bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the inhibition mechanism of interleukin-1-beta in gouty arthritis by polygonum cuspidatum using network pharmacology and molecular docking: A review
Authors: Ge Xiao , Zhang Yan , Fang Rulu , Zhao Jiaojiao , Huang Jiyong
Published: July 2023

Polygonum cuspidatum (Huzhang, HZ) is one of the commonly used traditional Chinese medicines for treating gouty arthritis (GA), but the specific mechanism is not clear. This study employed network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of HZ on GA. The network pharmacology approach, including active ingredient and target screening, drug-compound-target-disease network construction, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, enrichment analysis, and molecular docking, was used to explore the mechanism of HZ against GA. Ten active ingredients of HZ were predicted to interact with 191 targets, 14 of which interact with GA targets. Network pharmacology showed that quercetin, physovenine, luteolin, and beta-sitosterol are the core components of HZ, and IL (interleukin)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are the core therapeutic targets. The mechanism of HZ in GA treatment was shown to be related to the IL-17 signaling pathway, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and is involved in the inflammatory response, positive regulation of gene expression, cellular response to lipopolysaccharide, and other biological processes. Molecular docking showed that all four core compounds had good binding properties to IL-1β, with luteolin and beta-sitosterol showing better docking results than anakinra, suggesting that they could be used as natural IL-1β inhibitors in further experimental studies. The mechanism of action of HZ against GA has multi-target and multi-pathway characteristics, which provides an important theoretical basis for the study of the active ingredients of HZ as natural IL-1β inhibitors.
Monocyte phenotype and extracellular vesicles in HIV-1, HIV-2, and HIV-1/2 dual infection
Authors: Hønge Bo L. , Andersen Morten N , Petersen Mikkel S. , Jespersen Sanne , Medina Candida , Té David DS. , Kjerulff Bertram , Laursen Alex L. , Møller Holger J. , Wejse Christian , Krarup Henrik , Møller Bjarne K. , Erikstrup Christian
Published: July 2023

Objective:

AIDS-defining illness develops at higher CD4+ T-cell counts in individuals infected with HIV-2 compared with HIV-1 infected, which suggests that the two types of HIV may have different effects on other compartments of the immune system. We here investigate monocyte phenotype, activation and macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles in individuals with different HIV types.

Design:

Cross-sectional.

Methods:

ART-naïve HIV-1 (n = 83), HIV-2 (n = 63), and HIV-1/2 dually-positive (n = 27) participants were recruited in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, together with HIV-negative controls (n = 26). PBMCs were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry for monocyte phenotype and activation, and plasma was analyzed for extracellular vesicle forms of CD163 and CD206.

Results:

Compared with HIV-negative controls, all groups of HIV-positive participants had a skewed monocyte phenotype with a higher proportion of intermediate monocytes, increased CD163 expression, and elevated serum levels of the inflammatory biomarkers soluble (s)CD163 and sCD206. HIV-2-positive participants had lower CD163 monocyte expression than HIV-1-positive participants, regardless of HIV RNA or CD4 cell count. Levels of sCD206 extracellular vesicles were increased in all HIV groups, and higher in HIV-1 compared with HIV-2-positive participants.

Conclusion:

The monocyte phenotype of HIV-2 positive participants deviated less from healthy controls than did HIV-1 participants. HIV-2 positive participants also had a lower concentration of extracellular CD206+ vesicles compared with HIV-1 positive participants. This does not explain the difference in AIDS development.
CT Features of Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis: Early Phase Versus Late Phase
Authors: Zhang Ju , Du Juan Juan , Ji Yi Fan , Zhang Xin Yu , Su Ting , Jiang Rui , Fu Quan Shui , Yang Guo Qing , Yang Guo Dong , Zhang Xiao Ming
Published: July 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the computed tomography (CT) features of recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) in the early phase and late phase.

Methods

Recurrent acute pancreatitis data were obtained over the past 5 years. Recurrent acute pancreatitis patients were divided into 2 groups according to the time from RAP onset to performing CT examination: the early phase (first week) and late phase (after the first week) based on the 2012 revised Atlanta classification (RAC). Evaluation and comparison of patients' demographic data, RAC, CT findings, CT severity index (CTSI) score, and extrapancreatic inflammation on CT (EPIC) score were conducted in the 2 groups.

Results

Hypertriglyceridemia was the most common cause of RAP in 679 of 686 patients (positive CT rate: 98.98%). Among 679 CT-positive patients, interstitial edematous pancreatitis and necrotizing pancreatitis accounted for 61.71% (419/679) and 38.29% (260/679), respectively. The CTSI and EPIC scores were higher in the late phase than in the early phase (both P's < 0.05). The proportion of moderately severe and severe RAP patients based on RAC was higher in the late phase than in the early phase (P < 0.05). Early-stage EPIC score was more accurate than CTSI and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores in predicting clinically severe RAP (EPIC vs CTSI; EPIC vs APACHE II, both P's < 0.05).

Conclusions

Recurrent acute pancreatitis is more severe in the late phase than in the early phase. The EPIC score is more indicative of clinically severe RAP than CTSI and APACHE II scores in the early phase of RAP.
Development of a Nomogram to Predict Postoperative Peritoneal Metastasis of Colon Cancer
Authors: Dai Jie , Wang Ke-Xin , Wu Ling-Yu , Bai Xiao-Han , Shi Hong-Yuan , Xu Qing , Yu Jing
Published: July 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the clinicopathological and radiological risk factors for postoperative peritoneal metastasis and develop a prediction model for the early detection of peritoneal metastasis in patients with colon cancer.

Methods

We included 174 patients with colon cancer. The clinicopathological and radiological data were retrospectively analyzed. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify risk factors for postoperative peritoneal metastasis. Based on these risk factors, a nomogram was developed.

Results

At a median follow-up of 63 months, 43 (24.7%) patients developed peritoneal metastasis. Six independent risk factors (hazards ratio [95% confidence interval]) were identified for postoperative peritoneal metastasis: abdominopelvic fluid (2.12 [1.02–4.40]; P = 0.04), longer maximum tumor length (1.02 [1.00–1.03]; P = 0.02), pN1 (2.50 [1.13–5.56]; P = 0.02), pN2 (4.45 [1.77–11.17]; P = 0.02), nonadenocarcinoma (2.75 [1.18–6.38]; P = 0.02), and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen levels ≥5 ng/mL (3.08 [1.50–6.30]; P < 0.01). A clinicopathological-radiological model was developed based on these factors. The model showed good discrimination (concordance index, 0.798 [0.723–0.876]; P < 0.001) and was well-calibrated.

Conclusions

The developed clinicopathological-radiological nomogram may assist clinicians in identifying patients at high risk of postoperative peritoneal metastasis.
Focuses, Trends, and Developments in Craniofacial Microsomia From 1992 to 2022: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Liu Ziyang , Teng Li
Published: July 2023

There is a current lack of scientific bibliometric analyses in craniofacial microsomia (CFM) and relevant fields. Craniofacial microsomia is a congenital disease resulting from a series of structural malformations involving the first and second branchial arches. Craniofacial microsomia and related fields have attracted the attention of clinicians and interested researchers worldwide. This study summarizes the research status and focuses to help researchers fully grasp the current research situation of CFM and relevant fields in the past three decades and drive future research into new publications. Literature data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Results Analysis and Citation Report of Web of Science, and CiteSpace software were used to evaluate and visualize the results, including publication characteristics, disciplines, journals, literature, countries/regions, institutions, authors, research focuses, etc. A total of 949 original articles and reviews were included after manual screening, and the overall trend of the number of annual publications and citations was increasing. According to the analysis, the description of the clinical characteristics of CFM, the classification of CFM, and mandibular distraction osteogenesis have always been the focus of research in this field. Besides, with the continuous progress of new technologies such as gene sequencing and the expansion of researchers’ understanding of diseases, research on genetics and etiology related to CFM has been a developing trend.
Goal-directed Perioperative Albumin Substitution Versus Standard of Care to Reduce Postoperative Complications - A Randomized Clinical Trial (SuperAdd Trial)
Authors: Schaller Stefan J. , Fuest Kristina , Ulm Bernhard , Schmid Sebastian , Bubb Catherina , Eckstein Hans-Henning , von Eisenhart–Rothe Rüdiger , Friess Helmut , Kirchhoff Chlodwig , Luppa Peter , Blobner Manfred , Jungwirth Bettina
Published: July 2023

Objective:

To investigate whether goal-directed albumin substitution during surgery and postanesthesia care to maintain a serum albumin concentration >30 g/L can reduce postoperative complications.

Summary Background Data:

Hypoalbuminemia is associated with numerous postoperative complications. Since albumin has important physiological functions, substitution of patients with hypoalbuminemia is worth considering.

Methods:

We conducted a single center, randomized, controlled, outcome-assessor blinded clinical trial in adult patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification 3-4 or undergoing high-risk surgery. Patients, whose serum albumin concentration dropped below 30 g/L were randomly assigned to goal-directed albumin substitution maintaining serum concentration >30 g/L or to standard care until discharge from the postanesthesia intermediate care unit. Standard of care allowed albumin substitution in hemodynamic instable patients with serum concentration <20 g/L, only. Primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative complications ≥2 according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC) in at least one of nine domains (pulmonary, infectious, cardiovascular, neurological, renal, gastrointestinal, wound, pain and hematological) until postoperative day 15.

Results:

Of 2509 included patients 600 (23.9%) developed serum albumin concentrations <30 g/L. Human albumin 60g (40–80g) was substituted to 299 (99.7%) patients in the intervention group and to 54 (18.0%) in the standard care group. At least one postoperative complication classified as CDC≥2 occurred in 254 of 300 patients (84.7%) in the intervention group and in 262 of 300 (87.3%) in the standard treatment group (risk difference -2.7%, 95%CI, -8.3% to 2.9%).

Conclusion:

Maintaining serum albumin concentration of >30 g/L perioperatively cannot generally be recommended in high-risk noncardiac surgery patients.
Novel cross-linked polysaccharide-polyelectrolyte hemostatic foam improves survival compared to CombatGauze in swine femoral artery hemorrhage model
Authors: Dougherty Melissa Linskey , Izer Jenelle M. , Kunselman Allen R. , Oh John S. , Chi Kai , Chen Caini , Catchmark Jeffrey M. , Armen Scott B.
Published: July 2023

Background

Uncontrolled hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death in combat and civilian trauma. Efficacious hemostatic agents in junctional hemorrhage can quell blood loss and improve survival. We hypothesized that a novel hemostatic foam of starch and chitosan would improve hemostasis, and thereby increase survival in a swine femoral artery hemorrhage model when compared to CombatGauze.

Methods

A novel hemostatic foam of starch and chitosan was created and modified over the study period. 30 pigs (4 excluded) were assigned to treatment using either foam version 1 (FV1, n = 9) or 2 (FV2, n = 8), or CombatGauze (CG, n = 9) in a standard swine femoral artery hemorrhage model. Animals were observed for 150 minutes. Outcomes assessed included hemostasis, survival, post-treatment blood loss, IV fluid volume, and hemodynamic and laboratory trends.

Results

Hemostasis prior to 150 minutes was similar with 44.4%, 77.8%, and 50% of swine treated with CG, FV1 and FV2, respectively (Kaplan-Meyer and log-rank test [KM-LR] p > 0.05). Survival to 150 minutes was improved in swine treated with FV1 (100%) compared to CG (55.6%) (KM-LR p = 0.02). Survival was similar between FV1 and FV2 (75%) (KM-LR p > 0.05), and between CG and FV2 (KM-LR p > 0.05). Using mixed model for longitudinal data, MAP decreased significantly in CG- and FV2-treated swine, while there was no significant change in MAP in FV1-treated swine. Trends in lactic acid, hematocrit, platelets, INR, and TEG were more favorable for FV1 compared to CG.

Conclusions

In this preclinical study of junctional hemorrhage, survival was improved in swine treated with version 1 of a novel chitosan/starch foam compared to CombatGauze. Trends in hemodynamics and laboratory data were also more favorable in the FV1-treated swine. This novel hemostatic foam may be an effective alternative to current hemostatic agents.

Level of evidence

not applicable

Study type: Original research: animal research
Association between blood pressure recording in prehospital setting and patient outcome in pediatric trauma patients: A propensity score matching study
Authors: Shinohara Mafumi , Abe Takeru , Takeuchi Ichiro
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

Rapid identification of the severity of injuries in the field is important to ensure appropriate hospital care for better outcomes. Vital signs are used as a field triage tool for critically ill or injured patients in prehospital settings. Several studies have shown that recording vital signs, especially blood pressure, in pediatric patients is sometimes omitted in prehospital settings compared with that in adults. However, little is known about the association between the lack of measurement of prehospital vital signs and patient outcomes. In this study, we examined the association between the rate of vital sign measurements in the field and patient outcomes in injured children.

METHODS

This study analyzed secondary data from the Japan Trauma Data Bank. We included pediatric patients (0–17 years) with injuries who were transported by emergency medical services. Hospital survival was the primary outcome. We performed a propensity-matched analysis with nearest-neighbor matching without replacement by adjusting for demographic and clinical variables to evaluate the effect of recording vital signs.

RESULTS

During the study period, 13,413 pediatric patients were included. There were 9,187 and 1,798 patients with and without prehospital blood pressure records, respectively. After matching, there were no differences in the patient characteristics or disease severity. Hospital mortality was significantly higher in the nonrecorded group than in the recorded group (4.3% vs. 1.1%; p < 0.001). The multiple logistic regression analysis results showed no prehospital record of blood pressure being associated with death (odds ratio [OR], 6.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.40–19.33). Glasgow Coma Scale score and Injury Severity Score were also associated with death (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.63–0.81 and OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06–11.14, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Pediatric patients without any blood pressure records in prehospital settings had higher mortality rates than those with prehospital blood pressure records.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.
Comprehensive multi-platform tyrosine kinase profiling reveals novel actionable FGFR aberrations across pediatric and AYA sarcomas
Authors: Fordham Ashleigh M , Brown Lauren M , Mayoh Chelsea , Salib Alice , Barger Zara A , Wong Marie , Sian Terry C.C. Lim Kam , Xie Jinhan , Gunther Kate , Trebilcock Peter , Terry Rachael L , Barahona Paulette , Ajuyah Pamela , Sherstyuk Alexandra , Avila Anica , Cadiz Roxanne , Perkins Callum M , Gifford Andrew J , Mao Jie , Zhao Andrea , O’Regan Luke P , Gorgels Daniel , Lau Loretta MS , Ziegler David S , Haber Michelle , Tyrrell Vanessa , Lock Richard B , Cowley Mark J , Nicholls Wayne , Daly Roger J , Ekert Paul G , Fleuren Emmy DG
Published: July 2023

No targeted agents are approved for pediatric sarcomas. Tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitors represent attractive therapeutic candidates, however, beyond rare TK-activating fusions or mutations, predictive biomarkers are lacking. RNA overexpression of TKs is more commonly observed in pediatric sarcomas, however, an unresolved question is when upregulated TK expression is associated with kinase activation and signaling dependence. We explored the TK molecular landscape of 107 sarcoma patients from the ZERO Childhood Cancer precision medicine program using whole genomic and transcriptomic sequencing. Phosphoproteomic analyses of tyrosine phosphorylation (pY) and functionalin vitroandin vivoassays were also performed in cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Our integrated analysis shows that although novel genomic driver lesions are rare, they are present and therapeutically actionable in selected patients as exemplified by a novelLSM1-FGFR1fusion identified in an osteosarcoma patient. We further show that in certain contexts, TK expression data can be used to indicate TK pathway activity and predict TK-inhibitor sensitivity. We exemplify the utility of FGFR-inhibitors inPAX3-FOXO1fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcomas (FP-RMS) mediated by highFGFR4andFGF8RNA expression levels, and overt activation of FGFR4 (FGFR4_pY). We demonstrate marked tumor growth inhibition in all FP-RMS PDXs treated with single agent FGF401 (FGFR4-specific inhibitor) and single agent lenvatinib (multi-kinase FGFR-inhibitor). Clinical benefit of lenvatinib in a relapsed metastatic FP-RMS patient further exemplifies that FGFR-inhibitors deserve additional investigation in FP-RMS patients.

Statement of significance

Our multi-omic interrogation of sarcomas in the ZERO Childhood Cancer program illustrates how an RNA-expression biomarker signature (FGFR4+/FGF8+) in association with FGFR4 activation identifies thatPAX3-FOXO1-positive rhabdomyosarcoma patients could benefit from FGFR-inhibitors.
Unified fate mapping in multiview single-cell data
Authors: Weiler Philipp , Lange Marius , Klein Michal , Pe’er Dana , Theis Fabian J.
Published: July 2023

Single-cell RNA sequencing allows us to model cellular state dynamics and fate decisions using expression similarity or RNA velocity to reconstruct state-change trajectories. However, trajectory inference does not incorporate valuable time point information or utilize additional modalities, while methods that address these different data views cannot be combined and do not scale. Here, we present CellRank 2, a versatile and scalable framework to study cellular fate using multiview single-cell data of up to millions of cells in a unified fashion. CellRank 2 consistently recovers terminal states and fate probabilities across data modalities in human hematopoiesis and mouse endodermal development. Our framework also allows combining transitions within and across experimental time points, a feature we use to recover genes promoting medullary thymic epithelial cell formation during pharyngeal endoderm development. Moreover, we enable estimating cell-specific transcription and degradation rates from metabolic labeling data, which we apply to an intestinal organoid system to delineate differentiation trajectories and pinpoint regulatory strategies.
The SATB1-MIR22-GBA axis mediates glucocerebroside accumulation inducing a cellular senescence-like phenotype in dopaminergic neurons
Authors: Russo Taylor , Kolisnyk Benjamin , Bs Aswathy , Kim Tae Wan , Martin Jacqueline , Plessis-Belair Jonathan , Ni Jason , Pearson Jordan A. , Park Emily J. , Sher Roger B. , Studer Lorenz , Riessland Markus
Published: July 2023

Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, which is associated with neuroinflammation and reactive gliosis. The underlying cause of PD and the concurrent neuroinflammation are not well understood. In this study, we utilized human and murine neuronal lines, stem cell–derived dopaminergic neurons, and mice to demonstrate that three previously identified genetic risk factors for PD, namely SATB1, MIR22HG, and GBA, are components of a single gene regulatory pathway. Our findings indicate that dysregulation of this pathway leads to the upregulation of glucocerebrosides (GluCer), which triggers a cellular senescence-like phenotype in dopaminergic neurons. Specifically, we discovered that downregulation of the transcriptional repressor SATB1 results in the derepression of the microRNA miR-22-3p, leading to decreased GBA expression and subsequent accumulation of GluCer. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that an increase in GluCer alone is sufficient to impair lysosomal and mitochondrial function, thereby inducing cellular senescence dependent on S100A9 and stress factors. Dysregulation of the SATB1-MIR22-GBA pathway, observed in both PD patients and normal aging, leads to lysosomal and mitochondrial dysfunction due to the GluCer accumulation, ultimately resulting in a cellular senescence-like phenotype in dopaminergic neurons. Therefore, our study highlights a novel pathway involving three genetic risk factors for PD and provides a potential mechanism for the senescence-induced neuroinflammation and reactive gliosis observed in both PD and normal aging.
Microbial Respiration in Contrasting Ocean Provinces via High-Frequency Optical Assays
Authors: Cohn Melanie R. , Stephens Brandon , Meyer Meredith G. , Sharpe Garrett , Niebergall Alexandria K. , Graff Jason R. , Cassar Nicolas , Marchetti Adrian , Carlson Craig A. , Gifford Scott
Published: July 2023

Microbial respiration plays a pivotal role in the marine carbon cycle, influencing the fraction of fixed carbon that undergoes remineralization versus export to depth. Despite its importance, methodological constraints have led to an inadequate understanding of this process, especially in low-activity oligotrophic and mesopelagic regions. Here, we quantify respiration rates as low as 0.2µmol O2 L-1d-1in contrasting ocean productivity provinces using optical oxygen sensors to identify size-fractionated respiration trends. At the low productivity North Pacific Ocean Station Papa, surface microbial respiration was relatively stable at 1.2µmol O2 L-1d-1. Below the surface there was a decoupling of respiration and bacterial production potentially driven by phytodetritus remineralization. Size-fractionated rates showed cells <5µm contributed the most to Pacific respiration. At the North Atlantic Porcupine Abyssal Plain, the optode measurement frequency was drastically increased. Surface microbial respiration was higher (1.7µmol O2 L-1d-1) and decreased by 3-fold below the euphotic zone. The Atlantic filtered fraction contributions to total respiration shifted with the phytoplankton bloom evolution. The high resolution optode method used in the Atlantic is consistent with coincidingin vivo2-para-(iodophenyl)-3(nitrophenyl)-5(phenyl) tetrazolium chloride respiratory stain measurements and historical site estimates. We estimate that 58% of gross primary production was respired at the Pacific site and 34% at the Atlantic site, demonstrating that the Atlantic had a higher carbon export potential. This study highlights the dynamic nature of respiration across vertical, temporal, and size-fractionated factors, emphasizing the need for sensitive, high-throughput techniques to better understand ocean ecosystem metabolism.
Shape2SAS: a web application to simulate small-angle scattering data and pair distance distributions from user-defined shapes
Authors: Larsen Andreas Haahr , Brookes Emre , Pedersen Martin Cramer , Kirkensgaard Jacob Judas Kain
Published: July 2023

Shape2SAS is a web application that allows researchers and students to build intuition about and understanding of small-angle scattering. It is available at https://somo.chem.utk.edu/shape2sas. The user defines a model of arbitrary shape by combining geometrical subunits, and Shape2SAS then calculates and displays the scattering intensity and the pair distance distribution, as well as a visualization of the user-defined shape. Simulated data with realistic noise are also generated. Here, it is demonstrated how Shape2SAS can calculate and display the different scattering patterns for various geometrical shapes, such as spheres and cylinders. It is also shown how the effect of structure factors can be visualized. Finally, it is indicated how multi-contrast particles can readily be generated, and how the calculated scattering may be used to validate and visualize analytical models generated in analysis software for fitting small-angle scattering data.
Lifelong learning measurement scale (LLMS): development and validation in the context of higher education institutions
Authors: Assefa Yalalem , Moges Bekalu Tadesse , Tilwani Shouket Ahmad
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Lifelong learning has become one of the most interesting areas of research. Hence, the current study was aimed at developing and validating a tool that helps to study how well people working in higher education institutions are engaged in lifelong learning.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of theories in the literature and experts' consultation were used to develop a pool of items and validate the self-assessment instrument for measuring lifelong learning. The study employed factor analytic methodologies such as principal component analysis, varimax rotation and exploratory factor analyses.

Findings

The study yielded a reliable and valid lifelong learning measurement scale made up of 18 items and four underlying factors that are theoretically supported.

Originality/value

The significant information is that, the current study aimed at developing a tool that could help to measure the engagement in lifelong learning of higher education institutions workers. The study found this tool to be important because lifelong learning is considered essential for personal and professional growth, and having a sound way to measure it can help individuals and organizations identify areas for improvement.
Breaking new ground in family business research with neoconfigurational theorizing and analysis
Authors: Mallon Mark R. , Fainshmidt Stav
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Because family businesses are highly complex enterprises, researchers need appropriate theoretical and methodological tools to study them. The neoconfigurational perspective and its accompanying method, qualitative comparative analysis, are particularly well suited to phenomena characterized by complex causality, but their uptake in family business research has been slow and fragmented. To remedy this, the authors highlight their unique ability to address research questions for which other approaches are not well suited and discuss how they might be applied to family business phenomena.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors introduce the core tenets of the neoconfigurational perspective and how its set-theoretic epistemology differs from traditional approaches to theorizing and analysis. The authors then use a dataset of family firms to present a primer on conducting qualitative comparative analysis and interpreting the results.

Findings

The authors find that family firm resources can be combined in multiple ways to affect business survival, suggesting that resources are substitutable and complementary. The authors discuss how the unique features of the neoconfigurational approach, namely equifinality, conjunctural causation and causal asymmetry, can be fruitfully applied to break new ground in scholarly understanding of family businesses.

Originality/value

This article allows family business researchers to apply the neoconfigurational approach without first having to consult multiple and disparate sources often written for other disciplines. This article explicates how to leverage the theoretical and empirical advantages of the neoconfigurational approach in the context of family businesses, supporting a more widespread adoption of the neoconfigurational perspective in family business research.
Understanding project success involving analytic-based decision support in the digital era: a focus on IC and agile project management
Authors: Kudyba Stephan , D Cruz Agnel
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Digital transformations of business processes are on the rise and the result is a need for a better understanding of how the elements of intellectual capital (IC) play a role in achieving successful digital project outcomes. New structural capital in the form of digital technologies must be identified and understood. Evolving skills of human capital in assimilating digital elements must also be considered, while collaboration within the development process involving relational capital provides a critical integration among these IC elements. This study illustrates the importance of identifying and managing the integration of IC components within an agile project management framework that are essential to achieving success for a digital initiative. More specifically, this study describes the process by which a multinational technology-based products company successfully developed a dynamic decision support platform utilizing an agile approach to guide a project management team to better manage the company's operations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on a case analysis approach of a multinational commercial and consumer products company. The paper presents existing research on the evolving state of project management for digital initiatives and focuses on agile methods. This study then delves into the case analysis that illustrates how IC played an integral role in the company successfully developing effective decision support involving an interactive dashboard using agile Project Management (PM), which enabled the project management team to better manage resources.

Findings

An examination at the case level illustrates that effective management and integration of IC has positive effects on project outcomes. While a balanced approach is evident as a requirement, the unique characteristics of the agile project management approach entails greater emphasis on select elements to adapt to a more dynamic development process.

Originality/value

This work depicts the complexities in providing analytic-based decision support in an agile/flexible project management scenario. This work adds to existing research by illustrating elements within IC categories and the elements' interdependencies that play an essential role in achieving success in this more flexible project environment.
Trading excess consumption certificates on the blockchain using the cooperative game theory
Authors: Ergün Serap
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a decentralized multi-party cross-trading scheme based on a certificate transaction mechanism for the transaction of excess consumption certificates (ECCs) of renewable energy. The aim is to address the problems associated with the existing centralized transaction mode and to promote the development of the green electricity industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed scheme involves calculating the quotation difference for the same type of certificate transaction based on the quotations of all users of both buyers and sellers. The transaction volume is then determined based on the order of quotation difference from large to small, and the total interests of cooperation are calculated. The nucleolus method is adopted to allocate the total interests to each member of the alliance and calculate the final transaction price. The blockchain technology is used for the transaction to achieve accurate traceability and efficient supervision, and a corresponding smart contract is designed and simulated in the Ethereum consortium chain.

Findings

The results of the simulation show the rationality and effectiveness of the proposed scheme. The decentralized multi-party cross-trading scheme can overcome the problems associated with the existing centralized transaction mode, such as low transaction efficiency, difficulty in obtaining the optimal transaction strategy and efficient supervision. The proposed scheme can promote the development of the green electricity industry by stimulating users' demand potential for green electricity.

Originality/value

The proposed scheme is original in its use of a certificate transaction mechanism to facilitate the trading of ECCs of renewable energy. The scheme adopts a decentralized multi-party cross-trading approach that overcomes the problems associated with the existing centralized transaction mode. The use of the nucleolus method for the allocation of total interests to each member of the alliance is also original. Finally, the use of blockchain technology for accurate traceability and efficient supervision of the transaction is an original contribution to the field.
Research on the social responsibility performance and its contributing factors to multinational corporations in China
Authors: Zhou Huating , Hou Yuwei , Wang Hong
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the social responsibility performance’s current situation, influencing factors and mechanisms of multinational companies (MNCs) in China. The paper is based on the MNC’s social responsibility performance factors to find some relevant reasons for unsatisfied performance and on the multiple perspectives such as institutional distance and stakeholders, to provide feasible solutions for MNCs to assume civic responsibility and the high-quality development of the host country.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses general literature review and empirical analysis to analyze the way and degree of various factors which are affecting the social responsibility of MNC in China, and supplements the deficiencies of previous studies.

Findings

The paper reveals the influencing factors and mechanisms of MNCs’ social responsibility in China through the regression results. In addition, based on Research Report on Corporate Social Responsibility of China (Huang et al., 2013/2019), the paper also summarizes the performance and dynamic changes of MNCs social responsibility in the Chinese market in the past decade.

Originality/value

The paper enriches research on the social responsibility of MNCs in the background of non-western countries, dynamically describes the performance of MNCs’ responsibilities in a 10-year span and solves the problem of inconsistent research conclusions caused by too long time span. The paper also creates the “local enterprise responsibility level” to quantify the development of the host country’s responsibility, and identifies the “responsibility demonstration effect” of state-owned enterprises and private enterprises.
Conceptualizing smart citizen: relationships and reciprocity with smart government
Authors: Younus Muhammad , Nurmandi Achmad , Suswanta Suswanta , Suardi Wahdania
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on explaining the concept of a smart citizen and in what way it is related to and dependent on smart government.

Design/methodology/approach

To study this specific use case, researchers use “Qualitative Research.” For the review of the literature, the authors used an indirect citation. Additionally, VOSviewer software was used to evaluate the research data for this paper.

Findings

As researchers, the authors will explain how smart governments lay the foundation for transforming an ordinary citizen into a smart citizen. Also, they will be highlighting the significance and importance of citizens becoming smart in the future and how it will give an edge to any country over others in terms of development and growth.

Originality/value

After it, the authors will be sharing the essential qualities that are joined together to make a smart citizen and able to distinguish between a common citizen and smart citizen. Finally, creating an understanding of it, the emphasis will be on the facilities and services smart citizens will get under a smart government, which will eventually increase the smartness of the citizens.
l‐Arginine treatment maintains postharvest quality in blueberry fruit by enhancing antioxidant capacity during storage
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Wang Yajuan , Li Yuxuan , Yang Ling , Sun Bingxin , Zhang Yunhe , Xu Yufeng , Yan Xuerui
Published: July 2023

The postharvest quality of blueberry fruit is largely limited by deterioration. l‐arginine (Arg) is a functional nontoxic amino acid with high biological activities. This study investigated the positive effects and the underlying mechanism of Arg treatment on the quality of postharvest blueberries. Arg effectively mitigated fruit decay and improved the quality of blueberries, including weight loss, firmness, and soluble solid content. Mechanistically, Arg‐mediated activation of the anti‐oxidative defense system reduced reactive oxygen species–mediated oxidative damage. Moreover, Arg treatment decreased the activities and gene expression of phospholipase D, lipoxygenase, and lipase‐inhibiting membrane lipid peroxidation during the prolonged storage of blueberries. Meanwhile, Arg treatment increased nitric oxide (NO) content and NO synthase activity. Furthermore, correlation and principal component analyses revealed the enhancement of Arg treatment on antioxidant capacity. This study suggests that Arg treatment can maintain the postharvest quality of blueberries by improving antioxidant capacity.
How does benign/malicious envy impact young women's subjective well‐being in daily life? An investigation of intrapersonal and interpersonal pathway
Authors: Ma Liping , Li Xiaojun , Xiang Yanhui
Published: July 2023

Although previous cross‐sectional studies have investigated the between‐person correlation between dispositional envy and subjective well‐being, few longitudinal studies have explored the within‐person relationships between state benign/malicious envy and subjective well‐being, as well as the intrapersonal and interpersonal mechanisms involved. This study adopted a diary approach for 14 consecutive days from a sample of 167 young women to investigate the within‐person associations among benign/malicious envy, self‐esteem, perceived social support, and subjective well‐being. The results revealed that benign and malicious envy had opposite effects on subjective well‐being within individuals. Besides, the results indicated that self‐esteem and perceived social support mediated the relationships between benign envy and two dimensions of subjective well‐being (positive affect and life satisfaction) within individuals. Furthermore, self‐esteem played a within‐person mediating role in the relationships between malicious envy and three dimensions of subjective well‐being, whereas perceived social support only served as a within‐person mediator between malicious envy and positive affect. These findings shed light on the distinction between benign envy and malicious envy and help in comprehending the intrapersonal and interpersonal mechanisms through which the two types of envy impact subjective well‐being in daily life.
Evaluation of oxytetracycline leaching from pregelatinized starch‐coated medicated fish feed
Authors: Marques A. R. , Cheng T. H. , Man K. Y. , Cheng K. P. , Cheung K. B. , St‐Hilaire S.
Published: July 2023

The rapid growth and intensification of aquaculture industries have led to an increased use of antibiotics. Consequently, growing concerns have mounted over the environmental contamination of these drugs from medicated feeds and the risk that this poses for antimicrobial resistance. To circumvent environmental leaching, farmers topcoat medicated feeds with oil; however, this only partially addresses the issue. This study investigated the potential of food‐grade pregelatinized corn starch (PGS) as a second top‐coating agent to reduce oxytetracycline (OTC) leaching from the hand‐mixed medicated feed. We immersed top‐coated medicated feeds for different periods of time and measured the concentration of OTC in the water to determine leaching. We found a significantly lower level of OTC in water samples collected from the PGS‐coated medicated feed compared to the non‐PGS‐coated medicated feed, with concentrations of OTC approximately 4 and 2.6 times the latter after 5 min and 2 h of water immersion, respectively. We also fed PGS‐coated antibiotic feed to jade perch to determine if fish accepted the top‐coating and whether they absorbed the OTC. Results from a feeding trial suggested no difference in palatability between PGS and non‐PGS‐coated medicated feed. We also found that muscle tissue from fish fed with the aforementioned diets had similar levels of OTC concentrations, suggesting that PGS coating does not alter the gastrointestinal absorption of this medication. From our experiment, we conclude that PGS is potentially a new top‐coating agent to reduce leaching in hand‐mixed OTC medicated feed.
An approach for clustering consumers by their top‐box and top‐choice responses
Authors: Castura John C. , Meyners Michael , Pohjanheimo Terhi , Varela Paula , Næs Tormod
Published: July 2023

Cluster analysis is often used to group consumers based on their hedonic responses to products. We give a motivating example in which conventional cluster analyses converge on a solution where consumers do not agree on which products they like. We show why this occurs. We state a goal: to group together consumers who have a shared opinion of which products are delightful and which products are not delightful, apart from consumers who have a different opinion. To meet this goal, we code consumers' hedonic responses in ways inspired by top‐k box analysis, then cluster consumers using b‐cluster analysis. For comparison, we cluster consumers using two conventional methods. We interpret each cluster by focusing on which product(s) the cluster accepts and whether a large proportion of cluster members are aligned in accepting these products. Solutions from b‐cluster analysis based on top‐k box‐inspired codings met our goal better than conventional approaches, indicating that these methods deserve further study.

Practical Applications

Cluster analysis outcomes are profoundly shaped by a researcher's decisions related to response coding and clustering algorithm. This paper highlights the importance of determining the goal of the cluster analysis first, then selecting a response coding and clustering algorithm to best meet this goal. Our stated goal is one that is frequently of interest in sensory evaluation but is not well met by conventional clustering approaches. The novel approaches that we give in this paper meet the goal and are available using software that is freely available in the public domain.
Demystifying the connection between periodontal disease and chronic kidney disease – An umbrella review
Authors: He Isaac , Poirier Brianna , Jensen Emilija , Kaur Sushil , Hedges Joanne , Jesudason Shilpanjali , Jamieson Lisa , Sethi Sneha
Published: July 2023

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and poor oral health are inter‐related and their significant impact on each other is well established in the literature. Many systematic reviews and meta‐analyses have demonstrated a strong relationship between CKD and periodontitis, where periodontal treatment has shown potential in improving CKD outcomes. However, the quality of the studies and heterogeneity of the results show variation. The aim of this umbrella review was to review the quality of the current systematic reviews on the relationship between CKD and oral health with an emphasis on periodontal disease and to generate clinically relevant guidelines to maintain periodontal health in patients with CKD. This umbrella review was conducted and reported in alignment with the Joanna Briggs Institute and the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The review protocol was established prior to commencing the review and registered on JBI and PROSPERO (CRD42022335209). Search strings were established for PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Dentistry & Oral Science Source up to April 2022. All systematic reviews and meta‐analyses that considered the relationship between CKD and periodontitis or periodontal treatment were included. Of 371 studies identified through the systematic search, 18 systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Ten studies assessed the relationship between oral health status and CKD with a focus on periodontitis and CKD, five reviewed the impact of periodontal treatment on CKD outcomes, two included both relationship and effectiveness of periodontal treatment and one qualitatively reviewed oral health‐related quality of life in patients with kidney failure. Findings indicate there is a bidirectional relationship between CKD and periodontal disease. In view of the heterogeneity of the existing literature on CKD and periodontal disease, specific recommendations for the management of periodontitis among patients with CKD are proposed for medical professionals, dental professionals, and aged care workers based on the evidence collated in this review.
Exploring tacit knowledge based on an expert nurse's practice for stroke patients
Authors: Obama Satsuki , Hidaka Tsuyako , Tanigaki Shizuko
Published: July 2023

This study explored tacit knowledge based on an expert nurse's practice who cares for stroke patients by using the hermeneutic phenomenological approach. The participant (‘Ms. A’) was a nursing researcher and college faculty member involved in the education of advanced practice nurses; her specialty was stroke rehabilitation nursing. She was asked to describe the meaning and value she gained from her memorable nursing experiences. Four interviews—approximately 1 h each—were conducted, and the associated data were interpreted together with the participant based on the method of interpretive circulation. Notably, the analysis was ended when a fusion of horizons was recognized. The participant recalled her nursing experiences based on six model cases. During the analysis, the following five elements were extracted: [belief in the ability of vulnerable people to survive]; [being together]; [respect for human dignity]; [preparedness to respond to and bear suffering together]; and [theoretical knowledge base approaches true understanding of patient experience]. Further, the nursing model—the Roy Adaptation Model—utilized by Ms. A in the process of recognizing humans as whole beings was deeply interpreted and implemented as a guideline for her implicit advanced practice. Moreover, her deep understanding and utilization of theoretical knowledge base also built the foundation for her implicit advanced practice. In conclusion, Ms. A's tacit knowledge and the elements support the process of tacit knowledge acquisition. Her narratives, hermeneutic attitude as an interpreter, and learning attitude throughout interaction with others will strongly help her knowledge development. We intend to continue the study with multiple participants and explore the structure of tacit knowledge possessed by advanced practitioners. Future endeavours will include the development of a tacit knowledge learning strategy.