bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deadly and venomous Lonomia caterpillars are more than the two usual suspects
Authors: González Camila , Ballesteros-Mejia Liliana , Díaz-Díaz Juana , Toro-Vargas Diana M. , Amarillo-Suarez Angela R , Gey Delphine , León Cielo , Tovar Eduardo , Arias Mónica , Rivera Nazario , Buitrago Luz Stella , Pinto-Moraes Roberto H , Sano Martins Ida S. , Decaëns Thibaud , González Mailyn A , Kitching Ian J , Rougerie Rodolphe
Published: September 2022

Caterpillars of the Neotropical genus Lonomia (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) are responsible for some fatal envenomation of humans in South America inducing hemostatic disturbances in patients upon skin contact with the caterpillars’ spines. Currently, only two species have been reported to cause hemorrhagic syndromes in humans: Lonomia achelous and Lonomia obliqua. However, species identifications have remained largely unchallenged despite improved knowledge of venom diversity and growing evidence that the taxonomy used over past decades misrepresents and underestimates species diversity. Here, we revisit the taxonomy and distribution of Lonomia using the most extensive dataset assembled to date, combining DNA barcodes, morphological comparisons, and geographical information. Our integrative approach leads to the recognition of 60 species, of which seven are known or strongly suspected to cause severe envenomation in humans. From a newly compiled synthesis of epidemiological data, we also examine the consequences of our results for understanding Lonomia envenomation risks and call for further investigations of other species’ venom activities. This is required and necessary to improve alertness in areas at risk, and to define adequate treatment strategies for envenomed patients, including performing species identification and assessing the efficacy of anti-Lonomia serums against a broader diversity of species.
Multi-Omics Analysis of Magnetically Levitated Plasma Biomolecules
Authors: Ashkarran Ali Akbar , Gharibi Hassan , Abou Zeki Dalia , Radu Irina , Khalighinejad Farnaz , Keyhanian Kiandokht , Abrahamsson Christoffer K. , Ionete Carolina , Saei Amir Ata , Mahmoudi Morteza
Published: September 2022

We recently discovered that superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) can levitate plasma biomolecules in the magnetic levitation (MagLev) system and cause formation of ellipsoidal biomolecular bands. To better understand the composition of the levitated biomolecules in various bands, we comprehensively characterized them by multi-omics analyses. To probe whether the biomolecular composition of the levitated ellipsoidal bands correlates with the health of plasma donors, we used plasma from individuals who had various types of multiple sclerosis (MS), as a model disease with significant clinical importance. Our findings reveal that, while the composition of proteins does not show much variability, there are significant differences in the lipidome and metabolome profiles of each magnetically levitated ellipsoidal band. By comparing the lipidome and metabolome compositions of various plasma samples, we found that the levitated biomolecular ellipsoidal bands do contain information on the health status of the plasma donors. More specifically, we demonstrate that there are particular lipids and metabolites in various layers of each specific plasma pattern that significantly contribute to the discrimination of different MS subtypes, i.e., relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), secondary-progressive MS (SPMS), and primary-progressive MS (PPMS). These findings will pave the way for utilization of MagLev of biomolecules in biomarker discovery and diagnosis of this and other complex disorders.
Upper limb joint coordination acts to preserve hand kinematics after a traumatic brachial plexus injury
Authors: Lustosa Luiggi , Silva Ana Elisa Lemos , de Paula Carvalho Raquel , Vargas Claudia D.
Published: September 2022

Background

Traumatic brachial plexus injury (TBPI) causes a sensorimotor deficit in upper limb (UL) movements.

Objective

Our aim was to investigate the arm-forearm coordination of both the injured and uninjured UL of TBPI subjects.

Methods

TBPI participants (n=13) and controls (n=10) matched in age, gender, and anthropometric characteristics were recruited. Kinematics from the shoulder, elbow, wrist and index finger markers were collected while upstanding participants transported a cup to mouth and returned the UL to a starting position. The UL coordination was measured through the relative phase (RP) between arm and forearm phase angles and analyzed as a function of the hand kinematics.

Results

For all participants, the hand transport had a shorter time to peak velocity (p<0.01) compared to the return. Also, for the control and the uninjured TBPI UL, the RP showed a coordination pattern that favored forearm movements in the peak velocity of the transport phase (p<0.001). TBPI participants’ injured UL showed a longer movement duration in comparison to controls (p<0.05), but no differences in peak velocity, time to peak velocity and trajectory length, indicating preserved hand kinematics. The RP of the injured UL revealed altered coordination in favor of arm movements compared to controls and to the uninjured UL (p<0.001). Finally, TBPI participants’ uninjured UL showed altered control of arm and forearm phase angles during the deceleration of hand movements compared to controls (p<0.05).

Conclusion

These results suggest that UL coordination is reorganized after a TBPI so as to preserve hand kinematics.
African swine fever virus – variants on the rise
Authors: Forth Jan H. , Calvelage Sten , Fischer Melina , Hellert Jan , Sehl-Ewert Julia , Roszyk Hanna , Deutschmann Paul , Reichold Adam , Lange Martin , Thulke Hans-Hermann , Sauter-Louis Carola , Höper Dirk , Mandyhra Svitlana , Sapachova Maryna , Beer Martin , Blome Sandra
Published: September 2022

African swine fever virus (ASFV), a large and complex DNA-virus circulating between soft ticks and indigenous suids in sub-Saharan Africa, has made its way into swine populations from Europe to Asia. This virus, causing a severe haemorrhagic disease (African swine fever) with very high lethality rates in wild boar and domestic pigs, has demonstrated a remarkably high genetic stability for over 10 years. Consequently, analyses into virus evolution and molecular epidemiology often struggled to provide the genetic basis to trace outbreaks while few resources have been dedicated to genomic surveillance on whole-genome level. During its recent incursion into Germany in 2020, ASFV has unexpectedly diverged into five clearly distinguishable linages with at least ten different variants characterized by high-impact mutations never identified before. Noticeably, all new variants share a frameshift mutation in the 3’ end of the DNA polymerase PolX gene O174L, suggesting a causative role as possible mutator gene. Although epidemiological modelling supported the influence of increased mutation rates, it remains unknown how fast virus evolution might progress under these circumstances. Moreover, a tailored Sanger sequencing approach allowed us, for the first time, to trace variants with genomic epidemiology to regional clusters. In conclusion, our findings suggest that this new factor has the potential to dramatically influence the course of the ASFV pandemic with unknown outcome. Therefore, our work highlights the importance of genomic surveillance of ASFV on whole-genome level, the need for high-quality sequences and calls for a closer monitoring of future phenotypic changes of ASFV.
Characterization of TelE, a T7SS LXG effector exhibiting a conserved C-terminal glycine zipper motif required for toxicity
Authors: Teh Wooi Keong , Ding Yichen , Gubellini Francesca , Filloux Alain , Poyart Claire , Givskov Michael , Dramsi Shaynoor
Published: September 2022

Streptococcus gallolyticussubsp.gallolyticus (SGG)is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen strongly associated with colorectal cancer. Here, through comparative genomics analysis, we demonstrated that the genetic locus encoding the Type VIIb Secretion System (T7SSb) machinery is uniquely present inSGGin two different arrangements.SGGUCN34 carrying the most prevalent T7SSb genetic arrangement was chosen as the reference strain. To identify the effectors secreted by this secretion system, we inactivated the essC gene encoding the motor of this machinery. Comparison of the proteins secreted by UCN34 WT and its isogenic ΔessC mutant revealed six T7SSb effector proteins, including the expected WXG effector EsxA and three LXG-containing proteins. In this work, we characterized an LXG-family toxin named herein TelE displaying pore-forming activity. Seven homologs of TelE harboring a conserved glycine zipper motif at the C-terminus were identified in differentSGGisolates. Scanning mutagenesis of this motif showed that the glycine residue at position 470 was crucial for TelE pore-forming activity. Unlike other pore-forming toxins commonly antagonized by a membrane protein, TelE activity was antagonized by a small protein TipE belonging to the DUF5085 family. Overall, we report herein a uniqueSGGT7SSb effector exhibiting a pore-forming activity against non-immune bacteria.

IMPORTANCE

In this study, 38 clinical isolates ofStreptococcus gallolyticussubsp. gallolyticus(SGG) were sequenced and a genetic locus encoding the Type VIIb secretion system (T7SSb) was found conserved and absent from 16 genomes of the closely relatedS. gallolyticussubsp.pasteurianus (SGP). The T7SSb is abona fidepathogenicity island. Here, we report that the model organismSGGstrain UCN34 secretes six T7SSb effectors. One of the six effectors named TelE displayed a strong toxicity when overexpressed inEscherichia coli. Our results indicate that TelE is a pore forming toxin whose activity can be antagonized by a non-canonical immunity protein named TipE. Overall, we report a unique toxin-immunity protein pair and our data expand the range of effectors secreted through T7SSb.
Exploring institutional pressure, the top management team's response, green innovation adoption, and firm performance: evidence from Taiwan's electrical and electronics industry
Authors: Huang Yi-Chun , Huang Chih-Hsuan
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Prior research on green innovation has shown that institutional pressure stimulates enterprises to adopt green innovation. However, an institutional perspective does not explain why firms that face the same amount of institutional pressure execute different environmental practices and innovations. To address this research gap, the authors linked institutional theory with upper echelons theory and organization performance to build a comprehensive research model.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 800 questionnaires were issued. The final usable questionnaires were 195, yielding a response rate of 24.38%. AMOS 23.0 was used to analyze the data and examine the relationships between the constructs in our model.

Findings

Institutional pressures affected both green innovation adoption (GIA) and the top management team's (TMT's) response. TMT's response influenced GIA. GIA was an important factor affecting firm performance. Furthermore, TMT's response mediated the relationship between institutional pressure and GIA. Institutional pressures indirectly affected green innovation performance but did not influence economic performance through GIA. Finally, TMT's response indirectly impacted firm performance through GIA.

Originality/value

The authors draw on institutional theory, upper echelons theory, and a performance-oriented perspective to explore the antecedents and consequences of GIA. This study has interesting implications for leaders and managers looking to implement green innovation and leverage it for firm performance to out compete with market rivals as well as to make the changes in collaboration with many other companies including market rivals to gain success in green innovation.
Built environment academics for 21st-century world of teaching: stakeholders' perspective
Authors: Ebekozien Andrew , Aigbavboa Clinton , Aliu John
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Research reveals that the built environment graduates are not matching the needs of the 21st century construction industry. Evidence shows that the built environment academics (BEA) struggle to reskill and upskill to meet the industry's demand. Studies about Nigeria's BEA's perceived barriers in meeting the 21st-century industry demands are scarce. Thus, the paper investigated the perceived barriers and measures to improve BEA in Nigeria's 21st-century world of teaching. The outcome intends to enhance teaching practices and increase employability in the built environment disciplines.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were sourced from elite virtual interviews across Nigeria. The participants were well informed about Nigeria's built environment education and the possible barriers hindering 21st-century teaching from improving employable graduates in the built environment professionals (BEP). The researchers adopted a thematic analysis for the collected data and supplemented the data with secondary sources.

Findings

The study shows that BEA needs to improve BEA's teaching mechanism. Improving BEA will enable the built environment graduates to meet the minimum standards expected by the 21st-century industry. Findings categorised the perceived 22 barriers facing BEA into internal stakeholders-related barriers, external stakeholders-related barriers, and common barriers. Also, findings proffered practicable measures to improve BEA in the workplace via improved industry collaboration and technological advancement.

Research limitations/implications

The research is restricted to the perceived barriers and measures to improve BEA in 21st-century teaching in Nigeria via a qualitative research design. Future research should validate the results and test the paper's proposed framework.

Practical implications

The paper confirms that the BEA requires stakeholder collaboration and technological advancement measures to improve teaching in the 21st century, leading to enhanced employability graduates. The paper would stir major stakeholders, especially BEA, and advance the quality of employable graduates in the Nigerian built environment professions.

Originality/value

The thematic network and proposed framework could be employed to stimulate Nigeria's BEA for better service delivery. This intends to create an enabling environment that will enhance stakeholders' collaboration and technological advancement for the BEA to produce better employable graduates in the 21st century.
Does firms and managerial experience matter for exporting? The case of selected EU member and non-member countries
Authors: Cieślik Andrzej , Michałek Jan Jakub , Michałek Anna
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The main goal of this paper is to study empirically the importance of experience of top managers and firms for export performance, having controlled for a number of firm characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on the probit model applied to the 2020 edition of the BEEPS firm level survey. The authors analyze firms in 15 EU member and 15 non-member countries.

Findings

The results indicate that firm experience can increase the probability of direct exporting, but is not significant for indirect exporting. The results also support the importance of interaction between experience of managers and experience of firms. The authors conclude that only the combination of managerial and firm experience can have a positive and significant effect for direct exporting. This relationship is more pronounced in the case of EU members.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitations of our approach are related to data constraints. These include availability of only cross-sectional data and the limited number of individual characteristics of managers.

Practical implications

The importance of experience for exporting suggests that firms can break into foreign markets by hiring more experienced managers.

Social implications

Post-communist countries can improve their export performance by hiring more experienced managers that would stimulate direct exports. Moreover, they can also export indirectly through intermediaries.

Originality/value

In contrast to previous studies, the authors used a model proposed by Jørgensen and Schroder (2008) in which the authors endogenized the costs of exporting by linking them to firm and managerial experience. Then, the authors validated empirically the importance of experience for firm export performance, having controlled for the set of individual firm characteristics.
Are single-item needs' and values' measures a good alternative to multi-item measures for sport marketers?
Authors: Trail Galen , Lee Don , Triantafyllidis Stavros , Braunstein-Minkove Jessica R. , Kim Ari , Sweeney Kristi , Choi Wanyong , Alfaro-Barrantes Priscila
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to determine if single-item (SI) needs' and values' measures have similar reliability and validity values to multi-item (MI) measures of the same constructs and thus could be substituted by sport marketers to predict internal motivating aspects of sport consumer attitudes and behavior. In addition, the authors wish to determine whether a small subset of needs and values listed in current measures are sufficient to predict sport consumer attitudes and behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

In this two-study design, the first study was a national sample (N = 439) comparing reliability and validity of single-item scales to multi-item scales. In the second study the authors collected data from fans and spectators of four different teams (N1 = 583; N2 = 1164; N3 = 213; N4 = 404) to determine the impact of needs and values on sport consumer attitudes and behavior.

Findings

The authors determined that in 89% of the scales, single-item measures of needs and values were just as reliable and valid as their associated multi-item measures. The authors also found that a small subset of the needs and values explain a meaningful amount of variance in sport consumer attitudes and behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

The authors determined that in 89% of the scales, single-item measures of needs and values were just as reliable and valid as their associated multi-item measures. The authors also found that a small subset of the needs and values explain a meaningful amount of variance in sport consumer attitudes and behaviors.

Originality/value

The authors show that as motives for sport consumption, single-item measures of personal needs and values are equivalent to multi-item measures and not all needs and values used in previous sport research are necessary because they do not predict a meaningful amount of variance in sport consumer attitudes and behaviors. The authors identified a small number of single-item measures that practitioners can easily use in short surveys that will predict a statistically meaningful amount of variance in sport consumer attitudes and behaviors.
Shocks and IS user behavior: a taxonomy and future research directions
Authors: Meier Marco , Maier Christian , Thatcher Jason Bennett , Weitzel Tim
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Jarring events, be they global crises such as COVID-19 or technological events such as the Cambridge Analytica data incident, have bullwhip effects on billions of people's daily lives. Such “shocks” vary in their characteristics. While some shocks cause, for example, widespread adoption of information systems (IS) as diverse as Netflix and Teams, others lead users to stop using IS, such as Facebook. To offer insights into the multifaceted ways shocks influence user behavior, this study aims to assess the status quo of shock-related literature in the IS discipline and develop a taxonomy that paves the path for future IS research on shocks.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a literature review (N = 70) to assess the status quo of shock-related research in the IS discipline. Through a qualitative study based on users who experienced shocks (N = 39), it confirmed the findings of previous literature in an illustrative IS research context. Integrating the findings of the literature review and qualitative study, this study informs a taxonomy of shocks impacting IS use.

Findings

This study identifies different ways that shocks influence user behavior. The taxonomy reveals that IS research could profit from considering environmental, private and work shocks and shedding light on positive shocks. IS research could also benefit from examining the urgency of shocks, as there are indications that this influences how and when individuals react to a specific shock.

Originality/value

Findings complement previous rational explanations for user behavior by showing technology use can be influenced by shocks. This study offers a foundation for forward-looking research that connects jarring events to patterns of technology use.
Overview international best practices on customer due diligence and related anti-money laundering measures
Authors: Chitimira Howard , Munedzi Sharon
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks of many countries were generally influenced by the international best practices of money laundering that were first established in 1988 through the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS). The general belief is that these international best practices are applicable in all jurisdictions, although most countries are still affected by money laundering. The international best practices are universal measures that were developed as a yardstick to control and curb money laundering globally. Nonetheless, international best practices for money laundering are not tailor-made for specific jurisdictions and/or countries. Therefore, it remains the duty of respective jurisdictions and/or countries to develop their own context-sensitive AML measures in accordance with international best practices. An overview of the AML international best practices that were developed and adopted by several countries are analysed in this paper. These include customer due diligence measures established by the BCBS, the financial action task force (FATF) standards, as well as the ongoing monitoring and the risk-sensitive approach that were implemented to curb money laundering globally.

Design/methodology/approach

The article analyses the AML international best practices that were developed and adopted by several countries. These include customer due diligence measures established by the BCBS, the FATF standards, as well as the ongoing monitoring and the risk-sensitive approach that were implemented to curb money laundering globally.

Findings

It is hoped that policymakers and other relevant persons will use the recommendations provided in the paper to enhance the curbing of money laundering in financial institutions globally.

Research limitations/implications

The paper does not provide empirical research.

Practical implications

The study is useful to all policymakers, lawyers, law students and regulatory bodies globally.

Social implications

The study seeks to curb money laundering in the economy and society globally.

Originality/value

The study is original research on the use of AML/counter financing of terrorism international best practices to curb money laundering activities globally.
Whither monetary values of public cultural, heritage and scientific collections for financial reporting purposes
Authors: Carnegie Garry D. , Kudo Eiichiro
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Using the most available literature, this viewpoint takes and supports the argument that public cultural, heritage and scientific collections of not-for-profit cultural heritage or arts institutions are non-financial resources, expressly in the specific organisational and social contexts in which they are held, for preservation, conversation and protection into perpetuity. These collections are, therefore, not “assets” or “heritage assets” for recognition in statement of financial position.

Design/methodology/approach

To clarify and augment the literature in developing better understanding of how the monetary valuation of public cultural, heritage and scientific collections for general purpose financial reporting purposes is both not fit-for-purpose in these contexts and at least potentially misleading to stakeholders.

Findings

The evaluation of this public sector financial reporting issue portrays to be fit-for-purpose in its social and organisational contexts in which public, non-profit collecting institutions operate. Accounting's role is not the change contexts in the public sector into settings which they are, in substance, not.

Originality/value

To contribute to the overcoming of controversy by illuminating to both accounting professionals and heritage professionals the vexed issues involved in its ongoing discussion and debate. It is argued that there is no need for any accounting standard to be issued on this topic, which would lead to financial values being placed on non-financial cultural, heritage and scientific collections resources in statements of financial position, thereby misrepresenting these collections.
Digital consumer engagement: examining the impact of native advertising exposure in a social network
Authors: Sussman Kristen L. , Bright Laura F. , Wilcox Gary B.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The digital environment afforded by social networks has created an opportunity to understand more clearly the impact of social media native advertising on advertising processing outcomes. Thus, the current study integrates native advertising with engagement literature to compare engagement outcomes between feed and banner placements before analyzing engagement outcomes of sponsored social media posts by advertising objective. This work aims to contribute to advertising effectiveness literature arguing for the importance of engagement as a measure of effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

Facebook advertising data were collected from a convenience sample of 10 Facebook advertisers that accounted for roughly $414,000 in advertising spend. Panel data, which are also called longitudinal or cross-sectional time-series data, used 26 months of data from the 10 advertisers to measure relationships between native advertising exposure and digital consumer engagement with advertising by advertising objectives of brand awareness, link clicks, conversions, post-engagement and video views.

Findings

Exposure to native advertising was a strong predictor of advertising processing and consumption using the three variables of interest: clicks, comments and shares. Ads reaching consumers while natively consuming content in their feed resulted in statistically significant improvements in impressions and clicks when compared to banner ads. Exposure to native ads was significantly related to all engagement outcomes of interest, except for advertisers who chose post-engagement as their advertising objective.

Practical implications

The results suggest that for advertisers seeking clicks, post-engagement objectives should likely be avoided. For this group, impressions were not related to link clicks but were related to comments and shares. Native advertising placements in the feed, however, are generally more effective than banner ads on Facebook for advertisers seeking engagement.

Research limitations/implications

This research is one of few studies to use longitudinal advertising data to explore engagement effects using real-world data collected from a diverse set of Facebook advertisers over a 26-month period. This study shows that interactive marketers using a social media feed to reach consumers can expect positive outcomes in advertising consumption, affective and cognitive processing and advocacy, but those outcomes may vary by advertising objective.

Originality/value

Given the uniqueness of the data set, the findings contribute to native advertising literature and to the literature on digital consumer engagement with advertising in social media. The study also provides empirical support for the efficacy of native advertising.
Acceptance and use of ICT in tourism: the modified UTAUT model
Authors: Ali Md Borak , Tuhin Rahat , Alim Md Abdul , Rokonuzzaman Md , Rahman Sheikh Matiur , Nuruzzaman Md
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the technology usage behaviour of the tourists in line with the modified unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a survey of 265 tourists using the random sampling technique. Partial least squares-based structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The findings revealed that performance expectancy, hedonic motivation and habit significantly influence the behavioural intention of tourists to use information and communication technology (ICT), while effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions do not have a significant influence. However, actual ICT usage behaviour largely depends on the behavioural intention of the tourists, and their habits, while the facilitating conditions do not have any influence in this case.

Practical implications

The findings uncover the core factors influencing tourists' actual ICT use behaviour that can assist the concerned stakeholders in designing tourism planning and sales. The study results also offer pathways for the world's tourism industry for a healthy recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

The findings have made robust contributions by extending the existing UTAUT-based literature by adding two new moderators in the relationship between behavioural intention and actual ICT usage behaviour.
Does religiosity lead to sustainability reporting assurance? Evidence from European companies
Authors: Terzani Simone , Turzo Teresa
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether religiosity and religious diversity affect the adoption of sustainability reporting assurance (SRA) by companies based in predominantly Roman Catholic and Protestant countries. To this aim, a theoretical framework is developed using the social norm, signalling and agency theories.

Design/methodology/approach

A pooled logit regression model is applied on a sample of 2,541 firm-year observations collected from the most sustainable companies in Europe in the period between 2004 and 2015 to test the effect of religiosity on SRA adoption. Different analyses are used to check for the robustness of the findings and a generalized method of moments (GMM) is used to address potential endogeneity issues.

Findings

The results of this study show that companies based in highly religious countries are more likely to adopt SRA practices to show compliance with the religious social norms of their stakeholders. The results also show that companies based in predominantly Roman Catholic countries are more likely to adopt SRA practices than those operating in Protestant countries. This may be due to the fact that the structural organization of Catholicism is based on a vertical, top-down control system, which does not foster trust and requires constant assurance. This explains the emphasis placed on SRA by stakeholders adhering to Catholicism. Stakeholders from Protestant countries, on the other hand, tend to rely more on the principles of social ethics and social mutual control that characterize their doctrine and, therefore, do not need any additional, external assurance of corporate commitment to sustainability.

Originality/value

This paper provides new insights into the influence that religiosity and religious diversity have on SRA. This study also provides evidence on the usefulness of social norm theory for conducting empirical research into corporate practices and could set an example for future studies in this field.
Evaluation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Japanese patients with psoriasis: Chest CT imaging for screening purposes
Authors: Shibata Yuka , Fukuda Takeshi , Nobeyama Yoshimasa , Asahina Akihiko
Published: September 2022

Psoriasis patients have been reported to have a higher prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), therefore detection at an early stage is important since it may progress to hepatic cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. We evaluated liver fat accumulation in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis by chest computed tomography (CT). The images were taken for screening purposes prior to the start of any biologics. The prevalence of NAFLD in patients with psoriasis vulgaris, psoriatic arthritis, and control subjects was 19.4%, 33.3% and 9.8%, respectively (P = 0.004). The mean CT score in psoriasis patients was significantly lower (51.684 ± 12.778) than that in control subjects (61.204 ± 9.498, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only CT scores were associated with the presence of psoriasis (P = 0.001). No significant relationship was observed between the Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index scores and CT scores of psoriasis patients (P = 0.055), suggesting that the presence of psoriasis may contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD. By analysis of chest CT imaging, our study successfully assessed liver fat accumulation. Chest CT is a useful diagnostic tool for the quantitative measurement of fat accumulated in the liver, enabling the early noninvasive detection of NAFLD and early therapeutic intervention.
Anti‐desmoglein 1 antibody‐positive mother and antibody‐negative child with Darier's disease
Authors: Kawaguchi Ami , Matsuda Mitsuhiro , Koga Hiroshi , Ohata Chika , Hamada Takahiro , Mishima Hiroyuki , Yoshiura Koh‐ichiro , Jinnin Masatoshi , Minami Hironori , Kanazawa Nobuo
Published: September 2022

We report a mother and an adult son with Darier's disease. The mother, 76 years old and Japanese, had positivity for anti‐desmoglein (Dsg)1 antibodies. She had erythema with hyperkeratosis and seborrheic and interstitial blistering. A high level of anti‐Dsg1 antibodies was detected in the serum. Histopathological examination showed acantholysis and direct immunofluorescence testing revealed intercellular IgG and C3 deposition of the epidermis. Although she was diagnosed as having pemphigus foliaceus, the skin lesions slightly improved with immunosuppressive therapy. Her son, 47 years old, had similar skin lesions on the seborrheic and interstitial parts, but the anti‐Dsg1 antibodies were negative in his serum. Histopathological examination showed acantholysis and dyskeratotic cells. Although Hailey‐Hailey disease was first suspected, no mutation in the ATP2C1 was detected in either patient. Trio‐exome analysis including the father showed a heterozygous c.2027C>A transition on exon 14 of ATP2A2, causing a replacement at amino acid 676 (p.Ala676Asp) in the mother and son only. The two patients were then diagnosed as having Darier's disease. Exome analysis further showed that a novel heterozygous missense mutation of DSG1 was identified only in the affected mother. Anti‐Dsg1 antibody‐positive Darier's disease is reported here for the first time. Very rare coexistence of Darier's disease and anti‐Dsg1 antibody‐positivity might be associated with this novel heterozygous DSG1 mutation. Experimental evidence is required to validate this hypothesis.
Interactive effects of wildfires, season and predator activity shape mule deer movements
Authors: Ganz Taylor R. , DeVivo Melia T. , Kertson Brian N. , Roussin Trent , Satterfield Lauren , Wirsing Aaron J. , Prugh Laura R.
Published: September 2022

Wildfires are increasing in size, frequency and severity due to climate change and fire suppression, but the direct and indirect effects on wildlife remain largely unresolved.

Fire removes forest canopy, which can improve forage for ungulates but also reduce snow interception, leading to a deeper snowpack and potentially increased vulnerability to predation in winter. If ungulates exhibit predator‐mediated foraging, burns should generally be selected for in summer to access high‐quality forage and avoided in winter to reduce predation risk in deep snow. Fires also typically increase the amount of deadfall and initiate the growth of dense understory vegetation, creating obstacles that may confer a hunting advantage to stalking predators and a disadvantage to coursing predators. To minimize risk, ungulates may therefore avoid burns when and where stalking predators are most active, and use burns when and where coursing predators are most active.

We used telemetry data from GPS‐collared mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), cougars (Puma concolor) and wolves (Canis lupus) to develop step selection functions to examine how mule deer navigated species‐specific predation risk across a landscape in northern Washington, USA, that has experienced substantial wildfire activity during the past several decades. We considered a diverse array of wildfire impacts, accounting for both the severity of the fire and time since the burn (1–35 years) in our analyses.

We observed support for the predator mediating foraging hypothesis: mule deer generally selected for burned areas in summer and avoided burns in winter. In addition, deer increased use of burned areas when and where wolf activity was high and avoided burns when and where cougar use was high in winter, suggesting the hunting mode of resident predators mediated the seasonal response of deer to burns. Deer were not more likely to die by predation in burned than in unburned areas, indicating that they adequately manage fire‐induced changes to predation risk.

As fire activity increases with climate change, our findings indicate the impact on ungulates will depend on trade‐offs between enhanced summer forage and functionally reduced winter range, mediated by characteristics of the predator community.
Digital footprints as barriers to accessing e‐government services
Authors: Allmann Kira , Radu Roxana
Published: September 2022

This article builds on existing literature on digital inequality and the digitised welfare state to elucidate one underexplored way in which the rise of e‐government platforms further disadvantages already‐marginalised people: by requiring that they possess a verifiable digital footprint distributed across multiple public and commercial platforms. We illustrate the pertinence and nuances of this particular risk through lived experience research in a UK public library where limited users receive help with digital skills. Although there is a growing recognition of both the inevitability of digital welfare and the risks to marginalised communities, little work has been done to connect these abstract policy discussions to lived experience—to pinpoint how digitisation creates these exclusions, beyond simply having internet access or not. This article argues that the prerequisite of a digital footprint engenders a double disadvantage: (1) lacking a digital footprint is the result of barriers that are largely invisible to data‐driven, digital‐by‐default systems, and (2) when marginalised users establish a sufficient footprint, this entails a disproportionately onerous responsibility for managing a distributed personal data trail in the long term. This combination of mundane barriers and the burden of responsibility for a digital identity points to policy implications for governments aiming to advance inclusive digital transformation agendas.
Plasma tau, NfL, GFAP and UCHL1 as candidate biomarkers of alcohol withdrawal‐associated brain damage: A pilot study
Authors: Clergue‐Duval Virgile , Vrillon Agathe , Jeanblanc Jérôme , Questel Frank , Azuar Julien , Fouquet Grégory , Mouton‐Liger François , Rollet Dorian , Hispard Eric , Bouaziz‐Amar Elodie , Bloch Vanessa , Dereux Alexandra , Cognat Emmanuel , Marie‐Claire Cynthia , Laplanche Jean‐Louis , Bellivier Frank , Paquet Claire , Naassila Mickael , Vorspan Florence
Published: September 2022

In this translational study, we investigated the plasma tau protein, neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin carboxy‐terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1), which are established biomarkers of neurological injury, as predictive biomarkers of alcohol withdrawal‐associated brain toxicity. In the clinical study, patients with severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) on D1 of hospitalization for alcohol cessation (AC) (N = 36) were compared to severe AUD patients with at least 3 months of abstinence (N = 16). Overall, patients were 40 men (76.9%), aged 49.8 years [SD ±9.9]. Tau, NfL, GFAP and UCHL1 levels were measured using SIMOA and analysed with a quasipoisson regression model adjusted for age and sex. The NfL level was higher in the AC group (p = 0.013). In the AC group, the tau (p = 0.021) and UCHL1 (p = 0.021) levels were positively associated with the dose of diazepam per weight, and the tau (p = 0.045), NfL (p = 4.9 × 10−3) and UCHL1 (p = 0.036) levels were higher in the presence of signs of Wernicke's encephalopathy (n = 9). In the preclinical study, NfL and GFAP levels were assessed in the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) procedure (N = 17) and control Wistar rats (N = 15). Furthermore, ADE rats were prospectively assessed: after 24 h (T1) and 3 weeks of AC (T2) (paired‐samples Wilcoxon and Mann–Whitney tests). The NfL level was higher in the ADE model than in the control rats at both T1 and T2 (p = 0.033 and p = 1.3 × 10−3) and higher at T2 than at T1 (p = 0.040). Plasma tau, NfL and UCHL1 are potential biomarkers of brain suffering during alcohol withdrawal.
Anatomy, histology, development and functions of Ossa cordis: A review
Authors: Best Adam , Egerbacher Monika , Swaine Sophia , Pérez William , Alibhai Aziza , Rutland Paul , Kubale Valentina , El‐Gendy Samir A. A. , Alsafy Mohamed A. M. , Baiker Kerstin , Sturrock Craig J. , Rutland Catrin Sian
Published: September 2022

This systematic review highlights the similarities and variations in Ossa cordis prevalence, histology and anatomical location between differing veterinary species and in humans. In addition, it also identifies associated factors such as aging and cardiovascular disease for each species in relation to functional roles and developmental mechanisms that these bone structures may play. The potential functions of Ossa cordis are presented, ranging from aiding cardiac contraction and conduction, providing cardiac structure, and protecting components of the heart, through to counteracting high mechanical stress. Furthermore, this review discusses the evidence and rationale behind the theories regarding the formation and development of Ossa cordis in different veterinary species and in people.
Germline variants screening of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 genes in 64 Algerian Lynch syndrome families: The first nationwide study
Authors: Boumehdi Asma‐Lamia , Cherbal Farid , Khider Feriel , Oukkal Mohammed , Mahfouf Hassen , Zebboudj Ferhat , Maaoui Mustapha
Published: September 2022

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer‐related deaths in women and men in Algeria. Lynch syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by heterozygous germline pathogenic variants in mismatch repair genes (MMR) and frequently predisposes to colorectal cancer. However, data about MMR germline pathogenic variants in Algerian patients are limited. This first nationwide study aims to describe clinicopathologic features and germline variants in MMR genes in Algerian families with suspected LS. Sixty‐four (64) families with suspected LS were studied. Index cases with LS who fulfilled Amsterdam criteria were screened by PCR‐direct sequencing for germline variants in MMR genes: MLH1 (exons 1, 9, 10, 13, 16), MSH2 (exons 5, 6, 7, 12), MSH6 (exons 4 and 8) and PMS2 (exons 6 and 10). We selected these specific risk exons genes since they have a higher probability of harboring pathogenic variants. In addition, two unrelated LS patients were screened by next‐generation sequencing using a cancer panel of 30 hereditary cancer genes. Six germline pathogenic variants and one germline likely pathogenic variant were identified in 19 (29.68%) families (4 MLH1, 2 MSH2 and 1 MSH6). Of index cases and relatives who underwent genetic testing (n = 76), 30 (39.47%) had MMR pathogenic gene variants, one (0.13%) had MMR gene likely pathogenic variant and three had MMR variant of uncertain significance, respectively. Two novel germline pathogenic variants in MLH1 (2) and one germline likely pathogenic variant in MSH6 (1) never published in individuals with LS have been detected in the present study. The recurrent MLH1 germline pathogenic variant c.1546C>T has been found in nine LS families, six of them related with two large kindreds, from four North central provinces of Algeria. In addition, the common MSH2 germline pathogenic variant c.942+3A>T has been detected in five unrelated patients with a strong LS family history. The accumulative knowledge about clinicopathological and genetic characteristics of LS in Algerian patients will impact clinical management in the areas of both prevention and treatment.
Association between anaemia and hospital readmissions in patients undergoing major surgery requiring postoperative intensive care
Authors: Warner M. A. , Hanson A. C. , Plimier C. , Lee C. , Liu V. X. , Richards T. , Kor D. J. , Roubinian N. H.
Published: September 2022

Anaemia is a common sequela of surgery, although its relationship with patient recovery is unclear. The goal of this investigation was to assess the associations between haemoglobin concentrations at the time of hospital discharge following major surgery and early post‐hospitalisation outcomes, with a primary outcome of 30 day unanticipated hospital readmissions. This investigation includes data from two independent population‐based observational cohorts of adult surgical patients (aged ≥ 18 years) requiring postoperative intensive care unit admission between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019 in hospitals in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2017 in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California integrated healthcare system, California. Cox proportional hazards models assessed the associations between discharge haemoglobin concentrations (per 10 g.l–1) and outcomes, with prespecified multivariable adjustment. A total of 3260 patients were included from Olmsted County hospitals and 29,452 from Kaiser Permanente Northern California. In adjusted analyses, each 10 g.l–1 decrease in haemoglobin at hospital discharge was associated with a 9% (hazard ratio 1.09, 95%CI 1.02–1.18; p = 0.014) and 8% increase (hazard ratio 1.08, 95%CI 1.06–1.11; p < 0.001) in the hazard for readmission within 30 days in Olmsted County and Kaiser Permanente Northern California, respectively. In a sensitivity analysis exploring relationships across varying levels of pre‐operative anaemia severity, these associations remained consistent, with lower discharge haemoglobin concentrations associated with higher readmissions irrespective of pre‐operative anaemia severity. Anaemia at hospital discharge in surgical patients requiring postoperative intensive care is associated with increased rates of hospital readmission in two large independent cohorts. Future studies are necessary to evaluate strategies to prevent and/or treat anaemia in these patients for the improvement of post‐hospitalisation outcomes.