bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of perceived benefits and employee satisfaction through knowledge management practices
Authors: Meher Jamini Ranjan , Mishra Rohita Kumar
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study aims to identify the key contributing factors of knowledge management (KM) practices with respect to an employee benefit. The research is designed to gain insight into the KM practices of Indian information technology (IT) firms and evaluate its effects on employee perceived benefit (EPB) and employee satisfaction (ES).

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on the cause and effect relationship between the variables. In this research study, a structured questionnaire is administered and accumulated responses from executives, software developers and knowledge managers from five IT firms with the help of google form. The sample size was 339 for this study. Confirmatory factor analysis and partial least square (PLS)-structural equation modeling have been used to analyze the data with the help of SMART-PLS software.

Findings

The well-fitted model describes the importance of KM practices with respect to increasing employee benefit and satisfaction. The hypothesized model is empirically investigated and it is also supported by the analysis. The KM practices have significant effects on EPBs. Employee benefits have a significant effect on ES. The result shows that the benefits of KM practices are more intended toward the sources of motivation where they can increase their capability with the help of KM practices.

Research limitations/implications

Benefit leads to the motivation and satisfaction of employees. The work itself can be a highly motivating dimension with the help of proper KM practices. The managers’ prime responsibility is to focus on collaborative work with regularizing the exchange of knowledge, where new knowledge can be created and, do better for the organization.

Originality/value

This research study offers a new direction of motivation to work. The employee can be highly motivated if he can be benefited from the work itself. This study gives an approach to satisfy the employee with the help of KM practices. Perceived benefit is considered as an essential element for this study.
A review and research agenda in business model innovation
Authors: Hutahayan Benny , Wahyono
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to review and synthesise the recent advancements in the business model literature and explore how firms approach business model innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of business model innovation literature was carried out by analysing 219 papers published between 2010 and 2016.

Findings

Evidence reviewed suggests that rather than taking either an evolutionary process of continuous revision, adaptation and fine-tuning of the existing business model or a revolutionary process of replacing the existing business model, firms can explore alternative business models through experimentation, open and disruptive innovations. It was also found that changing business models encompasses modifying a single element, altering multiple elements simultaneously, and/or changing the interactions between elements in four areas of innovation: value proposition, operational value, human capital and financial value.

Originality/value

The conflicting approaches exist in the literature on how firms change their business models, this review synthesises these approaches and provide a clear guidance as to the ways through which business model innovation can be undertaken.
The representations and implications of gender stereotypes portrayed in three selected TV advertisements shown in Bangladesh: a critical interpretation
Authors: Shafi Saheeh
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to the precise critical interpretation of gender roles portrayed in the three selected TV advertisements shown in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis begins with the theoretical framework of gender roles analysis here in this paper: Goffman’s gender stereotypes hypothesis which is used to identify and analyse the thematic features present in the ads. After critically examining the hypothesis, Kress and Van Leeuwen’s systemic functional analysis framework is used to analyse the semiotic feature to interpret the signs and symbols. After that, Fairclough’s stylistic analysis of discourse analysis is used to find out these features in the advertisements to search the cultural, political implications. Finally, the paper uses Pope’s The Rape of the Lock and it is Cultural-Ecofeminist Analysis of Francois d’Eaubonne.

Findings

This paper tries to connect with the above-mentioned frameworks from a contextual point of view to predict the future progression of the gender representations and their implications in the coming years to check whether the changes in gender roles are reflected in the society or not.

Originality/value

Both in houses and workplaces, women empowerment, more female entrepreneurs in the working forces will bring out a change in the minds of people about the stereotypes and make more women inclusive and the women-friendly environment in Bangladesh and South Asian Countries.
Co-owned resources: IP and data in smart cities
Authors: Toli Angeliki Maria , Murtagh Niamh , Smyth Hedley
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Smart city projects typically operate in consortia of actors that lead to the co-creation of jointly owned intellectual property (IP) and data. While IP and data are significant for economic development, there are very limited studies on their co-ownership regimes especially on co-ownership of open data and open intellectual property. This study address this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is qualitative. In total, 62 in-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out, with predominantly senior members of organisations actively involved in smart city projects. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Findings

There are three models of co-ownership of IP and data: contractual joint ownership, undetermined or not-yet-determined ownership and open ownership. Each ownership model impacts differently the value-in-use. The relationships between actors in the consortia affect the way in which they co-create IP and data.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates how projects that operate in new models of innovation-led consortia produce new types of resources that are not simply co-created but co-owned. Co-owned resources have different value-in-use for each one of the different actors, independently of the fact that they jointly own them. This is influenced by the type of ownership model and predisposition of the actors to initially share resources and be flexible. Co-owned resources may generate future value propositions, act as interconnected operant resources and lead to the creation of new business models.
A secondary analysis of the library profession’s self-reported competence and comfort in working with patrons with disabilities
Authors: Pionke JJ
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This article presents a secondary analysis of previously published data in order to drive discussion of the library profession’s current state of preparedness in working with patrons with disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

This article used a secondary analysis of survey data that have been previously published to determine what the continuum of data said about the current state of preparedness in the profession when working with people with disabilities.

Findings

A comparison of the data from both surveys reveals that there are not only gaps in library graduate school education related to disability and accessibility but also that those gaps are not being addressed through professional development and staff training after students enter the workforce.

Research limitations/implications

This was a secondary analysis of data, so no new data could be added. There was also no representation from library graduate school administration.

Practical implications

An awareness is built that there needs to be more instruction for library graduate students and library employees on topics related to disability, accessibility and assistive technologies.

Originality/value

The topic has never been studied before in this kind of continuum of data, and the use of the secondary analysis of data with the library and information science profession is exceedingly rare.
Gender diversity in audit committees and audit fees: evidence from China
Authors: Alkebsee Radwan Hussien , Tian Gao-Liang , Usman Muhammad , Siddique Muhammad Abubakkar , Alhebry Adeeb A.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether the presence of female directors on audit committees affects audit fees in Chinese listed companies. This study also investigates whether the audit committee’s gender diversity moderates the relationship between the firm’s inherent situational factors (e.g. audit complexity and firm risk) and audit fees. Finally, this study investigates whether the effect of the audit committee’s gender diversity on audit fees varies with within-country institutional contingencies (e.g. state-owned enterprises [SOEs] vs non-SOEs and firms that are located in more developed regions vs firms that are located in less developed regions)

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the data of all A-share listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges for the period from 2009 to 2015. The authors use ordinary least squares regression as a baseline methodology, along with firm fixed effect, Deference in Deference method, two-stage least squares regression, two-stage Heckman model and generalized method of moments models to control for the possible issue of endogeneity.

Findings

The study’s findings suggest that the presence of female directors on the audit committee improves internal monitoring and communication, which reduce the perceived audit risk and the need for assurances from external auditors. The results also suggest that female directors demand high-quality audits and further assurance from external auditors when the firm is more complex and riskier. In addition, the results suggest that within-country, institutional factors play significant role in shaping the governance role of gender-diverse audit committee.

Practical implications

The study contributes to the agency theory by providing evidence that the interaction between agency theory and corporate governance “board composition” generates an effective monitoring mechanism and contributing to the institutional theory by finding that role of female directors on audit committee varies from context to another. In addition, this study contributes to literature review of gender diversity in the boardroom by finding the economic benefit of having female directors on audit committee. Finally, this study has implications for policy-makers in promoting regulations to legalize women presence on the board, to external auditors in assessing control risk during planning the audit, to those who responsible for appointing audit committee members.

Originality/value

The authors extend earlier studies by providing novel evidence on the relationship between gender-diverse audit committees and audit fees in terms of both the supply- and demand-side perspectives; that female directors moderate the relationship between firm inherent situational factors (e.g. audit complexity and firm risk) and audit fees; and that the effect of audit committees’ gender diversity on audit fees varies with sub-national institutional contingencies.
The seven deadly sins and ethnography
Authors: Coelho Caio , de Lima Carlos Eduardo
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a general review of the ethnographic method. It uses metaphors to read several pieces of ethnographic research and discuss the different issues encountered during the research process. The review consisted of new articles but also important books that helped to construct and maintain the field of organizational ethnography.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper aims to discuss the ethnography research process through the metaphor of the Christian Seven Sins. It proposes a reflection on planning and conducting ethnographic research. The seven sins are used as a metaphor that can lead to more reflexive research for educational and explanatory purposes. Ultimately, the authors encourage organizational scholars to conduct ethnographic research.

Findings

The metaphors of the Christian seven sins represent issues that may arise during an ethnographic research. Gluttony is the dive in all topics that may appear; Greed is to lose yourself in the amount of data; Lust is to get too much involved in the field; Wrath is to take the struggles of the subjects as your own; Envy is to judge other's research according to your paradigm; Sloth is to not collect enough ethnographic data and Pride is forgetting to have a critical perspective toward your data. The redemption of these “sins” brings reflexivity to ethnographic research.

Research limitations/implications

The paper opts to treat ethnography as a methodology that can be utilized with different epistemological and ontological approaches which could diminish the degree of reflection. No metaphor would be able to explain all the details of an ethnographic research project, still the seven sins provided a wide range of ideas to be reflected upon when using the methodology.

Practical implications

As a paper on ethnography, researchers and especially PhD students and early careers can get to know the issues that can arise during ethnographic research and put them in contact with good examples of ethnography in Organization and Management Studies.

Originality/value

This paper groups different complexities and discussions around ethnographic research that may entail research reflexivity. These ideas were scattered through various ethnographic publications. With the review their highlights can be read in a single piece. With these discussions, the paper aims to encourage researchers to conduct good quality ethnography.
Relational attractiveness between supplier-customer in a supply chain
Authors: Santana Rodrigo Soares , Moraes Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de , Silva Hermes Moretti Ribeiro da
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the influence of factors attributed to relationship attractiveness between supplier and customer, from the supplier’s perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical exercise was based on the use of multivariate data analysis with confirmatory factor analysis and a partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study resulted in a robust model, with a high explanatory factor for the latent variable relational attractiveness and commitment was the most influential factor, followed by expected value and interorganizational trust.

Research limitations/implications

Some limitations of the study can be highlighted: conducting research in a single cooperative and with a single audience; choosing a short-cycle supply chain, which may make it difficult to generalize to other industries; the cross-section nature of data also hinders the analysis to understand how the association between variables of interest may vary over time.

Practical implications

The negative influence of interpersonal trust reinforces the importance of developing collaborative attitudes between parties, whereas the non-significant value for dependence (financial and volume dependence) shows this is not a risk factor for relational attractiveness in a supply chain. Such results provide evidence on how to develop relationship management between suppliers and customers that are part of the same supply chain.

Social implications

It offers a new perspective for research in cooperatives, which still have no consensus on the motivating factors for members’ participation, including as evidence the results of the largest flower producing center in Latin America. The more a cooperative succeeds in increasing relational attractiveness, the greater the cooperative power and the ability to adapt to shocks and changes, which are fundamental factors for the success and longevity of the cooperative.

Originality/value

The research presents a model that is comprehensive enough to fit in different contexts and consider its specific characteristics. Additionally, this paper has added in-depth information on the relational attractiveness relationships in the context of a developing country.
Solitary bee larvae prioritize carbohydrate over protein in parentally provided pollen
Authors: Austin Alexander J. , Gilbert James D. J.
Published: March 2021

Most organisms must regulate their nutritional intake in an environment full of complex food choices. While this process is well‐understood for self‐sufficient organisms, dependent offspring, such as bee larvae, in practice have limited food choices because food is provided by parents. Nutrient balancing may therefore be achieved by offspring, by parents on offspring's behalf, or by both, whether cooperatively or in conflict.

We used the Geometric Framework to investigate the capacity of dependent larval mason bees Osmia bicornis to regulate their intake of protein and carbohydrate, as well as these nutrients' effects upon growth and survival. Female Osmia seal eggs individually inside cells they have provisioned with pollen, and have no contact with developing offspring, allowing offspring choices to be studied in isolation. Herbivorous insect larvae are typically expected to balance protein and carbohydrate to maximize growth and reproduction.

Contrary to prediction, carbohydrate and not protein mediated both growth and survival to pupation. Accordingly, larvae prioritized maintaining a constant intake of carbohydrate and self‐selected a relatively carbohydrate‐biased diet compared to other hymenopterans, while tolerating wide excesses and deficiencies of protein, rendering them potentially vulnerable to dietary change or manipulation. Reasons for prioritizing carbohydrate may include (a) the relative abundance of protein in their normal pollen diet, (b) the relative paucity of nectar in parental provisions making carbohydrate a scarce resource or (c) the requirement for diapause for all O. bicornis larvae. Larvae were intolerant of moderate dietary dilution, likely reflecting an evolutionary history of nutrient‐dense food.

Our results demonstrate that dependent offspring can remain active participants in balancing their own nutrients even when sedentary, and, moreover, even in mass provisioning systems where parents and offspring have no physical contact. Research should now focus on whether and how evolutionary interests of parent and dependent offspring coincide or conflict with respect to food composition, and the implications for species' resilience to changing environments.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Risk of stillbirth in singleton gestations following in vitro methods of conception: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wong KTY , Carson KR , Crane JMG
Published: March 2021

Background

In vitro methods of conception are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. It is unclear if the risk of stillbirth is increased also.

Objective

This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to estimate the risk of stillbirth in singleton gestations following in vitro methods of conception compared to non‐in vitro conceptions.

Search strategy

A comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library was undertaken from database inception to February 2021, with backward citation tracking.

Selection criteria

Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, or case‐control studies that assessed stillbirth following in vitro fertilisation and/or intracytoplasmic sperm injection in comparison to non‐in vitro methods of conception, including spontaneous conceptions, intrauterine insemination, and ovarian stimulation.

Data collection and analysis

The Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale was used to assess risk of bias. A summary odds ratio (OR) for stillbirth following in vitro methods of conception compared to non‐in vitro methods was calculated using a random‐effects model for meta‐analysis.

Main results

Thirty‐three cohort studies met inclusion criteria. There was an increased risk of stillbirth with in vitro methods: OR 1.41 (95% CI 1.20–1.65); however, the crude baseline risk of stillbirth was low (4.44/1000 total births). Subgroup analysis did not demonstrate an increased risk when in vitro methods were compared to conception without in vitro methods in the context of subfertility.

Conclusions

Compared to non‐in vitro conceptions, in vitro conceptions have an increased risk of stillbirth. However, there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate whether this risk is associated with in vitro techniques or underlying subfertility.

Tweetable abstract

This meta‐analysis found an increased risk of stillbirth in singletons from in vitro methods of conception.
Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances and their alternatives in paper food packaging
Authors: Glenn Gregory , Shogren Randal , Jin Xing , Orts William , Hart‐Cooper William , Olson Lauren
Published: March 2021

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used in food contact paper and paperboard for decades due to their unique ability to provide both moisture and oil/grease resistance. Once thought to be innocuous, it is now clear that long chain PFAS bioaccumulate and are linked to reproductive and developmental abnormalities, suppressed immune response, and tumor formation. Second‐generation PFAS have shorter biological half‐lives but concerns about health risks from chronic exposure underscore the need for safe substitutes. Waxes and polymer film laminates of polyethylene, poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol), and polyethylene terephthalate are commonly used alternatives. However, such laminates are neither compostable nor recyclable. Lamination with biodegradable polymers, including polyesters, such as polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate, polybutylene succinate, and polyhydroxyalkanoates, are of growing research and commercial interest. PLA films are perhaps the most viable alternative, but performance and compostability are suboptimal. Surface sizings and coatings of starches, chitosan, alginates, micro‐ and nanofibrilated cellulose, and gelatins provide adequate oil barrier properties but have poor moisture resistance without chemical modification. Plant proteins, including soy, wheat gluten, and corn zein, have been tested as paper coatings with soy being the most commercially important. Internal sizing agents, such as alkyl ketene dimers, alkenyl succinic anhydride, and rosin, improve moisture resistance but are poor oil/grease barriers. The difficulty in finding a viable replacement for PFAS chemicals that is cost‐effective, fully biodegradable, and environmentally sound underscores the need for more research to improve barrier properties and process economics in food packaging products.
Thermophilic microbial deconstruction and conversion of natural and transgenic lignocellulose
Authors: Bing Ryan G. , Sulis Daniel B. , Wang Jack P. , Adams Michael W. W. , Kelly Robert M.
Published: March 2021

The potential to convert renewable plant biomasses into fuels and chemicals by microbial processes presents an attractive, less environmentally intense alternative to conventional routes based on fossil fuels. This would best be done with microbes that natively deconstruct lignocellulose and concomitantly form industrially relevant products, but these two physiological and metabolic features are rarely and simultaneously observed in nature. Genetic modification of both plant feedstocks and microbes can be used to increase lignocellulose deconstruction capability and generate industrially relevant products. Separate efforts on plants and microbes are ongoing, but these studies lack a focus on optimal, complementary combinations of these disparate biological systems to obtain a convergent technology. Improving genetic tools for plants have given rise to the generation of low‐lignin lines that are more readily solubilized by microorganisms. Most focus on the microbiological front has involved thermophilic bacteria from the genera Caldicellulosiruptor and Clostridium, given their capacity to degrade lignocellulose and to form bio‐products through metabolic engineering strategies enabled by ever‐improving molecular genetics tools. Bioengineering plant properties to better fit the deconstruction capabilities of candidate consolidated bioprocessing microorganisms has potential to achieve the efficient lignocellulose deconstruction needed for industrial relevance.
The female medical workforce
Authors: Critchley J. , Schwarz M. , Baruah R.
Published: March 2021

In the UK, the proportion of female medical students has remained static over the last decade, at around 55%; however, at consultant level, only 36.6% of doctors are women. The reasons for this drop in numbers are not clear. Given the increase in number of female doctors in training, the proportion of female doctors at consultant level is lower than might be expected. This article discusses issues affecting the female medical workforce in anaesthesia, intensive care and pain medicine. It explores how gender stereotypes and implicit gender bias can affect the way women are perceived in the workplace, especially in leadership positions, and discusses health issues particular to the female medical workforce. While the issues in this article may not affect all women, the cumulative effect of being subject to gender stereotypes within a workplace not designed to accommodate the health needs of women may contribute to a work environment that may promote the attrition of women from our specialties.
Anaesthetic considerations for fertility‐sparing surgery and uterine transplantation
Authors: Kasaven L. S. , Jones B. P. , Keays R. , Saso S.
Published: March 2021

A number of benign and malignant gynaecological conditions can cause infertility. Advancements in assisted reproductive technologies have facilitated the rapidly evolving subspecialty of fertility preservation. Regardless of clinical indication, women now have the reproductive autonomy to make fully informed decisions regarding their future fertility. In particular, there has been an increasing interest and demand among patients and healthcare professionals for fertility‐sparing surgery. Gynaecologists find themselves continually adapting surgical techniques and introducing novel procedures to facilitate this rapidly emerging field and anaesthetists need to manage the consequent physiological demands intra‐operatively. Not only is it important to understand the surgical procedures now undertaken, but also the intra‐operative management in an ever evolving field. This article reviews the methods of fertility‐sparing surgery and also describes important anaesthetic challenges including peri‐operative care for women undergoing complex fertility‐sparing surgeries such as uterus transplantation.
Adolescent gynaecology: anaesthetic and peri‐operative care implications
Authors: Crouch N. S. , Molyneux M. K.
Published: March 2021

Adolescents represent a quarter of the world’s population, yet their specific healthcare needs have often not been acknowledged. Whilst many operations in this population will be performed in specialist tertiary centres and children’s hospitals, it is likely that care will be sought in a variety of healthcare settings, and so it is important to have an understanding of the particular approach to this age group. Paediatric and adolescent gynaecology emerged as a speciality in 2000 with the inauguration of the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology, a specialist society of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. This is a multidisciplinary group, comprising paediatricians, paediatric surgeons, psychologists and nurses, although the majority of the members are gynaecologists. In this review, we will describe the peri‐operative implications of adolescent gynaecological surgery and the considerations that need to be applied to this specific age group, such as consent, the operative setting and key personnel. We will also discuss specialist situations which are likely to fall to an adolescent gynaecology setting, such as management of those with Mullerian abnormalities, which often present with pelvic pain in adolescence. We discuss those with a history of ritual female genital cutting (female genital mutilation), trans men and those with significant learning difficulties. In all circumstances, teamwork, reflection and pragmatism are key.
Beyond Obstruction: Blockades as Productive Reorientations
Authors: Davis Sasha
Published: March 2021

This paper examines blockades not as disruptions in logistical circulations, but as entities which aim to reorient and produce different political and social processes. Inspired by Deleuzean conceptualisations of assemblage, this paper emphasises the ways blockades and occupations arise from globe‐spanning networks of social relations which then attempt to produce alternative regimes of governance through reorienting places and their topologies of interconnection. To make these points, this paper engages with three case studies which highlight different kinds of blockades. One example focuses on the regional scale where US military interests have expressed concern over potential blockades of Sea Lines of Communication due to the rising geopolitical and economic influence of China in the island Pacific. The second example focuses on blockades at the construction site of a US military base on the coast of Henoko, Okinawa. The third example examines blockade protests by Kanaka Maoli kia‘i (protectors) on Maunakea in Hawai‘i.
Prediction of spontaneous preterm birth by cervical length in the first trimester of pregnancy: Comparison of two measurement methods
Authors: Feng Qiaoli , Duan Honglei , Ju Xiaoqing , Appiah Kubi , Yip Ka Man , Tai Yi‐yun , Sun Qian , Chaemsaithong Piya , Poon Liona C.
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Our objectives were to compare the single‐line and two‐line methods of cervical length measurement in the first trimester of pregnancy and to evaluate the potential value of the first trimester cervical length measured by the two methods in predicting spontaneous preterm birth.

Material and methods

This was a prospective study in singleton pregnancies at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks of gestation. Cervical length was measured by two methods: (i) a linear distance between the two ends of the glandular area around the endocervical canal (single‐line method) and (ii) a sum of a linear distance from the internal os to the greatest cervical curvature and a linear distance from this point of the cervix to the external os (two‐line method). The screening performance of the first trimester cervical length measured by the two different methods for the prediction of spontaneous preterm delivery was assessed by receiver‐operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. The areas under the ROC (AUROC) were compared by De Long test.

Results

A total of 1484 consecutive singleton pregnancies were included in this study. Spontaneous preterm delivery at <37 and <32 weeks occurred in 75 cases (5.1%) and 12 cases (0.8%), respectively. The median cervical length measured by the single‐line method was significantly shorter than that by the two‐line method (33.5 vs 36.5 mm, p < .001). Compared with the term delivery group, the median cervical length measured by the two‐line method was shorter in women with spontaneous delivery at <32 weeks of gestation (36.5 vs 33.6 mm, p < .01). No significant difference in the median cervical length measured by the single‐line method was detected between the spontaneous preterm delivery and term delivery groups. Receiver‐operating‐characteristic curves demonstrated that cervical length measured by the two‐line method achieved better performance in predicting spontaneous delivery at <32 weeks compared with the single‐line method (AUROC: 0.72 vs 0.61, p < .01).

Conclusions

We have demonstrated that the first trimester cervical length, measured by the two‐line approach, holds promise as a potential screening tool for early spontaneous preterm delivery.
Multi‐constituent simulation of thrombus formation at LVAD inlet cannula connection: Importance of Virchow’s triad
Authors: Méndez Rojano Rodrigo , Zhussupbekov Mansur , Antaki James F.
Published: March 2021

As pump thrombosis is reduced in current‐generation ventricular assist devices (VAD), adverse events such as bleeding or stroke remain at unacceptable rates. Thrombosis around the VAD inlet cannula (IC) has been highlighted as a possible source of stroke events. Recent computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies have attempted to characterize the thrombosis risk of different IC‐ventricle configurations. However, purely CFD simulations relate thrombosis risk to ad hoc criteria based on flow characteristics, with little consideration of biochemical factors. This study investigates the genesis of IC thrombosis including two elements of the Virchow's triad: endothelial injury and hypercoagulability. To this end a multi‐scale thrombosis simulation that includes platelet activity and coagulation reactions was performed. Our results show significant thrombin formation in stagnation regions (|u| < 0.005 m/s) close to the IC wall. In addition, high shear‐mediated platelet activation was observed over the leading‐edge tip of the cannula. The current study reveals the importance of biochemical factors to the genesis of thrombosis at the ventricular‐cannula junction in a perioperative state. This study is a first step toward the long‐term objective of including clinically relevant pharmacological kinetics such as heparin or aspirin in simulations of inflow cannula thrombosis.
UpFrontPSMA: a randomized phase 2 study of sequential 177Lu‐PSMA‐617 and docetaxel vs docetaxel in metastatic hormone‐naïve prostate cancer (clinical trial protocol)
Authors: Dhiantravan Nattakorn , Emmett Louise , Joshua Anthony M. , Pattison David A. , Francis Roslyn J. , Williams Scott , Sandhu Shahneen , Davis Ian D. , Vela Ian , Neha Nitika , Bressel Mathias , Murphy Declan G. , Hofman Michael S. , Azad Arun A.
Published: March 2021

Objective

To assess the activity and safety of sequential lutetium‐177 (177Lu)‐PSMA‐617 and docetaxel vs docetaxel on a background of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men with de novo metastatic hormone‐naïve prostate cancer (mHNPC).

Patients and Methods

UpFrontPSMA (NCT04343885) is an open‐label, randomized, multicentre, phase 2 trial, recruiting 140 patients at 12 Australian centres. Key eligibility criteria include: prostate cancer with a histological diagnosis within 12 weeks of screening commencement; prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) >10 ng/mL at diagnosis; ≤4 weeks on ADT; evidence of metastatic disease on computed tomography (CT) and/or bone scan; high‐volume prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA)‐avid disease with a maximum standardized uptake value >15; and absence of extensive discordant fluorodeoxyglcuose (FDG)‐positive, PSMA‐negative disease. 68Ga‐PSMA‐11 and 18F‐FDG positron‐emission tomography (PET)/CT undergo central review to determine eligibility. Patients are randomized 1:1 to experimental treatment, Arm A (177Lu‐PSMA‐617 7.5GBq q6w × 2 cycles followed by docetaxel 75 mg/m2 q3w × 6 cycles), or standard‐of‐care treatment, Arm B (docetaxel 75 mg/m2 q3w × 6 cycles). All patients receive continuous ADT. Patients are stratified based on disease volume on conventional imaging and duration of ADT at time of registration. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients with undetectable PSA (≤0.2 ng/L) at 12 months after study treatment commencement. Secondary endpoints include safety, time to castration resistance, overall survival, PSA and radiographic progression‐free survival, objective tumour response rate, early PSMA PET response, health‐related quality of life, and frequency and severity of adverse events. Enrolment commenced in April 2020.

Results and Conclusions

The results of this trial will generate data on the activity and safety of 177Lu‐PSMA‐617 in men with de novo mHNPC in a randomized phase 2 design.
Shade alters the growth and architecture of tropical grasses by reducing root biomass
Authors: Solofondranohatra Cédrique L. , Vorontsova Maria S. , Dewhirst Rebecca A. , Belcher Claire M. , Cable Stuart , Jeannoda Vololoniaina , Lehmann Caroline E.R.
Published: March 2021

Tropical grassy biomes have variable tree cover and are often characterized by a flammable grassy ground layer where the dominating grass species have strategies to persist and proliferate with frequent fire. However, there is limited understanding of how grass growth and flammability traits respond to light availability. We experimentally grew 14 grass species characteristic of the Malagasy Central Highlands for one year with four treatments of light exclusion ranging from 0 – 60%. Eight plant functional traits and four leaf flammability traits were measured: plant height, bulk density, aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, ratio of root to shoot biomass, specific leaf area, leaf length, leaf width, leaf heat release capacity, temperature of maximum decomposition, total heat release and peak heat release rate. Belowground biomass, the ratio of root to shoot biomass, and bulk density were all negatively affected by decreasing light availability. Surprisingly, aboveground biomass showed no significant change with changing light availability, although there was a trend toward shorter plants in low light. At a leaf level, declining light availability increased specific leaf area, leaf length, and leaf width. In terms of leaf flammability, of the four traits measured, unexpectedly, only leaf total heat release was significantly positively related to declining light availability. These results suggest field alterations in grass flammability may be primarily related to plant architecture and microclimates. The shifts in allometry and substantial reduction in belowground biomass suggest that grasses would be rapidly lost from shaded environments with a diminished competitive capacity to resprout.
Procalcitonin‐guided antibiotic therapy in AECOPD patients: Overview of systematic reviews
Authors: Di Jiaqi , Li Xuanlin , Xie Yang , Yang Shuguang , Yu Xueqing
Published: March 2021

Background

Procalcitonin (PCT)‐guided antibiotic therapy has emerged as mainstream treatment for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and has been studied in many systematic reviews (SRs), but robust conclusion has not been drawn. Thus, this overview aims to summarize and critically evaluate the methodological and evidence quality of SRs on this topic.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and Web of science were searched for SRs regarding on PCT‐guided antibiotic therapy on AECOPD. Two reviewers assessed the quality of SRs in line with AMSTAR‐2 tool and evaluated the strength of evidence quality with the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) system for concerned outcomes independently.

Results

Six SRs were published from Jun 2011 to Aug 2019, with from 4 (556 patients) to 15 (2571 patients) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective studies. All the included SRs were classified as critical low methodology quality according to A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR‐2) tool. Most of SRs were absented a list of excluded studies (item 7), and adequate investigation of publication bias and discuss its likely impact on the results (item 15). The PCT‐guided antibiotic therapy may reduce antibiotic exposure days and antibiotic prescription rate in patients with AECOPD without affecting treatment success rate or causing adverse events (all‐cause mortality, re‐admission, re‐exacerbation), but the results should be study deeper for the low or moderate evidence quality.

Conclusion

Current SRs show that PCT‐guided antibiotic therapy could be employed by clinicians in treatment of AECOPD. However, the high‐quality evidence of outcomes is lacking, further intensive exploration should be carried out on the precise role of PCT‐guided antibiotic therapy on AECOPD.
Peripapillary vascular density and retinal nerve fibre layer changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Alkan Abdurrahman Alpaslan , Düzgün Eyüp , Özkarafakılı Müfide Arzu
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a systemic disease which may cause end organ damage.

Objectives

In this study, we aimed to investigate the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) density and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness changes in patients with COPD.

Methods

The right eyes of 35 patients with COPD and 35 healthy controls were evaluated with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). RPC density values and RNFL thicknesses were measured and compared.

Results

The mean inside disc vascular density and the mean peripapillary vascular density values were lower in the COPD group (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, respectively). When the peripapillary area was evaluated independently as eight different quadrants, the RPC density values were lower in the COPD group in all of the quadrants except superotemporal and temporal superior quadrants. RNFL was thinner in all quadrants in the COPD group compared to the control group. But this difference was significant only in the nasal superior and inferonasal quadrants (p = 0.03, p = 0.04, respectively). Although, there was no correlation between the mean RPC density and the mean peripapillary RNFL thickness of the patients, FEV1 values for all patients were found to be correlated with the mean peripapillary RPC density (r = 0.406, p = 0.015).

Conclusion

OCTA may have a potential to be used in the follow‐up of COPD patients.
Impact of the metabolic syndrome on peripheral nerve structure and function in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Issar Tushar , Tummanapalli Shyam S. , Borire Adeniyi A. , Kwai Natalie C. G. , Poynten Ann M. , Arnold Ria , Markoulli Maria , Krishnan Arun V.
Published: March 2021

Background and purpose

There is a strong association between the metabolic syndrome in diabetes and the development of peripheral neuropathy; however, the pathophysiological mechanisms remain unknown.

Methods

Participants with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome (T2DM/MetS, n = 89) and type 2 diabetes alone (T2DM; n = 59) underwent median nerve ultrasound and excitability studies to assess peripheral nerve structure and function. A subset of T2DM/MetS (n = 24) and T2DM (n = 22) participants underwent confocal microscopy to assess central and inferior whorl corneal nerve structure. Neuropathy severity was assessed using the modified Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (mTCNS). Diabetes groups were similar for age, sex distribution, diabetes duration, hemoglobin A1c, insulin treatment, and renal function. Sixty healthy controls similar for age and sex distribution were recruited for comparison.

Results

Participants with T2DM/MetS manifested with a greater mTCNS compared to T2DM (p < 0.05). Median nerve cross‐sectional area was larger in the T2DM/MetS group compared to the T2DM cohort (p < 0.05). Participants with T2DM/MetS had reductions in central (all p < 0.01) and inferior whorl (all p < 0.05) nerve measures. Compared to T2DM, the T2DM/MetS group demonstrated more severe changes in nerve excitability measures, which was due to reduced sodium channel permeability and sodium–potassium pump function. In comparison, only sodium channel permeability was reduced in the T2DM group.

Conclusions

Compared to participants with type 2 diabetes alone, those with diabetes and metabolic syndrome manifested greater alterations in peripheral nerve structure and function, which may be due to reduced function of the sodium–potassium pump.
Intravenous formalin for treatment of haemorrhage in horses
Authors: Moreno C. R. , Delph K. M. , Beard W. L.
Published: March 2021

There is limited information in the literature regarding the clinical use of formalin for the treatment of haemorrhage in horses. This uncontrolled retrospective study summarises 11 cases that were treated with intravenous formalin at the Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University from 2009 to 2019. The objective of this study was to describe signalment, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment and outcome of horses treated with intravenous formalin for potentially life‐threatening haemorrhagic conditions. This study does not attempt to prove efficacy of intravenous formalin, but rather to report its clinical use and the associated details of those cases. Horses ranged in age from 2 to 23 years old. There were nine Quarter Horses, one Thoroughbred and one Appaloosa. Treated conditions included haemoabdomen (4/11), uterine haemorrhage (1/11), epistaxis (3/11), haemorrhage secondary to a mandibular laceration (2/11) and haemothorax (1/11). The most utilised dose was 0.476% formalin (50 mL 10% neutral buffered formalin diluted in 1 L of isotonic fluid). Some horses were also treated with aminocaproic acid, Yunnan Baiyao, whole blood transfusions and surgery. Ten out of the 11 horses survived to discharge with one horse reported by the owner to have died 2 weeks later of an unknown cause.
Roles of neutrophil granule proteins in orchestrating inflammation and immunity
Authors: Othman Amira , Sekheri Meriem , Filep János G.
Published: March 2021

Neutrophil granulocytes form the first line of host defense against invading pathogens and tissue injury. They are rapidly recruited from the blood to the affected sites, where they deploy an impressive arsenal of effectors to eliminate invading microbes and damaged cells. This capacity is endowed in part by readily mobilizable proteins acquired during granulopoiesis and stored in multiple types of cytosolic granules with each granule type containing a unique cargo. Once released, granule proteins contribute to killing bacteria within the phagosome or the extracellular milieu, but are also capable of inflicting collateral tissue damage. Neutrophil‐driven inflammation underlies many common diseases. Research over the last decade has documented neutrophil heterogeneity and functional versatility far beyond their antimicrobial function. Emerging evidence indicates that neutrophils utilize granule proteins to interact with innate and adaptive immune cells and orchestrate the inflammatory response. Granule proteins have been identified as important modulators of neutrophil trafficking, reverse transendothelial migration, phagocytosis, neutrophil life span, neutrophil extracellular trap formation, efferocytosis, cytokine activity, and autoimmunity. Hence, defining their roles within the inflammatory locus is critical for minimizing damage to the neighboring tissue and return to homeostasis. Here, we provide an overview of recent advances in the regulation of degranulation, granule protein functions, and signaling in modulating neutrophil‐mediated immunity. We also discuss how targeting granule proteins and/or signaling could be harnessed for therapeutic benefits.