bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Will the formation of the International Sustainability Standards Board result in the death of integrated reporting?
Authors: de Villiers Charl , Dimes Ruth
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper critically analyses the future of Integrated Reporting (IR) given recent and likely future developments in corporate reporting and sustainability disclosure standard setting.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses Alvesson and Deetz’s (2000) critical framework to consider the research question through insight (a review of the history of IR and the formation of the International Sustainability Standards Board [ISSB]), critique (considering power structures, momentum and global trends) and transformative redefinition (proposing reasons for how and why IR might survive or perish).

Findings

IR’s future as a reporting initiative is uncertain. Pressure from investors may lead to detailed sustainability disclosures being favoured over IR’s more holistic story-telling approach. This may result in IR joining the long list of abandoned corporate reporting initiatives. Yet IR is not incompatible with recent developments in non-financial reporting and may continue to thrive. IR aligns well with developments in management accounting practices and other voluntary forms of sustainability reporting. IR’s associated “Integrated Thinking” seeks to develop organisational decision-making that leads to sustainable value creation. Whether it lasts as an external reporting format or not, IR is likely to leave a legacy related to changes in reporting characteristics.

Originality/value

This study explores the future of IR at a critical juncture in corporate reporting history, considering the entry of the ISSB, which is fundamentally changing the landscape of sustainability disclosure standard setting.
The scope of safety in English older adult care homes: a qualitative analysis of Safeguarding Adult Reviews
Authors: Smith Nick , Rand Stacey , Morgan Sarah , Jones Karen , Hogan Helen , Dargan Alan
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the content of Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) from older adult care homes to understand how safety is understood and might be measured in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

SARs relevant to older adult care homes from 2015 onwards were identified via the Social Care Institute of Excellence SARs library. Using thematic analysis, initial inductive coding was mapped to a health-derived safety framework, the Safety Measurement and Monitoring Framework (SMMF).

Findings

The content of the SARs reflected the dimensions of the SMMF but gaining a deeper understanding of safety in older adult care homes requires additional understanding of how this unique context interacts with these dimensions to create and prevent risks and harms. This review identified the importance of external factors in care home safety.

Originality/value

This study provides an insight into the scope of safety issues within care homes using the SARs content, and in doing so improves understanding of how it might be measured. The measurement of safety in care homes needs to acknowledge that there are factors external to care homes that a home may have little knowledge of and no ability to control.
Capital immobility and rollover risk in debt markets
Authors: Doh Hyun Soo
Published: December 2022

This paper aims to develop a credit-risk model in which firms face rollover risk, and the markets for defaulted assets are segmented due to entry costs. The paper shows that reducing the entry costs in this economy may decrease the total surplus of the economy. This outcome can arise because when market barriers are lifted, the gap between the liquidation prices across the markets will shrink, but then the market that would experience a price drop may face more bankruptcies because the rollover risk will increase in that market. The paper describes under which condition such an intervention policy improves or hurts the total surplus.
Social entrepreneurship and cow tourism: exploring the new vistas of experiential economy
Authors: Ayush  , Gangotia Amit , Pradhan Biswabhusan
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study acclaims the social entrepreneurship based on cow rearing experiential tourism in Himachal Pradesh. This study aims to illustrate the role of indigenous cows in the Indian society, especially in the Northern Mountain regions by taking Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh as an exemplar. This study highlights the relevance of experiential tourism that elucidates on the basis of cow tourism pertaining to health, mental and spiritual rejuvenation. Lastly, the paper is an attempt to integrate social entrepreneurship and cow tourism highlighting the relevance of experiential economy in empowering the local community.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study elucidates on the whence of Swadeshi Kamdhenu Gaushala (SKG), an initiative of Mr Rishi Dogra and Mr Rajesh Dogra, their immaculate micro-management and its benefits to the local community. It highlights how SKG is uplifting the socio-economic standards of the local villagers and providing a distinctive learning experience of indigenous knowledge to visitors. This study is qualitative in nature that uses narrative analysis of secondary data to recognise the importance of indigenous Indian cows, and case study analysis of interviews of SKG proprietors to understand the micro-management, production of organic products and community engagement in their social entrepreneurship.

Findings

The SKG is not only helping the local community in their livelihood but also creating value and positioning to the place on the tourist map. This study sheds some light on the importance of cow products in sectors such as agriculture, green energy and for human health and nutrition. The study also crystallizes the challenges faced by the cow rearers, at last the paper sorted out the benefits of cow tourism and how it can result in community empowerment and development.

Originality/value

The case study on SKG helps us in understanding the importance of social entrepreneurs in community empowerment and also the intervention of tourism in the sector that can bring new and different vertical to the tourism industry with experiential learning of the tourist, which results in knowledge sharing about the benefits of Indian cows and helps in creating and placing such destinations on tourist maps. This study attempts towards contributing to the existing knowledge, highlighting the benefits of social entrepreneurship and cow tourism for the society in general and local community in particular.
Configurating product placement prominence on brand memory: what counts and what does not?
Authors: Song Sigen , Chan Fanny Fong Yee , Li Yongfa , Wang Cheng Lu
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Placement prominence is a multidimensional concept. Previous studies have defined and operationalized prominence in different ways, and no studies have tried to systematically examine what should and should not be counted as prominence. This study aims to fill this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a content analysis of six short films and a survey study on 129 Chinese young adults, this study systematically examined 13 dimensions of placement prominence on the memory of placed brands.

Findings

Factor analysis has reduced the 13 dimensions into five factors: contextual, narrative, sensory, exposure and spatial prominence. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) software was used to conduct a contrarian case analysis and test for predictive validity. This was followed by a QCA to identify the optimal configurations of the five factors that may lead to a high recognition of the placed brands. The optimal configurations were also contrasted across two gender and brand familiarity groups. While the optimal configurations of prominence on brand memory for male and female participants were largely the same, the combinations differed between participants with low and high brand familiarity.

Originality/value

Previous studies in product placement usually operationalize prominence with a few dominant dimensions intuitively though several other dimensions, and their interactions could also affect the prominence level. To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that used multiple dimensions of prominence configurations to identify paths that may lead to low and high brand memory. The empirical results contribute to the theory and understanding of the effect of prominence on brand memory and provide guidance to brand managers in determining which prominence configuration is the most suitable for achieving their promotional objective.
Utilizing expectation disconfirmation theory to develop a higher-order model of outsourcing success factors
Authors: Carraher-Wolverton Colleen , Hirschheim Rudy
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The authors’ contribution to the literature involves using expectation disconfirmation theory (EDT) to examine the impact of expectations on outsourcing success. This study hypothesizes that perceptions of outsourcing success are contingent on disconfirmation between clients’ expectations and the perceived performance of fundamental issues related to the outsourcing relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the hypothesis, this study surveyed chief information officers, vice presidents and senior information systems managers to determine their perceptions of vendors. This study analyzed the data using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that the existing outsourcing success factors are more precisely depicted as multidimensional success factors that predict managerial perceptions of outsourcing success. This study uses a novel perspective to identify the multidimensional nature of the outsourcing success factors that might have remained latent without further analysis.

Originality/value

Using EDT, this study extends the understanding of outsourcing success as not merely composed of unidimensional factors but as a collection of multidimensional outsourcing success factors. This research demonstrates that not only do these success factors predict outsourcing success, but they can also be grouped together to provide a diversified, yet parsimonious view of how expectations relating to certain success factors influence a client’s perception of outsourcing success.
Sustainable customer relationship management
Authors: Ferrer-Estévez Maria , Chalmeta Ricardo
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Sustainable customer relationship management (SCRM) is a combination of business strategy, customer-oriented business processes and computer systems that seeks to integrate sustainability into customer relationship management. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the body of knowledge of marketing, business management and computer systems research domains by classifying in research categories the current state of knowledge on SCRM, by analysing the major research streams and by identifying a future research agenda in each research category.

Design/methodology/approach

To identify, select, collect, synthesise, analyse and evaluate all research published on SCRM, providing a complete insight in this research area, the PRISMA methodology, content analysis and bibliometric tools are used.

Findings

In total, 139 papers were analysed to assess the trend of the number of papers published and the number of citations of these papers; to identify the top contributing countries, authors, institutions and sources; to reveal the findings of the major research streams; to develop a classification framework composed by seven research categories (CRM as a key factor for enterprise sustainability, SCRM frameworks, SCRM computer tools and methods, case studies, SCRM and sustainable supply chain management, sustainable marketing and knowledge management) in which academics could expand SCRM research; and to establish future research challenges.

Social implications

This paper have an important positive social and environmental impact for society because it will lead to an increase in the number of green and socially conscious customers with an ethical behavior, while also transforming business processes, products and services, making them more sustainable.

Originality/value

Customer relationship management in the age of sustainable development is an increasing research area. Nevertheless, to the authors' knowledge, there are no systematic literature reviews that identify the major research streams, develop a classification framework, analyse the evolution in this research field and propose a future research agenda.
The effect of process parameters on the mechanical properties of additively manufactured parts using a hierarchical multiscale model
Authors: Sheikh Taha , Behdinan Kamran
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to present a hierarchical multiscale model to evaluate the effect of fused deposition modeling (FDM) process parameters on mechanical properties. Asymptotic homogenization mathematical theory is developed into two scales (micro and macro scales) to compute the effective elastic and shear modulus of the printed parts. Four parameters, namely, raster orientation, layer height, build orientation and porosity are studied.

Design/methodology/approach

The representative volume elements (RVEs) are generated by mimicking the microstructure of the printed parts. The RVEs subjected to periodic boundary conditions were solved using finite element. The experimental characterization according to ASTM D638 was conducted to validate the computational modeling results.

Findings

The computational model reports reduction (E1, ∼>38%) and (G12, ∼>50%) when porosity increased. The elastic modulus increases (1.31%–47.68%) increasing the orthotropic behavior in parts. Quasi-solids parts (100% infill) possess 10.71% voids. A reduction of 11.5% and 16.5% in elastic modulus with layer height is reported. In total, 45–450 oriented parts were highly orthotropic, and 0–00 parts were strongest. The order of parameters affecting the mechanical properties is porosity > layer height > raster orientation > build orientation.

Originality/value

This study adds value to the state-of-the-art terms of construction of RVEs using slicing software, discarding the necessity of image processing and study of porosity in FDM parts, reporting that the infill density is not the only measure of porosity in these parts.
Doctoral education in Europe: models and propositions for transversal skill training
Authors: Ashonibare Adekola Afolabi
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate existing practices of transversal skills training in doctoral education and provide recommendations for improvement for universities, industry and doctoral students in Europe. The results offer a detailed picture that has implications for the design of doctoral education programs that aim to support transferable skills development and graduate employability.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research method was used for this study; thus, data gained from existing literature were the most significant aspect of this study, serving as the key approach to answering the research questions. A literature review approach, which involved synthesizing and analyzing existing literature, was adopted in this study. Essential themes were identified and collected from literature through an inductive coding technique to find answers to questions in this study.

Findings

The research highlights the importance of coordinated efforts to improve transversal skills training in doctoral education programs. Universities must adapt their curriculum to meet industry skill requirements and provide enabling support for faculty innovative teaching. Private enterprises must continue to provide training for doctoral graduates employed in the industry because not all skills can be taught and developed in the university. Doctoral students themselves must be intentional about creating industry networks for acquiring transferable skills needed in nonacademic jobs.

Social implications

In response to industry demands, a university should not be seen as a place where doctoral students formulate a theory about the net ideology of a discipline but as a place for socializing, interacting, arguing critically and developing transferable skills for various careers. The advocacy for transversal skill training in doctoral education positively impacts society, producing doctoral researchers with an innovative mindset. Universities must continue improving existing skill-based training and work-integrated learning practices while seeking new collaboration with various industry sectors.

Originality/value

This study provides relevant ideas for faculty, industry and doctoral students on enhancing the employability of doctoral graduates through the development of transversal skills.
Diffraction separation and imaging using ensemble empirical mode decomposition and multichannel singular spectrum analysis
Authors: Zhou Jia Wei , Peng Su Ping , Lin Peng , Cui Xiao Qin , Wang Tao
Published: December 2022

Seismic diffracted wavefield has substantial potential for high‐resolution subsurface imaging of discontinuous geological structures; however, they are often masked by higher amplitude reflection, thus requiring separation. According to the low‐rank nature of a seismic wavefield, the diffracted wavefield can be extracted using the rank‐reduction method. The traditional low‐rank diffraction separation suffers from a threshold selection problem, especially for field data. To improve threshold accuracy, we propose a method in the common‐offset or poststack domains based on the f–x ensemble empirical mode decomposition and multichannel singular spectrum analysis. We demonstrate that such decomposition allows the determination of the diffraction threshold according to the difference between the singular values of the data before and after it. Synthetic and field data examples prove that the decomposition can effectively predict and suppress the horizontal reflected signal, while attenuating the energy of the dipping reflected signal. The following multichannel singular spectrum analysis suppresses the dipping reflection and separates the diffraction according to the precise threshold obtained earlier. The proposed method effectively improves the accuracy of the diffraction threshold selection, enhances diffraction and attenuates reflection, resulting in an enhanced image of small‐scale geological structures.
Macroeconomic Implications of Changes in Corporate Tax Rates: A Review
Authors: Mukherjee Sacchidananda , Badola Shivani
Published: December 2022

Many countries have initiated structural reforms in corporate income tax (CIT) to attract investment and promote growth. There has been a continuous decline in CIT rates worldwide. It is expected that cuts in CIT rates may increase after‐tax profits and encourage investment. A change in the CIT rate may also be shifted backward (by changing salaries and wages) and/or forward (by changing product prices). These are theoretical possibilities and may not have support from empirical evidence. In this paper we review empirical studies to assess the impact of CIT rate changes on the economy.
Internationalization Speed and International Performance among International New Ventures: The Moderating Role of Resource Synchronization
Authors: Huang Sheng , Zhu Yunxia , Ding Zhenkuo , Chen Chenming
Published: December 2022

Drawing upon the extended resource‐based view, we examine the moderating effects of resource synchronization on the performance implications of the speed at which international new ventures (INVs) internationalize into emerging economies (EEs) versus developed economies (DEs). Using a sample of INVs from China, we discover that both speeds of internationalization into EEs and into DEs positively affect international performance, but the speed of internationalization into DEs has a greater influence. We also find that although resource synchronization positively moderates the relationships between the two speeds and international performance, it has a greater moderating role in the link between the speed of internationalization into DEs and international performance. Our findings not only contribute to the INV approach by addressing the inconsistencies about the internationalization speed and performance relationship, but also advance the resource‐based view by offering a more complete understanding of resource‐based performance advantages.
Imaginaries of the data‐driven hospital in a time of crisis
Authors: Gardner John
Published: December 2022

This article uses the concept of sociotechnical imaginaries to explore how public hospitals are being reimagined and reconfigured by promissory digital health. Drawing on interviews with 42 senior leaders and staff from a large NHS hospital organisation, the article describes the imaginary of a data‐driven hospital and the tensions of its operationalisation. These relate to data quality, data curation and data access, and reflect a discord between the organisation’s commitment to immediate patient care and its research aspirations. These tensions, however, serve to invigorate, rather than undermine, the sociotechnical imaginary of a data‐driven hospital, as they prompt the translation of a general data‐driven imaginary into specific sociotechnical arrangements. The article argues that the potency of the data‐driven hospital imaginary must be understood in terms of its enchanting qualities: it has the capacity to excite hospital staff and to align distinct and potentially diverging hopes and expectations regarding the societal role of public hospitals. The article concludes by suggesting that the entrenchment of the data‐driven imaginary can be partly explained by its strategic utility for severely resource‐constrained healthcare organisations: it provides a means for organisations to position themselves towards a viable future in an otherwise dire health‐care context.
Association between timing and adequacy of antibiotics and adverse outcomes in patients with sepsis and septic shock: A multicentre retrospective cohort study
Authors: Shetty Amith , Baker Jannah , Kabil Gladis , Saavedra Aldo , Suster Carl JE , Moscova Michelle , Iredell Jonathan , Li Ling
Published: December 2022

Objectives

To investigate the association between the timing and adequacy of antibiotics administered to patients presenting with culture‐positive sepsis and septic shock to the ED and in‐hospital mortality and/or intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Methods

Multicentre retrospective cohort study of ED presentations at four metropolitan hospitals in Sydney, Australia between January 2017 and November 2019. Encounters for patients aged ≥16 years meeting specified criteria for sepsis or septic shock with antibiotic administration within the first 6 h of presentation were included.

Results

Of 7611 encounters included in the study, 2328 (31%) were culture positive, and 2228 (29%) met the criteria for septic shock. In culture‐positive sepsis encounters, partial or inadequate antibiotic coverage was associated with higher risk of death or ICU admission (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–2.06 and 1.95, 95% CI 1.28–2.99, respectively). This effect was not significant in septic shock encounters (AOR 1.10, 95% CI 0.64–1.88) with partial coverage and (AOR 1.63, 95% CI 0.81–3.3) inadequate coverage. Time to antibiotics was not significantly associated with the risk of mortality/ICU admission. This inference remained the same when analysis was restricted to cases with adequate antibiotic coverage.

Conclusions

In a large multicentre sample of patients with culture‐positive sepsis, inadequacy of antibiotics was associated with higher risk of in‐hospital mortality or ICU admission.
Gun violence is a public health crisis that needs more applied criminologists
Authors: Braga Anthony A.
Published: December 2022

Research Summary

Gun violence was declared a “public health crisis” after shootings increased in many U.S. cities during the course of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The public health approach to gun violence prevention offers many advantages such as an applied research model, the mobilization of a wider range of stakeholders, and a commitment to harm reduction. Too often, however, the public health community seems unaware of criminological research on gun violence and avoids including criminal justice interventions in their comprehensive plans.

Policy Implications

Communities need immediate relief from the persistent trauma of repeated shootings. Criminal justice interventions represent important responses to outbreaks of gun violence that should be included among recommended public health programs intended to address proximate and upstream causes of gun violence. Gun violence prevention policy and practice would be strengthened by more deliberate attempts to foster complementary public health and criminology research and development collaborations. More applied criminologists need to become engaged in gun violence research to meet this call.
The effect of dairy proteins on the oral burn of capsaicin
Authors: Farah Brigitte A. , Hayes John E. , Coupland John N.
Published: December 2022

This study focused on the effect of binding of capsaicin by milk proteins on oral burn. The concentration of free, unbound capsaicin in 5 ppm capsaicin solution containing 0–5% (w/w) micellar casein or whey protein isolate was measured by extraction into hexadecane. The concentration of free capsaicin decreased linearly with protein concentration and the decrease was greater for casein than for whey protein. The intensity of the capsaicin burn in similar solutions was assessed by a large cohort (n = 89) of untrained participants in a time‐intensity study. The maximum burn intensity decreased with protein concentration and was lower for samples containing casein than for samples containing whey protein isolate. The maximum burn was linearly related to the free, unbound capsaicin concentration. When protein solutions (1–5% w/w) were used as rinses following exposure to a 5 ppm aqueous capsaicin solution, only the 5% (w/w) micellar casein solution was significantly more effective than the water rinse in reducing oral burn.
Effects of high temperature, high humidity, and cold storage on structure and qualities of whole oat flour noodles during processing
Authors: Zhang Yifu , Yang Tongliang , Chen Cheng , Wang Jiake , Qiang Siqi , Zhou Junjun , Li Shuhong , Chen Ye
Published: December 2022

Gelation and structure of oat starch significantly affect qualities of whole oat flour noodles. During extrusion, the structure of noodles is loose, resulting in high cooking loss and poor texture. Therefore, oat noodles were treated with high temperature, high humidity (HTH), and cold storage (CS), and their structure and qualities were analyzed. The results showed that compared with CS, HTH could reduce the cooking loss of noodles from 10.12% to 6.13%, increase the hardness (65.59 g) and chewiness (20.67) of noodles, and effectively improve the sensory quality of noodles. The change in texture and sensory of noodles was due to HTH by accelerating the retrogradation of starch in noodles, promoting the cross‐linking of starch molecules to form an ordered structure, causing an increase in the ordered degree and crystallinity of starch and making the structure of noodles denser. It made the mobility of water in the noodles decrease, and more tightly bound water was transformed into weakly bound water and free water. HTH can be applied to industrial production of whole oat flour noodles. This study could effectively guide the production of high‐quality whole oat flour noodles without any food additives.
The regularity of anatomical variations of dominant pulmonary segments in the right upper lobe
Authors: Chen Zi‐Hao , Chu Xiang‐Peng , Zhang Jia‐Tao , Fu Rui , Kang Jin , Chen Jing‐Hua , Jiang Ben‐Yuan , Wu Yi‐Long , Zhong Wen‐Zhao , Nie Qiang
Published: December 2022

Background

Anatomical variations often pose challenges to pulmonary surgery. Previous studies have mainly described the frequencies of bronchovascular anatomical variations in pulmonary segments, but did not determine the differences between pulmonary segments and the regularity behind these anatomical variations. Here, we attempted to investigate the regularity of bronchovascular anatomical variations in different pulmonary segments.

Methods

Thin‐slice enhanced computed tomography data of 800 cases from our center were included in this study. Digitalized three‐dimensional virtual lung segmentation was done, the dominant and inferior lung segments of the right upper lobe were defined, and the regularity of anatomical variations was explored.

Results

The mean volume ratio of the anterior segment of the right upper lobe (39.6 ± 8.6%) was highest, and that of the posterior segment (28.6 ± 7.9%) was lowest. Therefore, the dominant‐type segment (DS + SDS) was dominant in the anterior segment, accounting for 74.6% (597/800), and the inferior‐type segment (SIS + IS) was dominant in the posterior segment of the right upper lobe, accounting for 71.5% of cases (573/800). During the transformation of dominant and inferior lung segments, the corresponding regularity of anatomical variations could be displayed. For example, with an increase in the volume of the anterior segment of the right upper lobe, the occurrence rate of the bifurcated type of bronchus (B1 + 2, B3), the “central vein type” and the involvement of the trunk inferior and ascending artery in the blood supply of anterior segment gradually increased.

Conclusions

The existence of dominant segments will increase the diversity of anatomical variations and the complexity of pulmonary segmentectomy.
Evaluating self‐reported retrospective average daily fruit, vegetable, and egg intake: Trustworthy—Sometimes!
Authors: Egele Viktoria S. , Klopp Eric , Stark Robin
Published: December 2022

Retrospective self‐reports are commonly used to assess dietary intake. Yet, their use is criticized as it is unclear whether the underlying assumptions for valid self‐reports are met: Individuals have to consider the behavior of all days in the retention interval and weigh the behavior of all days equally. This study examines whether these assumptions for retrospective self‐reports are met and whether interindividual differences in self‐report performance are relevant regarding these assumptions. Ninety‐two participants aged 18–61 years participated in seven sequential 24‐h recalls and one retrospective 7‐day recall concerning their intake of fruit, vegetables, and eggs. A multiple linear regression approach was used to examine the relation between the daily reported dietary intake and the 7‐day recall. In the overall sample, the requirements for retrospective self‐reports were not tenable. Distinguishing good and poor self‐reporters based on a rational criterion showed that the requirements can be taken as given for good self‐reporters, whereas poor self‐reporters base their retrospective self‐reports mostly on recency effects. The underlying requirements for retrospective self‐reports appear to be met in two thirds of the sample, supporting the use of retrospective self‐reports to capture dietary behavior. Future research should investigate characteristics separating good from poor self‐reporters.
200 years of pasteurizing the world of science
Authors: Wegener Henrik Caspar
Published: December 2022

Professor Henrik C. Wegener, Rector of the University of Copenhagen, writes about the impact of Louis Pasteur and his legacy as a role model in science at the centennial of the Danish Pasteur Society and the bicentennial of Pasteur's birth.
Biobanking of human biological material and the principle of noncommercialisation of the human body and its parts
Authors: Pawlikowska Joanna , Pawlikowski Jakub , Krekora‐Zając Dorota
Published: December 2022

The prohibition of commercialisation of the human body and its parts is not applied consistently and suffers from many exceptions in the human biological material (HBM) market. Examples include the possibility of patenting certain HBM‐derived products and their commercial marketing or payments for blood donations. Thus, the current practice of marketing HBM‐derived products makes the altruistic donor most vulnerable to exploitation while being deprived of benefits. There seem to be two ways to improve this state of affairs. The first is to apply consistently the prohibition of commercialisation of the body and its parts to commercially marketed tissue and cell products as well. This would require limiting the possibility of financial gain associated with the processing, distribution and sale of HBM‐based products. Such a solution, however, does not seem to gain wide acceptance or have a chance of implementation in the near future. Therefore, introducing more transparent rules and greater donor empowerment seems more reasonable by exempting HBM from the ban on commercialisation under certain conditions and with clear limitations.
Inference for the Dimension of a Regression Relationship Using Pseudo-Covariates
Authors: Huang Shih-Hao , Shedden Kerby , Chang Hsinwen
Published: December 2022

In data analysis using dimension reduction methods, the main goal is to summarize how the response is related to the covariates through a few linear combinations. One key issue is to determine the number of independent, relevant covariate combinations, which is the dimension of the sufficient dimension reduction (SDR) subspace. In this work, we propose an easily-applied approach to conduct inference for the dimension of the SDR subspace, based on augmentation of the covariate set with simulated pseudo-covariates. Applying the partitioning principal to the possible dimensions, we use rigorous sequential testing to select the dimensionality, by comparing the strength of the signal arising from the actual covariates to that appearing to arise from the pseudo-covariates. We show that under a “uniform direction” condition, our approach can be used in conjunction with several popular SDR methods, including sliced inverse regression. In these settings, the test statistic asymptotically follows a beta distribution and therefore is easily calibrated. Moreover, the family-wise type I error rate of our sequential testing is rigorously controlled. Simulation studies and an analysis of newborn anthropometric data demonstrate the robustness of the proposed approach, and indicate that the power is comparable to or greater than the alternatives.
Relapses of multisystem/multifocal bone Langerhans cell histiocytosis in paediatric patients: Data analysis from the JLSG‐96/02 study
Authors: Sakamoto Kenichi , Morimoto Akira , Shioda Yoko , Imamura Toshihiko , Imashuku Shinsaku ,   the Japan LCH Study Group (JLSG)
Published: December 2022

We assessed relapse patterns in paediatric patients with relapsed Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) who were initially treated with the JLSG‐96/02 protocol. We analysed 187 relapse events in 101 relapsed LCH patients [31 with multifocal bone (MFB) and 70 with multisystem (MS) at LCH diagnosis] among a total 317 patients enrolled in JLSG‐96/‐02 studies. Relapse of LCH was defined as an exacerbation of the non‐active disease (NAD) condition. Of the 317 patients, 101 (31.9%) had the first relapse at 1.5 years after initiation of therapy. The first relapse and subsequent relapses did not differ between patients with MFB and MS disease. Of the 187 relapse events, relapse occurred as a single‐system disease (n = 159; 85%), in which isolated bone relapse (n = 104; 55%) was the most common. Relapse at MS disease with the risk of organ involvement is extremely rare. After relapse(s), most patients underwent chemotherapy (122/187; 65%) and 87% of them achieved NAD status again. The incidence of permanent consequences was significantly higher in patients with relapses than in those without relapses. In the JLSG cohort, bone relapse most occurred in both MFB and MS patients. Most relapses could be effectively controlled by repeated administration of the initial chemotherapy.
Histamine bidirectionally regulates the intrinsic excitability of parvalbumin‐positive neurons in the lateral globus pallidus and promotes motor behaviour
Authors: Qi Zeng‐Xin , Shen Kang‐Li , Peng Jian‐Ya , Fan Xiu‐Juan , Huang Hui‐Wei , Jiang Jian‐Lan , Lu Jian‐Hua , Wang Xiao‐Qin , Fang Xiao‐Xia , Chen Liang , Zhuang Qian‐Xing
Published: December 2022

Background and Purpose

Parvalbumin (PV)‐positive neurons are a type of neuron in the lateral globus pallidus (LGP) which plays an important role in motor control. The present study investigated the effect of histamine on LGPPV neurons and motor behaviour.

Experimental Approach

Histamine levels in LGP as well as its histaminergic innervation were determined through brain stimulation, microdialysis, anterograde tracing and immunostaining. Mechanisms of histamine action were detected by immunostaining, single‐cell qPCR, whole‐cell patch‐clamp recording, optogenetic stimulation and CRISPR/Cas9 gene‐editing techniques. The effect of histamine on motor behaviour was detected by animal behavioural tests.

Key Results

A direct histaminergic innervation in LGP from the tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) and a histamine‐induced increase in the intrinsic excitability of LGPPV neurons were determined by pharmacological blockade or by genetic knockout of the histamine H1 receptor (H1R)‐coupled TWIK‐related potassium channel‐1 (TREK‐1) and the small‐conductance calcium‐activated potassium channel (SK3), as well as by activation or overexpression of the histamine H2 receptor (H2R)‐coupled hyperpolarization‐activated cyclic nucleotide‐gated channel (HCN2). Histamine negatively regulated the STN → LGPGlu transmission in LGPPV neurons via the histamine H3 receptor (H3R), whereas blockage or knockout of H3R increased the intrinsic excitability of LGPPV neurons.

Conclusions and Implications

Our results indicated that the endogenous histaminergic innervation in the LGP can bidirectionally promote motor control by increasing the intrinsic excitability of LGPPV neurons through postsynaptic H1R and H2R, albeit its action was negatively regulated by the presynaptic H3R, thereby suggesting possible role of histamine in motor deficits manifested in Parkinson's disease (PD).
Debate: We need data infrastructure as well as data sharing – conflicts of interest in video game research
Authors: Zendle David , Wardle Heather
Published: December 2022

Industry data sharing has the potential to revolutionise evidence on video gaming and mental health, as well as a host of other critical topics. However, collaborative data sharing agreements between academics and industry partners may also afford industry enormous power in steering the development of this evidence base. In this paper, we outline how nonfinancial conflicts of interest may emerge when industry share data with academics. We then go on to describe ways in which such conflicts may affect the quality of the evidence base. Finally, we suggest strategies for mitigating this impact and preserving research independence. We focus on the development of data infrastructure: technological, social, and educational architecture that facilitates unfettered and free access to the kinds of high‐quality data that industry hold, but without industry involvement.
HNF1B‐driven three‐dimensional chromatin structure for molecular classification in pancreatic cancers
Authors: Kato Hiroyuki , Tateishi Keisuke , Iwadate Dosuke , Yamamoto Keisuke , Fujiwara Hiroaki , Nakatsuka Takuma , Kudo Yotaro , Hayakawa Yoku , Ijichi Hideaki , Otsuka Motoyuki , Kishikawa Takahiro , Takahashi Ryota , Miyabayashi Koji , Nakai Yousuke , Hirata Yoshihiro , Toyoda Atsushi , Morishita Shinichi , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro
Published: December 2022

The molecular subtypes of pancreatic cancer (PC), either classical/progenitor‐like or basal/squamous‐like, are currently a major topic of research because of their direct association with clinical outcomes. Some transcription factors (TFs) have been reported to be associated with these subtypes. However, the mechanisms by which these molecular signatures of PCs are established remain unknown. Epigenetic regulatory processes, supported by dynamic changes in the chromatin structure, are essential for transcriptional profiles. Previously, we reported the importance of open chromatin profiles in the biological features and transcriptional status of PCs. Here, we aimed to analyze the relationships between three‐dimensional (3D) genome structures and the molecular subtypes of human PCs using Hi‐C analysis. We observed a correlation of the specific elements of 3D genome modules, including compartments, topologically associating domains, and enhancer‐promoter loops, with the expression of related genes. We focused on HNF1B, a TF that is implicated in the progenitor subtype. Forced expression of HNF1B in squamous‐type PC organoids induced the upregulation and downregulation of genes associated with progenitor and squamous subtypes, respectively. Long‐range genomic interactions induced by HNF1B were accompanied by compartment modulation and H3K27ac redistribution. We also found that these HNF1B‐induced changes in subtype‐related gene expression required an intrinsically disordered region, suggesting a possible involvement of phase separation in compartment modulation. Thus, mapping of 3D structural changes induced by TFs, such as HNF1B, may become a useful resource for further understanding the molecular features of PCs.
Application of multilevel models for predicting pain following root canal treatment
Authors: Du Mi , Haag Dandara Gabriela , Lynch John W. , Mittinty Murthy N.
Published: December 2022

Objectives

This study developed predictive models for one‐week acute and six‐month persistent pain following root canal treatment (RCT). An additional aim was to study the gain in predictive efficacy of models containing clinical factors only, over models containing sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods

A secondary data analysis of 708 patients who received RCTs was conducted. Three sets of predictors were used: (1)combinedset, containing all predictors in the data set; (2)clinicalset and (3)sociodemographicset. Missing data were handled by multiple imputation using the missing indicator method. The multilevel least absolute selection and shrinkage operator (LASSO) regression was used to select predictors into the final multilevel logistic models. Three measures, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and precision‐recall curve (AUPRC) and calibration curves, were used to assess the predictive performance of the models.

Results

The selected‐in factors in the final models, using LASSO regression, are related to pre‐ and intra‐treatment clinical symptoms and pain experience. Predictive performance of the models remained the same with the inclusion (exclusion) of the socio‐demographic factors. For predicting one‐week outcome, the model built withcombinedset of predictors yielded the highest AUROC and AUPRC of 0.85 and 0.72, followed by the models built withclinicalfactors (AUROC = 0.82, AUPRC = 0.66). The lowest predictive ability was found in models with onlysociodemographiccharacteristics (AUROC = 0.68, AUPRC = 0.40). Similar patterns were observed in predicting six‐month outcome, where the AUROC for models withcombined,clinicalandsociodemographicsets of predictors were 0.85, 0.89 and 0.66, respectively, and the AUPRC were 0.48, 0.53 and 0.22, respectively.

Conclusions

Clinical factors such as the severity and experience of pre‐operative and intra‐operative pain were discovered important to the subsequent development of pain following RCTs. Adding sociodemographic characteristics to the models with clinical factors did not change the models' predictive performance or the proportion of explained variance.
Abnormal brain functional network dynamics in sleep‐related hypermotor epilepsy
Authors: Wan Xinyue , Zhang Pengfei , Wang Weina , Wu Xintong , Tan Qiaoyue , Su Xiaorui , Zhang Simin , Yang Xibiao , Li Shuang , Shao Hanbing , Yue Qiang , Gong Qiyong
Published: December 2022

Aims

This study aimed to use resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI) to determine the temporal features of functional connectivity states and changes in connectivity strength in sleep‐related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE).

Methods

High‐resolution T1 and rs‐fMRI scanning were performed on all the subjects. We used a sliding‐window approach to construct a dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) network. The k‐means clustering method was performed to analyze specific FC states and related temporal properties. Finally, the connectivity strength between the components was analyzed using network‐based statistics (NBS) analysis. The correlations between the abovementioned measures and disease duration were analyzed.

Results

After k‐means clustering, the SHE patients mainly exhibited two dFC states. The frequency of state 1 was higher, which was characterized by stronger connections within the networks; state 2 occurred at a relatively low frequency, characterized by stronger connections between networks. SHE patients had greater fractional time and a mean dwell time in state 2 and had a larger number of state transitions. The NBS results showed that SHE patients had increased connectivity strength between networks. None of the properties was correlated with illness duration among patients with SHE.

Conclusion

The patterns of dFC patterns may represent an adaptive and protective mode of the brain to deal with epileptic seizures.
Effects of climate and land‐cover change on the conservation status of gibbons
Authors: Yang Li , Chen Tao , Shi Kai‐Chong , Zhang Lu , Lwin Ngwe , Fan Peng‐Fei
Published: December 2022

Species shift their distribution in response to climate and land‐cover change, which may result in a spatial mismatch between currently protected areas (PAs) and priority conservation areas (PCAs). We examined the effects of climate and land‐cover change on potential range of gibbons and sought to identify PCAs that would conserve them effectively. We collected global gibbon occurrence points and modeled (ecological niche model) their current and potential 2050s ranges under climate‐change and different land‐cover‐change scenarios. We examined change in range and PA coverage between the current and future ranges of each gibbon species. We applied spatial conservation prioritization to identify the top 30% PCAs for each species. We then determined how much of the PCAs are conserved in each country within the global range of gibbons. On average, 31% (SD 22) of each species’ current range was covered in PAs. PA coverage of the current range of 9 species was <30%. Nine species lost on average 46% (SD 29) of their potential range due to climate change. Under climate‐change with an optimistic land‐cover‐change scenario (B1), 12 species lost 39% (SD 28) of their range. In a pessimistic land‐cover‐change scenario (A2), 15 species lost 36% (SD 28) of their range. Five species lost significantly more range under the A2 scenario than the B1 scenario (p = 0.01, SD 0.01), suggesting that gibbons will benefit from effective management of land cover. PA coverage of future range was <30% for 11 species. On average, 32% (SD 25) of PCAs were covered by PAs. Indonesia contained more species and PCAs and thus has the greatest responsibility for gibbon conservation. Indonesia, India, and Myanmar need to expand their PAs to fulfill their responsibility to gibbon conservation. Our results provide a baseline for global gibbon conservation, particularly for countries lacking gibbon research capacity.