bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asthma hospitalisations and heat exposure in England: A case-crossover study during 2002-2019
Authors: Konstantinoudis Garyfallos , Minelli Cosetta , Yu Lam Holly Ching , Fuertes Elaine , Ballester Joan , Davies Bethan , Vicedo-Cabrera Ana Maria , Gasparrini Antonio , Blangiardo Marta
Published: December 2022

Background

Previous studies have found an association between warm temperature and asthma hospitalisation. They have reported different sex- and age-related vulnerabilities, nevertheless little is known about how this effect has changed over time and how it varies in space. This study aims to evaluate the association between asthma hospitalisation and warm temperature and investigate vulnerabilities by age, sex, time, and space.

Methods

We retrieved individual-level data on summer asthma hospitalisation at high temporal (daily) and spatial (postcodes) resolution during 2002-2019 in England from the NHS Digital. Daily mean temperature at 1km x 1km resolution was retrieved from the UK Met Office. We focused on lags 0-3 days. We employed a case-cross over study design and fitted Bayesian hierarchal Poisson models accounting for possible confounders (rainfall, relative humidity, wind speed, national holidays, and recurrent hospitalisations).

Results

After accounting for confounding, we found a 0.85% (95% Credible Interval: 0.64% to 1.07%) increase in the asthma hospitalisation risk for every 1°C increase in the ambient summer temperature. The effect was highest for males aged 15-65 (2.44%, 1.99% to 2.90%). During 2002-2007 we observed a 2.23% (1.86% to 2.60%) increase in hospitalisation risk per 1°C increase in temperature, whereas inconclusive evidence for the periods 2008-2013 and 2014-2019. Populations in Yorkshire and the Humber and East Midlands were the most vulnerable.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence of an association between warm temperature and hospital admission for asthma, which was attenuated over time suggesting adaptive mechanisms to heat exposure or differences in lifestyle, comorbid conditions, and occupation over time.
Mental Health, Substance Use, and the Importance of Religion during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Park Ji-Yeun , Galbadage Thushara , Lee Hyuna , Wang David C. , Peterson Brent M.
Published: December 2022

COVID-19 has impacted all areas of life, with lasting effects on physical, mental, and societal health. Specifically, COVID and related losses have exacerbated prolonged grief responses and mental disorders including depression and anxiety. These mental health concerns are associated with increased detrimental coping strategies including substance use. In this study, we analyzed secondary data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results showed a positive association between serious psychological distress and marijuana use, while frequent religious service attendance acted as a moderator in this relationship. Individuals involved in communal religious activity were less likely to use marijuana. This study highlights the impact of religion and faith in bringing hope and purpose during periods of loss, coping with stress, grief, mental health challenges, and substance use.
Circadian regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication
Authors: Borrmann Helene , Ulkar Görkem , Kliszczak Anna E. , Ismed Dini , Schilling Mirjam , Magri Andrea , Harris James M. , Balfe Peter , Vasuvedan Sridhar , Borrow Persephone , Zhuang Xiaodong , McKeating Jane A.
Published: December 2022

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) is a life-threatening pathogen that still lacks curative therapies or vaccines. Circadian rhythms are endogenous daily oscillations that coordinate an organism’s response to its environment and invading pathogens. Recent reports of diurnal variation in peripheral viral load in HIV-1 infected subjects highlights the need for mechanistic studies. Here, we demonstrate rhythmic HIV-1 replication in circadian-synchronised model systems and show the circadian transcription factors, BMAL1 and REV-ERB, bind conserved motifs in the HIV-1 promoter. REV-ERB competes with ROR for binding to the same regulatory motif, and we uncover a role for ROR inhibitors to perturb rhythmic HIV-1 replication and host gene expression. We demonstrate that many HIV-1 host factors are circadian regulated and likely to define rhythmic viral replication. In summary, this study increases our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the circadian regulation of HIV that can inform HIV therapy and management.
Isoforms of the TAL1 transcription factor have different roles in hematopoiesis and cell growth
Authors: Sharma Aveksha , Mistriel-Zerbib Shani , Najar Rauf Ahmad , Engal Eden , Bentata Mercedes , Taqatqa Nadeen , Dahan Sara , Cohen Klil , Jaffe-Herman Shiri , Geminder Ophir , Baker Mai , Nevo Yuval , Plaschkes Inbar , Kay Gillian , Drier Yotam , Berger Michael , Salton Maayan
Published: December 2022

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) protein 1 (TAL1) is a central transcription factor in hematopoiesis. The timing and level of TAL1 expression orchestrate the differentiation to specialized blood cells and its overexpression is a common cause of T-ALL. Here we studied the two protein isoforms of TAL1, short and long, that are generated by the use of alternative promoters as well as by alternative splicing. We analyzed the expression of each isoform by deleting an enhancer or insulator, or by opening chromatin at the enhancer location. Our results show that each enhancer promotes expression from a specific TAL1 promoter. Expression from a specific promoter gives rise to a unique 5’ UTR with differential regulation of translation. Moreover, our study suggests that the enhancers regulate TAL1 exon 3 alternative splicing by inducing changes in the chromatin at the splice site, which we demonstrate is mediated by KMT2B. Furthermore, our results indicate that TAL1-short binds more strongly to TAL1 E-protein partners and functions as a stronger transcription factor than TAL1-long. Specifically TAL1-short has a unique transcription signature promoting apoptosis. Finally, when we expressed both isoforms in mice bone-marrow, we found that while overexpression of both isoforms prevents lymphoid differentiation, expression of TAL-short alone leads to hematopoietic stem cell exhaustion. Furthermore, we found that TAL1-short promoted erythropoiesis and reduced cell survival in the CML cell line K562. While TAL1 and its partners are considered promising therapeutic targets in the treatment of T-ALL, our results show that TAL1-short could act as a tumor suppressor and suggest that altering TAL1 isoform’s ratio could be a preferred therapeutic approach.
Targeting of MMP-13 prevents aortic aneurysm formation in Marfan mice
Authors: Zimmermann Laura-Marie A. , Furlan Ariane G. , Mehrkens Dennis , Geißen Simon , Zuk Alexandra V. , Pryymachuk Galyna , Pykarek Nadine , Beers Tim van , Sonntag-Bensch Dagmar , Marzi Julia , Schenke-Layland Katja , Brinckmann Jürgen , Zigrino Paola , Grandoch Maria , Baldus Stephan , Sengle Gerhard
Published: December 2022

Fibrillin-1 assembles into microfibrils that not only define the structural integrity and biomechanics of the aorta but also target and sequester growth factors within the extracellular microenvironment of aortic resident cells. To better understand how dominant negative effects on fibrillin microfibril stability manifest in growth factor driven aortic disease, we analyzed early events of aortic aneurysm formation within the first two weeks of postnatal life in the dominant negativeFbn1GT8 Marfan mouse model. Echocardiography analysis of homozygous GT8Fbn1mice showed significant aortic root enlargement within the second week of postnatal life which correlated with the onset of fibrillin-1 fiber degradation, aberrantly increased BMP activity and upregulated transcript levels of the collagenase MMP-13. We also found the aortic collagen network structurally disturbed where the mutant GT8-fibrillin-1 was detected. Genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition of MMP-13 inFbn1GT8 Marfan mice prevents aortic root dilatation implicating the relevance of this mechanism in aortic aneurysm formation in Marfan syndrome.
Origin and Evolution of Pseudomurein Biosynthetic Gene Clusters
Authors: Lupo Valérian , Roomans Célyne , Royen Edmée , Ongena Loïc , Jacquemin Olivier , Kerff Frédéric , Baurain Denis
Published: December 2022

The peptidoglycan (PG; or murein) is a mesh-like structure, which is made of glycan polymers connected by short peptides and surrounds the cell membrane of nearly all bacterial species. In contrast, there is no PG counterpart that would be universally found in Archaea, but rather various polymers that are specific to some lineages. Methanopyrales and Methanobacteriales are two orders of Euryarchaeota that harbor pseudomurein (PM) in their cell-wall, a structural analogue of the bacterial PG. Owing to the differences between PG and PM biosynthesis, some have argued that the origin of both polymers is not connected. However, recents studies have revealed that the genomes of PM-containing Archaea encode homologues of the bacterial genes involved in PG biosynthesis, even though neither their specific functions nor the relationships within the corresponding inter-domain phylogenies have been investigated so far. In this work, we devised a bioinformatic pipeline to identify all potential proteins for PM biosynthesis in Archaea without relying on a candidate gene approach. After anin silicocharacterization of their functional domains, the taxonomic distribution and evolutionary relationships of the collected proteins were studied in detail in Archaea and Bacteria through HMM similarity searches and phylogenetic inference of the Mur domain-containing family, the ATP-grasp superfamily and the MraY-like family. Our results notably show that the extant archaeal muramyl ligases are ultimately of bacterial origin, but likely diversified through a mixture of horizontal gene transfer and gene duplication. Moreover, structural modeling of these enzymes allowed us to propose a tentative function for each of them in pentapeptide elongation. While our work clarifies the genetic determinants behind PM biosynthesis in Archaea, it also raises the question of the architecture of the cell wall in the last universal common ancestor.
Mincle-GSDMD-mediated release of IL-1β containing small extracellular vesicles contributes to ethanol-induced liver injury
Authors: Zhang Quanri , Liu Weiwei , Bulek Katarzyna , Wang Han , McMullen Megan R. , Wu Xiaoqin , Welch Nicole , Zhang Renliang , Dasarathy Jaividhya , Dasarathy Srinivasan , Nagy Laura E. , Li Xiaoxia
Published: December 2022

Background & Aims

Macrophage inducible C-type lectin (Mincle) is expressed on Kupffer cells and senses ethanol-induced danger signals released from dying hepatocytes and promotes IL-1β production. However, it remains unclear what and how ethanol-induced Mincle ligands activate downstream signaling events to mediate IL-1β release and contribute to alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). In this study, we investigated the association of circulating β-glucosylceramide (β-GluCer), an endogenous Mincle ligand, with severity of ALD and examined the mechanism by which β-GluCer engages Mincle on Kupffer cells to release IL-1β in the absence of cell death and exacerbates ALD.

Approach and Results

Concentrations of β-GluCer were increased in serum of patients with severe AH and correlated with disease severity. Challenge of Kupffer cells with LPS and β-GluCer induced formation of aMincleandGsdmd-dependent secretory complex containing chaperoned full-length GSDMD (Hsp90-CDC37-NEDD4) with polyubiquitinated pro-IL-1β and components of the Casp8-NLRP3 inflammasome loaded as cargo in small extracellular vesicles (sEV). Gao-binge ethanol exposure to wild-type, but notMincle-/-andGsdmd-/-, mice increased release of IL-1β containing sEVs from liver explant cultures. Myeloid-specific deletion ofGsdmdsimilarly decreased the formation of sEVs by liver explant cultures and protected mice from ethanol-induced liver injury. sEVs collected from ethanol-fed wild-type, but notGsdmd-/-, mice promoted injury of cultured hepatocytes and, when injected into wild-type mice, aggravated Gao-binge ethanol-induced liver injury.

Conclusion

β-GluCer functions as a DAMP activating Mincle-dependent GSDMD-mediated formation and release of IL-1β-containing sEVs, which in turn exacerbate hepatocyte cell death and contribute to the pathogenesis of ALD.
Integration of mass-spectrometry-based global metabolomics and proteomics analysis to characterise different senescence induced molecular sub-phenotypes
Authors: Berardi Domenica , Farrell Gillian , Alsuntan Abdullah , McCulloch Ashley , Rattray Zahra , Rattray Nicholas JW
Published: December 2022

Cellular senescence is a key driver of ageing and its related disease. Thus, targeting and eliminating senescent cells is a major focus in biogerontology to predict and ameliorate age-related malady. Many studies have focused on targeting senescence through the identification of its molecular biomarkers. However, these are not specific for senescence and have different expression patterns across various senescence phenotypes. Here we report a combination of molecular studies (ß-galactosidase expression, DNA damage and replication immunodetection) with a mass spectrometry analysis integrating intra and extracellular global metabolomics to reveal small molecules differentially expressed across multiple senescence phenotypes (replicative senescence, x-ray, and chemical-induced senescence).

Altered key intracellular metabolic changes were identified, depending on the stress stimuli, which were consistent with the presence of pro-inflammatory metabolites in the cellular secretome.

Our work shows the advantage of combining molecular and metabolomics studies for the detailed analysis of cellular senescence and that senescence phenotype changes upon induction method.
RNA- and DNA-binding proteins generally exhibit direct transfer of polynucleotides: Implications for target site search
Authors: Hemphill Wayne O. , Voong Calvin K. , Fenske Regan , Goodrich James A. , Cech Thomas R.
Published: December 2022

We previously demonstrated that the PRC2 chromatin-modifying enzyme exhibits the ability to directly transfer between RNA and DNA without a free-enzyme intermediate state. Simulations suggested that such a direct transfer mechanism may be generally necessary for RNA to recruit proteins to chromatin, but the prevalence of direct transfer capability is unknown. Herein, we used fluorescence polarization assays and observed direct transfer for several well-characterized nucleic acid-binding proteins: three-prime repair exonuclease 1 (TREX1), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U, Fem-3-binding factor 2, and MS2 bacteriophage coat protein. For TREX1, the direct transfer mechanism was additionally interrogated by single molecule assays, and the data suggest that direct transfer occurs through an unstable ternary intermediate with partially associated ligands. Generally, direct transfer could allow many DNA- and RNA-binding proteins to conduct a one-dimensional search for their target sites. Furthermore, presumably long-lived protein-polynucleotide complexes might instead be readily replaced by other protein-polynucleotide complexesin vivo.

Significance

Classically, the lifetime of a protein-ligand complex is presumed to be an intrinsic property, unaffected by competitor molecules in free solution. By contrast, a few oligomeric nucleic acid binding proteins have been observed to exchange competing ligands in their binding sites, and consequently their lifetimes decrease with competitor concentration. Our findings indicate that this “direct transfer” is a more general property of nucleic acid binding proteins. This suggests that many DNA- and RNA-binding proteins can reduce the dimensionality of their search for their target sites by intramolecular direct transfer to nucleosome DNA, instead of relying entirely on three-dimensional diffusion, and it suggests that their mean complex lifetimesin vivocan be regulated by the concentration of free ligand molecules.
Neural correlates of memory in a naturalistic spatiotemporal context
Authors: Dougherty Matthew R. , Chang Woohyeuk , Rudoler Joseph H. , Katerman Brandon S. , Halpern David J. , Bruska James P. , Diamond Nicholas B. , Kahana Michael J.
Published: December 2022

We investigated memory encoding and retrieval during a quasi-naturalistic spatial-episodic memory task in which subjects delivered items to landmarks in a desktop virtual environment and later recalled the delivered items. Transition probabilities and latencies revealed the spatial and temporal organization of memory. As subjects gained experience with the town, their improved spatial knowledge led to more efficient navigation and increased spatial organization during recall. Subjects who exhibited stronger spatial organization exhibited weaker temporal organization. Scalp-recorded electroencephalographic (EEG) signals revealed spectral correlates of successful encoding and retrieval. Increased theta power (T+) and decreased alpha/beta power (A−) accompanied successful encoding, with the addition of increased gamma (G+) accompanying successful retrieval. Logistic-regression classifiers trained on spectral features reliably predicted mnemonic success in held-out sessions. Univariate and multivariate EEG analyses revealed a similar spectralT+A−G+of successful memory. These findings extend behavioral and neural signatures of successful encoding and retrieval to a naturalistic task in which learning occurs within a spatiotemporal context.
Changes in brain metabolite levels across childhood
Authors: Perdue Meaghan V. , DeMayo Marilena M. , Bell Tiffany K. , Boudes Elodie , Bagshawe Mercedes , Harris Ashley D. , Lebel Catherine
Published: December 2022

Metabolites play important roles in brain development and their levels change rapidly in the prenatal period and during infancy. Metabolite levels are thought to stabilize during childhood, but the development of neurochemistry across early-middle childhood remains understudied. We examined the developmental changes of key metabolites (total N-acetylaspartate, tNAA; total choline, tCho; total creatine, tCr; glutamate+glutamine, Glx; and myo-inositol, mI) using short echo-time magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the left temporo-parietal cortex (LTP) using a mixed cross-sectional/longitudinal design in children aged 2-11 years (ACC: N=101 children, 112 observations; LTP: N=95 children, 318 observations). We found age-related effects for all metabolites. tNAA increased with age in both regions, while tCho decreased with age in both regions. tCr increased with age in the LTP only, and mI decreased with age in the ACC only. Glx did not show linear age effects in either region, but a follow-up analysis in only participants with ≥3 datapoints in the LTP revealed a quadratic effect of age following an inverted U-shape. These substantial changes in neurochemistry throughout childhood likely underlie various processes of structural and functional brain development.
SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine is re-adenylatedin vivo, enhancing antigen production and immune response
Authors: Krawczyk Paweł S , Gewartowska Olga , Mazur Michał , Orzeł Wiktoria , Matylla-Kulińska Katarzyna , Jeleń Sebastian , Turowski Paweł , Śpiewla Tomasz , Tarkowski Bartosz , Tudek Agnieszka , Brouze Aleksandra , Wesołowska Aleksandra , Nowis Dominika , Gołąb Jakub , Kowalska Joanna , Jemielity Jacek , Dziembowski Andrzej , Mroczek Seweryn
Published: December 2022

Though mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 have revolutionized vaccinology and have been administered in billions of doses, we know incredibly little about how mRNA vaccines are metabolizedin vivo. Here we implemented enhanced nanopore Direct RNA sequencing (eDRS), to enable the analysis of single Moderna’s mRNA-1273 molecules, givingin vivoinformation about the sequence and poly(A) tails.

We show that mRNA-1273, with all uridines replaced by N1-methylpseudouridine (mΨ), is terminated by a long poly(A) tail (~100 nucleotides) followed by an mΨCmΨAG sequence. In model cell lines, mRNA-1273 is swiftly degraded in a process initiated by the removal of mΨCmΨAG, followed by CCR4-NOT-mediated deadenylation. In contrast, intramuscularly inoculated mRNA-1273 undergoes more complex modifications. Notably, mRNA-1273 molecules are re-adenylated after mΨCmΨAG removal. Detailed analysis of immune cells involved in antigen production revealed that in macrophages, after mΨCmΨAG removal, vaccine mRNA is very efficiently re-adenylated, and poly(A) tails can reach up to 200A. In contrast, in dendritic cells, vaccine mRNA undergoes slow deadenylation-dependent decay. We further demonstrate that enhancement of mRNA stability in macrophages is mediated by TENT5 poly(A) polymerases, whose expression is induced by the vaccine itself. Lack of TENT5-mediated re-adenylation results in lower antigen production and severely compromises specific immunoglobulin production following vaccination.

Together, our findings provide an unexpected principle for the high efficacy of mRNA vaccines and open new possibilities for their improvement. They also emphasize that, in addition to targeting a protein of interest, the design of mRNA therapeutics should be customized to its cellular destination.
Exploring the recipients' attitudes and behaviors toward gift-giving: a cross-cultural comparison between Thailand and the USA
Authors: Pusaksrikit Theeranuch , Chinchanachokchai Sydney
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This research examines cultural differences between Thais and Americans in recipients' attitudes and behaviors throughout all three stages of Sherry's (1983) gift-giving model and the moderating effect of relationship closeness on the gift-giving process.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experiments tested recipients' attitudes and behaviors across cultures in each gift-giving stage. Study 1 explored the gestation stage (gift search and purchase). Study 2 tested recipients in the prestation stage (actual exchange), and Study 3 examined the reformulation stage (gift disposition and realignment of the relationship).

Findings

Results show that relationship closeness between the giver and the recipient plays a role among interdependent self-construals. Thais (interdependent self-construals) are more likely to give a hint or make a request for a gift to close friends than distant friends and are also more likely to accept, keep and use gifts from close friends than from distant friends. Moreover, for interdependent self-construals, a gift from a close friend improved the relationship more than a gift from a distant friend. In contrast, Americans (independent self-construals) present no differences between close and distant friends.

Originality/value

This research provides a comprehensive picture of the recipient's perspective in cross-cultural gift-giving and expands the notion of relationship closeness as a moderator.
Exploring the role of brand–sustainability–self-congruence on consumers' evaluation of luxury brands
Authors: Kumagai Ken
Published: December 2022

Purpose

With increasing managerial attention on the strategic promotion of brand-related sustainability initiatives (BSI), this study explores the psychological role of image congruence of the triad comprising brand, BSI and self-concept (brand–sustainability–self-congruence; BSSC). The study assesses the predictive effect of BSSC on consumers' brand evaluations and its variation according to the brand types and consumers' attributes. The purpose is to provide managerial suggestions as well as theoretical implications to build an effective BSI strategy from the perspective of consumer psychology.

Design/methodology/approach

The data from 409 respondents in Japan are assessed to discuss the relationships among BSSC based on actual/ideal self-concept (actual/ideal BSSC), brand trust, brand affect and purchase intention according to hypothetical BSI settings.

Findings

The results suggest a significant role of BSSC in consumers' brand evaluation mechanisms associated with BSI: mostly, actual BSSC affects non-luxury brand evaluation, while ideal BSSC affects luxury brand evaluation. Likewise, the effects of actual/ideal BSSC seem to vary according to consumers' income levels.

Practical implications

The results suggest that managers strategically consider consumer psychology of brand evaluation with actual/ideal BSSC, income levels and brand attributes such as luxury level in BSI planning. Thus, they may predict its contribution to brand equity, leading to companies' performance being compatible with environmental contribution.

Originality/value

This study uniquely extends the self-congruity theory and discusses the psychological brand evaluation mechanism comprising BSSC, presenting the switching role of actual/ideal self-concept according to brand types and consumers' attributes.
Entrepreneurs have what it takes: positively-distinct entrepreneurial social identity as realized during intra- and intergroup conversations
Authors: Hajek Christopher
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study explores aspects of entrepreneurial social identity that are made salient in communication, and that are related to positive group distinctiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a thematic analysis methodology, and the analysis is sensitized by social identity theory and related concepts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 43 entrepreneurs in several US cities. The women and men discussed the nature of their entrepreneurial identities, and the relationship of past intra- and intergroup conversations to their realizations of a positively-distinct entrepreneurial identity. Open and axial coding of the entrepreneurs' verbal conversational content was conducted.

Findings

The analyses revealed four themes (and nine accompanying sub-themes) that represented dimensions of entrepreneurial social identity that were related to positive group distinctiveness.

Practical implications

Findings may prove useful for mutual understanding among current and aspiring entrepreneurs, and for educators and managers with an interest in encouraging entrepreneurial mindsets through training program development.

Originality/value

This study is unique not only in its adoption of an intergroup comparison approach to entrepreneurship that integrates recalled past communication, but also in its focus on positive in-group distinctiveness. The desire for this psychological state may be one motivating force guiding the content of entrepreneurial identity, and it may, for some individuals, be one factor that drives the pursuit of entrepreneurship itself. This study offers themes that break new ground in illuminating dimensions derived from recalled conversational content that entrepreneurs considered key to positive identity salience.
Anticipating the antecedents of feedback-seeking behavior in digital environments: a socio-technical system perspective
Authors: Zhang Xi , Wang Xuyan , Tian Fangqing , Xu Dongming , Fan Longwei
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Feedback-seeking behavior is an important way for individuals to actively seek information feedback to achieve individuals' goals. In the environment driven by contactless digital technologies, the way of individual feedback-seeking behavior through monitoring indirectly becomes obvious, especially for people who complete the work online in digital collaboration. However, previous empirical research on feedback-seeking behavior mainly focused on direct inquiry. The purpose of this paper is to verify the impact of individual learning goal orientation and the digital feedback environment on individuals' feedback-seeking behaviors through inquiry and monitoring approaches. And the moderating effect of time pressure on these relationships was also investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on socio-technical system theory, this study proposes a model to describe the formation of the two approaches of feedback-seeking behaviors (inquiry and monitoring). The hypotheses were examined with the structural equation model method and data were collected from 152 graduate students who completed online surveys.

Findings

The results show that both the digital feedback environment and learning goal orientation can promote individual inquiry and monitoring approaches of feedback-seeking. Furthermore, time pressure moderates the relationship between the digital feedback environment and feedback monitoring negatively.

Originality/value

This study establishes an antecedent model that influences the choice of feedback-seeking approaches in digital environments from the perspective of a socio-technical system. The empirical results supplement the explanation of the influence of both technical and social factors on individual feedback-seeking behavior in digital environments.
Roles of organizational learning culture in promoting innovation
Authors: Achdiat Isnaeni , Mulyani Sri , Azis Yudi , Sukmadilaga Citra
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between organizational learning (OL) culture (OLC) and innovation. This study also aims to determine the patterns by which the concepts of OLC/learning organization (LO)/OL and OL capability are interrelated and have an impact on innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study emphasized the analysis of 42 literature reviews, which contained the variables of OLC/LO/OL and innovation.

Findings

A holistic perception of OLC/LO/OL and its relationship with the constructs of innovation was provided. In this case, more reports emphasized the indirect correlation of OLC with innovation, through intervening variables. This indicated that OLC enabled innovation through several internal and external aspects, as well as balancing between flexibility and control in promoting OLC. As part of the OL process, information, acquisition, distribution, interpretation and dissemination were also consistently related to innovation, which escalated the company's ability in becoming an LO. This proved that a group of employees needs to share a similar belief in promoting work unit innovation, because of the importance of continuous formal and informal learning in a well-structured internal organization system. In this case, external factors need to be highly considered, including competitors and clients.

Originality/value

This study is among the earliest to review the literature about the relationship between OLC and innovation. This study also provides recommendations for enhancing OLC in promoting innovation.
Quality‐efficiency trade‐off when the state is the sole provider of hospital services: Evidence from New Zealand
Authors: Andrews Antony , Sahoo Biresh K. , Temoso Omphile , Kimpton Sean
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study is to explore the trade‐off between technical efficiency and the quality of hospital services when the state is the sole provider. Data from 20 New Zealand District Health Boards from 2011 to 2017 is used to estimate technical efficiency using the data envelopment analysis technique, which employs an additive inverse formulation for undesirable outcomes. The estimated average quality‐adjusted technical efficiency score is 0.69. In comparison, when the quality variable was removed, the efficiency declined to 0.66. More importantly, the ranking of district health boards stays consistent across both models, indicating that there is very little trade‐off between quality and efficiency. A sensitivity analysis also confirms the lack of a trade‐off between quality and efficiency.
Beyond the double blind spot: Relocating communist women as transgressive subjects in contemporary historiography
Authors: Strazzeri Victor
Published: December 2022

This article identifies a specific historiographical gap obfuscating communist women, namely, a ‘double blind spot’ rooted in the combined effect of the scant consideration of women in histories of communism and of communist activists in accounts of the women's movement. It traces this pattern of invisibilisation back to the paradigm of communist women's ‘instrumentalisation’ and to the resulting paradox of an ‘activism without agency’. The article then provides a critique of this received image; first, through an analysis of emerging scholarship on the female communist experience; second, through recourse to actors’ own perspective on the rapport between communism and feminism and the possibilities of ‘double militancy’, drawn from sources of the post‐1968 Italian context. It closes with an argument for relocating communist women as an unexpectedly transgressive subject of twentieth‐century history.
Adult case of chronic granulomatous disease mimicking granulomatosis with polyangiitis
Authors: Zengin Acemoğlu Şerife Şeyda , Türk İpek , Özsoy Sevil , Köker Mustafa Yavuz , Sat Bulut
Published: December 2022

Background

This article presents a patient who was initially diagnosed as having granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and was later diagnosed as having chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) in adulthood. We aimed to raise awareness of CGD, which can be confused with rheumatic diseases.

Case Report

We present a 33‐year‐old male patient with CGD with recurrent opportunistic bacterial and fungal infections who was diagnosed as having GPA, and had a history of recurrent lung infections and brain abscesses since childhood. The patient, who had cavitary lesions in the lung and mucosal lesions in the nose, was diagnosed as having GPA based on antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positivity. CGD was suspected in his last hospitalization after the patient underwent a nitro blue tetrazolium test. Accordingly, neutrophil oxidative function was tested using a dihydrorhodamine assay, which confirmed CGD. Molecular analysis of the patient revealed that the NCF1 gene had a GT deletion at the beginning of exon 2. Our patient was diagnosed as having late‐onset CGD; he is currently well and taking antibiotic prophylaxis.

Conclusion

As a result of the altered humoral immune response in CGD, there is unregulated inflammation and sustained antigen stimulation. This excessive inflammatory response can be confused with autoimmune diseases and cause delays in diagnosis. This case is important in the differential diagnosis of CGD in adult patients with recurrent opportunistic infections.
Work as a social risk factor in pregnancy: A systematic review of screening practices related to working conditions and family leave among pregnant adults
Authors: Goodman Julia M. , Colon Mina , Cottrell Erika K. , Guise Jeanne‐Marie
Published: December 2022

Background

Paid family leave and working conditions are components of employment quality—a key social determinant of health across the life course, particularly during pregnancy. Increased research on prenatal social risk screening has not extended to employment quality. The objective of this systematic review was to identify prenatal screening practices and interventions in health care settings that address employment and working conditions as social risk factors among pregnant adults and to describe their properties and key findings.

Method

We searched MEDLINE, PsychINFO, SocINDEX, EMBASE, and the SIREN Evidence and Resource Library for studies published through February 14, 2022. We selected multiple search terms related to four domains: (1) employment or working conditions; (2) screening; (3) health care settings; and (4) pregnancy or maternal health.

Results

Of the 2317 unique titles and abstracts that were potentially relevant, eight articles met all inclusion criteria and focused on pregnant populations. The content of identified screening practices varied substantially, highlighting the multiple ways employment is conceptualized as a potential risk factor. Few studies included multidimensional measures of employment to assess working conditions, which may be particularly relevant during pregnancy.

Conclusions

Our review suggests that screening for employment as a social risk factor does not regularly occur in prenatal care. Although pragmatic properties of the screening tools we assessed are promising, tools seldom examine the multidimensional nature of work. Understanding the principal intent of screening for employment prenatally could provide greater opportunity to collect and interpret contextual factors that influence how both providers and patients respond to social risk.
Use of technology by older adults with an intellectual disability in Ireland to support health, well‐being and social inclusion during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: McCausland Darren , McCarron Mary , McCallion Philip
Published: December 2022

Background

Before COVID‐19, people with intellectual disabilities were digitally excluded, facing difficulties accessing and using technology. The pandemic outbreak closed down many in‐person services and supports for this population.

Methods

This study examined changes in technology use to support the healthcare and social connections of older adults with intellectual disability in Ireland (n = 682) during COVID‐19. Decision tree analyses explored factors associated with using technology for health and social connection; and to explore relationships between technology use and subjective outcomes of stress/anxiety and of positives during this period.

Findings

Technology use for healthcare and social connection increased during COVID‐19, but not enough to make up for the loss of in‐person care/connection. Residence type was associated with increased use of technology for healthcare utilisation, with the highest rates among community group home residents and the lowest among those in independent/family settings. Increased technology use to speak with both family and friends was associated with prior digital skills and digital access. Increased technology use was significantly associated with both positive and negative experiences during the pandemic.

Conclusions

The COVID‐19 pandemic offered an opportunity for increased digital connection for older adults with intellectual disabilities, but not all benefitted. Those with prior skills, available supports, and the greatest need to connect were more likely to enhance their use of technology. The complexity of the COVID‐19 period, including the general impact on mental health and well‐being, means that the role technology played in supporting quality of life and mitigating stress/anxiety needs further and longer‐term investigation.
Ecological integrity of tropical secondary forests: concepts and indicators
Authors: Rosenfield Milena F. , Jakovac Catarina C. , Vieira Daniel L. M. , Poorter Lourens , Brancalion Pedro H. S. , Vieira Ima C. G. , de Almeida Danilo R. A. , Massoca Paulo , Schietti Juliana , Albernaz Ana Luisa M. , Ferreira Marciel J. , Mesquita Rita C. G.
Published: December 2022

Naturally regenerating forests or secondary forests (SFs) are a promising strategy for restoring large expanses of tropical forests at low cost and with high environmental benefits. This expectation is supported by the high resilience of tropical forests after natural disturbances, yet this resilience can be severely reduced by human impacts. Assessing the characteristics of SFs and their ecological integrity (EI) is essential to evaluating their role for conservation, restoration, and provisioning of ecosystem services. In this study, we aim to propose a concept and indicators that allow the assessment and classification of the EI of SFs. To this end, we review the literature to assess how EI has been addressed in different ecosystems and which indicators of EI are most commonly used for tropical forests. Building upon this knowledge we propose a modification of the concept of EI to embrace SFs and suggest indicators of EI that can be applied to different successional stages or stand ages. Additionally, we relate these indicators to ecosystem service provision in order to support the practical application of the theory. EI is generally defined as the ability of ecosystems to support and maintain composition, structure and function similar to the reference conditions of an undisturbed ecosystem. This definition does not consider the temporal dynamics of recovering ecosystems, such as SFs. Therefore, we suggest incorporation of an optimal successional trajectory as a reference in addition to the old‐growth forest reference. The optimal successional trajectory represents the maximum EI that can be attained at each successional stage in a given region and enables the evaluation of EI at any given age class. We further suggest a list of indicators, the main ones being: compositional indicators (species diversity/richness and indicator species); structural indicators (basal area, heterogeneity of basal area and canopy cover); function indicators (tree growth and mortality); and landscape proxies (landscape heterogeneity, landscape connectivity). Finally, we discuss how this approach can assist in defining the value of SF patches to provide ecosystem services, restore forests and contribute to ecosystem conservation.
Transient effects of corridors on polygyne fire ants over a decade
Authors: Resasco Julian , Burt Melissa A. , Orrock John L. , Haddad Nick M. , Shoemaker DeWayne , Levey Douglas J.
Published: December 2022

Although corridors are frequently regarded as a way to mitigate the negative effects of habitat fragmentation, concerns persist that corridors may facilitate the spread of invasive species to the detriment of native species.

The invasive fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, has two social forms. The polygyne form has limited dispersal abilities relative to the monogyne form. Our previous work in a large‐scale corridor experiment showed that in landscapes dominated by the polygyne form, fire ant density was higher and native ant species richness was lower in habitat patches connected by corridors than in unconnected patches.

We expected that these observed corridor effects would be transient, that is, that fire ant density and native ant species richness differences between connected and unconnected patches would diminish over time as fire ants eventually fully established within patches. We tested this prediction by resampling the three landscapes dominated by polygyne fire ants 6 to 11 years after our original study.

Differences in fire ant density between connected and unconnected habitat patches in these landscapes decreased, as expected. Differences in native ant species richness were variable but lowest in the last 2 years of sampling.

These findings support our prediction of transient corridor effects on this invasive ant and stress the importance of temporal dynamics in assessing population and community impacts of habitat connectivity.
Effects of particle size in silica sol on the mechanical and thermal properties of SiO2f/SiO2 composites
Authors: Ding Donghai , Li Jie , Li Runan , Zhang Li , Hou Chen , Xiao Guoqing , Chong Xiaochuan , Luo Jiyuan , Deng Peilin
Published: December 2022

In this paper, quartz fiber‐reinforced silica matrix SiO2f/SiO2 composites were prepared by the precursor impregnation‐heat treatment method using quartz fiber needle felt as the reinforcement and silica sol as the precursor. The effects of particle size in silica sol (10, 50, and 100 nm) on the density, apparent porosity, mechanical properties, and thermal properties of SiO2f/SiO2 composites were investigated. The phase composition and microstructure of the composites were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The thermal expansion coefficient and thermal conductivity of composites were measured by a push rod method and the laser method. The results show that the density, apparent porosity, and mechanical strength of the specimens firstly increase and then decrease with the increase in the particle size in silica sol. The sample using silica sol with particle size 50 nm has the optimum overall performances (i.e., the flexural strength of 13.7 MPa and the compressive strength of 59.8 MPa), and shows a ductile fracture behavior. At 300°C–700°C, the average thermal expansion coefficient of the optimal sample is .783 × 10−6/°C. And the thermal conductivity of the samples increases with the increase in temperature, and it reached the highest value of .810 W/(m·K) at 700°C. The SiO2f/SiO2 composites show obvious advantages in the application of load‐bearing and thermal insulation integration, and they are expected to meet the demanding requirements of hot‐pressing sintering and non‐ferrous metallurgy industries.
Models of constitutional adjudication in the Baltic States
Authors: Ernits Madis , Miliuvienė Jolita , Pleps Jānis , Sinkevičius Vytautas
Published: December 2022

This article examines the particularities of constitutional control models in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. On the thirtieth anniversary of regaining independence in 2020 for Latvia and Lithuania and in 2021 for Estonia, it is an opportune moment to consider the path taken by constitutional review institutions in each of the three Baltic States. Accordingly, the authors explore the establishment of the particular constitutional review model in each country and discuss the main features of constitutional adjudication: the status and the composition of the constitutional review bodies, the subjects entitled to file a petition, the main elements of their jurisdiction, and the legal effects of the constitutional judgements. The paper also looks briefly at the possible perspectives. The choice of a constitutional control model in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia results in differences in the place of a constitutional control institution in the judicial system, its special competence (other than constitutionality control of legal acts), and composition. However, regardless of which model of constitutional control was implemented, during the transitional period to a more democratic political regime, it has been vital to guarantee the fulfilment of the objectives of the constitutional control bodies without fear of legal or political obstacles and interference. These constitutional justice institutions in the respective country have step by step developed into authoritative bodies that have no peer, are irreplaceable, and are appreciated by state power institutions and the society.
Interviews with parents of adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a weight management study
Authors: Gibson Cheryl A. , Sullivan Debra K. , Ptomey Lauren T. , Rice Anna M. , Donnelly Joseph E.
Published: December 2022

Background

Adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are at risk of obesity. Parents influence their diet and physical activity behaviours and therefore, can play important roles in weight management. The aims of this qualitative study were to explore parents' experiences assisting their son or daughter to participate in a weight management study.

Methods

Interviews were completed at 6 months with 27 parents whose adolescent or young adult had completed the weight loss portion of an 18‐month weight management study. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematic analysis performed.

Results

Parents shared insights about how well program components worked with their family, and what strategies worked best to adopt healthier dietary choices and become more physically active. The importance of meeting regularly with someone outside the family to encourage healthier habits was stressed.

Conclusions

Future weight management studies should involve parents and their adolescents to help tailor strategies and adapt intervention approaches.