bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revisiting organizational identity and social responsibility in professional football clubs: the case of Bayern Munich and the Qatar sponsorship
Authors: Herold David M. , Harrison C. Keith , Bukstein Scott J.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

A perceived misalignment between socially responsible fans and football club management has recently led to a major crisis during the annual meeting in 2021 of Bayern Munich, one of the largest professional football teams in Europe. In an unprecedented scenario, Bayern Munich fans demanded that management drop one of its largest sponsors due to alleged violation of human rights. The goal of this paper is to examine this particular phenomenon, as it not only demonstrates a discrepancy between the social organizational identity and its image, but more importantly, how it impacts legitimation strategies and the fans' loyalty attitudes towards the club.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the underlying concepts of legitimacy and loyalty, this conceptual model paper proposes two frameworks for social responsibility in professional football clubs: (1) analyzing how the (mis-)alignment between organizational identity and image impacts fan loyalty and (2) depicting four different types of social responsibility strategies to align organizational identity and image.

Findings

The authors identify various theoretical concepts that influence organizational identity and image in and for social responsibility and combine the two critical concepts of legitimacy and loyalty to categorize the social responsibility strategies for professional football clubs.

Originality/value

Both frameworks advance the understanding of the decision-making behind social responsibility strategies and also synthesize the current literature to offer conceptual clarity regarding the varied implications and outcomes linked to the misalignment between organizational identity and image.
Crisis and mental health of working women: risk factors and integrated care interventions based on organizational, individual, and institutional partnership
Authors: Hamouche Salima
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Crises can weigh heavily on individuals' mental health. COVID-19 is a crisis that has shaken humanity, plunging it into a great wave of fear, ambiguity and uncertainty, due to its novelty and rapid spread, as well as lethality. Mental health disparities between women and men have widened as a result of this pandemic. Stress factors have multiplied, especially among working women, making them more psychologically vulnerable than they were before this pandemic and easy prey to psychological distress. This emphasized the importance of having integrated care interventions that take into consideration the organizational context, with gendered lenses. This paper discusses the relationship between COVID-19 and psychological distress among women in the workforce. It presents the main sources of stress and addresses integrated care interventions that can help to prevent psychological distress among women.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a viewpoint and critique of the recent literature.

Findings

Interventions based on a partnership between employers, employees, and government, including health and social services are needed to prevent mental health problems among women in the workplace that can result from crises. In this case, a gendered approach as well as an optimization of the use of new technologies should be favored.

Originality/value

There is little focus on the development of integrated care approaches to address psychological distress among working women in times of crisis and beyond. This paper helps to expand the scope of integrated care to work-related mental health research by exploring the impact of an unprecedented health crisis on a vulnerable group that suffers from disparities in mental health. It also provides insights into preventive interventions, built upon an integrated care approach, based on a tripartite partnership between working women, employing organizations, and governmental institutions, facilitated by the integration of new technologies. By doing this, the author aims to contribute to the prevention of mental health issues that can result from this crisis.
Vernacular budgeting and accounting routines – a longitudinal constructive case study
Authors: Mättö Toni , Järvenpää Marko , Peura Pekka , Kangasjärvi Merja , Lehtinen Harri
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This case study aims to report a longitudinal analysis of the development and use of local “vernacular” accounting practice and a digital rolling-forecast system known as TeamBudget in a public sector organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs the constructive research approach which utilizes participative observation in the development of TeamBudget over the 15 years since 2004. The empirical data utilized includes eight interviews and documentary data for the system created.

Findings

The study demonstrates how the actions of employees responsible for developing a locally relevant financial planning system, TeamBudget, facilitated the emergence of new accounting routines associated with the newly created system. A locally created accounting system thus became institutionalized into a wider organizational setting over time. The current study presents findings that explain the routinization of informal accounting activities and the subsequent institutionalization process.

Practical implications

Understanding the potential influence of local action on the organization-wide accounting system may foster the creation of accounting tools that could spread participation and commitment throughout a public sector organization, contributing towards enhancing the enabling effect of an organizational accounting system. When designing a local budgeting system, decoupling it from the organizational system may promote its institutionalization.

Originality/value

Antecedents of informal accounting routines have received little research attention. This study illustrates actions relating to local accounting practice were antecedents of accounting routines and subsequent institutional changes in broader organizational practices in a public sector organization. The study demonstrates how vernacular accounting practice can facilitate the institutionalization process.
Women in travel and tourism: does fear of COVID-19 affect Women's turnover intentions?
Authors: Uludag Orhan , Olufunmi Zainab Omolola , Lasisi Taiwo Temitope , Eluwole Kayode Kolawole
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of fear of COVID-19 and job stress on women's turnover intentions in the hospitality industry (travel agencies). Also, the mediating role of work-family conflict was examined.

Design/methodology/approach

Three theoretical approaches of importance for framing issues of fear of COVID-19, job stress, work-family conflict and women's turnover intentions. Using the purposive sampling technique, the participants for the current paper were selected from the population of employees of top travel and tour operation firms in Lagos, Nigeria.

Findings

Findings from the study indicate that the fear of COVID-19 and job stress was found to be positively related to work-family conflict and work-family conflict was positively related to women's turnover intentions. Work-family conflict mediates the positive relationship between fear of COVID-19 and women's turnover intentions, while against priori; the work-family conflict did not mediate the relationship between job stress and women's turnover intentions.

Research limitations/implications

Our study's findings were limited in their generalizability because they focused on a specific operating sector of tourism, travel and tour. Testing the study's model in different tourism operating sectors or mixed industries could offer better insights. A comparative study between this current context and western/non-western contexts to provide more contextual insights.

Originality/value

This study considered travel agencies (the pillar of the tourism industry) that have been understudied. The main strength of the study is its female-centric approach to uncovering the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospitality employee outcomes. Specifically, the study used African females in the hospitality settings to investigate the aforementioned relationships. 10; Keywords: COVID-19; job stress; turnover intention; work-family conflict.
The numerical study of CLT shear walls with low-yield steel dampers
Authors: Li Guodong , Liu Wenhan , Feng Guangzhi
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Aiming at the characteristics of large stiffness, low ductility, and poor energy dissipation capacity of cross-laminated timber (CLT) shear wall, a method of opening vertical joints and adding low-yield dampers in CLT shear wall is proposed to improve its energy dissipation capacity and ductility.

Design/methodology/approach

The finite element model of CLT shear walls with low-yield dampers and dampers assembly was established by ABAQUS. The structural shape of low-yield dampers that meet the requirements of vertical joints in CLT shear walls is studied by numerical analysis. The influence of the number and position of low-yield dampers on the energy dissipation of the shear wall system is studied.

Findings

The results show that the low-yield damper with diamond openings should be used in the CLT shear wall, and the energy dissipation effect is the best when the CLT shear wall is uniformly covered with low-yield dampers. After the uniform arrangement of four groups of low-yield steel dampers, the energy consumption of the CLT shear wall increases by 75.38%, and the ductility increases by 13.22%.

Originality/value

There are few studies on replacing connectors between shear walls with low-yield steel dampers, and rectangular soft steel dampers are prone to stress concentration and poor deformation capacity. Therefore, this paper establishes the model of perforated low-yield damper and CLT and makes numerical analysis to determine the opening form, geometric parameters of low-yield damper, and the optimal layout scheme in CLT shear wall.
Investigating information dissemination and citizen engagement through government social media during the COVID-19 crisis
Authors: Paul Surjit , Das Saini
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study explores how effectively the Indian government utilized social media to communicate emergency information and promote citizen engagement and awareness during the first wave of COVID-19 crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

This research investigates the tweets scraped from the official Twitter handle “CovidnewsbyMIB” of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Government of India; the authors unearthed patterns in the communications between the government and its citizens by adopting various social media analysis techniques. Further, the authors also tried to examine the influence of media richness and dialogic loop on citizen engagement through government social media (CEGSM) using multivariate analysis method.

Findings

The results highlighted clusters of words/terms present in the tweets related to COVID-19 combating strategies, guidelines, and updates. The authors also found that media richness has a significant positive relationship with CEGSM, but dialogic loop has an insignificant relationship with CEGSM.

Originality/value

This study provides suggestions to government agencies about ways to improve CEGSM by enhancing media richness and dialogic loop elements such as surveys, polls, and responses in the crisis communication.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-06-2021-0307.
Dynamic impact of financial inclusion and industrialization on environmental sustainability
Authors: Rehman Awais Ur , Malik Arsalan Haneef , Md Isa Abu Hassan bin , Jais Mohamad bin
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The study aims to investigate the impact of financial inclusion (FI) on environmental quality and the mediating role of industrialization (IZ). In addition, these relationships among the counties with different levels of income and carbon emissions were also analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used the International Monetary Fund database for indicators of FI. The environmental indicators were obtained from the World Bank database for a panel of worldwide countries from 2004 to 2019. Separate indices of environmental sustainability (ES) and environmental degradation (ED) were created by using principal component analysis . The generalized method of moments regression was applied to examine the relationship between variables.

Findings

The study found full mediation of IZ between FI and ES, whereas partial mediation between FI and environmental degradation. The results were found robust against alternative measures of carbon emissions. Furthermore, the study also bifurcated the sample according to the level of income and carbon emission. It was found that FI plays a positive role in the betterment of environmental quality for high-income countries, while a negative role in upper-middle-income, lower-middle-income and low-income countries. Besides, FI has a negative role in the ES of the countries having higher or lower carbon emission levels.

Originality/value

Empirically this study contributes by creating two different novel measures of ES and environmental degradation, in contrast to other studies that solely relied on carbon emission. Contrary to previous studies, this study suggests that FI is not solely responsible for environmental damages, and IZ is the key channel by which FI shifts its impact on ES. Moreover, for environmental degradation, there are some other channels involved that need to be investigated further. This study has also noted that the relationship between FI and ES is context-dependent. Theoretically, this paper contributes to the literature by using ecological modernization theory in the nexus of FI, IZ and environmental quality.
Food Affordability and Double Catastrophe in Early Life: Lessons from the 1974–75 Bangladesh Famine*
Authors: Shabnam Nourin , Ulubaşoğlu Mehmet A. , Guven Cahit
Published: June 2022

We study the educational outcomes of the 1974–75 Bangladesh famine among early life survivors using the 1991 Bangladesh micro‐census data. We find that famine adversely affected survivor children in areas that experienced higher rice prices relative to labour wages. However, children living in wealthy households in famine‐stricken areas escaped the adverse effects and had similar educational outcomes as those with no famine exposure. We also find that, surprisingly, exposure to a double catastrophe (i.e., concurrent famine and flood) in early life had weaker effects on survivor children's education than exposure to a single catastrophe. We show that disaster‐alleviation mechanisms were more effective in districts affected by double disasters.
Ozone in wineries and wine processing: A review of the benefits, application, and perspectives
Authors: Mostashari Parisa , Gavahian Mohsen , Jafarzadeh Shima , Guo Jia‐Hsin , Hadidi Milad , Pandiselvam R. , Huseyn Elcin , Mousavi Khaneghah Amin
Published: June 2022

Ozone (O3) is an emerging eco‐friendly technology that has been widely used in the beverage industry due to its broad spectrum of usages, such as fermentation, microbial inactivation, Clean‐in‐Place (CIP) systems, and postharvest treatment. Wine is among the most financially profitable sectors of the beverage industry. Ozone technology as an alternative approach to conventional methods to inhibit microbes in wine processing and wineries has attracted researchers' attention as this emerging technology will probably play important roles in wineries in the future. This review discusses the prospective applications of ozone in winemaking and wineries and elaborates on ozone's antimicrobial effects on the control of the broad spectrum of microorganisms during wine processing. Also, this paper provides discussions on its effects of O3 on wine quality and the benefits this emerging technology can bring to wineries. Ozone treatments can improve yeast fermentation by impacting the yeast ecology of postharvested wine grapes, mainly by affecting apiculate yeasts and adjusting the population of undesirable yeasts, such as Brettanomyces spp., during the fermentation process. Furthermore, ozone treatment may enhance wine's anthocyanin concentration, physicochemical properties, color, pH, oxidative stability, and concentration of pleasant volatile compounds and esters. This article presents important information to have a better understanding of the impact of ozone treatment on different stages of wine preparation.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Runoff Forecast Level Based on Forecasting Difficulty
Authors: Jiang Zhiqiang , Wang Suiling , Liao Xiang , Liu Yi , Wu Qiong , Zhang Lei , Chang Zongye
Published: June 2022

The current traditional forecasting level evaluation method only uses the forecast error value series for relevant analysis, such as dividing the number of qualified forecasts by the total number of forecasts to indicate the corresponding forecasting accuracy or level. This does not consider the different external environments during the forecast. When assessing the forecasting level of different forecasters, fairness cannot be reflected to a certain extent. So this paper puts forward the concept of forecasting difficulty and analyses the physical significance of forecasting difficulty. Based on the traditional concepts of forecasting accuracy and error, two methods calculating the forecasting difficulty are established to consider different forecasting situations, such as rainy, rainless, different foresight periods, and different inflow levels. Further, a new comprehensive forecasting level evaluation method of forecasters is proposed. Taking the Guandi reservoir as an example, the case study results show that compared with the traditional method, the proposed forecasting level evaluation method can effectively consider the difficulty factors of different forecasting situations. In addition, the methods can better reflect the contribution of difficult situations to the comprehensive forecasting level when considering the improvement of forecasting accuracy, which makes the obtained results more scientific and reasonable.
Iceland: Political Developments and Data in 2021
Authors: HARDARSON ÓLAFUR TH , KRISTINSSON GUNNAR HELGI
Published: June 2022

Icelandic politics in 2021 were strongly dominated by two features: the ongoing struggle with Covid‐19 and the parliamentary election which took place on 25 September. Covid‐19 was in many ways the primary task of government throughout the year and, while criticism of various restrictions of personal freedoms grew louder as the year wore on, the situation remained relatively calm compared to most other countries. The parliamentary election was to a certain extent overshadowed by the pandemic crisis and the opposition parties in particular had a difficult time of finding a clear voice in a situation where expert rule was the norm and by far the most prominent part of the government agenda. After four years in power, the three‐way coalition of the Left‐Greens, Independence Party and Progressive Party was re‐elected in September, signalling a continuation of the partial return to stability which its formation in 2017 had signalled.
Parental sociodemographic characteristics and mental health referrals by nurses in Swedish child health centres
Authors: Fält Elisabet , Fabian Helena , Durbeej Natalie
Published: June 2022

Aim

To explore the influence of parents' socio‐economic characteristics on child healthcare nurses' mental health referrals of 3‐ to 5‐year‐olds and also to test the association between mental health problems and referrals.

Methods

Repeated cross‐sectional data including parents' Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) assessments and referral data (psychologist and speech and language pathologist). Hierarchical regression was used to analyse whether parents' country of birth, education level, marital status and mental health problem scores (SDQ; total difficulties and impact scores) were associated with nurses' referrals.

Results

About 9% of mothers and 12% of fathers rated high SDQ scores (total difficulties) in their children. Approximately, 1% of the children were referred. The influence of parents' socio‐economic characteristics on referral rates was not observed. However, for children with Swedish‐born mothers, referral rates were significantly lower. Scores for SDQ total difficulties and impact were associated with the child's referral to specialists.

Conclusion

In general, parental sociodemographic characteristics do not influence Swedish child healthcare nurses' mental health referrals. Although there was a significant association between problem behaviour and referral, a disproportion between children rated with high SDQ scores (9% and 12%) and children referred to specialists (1%) should be addressed.
Comparative clinical study of conventional dental implant and mini dental implant‐retained mandibular overdenture: A 5‐ to 8‐Year prospective clinical outcomes in a previous randomized clinical trial
Authors: Chatrattanarak Wipawan , Aunmeungtong Weerapan , Khongkhunthian Pathawee
Published: June 2022

Aim

To compare the long‐term prospective clinical outcomes in a previous randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) of 2 Mini Dental Implant (2MDI), 4 Mini Dental Implant (4MDI), and 2 Conventional Dental Implant (2CDI)‐retained mandibular overdenture with follow‐up between 5 to 8 years.

Materials and Methods

Thirty‐seven patients formerly participated in the Comparative Clinical Study of CDI and MDI for Mandibular Overdenture were requested for examination of clinical outcomes. A total of 104 implants were placed with mean follow‐up periods 6.64 ± 0.60 years. In Group 1 (2MDI) and Group 2 (4MDI), implants were placed and immediately loaded with Equator® attachments to retained mandibular overdenture. In Group 3 (2CDI), implants were placed and delayed 3 months for denture loading with ball attachment. The success rate, survival rate, clinical implant performance scale (CIP scale), peri‐implant tissue status, prosthetic complication, implant stability quotient (ISQ), marginal bone level change (MBLC), and patient satisfactions were analyzed.

Results

After 5 to 8 years follow‐up, the success rate in Groups 1, 2, and 3 were 90.91%, 93.33%, and 54.55%, respectively. The success rate in Group 3 was significantly lesser than Group 1 (p = 0.016) and Group 2 (p < 0.001). The survival rate in Groups 1, 2, and 3 was 100%, 96.67%, and 90.91%, respectively, and showed no significant differences. Mean ISQ reported no significant differences between groups. Mean MBLC were 0.57 ± 1.19 mm, 0.68 ± 0.90 mm, and 1.55 ± 1.60 mm in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Group 3 reported significantly greater mean MBLC than Group 1 (p = 0.016) and Group 2 (p = 0.011), but Groups 1 and 2 were not significantly differences. The overall patient satisfactions were reported as not significant differences between groups.

Conclude

Two MDI‐retained mandibular overdentures with immediate loaded protocol performed had favorable clinical outcomes, cost effectiveness, and overall patient satisfactions after 5 to 8 years follow‐up.
Assessment of drug–drug interaction potential with EDP‐305, a farnesoid X receptor agonist, in healthy subjects
Authors: Ahmad Alaa , Adda Nathalie
Published: June 2022

EDP‐305 is a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist that selectively activates FXR and is a potential treatment for patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with liver fibrosis. Results from preclinical studies indicate that CYP3A4 is the primary enzyme involved in EDP‐305 metabolism and that EDP‐305 has low potential to inhibit or induce cytochrome (CYP) isoenzymes and drug transporters. Four studies were conducted in healthy volunteers to evaluate the drug–drug interaction (DDI) potential of EDP‐305 co‐administered with drugs known to be substrates for drug metabolizing enzymes or transporters, and to assess the effect of inhibitors and inducers of CYP3A4 on EDP‐305. Results suggest caution when substrates of CYP3A4 are administered concomitantly with EDP‐305. A potential for increased exposure is apparent when CYP1A2 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index are administered with EDP‐305. In contrast, substrates of drug transporters can be administered concomitantly with EDP‐305 with a low potential for interactions. Coadministration of EDP‐305 and a combined OC had no relevant effects on plasma concentrations of the combined OC. Co‐administration of EDP‐305 with strong or moderate inhibitors and inducers of CYP3A4 is not recommended. These results indicate low overall likelihood of interaction of EDP‐305 and other substrates through CYP mediated interactions. The interaction potential of EDP‐305 with drug transporters was low and of unlikely clinical significance. The EDP‐305 DDI profile allows for convenient administration in patients with NASH and other patient populations with comorbidities, with minimal dose modification of concomitant medications.
Providence and the magnitude of the universe
Authors: Weidemann Christian
Published: June 2022

Why did God create a vast universe? Various answers are discussed and rejected: (a) for its beauty; (b) to instill a sense of the sublime in his intelligent creatures; (c) to demonstrate his glory, (d) to provide a home for extraterrestrial species; (e) to guarantee that the natural emergence of (intelligent) life, though extremely rare, happens nonetheless somewhere; (f) for no reason at all, because the human notion of efficiency does not apply to God's actions. Instead, this paper suggests that the universe is intended for space settlements. Several objections to this proposal are considered and deemed unconvincing.
Persistent right heart dilatation after percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty: A weird coexistence of iatrogenic and congenital shunts
Authors: Guler Arda , Topel Cagdas , Memic Sancar Kadriye , Kahveci Gökhan , Onan Burak , Guler Gamze Babur
Published: June 2022

We present an interesting case of concomitant congenital anomalies with an iatrogenic defect. The female patient underwent a percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty due to rheumatic mitral stenosis. Unfortunately, an iatrogenic atrial septal defect (ASD) transpired during the procedure. Upon post‐procedure examination, partial anomalous pulmonary venous (PAPVR) return was observed. The patient was symptomatic; on imaging, dilatation of the right heart chambers were detected. In addition, another crucial point was that the patient was planning a pregnancy, thus robotic surgery for iatrogenic ASD and PAPVR return was recommended. After a successful operation, the patient was asymptomatic and the size of right heart chambers were normalized.
Disagreement between hedge funds and other institutional investors and the cross‐section of expected stock returns
Authors: Caglayan Mustafa O. , Celiker Umut , Sonaer Gokhan
Published: June 2022

We find strong disagreements between hedge funds and other institutions in their common stock trades are twice as likely as agreements. Overall success of hedge funds’ trades and poor performance of non‐hedge funds’ trades are both confined to disagreement stocks. Although hedge funds are commonly positive feedback traders, they are neither positive nor negative feedback traders for stocks heavily sold by other institutions. Hedge funds also depend less on earnings news. Our findings highlight the importance of disagreement in studying the performance of institutional investors’ trades and are consistent with the notion that skilled investors rely less on public information.
Hearing loss, depression and social participation of older adults: Evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study
Authors: Wang Zengwen , Chen Deshan , Pan Tianyi , Chen Chen , Guan Liding
Published: June 2022

Aim

Hearing loss and depression in older adults are associated with a lower social participation rate. However, few studies have thoroughly analyzed the relationship between them.

Methods

The data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study carried out in 2011, 2013 and 2015, and data from 24 306 participants ranging in age from 50 to 80 years were used in this study. Hearing loss, depression and social participation were assessed by self‐reported hearing status, the 10‐item Center for the Epidemiological Studies of Depression Short Form, and self‐reported social participation activity types and frequency. The fixed effects logistic regression and random effects logistic regression were used to examine the relationship between hearing loss and social participation. The Sobel method was used to explore the relationship between hearing loss, depression and social participation.

Results

Compared with older adults without hearing loss, persons with hearing loss engaged in significantly fewer types of activities (β = −0.070, 95% CI −0.109, −0.031, P < 0.001) and at a lower frequency (β = −0.176, 95% CI −0.260, −0.093, P < 0.001). Depression significantly existed in the relationship between hearing loss and social participation as a mediating variable, and the percentage of indirect effects in this relationship were 16.5% and 20.8%.

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that when facing an aging society, improving the hearing status of older adults should be considered by policymakers. More efforts should be made to help older adults cope with depression. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 529–535.
Escaping the “devil's trap”: Exploring the role of online social support for fintech lending's over‐indebted Indonesian customers
Authors: Herdiansyah Mohamad Fiky , Himawan Karel Karsten
Published: June 2022

Fintech lending practices have been overgrowing in recent years, but they have also caused a persistent problem of customer over‐indebtedness, including in Indonesia. Debt‐ridden fintech lending customers experience stress constantly thinking about their debt burden and intimidating collection pressures. Social support is known to play an essential role in assisting individuals in coping with pressures. However, studies around this issue are still minimal. This study explores online social support dynamics through a WhatsApp group created for heavily in debt Indonesian fintech loan customers. Twelve customers and one online group staff participated and were interviewed. The study results were organised under three themes of dynamics: emotional support, information support, and interaction support in an online context, where generally, social support facilitated through the WhatsApp group tended to have a positive effect on the customers. Respondents admitted feeling more empowered to solve their debt problems than before joining the group. This study makes an important contribution, particularly in demonstrating the role of online‐based social support in the context of stress due to over‐indebtedness from an Asian perspective, which opportunities for use are increasing.
miR‐203 represses keratinocyte stemness by targeting survivin
Authors: Labarrade Florian , Botto Jean‐Marie , Imbert Isabelle Marie
Published: June 2022

Objective

The epidermis possesses the capacity to replace dying cells and to heal wounds, thanks to resident stem cells, which have self‐renewal properties. In skin physiology, miRNAs have been shown to be involved in many processes, including skin and hair morphogenesis. Recently, differentiation of epidermal stem cells was shown to be promoted by the miR‐203. The miR‐203 is upregulated during epidermal differentiation and is of interest because of significant targets.

Methods

By utilizing a bioinformatic tool, we identified a target site for miR‐203 in the survivin mRNA. Silencing miR‐203 was managed with the use of antagomir; the silencing of survivin was performed with a siRNA. Survivin expression was determined by qPCR or immunofluorescence in cultured cells, and by immunohistochemistry in skin sections. Involucrin expression was used as marker of keratinocyte differentiation. A rice extract with previously demonstrated anti‐aging properties was evaluated on miR‐203 modulation.

Results

In this study, we identified a miR‐203/survivin axis, important for epidermal homeostasis. We report that differentiation of keratinocyte is dependent on the level of miR‐203 expression and that inhibition of miR‐203 can increase the expression of survivin, an epidermal marker of stemness.

Conclusion

In summary, our findings suggest that miR‐203 target 3′UTR region of survivin mRNA and directly represses survivin expression in the epidermis. The rice extract was identified as modulator of miR‐203 and pointed out as a promising microRNA‐based strategy in treating skin changes occurring with aging.
Prehospital nursing students' experiences of patient safety culture in emergency medical services—A qualitative study
Authors: Venesoja Anu , Lindström Veronica , Castrén Maaret , Tella Susanna
Published: June 2022

Aims and Objectives

To describe prehospital nursing students' experiences of patient safety culture in emergency medical services during their internship.

Background

Patient safety culture in the emergency medical services is a complex phenomenon including more than organisational policies and practices and professionals' technical skills.

Design

The descriptive qualitative approach used the Sharing Learning from Practice to improve Patient Safety Learning Event Recording Tool, which includes both open‐ended and structured questions.

Methods

Purposeful sampling was used, and data were collected from graduating prehospital nursing students (n = 17) from three Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences. Open‐ended questions were reviewed using thematic analysis, and frequencies and percentages were derived from structured questions. COREQ guidelines were used to guide this study.

Results

Four themes were identified during the thematic analysis: environmental and other unexpected factors in emergency medical services, working practices and professionalism in emergency medical services, teamwork in emergency medical services and feelings related to patient safety events in emergency medical services. Patient safety events described by students were seldom reported in the healthcare system or patient files. According to the students, such events were most likely related to communication, checking/verification and/or teamwork.

Conclusions

This study shows that prehospital nursing students can produce important information about patient safety events and the reasons that contributed to those events. Therefore, emergency medical services organisations and managers should use students' observations to develop a patient safety culture in emergency medical services.

Relevance to clinical practice

Understanding how prehospital nursing students have experienced patient safety culture during their internships on ambulances can support educational institutions, together with emergency medical services organisations and managers, to improve policies for students to express patient safety concerns as well as patient safety successes.
LiCl‐induced immunomodulatory periodontal regeneration via the activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Zheng Xiumei , Wang Shengfang , Xiao Lan , Han Pingping , Xie Kunke , Ivanovski Saso , Xiao Yin , Zhou Yinghong
Published: June 2022

Background

Growing evidence suggests that excessive inflammation hampers the regenerative capacity of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) and that activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway is crucial in suppressing immune dysregulation.

Objective

This study aimed to establish the role of the Wnt/β‐catenin in regulating the immune microenvironment and its subsequent impact on periodontal regeneration.

Methods

Lithium chloride (LiCl, Wnt activator) was administered daily into the standard periodontal defects created in 12‐week‐old Lewis rats. Harvested at 1‐week and 2‐week post‐surgery, samples were then subjected to histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of macrophage distribution and phenotype (pro‐inflammatory M1 and anti‐inflammatory M2). A murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, was stimulated with LiCl to activate Wnt/β‐catenin. Following treatment with the conditioned medium derived from the LiCl‐activated macrophages, the expression of bone‐ and cementum‐related markers of the PDLCs was determined. The involvement of Wnt/β‐catenin in the immunoregulation and autophagic activity was further investigated with the addition of cardamonin, a commercially available Wnt inhibitor.

Results

A significantly increased number of macrophages were detected around the defects during early healing upon receiving the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling cue. The defect sites in week 2 exhibited fewer M1 and more M2 macrophages along with an enhanced regeneration of alveolar bone and cementum in the Wnt/β‐catenin activation group. LiCl‐induced immunomodulatory effect was accompanied with the activation Wnt/β‐catenin signaling, which was suppressed in the presence of Wnt inhibitor. Exposure to LiCl could induce autophagy in a dose‐dependent manner, thus maintaining macrophages in a regulatory state. The expression level of bone‐ and cementum‐related markers was significantly elevated in PDLCs stimulated with LiCl‐activated macrophages.

Conclusion

The application of Wnt activator LiCl facilitates the recruitment of macrophages to defect sites and regulates their phenotypic switching in favor of periodontal regeneration. Suppression of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway could attenuate the LiCl‐induced immunomodulatory effect. Taken together, the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway may be targeted for therapeutic interventions in periodontal diseases.
Effect of potato spindle tuber viroid variants and infection stage on seed transmission through pollen
Authors: Yanagisawa H. , Matsushita Y.
Published: June 2022

Viroids are small, proteinless single-stranded circular RNAs. In plants, they can be transmitted via infected pollen and seeds. The effectiveness of viroid transmission through pollen depends on both the viroid and host species. It is, however, unclear whether viroid variant type or infection stage influences seed transmission through pollen. In the present study, we collected pollen from petunia infected with nine different variants of the potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) at various stages after inoculation and used the material to pollinate healthy plants. Five and eight PSTVd variants were transmitted by pollen at 3 and 6 mpi respectively. All variants were pollen-transmissible at 9 mpi. The foregoing results indicated that seed transmission of PSTVd through pollen collected from infected donor plants may depend on the time elapsed since inoculation. For variant no. EU862231, however, the rate of seed transmission via pollen may depend on the pollen viroid titre. Nevertheless, there was no apparent correlation between the transmission rate and the pollen viroid titre in the U23058 or V01465 variant. Hence, the relationship between the viroid transmission rate and the pollen viroid titre may depend on the viroid variant type.
Window seals as a source of yeast contamination
Authors: Ejdys E. , Kulesza K. , Wiśniewski P. , Pajewska M.S. , Sucharzewska E.
Published: June 2022

The study aimed to assess the taxonomic diversity of fungi isolated from window seals and analyse their ecophysiological properties, understood as a description of morphological and biochemical features, creating a biofilm, growth rate on model mediums with different water activity. The study material was swabs collected from the lower window seals in 28 bedrooms and five kitchens in temperate climate zone, taken during heating season. A total of 26 fungal isolates were obtained: 20 isolates from eight species on the bedroom and six out of four species on the kitchen. The chance of fungus occurrence on kitchen seals is almost twice as high as in the bedroom, while the expected species diversity is nearly six times higher in the bedroom than on kitchen windows. The low-carbohydrate environment with variable physical parameters promoted nonfermenting vitamin prototrophs with high adhesion abilities. The only species that can use nutrients derived from plasticizers of window seals were Aureobasidium pullulans. The presence of potentially pathogenic species on window seals is disturbing. All obtained fungi showed the ability to create a biofilm and produce dyes. Many isolates with dye on seals are related to the rooms’ biota diversity. Their presence on windows should be constantly monitored.
The role of obstructive sleep apnoea in cognitive dysfunction of the elderly: A therapeutic target or Pandora's box?
Authors: Mansfield Darren R.
Published: June 2022

See related article
Pathways linked to unresolved inflammation and airway remodelling characterize the transcriptome in two independent severe asthma cohorts
Authors: Sánchez‐Ovando Stephany , Pavlidis Stelios , Kermani Nazanin Zounemat , Baines Katherine Joanne , Barker Daniel , Gibson Peter G. , Wood Lisa G. , Adcock Ian M. , Chung Kian Fan , Simpson Jodie Louise , Wark Peter A.B.
Published: June 2022

Background and objective

Severe asthma (SA) is a heterogeneous disease. Transcriptomic analysis contributes to the understanding of pathogenesis necessary for developing new therapies. We sought to identify and validate mechanistic pathways of SA across two independent cohorts.

Methods

Transcriptomic profiles from U‐BIOPRED and Australian NOVocastrian Asthma cohorts were examined and grouped into SA, mild/moderate asthma (MMA) and healthy controls (HCs). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), canonical pathways and gene sets were identified as central to SA mechanisms if they were significant across both cohorts in either endobronchial biopsies or induced sputum.

Results

Thirty‐six DEGs and four pathways were shared across cohorts linking to tissue remodelling/repair in biopsies of SA patients, including SUMOylation, NRF2 pathway and oxidative stress pathways. MMA presented a similar profile to HCs. Induced sputum demonstrated IL18R1 as a shared DEG in SA compared with healthy subjects. We identified enrichment of gene sets related to corticosteroid treatment; immune‐related mechanisms; activation of CD4+ T cells, mast cells and IL18R1; and airway remodelling in SA.

Conclusion

Our results identified differentially expressed pathways that highlight the role of CD4+ T cells, mast cells and pathways linked to ongoing airway remodelling, such as IL18R1, SUMOylation and NRF2 pathways, as likely active mechanisms in the pathogenesis of SA.
Unemployment only temporarily lowers happiness in an eastern society
Authors: Tao Hung‐Lin
Published: June 2022

Using longitudinal data from the Taiwan Panel Study of Family Dynamics between 2007 and 2020, this study investigates how subjective well‐being (SWB) changes before, during, and after unemployment. Consistent with extant findings from Western populations, unemployment significantly lowered SWB. Moreover, the anticipation effect was observed—that is, SWB began to decline years before unemployment. The change pattern in SWB before unemployment in Taiwan is similar to that in Western countries. In addition, men's SWB is more responsive to unemployment than women's. However, SWB declined due to unemployment to a smaller degree in Taiwan than in Western populations. More importantly, in contrast to the findings from Western countries, Taiwanese people's SWB quickly recovered to the baseline after reemployment. Thus, unemployment does not permanently harm Taiwanese people's SWB. Similarly, the self‐esteem of unemployed Taiwanese also quickly recovered after reemployment. This study, therefore, argues that the impact of unemployment on SWB is culturally dependent.
Twenty Years Into the 21st Century – Tech-related Accommodations for College Students with Mental Health and Other Disabilities
Authors: Fichten Catherine , Havel Alice , Jorgensen Mary , Wileman Susie , Budd Jillian
Published: June 2022

Virtually all North American two- and four-year colleges provide accommodations to their increasing numbers of students with disabilities. To explore technology and non-technology related accommodations for these students we surveyed 118 Canadian two- and four-year college students who self-reported at least one disability, including a mental health related disability, and indicated that they had registered for access services from their college. Seventy-four students without disabilities were included in some analyses. Our findings reveal emerging issues such as non-binary gender and multiple comorbidities, in addition to more targeted recommendations concerning technology use. For example, over half of our sample self-reported multiple disabilities; there is a large number of students with mental health related disabilities (e.g., anxiety disorders, mood disorders), many of whom have comorbid disabilities; binary (male, female) gender designations are outdated; and exam and classroom accommodations without technologies are still the most popular. Grades of students with and without disabilities did not differ. Similarly, the number of different types of accommodations in two- and four-year colleges did not differ. Students generally had high technology related self-efficacy and they saw the substantial benefit of technologies, especially of writing tools. Students with mental health related disability used somewhat fewer technologies for reading, writing and time management. Self-efficacy and perceived benefit were highest for writing technologies. General use technologies such as Microsoft Office and Google Docs that were reported by most students in this study are increasingly used as adaptive aids. In future, use of technology related accommodations is likely to include showing students how to use general use software.
The Appreciation and Criticism of the Young Chinese Zhihu Netizens to ex-President Trump of the United States
Authors: Chen Yawei , Ahamd Abdul Muati Zamri , Mahamed Mastura , Kasimon Diyana
Published: June 2022

Since former U.S. President Trump took office, Chinese state media have generally painted a negative picture of him and formed a negative public opinion. However, in Chinese social media, Trump still enjoys a high reputation and has even gained a large number of supporters, including, of course, a large number of opponents. This article explored the popular evaluation of President Trump by young Zhihu netizens through a qualitative content analysis of a post on the Zhihu website, and analyzed the reasons for the formation of the opposing evaluations by netizens. The result showed that 43% of netizens positively evaluated Trump as the great president who saved the United States, while 40% condemned Trump as "The second Hoover." From a neutral point of view, Trump is seen as a president with first-class dreams but second-class political wisdom. Further analysis revealed that for netizens with positive comments, individualism, pragmatism, dissatisfaction with the social status quo, and the influence of the mode of public opinion confrontation are the main reasons why they praise Trump. Netizens who hold a negative evaluations are strongly influenced by China's traditional political culture and official public opinion, as well as the trend of the "rise of the East and decline of the West," which led them to follow the Chinese "Meritocracy Political Model" in evaluating Trump. This study revealed the current situation of ideological and value opposition among highly educated young in China.