bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pan-Neurofascin autoimmune nodopathy – a life-threatening, but reversible neuropathy
Authors: Appeltshauser Luise , Doppler Kathrin
Published: August 2023

Purpose of review

Autoimmune nodopathies are immune-mediated neuropathies associated with antibodies targeting the peripheral node of Ranvier. Recently, antibodies against all neurofascin-isoforms (pan-neurofascin) have been linked to a clinical phenotype distinct from previously described autoimmune nodopathies. Here, we aim at highlighting the molecular background and the red flags for diagnostic assessment and provide treatment and surveillance approaches for this new disease.

Recent findings

Neurofascin-isoforms are located at different compartments of the node of Ranvier: Neurofascin-186 at the axonal nodal gap, and Neurofascin-155 at the terminal Schwann cell loops at the paranode. Pan-neurofascin antibodies recognize a common epitope on both isoforms and can access the node of Ranvier directly. Depending on their subclass profile, antibodies can induce direct structural disorganization and complement activation. Affected patients present with acute and immobilizing sensorimotor neuropathy, with cranial nerve involvement and long-term respiratory insufficiency. Early antibody-depleting therapy is crucial to avoid axonal damage, and remission is possible despite extended disease and high mortality. The antibody titer and serum neurofilament light chain levels can serve as biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy monitoring.

Pan-neurofascin-associated autoimmune nodopathies has unique molecular and clinical features. Testing should be considered in severe and prolonged Guillain-Barré-like phenotype.
Profiling an integrated network of cellular senescence and immune resilience measures in natural aging: a prospective multi-cohort study
Authors: Mitin Natalia , Entwistle Amy , Knecht Anne , Strum Susan L. , Ross Allison , Nyrop Kirsten , Muss Hyman B. , Tsygankov Denis , Raffaele Joseph M.
Published: August 2023

Background

Biological aging begins decades before the onset of age-related clinical conditions and is mediated by both cellular senescence and declining adaptive immune function. These processes are functionally related with the rate of senescent cell accumulation dependent upon a balance between induction and immune clearance. We previously showed that biomarkers in these domains can identify patients at-risk of surgery-related adverse events. Here, we describe evidence of clinical relevance in early aging and metabolic phenotypes in a general adult population.

Methods

We enrolled a total of 482 participants (ages 25-90) into two prospective, cross-sectional healthy aging cohorts. Expression of biomarkers of adaptive immune function and cellular senescence (SapereX) was measured in CD3+ T cells isolated from peripheral blood.

Findings

We established a network of biomarkers of adaptive immune function that correlate with cellular senescence and associate with early aging phenotypes. SapereX immune components associated with a decrease in CD4+ T cells, an increase in cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, and a loss of CD8+ naïve T cells (Pearson correlation 0.3-0.6). These components also associated with a metric of immune resilience, an ability to withstand antigen challenge and inflammation. In contrast, SapereX components were only weakly associated with GlycanAge (Pearson correlation 0.03-0.15) and commonly used DNA methylation clocks (Pearson correlation 0-0.25). Finally, SapereX biomarkers, in particular p16, were associated with chronic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation.

Interpretation

Measurement of SapereX biomarkers may capture essential elements of the relationship between cellular senescence and dysregulated adaptive immune function and may provide a benchmark for clinically relevant health decisions.
Microsoft Bing vs. Google Bard in Neurology: A Comparative Study of AI-Generated Patient Education Material
Authors: Nazir Talha , Ahmad Usman , Mal Madho , Rehman Mushhood Ur , Saeed Reeda , Kalia Junaid S.
Published: August 2023

Background

Patient education is an essential component of healthcare, and artificial intelligence (AI) language models such as Google Bard and Microsoft Bing have the potential to improve information transmission and enhance patient care. However, it is crucial to evaluate the quality, accuracy, and understandability of the materials generated by these models before applying them in medical practice. This study aimed to assess and compare the quality of patient education materials produced by Google Bard and Microsoft Bing in response to questions related to neurological conditions.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate and compare the ability of Google Bard and Microsoft Bing to generate patient education materials. The study included the top ten prevalent neurological diseases based on WHO prevalence data. Ten board-certified neurologists and four neurology residents evaluated the responses generated by the models on six quality metrics. The scores for each model were compiled and averaged across all measures, and the significance of any observed variations was assessed using an independent t-test.

Results

Google Bard performed better than Microsoft Bing in all six-quality metrics, with an overall mean score of 79% and 69%, respectively. Google Bard outperformed Microsoft Bing in all measures for eight questions, while Microsoft Bing performed marginally better in terms of objectivity and clarity for the epilepsy query.

Conclusion

This study showed that Google Bard performs better than Microsoft Bing in generating patient education materials for neurological diseases. However, healthcare professionals should take into account both AI models’ advantages and disadvantages when providing support for health information requirements. Future studies can help determine the underlying causes of these variations and guide cooperative initiatives to create more user-focused AI-generated patient education materials. Finally, researchers should consider the perception of patients regarding AI-generated patient education material and its impact on implementing these solutions in healthcare settings.
In vivomapping of the deep and superficial white matter connectivity in the chimpanzee brain
Authors: Chauvel Maëlig , Uszynski Ivy , Herlin Bastien , Popov Alexandros , Leprince Yann , Mangin Jean-François , Hopkins William D. , Poupon Cyril
Published: August 2023

Mapping the chimpanzee brain connectome, and comparing it to humans, is key to our understanding of similarities and differences in primate evolution that occurred after the split from their common ancestor around 6 million years ago. In contrast with macaque species brain studies, less studies have specifically addressed the structural connectivity of the chim-panzee brain and its comparison with the human brain. Most comparative studies in the liter-ature focus on the anatomy of the cortex and deep nuclei to evaluate how their morphometry and asymmetry differs from that of the human brain, and some studies have emerged concern-ing the study of brain connectivity between primates. In this work, we established a new white matter atlas of the deep and superficial white matter structural connectivity in chimpanzees. In vivo anatomical and diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were collected on a 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system in 39 chimpanzees. These datasets were subsequently processed using a dedicated fiber clustering pipeline adapted to the chimpanzee brain enabling us to create two novel deep and superficial white matter connectivity atlases representative of the chimpanzee brain. These atlases provide the scientific community with an important and novel set of reference data for understanding the commonalities and differ-ences of the structural connectivity between the human and chimpanzee brains, which will contribute to a better understanding of the hominin brain evolution.
Neuronal tuning and population representations of shape and category in human visual cortex
Authors: Bougou Vasiliki , Vanhoyland Michaël , Bertrand Alexander , Van Paesschen Wim , Op De Beeck Hans , Janssen Peter , Theys Tom
Published: August 2023

Object recognition and categorization are essential cognitive processes which engage considerable neural resources in the human ventral visual stream. However, the tuning properties of human ventral stream neurons for object shape and category are virtually unknown. We performed the first large-scale recordings of spiking activity in human Lateral Occipital Complex in response to stimuli in which the shape dimension was dissociated from the category dimension. Consistent with studies in nonhuman primates, the neuronal representations were primarily shape-based, although we also observed category-like encoding for images of animals. Surprisingly, linear decoders could reliably classify stimulus category even in data sets that were entirely shape-based. In addition, many tuning curves showed an interaction between shape and category tuning. These results represent the first detailed study on shape and category coding at the neuronal level in the human ventral visual stream, furnishing essential evidence that reconciles human imaging and macaque single-cell studies.
Histone Lactylation Drives CD8 T Cell Metabolism and Function
Authors: Raychaudhuri Deblina , Singh Pratishtha , Hennessey Mercedes , Chakraborty Bidisha , Tannir Aminah J. , Trujillo-Ocampo Abel , Im Jin Seon , Goswami Sangeeta
Published: August 2023

The activation and functional differentiation of CD8 T cells are linked to metabolic pathways that result in the production of lactate. Lactylation is a lactate-derived histone post-translational modification (hPTM); however, the relevance of histone lactylation in the context of CD8 T cell activation and function is not known. Here, we show the enrichment of H3K18-lactylation (H3K18la) and H3K9-lactylation (H3K9la) in human and murine CD8 T cells which act as transcription initiators of key genes regulating CD8 T cell phenotype and function. Further, we note distinct impacts of H3K18la and H3K9la on CD8 T cell subsets linked to their specific metabolic profiles. Importantly, we demonstrate that modulation of H3K18la and H3K9la by targeting metabolic and epigenetic pathways regulates CD8 T cell effector function including anti-tumor immunity in preclinical models. Overall, our study uncovers the unique contributions of H3K18la and H3K9la in modulating CD8 T cell phenotype and function intricately associated with metabolic state.
Structural and functional vascular dysfunction within brain metastases is linked to pembrolizumab inefficacy
Authors: Kim Albert E. , Lou Kevin W. , Giobbie-Hurder Anita , Chang Ken , Gidwani Mishka , Hoebel Katharina , Patel Jay B. , Cleveland Mason C. , Singh Praveer , Bridge Christopher P. , Ahmed Syed Rakin , Bearce Benjamin A. , Liu William , Fuster-Garcia Elies , Lee Eudocia Q. , Lin Nancy U. , Overmoyer Beth , Wen Patrick Y. , Nayak Lakshmi , Cohen Justine V. , Dietrich Jorg , Eichler April , Heist Rebecca , Krop Ian , Lawrence Donald , Ligibel Jennifer , Tolaney Sara , Mayer Erica , Winer Eric , Perrino Carmen M. , Summers Elizabeth J. , Mahar Maura , Oh Kevin , Shih Helen A. , Cahill Daniel P. , Rosen Bruce R. , Yen Yi-Fen , Kalpathy-Cramer Jayashree , Martinez-Lage Maria , Sullivan Ryan J. , Brastianos Priscilla K. , Emblem Kyrre E. , Gerstner Elizabeth R.
Published: August 2023

Structurally and functionally aberrant vasculature is a hallmark of tumor angiogenesis and treatment resistance. Given the synergistic link between aberrant tumor vasculature and immunosuppression, we analyzed perfusion MRI for 44 patients with brain metastases (BM) undergoing treatment with pembrolizumab. To date, vascular-immune communication, or the relationship between immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy and vascular architecture, has not been well-characterized in human imaging studies. We found that ICI-responsive BM possessed a structurally balanced vascular makeup, which was linked to improved vascular efficiency and an immune-stimulatory microenvironment. In contrast, ICI-resistant BM were characterized by a lack of immune cell infiltration and a highly aberrant vasculature dominated by large-caliber vessels. Peri-tumor region analysis revealed early functional changes predictive of ICI resistance before radiographic evidence on conventional MRI. This study was one of the largest functional imaging studies for BM and establishes a foundation for functional studies that illuminate the mechanisms linking patterns of vascular architecture with immunosuppression, as targeting these aspects of cancer biology may serve as the basis for future combination treatments.
IpsiHand Brain-Computer Interface Therapy Induces Broad Upper Extremity Motor Recovery in Chronic Stroke
Authors: Rustamov Nabi , Souders Lauren , Sheehan Lauren , Carter Alexandre , Leuthardt Eric C.
Published: August 2023

Background and Purpose

Chronic hemiparetic stroke patients have very limited benefits from current therapies. Brain-computer interface (BCI) engaging the unaffected hemisphere has emerged as a promising novel therapeutic approach for chronic stroke rehabilitation. This study investigated the effectiveness of the IpsiHand System, a contralesionally-controlled BCI therapy in chronic stroke patients with impaired upper extremity motor function. We further explored neurophysiological features of motor recovery affected by BCI. We hypothesized that BCI therapy would induce a broad motor recovery in the upper extremity (proximal and distal), and there would be corresponding changes in baseline theta and gamma oscillations, which have been shown to be associated with motor recovery.

Methods

Thirty chronic hemiparetic stroke patients performed a therapeutic BCI task for 12 weeks. Motor function assessment data and resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) signals were acquired before initiating BCI therapy and across BCI therapy sessions. The Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment (UEFM) served as a primary motor outcome assessment tool. Theta-gamma cross-frequency coupling (CFC) was computed and correlated with motor recovery.

Results

Chronic stroke patients achieved significant motor improvement with BCI therapy. We found significant improvement in both proximal and distal upper extremity motor function. Importantly, motor function improvement was independent of Botox application. Theta-gamma CFC enhanced bilaterally over the C3 and C4 motor electrodes following BCI therapy. We observed significant positive correlations between motor recovery and theta gamma CFC increase across BCI therapy sessions.

Conclusions

BCI therapy resulted in significant motor function improvement across the proximal and distal upper extremities of patients. This therapy was significantly correlated with changes in baseline cortical dynamics, specifically theta-gamma CFC increases in both the right and left motor regions. This may represent rhythm-specific cortical oscillatory mechanism for BCI-driven motor rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients.
Characterizing the clinical adoption of medical AI through U.S. insurance claims
Authors: Wu Kevin , Wu Eric , Theodorou Brandon , Liang Weixin , Mack Christina , Glass Lucas , Sun Jimeng , Zou James
Published: August 2023

There are now over 500 medical AI devices that are approved by the U.S. FDA. However, little is known about where and how often these devices are actually used after regulatory approval. In this paper, we systematically quantify the adoption and usage of medical AI in the U.S. by tracking Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes explicitly created for medical AI. CPT codes are widely used for documenting billing and payment for medical procedures, providing a measure of device utilization across different clinical settings. We examine a comprehensive nationwide claims database of 16 billion CPT claims between 1/1/2015 to 6/12023 to analyze the prevalence of medical AI based on submitted claims. Our results indicate that medical AI adoption is still nascent, with most usage driven by a handful of leading devices. For example, only AI devices used for assessing coronary artery disease and for diagnosing diabetic retinopathy have accumulated more than 10,000 CPT claims. Furthermore, medical AI usage is moderately over-represented in higher-income zip codes and metropolitan areas. Our study sheds light on the current landscape of medical AI adoption and usage in the U.S., underscoring the need to further investigate barriers and incentives to promote equitable access and broader integration of AI technologies in healthcare.
Identification of genetic drivers of plasma lipoproteins in the Diversity Outbred mouse population
Authors: Price Tara R. , Emfinger Christopher H. , Schueler Kathryn L. , King Sarah , Nicholson Rebekah , Beck Tim , Yandell Brian S. , Summers Scott A. , Holland William L. , Krauss Ronald M. , Keller Mark P. , Attie Alan D.
Published: August 2023

Despite great progress in understanding lipoprotein physiology, there is still much to be learned about the genetic drivers of lipoprotein abundance, composition, and function. We used ion mobility spectrometry to survey 16 plasma lipoprotein subfractions in 500 Diversity Outbred (DO) mice maintained on a Western-style diet. We identified 21 quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting lipoprotein abundance. To refine the QTL and link them to disease risk in humans, we asked if the human homologues of genes located at each QTL were associated with lipid traits in human genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Integration of mouse QTL with human GWAS yielded candidate gene drivers for 18 of the 21 QTL. This approach enabled us to nominate the gene encoding the neutral ceramidase,Asah2, as a novel candidate driver at a QTL on chromosome 19 for large HDL particles (HDL-2b). To experimentally validateAsah2, we surveyed lipoproteins inAsah2-/-mice. Compared to wild-type mice, femaleAsah2-/-mice showed an increase in several lipoproteins, including HDL. Our results provide insights into the genetic regulation of circulating lipoproteins, as well as mechanisms by which lipoprotein subfractions may affect cardiovascular disease risk in humans.
MADDD-seq, a novel massively parallel sequencing tool for simultaneous detection of DNA damage and mutations
Authors: Vermulst Marc , Paskvan Samantha L. , Chung Claire , Franke Kathryn , Clegg Nigel , Madeoy Jennifer , Long Annalyssa S. , Gout Jean-Francois , Bielas Jason H.
Published: August 2023

Our genome is exposed to a wide variety of DNA-damaging agents. If left unrepaired, this damage can be fixed into mutations that promote carcinogenesis and the development of genetically inherited diseases. As a result, it is crucial that we can detect DNA damage and mutations with exquisite sensitivity. Here, we describe a modified version of double barcoding sequencing technology termed Mutation And DNA Damage Detection-seq (MADDD-seq) that can detect DNA damage and mutations simultaneously, with a single assay. To demonstrate the utility of MADDD-seq as a multifunctional detection tool, we treated yeast cells with a DNA-damaging agent and tracked the presence of DNA damage and mutations over a 24-hour timespan. These experiments allowed us to identify thousands of adducts and mutations in a single sequencing run and expose the kinetics of DNA repair and mutagenesis in remarkable detail.
Has increased prominence of translation results changed net investment hedging practice?
Authors: Marshall Beverly , Jin Han
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of greater reporting prominence of translation results following Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2011-05 on net investment (NI) hedging practice. The authors investigate the role of increased transparency on the decision to engage in NI hedging (participation), the degree of NI hedging (level) and the hedging vehicle choice.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the Heckman two-stage procedure (Heckman, 1979) in the hedging choice analysis. In the first stage, the authors model the participation decision as a function of reporting transparency, translation results and other control variables. In the second stage, the authors include the Inverse Mills ratio from the first stage Probit to examine both the level and vehicle choice decisions.

Findings

When translation is reported more prominently, the authors find an increase in the level of NI hedging and a greater likelihood of debt as the hedging vehicle, but no evidence firms are more likely to hedge. Regardless of where translation results are reported, firms facing ongoing translation losses are more likely to hedge.

Research limitations/implications

This paper examines S&P 500 firms in the years surrounding the effective date of ASU 2011-05. The findings suggest managers respond to the increase in reporting transparency by increasing hedging for long-term risk management purposes, supporting accounting authorities’ efforts to promote other comprehensive income information transparency. The results should hold for comparable firms with similar currency exposure, size and visibility, but may not apply to smaller firms with limited translation exposure. As only about a quarter of firms with translation exposure engage in NI hedging, the primary results are based on a relatively limited number of firms.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that examines NI hedging behavior changes following ASU-2011-05. Second, the authors are the first to explore why firms are almost equally split between derivatives and debt as their exclusive hedging vehicle.
A move to the bright side? When journalism is invited into internal communication
Authors: Madsen Vibeke Thøis , Andersen Helle Tougaard
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Journalists moving into corporate communication have for many years been regarded as a move to the “dark side”. This paper turns the lens to explore how trained journalists working as internal communication practitioners due to their journalistic self-concept and skills can contribute to internal communication.

Design/methodology/approach

An interview study was conducted with twelve trained journalists working with internal communication in different types of organizations. Three indicators of professionalism, namely autonomy, altruism and expert knowledge, were used as categories to structure the interviews and analysis.

Findings

The respondents perceived that their journalistic self-concept and skills helped them identify the employee perspective, write relevant stories and deliver them quickly. Furthermore, their courage and lack of fear of authorities enabled them to challenge decisions made by their senior managers, especially regarding how, what and when to communicate.

Research limitations/implications

The three indicators of the journalist profession, – autonomy, altruism and journalistic knowledge and skills – may help establish internal communication that is relevant, transparent and trustworthy.

Practical implications

Organizations may benefit from building their internal communication around the three indicators of the journalist profession. They could, for example, host independent internal media that present the employees’ perspective and maintain a critical attitude to the organization in a relevant and compelling manner.

Originality/value

Few studies have explored the role of journalists working as internal communication practitioners and their contributions to internal communication.
Female CEO and FinTech performance: Are senior directors more inclusive?
Authors: Stefanelli Valeria , Manta Francesco , D'Amato Antonio
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between gender diversity in CEO positions and FinTech profitability by exploring the moderating role of the average board age on such a relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A unique data set of Italian FinTech companies during the 2017–2019 period was used in an ordinary least square model specification. The model is designed to assess the relationship between the presence of a female CEO and FinTech profitability and the moderating role of the average age of governing board members.

Findings

The results of this study indicate that when the average age of the FinTech firm’s board members is relatively low, the profitability of those firms with female CEOs was not significantly different from the profitability of firms with male CEOs. However, among FinTech firms with relatively older board members, the profitability of those firms with a female CEO was lower. This empirical result seems to suggest that older board directors are less prone to recognize female CEO leadership qualities. This supports the need for FinTech firms to adopt good practices in board composition that favor gender inclusion and diversity on board.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study within the literature is that the empirical analysis added new evidence on the relationship between Female CEO and performance by exploring the moderating role of the average age of board members. Moreover, the empirical results of this study suggest specific conditions that could improve the profitability of female-led firms by removing the apparent biased perceptions about the quality of women in leadership among older board members.
Corporate governance in SMEs: a systematic literature review and future research
Authors: Teixeira Jaime Fernandes , Carvalho Amélia Oliveira
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the corporate governance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through a systematic literature review.

Design/methodology/approach

The review was conducted by analyzing 19 published studies in the field, leading to the identification of 14 journals and 40 authors. The relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and various aspects of SMEs’ performance was analyzed. The characteristics of corporate governance were classified into five categories: board, ownership, CEO, audit and age.

Findings

The review found a direct relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and various aspects of SMEs’ performance, including innovation, internationalization, auditing and risk of failure. The study also highlights the need for future research to adopt a behavioral perspective, to shift focus from identifying responsibilities to examining governance processes and to use nonlinear models and qualitative methods to effectively analyze the interrelated nature of the phenomena under study.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of the review include the limited number of studies available for analysis, as well as the fact that most of the empirical research was based on evidence from European countries, with only a few papers focusing on other countries, such as the USA, China and Ghana.

Originality/value

The results of this review provide valuable insights for researchers and practitioners in the field of corporate governance in SMEs. The findings provide a foundational basis for further research in the area and highlight the need for future studies to adopt a behavioral perspective and use nonlinear models and qualitative methods.
The digital transformation in the psychology of workplace spirituality
Authors: Walter Yoshija
Published: August 2023

Purpose

There is evidence that spirituality at the workplace has positive effects on work outcomes, and there are different models conceptualizing the construct. To date, there is no discussion highlighting how digitalization is affecting workplace spirituality and vice versa. The present review tries to close this gap by discussing the psychological dynamics in light of digitalization and spirituality in the context of work.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual discussion based on an extensive narrative review. The conceptual design is further tested with a real-life case study.

Findings

The result is a model that may guide future research, which consists of the four highly interdependent domains, namely psychology (with the dimensions of emotion, cognition and behavior), digitalization (with the dimensions of platforms, data and algorithms), spirituality (with the dimensions of meaning, self-transcendation and belonging), as well as the workplace (with the dimensions of work tasks, location, community and culture and values). The discussion includes implications for the future of work, suggestions for management decisions and potential future research directions.

Originality/value

To date, there are many discussions about digital transformation and a limited amount of them have invested in analyzing psychological dimensions. The application to spirituality and the workplace – especially when the two are combined – is almost wholly absent, which makes the present discussion both innovative and original.
Thermal radiation impact on heat and mass transfer analysis of nanofluids inside a cavity with gyrotactic microorganisms
Authors: Reddy P. Sudarsana , Sreedevi Paluru
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Buongiorno’s type nanofluid mass and heat transport appearances inside a cavity filled with gyrotactic microorganisms by captivating thermal radiation is analyzed in the present work. Finite element investigation is instigated to examine the converted momentum, temperature, concentration of microorganisms and concentration of nanofluid equations numerically.

Design/methodology/approach

Finite element investigation is instigated to examine the converted momentum, temperature, concentration of microorganisms and concentration of nanofluid equations numerically.

Findings

The sway of these influenced parameters on standard rates of heat transport, nanoparticles Sherwood number and Sherwood number of microorganisms is also illustrated through graphs. It is perceived that the rates of heat transport remarkably intensifies inside the cavity region with amplifying thermophoresis number values.

Originality/value

The research work carried out in this paper is original and no part is copied from others’ work.
Who believes political fake news? The role of conspiracy mentality, patriotism, perceived threat to freedom, media literacy and concern for disinformation
Authors: Daunt Kate L. , Greer Dominique A. , Jin Hyun Seung , Orpen Isabella
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Understanding individual susceptibility to political fake news is critical because fake news can target specific psychological profiles of vulnerable individuals. Consequently, this research examines five individual risk (i.e. susceptibility) and resilience (i.e. protective) factors, conspiracy mentality, patriotism, perceived threat to freedom, media literacy and concern for disinformation, to determine if they inform belief in political fake news and subsequently, to what degree belief impacts private engagement with political fake news.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a fictional political fake news stimulus, the authors conducted a deductive thematic analysis of 10 semi-structured interviews and an online survey of 722 United Kingdom (UK) citizens analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

Conspiracy mentality and patriotism were positively associated with belief in political fake news, while media literacy and concern for disinformation were negatively associated with belief in political fake news. Perceived threat to freedom was a strong theme in the qualitative data but had no statistical effect on belief in political fake news. Belief in political fake news was positively associated with further engagement with the fake news story, acting as a mediator in the model.

Originality/value

Distinct from previous research that focuses on partisanship and sharing behaviour, this research forwards a model underpinned by social identity theory to build an integrated understanding of political fake news belief. The results demonstrate that political identity motivations beyond partisanship are salient when examining individual susceptibility to political fake news and that belief in political fake news plays a core role in understanding subsequent private engagement with the story.
Does capital flight tone down economic growth? Evidence from emerging Asia
Authors: Basher Shahanara , Mamun Abdullahil , Bal Harun , Hoque Nazamul , Uddin Mahi
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to offer an up-to-date estimate of capital flight from selected emerging Asian economies and examine the anti-growth phenomenon of capital flight by using annual data for the period 1981–2019.

Design/methodology/approach

The study relies on residual methods to derive the estimate of capital flight with necessary adjustments. It then applies the autoregressive distributed lag Bounds testing approach in examining the impact of capital flight on the economic growth of Asian emerging economies.

Findings

The study identifies capital flight as the attributor to the slower economic growth of the selected emerging economies of Asia.

Practical implications

Apart from appropriate policies addressing the issues causing capital flight, unleashing the way of private sector-led growth of the emerging countries with necessary policy, infrastructural, institutional and regulatory support can rather help them retain and repatriate domestic capital.

Originality/value

The capital flight estimates in earlier studies are antithetical as they differ in terms of definition and estimation procedure. Again, the growth effect of capital flight in these economies has received meager attention in research and policy debates. Furthermore, being country-specific or region-specific, existing studies are unable to compare the growth effect of capital flight for different emerging economies in this region. Examining the growth effects for a large number of countries separately based on a common estimate of capital flight can resolve these issues that this study aims to do.
The Belo Horizonte’s harm reducers as a possible and effective peer support experience
Authors: Vieira Talita Cristiele Gomes , Ciriaco Luana Alves , Santos Silvana Silva , Souza Gabriel Lucas de , Souza Polibio José de Campos
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This article aims to analyze the incorporation of harm reduction health workers with lived experience in all services focused on the care for drug users in Belo Horizonte’s mental health network, one of the largest Brazilian Psychosocial Care Networks (Rede de Atenção Psicossocial [RAPS]), and reports the findings of a qualitative study on the life stories, recovery journeys and the professional practice of harm reducers in Belo Horizonte.

Design/methodology/approach

For the development of this research, the authors chose the following methodological tools: documentary research; follow-up of harm reduction interventions; access to harm reducers’ field diaries; joint writing of the life stories of the harm reducers.

Findings

It indicates that these professionals, as harm reducers empowered by their life experience, have developed various elements and active ingredients of peer support. Their practices and the results of their actions have consolidated their inclusion as Belo Horizonte RAPS’ health workers and highlight that recovery-oriented care and peer support are a real possibility in Brazil.

Originality/value

In this research, harm reducers are coauthors and report their own life experience. In this article, they also talk about the impact of this experience on their work and on the lives of users of mental health services, emphasizing the protagonism and exercise of citizenship by harm reducers.
Examining employee experiences of hybrid work: an ecological approach
Authors: Teng-Calleja Mendiola , Mactal Ma. Tonirose de Guzman , Caringal-Go Jaimee Felice
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the various forms of organizational and team-level actions that were perceived to be helpful or not helpful by employees as they navigate the hybrid work arrangements and how these had an impact on their work behaviors and experiences. This research utilized Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory as framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploratory study used a qualitative approach in gathering data via online survey from a total of 45 Filipino employees working in a hybrid work arrangement for at least three months. The analysis utilized both inductive and deductive methodologies in examining the data. Inductive thematic analysis was used in coding the data based on the participants' responses, while the deductive approach ensured that the themes are aligned with the research questions and reflect the different systems within Bronfenbrenner's EST (1986).

Findings

Results surfaced helpful organizational (e.g. provision of work tools, financial assistance, supportive policies and engagement and wellness initiatives) and team level actions (i.e. use of technology-based communication tools, open virtual door policy, effective performance management system, employee care practices and team engagement activities). Actions that were perceived as not helpful include inadequate technological infrastructure, poor communication, insufficient training, punitive policies/practices and leadership issues at the organizational level as well as unresponsive colleagues and ineffective implementation of policies/processes at the level of teams. Employees reported being able to build on savings, becoming more productive and having greater work–life balance amid hybrid work. However, they continue to be challenged by blurred boundaries and inability to disconnect from work similar to when work was done remotely and now with sustaining momentum given the shifts on where they do their work.

Practical implications

The findings of this study may guide programs and initiatives of human resource management practitioners and organizational leaders as they support employees in navigating through hybrid work.

Originality/value

The research expands extant knowledge on practices and experiences in hybrid work (Gifford, 2022). It also contributes to studies on human resource management that are nuanced based on where work is performed (Ng and Stanton, 2023) or with emerging work arrangements.
Psychological expedient of multimedia in blended learning and metamemory satisfaction
Authors: Saini Garima , Baba Mubashir Majid
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Multimedia facilitates knowledge acquisition, which has a significant impact on students' learning and is a big potential of information and communication technology. Learning through multimedia has psychological benefits for the learner in addition to being used for recreational learning. To define the cognitive theory of multimedia in successful learning and to develop the study's hypothesis, this study aims to focus on the psychological expedients of the learner and their perception of multimedia learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The longitudinal study was conducted to understand the effect of the use of multimedia applications in learning on blended learning and the metamemory satisfaction of learners. The data were collected in three phases and analysed on partial least squares structural equation modelling 4 software.

Findings

Learners' use of multimedia applications is positively connected with their perceptions of themselves as critical thinkers and their attitudes towards learning. Blended learning and the satisfaction of metamemory are directly impacted by the learner's attitude. The same is true for how critical thinking self-perception affects blended learning. Additionally, the association between the use of multimedia applications and one's critical thinking self-perception is positively moderated by mindfulness. Similarly, conscientiousness influences the connection between attitude and metamemory satisfaction in a favourable way. Finally, metamemory satisfaction is positively and significantly impacted by blended learning.

Research limitations/implications

Learning through multimedia affects the sensory system and then imitates the real world which helps in a better understanding of the stimuli. The psychological effects and applications (rational utilization of perception, memory and emotions) are highlighted which shows scrutiny of the multimedia content in effective learning.

Originality/value

Multimedia learning helps in gaining attention, increasing retention and improving comprehension resulting in remembering the content and boosting effective learning. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first one to look into how the usage of multimedia effects blended learning and metamemory satisfaction in terms of learners' attitudes and perceptions. It also discusses two phenomena: the multimodality of human perception and the so-called polyphony of reality in the emergence of this new technology.
Understanding total variation regularization: Why can it recover dipping structures?
Authors: Sun Jiajia , Fournier Dominique
Published: August 2023

Many geological features of scientific and/or economic interest have structural orientations that are neither horizontal nor vertical. Being able to recover such dipping structures from geophysical inversions is, therefore, important. Different regularization strategies have been proposed to help recover dipping structures. One notable example is total variation. However, there seems to be a lack of understanding within the geophysical community regarding why total variation regularization allows dipping structures to be recovered, whereas L1 norm regularization does not. In this paper, we compare these two regularization strategies from an optimization point of view using two simple block models. We also perform three‐dimensional inversions using a synthetic example and a field data example involving gravity gradient data to demonstrate the resolving power of total variation in potential field data inversion.
Impact of financial development on domestic investment: Evidence from West African countries
Authors: Keho Yaya
Published: August 2023

This paper investigates the effect of financial development on domestic investment in West African countries. The study uses data from 1985 to 2019 and employs the pooled mean group technique. The main finding of the study is that financial development has a positive effect on domestic investment in the long run but an insignificant effect in the short run. Furthermore, remittances, real GDP per capita and trade openness increase investment rate. The results of causality tests support the view that investment is a channel through which financial development stimulates economic growth. Therefore, it is reasonable for the selected countries to formulate policies that promote domestic credit to the private sector in order to ease liquidity constraints and increase investment and economic growth.
Acute appendicitis during the fifth wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic in a local cluster: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Luk M. P. , Hung T. W. , Yu L. M. , Kan M. Y. , Lau C. H.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency. This study aims to determine whether there are any delays in patients attending the emergency department, potentially leading to an increase in the rates of complicated appendicitis and post‐operative complications during the fifth wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic in a local cluster in Hong Kong.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we analysed 138 patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis during the fifth wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic and pre‐COVID‐19 period. The main study parameters were the duration between the onset of symptoms and attendance to the accident and emergency department, severity of appendicitis, post‐operative complication(s), operation time and total hospital length of stay.

Results

There was no delay in presentation between the two groups of patients. The rates of complicated appendicitis and post‐operative complications were comparable between the two groups. There was a significantly shorter length of stay for patients with acute appendicitis patients during the fifth wave of the pandemic.

Conclusion

The perspective of the general public towards the COVID‐19 pandemic is changing. Increased understanding of the COVID‐19 infection and availability of antiviral medications against COVID‐19 could be useful to eliminate patient's anxiety when attending medical care in public hospitals.
The effect of video‐based fistula care education on hemodialysis patients' self‐care behaviors: A randomized controlled study
Authors: Şahan Seda , Yıldız Ayşegül , Özdemir Cevriye , Günay İsmailoğlu Elif
Published: August 2023

Objective

This study aimed to determine the effect of face‐to‐face and video‐based education for fistula care on hemodialysis patients' self‐care behaviors.

Methods

The study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study. Accordingly, 60 patients were included in the study for 95% strength. Fistula care training was given to the patients in the control group using face‐to‐face education technique. Fistula care training was given to the patients in the experimental group using a video‐based technique.

Results

The analysis showed that the post‐test second week (p = 0.044) and fourth week (p = 0.00) mean scores of the experimental group were higher compared to those of the control group.

Conclusion

These results showed that the video‐based education given to hemodialysis patients was more memorable and instructive than the verbal education, and it was observed that the video‐based education showed a higher level of success in developing self‐care skills.
Peripheral CD4+/CD8+ T cell composition distinct from healthy individuals is shared by ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Gui Lian , Luo Xiqing , Zhou Liuzhong , Wei Qiujing , Gu Jieruo
Published: August 2023

Objective

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are chronic inflammatory joint diseases, linking to the alterations of immune cells. We attempted to assess whether the alterations in the composition of CD4+/CD8+ T cells are different between AS and RA and identify the characteristic cells between male and female patients.

Methods

The proportions of CD3+ or double positive T cells, 6 CD4+ T subsets and 9 CD8+ T cell subsets were detected by flow cytometry and compared in 30 healthy individuals, 42 AS patients and 45 RA patients. The differentially altered cells were individually analyzed for associations with disease activity parameters. In addition, their proportions were compared between different genders in the 3 groups.

Results

The proportions of CD4+ T cells, naive CD4+ T cells and central memory CD4+ T cells were lower in AS patients (P = 0.001, P = 0.002 and P = 0.007, respectively) and RA patients (P = 0.032, P < 0.001 and P = 0.016, respectively), but the proportion of effector memory ones was higher when compared with healthy populations (both P < 0.001), as were the decrease of naive/central memory CD8+ T cells in AS (P = 0.003 and P = 0.016, respectively) and RA (P < 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively), and the increased tendency of terminally differentiated CD8+ T cells. However, these above‐mentioned cells, regulatory T (Treg) cells and CD8+ T cells with different CD127 expressions between AS and RA were similar in proportion. Furthermore, naive CD4+ T cells were positively associated with C‐reactive protein (CRP) in AS, whereas CD4+ T cells and terminally differentiated CD8+ T of RA patients were associated with CRP in RA. The gender‐related alterations predominantly displayed the overexpressions of Treg cells and naive CD8+ T cells in female patients with AS and RA, respectively.

Conclusions

AS patients and RA patients have some similar peripheral CD4+/CD8+ T cell subsets but are distinct from healthy individuals, which may contribute to disease severity. Females are respectively characterized by the up‐regulation of Treg cells and naive CD8+ T cells in AS patients and RA patients. The study offers an in‐depth understanding of the role of T cell subsets in the similarities of the disorders and helps us to monitor disease changes and may offer a theoretical basis of developing novel therapies against common targets.