalable, which will make it useful for identifying and characterizing new mycobacterial oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors.
Cardiac function and ECM morphology are altered with high fat diets inDrosophila
Authors: Andrews Rachel M. , Naik Saumya , Pelletier Katie , Jacobs J. Roger
Published: August 2023

Cardiovascular disease is characterized by aberrant and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling, termed fibrosis. Fibrotic remodelling is typically triggered by inflammation, which occurs systemically in obesity. Despite the contribution of fibrosis to adverse clinical outcomes and disease progression, there are no available treatments for this condition. Developing therapeutics for chronic conditions requires an understanding ofin vivoECM regulation, and how the ECM responds to a systemic challenge. We have therefore developed aDrosophilamodel for obesity via chronic high fat diet feeding and evaluated the response of the cardiac ECM to this metabolic challenge. We found that this model displays a striking disorganization of the cardiac ECM, with corresponding deficits in heart function. Our study shows that different genotypes tolerate varying levels of high fat diets, and that some genotypes may require a different percentage of fat supplementation for achieving an optimal obesity phenotype.
Bridging stimulus generalization and representation learning via rational dimensionality reduction
Authors: Neugebauer Lukas Michael , Büchel Christian
Published: August 2023

Generalization, the transfer of knowledge to novel situations, has been studied in distinct disciplines that focus on different aspects. Here we propose a Bayesian model that assumes an exponential mapping from psychological space to outcome probabilities. This model is applicable to probabilistic reinforcement and integrates representation learning by tracking the relevance of stimulus dimensions. Since the belief state about this mapping is dependent on prior knowledge, we designed three experiments that emphasized this aspect. In all studies, we found behavior to be influenced by prior knowledge in a way that is consistent with the model. In line with the literature on representation learning, we found the representational geometry in the middle frontal gyrus to correspond to the behavioral preference for one over the other stimulus dimension and to be updated as predicted by the model. We interpret these findings as support for a common mechanism of generalization.
Environmental challenge rewires functional connections among human genes
Authors: Herken Benjamin W. , Wong Garrett T. , Norman Thomas M. , Gilbert Luke A.
Published: August 2023

A fundamental question in biology is how a limited number of genes combinatorially govern cellular responses to environmental changes. While the prevailing hypothesis is that relationships between genes, processes, and ontologies could be plastic to achieve this adaptability, quantitatively comparing human gene functional connections between specific environmental conditions at scale is very challenging. Therefore, it remains unclear whether and how human genetic interaction networks are rewired in response to changing environmental conditions. Here, we developed a framework for mapping context-specific genetic interactions, enabling us to measure the plasticity of human genetic architecture upon environmental challenge for ∼250,000 interactions, using cell cycle interruption, genotoxic perturbation, and nutrient deprivation as archetypes. We discover large-scale rewiring of human gene relationships across conditions, highlighted by dramatic shifts in the functional connections of epigenetic regulators (TIP60), cell cycle regulators (PP2A), and glycolysis metabolism. Our study demonstrates that upon environmental perturbation, intra-complex genetic rewiring is rare while inter-complex rewiring is common, suggesting a modular and flexible evolutionary genetic strategy that allows a limited number of human genes to enable adaptation to a large number of environmental conditions.

One Sentence Summary

Five human genetic interaction maps reveal how the landscape of genes’ functional relationships is rewired as cells experience environmental stress to DNA integrity, cell cycle regulation, and metabolism.
Orchestration of pluripotent stem cell genome reactivation during mitotic exit
Authors: Placzek Silja , Vanzan Ludovica , Suter David M.
Published: August 2023

The maintenance of cell identity faces many challenges during mitosis, as most DNA-binding proteins are evicted from DNA and transcription is virtually abolished. How cells maintain their identity through cell division and faithfully re-initiate gene expression during mitotic exit is unclear. Here, we developed a novel reporter system enabling cell cycle synchronization-free separation of pluripotent stem cells in temporal bins of < 30 minutes during mitotic exit. This allowed us to quantify genome-wide reactivation of transcription, sequential changes in chromatin accessibility, and re-binding of the pluripotency transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG (OSN). We found that transcriptional activity progressively ramped up after mitosis and that OSN rapidly reoccupied the genome during the anaphase-telophase transition. We also demonstrate transcription factor-specific, dynamic relocation patterns and a hierarchical reorganization of the OSN binding landscape governed by OCT4 and SOX2. Our study sheds light on the dynamic orchestration of transcriptional reactivation after mitosis.
Analyzing the efficiency of the Indian hotel industry using the Malmquist DEA approach
Authors: Tewari Shobha , Arya Alka
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the most efficient hotels in the Indian hotel industry, the competitive positioning of these hotels, and the factors that affect their efficiency change.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts a two-stage analysis and uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Global Malmquist productivity index (MPI) approach in the first stage to calculate the managerial performance of a panel of 63 Indian hotels in 2019–2020 and their efficiency change from 2009–2010 to 2019–2020. Bootstrapped generalized least square (GLS) approach is applied in the second stage to evaluate the impact of contextual variables on efficiency change.

Findings

Using the results of the first stage analysis, the authors categorized the 63 Indian hotels into 7 distinct clusters. These clusters represent different levels of competitiveness and pace of growth. The GLS regression reveals a U-shaped relationship between hotel size and efficiency change and a negative relationship between pro social investments and efficiency.

Originality/value

This is the first study in the hotel industry that has used global MPI as a measure of efficiency change in the first stage and GLS in the second stage. In the Indian context, to the best of authors’ knowledge, no such study exists.
Experiences of homeless people who use psychoactive substances: an interpretative phenomenological study
Authors: Wagstaff Chris , Davis Anna , Jackson-McConnell Elizabeth , MacDonald Matilda , Medlyn Ashley , Pillon Sandra
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Homelessness and psychoactive substance (PS) use are both determinants of physical and mental ill health, with the homeless population using, and dying of PSs more frequently than the general population. However, there is a gap in research on the real-world implications psychoactive substance use (PSU) has on the homeless population. This study aims to explore the experiences of PSU from the perspective of homeless users.

Design/methodology/approach

Purposive sampling was adopted to recruit participants and semi-structured interviews collected data from participants, with interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) generating common themes from the data gathered.

Findings

Four participants were interviewed. The themes generated were family and close relationships; cyclical patterns; mistrust in people and services; and low self-worth.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited by potential bias from researchers who built relationships with participants through the data collection process. Despite efforts to remove this bias, through reflexivity throughout data collection and analysis, some bias may be still present. The researchers saw the participants as vulnerable people who were striving to overcome adversity. Such conception of the participants is reflective of how the participants portrayed themselves. The small sample is suitable for IPA purposes. Of course, it could have been possible that if different participants had been recruited or more participants had been recruited, then there could have been different themes and findings. IPA prides itself on its idiographic focus.

Practical implications

More research is needed on a wider scale to assess the extent and cause of these issues. Increased education and dissemination of research such as this is required to break down stigma within the public and guide policy change in professional services.

Originality/value

This paper interpretatively presents themes generated by semi-structured interviews with four homeless PSUs. As such, these individuals are vulnerable and have faced adversity throughout life from both society and the services they use. Their vulnerability leads to a cycle of substance use and a feeling of low self-worth, which is perpetuated by the perceived views of those around them.
Identifying improvements priorities in daycare centre space performance from teachers' perspectives: application of importance–performance analysis and structural equation modelling
Authors: Lee Kyung-Tae , Im Jin-Bin , Park Sang-Jun , Kim Ju-Hyung
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Though daycare centres are built to facilitate children's social and physical growth, divergent stakeholder perceptions yield conflicts while managing risks for each space due to the minimal guidelines in the Republic of Korea. Due to the unclearly defined knowledge and experience gap between representative stakeholders, teachers have difficulties in operating it with high satisfaction. This study therefore was conducted to systematically identify which parts of performance should be increased to preferentially increase end-user satisfaction in limited resources.

Design/methodology/approach

This research conducted quantitative analysis gradually. Importance–performance analysis (IPA) grasped the perceptions of construction practitioners and end-users after identifying space composition and representative risks of daycare centres. Based on the factors influencing perception differences, principal component analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) were conducted to determine which space improves the performance preferentially to increase overall end-user satisfaction.

Findings

As the utilisation of indoor spaces increases after COVID-19, improvement of indoor spaces except for indoor playroom is necessary, especially, advancement of the quality of teachers' rooms.

Practical implications

Outputs by reflecting the end-user experiences support to understand which spaces are managed from the limited resources.

Originality/value

Theoretical framework for daycare centre was established in Korea where guidelines were insufficient, and differences in perception of each risk of stakeholders were identified. Moreover, gradual statistical analysis was set to construct end-user-focused centres by extracting where the performance of space should be improved in prior.
Modeling eco-friendly house purchasing intention: a combined study of PLS-SEM and fsQCA approaches
Authors: Chanda Razib Chandra , Vafaei-Zadeh Ali , Hanifah Haniruzila , Thurasamy Ramayah
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The urgency to address climate change and its devastating consequences has never been more pressing. As societies become increasingly aware of the detrimental impact of traditional housing on the planet, there is a growing demand for eco-friendly housing solutions that prioritize energy efficiency, resource conservation and reduced carbon emissions. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the factors that influence customers’ priority toward eco-friendly house purchasing intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected 386 data using a quantitative research strategy and purposive sampling method. This study uses a hybrid analysis technique using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) approaches to identify the influencing factors.

Findings

The PLS-SEM analysis found that attitude toward the eco-friendly house, subjective norms, performance expectancy, environmental knowledge and environmental sensitivity have a positive influence on eco-friendly house purchasing intention. However, perceived behavioral control and willingness to pay were found to have insignificant effect on customers’ intention to purchase eco-friendly houses. The fsQCA results further revealed complex causal relationships between the influencing factors.

Practical implications

This research will not only contribute to academic knowledge but also provide practical guidance to real estate developers, policymakers and individuals looking to make environmentally responsible choices. By understanding the factors that influence consumers’ intentions to purchase eco-friendly houses, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future.

Originality/value

This study has used a hybrid analysis technique, combining PLS-SEM and fsQCA, to enhance the predictive accuracy of eco-friendly house purchase intentions among individuals residing in densely populated and highly polluted developing countries, such as Bangladesh.
Corporate environmental disclosure in Europe: the effects of the regulatory environment
Authors: Polizzi Salvatore , Scannella Enzo
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the impact of regulatory changes on corporate environmental disclosure practices in Europe. More specifically, the authors perform a difference-in-differences analysis to study the impact of the Paris agreement (United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP21) and of the French Law 2015-992 on energy transition for green growth.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consists of the listed companies belonging to the Euro Stoxx 50 index, and they are analysed over the 2010–2019 time horizon by means of an expert validated environmental disclosure dictionary and difference-in-differences analysis.

Findings

The main results show that both regulatory interventions contributed to improving corporate environmental disclosure. The authors also show that firms belonging to the most polluting sectors tend to provide more information on environmental matters, likely in an attempt to divert stakeholders’ attention.

Originality/value

By analysing an under-investigated topic, the paper calls for significant efforts by regulators to find the most suitable solutions to induce firms to increase their levels of transparency on the impact of environmental risks and on how these risks are managed.
Employee engagement in corporate social responsibility: disentangling the effects of values vs prestige
Authors: Cao Yinyin , Lee Kyungwon
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Drawing on social identity theory, this study aims to disentangle the values and prestige-related mechanisms through which an organization's external corporate social responsibility (CSR) leads to increased employee participation in, and communication of, CSR. The moderating effect of internally-directed CSR initiatives on employees' external CSR (ECSR) behaviors is also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal survey of 196 employees was conducted and structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the relationship between ECSR and employee CSR engagement.

Findings

The relationship between employee perceptions of ECSR and the employee perceptions' engagement in CSR was fully mediated by value congruence, but not by the organization's perceived external prestige. The effects of ECSR on both value congruence and prestige were stronger when employees also experienced high levels of internal CSR (ICSR).

Practical implications

When employees perceive consistency in the respective organizations' external and ICSR efforts, this strengthens the employees' initial beliefs about the firm's values and reputation and enhances employees' willingness to promote the employees' company's CSR initiatives to organizational outsiders.

Originality/value

This study advances the authors' theoretical understanding of why, and when, organizational CSR initiatives generate greater CSR engagement among employees.
The behavioural uncertainty and environmental sustainability of restaurant businesses: the moderating role of purchasing technical knowledge
Authors: Elias Ruth , Changalima Ismail Abdi
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The study investigates the effect of behavioural uncertainty on the environmental sustainability of restaurant businesses in Tanzania. Also, the study examines the moderating role of purchasing technical knowledge on the main relationship between the study variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative approach was used and cross-sectional data were collected at a specific time from restaurant businesses in Dodoma, Tanzania. The PROCESS macro was used to analyse the relationships between behavioural uncertainty, purchasing technical knowledge and environmental sustainability.

Findings

Behavioural uncertainty has a significant and negative effect on the environmental sustainability of restaurant businesses. Purchasing technical knowledge, on the other hand, has a positive and significant effect on the environmental sustainability of restaurant businesses. Finally, purchasing technical knowledge has a positive and significant moderating effect on the relationship between behavioural uncertainty and environmental sustainability such that the negative effect of behavioural uncertainty is reduced with increasing purchasing technical knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

This study considers purchasing skills in terms of purchasing technical knowledge as a moderating variable; hence, other studies may take into account other moderating variables to extend this study. Also, the study considered only environmental sustainability and hence is limited in terms of other dimensions of sustainability and provide an avenue for further research in social and economic sustainability.

Practical implications

Since purchasing technical knowledge reduces the negative effect of behavioural uncertainty on the relationship with environmental sustainability, restaurant managers should be encouraged to improve their purchasing technical knowledge by attending short- and long-term training on purchasing functions in the restaurant industry.

Social implications

The social implications of the investigated link between behavioural uncertainty, purchasing technical knowledge and environmental sustainability in the restaurant industry include raising awareness, promoting sustainable practises and fostering an environmentally responsible culture. By addressing behavioural uncertainty, leveraging purchasing technical knowledge and embracing sustainability the industry can contribute to a more environmentally conscious society.

Originality/value

By providing empirical evidence from Tanzania, the study extends literature on examining the environmental sustainability of restaurant businesses. The study also establishes the interaction effect of purchasing technical knowledge as an important skill in reducing the negative effect of behavioural uncertainty on enhancing environmental sustainability in restaurant businesses.