bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing self-care among patients with primary hypertension: path analysis of mediating roles of self-efficacy and depressive symptoms
Authors: Chen Ting-Yu , Kao Chi-Wen , Cheng Shu-Meng , Liu Chieh-Yu
Published: January 2023

Aims

Blood pressure control requires medication adherence and lifestyle modifications. Social cognitive theory suggests social support, psychological adaptation, and self-efficacy can reinforce lifestyle modifications. This study investigated if self-efficacy was a mediator between self-rated health status (SRHS), social support, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and self-care among patients with hypertension.

Method and results

This cross-sectional study recruited patients with primary hypertension by convenience sampling (N = 318) from an outpatient cardiology clinic. Data included participant characteristics and self-report scales for social support, SRHS, anxiety, depressive symptoms, Self-efficacy and self-care diet quality and weight management. We used path analysis to test the hypothesized model. The mean age of participants was 63.91 ± 11.80 years. Mean scale scores for social support and depressive symptoms were 54.23 ± 13.26 and 6.14 ± 3.14, respectively; SRHS was 66.91 ± 13.80, self-efficacy was 34.31 ± 11.62, self-care for diet quality and weight management were 36.50 ± 13.19 and 27.38 ± 8.64, respectively. Bootstrapping demonstrated self-efficacy was the mediator between social support and self-care for diet quality and weight management; depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between social support and self-efficacy. In addition, the variable of depressive symptoms was also a mediator between SRHS and self-efficacy. The final model showed SRHS, social support, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy explained 28% of self-care.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest developing theory-based interventions for patients with hypertension that provide education and/or psychological support for increasing patients’ self-efficacy and reducing depressive symptoms simultaneously to facilitate their long-term self-care behaviours.
Association of electrocardiographic spatial heterogeneity of repolarization and spatial heterogeneity of atrial depolarization with left ventricular fibrosis
Authors: Hekkanen Jenni J , Kenttä Tuomas V , Holmström Lauri , Tulppo Mikko P , Ukkola Olavi H , Pakanen Lasse , Junttila M Juhani , Huikuri Heikki V , Perkiömäki Juha S
Published: January 2023

Aims

To evaluate the relationship between spatial heterogeneity of electrocardiographic repolarization and spatial heterogeneity of atrial depolarization with arrhythmic substrate represented by left ventricular fibrosis.

Methods and results

We assessed the associations of T- and P-wave morphology parameters analysed from the standard 12-lead electrocardiograms with left ventricular fibrosis in 378 victims of unexpected sudden cardiac death (SCD) who underwent medico-legal autopsy. Based on autopsy findings, the SCD victims were categorized into four different groups according to different stages of severity of left ventricular fibrosis (substantial fibrosis, moderate patchy fibrosis, scattered mild fibrosis, no fibrosis). T-wave and P-wave area dispersion (TWAd: 0.0841 ± 0.496, 0.170 ± 0.492, 0.302 ± 404, 0.296 ± 0.476, P = 0.008; PWAd: 0.574 ± 0.384, 0.561 ± 0.367, 0.654 ± 0.281, 0.717 ± 0.257, P = 0.011, respectively; low values abnormal), non-dipolar components of T-wave and P-wave morphology (T_NonDipolarABS: 0.0496 ± 0.0377, 0.0571 ± 0.0487, 0.0432 ± 0.0476, 0.0380 ± 0.0377, P = 0.027; P_NonDipolarABS: 0.0132 ± 0.0164, 0.0130 ± 0.0135, 0.0092 ± 0.0117, 0.0069 ± 0.00472, P = 0.005, respectively, high values abnormal), T-wave morphology dispersion (TMD: 45.9 ± 28.3, 40.5 ± 25.8, 35.5 ± 24.9, 33.0 ± 24.6, P = 0.030, respectively, high values abnormal), and P-wave heterogeneity (PWH: 20.0 ± 9.44, 19.7 ± 8.87, 17.9 ± 9.78, 15.4 ± 4.60, P = 0.019, respectively, high values abnormal) differed significantly between the groups with different stages of left ventricular fibrosis. After adjustment with heart weight, T_NonDipolarABS [standardized β (sβ) = 0.131, P = 0.014], PWAd (sβ = −0.161, P = 0.003), P_NonDipolarABS (sβ = 0.174, P = 0.001), and PWH (sβ = 0.128, P = 0.015) retained independent association, and TWAd (sβ = −0.091, P = 0.074) and TMD (sβ = 0.097, P = 0.063) tended to retain their association with the degree of myocardial fibrosis.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that abnormal values of T- and P-wave morphology are associated with arrhythmic substrate represented by ventricular fibrosis partly explaining the mechanism behind their prognostic significance.
Reduction in long-term mortality using remote device monitoring in a large real-world population of patients with implantable defibrillators
Authors: Kolk Maarten Z H , Narayan Sanjiv M , Clopton Paul , Wilde Arthur A M , Knops Reinoud E , Tjong Fleur V Y
Published: January 2023

Aims

Remote monitoring (RM) for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) is advocated for the potential of early detection of disease progression and device dysfunction. While studies have examined the effect of RM on clinical outcomes in carefully selected populations of heart failure patients implanted with ICDs from a single vendor, there is a paucity of data in real-world patients. We aimed to assess the long-term effect of RM in a representative ICD population using real-world data.

Methods and results

This is an observational retrospective longitudinal study of 1004 patients implanted with an ICD or cardiac resynchronization therapy device (CRT-D) from all device vendors between 2010 and 2021. Patients started on RM (N = 403) within 90 days following de novo device implantation and yearly in-office visits were compared with patients with only bi-yearly in-office follow-up (non-RM, N = 601). In a propensity score matched cohort of 430 patients (mean age 61.4 ± 14.3 years, 26.7% female), all-cause mortality at 4-year was 12.6% in the RM and 27.7% in the non-RM group [hazard ratio (HR) 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.32–0.82; P = 0.005]. No difference in inappropriate ICD-therapy (HR 1.90, 95% CI 0.86–4.21; P = 0.122) was observed. The risk of appropriate ICD-therapy (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.07–2.74; P = 0.026) was higher in the RM group.

Conclusion

Remote monitoring was associated with a reduction in long-term all-cause and cardiac mortality compared with traditional office visits in a real-world ICD population.
Increased mesoscale diffusivity in response to acute glucose starvation
Authors: Xie Ying , Gresham David , Holt Liam
Published: January 2023

Macromolecular crowding is an important parameter that impacts multiple biological processes. Passive microrheology using single particle tracking is a powerful means of studying macromolecular crowding. Here we monitored the diffusivity of self-assembling fluorescent nanoparticles (μNS) in response to acute glucose starvation. mRNP diffusivity was reduced upon glucose starvation as previously reported. In contrast, we observed increased diffusivity of μNS particles. Our results suggest that, upon glucose starvation, mRNP granule diffusivity may be reduced due to changes in physical interactions, while global crowding in the cytoplasm may be reduced.
Femtosecond laser preparation of resin embedded samples for correlative microscopy workflows in life sciences
Authors: Bosch C , Lindenau J , Pacureanu A , Peddie CJ , Majkut M , Douglas AC , Carzaniga R , Rack A , Collinson L , Schaefer AT , Stegmann H
Published: January 2023

Correlative multimodal imaging is a useful approach to investigate complex structural relations in life sciences across multiple scales. For these experiments, sample preparation workflows that are compatible with multiple imaging techniques must be established. In one such implementation, a fluorescently-labelled region of interest in a biological soft tissue sample can be imaged with light microscopy before staining the specimen with heavy metals, enabling follow-up higher resolution structural imaging at the targeted location, bringing context where it is required. Alternatively, or in addition to fluorescence imaging, other microscopy methods such as synchrotron X-ray computed tomography with propagation-based phase contrast (SXRT) or serial blockface scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) might also be applied. When combining imaging techniques across scales, it is common that a volumetric region of interest (ROI) needs to be carved from the total sample volume before high resolution imaging with a subsequent technique can be performed. In these situations, the overall success of the correlative workflow depends on the precise targeting of the ROI and the trimming of the sample down to a suitable dimension and geometry for downstream imaging.

Here we showcase the utility of a novel femtosecond laser device to prepare microscopic samples (1) of an optimised geometry for synchrotron X-ray microscopy as well as (2) for subsequent volume electron microscopy applications, embedded in a wider correlative multimodal imaging workflow (Fig. 1).
Anionic Phospholipids Control Mechanisms of GPCR-G Protein Recognition
Authors: Thakur Naveen , Ray Arka P. , Sharp Liam , Jin Beining , Duong Alexander , Pour Niloofar Gopal , Obeng Samuel , Wijesekara Anuradha V. , Gao Zhan-Guo , McCurdy Christopher R. , Jacobson Kenneth A. , Lyman Edward , Eddy Matthew T.
Published: January 2023

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are embedded in phospholipids that strongly influence drug-stimulated signaling. Anionic lipids are particularly important for GPCR signaling complex formation, but a mechanism for this role is not understood. Using NMR spectroscopy, we visualized the impact of anionic lipids on the function-related conformational equilibria of the human A2Aadenosine receptor (A2AAR) in bilayers containing defined mixtures of zwitterionic and anionic phospholipids. Anionic lipids primed the receptor to form complexes with G proteins through a conformational selection process. Without anionic lipids, signaling complex formation proceeded through a less favorable induced fit mechanism. In computational models, anionic lipids mimicked interactions between a G protein and positively charged residues in A2AAR at the receptor intracellular surface, stabilizing a pre-activated receptor conformation. Replacing these residues strikingly altered the receptor response to anionic lipids in experiments. High sequence conservation of the same residues among all GPCRs supports a general role for lipid-receptor charge complementarity in signaling.
Chitosan oligosaccharide induces plant resistance gene expression inPinus massoniana
Authors: Yin Huayang , Guo Wanlin , Fang Jianmin , Liu Hongjian , Dong Guangping , Li Xiaojuan
Published: January 2023

Chitosan oligosaccharides are the main degradation products from chitosan or chitin and have been reported to induce resistance to diseases in herbaceous plants like cucumber andArabidopsis. Concomitantly, pine wilt disease is a devastating disease of conifer tree species. Here, we hypothesized that chitosan oligosaccharides induce plant resistance gene (PRG) expression in the woody plant Masson pine,Pinus massoniana. Chitosan oligosaccharides were inoculated intoP. massonianaseedlings and the BGISEQ-500 platform was used to generate transcriptomes from chitosan oligosaccharide-treatedP. massonianaand control seedlings. A total of 501 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by comparing the treatment and control groups. A total of 251 (50.1%) DEGs were up-regulated in the treatment relative to the control seedlings and 250 (49.9%) were down-regulated. Inoculation of chitosan oligosaccharide induced the expression of 31 PRGs inP. massonianaseedlings and the relative expression levels of six of the PRGs were verified by RT-qPCR. This is the first study to demonstrate that chitosan oligosaccharide induces the expression of PRGs in a tree species. These results provide important insights into the function of chitosan oligosaccharides and further the prospects of developing a chitosan oligosaccharide-based immune inducer for controlling pine wilt disease.
Modeling the Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Spatial Attention
Authors: Jing Ying , Numssen Ole , Weise Konstantin , Kalloch Benjamin , Buchberger Lena , Haueisen Jens , Hartwigsen Gesa , Knösche Thomas R.
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been widely used to modulate brain activity in healthy and diseased brains, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Previous research leveraged biophysical modeling of the induced electric field (E-field) to map causal structure-function relationships in the primary motor cortex. This study aims at transferring this localization approach to spatial attention, which helps to understand the TMS effects on cognitive functions, and may ultimately optimize stimulation schemes.

Approach

Thirty right-handed healthy participants underwent a functional magnetic imaging (fMRI) experiment, and seventeen of them participated in a TMS experiment. The individual fMRI activation peak within the right inferior parietal lobule (rIPL) during a Posner-like attention task defined the center target for TMS. Thereafter, participants underwent 500 Posner task trials. During each trial, a 5-pulse burst of 10 Hz repetitive TMS (rTMS) was given over the rIPL to modulate attentional processing. The TMS-induced E-fields for every cortical target were correlated with the behavioral modulation to identify relevant cortical regions for attentional orientation and reorientation.

Main results

We did not observe a robust correlation between E-field strength and behavioral outcomes, highlighting the challenges of transferring the localization method to cognitive functions with high neural response variability and complex network interactions. Nevertheless, TMS selectively inhibited attentional reorienting in five out of seventeen subjects, resulting in task-specific behavioral impairments. The BOLD-measured neuronal activity and TMS-evoked neuronal effects showed different patterns, which emphasizes the principal distinction between the neural activity being correlated with (or maybe even caused by) particular paradigms, and the activity of neural populations exerting a causal influence on the behavioral outcome.

Significance

This study is the first to explore the mechanisms of TMS-induced attentional modulation through electrical field modeling. Our findings highlight the complexity of cognitive functions and provide a basis for optimizing attentional stimulation protocols.
Fluid mechanics of luminal transport in actively contracting endoplasmic reticulum
Authors: Htet Pyae Hein , Avezov Edward , Lauga Eric
Published: January 2023

The Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER), the largest cellular compartment, harbours the machinery for the biogenesis of secretory proteins and lipids, calcium storage/mobilisation, and detoxification. It is shaped as layered membranous sheets interconnected with a network of tubules extending throughout the cell. Understanding the influence of the ER morphology dynamics on molecular transport may offer clues to rationalising neuro-pathologies caused by ER morphogen mutations. It remains unclear, however, how the ER facilitates its intra-luminal mobility and homogenises its content. It has been recently proposed that intra-luminal transport may be enabled by active contractions of ER tubules. To surmount the barriers to empirical studies of the minuscule spatial and temporal scales relevant to ER nanofluidics, here we exploit the principles of viscous fluid dynamics to generate a theoretical physical model emulatingin silicothe content motion in actively contracting nanoscopic tubular networks. The computational model reveals the luminal particle speeds, and their impact in facilitating active transport, of the active contractile behaviour of the different ER components along various time-space parameters. The results of the model indicate that reproducing transport with velocities similar to those reported experimentally in single particle tracking would require unrealistically high values of tubule contraction site length and rate. Considering further nanofluidic scenarios, we show that width contractions of the ER’s flat domains (perinuclear sheets) generate local flows with only a short-range effect on luminal transport. Only contractions of peripheral sheets can reproduce experimental measurements, provided they are able to contract fast enough.
Class switching is differentially regulated in RBC alloimmunization and vaccination
Authors: Prakash Anupam , Medved Jelena , Arneja Abhinav , Niebuhr Conrad , Li Andria N. , Tarrah Soraya , Boscia Alexis R. , Burnett Emily D. , Singh Aanika , Salazar Juan E. , Xu Wenhao , Santhanakrishnan Manjula , Hendrickson Jeanne E. , Luckey Chance John
Published: January 2023

Background

Studies of human patients have shown that most anti-RBC alloantibodies are IgG1 or IgG3 subclasses, though it is unclear why transfused RBCs preferentially drive these subclasses over others. Though mouse models allow for the mechanistic exploration of class-switching, previous studies of RBC alloimmunization in mice have focused more on the total IgG response than the relative distribution, abundance, or mechanism of IgG subclass generation. Given this major gap, we compared the IgG subclass distribution generated in response to transfused RBCs relative to protein in alum vaccination, and determined the role of STAT6 in their generation.

Study Design and Methods

WT mice were either immunized with Alum/HEL-OVA or transfused with HOD RBCs and levels of anti-HEL IgG subtypes were measured using end-point dilution ELISAs. To study the role of STAT6 in IgG class-switching, we first generated and validated novel STAT6 KO mice using CRISPR/cas9 gene editing. STAT6 KO mice were then transfused with HOD RBCs or immunized with Alum/HEL-OVA, and IgG subclasses were quantified by ELISA.

Results

When compared to antibody responses to Alum/HEL-OVA, transfusion of HOD RBCs induced lower levels of IgG1, IgG2b and IgG2c but similar levels of IgG3. Class switching to most IgG subtypes remained largely unaffected in STAT6 deficient mice in response to HOD RBC transfusion, with the one exception being IgG2b. In contrast, STAT6 deficient mice showed altered levels of all IgG subtypes following Alum vaccination.

Discussion

Our results show that anti-RBC class-switching occurs via alternate mechanisms when compared to the well-studied immunogen alum vaccination.
Selection of optimal cell lines for high-content phenotypic screening
Authors: Heinrich Louise , Kumbier Karl , Li Li , Altschuler Steven P. , Wu Lani F.
Published: January 2023

High-content microscopy offers a scalable approach to screen against multiple targets in a single pass. Prior work has focused on methods to select “optimal” cellular readouts in microscopy screens. However, methods to select optimal cell line models have garnered much less attention. Here, we provide a roadmap for how to select the cell line or lines that are best suited to identify bioactive compounds and their mechanism of action (MOA). We test our approach on compounds targeting cancer-relevant pathways, ranking cell lines in two tasks: detecting compound activity (“phenoactivity”) and grouping compounds with similar MOA by similar phenotype (“phenosimilarity”). Evaluating six cell lines across 3214 well-annotated compounds, we show that optimal cell line selection depends on both the task of interest (e.g. detecting phenoactivity vs. inferring phenosimilarity) and distribution of MOAs within the compound library. Given a task of interest and set of compounds, we provide a systematic framework for choosing optimal cell line(s). Our framework can be used to reduce the number of cell lines required to identify hits within a compound library and help accelerate the pace of early drug discovery.
Restructuring of an asymmetric neural circuit during associative learning
Authors: Tang Leo T.H. , Lee Garrett A. , Cook Steven J. , Ho Jacquelin , Potter Cassandra C. , Bülow Hannes E.
Published: January 2023

Asymmetric brain function is common across the animal kingdom and involved in language processing, and likely in learning and memory. What regulates asymmetric brain function remains elusive. Here, we show that the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansrestructures an asymmetric salt sensing neural circuit during associative learning. Worms memorize and prefer the salt concentration at which they were raised in the presence of food through a left-biased network architecture. When conditioned at elevated salt concentrations, animals change the left-biased to a right-biased network, which explains the changed salt-seeking behavior. The changes in circuit architecture require new synapse formation induced through asymmetric, paracrine insulin-signaling. Therefore, experience-dependent changes in asymmetric network architecture rely on paracrine insulin signaling and are fundamental to learning and behavior.
Behavioral and transcriptomic changes following brain-specific loss of noradrenergic transmission
Authors: Isingrini Elsa , Guinaudie Chloé , Perret Léa , Guma Elisa , Gorgievski Victor , Blum Ian D. , Colby-Milley Jessica , Bairachnaya Maryia , Mella Sébastien , Adamantidis Antoine , Storch Kay-Florian , Giros Bruno
Published: January 2023

Noradrenaline (NE) plays an integral role in shaping behavioral outcomes including anxiety/depression, fear, learning and memory, attention and shifting behavior, sleep-wake state, pain, and addiction. However, it is unclear whether dysregulation of NE release is a cause or a consequence of maladaptive orientations of these behaviors, many of which associated with psychiatric disorders.

To address this question, we used a unique genetic model in which the brain-specific Vesicular Monoamine Transporter-2 (VMAT2) gene expression was removed in NE-positive neurons disabling NE release in the entire brain. We engineered VMAT2 gene splicing and NE depletion by crossing floxed VMAT2 mice with mice expressing the Cre-recombinase under the DBH gene promotor. In this study, we performed a comprehensive behavioral and transcriptomic characterization of the VMAT2DBHcreKO mice to evaluate the role of central NE in behavioral modulations.

We demonstrated that NE depletion induces anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects, improves contextual fear memory, alters shifting behavior, decreases the locomotor response to amphetamine, and induces deeper sleep during the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) phase. In contrast, NE depletion did not affect spatial learning and memory, working memory, response to cocaine, and the architecture of the sleep-wake cycle. Finally, we used this model to identify genes that could be up- or down-regulated in the absence of NE release. We found an up-regulation of the Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2c (SV2c) gene expression in several brain regions, including the locus coeruleus (LC), and were able to validate this up-regulation as a marker of vulnerability to chronic social defeat.
DENND2B activates Rab35 at the intercellular bridge regulating cytokinetic abscission and tetraploidy
Authors: Kumar Rahul , Francis Vincent , Ioannou Maria S. , Aguila Adriana , Banks Emily , Kulasekaran Gopinath , Khan Maleeha , McPherson Peter S.
Published: January 2023

Cytokinesis is the final stage of cell division. Successful cytokinesis requires membrane trafficking pathways regulated by Rabs, molecular switches activated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Late in cytokinesis, an intercellular cytokinetic bridge (ICB) connecting the two daughter cells undergoes abscission, which requires depolymerization of actin. Rab35 recruits MICAL1 to oxidate and depolymerize actin filaments. We report that DENND2B, a protein previously implicated in cancer, mental retardation and multiple congenital disorders functions as a GEF for Rab35 and recruits and activates the GTPase at the ICB. Unexpectedly, the N-terminal region of DENND2B interacts with an active mutant of Rab35, suggesting that DENND2B is both a Rab35 GEF and effector. Knockdown of DENND2B delays abscission resulting in increased multinucleated cells and overaccumulation of F-actin at the ICB. F-actin accumulation leads to formation of a chromatin bridge, a process known to activate the NoCut/abscission checkpoint, and DENND2B knockdown actives Aurora B kinase, a hallmark of checkpoint activation. This study identifies DENND2B as a crucial player in cytokinetic abscission and provides insight into the multisystem disorder associated with DENND2B mutation.
Cocrystals assembled from iodoperfluorobenzene and flexible NTPO via halogen and π-hole bonds
Authors: Wang Hui , Wu Wen Xin , Jin Wei Jun
Published: January 2023

Two binary cocrystals of 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (1,4-DITFB, C6F4I2) and 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene (1,3,5-TITFB, C6F3I3) with the flexible 2-{[(naphthalen-2-yl)methyl]sulfanyl}pyridine 1-oxide (NTPO, C16H13NOS) molecule were successfully prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction and quantum chemistry calculation methods. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the conformation of the flexible NTPO molecule has been changed significantly after introducing the 1,4-DITFB or 1,3,5-TITFB molecule into the NTPO lattice. Also the formation of the binary cocrystals is driven mainly by robust C—I...−O—N+ halogen bonds and π-hole...π-bond interactions, and they possess `sandwich' structural frameworks. Moreover, interaction energy analysis and AIM analysis were used to explore the contribution of different fragments to the structural stability and the corresponding electronic properties, which reveals that the robust halogen bonds with shorter bonding lengths [2.768 (4) and 2.789 (3) Å] are suggested to be covalent to a certain degree.
Investigating determinants of willingness to buy genetically modified foods: an approach of structural equation modeling
Authors: Aliasgharzadeh Soghra , Abbasalizad Farhangi Mahdieh , Barzegari Maliheh
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The tendency towards genetically modified (GM) food consumption and production is increasing worldwide. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors influencing the general population's willingness to buy GM foods in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was derived and tested via the primary data gathered from 450 individuals recruited from ten districts of Tabriz, Iran. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was carried out to identify the relationship between related constructs and willingness to buy GM foods.

Findings

Results indicated that attitudes towards GM technology and foods along with trust in GM institutes were positive determinants of willingness to buy, while knowledge had a significantly negative impact. Accordingly, the most potent factors influencing consumers' willingness to buy include attitude, which is affected by moral and ethical concerns, and trust followed by knowledge.

Originality/value

The results of this study can help policymakers, farmers, and food industries to make appropriate decisions about the application of gene technology in food production and also cultivation of such products in developing countries such as Iran, where people have little information about these products, despite the import and supply of GM foods.
CSR orientation for competitive advantage in business-to-business markets of emerging economies: the mediating role of trust and corporate reputation
Authors: Salam Mohammad Asif , Jahed Mohammed Abu
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the link between corporate social responsibility orientation (CSRO) and competitive advantage (CA) in the context of emerging economies. More specifically, the mediating role of intangible resources, namely, trust and corporate reputation (CR), is investigated to explain the above linkage.

Design/methodology/approach

This study considered a sample of 326 Saudi Arabian businesses that have extensive business-to-business operations across international markets. The analysis uses the partial least-squares-based structural equation model, involving first- and second-order constructs and mediation tests using the Hayes PROCESS macro.

Findings

The results confirm that the relationship between CSRO and CA is partially mediated. Moreover, CSRO does have a direct as well as an indirect positive impact on CA via the two intangible resources, e.g. trust and CR. In addition, results support the serial mediation model where CSRO was found to exercise its influence on CA via trust and CR in a sequential manner.

Research limitations/implications

This study enriches the limited literature on CSRO in the context of emerging economies. However, further studies should explore the opposite relationship, i.e. the impact of CA on CSRO. In addition, the authors believe that it would also be useful to study the moderating role of the industry sectors.

Practical implications

From a practical point of view, this study suggests new applications with respect to the link between CSRO and CA. To enhance their company’s CA, managers need to ensure that intangible resources are managed efficiently.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature by examining how a firm’s intangible resources mediate between CSRO and CA. Second, originality is related to studying the link between CSRO and the trust and reputation of business organizations in emerging economies. Third, the findings suggest that the scope of a business is more than being responsible to its stakeholders, and stakeholder-driven CSRO leads to sustainable CA.
Individual determinants of Mediterranean diet adherence among urban Lebanese adult residents
Authors: Malakieh Roubina , El Khoury Veronique , Boumosleh Jocelyne Matar , Obeid Cecile , Jaalouk Doris
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Many studies revealed positive health impacts of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), especially on metabolic disorders. Conversely, in Lebanon, recent information about determinants of adherence to the MedDiet are limited. This study aimed to examine the individual determinants of MedDiet adherence among adults in Lebanon.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was carried out during July 2021 among a convenient sample of 326 Lebanese adults. Data from participants were collected via an online survey developed by study researchers, composed of two well-structured questionnaires: a background questionnaire and a 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (14-MEDAS).

Findings

The mean MedDiet score in the total sample was 7.59 ± 2.22, reflecting moderate/fair MedDiet adherence. Consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes and olive oil met the recommended MedDiet intake among most participants. Older age and having a regular routine of physical activity emerged as significant independent determinants of better MedDiet adherence.

Originality/value

Future public health interventions aiming at promoting MedDiet adherence shall target predominantly younger age groups of the Lebanese population and incorporate strategies to boost physical activity among target groups.
Does workplace incivility spur deviant behaviors: roles of interpersonal conflict and organizational climate
Authors: Zahid Ayesha , Nauman Shazia
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Building on the conservation of resources theory, this research explored the processes underlying the association between perceived workplace incivility and deviant behaviors. Specifically, we tested a mediating mechanism, an interpersonal conflict that has received less consideration in the workplace incivility literature. The authors also tested the organizational climate (i.e. a resource) as a moderator in the perceived workplace incivility–employees’ deviant work behavior relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Time-lagged research design was followed to explain the relationship of variables. Survey data were collected at time 1 and time 2 from 220 service sector working professionals to test the proposed model.

Findings

The findings suggest that intrapersonal conflict partially mediates the workplace incivility–deviant work behavior relationship. Further, the authors found that the harmful effects of workplace incivility on employees’ deviant work behavior attenuate in the presence of organizational climate as a resource. The results shed light on the beneficial consequences of organizational climate on employees’ work behavior by attenuating workplace incivility and mitigating their deviant work behaviors.

Originality/value

Overall, the study contributed to understanding the mediating role of interpersonal conflict and the moderating role of organizational climate in explaining the workplace incivility–deviant work behavior relationship.
Veldt fires in South Africa: Implications on osteometry and the biological profile
Authors: Liebenberg Maritza , Liebenberg Leandi , Krüger Gabriele C. , L'Abbé Ericka N.
Published: January 2023

Standard operating procedures for forensic anthropological analyses dictate that thermally altered remains should not be measured, hindering the creation of a biological profile. Few studies have addressed estimating biological parameters from burned remains, with the greatest focus of this research area being on cremated remains. However, veldt fires are more common than cremation in the South African forensic context. The aim of this study was to explore the degree of structural changes observed in domestic pig (Sus scrofa) bones associated with thermal destruction and the potential impact on the estimation of a biological profile using standard osteometric methods. A total of 96 pig femora were divided equally into two categories: fresh and dry. Within each category, equal samples were exposed to different durations of burning, namely, 5, 10, and 20 min. Ten standard femoral anthropological measurements were collected before and after burning. Technical error of measurement and Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests were used to assess changes in the femoral dimensions before and after burning. Most measurements were significantly different after burning, with the fresh bones decreasing in size by up to 7.8% and the dry bones decreasing in size by up to 4.0%. The magnitude of post‐burning measurement changes for both burn conditions was similar to, or smaller than has previously been reported for observer measurement errors of commonly used variables investigated for standard osteometric studies. Veldt fires are less intense than cremation, thus causing less shrinkage.
Changing diagnostic patterns in cases of sudden and unexpected natural death in infants and young children: 1994–2018
Authors: Byard Roger W. , Tan Luzern
Published: January 2023

Aim

To determine whether there has been a change in the incidence and type of conditions causing sudden and unexpected natural death in infants and young children in recent years.

Methods

A search was undertaken of pathology records at Forensic Science SA in Adelaide, Australia for all cases of sudden and unexpected natural death in children aged less than 10 years at the time of death over two time periods: 1994–1998 and 2014–2018.

Results

Overall, 136 cases were identified consisting of 81 boys and 55 girls (M:F = 16:11; age range 0–9 years). No difference was shown in the numbers of sudden unexplained deaths in infants and young children between the two time periods (80 vs. 56; p = 0.18). A trend was shown for a prominent decrease in SIDS cases (55 vs. 12) with an increase in undetermined cases, <1 year (5 vs. 18). However, when the two categories were combined there was no statistical difference between the two periods (60/80 vs. 30/56) (p = 0.26), although a decrease in numbers had occurred.

Conclusion

Analysis of numbers of fatalities reported from medicolegal institutes should be undertaken with an awareness of the potential effect of diagnostic shift.
Occupational choice and entrepreneurship: From necessity to opportunity
Authors: Distefano Rosaria
Published: January 2023

We present a simple agency model with a monopolist lender and an individual facing an occupational choice between entering the labor market as a wage worker and starting a self‐managed business. We show that, when the reservation utility is relatively low, the lender may not want to offer any credit contract, so the individual is forced to become a wage worker out of necessity, whereas when the reservation utility is high, the bank may find it profitable to finance the investment project, and the individual can choose to become an entrepreneur out of opportunity.
Broad organ acceptance and equitable access to early kidney transplantation
Authors: Zaphiros Nikolas H. , Nie Jing , Chang Shirley , Shah Vaqar , Kareem Samer , Zaaroura Ahmad , Kayler Liise K.
Published: January 2023

Background

Broad organ acceptance can increase early kidney transplantation (KTX) within <1‐year of dialysis initiation while improving access inequity.

Methods

Single‐center data of adult isolated deceased‐donor KTX recipients between 2013 and 2020 were stratified into three 2.5‐year periods before‐, early after‐, and late after our center's deceased‐donor organ acceptance practice change, excluding a 6‐month implementation period. Outcomes were assessed within five recipient subgroups based on demographic and clinical characteristics.

Results

Of 704 recipients, the frequency of early KTX was 22% pre‐change, 36% early post‐change, and 34% late post‐change. Given similar post‐change frequencies of early KTX, post‐change eras were combined to improve analytic power of subgroup analyses. After the organ acceptance practice change (vs. pre‐change), the likelihood of early KTX increased variably within historically underserved groups, including recipients who were older (37%–39%, p = .859), Black (10%–21%, p = .136), female (21%–37%, p = .034), diabetic (13%–32%, p = .010), and BMI≥35 kg/m2 (20%–34%, p = .007). Despite the practice change, Black recipients continued to experience less early KTX compared to non‐Black recipients. The likelihood of delayed graft function was significantly increased (p < .001), and 1‐year creatinine was significantly higher (p < .001) post‐practice change, but between‐era risk‐adjusted death‐censored graft survival was similar.

Conclusions

Transition to broader donor acceptance was associated with more early KTXs among historically underserved patient subgroups. However, the effect was non‐significant among Black recipients, suggesting the need for additional strategies to impact early transplant access for this population. Studies of broad organ acceptance are needed to examine both access and outcomes.
Synchronous occurrence of primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphoma and cutaneous Rosai–Dorfman disease in distinct lesions: A unique association
Authors: Roccuzzo Gabriele , Avallone Gianluca , Cavallo Francesco , Mastorino Luca , Conti Luca , Fava Paolo , Tomasini Carlo , Ribero Simone , Quaglino Pietro
Published: January 2023

Rosai–Dorfman disease, also known as sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML), is a rare subtype of reactive histiocytosis which is seldom associated with Hodgkin's and non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas. To date, the coexistence in the same patient of extra nodal SHML and primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphoma (PCBCL) has been reported in the literature, as metachronous diagnosis in the anatomical area of the original PCBCL or synchronous occurrence in the same lesions. However, no data have been published as for synchronous occurrence of the two pathological entities in distinct anatomical sites. Herein, we report the first ever described synchronous occurrence of PCBCL and SHML, detected in distinct lesions, affecting the same patient. The complete resolution of the patient's PCBCL after rituximab treatment and the concomitant regression of SHML suggest that this clinically benign reactive histiocytic proliferation, potentially triggered by the lymphoma microenvironment itself, may take place not only in the site of the PCBCL lesion, but also in other distant areas not directly affected by the primary cutaneous lymphoma.
Are trapping data suited for home‐range estimation?
Authors: Socias‐Martínez Lluis , Peckre Louise R. , Noonan Michael J.
Published: January 2023

Modern home‐range estimation typically relies on data derived from expensive radio‐ or GPS‐tracking. Although trapping represents a low‐cost alternative to telemetry, evaluation of the performance of home‐range estimators on trap‐derived data is lacking. Using simulated data, we evaluated three variables reflecting the key trade‐offs ecologists face when designing a trapping study: 1) the number of observations obtained per individual, 2) the trap density and 3) the proportion of the home range falling inside the trapping area. We compared the performance of five home‐range estimators (MCP: Minimum Convex Polygon, LoCoH: Local Convex Hull, KDE: Kernel Density Estimation, AKDE: Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimation, BicubIt: Bicubic Interpolation). We further explored the potential benefits of combining these estimators with asymptotic models, which leverage the saturating behavior of changes in the estimated home‐range area as the number of observations increases to improve accuracy, as well as different data‐ordering procedures. We then quantified the bias in home‐range size under the different scenarios investigated. The number of observations and the proportion of the home range within the trapping grid were the most important predictors of the accuracy and the precision of home‐range estimates. The use of asymptotic models helped to obtain accurate estimates at smaller sample sizes, while distance ordering improved the precision and asymptotic consistency of estimates. While AKDE was the best performing estimator under most conditions evaluated, bicubic interpolation was a viable alternative under common real‐world conditions of low trap density and area covered. A case study using empirical data from white‐tailed deer in Florida and another from jaguars in Belize demonstrated support for the findings of our simulation results. Although researchers with trap data often overlook home‐range estimation, our results indicate that these data have the capacity to yield accurate estimates of home‐range size. Trapping data can, therefore, lower the economic costs of home‐range analysis, potentially enlarging the span of species, researchers and questions studied in ecology and conservation.
Motor function in early onset schizophrenia—A 2‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Byrial Pernille , Nyboe Lene , Thomsen Per Hove , Clausen Loa
Published: January 2023

Aim

Motor symptoms primarily assessed by clinical rating are documented across the schizophrenia spectrum, but no studies have examined the longitudinal course of these symptoms in adolescents using tests that control for the natural maturational process. The aim is therefore to compare fine and gross motor function using age‐adjusted tests in adolescents with schizophrenia and controls across a 2‐year period, and examine if clinical correlates contribute to changes in motor function in adolescents with schizophrenia.

Method

Motor function assessed by two age‐adjusted tests was compared in 25 adolescents with schizophrenia and age‐ and sex‐matched controls over a 2‐year period using t‐tests, Cohen's D and χ2 tests. Linear mixed models with a random intercept at patient level were used to assess changes between baseline and follow‐up. The latter approach was adopted to assess the association between changes and potential predictors as age, sex, complications during labour/delivery, childhood motor function, symptoms severity, executive function and antipsychotics.

Result

All measures of motor function but one significantly differentiated adolescents with schizophrenia from controls with large effect sizes at 2‐year follow‐up. The overall scores did not change during follow‐up, whereas two resembling motor areas of the tests significantly improved in adolescents with schizophrenia. The severity of schizophrenia, sex and IQ revealed association with the changes.

Conclusion

The finding of both stability and improvements from diagnosis to follow‐up in adolescents with schizophrenia and the differences between adolescents with and without schizophrenia argue in favour of the neurodevelopment hypothesis and highlights the need for assessing motor function.
An ecological assessment of Australia's first community oyster gardens
Authors: Boström‐Einarsson Lisa , Martínez‐Baena Francisco , Diggles Ben , Firby Lauren , McLeod Ian M.
Published: January 2023

Oyster gardening is a community‐driven activity where oysters are grown in cages hanging off docks or other coastal infrastructure. Besides the provision of adult oysters for restoration programmes, oyster gardening may also support other ecosystem services such as providing habitat for fishes and invertebrates as well as encouraging community involvement and citizen science. Australia's first oyster gardening programme was undertaken in a canal estate on Bribie Island in Moreton Bay, Queensland between October 2016 and November 2017. Oyster gardens consisting of plastic mesh cages were deployed with either three species of bivalves (polyculture), or exclusively Sydney Rock Oysters (monoculture) to investigate whether the habitat value differed between the two garden types. After one year of growth, polyculture cages supported higher abundances and species richness of both invertebrates and fish compared to the monoculture gardens. Our study showed that oyster gardening can provide habitat for a range of invertebrate and fish species in the highly modified coastal environment of a canal estate. Further studies are needed to discern whether these oyster gardens would also support larger and mobile fauna, such as species with commercial and recreational importance.
Impact of PIEZO1‐channel on inflammation and osteoclastogenesis mediated via periodontal ligament fibroblasts during mechanical loading
Authors: Schröder Agnes , Neher Katharina , Krenmayr Bernhard , Paddenberg Eva , Spanier Gerrit , Proff Peter , Kirschneck Christian
Published: January 2023

The identification of mechanosensitive ion channels and their importance in innate immunity provides new starting points to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of orthodontic tooth movement. The mechanosensitive electron channel PIEZO1 (Piezo Type Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Component 1) may play a crucial role in orthodontic tooth movement. To investigate the role of the PIEZO1 channel, periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLF) were subsequently treated with a PIEZO1 inhibitor (GsMTx) with simultaneous pressure application or with an activator (JEDI2) without mechanical strain. The expression of genes and proteins involved in orthodontic tooth movement was examined by RT‐qPCR, Western blot and ELISA. In addition, the effect on PDLF‐mediated osteoclastogenesis was investigated in a coculture model using human monocytes. Inhibition of PIEZO1 under pressure application caused a reduction in RANKL (receptor activator of NF‐kB ligand) expression, resulting in decreased osteoclastogenesis. On the other hand, activation of PIEZO1 without mechanical strain downregulated OPG (osteoprotegerin), resulting in increased osteoclastogenesis. PIEZO1 appears to play a role in the induction of inflammatory genes. It was also shown to influence osteoclastogenesis.