bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combining digitalization and sustainability: unveiling the relationship of digital maturity degree, sustainable supply chain management practices and performance
Authors: Pham Thi Ngan , Tran Hoang Minh Tu , Nguyen Tran Yen Ngan , Nguyen Phan Binh An
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to comprehensively assess how digital maturity degree (DMD) impacts sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) performance through the mediating role of SSCM practices in businesses in Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses were performed using partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with data collected from a survey of over 234 managers having responsibility in the supply chain field in Vietnam. Qualitative data were collected through semistructured interviews with 6 experts to deepen understanding of the relationship between DMD and SSCM.

Findings

The results show the mix-results in the relationship between SSCM practices and SSCM performance dimensions while DMD strongly impacts SSCM practices. Also, this study finds the mediating role of SSCM practices on the relationship between DMD and SSCM performance.

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate the role of DMD on SSCM practices and SSCM performance, using empirical evidence. Moreover, the authors integrate both qualitative and quantitative for understanding complex SSCM phenomena. The present study also helps businesses improve their SSCM performance by leveraging SSCM practices and developing their digital technologies in the long-term view.
CSR disclosure and investor social preferences: heterogenous investor responses to media reports on corporate greenwashing
Authors: Schwertner Tim , Sohn Matthias
Published: January 2024

Purpose

There is emerging evidence in the accounting literature that investors react negatively to corporate greenwashing. But does that hold for all investors, or do different types of investors react differently? This paper aims to study retail investors’ responses to media reports on corporate greenwashing and how these responses depend upon the investors’ social value orientation. The authors argue that media reporting on corporate greenwashing negatively affects the rationale for allocating funds to firms engaging in greenwashing. The authors also expect this reaction to be stronger for prosocial investors compared to proself investors.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct an online experiment with 229 participants representing retail investors in the German-speaking countries.

Findings

The results show that retail investors who received media reports on deceptive disclosure invest more funds in the company that does not engage in greenwashing (and less in the firm that engages in greenwashing) than investors who did not receive these reports. The authors’ results provide novel evidence that this effect primarily holds for investors with a prosocial value orientation. Finally, the authors’ data show that lower trust in the firm that engages in greenwashing partially mediates the effect of media reports on investor choices.

Originality/value

The authors provide unique evidence how different types of investors react to media reports on greenwashing. The authors find that moral motives, rather than risk-return considerations, drive investor responses to greenwashing. Overall, these findings support the important function of the media as an intermediary in stock market participation and highlight the pivotal role of individual traits in investors’ responses to greenwashing.
The role of open innovation in addressing resource constraints in healthcare: a systematic literature review
Authors: Šlapáková Losová Veronika , Dvouletý Ondřej
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The resource crisis in healthcare can be alleviated by engaging external stakeholders and resources in healthcare delivery. The authors use value and open innovation concepts to understand what motivates the stakeholders to join the healthcare innovation ecosystem and what value such an ecosystem brings to healthcare.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review following the PRISMA framework method was applied to reach the research objective. Out of a total of 509 identified articles published till 2021, 25 were selected as relevant for this review.

Findings

Six categories of actors were identified, including innovation intermediaries, which were so far neglected in the healthcare innovation literature. Furthermore, patients, healthcare providers, innovation suppliers, investors and influencers were described. The authors also distinguished internal and external stakeholders. The authors show why and how open innovation projects contribute to involving external stakeholders and resources in healthcare delivery by contributing to patient autonomy, relationship building, knowledge transfer, improving collaborative mindset and culture, advancing know-how and bringing additional finances.

Originality/value

This article is the first one to systematically describe the value of open innovation in healthcare. The authors challenge the positivist approach in value presented by value-based healthcare. The authors show how openness contributes to addressing the resource crisis by involving new stakeholders and resources in the care delivery process.
Property valuations decided through the court system in family law separation in Australia
Authors: Leshinsky Deborah , McGreal Stanley , Taltavull Paloma , McGough Anthony
Published: January 2024

Purpose

In Family Law Court decisions in Australia, following divorce, the female party is frequently disadvantaged financially in the long term. This paper provides a critical assessment of valuation evidence as a data source in research and discusses valuation accuracy, valuation variation and valuation bias, as well as the Australian family court system and the role of valuers as expert witnesses. In particular, valuation in family law, as it relates to gender inequality, is discussed. The study aims to determine whether the current system of valuation in the Family Law Courts disadvantages women. This paper was important to reveal information that stakeholders in family law cases use on a day-to-day basis.

Design/methodology/approach

A database of 658 cases was developed and analysed to examine the influence of valuations of the matrimonial home provided by both the male and female parties on the final decision of the court.

Findings

Findings showed that valuations from the female party had marginally more influence on the outcome. However, financial disadvantages for the female party persist despite this. This raises several questions for future research, regarding reasons for this persistent disadvantage.

Research limitations/implications

Research limitations included a time-consuming process.

Practical implications

Further researchers can use the findings from this paper to further research.

Social implications

Social implications include the ability of the research to impact on society. In this regard, it was the matrimonial home in relation to divorce proceedings.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper stems from the analysis of a database that was created from a large number of cases from Austlii database family law cases.
Just enough unless my community needs more! The necessity shopper scale and the mediating effect of connectedness on buying more
Authors: Bok Stephen , Shum James , Lee Maria
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Consumer choice theory (CCT) and the law of diminishing marginal utility help to explain shoppers that value less and prioritize needs. Additional units provide a marginal return on investment. Buying more does not mean equivalent gains for additional money spent. The researchers developed and validated the necessity shopper scale (NSS) to study need-focused shoppers.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers followed standard psychometric practices to create and validate the NSS. The researchers performed item development, data collection, exploratory analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and predictive validity analysis using survey data (N = 1,266).

Findings

Discriminant and convergent validity analyses demonstrated that the measure was distinct from existing measures. Predictive validity analysis found necessity shoppers (NS) are more likely to buy one over buy one get one half off (BOGOHO). NS were associated with a higher connection to community/group (CTCG). Higher hyperopia (i.e. disinclination to indulgence) with necessity shopping beliefs heightened this CTCG. A higher CTCG was associated with a greater likelihood to select BOGOHO.

Originality/value

NS (more connected to others) buy more to share with others, while buying just enough for themselves. Social connections are long-term investments involving more people and more needs to fulfill. Brands marketed with communal values and able to enhance social connections are discussed as implications to encourage NS to buy more.
Structural topic modeling for corporate social responsibility of food supply chain management: evidence from FDA recalls on plant-based food products
Authors: An Jiyoon
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The rising number of food recalls has raised concerns about complexity, globalization and weak governance in the food supply chain. This paper aims to investigate the recall of plant-based products with data from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Design/methodology/approach

Introducing the structural topic modeling method allowed us to test theories on recall in the context of sustainable food consumption, enhancing the understanding of food recall processes. This approach helps identify latent topics of product recalls and their interwoven relationships with various stakeholders.

Findings

The results answer a standing research call for empirical investigation in a nascent food industry to identify stakeholders’ engagements for food safety crisis management for corporate social responsibility practices. This finding provides novel insights on managing threats to food safety at an industry level to extend existing antecedents and consequences of product recall at a micro level.

Practical implications

For practitioners, this empirical finding may provide insights into stakeholder management and develop evidence-based strategies to prevent threats to food safety. For public policymakers, this analysis may help identify patterns of recalls and assist guidelines and alarm systems (e.g. EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) on threats in the food supply chain.

Originality/value

Two detected clusters, such as opportunisms of market actors in the plant-based food system and food culture, from the analysis help understand corporate social responsibility and food safety in the plant-based food industry.
Crop species diversity levels with attract and reward strategies to enhance Pieris brassicae parasitism rate by Cotesia glomerata in strip intercropping
Authors: Croijmans Luuk , van Apeldoorn Dirk F. , Sanfilippo Fabrizio , Zangpo Tshelthrim , Poelman Erik H.
Published: January 2024

Crop diversification through inter‐ and mixed cropping practices has been shown to enhance conservation biological control of herbivorous pest insects. However, distinct cropping practices are usually tested independently, which makes assessing the relative impact of specific measures difficult.

We assessed parasitism rates of released large cabbage white (Pieris brassicae) caterpillars by parasitoids on white cabbage (Brassica oleracea) plants in six different cropping systems: four different strip‐cropping designs, a pixel cropping design and a monoculture. These cropping designs differed in the number of crops included, the use of parasitoid‐attractive cultivars in concurrence with a cash cultivar, the use of nectar‐providing crops for adult parasitoids and the spatial arrangement of the crops.

Parasitism rate by the main P. brassicae parasitoid Cotesia glomerata was enhanced by strip cropping of white cabbage with wheat, and even further enhanced by the inclusion of four more main crops. Contrastingly, C. glomerata parasitism rate was lower in the most intensive crop mixture, that is pixel cropping, than in any of the strip‐cropping designs. The use of attractive cultivars or rewarding floral resources within a strip‐cropping set‐up did not significantly further enhance C. glomerata parasitism rate.

Synthesis and applications: Our results show that increasing the number of crops in the agroecosystem enhances parasitism rates, whereas the additional inclusion of more subtle measures to attract or reward parasitoids shows mostly marginal effects. We argue that strip cropping can readily be employed as (part of a) pest control strategy, but trait‐based measures still need further development. How to implement attract and/or reward strategies in large‐scale agricultural systems should be further evaluated in the context of crop diversification schemes.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Urbanisation and agricultural intensification modulate plant–pollinator network structure and robustness
Authors: Proesmans Willem , Felten Emeline , Laurent Emilien , Albrecht Matthias , Cyrille Nathan , Labonté Audrey , Maurer Corina , Paxton Robert , Schweiger Oliver , Szentgyörgyi Hajnalka , Vanbergen Adam J.
Published: January 2024

Land use change is a major pressure on pollinator abundance, diversity and plant–pollinator interactions. Far less is known about how land‐use alters the structure of plant–pollinator networks and their robustness to plant–pollinator coextinctions.

We analysed the structure of plant–pollinator networks sampled in 12 landscapes along an urbanisation and agricultural intensity gradient, from early spring to late summer 2021, and used a stochastic coextinction model to correlate plant–pollinator coextinction risk with network structure (species and network‐level metrics) and landscape context.

Networks in intensively managed (i.e., agricultural and urban) landscapes had a lower risk of initiating a coextinction cascade, while networks in less intensively managed landscapes may be less robust. Network structure modulated the frequency and severity of coextinctions and species loss, while the strength of species interactions increased robustness.

Urban networks were more species rich and symmetrical due to the high diversity of ornamental plants, while intensively managed agricultural landscapes had smaller, more tightly connected and nested networks.

Network structure modulated the frequency of extinctions, which was decreased by greater linkage density, interaction asymmetry and interaction dependence in the networks, while once an extinction occurred, nestedness and linkage density propagated the degree of the coextinction cascade and species loss. At the species level, species strength was inversely correlated with extinction risk, implying that generalist species with a high number of interactions with specialists had the lowest extinction risk.

An interplay between land‐use and network structure affects community robustness to coextinctions with implications for pollination services and plant reproduction. Land‐use change or other global change pressures by reorganising species interactions can alter communities and their potential functioning.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Rural boredom: atmospheres of blocked promises
Authors: Schnegg Michael
Published: January 2024

This article asks why Namibians complain that rural communities have become ǀowesa (boring) and why they describe a feeling of pointlessness. After Namibia gained independence in 1990, those who migrated to the towns often progressed economically, while those who remained in the rural hinterlands became the spectators of their success. At the same time, they experienced their efforts as having been ‘blocked’ (ǁkhaehe) not only by the economy, as the literature suggests, but also by the harsh arid environment, the state, others, and their own bodies. To theorize the shared affectivity these experiences create, I mobilize phenomenological theories that take emotions out of the ‘box’ of the psyche and consider them as atmospheres that hover in situations where they transcend people, things, and activities, creating rural boredom. ǀOweb rides on your back, people say. Turning emotions inside out allows them to be politicized by demonstrating how boredom grows in the gap created by promising a different future while at the same time preventing it. While people strive, and sometimes manage, to get ǀoweb off their backs, theorizing boredom as an atmosphere makes it clear that it will return unless these conditions change.
GH136‐encoding gene (perB) is involved in gut colonization and persistence by Bifidobacterium bifidumPRL2010
Authors: Rizzo Sonia Mirjam , Vergna Laura Maria , Alessandri Giulia , Lee Ciaran , Fontana Federico , Lugli Gabriele Andrea , Carnevali Luca , Bianchi Massimiliano G. , Barbetti Margherita , Taurino Giuseppe , Sgoifo Andrea , Bussolati Ovidio , Turroni Francesca , van Sinderen Douwe , Ventura Marco
Published: January 2024

Bifidobacteria are commensal microorganisms that typically inhabit the mammalian gut, including that of humans. As they may be vertically transmitted, they commonly colonize the human intestine from the very first day following birth and may persist until adulthood and old age, although generally at a reduced relative abundance and prevalence compared to infancy. The ability of bifidobacteria to persist in the human intestinal environment has been attributed to genes involved in adhesion to epithelial cells and the encoding of complex carbohydrate‐degrading enzymes. Recently, a putative mucin‐degrading glycosyl hydrolase belonging to the GH136 family and encoded by the perB gene has been implicated in gut persistence of certain bifidobacterial strains. In the current study, to better characterize the function of this gene, a comparative genomic analysis was performed, revealing the presence of perB homologues in just eight bifidobacterial species known to colonize the human gut, including Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum strains, or in non‐human primates. Mucin‐mediated growth and adhesion to human intestinal cells, in addition to a rodent model colonization assay, were performed using B. bifidum PRL2010 as a perB prototype and its isogenic perB‐insertion mutant. These results demonstrate that perB inactivation reduces the ability of B. bifidum PRL2010 to grow on and adhere to mucin, as well as to persist in the rodent gut niche. These results corroborate the notion that the perB gene is one of the genetic determinants involved in the persistence of B. bifidum PRL2010 in the human gut.
Media abnormal tone and cross section of stock returns: Evidence from China
Authors: Yan Lu , Ma Yong , Li Changshuai , Tang Guohao
Published: January 2024

This paper introduces an innovative methodology for extracting information from textual data to explain cross‐sectional stock returns, addressing limitations of conventional media tone measures. We find firms exhibiting higher media abnormal tone yield lower future returns in the Chinese market, even when controlling for common risk factors. This effect is more pronounced among firms with low investment, low profitability, and high short‐term reversal. We also find the negative premium generated by media abnormal tone results from mispricing, highlighting investor overreaction despite media's role in disseminating concurrent firm information. Furthermore, the tendency for media outlets to follow suit exacerbates investor overreaction.
Incidence and predictors of metabolic syndrome onset in individuals with bipolar disorders: A longitudinal study from the FACE‐BD cohort
Authors: Godin O. , Olié E. , Fond G. , Aouizerate B. , Aubin V. , Bellivier F. , Belzeaux R. , Courtet P. , Dubertret C. , Haffen E. , Lefrere A. , Llorca P. M. , Polosan M. , Roux P. , Samalin L. , Schwan R. ,   the FondaMental Academic Centers of Expertise in Bipolar Disorders (FACE‐BD) Collaborators, Leboyer M. , Etain B.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of components including abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. MetS is highly prevalent in individuals with bipolar disorders (BD) with an estimated global rate of 32.6%. Longitudinal data on incident MetS in BD are scarce and based on small sample size. The objectives of this study were to estimate the incidence of MetS in a large longitudinal cohort of 1521 individuals with BD and to identify clinical and biological predictors of incident MetS.

Methods

Participants were recruited from the FondaMental Advanced Center of Expertise for Bipolar Disorder (FACE‐BD) cohort and followed‐up for 3 years. MetS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Individuals without MetS at baseline but with MetS during follow‐up were considered as having incident MetS. A logistic regression model was performed to estimate the adjusted odds ratio and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for an association between each factor and incident MetS during follow‐up. We applied inverse probability‐of‐censoring weighting method to minimize selection bias due to loss during follow‐up.

Results

Among individuals without MetS at baseline (n = 1521), 19.3% developed MetS during follow‐up. Multivariable analyses showed that incident MetS during follow‐up was significantly associated with male sex (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.7–3.0, p < 0.0001), older age (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.40–3.25, p = 0.0004), presence of a mood recurrence during follow‐up (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.22–3.00, p = 0.0049), prolonged exposure to second‐generation antipsychotics (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 0.99, 2.45, p = 0.0534), smoking status at baseline (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.00–1.68), lifetime alcohol use disorders (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.98–1.79), and baseline sleep disturbances (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.00–1.08), independently of the associations observed for baseline MetS components.

Conclusion

We observed a high incidence of MetS during a 3 years follow‐up (19.3%) in individuals with BD. Identification of predictive factors should help the development of early interventions to prevent or treat early MetS.
Accountable to whom? Relational accountability in social research
Authors: Ali Arshad I. , Talbert Rachel L.
Published: January 2024

This paper explores research in the always already colonized spaces of academia with people in what is now the United States. In research projects, Wilson (2008) reminds us to begin with community relationships. Through ethnographic work, we trouble the idea of beginning research via local powerbrokers, who may privilege particular narratives and individuals. We offer reflections reconsidering power dynamics in community‐based ethnographic studies suggesting ways to think about who research relationships are built with.
Impossible arrangements: The extreme challenge of child care for low‐income mothers
Authors: Freeman Amanda
Published: January 2024

Arranging safe and secure child care is necessary for parents of dependent children to maintain their participation in the labor force. This article uncovered the extreme version of work–childcare conflict faced by low‐income mothers. The constant, underlying threat of the loss of income and unsafe conditions for children influences child care and work, hindering their ability to move out of poverty even when employed. This qualitative study uses interview and focus group data collected from low‐income mothers in Colorado, Georgia, and Massachusetts from 2009 to 2020 to explore the obstacles as well as the strategies for finding and keeping child care. The data are the mother's voices as they describe their experiences negotiating care arrangements while working or looking for work. Factors that contributed to this extreme version of work–childcare conflict included: difficult conditions at work and mixed experience relying on care from family and friends. Also uncovered were problems affording paid care and utilizing public vouchers, which may undermine assistance programs. Child care from schools, family, and public programs were greatly diminished during the Covid‐19 pandemic, further exacerbating work–childcare conflict for low‐income mothers. Policy implications and the effects of the pandemic on childcare arrangements were also considered.
Israeli democracy threatened under right‐wing extremists: A “native anthropologist's” perspective from 2023
Authors: Shokeid Moshe
Published: January 2024

This narrative offers a personal and impressionistic account of a few major historical transformations of Israeli society seen through the lens of ethnographic observation. Anthropologists are trained to observe and analyze the “other”, whether individuals or groups, situated within the limited borders of space and time without judging their subjects' moral conduct in terms of their own ethical norms. That prescriptive guideline has been called into question in Geertz's iconic account of revisiting his old fields in Indonesia and Morocco, claiming that it was not only the ethnographer’s field sites that had changed but also the ethnographer himself and the discipline of anthropology. Geertz, one leading voice of anthropology, nevertheless adhered to “normative” ethnographic reporting. The present account is informed by the author's decades of ethnographic research, including, at a few critical moments, observations on the complex Israeli national saga. But—unlike my earlier ethnographic reports—the following captures the perspective and interpretations of the anthropologist as informant, that is, taking the role of an engaged Israeli. Note also that my political‐ideological orientation is considered as on the left of Israeli politics.
Peer support and mobile health for perinatal mental health: A scoping review
Authors: Liblub Sudjit , Pringle Kirsty , McLaughlin Karen , Cummins Allison
Published: January 2024

Background

Up to one in five women experience perinatal depression and/or anxiety with profound negative consequences for mothers and families. Peer support interventions have the potential to effectively prevent perinatal mental health conditions. Meanwhile, mobile health has gained popularity and plays a significant role in enhancing maternal health services. However, little is known about the availability of mobile health combined with peer support for supporting perinatal mental health. This scoping review aimed to map the relevant literature and gain insights into the available evidence on mobile health and peer support for perinatal mental health, to identify gaps and inform opportunities for future research.

Methods

A scoping review of the literature was conducted. The search strategy included five databases: CIANHL, Scopus, PsycInfo, PubMed, and ScienceDirect for the period from 2007 to 2022.

Results

Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, including features of online support strategies, effectiveness, and attitudes of women about peer support with mobile health. The results showed decreased depressive scores and provided a positive experience for women. Strong satisfaction with accessibility and flexibility of mobile health was found when combined with the peer support features. Additional emotional support tools (e.g., mindfulness‐based activities) were likely to be acceptable to women and beneficial to mobile health.

Conclusions

Understanding the context of peer support and mobile health informs the potential to support perinatal mental health. Further research in this growing area is needed to test the effectiveness of peer support in combination with mobile health intervention for supporting perinatal mental health.
Native forest and proximity to humans are stronger drivers of Brazilian cottontail habitat use than invasive European hare
Authors: Pasqualotto Nielson , Bailey Larissa L. , Chiarello Adriano G.
Published: January 2024

Human activities and biological invasions have caused unprecedented biodiversity loss over the past 500 years. Proximity to humans drives the spatial distribution of species toward less disturbed habitats. Invasive species can competitively exclude native species, but species may coexist due to different habitat preferences. Here, we investigated how proximity to farms and the presence of the non‐native European hare (Lepus europaeus) influence the habitat use by the Brazilian cottontail (Sylvilagus minensis) in southeastern Brazil. We found that the probability of cottontail site use increased with native forest cover and decreased with farmhouse proximity, ranging from 0.05 (SE = 0.02) at sites close to farmhouses (≅900 m) with no native forest to 0.70 (SE = 0.15) at sites far from farmhouses (≅2500 m) dominated by native forest. Higher risk of harassment and predation by free‐roaming dogs and cats may explain the negative effect of farmhouse proximity on cottontail habitat use. We found little evidence for competitive exclusion by the European hare. Instead, our results suggest that the two species spatially segregate due to different habitat preferences. While the European hare more likely uses farmland in its native and non‐native range, our results suggest that the Brazilian cottontail is a forest dweller. Although we found only weak evidence of competitive exclusion, we advise caution because invasive species may delay the onset of detrimental effects due to initial low population densities in newly invaded areas as is the case of the European hare in southeastern Brazil.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Baicalin alleviates oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation‐induced SK‐N‐SH cell injury via the regulation of miR‐556‐3p/ACSL4 pathway
Authors: Dai Weiwei , Yue Chunjing , Zhang Xiancai , Jia Yalian , Han Zongqi , Du Jingxia , Song Xiaohua
Published: January 2024

Baicalin (BCL) has been found to have neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke (IS), but its underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. SK‐N‐SH cells were treated with BCL and then induced by oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). Cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and ferroptosis were detected. Protein levels were examined by western blot. The expression levels of microRNA (miR)‐556‐3p and ACSL4 were tested via quantitative real‐time PCR. MiR‐556‐3p and Acyl‐CoA synthetase long‐chain family member 4 (ACSL4) interaction was confirmed via dual‐luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull‐down assay. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice model was constructed to assess the role of BCL on brain injury in vivo. Our study showed that BCL treatment alleviated OGD/R‐induced SK‐N‐SH cell apoptosis, inflammation and ferroptosis. MiR‐556‐3p was decreased in OGD/R‐induced SK‐N‐SH cells, and BCL treatment enhanced its expression. MiR‐556‐3p could target ACSL4, and its overexpression relieved OGD/R‐induced SK‐N‐SH cell injury by targeting ACSL4. Besides, miR‐556‐3p inhibitor or ACSL4 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of BCL on OGD/R‐induced SK‐N‐SH cell injury. In vivo, BCL alleviated brain injury in MCAO mice through miR‐556‐3p/ACSL4 axis. In conclusion, BCL alleviated OGD/R‐induced SK‐N‐SH cell injury and relieved brain injury in MCAO mice by regulating miR‐556‐3p/ACSL4 axis.
Design, antitumor, and anti‐Ras activity of propynyl‐substituted harmine bases
Authors: Fang Yongsheng , Qi Jinchai , Fan Xiaoxiao , Wang Jiahui , Wang Hao , Liu Yonggang
Published: January 2024

Modifications at the harmine (HAM) 9‐N position demonstrated effective antitumor activity in previous studies. However, the difficult preparation, low yield and poor stability of derivatives limited their applications. A partial activity priming was carried out by converting the 9‐position substituted propargyl group of HAM to propynyl group. Molecular docking simulations of compound 9i with DYRK1A kinase showed that it was able to embed itself into the active pocket of the DYRK1A protein and formed hydrogen bonds with multiple active amino acid residues at a low binding energy. The results of molecular dynamics simulations showed that the RMSD (root mean square deviation) fluctuations of the complex were more gentle, and the trends of the changes in Rg (radius of gyration) and SASA (solvent accessible surface area) were lower, indicating that the DYRK1A protein was less disturbed and the structure of the complex was more compact and stable. The cytotoxicity assay indicated that compound 9i displayed good antiproliferative activity against human cancer cells MGC‐803, HepG2, and PANC‐1. In addition, 9i was able to reduce the ratio of polynomials induced by the Ras overexpression model of Caenorhabditis elegans, which showed anti‐Ras activity, and the RT‐qPCR results suggested that its anti‐Ras ability was not achieved by directly inhibiting the expression of the let‐60/Ras genes, and that 9i was able to upregulate the expression of SOD‐3 activation of oxidative stress, which means that it may be useful as a pro‐oxidant for the treatment of cancers caused by Ras over‐activation.
Infectious keratitis following corneal transplantation: A long‐term cohort study
Authors: Ittah‐Cohen Ian , Knoeri M. Juliette , Bourcier Tristan , Merabet Lilia , Bouheraoua Nacim , Borderie Vincent M.
Published: January 2024

Background

To assess the long‐term incidence and risk factors for post‐keratoplasty infectious keratitis (IK), associated ocular pathogens, and antibiotic resistance profiles.

Methods

Cohort study including 2553 consecutive penetrating, endothelial, and anterior lamellar keratoplasties performed between 1992 and 2020. Medical and microbiological records of patients clinically diagnosed with IK were retrospectively reviewed. Main outcome measures: cumulative incidence of IK, infectious agent species, and antibiotics resistance profiles.

Results

The average follow‐up time after transplantation was 112 ± 96 months. Eighty‐nine IK episodes were recorded; microbiological tests were positive in 55/89 (62%). The cumulated incidence of postoperative IK was 5.50%/10.25% at 10/20 years. The occurrence of at least one episode of IK after transplantation was associated with lower graft survival in the long term (p < 0.0001). Rejection risk (adjusted Hazard Ratio, 2.29) and postoperative epithelial complications (HR, 3.44) were significantly and independently associated with a higher incidence of postoperative IK. Infectious agents included 41 bacteria, 10 HSV, 6 fungi, and 1 Acanthamoeba. The rate of antibiotic resistance was 0% for vancomycin, 13% for fluoroquinolones, 20% for rifamycin, 59% for aminoglycosides, and 73% for ticarcillin. In 41% of cases, patients were under prophylactic topical antibiotics before the infectious episode. Topical antibiotics were significantly associated with increased resistance to penicillin, carbapenems, and aminoglycosides.

Conclusion

IK (mainly bacterial) is a frequent complication of corneal transplantation in the long term. Vancomycin and fluoroquinolones can be considered as first‐line treatments. Prolonged postoperative antibiotic preventive treatment is not advisable as it may increase antibiotic resistance.
Visual, perceptual functions, and functional vision in children with unilateral cerebral palsy compared to children with neurotypical development
Authors: Crotti Monica , Ortibus Els , Mailleux Lisa , Decraene Lisa , Kleeren Lize , Itzhak Nofar Ben
Published: January 2024

Aim

To investigate visual (perceptual) function and functional vision in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) and children with neurotypical development (NTD).

Method

Fifty children with unilateral CP (mean age 11 years 11 months, SD 2 years 10 months, range 7–15 years; 27 males; 26 left‐sided unilateral CP; Manual Ability Classification System [MACS] levels: I, 27; II, 16; III, 7) and 50 age‐ and sex‐matched children with NTD participated in a cross‐sectional study. Visual acuity, stereoacuity, and visual–perceptual functions were measured with standardized clinical tests. Functional vision was assessed in children with unilateral CP with the Flemish cerebral visual impairment questionnaire (FCVIQ). Group differences were investigated with Mann–Whitney U tests, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and the relative effect sizes r, η2 respectively. Correlations between visual assessments and the FCVIQ were investigated with Spearman's rank correlations.

Results

The total group of children with unilateral CP showed reduced visual acuity compared with children with NTD (p = 0.02, r = 0.23). Only children with left‐sided unilateral CP scored lower than those with NTD on stereoacuity (p < 0.01, r = 0.36). Children with right/left‐sided unilateral CP scored significantly lower than those with NTD on visual–perceptual functions (p = 0.001–0.02), with large effect sizes on visuomotor integration and visual closure (both r = 0.57). Children with unilateral CP classified in MACS level III showed significantly lower scores on visual–perceptual assessments than children classified in MACS level I. Stereoacuity and visual–perceptual functions negatively correlated with the FCVIQ, with the highest association with visual (dis)interest and anxiety‐related behaviours.

Interpretation

Multi‐level visual profiling is warranted in the clinical intake of children with unilateral CP to detect visual impairments that further compromise their level of functioning.
Left atrial strain in adults after the arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries
Authors: Buendía‐Fuentes Francisco , Lozano‐Edo Silvia , Jover‐Pastor Pablo , Sánchez‐Martínez José C. , Martínez‐Sole Julia , Rodríguez‐Serrano María , Aguero Jaume , Arnau‐Vives Miguel A. , Osa‐Sáez Ana , Martínez‐Dolz Luis V. , Rueda Joaquín
Published: January 2024

Background

No study has focused on left atrial (LA) function assessed by echocardiography in adult patients with simple D‐TGA after arterial switch operation (ASO). We aimed to describe LA strain parameters in these patients.

Methods

A prospective cohort study including 42 adult patients with simple D‐TGA after ASO and 33 aged‐matched controls. Phasic LA and LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) were obtained by transthoracic 2D‐speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Volumetric and functional analysis of LA and LV were also evaluated by 2D and 3D analysis. A multivariable model was performed to investigate the variables that best differentiate patients with D‐TGA from healthy controls.

Results

LA strain parameters in D‐TGA patients were within the normal range described for healthy subjects. However, the three LA strain parameters (Reservoir, Conduit, and Contraction) were lower in patients (LASr: 31.13 ± 7.67 vs. 49.71 ± 8.38; LAS cd: ‐22.91 ± 5.69 vs. ‐34.55 ± 6.54; LASct: ‐8.14 ± 4.93 vs. ‐15.15 ± 6.07, p < .001 for all three comparisons). LA volumes were similar between patients and controls.

LV‐GLS remained significantly lower in the D‐TGA group than in controls (‐17.29 ± 2.68 vs. ‐21.98 ± 1.84, p < .001).

D‐TGA patients had evidence of worse LV ejection fraction measured by the Teichholz method (63.38 ± 8.23 vs. 69.28 ± 5.92, p = .001) and 3D analysis (57.97% ± 4.16 vs. 60.67 ± 3.39, p = .011) and diastolic dysfunction as compared to healthy controls.

LV‐GLS and conduit LAS were the variables best differentiating patients with D‐TGA from healthy controls.

Conclusions

LA strain is impaired in young adults with simple D‐TGA late after the ASO, probably in agreement with some degree of LV dysfunction previously described.
A case of tricuspid valve stenosis after pacemaker implantation with infective endocarditis
Authors: Song Lin , Qin Xiaoli , Li Xuejie , Zuo Yunxia
Published: January 2024

A 68‐year‐old male patient was admitted for extremities edema and diagnosed with infective endocarditis (IEIE). The patient underwent mitral and aortic valve mechanical valve replacement due to rheumatic heart valve disease 26 years ago. He underwent mechanical aortic valve and bioprosthetic tricuspid valve replacement due to mechanical aortic valve dysfunction and severe tricuspid valve regurgitation 1 year ago. Two months ago, the patient underwent emergency permanent pacemaker implantation due to syncope caused by a third‐degree atrioventricular block. The patient was admitted to the emergency with fever and worsening dyspnea 1 h ago. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed prosthetic aortic valve severe paravalvular leak and tricuspid valve stenosis with vegetation. The patient was scheduled to undergo mechanical aortic valve and bioprosthetic tricuspid valve replacement under median thoracotomy. The intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) view showed severe paravalvular aortic valve leakage and tricuspid valve vegetation. The coronary sinus was significantly enlarged with thrombus formation, vegetation can be seen in the bioprosthetic tricuspid valve leaflets. This is a rare case of infective endocarditis with tricuspid stenosis and coronary sinus thrombosis after the placement of implanted pacemakers.
Clinical impact of cerebral protection during transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Boccuto Fabiola , Carabetta Nicole , Cacia Michele Antonio , Kanagala Sai Gautham , Panuccio Giuseppe , Torella Daniele , De Rosa Salvatore
Published: January 2024

Background

Embolization of debris can complicate transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) causing stroke. Cerebral embolism protection (CEP) devices can divert or trap debris.

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of CEP during TAVI vs the standard procedure.

Data Sources

PubMed, SCOPUS and DOAJ 1/01/2014–04/12/2023.

Study Selection

Randomized and observational studies comparing CEP versus standard TAVI, according to PRISMA. Primary outcome: stroke. Secondary outcomes: death, bleeding, vascular access complications, acute kidney injury and infarct area.

Data Extraction

Two investigators independently assessed study quality and extracted data.

Data Synthesis

Twenty‐six articles were included (540.247 patients). The primary endpoint was significantly lower (RR = 0.800 95%CI:0.682–0.940; p = 0.007) with CEP. Similarly, death rates were significantly lower with CEP (RR = 0.610 95%CI:0.482–0.771; p < 0.001). No difference was found for bleeding (RR = 1.053 95%CI:0.793–1.398; p = 0.721), vascular complications (RR = 0.937 95%CI:0.820–1.070; p = 0.334) or AKI (RR = 0.982 95%CI:0.754–1.279; p = 0.891).

Conclusions

Use of CEP during TAVI is associated with improved outcomes. Future studies will identify patients who benefit most from CEP.
Complex sequential learning is not facilitated by transcranial direct current stimulation over DLPFC or M1
Authors: Kaminski Elisabeth , Carius Daniel , Knieke Jan , Mizuguchi Nobuaki , Ragert Patrick
Published: January 2024

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non‐invasive brain stimulation technique which was found to have a positive modulatory effect on online sequence acquisition or offline motor consolidation, depending on the relative role of the associated brain region. Primary motor regions (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFC) have both been related to sequential learning. However, research so far did not systematically disentangle their differential roles in online and offline learning especially in more complex sequential paradigms. In this study, the influence of anodal M1 leg area‐tDCS and anodal DLPFC‐tDCS applied during complex sequential learning (online and offline) was investigated using a complex whole body serial reaction time task (CWB‐SRTT) in 42 healthy volunteers. TDCS groups did not differ from sham tDCS group regarding their response and reaction time (online) and also not in terms of overnight consolidation (offline). Sequence specific learning and the number of recalled items also did not differ between groups. Results may be related to unspecific parameters such as timing of the stimulation or current intensity but can also be attributed to the relative role of M1 and DLPFC during early complex learning. Taken together, the current study provides preliminary evidence that M1 leg area or DLPFC modulation by means of tDCS does not improve complex sequential skill learning.

Significance statement

Understanding motor learning is helpful to deepen our knowledge about the human ability to acquire new skills. Complex sequential learning tasks have only been studied, sparsely, but are particularly mimicking challenges of daily living. The present study studied early motor learning in a complex serial reaction time task while transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was either applied to leg primary motor cortex or bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. TDCS did not affect sequential learning, neither directly during performance nor in terms of sequence consolidation. Results provide preliminary information that M1 or bilateral DLPFC modulation does not improve early complex motor learning.
Soil organic carbon content and stock in Martinique – relations to near infrared spectra
Authors: Barthès Bernard G. , Venkatapen Corinne , Cambou Aurélie , Blanchart Eric
Published: January 2024

This data paper presents observations on soil organic carbon (SOC) gravimetric and volumetric contents (SOCg, in g kg−1, and SOCv, in g dm−3, respectively) for 98 profiles at least 30 cm deep (1 m deep for 59 of them), in rural areas of the Martinique island, in relation to soil types and land uses and management. The paper also presents particle size distribution down to 30 cm, and near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectra for the main soil types. This dataset allows evaluating the effects of land use, soil type and texture on SOC content and stock, at regional scale. It also allows inferring SOCg, SOCv and particle size distribution from NIR spectra. Such information is useful for studying and managing soils in the Martinique island and in other tropical volcanic regions.