bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A sustainable campus for an uncertain future. Two cases of infrastructural transformation at Norway’s largest university
Authors: Berker Thomas , Henriksen Hanne , Sutcliffe Thomas Edward , Woods Ruth
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to convey lessons learned from two sustainability initiatives at Norway’s largest university. This contributes to knowledge-based discussions of how future, sustainable higher education institutions (HEIs) infrastructures should be envisioned and planned if the fundamental uncertainty of the future development of learning, researching and teaching is acknowledged.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was submitted on 24 January 2023 and revised on 14 September 2023. HEIs, particularly when they are engaged in research activities, have a considerable environmental footprint. At the same time, HEIs are the main producers and disseminators of knowledge about environmental challenges and their employees have a high awareness of the urgent need to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. In this study, the gap between knowledge and environmental performance is addressed as a question of infrastructural change, which is explored in two case studies.

Findings

The first case study presents limitations of ambitious, top-down sustainability planning for HEI infrastructures: support from employees and political support are central for this strategy to succeed, but both could not be secured in the case presented leading to an abandonment of all sustainability ambitions. The second case study exposes important limitations of a circular approach: regulatory and legal barriers were found against a rapid and radical circular transformation, but also more fundamental factors such as the rationality of an institutional response to uncertainty by rapid cycles of discarding the old and investing in new equipment and facilities.

Research limitations/implications

Being based on qualitative methods, the case studies do not claim representativity for HEIs worldwide or even in Norway. Many of the factors described are contingent on their specific context. The goal, instead, is to contribute to learning by presenting an in-depth and context-sensitive report on obstacles encountered in two major sustainability initiatives.

Originality/value

Research reporting on sustainability initiatives too often focuses descriptively on the plans or reports the successes while downplaying problems and failures. This study deviates from this widespread practice by analysing reasons for failure informed by a theoretical frame (infrastructural change). Moreover, the juxtaposition of two cases within the same context shows the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to infrastructural change particularly clearly.
“The black is going”: a phenomenological study on young rural women's experience of colourism
Authors: Negi Dandub Palzor , Abdul Azeez E.P. , Rani Asha
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The present study explored the young women's lived experiences of discrimination and othering based on skin tone in two rural localities of Uttarakhand , State of India. The authors used intersectionality as the theoretical lens for this study.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have adopted an interpretive phenomenological study in the conduct of this research. The authors interviewed twelve female participants in person using a semi-structured interview schedule. The data were analysed using the six-stage data analysis process of interpretive phenomenological analysis.

Findings

The study's findings underline the experiences of stigma, negative self-concept, marriage is a complex reality, media's influence and skin whitening is the first and last resort. Dark-skinned women experience stressful life events due to their skin tone and society's prejudice favouring white and fair skin tones. The experiences of bullying, social shame, guilt and low esteem were also vivid.

Originality/value

This study reveals women's exposure to negative experiences of skin-tone-based discrimination prevalent in Indian society. This is one of the first kinds of such study in India that captures the dark-hued women's recurrent phenomenon of discrimination in their daily lives. It further shows that skin-tone bias and discrimination are widely prevalent and practised despite the claims that Indian society is free from skin-tone biasedness and subsequent discrimination.
Effects of cyberbullying on the academic life of Ghanaian tertiary students
Authors: Awaah Fred , Tetteh Andrew , Addo Dorcas Adomaa
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of cyberbullying on the academic lives of Ghanaian university students. It also establishes whether cyberbullying victims, perpetrators, victim-perpetrators and bystanders differed in their thoughts on the effects of cyberbullying on students’ academic lives.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is anchored on Bandura’s theory of triadic reciprocal determinism and Abraham Maslow’s theory of needs. This study uses a cross-sectional survey design and quantitative approach to collect the data from 1,374 students from three public universities. The authors use descriptive statistics and ANOVA techniques to analyse the data.

Findings

The results show that the effects of cyberbullying on academic life are difficulty concentrating on studies, difficulty studying in groups and difficulty assessing important academic information online. There is also a statistically significant difference among cyberbullying victims, perpetrators, victim-perpetrators and bystanders in their thoughts on the effects of cyberbullying on students’ academic lives.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature on cyberbullying in the Ghanaian tertiary education environment. Even though the impact of cyberbullying on academics in Ghanaian universities may seem minimal, it is still imperative that it be checked, as it is significant enough to disrupt effective academic work. Thus, this study adds to the existing literature on cyberbullying from a developing country perspective.
Exploring efficiencies of informal learning space: a case study
Authors: Harris Tripp , Birdwell Tracey , Basdogan Merve
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Systematic efforts to study students' use of informal learning spaces are crucial for determining how, when and why students use such spaces. This case study provides an example of an effort to evaluate an informal learning space on the basis of students' usage of the space and the features within the space.

Design/methodology/approach

Use of heatmap camera technology and a semi-structured interview with a supervisor of an informal learning space supported the mixed-methods evaluation of the space.

Findings

Findings from both the heatmap outputs and semi-structured interview suggested that students' use of the informal learning space is limited due to the location of the space on campus and circumstances surrounding students' day-to-day schedules and needs.

Practical implications

Findings from both the heatmap outputs and semi-structured interview suggested that students' use of the informal learning space is limited due to the location of the space on campus and circumstances surrounding students' day-to-day schedules and needs. These findings are actively contributing to the authors’ institution’s efforts surrounding planning, funding and design of other informal learning spaces on campus.

Originality/value

While most research on instructors' and students' use of space has taken place in formal classrooms, some higher education scholars have explored ways in which college and university students use informal spaces around their campuses (e.g. Harrop and Turpin, 2013; Ramu et al., 2022). Given the extensive time students spend on their campuses outside of formal class meetings (Deepwell and Malik, 2008), higher education institutions must take measures to better understand how their students use informal learning spaces to allocate resources toward the optimization of such spaces. This mixed-methods case study advances the emerging global discussion on how, when and why students use informal learning spaces.
From amused to : enriching mood metadata by mapping textual descriptors to emojis for fiction reading
Authors: Lee Wan-Chen , Huang Li-Min Cassandra , Hirt Juliana
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the application of emojis to mood descriptions of fiction. The three goals are investigating whether Cho et al.'s model (2023) is a sound conceptual framework for implementing emojis and mood categories in information systems, mapping 30 mood categories to 115 face emojis and exploring and visualizing the relationships between mood categories based on emojis mapping.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was distributed to a US public university to recruit adult fiction readers. In total, 64 participants completed the survey.

Findings

The results show that the participants distinguished between the three families of fiction mood categories. The three families model is a promising option to improve mood descriptions for fiction. Through mapping emojis to 30 mood categories, the authors identified the most popular emojis for each category, analyzed the relationships between mood categories and examined participants' consensus on mapping.

Originality/value

This study focuses on applying emojis to fiction reading. Emojis were mapped to mood categories by fiction readers. Emoji mapping contributes to the understanding of the relationships between mood categories. Emojis, as graphic mood descriptors, have the potential to complement textual descriptors and enrich mood metadata for fiction.
Self-initiated expatriates' cultural intelligence, embeddedness and career satisfaction: a whole-life perspective
Authors: Chen Yu-Ping , Hsu Yu-Shan , Shaffer Margaret
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Drawing on the whole-life perspective of career development and the conservation of resources theory, the authors consider whether self-initiated expatriates' (SIEs’) cultural intelligence (CQ) is a general, cross-domain resource that helps SIEs gain resources in the work and nonwork domains. The authors contend that CQ will be associated with greater levels of organizational and community embeddedness, which in turn will facilitate their career satisfaction. The authors also propose the role of perceived host country community diversity climate as an environmental condition that, when low, strengthens the relationships between CQ and organizational and community embeddedness.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine the study hypotheses based on two distinct samples of SIEs (Sample 1: 169 Asian SIE professionals; Study 2: 147 SIE academics).

Findings

SIEs' CQ positively relates to their organizational and community embeddedness, which in turn is associated with greater levels of career satisfaction. The authors also find that SIEs with high CQ are more likely to experience community embeddedness and career satisfaction when they perceive that the host country community diversity climate is low.

Originality/value

First, this study goes beyond existing literature that rarely examines nonwork inputs to SIE career success. Second, extending previous CQ research with a strong organizational focus, the authors investigated how CQ influences SIEs' work and nonwork embeddedness. Third, the authors found that the absence of a peripheral ecological condition, perceived host country community diversity climate, may strengthen the direct relationship between CQ and embeddedness and the indirect relationship between CQ and career satisfaction.
Remote work, employee productivity and innovation: the moderating roles of knowledge sharing and digital business intensity
Authors: Nwankpa Joseph K. , Roumani Yazan F.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the effects of remote work on employee productivity and innovation and how these effects are moderated by knowledge sharing and digital business intensity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws on survey data from a random sample of 231 remote workers across the USA. The analysis and empirical validation of the research model used partial least square.

Findings

The results demonstrate a positive association between remote work and employee productivity. In addition, the findings present empirical support for hitherto anecdotal evidence regarding the impact of remote work on innovation. In particular, the study notes that knowledge sharing and digital business intensity amplified the positive relationship between remote work and employee productivity. The results further revealed that the positive link between remote work and innovation was stronger in the presence of knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the ongoing inquiry into remote work by drawing on the knowledge-based view as an underlying lens to understand the consequence of remote work. Identifying knowledge sharing and digital business intensity as moderators of the linkage between remote work and employee productivity is an important contribution, especially when researchers and practitioners are trying to understand the business value of working remotely. Furthermore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to identify knowledge sharing as a key mechanism that strengthens innovation outcomes in a remote work environment.
Examining interdependencies among solution dimensions for sustainable development in SMEs based on Industry 4.0 concept
Authors: Kumar Love , Sharma Rajiv Kumar
Published: January 2024

Purpose

In the context of promoting sustainable development in SMEs, the present study aims to investigate the relationship among solution dimensions based on the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) concept.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a comprehensive methodology that includes a systematic literature review, workshop, grounded theory and interpretive structural modeling. Various dimensions concerning I4.0 sustainability are tested and evaluated using a questionnaire design followed by hypothesis formulation. Further, grounded theory is used to extract the key solution dimensions that capture the essence of I4.0 implementation in SMEs. Finally, the solution dimensions for I4.0 sustainability are modeled using the ISM approach to understand the structural interdependencies among them, and Matrice d'Impacts Croisés Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) analysis is done to understand the driving and dependence power among these dimensions.

Findings

The study identified 14 solution dimensions for the implementation of I4.0 in SMEs for sustainable development. Out of the 14 solution dimensions, human resource training programs (D4) appear at level 11, followed by top management commitment (D1), strategic collaborations (D3) and coordination among key stakeholders (D5) at level 2 in the hierarchical interpretive structural modeling (ISM) model. Also, these dimensions have an effect size of more than 0.50 which indicates a substantial correlation between the sustainability dimensions and Industry 4.0 implementation in SMEs.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the overall goal of fostering sustainability within the SME sector, which can pave the way for various stakeholders for the successful implementation of I4.0 sustainable solution dimensions.
Exploring the evolution of consumer attitude from followers to brand enthusiasts: an experiential learning perspective on social media
Authors: Wei Jack
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Social media marketers are keen to understand how viewers perceive their brands on a platform and how the learning experiences from content can impact their attitudes toward a brand. This study aims to focus on examining the effect of firm-generated content (FGC) on X (formerly known as Twitter), using Kolb’s experiential learning theory to analyze the viewers’ learning process. In addition, the study investigates how the length of time a viewer follows a brand and the type of brand can influence their attitudes toward it.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involved three qualitative studies on X to investigate how content learning affects consumer attitudes toward two brands, namely, Nike and Subway. The study also examined the impact of the duration of following the brands, with participants following the brands for 4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively, to assess changes in their attitudes.

Findings

The results demonstrate that content learning significantly impacts consumer attitudes. By following brands and engaging with their FGC over time, viewers can transition from being occasional or intermittent followers to becoming devoted brand enthusiasts. Through the four-stage experiential learning process, followers undergo cognitive, emotional and behavioral transformations that collectively shape their brand attitudes. The impact of content learning varies according to the brand type, and the duration of following has a positive effect on brand attitudes.

Research limitations/implications

The study’s findings have significant marketing implications for social media marketers, suggesting that they should restructure their social media platforms as learning platforms to effectively engage followers. Companies should adjust their content marketing strategies from a learner’s perspective, providing followers with content that resonates with them, enhances their learning outcomes and helps shift their beliefs and brand attitudes, ultimately converting them into loyal consumers.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this qualitative research is the first of its kind to apply experiential learning theories to investigate how users learn from FGC by following brands on social media and how this learning ultimately changes their brand attitude. The study provides a unique perspective on social media marketing, enriching the understanding of content marketing and consumer experiences on social media platforms.
Habitat heterogeneity reduces abundance of invasive mealybugs in subtropical fruit crops
Authors: Plata Ángel , Tena Alejandro , Beitia Francisco José , Sousa José Paulo , Paredes Daniel
Published: January 2024

The simplification of agricultural landscapes has been associated with an increase in pest pressure. While monocultures increase the resources available for pests and may facilitate their dispersion, the lack of non‐crop habitats may reduce the resources available for pest natural enemies. Herein, we tested which of these hypotheses, namely ‘resource concentration’ and ‘natural enemies’, can better explain the abundance of invasive mealybug pests in two subtropical fruit crops.

For this aim, 17 persimmon orchards and 16 citrus orchards were sampled during three different seasons across two consecutive years. Using a model selection approach, we assessed the effects of the surrounding landscape (proportion of focal crops and semi‐natural habitats at different distances) and inter‐row ground cover vegetation on the abundance of mealybugs and their natural enemies.

The proportion of focal crop in the landscape increased the abundance of mealybugs attacking both crops. This effect was found at closer distances (up to ~600 m) in citrus and at both closer and further distances (up to 1250 m) in persimmon.

Non‐crop habitats, both surrounding semi‐natural habitats and ground cover vegetation, decreased the abundance of mealybugs by increasing the activity of their parasitoids in persimmon. Conversely, non‐crop habitats did not decrease the abundance of the main mealybug species attacking citrus, likely because this mealybug species was not attacked by native or naturalized parasitoids.

Synthesis and applications. Our models show that the increase in habitat heterogeneity at local and landscape scales can reduce the abundance of invasive mealybugs in subtropical crops via ‘resource concentration’ and ‘natural enemies’ mechanisms. Therefore, habitat diversification strategies should be considered in the conservation biological control of invasive mealybugs. Importantly, our findings also show that the presence of efficient natural enemies is critical to maximize their control through habitat diversification strategies.
Metagenomic and proteomic insights into the self‐adaptive cell surface hydrophobicity of Sphingomonas sp. strain PAH02 reducing the migration of cadmium‐phenanthrene co‐pollutant in rice
Authors: Yi Shengwei , Zhu Zhongnan , Li Feng , Zhu Lizhong , Wu Chen , Ge Fei , Ji Xionghui , Tian Jiang
Published: January 2024

Cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) dominates the interactions between rhizobacteria and pollutants at the soil‐water interface, which is critical for understanding the dissipation of pollutants in the rhizosphere microzone of rice. Herein, we explored the effects of self‐adaptive CSH of Sphingomonas sp. strain PAH02 on the translocation and biotransformation behaviour of cadmium‐phenanthrene (Cd‐Phe) co‐pollutant in rice and rhizosphere microbiome. We evidenced that strain PAH02 reduced the adsorption of Cd‐Phe co‐pollutant on the rice root surface while enhancing the degradation of Phe and adsorption of Cd via its self‐adaptive CSH in the hydroponic experiment. The significant upregulation of key protein expression levels such as MerR, ARHDs and enoyl‐CoA hydratase/isomerase, ensures self‐adaptive CSH to cope with the stress of Cd‐Phe co‐pollutant. Consistently, the bioaugmentation of strain PAH02 promoted the formation of core microbiota in the rhizosphere soil of rice (Oryza sativa L.), such as Bradyrhizobium and Streptomyces and induced gene enrichment of CusA and PobA that are strongly associated with pollutant transformation. Consequently, the contents of Cd and Phe in rice grains at maturity decreased by 17.2% ± 0.2% and 65.7% ± 0.3%, respectively, after the bioaugmentation of strain PAH02. These findings present new opportunities for the implementation of rhizosphere bioremediation strategies of co‐contaminants in paddy fields.
Fallen fruit: A backup resource during winter shaping fruit fly communities
Authors: Deconninck Gwenaëlle , Boulembert Méghan , Eslin Patrice , Couty Aude , Dubois Françoise , Gallet‐Moron Emilie , Pincebourde Sylvain , Chabrerie Olivier
Published: January 2024

Fallen fruits provide important feeding and breeding substrates for insects such as Drosophilidae and can be a potential trophic reservoir when usual host fruits become scarce.

Recently, two invasive fruit fly species, Drosophila suzukii and Chymomyza amoena, have become established in Europe and are expected to alter existing Drosophilidae communities.

In this study, carried out between September 2021 and April 2022 in northern France, we aimed to disentangle the relative roles of microclimatic, landscape and local factors driving the diversity of the Drosophilidae community in decaying fruit across seasons.

Minimum site temperature during the week preceding sampling and the proportion of rotten fruit tissue had the strongest positive influence on Drosophilidae abundance and species richness. Drosophilidae abundance also increased with urbanisation (portion of building cover) around the sampled trees.

Decaying apples were important breeding sites for C. amoena across seasons, but provided a suboptimal substrate for D. suzukii, which was only present in late summer.

This study sheds light on the important role of unharvested fallen crop fruit in maintaining the diversity of an insect family that is generally overlooked in field studies. It also emphasises the importance of considering multiple scales and factors when studying the interactions between invasive species, native species and their shared trophic resources. Finally, our data highlight the importance of the Drosophilidae community in recycling agricultural waste.
The habits of European urologists in the field of cryopreservation before the urological cancers treatment
Authors: Degraeve Amandine , Roumeguere Thierry , Tilmans Gilles , Marotta Marie‐Laura , Huyghe Eric , Fournier Georges , Faix Antoine , Spinoit Anne‐Françoise , Decaestecker Karel , Herve François , Boitrelle Florence , Lahdensuo Kanerva , Tosco Lorenzo , Van Damme Julien ,   the Société Belge d'Urologie (SBU), the Belgische Vereniging voor Urologen (BVU), the Association Française d'Urologie (AFU), The Nederlandse Vereniging voor Urologie (NVU), the Société d'Andrologie de Langue Française (SALF), the Finnish Urological Society (FUS)
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Treatments against urogenital cancers frequently have fertility side‐effects. The strategy to preserve fertility after oncologic treatments is still a matter of debate with a lack of evidence and international guidelines. The aim of this study is to investigate fertility preservation practices before urogenital cancer treatments and to compare national habits.

Material and methods

An online anonymous survey was submitted from January to June 2021 to six European urological societies. The 31‐items questionnaire included questions about demography, habits of evaluation, and management of fertility preservation in case of urogenital cancer treatments.

Results

Two hundred twenty‐eight urologists from six urological societies in five different countries (Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Finland) filled out the survey.

Three quarter (74%; n = 166) usually propose a cryopreservation before orchidectomy. In case of oligo/azoo‐spermia, the technique performed for the sperm extraction during orchidectomy varies among the sample: 70.5% (n = 160) of the responders do not perform a Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE) nor a Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA).

The cryopreservation for prostate cancer treatments is never proposed in 48.17% (n = 105) of responders but conversely it is always proposed in 5.05% (n = 11).

The cryopreservation before bladder cancer treatments is not commonly proposed (67.5%, n = 154).

Conclusion

Our study showed variable country specific tendencies in terms of fertility preservation in the period of treatment of urological cancers. These differences seem to be related to national guidelines recommendations. Standardization of international guidelines is urgently needed in the field of fertility for urological cancer patients.
Birth asphyxia and its association with grand multiparity and referral among hospital births: A prospective cross‐sectional study in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda
Authors: Handing Greta , Straneo Manuela , Agossou Christian , Wanduru Phillip , Kandeya Bianca , Abeid Muzdalifat S. , Annerstedt Kristi S. , Hanson Claudia
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Birth asphyxia is a leading cause of neonatal mortality in sub‐Saharan Africa. The relationship to grand multiparity (GM), a controversial pregnancy risk factor, remains largely unexplored, especially in the context of large multinational studies. We investigated birth asphyxia and its association with GM and referral in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda.

Material and methods

This was a prospective cross‐sectional study. Data were collected using a perinatal e‐Registry in 16 hospitals (four per country). The study population consisted of 80 663 babies (>1000 g, >28 weeks’ gestational age) delivered between July 2021 and December 2022. The primary outcome was birth asphyxia, defined by 5‐minute appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respiration score <7. A multilevel and stratified multivariate logistic regression was performed with GM (parity ≥5) as exposure, and birth asphyxia as outcome. An interaction between referral (none, prepartum, intrapartum) and GM was also evaluated as a secondary outcome. All models were adjusted for confounders. Clinical Trial: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry 202006793783148.

Results

Birth asphyxia was present in 7.0% (n = 5612) of babies. More babies with birth asphyxia were born to grand multiparous women (11.9%) than to other parity groups (≤7.6%). Among the 76 850 cases included in the analysis, grand multiparous women had a 1.34 times higher odds of birth asphyxia (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–1.54) vs para one to two. Grand multiparous women referred intrapartum had the highest probability of asphyxiation (13.02%, 95% CI 9.34–16.69). GM increased odds of birth asphyxia in Benin (odds ratio [OR] 1.37, 95% CI 1.13–1.68) and Uganda (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.02–1.64), but was non‐significant in Tanzania (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.81–2.56) and Malawi (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.67–1.44).

Conclusions

There is some evidence of an increased risk of birth asphyxia for grand multiparous women having babies at hospitals, especially following intrapartum referral. Antenatal counseling should recognize grand multiparity as higher risk and advise appropriate childbirth facilities. Findings in Malawi suggest an advantage of health systems configuration requiring further exploration.
Gynecological cancer during pregnancy—From a gyne‐oncological perspective
Authors: Bohlin Katja Stenström , Brännström Mats , Dahm‐Kähler Pernilla
Published: January 2024

Gynecological cancer diagnosed during pregnancy requires accurate diagnosis and staging to determine optimal treatment based on gestational age. Cervical and ovarian cancers are the most common and multidisciplinary team collaboration is pivotal. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound can be used without causing fetal harm. In cervical cancer, early‐stage treatments can often be delayed until fetal lung maturation and cesarean section is recommended if disease prevails, in combination with a simple/radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy. Chemoradiotherapy, the recommended treatment for advanced stages, is not compatible with pregnancy preservation. Most gestational ovarian cancers are diagnosed at an early stage and consist of nonepithelial cancers or borderline tumors. Removal of the affected adnexa during pregnancy is often necessary for diagnosis, though staging can be performed after delivery. In selected cases of advanced cervical and ovarian cancers, neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be an option to allow gestational advancement but only after thorough multidisciplinary discussions and counseling.
Thalidomide suppresses migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting HOXB7‐mediated activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Liu Liyang , Xue Wusong
Published: January 2024

Heaps of studies have verified the effects of thalidomide (THA) on colorectal cancer (CRC). Howbeit, the corresponding mechanism awaits illustration, which is the foothold of this study. Following the treatment of 0, 1.94, 7.75, or 19.36 μM THA, CRC cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were evaluated by methyl tetrazolium, flow cytometry, wound‐healing, and transwell assays. Homeobox B7 (HOXB7) expression in CRC was analyzed and detected by bioinformatics analysis, quantitative real‐time PCR or western blot. After the corresponding transfection or treatment with inhibitor of catenin‐responsive transcription‐3 (iCRT‐3), abovementioned CRC cell biological behaviors as well as expression levels of HOXB7 and β‐catenin were evaluated. 7.75 and 19.36 μM THA dwindled CRC cell viability, migration, and invasion, and facilitated apoptosis. HOXB7 upregulation was detected in CRC cells, which promoted the viability, migration, invasion, and β‐catenin expression, and weakened the apoptosis of CRC cells. Also, HOXB7 upregulation counteracted the effects of THA on CRC cells. iCRT‐3 restrained β‐catenin expression, viability, migration, and invasion, whereas promoting the apoptosis of CRC cells. In addition, iCRT‐3 antagonized the effects of overexpressed HOXB7 on CRC cells. THA inhibits the migration and invasion of CRC cells, which is achieved by suppressing HOXB7‐mediated activation of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway.
Easy assessment of the avidity of polyclonal allergen‐specific serum antibodies
Authors: Strobl Maria R. , Demir Hilal , Wozniak‐Knopp Gordana , Wangorsch Andrea , Rüker Florian , Bohle Barbara
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Allergen‐specific IgE‐blocking IgG antibodies contribute to successful allergen immunotherapy (AIT), however, not much is known about their affinity. Since affinity measurements of polyclonal antibodies in serum are technically challenging we evaluated the applicability of acidic disruption of antibody‐allergen complexes by a modified ELISA protocol with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for the relevant major allergens Betv1 and Mald1. Then, AIT‐induced blocking and non‐blocking Mald1‐specific antibodies in sera from individuals with or without reduced apple allergy were compared.

Methods

After testing their pH stability coated recombinant allergens were incubated with (i) mAbs diluted in PBS or human serum and (ii) sera from individuals after sublingual administration of Mald1 or Betv1 for 16 weeks. Immune complexes were exposed to buffers in the pH range of 6.4–3.4 and residual antibodies were measured. Avidity indexes (AI), defined as the pH removing 50% of antibodies, were compared to the dissociation constants (KD) of mAbs determined by surface plasmon resonance.

Results

The selected pH range was applicable to disrupt allergen complexes with highly affine mAbs without compromising allergen integrity. AIs of mAbs accorded with KD values and were unaffected by epitope specificity or the presence of serum proteins. The inter‐assay variability was <4% CV. Protective Mald1‐specific IgG antibodies from individuals with reduced apple allergy showed a higher collective binding strength than that of the non‐protective antibodies of individuals without reduced apple allergy.

Conclusion

Acidic disruption of allergen‐antibody complexes may be used to estimate the net‐binding force of polyclonal serum antibodies and eases the investigation of affinity‐related research questions in AIT.
Featured Cover
Authors: Ezz Mohamed Aboul , Takahashi Masashi , Rivera Rocío Melissa , Balboula Ahmed Zaky
Published: January 2024

The cover image is based on the Original Article Cathepsin L regulates oocyte meiosis and preimplantation embryo development by Mohamed Aboul Ezz et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/cpr.13526.

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Our place, our stories: Public history journeys from Belfast to Dhiban, and back
Authors: Purdue Olwen
Published: January 2024

This paper explores the challenges and potential of engaging with public history where the histories of various “publics” are either contested or overlooked, arguing for the benefits to individuals and communities of engaging collaboratively with the past and finding new ways to tell their stories.
Trends in underlying causes of death in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients over the last decade
Authors: Søborg Andreas , Reekie Joanne , Sengeløv Henrik , Da Cunha‐Bang Caspar , Lund Thomas Kromann , Ekenberg Christina , Lodding Isabelle Paula , Moestrup Kasper Sommerlund , Lundgren Louise , Lundgren Jens D. , Wareham Neval Ete
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Improved survival after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and an increasingly comorbid transplant population may give rise to new trends in the causes of death.

Methods

This study includes all adult allogeneic HCT recipients transplanted at Rigshospitalet between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019. Underlying causes of death were determined using the Classification of Death Causes after Transplantation (CLASS) method.

Results

Among 802 HCT recipients, 289 died during the study period. The main causes of death were relapse (N = 133, 46.0%), graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) (N = 64, 22.1%) and infections (N = 35, 12.1%). Multivariable analyses showed that with increasing transplant calendar year, a decreased risk of all‐cause mortality (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.87–0.97) and death from GvHD (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78–0.97) was identified, but not for other specific causes.

Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for all‐cause mortality decreased from 23.8 (95% CI 19.1–28.5) to 18.4 (95% CI 15.0–21.9) for patients transplanted in 2010–2014 versus 2015–2019, while SMR for patients who died from GvHD decreased from 8.19 (95% CI 5.43–10.94) to 3.65 (95% CI 2.13–5.18).

Conclusions

As risk of all‐cause mortality and death from GvHD decreases, death from relapse remains the greatest obstacle in further improvement of survival after HCT.
Exploring the interplay of attitudes: The transfer of self‐efficacy and emotions between L1 Chinese and L2 English integrated writing contexts
Authors: Zhu Siyu , Yao Yuan , Zhu Xinhua
Published: January 2024

In today's multilingual society, students often learn two or more languages simultaneously. Despite a wealth of research on writing attitudes, few studies have explored the relationship between student attitudinal variables from a cross‐linguistic perspective, particularly in the field of integrated writing (IW). This study included 239 first‐year English majors from a normal university in southeastern China. Path analysis revealed clear relationships between cognitive and affective attitudes, with self‐efficacy being a significant negative predictor of anxiety (β = −0.391 for L1 and β = −0.258 for L2) and a positive predictor of enjoyment (β = 0.531 for L1 and β = 0.380 for L2), irrespective of the language. The study identified statistical evidence of transfers from L1 attitudes to L2 attitudes, across cognitive and affective attitudes, with various patterns. The study provides a cross‐linguistic perspective on the relationship between L1 Chinese and L2 English IW attitudes in Chinese higher education and highlights the critical contribution of psychological transfer in compensating for the limitations of previous theories and empirical studies that focused solely on linguistic ability and writing strategy transfer.
Reduced human leukocyte antigen mismatching is associated with more favourable outcomes after unrelated donor haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Valatkaite‐Rakstiene Beatrice , Cekauskiene Rita , Zvirblis Tadas , Jakubauskas Arturas
Published: January 2024

The patient–donor human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match remains the most important prognostic factor for successful unrelated donor haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (UD‐HSCT). This single‐centre study comprised 125 adult patients with malignant haematological diseases undergoing their first UD‐HSCT. The primary goal of this study was to validate the impact of HLA matching on HSCT outcomes, specifically at the HLA‐DPB1 and HLA‐DRB3/4/5 loci. A multivariable Cox regression analysis with a backward selection algorithm was employed to assess the associations of selected prognostic factors with outcomes after UD‐HSCT. Any HLA locus mismatch was found to be associated with an increased incidence of grade II–IV acute graft versus host disease (aGvHD) at 100 days (p = .031; hazard ratio [HR] 1.935) and 6 months (p = .004; HR 2.284) after HSCT. The results of the following analyses also confirmed the strong impact of HLA‐DPB1‐only mismatch on the incidence of grade II–IV aGvHD at 100‐day (p = .006; HR 2.642) as well as at 6‐month (p = .007; HR 2.401) time periods. The HLA‐DPB1‐only mismatch was also shown to be statistically significantly associated with lower relapse incidence (p = .034; HR 0.333). The impact of the HLA‐DRB3/4/5 mismatch on outcomes was inconclusive, though the two and more HLA‐DPB1 + DRB3/4/5‐only mismatches showed a trend towards worse outcomes than a single mismatch. Based on our findings and those of more comprehensive studies, the extended HLA loci typing of patients and donors is suggested to avoid unexpected HLA mismatches during the UD selection.
The role of local meaning in infants' fixations of natural scenes
Authors: Oakes Lisa M. , Hayes Taylor R. , Klotz Shannon M. , Pomaranski Katherine I. , Henderson John M.
Published: January 2024

As infants view visual scenes every day, they must shift their eye gaze and visual attention from location to location, sampling information to process and learn. Like adults, infants' gaze when viewing natural scenes (i.e., photographs of everyday scenes) is influenced by the physical features of the scene image and a general bias to look more centrally in a scene. However, it is unknown how infants' gaze while viewing such scenes is influenced by the semantic content of the scenes. Here, we tested the relative influence of local meaning, controlling for physical salience and center bias, on the eye gaze of 4‐ to 12‐month‐old infants (N = 92) as they viewed natural scenes. Overall, infants were more likely to fixate scene regions rated as higher in meaning, indicating that, like adults, the semantic content, or local meaning, of scenes influences where they look. More importantly, the effect of meaning on infant attention increased with age, providing the first evidence for an age‐related increase in the impact of local meaning on infants' eye movements while viewing natural scenes.
Clinicians' power in the inpatient care of anorexia nervosa: A qualitative investigation of consumer perspectives
Authors: Zugai Joel Sebastian , Gill Katherine , Ramjan Lucie
Published: January 2024

Medically compromised people with anorexia nervosa are cared for in inpatient settings where clinicians closely monitor health and safety. Clinicians are in a position of power, with the capacity to impose mandated weight gain to achieve medical stabilisation. Consumers are in a vulnerable position, compelled to temporarily relinquish autonomy and to accept coercive practices that often diminish the quality of the therapeutic relationship. Clinicians' position of power in mental healthcare has a dual potential for both healing and harm, and limited attention has been given to consumers' views of clinicians' power. The aim of this qualitative descriptive study was to investigate the consumer perspective of clinicians' power in the inpatient care of anorexia nervosa, establishing insight into the beneficence and maleficence of the power asymmetry. Ten women with anorexia nervosa in the community participated in semi‐structured interviews online. The COREQ checklist was used to ensure accuracy and completeness of reporting. Thematic analysis revealed that abuses of power were common in the course of inpatient AN care, however life‐saving measures were regarded as defensible. The perception of clinicians' power was determined by the strength of interpersonal relationships and clinicians' clinical competence. To mitigate the potential for harmful experiences, clinicians' use of power must be exercised with close consideration for consumer perspectives, with the integration of person‐centred care and trauma‐informed care principles.
Degradation of AZGP1 suppresses apoptosis and facilitates cholangiocarcinoma tumorigenesis via TRIM25
Authors: Yun Hyeseon , Jeong Hong‐Rae , Kim Do Yeon , You Ji‐Eun , Lee Ji‐U , Kang Dong‐Hee , Koh Dong‐In , Ryu Yea Seong , Bae SeungGeon , Jin Dong‐Hoon
Published: January 2024

Alpha‐2‐Glycoprotein 1, Zinc‐binding (AZGP1, ZAG) is a secreted protein that is synthesized by adipocytes and epithelial cells; it is downregulated in several malignancies such as breast, prostate, liver and lung cancers. However, its function remains unclear in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Here, we evaluated the impact AZGP1 in CCA using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and GEPIA. In addition, we analysed AZGP1 expression using quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western blotting. Expression of AZGP1 was nearly deficient in CCA patients and cell lines and was associated with poor prognosis. AZGP1 overexpression upregulated apoptosis markers. Co‐immunoprecipitation experiments showed that AZGP1 interacts with tripartite motif‐containing protein 25 (TRIM25), and tissue microarray and bioinformatic analysis showed that AZGP1 is negatively correlated with TRIM25 expression in CCA. Thereafter, TRIM25 knockdown led to AZGP1 upregulation and induced cancer cell apoptosis. TRIM25 targets AZGP1 for degradation by catalysing its ubiquitination. AZGP1 overexpression significantly suppressed tumour growth in a xenograft mouse model. This study findings suggest that AZGP1 is a potential therapeutic target or a diagnostic biomarker for treating patients with CCA.
The relationship between the severity of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) in adults with IDDs and eating and drinking problems and nutritional status
Authors: Öztürk M. E. , Yabanci Ayhan N.
Published: January 2024

Background

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) experience eating, drinking and swallowing problems, such as chewing problems, choking, gagging, coughing during eating, aspiration and rumination syndrome, which may lead to poor nutritional status. This study aimed to determine the relationship between IDD levels, eating, drinking and swallowing problems and nutritional status in adults with IDDs.

Methods

The sample consisted of 71 participants (37 men and 34 women) with a mean age of 22.5 ± 7 years (range 18–60 years). Professionals classified intellectual disability as mild, moderate or severe. The Screening Tool of Feeding Problems scale was applied to the caregivers of adults with IDDs to identify eating, drinking and swallowing problems. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24‐h dietary recall and a food and nutrition photograph catalogue. The researchers measured body weight, height and middle upper arm circumference. Body mass index was calculated. Four body mass index categories were determined: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥30 kg/m2). Chi‐squared tests were used to detect the relationship between IDD levels and eating and drinking problems, and analysis of variance tests were conducted to detect the relationship between IDD levels with anthropometric measurements and dietary intake.

Results

Participants had mild (42.3%; n = 30), moderate (29.6%; n = 21) or severe IDD (28.2%; n = 20). They were underweight (12.7%; n = 9), normal weight (59.2%; n = 42) or overweight and/or obese (28.2%; n = 20). Participants with severe IDD had significantly higher Screening Tool of Feeding Problems ‘nutrition‐related behaviour’ and ‘eating and drinking skill deficit problem’ sub‐scale scores than those with mild IDD. However, the groups had no significant difference in ‘food refusal and selectivity’ sub‐scale scores. Participants with severe IDD also had anorexia prevalence similar to those with mild IDD. The groups did not significantly differ in anthropometric measurements, daily energy intake and macronutrient and micronutrient intake.

Conclusions

While adults with severe IDD had more eating and drinking skill deficits (e.g. chewing problems and independent eating difficulties) and nutrition‐related behaviour problems than those with mild IDD, the eating, drinking and swallowing problems, which may critically affect their food intake, were similar to adults with mild IDD. The anthropometric measurements and energy and nutrient intakes of adults with severe IDD were not significantly different from those with mild IDD consistently. Findings indicate that nutritional deficiencies and nutritional behaviour problems may be avoidable in adults with IDDs.